All posts by h716a5.icu

Scottish side Rangers have earmarked Davide Ancelotti as a potential replacement if current manager Russell Martin is dismissed. Ancelotti, however, is also under pressure at his current club Botafogo after failing to protect a three-goal lead in his side's latest slip up in the Brazilian top-flight.

Rangers searching for Martins replacement despite backing

According to the , Rangers’ hierarchy have publicly backed Russell Martin but are exploring alternatives if results don’t improve. Among the potential candidates is the son of Carlo Ancelotti, who was previously linked with the Ibrox job before the club opted for Martin. The current Botafogo coach is also under mounting pressure in Brazil, winless in three matches and having failed to defend a 3-0 lead against Mirassol, which could cost him his position.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRangers struggling amid poor start to the season

Under Martin, Rangers are still without a league win this season, drawing four of their five matches, including the Old Firm derby against Celtic. Pressure mounted further after a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League qualifiers. Their upcoming League Cup clash with Hibernian could prove decisive for Martin’s future at Ibrox.

Ancelotti's status at Botafogo

Ancelotti is also facing mounting criticism at Botafogo after being knocked out of the Copa do Brasil by Vasco and exiting the Copa Libertadores just a month earlier. In their most recent outing against Mirassol, his side collapsed defensively, conceding three goals in 17 minutes to squander a three-goal lead.

Ancelotti after the game believes that he needs time to analyze the defeat and improve on their mistakes: “It's difficult to make an analysis. There's not much to explain right now. We need time to analyze what happened in the second half. A very good first half in which we played our best football. A second half in which we disappeared.”

Ancelotti later questioned the mentality of his players “Swinging so much is a matter of mentality. We haven't reacted well to adversity. Today we didn't react well to the first setback. In the last game against São Paulo, we played very poorly. The image we need to maintain is certainly the image we had in the first half. We have to try to maintain this level of play for longer and know how to prioritize within the game, know how to read the game, and when it's time to defend well – this team knows how to defend well. But we mustn't lose our heads in difficult times. So, with this problem we have, we lack continuity, we need to react well to adversity.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images SportWhat the future holds for Rangers, Martin and Ancelotti

Rangers will hope results turn around under Martin, even as they quietly assess potential replacements, having opted for him over other candidates in the summer. On the other hand, Ancelotti will be focused on steadying Botafogo’s form despite the links to Ibrox, with the role in Brazil being his first major head coaching job after years working as assistant to his father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.

Celtic need to bring in a new winger, or two, to bolster Brendan Rodgers’ options at the top end of the pitch before the summer transfer window officially slams shut.

The Hoops currently have Daizen Maeda, Hyun-jun Yang, and James Forrest as their senior wide players, and Maeda is the only one to have managed a goal contribution so far this season.

The Japan international teed up Luke McCowan for his goal on the opening day against St Mirren, before he notched his first goal of the campaign in the 4-1 win over Falkirk in the League Cup.

Yang and Forrest combined for six goals and eight assists in the Scottish Premiership last season, per Sofascore, and have yet to prove either of them has what it takes to be a regular starter on the right flank.

This means that the Hoops are still yet to find their replacement for German winger Nicolas Kuhn, who was Rodgers’ first-choice option on the right side last term.

Celtic sold the former RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich youngster to Como for a fee of £17m earlier this summer, and his exit left a hole in the attack.

Why Celtic need to replace Nicolas Kuhn

It may seem obvious as to why the Hoops need to find a replacement for the left-footed attacker, but the club are over a month on from selling him to the Italian outfit and have yet to find a player to replace the impact that he made on the pitch.

Kuhn delivered heaps of quality in the final third on a regular basis for the Scottish giants across all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, which earned him his £17m move to Italy.

The 25-year-old magician ended his only full season at Celtic with a return of 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he offered goals and assists week-in-week-out.

13 of those goals and nine of those assists for the Hoops came in the Premiership, as he caused constant problems for opposition defenders in the top-flight.

xG

0.46

Top 10%

Goals

0.62

Top 8%

Shots on target

1.30

Top 14%

xA

0.34

Top 10%

Assists

0.43

Top 10%

Chances created

2.49

Top 12%

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn was one of the most dangerous wingers in the Premiership with his ability to score and create goals at an impressive rate.

