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Joao Felix's start to life at AC Milan has been a mixed bag so far, with the Rossoneri making an early decision regarding a permanent summer swoop.

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• Milan make Felix transfer decision
• Has failed to score in eight games since making his debut
• Could buy Portuguese forward for €45m this summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Joao Felix made an instant impact after signing for AC Milan on loan from Chelsea in the January transfer window, scoring a wonderful goal after coming off the bench against Roma in the quarter-finals of Coppa Italia. It was Felix's debut for Milan, which caused excitement among fans as well as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the club's senior advisor.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, a new report from Calciomercato has revealed that the Rossoneri are in two minds regarding the permanent transfer of Felix. Since his debut, the Portuguese forward has appeared in eight matches but has yet to score, with his only contribution being a single assist in last week’s 3-2 victory over Lecce.

  Milan are skeptical about signing Felix permanently, with the Serie A outfit deciding against entering any negotiations with Chelsea. However, if things change between now and the end of the season, they could buy Felix for €45 million. Another option would be to extend his loan for another year with an obligation to buy him for around €30-35m in 2026.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Securing a permanent transfer for Felix would require massive financial investment. Milan may need to sell some key players in order to facilitate a move for the 25-year-old, with Rafael Leao heavily rumoured to leave the club at the end of the season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JOAO FELIX?

  Felix will be expected to feature in Milan next's game, which is a crucial Serie A encounter against Como on Saturday, March 15. Sergio Conceicao's side are having a subpar domestic season as they currently occupy ninth place in the league and are in real danger of missing out on a Champions League spot for the 2025-26 season.

Alyssa Healy will miss the ODIs with a calf injury; Kim Garth and Phoebe Litchfield both included

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Dec-2022Meg Lanning will return to captain Australia in the ODI series against Pakistan next month following her extended break from the game and appears likely to be available for the T20 World Cup in February.However, Alyssa Healy, who took over the captaincy for the recent tour of India, will miss the series following the calf strain she picked up in Mumbai. Beth Mooney will take the keeping gloves.Lanning stepped away following the Commonwealth Games in August for personal reasons, missing the WBBL and the five T20Is in India.Shortly after the squad announcement, Lanning posted on Instagram about her experiences of the last five months.”Sometimes you just have to hit pause, step back and take a breather,” she wrote. “That’s certainly what I needed. The past 6 months have taught me a lot. I’ve learnt so much about myself and who and what is important to me.”I’ve always played my cards pretty close to my chest. This experience has given me a greater appreciation of how opening up and talking to the people that care about you really can make the tough times feel easier. It’s ok to ask for help and admit that you don’t have everything under control.”Having enjoyed some time and space, I feel refreshed and ready to play the game that I love in teams that I love. It’s such an exciting time for the game and I can’t wait to be part of it!” Shawn Flegler, the national selector, said: “Meg brings so much to the side both on and off the field, and it’s pleasing to welcome her back at such an important time with the T20 World Cup just over a month away. While we welcome Meg back, Alyssa won’t have recovered from her calf injury in time, so that presents an opportunity for Beth to take the gloves in her absence.Jess Jonassen has been included but will need to prove her fitness having picking up a hamstring injury in India.Kim Garth and Phoebe Litchfield have been retained from the T20I squad but Heather Graham, who took a hat-trick in the final match, Grace Harris and Amanda-Jade Wellington have been left out.Tahlia McGrath, who captained the final T20I in India after Healy’s injury, will continue as vice-captain.Australia will have a new-look opening pair with Healy and the retired Rachael Haynes absent from the side that played the ODI World Cup final against England in April.The three ODIs against Pakistan will take place on January 16, 18 and 21 with the first two matches at Allan Border Field in Brisbane and the last at North Sydney Oval. They are followed by three T20Is on January 24, 26 and 29 before the teams head to South Africa for the World Cup.Australia squad for Pakistan ODIs Meg Lanning (capt), Tahlia McGrath, Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Jess Jonassen (subject to fitness), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland

Looking to make up for their summer failure, Newcastle United and PIF have now reportedly been offered the chance to sign a big-money striker in 2025, who would take Eddie Howe’s frontline up another level entirely.

