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Derby County are preparing for another tilt at life in the second-tier following their miraculous escape from relegation under John Eustace and could now make a bold statement on the market, according to a report.

Derby look to avoid repeat scenario of close shave with relegation

Avoiding the drop is never an easy feat to achieve when the chips are down. Still, John Eustace will rightfully be heralded as a miracle worker at Pride Park following his side’s turnaround.

Speaking to Football League World, pundit Don Goodman believes Derby can avoid being drawn into a relegation battle next term now that the foundations are in place to help the Rams thrive.

He explained: “I look at the 14 games John Eustace took charge of at the end of last season – six wins and three draws, and that’s despite losing the first three games he took charge of.

“If he accrued that points total over the course of last season that would be 69 points, which would’ve actually been enough for a play-off spot for Derby, remarkably.

“He’s outstanding at organising teams and making them hard to play against and hard to beat, so those are ingredients that will see Derby County not be in a relegation battle.”

Derby County make out-of-window move for "athletic" player in free transfer

John Eustace could be set to link up with a former player at Pride Park.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Mar 7, 2025

Inevitably, Derby will need to pull up some trees on the market to put themselves in a position of relative comfort.

Defensive duo Danny Batth and Dion Sanderson have been linked with moves to Pride Park, but there will be more in the pipeline as Eustace exhausts all avenues to put his mission into place.

Now, the Rams could turn to his former club in an attempt to pull of a statement deal that would definitely enhance their survival prospects, per recent developments.

Derby plotting move for Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis

According to EFL Analysis, Derby are in the mix to sign Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis and Eustace is said to be a big fan of his exploits after working with the 27-year-old at Ewood Park.

Predominantly a defensive midfielder, reports claim it would cost £2 million to prize him away from Lancashire. Meanwhile, Wrexham are also keen to lure him to North Wales.

Lewis Travis in all competitions – 2024/25
Appearances	39
Goals	2
Assists	1

Labelled “fantastic” by David Lowe, Travis is out of contract next summer which may increase pressure on Blackburn to sell their captain this window before his value begins to dwindle on the market.

Intriguingly, he has previously spoken out about his ‘close’ relationship with Eustace, something that may be used as an emotional string to pull on in the event of any negotiations.

Nevertheless, Derby aren’t messing about in their bid to add quality reinforcements and there is no doubt their engine room would drastically improve were Travis to land at Pride Park this summer.

Rangers and the 49ers Enterprises are believed to be interested in signing an “incredibly athletic” player in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Sebastien Denis.

Rangers and 49ers eyeing new manager and signings

The Gers are coming towards the end of what has ultimately been a disappointing season, starting with the doomed reign of Philippe Clement, who allowed his side to drift too far behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race.

Barry Ferguson came in and steadied the ship in interim charge, guiding Rangers to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, but it looks like a permanent replacement will arrive in the summer. Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl has been mentioned as an option in recent days, with the German looking increasingly likely to leave the Owls at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, the likes of Steven Gerrard and Marco Rose are seen as the front-runners to come in at Ibrox as the 49ers plan for a busy first summer. In terms of new signings on the pitch, Bobby Clark has been linked with a summer move to Rangers, with the former Liverpool youngster currently at RB Salzburg. Playing time has been hard to come by, though, with just two substitute appearances coming his way in the Austrian Bundesliga this season.

Rangers want to sign "incredibly athletic" £6m+ defender

Now according to a new claim from Denis on X, Estoril defender Kevin Boma is a “very popular” option for Rangers, as well as Basel and Union Berlin, with the Scottish giants eyeing a move for him in the summer window.

He goes on to describe the 22-year-old as “already one of the best defenders in Portugal” and his current club could demand as much as £6.8m for his signature.

Boma may not be the most renowned Rangers target in recent months, but the fact that Denis speaks so highly of him immediately suggests he could be an exciting young addition for next season and beyond.

