Son's true heir: Spurs submit bid to sign "electric" £62m "level-raiser"

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank opted to go with what seemed like a rather defensive team selection when the line-up was revealed before kick-off against Arsenal.

The Lilywhites lined up with five defenders and two defensive midfielders, along with a front three of Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert, and Richarlison against the Gunners.

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Stat

Arsenal

Tottenham

Possession

57%

43%

Big chances

3

0

Shots

17

3

Shots on target

8

2

xG

1.93

0.07

Passes

448

330

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, it was an approach from the Danish manager that did not pay off for Spurs, as they were heavily beaten by their local rivals on Sunday.

Tottenham only registered three efforts on goal in their loss to Arsenal, with one of them being the 45-yard lob from Richarlison, as they struggled badly in possession.

Struggling in possession has been a theme of the Premier League season for the Lilywhites, as they currently rank 17th in the division for xG created (11.1) across 12 matches, per FBref.

Some of that will be down to Frank’s system and tactics, as his selection against Arsenal seemed negative on paper, but there have also been some underperforming attacking players this season.

Ranking Tottenham's attackers this season

When looking at how the team’s attackers have performed in the 2025/26 campaign so far, it is hard to look past Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison as the two standout performers.

The Brazil international has delivered five goals and two assists in all competitions for the Lilywhites, whilst the £55m summer signing from West Ham has produced one goal and five assists.

On the other end of the scales, the £52m signing from RB Leipzig, Xavi Simons, has failed to deliver much in the way of quality, with no goals and two assists in 15 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

The Dutch playmaker, who started the season on the left wing after Heung-min Son’s depature, was left out of the starting line-up against Arsenal, and he has to rank near the bottom of the list because of the fee paid versus the output given so far.

Ranking Tottenham’s attackers this season

Rank

Player (Minimum one appearance)

1

Mohammed Kudus

2

Richarlison

3

Brennan Johnson

4

Mathys Tel

5

Wilson Odobert

6

Randal Kolo Muani

7

Xavi Simons

8

Dominic Solanke

9

Dane Scarlett

As you can see in the table above, Dane Scarlett and Dominic Solanke are the only two players who rank lower than Xavi, and that is because they have played 59 minutes of football between them, which makes it difficult to place them any higher.

Unfortunately, Spurs are still looking for the true heir to Heung-min Son’s throne after the South Korea international moved on from North London in the summer, as their big-money addition from Leipzig is yet to pay off, and they are now keen on a star who could finally fill that vacancy.

Spurs make big-money bid to sign new winger

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham Hotspur are one of the clubs interested in doing a deal to sign Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams in the upcoming January transfer window.

The outlet claims that Spurs and Chelsea have both submitted bids worth around £62m in an attempt to land the Spain international to bolster their respective attacking units.

Transfer Focus

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

It also reveals that both of those clubs are working on contract offers that would see Williams triple his current wages, which the report does not disclose, in order to convince him to leave his club.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not the Spanish whiz would be willing to move to England, or if the £62m offers are enough to tempt Athletic Bilbao into cashing in on their prized asset.

If Spurs can get a big-money deal for the left-sided attacker over the line, though, he could be Frank’s own version of Heung-min Son on the wing in the second half of the season.

Why Nico Williams would be Tottenham's new Heung-min Son

Williams, who was described as a “level-raiser” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, has all the attributes that the Lilywhites should be looking for in a replacement for the legendary South Korean star.

Like Son, the Spain international is a rapid forward who can use his speed to get in behind defences, as evidenced by Mattinson stating that he has an “electric burst of pace”, which is what served the former Spurs attacker so well for so long.

A goal scored by Williams against Real Oviedo in LaLiga earlier this month was an excellent demonstration of his speed, quality, and comfort on both feet, which Son was also renowned for during his time in North London.

The 23-year-old forward has registered two goals and two assists in nine matches in LaLiga this term, per Transfermarkt, after a haul of 11 goals and seven assists in 45 outings last season.

His most impressive campaign in an Athletic Bilbao shirt, though, came in the 2023/24 season when he delivered an eye-catching eight goals and 18 assists in 37 matches, per Transfermarkt.

These statistics show that the winger does have the potential to provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from the flank, as Son did with his 173 goals and 101 assists for Spurs before his move to the MLS in the summer.

