Tag Futebol

It is right back to business for Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou after their heroics in the Europa League on Thursday, with Champions League qualification chasers Nottingham Forest awaiting them on Easter Monday as Nuno Espírito Santo looks to upset his former club.

Tottenham enter first Europa League semi-final since 1984

Spurs edged past Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals, courtesy of Dominic Solanke’s vital spot-kick, and Postecoglou’s side were forced to display some last-gasp pieces of defending to keep hold of their precious advantage on hostile away turf.

Related Tottenham: £50m star wanted by Man City is now thinking about joining Spurs

He’s privately considering a north London switch.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 19, 2025

Bodies were on the line over a dogged, mature display which we’ve scarcely witnessed at Spurs all season long, and Postecoglou was thrilled by the effort from his players, as Tottenham set up their first Europa semi-final since 1984.

“They’ve been so united in believing in what we’re trying to achieve here and that is what gave me heart all along that if we got our own slice of luck in terms of getting some players back that I really believed this team could achieve,” said Postecoglou on Spurs’ win over Eintracht.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

“That is what keeps driving me. It isn’t so much my belief in them, it’s their belief in what we’re doing and both players and staff have been outstanding. I am the front man for it but they take responsibility for it as well and all my decisions and everything I do, but not at any stage have I felt they lost any belief in me or what we’re doing.”

Postecoglou has been repeatedly tipped for the Tottenham axe following a dismal Premier League season, having already lost 17 top-flight matches, but their Europa League campaign represents a golden opportunity for the Lilywhites to make history and fulfill the Australian’s goal of winning silverware during his second term in charge.

All eyes are on the next round, where they will face off against fairy-tale semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt, but they must first take on both Forest and travel to Anfield for a clash against Liverpool.

Tottenham could be without James Maddison against Nottingham Forest

As Spurs prepare to host the former at home, Postecoglou has shared a pre-match update on star £170,000-per-week midfielder James Maddison.

Maddison was forced off against Eintracht after his nasty collision with goalkeeper Kaua Santos, which resulted in the away side being awarded Solanke’s decisive penalty.

The Englishman ultimately playing a crucial role in helping Tottenham to the semis, but as a result, Postecoglou has now confirmed that Maddison is a Tottenham injury doubt for Forest.

“It’s fair to say he’ll probably be a bit sore, so he’s probably a doubt for Monday,” said Postecoglou on Maddison’s condition.

“The rest of the group, again, they all worked hard, so they’ll be sore, but they should all be okay for Monday night. Sonny will still be out. He’s been dealing with a foot problem for a while, so now is as good a time as any to give him the right time to to get over it. He’ll definitely miss Monday. Everyone else should be okay.”

The 28-year-old has bagged 10 goals and 11 assists throughout all competitions, and he’ll likely be a sore miss against Forest, but with nothing to play for domestically, it is far more imperative that he’s fresh and ready for their European tie.

Time and time again this season, he is proving his doubters wrong with his control and variations

