After his public spat with Atalanta manager Ivan Juric, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly ready to accelerate their move to sign Ademola Lookman in 2026.

It comes as no surprise that those in North London have identified an attacking target. Thomas Frank’s side have lacked conviction at times this season, with their striker problem recently made worse by Randal Kolo Muani’s injury. Despite initial news indicating that his injury is not serious, reports are now claiming that the Frenchman has suffered a fractured jaw.

The injury comes at a frustrating time for the forward, who is yet to score a goal for Tottenham in a difficult run of form. Even in the middle of that form, however, Frank could do with having Kolo Muani available.

With Dominic Solanke still sidelined, the Dane has just Richarlison and academy graduate Dane Scarlett to call on against Arsenal in his first official North London derby in charge of Tottenham.

It’s an attacking problem that Spurs know they must address and club chiefs have already reportedly set their sights on Rodrygo to do exactly that. The Real Madrid star has an uncertain future in Spain after falling out of favour under Xabi Alonso and Spurs are reportedly willing to spend as much as £70m to secure his signature as a result.

There’s no doubt that the Brazilian would be a statement signing as one of the best wingers in the world, but he may not be the only one that the Lilywhites pursue in 2026.

In an attacking overhaul, those in North London have also set their sights on Lookman and are reportedly ready to step things up in the race for his arrival.

Tottenham ready to accelerate Lookman move

As reported by TuttoJuve, Tottenham are now ready to accelerate their move to sign Lookman in 2026 with the talented forward desperate to move on from the Italian club.

Related Spurs must sell £22m dud who's one of "the worst players at a big six club"

Tottenham need to make some changes in 2026.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Nov 10, 2025

The former Fulham ace was denied a move away in the summer, despite handing in a transfer request, and has since fallen out with manager Juric and removed Atalanta from his Twitter bio. Ever since he was denied a summer switch, an exit has simply looked inevitable.

As the saga continues, it’s Spurs who are attempting to take full advantage to welcome the Nigerian back to the Premier League. Although the Lilywhites won’t be the only club in the race, the fact that Lookman is represented by the same agency as Mohammed Kudus could provide them with an unexpected advantage in any negotiations.

It’s certainly a transfer race that would be worth winning, too. Before their recent disagreement, Juric went as far as to describe Lookman as “spectacular” and there’s little doubt that he’s still Atalanta’s most important player.

Forget Spence: Frank has a future superstar who can end Porro's Spurs career

Juggling formats with a growing list of injured players is South Africa’s concern, but Pakistan are on a high in ODIs and have their best side to pick from

Firdose Moonda16-Dec-2024Temba Bavuma will not play the first fixture of South Africa’s three-ODI series against Pakistan as he manages his workload ahead of two crucial Tests over the festive season. Aiden Markram will captain the team for the ODI opener in Paarl, with Bavuma set to return later in the series.Though these matches are the first and last South Africa will have with their strongest available squad before the Champions Trophy, they will have the challenge of juggling between preparation for the big event and ensuring their Test players are kept fresh. Eight of the ODI squad – Bavuma, Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada – were involved in the 2-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka and are expected to play against Pakistan as well.South Africa will be concerned about their quick bowlers in particular because they already have four on the sidelines and cannot risk one of Rabada and Jansen joining them. Wiaan Mulder (broken finger) is in a race against time to be fit for Boxing Day while Lungi Ngidi (hip injury) and Gerald Coetzee (groin niggle) are out until January, and Nandre Burger (lower back stress fracture) is out for the season. Anrich Nortje, who may have been considered for the ODIs to relieve Rabada and/or Jansen, is out with a broken toe and has also opted out of red-ball cricket for now as he works his way back from a series of injuries.Related

