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Angelo Mathews has never been the kind who seeks out drama, but it seemed to follow him around at many points in his career

Andrew Fidel Fernando21-Jun-2025Life isn’t perfect. Sri Lanka cricketers’ careers are even less so. Angelo Mathews knows this better than most.Long cricketing lives, the likes of which Mathews has had, rarely pass without incident. But in Sri Lanka, they are further enlivened by fights with the board, fights with coaching staff, galling accusations from ex-players, invites from sleazy politicians, the meddling incompetence of sports ministers, summary sackings from one group of selectors, and summary reappointments when the selectors themselves get sacked. If you’ve gained a little weight, Sri Lanka fans also do irreverence so casually that they will call you fat right to your face.Mathews has never been the kind who seeks out drama. In fact, he feels like an exceptionally uncomplicated player of 119 Tests and captain of 34. He seethes personally, of course – we all do. But usually, he was the guy who was getting sucked into the gravity well of Sri Lankan cricket controversy against his will. The vibe tended to be “why do I have to deal with this?”Related

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Sri Lanka salvage draw in Mathews' farewell Test

And yet, occasionally, there were fires that burned through the ice. The most memorable occasion was one that made the context of his farewell Test a little spicy. We are not going to re-litigate the incident today, but the summary is that in a 2023 World Cup match, Mathews became the first international cricketer in history to be timed out, in what he felt were unacceptable circumstances. In response he poured no little scorn on the Bangladesh team, calling their behaviour “disgraceful” and accusing them of stooping low. It was, by his standards, ludicrously incendiary.But time heals, people mature, and life forces you to move on. Though there had been a little fallout over that timed-out incident in last year’s Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh, Mathews already seemed to have got over it.Angelo Mathews and Mushfiqur Rahim had a little bit of banter going•AFP/Getty ImagesAnd in this match, the Bangladesh players could not have been sweeter to him, or more gracious. They didn’t quite form two separate guards of honour – one per innings – as Misbah-ul-Haq’s Pakistan (miss those guys) did for Mahela Jayawardene. But they spent many moments of the past five days patting him on the back, shaking his hand, smiling in his direction, speaking glowingly about his achievements, smiling some more.The vibes peaked on day five, while Mathews was playing his final Test innings, batting for a draw. Off the 43rd ball he faced, Bangladesh raised a big lbw appeal, and while they were reviewing the not-out decision, Mushfiqur Rahim came over to Mathews, and had a long, playful conversation, which ended with Mathews stroking Mushfiqur’s beard. After play, Mathews revealed what had been said.”Mushfiq kept chirping, and he wanted me to go for big shots,” Mathews said. “I said, ‘no, Mushfiq, I’ve played with you since Under-19s and I know you very well – and this is not the time for me to go for big shots; obviously, we want to draw this game’.”The subtext to Mushfiqur’s suggestions was that Mathews should be throwing his bat a little bit as this was his final innings. He should be having fun. In the first innings, Mathews had got down into a one-handed sweep that went all the way for six, which felt like a vintage Mathews moment – the kind of shot he would have nailed ten years ago. But here, Sri Lanka’s chances of victory were so remote after the first two wickets fell, the dressing room had wanted caution, and Mathews – maybe the last Sri Lanka cricketer to retire with more than 100 Tests to his name – spent his final afternoon in the format defending.Angelo Mathews meets and greets fans after his final Test•AFP/Getty ImagesIt was fitting in its own way. Where other batters, particularly the younger ones, had developed their attacking games first, Mathews’ aggression always seemed to stem from having a solid defensive technique. His playing of the bouncer was a case in point. Although he was one of the most natural pullers and hookers of the ball in Sri Lanka’s Test history (behind only Aravinda de Silva, perhaps), Mathews was equally good at ducking, weaving, dead-batting steepling bounce, swivel-pulling away for singles, and fending rib-crushers into space.In fact, one of the great low-key cricket (as opposed to Big Three cricket) battles of the past 15 years was Mathews vs Neil Wagner. That short ball was basically the reason for Wagner’s cricketing existence, particularly when New Zealand were hunting for second-innings wickets on pitches that had lost their juice. Mathews was that rare South Asian batter who enjoyed facing short-pitched bowling. One time, in a Dunedin Test in 2015, Wagner out-thunk him – peppering him with nasty short ones before slipping a full one in at the stumps, which Mathews, incredibly, tried to pad away. He got bowled instead. Three years later, Wagner spent all day trying to break through Mathews’ defence on a Wellington track that offered good bounce, but couldn’t, as Mathews and Kusal Mendis defied them in a 109.1-over unbeaten partnership.On his final day of Test cricket, Mathews did not have much short, fast bowling to defuse but did need to see out some spin. Of the potential 222 balls Sri Lanka had to face, Mathews soaked up 45 – about 20%. No one is about to pretend these are great numbers. But life isn’t perfect, Sri Lankan careers even less so, and Mathews knows this.Still, there were the fans who thronged the banks and stuck around to high-five him when he came around after the presentation, the former greats who have paid him public tribute, plus the long (cobra) kite that went up over Galle fort’s ramparts bearing Mathews’ name and jersey number. A Lankan cricketing life is not without its own delights. For a man as averse to drama as Mathews has been, he has lived out an especially storied one.

