Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi agree to extend PSL ownership rights for another ten years

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.

Bangladesh look to fine-tune their prep for T20 World Cup

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.

New skies for the Azzuri: Italy's long road to T20 World Cup qualification

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.

****

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ICC (@icc)

“Two years ago [during the Europe Region Qualifier] in Scotland, we lost to Ireland by seven runs. Scotland also beat us by 155 runs in that competition,” di Venuto, brother of Australia’s batting coach, Michael, recalls. “If we’d beaten Ireland at that time, we would have been at last year’s T20 World Cup.”This time though, Italy claimed a 12-run win over Scotland, which was key to sealing their World Cup spot. Gay scored a 21-ball 50 while Harry Maneti was the Player of the Match for his five-wicket haul and a run-a-ball 38.
Before the qualifier, Italy had played a warm-up match against Scotland, which they lost by 40 runs, but it gave them a chance to put into practice things they wanted to do in the tournament proper. “It gave us good insight as to how they [Scotland] would play, how we expected to play, and then, when it came to the game itself, we were absolutely confident that we could win it,” di Venuto says. “The fact that it became a reality is something the players will treasure forever. Sometimes the game has a way of rewarding those who believe and put the work in to achieve [something], and these guys have done that.”Di Venuto noted that not a lot had changed in Italian cricket in the last two decades, but with Italy hosting the Europe Sub-Regional Qualifier A last June, a couple of grounds were upgraded, which helped.”[Qualification for the T20 World Cup] is a game-changer, it’s a legacy that this team will leave for Italy cricket,” di Venuto says. “The fact that Italy is starting to progress [will lead to] facilities [that] will help progress the game. With the additional funding that will come about due to rankings, due to the ten games of the World Cup, with additional sponsorship, there is a real opportunity for Italian cricket to be able to make a difference with regards to facilities. And that’s exactly what the players are motivated for.”

****

Sixty-seven-year-old Simone Gambino is the founder of FCRI and has been part of cricket’s journey in the country since the 1970s. He delves into the history of the game in Italy: “At the end of the 19th century, only expats played cricket in Italy, which was unified only in 1870. The British invested a lot of money in brokers and textiles and sent a load of people to work. These people put up combination ‘soccer-cricket’, which was playing soccer in the winter and cricket in the summer,” Gambino says. “This still carries [on] in the names of two soccer clubs in Italy – AC Milan and Genoa, which are both carrying their names from cricket, although they no longer play it.
“After World War I, Mussolini prohibited any English activity other than soccer, but post World War II, young catholic priests from India and Sri Lanka came into colleges and played cricket. This helped the game flourish in the 1960s, but cricket in Rome went down in the ’70s.”Crishan Kalugamage took 1 for 30 in Italy’s win over Guernsey and the sole wicket in their final game, against Netherlands, at the Europe qualifierAs a teenager in the ’60s, Gambino would travel to England to visit his grandfather, who taught him to play cricket and made him fall in love with the game. So when he saw cricket was declining in Italy, Gambino decided to take matters into his own hands.”I thought the only way we can run cricket is to get the Italians involved and take it away from being an exclusively expatriate game. A period of 15 years followed in which cricket was played by indigenous Italians. The standard was very poor, but there was Italian cricket.”The FCRI was founded in 1980, and in 1995, the ICC granted Italy Associate status, which helped cricket regain some of its popularity in the country. For added impetus, or as Gambino calls it, “the biggest shock”, Italy beat England in the European Championships in 1998. Though there weren’t any frontline England players in the tournament, cricketers with first-class experience were involved. “[Former South Australia batter] Joe Scuderi scored a hundred and this game changed the scenario for us, because suddenly we were in the limelight,” Gambino says.Italy narrowly missed out qualifying for the 2003 men’s World Cup after the ICC deemed four players in the squad – di Venuto and Scuderi among them – ineligible and Gambino withdrew the team from the 2001 ICC Trophy, which was the pathway for qualification for the World Cup. Italy were one of the favourites, but in their absence, Netherlands, Canada and Namibia went through.
Currently, Italy are second in the CWC Challenge League Group B, from which the top two teams go to the Qualifier playoff for the 2027 ODI World Cup.With a lot of players in the Italy squad being dual citizens, their training and upskilling happens elsewhere – Burns and the Manenti brothers play domestic cricket in Australia; Gay and Stewart play county cricket in the UK; Middle-order batter Wayne Madsen is Derbyshire’s first-class captain. Jaspreet largely trains in Birmingham and plays in the Birmingham District Premier League.Former Australia opener Joe Burns moved to Italy in 2024 and is currently captain of the side•KNCB/Gerhard van der LaarseGambino knows that for the sport to get better in Italy, it is imperative that the supply chain at the grassroots is stronger.
“I find it fascinating that you have this rule in India that every player can play the Under-19 World Cup only once,” he says. “You will only grow by pushing forward. This is culturally difficult for us in Italy right now, because [although] so far the ICC has given us funds and helped us in building infrastructure, the only thing you cannot instill immediately is culture. That needs time, at least a generation, if not more.”So this qualification means hoping to end the era of survival and taking one big step forward. There are two great means of expansion of cricket in any country in the world – one is the building of infrastructure and the second is entering schools. These are the steps we need to take using the World Cup as a silver trampoline, as a launching board.”

