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A team-by-team guide ahead of the new BBL season which will see strong England and Pakistan representation

Tristan Lavalette and Andrew McGlashan12-Dec-20252:40

Henriques: We try not to pick a player for one year

*Squads subject to changeAdelaide StrikersCaptain Matt Short
Coach Tim Paine
Fixtures Click hereSquad Hasan Ali (PAK), Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Mackenzie Harvey, Travis Head, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton (ENG), Lloyd Pope, Alex Ross, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Tom Straker, Henry Thornton, Luke Wood (ENG)How they stack upAfter winning a final in BBL13, Strikers sunk to the bottom of the ladder in a disappointing first season under new head coach Tim Paine who took over from Jason Gillespie. Strikers’ top-order was inconsistent and could not quite fire in the batting-friendly surrounds of Adelaide Oval. They have shaken up the batting-order after the departure of Jake Weatherald to Hobart Hurricanes while veteran D’Arcy Short has not been retained. Recruits Jason Sangha and Mackenzie Harvey add class and vigour as Strikers look to shore up a batting-order perennially dependent on skipper Matt Short. An even bigger issue for Strikers last season was their death bowling as they continually leaked big totals. International quicks Hasan Ali and Luke Wood will be relied upon to alleviate those issues, with Test seamer Brendan Doggett having moved to Renegades.Player to watchAs per usual, Matt Short will carry a lot of burden on his back. He is Strikers’ talisman and the team’s barometer. After back-to-back BBL MVP awards, Short had an injury impacted season and made just 236 runs at 33.71 with 109 of those being in Strikers’ franchise record of 251 for 5 against Heat. Short will also be keen to produce a big season to ensure selection in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad. He’s been on the fringes of Australia’s white-ball teams for some time and had modest success against India recently.Availability issuesHasan is on the outer of Pakistan’s national teams so will be available for the whole season if he fails to be selected for January’s T20I series against Sri Lanka. Having played white-ball cricket recently for England, left-arm seamer Wood is a chance of being called up for the T20I and ODI tour of Sri Lanka which starts on January 22. Jamie Overton, who was Strikers’ standout with an outstanding allround season in BBL14, is also in the selection mix for the Sri Lanka tour. Test players Travis Head and Alex Carey should be available after the Ashes series wraps up on January 8.Shaheen Afridi’s arrival will create plenty of interest•AFP/Getty ImagesBrisbane HeatCaptain Usman Khawaja
Coach Johan Botha
Fixtures Click hereSquad Shaheen Shah Afridi (PAK), Tom Alsop (ENG), Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Lachlan Hearne, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro (NZ), Michael Neser, Oli Patterson, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Jack WildermuthHow they stack upIt was a disappointing title defence for Heat, who finished second last on the ladder. They made an off-season statement in their bid to lift back into contention when they selected Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi in the draft. His signing was made even more important after left-arm speedster Spencer Johnson was ruled out of the season with a back injury. Heat still boast enviable pace depth with Michael Neser and Xavier Bartlett also in the line-up, but their spin stocks took a hit when legspinner Mitchell Swepson signed with Stars.Player to watchAfter a stellar season, where he topped the team’s run-scoring, Matt Renshaw resisted the temptation of a move and re-signed with Heat. Renshaw has started the domestic season strongly across formats and performed reasonably well in his first taste of ODI cricket in the recent series against India. His batting flexibility and sheer power makes him the key of Heat’s batting-order.Availability IssuesPakistan’s recently announced three-game T20I series against Sri Lanka in January could impact the availability of Afridi, who had originally been slated to play a full season. Test players Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja should be available after the Ashes although Khawaja’s current place in Australia’s team appears shaky.Mitchell Owen was last season’s hero for Hobart Hurricanes•Getty ImagesHobart HurricanesCaptain Nathan Ellis
Coach Jeff Vaughan
Fixtures Click hereSquad: Rehan Ahmed (ENG), Marcus Bean, Jackson Bird, Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Rishad Hossain (BAN), Chris Jordan (ENG), Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Mac WrightHow they stack upAfter underachieving for so long, Hurricanes broke their hoodoo with a season for the ages capped off by a stunning triumph in a home decider against Sydney Thunder. Hurricanes have retained a large core of the title-winning team and importantly secured the signature of Tim David who was heavily courted by several rivals during the free agency period. But the ‘Canes have not stood idle after recruiting Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster and veteran quick Jackson Bird. Weatherald is effectively a like-for-like replacement for opener Caleb Jewell who was traded to Renegades.Player to watchTwelve months ago, Mitchell Owen was a relatively unknown allrounder whose only foray on the overseas franchise circuit was playing in a T10 tournament in the Cayman Islands. But Owen’s move up the order for Hurricanes proved a masterstroke with his brute force reinventing batting in the powerplay. He capped off an incredible season with a blistering century in the final at a febrile Ninja Stadium, leading to him being in major demand worldwide as the IPL, PSL and MLC beckoned. He also made his T20I and ODI debuts in a whirlwind year. Now a household name, there will be much expectation on Owen this season and BBL rivals will undoubtedly be better prepared. It will be interesting to see how he handles it all.Availability IssuesWeatherald, and possibly Webster, won’t be available until after the Ashes. There were concerns over England spinning allrounder Rehan Ahmed after he was ruled out of the Lions tour of Australia due to a right lower leg strain suffered in England’s first Test warm-up at Lilac Hill. But he is expected to be fit in time for the BBL although he could be part of England’s white-ball Sri Lanka tour in January. Bangladesh legspinner Rishad Hossain will be available after the BCB did not grant him a NOC last season and he looms as a key cog after spinners Peter Hatzoglou and Paddy Dooley were not retained.Jason Behrendorff is one of Renegades’ new recruits•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesMelbourne RenegadesCaptain Will Sutherland
Coach Cameron White
Fixtures Click hereSquad Jason Behrendorff, Josh Brown, Harry Dixon, Brendan Doggett, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Caleb Jewell, Hassan Khan (PAK), Nathan Lyon, Fergus O’Neill, Ollie Peake, Mohammad Rizwan (PAK), Tom Rogers, Will Salzmann, Gurdinder Sandhu, Tim Seifert (NZ), Callum Stow, Will Sutherland, Adam ZampaHow they shape upRenegades overhauled their roster ahead of last season and transitioned into a new era under the leadership of Will Sutherland and Cameron White. But it did not do the trick with Renegades missing the finals for the fifth time in six seasons. With the pressure on, the ‘Gades have continued to make roster changes and went about bolstering their inconsistent batting line-up by drafting Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. They also traded for Hurricanes opener Caleb Jewell who sought more opportunities. Renegades will boast a potent pace attack and the two highest wicket-takers from last season – with Tom Rogers now joined by long-time Scorchers spearhead Jason Behrendorff. Test quick Brendan Doggett is also a new addition after leaving Strikers.Player to watchNot long ago Jake Fraser-McGurk was the hottest batting prospect in the country but he has somewhat dropped off the radar. Fraser-McGurk made just 188 runs from 10 innings last season but did show off his extraordinary talent in Renegades’ final game of the season when he whacked 95 off 46 balls to help haul down a target of 197 against Heat. Fraser-McGurk, 23, has already played 15 white-ball matches for Australia and was part of the CA XI side in their recent red-ball match against England Lions at Lilac Hill. He remains a player of significant interest for the national hierarchy, but needs to show far more consistency this BBL season.Availability Issues Rizwan may miss part of the season due to Pakistan’s T20I series against Sri Lanka in January, while wicketkeeper Tim Seifert may be selected in New Zealand’s white-ball squads to face India in January. Nathan Lyon, and potentially Doggett, will not be available until after the Ashes. Will Salzmann will miss the season due to injury.Glenn Maxwell was joint player of the tournament last season•Getty ImagesMelbourne StarsCaptain Marcus Stoinis