Newcastle transfer news

It’s no surprise that the Magpies are already looking to steal the headlines on the transfer front after such an inactive summer left them without some much-needed reinforcements. Howe may be desperate to see his side boosted by fresh faces in both the January transfer window and next summer amid links emerging to the likes of Antoine Semenyo and Bryan Mbeumo in recent weeks.

Mbeumo would be a particularly impressive move. The Brentford star has been in excellent form throughout the current campaign and represents a player who would offer Newcastle an instant upgrade on their right-hand side. This time around, Paul Mitchell will be hoping to get his targets over the line too, having spent the majority of last summer on a failed chase to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.

With attacking options in mind, meanwhile, the Magpies could welcome what would be their most impressive transfer yet under PIF. According to reliable reporter Lee Ryder of Chronicle Live, PIF and Newcastle are among those set to be offered the chance to sign Victor Osimhen next summer.

Development: Newcastle given boost over injury return of £90,000-a-week ace

A major boost for the Magpies.

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By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 9, 2024

The Galatasaray star – on loan from Napoli – looked destined to join Chelsea or complete a move to the Saudi Pro League last summer before neither move came to fruition. Frozen out at Napoli as a result, Galatasaray emerged as a shock destination for the Nigerian international, who has a £113m release clause.

Thriving ever since under Jose Mourinho, Osimhen will once again be among the headlines when his loan spell comes to an end in Turkey at the end of the season and Newcastle potentially strike.

"Fantastic" Osimhen would take Newcastle up a level

The prospect, alone, of Osimhen and Alexander Isak’s potential partnership is enough to send Newcastle into a dreamland which could yet become their reality in 2025. Of course, Osimhen’s reported £113m release clause doesn’t exactly make the deal an easy one to pull off, especially amid profit and sustainability concerns at St James’ Park, but the Nigerian would undoubtedly take Howe’s side up a level or two.

Scoring six goals and assisting a further four in eight games as a Galatasaray player so far this season, Osimhen earned deserved praise from Mourinho, who told reporters as relayed by The Independent: “Osimhen is a fantastic player, he is a player that if I was in a club with the potential to pay £70-75m I would buy.

“He is a fantastic player. Of course, he came [to Turkey] in different circumstances but it doesn’t matter the circumstances. What matters is that Galatasaray have got a really fantastic player.”

When next summer arrives and Osimhen once again has his sights set on a big move away from Napoli, Newcastle should do everything in their power to secure his signature and deal the likes of Chelsea a major blow in the process.

The Rayados-Whitecaps match couldn't be played at Estadio BBVA because of a Shakira concert held at the stadium

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• Ramos' first goal in the Champions Cup couldn’t prevent elimination
• The Spaniard has scored three goals in three games for Rayados
• The aggregate score was 3-3, but Vancouver advanced due to away goals

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rayados de Monterrey were eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup after a 2-2 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps in the second leg of the Round of 16. The aggregate score ended 3-3, but the MLS side advanced to the next round due to the away goals rule.

  After the elimination, former Real Madrid player Sergio Ramos didn’t hold back, saying his team has a lot to improve on heading into the remainder of the Clausura 2025, and Rayados' participation in the Club World Cup.

  "In the end, you learn much more from defeat. We need to be self-critical because, regardless of being eliminated today, we know we can give much more. We have time to prepare for the next match and move past this, which is not pleasant for anyone," Ramos said after the match, in which he scored a goal.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  All eyes were on Ramos' debut in theChampions Cup. The defender had enjoyed a great start with his new team, but the club suffered their first disappointment, despite the Spaniard scoring his third goal in three matches for Rayados.

  After taking the lead against Whitecaps, Monterrey became overconfident and ultimately were eliminated in the Round of 16. The Rayados-Whitecaps match couldn't be played at Estadio BBVA because of a Shakira concert held at the stadium.

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  WHAT TATO NORIEGA SAID

  "I don't want to speak hastily, but this is a very sad, dark night for the history of this great club. We have to take responsibility, this can't happen," said the Tato Noriega, sporting director of Rayados, regarding Martín Demichelis future as the team's coach.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MONTERREY?

  Monterrey must now focus on Liga MX, where they will visit Pumas next Sunday, aiming to climb up the overall standings. The team coached by Martín Demichelis sits in the ninth place with 16 points.

