Chris Wilder is all set for his third stint in charge of Sheffield United as the English manager is likely to take charge at Bramall Lane just three months after his most recent sacking. The Blades parted ways with Ruben Selles after they lost five back-to-back Championship matches at the start of the 2025-26 campaign and are currently rock bottom.
Sheffield sacked Selles after nightmare start
Sheffield have had a nightmare start to their 2025-26 Championship campaign as they have lost all of their first five matches, with the most recent defeat coming against Ipswich Town on Saturday as they went down 5-0. Following the humiliating loss, the Blades announced the departure of head coach Ruben Selles, just months after his appointment.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWilder set to return for a third stint
According to , Wilder is poised to return to Bramall Lane for a third stint just three months after his latest sacking from the club. Sheffield parted ways with Wilder at the end of the 2024-25 season as the 57-year-old manager failed to guide the club back to the Premier League.
Sheffield to empower
During Wilder's departure in the summer, reports emerged that the manager had clashed with club owners over a shift in transfer strategy as they reportedly wanted to conduct an AI-led recruitment system. The idea so far has crashed, and thus, Wilder will be more empowered in his third term.
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Getty Images SportWhen is Sheffield playing next?
The Blades will be back in action on Saturday as they look to register their maiden win of the season against Charlton Athletic. Before the game, the club would aim to finalise their head coach.
Tottenham Hotspur have now made an approach to sign a “world-class” midfielder, who could be in line to join alongside Morgan Gibbs-White, according to a report.
Spurs' Gibbs-White pursuit takes twist
It appeared as though Tottenham were very close to getting a deal for Gibbs-White over the line, having triggered the £60m release clause in his contract, but the saga has recently taken a twist.
Nottingham Forest have now reported Spurs to the Premier League, with the Tricky Trees threatening legal action, as they believe an illegal approach was made for the midfielder, which means the deal has stalled.
However, Fabrizio Romano has since provided a positive update on the situation, with the transfer expert saying: “Tottenham maintain their position. They are convinced about their behaviour. They want to proceed with the deal, they want to sign the player. Nottingham Forest are prepared to fight. So, let’s see what’s going to happen there.
“But, for sure, the Gibbs-White deal now has an issue to be solved between the two clubs. That’s going to be one to watch in the coming days and hours, with Tottenham still hopeful and confident to get the player.”
Not only are the Lilywhites vying to sign a new attacking midfielder, but they are also keen on a more defensive option, and a report from GiveMeSport has revealed Spurs have also made an approach to sign Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha.
Bayern Munich's Joao Palhinha in action against Bayer Leverksen.
Tottenham have made initial contact over a deal for Palhinha, who joined the German club from Fulham in a deal worth around £47m last summer, and Daniel Levy is prepared to launch a bid if it becomes apparent the Portuguese midfielder is available.
It may take a sizeable bid to tempt Bayern into a sale, however, and the 30-year-old’s wage demands are likely to be high, considering he rakes in £200k-a-week at the Allianz Arena when bonuses are triggered.
"World-class" Palhinha could be ideal Spurs signing
Tottenham struggled defensively for large parts of the 2024-25 campaign, shipping 65 goals in the Premier League, and the Portugal international could provide some stability in midfield, given that he is exceptional at winning back possession.
Chief flies to London for transfer talks with £100k-per-week Tottenham star
He could leave Spurs this summer.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 13, 2025
During the 2023-24 Premier League season, no player won more tackles than the former Fulham man, and he has continued to catch the eye at times for Bayern over the past year.
Statistic
Average per 90
Tackles
3.19 (93rd percentile)
Aerials won
2.34 (96th percentile)
Blocks
1.49 (79th percentile)
Pass completion %
92.4% (97th percentile)
Having already proven himself in the Premier League, during which time he was lauded as “world-class” by journalist Dom Smith, Palhinha could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham this summer, but it may be a slight concern that he is now in his thirties.
