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One of the biggest talking points around Leeds United at the moment is their struggles at the top end of the pitch in the 2025/26 Premier League season so far.

Four games into the new campaign, Daniel Farke’s side have failed to score a single goal from open play in the top-flight after they won the Championship title with 95 goals scored last term.

Lukas Nmecha’s penalty against Everton at Elland Road on the opening day of the season is the only goal scored by the Whites in the league so far.

The West Yorkshire outfit failed to find the back of the net in losses to Arsenal and Fulham and in their draw with Newcastle United, which is a cause for concern even at this early stage.

xG

3.8

15th

Goals scored per game

0.3

19th

Open play goals per game

0.0

Joint-20th

Shots on target per game

2.0

20th

Big chances created

5

17th

Touches in the opposition’s box

74

17th

As you can see in the table above, Leeds have been one of the worst teams in the division in the final third across the first four matches of the campaign.

This woeful start to the Premier League season in front of goal has led some to question the decision to send Largie Ramazani out on loan to Valencia.

Why Leeds should have kept Largie Ramazani this season

Farke decided to send the Belgian forward out on loan for the 2025/26 campaign instead of keeping him around to compete for a position out wide in his 4-3-3 system.

The German head coach now has Noah Okafor, Brenden Aaronson, Jack Harrison, Wilfried Gnonto, and Dan James at his disposal to play on the left and right flanks.

That is despite concerns over some of them not being up to the task of playing in the Premier League. Per Sofascore, James provided one assist in 24 games and Aaronson managed three in 36 outings in the 2022/23 top-flight campaign, whilst Harrison did not register an assist in 34 league games for Everton last season.

Okafor, meanwhile, is playing in England for the first time after he failed to register a single assist in 15 outings in the Serie A during the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore.

Ramazani has already set up one goal in two games for Valencia in LaLiga, one of Europe’s best leagues, whilst Leeds are still waiting for one of their attackers to record an assist in the Premier League.

Non-penalty xG

0.54

Top 2%

Shots on target

1,84

Top 2%

Goals

0.69

Top 2%

Assists

0.23

Top 20%

Chances created

1.50

Top 32%

Dribbles completed

2.07

Top 15%

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian attacker made the most of his limited minutes in the Championship last season, averaging 0.92 goals and assists per 90.

Ramazani scored six goals and provided two assists in the league, despite only starting seven games, per Sofascore, and it feels like Leeds are currently lacking the attacking spark that he can provide in the final third.

The winger is not the only player shining in a major European league whom the Whites made a mistake with, though, as the club had an even bigger howler by selling an Italian star.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Leeds had goalkeeper Elia Caprile on their books until Jesse Marsch and Victor Orta decided to sell him to Bari for £1.4m in 2022. That has turned out to be a fairly significant misstep by the club.

Why Leeds made a mistake with Elia Caprile

What the Italian shot-stopper has gone on to achieve in his career in the last three years, since leaving the Whites for £1.4m, shows that the club made a mistake by cashing in on him when they did.

After one season in the Serie B with Bari, Italian giants Napoli swooped to sign him in the summer of 2023 and loaned him out to Empoli for the 2023/24 campaign.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig called Caprile a “superstar” during his time with Bari, as he kept 15 clean sheets. His impressive form carried over to the Serie A, as the shot-stopper saved 75% of the shots on his goal and prevented 0.96 xG across 23 top-flight outings for Empoli.

The 24-year-old star prevented 3.33 xG and saved 70% of the shots on his goal in 22 Serie A games for Napoli and Cagliari combined in the 2024/25 season, which led to him sealing a permanent move to Cagliari in the summer transfer window this year.

Caprile, who is valued at £7.8m by Transfermarkt, has proven himself to be a reliable shot-stopper in the Serie A for several reasons. He has also outperformed new Leeds signing Lucas Perri in the current campaign.

Appearances

3

3

Sofascore rating

7.23

6.07

Saves per game

3.7

1.0

Save success rate

85%

38%

Goals prevented

+0.66

-1.99

Error led to shot/goal

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the former Italy U21 international has been far better as a shot-stopper for Cagliari in the Serie A than the Brazilian has been for the Whites in the Premier League.

