Arsenal are now leading the race for a “world-class” Barcelona star, who has the same agent as Viktor Gyokeres, with Mikel Arteta personally keen on a creative midfielder.

Gunners eyeing new midfielder despite Zubimendi masterclass

After suffering a setback against Liverpool before the international break, the Gunners responded in perfect fashion against Nottingham Forest, chalking up a 3-0 victory, with summer signing Martin Zubimendi looking particularly impressive.

The Spaniard bagged the opening and final goal against the Tricky Trees, finding the back of the net with a superb volley from the edge of the box, which saw the 26-year-old pick up the Man of the Match award.

Arteta is well-stocked in the engine room, with the manager clearly a big fan of Mikel Merino, having trusted the 29-year-old to start ahead of Declan Rice against Forest, saying: “Mikel [Merino] comes back after scoring four goals in two games with a really high emotional state and I want to use that when a player is in that moment.

“I want to play him because he is going to bring something different with the qualities that they have and Declan comes in and it will have an impact immediately or he will play the next game.”

However, according to a report from Spain, Arteta has set his sights on bringing in another creative midfielder in the January transfer window, with Arsenal now keen on a deal for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

The Gunners are said to be the leading candidates for De Jong’s signature, despite interest from the Saudi Pro League, with the Dutchman keen to remain at an elite European club, although ideally that would be Barcelona.

However, the 28-year-old, who cost the La Liga club €75m (£65m), is yet to agree a new contract with Barca, which means his current employers could look to cash-in this winter.

"World-class" De Jong could take Arsenal's midfield to next level

There are perhaps some doubts over whether the Gunners need another central midfielder, having signed Zubimendi in the summer, who has made a flying start to life at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal intensify interest in signing "special" gem ahead of Liverpool

He’s a future star…

ByTom Cunningham Sep 13, 2025

However, with Arteta’s side clearly at the stage where they can go deep into the Champions League, having reached the semi-finals last season, it makes sense to have a deeper squad, and De Jong could take their midfield to the next level.

Simone Inzaghi has suggested the Netherlands international could be one of the best players in the world in his position, saying: “Let me say that Frenkie de Jong is just sensational, he’s a world class player. Frenkie surprised me at same level as Lamine Yamal did.”

The Barca star, who is represented by HCM Sports management, the same agency as Gyokeres, has considerable experience at the top level, picking up 19 goals and 23 assists in 261 games for Barcelona, so it is exciting news that he could be on his way to the Emirates Stadium this winter.

Jaffer said that CSK shut shop too quickly if Shivam Dube falls in chases

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Apr-20252:46

Jaffer: ‘If top order doesn’t fire, CSK shut shop early’

Wasim Jaffer believes Chennai Super Kings (CSK) look “rattled” in IPL 2025, adding that their batting order doesn’t even “look like they’re trying” once Shivam Dube gets out. Mark Boucher, meanwhile, feels things are not “happening the way it used to before” for the side. In the 184-run chase against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Chepauk, CSK’s batters once again misfired as they suffered their third consecutive loss of the season.”They’re losing too many wickets upfront,” Jaffer said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. “Whether it’s form or poor shot selection, whether it’s selection alone, and maybe throwing around too many players and those players might be feeling like, ‘I don’t know if I’m in or out’, and that could be something we’re not used to when looking at a Chennai team. Usually, they’re stable, a good decision-making team and franchise. The team is like they’re a bit rattled at the moment.”With captain Ruturaj Gaikwad dropping himself to No. 3, CSK opened with Rachin Ravindra and Rahul Tripathi in the first three games. But with Tripathi making a total of just 30 runs, he was replaced by Devon Conway. The move did not pay off against DC, with the top-three batters falling inside the powerplay, which brought in Shivam Dube while they needed 143 runs at an asking rate close to ten runs an over. But after Dube fell for 18 in the tenth over, CSK found it hard to get going.Related

Rayudu: 'CSK will come back strong once they get their combination and personnel right'

KL Rahul: 'Back to enjoying my cricket, not thinking about taking it deep'

