Celtic kicked off their defence of the Scottish Premiership title with a dramatic 1-0 win over St Mirren at Parkhead in their opening match on Sunday evening.

Luke McCowan scored the goal of the game for Brendan Rodgers’ side, as he came off the bench to fire into the bottom corner, via a deflection, from the edge of the box.

The Scottish midfielder saved the Hoops from drawing a blank on the opening day, as they had looked rather blunt at the top end of the pitch in the 86 minutes that preceded his strike.

Adam Idah was selected to start as the centre-forward for the Premiership champions ahead of new signing Shin Yamada and Johnny Kenny, and he failed to justify his inclusion.

Adam Idah's disappointing showing against St Mirren

The Ireland international was provided with a big chance to show the supporters that he has what it takes to be the main number nine for Celtic, but he failed to take it.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Idah had a huge opportunity to open the scoring from close range in the second half and rattled his effort off the past, albeit from a fairly tight angle, whilst the striker failed to score with his other three shots on goal.

The 6 foot 3 forward did with both of his aerial duels, to his credit, but the former Norwich man also lost four of his five duels on the deck and failed to complete his only attempted dribble.

It was a blunt performance from the Irish striker, who may have harmed his chances of keeping his place in the XI, but he was far from the only disappointing performer, as Benjamin Nygren also struggled on his debut.

Why Celtic should drop Benjamin Nygren

Rodgers must ruthlessly drop the Swedish central midfielder for the trip to Aberdeen next Sunday because he was just as bad as Idah against St Mirren.

The left-footed summer signing was picked over Arne Engels in midfield and failed to justify his inclusion, with an awkward-looking showing in the middle of the park.

Nygren appeared to trip over his own feet a few too many times, with Sky Sports pundit Chris Sutton describing a few of his touches as “dreadful” during commentary.

Like Idah, the 24-year-old attacker also fired a shot against the post, although his was via a save from Shamal George, and had two shots on target without scoring.

Minutes

78

Big chances created

0

Shots on target

2

Accurate crosses

1/8

Successful dribbles

0/1

Ground duels won

1/5

Aerial duels won

1/4

As you can see in the table above, Nygren was too much of a lightweight in midfield for Celtic, as he lost 77% of his overall duels, whilst Idah, at least, was dominant aerially.

This shows that he was just as bad as the Irish forward because he was even worse in duels and only came slightly closer to scoring than the striker with his shot that was saved.

Hoops supporters also may not want to see too many more corners from the Sweden international, as he only completed one of his eight attempted crosses from set-pieces and open play combined.

Nygren may just need some time to settle in and adapt to Glasgow and Scottish football before Celtic fans can see the best of him on the pitch, which is why it may be best for Rodgers to place him on the bench for the time being.

Engels delivered ten goals and 13 assists in his debut campaign in Scotland, and McCowan won the game with his strike off the bench on Sunday. They are both suitable options to come in and replace Nygren as a starter for the trip to Aberdeen next weekend.

Celtic can finally replace Kyogo in swoop for "unplayable" £150k-p/w PL gem

Brendan Rodgers can finally replace Kyogo Furuhashi with an ambitious Celtic swoop for this Premier League forward.

2 ByDan Emery Aug 3, 2025

Liverpool sporting director, Richard Hughes, justified the £450 million ($606m) summer spend which saw two club records shattered, and a squad reshaped with some of Europe’s hottest talents. Alexander Isak arrived for a record £125m ($168m) breaking the club’s transfer ceiling, whereas Florian Wirtz joined in a deal worth £100m, potentially rising to £116m ($156m).

GettyAn Anfield full of stars

Alongside Isak and Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike came in for £69m ($93m), with Jeremie Frimpong joining at £30m ($40m). Milos Kerkez was snapped up for £40m ($54m), while young Giovanni Leoni signed in a deal that could reach £30m. It was a whirlwind of deals that pushed Liverpool’s gross spend higher than any other Premier League side.

