All is not well at Celtic right now.

On the pitch, the Hoops were ignominiously dumped out of Champions League qualifying by Kairat, ousted on penalties in Almaty after over three and a half hours of drab, goalless football, before the most dull Old Firm derby in history at Ibrox last Sunday.

Supporters would argue that this is the metaphorical chickens coming home to roost, concerned all summer long about the Celts’ lack of attacking quality, given that Kyōgo Furuhashi, Nicolas Kühn and Matt O’Riley have not been sufficiently replaced.

So, following protests at a charity match against Manchester United legends on Saturday, the club issued an official statement that did nothing to quell dissenting voices, with the names of no individuals attached to the rambling statement, taking no accountability or responsibility for a transfer window many believe to be the club’s worst in modern times.

Thus, Brendan Rodgers has been left massively short ahead of a Europa League campaign that begins against Crvena zvezda in Belgrade later this month, so how he must wish the Hoops hadn’t sold Celtic’s “god of goals” for just £4m.

Celtic's catastrophic striker situation

On deadline day, having failed to replace Kyōgo, who departed in January, Celtic sold their only remaining centre-forward Adam Idah to Swansea City for around £7m, representing a £2.5m loss on the Irishman in just 12 months, but they actually did well to recoup such a large amount, following an underwhelming campaign.

As reports of this sale emerged, supporters thought that the Celtic hierarchy must have a replacement lined up, or at least that’s what one would assume.

The Hoops number one target was Kasper Dolberg but, after haggling over the price, Anderlecht instead sold him to Ajax for a reported fee of €10m (around £8.7m), with the Denmark international re-joining the Amsterdam-based giants.

The window then duly slammed shut, and Celtic did not have a striker, meaning they had 24 hours to secure a free agent, if they were to be included in their UEFA squad.

Emmanuel Dennis and Patrick Bamford were among the underwhelming names mentioned, but they instead secured Kelechi Iheanacho, albeit only after Sevilla had terminated his contract to facilitate the move, emphasising how wanted he was in Southern Spain.

The Nigerian actually scored against Celtic for Manchester City back in December 2016, as the pair drew 1-1 in the Champions League.

Once highly rated, Iheanacho’s career has essentially fallen off a cliff in recent years, scoring just 26 goals across the last four seasons, having netted 19 times during the 2020/21 campaign prior to this decline.

So, how Celtic supporters must wish they still had the forgotten goal machine from the Postecoglou era.

Celtic's "god of goals"

Giorgos Giakoumakis was not at Celtic for a long time, but he certainly made his mark in Glasgow.

In just 57 appearances in hoops, the Greece international scored 26 goals, averaging a goal every 97 minutes, winning the Premiership golden boot during his only full season at Parkhead.

However, unable to secure a regular starting spot due to Kyōgo’s presence, imagine having depth like that now, he was sold to Atlanta United for around £4m in March 2023.

Since then, Giakoumakis has become something of a globe-trotter, leaving Atlanta after less than 18 months in MLS, sold to Cruz Azul for $10m (around £7.4m), albeit he did not live up to expectations in Mexico City, returning to his homeland this summer by signing for PAOK on loan.

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.

Well, he has made an immediate impact in Thessaloniki, on target off the bench during a 5-0 victory over HNK Rijeka last month, a victory at Toumba Stadium that secured PAOK’s place in the Europa League.

Following Giakoumakis’ arrival in Major League Soccer, Jaime Uribarri labelled him the “Greek God of goals”, while Tom Bogert simply noted that, wherever he goes, the striker “just scores goals”, a useful skillset for a centre-forward to possess.

So, let’s assess how his recent seasons compare to Celtic’s latest centre-forward Iheanacho.

As the table documents, across the last five seasons, and the start of this one, Giakoumakis has scored almost twice as many goals as Iheanacho, who hasn’t reached double figures in a single campaign since lockdown when he was at Leicester.

More recently, the Nigerian international endured a miserable loan spell at Middlesbrough this time last year, before scoring just three goals for Sevilla, all of which came in the Copa del Rey, bagging a brace against fifth-tier Las Rozas, before also scoring against UE Olot of the fourth division, but bagging no goals in La Liga.

