Seifert scored an unbeaten 97 after Neesham’s five wickets reduced Pakistan to 128

Danyal Rasool26-Mar-2025

New Zealand signed off the series as they started it: with an absolute hammering of Pakistan. Tim Seifert, who smashed an unbeaten 97 off 38, ensured New Zealand needed just ten overs to get to Pakistan’s limp 128 after five wickets for James Neesham hobbled Pakistan in the first innings.New Zealand called correctly at the toss and barely put a foot wrong after. Will O’Rourke and Jacob Duffy were both tight and penetrating up front as New Zealand took three wickets in the powerplay. It included Hassan Nawaz for his third duck of the series who sandwiched his century at Eden Park with just one run across the other four games. Neesham’s first wicket of five reduced Pakistan to 52 for 5 around the halfway mark as Pakistan’s top order scattered around their captain Salman Agha.Agha and Shadab Khan provided the only resistance with the bat for Pakistan with a brief, entertaining cameo. Neither are natural power hitters, but both were effective in their manipulation of the bowlers and the field as Pakistan picked up the pace in a 54-run stand in 35 balls.But when Shadab briefly lost his cool after being deprived of a free hit he thought he deserved for a high full toss the previous ball, he nicked the next one to the keeper. He walked away incandescent, and the remainder of Pakistan’s innings folded tamely even as Agha brought up his second half-century in three games. Neesham was ruthless in wrapping the tail up as the final four overs yielded four wickets for 22 runs, and a target of 129.Neesham starred with five wickets•Getty Images

New Zealand’s innings began with 18 runs off Jahandad Khan’s first over, and barely looked back. Finn Allen and Seifert were raining boundaries no matter which fast bowler Agha turned to; five of the first six overs produced double-digit runs, and when Pakistan turned back to Jahandad to close out the powerplay, the assault was unforgiving. Three sixes and a four from Seifert saw 25 runs come off it as New Zealand surged to 92 in the powerplay – their highest six-over score in T20I history.Sufiyan Muqeem – in hindsight brought in a touch late, provided some measure of relief for Pakistan, got rid of Allen with his second delivery with a bit of flight and variation of pace. He followed it up by deceiving Mark Chapman with a quicker one that Mohammad Haris was sharp to collect and whip the bails off, his two overs conceding just six runs for their two wickets.However, that did not mean all spin was working for Pakistan, as Shadab’s concluding over made painfully clear. Four sixes in six balls, and three consecutive ones to sign off the game, put Pakistan out of their misery, his 26-run over finishing off a contest so one-sided it had become borderline uncomfortable to watch.New Zealand will take heart from their strength in depth, while Pakistan are left to wonder if there are further depths to sink to.

أصدر نادي فياريال بيانًا ناريًا بعد قرار رابطة أندية الدوري الإسباني بإلغاء مباراة برشلونة بالدوري الإسباني بمدينة ميامي الأمريكية.

كانت رابطة الدوري الإسباني والاتحاد الأوروبي للكرة القدم “يويفا” قد وافقا في وقت سابق على إقامة مباراة برشلونة وفياريال ضمن منافسات الجولة الـ 17 من الدوري الإسباني يوم 20 ديسمبر في ميامي.

وبسبب ذلك، نشبت حالة من الغضب الشديدة لدى قادة الفرق في الليجا، وفقًا لما أعلنت رابطة لاعبي كرة القدم الإسبانية، كما تقدم ريال مدريد بشكوى إلى المجلس الإسباني لكرة القدم اليوم اعتراضًا على ذلك.

وقدم نادي فياريال تقريرًا مفصليًا حول الأحداث السابقة أمام الجماهير مندهشًا من قرار الرابطة بإلغاء المباراة في حين أنها كانت صاحبة الفكرة، معتبرة ذلك فشلًا كبيرًا في تنظيم اللقاء.