AdvertisementIgnore the price tags

Speaking at the IMG x RedBird Summit alongside CEO Billy Hogan, Hughes explained that Liverpool’s philosophy is to tune out the noise surrounding transfer prices.

“As best you can, you have to detach yourself from what the transfer fee is likely to be,” Hughes said. “First and foremost, the identification of the right player for the right system for the right head coach has a fair amount of importance, and I think this is not something that’s necessarily new for the football club and its ownership. We pay what we believe to be fair market value for a player based on age and based on necessity of that individual to fit into the squad."

(C)Getty ImagesHistory shows the plan works

For those questioning the wisdom of such colossal spending, Hughes pointed to Liverpool’s past successes in the market. When Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk were signed for what were then record-breaking sums, critics scoffed. Today, they’re considered bargains in hindsight.

“If you look at what was paid for Alisson Becker (£66.8m in July 2018) and Virgil van Dijk (£75m in January 2018) in history and you equate that to what that would be in 2025 money, you’re not far away from where you are with some of the fees that have been spent this summer," he argued. 

“In the fullness of time, we hope that, instead of talking now about what a huge fee it is, it has been value for money for the football club whenever we’re making that assessment in the future. And because of the ages of the players that we’ve bought, we’re confident that will end up being the case.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Preparing for the long haul

Hughes is clear that this summer’s recruits are not short-term fixes or quick-profit flips. The goal is longevity. Both Isak and Wirtz are seen as cornerstones who can serve Liverpool for years to come.

“That would be very much the hope and in buying a player young, you give yourself the ability for that to be the case,” he said. “We also want to try and win now, and that’s important as well, so I’m not describing them as works in progress or anything like that. These are players who have already done a lot in their individual careers. We talk about Florian and Alex, but Milos, Jeremie and Hugo are players that have achieved a certain level in the game already.”

تأهل منتخب مصر الأول لكرة القدم رسميًا إلى نهائيات بطولة كأس العالم 2026، بعد فوزه على جيبوتي بثلاثية دون رد، في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم الأربعاء على ملعب العربي الزلزولي بالمغرب، ضمن منافسات الجولة التاسعة من تصفيات كأس العالم.

افتتح إبراهيم عادل التسجيل لصالح الفراعنة في الدقيقة الثامنة بعد عرضية مميزة من زيزو، وضعها إبراهيم برأسه على يسار حارس جيبوتي.

طالع.. ترتيب هدافي تصفيات إفريقيا المؤهلة لكأس العالم بعد هدف محمد صلاح أمام جيبوتي

الهدث الثاني جاء عن طريق محمد صلاح في الدقيقة 15، بعد تمريرة رائعة من تريزيجيه وضعها “الملك المصري” في الزاوية القريبة للحارس قبل أن يضيف الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 84.

وبهذا الفوز، رفع منتخب مصر رصيده إلى 23 نقطة في صدارة المجموعة، ليضمن تأهله رسميًا إلى المونديال، بينما تجمد رصيد جيبوتي عند نقطة واحدة في المركز الأخير.

ويتبقى للفراعنة مباراة واحدة في التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم، والتي ستكون أمام غينيا بيساو، وهي بمثابة تحصيل حاصل حيث لن تؤثر على منتخب مصر. موعد مباراة مصر القادمة بعد الفوز على جيبوتي

ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع غينيا بيساو يوم الأحد المقبل 12 أكتوبر، في تمام العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية على ملعب استاد القاهرة.