Forty overs is not enough time for a pitch to wear, but if it is up and down the chasing team has a distinct advantage as Delhi Daredevils showed at Feroz Shah Kotla

Sidharth Monga in Delhi01-May-2015″Look, people have already started leaving.” Thisara Perera had been caught at deep square leg, pulling yet another ball that didn’t come on as expected, breaking Kings XI Punjab’s last recognised pair. It was 46 for 6 in the 10th over, and even as David Miller and Axar Patel looked to repair the innings people had begun to talk about leaving. By about 5.30 pm, 90 minutes into the match, quite a few – a hundred perhaps – had walked to the top edge of the stands in the north end of Feroz Shah Kotla and began to watch football in the adjoining Ambedkar Stadium. They cheered on as the incisive playmaker in the No. 15 red jersey that said “Young Boys” went past white jersey – SPCL inscribed on each – after white jersey to set up two goals in the first 15 minutes.Damn. Even this game was one-sided. People began to leave by the end of the second over of the chase, which was a matter of small relief for the Delhi traffic police as a major portion of the road alongside Kotla has been dug up for Metro work. It is not the relief IPL organisers want.Had this been Kolkata or Bangalore or Chennai or to a lesser extent Mumbai, the supporters there would have stayed on till the end to celebrate a one-sided home win. Other than those centres no IPL team has been able to build a strong connect with its local crowds. Fans come to these venues not to cheer the home team on but to dance, sing, eat, watch the big stars play no matter the team, and, most importantly, watch a close match. The greatest trick T20 ever played was to shorten the game so much that the difference in the quality of the teams doesn’t show too much. The matches are usually closer than the longer formats.There is only one glitch, though: you don’t want pitches to misbehave too much. In a game so short the argument that the pitch is same for both teams doesn’t quite hold. The side that bats first doesn’t quite get the time to asses the conditions and then reassess the total they should aim for, by which time usually you can be four-five down because you have to play aggressive shots in T20. And then the chasing side can plan its innings much better without the pressure of going for quick runs.The pitch for this match was a tricky one, one that leads to one-sided Twenty20 matches. It did bring the hosts Delhi Daredevils much joy, but it could easily have been them at the receiving end – they scored 95 in the last game here – had they lost the toss. From ball one, with people peering in to watch a contest between the two great Test hands for India in the 2000s, Zaheer Khan and Virender Sehwag, the pitch made its treacherousness felt. Sehwag saw a short-of-a-length ball, outside off, looked to push at it, but the ball didn’t come on. Ball two was same, and Sehwag was not lucky this time, with the thick edge resting with short cover-point, a good field placement for a two-paced pitch.Soon the dual bounce would become apparent too. In Zaheer’s second over, Manan Vohra had to deal with a shooter, which skid through and came on quicker than the previous deliveries. Two balls later, having faced five dots out of six already, he stepped out and saw this ball kick at him from a similar length. Zaheer seemed to have run his fingers on this, which might have been good reading of a dry surface, but the variance in bounce was a bit much for a two-over old ball.In between the two wickets, which can be credited to the pitch, Kings XI had lost Shaun Marsh, a wicket that the pitch didn’t have much to do with. He just played an ordinary shot across the line to a full offbreak, and even if the angle had saved him from the lbw – it didn’t – his doziness would have had him run out anyway. In the next over, with Nathan Coulter-Nile hitting the pitch even harder than Zaheer more uneven bounce showed. The first ball – short and outside off – stayed low to beat the under edge, and the next – a touch fuller than before – reared at Wriddhiman Saha. A confused Saha got out next ball, poking at one outside off, and at 10 for 4 Kings XI were hardly in any state to reassess their way to a competitive total.The two men who took on the rebuilding job – Miller and George Bailey – didn’t show enough confidence in their footwork to take the wily Amit Mishra on, and weren’t great on the sweep either, which eventually consumed Bailey. There is no doubt Daredevils assessed the conditions better, there is no doubt Kings XI didn’t play spin well, but you don’t want to see so much unevenness in a Twenty20 pitch. Test the batsmen all you want with movement and good bounce, but it’s when the ball begins to go through the surface or sit up – sometimes one after the other – it doesn’t make for a close match, the currency of Twenty20.Some exceptional batsmen – the likes of Michael Hussey – can assess T20 conditions in two or three balls and reassess the total they want accordingly, some freaks – the likes of Glenn Maxwell – can sometimes get into a zone where they connect everything no matter the variance in bounce, but unfortunately for the crowd at Kotla no such events occurred. The football match at Ambedkar Stadium, too, was one-sided.

