Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has heaped praise on an “important” member of the squad following his return from injury.

Chelsea face Premier League title rivals Liverpool amid selection crisis

The Blues have endured a pretty underwhelming start to the 2025/2026 campaign, and it doesn’t get any easier as Maresca’s side prepare to host Premier League champions Liverpool this afternoon.

Maresca, after winning the Conference League, Club World Cup and qualifying for the Champions League last season, has been tasked with building upon 2024/2025’s feats with over £280 million spent on new recruits in the summer window.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

However, he is also forced to lean on a roster full of youth and a starting eleven boasting an average age of just 24.1 (BBC), with injuries crippling the tactician so far.

As October arrives, Chelsea’s absentee list includes Liam Delap, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Dario Essugo, Andrey Santos, Trevoh Chalobah and star forward Cole Palmer — who are all set to miss today’s clash with Arne Slot’s side at Stamford Bridge.

Fofana and Tosin are not expected to return until after the international break, with the former undergoing concussion protocol, while Chalobah is serving a one-match suspension after his red card against Brighton last weekend.

Colwill is set to miss the majority of this season after rupturing his ACL in pre-season too — leaving Maresca absolutely bereft of centre-backs to choose from against Liverpool — with it being most likely that Benoit Badiashile and Jorrel Hato are given the starting nod.

Badiashile has only just returned from injury himself, starting his first game of the season in a 1-0 Champions League win over José Mourinho’s Benfica on Tuesday, and the Frenchman impressed.

Reports suggest that Chelsea insiders have pushed Badiashile’s case behind-the-scenes as a capable deputy to come in and play a significant role, despite being linked with a move away last summer.

The 24-year-old’s presence, amid Chelsea’s serious defensive shortage, now looks more imperative than ever, with Badiashile refusing a move away in the last window and declaring his love for the West Londoners.

The former Monaco star’s loyalty is being repaid by Maresca, who piled praise on Badiashile in his pre-Liverpool press conference.

Enzo Maresca praises Benoit Badiashile return as "good news" for Chelsea

Speaking to reporters, Chelsea’s boss confirmed that Badiashile is in fact an “important” player for them, and his return to the fold is “good news” ahead of their challenging face-off against England’s champions.

Unfortunately for Badiashile, his place in the starting eleven is under threat long-term.

According to reports, Chelsea and Maresca are in agreement that the signing of a star centre-back takes “priority” for January.

Meanwhile, it is also believed that Chelsea have reached out to Marc Guehi’s camp this week and could attempt to re-sign the Crystal Palace star for a cut-price fee in the winter.

West Ham United have agreed a deal with Nuno Espírito Santo to replace Graham Potter, who was sacked on Saturday morning after just nine months and 25 games in charge.

Nuno Espírito Santo takes over from Graham Potter at West Ham

The 51-year-old, after leaving Nottingham Forest due to a public fallout with Evangelos Marinakis, has wasted absolutely no time getting back to work, replacing Potter at West Ham.

The latter recorded the second-worst win percentage of any West Ham manager in Premier League history, behind only Avram Grant, with the Irons conceding a calamitous seven of their 13 goals from corners so far this season.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12 Graham Potter

26.1%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

It quite simply couldn’t go on, and West Ham shareholders held a very real worry that relegation was staring them in the face (Claret & Hugh), despite senior members of the squad telling close friends that Potter was the right man for the job (The Telegraph).

ExWHUemployee was first to report earlier this week that Nuno was close to agreeing a West Ham deal, and widespread reports suggested that the former Wolves and Tottenham boss was a standout favourite.

Now, those reports have come to fruition, with the tactician poised to take charge of his first game away to Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday.

It is interesting to note that chairman David Sullivan was reportedly in favour of Slaven Bilic’s return on a short-term contract until the end of the season, with some media sources claiming that Nuno was demanding big wages to join West Ham and a longer-term deal.

The driving force behind Nuno Espírito Santo's move to West Ham

Therefore, it is little surprise that he wasn’t the driving force behind Nuno’s move to East London.

Indeed, according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, vice-chairman Karren Brady was leading West Ham’s charge to appoint Nuno, with the journalist also revealing a disagreement between the official and Sullivan over Potter’s previous contract.

It appears Brady has overruled Sullivan for the second time in a year through Nuno’s arrival, but considering the coach’s obvious credentials, her decision could prove to be the right one.

Why Brady was right to push for Nuno's appointment at West Ham

A succession of other candidates were linked with the post, including Bilic, Gary O’Neil, Scott Parker, Marco Silva, Sean Dyche, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick.

