Álvaro Fidalgo, one of Liga MX’s standout talents, could be eligible to represent Mexico in March 2026 after five years in the country and obtaining citizenship. The Club América midfielder’s vision and control could provide the creativity El Tri currently lacks beyond Marcel Ruiz. The Spaniard began his career at Real Madrid.
Amelia Kerr and Matt Henry won top honours at the New Zealand Cricket Awards on Wednesday. Kerr won the Debbie Hockley Medal for being the women’s cricketer of the year while Henry took away its men’s counterpart, the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal.Kerr, 24, won the top honour for an unprecedented third consecutive year in a row. She starred in New Zealand’s maiden Women’s T20 World Cup win last year. She finished with 15 wickets, the most in the competition, and 135 runs, the third-most for New Zealand. She was named Player of the Match in the final and took home the Player-of-the-Tournament award as well and later was named ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year, winning the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy.At the NZC awards, Kerr also swept away the Women’s ODI and T20I Player of the Year awards. She averaged 33 with the bat and returned 14 wickets in ODIs. She captained Wellington Blaze to the title, and her 441 runs along with 15 wickets earned her the Women’s Super Smash Player of the Year.”Melie’s consistency, skill, and passion for the game are an inspiration to us all, and I couldn’t be prouder to see her name etched alongside mine once again,” Debbie Hockley said while announcing the winner.Apart from the men’s cricketer of the year honours, Henry was also named New Zealand Men’s Test Player of the Year. He picked up 25 wickets at an average of 20.08 in five matches, including eight wickets in the Bengaluru Test against India last year. Henry was also named the ODI Player of the Year, thanks to his 24 wickets at an average of 15.50. He was instrumental in New Zealand finishing runners-up at the Champions Trophy.Matt Henry completed 100 Test wickets on the tour of India•BCCI
Jacob Duffy was named the Men’s T20I Player of the Year after his 21 wickets at 9.71 made him No. 1 in the ICC men’s T20I bowler rankings. Kane Williamson won the Redpath Cup for men’s first-class batting, while Henry won the Winsor Cup for men’s first-class bowling.Eden Carson picked up 40 wickets in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, New Zealand’s 50-over domestic competition for women, and starred with an unbeaten 59 off 43 balls for winners Otago in a thrilling final. That saw her being named the Women’s Domestic Player of the Year.The Bert Sutcliffe Medal for outstanding service to cricket was awarded to historian Francis Payne. It was in recognition of his contributions to the documentation and preservation of New Zealand cricket history, most notably through his long-standing, 42-year role as co-editor of the New Zealand Cricket Almanack, a publication regarded as the definitive resource for followers of the Kiwi game.Chris Gaffaney, who is in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires for 2025-26, was named the Umpire of the Year.
Debbie Hockley Medal – Amelia Kerr
Sir Richard Hadlee Medal – Matt Henry
Bert Sutcliffe Medal for Outstanding Services to Cricket – Francis Payne
Test Player of the Year – Matt Henry
Men’s ODI Player of the Year – Matt Henry
Women’s ODI Player of the Year – Amelia Kerr
Men’s T20I Player of the Year – Jacob Duffy
Women’s T20I Player of the Year – Amelia Kerr
Men’s Domestic Player of the Year – Brett Hampton
Women’s Domestic Player of the Year – Eden Carson
Super Smash Men’s Player of the Year – Tom Bruce
Super Smash Women’s Player of the Year – Amelia Kerr
Redpath Cup (men’s first-class batting) – Kane Williamson
Ruth Martin Cup (women’s domestic batting) – Maddy Green
Winsor Cup (men’s first-class bowling) – Matt Henry
Phyl Blackler Cup (women’s domestic bowling) – Eden Carson
New Zealand Umpire of the Year – Chris Gaffaney
Liverpool have signed some brilliant players from abroad, with the likes of Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez enjoying their first taste of English football at Anfield.