Shubman Gill has confirmed his availability for Punjab for their sixth-round Ranji Trophy fixture against Karnataka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru starting January 23. The squad hasn’t been announced yet.Gill’s possible return to the Punjab fold gives him an opportunity to work with Wasim Jaffer, the highest run-getter in Ranji history who is now the Punjab coach. It comes at a time when his poor returns outside Asia – he averages 17.64 in 18 innings since June 2021 – have come in for sharp scrutiny, especially with India slated to tour England for five Tests in the summer.His return will shore up a squad that will be without senior players Abhishek Sharma and Arshdeep Singh, who have both been picked in India’s T20I squad for the five-match series against England starting January 22 in Kolkata.Gill’s last Ranji Trophy appearance for Punjab came in 2022, when he played against Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-finals in Alur. His return coincides with the Indian team management having laid down strict protocols for national players in the wake of India’s 3-1 Test series loss in Australia.1:47

Pujara: Gill’s hard hands and lack of footwork causing trouble in Australia

Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have spoken of the need for top players to make themselves available to play for their respective state teams when free of international commitments.Gill was among those who endured a disappointing run in Australia, where he managed a highest of 31 in five innings following a return from a finger injury that kept him out of the series opener in Perth. He averaged 18.60 for the series. He was also left out of India’s XI for the Boxing Day Test, with the team management slotting in KL Rahul at No. 3 after Rohit Sharma reverted to his opening position having initially started the series, in the second Test, in the middle order.At the time, though, the team management said that Gill hadn’t been dropped and was merely “unfortunate” to miss out owing to team combination, as India went in with two spin-bowling allrounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.Punjab’s hopes of qualifying for the Ranji Trophy playoffs hangs by a thread; they are currently fifth in Group A with a solitary win in five games.

The Special One is back on familiar ground! Jose Mourinho, who is set to take charge of Benfica on a two-year deal, will find himself on English soil twice within the next month as the Champions League league phase unfolds. With trips to both Stamford Bridge and St James’ Park on the horizon, Mourinho is set for an early reunion with his former hunting ground..

• Mourinho returns to England with Benfica

  Mourinho is set to be appointed as Benfica’s new head coach, marking a return to the club where his managerial journey began back in 2000. The 62-year-old will replace Bruno Lage and will immediately be thrown into high-profile European action. Benfica’s Champions League league-stage fixtures pit them against Chelsea and Newcastle in back-to-back away games.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  The Special One's chance to shine again

  Mourinho’s return to England is dripping with narrative, especially given his history with both Chelsea and Manchester United. The trips to Stamford Bridge and St James’ Park will rekindle memories of his iconic Premier League reigns, where his presence always drew headlines. For Benfica, these games offer both a sporting challenge and an opportunity to impress under their charismatic new boss.

• Mourinho also set to meet Real Madrid again

  Mourinho’s Champions League schedule is packed with familiar faces. After the two English clashes, Benfica will later welcome Real Madrid — another of his old clubs — in the final gameweek of the league phase. It means Mourinho will cross paths with two former employers in one campaign, underlining just how decorated his career has been.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  Mourinho looking to steady Benfica after Lage's departure

  Mourinho’s immediate focus will be on steadying Benfica domestically, with the club sitting just outside the title race in Portugal. Attention will then turn to Chelsea, where his first big European test awaits against a club he once helped make serial winners. The English spotlight will soon be fixed firmly back on the Special One.

Manchester United have had a busy summer, bringing in players like Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Bryan Mbeumo to ensure that the team doesn’t suffer from the same inability to score goals that they did last season.

Despite this extensive business, Ruben Amorim still has positions he wants to fill, including a defensive midfielder. Currently, the team has Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro to fill these roles, but there have been question marks over Ugarte and Casemiro, and Mainoo and Fernandes’ best qualities are mainly shown in attack.

There had been reports suggesting that youngster Toby Collyer could make the step up and fill this role, but he has since been loaned out to West Bromwich Albion. Over the recent weeks, United have been heavily linked with Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, but the south coast side’s asking price exceeded £100 million, which put the Colombian out of their budget.

With previous pursuits turning fruitless, Amorim has turned his attention away from the Premier League and back towards the Portuguese Primeira Liga as he considers reuniting with one of his former players.

Man Utd and Amorim target Hjulmand keen on move

Manchester United are considering signing Sporting Lisbon’s Morten Hjulmand. The 26-year-old Denmark star was signed by Amorim from Lecce in 2023, and the club now see him as a potential solution to their midfield woes.

