It is understood that the auction will be held at the end of November, ahead of the 2026 season

Nagraj Gollapudi08-Oct-2025

The WPL is considered a game changer in women’s cricket•BCCI

The five franchises in the WPL are set for a revamp, with the BCCI deciding to hold a mega auction ahead of the 2026 season. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the franchises have been told informally about the mega auction, which is likely to be held by end of November.The franchises are awaiting confirmation from the WPL on the number of retentions, the auction purse, the retention slabs and how many right-to-match (RTM) card options would be available. Those decisions will be finalised by the WPL committee, but there is no confirmation on when they are likely to meet. The dates for the 2026 edition are yet to be announced, although the BCCI had indicated earlier that the tournament would be held in the January-February window.The five-team WPL, the most lucrative event in women’s cricket, was launched in 2023 with Mumbai Indians emerging as the inaugural champions. Mumbai are the defending champions, while Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) won the title in 2024.It is understood that both Mumbai and RCB, along with Delhi Capitals, losing finalists in all three seasons of the WPL so far, are three teams who were not in favour of the mega auctions. All three franchises, it is learned, reasoned that they have worked hard to build their squads over the past three seasons and asking them to dismantle just when the WPL brand is getting established, could prove to be counter-productive.It is understood, however, that the two other franchises – Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz – support a mega auction. Both these teams have never made the final and are keen to overhaul their squads and rebuild. One WPL official said that while they understood the reservations of the three franchises against the mega auction, it was important to ensure the tournament had five strong teams, otherwise the imbalance could only harm the brand. The official also pointed out that franchises like RCB have shown in the IPL that they can build their brand identity independent of the players retained, though they agreed the presence of Indian star Virat Kohli was well leveraged by the franchise.Mumbai Indians celebrate with the 2025 WPL trophy•Getty Images

This official pointed out that at the same time, the WPL would ensure that teams would still have the opportunity to retain their core. It is understood while some teams were in favour of being allowed to retain at least six or seven players, the WPL could lean closer to five. What also needs to be worked out as part of the retention formula is how many RTMs each team could exercise at the auction along with the combination of capped and uncapped players.For the IPL mega auction in 2025, each of the 10 franchises were allowed a maximum of six retentions via a combination of retention and RTM. The six would comprise a maximum five capped players (Indian/overseas) and maximum of two uncapped Indian players. The RTM option gives a franchise the chance to buy back a player during the auction by matching the highest bid made for the player by another franchise once the bidding is over. The RTM rule has never been used in WPL auctions.The WPL has been viewed as a gamechanger in women’s cricket, especially because of the monetary benefits for players. In 2023, Viacom 18 bought the WPL broadcast rights for INR 951 crore (USD 116.7 million approx.) for the period 2023 to 2027. The per-match value was worth INR 7.09 core (USD 866,000 approx.). India’s star batter Smrit Mandhana, the first player to be bought at the inaugural WPL auction (2023), remains the most expensive buy at INR 3.2 cr ($415,000 approx.).

يخوض نادي الزمالك اليوم السبت واحدة من المواجهات المهمة في مشواره ببطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية لموسم 2025-2026، وذلك عندما يحل ضيفًا على فريق كايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي في لقاء يُتوقع أن يشهد ندّية كبيرة بين الطرفين.

وتقام المباراة في جنوب إفريقيا، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية للمجموعة التي تضم إلى جانب الفريقين كلًا من المصري البورسعيدي وزيسكو يونايتد الزامبي.

ويأمل الزمالك في استكمال بدايته الإيجابية، بعدما نجح في حصد أول ثلاث نقاط له في الجولة الافتتاحية على حساب زيسكو، في اللقاء الذي حسمه سيف الدين الجزيري بهدف منح الفريق دفعة معنوية مهمة قبل مواجهة اليوم.

من جانبه، يسعى فريق كايزر تشيفز إلى استغلال عامل الأرض وردة فعل الجماهير لتعويض تعثره بالجولة الأولى، خاصة أنه يدرك أن خسارة جديدة قد تُربك حساباته في المنافسة على بطاقتي التأهل.

