Category Uncategorized

Leeds United are currently preparing for a huge summer transfer window as they look ahead to trying to avoid instant relegation from the Premier League.

The Whites won the Championship title, with a staggering 100 points, with their win over Plymouth Argyle on the final day, and now have a top-flight season to look forward to.

Daniel Farke and his staff must recruit players who they feel can bolster the squad to improve their chances of survival, and the West Yorkshire outfit are reportedly looking to bring a former star back to Elland Road.

Leeds considering move for Premier League midfielder

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Leeds United are “considering” a deal to sign Manchester City defensive midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

The reporter claims that the England international would be “ready” to return to West Yorkshire ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, having left the club to join the Cityzens in the summer of 2022.

Bailey’s report on The Boot Room adds that a permanent deal would be difficult for the Whites to do, because the midfielder has three years left on his contract at The Etihad, and that they are currently eyeing up a loan move for their former academy graduate.

Phillips has spent the current season on loan with Ipswich Town, who have already been relegated from the Premier League, but his previous form for Leeds in the top-flight suggests that he could star alongside Ao Tanaka at Elland Road.

Why Kalvin Phillips could thrive with Ao Tanaka

The Japanese midfielder enjoyed a fantastic season in the Championship with the Whites and showed potential to make the step up to the Premier League, with his passing and defensive qualities.

Tanaka ended the 2024/25 campaign with a pass completion rate of 90% and a duel success rate of 55% across 43 appearances, which shows that he was efficient in and out of possession in the middle of the park.

Leeds will need their midfielders to be reliable on the ball and strong off it in the top-flight, as they will be battling against relegation, and that is also why Tanaka could thrive alongside a physical operator like Phillips, who was once dubbed “exceptional” by U23 scout Antonio Mango.

Appearances

29

43

Pass accuracy

85%

90%

Tackles per game

2.6

2.2

Interceptions per game

1.6

1.3

Duels won per game

5.3

4.5

Duel success rate

52%

55%

As you can see in the table above, the English maestro’s defensive form for Marcelo Bielsa in the Premier League during the 2020/21 campaign was even more impressive than the current Leeds star’s in the second tier this term.

This suggests that the potential is there for them to be a robust midfield pairing who can provide protection in front of the back four, whilst also being reliable with their passing into the front players, which could be needed as they battle it out for vital points.

Of course, there are question marks over whether or not Phillips can get back to that level, having struggled of late in loans with Ipswich and West Ham, losing 57% of his duels in the top-flight for the former and 52% of his battles for the latter.

Perhaps a return to familiar surroundings at Elland Road, where he has been successful at the top level in the past, could help him to return to form.

Leeds could seal best striker signing since Wood with move for 20-goal star

Leeds could land their best striker signing since Chris Wood in a swoop for this star.

ByDan Emery May 7, 2025

Signing him on loan, therefore, could be a worthwhile gamble and one that could pay off for Leeds and Farke as it could result in him and Tanaka forming an impressive midfield partnership.

Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is said to be keen on selling a “world class” player to Newcastle United as part of a swap deal involving Sandro Tonali this summer.

Tonali open to leaving Newcastle this summer

Tonali has enjoyed an impressive season for the Magpies, helping Eddie Howe’s side win the EFL Cup, as well as making 31 appearances in the Premier League, looking to help them return to the Champions League.

That said, a worrying update recently emerged regarding the future of the Italian, who is thought to be open to the idea of leaving Newcastle at the end of the current campaign.

It has been claimed that the Magpies will be willing to listen to offers above £68.5m for Tonali’s services in the summer, which would bring an end to his two-year stay at St James’ Park.

That would be a big disappointment, with the 24-year-old such an influential performer for Newcastle in the middle of the park alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, but a new rumour has at least suggested that a swap deal involving a top-quality attacker could be on the cards.

Newcastle linked with a move for "world class" Vlahovic

According to TuttoSport [via Sport Witness], Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli wants to sell striker Dusan Vlahovic this summer, and Newcastle’s interest is referenced specifically because it could see Tonali head in the opposite direction.

The Serb’s agents want him to remain with the Turin giants for another year, but the club are believed to be looking to strike a deal for him before next season gets underway. As mentioned, Newcastle losing Tonali this summer would clearly be a setback, given his age and influence, but if a swap deal with Vlahovic did happen, the £320,000-a-week striker could be a great addition.