Leeds reportedly paid £15.6m to sign Perri from Lyon in the summer, which was a significant investment by the club, but it looks like the player they once let go for £1.4m would be an even better option for them at this moment in time.

Therefore, the Whites had a howler when they allowed Caprile to move on from Elland Road because they let him leave before giving him an opportunity to show his class on the pitch for the club.

That is why the decision to sell him was an even worse decision than the one to loan Ramazani out this summer, because they made a definitive call on the goalkeeper, whilst the Belgian winger is only out on loan and could return in January or next summer.

It's not Darlow: Leeds star is in danger of becoming their new Meslier

This Leeds United star is in danger of becoming the next Illan Meslier at Elland Road.

ByDan Emery Sep 16, 2025

Leeds could have had a goalkeeper who has the quality to deliver outstanding performances at the top level between the sticks without having to splash £15.6m on a new shot-stopper if they had kept Caprile, which could have freed up funds for more quality in the attacking areas.

Yeremy Pino's glowing comments about Adam Wharton will do little to ease concerns among Crystal Palace fans that the midfielder won't be at Selhurst Park for the long-term. Since making the step up from Blackburn Rovers less than two years ago, Wharton has been heavily linked with a high profile move away in recent months, with Real Madrid a rumoured suitor.

Real Madrid tracking Wharton

Real Madrid interest in Wharton emerged during the summer transfer window, having not directly replaced either Toni Kroos, who retired in 2024, or Luka Modric in the centre of the pitch. But Los Blancos were not the only side credited with rival interest, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool all thought to be monitoring his progress and situation as well.

Wharton's skillset makes him the ideal central midfielder in the modern game, combining great energy with precise passing and a ball-winning bite. It was that mixture of attributes which previousy propelled a pre-ACL Rodri to the top of the mountain, named the best player in the world in 2024 when he became the first defence-minded winner of the Ballon d'Or in almost 20 years.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWharton good enough for Spain

Wharton's similarities with Rodri are not lost on Yeremy Pino, who played alongside the Manchester City star at former club Villarreal. The winger, who joined Palace towards the end of the summer transfer window as a replacement for Arsenal-bound Eberechi Eze, has been enormously impressed by what he has seen from Wharton in his first few months in England.

"Adam can do everything," Pino told The Athletic. "Defensively, he is a fighter. He goes in very strong, wins a lot of balls. Technically, you just have to watch him and enjoy him."

The highest praise came next: "He has the quality to play in the Spain national team, no doubt."

Spain is perhaps the side in all of international football most revered for the level technical ability throughout the squad. It would also make full sense for a club like Real Madrid to be interested in a player like Wharton if that is the level he is considered by a colleague in the know to be operating at.

A history of Brits at the Bernabeu

Although British footballers haven't always had the same technical reputation as those from continental Europe or South America, Real Madrid have never shied away from them over the years and there has been a steady string of English, Scottish and Welsh imports. As it goes, the club's first ever captain was an Irishman named Arthur Johnson.

Not all have been a huge success. Where Jude Bellingham and Gareth Bale have been Champions League winners in all-white, and David Beckham played a role in expanding the club's already enormous international reach at the peak of the orginal Galacticos era, Jonathan Woodgate was never fully fit and Michael Owen understandably couldn't dislodge Ronaldo or Raul from the starting XI.

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Getty Images SportWharton left out of England squad

The talent considered good enough to get into Spain's team – if he was, of course, eligible and not born and raised in Lancashire – was not selected by England manager Thomas Tuchel for this month's international fixtures against Wales and Latvia.

Wharton had to withdraw from September's squad through injury and the boss opted to stick with the same team that he'd used for those games when October came around. The 21-year-old was told exactly why and appeared happy to accept the reasoning.

"He just gave me a message saying I'm playing well, I'm close and I deserve to be there, but he's going to stick with the same team," Wharton explained.

"That's football, I'm not too fussed about that. I can take the time off, go see my grandparents, and it's not the end of the world, as there's another camp next month. I'm just focusing on Crystal Palace and playing well, and hopefully, if I play well, I'll get the call. It's nice to hear, but I think my focus is on Palace and if that goes well, then England is just a bonus."