Second-wicket stand of 253 sets platform but late wickets lift England amid searing heat
Alan Gardner07-Oct-2024
Abdullah Shafique brought up his century in a big stand with Shan Masood•Getty Images
Shan Masood’s first hundred as Pakistan Test captain set the tone for a vastly improved display from the hosts at the start of their series with England. Abdullah Shafique slipstreamed Masood to end a run of poor form with his fifth Test century as England’s inexperienced attack was made to toil on a day of high temperatures and hard yakka in Multan.Things could have been worse for the touring side, who were staring down the barrel after Masood and Shafique assembled a near-chanceless double-century stand to see Pakistan to 261 for 1 during the evening session. But after Gus Atkinson conjured a breakthrough and Jack Leach saw off Masood for a sparkling 151, the late wicket of Babar Azam meant England could reflect on their efforts with some satisfaction.There was no doubt about this being Pakistan’s day, however. Without a win in home Tests since 2021 and on a run of five consecutive defeats – including a 2-0 humbling against Bangladesh – since Masood took on the captaincy late last year, they were buoyed by a mammoth top-order partnership. In placid conditions, it quickly became clear that an England attack led by a 35-year-old Chris Woakes, and featuring the debutant Brydon Carse among three bowlers who had never played a game in Pakistan before, was facing a steep learning curve.The bulk of the contest was taken up by Pakistan’s second-wicket stand, eventually worth 253. England had arrived in the country amid talk of spicy pitches and a fragile home batting line-up, but Masood’s assertive innings – the second-fastest Test hundred by a Pakistan captain – and a more dogged effort from Shafique shut the door after England had bagged Saim Ayub cheaply in the fourth over.That was to be their only success for two-and-a-bit sessions as Ollie Pope, again standing in for the injured Ben Stokes, shuffled through six bowlers as the temperature hovered in the high 30s C. On 16, Masood successfully overturned an lbw decision granted to Carse, who touched 90mph in his first spell in Test cricket before flagging in the heat; a cut off the same bowler landed fractionally short of Pope at point when he had made 133. In between, there was not much other than crisp strokeplay.Masood’s first boundary came via an edge off Carse but he quickly kicked up the gears when Shoaib Bashir came on to bowl, as Pakistan seemingly looked to put pressure on England’s designated No. 1 spinner. After being hit on the pad by one that didn’t turn, Masood responded by thumping four of Bashir’s next eight balls to the rope, the pick a skip down the track and launch through cover as he sped towards a 43-ball half-century during the morning session.After lunch, Pope tested him with the short-ball ploy, Masood perhaps a little fortunate when top-edging Atkinson all the way over fine leg for six. But a more authentic loft down the ground off Leach took Masood into the 90s, before he drilled the returning Woakes through cover point and then tickled his 102nd ball for a single to bring up a first Test century in four years and 27 innings, going back to Pakistan’s 2020 tour of England.Shafique, searching for form after six single-figure scores in seven Test innings, overcame a watchful start when he was troubled on both edges by Woakes. The closest England came to breaking the stand came during the morning session when Pope missed the stumps at the non-striker’s end after Shafique chanced a non-existent run to mid-on.England take a drink on a hot day in Multan•Getty Images
Following Masood’s lead, Shafique pounced on Bashir with lunch approaching, doubling his number of boundaries with a volley of 4-4-6 – the last of which brought up his fifty, from 77 balls. He was the less fluent of the pair but, nevertheless, they were both largely untroubled as the stand pushed on past 200 deep into the afternoon, Pope taking his DRS record as captain to 11-0 when unsuccessfully reviewing for a catch at slip off Masood.After some tough moments leading the side in Stokes’ absence during England’s 2-1 win over Sri Lanka last month, Pope again found his captaincy skills stretched to their limit. He could take some credit for conjuring a mini-oasis in the middle of a Multan desert, as two wickets fell in the space of 17 balls after tea – though the heat also played its part, with both batters suffering visibly from cramp.Shafique, on 94 at the interval, had gone to his hundred soon after with another straight six but could only add a couple of runs to his score. Carse again missed out on a maiden Test wicket when a gloved pull just cleared leg slip, before England switched tactics, employing a ring field with Atkinson bowling dry in the channel: it only took four balls for Shafique to pop up a tired drive to cover.With Leach bringing a semblance of control from the other end, he was rewarded during a spell of three consecutive maidens with the wicket of Masood, who misjudged the flight to skew a return catch to the bowler – giving Leach his first Test wicket since the tour of India in January.Saud Shakeel swept and reverse-swept three boundaries in one Leach over as he and Babar put on a measured stand of 61. But England were given another lift with the shadows beginning to lengthen as Woakes – playing his first overseas Test since March 2022 – beat Babar’s inside edge with the second new ball to win an lbw decision that was upheld on review. It extended Babar’s run without a Test fifty that goes back to December 2022 and could prove a vital fillip for Woakes as he seeks to repay England’s faith in him despite an average north of 50 away from home.England’s initial success in removing Ayub might have raised expectations but Masood’s decision to bat (Pope said he would have done the same) was soon backed up, despite an initial tinge of green to the surface. There was little movement on offer for England’s opening pair of Woakes and Atkinson, and it was something of a surprise when Ayub gloved an innocuous-looking short ball to the keeper.The dismissal extended Shafique and Ayub’s miserable run as an opening pair, failing to reach double-figures for the seventh time in a row. Atkinson, having enjoyed a stunning debut during England’s home summer, had a wicket with his 10th ball on tour. Both he and his team-mates had to wait 56 overs before they had a second.