The Estoril ace has won two caps for Togo at senior international level, having previously represented France’s Under-18s, and journalist Kai Watson has described him as “incredibly athletic”.

The fee that Estoril are demanding for Boma doesn’t seem too steep, considering his long-term potential, so Rangers could be looking at him as a strong option to be a mainstay at the heart of their defence for years to come.

Rangers may join race for exciting coach who learned trade at Bayern Munich

He’s set to leave his current club.

By
Tom Cunningham

May 9, 2025

Becoming more defensively resolute will aid them in their efforts to close the gap on Celtic in 2025/26, with the Gers conceding 15 more goals than their rivals in the league, which has played a part in their title challenge petering out the longer the campaign has gone on.

It’s interesting that Trent Alexander-Arnold, one of the best players in the world, should be leaving Liverpool this summer and yet the other defensive flank feels the main priority for FSG and Arne Slot.

You can assess this situation through different modes of analysis: it could be argued that Conor Bradley is an exciting talent and has the potential to step right into his teammate’s boots, with Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez marking enough depth for the upcoming campaign.

But then you could also peer down from the vantage of Andy Robertson being past his best, with Kostas Tsimikas not at the desired level either, thus heightening the need for a left-back this season given the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City are only going to improve over the off-season months.

Robertson, 31, is entering the final year of his contract but wants to stay put. He’s been a loyal and influential servant over the years; alongside Trent, the Scot is one of the most creative defenders in Premier League history.

1

Trent Alexander-Arnold

64

2

Andy Robertson

59

3

Leighton Baines

53

4

Graeme Le Saux

44

5

Kieran Trippier

38

The problem is, though, that Robertson has failed to register a single goal contribution in the top flight this term, and with Trent on the way out, that needs replacing.

Liverpool desperate for new left-back

Conor Bradley is by no means the finished article but he’s a talented young player with a goal and ten assists across 54 senior showings for the Reds. Not bad.

However, Robertson’s attacking impact is waning, and sporting director Richard Hughes has lined up Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez as the dream target, though FSG will no doubt be reluctant to meet the Cherries’ hefty £45m price tag.

The air around Kerkez’s situation is charged with the sense that he wants Liverpool. The Hungarian, teammate and good friend of Dominik Szoboszlai, has even been reported to have confided in his inner circle that he wants to move to Anfield.

However, £45m is a steep sum. The 21-year-old is technically in his breakout campaign in England and, with Manchester City and Real Madrid also keen on a deal.

Liverpool would be foolish not to earmark alternatives, with one fallback maybe even proving the better signing for Slot’s squad.

Liverpool identify Kerkez alternative

According to a recent exclusive from talkSPORT, Liverpool are interested in signing Antonee Robinson as an alternative to Kerkez this summer, with the Fulham star enjoying a fantastic season.

With Liverpool likely to splash the cash, left-back is bound to be an area Slot wants reinforcing, and Robinson could be the perfect man to rival Robertson.

It was revealed two months ago that FSG had already started plans for a £30m swoop; it’s unlikely Fulham will seal a route into European competition over the next few weeks, so the 28-year-old would jump at the chance to move to Merseyside.

Why Antonee Robinson would be perfect for Liverpool

Robinson actually played his football in Liverpool before, once of an Everton persuasion, starring for the academy but never tasting the senior stage as he was sold to Wigan Athletic after a promising loan spell.

Now, he’s a fully-fledged top-flight superstar with Fulham, 134 appearances deep into his career at England’s highest station.

With lightning pace and a roundedness that offers shades of Robertson back in his pomp, Robinson has played 34 league matches this season, wearing the skipper’s armband on 18 occasions.

Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley is even convinced that Robinson is “one of the best left-backs in the world,” making the bold claim earlier in the 2024/25 campaign.

It’s a bold take, but it’s not brazen. Indeed, the USMNT international’s performances this year and last have underscored his quality and the capacity to play for a team challenging at the apex of European competition.