Deivarayan Muthu30-Apr-20242:29

Moody: Deshpande steps up in big moments

Jasprit Bumrah, Tushar Deshpande and T Natarajan. These are the three best Indian seamers, in terms of economy rate (min 150 balls) in IPL 2024.Tushar, really?Indeed, Deshpande, who had leaked runs at almost ten an over last season, has now brought his economy rate down to 8.65 in a season where average scores and run rates have shot through the roof.In such a season where even Chennai Super Kings have chopped and changed, the uncapped Deshpande is the only bowler to have played all nine games for them so far. Because he keeps levelling up.ESPNcricinfo LtdIn IPL 2021, Deshpande joined CSK as a net bowler. Having already played for Delhi Capitals, it was actually a stepdown for him. In three seasons at CSK, however, Deshpande has grown to become one of the main bowlers for them. Deshpande, like his franchise and Mumbai team-mate Shardul Thakur, has always had wicket-taking ability, but this season he’s also improved his defensive bowling so much that he is being picked ahead of the more experienced Thakur.Dew or no dew, Deshpande’s defensive skills have been central to CSK shutting down two big-hitting sides at Chepauk. On a dewy night against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Deshpande almost killed the chase single-handedly by taking three wickets in two overs in the powerplay. He had pushed slower balls wide outside off, creating a sharp angle from over the wicket, to have both Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma caught at sweeper cover, one of only two men out of the boundary.On another day, both hits might have sailed over Daryl Mitchell for six. But this was Deshpande’s day. He executed the plan and even gave Head a send-off. This is the payoff for dealing with immense pressure as a bowler in T20 cricket.The sample size is fairly small, but Head has managed just 14 off 10 balls that pitched wide outside off stump while being dismissed twice this season, according to ESPNcricinfo’s logs. It could’ve been three dismissals had Moeen Ali not dropped an edge at slip off a wide outswinger from Deepak Chahar when the two teams had met in Hyderabad earlier this month.In Chennai, CSK stationed one of their best fielders Mitchell on the off-side sweeper boundary, which was marginally bigger than the square boundary on the leg side, and MS Dhoni then adjusted Mitchell into a squarer sweeper position on the off side. On cue, Deshpande had Head losing his shape and carving a catch to Mitchell for 13 off seven balls.Tushar Deshpande has brought his economy down to 8.65 this season•AFP/Getty ImagesDeshpande came away with 4 for 27, his best IPL figures and the second-best IPL figures for a CSK seamer at Chepauk. But he understands that taking some tap is an occupational hazard of being a T20 bowler.”I think the most important thing is to be headstrong because knowing the fact that I bowl in the powerplay and death, some days can go against me and I may come out as a hero someday,” Deshpande told CSK’s social channels. “But on days that go against me, I’ve to be headstrong because that is the time that can make or break the game.”Bowling in the tough overs, most importantly you should have confidence and a lot of confidence in yourself. Even if one ball has not gone my way, I’ve got another five balls or 11 balls to make a difference for my team. So, that’s been my mindset always while bowling at the death because that is where the team requires me the most to deliver.”Related

• Want to win a T20 league? Take wickets

• 'As a bowler, I need to dictate terms' – Deshpande's powerplay impact floors SRH

• 'Not trying to find a quick fix' – Fleming on CSK's search for ideal combination

• Deshpande's rise from being CSK's net bowler to bowling tough overs in the middle

Against Kolkata Knight Riders, when there wasn’t as much dew, Deshpande bowled an acceptable wide yorker from around the wicket and had Andre Russell holing out to long-on for a run-a-ball 10. With a packed off-side field, Deshpande had challenged one of the biggest hitters in the world to drag the ball against the angle, into the leg side. But even Russell’s power wasn’t enough to clear the outfielder.Bravo used to do it back in the day for CSK. Deny batters the angle and length to access sixes. Deshpande is now doing the job for them, with help from Bravo behind the scenes.”[He was] a phenomenal bowler in his time and now an absolutely amazing coach to us,” Deshpande said of Bravo. “I think to all of us [bowlers] because his experience is so vast. He has played T20 cricket, international cricket in all parts of the world. So, the planning and preparation that he’s got and what he gives us is just amazing.”He always focusses on practice, which we’re going to do in the match. So, he emphaises on perfect practice. And we always practice like we’re going to bowl in the match, be it death overs, using the angles, according to some batters. So, that’s where I can grow as a player and try to be something like Dwayne Bravo.”Tushar Deshpande finished with figures of 3-0-27-4 against Sunrisers’ heavy hitters•BCCINine of Deshpande’s ten wickets have come at Chennai this season. Chepauk has traditionally favoured spin but seamers with solid defensive traits have also had considerable success at this venue. Like Bravo of course or Mohit Sharma. Deshpande had started his T20 career as an aggressive bowler in the T20 Mumbai tournament, but is now refashioning himself into a defensive bowler, using the boundary dimensions and pitch conditions to his advantage.”Tushar has taken to what is needed,” CSK coach Stephen Fleming said on Tuesday. “In some ways, he has simplified his game and he’s worked with Eric Simons [bowling consultant] and is becoming repetitively good and he has added other parts to it [his game] rather than be everything. He just knows his game well. He’s had a good domestic season, and that form has continued for us. Some of his figures this year have been very, very good.”Deshpande, however, still has his limitations – only four other bowlers have conceded more extras (26) than him this IPL and he is far from a safe catcher in the outfield – but his ability to bowl across phases has earned the trust of the team management. He has also given CSK the flexibility to often backload the overs of Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman.In IPL 2023, Deshpande got an opportunity to play only because of injuries to other bowlers. He ended up as their highest wicket-taker. Despite that, not many expected him to start this season for CSK. He is proving people wrong once again, this time with his control and variations.Stats updated till the end of KKR vs DC game on April 29