Worried Fleming says CSK are still 'grappling' to find their best line-up

KL Rahul shines as DC outclass CSK in Chennai

Stats – CSK go six years without chasing a 180-plus target

“If their top order doesn’t fire and Dube gets out, it looks like they shut shop very quickly,” Jaffer said. “They feel really, really behind the game and it doesn’t even look like they’re trying. That approach has been the most surprising to me; it’s twice in two games, where they shut shop too early. That’s a major concern for CSK.”Dube’s dismissal was followed by an 84-run stand between MS Dhoni and Vijay Shankar, but they didn’t look like they would get close to chasing down the target. They were risk-averse, scoring just three fours and a six between overs ten and 18.This was CSK’s second faltered chase at home. They suffered a 50-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), where they were reduced to 26 for 3 in the fifth over after conceding 196 for 7. They also failed to chase 183 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati, falling six runs short after batting out 20 overs.They have also used 17 players this season – more than they did in the entirety of the 2015 (14) and 2021 (16) IPL editions.”Their top order is really struggling,” Boucher said. “And we talk about your lower order which has been historically very strong and finishing off games, the [Ravindra] Jadejas, the Dhonis – the Dhoni little cameos that they usually have – they’re walking in just after ten overs. So, there’s a lot left to do from just a batsmanship perspective, and that’s where they’re getting it wrong.””The players that they had picked in the auction before – they picked Ajinkya Rahane, Robin Uthappa, [Ambati] Rayudu who are way past their prime – and they came and performed,” Jaffer said. “But that is not happening with this CSK: they picked Tripathi, they picked Deepak Hooda, and even Vijay Shankar. But things are not happening the way it used to.”

تقدم فريق ريال مدريد بالهدف الأول أمام خصمه خيتافي، في المباراة الجارية حاليًا في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على خيتافي في الجولة التاسعة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني، لذلك الموسم، 2025/26.

وشهدت الدقيقة 77 حصول لاعب فريق خيتافي، آلان نيوم، على بطاقة حمراء مباشرة بعد ثوانِ من دخوله كبديل نتيجة تدخله القوي على فينيسيوس جونيور، لاعب ريال مدريد.

حالة غريبة في كرة القدم! 😲

آلان نيوم يُطرد 🟥 بعد أقل من دقيقة من مشاركته أمام ريال مدريد!#الدوري_الإسباني #خيتافي #ريال_مدريد pic.twitter.com/7UHOTgs7cE — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 19, 2025

واحتج لاعبو خيتافي وكذلك مدربهم على قرار طرد نيوم، ولكن تقنية الفيديو أكدت الأمر، ليضطر الفريق إلى اللعب منقوصًا.

وفي الدقيقة 80، سجل كيليان مبابي هدف ريال مدريد الأول بعد تمريرة رائعة من زميله التركي أردا جولر، حيث وصلت الكرة إلى الفرنسي الذي سددها في الشباك، معلنًا عن التقدم. هدف ريال مدريد الأول أمام خيتافي

MatériaMais Notícias

No começo deste ano, Nikão foi emprestado pelo São Paulo ao Cruzeiro. No Tricolor, tem contrato até o final de 2024, mas o jogador vive um impasse.

RelacionadasSão Paulo!Acabou a ‘maldição’! São Paulo vive boa fase após vitória contra o Tigre no MorumbiSão Paulo17/07/2023São PauloCom os gols contra o Santos, Calleri faz história no São PauloSão Paulo17/07/2023CruzeiroFora dos planos de Pepa no Cruzeiro, Nikão pode ser devolvido ao São PauloCruzeiro17/07/2023

Como informado pelo Lance! nesta segunda-feira (17), Nikão está fora dos planos do treinador Pepa, do clube mineiro. A dúvida que fica é: o jogador vai voltar para o São Paulo?

Conforme a reportagem do Lance! apurou, o São Paulo não pretende contar com o jogador. Além de não ter espaço no elenco de Dorival Júnior, não estaria nos planos da diretoria também. A ideia, até então, é tentar um repasse para o Athletico-PR, sua antiga equipe.

Quando Nikão chegou ao São Paulo, foi visto com fortes expectativas. Entretanto, com o passar da temporada, o meia-atacante foi de ‘reforço estrelado’ à reserva. Antes de vestir a camisa do Tricolor paulista, Nikão atuava no Athletico-PR. No Dragão, sua passagem foi extremamente vitoriosa. Com314 jogos, 49 gols e47 assistências, o jogador era visto como decisivo. Destes gols marcados, 21 deles foram em mata-matas.

ATUAÇÕES: Calleri dá aula em clássico, Pato marca primeiro gol em retorno, e São Paulo anula Santos no Brasileirão

Para os tricolores paulistas apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!