Coach Peter Moores
Fixtures Click hereSquad Austin Anlezark, Scott Boland, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke (ENG), Tom Curran (ENG), Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Jon Merlo, Haris Rauf (PAK), Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Tom WhitneyHow they shape upAfter Hurricanes’ broke their hoodoo, glamour franchise Stars are now the only club to have never won a BBL title. Stars did complete an incredible turnaround last season after overcoming a 0-5 start to qualify for finals. They are hoping the momentum carries over with Stars retaining a core that includes veteran batters Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright. While they made minimal changes, Stars did recruit legspinner Mitchell Swepson and quick Liam Hatcher who is hoped to help offset the losses of Joel Paris and Brody Couch. But their pace stocks have taken a hit after Mark Steketee, who was superb in BBL14, was ruled out of the season with a hamstring injury. Ultimately Stars are banking on continuity to help them finally lift a title.Player to watchIt is no surprise that Stars’ fortunes last season largely hinged on Glenn Maxwell, their long-time talisman. They struggled badly when he was sidelined with a hamstring injury before he inspired the remarkable turnaround with typical heroics. He produced one of the greatest BBL innings in history after he farmed the strike and whacked 10 sixes to single-handedly beat Renegades. Even at the twilight of his career, Maxwell remains a freakish player, capable of bending a game to his will. Maxwell has had an injury-interrupted start to the season having made just 2 in his only innings in the T20I series against India after missing the first three games due to a wrist injury.Availability IssuesFast bowler Haris Rauf is another with some uncertainty given the T20I series against Sri Lanka which has been added to the calendar, while Scott Boland will only be available after the Ashes.Mitchell Marsh should be available for the full regular season•Getty ImagesPerth ScorchersCaptain Ashton Turner
Coach Adam Voges
Fixtures Click hereSquad Ashton Agar, Finn Allen (NZ), Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Laurie Evans (ENG), Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Mitchell Marsh, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, David Payne (ENG), Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner.How they stack upThe five-time champions are coming off a season where they missed finals for just the third time in their proud history. Scorchers hierarchy have not panicked and have backed their blueprint of continuity and sticking with a local core. They have brought back a couple of trusted former title-winning players in middle-order batter Laurie Evans and left-arm quick David Payne. Joel Paris has also returned after stints with Hurricanes and Stars. He is an ideal replacement for veteran left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff, who departed alongside fellow fan favourite Andrew Tye. Ex-Stars quick Brody Couch also adds to the pace stocks as he completes his transition to Perth after moving over last year to play for Western Australia in the Shield.Player to watchMitchell Marsh is second on Scorchers’ all-time run-scoring list, but has played just one BBL game in the past three seasons due to international commitments and injuries. Barring an unlikely inclusion in the Ashes, Marsh is set to be available for the full campaign and should solve Scorchers’ patchy top-order returns in recent seasons. Marsh and Finn Allen loom as a dynamic one-two punch at the top with the New Zealander having a point to prove after a lean debut season for Scorchers. After recommitting to Scorchers on a three-year deal, Marsh will be keen to make up for lost time in a BBL campaign that also looms as a perfect tune up for the T20 World Cup.Availability IssuesJhye Richardson is closing in on a return from shoulder surgery. He is set to miss the first match while he trains with the Test squad but is expected to be available for the second game against Heat. Scorchers will be without the services of quick Lance Morris who has been ruled out for the summer after undergoing back surgery. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is likely to only be available after the Ashes. Payne will arrive after the ILT20 and Allen may leave for the white-ball series against India in January.Steven Smith will bolster Sixers after the Ashes•Getty ImagesSydney SixersCaptain Moises Henriques
Coach Greg Shipperd
Fixtures Click hereSquad Sean Abbott, Babar Azam (PAK), Jafer Chohan (ENG), Sam Curran (ENG), Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Lachlan Shaw, Jordan Silk, Steven Smith, Mitchell StarcHow they stack upSixers pulled off a major signing by going for Babar Azam in the draft while Sam Curran could also prove a very effective acquisition. Elsewhere it’s a host of familiar names in one of the more consistent T20 squads going around. Kane Richardson has joined the pace attack, and further bolsters the death-bowling options, while Jackson Bird has gone to Hurricanes. They will hope for more from Josh Philippe this season after he has re-emerged as an Australia white-ball option.Player to watchFor sheer drawcard power, it’s hard to look past Babar Azam, making his first appearance in the BBL. How he approaches things at the top of the order will be fascinating to watch. There is the potential in the latter part of the season that he could form an opening partnership with Steven Smith although now that he’s back in Pakistan’s T20I side the series against Sri Lanka could spoil the best-laid plans.Availability issuesSean Abbott will miss the start of the competition with the hamstring injury he suffered last month ahead of the Ashes. Smith is expected to come into the side after the Ashes finishes while Mitchell Starc, fitness permitting, will feature for the first time in 11 years. Josh Hazlewood could use the tournament for a return from injury ahead of the T20 World Cup should his rehab go to plan.Tanveer Sangha is part of a strong Thunder spin unit•Getty ImagesSydney ThunderCaptain David Warner
Coach Trevor Bayliss
Fixtures Click hereSquad Wes Agar, Tom Andrews, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings (ENG) Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson (NZ), Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Shadab Khan (PAK), Sam Konstas, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Aidan O’Connor, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, Reece Topley (ENG), David WarnerHow they stack upThunder had lined up one of the biggest signings of BBL history in R Ashwin, but he had to withdraw through injury in a blow to the club and competition at large. It is a stable domestic list with the only addition being Tasmania allrounder Aidan O’Connor. Even without Ashwin, they are well stocked with spin: Tanveer Sangha, Tom Andrews and Chris Green could all feature in the same side. David Warner led the batting last season and others chipped in around him after Cameron Bancroft was lost to injury following an awful collision with Daniel Sams. Batting conditions at home can be tricky.Player to watchHaving fallen out of Test contention, Sam Konstas should get a full season and it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the rhythms of T20 having just found some form in the Sheffield Shield ahead of the competition taking its break. He has shown glimpses in the format so far with two half-centuries last season. Signed a four-year extension with the club earlier this year.Availability issuesThere will be a bit of a revolving door among overseas players. Reece Topley will start the season before heading off to the SA20, at which time Lockie Ferguson will arrive from the ILT20. Shadab Khan’s availability may be impacted by Pakistan’s T20I series against Sri Lanka. Thunder don’t have anyone on their main list involved in the Ashes.