If it’s creativity that Slot wants from left-back, he need look no further than this robust talent, who has racked up ten assists across 34 Premier League matches this year.

As per FBref, this places him among the top 3% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists per 90, also among the top 8% for progressive carries and the top 7% for tackles + interceptions per 90 too.

To put it simply, Robinson’s completeness is something which would elevate an already high-flying Slot squad. There’s a purpose to his movements that allows him to run the lanes of duty, make a positive impact when both fixed to the backline and unleashed, allowed to roam forward and influence.

Peering at Robinson’s metrics this year against Kerkez’s, you begin to see why it might be worth picking the more experienced head.

Matches (starts)

34 (33)

35 (35)

Goals

0

2

Assists

10

5

Touches*

74

59.2

Pass completion

81%

80%

Key passes*

1.3

1.0

Dribbles*

1.0

0.6

Ball recoveries*

4.4

4.0

Tackles + interceptions*

4.3

2.6

Clearances*

3.4

2.7

Duels (won)*

5.5 (55%)

4.0 (53%)

Kerkez holds the advantage of youth, but he’s not performing at the Cottage star’s level just yet. Robinson’s aggressive and front-footed defending even led Mohamed Salah to tell him he was “the best player on the pitch” in a Premier League clash several years ago.

This is quite the praise: say one thing for Salah, he knows how to score and create goals, thus with an intrinsic understanding of when he’s pitted against a defender of real quality.

So then, with Robinson outperforming Kerkez across almost every metric this season, signing him for the Anfield cause feels like something of a no-brainer.

Bournemouth’s rising talent might be younger, but Robinson’s got plenty of gas left in the tank after completing just his fourth campaign in the top flight. Cheaper too, he’s the one to go for.

A bigger talent than Trent: Liverpool chasing "world-class" £50m signing

Liverpool are going to be shuffling some pieces around in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 5, 2025

Liverpool are thought to be eyeing a move for a highly-rated player in a possible swap deal with Luis Diaz this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Liverpool stumble in Premier League title push

The Reds slipped up in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, losing 3-2 away to Fulham, following a bitterly disappointing performance at Craven Cottage.

Alexis Mac Allister’s brilliant opening goal seemingly set Liverpool on their way to another vital three points, but some shocking defending from Andy Robertson and co. along with a generally lacklustre performance saw them 3-1 down at half-time, and they deservedly lost.

It means Arne Slot’s side still need 11 more points to guarantee the Premier League title this season, and while success should still clearly come their way next month, they aren’t always making life easy for themselves at the moment.

Liverpool haven’t quite looked themselves for some time now, crashing out of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain and losing the EFL Cup final to Newcastle United. While league victories have been recorded against both Southampton and Everton, neither were entirely convincing, and it has heightened the need for summer signings.

Liverpool eyeing Barcelona star Araujo in possible Diaz swap deal

According to Revelo [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are interested in signing Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo at the end of the season as key figures at Anfield are big fans of the player, who earns about £164,000 per week in Catalonia.

He could cost around £64m via a release clause in his contract, but the fee will rise drastically if they cannot agree a deal before the summer.

While a swap deal involving Diaz is far from definite, it is considered a possibility, with the Colombian linked with a move to the Catalan giants plenty of times in recent months and sporting director Deco a big fan.

A new centre-back is a must for Liverpool this summer, given Virgil van Dijk’s age, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez’s injury records, and the fact that Jarell Quansah is still young. In Araujo, the Reds could have a fantastic option, with Barca legend Carles Puyol paying him enormous praise in the past.

“He’s having a very good season, he’s in extraordinary condition. I’ll stick with what they’ve told me, because I don’t know him personally, but he’s very professional, humble, he always gives his best in training and matches and that’s where his performance is. Right now, if he’s not the best central defender in the world, he’s among the top three. He’s young, he still has room for improvement and I think we have a very good central defender at Barcelona for many years to come.”

