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A sprint to victory or a draw for the win. Pick between two opposite games as we begin to identify The Greatest Test of the 21st century

ESPNcricinfo staff04-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The IND-ENG 2008 Chennai Test moves to the round of 16.India’s triumph of belief vs England – Chennai, 2008It was not a match India were supposed to win. For three days and two sessions at the Chepauk, England were on top. India were staring at a target close to 400, when nothing above 300 had ever been chased before in the country (and the highest target chased at the venue was 155).But then the English bowlers were met with a belligerent Virender Sehwag, who laid down the platform for India to push for the win on the fifth day. Gautam Gambhir put in the grind at the top. And then Yuvraj Singh, with his Test credentials under the scanner, joined Sachin Tendulkar at the crease to take India over the line on a pitch with awkward bounce.Tendulkar applied the icing on the cake, hitting the winning runs – which also brought up a fine fourth-innings century. Only six higher totals have been chased in Test history than the 387 by India in Chennai, only two of which have come in Asia, and none in India. It was a win, as ESPNcricinfo’s Editor-in-Chief Sambit Bal noted at the time, forged by unwavering belief to go for the jugular and not just settle for a draw.
South Africa’s blockathon vs Australia – Adelaide, 2012If this Test was part of a video game, you’d autoplay the final innings once South Africa were 45 for 4. There were 110 overs to go, Nathan Lyon – who had been the curator at the Adelaide Oval, had a two-for. Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle almost hypnotically kept hitting a good length.Faf du Plessis, on Test debut, joined AB de Villiers with a South Africa win out of the window. So, they abandoned the search for runs and committed to the blockathon for 408 balls despite nervy moments.Du Plessis was given out lbw twice but overturned the decision using DRS; he also survived a sharp caught-behind chance with Matthew Wade standing up to the stumps. De Villiers faced 220 balls but when he was bowled by a nip-backer from Siddle, 60 overs still remained in the day.The partnership between Jacques Kallis and du Plessis – 99 runs in 235 balls – wasn’t as stoic but took up nearly 40 overs. Lyon got turn and bounce to dismiss Kallis and Siddle got a couple of tailenders. High resilience and hyper-aggressive fields led to 71 maidens in 149 overs, but couldn’t stop du Plessis from getting a maiden ton and staying unbeaten as Morne Morkel played out Siddle.For nearly four days, only one result seemed possible. Australia had done everything right. They made 550 at a run rate of 5.12 in their first innings on the back of Michael Clarke’s 257-ball 230 and Michael Hussey’s 137-ball 103. They had taken a 162-run lead and set a 430-run target which should have ensured a win.There were no caveats or rain, just a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition of defensive batting that denied Australia a series lead. South Africa went on to win the next game and became the first team in the 21st century to win back-to-back Test series in Australia.

Sachin Tendulkar has hailed the efforts of some of the India players who played a key role in the five-match Test series against England that ended 2-2 after a heart-stopping finish on the final day. Tendulkar heaped praise on “unbelievable” Mohammed Siraj, talked about how KL Rahul tightened his game around off stump with “precise footwork”, how Yashasvi Jaiswal showed a lot of character and maturity during his twin hundreds, and how Shubman Gill remained “calm and composed” as a captain.Apart from the high-octane finish and the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy being shared, the series saw a number of twists and turns, dramatic face-offs and some extraordinary individual efforts, such as Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes walking out to bat with injuries. Pant played four of the five Tests and scored two centuries and three half-centuries, the last of them with a fractured right foot to average 68.42 with a strike rate of 77.63.”The sweep shot that he played, he likes to get under the ball to scoop it with some elevation,” Tendulkar said on Reddit. “People think he has fallen, but it is intentional so that he can get under the ball. The secret to play those shots is to be able to get under the ball. So it’s a planned fall, he doesn’t go off-balance. All that depends on the length of the ball.”Related

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While calling Pant’s strokeplay and the “punch” he adds to them a “god’s gift”, Tendulkar said, “There were occasions where people felt he doesn’t have to play that shot, it’s not the right time, but someone like Rishabh should be left alone. But when he’s looking to save a match, he has to have a different approach, like in the last 15-20 overs of a match. But he has figured out [how to approach an innings] depending on the match situation.”

