Category Uncategorized

تحدث المدير الفني لفريق مانشستر سيتي، بيب جوارديولا، عن السبب وراء الدفع بالمحترف المصري عمر مرموش في التشكيل الأساسي لمباراة الأمس ضد باير ليفركوزن بدلًا من إيرلينج هالاند.

واستضاف ملعب “الاتحاد” مباراة فريقي مانشستر سيتي وباير ليفركوزن، في الجولة الخامسة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري، حيث خسر السكاي بلو بهدفين دون رد.

وشارك عمر مرموش في مباراة الأمس كأساسي قبل استبداله بزميله هالاند في الدقيقة 65.

وعندما سُئل عن السبب وراء عدم مشاركة هالاند أساسيًا، رد جوارديولا في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي للنادي: “كان إيرلينج في تصفيات كأس العالم مع النرويج، وكان الأمر صعبًا للغاية ضد نيوكاسل”.

وأضاف: “أرى عمر مرموش قريبًا من منطقة الجزاء، ولدينا لاعبو وسط هجوميون يُشكلون محور أسلوب لعبنا”.

وواصل: “لا يستطيع إيرلينج الاستمرار طوال 95 دقيقة أمام الفرق التي تُبدع في بناء الهجمة، فهم يكسرون الخطوط، ونحن بحاجة إلى لاعبين ذوي طاقة جديدة”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جوارديولا بعد هزيمة مانشستر سيتي: فعلت شيئًا لأول مرة في حياتي.. ولا يخصكم ما حدث بغرفة الملابس

وأفاد: “على سبيل المثال، لعب إيرلينج مع النرويج مباراتين لمدة 90 دقيقة ثم خاض مباراة معنا كاملة ضد نيوكاسل، لم يكن هناك الكثير من التعافي، ثلاثة أيام فقط، أُفضل اللعب الجيد”.

واسترسل: “ربما يكون اللاعبون الذين يلعبون بانتظام في الآونة الأخيرة، هم من جعلونا نشعر بالثقة في اللاعبين الجدد القادمين، أحيانًا أكون لطيفًا جدًا وأُشرك الجميع”.

واستدرك: “سنخوض من الآن وحتى مارس مباريات كل 3/4 أيام، لا يمكن لأي إنسان أن يتحمل ذلك، فكرت (حسنًا، نحن على أرضنا، في مركز جيد بدوري الأبطال، فلنحاول)، عندما يكون لديك 22 لاعبًا، يلعب 11 لاعبًا فقط، الآخرون لا يلعبون كثيرًا وعندما تلعب بانتظام تشعر براحة أكبر”.

وشدد: “لدينا أسلحة على مقاعد البدلاء، توقعنا قيامهم بشئ ما في الشوط الثاني ولكن بصراحة لم ينجح الأمر، وعلينا أن نقبل ذلك”.

واختتم: “لقد وثقت بهم، ربما أكون ارتكبت خطأً، لكنني وثقت بهم، أحبهم كلاعبين، بالنظر إلى ما يفعلون في التدريبات وغير ذلك، ولكن نعم، ربما أكون أخطأت في كم التغييرات التي قمت بها”.

In an ever more globalised game, and one obsessed with transfer activity, it’s easy to forget that there is perhaps even greater pleasure for supporters at seeing a homegrown talent emerge – not least at a club like Manchester United.

The modern, post-Sir Alex Ferguson era has been a rocky one, but arguably the brightest lights have emerged from Carrington, be it Marcus Rashford under Louis van Gaal, Scott McTominay under Jose Mourinho and Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo under Erik ten Hag.

The debate over whether it was right to move them on or not will continue to rage, but it is telling that three of that notable list of four are no longer part of the first-team ranks at Old Trafford, with Mainoo also now on the periphery under Ruben Amorim.

In an era of PSR and pure profit, academy sales have remarkably almost become incentivised, with the INEOS regime likely to be tempted to sell the 20-year-old sensation should his bit-part role continue.

For all the question marks over his suitability to Amorim’s system, it would be a crying shame if Mainoo were to depart in 2026 or beyond, with the 2024 FA Cup final hero surely deserving of a prime place as the centre-piece of the club’s long-term project.

The only saving grace, thankfully, is that the Stockport-born starlet isn’t the only rising star currently on the books – the Red Devils do at least have another talent on the conveyor belt to turn to.

Why Man Utd’s midfield could be completely overhauled in 2026

It is not hyperbole to suggest that there are question marks surrounding every senior midfielder in Amorim’s side right now, with drastic change likely to occur in that department, be it in January or next summer.

As already alluded too, Mainoo – in the short-term at least – looks destined to move on, amid talk of a loan move, with the ten-cap England international yet to even start a Premier League game this season.