****

The players, who work five-six days a week, squeezing in time in between for practice and training, have had to make several sacrifices along the way to further their dreams of playing international cricket. Kalugamage had to quit his job as a pizza maker in a restaurant to train and play the Qualifier. Jaspreet had to give up driving an Uber in the UK. Others had to take longer breaks from their gigs as drivers or factory workers.Despite the magnitude of what they have achieved, Kalugamage wasn’t expecting a lot upon his return to Lucca. But he came back from the Hague, where the Qualifier was held, to find that more than a hundred people had turned up at his house, bringing him flowers and sweets. His phone buzzed non-stop with congratulatory messages. “I was very emotional, it was surreal,” he says.Jaspreet is cognisant of the significance of their achievement. “Even when we get old, we’ll know that we were part of the first Italy side that qualified for a cricket World Cup and played. It is a big deal, a proud thing.”

Chelsea have signed an "alien of a talent" who could usurp Estevao & Palmer

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.

Palmer & Estevao’s Debut Campaigns

Player

Palmer

Estevao

Appearances

45

16

Starts

40

7

Minutes

3613′

657′

Goals

25

4

Assists

15

1

All Stats via Transfermarkt

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 opens up on struggles with alcohol & reveals Frank Lampard's harsh punishment after going out drinking before match during Chelsea spell

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."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

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.

Leeds told "dangerous" striker could be open to January move with 49ers keen on deal

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

Man Utd launch €28m bid for Olympiacos youngster amid rival interest from Arsenal and Real Madrid as Greek club demand €40m

Manchester United have reportedly launched a €28 million (£25m) bid for Olympiacos youngster Christos Mouzakitis. The offer, however, has been deemed far below Olympiacos’ expectations, opening the door for rivals Real Madrid, Arsenal and Brighton to potentially force their way ahead.

United make first move for Mouzakitis

Mouzakitis has captured the attention of scouts across the continent after a sensational breakthrough season in Greece, one that culminated in him winning Tuttosport’s Golden Boy Web Award with more than one million fan votes. The accolade placed him ahead of celebrated young names such as Arda Guler and Jobe Bellingham. Emerging from Olympiacos’ academy as one of their brightest talents in a generation, Mouzakitis has combined composure on the ball with athleticism and has shown surprising defensive intelligence, which are notable qualities given that he began his football journey as a goalkeeper. 

His performances last season thrust him into the continental spotlight, as he emerged as a key figure for a team that not only excelled domestically but also broke historic ground. Alongside fellow academy star Babis Kostoulas, Mouzakitis helped deliver Olympiacos the UEFA Youth League title in 2024, the first time a Greek club had ever lifted a European trophy at youth level. That achievement was followed by Olympiacos’ senior team winning the Europa Conference League months later, further fuelling international attention towards the youngster. 

AdvertisementGOALInterest intensifies as United, Arsenal, Brighton and Madrid circle

According to United have been tracking Mouzakitis for more than a year, with club scouts alert to his potential since he began surfacing in Greece’s top flight. Brighton, meanwhile, have also monitored him closely, especially after signing Kostoulas for nearly £30m ($40m) last summer. Real Madrid have likewise been proactive. Xabi Alonso, who was on the touchline overseeing Madrid during their 4-3 Champions League victory in which Mouzakitis featured for the full 90 minutes, praised the teenager’s maturity beyond his years. 

That match was reportedly watched closely by representatives from United and Chelsea, reaffirming the midfielder’s ability to hold his own against elite opposition. Arsenal, too, have entered the equation and are believed to be assessing their options ahead of the summer window. With Mikel Arteta reshaping his midfield dynamics, a versatile, press-resistant talent such as Mouzakitis fits the type of long-term profile the club has targeted in recent years.