Com este histórico, a chegada de Nikão ao Morumbi foi vista como um forte entusiasmo. Mas não foi assim que aconteceu. O camisa 10 disputou somente 32 jogos na temporada 2022, com quatro gols e quatro assistências. Destas partidas, foi reserva em mais da metade: 17.Além de enfrentar várias lesões, não encontrou o ritmo ideal e nem espaço no elenco. É entendido por parte do São Paulo que, nesta temporada, também não seria aproveitado.

Ruben Amorim was shocked by the 'knee-jerk reaction' to Manchester United's latest defeat, as they lost 3-1 to Brentford, and insiders at the club now fear that he will resign, instead of being sacked, per a new report. The Red Devils have lost three of their opening six Premier League games and were dumped out of the League Cup by Grimsby Town.

• Amorim surprised by fallout

  Per the , Amorim has been surprised by the sheer amount of scrutiny that is on both the club and his position after their uninspiring start to the season. The Portuguese is said to be shocked by the fact there is a 'knee-jerk reaction' after every single defeat, and United have, thus far, lost half of their Premier League fixtures, and were also embarrassed by Grimsby in the League Cup. The most recent loss, to Brentford, has left Amorim with the sixth-lowest points tally after 33 games at any club in the history of the Premier League. Nevertheless, the club are said to have faith that the former Sporting CP boss can turn their season around, but insiders now fear he could walk away.

  Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to be very keen to ensure that Amorim has a full season to prove himself but there is a concern that Amorim will see United as being a career-defining job, particularly if they keep losing games with the same regularity they are currently. 

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• AFP
  

  United being linked with other managers

  United have been heavily linked with potential replacements for Amorim, although the report states that sources at the club are maintaining they have yet to draw up any kind of shortlist. While Erik ten Hag was in charge, the club did actively speak to other potential hires, doing so with Amorim before the Bayer Leverkusen boss moved on, but they are insistent there has been no repeat this time. Reports are linking the club with both Michael Carrick and Gareth Southgate, however, but the latter has not had any contact with Ratcliffe, despite the owner being an admirer of the former England boss.

  Carrick could be seen as a potential interim appointment if Amorim does move on, but it speaks to the faith INEOS have in the 40-year-old that they are yet to open direct communications with anybody else. United play Sunderland before the international break and that game has already become a must-win, with the newly-promoted side in fine form with only one defeat from their opening six fixtures.

• Amorim's defining period?

  Amorim said after the defeat to Brentford that he was not concerned about his immediate future. 

  He said: "I am never concerned about my job – I am not that kind of guy It is not my decision. I will do the best I can every minute I am here."

  He was also not willing to throw his players under the bus after such a poor display, adding: "I think we played the game they wanted us to play, the opponents – really confused: first balls, second balls. If we play the game of the opponent, it’s harder for us. We never settled the game down. We suffered two goals where we knew they are really strong on that, with the long balls. Then we tried to get back in the game. We miss a penalty, and all these moments are a little bit against us. That could change the game, but in the end, we need to – and we should do – better.

  "We need to have those moments for us. In the last game we had that, especially in the beginning of the game. Today, my biggest concern is the way we didn’t settle down the game, to control the game, to play our game. We should do that more in the game."

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  Where next for Man Utd?

  United face Sunderland before the international break but they then face a huge test once they return: A trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. The two sides could not be enjoying more different seasons, and the Reds will be out to hand down another major defeat on their bitter rivals. Last season at Anfield, Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Amorim's men, and a similar result for United would feel like manna from heaven given the state of their current campaign. 

It wasn’t the start to their Champions League campaign Chelsea would’ve been looking for last night.

The Blues travelled to the scene of their greatest European achievement, but instead of getting another one over Bayern Munich, they were comfortably beaten.

Now, there were several starters who put in a good showing, like Cole Palmer and Robert Sanchez, but there were more who let themselves down.

One of those was Enzo Fernández, and since he’s not really been at it this season, Enzo Maresca should look to drop him for the Premier League clash against Manchester United in two days.

Fernandez's slow start to the season

Now, there is no doubting Fernandez’s quality; he’s a World Cup winner after all and played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s success last year.

Chalkboard

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

However, as was the case at the beginning of last season, the former Benfica gem has not started the campaign in particularly impressive form.

For example, while he managed to bag a goal and assist in the win over Fulham, he’s only created one big chance in five appearances.