• Temba Bavuma's summer of self-fulfillment

• Kagiso Rabada, too unplayable for his own good

Bavuma acknowledged that South Africa find themselves in a “tricky” position, knowing that the Tests are the priority of the summer. They need one more win to guarantee a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. At the same time, they need to finalise their Champions Trophy combination, especially since they will not have a full-strength side available for the tri-series in Pakistan (with New Zealand) that precedes the tournament. That takes place in the latter stages of the SA20.”Not everyone that we’d normally call upon is around because of injuries,” Bavuma said in Paarl where the first ODI will be played on Tuesday. “We’ve got bowlers within the squad so we’d like to be in a position where we can give guys those opportunities, rest certain guys and give other guys opportunities. We’ll try to balance it out as best as we can.”Apart from Rabada and Jansen, South Africa have seam-bowling allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo, variation specialist Ottneil Baartman, and 18-year-old left arm tearaway Kwena Maphaka available for the ODIs. Maphaka, who was called into the squad against Sri Lanka when Mulder was injured, was particularly impressive with his pace and could also be considered for the Pakistan Tests.If the bowling concerns were not enough, South Africa are also waiting on the results of David Miller’s fitness test after he injured his calf ahead of the third ODI. If he is unavailable, it may give South Africa an opportunity to trial what they will do if Miller has to miss parts of the Champions Trophy. That is a possibility as he and his Camilla await the birth of their first child, due in February.South Africa’s also have a few other things to consider as their top order will be without Reeza Hendricks, who was dropped and then scored a T20I hundred, or Quinton de Kock, who has retired from ODIs. Bavuma, de Zorzi and Rickelton will likely share the opening duties, with Stubbs, Miller (if fit), Heinrich Klaasen and an allrounder making up the middle order.Pakistan go into the contest on the back of consecutive come-from-behind series wins•Getty Images

Pakistan get into their favourite format

While South Africa have some problem-solving to do, Pakistan will be looking to get some stability going after a period of intense upheaval.They would have been looking forward to touring South Africa with Gary Kirsten in charge and the inside knowledge that would have given them, but those hopes ended in late October when he resigned. They have since been on a roundabout of coaching and administrative changes – Jason Gillespie is gone now, too – but their results have trended well.Pakistan go into the contest on the back of consecutive come-from-behind series wins in Zimbabwe and, more impressively, Australia. While they rested Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi Naseem Shah and some of their other senior players for the series against Zimbabwe, they have got their full-strength squad back for these ODIs.They will look to repeat the template that worked wonders in Australia. In that series, they went into each game with just four fast bowlers and no specialist spinner, effectively banking on pace to wrap the opposition innings up inside 40 overs. It worked a charm, with no Australia innings lasting longer than 35 overs, and Australia bowled out in each of the last two games as Pakistan sealed a series win. If their quicks are in similarly lethal form, they will sniff an opportunity to do that again in South Africa against a batting unit that will not have their in-form captain to call upon. However, they will be mindful the first two venues are Paarl and Cape Town, where spinners tend to do well, and so may need a rethink.It is also the last bilateral series Pakistan will play ahead of the Champions Trophy they host early next year, with only the short triangular series to go before that tournament begins. But Pakistan have got their weakest format out of the way, and they now begin a series in their strongest, which can only be good for them.

Southampton have been urged to appoint a 52-year-old manager instead of giving interim boss Tonda Eckert the job on a full-time basis.

Southampton on course to appoint Eckert on a permanent basis

The Saints are preparing for a return to Championship action this weekend and look set to be under the leadership of caretaker manager Eckert once again.

The 32-year-old has won both of his matches as interim boss so far, defeating QPR and Sheffield Wednesday to take Southampton away from any relegation trouble.

A trip to Charlton Athletic is next on the agenda for Eckert, and recent reports have suggested that he is set to be given the Southampton job on a permanent basis.

Following the sacking of Will Still at the beginning of the month, a plethora of available and in work managers have been linked with the job. However, Sport Republic are yet to appoint a permanent successor.

Eckert appears to be in pole position after his start to life at St Mary’s with the first team, and he has impressed Finn Azaz, who said:

“Since his first meeting, I was really impressed. It hasn’t been drastic changes. He’s been able to watch from outside and tweak a few things. He has been able to instil his message and new energy and his drive and a new voice. As I say, it hasn’t been drastic changes.

“We are playing in the same shape almost. We went out there with similar personnel, [there were] just a few tweaks. I would like to thank him. He’s been top level.”

However, Southampton and Sport Republic have been urged to consider another rumoured target.

Southampton urged to move for Brendan Rodgers

Talking to Football League World, Southampton pundit Martin Sanders urged the Saints to appoint Brendan Rodgers.

Now out of work after leaving Celtic, Rodgers was linked with the St Mary’s vacancy at the beginning of November, although it doesn’t seem as if Sport Republic have made a move for the Northern Irishman who they admire.

Sanders said that Rodgers “ticks every box” and a move would “show real ambition”.

Rodgers has previous Championship experience with Swansea City, winning the playoffs with the south Wales side in 2011, and almost 15 years later, a return to the second tier could be what a number of Southampton fans would welcome.

Southampton can end Eckert experiment by hiring "insanely talented" manager

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has won his first three Scottish Premiership matches in charge of the club, after Russell Martin failed to string back-to-back wins together.