Eagles needed a point to overtake Gloucestershire into fourth but were undone by Turner’s 4 for 23
ECB Reporters Network19-Jul-2024Hampshire Hawks fast bowler John Turner’s best T20 figures knocked Essex out of the Vitality Blast.The Eagles, who were losing finalists in 2023, only needed a point at Utilita Bowl to overtake Gloucestershire into fourth but were undone by Turner’s 4 for 23.Ben McDermott’s exquisite 64, together with 41s for James Vince and Tom Prest got Hawks to a defendable 181.Essex looked out of it at 58 for 5 but teenagers Luc Benkenstein and Charlie Allison crashed maiden T20 half-centuries in an 86-run stand.Turner’s return at the death ended their hopes of a quarter-final place as Hawks secured a fourth win of an otherwise poor competition by seven runs.Vince and McDermott got Hawks off to a flyer after being stuck in, as the opening partnership finally clicked in 2024 to put on a highest first-wicket stand of 97.Before this innings, Australian McDermott had only scored 173 runs across this season’s Blast but came alive with a mix of the brutal and inventive for a 39-ball fifty – his 10th across three seasons at Hampshire.Vince fell nine short of following McDermott to the milestone when Benkenstein bowled him, but Prest entered to thump Paul Walter for 18 off an over.The Hawks were on for 200, but Shane Snater put a spanner in the works with a double-wicket over in the 16th – which saw the back of McDermott for 64 and Benny Howell.Two overs later, Walter ended Prest’s sensational 21-ball knock before Liam Dawson identically pulled to deep fine leg.Joe Weatherley and Toby Albert bashed 25 off the final two overs to drag the hosts to a total Essex would have felt comfortable chasing.However, things never got going, especially when Adam Rossington tickled the first ball of the innings behind before Chris Wood also found Dean Elgar edging to snare two wickets in the first over of the reply.Wood passed the flame to Turner – who also began with two wickets in an over.Michael Pepper skied a caught and bowled, Walter pulled to short third before Matt Critchley gave Turner figures of 3 for 6 after two overs.A rescue act was needed for Essex, and two 19-year-olds stepped up.Benkenstein had already almost single-handedly beaten Glamorgan during a collapse earlier in the season but it was Allison who took control.His whipped six and hammering over long on were the stands out from a 37-ball fifty – his first in T20s having only previously had 50 runs to his name.Benkenstein also reached his maiden format half-century – four balls quicker than his contemporary – as the partnership extended to 86.But with 38 required off 18, Benkenstein scooped straight up to end his fun before Turner clean-bowled Harmer for his fourth.Turner’s penultimate over only went for six, which left 15 needed off the last, which Wood defended brilliantly – despite Allison ending up on a valiant 69.
Tottenham Hotspur’s frontline has been impressive throughout the 2024/25 campaign, managing to catch the eye despite the club finishing in a lowly 17th position in the Premier League.
The Lilywhites netted 64 goals in their 38 outings, with only six other sides in the division scoring more, four of which managed to secure Champions League qualification.
Brennan Johnson finished the season as their top scorer in the league with his tally of 11 goals, adding to his excellent collection, which saw him net the winner in the Europa League final.
Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson
He was the only player to register double figures in the league, but numerous players across the squad managed to register key goals, which contributed to their excellent tally.
However, new boss Thomas Frank has immediately wanted to target reinforcements in such an area, evidently wanting strength and depth in his quest for success.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer
After his successful stint at Brentford, the Dane has already targeted a move for striker Yoane Wissa, with the Congolese star a man in demand this window.
He’s not the only Bees star on their radar, with Bryan Mbeumo another player who’s been strongly linked with the Lilywhites, but it appears they’ve missed out on his signature, with a move to Manchester United now edging closer.
Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo celebrates after the match
Another name has been mentioned in recent days as a result, with Canadian international Jonathan David firmly on their radar, according to Get Football News Italy.
They report that Frank’s side have made contact with his representatives over a move to North London with his contract at Lille set to expire at the end of the month.
It also states that the 25-year-old has now halted talks with Italian sides Napoli and Juventus to explore a deal to the Premier League, after scoring 25 times in 49 appearances this season.
Why Spurs’ latest target could be Frank’s own Kane
Harry Kane is a player who has cemented himself in Spurs’ history forever, catapulting himself into the hearts of the fanbase given his spell in the first team over a 10-year period.
The 31-year-old rose through the youth ranks before registering 280 goals for the club, a tally which has made him the highest goalscorer in the club’s history.
However, his goals weren’t enough to catapult the Lilywhites to any form of tangible success, subsequently seeing the forward leave for Bayern Munich in an £82m deal back in 2023.