More recently, the likes of Alisson and Mohamed Salah have transformed the Reds after swapping Roma for Liverpool. However, those at Anfield almost signed Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2003, with the Reds agreeing to pay the superstar just £20,000-a-week.
Ronaldo, as we know, would move to England with Manchester United, starring against Liverpool in the Premier League and becoming a world star under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Portuguese icon then went to Real Madrid in one of the most high-profile transfers of all time, scoring goals for fun at the Bernabeu.
Eze, Ronaldo, Beckham: The biggest hijacked transfers of all time
Plenty of high profile deals have been dramatic.
ByCharlie Smith Aug 26, 2025
In total, for both Man Utd and Real Madrid, Ronaldo faced Liverpool on 14 occasions in all competitions and had a successful record, scoring three goals and providing two assists.
Games
14
Wins
9
Draws
1
Losses
4
Goals scored
3
Assists
2
Things could have been very different for Ronaldo in England, though, prior to his £12m+ move to Old Trafford.
Liverpool agreed deal to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for £4m
Talking previously to The Athletic, relayed by One Football, former Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson shared details on the Reds’ proposed move to sign Ronaldo from Sporting CP.
He stated that Liverpool were set to pay a total fee of just £4m for Ronaldo, who was set to earn £1m-a-year (£20,000-a-week) on Merseyside.
However, with the deal progressing nicely, Thompson and then Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier were left stunned after seeing on Sky Sports that Ronaldo had instead signed for Man Utd.
A case of what could have been for Liverpool with Ronaldo, and Houllier and Thompson ended up signing Harry Kewell from Leeds United instead.
Former MLS forward and current CBS Sports analyst Mike Grella praised Christian Pulisic's impact at AC Milan, suggesting that the USMNT star’s success at one of Europe's most storied clubs represents a milestone for soccer development in the U.S. Grella said Pulisic, who scored twice Saturday for Milan, has changed perceptions of American players in Europe.
Getty Images SportStandard bearer reshaping perceptions
Grella said that Milan's Rafael Leao might have questioned Pulisic’s ability when he first arrived at the club.
"Imagine you're Leao – 100 percent this went through his head," Grella said on CBS Sports. "And I don't want to put words in his mouth but 100 percent. I know this for a fact because I was an American playing in Europe. Pulisic comes and he (Leao) goes ‘I'm the guy here, I'm the man, I’m the most talented player,' right?
“There was rumors of how much he was worth year one after he got the MVP, he was saying he's worth $100 million, right? No doubt in his head, he goes. ‘Who's this American kid coming here? Thinking that he can play at AC Milan with me.' Right? One hundred percent, there was that thought in his mind. And now with Pulisic, year three, constantly being this steady?"
Grella said Pulisic is now setting standards for U.S. internationals.
“Scoring goals constantly, look at him," he said. "Just gets his job done, hard worker. That sends a shockwave through the entire team, especially to guys like Leao. 'Look hey pal, you have to play, you have to perform, you have to work.' Like, this is a standard now at Milan.
"And the fact that Pulisic is setting that standard for AC Milan tells you where American football is going. Hopefully in the right direction, with obviously things going on with the national team, not so great. But him leading the flag for American football… is an awesome storyline. Credit to Pulisic."
AdvertisementGetty Images SportPulisic is a complete player
Grella praised Pulisic after his brace helped the Rossoneri to a 3-0 win over Udinese.
“He can do it all,” Grella gushed. “Both feet, he can score with his head if it’s not a contested header. He can beat guys on the dribble. He’s just a guy you want in the changing room. With so much change in the team, managers, players… he’s been the guy that’s been, ‘No I’m here and this is my job, and this is what I do.' He’s been the one steady at a club that’s been trying to figure things out over the last couple of seasons.”
AFPMarco Messina on Massimiliano Allegri’s influence
Analyst Marco Messina also praised Massimiliano Allegri’s influence on the team. The Italian was appointed as the Rossoneri’s new coach before the season.