Did the game against Sunrisers bring the best out of Warner? Everybody thinks so, except him

Vishal Dikshit06-May-20222:27

Daniel Vettori is all praise for the Delhi Capitals opener

“My thoughts are like every other game,” David Warner said a day before playing for the first time against his former team Sunrisers Hyderabad, “just keep going through your processes till you have to do it, training and just get ready for the game.”Warner made match 50 of IPL 2022 sound like any other game, posted as much on his Instagram handle, and a few days later the match might even get buried in the heap of IPL scorecards. But knowing the magnitude of the occasion, some fans replied saying, “it’s revenge time”, some put up couplets of settling scores with Sunrisers, and one Sunrisers fan club said, “go easy on us, Davey.”It was almost as if Warner scoring big against Sunrisers was inevitable, and the reasons were also out there, except that Warner himself didn’t say as much. Warner scored a scintillating 92 not out off 58 balls to lead Delhi Capitals to their third 200-plus total this IPL and a 21-run win against Sunrisers with a Player-of-the-Match performance.The manner in which Warner was ousted from the Sunrisers camp last season, the way he was left behind in the hotel room for some matches and elbowed out of the team management, it snowballed into a controversy and became “a bitter pill to swallow” for Warner.Only a few weeks later, Warner turned his form around to help Australia lift their maiden T20 World Cup by being the second-highest scorer and took home the Player-of-the-Series award. He went on to say, “When you are dropped from the team you have loved the most for years without any real fault of yours and stripped of captaincy without being given a reason, it hurts.”How can his first game against Sunrisers be just another game then? Have all the scars healed?Broadcaster Harsha Bhogle poked Warner at the presentation on Thursday by asking, “was there something about today’s innings? The fluency, the strokeplay, everything was just perfect.”Warner only referred to the batting-friendly conditions, but nothing about the past.”I think when you rock up here and look at that wicket, it’s a really nice wicket, and it doesn’t matter if you bat or second,” Warner replied. “You know it’s going to be nice and true and I’ve obviously had some success here and played my strokes, didn’t think about hitting gaps and just watch the ball and hit the ball. It was going to come off and fortunate that it did.”Bhogle prodded again. “But there seemed a little bit more today especially when Rovman Powell was batting, he is hitting sixes, you are screaming louder, was there a little bit more today?”Warner this time deflected towards the challenging weather. “Obviously it’s challenging here with the humidity in Mumbai. I was cooked there towards the back end, I’m getting older and having Rovi at the other end, he’s got some serious power to clear the fence, it was amazing strike. I was glad he was at the other end.”Bhogle nudged him once again, and this time more directly. “You didn’t need motivation today. I look at you and I still think Sunrisers sometimes, to be honest.”Warner also replied more directly but didn’t reveal much. “I didn’t need extra motivation. We’ve all seen what’s happened before in the past and it was just to get a win on the board and get back in this contest.”The truth ultimately came out after the presentation when home broadcaster Star Sports got hold of Capitals’ assistant coach and Warner’s former Australia team-mate Shane Watson. He was asked if there was “just a little bit more against his old side?””It was a little bit more than just a little bit more,” Watson said with a laugh. “He was certainly up and about in the team meeting all game, which in the end is the intensity you need to be at your best and Davey certainly brought that tonight. And everyone else fed off that energy as well. You see the way Rovman came in and he sort of thrived off that energy. Dave just drove the train with his energy, with his desperation to really prove a point. He certainly did that tonight.”You could see the intensity he had tonight and he wanted to make sure that he did everything he possibly could, leave no stone unturned for tonight’s game and he stepped up beautifully.””This is a grudge match for David Warner,” Kevin Pietersen said on commentary but Warner didn’t take it too far and ensured the team’s needs were above his. He was on 92 after 19 overs but not on strike for the final over. He could have easily reached a century against his former side had he planned it so with Powell, but when the two batters met mid-pitch before the final over, Warner told Powell to go for the big shots and not think about giving him strike.”At the start of the last over I asked him if he wanted a single to try and hit a hundred but he said, ‘listen, that’s not how cricket is played,’ and that I should try to smack it as hard as I can and I did that,” Powell had said on broadcast after Capitals’ innings.When Warner was asked about not going for a century, he said: “100%. And I said to him I’m running two, no matter what and I don’t care if I get run-out. If we get 200-plus…I thought 190 was a par score but anything over 200 [was good] and I said to him if he was there at the end, we could get 210-220. So I’m just glad he cleared the fence [in the last over].”On a chat for , Watson then teased Warner by asking, “Do you think you’ll have the same fire in your belly for the next couple of games as well?””I’ve always got fire in my belly, you know that Shane,” Warner replied with a grin while scratching his head and Watson had a hearty laugh standing next to him.

