FIFA are all set to push ahead with a major VAR rule change for the 2026 World Cup despite facing initial rejection from stakeholders and members. The new changes in the law will be applicable for VAR checks on corner kicks during the flagship competition. The International Football Association Board convened a meeting in October, where they reached an agreement that VAR could be expanded.
Celtic are finally closing in on the appointment of their long-term successor to Brendan Rodgers, after four matches with Martin O’Neill in interim charge of the team.
The Northern Irish boss resigned from his role at the club last month after a 3-1 defeat to Hearts, departing Parkhead for the second time after a stint that lasted just over two years.
Celtic’s next head coach will have to build on the success that the former Leicester boss achieved in his second spell in the dugout, with two Scottish Premiership titles and two domestic cup victories in his two full seasons.
The Daily Record reports that Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy is poised to come through the door as Rodgers’ replacement, and that they want to get a deal over the line before Friday.
He has been in discussions with the Scottish giants since last Friday and the Hoops will have to thrash out a compensation package with the MLS side once they have an agreement with the Frenchman.
Whilst there will be a focus on instant results and implementing his style of play as quickly as possible, there will also be one eye on the January transfer window and what the board can do to bolster his squad in the January transfer window.
The positions Celtic need to target in January
The most obvious position that Celtic need to target when the transfer window opens for business is a centre-forward, as they had to resort to signing Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer in the summer after they failed to land any other options before the deadline.
The Nigeria international is currently out of action with a hamstring injury, leaving Johnny Kenny leading the line, and the Hoops may look to bring in an experienced number nine ahead of the second half of the campaign.
A right-winger should also be one of the club’s priorities in January after right-sided attacker Nicolas Kuhn left in the summer and two left wingers, Sebastian Tounekti and Michel-Ange Balikwisha, were brought in off the back of that.
25/26 Premiership
Hyun-jun Yang
James Forrest
Appearances
5
10
Goals
0
0
Big chances missed
2
1
Big chances created
1
1
Key passes per game
0.4
0.6
Assists
0
0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Celtic’s two natural right wingers, Hyun-jun Yang and James Forrest, have both failed to deliver much in the way of quality in the Premiership this season.
On top of a striker and a right winger, a right-sided centre-back could be on the cards after Cameron Carter-Vickers suffered a long-term injury at the end of October.
Whilst a striker, a right winger, and a centre-back should all be priorities for January, the Hoops are also reportedly looking at a central midfielder with a view to a longer-term move.
Celtic have SPFL midfield star on their radar
According to 67HailHail, Celtic have Kilmarnock central midfielder David Watson on their radar ahead of a potential swoop to bolster their options in the middle of the park.
The 20-year-old star’s contract with the Premiership side is due to expire at the end of the season, which has thrown doubt around his future heading into the January window, as it may be Kilmarnock’s last chance to cash in on him.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
67HailHail reports, though, that the Hoops are not certain to make a move for him in the January transfer window, amid competition from league leaders Hearts.
The Premiership champions could, instead, wait until the end of the season to snap him up on a free transfer, rather than looking to pay a fee to land the midfield star six months early.
Whether a deal happens in January or next summer, Watson could be an excellent addition to the side as Nancy’s own version of Scott Brown in midfield.
Why Watson would be Nancy's own Brown for Celtic
Back in the summer of 2007, Celtic paid £4.4m to sign Scott Brown from Premiership rivals Hibernian, which was a record fee between two Scottish clubs at that time.
Watson, as his contract is due to expire next summer, would not arrive at Parkhead with any kind of record transfer fee, but he would be another talented and young Scottish central midfielder who could have an incredibly bright future in Glasgow.
Brown had 134 appearances for Hibernian at first-team level under his belt, per Transfermarkt, as a 21-year-old, whilst the Kilmarnock star has played 118 matches and does not turn 21 until February of this season.
