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The forward line at Manchester United has massively disappointed throughout 2024/25, undoubtedly having an impact on their lowly Premier League standing.

Ruben Amorim’s team have only managed to find the net on 42 occasions within their 35 league outings – an average of just 1.2 per game, with numerous players failing to deliver.

Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have been the two senior forward options throughout the campaign, but have largely struggled in the final third, netting just seven league goals between them.

Such form has allowed youngster Chido Obi to emerge into the first-team squad at just 17, becoming the youngest United starter in the Premier League after his appearance from the off against Brentford on Sunday.

However, if they are to get anywhere near their former glory next season, it’s crucial the board back Amorim and hand him the funds to allow him to make themselves changes he desires.

The latest on United’s hunt to sign new attackers

A new striker needs to be high up on the club’s list this summer, with the hierarchy evidently wasting no time after entering talks to land Nigerian talisman Victor Osimhen.

The 26-year-old, who’s spending the year on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, appears to be of interest to the club after scoring 24 times in 27 league appearances.

However, the striker isn’t the only forward on their radar, with Sporting CP winger Francisco Trincao firmly on their radar ahead of the summer, according to CaughtOffside.

The report states that manager Amorim is leading the charge to the 25-year-old’s signature after previously managing the attacker during his time in charge of the Liga Portugal outfit.

It also claims that the boss has personally requested the board to land the Portuguese international who’s said to be available during this window for a fee in the region of £34m.

Why United’s £34m target could be Amorim’s next Amad

Ivorian Amad Diallo has been a key player for United throughout this campaign, registering 17 combined goals and assists across all competitions.

However, his progress has been massively halted over the last three months, only returning to action in recent weeks after his extended lay-off, but he has already showcased his quality.

The 22-year-old scored off the bench in the defeat to Brentford last weekend, but his return to full fitness could hand the Red Devils a mammoth boost in their Europa League triumph hopes.

Regardless of who’s signed this summer, Amad will remain a key member of the side, undoubtedly playing a crucial role in any success they could achieve in the manager’s first full campaign in charge.

However, Amorim could land his new version of the Ivorian in the form of Trincao, who possesses very similar attributes, given their ability to cut inside onto their favoured left foot off the right-hand side.

They can also both feature in a wing-back role if needed, with the Sporting ace massively outperforming the current United star when delving into their respective figures from this season.

Trincao, who’s been labelled “world-class” by journalist Rafael Hernandez, has notched more combined goals and assists, highlighting the threat he poses in attacking areas.

How Trincao compares to Amad in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Trincao	Amad
Games played	32	23
Goals & assists	22	13
Shots taken	3.3	2.3
Shot-creating actions	5.1	4.5
Progressive passes	4.9	3
Passes into final third	3.1	1.3
Take-ons completed	2.3	2
Aerials won	40%	37%
Stats via FBref

He’s also completed more progressive passes and completed more take-ons per 90, having all of the tools to hand other attackers the chance to increase their own tallies in the final third.

The former Barcelona ace has also managed to take more shots per 90, whilst also winning more aerials, certainly handing Amorim an all-round presence to transform his attack in 2025/26.

£34m in today’s market is an excellent price for a player who’s proven his quality, producing countless stats that are well above those of current star Amad.

Depth is also just as important to the first-team squad next season, handing the manager the opportunity to rotate his side and have the best possible chance of success in multiple competitions.

He'd be amazing with Cunha & Amad: Man Utd in talks to sign elite striker

Manchester United could be allowed to land a new talisman who could supercharge their overhaul this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 6, 2025

An “incredible” defender would now be “keen on a move to Liverpool” this summer, according to reliable reporter David Ornstein.

Reds planning summer of heavy spending

The Reds have been quiet in recent transfer windows, with Arne Slot making very few changes to the squad he inherited from Jürgen Klopp, but there could be a summer of heavy spending on the horizon.

Widespread reports have suggested FSG are willing to back Slot in the upcoming window, with the manager looking to upgrade his squad in a number of areas, including left-back, and AFC Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez is in line to potentially replace Andy Robertson.

A new striker is also of interest to Slot, with a bid now being prepared for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, while the Merseysiders are also in the race for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who could be allowed to leave for around £65m this summer.

Liverpool could sign dream Trent successor who's 'one of the best in the PL'

Alexander-Arnold’s decision has left Liverpool in search of a new right-back.

