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Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee made one of the most ridiculous catches of the 2025 MLB season Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Out in center field, Hoo Lee tried to chase down a ball hit by Yandy Diaz that was destined for Oracle Park's "Triple's Alley." The speedy outfielder was able to get in range, but bobbled the ball while attempting to make a sliding catch. The ball bounced off the heel of his glove and then bounced off his left leg as he slid. It rolled down to his knee, where he was somehow able to pin the ball between his legs and secure it for an out.

Have a look at the circus show Hoo Lee put on in front of the home crowd in San Francisco:

"I don't care what anybody says, that's the catch of the decade. Not of the year, not of the day, not of the week, not of the homestand. The decade," said NBC Sports Bay Area commentator Mike Krukow after the catch from Hoo Lee.

He may be right, too.

Chelsea are suffering their typical wintry blues at the moment, having gone four games without a win since thrashing Barcelona in the Champions League.

There’s no question that Enzo Maresca has stabilised and advanced the BlueCo project at Stamford Bridge, but, with words from the horse’s mouth, “there are many, many things that I need to learn.”

A key theme this season has been the injury suffering of Cole Palmer, who has not scored in the Premier League since September.

Chelsea need a foil, and they are lining up the perfect up-and-coming talent to contest with the Three Lions star for a starting berth.

Chelsea lining up Palmer replacement

After Chelsea let Kevin De Bruyne go way back, the Belgian became one of the greatest players of his generation. In Palmer, they have landed a playmaker who could replace the former Manchester City man as the division’s staple.

However, the 23-year-old’s absence this term has been keenly felt, and Maresca and the Blues’ sporting directors recognise the need for an alternative option.

They have earmarked such a profile in AZ Alkmaar’s fast-rising star Kees Smit, with inews’ Mark Douglas suggesting that Chelsea are leading the race for the 19-year-old.

Liverpool and Newcastle have also been named as suitors, with the latter considering a January bid, but Chelsea are considered the favourites to land his signature, with a figure of £25m mooted.

Why Chelsea want Kees Smit

Smit may be at the start of his career, but already he has established himself as a talent with the capacity to thrive at one of Europe’s most prestigious outfits.

And given Chelsea’s talent ID when it comes to plucking out elite-level prospects, it could be a match made in heaven, also serving symbolically as rectification after that fumbled De Bruyne chapter.

Smit’s creativity and ability to play in deep-lying and advanced midfield berths have actually seen him likened to the 34-year-old, who left Man City and joined Napoli last summer.

Looking at the AZ starlet’s dynamism and high baseline when it comes to his playmaking, it’s not hard to see why that is.

Matches (starts)

14 (14)

4 (3)

Goals

2

0

Assists

2

2

Shots (on target)*

1.4 (0.2)

2.0 (0.8)

Touches*

62.6

73.0

Accurate passes*

42.7 (89%)

50.8 (87%)

Chances created*

1.8

1.8

Succ. dribbles*

0.9

2.0

Tackles + interceptions*

1.8

2.8

Duels won*

3.5

5.5

Already, he is establishing himself against his peers, outstripping them. FBref data shows that the Dutchman ranks among the top 9% of Eredivisie midfielders this season for pass completion, the top 13% for shot-creating actions and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90.

Smit will only get better. Analyst Ben Mattinson has already scouted out his “world-class potential”, and his growth over the past two years in his homeland has done little – if anything – to suggest the contrary.

The teenager’s strength and intelligence and technical skill all work in alliance, and he has already shown he has what it takes to stand out against Premier League opposition, shining against Crystal Palace in the Conference League this year.

Would Chelsea be wise to wait and see how this up-and-comer continues to develop? Perhaps, but with a host of suitors lining up, time is not on the west Londoners’ side; if they want to snap him up, they must do so in January, beating off the likes of Newcastle and landing a player who could become a leading member of Maresca’s project down the line.

Maresca was quizzed on Chelsea’s reliance on Palmer’s output last season, when the England superstar was going through fitness problems.