The man he is directly competing with – as suggested by Amorim in the past – is Bruno Fernandes, albeit with the Portuguese genius’ own future up for debate, having come close to joining Saudi side Al Hilal over the summer.

At 31, the former Sporting CP certainly has plenty left in the tank, although he did hint that he will consider his situation again following next year’s World Cup, with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2027.

Speaking of expiring contracts, there has been little news regarding the future of Casemiro, with the resurgent Brazilian’s current deal coming to a climax in June.

Currently raking in a reported £350k-per-week, the 33-year-old would seemingly have to take a significant pay cut to stay put in Manchester, with United and Amorim in need of a long-term replacement regardless, considering his age.

Manuel Ugarte was meant to be that defensive-minded, ball-winning successor, although the Uruguayan – starter in just two league games in 2025/26 – is also running out of rope at Old Trafford, in what is his second season at the club.

Games (starts)

29 (22)

9 (2)

Goals

1

0

Assists

2

0

Big chances created

3

0

Key passes*

0.3

0.1

Pass accuracy*

89%

86%

Total duels won*

53%

59%

Balls recovered*

4.2

2.2

Dribbled past*

1.3

0.4

Possession lost*

6.2

3.4

Having been given a dressing down by Amorim in front of his teammates following the Europa League final – in which he played no part – the former Sporting man is getting no favouritism right now, far from it, having yet to convince he is of United quality.

The 24-year-old is the de facto third-choice midfielder at present, although that is not a status he has warranted, with club legend Gary Neville putting it best when describing him as “not good enough” after the Manchester derby.

In truth, an in-house replacement is needed, both this season and beyond.

Man Utd’s new Mainoo can replace Ugarte

Ten Hag has become a figure of ridicule for many, but it’s easy to forget the initial progress he had made in the United dugout, setting a sinking ship back on course again following that initial calamity at Brentford.

In February 2023, for instance, United reached their apex under the Dutchman, memorably seeing off Barcelona in the Europa League, while also securing a deserved 2-0 win over Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final.

In the aftermath of that triumph, Ten Hag turned from short-term celebrations to long-term thinking, making a beeline for a 17-year-old Mainoo amid the jubilation, seemingly outlining that the teenager would have a part to play in such scenes later down the line.

While injury ensured it took until November 2023 for a first-team role to truly emerge – after making just three appearances in 2022/23 – Ten Hag’s faith in Mainoo was more than warranted, following his Man of the Match Premier League debut at Goodison.

Almost exactly two years on, and with Everton again the opponent, Amorim might well consider unleashing the next Mainoo-shaped figure into the midfield, in the form of Carrington sensation, Jack Fletcher.

The man who kept the club’s matchday academy record alive against Spurs, having been named on the bench in the absence of Mainoo, Fletcher – son of Darren and brother of fellow youth-team star, Tyler – is inching ever closer to a senior bow, with midfield evidently an area to address for Amorim.

Described as among the “best young players in England”, in the view of analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson, the left-footed Fletcher looks primed for a left-sided central midfield role, having also been trialled at left-back in recent times in the youth ranks.

In the view of Mattinson, the 18-year-old is “one of the most technical of the lot” in the academy set-up, with his elegance and athleticism also ensuring he has “everything you’d want” from a left-sided number eight.

An England youth international, the former Manchester City starlet has enjoyed a promising 2025/26 thus far with three goals and one assist from ten recorded games, as per Transfermarkt, notably netting in the EFL Trophy defeat to Barnsley, prior to seeing red.

Oakwell was previously the scene for the standout moment of his United journey to date, as the Englishman netted twice to claim a comeback 3-2 win in the same competition last season, including an outrageous, long-range half volley at the death.

Much like there was an appetite for transfers over the summer, there is a real desire among the United faithful to see the next Mainoo, the next McTominay emerge in the coming weeks and months.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

With Mainoo, unfortunately, on the fringes, and Ugarte simply not up to scratch, Fletcher might well be primed to sneak into the mix as a genuine challenger to Casemiro before too long.

He's "much better" than Sesko: Man Utd pursuing "one of the best CFs in PL"

Manchester United could land a new centre-forward just months after landing Benjamin Sesko.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 21, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for quality attacking reinforcements come January and have now been told how much it will take to land a winger who is thriving in one of Europe’s top-five leagues.

Thomas Frank has had mixed luck with signings since walking through the door in N17, and many would argue that Spurs’ capture of Mohammed Kudus has been their best bit of business so far.

On the flip side, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani may take a little longer to fully settle at the club after some mixed performances, which is part and parcel of football at the end of the day, and the latter’s been very stop-start due to multiple injury problems.

As January approaches, signings will be necessary for Tottenham to kick on under Frank’s stewardship, and he already appears to have identified some exciting names to help their push for a strong Premier League finish.

