فتح عمر مغربل، الرئيس التنفيذي لرابطة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين لكرة القدم، الباب أمام محمد صلاح مهاجم ليفربول، للرحيل عن الريدز، في الفترة المقبلة.
ويرتبط محمد صلاح بالرحيل عن ليفربول خلال الفترة المقبلة، وذلك في ظل الخلاف الذي حدث بين اللاعب وإدارة النادي الإنجليزي والمدرب آرني سلوت.
واتهم محمد صلاح إدارة ليفربول بعدم تنفيذ الوعود المقدمة له، إلى جانب اعترافه بأن علاقته مع مدربه قد تدمرت بالكامل.
طالع| سكاي سبورتس تصدم ليفربول بشأن رغبة محمد صلاح.. وموقفه من الدوري السعودي
وقال “مغربل”، خلال الجلسة الحوارية بعنوان النموذج السعودي: “بناء دوريات مستدامة من خلال التطوير والحوكمة والخصخصة في منتدى كرة القدم العالمي: “محمد صلاح مهاجم ليفربول مرحب به في دوري روشن، لكن الأندية هي المعنية في التفاوض مع اللاعبين وصلاح أحدهم”.
وتابع بحسب وكالة أنباء الشرق الأوسط: “الدوري السعودي أصبح اليوم محط أنظار العالم، وهذا التحول انعكاس لتقدم ملموس في معايير الاحتراف، وقوة المنافسة، ومؤشر على أن كرة القدم في المملكة غدت خيارًا مهنيًا حقيقيًا لعدد كبير من اللاعبين الذين وجدوا في الدوري وجهة قادرة على تطوير مسيرتهم”.
In his start for the Dodgers Wednesday evening, that came to a head after he walked off the mound and had to hit leadoff shortly thereafter. Ohtani threw five innings and struck out nine batters when he got the ball against the Reds. When his outing was over, he tried to catch his breath after recording the longest start since his return to the mound this year.
He couldn't do that though, as he had to quickly grab his batting gear and take some practice swings before he stepped up to the plate. Ohtani seemed to momentarily forget he was up to bat to lead off the Dodgers' half of the fifth, quickly realizing and picking up his pace to go grab his bat and helmet. You can watch the hilarious moment below:
The true problems of being one of baseball's best hitters while simultaneously starring on the mound.
Ohtani's dominant start Wednesday is a welcome sight for Dodgers fans, especially after he took a line drive in the leg in his previous start against the Rockies. Luckily, it wasn't serious and he didn't have to miss any time on the hill. He seemed to come back better than ever, striking out a season-high nine batters, one better than the eight punchouts he recorded in four innings against the Cardinals earlier this month.
At the plate, he has hit 45 home runs this season, tied for the National League lead with Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. He's slashing .278/.389/.612 with 85 RBIs in addition to the 45 homers.
Don’t say it too loudly, but things might be turning around for West Ham United.
Nuno Espírito Santo made changes to his team ahead of the Newcastle United game at the weekend, and lo and behold, came away with all three points.
Moreover, it wasn’t a smash-and-grab; the East Londoners actually played well, with one player in particular doing spectacularly.
In fact, with the proper support around him, that starter could become a leading figure for West Ham and their biggest star since Mohammed Kudus.
Why West Ham were right to sell Kudus
Now, it should be noted that one significant issue with selling Kudus in the summer was that he went to Tottenham Hotspur.
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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, while doing business with rivals is never ideal, deciding to move the former Ajax star on for £55m was still the correct decision from the club.
After all, while he had a stellar first season in Claret and Blue, he was anonymous at best last year.
For example, in 35 appearances across all competitions last season, totalling 2721 minutes, the Accra-dud mustered up a dismal return of five goals and four assists.
In other words, he managed a dire average of a goal involvement every 3.88 games, or one every 302.33 minutes.
Kudus vs Bowen in 24/25
Season
Bowen
Kudus
Appearances
36
35
Minutes
3148
2721′
Goals
14
5
Assists
10
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.66
0.25
Minutes per Goal Involvement
131.16′
302.33′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For comparison’s sake, Jarrod Bowen scored 14 goals and provided ten assists in 36 games, totalling 3148 minutes.
That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or every 131.16 minutes.
Therefore, while he was capable of some magic moments, Kudus was not consistent enough to justify his place in the team, especially not when someone offers over £50m for him.
