Edwin Díaz is returning to free agency after turning down the qualifying offer from the Mets, which was worth $22 million. As such, he’ll be free to sign with any team entering his age-32 season.

Díaz could return to the Mets, where he’s played since 2019, but there will certainly be other teams in the mix to sign the talented reliever on the open market. After all, Díaz is a three-time All-Star and a two-time Hoffman Reliever of the Year award winner, and he’s coming off one of the best seasons of his career.

In turning down the qualifying offer, Díaz is signaling that he’s in the market for a long-term deal. He could be in line to make close to, if not more than Tanner Scott received from the Dodgers last offseason, when he signed a four-year, $72 million deal.

So, where could Díaz end up signing? Let’s take a look at a few fits for the veteran reliever.

New York Mets

A return to Queens would make plenty of sense for both sides. It doesn’t come as a surprise that Díaz turned down the qualifying offer, but that is in no way an indication that he doesn’t want to continue playing in New York.

The Mets’ bullpen would be relatively barren without Díaz owning the ninth inning. As it stands, the team has just three relievers under contract for the 2026 season: A.J. Minter, Richard Lovelady and Brooks Raley. They’ll certainly address the position in the offseason, and Díaz will be at the forefront of their scope.

Díaz has had a somewhat up-and-down tenure with the Mets, but he had a 1.63 ERA with 98 strikeouts and 28 saves last season. And with Steve Cohen still desperate to assemble a winner in Queens, letting Díaz walk doesn’t seem like a move that would help the organization achieve its goal of winning a World Series.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays made a run to the World Series with Jeff Hoffman at closer. Díaz would be a significant upgrade over Hoffman, who blew seven saves in 2025 and had a 4.37 ERA. Díaz is one of the most established closing pitchers in MLB, with 253 saves in his career. The 31-year-old didn’t blow a single save last season, and having him out of the bullpen in Game 7 could’ve been exactly what Toronto needed against the Dodgers.

Spending big hasn’t been a concern for the Blue Jays, who have been willing to dole out hefty contracts in order to compete with likes of the Dodgers and Yankees, among others.

Hoffman is still under contract for another two years, but it may make more sense for him to return to the setup role in which he’s previously excelled. In 2023 and ‘24 with the Phillies, Hoffman was one of MLB’s best relief pitchers. He logged a 2.28 ERA across 122 appearances and even earned a trip to the All-Star Game in ‘24.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers will likely be in on a number of this offseason’s biggest free agents as they look to continue their reign. The bullpen was by far their biggest cause for concern in 2025, and bringing in the reliable arm of Díaz would instantly help to alleviate their woes.

Of course, that would mean the Dodgers have nearly $40 million allotted to two relievers annually in Scott and Díaz. If Scott can return to form after leading MLB with 10 blown saves last year, Los Angeles would have the league’s most formidable one-two punch to handle the late innings, in addition to their top-tier starting rotation.

If money isn’t an issue, and it isn’t, the Dodgers should not balk at the idea of bringing Díaz to Hollywood. The idea of competing for championships alongside some of the biggest stars in MLB is anything but a tough sell, so it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Díaz pitching at Dodger Stadium in 2026.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have plenty of relievers hitting free agency this offseason, so they’ll certainly be in the market for new bullpen arms. The tandem of Danny Palencia and Andrew Kittredge was effective in 2025, but they could elevate the bullpen in a big way by bringing Díaz on board.

Palencia and Kittredge could work out as setup men, getting Chicago to the ninth inning for Díaz to shut the door on opponents.

The Cubs haven’t had a stable closer since Craig Kimbrel in 2018. They’ve tried to swing big at closer in the past, but the results haven’t been there. They landed Ryan Pressly in a trade with the Astros ahead of the ‘25 season, but he quickly lost the closer’s role and struggled in his lone year in Chicago. Diaz could be the long-term solution to their long-standing problem out of the back-end of the bullpen, though he’d come at a significant cost.

Tottenham Hotspur centre-forward Richarlison added to his impressive Premier League season so far with a goal against Brentford on Saturday.

The Brazilian marksman scored his sixth league goal of the campaign, in his ninth start, by tapping the ball into an empty net from Xavi Simons’ ball to the back post.

Richarlison, signed from Everton for £60m in 2022, is starting to show that he can be relied upon in the final third, but the same cannot be said of Randal Kolo Muani.

Spurs eyeing new move for striker target

Now, the club are reportedly looking at a deal for another number nine who could come in as an instant upgrade on the PSG loanee next month.

Transfer Focus

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

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According to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur are readying a new move to sign Crystal Palace centre-forward Jean-Philippe Mateta in the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Lilywhites are looking to take advantage of his stalling contract talks with the Eagles to swoop for him ahead of the second half of the season.

It adds that Spurs made a “cheeky” offer to sign the France international to bolster their squad in the summer, and now they are lining up another attempt to bring him to North London.

Football Insider reveals that his contract discussions with Palace have reached a deadlock, which has opened the door for Thomas Frank and Fabio Paratici to swoop.

