The Atlanta Braves have not started the 2025 season as they imagined.

After enduring an 0–4 start to the campaign, they were smacked with more bad news on Monday when left fielder Jurickson Profar was suspended 80 games after a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs. Following that gut punch, they lost again Monday night, running their record to an MLB-worst 0–5.

Profar was the team's big free-agent pickup this offseason, signing a three-year, $42 million deal in January. Now he's on the shelf until late June and will be ineligible for the postseason. He joins a long list of key players who are currently unavailable as Atlanta attempts to dig itself out of an early season hole.

Longtime key contributors wore out the departures gate at Hartsfield-Jackson airport this offseason. The Braves lost Max Fried, Charlie Morton and Travis d'Arnaud in free agency and traded Jorge Soler to the Los Angeles Angels. Profar was expected to replace Soler's bat in the lineup after a breakout season with the San Diego Padres in 2024. The 32-year-old posted career highs in home runs (24), RBIs (85), OPS+ (135), and WAR (4.3) last season before hitting the market. Now, he's sidelined until at least July.

Atlanta is already dealing with a depleted roster. Star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is still recovering from a torn ACL and will be sidelined until at least May. Catcher Sean Murphy is dealing with a cracked rib, and young ace Spencer Strider is still on the mend from Tommy John surgery. Reynaldo López, a 2024 breakout, was placed on the injured list Monday with shoulder inflammation after making his first start of the season. And to add insult to injury, reliever Hector Neris was released Monday after allowing five runs in his two appearances with the team—including blowing a lead on Opening Day.

The Braves opened 2025 against the Padres, who swept them out of the playoffs in two games last October. The result was largely the same in the opening four-game series as in October. San Diego dominated in every facet, outscoring their opponents 17–7 in the series and shutting Atlanta out in the final two games.

Monday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers didn't go much better, as starter Grant Holmes was tagged for four runs in four innings, and Tyler Glasnow teamed up with the Dodgers' bullpen to allow one run and strike out 14 Braves in a 6–1 win. It continued the team's brutal hitting woes to open the campaign.

So far, Atlanta is hitting .144 as a team with an OPS of .478, including an MLB-worst .036 (1-for-28) with runners in scoring position. Only one Brave who has played in two or more games has a batting average of .200 or better. That player? Jurickson Profar.

Things will surely improve when Acuña and Murphy are healthy, but with Profar gone, there will still be a large hole in the lineup.

The offense hasn't been Atlanta's only issue early. The team's bullpen has been downright awful so far. Braves relievers rank 24th leaguewide with an ERA of 6.19, and opponents are hitting .267 against them. Neris played a big part in those ugly numbers—the bullpen’s ERA would drop nearly two runs without his two outings baked in—but Atlanta is still dangerously short on arms it can trust in high-leverage situations.

The Braves are too good to be this dreadful, but a string of bad luck has put them on the back foot to start the season. When Acuña is back, a core that includes him, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Michael Harris II and Murphy should be able to produce runs at a solid clip. If Strider recovers, he, Chris Sale, and a healthy López should be able to anchor a solid rotation. But that assumes no one else goes down.

Profar's suspension was the rancid cherry on top of a brutal opening week from the Braves. No Braves team to start 0–5 has ever made the postseason. The only positive spin is that Profar’s suspension frees up over $5 million in salary cap space, putting Atlanta roughly $14 million below the luxury tax threshold. The Braves may need to use that to space on some midseason acquisitions and hope their injured list gets less crowded soon, or it could be a long season in Atlanta.

Baseball is back.

Opening Day of the 2025 MLB season is just a day away, which means the satisfying sound of the crack of the bat, the smell of ballpark food and the sounds of America's pastime will soon be hitting the senses.

Thanks to a frenzied winter meetings and free agency period, there was quite a bit of player movement this offseason, particularly involving the game's biggest names.

Here's a refresher on some of MLB's biggest and most recognizable names who will be sporting new threads on Opening Day and throughout the '25 campaign.

Without further ado, let's play ball!

OF Juan Soto, New York Yankees to New York Mets

After a career year in the Bronx for the Yankees, Soto packed his bags and headed for another of New York's boroughs, Queens and the New York Mets on a record, $765 million contract. Everyone—O.K., maybe not Yankees fans—is excited to see the kind of numbers Soto produces while batting in between Mets All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor and two-time Home Run Derby champion Pete Alonso.