Having worked with him before, Rodgers will believe he can resurrect Iheanacho’s form and confidence, but this is certainly a gamble, while Giakoumakis guarantees goals, so what a difference the Greek striker would make to this current Celtic side.

Celtic can unearth their own Dolberg in 18-year-old who's "some talent"

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers may unearth his own version of Kasper Dolberg with this academy talent.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 7, 2025

Manchester City’s Champions League campaign is up and running with a victory.

On Thursday night at the Etihad, the 2023 winners beat Napoli 2-0 to commence the league phase with three points.

The key flash point of the first half was the red card shown to the visitors’ captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, dismissed by referee Felix Zwayer for a foul on Erling Braut Håland, deemed to be the denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

The match remained goalless for almost an hour, Antonio Conte’s team staying compact and defending resolutely, featuring an extraordinary goal-line clearance from Matteo Politano on the cusp of half time.

Nevertheless, in the end, Man City did find the breakthrough, with Phil Foden’s chipped through-ball picking out Håland whose looping header beat Vanja Milinković-Savić, before Jérémy Doku lashed home the clincher a mere seven minutes later.

In last season’s Champions League, Pep Guardiola’s team only managed victories against Slovan Bratislava, Sparta Prague and Club Brugge, not exactly European juggernauts, so will be pleased to have overcome the reigning Scudetto holders.

It was a record-breaking night for one Man City player, while another showed his class, on a night when a returning Sky Blue great enjoyed an inauspicious home coming.

Erling Braut Håland's record breaking night

On a Champions League night, you can almost always rely on Erling Braut Håland to score a goal.

His header to break the deadlock was his 50th in the Champions League, bagging eight for RB Salzburg, 15 in the yellow of Borussia Dortmund and now 27 for Manchester City.

This makes him, by some considerable distance, the fastest player to this landmark in the competition’s history, as indicated below.

Here’s a mind-blowing piece of information for you, courtesy of Will Jeanes of the Athletic.

On 18 September 2007, Ruud van Nistelrooy scored for Real Madrid against Werder Bremen to become the fastest player to 50 European Cup or Champions League goals, breaking Raúl’s record, doing so in his 62nd appearance in the tournament.

Well, exactly 18 years to the day later, this record is shattered by Håland, who has reached 50 goals in just 49 games, very much with his sights set on Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time record of 140.

However, the big Norwegian centre-forward was not the only man to impress in Sky Blue.

Manchester City's new Kevin De Bruyne

All the pre-match discussion ahead of Napoli’s visit to the Etihad was about the swift homecoming of Kevin De Bruyne; whoever at UEFA headquarters decided to put this fixture on matchday one knew what they were doing!

However, the night certainly did not go how the Belgian would have dreamt it, hooked after 20 minutes through no fault of his own, simply sacrificed by Conte, replaced by left-back Mathías Olivera, following Di Lorenzo’s aforementioned red card.

During his time in Manchester, De Bruyne and Håland directly combined for 25 goals, eight more than any other player in the goal machine’s career; Marco Reus the man second on this list.

Instead of coming back to haunt the club who declined the opportunity to extend his contract, De Bruyne got to watch on like the rest of us as Foden staked a claim to be the heir to his vacant throne.

Chalkboard

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

At the weekend, the England international’s header to break the deadlock in the Manchester derby was his first Premier League goal since netting against Chelsea on 25 January, a draught of 232 days.

Then, in this match, his impudent assists teed up Håland to make the breakthrough, and the statistics below highlight how impactful he was throughout, having been handed an 8/10 match rating by the MEN.

Assists

1

1st

Accurate passes

56

8th

Shots on target

1

2nd

Key passes

8

1st

Big chances created

1

1st

Accurate crosses

11

1st

Touches

82

6th

Average SofaScore rating

7.6

5th

As the table documents, Foden was the creative hub of Manchester City’s team against Napoli, registering four more key passes than anyone else, as well as nine more accurate crosses than any other member of the Citizens’ squad.

Last season was frankly miserable for Foden, scoring just ten goals and accumulating four assists across the Premier League and Champions League, having registered 24 goals and 11 assists the season before, named PFA Players’ Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Player of the Year as a result.

Nevertheless, after scoring three times during the Club World Cup in the summer, there are further signs that Foden is getting back to his best.

