Russell Martin has survived another day as Rangers manager.

On Saturday, the Gers reached the League Cup quarter-finals, managing to win 2-0 at Ibrox, although a Glasgow derby at Hampden on 2 November is probably far from what they need right now.

The question though still remains; will Martin be in charge by then?

Well, to avoid becoming the shortest-serving permanent manager in Rangers’ history, breaking Pedro Caixinha’s record, Martin would still need to be at the helm for the visit of Braga in the Europa League on 27 November, which appears unlikely considering he is yet to win a Premiership match in five attempts, leaving them second-bottom, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Almondvale.

Thus, surely 49ers Enterprises, who took over the club in the summer, are considering potential replacements, so a future “elite manager” should be top of their wish list, not the obvious front-runners.

The favourites to replace Russell Martin at Rangers

Ever since it became clear that Martin was not going to last particularly long in Govan, amid widespread protests against him and chief executive officer Patrick Stewart present throughout the weekend win over Hibs, two obvious front-runners have emerged, both with Merseyside connections.

Steven Gerrard would be the populist choice, with many supporters wanting to see him return to Ibrox, having managed the club for 194 matches between 2018 and 2021, re-establishing Rangers as a force in European football, as well as leading them to their sole Premiership title since 2011, stopping Celtic’s pursuit of ten-in-a-row.

A key figure in Gerrard’s success in Glasgow was then-assistant Michael Beale, who returned to Ibrox as manager himself in 2022, lasting just 43 matches before being hounded out.

The pair did briefly reunite in Saudi Arabia, working together at Al-Ettifaq before Gerrard was unceremoniously sacked in January, so could the 49ers get the band back together?

The other leading candidate is Sean Dyche, who has also been out of work since January, dismissed by Everton earlier this year.

Having taken charge of 557 games as a manager, of which 332 have come in the Premier League, the former Burnley boss is surely one of the most experienced coaches Rangers could attract, and he has proven himself adept at getting the best out of whatever he has to work with, something the current occupant of the Ibrox hot seat certainly is not doing.

However, rather than playing it safe, Rangers should be bold and appoint a future “elite manager” who is currently out of work.

Rangers' dream Russell Martin successor

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jordi Cruijff, son of the legendary Johan, asserted that “all the best managers were midfielders”, a claim supported by a study from The Athletic, which found that ‘almost half of coaches with a professional playing background were midfielders’.

Well, a man looking to reinforce that stereotype is Michael Carrick – formerly tipped to replace Gerrard in the hot seat by Charlie Adam back in 2021.

After spending 12 years at Manchester United as a player, he retired in 2018 and worked under José Mourinho and then Ole Gunnar Solskjær as an assistant coach, placed in interim charge for three matches in 2021, overseeing victories over Villarreal and Arsenal, as well as a draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

After leaving Old Trafford, Carrick returned to the North East, where he was born and raised, appointed Middlesbrough manager in October 2024.

As the table below documents, his time on Teeside was generally pretty successful.

Matches

136

Wins

63

Draws

24

Defeats

49

Goals scored

220

Goals conceded

177

22/23 league finish

4th

23/24 league finish

8th

24/25 league finish

10th

Best EFL Cup run

Semis

As outlined by the table, Carrick led Boro into the Championship play-offs in his first season, having taken over with the side 21st, before they were beaten 1-0 by Coventry City in the semi-finals.

He also guided them to the EFL Cup semi-finals, actually defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg at the Riverside, but eighth and then tenth place finishes in the Championship saw him sacked and replaced by Rob Edwards during the summer, who has made a flying start in fairness, with Middlesbrough currently top of the table.

Nevertheless, Carrick earned plenty of praise, labelled a future “elite manager” by one analyst, while Jack Manship of Total Football Analysis was impressed by his ‘eye-catching’ brand of football, praising Boro’s ‘organisation’ and ability to attack quickly.

Meantime, Solskjær has backed Carrick to be a future Manchester United manager one day, describing him as a “winner”, forecasting he will be a top-class coach in the near future.

Thus, while Carrick is out of work, Rangers should surely do everything they can to convince him to take over in Glasgow, successfully taking a chance on Gerrard back in 2018, even more of a rookie himself at the time, so a young coach with fresh ideas is surely exactly what they need.