Moreover, in the Premier League, he has averaged just 1.5 key passes per game, been accurate in 20% of his crosses, completed 41% of his long balls, and been accurate in just 76% of his passes when in the opposition’s half.

Last night was probably the Argentine’s most underwhelming display yet, as even though he was moved further up the pitch, he offered practically nothing in attack while also lacking off the ball.

Minutes

81′

Expected Goals

0.23

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.01

Assists

0

Touches

34

Accurate Passes

17/21 (81%)

Key Passes

0

Crosses (Accurate)

2 (0)

Long Balls (Accurate)

2 (0)

Shots on Target

0

Big Chances Missed

1

Lost Possession

9

In fact, he amassed an expected assists figure of just 0.01, failed in 100% of his crosses and long balls, failed to have a single shot on target and missed a huge chance created by Palmer.

It was a performance that saw the Standard’s Simon Collings award him a 5/10 match rating at full-time, which was probably rather generous.

In all, it feels like Maresca should do what he did last season and take Fernandez out of the team for a little while, especially when he already has a player who could be the ideal replacement.

The player Maresca should start in place of Fernandez

While there are a few options Maresca could pick from, the player we think he should start against United is Andrey Santos.

Now, there is certainly an argument to be made that handing the 21-year-old his first Premier League start at Old Trafford, a ground Chelsea haven’t won at for over a decade, is a little foolish.

However, the young Brazilian does not seem like the sort of player to be overawed by that sort of thing, and his overall play from last season warrants him getting this chance.

He’s more than comfortable playing in a couple of midfield roles and has shown himself to be just as effective at breaking up play as he is at scoring and creating goals.

For example, in 34 appearances for Strasnourg last year, totalling 3024 minutes, the Rio de Janeiro-born ace scored 11 goals and provided five assists.

In other words, he maintained an average of a goal involvement every 2.12 games, or every 189 minutes.

Moreover, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for tackles won, the top 4% for goals per shot and tackles in the middle third, the top 10 for tackles plus interceptions and more, all per 90.

Tackles Won

2.23

Top 2%

Non-Penalty Goals – npxG

+0.11

Top 3%

Goals/Shot

0.19

Top 4%

Tackles (Mid 3rd)

1.59

Top 4%

Non-Penalty Goals

0.27

Top 5%

Tackles

3.22

Top 5%

Pass Completion % (Long)

78.2%

Top 7%

Touches (Def 3rd)

19.12

Top 8%

Goals/Shot on Target

0.57

Top 9%

Goals + Assists

0.37

Top 10%

Tkl+Int

4.30

Top 10%

Fouls Drawn

2.00

Top 10%

Dribblers Tackled

1.42

Top 12%

Penalty Kicks Won

0.03

Top 12%

These numbers help to back up the claim made by analyst Ben Mattinson that the youngster is a “duel monster” who is “brilliant at screening the backline.”

Going even further than that, talent scout Jacek Kulig called him a “one-man war machine in midfield” due to his ability to seemingly do it all and constantly dash from one box to another.

Ultimately, there would be an element of risk in starting Santos over Fernadez on Saturday, but the Argentine hasn’t looked anywhere near his best this season, and based on his performances last year, the Brazilian could be just what Chelsea need.

Maresca must drop Chelsea dud who was as bad as Chalobah vs Bayern

Chelsea lost to Bayern Munich in their first Champions League game of the season.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 18, 2025

Celtic did not have a perfect summer transfer window, as they failed to land any strikers on deadline day, but they did do some good business on the whole.

Bringing Kieran Tierney back to the club on a free transfer from Arsenal was arguably the highlight of the window on paper, six years on from his £25m move to Arsenal in the summer of 2019.

The Scotland international was the first signing of the window and the highest-profile addition to the squad to replace Greg Taylor for Brendan Rodgers.

How Kieran Tierney has performed for Celtic

Expectations were, understandably, high for the left-footed star after what he achieved during his first spell at the club, and the fact that he has played in the Premier League and LaLiga over the past six years.

The 28-year-old full-back has not had a perfect start, losing 100% of his ground duels in the second leg against Kairat for example, but that should have been expected given his injury issues in recent years.

Tierney missed 45 matches through injuries in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined, per Transfermarkt, but he has still shown glimpses of the quality that he can provide, with an excellent assist against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Whilst it has been exciting to see such a high-profile player return to Celtic this season, Tierney is not the most valuable full-back in the squad – Alistair Johnston is.