Manchester United have now expressed in signing an “outrageous” striker, who’s been “on fire” this season, scoring a brace against Paris Saint-Germain.

Man Utd keen on new striker amid doubts over Zirkzee

Joshua Zirkzee may have scored his first Premier League goal of the season in the 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace at the end of November, but the striker’s goalscoring record since arriving at Old Trafford leaves a lot to be desired.

Season

Appearances (all competitions)

Goals

2024-25

49

7

2025-26

9

1

Despite the Dutchman’s struggles in front of goal, Ruben Amorim wants to keep hold of him, as he values the forward’s versatility, but the manager is at odds with the club, who are open to sanctioning a January departure for a fee of around £35m.

Aston Villa are named as potential suitors for Zirkzee, alongside a whole host of other clubs from England and Italy, meaning United will have a decision to make in the January transfer window.

Should the Netherlands international move on, Amorim may want to bring in a replacement, considering Benjamin Sesko wasn’t exactly tearing up the Premier League prior to his recent injury, scoring two goals in 11 games.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Man United have now expressed an interest in a striker who has been much more prolific in front of goal this season, namely RC Strasbourg star Joaquin Panichelli.

The race for Panichelli’s signature is heating up, with Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Aston Villa also being credited with an interest, but Chelsea are currently in pole position, given that Strasbourg are a part of BlueCo.

That relationship gives the Blues an advantage in the race for the centre-forward, who has put in some top-quality performances since his arrival at Strasbourg in the summer…

"Outrageous" Panichelli "on fire" in Ligue 1

Scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the Argentinian for the impact he’s made in France, having only arrived from Spanish side CD Mirandes during the summer.

The South American is now on ten goals in 19 matches in all competitions, with perhaps his best performance coming in Strasbourg’s 3-3 draw against PSG back in October, during which he bagged a brace.

Amorim's priority target: Man Utd step up interest in "special" Madrid star

Man United are now in the race for a “special” player

ByDominic Lund 6 days ago

Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior may be reluctant to part ways with the 23-year-old, given just how highly he spoke about his talisman earlier this season, saying: “He is a top player, we’ve done quite a bit of work with him during the pre-season to try to make him run less.”

The French club are under no immediate pressure to cash-in, with Panichelli contracted until 2030, but it could be worth Man United testing the waters with an offer, considering Zirkzee’s struggles.

And does Varun Chakravarthy have the best bowling figures in a losing cause in T20Is?