طالع أيضًا | موعد مباراة الزمالك وكايزر تشيفز اليوم في الكونفدرالية

ويُنتظر أن يدخل أصحاب الأرض بأسلوب هجومي واضح، ما قد يمنح الزمالك مساحة للعب على الهجمات السريعة التي يجيدها لاعبو الخط الأمامي.

ويُدرك الجهاز الفني للزمالك بقيادة مدربه أحمد عبد الرؤوف، أن الفوز خارج الديار اليوم سيكون بمثابة خطوة كبيرة نحو صدارة المجموعة، خصوصًا مع قوة المنافسين وتقدم المصري البورسعيدي في النقاط بعد بدايته القوية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة الزمالك وكايزر تشيفز في الكونفدرالية

ويتم نقل المباراة عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 2، الناقل الحصري للبطولات الإفريقية، مع تغطية تحليلية قبل وبعد اللقاء واستديو فني يضم مجموعة من المحللين البارزين.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

Diego Simeone has stirred the Champions League conversation by boldly naming Inter as the competition’s “strongest team” even after Atletico Madrid edged them with a dramatic 93rd-minute winner at the Wanda Metropolitano. The Argentine’s remarks come as Arsenal maintain a perfect record in the tournament, adding further intrigue to a campaign where momentum, form and perceptions are shifting every week.

Atletico stun Inter but Simeone points praise elsewhere

Los Colchoneros kept their Champions League hopes alive with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Inter, decided by Jose Maria Gimenez’s towering 93rd-minute header. The Uruguayan rose highest to meet Antoine Griezmann’s corner, finishing off a gripping contest that had swayed back and forth all night. Earlier, Julian Alvarez opened the scoring for the hosts before Piotr Zielinski equalised for the Nerazzurri, setting the stage for a nail-biting finale. The win, Atleti's third in the competition, pushed them up to nine points, keeping alive their slim but real hope of reaching the last-16 round without having to navigate a knockout play-off tie. The visitors, meanwhile, suffered their first Champions League defeat of the season under Cristian Chivu. Yet Simeone’s post-match tone was anything but triumphant.

Despite Arsenal defeating Bayern Munich 3-1 to remain the only team with a perfect record and despite Atleti being thrashed 4-0 by the Gunners earlier in the campaign, Simeone refused to name Mikel Arteta’s side as Europe’s benchmark. Instead, he offered a firm and unexpected verdict on who leads the pack heading into the decisive phase of the competition. As the celebrations at the Metropolitano tapered off, the Argentine shifted the focus from the result to the bigger European picture and his comments set up the perfect moment for his headline-grabbing declaration.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Inter are the strongest team in the Champions League' – Simeone

Before celebrating the magnitude of Atletico’s win, Simeone made it clear where he believes the real power lies in Europe right now. Speaking to after the final whistle, he said: “There’s no doubt about it. Inter are the strongest team in the Champions League right now.”

He then reflected on how Atletico approached the match and the impact of his substitutes: “That’s why we played a first half to hinder their play. We knew that in the second half we could express our full repertoire, with top-class players like Griezmann, [Alexander] Sorloth, and Nico Gonzalez, who came on very well and allowed us to score in the final move. It was very nice, but the idea, regardless of the result, was the same. I don’t know how to live in my comfort zone; I prefer to stay that way. You have to work with faith, love, and quality. I have players who follow me, and that’s crucial for every coach. Today, there were strikers on the bench who wanted to start, and when they came on, they showed their worth.”

Praise from their future manager?

The 55-year-old's admiration for Inter did not come out of nowhere. His connection to the Nerazzurri remains deep and he had already stirred headlines on the eve of the match. When asked openly about the possibility of managing Inter in the future, the Atletico boss offered one of the most candid answers of his career.

With calm confidence, he said: “It doesn’t depend on just me, but in my coaching career I can imagine myself managing Inter one day. I think it will happen one day.”

Those comments, paired with his glowing praise after full-time, underline the esteem in which Simeone holds the Serie A club. It also places his verdict in context: Atletico may have beaten Inter, but he still views them as Europe’s most complete and balanced side, even ahead of Arsenal, whom he notably did not select despite their perfect start to the Champions League.

Los Rojiblancos themselves have been erratic in Europe this season, mixing strong wins with heavy setbacks, and Simeone’s words reflect both respect for Inter’s structure and recognition of his own squad’s inconsistency.