Thus, he will surely be in Guardiola’s starting lineup for Sunday’s huge clash with Arsenal in North London, hoping he can live up to the departed De Bruyne’s legacy.

"Incredible…" – Micah Richards lauds Man City star for display vs Man Utd

The pundit was left impressed by one Manchester City player, who was “fantastic” on Sunday.

ByDominic Lund Sep 16, 2025

أدلى تشابي ألونسو مدرب ريال مدريد بتصريحات عقب فوز فريقه أمام فالنسيا في الدوري الإسباني، وقيّم أداء لاعبيه وعلى رأسهم فينيسيوس جونيور وكيليان مبابي، وكشف عن قرار قبل مواجهة ليفربول.

ويتصدر ريال مدريد الدوري الإسباني بـ 30 نقطة بعد فوزه أمام فالنسيا برباعية نظيفة، وسيواجه ليفربول يوم الثلاثاء المقبل، ضمن مباريات مرحلة الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وقال تشابي في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “لعبنا بتحركات كثيرة، وبتمريرات جيدة، وضغطنا بسرعة بعد فقدان الكرة، النتيجة جاءت لصالحنا وأنا سعيد جدًا”.

وأضاف: “لقد كان انتصارًا جماعيًا، الفريق لعب بشكل رائع، وبدأنا بطاقة إيجابية جدًا، اللاعبون أرادوا مواصلة الديناميكية الجيدة، لعبنا بتحركات كثيرة، وتمريرات سلسة، وضغط سريع بعد فقدان الكرة، النتيجة سارت في صالحنا وأنا سعيد للغاية”.

وعن أكثر ما يعجبه في الفريق، أفاد: “الطاقة الإيجابية، الالتزام والتضحية، الجميع يقدّم أداءً فرديًا مميزًا لخدمة الفريق، عندما لا نملك الكرة، تتولد بيننا كيمياء كبيرة، وهذا ما نبحث عنه دائمًا”.

وأردف: “لا أدري إن كانت مثالية، لكنها سارت بشكل جيد جدًا، في الشوط الثاني لعبنا بعقلانية بسبب مباراة الثلاثاء (أمام ليفربول) كنا متقدمين ومسيطرين، لذا كان علينا أن نلعب بذكاء، الأمور سارت كما خططنا، لكننا لا نريد أن نسترخي، نريد دخول كل مباراة بذهنٍ جاهز، وقد فعلنا ذلك اليوم”.

وعن أهمية العمل الدفاعي للفريق، أوضح: “الأمر أساسي، للفوز بالبطولات عليك أن تدافع جيدًا وتحافظ على نظافة شباكك في العديد من المباريات، بدأنا الدفاع من الخطوط الأمامية، وعندما تتعاون جميع الخطوط في العمل الدفاعي يصبح اللعب أكثر راحة، الجميع كان مركزًا ومترابطًا جدًا”.

وبشأن أداء كاريراس، علّق تشابي: “إنه لاعب تنافسي جدًا، يفعل كل شيء بإتقان، يظل مركزًا حتى عندما تكون الكرة بعيدة، قوي في الالتحامات، ويعرف متى يختار الخيار الصحيح، من الرائع أن يكون معنا”.

وعن كيليان مبابي الذي قدم أداءً رائعًا، وإذا كان المدرب منزعجًا من عدم تسجيله هاتريك بعد ضربة الجزاء التي أهدرها فينيسيوس، استطرد تشابي: “لقد سجل هدفين آخرين، ويحافظ على معدل تهديفي ممتاز ينافس به على الألقاب في نهاية الموسم، والأهم أننا حصلنا على ثلاث نقاط جديدة”.

وواصل مدرب ريال مدريد: “المباراة كانت متكاملة، جادة، وبطاقة رائعة، بدأنا بشكل ديناميكي، بتمريرات كثيرة وتقدمنا مبكرًا، كنا نستطيع تسجيل المزيد، لكن بشكل عام كانت مباراة مثالية تقريبًا”.

وسُئل تشابي إذا كان إنزعج من إهدار ضربة الجزاء، وأجاب: المدرب: “منزعج من إضاعتها بالتأكيد، لأنها كانت قبل الاستراحة مباشرة وكان يمكن أن تجعل النتيجة 3-0، لحسن الحظ، سجّل بيلينجهام بعدها، كان مجرد انفعال لحظي لعدم تسجيل الهدف الثالث، وانتهى الأمر”.