Celtic have hit the jackpot with Alistair Johnston

Ange Postecoglou signed the Canada international from Montreal for a reported fee of £3.5m in January 2023, and the Australian head coach hit the jackpot for the club with that move.

The impressive right-back, whose work rate was hailed as “phenomenal” by Rodgers, has gone on to play 115 times for the Scottish giants in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, and registered 22 assists.

Johnston did not have a Transfermarkt market value at the time of Tierney’s £25m move to Arsenal in 2019. Now, six years later, the Canadian star is worth even more than the Scotland international.

Celtic’s full-backs’ fluctuating market values
Date	Kieran Tierney	Alistair Johnston
August 2019	£25m move to Arsenal	N/A
July 2020	£24m	£43k
May 2021	£28m	£2m
May 2022	£28m	£2.5m
June 2023	£21m	£6m
March 2024	£10m	£7m
October 2024	£9m	£8m
June 2025	£8m	£9m
Valuations via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old star is worth more than the Scottish defender for the first time in their respective careers, which speaks to his rise and the fall of the left-back.

This also shows that the Hoops hit the jackpot with the right-back because his value has soared from £3.5m to £9m in less than three years, making him a far more valuable asset than he was when they signed him from the MLS.

Johnston, who is currently out injured, has proven himself to be a huge attacking threat from right-back for Celtic, creating 15 ‘big chances’ in 30 league starts last term, per Sofascore.

His superb performances on the pitch for the Scottish giants have led to his market value soaring to the point that he is now worth even more than Tierney, who was once a £25m-rated player.

Sold by Rodgers, now worth £22m more: Celtic messed up with prolific star

Celtic must regret selling this star who is now worth over £20m more than the fee they received for him.

1

By
Dan Emery

Sep 4, 2025

Overall, Postecoglou hit the jackpot for Celtic by signing him from Montreal and the club will be hoping that he can continue to deliver on the pitch to increase his value by even more.

In January 2023, when Anthony Gordon forced his way out and signed for Newcastle United in a £45m deal, Everton supporters were livid.

The Toffees were in the throes of a relegation battle, after all, and Gordon was one of their own, handed his big break after graduating from the academy and featuring 65 times in the Premier League for the club before buying a one-way ticket to Tyneside.

It was a blow, but Everton staved off relegation, and then, in 2024, welcomed Iliman Ndiaye to the fold from Marseille in a £15m deal, and that has certainly proved to add flair and potency to the flanks.

No player scored more goals than the Senegalese winger last season, whose combination of pace and skills quickly established him as a fan favourite. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp marvelled that he brought a “dynamite” style to Goodison Park, while analyst Ben Mattinson noted that he “could play for any Premier League side”.

Everton Top Scorers 24/25 (all comps)

Player

Apps

Goals

Iliman Ndiaye

37

11

Beto

34

10

Dwight McNeil

24

5

Abdoulaye Doucoure

31

4

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

26

3

Michael Keane

31

3

Data via FBref

Any frustration around Gordon has long since passed, but this football club have a deep connection with their academy ranks, and might find a new homegrown hero, having welcomed a few to the senior stage over the years.

Everton's best academy graduates

Where else to start but with Wayne Rooney? One of the Premier League’s all-time greats, Rooney was handed his professional debut by Moyes during the manager’s iconic first tenure on Merseyside, starting with a bang and then signing for Manchester United for £30m when he was still only 18.

How the Toffees would like their next version of the Three Lions legend to join their ranks from Finch Farm.

There have been more, Leon Osman being a case in point. The 44-year-old was more of an unsung hero, a versatile midfielder, but he racked up 433 appearances for Everton and served dutifully for Moyes during his first term in office.

Ross Barkley was slated as Rooney’s natural successor, so impressive was his start to life at Goodison Park. Barkley came and went, and then Gordon did too, but Everton still seek their next big star from the youth ranks.

And though such talents are few and far between, Moyes might have a versatile attacking talent at his disposal who might even cause Jack Grealish to cast a glance over his shoulder.

Braiden Graham could be a star for Moyes

Grealish has made quite the start to his new career on Merseyside, having joined on loan from Manchester City this summer after falling from grace at the Etihad.

Four assists from as many matches and the Premier League Player of the Month award to boot emphasise just how impressive a start to this new chapter it has been for Grealish, so much so that he has moved Ndiaye out onto the right flank, a role he performed just once last season, and three times already in 2025/26.