The former Hibs ace, of course, went on to captain Celtic and make 618 appearances in all competitions, winning ten Premiership titles, as a combative midfield star, who also chipped in with 46 goals and 63 assists, per Transfermarkt.
Watson’s performances for Kilmarnock in the top-flight so far this season suggest that he can offer the same sort of box-to-box presence that Brown did during his time at Parkhead.
25/26 Premiership
Watson
Rank vs CMs
Goals
3
Top 8%
Assists
1
Top 41%
Successful dribbles
11
Top 6%
Fouls won
27
Top 3%
Tackles won
24
Top 12%
Duels won
72
Top 5%
Interceptions
13
Top 11%
Blocks
6
Top 1%
Stats via Sofascore
Described by Scottish scout and analyst Kai Watson as a “box-crashing, goalscoring midfielder that works hard on both ends”, it’s clear the 20-year-old excels offensively and defensively among his positional peers in the Premiership, which illustrates the kind of quality that he would bring to Celtic as a box-to-box midfielder.
Watson, who Kilmarnock commentator Andrew Milligan claimed has “no ceiling”, has shown the Hoops what he can do offensively, scoring against them in the clash between the two sides in September.
On top of his evident quality on the pitch as a Premiership midfielder, the Celtic target is also the current captain of Scotland’s U21s at international level, per Transfermarkt, which suggests that he has the potential to be a future Hoops captain, as he is viewed as a leader for that team.
Therefore, Watson could be Nancy’s own version of the Scott Brown signing from 2007, as he could come in next summer as another 21-year-old proven Premiership midfielder who could captain the club moving forward.
Nancy could turn "world-class" Celtic star into the new Matt O'Riley
Celtic have a “world-class” star who could explode under Wilfried Nancy at Parkhead.
ByDan Emery Nov 16, 2025
Gary Neville has criticised one aspect of Arsenal’s performance in the 4-1 North London derby victory against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
It was ultimately an easy day at the office for the Gunners against their bitter rivals, with Eberechi Eze, who Tottenham were keen on signing in the summer, scoring a hat-trick, after Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the first half.
Speaking after the game, Jamie Carragher admitted he underestimated just how important Eze would end up being for Mikel Arteta’s side, who put in a fantastic all-round performance to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
However, a fellow Sky Sports pundit wasn’t particularly impressed with one aspect of Arteta’s side’s performance…
Gary Neville criticises Arsenal's set-pieces against Tottenham
Arsenal have been phenomenal from set-pieces this season, with Gabriel looking particularly impressive in the opposition penalty area, picking up two goals and three assists in all competitions.
However, while Neville was complimentary of the overall display, the 50-year-old has suggested the Gunners weren’t quite as threatening from dead-ball situations against Tottenham as they have been previously.
Arteta’s side proved they have what it takes to end the long wait for a Premier League title with their performance on Sunday, limiting their opponents to an xG of just 0.07, with only a Richarlison wonder goal catching them out.
Eze certainly sent out a major statement with his performance too, receiving a SofaScore match rating of 10 after scoring a hat-trick and making a number of other key contributions.
Eberechi Eze’s key statistics vs Tottenham
Number completed
Big chances created
1
Duels (won)
10 (7)
Interceptions
2
Tackles
2
Arsenal also displayed that they aren’t one dimensional, with none of their goals coming from set-pieces, and they managed to cope despite having a number of important players out injured, namely Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel.
As such, Arteta will no doubt be confident his side can go on to have a successful season, but there are some tricky fixtures on the horizon, taking on FC Bayern in the Champions League on Wednesday, prior to a trip to second-placed Chelsea at the weekend.
£32m Arsenal star looked like prime Ozil and Odegaard vs Spurs Forget Eze: £32m Arsenal star looked like prime Ozil and Odegaard vs Spurs
Eberechi Eze is not the only Arsenal star who deserves his flowers after north London derby win.
