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The Boston Red Sox shook up the organization on Sunday by stunningly trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants just three years into his 10-year, $313.5 million deal.

The decision to trade Devers ultimately seems to have stemmed from his unwillingness to put the team first when it came to his defensive position. He was initially displeased about having to move to DH after the team acquired Alex Bregman to play third base, and was resistant to the idea of playing first base in the wake of Triston Casas's season-ending injury.

That didn't sit well with management and ownership, who ultimately pulled the plug on Devers's time in Boston.

Red Sox legend David Ortiz addressed Devers's departure during an interview with baseball content creator Yancen Pujols.

Ortiz offered his honest assessment of the situation, saying, "Players need to take this as an example. Nobody is indispensable. … You need to be smart and you need to understand the situation. Your worst enemy is your ego," Ortiz said, translated from Spanish.

Ortiz suggested that Devers wasn't willing to step forward as a leader and help his team by covering first base due to his ego, and that the trade is living proof that no player, regardless of their contract status or how long they've been in an organization, is out of reach of being traded, especially one who is quarreling with ownership.

Devers played nine seasons for the Red Sox and made three All-Star teams. This year, he has a .905 OPS with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in his first 73 games.

Currently, it feels like Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave Liverpool at the end of his contract last year and sign for Real Madrid has benefitted nobody.

The Spanish giants have yet to find a starring role for the right-back in Xabi Alonso’s system; Trent is out in the cold vis-à-vis Thomas Tuchel’s England; Liverpool keenly miss their starboy’s creativity and flair.

All of this is premature. Much can change, and it has only been three months since the 2025/26 campaign kicked off. But Arne Slot’s Liverpool are lacking ideas at the moment; and just as importantly, they cannot find the answers to their opponents’ tactics.

Slot sought to reorient Liverpool’s creative focus to a more typical area, working with Anfield sporting director Richard Hughes to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for what stood as a record-breaking £116m fee for a few months.

Now, Liverpool are looking into new attacking midfielders to rival Wirtz for a place in the Reds’ starting line-up.

Why Liverpool are looking to sign Wirtz rival

Liverpool have landed a generational talent in Wirtz. The 22-year-old proved across years of age-defying quality in his homeland that he is destined for greatness.

However, we cannot deny it’s been a rocky road since the start of the season.

Wirtz is yet to register a goal involvement in the Premier League and he has not scored in any competition. However, his struggles stand against the backdrop of Liverpool’s wider issues this season. Slot’s side are worryingly imbalanced and sapped of confidence, having lost five of their past six top-flight fixtures.

But Wirtz has demonstrated his skill for Germany during the current international break, with analyst Raj Chohan saying his “creative passing has been insane”.

Florian Wirtz’s International Break

Match Stats

vs LUX

vs SVK

Minutes played

90′

77′

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

2

Shots (on target)

4 (2)

2 (0)

Accurate passes

46/56 (82%)

72/77 (94%)

Chances created

1

6

Crosses

0/5

2/5

Dribbles

5/6

1/3

Recoveries

5

9

Ground duels

8/10

3/5

Data via Sofascore

But, with Harvey Elliott struggling out on loan with Aston Villa and bound to depart for good in the near future, Liverpool have lined up 19-year-old midfielder Kees Smit as a potential rival for Wirtz in Slot’s system.

According to Soccer News, the AZ Alkmaar talent is emerging as a serious candidate for a transfer to Liverpool, and FSG are further drawn to the player after Slot’s personal advocacy, having worked with the young prospect during his stint with AZ back in 2019/20.

The teenager is valued at around £22.5m, and Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the circling sharks.

What Kees Smit would offer Liverpool

Smit is young and inexperienced, but the word on the Dutch streets is that he is one of the nation’s most exciting up-and-comers. Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson has acknowledged Smit for his “superstar potential”, not just naturally gifted but intelligent, industrious and strong in defensive phases.

The Netherlands U21 star has made 50 senior showings already, scoring four goals and supplying six assists. Increasingly important in the Eredivisie, he’s started all 11 matches this term, notching two goals and two assists apiece while completing 88% of his passes, creating two chances on average each game and recovering six balls a match.

He’s so energetic, mobile and athletic while bearing the shrewdness to apply himself in the correct phases, never over-exerting. This is a rare trait for one so young, and emphasises the midfielder’s potential for success in the Premier League.

As per FBref, Smit ranks among the top 14% of midfielders in the Dutch top flight this season for pass completion and successful take-ons, and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Should Wirtz be worried for his starting berth? While all of the above is true, stepping into the harsh English footballing climate is no easy task. Wirtz would testify for that argument.

But Smit is less of an out-and-out attacking midfielder than his older counterpart, and in this, he could be a glove-tight tactical fit under Slot’s management, instilling more creativity while adding to the steel and compactability of the engine room.