Bryce Harper was forced to leave the Philadelphia Philles' game Tuesday night after getting hit by a pitch.

The 32-year-old was hit on the right elbow by a 95 mph fastball from Atlanta Braves starter Spencer Strider in the bottom of the first inning. Harper immediately dropped his bat and was in a lot of pain. He left the game, with Edmundo Sosa coming in as a pinch runner in his place.

Video is below.

That did not look good. Harper had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in November of 2022. The eight-time All-Star dealt with issues in his right elbow and wrist last season. He also left a spring training game after being hit by a pitch in his right triceps.

So far this season, Harper is slashing .267/.375/.450 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs for the first-place Phillies.

Here's hoping the injury isn't serious.

Sunderland are preparing a stunning €30 million (£26m) move for AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez, with reports in Italy claiming the “monster offer” has already satisfied the Rossoneri hierarchy. They are ready to accept a loan-with-obligation deal in January, leaving the Premier League side now working to convince the hesitant Mexico international to join their ambitious project.

Sunderland want AC Milan's Gimenez this winter

Sunderland have accelerated their push to sign Gimenez, submitting an offer worth around €30 million that AC Milan reportedly view as acceptable. Italian outlets suggest the Black Cats initially pursued a loan, but the structure has shifted to a loan with a conditional obligation to buy due to Milan’s financial needs. Gimenez has registered one goal and two assists in 11 games this season, and despite his struggles, Sunderland believe he is the right profile to boost their attack in January.

Milan appear ready to offload the striker, as Massimiliano Allegri seeks a different type of forward for his system. Previous reports indicated Sunderland and Brentford were both monitoring the player, but the Black Cats have now moved ahead by formally contacting his agent, Rafaela Pimenta. Although the Rossoneri are happy with the bid, the transfer remains dependent on Gimenez himself, who is still evaluating the project before making a final decision.

Sunderland’s interest comes at a time when the club is determined to reinforce their frontline ahead of a push for Champions League qualification. Their defensive performances have kept them high in the table, but scoring has been inconsistent, with just 14 league goals in 12 matches.

AdvertisementAFPSunderland prepared to make 'monster bid' after initial loan deal

The proposed €30m deal is highly appealing to AC Milan, who are eager to secure funds for their own striker search in January. According to La Repubblica, the offer is “adequate to avoid capital losses” and provides crucial liquidity to unlock their incoming transfer plans. The Rossoneri signed Gimenez from Feyenoord with high expectations, but his limited output and stylistic mismatch under Allegri have prompted a willingness to let him go immediately.

For Sunderland, the move represents a continuation of their ambitious new-era strategy under Regis Le Bris, who is determined to elevate the squad into a stable top-six Premier League contender. The Black Cats have been evaluating attacking reinforcements for weeks, particularly given the vast financial inequality between themselves and the league’s elite. Adding a striker entering his prime years, already capped by Mexico and proven in Europe, offers significant value compared to typical Premier League market inflation.