Fabrizio Romano spoke about the interest on his YouTube channel, via Stretty News, saying “he’s a player who has always been appreciated by Amorim”. He went on to reveal that this interest is mutual and that “Hjulmand will be interested in a move to Manchester United”. Amorim loved him at Sporting, and he played him on 65 occasions.

It’s currently uncertain how much of their transfer budget Manchester United has left. Reports from The Athletic have indicated that United may have opened another Rotating Credit Facility in order to finance more deals this summer. It also looks likely that United will receive money from the sale of the remaining members of the so-called “Bomb Squad” (Antony, Tyrell Malacia, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho), which can help them facilitate a move for Hjulmand.

The defensive midfielder currently has a release clause of £68 million, so unless United can negotiate Sporting down, they’ll once again have to spend big.

Hjulmand is an expensive gamble

While things look positive between two of the three parties, the sticking point in this deal will be Sporting Lisbon. The club have already sold Viktor Gyokeres, Marcus Edwards and Dário Essugo to Premier League clubs this summer, and Romano has expressed their reluctance to let go of any more of their first-teamers.

However, as Hjulmand has the previously mentioned release clause, United could go straight into negotiations with the player and circumvent Sporting if they were willing to pay the £68 million. Amorim’s system involves playing out from the back, and United need players who are both capable of contributing defensively and connecting the defence to the attack.

While Hjulmand will likely be able to contribute defensively, the stats indicate that he won’t do much in the way of connecting the team. Last season, he registered in the 19th percentile for progressive carries and the 13th percentile for key passes, meaning he would be a very similar profile signing to Ugarte.

The alternatives for United is that they try to find a new midfielder, or they wait to sign Hjulmand next summer, when they’ll have a better chance of negotiating Sporting down from his release clause price. However, this would mean another season without midfield reinforcements, which could create major issues for United on the pitch.

On transfer deadline day, Liverpool celebrated the record-breaking acquisition of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, ending weeks of speculation and animosity over his future.

Isak had been desperate to sign for the Anfield side, and he has got his wish at the final hour. Liverpool have got themselves a gem, with pundit Alan Shearer remarking earlier in 2025, “Everything about his game is of the highest quality.”

However, it didn’t all go the Reds’ way, with their protracted summer pursuit of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi ultimately leaving them empty-handed.

It all looked like it was ready to be green-lit, with the Three Lions star having completed his medical with the Premier League champions, but external issues have left the 25-year-old stranded at Selhurst Park.

Why Liverpool wanted Marc Guehi

With Ibrahima Konate having entered the final year of his contract at Liverpool and skipper Virgil van Dijk having turned 34 in July, thus edging closer to the twilight of his career, it was crucial that fresh defensive faces were welcomed.

And sporting director Richard Hughes came ever-so close to making that arrival Guehi, having tracked the England international all summer and respectfully awaited the green light from Eagles chairman Steve Parish, which never quite came following Oliver Glasner frustration at having not signed a suitable replacement.

Remarked to have been “England’s best player” during the 2024 European Championship by analyst Ben Mattinson, Guehi’s cool and collected defensive presence merges with an effortless ball-playing game that suggests he would dovetail right into Slot’s Liverpool squad – or indeed any elite team worth their salt.

Though FSG will retain confidence in their rearguard options, Guehi would have added icing on the cake, especially with Slot looking to defend his Premier League title while challenging for silverware across further fronts too.

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

17 (14)

Goals

3

1

Assists

2

0

Touches*

64.9

46.9

Pass completion

84%

89%

Key passes*

0.5

0.1

Ball recoveries*

4.3

2.0

Dribbles*

0.4

0.2

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

1.7

Clearances*

4.6

3.6

Duels (won)*

4.9 (59%)

2.5 (61%)

Errors made

2

1

Leoni is a top talent, and the hope is that he will one day stand where Van Dijk stood as a long-term star at Liverpool. However, he’s not the only teenage prospect the club boast, with an existing member of Slot’s squad perhaps ready to cover for the gap where Guehi should be.

