Celtic supporters may not have been very pleased with how the summer transfer window ended, but there was plenty of promising work done by the club up to when they signed Kelechi Iheanacho.

Some fans decided to boycott the opening 12 minutes of the 2-1 win over Kilmarnock last weekend. Podcaster John Dykes claimed that it was partly down to the lack of quality recruitment work and the club’s failure to qualify for the league phase of the Champions League.

Despite the concerns of the fanbase, Celtic were still able to muster up three points in their Scottish Premiership clash, thanks to a 96th-minute penalty from one of their new signings, Iheanacho.

The Nigeria international, who joined on a free transfer the day after the summer window officially slammed shut, was the 11th first-team signing made after the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Brendan Rodgers and the recruitment team will be hoping that supporters will look at the window a little more favourably by the end of the season, if the players brought in kick on and deliver high-quality performances.

The concern, though, will be if they fail to really kick on and prove their worth on a consistent basis, as has been the case for winger Hyun-jun Yang.

Why Hyun-jun Yang is in an awkward position at Celtic

The South Korea international was signed from Gangwon FC for a fee of £2m in the summer of 2023 to bolster Rodgers’ options on both flanks in his first season back in Scotland.

Unfortunately, Yang has been unable to establish himself as a regular starter for the Scottish giants on the wing. He currently finds himself in an awkward position where he does not seem to be fully trusted by the manager.

In fact, the forward was reportedly close to a move to English Championship side Birmingham City on deadline day, only for the Blues to pull out of a deal because they were unwilling to wait for Celtic to finalise their own move for Sebastian Tounekti.

The Hoops, of course, signed Tounekti from Hammarby late on deadline day, but the timing of that move meant that they brought the Tunisia international in and Yang had to remain at Parkhead.

This has left the 23-year-old winger in a position where he knows that the club and Rodgers were willing to let him move on in the summer, yet he now has to stay until at least January.

Appearances

3

Starts

2

Unused substitute

2

Goals

0

Key passes per game

0.3

Big chances created

1

Assists

0

Dribbles completed per game

0.3

As you can see in the table above, Yang has already been an unused substitute in two of the opening five Premiership matches, failing to provide a goal or an assist in the three games he has featured in.

Ultimately, the South Korean attacker has never shown real consistency in his end product in the final third, with seven goals and nine assists in 71 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

Yang has shown signs of improvement during his time at the club, progressing from one league goal in the 2023/24 campaign to five league goals last season. However, it has not been enough for him to establish himself as a star in Glasgow.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

It is incredibly early on in his Parkhead career, but summer signing Michel-Ange Balikwisha needs to ensure that he does not end up becoming the next Yang for Celtic on the wing.

Why Balikwisha could be the next Yang for Celtic

The Hoops swooped to sign the Belgian forward from Royal Antwerp for a fee of £5m during the summer transfer window to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

Balikwisha, like Yang, is a versatile winger who can play on the left or the right flank. He also showed some promise in the final third with his performances for his former club.

The 24-year-old flanker scored four goals and created seven ‘big chances’ in 12 starts in the Pro League for Royal Antwerp in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, which shows that he offered quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals in Belgium.

This is why Balikwisha, as Yang was when he arrived from Gangwon, is an exciting addition to the squad. However, he has yet to show any real drive at the top end of the pitch after two flat performances in the Premiership.

The right-footed winger has been thrown in at the deep end with starts against Rangers and Kilmarnock, playing on the left wing in the former and on the right in the latter, but failed to impress in either outing.

Minutes

65

58

Shots

0

0

Key passes

0

1

Big chances created

0

0

Dribbles completed

0/0

0/1

Crosses completed

0/1

1/2

As you can see in the table above, Balikwisha did not register a single shot on goal and only attempted one dribble, which he failed to complete, in over two hours of football in his first two appearances for the Scottish giants.

