Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson is set to miss the team’s IPL 2025 fixture against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Jaipur on Saturday with an abdomen injury.Vice-captain Riyan Parag will lead RR, while 14-year-old left-hand batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi is one of the options to replace Samson in the XI. If he does play, he will make history as the IPL’s youngest debutant. RR don’t have another opener in the squad apart from Suryavanshi, though they could bring in Shubham Dubey or wicketkeeper batter Kunal Singh Rathore and play a makeshift opener.Samson, who played as a batting impact player alone in RR’s first three matches while recovering from a finger injury, sustained an abdominal strain during their seventh game of the season against Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 16. He was forced to retire hurt after scoring 31 off 19 balls, and RR eventually lost the match in a Super Over. Parag, who had captained RR for the first three games this season, will take charge again.Suryavanshi, who turned 14 on March 27, made headlines at the IPL 2025 auction when, at just 13 years old, he was signed by RR for INR 1.1 crore to become the youngest player to earn an IPL contract. He had already represented India Under-19 as an opener by then, smashing a 58-ball century in a four-day match against Australia Under-19. He went on to play a key role in India’s run to the final of the 2024 Under-19 Asia Cup, where he scored 176 runs at an average of 44. He also has a triple-century to his name – an unbeaten 332 – in the Randhir Verma Tournament, an U-19 competition in Bihar.Related

• Royals unsure if Samson will play LSG game

• RR sweat on Samson's fitness in a bid to revive their season

There is no timeline yet on Samson’s return to fitness. He is RR’s second highest run-getter this season with 224 runs in seven innings at an average of 37.33. Apart from Samson and RR’s top-scorer Yashasvi Jaiswal (233 runs in seven innings), no other batter has crossed 200 runs this season, and they are languishing at eighth position on the IPL 2025 points table, avoiding last place only on the basis of NRR. After Saturday’s fixture, RR’s ninth game is on April 24, an away fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin is in desperate need of a positive performance and result for the latest Scottish Premiership clash this afternoon.

The Light Blues have had their worst start to a league season in 47 years, with four draws and one defeat, and the manager is coming under plenty of pressure.

Martin, who arrived in the summer, has overseen four wins in 14 competitive matches in charge of the Scottish giants, which is simply not where the expectation level is.

The former Scotland international’s side were beaten 1-0 by Genk on Thursday night in their first match of the Europa League campaign, and it is safe to say that some supporters are not expecting him to be in post for much longer.

It is clear that Martin needs to win the fanbase back at Ibrox. To do that, his side needs to string together strong performances and results on the pitch to show the supporters that the team is heading in the right direction.

This afternoon’s clash with Livingston could be the first step on the path to winning the fans back, and that is why the manager must finally drop Mikey Moore from the starting line-up.

Why Mikey Moore must be dropped by Rangers

The 18-year-old forward has failed to impress since signing for the Scottish giants on a season-long loan from Europa League champions Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window.

Despite his lack of impressive performances on the pitch, the England youth international has started all four of the club’s last four matches in all competitions, either on the left or the right flank.

His form in the Premiership, starting two of his three appearances in the division, has been particularly disappointing since his move to Ibrox from Spurs, as the youngster has been unable to provide the spark that Martin’s team needs on the flank.

xG

0.04

Bottom 10%

Goals

0.00

Bottom 3%

xA

0.10

Bottom 21%

Assists

0.00

Bottom 3%

Chances created

1

Bottom 3%

Dribble success rate

33.3%

Bottom 23%

As you can see in the table above, Moore ranks incredibly lowly among his positional peers in the Premiership in a host of attacking metrics as a winger, with no goals or assists and only one chance created in his three outings to date.

The young attacker, as heard in the clip above, claimed that he wants to be one of the best players in the world in the future, but he has yet to show such potential on the pitch for Rangers.

Against Genk, Moore was substituted at half-time after failing to register a single key pass or shot on target in 45 minutes, per Sofascore, in that loss to the Belgian outfit.

Chalkboard

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

Therefore, Martin must ruthlessly ditch the teenage talent from the starting line-up in order to unleash fellow summer signing Oliver Antman on the right flank against Livingston.

The former Southampton boss needs a positive result and performance to regain some faith amongst the fanbase, and the Finland international could contribute to both of those things.

Why Oliver Antman should start for Rangers

With Djeidi Gassama on the left flank and Bojan Miovski, potentially coming in for Youssef Chermiti, through the middle, Antman could line up on the right to create an exciting front three for the Gers.

The winger was signed from Go Ahead Eagles in the summer transfer window and has shown glimpses of the quality that he can provide out wide on the right flank.

Rangers supporters got an instant look at the kind of creative quality that he can offer on his debut against Viktoria Plzen in August, as he whipped in a fantastic cross for Gassama to score in a 3-0 win for the Gers at Ibrox.

