There may be some Glasgow Rangers supporters who are currently questioning the board, the recruitment department, and head coach Russell Martin.

You did not have to have super hearing to be aware of the feelings of some fans towards the manager during the 6-0 defeat to Club Brugge in Belgium on Wednesday night.

The Light Blues have conceded 17 goals in ten competitive matches under the new head coach, failing to qualify for the Champions League and failing to win any of their three games in the Scottish Premiership to date.

However, the recruitment department should also take some of the blame because it is, ultimately, the players on the pitch who are significantly underperforming at this moment in time.

Yes, Martin has to put a system and tactics in place that get the best out of the players, but there have been far too many simple mistakes that players signed by Rangers should not be making.

The recruitment team need to get the right calibre of players in the building, and that is why some may be frustrated to learn that Abdallah Sima currently looks set to leave Brighton for a relatively modest fee.

Rangers have missed a trick with Abdallah Sima

The Senegal international is reportedly on the verge of signing for Ligue 1 side Lens in a deal that is worth an initial fee of just £3.9m, plus add-ons on top of that.

For context, Rangers paid £4.5m to sign Oscar Cortes from Lens as part of their obligation to make his loan permanent this summer. The Colombian winger has scored one league goal for Rangers since his arrival, initially on loan, in January 2024.

During Sima’s time on loan at Rangers from Brighton in the 2023/24 campaign, the left-sided attacker proved that he had the quality to make a big impact in Scottish football.

The £3.9m-rated star scored 16 goals in all competitions for the Ibrox giants, per Transfermarkt, and offered a big goal threat in the Premiership for Philippe Clement.

Appearances

25

Starts

17

Goals

11

Big chances created

2

Assists

2

Dribbles completed per game

1.2

Duels won per game

6.4

As you can see in the table above, Sima delivered 13 direct goal contributions in 17 starts in the top-flight for Rangers that season, before he returned to Brighton at the end of his loan spell.

The forward then scored 12 goals in all competitions for Brest on loan in France last season, which shows that he has continued to offer a threat in front of goal.

This is why Rangers missing out on a £3.9m deal, particularly given what they paid for Cortes, could be seen as a blunder by the recruitment team and Martin.

However, the Gers are now reportedly looking at a move for a Premier League attacker who could be a Sima repeat at Ibrox in the 2025/26 campaign.

Rangers in talks to sign Premier League forward

According to RangersReview, Rangers have made contact with Everton over a potential deal to sign Portuguese centre-forward Youssef Chermiti.

The report claims that the Light Blues have enquired about a move to bring him to Ibrox on a season-long loan deal, with talks underway between the two clubs ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Transfer Focus

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

Everton-based reporter El Bobble adds that the Gers are advancing in talks to complete a deal for the versatile forward, which suggests that progress has been made in recent hours.

The account, previously credited by David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano, claims that the Scottish giants are also looking to include an option to make the deal permanent.

It is now down to the club to ensure that they can wrap up a move for the 21-year-old star in the coming days before the window slams shut on Monday.

Why Chermiti could be the next Sima for Rangers

Supporters may take a look at Chermiti’s statistics and be concerned by the fact that he has not scored a goal in over two years with Everton, although he only played four times in the Premier League last season.

The young forward has failed to deliver a single goal or assist in 24 matches for Everton in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which is not going to instill much hope from fans looking into his career.

However, Chermiti, dubbed an “outstanding” talent by U23 scout Antonio Mango, also came through the ranks and made first-team appearances at Sporting, a huge club, before being signed for a whopping fee of £15m by Everton in 2023.

Despite not scoring a competitive goal for Everton’s first-team, there is potential for Chermiti to arrive at Ibrox as a repeat of Sima, as another loanee from a Premier League club who could make a big impact at Ibrox.

Prior to his loan move to Glasgow, Sima had not played a single game for Brighton and had only scored five goals on loan at Angers, which shows that they were not signing a proven talent at the time.

U21

2

1

U20

4

2

U19

4

3

U18

12

6

U16

12

1

U15

5

1

As you can see in the table above, Chermiti has showcased his goalscoring potential at youth level for Portugal across various age groups in recent years, scoring 12 goals in 22 games since making the step up to U18 football.

He has not had a run of starts to show what he can do at first-team level, yet, and that is why a move to Rangers could make a lot of sense for all parties involved.