Liverpool have already got their own Guehi

Make no mistake, Leoni is one of the most exciting defensive prospects in the business, and, only 18, has so much room for improvement over the next few years.

However, the Italy international will also need time to develop his skills over the next few years, ultimately reaching a level that will see him thrive as a regular starter.

With Joe Gomez having stayed put despite transfer interest from elsewhere on deadline day, his experience will help Leoni ease into the way of things, and the same could be said for fellow teenager Amara Nallo.

Nallo hasn’t had a flawless start to life in Slot’s senior side, it must be said. In January, Nallo was sent off on his professional debut, entering the fray in the closing stages and hacking down Johan Bakayoko. It was unfortunate, but Slot said post-game that the youngster “will learn” from his mistake.

Though that remains Nallo’s sole senior showing for Liverpool, he sat three further first-team games on the bench across the 2024/25 season, and given his obvious quality in emerging from the academy, so strong and powerful and technically adept for one of his level, he could prove to be Liverpool’s own version of Guehi.

Admittedly, getting sent off on your big bow isn’t very Guehi-like, but the Palace man received an indirect card suspension himself last season, showing that he too has the capacity to make a blunder.

And Nallo won’t let a simple mistake define him, having been described by West Ham coach Carlton Cole in the past as being a “Rolls-Royce of a centre-back”.

Curiously, Nallo is two-footed and so could conceivably cover for Van Dijk and Konate across the course of the campaign. The England U19 international has also racked up 53 appearances for Liverpool’s youth sides across the two years he has been on Merseyside.

Liverpool wanted to sign Guehi for his quality and experience at the highest level, of course, but perhaps his ability on both sides of the central defence also captured Hughes’ attention. After all, the England star was described as “one of those versatile CBs who can play both sides equally as comfortably” by the aforementioned analyst Mattinson.

While Liverpool’s failed attempt to sign Guehi will have frustrated the Reds fanbase, who came so close to seeing the defender wearing red, the likes of Leoni and Nallo will perhaps have given a silent cheer as they find themselves with a clearer pathway toward playing time over the months ahead.

Nallo might be something of a forgotten man at the moment, but he was entrusted with a first-team role on the big stage last season, and there’s every chance he could now take that next step.

In The Pipeline

Given his Guehi-like tactical tendacies, perhaps this is the big opportunity he needs to take that leap and prove himself worthy of a long-term role in Liverpool’s first team.

Now worth more than Isak: Liverpool wanted to sign "one of the best in the world"

With Alexander Isak joining Liverpool for £125m on deadline day, do the Reds rue missing out on “one of the best players in the world” worth more?

ByBen Gray Sep 2, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

A Seleção Brasileira desembarcou em Portugal, na noite deste domingo (18), onde terá amistoso contra Senegal, nesta terça-feira (20), no Estádio José Alvalade. Após a vitória por 4 a 1 sobre Guiné, no sábado (17), em Barcelona-ESP, o elenco descansou durante o dia livre e pegou o voo para a capital portuguesa. Quem falou com a imprensa foi Rodrygo, que repercutiu o caso de racismo que ocorreu antes do jogo na Espanha.

RelacionadasFora de CampoGalvão Bueno critica CBF por esperar pelo treinador Carlo Ancelotti: ‘Isso é um absurdo!’Fora de Campo18/06/2023CorinthiansEstreia de Malcom na Seleção Brasileira faz Corinthians de 2015 igualar feito do São Paulo de Telê SantanaCorinthians18/06/2023Seleção BrasileiraVÍDEO: Bastidores de vitória da Seleção tem resenha no vestiário e Vini Jr. ‘na galera’Seleção Brasileira18/06/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Minutos antes de a partida começar, um assessor de Vini Jr fez uma grave denuncia de racismo. Felipe Silveira, de 27 anos, afirmou que um dos seguranças do Estádio Cornellà-El Prat lhe apontou uma banana e afirmou que aquela era uma “arma que seria usada contra ele”. A assessoria de Vini fez a denúncia no local e a Globo acabou flagrando a situação. Neste domingo (18), ele formalizou a ocorrência na delegacia.