Explains why looking to bat through was important given the middle order hadn’t fired until then in IPL 2020

Shashank Kishore09-Oct-20202:46

KL Rahul on his slow starts: ‘Strike rate is over-rated’

KL Rahul began IPL 2020 in sparkling form, allaying his own fears of not being able to play a cover drive even. But six games in, after his slightly tempered-down approach – as compared to his blitzkrieg that the Kings XI Punjab have been mostly used to at the top – raised questions over his changing role as an anchor, Rahul countered them by stating that “strike rates are very, very overrated.”On Thursday, Kings XI were chasing 202, and Rahul was stuck on 11 off 14 balls after first being involved in a run-out with Mayank Agarwal and then seeing Prabhsimran Singh falling to a catch early in the chase. As per ESPNcricinfo’s data, Rahul didn’t look to attack any of the 14 deliveries he faced before top-edging a sweep off left-arm spinner Abhishek Sharma to Kane Williamson at square leg. By then, the pressure was already on Kings XI.He linked his sedate approach with the bat to captaincy, and explained why batting through was important because the middle order hadn’t really fired until then in the tournament. Rahul’s change in approach has become increasingly visible since he struck 132, the highest by an Indian in the IPL, against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in his second game.”Look, I think strike rate is very, very overrated. For me, it’s only about how I can win games for my team,” Rahul said at the post-match press conference. “On a certain day if I think 120 can win the game for my team, I will do that. This is how I bat. I like to take responsibility as a leader.”Yes, we make mistakes. I’m not saying I haven’t made a few mistakes, but you learn each day as a leader and batter. It’s a partnership when you’re in the middle as a batting group, every player has different roles in the team and those roles change with each game. So I try to do the best I can, try and assess and play according to that. At the end of the day, I need to walk out of the ground knowing I’ve got my team as close to winning or try to win the game. That is the most important thing.”An animated KL Rahul addresses his team ahead of play•BCCIRahul then fielded a question on whether his team was too reliant on himself and Agarwal. On Thursday, Kings XI had hedged their bets on a five-bowler strategy, which left them a batter light. They left out Sarfaraz Khan, who had only faced 29 deliveries in the tournament until then, and had a very long lower order that had Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who nearly has the same number of T20 runs as his appearances, come in at No. 7.”When you see a team at the bottom of the table, you start thinking a lot of things are not going right,” Rahul said. “We can accept a lot of things haven’t gone right, but no team has their top six firing. Couple of them will be in good form, couple of them may not, so it’s important for the in-form players to get as many runs for the team. Openers are always – I won’t say under pressure – expected to give good starts. I’m not very worried but if the set batsmen or those in good form can get as many runs for the team, that will help, make the team look good.”Amid the disappointments, Kings XI have had a number of young Indian bowlers step up. Ravi Bishnoi, the teen legspinner from Rajasthan, has shown the tenacity to pick wickets regularly. Against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Bishnoi orchestrated a turnaround of sorts by dismissing David Warner and Jonny Bairstow in the space of three deliveries. Warner mistimed a slog off a googly to long-on and Bairstow, after making 