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Newcastle United have made headlines in the window over the past couple of days and could be about to repeat that feat if they seal a deal to land their latest target, according to a report.

Newcastle United strike deal to sign Nick Woltemade

With speculation that Alexander Isak could be set for a move to Liverpool rife, Newcastle have sealed a deal to sign Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade as Eddie Howe adopts a proactive attitude when it comes to replacing the Sweden international.

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Despite being pressed on the matter, the former Bournemouth manager didn’t give much away regarding when Magpies fans may be able to see the towering German striker in action after he was not registered in time to play against Leeds.

Continuing their striker pursuit, Newcastle are still in the running to land Brentford star Yoane Wissa before the deadline, albeit the Bees are intent on claiming £50 million for his services.

In one of the surprising developments of the last few days, Kobbie Mainoo is being courted by the Magpies and may be set for a late move deal elsewhere after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim.

Newcastle submit bid for £35m Champions League finalist after Woltemade

The PIF aren’t messing around late in the window.

1 ByHenry Jackson Aug 29, 2025

Talks are open regarding a swoop for the England international, though it remains to be seen if Howe and company will be allowed to proceed, given they are dealing with a direct Premier League rival.

Plates are spinning on Tyneside and more signings are expected to arrive before the close of play after Woltemade, and PIF could now be set to raid a global superpower for one of their most exciting stars.

Newcastle line up ambitious bid for Eduardo Camavinga

According to reports in Spain, Newcastle are prepared to offer an overall package of £42.3 million to land Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga to add a layer of stardust to their engine room.

However, Xabi Alonso wouldn’t be willing to consider parting ways with the France international unless Los Blancos receive a fee exceeding £60 million, which would likely be a starting point in negotiations.

Five similar players to Eduardo Camavinga (FBRef)

Moises Caicedo

Chelsea

Rodrigo Bentancur

Tottenham Hotspur

Lucien Agoume

Sevilla

Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool

Soungoutou Magassa

West Ham United

Labelled “world-class” by Thom Harris, Camavinga registered two goals and two assists in 35 appearances across all competitions last term, though he has yet to feature this time around due to an injury layoff.

Despite interest from Newcastle, the Cabinda-born man is viewed as a key member of Alonso’s side and is viewed as someone who can share midfield duties with Aurelien Tchouameni, potentially harming the Magpies’ chances of landing his signature.

Nevertheless, PIF continue to show ambition in the market and supporters will be watching with eagle eyes to see if their side can force through another statement move.

Tottenham Hotspur are now plotting a surprise move for an “eye-catching” former player, who would be open to a January return to north London.

Frank stresses the importance of defensive solidity

During the Ange Postecoglou era, Tottenham received widespread criticism for their lack of defensive solidity, but Thomas Frank has made immediate improvements, with his side conceding just one goal in their opening three Premier League games.

Speaking after the impressive 3-0 victory at West Ham United, the Spurs boss said: “It’s hugely important that we are good defensively. Obviously, we want to score, we want to play forward, want to play offensive football, we’ve scored eight goals, clearly we want to score goals, but over so many, many games, that foundation, being able to get clean sheets is key.”

Left-back Djed Spence is one of the players to have made a solid start to the season, with the 25-year-old receiving his first England cap in the recent international break and becoming the first Muslim Three Lions star in history.

However, according to a report from Football Insider, Tottenham remain keen on bringing in another left-back, with Sunderland’s Dennis Cirkin being targeted for a “surprise” return to north London.

Cirkin is said to be open to re-joining his former club during the January transfer window, and bringing in defensive reinforcements is of key importance to Spurs, given that they still remain a little light on options at the back in case of injury.

There are also issues with Spurs’ European ‘locally trained’ quota, which is viewed as a key reason why Frank was forced to submit a 22-man Champions League squad for the league phase whilst leaving out the likes of Mathys Tel, Kota Takai and Yves Bissouma.

Transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke added: “He would provide a boost to their homegrown quota, and they have had a few issues with that homegrown quote for their Champions League squad this year.

“So the deal could make sense if they want to bring him in to boost that. He definitely would provide cover for left-back if Tottenham were to make a move for him.”

"Eye-catching" Cirkin could be solid option for Frank

A deal for the 23-year-old would not break the bank, with widespread reports suggesting Sunderland would accept a bid of £20m, and there are clear indications he could be a solid option for Frank, at least as a back-up option.

