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Mousa Dembélé is a star who exceeded all expectations during his time as a Tottenham Hotspur player, with the Belgian one of the most underrated players in their history.

He would go on to rack up a total of 249 appearances during his seven-year spell at the club, often catching the eye with his physicality and dazzling feet.

Despite his massive frame, you wouldn’t expect a player to easily get past the opposition, but Dembélé used to glide past his men in North London – with many of his former players singing his praises.

However, since his departure in 2019, the first-team have lacked the dominant and ball-playing option at the heart of the side, but that could be about to change in January.

With the window now on the horizon, Thomas Frank is starting to draw up a list of players who could improve the options at his disposal in the middle of the park.

Spurs’ hunt for a new midfielder in the January window

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have been one of the Premier League clubs linked with a potential winter deal to land Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.

Manchester United were massively touted with a deal to land the Cameroonian international in the summer, but were massively put off by his £100m valuation.

The same could be said for Frank’s side in January, with the Lilywhites wanting to land the 21-year-old, but are unwilling to fork out the current asking price for his signature.

However, he’s not the only midfielder in their sights at present, with Atlético Madrid talent Conor Gallagher once again appearing on their radar ahead of the upcoming window.

According to one Spanish outlet, the Englishman is available for a fee in the region of €60m (£52m) next month, with Fabio Paratici wanting to fork out such a fee for his services.

It also states that the player himself could be keen on a move back to the Premier League, but Diego Simeone’s side will only sanction a move if the asking price is met.

How Gallagher compares to Dembele

Spurs have often formed numerous rivalries in the Premier League over the years, with Chelsea just one of the sides in which they have had many fierce contests with.

Frank Lampard was a player who regularly starred against the Lilywhites, often leaving the fanbase wishing they had their own version of the English midfielder.

He featured against the club on 41 separate occasions, winning 22 of which and only losing eight times – often providing the difference in the London derby.

The now-retired star scored ten times within the aforementioned meetings, the third-best record against any time in his professional career – further showcasing his impact against Spurs.

Mixing a player of Lampard and Dembélé’s quality is always going to be a difficult ask, but it’s one that Gallagher has managed to do during recent months in Madrid.

He’s been a dominant player for Simeone’s men in LaLiga, with his underlying stats from the 2025/26 campaign showcasing his incredible ability at both ends of the pitch.

Gallagher has won 2.5 tackles and made 1.6 interceptions per 90 this season, with such numbers showcasing his dominant ball-winning presence that Dembélé possessed.

Games played

15

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

88%

Shots taken

1.4

Progressive carries

2.7

Progressive passes

3.9

Tackles made

2.5

Interceptions made

1.6

Carries into opposition box

0.9

He’s also made 0.9 carries into the opposition box as part of his 2.7 progressive carries per 90, another component of his game that the Belgian demonstrated in North London.

However, his ability in possession has also caught the eye, with England U21 manager Lee Carsley previously stating that the midfielder is just “like Lampard”.

Gallagher has completed 88% of the passes he’s attempted to date, with 3.9 of which per 90 going into the final third – something which Lampard became known for with the Blues.

His crashing nature also handed the Spurs fans numerous moments of anguish, something which the Atletico star has demonstrated with his tally of one goal and 1.4 shots per 90.

£52m may appear to be a huge investment in the former Blues star, but his all-round stats in Spain’s top-flight this season showcase his elite-level output at both ends.

Should he merge the levels achieved by Dembélé and Lampard in the Premier League, it would be a stellar signing and one that can take Frank’s side to the next level.

Saved by Romero: Frank must bin Spurs flop who had fewer touches than Vicario

Tottenham Hotspur were fortunate to walk away with a point against Newcastle United last night.