ByAngus Sinclair May 6, 2025

Slot would’ve been hoping he didn’t have to bring in a new right-back this summer, but with Trent Alexander-Arnold now announcing his intention to depart at the end of his contract, the manager will be tasked with finding a replacement.

It was recently revealed that Liverpool are planning to submit an offer for Bayer Leverkusen Jeremie Frimpong, and there has now been a positive update on their pursuit of the right-back from Ornstein.

In a massive boost for sporting director Richard Hughes in his quest to replace Alexander-Arnold, the reporter said: “He has a €35m (£29.8m) release clause, something in the region of that, as I understand it. I also believe that he would be keen on a move to Liverpool, if they decide to go down that route. They will have other options as well, but Frimpong has been mentioned in a number of reports so far.”

Frimpong could be "incredible" Trent replacement

Trent has caught the eye going forward throughout his time with Liverpool, picking up three goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season, meaning Slot may feel it is necessary to bring in a replacement with similar qualities.

As such, the Bayer Leverkusen defender could be the perfect replacement for the England international, given that he also excels on the front foot, picking up four goals and six assists in the Bundesliga this term.

Not only that, but the 24-year-old is an impressive dribbler of the ball, ranking in the top 2% for progressive carries per 90 over the past year, while also placing highly on some other key attacking metrics, when compared to other full-backs.

Statistic

Average per 90

Progressive carries

4.24 (98th percentile)

Assists

0.22 (88th percentile)

Shots total

1.46 (95th percentile)

Having also been lauded as “incredible” by fellow speedster Kyle Walker, Frimpong could be a fantastic signing for Liverpool this summer, so it is exciting news that he would be open to a move to Anfield, and that a deal could be possible for around £30m.

The India quick is like a lifeline, and has to be used when really needed, but it looked like he may have been left too late in the final

Sidharth Monga29-Jun-20241:23

Flower: ‘Fascinating game of cat and mouse from Rohit’

About 20 minutes before the toss, as he finishes measuring his run-up and bends low to mark it with white paint, Jasprit Bumrah feels a pat on his back. He turns back to see it is his wife, Sanjana Ganesan, a media professional herself, who minutes ago was shadow-boxing with Crystal Arnold, a TV anchor from South Africa, for the camera.She perhaps wishes Bumrah luck, who puts the bucket of paint down and hugs her, followed by a quick peck on the cheek. The final kiss of luck needed for the perfect fast bowler, still awaiting a world title despite three finals and a semi-final all formats put together? This is his fourth. With the skill, the discipline and the brain he has, Bumrah hardly needs any luck, but perhaps his team does. Just that little bit in a crucial moment. The rest they can leave to Bumrah.They have made the knockouts of five out of the last six World Cups, but are called chokers for not winning any. This is the sixth of seven. They are playing against another team that is called chokers.Related

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Rohit: It's not what we did today, it is what we have done for three-four years

****

The last ball of the eighth over, bowled by Kuldeep Yadav, has been deposited in the stands by Quinton de Kock. India have got what can be called a strictly par total only because of Kuldeep and Bumrah. Otherwise it is insufficient. After a World Cup full of brave cricket, they have suddenly dropped that method in the final. There have been just three boundary attempts from overs 6 to 13, none of them from Virat Kohli.South Africa look in control, the last five overs have gone for 48 and no threat to the wicket, the momentum is with them, the pitch is not gripping, and the volunteers are now looking for the ball that de Kock seems to have lost for them. The cameras don’t catch it, but Bumrah goes to Kuldeep, probably tells him it’s okay, one day or one over doesn’t make you a bad bowler, and gives him a high five. Kuldeep has previously shown he can be down on himself perhaps too readily. You have got us here. Let’s hang in. Perhaps leave the rest to me?

****

De Kock has played his favourite pick-up pull shot off Arshdeep Singh because there is no fine leg. Next ball he tries it again but there is a fine leg there now. It is Kuldeep. Takes a safe enough catch. All the attention goes to Arshdeep standing on the pitch with arms aloft. Bumrah, though, runs towards Rishabh Pant pointing with his finger. It’s an “I told you so.” Pant acknowledges him.Even without the ball in hand, Bumrah is cooking.