وجاء بيان نادي فياريال على النحو التالي:-

يرغب نادي فياريال أن يعرب عن استيائه العميق من رابطة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم، بسبب سوء إدارة تنظيم المباراة المقرر إقامتها في ميامي ضد نادي برشلونة في 20 ديسمبر، بالجولة الـ 17 والتي لن تقام في نهاية المطاف، وبسبب ذلك يرغب النادي في تقديم تقرير مفصل عن التسلسل الزمني الكامل للأحداث المحيطة بهذه المسألة

مشروع إقامة مباراة في لا ليجا خارج إسبانيا هو مبادرة أطلقتها الرابطة نفسها بهدف توسيع نطاق المسابقة عالميًا، هذا الصيف اقترحت الرابطة على نادي فياريال المشاركة واستضافة المباراة التي ستُقام ضد نادي برشلونة قبل عطلة عيد الميلاد، وقد وافق نادي فياريال كما أعلن علنًا في مناسبات عديدة على هذا المشروع إيمانًا منه بفائدته الكبيرة لنمو النادي ومساهمته في تطوير المسابقة، ومع ذلك يتطلب تنفيذه شرطين أساسيين

ستُستخدم الأموال المخصصة لهذه المبادرة من قِبل الرابطة لتعويض حاملي تذاكر نادي فياريال الموسمية، وهم المتضررون فعليًا من هذا الوضع، لغيابهم عن إحدى المباريات المشمولة في تذاكرهم الموسمية، ويشمل ذلك سفرًا مجانيًا إلى ميامي لمشاهدة المباراة أو استردادًا جزئيًا لقيمة التذاكر.

اقرأ أيضًا | تيباس ينفجر بعد إلغاء مباراة برشلونة في أمريكا: “يتحدثون عن النزاهة وهم يضغطون الحكام”

ولن يحصل أي من الناديين المشاركين على أي فائدة مالية مباشرة مقابل لعب المباراة، حيث كان ينبغي استخدام الأموال لتعويض حاملي التذاكر الموسمية لفياريال، ولأن ذلك سيكون أيضًا غير عادل بالنسبة لأندية الدوري الأخرى.

تتفهم رابطة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم هذه الطلبات وتوافق عليها، ويواصل نادي فياريال متابعة تعليماته لإضفاء الطابع الرسمي على الطلب بين جميع الأطراف، حيث يجب أن تكون رابطة الدوري الإسباني نفسها، باعتبارها الهيئة المسؤولة والشخص الذي يقود هذه المبادرة على جميع المستويات، هي التي يجب أن تطلب جميع التصاريح المقابلة وتنقل جميع المعلومات إلى بقية الأندية والهيئات المختصة المختلفة مثل الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم والاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم والاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم واتحاد كرة القدم الإسباني.

ومنذ أن بدأ النظر في إمكانية استضافة مباراة بهذا الحجم في الصيف، وفهمًا للتعقيد اللوجيستي لمباراة بهذا الحجم وتداعيات سفر أعداد كبيرة من المشجعين إلى قارة أخرى، جعل نادي فياريال نفسه متاحًا بالكامل لرابطة الدوري الإسباني وأكد على أهمية العمل المسبق والتخطيط لتلبية جميع الاحتياجات المقابلة.

نظرًا لضعف التقدم في تطوير وتنظيم الليجا، أعرب نادي فياريال مرارًا وتكرارًا عن قلقه العميق تجاهها، وحثها على تحديد جوانب أساسية وجوهرية، مثل تأكيد موعد المباراة والتعاقد مع وكالة سفر لرحلة بهذا الحجم، وهي أمور مهمة لبدء تنظيم الحدث.

في الواقع، كان من المقرر عقد اجتماع يوم الخميس المقبل، وفي حال عدم حل هذه المشاكل فورًا، كان سينسحب النادي من المشروع لعدم توفر الحد الأدنى من الشروط اللازمة للتنظيم.

ليلة أمس، وقبل دقائق من انطلاق مباراة دوري أبطال أوروبا بين فياريال ومانشستر سيتي على ملعب لا سيراميكا، تم إبلاغ النادي هاتفيًا من رابطة الليجا بإلغاء المباراة بناءً على قرار الشركة الراعية إلا أن المعلومات كانت سرية وسيتم البحث عن أفضل وقت لإعلانها بشكل مشترك، كما حدث في 8 أكتوبر لتأكيد موعد المباراة.

لكن بعد دقائق، وبشكل مفاجئ للنادي، قررت رابطة الدوري الإسباني إصدار بيان من جانب واحد يعلن إلغاء مباراة لفياريال خلال مباراة بهذه الأهمية للنادي، مما يدل على عدم احترام كامل وشامل للنادي، فضلًا عن الافتقار إلى الحساسية والتعاطف.

يأسف نادي فياريال لأن رابطة الدوري الإسباني، بصفتها الجهة المنظمة، لم تُحسن إدارة وتنظيم المباراة، ولم تتمكن من إقامتها في ميامي، معتبرًا أنها فرصة سانحة لنمو الأندية والدوري الإسباني على الصعيد الدولي.