Unfortunately, the right-footed attacker is yet to get off the mark, for goals or assists, in the Premiership for the Scottish giants, but his performances have shown signs of promise.

Whilst Moore’s displays have been overly underwhelming and lacking in redeeming features, Antman’s performances in the Premiership suggest that he is heading in the right direction.

xA

0.27

Top 16%

Pass accuracy

89.3%

Top 8%

Chances created

2.73

Top 14%

Successful crosses

0.45

Top 50%

Assists

0.00

Bottom 3%

Shots on target

1.36

Top 16%

Goals

0.00

Bottom 3%

As you can see in the table above, the Finland international is doing the right things. He is testing goalkeepers with shots on target and creating chances for his teammates at an impressive rate, but the goals and assists are not there yet.

The promising thing for Antman is that the input – shots on target and xA – are there, which suggests that the output – goals and assists – will eventually follow if he keeps it up in the final third.

The 24-year-old star, who reporter Chris Jack claimed has “feet like drumsticks”, delivered six goals and 15 assists in 32 appearances in the Eredivisie for his former club last season, per Sofascore, which shows that he can contribute with goals and assists on a consistent basis.

That suggests that his impressive input is not a flash in the pan and that Antman is likely to consistently do the right things in the final third, which is why it is just a matter of time before the goals and assists follow.

Brand-new formation: Rangers can replace Diomande with "complete" star

Rangers can replace Mohamed Diomande by changing their formation next week.

ByDan Emery Sep 27, 2025

With this in mind, Martin must brutally ditch Moore from the starting XI to play Antman on the right against Livingston, in the hope that today is the day that it all comes together for the Finnish maestro.

After Tottenham Hotspur finished in 17th place in the Premier League last season, new boss Thomas Frank was always going to have a huge task on his hands – especially without the help of Bryan Mbeumo.

During his time at Brentford, the Dane was able to rely upon the attacker to produce the goods in the final third, which undoubtedly contributed to his impressive tenure across the capital.

The Cameroonian international netted 20 Premier League goals in 2024/25 – the best return of his career to date – highlighting how impressive the 26-year-old was under Frank’s guidance.

Such form led to the 51-year-old trying to sign him after taking over as Lilywhites boss, but the forward decided in favour of a £71m transfer to join Manchester United instead.

There’s no denying that missing out on his signature would have been a bitter blow to Frank, but instead he was able to delve into the market to land another one of his summer targets.

Mohammed Kudus’ start to life at Spurs

In a move that somewhat caused controversy, Spurs landed the signature of winger Mohammed Kudus from London rivals West Ham United during Frank’s first transfer window.

The deal was worth in the region of £55m excluding potential add-ons, with real hope that the Ghanaian would improve the options currently available within the final third.

It may be only early days into his career in North London, but the 25-year-old has wasted no time in impressing the fanbase and looking to be worth every penny of his big-money transfer fee.

Kudus has failed to score to date, but he has been a constant creative threat, often causing the opposition backline no end of problems – whether that be in Europe or domestically.

He’s laid on four assists for his teammates in his nine appearances across all competitions, with his cameo against Bodo Glimt on Tuesday further showcasing his talents with the ball at his feet.

Despite featuring for just half an hour off the bench, Kudus posted a total of five successful dribbles – a tally that was higher than any other player on the pitch.

There’s no disputing that the winger has taken no time in impressing for the Lilywhites, but there’s another player on the books that could be Frank’s next Mbeumo in North London.

The Spurs player who’s Frank’s next Mbeumo

As previously mentioned, Frank was able to get the best out of Mbeumo, subsequently transforming him into an elite-level talent after joining the Bees from French side Troyes back in the summer of 2019.

The duo’s partnership really was something to fear, leading to the Cameroonian ending last year as one of only five players in the division to bag 20 goals or more.

Delving into the market at the first opportunity showcased his desire for new additions to help emulate the talent he had at his disposal at the GTEC.

However, he may already have his next Mbeumo in the form of Brennan Johnson, with the Welshman a player who’s previously been of huge admiration to the boss.

During his time with the Bees, the Dane tried to land the winger on numerous occasions, even placing multiple bids for his services when he was at Nottingham Forest.

Evidently, his attempts to secure his signature were unsuccessful, leading to Johnson moving to Spurs in a £47.5m deal from the Reds back in the summer of 2023.

Whilst he’s come under fire in recent times, there’s no denying the player has been worth the huge money spent on his services, with the attacker often popping up in key moments.

Johnson, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, registered 18 goals in all competitions last season – the highest of any player in the squad – even netting the winner in the Europa League final.