He relayed to reporters that the Stamford Bridge side needed to break away from that one-man team identity. They are doing so, and with Smit, that would only develop further.

Delap upgrade: Chelsea already have one of the "best strikers in Europe"

Chelsea have yet another exciting forward set to join their ranks in the coming months.

ByEthan Lamb 2 days ago

Barcelona’s long-awaited Camp Nou rebirth has stretched a full year beyond schedule, yet the club will not enforce the €1 million-per-day penalty clause against construction firm Limak. Between bureaucratic hurdles, structural surprises, financial strain, and internal dissent, Barca now prioritises finishing the stadium over reclaiming hundreds of millions in fines as fans grow increasingly frustrated.

• Multiple delay's in Camp Nou's renovation

  Barcelona’s Camp Nou renovation, once positioned as a flagship achievement of the Espai Barca project, spiralled into a saga of delays, criticism and missed milestones. The project has now drifted a year beyond the original November 29, 2024 deadline, yet the club will not enforce the €1m-per-day penalty clause included in Limak’s contract, reports.

  This decision arrives after months of concerns surrounding the project’s management. One of the earliest internal ruptures occurred when Jordi Llaurado, the board member overseeing Espai Barca, resigned following president Joan Laporta’s choice of Limak as the construction partner. Llaurado opposed the selection – he believed Camp Nou’s reconstruction warranted a top-tier, perhaps publicly traded firm subject to strict regulatory oversight. Limak, in contrast, submitted its bid late, failed to meet certain formal criteria, and reportedly scored the lowest in technical evaluations. The former board member also refused to attend the vote, signalling his disapproval, and resigned weeks later in protest.

  Now, the club face the consequences of that choice. Camp Nou remains partly closed, its phased reopening far slower than promised. Having just returned to Camp Nou for their first game last week, Barcelona continue to play matches in a stadium still surrounded by cranes, incomplete roofs and unfinished concourses, undermining the initial pledge of a sparkling return for the club’s 125th anniversary. And despite the long delay, Laporta has made it clear that invoking the penalty clause is “out of the question,” insisting that the project’s setbacks stem from circumstances beyond Limak’s control.

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  Why Barcelona refuses to demand the fines

  Barcelona argue that many of the delays arose from factors that no contractor could have fully prevented – bureaucratic bottlenecks, permitting challenges, and labour inspections that caused repeated stoppages. The City Council’s prolonged approvals forced work to halt for weeks at a time, while EU safety requirements and municipal restrictions on continuous construction shrank operational hours.

  Beyond the red tape, the site itself produced new complications, according to various reports. Construction teams discovered high-voltage cables requiring a full rewiring, hazardous materials that mandated specialised removal, and significant drainage issues in the pitch area that pushed the turf regrowth back by months. Meanwhile, global disruptions, from a major steel supplier’s bankruptcy to shipping delays linked to geopolitical tensions, further slowed progress.

  Extreme heat waves in Catalonia brought mandatory labour stoppages under new Spanish regulations, and noise-control laws blocked the possibility of 24-hour shifts that could have accelerated work. Subcontracting delays in the VIP zones, still incomplete and without final facades or luxury seating, extended the timeline further. The enormous roof which required 1,400 tons of steel cabling remains one of the biggest components now pushed into 2026.

  Laporta insists these conditions make litigation unwinnable, and that pursuing over €200 million in fines would damage the relationship with Limak and jeopardise completion. The club argues that its priority must be guaranteeing the stadium’s full 105,000-seat reopening by mid-2026, not entering a lengthy legal battle that could stall progress.

  Adding to the controversy, the Catalan Labour Inspectorate recently fined an Extreme Works subcontractor €1m for employing 79 undocumented workers on site, an incident that has sparked further scrutiny of oversight standards and casts another shadow over the project’s execution.

• Fan outrage and internal pressure mount

  Barcelona has repeatedly missed the self-imposed return dates. From the 2024 anniversary target to the 2025 Joan Gamper Trophy and a planned reopening for the Valencia match that was abruptly transferred back to the Johan Cruyff Stadium over last-minute permit complications. Montjuic’s Estadi Olimpic, the temporary home since 2023, has offered little comfort: reduced capacity, muted atmospheres, and away supporters frequently out-chanting the home crowd.