2 ByEthan Lamb Dec 3, 2025

Australia’s stand-in captain said that a pink-ball Test is ‘just a completely different game’

Matt Roller30-Nov-2025Steven Smith looks set to emulate former West Indies batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul by wearing ‘eye blacks’ on his cheeks during the second Ashes Test at the Gabba. He trialled the anti-glare strips while batting in the nets during Australia’s floodlit training session on Sunday evening ahead of Thursday’s day-night, pink-ball fixture in Brisbane.Smith has played 13 of Australia’s 14 previous pink-ball Tests but has not taken to the format in the same way as red-ball cricket: he has only scored one hundred in 24 innings in day-night Tests, averaging 37.04. His record in daytime Tests is far superior, with 35 centuries in 190 innings and an average of 58.31.”The pink ball in general is just a completely different game,” Smith had said during Australia’s most recent day-night Test match, a 176-run win over West Indies in Jamaica in July. “Personally, I find it quite tricky just picking the ball up at certain times of the day and things like that, and the way it behaves is completely different to a red one.”I think people like the spectacle. But as a player, particularly as a batter, it’s very challenging. The game can so quickly, and things change really quickly, which you probably don’t get so much with a red ball. But yeah, people like watching it, I suppose, so I guess it’s here to stay.”Related

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The ‘eye blacks’ – small, black, adhesive strips worn on the cheekbone – that Smith wore in training are commonplace in several American sports, and are designed to reduce the glare from floodlights by absorbing the light that would otherwise reflect off the skin.Chanderpaul is the most prominent cricketer to have used them previously. “I always used it whenever it was very glary,” he told in a 2018 interview. “I stick them on and it does help take 60-70 percent of the glare off my eyes, and that was good for me.”Alastair Cook, who played three day-night Tests for England, has identified focusing on the pink ball’s black seam as the biggest challenge for batters due to glare. “When the floodlights shine off the pink leather, it distracts from focusing on the black seam – and if you can’t see the seam as a batsman, you’re in big trouble,” Cook wrote in his column.”Whatever type of cricket you are playing, the seam is your clue as to how the ball will behave… At least you have a chance with a red ball. If it’s a pink one under lights, it’s nigh-on impossible to pick up the seam and, therefore, decide with confidence which way the ball might move.”Smith’s innovation came on the same day that Joe Root questioned whether the Ashes should feature a pink-ball Test, comments which Travis Head dismissed.Australia lead the five-Test series 1-0 after beating England inside two days in Perth.

Netherlands legend Marco van Basten took a swipe at Mohamed Salah as he said the Liverpool star has the 'brains of a beetle' in a brutal response to him 'attacking' Reds boss Arne Slot. After being left out on the bench for the third consecutive Premier League game against Leeds United last weekend, Salah went on an explosive rant as he hinted he could even exit Anfield in January.

Salah's explosive rant against Slot

After win the Premier League Golden Boot for a record-equalling fourth time last season, Salah has experienced a sudden dip in form in 2025-26. So far this season, the Egyptian winger has scored five goals and provided three assists in 19 matches across all competitions. 

Salah's latest run of form prompted Slot to drop the star player from the Reds' starting lineup in their last three Premier League fixtures. After being left out as an unused substitute for a third consecutive game, Salah burst out in front of the media as he said: "I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. "Now I'm sitting on the bench and I don't know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That's how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don't have any relationship. I don't know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club."

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesEgyptian left out of Champions League squad

Following his public outburst against the club and manager, Liverpool have taken the extreme step of omitting Salah from their travelling squad to Italy for their crucial Champions League fixture against Inter in midweek. With such a huge decision, the reigning Premier League champions made clear to their star player that everybody – regardless of their standing at Anfield – must earn their place in the team. Salah will be left to reflect on that stance when his team-mates line up against Inter on Tuesday evening in Milan.

Dutch legend slams Salah

Former Netherlands international legendary forward Marco van Basten took a brutal dig at Salah for his behaviour against Slot and the Reds as he told : "I'd say: the brains of a cockchafer. If you react like that… He did very well last year, but this season he's not good. He's just been bad these past few months. I always find Slot honest and straightforward. He doesn't shy away from a fight and ultimately doesn't say anything unwise. Salah, on the other hand, really started attacking the man and reacting incorrectly."

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Getty Images SportHow did Slot react to Salah's outburst?