However, Nuno stands above all the aforementioned names.

Following his appointment at the City Ground, the ex-Al-Ittihad boss – who won a Saudi Pro League title there before leaving just months later – steadied the ship, solidified Forest’s leaky backline, improved their set-piece fragility and gave his former team a clear counter-attacking identity.

What followed was a sensational 2024/2025, where Forest stood out as last season’s major surprise package, and they were justly rewarded via securing a place back in European football for the first time in 30 years.

Nuno eventually got the very best out of his players, despite inheriting what was once a dire situation. West Ham supporters will be hoping he can now replicate that feat down south, with Nuno aiming to end 2025 on a high in very testing circumstances.

Manchester City's Champions League visit to Villarreal should have been a triumphant homecoming for Rodri, a return to the club that made him. But the midfielder will get no warm welcome back from his former fans at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Tuesday as he instead recovers from a hamstring injury that has raised further doubts over his ability to get back to his best a year after undergoing knee surgery.

Rodri was born in Madrid and took his first steps in organised football with Rayo Majadahonda and then Atletico Madrid, but he became a professional with Villarreal. Atletico let him go in 2013 as they believed he lacked the physical presence needed to make it so, aged 17, he moved to the Yellow Submarine. Not wanting to put all his eggs in one basket, he also enrolled in a degree in Business Studies at the University of Castellon and moved into student accommodation.

And when he broke into the Villarreal first team in 2015, his fellow students were shocked to see the midfielder who was coming up against Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi each week walk past them in hallways on their way to doing laundry. "People flipped out when they saw Rodri still living in student halls when he started playing in La Liga," friend Valentin Henarejos told . "He shared space with everyone. He liked to be with his friends or sit on the sofa with everyone. But of course people were shocked to see him play ping pong or put on the washing machine.

"When he got to La Liga he didn't change on a personal level, he lived the same way training, travelling to matches, resting and studying. He managed the step up well."

Rodri, who drove an Opel Corsa and had a 'half-broken' mobile phone when he was starting out, said Villarreal "gave me everything" and was "the ideal place to grow as a footballer", but he did not stick around long. Atletico signed Rodri in the summer of 2018 for €20 million just before he had turned 22, and one year later more than tripled their investment when he was sold to Manchester City for €70m (£62.5m), where he became the Cityzens' record signing at the time. 

It proved to be money very well spent as Rodri helped guide City to four successive Premier League titles and scored the goal that delivered them the Champions League at long last. Having helped Spain win Euro 2024 – their first major international trophy for 12 years – he won the Ballon d'Or, the first-ever City player to do so and the first Spaniard since Luis Suarez in 1960. Not bad for an aspiring business student!

But Rodri now faces a careeer crossroads as the niggling injuries have piled up since he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in September 2024. There are genuine fears that that he will never be the same player again, certainly not the resilient athlete who could play every match and practically guarantee that his team would win whenever he was on the field.

• AFP
  

  Still hope

  Many great players have never been the same again after suffering ACL injuries. Radamel Falcao, for example, was a shadow of the player he once was after injuring his knee for Monaco in 2014, as he missed the World Cup with Colombia before then bombing with Manchester United and Chelsea, though he did stage a slight resurgence once back at Monaco. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, meanwhile, missed a combined three seasons due to knee issues and finally was forced to retire aged 34.

  There are also plenty of good news stories, of players who overcame long spells out on the sidelines to get back to their former heights or be even better. Ruud van Nistelrooy's move to Manchester United from PSV in 2000 was derailed by an ACL injury. but one year later he got back to full fitness and became one of the most prolific strikers to ever grace Old Trafford. Ronaldo tore his ACL in 1999 and then, in his comeback game, ruptured tendons in his kneecap; less than two years later he fired Brazil to glory at the 2002 World Cup and then earned a move to Real Madrid. Roy Keane missed most of the 1997-98 season due to ACL tear but then led United to the treble in 1999, while in 2000 he scooped the PFA Player of the Year award.

  More recently, Eder Militao has torn the ACL in each of his knees within the past two years but has returned to being a regular for Real Madrid and Brazil, while his club team-mate Dani Carvajal is also back for Madrid after suffering a triple knee injury last year.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Worst case scenario

  Rodri, though, suffered one of the worst case scenarios when it comes to knee injuries. There are two menisci in each knee, the medial (inside) and lateral (outside), while the ACL connects them. Although the ACL is one of the main ligaments in the knee, the menisci are as important as they absorb shock between the shin and thigh bones, helping stabilise the knee and protect it from wear and tear. 

