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It’s nearly the season to be jolly for Newcastle United, but only if Eddie Howe finds a winning formula once again and transforms his side’s fortunes, currently slumped in 14th place in the Premier League.

The savvy coach will have sat on his thoughts over the past two weeks, well aware that this Magpies side need more than just a few tweaks to fire on all cylinders once again.

Perhaps a return to full fluency will be struck upon over the coming month, but Howe and technical director Ross Wilson may be in concert regarding the need for an external solution this winter, a late Christmas present welcomed after the new year, when the transfer window swings open.

Newcastle preparing for winter signing

Antoine Semenyo is a hot topic at the moment, with news filtering through this week that the Bournemouth talisman has a £65m release clause in his contract, which becomes active in January.

Newcastle had a vested interest in the Ghana international before signing Anthony Elanga for £55m this summer, and though the Toon are considering a new right-sided forward, there are other options that might come into play.

According to Caught Offside, West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen is believed to be looking to complete a move away from the east Londoners next summer, in the search for Champions League football.

Bowen, 28, has led the Hammers to meteoric heights over the past several years, but things have unravelled at the London Stadium since David Moyes’ departure.

Thus, Newcastle – who aren’t actively linked with the Englishman, as per the report – could strike for a player they have targeted in the past. Tottenham Hotspur are also interested, though, and are willing to spend £60m on the England star.

Why Newcastle should sign Bowen

Bowen was at the heart of West Ham’s Premier League win over Newcastle this month, and he has recorded three goals and an assist across four matches for the out-of-form side.

Hailed in the past by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino for being in the “Salah club” on the right flank, Bowen certainly falls into the category of ‘goalscoring winger’, but his underlying creative qualities could make him the perfect dynamic force to complement Howe’s Tyneside attack.

Crucially, Bowen’s durability across so many years as an Iron leader has made him perfect for a move to a club like Newcastle. Moreover, he scored the winning goal in the 2022/23 Conference League final, the hero in a trophy-winning campaign for West Ham.

Bowen also ranks among the top 7% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 3% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, further emphasising the dynamism and breadth of his game. Salah-esque, alright, and evidence that

Bowen may not be quite so much of a protean threat as, say, Semenyo, but he has streamlined his output and this has seen him establish himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in the Premier League, sustaining that level across many years.

Nick Woltemade’s unique link-up ability and willingness to drop deep emphasises the gains that could be found in landing Bowen’s signature. If a chance to make this move does present itself, Newcastle must pounce.

With the 23-year-old Elanga yet to register a single goal contribution for Newcastle this season, and Semenyo yet to prove himself at the highest level, it might be that Bowen would be a fantastic addition to complement a young attacking workforce at St. James’ Park and steer Newcastle back on course across the second half of the season and beyond.

Bigger talent than Anderson: Newcastle have 'one of the world's best teens'

Newcastle’s academy has gone from strength to strength in recent years.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 21, 2025

Not everyone has been a hit, but Chelsea have built up quite a reputation for signing incredible young talents in recent years.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Jorrel Hato, Jamie Gittens and Roméo Lavia were all 21 or younger when they secured their moves to Stamford Bridge.

However, the best young signing the club have made has to be Cole Palmer, although with how he’s playing, Estevao could take that title from him.

With that said, Chelsea have just secured the services of a hugely exciting prospect who could end up being a bigger star than both of them.

Palmer and Estevao's debut campaigns

When it comes to recent debut campaigns at Chelsea, it would be hard to deny that Palmer’s was the best in quite some time.

The former Manchester City gem arrived at the club without too much fanfare, but within a few games showed the fans and the rest of the league that he was not an ordinary signing.

He provided his first assist in the Third Round of the League Cup and then scored his first goal a couple of weeks later against Burnley in the league.

By the end of the season, the versatile international had scored 25 goals and provided 15 assists in 45 appearances, totalling just 3613 minutes.

That works out to an extraordinary average of a goal involvement every 1.12 games, or one every 90.32 minutes, which would be incredible for a seasoned veteran, let alone a 21-year-old.

Now, while it is unlikely that Estevao will beat that this year, he is certainly giving it a good go.

For example, in 16 mostly substitute appearances, totalling 657 minutes, the 18-year-old has scored four goals and provided one assist.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.2 games, or more crucially, every 131.4 minutes.

In all, it’s clear that, so long as they remain fit, Palmer and Estevao will continue to impress for Chelsea, but the club might have just signed another brilliant youngster who could be held in the same regard as them in the future.