A day after Salah went public with his frustration over the lack of game time, Reds boss Slot addressed the media to offer a response, as he said: "I don't feel that my authority has been undermined. It's not the way I feel it. It's not about me, if my life is difficult, yes or no, that's not very important in a situation like this. It's if it is more difficult for the team and for the club. No one likes us to be in the situation we're in at the moment. First of all, it's difficult to see staff members who work so hard are affected by the situation we're in now. Mainly because of the results. I'm the manager, I have to pick a team so to a certain extent I'm important, but my focus is on the team and not on me."

When asked if the winger had played his last game for the English champions, Slot added: "I have no clue. I cannot answer that question at this moment in time."

The New York Mets enjoyed a scalding start to the 2025 MLB season but finally hit some road bumps earlier this month and are in the midst of their roughest stretch yet. Entering Saturday afternoon the Mets had lost 11 of their past 14 games but were hoping a date with the Pittsburgh Pirates might snap them out of the slump. It did not; New York lost 9-2 at PNC park to fall to 48-36 on the year and make it 12 losses in the last 15 games.

Frustrations apparently peaked at that point and several players, including star shortstop Francisco Lindor, acknowledged they held a players-only meeting following Saturday's defeat. It turns out Juan Soto delivered a five-word message of encouragement and hope to his teammates at that meeting, per Mets insider Mike Puma of the New York Post.

"Juan Soto was among those who spoke during the players' only meeting, according to a source," Puma wrote on his X account. "Soto's message? 'Keep going. Believe in it.'"

It is a simple message but it may be all the Mets need. They were easily one of the best teams in baseball in the first two months of the year. June has not been kind but there are still a ton of games left to be played. Just keeping at it is as good advice as any before the All-Star break.

Soto should know given his rollercoaster of a season so far. The superstar slugger, signed to a massive $765 million deal this past offseason, hit only three home runs and posted a .241 batting average through March and April. Since the start of May, though, Soto has hit .262 with 17 homers. He kept at it, believed in his process, and is looking far more like the historically great hitter New York believed it was signing over the winter.

The Mets' next chance to turn it around will come on Sunday against the Pirates as they try to avoid an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the third-worst team in the National League.

Even the morning after South Australia’s victory, some of those who took part were still making sense of it

Tristan Lavalette10-Feb-2025Enjoying unexpected time off, South Australia quicks Nathan McAndrew and Brendan Doggett found themselves still in disbelief as they recounted over breakfast what had transpired during a whirlwind previous two days at the WACA.Not long after Australia wrapped up the second Test against Sri Lanka, South Australia celebrated a six-wicket victory over Western Australia before tea on day two in the shortest outright result in Sheffield Shield history after just 763 balls were bowled. The previous record was 822 balls between Queensland and Tasmania in Brisbane in 2001-02.The match aggregate of 376 runs was the third-lowest ever in the competition’s history. WA were routed for just 66 in their second innings with McAndrew finishing with a remarkable career-best 7 for 11 from 9.3 overs. It was three-time defending champions WA’s lowest Shield total at the WACA since 1950.Related

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McAndrew's 7 for 11 blows WA away for 66 in five session game

“Brendan Doggett and I were just talking about how wild it [the match] was,” McAndrew told ESPNcricinfo on what should have been day three of the match. “The game was in fast forward so much that even when we were taking wickets, it sort of felt like that’s what we had to do.”The historic clump of wickets was not necessarily foreshadowed the day before the match despite plenty of grass being left on the pitch amid usual sweltering Perth summer weather.”We had a training session [the day before the match], and it was hot as anything, so we thought that it’s going to be a really good cricket wicket,” McAndrew said. “We were pretty unsure about what to do if we won the toss at that point, just based off the colour of the wicket. We thought we might not be all that disappointed if we lost the toss and got sent in.”But with the fierce sun baking the pitch further, South Australia stand-in captain Ben Manenti had no hesitation to bowl first when the coin fell in his favour. “There was some thatchy grass that we’re not used to seeing at the WACA, where previously we’ve played on thinner grass,” said McAndrew, the Shield’s leading wicket-taker this season with 28 at 18.42.