  While between 50 and 70 per cent of people who tear their ACL also damage one of their meniscus as well, only around a third of people tear all three. Rodri was one of the unlucky ones, suffering what is known in medical circles as 'the terrible triad'. ACL surgeon Gordon Mackay told that tearing the outer cartilage means "a more challenging recovery, more challenging surgery, and a less predictable outcome". 

  Rodri was treated by Dr Manuel Leyes, who runs the Olympia clinic in Madrid that operated on Carvajal, Luis Suarez, Sergio Ramos and Zinedine Zidane, among other notable athletes from the NFL and the NBA. Leyes told that "Rodri has a good head on his shoulders and is surrounded by a team that advises him very well," but he and manager Pep Guardiola appear to have disagreed on the timescale of his recovery.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Big' injury at Club World Cup

  As far back as January, Guardiola warned of the danger of Rodri returning too soon. “He's positive but I don't know to be honest. An ACL is an ACL. Always I believe in long injuries there's a time you must respect because of the human body. The most important thing for Rodri now is to recover well. You're not a teenager anymore but still you have years to play. And it's going to happen if you recover well. If you can get back for one week, one month and [take a] step back for next season it's not intelligent."

  Guardiola had said shortly after Rodri underwent surgery that he could be out for between nine and 12 months, and yet he returned to the pitch just under eight months after he suffered the injury against Arsenal, playing 10 minutes in the penultimate game of City's Premier League campaign against Bournemouth. But the big mistake, with hindsight, seems to have been taking Rodri to the Club World Cup.

  In the United States, Guardiola again repeated his message of being careful with Rodri and only introduced him for the final half-hour against Wydad Casablanca and Al Ain. He then started Rodri against Juventus, giving him just over an hour, but returned him to the bench for the last-16 clash with Al-Hilal. Guardiola brought his star midfielder on in the second half as his team were trailing 2-1, but was then forced to take Rodri off again in extra-time due to a groin problem. Months later, Guardiola admitted it was "a big injury" and explained that Rodri would not start the season.

  "Hopefully after the international break, he will be really fit," he said. "Hopefully in these games, he can play some minutes, but what is important is that he doesn't have pain because we don't want Rodri coming back injured. We will try desperately to avoid that."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Lot of pain'

  Rodri got 15 minutes against Tottenham and played 90 minutes against Brighton, the first time he had completed a match in 11 months, to open the campaign, and Guardiola's wish seemed to have come true as Rodri started against Manchester United, Napoli and Arsenal in the space of seven days, playing a combined 226 minutes of a a potential 270. 

  But one week later, he was left out of the squad against Burnley, with Guardiola making the concerning revelation that during training in the build-up to the game, Rodri had told him: "I'm not able to play. I have a lot of pain in my knee." 

  A few days later, Guardiola warned that Rodri could not cope with City's usual schedule. "He is not injured, but in the tendon he has a difficulty," Guardiola said before City played Monaco. "The week before was so demanding with [Manchester] United, Napoli and especially Arsenal, and right now he's not able to play three games in a week at a top, top, top level – top intensity, demanding opponents. My feeling right now is he is not ready because he needs time. This type of injury, it is minimum one year and after that you start. Be patient and he dictates. If he feels not good, it's better to rest."

West Ham United’s current first-team annual payroll sits at £86,060,000, with the average Hammers player picking up just under £3m during the Premier League season.

Here’s a look at what the Irons are paying their players and who their biggest earners are, as per Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

=1

Jarrod Bowen

£150,000

£7,800,000

=1

Lucas Paqueta

£150,000

£7,800,000

3

Alphonse Areola

£120,000

£6,240,000

4

James Ward-Prowse

£115,000

£5,980,000

5

Max Kilman

£100,000

£5,200,000

=6

Tomas Soucek

£90,000

£4,680,000

=6

Niclas Fullkrug

£90,000

£4,680,000

=6

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

£90,000

£4,680,000

9

Jean-Clair Todibo

£80,000

£4,160,000

10

Guido Rodriguez

£75,000

£3,900,000

11

Mathues Fernandes

£60,000

£3,120,000

12

Kyle Walker-Peters

£55,000

£2,860,000

=13

Lukasz Fabianski

£50,000

£2,600,000

=13

Konstantinos Mavropanos

£50,000

£2,600,000

=13

Callum Wilson

£50,000

£2,600,000

=16

Igor

£45,000

£2,340,000

=16

Crysencio Summerville

£45,000

£2,340,000

=18

El Hadji Malick Diouf

£35,000

£1,820,000

=18

Soungoutou Magassa

£35,000

£1,820,000

20

Luis Guilherme

£30,000

£1,560,000

21

Oliver Scales

£20,000

£1,040,000

=22

Wes Foderingham

£15,000

£780,000

=22

Freddie Potts

£15,000

£780,000

=22

Andy Irving

£15,000

£780,000

=22

George Earthy

£15,000

£780,000

Here's a look at the top 10 highest earners at West Ham United currently: 10 Guido Rodriguez £75,000 per week

West Ham were able to make Guido Rodriguez one of their top 10 earners after picking him up on a free transfer in the summer of 2024.