Imagine him & Raskin: Rangers must rue selling £6m "left-footed Yaya Toure"

As Nicolas Raskin underlines his importance at Rangers, imagine him alongside the “left-footed Yaya Touré” sold for £6m by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

ByBen Gray Sep 24, 2025

Durham have signed South African fast bowler Codi Yusuf in a bid to navigate a spate of injuries among their seamers at the start of their Rothesay County Championship campaign. Jake Ball, Somerset’s former England quick, and Jack Blatherwick, from Lancashire, will also join on short-term loans.Durham are currently without Brydon Carse, Sam Conners, Paul Coughlin, Daniel Hogg, Luke Robinson, Stanley McAlindon and James Minto, and suffered a further setback when prolific Proteas batter David Bedingham suffered a fractured toe against Warwickshire in the second round.It is understood Bedingham’s injury is not as bad as first feared, with Durham optimistic he will be available for their match against Hampshire at the start of May, ahead of South Africa’s appearance in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June. Bedingham’s absence for the time being opens up an overseas slot alongside Australian seamer Brendan Doggett, which Yusuf will now fill.Yusuf, a 27-year old right-armer, joins for six rounds of the Championship, starting with Friday’s trip to Worcestershire, and will also be available for the group stages of the Vitality Blast. He has yet to be capped by South Africa, but represented the A side over the winter, taking five wickets in their victory over England Lions in December.Since debuting in 2019, Yusuf has taken 88 first-class wickets at 29.14, and arrives at Chester-le-Street off the back his most productive home summer to date, with 26 dismissals in seven matches for Lions. He has also taken 36 T20 wickets at 29.66, and has turned out for Paarl Royals in the SA20.Durham’s director of cricket, Marcus North, said: “Codi joins us on the back of a successful domestic season in South Africa and will strengthen our bowling attack over the coming months.”With a number of our seam bowlers not available due to injury it was important we acted quickly, and we have done that with the addition of Codi Yusuf. We look forward to welcoming Codi to Durham and watching him play a key part on the field in the coming weeks.”Yusuf added: “I just want to thank Durham for giving me the opportunity to be part of their team for this season. It’s been a dream to play county cricket for me, so I find it extremely special to be part of Durham.”I know there are some special players in the changing room as well so I’m immensely excited to meet the players and be part of what looks like a very great environment.”Ball and Blatherwick, meanwhile, will be available for Durham during the next two rounds of the County Championship. Neither has played first-team cricket so far this season. “Going into the loan market was critical for us managing our injuries and current workloads of our bowlers,” North said.

Worcestershire sign Nicholls

Henry Nicholls’ most-recent Test appearance came in 2023•AFP/Getty Images

Worcestershire, who host Durham in their season opener at New Road this week, have also reinforced with the signing of New Zealand batter Henry Nicholls. The 33-year-old will be available to play in the Championship until the end of June.”Henry is a proven performer at the highest level, and we’re thrilled to have him with us for the next part of our Championship campaign,” Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson said. “His experience, temperament, and ability to play match-defining innings will be a fantastic asset to our squad as we look to start the season strongly.”Nicholls added: “I’m really looking forward to this opportunity with Worcestershire. I’ve always been a fan of county cricket, and to contribute to a team with such a rich history and passionate following is something I’m excited about. I can’t wait to get started and help the team out.”Nicholls is expected to be involved against Durham, which will help compensate for the loss of Kashif Ali, who has been granted parental leave ahead of the arrival of his first child.

Three games unbeaten in the Premier League. A clean sheet last weekend. Jack Grealish is firing on all cylinders. Everton are in good nick ahead of the Merseyside derby on Saturday.

Sixth in the standings, the Toffees know their biggest test of the campaign looms large, and that Arne Slot’s Liverpool boast one of the most dangerous squads on the continent.

There may be a gulf in spending power between the two behemoths on Merseyside, but Moyes has equipped his team with plenty of fresh quality this summer, and the early results on the pitch point toward good business.

And the above-mentioned Grealish certainly has the capacity to steal the headlines.

Grealish's start to life at Everton

Grealish, 30, joined Everton on loan in the summer after falling by the wayside at Manchester City. Now he is reborn, having claimed four assists already in the Premier League and been handed the Player of the Month award for August.

Unleashed once again, the England international will surely channel much of the Blues’ positive attacking play, with Sofascore recording that he is already averaging 2.8 key passes per game.