  Frustration reached boiling point when a viral video showed a fan confronting Laporta directly, accusing the leadership of making empty promises. Online forums have produced forensic breakdowns of the delays, with some analyses attributing a majority of setbacks to preventable planning errors rather than uncontrollable externalities.

  Internally, the strains are equally evident. Fixture scheduling for La Liga and the Champions League has become a logistical ordeal, with multiple departments forced to react to each shift in construction timelines. VIP clients are now voicing dissatisfaction due to unfinished lounges and premium zones, jeopardising key revenue streams.

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  Financial consequences for Barca and the road ahead

  Reduced capacity at Montjuic has cost Barcelona tens of millions annually in lost matchday revenue – money desperately needed amid ongoing debt and salary-cap constraints. Delays also erased potential earnings from events such as Champions League openers and commercial activations tied to the stadium’s reopening. Overrunning material and labour costs have inflated the renovation budget well beyond initial projections, intensifying the strain on a club already navigating a €1.3 billion debt.

  By waiving over €200 million in possible penalties from Limak, Barcelona has sacrificed a potential revenue buffer. Meanwhile, the €1m government fine over undocumented workers added yet another financial burden to a project already plagued by unforeseen expenses.

  Yet the Espai Barca renovation is not without progress. Partial reopening has allowed Barcelona to host select La Liga and Champions League matches at Camp Nou once more, and an open training session earlier this month offered a glimpse of life after the cranes are gone. Sustainability objectives, such as 18,000 square metres of solar panels, large-scale material recycling, and water-reuse systems, remain on track despite delays to their installation. Still, the road to full completion stretches into 2026.

Sadio Mane says he rejected a move to Manchester United a year before signing for Liverpool. When the forward was impressing at Southampton, the Red Devils were keen on signing the Senegal international. But Mane has revealed he was "not convinced" by then-manager Louis van Gaal's assertion that he would be a first-team regular.

Mane wanted by Premier League giants

Mane joined Southampton from Red Bull Salzburg in 2014 for just under £12 million ($15.5m), which was a club record fee at the time, and went on to score 25 goals in 75 appearances. But before he headed to Anfield for a fee worth up to £36m ($47m) in June 2016, Mane had the chance to move to Van Gaal's United the year prior. However, he seemingly had doubts that he would play ahead of the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, and Angel Di Maria at Old Trafford. The decision to bide his time proved to be a good one as he went on to become one of Liverpool's all-time greats, guiding them to Premier League and Champions League glory in a six-year spell.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMane unconvinced by Van Gaal's pitch

In addition to Rooney, Van Persie, and Di Maria, United also had attackers such as Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial – which planted more seeds of doubts in Mane's mind.

The Al-Nassr star said, via ESPN: "Manchester United called me that time, I was talking to Van Gaal. I was talking to Van Gaal that time. Rooney was there. And Di María was there. And … and [Memphis] Depay was there. When they failed to get me, they bought [Anthony] Martial. Van Gaal called me and he said, 'Mané, how are you? What are you doing?' He said, "I want you to come to Manchester United. I said, 'Really?' He said, 'Yeah.' I said, 'OK. Now I'm talking to my agent. [Van Gaal said] 'We'll see what is the best, because I know you're a good player and you can help the team, and we can help you also to become better players'.

"And then I said, 'OK, so my question: you have Depay, you have Rooney, you have Di María, you have Van Persie, I think the same. 'So where am I going to play?' That was my question, because me, I want to play. He said, 'I know your talent, you're good. But if you do good training, good impression, you will play. But we have another player which is also good'.

"I was not convinced about his explanation. I talked to the coach, but he told me that I will play if I'm good; if not. But at the time, me, I was not ready, I can say. I was young. I still needed someone to help me more. And one or two more years to become what I want to be. Because I was still in Southampton; I was not consistent. And then we said, 'OK, we'll see'."