AC Milan have high hopes and expect a lot from new signing Christopher Nkunku, who joined the club on a five-year contract from Chelsea this summer. The French international, who was integrated into the squad back in August, is yet to get a start in Milan colours, but head coach Massimiliano Allegri has hinted at handing him his first start to the campaign in their upcoming encounter.

• Nkunku yet to get his first Milan start

  Eight games into the Serie A campaign, and Nkunku is yet to get a place in Allegri's starting lineup. However, when Milan travel to the Gewiss Stadium to face Atalanta on October 28 in a high-octane league clash, the Italian manager might consider giving him his full debut in the league. The 16-time capped French international has received only 63 minutes of playing time in the Serie A across four games. But his extraordinary technique, as mentioned by Allegri himself, might just be enough to make sure Nkunku accompanies Rafael Leao up front on Tuesday. 

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  Allegri reveals expectations for ex-Chelsea forward

  Speaking to the reporters on the eve of the Atalanta clash, Allegri shed light about his team's probable attacking setup against the Bergamo-based side: "Leao can score a good number of goals, his fitness is improving, and he's becoming more confident in his abilities as a striker. He needs to improve in the penalty area, he needs to be more clinical. He can grow, like the rest of the team. Nkunku had been sidelined for a few days; he has extraordinary technique. I'll decide whether to start him or not: we expect a lot from him."

  The head coach further spoke about the hectic schedule his team has to go through and the preparations ahead of tomorrow's game. He mentioned: "The schedule until the next break is difficult, but now we're focusing on tomorrow. Playing in Bergamo is tough and will be a direct blow, given that Atalanta is one of the contenders for the top four. We need to be consistent; we'll have to play well technically against a physical, quality team. We're doing well, and we're not thinking about the absentees; we have many other good players. The squad is strong, and as a whole, we'll improve further."

• Allegri sheds light on injury concerns

  Although Milan had some injury concerns, Allegri has provided some good news for the fans. He has emphasised on the recovering players and outlined a possible game for their return. 

  He said: "[Ruben] Loftus-Cheek is here. [Pervis] Estupinan is ready for Roma, and we hope to at least have Pulisic on the bench against Parma. After the break, against Inter, we hope to have the entire squad available. [Ardon] Jashari? He'll be back in the squad on Wednesday, but he'll need time: we'll be playing a friendly during the break, and that will be useful for him. The limited squad is my choice, and the club's. Let's look on the bright side: AC Milan players like [Davide] Bartesaghi, [Koni] De Winter, and Samuele Ricci have emerged."

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  What comes next for Milan?

  Sitting third on the Serie A table, Milan's dreams of the Scudetto are very much alive. They have a one-point deficit with league leaders Napoli and second-placed Roma, who have the same points (18). Before the November international break commences, they will play three important games against Atalanta, Roma, and Parma. They have the joint third-best scoring form in the competition alongside fifth-placed Bologna. Only Inter (19) and Napoli (15) have more goals than them. The probable inclusion of Nkunku against Atalanta or in the upcoming fixtures, might come in handy in increasing their scoring tally this season.

Ajeet Singh Dale takes 4 for 46, Ben Charlesworth 3 for 6 as Northants are bowled out for second-innings 192