Why Spurs should sign Mateta

Spurs should push to sign Mateta from the Eagles because he would come in as an upgrade on Kolo Muani, who has been disappointing this season.

The Lilywhites signed the France international on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window, with no option or obligation to buy included.

Tottenham may be glad that they did not include an obligation to make the deal permanent because his form in the Premier League so far this season has not been good enough.

Kolo Muani has scored no goals, missed three ‘big chances’, and failed to assist any goals in eight appearances and six starts in the top-flight, per Sofascore, for Spurs, which shows that he has not offered enough in the final third.

Meanwhile, Mateta has scored nine goals in all competitions for Crystal Palace, per Sofascore, including a return of seven goals in 14 outings in the Premier League.

As well as offering more of a threat in front of goal than Kolo Muani, his international teammate also offers more to the team as a physical presence in the centre-forward position.

25/26 Premier League

Mateta

Kolo Muani

Appearances

15

8

Shots on target per game

1.5

0.1

Goals

7

0

Assists

0

0

Ground duel success rate

41%

34%

Aerial duel success rate

40%

37%

Duels won per game

4.1

3.2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Mateta is better in his physical duels, holding the ball up for the team and scrapping to keep possession, whilst also being a superior goalscorer.

Journalist Rory Smith said the striker is “like original Ronaldo” last year, as he started tucking in his shirt to give himself the classic centre-forward look, which is still the case in the present day, and his goalscoring record backs up such a comparison.

The 28-year-old marksman scored 17 goals in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign and 19 goals in the 2023/24 season, per Sofascore, proving why, in the words of Como scout Ben Mattinson, he is “one of the best strikers in the Premier League.”

He is a prolific scorer, like the legendary Brazilian who scored 318 club career goals (Transfermarkt), who rocks the classic tucked-in shirt with style and substance, which could make him a real fan favourite in North London.

With Kolo Muani struggling for form in the Premier League and due to return to PSG at the end of the season, signing a proven Premier League star in the prime of his career could be a brilliant move by Paratici to provide Richarlison with competition in the number nine position.

So, if a January deal is viable, Spurs should push to get a deal done for the French powerhouse, who has the quality to be a difference-maker with the goal threat that he can offer in the second half of the season and beyond.

Related Spurs star now a doubt for Prague after limping out of the stadium on Saturday

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England heroes Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly, fresh from helping the Lionesses defend their European Championship crown, have been nominated for the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. If either is able to land the top prize, they will follow in the footsteps of iconic team-mates Beth Mead and Mary Earps – two former winners.

Lionesses legends: Mead & Earps are past SPOTY winners

Earps’ exploits were recognised by the British public in 2023 on the back of steering England to the World Cup final. A year earlier, she had made history when forming part of a Euro 2022-winning squad – with that achievement allowing Mead to claim the SPOTY prize.

Sarina Wiegman’s side were able to successfully defend that crown in 2025, with an epic final showdown with Spain going to penalties. Hampton delivered spot kick-saving heroics there while Kelly – who famously netted an extra-time winner against Germany in 2022 – held her nerve to convert the decisive effort from 12 yards.

Advertisement2025 SPOTY nominees: Who makes the shortlist?

Kelly, who is now playing her club football back at Arsenal, is one of six contenders looking to land the 2025 SPOTY award. She is joined on that shortlist by international colleague and fellow WSL star Hampton – who provides the last line of defence at Chelsea.

The other hopefuls looking to land a prestigious honour are rugby star Ellie Kildunne, darts sensation Luke Littler, golf superstar Rory McIlroy – who won the Masters in 2025 and completed the career Grand Slam – and newly-crowned Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris.

Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, has said of that shortlist: “This has been a breathtaking year for sport, driven by athletes whose performances belong in the history books. Each one has delivered moments of pure brilliance that have defined 2025. It’s been incredible to watch, and I can’t wait to honour their achievements, and to see who the nation chooses as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025.”

The shortlisting panel for this year’s awards included 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi, former England international Anita Asante, double Paralympic gold medal-winning sprinter Libby Clegg, former world champion boxer Carl Frampton, 2009 World Cup winning cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent, media personality and sports presenter Josh Denzel, sports broadcaster and Match of the Day co-host Kelly Cates, chief sports feature writer for the Daily Mail, Riath Al-Samarrai and sports reporter for The Times, Molly Hudson. Representing the BBC were director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, head of content Philip Bernie and executive producer Marc Vesty.

Can Kelly or Hampton continue SPOTY trend?

The winner of the 2025 award will be announced at a glitzy ceremony on December 18, as a memorable year of sporting action and achievement is celebrated. Another Euros-winning Lionesses star, Michelle Agyemang, is among the contenders for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Award.

In the World Sport Star department, Spain international Mariona Caldentey – who plies her club trade alongside Kelly at Arsenal – is competing with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Shohei Ohtani and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone for recognition.

Olympic gold medal-winning athlete Keely Hodgkinson is the reigning BBC Sports Personality of the Year. She extended the run of female winners to four consecutive years, with there every chance that a fifth addition will be made to that list.