Mane could have joined Liverpool's rivals

Mane also revealed he spoke to Tottenham the same summer that United tried to sign him. In fact, the pitch that Spurs put to the Senegalese was more tempting. 

He said: "I have a meeting with Tottenham. At the same time, Mauricio Pochettino called him [my agent] and he said, 'I want to have Sadio to come to Tottenham training ground. And then I go to Tottenham training ground one week after. I see the facility, I meet the coach, I talk to him, and I was more convinced than the Man United project. Because Man United was too many… the problem was too many big players."

What might have been for Mane…

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gettyWhat comes next for Mane?

Since leaving Liverpool, where he scored 120 goals in 269 matches, Mane has played for Bayern Munich, before joining current club Al-Nassr in 2023. Now, he is targeting winning trophies for Cristiano Ronaldo's team. 

He added: "It’s normal to dream big because Al Nassr is one of the best teams in the league. The title, we know [that it’s a target], so we don’t need to talk about it. And, of course, having new players like Kingsley [Coman] and Joao [Felix], which is a dream for us to get them because we need them and we are really happy to have them. For sure, the fans and the club expect a lot, but I have no doubt about it that they will deliver for us. It’s going to be a really exciting season for all of us. We can’t wait to achieve the best things that we want."

Branislav Jasurek, representative of Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, has clarified the state of the player's relationship with head coach Antonio Conte. Jasurek and Lobotka stole headlines in Italy recently after comments resurfaced of the agent suggesting that his client will leave the club if the coach stays at the helm.

Lobotka's agent raises eyebrows in Italy

Jasurek appeared in a podcast with Slovak website which was recorded in October but gained significant traction in Italy this week. Lobotka's agent's comments sent shockwaves in Naples, as he stated that the combative midfielder could seek pastures new next summer if Conte ended up staying.

"Napoli have invested well in recent times and brought in new players," he said, before questioning Conte's choice to hand Lobotka very little rest amid his struggles with injuries. "That's why I don't understand why Lobotka had to play three difficult matches in eight days before the national team match. They could have given him a little rest and thus he would have been able to play for Slovakia in Northern Ireland. So I'm nervous," Jasurek expressed.

"If Stano wins a third title in Napoli, it will certainly be easier for him to leave, but I don't like to predict these things. He now has a significantly improved contract and could stay at the club for a few more years. But he is already 30 years old and it will be almost unrealistic to physically endure it under Conte. We are still talking about whether it can be managed at all. What Conte requires is brutally demanding. The coach's running requirements in statistics are incomparable."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportJasurek issues clarification, praises Lobotka's dynamic with Conte

Following how big a deal Jasurek's words became within hours of it making the rounds on the internet, the agent was contacted by Jasurek immediately issued a determined clarification, revealing that his words were taken out of context.

"I was very surprised, because the words were taken completely out of context," he assured. "It's true that I participate in a podcast in Slovakia, where we talk about the national team and some players. In that episode I spoke about Lobotka with a lot of appreciation. At the end, I said that it's difficult to work with Antonio Conte, because he's a very demanding coach, but I added that this is positive because he's a winner. Then I joked and said that Lobo might get tired and ask me for a transfer in the summer, but it was clearly a joke.

"Everyone on the podcast understood this, because I am his agent and every transfer is 'work' for me. Anyone who listened to the podcast in the original language would have immediately understood that it was just a joke. I can also assure everyone that Conte is like a father to Lobotka, and this relationship will never change. I am sure they will win many more trophies together."

Lobotka wants to win the Champions League with Napoli

Lobotka, who arrived from Celta Vigo in 2024, has a contract until 2027 with the Partenopei. There's also an option to extend his deal by another year. According to Jasurek, the Slovakia international harbors ambitions of lifting the Champions League trophy with Napoli, drawing parallels between his connection to the club and that of Marek Hamsík.

"Stanislav has the same relationship with Napoli as Marek Hamsik. He sees the city as his second home and has bought a house there. He shows commitment every week, often twice a week, and that's what matters most," Jasurek continued.