Such a tally showcases the clinical nature he possesses when in front of goal, similar to that of Mbeumo, with the Welshman having the tools to be the manager’s next version of the forward.

Spurs’ top scorers in the PL (2024/25)

Player

Tally

1. Brennan Johnson

11

2. James Maddison

9

= Dominic Solanke

9

3. Dejan Kulusevski

7

= Heung-min Son

7

4. Richarlison

4

5. Pape Sarr

3

Stats via FotMob

The comparison is also evident given their similar roles, with both players able to operate off the right-hand side, or even in central areas – something which is less seen with the Lilywhites star.

Both have also had a knack for often being ineffective before popping up with key goals at crucial moments, as seen by the Spurs star’s performance against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

The addition of Kudus has reduced the game time of the 24-year-old in recent months, which could result in fewer minutes and make it harder to replicate his form from the European-winning campaign.

However, given the manager’s previous attempts to sign him, there’s no doubt he has faith in the attacker to be a success during his tenure in charge of the Lilywhites.

Johnson is a player who hugely relies on confidence to thrive, with the manager desperately needing to put his arm around him and back him if he is to match the heights of Mbeumo in the years ahead.

Related Spurs flop is proving to be their biggest waste of money since Ndombele

Tottenham Hotspur appear to have made a huge mistake in signing one talent in recent years.

Posts 2 ByEthan Lamb Oct 2, 2025

Glasgow Rangers are up against Hibernian at Ibrox in the quarter-finals of the League Cup this afternoon, and it could be a big game for Russell Martin.

Journalist Keith Jackson recently explained that the board are putting work in behind the scenes to put contingencies in place should they decide to part ways with the manager in the coming weeks.

Speaking on the Daily Record’s Hotline Live, the reporter claimed: “I understand that phone calls are being made, back-channelling is going on, and Rangers are currently speaking to and sounding out potential alternatives should they decide they can no longer back Russell Martin.

“It sounds to me very much like they are looking to put something in place in case they are forced into taking action this weekend when Rangers play Hibs in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.”

These quotes suggest a defeat against Hibernian this weekend could be the last straw for the board, as it would leave the Gers winless in five in the Scottish Premiership, out of the Champions League, and out of the League Cup before the end of September.

This means that Martin may have to mastermind a victory at Ibrox to save his job. To do this, one of the decisions he should make is to ruthlessly ditch Mikey Moore from the starting line-up.

Why Mikey Moore should be dropped by Rangers

The 18-year-old starlet arrived as an exciting signing on a season-long loan move from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur during the summer transfer window.

Moore was described as a player with “superstar potential” by analyst Ben Mattinson, but the Gers are still waiting to see the best of the young winger at Ibrox.

The England youth international had scored one goal for Tottenham Hotspur at senior level, in the Europa League against Elfsborg, before his temporary move to Glasgow in the summer.

Moore is waiting for his first goal for Rangers, though, after five appearances in all competitions. The youngster has yet to impress with his performances on the flank for the Scottish giants, which is why he should be dropped from the side for this game.

Martin has handed the Spurs loanee starts in each of the last two matches in the Scottish Premiership, against Celtic and Hearts, but the forward did not do enough in those games to suggest that he should keep his place for this game.

25/26 Premiership	Mikey Moore	Percentile rank vs wingers
xG	0.04	Bottom 10%
Goals	0.00	Bottom 3%
xA	0.24	Bottom 24%
Assists	0.00	Bottom 3%
Chances created	1	Bottom 3%
Dribble success rate	33.3%	Bottom 24%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Moore has not performed well at the top end of the pitch in his three appearances, including one substitute outing, in the Premiership this season.

The English wide man has not offered enough in front of goal as a scorer or a creator for the Scottish giants, which is why he is unlikely to produce what Martin needs to save his job against Hibernian.

With this in mind, the head coach must ruthlessly ditch him from the starting line-up to make space for another attacker to come into the team to win the game for Rangers this afternoon.

Chalkboard

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

Martin needs to unleash a player who can make a real difference in the final third to secure the club’s place in the semi-finals and save his job, which is why he should bring Findlay Curtis into the team.

Why Findlay Curtis could save Russell Martin's job

The 18-year-old star, who is the same age as Moore, was an unused substitute in the 2-0 defeat to Hearts last time out in the Premiership at Ibrox. He has not started a game for Rangers since the 1-1 draw with Panathinaikos in July.

It is time to finally unleash the Scottish forward from the start once again because he has the potential to be the game-changing attacker who could win the match for Rangers and help the manager to avoid a loss that could see him lose his job.

Curtis first emerged as a first-team option for the Scottish giants towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign, assisting one goal in five appearances, per Transfermarkt.

The teenage talent started the opening match of this season against Panathinaikos and made a name for himself with a sublime goal in the Champions League qualifier, as shown in the clip above.