“What stands out to me most is how professional they they were,” Messina said on CBS Sports Golazo. “Even at 3-0, they were going to get the fourth goal, they didn’t want to concede, you could see the anger in them. That’s a touch of Max Allegri and we’ve said before, he was exactly what they needed.
“Milan’s management have gotten things wrong in the past, and we’ve sat here and we’ve said ‘They got this wrong, they got this wrong.' In this summer, we all sat here and said, 'They got the best possible coach for this exact situation.' Yes, it’s only a few games into the season, but you can see the writing on the wall, that this Milan is headed in the right direction.”
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Getty Images SportPulisic now with three goals
With three goals in four league appearances in the Serie A, Pulisic will hope to continue his run of form.
His first assignment will be the ODI and Test legs of South Africa’s ongoing home series against England
ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2024Mandla Mashimbyi has been appointed as South Africa Women’s full-time head coach, ending the vacuum that had existed in the role since Hilton Moreeng brought his 11-year stint to an end in May.Dillon du Preez, who had been Moreeng’s assistant, had taken over in an interim capacity and been in charge during South Africa’s run to a runners-up finish in the T20 World Cup in the UAE last month. He had expressed uncertainty about continuing in the role, however, suggesting that “the team needs a little bit more”.Related
Mashimbyi wants more long-format cricket for all-format development
Dean sets up big win as England complete 3-0 sweep
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Mashimbyi’s first assignment will be the three-match home ODI series against England, which begins in Kimberley on December 4. That will be followed by a one-off Test in Bloemfontein from December 15-18. England are currently leading 2-0 in the T20I leg of their tour, with the third and final match of that series to be played in Centurion on Saturday.”It is with a profound sense of honour and humility that I accept the appointment as the Proteas Women’s Coach,” Mashimbyi said. “I am fully cognizant of the significant responsibilities and expectations associated with this esteemed position.Mashimbyi, a fast bowler who played 48 first-class games, 49 List A games and one T20 in a South Africa domestic career that stretched from 2003-10, has extensive coaching experience, particularly with the highly successful Titans franchise. He has also enjoyed stints as bowling coach and assistant coach with South Africa Men, and was recently fast-bowling coach at Paarl Royals in the SA20.”I am profoundly grateful for the exceptional opportunity bestowed upon me by Titans Cricket throughout my tenure as a coach,” he said. “Their unwavering support and unwavering backing over the past eleven years have been instrumental in my professional growth and development.”At this juncture, I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity to contribute my expertise and knowledge to the Proteas Women continued success and to elevate their standing as a formidable force in world cricket.”
Back in November, Ruben Amorim was appointed Manchester United boss after leading Sporting CP to multiple Liga Portugal titles during his spell in charge.
Given his success during his time in the role, it’s understandable that he would want to take the talents he managed across to the Premier League with him.
Viktor Gyokeres was seen as the main target after registering 54 goals across all competitions last campaign, but the Red Devils have missed out on his signature after the Swede joined Arsenal this summer.
He’s not the only player from such an outfit to be linked with a move to Old Trafford, with winger Geovany Quenda previously on their radar before completing his own move to fellow English side Chelsea.
Missing out on both players would’ve been a huge disappointment, but the boss could be encouraged with other work being conducted within the market ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
Benjamin Sesko has been a player who’s emerged as a key target for United this summer, as Amorim looks to inject added quality into his forward line during the off-season.
Talks have already been held with the RB Leipzig striker’s representatives over a deal for the 22-year-old who’s currently on their radar of fellow Premier League side Newcastle United.
However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand a player of huge interest to Amorim, according to Italian outlet Calcio Mercato.
Their report claims that the Red Devils have been keeping a close eye on his progress, already submitting a €40m (£35m) bid to sign the 26-year-old Danish midfielder this summer.
It also states that the player himself would be extremely keen on a reunion with his former manager, but would need to wait for an agreement to be struck between the two clubs.
Why United’s £35m target would be perfect for Sesko
As previously mentioned, United are closely monitoring a move for Sesko this summer, with the Slovenian international seen as a key target for the centre-forward position.