It would take a special talent indeed to displace the silky Three Lions star, but Everton might just have such a player rising to the fore in 17-year-old Braiden Graham, who completed a move from Linfield in Ireland to Everton in July 2024, when he was only 16.

It would take only a couple of months for Graham to earn his first professional contract, proving to Everton his capacity to score and to assist across a number of attacking berths after ex-Linfield boss David Healy hailed his “incredible” potential.

Braiden Graham: Everton Stats by Position

Position

Apps

Goals (assists)

Attacking midfield

8

6 (1)

Centre-forward

5

2 (2)

Left winger

4

3 (1)

Right winger

2

1 (0)

Centre-midfield

2

0 (0)

Stats via Transfermarkt

He scored eight goals across only 12 matches in the U18 Premier League last season, assisting two goals too, thus earning a promotion to the Premier League 2, nestled right underneath the big time.

At 17, he wouldn’t have been expected to offer more than support as he cut his teeth among older hopefuls, but eight games later, the Irish talent had five goals and an assist to his name. All told, 13 goals in all competitions last year saw him rise above Ndiaye as Everton’s top goalscorer, albeit at a lower level.

The fanfare is real, and Moyes will no doubt be interested in handing him a senior shot this season, perhaps in a domestic cup against lesser opposition, should the opportunity arise.

The right-footed teenager is still working out his best position, but he seems at his most fluent and dangerous when coming off the left flank and into the danger area, fearless on the ball and endowed with natural strength and balance.

His physical development continues to be the biggest hurdle yet to be leapt over, but that’s only natural given his age. Praised as “a good finisher” by Everton U21 boss Paul Tait, that advantage in goalscoring could see him offer something excitingly different to Grealish, who has never really been clinical in front of goal.

Grealish appears to be the cream of the crop right now, but Everton have got a whole load of creative forces who weren’t there af few years back.

What still appears lacking is a range of goalscoring threats. Up top, Beto currently lacks the clinical edge that comes to him in bursts, and Thierno Barry is unrefined within the English game.

Graham is a player who has the lot: goals, assists, pace, power, smarts. Whether he can transfer his youthful flair to the senior stage remains to be seen, but there’s little question that if he keeps going from strength to strength, he will come knocking on the 29-year-old Grealish’s door, with sights set on claiming that left-sided spot and adding a new dimension to Everton’s frontline.

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Charlotte Edwards is ready to drop “the F-word” from conversations about her England Women’s team as they seek to change their image and banish doubts about their fitness ahead of a home T20 World Cup next year.A month to the day after her appointment as successor to Jon Lewis, who was sacked as head coach after the team’s poor showings at the last T20 World Cup and Ashes, Edwards gave some insight into the changes she has looked to implement already.The need to play more domestic cricket, with selection to be performance-based going forward, as stated in her first press conference as England Women’s head coach at Lord’s on April 2, was at the forefront, as was changing public opinion of the team.”We’ve got to look at our professional behaviours and how we go about stuff and that’s everything across the board,” Edwards said. “Social media, we talked very openly about the perception of the team at the moment and we’ve got to change people’s perceptions.”But we’ve got to earn the right to do that and we’ve got to stop putting stuff on social media that doesn’t need to be on there. If it’s not going to positively reflect on them or us as a group, then it probably is not worth posting. But equally I want them to be themselves because that’s really important to me.”Related

• Nat Sciver-Brunt juggles captaincy, motherhood and injury ahead of England redemption quest

• Lauren Winfield-Hill: 'Good fielding shows how much you're willing to commit'

• Charlotte Edwards' appointment rings in new era for women's game

• Charlotte Edwards: 'I'm under no illusions, this role is about winning'