Since leaving Spurs back in 2021, the Dublin-born defender has gone on to prove himself at Sunderland, making 36 league appearances for the Black Cats en-route to promotion last season.

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During that time, former Championship striker Sam Parkin also singled out the left-back for praise, saying: “I think he has been one of the most outstanding players in the division this season.

“When you watch him live, he is a very good athlete. I think he gets up and down; it is eye-catching the way he moves with the ball, but his decision-making on the ball and his ability on the ball have been top-class this season.”

Cirkin clearly has the talent to succeed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but there are some doubts over whether the Sunderland defender would be a necessary signing, given that Frank already has Spence and Destiny Udogie to choose from at left-back.

Sunrisers Hyderabad suffered another batting malfunction even though Rashid Khan went wicketless again

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Apr-20253:33

Bishop: Siraj has overtaken Shami on recent form

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) suffered another batting malfunction in IPL 2025, this time on a black-soil surface at home, managing 152 for 8 against Gujarat Titans (GT). At one point, they went 36 balls without a boundary and had to wait until the 13th over for their first six. It was Heinrich Klaasen who hit that six, and in the final over of the innings Pat Cummins (22* off nine balls) cleared the boundary to give their attack something to defend.Rashid Khan went wicketless for a third successive game and after four games this season, he has figures of 1 for 143 in 14 overs. Mohammed Siraj, though, was at his best, especially in the powerplay, and then came back in the end overs to york Aniket Verma, SRH’s last recognised batter, and Impact Player Simarjeet Singh. Hyderabad boy Siraj came away with his career-best T20 figures of 4-0-17-4.Siraj had started SRH’s slide when he dismissed both Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma in the powerplay. In the very first over on the day, he had Head chipping a catch to midwicket for 8 off five balls. Abhishek picked four fours before Siraj had him caught at mid-on in his third over of the powerplay. Abhishek became Siraj’s 100th victim in the IPL and sixth in the powerplay in IPL 2025. No other bowler has more wickets than Siraj in the first six overs this season.R Sai Kishore, the left-arm fingerspinner, then stifled SRH in the middle overs with his control and variety. He cut Klaasen’s innings short on 27 off 19 balls when he knocked him over with a quick fizzer. He went onto have Nitish Reddy holing out for 31 off 34 balls. GT had handed a franchise debut to Washington Sundar but they didn’t even need him with the ball.Captain Cummins then made a sparkling cameo to push SRH past 150. He was the only SRH batter in the top eight to have a strike rate of over 160.

From selling cookies on the streets of Moreno to wearing Argentina’s iconic sky-blue and white, 21-year-old Lautaro Rivero’s journey reads like a football fairy tale. Once a street vendor helping his family make ends meet, the River Plate defender has now been called up to Lionel Scaloni’s senior squad and is eyeing a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

Lautaro Rivero's journey from streets to stadiums

Argentina’s latest national team squad has turned heads, not just for its tactical mix, but for the emotional story behind Rivero.

The 21-year-old centre-back, once a street vendor selling alfajores, a traditional South American cookies, to support his family, now stands on the brink of an international debut. Born and raised in Moreno, a suburb of Buenos Aires, Rivero grew up in a modest home alongside five siblings. His footballing dream began on the dusty pitches of local club Los Halcones, just blocks away from his home.

Football became his escape and his purpose. “We are very humble and hardworking. My biggest wish is to see my family doing well,” Rivero said in an interview with River Plate in 2022. “Thanks to them, I’m here, fighting every day.”

AdvertisementAFPA rising star at River Plate

At just 14, Rivero’s potential was spotted by River Plate scouts, who brought him into their academy, a turning point that changed his life. Originally a left midfielder, his natural left foot prompted a move to centre-back position, where he quickly became a leader, even captaining several youth sides. By 2021, he earned promotion to the reserve team and, two years later, signed his first professional contract with River Plate.

In 2024, his consistency and composure caught the eye of former first-team boss Martin Demichelis, who included him in River’s Copa Libertadores squad. Yet, breaking into a star-studded lineup proved challenging. Seeking regular minutes, Rivero was loaned out to Central Cordoba, where he thrived. His standout moment came in a historic 2-1 victory over Flamengo at the Maracanã, where he dominated defensively, a performance that brought him under the league's spotlight.