The 22-year-old managed to score 21 times across all competitions last season, offering the side the needed focal point they’ve been lacking after scoring just 1.15 goals per game last season.
Such a signing could prove to be an expensive one, however, with his current employers demanding a fee of up to £80m to part ways with their current talisman during the off-season.
It’s unclear whether Sesko himself would be keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, but the hierarchy pursuing a move for his signature highlights the ambition they have to take the side up a level in 2025/26.
However, should he move to the Theatre of Dreams this summer, he could be aided in his attempts by Hjulmund, with the Sporting star possessing real quality that could provide him with numerous chances in the final third.
When delving into his underlying stats from the recent campaign, the Dane has showcased his excellent ability with and without the ball, subsequently able to offer a key option in the middle of the park.
Hjulmand, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by one analyst, completed 90% of the passes he attempted, 6.7 of which per 90 were into the final third, having the tools to provide Sesko with opportunities he needs for success.
Morten Hjulmand’s stats for Sporting CP (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
28
Goals & assists
4
Pass accuracy
90%
Progressive passes
6.4
Passes into final third
6.7
Key passes made
1.1
Take-on success
62%
Tackles won
1.5
Recoveries made
6.5
Aerials won
56%
Stats via FBref
His talents with the ball are further reflected in his tally of 1.1 key passes per 90, whilst also completing 62% of the take-ons he attempted, evidently being more than capable of thriving under pressure.
However, despite his ability on the ball, the 26-year-old has also demonstrated his talents at regaining the ball, winning 1.5 tackles per 90, and subsequently being able to do the dirty work before having an impact in forward areas.
£35m for a player entering the prime years of his career could prove to be an excellent pickup for the Red Devils, especially considering he knows exactly what Amorim expects from his side.
If he can replicate such performance levels in Manchester, he would be a phenomenal pick-up and one that could allow Sesko to thrive in his own debut campaign if he also made the move to England.
Their very own Isak: Man Utd in concrete talks to sign "phenomenal" £80m CF
Manchester United could be about to land a star who’d be their own version of Alexander Isak.
ByEthan Lamb Jul 29, 2025
Tottenham Hotspur were gearing up to welcome Morgan Gibbs-White to Thomas Frank’s early-stage project, with Daniel Levy having overseen a £60m approach for the Nottingham Forest playmaker.
But he has since penned a new deal at the City Ground, with the Tricky Trees claiming Spurs made an illegal approach for the Three Lions star.
He’s now sign a new deal at the City Ground. It’s a bitter pill to swallow after transfer guru Fabrizio Romano had placed his catchline, ‘Here we go”, on the move, signifying a done deal.
However, Spurs must now move forward, and Frank is assessing his options, with sights still set on a new midfield playmaker.
Spurs lining up Gibbs-White alternative
Gibbs-White would have been perfect for the Tottenham project. The succession of recent pre-season draws have illustrated the need for more spark in the midfield, and it’s something Frank is now placing emphasis on, having already signed Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United for a £55m fee.
Romano has confirmed that, while the Gibbs-White deal is dead, the Lilywhites have already started working on alternatives, saying: “They’re working on it [alternative targets for Gibbs-White. As soon as I know, I will tell you.”
Well, according to reporter Graeme Bailey, internal discussions have begun over the potential signing of Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, who is expected to leave Anfield this summer due to a lack of playing time under Arne Slot.
Elliott, 22, would likely be open to the move, Champions League competitors as Tottenham are, and he would come in at a cheaper price than Gibbs-White, valued at £50m.
Why Spurs should sign Harvey Elliott
Having joined Liverpool from Fulham for a compensation fee of about £4m in 2019, aged only 16, Elliott has since established himself as a fixed part of the wider Reds squad, featuring 147 times and notching 35 goal contributions.
Former Liverpool U18s head coach Neil Critchley said in the past that the England U21 superstar is able to produce “some real bits of magic” on the ball, and his ability to shift between the right flank and attacking midfield even suggests that he could bring shades of Dejan Kulusevski to Frank’s first-team squad.