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Sep-2025Gloucestershire 241 (J Taylor 63, Broad 3-84) and 158 for 3 (Price 54, Hammond 38*) beat Northamptonshire 206 (Zaib 76, van Buuren 3-23, M Taylor 3-48) and 192 (Broad 49, Singh Dale 4-46, Charlesworth 3-6) by seven wicketsOllie Price scored a superb half-century under pressure to help Gloucestershire achieve a dramatic seven-wicket victory over Northamptonshire on the final day of the Rothesay County Championship Second Division match at the Seat Unique Stadium.Set 158 to win in 27 overs, Gloucestershire reached their target with 18 balls to spare in a thrilling finale, Price top-scoring with 54 from 58 deliveries and Miles Hammond weighing in with 38 not out and Graeme van Buuren 20 not out as the home side won for only the second time this season.Resuming on 158 for 5, Gloucestershire added a further 83 runs during the morning session to establish a modest first-innings lead of 35, thanks in large part to knocks of 63 and 44 from Jack Taylor and van Buuren respectively. Justin Broad claimed 3-84 as the home side were dismissed for 241 in 64 overs.Ajeet Singh Dale then took 4 for 46 and Ben Charlesworth 3 for 6 as Northants were shot out for 192 inside 51 overs in their second innings, only Broad offering meaningful resistance in a patient innings of 49 that spanned nearly two-and-a-half hours.Charlesworth and Price set-up the chase, staging a progressive second-wicket alliance of 52 in 8.3 overs to keep Gloucestershire supporters on the edge of their seats. Characterised by rapid running between the wickets and bold stroke-play, their partnership was ended when veteran campaigner Ben Sanderson had Charlesworth caught behind for 33.Having already lost Luke Procter to injury, the visitors were further hindered when fellow seamer Broad pulled up, forcing Sanderson to bowl seven overs unchanged from the Bristol Pavilion end and spinners Calvin Harrison and Nirvan Ramesh to be deployed in tandem. Sweeping and pulling to good effect, Price and Hammond continued to score at six an over to keep the home side on course, albeit with the light beginning to fade.With 53 required off the final 10 overs, Gloucestershire looked to be in control, an appearance confirmed when Price went to a half-century from 54 balls with his fifth boundary. He fell to Rob Keogh’s off breaks soon afterwards, but van Buuren and Hammond helped themselves to a six apiece off the same bowler to ease the pressure and render the outcome a formality. Hammond hit the winning runs, hammering Harrison straight down the ground for an emphatic six.Gloucestershire claimed 19 points to move into third place in Division Two, while Northants collected three.The prospect of a thrilling conclusion appeared unlikely when Gloucestershire resumed their first innings on 158 for 5, especially when van Buuren skied a return catch to Broad and departed for a 55-ball 44. But quick-scoring Jack Taylor opened his shoulders to raise 63 from 64 deliveries, striking six fours and three sixes and adding 38 in five overs with his brother, Matt, to propel the home side into credit.Gloucestershire needed to make full use of the new ball if they were to sow seeds of doubt in opposition minds, and Singh Dale delivered, summoning late swing to bowl Lewis McManus for 9. Promoted to open in place of Procter, Rob Keogh was next to go, falling victim to confusion and being run out by Zaman Akhter for 6. Guiding a delivery from Matt Taylor to backward point, Keogh set off in pursuit of an ill-advised single and was unable to regain his ground before the opportunistic Akhter had brilliantly thrown down the stumps to reduce the visitors to 23 for 2 inside six overs.West Country tails were up and Singh Dale struck another blow in the final over before lunch, bowling Harrison via an inside edge for 25 in the act of driving as Northants slipped to 55 for 3, a lead of just 20. Worse followed for the Midlands county, James Sales pulling Shaw straight to Hammond at deep backward square and falling to a poor shot for 14 with the score 77 for 4. With Procter’s ability to bat in question and the lead only 42, Northants suddenly appeared vulnerable.When dogged defiance was needed most, the in-form Zaib and Broad dug in to defy Gloucestershire’s bowlers. Batting was now easier than at any time previously in the match, and the fifth-wicket pair capitalised on the poor ball sufficiently to raise a partnership of 62 in 14 overs, easing some of the pressure they had felt when first coming together.But Gloucestershire kept plugging away and Akhter claimed the key wicket of Zaib, slanting a ball across his body and persuading the left-hander to edge behind for 37. Gloucestershire’s cause was not helped when Akhter had to be removed from the attack after twice being warned for running onto the pitch.They were further hindered by Aadi Sharma, the new batter striking a six and three fours and scoring 22 at nearly a run a ball as Northants reached tea on 171 for 5, a lead of 136.With a minimum 42 overs still available in the final session, Northants were required to muster further resistance. But the advent of Charlesworth, bowling from the Ashley Down Road end, served to revive the home side’s hopes of forcing a result, the allrounder claiming three wickets in five overs to tip the scales in Gloucestershire’s favour. Sharma was pinned lbw, Procter caught at the wicket without scoring and Sanderson held at deep square leg, much to the delight of enthusiastic home supporters.When Broad’s resistance finally came to an end, Singh Dale removing him lbw for an obdurate 104-ball 49, Northants were deep in trouble. Singh Dale then rapped Ben Whitehouse on the shins to wrap up the innings and set up an exciting run chase under the floodlights.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has been hit with some frustrating injury blows in the early weeks of the season, as Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka have both been ruled out for several weeks.