It was actually pretty hard to bowl on and to get the ball full enough to make the batters play without them just being able to leave on length because it was so bouncy. It was hard to get nicks, it was nipping too farNathan McAndrew

“Our only goal was to bowl them out on day one, but the wicket did a lot more than what I thought it was going to do.”Batting was difficult with tennis ball bounce notable, but the match started fairly tamely and, not for the first time on the ground, it appeared an anti-climax was set to ensue. A youthful WA batting-order battled hard and did well to reach lunch at 72 for 2 with opener Sam Fanning closing in on a half-century.”We really struggled as a bowling group to bring the stumps into play,” McAndrew said. “It was actually pretty hard to bowl on and to get the ball full enough to make the batters play without them just being able to leave on length because it was so bouncy. It was hard to get nicks, it was nipping too far.”But coach Ryan Harris gave them a pep talk at the break and they readjusted their line and lengths on resumption to devastating effect as the pitch continued to deteriorate with conditions near 40 degrees Celsius.McAndrew nicked off Fanning for 49 – the highest score of the match – with a back of a length delivery that zipped off the pitch. “The ball started bouncing and skidding through more traditionally, so we could bowl normal lengths,” he said.The WACA scoreboard reflects a extraordinary match•Getty ImagesWA collapsed for 120, but South Australia fared little better in reply and were bowled out for 124 by stumps on day one. McAndrew, at No. 9 but a capable batter with a first-class average of 26.61, started fluently before hitting quick Brody Couch straight to third man to fall for 4 off 6 balls.”Probably a bit rich to say because I only faced six balls…I felt pretty comfortable but played a horrendous shot to get out,” McAndrew said. “Without being too critical, I think there was some really poor shots by some batters in this match but that was probably due to them being indecisive.”South Australia were frustrated by day’s end and thought they had let their advantage slip with the match now effectively a one-innings shoot-out.”Just forget about that batting effort and let’s turn up on day two, fight like hell and try and bowl as well as we possibly can to wrestle back the advantage,” Harris implored his team.South Australia’s meagre lead of four runs suddenly looked like gold when McAndrew immediately hit a dangerous area and had Fanning caught in the slips for a duck in the first over. Soon WA were reeling at 2 for 3 and still trailing by two runs.Unleashing one of the great spells at the iconic ground, McAndrew was in the zone and looking like taking a wicket on every delivery. He continually claimed edges and rattled the stumps, but his best wicket was when he took a superb one-handed return catch to his right to dismiss veteran Hilton Cartwright.McAndrew finished with figures that seemed beyond belief, but there wasn’t any time to take it all in given the surreal events unfolding.’To win in a day-and-a half at the WACA, it’s special’•Getty Images”My mind was just constantly on what was next, who was the next batter and let’s get him out as soon as possible,” he said. “It was a tough wicket and you didn’t want them to get any more. It was very much just a foot on the throat type mentality.”South Australia only needed 63 runs for victory, but perhaps no team has ever have felt so nervous about chasing such a low target. “I was pretty anxious, just counting those runs down…every single one,” McAndrew said.There were some anxious moments, but Jason Sangha proved that the bowlers could be thwarted on this wicket with a solid method and application. He finished 24 not out on the back of his first innings of 45 to guide South Australia to their first Shield victory at the WACA since November 2017.Relieved players celebrated with gusto during the late afternoon inside the ground’s famed walls as South Australia sit pretty on top of the ladder. They are in the box seat for a home final as they strive to end a Shield title drought that extends three decades.”To win in a day-and-a half at the WACA, it’s special,” McAndrew said. “We haven’t won here in a long time. To get a monkey off our backs is really nice and sets us up for the rest of the season.”South Australia are also well positioned in the One-Day Cup and play last-placed WA on Thursday at the WACA in a low-key fixture that is set to now garner significantly more attraction.”I dare say, you’d expect that wicket to be a little bit flatter, but you never know,” chuckled McAndrew. “If we turn up and the ball’s nipping around and bouncing all over the shop again, I wouldn’t be against it.”

The 2025/26 campaign has brought a whole host of problems onto Arne Slot’s doorstep, with his title-winning Liverpool side knocked so far out of kilter it is difficult to see how they will be realigned before the end of the season.

