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Borussia Dortmund have been keeping a close eye on Ecuadorian wonderkid Justin Lerma since striking a deal to sign the teenager back in 2024. The young sensation is set to join the Bundesliga giants next summer once he turns 18 in a €4 million deal and the club's current plan is to immediately thrust him into the senior team after being impressed by his performances in his homeland.

Dortmund’s 2024 signing Justin Lerma to arrive next summer

Dortmund secured the signature of Lerma back in 2024, paying around €4m to Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle. The 17-year-old attacking midfielder, highly rated across South America, will officially move to Germany in 2026 after turning 18. Dortmund moved early to beat competition from several top European clubs, including Chelsea, maintaining close contact with Lerma and his family since the agreement was reached.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBuilding on a legacy of nurturing world-class talent

Die Schwarzgelben's scouting department has once again beaten Europe’s elite to a South American gem. The club’s track record speaks for itself from Ousmane Dembele and Jadon Sancho to Jude Bellingham and they hope Lerma can follow a similar trajectory. Independiente del Valle, known for producing players like Moises Caicedo, Kendry Paez and Piero Hincapie, continues to be a goldmine for European clubs looking for future stars.

Inside the deal and BVB’s long-term plan

Sporting director Sebastian Kehl revealed that Dortmund had been monitoring Lerma for years, maintaining close contact with his family to secure the deal. 

"We've been monitoring Justin for some time and have maintained close contact with the player and his family ever since," said Kehl.

reports that Dortmund staff made multiple trips to Ecuador to ensure the player felt integrated even before his arrival. Head coach Niko Kovac is expected to include Lerma in first-team training next summer, giving him time to adapt before making his Bundesliga debut. Lerma has already visited the Dortmund facilities on several occasions, too, and has been impressed by the atmosphere.

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What lies ahead for the teenage midfielder

Lerma, capable of operating as a No. 10 or No. 8, will need time to adjust to the pace and physicality of European football. For now, he continues to feature primarily for Independiente del Valle’s youth sides. Dortmund, however, see him as a long-term project, one who could potentially follow the same rise as Bellingham or Dembele and eventually command a major transfer fee.

Liverpool have reportedly made a decision on whether they will pursue a Nico Schlotterbeck transfer as contract talks with Borussia Dortmund continue to stall. The 25-year-old's negotiations with Dortmund have dragged on for months, with both sides yet to agree on fresh terms. The club is desperate to keep hold of one of their defensive cornerstones, but Schlotterbeck’s camp has been reluctant to commit, leaving Europe’s biggest teams circling with the hopes of a potential transfer.

Anfield deal off as Liverpool pull the plug

According to Liverpool have stepped back from pursuing Schlotterbeck, ending weeks of speculation linking the German with a move to Anfield. Despite growing uncertainty around the centre-back’s contract situation, the Reds have decided not to join the bidding war, even with Ibrahima Konate’s future still unresolved. The Reds had considered Schlotterbeck but have ultimately turned their attention elsewhere after failing to land Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. However, with Giovanni Leoni, the young Italian defender from Parma, sidelined by an ACL injury, Liverpool’s backline is looking stretched. The report suggests that the Merseyside giants could re-enter the market in 2026 for a new centre-back, possibly revisiting their pursuit of Guehi when he becomes available on a free transfer. But with Real Madrid monitoring the situation at Selhurst Park, the Reds will face stiff competition for the England international. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportDortmund's tense stand-off

Dortmund have tabled a lucrative deal designed to make Schlotterbeck one of their top earners, worth an eye-watering €10 million a year. The new contract would keep him at the club beyond 2027, but despite the golden offer, the player and his agent, Bjorn Etzel, have refused to sign on the dotted line. Those close to the player claim he’s in no rush to decide. With the next World Cup on the horizon, Schlotterbeck wants to keep his options open, and with Bayern Munich lurking, his hesitation has sent alarm bells ringing in Dortmund’s boardroom.

further claim that Bayern have indeed made contact with Schlotterbeck’s representatives. The Bavarian giants are keeping a close eye on the situation, aware that a domestic rival could soon have a defensive gem available. The club faces uncertainty in defence as Dayot Upamecano’s contract negotiations have stalled, Min-jae Kim has been linked with a potential sale, and Hiroki Ito’s recurring injury issues have created instability. A left-footed, ball-playing defender like Schlotterbeck fits perfectly into the club’s long-term vision. Though Bayern have yet to speak directly to Dortmund, the report confirms the interest is very real.