The central midfielder signed a three-year London Stadium deal at the time on £3.9m per season.

9 Jean-Clair Todibo £80,000 per week

Jean-Clair Todibo’s move to West Ham became permanent in 2025 following his loan spell from Nice. The French defender cost the Irons around £36m and is on more than £4m per season.

8 Aaron Wan-Bissaka £90,000 per week

Right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka signed a seven-year deal when he swapped Manchester United for West Ham in 2024.

The Englishman has been a regular for the Irons and, providing he remains with the club u til 2031, will pick up more than £32m in wages.

7 Niclas Fullkrug £90,000 per week

Centre-forward Niclas Fullkrug was one of the marquee 2024 signings, coming in from Borussia Dortmund after helping them to the Champions League final.

The Germany international is already over the age of 30, though, so the £27m fee West Ham paid for his services appears to be a gamble.

6 Tomas Soucek £90,000 per week

Tomas Soucek is someone you cannot question when it comes to West Ham United. He’s defensively solid and provides that extra attacking threat with his runs into the box and aerial ability from set-pieces.

As a reliable performer, £90,000 per week doesn’t seem extortionate at all in the scheme of things.

5 Max Kilman £100,000 per week

Former West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui worked with Max Kilman at Wolves and sealed a reunion with the centre-back in 2024.

The Englishman was captain at Molineux and is under contract with West Ham until 2031.

4 James Ward-Prowse £115,000 per week

James Ward-Prowse was actually sent on loan to Nottingham Forest for the 2024/25 season, however, the Hammers big earner returned in 2025 halfway through his temporary move to the City Ground.

Those at the London Stadium seemingly viewed it as a mistake to send the talented midfielder elsewhere and recalled him to become a part of the Irons squad.

3 Alphonse Areola £120,000 per week

French goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has been on £120,000 per week since his permanent move to West Ham from PSG in 2022.

He has been in and out of the team during his time in London, and his contract expires in 2027.

2 Lucas Paqueta £150,000 per week

West Ham splashed the cash on Lucas Paqueta back in 2022, and despite being linked with a London Stadium exit on multiple occasions, the Brazilian remains an Irons player for the 2025/26 season.

Under contract until 2027, Paqueta collects £7.8m per season with the Hammers.

1 Jarrod Bowen £150,000 per week

You can’t argue that Jarrod Bowen deserves to be at the top of the list with Paqueta after witnessing his performances in previous campaigns.

There are attackers in the Premier League on way more money who have had way less influence, so the club captain earned his new deal to take him to £150,000 per week.

Texas Super Kings 153 for 6 (Mukkamalla 30, Harmeet 2-24, Jasdeep 2-34) beat Seattle Orcas 60 (Jones 17, Burger 3-10, Zia 3-16, Noor 3-18) by 93 runsTexas Super Kings romped to their third successive victory while Seattle Orcas suffered their second loss in a row in MLC 2025 as TSK bundled Orcas for just 60 on a pitch that had variable bounce in Oakland. Orcas were chasing a modest target of 154 but never looked like getting even close to it after they were reduced to 21 for 5 in five overs by the TSK quicks and were eventually bowled out in 13.5 overs for a 93-run thrashing.Orcas openers couldn’t replicate their strong opening stand from their opening game and fell within the space of seven balls. Kyle Mayers spooned an easy catch to cover point off Nandre Burger and David Warner was sent back by an excellent diving catch from Faf du Plessis towards cover off left-arm quick Zia-ul-Haq. Steven Taylor also miscued Burger but it was Zia who dented the chase with a massive double blow in the fifth over when he yorked captain Heinrich Klaasen for a duck and had the experienced Sikandar Raza feather behind a short delivery to leave Orcas five down.Left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad – Chennai Super Kings’ highest wicket-taker in the recent IPL – handed Orcas another double blow and was on a hat-trick after trapping left-hand batters Sujit Nayak and Harmeet Singh lbw. He missed the hat-trick by sending down a full toss to Jasdeep Singh but it hardly had an effect on the result as Aaron Jones, the top scorer with 17, soon handed a catch to Noor, who finished with 3 for 18. Burger wrapped up the game to end with 3 for 10 and Zia had picked up 3 for 16 from his three overs in the powerplay.TSK had earlier opted to bat and saw a slow opening stand of 22 between du Plessis and Devon Conway. Du Plessis’s struggles were ended when an Obed McCoy delivery roared off the pitch to take his glove and Conway was trapped lbw three balls later. USA top-order batter Saiteja Mukkamalla took the run rate over six an over with a few boundaries. Marcus Stoinis’ 28 off 12, studded with four sixes, took them past 100 and the run rate over seven an over. Orcas, however, pulled things back again with the wickets of Stoinis, Daryl Mitchell and Calvin Savage to make it 122 for 6 before Milind Kumar and Shubham Ranjane powered the side past 150 with an unbroken stand of 31 from 15 balls.