Manchester United’s midfield department has fallen way below the standards expected from the fanbase during recent seasons – undoubtedly contributing to their lowly Premier League standing in 2024/25.

Ruben Amorim, who’s been in the role since November last year, still has yet to find the perfect combination between the two midfielders in his 3-4-2-1 system.

Club captain Bruno Fernandes is almost certain to operate in one of the aforementioned roles after Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were brought into Old Trafford during the summer.

Casemiro has been the player to feature alongside him so far this campaign, but questions are undoubtedly being asked about his long-term future given the Brazilian turns 34 in February.

Manuel Ugarte is another option currently at the manager’s disposal, but he evidently wanted further reinforcements given their activity in the summer transfer window.

Why Man Utd wanted to sign Baleba this summer

During the summer transfer window, United made their move to land Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion in an attempt to bolster the midfield department.

The Red Devils even entered talks with the player and his representatives over a move to join the club, but the £100m asking price proved to be a huge stumbling block.

A lot was made about the move for the 21-year-old, but why did Amorim desperately want the youngster?

He made 34 appearances in the Premier League last season, scoring three times, including a phenomenal long-range strike against West Ham United back in April.

However, his underlying stats highlight how impressive he was out of possession, subsequently winning 1.6 tackles per 90 – undoubtedly providing the ball-winning presence the side have lacked.

Baleba also came out on top in 6.7 duels per 90, also making 6.6 recoveries per 90, showcasing his phenomenal ability without the ball at his feet on the South Coast.

Missing out on such a talent will have been a bitter blow for the Red Devils’ ambitions in 2025/26, but Amorim may be forced to rely upon one player already plying his trade in Manchester.

The United star who’s a bigger talent than Baleba

The last few months under Amorim have been unsuccessful to say the least, with the 40-year-old only achieving a 40% win percentage over the last 10 months at the helm.

His 3-4-2-1 system requires a very specific type of player – especially in the midfield department – with a deeper option needed alongside the attacking Fernandes at the heart of the side.

Ugarte would appear the best fit, but his lack of form has led to cause for concern – especially after the hierarchy forked out £50m for his signature last summer.

Kobbie Mainoo has struggled to cement his place under the former Sporting CP boss, only starting 19 league games to date and often having to resort to minutes off the substitutes’ bench.

A future “£100m-plus footballer” in the words of United writer Alex Turk, the youngster is adored by many at Old Trafford after his rapid rise to stardom, becoming a key member of the side under Erik ten Hag in the 2023/24 campaign.

However, his lack of action has led to the player himself voicing his displeasure at his lack of action, even requesting a loan move away from his boyhood club in the recent window.

No move materialised away from Old Trafford, with the Englishman deserving of the opportunity to start on a regular basis – hopefully replicating the numbers he produced last season and helping the Red Devils rise up the table.

When comparing his figures to those of Baleba from 2024/25, Mainoo managed to outperform him in key areas – showcasing the quality he possesses despite his tender age.

Mainoo, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by journalist Phil Brown, won more tackles per 90 (1.6) whilst also achieving a better tackle success rate (61%).

Games played

25

34

Minutes played

1651

2661

Pass accuracy

87%

86%

Key passes made

0.8

0.7

Tackles won

1.6

1.5

% of tackles won

61%

60%

Take-ons completed

1.3

1.1

Carries into opposition box

0.6

0.1

Such figures showcase that the youngster is actually a better ball-winner than Baleba, with the decision to keep hold of him this summer a blessing in disguise if he can replicate such numbers.

He also dominated in possession, completing more of the passes he attempted (87%) and completing more take-ons per 90 (1.3) – which could allow him to progress the play and provide the new additions ahead of him with key chances in the final third.

There’s no denying Baleba would’ve offered another excellent option at the heart of Amorim’s side, but ultimately, his £100m asking price was way out of range given the previous business conducted.

As for Mainoo, he’s more than deserving of a run in the first-team to regain his starting position, with Amorim desperately needing to utilise the youngster in their hunt for success.

Ten Hag sold Man Utd's "young Giggs" for just £15m, now he's like Mbeumo

Manchester United made a huge mistake in allowing one talented star to leave under Erik ten Hag.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 11, 2025

A “tremendous” Liverpool player is now in advanced talks over a move away from the club in the near future, in a potential big blow for the Reds.

Liverpool star Konate coy over his future

The Premier League champions enjoyed a summer transfer window to treasure, bringing in Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak for club-record amounts, and also signing the likes of Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike, among others.