Rivero's breakthrough season and national call-up

Rivero’s rise didn’t stop there. In just one season with Central Cordoba, he made 30 appearances, scored two goals, and provided one assist, playing every minute of their Copa Libertadores campaign. His calm under pressure and sharp positional sense made him one of the most promising defenders in Argentina.

Recognising his growth, River Plate activated their buy-back clause this summer, bringing him back for the upcoming Club World Cup. His performances also drew the attention of Argentina coach Scaloni, who has now handed Rivero his first senior call-up for the upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico on October 10 and October 13 respectively.

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Getty Images SportRivero eyes 2026 World Cup spot with Albiceleste

Still only 21, his rapid rise has positioned him as one of the brightest young defenders in South America. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Rivero is determined to cement his place in Scaloni’s evolving squad. River Plate fans are equally excited, viewing him as part of the club’s new generation of homegrown leaders. 

Can Celtic book their place at Hampden?

On Sunday, the Hoops will face Glasgow neighbours Partick Thistle in a League Cup quarter-final at Firhill.

The Celts are League Cup holders, winning the competition in seven of the last nine seasons, so are huge favourites to progress through to the last four.

Considering the hosts sit third in the Scottish Championship, the Hoops having won each of their last eight encounters with the Jags, Brendan Rodgers surely has an opportunity to experiment, so should he start his “natural finisher”?

Kelechi Iheanacho's start to life at Celtic

Kelechi Iheanacho’s move to Celtic is the archetypal panic buy, if ever there has been one.

To end the transfer window, the Hoops sold their only senior out-and-out centre-forward, with Adam Idah joining Swansea City for £7m, with no replacement signed before the window closed.

So, having had his contract terminated by Sevilla, the Nigerian was able to move to Glasgow as a free agent, certainly having an instant impact, converting this stoppage-time penalty to snatch victory at Kilmarnock last Sunday.

Nevertheless, Iheanacho’s career has very much endured a downward trajectory in recent seasons, as documented below.

2025/26

20

1

2024/25

1,348

4

2023/24

1,111

6

2022/23

1,437

8

2021/22

2,214

8

2020/21

2,259

19

As the table outlines, since being at the peak of his powers at Leicester City during the lockdown season, Iheanacho has not been a regular goalscorer, with three of his four goals last season coming against Spanish amateur sides Las Rozas and UE Olot in the Copa del Rey.

The 28-year-old, reunited with Rodgers, will almost certainly score goals at Scottish Premiership level, but is surely lacking match fitness.

Also, will the Nigerian be a high-level difference maker, which he’ll need to be, with Celtic set to start their Europa League campaign against Crvena zvezda at Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade on Wednesday?

So, ahead of that key fixture, should Rodgers try out an alternative centre-forward at Firhill?

Celtic's best centre-forward option

Among all the discourse surrounding Celtic’s attacking options, supporters furious about the lack of adequate replacements for Kyōgo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kühn, Johnny Kenny is often the forgotten man.

After joining the club from Sligo Rovers in 2022, Kenny featured for the club’s controversial B team in the Lowland League, before being loaned out to Queen’s Park, not making much of an impact there, but then very much showing what he was capable of back in Ireland with Shamrock Rovers.

In 76 appearances for the Dublin-based club, Kenny scored 26 goals, of which, notably, seven came in European competition.

Last season, he bagged braces against Víkingur Reykjavík and Borac Banja Luka, as well as scoring against Larne, The New Saints and Rapid Wien, helping Shamrock Rovers reach the knockout stages of the Conference League.

He then returned to Celtic in January, scoring goals against Livingston and Aberdeen, albeit his opportunities have been very limited, seeing just 291 minutes of action, only 96 of which have come this season.

His only start of the campaign, so far, came against Falkirk in the previous round of the League Cup, a resounding 4-1 victory, as Rodgers heavily rotated ahead of the ill-fated Champions League play-off against Kairat, which didn’t go quite so well.

Shortly after his integration in January, Rodgers labelled Kenny “absolutely brilliant”, later describing him as a “natural finisher”, forecasting that he will develop into a top-level striker.

Well, if the manager truly believes that, he needs to give the 22-year-old opportunities, so what better time to do so than a cup tie against lower-league opposition, one that comes three days before a crucial European tie?