Chelsea's next superstar in the making

Chelsea’s ambition to sign incredible young talents in the hopes they become global superstars is showing no signs of slowing down.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The latest prospect who could eventually be a game-changer for the Blues is Deinner Ordonez, who signed a pre-contract agreement with the club on Friday.

It had to be a pre-contract, as the Ecuadorian wonderkid is still just 16 years old and, due to rules on foreign-born youngsters, won’t be able to join Enzo Maresca’s squad until January 2028.

Moreover, he’s yet to even make a senior appearance for his club, Independiente del Valle.

However, that didn’t stop the West Londoners fighting off three other top European clubs for his signature, and based on what those in the know say about him, it’s easy to understand why.

For example, while he’s yet to play in the first team, the incredible prospect has been making waves in the youth system for some time now and was promoted to the u17s when he was just 14 years old.

Described as “an absolute alien of a talent” and someone who will “be one of the best CBs in the world” by Como scout Felix Johnstone, the Esmeraldas-born gem has also made a massive impression at the international level.

He is already playing for Ecuador’s u20 side and became the youngest player to represent the side at the South American U-20 Championship earlier this year.

It certainly feels like his senior debut is going to come sooner rather than later, especially as respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as a “huge potential CB with physicality and athleticism way beyond his age.”

He’s not just a youngster who has got ahead with impressive physicality, though, as Mattinson also points out his “outstanding range of passing” and the fact that he is “completely both-footed.”

Ultimately, it’s still so early in his career, but just like with Estevao, it’s already clear that Ordonez is a truly special prospect, and one that could be as effective for Chelsea as the Brazilian and Palmer.

The new Caicedo: Chelsea want to sign "one of the best CMs in the league"

Chelsea are reportedly interested in a deal to sign a Premier League star who is valued at up to £120m.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 17, 2025

Ross Barkley has revealed his struggles with alcohol and also opened up on Frank Lampard's punishment after a night out before a match during his Chelsea stint. He was once tipped to be English football’s next big superstar as he showed promise in his early days that drew comparisons to the greats. However, he never quite reached his potential, and behind the scenes, he was battling problems with drinking.

A young star lost in the glare of fame

The Everton academy graduate rose to stardom in his teens. Moving to Chelsea was supposed to be the next great chapter. Instead, it became the stage where his discipline and his decisions began to unravel. Barkley has now admitted that alcohol became a damaging escape during his time at Stamford Bridge.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHow Lampard handled an Barkley

In an interview with Barkley revealed: "A few times I went out, and if you drink too much, you do things you regret. I’d go out and have too much to drink, and then it would get back to the club."

The turning point came one Sunday night in Liverpool. Barkley went out drinking before a Wednesday match. It was supposed to be a harmless night out until footage surfaced and images were splashed across the tabloids. Chelsea manager Frank Lampard knew the temptations of youth better than most and responded with a mix of empathy and authority.

"One time, I went out on a Sunday in Liverpool and we had a game on a Wednesday. I got videoed, and then it was in the paper," Barkley revealed.

"We (Chelsea) had an away game in France (against Lille) and Frank Lampard was the manager. He couldn’t really say too much to me, other than learn from it and pick and choose when the right time is to do it, because he knew what it was like as a young lad. But the punishment was that I travelled with the team, but I wasn’t on the bench. I had to watch the game on the coach. It was hard to take. That was one occasion that has probably created a perception."

The incident in Liverpool wasn’t the last time Barkley’s name made unwanted headlines. In 2019, while he was recovering from injury, the footballer was filmed dancing shirtless in a Dubai nightclub during the international break. Although permission for leave had been granted, the optics were bad, and Barkley was once again at the centre of unwanted scrutiny.

"He showed a moment of a lack of professionalism as far as I’m concerned," Lampard said on that occasion. "And it’s not something that I want to be a pure dictator on and come down hard because I also understand that all my players are humans and have lives and I don’t police every moment of their life.

"So I don’t think it’s a terrible thing that he’s done but all Ross needs to do now, he’s had an injury and he’s still kind of carrying the injury – he still gets a bit of pain on shooting – so he just has to work his way back in. In terms of the fitness thing, he trained well and I certainly don’t hold anything against my players. I like Ross, he’s firmly one of my players and I think it was something he needs to show all his reactions on the pitch."

When Barkley sought help

Barkley confessed that his confidence often wavered during his early years in football, and he had to resort to professional help.