Araujo has endured a frustrating season for Barcelona, with injuries restricting him to only six starts in La Liga, but the 26-year-old should still be considered a leading option for Liverpool.

The new Fabinho: Slot must sell Liverpool dud after "awful" 4/10 display

Liverpool have some huge calls to make this summer to build on their success in the Premier League.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 7, 2025

A swap deal involving Diaz would arguably be ideal, with doubts persisting over whether the Reds’ No.7 will ever quite become a world-class attacking player like Sadio Mane was on the left wing for so many years at Anfield.

After scouts sent back impressive reviews, Sunderland are now reportedly plotting a move to sign a 13-goal striker who’d be getting the biggest move of his career this summer.

Sunderland face transfer concern

As impressive as Regis Le Bris’ side have been this season, that success will come at a price if Sunderland fail to achieve promotion to the Premier League. The vultures are already beginning to circle around several key men, with both Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg linked to the likes of Manchester United and RB Leipzig in recent weeks.

Players of such talent are often destined for Europe’s leagues and often the Premier League, more specifically, making it crucial that the Black Cats battle through the play-offs before achieving the ultimate Wembley success.

Related Summer move likely: UCL club open talks to sign "powerful" Sunderland star

His exit would deal Le Bris a major blow.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Mar 29, 2025

Despite recent reports, however, Le Bris has remained calm when it comes to both Rigg and Bellingham’s respective Sunderland futures. He told reporters back in March: “I think they are really mature, they are young but really mature because they didn’t show so far any weaknesses about their involvement in the club project.

“I think for young players it’s not obvious, it’s not easy because if you lose just one second in your mind the consequences on the pitch will be huge and so far they were still connected so they are really impressive.”

Of course, the other side to that problem is the fact that Le Bris has quite the side at his disposal. There’s a reason why both Rigg and Bellingham have been linked with some top clubs. The interest in their signatures simply reflect just how talented both young players are and if Sunderland can build around that talent for years to come, then they could achieve more than just promotion.

With that said, those at the Stadium of Light have already reportedly set their sights on one particular attacking addition.

Sunderland eyeing move to sign Tshegofatso Mabasa

According to South African news outlet Soccer Laduma, Sunderland are now plotting a move to sign Tshegofatso Mabasa from Orlando Pirates this summer after their scouts were left impressed by the striker.

At 28 years old, a move to Sunderland this summer would be the biggest of Mabasa’s career and one he would have undoubtedly earned after an excellent season in South Africa. The experienced striker has scored 13 goals in all competitions so far this season – following up on his 18-goal campaign last time out.

Mabasa’s arrival would instantly add key depth for Le Bris, who has recently played Rigg out of position next to Wilson Isidor in his Sunderland frontline. By signing another option, the Black Cats boss could quickly form a deadly strike partnership ready to either take the Premier League by storm or, indeed, take his side to promotion next season.

Whilst the Orlando Pirates striker wouldn’t steal too many headlines by completing a summer switch to the Stadium of Light, he could quickly emerge to become an unexpected boost if Sunderland make their move in the coming months.

Seamers share eight wickets as table-toppers face awkward final day at Grace Road