Tennis star Emma Raducanu, having won the US Open in 2021, started the recent trend. Mead, Earps and Hodgkinson picked up that baton and ran with it, and Kelly and Hampton are looking to keep the run going.

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Getty ImagesHampton ignored pre-Euros Earps distraction

Earps have sparked controversy ahead of Euro 2025 when announcing her international retirement and calling out Wiegman for drafting Hampton back into the Lionesses fold. That decision was vindicated when the 25-year-old shot-stopper inspired England to continental glory.

Hampton has already won the inaugural Women’s Yashin Trophy this year and will hope to go on and emulate Earps again by claiming a FIFA Best Women’s Goalkeeper prize at some point in the not too distant future – with impressive standards being maintained at domestic and international level.

In 2022, a group of American and British investors purchased a third division Danish team, and have turned a bar in Brooklyn in a community that draws dozens to watch the club.

Joe Gordon put a hat on the moose’s head that peered over the musty back room of a Williamsburg bar. It was the centerpiece of a crowded space, and Gordon knew, for some reason, that the trophy screwed onto the wall needed dressing up. He could neither confirm nor deny whether placing that headwear – branded with the badge of the Danish club he owns, Akademisk Boldklub (AB) – had any impact. But his team was down 1-0, and he was feeling superstitious.

Ten minutes later, they scored. Gordon glanced across the room, shrugged, and pointed at the cadaver that loomed over Mugs Bar – a cramped back room tucked inside an otherwise unremarkable watering hole on one of Williamsburg’s busiest streets. Seventy-five people were there that day, standing shoulder to shoulder. Most matchdays, they are wedged into that space, chanting in a room that barely contains them.

But on that Friday at noon, for the final game of the regular season before the Danish league takes a winter break, they spilled out of their usual corner and onto the main floor. The whole bar was devoted to Danish soccer. It was a scene typical of Mugs, which routinely hosts an ever-expanding group of New Yorkers who watch and, in 2022, invested in AB, a struggling third-division club at the time.

What started with five industry veterans and a few friends has become fully fledged American ownership in Danish soccer. At first, it was a tiny group. Now, there are more than 150 owners, all bought in at various price points. As sports ownership goes, it’s cheap. It’s fun. And for the dozens that routinely show up at an otherwise unremarkable bar, it’s a joyful way to interact with the beautiful game.

“It’s changed my view of sports,” Chairman Brian Grieco, a business lawyer based in New York, said. “I have more excitement now for the team that I’m involved in than any of the other teams ever before.”

There are hundreds of bars in New York. Many show soccer these days. Almost every English club has an affiliation somewhere. Spike Lee owns an Arsenal pub called Gooners. There are at least two dedicated solely to Liverpool. There are bars for teams in Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Argentina, and Brazil. Walk anywhere in New York, and the odds are there’s a screen showing soccer from somewhere in the world.

But Mugs is almost certainly the only bar dedicated to showing Danish third-division soccer. And it’s without question the only one where the people watching actually own the team. It’s not just about ownership – it’s about belonging, identity, and finding community through soccer.

• Andy Glockner
  

  ‘The best opportunity for us’

  The attendance was “above average,” Gordon remarked as he walked around the bar, exchanging greetings and smiles with every other person. Those gathered in the space took in quite the scene. In the corner, there were two kegs of beer. On the right, there were multiple television screens. And on the left, a massive projector displayed a remarkably high-quality stream of a midseason clash between AB and FC Helsingor – set up, very much legally, thanks to club ownership.

  This is a fairly average scene at Mugs when AB play, never mind the fact that it was a Friday afternoon kick off. In 2022, Five Castles Football Group LLC – named as such because two of the five founding members lived somewhat close to some real-life castles – started a hunt for a football club. They had some spare cash, time for investment, and a desire to expand their portfolios. And as they peered around Europe, it quickly became clear that Denmark was the right place to look.

  “When we looked at different countries there, you're looking at price point, you're looking at the affordability, you're looking at some of the rules in terms of contracts, work permits, that type of stuff. We just evaluated that we thought that this was, all in all, the best opportunity for us,” Andy Glockner, an original investor, told GOAL.

  AB, too, made perfect sense. The Danish third division was a unique place, especially at the time. Back then, it was a step above amateur soccer, but slow to professionalize. With shrewd investment, any club could be lifted up the standings. And AB were a fine one to go for. They had all of the right pieces: a stadium that seats just under 8,000 – and can fit another 5,000 standing – proximity to Copenhagen and a loyal fanbase that has supported the club since its inception in the late 1800s. But crucially, they also had a fine history. They have won nine first division titles, the fourth most ever.

  This was a team that had been mistreated, cast aside, and fallen on hard times. For fans, that was a point of frustration. For soccer nerds looking to get involved, it represented an immense opportunity. Still, they couldn’t do it alone. The original five decided, then, to reach out to friends. Gordon, of the moose and the hat, was one of them. He had some spare cash kicking around, and joined forces with dozens of others – all of whom put in stakes of various sizes – to become part owners of the club. In the winter of 2022, their takeover was finalized.

