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“He just needed a little bit of time to bat out of that powerplay, which he did,” says Wasim Jaffer after Jaiswal’s 60-ball 104*

Ashish Pant23-Apr-20242:38

‘Jaiswal needed time to bat out of the powerplay’ – Jaffer

Yashasvi Jaiswal is back. He will say he never went away, and his strike rate will agree. But for a run machine, IPL 2024 was lukewarm. Before Monday night.Coming into his eighth game of the season, Jaiswal had scored 129 runs striking at 145.78, but only averaging 17.28. He was getting starts but was usually guilty of going too hard at the ball, losing his shape and his wicket in the process. He had failed to make it out of the powerplay six times out of seven, falling to pace on every occasion. Not having a fifty was also concerning, especially with everything being looked from a T20 World Cup point of view.Should India take him to the World Cup? Should Rajasthan Royals think of giving him a break? Should Jaiswal change his approach? Is it a form slump?Related

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On Monday, against one of his favourite IPL opponents, over 88 minutes and 60 balls, Jaiswal answered at least some of the questions: there was no form slump, and no need to change his approach. In Jaipur, Jaiswal hit his second century against Mumbai Indians in three innings, finishing with an unbeaten 104 at a strike rate of 173.33. And while the finishing was top-notch, the pacing of his innings was what set it apart.Jaiswal had a strike rate of 110 in the first ten balls of his innings.That went up to 180 after 20 balls.By 30 balls, he had got to his maiden half-century of the season.What had changed was how Jaiswal was allowing the ball to come on to his bat rather than go after it. He struck five fours and a six in the powerplay, all with the flourish and timing we are accustomed to.”It’s more the Yashasvi Jaiswal we know. I think he took his time early on, played some conventional shots and then we all know what he could do,” Wasim Jaffer said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut. “He has everything in his armoury, but he just needed a little bit of time to bat out of that powerplay, which he did. Those failures helped him to realise that this is how he needs to approach a T20 innings.”

“I really enjoyed [batting] from the start, and I was just trying to make sure that I was watching the ball properly and playing my cricketing shots, which I think I did today”Yashasvi Jaiswal

Jaiswal scored his first boundary, a straight six over Gerald Coetzee’s head, on the first ball of the fourth over. Coetzee didn’t take to being treated like that kindly. What followed were four searing back-of-a-length balls bowled at around the 150kph mark. Jaiswal was rushed into a pull on the fifth ball of the over, with the top edge just clearing the wicketkeeper.But it was the final delivery of that Coetzee over that would have pleased Jaiswal no end. A 151.1kph bolt was delivered around the length area on off stump. Jaiswal just stood tall and punched the ball through covers. #Jazball was on.”I really enjoyed [batting] from the start, and I was just trying to make sure that I was watching the ball properly and playing my cricketing shots, which I think I did today,” Jaiswal said after on the official broadcast the game. “I really enjoyed it, I really loved it. I am trying to keep doing what I do. Some days are tough, and some days are good. I was just playing – that is all. I didn’t have anything in my mind.”He had a slice of luck when on 50, as Nehal Wadhera shelled a simple catch at long-off, and Jaiswal knew it was his night. No Mumbai bowler was spared – not even Jasprit Bumrah – as Jaiswal heaved him away for six over deep square leg followed by a four to fine leg. He was lethal against spinners, collecting 47 off 25 balls at a strike rate of 188, while he struck at 162.85 against the quicks.It took Jaiswal 59 balls to reach his second IPL century, and as he removed his helmet and thumped the air, there was relief written all over his face. Three balls later, Royals had registered their seventh win of the season.2:10

What worked for Jaiswal? How accurate was Sandeep Sharma?

“He is the most exciting young player in world cricket at the moment. There are a couple out there, and he is right at the top of that conversation,” Tom Moody said. “[An] all-format player, how he has grown so quickly, from his Under-19 journey to international cricket to IPL stardom is quite remarkable. It is a privilege to watch. Some of those cover drives today were right out of the top drawer.”And how did the team engage with Jaiswal when he was not among the runs?”I don’t think he needs anyone. He is always filled with a lot of confidence,” Royals captain Sanju Samson said. “We knew that it is just a matter of one game. I think the way he batted in the powerplay, he was calm, composed and he knew that things are under control. We knew in the dugout that he is playing some [nice] cricketing shots today and he will be fine today. Really happy for him.”Rohit Sharma ended on the losing side but was one of the first to congratulate Jaiswal after the game. His runs are great for Royals, but also for India, after all. After an uncertain start to his season, Jaiswal will hope the worst is behind him, and that can only mean a stronger Royals unit. That’s ominous for the other teams.