Since his departure, the club have spent big on Dominic Solanke, dropping a club-record £65m fee to secure his signature, but he’s struggled to maintain elite levels of performance over the course of his first campaign – scoring just nine goals in the process.
The club have greatly lacked that clinical presence in forward areas, something which David could provide in North London should the club land him in the coming weeks.
Lille'sJonathanDavidcelebrates scoring their fourth goal
When comparing his stats to those of fan-favourite Kane, he’s managed to outperform him in numerous key areas this campaign – with FBref labelling him as a similar player to the England international.
David, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers in the world” by Tony Marinaro, has achieved a better shot on target rate than Kane this season, highlighting his clinical nature within the final third.
How David compares to Kane throughout the 2024/25 campaign
Statistics (per 90)
David
Kane
Games played
32
31
Goals & assists
21
35
Shot on target accuracy
43%
42%
Pass accuracy
82%
78%
Key passes made
1.3
1.2
Take-on success
48%
43%
Progressive carries
1.4
1
Fouls won
1.3
0.7
Stats via FBref
He’s also completed more of the passes he’s attempted and registered a higher tally of key passes per 90, offering Frank’s side an all-round option that can provide alongside scoring.
The Canadian has further demonstrated his all-round talents, registering a higher take-on completion rate, whilst posting more progressive carries per 90 – having the skillset to create his own opportunities, rather than be dependent on his teammates.
Given that the forward is available on a free transfer this summer, it would be a no-brainer for Spurs to strongly pursue a move to avoid missing out on his signature in the coming weeks.
If he can get anywhere near close to the levels produced by the departed forward in North London, it would be a superb signing, with his talents undoubtedly handing the manager the attacking quality he desires.
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Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making huge strides in a deal for one attacking star.
June is nearly upon us, yet Glasgow Rangers still don’t have a permanent manager. Philippe Clement was sacked 96 days ago, and ahead of the most important in the club’s recent history, the onus is on the board to bring the right man to Ibrox.
Whenever there is a managerial vacancy, plenty of names have been linked with a move to Glasgow.
At the start of the month, Marco Rose and Danny Rohl were named potential Rangers managers, yet the links died down after a few days.
Steven Gerrard’s name has been mentioned over the past few months regarding a potential return to Scotland.
Between 2018 and 2021, the former Liverpool captain took over a shambles of a club and returned them to the summit of Scottish football within three years.
Recent news suggests that he wont be the next manager of the club, however, leaving Russell Martin and Davide Ancelotti as the leading candidates.
Steven Gerrard
Whatever happens, getting someone in swiftly should be the main priority for the board. With pre-season set to start in a few weeks, plus the prospect of Champions League qualifiers in mid-July, the longer the wait goes on, the worse it could turn out for the Light Blues.
Latest on Davide Ancelotti's move to Rangers
With Gerrard now out of the frame, it appears as though Ancelotti is the frontrunner for the vacant role.
The Italian has held talks with the board and is currently a free agent, having not joined his dad, Carlo, on his adventure with the Brazil national side.
“Davide is thinking [about] what to do for the future,” said the elder Ancelotti. He’s in talks with other clubs as he tries to be first coach, and he knows if he doesn’t find the opportunity, he will be here with me.”
Having assisted his dad at clubs such as Real Madrid, Napoli, Bayern Munich and Everton, Davide has a plethora of experience in a coaching capacity.
Tavernier would love him: Rangers in talks to hire "sought-after" manager
95 days after Philippe Clement’s sacked as Rangers manager, they could finally be closing in on a successor, one who could be a dream for Tavernier.
ByBen Gray May 29, 2025
The younger Ancelotti was the brains behind Madrid’s tactical approach, which saw them win two La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies between 2021 and 2024.
A fluid approach to the game, which means his team can play across multiple formations at will, is certainly a positive.
Davide Ancelotti
The caveat being that he hasn’t managed a side on his own. While the pressures of Ibrox may be slightly different to those at the Bernabeu, the desire to win every game remains the same.
Should he win the race and get the job, it would be an almighty gamble for the board, no doubt about that. Is there a better option currently available, however?
Rangers search for a new manager
Now, a new name has entered the fray. According to the Herald journalist, Stephen McGowan, Rangers have now reportedly held talks with former Ajax boss Francesco Farioli.
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The Italian left the Dutch side following their Eredivisie collapse, which saw them lose the league title to PSV Eindhoven, despite being nine points clear with five matches left.
He dragged Ajax from fifth the previous season to the brink of the title, while securing a return to Champions League football for 2025/26.
Farioli reportedly blamed a difference in ‘visions and timeframes’ from the Ajax board as to why he quit the role after just a single season in the Netherlands.
When Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked in November 2022, the former Nice manager was sounded out to be his replacement. In the end, it was Michael Beale who eventually took over the role. Might things be different three years later?