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Getty Images SportAtletico back in the hunt but tougher tests await

Atleti's late winner lifts them to nine points, keeping alive their slim but realistic hopes of reaching the knockout rounds. The victory comes at a crucial time, as their Champions League campaign had been hanging in the balance. Simeone will now look to carry that momentum into domestic action. Atletico return to La Liga on Saturday with a home fixture against Real Oviedo, aiming to stabilise their league form and build confidence ahead of their next European challenge.

The Champions League journey resumes on December 9, when they travel to face PSV, a match that could define whether this revived campaign becomes a genuine knockout run or another season of missed opportunities. For now, though, the Argentine has made his stance crystal clear: Inter are the team to beat, and beating them only reinforced his belief.

Florian Wirtz was denied a first strike for Liverpool after the Premier League's goal accreditation panel judged his effort against Sunderland to be an own goal from Nordi Mukiele. The German midfielder showed great close control to weave his way through the penalty box before shooting, with his effort taking a significant deflection off the Black Cats defender on its way into the back of the net.

• Wirtz's deflected strike earns Liverpool point

  Liverpool were staring down the barrel of another disappointing result on Wednesday night after falling behind to Sunderland courtesy of Chemsdine Talbi's effort. The defending for that goal was poor, with captain Virgil van Dijk giving the ball away and then backing off before the shot deflected off his side and past goalkeeper Alisson. The Reds once again looked short of confidence and failed to create too many opportunities against the resolute visitors, but a driving run from Curtis Jones and Wirtz's fine dribbling ability resulted in a desperately needed equaliser. 

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• Why the strike was deemed a Mukiele own goal

  It looked to be clean off Wirtz's boot on first viewing, but replays soon showed the former Bayer Leverkusen star had completely mis-kicked his effort, which was heading well wide of the goal. However, his side got the slice of luck they so urgently needed as the shot deflected off Mukiele and over Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs. Wirtz has been the subject of much criticism and mockery since arriving at Anfield in the summer, having failed to contribute much in the way of goals and assists since his £116 million ($155m) transfer to the English champions. This latest decision means the derision may continue until he finally gets a goal which cannot be debated, but there was no doubting he was still one of Liverpool's better performers on a night where few of them played with much freedom or creativity. That line of thought was echoed by former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher, who said on : "It feels like a real step back tonight to what you saw at West Ham at the weekend. They didn't look like scoring a goal at any moment of the game tonight. Missing the energy, zip, pace power. Really worrying."

• AFP
  

  When will Wirtz finally get off the mark?

  After his extraordinary exploits with Leverkusen, few would have predicted Wirtz would still be waiting for his first Liverpool goal by December. He got an assist in his first competitive outing for the club in the Community Shield and has another couple in the Champions League, but there is clearly so much more to come from the silky 22-year-old. Even with the lucrative price tag, he has been thrown into a malfunctioning Liverpool side, with Mohamed Salah, so often their reliable figure in attack, looking well short of match sharpness after an incredible 2024-25 campaign. There have also been issues in the central striker position, with Alexander Isak being short of fitness after he forced through his record-breaking transfer to Merseyside from Newcastle, while Hugo Ekitike has had to battle back from injury worries after a hugely promising start to his Reds career.

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• What comes next for Wirtz and Liverpool?

  It's only December but Liverpool already look out of the Premier League title race, with this latest result seeing them fall 11 points behind current leaders and favourites Arsenal. There is little time for Slot's squad to lick their wounds, however, with the famously hectic Christmastime schedule creeping up on teams throughout England. They next have a tough-looking trip to Leeds United, who will buoyed after earning a much-needed victory over Chelsea, and then there is a daunting journey to San Siro when they resume their Champions League campaign against Inter. The Merseysiders need more points if they are to progress to the round of 16 and avoid a European play-off, having suffered a damaging 4-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven the last time they played in the competition.