Anyway, in addition to Bowe, West Ham appear to have another superstar in the making on their hands this season.
West Ham's future star
It would be fair to say that, at the moment, West Ham’s biggest star is Bowen, but over the coming years, that title could shift to Freddie Potts.
Now, it is still so early on in the midfielder’s Hammers career, but there is a real sense around the fanbase that he could be something special.
Moreover, although he has just one competitive start for the club, he has plenty of experience with other sides, having made 38 appearances for Portsmouth and 43 for Wycombe Wanderers.
However, while his experiences in the Championship and League One help bolster his CV, it was really his performance against Newcastle that has excited the Hammers faithful.
It was a game in which the academy graduate put in a quintessential all-action midfield display.
Potts’ game vs Newcastle
Minutes
90′
Key Passes
2
Crosses
2
Passes
33/39
Touches
57
Tackles (Won)
3 (2)
Interceptions
1
Clearances
6
Recoveries
1
Ground Duels (Won)
4 (3)
All Stats via Sofascore
From helping break down attacks to kickstarting them himself, the Englishman was near enough faultless in the middle of the park and totally vindicated the fans who have been calling for him to start for some time.
He would even have got himself a goal if he had worn one size smaller boots.
After the match, one analyst described the Barking-born star as possessing a “similar aura to Rice when he first came through” and as being blessed with a “supreme confidence” on and off the ball.
It certainly sounds like hyperbole, but it’s rather difficult to argue against such statements.
Ultimately, it’s still early in Potts’ career, but as things stand, he looks like he could become West Ham’s biggest star since Kudus.
West Ham 'sound out' £30m striker with Fullkrug 'determined' to leave in January
Following a court decision in his favour, Anwar El Ghazi issued a brutal statement denouncing Mainz, who have been ordered to pay his full salary after the unlawful termination of his contract in 2023 over pro-Palestinian comments on social media. El Ghazi described the Bundesliga club’s stance as “baseless” and “nonsensical,” further branding them “serial losers” and “deluded.”
Mainz lose court appeal against El Ghazi
Bundesliga outfit Mainz have lost their legal battle against former player El Ghazi, after the Rhineland-Palatinate State Labour Court rejected the club's latest appeal. The court ruled that El Ghazi, whose contract was terminated at the end of 2023 due to controversial pro-Palestine posts on social media, is obliged to receive his salary in full, upholding an earlier ruling from July 2024. The court also determined that El Ghazi’s right to freedom of expression outweighed Mainz’s grounds for terminating his contract.
The former Netherlands international received the €1.5 million compensation – his wages from November 2023 to July 2024 – ordered by the court in August 2024. Mainz appealed in an attempt to reclaim that money, but the appeal has been swiftly rejected.
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Why did Mainz terminate El Ghazi's contract?
It all started in October 2023, when El Ghazi posted about the Israel-Gaza conflict on Instagram. "This isn't a conflict and it's not war. This is genocide and mass destruction and we're witnessing it happen live. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," El Ghazi wrote in one of his social media posts immediate after the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Mainz suspended him after his post and released a statement claiming that El Ghazi had expressed remorse and apologised for his comment. However, the player swiftly refuted this in a subsequent post, claiming that he did not "regret" or "distance himself" from his initial words. Following the dispute, Mainz terminated El Ghazi’s contract unilaterally, prompting the 30-year-old to file a lawsuit in a Palatinate district labor court.
El Ghazi makes a mockery of Mainz after winning legal battle
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, El Ghazi wrote: "Another day, another hearing, another appeal but still the same old outcome; a loss for FSV Mainz 05. Regular defeats on the football pitch clearly aren’t enough for the board of the club so they keep coming back for more losses in the German courts!
"I am grateful to the German courts for serving justice and seeing through the baseless and nonsensical claims of the club.
"Let me be clear, the statement from the serial losers FSV Mainz 05 following their latest defeat is as deluded as their entire dealings and proceedings against me. I have never had, nor will I ever have, any consensus with any person or organisation which seeks to silence those standing for justice and humanity. My values can never align with any organisation whose values and convictions are to blindly stand with those accused of flagrantly breaching International law and perpetrating genocide.
"No one is above the law. Let this latest victory send a loud and clear to message to the warmongers, their accomplices and the deluded board members of FSV Mainz 05; you cannot, and will not, silence the voices of the Palestinians and their advocates. Viva Palestina!!!"