Why Rangers must hire Francesco Farioli
Of course, fingers will be pointed following Ajax’s major collapse over the final five matches of the season. Considering that the Dutch giants endured their worst season in living memory just a year ago, however, getting that far was certainly a step forward.
Journalist Lars Jesse praised the 36-year-old after he left the club, saying: “Francesco Farioli has achieved something unique at Ajax. After years of incompetence, uncertainty, and misery, he brought back calm and structure.”
Francesco Fariloi’s managerial statistics
Club
Date appointed
Games in charge
Points per game
Ajax
July 1, 2024
54
2.09
Nice
July 1, 2023
38
1.68
Alanyaspor
December 31, 2021
48
1.54
Karagümrük
March 22, 2021
27
1.52
Via Transfermarkt
During the 2023/24 season, Ajax lost eight league games, scored 74 goals and conceded a staggering 61 times.
A year later, they may have scored four fewer goals throughout the campaign, but the club lost just four times and conceded 32 goals, a major improvement.
Farioli tends to utilise an attacking 4-3-3 system, which could be a wonderful fit for some of the current Ibrox squad. He will also be keen on signing his own targets for the club during the transfer window.
Across his 54 matches in charge of the Dutch side, Farioli’s side scored 115 goals – 2.1 per game – while he accumulated 2.09 points per game.
This focus on dynamic attacking football would certainly win over the Ibrox faithful, who have had to endure Clement’s distinct lack of style. Despite his tender years, the Italian manager has managed an impressive 167 senior games throughout his managerial career to date.
Coming so close to success with Ajax will hurt, but it might give him the confidence that he can lead a fallen giant back to its previous glories.
In that regard, taking on the role of Rangers manager would suit him nicely. A total cultural reset is required at Ibrox this summer, and only by bringing in someone who is able to provide a fresh start will that happen.
Much will depend on whether Farioli wishes to jump straight back into a hot seat so soon after his Ajax departure. If so, then the board must be doing everything it can to convince him that Rangers are the right choice.
Like any managerial appointment, bringing Farioli will be a big gamble – although considering his recent experienced in a top job at an elite club, he would certainly be less of a gamble than Ancelotti.
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Arsenal have been handed significant news about their pursuit of Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, with Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta and the recruitment team now alerted to a potential deal-breaker in talks.
Arsenal in reported talks over signing Viktor Gyokeres this summer
In the last few days, reports from both Portugal and England have claimed that Mikel Arteta’s side are moving forward in their attempts to seal a move for the 26-year-old.
Arsenal risk Huijsen repeat after Zubimendi update involving Real Madrid
The Gunners have already been hijacked by La Liga’s heavyweights.
ByEmilio Galantini May 16, 2025
A Bola report Arsenal have offered Gyokeres a £7 million-per-year contract already, with Sporting setting an asking price of around £63 million amid Berta’s pretty serious interest in striking a deal for the Primeira Liga superstar.
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
CaughtOffside, meanwhile, state Arsenal are in advanced club-to-club talks for Gyokeres as they look to steal a march on Premier League rivals Man United and Liverpool in pursuit of his signature.
Going by these claims, it would appear that the Gunners’ links to Gyokeres stretch far beyond just interest, with Berta looking to sign a top striker for Arsenal as one of his key summer priorities.
“I’m not inside to know their thoughts, but definitely, I would say a striker, a top, top striker, that can bang in 40 to 50 goals like all the top teams.” said ex-Arsenal star and Como boss Cesc Fàbregas to Amazon Prime recently.
“He [Gyokeres] could be an option, 100 per cent. He is an extraordinary striker.
“He is a focused player, who pays attention to details, he is competitive, never lets his guard down, and doesn’t want to rest. He is as an athlete, a player and team-mate who instils confidence in his team-mates with what he gives to the team.”
Called a “phenomenon” by Rui Borges, the former Coventry City striker has been free-scoring since making the move to Portugal, and currently boasts 52 goals from 50 appearances in all competitions this season.
Arsenal receive "major" Gyokeres update amid Sporting deal-breaker
However, Gyokeres’ electric form also puts Sporting in a solid negotiating position, even if there is a release clause in his deal.
Football Transfers state that Arsenal are determined to finalise a deal for Gyokeres, and will have representatives in attendance to watch him play in the Taca de Portugal final against Benfica on May 25.
In what they describe as a “major update”, though, Berta and co are informed of a key requirement on Sporting’s end which could prove an obstacle in Arsenal’s talks to sign Gyokeres.
Sporting are adamant the vast majority of his final agreed transfer fee must be paid within two years, and this may prove problematic for the north Londoners. Arsenal are required to agree to Sporting’s terms or risk another club swooping in to hijack their move, as per FT, so the transfer is proving more complicated than initially reported.