His more balanced approach differs from Wirtz’s own. The new Merseyside recruit has faced criticism for a perceived lack of physicality in the Premier League. Some pointed fingers regarding this matter have been unfair, but there’s no question that Wirtz needs to be more active in the duel, more combative when pitted against defenders.

The aforementioned Mattinson has singled Smit out as a “duel monster”, further underlining his potential in Slot’s Liverpool set-up.

The Reds have options in midfield, and they have creative players too. But it doesn’t take someone with Slot’s football-tuned mind to conclude that something isn’t working for the Premier League champions, who need to find a way out of this present rut, else a concerning start will devolve into a disastrous campaign with far-reaching ramifications.

If Liverpool succeed in sealing Smit’s signature this winter, there’s every chance that the perfect dimension would be added to ease the offensive issues at the club.

Who knows, perhaps the competition would help Wirtz grow into his Liverpool skin and begin to show that ability that was promised when Liverpool spent a staggering sum on bringing him over from Germany.

But if not, Smit has the potential to stand proud as one of the world’s best, and this could give Liverpool’s German maverick cause for concern.

Related Forget Ngumoha: 19-year-old star is Liverpool's new Luis Diaz in the making

Liverpool could now be brewing their next Luis Diaz in this rising 19-year-old star.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Nov 18, 2025

Samuel Umtiti slammed Barcelona as he opened up about his 'rift' with the Catalan club and his 'bouts of depression' during long injury spells in Spain. The French defender, who joined Lille in 2023 after seeing his Blaugrana contract mutually terminated, retired from professional football this summer at the age of just 31 after years of knee problems.

Umiti ended his career this summer

Umtiti started his professional career in 2012 at Ligue giants Lyon and spent four seasons with the Ligue 1 side before heading to Spain to sign for Barcelona. The French international had a bright start at the Blaugrana and was a regular starter under Luis Enrique, winning multiple trophies including back-to-back La Liga titles between 2017 and 2019. During this period, he also won the 2018 World Cup with Les Bleus and was experiencing a high in his career. 

However, he was soon plagued by several knee injuries that started to limit his playing time for club and country. Umtiti was eventually released by the Spanish giants in 2023 after mutually terminating his contract. He returned to France to join Lille but his career was cut short due to persistent injury, which prompted him to announce his retirement in September this year.

AdvertisementAFPUmtiti reveals 'rift' with Barcelona

Due to the recurring injury issues, the centre-back barely played following the World Cup success as he battled hard to get back onto the field. However, disagreements with Barcelona over treatment options and the mental toll of dealing with his physical issues caused problems between the player and the club. 

Umtiti, who now works as a pundit for DAZN, recently told : "After the World Cup, I wanted to take some time to find out exactly what I had and make the right decisions about my treatment. We weren't necessarily in agreement with the club, so I decided to look elsewhere, to see specialists so that everyone could give me their opinion. Most of them told me that I didn't need to have surgery. In the end, Barcelona listened to my choice, to what I wanted.

"But I think there were things that happened internally that people didn't necessarily appreciate, whereas I have enormous respect for everyone. Just because I'm not doing my rehabilitation with you doesn't mean I don't love you. No, it's just that I had decided on something else because what you offered me didn't work out. But ultimately, from that moment on, I think the rift was created and people started talking, saying things that weren't necessarily true, putting all the blame on me. The most important thing for me was to come back."

Injury hell 'affected' French defender

Umtiti added: "Looking back, I know that mentally I was very, very, very affected by it, perhaps by the bouts of depression. There were so many things… I didn't even leave my house. People didn't know all of this. They thought: 'Anyway, if he doesn't show anything on social media, it means he's not doing anything.'" But I worked so hard, I was doing two or three training sessions a day, I had a prep course… It was incredible what I was doing, I didn't even really have a life, I didn't see my friends. When I read everything that came out in the press, I thought to myself: 'How can they think that about me? I'm not like that, money isn't what motivates me. I just wanted to play football

"I tried to do things the way the club wanted, but it didn't work; my knee was always swollen. I decided to do things differently, but I still followed the advice I was given because I'm not a doctor. I also read books about the problem I had, I stopped eating meat and fish, I followed an incredible diet that helped me get rid of the inflammation. My inflammation was so severe that I had to change my diet. Some people didn't necessarily do what they should have done, and for me, when you're a professional, you can't be that incompetent. I had a lot of resentment before, but I've done a lot of work and I don't hold a grudge against anyone. I'm at peace with all of that."

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AFPWhat does Umtiti wants to do next?

