Newcastle United’s transfer window has been one of the most eventful in the Premier League.

The Magpies, fresh from a fifth-place finish last season and preparing for a Champions League campaign, have already been among the busiest clubs in the market.

Their recruitment strategy has been clear: target young players with scope to grow.

Jacob Ramsey arrived from Aston Villa to add drive to midfield, Malick Thiaw was secured from AC Milan to bolster the back line, and Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale have added depth in attack and the goalkeeping department respectively.

Yet, for all the excitement surrounding these signings, Newcastle’s summer has been dominated by uncertainty around Alexander Isak.

The Swedish striker has been at the centre of intense speculation, refusing to train with the squad and missing the opening fixtures against Aston Villa and Liverpool.

The absence of a recognised number nine left Eddie Howe short of attacking options, with Anthony Gordon even forced to operate as a makeshift forward before his red card compounded matters further.

A sudden £69m agreement with Stuttgart for Nick Woltemade has steadied nerves, but it has not distracted from Newcastle’s wider concerns in midfield.

Injuries to Sandro Tonali and Joelinton – even if not serious – have exposed how dependent Howe’s side can be on certain personnel.

It is within this context that the Magpies have begun exploring additional midfield reinforcements.

While one target in particular has caught their attention, prising him away from Inter Milan will be anything but straightforward.

Newcastle table approach for Serie A star

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Newcastle United have lodged a proposal for Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi, with talks continuing over a potential late move.

Their initial suggestion involved a loan deal with an obligation to buy, but the terms of that arrangement are far from guaranteed.

The Nerazzurri value the midfielder at around €40m (£35m) and would only sanction an exit if the structure of the deal was near-certain – either through a permanent transfer or a cast-iron obligation to purchase.

Frattesi is far from surplus to requirements at San Siro.

Transfer Focus

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

Although Inter’s midfield remains one of the deepest in Europe, manager Cristian Chivu considers the Italian international an important part of his side.

Indeed, the 25-year-old former Sassuolo man has carved out a reputation as one of the most dynamic midfielders in Italy.

Fabrizio Romano recently described him as “one of the best midfielders in Serie A,” a testament to his all-action playing style.

For Newcastle, the pursuit of Frattesi appears to be linked directly to the fitness issues of Joelinton and Tonali.

While neither is expected to face long-term layoffs, the scare was enough to prompt the club to consider adding extra depth.

However, with Ramsey already added this summer and Inter proving resistant to complex proposals, it remains to be seen if a deal will be struck.

Even so, the very fact they made the enquiry highlights how highly they regard Frattesi and how keen they are to ensure their midfield remains among the strongest in England.

Why Frattesi represents an upgrade on Joelinton

From a tactical standpoint, the Italian midfielder offers a profile that differs significantly from Joelinton.

At 29 years old, the Brazilian is approaching his peak years and has been a vital part of Howe’s project, not least for his versatility in operating as both a box-to-box midfielder and an occasional forward.

Last season, he contributed 4 goals and 3 assists in 29 Premier League appearances, while also ranking well for defensive metrics such as tackles (2.14 per 90) and blocks (1.39 per 90).

His combative style and physical presence have long made him a fan favourite. Frattesi, however, provides a more modern interpretation of the central midfield role.

His ability to break forward into advanced areas is reflected in his statistical profile.

Matches Played

28

Goals

5

Assists

5

Progressive Carries

23

Progressive Passes

31

Shot-Creating Actions

19

According to FBref, he ranks in the 99th percentile for non-penalty expected goals per 90 (0.37), the 95th percentile for total shots (1.91), and the 93rd percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area (3.08).

Few midfielders in Serie A can match his late runs into the box or his instinct for goal-scoring opportunities.

Compared to Joelinton, he registers a higher volume of shots per 90 (2.06 vs 1.69) and demonstrates greater efficiency in getting into dangerous positions, even if his shot accuracy (25%) lags slightly behind the Brazilian’s (28.9%).

Defensively, the comparison tilts back towards Joelinton.

The Brazilian remains stronger in duels, tackles, and blocks, highlighting his value in regaining possession and providing cover in midfield.