Arsenal have alternatives to pursue if a move does collapse, but Berta is believed to be especially keen on Gyokeres.
Celtic returned to action in the Scottish Premiership last weekend with an emphatic 3-0 win over Hearts to retain their 13-point lead at the top of the table.
The Hoops secured all three points against the Jam Tarts thanks to a brace from Daizen Maeda, either side of a close-range finish from Jota, as they bounced back from their 3-2 defeat to Rangers before the international break.
Brendan Rodgers is closing in on his second Premiership title in as many seasons since his return to Parkhead in the summer of 2023, having already won the League Cup earlier this term.
The Northern Irish head coach has a domestic treble in his sights between now and the end of the campaign, with a healthy lead at the top of the league and a semi-final against St. Johnstone in the SFA Cup booked in.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
Rodgers may, however, have one eye on the upcoming summer transfer window and how he can make moves to improve his squad to perform even better next term, with the Champions League in mind.
The former Leicester City and Liverpool head coach already knows that he has a situation to deal with at left-back, after revealing that Greg Taylor is likely to move on from Parkhead.
The latest on Greg Taylor's Celtic future
Speaking after the win over Hearts, Rodgers claimed that it is more likely that the Scotland international will leave when his contract expires this summer, rather than signing a new deal to remain in Glasgow.
He told BBC Sport: “I’ve been in this position so many times and I can read situations. It’s probably more likely now that Greg will move on than stay, which is a big shame for me because I love him as a person – and I love his game because it’s suited to how we work.”
The Celtic head coach added: “It’s not financial, but I respect his position because he wants to feel he’ll play every week. Whoever is in next year with Kieran will still play a lot of games, but my feeling is that Greg may well move on.”
The former Kilmarnock man has been an unused substitute in five of the last six matches in all competitions, and was withdrawn at half-time against Hibernian in the only start during that run.
24/25
22
19
23/24
35
35
22/23
31
28
21/22
24
22
20/21
26
23
19/20
13
12
As you can see in the table above, Taylor has been a regular starter, when available, throughout the majority of his time in the Premiership at Parkhead, since his move to Glasgow in the summer of 2019.
But his lack of minutes in recent weeks, as aforementioned, may be a driving factor in his likeliness to leave on a free transfer this summer, at the same time that Kieran Tierney is due to return to Celtic.
Why Kieran Tierney is a gamble for Celtic
It has already been confirmed that the Scotland international will be a part of the squad next season after his contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the current campaign.
As you can see in the table above, the former Celtic star enjoyed a terrific first spell at Parkhead after coming up through the academy system, as he won five titles and made 170 first-team appearances.
His terrific form for the Scottish giants over the years earned him a £25m move to Arsenal in the summer of 2019, which remains one of the biggest sales in the club’s history.
Despite all of this, signing Tierney this summer is set to be a gamble by the Hoops because of his worrying injury record that could cause Rodgers problems moving forward.
The 2022/23 campaign is the only season that the left-back has not missed 17 or more matches through injury since the summer of 2018, whilst he has been absent for 39 games through injury since the start of last term.
Celtic are, therefore, gambling on his fitness as he will not be too much use on the pitch if consistent injury problems keep him away from it, which is why it is important for the club to have another capable left-back in line to play.
So, rather than viewing Tierney as the replacement for Taylor, is it Ghana international Jeffrey Schlupp who should be signed permanently as a replacement for the Scottish full-back.
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Why Celtic should sign Jeffrey Schlupp permanently
The experienced defender joined the Hoops on loan from Crystal Palace in the January transfer window and has hit the ground running at Parkhead in the second half of this season.
Schlupp, who Rodgers claimed has “incredible pace and power”, is out of contract at Selhurst Park at the end of June, which suggests that Celtic have the chance to snap him up on a free transfer this summer.
That could make him the dream replacement for Taylor, who is also due to depart for nothing, as the Hoops would not have to spend a penny on transfer fees, whilst they would also be bringing in a player who has already proven that he can perform in the current team.
Schlupp has also not missed a single game through injury since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, which suggests that he would also come in as a reliable figure who could cover when Tierney is unavailable.
Appearances
7
Goals
1
Assists
1
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.8
Duels won per game
4.6
Ground duel success rate
52%
Aerial duel success rate
60%
As you can see in the table above, the Palace loanee has provided defensive strength in his short time at Parkhead to date, winning the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air.
His performance against Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League play-off, winning eight of his ten duels and making a staggering 11 tackles and interceptions combined, also showed that he has the quality to step up in big games against huge European teams.
Jeffrey Schlupp
This suggests that Schlupp could be a great signing for Celtic with their European hopes in mind, because the 32-year-old ace has proven that he can perform on the biggest stage.