While he is currently working as a pundit, his ultimate ambition is to become a coach as he told "I'm so passionate, I watch every match. I know I’m going to get my diplomas in the next few weeks. It’s going to take a few years, but being a coach is the ultimate goal I’ll set for myself. He added that his 'inspiration' will come from 'a bit of everything' he has learned throughout his career, underlining his passion to stay connected to football."

Thomas Frank attempted to assuage concerns over Tottenham defenders Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence by saying their decision to snub him after the dire derby defeat against Chelsea was only a “small issue”. Both players headed straight down the tunnel following their side’s poor performance on Saturday evening, bypassing their manager in the process.

• Video shows Frank's anger as Spurs duo ignore him

  After an insipid display which produced just one shot on target, the home supporters made their feelings clear as boos rang around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the conclusion of the match. As is custom, Spurs boss Frank went onto the pitch as he and the rest of the players planned to show their appreciation for their fans' support during the game, despite the disappointing loss.

  However, in a video which has been widely shared across social media, Tottenham duo Van de Ven and Spence opted to leave the pitch instead of greeting supporters, to the anger of head coach Frank. The Dane was rooted to the spot as he glared towards his departing charges, who quickly made their way to the tunnel.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tottenham head coach opts against criticising the pair

  But when asked about the incident after the game, Frank refused to criticise Van de Ven and Spence, saying: “All the players are, of course, frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform. I understand that. 

  “I think it’s difficult to be consistent in good times and bad times, that’s why I went around to the fans as I did, it’s more fun when we win, I can tell you that.”

  And when pressed on whether it was “acceptable” for both players to give him the cold shoulder, Frank added: “I understand why you ask the question. But I think that’s one of, how you can say, small issues. 

  “We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence doing everything they can. They’ve performed very well so far this season. Everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, I don’t think it’s a big problem.”

• Spurs midfielder Simons has struggled since summer move

  While Frank has steered Tottenham to fourth in the Premier League following his appointment in the summer, their home form has been disappointing so far. Spurs have won just one home game in the league under Frank, against Burnley on the opening weekend of the season, having suffered defeats against Bournemouth, Aston Villa and now Chelsea. The north Londoners also drew against winless Wolves on home soil on 27 September.

  Tottenham’s performances have also been met with criticism, recording their lowest-ever expected goals figure (0.05xG) in the league against Chelsea. One man who was signed with a view to helping Spurs excel in the final third this season was Xavi Simons, but the Netherlands international has struggled since his summer switch from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

  The 22-year-old, who has registered one assist in seven league appearances in 2025-26, was double-substituted against Chelsea, having been brought on in the first half before being withdrawn after 73 minutes.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Frank explains decision to double-substitute Netherlands star

  However, when asked by GOAL if he was worried over Simons' confidence and whether double-substituting him would make matters worse, Frank said: "No, it's part of the reason we didn't start him because he's played two starts in a short turnaround. It’s that energy and freshness I talked about. He played 90 minutes on Wednesday night [against Newcastle], so that’s why we decided that [to bench him]. He played 70 minutes here. So I think it was nothing, it's just it looks different that he comes on after a few minutes then gets subbed off."

  When pressed on whether Simons’ inability to muster up enough chances has frustrated him, Frank added: “I think when players make mistakes on the pitch, if they lose a ball or miss a pass, of course I can get irritated in general in a specific situation. But that's part of football. How many times have you seen a player miss a pass or do something that happens, that can be flow or confidence or everything. Whatever it is, mistakes are part of football.”

The most valuable player on a pitch is a striker, and nowadays, being a world-class centre-forward is more than just scoring goals.

Starting the press without the ball and linking up play are also two important attributes, but more often than not, a striker is judged by their goal to game ratio.

Currently, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane are viewed as some of the best strikers in world football.

Related The Best 15 Strikers in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the best number nine right now?

Posts ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025

Here is a list of 20 of the most iconic centre-forwards football has ever seen, factoring in longevity and consistency at the highest level, while also looking at their personal accolades and honours they have won.

20 Greatest Strikers of All Time

Rank

Name

Country

1

Pele

Brazil

2

Ronaldo

Brazil

3

Gerd Muller

Germany

4

Eusebio

Portugal

5

Ferenc Puskas

Hungary

6

Romario

Brazil

7

Thierry Henry

France

8

Alfredo Di Stefano

Spain

9

​Marco van Basten

Netherlands

10

Robert Lewandowski

Poland

11

​Josef Bican

Austria

12

Wayne Rooney

England

13

Luis Suarez

Uruguay

14

Alan Shearer

England

15

Jimmy Greaves

England

16

Karim Benzema

France

17

Harry Kane

England

18

Gabriel Batitusta

Argentina

19

Kenny Dalglish

Scotland

20

Hristo Stoichkov

Bulgaria

20 Hristo Stoichkov

An all-rounded forward and the greatest Bulgarian player in history, Hristo Stoichkov kicks off the countdown.