Liverpool have lacked fluency in the opening weeks of the season and have proven themselves susceptible to pressure and physicality in their defensive third. This is Everton’s bread and butter, and Moyes will ensure that his team push in all the right places to silence the Anfield crowd.

Grealish will be key, of course. But he won’t be alone in this staggering task. Indeed, it might be time for Moyes to unleash new recruit Tyler Dibling from the opening whistle, with the teenage sensation perhaps standing a chance of being Everton’s own version of Sadio Mane on derby day.

Moyes must unleash Tyler Dibling vs Liverpool

It took a few attempts, but Everton signed Dibling from Southampton in a £42m deal this summer, landing one of the country’s prized up-and-coming talents.

The 19-year-old, who can play across a range of different attacking roles, was the shining light from a drab Saints season in 2024/25, and his fleet-footed and robust style of play suggests he could be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

So far, he’s been kept on the bench for Everton as Moyes looks to slowly integrate him into the system, so far unleashing the English prospect only during the win over Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup.

Dibling – Career by Position

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Right winger

35

7

1

Attacking midfield

26

11

5

Central midfield

8

1

3

Left winger

2

–

2

Data via Transfermarkt

Given Tim Iroegbunam’s struggles last weekend in the 0-0 draw to Aston Villa, Moyes could drop Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall deeper and shift Dibling into the advanced midfield role, where his fast feet and incisive passing could be at its best, funnelling the ball out to Grealish and the electric Iliman Ndiaye.

With focus sure to be on negating Grealish from stretching lines and wreaking havoc in the penalty area, Dibling could add that extra dimension to capitalise on any chinks, creating a truly dynamic system capable of devastating results on the break.

Because Everton will expect to be hemmed in for much of the contest, but these fresh faces point toward a new, levelled-up version of the squad which will hope to challenge for a place at the higher levels of the table, should this early-season form persist. Dibling will help with that to no end.

Starting him against Liverpool would be a bold call, but it would be sure to spring a surprise on a Reds defence there for the taking, and given that he has been signed from Southampton, he might indeed prove to be Everton’s own Mane, who established legendary status during his years at Liverpool playing for Jurgen Klopp.

Mane had a rich record against Everton, scoring five goals and supplying two assists across 16 matches in all competitions. His 94th-minute derby-day winner way back in 2016 still stings those of a Toffees persuasion.

The Senegalese’s speed and trickery made him a thorn in his opponents’ sides for many years, and now Moyes could get his own back as Everton manager by starting Dibling, whose “incredible” displays last season, as remarked by Saints correspondent Alfie House, suggest he is ready to take the leap and work some magic for this fast-rising Everton team.

Related Watch out Grealish: Everton brewing teen star who outscored Ndiaye in 24/25

Everton’s youth academy is ready to reveal the latest homegrown hero.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Sep 19, 2025

Como Women's star Alisha Lehmann has revealed how beating former club Juventus with her new side earlier this season has given her a big boost. Lehmann moved to Como in the summer transfer window and enjoyed a swift reunion against her former team-mates earlier this month, emerging victorious in a surprise 1-0 Serie A Femminile win at the Stadio Comunale Vittorio Pozzo Lamarmora.

Como pull off shock win over Juventus

Lehmann waved goodbye to Juventus in August after winning the Serie A title and joined Como Women on a three-year contract. The Swiss star said at the time that joining an independent club was an "important factor" in her decision to make the move and that she shared the club's long-term vision. Lehmann then came up against former club Juventus with Como in just their second league match of the season and helped secure a surprise 1-0 win. Lehmann admitted at the time it had been an "emotional" experience playing against her former team and has now revealed how she benefitted from the game.

AdvertisementInstagramLehmann thrilled by victory against former club

Lehmann told 20 minutes: "Como will continue to grow in the coming years. The victory against my former club, Juve, was incredible and did me a lot of good. I will never say anything bad. I had a good year. I am now a regular starter, and playing is the main reason why we play football. Como also has a really interesting project in women's football."

The 26-year-old also feels she is now in the "perfect place" and is looking forward to an exciting future with the club. She added: "I feel good in Como. It’s the perfect place for me and, certainly, the most beautiful place I’ve ever lived. I live right on the lake, and it’s absolutely magnificent. I’ve even run into a few celebrities because we go to the same restaurants. But it’s nice here because everyone respects each other so much."