The tenth-place champions would be in deep bother were they to limp to the finish line, trailing the Champions League pack, trailing the pay packet that comes with Europe’s elite competition.

Liverpool spent a lot of money this summer, a record-breaking amount. It would be fair to say that Richard Hughes’ signings haven’t all worked out, and the onus is now on finding form and sustaining it, mounting a fightback after months of distress.

However, the recent Mohamed Salah conundrum has cast Liverpool’s season into new territory, and it needs sorting out quickly.

The latest on Salah's situation at Liverpool

Slot was coy when discussing Salah’s explosive outburst at Elland Road, incensed after being kept on the bench for three successive fixtures.

All of a Liverpool persuasion hope for an agreeable resolution, but the truth is that the 33-year-old may be headed for the exit, with multiple pointers suggesting he will not return after jetting off to the African Cup of Nations with Egypt.

Liverpool need a replacement, and they may have found one in a star bearing a likeness to Luis Diaz, who was sold to Bayern Munich in August.

According to Fabrizio Romano, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool are in talks to sign Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, whose future has been a hot topic this year.

Semenyo’s £65m release clause becomes active in January, and with Salah ostensibly inching toward a bitter exit at the end of his glittering Merseyside career, FSG are primed to make the payment and restore Liverpool’s frontline.

Why Liverpool want to sign Semenyo

Semenyo, 25, was hailed as “the best winger in the country” by pundit Chris Waddle in November, having enjoyed a blistering start to the campaign with Bournemouth. On the opener, he netted twice at Anfield.

Now he has six goals and three assists to his name in the Premier League this term, and that’s without having notched a direct involvement across the past two months. This could be perceived as a negative thing, but Andoni Iraola’s side have been in a rut for a little while, and Semenyo continues to stand out as a shining light.

The Ghanaian’s physicality and directness could even see him emerge as Liverpool’s new version of Diaz, even if he’s welcomed to – in theory – replace Salah.

Diaz and Semenyo share in their athleticism an economy of strength and motion. The two players are versatile and confident across the frontline. They are both fleet-footed and as electric as they come, but they are also intelligent and calculated, reserving their energy for opportune moments.

Goals scored

0.43

0.49

Assists

0.21

0.19

Shots taken

2.29

2.66

Shot-creating actions

3.43

4.39

Touches (att pen)

4.43

6.27

Pass completion (%)

71.3

84.2

Progressive passes

3.65

4.13

Progressive carries

3.65

4.05

Successful take-ons

1.64

1.99

Ball recoveries

5.00

3.94

Tackles + interceptions

2.00

1.73

Semenyo’s pace and ability to take on and beat defenders set him apart from Liverpool’s current crop. Cody Gakpo is too one-note; Salah is getting old, and he lacks his one-time speed and physical attributes.

Liverpool need more variation. They have been ‘found out’ this season, with the same players weaving the same patterns and struggling to get the same results as last year. Semenyo would change that, adding not one attacking dimension but two or three.

Four matches have come and gone since Liverpool last tasted defeat. The midweek win over Inter Milan at the San Siro was impressive, for sure, but Premier League draws against Sunderland and Leeds United shine a light on the many dents in the metalwork.

FSG, Slot, Hughes, Michael Edwards. Nobody could have foreseen such a staggering slide, but the slump has to be arrested and kept locked up.

It’s all well and good making Liverpool more compact, harder to beat, but if the restoration process is to launch the Reds back into the ascendancy, they need an elite forward as Semenyo added to the mix. The decision against directly replacing Diaz has had far-reaching ramifications. It’s time to sort it out.

Sell him before Gakpo & Konate: Slot must bin Liverpool's "Origi regen"

A number of Liverpool stars face uncertain futures on Merseyside following a dismal start to the season.