Gill was ‘so much in control’, Rahul played some ‘magnificent shots’

The two batting stalwarts for India in this series were Gill and opener Rahul, who racked up 754 runs and 532 runs respectively with six hundreds between them. Tendulkar pointed out both batters had “precise footwork” on the challenging conditions in England. Gill’s series aggregate was the second-highest tally of a captain, only behind Don Bradman’s 810 in 1936.”He was extremely consistent as far as his thought process was concerned because it reflects on your footwork,” he said of Gill. “If you’re not clear in your head, your body doesn’t respond accordingly, and his body was responding brilliantly. He looked so much in control, he had so much time to play the ball. The most important thing I noticed was the respect to a good ball where the tendency sometimes is to push the ball on the front foot, even if it’s not close to your foot. He was able to defend there and consistently defend well on the front foot. His front-foot defence was solid.”On Rahul, who scored more than one hundred in a series for the first time in a Test series, Tendulkar said: “He was terrific, possibly one of the best I’ve seen him bat. The way he was defending close to the body, he was leaving in a completely organised manner, he knew exactly where his off stump was and which balls to leave. I got the feeling sometimes he was able to frustrate the bowler, that where should they bowl to him if he’s letting so many balls go. So he got the bowlers to come back to him, and when the ball was in striking range he played some magnificent shots. I thought he looked in that zone, calm and composed.”4:04

How do you move on from such an epic series?

Siraj ‘doesn’t get the credit he deserves’

Among the bowlers, Siraj impressed Tendulkar. Siraj was the only bowler across both teams to play all five Tests and sent down 1113 balls in all, 361 more than anyone, and led the wicket-takers’ list with a haul of 23. He had to do the heavy lifting in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah in two Tests.”Unbelievable. Superb approach. I love his attitude. I love the spring in his legs,” Tendulkar said. “For a fast bowler to be constantly in your face like that, no batsman will like it. And the approach he had till the end on the last day, I could hear commentators also saying he bowled around 90mph (145kph) on the last day after having bowled more than 1000 deliveries in the series. That shows his courage and big heart.”The way he started on the last day was remarkable and he has always been instrumental, playing a key role whenever we need him, whenever we want him to deliver that knockout punch, he’s been able to do that consistently in the past, and so was the case in this series. The way he picked all those wickets and performed, he doesn’t get the credit he deserves.”

Jaiswal was ‘a treat to watch’

Rahul’s batting partner Jaiswal ended the tour with a century at The Oval, just like he had started at Leeds in the first Test. He scored two more half-centuries in between and drew particular praise for his century in the fifth Test, where he stitched a crucial century stand with nightwatcher Akash Deep. Jaiswal finished the series with 411 runs at an average of 41.10.”I was impressed with Yashasvi’s mindset. He’s a fearless batsman and he knows when to accelerate, when to see through a phase, and when to go to the non-striker’s end. He scored a hundred on a difficult track in the first Test where the ball moved around a bit, not as much and not for as long as we expected, but he played an important role there.”In the last Test he scored a magnificent hundred on a difficult track. Before that the tracks weren’t as challenging, but the last one was a difficult one to bat on. He showed a lot of character, maturity and determination. The way he was guiding Akash Deep…a batter’s responsibility is not to score his own runs, it’s also how you build partnerships. He played a role in how to motivate Akash Deep. All in all, a fantastic series for Yashasvi, a treat to watch.”

It's not every day that this version of Arsenal lose. In fact, Saturday's late 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa was just their second defeat of the 2025-26 season, following on from August's 1-0 loss at Liverpool, a result which hasn't aged well at all in glorious hindsight. There's still, however, a feeling that the Gunners are under increasing pressure to deliver this season more than any before under Mikel Arteta.

The Premier League title favourites heading into this campaign were the reigning-champion Reds, who spent over £400 million ($533m) on new signings such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz over the summer. Arsenal splashed the cash as well to the tune of a cool £250m, though this was largely on squad reinforcements rather than flash new starters.