The Gers beat Dundee 3-0 at Dens Park on Sunday in the last game before the international break, and there was a first league goal for winger Djeidi Gassama.

He cut in from the left wing to curl a brilliant finish into the far corner, as show in the clip above, after he had failed to score in his first ten appearances in the division after his move from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer.

Gassama has now scored six goals in all competitions for the Light Blues, having scored four goals in the Champions League qualifiers and one in th Europa League, per Transfermarkt, after a £2.2m move from the Owls.

The French winger will be hoping that his goal against Dundee will be a platform to build from for the rest of the season, as he looks to provide consistent quality at the top end of the pitch on the left flank.

Rangers will also be hoping that is the case so that they can mark him down as another successful attacking signing, of which there have been a few in recent seasons.

Ranking Rangers biggest talents since they last won the Premiership

Since the Gers won the Premiership title under Steven Gerrard in the 2020/21 campaign, the Scottish giants have not had too much success on the pitch or with managers.

A couple of domestic cup wins has not been enough to see continuity in the dugout, which is a cause for concern, but the Light Blues have had some exciting players to watch in the last few years.

It is hard to look past Vaclav Cerny and Hamza Igamane as being two of the biggest talents at the club since the last league win. Cerny provided 18 goals and nine assists in all competitions, whilst the Morocco international managed 16 goals and three assists.

Calvin Bassey, who was sold to Ajax for £19.6m, also has to be up there because he is the club’s most expensive sale of all time, and is currently playing consistently in the Premier League with Fulham.

Arguably the biggest talent Rangers have had since they last won the league, though, is attacking midfielder Malik Tillman, who was on loan from Bayern Munich in the 2023/24 campaign.

The USA international provided 12 goals and five assists in all competitions for the club during his loan spell, per Transfermarkt, and provided many moments of quality for the supporters to enjoy.

On top of his excellent performances for Rangers, Tillman has gone on to enjoy a successful career away from Ibrox. He currently plays for German giants Bayer Leverkusen and is valued at £30m by Transfermarkt, which is more than any other player on that list.

It is, therefore, hard to argue against the goalscoring midfielder being the biggest talent Rangers have had since they last won the league, because he is currently the most valuable former or current Gers player, per Transfermarkt, from then to now.

Whilst Gassama will be hoping to follow in Tillman’s footsteps in the months and seasons to come, there is another Gers star who could be the club’s biggest talent since the American.

Chalkboard

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

Mikey Moore has not had the perfect start to his career at Ibrox, since signing on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, but recent performances suggest that he is turning a corner.

Why Mikey Moore could be the biggest Rangers talent since Malik Tillman

The England youth international failed to provide a goal or an assist for Russell Martin in five Premiership appearances, in what was a very difficult opening couple of months for him at the club.

Since Martin’s exit, though, Moore has scored one goal and provided one assist in four appearances in the division, matching Gassama’s tally from 11 league outings this season, per Sofascore.

Like the French forward, the Spurs loanee scored his first goal for the club in the 3-0 win at Dens Park on Sunday, as he picked up the ball in a central position and finished brilliantly into the bottom corner.

The 18-year-old starlet is still learning and developing each week as he gains vital first-team experience, and it is showing in his improved performances on the pitch, with two goal contributions in the last four league matches after none in the first five.

Moore is getting better each week, as evidenced by his improved form in front of goal, and that is an exciting prospect when you consider his form for Spurs at academy level.

The English forward scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists in 24 matches at U18 level for the Premier League side, per Transfermarkt, which shows the kind of output that he has the potential to offer if he can get to his very best.

Moore, who Como scout Ben Mattinson claimed has “superstar potential”, could develop into a brilliant forward for Rangers if he can add the consistency that was shown in his performances at academy level, after finally getting off the mark in the Premiership on Sunday.

As you can see in the table above, the Spurs loanee is currently the most valuable player in the Rangers squad, at £14m, and that is whilst he is also the youngest player in the team.

At the age of 18, Moore has so much time left ahead of him to progress and develop, and he is already showing signs of growth in his performances for the Gers.

Rangers launch first enquiry to sign versatile defender who dominated Chermiti

The Gers desperately need reinforcements.

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 7, 2025

That is why the English winger could be the club’s biggest talent since Tillman because he is a future “superstar” who could go on to be worth as much, if not more, than the American star.