Chermiti will have the chance to play regular football and translate his goalscoring prowess at youth level over to the Premiership, and Rangers will have a talented young player who could develop during his time at Ibrox, much like Sima did.

"They'll hate me saying it" – McCoist slams one thing on Rangers signings

Eight new signings started against Club Brugge.

ByCharlie Smith Aug 28, 2025

The key difference between the two deals, though, could be that Rangers may have an option to make the deal permanent next summer, which will be significant if he has a positive impact on the pitch.

Tottenham Hotspur officially confirmed that Daniel Levy was stepping down from his role as the chairman of the club last week, after more than 24 years at the helm.

The English supremo had not long finished, what turned out to be, his final transfer window running the show in North London, months after the club lifted the Europa League trophy.

Ange Postecoglou led Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years by beating Manchester United in the final, but Levy still decided to move on from the manager because of the club’s poor form in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank was brought in from Brentford to replace the former Celtic boss. The Danish manager was then backed by Levy in the transfer market, with the signings of Mohammed Kudus, Randal Kolo Muani, and Xavi Simons, in particular.

It is now a matter of wait and see to judge whether or not the former Tottenham chairman’s final signings in charge of the club were a success.

On paper, though, Simons appears to be an incredibly exciting addition to the squad, as his form in Germany suggests that he could make a big impact in the Premier League.

Why Xavi Simons is an exciting signing for Spurs

The Lilywhites reportedly splashed out a fee worth up to £51m to sign the Netherlands international from RB Leipzig to bolster Frank’s attacking midfield options after James Maddison sustained an ACL injury.

Simons has yet to make his debut for the club, having signed shortly before the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth last time out, and could make his bow against West Ham United on Saturday.

The Dutch playmaker is an exciting signing for Spurs because his form for Leipzig suggests that he can add a lot of creativity to Frank’s midfield, as shown in the graphic below.

These statistics show that Simons is an attacking midfielder who is incredibly effective at breaking down opposition defences to create high-quality chances for his teammates to find the back of the net.

Naturally, there will be a comparison made to Maddison because the Dutch star is essentially coming in to take his role as creator-in-chief whilst the England international nurses his way back from an ACL injury.

Appearances

25

31

xG

5.11

5.83

Goals

10

9

Big chances created

12

6

xA

5.98

5.91

Assists

7

7

Dribbles completed

1.3

1.1

As you can see in the table above, Simons delivered more goals and created twice as many ‘big chances’ at league level in comparison to the former Leicester and Norwich star in the 2024/25 campaign.

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for him to be even more valuable to the team than Maddison if he can hit the ground running in England, but it is now down to him to adapt to the league and deliver on the pitch.

Whilst Simons, who has been signed for £51m, is a very exciting addition because of the attacking quality that he could provide, Levy may not want to be reminded that there is a player who left Spurs for nothing and is now worth even more than the Dutchman.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Tottenham had Noni Madueke in their youth set-up and failed to keep hold of him as a teenager, which was a blunder that the now former-Spurs chief may regret.

Why Noni Madueke left Tottenham Hotspur

The left-footed forward joined the club’s academy from Crystal Palace in 2014, at the age of 12, and spent four years in the youth ranks before his exit on a free transfer in 2018.

Speaking to Sky Sports in 2023, Madueke explained: “Tottenham was a great academy and they’ve got a great development plan. I’d been offered a scholarship agreement at Tottenham but I’d seen a lot of the boys – that were good as well – just kind of get lost in the system and I just didn’t want that for me.”

This is only an inference from these quotes, but it seems like the winger did not see a clear enough pathway to the first-team, despite Harry Kane’s emergence a few years prior, and that is down to Levy and the first-team management team for not making that clear enough.

The club were unable to convince Madueke that there was a pathway for him, which led to the talented forward’s exit in 2018 on a free transfer, signing for PSV in the Netherlands to continue his development.

He scored 20 goals and provided 13 assists in 80 appearances in all competitions for PSV, per Transfermarkt, before his move to Chelsea in January 2023.

Madueke enjoyed similar success during his time at Stamford Bridge. The England international scored 20 goals and produced nine assists in 92 outings for the Blues, per Transfermarkt.

His form for Chelsea led to a move to Arsenal earlier this summer in a deal that could be worth up to £52m, £1m more than the deal that brought Simons to Spurs in the same transfer window.