Kulusevski, 25, played a crucial part in the Ange Postecoglou era, really coming into his own as an all-action central midfielder last season, having previously played out on the right.
He’s injured right now, but there’s no disputing how important he is to this Tottenham team, with Sofascore recording that he scored seven goals and supplied four assists in the Premier League last year, having also averaged 2.1 key passes and 4.1 successful duels per game.
Elliott lacks the Sweden international’s completeness, but he’s a veritable wizard across his areas of expertise, and would certainly add a ball-playing dimension that was targeted through the acquisition of Gibbs-White.
24/25
28
5
3
23/24
53
4
14
22/23
46
5
2
21/22
11
1
0
*20/21
1
0
1
19/20
8
0
1
The left-footer’s ability to score goals and create chances aplenty offers shades of Kulusevski, though the Tottenham man has more of a full-throttle engine about him, Elliott’s technical skill is up there with the very best.
As per FBref, the Liverpool man ranked last season among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for all of goals plus assists, passes attempted and progressive passes, as well as the top 15% for goal-creating actions per 90.
Considering the dimension it would add to Tottenham, Frank must take these internal discussions and push ahead with a formal approach for Liverpool’s talented prospect.
Not only would he be a dream Gibbs-White alternative, but he’d bring a sense of Kulusevski’s flair to the side.
Bad news for Bissouma: Spurs start talks to sign a £30m "monster"
Tottenham are hoping to sign a new centre-midfielder this summer.
2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 27, 2025
Bangladesh survived 12 overs before stumps but will have to return to face a relatively new ball on Friday
Karthik Krishnaswamy22-Aug-2024
Mohammed Rizwan and Saud Shakeel put on a partnership of more than 200•AFP/Getty Images
A 240-run fifth-wicket stand between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan formed the centerpiece of a dominant second day for Pakistan as they declared at 448 for 6, leaving Bangladesh to see off a tricky hour or so before stumps. Bangladesh did so, with openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan surviving 12 overs, but they will have to come back and face Pakistan’s four-pronged seam attack on day three with a ball that is still relatively new.Pakistan looked to up their scoring rate when they resumed after tea, with Rizwan announcing their intent by stepping out and clouting Shoriful Islam for a big six over long-on. The shot triggered a bout of cramps, and Rizwan continued to hobble as he collected 37 off 42 balls after tea to finish unbeaten on 171 when Pakistan declared.Pakistan’s aggressive intent after tea cost them one wicket, when Shakib Al Hasan’s guile undid Agha Salman’s attempt to hit him against the turn, bringing about a sliced catch at backward point. But it also brought quick runs, as Shaheen Shah Afridi slogged two sixes on his way to an unbeaten 29 off 24.Rizwan came out and kept wickets when Bangladesh’s innings began, but cramps forced him to leave the field after 7.3 overs, with Sarfaraz Ahmed taking over behind the stumps. In all, Rizwan was on the field for all but 4.3 overs of the day’s play.Having added 44 on day one, Shakeel and Rizwan batted on for the best part of two sessions before Bangladesh finally broke their stand, with just over 15 minutes to go for tea.The visitors’ long-awaited moment of inspiration came from Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who dangled up a teasing offbreak that dragged Shakeel onto the front foot to defend, then dipped and turned sharply past his outside edge, leaving him reaching for the ball and dragging his back foot out of the crease. Litton Das completed the dismissal with lightning glovework after collecting the ball somewhere around the seventh-stump line.This was a dismissal with a margin of millimeters; the tip of Shakeel’s toe was on the crease when the bails began to flash.There had been only millimeters in it an over earlier, too, when Shakeel – who had routinely left his crease against the fast bowlers to negotiate movement – shouldered arms to Hasan Mahmud and Litton, alert to the possibility, threw down the stumps. Then, Shakeel had plonked his bat into the crease and landed a fraction of a second – a fraction too small for the frame rate of the TV cameras to capture definite proof – before the bails lit up.Litton had been involved in most of the small sprinkling of nervous moments that Shakeel and Rizwan endured during their 63.5 overs together. He had moved alertly to his left to create a diving opportunity when Rizwan lobbed up a bat-pad half-chance off Mehidy, but hadn’t been able to finish the job. He had missed an even tougher chance, down the leg side, off Rizwan’s glove when he had tried to sweep Shakib.That these moments were so infrequent, and so far from being genuine chances, reflected how well Shakeel and Rizwan batted as they brought up their respective third Test hundreds. It also reflected how much the conditions had eased up since the start of the Test match, when Bangladesh had made full use of the new ball and early moisture to reduce Pakistan to 16 for 3.Proof of the transformed conditions – though the tiredness in the Bangladesh seamers’ limbs also contributed, no doubt – came when Bangladesh took the second new ball, ten overs after lunch. Both batters had brought up their centuries by then – Rizwan going from 91 to 97 by stepping out and launching Shakib for a big six over wide long-on, then whipping him over midwicket for four to reach three figures – and they greeted the return of the fast bowlers with a series of gorgeous strokes.Rizwan eased Hasan Mahmud through cover point in the 82nd over, and in the next over Shakeel stood tall to drive Shoriful on the up through cover.The batters embraced when Shakeel played that shot, perhaps recognising the fact that it was his first boundary of the day, and his unhurried, unbothered manner while going through 123 balls without one.Shakeel made up for that in the overs that followed, pulling Shoriful and Nahid Rana disdainfully when they tried to bounce him, and whipping Rana off his hips when he veered too straight.Rana had tried the short-ball ploy in the first session too, and occasionally made both batters look awkward. But it came at a cost: his five overs in the morning went for 32 runs.Rizwan scored most of those runs, including back-to-back falling ramps over the slips off bouncers angling into his body to go from 46 to 54. In Rana’s next over, he showed more of his range against the short ball, hooking him for a six over backward square leg.Rizwan was by far the quicker scorer of the fifth-wicket pair during the first session, adding 65 off 100 balls. Shakeel had less of the strike, and made quieter use of it, scoring 32 off 77 without adding to his five boundaries from day one. By lunch, Rizwan had overtaken Shakeel having started the day 33 runs behind.Their methods may have been different, but their effect on Bangladesh was similarly dispiriting. Shakeel’s defence, in particular, looked unbreachable at times; he was beautifully balanced at all times, and invariably met the ball right under his eyes with the bat’s full face.As the day went on, Bangladesh’s spinners began to take on a greater share of the workload, and both Shakib and Mehidy put a difficult first day – they had gone for a combined 36 from their six overs – behind them and performed an admirable holding job. Much of their day-one despair had been related to Pakistan’s clinical use of the sweep. They responded by attacking the stumps far more, and bowling a touch quicker than they had earlier, with protection in the deep square on the leg side. Both used drift cleverly, and Mehidy on occasion extracted sharp turn too.
It is no secret that Leeds United will be in the market to sign new players in the summer transfer window ahead of the Premier League next season.
Fabrizio Romano gave the Championship champions a ‘here we go!’ on Saturday when he confirmed that Jaka Bijol has signed his contract to join the club from Udinese.
The Whites are set to pay a fee in the region of £19m to sign the central defender from the Italian side to bolster their options at the heart of the defence.
Bijol started 34 matches in the Serie A for Udinese in the 2024/25 campaign, which means that he is set to arrive at Elland Road with plenty of experience in one of Europe’s major leagues.
The Slovenia international will now be due to compete with the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Max Wober, Joe Rodon, and Pascal Struijk for a place in the starting XI next season.
Bijol is a strong defender in the prime years of his career, at the age of 26, and could provide Daniel Farke with an aerially dominant option at the heart of the defence.