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay10-Sep-2025If Leicestershire’s vision was to clinch promotion to Division One with a resounding victory, it looks unlikely to come to pass this week after a truncated third day of their Rothesay County Championship match left them trailing Gloucestershire by 150 runs.Shan Masood compiled a typically elegant 111 to mark his first-class debut for the county with the 30th hundred of his career but Leicestershire then lost their last six wickets for 22 to trail by 140 on first innings, bowled out for 342 as Gloucestershire seamer Matt Taylor finished with five for 70, backed up by new-ball partner Ajeet Singh Dale’s three for 78.Gloucestershire – who need a victory to keep their outside chance of promotion alive – were eight without loss from four overs in their second innings before a three-hour interruption due to rain, adding just two runs before a resumption at 5.30pm was curtailed after just 13 deliveries due to bad light. With earlier rain having delayed the start by 70 minutes, just 30 overs and one ball were bowled in all.Even if a win eludes them, Leicestershire’s lead in the division is so large that a top-two finish can still be confirmed this week if this match ends in a draw and the clash between third-placed Derbyshire and fourth-placed Middlesex at Lord’s is also drawn.Masood faced 176 balls and hit 13 fours on the way to his eighth first-class hundred in county cricket, having previously made them for Derbyshire and Yorkshire. The left-hander will be 36 next month but retains the capacity to produce moments of sublime skill at the crease, which he underlined with some beautiful strokeplay in this innings.After his 152-run partnership with Lewis Hill on Tuesday had seemed to set up Leicestershire for a substantial reply, there seemed little to suggest that would not happen as a second batting bonus point was secured in a morning session reduced to 50 minutes with Masood and Steve Eskinazi, also making his Championship debut for a new county, having added 82.But that all changed with the last delivery of the session, which resulted in Masood being given out leg before, the former Pakistan Test captain’s body language leaving no doubt that the decision did not meet with his approval.Masood’s dismissal was the catalyst for an unseemly collapse from 320 for four to 342 all out, with the follow-on only just avoided.Having put off taking the second new ball until after lunch, Gloucestershire took it immediately after the break and needed only 10 overs’ use of it to claim the remaining five Leicestershire wickets.Taylor, who had three wickets overnight, beat Ben Cox for pace and had Ben Mike nicking behind to complete his first five-wicket haul in two years.New-ball partner Singh Dale, bound for Lancashire at the end of the season, gained deserved rewards as ex-Middlesex batter Eskinazi’s county debut innings ended on 34 with a catch at second slip. Logan van Beek and Chris Wright became the fourth and fifth batters in the innings to fall leg before, Wright having at least hung around long enough to ensure that the visitors would bat again after the ninth wicket had gone with still one run needed.

“Keen to build on the success” of the recently concluded Women’s World Cup, the ICC has agreed to expand the next edition of the tournament (2029) to ten teams. The ICC had announced the expansion of the women’s game on International Women’s Day back in 2021, and a recent release reaffirmed the board’s “commitment to the growth of women’s cricket” after the success of the 2025 edition.Since 2000, only eight teams have featured in the main tournament of the Women’s ODI World Cup. As compared to the 31 matches in the recent World Cup, the 2029 edition will have 10 teams playing 48 games.The Women’s T20 World Cup next year will also be expanded to 12 teams, up from the 10 that featured last year in the UAE.”Nearly 300,000 fans watched the event in stadia breaking the record for tournament attendance for any women’s Cricket event,” the ICC release said. “The tournament also witnessed viewership growth and new records being set for on-screen audiences across the world with nearly 500 million viewers in India.”The ICC board also ratified the appointment of a number of members of the ICC Women’s Cricket Committee, namely Ashley De Silva, Mithali Raj, Amol Muzumdar, Ben Sawyer, Charlotte Edwards, and Sala Stella Siale-Vaea.

Cricket at the LA 2028 Olympics and Brisbane 2032

The Board also revealed that the Olympics event in Los Angeles in 2028 will have 28 games in total, across both the men’s and women’s competitions. The six teams in each competition will comprise the top-ranked side from each of the five regions (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania), including the hosts USA. The sixth team will be identified through a qualifier, for which details are not currently known. The events, as reported earlier, will begin on July 12 and be played at the purpose-built Fairgrounds Stadium, around 50km outside of Los Angeles.Before then, cricket will also feature in multi-sport games at the Asian Games in 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, the African Games in Cairo, Egypt, in 2027 as well as the PanAm Games in Lima, Peru, in 2027.Talks have also begun on cricket’s inclusion for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia. Sanjog Gupta, the ICC CEO, is believed to have told members at the meeting that he held “meaningful discussions with Brisbane 2032 for cricket’s inclusion in their program.Along with the ICC chair Jay Shah, Gupta had meetings in Lausanne, Switzerland, recently with teams from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), LA28 and Brisbane 2032, where they discussed event delivery, competition formats and qualification scenarios.