Newcastle United have finalised the appointment of Nottingham Forest technical director Ross Wilson, who has overseen the City Ground side’s meteoric rise to European football.

Familiar and on good terms with Eddie Howe, Wilson is the ultimate replacement to Paul Mitchell, who left his directorial post unceremoniously, less than one year after replacing Dan Ashworth.

Journalist Ben Jacobs said, “Newcastle have been keeping tabs on Wilson since he was at Rangers”, and it is regarded as a promising move for the Tyneside outfit.

Why Newcastle appointed Ross Wilson

Recognised for establishing deep-rooted and identifiable cultures, Wilson will cater to Howe’s managerial needs. His is the hand that wields ultimate power on the transfer front, but he will listen to the manager and make decisions in line with Howe’s wants and needs.

To put that another way, it highlights that Howe is the most influential person at St. James’ Park. This is something that wasn’t quite established with Ashworth and then Mitchell in the boardroom.

However, this certainly isn’t to say Wilson will be powerless. Moreover, his connections at Nottingham Forest suggest an already approachable relationship with the Tricky Trees could be strengthened, and that’s interesting when considering Howe’s recent comments about bringing Elliot Anderson back home at some stage.

However, Wilson’s arrival might also spell the end for one or two Newcastle first-teamers, and Nick Pope could be among those to receive the chop.

Why Wilson could boldly axe Newcastle hero

In the summer of 2022, Newcastle signed Pope from Burnley for about £10m following their relegation from the Premier League. He had stood against the tide of the drop for several years and was regarded as a good shot-stopper.

He has made 104 appearances for the club, conceding only 100 goals.

Over three years on, he’s still going between the sticks for the Toon, and Pope has recently been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month after keeping two clean sheets and making five saves during the defeat against Arsenal.

In fact, the England international has shut up shop five times from seven fixtures all told, and United’s backline is once again the bedrock of Howe’s tactical vision.

Despite this, Wilson might be inclined to replace the 33-year-old, who Howe has previously described as “one of the best shot-stoppers” he has worked with.

25/26

79.2

6th

24/25

71.7

9th

23/24

72.4

7th

22/23

74.6

4th

Pope has been in fine fettle this season, but he’s never quite maintained the shot-saving skills to rival the best of the best. Moreover, his distribution leaves something to be desired, and since Howe employs such emphasis on Newcastle’s transitional play, this is something a new keeper could help advance, shaping a new chapter.

When Gabriel Magalhaes, contentiously still on the field, scored a last-minute winner for Arsenal the other week, questions were then asked of Pope and his lack of control in dealing with the inswing.

He’s not getting any younger, and while Ramsdale is already in the ranks, on loan, James Trafford’s unfortunate situation over at Manchester City suggests he might be on the move once again down the line. Gianluigi Donnarumma is not so easily displaced, after all.

Pope, hailed as a “phenomenal goalkeeper” in the past by Shay Given, reaches the end of his £60k-per-week contract next summer, and renewing the ageing star’s terms might not be the best move. Wilson will assess the situation, for sure, and it’s quite possible he will opt for change.