BVB's warning to Schlotterbeck

Dortmund’s sporting director, Lars Ricken, has subtly warned the player that the club won’t wait forever.

In an interview with , Ricken remarked, "It is his absolute right to plan his future carefully. We respect that. And I believe that the focus should not be on salary, but on prospects, trust, and conviction. We will not rush into anything. But of course, we don't want to drag it out indefinitely. Everyone is aware of that."

Ricken’s tone has shifted, suggesting that while Dortmund value Schlotterbeck, they’re unwilling to be held hostage by endless uncertainty. However, head coach Niko Kovac, speaking to ahead of the blockbuster clash against Bayern, brushed off the transfer talk and insisted that Dortmund aren’t panicking.

"What I see is completely positive," he said. "Schlotti is here with all his heart and soul. He's giving it his all in training, he wants to play every game, every minute. We had to wait a long time for him after his injury. Now he's back. He's looking forward to every minute in the black and yellow jersey, and that's why I'm not thinking about the future at all. It's all about the present, and he's very important to us."

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AFPSchlotterbeck holds all the cards

There had been reports that Real Madrid might enter the race, especially with David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger approaching the final years of their contracts. But there have been no concrete movements from Los Blancos, which effectively narrows the race to Bayern and Dortmund, with Liverpool observing from afar and waiting to see how the dominoes fall.

For his part, Schlotterbeck remains torn. The player has repeatedly spoken about his love for German football and his desire to stay in the Bundesliga. Before joining Dortmund from Freiburg, he told , “I'm not the type of person who necessarily wants to play in England or Spain. I always wanted to play in the Bundesliga, and preferably at the best club."

The defender is still leaning toward a renewal, believing in the Dortmund project and cherishing the bond with the club’s 81,000-strong Yellow Wall. But ambition and the lure of bigger trophies may prove too tempting to ignore forever. If the stalemate continues into next year, Dortmund may face an impossible decision as they might be forced to cash in on their prized asset.

Mohammed Kudus’ second-half strike earned Tottenham a 2-1 win at Elland Road as Leeds lost a home league game for the first time in over a year.

Ghana forward Kudus fired the winner shortly before the hour-mark after Leeds winger Noah Okafor had cancelled out Mathys Tel’s opener for Tottenham before the break.

It was Leeds’ first home league loss since a 1-0 defeat to Burnley in September 2024 and their third in the top flight this season, while Tottenham notched their fourth Premier League win under Thomas Frank.

The Londoners, who began the day in fifth place, have lost only one of their 11 matches in all competitions since Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou in June, while they have won on their last three visits to LS11.

And Tottenham reporter Alasdair Gold spotted an emotional scene at the full time whistle, as former Elland Road wonderkid Archie Gray finally got the chance to wave goodbye to his boyhood club in person, where he was met with applause from the home support.

Leeds 1-2 Tottenham: As it happened

Leeds, unchanged for four successive matches, quickly showed their intent through Sean Longstaff’s crunching tackle before Joe Rodon’s header from Anton Stach’s free-kick hit a post.

Joao Palhinha was wayward with a first chance for Spurs, who made five changes after Tuesday’s 2-2 Europa League draw against Bodo/Glimt in Norway.

The visitors threatened again as Destiny Udogie’s angled shot was blocked by Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow and more incisive play saw them take the lead in the 24th minute.

Kudus slipped Tel away down Leeds’ left channel and after racing to the edge of the box, the French winger unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner via a deflection off Pascal Struijk.

Kudus should have doubled Tottenham’s lead soon after when he fired wide from inside the penalty area as Leeds began to look ragged.

But Farke’s side regrouped. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was wayward after creating space inside the area and 10 minutes after falling behind they hauled themselves level.

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was only able to parry Brenden Aaronson’s deflected low effort and summer signing Okafor turned home the rebound for his second goal of the season.

Longstaff lashed over from the edge of the box as Tottenham began to creak, but in a see-saw encounter, the visitors went close to a second when Tel’s header from Wilson Odobert’s cross struck the crossbar before half-time.

The two sides resumed in pouring rain and half-chances continued to flow.

Darlow blocked Pedro Porro’s cross and at the other end Vicario was at full stretch to keep out Calvert-Lewin’s low strike.

A slip by Leeds defender Gabriel Gudmundsson helped Tottenham regain the lead in the 57th minute.