ByMatt Dawson Nov 24, 2025
ICC announces pre-sale prices as low as one US dollar approximately
ESPNcricinfo staff04-Sep-2025Tickets for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup have gone on sale with less than a month to go for the start of the tournament on September 30 in Guwahati.On Thursday, the ICC announced that tickets for all the group matches in India and Sri Lanka were available on pre-sale on tickets.cricketworldcup.com for four days from 1900 IST and SLST on September 4 via the Google Pay platform. The second phase of ticket sales will begin on September 9 at 2000 IST and SLST (1430 GMT) on tickets.cricketworldcup.com.According to the ICC, ticket prices will start at INR 100 (USD 1.14 approx.) in the first pre-sale phase – “the most affordable pricing for any ICC global event in history.”Related
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USD 13.88 million prize money for Women's ODI World Cup
The Women’s ODI World Cup will be contested by eight teams – India, Sri Lanka, England, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh – across five venues: Colombo, Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, and Navi Mumbai. India and Sri Lanka open the tournament on September 30 in Guwahati, and the final is on November 2 at a yet-to-be-decided venue.The ICC recently announced that the total prize money for the tournament is USD $13.88 million, nearly a fourfold increase from the USD 3.5 million for the previous women’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand in 2022.
The Gujarat keeper-batter now has the world record for the second-fastest T20 century and the Indian record for the second-fastest List A century
Hemant Brar29-Nov-2024Urvil Patel’s father, Mukesh, was more disheartened than his son when he went unsold at the recent IPL 2025 mega auction.In his younger days, Patel senior was a university-level sprinter. But the lack of resources and guidance meant he had to give up on his ambitions and settle for the job of a physical education teacher at a government school. Since then, his dream has been to see his son excel in a sport at the highest level.Urvil, a wicketkeeper-opener from Gujarat, has been part of the IPL previously. At the 2023 auction, Gujarat Titans (GT) bought him at his base price of INR 20 lakh. But he did not get to play and was released after the season. This time, his name did not even come up. His father’s disappointment, therefore, was understandable.Urvil, too, was upset. But he did not let it affect his game. In Gujarat’s first outing after the auction, against Tripura in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Urvil smashed the second-fastest hundred in T20 cricket, off just 28 balls. It was the fastest by an Indian, bettering Rishabh Pant’s record against Himachal Pradesh by four balls, and just one shy of the world record, set by Sahil Chauhan for Estonia against Cyprus.Urvil’s 113 not out in 35 balls helped Gujarat chase down their target of 156 in just 10.2 overs. His innings featured 12 sixes, four of them off successive balls against Mandeep Singh’s part-time all-sorts spin.
* Runs
Balls
Fours
SixesGujarat batter Urvil Patel smashed the fastest hundred by an Indian in T20s against Tripura in Indore
Watch snippets of his #SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @GCAMotera pic.twitter.com/zjbsKpZkYv
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) November 27, 2024
After the match, he called his father. “I told him this hundred was for him,” Urvil tells ESPNcricinfo. “I am very close to my father. He has made a lot of sacrifices for my career. He would wake up at 4am to take me for the practice. He used to give tuition to class 11 and 12 students; he stopped that to give me more time.”This was not the first time Urvil did something extraordinary after a setback. Exactly a year ago, a day after being released by GT, he had smashed a 41-ball hundred against Arunachal Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. It was the second-fastest List A hundred by an Indian, behind Yusuf Pathan’s 40-ball effort for Baroda against Maharashtra in 2010.Related
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Urvil Patel hits second-fastest T20 ton, fastest by an Indian
Was there extra motivation to prove a point on both occasions?”Nothing like that,” he says with a smile. “When you are in the middle, there is so much pressure you don’t even remember such things.”It is true that both knocks came against weaker oppositions. But Urvil can take apart even the best bowling attacks on his day. In the next two games after his hundred against Arunachal Pradesh, he scored 86 in 83 balls against Uttar Pradesh and 116 in 93 against Himachal Pradesh.