Frattesi, by contrast, is less imposing in pure defensive numbers, averaging 1.25 tackles per 90 and 0.88 blocks – a reflection of his role in a side where he is tasked with progressing the ball and supporting the attack rather than anchoring.

Where the Italian really shines is in transitional play.

His 1.70 progressive carries per 90 underline his ability to drive the ball forward, while his off-the-ball movement allows him to destabilise defensive lines and create space for teammates.

Comparisons have even been drawn with Scott McTominay of Napoli and Roma’s Niccolò Pisilli – midfielders who combine stamina with attacking intent.

In a Newcastle side often reliant on the directness of Joelinton and the passing range of Bruno Guimarães, Frattesi’s blend of dynamism and goal threat could provide a new dimension.

Crucially, the 25-year-old is also a player for the long term.

With a market value of €35m (£30m), as per Transfermarkt, he offers both current quality and future resale potential, aligning with Newcastle’s strategy of recruiting players with prime years still ahead of them.

While Joelinton has been integral to the club’s rise, the Italian’s ceiling appears higher, particularly in terms of end product.

For Howe, the question is whether depth or evolution is the priority.

If the aim is to simply safeguard against injuries to Tonali and Joelinton, then Newcastle’s midfield may already be well-stocked.

But if the ambition is to add a midfielder capable of pushing the side towards the next level in Europe, Frattesi represents a compelling option.

Amazing with Woltemade: Newcastle made move to sign "best 9 in the world"

Newcastle could have landed the perfect partner for Nick Woltemade…

1 ByWill Miller Aug 30, 2025

A back injury to Ghazanfar has led to Mujeeb’s recall into the IPL after four years

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2025

Afghanistan offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has replaced his countryman AM Ghazanfar in Mumbai Indians’ (MI) squad for IPL 2025. Ghazanfar was ruled out of the Champions Trophy, which starts on Wednesday, and also the the IPL that follows, due to a back injury.The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had tweeted about Ghazanfar’s absence from the Champions Trophy earlier this week, mentioning that he had sustained “a fracture of the L4 vertebra” during Afghanistan’s tour of Zimbabwe last month. Ghazanfar, who had bagged his maiden IPL contract after a bright start to his ODI career, will be out of cricket for four months.Related

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Mujeeb was last seen at the IPL in 2021, when he played a solitary game for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He made his tournament debut as a 17-year-old for Punjab Kings and represented them in 18 games across three seasons from 2018. Mujeeb has 275 T20 wickets at an average of 23.67 and an economy rate of 6.75. Most recently, he was with Paarl Royals at at the SA20, where his side lost to finalists Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Qualifier 2. He was Royals’ highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 14 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 23.14.Until November last year, Mujeeb too was out injured for five months due to a right phalanx (hand) sprain. He returned to action at the Abu Dhabi T10 and then played all three T20Is for Afghanistan on their tour of Zimbabwe, before flying to South Africa for the SA20. He wasn’t picked by Afghanistan for the Champions Trophy, as according to Ahmad Suliman Khil, their interim chief selector, “he has been advised by his doctor to focus on T20s for a while to ensure his full recovery before returning to ODIs”.Mujeeb had gone unsold at the IPL 2025 auction, but now joined MI at a fee of INR 2 crore (approx. US $230,764).

While Ruben Amorim has already settled one debate by confirming that Altay Bayindir will start for Manchester United in the derby, there is still a decision to be made at the top end of the pitch.

With Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount sidelined, the Portuguese coach will have to configure a new-look forward line at the Etihad, with it yet to be seen whether this will mark the occasion for Benjamin Sesko’s first Premier League start.

In truth, it’s been an auspicious beginning in a United shirt for the £74m Slovenian, with four games having come and gone without a goal, having notably produced an agonising miss in the last knockings of the Carabao Cup exit at Grimsby.

While hampered by cramp in the subsequent penalty shootout, the sight of the 22-year-old taking the tenth penalty on the night did have alarm bells ringing. Amorim needed a new centre-forward to hit the ground running, but Sesko is yet to catch fire.