Howe has found the next Saint-Maximin in "frightening" Newcastle star

Summer signing aims for Saint-Maximin’s flair with Newcastle’s need for consistency

ByWill Miller Oct 11, 2025

Smith, Amla and Vettori also among the seven inducted ahead of the WTC final

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jun-2025

MS Dhoni speaks at an event marking 12 years of India’s 2011 World Cup triumph•International Cricket Council

MS Dhoni, Matthew Hayden, Daniel Vettori, Hashim Amla, Sarah Taylor, Graeme Smith and Sana Mir are the latest inductees into the ICC Hall of Fame, unveiled two days out from the start of the World Test Championship final at Lord’s.Mir became the first woman from Pakistan to be a Hall of Fame inductee.After making her debut in 2005, Mir captained Pakistan in 72 of the 120 ODIs and in 65 of the 106 T20Is she played, including two gold-medal wins at the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014. She is the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan in ODIs, taking 151 wickets with her offbreaks, and topped the ODI rankings for bowlers in 2018.Sana Mir is the first woman from Pakistan to be in ICC’s Hall of Fame•ICC

“From dreaming as a little girl that one day there would even be a women’s team in our country to now standing here, inducted among the very legends I idolised long before I ever held a bat or a ball – this is a moment I couldn’t have dared to imagine,” Mir said. “I am incredibly grateful for this honour and hope to give back to the sport in any way I can.”Former India captain Dhoni helped India break their drought in men’s ODI World Cups, four years after helping them to the inaugural men’s T20 World Cup title in 2007. He hit the winning runs as India won the ODI World Cup in 2011 and became the first team to win the silverware on home soil. Two years later, he captained India to the Champions Trophy title. He finished his ODI career with an average above 50, having played 350 matches and scored over 10,000 runs. Apart from his ability to ace run-chases, Dhoni will also be remembered for being the only captain to win all three white-ball ICC trophies. India also reached the top of the ICC Test rankings under him.”It is an honour to be named in the ICC Hall of Fame, which recognises the contributions of cricketers across generations and from all over the world,” he said. “To have your name remembered alongside such all-time greats is a wonderful feeling. It is something that I will cherish forever.”Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla were both among the latest ICC Hall of Fame inductees•Getty Images

Hayden was one of the most feared Australia openers of his times. He hit three centuries in Australia’s 2007 ODI World Cup win and was also part of their win in the 2003 edition. He finished his career with 30 Test centuries and an average over 50.Amla was a Test-cricket behemoth for South Africa, who became the No. 1-ranked team in the format during his long career. He was the first from South Africa to score a triple century in Tests when he hit an unbeaten 311 against England in 2012. He finished with over 55 international centuries across formats.Amla’s South Africa team-mate, Smith, was thrust into captaincy at only 22, and it was a role that he excelled in for a long time. He led South Africa in a world record 109 Tests, winning 53 of those. He is the only player to captain a Test team in over 100 matches. He also captained them in 150 ODIs, the most for South Africa.Sarah Taylor executed many a lightning stumpings across her international career•PA Images

“It is an honour to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, especially alongside Graeme,” Amla said. Smith concurred: “This is also a proud moment for South Africa, as two of us have got recognition this year.”Australia’s assistant coach and former New Zealand captain Vettori is one of only three players to score 4000 runs and pick up 300 wickets in Tests. He also captained New Zealand to a runners-up finish at the 2009 Champions Trophy.Taylor was one of the architects of England’s ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup double in 2009. She also starred in their win at the ODI World Cup on home soil in 2017, making a crucial 45 in the title-clash against India at Lord’s. She made a name for herself with some sensational wicketkeeping, effecting 232 dismissals across formats. Outside of the cricket field, Taylor took regular mental-health breaks, which helped normalise conversations around the issue among cricketers.”Being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame is one of the best moments of my life and truly feels like a dream come true,” she said. “Women’s cricket has been thriving in recent years, and receiving this award during such a significant time makes it even more special. I am grateful to the members of the ICC Hall of Fame selection panel for this recognition.”

Manchester City are now leading the race for a Manchester United and Newcastle United target, and could open talks in the near future.

Man City looking to strengthen defence after late blow at Arsenal

Man City came agonisingly close to making a real statement by winning at the Emirates Stadium, but Gabriel Martinelli’s goal ensured the spoils were shared, despite Pep Guardiola adapting his tactics significantly.

The City boss employed a very defensive system, which so nearly got the job done against the Gunners, with Gary Neville claiming a similar game plan has never been implemented by Pep before.

Man City struck gold on "wonderful" talent worth more than Doku & Reijnders

Manchester City are reaping the rewards of Pep Guardiola’s faith in one rising star at the Etihad.

By
Robbie Walls

Sep 21, 2025

Neville said: “I thought that it might be hard to create moments but how it played out, obviously City getting the early goal and then Pep resorting to a way of playing that I’ve never seen before, but I really liked it.

“It wasn’t a criticism when I was talking during the game, I really enjoyed the fact that he went to 5-4-1.”

