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There has been a real focus from Leeds United to strengthen in attack this summer. The Whites have signed three new forwards, with Noah Okafor the only one they paid for, joining from Milan for £18m. Lukas Nmecha was one of the free signings, and he scored on his debut against Everton from the spot.

The other centre-forward who didn’t cost a penny was Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The England international switched to Elland Road after his Everton contract expired. However, his debut for the club, a Carabao Cup tie defeat away to Sheffield Wednesday, saw him miss a couple of chances and a penalty in the shootout.

Daniel Farke seems to think there is still work to be done in attack, with Leeds looking at signing another forward.

Leeds' new attacking targets

Even though they scored more goals than any side in the Championship last season, the Whites have still focused on bolstering their attack.

Transfer Focus

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

One name who has cropped up recently is Nottingham Forest winger Jota Silva, with the forward emerging as a target for Leeds.

However, it seems that they could jump ahead of Premier League rivals in the race for another striker. According to a report from TEAMtalk, Farke’s side have ‘swooped in’ to sign Christantus Uche from Spanish side Getafe.

He looked destined to join Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer, but an issue agreeing on personal terms has opened the door for Leeds to hijack the move.

West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, as well as Serie A giants Milan, have also shown interest in the £17.5m-rated star, but Leeds are now ‘pushing hard’ to get a deal done.

Why Uche would be a good signing

With Leeds looking to add further depth to their attack, it is no surprise that they have rejoined the race to sign Uche.

The Nigeria international has a unique profile, standing at 6 foot 3, and can play as a striker and a number 10.

Described as a “defender’s nightmare” by football scout Antonio Mango, the 22-year-old certainly showed his threat in the final third last season. In 33 games for Getafe, he bagged four goals and assisted a further six. Not mindblowing numbers by any stretch of the imagination but he caught the eye.

The 2025/26 campaign has begun superbly for Uche. Getafe’s number 10 is already on the board this term and grabbed an assist, with both contributions coming in their season opener against Celta Vigo. The La Liga side won 2-0, with Uche playing a key role in both goals.

The same cannot be said for Calvert-Lewin, who struggled on his debut for the Whites.

His final season as an Everton player saw the 28-year-old find the back of the net just three times in 26 appearances.

Unfortunately, that tough form continued in his first game as a Leeds player. Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Lee Sobot gave him a 5/10 post-match rating and described his night as a “debut to forget”, with WhoScored explaining his missed chances had an expected goals tally of 2.14 xG.

It is easy to see how Uche could be an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin already in Farke’s squad. He has been quick out of the blocks this season, whereas the new Leeds star struggled on debut. On top of that, Getafe’s number 10 outscored him last term.

The stats from the 2024/25 season back up the sentiment. For example, the Nigerian star averaged 0.36 goals and assists and 2.82 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes. In comparison, Leeds’ new number nine averaged 0.22 goals and assists and 1.46 shot-creating actions each game.

Goals and assists

0.36

0.22

Goals per shot on target

0.29

0.16

Key passes

1.05

0.39

Shot-creating actions

2.82

1.46

Ball recoveries

3.99

1.96

With his effectiveness in front of goal, the unique profile and the versatility that he offers, it is easy to see how Uche would be an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin.

Ultimately, Leeds need goals to stay in the Premier League, and will be relying on both to find the back of the net often.

Hijacking this deal for the cheap price of £17.5m would surely be a smart move for the Yorkshire side as they look to beat the drop this season.

New Phillips: Leeds chasing big move to sign "generational" England star

Leeds United are eyeing up a move for an England international who could be their next Kalvin Phillips.

ByDan Emery Aug 26, 2025

Ruben Amorim has been warned that he faces the threat of being replaced by a Manchester United legend at Old Trafford, with a "Frankenstein team" being assembled. The Red Devils have continued to spend big in the transfer market, but are being told that "none of it fits together" as they continue to struggle for consistency. If positivity remains elusive, then a change in the dugout could be made.