While fitting both him and Alexander Isak into the same team wouldn’t necessarily be easy for Howe, the Serbia international would be a real asset, being described as “world class” by journalist Siavoush Fallahi.

Vlahovic hasn’t had his most productive season in a Juventus shirt, only scoring nine goals in the league, which is perhaps why there is a willingness to allow him to leave in the summer transfer window.

That shouldn’t change the fact that Newcastle would love to have him, though, having scored 14 goals in 34 caps for Serbia, and 55 in 138 matches for Juve.

Newcastle expected to open talks to sign £40k-a-week Nottingham Forest ace

He has enjoyed a great season in the Premier League.

ByHenry Jackson Apr 20, 2025

Seeing Tonali stay put is still arguably more important, however, with the Italy international still having so many years at the top level ahead of him.

His being dropped may not be the worst thing, but it does dent his halo, bringing him down to the ranks of the merely very good

Osman Samiuddin14-Oct-2024As first tasks go, telling Babar Azam that he was about to be dropped must have been some introduction to selection for Azhar Ali. Welcome to the committee. Before you settle in, here’s the mess you’ve inherited. Mind cleaning it up, pronto?Thankfully Azhar is used to this kind of stuff given his introduction to international cricket was the soap operatic mess of the 2010 tour of England, and that at one down, it was pretty much his entire JD. He’s a good, empathetic man, who probably would have wanted the responsibility of telling Babar he was going to be dropped. It can’t have been an easy call, and made no lighter by the almost ironic twist that it was under Babar’s captaincy that Azhar’s Test career ended, sooner, perhaps, than Azhar would’ve liked.These days, of course, teams tiptoe around the idea that anyone is being dropped. “Rested” as the PCB said diplomatically in their press release. A later communication said that Babar had been “spared from the team”, which, given recent results and mood, well, you can picture Freud slipping can’t you?Related

• 'We had a clear plan' – Azhar Mahmood puts his spin on Multan pitch

• What's happened to Babar Azam's Test batting?

• The PCB is even more disastrous than usual. Here are the numbers to prove it

• Babar Azam set to be dropped for second Test against England

Whatever the semantics, it is a big call. A bigly call, even. So big it’s difficult to recall a bigger one in recent Pakistan history (maybe Inzi after the 2003 World Cup). Big players have been banned, punished, forced to retire, yes, but dropped for as mundane a reason as form? And make no mistake, they don’t come bigger than Babar, Pakistan’s best batter, in the conversation to be their greatest ever, their unquestioned all-format captain until not long ago, and – because these things matter – the biggest draw in Pakistan cricket. That he was helped on to that last pedestal by the very board that is now nudging him off it is by the by, of course. The simultaneous absence of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah from the second Test amplifies the sense of a culling of stars, but fast bowlers, Pakistan have always thought, are expendable. The epicentre is Babar.So yes, a big call. Was it one Pakistan had to make? Is this really the call that turns their fortunes around?At one level, this is a proper Statement Axing. There’s a(nother) new selection committee in town. Pakistan have suffered another record-breaking, earth-shattering loss. Drastic change feels necessary. Scapegoats must be found, and the captain can’t be sacked one Test into the series. So sack the former captain. Even by the PCB’s standards, this selection committee is an eclectic mix of the outré and strait-laced sensibility – Aaqib Javed and Aleem Dar with Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali – but it’s telling they were unanimous in their view on Babar. The captain and coach weren’t involved in the decision, and given their pleas for continuity, it’s logical to assume they are not entirely pleased with the call.

There is a tangible sense that a break really might do Babar good, that what he needs most is to decompress. The last couple of years have been especially taxing and toxic