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Mainz do not regret their actions
Following the verdict of the court, Mainz chairman and CEO Stefan Hofmann issued a statement accepting the ruling. He did, however, add that they will take the same actions with "individuals whose statements and actions fundamentally contradict" the values and beliefs of the club.
“We have to accept the court’s decision that the conduct of our employee following the heinous Hamas attack in 2023 did not constitute sufficient grounds for immediate termination," said Hofmann. “However, we stand firmly by our position: based on the values and principles that define Mainz 05, there can be no future employment for individuals whose statements or actions fundamentally contradict them.”
As for El Ghazi, he spent the 2024-25 season at Championship side Cardiff City, making 27 appearances and scoring three goals after signing a one-year deal with the English outfit. Over the summer, he joined Al-Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League. The former Ajax, Lille, Aston Villa, Everton, and PSV winger is tied to the club until June 2027.
The Cubs are moving on to the National League Division Series and, in a twist, they did it with pitching.
Chicago had one of baseball's best offenses all season but were able to outlast the Padres in a tight best-of-three wild-card series thanks to an outstanding showing from their rotation and relief corps, plus some timely offense. The Cubs' 3-1 win in Game 3 on Thursday to clinch the series exemplified that formula.
As the Cubs move on to face the rival Brewers in the next round, here are three takeaways from their series win over the Padres.
Cubs Have the Pitching to Carry Them
We'll get to San Diego's offensive futility in a moment, but for now, we're going to praise Chicago's pitching. The Cubs allowed five runs in 27 innings of baseball against a lineup with several All-Stars. The team's bullpen was atrocious to begin the season, but has been nails in the second half. If not for Shota Imanaga surrendering a two-run home run to Manny Machado, the entire staff would have allowed three runs in the three games.
Reliever Andrew Kittredge started Game 2, and if you consider him a reliever and Imanaga a starter, the team's relief corps allowed two runs in 14 2/3 innings. A remarkable showing.
Another hat-tip goes to Jameson Taillon, who was excellent in Game 3. In four innings, he allowed no runs on two hits while striking out four and walking none. That continued an outstanding run for him. After returning from the IL on Aug. 19, the veteran righty went 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA, with 24 strikeouts against seven walks in 34 1/3 innings.
If they get Cade Horton back to combine with Matthew Boyd, Imanaga, and a resurgent Taillon, the Cubs may have something brewing.
Padres Offense No-Shows Again
San Diego ended the 2024 season on a 24-inning scoreless streak as it was unceremoniously dumped out of the playoffs by the Dodgers. The 2025 postseason was almost an exact repeat. Sure, they scored a 3-0 win in Game 2, but the team's offense was an absolute no-show for most of the three games.
The top three of San Diego's lineup, Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arraez, and Manny Machado, were 0-for-11 with three strikeouts in the decisive Game 3, after boasting the exact same line in Game 1. Same story, different day. The Cubs also exploited manager Mike Shildt's decision to line up three lefties—Ryan O'Hearn, Gavin Sheets, and Jake Cronenworth—in a row by firing lefties at them all series. Cronenworth alone went 0-for-11 with three strikeouts in the three games and looked completely overmatched.
A ninth-inning Jackson Merrill home run rescued San Diego from a shutout in Game 3, but in their last 51 playoff innings, the offense has produced five runs. That's simply not good enough.
The Padres are in for some changes this offseason. First on the agenda should be reworking the lineup to add some power. They ranked 22nd in slugging percentage (.390) as a team this season and were 28th in home runs (152). They have built a small-ball attack that helped them reach the playoffs, but that approach has not served the team once it has gotten there.
Pete Crow-Armstrong Finally Comes Through
After a brilliant first half, Crow-Armstrong fell apart down the stretch, leaving a once-dominant Cubs offense without a key contributor. Through the first two games of the series, it was more of the same as he was 0-for-6 with five strikeouts. On Thursday, his bat woke up a bit.
The 23-year-old went 3-for-4 and drove in the game's first run in the second inning with a single off Yu Darvish. The ball looked much better coming off his bat on Thursday.
After the All-Star break, Crow-Armstrong slashed .188/.237/.395 with a woeful wRC+ of 45. If Chicago is going to make a serious run, he needs to be more like the guy he was in the first half, when he slashed .265/.302/.544 and his wRC+ was 131.