This is why it is important that the Hoops push to bring in a high-quality forward to ‘replace’ what the German attacker provided on the pitch for Rodgers in the 2024/25 campaign.

Celtic make contact over deal for Dutch winger

According to CeltsAreHere, Celtic have made contact with the representatives of Feyenoord winger Calvin Stengs, having identified him as a potential signing.

The report claims that the Hoops have contacted him to express their interest in bringing the forward over to Parkhead before the end of the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

This means that the Scottish giants are exploring a possible deal to snap up the 26-year-old dynamo, but they have yet to speak with Feyenoord to discuss a fee for the attacker.

CeltsAreHere adds that it will not be an easy deal for Celtic to get done before September’s deadline because the Dutch side are not actively looking to cash in on him and view him as a key part of their plans moving forward.

It had been reported last year that Charlotte FC were close to signing the forward for a fee of £6.4m, but the player rejected the transfer. This may, though, offer a rough guide to how much the Hoops may need to pay for his services.

Why Celtic should sign Calvin Stengs

Rodgers should be pushing the board to formalise the club’s interest in Stengs by following up on their contact with the player with official talks with Feyenoord to get a deal done.

This is because the Netherlands international, who scored against Celtic in the Champions League in 2023, could be the manager’s next version of Kuhn.

Like the German whiz, Stengs is a left-footed right winger who likes to cut inside onto his favoured foot to deliver goals and assists at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis.

The 26-year-old talent missed 35 games through injury last season, per Transfermarkt, and that led to a return of just one goal in 16 matches in all competitions.

Whilst supporters may be concerned by that injury record, it is worth noting that Stengs only missed 14 matches through injury in the six seasons before that combined.

The Dutch star, who Jacek Kulig claimed “could do wonders” as a winger in the right system, showcased his quality in the final third for Feyenoord in the 2023/24 campaign, before last season’s injury woes derailed his progress.

xG

5.22

Top 20%

Goals

6

Top 22%

xA

8.59

Top 2%

Chances created

71

Top 1%

Cross accuracy

33%

Top 13%

Assists

12

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, Stengs ranked incredibly highly among his positional peers in the Eredivisie as both a scorer and a creator of goals that term, ending the season with 18 direct goal contributions in the division.

The £6m-rated star delivered eight goals and 17 assists in 43 appearances in all competitions for Feyenoord that term, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he can provide a constant threat at the top end of the pitch when fit and playing regularly.

Stengs, who scored 24 goals and racked up 22 assists in 113 games for AZ Alkmaar, could fill the hole that has yet to be filled since Kuhn’s move to Como was confirmed over a month ago, as he has the quality on the ball to replicate the impact the German star made.

Of course, there is still a degree of risk attached to any move for the Feyenoord ace because of the volume of games he missed last season, but his overall injury history does not suggest that it is likely to be a long-term concern.

Celtic could avenge Kvistgaarden miss with swoop for "flamboyant" £7m star

Celtic could avenge their Mathias Kvistgaarden blunder with a swoop to sign this star.

ByDan Emery Aug 16, 2025

Therefore, Celtic should be pushing to get a deal done for Stengs before the end of the window because he has the potential to be Kuhn 2.0 for Rodgers as another left-footed right winger who can offer goals and assists with impressive regularity.

Florian Thauvin's impressive revival at Lens has earned him a pre-call-up to the French national team for the first time in over six years. The 2018 World Cup winner, who believes he is now a "much more complete" player, is in contention for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers after a journeyman career path.

Thauvin is back?

According to a report from , the 32-year-old is in contention for Didier Deschamps' final list for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland after a remarkable career revival. He has been named on Deschamps' list as the coach has drawn up a provisional squad.

AdvertisementAFPThauvin's impressive form sparks recall

Since returning to Ligue 1 with Lens this summer after spells in Mexico and Italy, Thauvin has been in excellent form. The attacker has scored two goals in his first six league appearances and produced a standout man-of-the-match performance in a recent 0-0 draw with Rennes, where his side played for 93 minutes with 10 men. His creativity and leadership in that match particularly caught the eye, underlining his successful reintegration into French football.