The RCB allrounder has been setting the pace with both bat and ball this season

Hemant Brar08-May-2022Algebra and calculus have troubled Bengal and Royal Challengers Bangalore allrounder Shahbaz Ahmed more than any opposition bowler or batter has.In 2011, Shahbaz’s father enrolled him in a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, but until last year he couldn’t get past Mathematics 101, a subject from the first semester. It was only last season, when he was playing in the IPL for RCB, as it happened, that he took the exam for it online and passed. “So you can say I have completed my engineering,” Shahbaz says.Apart from that, he has also been working hard to upgrade his cricketing skills. Here, too, the results have gone largely in his favour.Related

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Bought back by Royal Challengers at the auction in February, Shahbaz made over 25 in each of his first five innings in this year’s IPL. That’s some consistency for a player who bats mainly at No. 5 and 6. He hasn’t been as successful with his left-arm fingerspin but has bowled a couple of handy spells.Shahbaz’s stronger suit is batting but in 2020, his first season with Royal Challengers, he played only two games and faced just one ball. The next year he got a longer run but could score only 59 runs in seven innings at an average of 8.42 and a strike rate of 111.32.While his returns with the bat were not stellar, he gained valuable insights about his craft. “I realised I was struggling to hit against fast bowlers,” Shahbaz says. “Whenever I tried big shots, I was ending up in an open-stance position. Simon Katich [then Royal Challengers head coach] and Mike Hesson [director of cricket at the franchise] sir told me if I can maintain my shape, I can score in any situation. That’s something I have tried to address this time.”At RCB, he has also had the opportunity to pick the brains of two of the best hitters in T20 cricket. “Big players such as AB de Villiers sir and Glenn Maxwell sir don’t talk much about technique,” Shahbaz says. “Whenever I spoke to them, it was about planning, conditions, and how to plan for different conditions. What the good boundary options are against fast bowlers and spinners. Or how to keep the scoreboard moving irrespective of the situation and build a platform from where we can win the match.”Shahbaz enjoys batting with Dinesh Karthik: “With him you don’t feel any pressure as he can change the momentum of the game in one over”•BCCIAll that culminated in one crucial knock after another this season. And his strike rate against pace zoomed from 125.00 last season to 143.01 this time.In the match against Kolkata Knight Riders, he went in at 62 for 4 and scored 27 off 20 balls to put his team ahead in a chase of 129. Against Rajasthan Royals he entered at the same scoreline. This time RCB were chasing 170. He smashed 45 off 26 balls and along with Dinesh Karthik (44 not out off 23), took the side to a win.Batting first against Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers were 75 for 4, which soon became 92 for 5. Shahbaz and Karthik then added 97 in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand, lifting Royal Challengers to a winning total.”I enjoy batting with DK [Karthik] . He is so cool and calm even in those pressure situations,” Shahbaz says. “He just says we have to take the game deep. If I play a rash shot, he would tell me that this is not needed at this stage. Only if I get a loose ball I should try for the boundary. Else, I should take a single, or even if it’s a dot ball, it’s okay. With him, you don’t feel any pressure as he can change the momentum of the game in one over.”Shahbaz mentions the Rajasthan Royals match, where Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin had stifled the batters on a pitch that was taking spin. “I wasn’t able to figure out how to take the game deep. Ashwin had an over left, and I was thinking of playing him out as it was easier to score against fast bowlers. Then DK came and attacked Ashwin. In that one over, the game completely changed.”RCB spin-bowling coach S Sriram suggested Shahbaz work on a faster run-up, which helped him find his rhythm and increase his bowling speed•Royal Challengers BangaloreWith 82 needed off 42 balls, Karthik hit Ashwin for three fours and a six in a 21-run over. It was another lesson for Shahbaz in his cricketing education.