"You’ve got to self-reflect," said the midfielder. "You make mistakes. It’s good to speak to people and learn from mistakes and understand that throughout life, there are going to be challenges. Sometimes people struggle with their mental health; it’s good to talk to people. I’ve spoken to people, and it’s helped me. I’ve spoken to a sports psychologist. I’ve had therapy throughout my career and it’s beneficial. In football, you can lose your confidence. I’ve lost my confidence when I was younger. Now I’m 31, I look back and wish my approach back then was the same now."

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Getty Images SportA changed man and a father

Barkley is now back at Aston Villa for a second spell and is busy rebuilding his confidence under Unai Emery. Boozy nights are a thing of the past, and fatherhood has given him perspective. 

"I’m a dad now; I’ve got more responsibilities," he said. "I’ve got maybe four, five, six or seven years left in football, so I want to make the most of that. I haven’t drunk since the summer. I’m planning on going without alcohol throughout (the rest of) my career. It has created situations I don’t really want happening anymore."

Emery has mostly used him as a substitute, but he scored in his latest outing against Bournemouth. As games come thick and fast in the festive season, Barkley will be hoping to carve out a bigger role in the Aston Villa setup.

English Football League pundit Don Goodman has shared his stance on rumours linking Haji Wright with Leeds United.

Coventry City have enjoyed a blistering start to the season, losing just one of their 14 opening games in the Championship. Under the guidance of Frank Lampard, Coventry are a well-drilled, intense side, one who have scored a staggering 39 goals in the second division already.

Wright, a striker who also plays for the American national team, has been integral to Coventry’s success. The forward has scored nine goals in all competitions, eight of which have come in 13 Championship appearances. Unsurprisingly, rumours over Wright’s future have started to circulate.

Premier League side Leeds United have been linked with a move for Wright, with Football Insider noting that the Whites would be ‘eager’ to complete a deal for the 27-year-old.

Goodman offers thoughts on Leeds interest in Wright

Speaking to Football League World, Goodman has played down suggestions Wright would turn down the advances of a Premier League side.

Leeds have picked up 11 points from their opening 10 matches in what is their first Premier League season since 2023. The Whites have, generally, looked like a solid, structured side in defence, though there are some question marks over their attack. Only Nottingham Forest and Wolves, who occupy two spots in the bottom three of the table, have scored fewer goals in the league (seven) than the Whites (nine).

Noah Okafor has enjoyed a promising start at Elland Road, whilst Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha’s physicality allows the Whites to play a brand of football incorporating long balls forward. It could be argued, though, that none of their attacking options are as reliable a goalscorer as Wright currently is.

Given Coventry’s own ongoing promotion push, it remains to be seen whether Wright, who has been dubbed a “dangerous” player by boss Frank Lampard, will depart the Sky Blues mid-season. As Goodman said, however, the allure of the English top flight may prove too enticing to ignore.

Leeds have new Okafor waiting in the wings

Lahore Qalandars’ owners, Sameen Rana and Atif Rana, have agreed to renew their rights to the franchise for another 10 years. The reigning champions and three-time winners became the first of the six PSL teams to publicly confirm their acceptance of a re-evaluation conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board.The announcement ends mild uncertainty over the ownership status of what is considered the PSL’s most expensive franchise. While neither the Qalandars nor the PCB revealed the exact figure of any team, ESPNcricinfo understands the Qalandars have been valued by EY-MENA, the financial organisation tasked with assessing each PSL side’s worth, at approximately PKR 980 million (Approx USD 3.47 million) per year.But that is not the amount Qalandars’ current owners will have to pay. After new terms around the renewals, team owners will need to pay the old value – about PKR 425 million (Approx $1.5 million) in the Qalandars’ case – plus 25% of the new valuation. It means Sameen and Atif Rana will pay about PKR 670 million (approx. $2.37 million) as an annual franchise fee. Had new owners come in, they would’ve paid the market valuation, so about PKR 300 million (approx $1.06 million) more.Related

• Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen makes taunting apology to PCB