Australia’s players will take different things from this ODI series against India. While significant in its own right, for some it’s part of their build towards the Ashes, others a first chance at ODI level or an opportunity to reestablish their credentials. For Matt Short, it’s an important window to stake a claim for a top-order spot amid what shapes as a tough selection race heading towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.The rain-truncated opening encounter in Perth was Short’s 16th ODI since making his debut just over two years ago in South Africa. On that day against India in Mohali he came in at No. 8. Earlier the following year he was at No. 6 against West Indies in Sydney. Then came a stretch in a more familiar spot, opening the batting, which including his career-best 63 against England at the Champions Trophy earlier this year.Related

• Battle for T20 World Cup favouritism begins

• Short, Connolly, Zampa guide Australia to series victory in Adelaide

• Australia chase series win in Adelaide, India fight to stay alive

• Marsh secures seven-wicket canter after Starc, Hazlewood set game up

• India's ODI gameplan tested in pacy Perth

Since then, in his own words, it has been a “frustrating” time for Short amid a run of injuries with firstly a quad strain curtailing his Champions Trophy campaign then a side injury which ruled him out of a T20I series against West Indies and both white-ball formats against South Africa.He played the three T20Is against New Zealand earlier in October, but runs haven’t flowed in 50-over cricket for Victoria this season with scores of 0, 20 and 12. In Perth, he made 8 off 17 balls before slicing a catch to short third off Axar Patel when he had a chance to lead the chase alongside Mitchell Marsh.”It’s been frustrating…I still feel like I’m moving well. I’m feeling good out in the middle,” Short told reporters in Adelaide. “Just haven’t got the runs on the board. But hopefully they come soon. It’s been a frustrating year in terms of getting that continuous cricket.”Against India, Australia are without Cameron Green (side) and Josh Inglis (calf) from what would be a first-choice ODI XI as they build towards 2027. With Marsh and Travis Head likely locked in at the top, there will be a jostle for positions from there downwards in the post Steven Smith/Glenn Maxwell 50-over era.Short, who plays for Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, has made his name in white-ball cricket at the top of the order, but wants to grasp any opportunity he gets.”It’s always going to be tough to get a spot in the XI and I’ll sort of take whatever that is, whether it’s opening, batting a three or wherever. It’s just [about] staying flexible and trying to bat wherever you’re put and be able to take that.”Especially the last few years, I’m so used to opening the batting and batting in that top order, but batting a three is not too dissimilar. But if it was to come through the middle, you’d probably need to prep a bit for that but it’s something I’ve done before in the past. If that came to happen, I’d definitely take it.”Australia were forced to train indoors on Tuesday and more rain is forecast on Wednesday but game day is set to be fine.Left-armer seamer Ben Dwarshuis has been ruled out of the ODI series due to a calf injury. He is hoping to be available for the T20Is which begin in Canberra on October 29.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and star designated hitter Shohei Ohtani have had an ongoing prank war over the last year, but Roberts decided to take a more sincere route with his latest surprise for Ohtani.

The pranks began when Ohtani closed in on breaking Roberts's record for the most home runs hit by a Japanese-born player in Dodgers' history. Ohtani told Roberts that he had bought him a car, only to surprise Roberts with a miniature toy car. Ohtani followed it up by parking a toy Porsche in Roberts's parking spot when he reported for spring training. Finally, Roberts got "revenge" by filling Ohtani's car with a bunch of toy balls from a ball pit and pictures of his face.

For Roberts's next surprise to Ohtani, he opted to purchase a pink electronic toy Porsche for Ohtani's daughter. The gift was a nod to their previous jokes, but also a nice gift for his daughter, who was born in April.

"I'm surprising Shohei," Roberts said in a video shared by the Dodgers' social media team. "My wife and I purchased this electronic remote car for his daughter. Shohei's been very gracious and we've got this long-running practical joke. This is more of a sincere gesture, not necessarily a practical joke, but I wanted to present it to him."

The video then showed Roberts presenting the gift in Ohtani, who laughed in response and thought the gift was "nice."

Ohtani hilariously admitted after he thought he "was in trouble" when he got called into Roberts's office. Instead, he was pleasantly surprised with the gift.

Anyone who has been a Minnesota Twins fan for the past 20 or so years has grown accustomed to being let down. Since the start of the 21st century, the Twins have made the postseason 10 times and won just two series. Minnesota has captured the American League Central nine times since 2002, and won 90 or more games six times in that span. The Twins notched 101 victories in 2019—one shy of a franchise record—then were swept by the New York Yankees in the ALDS as part of what would become an 18-game postseason losing streak that spanned 19 years.