That said, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz were among the Liverpool players to move on, and there are also doubts surrounding the futures of some other current stars.

One of them is Ibrahima Konate, with the 26-year-old continually linked with a move to Real Madrid in the near future, and he discussed his future during the summer, playing down an exit but also not exactly committing himself to the Reds.

“You know, I just want to say one thing: Everything you saw on social media is completely fake. I didn’t even ask for something from the club. They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it. The rest (speculation) that I want to wait until the end…I want this, all of it is completely fake.

“And even the big journalists said in November I am very close to signing the deal. I was like: ‘Ah, they have more information than me!?’ Because it was not true at that moment and that is why I was a little bit mad because it was not true at this moment.”

Konate in advance talks to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid

According to Marca journalist Jose Felix Diaz on YouTube, Liverpool centre-back Konate is now in “very advanced” talks to join Madrid in 2026.

The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of this season, and he is yet to commit his future to the Reds by signing a new long-term deal at the club.

This is clearly a worrying situation for Liverpool, with the lure of Madrid great for any player, and Kylian Mbappe could be doing his utmost to persuade his international colleague to join him at the club, as well as Alexander-Arnold.

Konate may have made a patchy start to the season for the Reds, admittedly performing well in the 1-0 win over Arsenal, but he is a key man who remains a great foil for Virgil van Dijk, being hailed by Micah Richards in the past.

“I watched him a lot at Leipzig – there’s so much potential. There’s all these things he’s tremendous at – last ditch tackles he can do that, he can get back in, pace – no problem at all. To go to the next level now if he can just concentrate a little bit more and be a bit more assured on the ball.”

Granted, Konate isn’t irreplaceable, and he is guilty of having lapses in form from time to time, but keeping hold of him makes far more sense than selling him.

Signed for £5m, sold for 450% more: Liverpool hit gold with the original Wirtz

Liverpool’s original version of Wirtz was sold for a healthy profit.

ByWill Miller Sep 9, 2025

In fairness to the France international, he deserves to be earning more than his current £70,000-a-week wages, and if Liverpool aren’t offering him what he wants, there is an inevitability about what will happen next.

Manchester United have endured somewhat of an overhaul of the squad this summer, with Ruben Amorim splashing the cash during his first summer window at Old Trafford.

With less than a week remaining until the market slams shut, the 40-year-old has already spent around £200m – all on players within the final third of the pitch.

Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have all made the move to the Theatre of Dreams, but none of the stars have yet netted their first goal in any of the first two Premier League outings.

Players such as Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen and Jonny Evans were released at the start of the summer, freeing up some of the funds to land the aforementioned trio.

However, further players are likely to be offloaded before Monday’s deadline, with numerous players touted with big-money moves away from Amorim’s side.

The latest on United’s potential departures this summer

Kobbie Mainoo has emerged as a surprise option to depart United in the coming days, after being an unused substitute in each of the club’s two opening league outings.

The likes of Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro have all been preferred over the academy graduate in recent days – casting doubt over his long-term future at Old Trafford.

As a result, the 20-year-old is now said to be open to a departure before the deadline, with the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea monitoring his current situation – with a £45m transfer fee being mooted.

The Englishman is not the only player touted with an exit, with bomb squad member Alejandro Garnacho edging ever closer to a departure, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The journalist claims that the Argentine’s move to join Chelsea is now “very advanced” after the player rejected a proposal from Saudi Arabia – stating he only wants to move to Stamford Bridge.

It’s also been reported that a fee in the region of £50m with future add-ons has been agreed, with only minor details remaining before the 21-year-old departs Amorim’s side.

Why United selling £50m star would be a bigger blow than Mainoo

Mainoo has endured somewhat of a rapid rise over the last couple of years, with no supporter able to envisage the impact he would’ve had on the first-team squad.

There’s no denying that the Red Devils have fallen way below the expectations set by the fanbase, but the 20-year-old midfielder has often been a shining light – often popping up in crucial moments.

He announced himself to the supporters with a last-minute strike against Wolves back in February 2024, with his effort securing a 4-3 win for the club at Molineux.

Goals in the FA Cup and against Lyon in the Europa League have further highlighted the impact he’s made within the first-team, with the hierarchy potentially living to regret any deal that would see him depart the Theatre of Dreams.

However, a deal for Garnacho to depart could arguably be a bigger blow, losing another top youth prospect who could develop into an elite-level forward.

