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A young mother, a hard grafter and a flamboyant allrounder all delivered when it mattered

S Sudarshanan18-Mar-2022Afy Fletcher was into her sixth straight over – and West Indies into their 13th since their last wicket, defending 140 – when she got the better of Fargana Hoque. It was not the generous flight by the legspinner which enticed the well-set Hoque into a false shot that grabbed the spotlight, but what played out after that.Fletcher ran towards covers, took out an imaginary phone from her pocket to mock-dial her seven-month-old on a video call to say, “Hi baby!” with a wave and a gleam in her eyes. Irrespective of where your allegiance lay, it was a moment that would have brought a smile to your face.Fletcher returned to international cricket after maternity leave during the home series against South Africa in February, but played just the one match. In the two warm-up matches ahead of the Women’s World Cup, she remained wicketless. It then took West Indies five games to get Fletcher into the playing XI, but now here she was in the thick of the action.”I thought Afy was brilliant (in her) first (World Cup) game back after giving birth,” captain Stafanie Taylor said after the match. “She has been working really hard in the nets. Really pleased she came out on top.”In the over after she dismissed Hoque, Fletcher showed why she is rated highly. First an authentic legbreak got the better of Rumana Ahmed as she was caught behind, before a wrong ‘un left Ritu Moni clueless next ball. Though she couldn’t get the hat-trick, her ten overs – bowled at one go – resulted in three wickets for 29 runs and, more importantly, broke the back of the chase.Hayley Matthews finished with career-best ODI figures•AFP/Getty Images”You look at women in sport nowadays and you see so many changes happening,” Hayley Matthews said later. “It’s been fantastic that she’s been able to go out, become a mother and come back. It speaks for her dedication at her age – being 30-something at this point.”It is becoming more of a regular happenstance that women can leave the game, give birth and come back to it, knowing that they have that support around her. It’s brilliant to have her back, we saw the class that she is and we expect only good things from her going forward as always.”Matthews herself delivered a Player-of-the-Match performance, with career-best ODI figures of four wickets for 15. She is currently the joint-leading wicket-taker at the tournament, with ten scalps, and among the top five run-getters as well.”Over the last year or so, I was able to understand a lot about bowling offspin in certain situations,” she said. “(I have been) working on my technique, getting my hand coming from a bit higher, trying to get as many revs as possible. What’s more important for me is to control where I am pitching the ball. As a tall girl, helps me get a bit more bounce as well.”That Matthews bowled the opening over in West Indies’ defence of 140 speaks about Taylor’s faith in her and she backed it up with a wicket off the fifth ball, trapping Shamima Sultana in front.Shemaine Campbelle gave the bowlers something to defend•ICC via Getty Images”Looking at the wicket, we saw how well their spinners bowled,” Matthews said. “The conditions definitely suited spin. So we figured that if we get a spinner there in as early as possible, it would be really helpful and hopefully pick up some early wickets. I am just the one the team went for and it worked pretty well.”Matthews, Fletcher and Taylor picked up all ten wickets between them, making it the first instance of spinners claiming all ten in a Women’s World Cup match. It perhaps wouldn’t have got to a stage where the trio could put pressure and inflict damage on Bangladesh, had it not been for Shemaine Campbelle’s gritty innings.West Indies were 48 for 3 when the wicketkeeper-batter walked in and soon found themselves 70 for 7. At that time, Campbelle was on 15 off 63 balls, 52 of which were dots. However, she stayed put and scored her second half-century in this competition, in the process helping West Indies get to a total which had looked way beyond their reach at one point.Also read: Cricket’s mothers have it better now than ever (but not all of them)
“At that point we really needed our batters to stand up and she did really well,” Matthews said, heaping praise on Cambelle. “She’s the type of person who can catch up and get the runs towards the end of the innings. She realised what was more important and that was her spending time in the middle, and she did exactly that. Some people will say the strike rate was pretty low but at the same time we were in a bit of a trouble. She just did what we needed her to do.”While West Indies have flexed their bowling muscle well to churn out three wins in five matches and move to the third spot on the points table, they will know it is time for their batting to come good to truly make this World Cup a party.

Davey Johnson, former Major League Baseball player and manager, died on Friday. He was 82.

Johnson played 13 seasons in the majors, spending the majority of his career with the Orioles, where he was a stalwart at second base. He was a part of two World Series championship teams in Baltimore, in 1966 and ‘70, and was named an All Star four times.