The player’s hesitation stems largely from his desire to succeed at childhood club AC Milan and his previous rejection of Nottingham Forest. Nevertheless, close sources indicate he is seriously considering the Premier League switch due to the opportunity for guaranteed minutes. With the 2026 World Cup taking place in Mexico, consistent first-team football is now a priority for the 24-year-old forward.

Getty ImagesGimenez still uncertain about Sunderland move

Gimenez’s proposed move follows several weeks of back-and-forth between Sunderland and his representatives, with Pimenta reviewing the club’s six-month loan proposal and its mandatory €30m purchase clause. The structure benefits all parties: AC Milan recover the majority of what they spent on the striker, Sunderland delay the financial hit until summer, and the player gains a pathway back to prominent form. This delay also allows Sunderland to manage their sporting budget depending on where they finish in the league table.

The Mexican international excelled at Feyenoord before his transfer to Italy, but has struggled to replicate that impact under Allegri. Milan’s tactical shift away from his strengths has reduced his minutes and confidence, creating the conditions for a mid-season departure. Sunderland believe his pressing intensity, movement and finishing, well-suited to Premier League football, will flourish in a system built around faster transitions and structured attacking phases.

Gimenez’s camp understands that Premier League exposure ahead of the World Cup could drastically improve his standing with the national team. Sunderland’s sporting project is being sold to him as an opportunity to become the team’s primary No.9 and an instant fan favourite. While the player remains cautious, his entourage acknowledges that this may be the best available January pathway for his long-term development.

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Sunderland hopeful of coup

Sunderland will now focus on convincing Gimenez personally, as AC Milan have already indicated they will accept the €30m package. The Black Cats want the deal completed early in January, but will not wait indefinitely if the striker hesitates too long. 

Beau Webster is keen to push his credentials as a one-day cricketer ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup although concedes the white-ball formats have taken a backseat in recent times amid his rise to Test cricket.Webster will feature at the start of the One-Day Cup for Tasmania this week when they begin their campaign against New South Wales in Sydney on Tuesday before facing Victoria in Brisbane on Friday ahead of the Sheffield Shield early next month.Webster’s List A record with the bat is middling – an average of 30.31 and strike rate of 77.10 – with his only century coming back in 2017 for a Cricket Australia XI when they fielded a development side in the one-day competition.Related

• Maxwell named for 50-over return for Victoria despite ODI retirement

• Webster happy to scrap for Ashes spot with Green's return to bowling on track

• Doggett 'definitely ready' if Ashes reinforcements needed

Having made 315 runs at 52.50 in the 2023-24 season he managed just 31 in three innings last summer, although impressed with the ball as he claimed 16 wickets at 9.56 including a career-best 6 for 17 against Western Australia at the WACA when the home side suffered an astonishing collapse of 8 for 1.”I’d love to play white-ball cricket for Australia,” Webster told ESPNcricinfo. “Probably more so one-day cricket than T20 at this stage. It just feels a bit like I haven’t played it for a long time.”The last 12 months I’ve been solely focused on red-ball cricket and that’s in county cricket, Shield cricket and Test cricket. It feels like I’ve hardly hit a white ball and the things that go along with training for white-ball is a lot different than they are for red-ball.”I feel like my red-ball game’s in a really good place and I’ve got my preparation down to a tee. I suppose that I haven’t really thought too much about it [white-ball cricket] but obviously if the opportunity came and they needed what I do, I’d absolutely jump at it and love to represent the country in the colours.”The next men’s 50-over tournament is the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia which will be held in October and November of that year. Webster’s brisk medium pace and batting strength against pace bowling could be suited to conditions in Southern Africa.Australia’s 50-over side is going through something of a transition, especially in the batting, following the retirements of Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell. Aaron Hardie struggled in the No. 7 role in his recent opportunities against South Africa. Webster’s Tasmania team-mate Mitchell Owen had been due to feature in the series before suffering concussion.”I hope I’m in the conversation if I can continue to score runs in the One-Day Cup for Tasmania and Test level”•AFP/Getty Images