'I'm much more complete now' – Thauvin on his evolution

The player himself believes he is better now than during his peak at Marseille, which earned him his spot in the 2018 World Cup squad. "I've never felt better," Thauvin said. "I think the best season of my career was 2018, but now I consider myself stronger. Back then, I was a young player, efficient, good at finishing, but perhaps a little too individualistic. Now, I have a much more collective vision… I'm much more complete."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

World Cup dream fuels comeback ambition

A return to the national setup would cap a sensational comeback for Thauvin, whose last of 10 caps came on June 11, 2019. The forward confirmed his desire to represent his country again, with the 2026 World Cup on his mind. "When you work, you put a lot of things in place every day, and when you perform well, you want to dream. It's something you have to earn," he stated.

“The difference between Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill is that Gill will take you right till the end,” Sanjay Manjrekar says

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-20254:30

Manjrekar: There’s an air of dominance around Gill

Shubman Gill is a ” [one for the long haul]” and batting at just 60% is enough for him to score a century like he did in India’s Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh. This is the assessment of Sanjay Manjrekar, who also feels that Gill gives the impression of being someone who will be around for a further 10-15 years while Shreyas Iyer doesn’t.”He [Gill] is batting at the right position to make a huge impact. When he gets a hundred, like today, it seems like there is plenty left in the tank,” Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo Match Day. “It was like 60% of Shubman Gill is enough to get a hundred like this and he stays till the end. That is the difference between Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill that Gill will take you right till the end. He is somebody who you think is going to be around for 10-15 years. Shreyas Iyer, despite his obvious talent, doesn’t give you that impression.”Gill finished unbeaten on 101 against Bangladesh and guided India in their chase of 229 in Dubai. He faced 129 balls and hit nine fours and two sixes in his knock and ensured India got home with six wickets and 21 balls to spare. One of his two sixes – a front-foot pull off Tanzim Hasan in the ninth over – went into the second tier of the stands at deep-midwicket.Related

Gill on what makes him and Rohit tick: 'The way we play is quite different to each other'

Kumble: Time for India to start building for 2027 ODI WC

Gill ton helps India ace tricky chase after Shami five-for

Mohammed Shami roars back against injury and age

“Some of the shots he played, the good-length ball he hit and it went into second tier… the big game is at his beck and call,” Manjrekar said. “Can he be better in 50-over cricket as a batter? I don’t think so, what can be better than this?”In the company of Rohit Sharma, Gill started off quickly and raced to 26 off just 23 balls with four fours and a six by the time the first powerplay ended. But he slowed down when Bangladesh employed spin on a slowish track and kept an in-and-out field. He scored his slowest ODI fifty, off 69 balls, and then got to his hundred in 125 balls, the slowest for an India batter in ODIs since the 2019 World Cup. His ability to change gears impressed Manjrekar.”He’s got the class to do it [change gears],” he said. India are blessed with [a top three] who are also Test batters, so they can play different gears. Yashasvi Jaiswal, when he comes in eventually, is also a Test batter. So if the ball is swinging around in overseas conditions, they have the ability to see the new ball through and then handle the various situations. Shubman Gill is that kind of a player, he is not one-dimensional, he has all the gears and we saw him do that today as well. He is a guy at the top of his 50-over-cricket prowess and he does it very calmly. There is an air of dominance and surety with the way he bats and finishes games.”Shubman Gill dug deep for his slowest ODI hundred•AFP / Getty ImagesFormer India legspinner Anil Kumble was impressed by the restraint Gill showed against spin. Bangladesh had offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz and legspinner Rishad Hossain, and Gill scored only 34 off the 56 balls he faces against them, hitting just the one four. But he took 28 singles that helped him tick along.”The other thing that was noticeable today was generally when he sees the offspinner he steps out and launches it over long-on, midwicket,” Kumble said. “He didn’t want to take the risk perhaps because of the pitch. He felt that that was the riskier option. Although Miraz is someone he would take on – we have seen it even in Test match cricket. He was constantly looking to just ease through and ensure he was there till the end. That was very noticeable even when the [required] run rate dropped a little bit.”Manjrekar agreed: “And also the ability to nick off singles, keep that scoreboard ticking. It is not that he plays the sweep shot a lot or the dab. He goes very traditional and loves to keep the bat straight. Even when he is playing the pull shot, the bat comes down very straight. A lot of his singles would be back-foot punches to long-on instead of playing just with soft hands. A guy who can get singles at will, can hit a six at will, has got a reasonably good defence for 50-over cricket, he’s the complete player at the moment.”2:30