The former captain acknowledges his life priorities have shifted as he prepares to play for his country for the first time since March
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Oct-2025
Kane Williamson will return to action with New Zealand for the first time since March•ICC/Getty Images
Kane Williamson says he remains committed to playing for New Zealand, and has half an eye on the next ODI World Cup in 2027, but acknowledges that his life priorities have shifted as he prepares to play for his country for the first time since the Champions Trophy final in March.Williamson, 35, was not considered for last week’s three-match T20I series against England, as he was recovering from an unspecified medical issue. However, he is back with the squad for the ODI leg of England’s visit, which gets underway at Mount Maunganui on Sunday.”It’s nice to be back amongst the group,” Williamson told NZC, after linking up with a squad that is now coached by Rob Walter, following Gary Stead’s departure in the off-season. “There’s been quite a bit of change since the last time I was here, so it’s nice to meet the new coach and some new players as well. And I’m looking forward to the start of the series.”Williamson spent much of New Zealand’s winter in England, on an extended contract with Hundred-franchise London Spirit that included a multi-format stint with Middlesex. As one of a group of senior players on a casual contract with NZC, he missed New Zealand’s tour of Zimbabwe in order to fulfil that deal, and also made himself unavailable for this month’s early-season T20Is against Australia.However, Williamson reiterated his commitment to international cricket, while also acknowledging that his involvement with New Zealand’s squads could not simply be a case of him doing all the picking and choosing.”It’s just an ongoing communication with New Zealand Cricket and with Rob, and I’m grateful for that,” he said. “It’s a lot about the balance, with family and time away, but also the delicate balance of being a part of this team that I’ve really loved and enjoyed for such a long period of time.Kane Williamson spent much of New Zealand’s winter in England•Getty Images
“Your life situation changes, as mine has, and I’m incredibly grateful as well for that,” he added. “With three young children, the balance between where you spend your time and [who] give your attention [to] is really important to me. Still being able to play for New Zealand, and play the sport that I love at the highest level, is great, but the balance is the most important thing for me.”I still love the game. I still have a strong desire to get better and train hard, and offer whatever I can for the team. It’s been a huge part of my life for 15-plus years, we’ve been through a lot as a group, and a number of transitions. But I’ve just loved playing with a bunch of people that are really committed to each other, and to the team.”New Zealand’s run to the Champions Trophy final was a continuation of their strong showing in ICC events during Williamson’s career. When asked what ambitions he still harboured, he acknowledged the 2027 ODI World Cup – scheduled for Southern Africa in 24 months’ time – remained “at the back of my mind”.”There’s always other things,” he added. “Test cricket is pretty dear to me as well. So it’s a little bit about what I want, and little bit more about what the team wants, and where it’s going, and what we’re buying into.”We’ll keep those lines of communication open to make sure that we’re focused and clear on what it looks like,” he added. “I’m respectful of the fact that this is a team and a special place, and that they’re always trying to build towards something. For me, in this phase of my career, if I’m there and able to add to it, then brilliant.”
Eyes will be on the weather during a very early-season T20I series where the home side will look to regain the Chappell-Hadlee trophy
Andrew McGlashan30-Sep-2025Big picture: Early start for New Zealand’s summerNew Zealand’s clocks have only just changed to summer time and this T20I series against Australia – with three games across four days – will mark the earliest start ever to an international home season as both teams look to continue their build towards next year’s World Cup. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the forecast suggests there will need to be some luck to get three completed matches.The home side is coming off the back of their T20I tri-series final victory against South Africa in July, while for Australia, this series is the latest in an extensive run of the format which has already featured West Indies and South Africa in the last few months and will be followed by India in late October.The two teams are tracking well: New Zealand have won nine out of 11 T20Is in 2025 while Australia’s formline has been formidable with just two losses in 17 matches since the last T20 World Cup.Related