Wharton was a surprise inclusion in the England squad Gareth Southgate named for Euro 2024, but it would come as a shock if he doesn't reclaim his place before next summer's World Cup. There is, however, significant competition for places, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Jordan Henderson back in the fold this year, and Jude Bellingham also currently out of the picture.

DC have lost two of the three games in Delhi and defending champs KKR will look to take advantage of their inconsistency

Abhimanyu Bose28-Apr-20253:53

DC’s bowling a concern at Kotla?

Big picture: DC’s home form a concernUnder first-time captain Axar Patel, Delhi Capitals (DC) got off to an flier, IPL 2025 winning their first four matches. But their fortunes took a tumble since their return to Delhi. In their three matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium so far, they have lost two and their only win came via a Super Over.Against Mumbai Indians, they collapsed in a 206 chase despite being in the driving seat until Karun Nair fell in the 12th over. Against Rajasthan Royals, they looked like they were headed for defeat until Mitchell Starc defended nine runs in the final over to take the game to a one-over shootout. Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, their bowlers couldn’t capitalise on an early collapse.Related

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A drop-off in the form of some of their key players has played a part. KL Rahul scored 185 runs in his first three games (he missed DC’s season opener), averaging 92.50 and striking at 169.72. However, since their first game in Delhi, he has only managed 179 runs in five innings, with his strike rate also dropping to 127.85.In DC’s first four games, Kuldeep Yadav took eight wickets, conceding at less than a run a ball. In the next five matches, his number of wickets have halved, his economy rate has gone up to 7.35 and his strike rate has jumped from 12 to 30. Similarly, Mitchell Starc took nine wickets from his first four outings, but he has only picked up two wickets from the next five games.KL Rahul’s top score in Delhi has been 41 so far, while he has three half-centuries in four away outings in IPL 2025•BCCIUntil now, DC have been in the top half of the points table, but now they need to regroup and rediscover consistency as the battle for the playoffs heats up.Form guideDelhi Capitals LWLWL(Last five completed matches, most recent first)
Kolkata Knight Riders LLWLWTeam news and likely XIIsIt’s a very short turnaround time for DC after their last game against RCB, but they are likely to continue with the same combination. They could continue with their tactic of starting with just six batters even if they bat first, as even then they have six bowling options.Delhi Capitals XII (likely): 1 Faf du Plessis, 2 Abishek Porel, 3 Karun Nair, 4 KL Rahul (wk), 5 Axar Patel (capt), 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Vipraj Nigam, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Mukesh Kumar, 12 Ashutosh Sharma/Mohit SharmaKKR made a couple of changes in their last game, bringing in Rovman Powell and Chetan Sakariya in place of Ramandeep Singh and Moeen Ali, and are unlikely to tinker with their combination after the washout against Punjab Kings.Kolkata Knight Riders XII (likely): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane, 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Rovman Powell, 8 Andre Russell, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Vaibhav Arora, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Chetan SakariyaIn the spotlightWith Jake Fraser-McGurk woefully out of form, the expectations will be high on Faf du Plessis to deliver at the top for DC. He played in three of the first four matches of the season, before missing four games with a niggle. He struggled on his return against RCB, and has failed to cross 30 in any of the four matches he played except his half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad.2:51

Bishop: Need to give Powell, Russell ‘time to tee off’

In his third season with KKR, Rahmanullah Gurbaz has a chance to get an extended run of games, having replaced Quinton de Kock at the top of the order. The opening partnership has been an area of concern for KKR and they will hope that Gurbaz can form a strong alliance with Sunil Narine. Gurbaz was out for just one run in his first game of the season and scored 1 not out in the washout against PBKS, so he will hope for a good outing in Delhi.The big questionPitch and conditionsDC mentor Kevin Pietersen said after the RCB game that they had gone for a slow and low surface to counter their opponents’ strength but they will hope for a better batting surface on Tuesday night. The match will be played on pitch No. 5, which is in the centre, so there won’t be a shorter side for the batters to target.Stats and trivia Kuldeep Yadav has bowled three deliveries to Sunil Narine in two innings and dismissed him twice. Only R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and Piyush Chawla (27 each) have more wickets against DC than Sunil Narine, who has 24. Only Chennai Super Kings (19.77) have a lower average for the opening partnership this season than KKR (19.87) and DC (24.22)Quotes”He’s bowling really good, the lengths he is hitting. And he is mixing it up well. I won’t take any names, but we should keep learning watching other teams play.”