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo is a high-profile Spurs target and may be on his way to N17 amid the Lilywhites’ wish to recruit a new winger as a top priority, rather than a fixed number nine.

Looking towards in-form Premier League stars may be their preference. Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye is another name wanted by Tottenham, and they have made an approach for the Senegal international, even if he could cost close to £70 million.

Truthfully, Spurs have the financial muscle to acquire top talent, but half the battle may be convincing players that their project has more to offer in the long term than rival clubs.

Competition for new additions in mid-season is usually fierce, though Tottenham have been told in no uncertain circumstances how much it may cost to bring one of their known targets to North London if they decide to press ahead with a move.

Tottenham told how much it will cost to land Takefusa Kubo

According to Pete O’Rourke on Football Insider’s Inside Track, Tottenham target Takefusa Kubo has a £52 million release clause inserted in his Real Sociedad contract, and any bid submitted matching that figure would be enough to enter direct negotiations with the player.

He explained: “He’s been continually linked with the move to the Premier League with Tottenham, Liverpool over the years, Aston Villa as well. Top young player who’s done really well for Real Sociedad. So, it’s no surprise that the top European clubs are looking at the Japanese international as well.

Takefusa Kobe at Real Sociedad – is he worth £52 million?

Appearances

147

Goals

24

Assists

18

“He has got a release clause in his contract, so it would be straightforward if Tottenham wanted to go and sign him in January. £52million, it’s not a cheap deal by any stretch of the imagination. So, that will come into consideration if Tottenham are to firm up their interest in Kubo as well.”

Lauded by Zinedine Zidane for his “very interesting” tendencies as a player, Kubo has emerged as a target amid concerns over whether Everton would be willing to let go of Ndiaye, though it remains to be seen whether Spurs can land either of their targets.

The Los Angeles Dodgers started their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with back-to-back-to-back home runs. And they trailed by the time the first inning was over. But they still won.

Shohei Ohtani led off the game with his 44th home run. He was followed by Mookie Betts two pitches later and then Freddie Freeman one pitch after Betts touched home.

For Ohtani it was his 12th home run of August, which meant he hit the most home runs in the National League in August. He also stole the most bases in the NL in August with nine. This was the first time anyone has lead a league in both stolen bases and home runs since Willie Mays in 1956.

Mays finished the season leading baseball with 40 stolen bases. He also hit a modest 36 home runs that year. Ohtani has already surpassed both those numbers and has his sights set on a 50/50 season, which no one has ever done. The only thing keeping him from stealing enough bases is the fact that he hits so many home runs.

Joburg turns up for its World Test Champions as Temba Bavuma’s team start to realise just what they’ve been able to do

Firdose Moonda18-Jun-2025

The victorious South African team return home with the WTC mace•AFP/Getty Images

Everyone loves a winner, as was clear at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport where South Africa returned as World Test Champions on Wednesday morning.The squad were received by the country’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, and swathes of people from across South African society. In attendance were groups of children from the KFC’s Mini Cricket programme – the largest grassroots development initiative in the country – students from some of the players’ former schools, such as Aiden Markram’s Pretoria Boys High School, and family members like Wiaan Mulder’s brother.The players signed autographs, received flowers and hugs and strutted around in custom made “champions” t-shirts before making their way to Cricket South Africa’s offices in the north of the city where they were welcomed with a brass band and a red carpet. Almost 96 hours after their five-wicket triumph over Australia in the WTC final, the magnitude of what they have achieved is starting to sink in.”It is quite overwhelming. We haven’t seen people like that at the airport before,” Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s captain said at a press conference afterwards. “As players, you don’t really realise what you’ve done but when you start to interact with people and see the emotion, it gives you a proper insight into what we’ve done. We are proud as a team but we are even more happy and proud that we’ve made our people proud. If you look at this team and the guys at the helm, we have done it the proper South African way. That’s unique to this group. We have embraced everything that it means to be South African.”With a home grown coach in Shukri Conrad and a largely unheralded group of players, Bavuma’s words spoke to the way the South African team pulled together throughout the cycle and in the final. They had nine different Players of the Match in 2023-25 and 15 different players either scored a century or took a five-for in what has been hailed as a true team effort and a unified showing after years of underperformance. For Bavuma, it showed that there is always a way, not just for sportspeople but for everyone.”What we’ve achieved speaks to all budding cricketers out there, and individuals within South Africa,” he said. “As a team, we’ve got a story. It hasn’t been a simple or easy one. We’ve come through a lot but we managed to get to where we are. So similarly for them (ordinary people) on their quest and journey, for what they want to achieve: as long as they keep having that passion and keep pushing they can also achieve what people think is unachievable.”Temba Bavuma and his men had a rousing homecoming•AFP/Getty Images