Getty ImagesWhy Lehmann left Juventus for Como

Lehmann may have tasted success with Juventus last season but she was far from a regular in the XI and her move to Como offers her the chance to establish herself as first choice once again. The Swiss star also told she was keen to stay in Italy as she sees plenty of potential for the women's game to grow. 

“I came here to play football and hope to earn my place by working hard,” she explained. “I came here to compete and to grow as an athlete. The rest will come if I stay true to that. For me, it’s simple: I want to play as much as possible, help the team, and enjoy football. What I love is that they [Como] take the game seriously, but also create space for players to be themselves.

“There’s so much potential here. Italy’s performance showed the quality and spirit in the game here, and now people are paying attention. I think the league is ready to take a big step forward. With more visibility, investment, and commitment to the players, Serie A Women can become a real force in Europe. Being part of that journey is something I’m really excited about.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Lehmann 'not happy' on bench for Switzerland

Lehmann also spoke about her experiences at Euro 2025 as Switzerland hosted the tournament and made it to the quarter-finals before being knocked out against Spain. The Como star says she enjoyed the tournament but is eager for more game time with the national team. She told 20 minutes: “We had a great time during the European Championship. It was a truly incredible experience. When you're a footballer, you always want to play. So I'd be lying if I said I was happy on the bench. Of course, I wasn't. But football is also about supporting your team. And during the tournament, we created a great bond. It was perfect.”

Glasgow Rangers return to action in the Europa League this evening as they travel away from Ibrox for their second match of the league phase.

The Light Blues were beaten 1-0 last week at Ibrox, in a game that could have ended by a greater margin of defeat, but they did win in their last Scottish Premiership game.

Russell Martin’s side beat Livingston 2-1 away from home in the league on Sunday, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from substitute Max Aarons.

One of the players who should be dropped from the starting line-up that featured on Sunday is attacking midfielder Thelo Aasgaard, who did not do enough to warrant keeping his place.

Why Rangers should drop Thelo Aasgaard

The Norway international was signed on a permanent deal from Luton Town in the summer transfer window to provide an attacking threat from the middle of the park.

So far, though, the 23-year-old whiz has failed to deliver a single goal or assist in seven matches in all competitions, per Sofascore, which shows that he has offered very little at the top end of the pitch.

Aasgaard did not create a single chance, register any shots on target, or complete any dribbles in 73 minutes on the pitch against Livingston on Sunday, per Sofascore, which is why Martin should ruthlessly ditch him from the XI for tonight’s trip to Sturm Graz.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

For several reasons, including Aasgaard’s disappointing performances and Mohamed Diomande’s suspension, Martin should trial a new 4-4-2 formation by unleashing Youssef Chermiti over the Norwegian talent.

Why Martin should change his Rangers formation

Rangers have lost their last four European matches this season by an aggregate score of 12-2, which shows that what they have been doing on the European stage has not been good enough.

One issue that the Gers have had in their last two games, in particular, is that their centre-forward has looked isolated and too easily marked out of the game. It was an issue for Chermiti against Genk and for Bojan Miovski against Livingston.

Minutes

80

90

Ground duels won

3/9

1/5

Aerial duels won

2/6

1/7

Fouls won

0

1

Shots

0

2

As you can see in the table above, both strikers were dominated on the ground and in the air in those matches, winning one foul and taking two shots in 170 minutes between them.

This is why Martin should switch to a 4-4-2 from the regular 4-3-3 for this clash with Sturm Graz to get Miovski and the summer signing from Everton in the team to occupy the opposition’s defenders, hopefully increasing their chances of winning duels and retaining possession for the away side.

Chermiti, who was described as “powerful” by writer Kai Watson, has not scored a competitive goal since he left Sporting to join Everton in the summer of 2023, which suggests that he is not a striker who is full of confidence at the moment.

Therefore, playing him alongside a more experienced and proven goalscorer like Miovski could make a lot of sense to take some of the pressure off his shoulders, both in terms of duels and mentally.

The Macedonia international proved that he can score goals on a regular basis during his time with Aberdeen, as shown in the graphic above, and playing him alongside another forward could help to get him back to his best.

Rangers have simply not been good enough in Europe this season, as evidenced by their results in their last four games, and that is why Martin should get creative and test out a new formation in this evening’s game.

Outshining Antman: Rangers loanee is attracting "major European interest"

Rangers may regret letting go of this star who is currently outperforming Oliver Antman.