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has launched a passionate defence of new goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier after a tough start to his career in the French capital. The stopper arrived from Lille in a big-money move in the summer, replacing former No.1 Gianluigi Donnarumma, but has come under scrutiny for his performances so far for the Ligue 1 champions and current Champions League holders.

Chevalier comes under fire after PSG move

PSG's decision to replace Donnarumma with Chevalier in the summer caused plenty of headlines, with the Ligue 1 champions warned their new signing would not be able to match the Italy international's level. Chevalier has faced more criticism after an underwhelming start to life in the French capital and came under fire for his performance last time out in a 3-3 draw against Strasbourg.

Former goalkeeper Lionel Charbonnier told : "He doesn't have the charisma at the moment. He's not doing enough. He didn't do his job. On the first goal, I thought at first that it was a complicated header, and after analysing it, he's moving back. He shouldn't move back, he should move forward. He's on a back foot, so he dives back and that's a no-go.

"On the second goal, he tried to stretch his leg out, his studs got caught in the turf. For me, for the moment, the suit is too big for Chevalier. You put it with his performances at Lille, he doesn't concede the two goals. He's very small. When you look at him, you get the impression that the goal is huge."

AdvertisementAFPLuis Enrique leaps to Chevalier's defence

PSG boss Luis Enrique has been quick to defend his goalkeeper. The former Barcelona manager was asked about his stopper ahead of PSG's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen and says he's more than satisfied with his new recruit. 

"It's the same every year, I'm very happy with your feelings. I'm very happy with Lucas Chevalier! For me he's one of the best options or THE best option. I'm very happy with his performances. And when we recruit a player, we think over a long period of time," he told reporters.

"And what I can say about Lucas Chevalier is that I like his personality, his level as player. We are very confident that he will be very important to the team for many years to come.  That is the confidence we have in our player, and especially for me, when I see Lucas Chevalier's performance during these matches, I see what I want to see. And for me, that is enough."

'You killed Donnarumma' – Luis Enrique hits out at media

Luis Enrique also criticised the media for their treatment of Chevalier and Donnarumma. The PSG boss says Donnarumma had to put up with harsh media criticism during his time at the club but admitted it's part of the job at a club like PSG.

"He has personality, he showed it and he still shows it in training and in matches. What I like… I think you don't remember for how many years you criticized Gigio Donnarumma. I remember perfectly!" he added.

"The last four years, you killed him. You killed Gigio Donnarumma sportingly. So please… even when I wasn't the coach of Paris Saint-Germain. I felt all the time that you criticised Gigio Donnarumma. When you are a goalkeeper of a club like Paris Saint-Germain, you have to learn to live with that."

Donnarumma proved pivotal to PSG's run to Champions League glory last and, having already won the Men's Yashin Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, is hot favourite to also be named Best Men's Goalkeeper at the equivalent Best FIFA Football Awards. Manchester City saw PSG's surprise willingness to move on from the giant Italian stopper as an opportunity they couldn't turn miss.

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AFPPSG aiming to stay perfect

PSG have made a perfect start to the defence of their Champions League trophy by beating Barcelona and Atalanta. The defending champions return to action on Tuesday against Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.

It was a rueful thing to watch Trent Alexander-Arnold opt against continuing his Liverpool journey and instead sign for Real Madrid in June, deciding against renewing his contract on Merseyside.

The 26-year-old’s image in his home city has been tainted by the decision, but the decision was his and he left Anfield as one of the most decorated and accomplished players in the club’s modern history, instrumental in the success of the Jurgen Klopp era.

There was much hope that Liverpool might have retained his services, but FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes moved swiftly to sign a shrewd replacement in Jeremie Frimpong, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5m.

The Netherlands international has an infectious personality and is one of the fastest players in the game; however, Frimpong and pre-existing talent Conor Bradley have left something to be desired this term.