The England and GT batter’s power game stems from his supreme game awareness

Alagappan Muthu19-Apr-202510:24

Boucher: Buttler’s takedown of Starc sealed it for GT

A very important thing happened in the third over of the Gujarat Titans (GT) innings in IPL 2025 on Saturday. Jos Buttler missed the scoop.There is inherent risk in this shot. Its success depends on taking the number one rule of bating and throwing it out the window, because to pull it off, you need to give up the stumps and use less than the full face of the blade.Yet, the scoop is Buttler’s go-to shot. When he got hit in the gut by Mitchell Starc, and lay flat on the ground, winded, he already knew what he was going to do next ball. He kicked himself off-balance with his back leg so that he would be position to scoop.Related

Sai Kishore bowling just one over baffles experts

Buttler bosses the chase to power GT to No. 1

And when he plays it, he means for the ball to hit bat. He is never looking for power. Having opened himself up to trouble – giving up his stumps, giving up his balance – all he wants from this point on is to bring the odds back in his favour. That’s why he only ever focuses on making contact.The other thing he makes sure to do is stay on his feet. The scoop requires premeditation. The bowler almost always knows what you’re trying to do before he has to release the ball, so he can adjust his length. Buttler has thought of all this. In a masterclass for six years ago, he said, “That’s the other reason I quite like doing it in this way. You dug one in there and because I’m still upright, I can manage to [motions the ball hitting his bat and going over his shoulder] almost help it away. So, I feel like here I’ve got a chance with the varying different deliveries.”When Buttler began playing his cricket, the people who were accessing the area behind the wicket often did so by going down on their knees – Tillakaratne Dilshan, Brendon McCullum, AB de Villiers. These are all great players and all of them had great success playing this shot. Buttler could easily have adopted the same methods, but he didn’t. He was clever enough to spot a flaw and then come up with a solution for it.

“Buttler’s scoop sets him apart, and not just as a 360-degree batter but as a critical thinker, a problem solver, a smarty pants”

Buttler’s scoop sets him apart, and not just as a 360-degree batter but as a critical thinker. A problem solver. A smarty pants. Here, when he missed his signature shot, he understood that the Ahmedabad pitch didn’t have enough pace. That was crucial information. It helped him focus his strength – which wasn’t in ample supply given he had fielded for 20 overs in 40-degree heat. He cramped up the tenth ball he faced. Still sent it for six, though. Buttler was the fourth-oldest player on the park on Saturday. The oldest had to leave the field for dehydration.”It kind of takes you by surprise actually, how much fluids you need or how draining it is,” Buttler said. “I certainly felt that batting. But it’s obviously part of the game. You’ve got to be fit and to be able to perform under pressure and in the heat.”ESPNcricinfo LtdFor the better part of four hours, Buttler was exposed to the kind of weather that makes it impossible to think about anything else. And yet that’s what he did. Think. He made 97 off 54 deliveries as GT chased 200-plus for the first time in the IPL. He found ways to combat spin – saw off Kuldeep Yadav (12 off 12, with one four) but pounced on Vipraj Nigam (29 off 14, with one four and three sixes). And he dismantled Starc.The DC fast bowler trusts his yorker. It pushed a game his team should have lost into a Super Over and he won it for them. So, he went for them again, except Buttler is built different. He understands the value of ball hitting bat.Starc was coming around the wicket. Four of his five deep fielders were on the leg side. Buttler knew all he had to do was pierce the ring on the off side. He didn’t need power for that. He didn’t need any of his tricks. He just had to plant an open face down on the ball and let Starc’s own pace work against him.The second ball of the 15th over – which went for 20 runs – was the epitome of Boss Buttler. He isn’t about aesthetics or technique or right or wrong. He just does whatever necessary to find a gap.

Breaking into Didier Deschamps' France squad is one of the toughest tasks in international football, but Tottenham’s Wilson Odobert is rapidly forcing his way into the conversation. After battling through injuries, thriving under Thomas Frank, and emerging as a decisive presence for Spurs and France’s U21s, the 20-year-old winger is now reportedly on Deschamps' radar and the timing may finally be on his side.

• Deschamps planning to call-up Spurs winger Wilson Odobert

  A place in France’s senior squad is notoriously difficult to secure. Deschamps has always strive to have a balanced squad merging the team with new talent while maintaining loyalty to trusted figures like Randal Kolo Muani, Adrien Rabiot, and Lucas Hernandez, players he has selected consistently despite their patchy club form.