The Red Devils can ill-afford a Rasmus Hojlund repeat, with the young Dane – now shipped off to Napoli – having endured an injury-hit start in Manchester, while his first top-flight goal wasn’t secured until the Boxing Day thriller with Aston Villa.

Unfortunately, the ex-Atalanta man was unable to prove United’s answer to Erling Haaland, with the early signs suggesting that perhaps Sesko may not either?

How Sesko compares to Hojlund pre-United

It is far too early to be writing off United’s newest centre-forward addition, not least amid his bid to get up to speed fitness-wise, although it remains tricky to shake that nagging feeling that the Old Trafford hierarchy have repeated their prior mistake.

Indeed, £64m was splashed out on a 20-year-old Hojlund back in the summer of 2023, with the young marksman arriving after netting just ten times during his solitary campaign in Bergamo.

Formerly on the books at FC Copenhagen, the youngster’s most fruitful spell had come in Austria with Sturm Graz, with 12 goals scored in just 21 games for the Bundesliga outfit.

The parallels with Sesko are certainly evident, with the 6 foot 4 speedster making his own mark in Austrian football at both FC Liefering and Red Bull Salzburg, scoring 51 goals in 123 games combined for those two sides.

In a similar vein to Haaland, he then traded Salzburg for the Bundesliga in 2023, with 39 goals in 87 games for Leipzig proving enough to warrant United’s recent summer investment.

The comparison to Haaland – and Hojlund – as a towering young striker who has navigated Austrian and German football is clear, although the City star is undoubtedly on a different level.

Indeed, the Norwegian’s time at Salzburg yielded 29 goals in just 27 games. In Germany, meanwhile, he scored 86 times in just 89 appearances for Borussia Dortmund.

Simply a freak of a footballer, the 25-year-old now boasts 127 goals in 149 games at the Etihad, with Sesko barely even close to such a level. In truth, few players are.

That being said, Amorim may well have his own clinical killer to call upon in attack, with new man Bryan Mbeumo showcasing shades of a Haaland quality in recent times.

How Bryan Mbeumo is emulating Haaland

Haaland, across the last three years, has been a menace in the derby, scoring six times in just eight meetings with United to date.

Hopefully, Mbeumo – signed from Brentford on an initial £65m deal – can reach similar heights, having already begun to fire with two goals in his last two games for the Old Trafford outfit.

The latest strike, in the dramatic 3-2 win over Burnley, was every bit a Haaland goal, with the left-footer making space for himself inside the area, before coolly converting from Diogo Dalot’s pullback. Such composure has rarely been seen by a United forward of late.

Such a strong start to life in Manchester, represented in him claiming the club’s Player of the Month award, should be no surprise considering his exploits back in west London, with the Cameroonian speedster notching a remarkable 20 league goals for the Bees in 2024/25.

Only Haaland (22), Alexander Isak (23) and Mo Salah (29) scored more.

As noted by Sky Sports, the former Troyes speedster is actually even more of a game-changing presence than the likes of Haaland, having relished his own talismanic role under Thomas Frank.

Indeed, his 2024/25 total of 27 goals and assists contributed directly to 22 points for his side. For comparison, Haaland’s 25 goal contributions helped to seal 17 points for the Citizens.

21/22

35

4

22/23

38

9

23/24

25

9

24/25

38

20

25/26

3

1

Described as an “output machine” by content creator Ronaldo Brown, Mbeumo also outperformed his xG by 7.7 last term, indicating just what an elite, unique finisher he truly is.

While Pep Guardiola and co have had Haaland to rely on to deliver the goods in recent times, it has been a long while since United could hang their hat on a clinical attacker.

The last player to score 20 league goals for the club? Robin van Persie in 2012/13.

In Mbeumo, however, things might be about to change. If Sesko doesn’t deliver in the near future, at least Amorim can turn to his Haaland-esque, Premier League-proven option instead.

It's not Mbeumo: Man Utd sensation is now their best signing since Bruno

Manchester United conducted excellent business by landing the signature of one talent.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 13, 2025

It’s been a frankly unbelievable summer for Arsenal so far this year.

On top of winning their opening games of the Premier League season, the Gunners have gone big in the market in a way fans have not seen them do before.