وإذا كان مبابي هو منفذ ركلات الجزاء الأول في ريال مدريد، رد تشابي: “هو ليس الوحيد، لكن نعم، هو الأول، أحيانًا تُتخذ قرارات داخل الملعب، ما يهمني هو أن تُسجل الركلة، كانت فرصة جيدة اليوم، لكن لا داعي للتهويل، مبابي ما زال المنفذ الأول”.

وأشاد تشابي بفالفيردي قائلاً: “نرى جميعًا مستواه، ومدى اكتماله كلاعب، بالكرة يمتلك روح لاعب الوسط، على الجانب البدني قوي جدًا، منذ بدأ اللعب في هذا المركز وهو يتحسن ويشعر بالموقع أكثر، إنه لاعب شامل بكل المقاييس”.

كما امتدح أداء لاعبه فينيسيوس جونيور في المباراة حين سُئل عن مستواه، وعلّق: “مباراة ممتازة من فينيسيوس”.

وبالنظر للمعدل التهديفي لمبابي، سُئل تشابي إذا كان من الجنون التفكير في أنه قد يصل إلى 60 أو 70 هدفًا هذا الموسم، ورد: “الوقت سيكشف، لا يمكن التنبؤ بما سيحدث خلال ستة أشهر، لكن مبابي يملك سهولة مذهلة في التسجيل، لا أعرف كم سيسجل، لكني واثق أنه سيُحرز الكثير”.

اقرأ أيضًا | فالفيردي: علينا الاستمتاع بـ مبابي.. وتسديدات كاريراس مذهلة

وإذا كان سيعتمد على نفس اللاعبين في الدفاع دائمًا، أوضح: “في موسم طويل، لا يمكن اللعب دائمًا بنفس الأسماء، لكن الأهم هو وضوح الأفكار الدفاعية، سنستعيد ألابا قريبًا، وروديجر أيضًا، ما يمنحنا جودة تنافسية وتكتيكية ويتيح لنا خيارات أكثر”.

وعن مدى صحة ما تردد حول عدم تدرب لاعبي ريال مدريد في ملعب “آنفيلد” معقل ليفربول، أكد تشابي: “نعم، هذا قراري، سنستعد للمباراة في مدينتنا الرياضية، في مكاننا الخاص، حتى لا تلاحقنا الكاميرات”.

A Manchester United star could now “reconsider” his future amid interest from Saudi Arabia, a journalist has revealed.

Man Utd star could change his stance on leaving

Ruben Amorim appears to be under serious pressure after Man United’s poor start to the Premier League campaign, with Wayne Rooney suggesting the manager hasn’t been able to make any improvements since the departure of Erik ten Hag.

Rooney said: “I want to be as supportive and positive as I can. But it is very difficult to sit here and say we are seeing progression. We’re seeing none of that, and it is very difficult. I think if the manager is honest with himself, it has got worse.”

Issues are also mounting in midfield, with Kobbie Mainoo pushing for an exit during the January transfer window, after falling down the pecking order under Amorim, most recently only featuring as a second-half substitute against Manchester City.

Amorim wanted his own Donnarumma & Haaland but Man Utd got Altay & Sesko instead

It’s been yet another poor start to a Premier League season for Manchester United.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 16, 2025

Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes were given the nod in central midfield instead, with the Portugal international featuring slightly deeper than he is suited to, given that Amorim is uncompromising about playing a 3-4-1-2 system.

There were some suggestions that Fernandes could have left during the summer transfer window, amid interest from the Saudi Pro League, and there has now been a new update on the Portugal international’s Old Trafford future.

Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke said: “I would fully expect that Saudi interest to continue. It hasn’t really gone away. There was talks held with his agent and everything else, but Fernandes decided to stay at Manchester United.

“He is happy at United right now, but I think a lot will depend on how Man United do this season. If they were to endure another struggle in the Premier League and everything else, then Fernandes could reconsider his position at the end of the season and move on.”

Man Utd letting Fernandes leave would be major gamble

Very few Man United signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era have worked out, but the 31-year-old is one of the only exceptions, recording 38 goal contributions in all competitions over the course of the 2024-25 campaign.