For 27 years, South Africa have been without an ICC trophy and in that time regularly slipped at the semi-final hurdle. The 1999 ODI World Cup, where South Africa tied the game but could not advance to the final because Australia finished higher on the Super Six points table, has long been a sore point but the 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cup semis and 2024 T20 World Cup final also stung. It’s because of those failures that the WTC win is magnified, as one of South Africa’s greatest sporting achievements. “This is huge for South African cricket,” Enoch Nkwe, Director of National Teams and High Performance said. “This is huge for South African cricket and the impact it will have for generations to come. We’ve taken a lot of punches but we’ve never bent our backs. We stayed strong.”Related

This was Temba Bavuma's WTC and he can own it

Conrad: 'We're the world champions, we create our own reality'

'Together-together' – why South Africa's triumph matters on the long walk to freedom

Rabada toasts 'special, special, special' win: 'I'm willing to give my blood for this team'

Nkwe, who was appointed in July 2022, put in place the coaching structure which included Conrad, who in turn appointed Bavuma as captain. Conrad will now also take over the white-ball sides until the end of the ODI World Cup in 2027. There is particular expectation around that tournament, not least because of the history documented above, but also because the event will be hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Bavuma is also South Africa’s ODI captain and has already spoken of his hope for the event to come.”We want to carry on with the momentum we’ve gained,” he said. “We are quietly optimistic as to what can happen in the white-ball space. We see no reason as to why we can’t emulate what we’ve done here. We are more optimistic than anything. We had a little conversation about it. Shukri’s mind is always ticking. He lets you know that there’s always some sort of work you need to do.”That tournament is more than two years away, in which time there will be an entire WTC cycle and a T20 World Cup. Eyes will be on South Africa for all of them, especially as their next Tests include matches in Pakistan and India and home series against England and Australia in 2026. They believe they’ve laid the foundation to be successful in these contests but no-one can begrudge them celebrating the first world title for a little bit longer, as Bavuma suggested they would.”For now, it’s for us to embrace what we’ve done, to take it all in, understand what led us to this point and live in that moment for a little bit longer,” Bavuma said. “Then, I think the beauty of international cricket is that there’s always something else waiting. Once we get over our emotions, it will be what is the next thing? There’s the Zimbabwe tour, and the start of the new Test cycle. We will be setting our eyes on what we want to achieve over there. There is always something we are working towards. It’s a legacy we want to put together as a team. It’s not done now, but for now it’s for us to enjoy what the moment has brought us.”South Africa will have several fan engagements in the next few days before a two-Test series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, which starts on June 28. The series is not part of the WTC.

In recent seasons, Manchester City’s academy has become one of the most prominent in Europe. They have produced many fantastic players, some of whom still ply their trade at the Etihad Stadium, and others who have moved on to pastures new.

One of the best academy graduates currently in the City squad would have to be Phil Foden. Their number 47 has cemented himself as one of the key players in Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad.

On the flip side, the Citizens let the likes of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers leave in the last few years, both of whom are now full England internationals.

Another City academy graduate, Nico O’Reilly, could be about to make his Three Lions debut.

Why O’Reilly is in the England squad

It has been an astronomical rise to the top for 20-year-old City starlet O’Reilly. After becoming an established player in their first-team fold last season, Thomas Tuchel has taken note of his performances and drafted him into his latest England squad.

The Manchester-born City star is a versatile player and has been something of a Swiss army knife for Guardiola. He’s played 30 first-team games for his boyhood club, which have come all over the pitch.

Most often, O’Reilly has played as a left-back, but he’s played as a centre-back, right across the midfield, and even as a centre-forward.

That versatility has been hugely beneficial for City’s Spanish boss. He can deploy O’Reilly almost anywhere and get a good performance in whichever role he plays. This season, the youngster has played nine games, with seven of those appearances coming at left-back.

He even set up Erling Haaland’s second goal away to Monaco from that position.

One person who O’Reilly has impressed this season is BBC Sport tactical analyst Umir Irfan. He said that the versatile star “has been brilliant for City and a big part of their solidity in recent weeks,” which is high praise indeed.

As well as O’Reilly has performed for City, he is arguably not even their biggest talent at full-back to come from the academy in recent years.

City’s ex-academy star who’s better than O’Reilly

O’Reilly isn’t the only top prospect City have produced at full-back in recent years. Rico Lewis has also broken into Guardiola’s squad, and, like his fellow academy graduate, can operate in midfield, as Guardiola likes his full-backs to do.

Yet, one player of a vastly different profile, who City may wish they had kept hold of, is Liverpool wing-back Jeremie Frimpong. The Dutchman was once in City’s academy himself, but was sold to Celtic for just £300k back in 2019.