However, the two legs against Panathinaikos are the only two games that Curtis has started in all competitions this season, despite scoring goals against Alloa Athletic in the League Cup and against St Mirren in the Premiership as a substitute.

Opposition	Minutes	Goals
Panathinaikos (H)	75	1
Panathinaikos (A)	59	0
Viktoria Plzen (H)	5	0
Dundee (H)	13	0
Alloa Athletic (H)	6	1
St Mirren (A)	14	1
Club Brugge (A)	45	0
Celtic (H)	8	0
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Curtis has made a decent impact at the top end of the pitch from a wide position despite having limited minutes on the pitch.

Scotland U21 manager Scot Gemmill noted that “he’s influencing the games when he’s had the opportunity” at Rangers so far this season, which is backed up by the statistics behind his performances.

The 18-year-old star also influenced games on a regular basis for the B team before his first-team emergence, with a return of four goals and three assists in just eight appearances, per Transfermarkt.

This shows that Curtis is capable of delivering consistently impressive performances in the final third, with goals and assists, and it is now up to Martin to provide the youngster with another opportunity to showcase his quality in the first-team against Hibernian today.

Rangers must regret losing the Harry Kane of Scottish football for nothing

Rangers had their own version of Harry Kane and Michael Beale watched him walk away for nothing.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 18, 2025

Curtis has the quality, as evidenced by his form for the B team and the senior side, to offer way more than Mikey Moore on the left flank, which suggests that he has a better chance of saving Martin’s job by producing enough in front of goal to win the game and alleviate some of the pressure on the head coach.

Newcastle United are looking to mount a challenge for the upper echelons of the Premier League and could turn to a talented striker to help their case.

Newcastle set to open talks over Bruno Guimaraes extension

While bringing in new players is ultra important for Eddie Howe, retaining key assets is also something the former Bournemouth boss will be keen to perform to guarantee his side put their best foot forward in the top-flight.

With that in mind, journalist Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider that the Brazil international will hold discussions with the club about putting pen to paper on an extension.

He stated: “As I said, Guimaraes seems like he’s happy at Newcastle. We know that Newcastle are very happy with him. I would imagine there’ll be discussions potentially to be held over a new contract to see if they can keep him on Tyneside as well, but a lot will depend on how Newcastle are doing and performing.

“If they’re competing in the Champions League, I don’t see any reason why Guimaraes would push for a move away.”

Forming his supply line, Nick Woltemade is still settling in to life on Tyneside and Yoane Wissa has been ruled out through injury, leaving Howe short of options in the final third and reliant on William Osula as an alternative.

Newcastle join Chelsea in race to sign "intelligent" £30m+ UCL captain

He’s a wanted man.

ByTom Cunningham Sep 28, 2025

Alexander Isak’s departure has left a hole to fill through the middle, and supporters wouldn’t be too surprised to see another option added to the pack if Wissa continues to struggle with his fitness after signing from Brentford.

Ultimately, there is a long season to come, and the Magpies need to go with what they’ve got for now, but they are already reportedly making plans to enact a January transfer splash.

Newcastle eyeing Cruziero striker Kaio Jorge

According to Gavea News via NUFC Blog, Newcastle are plotting a move for Cruziero forward Kaio Jorge, and they could look to submit a £35 million offer for the Brazil international, even though he is said to be happy in his homeland for the time being.

West Ham United are also in the race for his signature after a return of 20 goals and six assists in 35 matches across all competitions for the former Juventus hitman.

Despite his time in Italy not going to plan, Jorge is pushing to be selected within Brazil’s World Cup squad and could be an ideal option to add firepower after the Geordies’ struggles to score regularly across the early portion of this term.

Eintracht Frankfurt saw a £30 million move for Newcastle striker Osula fall through during the summer, hinting that he may be a desirable asset to sell if he can continue producing, as it feels unlikely Howe would run with four strikers if he were to make a move for Jorge.

Either way, the Magpies retain a squad packed full of talent, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see PIF try and add to that in the near future should circumstances align.