Amorim refusing to change tactical system

Amorim has refused to tinker with his tactical beliefs since inheriting managerial reins in Manchester. He arrived in English football having enjoyed considerable success in his native Portugal with Sporting. The 40-year-old remains convinced that his 3-4-3 system will deliver results with United. That is despite finishing 15th in the Premier League last season and suffering defeat in the Europa League final.

The Red Devils have already crashed out of the Carabao Cup this season, at the hands of League Two side Grimsby, and picked up two wins through five top-flight fixtures. Questions continue to be asked of Amorim, but he is said to boast the full support of his board for now. That situation could shift, with it already being suggested that a familiar face – such as Michael Carrick or his fellow former United midfielder Darren Fletcher – could be asked to steady the ship as Amorim is shown to the door.

AdvertisementGettyCarrick or Fletcher: Man Utd legends back at Old Trafford?

Pat Nevin, who played top-flight football in England for Chelsea and Everton, has told of potential movement in the dugout at Old Trafford: "Short term, I wouldn't be surprised at [Carrick or Fletcher to replace Amorim] at all. That would be absolutely fine. And they might do well. They offered the caretaker role to Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] first didn’t they. It takes the pressure off, you can have a good look around. And if he does well, we just keep him. That's fine.

"You'll get a bit of pressure in the press saying, ‘They don't know what to do, they haven't got a clue, they can't get the right man, all that sort of stuff’. 've been there before. I just blanked it. I don't care. I've got a guy doing a good job here and I wouldn't look for the other manager. And I'll say to them ‘If you keep on doing well, you can get a job’. I'm not hiding anything from anyone here. I'm looking at every possible option. But what you have to do is give it a number of months in that situation. If it does happen and things go badly for him then you have to have a direction. You have to have a two, three, four, five year plan.

"Maybe that's been United's problem. They’ve tried, they've had plans. They've had two, three, four, five year plans that have all lasted a year. And that's not good. Because the next person comes in and they change it, the next one changes it. That's the only reason why they're standing by Amorim just now. It's because they know they didn't spend time with the other ones, so we now end up with a Frankenstein team. All bought by different managers. None of it really fits together. And then you find out they got rid of some people they shouldn’t have gotten rid of like [Scott] McTominay."

Have Man Utd turned a corner after Chelsea win?

United did pick up three points in their last fixture, as they battled to a 2-1 win over Chelsea in a game that saw both sides reduced to 10 men. Nevin is not convinced that result will prove to be a turning point for the Red Devils.

The ex-Scotland international added: "Man United fought, chased, battled, they made enough good use of the extra man to go ahead. But after that Chelsea were there for the taking and it kind of fell away. The belief evaporated a wee bit. And then when they went down to 10 men, that was it. It was ‘hold what we've got’. And I actually thought after that, it was quite a dull game. It wasn't a great game. After that, you have an expectation that goes to 10 v 10. The conditions are wild. It's out there. It's up to Chelsea to go and attack. And Man Utd have got some uncertainty about them. But it kind of fizzled.

"Then there was a big five or 10 minute period at the end which had the goal. But in short, have Chelsea suddenly become very, very special after that game? No, no. We're still waiting to see if they have any chance of challenging. And Manchester United, have they suddenly turned the corner because they beat a 10 man Chelsea? No. Not the case either. I was walking back afterwards in the rain and I was listening to all the Man United fans and they don't think that either. They're not stupid. The biggest phrase that was used around me – and I thought it was very good – was ‘We needed that and we got a bit lucky because of the sending off’. I think that's where most people are and I actually think the manager thinks that too."

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GettyMan Utd fixtures: Next up for the Red Devils

United will be back in action on Saturday when taking in a trip to Brentford. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro will be banned for that fixture, having been sent off against Chelsea, with Amorim being forced to shuffle his pack again as a result.

Liverpool’s summer transfer window was defined by big spending, but also by letting some of their most promising youth talent depart.

While the Anfield hierarchy pursued marquee signings such as Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Hugo Ekitike, a quieter narrative was simultaneously unfolding.

Several academy graduates, once thought of as future first-team players, left the club in search of regular gametime and development opportunities that Liverpool could not immediately guarantee.