  This was community football, de facto fan investment, done from thousands of miles away.

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• Joe Gordon
  

  A wide-ranging crowd

  And they gather a few times per year at Mugs. On the Friday GOAL attended, the atmosphere was jovial. AB were hosting Helsingor, a struggling side who seemed on that unfortunate march towards relegation.

  The room was packed and full of green and white stripes. Kits were dotted throughout the crowd. Pints flowed from before kick-off. The youngest in the room were still infants, brought by their parents. Some were well into their 70s, part owners of the club in retirement. There were kids – let off early after a half day at school. Some owners and shirt sponsors were huddled nervously around a screen. A woman stood in the corner with a newborn. Her husband is an owner, but she still wanted to support.

  Some were there for the first time. Others haven’t missed a single game. Every single attendee wore a label with their name. They were encouraged to mingle. You could buy exclusive merch for a decent enough price (business, the sellers said, was pretty good).

  European football is known for its hardcore ultra culture, the sort of do-or-die, verging on intense fan who will give anything for their club. And certainly, there are some in the AB ownership collective who treat the team that way.

  “I’m pretty chill. I get excited, but if we win or lose. It's actually like it doesn't make my day, good or bad. I like it when we win, trust me, but I don't cry. There are some people you don't want to talk to,” Zach Smith, a board member who works primarily in sponsorship deals.

  But on Nov. 14, it was a family thing. Gordon played the main man, working the room. Yet there were loads of other familiar faces – young and old. And newcomers were welcome, too. The beer was free and provided by Carlsberg, which the club brought on as a front-of-shirt sponsor. The Danish beer brewer has been famously on the front of Liverpool kits for three decades, from 1992 to 2010.

  “It just goes to show that people are sort of in on this, you know what I'm saying? Like, Carlsberg is not putting their name on a club that they can't trust, that they think is going to be bad partners, that is going to be bad product,” Glockner added.

• AB
  

  'I grew up a 10-minute bike ride from the stadium'

  Troels Gadegaard Frølich’s tale is one of those magical stories that only football can bring.

  Two years ago, he moved to New York to work for the Danish Consulate General. There, he was introduced to Gordon, a quick hello between soccer fans. Gadegaard Frølich was unlikely to have heard of the club, Gordon assumed. After all, theirs was a third-tier team, which played outside of the city, in the suburbs. The stadium sat less than 10,000. In all likelihood, Gadegaard Frølich would support a Superliga club – likely FC Copenhagen.

  But Gadegaard Frølich knew it well. AB were, in fact, his boyhood club.

  “In Denmark, we measure distances in bike rides,” he said. “I grew up a 10-minute bike ride from the stadium.”

  He hadn’t engaged with the team in a while. They had fallen on hard times, slipping from the top division. He has a couple of Football Manager video game saves and follows from afar. But he couldn't watch the team in Denmark, where the games aren't streamed. And besides, there were other priorities.

  But after meeting the owners, he’s a regular at Mugs. He also now invests, too.

  “I'm pretty sure I'm, like, the smallest investor. I mean, I'm not sure if my money would buy me even, like, a couple of blades of grass, but it was like, when do I get the chance? If not now?” he said.

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• AB
  

  ‘Club of Nerds’

  Sponsors were a big focus on the day. Smith affectionately refers to AB as a “club of nerds.”

  And he has a point.

  AB were founded when two students studying in Copenhagen wanted to merge academics and sports. For a few years, in the late 1800s, AB only played cricket. But when English Football Association rules proliferated throughout Europe, the youngsters insisted on starting a team. They joined up with students from the Technical University of Denmark to form what is now AB in its footballing form.

  That academic heritage makes for a nice story. And it’s also something the club has leaned into.

  “AB stands for the academics. And it's really a nerd club. It started out of the university, like many clubs did in the late 1800s, and we've had this kind of history of entrepreneurs and scientists and whatnot related to our club. And so we were like, ‘Hey, let's figure out if we can build a nerd theme,’” Smith said.

  Smith has no real soccer background. He is a self-professed “soccer Dad” who has grown into the game through his kids. But he is also immensely successful in the tech space. He works for Datum, a tech startup that does networking for artificial intelligence. It was a fine excuse for him to get involved in soccer in a more official capacity. He kicked in some cash and brought his tech nous, and also utilized his industry connections to bring in sponsorship revenue.

  “Technology kind of permeates the world. It goes everywhere, but so do sports. And so it's been really fun to add this kind of nerd appeal,” Smith said.

  These days, the club has three tech sponsors on its jerseys. Those patches, along with the Carlsberg front of shirt sponsor, make for a unique vibe – but a strangely appropriate one. Beer and science? This is, after all, a university club.