Steven Lynch05-Feb-2025Sri Lanka used only four bowlers in Australia’s huge total in the first Test. Was this a record? asked Aditya Agarwal from India
Australia’s first innings in Galle last week reached 654 for 6 before Steve Smith declared. You’re right that Sri Lanka used only four bowlers, who sent down 154 overs between them.It was not only the highest Test total in which only four men bowled – previously Australia’s 528 against India in Adelaide in 1981 – but also the highest in all first-class cricket. That mark was previously 533, by South Africa in an unofficial Test against an Australian XI in Port Elizabeth early in 1987.There have been two Test innings longer than 154 overs to feature only four bowlers. In Rawalpindi in 1997, Pakistan used only four in 167.5 overs as South Africa made 402. But the most deliveries came in Sydney in 1951, when England used only four bowlers in 129 eight-ball overs – equivalent to 172 of six balls – as Australia reached 426. One of those England bowlers, Denis Compton, sent down only six overs – but Alec Bedser delivered 43, John Warr 36 and 40-year-old Freddie Brown 44.Three of Sri Lanka’s bowlers last week conceded more than 180 runs: this has happened only once before in a Test innings, in Sri Lanka’s own record total of 952 for 6 declared against India in Colombo in 1997. The bowlers then were Rajesh Chauhan (1 for 276), Anil Kumble (1 for 223) and Nilesh Kulkarni (1 for 195 on debut; his wicket came from the first ball he bowled).Gudakesh Motie top-scored in the match as West Indies beat Pakistan last week. How often has the highest individual innings in a Test come from a No. 9? asked Shane Chintamani from Guyana
It turns out that Gudakesh Motie, who made 55 in the second innings of West Indies’ dramatic series-squaring victory over Pakistan in Multan last week, was only the tenth man to make the highest individual score in a Test match from as low as No. 9 in the order.The list includes Reggie Duff, a batter who usually opened but who went in at No. 10 on his debut for Australia against England in Melbourne in 1902, and scored 104.The other No. 9s who top-scored in an entire Test were Clem Hill (160) for Australia against England in Adelaide in 1908 (he usually batted much higher, but had been ill), Ian Johnson (73) for Australia vs India in Madras in 1956, Asif Iqbal (146) for Pakistan vs England at The Oval in August 1967, Warren Lees (89) for New Zealand vs Sri Lanka in Christchurch in 1983, Wasim Akram (66) for Pakistan vs West Indies in Faisalabad in 1986, Fanie de Villiers (67 not out) for South Africa vs India in Ahmedabad in 1996, Brett Lee (62 not out) for Australia vs West Indies in Brisbane in 2000, and Shaun Pollock (111) for South Africa vs Sri Lanka in Centurion in 2001.Was Usman Khawaja the oldest man to score a maiden Test double-century? asked Emil Chandran from Australia
When he reached his double-century against Sri Lanka in Galle last week, Usman Khawaja was 38 years 43 days old. He was the 12th man to score a Test double-century after turning 38: Don Bradman of Australia and India’s Vinoo Mankad both made two.The oldest man to score a Test double-century remains the South African opener Eric Rowan, who was 42 when he made 236 – his first and only double – against England at Headingley in 1951. Jack Hobbs was 41 when he scored 211 (also rather surprisingly, his maiden Test double-century) for England vs South Africa at Lord’s in 1924. Another Englishman, Patsy Hendren, reached his maiden Test double-century on his 41st birthday, against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1930. Graham Gooch of England and South Africa’s Dudley Nourse both also scored Test doubles after their 40th birthdays. Mankad and England’s Andy Sandham were also older than Khawaja when they reached their maiden Test 200s. For the list, click here (note that the ages given are at the start of the match in question).Varun Chakravarthy is the only bowler to have taken two five-fors in losing causes in T20Is•BCCIVarun Chakravarthy took a five-for in a T20 international against England the other day and lost – and it was the second time he’d done that. What are the best T20I figures by someone who ended up losing? asked Lakshmi Narayanan from India
The Indian legspinner Varun Chakravarthy took 5 for 24 in the second T20I against England in Rajkot last week, but he still finished on the losing side, as he did when he claimed 5 for 17 in Gqeberha last November.In all there are 28 instances of a bowler taking five or more wickets in a losing cause in a men’s T20Is, and Chakravarty is the only one to have done it twice. The best figures in a defeat are 6 for 12, by the Hong Kong seamer Nasrulla Rana against Papua New Guinea in Kuala Lumpur in 2023; Chakravarty’s 5 for 17 are the best figures in vain in a match between two Test-playing nations.There were 53 men’s Test matches in 2024. Was this a record? asked Andrew McKenzie from England
The number of men’s Tests in 2024 has been exceeded only twice before: there were 55 in 2001, and 54 in 2002. What’s noticeable is that there were 12 draws in 2001, and eight in 2002, but only three last year. The last time there were as few as three draws was 2020, when Covid meant there were only 22 Test matches all year.For the list, click here. Note that this is worked out by the start date, which means a few Tests which straddle the new year are not credited to the second year. This does not affect any of the top 25 or so entries, except 2013 and 2014 – one Test started on December 30 and continued into January 2014 (so arguably the totals for those years should be 43.5 and 41.5).Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Kylian Mbappe is being backed to break Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of most goals for Real Madrid in a calendar year, but the French superstar has been told that “nobody will surpass” CR7 in the Santiago Bernabeu GOAT stakes. Mbappe is enjoying a prolific season for Los Blancos and could claim another entry in the history books before 2025 comes to a close.

Mbappe in Madrid: Goal numbers for French forward

The World Cup winner moved to the Spanish capital from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024, having become a free agent when his contract at Parc des Princes expired. A productive debut campaign in Madrid delivered 44 goals across all competitions.

Mbappe has found the target on 25 occasions through 20 appearances this term, with the No.10 shirt now being filled having initially taken on the No.9 jersey that Ronaldo occupied when making his own move to the Bernabeu.

AdvertisementGettyWhat is the Ronaldo record that Mbappe is trying to break?

Portuguese icon Ronaldo hit 59 goals for Real in 2013, with Mbappe currently four efforts short of matching that achievement. Quizzed on whether the France international will raise that bar and snatch a record away from CR7, Blancos legend Guti told : “It's going to happen, no matter what. We're seeing an incredible version of Mbappe. He's above the team's level. Thanks to him, they win matches, and that makes him a leader within the team. Kylian must continue on this path to bring more players along and see Real Madrid become champions.”

Pressed on whether Mbappe could one day eclipse the achievements of Real’s all-time leading scorer Ronaldo, Guti added: “No one will ever surpass Cristiano. He's a player who has defined an era at Real Madrid and in football because of his consistency. That's the most important thing for any player who wants to dethrone Cristiano and [Lionel] Messi, whom I consider to be on the same level. It's no use having 10 good games and then not showing up when it matters. Those two always delivered. That's the challenge facing Mbappe, Lamine [Yamal], or anyone else who wants to get close to them.”