The Slovenian colossus was particularly impressive in the air for Udinese in the Serie A, using his height and frame to tussle with opposition strikers to win key defensive duels.
|
24/25 Serie A |
Jaka Bijol per 90 |
Percentile rank vs CBs |
|---|---|---|
|
Aerial duels won |
3.31 |
Top 6% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
67.7% |
Top 17% |
|
Interceptions |
1.15 |
Top 41% |
|
Clearances |
5.53 |
Top 14% |
|
Passes blocked |
0.61 |
Top 42% |
|
Stats via FBref |
||
As you can see in the table above, he ranked very highly among central defenders in the Italian top-flight when it came to competing for headers at the back.
His 68% aerial duel success rate was higher than Struijk (62%) and Rodon (60%) managed in the Championship for the Whites, which suggests that he would improve the Leeds defence from an aerial perspective.
Leeds did, however, have the best xGA (29.6) record in the second tier this season, which suggests that their defence was not a major cause for concern, albeit they have still opted to strengthen in that area of the pitch.
Instead, a bigger issue for the Whites to resolve, on paper at least, is finding a new number one goalkeeper, after Illan Meslier was left on the bench for the final seven games of the 2024/25 season.
Farke needs to find a replacement for the French goalkeeper to start between the sticks in the Premier League next term, and the door is seemingly open for them to sign one from a relegated side.
Southampton owner Dragan Solak has opened the door to Aaron Ramsdale moving on from Elland Road before the end of the summer transfer window, after the Saints were relegated from the Premier League.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, as relayed by LeedsLive, Solak said: “We unfortunately are not sure that Ramsdale is going to stay, even though he loves the club. He’s a great young man, everybody loves him, but he wants to get his place in the national team and it’s not easy to get there in the Championship.”
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
LeedsLive reports that signing a new goalkeeper is one of the priorities on the club’s transfer agenda, as they go in search of a number one for next season.
Earlier this summer, it was reported that the West Yorkshire outfit have eyed up Ramsdale as a potential target to arrive at Elland Road as Farke’s new shot-stopper.
Solak’s comments show that the door is open for the £25m England international to sign for Leeds, and it is now down to the club to pursue a deal that could be even more important than the one to sign Bijol.
As aforementioned, Leeds enjoyed a strong defensive record in the Championship this season and were not in desperate need of a player like Bijol, as much as he could improve Farke’s options at centre-back.
Whereas, the Whites are in desperate need of a new number one to replace Meslier next season because the French dud is, simply, not good enough for the top-flight.
The left-footed flop was dropped by Farke after he made three errors that directly led to goals for the opposition and had a goals prevented of -2.73 in 39 appearances in the Championship.
|
Post-shot xG minus goals conceded |
|
|---|---|
|
Season |
Illan Meslier |
|
24/25 (Championship) |
-0.4 |
|
23/24 (Championship) |
-3.1 |
|
22/23 (Premier League) |
-12.4 |
|
21/22 (Premier League) |
-16.2 |
|
20/21 (Premier League) |
-3.4 |
|
Stats via FBref |
|
As you can see in the table above, Meslier was also a liability as a shot-stopper in his three seasons in the Premier League with the Whites in the past, as he let in significantly more goals than he should have, based on the post-shot xG of the shots against his goal.
Ramsdale, however, prevented 0.14 goals in 30 outings in the Premier League and did not make a single error that led to a goal, which shows that he outperformed Meslier whilst playing at a higher level.
The 27-year-old stopper, who was once hailed as “magnificent” by reporter Charles Watts, has 183 appearances in the Premier League in his career to date, which suggests that he could hit the ground running at Elland Road as a player who already knows the division well.
His statistics in the top-flight for the Saints also suggest that he would be a huge upgrade on Meslier, given his more impressive showings as a goalkeeper at a higher level.
That means that he would solve a huge problem for Leeds, given the Frenchman’s dismal performances in recent years, and provide Farke with the goalkeeper that he desperately needs.
Farke's own Zubimendi: Leeds lining up move to sign "exceptional" £9m star
Leeds United are lining up a move to sign a star who could be their own Martin Zubimendi.