The powerful left-footed striker was famously signed by Johan Cruyff at Barcelona when he was at the top of his game and made the Catalan giants even better.

Stoichkov won five La Liga titles at the Nou Camp and collected the Ballon d’Or in 1994 after picking up the 1994 World Cup Golden Boot.

19 Kenny Dalglish

Arguably Liverpool’s greatest ever player, Kenny Dalglish wasn’t just a goalscorer and could run games of a football as a centre-forward.

‘King Kenny’ starred in the 1970s and 1980s, scoring more than 200 goals and winning 24 trophies during an iconic career.

18 Gabriel Batistuta

Argentine powerhouse Gabriel Batistuta was a goalscoring machine in the 1990s for Fiorentina, outscoring every other Serie A player in that decade.

Named by Pele in the FIFA 100 list in 2004, Batistuta was known for his aerial ability and physical presence, but when he had the ball at his feet, he was an excellent dribbler and clinical in front of goal and had an unbelievable World Cup record.

17 Harry Kane

Harry Kane is one of the most clinical strikers around, and he’s been finding the back of the net on a regular basis for Tottenham, Bayern Munich and England since 2014.

In fact, Kane has scored 17 or more league goals in 12 successive seasons, and his goalscoring record is remarkable. Now England’s all-time top scorer, Kane may not have the trophies to match his individual brilliance, but he is more than just a goalscorer with an incredible passing range.

16 Karim Benzema

One of the most underrated strikers in recent times, Karim Benzema often hasn’t got the plaudits he’s deserved after starring at Real Madrid for 14 years.

Finally lifting the Ballon d’Or in 2022, Benzema has won 33 honours during his career and scored more than 350 goals during his time at the Bernabeu.

Whether it be in the air or with the ball at his feet, the Frenchman was a nuisance for centre-backs and was often overshadowed by a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.

15 Jimmy Greaves

Part of the England side that won the 1966 World Cup, Jimmy Greaves was nominated for the Ballon d’Or on six occasions in the 1960s and starred for Chelsea and Tottenham during his career.

A Spurs legend with two FA Cup triumphs, Greaves also won Serie A with AC Milan. He finished his career as the highest scorer in England’s first tier of football with 357 goals, highlighting how much of a prolific goalscorer he was.

14 Alan Shearer

The Premier League has been regarded as the best league in the world over time, so Alan Shearer, the divisions all-time top scorer, had to be in the list.

The Englishman netted 260 times in the English top flight for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, winning the title once.

Long range strikes, in the air or from the spot, Shearer could score any type of goal and came third in the 1996 Ballon d’Or.

13 Luis Suarez

Despite plenty of controversies during his career, Luis Suarez’s footballing ability at his peak for Ajax, Liverpool and Barcelona was incredible.

The Uruguayan has scored goals on a consistent basis for 20 years now and was named the IFFHS World’s Best Goalscorer in 2010, 2014 and 2016.

Suarez has proven he can score all across the world and his 2013/2014 season with Liverpool is arguably one of the best individual seasons the Premier League has ever seen.

12 Wayne Rooney

One of four English strikers on the list, Wayne Rooney is Man Utd’s all-time leading goalscorer and had every attribute an iconic centre-forward required. From physicality to pace and world-class technical ability, Rooney scored 253 times for the Red Devils and netted 53 times for England.

Dropping deeper in midfield throughout his career, Rooney was unstoppable in his prime as a striker, winning 16 major honours.

11 Josef Bican

Josef Bican represented both Austria and Czechoslovakia on the international stage and was one of the most prolific forwards during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

Capable with finishing with ease with either foot, Bican scored more than 800 goals during his career despite making just over 600 appearances.

A ridiculous goal to game ratio, Bican has rightly gone down as a Slavia Prague legend.

New competition continues cricket’s attempts to rid itself of elitist tags, as revealed in ICEC report