A record-breaking partnership between Rehan Ahmed and Lewis Hill gave league-leading Leicestershire a dominant position at the end of the second day of the Rothesay County Championship match against Lancashire at the Uptonsteel County Ground.Ahmed, with his first-class best of 136, and Hill, whose 119 was his first three-figure score for two seasons, put on 256 for the third wicket, a championship-best for Leicestershire’s third wicket against Lancashire, beating a record dating back to 1929.Lancashire’s bowlers stuck at their task, picking up seven wickets throughout the afternoon and evening sessions, but a half-century from all-rounder Ian Holland helped the Foxes close with an intimidating 251 run lead.They also picked up all five batting bonus points, completing a maximum bonus point return from the game.The partnership between Hill and Ahmed, not out overnight on 29 and 26 respectively, was all the more admirable for the fact conditions at the start of play were very much in the bowlers’ favour, the previous day’s sunshine having given way to overnight rain and heavy cloud cover.The two right-handers faced a real battle for the first hour, with Lancashire seamers Tom Bailey and George Balderson both beating the bat on several occasions. No chances were created however, the nearest either batsman coming to dismissal being when Ahmed called Hill through for a single that would have sent his team-mate back to the pavilion had Josh Bohannon’s throw not missed the stumps by a whisker.Hill’s determination to be positive paid off however, notably when he walked down to the pitch to Will Williams and lofted the New Zealand-born seamer for the sweetest of straight sixes. Ahmed, while being impressively determined in defence, also began to unveil some characteristically flamboyant shots: both feet were off the ground when he flayed consecutive short deliveries from Anderson Phillip to the cover boundary before going to his 50 by whipping the same bowler through square leg.Hill was keeping pace, reaching his 50 with a top edged cut that sailed high over the slips. If that was unorthodox, two perfectly timed on-drives had the purists purring. By lunch 130 runs had been added to the score and the Lancashire attack was looking understandably deflated.They looked even more so an hour into the afternoon session, when Hill and Ahmed cut loose. They passed the county’s championship record third wicket partnership against Lancashire, 163 compiled by Walter Bradshaw and Norman Armstrong in 1929, and then the first class record of 165, compiled rather more recently by Ben Slater and Colin Ackermann in the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020 before Ahmed was first to a hundred – his second against Lancashire in as many matches.It came with a cut down to third, his 14th four, and occupied 164 balls. Hill followed, his century coming off 150 deliveries and including 14 fours and the six, and both accelerated thereafter before Ahmed sliced at drive at the left-arm spin of Tom Hartley, giving Keaton Jennings a straightforward catch at short third man.Hartley also picked up the wicket of Hill, caught behind cutting at a ball which bounced more than he expected, before captain Peter Handscomb edged an Anderson Phillip out-swinger to Jennings at second slip.A partnership of 76 between Holland and Ben Cox pushed Leicestershire close to 400 before Holland, Logan van Beek and the tail steered the Foxes past 450.

The Caribbean region hopes to have at least one of its sovereign states in play

ESPNcricinfo staff15-May-2025

The torch is lit at the Los Angeles Coliseum after the city was officially named the host of the 2028 Summer Olympics•Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty Images

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has asked the ICC to provide a fair and transparent pathway for at least one of the Caribbean’s sovereign nations to represent the region at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.The issue is that in cricket, the Caribbean island nations compete under the “West Indies” banner and are administered by one cricket board (CWI), but only sovereign nations are allowed to contest at the Olympic Games. At the Los Angeles Olympics, where six nations each will compete in the men’s and women’s T20 disciplines, the region hopes to have at least one of its sovereign states in action.”The Caribbean has always punched above its weight at the Olympics, inspiring the world with our athletic brilliance,” CWI president Kishore Swallow said in a statement. “Cricket’s return to the Games in 2028 must not exclude our young cricketers from the same dream that has inspired our athletes. The Olympic Charter emphasizes fairness, transparency, and universality. We are simply asking that these principles be upheld – not just in spirit, but in structure. West Indies cricket must have a pathway, and fully deserves an opportunity to compete.”West Indies Women are ranked sixth on the ICC T20I rankings, and the men are fifth. If the teams are finalised based on rankings (at a cut-off date) and not much changes to the current positions, both the men and the women should make the cut, but there is an additional complication: USA, as the hosts, might gain automatic qualification despite their low ranking. This isn’t confirmed yet, but if that were to happen, only five further spots would be available.The ICC has so far made no announcement on what the Olympics qualification process would be.In its proposal to LA28, the ICC had suggested the six teams be shortlisted based on the T20I rankings at a cut-off date. The final call on qualification, while not taken yet, is expected to be made this year.On the question of USA, Kit McConnell, the International Olympic Committee’s sports director, had said in October 2023, “Normally, the host country is one of the teams in the team sports, and then we look at a balance of global strength and regional representation, and try and find that balance within the available quota as well.”Barbados were one of the teams at the Commonwealth Games in 2022•Getty Images