That said, there are doubts over whether the £300k-a-week Portugal international fits into Amorim’s system, with Paul Scholes saying: “He is the most creative player on the team, he should be playing as the No 10, there is no doubt about that. But he is being asked to do something different.”

Consequently, if Amorim remains at Old Trafford, it may be best for all parties if Fernandes moves on, but it would be a huge gamble, and the 40-year-old will need to improve results soon, with United collecting just four points from their opening four games.

John Terry has revealed his confusion at the fact he does not receive more job offers, while seemingly giving up on his ambition to manage Chelsea. The former England captain has not held a first-team coaching position since working as an assistant at Leicester City in 2023, as offers do not appear to have materialised.

Terry's bitterness

Terry enjoyed a world-class playing career in which he captained Chelsea to five Premier League titles, as well as the Champions League and five FA Cups. He retired after a short stint at Aston Villa, having also won 78 caps for England, and then appeared set to head into coaching. In 2018, fresh from hanging up his boots, he was appointed as Villa's assistant head coach, working with manager Dean Smith, but left after three years. Since, he worked with Chelsea in a coaching consultancy role, before returning to Smith's staff at Leicester City. After his time with the Foxes, which came to an end in July of 2023, he has not held a role in first-team football, and he has expressed his confusion at the state of affairs he finds himself in, having seen former international team-mates Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Wayne Rooney all bag managerial roles. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTerry's dream fading

Quoted by the Daily Mail, Terry revealed his dream is to manage Chelsea, but he accepts that he may well have to admit defeat on that fantasy. 

He said: "I'm not sure it ever happens, to be honest. It's my one last dream I have at the football club. I've done everything at Chelsea. And for me now, the one thing that is missing is being the manager of the football club. 

"That's why I went into coaching when I finished playing. My idea and dream was to learn my trade a bit. As a player, you retire after 22 years… Listen, 100 per cent, you learn enough to go into management. 

"The level I played at and the managers I played under. But it doesn't give you the right you go into management at a certain level. You still have to learn and understand what it takes. 

"There's a lot more that goes into the coaching side of it. So I went away and learnt my trade, I had some unbelievable times at Villa, I left Villa to be a number one, I thought I was ready. I think I'd be a really good number one, I enjoyed the coaching side of it. 

"I want people around me that are better coaches than me. Then I could lead the dressing room and the team like I did [as a player]. That's what I did for 22 years at the club. I know I'd be good at it. Will I ever get the chance? I'm not sure, without doing the other bits. But when people tell you you've not got the experience, it's difficult to fathom."

Not eyeing a Premier League club

Terry says he is not trying to take a job in the top-flight of English football, and instead says he would be willing to drop into a League One club as he looks to kick-start his managerial career at the age of 44. 

He added: "When I went into Villa I got great experience under Dean Smith and we got promotion, which was incredible. As an assistant coach in the Premier League and the experience I've had as a player and an individual captain in both Chelsea and England, I thought that would be enough to get me a job.

"I'm not saying a job in the Premier League or the Championship – but a job at League One level."

Terry concluded: "I didn't even get a sniff. I had interviews and it was just 'you have no experience'. When I see some people managing today, it baffles me, it really does. 

"In terms of 'am I frustrated', yes, absolutely, because I have a lot of good attributes to be a really good coach or a really good manager but, unfortunately, that's not happened."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWhat comes next?

Terry is clearly ready and willing to jump into the dugout but it is unclear if a League One club will be willing to test him out. He will surely be keeping a close eye on managerial movements up and down the Football League, although the Blues job looks a long way off for the former skipper. 

MatériaMais Notícias

As ações ofensivas do Botafogo passam, cada vez mais, por Victor Sá. De volta aos gramados há cerca de um mês, o atacante não só conseguiu se firmar como uma válvula de escape para as investidas alvinegras, mas também vem crescendo de rendimento a cada rodada do Brasileirão.

A dedicação que tem ao partir para cima de adversários e se apresentar para jogadas faz com que o jogador se torne “intocável” às vésperas do confronto com o São Paulo. Enquanto o técnico Bruno Lage mantém o mistério em quem será titular da linha de frente, Victor Sá tem sua escalação para o jogo no Morumbi, neste sábado (19), às 16h, confirmada. A equipe tenta continuar em uma situação confortável na liderança da competição nacional.