Iheanacho was only fit enough to see 20 minutes off the bench at Rugby Park last Sunday, during which time he touched the ball only ten times.

Thus, the Nigerian surely won’t be ready to go this week, his services required far more in Belgrade on Wednesday, so Kenny more than deserves his chance to stake a claim for a spot that is very much up for grabs.

Celtic sold flop for just £500k, now he's outscoring Idah & Iheanacho

A forgotten Celtic flop, sold for £500k, once compared to Robert Lewandowski, has scored more goals than Adam Idah and Kelechi Ịheanachọ in 2025.

ByBen Gray Sep 18, 2025

Move offers chance to play in Tier 1 for domestic T20 competition starting in May

Valkerie Baynes30-Apr-2025Lauren Winfield-Hill has joined Essex on loan from Yorkshire for the upcoming Women’s Vitality Blast.Winfield-Hill is captain of Yorkshire, currently competing in Tier 2 of the new women’s domestic competitions, and a move to Essex offers the chance to play in the top tier for the T20 competition starting on May 29. Essex will play their first match the following day, away to Hampshire.Winfield-Hill was part of the Northern Diamonds team which was disbanded under the move to county-based teams from this season onwards, and has been supportive of her former team-mates who had decided to move, many to Durham, to play in Tier 1 immediately.Speaking before her loan move to Essex, Winfield-Hill told ESPNcricinfo that with Yorkshire set to move into the top flight from next season, this year presented unique challenges for the club, such as balancing player development with competing under the heavy expectations of a fully professional side.Related

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“It does look a bit different for senior players in terms of the Tier 2 cricket,” Winfield-Hill told ESPNcricinfo. “I always use the analogy of revving a car. It’s not just like, ‘oh, you’re just cruisy, see what happens, it’s Tier 2’. It’s actually getting into that sweet spot of still really competing. That’s the key thing for a lot of the senior players in the group, is how we get our beans going and compete and almost play games within games sometimes.”As Essex announced her loan signing on Wednesday, Winfield-Hill said the deal “makes perfect sense”.”I want to keep testing myself by playing at the highest level possible, and this move means that I can do that in what is set to be a groundbreaking year for women’s cricket in England,” she said. “I really feel like I can bring something to the group here at Essex, and I’m excited to play in a new environment at Chelmsford, too.”Winfield-Hill has represented her country 104 times across all three formats, most recently for the T20 leg of England’s winter tour of West Indies in late 2022. She has also played in franchise leagues around the world, including the Hundred, WBBL and CPL.An ODI World Cup winner in 2017, she has 19 half-centuries in T20 cricket, with a top score of 98 off 56 balls for Northern Diamonds against Western Storm in the 2023 Charlotte Edwards Cup.Winfield-Hill is also a capable wicketkeeper, having assumed the role throughout her four seasons in The Hundred to date, and from that position has claimed 38 stumpings, as well as 24 of her 91 total catches in the format.Charlotte Edwards, the new England Women’s head coach, was at Hove on Saturday to watch Yorkshire bounce back from a 114-run, first-round loss against Worcestershire with a nine-wicket thrashing of Sussex in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Winfield-Hill scored 8 in the first game and an unbeaten 47 off 43 balls in the second.Edwards made it clear upon taking the England post that domestic cricket represented on opportunity for players to press their claims for international selection.Asked if she still saw a place for herself in that landscape, Winfield-Hill told ESPNcricinfo: “I’m obviously not retired and I’ve got a lot of cricket ahead of me. The last couple of years I’ve probably played better than I did when I was wearing an England shirt, which is ironic.”I still think my best years are ahead of me, I just don’t necessarily realistically think that’s in an England shirt. My desire to play for England will never waver, but I think at times you feel like you’ve got more hope than other times.”If that ship has sailed, that ship has sailed. If a couple of players went down and you’re sort of looking around and you’re performing well, then you’re not going to say no to playing for England ever. At the minute it’s probably not a realistic way in for me, and that’s fine, but I’m certainly not retiring, I’m not pulling curtains on my England career.”Andy Tennant, Team Director of Essex Women, was delighted to secure a player of Winfield-Hill’s experince and proven run-scoring ability.”When the chance to sign her became available, it was one that we worked really hard to complete, because we knew how much of a positive influence she is capable of bringing as a role model for our young and developing player group,” he said. “The opportunity to add Lauren’s experience and game sense is every bit as valuable as seeing her out in the middle scoring runs for Essex.”