Bumrah or Gill – who should be India’s next ODI captain?

There would have been slight jitters in the Indian camp when they slipped from 112 for 1 to 144 for 4 in under eight overs but Gill kept his calm and saw the chase through, which earned plaudits from Kumble.”He’s been brilliant, especially in this format. The elegance and the ease with which he got that hundred on a difficult pitch,” he said. “I don’t think it was a true pitch where the ball was coming on nicely. It was on the slower side and you had to make adjustments, yet he was middling the ball and timing it so well.”The best part about Shubman Gill was he ensured he saw the game through. It was not like he wanted to get going, get runs [and get out], we have seen that before. That is the maturity he has brought into the game. Hope this is the start of a fantastic season for him and India, because when you play the first match in a tournament and you get a hundred not out and you are there till the end, it augurs well.”

Newcastle United haven’t made the best of starts to the 2025/26 season, but now that the elephant has been excavated from the room, Eddie Howe might feel a little more chipper about his side’s chances over the coming months.

Against Liverpool last month, Newcastle played with the passion and fervour and ability of an elite outfit. And that’s because the Magpies are of top class, so well coached and so well shaped by careful transfer business since Howe and PIF first arrived.

On the scoresheet at St. James’ Park that evening was Hugo Ekitike, who was billed as Alexander Isak’s potential replacement at Newcastle.

However, both ply their trade for Liverpool.

Why Newcastle wanted Hugo Ekitike

Ekitike has scored three goals and provided one assist since joining Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt in July, proving that he has the prolific nature to partner his wide-ranging skill set.

Chalkboard

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

Regarded by analyst Ben Mattinson to be “one of the best strikers out there” last season, Ekitike has proven that his qualities are transferable, and it’s clear to see why he was earmarked to play in Isak’s stead under Howe’s wing.

Like Isak, Ekitike is a stylish and creative forward, bearing a tall frame and endowed with a fierce athleticism that serves as the backbone of his quality as a top goalscorer.

Sadly, both now ply their trade for league rivals Liverpool, and Howe will need to bring Yoane Wissa up to scratch as swiftly as possible, with the summer signing from Brentford having scored 19 Premier League goals last season.

However, the 28-year-old doesn’t boast as high a ceiling as his new strike partner Nick Woltemade, who some consider a talent who could even outstrip superstars such as Isak.

How Woltemade compares to Isak and Ekitike

Woltemade joined Newcastle from Stuttgart in a club-record £69m deal last week, with a deal struck out of the blue and all but confirming Isak’s sale to Liverpool.

The 23-year-old is still coming into his own, but he scored 12 goals from 17 appearances in the Bundesliga last season and received a call-up to the German national team, having now earned two caps.

However, it’s the underlying data which has attracted Newcastle’s attention and money, with data-driven platform FBref revealing Woltemade ranks among the top 5% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and successful take-ons, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 18% for ball recoveries per 90.

He might not be quite the same as Isak and Ekitike, but perhaps that is a positive, allowing Howe to land his next star-in-the-making without signing a mere mimic of the striker just sold.

Matches (starts)

28 (17)

Goals

12

Assists

2

Shots (on target)*

1.8 (0.9)

Big chances missed

11

Pass completion

72%

Big chances created

8

Key passes*

1.3

Dribbles*

1.1

Ball recoveries*

1.9

Tackles + interceptions*

0.5

Duels (won)*

4.4

But in any case, FBref’s number-crunching has revealed that both aforementioned strikers bear a likeness to Woltemade, each blessed with skills that stretch beyond what is expected of a number nine.