Harvey Elliot went on loan to Aston Villa with a £35m obligation next summer, Jarell Quansah moved to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m, and Ben Doak joined Bournemouth for £25m.

These departures, while financially reasonable, highlight the ongoing challenge Liverpool face in balancing youth development with immediate competitiveness.

Sometimes, trusting homegrown talent pays dividends, as 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha demonstrated with his 100th-minute winner on Premier League debut against Newcastle, reminding the club of the potential locked away in its academy.

For one player, however, leaving Liverpool has opened the door to a role that is allowing him to flourish at one of the European elite in a role that had long been earmarked for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, who ultimately moved to Arsenal for £60m.

The lesson for Liverpool's youth talent

Liverpool’s history of allowing talented youngsters to leave and succeed elsewhere is not new.

Raheem Sterling’s departure is one of the most notable examples.

Sterling left Anfield in 2015 for Manchester City at just 20 years old in a £44m deal, making him the most expensive English player at the time.

His career trajectory underlines the risks of selling promising youth too early, even at a premium.

Sterling went on to score 131 goals and register 86 assists in 339 appearances for City, winning four Premier League titles and earning inclusion in the 2018/19 PFA Team of the Year.

Sterling’s success serves as a benchmark for evaluating the club’s current youth departures which include the likes of Dominic Solanke, Neco Williams and most recently Jarell Quansah.

Quansah, however, was not the only Kirkby graduate to flee Merseyside for Europe in the summer of 2025.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

From Liverpool to Lyon

Tyler Morton, a 22-year-old local talent, joined Liverpool’s academy at just seven years old.

After progressing through the ranks, he experienced loan spells at Blackburn Rovers and Hull City before making his Premier League debut against Arsenal and his Champions League bow against Porto.

During his time at Liverpool, Morton made 14 appearances in all competitions, gaining valuable experience in a squad filled with international stars, while also contributing to the U21 European Championship victory over the summer.

This summer, Morton left Liverpool for Lyon in a £15m deal, a move that has allowed him to start playing consistently in Ligue 1 as a deep-lying playmaker.

This role mirrors the one Martin Zubimendi excelled at in La Liga before his £60m transfer to Arsenal, making Morton’s progression particularly noteworthy.

Liverpool had a bid for the Spain international rejected last summer, even though they may have already have their equivalent in the squad. Ultimately, Zubimendi went elsewhere, and Liverpool lost one of their most promising academy graduates too.

Regardless, Lyon and Morton have started the season strongly, winning three games from three, with the ex-Liverpool midfielder earning praise for his performances.

Against Metz, he played the full 90 minutes, recorded 84 touches, completed 63 of 69 passes (91%), delivered four key passes, three accurate crosses, four long balls – all successfully executed – and won four ground duels.

Bence Bocsák described Morton as a “quality midfielder,” highlighting the attributes Liverpool’s coaching staff have long admired, while Jurgen Klopp labelled him as an “outstanding” player.

His ability to control tempo, execute progressive passes, and contribute defensively makes him a versatile asset, one that Liverpool could have nurtured as in-house but instead allowed to blossom elsewhere.

Statistically, Morton’s style closely mirrors the deep-lying playmaking role that Zubimendi has excelled in.

Matches Played

36

Goals

2

Assists

1

Progressive Carries

38

Progressive Passes

195

Both operate in the transitional midfield zone, blending defensive awareness with progressive passing and the vision to influence play across the pitch.

While Zubimendi’s high-profile switch made headlines, Morton’s development in Lyon represents a potentially missed opportunity for Liverpool to cultivate a similar talent internally.

The youngser’s exit also underscores a recurring theme at Anfield and within the wider Premier League.

Clubs are increasingly letting promising youngsters leave only to see them thrive elsewhere.

Sterling set the precedent; Morton is now another example of Liverpool’s academy producing talent that, for reasons ranging from tactical fit to financial prudence, finds success beyond Merseyside.

While investing in high-profile signings is essential for immediate results, the club continues to face the delicate task of integrating its academy graduates into a star-studded first team.