****
Urvil was born in Vadnagar but started his cricket in Palanpur, a northern Gujarat city known for its diamonds. Under the coaching of Prakash Patani, he polished his talent and has emerged as the brightest gem from the region.He made his T20 debut for Baroda, in 2017-18, and scored 50 in 28 balls against Mumbai. But after just one season with them, he decided to move to Gujarat.”There was nothing wrong at Baroda,” Urvil says. “I just felt I would get more opportunities with Gujarat. At the same time, I was aware I needed to perform.”
“My goal is always to take one step forward from where I am today. For that, whatever runs I need to score, I need to score. Whatever skills I need to upgrade, I need to upgrade”
So far, he has played 45 T20s and has scored 1014 runs at a strike rate of 161.72. His numbers in List A cricket are equally impressive: 415 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 111.26. Though he has also played six first-class games, his priority remains white-ball cricket: “Power-hitting comes naturally to me.”Apart from that, Urvil’s big strength is his self-belief. “T20 is such a format that you to take risks. The most important thing then is to stay calm and back yourself.”While he did not play a game at IPL 2023, he picked up valuable lessons from everything around him. He observed how professionally Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan went about their work, both in the nets and on the field. The technical inputs – about wicketkeeping – came from Wriddhiman Saha.”I got to spend a lot of time with Wriddhi . He made me aware of the areas I could improve in. We discussed about the movement behind the stumps, which really helped me.”Whenever he needs extra motivation, he recalls why he started playing cricket: for his father. His ultimate dream, like any budding cricketer, is to represent India, but he is not looking too far ahead.”My goal is always to take one step forward from where I am today. For that, whatever runs I need to score, I need to score. Whatever skills I need to upgrade, I need to upgrade.”
Liverpool are in uncharted waters, with these deep fathoms threatening not only the future of Arne Slot, who won the Premier League a matter of months ago, but that of Mohamed Salah, one of the greatest players in the club’s history, too.
Where is the respite? At the moment, Liverpool can’t catch a break, fumbling a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Leeds United on Saturday after previously drawing against well-worth-their-money Sunderland at Anfield. All told, the Reds have won only two of their past ten league fixtures, losing six.
But Liverpool have sculpted this disaster themselves. They have patented a startling ability to wreak havoc on their own progress, with tactical imbalances sparking crises of confidence, sparking mutiny.
Salah’s flaming interview at Elland Road will go down in the history books, and though FSG have since underlined their faith in Slot’s stewardship, the severity of this crossroads cannot be understated.
The latest on Slot's Liverpool future
Slot is in an unenviable position, with Salah’s outburst proving the latest and most damaging in a long line of mishaps since the summer.
While FSG retain the faith in the 47-year-old, who led Liverpool to the Premier League title last year after Jurgen Klopp stepped down, there’s an acceptance that results are needed quickly if something is to be salvaged from this campaign.
The fact of the matter is that Slot’s Liverpool started wobbling well before the end of the 2024/25 campaign, and he now needs to show that he can sort out the defence and restore balance to the team. He needs to show that quickly.
Arne Slot at Liverpool (2024 vs 2025)
2024
#
2025
27
Games
52
23
Wins
26
3
Draws
10
1
Losses
16
2.66
PPG
1.69
73
Goals scored
91
27
Goals conceded
69
Data via Transfermarkt
Liverpool are in big bother, and though FSG have been steadfast in their backing of the Dutchman, their leniency will only stretch so far, especially when there is such an exciting successor for Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes to consider.
Liverpool could hire Slot upgrade
Last week, it was reported that FSG have been considering Julian Nagelsmann as a candidate to replace Slot, should the Reds coach be sacked, though they will face a tough task in wrestling him away from the German national team, especially with the 2026 World Cup looming large.
Nagelsmann, 38, is among the world’s finest young coaches, having managed Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich in his homeland.
Would he be willing to park his international ambitions? Probably not. That’s why it’s anticipated he could be lined up ahead of the start of next season, meaning Liverpool would need to find an interim boss if Slot is dismissed before the end of the term.