In hindsight, this wasn’t the best decision City have made over the years. Now plying his trade at Anfield, Frimpong cost their Premier League rivals £29.5m, following some exceptional seasons at Bayer Leverkusen.

He’s already seven games into his Liverpool career and scored on his debut in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace.

He is also a different type of full-back to O’Reilly. Operating as a winger at times with the ball, Frimpong is rapid down the right flank and has a deadly cross in his arsenal.

That is why football scout Antonio Mango described him as a “cheat code.”

In Leverkusen’s remarkable invincible season of 2023/24, the Dutchman was one of their best players. Operating at wing-back, the 24-year-old scored 14 times and assisted 12 in 47 games.

His underlying stats were incredible, too. With less defensive responsibility, he ranked in the top 13% for key passes amongst Bundesliga full-backs in the top flight, with 1.8 per 90 minutes.

Frimpong attacking stats in 23/24 Bundesliga

Stat (per 90)

Number

Percentile

Goals and assists

0.64

97th

Key passes

1.8

13th

Crosses completed

0.6

67th

Take-ons completed

1.92

94th

Progressive carries

6.12

99th

Stats from FBref

O’Reilly has certainly made an excellent start to his career. Yet, with Frimpong’s contribution to a memorable Leverkusen season in 2023/24, and his major move to Liverpool this summer, it is easy to see how he could be considered a bigger talent.

Losing a player of this quality might sting City fans now. He was an academy star who was let go for a cheap price, and would have brought something unique to their current squad.

Related Sane 2.0: Man City star is now "one of the best dribblers in PL history"

Pep Guardiola has hit the jackpot with this Manchester City signing.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Oct 4, 2025

Rohit Sharma has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect, meaning India will need to name a new full-time captain almost immediately after the end of IPL 2025, with India’s five-Test series in England scheduled to begin on June 20 at Headingley.”Hello everyone I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket. It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format,” Rohit, who had retired from T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup last year with him as captain, said in a post on social media on Wednesday evening.Rohit retires with 4301 runs in 67 Test matches, averaging 40.57 despite the poor recent run. He scored 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries over the years, with a best of 212, against South Africa in Ranchi in October 2019.Related

• Pujara feels India 'need a couple of series' to figure out Kohli's replacement

• Virat Kohli tells BCCI that he wants to retire from Test cricket

• High peaks, imperfect bookends: Rohit, the Test batter

• Gill leads the race for India's next Test captain after Rohit's retirement

• Gambhir: India should not play Pakistan at all

Roger Binny, the former India allrounder and current BCCI president, paid tribute to Rohit.”Mr Rohit Sharma’s impact on Indian cricket transcends records and statistics,” Binny said in a statement. “He brought a sense of calm and assurance to the team – both as a player and as a captain. His ability to stay composed under pressure and to consistently put the team’s needs above his own made him a truly special player and leader. Indian cricket has been fortunate to have a figure like Rohit – someone who upheld the highest standards of professionalism and sportsmanship. He leaves behind not just a remarkable playing record, but a culture of discipline and selflessness that will inspire future generations.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

As recently as Tuesday, Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach across the three international formats, had said in response to a question on the future of senior pros Rohit and Virat Kohli that “Till the time they are performing, they should be a part of the team. When you start and when you end is your individual decision. No coach, no selector, no BCCI can tell you when you should call it quits. If you perform, then why 40, you can jolly well play till 45, who’s stopping you?”Rohit’s decision comes after poor home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand late last year and then a horror tour of Australia across December 2024 and January 2025, where he crossed 50 just once and averaged 10.93 from eight Test matches. India won both the Tests against Bangladesh, but were swept 3-0 by New Zealand under Rohit’s captaincy, and then lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia 3-1.Rohit missed the first and last Tests on that tour of Australia, the first to be at home in India for the birth of his child, and the last, in Sydney, where he “stood down”. At the time, he had stressed that it was just that, a reaction to his poor batting form, not a “retirement decision”, and that he was not “going to take myself out of the game”. Jasprit Bumrah is currently India’s designated vice-captain and led in the first and last Tests in Australia in Rohit’s absence.Speaking to ” during the Test match, Rohit had said, “I sat out of this match because runs are not coming off my bat. There is no guarantee runs won’t come five or two months down the line. I have seen a lot in cricket that life changes every second, every minute, every day.”I have confidence in me that things can change, but at the same time I have to be realistic as well. So life won’t change by what people with a mic, pen or laptop write or say. They can’t decide when we should retire, when we should sit out, when we should captain. I am a sensible man, mature man, father of two kids. So I know what I need in life.”5:13

Kumble on Rohit’s Test retirement: ‘You know when it’s time and you don’t regret it’