After leaving the Orioles, Johnson spent a few seasons with the Braves, hitting alongside Hank Aaron, before stints with the Phillies and Cubs, as well as a brief stay with the Yomiuri Giants of NPB.

Just six years after his playing career, Johnson got his first shot as a manager, taking over the top job for the Mets in 1984. He found notable success in Queens, including a World Series championship in 1986. He also became the first NL manager in history to lead his team to at least 90 wins in his first five seasons at the helm.

After his time with the Mets came to a close, Johnson briefly led the Reds, Orioles and Dodgers before leaving the game in 2000. He would return in 2011 to lead the Nationals.

The Orioles celebrated the life of Johnson with a statement.

Pat Cummins became a genuine option for a recall in Brisbane over the past week as he surprised everyone with the speed of his recovery. However, Australia’s selectors ultimately decided there was too much risk attached in playing a bowler whose overs would still need to be managed, but are very confident in him being ready for Adelaide.Chair of selectors George Bailey said his panel had not been “playing silly buggers” in leaving Cummins out of the squad but refusing to officially rule him out of contention in the lead-up to the second Test. However, he did admit a hug between Cummins and Andrew McDonald during a pitch inspection on Wednesday had been “for laughs”.Bailey said that there had been no expectation of Cummins being available when the group was selected but it became a realistic prospect as he ramped up his training in Brisbane, which included two spells on Monday and his first bowls on back-to-back days.”We weren’t playing silly buggers with him not being in the squad and in the mix. But I think once we got up here, saw his training, got as much of the background medical information as well, it became a live possibility,” he said. “Then it was just working through the permutations of what would that look like in terms of the amount of overs, what would it look like going forward from that as well.Related

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“I don’t think we thought he was going to be as close, it really changed through the week. Then risk tolerance became the conversation around what could he take on. Yes, he could have played. There would have been some restrictions around the overs and then obviously just the permutations [around that].”There was also consideration into what bringing Cummins back for this Test could mean going forward, and the added pressure it could leave on the rest of the attack. “Being in a really controlled environment [in] the nets where you can be really structured around the breaks and how you want it, then it’s just that risk of maybe going into a game,” Bailey said. “There’s some things you can control and probably some things that do get taken out of your control.”Meanwhile, Bailey said that the selectors had not got to the stage of debating whether Usman Khawaja would retain his place for the Gabba because he had never been passed fit to play. Khawaja batted on Tuesday before being ruled out of the Test the following day, having not recovered from the back spasms he suffered in Perth. He returned to the nets on Thursday. Travis Head, who made 123 in Australia’s chase in the opening match, will continue in the opening role during the second Test.”He hadn’t got his back back to baseline,” Bailey said. “And if you’re not back to the starting point then it’s obviously a heightened risk. There’s obviously your own performance, but when you’re injured and you feel like you’ve let the team down, I think that was something he was just conscious of; if it happened again, it would be an awful feeling. So sitting this one out buys time.”For now, Head is not being locked in at the top beyond this Test, and there has even been discussion of having in-match flexibility to batting orders.”We’ve gone into this series so far very much with a Test-by-Test focus,” Bailey said. “I imagine we’ll get another look at it here and see what that looks like and see that combination. We can cross that bridge [and] make that decision as and when we need to make that decision, but it’s an interesting one. What’s the threshold now for it to be a specialist opener, what’s that look like?”

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Horas antes da decisão entre Fluminense e LDU, pela Recopa Sul-Americana, torcedores do time equatoriano contrataram um avião com uma faixa escrita “Voltei, meu filho”, provocando o Tricolor das Laranjeiras. Veja no vídeo acima.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoJohn Kennedy, do Fluminense, termina casamento após mulher desconfiar de traiçãoFora de Campo29/02/2024FluminenseCom LDU e catimba pela frente, Fluminense joga a Recopa para exorcizar fantasma de 16 anosFluminense29/02/2024Onde AssistirFluminense x LDU: onde assistir, horário e escalações do jogo pela RecopaOnde Assistir29/02/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Como a LDU venceu o jogo de ida por 1 a 0, a equipe Josep Alcácer precisa de um empate no Maracanã para sair com o título. O Fluminense quer “dar o troco” na equipe equatoriana, que conquistou a Libertadores no Rio de Janeiro, diante do Tricolor das Laranjeiras, em 2006.

➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

Tudo sobre

FluminenseLDURecopa Sul-Americana

U.S. Soccer have confirmed the U.S. men's national team's final four opponents ahead of next summer's World Cup. The road to the tournament will continue in March as the U.S. host Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Belgium before clashes with Germany and another yet-to-be-named opponent in two pre-tournament friendlies next summer.

• AFP
  

  The schedule

  The U.S. will spend March stationed at the federation's new home, Atlanta, for a pair of marquee friendlies. Up first will be a clash with Belgium on March 28 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of Atlanta United. Three days later, the U.S. will face Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal at the same venue.

  Then, after Mauricio Pochettino confirms his World Cup squad, the U.S. will head to Charlotte FC's Bank of America Stadium for a May 31 clash against an unnamed opponent. They will then have one final pre-tournament friendly against Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 6. That Germany match will come six days before the USMNT's World Cup opener in Los Angeles.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What Pochettino said

  The Argentine manager highlighted that this is an important test for his squad. 

  “For us, this is a massive opportunity to challenge ourselves against some of the top teams in the world. These are incredible matches for the players and for the fans,” USMNT head coach Pochettino said. “We are so happy to be playing in our new home of Atlanta, and of course to be competing in the great cities of Charlotte and Chicago ahead of the World Cup.”  

• Getty
  

  Big games on the horizon

  The series of matches against elite opponents continues the trend of big games for the USMNT. This fall, the U.S. took on South Korea, Japan, Ecuador, Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay, all teams bound for the World Cup next summer. Belgium, Portugal and Germany, of course, will be in the World Cup field as well, with all three joining the USMNT as Pot One teams.

  Throughout that fall run against World Cup opponents, the U.S. went 4-1-1, picking up wins over Japan, Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay as part of a five-game unbeaten run to close 2025. In total, the U.S. concluded the 2025 slate with a record of 11-6-1.

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• Getty Images
  

  What comes next?

  While the games are over, the drama sure isn't for the USMNT. On Friday, the U.S. will learn the team's World Cup group at the official draw, which is set to be held in Washington, D.C.

FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders traveling to matches in the United States will be able to receive prioritized U.S. visa interview appointments under a new initiative announced at the White House on Monday. The program – the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS) – was introduced by the U.S. Department of State in coordination with the White House Task Force and FIFA.

Getty Images NewsWhite House event announces new FIFA PASS program

FIFA PASS will allow fans who have purchased World Cup tickets through FIFA to request priority visa interview slots at U.S. embassies and consulates. The State Department said the system will launch in early 2026 and emphasized that all applicants must still complete the standard vetting and eligibility process required for a U.S. visa.

“If you have a ticket for the World Cup, you can have prioritized appointments to get your visa,” Infantino said at the event. Rubio added that the government has deployed more than 400 additional consular officers worldwide to help meet expected demand ahead of the tournament.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportProgram gives ticket holders access to priority visa interviews

More than six million tickets are expected to be made available for the 2026 World Cup, which will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Eleven U.S. cities will host a combined 78 matches, including group-stage games, knockout rounds and the final.

Fans who need a visa and live in countries with available appointments are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, the State Department said. Travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries may instead seek authorization through ESTA. 

Infantino has repeatedly emphasized that “the world is welcome in America,” offering public reassurances that international fans will be safe and supported when traveling to the United States for both the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup. His comments follow meetings with the White House Task Force and come amid ongoing scrutiny over the U.S. government’s immigration policies, security concerns, and visa challenges. Human Rights Watch has urged FIFA to be prepared to reconsider hosting if traveler safety cannot be guaranteed, even as Infantino maintains that U.S. officials have assured him that all fans who come to “celebrate football” will be welcomed.

Getty Images SportFIFA World Cup 2026's economic impact

Earlier this year, a joint study from FIFA and the World Trade Organization projected that hosting the 2026 tournament could generate 185,000 full-time jobs in the United States and contribute USD 17.2 billion to the economy.

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Getty Images SportLooking ahead

Additional guidance for ticket holders on how to access FIFA PASS will be provided in early 2026, and updated entry information for all three host nations is available on FIFA’s official website.

"The kick-off is coming up, so now is the time to apply. We’re honored to host the greatest and safest World Cup in history," Rubio said.

تحدث حسام حسن، المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر الأول، عن الخسارة أمام أوزبكستان بهدفين نظيفين، ضمن منافسات دورة العين الودية.