• Multan Sultans only PSL franchise yet to receive ownership renewal offer

• PCB confirms PSL expansion from 2026 with two new teams

“The franchise has accepted the PCB’s renewal offer to continue as a PSL team for the next 10 years,” Qalandars said in a media release. “Following an independent valuation by independent experts EY MENA, Lahore Qalandars have been recognised as the most valuable team based on combined on-field performance and organisational strength. This accolade reflects the franchise’s commitment to sustainable growth and long-term development.”Shortly after, Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi also confirmed they were renewing their contract for a further ten years. ESPNcricinfo has learned their market worth was evaluated at approximately PKR 870 million (approx USD 3.1 million), up from PKR 270 million (approx USD 956,000) in 2016. Having renewed, Afridi will have to pay a franchise fee of about PKR 500 million (approx USD 1.8 million).”Retaining our franchise rights for the next ten years is both an honour and a responsibility,” Afridi said. “This is not just a continuation; it is a commitment to build bigger, aim higher, and deliver even greater value to the PSL and to Pakistan’s cricketing ecosystem. The next decade belongs to ambition, innovation, and a stronger Zalmi vision.”While the remaining franchises have yet to publicly confirm their renewal, it is expected that all, barring Multan Sultans, will ultimately do so.Qalandars have leapfrogged Karachi Kings, who were the most expensive franchise at the launch of the PSL at PKR 440 million, but who are understood to have seen the lowest percentage growth in value of the five original teams since 2016. Their current value is understood to have been set at just under PKR 800 million, meaning renewal would cost their current owner Salman Iqbal approximately PKR 640 million (approx $2.27 million) per annum.One of the points of contention in the discounted rate that retaining a franchise provides is that it only appears to apply if the new valuation is higher than the old value. Sultans, who came into the league in the third season, saw their annual franchise fee set at PKR 1.1 billion (approx $3.89 million). They have now been valued at approximately PKR 850 million (approx $3 million), the only franchise to see depreciation.To renew, however, Sultans will be required to pay the old value, given it is higher, as well as 25% of that old value as the annual franchise fee, something that has become a point of contention between Ali Tareen, the Sultans owner, and the PSL. His public criticism of the PSL led to Sultans not receiving an offer to renew when the other five sides did earlier this month, leading to Tareen threatening to take legal action.The PSL is also expected to add two new teams to next year’s edition. The names have not yet been finalised, and bidding is expected to take place early next year.

Ireland will welcome the experience of Josh Little and Mark Adair and search for a change in fortunes after losing the Test series

Mohammad Isam26-Nov-2025

Bangladesh’s busiest year in T20Is

When Bangladesh enter the field on Thursday, they will play their 28th T20I in 2025, making this their busiest year in the format. They go into this series without their main fast bowler, Taskin Ahmed, with the BCB having given him an NOC to play the Abu Dhabi T10 till November 30.Bangladesh’s fast bowling stocks have reached a level of quality that the team management is comfortable enough to give someone like Taskin a break. The current squad includes Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam and Mohammad Saifuddin in the fast-bowling department. They also have their best spinners in the format – Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain and Nasum Ahmed – all available for selection.Related

• Left in the dark, T20I captain Litton calls out selectors over Shamim's axing

• 'The players need rest' – Litton points to crowded calendar for T20I series defeat

• Saifuddin returns but no Taskin for first two T20Is against Ireland

Ireland look for sub-continent comfort

Ireland have played just six T20Is this year, which leaves them with a bit of a gap in form and experience. Chattogram has Bangladesh’s best batting conditions, which is good news for Ireland, who couldn’t quite get enough runs in the Dhaka and Sylhet Tests.Captain Paul Stirling will have to lead from the front, as he often does in Ireland colours. The likes of Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker and Curtis Campher provide the middle-order punch. Ireland will also hope to see runs from allrounders George Dockrell and Gareth Delany, while newcomers Ben Calitz and Tim Tector will no doubt look to soak in as much experience as possible.

Consistency eludes Bangladesh

Bangladesh captain Litton Das has to step up in the run-making as the batters look for consistency in T20Is. They haven’t had the best of times in 2025, particularly against West Indies last month, when they couldn’t chase modest targets in Chattogram.Saif Hassan is the man in form, as he fights for a position in the top order with Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon. Bangladesh’s top order is exciting but they don’t often click together. The likes of Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali will mind the middle order, while Nurul Hasan has attempted plenty of shots in his return to the T20I side recently. The selectors have picked Mahidul Islam Ankon ahead of Shamim Hossain, in an attempt to rejig the No. 4 or 5 positions.Josh Little is back for Ireland in the T20I setup•ACB

Ireland bowlers know better

Having played a role in the Test series, the likes of Matthew Humphreys, Barry McCarthy and Craig Young would have gained good knowledge and understanding of Bangladesh conditions. Seamers McCarthy and Young didn’t play the Dhaka Test but left-arm spinner Humphreys has looked far better as the tour has progressed.They will also welcome the addition of experienced bowlers like Mark Adair and Josh Little, who have past experience of playing in these conditions. Legspinner Ben White, too, has played in Bangladesh before, so Ireland can feel confident of possessing a handy bowling attack.