Mikel Arteta has been given seven first-team quality players so far, and it now looks likely that he’ll get an eighth in Piero Hincapie.

Yet, the club could make it the greatest transfer window in the club’s history if they go back in for someone they’ve already been linked with, someone who could end up being their best deadline day deal since Mesut Özil.

Why the signing of Piero Hincapie is so exciting

It wouldn’t be a summer transfer window for Arsenal if Arteta didn’t get his customary left-back signing, and based on stories from the last few days, it does seem like Hincapie will eventually make it to the Emirates this week.

Transfer Focus

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

However, the big difference between the Bayer Leverkusen star and some of the other defensive signings made by the manager in recent years is that he’s far more of an overlapping full-back.

Instead of moving into the middle of the park or into a back three when in possession, the Ecuadorian is likely going to be tasked with bombing up and down the byline and swinging crosses into the penalty area, or just ahead of it for his teammates to get onto.

On top of adding more explosiveness and dynamism to a left-hand side that has become rather stale, the 23-year-old phenom, whom analyst Ben Mattinson has described as “a left-sided Ben White”, will also help get more out of some of the other summer signings.

For example, with him in the starting lineup, Eberechi Eze will be able to start on the left and then drift into the centre of the pitch in games without making attacks too narrow.

Moreover, his ability to pull opposition defenders wide and then deliver a dangerous cross into the penalty area should work incredibly well with the poacher tendencies of Viktor Gyokeres.

In short, Hincapie appears to be an excellent signing for Arsenal, although the club could really end the window with a bang and go back in for a prior target who’d be their best deadline-day deal since Ozil.

The star who'd be Arsenal's best deadline deal since Ozil

Arsenal have been linked with an unbelievable number of supremely talented players over the last few months who could probably fit this description.

However, in this instance, Rodrygo is the £78m star in question who, were he to join the club in the dying embers of the window, would be the Gunners’ best deadline deal since Ozil.

Now, it should be said that the club has made several quality last-minute additions since the German made his incredible £42m switch in 2013.

Still, even though David Luiz, Kieran Tierney, Danny Welbeck, and Takehiro Tomiyasu all made positive contributions in some manner, the impact of Rodrygo would be magnitudes more significant.

After all, even though the former Santos gem isn’t getting the game time his talent warrants at the moment, he’s been a brilliant player for Real Madrid over the last few years.

For example, across the 23/24 and 24/25 campaigns, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, was able to rack up a sensational tally of 31 goals and 20 assists in just 105 appearances, totalling 7159 minutes.

In other words, the 24-year-old game-changer was averaging a goal involvement every 2.05 games, or every 140.37 minutes in that period, which is made all the more impressive by the fact he was playing everywhere but his preferred position of left-wing.

Appearances

51

54

Minutes

3707′

3452′

Goals

17

14

Assists

9

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvement

142.57′

138.08′

Moreover, after three years of getting close but winning nothing, the North Londoners are in need of more big-game players, and the Osasco-born ace certainly fits into the category.

For example, in his 64 Champions League appearances, totalling 3883 minutes, he has scored 25 goals and provided 14 assists, which comes out as a staggering average of a goal involvement every 1.64 games, or every 99.56 minutes.

Furthermore, of those 25 goals, eight have been match-winning strikes, and another eight have come in the knockout rounds.

Finally, while his preferred position is off the left, the Brazilian dynamo is more than capable of playing off the right or even down the middle, so he’d be able to interchange with his attacking teammates with ease and make things even harder for opposition defenders.

Ultimately, while it seems unlikely at this point in time, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Rodrygo before the window slams shut, and if they do get him at the last minute, he’d be their best deadline day deal since Ozil.

Arsenal targeting "extraordinary" Ajax attacker amid Piero Hincapie talks

Mikel Arteta’s side are looking at more signings before the deadline.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 28, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

A grave lesão de Rafael fez com que Botafogo se voltasse de vez para o mercado em busca de um lateral-direito. A diretoria alvinegra colocou em pauta a contratação de Mateo Ponte, uruguaio que atua no Danubio.