The Sweden left-back was dispossessed near the penalty are by Kudus, who darted inside and arrowed a low left-footed inside Darlow’s near post, via another deflection off Struijk.

But after edging back in front, Tottenham were unable to dictate the tempo and Leeds went close when Longstaff thundered a low shot narrowly wide.

Leeds swept forward in the closing stages, but substitute Joel Piroe was foiled by Vicario’s low save and Struijk’s header was deflected narrowly over.

Parth Jindal’s request came after the IPL relocated the May 23 match between RCB and SRH from Bengaluru to Lucknow because of “unfavourable weather conditions”

Nagraj Gollapudi21-May-2025Looking at the possibility of a washout, or serious interruptions, in the high-stakes IPL 2025 contest between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) on Wednesday night in Mumbai, DC co-owner Parth Jindal has requested the IPL to move the match to another city.If MI win on Wednesday, they are through to the playoffs; if DC win, neither team is through, and the fight for that final playoffs spot goes into their final league games – both of them have a game against Punjab Kings (PBKS) left after this one. In an email, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, to the IPL on Tuesday, Jindal pointed out that the “virtual quarter final is also expected to be washed out”.In case of a washout, the teams will split points, taking MI to 15 and DC to 14 ahead of their final fixtures.On Tuesday, the Indian met department issued a yellow alert (the second of four levels) for Mumbai for the next four days.Jindal’s plea came after the IPL on Tuesday “relocated” the May 23 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to Lucknow because of “unfavourable weather conditions” in Bengaluru.Jindal said it would be “consistent” then to move the MI-DC match, too.”The forecast in Mumbai is for heavy rains and there is a strong likelihood that the game will be washed out,” he wrote. “Just as the game between RCB vs SRH has been moved out of Bengaluru in the quest for consistency and in the interest of the league it is my request that tomorrow’s game also be moved to a different location as we have known for the better part of 6 days that the forecast for 21st in Mumbai is for heavy showers.”The development came close on the heels of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) chief executive Venky Mysore writing to the IPL to say that the defending champions were “aggrieved” that the new rain rule – an additional 120 minutes to complete games in case of rain – hadn’t been in place at the time of the restart of the IPL. On May 17, in the first game after the IPL resumed, the RCB vs KKR game in Bengaluru was washed out, ending KKR’s chances of making the playoffs.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's return to fitness could not have come at a more important time for Real Madrid, following the loss of Dani Carvajal to injury. It comes just a week before Los Blancos are due to face Liverpool in the Champions League at Anfield, only five months after Alexander-Arnold decided to end a 20-year association with his boyhood team.

Carvajal medical report revealed

On Tuesday, Real Madrid gave an official statement confirming that Carvajal has had knee surgery – he had earlier been "diagnosed with a loose joint in his right knee" following tests that had taken place on Monday. He didn't start El Clasico against Barcelona and felt discomfort after coming on.

"Our captain, Dani Carvajal, underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee today," it read. "The operation was performed by Dr. Manuel Leyes under the supervision of Real Madrid's Medical Services. Carvajal will begin recovery work in the coming days."

While there is no timeframe from the club on his return, early estimates suggest the right-back could be sidelined for most of the rest of the calendar while he recovers. It suggests he could be back in action at some point in December, or perhaps even after Real Madrid are back from Spain's winter break in early January.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesBoost for Alexander-Arnold ahead of Anfield return

Alexander-Arnold was struck down by a hamstring injury just five minutes into last month's Champions League win over Marseille, but was back in the matchday squad for Sunday's Barcelona clash for the first time since then. He didn't get on the pitch, with Carvajal going on to grab headlines for the way he angrily confronted Lamine Yamal at the final whistle, accusing the teenager of running his mouth in the build-up. But it points to a return to fitness, at least, for someone who hasn't naturally flourished since joining the club in June.

The former Liverpool defender was forced to share game time with Carvajal prior to getting injured, getting the nod against Osasuna and Mallorca but having to make do with late substitute appearances when Madrid faced Real Oviedo and Real Sociedad. Marseille was the next match after Real Sociedad, so it made sense for Trent to return to Xabi Alonso's XI, only for him to get injured straightaway.

But with Carvajal competition for the place now not a factor for the foreseeable future, Alexander-Arnold suddenly has a great chance of starting against Liverpool. There is no other senior recognised right-back in the first-team squad, although midfielder Federico Valverde has often filled in when needed – as was the case against Barcelona – and would be an option if Alexander-Arnold is viewed to be short on match fitness.