The German boss has had to go with Ilia Gruev in the number six position in the last two Premier League games because of those injuries, and the Whites failed to score in a 6-0 loss to Arsenal and a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United.

Whilst a point from those two matches, for a newly-promoted side, is far from the end of the world, Leeds may still want more from their midfield defensively and offensively.

Gruev has won two duels a game in the top-flight, whilst he has not scored a goal since the play-offs in 2024, per Sofascore, and that may be why the club are reportedly looking to bring in another midfielder.

Leeds eyeing late move for midfield star

The Championship champions have until 7 pm on Monday to finalise their squad for the first half of the campaign, with a new midfield monster on the agenda.

Transfer Focus

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

According to journalist Jose Palacio, via El Larguero, Leeds United are one of the teams in the race to seal a deal for Getafe star Christantus Uche.

The reporter claims that the Whites are knocking on the door to sign the Nigeria international from the Spanish side in a last-gasp swoop for his services.

He adds, though, that Crystal Palace are also ready to join the bidding for the 22-year-old star, whom he claims has turned down a move to Wolves, who were pushing to finalise a £17m deal.

It is now down to Leeds to convince Uche to make the move to Elland Road before the deadline, as he could arrive as a big upgrade on Ilia Gruev.

Why Leeds should sign Christantus Uche

The Getafe whiz is an incredibly interesting transfer target for the club because of the versatility that he would provide, as Jose Bordalas has utilised him as a centre-forward and as a central midfielder in LaLiga.

U23 scout Antonio Mango once claimed that he could be developed into a “midfield monster”, in the same way that Joelinton was for Newcastle, and Farke could do that to make him an upgrade on Gruev.

The Nigerian brute has the physical attributes and experience in a major league in Spain to suggest that he could offer way more physicality to the team in front of the defence than the Bulgaria international.

Uche’s outings as a striker also mean that he has the potential to provide more of a goal threat from midfield than Gruev, as the clip above shows that he can score goals at the top level.

As you can see in the table above, Getafe’s versatile titan offered more in front of goal and more to his team in duels than Gruev did for Leeds at a lower level in the 2024/25 campaign, which means that he could impact games at both ends of the pitch more frequently.

Uche has also started the current season by scoring one goal, providing one assist, and winning eight duels per match in his three outings in LaLiga, whilst the Bulgaria international has only won two duels per game for the Whites, per Sofascore.

Leeds open new talks to sign "fantastic" target after Buonanotte collapse

The Whites are still after an attacking addition.

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By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 30, 2025

These statistics suggest that Leeds would be signing an upgrade on Gruev, as well as a versatile star who can be utilised in other roles, as a midfield monster who can protect the back four to greater effect with his impressive physicality.

Lionel Messi has revealed his GOATS from basketball and tennis while describing Argentina legend Diego Maradona as his "greatest idol". The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner reflected on the various icons who helped inspire his journey from a boy in Rosario to a global superstar. In his eyes, no one stands taller in the football world than Maradona, the legendary forward who inspired the Albiceleste to the 1986 World Cup.

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  Messi’s heart belongs to Maradona

  Messi has never hidden his emotions when it comes to Maradona. Speaking to Tom Llamas on , the Inter Miami superstar once again waxed lyrical about the late Argentina icon, saying: "For us Argentinians, Maradona was always our greatest idol and greatest admiration, for everything he meant to us. I was little and saw him play live. Diego transcended everything."

  After winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Messi dedicated his triumph to Maradona. "I would have liked Diego to give me the cup, or at least to see all this, to see Argentina as world champions, with everything he wanted and how he loved the national team." he said. "I think from above, he, like a lot of people who love me, were strong."

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  Inter Miami star reveals sporting heroes

  Messi also opened up about his admiration for athletes in other sports, especially those who, like him, have redefined greatness.