****

Jasprit Bumrah’s final over changed the game•Getty ImagesWith the ball in hand, Bumrah has to be used judiciously. He is like the lifelines at a game show. After the powerplay, you use his overs only when you can’t do without it. Like against England, you don’t even use them all. Sometimes you keep them just to make the target look 10 runs bigger. When Marco Jansen is the opposition’s No. 7, it is possible you can hold him back till too late.From the fifth to the 14th over, South Africa have hit at least one boundary every over. The ball is coming on nicely, and Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller are looking good. Rohit Sharma still doesn’t go to his lifeline with just nine an over required over the last six overs with six wickets in hand. Probably because he knows he can use Bumrah to barge through once a wicket falls.Klaasen, though, gets stuck into Axar Patel’s last over. Axar has been an inspired selection because India had one left-arm spinner allrounder already. During this World Cup, Axar has been Rohit’s go-to man: promoted when wickets fall early, often the first spinner to bowl, often inside the powerplay. Even in the final, his 47 off 31 has allowed Kohli to bat the way he did. His closing, though, hasn’t been good: dozily run-out and now 24 runs off his last over.At 30 off 30 now, it seems it is too late for even Bumrah to do something. Is it ever?First ball: an inside edge mighty close to taking a wicket. On the second ball, Klaasen takes a couple to bring up the fastest fifty a World Cup final, off just 23 balls. Then Bumrah gets some tail into the pads. Then the yorker. Rohit says it is reverse. Bumrah with reverse. A lifeline with a lifeline. South Africa, though, need just 30 off five overs.The captain and his man of the World Cup – Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah share a moment together•ICC/Getty ImagesWhen Hardik Pandya gets an outside edge on a wide slower ball to send Klaasen back, and the way Jansen bats that over out, Miller becomes the massive wicket. Bumrah starts the 18th over around the wicket, the seam is up, the ball angles in and then leaves Miller so late he can’t do anything. Everybody thinks he is bowled, but that expectant flashing bail doesn’t appear. He has missed by a whisker. Miller has survived.Against Afghanistan, right here, Bumrah began his day with a slower ball at the start of the second over to get Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Here he is hardly bowling slower balls. He just knows what to do. Except that he doesn’t have the luck to take the wicket that can settle it here and now. He continues, though, and bursts through Jansen with the possible reverse. Just three from the over, he leaves others 19 to defend in two overs. From 30 off 30 when he came back earlier than usual. Is it ever too late for Bumrah?

****

It’s all done. Criminally, Bumrah is not the Player of the Match. India, though, have a World Cup trophy. Finally. For the first time since 2011. A stamp on the quality they have always known exists in their team. You can’t deny Bumrah the other award, though. With 15 wickets at 8.26 apiece and just 4.17 per over, Bumrah is the Player of the Tournament. While many are celebrating and being interviewed, Bumrah quietly stands with his wife and baby for a quick moment before she has to rush off.Sanjana still has work to do. Jasprit’s is done.For now.

The debutant legspinner was not fazed, even by batters of big hitting repute, and that is a very good sign