But as we exited the autumn and entered winter, it was clear that Arteta's men are the best team in England. If not the most complete side, they are the most reliable. What helped was the lack of a serious challenger coming up the rear.

That picture has changed again, however. After this latest setback, Arsenal sit only two points clear of Manchester City in the table, and three ahead of Saturday's conquerors Villa. It gives the impression that there is a title race to be had, and though the Gunners are still in line for to finish first, they cannot afford to be dragged back into a battle when it's seemed for weeks as though there wasn't one on the horizon.

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  Downturn in form

  Arsenal's 4-1 demolition of north London rivals Tottenham on November 23 propelled their season to new heights. Summer signing Eberechi Eze, who was acquired from under Spurs' noses at the eleventh hour, bagged a hat-trick to send his new side six points clear of second-placed Chelsea, with their next Premier League fixture coming at Stamford Bridge. A 3-1 win against Bayern Munich in the Champions League effectively confirmed Arsenal's status as the best team in Europe at the moment, too.

  The energy exerted into those outings, however, almost certainly took a toll on their next three performances, starting against Enzo Maresca's Blues. Chelsea dominated the opening proceedings in west London, in similar fashion to how they eventually tore apart Barcelona earlier that week, before Moises Caicedo's red card threatened to turn the tide. However, Trevoh Chalobah headed the hosts into an arguably deserved lead after the break, with Mikel Merino coming to the Gunners' rescue to salvage a point. Arsenal registered eight shots to Chelsea's 11 despite that one-man advantage for a sizeable chunk of the contest.

  Arteta's men returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory at home to Brentford the following Wednesday, but they were made to work every inch for those three points by Keith Andrews' dogged side. The week culminated with conceding in the fourth minute of added time at Villa Park, bringing an end to Arsenal's 18-match unbeaten run across all competitions, and was the second time in their last three away games they had been breached with so little left on the clock, following on from November's 2-2 draw at Sunderland.

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  'Emotional' warning

  Prior to the Villa defeat, Jamie Carragher wrote an article for the in which he claimed there is a "danger Arsenal want it too much". He praised Arteta for building a team "ready" to finally win the title, but stressed he needs to improve in the "emotional management" department if they were to end their 22-year wait to become kings of England again.

  "There was a feeling in the past couple of years that the Arsenal players, coaching staff and fanbase has a habit of using too much emotional energy too soon," Carragher wrote. "Too often it feels like the title run-in starts from August, every setback received in the context that anything less than 90 points could be fatal to title hopes.

  "When big wins have come, there have been ecstatic scenes involving senior players which have been more in common with sides sealing title-defining victories. All of them proved premature. It was never a case of being the 'celebration police' to wag a finger at people savouring the moment. Supporters should embrace every three points as the most important yet. However, players and staff need to remain composed and move on to the next game.

  "The alternative might drain energy too soon – something Arsenal have been accused of over the last three years. They just need to keep doing their stuff, not getting too high after a win or too down after a setback. This should be their time."

  Had Carragher penned this piece after Arsenal's trip to Villa Park, he would have almost certainly referenced their players' reaction to Emiliano Buendia's winner with the final kick of the game. A sea of bodies in their white-and-maroon third kit collapsed to the floor in disbelief and despair, while David Raya crawled across his six-yard box like a stropping toddler. It might mean nothing come May, but if Arsenal end another season without silverware, this is a moment that will be come under the microscope as a sign of when their mental state began to unravel.

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  Injury crisis

  For the second season running, Arsenal are having to deal with a barrage of injuries. It's always difficult to know where the finger of blame should be pointed with such situations, though doomsayers will always level it at management and coaching staff for any supposed lack of rotation. It could still just be bad luck.

  Regardless, the north Londoners have built a squad built to withstand such a crisis far better than they did in 2024-25, during which they tailed off considerably and ended up tallying only 74 points. The difference this time around is they have been hit hardest in their most important position.

  First-choice centre-backs Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have sat out recent games and are unlikely to play alongside one another again until January, while new deputy Cristhian Mosquera has now been ruled out for over a month with an ankle issue. This saw Arteta turn to right-back Jurrien Timber and left-back Piero Hincapie as his partnership in central defence at Villa. Unsurprisingly, it proved an erratic combination that provided nowhere near the same protection as his preferred duo.