With Rayan Ait-Nouri sidelined due to injury, Nico O’Reilly was given the nod at left-back, and the 20-year-old put in a solid performance, making six clearances and two tackles to keep Arsenal at bay.

However, according to a report from Caught Offside, Man City have also now joined the race for a new left-back, having identified Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown as a transfer target.

Brown is also of interest to Newcastle, Man United and Arsenal, but City are leading the race for his signature, alongside Arsenal, with the two potential Premier League title rivals expected to open talks in the near future.

Brown may be unnecessary signing for Man City

There are question marks over whether the left-back is a necessary signing, given that Pep already has plenty of options at left-back, with Ait-Nouri and O’Reilly on the books, and the latter put in an impressive display against the Gunners.

That said, the German defender has put in some impressive performances for Frankfurt, having caught the eye of scout Ben Mattinson.

The Frankfurt star is also a very well-rounded defender, capable of influencing the game at both ends of the pitch, as showcased by the number of tackles, assists and non-penalty goals he’s averaged over the past year.

Statistic	Average per 90
Non-penalty goals	0.14 (93rd percentile)
Assists	0.25 (94th percentile)
Tackles	3.18 (96th percentile)

Brown clearly has the talent to be a success at the Etihad Stadium, but with Pep repeatedly making it clear he wants to work with a smaller squad, the City boss probably doesn’t need to sign another left-back.

Crystal Palace owner Steve Parish believes the club would have taken a "significant risk" by going through with Marc Guehi's proposed transfer to Liverpool. The England international was on the cusp of moving to the Reds on transfer deadline day, only for the Eagles to pull the plug at the last minute as they struggled to find a suitable replacement.

Palace manager Glasner has confirmed Guehi will not sign new deal

Palace look set to miss out on receiving a transfer fee for Guehi, unless a cut-price deal is agreed in January. The 25-year-old is out of contract next summer, meaning he can negotiate a free transfer to another club when the transfer window opens in two months’ time.

Eagles manager Oliver Glasner confirmed earlier this month that Guehi will not sign a new contract with the club, saying: "I think Marc has already told us that he doesn't sign a new contract, so he will leave next year. The club wanted [him to stay]. They offered Marc a new contract. But he said, 'no, I want to make something different'. And that's normal. And for us, it's how we can deal with this situation? [What] is the best way to get this next step done? And that's all about how we are talking together."

AdvertisementRevealed: Parish explains why Palace blocked Guehi's Liverpool move

However, Palace chief Parish has since opened up about the club’s decision to block Guehi’s move to Liverpool, saying keeping hold of their captain was much more important than recouping a significant transfer fee in the summer.

In an interview with the Media Network, Parish said it was imperative Palace retained their identity by keeping hold of Guehi, having lost key stars such as Wilfried Zaha, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze in recent seasons.

"We did quite an analytical look at Marc's worth and places in the league," Parish said. "What is the upside and what is the downside? It was a marginal call. Marc was great about it. They [Liverpool] made an offer and they are a massive club. He was interested in going but was fine about staying if that was the decision. It was a difficult one but definitely the right one.

"One thing Oliver said, which says a lot about staying humble, is the reality of this football club is what we need to deal with day to day. It is something I learnt very early on. You can take absolutely nothing for granted. We needed to keep Marc because the difference between having a stellar season and a relegation-threatening season is probably winning five games.

"The margins are so tight. Yes. Michael [Olise] is gone, Ebs [Eberechi Eze] is gone and Wilfried [Zaha] went too but there is a limit before you break the fabric of the team. We felt it was a significant risk. With all the calculations, we decided it wasn't the right time."

Getty Images SportOwner recently said club are under no pressure to sell Wharton

Parish has consistently stressed the importance of Palace keeping hold of their most prized assets, with midfielder Adam Wharton having also been linked with Real Madrid and Manchester United.

In an interview with earlier this month, Parish said of Palace’s stance on Wharton: "If Manchester United want Adam Wharton, there's nothing surprising really about that. 

"The fact of the matter is he's got a long contract to run. There's no pressure on us to do it, and I don't think there's any real pressure from the player either."

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Getty Images SportPalace in fine form in 2025-26 as they look to claim more silverware

Guehi and Wharton have been in fine form in 2025-26 as Palace look to add more silverware to their recent FA Cup and Community Shield successes. Glasner’s side set up a mouth-watering clash with Premier League leaders Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup by beating Liverpool 3-0 on Wednesday evening. 

The south Londoners are also viewed as one of the favourites to lift this season’s Conference League, winning their opening fixture against Dynamo Kyiv before suffering a surprise 1-0 loss at the hands of Cypriot outfit AEK Larnaca last Thursday.