What Nagelsmann would offer Liverpool
Nagelsmann has been described as the “best young coach in Europe” by journalist Josh Bunting, and though he’s the junior of practically all of the game’s standout managers, he’s hardly inexperienced, with a keen tactical mind that could be the remedy to a Liverpool team who have fallen by the wayside.
This is a fluid and interchangeable tactician. Nagelsmann employed a counter-pressing system at Leipzig before changing to a more dominant playing style at the Allianz Arena. He recognises the quirks and whims of the players at his disposal, and he crafts a system that caters to his troops.
Journalist Kai Iliev has even named him a “world-class manager” for his ability to fix a range of flaws within Germany’s national set-up. Now they are contenders. Now they believe again.
Liverpool could do with a bit of that, right? The appointment of Nagelsmann might even play into keeping Salah at the club; with the Egyptian King’s relationship under Slot having broken down, something has to give.
Liverpool, of course, will now back Salah over Slot. To do the contrary would result in anarchy. But this latest splinter in an outfit splitting wide open is not the root cause. Slot’s system is in a tailspin, and if he cannot establish form and fluency quickly, he will find that he has exhausted all the credit in the bank, and Edwards and Hughes will be forced into making a tough call.
The German coach’s principal 4-2-3-1 set-up would accommodate new signing Florian Wirtz and allow Salah to arc inwards once more and find passages into the danger area. This season, the 33-year-old has only posted five goals and three assists across all competitions.
Who could have expected this when Liverpool lifted the Premier League title? Salah was not the main man but the author of his long-term outfit’s illustrious success.
It’s not controversial to suggest that many, many Liverpool supporters would be dejected if Salah were to leave this winter, and it would be sure to put more than just a dampener on Slot’s reign at the Anfield helm.
If results do not continue over the coming weeks – with Salah off to AFCON after Liverpool host Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League this weekend – FSG will have to face the reality of theirt spiraling situation and make a change.
Could that prompt Salah to stay? Working under Nagelsmann on Merseyside, it just might, though whether the Reds are able to keep the African legend appeased and reach a decision that would see him remain at the club he has served so well over the past nine years remains to be seen.
In any case, this is a staggering, stomach-sinking situation, one that nobody could have foreseen, and Liverpool’s powers that be need to make sure an upswing is found – quickly.
Sell him before Salah & Konate: FSG must bin Liverpool's "major issue"
Liverpool have collapsed this season, and some tough decisions need to be made.
1 ByAngus Sinclair 3 days ago
Real Madrid’s turbulent dressing-room divide has been laid bare as reports in Spain reveal which players have aligned themselves with Vinicius Jr amid his escalating conflict with manager Xabi Alonso — and which stars, including Kylian Mbappe, have publicly and privately backed the under-pressure coach. With results slipping and tensions rising, Los Blancos now find themselves battling a crisis.
Real Madrid split in two camps over Alonso
Reports emerging from Spain over the last several days have alleged an internal split at Real Madrid, with multiple first-team players said to be unhappy with Alonso’s management. The situation intensified following the team’s 2-2 draw against Elche — their third straight game without a win after a disappointing stalemate against Rayo Vallecano and a Champions League defeat to Liverpool. According to COPE’s ‘El Partidazo’, as results slipped, frustrations that had been simmering beneath the surface erupted into clear divisions within the squad.
The outlet claims that six players — Fede Valverde, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz, Endrick and Ferland Mendy — have grown discontent with the coach’s decisions and tactical management. Vinicius is believed to be at the centre of the unrest, having been left out of the starting line-up multiple times this season and completing the full 90 minutes on only four occasions. With the Brazilian star reportedly unhappy about his role and handling, Spanish media have framed his deteriorating relationship with Alonso as the catalyst for a broader dressing-room split.