Andrew Miller30-Jun-2025Lord’s is well on its way to proving it is not the “Augusta of cricket”, according to MCC’s chair Mark Nicholas, following the launch of a new nationwide T20 competition, the Knight-Stokes Cup, aimed specifically at state-school pupils.The tournament, named in honour of England’s former women’s captain Heather Knight and current men’s Test captain, Ben Stokes, is for Year 10 pupils (ages 13-14) with separate events for boys and girls. It will begin in April 2026 with a season-long qualifying process, followed by regional knockouts and a finals day at Lord’s in September.The initiative, spearheaded by another former England captain Michael Vaughan, is a continuation of the sport’s bid to rid itself of the “sexist, classist and elitist” tags that it received following a damning 2023 report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC).The creation of a “national Under-15 state school finals’ day for boys and girls” was one of the report’s specific recommendations, alongside a call for MCC to discontinue its hosting of the annual Eton-Harrow and Oxford-Cambridge fixtures – two of the longest-running annual sporting contests in the world.A decision on the future of those historic fixtures has since been deferred until 2028, but Nicholas insists that MCC has made, and will continue to make, significant strides in broadening the reach of cricket’s most famous venue.”We’re an open-hearted body,” Nicholas told ESPNcricinfo. In particular, he contrasted the club’s bid for greater inclusivity with the explicitly exclusive offering of Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, the home of the annual Masters tournament, and a venue that is renowned for its strict rules and entry criteria for members and patrons alike.”People who say, ‘oh, we’re the Augusta of cricket’, we’re not at all,” Nicholas added. “Augusta is a fabulous exclusive place. Its mystery comes from its exclusivity. We want Lord’s and MCC to be inclusive. The fact that children can come here is very important for the future of cricket, and very important for the future of MCC and Lord’s.”Children who attend private school are significantly more likely to play professional cricket than those in the state sector, with the ICEC report citing 2021 statistics that showed 58% of England players were privately educated, out of a nationwide figure of 7% of pupils.Various factors contribute to this, including the cost of equipment and the standard of playing facilities. However, as Nicholas pointed out, the private sector also acts as a conduit for the best young talent in the country, citing the example of Harry Brook, England’s white-ball captain, who attended Sedburgh School in Cumbria on a sports scholarship.”It’s not absolutely right to say that there’s no state-school players involved in the England team,” Nicholas said. “But state schools have other priorities, and it’s not easy to fit cricket into the curriculum, especially when there’s pressure on GCSEs in the summer term.”While the incentive for state-school pupils to play at Lord’s is a strong one, Vaughan also recognises the importance of role models in driving interest in cricket. Twenty years on from his role in captaining England to glory in the 2005 Ashes, he backs the current men’s and women’s teams to provide similar star billing to the sport.”We talk about 2005 all the time, and all the stories been told,” Vaughan said. “But the proudest bit is when people of that age come and say, ‘I got into cricket because of ’05’.”They might be 28, they might be 30-35, but they would have been at school, and not necessarily at independent schools either. It’s then that you know you’ve done something great.”[The current men’s and women’s teams] have also played a part in changing people’s lives, and that’s why this tournament’s so important. Because, yes, it’d be great to create a new Heather [Knight] and a new Ben [Stokes], but it’s not about that. It’s about creating fans and cricket lovers.”That’s why this has been created, to make sure that, for the first time, a state school is going to be represented at Lord’s next year, and that’ll be every year going forward.”Speaking ahead of the announcement, Knight said: “As someone who played cricket from a young age at my local state school and then here at Lord’s including in a World Cup final, I’m proud to have my name associated with this new competition which will inspire thousands of state-school children across the country and continue the vital work that cricket is doing to create more opportunities for children from state schools to play and access the talent pathway.”Stokes added: “Coming from a state school myself, when I was informed that they wanted to name this competition after me, it was a pretty easy ‘yes’. Playing at Lord’s is the pinnacle of any cricketer’s career and something I dreamed of when I played cricket at my school so to open up the opportunity for boys and girls to play here is fantastic. I can’t wait to see the competition get underway next year and start to see some of the incredible talent that’s out there in our state schools come through the system.”

Leeds United had a disappointing end to the summer transfer window because they failed to bring in the attacking reinforcements that Daniel Farke wanted for his squad.

The Whites reportedly had a deal agreed to sign Harry Wilson from Fulham on a permanent deal before their Premier League rivals backed out of a move at the last-minute.

Farke did not get any new attackers through the door on deadline day, partly because of the Cottagers pulling the plug late in the day, and will now have to work with what he has at his disposal.

The Championship champions did add attackers in other positions earlier in the summer transfer window, signing Noah Okafor, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Lukas Nmecha.

Leeds won their opening game of the season, against Everton, thanks to a penalty from Nmecha on his debut, but they have failed to score in their two Premier League outings since then.

The centre-forward position is an intriguing one for the Whites because they do not appear to have a clear, standout, starter at this moment in time.

Why Leeds have a striker problem

Farke has a problem with his number nine position because Calvert-Lewin, Nmecha, and Joel Piroe are all fairly unconvincing options on current evidence.

It does not seem realistic to expect any of them to score goals on a regular basis in the Premier League when you consider their form this season and in recent seasons.

Calvert-Lewin, for example, scored three goals in 26 Premier League games for Everton last season, and has failed to score more than seven goals in a league season in each of the last four campaigns, per Sofascore.

The former England international has also missed four ‘big chances’ and missed in a penalty shoot-out against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup in his first two appearances for Leeds, per Sofascore.