Motherwell midfielder Andy Halliday has been unimpressed with the winger. The experienced Premiership player said: “I think Balikwisha has started really, really slowly. I’ve never seen a winger turn down one versus one opportunities so much.

“It was exactly what I seen against Rangers and I thought it was the exact same at Kilmarnock at the weekend. I think he’s too passive in terms of getting the ball in one v one situations, turning and passing it back.”

You could put it down to the fact that he is settling into life at Celtic and may have been nervous to really attack those two games, but fellow new signing Tounekti stepped in for his debut against Kilmarnock and delivered four chances created and five dribbles completed, per Sofascore.

As Halliday put it, Balikwisha was too passive in both games and that is a worrying sign because that has been one of Yang’s biggest problems during his time at Celtic, averaging just 0.7 completed dribbles and 0.4 shots on target per game in the Premiership last season, per Sofascore.

The South Korea international’s Parkhead career reached a point where the club were willing to let him join Birmingham, in part because he has failed to asert himself on the pitch to be a consistent performer in the final third.

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Hopefully, Balikwisha’s first two appearances for the Hoops are not a sign of things to come, because he will need to offer far more at the top end of the pitch week-in-week-out to avoid becoming the next Yang in Glasgow.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has been told by one source that a potential £70 million bid could be accepted for an unsettled PSG star, with Mikel Arteta’s side now taking a “concrete” interest.

Arsenal back Mikel Arteta with new deals and £255m summer spend

Arteta is under serious pressure to deliver the club’s first Premier League title in over 20 years, especially following Berta’s undisputed backing.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

After spending north of £250 million on eight major signings in the summer transfer window, Berta also tied down star defender William Saliba with a brand-new contract which will run until 2030 — thwarting Real Madrid in the process.

This comes after he agreed fresh terms with Gabriel earlier this year too, with reports suggesting that Arsenal are also in talks with Bukayo Saka over a new deal which could be sorted before Christmas (Football Transfers).

Defender Jurrien Timber could also be rewarded for his exceptionally consistent displays over the last 12 months, as Arsenal are in negotiations to take his Emirates Stadium stay past 2028.

Off the field, Arsenal are doing basically everything right (except maybe player sales), and Berta is still showing some intent in the transfer market even after a record-breaking transfer window for the Gunners.

Now, as per reporter Mark Brus, the Arsenal transfer chief is registering a serious fondness for PSG sensation Warren Zaire-Emery.

Arsenal told £70m bid for Warren Zaire-Emery could be accepted

Sharing what he calls “exciting information” via the journalist’s Daily Briefing, Brus says that the “elite” Ligue 1 starlet is growing unsettled under Luis Enrique and wants more clarity over his role in the team.

The 19-year-old has played as the defensive midfield anchor, a traditional centre-midfielder and even at right-back over his nine games in all competitions so far, and this is believed to be slightly frustrating Zaire-Emery.

Arsenal are described as having a “concrete” interest in signing Zaire-Emery, alongside the likes of Man City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but Pep Guardiola’s side are believed to be the biggest admirers, as City’s boss is a major fan.

As well as this, the source goes on to state that a £70 million offer from Arsenal, or any interested side, could be enough.

The teenager has already drawn comparisons to Cesc Fàbregas, and club legend Thierry Henry was effusive in his praise of Zaire-Emery’s star potential when speaking on CBS Sports in late 2023.

MatériaMais Notícias

Gustavo Mosquito, autor do gol salvador do Corinthians no empate por 1 a 1 contra o Cruzeiro pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, teve na noite de terça-feira (22) mais uma oportunidade de se consagrar com a camisa do Timão. Aos 38 minutos do segundo tempo, o atacante de 25 anos desperdiçou uma chance claríssima de ampliar o placar após passe de Ángel Romero, finalizando por cima do gol.

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O gol perdido causou irritação nas redes sociais. Porém, um comentário questionável de Eros Prado gerou um sentimento de indignação no jogador.