ICC starts bids for mobile gaming

The ICC also confirmed that it will begin a bidding process for its mobile cricket game, which has been at the centre of tensions between the governing body and the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA). “The ICC Board confirmed its approval to issue an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for Video Gaming Rights, opening the door for leading global partners to collaborate with the ICC in delivering world-class, digital fan experiences,” the board said in the statement.The dispute between the ICC and the WCA centred over NIL (Name, Image and Likeliness) rights of the players, with the latter claiming any move by the ICC to develop a game featuring players would be in breach of a contract. The ICC decided earlier this year that member boards would deal directly with players over NIL rights, rather than with the WCA who have those rights to about 600 players and have already entered the gaming market. The ICC had launched an Expression of Interest process in June, but it has taken time for boards to negotiate those rights with their players. It isn’t clear yet exactly how many boards have secured the rights, though one estimate is that at least half of the Full Members have.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl will not have been pleased with the way that his team failed to secure all three points against Falkirk at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

The German tactician revealed after the match that the players who have not done enough on the pitch in recent games will not get as many minutes in the future.

This should ease any concerns from supporters that underperforming players will not be replaced in the starting line-up in the coming matches in the Premiership and the Europa League.

The biggest Rangers underperformers against Falkirk

As you would expect in a 0-0 draw at home to Falkirk, there were several Rangers players who underperformed and should be at risk of being dropped from the starting line-up.

Bojan Miovski, for example, played the full 90 minutes and lost 73% (8/11) of his duels without scoring a goal or even creating a chance for his teammates, per Sofascore, in the number nine position.

Thelo Aasgaard also struggled in the number ten role for the Light Blues, with no shots on target or ‘big chances’ created, before he was subbed off for Danilo with 22 minutes left to play.

1

Bojan Miovski

2

Thelo Aasgaard

3

Oliver Antman

4

Nicolas Raskin

5

James Tavernier

Oliver Antman, similarly to the Norway international, failed to make much of an impact on the right wing, with no shots on target or ‘big chances’ created, per Sofascore, which is why he also features on this list.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Unfortunately, Nicolas Raskin also features among the worst performers against Falkirk, less than a month on from pundit Chris Sutton declaring him the team’s “best player”, as he struggled in midfield.

Why Danny Rohl should drop Nicolas Raskin

Rohl should ruthlessly ditch the Belgium international from the starting line-up for the clash with Dundee United on Wednesday night after a couple of underwhelming showings in the middle of the park.

Raskin, who has been valued at up to £20m by the Scottish giants, has not been near his best in the last couple of games against Braga and Falkirk, which should see him dropped for his sloppy play in midfield.

In the game on Sunday, per Sofascore, the former Standard Liege star lost four of his seven physical duels and only created one chance for his teammates in 90 minutes on the pitch, in what was a rather ineffective display.

Minutes

90

90

Key passes

0

1

Possession lost

10x

9x

Ground duels won

4/14

3/7

Aerial duels won

2/3

0/0

Fouls

6

2

Dribbled past

2x

1x

As you can see in the table above, Raskin has lost a whopping 14 of his 21 ground duels in the last two outings, committing eight fouls and being dribbled past three times as part of that.

These statistics show that the central midfielder has been too easy to play against for opposition midfielders, which led journalist Jonny McFarlane to state that “a spell on the sidelines beckons” because he is “much better than he’s showing”.

It is hard to disagree with that assessment when you consider that Raskin won 57% of his ground duels in the Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, and he has only won 33% of his battles on the deck in the last two matches.