So while this is an organization that has had plenty of success, disappointing finishes have become the norm. Last year’s squad got an early jump on the letdown by dropping 27 of its last 39 games to miss the playoffs completely. After a quiet offseason, Minnesota didn’t hear the 2025 starting gun and stumbled to a 13–20 start. In the parlance of our times, the vibes were bleak, and showing little sign of improving.

But fortunes can change quickly in this game, and did they ever for the Twins.

Minnesota ripped off a 13-game win streak out of nowhere to jump back into the division hunt and defibrillate its season. Before the start of the streak, FanGraphs gave the Twins a 29.2% chance to make the playoffs (down from 55.5% on Opening Day). After their 13th win, that number was all the way up to 68.7%.

The key to the turnaround goes back to the front office’s decision to largely stand pat this offseason and trust the core of the roster that it assembled over the past few years. There were no panic moves or splurge signings—the only major-league contracts Minnesota gave out in free agency were one-year deals to outfielder Harrison Bader ($6.25 million), relief pitcher Danny Coulombe ($3 million) and first baseman Ty France ($1 million). It was the least amount of money spent in free agency by any team in the AL.

Overall, the players have rewarded management for their faith in them. Minnesota’s strength is its pitching staff. The team has allowed the second-fewest runs in the AL, backed with MLB’s best bullpen by fWAR. Twins relief pitchers have combined for a 3.09 ERA, anchored by lights-out closer Jhoan Duran, who has allowed zero earned runs in 20 of his 23 appearances. Griffin Jax, Cole Sands, Louis Varland and Coulombe round out the rest of the impressive relief corps (though the latter just landed on the injured list with a strained forearm).

The bullpen was leaned on heavily throughout Minnesota’s 13-game streak. Ten of the 13 wins were by three runs or fewer, and four were one-run victories. During that stretch, Twins relievers allowed just four earned runs in 45 ⅓ innings, good for an ERA of 0.79.

Minnesota’s bullpen was a strength last year, though, collectively ranking fifth in fWAR. The rotation lagged behind a bit: despite ranking ninth in fWAR, Minnesota starters ranked 22nd in ERA (4.36) and had the league’s sixth-worst home run rate (1.37 per nine innings). The team’s top three starters—Pablo López, Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober—largely delivered, but the group lacked depth, and didn’t receive any reinforcements ahead of 2025.

While injuries have hit other parts of the roster, the rotation has crucially avoided any major land mines. López, Ryan and Ober have combined for a 2.93 ERA over 153 ⅓ innings to date to shoulder most of the load. Five other starters have put up a 4.22 ERA across 102 ⅓ innings, illustrating just how important it is for the three mainstays to stay healthy. A lengthy stay on the IL for any of the trio could bring about a repeat of last year’s slide.

While lacking in big-name players, Minnesota has built up quality depth among its position players, largely out of necessity. Injuries have long plagued the Twins’ talented trio of star regulars: center fielder Byron Buxton, shortstop Carlos Correa and third baseman Royce Lewis. The latter missed all of April but has played in 14 straight games since debuting on May 6. The results haven’t been there—Lewis is hitting .191 with just three extra-base hits—but his mere presence in the lineup is a positive sign. The same can’t be said for Buxton and Correa, who landed on the concussion IL after colliding with each other last week.

The return timetables for both are unclear, but the Twins have gotten contributions from a whole host of role players this season that allows them to spread the burden of replacing them around. Bader has proven to be a steal, posting a .793 OPS while playing his usual stellar defense. Trevor Larnach, a 2018 first-round pick, has followed up his mini-breakout from last season with seven home runs and a 111 wRC+ in a team-high 200 plate appearances. Ryan Jeffers has a 124 wRC+ while splitting time at catcher and DH, while infield reinforcements Brooks Lee and, more recently, Kody Clemens have filled in gaps for Correa and underperformers Edouard Julien and Willi Castro.

Is Minnesota’s winning formula sustainable? While so many contributions have come from the margins, there aren’t many that scream “flukish.” Bader’s bat will likely regress some, and Clemens shouldn’t be counted on to be an everyday contributor long-term. The eventual returns of Buxton and Correa will provide reinforcements.