Liverpool's poor form without homegrown right-back

For Real Madrid, this feels like a good time to play what was, on paper at the time the league phase draw was conducted, their hardest fixture. While Alonso's side have won five straight games across all competitions since a surprisingly heavy defeat to city rivals Atletico a month ago, Liverpool have five of their last six outings – including four in a row in the Premier League to slide down the table.

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AFPHostile reception for Alexander-Arnold

Whether he starts at Anfield or not, Alexander-Arnold could find himself in for a hostile reception from the fans who used to consider him one of their own. Trent's decision to run down his Liverpool contract, ensuring the Reds could only command a negligible transfer fee due to the uniqueness of the mini-transfer window before the summer's Club World Cup, did not sit well with supporters. Alexander-Arnold was audibly booed by some Liverpool fans in the final weeks of last season and openly accused of betraying the club with homemade signs displayed in the area around Anfield. When he did eventually reach his last game for Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold was more warmly received inside the stadium, but that feeling may not last if he is lining up for an opponent he seemingly considered to be a bigger club.

Rangers could finally be closing in on a new manager and the 49ers have now reportedly set a new timeline in their pursuit of Shanghai Port boss Kevin Muscat.

Rohl drops out of Rangers manager race

It’s been a chaotic international break for those at Ibrox. They’ve watched on as the likes of Kevin Thelwell and the rest of the board have attempted to replace Russell Martin, who they made the shortest-serving manager in the club’s history after sacking him just 123 days in.

It looked as though it could be Steven Gerrard – he was certainly their leading candidate – before the Liverpool legend handed them the most frustrating rejection. And he’s not been the only one to withdraw from contention. As reported by Ben Jacobs, former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl has also dropped out of the race to become the next Rangers manager.

It’s the second time that the 36-year-old has been up for the Ibrox job and the second time that the 49ers will be looking elsewhere. Whether they’ll regret not pushing for his signature will be the big question in the coming weeks.

Rohl’s decision has very much left the door wide open for other candidates. The likes of Graham Potter and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have been mentioned in the last week, for example, and may yet receive their chance.

That said, the current favourite to take the job remains Muscat and with the Gers set to return to action this weekend, the Gers have reportedly taken a key step towards his arrival.

Rangers set Muscat timeline

According to Football Insider, the 49ers now want to strike an agreement with Muscat in the next 48 hours. There is reportedly growing confidence at Rangers that the 52-year-old will be the next man to take the reins and talks are advancing, even though it will mean convincing him to take a pay cut.

However, it remains to be seen just when Muscat will take charge. As things stand, he’s still got four Chinese Super League games to play at Shanghai Port, who sit top of the tree and two points clear.

"Brilliant" former assistant to Hansi Flick wants to be Rangers manager – report

He’s eager to get going…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 15, 2025

On course to win silverware and end an era in style, the Rangers manager candidate may not be keen to take the reins until the current Chinese season ends in mid-November.

If that does prove to be the case, then Rangers will have to appoint an interim until Muscat is available next month, with Neil McCann thought to be the likely option. Given where they find themselves in the Scottish Premiership – 11 points behind shock leaders Hearts – more disruption is the last thing that the Gers need.

Nonetheless, Muscat remains the favourite and most likely to take the job now that Rohl has removed himself from contention. After failing to get the job ahead of Philippe Clement in 2023, the former Rangers player could now finally get his chance to step into the Ibrox dugout.

England cap back-to-back 3-0 series wins for Harry Brook’s first assignments as limited-overs captain