He'll officially don Mets threads for the first time in the regular season when New York travels to Houston to take on the Astros on Thursday.

SP Max Scherzer, Texas Rangers to Toronto Blue Jays

Injuries limited Scherzer to just nine starts in '24, his final season with the Rangers. After hitting free agency for the third time in his career, the three-time Cy Young Award winner in January agreed to a one-year deal with the Blue Jays.

A bout of thumb soreness briefly had Scherzer's status for his first start of the regular season in jeopardy, but the veteran right-hander is expected to toe the rubber in his new threads against the Baltimore Orioles on March 29.

Fans are excited to see if the eight-time All-Star can continue to age like the finest of wines in '25.

SP Justin Verlander, Houston Astros to San Francisco Giants

Verlander's successful tenure with the Astros came to a disappointing end in an injury-riddled campaign in which the three-time Cy Young Award winner was ultimately left off of Houston's wild-card playoff roster.

Verlander will look to return to form with the San Francisco Giants, with whom he agreed to a one-year contract worth $15 million in January.

Not only will the veteran righthander be looking to help the Giants return to the postseason for the first time since '21, but also he will also be continuing his quest to join one of baseball's most exclusive groups: the 300-win club—Verlander sits at 262 career victories.

SP Blake Snell, San Francisco Giants to Los Angeles Dodgers

Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, went from one National League West team to another when he agreed to a $182 million contract with the Dodgers in November, bolstering the defending champions' already strong pitching rotation.

The Dodgers announced earlier this week that Snell would take the ball for the club's stateside opener on Thursday against the Detroit Tigers. That means that MLB fans won't have to wait long to see the star pitcher in his new uniform in regular season action.

OF Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs to New York Yankees

Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP, was one of several big-name additions the Yankees made after the club lost the bidding war for Soto. The '25 campaign will be a special season for Bellinger and his family, as the newest Yankees star's father played for the Bronx Bombers for three seasons beginning in 1999, winning two World Series with New York. Now, the younger Bellinger will come full circle when he dons the pinstripes on Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium.

3B Alex Bregman, Houston Astros to Boston Red Sox

Bregman stayed in the American League when he inked a $120 million contract with the Red Sox, reuniting the two-time World Series champion with Boston manager—and former Astros bench coach—Alex Cora.

A two-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, Bregman brings skill at the dish and at the hot corner, as well as experienced leadership to a Red Sox club that looks to be among the AL's most-improved teams entering '25.

The exciting times in Beantown begin on Opening Day against the Texas Rangers, when Bregman will take the field for a regular season game in a different uniform for the first time in his career.

OF Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros to Chicago Cubs

Tucker was dealt from the Astros to the Cubs in a December 2024 blockbuster, ushering in a new era for the three-time All-Star. Tucker, who boasts a career .868 OPS and has a Gold Glove and World Seres title on his resume, is among the game's best outfielders. MLB fans have already seen Tucker in Cubs threads in the regular season during the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers, but the 27-year-old will make his stateside debut with the club against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Opening Day.

SP Corbin Burnes, Baltimore Orioles to Arizona Diamondbacks

After an All-Star season with the Orioles, Burnes, who owns a house in Arizona, inked a $210 million contract with the Diamondbacks this offseason. The '21 NL Cy Young Award winner and one of the game's best pitchers, Burnes is the ace the Diamondbacks rotation was missing. Because of what Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo called a "technical error" on his part, Burnes won't make his debut for the club until April 1 against the Yankees.

SS Willy Adames, Milwaukee Brewers to San Francisco Giants

After four seasons with the Brewers during which he blossomed into the one of the best power-hitting shortstops in MLB, Adames cashed in with the Giants on a franchise-record, $182 million contract this offseason. He'll make his Giants regular season debut on Opening Day against the Cincinnati Reds.

Honorable MentionsPaul Goldschmidt, Max Fried, Devin Williams – YankeesGarrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, Aroldis Chapman – Red SoxAnthony Santander – Blue Jays

Tottenham’s unbeaten Champions League run came to a dramatic end at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night against PSG, but there were positives to take from the thrilling encounter.

The European champions were rocked by Thomas Frank’s plucky Spurs side, who gave Luis Enrique a real nightmare, with PSG mounting two separate comebacks to secure a pulsating 5-3 victory.