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

Durante transmissão online do SBT Sports, o comentarista do canal citou que Mosquito “chutou a bola para o pai dele”, fazendo alusão à morte do familiar do atleta, Gerson Dutra Silva, que morreu por complicações causadas pela Covid-19 em junho de 2021.

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Após a partida, na zona mista, o atacante respondeu o comentarista de forma enfática. “Eu errei e nada justifica meu erro. Mas falar que eu chutei a bola para o meu pai, brincar depois da perda do meu pai que eu sinto falta até hoje, isso eu não aceito. Só queria falar isso”, explicou o jogador.

Depois do incidente, Gustavo e Eros já teriam feito as pazes. Segundo apuração da Gazeta Esportiva, a dupla entrou em contato via um amigo em comum e se entendeu. Por Whatsapp, o humorista pediu desculpas pelo ocorrido e disse se sentir mal com a situação.

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Dewmi Vihanga’s five-for and Chamari Athapaththu’s half-century went in vain for Sri Lanka

Firdose Moonda09-May-2025Annerie Dercksen’s maiden ODI century – which came off the back of two successive 50-plus scores and is also the fastest by a South African in the format – headlined South Africa’s consolation win at the women’s tri-series in Colombo.With South Africa out of contention for Sunday’s final, they put together their most complete performance of the competition and posted their fifth highest score in all ODIs thanks to contributions from the lower order, which ultimately won them the game.Dercksen arrived at the crease with South Africa on 85 for 5 as offspinner Dewmi Vihanga ripped through their top and middle-order. She consolidated with Nondumiso Shangase before sharing a 112-run seventh-wicket stand off 88 balls with Chloe Tryon, a seventh-wicket record for South Africa, to put them in sight of a big score. Tryon smashed 74 off 51 balls and was part of a 66-run stand off 30 balls with Nadine de Klerk which pushed South Africa over 300 and asked Sri Lanka to complete their highest successful chase.Related

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Sri Lanka have already done that once before against South Africa – when they also chased down a 300-plus total – and were in a good position on 160 for 3 in the 30th over. But Ayabonga Khaka’s double-strike, which included the dismissal of Chamari Athapaththu for 52, and a career-best 5 for 34 for Tryon, including a hat-trick, ended their chances of another historic win.Instead, the records were all Dercksen’s after she became only the second batter to score a hundred at No.7 or lower in women’s ODIs and capped off a breakthrough series as a batter.Dercksen scored her first half-century just two matches ago, at this tournament, and finished as the leading run-scorer from the league stage. Her maturity and aggression rescued South Africa after a start which turned in the wrong direction and should see her bat higher up the order in future.Dewmi Vihanga picked up a five-for•SLCLaura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits put on 68 for the first-wicket and were both batting well when Vihanga first struck. She drew Brits forward and took the edge and Hasini Perera took a good, low catch at slip to give Sri Lanka their first. In her next over, Vihanga beat Wolvaardt’s inside-edge and bowled her and in the over after that, had Miane Smit caught slog-sweeping at midwicket.Just when Vihanga may have thought things couldn’t go better, she plucked two more in her next over: Lara Goodall caught at slip and Sinalo Jafta, bowled while giving the charge. Vihanga, at 19 years old and playing in her third ODI, had her first five-for and is the second-highest wicket-taker of the series behind Sneh Rana.Sri Lanka had the opportunity to run through South Africa from there but Dercksen stood in their way. She hit the third ball she faced over Vihanga’s head for four and there was no looking back. Dercksen favoured the area down the ground, where three of her five sixes were scored, including the one that took her to the century.Dercksen’s innings was laced with cuts and pulls off the back foot and, unusually for her, a selection of sweeps including a reverse off Athapaththu. She dominated the partnership with Tryon, and scored 77 of the 112 runs they put on and it was only when she was dismissed, in the 44th over, that Tryon took over.She charged Sugandika Kumari and hit her for six, moved across the crease to send Manudia Nanayakkara over midwicket and then took three sixes off Athapaththu before missing one and being stumped. De Klerk finished unbeaten on 32 off 19 balls and South Africa would have been comfortable with the target they set Sri Lanka, who began well in pursuit.Chloe Tryon scored a half-century and took a five-for, which included a hat-trick•SLCThe opening pair of Hasini Perera and Vishmi Gunaratne put on 52 and it was Tryon’s introduction that separated them. Her second delivery was tossed up, Perera tried to drive and spooned a catch to Dercksen at cover. Four overs later. Tryon switched to around the wicket and had Gunaratne caught at backward point.Athapaththu was in at No. 4 and gave Tryon a taste of her own medicine when she took 10 runs off her fourth over, including her first six.Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarickrama’s third-wicket partnership grew to 52 and and they took Sri Lanka to the halfway stage on 124 for 2 but debutant legspinner Seshnie Naidu ended their stand. Samarawickrama tried to hit the first ball of Naidu’s fourth over out of the ground but was caught at mid-off.Athapaththu brought up a 17th career half-century and kept Sri Lanka in the hunt but Khaka was brought back at a crucial time. In the 30th over, with Sri Lanka needing 156 runs to win, Khaka returned and Athapaththu sliced her to cover to all but end Sri Lanka’s hopes. In her next over, Khaka bowled Nilakshika Silva with the slower ball.Sri Lanka continued to bat proactively even as the asking rate climbed and then they were snubbed out in the 42nd over, when Tryon took three in three.She had de Klerk to thank for the first after she ran in from deep backward square and took a diving catch to remove Vihanga. Off the next ball, Sugandika Kumari was caught at backward point and then Malki Madara got a faint edge to Jafta to complete Tryon’s hat-trick.Sri Lanka were bowled out for 239 in the 43rd over and lost by 76 runs.