  With Les Bleus already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, the competition only intensifies. According to L'Equipe, several players outside the current set-up believe they can force a late surge, but very few catch Deschamps’ attention. One who has is 20-year-old Odobert, now seen as an emerging contender thanks to his strong start to the season at Tottenham and sharp progression with France’s U21s.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Odobert's Spurs breakthrough: From injury setback to key performer

  Odobert’s debut season at Tottenham was turbulent but promising. After joining from Burnley in August 2024, a severe hamstring injury sidelined him for months, restricting him to 21 appearances. Still, he produced standout moments, most notably his Europa League brace against AZ, a decisive performance that helped Spurs overturn a deficit and eventually win the trophy in Bilbao.

  This season marks a turning point. Injury-free and gaining rhythm, he has accumulated 679 minutes, scoring and assisting in recent matches. Coach Frank has stabilised Spurs' left wing by placing trust in Odobert, praising him for “stepping up” and delivering in key moments.

  Odobert has embraced the tactical shifts under Frank, calling the system “top-notch” and highlighting the importance of patience and hard work. His mindset reflects maturity:

  “If you look closely at our performances, we’ve been close even in the home losses. It’s about patience, hard work, and letting time take its course.”

  The youngster recently earned the player of the match award for his performance against Manchester United helping the team clinch a 2-2 draw. Odobert’s ability to take on defenders, create opportunities, and remain effective under pressure showcased why he has become such a clutch player for manager Frank this season.

• Why Deschamps is looking into Odobert's profile

  Deschamps’ interest in Odobert aligns with both timing and profile. France’s attacking department is increasingly competitive, with recent call-ups Maghnes Akliouche and Rayan Cherki showing how quickly the hierarchy can shift. Yet Odobert offers something distinct herald by his direct wing play, verticality, and calmness in high-pressure moments, traits Deschamps values.

  His 15 U21 appearances with five goals show consistent development, and his Premier League adaptation displays resilience after adversity. Deschamps has always appreciated players who overcome setbacks, evolve, and stay mentally strong. Odobert fits that mould perfectly.

  With France seeking renewed attacking depth ahead of the World Cup, Odobert’s rising form gives Deschamps a compelling reason to hand him his first senior call-up, potentially opening the door to World Cup 2026 if he continues his ascent.

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  Odobert's time to shine for Les Blues

  If Deschamps decides to include him, the timing could not be better for Odobert. He is fit, trusted by Frank, consistently performing, and mentally ready. A senior call-up now offers him exposure to elite international rhythm and a chance to impress before squad decisions tighten.

  Tt is a strategic investment for Les Blues to include a winger who brings freshness, work ethic, and versatility. For Odobert, it is the opportunity he has been preparing for, to translate Premier League progress into international impact and position himself as a long-term attacking option for Les Bleus. If his upward trajectory continues, Odobert could become one of the surprise breakthrough names in Deschamps’ next squad.

The match referee at the centre of the handshake row has been entrusted with the Super Fours game on Sunday

Shashank Kishore20-Sep-2025Andy Pycroft, who was at the centre of the handshake row when India and Pakistan met on September 14 at the Asia Cup, will be the match referee for the Super Fours fixture between the two teams in Dubai on Sunday as well.The PCB had sought Pycroft’s “immediate removal” after he had requested the captains Salman Agha and Suryakumar Yadav not to shake hands during the toss of the September 14 game. Pycroft stayed, and the row spilled over into Pakistan’s next game, against UAE. After they cancelled a pre-match press conference, Pakistan didn’t arrive on schedule for the match, which had to be pushed back by an hour, as they conducted backroom talks with the ICC.It wasn’t until a late meeting between Pycroft and the Pakistan team management just prior to toss – which snowballed into another controversy – that Pakistan agreed to take the field.Related

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Pycroft givenbarely any notice ahead of handshake-gate

It is in this backdrop that India and Pakistan square off again at the Dubai International Stadium, and Suryakumar made it clear that his team’s focus was on the game and nothing else.”I feel our preparations have been really good leading into the tournament. And we had three good games also,” Suryakumar said on Saturday. “So we are actually focusing on what we can do best. We want to follow all the good habits, which we’ve been doing in the last two-three games. And we’ll take it one game at a time.”But yeah, it doesn’t give us an edge because we played them once and we had a good game. Of course, it will be a good game. We’ll have to start well from scratch. And whoever plays well will win the game.”Having wrapped up their group fixture against Oman on Friday night and having travelled back to Dubai in the wee hours, India will have an optional training session on Saturday. Pakistan, meanwhile, are slated to have a full training session at the ICC Academy in the lead up to Sunday’s match.