Shashank Kishore17-Feb-20221:33

Suryakumar: Felt like this was a perfect debut for Bishnoi

Ravi Bishnoi’s first act as an India cricketer wasn’t his most memorable one. What should’ve been a regulation catch at long-off to dismiss Nicholas Pooran turned into a six because Bishnoi’s overbalanced foot touched the ad cushions. Even as the umpires conferred to indicate ‘out’ as the soft signal, Bishnoi knew he had erred. When the big screen merely confirmed what he had known all along, Bishnoi had a sheepish look: tongue out and looking away, not wanting to make eye contact with Yuzvendra Chahal, the bowler, and Rohit Sharma, the captain. Less than an hour earlier, a beaming Bishnoi had received his first cap from Chahal.But within an over of that lapse, he was summoned to bowl his first over in international cricket. West Indies had just lost their second wicket in Kyle Mayers, and Rohit was in no mood to sit back and let the visitors recover. He had a new batter – a right-hander in Roston Chase – and he went on an all-out attack. Had he held them back any further, it’s also possible a dewy outfield could have made things tougher for young Bishnoi. One of the batters Bishnoi would be bowling to – Pooran – was his IPL team-mate for two seasons at Punjab Kings. Not that it was much of an advantage just yet, because, for Bishnoi, this was going to be a battle from within. Would he be able to manage his jangling nerves? Will he allow the occasion to get to him? An hour later, you could say he didn’t.Bishnoi began sloppily sliding wrong’uns wide outside off, and then down leg. But from thereon, a mesmeric two overs changed the face of the game entirely. Up until then, Pooran had started to tuck in, quickly allowing West Indies to move past a middle-overs stutter. This approach came with the knowledge he had more explosive batters for support. Kieron Pollard, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd and Roman Powell. But when Bishnoi struck to dismiss Chase in his second over, West Indies sputtered again.What stood out with the Chase wicket was the set up. Midwicket was left open. The ball was on middle and off. It was a wrong ‘un. Chase knew all of this and yet could do nothing about it. Bishnoi’s flatter trajectory and fizz off the pitch left him with no time to really react. He was tempted by the gap on the leg side. He went for it and was out lbw. Could he have survived had he tried to play straighter? Perhaps. Here, he was looking to nudge the ball and closed the face of the bat. It was a grave mistake. Chase was as close as Bishnoi would get to bowling to a “Test-class” batter on the night – at least the stats say so – and getting him the way he did would have been particularly satisfying. Two balls later, Powell’s attempt to unleash a fierce slog sweep led to his finding wide long-on.When Akeal Hosein walked in ahead of Pollard, supposedly to negate the effects of a legspinner, the left-hander was left befuddled, because he was welcomed by another ripping googly. Bishnoi’s wry smile at the end of a double-wicket over told you he’d outfoxed the new man. Was he really expecting him to spin the ball back in? This was an exhibition of wrong ‘uns bowled at similarly rapid pace but different lengths. By the time the batters had realised it was time to treat Bishnoi as a googly bowler, he had figures of 2-0-7-2.Bishnoi’s fearlessness, even against a batter of Pollard’s repute, was a refreshing sight. He kept delivering his stock ball – the googly – knowing fully well that the batters were expecting it. And therein lay the beauty of his effort. The team management let him be his own boss; they trusted him to do a job and he did.”Bishnoi is a very talented guy, no doubt about it,” Rohit said at the presentation. “We see something different in him that’s why we drafted him in the squad. He can bowl anywhere from the powerplay to the back end of the innings as well, gives us options to rotate other bowlers. Very happy with his first game for India, he’s got a very bright future. He’s got solid talent. It’s just about us now, how we use him.”The team management sees “something different” in Bishnoi. They’re also in that phase of T20 World Cup preparation where they’re happy to try different things, like fielding two legspinners of different varieties in the same XI. Where Chahal teases batters with his loop and dip, Bishnoi is fast and fizzy. On Wednesday, we may have seen the start of a blossoming partnership. For Bishnoi, already an IPL star, the journey in the big league may have just begun.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com superávit de R$ 46,8 milhões, o Palmeiras divulgou o balancete financeiro referente aos meses de janeiro e fevereiro de 2024. O Verdão também está cada vez mais próxima de zerar a dívida com a Crefisa.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Ao final da última temporada, a dívida do Verdão com seu principal patrocinador era de R$ 25 milhões. Já em fevereiro de 2024 o valor está na casa de R$ 21,4 milhões.

➡️ Com R$30 no Lance! Betting você fatura mais de R$85 se J. Santos marcar contra o Junior!

SUPERÁVIT

Apenas na venda dos direitos econômicos de jogadores, o Palmeiras faturou cerca de R$ 106,5 milhões, quase R$ 50 milhões a mais do projetado inicialmente. Esse foi o principal fator para o superávit do Verdão nos primeiros meses do ano.

continua após a publicidade

As vendas de Artur ao Zenit, da Rússia, e Kevin ao Shakhtar Donetsk, da Ucrânia, foram as principais negociações do Verdão na última janela de transferências.

RECEITAS

O Palmeiras havia calculado receber R$ 73.883 milhões de receita em janeiro, mas fechou acima do orçado, com R$ 128.764 milhões Em fevereiro, a receita do Verdão foi de R$ 63,641 milhões, R$ 9,1 milhões a mais do que o previsto.

continua após a publicidade

A diretoria alviverde costuma adotar postura conservadora ao orçar as metas de premiação e receita.

➡️ Veja tabela com datas, horários dos jogos da Libertadores

DESPESAS 

Os cálculos do Palmeiras nos dois primeiros meses do ano ficaram dentro do esperado pela diretoria. Em janeiro, o clube estimava gastar R$ 80.193, e fechou R$ 1,9 milhão acima do previsto. Já em fevereiro a expectativa era ter R$ 65.187 milhões em despesas, e o total foi de R$ 63.434 milhões.