كشفت تقارير إعلامية اليوم الإثنين، عن موقف نجم نادي ليفربول من المشاركة أمام ريال مدريد يوم غدًا الثلاثاء، في إطار بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ليفربول سوف يستضيف نظيره ريال مدريد يوم غدًا الثلاثاء على ملعب أنفيلد، وذلك لحساب الجولة الرابعة من مرحلة الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويسعى ليفربول إلى استعادة كبريائه بعد التعثرات المتتالية للفريق خلال الفترة الماضية، قبل أن يحقق الريدز فوزًا معنويًا يوم السبت الماضي على أستون فيلا بهدفين دون رد، ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وذكرت شبكة ليفربول إيكو، أنه من المستبعد أن يشارك ألكسندر إيزاك، نجم هجوم ليفربول، خلال مواجهة ريال مدريد.

اقرأ أيضًا .. قائمة ريال مدريد لمباراة ليفربول في دوري أبطال أوروبا وأضافت الشبكة، أن تدريبات ليفربول الأخيرة قبل لقاء الغد شهدت استمرار غياب ألكسندر إيزاك، لكن في الجانب المقابل عاد كورتيس جونز للظهور وبالتالي سيكون جاهزًا للعب غدًأ.

وأوضحت الشبكة، أن إيزاك لم يلعب منذ الشوط الثاني أمام أينتراخت فرانكفورت في دوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث يعاني الدولي السويدي من مشكلة في الفخد.

وأردفت الشبكة، أن هدف إيزاك الآن هو المشاركة في مواجهة مانشستر سيتي وليفربول الأسبوع المقبل، في قمة الجولة الـ11 من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتابعت الشبكة قولها، إن تدريبات ليفربول شهدت كذلك استمرار غياب حارس المرمى، أليسون بيكر، وجيريمي فريمبونج، حيث يتعافى الثنائي من إصابات طويلة.

ليفربول حصد ست نقاط في مرحلة الدوري حتى الآن بدوري أبطال أوروبا، بينما يمتلك ريال مدريد تسع نقاط.