October 2019

£520k

April 2020

£3.9m

October 2020

£5.2m

October 2021

£15.6m

September 2022

£13m

January 2023

£29m move to Chelsea

June 2023

£26m

October 2024

£30m

December 2024

£34.7m

July 2025

£52m move to Arsenal

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old star’s value has soared exponentially since his move to PSV from Spurs on a free transfer in 2018.

Spurs had a howler, therefore, when Levy and the first-team management staff, led by Mauricio Pochettino at the time, failed to offer a clear enough pathway to convince him to continue his development at the club.

Madueke, who was described as a “maverick” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has gone on to become an England international and Premier League star who is now valued at more than £50m and slightly more than Tottenham’s star summer signing Xavi Simons.

Forget Bale and Son: Spurs "wonderkid" was Levy's best-ever signing

Tottenham Hotspur hit the jackpot on this star who was an even better Daniel Levy signing than Gareth Bale & Heung-min Son.

ByDan Emery Sep 8, 2025

Levy, when looking back at his long Spurs tenure, may regret that he was unable to convince, or unable to create an environment to convince, Madueke to stay at the club back in 2018, because of what he has gone on to achieve.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo teve um dia movimentado. Com a janela de transferências do meio do ano próxima de fechar, o clube mantém sua investida para contar com o meio-campista Wendel. Nesta sexta-feira (22), o técnico Jorge Sampaoli também definiu a equipe que enfrentará o América-MG. Além disso, há novidade prevista para o uniforme do clube. Confira as principais notícias!

+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Mengão!

NOVO CAPÍTULO NA NEGOCIAÇÃO POR WENDEL

O Rubro-Negro deu um passo significativo na sua negociação para contar com Wendel. Houve conversas com o empresário do jogador. O volante aprovou o projeto, mas tem de se reapresentar ao Zenit para definir seu futuro. Quer saber mais? (Clique e veja a matéria completa!)

FLAMENGO ENTRE BAIXAS E RETORNOS

O Flamengo se mobilizou para encerrar a preparação com o América-MG. Mais uma vez, o técnico Jorge Sampaoli lidará com uma equipe extremamente modificada. Há baixas entre os volantes, mas têm retornos no setor ofensivo. (Clique aqui e leia a matéria completa!)

TEM PATROCÍNIO NOVO CHEGANDO

O Flamengo fechou acordo de patrocínio com a empresa do ramo de petróleo Texaco. A marca patrocinará as camisas de treino e aquecimento pelos próximos 18 meses. (Clique aqui e leia a matéria completa!)

Board accused of selecting best outcomes in dealing with the aftermath of investigations into allegations of racism

Osman Samiuddin14-Mar-2025Cricket Scotland’s (CS) race row is threatening to erupt again after the board was accused of being elusive and cherry-picking best outcomes in dealing with the aftermath of investigations into allegations of racism and racist behaviour.Majid Haq, the former cricketer and central figure in the row, his lawyer, and Running Out Racism, an anti-racism advocacy group that has been involved through the process, made the accusations after the emergence of a report which said that Haq had suffered racial discrimination and had been victimised for going public with allegations. Cricket Scotland has responded strongly to claims that it has not adopted an anti-racist stance in the aftermath, or that it failed to address issues raised by those investigations.Last year, Cricket Scotland had seemingly closed the chapter on the investigations sparked by a damning report in 2022 which found the board to be institutionally racist. That report had been set in motion by allegations of victimisation and racism by Haq and another former player, Qasim Sheikh.The report led to over 50 cases being investigated by an independent team comprising two legal firms and a race equality charity. Ultimately none of the cases resulted in sanctions against those accused, although the investigators made clear at the time that findings of guilt or innocence were not within the remit of their work. That no disciplinary action was taken in the cases, they said, illustrated the difficulties involved in such investigations, such as a lack of governance and process, the historic nature of some complaints, or incidents that were outside Cricket Scotland’s jurisdiction.Instead, they made 245 recommendations, or learnings, which Cricket Scotland has committed to – and is in the process of – implementing.Related

How cricket in Scotland has stumbled from a racism scandal to the brink of meltdown

Cricket Scotland chief exec: 'I'm determined to find a way through this for everyone'

John Blain threatens legal action as Cricket Scotland race row descends into acrimony