وقال حسام حسن، عبر المؤتمر الصحفي: “أحب المكسب، وكرة القدم فيها مكسب وخسارة، الشوط الثاني قدمنا أداء بشكل أفضل، وهذا طبيعي، المباريات الودية الأهم أننا نستفيد منها ونجرب ونرى الأخطاء”.

وتابع: “واجهنا منتخبًا يقدم كرة جميلة، ونعلم قدراتهم تمامًا وتأهلوا لكأس العالم، ويؤدون بشكل جيد، كان لدي 8 لاعبين أساسيين غائبين ومؤثرين ما بين عبد المنعم وإمام عاشور وتريزيجيه ومهند لاشين ومرموش وإبراهيم عادل، لاعبون أصحاب قدرات عالية كانوا ستيفرقون معنا كثيرًا في الناحية الهجومية”.

طالع.. موعد مباراة مصر القادمة بعد الخسارة أمام أوزبكستان

وواصل: “دائمًا منتخب مصر لا يقف على أحد، وكانت فرصة أننا نجرب وجوهًا جديدة، مثل مروان عثمان ومحمود صابر وأسامة فيصل، المباريات الودية فرصة لمشاركة اللاعبين الجدد وفرصة أن نعرف أين وصلنا، ودون القوام الأساسي”.

واستكمل: “أنا سعيد بأداء الشوط الثاني قلت للاعبين إن الفترة المقبلة سنلعب على مستوى عالٍ من ناحية التجارب الودية، تجعلنا نلعب في كأس أمم إفريقيا بشكل قوي، ونذهب بأفضل العناصر المتواجدة، تجربة إيجابية جدًا واستفدت منها جدًا، السلبية الوحيدة هي الخسارة التي لا بحبها”.

وأضاف حسام حسن: “الشوط الثاني كان الأداء جيدًا، الشوط الأول كان به أخطاء فردية غريبة، نوع من عدم الجدية في الضغط في الهدف الأول، والهدف الثاني التغطية خلف محمد هاني كانت غير جيدة في قلب الدفاع”.

وأتم: “سعيد بأداء أحمد فتوح وطاهر محمد طاهر وزيزو، قدموا أداءً جيدًا، وهم المستقبل في الفترة المقبلة وتُجْعِلنا نشكل قوامًا جيدًا في كأس أمم إفريقيا”.

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

Duckett: Bumrah the best in the world

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.

Tottenham Hotspur are now battling north London rivals Arsenal for the signature of a young French defender who has a “rare quality”.

Spurs looking defensively solid since Frank's arrival

Despite leading Tottenham to Europa League glory, Ange Postecoglou received widespread criticism for his inability to make his side defensively sound, conceding a whopping 65 goals in the Premier League alone last season, which resulted in a 17th-place finish.

Since Thomas Frank’s arrival, however, Spurs have looked much more solid at the back, according to former midfielder Danny Murphy, who said: “He’s fixing the main problem that Tottenham had last year, which is why they finished 17th. They conceded so many goals and they were wide open.

Tottenham now in contact to sign "complete" fast winger ahead of Rangers

He would be one for the future for Spurs.

ByHenry Jackson Oct 12, 2025

“He’s gone in there and gone, ‘We’re going to be better defensively, first and foremost, and we’ll sacrifice the looking great and creativity for a little while.”

It has been an impressive start to the season for Frank’s side, having collected 14 points from their opening seven games, and their improved defensive record suggests the Dane may not need to bolster his options at the back anytime soon.

However, according to a report from Caught Offside, Tottenham have now joined the race for a new centre-back, namely FC Nantes defender Tylel Tati, who is also being targeted by Arsenal, and a number of Europe’s top clubs.

Tati is a versatile player, also capable of slotting in at left-back and defensive midfield, and he has caught the eye of Barcelona, Manchester United and Liverpool, with scouts being sent to watch the 17-year-old in action.

Born in Paris’ eastern suburbs around 11km from the birthplace of current French sensation William Saliba, if the teenager is able to continue his current rate of development, there is a feeling he could be ready to move to a Champions League side in 2026.

Tati has one "rare quality" that sets him apart

The French youngster has emerged as a key first-team player for Nantes this season, which is no mean feat at just 17, and Stéphane Ziani, director of the training centre, believes the starlet has one key strength that sets him apart.

Ziani said: “Tylel has this rare quality of reading the game before the others. And he has a good head on his shoulders.”