MatériaMais Notícias

Decisão da Copa do Brasil entre Flamengo e São Paulo, Premier League, Campeonato Italiano e La Liga são os principais destaques deste domingo (17) de futebol. Confira onde assistir ao vivo e os horários das partidas.

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+ Já pensou em ser um gestor de futebol? Participe da nossa Masterclass com Felipe Ximenes e descubra oportunidades

Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, has set a target to sell out a women’s match in the Hundred as the governing body contemplates “de-coupling” some of the tournament’s double-headers.The Hundred’s existing double-header model sees midweek women’s fixtures played during working hours, with tickets valid for both games on a single day. There are no plans to increase the Hundred’s 27-day window, but some double-headers could be split across two separate days in future seasons to maximise revenue from ticket sales.The Hundred launched with a standalone women’s match between Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals in 2021, with the men’s match played the following night. It has operated with a double-header model ever since, and every matchday this season will see a women’s fixture followed by the same men’s fixture at the same venue.”The double-headers have been working well,” Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo. “At some point, we would like to try and find a way that we can have standalone fixtures, perhaps, for men and women. Getting to a capacity crowd for a women’s Hundred fixture at some point in the next couple of years has to be a target for us.”The window is fixed, a 27-day, exclusive window… Within that window, if you get to the point where you can de-couple games, it’s really demonstrating the commercial growth of the women’s game, into which we’re investing a huge amount at the ECB. That’s definitely a potential target.”The double-header model was initially the result of logistical problems posed by the Covid pandemic, with the majority of women’s fixtures originally slated for smaller county grounds. However, it has proved successful across the Hundred’s first four years, with a record total attendance of 320,000 at women’s matches last season.Richard Gould remains confident that negotiations with the Hundred’s equity partners are ‘at a good state of play’•John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images

Splitting double-headers into separate matchdays without expanding the duration would create some scheduling complications. “We need to work through that, but that may be a thing depending on what the broadcaster wants and what days we’re playing on,” Gould said. “If you can have eight sell-outs, rather than four…”Ticket sales for women’s cricket in England and Wales have surged in recent years. England’s women have attracted total attendances in excess of 100,000 for the past two home summers, and next year’s T20 World Cup will be played at major international venues including Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston and Emirates Old Trafford.That growth reflects a similar trend in other sports. Arsenal’s women attracted an average attendance of nearly 30,000 in the Women’s Super League this year and will play all their home fixtures at the Emirates Stadium next season, while the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup in England will break attendance records.Gould also confirmed that the ECB intend to create “the cleanest windows we possibly can” for the Hundred in the next Future Tours Programme by minimising overlap with England’s fixture list. Avoiding direct clashes would enable better availability for England’s Test players, though a scheduling crunch looms in 2028 due to the T20 cricket events at the Los Angeles Olympics.Stakes in the eight Hundred teams are being sold to private investors, with the drawn-out process in its final stages. Gould conceded that it has taken “longer than we thought” to complete the relevant paperwork, but said that the delay has been “time really well spent” and has helped the ECB “understand the ambition” of the new investors.Related

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Investors need to sign shareholder agreements with their respective host clubs but the ‘participation agreement’ with the ECB has been the main source of the delay. “It is about the ‘what ifs’,” Gould said. “I hate to think how many sets of lawyers are in on this, but that’s what they’re paid to do: ‘What if this happens?’ and ‘What if that happens?'”It is a good state of play. The investors are investing heavily, and therefore they want clarity on all sorts of details… We’re doing it up front now so that when everything is signed, we will be off and running in a much better state, knowing where responsibility sits between stakeholders, investors, and the governing body.”Discussions have also taken place around future broadcast contracts for the Hundred, with UK rights currently ‘bundled’ with the rights to show England’s home international fixtures. “The expectation for the next cycle is that we will do that again,” Gould said. “There’s an opportunity to unbundle thereafter, but there will be really good grown-up conversations as to what’s best for the sport.”Gould insisted there is no immediate prospect of any investor walking away: “No, not at the moment,” he said. “But we don’t take anything for granted, because that’s not a clever place to be.”Sanjay Govil, the incoming co-owner of Welsh Fire, has already expressed his preference for the Hundred to become a T20 competition. “That’s a discussion that we’ve parked until their arrival,” Gould said. “It’s a decision that actually sits with the ECB board. There may be recommendations that come forward at some point but it’s not [being discussed] right now.”