A strong presence in the final third allows the towering striker to guide balls to teammates, found through his eight big chances created in the Bundesliga.

Indeed, hailed for his “absolutely ridiculous” quality in the final third by European football expert Zach Lowy, Woltemade is so much more than just a goalscorer, with sharp link-up play and intelligence that rivals that of Isak, albeit applied in a different manner.

Lowy went on to suggest that his prowess as a technically proficient target man is reminiscent of bygone superstars such as Karim Benzema and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, owing to his balance and improvisation and resourcefulness.

Wissa is the more refined attacking signing at Newcastle right now, but Woltemade has the capacity to become something truly special under Howe’s wing, taking samples from Isak and Ekitike’s skill sets and fashioning himself into a unique and effective forward for the Toon.

New Isak: Newcastle have "one of the best teenage prospects in the world"

Newcastle will need to replace Alexander Isak’s goals with a range of different attacking talents.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 3, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur suffered from a lack of creativity during Saturday’s defeat against Bournemouth on home turf, losing 1-0 after such good work in claiming six points from six to get the Thomas Frank era off to a flyer in the Premier League.

The hunt for a playmaker worth their salt has dominated much of the Lilywhites’ transfer window, with Xavi Simons signed on but only after botched efforts for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, who left Crystal Palace and joined Arsenal.

But the defeat against the Cherries, requiring more than an hour of action for a first shot on target, and Simons alone won’t provide the answer across the wide span of the campaign.

Mohammed Kudus has racked up a few assists already at this early point in his Tottenham career, but it’s not enough, and Daniel Levy looks ready to attack the market one last time and land a player with properties better suited to fixing this chink in the armour.

Spurs lining up D-day signing

Tottenham have what it takes to come on leaps and bounds this season, but much will depend on the coherence threaded through the first-team squad.

And without enough creative ammunition, Frank’s lofty ambitions might prove hard to hit. To put it another way, he could do with another impactful addition in the coming hours.

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, that man could be Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, with Tottenham having made an enquiry to ascertain the potential of a last-gasp bid for the England international.

Transfer Focus

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

The chances of the energetic attacking midfielder leaving are admittedly slim, but Tottenham may well pull it off if they offer a sum in the ballpark of £80m, the figure quoted as other clubs – including Liverpool – circle.

What Rogers would bring to Spurs

Aston Villa only signed Rogers from Middlesbrough in the Championship for £15m in January 2024, and already, the 23-year-old has established himself as one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League.

After all, he notched 30 goal involvements across all competitions last term, blending his prolific touch with such power and confidence when carrying the ball forward.

Might Spurs be set to land a stunning repeat of their one-time masterclass in winning the race for Dele Alli, who also had strong interest from Liverpool before leaving MK Dons in League One and joining Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham in a £5m package, aged 18.

The rest is history. While Dele’s career has sadly swerved down a dark path, he will always be remembered fondly down N17 for his incredible and prodigious emergence, with Pochettino actually saying back in 2017: “If he is not the best young player in Europe, he’s one of the best. Look at his age and his statistics, the potential is massive.”

Rogers doesn’t quite carry the same weight, but he’s still showcased immense potential under Unai Emery’s wing at Aston Villa.

25/26 (Villa)

3

–

–

24/25 (Villa)

54

14

16

23/24 (Villa)

16

3

1

23/24 (Boro)

33

7

9

Not just a prolific midfielder, Rogers is something of “a machine” when on the ball, as has been noted by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell. He won 4.7 duels per league match last year, as per Sofascore, and shifted from the centre to a more attacking berth with such gusto.

While he can play out on the flank, Rogers shares a further likeness with his countryman in that he is best utilised from the centre, with journalist Carl Anka actually remarking that he has a “Dele-esque” way about him in that regard.

Adding him to the ranks would strengthen Tottenham’s creative potential, to be sure, adding something that Kudus, for all his ability, doesn’t quite inject with the needed skill at this present moment. Indeed, last term, Kudus chalked up just nine goals and assists for the Hammers in all competitions, far fewer than Rogers’ haul of 30.