“I think if you’re scoring runs and taking wickets in Test cricket, you’re always going to be seen as an option,” Webster said. “If you’re doing it at that level…there are a lot of transferable skills across from Test cricket to one-day cricket. So I hope I’m in the conversation if I can continue to score runs in the One-Day Cup for Tasmania and Test level. I hope my name gets thrown around for a potential debut.”Webster plans to play most, if not all, of Tasmania’s cricket before the start of the Ashes – where he potentially faces a selection squeeze depending on how the team is balanced – although may have his bowling workload managed as the first part of the season progresses.”I think I’ll try and definitely play all four of them [the Shield matches] and try and get Tassie off to a good start and get us to the top end of the table,” he said. “Then the bowling side of things we just might have to manage a little bit if we end up bowling a little bit too much. Those last two games might be managed a little bit, but I’ll be at all four.”On the theme of white-ball cricket, Webster has moved home to defending champions Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL although if he is part of the Ashes series he may not feature until after the final Test and he’s realistic that it will be a challenge to get into the line-up.”I think it’s going to be a hard-fought top six to get into,” he said. “We’ve kept the majority of the list from the title-winning team there and everyone wants to bat at Bellerive. It’s a great place to bat and we’ve got some world-class batters in that XI. Hopefully I can be with the Ashes series for all five Tests and then come back to the Hurricanes and play a role if they need me.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo venceu o Cruzeiro por 1 a 0, nesta quinta-feira (7), pela 3ª rodada da fase de grupos da Brasil Ladies Cup, no estádio Bruno José Daniel, em Santo André (SP). O gol foi marcado por Dani.

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Mesmo com a vitória, o São Paulo já estava desclassificado, após o Internacional vencer o Atlético Nacional e assumir a liderança do Grupo A. Já o Cruzeiro, que havia uma pequena possibilidade de classificação, mas para isso precisava vencer o Tricolor Paulista por mais de sete gols de diferença.

⚽COMO FOI A PARTIDA?

O jogo com poucas emoções no primeiro tempo, o gol ficou reservado para a segunda etapa. Após falta marcada próxima ao centro do campo, Dani cruza para a área, a atacante tenta o desvio, mas acaba errando, enganando a goleira e marcando o único gol do jogo.

➡️ Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! São Paulo

✅ O QUE VEM POR AÍ?

Com a vitória do Internacional na partida de mais cedo, o São Paulo já estava eliminado. Já o Cruzeiro, precisava tirar uma diferença de sete gols para passar o Colorado na tabela.

Manchester United have finally found the solution to their goalkeeper issue. Over the last few years, dating back to the end of David de Gea’s final couple of seasons, there were too many errors made by the Red Devils’ shot stoppers.

Andre Onana was signed by Erik ten Hag as De Gea’s replacement, but he constantly struggled, and his long-term number two, Altay Bayndir, also has his frailties.

Onana made five errors leading to a goal in the Premier League and Europa League last term, as per Sofascore, while Bayindir has made two from just ten top-flight outings in total for United.

Thus, the Old Trafford side signed Senne Lammens this summer, who has since gone on to start two games. His debut against Sunderland showed great promise, and he performed well away to Liverpool.

There have been some real standout moments from Lammens so far in just two games.

Lammens’ key moments for United so far

It has been a superb start for Lammens since breaking into the first team at Old Trafford. He kept a clean sheet on debut and managed to keep the likes of Alexander Isak at bay in the hostile atmosphere that is Anfield.

On his debut, he made some big saves. He pushed a well-struck effort from Granit Xhaka wide and did well to narrow the angle on Chemsdine Talbi’s effort, which he promptly saved.

Teammate Mason Mount said he was “solid” on his first start.

His second appearance saw him pull off a few more great saves, but he did something else integral to help United secure a famous Anfield victory. His execution of Ruben Amorim’s game plan was spot on.

Against the Reds, Amorim asked his new goalkeeper to go long when he had the ball. United aimed to win second balls and get at Liverpool, which worked perfectly for Bryan Mbeumo’s opener.