CWI has suggested… If rankings are used and West Indies men and women teams technically qualify, an internal qualifying tournament among its Olympic-affiliated member countries should determine which island represents the West Indies; or Have a global qualifying pathway that includes associate ICC members in the five ICC Development Regions plus member countries of the West Indies.The first of these would have the CWI, through domestic tournaments, pick their champions for the LA Olympics. The second would involve a more rigorous selection process, in which the sovereign nations that are members of the CWI compete alongside a host of other nations for Olympics spots.At the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, when women’s T20 cricket was included, Barbados took part. West Indies were direct qualifiers, and Barbados were selected because they were the champions of the West Indies’ regional competition of the time – the Twenty20 Blaze.What the CWI board has stressed is that qualification criteria must be “fair and transparent”.CWI chief executive Chris Dehring said, “Our nations have proudly flown their individual flags atop Olympic podiums as perennial gold medallists. Now, with cricket’s inclusion, we must ensure that our cricketers are not shut out of history. We are ready to collaborate. We are ready to compete. But above all, we are asking for fairness.”Cricket has only once been played in the Olympics, way back in 1900. On that occasion, France and Great Britain competed, with Great Britain winning the two-day match by 158 runs.

For all the discourse over Celtic’s transfer business in the recent summer transfer window, the board certainly backed Brendan Rodgers in the market last year.

Adam Idah was signed on a permanent deal from Norwich City in a move that was worth up to a club-record fee of £9.5m at the time, potentially eclipsing the £9m paid to sign Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain.

However, the Ireland international did not get the chance to become the club’s most expensive signing, because the Hoops shelled out £11m to sign Arne Engels in a club-record deal from Augsburg later that summer.

12 months later, Idah was sold to Swansea City in a deal worth up to £7m, with Celtic taking a loss on the striker, and Engels has started two of the club’s seven games in the Scottish Premiership and Champions League so far this season.

That may be why the board were reluctant to splash the cash on expensive transfer fees for new players this summer, but they were still able to bring in a high-profile addition to bolster the squad.

The first signing of the summer transfer window for Celtic was the arrival of Kieran Tierney on a free transfer from Arsenal to replace Greg Taylor.

Why Kieran Tierney is a high-profile signing for Celtic

Tierney arrived at Parkhead this summer as a high-profile signing for the Scottish giants because of his history with the club and the level he has played at over the past six years.

The Scotland international came through the youth ranks in Glasgow before breaking into the Celtic first-team as their first-choice left-back for a number of years.

As you can see in the graphic above, he won five Scottish Premiership titles and provided a big threat at the top end of the pitch as a creator from a left-back berth during his first spell with the club.

Tierney joined Arsenal in a club-record £25m sale in 2019. He racked up 144 appearances in all competitions for the Premier League giants, per Transfermarkt, but his career in England was heavily disrupted by injuries.

The Scottish defender missed at least 17 matches through injury in six of the last seven seasons, per Transfermarkt, which is why he did not play even more games for the Gunners.

His return to Celtic on a free transfer this summer was, therefore, a high-profile one because of his success at Parkhead in the past and the fact that he played over 100 games for a club of Arsenal’s size despite his injury issues.

Appearances

4

Starts

3

Key passes

4

Big chances created

2

Assists

1

Ground duel success rate

73%

As you can see in the table above, Tierney has brought his creative flair back with him to Glasgow, with two ‘big chances’ created in two starts in the league already this season.

Whilst the Scottish star is an exciting and high-profile signing for the club, the Hoops are reportedly looking at a potential winter move for a player who would be an even bigger signing than him.

Celtic eyeing move for Premier League forward

According to FootballTransfers, Celtic are weighing up a move to sign Chelsea outcast Raheem Sterling when the January transfer window opens for business at the start of next year.

The report claims that the Hoops are considering a loan swoop for the England international to provide him with a chance to reunite with former manager Brendan Rodgers.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that the Scottish giants would be willing to contribute up to £50k-per-week in wages to sign the forward on loan, but he is said to be on £300k-per-week at Stamford Bridge.

FootballTransfers claims that the deal would only be financially viable if Chelsea are prepared to cover the other £250k-per-week. It remains to be seen whether or not that would be something that they are willing to do.

Sterling has been frozen out by Enzo Maresca, who has confirmed that there is no chance that the winger will be back in his squad, and the Blues are looking to shed his wages in January.

This means that a loan move to Celtic, even if they are only willing to cover £50k-per-week, could save Chelsea some money, unless another team comes to the table and are willing to cover more of the forward’s wages.

Why Sterling would be a bigger signing than Tierney for Celtic

Sterling making the move up to Glasgow to sign for Celtic, even on loan, would be bigger than the deal to sign Tierney on a free transfer, because of his reputation and the career that he has had.

The 30-year-old forward has won four Premier League titles, five League Cups, and one FA Cup in his career for Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal combined, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has been a winner at the very top level.

Tierney, however, only won one FA Cup during his time in England, along with two Community Shields, which shows that Sterling had way more success down south.

The experienced forward did not score a goal in the Premier League on loan at Arsenal last season, as he only started seven times, per Sofascore, but his overall record in the division shows that he has the potential to bring immense quality to Parkhead.