Real are considered to have become over-reliant on Mbappe this season, with collective standards dipping if he has an off day. Guti admits that is cause for concern, with the ex-Spain international saying: “It shouldn't be like this. Real Madrid has some fantastic players: Vinicius, Bellingham… They can and should score a lot of goals. It's true they contribute to the team's play, but Real Madrid shouldn't rely solely on Mbappe's goals.”

Bellingham boost: England star backed to come good

England international Jude Bellingham has endured a tough time this season, following his recovery from summer shoulder surgery. He has recorded just four goals, with the 22-year-old seeing his position tweaked slightly by new Los Blancos boss Xabi Alonso.

Guti expects the all-action midfielder to come good, saying of the man who has also faced questions internationally with the Three Lions: “We have to give him time; he's a fantastic player. He proved it in his first year. When he's been at 100%, he's been outstanding. I think he'll get back to that level. At Real Madrid, we'd like him back right away, but when you come back from an injury, it's always difficult.”

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GettyReal Madrid fixtures: Man City clash next up for the Blancos

Bellingham and Mbappe were left helpless in Real Madrid’s latest outing, as they suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Celta Vigo. Los Blancos’ collective cause was done few favours by red cards picked up by Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras, with Alonso’s side finishing the contest with nine men.

Real have now won just one of their last five fixtures in La Liga, with an untimely wobble allowing Clasico rivals Barcelona to reclaim top spot in the table and pull four points clear at the summit.

The Champions League will provide a welcome distraction for Madrid in midweek as they ready themselves for a heavyweight clash with Premier League giants Manchester City. That fixture is one of three remaining in the calendar year for Mbappe to try to pass Ronaldo’s goal mark.

Leeds United will be in the big time again next season, following their 100-point Championship title success, and they are now a small fish in a big pond in respect to the transfer market.

Whilst the Whites may splash the cash to bolster their squad in an attempt to avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League, they will not be able to compete for transfers with the top teams in the division, as they did in the second tier.

The biggest trending transfer story in the Premier League at the moment perfectly illustrates that, as the champions are lining up a move for a European superstar.

Liverpool are working to finalise a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz for a reported fee of €150m (£125m), with Fabrizio Romano adding that the Germany international ‘only wants’ the Reds.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder delivered 16 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for the German side during the 2024/25 campaign, and could be about to strut his stuff in the Premier League with Arne Slot’s team next term.

A new attacking midfielder could also be on the agenda for Leeds heading into the summer window, but they are not going to compete for a signing like Wirtz, after Brenden Aaronson’s struggles in the Championship.

Why Leeds need a new attacking midfielder

The USA international was Daniel Farke’s go-to option in the number ten position throughout the season in the second tier, but did not do enough to suggest that he will fare any better than the last time he was in the Premier League with the Whites.

Aaronson only produced one goal and three assists in 36 matches in the top-flight during the 2022/23 campaign, as Leeds were relegated, and his fairly average form in front of goal in the Championship does not suggest that things will be different this time.

The American attacker racked up 11.43 xG worth of chances in 46 appearances in the second tier, but only found the back of the net nine times, which shows that he underperformed as a finisher.

Aaronson’s form against the top teams in the Championship also left a lot to be desired and illustrates why he is not ready to make the step up to the Premier League.

Bristol City (A)

0

0

Burnley (H)

0

0

Sunderland (A)

0

0

Sheffield United (H)

0

0

Coventry (H)

0

0

Coventry (A)

0

0

Burnley (A)

0

0

Sunderland (H)

0

0

Sheffield United (A)

0

0

Bristol City (H)

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old dud did not deliver a single goal or assist in ten matches against the other teams inside the top six by the end of the regular season.

These statistics, and his overall underperformance in front of goal, suggest that Leeds need more quality in that position ahead of the Premier League campaign, which is why they should swoop for one of their reported transfer targets – Gabriel Sara.

Leeds United's interest in Gabriel Sara

Journalist Graeme Bailey revealed earlier this month that the Galatasaray attacking midfielder is an option for Leeds United heading into the summer transfer window.

The left-footed wizard left Norwich City, after two years in England, to sign for the Turkish giants last summer, and the Whites are now looking at a possible deal to bring him back to the country.

Transfer Focus

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

Speaking to LeedsUnitedNews, Bailey said: “He’s [Sara] on the radar. Leeds have looked at him. You know, they knew all about him at Norwich, etc. He was fantastic. He’s not going to be cheap. We know that. But he’s an option out there.”

Sara is reportedly valued at €40m (£33m) by Galatasaray, amid interest from Aston Villa as well, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites would be willing to pay that much money for the Brazilian dynamo.

Farke, however, must push the 49ers to strike a big-money transfer agreement for the Super Lig star, because he could be the German manager’s own version of Florian Wirtz at Elland Road.

Why Gabriel Sara could be Leeds United's Florian Wirtz

Whilst Sara would not come in as a bona fide European superstar like the German sensation, or as a £100m+ addition, he could be the club’s own mini-version of Wirtz.

Like the Leverkusen wizard, the former Norwich City star is a versatile attacking midfielder, who can play in central midfield or off the left flank, and has the ability to contribute with goals and assists on a regular basis.

During his time in the Championship with the Canaries last season, Sara proved that he can deliver Wirtz-esque numbers in the final third from a central or attacking midfield role.

As you can see in the graphic above, the Brazilian star would come in as a massive upgrade on Aaronson when you consider their respective returns at the top end of the pitch, particularly their goals-to-xG ratios.

Sara, who was hailed as “outstanding” by former boss David Wagner, proved that he can score wonderful goals and make a big impact at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis, just as Wirtz has done for Leverkusen.

The 25-year-old star’s performances for Norwich earned him a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray, and he has helped them to win the league in his first year at the club.

Appearances

30

Goals

2

Big chances created

12

Key passes per game

2.3

xA

7.62

Assists

8

As you can see in the table above, his goalscoring form has dropped off for Galatasaray, but he has retained his exceptional creative qualities, creating 12 ‘big chances’ this season.