Liverpool's right-back conundrum

It’s somewhat telling that Dominik Szoboszlai has played a couple of games in an unnatural right-back berth this season.

The versatile Hungarian has impressed and, in fact, been one of Liverpool’s most impressive players this season, but Frimpong and Bradley should both be gunning to nail down starting spots with consistency.

Frimpong’s early foray into the season was disrupted by an injury sustained on his Premier League debut, while Bradley has spent much of the Slot tenure battling against setbacks of his own.

Neither have covered themselves in glory so far this year. Bradley has started both of Liverpool’s past two matches in the top flight, but he was hooked at the interval against Palace after struggling when on the ball and failing with four of five attempted dribbles.

Of course, the unconvincing form of Ibrahima Konate has hardly helped matters. As with Alexander-Arnold, the Frenchman is being courted by Real Madrid as he heads toward the expiry of his contract, and he has toiled through a number of games already this year.

It all comes back to that wish that Alexander-Arnold still plied his trade with his boyhood club. But, looking a bit further back, we can see that Liverpool may regret having sold their new version of the homegrown hero.

Liverpool sold their next Trent

In July 2022, Nottingham Forest completed the £17m signing of Neco Williams from Liverpool, the Wales international leaving the Reds in search of regular first-team football.

The young full-back had featured 33 times for Liverpool’s senior set-up, claiming six assists, and had completed a half-season loan out with Fulham in the Championship before making the move, thus spending the full span of the Tricky Trees’ Premier League journey since promotion of their own.

Billed as Alexander-Arnold’s understudy at Slot’s Liverpool, Williams had spent his early days cutting his teeth at Liverpool by watching the Three Lions star’s unique ball-playing game and weaving elements into his own style of play.

Trent hailed him as “an amazing talent” with a “bright future”, and now that Williams is realising his potential at Forest and Alexander-Arnold is playing in Spain, there might be a sense of ruefulness from some within the FSG hierarchy that he wasn’t kept on the books for longer.

He’s not his predecessor in Red, let’s be clear about that. Alexander-Arnold made 354 appearances for his boyhood club and registered 92 assists across all competitions, scoring some fantastic goals besides.

Talking of his one-of-a-kind technical qualities, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher once remarked that “it’s like having Kevin De Bruyne playing at right-back”, such is the depth of his skillset.

Williams is wholly different, but perhaps that would be a good thing in this current Slot side, with an emphasis having been placed this summer on reorienting the creative hub to the attacking midfield area.

Though there’s no question that Bradley and Frimpong are talented players with experience at the highest level, Williams’ naturally sturdy defensive style and his ability to operate across a number of positions could have been perfect for Slot, who is presently in a struggle to get a tune out of his existing options.

Middling returns from a creative standpoint hardly tell the full story as far as Williams’ progress at the City Ground is concerned. He became an invaluable player for Nuno, playing on both defensive flanks. Furthermore, Klopp once acknowledged Williams’ “incredible” attacking ability.

25/26

6

1 (0)

24/25

35

1 (3)

23/24

26

0 (1)

22/23

31

1 (0)

And his consistency within a Forest side that has shifted from relegation battlers to high-flying Europa League contenders has served as a further illustration of his quality.

Data-driven platform FBref also reveal he ranks among the top 17% of full-backs across Europe over the past year for shots taken and the top 18% for carries into the penalty area per 90, with his offensive metrics sure to rise higher still now that Ange Postecoglou is in the hot seat.

Williams signed a new contract at Forest this summer, running until 2029. His ability to have made headway sustainably and across a series of years has been telling, and were he still in the Liverpool mix, it might have been a fantastic dimension for a Slot backline that perhaps needs a bit more security and balance.

Having settled into his role as an established Premier League player, averaging 6.7 successful duels and 2.3 tackles per game, creating a chance every match besides and completing 89% of his passes, Williams is the full package, and could have been a real asset at Liverpool, had he been given time to bloom.

Alas, it wasn’t to be. Liverpool have a wealth of talent at their disposal, but Alexander-Arnold is no longer part of the crew, and Slot has problems that he needs to fix.