It is possible, though, to see a level where it does make sense. That isn’t concerned so much with the batting and the returns, because those can be argued either way. Yes, the numbers aren’t great. Yes, he’s getting dismissed early and he’s getting dismissed when he’s set. Yes, he’s getting beaten on the outside edge and the inside. Yes, he’s falling to pace and spin.No, his form doesn’t feel terminally bad. Two years without a half-century sounds like a long stretch, time-wise, but no, nine Tests without one doesn’t sound so long Tests-wise. That is part of the problem. Pakistan just don’t play that many Tests and those they do come with great irregularity. These nearly two years, for example, include a stretch of no Tests for six months, then nearly five months without one, then almost eight months without one again. How do you get out of a rut and into a run in this stop-start schedule? Ollie Pope not scoring runs in a few Tests, for instance, is less complicated, given there’s almost always another Test right around the corner for him to right things. And if Pope has issues, he knows he has Marcus Trescothick, England’s batting coach since 2021, to turn to. Babar? Speed dates spend more time getting to know each other than Babar has had with some coaches lately. So given his track record and the general acknowledgment that he remains Pakistan’s best batter, retaining him for the remaining two Tests against England would have been far from a terrible call.Instead, more than the runs or the form is this tangible sense that a break really might do him good, that what he needs most is to decompress. The last couple of years have been especially taxing and toxic. Stripped of the captaincy, given parts of it back, then having to let go again; poor results cascading in tune with administrative clownery; becoming the eye of every storm, whether it is the culture wars over his intent in T20s and ODIs, the obsessive, magnified dissection of his lack of Test runs, the dismissals of his insipid captaincy, or the growing talk of team factions and disunity. Against this, a break should be considered a period of convalescence.At the very least, it is a moment to pause and breathe and take in the giddying journey of his last few years. Hardly had he established himself as a Test batter in early 2019 than he was rising to all-format captain in 2020 and to global superstardom shortly thereafter. The relentless playing schedule, the burgeoning celebrity and its distorting effects since, have likely sheened onto this period a sense of unreality. It’s worth trying to unwrap that. Maybe even for him to tend to his primary occupation, by working on his batting with someone and rediscovering what made him so good.Since the start of January 2023, Babar has averaged 20, as against 49 before•AFP/Getty ImagesRisk is inherent, of course, in that genuine resets in the Pakistani context are rare, and in an environment as corrosive as the prevailing one… well, there’s as much chance he comes back broken as he does having not taken a meaningful break, and as captain. There’s a reason why so many Pakistani cricketers never willingly take a break, because they know well the vagaries of Pakistan selection.Which is why there is an overriding sense of sadness about all this. Babar wasn’t supposed to be just another talented Pakistani cricketer. It really did feel like he was the real deal, the batter who, one day, we would look back on as the undisputed greatest in Pakistan’s history, who rode out pace and bounce in Australia and South Africa, who coped expertly with seam and swing in England and New Zealand, who plundered at home and on the subcontinent, and who maybe even won a world title along the way.He may still get there eventually, but that road is a crooked one now. He’s been tarred with a little mortality, suddenly pervious to the tremors and jitters of ordinary cricketers. In the long term, and for a life away from the game, it is probably no bad thing. Call it a life lesson. In the short term, that’s hardly consolation.

Seemingly comfortable win undermined by injury concerns and negative net run rate

Danyal Rasool31-Oct-2022Anyone who watched Monday night’s game at the Gabba in bits and pieces, and then allowed the scorecard to fill them in on the rest, would wonder why there was any cause for negativity. Australia beat Ireland by 42 runs. Aaron Finch – whose notoriously scratchy innings against Sri Lanka has dogged him for the past week – was the Player of the Match, smashing eight boundaries, including three sixes, in a 44-ball 63. Mitchell Starc, despite operating as a second-change bowler, found prodigious swing and frightening accuracy in the fourth over, a wicket maiden that saw both the stumps of both Curtis Campher and George Dockrell knocked back, gutting the Irish chase before it could even begin.And yet as the players shook hands, this felt anything like an unequivocally positive day for the hosts and defending champions. Finch, in truth, had struggled for the best part of that innings, which was characterised by lack of timing and some questionable shot selection, particularly in the powerplay. By the end of the 14th over, Finch had managed just 40 off 36 deliveries; his team-mates had scored 68 off 48 in that time. It was only when Mark Adair sent down a horror 11-ball 15th over that Finch finally broke free; the question around whether that had more to do with ordinary bowling than a batter who has truly returned to form seems pertinent.In addition, he was off the field for much of the Ireland innings, nursing a hamstring injury that a scan will reveal more of. It was the other overriding concern that coloured Australia’s view of the win, with Tim David and Marcus Stoinis also going off the field at various points of the second innings, each with hamstring issues.And Starc, who had begun so brightly, ended up conceding 43 off his next three overs, the fourth most expensive figures in his T20I career. The lower-order recovery from Ireland, spearheaded by Lorcan Tucker, who blitzed his way to a 48-ball 71, also extinguished any hopes Australia had of getting close to England – their likely rivals for second place in this group – on net run rate, at least for now. From 25 for 5, Ireland fought their way to 137, meaning even a win against Afghanistan in their final group game might not be enough for Australia to qualify.Starc, speaking afterwards, was keen to draw on the positives for Australia, even as he acknowledged the back end of the Ireland innings didn’t go according to plan for the hosts. “It was obviously different,” he said. “I mean, better to experience it now than in the finals.Related