These statistics do not suggest that Calvert-Lewin is likely to establish himself as a regular scorer for the Whites, but his physicality could still give him the edge over Piroe.

Piroe (25/26 Premier League)	Vs Everton	Vs Arsenal
Minutes	78	58
Goals	0	0
Key passes	0	0
Assists	0	0
Ground duels won	0/3	0/0
Aerial duels won	1/5	0/3
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Dutch striker struggled badly in the first two games of the season, particularly in physical battles, and was then an unused substitute against Newcastle United.

This has not come as a surprise, though, because Piroe lost a whopping 73% of his duels in the Championship last term, but was able to score 19 goals, per Sofascore, because of how dominant his team were in possession.

Calvert-Lewin, meanwhile, won 45% of his duels and 51% of his aerial contests in the Premier League with the Toffees in the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that he can provide significantly more to the team as a physical presence up front.

However, the English forward’s lacklustre goal return in recent seasons suggest that there could still be a chance for Piroe to get game time if the former Everton man fails to deliver in front of goal.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Whilst Calvert-Lewin, despite his physicality, may not put an end to Piroe’s career at Elland Road, there is a player in the academy who could make the step up to make the Dutchman reconsider his future in West Yorkshire.

We have seen Rio Nguhoma, 16, and Max Dowman, 15, make their Premier League bows for Liverpool and Arsenal this season, and Leeds could follow suit by unleashing Harry Gray in the top-flight.

Why Harry Gray could end Joel Piroe's Leeds career

Supporters already know his brother’s story and how Farke trusted him to play week-in, week-out in the Championship as a 17 and 18-year-old, which led to him moving to Tottenham Hotspur and winning the Europa League.

Farke handed Harry Gray his debut at the age of 16 against Stoke City in the Championship in April, which shows that the youngster is a player who is in the manager’s mind for the first-team.

The England youth international, who turns 17 next month, has enjoyed a sensational start to the current campaign at U21 level and the manager could end Piroe’s career by taking inspiration from Dowman, Nguhoma, even Lamine Yamal, to unleash Gray in the Premier League.

Analyst Ben Mattinson, as shown in the post above, described the teenage forward as a ‘powerful’ and ‘pacy’ player, two attributes that could make him more effective as a physical presence than Piroe, who would not typically be described as either of those things.

Gray, who has also been described as “the real deal” by Mattinson, also has an impressive goalscoring record to back up his physical attributes in the number nine position.

Harry Gray (Leeds)	U18	U21
Appearances	11	11
Minutes	819	848
Goals	8	6
Minutes per goal	102	141
Assists	0	2
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the 16-year-old marksman has scored 14 goals in 22 games for the club at U18 and U21 level to date, which speaks to his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

That haul includes three goals and two assists in four matches for the U21s in all competitions during the 2025/26 campaign, showing that he is currently in form and flying in front of goal.

This plays into why now could be the perfect time for Farke to make the bold call to unleash him at Premier League level, because Gray is full of confidence and on fire for the U21s, which could provide him with a fearless and confident attitude to take into the first-team.

If the England U17 international can make that step up, whether it comes now or in the coming months or seasons, then it could spell the end of Piroe’s time at Elland Road.

Leeds can forget Wilson by signing "extraordinary" free agent once worth £33m

Leeds United could solve their right-wing woes with a move for this free agent star.

1

By
Dan Emery

Sep 3, 2025

The Dutchman was an unused substitute behind Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin last time out and Gray’s emergence in the senior side could leave him struggling to make the bench, and forcing him to consider his future.

Pep Guardiola has explained how he keeps Erling Haaland motivated after the Manchester City striker took his season tally of goals to 18 in only 11 games for club and country. Haaland scored the only goal of Sunday’s 1-0 win away to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, showing an impressive amount of strength to fire home the winner.

• Haaland downs Brentford with superb goal

  With only ten minutes on the clock, Haaland took a pass from Josko Gvardiol in stride and managed to completely outmuscle Bees defender Sepp van den Berg, powering his way into the penalty area and firing beyond goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher for what proved to be the only goal of a close game in west London.

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  Guardiola tells GOAL about talks with Haaland

  In a post-match press conference, GOAL asked Guardiola what his instructions even are for Haaland anymore given his near-guarantee of goals. 

  "Always to try play better and better, to try and play more balls to him to score goals," he replied. "Phil [Foden] is the same. In the first half, there was two or three decisions that was not in the final third perfect, but his commitment was really good. Even defensively. We talked after Monaco, that was really good.

  "Last season, I don’t know if we were in the position we are in right now, we’re a little bit away from everything. But listen, it’s just seven games in the Premier League. From my experience, it never ends. I would say three weeks ago, Liverpool had already won the Premier League, and now apparently not. So this is so long. The important thing is we see the team [getting] better and better. Liverpool is an incredible team, like Arsenal and Chelsea and Tottenham. Bournemouth is there, Brighton is. They’re very good teams. The question is [how to] improve, improve, improve. Winning helps to improve better, but the way we play, the way we defend, the way we do things to help us in the end, to make it close to try to fight like always, except last season."