Last 365 days (per 90)

Nico Williams

Heung-min Son

Non-penalty xG + xAG

0.38

0.54

Shot-creating actions

4.99

4.51

Progressive passes

3.25

4.09

Progressive carries

5.24

4.27

Successful take-ons

3.33

1.58

Progressive passes received

10.83

10.92

Key passes

1.91

1.86

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, Williams is also similar to Son in a host of underlying statistics away from purely goals and assists, which suggests that he can provide a similar outlet on the left wing.

Like the ex-Spurs captain, the Spain international is an exceptional ball-carrier who can drive the team up the pitch to make things happen as a creative force, which they badly need at the moment, as evidenced by their dismal attacking display against Arsenal.

Having a counter-attacking weapon like Williams could allow Tottenham to defend deeper in matches, as Frank tried to do on Sunday, because they would have him to explode on the break when they win the ball back, instead of attacks stagnating and allowing the opposition to keep the pressure on.

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ByMatt Dawson Nov 24, 2025

Therefore, the £62m-rated star could be a phenomenal addition to the squad with the quality that he could bring to the team on the left wing as their true heir to Heung-min Son.

Rangers now considering approach for 42y/o record-breaker to replace Stewart

The 49ers and Rangers are now reportedly considering an approach to hire a 42-year-old replacement for Patrick Stewart, who they recently sacked.

Rangers sack Thelwell and Stewart

Despite a recent turnaround on the pitch courtesy of Danny Rohl’s arrival, the 49ers have remained in ruthless mood and recently sacked chief executive Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell. It follows a disastrous summer of decisions, which instantly failed to get fans at Ibrox onside.

Explaining the decision, Andrew Cavenagh said: “Paraag and I have analysed the club’s needs, and as we reflect on what the club needs today, and where Kevin and Patrick are, we think we need something different.

“Our focus the first part of this season, the first part of our ownership period, has been on the sporting side and that’s where all of our attention went to for obvious reasons.

“With Danny coming in, he has started to improve the on-pitch performance, and that has created the space to allow Paraag and I to look at other parts of the club with new eyes and assess what we need going forward.

“I think responsible change has to be measured. I don’t think you can come in and tear something completely apart all at once. You’re likely to get something wrong.”

It’s certainly a big decision from the 49ers, but one that will please Rangers fans who particularly aired their frustrations at Thelwell in recent months.

Just who they turn to now is the big question. Potential candidates are already being mentioned, and that includes James Taylor who reportedly has internal support at the club amid a potential promotion.

Rangers considering James Taylor approach

According to the Scottish Sun, Rangers are now considering an approach to hire Taylor in the CEO role. The 42-year-old has already impressed as their Chief Financial Officer and played a huge part in recording a record revenue of £94m for the year. Now, he could get the chance to step up to the CEO role.

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ByBen Gray Nov 28, 2025

Whilst he’s not the only name on the list, Ibrox chiefs are reportedly fans of Taylor and that will undoubtedly help him along the way in the interview process.

It almost goes without saying that it would be a big step up for the current Rangers chief, but he has more than proven his worth at the club in the last year.

Whether the Gers decide to make a decision as soon as possible or remain patient for the right candidate is the question. In a season of so much change, they desperately need to get things in order ahead of the January transfer window both on and off the pitch.

Rohl must bin Chermiti for Rangers star who was the SPFL's "best player"

Navgire smashes fastest T20 hundred in women's cricket

Navgire finished on a 35-ball 106 for Maharashtra against Punjab in the Women’s T20 Trophy on Friday

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2025Kiran Navgire, the India and Maharashtra opener, has smashed the record for fastest hundred in women’s T20s. She hit her record-breaking blitz in the Women’s T20 Trophy on Friday, hammering a 34-ball century while finishing on a 35-ball 106. It helped Maharashtra crush Punjab with eight overs to spare in Nagpur.Navgire broke Sophie Devine’s record for the previous fastest women’s T20 century, in 36 balls. That came in Wellington’s ten-wicket win over Otago in January 2021 where Devine scored 108 not out in 38 balls. An incredible strike-rate of 302.86 makes Navgire’s performance the only women’s T20 century to have a 300-plus strike-rate.It was all one-way action from Navgire’s bat. In the unbeaten 103-run second-wicket partnership, No. 3 Mukta Magre needed to contribute only six runs as Navgire plundered 14 fours and seven sixes. Maharashtra’s team total of 113 for 1 – the chase completed in eight overs – is now the lowest total to include an individual hundred in women’s T20s, going above the previous lowest of 123 in a CSA T20 game where Annerie Dercksen scored 106 not out.