The Argentine made his debut for the Red Devils back in April 2022 – going on to rack up just shy of 150 appearances, and looking like the future of the club at one stage.

Despite scoring 11 times and producing 10 assists across all competitions throughout 2024/25, he was left on the bench for the Europa League final – prompting a fall-out with the manager after comments on social media.

He’s since been placed in the bomb squad at Old Trafford, but it could prove to be a decision that comes back to bite them – especially if he moves to a divisional rival.

Garnacho’s tally of 21 goal contributions last season showcases the talent he possesses within forward areas, something which the Red Devils have lacked already this campaign.

Games played

36

Minutes played

2195

Goals & assists

8

Shots on target

1.2

Pass accuracy

83%

Chances created

1.5

Successful dribbles

1.1

Touches in opposition box

7.6

Fouls won

1.8

Amorim’s side have only netted one goal in the opening two league outings, with the youngster able to help the side in their quest should they keep hold of him beyond the summer.

However, it appears as though he’s set to leave in favour of a move to Chelsea, with the Blues potentially getting themselves a bargain given his output and tender age – having the potential to explode in the capital.

There’s no denying that Amorim wants to make his own stamp on the squad – but selling star youngsters like Mainoo and Garnacho could turn ugly, especially if they can fulfil their potential away from Old Trafford in the years ahead.

He'd revive Fernandes: Man Utd chasing the "best English CM since Scholes"

Manchester United want to sign a midfielder before the end of the transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 27, 2025

Pochettino promised this roster would offer a clearer vision into his World Cup thoughts, with a 60-man roster winnowed to 26

During the September window, Mauricio Pochettino offered a glimpse into what this month's camp would look like. It would be less experimental, he said. It would also likely be more European-based. Having expanded the player pool by giving opportunities to as many contenders as possible, it was time to start tightening.

In truth, it was time to really start looking ahead.

On Thursday, Pochettino announced his latest squad, a 26-man list including most of the heavy-hitters. Only 11 are holdovers from last month's camp, showing just how much has changed. Several absences are due to injury. One is due to paternity leave. Much of the squad, though, is made up of players being welcomed back in for one reason or another.

From big names such as Weston McKennie to less familiar ones such as James Sands, this team is, by and large, made up of talented players with points to prove. More than anything, though, it's a team that makes sense.

Pochettino promised that this month would offer a clearer vision into his World Cup thoughts and, by and large, it does. What was once a 60-player pool has been winnowed down. This camp, then, will narrow it even further as those in the team, and those out of it, fight for those World Cup spots.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from the USMNT squad.

• Getty
  

  WINNER: Antonee Robinson

  He's finally back, and that's good news not just for Robinson, but for the USMNT as a whole.

  This will be Robinson's first camp of 2025, believe it or not, as injuries have essentially derailed his calendar year with the USMNT. Throughout that span, the U.S. was repeatedly confronted with a fact that, in truth, everyone already knew: there is no replacement for the Fulham star. Other players have stepped in capably, and Max Arfsten has been turned into a decent backup, but Robinson is in a class of his own.

  The only real negative is that, because of injury, Sergino Dest is out on the other side, so we won't get a proper look at what this three-back system could look like with the two primary wingbacks. Maybe next month. But in the meantime, the USMNT will be glad to welcome back Robinson, who remains an integral a piece to this team.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  LOSERS: The injured bunch

  With time dwindling before a World Cup, every camp seems all the more important. So, for those not on the squad, this is quite obviously a missed opportunity, whether you're a player on the fringes or one in the starting XI.

  It would have been very nice to see how Dest played in this system with Robinson on the other side. His PSV teammate, Ricardo Pepi, meanwhile, is also dealing with injury issues that are, for the moment, preventing him from pushing Folarin Balogun for that spot as the USMNT's starting striker.

  In the midfield, Johnny Cardoso is dealing with an injury, and no player needs a good international performance more than the newly-signed Atletico Madrid man, who has had few opportunities with the World Cup coming. And then there's Gio Reyna. There's no guarantee he'd have been here even if he was fully fit, due to his lack of minutes but, again, the clock is ticking.

  There aren't many chances remaining for players to prove that they belong next summer. For several players in the pool, this one will pass them by due to unfortunate timing.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  LOSER: Joe Scally

  Speaking of fullbacks, there's one big absence in that spot: Joe Scally. His exclusion comes after a wild performance in the Bundesliga, one in which he provided two assists in a chaotic 6-4 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt. 