Abrar Ahmed bamboozled South Africa with a career-best 4 for 27 to give Pakistan a series-clinching seven-wicket win in the third and final ODI. This was Pakistan’s third ODI series win in a row over South Africa.Batting first on a slow, low Faisalabad pitch, South Africa started strongly with Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius adding 72 for the first wicket. They were 106 for 2 at one point but Abrar dismantled them with three wickets in two overs. In the end, South Africa were bundled out for a mere 143 in 37.5 overs.Pakistan started the chase tentatively but Saim Ayub’s unbeaten 77 off 70 balls helped them reach the target with almost 25 overs to spare.Ayub, in the first innings, opened the bowling with Shaheen Shah Afridi. South Africa captain Matthew Breetzke had hoped for runs on the board in a big game but Pakistan set defensive fields and conceded only ten runs in the first four overs.Then, in the fifth, Afridi bowled a back-of-the-hand slower ball. De Kock spotted it early and lofted it over the bowler’s head for a four. Afridi went pace-on for the next ball, only to be drilled down the ground for another boundary.Haris Rauf, who returned to the side after serving a two-match ban, came into the attack in the seventh over and induced an outside edge of Pretorious’ bat. It would have been a regulation catch for first slip had there been one. Instead, the ball raced away for four. Pretorius rubbed it in by smashing Rauf for two more fours in the next three balls.The pair brought up their third successive fifty stand before Salman Agha had Pretorius caught at long-off for 39. Tony de Zorzi fell soon after, chipping Agha tamely to extra cover.Saim Ayub goes aerial•Associated Press

De Kock carried on and reached 7000 ODI runs. He became the second-fastest to the mark, behind countryman Hashim Amla, getting there in 158 innings. He brought up his fifty with a reverse-swept four off Mohammad Nawaz but was lbw two balls later when he tried to slog-sweep the spinner.Abrar ran through the middle order with a three-wicket burst. Debutant Rubin Hermann was the first to go, bowled after failing to pick the googly. Donovan Ferreira was next, bowled after missing a sweep and then having the ball clip the exposed leg stump. Corbin Bosch was bowled first ball, undone by the low bounce.There was no hat-trick for Abrar but he had Breetzke caught behind in his final over to hasten the end. South Africa’s lower order tried to resist but Afridi wrapped up the innings with two wickets in two balls.Pakistan did not have a smooth start to their chase as Nandre Burger dismissed Fakhar Zaman for a duck for the second successive game. Burger moved the ball both ways and it took Pakistan 14 balls to score their first run. Both Ayub and No. 3 Babar Azam were circumspect at the start. In fact, Ayub took ten balls to open his account.However, the wait was worth it. Burger bowled a length ball and Ayub drove on the up through covers for four. That opened the floodgates as Pakistan hit eight fours and two sixes in the next five overs. By the tenth over, the scoreboard was reading 59 for 1.Babar was run out for 27 when going for a third run, but Ayub was unstoppable. Although not always in control of his shots, Ayub did not hesitate playing them. He often took the aerial route, bringing up his fifty off just 39 balls. It paved the way for what turned out to be a comfortable win in the end.

Fans in attendance were greeted by a notably jovial Kohli and Rohit, both happy to sign autographs and take selfies

Tristan Lavalette16-Oct-20252:16

What to expect from Rohit, Kohli in this phase of their careers?

With Optus Stadium – a favourite site of his – providing a magnificent backdrop, Virat Kohli looked sharp in the Perth nets in his return to the India team after a lengthy break since the Champions Trophy.There was intrigue over who would take part in India’s optional training session on the first day of their limited-overs tour of Australia. Much to the delight of the sprinkling of fans outside the ground, Kohli and Rohit Sharma – the latter set to play without the captain’s armband and under Shubman Gill’s leadership – decided to dust off the cobwebs to mark their return to the national setup ahead of the first ODI against Australia on Sunday.Quicks Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh also took part, while KL Rahul was the only member of India’s Test team against West Indies to train. While most of the squad arrived in Perth in the early hours of Thursday, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj and the coaching staff were on a later flight.Related