The 24-year-old star, who scored five goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last term, is better than he is currently showing, which is why a spell on the bench may be beneficial for him to clear his head and recharge to get back to his best.

Therefore, Rohl should drop his “best player” from the starting line-up for the clash with Dundee United on Wednesday to see if it will spark a reaction out of him for the following game against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Danny Rohl sends 13-word warning to his Rangers players ahead of the transfer window

The manager has has sent a pretty clear message to his players…

ByBen Goodwin Dec 1, 2025

Leeds United will no doubt be disappointed after losing 3-2 against Manchester City this afternoon, but the fans can take some positives out of the clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Phil Foden’s first-minute goal could have signalled an afternoon of domination for Pep Guardiola’s men, but it wasn’t to be, with the hosts only boasting a two-goal lead at the break.

Daniel Farke’s substitutions at the break saw the Whites bring the game level within a matter of minutes, that’s despite many questioning his decision to withdraw Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

However, it wasn’t to be as Foden had the last laugh with his stoppage-time effort enough to secure all three points for the Citizens – resulting in a sixth Premier League loss in their last seven.

Despite the defeat, numerous players can leave Manchester with their heads held high, with one player deserving huge plaudits for his showing this afternoon.

Ethan Ampadu’s performance against Manchester City

For the 12th time in the league this season, midfielder Ethan Ampadu started at the heart of the Leeds side, doing so with the captain’s armband too.

His performance against Manchester City was one of a leader, with the Welshman putting in a phenomenal showing and one that was highlighted by his underlying stats.

The 25-year-old featured for the entirety of the contest, completing a staggering 46 passes, with such a tally the highest of any player in Farke’s squad.

He also completed 50% of the dribbles he attempted, whilst making two passes into the final third – often trying to hit the hosts on the counter in the second half.

Ampadu’s incredible showing was also evident without the ball at his feet, subsequently making four recoveries and winning 67% of his ground duels – arguably being one unsung hero at the Etihad.

He certainly wasn’t alone in producing a performance to remember against the former Premier League champions, with Farke needing to select one other player on a consistent basis.

The Leeds player who should be undroppable after City

Many people would have anticipated a dominant victory for City this afternoon, but Leeds certainly put up a fight – which is the least you can ask for given the current situation.

Farke will likely receive some criticism for failing to see out the game for a point, but ultimately, individual errors were the contributing factors to the late goal.

The supporters should also remember it was the manager’s bold call at the break that gave the side the opportunity to get back into the game in the first place.

He switched to a somewhat unfamiliar 3-5-2 system, with the impact of Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the top end of the pitch certainly putting the hosts under huge pressure.

The Englishman replaced Gnonto at the interval, a decision that proved to be an inspirational one given the talisman’s impact during the second half at the Etihad.

His first goal since September certainly wasn’t the prettiest, but it was a reward for his determined efforts at the top end, before poking the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The 28-year-old was also hugely involved in the Whites’ second goal of the contest, with Calvert-Lewin caught in the area by Josko Gvardiol – leading to Lukas Nmecha’s rebounded penalty.

The substitutes’ underlying figures were also massively impressive, with the target man putting doubt into the opposition’s backline after his introduction.

He completed 100% of the dribbles he attempted, whilst also winning 80% of the ground duels he entered – subsequently offering a dominant option during the fightback.

Calvert-Lewin – stats against Man City
Statistics	Tally
Minutes played	45
Touches	18
Pass accuracy	80%
Dribbles completed	100%
Ground duels won	80%
Passes into final third	1
Fouls won	3
Shots on target	100%
Stats via FotMob

Calvert-Lewin also completed a pass into the final third, whilst also drawing three fouls, with the former Everton man playing a huge part in the side’s ability to get off the canvas.

As a result of his showing off the bench, the striker was handed an impressive 9/10 match rating from Leeds United journalist Graham Smyth – further showcasing his impressive cameo off the bench.