2 ByDan Emery Oct 1, 2025

Given how poor the performances have been in Europe and how badly their strikers have fared individually, pairing Miovski and Chermiti could be an interesting and effective solution to their problems in and out of possession.

كشفت لجنة الحكام الرئيسية باتحاد الكرة، عن طاقم حكام مباراة الزمالك وطلائع الجيش، ضمن مباريات الدوري المصري الممتاز. 

ومن المقرر أن يواجه فريق الزمالك نظيره فريق طلائع الجيش، يوم الأحد المقبل، ضمن منافسات الجولة الـ13 من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز. 

طالع.. نور الدين بن زكري يوضح لـ”بطولات” حقيقة مفاوضات تدريب الزمالك

وكان الزمالك قد تعادل في الجولة الماضية مع فريق البنك الأهلي، بهدف لكل فريق، في المباراة التي جمعت بين الفريقين أمس الخميس، في الجولة الـ12 من الدوري الممتاز. 

ويحتل فريق الزمالك المركز الرابع في جدول ترتيب الدوري الممتاز برصيد 19 نقطة، بينما يحتل فريق طلائع الجيش المركز الـ16 في ترتيب الدوري الممتاز برصيد 10 نقاط. 

وأعلنت لجنة الحكام الرئيسة باتحاد الكرة، عن تعيين الحكم محمد الغازي، لإدارة مباراة الزمالك مع فريق طلائع الجيش، يوم الاحد المقبل في الدوري الممتاز.  حكم مباراة الزمالك وطلائع الجيش في الدوري 

محمد الغازي: حكم ساحة 

يوسف البساطي: مساعد أول

خالد السيد: مساعد ثان

محمود منصور: حكم رابع 

خالد الغندور: حكم فيديو 

هاني خيري: مساعد حكم فيديو 

Arsenal ended up just about getting past Greek Super League champions Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday, courtesy of strikes from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.

For all the chances, possession and clear-cut openings created by Mikel Arteta’s side, they held a tender 1-0 lead for the majority of the 90, and goalkeeper David Raya was forced into a magnificent first-half save to keep them ahead.

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos – Champions League – best performers

Match Rating

Martin Odegaard

8.1

Myles Lewis-Skelly

7.9

David Raya

7.6

Mikel Merino

7.4

Chiquinho

7.4

via WhoScored

Summer signing Viktor Gyokeres also had multiple chances to extend their advantage, but the Sweden international just couldn’t quite fire home on what was a frustrating night for him.

Arsenal’s control of the match never wavered, with club captain Martin Odegaard pulling all the strings in midfield and dictating the tempo throughout.

The Norwegian’s vision and passing range constantly stretched the visitors’ defence, creating numerous opportunities, particularly for Gyokeres, with the striker feeding off Odegaard’s excellent through balls but missing the final end product.

The £30 million star was very nearly rewarded for his efforts with a goal, but was unable to convert Bukayo Saka’s cut-back very late in the second half.

Instead, it was Saka who ended up putting the game beyond sight in added time, courtesy of another excellent threaded pass from Odegaard, with the England international slotting home through goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis’ legs.

Their routine win over Olympiacos was Odegaard’s first start after coming back from a shoulder problem, and boy did he deliver on a night where he absolutely silenced his critics.

In the build up to their Champions League clash, former Arsenal player Perry Groves suggested that Arteta should continue to bench Odegaard in order to send a message and help the ex-Real Madrid man rediscover his best form.

However, Wednesday’s heroics sent a clear message in return — the 26-year-old is still one of Arteta’s superstars.

Owen Hargreaves says Martin Odegaard has proved he's still Arsenal's star man

This is echoed by TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves, who told the panel during last night’s broadcast that Odegaard was back to his “absolute best” against Olympiacos.

The £240,000-per-week playmaker now has Eberechi Eze to compete with for a place in the centre of Arsenal’s attacking midfield, alongside Ethan Nwaneri, who the Gunners wish to deploy more centrally rather than in the wide area like last season (David Ornstein).

Odegaard will undoubtedly be mindful of the growing competition for a place in Arteta’s starting elevens, but he appears to be staking his claim as an undroppable following last night’s sumptuous display and his assist against Newcastle last weekend.