Midfielder Vitinha claimed a memorable hat-trick, with PSG having to rely on moments of sheer quality just to overcome the north Londoners in France.

Frank’s men stunned the home side by taking a deserved lead on 35 minutes through Richarlison, who headed home from close range after brilliant build-up play involving youngsters Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray. The Brazilian’s opener looked set to give Spurs a halftime advantage, but Vitinha crashed in a spectacular 25-yard equaliser via the crossbar just before the break.

Randal Kolo Muani

8.7

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

8.4

Vitinha

8.4

Willian Pacho

8.1

Joao Neves

8.0

via WhoScored

Tottenham regained their lead five minutes into the second period when Randal Kolo Muani fired home against his parent club, converting the rebound after Gray’s effort was cleared off the line. However, PSG responded immediately with a devastating 13-minute blitz that turned the contest decisively in their favour.

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Vitinha curled home his second goal after being afforded excessive space to cut inside, before Fabian Ruiz completed the turnaround six minutes later following a costly turnover from Pape Matar Sarr outside his own penalty area. William Pacho then extended PSG’s advantage to 4-2 after Tottenham failed to clear Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s corner adequately.

Kolo Muani bundled his way through to drill home his second goal with 18 minutes remaining, briefly offering Spurs hope of salvaging something from the match. Those aspirations were dampened moments later, when Cristian Romero’s handball gifted PSG a penalty, which Vitinha confidently converted to complete his hat-trick and seal all three points.

The loss was Tottenham’s first in nine Champions League matches and leaves them sitting 15th in the league phase standings. Despite showing attacking intent and twice taking the lead, Frank’s young side were ultimately undone by defensive lapses during crucial moments in the second half.

Kolo Muani’s man of the match display against PSG, a club he’s still under contract with, gave Spurs major hope that they could have the answer to their striking problems after all.

The Frenchman, who’s suffered repeated injury setbacks since joining on loan, bagged his first goals for the Lilywhites and proved a real mence against one of the continent’s top sides.

However, Kolo Muani wasn’t Tottenham’s only bright spark on the night.

Thomas Frank praises "very impressive" Archie Gray in Tottenham loss to PSG

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Frank reserved special praise for Gray, who linked up with Bergvall for Spurs’ opening goal of the contest and provided real energy in midfield.

The 19-year-old has spent most of this season out with a calf injury so far, and before that, found it hard to get consistent first-team minutes with Joao Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr and Bergvall all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Much like last season, Gray responded with a solid performance when called upon last night, and it could be time for the Englishman to earn Frank’s starting nod much more often.

The former Leeds United sensation was given a baptism of fire under Ange Postecoglou last season when asked to play multiple unfamiliar roles during Spurs’ 24/25 injury crisis, and he’s done arguably done enough to earn the club’s favour.

With the 2026 World Cup just round the corner, Gray will be hoping that he can potentially stake his claim in Thomas Tuchel’s squad, but he’ll need Frank’s faith with more game time.

A manager has now been told to get “ready” by Premier League pundit Rio Ferdinand as Arne Slot remains under pressure to turn things around at Liverpool.

Slot reveals Liverpool injury news before Sunderland game

Relief echoed around the away end when Cody Gakpo slammed home Liverpool’s second of the afternoon against West Ham United on Sunday. It came moments after Jarrod Bowen uncharacteristically struck wide and signalled a much-needed victory for Liverpool. But the pressure is still on.

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The Reds’ 2-0 victory at the London Stadium, which also featured a first Premier League goal for record signing Alexander Isak, cannot be a false dawn. Liverpool must kick on, even if they are set to still be without Conor Bradley and must monitor the fitness of others in their next game against Sunderland.

Bradley could at least make a return when Liverpool square off against Leeds United this weekend, however, after Slot told reporters: “Conor got into a team training session yesterday for the first time. Not everything 100% yet so we have to manage that so don’t get hopes up too soon.

“We expect the same with Jeremie (Frimpong) next week. Unfortunately we play a lot of games, so he’ll miss a few. Hopefully Conor is available for Leeds.”

It’s arguably the biggest month of Slot’s Liverpool tenure. He remains under pressure to turn things around and will watch on as his side play six games in 24 days.

Anything but a convincing month of results could spell the end of the former Feyenoord manager, opening the door for an unemployed manager who Ferdinand has told to get “ready”.

