Manchester United have an unseen teenager at Carrington who Red Devils defender Harry Maguire is helping around the training ground.
Maguire reaches 250 Man Utd appearances
After signing from Leicester City in a deal worth £80m back in 2019, Maguire has had plenty of ups and downs at Old Trafford but continues to be a regular at the back under Ruben Amorim.
Maguire recently hit 250 appearances as a Man Utd player, following in the footsteps of teammates Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw. Talking about reaching the milestone, he said:
Going on to talk about fellow defender Shaw, Maguire said: “You don’t play at this club 250 or 300 times if you’re first and foremost not a good player.
“Luke’s an excellent footballer, and every manager that comes in, he gets questioned a lot. That’s what happens at this club.
“Every manager that comes in plays Luke, and there’s a reason why they play Luke, because he’s an excellent footballer, always has been and always will be.”
Maguire’s current Old Trafford contract is worth £190,000-a-week, making him the fourth highest paid player at the club currently, however, that deal is set to expire in 2026.
1
Casemiro
£350,000
2
Bruno Fernandes
£300,000
3
Matthijs de Ligt
£195,000
4
Harry Maguire
£190,000
5
Matheus Cunha
£180,000
Whether or not he remains at the club remains to be seen, but he appears to be helping out the future generation at Carrington.
Man Utd teenager Shea Lacey impressing
According to a report from The Daily Mail, Man Utd teenager Shea Lacey, who is yet to make his debut or a first team matchday squad and be seen by fans, but is catching the eye of those at Carrington.
It is claimed that the 18-year-old ‘was invited back after a handful of sessions with the seniors’ and is impressing first-team stars with his technical level.
Maguire ‘has taken it upon himself to help Lacey settle into the senior group and act as a sounding board’, with the winger running riot against opponents at academy level.
In just three Premier League 2 appearances this season, Lacey has scored two goals in 122 minutes of action, and in total, has contributed to 14 goals for the U18s.
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It appears as if he could be the next Carrington graduate to make the grade at first-team level, although it is stated that ‘United are eager to take a slow and steady approach when it comes to Lacey, particularly in terms of managing his minutes, after injuries in recent years’.
قدم توني كروس، أسطورة نادي ريال مدريد، مرة أخرى دعمه للمدرب تشابي ألونسو موضحًا أن الأخير لا توجد مشكلة حقيقية معه في الفريق الملكي.
ألونسو عين كمدير فني جديد لنادي ريال مدريد خلال شهر يونيو الماضي، وذلك خلفًا لكارلو أنشيلوتي في عقد مدته ثلاثة مواسم.
وعلى الرغم من بداية ريال مدريد الجيدة مع ألونسو خلال هذا الموسم، إلا أن نتائج الميرنجي شهدت تراجعًا واضحًا خلال الفترة الأخيرة بالفعل.
ولم يتمكن ريال مدريد من تحقيق الانتصار في ثلاث مباريات متتالية بكافة المسابقات، قبل أن يستعيد نغمة الفوز ويهزم أولمبياكوس بأربعة أهداف مقابل ثلاثة يوم أمس الأربعاء ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وقام ريال مدريد بتكريم كروس اليوم الخميس، حيث حصل الدولي الألماني السابق على وسام صليب فارس الاستحقاق من جمهورية ألمانيا الاتحادية، وهو أعلى وسام مدني يتم منحه من قبل بلاده.
طالع .. فابريجاس يحسم موقفه من عودة نيكو باز لـ ريال مدريد في يناير
وقال كروس في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة سبورت: “بالنظر إلى الوضع الحالي في هذا التكريم، أجد صعوبة في تحديد ما إذا كنت سأتحدث بالألمانية أم الإسبانية”.
وأضاف كروس في حديثه عن ألونسو: “ما زلت أقول بالألمانية إنه لا توجد مشكلة مع تشابي ألونسو أيضًا، لا أعتقد ذلك”.