After such a showing, there’s little denying the manager simply has to start Calvert-Lewin on a consistent basis, with his assets constantly causing havoc for the opposition.

Ampadu, too, has showcased this season why he’s a solid Premier League option, which could see both play a huge role in the club’s survival bid come the end of the season.

Bielsa 2.0: Leeds prepare for Farke replacement with "elite" boss in frame

Leeds are reportedly preparing to possibly replace Daniel Farke in the dugout with a LaLiga boss in the frame.

1

By
Dan Emery

Nov 28, 2025

Napoli manager Antonio Conte has issued a damning critique of his side after their latest defeat against Bologna in Serie A, hinting at a potential departure from the club. The Italian coach expressed profound concern over the team's perceived lack of "chemistry" and "desire to fight," openly questioning his effectiveness and the players' commitment.

• Conte's candid assessment after Bologna defeat

  Conte did not mince words after his side's disappointing 2-0 defeat to Bologna on Sunday. Goals from Thijs Dallinga and Jhon Lucumi sealed the win for Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, pushing Napoli further down the Serie A table. Speaking to DAZN and in the subsequent press conference, Conte expressed deep concern over the team's lack of energy and fight.

  "We needed more energy in everything. What's disappointing is that they showed more positivity and desire than us," Conte stated, referencing Bologna's performance. "It should make us reflect. It's the fifth defeat we've suffered this start of the year. It means we need to reflect, which we've already done. They played on Thursday and looked poisoned, we did our homework until the game was even."

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  Concerns over team chemistry and fighting spirit

  Conte elaborated on the fundamental issues plaguing his squad, highlighting a lack of unity and resolve. "Three or four months have passed and there's no chemistry, no desire to fight together. I don't know if we'll be able to change the situation," he admitted. "I don't want to be with a deceased person; everyone has to take responsibility. I'm the first to be held accountable. Heart transplants aren't an option. Each of us needs to rediscover our spirit and our grit."

  The former Chelsea and Inter manager did not shy away from self-criticism, indicating that the team's poor run reflects on his ability to motivate them. "We often think that change can happen overnight. What we've done shouldn't be forgotten, but we need to keep working. We need to ask ourselves if we're doing it the right way and with the same desire for revenge as last season. I'm disappointed because I'm not finding the energy in the guys again; it means I'm not doing a good job," Conte confessed. 

• Hojlund's performance a rare positive in a poor display

  Despite the overall dismal team performance against Bologna, Conte singled out Rasmus Hojlund as a player who showed some promise. Napoli failed to register a single shot on target, a stark statistic reflecting their attacking struggles. However, Hojlund's individual effort was noted by the coach.

  "I didn't mind Hojlund today, perhaps the best player on the pitch. He attacked the depth and held his own, but if the performance is judged solely on goals, it becomes relative. We had prepared a few things, we should have supported him more," Conte explained. "Honestly, I didn't mind it. Perhaps he was the best player on the pitch for me: he held his own, he attacked the depth. Lucumi struggled to control him. Then, if we end the match on whether or not he scored, then it's a different story. We had prepared a few things, we should have supported him more. Rasmus handled several balls, we were lacking. I thought his game was good."

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  What next for Napoli and Conte?

  The defeat to Bologna leaves Napoli in fourth place in Serie A, with 22 points from 11 matches. Their recent form shows a worrying trend, with two losses in their last five league matches. The result against Bologna saw them outplayed by a team that sits just one place below them in the standings, with Bologna now on 21 points. Napoli's lack of shots on target (one) compared to Bologna's (four) further illustrates their struggles.

  The immediate aftermath of Conte's comments will likely involve intensive discussions with the club hierarchy. His statements indicate that his concerns are not new and have been communicated internally. The upcoming fixtures will be crucial in determining whether Conte can indeed "change the situation" or if his tenure at Napoli is nearing an end. However, Napoli will now face Atalanta in the Serie A immediately following the international break.