Navgire, from Mire in Maharashtra’s Solapur district – nearly 200km south-east of Pune – first turned heads during the 2022 edition of the Women’s T20 Trophy, when she smashed 35 sixes for Nagaland. She also became the first Indian to hit a 150-plus score in a women’s T20 match during her 76-ball 162 against Arunachal Pradesh. In an interview to ESPNcricinfo, she said she wanted to bat like MS Dhoni and credited much of her strength from helping out on her family’s farm as a child and from the variety of sports she played growing up.Her big-hitting exploits earned her an India T20I debut in Chester Le-Street against England in 2022, but she has not found a place in the national side since the Women’s Asia Cup of October 2022. In her six outings for India, she has batted four times, cumulatively scoring 17 runs across 19 balls, with one not out.In the WPL, she has been a regular at UP Warriorz, scoring 419 runs in 24 innings across three seasons. Her WPL strike-rate is 140.13, but she has averaged less than 18.

سلوت يفسر سبب جلوس محمد صلاح كبديل أمام وست هام

قام آرني سلوت، المدير الفني لنادي ليفربول، بتفسير سبب جلوس محمد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء أمام وست هام يونايتد، وذلك ببطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وست هام سوف يستضيف ليفربول بعد أقل من 30 دقيقة من الآن، وذلك لحساب منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر من منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وقام سلوت بمفاجأة الجميع حيث أبقى محمد صلاح على مقاعد بدلاء ليفربول، ودفع بدلًا منه بفلوريان فيرتز في مركز الجناح الأيمن، إلى جانب كودي جاكبو كجناح أيسر وفي مركز المهاجم ألكسندر إيزاك.

وتعتبر هذه هي المباراة الثانية التي يتواجد فيها محمد صلاح هذا الموسم على مقاعد البدلاء، بعد مباراة آينتراخت فرانكفورت في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تشكيل ليفربول أمام وست هام في الدوري الإنجليزي.. موقف محمد صلاح

وفسر سلوت سبب جلوس محمد صلاح كبديل اليوم، بسبب ضغط المباريات الذي يعيشه ليفربول خلال هذا الموسم.

وقال سلوت في تصريحات نقلها صحفي شبكة “سكاي سبورتس”، الموثوق فابريزيو رومانو: “نلعب 4 مباريات في 10 أيام، أحيانًا يكون ألكسندر إيزاك على مقاعد البدلاء وأحيانًا فلوريان، هذه هي التشكيلة التي اخترتها اليوم وليس قرارًا سهلًا أبدًا، وليست هذه هي المرة الأولى التي أفعل فيها ذلك”.

محمد صلاح تراجع مستواه بشدة خلال هذا الموسم وبقى الدولي المصري محل انتقاد من الجميع، على عكس الموسم الماضي الذي ساعد فيه ابن الـ33 عامًا الريدز على تحقيق لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

Their next Caicedo: BlueCo have signed a "world-beater" for Chelsea

They have made more than their fair share of poor signings over the last few years, but Chelsea have also got their hands on some incredible players.

One of those who falls into the latter category has to be Moises Caicedo, who has gone from up-and-coming gem to arguably the best six in the Premier League.

The Ecuadorian monster is almost unmatched when it comes to breaking up play, and with every passing game, seems to get better and better in attacking phases of play.

Therefore, Chelsea fans should be delighted about their most recent signing, as the youngster could well be their next Caicedo.

The exciting youngsters set to join up with Chelsea

Chelsea already have a squad full of exciting talents, and they are set to add even more talented youngsters in the summer.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

For example, Brazilian left-back Denner put pen to paper on a contract with the club back in March, but due to rules regarding under-18s, he must wait until the summer to join the senior squad.

He looks like a player worth waiting for, though, as, on top of being more than capable at the defensive side of the game, he is also a “marauding LB with so much quality in the final third,” per respected analyst Ben Mattinson.

Further up the pitch, someone who could cause havoc on the opposite flank for the Blues is Portuguese wonderkid Geovany Quenda.

The Sporting CP gem cost around £44m in March, and while that is an enormous sum of money, it looks like he will be more than worth it.