97, was foxed by a flipper.At the other end, left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, impressed immediately, bowling excellent yorkers and denying batsmen any room in the death overs. He finished with figures of 2 for 33 off four overs. Arshdeep isn’t express quick and is more the mid-130s bowler, but he made up for his lack of pace with his accuracy.”IPL is the biggest platform, the youngsters have been working really, really hard in the three weeks that we’ve been here,” Rahul said. “Arshdeep and Bishnoi – so good to see them me among the wickets. They bowled high-pressure overs, and it’s great to see how they held their nerve to bowl those big overs for the team at this platform. That will give them and the group a lot of confidence. Small things like these are infectious. It can spread to the rest of the group quickly. So really happy to see how they bowled.”

Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a ridiculous home run to towards the grassy knoll in right field at the A's temporary home stadium in Sacramento on Wednesday. Acuna reached a ball way outside the zone and hammered it for what was actually his second home run of the game.

His first was equally impressive for different reasons. First, he hit it a very long way. So far that it left the stadium So far that, hold on, is that a bus? Did he almost hit a bus? I think he almost hit a bus. You should be able to take the bus in Sacramento without having to worry about getting hit by a baseball.

As far as the whole major leaguers playing in a minor league stadium goes, being able to see a bus stop while the broadcast tracks a home run is right up there with grassy knoll in right field.

After a brief injury scare, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper is back.

Harper will bat third for the Phillies Tuesday evening against the Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia announced Tuesday afternoon. The two-time National League MVP had not played since being hit on the right elbow by a pitch against the Atlanta Braves on May 27.

X-rays came back negative, but Phillies manager told reporters Harper's elbow was "really bruised" in the immediate aftermath.

Harper, 32, is slashing .267/.375/.450 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs in 54 games this season—numbers in line with the rest of his rock-solid Philadelphia tenure. He was, however, coming off a 2-for-13 series against the Athletics when Braves pitcher Spencer Strider plunked him.

The Phillies are currently 36–23—second in the National League East division, and a game and a half behind the first-place New York Mets. Philadelphia will play three games each against the Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates before a seismic home showdown with the Chicago Cubs.

Manchester United’s central midfield department has been one that has been up for debate, with numerous players trying to stake their claim for a regular starting role.

Ruben Amorim has often struggled to find his best partnership in such an area of the pitch, leading to countless players being utilised in the middle of the park since his appointment.

However, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have been the manager’s duo of choice of late, with the pair starting each of the Red Devils’ five Premier League matches in a row.

The club have remained unbeaten during such a period, showcasing that the boss has made the right decision in opting for the pair instead of selecting the likes of Kobbie Mainoo.

However, with Casemiro now 33, he’s likely coming to the back end of his career at the top level, with the hierarchy already laying the foundations for a move for one player in the January window.