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For this series, there are key absentees in both squads. New Zealand are missing captain Mitchell Santner (abdominal injury), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), Finn Allen (foot), Adam Milne (ankle), Lockie Ferguson (hamstring) and Kane Williamson (unavailable).Australia are without Cameron Green (playing red-ball cricket), Glenn Maxwell (broken wrist), Josh Inglis (calf strain), Nathan Ellis (paternity) and Pat Cummins (back). It is also their first T20I series since the retirement of Mitchell Starc, although he had not featured since the 2024 T20 World Cup.Given the players Australia are missing, it will be interesting to see how they structure their batting order and specifically how high Tim David slots in following his recent success at No. 5. New Zealand, meanwhile, have been boosted by the returns of Kyle Jamieson and Ben Sears to add to their pace options, which will somewhat help counter the injuries to Ferguson and Milne.These matches are being used to mark 20 years since the first men’s T20I between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park, although the game itself happened in February of 2005, with Bay Oval being rebranded “Beige Oval” and there will likely be plenty of references to the big hair on display that day in Auckland. There are also plans for an under-arm bowling contest between fans during the interval which harks back to, well, you know what.The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, currently held by Australia, is up for grabs after the 2024 change that saw it presented for T20I series.Form guideNew Zealand WWWWW Australia WLWWWThe series is a chance for Matt Short to reestablish himself in Australia’s side•Getty ImagesIn the spotlight: Matt Short and Tim SeifertThis is an important series for allrounder Matt Short after a run of injuries which have prevented him playing for Australia since the Champions Trophy. There will be a logjam for batting spots when everyone is available, so he will need to stake his claim for a position in the World Cup starting XI. Since making 66 in his second T20I back in 2023, Short has made some handy contributions without quite building on starts, although he has been shifted around the order. After Maxwell’s injury, Short will also likely have an important role to play with his offspin to help fill in the fifth bowler’s quota.Tim Seifert is on a terrific run in T20 cricket. In his last 11 innings at international level, he has made 497 runs at 55.22 and a strike rate of 168.47 including a career-best 97 not out against Pakistan at the end of last season. He is also coming off a productive CPL for St Lucia Kings, where he made 396 runs with a strike rate of 169.23 with a career-best 125 not out off 53 balls against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. However, his record against Australia in T20Is needs considerable work: in eight innings he has made just 52 runs at 7.42. Seifert, the holder of a casual contract with NZC, has committed to being available through to next year’s World Cup.Rachin Ravindra emerged as a doubt following a training mishap•AFP/Getty ImagesTeam news: Squad depth test for both teamsRachin Ravindra was ruled out of the series on the morning of the opening match having suffered a nasty facial injury in a fielding mishap during training. Jimmy Neesham has come into the squad but Tim Robinson could play at the top of the order.New Zealand (possible): 1 Tim Seifert (wk), 2 Devon Conway, 3 Tim Robinson, 4 Mark Chapman, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Bevon Jacobs, 7 Michael Bracewell (capt), 8 Kyle Jamieson, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Jacob DuffyThe injuries to Maxwell and Inglis, plus Green not being on the tour, reduces the squeeze on batting spots meaning the returning Short and Marcus Stoinis will both likely feature. With three games in just four days there will probably be some rotation among the quicks.Australia (possible): 1 Travis Head, 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 3 Matt Short, 4 Tim David, 5 Alex Carey (wk), 6 Mitch Owen, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Ben Dwarshuis, 9 Sean Abbott, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh HazlewoodPitch and conditionsDespite it being very early season, the expectation is that the surface in Mount Maunganui will be good for batting. The breeze could also be an important factor for batters and bowlers. The forecast for the opening match is good – although it will be cold in the evening – but the second game on Friday could be in bother with rain on the horizon and it looks like a case of fingers crossed for that and Saturday.Stats and trivia Tim David needs 17 runs for 1500 in T20Is and 75 for 1000 playing for Australia Three of New Zealand’s eight highest T20I totals have come at Bay Oval: 243 for 5 vs West Indies in 2018, 238 for 3 vs West Indies in 2020 and 220 for 6 vs Pakistan in 2025. Mitchell Marsh has never won the toss and batted first as T20I captain, but only one match has been won at Bay Oval by a side winning the toss and fielding.Quotes”It’s certainly one of the bigger trophies that we can contest for a bilateral series and it has a lot of history. We haven’t had it for a while, so we’ll be doing everything that we can to get it back in our cabinet.” “Obviously we’ve got some quite aggressive players and it’s going to happen where we lose early wickets, but we’ve got that much talent and skill down the order that we can dig our way out of those situations.”