Scotland racism investigators deny 'exonerations' were within their remit

Cricket Scotland revealed to be institutionally racist in damning independent report

But it has now emerged that the two legal firms had compiled reports based on their joint investigations which, according to Running Out Racism, includes “contradictory views between members of the investigation team”. The reports centre on the period when Haq was sent home from the 2015 World Cup for tweeting “Always tougher when in a minority #race #colour” after being dropped for a game. He never played another game for Scotland, despite being their leading wicket-takerAccording to Haq’s lawyer Aamer Anwar, one report makes it clear that Haq “was discriminated against and victimised for raising complaints of racism, and that victimisation continues today.” The report finds prima facie evidence that the decision to send him home, as well as several outcomes as a result of that decision, had elements of racial bias and discrimination. The other report is believed to hold a different opinion.The reports were meant only for internal consumption within the board and had not been shared in full with Haq, despite requests. Running Out Racism said they had been provided a full copy by an “anonymous source” and said it was clear why Cricket Scotland had been “so elusive in providing further details.””Whilst we accept that the reports themselves were prepared for Cricket Scotland, they were prepared independently, and Cricket Scotland have chosen to summarise the aspects they wish to share, and leave out the conclusions that they don’t like. These conclusions expose their lack of action when faced with clear evidence of issues.”Haq said the board had tried to hide the report’s conclusion from him. “[It] validates what I already knew – that I’ve been racially discriminated against and that I continue to be victimised as a result of speaking out. And yet Cricket Scotland have tried to hide that from me and brush me off with statements like ‘we could have handled your departure from the World Cup better’.”Cricket Scotland have hidden behind jurisdiction time & time again. Whilst I’m relieved to finally read my report and see the truth, I think everything should be disclosed & let the public decide who is culpable in all this. It’s clear that a lot of information has been swept under the carpet.”Cricket Scotland have stressed that the report was an opinion and one of multiple ones. They expressed their disappointment at the breach in confidentiality in it going outside the board.”We understand a small number of individuals continue to feel publicly aggrieved by the outcomes of the process,” the board said in a statement. “To suggest this means Cricket Scotland is not taking an anti-racist stance is simply wrong.”It is deeply disappointing that an investigative process which relied on the trust of individuals involved and a confidential report that followed is being utilised to further personal agendas.”The report is an opinion that was constructed around this matter, and not a declaration of fact. Other opinions as well as detailed legal analysis were provided for the Cricket Scotland Board to consider how it would act.”

Chelsea fans will be very encouraged by the start their side has made to the brand new Premier League season.

Enzo Maresca’s Blues were in speculative conversations last campaign about a surprise title push, but that did unfortunately fall to the wayside. However, with two wins and a draw from their opening three contests this time around, the West London outfit is one of the early pace-setters.

New signing up top in Joao Pedro has already set the league alight donning Chelsea blue, with five goals from his first six outings.

Yet, Liam Delap doesn’t continue the good news here when it comes to exciting attacking additions, with a nasty injury now keeping him sidelined after the 2-0 victory over near neighbours Fulham.

This could well trigger Chelsea into being active yet again in the striker department, as a £69m ace comes onto their radar.

Chelsea enter late race for £69m striker

The former Manchester City attacker could well be out for a prolonged period of time, with a fear he might be out for even more than the early estimate of six to eight weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

As a result, Nicolas Jackson – who was due to sign for Bayern Munich on loan – has been told to return from Germany and not undergo a medical. Yet, he is understandably hesitant to return to Stamford Bridge as a back-up option. Consequently, Maresca and Co. could now have to try and strike up an extremely late deal for a rising star.

Indeed, as per an update from Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the unbeaten Blues have now made an approach to sign Sporting youngster Conrad Harder, with Chelsea on the hunt for a Jackson replacement, to then allow for that choppy move to finally occur.

RB Leipzig are also in the hunt for Harder; however, who has a whopping £69m release clause next to his name.

How Harder can become Maresca's own Gyokeres

If Chelsea can get a late move over the line, it might culminate in the West London outfit winning their very own Viktor Gyokeres, as another clinical Sporting attacker is gifted the grand opportunity to impress in the Premier League.

Gyokeres might well have struggled on his debut versus Manchester United, but he is now up and running in Arsenal red and white after bagging two strikes versus Leeds United, resulting in his trademark celebration coming out for all to see at the Emirates.