Lammens was pinpoint with his long passing, pulling the Liverpool centre-backs apart and helping United nail a plan which won them the game.

The Belgian has made a huge impression at Old Trafford already. Competition for places could soon be great, with one on-loan United star a player who could really challenge him.

Man Utd loan star can rival Lammens

There are a fair few goalkeepers on United’s books at the moment. Lammens has cemented himself as the number one under Amorim, Bayndir is his backup, and Tom Heaton is the third choice. Onana will return next season, too, as he is only on loan at Trabzonspor.

However, someone who could really force his way into the reckoning is Radek Vitek. The 21-year-old Czech Republic star is currently on loan at Bristol City in the Championship, where he is shining.

He’s played 11 games so far for the Robins and has an impressive record already. He’s only conceded 11 goals in that time, keeping four clean sheets and winning their player of the month award for August.

The United academy star has pulled off some excellent saves, too. This one against Hull City was arguably his best, diving low to his right with cat-like reflexes and tipping it away from goal.

It was a superb piece of athleticism.

The numbers from Vitek’s time in the West Country further highly Vitek’s talent. He has a save percentage of 75% so far in the Championship, and averages 4.3 completed long passes each game, too.

Vitek key stats in Championship 25/26

Stat

Per 90

Season total

Saves

3

33

Save percentage

75%

75%

Passes completed

14.1

155

Long passes completed

4.3

47

Clean sheets

4

0.4

Stats from Squawka

It will be fascinating to see how Vitek fits in at United. Red Devils correspondent for the Daily Mail, Nathan Salt, said he is “about to rocket” in 2025/26, and it is easy to see why.

It has been an impressive start from the Czech shot-stopper.

Lammens has made a fantastic start to life in Red, but he will have good competition in the next 12 months if these sorts of performances continue. Indeed, with the consistency Vitek is showing this term, there is easily a case to be made that he is even better than the Belgian.

Amorim might one day be in the unenviable position of having to pick between the two. Certainly, Vitek’s form this term will do his United career no harm.

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Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Oct 22, 2025

أعلن الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا” عن الفائز بجائزة رجل مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبوروسيا دورتموند في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

واستقبل ملعب “الاتحاد” مباراة الفريقين، حيث حل بوروسيا دورتموند ضيفًا على مانشستر سيتي في إطار مباريات الجولة الرابعة لمرحلة الدوري ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وتمكن مانشستر سيتي من تحقيق الفوز أمام نظيره بوروسيا دورتموند بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف خلال المواجهة التي جمعت الفريقين مساء الأربعاء.

وحصل فيل فودين على جائزة رجل مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبوروسيا دورتموند، بعد الأداء الذي قدمه خلال المواجهة.

وسجل فودين هدفين لصالح مانشستر سيتي في شباك بوروسيا دورتموند، مساهمًا في فوز فريقه برباعية لهدف.

ورفع مانشستر سيتي رصيده إلى 10 نقاط في ترتيب دوري أبطال أوروبا، وتجمد رصيد دورتموند عند 7 نقاط.

Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini claims that Antony has “matured significantly” since bringing his Manchester United nightmare to a close and securing a permanent transfer to Andalusia. The Brazil international forward became a big-money flop at Old Trafford, but has rediscovered a lost spark in Spanish football and bagged a brilliant brace against Villarreal in his latest outing.

• Antony struggles after £85m Man Utd transfer

  Antony moved to England from Ajax in the summer of 2022 for £85 million ($114m). That switch allowed him to reunite with Erik ten Hag, and a bright start was made to his spell with the Red Devils. He was, however, to slowly slip down the pecking order – with Ruben Amorim eventually deeming him surplus to requirements.

  That allowed a loan switch to be agreed in January 2025, with Antony heading to Betis. A welcome return to form was enjoyed there, with nine goals being recorded through 26 appearances, with the South American forward also gracing the Conference League final.

  Antony made it clear that his preference was to rejoin Betis during the summer transfer window, with interest from elsewhere – including Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich – being snubbed. A protracted saga came to a close on deadline day when United agreed to take a huge financial hit on the 25-year-old.