Manchester United are reportedly one of the clubs interested in completing the January loan signing of a new forward who has been likened to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Man Utd prepare for huge Liverpool clash

The Red Devils face a massive game on Sunday afternoon, making the trip to bitter rivals Liverpool in the Premier League, looking to dent their title hopes.

It is actually United who go into the game with a little more momentum, albeit not a huge amount, having beaten Sunderland 2-0 in their last match before the international break. On the flip side, the Reds have lost their last three games, in all competitions.

That’s not to say that Liverpool aren’t still the overriding favourites to prevail, however, and Ruben Amorim will know that his side will have to produce a big performance, in order to have a chance of getting a positive result at Anfield.

Amorim is still very much a man under pressure, with one win against newly-promoted Sunderland not doing a huge amount to change his situation. If he is still in charge in January, though, it looks as though he could potentially have a special talent added to his squad, having also been linked with a stunning move for England captain Harry Kane.

Man Utd pursuing loan move for Real Madrid's Endrick

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are interested in signing Endrick on loan from Real Madrid when the January window opens.

The Spanish giants are keen on giving him more playing time away from the club midway through the season and the Red Devils are waiting to pounce, as well as other unnamed clubs.

Endrick has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo by Football Transfers, which is enormous praise, and former Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has been blown away by his brilliance in the past.

This says a lot about how special Endrick is, and while signing him on loan is far less preferable than a permanent move to Old Trafford, United should still see it as an exciting piece of business to pursue.

Related Man Utd could now pay £52m for "lethal" new striker with 28 goals last season

The Red Devils may be willing to shell out a huge fee to sign a centre-forward.

Posts ByDominic Lund Oct 17, 2025

The 19-year-old is a genuine superstar in the making – one who has already scored three goals in 14 caps for Brazil – and he could add extra magic to United’s squad halfway through the season. The fact that he will be hungry to prove his worth to Madrid can only be a good thing for the Red Devils, too.

Kotian and Kamboj shared a 121-run stand before Kamboj got two wickets in an over

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jun-2025

File photo: Tanush Kotian made an unbeaten 90•Tanuj/Ekana Cricket Stadium

Tanush Kotian and Anshul Kamboj headlined the final day of the second unofficial Test between England Lions and India A as the match ended in a draw. The two shared an unbroken 121-run stand for the eighth wicket before Kamboj also struck twice in an over before the teams shook hands.The partnership lasted the entirety of the middle sessions, and they scored at a touch over five runs an over for the 29.4 overs they batted together.India A were already looking to accelerate towards the end of the first session, which ended with Shardul Thakur bowled by George Hill as he drove down the wrong line.Kotian and Kamboj then piled on the runs for India A, and the team decided to push back their declaration till the tea break, even if they could have had a crack at Lions earlier in the game.0:28