Now, if Leeds can get him back to his goalscoring best to go along with his creative skills, then they could have their answer to Florian Wirtz by signing an attacking midfielder with the potential to hit double digits for goals and assists respectively, as Sara did for the Canaries in the 2023/24 campaign.

It is now down to Farke and the 49ers to convince the impressive star to make the switch to Elland Road to bolster their squad in the summer window.

Leeds considering swoop for "incredible" striker who'd be their new Wood

Leeds are reportedly considering a move for a star who could be Daniel Farke’s own Chris Wood.

ByDan Emery May 21, 2025

Chelsea have now hatched a plan to win the race for a “powerful” Paris Saint-Germain player, amid rival interest from fellow Premier League clubs, according to a report.

Blues stockpiling talented youngsters

Under BlueCo ownership, Chelsea have implemented a model of buying talented youngsters before shipping them out on loan to sister club Strasbourg or elsewhere, and it looks as though they are set to adopt a similar strategy in the summer transfer window.

The Blues have already sealed deals for Sporting CP duo Dario Essugo and Geovany Quenda, with the latter recently helping the Portuguese side clinch the Liga Portugal title on a dramatic final day.

Essugo, on the other hand, has spent the current campaign on loan at Las Palmas, whose relegation from La Liga has now been confirmed, but Chelsea will be happy their new signing has gained some experience in a major league, having made 25 league appearances this term.

Quenda is set to spend the 2025/26 season on loan at Sporting, while a number of other youngsters could follow a similar route to the likes of Djordje Petrovic, Andrey Santos and Diego Moreira by joining fellow BlueCo-owned club Strasbourg to develop their game.

According to a report from Sports Zone (via Sport Witness), that is exactly the future plan for Paris Saint-Germain defender Axel Tape, should Chelsea be able to lure the 17-year-old to Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window.

The west Londoners are said to value Tape highly, and they have now hatched a plan to beat their Premier League rivals to his signature, with two other unnamed English clubs in the race for the youngster, who is set to be available on a free transfer upon the expiration of his contract.

Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen are in pole position for the defender as things stand, however, with the teenager planning to leave PSG this summer, despite the French club’s eagerness to keep hold of him.

£172k-per-week star keen to join Chelsea regardless of Champions League race

He’d want the move to Stamford Bridge no strings attached.

13 ByEmilio Galantini May 17, 2025 "Powerful" Tape could be exciting long-term signing

Given his age, the Frenchman is yet to make a real name for himself at first-team level, featuring just twice in Ligue 1 during the 2024-25 campaign, but there are indications that he could go on to achieve big things.

Football scout Ben Mattinson singled out the starlet for praise on X back in April, saying: “When at CB, he’ll make powerful marauding runs through the middle third to break through the press.”

Mattinson also goes on to describe the PSG ace as “physically strong in duels” and a “progressive passer through the lines”, so there are clear signs that he could be a well-rounded modern-day centre-back.

As such, Tape could be an exciting long-term addition to the squad, but Chelsea should also look to bring in a centre-back capable of immediately slotting into the starting XI this summer, with Axel Disasi in talks to join Aston Villa.

After taking the reins back in November, Ruben Amorim has injected the feel-good factor back into Manchester United – helping the side qualify for the Europa League final.

However, there’s only so much success the 40-year-old can achieve with the players who were at the club after he took over from former boss Erik ten Hag.

The attacking department is the area in need of desperate attention in the coming months, with the hierarchy needing to back the manager with funds if he is to improve the lack of goals currently plaguing his centre-forwards.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are the two senior options at his disposal, but the pair have only netted a combined tally of seven goals in the Premier League after costing the Red Devils upwards of £100m.

If they are to take the next step under Amorim, a new striker is a must during the upcoming window, potentially ending the spells of either of the aforementioned talents in the process.

An update on United’s pursuit of new strikers this summer

Even though the summer window is yet to be open, United have already wasted no time in targeting new talent to strengthen the current first-team squad.

Liam Delap was once seen as the Red Devils’ main target for the centre-forward role, especially considering his £30m relegation release clause – but look set to face tough competition from Nottingham Forest in the coming months.

The 22-year-old will certainly remain on the shortlist, but potentially not at the top, with Moise Kean now the club’s main priority, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that Amorim believes he is the perfect option to fit into his 3-4-2-1 system at Old Trafford, having the right profile given positioning, pace and clinical nature.

Kean, who’s netted 23 goals in all competitions this season, is said to cost a fee in the region of £42m, given the release clause in his contract at Serie A outfit Fiorentina.

Why United’s £42m target would be unplayable with Amad

Amad Diallo has been a shining light for United this campaign in what’s been a year to forget in the Premier League, often providing the goods within the final third.

The Ivorian has registered 10 goals and seven assists across all competitions, with his latest coming against Brentford after his recent three-month injury lay-off.

His underlying stats at Old Trafford have been just as impressive, with his output handing other attacking options around him the ammunition to be a success at the club.

Amad has registered 2.2 chances created per 90 this campaign, whilst also completing 2.1 dribbles – often liking to take the ball into attacking areas at any given opportunity.

Such tallies could fall perfectly into the hands of transfer target Kean, who could well turn out to be the attacking saviour the Red Devils have been crying out for over the past few months.

The Italian, who’s been labelled “sensational” by content creator Elliot Hackney, has resurrected his career in the last couple of months after flat-lining following his breakthrough at Juventus.

The 25-year-old currently sits as Serie A’s second top scorer, registering 1.6 shots on target per 90 – benefiting from Amad’s service within the final third should he move to Manchester.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

20

Shots on target

1.6

Pass accuracy

72%

Successful dribbles

1.5

Fouls won

1.8

Aerials won

57%

Touches in opposition box

4.7

He’s also completed 72% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also completing 1.5 dribbles per 90, having the tools to return the favour to the Ivorian in the final third should he need to.