  The rotating cast of minor injuries from week to week has upset the balance a little over the last few games. The compliment to Arsenal is they have had enough quality to stave off defeat for so long.

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  Reasons to remain calm

  Beyond the headline names on the treatment table, Kai Havertz has missed pretty much the entire season so far with a knee problem, while Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke have only recently returned to full fitness. They barely missed a beat when Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were ruled out for several weeks apiece, and Arteta hasn't yet had the chance to use this deep squad with everyone available. In that sense, the best may still be to come from a team who went three whole months unbeaten.

  If, as Carragher warned, Arsenal are able to regroup mentally and keep themselves fresh in that aspect, then they will be primed to stack together another lengthy run of wins when they welcome back their injured stars.

  Speaking after the Villa loss, an optimistic Arteta said: "Everything that they [the squad] have put in the last two weeks and the results that we got, the performances and to lose it that way emotionally is very touching. You just feel that everything that you put in, it hasn't been worth it. But it is worth it, because we will learn again from today and it will make us a better team again.

  "It's five months into the competition and so far we've coped. But we're going to have to prove that we can cope again and again and again for another six months, that's the level. If think we are going to be in this moment with 10 points clear, I think we're living in a different world."

Nuno Espirito Santo is now reportedly ready to launch his first transfer move in charge of West Ham United to sign Bristol City’s set-piece specialist Scott Twine.

The Hammers could certainly do with a busy January transfer window. Whilst results have improved recently, their 2-2 draw against Bournemouth in a game that they led 2-0 exposed their problems once again.

After watching on as his side let go of their 2-0 lead gained through Callum Wilson’s goals, Nuno told reporters: “It’s a very tough place to come. The first half was us – we took advantage of the straight ball, of the second ball, we managed the tempo of the game, we managed to control Bournemouth, and we achieved a good lead.

“In the second half, Bournemouth did exactly the same that we did [in the first]. They managed better the circumstances of the game, we couldn’t go out, they put us against the ropes, they engaged five players in the last line.

“The boys were organised but were missing the pass to go out of pressure, to really hurt them with space, under tough circumstances. But the positive is that I think the team was resilient, was organised, was compact and was really committed.”

After the dramatic draw, West Ham have at least escaped the dropzone, albeit only on goal difference. With the visit of Liverpool up next, they’ll be hoping to compile the champions’ recent misery and escape the relegation zone in the process.

It goes without saying that the January transfer window would be a lot easier if West Ham were approaching it without the bottom three in mind. It would hand Nuno the perfect opportunity to welcome first-choice reinforcements and potentially take the Hammers onwards and upwards.

On that front, the former Nottingham Forest manager already has certain additions in mind, according to reports.

West Ham and Nuno ready to launch Scott Twine move

According to Sports Boom, Nuno is now ready to launch West Ham’s move to sign Twine from Bristol City in the January transfer window. The set-piece specialist would be an instant upgrade on James Ward-Prowse, who has been frozen out by Nuno, and would cost West Ham just £8m.

Although it is in a league below the Premier League, Twine has shown plenty of promise compared to Lucas Paqueta this season. Based on those numbers, £8m could quickly turn into a bargain for the London club.

Whether Bristol City allow one of their key men to leave so easily remains to be seen, however. Robins manager Gerhard Struber recently praised his midfielder – telling reporters: “Scott (has) outstanding technical power with his monster leg.

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“It helped us to score in this way but I like his energy at the moment – his work ethic on the field to invest everything. You do not see it that often that players on this level work really hard against the ball but this was the key – players with high technical level were involved in our defensive pressing moments.”

West Ham now make enquiry to sign Champions League CF with eight goals in 25/26

Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has lifted the lid on a single appearance that changed the course of his entire career. The striker moved to United in July 1996, joining from Norwegian side Molde for just £1.5m, winning the Champions League three years later. But it could have been so different, revealing the Manchester giants weren't the only English side interested in securing his services almost three decades ago.