– Mais uma situação vergonhosa, deu muita raiva para a gente. Eu também não sabia, vi depois do jogo, quando a gente já estava para vir embora. Eu vi o Vini conversando com o assessor dele, ele contou o que tinha acontecido. Não só ele, mas todo mundo ficou muito triste por voltar a acontecer coisas como essa, mas como eu sempre falo, o Vini tem uma cabeça boa e mesmo passando por isso ele está sempre bem instruído. Vamos ter que seguir nessa luta, porque parece que não tem o que fazer – declarou Rodrygo.

A delegação chegou ao Sheraton Lisboa Hotel às 17h45 (horário de Brasília) e os jogadores seguiram direto para o jantar. Nesta segunda (19), a Seleção treina das 13h30 às 14h30 (de Brasília) no Estádio José Alvalade, onde enfrentará Senegal. Rodrygo comentou a importância do descanso nessa preparação.

– Descansamos, acabamos de chegar de viagem, o voo é rápido, o ônibus para vir até aqui também. Estamos descansados, vamos descansar mais um pouco agora no hotel, amanhã a gente tem mais um dia para recuperar e já estamos com as melhores expectativas para o jogo.

+ Enquanto aguarda Ancelotti, Seleção Brasileira pode ficar sem técnico por mais oito jogos

Por fim, o atacante do Real Madrid comentou a escolha pela numeração na Seleção Brasileira, em que ele é o número 11. Segundo Rodrygo, há um apreço de sua parte pela camisa 10, mas como esse número já tem dono na Amarelinha, ele nem cogita pedir para usá-lo.

– Me perguntaram qual número eu gostaria e eu falei que eu gosto do número 10, não que eu estivesse esperando a 10, porque a 10 é do Neymar, então jamais vou ficar esperando. O número para mim não vai importar, só de eu estar entre os titulares, poder fazer gol, poder ajudar a equipe, é o mais importante. Claro, a 10 estava em ótimas mãos, que era o Vini, que é um irmão para mim e eu fico muito feliz por ele.

Nottingham Forest had really ramped up their transfer activity heading into the drama that is deadline day.

At the time of writing, the Tricky Trees have welcomed in ten brand-new faces to the City Ground this summer, with John Victor the latest capture from Botafogo to enhance the Premier League outfit’s options in goal.

All this frenzied activity isn’t slowing down either as we head towards 7pm’s sharp cut-off, as Forest now look set to land a long-term target to further bolster their plentiful attacking personnel.

Nottingham Forest close in on £35m star

There had been whispers all window long regarding Forest’s chase for RC Strasbourg ace Dilane Bakwa.

Now, it looks as if Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have finally won their long-sought-after attacker, with journalist John Percy first taking to X to confirm that the Europa League competitors were in advanced talks for the Frenchman, with the Ligue 1 side looking for a fee of around £35m.

Following that, another Forest-based journalist, Tom Collomosse has added more fuel to the fire by stating that a medical will take place today for the winger to join the ever-increasing ranks.

After failing to secure a deal for the now Benfica-bound Dodi Lukebakio, this would be a welcome relief if Forest could snap up the signature of Bakwa instead, with the assist-hungry attacker arguably an improvement on the Belgian.

How Bakwa compares to Lukebakio

Of course, nobody at the City Ground would have actively turned their nose up at Lukebakio entering the building, with the 27-year-old just fresh off an 11-goal season in La Liga with soon-to-be ex-employers Sevilla.

But, away from that standout offering, he has struggled in the Spanish top-flight previously to be at that same consistent peak, with only five goals powered home during the 2023/24 season.