Not Frimpong: Liverpool man who's "not at the races" is this season's Trent

Liverpool could have the next Trent Alexander-Arnold on their hands…

1 ByJoe Nuttall Sep 10, 2025

A video posted online by Gary Neville in the wake of a synagogue attack in Manchester has courted controversy and attracted criticism, but it is reported that the former United and England defender will not face any punishment from Sky Sports. Neville remains a prominent public face for the broadcasting giants, with a role being filled as a co-commentator and pundit.

What Neville said

Neville, speaking through his LinkedIn account, took aim at “angry middle-aged white men” and offered his take on the trend of Britons fastening St George and Union Jack flags to lampposts and bridges across the country. The 50-year-old spoke out after the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation tragedy, which saw Syrian-born terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie stage a deadly knife and car rampage.

He began by saying: “Seeing the news last night and the news this morning dominated by the horrific attacks within the Jewish community, just a mile from here.” He then turned his attention to the ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ flag movement – co-founded by Andrew Currien, a close ally of Tommy Robinson – and went on to say: “When I was driving to Salford City last night, going down Littleton Road, I seen probably 50 or 60 Union Jack flags. And on the way back I went down the parallel road, Bury New Road, which has got the Jewish community right at its heart and they're out on the streets, defiant, not hiding or in fear. Funnily enough on one of my development sites last week there was a Union Jack flag put up and I took it down instantly.”

Neville added: “I just kept thinking as I was driving home last night that we're all being turned on each other, and the division that's being created is absolutely disgusting. Mainly created by angry, middle-aged white man, who know exactly what they're doing.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportStance of Sky Sports

Said comments generated lively debate, with Sky Sports reportedly being threatened with boycott action. Their company guidelines state: “Talent and contributors should be aware that social media communities are public forums and should not undertake activity that brings either the programme or Sky into disrepute.” The reports that “the pundit is not expected to face any action”.

This is not the first time that Neville has shared his opinion on political matters, having previously spoken out against working conditions in Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup and condemned the behaviour and leadership of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson is among those to have responded to Neville, saying: “I believe in free speech but on this occasion just shut up. You had no problem in playing in front of the England flag. And the middle-aged English men you talk about are the same type of men that paid your wages.”

Neville refutes unpatriotic claims

Neville refuted any suggestion that his comments were unpatriotic, saying: “I played for my country 85 times, I love my country. I love Manchester and I love England, but I've been building in this city for 15 to 20 years and there's no one put a Union Jack flag up in the last 15 to 20 years, so why do you have to put one up now? Quite clearly it's sending a message to everybody that there's something you don't like.

“The Union Jack flag being used in a negative fashion is not right and I'm a proud supporter of England, Great Britain, of our country, and I'll champion it anywhere in the world as one of the greatest places to live. But I think we need to check ourselves, bring ourselves back to a neutral point, because we're being pulled right and left and we don't need to be, at all.”

He added: “Brexit has had a devastating impact on this country and the messaging is getting extremely dangerous. All these idiots out there spreading hate speech and abuse in any form, we must stop promoting them. We must stop elevating our voices towards them and it needs to stop now, and get back to a country of peace, love, harmony and become a team again.”

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Getty/GOALCo-owner of Salford with Beckham & property empire

Neville, who is a co-owner of League Two side Salford City alongside fellow Class of ‘92 graduate David Beckham, boasts a sprawling property empire in Greater Manchester. The Mail states that claims of Sky being “bombarded with demands” to remove Neville from his role are “unfounded”.