Ferdinand tells Gerrard to be "ready" for Liverpool job

Whilst in the Middle East attending the Formula 1 Qatar GP, Ferdinand told Steven Gerrard to get “ready” to take the Liverpool job on an interim basis amid the pressure on Slot.

It would certainly be a brave call from Liverpool and from Gerrard if he took the management role. He previously won the Scottish Premiership with Rangers, but has since been sacked by Aston Villa and Saudi Pro League side El-Ettifaq.

Take the emotions out of the scenario and the Liverpool legend is simply not the most qualified for the job.

Gakpo upgrade: Liverpool open surprise talks to sign "magic" £70m PL star

In an ever more globalised game, and one obsessed with transfer activity, it’s easy to forget that there is perhaps even greater pleasure for supporters at seeing a homegrown talent emerge – not least at a club like Manchester United.

The modern, post-Sir Alex Ferguson era has been a rocky one, but arguably the brightest lights have emerged from Carrington, be it Marcus Rashford under Louis van Gaal, Scott McTominay under Jose Mourinho and Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo under Erik ten Hag.

The debate over whether it was right to move them on or not will continue to rage, but it is telling that three of that notable list of four are no longer part of the first-team ranks at Old Trafford, with Mainoo also now on the periphery under Ruben Amorim.

In an era of PSR and pure profit, academy sales have remarkably almost become incentivised, with the INEOS regime likely to be tempted to sell the 20-year-old sensation should his bit-part role continue.

For all the question marks over his suitability to Amorim’s system, it would be a crying shame if Mainoo were to depart in 2026 or beyond, with the 2024 FA Cup final hero surely deserving of a prime place as the centre-piece of the club’s long-term project.

The only saving grace, thankfully, is that the Stockport-born starlet isn’t the only rising star currently on the books – the Red Devils do at least have another talent on the conveyor belt to turn to.

Why Man Utd’s midfield could be completely overhauled in 2026

It is not hyperbole to suggest that there are question marks surrounding every senior midfielder in Amorim’s side right now, with drastic change likely to occur in that department, be it in January or next summer.

As already alluded too, Mainoo – in the short-term at least – looks destined to move on, amid talk of a loan move, with the ten-cap England international yet to even start a Premier League game this season.

The man he is directly competing with – as suggested by Amorim in the past – is Bruno Fernandes, albeit with the Portuguese genius’ own future up for debate, having come close to joining Saudi side Al Hilal over the summer.

At 31, the former Sporting CP certainly has plenty left in the tank, although he did hint that he will consider his situation again following next year’s World Cup, with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2027.

Speaking of expiring contracts, there has been little news regarding the future of Casemiro, with the resurgent Brazilian’s current deal coming to a climax in June.

Currently raking in a reported £350k-per-week, the 33-year-old would seemingly have to take a significant pay cut to stay put in Manchester, with United and Amorim in need of a long-term replacement regardless, considering his age.

Manuel Ugarte was meant to be that defensive-minded, ball-winning successor, although the Uruguayan – starter in just two league games in 2025/26 – is also running out of rope at Old Trafford, in what is his second season at the club.

Ugarte – PL Record

Stat (*per game)

24/25

25/26

Games (starts)

29 (22)

9 (2)

Goals

1

0

Assists

2

0

Big chances created

3

0

Key passes*

0.3

0.1

Pass accuracy*

89%

86%

Total duels won*

53%

59%

Balls recovered*

4.2

2.2

Dribbled past*

1.3

0.4

Possession lost*

6.2

3.4

Stats via Sofascore

Having been given a dressing down by Amorim in front of his teammates following the Europa League final – in which he played no part – the former Sporting man is getting no favouritism right now, far from it, having yet to convince he is of United quality.

The 24-year-old is the de facto third-choice midfielder at present, although that is not a status he has warranted, with club legend Gary Neville putting it best when describing him as “not good enough” after the Manchester derby.

In truth, an in-house replacement is needed, both this season and beyond.

Man Utd’s new Mainoo can replace Ugarte

Ten Hag has become a figure of ridicule for many, but it’s easy to forget the initial progress he had made in the United dugout, setting a sinking ship back on course again following that initial calamity at Brentford.

In February 2023, for instance, United reached their apex under the Dutchman, memorably seeing off Barcelona in the Europa League, while also securing a deserved 2-0 win over Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final.