Therefore, signing the loanee on a permanent deal could result in the Hoops having their dream replacement for Taylor, as he is not as injury-prone as Tierney and the defender has already proven his quality on the pitch for Rodgers in recent months.
It is now down to the manager and the recruitment staff to complete a free transfer for the full-back, should he not sign a new deal at Palace, to bolster the squad in the summer transfer window.
Celtic ace left for £600k, now he's similar to a future Ballon d'Or winner
The player Celtic lost for just £600k is now similar to a star who has been tipped to win the Ballon d’Or.
Abhishek Sharma failing to make the most of his opportunities was perhaps the only thing that didn’t go to plan for India against Bangladesh
Hemant Brar13-Oct-20244:28
Takeaways: Samson and Hardik fly, but Abhishek misses out
Abhishek’s missed opportunityWhen Abhishek Sharma was picked as the only regular opener in the squad, it was clear he was going to play all three matches. It gave him an opportunity to strengthen his case as India’s back-up opener when Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal return. He did show great intent but failed to last more than 11 balls in any of the games – though, to be fair to him, he was run out for no fault of his in the first T20I in Gwalior. With ball, he sent down three overs and took one wicket for 18 runs.Related
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Samson shows his strengthAfter two successive ducks in Sri Lanka, it seemed like Sanju Samson was going to fall behind, again. Opening the innings against Bangladesh, he looked good in the first T20I before holing out for 29 off 19 balls. Finally, in the third T20I, he showed why he has so many backers – in a masterclass in effortless hitting, he scored the second-fastest T20I hundred for India. It may not make him India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in a full-strength squad, but he shouldn’t have to worry about his place in the squad when the team tours South Africa next month for four T20Is.India’s fearless approachAt the start of the series, Suryakumar Yadav had said he wanted his players to be selfless. And the players followed their captain’s order to a T. Samson’s innings in the first T20I was one such case. Given India were chasing only 128, he could have taken his time after a quick start but he was dismissed attempting a six. The second T20I in Delhi gave an even bigger example of that approach. Even after being reduced to 41 for 3 in the sixth over, they kept their foot on the pedal and eventually got 221 for 9. When everything went as per the plan in the third T20I, they posted 297 for 6, the second-highest total in the format.2:39
Ten Doeschate: ‘We don’t give opportunities; the guys earn them’
India, a team of allroundersAnother significant feature of India’s playing XIs in the series was the presence of a plethora of allrounders. Till recently, India struggled to find players who could chip in with both bat and ball. But that is no longer the case. Without compromising on the batting depth, Suryakumar had at least seven bowling options in every match. Hardik Pandya showed he could still finish with bat and bowl at a lively pace. Nitish Kumar Reddy emerged as Hardik’s worthy understudy, scoring 74 off 34 balls and taking two wickets in only his second T20I. Riyan Parag and Washington Sundar also gave good accounts of themselves in the limited chances they got.Varun’s successful comebackWith multiple allrounders in their XI now, India do not necessarily need a like-for-like replacement for Ravindra Jadeja. In this series, they went with Varun Chakravarthy as their lead spinner (who can’t really bat) and he did not disappoint. Making a comeback after three years, Varun started with a three-for in the first T20I before picking up 2 for 19 in the second. He capped it with an economical 4-0-23-0 in the last game. He will face stiff competition when Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are available but he has done no harm to his chances.1:53
‘Always good to have competition within the team’ – Varun Chakravarthy
Mayank leaves his markWhen Mayank Yadav was picked after a long injury layoff, everyone wanted to see if he was the same 155kph bowler who took the cricket world by storm at IPL 2024. Making his T20I debut in Gwalior, he started with a maiden and bowled 18 of his 24 deliveries above 140kph. Twelve of those were in excess of 145kph. Even though his top speed in the series was 150.3kph, he was largely accurate and played all three games without any fitness concerns. He has also worked on his slower ball and used it regularly.Mayank and Reddy’s debuts, though, might not be great news for Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad, their respective IPL teams. Now they cannot keep them for INR 4 crore, the retention fee for uncapped players. Kolkata Knight Riders were lucky in that sense as Harshit Rana had a viral infection before the third T20I and remains uncapped.