Kean’s talents don’t stop there, winning 51% of the aerials he’s contested, notching 4.7 touches in the opposition box per game – handing the manager the ‘fox in the box’ style forward he’s lacked since he joined the club.

The £42m fee touted would be an excellent deal for the club, potentially getting themselves a bargain and a player who can provide the goods for the club for many years to come.

The thought of the Italian forming a partnership with Amad is certainly an exciting one, handing the club the platform to recapture their success endured in previous years.

The new Amrabat: Amorim must axe 4/10 Man Utd man who lost the ball 15x

Manchester United booked their place in the Europa League final last night, setting up a clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

6 ByEthan Lamb May 9, 2025

Celtic: champions of Scotland again.

On Saturday, the Hoops demolished Dundee United 5-0 at Tannadice, Nicolas Kühn and Adam Idah both bagging braces, as they secured a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title, and a 13th in only 14 seasons.

So now, even with an Old Firm to come on Sunday, Brendan Rodgers’ focus has already, somewhat, turned towards summer plans, so could he snap up a “quality” new wide-forward?

Celtic's winger target

According to a report by Bréhima Diakité of Africa Foot earlier this month, Celtic are ‘monitoring’ Ajaccio winger Moussa Soumano, with Brentford, Leicester City, Leeds United and Atalanta amongst those also interested.

Soumano is just 19-years-old, his 20th birthday is coming up this summer, and he plays for Ajaccio in Ligue 2, scoring four goals and providing two assists for L’ours this season, with the Corsica-based club down in 13th, despite being in France’s top-flight as recently as two seasons ago.

Thus, could Ajaccio be forced to sell their most-prized asset?

How Soumano compares to Celtic's current forwards

Scout Mathieu Duhamel describes Soumano as a “quality” winger, adding that he is “capable of dribbling” with both feet and is a “promising player” who “should leave Ajaccio this summer” in order to “take a step forward” in his development.

Avradeep Mukherjee of Sports Illustrated believes Soumano would be a ‘valuable’ squad member for Rodgers, considering he can play both out wide and as a centre-forward, while the original report notes that he is valued at around €3m (£2.5m).

So how does he compare to Celtic’s current forward options? Well, he’s unlikely to usurp Daizen Maeda in the depth chart, considering the Japanese forward has now scored 33 goals this season.

With four Premiership matches remaining, followed by the Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen, Maeda is still on course to break a few records, as the table below highlights.

John Hartson

2004/05

30

Scott McDonald

2007/08

31

Gary Hooper

2011/12

29

Gary Hooper

2012/13

31

Kris Commons

2013/14

32

Leigh Griffiths

2015/16

40

Moussa Dembélé

2016/17

32

Scott Sinclair

2016/17

25

Odsonne Édouard

2019/20

29**

Kyōgo Furuhashi

2022/23

34

Daizen Maeda

2024/25

33*

As shown in the table, since Henrik Larsson’s 41-goal haul in 2003/04, only Leigh Griffiths nine years ago has broken the 40-goal mark in a single Celtic season, with Maeda requiring seven goals from the final five fixtures to match this; it’s very possible.

However, Maeda aside, the other two positions in Celtic’s attack are very much up for grabs.

Kyōgo Furuhashi was sold to Stade Rennais for £10m in January, while Jota, who rejoined the club from Rennes in the winter, is set to spend the next few months on the sidelines, after suffering a knee injury against Dundee United on Saturday, joining in the post-match celebrations at Tannadice on crutches.

Meantime, Kühn’s form has fallen off a cliff since the turn of the year, Yang Hyun-jun, who’s currently sidelined, is very hit-and-miss, while Adam Idah is also yet to establish himself as a regular starter.

Thus, these positions in Celtic’s attack are certainly up for grabs, and Soumano certainly appears to have the talent to come in and stake a claim.

Transfer Focus

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

Similar to Maeda, as already alluded to, Soumano is comfortable playing both as a striker and a winger, while his £2.5m valuation would be a bargain, just as the Japanese forward was, arriving from Yokohama F. Marinos for a reported £1.5m back in January 2022.

That deal has proven to be a masterstroke for those at Parkhead – perhaps this could be the next transfer coup?

Celtic set to lose "fantastic" player until 2025/26 after painful injury

The Bhoys will have to do without one of their star men.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 28, 2025

Manchester United are said to be eyeing another reunion with a player alongside Scott McTominay this summer, a fresh transfer rumour has claimed.

Man Utd keen on McTominay return

A big summer is required at Old Trafford, with Ruben Amorim needing to be backed significantly in the transfer market, bringing in the right players who can suit his style of play in the Premier League.

One of the biggest surprise stories to emerge in recent weeks has been United linked with re-signing Scott McTominay, having been sold to Napoli last season.

The Red Devils wouldn’t be able to snap up the Scotland international on the cheap, however, following an impressive season for Napoli that has arguably seen his stock rise. The 28-year-old has scored nine times in Serie A, proving to be an influential figure for one of the biggest teams in the country.

Away from the McTominay rumour, United are also reportedly in pole position to complete the signing of Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo this summer. Reinforcements are called for in wide areas, especially if Marcus Rashford leaves Old Trafford permanently, and the Cherries ace could be a great addition.

Man Utd eyeing another reunion for Elanga

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are “keeping a close eye” on former winger Anthony Elanga ahead of a potential reunion alongside McTominay this summer. He could be worth as much as £43m, though, having been moved on by the Glazers in 2023.

It is claimed that “several elite clubs” are “keeping close tabs” on the progress of the 22-year-old, who has enjoyed such an impressive season at high-flying Nottingham Forest, including scoring a stunning solo effort against the Red Devils at the City Ground.