In the aftermath of that triumph, Ten Hag turned from short-term celebrations to long-term thinking, making a beeline for a 17-year-old Mainoo amid the jubilation, seemingly outlining that the teenager would have a part to play in such scenes later down the line.

While injury ensured it took until November 2023 for a first-team role to truly emerge – after making just three appearances in 2022/23 – Ten Hag’s faith in Mainoo was more than warranted, following his Man of the Match Premier League debut at Goodison.

Almost exactly two years on, and with Everton again the opponent, Amorim might well consider unleashing the next Mainoo-shaped figure into the midfield, in the form of Carrington sensation, Jack Fletcher.

The man who kept the club’s matchday academy record alive against Spurs, having been named on the bench in the absence of Mainoo, Fletcher – son of Darren and brother of fellow youth-team star, Tyler – is inching ever closer to a senior bow, with midfield evidently an area to address for Amorim.

Described as among the “best young players in England”, in the view of analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson, the left-footed Fletcher looks primed for a left-sided central midfield role, having also been trialled at left-back in recent times in the youth ranks.

In the view of Mattinson, the 18-year-old is “one of the most technical of the lot” in the academy set-up, with his elegance and athleticism also ensuring he has “everything you’d want” from a left-sided number eight.

An England youth international, the former Manchester City starlet has enjoyed a promising 2025/26 thus far with three goals and one assist from ten recorded games, as per Transfermarkt, notably netting in the EFL Trophy defeat to Barnsley, prior to seeing red.

Oakwell was previously the scene for the standout moment of his United journey to date, as the Englishman netted twice to claim a comeback 3-2 win in the same competition last season, including an outrageous, long-range half volley at the death.

Much like there was an appetite for transfers over the summer, there is a real desire among the United faithful to see the next Mainoo, the next McTominay emerge in the coming weeks and months.

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With Mainoo, unfortunately, on the fringes, and Ugarte simply not up to scratch, Fletcher might well be primed to sneak into the mix as a genuine challenger to Casemiro before too long.

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When it comes to the greatest Chelsea players of the last 15 years or so, it’s impossible to look past Eden Hazard.

The Belgian wizard joined the Blues in the summer of 2012 and, over the next seasons, made 352 appearances, scoring 110 goals, providing 88 assists, and winning a host of trophies, including two Premier Leagues.

The international superstar was more than just output, though; he was an entertainer, someone who could make something of anything, and a legend of the league.

So, fans should be delighted about reports linking Chelsea to another superstar who could become their new Hazard.

Chelsea target their new Eden Hazard

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Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, for example, has been touted for a £79m move to Stamford Bridge, as has Nottingham Forest’s defensive powerhouse Murillo.

Yet, while both would improve the Blues’ squad and potentially the starting lineup, neither can be described as the next Hazard, unlike Vinícius Júnior.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Chelsea are one of a few teams keen on signing the Real Madrid winger.

In fact, the report has revealed that, alongside Manchester City, the West Londoners are leading the race for the Brazilian’s signature, while Manchester United trail behind.

However, on top of the competition, the Blues will have to stump up a fee of up to £100m to secure the superstar’s signature.

It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Vini Jr’s immense ability, it’s one Chelsea should be all over, especially as he could be another Hazard.

Why Vini Jr would be another Hazard for Chelsea

Now, while Vini Jr obviously isn’t a carbon copy of Hazard, there are undeniable similarities between the two.

For example, in addition to sharing a position with him, the Brazilian is also a winger most would describe as an entertainer; he is not merely efficient.

In other words, the 25-year-old is more than happy to take on an opposition defender, is capable of scoring a myriad of goals and isn’t afraid of pulling off a trick or two, even if he sometimes gets heat for doing so.

While this is all obvious from simply watching the former Flamengo gem play, it’s also borne out in his underlying numbers.

For example, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, the top 3% for successful take-ons, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, and more, all per 90.

Simply put, the São Gonçalo-born star is someone who wants to carry the ball into dangerous areas and is one of the very best at doing so.

With all that said, while Vini Jr has the entertainment side of Hazard to his own game, he’s also as, if not more, dangerous when it comes to backing that up with output.

Appearances

340

Starts

267

Minutes

24,291′

Goals

111

Assists

92

Points per Game

2.15

For example, in 340 appearances, for Los Blancos, totalling 24291 minutes, he has scored 111 goals and provided 92 assists.

That comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.67 games, or every 119.66 minutes, which is even more impressive when you consider his slow start in Madrid.

With numbers like those, and the fact he’s one of the few players in the world guaranteed to get fans on their feet, it’s hard to disagree with Ronaldo’s assertion that he is “the best player in the world.”

Therefore, while it will cost an arm and a leg, Chelsea should be doing all they can to sign Vini Jr, especially as he could be their next Hazard.

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Glasgow Rangers failed to win in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since they appointed Danny Rohl in their 0-0 draw with Falkirk at Ibrox on Sunday.

The Light Blues failed to score a goal in a home game against Falkirk for the first time this century, and it was a disappointing all-round display from the hosts.

Rangers were unable to find the back of the net from three ‘big chances’ and 1.07 xG, per Sofascore, and had to settle for one point and no goals in front of their supporters.

Despite the underwhelming performance and result, there was a positive for Rohl to take away from the match, as Nedim Bajrami showed that he has something to offer.

Why Danny Rohl must unleash Nedim Bajrami

The Albania international came in for his first start of the league season, having made six substitute appearances before Sunday, and his performance on the left flank suggests that he has been underused.

Bajrami ended his 75 minutes on the pitch with four dribbles completed, two chances created, and ten duels won, per Sofascore, which shows that he put himself about physically, moved forward with the ball with intent, and looked to make things happen in the final third.

Last season, the former Sassuolo man scored two goals and created four ‘big chances’ in 15 starts in the Premiership, to go along with one goal and six ‘big chances’ created in eight starts in the Europa League, per Sofascore.

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Meanwhile, one of the summer signings, Thelo Aasgaard, has failed to prove himself to be an upgrade on Bajrami and now looks to be the biggest waste of time since Sam Lammers.

Why Thelo Aasgaard may be the new Sam Lammers

Rangers signed Lammers from Atalanta for £3m in the summer of 2022, to bolster Michael Beale’s attack, and the attacking midfielder produced two goals and two assists in 31 games for the club, per Transfermarkt.

The left-footed flop spent the second half of that season on loan at Utrecht before being sold to FC Twente for an initial fee of £2.5m that could rise to £4m one year after joining the Gers.

This shows that Lammers was more or less a waste of time for the Light Blues because he rarely contributed on the pitch and he left Ibrox for a similar fee to the one that he was brought in for.

Rangers paid £3.5m to sign Aasgaard from Luton Town in the summer, only £500k more than Lammers cost, and he is, unfortunately, treading the same path that the Dutchman walked.

The Norway international, whom Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar dubbed “rotten” last month, has scored one goal and provided one assist in 21 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which is an even worse return than the Twente star ended his Ibrox career with.

Aasgaard, who was handed a 2/10 player rating vs Falkirk by IbroxNews, has as many red cards as goals, after he was sent off against Celtic in the semi-final of the League Cup, and, as aforementioned, he has not proven that he is an upgrade on the player that he was brought in to replace, Bajrami.

Starts

15

8

Goals

2

1

Key passes

28

9

Big chances created

4

0

Assists

1

1

As you can see in the table above, the Liverpool-born midfielder has not scored goals or created chances at a more impressive rate than the Albanian did in the Premiership last term.

The same is true for their respective form in the Europa League. Last season, Bajrami scored one goal and created six ‘big chances’ in eight starts, per Sofascore, whilst Aasgaard has no goals and no ‘big chances’ created in five outings in the competition in the 2025/26 campaign.

If the 2/10 Norwegian flop’s dismal form at the top end of the pitch continues and Bajrami gets more chances after his bright showing against Falkirk, then his future may already be in doubt when the January transfer window opens.

Like Lammers, Aasgaard may have to look at his options in January and see if there is a loan or a permanent option for him to go elsewhere, unless he can turn his form around in the coming weeks.

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For now, though, the former Luton and Wigan star looks to be the biggest waste of time since Lammers because of the fee he was signed for and the lack of consistent performances on the pitch.

تحدث كريم الدبيس، الظهير الأيسر لنادي سيراميكا كليوباترا، عن فترة تواجده مع النادي الأهلي وكواليس رحيله عن صفوف القلعة الحمراء.