Dhruv Jurel top scored for Rajasthan Royals with 33 off 28

Deivarayan Muthu26-Mar-2025No Sunil Narine? No problem so far for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).New KKR recruit Moeen Ali dovetailed beautifully with old face Varun Chakravarthy on a dry, sluggish Guwahati surface to keep Rajasthan Royals (RR) to 151 for 9. The two spinners were so good – they claimed combined figures of 8-0-40-4 – that KKR didn’t even need Andre Russell with the ball.The slide that the spinners started – RR went from 67 for 1 to 82 for 5 – messed with the plans of the hosts. RR had originally not named Shubham Dubey among their Impact subs, but they had to slot him in at No.7, at the expense of a frontline bowler who could have been used during their defence.Dubey, however, laboured to 9 off 12 balls before Vaibhav Arora had him holing out. Arora had caused damage with the new ball too, knocking Sanju Samson over for 13 off 11 balls after he had stepped out a bit too early. Yashasvi Jasiwal also fell while stepping out, with Moeen having him hole out to long-on for 29 off 24 balls.Local boy Riyan Parag got cracking with three sixes, including a one-handed hit, but Varun cut his innings short with a 113kph dart. RR promoted Wanindu Hasaranga up to No. 5 to counter Moeen but that experiment didn’t come off. He faced just one ball from the offspinner and fell to the mystery spinner for a run-a-ball 4.Dhruv Jurel top-scored for RR with 33 off 28 balls before Rana got rid of him and Hetmyer in the penultimate over. Jofra Archer’s cameo – 16 off seven balls – pushed RR past 150. He will have a big job to do with the ball for RR, especially after having bowled the most expensive IPL spell ever in his last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on the weekend.

Real Oviedo captain Santi Cazorla has been forced to defend his reputation following the sacking of coach Veljko Paunovic. Amid social media accusations, the ex-Arsenal star strongly denies any involvement in the decision, revealing the squad was shocked by the news as the club struggles at the bottom of La Liga and turns to a controversial replacement.

Cazorla denies involvement in Paunovic sacking

The former Arsenal star responded to accusations on social media by defending his professional integrity, stating he could not allow his reputation to be damaged by such claims. Cazorla revealed the news of Paunovic's dismissal came as a complete shock to the squad, who only found out just before a training session on Thursday.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhat Cazorla said about the dismissal and his reputation

The 40-year-old midfielder was quick to defend his character and highlight his long, unblemished career record. 

"I've been a professional for 22 years, and you can ask all the presidents, sporting directors, and coaches I've worked with. I've never had anything to do with a club's decisions to let go of a coach," Cazorla insisted at a press conference. "I can't allow my image to be tarnished, because I've always tried to contribute in every way." 

He also expressed his gratitude to the departing manager, adding: "I'd like to thank Paunovic for his work, with whom I have a great relationship and was able to speak with him yesterday personally. I want to thank him and his coaching staff for everything we've achieved; they've become part of this club's history forever."

Oviedo's poor start and controversial Carrion return

The decision to dismiss Paunovic follows a difficult start to the La Liga season, which sees Real Oviedo sitting 17th in the table, level on six points with the relegation places after just two wins and six losses from their opening eight games. The club moved to reappoint Luis Carrion, a move that has been met with a mixed reception from the fanbase. Cazorla addressed the potential for division and issued a stark warning to the supporters. "There are two options: Kill each other or die together. I'm clear about that, and nothing is above Real Oviedo," he said.

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Getty Images SportWhat next for Real Oviedo?

Under the returning management of Luis Carrion, Real Oviedo's immediate task is to prepare for a challenging home fixture against Espanyol on Friday evening. Their opponents currently sit ninth in La Liga on 12 points, making the match at the Carlos Tartiere a significant test for a struggling Oviedo side desperate to pull away from the relegation zone and find stability after a turbulent week.

Tottenham Hotspur splashed a fee of £30m to sign winger Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window after his loan spell in North London came to an end.

The France U21 international spent the second half of last season on loan with Ange Postecoglou’s side, scoring three goals and providing one assist in all competitions.

Spurs and former chairman Daniel Levy opted to make that loan deal permanent for £30m, despite the change in head coach, to provide him with a chance to impress under Thomas Frank.

Unfortunately, the ex-Brentford manager opted to leave the 20-year-old winger out of his squad for the league phase of the Champions League, which does not bode well for the young talent.

Tel did score two goals for France’s U21s during the international break earlier this month, which shows that he does still have potential to be a success at Spurs, but he needs to show it in domestic matches this season.