وشكر المستشار الألماني الذي تواجد في تكريم كروس اليوم، فالتر شتاينماير، اللاعب السابق حيث اختتم: ”لم يصبح أسطورة بفضل إنجازاته الرياضية المتميزة فحسب، بل إن شخصيته الودودة والهادئة، داخل الملعب وخارجه جعلته قدوةً للعديد من المواهب الكروية الشابة وعشاق الرياضة”.
كروس سبق وأن قدم دعمه في أكثر من مناسبة لألونسو من قبل، خصوصًا بعد حادثة الكلاسيكو بين ريال مدريد وبرشلونة واعتراض فينيسيوس جونيور على تبديله في شوط اللقاء الثاني.
وقام بتكريم كروس اليوم رئيس ريال مدريد، فلورنتينو بيريز، إلى جانب عدد من الأسماء في الفريق الملكي التي حضرت الحفل كفيديريكو فالفيردي، وأنطونيو روديجر، وألفارو أربيلوا، وروبيرتو كارلوس.
Shubman Gill, who has just wrapped up his first Test series win as India captain is “kind of getting used to it [the experience]”, he said after the seven-wicket win over West Indies on Tuesday sealed a 2-0 series win.”It’s about taking the right options in the given situation,” he said in the presentation ceremony when asked what he had learnt after seven Tests (starting with the 2-2 result in England) as the leader of the pack. “I try to make the most probable decision in the given situation that we are in. Sometimes you have to take some bold decisions, that X-factor depending on which player can get you certain runs or get you those wickets.”Four wins in seven Tests is a great start for any Test captain, but when you lead India, it comes with additional scrutiny. In Delhi, it was in response to India enforcing the follow-on after taking a 270-run lead, especially after the 177-run third-wicket stand between century-makers John Campbell and Shai Hope.Related
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“We were around 300 runs ahead and the wicket was quite dead, and we thought even if we scored 500 runs, we have to get six or seven wickets on day five it would be a tough day for us,” Gill explained.The other little niggle was Nitish Kumar Reddy, the fast-bowling allrounder in the XI, not bowling a single over. “[He] didn’t really get to bowl any overs in this match but we don’t want players to only play matches overseas – that puts a lot of pressure on the players,” Gill said. “If we want to groom certain players that we think can help us win matches overseas [we need to find spots for them], because that’s been the challenge for us.”Two of the players who got to bowl a lot and played key roles in the series were Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Two spinners trying to form a partnership after many years of R Ashwin being the lead spinner when at home.”I could get chance to bowl more overs,” Jadeja said with a laugh after collecting his player-of-the-series award. “We’ve been doing wonderful work as a team. We know what brand of cricket we have been playing since last five-six months, so it’s a good sign as a team that we continue to do it for a long period of time.”2:13
Why didn’t Nitish Kumar Reddy bowl a single over in the Delhi Test?
Jadeja has also moved up the batting order in recent times – all the way to No. 6. And the returns have been solid. There was a century in England when India saved a Test they seemed out of in Manchester, and one now in Ahmedabad, along with a number of other impressive scores. “In past so many years, I have been batting at No. 8, No. 9, so my mindset was a little different to what I have right now, but [I’m] just trying to spend more time in the middle when I get the chance.”He’s also got a chance to mentor the younger spinners in the side, like Kuldeep and Washington Sundar. “It’s lovely to have him [Jadeja] around,” Kuldeep said. “He’s someone who has always guided me in tough situations and giving me some advice and it’s really helping me out.”Having sat out the entire tour of England, Kuldeep was back in the XI for the two Tests against West Indies and bowled beautifully, finishing with a chart-topping 12 wickets, including eight in Delhi that earned him the player-of-the-match award.1:15
How Kuldeep beat the challenges of a slow pitch
“In terms of pace, I thought, probably the pace, and the drift, which I got in Ahmedabad, if you compare that to this Test match, there wasn’t any drift here, because of the surface. The wicket was too dry,” he said of the changes he had to make between the two Tests. “Playing two Test matches back-to-back is always fun, and bowling lot of overs and getting the breakthrough in the middle is something I enjoy.”There isn’t much time for the multi-format players, with the first ODI of the series in Australia in a week’s time.Kuldeep will squeeze in as much football-watching as he can: “I’ll watch a few games and we hardly have time, we’re going to fly tomorrow and we have a game on the 19th. So I have to prepare for that.”Gill will leave his preparations – or the planning, at least – till later: “It’s a long flight, maybe we can talk about it there.”