Immediately after returning from Australia, Rohit played a one-off match for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in January after the selectors in coordination with BCCI made it mandatory for contracted players to feature in domestic cricket. Rohit’s batting woes continued as he made 3 and 28 against Jammu & Kashmir.While the selectors decided to keep him as India’s captain for the Champions Trophy, Rohit was aware success in the ICC event wouldn’t guarantee his spot in the Test format. And, so, despite his leading India to the title in March, Rohit decided to bring the curtains down on his Test career.The development comes with little over a month to go for the start of India’s five-Test tour of England on June 20. The selectors are expected to finalise the Test squad in the coming weeks, but with Rohit retiring, the biggest question for the Ajit Agarkar-led panel would be naming the next Test captain.Bumrah is an option but putting that responsibility on a fast bowler, particularly one who has just returned from injury might not be easy. He shouldered a heavy workload during the Australia tour and was diagnosed with a stress reaction on his lower back, resulting in his being unable to bowl in the second innings of the final Test in Sydney. Bumrah missed the Champions Trophy thereafter and only resumed playing since April in the IPL where he represents Mumbai Indians.

Or is it the other way around, and they are not good enough at this stage to be in demand?

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Mar-20255:11

Knight: ‘Next thing for Jofra Archer is to evolve’

And then there were ten. IPL 2025, at this stage, has just ten players from England. There were 12, but Harry Brook and Brydon Carse (injury) have withdrawn. Feels different from previous years, doesn’t it? So, has the England players’ attitude towards the IPL changed? Are they not good enough anymore, and the IPL franchises are just not interested in them? Is it something else?”Rob Key, who is in charge back at the ECB, has basically tried to – and he’s fairly right – encouraged his players to play as much for England [as possible],” Nick Knight, the former England opener, said on ESPNcricinfo TimeOut. “They’ve got a five-Test series against India. They’ve got an Ashes to follow. They’ve got multi-format players, like Harry Brook and Mark Wood – they’re pretty well looked-after now. And they’re going to have to be looked after.”There’s a bit of that influence. So they perhaps don’t need to travel and play in all these leagues around the world. There are other leagues popping up as well. If you’re not going to get the full price [at the IPL auctions] that perhaps you might want to get, you might want to play in another league. So there are a number of these sort of factors flying around for some of these players.”Related

Jonny Bairstow appointed Yorkshire captain for County Championship

Jonny Bairstow: 'I'd be stupid not to push for England recall'

Moeen: 'My skill as a bowler is that I think like a batter'

Why Brook captaincy call could define Key- McCullum legacies

The ten players from England that are a part of IPL 2025 are Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Phil Salt and Reece Topley. Brook and Carse have opted out. Ben Duckett, it’s understood, was contacted by Delhi Capitals (DC) to be Brook’s replacement, but he chose to stay away.Compare this to IPL 2024, when there were 18 players from England divided among the ten teams. Some of them withdrew at various stages of the IPL, but that’s a significantly higher number than now.ESPNcricinfo’s Matt Roller suggested that some of the England players’ stocks have dwindled in recent years, possibly a reflection of their failures at ICC white-ball events of late. When the last mega auction was held, before IPL 2022, England were the defending 50-over World Cup winners and then won the T20 World Cup in 2022. They were in big demand.”Perhaps the stock of some of these players is not quite as high because of the ICC trophies, and the way some of these competitions globally have been going,” Knight said, agreeing to the point. “You know, you look at Sam Curran. Go back a couple of T20 [World Cups] back in Australia, he was the Player of the Tournament.3:45

Has England’s IPL love affair changed?

“And he goes into the IPL auction, gets an absolute full whack. So there are a number of factors that are combining to make a few players less [in demand] than you’d expect.”A bit of a chicken-and-egg situation, isn’t it? Did the England players get better at T20s by playing in the IPL, or did they come into the IPL because they were that good? And how does it work now?”A lot of people have benefitted from playing in the IPL, because a lot of them got better playing against spin, and also wickets that were slow,” Ambati Rayudu said. “We have seen the England side in India [for a white-ball series in January and February this year]. Somehow, they are just playing one-dimensional cricket, especially in the middle overs, and especially against spin. To go hard against spin, you also need skill. So where do you develop that? You develop that in the subcontinent, or on wickets such as these. So… it’s quite a Catch-22 situation.”

Arne Slot has built on the successful era under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool incredibly well, winning the Premier League in his first year in charge.

In the summer of 2025, FSG also splashed the cash, spending more than £400m on the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.

The Reds currently have an annual payroll of £154,440,000 and pay out just under £3m per week. We have ranked every Liverpool player in the first-team squad in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the 2025-26 season, with the help of Capology.