"He is already a two-time Italian champion with Napoli and fully believes he can win the title for the third time. He also dreams of the Champions League with this club. He is 30 years old — a time when he wants to lift trophies — and he is at the right club to achieve that."

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Getty ImagesHow's it going for Lobotka and Napoli this season?

The Scudetto holders have been struggling of late, dropping to fourth place after earning just seven points out of a maximum 15 from their previous five league encounters. Per reports, Conte is set to hold talks about his future at Napoli with the club's hierarchy. 

As for Lobotka, the 30-year-old has recently returned to full fitness after spending two weeks on the sidelines due to an adductor injury. 

Defending champions Dubai Capitals have signed Luke Wood, Waqar Salamkheil and Muhammad Jawadullah

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jul-2025

Defending champions Dubai Capitals have retained Rovman Powell, Shai Hope and Gulbadin Naib for the upcoming season of the ILT20 in the UAE. They have also signed Afghanistan wristspinner Waqar Salamkheil, England left-arm quick Luke Wood and UAE left-arm seamer Muhammad Jawadullah for the fourth season of the tournament.Apart from retaining Afghanistan mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar, Romario Shepherd and Muhammad Waseem, MI Emirates have picked Chris Woakes and Kamindu Mendis as their new faces.Waseem, 31, is a six-hitting machine from the UAE. He has hit 165 sixes in 72 T20I innings – only Rohit Sharma (205) and Martin Guptill (173) have struck more sixes than Waseem in the format.Related

ILT20: Dinesh Karthik joins Sharjah Warriorz

Ashwin enters ILT20 auction with the highest base price for any player

ILT20 cut team salary caps fter avoiding direct clash with SA20

ILT20 to move to December-January window for 2025-26

Desert Vipers, last season’s runners-up, added USA wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous, who is currently in action for Washington Freedom in MLC 2025, to their roster. Lockie Ferguson, Sam Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dan Lawrence were among the players retained by Vipers for the upcoming season.Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, who finished last in the six-team league last season, have added more power to their side in the form of Liam Livingstone, Sherfane Rutherford and Alex Hales.Hales, 36, brings in vast T20 experience: he has played over 500 T20s, scoring 13,756 runs at a strike rate of 145.28. He isn’t too far away from surpassing Chris Gayle (14562) as the leading run-getter in T20 cricket.The former England opener had earlier this year declined a contract with Nottinghamshire to play for the Knight Riders’ franchises in MLC 2025 and CPL 2025. Hales had retired from international cricket in 2023 but has continued to be active in franchise leagues around the world.Sunil Narine and Andre Russell have both been retained by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders•BCCI

The next edition of the ILT20 has been brought forward to a December-January window with an eye on avoiding the cluttered January-February window as well as finishing up well before the men’s T20 World Cup, which will run from February to March.The six franchises will complete their squads through a player auction, details of which will be announced soon, according to a statement from the ILT20.Retained playersAbu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Charith Asalanka, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine.Desert Vipers: Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran and Wanindu Hasaranga.Dubai Capitals: Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Gulbadin Naib, Rovmann Powell and Shai Hope.Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince and Mark Adair.MI Emirates: AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kusal Perera, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton and Muhammad Waseem.Sharjah Warriorz: Johnson Charles, Kusal Mendis, Tim Southee and Tom Kohler-Cadmore.New signingsAbu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alex Hales, Liam Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford.Desert Vipers: Andries Gous.Dubai Capitals: Luke Wood, Waqar Salamkheil and Muhammad Jawadullah.Gulf Giants: Azmatullah Omarzai, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz.MI Emirates: Chris Woakes and Kamindu Mendis.Sharjah Warriorz: Maheesh Theekshana, Sikandar Raza, Saurabh Netravalkar and Tim David.

Aston Villa had the most difficult situation of any Premier League club going into the transfer window, as they were the side closest to a PSR breach. After losing to Manchester United on the last day of the season and missing out on Champions League football, they didn’t have the financial means to go out and spend as much as they would have liked.