****

When he was struggling with the bat in the 2021 IPL, it was his bowling that kept Shahbaz in the frame at RCB. He picked up seven wickets, including a game-changing 3 for 7 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, at an economy of 6.57.This year he has been assigned the role of fifth bowler, alongside Maxwell. While he has been a bit expensive at times, he also bowled a spell of 4-0-25-0 against Lucknow Super Giants. Against Gujarat Titans he took the wickets of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya to bring his side back into the game, and in his most recent match, against Chennai Super Kings, he broke the opening stand by dismissing an in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad.Shahbaz credits S Sriram, the Royal Challengers batting and spin-bowling coach, for giving him belief. “When I first came to the IPL, I had doubts if my bowling skills were good enough for this level. But in the last two seasons, I have learnt a lot from S Sriram about how to bowl to each batsman and get them out. He knows my bowling inside out.”The biggest improvement, Shahbaz says, has been in his rhythm, which he had struggled with. Sriram suggested making his run-up faster, which helped with that aspect. It had another benefit as well.”Earlier, my bowling speed was too slow. If you bowl that slow in the IPL, batters can always attack you. So my biggest worry was how I can increase my speed by 4-5kph. As I worked on my rhythm, my speed also increased.”Now I aim for 94-95kph for my normal ball, and my slower ball is at around 88-89kph. If I can maintain 95kph, it helps a lot in these conditions. Otherwise, on these flat Mumbai wickets, it is very difficult for spinners.””There will be a time when I will have to finish games on my own. I am prepared and waiting for that time”•BCCIIn T20s, the conventional wisdom is that a left-arm fingerspinner isn’t as effective against a left-hand batter. But Shahbaz has been trying to up his game against left-hand batters as well.”Ever since I started playing, I bowled from around the wicket. It’s a good option but now I am bowling over the wicket as well, to left-hand batsmen. Because that gives you a lot of options, and the more options you have, the more you can control the game.”If you are bowling over the wicket, you can bowl wide outside off. If there is some turn available, then you can turn from outside off. Then the leftie has only one option – to hit down the ground. The leg-side option is no longer available.”From over the wicket, you can bowl the leg-stump line as well, which is effective this season because most games are being played on side wickets due to limited venues. So one square boundary is generally bigger than the other. That makes it difficult for left-handers to hit on the leg side [if that’s the bigger boundary]. This also creates more wicket-taking options.”While Shahbaz is tightening up his bowling, it’s batting he enjoys more and wants to make more of an impact with. At the top of his to-do list is to see games to the end with the bat.”In domestic cricket, I have finished a few close games, so I have that experience. Against KKR, we were chasing 127 [129], and I scored 27 in a tough situation but then I got out. Akash Deep [Bengal and Royal Challengers team-mate] said to me, ‘You could have finished this game but you lost your wicket to a bad shot. What happened?’ I told him this was my first innings in the IPL where I had batted well. The more experience I get of batting in this position, the more games I can finish for the team.”Right now, I am mostly playing a supporting role to DK , but there will be a time when I will have to finish games on my own. I am prepared and waiting for that time.”

He bowled to Virat Kohli and went past both his edges, one after the other

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Wellington19-Feb-2020Ishant Sharma vs Virat Kohli. Two balls, one after the other – except this was in the nets, and there was a ball each from Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini and Jasprit Bumrah in between.They still felt like successive deliveries, though, part of a larger pattern.To the first, Kohli got on the front foot, and aimed a drive towards mid-off. The ball swung in, beat the inside edge, and hit the front pad at knee-roll height. The very spot Jason Gillespie told Sharma to aim at, back in 2018, when he was wondering how to bowl a fuller length without losing his pace and bite.And then, after Shami, Saini and Bumrah, came a delivery of similar line but slightly shorter length – by about six inches or so. Kohli went on the front foot again, looking to defend, and the ball straightened off the seam, all the while rising steeply, and spat past the shoulder of his bat.Almost exactly a month ago, Sharma had turned around to appeal for an lbw in a Ranji Trophy match in Delhi, and in doing so had twisted his right ankle and hobbled off the field. Scans revealed a grade-three tear. These usually take at least six weeks to recover, but here we were, a month on from the injury, watching Sharma bowl in the nets, to one of the world’s best batsmen, and go past both his edges, one after the other.”He looked pretty normal like before, I mean before he got injured,” Kohli said after India’s practice session. “Pretty similar to how he was bowling before the ankle injury, and he was hitting good areas. Obviously he has got plenty of experience. He has played in New Zealand a couple of times before, and definitely his experience will be something that will be useful in the series. Really good to see him bowling with pace and in good areas.”Bowling with pace, bowling in good areas, and all that for a pretty long time. Sharma bowled uninterrupted for around an hour and a half on Wednesday, mostly to the middle-order trio of Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari. This was the most encouraging sight India could have hoped to see two days before the first Test in Wellington.There was little let-up in Sharma’s intensity even towards the end of his nets stint, and he looked, at least from the periphery of the nets, ready to take on a Test-match workload. India’s team management, of course, will monitor him far more closely: how he got through this session, how quickly he recovers, how he bowls – if he does – in training on Thursday, and so forth.BCCIIf he ends up ticking all the boxes by Friday morning, India would be thrilled. In some ways, Sharma could almost be their most important player on this tour; he is bowling better than he ever has, and has reached a level of control over his craft where he can put all the learnings from his previous tours – he has taken 23 wickets at 30.91 in New Zealand, in five Tests spread over two tours when he was a far less refined version of himself – to good use in the middle.Conditions in New Zealand are almost unique in world cricket. It’s one of the few places where teams winning the toss might bowl first rather than bat, and where the pitches get better to bat on during the second innings. It’s also perhaps the windiest place to play Test cricket in, Wellington in particular. Having Sharma’s experience will help India not just from his end but when the other quicks bowl too. That’s apart from the most obvious benefit of having Sharma, which is that he is now a bloody good bowler.If he isn’t quite fit enough to start, India will have a bit of a decision to make over who plays instead of him. Bumrah and Shami will start, of course, and Umesh Yadav is the senior back-up option. On Wednesday, however, Saini bowled in the nets for a considerable length of time, mostly to the top and middle order, while Yadav only came on later, when the main batsmen were done having their hit.There’s little doubt over Yadav’s value as a wicket-taking force in Indian conditions, where he bowls in short, intense bursts and attacks the stumps relentlessly. But he hasn’t been the same force overseas – and he hasn’t really had a run of games to become that force – where he would have to play a different role, bowling for the outside edge, bowling longer spells, teaming up with the bowler at the other end to create the kind of pressure that leads to an injudicious shot.Saini is a different kind of bowler to Yadav, just as quick, but more back of a length, not as slingy, relying on seam rather than swing, and by nature likelier to benefit from the extra bounce of pitches outside Asia. He has never played Test cricket, however, and throwing him in for the first Test of an away tour may not be the ideal way of bringing him into the fold.It won’t be an easy decision, and India will hope they won’t need to make it.