ورحل كريم الدبيس، إلي سيراميكا كليوباترا، لمدة موسم واحد على سبيل الإعارة قادمًا من الأهلي في بداية الموسم الجاري.

وقال الدبيس خلال تصريحات لبرنامج “ملعب أون” عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “رحيلي عن الأهلي، ليس صعبا، لأن في هذه الفترة كنت أريد اللعب ولا أريد الجلوس على مقاعد البدلاء”.

وأضاف: “كنت أرغب في اللعب بأي شكل من الأشكال، وعندما شعر بعدم المشاركة مع المدير الفني ريبيرو، تحدثت معه وأبلغته بالعروض التي وصلت إلي من السويد وروسيا وغيرها من أندية أخرى”.

وتابع: “ريبيرو قال لي، أنا أريدك، العروض كانت رسمية ووصلت للنادي، لكن إدارة النادي الأهلي، لم ترد على العروض، وأبلغت ريبيرو برغبتي في المشاركة، وقولت له إذ كانت فرصة مشاركتي بنسبة 80% مثلًا، أريد الرحيل من أجل المشاركة”.

طالع | كريم الدبيس: لدي تطلعات أسعى لتحقيقها في سيراميكا كليوباترا

وأكمل: “الفرق كبير جداً بين كولر وريبيرو، كولر قد يكون قد قسَا عليَّ كثيرًا، لكن ريبيرو كان واضحا وصريحا، كلامه دائمًا مباشرًا”.

وواصل: “أنا من النوع الذي لا يتحدث أو يعترض، أحترم رؤية المدير الفني، مع كولر كنت أساله عن عدم اللعب أو ماذا ينقصني، كان يقول لي: لا شئ ينقصك، لكن أرى أنك لا زالت صغيرًا، أمامك وقت، هذه كانت كلمات صعبة عليّ”.

وأردف: “في سيراميكا كليوباترا، كابتن علي ماهر، المدير الفني، يطور ويعمل بشكل جيد، توجد فلاشة نشاهد من خلالها المباريات واللقطات التي نحتاج العمل عليها ونراجع بشكل ممتاز جدًا، هي تكون موجودة في كل مكان، في العيادة، في أوضة اللبس، في الفندق لو في معسكر، هذا شيء لم أشاهده في أي مكان في مصر، وهذا الذي يضعنا على القمة في بطولة الدوري حتى الآن، ونريد الاستمرار”.

وعن البكاء، في مباراة الأهلي وباتشوكا في كأس القارات، أوضح: “كنا نلعب في قطر، وقبل المباراة بأسبوع، مستر كولر تحدث معي وقال لي: أنا أشاهدك تخوض المران بشكل جيد، فعندما تأتي أقرب فرصة سأعتمد عليك في مركز الظهير الأيسر، وأبلغته أنني مستعد وجاهز”.

وأتم: “في مباراة باتشوكا، يحيى عطية الله الذي بدأ اللقاء، وعند الدقيقة 80 تعرض لشد بسيط، وطلب التغيير، أنا كنت على مقاعد البدلاء، واللاعبون كانوا يقولون لي أجهز، لكنني لم أكن مطمئنا من كولر، وبالفعل دخل خالد عبد الفتاح مكان يحيى عطية الله وأنا لم أشارك، هذا الموقف كان صعبا علي جدًا، ولم أستطع منع دموعي”.

ZC cites Williams’ “history of disciplinary issues and repeated unavailability” for decision to not renew his contract beyond 2025

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Nov-2025

Sean Williams made his Zimbabwe debut in 2005•AFP/Getty Images

Sean Williams, the veteran Zimbabwe batter, will not be considered for national selection and his central contract will not be renewed after Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) said he disclosed to them that he has been struggling with drug addiction.In a statement, ZC referred to “a history of disciplinary issues and repeated unavailability, which has impacted team preparations and performance”.Williams, 39, has played 273 matches for Zimbabwe across all formats in an international career spanning more than 20 years, but ZC confirmed that his contract will not be renewed beyond the end of 2025.Related