Tottenham manager Martin Ho has credited Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone and basketball legend Michael Jordan as being two of the greatest influences on his burgeoning coaching career. Widely regarded as one of the most promising coaches in women’s football, the 35-year-old has opened up on the figures who have helped shape him, with several other sporting greats making his list.

Ho makes promising start to life as Tottenham head coach

Having been appointed as the head coach of Tottenham Women in July, Ho has made a promising start to the 2025-26 Women’s Super League season. The Liverpudlian, who joined Spurs after a two-year spell at SK Brann which saw him lead the Norwegian side to the quarter-finals of the 2023-24 Women’s Champions League, has won five of his first seven games in charge of Tottenham. Across both the WSL and the Women’s League Cup, Ho’s side have secured victories over West Ham, Everton, Aston Villa, Leicester and Brighton, with their only defeats coming in the league to title-chasing pair Manchester City and Chelsea.

AdvertisementAtletico boss Simeone hailed as a key influence

And following Spurs’ strong beginnings under Ho, he has since revealed a number of sporting icons have helped him get to where he is today. When asked by about the key influences on his career to date, he was quick to pay tribute to long-time Atletico boss Simeone, as well as former Australia and England rugby union head coach Eddie Jones.

“Eddie Jones was a big one in terms of his man-management and his delegation around management and staff and how they done things,” said Ho.

“And Diego Simeone’s a big one from Atletico Madrid. Just from the playing style and more because of his persistence over a long period of time. He’s probably the longest-serving manager in men’s football and I think to be at a club for so long and deliver so many consistent results but then deliver titles also maybe with a squad that maybe people don’t always feel have the top, elite-level players, but he gets the best out of them individually by developing them. Yeah, that kind of motivates me to know that it’s not always the finances and resources you need, it’s kind of what’s within. And if you’ve got the right people around you and the right group of players who work hard and you have the right mindset, I believe you can achieve a lot.”

Hulton ArchiveJordan and Bryant also influential figures

And Ho’s influences are not limited to football either, with the former Everton and Manchester United assistant citing basketball stars Jordan and Kobe Bryant as two people whom he has also learned a great deal from.

Continuing to name the sporting legends who have helped him develop as a coach, Ho said: “In terms of sporting icons, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant in terms of how they kind of harness a community and get people around them to be their best in terms of how they interact with the local community, how they more importantly interact with people around them. So those kind of things drive me to want to take advantage of my job, I’m in a privileged position and I want to make sure I take advantage of that.”

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Simeone widely regarded as one of the greatest of his generation

Having taken over the helm in 2011, Simeone’s work at Atletico has led to him being considered as one of the greatest managers of his generation. Competing against Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona, Simeone has continually punched above his weight with Los Rojiblancos, winning two La Liga titles, two Europa Leagues and two UEFA Super Cups with the club. Simeone has also been credited with rebuilding his Atletico side over a number of years, as well as reviving the 4-4-2 formation in the modern game.

Being the massive club they are, Arsenal have had some genuine world-class stars play for them over the years.

Most fans will go straight to the likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pirès, but there is another who perhaps deserves more respect: Cesc Fàbregas.

The Spaniard certainly tarnished his reputation in the way he left and then joined Chelsea, but during his time in North London, he was utterly incredible, racking up a tally of 57 goals and 95 assists in 303 appearances.

Arsenal have had their fair share of unreal midfielders since, but there is one player in Mikel Arteta’s current squad who could be on his way to emulating Fabregas at his very best this season.

Ranking Arsenal's best midfielders since Fabregas

A name that springs to mind when thinking about some of the best offensive midfielders Arsenal have had since Fabregas left is Aaron Ramsey.

The Welsh international was never on the same level as the Spaniard, but there were points in his tenure at the club when he was near enough unplayable.

For example, in the 13/14 season, the Cardiff-born monster scored 16 goals and provided nine assists in 34 appearances, and while he left for free in 2019, he did so with three FA Cups to his name, and as something of an Emiratés icon.

Another icon of the Emirartes era and one who arguably was as talented as the Como manager, but supremely unlucky with injuries, was Santi Cazorla.