• Solskjaer caught the eye for Norway in 1996

  Norway took on lowly Azerbaijan in a 1998 World Cup qualifier in June 1996, a game in which Solskjaer started alongside Frank Strandli. Solskjaer scored twice in a 5-0 home triumph in Olso and his performance on the frontline caught the eye of then Manchester United assistant Jim Ryan, who was in attendance in order to specifcally observe centre-back Ronny Johnsen.

  But United weren't the only side with a scouting presence, with then Wolves boss Mark McGhee also watching on. The west midlands side, who at the time weren't even playing in the Premier League, were on the lookout for a new striker and it was Solskjaer catching their eye.

  However, Wolves missed out to United, in what was a significant sliding doors moment for both player and club. He has labelled that day against Azerbaijan one of the most "important" games of his career.

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  Solskjaer's brace vs Azerbaijan culminated in United switch

  Speaking with Kelly Somers for , Solskjaer was asked about the first time he knew there would be a possibility he'd be playing in England, to which the former striker replied: "So, for Norway, this is probably one of the most important games in my career. We played Norway against Azerbaijan and I scored two very good goals.

  "Coincidentally, Jim Ryan – the [United] assistant manager – was watching Ronny Johnsen, who we signed. He was sitting next to Mark McGhee, who at that time was Wolverhampton manager, chatting as they do.

  "Mark McGhee is looking for a centre-forward, Jim Ryan's watching the game and I score two goals. So he thinks, 'OK, Wolverhampton will probably sign this boy'. He rang Sir Alex [Ferguson] that night and said: 'I think I found one and he won't be expensive. It's a cheap one, but we've got to be quick because Wolverhampton are also signing a centre-forward.' It went really, really fast."

• Move to Old Trafford was a 'whirlwind' for Solskjaer

  Host Somers then suggested it must have been a "whirlwind" for Solskjaer, to which he replied: "Brilliant. Absolutely top. But then you're never 100% sure until you signed the deal.

  "But I more or less knew, so before my last game for Molde, I said to Age Hareide, who was the coach, that if I scored, I'm going to take my shirt off, throw it into the stands and run off the pitch. He said: 'No, you can't do that… but [if you have to] wait until 10 minutes before full-time.' That's exactly what happened.

  "I think I scored a fifth goal, 5-1, and I just threw the shirt and ran off the pitch and we had no subs ready to come on, so we had to play a few minutes with 10 men. It was a whirlwind of a time. The media were outside my apartment. They wanted interviews and I just tried to stay away from all that."

  And when asked about handling the whole new level of fame, Solskjaer said: "Of course. Because 18 months before Manchester United, I played for Clausenengen, my local team, in front of 50 people, so it was a big step up in attention. But I think I've been quite OK in handling these situations."

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  Solskjaer went on to become a United legend

  Solskjaer's move to Old Trafford caught many supporters of guard as the club pushed to sign Alan Shearer from Blackburn. Shearer ultimately signed for boyhood club Newcastle that same summer, making the switch to St. James' Park for a then-world record fee of £15 million.

  The 'Baby Faced Assasin' would go on to cement himself as a United legend, however, as he won the Premier League six times and scored the winning goal in their 2-1 Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich in Barcelona in 1999.

  Solskjaer then went on to manage United between 2018 and 2021, and was most recently manager of Besiktas, though he lasted just eight months in Istanbul following their failure to secure European football in August. He is, however, interested in returning to management again.

Leeds United have been linked with making an out of work manager their next boss and a new update has dropped regarding the situation, amid doubts over Daniel Farke’s future.

The Whites sit 16th in the Premier League table currently, with four defeats in their last five matches in the competition seeing the pressure increase on Farke and Marco Rose linked with replacing him.

That said, Sky Sports‘ Zinny Boswell has recently played down rumours of Farke being relieved of his duties any time soon, although there is a tough run of fixtures on the horizon.

“Leeds have no plans to change their head coach as things stand amid growing discontent among supporters and, after taking 11 points from 11 Premier League games, the club and Farke feel the team are currently on course to achieve their goal of survival.