Perhaps the youngster’s most impressive performance to date came in a 1-0 defeat against Strasbourg back in August, winning every duel he contested and making a number of other important defensive contributions.

Statistic

Number completed

Clearances

2

Tackles

3

Duels won

6 (6)

Tati is clearly a very talented young player, but signing a new centre-back should not be Tottenham’s priority heading into the January transfer window, given their improved defensive performances since Frank’s arrival.

Instead, it would be a smart move to bring in a new left-winger, having arguably failed to replace Son Heung-min, with AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo of interest, although it could take a club-record £75m offer to get a deal done.

The international break will have come at a welcome time for Rangers and under-fire boss, Russell Martin, with the former Scotland defender having endured a miserable start to life at Ibrox.

Four points from four in the Premiership, alongside a Champions League qualifying embarrassment, has already plunged the ex-Southampton boss into crisis. Can he turn it around?

There’s no hiding from what was a miserable August, although nothing has been decided yet. The season is only in its infancy.

With 14 new signings needing to properly bed in to life in Glasgow, it may still be too soon to properly judge Martin’s tenure, albeit with the pressure on considering the nature of their summer outlay.

Roughly £30m was reportedly spent by the Gers during the most recent window, with the most notable investment having been the £8m that was splashed out on goal-shy Everton youngster, Youssef Chermiti.

That eye-watering fee – which could rise to £10m with add-ons – will bring with it a lefty weight of expectation. Is the Portuguese striker worth the risk?

Youssef Chermiti's record pre-Rangers

Three goals in 22 games for Sporting Lisbon. No goals in 24 senior outings for the Toffees. A record that points to Rangers – and former Everton chief Kevin Thelwell – gambling on potential rather than proven quality.

It is a “heck of a gamble” at that, in the words of club legend Ally McCoist, with there little evidence to suggest that Chermiti will prove to be a success in Scottish football, amid his recent woes on Merseyside.

Signed on a £15m deal by the Premier League side back in the summer of 2023, the 21-year-old has been reduced to bit-part status since then, albeit with then-boss Sean Dyche admitting in 2024 that he was recruited as a “development player” who would have fared better with a loan move.

Rather than a temporary exit, Chermiti has now secured a permanent switch to Scotland, thus marking the club’s most expensive outlay since the £12m capture of Tore Andre Flo back in 2000.

The merits of such a deal can be debated long into the night, with the Portugal youth international – who has scored seven times in 75 recorded games at academy and senior level, as per Transfermarkt – in need of a positive start to try and win over an expectant fanbase.

That said, the Light Blues’ extensive recruitment can help ease the burden on the marquee new addition, with Bojan Miovski likely to be the main man in attack for Martin and co instead.

Bojan Miovski's market value

If Chermiti is the long-term expensive gamble, then Miovski appears to be the perfect alternative, providing an experienced, ‘proven’ option who has already delivered the goods in the Premiership.

Market Movers

Described as a player who “does everything” during his time at Aberdeen by Billy Dodds, due to his impressive scoring rate and link-up play, the Macedonian marksman could prove a real coup following his £2.6m switch.

Indeed, while Chermiti is yet to flourish at first-team level, the 26-year-old has more than proven his worth in recent years, having notably scored 44 times in 98 games during his time at Pittodrie.

That impressive haul included a fine record on the big occasion, with Miovski scoring four times from just nine meetings with Rangers in all competitions, alongside netting three times in eight games against Celtic.

Livingston

7

5

Rangers

9

4

Hibs

9

4

Ross County

8

4

St Mirren

7

4

Motherwell

7

4

Celtic

8

3

While a return of four goals in 23 games for Girona last term is hardly the most eye-catching, the clinical number nine has already been there and done it for the Dons, a fact that pundit Andy Walker believes will make him a “better signing” than his new teammate:

That fact is also reinforced when considering what Miovski’s actual market value is, with the Gers having seemingly secured a bargain when considering their £2.6m investment.

As per the great minds at CIES Football Observatory, the 33-cap international has a peak value of as much as €16m (£14m), eclipsing the figure that was dished out on Chermiti.

While Rangers won’t be looking to cash in on their new addition any time soon, that valuation does point to them striking a significant profit in the years to come.

Better than Chermiti: Rangers must regret selling "rapid" star for just £4m

After signing Youssef Chermiti for an enormous fee of £8m, would Rangers have been better off keeping a “rapid” attacker sold for £4m?

Sep 8, 2025