'Themselves to blame' – Ricky Ponting finds no excuse if Australia don't make semi-final

Scenarios: What New Zealand, Australia, England and Sri Lanka need to do to make the semis

Finch acing verbal volleys but needs his bat to do the talking

Starc and Maxwell take down Ireland despite Tucker's resistance

Weather the big worry as Sri Lanka and Afghanistan scrap for crucial points

“It was still I guess a little bit frantic while they were still striking the ball quite nicely. Probably changed a bit with having Aaron off the field and probably what he was planning to do [might have been different], and I’m not part of the messages or the conversations coming on and off the field. I couldn’t tell you how that affected the guys who ran the show there. We’ll regroup and see where we place when we get to Adelaide.”In effect, Australia’s imperfect victory only shines a further spotlight on the game to follow in Brisbane, with England aware any sort of win against New Zealand puts them in pole position to qualify for the semi-finals. New Zealand’s thumping win over Australia, and the subsequent washout against England, meant Finch’s side could ill-afford to lose any opening to take matters into their own hands. Yet, presented with a golden opportunity after getting rid of the Ireland top order for a pittance, Australia watched as control, if not the two points, slipped out of their grasp.”I guess you could look at that [the net run rate situation],” Starc said. “First and foremost, we need to win these games, so we tick that box. I think we bowled quite well, and generally here at the Gabba in night games when it gets dry, it’s generally a good chasing wicket. Our powerplay was excellent, and we certainly put them on the back foot. I think they tried to stay aggressive and batted quite well throughout the innings.”We won the game, and we move on to Adelaide now. We’ll wait and see what the result is tomorrow and then we could be not having to worry about talking about net run rate.”It was a night on which Australia won, and won fairly comfortably. But how good that victory looks will only become apparent in the next 24 hours, after New Zealand’s game against England on this ground. And for Australia, it’s the loss of that chance to control their own destiny, rather than the win itself, which might end up being the defining characteristic of Monday night’s game at the Gabba.

The ask for both teams will depend on how New Zealand fare in their series against Pakistan too

S Rajesh15-Dec-2020Even as a standalone contest, Australia vs India is a marquee series with a lot riding on it, but with the World Test Championship final looming in June, there is plenty at stake for both teams in terms of the larger picture as well. New Zealand’s 2-0 series win against West Indies lifts them to third in the Championship table, and if they repeat that scoreline against Pakistan later this season, both Australia and India will have some work to do to stay above them on the table. Here is a look at what this series, and India’s home series against England, mean for their qualification prospects.India
India have two series left in the current cycle, against Australia and England. Both are four-Test series, which means the points allocation for both series are the same: 30 points for a win, 10 for a draw.If New Zealand get full points from their series against Pakistan, their tally will go up to 420, and their points percentage to 70. That means 70% is the target that India need to go past, to stay ahead of New Zealand.For that to happen, India need at least 150 points, out of the 240 that are on offer from these two series. That can happen in two ways: if India win five matches, or if they win four (120) and draw three (30).ESPNcricinfo LtdGiven India’s outstanding home record, they will have a fair chance of getting full points against England; that will mean they will need at least one win, or three draws, in the four Tests in Australia to reach that target of 150 points.If, for instance, India lose to Australia by a 1-2 margin, they will need 110 points from the series against England. Given that a win will fetch 30 points and a draw 10, the only way they can reach 110 is if they win all four.Australia
Australia are currently on 296, and need to go beyond 420 to have a 70-plus points percentage, if the series against South Africa happens. If that series is cancelled, their target will be to exceed 336. Given that the South Africa series is expected to be a three-Test one, there will be 40 points on offer for a win, and 13 for a draw.ESPNcricinfo LtdDespite the myriad injury worries, Australia are still on a pretty firm wicket, thanks to the points tally they have already built up. If the series against India ends 2-2, Australia will be on 356 points, and a percentage of 74.17. From there, even a 1-0 series against South Africa will push them to 422 points, and just beyond New Zealand’s reach. If they lose 1-2 to India, Australia will need a 2-0 series verdict against South Africa to stay above 70%.