It felt like only a matter of time before the explosive Swede was going to grace the pitches of the English top-flight, having fired home a ridiculous 97 strikes for the Portuguese titans from just 102 clashes, after waving goodbye to Coventry City after a goal-laden stint in the EFL.

Of course, it’s ludicrous to insinuate that a far younger and rawer Harder will become this lethal overnight.

But, there is a method to the madness here, considering the 20-year-old Dane has already been heralded as the “next Gyokeres” by Scouted Football, on top of also being lauded as a “complete forward” by scout Jacek Kulig.

Harder’s league numbers (24/25)
Stat	Harder
Games played	28
Games started	6
Minutes averaged	28
Goals scored	5
Assists	5
Goal scoring frequency	159 mins
Big chances created	6
Stats by Sofascore

Amazingly, despite only starting six Liga Portugal clashes last season, the lively Scandinavian had a mightily impressive five goals to shout about, meaning he notched up a league goal for the Lisbon-based giants every 159 minutes.

But, even more impressively, despite only averaging 3.8 accurate passes per substitute cameo, Harder also tallied up five assists, with Gyokeres further known for this unselfish side to his varied game, having closed out his own time in Portugal last season with 11 assists in all competitions.

In the wake of Delap’s untimely injury, on top of Jackson’s future being up in the air, Harder might well finally be gifted the platform to be a leading man for a top side, with more goals and assists perhaps ready to come to the surface to elevate him even more to Gyokeres’ insane level.

Having once been dubbed “aggressive” by ex-Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, it remains to be seen whether the 20-year-old can be a success in such a demanding league.

It feels like a risk worth taking for Maresca and Co., though, as Harder and Gyokeres potentially go head-to-head to fire their respective sides to domestic glory.

Chelsea now in talks to sign £35m "1v1 specialist" forward alongside Lopez

The Blues could trigger the release clause for a new attacker.

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 31, 2025

Ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara has called for Manchester United to hire former captain Roy Keane as manager, in a bid to reverse the Red Devils' atrocious form under Ruben Amorim. The talkSPORT pundit lauded the fiery Irishman for his leadership skills, saying the 58-year-old would "not allow poor standards". O'Hara did acknowledge the club was highly unlikely to make the move, however.

O'Hara praises Keane's leadership skills

Speculation over Amorim's future has predictably resurfaced after United fell to a lacklustre 3-1 defeat away to Brentford this past weekend. O'Hara believes the paucity of standards within the United dressing room needs an urgent fix, something a hard taskmaster like Keane could provide. 

The former Tottenham midfielder went as far as to suggest it was "unbelievable" that nobody at United had reached out to Keane for his involvement in the increasingly shambolic goings on at Old Trafford

Speaking on Wednesday on Sky Sports, O'Hara said: "I'm amazed that no one has phoned Roy Keane and said, 'Can you come in at Man Utd and be part of what we're doing here?' because he is arguably Man Utd's greatest captain. 

"He is a leader. He's unbelievable. When you watch him, he's ferocious, you listen to him, when he walks into a dressing room, you're going to listen.

"He's going to lead by example. He's not going to allow poor standards. I can't believe Manchester United have not phoned Roy Keane.

"Maybe it's because he can't be the manager. 

"Maybe it's because he's too hot-headed, I don't know. They want someone in with more tactical nous or whatever.

"How Roy Keane isn't in there at that football club, in the dressing room, in there every day at the training ground telling them this is the standard, this is what's Man Utd, this is what we've built, this is how we do it… I cannot believe they've not done something like that."

AdvertisementGetty Images EntertainmentUnited's terrible form under Amorim

Whether O'Hara's idea has any legs, it's clear something needs to change at United. The Red Devils have won just two of their first six Premier League games this season, with Amorim criticised for failing to get the most out of notable summer signings like Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, while steadfastly sticking with a faltering 3-4-2-1 system. 

His 34 points in 33 league games as United boss is a paltry return on his tenure. The 3-1 loss at Brentford is the Portuguese's 17th loss in the Premier League. 

Keane's managerial record

While O'Hara's rousing call to arms for Keane to return to Old Trafford in some guise may resonate with some embattled United supporters, there's little evidence to suggest the Irishman could right the ship. The 54-year-old as not held a managerial position since leaving Ipswich Town in 2014. While he has experience as a number two since then, most notably alongside Martin O'Neill for the Republic of Ireland, his abrasive style which O'Hara seemingly thinks would return to the club to a golden age is just as likely to cause discontent in a modern dressing room. 