  At least for the moment, it seems that Alex Freeman is in pole position for that backup spot on the right side. The reasons why are fairly clear. Freeman, at his core, is an attacking fullback, more of a like-for-like replacement for an injured Dest. Tim Weah, too, is an option in the right-wingback spot, having played there fairly regularly on the club level in recent years.

  As a result, Scally is the odd man out at the moment. Despite his assists this weekend, he's more defensive by nature. He does provide versatility in that he can play on either side or as part of a back three. But with the squad expanded to 26 players, there's room to take more specialists than Swiss army knives. At the moment, it seems that fact is keeping Scally out of the team.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images
  

  WINNER: Patrick Agyemang

  He's seemingly settled in at Derby County, even if he's waiting for that first goal. Now, Patrick Agyemang is back with the USMNT, offering some indication of where he remains in the overall pool.

  The now-former Charlotte FC striker has two assists already for his new Championship club and has offered glimpses into the skillset that convinced both Pochettino and Derby of his overall talent. After missing the September camp due to injury, Agyemang will be competing with Balogun and Haji Wright for minutes at the top of the USMNT attack.

  Striker, of course, is a unique position, one that depends on form more than anywhere else on the field. You have to be in the mix, though, to make that form count, and Agyemang remains right there.

With Adam Idah set to join Swansea City, Celtic have now reportedly opened talks to sign a £10m striker who was once backed to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Marco van Basten.

Adam Idah set to join Swansea

After a 50-minute cameo to forget against Kairat in the Champions League, Idah has been shown the door by Celtic in ruthless fashion. Returning to English football just one year since swapping Norwich City for the Scottish champions in a move worth £9.5m, Idah will be desperate to put his recent Celtic form behind him back in the Championship.

The forward is set to leave with 29 goals in 76 appearances to his name, which includes a last-gasp Scottish Cup winner against Old Firm rivals Rangers in 2024. For that moment alone, some may argue that Idah proved to be worth every penny.

Ultimately, however, with Brendan Rodgers keen to bolster his side before the deadline, Idah has been shown the door. The Celtic boss told reporters when asked about potential incomings following his side’s Champions League exit in midweek: “I always think that investment is great, but it has to be a timely investment.

Better than Saracchi: Celtic in race to sign "technically gifted" £9m star

As Celtic search for a new left-back before the deadline, the Hoops should forget about Marcelo Saracchi and sign a “technically gifted” star instead.

1

By
Ben Gray

Aug 29, 2025

“It has to be at the right time. I think at this moment in time, we’ve just lost a game. Like I say, this group of players have given everything. We’re obviously being limited to what we could do in the game at the moment, but like I said, they gave everything.”

At that stage, there was arguably little room to welcome further arrivals. With Idah now set to seal his exit, however, the Bhoys could welcome an instant upgrade.

Celtic in talks to sign Dolberg

According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Celtic are now in talks to sign Kasper Dolberg from Anderlecht this week. The 27-year-old forward is reportedly valued at £10m – a similar price that the Bhoys initially paid for Idah last summer – and negotiations are underway.

The Dolberg name is one that many will remember from several years ago. The Dane was the supposed to be the next best thing at Ajax. He was billed as football’s latest wonderkid. His own father even went as far as to compare him with the legendary Van Basten, whilst the Ajax scout who discovered Dolberg dubbed him an “extraordinary talent”, but things never quite worked out as planned.

That said, whilst the Dane is not among the world’s best players like many expected him to be, he still has a knack for goals and has already netted five in just eight games this season. And it is that knack for goals which should see Celtic push all the way for his signature.

Ricky Ponting wants to make this one of the “greatest Punjab Kings team of all time.” Ahead of their IPL 2025 opener against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, assistant coach Brad Haddin echoed similar sentiments.”That’s exciting to the players,” Haddin said, when asked if Ponting’s statement put pressure on them. “In this day and age, you want to challenge the player group to touch greatness. That’s what we want to see everyday. We want to see them get better than they were yesterday, better than what they were the previous week.”You have to set high expectations and high goals. The reason is we’re happy with the group we’ve put together. We’ve been ultra impressed with what they’ve done at training camps. Now all they want to do is play cricket. They’ve had enough cricket in camps, they want to get out there and express themselves.”Related

• PBKS winning without overseas contributions shows 'real confidence', says Nick Knight