SA20 expansion will happen only after the 2027 men’s ODI World Cup, which South Africa will co-host along with Zimbabwe and Namibia, Smith says
Vishal Dikshit14-Nov-2025Former South Africa captain and current SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith believes there will be a “shift in how things work” in the cricket calendar after 2027, when the current men’s FTP (Future Tours Programme) comes to an end and a fresh cycle of ICC media rights will also be up for grabs. Smith also said most of the focus on South African cricket’s planning is the build-up to the 2027 men’s ODI World Cup, which they will co-host along with Zimbabwe and Namibia, and only after that tournament will they look to expand SA20, which currently has six teams and is three seasons old.Since its inception, SA20 has been played in January-February and has had calendar clashes with the Big Bash League (BBL) and the ILT20 in the UAE, which started in the same year as SA20 (2023). Even though the PSL has moved to the April-May window now, these three T20 leagues also face a calendar crunch with international cricket, often bilateral series, which creates an availability headache for the boards and international teams.”I’m not saying the other leagues will go away, but there’ll certainly be a tier-one of sort of franchise leagues in different windows, so maybe four to five, probably a club World Cup coming,” Smith said at an SA20 event in Mumbai on Wednesday. “I think bilateral cricket is hard. I think when top nations play each other, it gets a lot of interest. Even with the ICC, they have an event a year, but I think the interesting thing to watch is going to be post-2027 FTP cycle when the new cycle kicks in and all the new rights deals get done.Related
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“That’s going to be interesting to watch. I think bilateral cricket, if anything, outside of the top teams playing each other, is lacking a little bit of context at the moment with four games here, two games there. There’s no consistency to these things, but obviously it does come with national pride as well, so I think you’re going to probably see a shift in how things work post 2027.”The ODI World Cup that year will be played in October-November, which gives Cricket South Africa exactly two more years to ramp up preparations to host the global event. Smith said the SA20 expansion plans will begin only after the World Cup.”I think for us it’s also where South African cricket is,” he said. “With the 2027 World Cup now, there’s been big investment into stadium infrastructure, lights, the quality of pitches. So we’ve seen that really being developed over the last six months into the year. I think in all the stadiums now you’ll see new lights in the run-up to the 2027 World Cup. Post-season five [of SA20] is where we will look to grow. That has always been the case.Graeme Smith at an SA20 promotional event•SA20″I think for us there’s a number of elements when you look to grow. Where do you grow? Do you grow in South Africa? Do you grow in Africa? And then also you want to build up your player base. I think one thing that SA20 has got right is that the six teams have been equally competitive. Probably the amount of South African local players has been at a good standard. And if you introduce a new team then you’ve got to look at another 20 to 26 South African players. And you need to make sure that that quality is there to be able to keep all six, seven, eight teams of a high standard.”The fourth season of SA20 will be the first time the tournament will not start in January, but on December 26, as there is no Boxing Day Test scheduled by Cricket South Africa in the FTP. SA20 will be preceded by five T20Is for South Africa in India and will be followed by another three T20Is against West Indies just before the T20 World Cup kicks off on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, making it a “big period” for South Africa in the coming months.”I think it’s an important few months for the South African team, obviously, with the big tour to India, if they can find a way to be successful here across the three formats. It really does set up SA20 beautifully as a kind of highly competitive tournament, playing in front of big crowds and getting players ready for the T20 World Cup which is going to be amazing to watch in India. So I think it’s a big period for the next three months for South African cricket to really build on the successes that they’ve had throughout the year. We’ve seen the World Test Championship final. We’ve seen our ladies do well. And the next three to four months can really be an amazing time for South African cricket.”
The January transfer window is on the horizon and Celtic may be in the market to do some deals once they have Wilfried Nancy in place as their new head coach.
Whilst the Hoops may look to bolster their squad with incoming signings, due to the centre-forward situation and the long-term injury to central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, there may also be an eye on outgoings.
Kyogo Furuhashi was sold to Rennes for £10m in January at the start of this year, and the Scottish Premiership giants may lose another impressive Japan international in the upcoming window.
The latest on Daizen Maeda's future at Celtic
Earlier this month, the Daily Record reported that Daizen Maeda is ‘poised’ to complete a move away from Parkhead when the January transfer window officially opens for business.
The outlet revealed that sources close to the player have confirmed that there is still plenty of interest in the Japanese star after he failed to land a transfer in the summer.
Celtic were unable to allow him to leave in the summer window because they did not get a replacement, amid interest from Brentford and teams in Germany.
Losing Maeda in January would be a blow for Celtic, because he has scored 37 goals in all competitions for the club since the start of last season, per Transfermarkt, including four this term.