“Sitting one point above the relegation zone, Leeds have the hardest schedule in the Premier League over the next five matches, according to Opta, with Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool visiting Elland Road as well as trips to Manchester City and Brentford. The fact Farke’s scheduled in for broadcast interviews next week is as strong an indication as any that he will be in the hot seat for at least some of those games and, although it is a daunting run, there is a belief internally that the Elland Road factor is a reason for optimism.”

"Available" Rodgers linked with replacing Farke at Leeds

Now, speaking to Leeds United News, journalist Graeme Bailey has discussed Brendan Rodgers being Leeds’ next boss, saying he could be a strong option something which “piles the pressure” on Farke.

There is plenty to admire about Rodgers as a manager, should he become a genuine option for Leeds, with the 52-year-old winning the FA Cup with Leicester City in 2021 and guiding Celtic to four Scottish Premiership titles, among other trophies.

He is an attack-minded manager famed for playing good football in a 4-3-3 formation, and he has huge experience in the Premier League, even coming close to winning the title with Liverpool back in 2013/14, entertaining the masses and getting the best out of the likes of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard.

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That said, it doesn’t appear as though 49ers Enterprises are going to rush into a decision with Farke for the time being, but the situation could change if they struggle in these tough upcoming games.

Leeds now eyeing 4-4-2 "quick and dynamic" manager to replace Daniel Farke

Opener hits unbeaten 72 off 40 balls to keep Rockets winless

ECB Media10-Aug-2025Eighteen-year-old Davina Perrin continued her impressive domestic form with a sparkling 42-ball 70 to overpower Trent Rockets in The Hundred.It was Perrin’s first half-century in The Hundred, and the second-highest score by a female English player uncapped at international level. More importantly for Perrin and Northern Superchargers, it took them to the top of the table with two wins from two.”I had a conversation with one of the coaches before and he said: ‘What are you going to do when you go out?’ And I was like: ‘have fun,'” Perrin said. “It was a pretty decent deck, it was coming onto the bat nicely, so it allowed me to lean into it and just try and play strong shots. It’s nice to do it front of so many people and on a decent ground, so happy days.”It was a dominant performance from the team in purple, who were on top straight away and rarely let their foot off the gas, save some customary excellence from Trent Rockets skipper Ash Gardner.The Superchargers had Rockets at 5 for 3 after 18 balls and right up against it, Gardner did her thing to fight back with a 32-ball 61 but it was essentially a lone hand and her side’s eventual total of 128 felt light at a sun-dappled Trent Bridge.Ash Gardner forces one away through the off side•Warren Little/Getty ImagesPerrin dominated the opening partnership of 62 with Alice Davidson-Richards and entertained the crowd throughout, with strong shots all around the wicket and even a one-handed scoop. Phoebe Litchfield matched her stroke for stroke with her 10-ball 22 and Annabel Sutherland finished things off in a fittingly creative way, reverse-sweeping through the off-side.It was a performance of great promise from the Superchargers who will feel they’re laying down a marker, for Rockets the need to get a win on the board is getting ever greater.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl only has to wait a few weeks before he can start to bring in his first signings in the January transfer window.

The former Sheffield Wednesday tactician will be looking to bolster his squad in key areas, despite all of the work that was done by former sporting director Kevin Thelwell in the summer.

Thelwell, along with CEO Patrick Stewart, was recently let go by the Gers and is yet to be replaced, which could mean that Rohl is given a large say in what happens in January.

The key areas Rangers need to strengthen in January

A new centre-forward should be on the agenda for Rangers, despite Bojan Miovski’s brace against Kilmarnock on Saturday, because their strikers have not offered enough in front of goal this season.

Per Transfermarkt, no Rangers number nine has scored more than Miovski’s four goals, with Danilo on three goals, and Youssef Chermiti on one goal, which is why Rohl may want a new marksman to provide goals on a regular basis.

The caveat to this, of course, is that things could change in the next few weeks and if Chermiti, Miovski, or Danilo hit a hot streak and look primed to be the main man up front, then a new striker could fall down the list of priorities.

A creative midfielder should also be on their list. No attacking midfielder or winger in the squad has provided more than one assist or created more than two ‘big chances’ in the Scottish Premiership, per FotMob, which points to a lack of creativity in those areas.