• Haaland working to become complete forward

  Guardiola also expressed his desire to continue developing Haaland as an all-round striker and not only someone that can score ‘50 million goals’. He added: "I said one month ago he is the best and that year we won the Treble, I don’t know how many goals he scored – maybe 50 million goals.

  "But now he signed a contract for many years – we have to find him more, but he is more involved in the game, not just in the finishing, he is more on the ball and he work a lot his ethic, pressing and I am really pleased and I hope this week with Norway he can score more and come back fit for the Everton game."

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  Haaland eyeing Golden Boot and European Golden Shoe

  Haaland already has nine goals this Premier League campaign alone, three more than the closest challenger – Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth – in the race for the Golden Boot. The only match he has not scored in during 2025-26 was City’s 2-0 defeat at home to Tottenham on the second weekend of the season.

  Only four players have won the Premier League Golden Boot three times or more. Thierry Henry and Mohamed Salah have picked it up four times apiece, while Alan Shearer and Harry Kane have taken it home three times each. Haaland, victorious in 2022-23 and 2023-24, is looking to join an exclusive club and regain the top-scorer gong from Salah, who was triumphant for 2024-25. The Norwegian has also spoken of his wish to win the European Golden Shoe, awarded to the top scorer across the entire continent, with Kane, now of Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe seen as his closest challengers on that front.

There was plenty of excitement building around Ibrox after the 49ers and Andrew Cavenagh completed their takeover of Glasgow Rangers earlier this year.

Supporters dared to dream as a new manager, Russell Martin, came through the door and the owners were willing to invest money to improve the playing squad.

The 49ers and Cavenagh oversaw a busy summer of transfer business in an attempt to overhaul the squad that ended the 2024/25 campaign without any trophies to show for their efforts.

Djeidi Gassama was one of the early signings who caught the eye after his £2.2m move from Sheffield Wednesday, as he scored four goals in his first four appearances, per Sofascore.

Bojan Miovski, who scored 32 goals in the Scottish Premiership in two seasons with Aberdeen, also arrived as a headline signing from Girona at the end of last month.

Perhaps the most intriguing addition of the summer transfer window for Rangers was their penultimate signing, Portuguese centre-forward Youssef Chermiti.

Why Youssef Chermiti is Rangers' most interesting signing

The 49ers sanctioned a deal to sign the 21-year-old striker for an initial fee of £8m that could rise to £10m if the £2m in add-ons are achieved in the years to come.

This means that Chermiti is the most expensive signing made by the Light Blues since they paid £12m to sign Tore Andre Flo from Premier League side Chelsea in the summer of 2000.

Straight off the bat, this makes the Portugal U21 international an intriguing signing for Rangers because they seem to believe that he is a good enough player to warrant such a seismic transfer fee, by their standards.

Appearances

20

4

Minutes

287

49

Shots

8

3

Goals

0

0

Key passes

5

0

Assists

0

0

As you can see in the table above, Chermiti did not enjoy a successful time during his two years in England with Everton, as he failed to score a single goal or provide any assists in 24 first-team appearances.

The Toffees signed the young marksman from Sporting in a deal worth up to £15m in the summer of 2023, with Kevin Thelwell behind the scenes, and they were willing to take a fairly significant loss on the striker after just two years.

His only two goals for Everton’s senior side came in a friendly match against Sligo Rovers in 2024, and his complete lack of impact in competitive games may be why they were willing to take a hit on the £15m that they paid for him.

This is why Chermiti is the most interesting signing of the summer for Rangers because, on current evidence, he does not appear to be worth the £10m, or £8m guaranteed, that the club have splashed on him.

It is now up to Chermiti and Russell Martin to work together to ensure that he delivers consistent and quality performances on the pitch to make this transfer a success, changing the narrative from £10m risk to £10m bargain.

Per Transfermarkt, no permanent Rangers player is worth more than £8.7m, which speaks to how expensive this £10m deal for the striker is, but there is a former Gers starlet who is now worth millions more than that, Billy Gilmour.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

The Scottish central midfielder came up through the youth ranks at Ibrox and appeared destined for first-team football in Glasgow, before he decided to pursue a career down south.

Why Rangers must rue losing Billy Gilmour

In the summer of 2017, Premier League giants Chelsea swooped to sign Gilmour from Rangers and paid a development fee of £500k for the 15-year-old talent, who was said to be one of the biggest prospects in Scottish football.