Abject. It is, painfully, an accurate way of summing up Liverpool’s form this season. The Premier League champions will not retain their belt, not like this, not with such deep tactical cracks and incoherent players and non-existent belief in Arne Slot’s plan.

The most concerning part of the recent 3-0 defeat in Manchester against Pep Guardiola’s resurgent outfit is that Liverpool were outplayed across the park. Be it physical, mental or tactical metrics, Manchester City shone, and the Reds were blinded by their opponent’s superiority.

Jeremy Doku stood out, darting this way and that, scoring a stunning goal in the second half after breaking away from Ibrahima Konate. The Belgian winger completed seven of eight dribble attempts and created three chances, as per Sofascore.

Liverpool have got so many problems, and the recent wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid provided only the veneer of a revival as City hit the Merseside club with a sobering reality check.

Among Slot’s biggest concerns is the enduring slump of Mohamed Salah. For so many years, the Egyptian has been an unstoppable force for Liverpool, but, aged 33 and at the front of a sinking ship, he is struggling to recover more than a flicker of his former greatness.

Mohamed Salah is becoming a problem

Will we see the best of Salah in a Liverpool shirt again? There’s every chance that the right winger expended incredible amounts of mental and physical energy driving his club to the league title last season, and across all competitions, he scored 34 goals and supplied 23 assists.

Almost three months into the new campaign, Slot’s second in the dugout, Salah has recorded eight goal involvements, but his general play and the accuracy of his shooting have paled in comparison to the many years behind him. Salah is not himself.

This is a worry, to be sure. Not just because Liverpool are playing without their talisman in his groove, but because Slot has shown a hesitance toward unleashing Federico Chiesa right from the start of last season, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change any time soon.

How much longer can it go on like this? Man City reduced Liverpool’s superstar to half-chances and a role within the defensive press. How many times has Salah picked Pep apart? How often has he been the leading light against this arch-rival of modern times?

Premier League

19

9 (6)

Champions League

2

2 (1)

Community Shield

2

1 (1)

FA Cup

2

0 (0)

Carabao Cup

1

1 (0)

There is, of course, the caveat to all this that Salah would be far better placed in a system of greater fluency. This has been anything but the case for the Anfield side this season.

But Father Time is not on the Premier League legend’s side, and, having penned a new two-year extension worth £400k per week in April, Salah has around 18 months to show that FSG have received more than bang for their buck one final time.

But there’s a very real possibility that Salah is past his prime, and that Liverpool need to find a successor.

An onerous task if ever there was one. However, Liverpool actually have a Kirkby prospect who has what it takes to swipe the icon’s shirt.

The Liverpool teen who can take Salah's #11

Slot needs to find a solution to Liverpool’s current woes, but let’s all take a breather, just for a moment. Liverpool have so much talent. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz will come good. But, more excitingly, there’s a wealth of teenage talent soon to be at Slot’s disposal, with one prospect a cut above the rest.

Rio Ngumoha knew he was headed to the upper crust of the Premier League, and a youth system that has shown itself since Jurgen Klopp came along to be a hothouse for those immensely gifted young stars.

Chelsea’s loss was Liverpool’s gain. Ngumoha was poached from Cobham in 2024 and made his professional debut against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup midway through his maiden year on Merseyside.

A left-sided winger with incredible speed and dribbling, the 17-year-old Ngumoha has the potential to become a superstar at Liverpool, with his physical, athletic and fierce playing style offering shades of that man Doku, Anfield villain last weekend.

You could say Ngumoha is preternaturally talented. After all, journalist Kieran Gill is among those to have singled him out as a “generational talent”, and he certainly illustrated his potential with an incredible strike on his Premier League debut, netting the winner against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park in August.

Since then, he has featured sporadically for the Redmen, playing seven games in all competitions but only starting in the Carabao Cup, among that youthful group who were brushed aside by Crystal Palace last month.

Ngumoha’s time will come. He is so fast, so sure of himself when on the ball. He is among the youngest goalscorers in Premier League history, and that goal is sure to be the first of many.

1

James Vaughan

16 yrs, 8 months, 27 days

2

James Milner

16 yrs, 11 months, 22 days

3

Wayne Rooney

16 yrs, 11 months, 25 days

4

Rio Ngumoha

16 yrs, 11 months, 26 days

5

Cesc Fabregas

17 yrs, 3 months, 21 days

Time must be afforded to one so young. Take Doku. Criticised often at Man City for being endowed with such ferocity and fleet-footedness, but lacking end product and elite decision-making.

Doku is only 23, and his performance against Slot’s beleaguered lot last weekend was the display of a winger reaching new levels of maturity and technical understanding.