Olympiacos reject early bids as valuation battle begins

While interest is overwhelming, Olympiacos are in no hurry to sell. The Greek champions are demanding a sum close to €40m (£35m/$47m) for any January move, placing the bar well beyond both Manchester United’s €28m bid and Real Madrid’s marginally higher offer. Sources close to Olympiacos insist the club will not entertain negotiations unless an offer surpasses €30m (£26m/$35m). The club views him as a cornerstone for the next stage of their sporting project, especially given his contract status, influence and trajectory. Mouzakitis’ value continues to rise, bolstered by his seven caps for the Greek national team and his strong involvement for Olympiacos this season, where he has registered two assists in 10 league appearances and featured five times in the Champions League.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty ImagesUnited’s long-term midfield puzzle complicates the chase

United's midfield is expected to undergo a substantial rebuild by 2026, with significant uncertainty surrounding the futures of several players. Casemiro’s contract expires at the end of the season, while Bruno Fernandes is expected to strongly reassess his position at Old Trafford following the 2025-26 campaign. The club are also open to letting Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte leave in January should appropriate offers arise.

Alongside this, United have been linked with a series of midfield options like Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, among them. Mouzakitis sits high on their list, but club executives believe the most sensible window to complete a deal would be the summer of 2026, giving them time to plan a full integration strategy and avoid inflated mid-season prices.

For now, the Greek club hold all the leverage. Unless a club steps forward with a bid approaching €40m, the teenager is expected to remain in Piraeus for the foreseeable future. But with three of Europe’s heavyweights circling, it will be difficult for Olympiacos to hold on to their prized asset beyond the summer of 2026.

£100m Trossard upgrade: Arsenal set plan to sign “one of the world’s best”

While this season is shaping up to be a spectacular one for Arsenal, Sunday was a disappointment for Mikel Arteta and Co.

The Spaniard’s team looked second best in their Premier League game against then-second-placed Chelsea, and then failed to capitalise when the Blues went down to ten men.

With that said, while it was a poor showing from the Gunners, they were without a number of the best players, like William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães and just as important, Leandro Trossard.

The Belgian has been in scintillating form for Arsenal in recent months, and yet, if reports are to be believed, the club are looking to sign someone who’d be a significant upgrade.

Arsenal target Trossard upgrade

During the summer, it looked like Trossard would be leaving Arsenal, as he didn’t have a great campaign and was linked with clubs like Bayern Munich.

Transfer Focus

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

However, the former Brighton & Hove Albion gem stayed, was handed a pay rise, and since then has played like a man possessed.

For example, it was his thunderous effort against Sunderland that ensured the Gunners left with a point, and then against Tottenham Hotspur, he scored and assisted a goal.

However, even with performances such as these, it looks like the North Londoners are looking to sign an upgrade on the 30-year-old.

At least that is according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, which claims Arsenal are interested in Michael Olise.

In fact, the report goes further, revealing that the club have placed the Frenchman at the top of their wishlist for next year and, with Sporting Director Andrea Berta, are already laying the groundwork for the deal.

However, it won’t be a cheap transfer to get over the line, with the report claiming that it will cost in excess of £100m to convince Bayern Munich to sell their star attacker.

Even so, given Olise’s immense ability and further potential, this is a deal Arsenal should be going all out for, especially as he’d be a significant upgrade on Trossard.

How Olise compares to Trossard

So the first thing to get out of the way is that, yes, Olise is primarily a right-sided player, and Trossard plays mostly on the left.

However, Arteta has made it quite clear with the signing of Noni Madueke that he is more than happy to play wingers on the opposite flank, and given the Frenchman’s immense ability, it feels like he should have no problem playing out there.

Moreover, when the former Chelsea ace has played in the team, he and Bukayo Saka have swapped sides back and forth during games, which suggests the manager has almost moved beyond the idea of a wide player starting and sticking to a position as matches progress.

With all that said, why would the former Crystal Palace star, who shone with Eberechi Eze in South London, be an upgrade on the Belgian?

Well, the first and most important reason is the simple fact that he is a far more potent goal threat, be that through scoring or assisting them.

A “magician” – according to Bayern teammate Dayot Upamecano – in 20 appearances this season, totalling 1583 minutes, he’s scored nine goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.05 games, or every 83.31 minutes.

In contrast, the former Brighton star has scored five goals and provided five assists in 16 appearances, totalling 948 minutes, which averages out to a goal involvement every 1.6 games, or every 94.8 minutes.

The second reason is that, at just 23 years old, the 13-capped international has far more upside than the 30-year-old and should even improve in the coming seasons.