The ramifications of this have been felt in the league this season, as Unai Emery’s side have struggled in their opening games and were the last team to open their scoring account.

For teams with such financial restrictions, the best way to cope is by investing in and developing youth. In recent years, Villa have produced academy products such as Jacob Ramsey and signed the likes of Morgan Rogers.

And Emery is now looking to add to the Villans’ youth system by recruiting from the academy of a club that they have worked with in the past.

New signing marks beginning of relationship with Toure club

Aston Villa have completed a deal with Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas for their youngster, Mohamed Koné.

Koné is described as “a highly-rated midfielder who has attracted plenty of admirers”. Villa had first-hand experience with the youngster prior to finalising the deal, as he “spent a number of weeks at Bodymoor Heath before joining the club officially in the summer”. He has already been playing with the Aston Villa Under-21s in recent weeks, even scoring against Peterborough United.

The ASEC Mimosas academy has yielded success in the past, having developed talents like Yaya and Kolo Touré, along with several other Ivorian stars who have made it to the ‘big five’ European leagues. The Touré brothers are their most notable graduates and are players who have found success at the highest levels of English and European football.

Intriguingly, Aston Villa describe the move as a “symbol of the close relationship between Aston Villa and ASEC” and also reveal that this will be “the start of a productive relationship”, clearly trusting the African side’s capabilities in producing a funnel of talent to supplement their academy and first team with fresh prospects.

Villa's poor form could be an opportunity for Kone

Normally, a 17-year-old would have a long wait before breaking into the first team. However, Villa’s poor start to the season may make Emery gamble on him. Ramsey left the club in the summer to join Newcastle United, and Rogers’ inability to find form this season has been a major contributing factor to the club languishing in a relegation battle.

This may open the door for Koné or other youngsters to break into the first team if Emery can’t turn things around with the senior pros and his job security comes into question.

Leeds United are looking to establish themselves as a Premier League outfit for the foreseeable future and could now swoop for an experienced marksman in January.

Leeds await players returning from injury after internationals

Out of everyone in the top-flight, there is an argument to say that the Whites have been dealt the cruelest hand due to injuries and Daniel Farke will be keen to see some key faces return after the international break.

Offering an explanation of where his crocked stars are at in terms of sharpness before his side took on Tottenham Hotspur, the former Norwich City coach laid out respective timeframes for them to return.

“James is out for a few weeks He rolled his ankle in training, Likely out for 4-6 weeks. We expect him back after November international break. If he was available before it would be a bonus. Not great news. Gnonto will miss this came with his calf problems, not back in team training. Back after international break.

“Question marks over Harry Gray, some problems with hip flexor after (youth) game on Monday. Lucas Perri is back in team training since yesterday. Good news but too early to involve him. International break is good for two weeks of training – we expect him out after that.”

While Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s impact behind the scenes at Leeds earns plaudits and Noah Okafor found the net again on Saturday, depth is so important in the top flight and Leeds will need to add to their squad in January if they want to position themselves in a comfortable predicament heading into the second half of the campaign.

Ultimately, only the strongest survive in the Premier League. The Whites have done a good job of making a fist of it so far, but they could take their fight to the next level by beating their domestic rivals to the signature of an experienced striker.

Leeds eyeing Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood

According to TBR, Leeds are eyeing a move for Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood to bolster their forward line, albeit both Everton and West Ham United also want to sign the New Zealand international.

Ange Postecoglou’s arrival at the City Ground has left the 33-year-old at a crossroads due to the Australian’s style of play, and a switch to Yorkshire may be a more suitable fit, given his physical attributes and previous affection for the Elland Road faithful.

Related Daniel Farke says Leeds have a "world-class" versatile player who he's not picking

He hasn’t been seen for a while.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025

With a track record of 91 Premier League goals in 269 appearances to go with 45 in 86 at international level, Wood is an experienced campaigner and has just came off the back of a 20-goal season, following that up with three strikes from seven outings in 2025/26.