Ngumoha will only get better and better as the years go on, and while he can contribute this season, these foundational years could see him bloom at the end of next term, when Salah supposedly leaves, and he could take his shirt, stepping up as Liverpool’s new wide talisman.

Can Nghumoha reach those heights, take that #11 from Salah himself? You’ll have to stay tuned. But Ngumoha will make it easy to do that. Watching him play football is a treat, and he has the capacity to not just emulate a stylistic peer like Doku but become one of the very best in world football.

More than Wirtz: £36m Liverpool star is becoming a "serious issue" for Slot

Liverpool were condemned to a fifth defeat in six Premier League matches at the Etihad.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 10, 2025

Head coach says there is “no mental block against India” after defeat meant Sri Lanka lost all three games in Super Fours

Shashank Kishore27-Sep-20252:04

Maharoof: Nissanka had answers for every bowler

Head coach Sanath Jayasuriya couldn’t believe Sri Lanka had bottled yet another last over against India in their Asia Cup Super Fours game in Dubai.Their loss instantly brought back memories from July 2024, when they squandered what should have been a straightforward chase against India. On that scarcely believable night in Pallekele, Sri Lanka needed just nine runs from two overs with six wickets in hand. Yet, they stumbled against the bowling of Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav as the game went into a Super Over, where they managed just one run, which Suryakumar took one delivery to score.On Friday, Sri Lanka needed 12 runs to win in the last over with six wickets remaining and centurion Pathum Nissanka on strike. But he fell immediately and when Dasun Shanaka hit the last ball towards wide long-on with Sri Lanka needing three to win, there was a chance of closing out the game in regulation time. Except, Shanaka sprawled a full-length dive to complete the second run to level the scores, anticipating the throw to be fired at his end, completely unaware that Kuldeep Yadav had misfielded and that there could have been a chance for a third. It meant the game was to be decided in the Super Over, where Sri Lanka stumbled again.Related

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“I would’ve preferred to finish games in normal time,” Jayasuriya said at the post-match press conference. “No captain or coach wants to go to a Super Over. Unfortunately, Dasun missed completing the third run. But no, there’s no mental block against India. Our batting line-up is strong, and we’ve given them confidence. Chasing 200 (203) is never easy, but we almost did it, which shows the quality we have.”There is no doubting Sri Lanka’s class or quality, and few embody it better than Nissanka. Having first broken through as a Test batter in 2021, he has since blossomed into a formidable white-ball player. Just last week, after the group stage, Nissanka spoke glowingly of Jayasuriya’s influence, and the freedom the coach has given him to develop a niche, along with a leeway for mistakes. On Friday, he repaid that faith in style, turning what looked a daunting chase of 203 into a stroll at one stage with a sublime 107 off 58 balls.What made the innings even more remarkable was the character behind it. Jayasuriya revealed afterwards that Nissanka had been carrying groin and hamstring niggles since the group stage. Yet, his determination to deliver for the team drove him through the pain. On a muggy night when as many as three Indian fielders cramped up, Nissanka put his body on the line.It took an ill-judged flick straight into the hands of Varun Chakravarthy at short fine leg with 12 needed off the final over to finally stop him. Jayasuriya was all praise for Nissanka and Kusal Perera, who scored 58 off 32 balls during their second-wicket stand of 127 in just 70 deliveries.2:01

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“When you’re chasing 202 (203), you have to keep finding boundaries,” Jayasuriya said. “Their partnership was the key. The momentum shifted when we started losing wickets. That’s natural in a chase because someone has to take risks. Sadly, Pathum got out at the wrong time, and later on, the ball began to turn more. Still, it was a very good game of cricket.”Kusal is one of the best players of spin in our team. He played that role well again, though I’d have liked him to bat longer. Both took calculated risks, and when they wanted boundaries, they executed them. Pathum also had a bit of a hamstring issue recently but still gave 100% for the team, which shows his commitment.”Sri Lanka will return home without a win in the Super Fours from their three games; such a result didn’t seem likely when they went through the group stages unbeaten, following wins against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong in what was dubbed as the group of death. Reflecting on their campaign and looking ahead to the next six months leading into the T20 World Cup in February, Jayasuriya stressed on the need for the batters to adapt faster to challenging conditions.”In T20 cricket, assessing conditions quickly is everything,” Jayasuriya said. “In Abu Dhabi, for example, the first-round pitches had pace and bounce, but in the second round, things changed, and we were too slow to adapt. That cost us. The disappointment was the Bangladesh match in the Super Four – 168 on that pitch was a good score, but we didn’t bowl well enough to defend it. Against Pakistan, we didn’t assess the conditions [in Abu Dhabi] quickly enough, and were late to adapt.”Today, India played very well to get over 200. Our boys showed they’re capable of chasing that, but again we just fell short. Apart from that Bangladesh game, I’m fairly satisfied, though disappointed not to reach the final. We have the batting and bowling quality. The key is to execute plans according to conditions and opposition. If we do that consistently, this team can go very far.”