Tudo sobre

CrefisaPalmeiras

يستعد منتخب العراق، لمواجهة نظيره البحرين، اليوم الأربعاء، في انطلاق مشوار المنتخبين في بطولة كأس العرب 2025 المقامة في قطر، خلال الأيام الجارية.

ويستقبل ستاد 974 مباراة العراق والبحرين في إطار الجولة الأولى من المجموعة الرابعة بدور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العرب 2025.

طالع|موعد مباراة مصر القادمة بعد التعادل مع الكويت في كأس العرب

وانطلقت منافسات بطولة كأس العرب يوم 1 ديسمبر بمشاركة 16 منتخبا، مقسمة على 4 مجموعات كل مجموعة تضم 4 منتخبات.

ويقع منتخب العراق في المجموعة الرابعة في بطولة كأس العرب 2025 والتي تضم الجزائر والبحرين والسودان. موعد مباراة العراق والبحرين في كأس العرب

تقام مباراة العراق والبحرين، اليوم الأربعاء 3 ديسمبر 2025، في تمام الساعة 4:30 مساء بتوقيت مصر، 5:30 مساء بتوقيت السعودية والعراق والبحرين. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة العراق والبحرين في كأس العرب

– قناة بي إن سبورت المفتوحة على النايل سات.

– قناة أبو ظبي الرياضية 1.

– قناة دبي الرياضية 1.

–  قناة الكأس.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

Ruben Amorim has now spent a little over a year in charge as Manchester United manager, but his spell at Old Trafford has been one that has presented constant questions.

The main one has undoubtedly been around his 3-4-2-1 system, with the 40-year-old utilising such a formation in each and every one of his games in charge of the Red Devils.

It’s led the side to numerous impressive victories, including one at Anfield this campaign, something no manager has managed to achieve in nearly a decade prior to his appointment.

However, it’s also led to concerns among the fanbase, especially when his men lost 1-0 to Everton in the Premier League last month, despite the visitors being down to ten for the majority of the contest.

Only a specific calibre of player can fit into Amorim’s system at the Theatre of Dreams, as seen by their attempts to solve numerous problem positions ahead of January.

Man Utd looking to sign new wing-back

Over the last few weeks, United have been just one Premier League side named with a huge interest in landing Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson in the January window.

However, such a deal would cost INEOS a pretty penny in the months ahead, with Sean Dyche’s men currently demanding a fee in the region of £100m for his services.

Amorim’s men could miss out on the 23-year-old in the near future, especially after rivals Manchester City stormed into the race to land the England international this week.

However, he’s not the only young talent in their sights ahead of the upcoming window, with left-back Nathaniel Brown another talent being considered by the hierarchy.

According to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, the Red Devils are keeping tabs on the progress of the Eintracht Frankfurt full-back, with a €70m (£61m) price tag being mooted.

Despite the interest from Amorim’s men, they’re not alone in the hunt for the 22-year-old’s signature, as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid also look to land the German international.

Analyst Spencer Mossman claimed back in May that he is “1-2 years away from being the most coveted left back” around but based on the fact that plenty of Europe’s heavyweights want him now, there is a sense that Mossman’s prediction is coming true just seven months later.

How Brown compares to Patrick Dorgu

Spending big money on full-backs hasn’t been alien to United over the last couple of seasons, as seen by their £30m move to land Patrick Dorgu in January this year.

The Dane became Amorim’s first major addition since taking the reins, with the 21-year-old identified as the immediate and long-term solution to the left-back issue.

However, as previously mentioned, Amorim’s system requires players to be tactically skilled, something which the youngster has struggled with over the last couple of months.

He was brought on with just a minute to go against Crystal Palace last weekend, with the manager opting to utilise right-back Diogo Dalot in a somewhat unfamiliar role.

Dorgu’s tally of just seven league starts in 2025/26 further highlights the lack of trust shown in him by the manager, which has no doubt led to the recent rumours ahead of January.

Brown, who’s only a year older than the Dane, has already demonstrated his quality at both ends of the pitch, that’s despite operating in a back four in the Bundesliga.

However, he’s still managed to outperform the United man in numerous key areas, with his skillset arguably being perfect for the manager’s philosophy at Old Trafford.