• It's Buttler vs Maxwell as Titans kick off against new-look PBKS

Kings bought Shreyas Iyer for INR 26.75 crores to captain a new-look side that features the experience of Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh along with young talents like Priyansh Arya and Suryansh Shedge. They also multiple allrounders in Marco Jansen, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.Asked if the Australian flavour to the Kings support staff group was a “good thing” in driving culture towards team success, Haddin heaped praise on Shreyas, who he termed as a “driven captain” who would lead the way in establishing “standards” and “habits.””We’ve got a driven captain who has had a lot of success, not just for India but in the competition and in this form of the game,” Haddin said. “From the captain down, he has brought everyone together, the staff are on the same page as the players. From that point of view, what we’re seeing is a high[-quality] group being led by the standards and habits of the captain.”Haddin was also clear of the Kings’ brand of cricket, without divulging much about their choice of personnel.”If you have a look at the way IPL has developed, especially with impact player, it allows players up top to play with a lot more freedom,” he said. “Last year, we saw an increase in powerplay numbers. This year, it’ll increase again. From our point of view, it’s giving guys an opportunity to express themselves, make sure they play brave and play what’s in front of them, and not worry too much about what’s happening.”This is a new group, we’ve had a brand new auction, we’ve got every player that we want to play different roles. One of those is a couple of guys to play in those six overs, you’ll be quite excited to see when it comes. Whoever we put up there will be exciting, they’ll play a brave brand of cricket, dynamic at the top. That’s what we want them to do.”

Another European away trip ends in frustration for Celtic, with Brendan Rodgers’ side held to a 1-1 draw by Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday evening to mark a mixed start to their latest Europa League adventure.

There were no doubt echoes of Kairat about the first-half in Belgrade, with the visitors left with little to show for their dominance in possession, having also been forced to rely on the brilliance of Kasper Schmeichel to keep the home side at bay.

A rather uneventful opening 45 – excluding that stunning save from the veteran Dane – was subsequently followed by a far more exciting second period, with the introduction of summer signing, Kelechi Iheanacho, finally sparking the Hoops into life.

It was to be the experienced Nigerian who ultimately broke the deadlock for the Scottish champions with a tidy close range finish, albeit with another man of Premier League years past – Marko Arnautovic – reducing the arrears just ten minutes later.

There was to be no further breakthrough from either side, ensuring Rodgers will be left to ponder what he could have done differently following a Jekyll and Hyde display from his Glasgow outfit.

Iheanacho provides solution to Maeda problem

It isn’t exactly a new opinion to suggest that Celtic’s summer business was far from perfect. Indeed, even the positives – such as the arrival of Sebastian Tounekti – need to be scrutinised, particularly amid the stockpiling of talent on the left flank.

With the injured Jota already onboard, Rodgers and co have since added two players who predominantly operate off the left, in the form of Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Tounekti, the latter of whom opened his account against Partick Thistle at the weekend.

Such reinforcements have left the Celtic boss with a headache to solve regarding last season’s talisman, Daizen Maeda, with the 33-goal star subsequently relocated into the vacant number nine berth on Wednesday night.

Minutes

45

45

Touches

7

14

Goals

0

1

Pass accuracy

75%

88%

Key passes

0

0

Shots

0

3

Total duels won

0

0

Possession lost

2

3

Offside

2

0

While no stranger to that role, the Japanese speedster almost had an air of a player who didn’t want to be there, having regularly been too slow in getting himself back onside. In all, he made just seven touches, and failed to win a single duel, as per Sofascore, in what was a simply anonymous 45-minute outing.

For all the talk of desperation surrounding the addition of Iheanacho, the one-time Leicester City looked like an instant upgrade following his entrance at the break, having linked play so effectively again, as he did on Sunday.

Despite seeing two efforts denied by the impressive figure of Matheus in the opposing goal, the 28-year-old’s eventual goal was one of pure poise and composure, expertly receiving Benjamin Nygren’s pass before curling the ball home with ease.

It is still early days, although the free transfer signing already looks like he could have forced his way into Rodgers’ starting lineup. Elsewhere, however, his new teammate Reo Hatate looks to have played his way out of it…

One Celtic star's dismal display in numbers

There’s no getting away from what was a forgettable performance from Maeda in Belgrade, albeit with the makeshift striker getting little in the way of support from his teammates, with chances at a premium in that uninspiring first half.

Among those toiling behind him was his compatriot, Hatate, with the 27-year-old looking bizarrely lax and laboured in the centre of the park, prior to his withdrawal just after the hour mark.

As ever, there was purpose to Callum McGregor’s play at the base of the midfield, while new man Nygren was an effective link between that central trio and the attacking unit, creating three ‘big chances’ and completing 100% of his attempted dribbles.