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• Getty
  

  Lost spark has been rediscovered in La Liga

  He has registered a further three goals this season, taking him to 12 in total for Betis – the same number that he posted for United across 96 appearances for the Premier League heavyweights. Antony bagged a stunning brace against Villarreal as Betis battled back from 2-0 down to claim a share of the points at La Ceramica.

  Betis boss Pellegrini told reporters afterwards: “Yes, of course, Antony's two goals were of great quality, very precise. Antony himself had perhaps easier balls in the first half and hadn't been able to convert them. But that's football, it's about mistakes and successes. But overall we were superior and it's not easy because Villarreal plays very well and has very unbalanced players.”

• Antony's growth: Betis boss hails Brazilian forward

  Pellegrini went on to say of Antony’s personal growth since escaping a difficult situation in Manchester: “I said it a while back, the last time Antony played a game was in May. He only started playing again when he arrived in September, which was a long time since he had played. But he's matured significantly, he's working really hard in games, with and without the ball, with 40-metre runs, changes up front, getting into the box, working on recovering… And that's what has helped him to make up for some of that lack of precision, these two goals will be very good for him.”

  Former Manchester City manager Pellegrini previously said of helping Antony to rediscover his love of the game: “I spoke with him before he came to Betis. He told me that he was not playing because he was not happy, but he had a lot of complaints about what he has done also. He wanted revenge, and here in Betis, I think he had it, and he did it in the way we know he can do, because it's not easy for you to play as a 100-million player. And Antony is a very good player. I am absolutely sure that this is a huge time for him here in Betis to help improve his career.”

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• Getty
  

  Fresh start: Antony relieved to have swapped Manchester for Spain

  Antony was quick to air his happiness when seeing a move to Betis confirmed, saying of his desire to embrace a fresh start: “What a difference! Seville is more beautiful than Manchester. I’m finally here. I’ve spent more than 40 days in a hotel, it’s been very hard but everyone knew that I wanted to return to Betis. Now with more time, we have many things to do and to achieve. It has been difficult for me to sleep seeing so much affection from the Betis fans, there were people waiting at my house at two in the morning.

  “For me affection is very important and not all the money is paid. Here I have a lot of feeling and affection, he was always my first choice and that’s why I waited until the last day to return to Betis. Now I’m here and happy in a city and a club that I love.”

  Antony and Betis will be back in action on Thursday when facing Genk in the Conference League, before then travelling to Atletico Madrid on October 27 – with Pellegrini’s side currently sat fifth in La Liga.

Celtic remain top of the Scottish Premiership table, albeit only just.

On Sunday, the Hoops required a very controversial penalty to beat Kilmarnock 2-1 at Rugby Park; Kelechi Ịheanachọ marking his debut by converting a 96th-minute spot-kick in Ayrshire.

This means Brendan Rodgers’ side remain above Hearts by virtue of goal difference, albeit they’ve scored just eight goals in five Premiership fixtures so far, which has to be a concern ahead of their Europa League opener against Crvena zvezda at Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade next Wednesday.

The departures of Kyōgo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kühn this year explain why the Celts are finding goals hard to come by, so would they actually have been better off keeping hold of a forgotten flop sold for just £500,000 by Ronny Deila?

Celtic's messy striker situation

Having not replaced the aforementioned Kyōgo, who was sold in January, it then came as a massive surprise when, on deadline day, Celtic sold Adam Idah to Swansea City for £7m.

Supporters assumed the club must have a replacement lined up but, well, that just wasn’t the case, seeing multiple low-ball bids rejected by Anderlecht for Kasper Dolberg, who never had any intention of moving to Glasgow, instead re-joining Ajax.

The window closed and Rodgers’ squad featured no senior centre-forward so, in a state of panic, the Celts signed Ịheanachọ, the Nigerian international having become a free agent after his contract had been terminated by Sevilla, showing how far from desperate the Spanish side were to have him around.

Well, considering Ịheanachọ scored zero La Liga goals for los Nervionenses, it is easy to understand why.