• Charlotte Edwards: Lord's portrait unveiling caps 'whirlwind' month

England have faced criticism of their fitness levels since an error-strewn defeat in their last group game, against West Indies, at the T20 World Cup in Dubai, where social media posts from a day-off boat trip also raised eyebrows.Edwards was back at Lord’s again on Thursday speaking to journalists as the ground was announced as the venue for the final of the T20 World Cup on July 5, 2026. A month earlier, she had said she would assess fitness standards within the group for herself. After working with them at their national performance centre in Loughborough for a few weeks, she reflected on what those perceptions were versus her experience.”Well, it was clear from the winter, I mean, I call it the F-word,” she said. “I said at my press conference, ‘I’ll go and judge that for myself’. I was so impressed by the standards in terms of where everyone was at. They’ve clearly worked very hard from the period after the Ashes. That is an area, but it’s one part of performance and had we won, that doesn’t get brought into question. So we’ve equally got to keep working really hard there.”But the cricket and getting our game-plan is more important to me. I think that’s where they lost a lot of their games was through their cricket awareness. And what I want to instil in this group is that we’re really smart about how we play the game – we know when to be aggressive, we know when not to be, we play every game to win. Bottom line, big tournaments are about winning and it’s creating an environment so we can do that more consistently and having a game-plan to do that.”Key to implementing that game plan will be new captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who has worked with Edwards to secure two WPL titles with Mumbai Indians in the past three years and returns from maternity leave next week, replacing long-serving skipper Heather Knight.”When I’ve worked with her in Mumbai, she was vice-captain to Harmanpreet Kaur and the way she kind of drove that team, but not in a captaincy role, was something I was really impressed by,” Edwards said. “She’s been instrumental to success over there as well. So the opportunity for Nat to lead her own team – she’s not had that opportunity – is something I think she’s very excited about and we certainly are.”Edwards, who was England captain before Knight, said she would look to ease pressure on Sciver-Brunt to allow her to perform duties other than playing and leading the team, and build a leadership group around her, which could change depending on format or series. But, she added, she would probably steer clear of having a permanent vice-captain, and confirmed that Knight would not be part of the leadership group.”For me it’s Heather enjoying cricket, really focusing on her batting, she’s playing as well as I’ve ever seen her,” Edwards said. “We’ve had some good chats around where I see her role in the team and her bowling. I want to see her bowling more, which she was quite excited about.”She’s been great around the group. She gets on really well with Nat, they’ve been good friends for a number of years, so she’s obviously really pleased for Nat and I genuinely think we’re going to see Heather Knight scoring a lot of runs over the next couple of years.”In that time frame, England have a home series against West Indies starting on May 21, followed by India, who will then host the 50-over World Cup towards the end of the year before England stages the T20 edition next summer.The ECB is expected to appoint a national selector ahead of the West Indies series and while Edwards said some players had “credit in the bank” from past performances, the early rounds of the Metro Bank One Day Cup have yielded some contenders for a place in the squad.Emma Lamb is the leading run-scorer with 268 from three innings, including an unbeaten 130 in front of Edwards in Lancashire’s opening game. Lamb last played for England on the tour of Ireland in September, but most memorably scored a hundred and two half-centuries in three ODIs during South Africa’s visit in 2022.Ella McCaughan has scored 64 and 133 not out in her last two appearances for Hampshire to press her claim for an England debut.Sophie Ecclestone, Charlotte Edwards, Sophia Dunkley and Lauren Bell pose with the T20 World Cup•ECB via Getty Images

Lauren Bell, the seam bowler who was part of England’s T20 World Cup and Ashes squads, has taken two wickets in each of her two outings for Hampshire as part of the centrally contracted contingent being called upon to play as much domestic cricket as possible.”My case has always been workloads,” Bell said. “I want to play as much cricket as possible. I always have done. Lottie’s really keen for us to play cricket and I’ve said to her the best way I’m going to learn now is through playing cricket and through bowling and being competitive.”As organisers laid out ambitious plans for the 2026 World Cup to bring women’s cricket into the mainstream sporting landscape permanently, being competitive has never felt so important.Edwards was forthright in saying that winning was paramount when she took on the coaching job and she believes success in the context of a home T20 World Cup at Lord’s, where England won the 50-over event in 2017, would be reaching the final.Bell, for one, appears to have bought into Edwards’ winning mentality.”I was very thankful to Jon Lewis, he helped with me and developed me as a cricketer, very much so, gave me a lot of opportunities,” Bell said. “What he brought to his team was amazing and he very much brought a lot of ‘living in your shoes, enjoying it, being grateful, appreciating what you have’, which will stick with me throughout my career.”But I think we’re ready to win cricket matches now and I think we just lost sight of how maybe to win and what the goals were. Hopefully now a lot can come in with a winning mentality and we can hopefully try and actually win some cricket.”

Russell Martin has survived another day as Rangers manager.