Man Utd’s hunt for a new midfielder in January

Over the last couple of days, it’s been reported that United are targeting a move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson in the upcoming January transfer window.

It’s been claimed that the Red Devils have already made an approach to Sean Dyche’s side to register their interest in landing the 23-year-old England international in the coming months.

However, any deal would be a club record, with the Reds currently demanding a fee in the region of £100m to part ways with their star man during the upcoming market.

He’s not the only midfielder in their sights at present, as Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba has once again appeared on their radar, if recent reports are to be believed.

According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim and INEOS have made the Cameroonian international their “dream” target for January, but like Anderson, he would set them back a small fortune.

They also state that a £100m deal would be needed to prise him away from the AMEX, but that the player himself would be open to a switch to move to Old Trafford in the near future.

Why United’s £100m target would end Ugarte’s career

It wouldn’t be the first time United have splashed the cash on a new central midfielder, especially after spending a reported £50m for the signature of Manuel Ugarte back in 2024.

The Uruguayan’s transfer generated huge excitement within the Red Devils fanbase, with his arrival finally handing the side the disruptive presence needed to regain possession.

However, a little over 12 months on from his switch to England’s top-flight, he’s since dropped down the pecking order, as seen by his tally of just two league starts in 2025/26.

Amorim has undoubtedly lost faith in the 24-year-old at present, with a new addition only pushing the former PSG star further down the list – which could tempt the hierarchy to cash in on his services.

Spending £100m on a new addition would be a huge statement of intent, but it would no doubt put the future signing ahead of Ugarte in the pecking order due to the fee alone.

Baleba now appears to be the most likely candidate to join the Red Devils in January, with the youngster offering an immediate and long-term upgrade on the Uruguayan.

When comparing their stats from the 2025/26 campaign, the Brighton star has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas – potentially making his £100m price tag an excellent deal.

Games played

11

9

Games started

10

2

Pass accuracy

86%

85%

Log balls completed

54%

50%

Interceptions made

1.4

1.1

Duels won

6.5

5.1

Take-on success

63%

33%

Recoveries made

5.9

5.8

The 21-year-old has completed more of the passes he’s attempted this campaign, whilst completing more of the long passes he’s attempted – highlighting the dominance he has over Ugarte in possession.

He’s also completed more of the dribbles he’s attempted, further showcasing his all-round talents with the ball at his feet in the Premier League this season.

Out of possession, Baleba has won more duels per 90, whilst making more interceptions per 90 – subsequently offering the side a more dominant option out of possession.

£100m would be a huge statement of intent from the United hierarchy, but given his tender age, Baleba would be the perfect immediate and long-term solution to their problems.

As to Ugarte, such a transfer would likely spell the end of his time in Manchester, with the board needing to offload him to avoid losing a huge chunk of their £50m investment.

Forget Sesko: Man Utd's "anxious" dud is now becoming INEOS' worst signing

Manchester United have one player who has massively struggled to meet expectations at Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 11, 2025

49ers Enterprises’ takeover in the summer was supposed to signify the start of a glorious new era for Rangers, but it has not quite panned out that way so far.

Their first major decision was the appointment of Russell Martin as manager, but he lasted just 123 days in the job, winning only five of 17 games before being dismissed last month.

There are early signs that his successor Danny Röhl is starting to slowly turn things around, claiming a third successive league victory at Dundee on Sunday, albeit the Gers’ nightmarish start to the campaign means they are still down in fourth place, 12 points adrift leaders Hearts.

Irrespective of whom the manager is, if Rangers are going to reclaim a first Premiership title since 2021 any time soon, their recruitment has to improve.

So much money has been wasted in the transfer market, much of it this summer, splashing almost £30m on 13 new recruits, left with very little to show for it, with the team having got significantly worse.

However, there is a clear frontrunner for the club’s biggest waste of money award in recent times, but it isn’t going where you might think.