The French forward will be hoping that he does not join the list of expensive wingers who have failed to make a success of themselves in North London.

Ranking Tottenham's most expensive winger signings

Tel, who can play as a left-winger or as a centre-forward, ranks among the top five most expensive winger signings in the club’s history if Transfermarkt fees are taken into account.

Mohammed Kudus

£55.6m

Brennan Johnson

£47.9m

Steven Bergwijn

£26.1m

Erik Lamela

£26.1m

Heung-min Son

£26.1m

As you can see in the table above, summer signing Mohammed Kudus tops the list, whilst club legend Heung-min Son also features at the bottom.

If pressed to rank those five signings, Son would have to be at the top of the list. He scored 173 goals and provided 101 assists in 451 matches, per Transfermarkt, along with captaining the side to a Europa League trophy.

Brennan Johnson, meanwhile, has to be ranked in second place in this moment of time, simply because he scored the winning goal in a European final for Spurs against Manchester United at the end of last season.

Irrespective of what the Wales international did before that or what he will go on to do, that moment alone makes his signing and the fee paid for him worthwhile.

It is too soon to judge Kudus, who only arrived this summer, whilst Lamela should be third on this list. The Argentine forward had longevity on his side, as he racked up 37 goals and 46 assists in 257 outings for Spurs, per Transfermarkt.

That leaves Steven Bergwijn, who joined from PSV in 2020, at the bottom of the pile. He only lasted two-and-a-half years at the club, and the forward only scored eight competitive goals in that time.

The Netherlands international scored eight goals and provided ten assists in 83 appearances for Tottenham, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he was not as effective or impactful as Johnson, Son, or Lamela.

Bergwijn was an expensive flop on the wing, one that Tel is looking to avoid being a repeat of, and there is a winger at the club who is in danger of being the next version of the Dutch forward.

Chalkboard

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

Tottenham swooped to sign French winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley for a fee of £25m in the summer of 2024, and he has yet to prove his worth on the pitch.

Why Wilson Odobert may be the next Steven Bergwijn

The young forward was signed for a similar fee to Bergwijn and his performances on the field for the club have done little to dismiss a comparison between the two.

It is worth noting that Odobert struggled with hamstring injuries last season, which disrupted his progress, but his displays when fit and available offered little encouragement.

The 20-year-old winger, who is the same age as Tel, has scored one goal and created one ‘big chance’ in 21 appearances in the Premier League for Spurs to date, via Sofascore, with his latest showing coming against Brighton at the weekend.

Thomas Frank handed the youngster an opportunity to shine on the left flank, but the Frenchman ended the game with zero out of three dribbles completed, zero out of five duels won, and no key passes or shots on target in 72 minutes, per Sofascore.

Odobert, who was described as “incredibly raw” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was an expensive signing for Spurs, at £25m, and just falls short of being one of the five most expensive wide signings in the club’s history, which is why it is not too harsh to expect more from the former Burnley man.

Appearances

13

16

Minutes

934

849

Goals

2

1

Shots on target per game

0.7

0.3

Big chances created

5

1

Assists

1

0

Dribbles completed per game

1.2

0.8

As you can see in the table above, Tel, who joined on loan in January, provided more quality at the top end of the pitch than his fellow France U21 international did in the Premier League last season.

These statistics suggest that Odobert offers even less than Tel does in the final third, as both a scorer and, certainly, as a creator from a wide or central berth.

The 20-year-old forward, of course, has plenty of time left to turn things around and prove to supporters and the club that the money spent to bring him in from Burnley was worthwhile, rather than becoming the next Bergwijn, who was an expensive flop on the wing.

However, the signs are not promising at this moment in time. We can only judge on what has happened so far, and Odobert has not done enough on the pitch to suggest that his fortunes are going to turn around any time soon.

Forget Kudus & Richarlison: Spurs' 7/10 gem is becoming Frank's best player

Tottenham Hotspur have uncovered a new talent under Thomas Frank over recent weeks.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 21, 2025

Therefore, the French winger is the one who is in danger of becoming the next Bergwijn, rather than Tel, who showed some glimpses of quality in the Premier League last term.