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As always, all eyes were on Kohli who has not played since the IPL and is almost surely starting his final Australian tour. Kohli looked locked in as he went through catching drills with great intensity during India’s 20-minute session on the turf where just under a year ago he scored his final Test century.Kohli then spent 40 minutes in the nets and mostly faced back of a length bowling from Rana, Arshdeep and several local bowlers. There were a few uncomfortable moments, but Kohli looked generally at ease as he prepared for a likely lively surface in an ODI game set to be played amid damp conditions – a notable change from the sunshine that has greeted India in Perth.Kohli’s fluency impressed as he aimed to get himself inside the ball’s line with Rana, in particular, bowling with zip. Next to Kohli in the nets was his long-time teammate Rohit, who also has not played since the IPL and looked rusty to begin with. While the lovely sound of ball hitting the middle of Kohli’s bat reverberated, Rohit struggled with his timing and his footwork was sluggish. Like Kohli, he has not represented India since the Champions Trophy and is also only playing ODI cricket internationally.Virat Kohli’s final Test ton also came in Perth•Getty ImagesStaying in the nets a little longer than Kohli, Rohit started to grow in confidence as he thumped several blows into the netting. While Kohli and Rohit were getting in work, Rahul’s time in the nets was brief before trudging off alongside a few support staff.In a far cry from India’s Test preparation in Perth last November, where the WACA ground’s nets were completely covered by black shade cloth, there was a much more relaxed vibe to this training session.While fans were unable to watch their heroes last year – apart from a hardy few who climbed trees – those who attended this time around were greeted by a notably jovial Kohli and Rohit, who were both happy to sign autographs and take selfies.Kohli’s presence has notably heightened the build-up for this three-match ODI series, no doubt helping lift ticket sales with more than 50,000 fans expected at Optus Stadium.It kick-starts a massive Australian summer, with the Ashes starting in Perth on November 21. Apart from the peak summer period of December and January, it’s usually hard for cricket in Perth to compete with the obsessively followed Australian Football League (AFL) which continually eats into cricket season.But at least for this summer, there is a real sense of anticipation with India and, especially, England touring. However, there wasn’t much fanfare earlier in the day during Australia’s optional training session at Optus Stadium.Most of the squad took part, with quick Mitchell Starc a standout in the nets with his speed as he hustled the batters. It was generally a laid back atmosphere before the intensity of the big summer really kicks-in, with plenty of banter over golf evident between the Australian players.Former Test quick Jhye Richardson was an encouraging sight in the nets as he makes his way back following shoulder surgery earlier in the year. A return to the field is still a little way off for Richardson, who has endured a wretched injury run, but he looked in good physical condition although did not appear to bowl at top speed.India and Australia will have their main training sessions on Friday.

Ireland leave Bangladesh with a 2-0 Test series defeat but their 26-year-old allrounder has impressed with his batting ability

Mohammad Isam23-Nov-2025In the aftermath of their 217-run defeat to Bangladesh, Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie was still proud of the fight put up by Curtis Campher, Gavin Hoey and Jordan Neill on the fifth day in Dhaka.The visitors batted 59.3 overs on Sunday, holding Bangladesh up till almost the tea break, when Hasan Murad removed Hoey and Matthew Humphreys with successive deliveries. Nobody could remove Campher though. He made an unbeaten 71 having faced the greatest number of balls by an Ireland batter in the fourth innings of a Test match (259). Hoey was second on the list with 104.”[Curtis Campher] is someone that is hard to get out when he is in his bubble,” Balbirnie said. “He is very determined not to get out even when he is in the nets. He has such a strong defense, he showed that today.”Bangladesh were pushed to a little bit of an extreme, bowling 100 overs for the first time in the fourth innings at Shere Bangla National stadium. Campher played a big part in that.Related

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• Unassuming Taijul wears the crown of the best Bangladesh bowler

• Taijul and Murad star as Bangladesh break Ireland's resistance for 2-0 win

“If he puts his mind to it, he can do it,” Balbirnie said. “It is a shame that no one from the top and middle order could hang around for long enough. I think the batters showed fight today, to bat till just before tea on the fifth day. We were behind the game a lot. Bangladesh deserved to win the series 2-0.”Balbirnie also talked about Hoey and his recently-developed skillset as an allrounder: “I play with Gavin in club cricket in Dublin. I have known him since he was a kid. His dad was an Irish international in the 1990s. He was a legspinner as well. I think [Hoey] has only been bowling legspin since [Covid] lockdown, so it’s been five years. He was a seam bowler [earlier].Andy Balbirnie was candid about Ireland’s inability to bat for long periods•ECB/Getty Images

“So to have that skillset in this short time is really impressive. He will get better and better from experiences like this. We have to make sure that he gets enough overs under his belt. We need to have our spinners develop consistency so that we do well in these conditions.”Ireland had some hope of batting the day out and coming away with a draw. “[There were expectations] probably just before Murad took the two wickets,” Balbirnie said. “There was a small bit of excitement in the dressing room at that drinks break. Credit to the Bangladesh spinners. They don’t miss their line and length too often. They test batters a lot. The two wickets in two balls put an end to that [hope] pretty quickly. It was an enthralling day’s play. I think Curtis can be proud of his work today.”The fact that the Test match stretched to the fifth day was also a tribute to the type of pitch prepared for the encounter. “A lot of us had seen the West Indies ODI series. We were a bit nervous coming here,” Balbirnie said, referring to pitches that had, on one occasion, witnessed fifty overs of spin in the first innings. “When we arrived, we thought [the pitch] would break up quickly, but it held together. There was turn, but it wasn’t every ball. It was a good cricket wicket. I thought it was a pretty fair wicket. We had two good wickets over the two Tests.”Balbirnie was also candid about what Ireland hoped for from the series. “We had won three Tests in a row before coming here, so there was confidence in the group,” he said. “We had to manage our expectations. You are coming to places that have experienced cricketers.”We are trying to get that consistency. Our top-order didn’t fire for the last two games. Bangladesh’s top-order showed us how to do it – to bat for a long time and get big hundreds. [Their batting] was the big difference. We weren’t competitive against Bangladesh for longer periods. They showed their class over the nine days,” he said.