For example, despite still being just 18 years old, the Bissau-born dynamo has scored four goals and provided six assists, with two of those goal involvements coming against Kaira Almaty in the Champions League.

Speaking of the Kazakh side, their most exciting prospect, Dastan Satpayev, will make his way to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

Described as “a future Ballon d’Or winner” and “a future rival to Lamine Yamal” by one analyst, to say there is some hype around the 17-year-old would be an understatement.

It’s easy to see why, though, as in 29 first-team appearances last season, totalling 2081 minutes, he scored 15 goals and provided seven assists.

Appearances

29

Starts

21

Minutes

2081

Goals

15

Assists

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.75

Minutes per Goal Involvement

94.59′

On top of that, he also became the youngest player to score a senior goal for the Kazakh national team last week, scoring the side’s only goal in their 1-1 draw with Belgium.

With all that said, potentially the most exciting prospect of them all isn’t going to join Chelsea next year, but could still be their next Caicedo.

Chelsea's next Caicedo

What makes Caicedo such an incredible player? Most would agree that it is a combination of his excellent reading of the game, anticipation and technique.

These three things make him exceptional at shielding the back four and brilliant at kick-starting attacking moves.

Fortunately, based on the sentiment of those in the know, those appear to be traits shared by Deinner Ordonez, who just signed a pre-agreement with the Blues.

For example, Como scout Felix Johnstone has described the youngster as “an absolute alien of a talent” who is “physically top, so good in the air” and capable of producing “excellent carries.”

Likewise, Mattinson has described him as a “pacy aggressive defender off the ball who’s able to defend big spaces with a level of dominance rare for his age.”

He’s not just a defensive powerhouse, though, as Mattinson also points out his “outstanding range of passing” and the fact that he is “completely both-footed.”

With all that, it’s not hard to see why Johnston has dubbed the teenager a future “world-beater,” nor is it hard to see the technical traits he shares with Caicedo.

In addition to these physical and technical similarities, the youngster is also Ecuadorian, becoming the youngest player to represent the side at the South American U-20 Championship earlier this year.

Moreover, while he is yet to make a first-team appearance, he is also at the midfielder’s old club, Independiente del Valle.

Ultimately, he might play in a different position, but Ordonez shares plenty of traits with Caicedo and is certainly looked at as someone who could become as important for Chelsea in the future.

Chelsea ready club-record £133m bid for "monster", Enzo Fernandez may be key

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ByDominic Lund Nov 16, 2025

Zimbabwe to play tri-series in Pakistan after Afghanistan's withdrawal

The ACB withdrew its team from the tri-series after an alleged cross-border attack

Danyal Rasool18-Oct-2025

Zimbabwe will fill in for Afghanistan in the tri-series in Pakistan next month•Zimbabwe Cricket

Zimbabwe have replaced Afghanistan in Pakistan’s upcoming triangular T20I series at home next month. The series, which will be played from November 17 to 29 in Lahore and Rawalpindi, will also feature Sri Lanka.Earlier today, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced its withdrawal from the tri-series following the death of three local cricketers in what it alleged was a cross-border attack in the Urgun district of the country.In a post on X, the ACB claimed that several lives had been lost in the attack, including three local cricketers who had been returning home after playing a “friendly” match in Sharana, the capital of Paktika province. “The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family,” it said in a statement.Describing the incident as “tragic”, the ACB said “as a gesture of respect to the victims” it had “decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series.” The ICC and the BCCI joined the ACB in mourning the loss of life of the cricketers.Related

ICC, BCCI express 'solidarity' with Afghanistan after withdrawal from Pakistan tri-series

The PCB has not made any official comment on the situation following Afghanistan’s statement, but told ESPNcricinfo the tri-series would go ahead as scheduled, with Afghanistan replaced by another side. In the statement announcing Zimbabwe’s participation, the PCB merely said it had been notified earlier of “Afghanistan’s inability” to participate in the tri-series.The series will begin with Zimbabwe taking on hosts Pakistan in Rawalpindi before playing against Sri Lanka at the same venue two days later. All remaining games will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Com retorno de importante titular, Palmeiras fecha preparação para encarar o São Paulo

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras treinou na manhã deste último domingo (28) na Academia de Futebol e fechou a sua preparação para o Choque-Rei desta segunda-feira, no Morumbis, pelo Brasileirão 2024.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasFavorito? Palmeiras defende tabu de quase sete anos no Morumbis por BrasileirãoPalmeiras28/04/2024PalmeirasContra o São Paulo, Palmeiras quer melhorar seu retrospecto em clássicos fora de casa em 2024Palmeiras28/04/2024Mais EsportesFinal de futsal entre Palmeiras e Corinthians termina em briga generalizada; veja vídeoMais Esportes27/04/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Verdão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Palmeiras

Zé Rafael treinou normalmente com o elenco do Verdão e pode reforçar o time de Abel Ferreira após cinco jogos sendo desfalque por conta de uma lombalgia.