By
Dan Emery
Jun 22, 2025
Therefore, he would be an even more important signing for Leeds than Bijol because finding a quality goalkeeper is a more pressing matter than replacing Rodon and Struijk, who impressed as a pairing in the Championship.
New Zealand will be cheering for PNG as their Super Eight hopes hinge on PNG beating Afghanistan
S Sudarshanan13-Jun-2024Match detailsAfghanistan vs Papua New Guinea
Tarouba, 8.30pm localBig pictureAfghanistan have had a dream start to their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. Having brushed past Uganda in the opening fixture, they dealt a killer blow to New Zealand and are comfortably placed to make the Super Eight.In the previous edition in 2022, Afghanistan were part of Super 12 but couldn’t register a single win, losing three games and the other two being washed out.Much of their success so far this year has been down to their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. They added 154 against Uganda and 103 against New Zealand, with Gurbaz hitting fifties in both games. The flip side is that the middle order has not had enough time in the middle. It could hurt them as it almost did when they lost 6 for 55 after their opening stand against New Zealand.It could well be their achilles heel against nearly-men PNG. They are yet to win a match but defending 136 in their opening game, they had West Indies in a spot of bother. In their next outing, they made Uganda work hard for a target of 78.The sluggish conditions in Tarouba could level the playing field, even though Afghanistan have the skills suited for those. PNG’s plethora of medium-pacers and spinners would want to leave a mark at the Brian Lara Stadium. And the team will have a whole bunch of New Zealand fans cheering for them, as their hopes of making the Super Eight hinge on, among other things, PNG beating Afghanistan.Form guideAfghanistan WWWWL (last five T20Is, most recent first)
PNG LLLWWIn the spotlight Over the last two years, Ibrahim Zadran’s consistent performances saw him cement his place at the top of the batting order across formats. He has turned out to be the perfect foil for Gurbaz, improving his range of shots as well as his T20I strike rate (117.91 in 2024, up from 102.91 in 2023). That has meant the scoreboard did not come to a halt when Gurbaz wasn’t on strike. He finished the Qosh Tepa National T20 Cup, Afghanistan’s domestic competition, as the leading run-scorer, and has carried his form into the World Cup.Can Norman Vanua help PNG to their first win of the tournament?•ICC/Getty ImagesSeamer Norman Vanua is PNG’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is. The team felt his absence in the opening game of the tournament. But he made a successful return against Uganda, his 2 for 19 keeping the side in the contest. With PNG harbouring hopes of their maiden win in the competition, all eyes will be yet again on Vanua.Team newsMujeeb Ur Rahman missed the last game with a hand injury. If fit, he could come in for Noor Ahmad, who bowled just the one over against New Zealand.Afghanistan (probable XI): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Azmatullah Omarzai, 4 Gulbadin Naib, 5 Najibullah Zadran, 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Karim Janat, 8 Rashid Khan (capt), 9 Noor Ahmad/Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Fazalhaq FarooqiExpect PNG to field an unchanged team.PNG (probable XI): 1 Assad Vala (capt), 2 Tony Ura, 3 Sese Bau, 4 Lega Siaka, 5 Hiri Hiri, 6 Charles Amini, 7 Kiplin Doriga (wk), 8 Chad Soper, 9 Norman Vanua, 10 Alei Nao, 11 John KarikoStats and trivia Sese Bau needs 54 runs to become the fourth from PNG to a 1000 mark in T20Is. No opening pair has added more runs than Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz in T20Is in 2024. Among those who have bowled at least 50 overs in T20Is since January 2023, Rashid Khan and John Kariko are the second- and the fifth-most economical bowlers.Pitch and conditionsThe surface in Tarouba played true to its sluggish nature during the game between West Indies and New Zealand. Because of rain in the lead-up to the match, some deliveries from the good-length area outside off stump kept alarmingly low, and it was not easy to hit through the line. There isn’t any rain on the forecast – though that might change – but captain winning the toss is likely to bowl first because of the dew around.