“He’s definitely got that… whatever they say nowadays… ‘aura’.”The “they” Jacob Bethell refers to when searching for the term used to describe someone who commands attention and keeps it, is “kids”. The “he” is Virat Kohli, of course, his recent Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammate.Mentions of Kohli are always good for business, but in this case it is a little less transactional. Bethell, only 21 but not with modern online slang, was speaking after a devastating innings of 82 off 53 deliveries that killed Thursday’s first ODI against West Indies as a contest, even if it was not the sole difference in the eventual 238-run margin.A player-of-the-match turn – he also took 1 for 18 with the ball – had come after close to two months of bench-warming at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. In that period, he had played just twice, though that included a maiden IPL half-century in the last of those against Chennai Super Kings. It added up to a very small part in RCB’s qualification for their fourth IPL final, and their quest for that elusive maiden title.Yet there were evidently no splinters or rust to shake off, just a bit of strain from hotel-hopping which – even for someone with a nomadic upbringing that involved swapping Barbados for Birmingham at the age of 12 – still takes some getting used to.”The only thing I struggle with is the beds,” Bethell said. “A lot of these hotel beds are way too soft. I’ve got a bad back and I’m only 21, so we need to sort that out!”Not that there were any signs of a creaking body as he blammed all but 20 of his runs in boundaries. Five of them were crisp sixes – as many as the five ahead of him in the top six – with four of them coming in a final 10-over blitz that carried England, eventually, to 400 for 8.Bethell and Virat Kohli opened the batting together at RCB•Getty Images

“I feel like I’m a better player now than I was a couple of months ago,” Bethell said, lauding the practice facilities and the quality of net bowlers he had encountered on a day-to-day basis at the IPL. It’s a sentiment that is now commonplace among Engish players who need to justify getting paid decent money not to play cricket in India, rather than play County Cricket in April and May.His innings against West Indies, however, adds an important undertone of sincerity, particularly when Bethell elaborates on his learnings against spin in particular, a usual sticking point for England’s 50-over team. Gudakesh Motie emerged from England’s onslaught broadly unscathed, with 0 for 39 from 7 overs. However, Bethell was able to strike 10 off four balls from the left-arm spinner, including the only boundary off Motie – a slog-sweep into the stands at midwicket.”I don’t want to give away everything,” Bethell said. “It’s just the way those batters go about playing spin, they’re clinical in how they pick length and the deliveries they try to hit for four and six.”That was nice, to have more of a power-game input into my game, rather than a bit of touch around spin as well. So then, just trying to mesh the two together would help a lot.”As for his interactions with Kohli and that exposure to the “aura”: that included invaluable time spent with the cricketer and the man. They opened together during Bethell’s twin appearances, sharing a 97-run stand on the second occasion as they pocketed half-centuries in an RCB win.Bethell may have re-opened the No.3 Test debate with his exploits at Edgbaston•AFP/Getty Images

“I think he quite enjoys the overseas boys because we’re just pretty chill around him,” Bethell said. “He’s definitely got that feeling. And when he walks out to bat, it’s pretty electrifying to walk out with him.”It (advice) was just like an accumulation over the couple of months of just chatting to him. You get information that keeps coming in ways that you don’t really know, and it’s kind of just drip-fed.”It was just nice to speak to him off and on the field, away from cricket, so yeah, it was just cool to experience someone of his calibre and how he goes about doing things.”He’s got a certain intensity with him that just kind of… he flips that switch on, as soon as he crosses that line, which is pretty cool to see.”As far as mimicking Kohli’s career path, Bethell’s already playing catch-up. He may only turn 22 in October, but he’s trailing on a number of fronts, not least the century count. By 21, Kohli had eight of the 101 he currently possesses across formats, including four in first-class cricket. Bethell is still without one in 119 innings, with Thursday’s knock his fourth-highest score as a professional.Squint, however, and you could make out the merest hint of Kohli in the shifting of gears and manner in which Bethell was imposing himself on an admittedly wayward West Indian attack. Even in these early stages, it is clear Bethell’s approach to batting focuses on heaping pressure on others rather than feeling it himself.That may even include his own teammates. Just as the dust had settled from Ben Stokes’ double-speak at last week’s Zimbabwe Test – when he was quizzed on what Bethell’s eventual reintroduction might mean for Ollie Pope’s spot in the XI – the left-hander’s firm-wristed flourishes have stirred the pot once more, even after Pope had seemingly secured his India starting berth with 171.Related