Keane, of course, has not played the game since 2006 and played in a completely different era; however, he does know what success looks like, winning seven Premier League trophies, as well as four FA Cups and the Champions League during his time at Old Trafford. United's current woes would surely have him tearing his hair out. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportKeane to stay in media, but farewell to Amorim?

For all of his intimation that he does not enjoy working in the football media, it seems Keane is very content with his current workload. His comedy double act alongside Ian Wright on Stick to Football and ITV's international coverage never fails to deliver, while his diatribes against the 'babies' in the Premier Leagues on Sky Sports makes for appointment viewing. It's unlikely he will want to return to the club in any guise given just how poorly it seemingly being run. O'Hara might just fancy nipping in a couple of Keane's vacant punditry spots rather than genuinely feeling the Irishman should involve himself in the Manchester United melodrama. 

Apart from the three ODIs in New Zealand, Pakistan were guilty of a slow over rate in their opening game of the Champions Trophy too

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Apr-2025

Pakistan did not have a happy time in New Zealand in terms of results•Getty Images

Pakistan have been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate for a third game in a row after they were found to be one over short in the third ODI against New Zealand in Hamilton.They have been fined 5% their match fees to round up what was a dismal tour of New Zealand, where they lost the T20I series 4-1 and the ODIs 3-0. This is the fourth time in the last five ODIs that Pakistan have been guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate. They were also fined 5% of their match fees in the 2025 Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand in Karachi.Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan pled guilty to the charge levelled by the on-field umpires Chris Brown and Paul Reiffel along with the third umpire Michael Gough and fourth umpire Wayne Knights.The sanction was imposed by Jeff Crowe, the match referee, in accordance with article 2.22 of the ICC code of conduct for players and player support personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, for which players are fined 5% of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time after the time allowances are taken into consideration.Related

Pakistan fined for slow over-rate for third time in four ODIs

Khushdil Shah involved in crowd trouble during NZ-Pakistan ODI at Mount Maunganui

Pakistan fined for slow over-rate in Champions Trophy opener

After losing the T20I series, they lost the opening ODI in Napier by 73 runs. In that match, they were found two overs short and fined. In the second ODI, Pakistan went down by 84 runs. Batting first, New Zealand racked up 292 for 8 and then bowled out the hosts for 208. They were docked 5% of their match fee after this game as well.In the third ODI in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand scored 264 for 8 in the rain-affected 42-overs-a-side clash. In reply, Babar Azam scored a fifty but Ben Sears’ five-wicket haul restricted Pakistan to 221 in 40 overs. There was also an altercation between Khushdil Shah and spectators during the match, which led to the ejection of two spectators from the venue.

The recent Australia tour left Virat Kohli experiencing “the most intense kind of disappointment” he had previously only felt in the summer of 2014, after he went through a wretched tour of England without a single half-century in 10 innings.Like he was all those years ago in England, Kohli was frustrated by his vulnerability outside the off stump during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After starting the series with an unbeaten 100 in India’s win in Perth, eight of his other trips to the crease ended with his outside edge being snaffled up by the wicketkeeper or in the slips. In all, he managed just 190 runs in nine innings at 23.75.”If you ask me the intensity of how disappointed I’ve been, the most recent Australia tour would be the one that’s most fresh. So it might feel the most intense to me,” Kohli said at an event moderated by Isa Guha at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit in Bengaluru.Related