Rangers' attacking options compared to 2024/25

Last season, Rangers boasted a genuinely frightening front three, all of whom were allowed to depart over the summer.

Václav Černý did not return, following the expiration of his loan from Wolfsburg, instead moving to Beşiktaş.

Meantime, Hamza Igamane was sold to Lille for £10.4m, while Cyriel Dessers departed for Greece, joining Panathinaikos for a reported fee of around £3.5m.

The table below documents just how prolific the trio were last season.

Rangers’ top-scorers 2024/25

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Cyriel Dessers

55

29

7

Václav Černý

52

18

9

Hamza Igamane

46

16

3

% of total goals

55%

% of European goals

70%

Stats via Transfermarkt

As the table documents, this departed trio scored 55% of all 115 goals Rangers bagged across all competitions last season, as well as 14 of the 20 they scored in Europe, with the Gers making a run to the Europa League quarter-finals.

Thus, Černý, Dessers and Igamane were always going to be a tough trio to follow, with Rangers splashing around £16m on a new quartet in an attempt to do just that, but their attacking options have unquestionably been weakened.

Djeidi Gassama, in fairness, has looked pretty bright, scoring his sixth of the season at the weekend, albeit he is currently not at Černý’s level, while Oliver Antman, despite a scintillating debut, has done little since.

In terms of pure centre-forwards, Bojan Miovski, who joined from Girona for £2.6m, is yet to recapture the form he showed at Aberdeen, while the signing of Youssef Chermiti remains baffling.

After the Portuguese striker failed to score a single goal during two seasons at Everton, Kevin Thelwell, who had initially brought him to Merseyside, decided to sign him again, agreeing to pay the Toffees £8m, potentially rising to £10m with add-ons, making him the club’s second-most expensive signing in history, behind only Tore André Flo in 2000.

Chermiti did open his Rangers account against Kilmarnock during Röhl’s first Premiership match in charge, but has squandered numerous gilt-edged opportunities, with many concluding that he simply is not worth the huge investment.

Röhl must see something in the 21-year-old, however, considering he has started four of the last five matches, but the jury is not so much still out on Chermiti, they’re more on a proverbial break.

At least the striker is starting regularly and contributing that way – the same cannot be said of another expensive signing, saving him from the unwanted worst recent signing accolade, which surely only has one clear winner.

Rangers' worst value for money signing

A player who officially joined Rangers this summer is Óscar Cortés, albeit he had been on loan at the club since 1 February, making him the forgotten man.

When he initially arrived in Glasgow, he did so to plenty of excitement, having been one of the best players at the under-20 World Cup in the summer of 2023, scoring four goals and registering two assists as Colombia reached the quarter-finals, picking up the Bronze Boot, with scout António Mango thereby asserting that he was an “insane talent” who “would be ideal for Liverpool”.

He joined Rangers on loan from Ligue 1 side Lens with an obligation to buy, while the Rangers Journal calling him a “very promising young winger”, who will “provide pace, power and… goal contributions” to the Gers’ forward line.

However, this is certainly not how events have transpired.

To date, Cortés has made just 21 appearances for the Light Blues, totalling 764 minutes, not even named among the substitutes on 58 occasions, usually due to injury.

The Colombian international scored just a solitary goal for the goal, this a sweet right-footed strike during a 5-0 demolition of Hearts just a few weeks after his arrival.

Due to the obligation to buy clause, despite his lack of activity, Rangers were forced to buy Cortés for £4.5m in the summer, making him one of their most expensive signings of all-time.

He actually started August’s League Cup tie against Alloa Athletic at left-back, his only start of the campaign, before being loaned out to Segunda División side Sporting Gijón.

Well, he is yet to make much impact in Spain’s second-tier, seeing just 92 league minutes for los Rojiblancos to date, earning his first start against Mirandés last Friday night, albeit he was hooked at half time, as his team were defeated 2-1.