The 40-year-old magician joined the club for under £15m in the summer of 2012 and went on to score 29 goals and provide 44 assists in 180 games before leaving in 2018.

However, the numbers alone don’t do the Lugo de Llanera-born star justice, as, at his best, watching him play football was breathtaking. He could use both feet with ease, could spot a pass way before anyone else and had sensational close control.

The firm fan favourite is perhaps one of the best examples of a ‘what if’ player, as at his best, he could do whatever he wanted.

Finally, when it comes to superstar midfielders in the years after Fabregas, you cannot ignore Mesut Ozil.

Yes, his last couple of years at the club were nothing short of a disaster, but for a significant period of his time in North London, he had a fair chance of being the best ten in the Premier League.

Appearances

254

Starts

237

Minutes

20816′

Goals

44

Assists

77

Goal Involvements per Match

0.47

Minutes per Goal Involvement

172.03′

Points per Game

1.89

By the time he left the club, the former Real Madrid star had made 254 appearances, in which he scored 44 goals, provided 77 assists and won four FA Cups.

And now, it looks like one of Arteta’s signings could reach the levels Fabregas did this season.

The Arsenal star who could reach Fabregas levels

There is plenty of excitement around the potential of Ethan Nwaneri, and the arrival of Eberechi Eze has bolstered Arteta’s midfield options.

Chalkboard

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

However, in this instance, the player who could potentially reach the level of a prime Fabregas this season is Martin Odegaard.

Now, it’s undoubtedly true that last season was the Norwegian’s worst in an Arsenal shirt, and led many to consider whether he was good enough to lead the club.

However, it’s essential to remember that he suffered an ankle injury early on, and in the two previous campaigns, the “world-class” talent, as dubbed by ex-Arsenal star Paul Merson, was named the club’s Player of the Year.

Moreover, based on his performance in the last two games, he looks to be getting back to his very best, if not surpassing it.

For example, once he came off the bench against Newcastle United, his passing was perfect, and he got the ball to Declan Rice for him to cross to Mikel Merino for the equaliser.

Then, on Wednesday night, he started against Olympiacos and delivered what might be his most impressive performance in years, living up to the billing that he is “more complete than Bergkamp and Ozil” in the words of fellow Norwegian John Arne Riise.

The manager seemed to give him more license to roam, and so, instead of sticking to the right-hand side, he was popping up here, there and everywhere, and it was difficult to keep track of every brilliant pass through the Greek side’s backline he played.

While he did finally get his assist courtesy of a Bukayo Saka finish towards the end, on another night, he could have ended up with two or three.

Now, when you combine this renewed “sensational” passing ability, as one content creator put it, with the fact he’s being allowed to play more of a central midfield role and roam, it doesn’t feel absurd to suggest he could start putting in the sort of performances Fabregas once did at his prime.

Ultimately, there is still so much of the season to go, so if this is just the start of a fully fit Odegaard, then Arteta and Arsenal could have an incredible campaign with him pulling the strings in the middle of the park.

Arsenal have signed a "powerhouse" who looks like a new Saka-type player

Arsenal may have found a new talisman, akin to Bukayo Saka.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 2, 2025

Legendary coach Fabio Capello has lauded the breathtaking impact of Cristian Chivu at Inter, calling the in-form Serie A side "a spectacle to watch." Capello praised the new manager for reconnecting the squad and implementing a more direct, vertical style of play that has propelled the Nerazzurri to second in the table with a difference of one point for the top.

Capello hails 'spectacle' of Chivu's growing Inter

Capello has heaped praise on Chivu's Inter, declaring the team "a spectacle to watch" and crediting the new coach with reconnecting the squad and implementing a dynamic, vertical style of play. Speaking in his regular column for , the former AC Milan and Real Madrid boss hailed the transformation at the Nerazzurri, who have won four of their last five Serie A matches.

Following a hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Roma, Capello asserted that the team has now fully taken on the identity of their new manager. He lauded the visible progress and cohesive spirit, highlighting the post-match celebrations at the Stadio Olimpico as a clear indicator of the bond Chivu has forged.

"Yes, we can now say it: this is Chivu's Inter. And it's a spectacle to watch," Capello stated. "It's wonderful to see the players rally around their coach like the other night at the Olimpico, because that embrace captures the bond that has been created. But it's also wonderful to see the Nerazzurri play, because everything is working wonderfully now and the team continues to grow. From game to game, from victory to victory."