Meanwhile, a second group of players has reportedly come out strongly in support of Alonso’s leadership during this turbulent period. That camp consists of Mbappe, Thibaut Courtois, Arda Guler, defender Dean Huijsen and full-back Alvaro Carreras. Their backing arrives at a crucial time for the former Bayer Leverkusen coach, who is facing growing scrutiny following the dip in form, despite the team still sitting top of La Liga after winning 10 of their opening 11 matches.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportRift stems from Alonso and Vinicius' disagreements
The rift between Vinicius and Alonso is understood to be long-running and rooted in both tactical disagreements and a perceived change in treatment compared to the Carlo Ancelotti era. The conflict escalated in the summer during the Club World Cup semi-final, where Alonso initially planned to bench Vinicius and later deployed him on the right wing, a position the Brazilian strongly dislikes. Since then, the player has viewed the reduced minutes and repeated rotations as a loss of trust, fueling frustration and shaping his stance toward the coach.
This tension reached a boiling point after Vinicius reacted angrily to being substituted in El Clasico, a moment that demanded a public apology from the player. While he apologised to his teammates and the club as a whole, he notably did not mention Alonso, which many interpreted as a deliberate omission. The fallout has directly affected one of the club’s most important off-field issues: his contract renewal. Reports suggest the Brazilian has stalled talks and informed president Florentino Perez that he will not commit long-term while the current coaching situation remains unresolved.
The internal divide extends beyond personal clashes and now threatens squad harmony at a critical stage of the season. Alonso has already faced claims that he has “lost the dressing room” — a narrative historically difficult to reverse at Real Madrid. While the club hierarchy continues to publicly declare support for the coach, Real Madrid's history shows that results, dressing-room unity, and player power ultimately determine managerial longevity. With Vinicius positioned as a cornerstone of the club’s future project, the tension places extraordinary pressure on Alonso to regain control before long-term fractures set in.
Real Madrid's dressing room reportedly falling apart…
The reported factions within the dressing room have emerged during a worrying downturn in performances. After a blistering start, Alonso’s side have stumbled badly, dropping points in three consecutive matches. The 2-2 draw at Elche, where Madrid again struggled to impose themselves, intensified scrutiny and opened the door for speculation about personal tensions shaping performances. Although the team remains top of La Liga, a single point ahead of Barcelona, the momentum that carried them through the autumn has clearly faded.
Vinicius' case is particularly sensitive because of his influence within the squad and the club’s reliance on him as a long-term star. His displeasure has spread concern within Madrid’s management structure, especially with suggestions he may delay or refuse a contract renewal until the situation with Alonso is resolved. Spanish media have gone as far as to report that the pair have “fallen out badly”, raising alarms at Valdebebas over whether the rift can be repaired.
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Real Madrid now face a defining stretch of the season, with Alonso needing both results and unity to quell what is rapidly becoming a crisis. The upcoming Champions League clash against Olympiacos has been labelled a “crucial test”, with Spanish media suggesting a defeat could push the coach closer to the brink just months into his tenure. With January approaching, the club may be forced into decisive action if the dressing-room fracture worsens and contract negotiations with Vinicius stall further.
Liverpool have now reportedly set their sights on hiring a Premier League manager, who Pep Guardiola called “incredible”, in a fresh concern for Arne Slot.
Before the international break, Liverpool could at least fall back on the excuse that much of their bad form came on the road. Anfield, for the most part, remained a fortress. Just weeks later, however, and that fortress has been set ablaze by humiliating defeats at the hands of Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven.
Not everyone is ready to call time on Slot’s time at the club, however, and Anfield legend Jamie Carragher sent a timely reminder on punditry duty that Liverpool aren’t a sacking club, historically speaking.
He said: “Liverpool is not a sacking club, Liverpool, I think, are different from almost every club in European football where the manager is the king, you know, the managers get time.
“Liverpool have never sacked a manager who’s won the league, never in the history. They’ve all, you know, after a few years they’ve gone, they’ve resigned.