  "When it comes to other sports, obviously I think the same thing happened with [Michael] Jordan," he said. "I really admire tennis players like [Roger] Federer, Rafa [Nadal] and [Novak] Djokovic and I think that all three of them made the competition much bigger than it was before.

  "Competing for so long to be the best and being so close to each other made it all much more fantastic. I don’t know, I’m sure I’m forgetting a lot of athletes but to highlight a few, I think I’d go with those, to name a few from basketball. LeBron [James], Steph [Curry], the best. The players that I admire a lot and I think they gave a lot to the sport, each in their own way. So, well, there are several names."

  In 2022, when Federer announced his retirement from tennis, Messi paid tribute on Instagram with a heartfelt message: "A genius, unique in the history of tennis and an example for any athlete. All the best in your new stage, we will miss seeing you on the court, making us enjoy."

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  When Messi met Djokovic

  Earlier this year, Messi and his family attended the Miami Open, watching Novak Djokovic storm past Grigor Dimitrov to reach the final. After the match, the two icons shared a warm embrace and exchanged signed shirts in the locker room. 

  Djokovic, still buzzing after his win, later said: "Amazing to have him. It is a great honour to play, probably for the first time, in front of him live. I am really grateful he was here with his son and the family. I admired him, of course, as most of the world did for most of his career, and it is amazing he still keeps going. We are actually the same age, born in 1987, so it is nice to have him around."

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  Eyes on 2026: Will Messi play one last World Cup?

  Even as he dominates in MLS, the question that keeps surfacing is: will Messi play at the 2026 World Cup? The Argentine genius is still defying time with Inter Miami, where he recently bagged the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals in the regular season. Earlier this month, he signed a new deal through 2028, underlining his commitment to the Herons. 

  But when asked by NBC about the prospect of one last World Cup, his response was measured. 

  "Well, the truth is that yes, it's something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup. And I would like to be there," he said. "To feel well and to be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there. I am going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter Miami and see if I can really be 100 per cent. I'm really eager because it's the World Cup. We're coming off winning the last World Cup, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it's always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions, so hopefully God will allow me to do it once again."

  Whether or not he graces the next World Cup, Messi has completed football. Now, it remains to be seen if he takes the pitch to write one more beautiful chapter on the global stage. 

Wolves are believed to be considering a bargain move for a Premier League gem who can play in seven different positions, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

Rayan Ait-Nouri transfer latest

While Gary O'Neil will no doubt be eyeing up important incoming business in the summer, there is also a chance that he could struggle to keep hold of certain key players. One such figure is Rayan Ait-Nouri, who has arguably matured into one of Wolves' most influential players, providing so much quality down the left flank. The 22-year-old has two goals and one assist to his name in the Premier League this season, with O'Neil waxing lyrical over his form.

Ait-Nouri has been linked with a move away from Molineux this summer, however, with Liverpool seen as strong candidates to sign him, seeing the Wanderers hero as a long-term replacement for Andy Robertson at left-back.

Should he move on, it will be essential that a top replacement is found, and it looks as though a Premier League player could be seen as a possible option.

Wolves eyeing Premier League free agent

According to HITC, Wolves are keen on signing versatile West Ham ace Ben Johnson in the summer transfer window, being joined by numerous other clubs in the battle to snap him up.

Aston Villa, Everton and Tottenham are all mentioned as potential suitors to acquire the defender's signature, ahead of what looks set to be a move away from the Hammers when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The level of interest in Johnson speaks volumes about what an asset he is seen as, even though he hasn't necessarily been able to consistently hold down a place in West Ham's team this season.

The Englishman could be a brilliant squad option for Wolves, not least because his incredible versatility allows him to shine in seven different positions, including left-back, which is why he could fill the void left by Ait-Nouri, should he decide to leave the club.

Stuart Pearce knows a thing or two about what makes an excellent full-back, and back in 2021, he heaped praise on Johnson, saying: "The most important thing about Ben is whenever you pass him or meet him first thing in the morning, he's got a smile on his face. He takes in all the knowledge you can pass on to him. He's a wonderful professional to deal with and work with."

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Admittedly, Johnson may not be on Ait-Nouri's level as a player, or an out-and-out left-back for that matter, but signing him on a free transfer feels like a no-brainer for Wolves, acting as a cheap-but-clever piece of business which reinforces several positions.