So, while the 28-year-old did convert that penalty at Kilmarnock, the jury very much remains out on whether or not he’ll be a success at Parkhead, so would a forgotten ex-Celtic flop actually have been a better option, still banging the goals in at 35?

Forgotten former Celtic striker still prolific

Back in August 2013, another classic late-summer signing, Celtic bought a 23-year-old by the name of Teemu Pukki from Schalke for a reported fee of £3m.

The Finnish international did score during his first two Premiership appearances, on target against Hearts and St Johnstone, but didn’t make much of an impression after that, netting just nine times in 38 outings for the club, loaned out to Brøndby a year later, before joining the Danish club permanently for around £500k, to no outrage or fuss whatsoever.

Well, since he was last seen in Glasgow, Pukki has scored 210 club goals, as well as becoming Finland’s all-time record goalscorer, smashing Jari Litmanen’s record, firing the Eagle-owls to their first-ever major tournament by netting ten times during Euro 2020 qualifying.

He is most well-known for his five seasons at Norwich City, scoring 29 and then 26 times as the Canaries won two separate EFL Championship titles, also bagging a respectable 11 Premier League goals in both 2019/20 and 20221/22.

During his peak at Carrow Road, teammate Marco Stiepermann labelled him a “special” player, adding that he “is much colder in the 18-yard box than Robert Lewandowski”, who the German had previously played alongside at Borussia Dortmund.

After leaving Norfolk, Pukki joined Major League Soccer side Minnesota United, scoring 14 times in 43 outings for the Loons, helping them reach last year’s MLS Western Conference semi-finals, most notably bagging four during a 5-2 victory over LA Galaxy in October 2023.

Since 2009, only ten players have scored 4+ goals in a single MLS match.

Not satisfied with his output in 2024 though, Minnesota allowed him to leave earlier this year, with Pukki thereby returning to his homeland in January, re-joining HJK Helsinki, a move that has certainly revitalised his career.

Pukki has bagged 18 goals in 2025, and counting, netting ten times in the Veikkausliiga, also on target when HJK were dumped out of Conference League qualifying by Bulgarian side Arda Kardzhali on penalties.

The table below fully documents Pukki’s scoring exploits since joining Celtic.

2013/14

Celtic

9

2014/15

Brøndby

11

2015/16

Brøndby

13

2016/17

Brøndby

29

2017/18

Brøndby

19

2018/19

Norwich

30

2019/20

Norwich

11

2020/21

Norwich

26

2021/22

Norwich

11

2022/23

Norwich

10

2023*

Minnesota

10

2024*

Minnesota

4

2025*

HJK

18

*MLS & Veikkausliiga are summer leagues.

As the table documents, aside from his miserable year in Saint Paul throughout 2024, Pukki has been prolific everywhere he has been since his one-year stint at Parkhead.

His 18 goal haul in 2025 is more than Idah’s tally of 12, while you have to go back to January 2023 to find Ịheanachọ’s 18th goal ago, having not bagged eight in a single campaign since 2020/21.

Thus, Pukki’s short-lived Celtic career proves that players should never be written off and may simply find themselves in the wrong environment at the wrong time.

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ByDan Emery Sep 16, 2025

The Thomas Frank era got off to an agonising start as Tottenham Hotspur fell short against Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, but there was much to admire from a spirited and, for the most part, organised north London outfit.

There was a lot to like, but Spurs fell short against the continent’s finest outfit, who clambered back from a two-goal deficit in the late stages. Lots to like, but work to be done, with the need for an attacking midfielder accentuated by the loss.

James Maddison’s injury is a tough one to take. Certainly, the Three Lions playmaker has been left stricken given the promising nature of Tottenham’s season ahead, with the World Cup then on the horizon across the pond.

Looking at the situation through a pragmatic lens, Spurs’ need for an attacking midfielder has been heightened. Dejan Kulusevski is still recovering from a patella injury, and the controversial failed bid for Morgan Gibbs-White preceded Maddison’s return to the infirmary.