da realsbet： Com uma semana cheia para trabalhar, o Grêmio voltou aos treinos na última terça-feira. Uma das novidades do técnico Vagner Mancini, o zagueiro Paulo Miranda busca um espaço na equipe titular do tricolor após retornar aos gramados contra o Juventude no último fim de semana. Boa opção para o sistema defensivo tricolor, o atleta está atuando em sua quarta temporada vestindo a camisa tricolor, foi capitão em algumas oportunidades e é uma das lideranças do vestiário gremista.
+ Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada
Em comparação aos últimos anos, o jogador não ganhou uma grande sequência na equipe titular. Foram apenas 12 partidas em 2021, com um gol marcado e uma assistência. Titular em nove oportunidades, nas vezes em que esteve em campo a equipe gaúcha teve sete vitórias, três empates e apenas duas derrotas. Números que resultam em um aproveitamento superior a 66%. Mesmo com as trocas de comando durante o ano, Paulo Miranda seguiu trabalhando e sempre pronto para ajudar o Grêmio.
‘Estou animado em voltar a campo num momento importante da temporada. Temos um objetivo a cumprir e será importante ter todos os companheiros a disposição. Sigo trabalhando, me dedicando e buscando meu espaço para ajudar o Grêmio quando preciso. Estou pronto, quero manter o foco nessa reta final do ano e ajudar no que for preciso e manter o clube no lugar que ele merece. Vamos contornar essa situação com o apoio de todos e, principalmente, com a nossa grande torcida gremista’, afirma o zagueiro.
Contratado em 2018, Paulo Miranda atuou em 87 jogos com a camisa tricolor e balançou as redes em seis jogos. Com contrato até dezembro de 2022, aqui no Sul já conquistou cinco títulos desde sua chegada.
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Kraigg Brathwaite, Joshua Da Silva and Kavem Hodge have been excluded in the latest announcement by Cricket West Indies
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2025Cricket West Indies (CWI) has made three changes to their list of men’s international retainer contracts for 2025-26, with former Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Joshua Da Silva and Kavem Hodge missing out. Justin Greaves, Sherfane Rutherford and Jomel Warrican have been added to the 15-player roster in their place.In their list of women’s international retainers, seamers Jannillea Glasgow and Shawnisha Hector have been added to the 13-player roster, while Shamilia Connell, Cherry Ann Fraser, Chedean Nation and Rashada Williams are not part of the list.The core group remains in place. Among the men, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie and Jayden Seales have all been retained, while the women’s list continues to feature Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin and Shemaine Campbelle. The contracts commence from October 1, 2025.Miles Bascombe, CWI’s director of cricket, said that the retainers were given out keeping in mind “current performance and long-term potential, while keeping a close eye on our broader strategy of building towards major global tournaments”. These decisions, he said, aligned with the pathways designed for West Indies’ cricket’s long-term success.Starter (development) contracts were also offered for Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Johann Layne, Jahzara Claxton and Realeanna Grimmond. Additionally, academy contracts were given out to 15 men’s cricketers and 14 women’s cricketers.West Indies – more so in men’s cricket, but also in women’s cricket – are looking to regain their identity after a string of disappointing performances. The women’s team failed to qualify for the ongoing ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka although they beat South Africa in a T20I series in June. The men’s team was blanked in the Test series against Australia at home in July – with the 27 all out in the last innings the lowest of lows – and was followed by an “emergency meeting”, but then went down 2-1 to Nepal in a T20I series in late September. They did win an ODI series against Pakistan at home in August but lost the corresponding T20I series.
da betano casino： The season only kicked off a month and a half ago, but it’s already been full of twists and turns for Arsenal.
da premier bet： For example, after winning their opening two Premier League games, Mikel Arteta’s side then lost away to Liverpool, after which many fans and pundits alike began to write off the team’s title credentials.