Tottenham have been given some encouragement over the prospect of signing a Brazil international as his agents work to find him a new club.

Tottenham targeting new attacker in January amid creativity issue

Thomas Frank faces mounting pressure at Tottenham just six months into his tenure, with serious questions surrounding the Dane’s future.

Spurs sit 11th in the table with just 19 points from 13 games, and their home record tells a catastrophic story.

With only one Premier League win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium all season, not to mention 10 home defeats this calendar year, they currently boast the joint-worst record in that regard in the club’s history.

Winless in five matches across all competitions, including losses to Arsenal, PSG and Fulham, their controversial 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Monday evening prevented a fourth straight defeat.

16. Burnley

2

1

4

7

-2

17. Nottingham Forest

2

1

4

7

-5

18. West Ham

2

0

5

6

-9

19. Tottenham

1

2

4

5

-1

20. Wolves

0

1

6

1

-11

Cristian Romero rescued Frank with a dramatic stoppage-time overhead kick. The Argentine scored twice at St James’ Park, his header and acrobatic finish earning a vital point, and his heroics seriously spared Frank’s blushes.

Dressing room unrest is reportedly growing, with reports suggesting players are confused by Frank’s constant tactical tinkering.

Fabrizio Romano shares Thomas Frank update amid mounting Tottenham pressure

The reliable journalist has some information.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 4, 2025

Summer signing Xavi Simons symbolises Frank’s struggles. The £55 million playmaker has started just six league games, relegated to the bench for crucial fixtures despite Spurs’ creative drought, and former defender Ramon Vega has accused Frank of “changing his mind every two seconds.”

Frank apparently retains board backing until at least new year, but improvement must arrive quickly.

January reinforcements remain crucial, with FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa heavily linked alongside Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, who has a tantalising £65 million release clause in his contract which will be active next month.

If Spurs cannot win the race for Semenyo amid interest from Man City, then RB Leizpig’s Yan Diomande is believed to be an alternative, with Sky Switzerland’s Sacha Tavolieri reporting they’ve already held advanced discussions on the player’s side.

Tottenham given Rodrygo boost as agents work on Real Madrid exit

Now, according to TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey, the north Londoners have been given a boost in their pursuit of Real Madrid star Rodrygo.

It is believed that Tottenham have emerged among the Premier League clubs that Rodrygo would consider joining, with his representatives actively working to secure a January departure from the Bernabeu.

The Brazilian has seen his situation deteriorate dramatically since Xabi Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti over the summer, becoming the most high-profile casualty.

Only four of his 15 appearances this season have exceeded 45 minutes, with Rodrygo regularly deployed as an impact substitute and falling behind Arda Güler in the pecking order.

Intermediaries representing the 24-year-old are working diligently to identify potential destinations, with Arsenal and Liverpool already engaged in discussions.

Rodrygo himself has made clear he would welcome moves to Man City, Man United, Chelsea or Tottenham too, though currently only Arsenal, Liverpool, City and Spurs are actively monitoring his availability.

Real value him between £70-79 million, and the Spanish giants ideally want to retain Rodrygo until the summer, when Nico Paz’s expected return will likely accelerate his departure.

It isn’t an easy deal to do by any means, with Spurs potentially needing to break their transfer record whilst fending off elite competition from their rivals.

However, there is little doubt this would be a statement move by the Lewis family as they look to usher in a new era post-Daniel Levy.

Virgil van Dijk hasn’t been at his best for Liverpool this season, but he’s still Virgil van Dijk.

This is one of the best defenders of his generation, and though he turned 34 in June, the Netherlands and Anfield skipper renewed his £350k-per-week contract at Liverpool until 2027, and more stable defensive foundations would bring the Dutchman back to his usual imperious level.

A mini-revival in recent weeks has eased the pressure on Arne Slot’s shoulders, but there’s no question that the Reds need to sign a centre-back.

Liverpool's plans to sign a centre-back

FSG thought they had completed the perfect summer transfer window, but FSG thought wrong. So many things haven’t gone to plan for Liverpool this season, and the failure to sign an elite centre-half is chief among them.

Sporting director Richard Hughes did, in fairness, fork out £27m to bring Giovanni Leoni to Anfield. But the talented Italian, only 18, ruptured his ACL against Southampton on his debut, and we will not see him back on the grass for some time yet.

With Van Dijk getting on a bit and Ibrahima Konate having plummeted to the nadir of his career form, so many error-strewn and unconvincing performances, the Merseysiders surely need to sign a defender, with depth proving a massive issue for Slot.

According to TEAMtalk, that man might yet be Marc Guehi, who came within a whisker of joining Liverpool last summer, a deal falling through at the eleventh hour on deadline day.

Despite that, the central defender is still ‘hopeful’ of living out his childhood dream of playing for Liverpool, according to the report. He is said to be ‘very keen’ on a move to Anfield.

The England international has been immense this season, as he was last year, and while he is set to leave Selhurst Park on a free transfer at the end of the season, chairman Steve Parish would allow him to leave for a not-so-small fee of £35m in January.