Sky Sports reported that manager Pedro Caixinha attempted to convince the teenage midfielder to turn down a move to Stamford Bridge to continue his development at Ibrox, but he was unable to change the player’s mind.

Seven years on from that moment in history, Rangers must still rue that they were unable to pitch Gilmour a good enough project to convince him to remain at the club instead of making the move to Chelsea.

Whilst the central midfielder, whose attitude was dubbed “incredible” by Roberto De Zerbi, was always destined to move on from Scottish football at some point, the Gers could have at least earned more money from his sale by keeping him until he had a chance to shine at first-team level.

Gilmour has gone on to win the Champions League with Chelsea, sign for Brighton & Hove Albion, and sign for Italian giants Napoli, winning the Serie A title in the 2024/25 campaign.

By the age of 24, the midfield metronome has been capped 40 times by Scotland, played 81 times in the Premier League, and played 29 matches for his current club Napoli, per Transfermarkt.

Billy Gilmour

£17m

Nathan Patterson

£13m

Greg Taylor

£5m

Lewis Morgan

£3m

Ryan Hardie

£1.5m

As you can see in the table above, Gilmour’s market value has also soared to a staggering £17m from the £500k that Chelsea paid for him just over seven years ago.

The 24-year-old star is now worth £7m more than the deal Rangers have agreed with Everton for Chermiti, and £4m more than any other former Ibrox academy starlet, which speaks to how successful he has been since moving away from Glasgow.

Based on what he has achieved in his career already, it would be difficult to make a case to say that Gilmour made the wrong decision to leave Rangers to join Chelsea in 2017.

However, the Gers will almost certainly rue not doing enough to convince the player to stay because he would currently be the most valuable permanent player in the current squad, ahead of Raskin at £8.7m, per Transfermarkt.

The ex-Rangers striker who has scored 5x more goals than Miovski in 2025

This former Rangers centre-forward has enjoyed a terrific 2025 so far.

ByDan Emery Sep 5, 2025

Bangladesh batter was dropped from the Champions Trophy squad on Sunday morning, and scored a BPL hundred later that day

Mohammad Isam13-Jan-2025

Litton Das has been out in single digits in six of his last seven ODI innings•BCB

Bangladesh batter Litton Das has accepted that he was dropped from the ODI squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy because of his poor form. Bangladesh announced their squad on Sunday morning and later that day Litton smashed an unbeaten 125 off 55 balls for Dhaka Capital against Durbar Rajshahi in the BPL.”The Champions Trophy selection wasn’t in my control,” Litton said after his performance. “The selectors took the call. They decide whom to play. My job is to perform. I haven’t been able to do that. I think I was a bit upset about it. I have the same mindset before and after the game today. The day has already passed. I have played a good knock but it’s in the past. I start from zero again. I will keep working hard, let’s see what happens next.”I was given a clear message. Maybe not from the selectors but it is easy to find out why I wasn’t picked in the team. I was dropped because I wasn’t performing. There’s nothing to hide about it. Basic, normal.”Related

Rangpur ride to seven in seven; Litton, Usman and Saifuddin put on a show

Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan slam tons to take Dhaka Capitals to record total

Litton and Shakib left out of Bangladesh's Champions Trophy squad

Litton hasn’t made it out of single digits in his last seven ODI innings and his previous 50-plus score was in October 2023. “Fans will support me but then when I don’t do well, people will be negative. That’s not really my concern,” he said. “I am focused on what I need to do. I haven’t been playing well, so I need to improve my game. I won’t change overnight, so I have to keep trying. People will love it when I score runs.”I am not out there to prove to anyone. I only look for improvement. I don’t think I was playing well for the last few months. I will try to become more consistent from this point, especially after this innings.”Litton began the BPL season poorly with scores of 31, 0, 2 and 9 before making 73 and 125 not out in consecutive games. The hundred helped Dhaka Capital end a run of six consecutive defeats.His unbeaten 125 contained 10 fours and nine sixes and his 241-run opening stand with Tanzid Hasan was the second highest partnership in men’s T20 cricket. Litton credited Shahin, a member of the Dhaka support staff who has given him throwdowns for years, for helping him out of his rut.”Shahin has been working in the [Dhaka Capital]) team. He has worked with Comilla Victorians for the last three years … He helps me in training all the time, and passes on information from time to time. He is capable of pointing out a batter’s mistake. That’s why I thanked him. But listen, please don’t make a news that he has now become a coach.”Litton believes Dhaka’s 149-run win against Rajshahi will help them perform better in the second half of the BPL season. “We have a good team but we haven’t been able to click so far. I think today was the first time we performed as a unit, both with bat and ball. We still have five matches left. Two teams are at the top, while the rest are around the same points. I think our run rate will improve after this game. We got our rhythm going. I don’t know if we can win the next games, but we feel more confident.”