However, fast-forward to today, and the Gunners find themselves atop the table and with two wins from two in the Champions League.
Arsenal’s recent form
Competition
Opposition
Result
EPL
West Ham (H)
2-0 (W)
UCL
Olympiacos (H)
2-0 (W)
EPL
Newcastle (H)
2-1 (W)
EFL Cup
Port Vale (A)
2-0 (W)
EPL
Man City (H)
1-1 (D)
UCL
Bilbao (A)
2-0 (W)
EPL
Forest (H)
3-0 (W)
Yet, while things are going brilliantly from a performance and results perspective, the North Londoners continue to be ravaged by injury, including club captain Martin Odegaard.
Fortunately, Arteta now has a few options when it comes to replacing him, one of which could be starting a star player in an entirely new position.
Arsenal's injury problems
For a period this season, it felt as if Arsenal were unable to complete a game without losing a player to injury, and while things are no longer that bad, the situation is far from ideal.
Arsenal’s Injuries
Player
Injury
Jesus
Knee
Havertz
Knee
Madueke
Knee
Hincapie
Groin
Odegaard
MCL
For example, while the likes of William Saliba, Ben White and Christian Norgaard are fit again, and Declan Rice looks ready to play for England this week, Arteta is set to be without five first-team players when the international break comes to an end.
The most prolonged absence remains Gabriel Jesus, and while he has taken pictures of himself back on the grass, the manager confirmed that it would be “many, many months” before he plays regular minutes for the first team again.
What makes the Brazilian’s absence so much more of a problem is the fact that Kai Havertz is also out following the surgery he had on his knee back in late August, meaning there is no natural competition for Viktor Gyokeres at the moment.
The attacking woes don’t stop there, though, as Noni Madueke is expected to remain out of contention for at least another month or so after suffering a knee injury in the home game against Manchester City last month.
The former Chelsea player is yet to score or assist a goal in red and white, but his performances this season have been brilliant, and he added a blistering directness that has sometimes been missing from the team.
Another summer signing currently sidelined is Piero Hincapie, who is out with a groin injury, and while his absence is a blow, it’s hard to determine how much of an impact he’ll have this season, considering he’s played just six minutes thus far.
Finally, arguably the most impactful injury of them all is Odegaard’s, as before being forced off with what has now been confirmed as an MCL injury, the Norwegian was starting to look like the creative force he was a couple of years ago.
Fortunately, Arteta does have a few ways he can address the captain’s absence, and perhaps one worth trying is starting his best player in a new position.
The Arsenal star who could replace Odegaard
So, the way Arteta is likely to solve the problem of Odegaard being out injured is by starting Eberechi Eze in the attacking midfield position.
Chalkboard
While this is a perfectly logical solution, and one that many will be calling for, it does create one issue: a weaker left-wing position, as neither Leandro Trossard nor Gabriel Martinelli has excelled when starting for a long time.
Therefore, a way to keep the left-hand side strong is to do something entirely new and try playing Arsenal’s most important player in a central location: Bukayo Saka.
Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, this isn’t an example of moving the Englishman to a less important position to accommodate someone else; if anything, moving him to the middle of the pitch would allow him to have a far greater influence on the game.
Described as one of the club’s “very best players,” by podcaster Adam Keys, the Hale Ender has shown time and time again that he has the technical and mental skills to play a more central role.
He’s an excellent striker of the ball, can see a pass that few others in the team can, has spent the last three years being double and triple-teamed by defenders, and, while he’s not the fastest, he has incredible agility in the way he moves around the pitch.
Moreover, with 100 goal involvements in 200 league games, the 24-year-old has the output to be measured against the best number tens in the game.
Finally, in addition to the eye test and his record, the North Londoners’ “legend in the making,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has the underlying numbers to prove he’d be a goal-scoring chance-creating machine in central areas.
According to FBref, he ranked in the top 1% of wingers and attacking midfielders in the Premier League last season for non-penalty expected goals plus assists, key passes, shot-creating actions, goal-creating actions, and more, all per 90.