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

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

ByKelan Sarson Sep 29, 2025

It was a year of so near yet so far for RR, who will finish last if they lose on Tuesday

Himanshu Agrawal19-May-20253:14

Cricinformed – CSK’s worst top-order show

Big picture: RR’s last chance to not finish lastIf not for the rearranged final leg of IPL 2025, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) would have been hosting Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Chennai on Tuesday. Instead, the teams will now meet in Delhi. Which meant that there was one question on everyone’s minds: Have we already seen the last of MS Dhoni at Chepauk?These two sides occupy the bottom two spots in the points table. While there is pride to play for, they will also have one eye on the future.Despite the forgettable campaigns, there have been some positives for both CSK and RR this season. Young and explosive batters like Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel and Vaibhav Suryavanshi have given hope and a glimpse into the future of these franchises.Related

Purple and Orange caps: Noor, Jaiswal could grab top spots on Tuesday

'No point just blaming the batsman' – Dravid on RR's struggles

Batting without brakes – PBKS make topping 200 a habit at IPL 2025

Tuesday will also be RR’s final game of the season, and looking back, their bowlers might realise they lacked execution at times, while their batters will count the number of missed opportunities in tight finishes. It was a year of so near yet so far for RR, who will finish last if CSK beat them. The only time RR finished last was in 2020, when the IPL was an eight-team competition.Form guideChennai Super Kings WLLLL (last five matches, most recent first)
Rajasthan Royals LLLWLIn the spotlight: Noor Ahmad and Riyan ParagCSK have found a match-winner in left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad. His 20 wickets are the second-most so far this season. Four of those came in CSK’s previous match, against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), when Noor helped turn it around with two wickets in the middle overs and death overs each. Ten bowlers have at least 15 wickets this season, and Noor’s average of 17.25 is the best among them. At just 20, he surely is a long-term option for CSK.Riyan Parag has had a good outing with the bat this season•AFP/Getty ImagesRiyan Parag, who has led RR every time Sanju Samson was out injured this season, is just 10 runs away from tallying 400. If he gets there, it will be the second successive year he passes that landmark. He is only 23 and made his T20I debut for India last year after a solid IPL. With a home T20 World Cup coming up early next year, Parag will be hoping he can wrap this season up with a notable score and help his chances for his first global tournament.Team news and probable XIIsBrevis, Noor, Devon Conway and Matheesha Pathirana, CSK’s four overseas players who played against KKR, are the only ones available for them now. CSK have used 22 players so far this season – the most by any team – with only two more games remaining.Chennai Super Kings: 1 Ayush Mhatre, 2 Urvil Patel, 3 Devon Conway, 4 Ravindra Jadeja, 5 Dewald Brevis, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 R Ashwin, 8 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 9 Anshul Kamboj, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Khaleel Ahmed, 12 Matheesha PathiranaVaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal were impressive against PBKS•BCCISamson pushed himself down to No. 3 against Punjab Kings on his return to fitness after an abdominal injury. That allowed the 14-year-old Suryavanshi to continue to open the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal. It remains to be seen whether teenager Lhuan-dre Pretorius, also a top-order batter who was flown in as an injury replacement, will get a chance.Rajasthan Royals: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 3 Sanju Samson (capt & wk), 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Dhruv Jurel, 7 Shubham Dubey, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Kwena Maphaka, 10 Tushar Deshpande, 11 Akash Madhwal, 12 Fazalhaq FarooqiThe big questionAmong the 37 bowlers to have taken at least 300 wickets in all T20s, Wanindu Hasaranga leads the averages with 17.21. But at 34.40, Hasaranga’s averaged has doubled, and he has bagged only ten wickets in 37 overs.The numbers are even worse for his CSK counterpart R Ashwin. He has just five wickets to show in eight games, having taken them at 48.40 each. The last time Ashwin had fewer wickets in an IPL season was in his debut year in 2009.Pitch and conditionsThe Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi has hosted five games this season, with the average score batting first being 192. Gujarat Titans hunted down 200 with all ten wickets standing against Delhi Capitals on Sunday at that ground. With short boundaries and the possibility of dew, expect another high-scoring game on what is expected to be a hot Tuesday evening.Stats and triviaCSK and RR have faced each other in 31 matches so far, with CSK leading by only 16-15. CSK have had the worst-performing top order this season. Their top three batters have a combined average of only 23.68, while striking at 140.74. Both numbers are the lowest by any team this season. RR, on the other hand, have been the worst bowling side this season. Their bowling average (44.84) and economy rate (10.02) are the worst among all sides.