Vithushan Ehantharajah10-Jun-2025England completed their white-ball rout of West Indies at the Utilita Bowl on Tuesday, underlining their dominance by securing a 37-run victory in the third T20I.Capping off back-to-back 3-0 series wins for Harry Brook’s first assignments as limited-overs captain – England’s first in T20Is since 2021, against Sri Lanka – was a vast margin that began with a mammoth 248 for 3, having been put in to bat by Shai Hope. Ben Duckett’s 84, which began alongside 60 from Jamie Smith – a maiden half-century in the format – set the platform with 120 inside nine overs.With the help of a series of cameos, including an eye-catching 36 not out from Jacob Bethell, England were able to post their second-highest score in the format, and highest at home.In reply, West Indies embarked on an unconvincing pursuit of a record chase. Hope’s presumption at the toss that this pitch would stay consistent throughout did bear out to a point. His side registered 14 sixes to England’s 15, four of them from West Indies’ former T20 captain Rovman Powell, who hit his tenth fifty-plus score with a 45-ball 79 not out.With West Indies reaching 211 for 8, a new aggregate record for a T20I in England was set. The match also put England 19-18 in front on the historical head-to-head between the two sides, the first time they have led that metric.ESPNcricinfo LtdDuckett, the multi-format starDuckett’s third T20I half-century, off 20 deliveries, gave him the neat record of the fourth-fastest by an Englishman. A handy gong for a player who might rank as one of England’s best multi-format openers.That is not too grand a statement. If anything, maybe the “one of” qualifier can be dropped. Duckett’s reliability across codes since re-establishing himself in all three formats is remarkable. This year alone – upon returning to the shortest format in India – he has been a banker, offering varying degrees of intent. Though he did miss out on ticking each century box in the space of ten innings – a sequence beginning with 165 against Australia in the Champions Trophy, along with last month’s Test 140 against Zimbabwe – this new career-best T20I score underlined the calibre of batter he has become.Six deliveries into the match, a reverse-slap-shot over the covers off Akeal Hosein set the tone. The No. 2 T20I bowler in the world did not earn that ranking by doubting himself in the powerplay. But in the very next over, the left-arm spinner, having shifted his field to put two square out of the ring to cope with Duckett’s orthodox and reverse sweeps, was unpicking those plans as the left-hand batter adjusted to strike down the ground and either side of the man out at square leg. That included a remarkable strike for six behind square off a delivery seemingly too full and wide of off stump to be worked in that direction with any malice, never mind over the sponge.Hosein is not the first quality operator to be undone by Duckett’s invention or clarity, and he likely won’t be the last this summer. And in keeping with filling his team-mates with confidence, the 30-year old has clearly helped Smith settle in his new role as a limited-overs opener, with Smith pocketing maiden half-centuries in both formats in the last seven days.Jamie Smith notched his maiden T20I half-century•PA Photos/Getty ImagesGreen shoots of ruthlessness?There was a stage in Eoin Morgan’s captaincy when his England teams had developed such a ruthless streak that he could afford to rest himself from time to time. The biggest flex of this confidence came when he sat out a T20I series decider against South Africa in 2017. Amid a flurry of criticism, England won pretty comfortably. As deep as England’s talent was – Alex Hales replaced Morgan in that XI – the machine had learned to win in a variety of situations. Even without their skipper.It’ll take some time for England to rediscover that, well, arrogance or even re-establish that reputation as an imposing white-ball force. But those seeds that flourished during that 2015-19 cycle were sown early by doing as England did here tonight. With cold, calculating talk from their skipper – “we want to start nailing teams down into the ground” – as he revealed an unchanged team, followed by an equally merciless performance.In truth, England did not need to be as good as they were to beat this iteration of West Indies. That they ensured they were, right to the very end, suggests they are on the right track. Not necessarily towards world domination, but to making winning second nature.Rovman Powell fought to the end with an unbeaten 79 from 45 balls•PA Photos/Getty ImagesWest Indies need quick turnaroundHas there been a more demoralising 48 hours in West Indian cricket? A series defeat confirmed with a game to spare on Sunday, followed by a one-sided defeat in Southampton that bookended this England tour with eye-watering defeats, after a 238-run pasting in the first ODI.It was in between these defeats, on Monday, that Nicholas Pooran announced a shock retirement. One of the game’s leading lights, and a great hope of Caribbean cricket, calling time at the age of 29. A tour that began with the caveat that some of West Indies’ missing stars would be back soon enough has ended with the brightest seemingly gone for good.Even if West Indies had bested England comprehensively, Pooran’s loss would have felt just as bleak ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup. But off the back of these three defeats, it is clear the once kings of this format are losing their domain. The last fortnight has shown West Indies are no longer a progressive T20 outfit. That they out-sixed England 35 to 32 while being dominated highlights a shift in how this format is played.Given the World Cup is only eight months away, starting again is probably not the way to go. But with Pooran no longer around to paper over the cracks, a quick fix is needed.

Martin Odegaard has revealed the remarkable technique he is employing as he bids to speed up his comeback from injury. The Arsenal skipper suffered a shoulder injury against Leeds earlier in the season, which he re-aggravated in the home win over Nottingham Forest. However, it's a knee problem sustained against West Ham that has ruled Odegaard out since the start of October.