Watch – Gill faces Bumrah at the nets

Kotian, who signalled his intentions early in his knock with a six off Josh Tongue, took the attack to Farhan Ahmed and the 17-year-old offspinner ended up conceding over 108 runs without a wicket.Like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Thakur before him, Kotian targeted the spinner with big hits down the ground, while Kamboj was happy to dispatch anything short or overpitched from the fast bowlers.They brought up their half-century stand off just 56 balls, soon after which Kotian scored his 16th first class fifty. The tall allrounder then quickened his scoring, with an array of strokes ranging from classical shots to more improvised ones like a ramp over the slips cordon.Lions soon turned to part-time options like their openers Tom Haines and Ben McKinney as well as Emilio Gay, and it allowed Kamboj to ramp up his intent and bring up a maiden first-class fifty. Kamboj’s shot of the day was when he took on a slot ball from Haines and lofted it down the ground for six.After the tea break, the Lions came out to bat, with the declaration leaving Kotian 10 runs short of a fourth first-class century.It was Tushar Deshpande who got the first wicket when he drew Haines’ outside edge and Reddy took a diving catch to his left. Then Kamboj, in his second over, had Gay edging behind before beating Jordan Cox’s outside edge to knock him over.The day had begun for India A with Reddy and Dhruv Jurel watchfully playing out the first hour, although Tongue had Reddy edging to first slip where a regulation chance went down.Reddy was on 17 then and he later brought out some big hits against Farhan to get to 42 before Hill, in the first over of his spell, castled him with a beauty. He got a length ball to seam in from outside off, with Reddy leaving a big gap as he fended down the wrong line.In between the dropped chance and Reddy’s wicket, Eddie Jack, who extracted appreciable movement off the pitch, got one to nip away and take Jurel’s outside edge.Thakur was enterprising in his innings, cutting Jack for four and hitting back-to-back sixes down the ground off Farhan. He tried to drive Hill through mid-off but Hill got it to seam in between bat and pad to end his cameo on 34 off 47 balls.Among the bowlers from the England squad for the first Test, Chris Woakes bowled just three overs on the final day, and Tongue, who became an injury worry for the first Test when he hobbled off on the third day after bowling four overs, came out and bowled five on day four and looked in good rhythm in his spell.

Liverpool are considering making an offer for a “huge talent” in the near future, having sent scouts to watch him alongside interest from some of their biggest rivals.

Neville calls Liverpool underdogs in title race

The Reds’ 2-1 defeat away to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon was a tough one to take for the Premier League champions, but it was a result that had been coming, following too many unconvincing performances.

Speaking on Sunday after Arsenal’s late 2-1 win at Newcastle United, Gary Neville hinted that the Gunners are now already favourites after just six games, despite Liverpool beginning the campaign as the front-runners, and still being two points clear at the top.

“Only two teams can win this league: Liverpool or Arsenal. When the first goal went in, I said, ‘big’, and I thought the second one was coming, I genuinely did. I thought I could feel something happening in the ground. Those Arsenal players did too and it did happen.

“I think it’s a big moment. Look, it’s September, it’s ridiculous… it [the title race] doesn’t start until March. But what you’ve got to do along the way is send out some calling cards. You’ve got to send out some clear messages that we’re here and we’re proper, and that’s what I think Arsenal have done today.”

Away from the current on-field action, Liverpool continue to be linked with possible new signings, including one big talent with a huge future in the game.

Liverpool send scouts to watch "huge talent"

According to a fresh claim from journalist Alan Nixon on Patreon, Liverpool have sent scouts to watch Genk starlet Konstantinos Karetsas in action, with an offer potentially being tabled for him soon. The £20m-rated 17-year-old could be sold in January or next summer, with Everton, Sunderland, Newcastle United and Bournemouth eyeing a move for him, too.

Karetsas is a massive talent who is already impressing so much at the age of just 17, scoring three goals and bagging six assists in 53 appearances for Genk.

The attacking midfielder also has two goals in five caps for Greece, having switched his allegiances from Belgium, as well as being hailed as a “huge talent” by scout Jacek Kulig.

Liverpool have a future Ballon d'Or nominee who could soon dethrone Salah

Liverpool will hope this young star can go on to become the club’s next Mohamed Salah.

By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 29, 2025

Karetsas would surely love the idea of moving to Liverpool over the other clubs mentioned, with all due respect to them, and he has the talent to be a long-term star at Anfield.