Bethell and Pope are in direct competition for the spot in England’s first Test against India

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2025Rob Key, has insisted that England’s looming selection call between Jacob Bethell and Ollie Pope will not define either player’s career ahead of Friday’s first Test against India in Leeds.Bethell and Pope are in direct competition, with one of the pair set to walk out as England’s No. 3 at Headingley and the other likely to miss out on selection altogether. Key, England’s managing director of men’s cricket, has framed the call as a decision as to “which really good player” they should pick, and said: “It’s a good position to be in.”Pope batted at No. 3 in England’s most recent Test against Zimbabwe and scored 171 to extend his strong record in the role, where he averages 43.06. But Bethell, 21, scored three half-centuries in the same position during December’s tour to New Zealand when Pope kept wicket and batted down the order, and is English cricket’s coming man.Related

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Bethell: It was 'electrifying' to walk out with Virat Kohli at RCB

Jamie Overton recalled to England Test squad for India series

“I don’t see it as a problem, really,” Key told the ‘s cricket podcast. “You win either way, really. You’ve got two brilliant players that can do that role. Ollie Pope’s been fantastic in that tough spot; he played brilliantly in New Zealand… alright, he was in a different role, but we’ve got two brilliant options in those spots.”A tough decision is when you’ve got no options, and you’ve got to just then try and find something from nowhere. That’s when I’m sort of scratching my head. This one is: ‘Which really good player are we going to pick?’ It’s a good position to be in.”Bethell missed England’s win over Zimbabwe because he was playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL. Michael Atherton has been a prominent critic of the decision to allow him to stay in India rather than returning for that Test, but Key said that he had no regrets.”I don’t think [that] the careers of Ollie Pope and Jacob Bethell are defined by what happens this week, or whether he came back to play the Zimbabwe Test. He may not have played that Test match,” Key said. “Watching his development has been extraordinary, and him going out there and playing in the IPL, I think was brilliant for him. We’ll get the return on that in the future.”Key also suggested that Mark Wood, who is sidelined with a knee injury, retains an outside chance of being fit for the end of the five-match series. “He potentially could be ready for the back end,” he said. “You may see him by the end of the series, but certainly then when you fast-forward to the Ashes, he should be fine for that.”

Los Angeles FC star Son Heung-min says he "can't wait" to return to Tottenham so he can bid a proper goodbye to supporters. The South Korean forward wants to step back into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and thank the supporters who shaped his Premier League legacy. His time in north London ended in the summer as LAFC sealed a £20 million ($27m) deal to lure him to California.

Son promises emotional return to north London

From his arrival in 2015 after spells at Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen, to his final act as captain lifting the Europa League trophy in 2025, Son embodied passion and dedication. He played 445 games and scored 173 goals, becoming not just a fan favourite but a symbol of loyalty in an era when few players stay long enough to become club icons. However, his final game in Tottenham colours came thousands of miles away during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in Seoul. The lack of a proper farewell never sat right with Son. Now, as he plans a return to north London, fans are preparing for what could be one of the most emotional days in the club’s recent history.

In an interview with , Son spoke with his trademark humility as he described his longing to reunite with the Spurs faithful. 

"I definitely think this is the right time to say, because at the time the transfer was going on and the last game was in Korea, obviously I will go back to London to see all the Spurs fans," he said. "I think I deserve to say goodbye in front of all of them, and also, they deserve to see me in a physical sense to say goodbye. It’s going to be a very emotional day as well, but I think I definitely can’t wait to go back to London and see all the Spurs fans."

AdvertisementAFPShining in LA: A new chapter of stardom for Son

Since making the transatlantic switch, Son has adapted to life in Los Angeles with ease. The Korean forward has been electric for LAFC, scoring nine goals and assisting three more in just 10 league games. His influence extends far beyond the field as LAFC’s social media engagement has exploded by an astonishing 594 per cent, generating a mind-blowing 34 billion views worldwide since his arrival. Merchandise sales have soared, too, as Son’s LAFC jersey is now outselling those of global icons, including Inter Miami's Lionel Messi.