Rank

Player

Gross pay per week

Gross pay per year

1

Mohamed Salah

£400,000

£20,800,000

2

Virgil Van Dijk

£350,000

£18,200,000

3

Alexander Isak

£280,000

£14,560,000

4

Hugo Ekitike

£200,000

£10,400,000

5

Florian Wirtz

£195,000

£10,140,000

6

Andrew Robertson

£160,000

£8,320,000

=7

Alexis Mac Allister

£150,000

£7,800,000

=7

Alisson

£150,000

£7,800,000

=7

Ryan Gravenberch

£150,000

£7,800,000

=7

Federico Chiesa

£150,000

£7,800,000

=11

Dominik Szoboszlai

£120,000

£6,240,000

=11

Cody Gakpo

£120,000

£6,240,000

13

Jeremie Frimpong

£100,000

£5,200,000

=14

Joe Gomez

£85,000

£4,420,000

=14

Giorgi Mamardashvili

£85,000

£4,420,000

16

Conor Bradley

£75,000

£3,900,000

17

Ibrahima Konate

£70,000

£3,640,000

18

Wataru Endo

£50,000

£2,600,000

19

Stefan Bajcetic

£40,000

£2,080,000

=20

Curtis Jones

£15,000

£780,000

=20

Calvin Ramsay

£15,000

£780,000

22

Rhys Williams

£10,000

£520,000

Here are the top 10 Liverpool earners… 10 Federico Chiesa £150,000 per week

One of four players on £150,000 per week is forward Federico Chiesa. The Italy international arrived in Slot’s first transfer window in charge after being made surplus to requirements at Juventus.

A pacey wide man who can also occupy a central role when required, Chiesa has struggled to break into the starting XI but has become a fan favourite.

9 Ryan Gravenberch £150,000 per week

Ryan Gravenberch arrived at Liverpool from Ajax in 2023 and had to remain patient to find a permanent role in the starting line-up during his first season with the club.

Under Slot, Gravenberch has been transformed into the club’s new No.6 and may well be used there for the foreseeable future, with his Anfield deal expiring in 2028.

8 Alisson £150,000 per week

The arrival of goalkeeper Alisson from AS Roma back in 2018 helped transform the Reds under Klopp, with the Brazilian being an ever-present figure during his six-year stay so far.

In total, Alisson has made more than 300 appearances for Liverpool and has kept more than 125 clean sheets.

7 Alexis Mac Allister £150,000 per week

Liverpool picked up the services of midfielder Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023 after his impressive three years on the south coast.

The Argentine’s current agreement with the Reds is for another three years.

6 Andrew Robertson £160,000 per week

One of the best value-for-money signings in Liverpool’s recent history has to be Andrew Robertson, who cost the Reds just £8m from Hull City in 2017.

The Scot is now into his 30s, though, and with his contract expiring in 2026, Liverpool may soon be without their iconic left-back.

5 Florian Wirtz £195,000 per week

Costing a whopping £116m from Bayer Leverkusen, Florian Wirtz was Liverpool’s record signing for a matter of months.

The attacking midfielder signed a deal worth more than £10m a season and will look to star at Anfield over the next five years.

4 Hugo Ekitike £200,000 per week

Hugo Ekitike was one of two star strikers to sign for Liverpool in 2025, with the Reds paying Frankfurt an initial £69m for the French forward.

He scored on his debut at Wembley in the Community Shield and also netted the first goal of the 2025/26 Premier League season. Ekitike is on £10.4m per season on Merseyside.

3 Alexander Isak £280,000 per week

In what was the transfer saga of 2025, Liverpool eventually splashed the cash on Alexander Isak for a British record £125m.

The forward went on strike at Newcastle to push through a deadline day move to Anfield, penning a six-year contract where he is set to earn a total of £87m.

2 Virgil Van Dijk £350,000 per week

Centre-back Virgil Van Dijk was signed for an eye-catching £75m fee from Southampton in 2018, a figure which some were shocked by at the time.

However, since then, Van Dijk has comfortably repaid the faith shown in him by the Reds, starring at the back at Anfield and winning numerous trophies. His current deal through until 2027 was signed in 2025.

1 Mohamed Salah £400,000 per week

Like Van Dijk, star attacker Mohamed Salah also signed a new two-year deal in 2025. The Egyptian King has helped turn the Reds into Premier League and Champions League winners, becoming a Liverpool legend in the process.

During his eight-year stay, Salah has made more than 400 appearances, scoring over 240 goals.

The Premier League is widely regarded as not only the best league in football but also the most lucrative, as English top flight teams rack up hundreds of millions in every transfer window.

While PSR has limited owners from spending beyond their means in recent seasons, it hasn’t stopped English teams from leading the European market year after year, with over £3 billion spent in the summer transfer window by Premier League clubs.

20-16

Bournemouth sit bottom of the net spend list, as the Cherries lost nearly their entire defence in big money moves. Dean Huijsen joined Real Madrid while Milos Kerkez left for Liverpool, with Illia Zabarnyi heading to PSG. South coast rivals Brighton meanwhile received a massive fee from Chelsea for Joao Pedro, who has been a hit already since moving to west London.