Finally, on top of his better output, the former Reading man also comes out on top when you take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Olise vs Trossard

Statistics

Olise

Trossard

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

1.00

0.38

Progressive Carries

5.70

2.63

Progressive Passes

6.40

3.63

Shots on Target

1.99

0.62

Passing Accuracy

81.4%

69.3%

Key Passes

2.60

1.38

Shot-Creating Actions

6.68

3.25

Goal-Creating Actions

1.10

0.37

Successful Take-Ons

2.40

0.88

All Stats via FBref for the 25/26 League Season

For example, he comes out ahead in the most critical metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, successful take-ons, goal and shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Trossard is a brilliant player, but Olise is clearly superior in practically every way and more than justifies Oliver Glasner’s claim that he’s “one of the best talents in the world.”

Therefore, even if it costs a king’s ransom, Arsenal should do all they can to sign him in 2026.

Their next Eze: Berta agrees deal to sign "exciting" new star for Arsenal

The hugely promising teenage talent could one day become Arsenal’s heir to Eberechi Eze.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 2, 2025

Leeds open to selling £40k-p/w star who Firpo called "unbelievable" this January

Leeds United “would sell” Wilfried Gnonto in the January transfer window, with it being revealed they would reinvest the money raised into a different key area of the squad.

The Whites may need to reshuffle their squad somewhat this winter, given that results have gone downhill considerably over the past few weeks, suffering defeats in four of their last five matches in the Premier League.

Losing games is one thing, but it will be particularly concerning for Daniel Farke that his side were beaten by fellow strugglers Burnley and Nottingham Forest, with Sean Dyche’s side running out 3-1 winners at the City Ground last time out.

There are some difficult fixtures on the horizon before Christmas, with the 2024-25 Championship winners set to take on Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, which means they are at real risk of being cut adrift by the time the transfer window opens.

Leeds willing to sell Wilfried Gnonto to fund move for new striker

Consequently, Leeds may have to take drastic measures in an attempt to preserve their Premier League status, with top source Dean Jones revealing they are prepared to cash in on Gnonto, saying: “This is going to be a transfer window of opportunism and there are clubs who have been tracking Gnonto, wondering if he is finally going to leave. I expect someone to try their luck, and I have a feeling the player will have his head turned if a big enough side comes in for him.

“Leeds would sell him at the right price, I’m pretty sure of that.

“I get the feeling he’s a player they would now sell and then reinvest because they really are looking for some new life in their attack.

“Primarily that would be in the shape of a striker, but I wouldn’t rule out any player with attacking nous at this point because the club’s hierarchy know they have left the team short of options up top.”

The £40k-a-week winger has struggled on the injury front this season, being ruled out due to a calf issue, but he was unable to make a real impact even prior to being ruled out, failing to register a goal or an assist in his opening four Premier League games.

At 22-years-old, the Italian is still young, and he has previously received high praise from Junior Firpo, who said: “Nobody expected it, when he first came in. He is a shy guy, didn’t talk too much; on the pitch, too. But unbelievable from day one.”

However, Leeds clearly need to bring in a new striker, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin failing to hit the ground running, having scored just once in nine Premier League games, so it may be worth cashing-in on Gnonto to fund a move for a centre-forward.

Leeds and 49ers keen to sign Troy Parrott in January Leeds and 49ers keen to sign Troy Parrott in January after Ireland heroics

This would be much-needed for Daniel Farke.

ByHenry Jackson Nov 17, 2025

Frazzled Australia left searching for answers

Their captain looked underdone with the ball, and their fielding was patchy, as Australia had another bad day in Perth

Alex Malcolm23-Nov-20241:39

McDonald: ‘Second new ball could be our entry point back’