Kudus is a direct and dangerous winger, but he’s not the most effective of playmakers, and with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski both sidelined, adding a player of Rogers’ profile to the mix could go a long way toward weaving together the kind of tactical harmony needed for Spurs to hit their targets and exceed them.

More exciting than Simons: Spurs chasing "one of the best LWs in the world"

Spurs could seal a more exciting signing than Simons on transfer deadline day.

5 ByMatt Dawson Aug 31, 2025

CA chief executive Todd Greenberg expressed “disappointment” that the final could not be played at Adelaide Oval

Alex Malcolm14-Mar-2025South Australia’s bid to host the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval has been blocked by the AFL with the decider to be played at Karen Rolton Oval as it was originally scheduled.The South Australia Cricket Association and South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas had led a public push to play the final at Adelaide Oval after South Australia locked in hosting rights with a win over Victoria last Sunday.Cricket Australia had originally expected the final to be played at Karen Rolton Oval, starting on March 26, given the drop-in pitches had already been removed from Adelaide Oval for the start of the AFL season. But CA were happy to support Malinauskas and the SACA in their bid to stage the game at the iconic venue which would have required to match to be moved forward two days to start on Monday March 24 to allow for Adelaide Oval’s ground staff to drop a single pitch into the middle of the venue the day after an AFL game that will staged there on Saturday March 22.Related

Tension between Khawaja and Queensland builds ahead of Shield final

Lehmann and Scott lead South Australia to home Shield final

'We want to play there' – Adelaide Oval could host Sheffield Shield final between AFL games

The AFL had initially stated it was open to cooperating to allow cricket to use the venue but that changed when concerns were raised about the condition of the playing surface for the footballers if a pitch was dropped in and then removed again on Saturday March 26, the day after the five-day final had been played, before another AFL game was set to take place on the ground on Sunday March 27.CA chief executive Todd Greenberg issued a statement expressing frustration that the final would not be played at Adelaide Oval.”We are disappointed South Australia has been prevented from hosting the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval,” Greenberg said.”The Sheffield Shield final is a significant event for Australia’s national sport, and we believe Adelaide Oval would have been the most appropriate venue.”I would like to thank Premier Malinauskas for his advocacy in this matter and his passionate support of cricket and the South Australia Cricket Association which made an extremely compelling case to host the final at Adelaide Oval.”March is a very important month for cricket including the Sheffield Shield and Premier and club cricket finals.”We will continue to work collaboratively at all levels to ensure cricket gains and provides appropriate access to shared venues across the country.”Malinauskas had earlier in the week told 5AA radio in Adelaide that his office had received a “galling” request from an AFL “entity”, likely one of the Adelaide based AFL clubs, for financial insurance cover in case an AFL player was injury due to the surface being unstable if the Shield final was staged at the ground.”We have received a request, it’s not from cricket, I won’t say what entity it is in footy,” Malinaskas said.”What I would say is we are asking for people to act rationally and pragmatically in the interest of fans.”I’ve got to say it’s a little bit galling that people are trying to use an opportunity to look after fans as an opportunity to slug the taxpayer and I won’t be having it.”I’m not naming any names, I’m just saying my government is not going to be giving cash so they get out of the way of something everybody thinks should happen.”The Shield final has not been hosted at a multipurpose venue in Australia since 2012 due to the encroachment of the AFL season into the month of March, which had notionally been a cricket month in Australia as Greenberg alluded to.South Australia is hosting their last home and away game at Karen Rolton Oval this weekend against Queensland while the Adelaide Crows will host their first AFL game of the season at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria are all vying for the other spot in the final as the final Shield round begins on Saturday.

Bayern Munich reportedly launched a shock summer swoop to sign Raheem Sterling but the Chelsea misfit rejected the Bavarians. The Bundesliga champions made their move late in the window, with Vincent Kompany eager to link up with his former Manchester City teammate. But despite Bayern offering the lure of trophies and Champions League nights, Sterling gave them a flat rejection.