Games played

64

63

Goals scored

10

17

Assists

18

3

Big chances created

27

10

Whereas, Bakwa has only grown in confidence the more he’s donned Strasbourg blue, with a ridiculous tally of one goal and three assists already next to his name in Ligue 1 action this campaign, despite only lining up for three contests so far.

Lukebakio might well have more strikes next to his name when comparing the head-to-head statistics, but the £35m attacker is an unbelievable creative force when he gets going, with a whopping 27 big chances created for his Strasbourg teammates from 64 league appearances.

This will surely be one facet of his varied game that has caught Forest’s eye, considering Anthony Elanga is no longer under Nuno’s wing, who was an assist king for the likes of Chris Wood throughout his stint in the Midlands.

Moreover, with Bakwa being just 22 years of age – compared to Lukebakio, who is 27 – Nuno will hope he can get even more out of a talent who has dazzled Ligue 1 defences for fun, with the young attacker already being branded as “very exciting” to watch by journalist Josh Bunting.

The real challenge for Forest’s statement deadline day purchase will be how he acclimatises to the pressures of the Premier League.

But, if his blistering Ligue 1 numbers are anything to go by, this could be a golden deal at the £35m mark, as Forest instantly brushes Lukebakio’s move falling through to land their long-term man.

Nottingham Forest now agree deal to sign gem with same agent as Chris Wood

Forest are set to complete a deadline day move for a defender.

ByDominic Lund Sep 1, 2025

Harsh Dubey scored fifties in both innings and picked four wickets as Tamil Nadu went down by 198 runs

Shashank Kishore11-Feb-2025

Karun Nair continued his fine form with another century•PTI

Harsh Dubey starred with bat and ball, while Karun Nair continued his glorious run from the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy as Vidarbha beat Tamil Nadu by 198 runs. Up next in the semi-finals are Mumbai, who they will host at home in Nagpur by virtue of progressing through to the knockouts as the team with most points in the group stages.Dubey, the season’s highest wicket-taker with 55 scalps coming into the game, added three more second-innings wickets on Tuesday, the fourth day of the quarter-finals, as Tamil Nadu were bowled out for 202 chasing 401. Long before he came on to bowl in the second innings, Dubey had already left his mark on the game, hitting two half-centuries, which also took him past the 400-run mark.Yet for all those efforts, it was Nair who was named player of the match for his 122 that set up the game for Vidarbha on the first day. Nair, who topped the charts with 779 runs, including five centuries, in the 50-over competition, put together a vital 98-run stand with Danish Malewar as Vidarbha recovered from 44 for 3. He then put on 105 with Dubey to help give impetus to their innings as they made 353.Related

Yash Rathod piles on the tons to pump life into his red-ball potential

'I'm amazed myself' – Karun Nair reflects on record-breaking run

Harsh Dubey's star on the rise, with a guiding hand from R Ashwin

Blog – Nizar, Azharuddeen the heroes as Kerala inflict heartbreak for J&K

Tamil Nadu responded with a shaky start, slumping to 38 for 4 courtesy a fine opening spell from seamer Aditya Thakare who finished with a five-for. Andre Siddarth and Pradosh Ranjan Paul briefly revived the innings, hitting 65 and 48 respectively, but TN conceded ground as they were bowled out for just 225.Vidarbha’s top-order floundered in the second innings, but the cushion of a 128-run lead worked to their advantage. Yash Rathod hit a superb 112 and formed a bulk of their 272 in Dubey’s company; the two putting on 120 for the sixth wicket.TN had more than five sessions to score the runs they needed to pull off a miracle, but kept losing wickets in a heap. They were reduced to 45 for 5 at one stage when seamer Nachiket Bhute ran through the top order. Paul and Sonu Yadav hit fifties but they were simply delaying the inevitable. B Sai Sudharsan, who made a comeback from a surgery for sports hernia, managed just 7 and 2 in his two innings.Vidarbha have now won seven out of their eight games outright this season as they run into the defending champions Mumbai, who are fresh off a sensational win over Haryana in Kolkata.