Brentford and Wolves both lost star strikers of their own, with Yoane Wissa moving to Newcastle on deadline day while Matheus Cunha swapped Molineux for Manchester United, and the Red Devils also snapped up Bryan Mbeumo.

Chelsea were extremely industrious in their dealings, selling the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Noni Madueke, Djordje Petrovic, João Félix, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Carney Chukwuemeka, Armando Broja and Christopher Nkunku among others, while Nicolas Jackson’s loan move to Bayern Munich is the largest fee for a loan deal ever.

Rank

Club

Gross Spend

Sales

Net Spend

20.

Bournemouth

£136.7m

£202.5m

+£65.8m

19.

Brighton

£67.7m

£127.5m

+£59.8m

18.

Brentford

£92.8m

£152m

+£59.2m

17.

Wolves

£105.6m

£126.5m

+£20.9m

16.

Chelsea

£296.5m

£314.4m

+£17.9m

15-11

Although Crystal Palace were able to keep hold of Marc Guehi in dramatic circumstances in the closing hours of deadline day, their sale of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal means the Eagles end the summer in the green. Aston Villa made a profit despite late deals for Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho, which will worry fans at Villa Park after a troubling start to their domestic campaign.

Fulham’s club record £35m deal for Brazilian winger Kevin took them into the negative net spend, while Burnley are the lowest promoted side on the list despite signing 14 new players, including experienced heads Kyle Walker and Martin Dubravka to go with young talents like Loum Tchaouna and Bashir Humphreys.

West Ham and Graham Potter finally got their season up and running with a victory over Nottingham Forest, but may harbour little hope of avoiding a relegation battle despite holding onto star man Lucas Paqueta.

Rank

Club

Gross Spend

Sales

Net Spend

15.

Crystal Palace

£48.9m

£67.5m

+£17.7m

14.

Aston Villa

£28m

£43m

+£15m

13.

Fulham

£35.1m

£8.7m

-£26.4m

12.

Burnley

£97.7m

£31m

-£66.7m

11.

West Ham

£131.3m

£55m

£-76.3m

10-6

Manchester City surprisingly only just crack the top ten, with a chunk of the spending for their rebuild under Pep Guardiola done in January. Those winter arrivals were joined by the likes of Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri this summer.

Despite all the noise surrounding Alexander Isak, Newcastle actually had one of the more productive incoming windows, bringing in Nick Woltemade for a club record £69m fee while Jacob Ramsey adds sky high potential to an already quality midfield.

Evangelos Marinakis led a late flurry of activity at Nottingham Forest in an attempt to keep Nuno Espirito Santo happy, but their greatest piece of business may just be preventing the sale of Morgan Gibbs-White to Tottenham.

Leeds failed to sell a single player for profit this summer, meaning they rank in the top ten after deals for the likes of Anton Stach and Noah Okafor.

Everton, like Forest, waited until late in the window to really get going, but ended up sixth courtesy mainly of their deals for Tyler Dibling and Thierno Barry, although the loan signing of Jack Grealish could prove to be the bargain of the season.

Rank

Club

Gross Spend

Sales

Net Spend

10.

Manchester City

£185.8m

£96m

-£89.8m

9.

Newcastle

£256.3m

£157m

-£99.3m

8.

Nottingham Forest

£182.5m

£81.5m

-£101m

7.

Leeds

£103.1m

£0m

-£103.1m

6.

Everton

£124m

£10m

£-114m

5-1

The top five sees four very unsurprising big spenders accompanied by Sunderland, who enjoyed a memorable summer, bringing in big name players with Premier League experience, such as Granit Xhaka, along with riskier moves on high ceiling players such as Brighton winger Simon Adingra.

Tottenham captured Randal Kolo Muani on loan in a last-minute move on deadline day, but it was the deals for attacking midfielders Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons that placed them in with the top spenders.

Manchester United’s late deal for goalkeeper Senne Lammens took them into the top three, having reinforced their attack earlier in the window with big money deals for Cunha, Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.

Liverpool’s sales of players like Jarell Quansah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz have helped the Reds to somehow not top the list despite spending nearly £450m on new signings. Indeed, the Reds recouped over £200m more than Arsenal, whose own spending is highlighted by deals for Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres.

Rank

Club

Gross Spend

Sales

Net Spend

5.

Sunderland

£183.4m

£42m

-£141.4m

4.

Tottenham

£171.2m

£17m

-£154.2m

3.

Manchester United

£232.4m

£61.7m

-£170.7m

2.

Liverpool

£446.5m

£228.1m

-£218.4m

1.

Arsenal

£267m

£10m

-£257m