+ Confira a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Logo em seu retorno, contra o Santos, no dia 30 de julho, o jogador de 29 anos demonstrou que poderia ser uma saída significativa. Lançado às pressas para compensar a saída do lesionado Luis Henrique, Victor Sá começou a acentuar as investidas do Botafogo na partida. Aos poucos, os alvinegros forçaram, até arrancarem o 2 a 2 na Vila Belmiro.

Na rodada seguinte, o atacante deu passes para dois gols na goleada por 4 a 1 sobre o Coritiba. Seus desempenhos na vitória por 2 a 1 sobre o Guaraní, do Paraguai, nas oitavas da Sul-Americana, e nos dois jogos seguintes do Brasileiro (o empate em 0 a 0 com o Cruzeiro e a vitória por 3 a 1 diante do Internacional) deram mais vigor ao atleta que assume uma grande responsabilidade.

Victor Sá tem o desafio de assumir a camisa 7, que ganha um peso por ser o número que Garrincha vestiu. Com a responsabilidade de arrefecer os ânimos dos adversários e, depois, deslanchar em busca de um novo ataque, Victor Sá vem mostrando uma postura aguerrida.

Além disto, a cada jogo mostra desenvoltura para se livrar da marcação adversária e lutar por um lançamento. Desta vez, o jogador de 29 anos pode ter Diego Costa como seu parceiro. Não faltam desafios para o atual camisa 7 na luta por levar o Botafogo ao título.

Tottenham Hotspur have always been a club that gives young players a chance.

Today, Thoms Frank has the likes of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall making regular appearances, and so long as things turn around at Rangers, Mikey Moore is likely to feature more prominently next season.

Go back just over a decade, and it was a certain Harry Kane who was given the chance to lead the line under Mauricio Pochettino. Then, just a few years after that, Dele Alli was signed from MK Dons.

At his best, the former England international was a force of nature for Spurs, and while it’s early, it looks like the North Londoners might just have another version of him on the books today.

What made Dele Alli so special

While he has unfortunately faded out of football almost entirely today, it is impossible to overstate just how special a player Dele was at his peak.

For example, in just his first season with the club, the Englishman was able to rack up a brilliant tally of ten goals and ten assists in 46 appearances.

Such a return would be impressive for a seasoned professional, but considering he was just 20 years old and had spent the prior campaign in League One, it was incredible.

Unsurprisingly, he was named the PFA Young Player of the Year, an award he’d win for a second time the following year after producing an out-of-this-world tally of 34 goal involvements in 50 appearances.

While it sounds overly simplistic, it was this sensational ability to produce goals and assists at an unimaginable rate for someone so young that made the Milton Keynes-born gem so special.

Dele’s Spurs record

Appearances

269

Minutes

19162′

Goals

67

Assists

58

Goal Involvements per Match

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvement

153.29′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

He wasn’t necessarily the best passer in the game, and sometimes could be found lacking when it came to the defensive side of things, but he was a force of nature when it came to popping up at the right time to either score or provide the final pass to someone else who’d put the ball in the back of the net.

So, unfortunately, when the goal involvements began to dry up, everything started to go wrong for the potentially world-class talent, and while he may well get back to his best, he is currently without a club.

In more positive news for Tottenham, it looks like they have an academy gem who could potentially become their new Dele in the coming years.

Meet Spurs' new Dele

There are more than a handful of truly exciting prospects in Spurs’ academy setup at the moment, but the one who stands the best chance of emulating Dele at his best is Luca Williams-Barnett.

Despite still being just 17 years old, the youngster has been a real talking point for those in the know for some time now, and when you take a look at his numbers in youth football, it’s easy to understand why.

For example, in just 23 appearances last season, totalling 1857 minutes, the Luton-born wonderkid scored 20 goals and provided 12 assists, which comes out to 1.39 goal involvements every game, or one every 58.03 minutes.

Then this season, even though he’s now primarily playing with the U21s, he has still scored eight goals and provided five assists in nine youth team appearances, totalling 716 minutes, which comes out to an average of 1.44 goal involvements per game, or one every 55.07 minutes.

In other words, the Lilywhites’ young phenom is already a goalscoring machine, but one who is also a reliable provider of assists, which certainly helps to justify analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he’s “one of England’s best talents.”