The elegant Swede was the creative hub in the second half, in particular, although on the opposite side, Hatate’s influence continued to wane, having been unable to provide a single key pass all night.

Not only did he lose 50% of his total duels, but the former Kawasaki Frontale star also lost possession on 13 occasions, at a rate of once every 3.3 touches.

Wasteful and slack on the ball, it was no surprise to see Celtic’s number 41 eventually hooked heading into the closing stages, with perhaps now the time for Rodgers to hand a regular role to Arne Engels – or Paulo Bernardo – instead in that central role.

Yes, as he showcased with his August stunner against Aberdeen, Hatate is capable of a magic moment when at his best. Sadly, however, those moments appear to now be few and far between, with just one goal and no assists from his eight outings in 2025/26 thus far.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With Engels and Bernardo waiting in the wings, it begs the question as to why Rodgers hasn’t been tempted to alter that midfield pecking order in recent weeks. Perhaps after last night’s showing, that situation might well have changed…

"Phenomenal" Celtic star looks like the biggest loser from Tounekti's rise

This Celtic star may end up being the biggest loser from Sebastian Tounekti’s form.

ByDan Emery Sep 23, 2025

An action-packed run fest worth 470 runs that goes down to the last few balls. Every T20 tournament can do with a few of those, and PSL 10 got its on the second day itself. Two centuries too. On a woeful day for bowlers, a 142-run partnership between James Vince and Khushdil Shah separated Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans and took Karachi, the hosts, to the third-highest successful chase in PSL history.Vince, whose purposefulness was evident from the moment he walked out at the fall of David Warner’s wicket in Karachi’s chase of 235, orchestrated the win with a 43-ball 101, while Khushdil, the perfect foil for Vince, kept his end of the bargain with a 37-ball 60 from No. 6. It was a much-needed shot in the arm for Karachi, who missed the playoffs in the last three seasons.Earlier, put into bat, Multan put on a show of their own, posting 234 on the back of Mohammad Rizwan’s fluent century – 105* in 63 balls. Adam Milne struggled to control his swing early on and bled plenty in the powerplay. Hasan Ali drew an outside edge off Shai Hope early in the piece and bowled with superb control in the powerplay, but his two-over spell at the death went for 35 runs.Usman Khan stuck to his chaotic methods and eventually got stumped after getting a start. Kamran Ghulam didn’t let the momentum drop and scored a brisk 36 in 19 balls before holing out in the 15th over. Multan needed a big finish, and they got it from the bat of the in-form Michael Bracewell, who played the kind of innings that he does so frequently for New Zealand, sparing no bowler with a 17-ball 44 not out.Karachi should consider themselves fortunate that even after conceding 22 extras, they kept the target where they could overhaul it. It was a largely an erratic bowling display, especially towards the death.Mohammad Rizwan’s century gave Multan a big total•AFP/Getty Images

In the chase, the spotlight was on Warner and the stage was set for him to get his team off to a flier. Warner opened his account lashing a boundary off David Willey – who had a forgettable day going for 40 in two overs – but his stay was short and streaky. He was undone by Bracewell, trapped lbw, but it was a decision that would have been overturned with DRS, but Warner didn’t opt for it.Tim Seifert attacked from the other end in his pulsating 16-ball 32 and then nicked one through to the keeper off Akif Javed, who bowled the fastest delivery of the day at 147.6kph and finished with 3 for 41.Karachi were in a tricky situation at the end of the seventh over, precariously placed at 79 for 4, but that’s when the foundation of a match-winning stand was laid as Khushdil joined Vince. Together, they took the game away from Multan.Vince raced away to a 23-ball fifty in the 11th over while Khushdil warmed up to the task from the other end. The debutant Shahid Aziz was introduced in the 13th over and was visibly nervous; he was handed the ball at a stage when both batters were well set. Karachi were sitting comfortably at 155 for 4, needing 80 more in seven overs.Chris Jordan nailed his yorkers in the 14th over and pulled things back a bit, and still had two overs left. But for someone with a lot of late-overs bowling experience, he was taken for 21 in the 16th over, and that put the match beyond Multan. Akif lost his control as Vince smashed him for a six and three boundaries in the 17th.Vince and Khushdil weren’t in the middle to hit the winning runs and there was a glimmer of hope that Multan might create some panic, but with only 14 left to score and still some batting to come, Karachi didn’t botch the chase.