On the pitching side, the Twins are trusting one of their top prospects Zebby Matthews with a rotation spot, and David Festa (currently in Triple A) shouldn’t be too far behind. In the meantime, Chris Paddack will continue to get chances, with his 3.98 ERA supported by a rickety 4.64 FIP. While most of Minnesota’s top prospects in the upper minors are position players, the pitching staff is an area that appears most in need of some help via a midseason trade.

The Twins can put themselves in a buyer’s position by keeping their winning ways rolling. They might not win 13 in a row again, and that’s O.K. As September’s collapse and this offseason showed, sometimes treading water is enough.

Newcastle United will need to show they can pick up results on the road consistently to continue their fine start to December.

At St James’ Park so far this month, which is the Magpies’ dependable fortress, Eddie Howe’s men have collected a draw and a win, with only two losses from eight matches coming their way on their own turf this season so far.

In stark contrast, three losses have been tallied up away from home, with only one away win next to their name sticking out as a worrying fact.

In their defence, the only success on the road this season saw them emphatically get the better of Everton 4-1 in the Premier League, which might well stand them in good stead against Bayer Leverkusen and Sunderland to come.

Howe will hope his team’s up-and-down nature has been rectified by the time the January transfer window swings back open, with a potentially busy month ahead for the Toon in terms of incomings.

Newcastle looking to sign new midfielder

The unpredictability of January could also see Newcastle offload a couple of players, too, with reserve centre-forward option William Osula alleged to be keen to move away from St James’ Park.

There are also rumours bubbling away about fresh faces joining the building, with former Leicester City ace Bilal El Khannouss just one of many options catching the Toon’s eye in the middle of the park. On top of him, a cut-price £13m move for Ferencváros TC star Alex Tóth could be on the agenda.

The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope has added more fuel to the fire by revealing that Howe and Co are set to make a move for rising AZ Alkmaar star Kees Smit, with the reported transfer fee floating about for his services coming in at the £30m price range.

The inconsistent Toon have long been admirers of the well-rounded Dutchman, and with Manchester United and Liverpool circling, this would be seen as a statement move in January, as Newcastle prepare to spend the big bucks once more. Hope has already described the youngster as “one of Europe’s most exciting teenagers” so this one is certainly something to kick and scream about.

How Smit can be Howe's future Guimaraes

Howe will hope, by landing Smit, that he wins himself a future Bruno Guimaraes, which will be music to the ears of the devoted Tyneside fanbase, after the much-loved Brazilian only affirmed his legendary status at the club more with that audacious strike versus Burnley.

The 28-year-old is now synonymous with Newcastle, with his corner kick effort sailing straight over the head of Martin Dubravka, further backing up comments by his manager that he is a “difference-maker”.

Of course, Smit has some way to go before he’s pulling off screamers like Guimaraes’ ingenious effort regularly in the Premier League, but the 19-year-old does have a powerful effort up his sleeve, with his ability to conjure up a moment of magic from a very early age also seeing scout Jacek Kulig laud him as a “super talent.”

Indeed, this sumptuous effort in the U19 Euros in the summer shows off a star who is incredibly confident and assured in front of goal, with Smit now up to ten goal contributions in the senior ranks at AZ. Newcastle’s beloved captain is up to 27 goals and 29 assists himself in the senior picture at St James’ Park, with Howe hopeful that Smit could reach these levels in time, so he can replace the 28-year-old down the line.

It’s not just their output in terms of goals and assists that makes the two talents in question similar, however, with Smit’s energy and determination centrally also placing himself on the same pedestal as the industrious South American, which has led to the AZ number 26 even being branded as a “duel monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, a tag regularly placed on Guimaraes’ shoulders.

Smit’s league numbers for AZ
Stat (* = per 90 mins)	24/25	25/26
Games played	18	14
Goals scored	0	2
Assists	0	2
Touches*	38.8	62.7
Accurate passes*	23.3 (85%)	42.7 (89%)
Key passes*	1.3	1.8
Big chances created	3	3
Ball recoveries*	3.3	5.7
Total duels won*	2.9	3.3
Stats by Sofascore

Smit has certainly grown into being more of a lively performer centrally this season in the Eredivisie, when looking at the table above, making 5.7 ball recoveries and winning 3.3 duels per game.

In constract, the Newcastle skipper has made 5.1 ball recoveries, but he does blow Smit out of the water in the duels department, having won a fierce 5.4 duels so far this campaign in the demanding Premier League.