• Virat Kohli tells BCCI that he wants to retire from Test cricket

• India's white-ball wizards need a new cheat code for sustained excellence

• Kohli bats for families' presence on India's tours

• RCB hope 18 is the charm as hunt for IPL glory continues

“For a long time, the tour of England in 2014 bothered me the most. But I can’t look at it that way. I might not have an Australia tour again in four years. I don’t know. You have to make peace with whatever’s happened in your life. In 2014, I still had the chance to go in 2018 and do what I did. It might not have been the case. It might have been another blunder. But it didn’t turn out that way.”So, there’s no such guarantees in life. I think when you are at a stage for a long period of time, when you perform, people get used to your performances. They start feeling for you more than you feel sometimes. This has to be corrected.”Kohli revealed he had moments in Australia where the lack of scores made him over-eager to correct things with every ticking innings. However, he understood the importance of soaking in the disappointment, before making a hasty decision.”Once you start taking on the energy and the disappointment from the outside, then you start burdening yourself way more,” Kohli said. “And then you start thinking about things, like ‘I’ve got two or three days left on this tour, I need to make an impact now.’ And you start getting more desperate. That’s something I’ve surely experienced in Australia as well.”Because I got a good score in the first Test. I thought, right, ‘let’s go.’ There’s going to be another big series for me. It doesn’t turn out that way. For me, it’s just about the acceptance of, ‘okay fine, this is what happened. I’m going to be honest with myself. Where do I want to go? What are my energy levels like?'”I’m not sitting here in 48 hours or 72 hours-time to make a decision like ‘let me go.’ Spend time with family. Just sit down. Let everything calm down. And see how I feel in a few days. And within five-six days I was excited to go to the gym. I was like, okay fine. It’s all good. I don’t need to tweet anything right now.”In saying everything he did about overcoming disappointments and facing challenges, Kohli also stated the “joy, enjoyment and love for the game” was still intact. But a recent conversation with former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid helped bring perspective about “when the right time is.””Me playing the game is not for achievement,” he said. “It pretty much comes down to just the pure joy and enjoyment and love for the game. And as long as that love is intact, I will continue to play the game. I have to be honest about that with myself. Because the competitive streak doesn’t allow you to find the answer.”Recently, I had a very interesting conversation with Rahul Dravid when he was our coach. He said you always have to stay in touch with yourself. Figure out where you are placed in your life. And the answer is not that easy, because you might be going through a lean phase and you feel like ‘this is it.’ But it might not be.”But then when it was time, he said my competitive streak would not allow me to accept it. Maybe one more. Maybe six more months, whatever. So, I think it’s a fine balance. And you have to just pray and hope that you get clarity when it comes. At this point in my life, I feel pretty happy. I still love playing the game. Don’t get nervous, I’m not making any announcements, as of now, everything is fine.”

Birmingham City completed the summer transfer window with one of the highest quantities of arrivals in the Championship, despite being quite a way off the highest expenditure.

Tom Wagner and Tom Brady oversaw permanent transfers, loan moves and free agent arrivals for 14 new players for a net spend of just over £3.6 million for Chris Davies. They ranked 7th for highest net spend, and only a small number of teams had more arrivals; however, leading up to deadline day, Davies shared his desire for more arrivals:

“I think we need a little bit of reinforcement, just depth in our defensive area and again, we could do with a bit more depth, maybe higher up the pitch as well. But we have to see what the squad looks like in the next couple of days because there’s a lot of moving parts to it, as I said. But everyone’s trying, we’ll see what happens.”

The Blues did manage to bring in late additions in defender Jack Robinson and winger Patrick Roberts from Sheffield United and Sunderland respectively. However, it now looks like that deadline day didn’t satiate Davies’s desire for reinforcements and so Birmingham are looking to take advantage of the free agent market to bring in a Premier League-proven midfielder.

Birmingham front-runners to sign free agent Oxlade-Chamberlain

Birmingham City are looking to reinforce their midfield options and continue developing into a Premier League quality team by bringing in free agent and former Premier League winner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Since leaving Liverpool in 2023, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been playing for the Turkish side Besiktas. However, in mid-August, it started being reported that Besiktas were looking to terminate Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract and that the midfielder was interested in a move back to England. On August 27th, the Turkish side paid off the remaining £1.5 million of his contract, making him a free agent.

While any club could have signed the Nike-sponsored midfielder during the transfer window, clubs focused on deals that required an actual club-to-club transfer, as being a free agent, Oxlade-Chamberlain can be signed at any time.

Ever since the rumours of a contract termination first broke, Birmingham have been one of the most heavily connected teams. Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke has now reported that Birmingham are at the forefront of the race to sign Oxlade-Chamberlain and are the leading candidates. However, they face competition from European teams as well as Premier League side Leeds United.

Opportunity to sign "wonderful" midfielder

If Birmingham can tempt Oxlade-Chamberlain away from his other suitors, they will be receiving a seasoned player with Champions League and International experience.

When he joined Besiktas, his former Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp, had plenty of praise, calling Oxlade-Chamberlain “wonderful”.