اتخذ نادي برشلونة إجراءً صارمًا اليوم الخميس، وذلك قبل مباراته المرتقبة مع آينتراخت فرانكفورت في مسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويستضيف برشلونة فرانكفورت الأسبوع المقبل على ملعب كامب نو، وذلك لحساب منافسات الجولة السادسة من دوري أبطال أوروبا في مرحلة الدوري.

وأصدر نادي برشلونة بيانًا رسميًا بخصوص تفاصيل المباراة وحجز تذاكر حضور اللقاء على ملعب كامب نو.

وفي إجراء صارم لمنع حدوث ما حدث في لقاء برشلونة وفرانكفورت بالدوري الأوروبي عام 2022، أكد البلوجرانا أن من يحضر المباراة الأسبوع المقبل سيكون من بين الأعضاء فقط.

وكان برشلونة قد لعب ضد فرانكفورت خلال شهر أبريل من موسم 2022، وذلك في ربع نهائي بطولة الدوري الأوروبي، والتي خسرها البارسا 3-2.

طالع.. غيابات مهمة عن برشلونة أمام ريال بيتيس في الدوري الإسباني

وشهدت هذه المباراة تواجد عدد حوالي 26 ألف من جماهير فرانكفورت في ملعب كامب نو ، حيث قام جمهور برشلونة ببيع هذه التذاكر لجماهير النادي الألماني.

وأكد برشلونة أن إجراء حضور الأعضاء فقط في مباراة فرانكفورت قد اتخذ بهدف ضمان سلامة جماهير الفريق الكتالوني وفي الوقت نفسه، منع تكرار ما حدث في لقاء الدوري الأوروبي.

وأفاد برشلونة، أنه بدايًة من أمس الأربعاء تم فتح تذاكر المباراة للأعضاء ولن يتمكن من شراء تذاكر هذه المباراة إلا من يثبت عضويته.

كما أوضح برشلونة في البيان، أنه قد تم زيادة عدد أفراد الأمن في هذه المباراة وذلك حرصًا على سلامة الجماهير، كما سيتم فحص التذاكر عند الدخول لأرض الملعب لاستبعاد أي مؤشرات على شراء تذاكر غير قانونية.

Manchester United’s lack of success in the Premier League has been there for all to see, with the club now going 12 years without a title – something which was unthinkable during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

The Red Devils have been through countless managers since the Scotsman’s retirement, but Ruben Amorim is the latest to try and end such a drought.

The 40-year-old has come under huge scrutiny over the last couple of months, and understandably so, given his measly win percentage of just 41% across all competitions.

However, the manager has already been massively backed by the hierarchy in the market, as seen by the £200m spending spree during the summer transfer window.

As part of the heavy backing from INEOS, the former Sporting CP boss added numerous attackers to his first-team squad, with one already making an immediate impact after his move to Manchester.

The stats behind Mbeumo’s start to life at Man Utd

During the summer, a real impetus was placed on improving United’s frontline, which saw the vast majority of their spending directed into the final third.

Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha were just two of the additions made by the hierarchy, with Bryan Mbeumo the final part of the new-look attacking trio formed by INEOS.

The Cameroonian joined in a deal worth a reported £71m from top-division rivals Brentford, with such a deal seeming to be an overpay at the time it was confirmed.

However, 15 games into his career at Old Trafford, such a move now looks like excellent business, with the 26-year-old already scoring six times in the Premier League.

Such a tally is the highest in the first-team squad, but his underlying stats in the league further showcase his impressive start to life at the Theatre of Dreams.

Mbeumo has also registered 1.5 shots on target per 90, with an accuracy rate of 58%, with both tallies currently the highest of any player in the first-team setup.

The United star who’s becoming the best in the world

Despite the struggles over the last couple of seasons, numerous United players have still managed to catch the eye – but none more so than Bruno Fernandes.