Brown, who’s been dubbed a “galactico” by one analyst, has completed more progressive carries and passes per 90, often liking to get the ball into attacking areas.

Such tallies will no doubt be perfect in a more advanced wing-back role, which could allow Brown to take his career to the next level if he moves to Old Trafford.

How Brown & Dorgu compare in 2025/26

Statistics (per 90)

Brown

Dorgu

Games played

12

12

Goals & assists

3

1

Progressive carries

3.3

2.8

Progressive passes

2.7

1.1

Pass accuracy

82%

69%

Passes into final third

2.2

0.7

Tackles made

2.4

2.1

Blocks made

1.5

1

Take-on success

38%

12%

Stats via FBref

However, despite currently featuring in a back-four, the German has also completed more of the take-ons he’s attempted, whilst making more passes into the final third per 90.

The youngster’s creativity is certainly one of his best assets, but he’s also managed to dominate Dorgu without the ball during the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Frankfurt star has won more tackles, whilst also making more blocks per 90 – subsequently handing Amorim’s side the added defensive quality they’ve lacked in the left-back department.

Whilst £52m would be yet another hefty investment from INEOS, it’s a deal that could no doubt solve the glaring issue in such an area for the foreseeable future at Old Trafford.

As for Dorgu, the deal could certainly cast doubt over his long-term future at the club, with the hierarchy potentially wanting to cash in on his services to avoid losing a fortune on their investment.

Related Man Utd looking to sign £100m Casemiro upgrade who's "as good as Bellingham"

Manchester United could push to sign this wantaway superstar in 2026.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Dec 1, 2025

If this is to be the end of Martin O’Neill’s brief return, what a way to sign off.

On Thursday night, Celtic ended a 16-match, four-year-long winless streak in European away games by beating Feyenoord 3-1 at De Kuip, coming back from a goal down to do so; Yang Hyun-jun, Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren all on target.

This means O’Neill has won five of six matches since being parachuted into the role following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation.

The 73-year-old, alongside Shaun Maloney, is set to remain in charge when the Celts visit Easter Road to take on Hibernian on Sunday lunchtime, but there is optimism that Wilfried Nancy will take over soon, potentially in time for the visit of Dundee on Wednesday.

Once the Frenchman does swap Ohio for Glasgow, one of Celtic’s breakout stars from this season could well become a key figure, currently on course to replicate an active club legend.

Callum McGregor's importance at Celtic

While players, managers and board members come and go, Callum McGregor remains a constant, the heartbeat in both the team and the club as a whole.

Thursday saw the captain make his 540th appearance for the club, starting 21 of 22 matches so far this season, accumulating 1,939 minutes out of a possible 2,040 so far (95%).

When Scott Brown departed in 2021, his leadership and all-around brilliance was supposed to be impossible to replace, but McGregor has transitioned into this role seamlessly, lifting 24 major trophies to date, and it is incomprehensible to imagine a Celtic side without him.

As well as winning back the ball and keeping the team ticking in possession, McGregor continues to produce key moments, lashing home a 95th-minute winner at St Mirren last Saturday night, having scored a similar rocket against Rangers in the League Cup semi-finals earlier this month.

Having joined the club as an eight-year-old, McGregor continues to set an example to all those in the Celtic academy dreaming of representing the first team one day, but who is currently on course to follow in his footsteps?

Celtic's next academy star

Celtic have endured rotten luck in terms of injuries this season.

Cameron Carter-Vickers could be out for the rest of the season following achilles surgery, Jota remains sidelined after rupturing his ACL in April, while Alistair Johnston suffered a torn hamstring against Kairat in August, only to aggravate the issue 26 minutes into his return when Sturm Graz visited Parkhead.

With Johnston, who has been so excellent since joining the club, having started only five matches all season, most would have expected Anthony Ralston to deputise, but it appears as though Colby Donovan has leapfrogged him in the pecking order.

After featuring sporadically during pre-season, scoring against Cork City at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in July, the 19-year-old made his competitive senior debut against Livingston when Rodgers made wholesale changes in between the two legs against Kairat.

Well, since then, he hasn’t really looked back, starting just two Premiership matches, but included in the lineup for four of the five Europa League fixtures, these against Crvena zvezda, Braga, Sturm Graz and now Feyenoord, putting in an excellent display in Rotterdam.