ByAngus Sinclair 4 days ago

Suryavanshi continued to smash records as he hit 144 off just 42 deliveries against UAE

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2025Teen sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi continued to smash records as he blazed 144 off just 42 deliveries in India A’s opening game in the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 against UAE. His century, coming off just 32 balls, was the joint-third fastest by an Indian in men’s T20s. Urvil Patel for Gujarat and Abhishek Sharma for Punjab scored centuries off 28 balls in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while Rishabh Pant had also scored a century off 32 balls for Delhi in 2018. Overall, Suryavanshi’s century is the joint-sixth fastest in men’s T20s.His 144 was also the fourth-highest by an Indian in the format.Suryavanshi, at 14 years and 232 days, also became the youngest man to score a hundred for a national representative team at senior level. It was a record previously held by Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim, who was 16 years and 171 days old when he scored 111* for Bangladesh A against Zimbabwe A in a first-class match in 2005.Suryavanshi was dropped first ball but made full use of his second life, hammering 11 fours and 15 sixes in his knock before getting out in the 13th over. He finished with a strike rate of 342.85, the fourth highest for a score of 100 or more in men’s T20s.This was Suryavanshi’s second T20 century, following his 35-ball effort for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. He is the youngest man to score a hundred in T20s. He had become the second-fastest centurion in IPL history, only behind Chris Gayle, who had taken 30 deliveries for his ton against Pune Warriors in 2011.”It was just my natural game and it’s the T20 format so I wanted to back my own game,” Suryavanshi said after his knock. “I was dropped first ball but I just thought I didn’t want to change my intent because we needed a big score on this ground. The wicket was good and the boundary was small. So I was trying to back my shots.”He credited his father for helping him stay focused during games. “Because of how he was strict with me since childhood. Earlier, I used to think why is he being so strict. But now I understand that the benefit of those things can be seen on the ground, that he didn’t let me get distracted and kept me focused on cricket and made sure that I keep working hard,” Suryavanshi said. “So I will say that whatever I have, it is thanks to my father.”He also played down talk of feeling pressure, despite drawing attention at a young age. “There is no pressure. Because the fans have come to support,” he said. “And after going to the ground, the field outside the ground doesn’t come to mind. Then my focus is on playing the ball.”India A raced to 297 for 4, the joint fifth-highest team total in men’s T20s, with captain Jitesh Sharma applying the finishing touches with an unbeaten 83 off 32 balls. That total proved 148 too many as UAE were restricted to 149 for 7, with left-arm quick Gurjapneet Singh picking up 3 for 18 in four overs.

Benjamin Sesko’s agent has delivered an update on the injured Manchester United striker, as he prepares to rejoin the fold at Old Trafford, while backing Ruben Amorim to deliver a Premier League title challenge. The Red Devils remain a work in progress for now, but £74 million ($99m) frontman Sesko forms part of ambitious short and long-term plans.

Sesko injury: When Man Utd striker was ruled out

United invested heavily in Slovenia international Sesko when prising him away from RB Leipzig during the summer of 2025. Various alternative options were also considered, but the 22-year-old forward is now charged with the task of filling what has been a problematic No.9 role for Premier League heavyweights.

Sesko has registered two goals for United through 12 appearances – in back-to-back outings against Brentford and Sunderland – but has been stuck on the sidelined since limping out of a 2-2 draw with Tottenham on November 8.

AdvertisementGettyWhen will Sesko be available to Man Utd again?

He is closing in on a return to action, as the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad prepare to head off on Africa Cup of Nations duty, with representative Elvis Basanovic saying to Slovenian broadcaster : “Benjamin feels very good, his rehabilitation is going according to plan. He can’t wait to get back on the pitch. He’s missing matches, he’s a little impatient and we hope that he will return soon, to be where he feels best again.

“It’s hard to say exactly [when he will return], it will ultimately be decided by the medical service and the coach. I think we will see him on the pitch very soon. Maybe sooner than it seems at the moment.”

Basanovic added on Sesko adjusting to life at Old Trafford, with more minutes required alongside his fellow attackers in order for telepathic understandings to form: “I must say he (Amorim) received Benjamin excellently. I think Ruben is first of all, an excellent person with fantastic charisma, extremely intelligent, emotionally intelligent and I think he knows what he’s doing.