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O jogador fez parte da seleção do Uruguai campeã do Mundial Sub-20 e estava na mira do Alvinegro para 2024. Porém, a gravidade da lesão de Rafael tende a fazer as negociações aumentarem. A informação foi divulgada pelo Twitter no jornalista Mateus Gonçalves.

+ Confira a tabela do Brasileirão e simule os resultados dos próximos jogos

O Glorioso chegou a fazer uma consulta anteriormente dias atrás sobre a situação do atleta. De acordo com o jornalista Bernardo Gentile, o clube tem que contar com o dinheiroda parceria com o Lyon para tentar a contratação de Ponte nesta janela.

O L! apurou que Mateo Ponte é sondado por diversos clubes desde que se destacou no Mundial Sub-20. Inicialmente, o Alvinegro tem Di Plácido para a posição. Nomes do time B, como Wallison e Ryan, são observados.

أعلن الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم ”يويفا” عن طاقم تحكيم مواجهة نادي ريال مدريد أمام نظيره يوفنتوس، والتي سوف تلعب هذا الأسبوع في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ريال مدريد سوف يستضيف نظيره يوفنتوس يوم الأربعاء المقبل، وذلك لحساب منافسات الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو.

ويسعى ريال مدريد إلى الفوز على يوفنتوس، من أجل مواصلة نتائجه المميزة خلال هذا الموسم وتحقيق انتصار ثالث له على التوالي في مرحلة الدوري.

اقرأ أيضًا .. لاعب برشلونة السابق يستفز جماهير الأرجنتين بعد تتويج المغرب بكأس العالم للشباب حكم مباراة ريال مدريد ويوفنتوس في دوري أبطال أوروبا 

وأكد يويفا، أن السلوفيني سلافكو فينتشيتش سوف يكون حكمًا لمباراة ريال مدريد أمام يوفنتوس، حيث تعتبر هذه هي المباراة الثالثة التي يحكم فيها الحكم السلوفيني للفريق الملكي.

وسبق أن حكم فينتشيتش مواجهة نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا في عام 2024، والتي جمعت بين ريال مدريد ونظيره بوروسيا دورتموند وانتهت بفوز ريال مدريد بهدفين دون رد.

كما حكم فينتشيتش لقاء ريال مدريد أمام إي سي ميلان الموسم الماضي، في مرحلة الدوري بدوري أبطال أوروبا، ووقتها خسر ريال مدريد بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف واحد على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو.

ويعاون فينتشيتش كلًا من تومس كلانشيك وأندراز كوفاسيتش، بينما يتواجد دافيد سماك كحكم رابع، وفي تقنية الفار يتواجد باستيان دانكيرت ويعاونه البرتغالي تياجو مارتينز.

وسوف يدخل ريال مدريد في ضغط مباريات كبير خلال الفترة المقبلة، فبعد مواجهة يوفنتوس سيستعد الميرنجي للقاء الكلاسيكو المرتقب أمام برشلونة، والذي سوف يكون موعده يوم الأحد الموافق 26 أكتوبر المقبل.

Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has questioned Reds boss Arne Slot's tactics after the Premier League champions lost 1-0 at Galatasaray in the Champions League in midweek, their second consecutive defeat after going down in stoppage time against Crystal Palace. Slot opted to start Mohamed Salah on the bench in a series of mistakes Crouch cited by the Dutchman, who has faced little scrutiny so far in his tenure having won the league title in his first season in charge.

Arne Slot questioned over tactics as Liverpool lose in Istanbul

Liverpool were defeated by a single goal in Istanbul, a first-half Victor Osimhen penalty converted after Dominik Szoboszlai was adjudged to have fouled Baris Alper Yilmaz with a trailing arm in the box. Crouch has labelled Slot’s tactical decisions as “strange” in the defeat.

The Reds had 16 shots and 66% possession but were thwarted by the Turkish champions, leading to questions over some of the decisions made by the Dutch head coach – Jeremie Frimpong, usually a right-back by trade, started on the wing ahead of the rested Salah, who came on in the second half alongside Alexander Isak, Alexis Mac Allister and Conor Bradley. The struggles of Florian Wirtz also continued, as the £116million ($156m) signing flattered to deceive again.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesCrouch questions Slot's decisions in Galatasaray defeat

Peter Crouch was speaking exclusively to Paddy Power. He said: "Arne Slot made some mistakes in the Galatasaray game. Salah very rarely sits on the bench, playing Frimpong higher up, Szoboszlai at right back. It did feel a bit strange, the tactics. That’s the first time I’ve thought the manager got it wrong there. But other than that, I don’t think anyone is firing quite yet – Arsenal, City, Liverpool, Chelsea – everyone’s faltered.”