In the years since Klopp said this about Oxlade-Chamberlain, his injury record hasn’t improved. However, the experience that he can bring to the Birmingham side, having gone through a successful promotion campaign with Southampton and having copious amounts of Premier League experience, will make him an invaluable addition to the team.

Newcastle United’s summer business underlined just how far the club has come since the takeover and how much further they still want to go.

It was a window marked by frustration, last-minute deals and big-money moves.

The Magpies were forced to bide their time as a string of forward targets slipped away, with Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and Benjamin Sesko all proving elusive.

Persistent interest in Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa also seemed destined to end in disappointment.

Yet as the window drew to a close, Newcastle’s hierarchy finally pulled the trigger.

Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade arrived in a £69m deal, paving the way for Alexander Isak’s record-breaking £125m switch to Premier League Champions Liverpool on deadline day.

Wissa’s determination to join also paid off, with a £55m agreement finalised as the player drove through the night to force the transfer.

Early results, however, have been mixed. A goalless draw with Aston Villa, a 3-2 home defeat to Liverpool and another 0-0 against Leeds have highlighted Newcastle’s need for attacking fluency.

Wolves at St James’ Park and a glamour Champions League tie against Barcelona await after the international break – fixtures that will test Howe’s new-look group immediately.

Nick Woltemade: Newcastle’s headline addition

At 23 years old and standing at 1.98m, Nick Woltemade is the archetypal modern target man.

Tall, technically secure, and more mobile than his frame suggests.

His 12 goals in 28 Bundesliga games for Stuttgart last season marked him out as one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards, and it was no surprise that Bayern Munich had three bids rejected earlier in the summer.

Persuaded by direct conversations with Howe, Woltemade chose Newcastle as the platform for the next stage of his career.

The Germany international already has four senior caps to his name and impressed at the U21 European Championships this summer.

Most recently, he showcased his playmaking instincts with an assist in Germany’s 3-1 win over Northern Ireland.

A closer look at his data from 2024/25 paints a picture of a well-rounded striker.

Nick Woltemade – 2024/25

Matches Played

28

Goals

12

Assists

2

Progressive Carries

31

Progressive Passes

52

Source: FBref

Across 28 appearances, Woltemade was involved in 14 goals, with a shot-on-target percentage of 50%.

He averages 1.28 shots on target per 90 and creates 4.38 shot-creating actions in the same span, evidence of his ability to contribute beyond finishing.

His 2.89 progressive passes and 1.72 progressive carries per 90 show a player comfortable linking play, while 26.1 carries per 90 underline his willingness to drive the ball forward.

Even defensively, Woltemade has shown application, recording 0.56 tackles and 1.28 blocks per 90.

For a Newcastle side that often struggles to break down low blocks, his mix of aerial presence, movement and creativity looks like the perfect tool.

That being said, perhaps Newcastle have a gem in their ranks who could surpass the big German.

The hidden Newcastle gem with superstar potential

While Woltemade is already making headlines, Newcastle may have secured an even greater long-term prize in the form of Vakhtang Salia.

The 18-year-old Georgian striker joined on a five-year deal this summer and is expected to be a key figure in the U21 squad this season.

He arrives from Dinamo Tbilisi, where he registered eight goals and four assists in 57 senior appearances.

Modest numbers on paper, but performances that convinced scouts from across Europe.

Salia has already attracted admiration from giants including Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG and Bayern Munich, while both Arsenal and Manchester City explored a deal.

In the words of journalist Graeme Bailey he is regarded as “one of the best teenage prospects in the world,” a label that has earned comparisons to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

What makes Salia so intriguing is his potential. At a market value of just €800k (£600k), Newcastle have invested in a player who could grow into a genuine superstar.

His performances at youth international level for Georgia have already caught the eye, and he has shown maturity beyond his years in leading the line against more experienced defenders in the Georgian league.

For Howe, Salia represents an opportunity. The club must carefully manage his development, ensuring he does not suffer the setbacks that have stalled other highly-touted prospects.

If handled correctly, though, Newcastle may find themselves with a striker capable of eclipsing Woltemade.

Related PIF have already signed Newcastle's new Elliot Anderson and he's "terrific"

Eddie Howe will hope he has his own Elliot Anderson now at Newcastle United in this terrific talent.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Sep 8, 2025