“I believe he’s in a difficult situation. It’s not easy to build such a project that requires enormous knowledge and amount of time. United is one of the biggest clubs in the world, if not the biggest and people don’t understand you need time.

“But I think every team being built needs time. Just look at [Matheus] Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko: they have played very few matches together. And I think that they especially need games and they need to develop certain automatisms because then it’s much easier. When you have these automatisms, you don’t need to think where a player is or runs but that you start automatically. Then the results come and everything looks much better.”

Title challenge: Amorim backed to deliver Premier League crown

Sesko has seen United rise to sixth in the table without him, with the plan being to climb much higher than that. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has stated a desire to see the Premier League title captured again by the time the club’s 150th anniversary is celebrated in 2028.

Basanovic can see that happening, adding: “What it’s extremely difficult to explain in such a big club – because nobody wants to give you time at Manchester United and similar clubs – because everyone wants immediate results. But I simply think that this team and Ruben deserve time. We already saw progress.

“I know that every player, every fan wants United to be champions right away but we see progress compared to last year. I believe this year will be significantly better than last year. I believe next year will be even better and then maybe in the third year we can realistically expect to challenge for the Premier League title. I don’t think it’s realistic to expect that this season. He simply needs to be given time.”

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Getty Images SportMan Utd fixtures: Next up for the Red Devils

United are back in the hunt for Champions League qualification, having missed out on European competition entirely last term, and will return to domestic action on November 15 when playing host to a Bournemouth side that have gone six games without a win.

MLB announced the finalists for its award races after the 2025 season officially concluded on Saturday, with the Dodgers winning their second consecutive World Series title.

Members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, who vote for the league’s annual awards, narrowed down the list of finalists for each honor to three players. Those players were revealed by MLB on Monday, and the official awards will begin getting announced later this week, concluding with the reveal of the league MVPs on Nov. 13.

Let’s take a look at who is in contention for each award, as well as a brief look at the numbers they put up in 2025.

AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington stated this week that the team is not trading ace Paul Skenes this offseason, but a report emerged Wednesday with a teammate claiming Skenes has said he wants to play for the Yankees.

According to a report from NJ Advance Media, the teammate stated that Skenes said he has “no confidence the Pirates ever are going to win” while he’s in Pittsburgh. “Trust me, he wants to play for the Yankees,” the Skenes teammate said. “I’ve heard him say it multiple times.”

The report also came hours before Skenes won the Cy Young award for the first time—doing so unanimously. Skenes ended up addressing the claims after winning the prestigious pitching award.

“I got shown the Tweet and really didn’t think anything of it,” Skenes said Wednesday on a Zoom, via 93.7 The Fan. “I got some texts about it. I’m on the Pirates, my goal is to win with the Pirates. I love the city of Pittsburgh.”

Skenes also said of the report, “I don’t know where that came from, the goal is to win. I don’t know the reporter that reported it. I don’t know the player who supposedly said that, but the goal is to win and the goal is to win in Pittsburgh.”

Skenes is not just focused on the Pirates, but leading the team to winning. While Skenes got to celebrate his Cy Young win, he remained focused on his goal to help the Pirates win going forward as he spoke to the media.

“Pittsburgh, the way that fans see us outside of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh is not supposed to win,” Skenes said. “There are 29 fan bases that expect us to lose. I want to be a part of the group, a part of the 26 guys that change that.”

“The fans are hungry to have a winner in Pittsburgh and I want to be a part of the group that did that. I think about it the same way as when I was at the Air Force Academy,” he said. “We had never been to a conference championship and my sophomore year we ended up winning the conference. We had never finished in the top four in the conference before that.”

The Pirates have not made the playoffs in a decade and have gone just 147-177 over Skenes' two seasons in Pittsburgh. Overall, they’ve advanced to the postseason just three times in the last 33 years and have not made or won the World Series since 1979, well before Skenes was even born. He's determined to change that.

"Forty-six years since we won a World Series championship,” Skenes said. “This is why I’m going to show up to the ballpark and I’m going to work to get everybody pushing in the same direction and I know there are other guys that are going to do the same. That’s all the truth.”