Changes do not pay off as Liverpool defeated again

It can be argued that the Reds underestimated their opponents, particularly considering their near-faultless run to first place in the league phase of last year’s Champions League. But this encounter would not prove as straightforward, as the deafening atmosphere was to the advantage of the buoyant home side. It would be Osimhen who won the game, a striker who has often been linked with a move to the Premier League but now plies his trade with Galatasaray instead.

Crouch’s comments reflect a fact which Slot himself may be quick to admit, that he did not necessarily get things right on the night or give his side the best opportunity to win the game. The fact that he rung the changes early in the second period suggested that he felt players he had left on the bench may have had a better chance of getting his side back into the contest. Such a conundrum may, ultimately, end up becoming more commonplace following the club’s summer spending, with nearly £250m ($336m) worth of talent sat on the bench while players in the starting XI faltered. It has been suggested by Jamie Carragher that the club may even miss a man who left in Trent Alexander-Arnold.

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(C)Getty ImagesWirtz will come good – Crouch

Crouch would defend Florian Wirtz, though, claiming the 22-year-old Germany international will “come good” and should be given a chance to settle into life on Merseyside.

Crouch said: "Wirtz is a player, I think he's a class act. We're looking at him through 100-million-pound glasses. If he came through the youth team, we would be saying ‘oh what a fantastic, talented player.’ But if you cost £100 million, you need to hit the ground running, and that quite clearly hasn't happened. I had a difficult time when I didn’t score for ages, and I know the fans will stick by him. I genuinely do think he'll come good. I don't think anyone's created more chances than Wirtz this season. So the stats are there, once people start putting them away, or he starts them putting away, the confidence will grow and I think things will really go for him. He reminds me, in some ways, of Coutinho as someone who scored goals and he just needs a bit more luck."

Minhajul Abedin, the batter in question, appeared to not make his ground despite having the time to do so

Mohammad Isam09-Apr-2025The BCB’s anti-corruption officials and the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League’s technical committee are looking into a controversial stumping incident from a match between Gulshan Cricket Club and Shinepukur Cricket Club at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday.The incident took place in the dying moments of the game, when Shinepukur batter Minhajul Abedin was out stumped even though he had enough time to make his ground. Minhajul stepped out against offspinner Naeem Islam. The ball was delivered wide. Mihajul withdrew from his shot. Wicketkeeper Alif Hasan collected the ball wide of the stumps, and failed to break the stumps with his first attempt. Minhajul stood still, bat grounded just outside the crease. He even seemed to pull the bat further away from the crease. Alif broke the stumps on his second attempt.On Thursday, the BCB said in a statement* that it had “taken note of the concerns”.”The BCB Anti-Corruption Unit and the League’s Technical Committee have promptly initiated an investigation into the alleged irregularities associated with the match,” the BCB’s statement said. “The BCB remains committed to ensuring fairness and discipline in all cricketing activities under its jurisdiction and will take the necessary actions based on the findings of the investigation.”The timing of the dismissal raised eyebrows. Shinepukur, battling for survival in the tournament with just two points in nine outings, needed just six runs in seven overs to beat Gulshan, who were on 11 points. Minhajul’s dismissal ended their innings on 173, and they lost by five runs.On-air commentator Mazhar Uddin Omi expressed astonishment, saying, “This is shocking, I have never seen anything like this before.”On Wednesday, the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM), the BCB body that organises the league, had said that it had informed the board’s anti-corruption body about the incident, and were waiting for the umpires’ report on the incident.”We saw the footage. It was the last dismissal of the day. This sort of thing is usually the match referee’s responsibility,” CCDM’s league coordinator Sabbir Ahmed said. “We are aware of the TV umpire sitting next to him also, so they must have studied the footage. They are supposed to give a report on the incident.”The Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League is Bangladesh’s premier List A competition, on top of the Dhaka league pyramid. The last round of this season’s competition concludes next week, before the top six teams battle for the title in the super league. The bottom three teams will fight for survival, as two teams are relegated every season.