Palace return to league action this weekend when they host in-form Brentford on Saturday, before entertaining Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar in the Conference League next Thursday.

There was a time not long ago when seeing a Newcastle United player in an England shirt felt like a rarity.

Yet on Tuesday night, as Anthony Gordon completed 90 minutes against Wales, fans on Tyneside had reason to smile.

For a club once seen as an outsider to international recognition, Newcastle’s growing representation in the England setup marks a remarkable transformation.

Now, barring injuries, almost half a dozen Newcastle players could find themselves in the national fold.

Dan Burn appears to have established himself as England’s third-choice centre-back behind Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi, while the likes of Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are widely expected to receive future call-ups once they recover from their respective injuries.

Yet for all the current excitement, there’s one player Newcastle fans are forced to admire from afar.

A midfielder who came through their academy, left reluctantly, and is now flourishing in the England squad.

Anderson’s successes with England

Elliot Anderson’s story is one that continues to sting for many Newcastle supporters.

The 22-year-old, born in the Northeast and developed through the club’s academy, was sold to Nottingham Forest last summer as part of Newcastle’s desperate effort to stay within the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.

The deal, which saw goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos move the other way, was described at the time as purely financial – neither the player nor the club wanted to part ways.

Since moving to Forest, Anderson has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s most complete young midfielders.

Last season, he made 37 league appearances, scoring two goals and registering six assists.

Elliot Anderson – 2024/25

Minutes Played

2,728

Goals

2

Assists

6

Progressive Carries

52

Progressive Passes

143

Source: FBref

His mix of energy and tactical awareness quickly made him one of Thomas Tuchel’s most reliable players.

His rise has continued on the international stage.

After switching allegiances from Scotland to England, Anderson has earned three senior caps, picking up two man-of-the-match awards in his first two games.

In England’s recent 1–0 win over Wales, he played 69 minutes before being replaced by Jordan Henderson, completing 77 passes (an impressive 96% accuracy) from 92 touches.

He also produced two key passes, won four of six ground duels, and made one interception.

Tuchel’s use of Anderson as Rice’s midfield partner for Declan Rice has proven to be a masterstroke.

The former Newcastle man’s ability to retain possession, play progressively, and read danger makes him an ideal modern central midfielder.

He thrives in tight spaces, dictates rhythm, and has a sharpness that’s elevated both Forest and England’s midfield balance.

For Newcastle, it’s hard not to imagine how Anderson might have looked alongside Bruno Guimarães or Sandro Tonali at St James’ Park.

But while they lost a gem in the short term, the club might just have the next one already developing in their ranks.

The England player of the future at Newcastle

At just 19 years old, Lewis Miley is being tipped as Newcastle’s next homegrown star.

Standing at 1.89m with a market value already approaching £20m, as per Transfermarkt, the central midfielder combines intelligence, technique, and maturity well beyond his years.

Last season, Miley made 14 Premier League appearances, scoring once, and has now featured 49 times across all competitions for Newcastle, including in the Champions League.

His calmness in possession and range of passing have drawn comparisons to some of England’s finest midfielders. BBC Sport’s Pat Nevin has gone as far as to describe him as “the next young English superstar.”

Despite his age, Miley already plays with the control of a seasoned professional.

He averages 48 completed passes per 90 minutes with an 88% pass accuracy, ranking among the best in his age group.

His defensive contribution is equally strong – 4.00 tackles per 90 and 1.43 blocks per 90 show a midfielder unafraid to do the dirty work.

Statistically, he even matches up well against Anderson.

While Anderson edges him in attacking metrics – 4.72 progressive passes, 1.72 progressive carries, and 2.87 shot-creating actions per 90 – Miley’s efficiency and composure are exceptional for a teenager.

His higher passing accuracy and greater defensive output underline why Eddie Howe sees him as central to Newcastle’s long-term plans.

There have been signs of growing pains this season, as he’s occasionally struggled to influence matches from deep.

Yet Howe and senior teammates like Joelinton have been quick to defend him, pointing to the experience he’s gaining as invaluable for his development.

A summer loan to Crystal Palace or Ipswich was considered but ultimately rejected.

Miley’s ability to combine tidy passing with defensive resilience makes him the archetype of the modern English midfielder.

Like Anderson, he’s comfortable playing between the lines, but he offers more control and balance in possession – something England’s midfield may need in the years to come.

For Howe, the lesson is clear: when you nurture talent properly, the next generation might already be waiting in your own backyard.

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