Along with a striker and a creative midfielder or winger, Rohl also needs to push the Light Blues to bring a senior and experienced left-back to Ibrox to replace Jayden Meghoma.

Why Rangers need to sign a left-back.

The Brentford loanee, 19, is the only natural left-back at the club at this moment in time, after Thelwell sold Ridvan Yilmaz and Jefte in the summer window.

He has shown some positive signs in possession in recent weeks, though, with a stunning goal against Dundee United and an assist for Mikey Moore against Kilmarnock in the last two league games.

In quotes sourced by PA Media prior to the clash with Kilmarnock, Meghoma reviewed his time at Ibrox so far and said: “The expectation here is really, really high.

“To be honest, I don’t blame the fans either because of the history. We know that as a team, we have to improve. That’s why we were chasing the game so hard. We know that we need to get more positive results. The loan has been amazing. Every experience you have is another learning curve. That’s what I always say. For me, it’s all an experience and I’m learning new things as I’ve been here. For me, it’s a fantastic experience.

“I think you mould quite well here as a player. Every experience I get here, I wouldn’t gain anywhere else. The experience alone is invaluable and it’s one of the best places to play in football at my age, especially.”

As the full-back said himself, he is gaining vital experience in his development by playing regular football at Ibrox, but Rangers have suffered at times as a result of his learning process, and it is Brentford who will benefit from it in the long run, not the Gers.

Meghoma

Premiership

Europa League

Appearances

12

5

Goals

1

0

Key passes per game

0.8

0.4

Assists

2

0

Ground duel success rate

61%

64%

Aerial duel success rate

19%

40%

Error led to shot

2

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Meghoma has particularly struggled in the air as a defender, which is a problem for Rangers when defending set-pieces and crosses into the back post from open play.

It was most evident for Jacob Lungi Sorensen’s goal for Brann in Rohl’s first match. TNT Sports commentator and former Rangers striker Ally McCoist said it was “remarkable” that the teenage defender allowed the Dane to get his head to the ball almost completely unchallenged to score.

Max Aarons has played at left-back, but is a natural right-sider and stunts the progression down that flank, which is why it is so important for the Gers to bring in a natural left-back in January.

The Light Blues need an experienced defender who can be relied upon to deliver consistent performances, without being a defensive liability, so that Rohl has some stability in his backline in the second half of the season.

Signing a proven performer at left-back would also provide Meghoma with a mentor who can help him to continue his development, even if this proposed signing could severely restrict his minutes on the pitch moving forward.

The Brentford loanee may be having an “amazing” time at Ibrox so far, but Rohl must be ruthless to build a squad that can compete for trophies, which is why he must brutally replace the teenager as a starter when the January transfer window opens for business.

Related Bid already submitted: Rangers could sign a "very pacy" Gassama replacement

Rangers could replace Djeidi Gassama on the wing by signing this reported target in the January window.

Posts ByDan Emery 3 days ago

Stuttgart are bracing for a decisive summer as interest intensifies in Angelo Stiller, with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund monitoring his situation. Stuttgart director Fabian Wohlgemuth accepts that there is growing interest in the midfielder, but insists there have been no concrete proposals from other clubs.

The growing chase for Angelo Stiller

Stuttgart find themselves at the centre of one of Europe’s most intriguing transfer stories, as Stiller’s remarkable rise continues to attract elite clubs. The 24-year-old deep-lying playmaker has been linked for months with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and a host of Premier League sides.

Sporting director Wohlgemuth, speaking on , attempted to steady the growing speculation. “He has a contract with us. It’s far too early to speculate about that,” he said when asked about potential summer departures. “Of course, one or two clubs will have had their eye on him. He's having an outstanding season. Maybe he'll even play in a World Cup, we'll see. We're happy he's with us.”

Despite the calm public tone, Stuttgart privately accept that Stiller has reached a level that naturally draws heavyweight attention, especially after a season in which his influence has been impossible to ignore.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesEurope’s elite are circling Stiller

The Spanish giants, undergoing a period of midfield transition following the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in consecutive seasons, identified Stiller as a long-term organiser capable of anchoring the Bernabeu midfield for years.