The table below documents how well he has played in Europe so far.

Minutes

283

9th

Assists

1

2nd

Completed passes

151

7th

Key passes

3

6th

Big chances created

2

3rd

Passes into final 3rd

14

5th

Progressive passes

18

4th

Passes into box

4

3rd

Shot-creating actions

6

7th

Goal-creating actions

3

1st

Successful dribbles per 90

1.8

3rd

Tackles

7

2nd

Touches

227

6th

Average rating

7.10

2nd

As the table documents, Donovan has been excellent in the Europa League this season, contributing in a wide variety of ways.

The teenager ranks highly for all the in possession metrics, recording an assist for Liam Scales’ crucial equaliser against Sturm Graz, while only Arne Engels and Benjamin Nygren have created more big chances, ranked first in terms of goal-creating actions.

Given that incoming manager Nancy deploys a 3-4-2-1 formation, his Columbus Crew side featuring flying wing-backs Max Arfsten and Andrés Herrera, his imminent arrival could be great news for the youngster.

Speaking ahead of the clash with Braga, then-manager Rodgers praised Donovan’s “outstanding” performances, labelling him a “real bright spark” as well as heralding his “personality” and “mentality”.

Well, these all feel like compliments that could be thrown the way of a certain McGregor, whose leadership is as invaluable as his quality to this team.

Thus, it is certainly still early days, but all the signs suggest that Celtic supporters are rightly excited about Donovan, who will go on to have quite the career should he manage to match McGregor’s achievements and make 500+ appearances for the club.

Celtic man was finished under Rodgers, now he can be undroppable for Nancy

Celtic’s wait for a European away win is over, beating Feyenoord 3-1, with a star Brendan Rodgers once labelled “sloppy” playing like an £100m man.

ByBen Gray Nov 28, 2025

MLB.com has released its annual Top 100 Players Right Now list and it's a huge thrill for all of the baseball players honored. But because it's a list it means there's controversy. Michael Kay, a staple of New York Yankees broadcasts for years, shared his disbelief that Shohei Ohtani was ranked No. 1 over Aaron Judge during his radio show Friday.

“On what planet can you say that Ohtani is better than Judge?" Kay wondered. "I don’t understand it. Are you projecting in 2025 that you think Ohtani is going to go back to being a dominant pitcher?”

Kay came to the table with a thorough study of offensive stats, which tend to favor Judge. But Ohtani did become the first 50-50 club member in baseball history and has the capacity to be one of the game's best pitchers when healthy.

On one hand it could be a situation where MLB.com got to the top of the list and had to make a call between two incredible players. On the other it could be that pesky and very real anti-Yankees bias that exists.

“I just think, and I hate to admit it, that there is an anti-Yankee bias,” Kay said. "And I think everyone in Major League Baseball is absolutely in awe at the skills sets exhibited by Ohtani. And they should be — he’s one of the best baseball players ever. And so is Judge. So when they’re that close, you have to look at the statistics … Judge’s statistics are far superior to Ohtani’s."

This is why these lists are always tough. Top Players Right Now could not be clearer and yet the results could mean that they're forecasting a stellar return ot the mound for Ohtani. Or, believe it or not, that's he's a better player than Judge even without doing double duty.

One thing we can perhaps agree on is that on a ranking of the best players of a sport in the world, there is never tas meaningful of a gulf between No. 1 and No. 2 as people like to think. It's a lesson that could have been learned among the neverending LeBron James-Michael Jordan debates, but here we are again.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson had a good day at the office on Tuesday, as he went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks, a home run and three RBI in the club's 9-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

The home run wasn't just any ordinary round-tripper, though. It was a birthday present for Swanson's mother Nancy, who was among the 13,619 in attendance in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

And the Cubs shortstop, after touching them all, made sure to wish his mother a happy birthday from the dugout in a sweet moment caught by the Marquee Sports Network cameras.

After getting his mother's attention, Swanson can be seen mouthing the words "Happy birthday", to the delight of Nancy Swanson, who mouthed back, "Thank you, baby."

"Just showing my momma some love," Swanson told MLB.com. "I hadn’t seen my folks in a while, so it was nice to be able to see them the last few days."

Here was the blast:

Swanson, who has two homers and seven RBI in his last two games, and the Cubs have now won seven of their last 10 games as they look to make a playoff push in the stretch run.