He is a proven performer in the league who has delivered quality on the left and the right wing, particularly for Liverpool and Manchester City, before ending up in his current situation.m

24/25 (17)

0

2

23/24 (31)

8

7

22/23 (28)

6

3

21/22 (30)

13

6

20/21 (31)

10

8

19/20 (33)

20

4

18/19 (34)

17

10

17/18 (33)

18

12

16/17 (33)

7

7

15/16 (31)

6

2

14/15 (35)

7

7

13/14 (33)

9

5

12/13 (24)

2

2

11/12 (3)

0

0

As you can see in the table above, Sterling has had many seasons with plenty of goals and assists in the Premier League throughout his long career in the English top-flight.

It was only the season before last that the 30-year-old star almost hit double figures for both goals and assists for Chelsea, which shows that last season’s struggles do not mean that he is completely finished as a player.

This is why the England international, who has scored 20 goals for the Three Lions, would be a big signing for the Hoops, because he has the potential to be an incredible winger in the Premiership.

His relationship with Rodgers, having scored 23 goals in 126 games for him at Liverpool, per Transfermarkt, also shows that he would be working with a manager who knows how to utilise his talent.

Rodgers must finally bin Celtic flop who earns more than Iheanacho

Celtic must finally part ways with this flop who earns more than Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho.

ByDan Emery Sep 17, 2025

Therefore, Sterling would be an even bigger signing than Tierney for Celtic because of his success down south and the quality that he could provide in the final third in Glasgow.

MatériaMais Notícias

Todo apaixonado por futebol vibra ao ver a bola cruzar as linhas das traves, resultando no aclamado gol. Esse momento mágico transcende o esporte, tornando-se símbolo de conquista, emoção e história. Mas, por trás dessa cena tão familiar, escondem-se detalhes que, talvez, você nunca tenha parado para pensar. Como, por exemplo, o real tamanho do gol no futebol. Vamos descobrir?

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol LatinoChegada de Lanzini significa a saída de De La Cruz?Futebol Latino02/08/2023FluminenseNa mira do Liverpool, André já foi alvo de outros clubes europeus, mas Fluminense impõe dificuldadesFluminense02/08/2023FlamengoEm meio à ‘clima frio’ com Sampaoli, Pedro pode sair do Flamengo mesmo com fim de janela nacionalFlamengo02/08/2023

A Origem das Medidas

A primeira coisa que nos vem à mente é: qual é o tamanho exato de um gol? Pela regulamentação da FIFA, essa estrutura deve medir 2,44 metros de altura e 7,32 metros de largura. As dimensões, que podem parecer aleatórias, na verdade têm raízes nas primeiras formas de futebol jogadas nas escolas britânicas do século XIX. Desde então, pouco mudou em termos de tamanho, mostrando que a tradição tem seu lugar até nas medidas.

+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados do Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!

Traves: Quadradas ou Redondas?

As traves, parte vital da composição de um gol, possuem sua parcela de curiosidades. Uma das mais notáveis é que, até a Copa do Mundo de 1974, as traves eram de formato quadrado. A mudança para o formato cilíndrico foi introduzida, principalmente, pensando na segurança dos jogadores. Imagine a dor de se chocar contra uma trave quadrada!

continua após a publicidade

As Redes e Sua Evolução

O som da bola balançando a rede é música para os ouvidos de quem torce. As redes, além de sua função essencial de delimitar o gol, também possuem uma rica história. Em grandes campeonatos, é comum que as redes sejam personalizadas para refletir a identidade visual do evento. Elas já foram feitas de diversos materiais, mas hoje, o poliéster e o nylon dominam, garantindo resistência e flexibilidade.

+ Cupom LANCEFUT com 10% OFF para os fanáticos por esporte em compras acima de R$299,90

O Gol como Protagonista

Ao longo dos anos, muitos jogadores e treinadores debateram sobre a possibilidade de aumentar ou diminuir o tamanho do gol, visando tornar o jogo mais dinâmico ou equilibrado. Embora a FIFA mantenha as dimensões tradicionais, esse é um exemplo de como o gol está no coração do futebol, sendo central em discussões estratégicas e técnicas.

continua após a publicidade

Além do Futebol

Interessante notar que, enquanto no futebol as dimensões permanecem inalteradas, outros esportes, como o futsal e o futebol de sete, apresentam metas de diferentes tamanhos. Isso reflete a adaptabilidade do esporte e sua capacidade de reinvenção, sempre respeitando a essência e paixão que giram em torno do ato de marcar um gol.