Still, with the upward trajectory the table outlines, he could reach Guimaraes’ commanding levels very soon, as Howe prepares to win himself a standout talent for the future in January, by securing Smit’s coveted services.

Newcastle star was entering Obertan territory, now he's their "best player"

This Newcastle United star is now beginning to turn around his underwhelming Premier League season.

By
Kelan Sarson

Dec 8, 2025

A large portion of Daniel Farke’s summer signings at Leeds United stood out in the Whites’ dramatic 3-3 draw against Liverpool last time out.

Indeed, Dominic Calvert-Lewin would have loved following up his instinctive effort against Chelsea with a penalty goal against the Reds, having just recently waved goodbye to Everton.

Anton Stach also got in on the goalscoring act as another new recruit from Hoffenheim, before Ao Tanaka – who triumphantly lifted the Championship title last season – hammered home the crucial equaliser.

Unfortunately, not every fresh face that arrived at Elland Road this off-season has instantly gelled, with Farke now in danger of having his very own Vurnon Anita, six years on from the ex-Newcastle United midfielder’s uneventful stint in West Yorkshire.

Remembering Anita's shambolic stay at Leeds

Leeds would have felt they’d struck gold by being able to land the now 36-year-old on a free transfer in 2017, considering Anita was just fresh off a Championship promotion with the Magpies, and the Whites were desperately looking to break back into the Premier League.

On top of his EFL experience, the three-time Eredivisie winner had also amassed 106 Premier League appearances on Tyneside as a useful utility presence, with one of his former Toon coaches, John Carver, once stating that he always has the “same attitude and commitment” wherever he’s thrown into the XI.

Games played

22

Minutes played

1620 mins

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Wage per week

£25k-per-week

Wage costs for a year

£1.3m

Unfortunately for the Whites, though, they never managed to get the best out of Anita, who could play at left-back or right-back at a moment’s notice, away from his central midfield duties, with an unmemorable 22 first-team appearances all she wrote on his forgettable Leeds career.

His high £25k-per-week salary came under plenty of scrutiny, therefore, with Anita – who wasn’t even registered as an outfield player for Leeds during the 2018/19 campaign – branded as a “huge waste of money” by ex-Leeds player Noel Whelan, after he was chucked to one side by Marcelo Bielsa.

Surely, if Leeds could turn back time, they would never have gambled on the Curacao international to come good, with a worryingly similar tale playing out in the here and now for Farke…

Farke's very own Anita

Thankfully, Leeds already look to be vindicated in their decision to bring in the aforementioned Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer, with no Anita-style repeat on the cards here, as the Sheffield-born striker already boasts four Premier League goals for Farke’s men.

The same, however, cannot be said for Sebastiaan Bornauw, who appears to be destined for the exit door, just a matter of months after sealing a move to England for a modest £5.1m fee from Wolfsburg.

Yet, at the time of the capture, Leeds would have thought they’d acquired a diamond in the rough, with the 26-year-old accumulating 140 Bundesliga appearances for both Wolfsburg and FC Köln, meaning the hope would be that he could be a dependable cover option at the back for Farke.

Fast forward to the present, though, and the deal to bring the four-time Belgium international to English shores has already been dismissed as “laughable” as per Leeds-based content creator Lewis Deighton, with Bornauw only fit enough for a paltry two minutes of Premier League action so far.

This is a far cry from when Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley was hailing the capture of Bornauw as an indicator that Leeds had conducted some “excellent” summer business back in July, with the lofty number 23 already out of action for four games this season, owing to recurring knee issues.

Estimated to be on a bumper £45k-per-week pay packet, too, all the current signs are pointing in the direction that Bornauw is Leeds’ modern-day iteration of Anita.

For context, both Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu are on a lesser £40k-per-week salary each, reportedly.

Further dubbed as looking “terrible” against Sheffield Wednesday in the EFL Cup by commentator Sam Matterface, on what has been his only start to date, he only won 50% of his duels against lower league opposition.

It really does feel as if Bornauw’s stay at Elland Road will be extremely short-lived, as he just goes down as a forgotten flop, like Anita before him.