Saka’s Scout Report
Statistics
Per 90
Percentile
Goals + Assists
0.83
Top 1%
npxG + xAG
0.71
Top 1%
xA: Expected Assists
0.41
Top 1%
Key Passes
3.02
Top 1%
Shot-Creating Actions
6.09
Top 1%
Goal-Creating Actions
1.20
Top 1%
GCA (Live-ball Pass)
0.73
Top 1%
GCA (Dead-ball Pass)
0.26
Top 1%
Assists
0.52
Top 2%
xAG: Exp. Assisted Goals
0.40
Top 2%
SCA (Shot)
0.52
Top 3%
Touches (Att Pen)
8.43
Top 3%
Progressive Passes Rec
13.27
Top 4%
Crosses
6.09
Top 4%
SCA (Dead-ball Pass)
1.04
Top 5%
Touches (Att 3rd)
37.22
Top 6%
Shots Total
3.44
Top 8%
Crosses into Penalty Area
0.62
Top 8%
SCA (Live-ball Pass)
3.70
Top 8%
SCA (Take-On)
0.62
Top 8%
Shots on Target
1.15
Top 11%
GCA (Take-On)
0.10
Top 11%
Penalty Kicks Made
0.05
Top 12%
Carries into Penalty Area
2.65
Top 12%
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 PL Season
Ultimately, it would be a left-field decision, but Saka is a genuinely world-class player, and perhaps Odegaard’s injury will be the perfect opportunity for Arteta to see how he fares in the middle of the park, where he can have a more significant impact on the game.
Berta holds new Arsenal contract talks with big-name duo after Raya, Saka and Timber
Nottingham Forest are at the beginning of life under Ange Postecoglou, but results haven’t gone to plan since the Australian boss arrived at the City Ground.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure paved the way for Postecoglou to enter the hotseat in the East Midlands, though it is fair to say his tenure has yielded mixed reviews as he awaits a first victory in charge.
Back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Swansea City were followed by consecutive draws against Burnley and Real Betis, before Forest endured a frustrating loss against Sunderland last weekend despite creating a host of chances.
Urging patience, Postecoglou shared frustration at his side not being able to dispose of the Black Cats, albeit he did acknowledge his side were more than a match for their opponents in terms of their performance.
He stated: “Frustrating. Disappointing. It’s another game we have allowed to get away from us, where really we should be very comfortably overcoming (Sunderland). I didn’t think there was anything in it (free-kick decision). Irrespective, even if the referee has made an absolute high howler, we can still deal with the free-kick better. What we did after that is more of a concern to me than the decision.”
While Nottingham Forest’s frustration at the officials was reflected by Neco Williams, they do have plenty to build on; it isn’t as if they’ve been blown away by their opposition in any of their last four matches, excluding their defeat at Arsenal.
Ange Postecoglou’s frustrating start
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Swansea City 3-2 Nottingham Forest
Burnley 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Real Betis 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland
Either way, people will already begin to form judgements, with many still fresh from memories of Postecoglou’s rollercoaster season with Tottenham Hotspur last term, ending the year with the Europa League trophy and a 17th-placed Premier League finish.
Tim Howard launches scathing Postecoglou verdict
Speaking to Premier League Productions, former United States and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has hit out at Postecoglou, claiming his methods lack pragmatism even if they are easy on the eye.
He stated: “I’m so sick and tired of these coaches saying, ‘This is the way I play, and I’ll lose my job, but I’ll play this way.’ No, you have to be pragmatic. You have to dig in. Yes, they use the football well and yes, they play well. But did you see that (Sunderland) performance? They were willing to dig in, every single one of them. That’s how you get results, and it shows.”
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Truthfully, there are two contexts to view Nottingham Forest’s situation in. On one hand, they have been unlucky not to claim more from their first five matches under Postecoglou, but a soft underbelly has no place in a side trying to claim Premier League points.
The Australian is known for his firebrand style of football, so fans will have to be encouraged by the flashes of what they’ve seen – particularly in Seville – and simply buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Chelsea legend John Terry has found himself at the centre of social media ridicule after performing a rap with British artist ArrDee at the Baller League UK. The former Blues defender, who lifted 15 trophies with the club, was labelled "cringe" and "embarrassing" by fans following his appearance alongside the rapper during Monday night’s event.