It changes and adapts in response to the situation and today it did what it needed to – mostly
Firdose Moonda18-Aug-2022So this is Bouchball. It’s not sexy but it’s solid. It’s not entirely slow, but it’s mostly sensible. It’s probably not going to fill the stands with young fans but with so few Tests in their future, South Africa may not have to care much about that. What they care about is whether it works and the 124-run lead suggests they’re on the way to being able to declare that it does.The key to being successful in England – and probably in most places – is to have a decent opening stand. India showed that last year when KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma shared stands of 83, 126 (scored in a winning cause at Lord’s) and 97 on last year’s tour. Those starts set India up for totals of 466, 364 and 278, and they weren’t beaten in any of those encounters. On the basis of those numbers, Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee can be satisfied with the 85 they put on and especially the way they saw out the toughest period against the England attack.Related
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They did it without looking as though they were navigating landmines even though the going was pretty tough against the most reputed pair these two have faced. Elgar successfully reviewed being given out caught behind to a Stuart Broad ball he didn’t hit and was dropped by Zak Crawley off Matthew Potts at second slip when he was on seven but for a batter with a reputation for inelegance, he actually played quite sweetly. He hit the full balls and survived the jaffas.When his opposite number, Ben Stokes, came on to bowl later in the afternoon, he made his most aggressive statement, punching him up the slope and steering him through backward point for two fours in three balls. Stokes has made it his business to set the tone in the England camp and Elgar responded in kind. By taking on Stokes, he showed the rest of his line-up, none of whom have played a Test in England before, that can stand up to their opposition.At the other end, Erwee showed the value of his years in the domestic game after taking the old-fashioned route to the Test team. He is in the 14th year of his professional career and until six months ago, he may have thought he’d finish without an international cap. But Erwee got an opportunity in New Zealand and he has held onto it tightly since.He spent the 10 days in camp before the Test visualising what it’s like to be at Lord’s. Everything about it. What it feels like to see the pavilion and walk the stairs, to face a ball, to hit it, to see it go to the boundary and to hear the polite applause. He prepared himself the way a nervous newcomer would but then played like an experienced hand. He moved his feet to meet the fuller deliveries and the leg-stump half-volleys stood no chance.Sarel Erwee didn’t look too shabby when playing his shots, and scored at a strike rate of 50•Getty ImagesAll that also speaks to the line and lengths England employed early, which failed to create the same kind of pressure South Africa did on the first day. According to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, England left 57 of the 270 deliveries they faced in their innings – that’s a little more than one in every five. They were made to play at the same number of balls. South Africa’s openers alone, left 70 of the 227 balls they faced, just over 30%, and defended 49. So England made South Africa’s top two play as often as South Africa allowed England’s line-up to watch the ball through. That’s an area that England will want to sharpen up, especially given the way they responded later in the day.In two Stokes’ overs, South Africa went from looking in a position that was close to control to barely clinging on to their hard-fought lead. England set a funky field, mostly spread with a wide short fine-leg and a fine-ish short third and Stokes began to bounce Erwee, upping the ante until the South African opener could do nothing but throw his hands up and glove one high for Ben Foakes to collect. Stokes changed his length to trap Rassie van der Dussen on the knee roll and from that moment (which was also after 5pm when they were well-hydrated) the Lord’s crowd came properly alive.A wave of noise swelled and then broke every time Stokes delivered a ball. For Marco Jansen and Kyle Verreynne, with only 13 Tests between them, this would have been the most pressure either of them have been under. Verreynne also fell victim to England’s short-balls-to-the-tail tactic but Jansen played with the stature of his height, not his age. His authoritative drive through backward point off Potts as the shadows grew long and the hoist over fine leg and one-bounce smash through mid-on off Stokes with minutes to go before stumps were executed with the right mix of mastery and mischief to underline his case to bat higher than his wicketkeeper, but it still leaves some questions for South Africa about the composition of their XI.Dean Elgar was bowled in luckless fashion via a deflection into his stumps•Getty ImagesIn the absence of Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s line-up was always going to lack some clout but it looked particularly short when they led by only 27 runs with their last recognised batter at the crease. In picking Jansen as a lower-order bowling allrounder South Africa have created the room for five specialist bowlers – four quicks and a spinner – but they will ask themselves if they have over-resourced the bowling department by under-resourcing the batting. Keshav Maharaj added his opinion by getting himself in sight of a fifth Test fifty and then chucking it away at the end. Even with nearly 1,000 Test runs to his name, Maharaj doesn’t always inspire confidence he will be consistent and with such a long tail, the limitations of Bouchball have been somewhat exposed.While Bazball can cause self-induced implosions and quick collapses, Bouchball may look like it’s getting somewhere when it may not be. At one stage, on 160 for 2, South Africa looked like they were set for a lead of 150-plus, but from 192 for 5, a lead of 50-plus seemed satisfying enough. By the end of the day, South Africa were more than 100 runs ahead, so somewhere between fold-your-arms and sit-back-satisfied to if-only-we-could-get-a-few-more.That probably sums up what we know about Bouchball best. It’s not the finished product but a work in progress. It changes and adapts in response to the situation, so maybe it will soon be criticised for being too reactive and not as proactive as it could be. That’s a discussion for another day. Today, it did what it needed to. Mostly.