European shores are still an option for Son

While Son appears fully committed to LAFC, European football may not be done with him yet. According to , the forward could be offered a short-term loan spell back in Europe during the MLS off-season due to the alleged presence of a 'in his contract, following the same path blazed by ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star David Beckham during his LA Galaxy days. The former England skipper famously joined AC Milan twice while in MLS, and reports suggest that the Italian giants are already interested in repeating history with Son. However, Milan are not alone. There’s growing speculation that Tottenham could explore a stunning reunion, giving Son the chance to wear the white shirt once more, even if only for a few months. Elsewhere, Bayern Munich, home to his old strike partner Harry Kane, have been linked with a possible move, while Barcelona are said to be monitoring the situation closely, according to Son’s long-term plans are already intertwined with one major goal, which is the 2026 World Cup. By staying fit and competitive, he’ll be perfectly placed to lead South Korea into another global campaign. However, to maintain his sharpness, a European return before that tournament could be immensely beneficial. 

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Getty Images SportSon's long-term future secured at LAFC

Son’s deal with LAFC runs until 2027, with options that could keep him in Los Angeles through the 2029 MLS season. For now, he remains focused on helping LAFC reclaim the MLS Cup, a title they last won in 2022, when another Spurs icon, Gareth Bale, sealed victory. Son is set to get back in action on October 29, against Austin in game one of the first round of the playoffs.

Crystal Palace have a wealth of assets of interest to some of the world’s best clubs and they could now be lining up a replacement for one star who is attracting attention.

Crystal Palace look to keep hold of Adam Wharton

When thinking of promising Premier League midfielders, Adam Wharton wouldn’t be too far down the public’s list due to his ability to dictate matches in the Eagles’ engine room.

Recently, the England international has attracted interest from Liverpool, and they are unlikely to be the only club keen on his services as he continues to thrive under Oliver Glasner in South London.

Eventually, the time may come for Wharton to move on. However, Pete O’Rourke has told Football Insider that he doesn’t believe that will be in the imminent future as he is settled at the club.

He stated: “It doesn’t seem he’s in any real massive rush to leave Palace right now, he’s enjoying his football and playing week in, week out in the Premier League. He has become a key man in Glasner’s side with Palace doing so well at the moment, having won the FA Cup last year and playing in Europe.

“It seems Wharton is happy with life at Selhurst Park, but his form and performances will attract interest from other clubs.”

Talks on: Crystal Palace lead Wolves to sign "finisher" who shocked Chelsea

Negotiations have been opened.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 1, 2025

Either way, Glasner isn’t hanging around as he looks to strengthen the engine room and Atlético Madrid’s Conor Gallagher could return to Crystal Palace in January, even if he isn’t short on options from elsewhere.

Wheels are already in motion as the Eagles look to take their recruitment to new heights, and they could now be sizing up a move for another midfielder as part of a potential contingency plan.

Crystal Palace want to sign Nicolas Raskin

According to reports in Spain, Crystal Palace are eyeing a move for Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin, and they feel his attributes could be suited to their deep-lying midfield role if Wharton were to depart Selhurst Park.

The Belgium international has registered a goal and four assists in 14 appearances this term across all competitions, though he was also frozen out while Russell Martin was in charge and hasn’t been able to help the Scottish Premiership outfit arrest their wretched run of form.

Five similar players to Nicolas Raskin (FBRef)

Manuel Ugarte

Manchester United

Rocco Reitz

Borussia Monchengladbach

Anton Stach

Leeds United

Jan Schoppner

Heidenheim

Christian Norgaard

Arsenal

With his contract due to expire in 2027, there is potential for Crystal Palace to land the 24-year-old on a cut-price deal if he opts not to renew his terms at Ibrox.

Ultimately, it remains to be seen how that will play out, but Besiktas are also said to be keen on luring him to Turkey, providing competition for the Premier League high-flyers if they wish to strengthen their midfield.

Labelled “aggressive” by Belgium coach Rudi Garcia, Rangers will push for him to stay, though the Eagles will hope the lure of top-flight exposure will be enough for their target to leave Glasgow.