Harry Kane has lifted the lid on his new role within Bayern Munich's dominant start to the season, saying that the absence of Jamal Musiala has allowed him to drop deeper and become more involved in his side's build-up play. The England captain made the comments after bagging yet another goal in Bayern's 3-0 win away over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

• Kane lifts lid on playmaking role

  Kane was speaking with Archie Rhind-Tutt and Thomas Hitzlsperger after his side's sixth win from six games in the Bundesliga this season. Rhind-Tutt asked the 32-year-old about his role within the team, suggesting that Kane was becoming even more involved in Bayern's build-up. 

  The ex-Spurs striker agreed with the assertion, suggesting the lack of an out-and-out No.10, a role previously filled by the departed Thomas Muller or injured Jamal Musiala has facilitated the change. Kane suggested his deeper role has actually helped with his goalscoring, as he's able to disengage with centre-backs who can keep closer attention to him when he's trying to occupy the defensive line.

  He said: "I've spoken already about when Jamal's playing it's a little bit different. Jamal is such a good player, getting the ball off defenders, driving and dribbling. 

  "Obviously a lot last year when we were playing together, it was better for him to go and do that. I still did that at times. 

  "I think since me and Serge [Gnabry], and me and Nico [Jackson] have been forming that partnership this season, it's allowed me to just be a little bit deeper and use my qualities in that sense of turning and playing it forward and playing it out wide, and then arriving into the box a little bit later. 

  "Which also helps. Sometimes when you're playing up there as a nine, it's easy to be marked, to be marked out of the game almost. Even my goal today, arriving a little bit late, I finished it off."

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  Kane's goal vs Eintracht Frankfurt shows role is working pefrectly

  As Kane alluded to in the interview, his goal against Frankfurt demonstrated his new role in the team perfectly. Joshua Kimmich played the ball forward into Luis Diaz, who drifted into the No.9 position ahead of Kane; in fact out of Bayern's front four the Englishman was by far the deepest, as Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise pinned back the host's defensive line. As Diaz' path to goal was screened off, he shifted the ball to Kane, who stepped forward, pushed the ball out of his feet and arrowed a long-range effort into the bottom corner of Kevin Trapp's goal. 

  While Kane did start the game as the lone striker, Vincent Kompany has explicitly positioned him in a second striker role at times this year, most notably against Cypriot side Pafos when the 32-year-old operated behind Nicolas Jackson in the hole. Both men scored in a 5-0 win, Kane finding the back of the net twice. 

• Kane in blistering goalscoring form for Bayern

  It shows that dropping deep certainly has not diminished his goal scoring prowess. He's bagged 18 goals in 10 appearances across all competitions in 2025-26, a staggering return considering his propensity to join with the build-up. It has propelled Bayern to a truly ominous record of six wins from six in the Bundesliga. The Bavarian giants have scored 25 goals in the league, conceding just three in return. 

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  What happens Musiala returns from injury?

  Musiala's broken leg, sustained in the Club World Cup, was supposed to spark a crisis for the Bavarian side. Without the young German and his experienced mentor Muller, it seemed the number 10 role was going to be a serious problem for Kompany's side, especially when Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade spurned the club's advances in favour of moves to the Premier League. 

  Kane's emergence as a playmaker/striker has quashed all fears, and Bayern look set to win this year's iteration of the Bundesliga at an absolute canter. Musiala is currently slated to return in the new year, and while his presence will undoubtedly give his team-mates a lift, he might find himself operating off the left or slowly rotated back into the starting XI to allow Kane the freedom he so clearly enjoys. 

  Kompany did have to replace Kane in the final moments of Saturday's game. However, the England captain announced the suspected ankle injury will not keep him from representing his country in England's upcoming World Cup qualifiers.. 