Terry’s rap shocks fans at Baller League
Terry, one of Chelsea’s greatest ever players, made headlines this week after taking part in a musical performance during the Baller League UK, an indoor six-a-side competition that blends football with online entertainment and features content creators alongside former pros.
The 44-year-old, who manages a team named the 26ers, joined ArrDee during the team's entrance for what appeared to be a playful diss track aimed at influencer Angry Ginge. Footage of the pair walking out together and performing quickly spread across social media, with many supporters expressing their disbelief at the sight of their former captain trying his hand at rap.
Terry, who spent his entire 22-year playing career at Stamford Bridge and won the Premier League five times, appeared in good spirits during the performance, but the online reaction was the opposite, with sections of the Chelsea fanbase calling it "painful to watch" and questioning why a club legend would involve himself in such antics.
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Social media reaction: ‘Cringe’, ‘embarrassing’, and ‘tops the slip’
It didn’t take long for the clip to go viral, and fans across were quick to pile in with a mix of humour, disbelief, and second-hand embarrassment.
One user, @saxon_davi67265, wrote: "He's topped his most embarrassing moment in his life of slipping in a Champions League final."
Another, @ONLYONEWEEDA, admitted he felt incredibly uncomfortable watching the scenes unfold. He posted: "Jesus christ that was cringe"
@NikBoReid simply added: "Embarrassing nonsense."
Meanwhile, @jordymaui commented: “What the f*ck is this?", followed by several crying laughing emojis.
And @pusb1991 questioned those who watch the competition in the first place, adding: "Who watches this sh*te genuinely?".
The negative wave of reaction didn’t stop there. On Reddit and other platforms, fans described the moment as "super cringe" and "hard to watch", while others urged Terry to "stick to coaching" instead of pursuing a career in the music industry.
From captain to content creator
While the reaction was mostly mocking, Terry’s involvement in the Baller League reflects his growing interest in football-based entertainment. The competition features former professionals, influencers, and content creators, mixing sport with live performances and plenty of viral moments. Terry has served as one of the Baller League’s headline figures since its launch, managing the 26ers team and making regular appearances in promotional content. His collaboration with ArrDee was clearly meant to be light-hearted, though it appears many fans took it less kindly.
The former England international retired from playing in 2018 before moving into assistant coaching roles at Aston Villa and Leicester City. He’s also been open about his desire to one day manage Chelsea, describing it as his "final dream" in football.
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Terry’s legacy damaged?
Despite the backlash, Terry remains one of Chelsea’s most decorated figures, having made 717 appearances and captained the club to its first Champions League title in 2012. Yet, his off-pitch persona has often divided opinion, from controversial posts on social media to now, an unexpected rap performance.
Some supporters took the criticism in stride, noting that the clip was likely meant to be fun and part of the Baller League’s entertainment approach. Others, though, saw it as another "PR own goal" for a figure who once embodied the club’s old-school toughness.
The contrast between the former captain who lifted trophies under Jose Mourinho and the man rapping in a tracksuit beside ArrDee was too much for many to process. Although it is worth noting that the reaction the clip sparked on social media served its purpose. Terry will have been well aware that purist fans of the game will have picked up on his performance, and while he may face the brunt of the backlash, the moment draws more eyes to the Baller League.