With Heung-min Son having completed a £20m transfer to LAFC in the United States, signing Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze feels like something of a no-brainer, with that deal in the works. Well, insofar as Tottenham must remain apace with Arsenal in the battle.

But though Frank’s side showed great promise against PSG on Wednesday night, it’s clear that the club are calling out for more than just the arrival of a Maddison replacement, with a deal for Manchester City’s Savinho being chased too.

The latest on Savinho to Spurs

With Son gone and Eze operating frequently from the middle, thrusting forward with electric strides, completing a deal for Savinho feels important.

The Brazilian, 21, joined Pep Guardiola’s side from French club Troyes for around £31m last summer, and he registered 13 assists across 48 matches last term, albeit only scoring three times.

But there’s a lot to like, and Tottenham have opened talks for the rising talent as City pursue a deal for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

Savinho’s lack of bite in the final third is equalised by his snappy physicality and natural creativity. The goals will come, especially if he heads down N17 to work under Frank’s tutelage.

Savinho, who can play across both flanks, would be a fantastic addition, but with Man City holding out for a £67m fee, Daniel Levy and his coterie appear to have earmarked an exciting alternative.

Spurs have made bid for new winger

As per Spanish sources, Tottenham have seen an offer rejected for Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo, worth somewhere in the region of €40m (equating to £34m).

Transfer Focus

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

The sought-after Japan international believes Sociedad’s ambitions do not match his own, with Spurs hoping to entice him over to London, offering the promise of Champions League.

Daniel Levy will be keenly aware of rival English interest: Bournemouth, Everton, and West Ham have all placed bids of their own, and AC Milan are now emerging as suitors too.

With such thick competition for Spurs’ Savinho alternative, Kubo’s outfit want his €60m (£51m) release clause paid in full.

What Takefusa Kubo would bring to Spurs

Savinho has proven that he has what it takes to impress in the Premier League, with Manchester City expert Steven McInerney remarking that he’s “on the precipice of being a world-class footballer.”

However, £67m is a tall order for a young winger who only scored one league goal for one of the most dangerous attacking outfits in the world last season, and Kubo could be an exciting alternative who might even prove the better pick.

A high-speed and nimble winger, Kubo is typically housed on the right flank, though like Savinho, his dynamism lends itself to roles across the frontline.

And his desire to leave Real Sociedad bespeaks his ambition. Despite maintaining a steady creative presence for the Basque side last year, he was let down by his teammates, finishing 11th in the league and creating only 42.5 xG (expected goals), via FBref.

In spite of this, Kubo, who has been described as a “special talent” by journalist John Bunting, enjoyed a promising individual campaign.

Matches (starts)

36 (27)

29 (21)

Goals

5

1

Assists

0

8

Shots (on target)

1.2 (0.4)

1.9 (0.7)

Big chances missed

2

6

Accurate passes

18.4 (77%)

23.0 (87%)

Big chances created

9

11

Key passes*

1.3

1.6

Dribbles*

2.1

1.8

Tackles + interceptions*

1.4

1.0

Duels (won)*

5.3

3.6

Like Savinho, Kubo hasn’t established himself as a free-scoring wide forward yet, but there’s no question that he’s the more clinical of the two.

The Japanese’s flaw in the final third is that he doesn’t work himself into space with enough regularity, instead hugging the touchline and creating for his teammates.

Savinho does this too, of course, and it’s worth drawing attention to the fact that Kubo failed to register even one assist in La Liga last year. However, his underlying playmaking numbers suggest that he has what it takes to enrich Tottenham’s attacking fluency and build-up play.

Ultimately, Frank’s proven record with wingers, taking talented players and fashioning them into stars, suggests that both Savinho and Kubo could go from strength to strength under his leadership.

But, in all likelihood, Tottenham can only sign one. And if that is indeed the case, Kubo has the skill set and the hunger to prove himself at the highest level, having only featured eight times in the Champions League and having yet to reach the potential that was recognised from an early age.

Spurs’ initial offer suggests their interest is genuine, and if Man City stand unwavering on their £67m valuation, he is the winger to go for.

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ByEthan Lamb Aug 13, 2025