• Buttler, Bethell and Jacks set to miss IPL playoffs

• Stokes blames media 'agenda' for pre-match pressure on Pope

• Switch Hit: Zim sing while England win

• Bethell the headline act as Brook era begins with crushing 238-run win

• Brook calls on England to forget the past after crushing opening victory

With Brendon McCullum wowed in Birmingham, as he was on last year’s Test tour of New Zealand when he said Pope versus Bethell was something they would have to work out, the No.3 for next month’s Headingley opener is not set in stone.Bethell, as the disruptor, is not worried. He remains the chaser rather than the chased, pre-occupied by the day-to-day establishing of himself in the white-ball sides to focus squarely on what Test cricket might hold for him this year. Nevertheless, this season’s highest-profile challenge is next month’s five-Test series against India, which leads into the winter’s Ashes. As for any awkwardness that his precocity may have caused his Test captain and vice last week, the IPL gave him the perfect alibi.”I was pretty far away to be honest,” he said. “I tried to stay pretty clear of social media anyway, so me not even being in England, I didn’t really hear a lot of it until I think one of my friends messaged me and said the whole thing was going on. But I haven’t really followed it.”I obviously played in New Zealand as a replacement for a replacement (replacing Jordan Cox in the XI, who was covering for Jamie Smith on paternity leave). So whatever happens, it’ll be, and when the time comes, it’ll be fine.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Mesmo com a janela de transferências encerrada para o futebol brasileiro, o zagueiro Dankler se mantém calmo com relação ao seu futuro. Sem ligação com nenhum clube desde abril, quando se desligou do Vitória, o baiano pode se transferir para alguma equipe do exterior ou também do Brasil. O defensor comenta a sua situação.

RelacionadasPalmeirasAbel elogia vitória do Palmeiras, mas ainda vê Botafogo distante na tabela: ‘Margem super confortável’Palmeiras19/08/2023Fora de CampoMesmo com empate do Botafogo, narrador desconsidera reviravolta no Brasileiro: ‘A briga é pelo vice’Fora de Campo19/08/2023BotafogoBruno Lage aponta ‘falta de inspiração’ do Botafogo, mas exalta ponto obtido no MorumbiBotafogo19/08/2023

– Quanto mais rapidamente isso for definido, melhor, mas estou tranquilo. Sondagens e propostas acontecem, mas só irei aceitar algo que julgue realmente interessante. Felizmente não há impedimento para que eu feche com clubes nacionais, então o leque é bastante vasto – afirmou.

Com passagem pelo Botafogo entre 2013 e 2015, tendo jogado inclusive uma Copa Libertadores da América pelo Alvinegro, Dankler acompanha com satisfação a ótima campanha do clube de General Severiano no Brasileirão 2023. Segundo Dankler, a torcida do glorioso vem cumprindo um lindo papel nas arquibancadas do estádio Nilton Santos.

– Um clube como o Botafogo não pode ficar tanto tempo sem ser campeão brasileiro. A torcida vem apoiando o time de uma forma muito bonita e faz parte de tudo isso. Creio que muita gente ficará um pouquinho feliz com um possível título do Botafogo – definiu.

Tottenham Hotspur have a world-class stadium which cost £1bn and they’ve also splashed the cash on several new signings over the years. However, their wait for a first trophy since 2008 goes on.

Spurs have also brought in big transfer fees for a plethora of stars, dealing with some of Europe’s biggest clubs in the process – but who is the club’s record departure?

Here is a look at Tottenham Hotspur’s most expensive sales in their history, with the help of news reports and Transfermarkt, with a detailed look at the top 10.

Rank

Player

Fee

Sold to

Year

Harry Kane

£86.4m

Bayern Munich

2023

Gareth Bale

£85.3m

Real Madrid

2013

Kyle Walker

£50m

Man City

2017

Dimitar Berbatov

£30.75m

Man Utd

2008

Luka Modric

£30m

Real Madrid

2012

Steven Bergwijn

£26m

Ajax

2022

Oliver Skipp

£25m

Leicester

2024

Kieran Trippier

£20m

Atletico Madrid

2019

Heung-min Son

£20m

LAFC

2025

Robbie Keane

£19m

Liverpool

2008

Michael Carrick

£18.6m

Man Utd

2006

Emerson Royal

£18m

AC Milan

2024

Kevin Wimmer

£18m

Stoke City

2017

Christian Eriksen

£16.9m

Inter

2020

Nabil Bentaleb

£16m

Schalke

2017

Toby Alderweireld

£13m

Al-Duhail

2021

Juan Foyth

£13m

Villarreal

2021

Ryan Mason

£13m

Hull City

2016

Nacer Chadli

£13m

West Brom

2016

Kyle Walker-Peters

£12m

Southampton

2020

Andros Townsend

£12m

Newcastle

2016

Peter Crouch

£12m

Stoke

2011

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

£12m

Marseille

2025

Here’s a detailed look at Spurs' top 10 sales… 10 Robbie Keane £19m to Liverpool, 2008