The Russell Martin reign at Rangers has certainly not got off to the brightest start, although if there is to be a crumb of comfort at Ibrox, it’s that Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Indeed, for all the calamity of the past month or so, it’s worth remembering that Ange Postecoglou also endured his own limp start elsewhere in Glasgow, failing to win any of his first three competitive games in charge at Celtic.

An attack-minded coach – in a similar mould to Martin – the Aussie went on to turn the tide and steer the Hoops to five domestic honours across his two seasons in charge, having successfully shaken off that iffy beginning.

For the Gers, the ex-Southampton boss does face an uphill task, although there is an exciting array of talents at his disposal, with summer signing Thelo Aasgaard notably netting four times off the bench for Norway earlier this week.

Djeidi Gassama, meanwhile, has already hit the ground running with four goals and one assist from just ten appearances for the Light Blues, with intrigue mounting over just how £8m man Youssef Chermiti will settle in to life in Scottish football.

While the transfer fee would suggest otherwise, the Portuguese youngster is a raw, inexperienced talent who is yet to realise his potential – perhaps he can look to Hamza Igamane’s Rangers spell as reason for encouragement.

Hamza Igamane's start to life after Rangers

There is no justifying the actions of Igamane as his relatively brief Rangers stint came to a close, with the 22-year-old said to have refused to come off the bench during the draw with St Mirren, in fear of a potential injury hampering his impending move to Lille.

That £10.4m sale was subsequently agreed, with those at Ibrox no doubt glad to see the back of a player who showcased such blatant self-interest and disregard for his manager.

That being said, of course, it’s hard to deny the forward’s obvious talent, having already settled into life in France with a delightful double on debut in the 7-1 thrashing of Lorient prior to the international break.

The first of those two efforts saw the Moroccan wizard fire home on the rebound following a trademark jinking run in the build-up, with those back in Glasgow having witnessed such quality first hand last season.

In all, the £1.7m addition – who was a relative unknown at the time – contributed 16 goals in 49 games in total prior to his toxic departure, as per Transfermarkt, having since followed up his debut heroics at Lille with a further two goals for his country over the past week.

With five goals and assists to his name across his last 155 minutes of action for club and country, the youngster is undoubtedly thriving after sealing his desired Ibrox exit.

For those at Rangers, however, he now belongs to the past, with Martin now able to wield a potentially even bigger talent this season.

Rangers could have an even bigger talent than Igamane

As already stated, the early success story from an extensive summer of recruitment so far has been Gassama, with the ex-Sheffield Wednesday winger netting all four of his goals thus far in just six Champions League qualification games.

The 22-year-old – signed for just £2.2m – could be a star of the present and future at Ibrox, although for 2025/26, keep an eye on young Mikey Moore to be the man to ultimately steal the limelight.

Still only 18, the Tottenham Hotspur loanee could eclipse Igamane and co as arguably the biggest prospect to have turned out for the Light Blues in recent times, having been hailed as “one of England’s best players of his age group” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Also described as a “superstar” by Mattinson, the promising Englishman has already made his presence felt back in north London, registering one goal and two assists from just 21 senior games for Spurs to date.

Igamane caught the eye in the Europa League last term, with four goals and one assist from just ten appearances, although at the age of just 17, Moore was making his own impression for the Premier League outfit in Europe.

Moore – 24/25 Europa League

Stat (*per game)

Record

Games

5

Goals

1

Assists

1

Big chances created

1

Key passes*

0.8

Successful dribbles*

0.8

Pass accuracy*

83%

Possession lost*

0.4

Stats via Sofascore

On just his second start of 2024/25 against AZ Alkmaar back in October, the teenage sensation was notably compared to Brazil great Neymar by teammate James Maddison, having been lauded for his “fearless” display down the left flank.

That performance led to notable plaudits from the aforementioned Postecoglou, with the Aussie stating that he had been “willing” his side to keep giving the ball to the academy graduate – high praise indeed:

For such a talent to now be on the books at Rangers, albeit temporarily, is undoubtedly an exciting prospect, with Moore already chalking up one assist from his first four games under Martin’s watch.

Igamane, for all his flaws, looks destined to be a star in the years to come. At four years his junior and already earning rave reviews, however, it is Moore who may well have the bigger ceiling.

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