Seemingly unlikely to revive his career at El Molinón, Cortés has to be considered one of Rangers’ worst value for money signings ever.

Having paid £4.5m to secure his signature, Football Transfers estimate that his value has already dropped to £3m and is on a downward trajectory.

Thus, if Rangers are going to get back to dominating Scottish football, they can ill-afford many more transfer missteps such as this.

Related Bassey 2.0: Rohl must unleash Rangers "colossus" who can end Djiga's stay

With Nasser Djiga continuing to underwhelm in a Rangers jersey, should Danny Röhl unleash his centre-back “colossus” who can replicate Calvin Bassey?

Posts ByBen Gray Nov 12, 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series champions once again, and they won this one in style, rallying back from a 5-0 deficit in Game 5 on Wednesday night to beat the New York Yankees, 7-6. This is the franchise's eighth championship overall and its first since 2020.

The Dodgers got back in the game with a five-run fifth inning that was helped out by three brutal fielding mistakes by the Yankees, which included a horrible drop by Aaron Judge in center field.

They then took the lead in the eighth inning by scoring two runs, with Mookie Betts knocking in the winning run with a sacrifice fly to center.

Walker Buehler, who started Game 3 for the Dodgers, came in for the ninth inning and shut down the Yankees in order. He clinched it with a strike out of Alex Verdugo.

During the celebration Dodgers catcher Will Smith was approached by MLB to authenticate the ball that got the final out.

"I gotta give it to Walker," he said to the MLB official.

That moment is near the end of this video:

MLB fans loved that:

What a teammate.

Manchester United are now preparing a significant offer for a “rapid” new player, who has been demanded by Ruben Amorim ahead of the January transfer window.

Amorim looking to sign new centre-back who could partner Maguire

In the wake of Harry Maguire scoring a dramatic late winner against Liverpool at Anfield, Nicky Butt has suggested Man United have made a mistake by not bringing in a top centre-back partner for the England international.

The former midfielder said: “Do you know what you were saying about never letting the club down, I think it’s the other way around, I think the club has let him down, if I’m honest.

“If you look at his best games they have always been for England, he’s had John Stones next to him, it’s like a Yin and Yang.

“With Harry, he’s going to that club, and he’s never had a player next to him who can compliment him ever…”

In fairness, Matthijs De Ligt has arguably improved considerably this season, but Amorim is a little light on top-quality options, with Paul Scholes recently criticising Luke Shaw, who started at left centre-back against Liverpool.

Related Rooney: £150k-p/w star has been Man Utd's "best player" and "proven me wrong"

The Manchester United legend has praised one of Ruben Amorim’s key players, who he was initially “sceptical” about.

Posts ByDominic Lund Oct 21, 2025

As such, bringing in a new centre-back in the January transfer window could be a savvy move, and Amorim has now demanded the signing of Sporting CP star Ousmane Diomande, with the United boss keen to secure a reunion.

That is according to a report from Spain, which also states Man United are now preparing a significant offer for the centre-back, who is valued at around €50m (£43m), which would be an affordable fee.

Amorim believes the Sporting CP defender would be an ideal fit in his three-at-the-back system, and he has now been identified as a key target for the winter transfer window.

"Rapid" Diomande is a Gabriel and Saliba "hybrid"

William Saliba and Gabriel have formed a formidable partnership at Arsenal, with the Gunners conceding just three Premier League goals this season, and both centre-backs rank among the best in world football.

As such, it should excite United fans to hear the Sporting star has been described as a “hybrid” between the two Arsenal defenders by scout Ben Mattinson, while journalist Zach Lowy has also been left very impressed.

Moreover, the youngster is very assured in possession of the ball, placing in the top 1% of centre-backs for his pass-completion rate per 90 over the past year.

With Man United clearly in need of a new centre-back, Diomande could be the ideal addition to the squad, and his previous experience working with Amorim is an added bonus.