Getty/GOALSterling part of Chelsea’s ‘bomb squad’

Instead of lighting up the Allianz Arena, Sterling is stuck in the dreaded "bomb squad" at Stamford Bridge; the infamous group of unwanted players frozen out of Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans. The England star is marooned alongside others who failed to secure exits, including defender Axel Disasi. For the next four months, his reality is training in the shadows until January’s window gives him another escape route.

AdvertisementFamily ties trump trophies

According to Sterling turned down Bayern not for football, but family. He wanted to stay in London, where his partner and children are settled. A nine-month stint abroad without guarantees of regular minutes held little appeal, even with the chance to compete for major silverware.

AFPLondon interest fizzles out

There was talk of a loan move within the capital, with a couple of Premier League rivals exploring possibilities. Yet nothing ever moved beyond preliminary chats. Without firm offers in London, and with Sterling refusing to uproot his family, he was left stranded at Cobham when the window slammed shut.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

The contract conundrum

The elephant in the room is his mega Chelsea deal. Sterling is tied down until 2027 and stands to pocket around £30m ($40m) in wages. No player is walking away from that kind of fortune, and no club is cutting a cheque that big just to send him packing. Both parties are locked in a stalemate where a compromise looks like the only way out, but right now, no solution is on the table.

Toluca head coach Antonio Mohamed says his side arrives at Wednesday’s Campeones Cup final against LA Galaxy motivated and hungry for silverware. For him, the clash at Dignity Health Sports Park is more than a shot at a trophy – it’s also a chance to measure the growth and resilience of his squad. Toluca currently sit top of the Liga MX standings.

Getty Images Sport'There’s no clear favorite'

The Argentine coach pointed to Toluca’s evolution since their painful elimination on penalties in the Leagues Cup, insisting that the group has grown in resilience and competitiveness.

“We’re motivated to keep competing for every trophy. There’s no clear favorite; it will be a very even match, but we trust in our strengths to reach the goal,” Mohamed told reporters. “We didn’t lose any game on the field, only on penalties. 

"That was hard to take, but since then, the team has improved in many areas – competitiveness, fitness, and mentality. We’re in a much better moment now."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportContrasting forms

While the LA Galaxy sit at the bottom of the MLS Western Conference and are already out of playoff contention, Toluca lead the Apertura 2025 and aims to secure a consecutive Liga MX title. Still, Mohamed made it clear that Toluca’s ambition is to add another international trophy to their history.

“This Galaxy is different, with quality players who are in form, " he explained. "Whoever executes their plan better will lift the trophy. A team that thinks it has already reached its peak will quickly be overtaken. Our challenge is to keep writing history – we’re driven by the hunger for glory.”

Getty Images Sport'Every final matters to us'

Goalkeeper Hugo González echoed his coach’s words, stressing the importance of representing Liga MX with pride and emphasizing the team’s unity as their main weapon.

“Every final matters to us. We’ve shown balance in attack and defense, but what sets us apart is the group itself. MLS has grown a lot, but Mexican football also continues to prove its strength. Matches like this show who’s on top in the moment,” González said.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images SportFamiliar terrority

The Mexican side returns to a place where it has had previous success, Dignity Health Sports Park, having defeated América there in the Campeón de Campeones in July, giving them an added sense of confidence heading into the showdown.

For better or worse, Ruben Amorim remains wedded to his 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United, despite having seen his side plunge to new depths last season amid their dismal 15th-place Premier League finish.

The Portuguese coach won two league titles while using this approach at Sporting CP, although his failure – or rather refusal – to adapt looks like it could be his undoing at Old Trafford, with the wisdom of such a set-up yet to be realised.

On current evidence, it also looks like it could be the undoing of young Kobbie Mainoo, with Amorim almost a year into his tenure and still no closer to finding a settled role for the 20-year-old sensation in his side.

With the manager’s own future perhaps still up for debate, the club wisely opted against loaning or selling Mainoo this summer, even amid his limited role, with the midfielder a player whom United simply can’t offload any time soon.

Once a central part of Erik ten Hag’s team, as well as in England’s Euro 2024 run, the academy graduate is arguably seeing his talents wasted at present. Can Amorim get him firing again?