Why Guehi could usurp Van Dijk as Liverpool captain

In short, stability and dynamism in defence, two areas in which the Reds have been decidedly lacking this season. Guehi is not only a “monster in defence”, as he has been described by Crystal Palace correspondent Bobby Manzi, but an intelligent, calculated player, instrumental in the build-up.

In the Premier League this season, there have been few better. Guehi has played 14 of the Eagles’ 15 fixtures, missing out once due to injury, and he has captained Oliver Glasner’s squad on each of those occasions.

Could we be looking at the man who will take the armband from Liverpool’s titanic captain? For sure, Guehi has what it takes to steal Konate’s starting berth from him, so far removed from the Frenchman’s abject performances.

Matches (starts)

14 (14)

15 (15)

Goals + assists

2 + 2

0 + 0

Clean sheets

6

2

Touches*

65.4

74.3

Accurate passes*

44.9 (86%)

54.7 (90%)

Chances created*

0.6

0.3

Recoveries*

4.0

2.7

Tackles + interceptions*

3.0

2.1

Clearances*

5.1

6.1

Duels (won)*

5.9 (67%)

6.3 (66%)

Errors

1

4

Guehi rarely makes a mistake. He is calm and composed, and composure and calmness have been in short supply across Liverpool’s backline this season.

Moreover, he would help fix Liverpool’s struggles in the build-up. Losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid was always going to force a rewiring of passing patterns, and Konate has been left exposed.

Guehi, however, ranks among the top 8% of Premier League defenders this season for progressive passes, the top 6% for shot-creating actions and the top 10% for tackles won per 90, as well as the top 8% for aerial duel success rate.

This is a complete defender at the top of their game, and with his prime years still in front of him, such an inspiring leader must be brought over to Anfield. Second time lucky? Liverpool could certainly do with a centre-back who has what it takes to grab the baton from Van Dijk.

He'd revive Isak: "Unstoppable" PL star decides he wants to join Liverpool

Liverpool could be edging closer to a marquee January move…

ByRobbie Walls 2 days ago

Further work required, particularly at senior leadership levels, according to Sport Structures report

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2025

The ECB has work to do, according to a new report on equity and inclusion, but has made progress•PA Images/Getty

A new independent assessment of cricket in England and Wales says that “genuine progress” has been made in the sport’s bid to address its long-standing issues of inclusion and equity – but adds that further work is needed in several areas, including at senior leadership level.The State of Equity in Cricket Report, published by Sport Structures, had been commissioned by the ECB as a follow-up to the damning 2023 report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), which found that racism, classism, sexism and elitism were “widespread” in the sport.That original report had concluded with 44 recommendations to the ECB, one of which was to publish a “full State of Equity Report every three years”. This latest document, 53 pages long, has been delivered a year ahead of schedule, with Richard Gould, the ECB chief executive, stating that it was intended to “hold us to account” as cricket seeks to become the most inclusive team sport in England and Wales.”Cricket is not yet where it aspires to be, but the tone has changed,” Kate Percival, Sport Structures’ CEO, said in a statement. “Inclusion is now seen as central to the game’s health and future.”The report outlined several “notable areas of progress”, including improved access to talent pathways, and a doubling of the number of women’s and girl’s teams since 2021, backed up by significant increases in the number of professional women’s players and their pay.The establishment of a new independent Cricket Regulator, ring-fenced from the rest of the ECB, was also noted in the report, along with a £50 million investment in facilities since 2023, particularly in urban areas including two all-weather cricket domes in Bradford and Darwen.However, despite improved representation at board level – with female non-executives at 37% compared to 11% in 2019, and 18% ethnically diverse non-executives compared to 5% in 2019 – the report stated that “further action” was required at senior level, with a particular lack of Black representation.Dame Sarah Storey is the only female chair at a first-class county•Lancashire CCC

Dame Sarah Storey, who is currently interim chair at Lancashire, remains the only female chair at any of the 18 first-class counties, while the resignation of Essex chair Anu Mohindru – who was found to have lied on his CV – means the ethnic diversity among county chairs and chief executives remains at 6%.Coaching course data showed that more diversity is required in the Specialist programme which feeds the professional game, while Disability cricket requires “deeper integration” within county and club systems. The recreational game, meanwhile, requires further “capacity and expertise” to deal with discrimination issues, although a newly-formed Recreational Discipline Panel of independent experts is in place to hear the most serious and complex cases.”The State of Equity in Cricket Report holds us to account in relation to our ambitions to become the most inclusive team sport,” Gould said. “It shows us some areas of excellent work and progress, as well as where we need to go further.”The extensive work to open up the talent pathway to young people from every background is a great example of the changes that can be made when cricketing organisations join forces to break down barriers and deliver systemic change.”We know there is still a great deal of work to do, and a number of areas where more action is needed to address structural issues. We said from the start there could be no quick fix, but we committed to delivering meaningful and lasting change, and that will remain our absolute focus in the months and years ahead as we build on the progress we are setting out today.”