Batter’s maiden professional hundred caps England’s 415-run total, as he reaffirms his huge potential

Matt Roller07-Sep-2025

Jacob Bethell declared himself ready to take a potential Ashes opportunity after experiencing the "addictive feeling” of scoring his first professional hundred in England’s record 342-run thrashing of South Africa.Bethell, who turns 22 next month, became England’s second-youngest centurion in men’s ODIs in Southampton on Sunday and has already played four Tests, scoring three half-centuries. Barring injury or a late change of heart, Bethell will head to Australia in November as England’s spare batter but hopes he can push his case for selection through his white-ball performances.His performances at No. 3 in his maiden Test series in New Zealand put serious pressure on Ollie Pope’s position ahead of the English summer, but he was unavailable to play Zimbabwe while at the IPL and Pope secured his spot with 171. However, Pope faded badly to finish with 304 runs at 34 against India, and could yet find his position under major pressure.”It’s obviously nearing,” Bethell said. “I’m hoping to be in the squad and if I’m in the squad, it’s only one thing that has to happen – in terms of an injury or something like that – and I’m in, and I’ve got to be ready to perform. I don’t know if these runs mean anything [towards selection] but I don’t think they can hurt. If the opportunity arises, I’ll hopefully be there to take it."Bethell was promoted from No. 6 to No. 4 at Lord’s on Thursday to take down South Africa’s spinners, scoring 58 off 40 balls, and was retained in the same role in Southampton. He made 110 off 82, dominating the scoring in a 182-run third-wicket partnership with Joe Root, and roared in celebration when reaching three figures with a cover drive off Nandre Burger.Bethell drives through the covers en route to his century•PA Photos/Getty Images

“It was pretty special,” Bethell said. “Just goosebumps, to be honest. As soon as I laced it in the gap – it couldn’t have hit more the middle of my bat – and it just raced to the boundary. I didn’t really know what I did. It was a bit of a blur to be honest, but it was a great feeling… It was unbelievable. It feels like an addictive feeling, so hopefully there’s a few more of them to come."He does not anticipate a permanent move to No. 4, the position normally filled by captain Harry Brook. “I like coming in and facing spin to start. I feel like if I can get going, especially with the one [extra] fielder up, there’s always a gap to hit… I don’t think Brooky will be stepping down from No. 4 anytime soon, so I’ll just be looking to do that whenever the opportunity arises.”Bethell’s father Graham used to play club cricket at Sheffield Collegiate with Root’s dad Matt, and the pair have twice celebrated hundreds with one another this summer. “I was batting with him when he got his hundred at The Oval in the Thorpey Test match, and it was pretty special to be batting with him again when I got my first one,” Bethell said.Root, who went onto score 100 himself in England’s total of 414 for 5, described Bethell as "wise beyond his years”. He said: “He’s very clear on how he wants to play his cricket… I’ve known him for a long time – since he was eight years old – so for him to play an innings like that and get us in that position at the halfway stage was fantastic.”Related

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Bethell admitted before the start of play on Sunday morning that he “probably should have played more" domestic cricket around England’s Test series against India, but said that he had rediscovered his rhythm when he felt something "click" during an innings for Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred last month.”I didn’t feel like I was hitting the ball badly at all, just the performances didn’t show, which sometimes happens in white-ball cricket,” he explained. “It is pretty tough to be consistent and score fast at the same time. It is nice that I managed to put performances together – and also a match-winning performance in this situation.”It’s just rhythm, I guess. You can watch as much cricket as you want and do stuff like that, but it is different when you’re out in the middle and I think it just took me a couple of games to get that back… I felt something click and from that point, I felt like I’d been playing nicely, but hadn’t quite got the results. Today and the other day, it was definitely nice to be back in the runs.”Bethell will deputise for Brook during England’s T20I series in Ireland later this month, and said he feels ready to become their youngest-ever captain. “A lot of players in that team captain themselves, almost,” he said. “It’s just about a bit of man management and marshalling the troops for a couple of days up in Ireland, which should be great fun.”