The 31-year-old, who’s the club’s captain, registered by far and away the most goals and assists last campaign, subsequently ending the year on 37 goal contributions across all competitions.

He’s no doubt been at world-class level over the past couple of years, with more of an argument certainly being made after showcasing his versatility under Amorim in 2025/26.

Bruno has dropped into a deeper midfield role this season, but it has not stopped him from starring in the Premier League – as seen by his incredible tally of 10 goals and assists in his 15 appearances.

Alongside Mbeumo and Bruno, goalkeeper Senne Lammens has also massively exceeded all expectations after his own summer transfer to join the Red Devils.

The Belgian was brought in from Royal Antwerp on deadline day to bolster the shot-stopping department and provide an upgrade on the now departed Andre Onana.

Whilst he had to bide his time early on in his career at Old Trafford, the 23-year-old has now cemented himself as the club’s number one between the sticks and has become one of Amorim’s star men.

He’s now featured in nine league matches after his summer transfer, with his stats from the current campaign showcasing his immediate impact – leading to huge praise being directed his way.

Lammens has conceded just 11 goals in his nine matches to date, subsequently registering two saves per 90 whilst achieving a save percentage of 62% – one of the best records in the division.

Senne Lammens – Man Utd stats

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

9

Minutes played

810

Saves made

2.0

Goals prevented

0.14

Goals conceded

11

Clean sheets

1

High claims

8

Long balls completed

6.9

Stats via FotMob

He’s already prevented 0.14 goals this season – ranking him in the top 25% of all ‘keepers in league, resulting in one analyst labelling him “one of the best in the world”.

The Belgian’s impressive figures have also been evident with the ball at feet, subsequently completing 6.9 long balls per 90, which places him in the top 15% of other goalkeepers in England’s top-flight.

Given his £15m fee and the issues that the club faced in such an area before his move, it’s safe to say that Lammens has certainly been a better addition than Mbeumo.

At just 23, he has plenty of time in his career to reach the next level, which certainly could allow him to become one of the best goalkeepers in the world for at least the next decade.

Related Cunha upgrade: Man Utd looking to sign "one of the best wingers in Europe"

Manchester United considering a move for a top-level forward ahead of the January window.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb 5 days ago

Manchester United could sell Kobbie Mainoo to Chelsea in order to fund a move for an exciting new midfielder in 2026.

Man United squad in need of new signings

The Red Devils are preparing to face Bournemouth on Monday amid several availability concerns for Ruben Amorim.

Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt remain absent for the Cherries’ trip to Old Trafford, but striker Benjamin Sesko could feature after a foot injury.

There remain doubts over whether Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo can feature before jetting off to the Africa Cup of Nations, but Amorim is hopeful United can cope without them.

Mason Mount is among those the Portuguese is sure to lean on, especially after putting in a man-of-the-match display at Molineux on Monday.

“He’s a very, very smart player,” Amorim said. “He’s really technical because sometimes to be a technical player is not just having fun with the ball – it’s the quality of the pass, the reception, how to receive the ball. In these things he’s really smart.

“He can balance our team quite well so he’s a very good player.”

INEOS want to strengthen the manager’s squad in the upcoming transfer windows while maintaing financial stability, and are now eyeing one of the Premier League’s rising stars.

Mainoo sale set to fund move for Wharton

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider he’s heard United are lining up a one in, one out swap of two England internationals.

The Guardian have also confirmed United’s interest in Wharton, alongside Liverpool and Real Madrid, with Crystal Palace set to demand “more than £80m”.

Wharton’s camp have made no secret of his desire to play Champions League football, with agent James Featherstone telling talkSPORT last week: “We’ve got a plan. It doesn’t have to be achieved right at this moment.

“He’s got his in-game and in-season goals, so he’s got to do his bit, and the rest will take care of itself in a very structured and calm way to ultimately maximise his talent.”

Related Man Utd can replace Amad & Mbeumo by signing "best winger in the country"

Manchester United have the opportunity to soften the blow of Amad Diallo & Bryan Mbeumo’s absence.

Posts ByEthan Lamb 2 days ago

The New York Yankees set a franchise record with nine home runs in a single game Saturday as they smashed the Milwaukee Brewers 20-9 at Yankee Stadium. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe were among the many Yankees to join the home-run party and viewers quickly noticed they used an unusually shaped bat.

Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay explained the team made custom bats to improve hitting for players, like Chisholm and Volpe, who tend to make contact closer to the label than the true barrel. The funky looking twigs paid dividends immediately, which left viewers asking the same question: Are the Yankees' new 'Torpedo' bats legal?

MLB quickly put any uncertainty to rest, asserting that the shape of the bat does not violate league rules, 's Chris Kirschner reported.

The MLB's rulebook contains fairly generic guidelines which state the few limitations for bats used in games. Rule 3.02 says this: "The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood."

The Yankees aren't breaking any rules and they apparently even have an MIT physicist on their payroll who created the 'Torpedo' barrel to bring more mass to where hitters most often make contact. The new bats are legal, and likely here to stay, at least in the Bronx. Don't be surprised if other MLB teams follow suit soon, too.

One of the biggest troubles for Leeds United this season is how poorly they have performed in front of goal. Daniel Farke’s side find themselves in a relegation battle, which many people expected would be the case. ESPN journalist Bill Connelly said they need “random bursts of quality attacking” to help them stay up.

Well, things haven’t worked out that way so far for the Whites. They’ve found the back of the net just nine times, better than just two sides, including bottom of the league Wolverhampton Wanderers. Leeds’ expected goals tally is just 12.94xG, the 12th best in the top flight.

One man who has struggled for his best goalscoring form is Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Calvert-Lewin’s struggles in front of goal

Leeds secured the signing of Calvert-Lewin in the summer on a free transfer, after his contract at Everton expired. He was brought in with the aim of bolstering their Premier League goalscoring stocks, although it hasn’t really worked out that well so far.

The experienced 28-year-old, who has 11 caps and four goals for England, has not quite hit the ground running in a Leeds shirt.

In nine games for the club so far, Calvert-Lewin has only found the back of the net once, against fellow strugglers Wolves.

It was a good finish, too, from the new Leeds number nine. He got on the end of a loopy cross from Jayden Bogle, finding space between the Wolves defenders and heading home. That is the kind of striking instinct Leeds fans may have expected.

However, it hasn’t really worked out for Calvert-Lewin, aside from that goal. His underlying numbers are surprisingly low, averaging just 2.8 shots per 90 minutes, with an expected goals per game of 0.33xG. That places him in the 25th percentile for Premier League strikers.

With a huge game against Nottingham Forest next up, Farke may decide to rotate the striker out of the side in favour of a man who knows where the back of the net is.

Leeds’ Calvert-Lewin alternative

Ultimately, Leeds need to start finding the back of the net more consistently soon. Goals win you football matches, and right now, they could do with a few victories to help propel them up the table.

Chalkboard

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

Well, Farke could well make the decision to axe Calvert-Lewin against Forest this weekend, and bring in Joel Piroe.

The Dutchman is someone who knows where the back of the net is, and Farke even called him the “best finisher” he’s ever seen as a manager.

With strikes like this one against Bristol City in the Championship last season, it is easy to see where the Whites’ boss is coming from.

Piroe bagged from quite a tight angle outside of the area, which takes some doing.

Indeed, he has put up some impressive numbers in a Leeds shirt so far. In 102 games for the club, the striker has 33 goals and ten assists. Last term in the Championship, Piroe was the main man up front and bagged 19 goals with seven assists in 46 games.

His underlying stats showcase how deadly he can be, too. During the league-winning 2024/25 season, the Dutch striker averaged 0.56 goals per 90 minutes, with an expected goals tally of 0.49xG. Both of those stats placed him in the top 5% of Championship strikers.

Goals

0.56

95th

Shots on target

1.14

89th

Expected goals

0.49xG

95th

Shot-creating actions

2.43

84th

Goal-creating actions

0.38

91st

Bringing Piroe into the side for the trip to the City Ground could be a stroke of genius from Farke. He has a point to prove, having fallen out of favour this season. He’s only played 164 top-flight minutes, but would surely love to get more regular game time.

Calvert-Lewin has been out of form this season. With someone who Farke himself has admitted is a deadly finisher waiting in the wings, he could be the difference in helping find the back of the net more often.

Farke can get DCL firing by ditching Aaronson for "unstoppable" Leeds star

Daniel Farke can finally get Dominic Calvert-Lewin firing at Leeds United by unleashing this speedy winger.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 6, 2025