Batting first more viable in Chattogram

West Indies found out last month that the Chattogram pitches have better bounce and movement in the second half of night games, despite the onset of dew after 8.00pm. They defended middling totals like 165 and 149, and later chased down 151 in the third game. Teams batting first will look to beat the average total of 155 from the October series. Bangladesh will also feel that they must end the year well, particularly this being their last T20I series ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

How a motley band of expats and part-timers powered the side to their first-ever senior ICC tournament

S Sudarshanan22-Jul-2025Jaspreet Singh inadvertently found himself in the middle of a historic moment. When he bowled the last ball of the men’s T20 World Cup Europe qualifier, Netherlands’ Max O’Dowd pulled it to deep midwicket to give his side a nine-wicket win, but it also sealed Italy’s first-ever qualification for the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, alongside Netherlands.Jaspreet moved to Italy from India in 2006 as a cricket-crazy teenager when his father brought the family over to Telgate, a town about 60km north-east of Milan. A few years later, Jaspreet was playing informal tape-ball games and eventually got into the Bergamo Cricket Club, about 40 minutes from his town. He started playing in matches organised by the Italian Cricket Federation (FCRI) from 2016-17, which paved the way to his international debut in 2019.Crishan Kalugamage was 15 when he moved to Lucca, a town in central Italy, from Sri Lanka. He got into athletics for the first five to six years before playing amateur cricket in the local clubs from 2012. Three years later, he was spotted by a coach from Roma Cricket Club and went on to make his international debut in 2022.Related

• 2026 Men's T20 World Cup likely from February 7 to March 8

• Italy make history by qualifying for 2026 T20 World Cup

• Burns hopes Italy team 'is a beacon for Italians everywhere'

The qualification of Italy – the only European team other than Netherlands to make it to the 20-team World Cup – comes at a time when the country’s football is in shambles – the didn’t qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2018 (for the first time since 1958) and 2022, and are in danger of missing the 2026 edition as well.

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Kevin O’Brien has already been part of some World Cup epics for Ireland as an allrounder. In 2022, he took up a different kind of challenge: he was asked to go over to Italy for a couple of days to review some local players and scout others for their national side. Instead, he ended up becoming Italy’s assistant coach.”It’s absolutely amazing for me as a relatively new coach,” O’Brien tells ESPNcricinfo. “I am still finding my feet in the coaching world, but I am glad to be able to help players achieve something that not many would have thought they would.”O’Brien found Italy to be in a similar situation to what Ireland were in in 2007, when he was part of the team that beat Pakistan and Bangladesh in the World Cup: plenty of enthusiasm, talented players, with belief that they could win matches, but lacking the facilities needed for professional sport.Jaspreet Singh has been part of the national side since 2019•Getty Images”I think I can help the Federation navigate their way through this and identify what they need to improve at home, first and foremost, so that the players coming up in age-group cricket can train in better facilities in Rome or Milan or Bologna and better their skills.”The group of players O’Brien helped identify along with former captain and coach Gareth Berg have largely the same background of either having moved to the country or having familial roots there. Captain Joe Burns’ grandfather was an Italian prisoner-of-war in North Africa, and his family emigrated to Australia after the Second World War. Ben and Harry Manenti’s parents also relocated to Australia after the war for better opportunities. Emilio Gay, Thomas Draca and Grant Stewart’s mothers are Italian while both parents of Anthony and Justin Mosca are from the country. For the likes of Gay, Stewart and the Manenti brothers, among others, playing for Italy doesn’t hamper their chances of playing for England or Australia, should the opportunity arise.Besides O’Brien, Italy also recruited support staff with prior World Cup experience – head coach John Davison, the former Canada captain, played the 2003, 2007 and 2011 World Cups, while assistant coach Dougie Brown played for Scotland at the 2007 World Cup.Two weeks before the Europe qualifier started, the team gathered at the Italian National Olympic Committee (Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano, CONI), the organisation that manages all sport in Italy. With cricket now being part of the Olympics, players are required to be regularly tested for fitness at CONI. After a few sessions there, they trained at the Roma Cricket Club on artificial turf, because Italy has no grass pitches, and then moved to Horsham, in West Sussex, to play three T20 matches against an Abu Dhabi T10 team. A couple of matches against Scotland and Guernsey in the Netherlands also helped lock in roles for every player and iron out any last wrinkles before the Europe qualifier.Peter di Venuto, Italy’s manager for the qualifier, has been part of the set-up since 2023 and a witness to the team’s past fumbles.

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