The former India fielding coach will be working with the national squads, emerging squads, premier club players, national U-19 team, and women’s A team

ESPNcricinfo staff06-May-2025R Sridhar, India’s former fielding coach, will conduct a “comprehensive 10-day fielding programme” for both top men’s and women’s cricketers in Sri Lanka.SLC announced that Sridhar would be working with the “men’s and women’s national squads, emerging squads, premier club players, and the national U19 team, and women’s ‘A’ team as well”. The national women’s team may only be available for part of that programme, however, as they are currently playing a tri-series against India and South Africa, set to finish on May 11.”Sridhar, a BCCI Level 3 qualified coach, brings a wealth of experience, having served as India’s fielding coach across more than 300 international matches from 2014 to 2021,” the SLC release said. It added that Sridhar will “begin the program with the Sri Lanka national men’s team and subsequently train other squads, where he will conduct fielding drills, skill-specific training, and simulated match scenarios, to replicate game conditions.:SLC has occasionally brought in foreign coaches to run short programmes such as this, over the years. In 2024, they had Rajasthan Royals’ high performance director Zubin Bharucha conduct a brief programme aimed at raising batting standards. Wasim Akram and Jonty Rhodes had also been hired to run brief bowling and fielding programmes respectively, in the last 10 years.

Opener’s stand of 143 with Toby Albert gave visitors a shot at their 377 target before bad light intervened

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay14-Apr-2025 Hampshire 219 (Prest 44, Gubbins 43, Worrall 3-37) and 300 for 5 (Gubbins 117, Albert 78*, Clark 2-39) drew with Surrey 253 (Sibley 100*, Wheal 4-65) and 342 for 9 dec (Sibley 105, Smith 84, Pope 65) Nick Gubbins and Toby Albert were Hampshire’s heroes as they denied Surrey’s last day attempt to force a first victory of the new Rothesay County Championship season at the Kia Oval.Gubbins scored a five-hour 117 and Albert an equally defiant 78 not out as Hampshire, starting the day on 35 for 3 in their second innings in pursuit of a 377-run win target, finished on 300 for 5.Bad light actually had the final say, forcing the players from the field for what turned out to be the loss of four overs, when 10 overs were left and Hampshire were still 78 short of what would have been a remarkable triumph against the 2022, 2023 and 2024 champions.With just six overs left when the players returned, Jordan Clark sent down two balls – one of which was hit for a single by Albert – and then the players shook hands on the draw.In truth, however, and despite Tom Prest being unbeaten on 32 alongside Albert, it had seemed increasingly unlikely that Hampshire could have scored the remaining runs anyway against a testing Surrey seam attack in gloomy conditions and with the floodlights on.In 22.2 overs with the second new ball, Surrey had restricted Hampshire to 80 runs for the loss of Gubbins and run-scoring was difficult against a high-class pace quartet in which Matt Fisher and Clark were especially impressive.Earlier, it took Surrey almost an hour and a half to claim their only wicket of the morning session, Fletcha Middleton pinned leg-before by Matt Fisher after advancing steadily from his overnight 11 to 42.Middleton’s fourth wicket stand with Gubbins had been worth 74 and provided Hampshire with much-needed stability following the chaotic slide to 30 for 3 in the murk of the third evening, when Kemar Roach had removed opener Mark Stoneman and both nightwatchers, Brad Wheal and Sonny Baker, had fallen to Jordan Clark.Better was to come for Hampshire, with Albert – who had laboured through 27 balls for just one run before lunch, and was caught off a Roach no ball 17 deliveries in – joining Gubbins in a partnership that eventually realised 143 in 52 overs and which grew in authority during an afternoon session in which Surrey went wicketless.From 121 for 4 at lunch the fifth wicket pair combined watchfulness with sensible accumulation and the odd flash of aggression, such as when Gubbins went to 83 with a superb square cut four off Fisher and Albert reached 44 by reverse-sweeping Dan Lawrence’s off spin to the ropes.By tea Gubbins, three short of his hundred, and Albert, who had gone to his half-century from 111 balls, looked in total control as Hampshire contemplated the final session of the game at 216 for four, but with the second new ball due in two overs’ time.This was duly taken by Clark and Dan Worrall, although by then Gubbins had reached his 20th first-class century from 215 balls in what was a chanceless, superlative performance after coming in on a Clark hat-trick.Only 27 runs came from the first nine overs with the second new ball, with Clark particulary miserly, and then Fisher replacing Worrall at the Vauxhall End brought an almost immediate reward.Looking to whip a ball from around the wicket that appeared to keep a little lower than expected, Gubbins was trapped lbw after facing 247 balls and hitting 12 fours, perhaps the best of them a magnificent on drive off Worrall that took him to 114.