Caso Zé Rafael já retorne ao time titular, Richard Rios deve voltar para o banco, uma vez que Aníbal Moreno é titular indiscutível do Palmeiras.

continua após a publicidade

As duas únicas dúvidas na escalação para o clássico são sobre Abel manter os três zagueiros ou não, e aí neste caso Murilo e Lázaro brigariam por uma vaga, e também Raphael Veiga ou Luís Guilherme como meia.

O provável Palmeiras para o Choque-Rei é: Weverton, Mayke, Gómez, Luan e Piquerez; Aníbal Moreno, Richard Rios (Zé Rafael) e Raphael Veiga (Luís Guilherme); Lázaro (Murilo), Endrick e Flaco López.

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➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

O Palmeiras defende um tabu de quase sete anos sem saber o que é perder no Morumbis em jogos válidos pelo Campeonato Brasileiro.

Tudo sobre

BrasileirãoBrasileirão 2024PalmeirasSão Paulo

'The only good news of the night' – Enzo Maresca hails Cole Palmer return after Chelsea's dismal defeat to Leeds

Enzo Maresca admits that the return of Cole Palmer from injury was “the only good news” for Chelsea during their dismal defeat at Leeds. The Blues suffered a shock 3-1 reversal against relegation-threatened opposition at Elland Road, with Maresca’s side always playing catch up. They did, however, welcome England international Palmer back from an untimely absence.

Welcome back: Palmer's first appearance since September

Palmer’s last appearance for the Blues came against Manchester United on September 20, when he was forced off early on. His return to action was delayed when suffering a freak accident at home which left him nursing a toe complaint.

The 23-year-old was named among the substitutes against Leeds, allowing him to be introduced just past the hour mark. Chelsea had found a way back into that game at that point, with Pedro Neto halving their deficit, but Palmer was unable to inspire a revival.

The hosts went on to net a third in the 72nd minute, through Dominic Calvin-Lewin, as Chelsea were left to reflect on a surprisingly abject performance that brought a seven-match unbeaten run to a shuddering halt.

AdvertisementGettyBlues boost: Maresca pleased to have Palmer back

Palmer is not yet ready for 90 minutes, but Maresca said of having his No.10 back: “Probably it’s the only good news of the night. I’m happy for him, he’s back, now he needs to build a little bit the physical condition and he will be important for us, for sure. He’s getting better, but he needs to play minutes. Last night he had more-or-less half-an-hour, hopefully we can give him more in the next game.”

Former Premier League title-winning Chelsea star Joe Cole has told of how important Palmer’s return to the fold could be: “He can elevate them, and his return will give the lads a boost. What I will say is that the players who stepped up in his absence have been superb. They have spread the goals around the team, and the performances have been great. If you played against Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer in the 10 role, it’s as good as anything in world football.”

Neto form: Winger matches best Premier League tally

The Blues’ performance at Leeds was far from “great”, but Neto did net his fifth top-flight goal of the season. Alongside two assists, he has matched his best Premier League return from 2020-21 – during his time at Wolves.

Maresca added on the Portugal international winger: “Pedro, compared to last season, he is doing many things better. It’s also normal now this season that he is scoring goals and getting assists.”

Chelsea will be back in action on Saturday when taking in a trip to Bournemouth. Maresca said of recovering quickly ahead of that contest: “Now we need to reset, we need to prepare for Saturday’s game. Saturday will be very similar to last night’s game with the environment, the intensity, and we need to reset and prepare to win the game.”

Palmer will expect to see more game time against the Cherries, as he works on recovering full match fitness and sharpness. He has two goals to his name this season – registered against Brentford and Bayern Munich in Premier League and Champions League competition – and has a crucial role to play in Maresca’s plans.