Moreover, the fact that he has already made his first-team debut, combined with his ability to pop up left, right, and centre with goal involvements from a young age, is undoubtedly reminiscent of Dele at his very best.

Ultimately, it’s still incredibly early in Williams-Barnett’s career, but it’s impossible to ignore just how immense a talent he already is, and his similarities to the Spurs’ former game-changer.

Related Spurs sold "phenomenal" striker for just £7m, now he's as prolific as Kane

The incredible striker Spurs sold is starting to play like Harry Kane.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 7, 2025

Jitesh Sharma survived an appeal for run-out at the non-striker’s end after TV umpire Ulhas Gandhe had deemed that Digvesh Rathi, the bowler, had completed his delivery stride before effecting the run-out.The incident took place in the 17th over of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) chase of 228 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025. When Rathi broke the bails at the non-striker’s end, Jitesh was out of his crease. The on-field umpire checked with Rathi if he wanted to go ahead with the appeal and after Rathi had replied in the affirmative, the TV umpire ruled Jitesh not out, saying the bowler had completed his delivery stride before taking the bails off.Related

• Ashwin: Pant should not have withdrawn Rathi's appeal

• 'Best innings of the season' – Moody, Abhinav marvel at Jitesh's blitz

• The night Jitesh got rid of the enormous weight on his shoulders

According to the IPL’s playing conditions 38.3.1, “If the non-striker is out of his/her ground at any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be Run out by the bowler attempting to run him/her out. In these circumstances, the non- striker will be out Run out if he/she is out of his/her ground when his/her wicket is broken by the bowler throwing the ball at the wicket or by the bowler’s hand holding the ball, whether or not the ball is subsequently delivered.”Also, around the time not out flashed on the big screen, Pant gestured that he had withdrawn the appeal and then exchanged hugs with Jitesh. Even if the TV umpire had have ruled Jitesh out, Pant suggested he would have withdrawn the appeal, which he was entitled to.Jitesh was on 57 off 25 when the incident happened. He went onto finish unbeaten on 85 off 33 balls as RCB mowed down 228 with six wickets and eight balls to spare. It was RCB’s highest successful chase in the IPL and the third highest overall in the tournament’s history.The result confirmed RCB’s place in Qualifier 1, where they will face the table-topping Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 29 in Mullanpur. Gujarat Titans (GT) will take on Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Eliminator at the same venue on May 30.

Maia Bouchier misses out as batters Alice Davidson-Richards and Emma Lamb make returns

Valkerie Baynes14-May-2025

Sophie Ecclestone has been left out of England’s white-ball squad for the home series against West Indies, where Issy Wong is poised to make a comeback to international ranks.Ecclestone has been unable to play domestic cricket due to a knee injury, although she turned out for Lancashire on Wednesday and scored a fifty as England’s selection panel, including newly appointed national selector Lydia Greenway, named their squads.Maia Bouchier was omitted, while Wong joined fellow Warwickshire seamer Emily Arlott in the squad for three T20Is. Arlott – yet to make her international debut – was also selected in the squad for three ODIs to follow.Wong last played for England on the tour of Ireland last September while the first-choice T20 squad was preparing for the World Cup after a difficult period struggling with her form. She impressed for England Women A in their recent tour of Australia and in her county’s opening matches.Also making returns are batters Alice Davidson-Richards and Emma Lamb, selected for the ODIs off the back of impressive performances with the bat in the Metro Bank One Day Cup domestic competition.The Blaze’s opening batter Tammy Beaumont and spinner Linsey Smith – the leading wicket-taker in the Metro Bank One Day Cup – are selected in both squads while Mahika Gaur, the 19-year-old left-arm quick who travelled to Australia for the Ashes but didn’t play as part of her return from injury, was called up for the ODIs. Beaumont returned to the T20I format last year following a two-year absence from the format although she only played the Test and ODIs in Australia.”Following her knee injury, Sophie Ecclestone is physically not quite at 100% yet,” said head coach Charlotte Edwards. “She’s been rehabbing and working hard but she’s only just got back on the park for Lancashire so she doesn’t have enough cricket under her belt to be ready for this series.”All-rounders Freya Kemp (back) and Danielle Gibson (stress fracture) are both unavailable due to injury. Lauren Filer’s return from a knee injury continues positively and she will continue to be reviewed.”Maia Bouchier misses out having been a part of the Ashes series, Maia’s talent is there for all to see and the challenge to her is to go and make consistent match-winning contributions for Hampshire in domestic cricket. It’s the same for any player who’d disappointed to not be a part of these squads.England Women T20I squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Emily Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Paige Scholfield, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-HodgeEngland Women ODI squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Alice Davidson-Richards, Emily Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Mahika Gaur, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith

Nottingham Forest have reportedly made a decision on Ange Postecoglou's future ahead of the club's clash with Chelsea this weekend. The Australian is staring down the barrel after seven matches without a single victory. His side’s dismal start has left supporters restless and whispers growing louder that a managerial change is on the horizon unless a miracle turnaround begins against the Blues.

• Winless and wobbling, Postecoglou on the brink

  Postecoglou’s arrival was supposed to herald a new era of attacking football at the City Ground. But what was once billed as bold and brave has quickly looked reckless and naïve. Forest’s adventurous setup, a complete departure from last season’s compact counter-attacking formula, has left their backline vulnerable on multiple occasions. Supporters made their frustrations clear during the 3-2 Europa League home defeat to Midtjylland earlier this month, booing the team off. Just days later, a 2-0 loss to Newcastle compounded the gloom, with Forest noticeably more cautious, and still second best. While there have been flashes of fluid attacking play, their inability to defend set-pieces, maintain shape, or withstand pressure has cost them dearly. Forest’s gaping spaces in transition have become a feeding ground for opponents, and patience among fans is rapidly running out.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Marinakis reluctant but ready to swing his axe

  Evangelos Marinakis, a man not known for his patience, is treading a delicate line. The Greek tycoon knows sacking another manager so early in the season could damage both the club’s reputation and finances, yet he’s equally aware of the growing discontent swirling around the terraces. Forest’s revolving managerial door has already seen Nuno Espirito Santo shown the exit barely three games into the new Premier League campaign. Postecoglou was supposed to be the reset. Instead, he’s teetering on the edge of becoming the latest casualty of Marinakis’s ruthless pursuit of results. For now, the owner remains cautious, but those close to the situation suggest Marinakis likes to have a successor ready, just in case. And with the Australian’s stock sinking fast, that “just in case” could soon turn into “when.” A list is being prepared in the boardroom, with more "pragmatic" candidates being favoured for the rescue job, as revealed by

• Sean Dyche in frame

  Should the hammer fall, former Everton boss Sean Dyche is being tipped as the frontrunner to replace Postecoglou. The 54-year-old has been out of work since leaving Goodison Park in January, but has quietly made it known he’s ready for the right project, and Nottingham Forest ticks several boxes. Crucially, Dyche is available without a compensation fee, an attractive proposition for a club still smarting from recent payout costs. Adding to the appeal, Dyche’s trusted lieutenants Ian Woan and Steve Stone are both former Forest players who know the club inside out, having served under him during his managerial stints at Burnley and Everton.

  Another name admired by Forest’s leadership is Marco Silva, whose work at Fulham has impressed across the Premier League. However, his massive release clause is seen as a major stumbling block. Silva’s current contract runs until the end of the season, and prising him away mid-campaign would likely prove too costly for Marinakis’s liking.

  As if the turmoil on the touchline wasn’t enough, Forest could soon face upheaval behind the scenes too. Head of recruitment Pedro Ferreira, who only joined in June after a 17-year spell at Benfica, might be heading back to Portugal depending on the outcome of Benfica’s upcoming presidential elections. One of the frontrunners, Noronha Lopes, has vowed to make Ferreira his director of football if elected. Losing Ferreira would be another body blow for Forest’s structure, especially after chief football officer Ross Wilson left for Newcastle just last week. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  The clock is ticking for Postecoglou

  Time is no longer Postecoglou’s friend. His fate may be sealed by the next three fixtures, a brutal run that could define his tenure. First up is Chelsea at home on October 18, a match that now feels like a last stand. Then comes a tricky Europa League clash with Porto, followed by a potentially treacherous trip to Bournemouth. Anything less than a string of positive results, and the calls for his head will become impossible to ignore.