Elanga returning to United makes sense in some ways, given the manner of his performances this season, with Nuno Espirito Santo heaping praise on him after his aforementioned goal against them:

“Amazing. With the ball; so imagine (how quick) without the ball! He did it by himself. Credit to him. He has this special ability to drive with pace and still control the ball at such a huge speed. The finishing was great. It was very special. He has this ability of driving. It is the capacity to drive with the ball with pace and still be able to control it. To do that is very difficult and requires a lot of technique.”

At 22, there is still so much time for Elanga to improve as a player, and he has already looked a more polished footballer than when he was at United, bagging 14 goal contributions (six goals and eight assists) in the league.

Appearances

32

Starts

25

Minutes played

2016

Goals

6

Assists

8

Key passes per game

1.2

Shots per game

1.2

Dribbles per game

0.7

That said, some may argue that the Swede is now at his natural level, with the Red Devils instead needing to look at superior wide attackers this summer, in order to take them up a significant gear.

Leeds United took a gigantic leap towards promotion back to the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Preston North End at Elland Road on Saturday in the Championship.

Some of the loudest cheers of the afternoon, however, did not come for Manor Solomon or Jayden Bogle’s first-half goals. Instead, they came from the stands when the news filtered through to fans that Sheffield United had surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to bottom-of-the-table Plymouth Argyle.

Thanks to that result for the Blades, the West Yorkshire outfit are now sat five points clear of third place and only need to rack up seven points from their last four matches to guarantee promotion.

They also have the added insurance of Burnley and Sheffield United still having each other to play later this month, which guarantees that at least one of them will drop more points.

Another one of the biggest roars from the Elland Road stands on Saturday came towards the end of the match when a teasing cross came into the box and was met by the hands of Karl Darlow, who fell onto the floor and removed any danger from the situation, as he continued his Leeds revival.

Why bringing Karl Darlow in has been a masterclass

Whilst some could argue that the English shot-stopper should have been brought into the starting line-up sooner than he was, the former Newcastle United man has been a reassuring figure between the sticks for the Whites.

Illan Meslier simply had to be dropped from the side after his third error that directly led to a goal this season in the 2-1 defeat to Swansea, fumbling a cross that allowed Harry Darling to score.

Daniel Farke replaced him with Darlow for the following match against Luton Town and the experienced colossus has shown his quality in the last three games.

The 34-year-old veteran has proven to be a safe pair of hands in goal, with no thrills or spills, and avoided the kind of controversial moments that have followed Meslier throughout the season.

Appearances

39

3

Goals prevented

-2.73

+0.56

Error led to goal

3

0

Clearances per game

0.9

1.0

Aerial duels won per game

0.5

1.0

Aerial duel success rate

100%

100%

As you can see in the table above, Darlow has been a positive between the sticks with his shot-stopping, compared to Meslier’s underperformance in that department, whilst he has also won twice as many aerial battles per game on average to claim crosses.

These statistics show that Farke has played a masterclass by bringing the Englishman into the team as the new number one because he has been a big upgrade on the French dud on current form, both as a shot-stopper and in terms of the command of his area.

His performances have gained instant respect from the fanbase, who – as shown in the post above – appreciated his cross-claiming efforts against Preston, and he will be hoping to continue this form into the final four matches to propel Leeds to the Premier League.

Darlow, who had only started one league game in more than 18 months at the club prior to the game against Luton, has revived his Elland Road career in recent weeks.

The former Newcastle and Nottingham Forest shot-stopper, however, is not the only Leeds star who has revived his career in West Yorkshire this month, as Patrick Bamford is in a similar boat.

How Patrick Bamford has revived his Leeds career

Prior to the last three Championship games, the former England international had become an afterthought at Elland Road due to his lack of impact on the pitch this season.

Bamford had been an unused substitute in 11 of his previous 19 appearances in the matchday squad in the Championship before that draw with Luton at Kenilworth Road.

TEAMtalk had reported in December that Wrexham and Genoa were both keeping tabs on the £70k-per-week centre-forward’s situation ahead of a possible swoop for his services.

The 31-year-old number nine’s current contract with Leeds is not due to expire until the summer of 2026, though, and this means that an exit from Elland Road this summer is far from guaranteed.

His last few performances off the bench suggest that a move away from the club this year may not be a foregone conclusion, that his prior lack of minutes on the pitch suggested, as he has shown great promise in his cameos.

As you can see in the highlights above, Bamford was incredibly unfortunate not to double the team’s lead against Middlesbrough with 15 minutes to go when he scored a perfectly good goal that was incorrectly ruled out for offside.

The replay showed that the striker timed his run perfectly to receive the pass from Wilfried Gnonto, and he finished equally as impressively, but the linesman got the call wrong – with no VAR to overturn it.

Even without the goal that should have stood, Bamford provided a strong presence at the top end of the pitch in that cameo by winning six of his nine duels in just 17 minutes on the pitch.

Appearances

42

Starts

32

Ground duel success rate

33%

Aerial duel success rate

18%

Duels won per game

1.5

Dribble success rate

31%

Dribbles completed per game

0.3

As you can see in the table above, Joel Piroe – the first-choice centre-forward at Leeds this season – has struggled with the physicality of the Championship this season.

The Dutch marksman, who has scored 15 goals in the league, has been dominated in duels by opposition defenders, losing 74% of his battles overall and only winning 1.5 duels per match.

Bamford, meanwhile, won six duels in just 17 minutes against Middlesbrough and one of his two ground duels in just ten minutes against Preston, which suggests that he could provide more physicality than Piroe.

After that cameo against Preston, Farke told LeedsLive: “You need to handle the pressure and the praise. Everyone senses how much effort Patrick (Bamford) puts in. He deserves all the praise.”

The English attacker appears to have revived his Leeds career, with Farke clearly appreciating the effort the forward puts in on the pitch, and it could even be time to bring him into the starting line-up to repeat the masterclass that has been played with Darlow.

Saved by Bogle: Farke must finally drop 5/10 Leeds dud who lost 67% duels

This poor Leeds United underperformer nearly cost his team dear against Preston North End.

1 ByKelan Sarson Apr 13, 2025