Getty Images SportOdegaard suffered an MCL injury against West Ham

Odegaard lasted just 30 minutes of the 2-0 win over West Ham at the start of October and isn't expected to return to action until after the November international break. The Arsenal skipper suffered an MCL injury in his left knee following a collision with Hammers winger Crysencio Summerville. In the process, Odegaard unwittingly made history as he became the first player to be withdrawn before half-time in three successive English top-flight fixtures.

On the injury at the time, head coach Mikel Arteta said: "We haven't had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other. The shoulder twice and then this injury. We'll have to wait and see the extent of that injury, and we'll find solutions, but obviously he's our captain and is a player that gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attacking."

Ahead of the Gunners' recent Champions League win over Atletico Madrid, Odegaard lifted the lid on how his recovery is going as he targets a return to action. "The rehab is going well. I had a few days off after the West Ham game, because I couldn’t do much work and had to rest my knee anyway, so I went to Norway," Odegaard penned in his captain's notes for the pre-match programme.

"But I’ve been back for a week now and working every day to keep my fitness up as well as trying to heal the injury, so it’s busy days at the moment. It's hard work and long days in recovery, but that’s what you want and I feel like it’s going well so far."

Advertisement'Nice to feel that progression'

The Gunners skipper has since revealed the remarkable technique he has deployed in order to speed up his recovery. "It’s going well and I’m progressing a lot," Odegaard started.

"I’ve started moving around more and I’ve been running on the anti-gravity machine this week. It’s hard work, but nice to feel that progression – it gives you more motivation."

Arsenal have a number of anti-gravity treadmills in their medical and rehab centre at their London Colney training centre. Anti-gravity treadmills use a pressurised air chamber to uniformly reduce gravitational load and body weight in precise 1% increments and enables patients to move pain free, restoring and building muscle strength, range of motion, balance, function, and fitness in the process.

Getty Images SportOdegaard targeting North London Derby

Odegaard will be targeting the North London Derby as a potential return date following his knee injury. Arsenal face Burnley, Slavia Prague and Sunderland before the final international break of the year next month.

And Arsenal make a testing return to domestic duties following the international break as they face rivals Tottenham before a testing Champions League tie with Bavarian powerhouse Bayern Munich.

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Arsenal made history on Wednesday

Arsenal have been nigh-on unstoppable this season having failed to win only two matches in all competitions this season as they lost 1-0 to Liverpool and drew 1-1 with Manchester City in September. And their 2-0 EFL Cup win over Brighton saw the Gunners make history.

Indeed, their 2-0 victory over Brighton meant they became the first English top-flight team in history to play all six games in a month, and win them all without conceding a single goal as Arsenal extended their winning run to eight games.

Victory over the Seagulls set up a fifth round EFL Cup meeting with fellow Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, who Arsenal beat 1-0 on home turf earlier this month courtesy of a first half Eberechi Eze strike.

For the first time this season, Newcastle United have finally won two games in a row. Eddie Howe’s side have struggled to get a good run of form going, with some tough fixtures including visits from Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League, and Barcelona in the Champions League.

Yet, the Magpies will surely be relieved to be heading into the October international break with two consecutive wins. They thrashed Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0 away from home in Europe, before beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 at St James’ Park last weekend.

New signing Nick Woltemade scored in both games to continue his excellent start to life in the North East.

Woltemade’s Newcastle career so far

There was certainly a lot of pressure on Woltemade when he made the move to St James’ Park from Stuttgart this summer. The £69m fee Newcastle paid was a club record, and stepping into the shoes of Alexander Isak was never going to be easy.

Yet, the German international has certainly hit the ground running so far. The 23-year-old is only seven games into his Magpies career so far, but he’s already bagged four goals. That includes three strikes in just four games in the Premier League.

The latest of those goals came in Sunday afternoon’s 2-0 win against Ange Postecoglou’s Forest side. Woltemade scored from the penalty spot, emphatically firing home into the top right corner from 12 yards out.

There has certainly been high praise for the German attacker, with legendary Magpies striker Alan Shearer complimenting his form so far.

The all-time Premier League top goalscorer said he should be “really pleased” to have made such a “promising” start to life in the North East.

The 23-year-old has shone for the Magpies over the past week. With that being said, there was a striker once on Newcastle’s books who has outscored Woltemade this season already.