AdvertisementAFPHow Chivu 'reconnected' with the squad and boosted self-esteem

Capello was keen to emphasise that Chivu's primary impact has been on the players' mentality and unity, rather than overhauling an already talented group. The decorated coach believes Chivu has successfully won over the entire dressing room, from established stars to promising youngsters, by improving their self-belief.

"This is Chivu's Inter because now all the players, from Lautaro [Martinez] to [Nicolo] Barella, from [Alessandro] Bastoni to [Hakan] Calhanoglu and [Federico] Dimarco, right down to the explosive youngsters like [Ange-Yoan] Bonny and Pio Esposito, are perfectly in tune with Cristian," Capello explained. "Chivu has got into the players' heads and reconnected. He hasn't improved the level, because that was already very high and the value of the Nerazzurri squad is beyond question, but he has improved their self-esteem, that's true, and that's a huge credit to him."

Before Inter, Chivu had been in charge of Parma for just over a year and guided them to a 16th place finish in Serie A last season. When Simone Inzaghi left Inter for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, he took the opportunity to return to San Siro, having previously coached the club's youth teams. As a player, he won three Serie A titles and the Champions League crown with the Nerazzurri.

Vertical thinking and forward pressing: The new Nerazzurri style

Beyond the psychological improvements, Capello pinpointed a clear and effective tactical shift under the former Inter defender. He praised the move away from a dogmatic, possession-based build-up in favour of a more direct and aggressive approach that prioritises forward momentum.

"Beyond the team's spirit and resources, there's the play, and in this sense too, Chivu has more than one reason to be proud," he wrote. "Because Inter thinks vertically, always presses forward, and has finally minimized the obsession with building from the back for its own sake." This change has yielded impressive results, with Inter scoring 18 goals in their opening seven league games, the highest tally in Serie A.

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AFPWhat next for Chivu's Inter?

The Nerazzurri's excellent form has them sitting second in the Serie A table, just one point behind city rivals AC Milan. Chivu’s side now faces a demanding run of fixtures that will test their title credentials and European ambitions. They travel to Belgium to face Union Saint-Gilloise in a crucial Champions League group stage match on Wednesday, before a top-of-the-table clash away to third-placed Napoli next Saturday. A home fixture against Fiorentina follows shortly after, completing a challenging period that could define the next phase of their season. Maintaining their new-found momentum will be crucial if they are to challenge on multiple fronts.

Despite fighting half-centuries from Dercksen and Tryon, the loss eliminated SA from the tournament