Emerging allrounder Cooper Connolly top-scored with a fighting half-century to help Western Australia thwart South Australia in a Sheffield Shield draw.Connolly’s polished 70 and fifties from Hilton Cartwright and Jayden Goodwin led WA’s final-day resistance in the rain-marred day-nighter at Adelaide Oval.Related

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WA started Tuesday’s final day 85 for 2, trailing by 60 runs, with SA hoping to engineer a victory push.But Goodwin followed his first-innings half-century with 55 in another knock of substance, and Cartwright made 64 to defy SA. The pair combined for a 105-run stand for the third wicket, soaking up more than 40 overs from SA’s bowlers.Hanno Jacobs broke the partnership when he bowled Goodwin, ending his 156-ball knock. Cartwright departed only 10 runs later, launching at a full, wide delivery from Henry Thornton to Jake Lehmann at point.WA were 185 for 4 but again steadied with Connolly and Aaron Hardie featuring in a 101-run partnership. But the duo were dismissed in a three-over span as Thornton struck at dusk.Connolly, a match-winner for Australia in the Adelaide ODI against India last month with an unbeaten 61, hit 11 fours from 135 balls but edged a Thornton cutter.The SA paceman bowled Hardie in his next over, leaving WA 301 for 6 as the game drifted through the final session.SA sit with one win from five games in their title defence, the same as fellow strugglers WA. Pacesetters Victoria and Queensland are a dozen points clear with one round remaining before the BBL break.

Over the last couple of weeks, Tottenham Hotspur have massively struggled to deliver within the final third, which has resulted in numerous disappointing results.

Thomas Frank will no doubt have huge questions to answer in the near future, with the Derby Day defeat against Arsenal the latest failure in his tenure after taking the reins in the summer.

The Dane made a bold decision to switch to a 5-4-1 system at the Emirates to try and nullify the threat posed by Mikel Arteta’s side, but ultimately, it was ineffective as seen by the 4-1 scoreline.

Such a decision also restricted the Lilywhites massively within attacking areas, as Richarlison’s long-range effort was the only moment of note in the final third.

Numerous figures from the club’s recent Premier League outings highlight the struggles in attacking areas, with an immediate solution desperately needing to be found by the manager.

The stats behind Spurs’ recent struggles in attacking areas

As previously mentioned, Sunday was an afternoon to forget for all Spurs supporters, with the defeat arguably the worst of Frank’s tenure after his appointment in June.

The defensive setup massively nullified their own attacking threat, resulting in an embarrassing 0.07 xG produced, with only one shot on target registered, excluding the goal.

In total, the Lilywhites only managed to notch a total of three shots, whilst also registering just four touches in the Gunners’ 18-yard box during the 90-minute contest.

However, the club’s struggles have also been evident in other outings, with the defeat to Chelsea on home soil at the start of the month also showcasing their struggles in front of goal.

Frank’s men failed to find the back of the net in the London derby, again only notching one shot on target and amassing a total xG of just 0.10 in the loss.

No player in the squad was able to complete a cross against Enzo Maresca’s men, which no doubt would have contributed to the lack of quality within the final third.

The Spurs star who can solve Frank’s attacking woes

Spurs’ lack of quality in front of goal has undoubtedly produced a cause for concern, especially given the numbers produced under Ange Postecoglou last season.

The Lilywhites managed to score 64 goals in the Premier League during 2024/25, an average of 1.7 per 90, despite recording a measly 17th-placed finish in England’s top-flight.

Such a tally was the sixth best in the division, but Frank’s men have been unable to replicate such levels over the last couple of months of the new season.

His men have netted 20 goals in the 12 league outings to date, an average of 1.6, with Richarlison sitting as their top scorer on five goals – a quarter of the whole team’s tally.

However, the manager could find an immediate solution to the Lilywhites’ issues in attacking areas by unleashing Brennan Johnson over the next few weeks.

The Welsh international netted 18 goals across all competitions last campaign, but has often struggled for starts under the Dane after the investment from the hierarchy.

Mohammed Kudus arrived in a £55m transfer from West Ham United, which has seen the Ghanaian international often fill the void on the right-hand side of the attack.

However, Johnson is deserving of a recall to the starting eleven, with his numbers from last campaign showcasing the threat he carries within the final third.

His goalscoring tally from 2024/25 was by far and away the highest of any player in the first-team squad, with his underlying figures reflecting his all-round quality.

The 24-year-old achieved a total xG and xA per 90 of 0.51, the third highest in the squad, which further highlights his ability to star alone or find a teammate in dangerous areas.

Games played

51

2nd

Goals scored

18

1st

xG & xA per 90

0.51

3rd

Chances created

22

4th

Crosses per 90

1.4

2nd

Dribble success

56%

2nd

Shots per 90

2.2

3rd

Penalties won

2

1st

Johnson, who’s been labelled “impossible to defend” by one analyst, also ranked fourth in the first team for chances created – which could provide Richarlison with the ammunition to improve his own tallies.

Other tallies, such as 1.4 crosses completed per 90 and how dribble success of 56% both placed him in second position, with the winger having the all-round quality Frank’s men have hugely lacked.

There’s little denying that Johnson is a player who has divided opinion in North London, but his figures from last season highlight the quality he does possess with the ball at his feet.

If Frank is to find an immediate short-term solution to his side’s struggles, he may need to recall the Welshman back to his starting eleven against Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

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2 ByDan Emery Nov 25, 2025

Celtic look set to finally confirm the appointment of their permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers in the dugout at Parkhead with the arrival of Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew.

Rodgers tendered his resignation at the end of October, after a 3-1 loss to Hearts, and experienced manager Martin O’Neill has taken the reins as interim head coach for the past month or so.

The former Celtic boss, as shown in the graphic above, won the Scottish Premiership title in his first two seasons back at Parkhead, and it will be down to Nancy to overcome Hearts to win the division in his first season.

Journalist Graeme Bailey claims that the Hoops are set to confirm the appointment of the MLS boss before the weekend, but that means that it remains to be seen if he will be in the dugout for the weekend’s clash with Hibernian.

Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen and Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna were also said to be in the running for the role, but it is the Frenchman who is poised to replace Rodgers.

Whilst Nancy will have to deal with the players that he inherits for the first month or so of his reign in Glasgow, the incoming boss has already been linked with a move to bring one of his Columbus Crew stars to Scotland.

The Columbus Crew star Wilfried Nancy could bring to Celtic

Earlier this week, it was reported that Celtic are lining up a move to bolster their attack by swooping for one of the French head coach’s key players from the MLS side.

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

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Nancy is reportedly set to swoop for Columbus Crew centre-forward Wessam Abou Ali to provide him with a proven and lethal number nine at Parkhead for the second half of the 2025/26 season.

The Palestine international scored three goals in five MLS games for Nancy towards the end of the 2025 campaign, per Sofascore, after a £5.7m move from Egyptian giants Al Ahly back in July.

Prior to his almost £6m move to the MLS in July, Abou Ali’s form for Al Ahly in Egypt caught the eye, as he showcased his reliability in front of goal in the Egyptian Premier League.

Abou Ali – Egyptian Premier League

23/24

24/25

Appearances

19

16

Goals

18

10

Minutes per goal

76

118

Big chances missed

5

1

Conversion rate

40%

23%

Big chances created

3

2

Assists

4

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old frontman scored a staggering 28 goals in 35 appearances in those two seasons, which shows that he can find the back of the net on a regular basis.

However, it remains to be seen how much money Columbus Crew would want for the prolific striker because they paid almost £6m for him earlier this year, and he has already scored three goals in five league games.

If the MLS side demand a hefty fee that Celtic are either unable or unwilling to pay in the January transfer window, Nancy will have to look at alternative ways to bolster his attacking ranks at Parkhead.

For example, the French boss could unearth his next version of Abou Ali by helping young striker Callum Osmand fulfill his potential when he is back fit and available for selection.

Why Osmand could be Celtic's own version of Abou Ali

The Jersey-born star is currently out with a hamstring injury and a timeline has not been given on his return date, so it remains to be seen when he will be available to the incoming Hoops boss.

With Kelechi Iheanacho and Osmand both missing through injury, Ireland international Johnny Kenny is the first-choice number nine at Parkhead. The young forward has had an impressive run under interim boss O’Neill with four goals in five matches, per Sofascore.

However, it may be the former Fulham youngster who is the most likely to emerge as the star goalscorer of the Nancy era when you consider his record at first-team and academy level to date.

The battle to be Celtic’s number nine

Academy + first-team

Kenny

Osmand

Appearances

150

83

Goals

47

49

Games per goal

3.19

1.69

Assists

11

13

Games per assist

13.64

6.38

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Osmand has scored and created goals at a much more impressive rate than Kenny has throughout his career to date, with an exceptional haul of 49 goals in 83 matches.

Whilst the majority of those goals have been at youth level, the 20-year-old star also showcased his quality in the first-team with a poacher’s finish against Rangers in the semi-final of the League Cup at Hampden Park earlier this month.

Unfortunately, Osmand then suffered his hamstring injury off the bench against Midtjylland in the Europa League in the very next game, shortly after winning a penalty from which Reo Hatate scored.

The ex-Fulham youngster, who was also hailed as “lightning quick” by Fulham expert Jack Kelly, scored one goal and won a penalty in his first three first-team outings for the Scottish giants, which is an impressive start to senior football for the young attacker.

His exceptional goalscoring record in his career suggests that he has the potential to emerge as a real star for Celtic in the future, once he is back from injury, because he has the quality to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

Therefore, the summer signing could be unearthed as Nancy’s next version of Abou Ali, who has been a prolific scorer for his last two teams, as another number nine who can provide a lethal presence in front of goal, if the Hoops are unable to get a deal done for the MLS star.

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Posts 1 ByDan Emery Nov 25, 2025

They have made more than their fair share of poor signings over the last few years, but Chelsea have also got their hands on some incredible players.

One of those who falls into the latter category has to be Moises Caicedo, who has gone from up-and-coming gem to arguably the best six in the Premier League.

The Ecuadorian monster is almost unmatched when it comes to breaking up play, and with every passing game, seems to get better and better in attacking phases of play.

Therefore, Chelsea fans should be delighted about their most recent signing, as the youngster could well be their next Caicedo.

The exciting youngsters set to join up with Chelsea

Chelsea already have a squad full of exciting talents, and they are set to add even more talented youngsters in the summer.

In The Pipeline

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

For example, Brazilian left-back Denner put pen to paper on a contract with the club back in March, but due to rules regarding under-18s, he must wait until the summer to join the senior squad.

He looks like a player worth waiting for, though, as, on top of being more than capable at the defensive side of the game, he is also a “marauding LB with so much quality in the final third,” per respected analyst Ben Mattinson.

Further up the pitch, someone who could cause havoc on the opposite flank for the Blues is Portuguese wonderkid Geovany Quenda.

The Sporting CP gem cost around £44m in March, and while that is an enormous sum of money, it looks like he will be more than worth it.

For example, despite still being just 18 years old, the Bissau-born dynamo has scored four goals and provided six assists, with two of those goal involvements coming against Kaira Almaty in the Champions League.

Speaking of the Kazakh side, their most exciting prospect, Dastan Satpayev, will make his way to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

Described as “a future Ballon d’Or winner” and “a future rival to Lamine Yamal” by one analyst, to say there is some hype around the 17-year-old would be an understatement.

It’s easy to see why, though, as in 29 first-team appearances last season, totalling 2081 minutes, he scored 15 goals and provided seven assists.

Satpaev’s 24/25
Appearances	29
Starts	21
Minutes	2081
Goals	15
Assists	7
Goal Involvements per Match	0.75
Minutes per Goal Involvement	94.59′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

On top of that, he also became the youngest player to score a senior goal for the Kazakh national team last week, scoring the side’s only goal in their 1-1 draw with Belgium.

With all that said, potentially the most exciting prospect of them all isn’t going to join Chelsea next year, but could still be their next Caicedo.

Chelsea's next Caicedo

What makes Caicedo such an incredible player? Most would agree that it is a combination of his excellent reading of the game, anticipation and technique.

These three things make him exceptional at shielding the back four and brilliant at kick-starting attacking moves.

Fortunately, based on the sentiment of those in the know, those appear to be traits shared by Deinner Ordonez, who just signed a pre-agreement with the Blues.

For example, Como scout Felix Johnstone has described the youngster as “an absolute alien of a talent” who is “physically top, so good in the air” and capable of producing “excellent carries.”

Likewise, Mattinson has described him as a “pacy aggressive defender off the ball who’s able to defend big spaces with a level of dominance rare for his age.”

He’s not just a defensive powerhouse, though, as Mattinson also points out his “outstanding range of passing” and the fact that he is “completely both-footed.”

With all that, it’s not hard to see why Johnston has dubbed the teenager a future “world-beater,” nor is it hard to see the technical traits he shares with Caicedo.

In addition to these physical and technical similarities, the youngster is also Ecuadorian, becoming the youngest player to represent the side at the South American U-20 Championship earlier this year.

Moreover, while he is yet to make a first-team appearance, he is also at the midfielder’s old club, Independiente del Valle.

Ultimately, he might play in a different position, but Ordonez shares plenty of traits with Caicedo and is certainly looked at as someone who could become as important for Chelsea in the future.

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Leeds United travel away from West Yorkshire and Elland Road to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Whites are looking to win back-to-back matches in the Premier League for the first time this season, after they beat West Ham United in their last outing.

Daniel Farke’s side won, thanks to goals from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon, and Anton Stach did not play a single minute of the match at Elland Road.

Why Leeds should unleash Anton Stach

Despite beating the Hammers, Leeds can improve on their performance from last time out because they failed to put the game out of sight for the away side, which led to a nervy ending when they pulled a goal back.

After Rodon’s goal, the Whites did not create a single chance that was worth more than 0.14 xG, per Sofascore, and they allowed West Ham to get back into the game, albeit they were able to hang on for all three points.

Stach, who did not get on the pitch, has proven that he can provide a threat at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position, with one goal, 1.8 key passes per game, and two ‘big chances’ created in eight appearances, per Sofascore.

The summer signing from Hoffenheim has shown that he can be a difference-maker with his individual quality, which could help Leeds to capitalise on a shaky Brighton defence that has conceded 15 goals in the Premier League.

Chalkboard

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

In order to bring Stach into the starting line-up, though, Farke would have to ruthlessly ditch Ao Tanaka, whose performances he has recently defended.

Why Leeds should drop Ao Tanaka

After the win over West Ham, the Japan international stated that he is “not good enough at the moment” and that he will be using these experiences to improve as a player.

Asked about Tanaka’s honest admission, Farke said: “He had a really good start to the season with us. I didn’t expect him to be man of the match [vs West Ham], being in his first match after injury back in the starting line up, but I think he was quite solid and showed a really, really good performance.”

In spite of his defence of the central midfielder’s comments and performance, the German head coach should drop the midfield maestro from the XI because Stach may be able to offer more quality against Brighton.

Appearances

7

8

xG

0.16

0.79

Goals

0

1

Key passes per game

0.6

1.8

Big chances created

0

2

Ground duel success rate

18%

52%

Aerial duel success rate

43%

77%

Tackles + interceptions per game

0.7

2.3

As you can see in the table above, Tanaka has struggled to influence games in the Premier League this season, as he has offered little in the final third whilst being dominated by opposition players physically.

The Japanese midfielder is seemingly still adjusting to the step up from the Championship, which is understandable, but Stach has shown that he can make an impact offensively and hold his own defensively in his eight starts in the division.

Given Brighton’s defensive struggles this season, conceding 15 goals in nine games, it could be the right time to bring the German central midfielder back into the starting line-up to give the Whites the best chance of causing their defence problems.

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Therefore, Farke should ruthlessly drop Tanaka from the XI, despite his defence of the midfielder’s display against West Ham, because it may improve the team’s chances of winning this afternoon, given the context of the opposition.

MatériaMais Notícias

O CRB recebe o Guarani neste sábado (23), às 17h (Brasília). A partida é válida pela 29ª rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro e terá transmissão da Band e do Premiere.

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+ Condição especial para matrícula no curso Gestor de Futebol, aprovado por Dante, Petković, Léo Moura e outros craques. Saiba mais!

O clube alagoano vem de derrota para o Juventude na última rodada, mas vive bom momento. A goleada por 6 a 0 contra o líder Vitória ainda segue fresca na mente da torcida, mas com o resultado negativo para os gaúchos, viu a diferença para o G4 aumentar para seis pontos.

Em uma sequência de três vitórias seguidas, o Guarani quer continuar vencendo e se tornar líder do campeonato. A fase positiva começou no clássico contra a Ponte Preta, venceu por 1 a 0, placar que se repetiu contra a Chapecoense. No último jogo, vitória maiúscula contra a Tombense por 3 a 0, no Brinco de Ouro da Princesa.

+ Abel Ferreira, técnico do Palmeiras, é denunciado pela Associação Brasileira de Árbitros

Data e horário: 23 de setembro de 2023, às 17h
Local: Estádio Rei Pelé, em Maceió, Alagoas
Onde assistir: Premiere e Band

PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

CRB
Diogo Silva; Hereda, Gum, Fábio Alemão, Edimar; Falcão, Lucas Lima, João Paulo; Léo Pereira, Renato e Anselmo Ramon. (Técnico: Daniel Paulista)

GUARANI
Pegorari, Diogo Mateus, Lucão, Alan Santos e Mayk; Matheus Bueno, Matheus Barbosa e Bruninho; Bruno José, João Victor e Derek. (Técnico: Umberto Louzer)

Crystal Palace have been one of the form teams in the Premier League this term and could now look to the top-flight for a Marc Guehi replacement.

Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi responds to transfer speculation

Plenty of speculation followed Crystal Palace star Guehi around this summer. Nevertheless, a last-minute move to Liverpool fell through for the England international, who is out of contract at Selhurst Park in 2026.

In an open conversation surrounding his future, the former Chelsea man made it clear on international duty that his only priority at present is focusing on securing his place in England’s World Cup squad.

He said: “For me, it doesn’t really matter, to be honest. As long as I’m playing well and helping Palace, there’s definitely an opportunity for me to be here as I am today.

“Whether it’s sorted or not, it’s not really the most important thing to be honest. Personally, I don’t know if I can think that far ahead. I like to just take it step by step, and that is just focusing on the games that I have at Palace and any upcoming opportunities I have here.”

Oliver Glasner has also been targeted by Nottingham Forest due to being out of contract next summer. Ultimately, Crystal Palace are a club on the up, and others are keen to prize away their main assets after an excellent start to the Premier League campaign.

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Rumours are unlikely to die down if success is continually delivered at Selhurst Park. Either way, putting contingencies in place to prepare for the future will be a key part of their upcoming plans.

With that in mind, Crystal Palace have identified a potential replacement for Guehi should clubs continue to make their interest in his services known.

Crystal Palace want to sign Max Kilman to replace Marc Guehi

According to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, Crystal Palace want to sign West Ham defender Max Kilman to replace Guehi, and they could now make a January move to try and secure his services.

However, any deal will be a difficult one to do amid Nuno Espírito Santo’s admiration towards the defender, who was a key part of his Wolverhampton Wanderers side when both worked together at Molineux.

Five similar players to Max Kilman (FBREF)

Scott McKenna

Dinamo Zagreb

Ko Itakura

Ajax

Marc-Oliver Kempf

Como

Kialonda

Lecce

Kevin Danso

Tottenham Hotspur

The London-born man is under contract at West Ham until 2031 and arrived at the Hammers for £40 million on a contract worth £100,000 per week, hence why it may take a significant push to tempt Kilman into crossing the divide.

Making eight appearances this term across all competitions, the 28-year-old has been ever-present on the left-hand side of their backline, and it now remains to be seen whether he would be open to a change of scenery.

Crystal Palace could well mount a credible challenge for the European places this term and Kilman could be tempted by the prospect of replacing such a key figure, though it will be interesting to see if Guehi is sold in January to make room.

It is also worth noting that quality strikers, like Villa’s Ollie Watkins, have called Kilman a “top player”.