Looking back on it, perhaps the Magpies wish they’d have kept him at the club.

The ex-Newcastle star outscoring Woltemade

Newcastle have had some impressive number nines at the club in recent seasons. Of course, Isak made a name for himself at St James’ Park, although he left in the summer. His namesake, Premier League cult-hero Alexander Mitrovic, also played for the club.

Yet, one name that constantly goes under the radar when it comes to former Magpies strikers is England international Ivan Toney. The 29-year-old only made four appearances in that famous Black and White striped shirt, and never found the back of the net.

After several loans in the EFL, the Northampton-born striker made a name for himself at Brentford before securing a move to Saudi Arabia. He now plies his trade in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Ahli.

It has been a strong start to Toney’s second campaign for Al-Ahli. He’s only played ten games so far, but already has eight goals and one assist to his name, doubling Woltemade’s tally for the season. Three of those goals have come in the Saudi Pro League, in four games.

Those stats do not tell the full picture, though. The England star has put up some impressive numbers during his time in Saudi Arabia so far.

For example, he’s averaged 0.8 goals per game across each season in the top flight.

Goals

0.8

0.8

Shots on target

2

1.1

Big chances missed

1

0.8

Key passes

1.2

0.8

Aerial duels won

1.3

1.6

If only Newcastle had kept hold of Toney, they could have had a “clinical” striker at the club, as Statman Dave called him. The fact that he’s already doubled Woltemade’s tally this season shows how deadly he is in front of goal.

Certainly, selling him to Peterborough United all those years ago for just £350k seems like a huge error now. Toney is flying now in the Saudi Pro League, and Newcastle fans can only look back on this and wonder what could have been.

He's "similar to Mbappe": Newcastle have signed bigger talent than Anderson

Newcastle are reshaping their youth system under PIF ownership.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 8, 2025

Ben Duckett’s 62 in a 122-run stand with Pope held England’s response together after India finished on 471

Vithushan Ehantharajah21-Jun-2025Stumps Saturday in Leeds was a day of opportunities taken and spurned. Unfortunately for India, it was their contribution to the latter that has changed the complexion of this Test match.Having begun the day with Rishabh Pant’s thrill-filled 134, the third century of the innings, India proceeded to lose 7 for 41 to cap their first innings at 471. And yet more profligacy in the field not only allowed Ollie Pope to move to his ninth Test century, but England to close on 209 for 3.Related

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Pope, unbeaten on 100, rests satiated with a second Test hundred in a row following his 171 against Zimbabwe, at a time when his place has been questioned with the precocious yet century-less Jacob Bethell, who is waiting in the wings.Pope rests dreaming of mimicking his Hyderabad epic that dug England out of a similar-sized hole. But India will rue a drop on 60 by Yashasvi Jaiswal at third slip, after Pope had played in the air through that region earlier (when on 48), and where fourth would have been at the very start of his innings when on 10. That he had made all three errors off Jasprit Bumrah was no surprise, particularly as the demonic quick ended up accounting for all three wickets.But just when it looked like Bumrah would head to stumps with a clean record, a third front-foot no ball in his final over of the day ended up giving Harry Brook a life on 0. A brutal short ball was clothed amateurishly by Brook towards midwicket. Umpire Chris Gaffaney, having stuck his arm out for the previously delivery, put his hand to his ear before doing so once more as news of another infringement came through from the television umpire.2:22

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That would have made it 208 for 4 at stumps. India’s frustration was carried in spades by the searing bouncer Bumrah delivered to close out a thrilling day’s play. They could have batted a victory out of England’s reach but instead, the hosts have seven wickets left to claw back more if not all of the remaining deficit of 262.Was it a lack of ruthlessness on Shubman Gill’s first day in the field as India’s Test captain? If so, it was not something anyone could have predicted when he and Pant recommenced India’s first innings on 359 for 3. The first 90 minutes of play was a reassertion of their day one dominance, with Pant at his mischievous best.He was a one-man circus of heaves and tumbles, the first of them coming when he greeted Shoaib Bashir’s first delivery with a fall-away paddle over his shoulder. The second was more choreographed after lifting Bashir over wide midwicket to bring up his seventh hundred as wicketkeeper, from his 146th delivery, this a third century on these shores – no other keeper-batter has more than one – that also sits top of his three-figure knocks for most sixes (six).There were no chances offered, per se, until, on 124, he ran past a delivery from Bashir and was forced to reclaim his ground on his hands and knees, having flung the bat away towards fine leg. Jamie Smith failed to capitalise on the error, but his blushes were saved when Josh Tongue, hidden in the field for most of this session, was able to catch Pant not playing a shot to trap him lbw.2:33