Slot must drop 3/10 Liverpool flop who was just as bad as Konate vs PSV
Arne Slot must now axe this Liverpool flop after he put in an extremely poor display at Anfield against PSV Eindhoven.
1
By
Kelan Sarson
Nov 27, 2025
“I couldn’t believe over the weekend that people were talking about the manager’s job when I spoke to Liverpool supporters after losing at home to Nottingham Forest.
“It’s only going to amplify now and I’ve always been in the camp of you stick with the manager because I’m angry with the players if I’m being totally honest, I’m really angry with the players but it does get to a stage with any manager at any club where I always use this word untenable, where it almost feels like it can’t go on any longer.”
Whether Liverpool chiefs share that view is the big question. Recent reports linking them to the likes of Andoni Iraola certainly suggests that they’re at least preparing for life without Slot.
According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now eyeing a move to hire Iraola from Bournemouth if they decide to sack Slot. The Cherries boss is someone that Richard Hughes knows well, given that the sporting director hired the Spaniard during his time on the South Coast, and could now turn to him for a second time.
Iraola is one of the most well-respected managers in the Premier League these days. He’s taken Bournemouth to new heights and transformed the likes of Antoine Semenyo, who’s attracting interest from Liverpool ahead of the January transfer window.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been one of the many figures around English football to hand the Bournemouth boss praise, telling reporters earlier this season: “Andoni is an incredible, well-respected manager in Spain and did an incredible job in Rayo Vallecano.”
It doesn’t get much better than praise from the Man City boss, and Iraola could yet get the chance to become one of his biggest rivals if Liverpool make their move.
Daniel Farke, manager of Leeds United, has provided an update on injuries within his squad ahead of their Sunday clash with Nottingham Forest.
Last season, at the second time of asking, Farke led Leeds back to the Premier League as centurions and winners of the Championship. After 10 games in the top flight, the Whites have picked up 11 points as, alongside Sunderland and Burnley, the newly-promoted teams have enjoyed promising starts to the campaign.
Leeds are certainly at their best when at home, having lost only to Tottenham Hotspur in five games at Elland Road. On the road, however, Leeds have just one win, which came against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Not only have they lost the other four matches, but excluding the win over Wolves, Leeds have not scored away from home.
The Whites are next in action on Sunday when they travel to face Forest, who have not won in the Premier League since their opening day victory against Brentford.
Sean Dyche oversaw a victory against Porto in the Europa League on his debut as Forest manager, having since lost to Bournemouth as well as draws with Man United and Sturm Graz.
Ahead of their visit to the City Ground, Farke has revealed which of his players have faced fitness setbacks.
Farke reveals Leeds pair are struggling with injury
Signed for just over £5 million in the summer from Wolfsburg, Sebastiaan Bornauw was recruited to serve as depth to pre-existing centre-back options Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon, along with fellow summer addition Jaka Bijol.
Yet to make his Premier League debut for the Whites, Bornauw has played just once for the club, when he featured against Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup. Farke has now revealed that the Belgian is struggling with a new injury suffered behind closed doors.
Elsewhere within the team, it will be a “late call” whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin can play against Forest. The former Everton striker has been brilliant for Leeds, giving them a physical outlet up front that has allowed them to compete in the Premier League.
Lukas Nmecha is a serviceable back-up option, but Leeds will hope that both Bornauw and Calvert-Lewin are not absent for too long. Given that, including Joel Piroe, no Leeds striker has been a consistent goal threat this season, it may be that Farke could soon turn to some younger options within his squad.
"Dangerous" striker could be open to Leeds switch in January
Lionel Messi has sent an emotional message to Barcelona fans after making a secret return to Camp Nou. The Argentine superstar severed career-long ties with the Catalan giants in 2021, but has made no secret of his desire to retrace steps to familiar surroundings at some stage. He has been back in the city during a break from MLS duties with Inter Miami, allowing him to take in upgrades to the iconic stadium.