Firdose Moonda07-May-2025

Jemimah Rodrigues scored her second ODI century•SLC

India posted their highest score against South Africa – 337 for 9 – and their fifth-highest total in all ODIs to seal their spot in the Sri Lanka Tri-Series final on Sunday, where they will play the hosts. In response, South Africa batted bravely to score their second-highest total batting second, but were still knocked out of the tournament.That means South Africa’s match on Friday against Sri Lanka will be a dead rubber. But more concerning for South Africa is that they have won only one of their last ten ODIs. Exactly the opposite statistic applies to India, who have lost only one of their last ten games, and controlled proceedings for almost all of their match against South Africa on Wednesday, even if the margin victory suggests otherwise.Jemimah Rodrigues scored her second ODI century, and the third-fastest for India in women’s ODIs, off 89 balls, to anchor their batting effort. After the loss of three wickets in the powerplay, Rodrigues shared an 88-run stand with Smriti Mandhana, and then a 122-run partnership with Deepti Sharma, which allowed India to score the most number of runs after the fall of the third wicket in an ODI innings.Rodrigues’ innings epitomised India’s dominance, with the right balance of timing and aggression. She drove, swept and reverse swept well against a South Africa attack that seemed out of bite and ideas. They were without regular captain Laura Wolvaardt, who was ruled out of the game with illness, and stand-in skipper Chloe Tryon used eight bowlers, including herself. Only Tryon and Sune Luus, who bowled three overs, conceded at less than six runs an over, while premier left-arm spinner Nonkululekho Mlaba gave away 71 runs in only eight overs.South Africa had moments in charge, and started well with the ball when Nadine de Klerk had Pratika Rawal caught at backward point. While Rawal reached out for a full ball, Masabata Klaas bowled Harleen Deol with a delivery that jagged back in and beat her defence. India were 18 for 2 in the third over but did not struggle to rebuild.ESPNcricinfo LtdBoundary balls came once – sometimes more – an over as de Klerk and Klaas were inconsistent with their lengths. Annerie Dercksen, at first change, also started off short and wide but rushed Harmanpreet Kaur into a pull, and had the Indian captain caught at midwicket.Having created the opportunity to put pressure on India, South Africa didn’t take advantage of it. Though they cut off boundaries for the next three overs, Mlaba’s introduction changed that. Rodrigues drove her second ball for four, and then took two boundaries off her next over as Mlaba struggled with a line down leg. By the 15th over, India were scoring at a run a ball.They were pulled back, but Rodrigues and Mandhana were largely untroubled by a slew of spinners until Mandhana tried to hit Tryon over midwicket and handed de Klerk a catch. By then, Rodrigues had fifty, and was well set. Deepti took over the attacking role, and took advantage of short deliveries from debutant Miane Smit, while Rodrigues worked her way through the 60s and 70s.On 81, she shuffled across her stumps to hit Nondumiso Shangase over cover, and that was the signal that she was looking to chang gears. It took just nine more balls for Rodrigues to get her century, with a single off Mlaba, which prompted an air kiss and a bat-guitar celebration. Rodrigues scored 23 more runs off the next 12 balls she faced but was dismissed the ball after Deepti got to fifty, when she miscued Klaas to Luus at point.Deepti Sharma scored 93 with the bat, and bagged a wicket with the ball•SLCIndia still had 7.2 overs left to bat, and a good platform to build on. Deepti took it on herself to press forward, and scored 43 runs off the next 22 balls, and was especially severe on de Klerk’s slower balls. Deepti hit her over her head for two sixes, and was on track to bring up a stunning century but was caught at long-on off the penultimate ball of the innings before India finished with 337.South Africa’s task was always going to be tough, after they were asked to score 63 more runs than their previous-highest successful chase of 275. At least that was against India, and one of the top performers then, Lara Goodall, was here too. Goodall was promoted to open the batting in Wolvaardt’s absence but nicked off in the second over to give Amanjot Kaur a wicket in her first over of the series.Tazmin Brits and Smit put on 63 for the second wicket but struggled to score quickly. Brits was on 26 off 41 balls when she pulled Amanjot to Rodrigues at midwicket. Four overs later, Smit was bowled by Deepti while looking to sweep, and pressure built on South Africa. The required run rate was above eight runs an over from the 20th over, and it only kept climbing further.Dercksen and Shangase tried to get things on track with a 70-run stand in 66 balls. Shangase was on 36 off 35 balls when she tried to hit part-time spinner Rawal over long-on but was caught on the boundary. Sinalo Jafta was promoted to No. 6 and came out swinging, but India did not seem to think that was much of a threat.Nondumiso Shangase and Annerie Dercksen added 70 runs for the fifth wicket•Getty ImagesIn the 32nd over, Mandhana, who has only bowled three times in 101 ODIs for a total of four overs, was given the ball. Her first over went for eight runs, but she bowled one more over before giving way to Sree Charani, who had Jafta lbw with the first ball of her third spell. South Africa were 188 for 5, and needed 150 runs from the last 15 overs.Dercksen gave them hope when she brought up a second successive half-century, and beat her previous career-best of 61 by 20 runs. But she became the third South African, after Brits and Karabo Meso in previous matches, to struggle with the conditions. Dercksen received treatment on her lower back twice, forcing breaks in play. After the second treatment, Dercksen was bowled by Amanjot, and South Africa’s best partnership – 72 off 60 balls between Dercksen and Tryon – was broken. Tryon went to score her 12th ODI fifty, and eventually finished with a strike rate of 155.81 in her knock of 67.South Africa needed 39 runs off the last two overs when the umpires took players off the field for bad light, with the score on 299 for 6. The DLS par for South Africa at that stage was 314. Tryon and de Klerk appeared aggrieved with the decision to come off but were surprised to hear 15 minutes later that the match would restart. They scored 12 runs off the penultimate over, and were left needing 27 to win off the last. Tryon was bowled off the first ball of the final over, and South Africa ended 23 runs short.