Manjrekar: The world knows how special Pant is

By then, Gill’s own century had been cut off at 147, when he lifted Bashir to Tongue at deep square-leg, angling for his second six and 21st boundary, ending the fourth-wicket stand on 209. Karun Nair had also come and gone, an eight-year hiatus amounting to a four-ball duck when he was plucked gloriously out of the air by Pope at cover.And so, with lunch looming, the thought was India would take it to the break and regroup. Alas, Shardul Thakur brought about an early break when chasing a very wide delivery through to Smith. It gave Ben Stokes figures for 4 for 66, once again the England captain standing out as the best bowler on show.He was soon joined on a four-for by Tongue, who wagged when the tail did not to clean up some untidy figures. The Nottinghamshire quick went from nursing 0 for 78 from 17 to parading 4 for 86 from 20.A tame but delaying shower meant England’s first innings only began at 2.55pm, with ominous looking clouds and a ground illuminated by the floodlights promising movement for Bumrah. He needed just six deliveries to get one bending reality; Zak Crawley turned inside out with one that swung in late and seamed away later, flying through to Nair at face height at first slip.That he would only take 1 for 21 in his opening five overs was through no fault of his own. Though Gill kept a packed cordon for the first 20 overs, the desire to cover more than one position with just one fielder led to Pope’s initial pseudo life on 10 – a Schrödinger’s fourth slip, if you will. But it was at the end of his fourth over that Bumrah had Ben Duckett dropped on 15, by Ravindra Jadeja of all people, at backward point.Duckett would end up moving to his 19th score of fifty or more from 68 deliveries with a fine sweep off Jadeja, marching forward with Pope in a stand of 122 that for the most part actually felt easier than it maybe should have been.On 62, Duckett drove a thick edge onto his stumps to hand Bumrah his third, met with an exclamation from the 31-year-old that spoke of the fact his frustration was steadily morphing into anger. From that point on, it was Pope who seized the initiative a little more, dwarfing Joe Root (42 to 28) in an 80-run stand where he seemed like the more established pro.Mohammed Siraj emerged from a patchy first spell to hold his own and one end, and seemingly had Root on toast. For a moment, he thought he had him outright, lbw for 7, with the impact in front of the stumps and the right-hand batter selling it well with a stumble over to the off side. But a review would take that from Siraj, with HawkEye projecting the delivery would miss leg stump, forcing umpire Paul Reiffel to overturn his decision.Pope, though, was making hay while Bumrah was powering back up. He had already got away with a flinch outside off that Jaiswal, diving low to his right, should have held. Bumrah’s reaction was to open his arms out to the cordon as if to ask “WHY?!” Understandably, given he had opened the evening session and been immediately dabbed through a vacant third by Pope, who moved to 52 from 74 deliveries.1:12

Manjrekar: Stokes makes England a dangerous side

The remainder of the No. 3’s crisp 100 took just 51 deliveries more, helped by Thakur’s lack of pace, which allowed him to drive on the up through the covers, before a stylish back cut off Prasidh Krishna’s extra pace. The latter decided to be more forceful in his approach to Pope, offering a few choice words along with some short stuff. Pope responded with a well-executed pull-flip over to the fine-leg fence for a one bounce for, clearing the man up around the corner with ease, and taking deep square-leg out of the game entirely.Bumrah’s return for two overs at the end was always going to give us a final shot of drama. A thick inside edge into the leg side brought Pope his century, and as good a reason as any to let the frustrations of talk in the media and behind his back flow out in a cathartic, satisfying roar, punching the air with a mix of relief and glee. It was by no means a convincing way to move to such a landmark, but the fact he walked at Bumrah was an apt reminder of the guts he showed throughout this knock.Joy was short-lived when Root finally succumbed to a teaser outside off. But an over later, Bumrah’s journey to anger had been completed. Brook’s reprieve was all the more irksome for India considering the efforts of Siraj to take the catch running back at midwicket.India still have the surer footing in this match, with England resuming on Sunday 63 off the follow-on target. But they have relinquished the opportunity to be the sole drivers of this match.