Gio Reyna “could play at most clubs”, USMNT legend Brad Friedel has told GOAL in an exclusive interview, with it possible that a move away from Borussia Dortmund could act as a “stepping stone” back towards another top team. Reyna has ended his six-year association with BVB in order to make a fresh start at Borussia Monchengladbach, with it up to him to prove that undoubted potential can be fully unlocked.

Time for a change: Why Reyna left Dortmund

Reyna has been one of the hottest prospects in U.S. soccer for quite some time, having moved to Germany in 2019 after starting out in the academy system at New York City FC. A senior bow was earned with Dortmund at 17 years of age, allowing him to break a youngest debutant record previously held by fellow countryman Christian Pulisic. Big things were expected of the classy playmaker.

He did go on to make 146 appearances for the Bundesliga giants, but injury problems stunted his progress. A forgettable loan spell at Nottingham Forest in 2024 saw Reyna fail to make an impact in the Premier League. He returned to Signal Iduna Park with serious questions being asked of his future.

A permanent transfer was finally completed in the summer of 2025, with Reyna opting to remain in a division that he knows well. A three-year contract was signed with Gladbach, meaning that there is still plenty of time for the 22-year-old to catch the eye of another elite outfit.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesFuture transfer: Reyna can reach the very top

Friedel believes that path can be trodden, with the former USMNT goalkeeper – speaking in association with – telling GOAL: “Absolutely he could (join another top club). Look at his age. For whatever reason, his body has broken down in the manner it has. He needs to figure out why and then build.

“He could play at most clubs. Sometimes when players get injured you see straight away that the clubs will realise and then make sure he’s out. Gio’s always attached to big clubs or somebody is looking. They know he can play, that’s not the issue. That’s a good thing. Everybody knows the talent is there. Now he has to figure out how to stay fit.”

Word Cup dream: What Reyna needs to do

If Reyna can steer clear of the treatment table, then he should get a chance to rub shoulders with the best in the business at a home World Cup in 2026. A move to Gladbach is intended to help get him the regular game time that ongoing development requires.

Friedel previously told GOAL: “With Gio, a lot of unfortunate stuff from the last World Cup, then injury after injury after injury. Talented, talented player. For Gio, he needs minutes and he needs not to be injured. Then we can see before the World Cup if he is ready. If he is, if he has a run of four or five months with no injuries, playing lots of minutes, he’s in the squad.

“He’s a really talented player, one of the better ones we have. But he really does need to play. When I took the job at Besiktas, I was over at the Copa America and was watching. You could just tell there was something a little bit off. It’s not his ability, that is there. That’s not it. His body has unfortunately not cooperated with this sport.

“Hopefully for him it goes well. He’s a really good kid and I hope he just stays fit, gets a run of games and then it will be down to Mauricio [Pochettino] choosing him or not. I don’t like to see anybody get left out because of injury.”

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Getty Images SportInjury issues: Familiar theme for Reyna at Gladbach

Reyna has taken in two appearances for Gladbach so far, with a 4-0 defeat being endured on debut against Werder Bremen. He lost his starting berth for a meeting with Bayer Leverkusen and only managed 10 minutes off the bench in that contest.

He has been nursing another fitness issue since then, with thigh problems causing concern, and all too familiar physical ailments are threatening to derail another bid to get his promising career firmly on track.