Compreender as nuances e curiosidades do gol enriquece nossa experiência como torcedores. A próxima vez que você presenciar um gol, lembre-se de toda a história e detalhes que fazem dessa estrutura algo tão icônico e central para o esporte mais amado do mundo. No Lance!, continuaremos explorando todos os ângulos do futebol, sempre com o objetivo de te informar e entreter. Afinal, o futebol é feito de detalhes, e cada um deles conta uma história.

Tudo sobre

Futebol FemininoLancepedia

تحدث مدرب ليفربول آرني سلوت عقب هزيمة فريقه أمام كريستال بالاس في كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية “كأس كاراباو” وتوديع المسابقة من دور الستة عشر.

وتلقى ليفربول 5 هزائم من أصل 6 مباريات خاضها الفريق، ويستعد لمواجهة أستون فيلا يوم السبت المقبل في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وسُئل آرني سلوت: “هل تُعد مباراة السبت أمام أستون فيلا مواجهة لا بد من الفوز بها؟”، فأجاب في تصريحاته لـ “بي بي سي”، و”سكاي سبورتس”: “كل مباراة لليفربول هي مباراة لا بد من الفوز بها”.

وأردف بشأن الهزيمة: “هناك دائمًا خيارات يمكنك أن تختار منها، لكن الحقيقة أيضًا أنه لا توجد أسباب كثيرة تبرر خسارتنا خمس مباريات من أصل ست”.

وتابع: “ولا أي من هذه الأسباب كافٍ لتبرير هذه الهزائم الكثيرة، من الواضح أنه خلال الأسابيع الماضية اضطررنا دائمًا للعب بعد يومين فقط من آخر مباراة، وغالبًا بعد مواجهة صعبة في أوروبا”.

اقرأ أيضًا | سلوت يعلن خبرًا سارًا بعد هزيمة ليفربول أمام كريستال بالاس

وأكمل سلوت: “إذا نظرت إلى الأسبوع المقبل، فستجد أنه سيكون أسبوعًا حاسمًا بالنسبة لنا، ولكل أفراد النادي، نحن بحاجة إلى أكبر عدد ممكن من اللاعبين الجاهزين”.

وأشار: “يمكنك أن ترى من التشكيلة التي اخترتها اليوم أنني لم أقرر إراحة سوى اللاعبين الذين لعبوا بشكل أساسي في الأسبوع الماضي، هذه هي التشكيلة التي نحصل عليها، وهذا يوضح أننا بالفعل لدينا بعض الإصابات، ومع اقتراب أسبوع حاسم، شعرت أن هذا هو القرار الأفضل”.

وأفاد: “إلى جانب ذلك، لطالما اختار هذا النادي في بطولة كأس الرابطة أن يمنح فرصة اللعب للاعبين الشباب من أكاديمية النادي أيضًا، تشكيلتنا ليست كبيرة بالحجم الذي يتوقعه الناس، ولم يتغير نهجنا في هذا الأمر”.

واستكمل: “”أعتقد أنه في هذه اللحظة، مع توفر 15 أو 16 لاعبًا فقط – وأنا أتحدث عن اللاعبين المتاحين من فريقنا – إلى جانب إتاحة الفرصة للاعبين الشباب في تلك البطولة، إضافة إلى ذلك، شعرت أن هذا كان القرار الصحيح ولم أغير رأيي في ذلك بعد النتيجة لأنه مع لاعبي الأساسيين لم نتمكن من الفوز كثيرًا من كريستال بالاس أيضًا”.

واستأنف: “لست متأكدًا تمامًا من صحة ما تقوله (حول اختيار التشكيلة)، لأنه عندما لعبنا ضد وست هام (في كأس كاراباو الموسم الماضي)، لا أعتقد أن محمد صلاح كان على مقاعد البدلاء. لكن ربما أكون مخطئًا، أنت محق، لكنني لا أعتقد أنه كان كذلك، قبل عام، فعلتُ ذلك، وفعلنا الشيء نفسه، لكن ربما بدت التشكيلة مختلفة”.

وتابع: “قلتُ هذا أيضًا على التلفاز قبل المباراة، رأيت تشكيلة مانشستر سيتي ولا أعتقد أن لديهم لاعبًا أساسيًا واحدًا من مباراة نهاية الأسبوع، لكن شعرتُ وكأنهم لعبوا بـ 11 لاعبًا أساسيًا، ربما يعطي هذا أيضًا فكرة عما قاله الجميع دائمًا عن حجم فريقنا”.

واختتم: “عندما لعبنا ضد تشيلسي، قلتُ إنهم يفتقدون ثمانية لاعبين، لكن لا يزال بإمكانهم إشراك إستيفاو، نحن نفتقد أربعة لاعبين فقط في الوقت الحالي، وكنا بحاجة للبدء بأربعة لاعبين تحت سن 19 عامًا، وبعد أن قررت إجراء تبديلين، أصبح لدينا ستة شباب!”.