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Getty ImagesWorld Cup target: Long-term goals for Palmer

He will be desperate to avoid any more setbacks, with international ambition also being factored into the equation. Having missed out on selection under Thomas Tuchel this season, Palmer must prove his worth to England’s demanding head coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Regular outings at club level, in domestic and continental fixtures, will aid that cause – with Tuchel often favouring those that are competing on the grandest of stages. There is, however, fierce competition for places when it comes to playmaking berths in the Three Lions’ ranks.

England – who are waiting to discover who the 2026 World Cup draw will pit them against on Friday – will not be in action again until March. That is allowing Palmer to focus on matters at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea sat fourth in the Premier League table – nine points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Ashraful named Bangladesh's batting coach

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful has been named as batting coach for the team’s upcoming series against Ireland.Ashraful was part of one of Bangladesh’s greatest moments in history. He was only 20 years old when he led the team to a stunning upset of Australia in 2005. That century was part of a career which spanned 177 ODIs and yielded 3468 runs, the fifth highest for his country. Ashraful also played 61 Tests – becoming the youngest player to score a hundred – and 23 T20Is and was active in domestic cricket as recently as two years ago.Mohammad Salahuddin resigned as assistant coach on Wednesday and will depart at the end of the Ireland series next month. He was brought in to support head coach Phil Simmons in November 2024. Salahuddin was in charge of the batting unit having spent nearly three decades coaching at various levels in Bangladesh and developing strong relations with the current group of players.Related

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A difficult 2025, where the team suffered T20I series defeats to UAE, Pakistan and most recently West Indies, ODI series defeats to Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and Test match losses to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe added pressure on the team and its management. Salahuddin had pushed back against it during a press conference in July when he said “after coaching for 27-28 years, I am hearing that there are lots of complaints in the team against me. I really would like to know about those complaints. Best if it was given to me in writing.”Ashraful’s own career was not without its ups and downs. In 2013, he received a lengthy ban from all BCB related cricket activities for match-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League. He was eventually brought back to the fold three years later and lately has branched out into coaching. Last month, Ashraful had voiced displeasure at the trend of Bangladesh top-order batters not providing enough for the team. Now he has been given the chance to do something about it.

Another thrashing for Liverpool! Man Utd's U18s smash SEVEN past Reds with exciting wonderkid JJ Gabriel netting hat-trick and copying Alexander Isak celebration in eye-catching performance

Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel rubbed further salt into Liverpool’s wounds as he celebrated like Alexander Isak after netting a hat-trick in his side’s 7-0 thrashing of the Reds’ Under-18s on Saturday. The highly-rated 15-year-old enhanced his burgeoning reputation with a remarkable performance which helped Darren Fletcher’s youngsters move up to third in the U18 Premier League table.

  • Another miserable afternoon for Liverpool

    Liverpool fans are having a tough time currently, with the first team struggling under Arne Slot after having slipped to a ninth defeat in 12 games last time out in the Champions League against PSV. There was more misery on Saturday afternoon as Liverpool's Under-18s came up against bitter rivals United and slumped to a 7-0 defeat at the AXA Training Centre in the Premier League.

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  • Gabriel enhances reputation with hat-trick

    United forward Gabriel put in another eye-catching display with a clinical hat-trick. The teenager showed brilliant skill, twisting and turning in the box to make it 2-0 to the Red Devils. He then escaped more defenders with another goal for 3-0 and then ensured he went home with the match ball by finishing off a well-worked move to wrap up the scoring late on for United. Gabriel also managed to troll Liverpool's struggling big-money signing Isak by imitating his goal celebration. It's the sort of performance that will have United fans purring about their rising star, who appears to have a very bright future ahead of him.

  • Amorim to call on JJ Gabriel?

    The teenager, who was born in London and has spent time at the academies of Arsenal, Chelsea, and West Ham, has been at United since 2022. In that time, he has impressed through the club's age groups, so much so that he took part in the Red Devils' first-team training last month. The youngster, who earned a sponsorship with Nike at the age of 11, is understood to have taken part in a full 11 vs 11 practice game. Perhaps he will get more chances to play with Ruben Amorim's side in 2026.

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    What next for Man Utd wonderkid?

    Gabriel, who is still too young to even play in the FA Youth Cup, will hope to continue his excellent scoring form when United's U18s host Newcastle's U18s next Saturday in a game between third and second in the division, respectively.

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