The "best finisher" at Leeds now finally looks finished under Farke

This Leeds star has not been involved much this season

ByJoe Nuttall 4 days ago

Would it be hyperbole to suggest that Kobbie Mainoo provided the best, or most significant, moment at Manchester United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era?

Faced with an imperious Manchester City side in the 2024 FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag’s men defied the odds to claim a richly deserved 2-1 win, a year on from having tamely been defeated by their neighbours en route to treble glory.

Alejandro Garnacho had pounced early on to open the scoring, before fellow academy graduate Mainoo popped up at the backpost to add a second, slotting home perfectly following Bruno Fernandes’ ingenious reverse pass.

The then-teenager, like the thousands decked out in red at Wembley, roared in celebration, revelling in the crowing moment of a stunning, six-month rise from relative obscurity.

The Old Trafford faithful have been wedded to United’s golden boy since then, although there has been no such warmth from new boss Ruben Amorim.

What Amorim said about Mainoo after West Ham

From the highs of that Wembley showpiece, and his subsequent role in England’s run to the final at Euro 2024, Mainoo’s impact has plummeted since then, having hardly had a look-in following an injury-hit start to 2024/25.

Seemingly fighting a losing battle from the off following Amorim’s arrival in November 2024 – having failed to start the Portuguese’s first game in charge against Ipswich Town – the Stockport native has drifted onto the periphery, with 2025/26 proving particularly frustrating thus far.

The forgotten man, Mainoo is yet to start a single Premier League game this season, playing just 171 minutes in all, having been an unused substitute for the fourth time against West Ham United in midweek.

Speaking after that dismal 1-1 draw, Amorim went on the defensive regarding his treatment of the youngster, while laughing off suggestions that the midfielder could have been an “offensive” alteration.

Asked if he understood why Mainoo’s status as a homegrown talent made him such a talking point for fans and pundits alike, the 40-year-old replied:

Mainoo, unsurprisingly, is seeking a January exit amid his bizarre fall from grace, although he surely isn’t the midfielder INEOS should be looking to move on.

Man Utd must sell flop who's getting the Mainoo treatement

Perhaps the biggest source of frustration regarding Mainoo’s situation is that Amorim isn’t exactly blessed with regard to midfield depth, with his current squad boasting just four recognised, senior midfielders to choose from.

For much of 2025/26, the ex-Sporting CP boss has selected ever-present skipper, Fernandes, alongside the ageing Casemiro, with both Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte limited to mere late cameos off the bench.

Like the FA Cup final hero, Ugarte has also become a notable talking point amid his limited role under Amorim, despite having previously worked with the 3-4-2-1 boss in Lisbon.

Indeed, it was reported last month that the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man had been criticised by his manager in front of teammates at Carrington, following the Europa League final defeat.

Like Mainoo, who enjoyed just a mere last-gasp cameo in Bilbao, Ugarte was also something of an afterthought even as United toiled, having failed to even make it off the bench on the night.

Mainoo & Ugarte – 25/26 PL stats

Stat (*per game)

Mainoo

Ugarte

Games

9

10

Starts

0

2

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Big chances created

0

0

Key passes*

0.6

0.1

Pass accuracy*

87%

86%

Total duels won*

36%

60%

Balls recovered*

1.1

2.0

Dribbled past*

0.1

0.4

Stats via Sofascore

Much like Mainoo too, the Uruguayan has been forced to settle for a watching brief for much of this season, starting just twice in the top-flight, while notably being hooked at the break following an “embarrassing” display against Grimsby Town, in the view of writer Alex Turk.

Of course, there isn’t the groundswell of support for Ugarte like there is for his midfield colleague, with the decision to fork out almost £50m on the 24-year-old standing out as one of the worst decisions of recent years at Old Trafford.

Whether the £120k-per-week talent, again like Mainoo, is being helped by his manager is another matter, however, with Amorim hardly backing his man after revealing that Ugarte is “struggling” to adjust to life in the Premier League.

Either way, if it comes down to choosing between which peripheral midfielder needs to be shown the door, it should surely be Ugarte whom INEOS cash in on, with the safe and steady asset doing little to warrant a third-season stay in Manchester.

Related Cunha 2.0: INEOS to fast-track Man Utd bid for 'best winger in England'

Manchester United look set to make a huge move for one player in the upcoming January window.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Dec 5, 2025