It remains to be seen whether Nottingham Forest would be open to offloading such a prolific member of their squad. On the flipside, his age coupled with the emergence of Igor Jesus may lead Postecoglou to cash in come January.

There’s a very strong argument that Luis Suarez is the best striker of his generation. Above Robert Lewandowski, above Karim Benzema and above the rest of the chasing pack. From his Liverpool days, which very nearly featured the club’s first Premier League title at the time, to forming MSN next to Neymar and Lionel Messi, the South American never dipped below world-class throughout a long prime.

Even now at Inter Miami, Suarez is still showing his quality as he approaches his 40s. He’s simply one of those players who, no matter their natural physical decline, were always likely to fall back on an unbelievable technical ability.

What validates Suarez’s place as one of the best of his generation the most, however, is the praise of so many legends that came before him. Among those to be left in awe of his ability, former teammate and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard said it best: “Luis seems to be cleaning up at the moment.

“He’s won everything and we are lucky to have such a world-class talent like Luis playing here with us and helping us to great things and be successful.

“He is out there by a big distance as the best player I have played with and that is no disrespect to anyone else – there has been some top talent for club and country – but this fella can do the lot.

“He is different to most footballers. There is some disappointment looming around but if this fella stays around for a few more years I think there will be some really big nights.”

Gerrard’s praise would have been music to Suarez’s ears at the time and even after he joined Barcelona, the South American didn’t forget the impact that Liverpool had on his career.

Suarez: Rodgers educated me before Barcelona move

Reflecting on his time at Anfield after grabbing further headlines in Spain, Suarez wasted no time before handing plenty of credit to Brendan Rodgers for the impact that he had on his career.

Rodgers and Suarez very nearly achieved what many thought was the unthinkable at Liverpool in 2014 before the Reds slipped to defeat in the Premier League title race. Alas, even in the face of defeat, it’s clear that both the manager and the forward got the best out of each other.

Following a difficult start to life at Ibrox, Russell Martin is reportedly expected to ditch a Rangers flop who he has already played five times across all competitions this season.

Rangers confirm Jefte sale

The Gers couldn’t have asked for a much more frustrating start to what is meant to be a new era. They’re yet to win in the Scottish Premiership and now have one foot out of the Champions League following a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Club Brugge. The Belgian side raced into a 3-0 lead within 20 minutes at Ibrox and were only pegged back by Danilo’s effort in the second half.

Despite his outburst following his side’s opening day draw against Motherwell, however, Martin chose to take a different approach after Tuesday’s humbling evening against Club Brugge – reiterating the pride that he has in his side for how they reacted.

Whilst the former Southampton boss chose to remain positive with his words, he has since acted ruthlessly in the transfer market to sell struggling left-back Jefte.

The Gers confirmed the news that the Brazilian has completed a move to Palmeiras, which coincides with the arrival of new left-back Jayden Meghoma. It’s the type of decision that Ibrox may need to get used to, with Martin seemingly in no mood to keep hold of any passengers in his Rangers squad.

Martin expected to ditch Bajrami

According to Albanian outlet Gazeta Blic, Martin is now set to ditch Nedim Bajrami in ruthless fashion this month. The attacking midfielder was left out of Rangers’ squad to face Club Brugge and has reportedly been shown the door by the Gers just one year since arriving for a hefty £3.5m fee.

Rangers now submit opening enquiry to sign "unique" Premier League winner

He would transform Rangers’ frontline…

4 ByTom Cunningham Aug 21, 2025

After scoring the opening goal in Rangers’ 4-2 win against Alloa Athletic in the League Cup recently, the former Sassuolo man may have thought he’d done enough to keep hold of his place, but a swift exit is now reportedly drawing near.

Even that goal is not enough to mask what has been a difficult year for Bajrami at Rangers and he’s now, ultimately, destined to become one of several transfer flops signed by Philippe Clement.

After just five appearances under Martin, the midfielder looks set to be heading for the exit door with just under two weeks left to secure a move away from the Scottish giants.