However, the Hoops did sign a player in the most recent summer window who has shown that he can carry the goalscoring burden for the next manager, Benjamin Nygren.
How much Benjamin Nygren's value has grown at Celtic
Celtic signed the attacking midfielder for a reported fee of £1.3m from Nordsjælland to bolster Brendan Rodgers’ options out wide and in the middle of the park.
Despite being a frustrating player at times, there is no questioning that he has made an immediate impact in his first few months at the club.
Nygren scored his seventh goal of the season in the 3-1 win over Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday night, which now means that he has scored at least two more goals than any other player in the squad, per Transfermarkt.
This is why there is no denying his usefulness to the Hoops. Goals win games and, at the moment, no one is better at scoring goals for Celtic than the Sweden international, who was once dubbed “fearless” by teammate Alexander Isak.
1
Benjamin Nygren
2
Kieran Tierney
3
Sebastian Tounekti
4
Marcelo Saracchi
5
Kelechi Iheanacho
6
Callum Osmand
7
Michel-Ange Balikwisha
8
Shin Yamada
9
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey
10
Hayato Inamura
11
Ross Doohan
We, as shown in the table above, have ranked Nygren at the top of the club’s summer signings both for his goal output this season, as well as for his soaring market value.
Per CIES, the left-footed star is valued at between £12m and £14m. That is a staggering increase on the £1.3m that they signed him for in the summer, and is more than they paid for club-record signing Arne Engels.
Celtic paid £11m to sign Engels from Bundesliga side Augsburg in the summer of 2024, and Nygren’s impressive form this season means that he is now valued at even more than that.
The Belgium international has only scored two non-penalty goals, with 11 goals in total, whilst the Swedish ace has soared to seven goals for the Scottish giants in his first few months in Glasgow.
Nygren has been incredibly effective in front of goal, particularly in comparison to his teammates, and that has played a part in his CIES valuation soaring through the roof, from the £1.3m that the Hoops paid for him.
This shows that Celtic hit the jackpot with the 24-year-old star because it suggests that they would be able to cash in on him for a substantial profit if they were to decide to part ways with the attacker.
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For now, though, it does not look like he will be going anywhere any time soon, and Celtic’s new boss may need him more than ever to carry the goalscoring load if Maeda leaves in January.
West Ham United are now working on a January signing to replace Max Kilman, who has been “nowhere near good enough this season”.
West Ham have struggled from a defensive point of view so far this season, having shipped 25 Premier League goals, the second-highest of any side, behind only Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have taken just two points from their opening 12 games.
Although results have been much-improved in recent weeks, with the Hammers taking seven points from their last three games, they have been unable to fix their defensive issues, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last nine Premier League games.
Even in the 3-2 victory against Burnley earlier this month, Nuno’s side looked shaky at the back, with Alphonse Areola making an error leading to a goal, before Kilman went on to give away a penalty in the 2-2 draw at AFC Bournemouth last time out.
It appears as though the 28-year-old’s latest mistake may be the final straw for the Irons, with a replacement now wanted in the January transfer window…
West Ham working on January move for Max Kilman replacement
In an interview with Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown has now confirmed West Ham are looking to improve their centre-back options this winter, saying: “West Ham would like to upgrade on Max Kilman,
“They’ve assessed that he isn’t good enough for where they want to be, so the next step is identifying somebody who they can bring in to improve.
“They will already be aware of some who might be available and working to find out about others.
“Kilman, though, is definitely somebody who they think they can improve upon because his performances have been nowhere near good enough this season.
“In that game against Bournemouth, first of all he gave away the penalty, and then it was his mistake which led to the second goal as well.”
Wayne Rooney has since suggested the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man was lucky to avoid being sent off too, saying: “It’s a penalty, and it has to be a red card, he’s six yards out. It’s a clear goal-scoring opportunity, so it baffles me that it isn’t a red card”
It is no surprise the Hammers are looking to bring in a new centre-back, given that the Englishman has struggled at times this season, failing to win any of the three duels he contested in the victory against Burnley.
Reporter Joshua Mbu also took to X to single the centre-back out for criticism for his performance against the Clarets.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man is one of West Ham’s highest earners, raking in £100k-a-week, and given that he hasn’t earned those high wages so far this season, it may be worth cashing in this January.
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Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will be busy in January.