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Williams had most recently withdrawn from the Zimbabwe squad on the eve of the Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers, citing “personal reasons”. On Tuesday, ZC revealed that they had conducted an internal investigation to understand the reason for his unavailability, after which Williams had disclosed to the board that he has been struggling with drug addiction, and had voluntarily entered into rehab.”ZC expects all contracted players to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and compliance with team protocols and anti-doping regulations,” the board said in its statement. “While ZC commends him for seeking rehabilitation, withdrawal from team commitments under circumstances involving potential testing raises serious concerns regarding professional and ethical standards.”Since making his international debut in 2005, Williams has scored more than 8000 runs across all formats for Zimbabwe. He was most prolific in ODIs, making 5217 runs at an average of 37.53, with eight hundreds and 37 fifties. Earlier this year, he overtook James Anderson to become the longest-serving active international cricketer.Williams, however, was also never far from controversies or from a fractured relationship with ZC. Although he led the U-19 side in the World Cup in Sri Lanka in February 2006 – the highlight being a win over England – there were rumours both before and after the tournament that he was not happy with the board. Williams subsequently turned down a central contract the following month, opting to look for a more settled career overseas. However, he changed his mind three months later, thus returning to play for Zimbabwe. The on-off farrago resurfaced in 2008 when he again quit for a contract in South Africa, only to return weeks later.In late 2014, despite being one of Zimbabwe’s best players of spin, Williams was not considered for the tour of Bangladesh after interruptions in his involvement in a training camp, and an aborted disciplinary hearing.”ZC sincerely acknowledges and appreciates his immense contribution to Zimbabwean cricket over the past two decades,” the board said. “Williams has played a pivotal role in some of the most significant moments in our recent history, leaving a lasting legacy both on and off the field. ZC wishes him strength in his recovery, and every success in his future endeavours.”

The announcement is only for the first two rounds of the Ranji Trophy, and, in any case, Vaibhav Suryavanshi might not be around for the whole season because of the Under-19 World Cup early next year

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2025Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been named Bihar’s vice-captain for the first two rounds of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season that kicks off on October 15. The squad will be led by batter Sakibul Gani.The appointments came just two days prior to the start of the season after the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) had to make a late scramble to appoint a selector, on an ad hoc basis, to join a two-member panel following a BCCI order. The BCA has been directed to appoint a five-member selection panel at the earliest.Suryavanshi’s elevation came on the back of a rich run of form for India Under-19 on the tour of Australia, where he contributed fast starts up top. He smashed a 78-ball century in the first four-day match in Brisbane and finished as the second-highest run-scorer of the multi-day series, scoring 133 runs in three innings as India won 2-0.Related

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Prior to that, Suryavanshi was also among the runs in England, hitting 143, the fastest century in youth one-dayers, in Worcester this July. In five matches, he amassed 355 runs at a strike rate of 174.01, comfortably finishing as the highest run-getter of the series.Suryavanshi, 14, has played just five first-class games since debuting in January 2024 at 12 years and 284 days, but has aggregated just 100 runs in ten innings, with a best of 41. India Under-19 commitments have meant Suryavanshi is yet to have a straight run of games in India’s premier first-class competition.Earlier this year, Suryavanshi hit the headlines by becoming the youngest centurion in men’s T20s when he hit 101 off 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans in Jaipur in an IPL 2025 game.Having made history just a few months earlier for being the youngest to be picked in the IPL at 13, Suryavanshi featured in seven games in the 2025 edition, all as an opener. He made 252 runs at a strike rate of 206.55.Bihar endured an abysmal 2024-25 season, finishing with no wins. They managed a solitary point in seven games – losing six of those outright to be relegated. Bihar are part of the Plate league, and will open their campaign against Arunachal Pradesh in Patna, before taking on Manipur in Nadiad from October 25.Suryavanshi’s temperament and run-scoring ability have elicited calls for him to be a part of a more established first-class structure in India. There have been murmurs of a possible switch from Bihar. However, for now, the BCA is keen on doing all they can to retain Suryavanshi in a bid to return to the Elite league.Suryavanshi is unlikely to feature in the entire Ranji season as he’s also in the running for a berth in India’s squad for the Under-19 World Cup in early 2026.Bihar Ranji Trophy 2025-26 squadPiyush Kumar Singh, Bhashkar Dubey, Sakibul Gani (capt), Vaibhav Suryavanshi (vice-capt), Arnav Kishor, Ayush Loharuka, Bipin Saurabh, Amod Yadav, Nawaz Khan, Sakib Hussain, Raghvendra Pratap Singh, Sachin Kumar Singh, Himanshu Singh, Khalid Alam, Sachin Kumar