It’s understood his vision did not align with that of head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka
Nagraj Gollapudi18-Sep-20256:17
‘Zaheer’s vision wasn’t bought by LSG leadership group’
Lucknow Super Giants’ team mentor Zaheer Khan has parted ways with the franchise after just one season. ESPNcricinfo has learned Zaheer informed LSG of his decision on Thursday.It is understood that the primary reason for Zaheer quitting is that his vision for the franchise did not align with that of head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka. While Zaheer’s relationship with captain Rishabh Pant remained strong, he was affected by the thought process that played a role in LSG sliding down the points table in the second half of IPL 2025.Zaheer had joined LSG in August 2024, filling the vacancy left by Gautam Gambhir’s exit after IPL 2023. Zaheer had been with Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022 and agreed to a two-year contract with LSG, taking charge of scouting, planning and strategy.Related
Zaheer: Looked like it was Punjab curator at our home game
Bharat Arun named LSG bowling coach
After making the playoffs in their first two IPL seasons in 2022 and 2023, LSG did not reach the knockouts in the last two seasons. In 2025, they finished seventh with six wins from 14 games. It was a season of contrasting halves: LSG had five wins in their first eight matches but only one in the last six. Of the eight games they played at their home ground, the Ekana Stadium, they won only two.LSG had made headlines at last year’s mega auction when they bought Pant for INR 27 crore (USD 3.2 million approx.), making him the most expensive player ever in the IPL. The team was built around him, but Zaheer put in place building blocks he felt were needed to grow stronger every season. Despite there being a lot of chatter about Pant opening the batting, Zaheer spoke to the wicketkeeper-batter early on and told him that the better strategy would be for Mitchell Marsh to open with Aiden Markram. That strategy, Zaheer impressed on both Pant and the leadership group, would reduce the burden on their best batter, Nicholas Pooran, who was the No. 3.The role clarity allowed the batters to play with freedom and perform consistently. Markram had never opened in the IPL before, while Marsh, despite having been in the IPL for more than a decade, had never made a major impact. The move worked: Marsh was the fifth highest run-getter in IPL 2025 with 627 runs at a strike rate of 163.70, Pooran made 524 runs at 196.25, and Markram 445 at 148.82.
da dobrowin： Manchester United and INEOS have added a £62 million “big-name” player to their transfer shortlist, according to a recent report. Ruben Amorim will be aware of the task that faces him to get United back on top, and for that reason, he will be pushing the hierarchy to get some transfer business done in January.
Man Utd and INEOS now agree £4m deal to sign new gem for Amorim after talks
United are closing in on the signing of a player who can help address their problem position.
ByBrett Worthington Dec 12, 2024 Manchester United transfer news
da pixbet： The Red Devils have been linked with moves for some high-profile players in recent days, but it is unclear if they are transfers that can occur in the New Year. One player who has emerged on their radar is Mike Maignan. A move for Maignan will only come about if Andre Onana departs Old Trafford, with his future up in the air at the moment. The Red Devils are putting plans in place if they do need to move for a goalkeeper, and Maignan is at the top of their list.
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
While being linked with potential big money arrivals, United are closing in on their first signing for 2025, as Diego Leon looks set to join the club. United have agreed a £4 million deal to sign Leon from Cerro Porteno. The Premier League side have moved quickly to wrap up this deal, as on Wednesday it was reported that there were “active talks”. Now, the “groundwork” of the transfer has been done, and Leon is expected to join United in the summer, as he needs to wait until he turns 18 to join his new team.
Man Utd add £62m player to transfer shortlist
According to Football Insider, Manchester United have added Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic to their transfer shortlist. The Serbia international joined the Italian giants in January 2022, and while he has continued to score goals, he has yet to win the Serie A, his only success being the Italian Cup in the 2023/24 campaign.
Vlahovic, who has been dubbed a “big-name” player in the past, scored 10 goals in 27 league games during the 2022/23 season and then went on to better that last term, netting 16 times in 33 Serie A games. At 24, he has continued to be a clinical striker in one of the most competitive leagues in football, and that has put him on the radar of the Red Devils.
United have now added Vlahovic to their shortlist as they look at options to improve their forward line. Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are held in high regard at Old Trafford but are struggling to find the back of the net on a consistent basis.
Dusan Vlahovic’s Juventus stats
Apps
119
Goals
51
Assists
11
INEOS are continuing to monitor Vlahovic’s situation at Juventus, as his contract comes to an end in 2026. Talks are being held over a new contract for the forward, but it is currently described as a “standoff,” which has placed his future in jeopardy. United see Vlahovic as an alternative target to the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen, but it would be costly, as Juventus would want £62 million to sell the striker.