Mitchell Starc has never had a great poker face. Frustration was writ large all over it after Usman Khawaja was unable to grasp a rare low edge offered by Yashasvi Jaiswal at first slip.India were 104 without loss, leading by 150, on the same surface they had been bowled out on for 150 just 24 hours earlier. The same pitch which Australia had been bowled out for 104 on earlier in the day.It was the same exasperated look Starc had cut before tea when he was bowling around the wicket to Jaiswal with four men in the deep with a 22-over old ball.It was the same exasperation he had shown the night before in the post-day press conference, when he bristled at the idea that the pitch was too spicy to bat on.”The bowlers are allowed to bowl good balls,” Starc said. “There’s a lot spoken about when there’s a lot of runs, it’s like, the bowlers bowled badly. When there’s wickets, the [pitches] are tough. You’re allowed to bowl good balls. Maybe credit should go to both teams’ bowlers.”Despite 20 wickets falling in four sessions, the pitch was now deemed so flat that Starc was replaced by a batter to bowl bouncers with a 24-over old ball that still had a decent shine and Kookaburra’s gold lettering on it. The seam movement had diminished quite a bit in the middle session of day two, as the warm Perth sun and several extra rolls had helped settle the surface. But it hadn’t diminished so much as to warrant Pat Cummins abandoning all plans of standing the seam up on a good length and using Marnus Labuschagne to bowl bouncers after 24 overs.Australia had a bad day. They’ve had two bad days in a row. By the close, India’s lead had swelled to 218 and the opening partnership remained unbroken on 172. It was such a bad day that coach Andrew McDonald did the post-play press conference in a sure sign that things had gone rapidly awry after six months of careful planning.Starc was entitled to be frustrated by it all given he has been one of their standout performers over two poor days with both bat and ball. He had survived nearly the same number of deliveries as Australia’s entire top six combined while batting on this pitch.But it is rare to see this Australian unit so frazzled. Calm and consistent is their mantra. They have been anything but. They will never say it publicly, but there is no doubt Starc and his fellow bowlers were frustrated at the batting unit. These types of tensions happen all the time in cricket teams all over the world. It was clearly there today, exacerbated by the wonderfully controlled partnership between Jaiswal and KL Rahul who deserve an enormous amount of credit for grinding some excellent bowling down over a long period with outstanding decision-making and execution.But truthfully, Starc and Josh Hazlewood aside, Australia’s side have not looked particularly sharp overall.Related

Australia need a better mental approach to their batting

Australia to monitor Marsh as incumbents backed after drubbing

Undercooked Australia lose the plot in Perth

Rahul and Jaiswal show defence is (sometimes) the best form of defiance

Stats – Australia's second-lowest total at home vs India

Cummins has epitomised that lack of sharpness. He came in deliberately undercooked. He was the only one of the three fast bowlers not to play a Sheffield Shield game before the Test series. He said before the Test that he prefers to be underdone ahead of a big series.It has shown across two days. He has been the most expensive of the quicks and the least threatening.The opposing captain, Jasprit Bumrah, had hardly overpitched in 18.2 overs of flawless bowling to tear through Australia’s batting line-up. Cummins’ lengths were nowhere near as precise by comparison. He is one of the few bowlers in the game to have been driven down the ground on multiple occasions.He dropped Rishabh Pant on 26 on the first day and failed to take a review that would have dismissed Nitish Kumar Reddy on 11, having burnt two reviews earlier on frivolous appeals.He bowled a bouncer late on the second afternoon that went for five wides. It is rare to see Cummins perform so far below his high benchmark.The pressure mounted on Pat Cummins and Australia on day two in Perth•Getty ImagesAustralia’s fielding has not been flawless either. Khawaja has dropped two chances across two days. One cost very little, the cost of the other is still counting.Just after his miss, Steven Smith had a run-out chance following a mix-up between Jaiswal and Rahul. But Smith’s throw to the non-striker’s was wide and wild, giving Nathan Lyon no chance of gathering cleanly.McDonald presented a picture of calmness, despite how his team had performed.”Morale is always good,” McDonald said. “It’s a pretty level team, whether it’s a good day or a bad day. We’ve got some problems to solve ahead of us. There’s no doubt we’re clearly well behind the game at this stage.”McDonald showed sterner defence than his batter’s had the day before, dead-batting questions around his team’s body language and the fact that his bowling coach, Daniel Vettori, was on the other side of the world preparing for the IPL auction with another employer after the bowlers had gone wicketless through 57 overs.”In terms of the way that we bowled, I don’t think was too dissimilar [to yesterday],” McDonald said. “Potentially, early on, we may have been a fraction short if I was to be critical, but I thought they went about their work well.”Beneath that calm exterior, it is clear though that the change in pitch conditions have flummoxed a team that is meticulous in its planning, with the ball-tracking data they base a lot of their plans around suggesting the swing and seam movement had all but disappeared by the end of day two.”The surface looked considerably drier today, it dried out fairly quickly,” McDonald said. “We thought there may have been a little bit more there. I suppose, if you want to say that we’re a little bit surprised, yeah, there wasn’t as much seam movement or swing, and I think the bowlers were presenting the same in a similar fashion to the way they were yesterday.”Australia have three days to avoid exasperation turning to despair and there is a lot of cricket left in this series to fight their way back.But cracks are appearing in Perth. Just not the kind they were hoping for.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus