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Celtic are eyeing a potential move for England Under-21s manager Lee Carsley as their next boss, as they look to find the perfect replacement for Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead.

Rodgers’ second spell in charge of the Hoops went out in a whimper, following an underwhelming start to the season in the Scottish Premiership, with Martin O’Neill placed in interim charge.

While the Irishman has seemingly only come in for a short spell as manager, taking charge until the right permanent appointment is made, a new report has claimed that he would be willing to take the job until the end of the season.

Victory at home to Rangers on Sunday afternoon would not only be a massive step in the right direction for Celtic, but could even persuade those high up at the club that O’Neill is the right man to continue for longer than originally expected.

That’s not to say that other potential candidates aren’t being mentioned, however, with Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna backed to be Rodgers’ successor, and Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen also seen as an option.

Lee Carsley linked with Celtic job

Now, 67 Hail Hail claim that Celtic are eyeing Carsley to be their next manager, with the Hoops “long-term admirers” of him, meaning he could “be in contention” to come in.

That said, the former Republic of Ireland international “isn’t a frontrunner for the job”, so at this stage, others feel more likely to take charge at Parkhead.

Carsley would be an interesting choice for Celtic if they did go down that route, with Roy Keane heaping praise on him during his brief stint as England’s interim boss before Thomas Tuchel came in.

Perhaps the biggest risk in Celtic appointing Carsley is the fact that he is yet to manage at club level, with his only roles coming with England, including his current Under-21s role.

Lee Carsley’s managerial career

Year

Matches

Points per game

England Under-21s

2025-present

11

2.27

England (interim)

2024

6

2.50

England Under-21s

2021-2024

29

2.41

England Under-20s

2020-2021

1

3.00

For that reason, bringing him in would be a gamble at a point when a safe pair of hands is required to steady the ship after a frustrating end to Rodgers’ reign.

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Posts ByBen Gray Nov 1, 2025

Carsley may be desperate to prove his worth in the club game, though, and if he impresses Celtic’s bosses more than the rest, they need to be trusted.

Celtic manager search takes twist as O'Neill makes decision about interim role

The 2025 MLB season featured a wild finish, with a seven-game World Series that captivated the sports world. Less than a week after the Dodgers raised the Commissioner’s Trophy for the second straight year, all focus has turned to 2026. Based on early discussions, there should be a ton of player movement this offseason.

The free agent class has a decent number of big names in it, but the competition for those players could send teams browsing on the trade market. There should be plenty of options available. What follows is a look at the 10 best players who could be on the trade block this winter.

1. Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers

Skubal is about to win his second AL Cy Young in a row, and he’s the Tigers’ best player. Despite that, the two sides remain far apart in discussions over a long-term contract. The ace lefty will be 29 when the 2026 season starts and will be a free agent after it ends. If they’re not going to pay him what he’s worth, the Tigers may be better off getting a haul for him before he walks away, especially if they don’t plan on spending enough cash this offseason to build a World Series contender.

In 2025, Skubal went 13–6 with a 2.21 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 241 strikeouts against 33 walks in 195 1/3 innings. He was second in baseball in FIP (2.45), third in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (11.1) and led MLB pitchers in fWAR (6.6). Over the past three seasons, Skubal has made 77 starts, going 38–13 with a 2.39 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 175 ERA+ and 571 strikeouts in 467 2/3 innings. He’s baseball’s most dominant pitcher and is in the middle of his prime. Any contender would be crazy not to at least explore a deal to get him.

Fits: Mets, Giants, Padres, Red Sox, Astros

2. Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox

Duran’s name keeps popping up in trade rumors as a young core continues to fortify Boston’s ranks. The Red Sox could attempt to move the veteran outfielder in order to fortify their starting rotation. Duran regressed a bit in 2025, but still provides a ton of value as a speedy corner outfielder who consistently produces good exit velocities.

The 29-year-old was phenomenal in 2024 when he slashed .285/.342/.492 with 21 home runs, 75 RBIs, a 131 wRC+ and 34 stolen bases. He produced 6.8 fWAR (which was almost cut in half in 2025) while also leading the league in doubles and triples. This season, he slashed .256/.332/.442, with 15 home runs, 84 RBIs, a wRC+ of 111 and 24 stolen bases. His 3.9 fWAR was solid, but sent the message that he’s unlikely to ever reach the highs he experienced in 2024. Still, he’d be one of the top bats on the market if Boston made him available, and given that he’s under team control through 2028, he would net a hefty return.

Fits: Phillies, Dodgers, Royals, Orioles

3. Freddy Peralta, SP, Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers had an outstanding season in 2025, and Peralta was a big part of that. But he’s due for free agency after next season, and, like Milwaukee did with Corbin Burnes, it looks like they club will move him before he walks in 2026. Peralta was excellent this season, going 17–6 with a 2.70 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP and 204 strikeouts in 176 2/3 innings. The 29-year-old continued showing he’s a durable frontline guy, having made 95 starts over the past three years.

Peralta is under contract for $8 million next season, so virtually any team could afford him. That’s great news for Milwaukee, as there could be a bidding war for his services. He’s widely regarded as the second-best arm on the market, and if the Tigers opt to keep Skubal, he’d jump to the top of the list. The Brewers should be able to net a substantial return in that case.

Fits: Padres, Yankees, Mets, Orioles, Diamondbacks

4. Joe Ryan, SP, Minnesota Twins

Ryan has slowly broken out over the past two years, but he took things to another level in 2025. In 31 appearances (30 starts), the 29-year-old went 13–10 with a 3.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 194 strikeouts against 39 walks in 171 innings. Ryan, a first-time All-Star, allowed a .233 xwOBA on his sweeper, and his fastball was almost as good (.277). His 4.89 ERA over the final two months of the season raised some red flags, but Minnesota was awful as a whole over that stretch.

The Twins sold big at the deadline and are looking at a full rebuild centered around one of the best farm systems in baseball. They can enhance that by moving Ryan, who will be one of the hottest names on the trade market this winter. He’s under team control through 2027, so he should net a larger return.

Fits: Red Sox, Padres, Tigers, Angels

5. Steven Kwan, OF, Cleveland Guardians

Despite all the issues listed above, Kwan was a popular target at the trade deadline. Other teams are interested, and the Guardians could choose to sell while he’s still a hot name. He’s under team control through 2027, which will only add to his allure.

The Guardians floated Kwan at the trade deadline, but were asking for a significant return that they couldn’t find. The 28-year-old is a four-time Gold Glove winner and has been an All-Star in each of the past two seasons. He’s one of the best defensive corner outfielders in MLB, but his bat is a bit of a problem. Kwan rarely strikes out and regularly squares balls up (99th percentile) but produces weak exit velocities, which leaves him mostly powerless. In 2025 he slashed .272/.330/.374 and had a wRC+ of 99. In his four seasons, he has never broken the .800 OPS barrier. His career slugging percentage of .390 is incredibly weak. Despite stellar defense, he only produced 3.2 fWAR in 2025.

Fits: Dodgers, Orioles, Cubs, Phillies

6. Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles

Two years ago, this would have been unthinkable when Rutschman was the Orioles’ cornerstone and was named first-team All-MLB. His decline began in 2024, but the 27-year-old bottomed out this season as he only played 90 games due to strains in both obliques, and slashed a woeful .220/.307/.366, with nine home runs, 29 RBIs and a wRC+ of 91. With top catching prospect Samuel Basallo now in the big leagues, the writing is on the wall for Rutschman.

The Orioles were MLB’s most disappointing team in 2025 and need to bounce back in 2026. Trading Rutschman could beef up the MLB roster. He’s still well-respected as a leader and solid defensive catcher, and he’s only two years removed from an .809 OPS and 20 home runs. He’s under team control through 2027, so there will be no shortage of teams interested.

Fits: Rangers, Phillies, Nationals, Rays

7. Sandy Alcántara, SP, Miami Marlins

Alcántara struggled for much of the 2025 season after returning from Tommy John surgery. In 31 starts, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner went 11–12 with a 5.36 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 165 strikeouts and 57 walks in 174 2/3 innings. He produced 1.7 fWAR, his lowest total ever in a full season. On the bright side, his xFIP was 4.19, much lower than his bloated ERA. He’s only 30 and should be much better in his second season back from elbow reconstruction.

The Marlins missed the playoffs by four games this season, but they have a new front office regime in place led by Gabe Kapler. That group will likely want to be bold in establishing a new direction. Alcántara is set to make $17.3 million in 2026, and his contract has a club option for $21 million in 2027. Yes, Miami would be selling low here, but dealing him could clear some cash off the books while netting a solid return.

Fits: Braves, Giants, Blue Jays, Angels

8. Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels

After years of waiting, Adell finally broke out in 2025 and delivered on some of the promise he showed as a top-five prospect in the game back in 2020. Adell slashed .236/.293/.485, with 37 home runs and 98 RBIs, and produced a career-best wRC+ of 112. Can he repeat that in 2026? The jury is still out, but he’s under team control through 2027, so there’s value to be mined here.

The Angels lost 90 games, Mike Trout is a shell of his former self and they own one of baseball’s worst farm systems. It would be wise for L.A. to start unloading the few assets it has and look to the future. Taylor Ward, Luis Rengifo, Jorge Soler and Kenley Jansen should also be on the table. As for Adell, a team needing some pop from a corner outfield spot could buy high on the 26-year-old banking that 2025 represented his immense underlying talent showing through, not a fluke.

Fits: White Sox, Royals, Orioles, Red Sox

9. MacKenzie Gore, SP, Washington Nationals

Gore was excellent in the first half of the season, showing the stuff that led the Padres to select him with the third overall pick in the 2017 draft. He made his first All-Star team as he entered the break with a 4–8 record, 3.02 ERA, 2.96 FIP and 138 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings. He still surrendered too many walks, but he was mostly in command on the mound. Then it all fell apart. Over his final 11 starts, Gore went 1–7 with a 6.75 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 47 strikeouts against 29 walks in 49 1/3 innings. That kicked his ERA up to 4.17 on the season. Simply put, he walks too many guys, and his fastball is too hittable, as opponents had an xSLG of .497 against it.

Despite his second-half struggles, the 26-year-old should be a popular target this winter as the Nationals rework their roster to build for the future. He’s under contract through 2027, and when he’s on, Gore has the stuff to be a frontline starter. He may not garner as big of a return as he would have two years ago, but in the hands of the right pitching coach, he could quickly turn things around.

Fits: Braves, Mets, Giants, Padres

10. Luis Robert Jr., OF, Chicago White Sox

Robert has seemingly been on the trade block for a solid two seasons now, but the White Sox haven’t found a deal they like. That might change this offseason. The 28-year-old had a monster year in 2023 in which he hit 38 home runs and boasted an OPS of .857 and a wRC+ of 129. But he’s looked like a totally different player at the plate since then. In 2025, he slashed .223/.297/.364, with 14 home runs and a weak wRC+ of 84. Some of that decline might be due to the White Sox just being terrible, but there are legitimate concerns that Robert’s best days are behind him. He has also missed significant time in 2024 and ’25, only playing a total of 210 games.

Chicago picked up the $20 million option on Robert’s contract for 2026 and holds another at the same price in 2027—so he’s not a rental, is still a plus defender and can still run, as he stole 33 bases this season. The power/speed combination is still there if someone can get him back on track. When he’s right, Robert is a 30/30 threat who plays good defense in center. There are plenty of teams who could use someone like that, but there is quite a bit of risk here.

Fits: Cubs, Royals, Mets, Orioles

The 2025 World Series is set, as the defending champion Dodgers will face off with the Blue Jays in the Fall Classic.

Toronto finished the season as the top seed in the American League, but was taken to the brink of elimination in the ALCS by the Mariners. Down 3–2 in the series, the Blue Jays used home-field advantage to take the final two games and earn a trip to their first World Series since 1993.

On paper, the Dodgers are an overwhelming favorite. They are the defending champions and have four former MVPs, four legitimate aces and a $350 million payroll. But they don’t play the game on paper. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the two teams in the series. It’s worth noting the Blue Jays have rotated their lineups based on matchups and we’re not yet sure of how Bo Bichette will fit in, so this is our projection of how manager John Schneider will fill out the lineup card.

Catcher: Will Smith (Dodgers) vs. Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays)

This one will surprise people, but the game isn’t just played with the bat. Kirk is a phenomenal defensive catcher, and that ultimately gives him the advantage here. The veteran backstop had nine defensive runs saved in 2025, while his 22 fielding run value (FRV) ranked second in baseball. Smith’s FRV was -6. Smith is better on offense, but Kirk is no slouch in that regard.

2025 Stats	Slash Line	Home Runs	RBIs	wRC+	fWAR
Kirk	.282/.348/.421	15	61	116	4.7
Smith	.296/.404/.497	17	76	153	4.1

In the playoffs, Kirk has produced a .752 OPS and blasted three home runs, while Smith is at .661 with no dingers. This is close and could easily be a push, but Kirk’s superior defense and current form give him the edge.

Advantage: Blue Jays

First base: Freddie Freeman (Dodgers) vs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)

Freddie Freeman is a nine-time All-Star, a two-time World Series champion, the reigning World Series MVP, has an NL MVP trophy in his case and is having a great 2025 campaign. If this were solely about the regular season, Freeman might have the edge.

2025 Stats	Slash Line	Home Runs	RBIs	wRC+	fWAR
Guerrero Jr.	.292/.381/.467	23	84	137	3.9
Freeman	.295/.367/.502	24	90	139	3.8

That’s about as close as it gets—but that hasn’t been the case in the playoffs, where Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been incredible. He’s slashing .442/.510/.930 with six home runs, 12 RBIs and an absurd wRC+ of 280. Freeman has struggled a bit, slashing .231/.333/.410 with one home run, one RBI and a pedestrian wRC+ of 105. Guerrero has had an all-time great postseason and has to get the nod here.

Advantage: Blue Jays

Second base: Tommy Edman (Dodgers) vs. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Blue Jays)

This is another close one that is going to be tipped by postseason performance. Tommy Edman was a shrewd pickup by the Dodgers before the 2024 trade deadline, winning the NLCS MVP award, but he had a relatively poor regular season in 2025. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, however, was even worse while splitting time between the Pirates and Blue Jays.

2025 Stats	Slash Line	Home Runs	RBIs	wRC+	fWAR
Kiner-Falefa	.262/.297/.334	2	40	75	0.7
Edman	.225/.274/.382	13	49	81	1.2

Edman has again turned his game up in that time, slashing .286/.306/.486 with two home runs and a wRC+ of 118. Kiner-Falefa, meanwhile, has been even worse with a 54 wRC+. Both are premier defenders, which is their real value, but Edman has shown he can swing a better bat in the playoffs.

Advantage: Dodgers

Shortstop: Mookie Betts (Dodgers) vs. Andrés Giménez (Blue Jays)

Mookie Betts has had the worst season of his career, slashing .258/.326/.406 with career lows in wRC+ (104), wOBA (.318), and fWAR for a full season (3.4). But, unlike his counterpart, he’s Mookie Betts.

We’re projecting Andrés Giménez to stick at shortstop for Toronto despite Bo Bichette’s expected return to the lineup after suffering a knee injury last month. Giménez is an outstanding defender at short, but has never had much with the bat. In 2025, he slashed .210/.285/.313 with a wRC+ of 70. He has turned things up in the postseason, but Betts has improved as well.

Betts is an eight-time All-Star and has won three World Series, an MVP and seven Silver Sluggers. He also showed this season he can play elite defense at shortstop. There’s no question which team wins this matchup.

Advantage: Dodgers

Third Base: Max Muncy (Dodgers) vs. Ernie Clement/Addison Barger (Blue Jays)

We know who Max Muncy is at this point in his career. He’s going to get walks, slug a lot, and strike out at a decent clip. He’s also going to be a minus on defense and be banged up most of the time. In 2025, all of those things came true. He played in 100 games, slashed .243/.376/.470, with 19 home runs and a wRC+ of 137. He has fallen off a bit in the postseason, as his batting average has dropped to .214, and he's only slugging .357 with a 115 wRC+.

Ernie Clement is a phenomenal defender at the hot corner who didn’t hit much during the regular season, but he’s come alive in October. During the regular season, he slashed a weak .277/.313/.398, with a below-averaged wRC+ of 98. In 11 postseason games he’s been a different guy. So far, he’s hitting .429, with an on-base percentage of .444, and is slugging .619, with an incredible 195 wRC+.

Addison Barger has also picked up his game in the playoffs, with a 149 wRC+ against 107 during the regular season. We’re gonna roll with the guys who are rolling.

Advantage: Blue Jays

Left field: Kiké Hernández (Dodgers) vs. Davis Schneider/Nathan Lukes (Blue Jays)

It has been yet another year in which Kiké Hernández has conjured the magic that turns him into a postseason superstar. The career utility guy has been huge for the Dodgers again during the playoffs, playing far above his career regular-season numbers.

In 10 playoff games this year, Hernández is slashing .306/.375/.417 with a 125 wRC+ after going .203/.255/.366 with a 70 wRC+ during the regular season. He has a career .707 regular season OPS, but in 96 games spanning 10 trips to the postseason, he’s at .863. The man plays his best when the lights shine the brightest.

Schneider and Lukes are solid, but can’t match the magic their counterpart produces. Lukes has had a nice postseason, hitting .333, with a .381 on-base percentage and a 125 wRC+, but he and Schneider simply can’t match the Kiké magic.

Advantage: Dodgers

Center field: Andy Pages (Dodgers) vs. Daulton Varsho (Blue Jays)

Pages had a breakout 2025 campaign, looking like a future cornerstone for the Dodgers. Unfortunately, he has utterly disappeared in the postseason. The 24-year-old hit 27 home runs while notching a wRC+ of 113 in the regular season, but the playoffs have been a nightmare. In 10 games, he’s slashing .086/.135/.114 with a wRC+ of -31. You read that last number right. The thing is, he’s so good defensively that the Dodgers can’t take him out of the lineup.

Varsho is also a stellar defender who turned in a career-best season, hitting 20 home runs and slugging a career-best .548, with a career high 123 wRC+. The difference is he has brought that success with him to October, slashing .273/.304/.500 with a wRC+ of 121. Pages has disappeared while Varsho has continued to be a steady presence in the lineup.

Advantage: Blue Jays

Right Field: Teoscar Hernández (Dodgers) vs. George Springer (Blue Jays)

George Springer had arguably the best season of his career in 2025 at 36 years old, and has also been incredibly clutch for the Blue Jays. Which was basically Teoscar Hernández’s story in 2024.

Springer had a career-high wRC+ of 166 while Hernández fell off after signing a three-year, $66 million deal with Los Angeles in the offseason. His wRC+ dropped to 102 from the mark of 132 he hit in 2024, and his wOBA fell to .315 from .360.

2025 Stats	Slash Line	Home Runs	RBIs	wRC+	fWAR
Springer	.309/.399/.560	32	84	166	4.8
Hernández	.247/.284/.454	25	89	102	1.5

Hernández has picked things up in the postseason, though, which makes this call more difficult. He’s slashing .268/.302/.585 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in the postseason, and his wRC+ has jumped to 142. Springer has matched him, slashing .239/.321/.690 with four homers, nine RBIs, and a 150 wRC+. Both players have won titles before, but Springer was named World Series MVP for the Astros in 2017. He’s had the better season and has history on his side.

Advantage: Blue Jays

Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) vs. Bo Bichette (Blue Jays)

Come on, really? I have to write this one out? Fine, if you insist.

Ohtani is the most singular player in the history of baseball. I could put up a bunch of numbers here to prove that, but it would be a waste of everyone’s time. I mean, the guy just turned in arguably the greatest playoff performance in sports history during Game 4 of the NLCS.

Bichette had a phenomenal season, and his return should be a huge bonus for the Blue Jays, but nothing can match what Shohei can do.

Advantage: Dodgers

Starting rotation

The Blue Jays have some names in their rotation, but this one isn’t even close. I mean, Shohei Ohtani is L.A.’s starter. That’s wild.

In 10 games this postseason, the Dodgers’ rotation is a combined 7–1 with a 1.40 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 81 strikeouts. Those numbers all lead postseason rankings. Blake Snell has been phenomenal, going 3–0 with a 0.86 ERA and 0.52 WHIP, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow have combined to go 2–1 with a 1.36 ERA. Ohtani has pitched twice, both victories, and in Game 4 of the NLCS, he pitched six shutout innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out 10. L.A.’s rotation struggled with injuries all season, but now it’s whole—and dominating.

Toronto’s starters have been really good in the postseason as well. They're a combined 5–2 with a 3.33 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Kevin Gausman has led the way in his three starts, going 2–1 with a 2.00 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Meanwhile, Shane Bieber and rookie Trey Yesavage have made big starts. Max Scherzer also turned in a huge performance in Game 4 of the ALCS. The 41-year-old turned back the clock, allowing two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings in a key spot.

While the Blue Jays have shown up and pitched well, the Dodgers have dominated. More than anything, their starting pitching is the biggest advantage in this series.

Advantage: Dodgers

Bullpen

This has been a weak spot for both teams all season. During the regular season, the Blue Jays ranked 16th in bullpen ERA (3.98), while the Dodgers were 21st (4.27). Things haven’t been much better in the playoffs as L.A.’s pen has posted a 4.88 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP, and Toronto’s group has a 5.52 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. It’s been ugly on both sides.

While the Dodgers don’t have a shutdown bullpen, Roki Sasaki has managed to solidify the back end. In seven postseason appearances, the rookie has a 1.13 ERA and 0.63 WHIP to go along with three saves. Alex Vesia has also been reliable, while Blake Treinen and Emmet Sheehan haven’t been. The one thing L.A. has going for it is that its bullpen arms are fresh thanks to some dominant outings by the team’s starters. Dodgers relievers have only thrown 27 2/3 innings this postseason as opposed to 45 2/3 for the Blue Jays.

Toronto got a great performance from its bullpen in Game 7 of the ALCS, but that has been the exception, not the rule. Closer Jeff Hoffman has logged two saves and posted a 1.23 ERA and 0.68 WHIP in six appearances, but seemingly everyone else has had at least one meltdown.

Months ago, this would have been flipped, but the Dodgers have the better of the shaky bullpens.

Advantage: Dodgers

Final Score: Dodgers, 6–5

Being a referee in the Premier League is arguably one of the toughest jobs in football, with a select group of officials regularly entrusted to take charge of top flight fixtures.

Even though VAR is still causing plenty of controversy week in, week out, decisions on the field are now more important than ever, with technology doing its best to try and not get involved unless it is ‘clear and obvious’.

The game is also arguably faster than it’s ever been, so referees need to be extremely fit and quick to react. But who is the best referee in the Premier League right now?

Rank

Ref

1

Anthony Taylor

2

Michael Oliver

3

Stuart Attwell

4

Craig Pawson

5

Jarred Gillett

6

Darren England

7

Chris Kavanagh

8

Simon Hooper

9

Andy Madley

10

Peter Bankes

11

Robert Jones

12

Michael Salisbury

13

Tony Harrington

14

Samuel Barrott

15

Thomas Bramall

15 Thomas Bramall

One of the least experienced referees in the Premier League, Thomas Bramall was the man in the middle that made a huge mistake by disallowing Aston Vila’s goal against Man Utd on the final day of the 2024/25 season.

That arguably cost Villa a place in the Champions League, but the PGMOL have stuck with Bramall, who, at 35 years of age, appears to be a referee in the early stages of his top flight career.

14 Samuel Barrott

One of the card happiest referees in the Premier League, Samuel Barrott is one of the most inexperienced officials in the top flight after making his debut in 2023/24.

He took charge of 23 games in 2024/25, apologising for one mistake he made in Crystal Palace’s defeat to Brentford after wrongly ruling out Eberechi Eze’s free-kick.

13 Tony Harrington

Tony Harrington is among the referees to average the least amount of fouls awarded per 90, but that doesn’t make him a bad official.

He made his Premier League debut in 2021/22 but just hasn’t been given a regular run of games in the top flight. Harrington’s best tally of games came in the 2024/25 season where he officiated 18 fixtures.

12 Michael Salisbury

Michael Salisbury has never been a regular in the Premier League after taking charge of his first game in the 2021/22 season.

He was on VAR duty and instructed referee Robert Jones to look at Josh King’s goal against Chelsea which was incorrectly ruled out. Salisbury was dropped by the PGMOL shortly after.

11 Robert Jones

Nottingham Forest aren’t the biggest fans of Robert Jones, with Evangelos Marinakis’ side lodging an official complaint against the 38-year-old after a series of decisions against the Reds.

He was the first Premier League referee to ever perform a red-card rejection, however, some of Jones’ decisions are controversial and he averages awarding a penalty every three games.

10 Peter Bankes

Peter Bankes has now reffed more than 100 games in the Premier League since 2019, however, the Merseyside-born official has regularly come in for criticism from fans.

Former referee Keith Hackett even said Bankes looked “out of his depth” in 2025 after a decision he made in Man Utd’s clash with Bournemouth.

9 Andy Madley

A FIFA licensed referee who has taken charge of the FA Cup final, Andy Madley has taken charge of more than 100 Premier League games since 2017/18.

More recently, he has made some controversial decisions, including one between Everton and Man Utd which resulted in Toffees fan Tony Bellew calling him a “cheat”.

8 Simon Hooper

Often blowing early instead of allowing advantage, Simon Hooper has enraged Premier League players and managers in recent years.

An experienced top flight official after making his debut in 2015, Hooper has often come in for criticism and was actually injured at the end of October in Liverpool’s defeat to Brentford, while he was also the man in the middle during the Reds’ controversial defeat at Tottenham in 2023.

7 Chris Kavanagh

Chris Kavanagh has been a hot topic of conversation in recent years, whether it be for sending off Declan Rice for kicking the ball away or leaving Bruno Fernandes upset after he missed his penalty.

The Greater Manchester official has been on FIFA’s books since 2019 and is closing in on 200 Premier League matches at the age of 40.

6 Darren England

Another FIFA referee, Darren England caught the eye of the international governing body after two years as a Premier League official.

He was a part of the VAR team that somehow incorrectly ruled out Luis Diaz’s goal for offside in Liverpool’s defeat to Tottenham, but in recent years on the pitch, has been consistent.

Manchester City are said to be preparing for Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior, but rivals Manchester United are also among the clubs battling to sign him from the Spanish giants.

The Brazilian is one of the best wingers in world football currently, becoming a superstar at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Carlo Ancelotti heaping praise on him during their time working together.

“Right now, I think he is the most decisive player in the world. Everything he does is a dribble away from a defender, an assist or a goal, and he does it for the full 90 minutes – he just never stops.”

His current situation at Madrid isn’t necessarily the happiest, however, and journalist Guillem Balague has explained why there is some friction with Xabi Alonso.

“The manager has insisted Vinicius will not finish every game, that he needs to rest more, and Rodrygo will challenge him for a place on the left side of the attack. Xabi Alonso’s stance is rooted in authority and planning. Vini Jr, used to being indulged, has found it hard to adapt.”

Man City preparing offer for Vinicius

Now, a report from Spain claims that Manchester City are preparing a bid for Vinicius, with Premier League rivals United and Chelsea also in the mix to sign him.

There is apparently “no apparent intention to renew” his current contract, with Pep Guardiola’s side waiting to pounce and complete a stunning piece of business. He reportedly “doesn’t feel valued as he expected” at the Bernabeu, leading to “mounting tensions” emerging.

It goes without saying that the idea of Vinicius in a City shirt is an incredible prospect, given his status as one of the best footballers on the planet.

The 25-year-old possesses remarkable natural talent and skill, but most importantly, he backs that up with strong end product, bagging 64 goals and 44 assists in 217 appearances for Madrid.

Vinicius has also netted eight times for Brazil, and will likely be one of the star attractions at next summer’s World Cup, with former England international Owen Hargreaves lauding him last year.

“His finishing is crazy. His decision-making in front of goal is amazing. He looked very angry in the second half. I don’t know what Carlo [Ancelotti] said to him, but if he plays like that, he’s definitely unstoppable. We saw those clips there – four or five bodies around him, and they can’t even deal with him.”

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If City were able to pair Vinicius with Haaland in their attack, it would make for stunning viewing, and he has the ability to be a future Etihad great if a move does materialise.

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Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has won his first three Scottish Premiership matches in charge of the club, after Russell Martin failed to string back-to-back wins together.

The Gers beat Dundee 3-0 at Dens Park on Sunday in the last game before the international break, and there was a first league goal for winger Djeidi Gassama.

He cut in from the left wing to curl a brilliant finish into the far corner, as show in the clip above, after he had failed to score in his first ten appearances in the division after his move from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer.

Gassama has now scored six goals in all competitions for the Light Blues, having scored four goals in the Champions League qualifiers and one in th Europa League, per Transfermarkt, after a £2.2m move from the Owls.

The French winger will be hoping that his goal against Dundee will be a platform to build from for the rest of the season, as he looks to provide consistent quality at the top end of the pitch on the left flank.

Rangers will also be hoping that is the case so that they can mark him down as another successful attacking signing, of which there have been a few in recent seasons.

Ranking Rangers biggest talents since they last won the Premiership

Since the Gers won the Premiership title under Steven Gerrard in the 2020/21 campaign, the Scottish giants have not had too much success on the pitch or with managers.

A couple of domestic cup wins has not been enough to see continuity in the dugout, which is a cause for concern, but the Light Blues have had some exciting players to watch in the last few years.

It is hard to look past Vaclav Cerny and Hamza Igamane as being two of the biggest talents at the club since the last league win. Cerny provided 18 goals and nine assists in all competitions, whilst the Morocco international managed 16 goals and three assists.

Calvin Bassey, who was sold to Ajax for £19.6m, also has to be up there because he is the club’s most expensive sale of all time, and is currently playing consistently in the Premier League with Fulham.

Arguably the biggest talent Rangers have had since they last won the league, though, is attacking midfielder Malik Tillman, who was on loan from Bayern Munich in the 2023/24 campaign.

1

Malik Tillman

2

Hamza Igamane

3

Calvin Bassey

4

Vaclav Cerny

5

Abdallah Sima

The USA international provided 12 goals and five assists in all competitions for the club during his loan spell, per Transfermarkt, and provided many moments of quality for the supporters to enjoy.

On top of his excellent performances for Rangers, Tillman has gone on to enjoy a successful career away from Ibrox. He currently plays for German giants Bayer Leverkusen and is valued at £30m by Transfermarkt, which is more than any other player on that list.

It is, therefore, hard to argue against the goalscoring midfielder being the biggest talent Rangers have had since they last won the league, because he is currently the most valuable former or current Gers player, per Transfermarkt, from then to now.

Whilst Gassama will be hoping to follow in Tillman’s footsteps in the months and seasons to come, there is another Gers star who could be the club’s biggest talent since the American.

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Mikey Moore has not had the perfect start to his career at Ibrox, since signing on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, but recent performances suggest that he is turning a corner.

Why Mikey Moore could be the biggest Rangers talent since Malik Tillman

The England youth international failed to provide a goal or an assist for Russell Martin in five Premiership appearances, in what was a very difficult opening couple of months for him at the club.

Since Martin’s exit, though, Moore has scored one goal and provided one assist in four appearances in the division, matching Gassama’s tally from 11 league outings this season, per Sofascore.

Like the French forward, the Spurs loanee scored his first goal for the club in the 3-0 win at Dens Park on Sunday, as he picked up the ball in a central position and finished brilliantly into the bottom corner.

The 18-year-old starlet is still learning and developing each week as he gains vital first-team experience, and it is showing in his improved performances on the pitch, with two goal contributions in the last four league matches after none in the first five.

Moore is getting better each week, as evidenced by his improved form in front of goal, and that is an exciting prospect when you consider his form for Spurs at academy level.

The English forward scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists in 24 matches at U18 level for the Premier League side, per Transfermarkt, which shows the kind of output that he has the potential to offer if he can get to his very best.

Moore, who Como scout Ben Mattinson claimed has “superstar potential”, could develop into a brilliant forward for Rangers if he can add the consistency that was shown in his performances at academy level, after finally getting off the mark in the Premiership on Sunday.

Mikey Moore

£14m

Nicolas Raskin

£10m

Mohamed Diomande

£7m

Youssef Chermiti

£7m

Nasser Djiga

£7m

Valuations via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the Spurs loanee is currently the most valuable player in the Rangers squad, at £14m, and that is whilst he is also the youngest player in the team.

At the age of 18, Moore has so much time left ahead of him to progress and develop, and he is already showing signs of growth in his performances for the Gers.

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The Gers desperately need reinforcements.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 7, 2025

That is why the English winger could be the club’s biggest talent since Tillman because he is a future “superstar” who could go on to be worth as much, if not more, than the American star.

MatériaMais Notícias

A ESPN e o Disney+ garantiram os direitos de transmissão da Libertadores e da Sul-Americana após a rodada de concorrência da Conmebol. O Grupo renovou e ampliou o acordo com a entidade, marcando presença nos principais torneios do continente.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVila NovaVila Nova fecha nove contratações com nomes conhecidos do futebol brasileiroVila Nova11/12/2025CorinthiansFPF proíbe presença de torcida organizada do Corinthians até fim de 2026Corinthians11/12/2025Futebol InternacionalAssistência de Lucas Rosa ajuda Ajax a vencer a primeira na Champions LeagueFutebol Internacional11/12/2025

Pelo novo contrato, válido a partir de 2027, a empresa exibirá 238 jogos por temporada em seus canais e no streaming. O pacote inclui prioridade na escolha de partidas da Libertadores, mais jogos da Sul-Americana e a transmissão da Recopa Internacional.

— A renovação do acordo com a CONMEBOL reforça nossa oferta esportiva na televisão e no streaming e reafirma nosso compromisso de oferecer programação de alto valor para nosso público. Estamos orgulhosos de continuar avançando em nosso objetivo de oferecer de forma sustentável os conteúdos mais relevantes dentro de nossas propostas de entretenimento esportivo e consolidar nossa liderança em toda a América Latina — afirmou Bruno Zurlo, Head de Esportes da The Walt Disney Company Latin America.

continua após a publicidade

➡️ Acompanhe os negócios no esporte em nosso novo canal. Siga o Lance! Biz no WhatsApp

Além de fortalecer seu portfólio com as Copas Libertadores, Sul-Americana e Recopa Internacional, a ESPN também garante, a partir de 2027, a transmissão exclusiva de outros importantes torneios da Conmebol: Libertadores Feminina, Libertadores Sub-20, Libertadores de Futsal (masculino e feminino) e Libertadores de Futebol de Areia.

Em 2026, Flamengo, Palmeiras, Cruzeiro, Mirassol, Fluminense, Botafogo e Bahia estão garantidos na principal competição do continente. Já São Paulo, Grêmio, Bragantino, Atlético Mineiro, Santos e Corinthians estarão na Sul-Americana. Há ainda uma vaga de Libertadores aberta, a depender do resultado da Copa do Brasil.

continua após a publicidadeSem TV Aberta na Conmebol Sul-Americana

A Copa Sul-Americana deixará de serexibida na TV aberta a partir de 2027.O SBT perdeu os direitos de transmissão do torneio que exibiu nas últimas temporadas. A organização não divulgou os valores envolvidos na negociação entre e os responsáveis pelo torneio.

Cabe ressaltar que o atual contrato do SBT permanece válido até o final de 2026, quando então entrará em vigor o novo acordo que inclui TNT Sports, ESPN e Disney+.

Tudo sobre

Futebol InternacionalFutebol NacionalLance! Biz

أبدى أحمد حسام ميدو لاعب الزمالك الأسبق، تخوفه من تصريحات شريف الشربيني وزير الإسكان بشأن مصير أرض فرع نادي الزمالك بـ مدينة 6 أكتوبر.

وكان نادي الزمالك قد أعلن في وقتٍ سابق، أنه تم سحب أرض النادي في مدينة السادس من أكتوبر، بقرار من وزارة الإسكان.

وزير الإسكان يكشف موعد حل أزمة أرض الزمالك.. وحقيقة عروض المستثمرين

وقال أحمد حسام ميدو في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة النهار: “تصريحات وزير الإسكان أمس تُلمّح بشكل واضح إلى ضياع أرض نادي الزمالك، ولو مجلس الإدارة جلس على الطاولة ووافق على سحب الأرض مقابل أرض بديلة، يبقى فرّط في حق الزمالك”.

وتابع: “لا يوجد زملكاوي واحد يمكن أن يقبل بهذا، وفي هذه المرحلة الحساسة يجب أن يكون للجمعية العمومية دور كبير، وأطالب بأن تكون جمعية الغد جمعية تاريخية، وأن يقول الأعضاء كلمتهم”.

وأردف: “أتمنى أن تتحول الجمعية العمومية إلى مظاهرة حب ودعم للزمالك وليس للإدارة، لأن النادي يمرّ بمأساة غير مسبوقة عبر تاريخه”.

طالع.. خاص | “قرض حسن” يحل مشاكل الزمالك مع اللاعبين الأجانب مؤقتًا

وواصل: “الشواهد تقول إن أرض الزمالك بأكتوبر في طريقها للسحب، واللغز بالنسبة لي هو لماذا تحرّكت اللجان الآن بعد أن تم البناء في الفرع”.

وزاد: “استمعت لتصريحات وزير الشباب والرياضة ووزير الإسكان ولم أخرج بأي استنتاج واضح، وأريد أن أرى الدعم الحقيقي، ولا توجد كرة في مصر عندما لا يكون الزمالك واقفًا على قدميه”.

Joining Manchester United in their pomp is easy. Joining Manchester United in their current state, fresh off the back of a worst-ever Premier League campaign at Old Trafford, requires a little bit of craziness.

Craziness to believe that you can be the man to lift the Red Devils out of their ongoing decline, with ex-Brentford talisman Bryan Mbeumo – signed on a £71m deal over the summer – already looking like he’s ready to do just that.

There may not have been the glamour attached to the deal that there was when names like Angel Di Maria or Radamel Falcao rocked up in Manchester, but that might be because this marquee move actually made sense, with Ruben Amorim and co forking out for a properly Premier League-proven figure.

Having netted 20 times in the top-flight last time out under Thomas Frank, there was a feeling that the Cameroonian was destined for the Champions League, with his former boss intent on taking him to Tottenham Hotspur.

The 26-year-old, to his credit, made it clear he only wanted United, patiently waiting out protracted negotiations to eventually seal his desired switch. Six goals in his first 12 games for the club have since followed.

Mbeumo is now the benchmark for further reinforcements to try and meet, with recent reports indicating that additional attacking recruits could potentially be in the works.

Man Utd's search for a forward

While the extent of his injury is yet to be known, the potential absence of Benjamin Sesko has brought the lack of genuine alternatives to the Slovenian into sharper focus, with Joshua Zirkzee the only other senior striker in Amorim’s ranks.

Sesko, signed for £74m from RB Leipzig, has made a promising albeit unspectacular start in English football with just two goals scored across league and cup, with questions to be asked over whether a more experienced marksman is still required.

According to reports in Spain, that very fact may well see United renew their interest in a certain Harry Kane in 2026, with the England skipper deemed to be a ‘proven solution’ to their long-standing centre-forward woes.

Transfer Focus

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

As per the report, the likes of Barcelona and Chelsea are also paying close attention to the 32-year-old’s situation at Bayern Munich, with his existing deal in Bavaria set to expire in 2027.

Kane, the piece suggests, is keen to stay at the Allianz Arena, although the presence of a reported €65m (£57m) release clause in his current contract will certainly spark a raft of interest heading into the New Year.

Whether it is January or next summer, Kane – who was Erik ten Hag’s prime target back in 2023 – would still remain a significant coup if INEOS could pull it off.

Why Man Utd could land an even better signing than Mbeumo

2023 remains a frustrating window as far as United are concerned, with Ten Hag’s apparent interest in the likes of Kane and Declan Rice ultimately counting for little, as Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana all arrived instead.

Hojlund, as those at Old Trafford are aware, has since proved to be something of a mixed bag, having scored just 26 goals in 95 games in all competitions, alongside a further four goals on loan at Napoli this season.

Since leaving Spurs for Bayern two years ago, meanwhile, Kane has gone on to amass a ridiculous haul of 108 goals in just 113 games for the Bundesliga giants, becoming the quickest player this century to reach triple figures for a team in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Mbeumo might have stolen the show with a standout 2024/25 campaign for the Bees, but if it is true Premier League proven quality that you are after, then Kane is the man. 213 goals in England’s top-tier places him third on the all-time list.

Widely regarded as the best striker in the world, Kane has scored at least 17 league goals in every season stretching from 2014/15 to 2024/25. As for the new campaign, he already has 13 in ten in Germany’s top division. Mbeumo, for contrast, has five in 11.

2024/25

31

26

2023/24

32

36

2022/23

38

30

2021/22

37

17

2020/21

35

23

2019/20

29

18

2018/19

28

17

2017/18

37

30

2016/17

30

29

2015/16

38

25

2014/15

34

21

Not your typical superstar, the former Spurs talisman is simply efficient to the extreme, with few players in the modern era having possessed such a ruthless, clinical streak in front of goal.

The beauty of Kane too, however, is that he isn’t just your average penalty box poacher. There are so many strings to his extraordinary bow.

Even deployed in almost a central midfield role at times under Vincent Kompany this season, namely in the win over Borussia Dortmund, England’s record scorer has that knack for being able to spray passes at will, having developed into an all-encompassing, playmaking number nine.

Such traits even led Tottenham great David Ginola to liken him to a legendary figure of the past back in 2022: “He is like the new Diego Maradona now. Long passes, short passes, he has it all.”

At 32, while he may be entering that ‘last dance’ territory, Amorim and United certainly shouldn’t turn their nose up at the chance to bring Kane back to England. There is Alan Shearer’s record to chase for him, after all.

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ByEthan Lamb Nov 14, 2025

The Baltimore Orioles have been one of Major League Baseball's most disappointing teams during the 2025 season, and appear prepared to sell as the trade deadline approaches. One of those pieces likely to move is veteran starting pitcher Charlie Morton.

While he has struggled at times this season, Morton has a ton of playoff experience, having won World Series titles with the Astros in 2017 and Braves in 2021. Given his age and the fact that he's a pure rental, he shouldn't be wildly expensive at the deadline, despite there not being a ton of starting pitching available.

In 21 appearances (15 starts) this season, Morton is 5-8 with a 5.58 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP and 92 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings. But he has improved lately. In his last 12 appearances he's 5-1 with a 3.47 ERA, a 3.30 FIP, a 1.26 WHIP and 64 strikeouts in 57 innings.

What follows is a look at four teams who could be interested in the 41-year-old.

New York Yankees

While the Yankees' primary need is a third baseman, they could use another arm. Max Fried and Carlos Rodon are solid atop the team's rotation, but after that things get a little murky. As a whole, the team's starters rank seventh in baseball in ERA (3.74), and Clarke Schmidt was having an excellent season before suffering an elbow injury that will require Tommy John surgery. Luis Gil is on his way back, but with Gerrit Cole also out for the year, adding a reliable starter with postseason experience would be huge.

San Diego Padres

The Padres could use upgrades at catcher and in the outfield, but they're another team that might need a low-cost arm. Yu Darvish has finally returned to the mound, but projected ace Michael King hasn't pitched since May 18 as he deals with a nerve issue in his shoulder. He might be on his way back, but no one knows how long that will take.

The current group of starters ranks 11th in ERA leaguewide (3.91). This is another team that could use an insurance arm like Morton.

Houston Astros

Like the previous two teams, the Astros have solid starters, but are missing the rotational depth they might need to win a World Series. Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez have been outstanding this year, but four potential starters have dealt with injures. Spencer Arrighetti is on his way back from a thumb injury and Cristian Javier is attempting to return from Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski have both undergone Tommy John surgery as well.

As a group, Houston's starters rank 10th in MLB with a 3.84 ERA, but there's almost no room for error. Plus, both sides of the potential deal are already well familiar with one another—a reunion with Morton makes a lot of sense.

New York Mets

The Mets' rotation actually looks solid right now, with Sean Manaea finally back on the mound and Kodai Senga and David Peterson both dealing. But there is a problem edging its way over the horizon, and that's Clay Holmes' innings total. The first-year starting pitcher has tossed 108 2/3 innings, which is 38 2/3 more than his previous career-high. The 32-year-old former closer could start to hit a wall if he continues at this rate. He's been solid this season (8-5, 3.48 ERA), but also had a 5.66 ERA in four July starts.

Adding Morton and giving Holmes and the rest of the rotation a bit of a cushion could be huge for the Mets down the stretch.