Robbie Keane was Spurs’ star player and captain back in 2008, so it was a real blow when Liverpool took him to Anfield for £19m. The transfer fee could have surpassed £20m, but we doubt the Irishman met the required add-ons.

Daniel Levy publicly spoke of their disappointment that Keane wanted a move away, but six months later, Keane was back at Tottenham on a permanent transfer after struggling to become a regular on Merseyside.

9 Heung-min Son £20m to LAFC, 2025

A Tottenham icon, Heung-min Son lifted Spurs’ first trophy in 17 years following the club’s Europa League triumph in 2025, but months later, the South Korea forward left north London for the MLS.

The attacker departed for LAFC in a deal worth £20m, with Son scoring 173 goals in 454 games for Spurs, proving to be worth every penny of the £22m Tottenham spent in 2015.

8 Kieran Trippier £20m to Atletico Madrid, 2019

Kieran Trippier’s final game for Tottenham came at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium in the 2019 Champions League final. It would end up being his new club home after Spurs sold him to Diego Simeone’s side for £20m that summer.

Trippier has since become a La Liga winner and returned to the Premier League with Newcastle United, where he helped them qualify for the Champions League.

7 Oliver Skipp £25m to Leicester City, 2024

After coming through the academy and making more than 100 first-team appearances, midfielder Oliver Skipp was sold by Spurs for a reported £25m in 2024.

Leicester City were happy to pay big for Skipp after winning promotion, with the player signing a five-year deal. For a player who didn’t quite reach his potential at Tottenham, it wasn’t the worst deal in the world.

6 Steven Bergwijn £26m to Ajax, 2022

Tottenham signed Steven Bergwijn in January 2020 in the hope that he’d further boost a very exciting attacking lineup under Jose Mourinho.

However, the Dutchman rarely started and wasn’t the attacking threat Spurs had invested in. Eight goals in 83 appearances isn’t exactly worth what they paid for him, so they did well to bring in a £26m fee in 2022.

5 Luka Modric £30m to Real Madrid, 2012

Luka Modric’s performances over a four-year period at White Hart Lane caught the eye of Real Madrid in 2012, who took the Croatia international to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2012 for £30m.

The midfielder went on to star in Spain and even won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, so the £30m fee is probably looked back on as a bargain for Madrid.

4 Dimitar Berbatov £30.75m to Man Utd, 2008

Stylish striker Dimitar Berbatov struck up a brilliant relationship with Robbie Keane in north London, with the former scoring 46 goals in 102 games.

Despite having Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United added Berbatov to their ranks in 2008, and he’d go on to win six honours with the Red Devils in four years following his £30.75m transfer from Spurs.

3 Kyle Walker £50m to Man City, 2017

Kyle Walker became the world’s most expensive defender when he joined Manchester City from Tottenham in 2017 for £50m, with the England international going on to win everything under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.

Walker is arguably England’s greatest-ever right-back, but at the time, Tottenham had Kieran Trippier waiting in the wings, so were seemingly happy to cash in on him for such a large sum.

2 Gareth Bale £85.3m to Real Madrid, 2013

Gareth Bale followed Modric to Real Madrid in 2013 after starring in north London. The Wales international cost Real more than they had paid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009, with the transfer a world-record €100m (£85.3m) at the time.

Bale would go on to win 15 honours at the Bernabeu, including five Champions League titles. He scored 106 goals in 258 appearances in a Madrid shirt.

1 Harry Kane £86.4m to Bayern Munich, 2023

Topping the charts as Tottenham’s record departure is record goalscorer Harry Kane, who brought in £86.4m when he joined Bayern Munich in 2023.

The striker was linked with a Spurs exit on numerous occasions during his 13-year spell as a professional in north London, but it was the Bundesliga and Bayern that persuaded him to leave Tottenham. Kane, as expected, has gone on to continue to score for fun in Germany.