On Saturday, the Gers reached the League Cup quarter-finals, managing to win 2-0 at Ibrox, although a Glasgow derby at Hampden on 2 November is probably far from what they need right now.

The question though still remains; will Martin be in charge by then?

Well, to avoid becoming the shortest-serving permanent manager in Rangers’ history, breaking Pedro Caixinha’s record, Martin would still need to be at the helm for the visit of Braga in the Europa League on 27 November, which appears unlikely considering he is yet to win a Premiership match in five attempts, leaving them second-bottom, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Almondvale.

Thus, surely 49ers Enterprises, who took over the club in the summer, are considering potential replacements, so a future “elite manager” should be top of their wish list, not the obvious front-runners.

The favourites to replace Russell Martin at Rangers

Ever since it became clear that Martin was not going to last particularly long in Govan, amid widespread protests against him and chief executive officer Patrick Stewart present throughout the weekend win over Hibs, two obvious front-runners have emerged, both with Merseyside connections.

Steven Gerrard would be the populist choice, with many supporters wanting to see him return to Ibrox, having managed the club for 194 matches between 2018 and 2021, re-establishing Rangers as a force in European football, as well as leading them to their sole Premiership title since 2011, stopping Celtic’s pursuit of ten-in-a-row.

A key figure in Gerrard’s success in Glasgow was then-assistant Michael Beale, who returned to Ibrox as manager himself in 2022, lasting just 43 matches before being hounded out.

The pair did briefly reunite in Saudi Arabia, working together at Al-Ettifaq before Gerrard was unceremoniously sacked in January, so could the 49ers get the band back together?

The other leading candidate is Sean Dyche, who has also been out of work since January, dismissed by Everton earlier this year.

Having taken charge of 557 games as a manager, of which 332 have come in the Premier League, the former Burnley boss is surely one of the most experienced coaches Rangers could attract, and he has proven himself adept at getting the best out of whatever he has to work with, something the current occupant of the Ibrox hot seat certainly is not doing.

However, rather than playing it safe, Rangers should be bold and appoint a future “elite manager” who is currently out of work.

Rangers' dream Russell Martin successor

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jordi Cruijff, son of the legendary Johan, asserted that “all the best managers were midfielders”, a claim supported by a study from The Athletic, which found that ‘almost half of coaches with a professional playing background were midfielders’.

Well, a man looking to reinforce that stereotype is Michael Carrick – formerly tipped to replace Gerrard in the hot seat by Charlie Adam back in 2021.

After spending 12 years at Manchester United as a player, he retired in 2018 and worked under José Mourinho and then Ole Gunnar Solskjær as an assistant coach, placed in interim charge for three matches in 2021, overseeing victories over Villarreal and Arsenal, as well as a draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

After leaving Old Trafford, Carrick returned to the North East, where he was born and raised, appointed Middlesbrough manager in October 2024.

As the table below documents, his time on Teeside was generally pretty successful.

Matches

136

Wins

63

Draws

24

Defeats

49

Goals scored

220

Goals conceded

177

22/23 league finish

4th

23/24 league finish

8th

24/25 league finish

10th

Best EFL Cup run

Semis

As outlined by the table, Carrick led Boro into the Championship play-offs in his first season, having taken over with the side 21st, before they were beaten 1-0 by Coventry City in the semi-finals.

He also guided them to the EFL Cup semi-finals, actually defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg at the Riverside, but eighth and then tenth place finishes in the Championship saw him sacked and replaced by Rob Edwards during the summer, who has made a flying start in fairness, with Middlesbrough currently top of the table.

Nevertheless, Carrick earned plenty of praise, labelled a future “elite manager” by one analyst, while Jack Manship of Total Football Analysis was impressed by his ‘eye-catching’ brand of football, praising Boro’s ‘organisation’ and ability to attack quickly.

Meantime, Solskjær has backed Carrick to be a future Manchester United manager one day, describing him as a “winner”, forecasting he will be a top-class coach in the near future.

Thus, while Carrick is out of work, Rangers should surely do everything they can to convince him to take over in Glasgow, successfully taking a chance on Gerrard back in 2018, even more of a rookie himself at the time, so a young coach with fresh ideas is surely exactly what they need.

Imagine him & Raskin: Rangers must rue selling £6m "left-footed Yaya Toure"

As Nicolas Raskin underlines his importance at Rangers, imagine him alongside the “left-footed Yaya Touré” sold for £6m by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

ByBen Gray Sep 24, 2025