Mainoo's record under Ten Hag vs Amorim

Mainoo must surely take his own accountability for his dip of late, while having also been struck down by injury in 2024/25, although right from the off, he doesn’t appear to have earned Amorim’s trust.

Indeed, the 40-year-old opted to unleash an ageing midfield pairing of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen for his first game away at Ipswich Town, with Mainoo instead watching on from the bench at Portman Road.

That set the tone for what has followed, with the Stockport native going on to make 30 appearances in all competitions under the new regime, with only 14 of those having come from the start.

Of those 30 outings, Mainoo has also been subbed off on nine occasions, while he has contributed just two goals and two assists thus far – half of which came during the Europa League victory over Viktoria Plzen back in January.

That performance appeared to showcase what the youngster could do in a number ten role, yet he now appears resigned to fighting it out with ever-present skipper, Bruno Fernandes, in a deep-lying midfield berth.

No longer the golden boy, Mainoo appears a far cry from the player who dazzled under Ten Hag’s watch, having scored five goals and provided one assist in 44 games during the Dutchman’s time at the helm.

38 of those displays notably came from the start, with Ten Hag reaping the rewards of his faith in the then-teenage talent – the FA Cup final winner a case in point.

Mainoo isn’t alone in having suffered under the new regime, with Amorim also failing to get a tune out of a certain Rasmus Hojlund.

How Hojlund's value has fallen since Amorim's arrival

A frantic end to the window saw United finally move on their ‘unwanted’ stars, with Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho all departing from the so-called ‘bomb squad’.

That string of departures also included Hojlund’s own loan switch to Serie A champions Napoli, with that deal expected to become a £38m permanent move if certain conditions are met this season.

In an era of Alexander Isak’s and Yoane Wissa’s, Hojlund – to his credit – appeared desperate to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford, even amid the signing of Benjamin Sesko, having reportedly been hesitant to commit to his Naples move initially.

Unfortunately for the boyhood United fan, Amorim and co had seemingly seen enough last season, with the young Dane ending 2024/25 with just ten goals to his name in all competitions – only four of which came in the Premier League.

While only Fernandes and Noussair Mazraoui have made more appearances for United since Amorim took charge back in November, with Hojlund lining up 40 times, the partnership simply hasn’t proved to be a fruitful one.

Who is to blame for those woes is up for debate, with the 22-year-old certainly showing promise under Ten Hag the year prior, having ended the season as United’s top scorer in all competitions with 18 goals. That said, he also ended the season on the bench, as the Dutchman favoured a makeshift duo of Scott McTominay and Fernandes in his place.

The hope was that having seen Viktor Gyokeres score 66 goals in just 68 games under his watch in Lisbon, Amorim’s appointment could take Hojlund to even greater heights.

Games (starts)

30 (25)

32 (23)

Goals

10

4

Mins per goal

217

506

Goal conversion

26%

13%

Big chances missed

13

6

Assists

2

0

Big chances created

0

4

Key passes*

0.9

0.5

Total duels won*

38%

29%

As it has transpired, the ex-Atalanta sensation was largely a bystander to proceedings in attack last term, with chances at a premium. As per Sofascore, he actually only missed six ‘big chances’ in the Premier League in 2024/25.

From 18 goals in 51 games under Ten Hag, to just eight in 40 under Amorim, Hojlund proved unable to generate chances himself, nor convince his teammates to create opportunities for him. A worrying cocktail.

While he at times looked like a “Ruud Van Nistelrooy-type” striker in his debut campaign, as per Cesc Fabregas, Amorim rarely saw the best of United’s £64m signing – nor, it must be said, did he get the best out of him.

That is reflected none more so than in his declining market value. As per Transfermarkt, Hojlund was worth a peak value of €60m (£52m) back in December 2024, just a month into the Portuguese’s tenure.

Fast forward to the present day, and his worth has sunk to just €35m (£31m), marking a rapid drop off since the change in the dugout at Old Trafford.

Whether the manager, the system or Hojlund himself is to blame, a record of 26 goals in 96 games simply isn’t good enough. Let’s hope Benjamin Sesko proves to be a far more prolific leading man.

Man Utd's most expensive signings of all time

A number of their additions haven’t lived up to expectations.

ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025