Stiller himself is reported to favour Madrid over Premier League projects, viewing Los Blancos as the ideal next step. While no formal bid has been made, Madrid’s informal approach in 2025 has kept the story simmering.

Reports from Spain note that head coach Xabi Alonso views Stiller as a natural successor to Kroos being a calm, technically immaculate deep-lying conductor who controls rhythm rather than relying on physical explosiveness. Alonso had monitored him closely during his time at Bayer Leverkusen and is said to have personally endorsed him as a 'priority target' for Madrid’s future core.

But Madrid are not alone. The Red Devils and Liverpool have monitored him closely, while Bayern, the club where he was developed, and Dortmund have both discussed internal strategies for 2026. For a midfielder who arrived from Hoffenheim for €5.5 million in 2023, Stiller’s trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric.

Breakout season and Stiller's rising value

Stiller’s appeal is grounded in a remarkable 2024-25 season, which established him as one of Europe’s most complete young midfielders. Across all competitions, he made 47 appearances, scoring four goals and providing 11 assists which are extraordinary numbers for a deep-lying playmaker.

His influence extended beyond individual brilliance. Stiller played a decisive role in Stuttgart’s DFB-Pokal triumph, anchoring midfield throughout their cup run. Further, his form earned him five caps for the German national team following his debut in 2024.

Since joining Stuttgart from Hoffenheim 2023, his market value has multiplied, and European interest reflects just how quickly he has risen from promising talent to elite-level organiser. This season the German international has scored one goal and registered five assists.

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GettyContracts, clauses and what next?

Stuttgart moved early to secure Stiller’s future, offering an improved extension in early 2025 that runs until 2028 and elevates him to one of the club’s top earners. The contract includes a release clause estimated around €40m, though it does not activate until summer 2026. Crucially, Stuttgart also hold an internal option to buy out the clause for around €2m, meaning they could remove it at any time and negotiate freely with interested clubs.

Despite this, Stuttgart’s internal valuation sits much higher. Reports in Germany suggest the club would demand at least €50m if approached before 2026, especially given the global interest. Wohlgemuth acknowledges the persistent speculation but insists the club remain calm: “That’s part of the entertainment we have to cover. But there’s nothing concrete. He can concentrate fully on Stuttgart.”

Stiller, meanwhile, remains committed to Stuttgart’s project, but has also made no secret of his ambition to take the next step when the timing is right. With major clubs preparing summer strategies, the coming transfer window may be decisive. If Madrid, United or Liverpool formalise their interest, Stuttgart will face a pivotal decision over one of Germany’s most coveted midfielders.

Chamari Athapaththu looms as a key figure as the joint-hosts look to kickstart their tournament

Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Oct-20252:46

Preview: Can Athapaththu dismantle England’s plans?

Big picture: Sri Lanka eye another World Cup upsetIn 18 completed games against England, Sri Lanka have won only once. But that one win was worth 18 at least. Sri Lanka’s victory over England in the 2013 World Cup wasn’t just the upset of that particular tournament, it was a vital staging post in the march of women’s cricket on the smaller of these two islands.Without that last-ball win at Brabourne, Sri Lankan women’s cricket would not be where it is now. Shashikala Siriwardene, Sri Lanka’s captain at the time, remembered it this way: “Our lives and our cricket changed with that match. It started with that game. We actually didn’t celebrate massively. We shouted a little bit in the dressing room, and the coach said a few words. And then we just went to our rooms. But I couldn’t sleep! I was up most of the night remembering all the little things in that match, and the big moments. I was overjoyed. It was only the next day that I got a little sleep. I think that happened to a lot of the others as well.”Since that match, England have won 10 ODIs against Sri Lanka on the bounce. There is no question who the favourites are on Saturday. England, additionally, have humbled South Africa, and eased past Bangladesh already in the tournament. Sri Lanka have one point from a washout against Australia, but lost their tournament opener to India in Guwahati.England have surmised that while Sri Lanka have more batting weapons now than they used to have, their best chance of securing victory is to dismiss Chamari Athapaththu cheaply. England opener Tammy Beaumont said as much on the eve of the match: “Chamari will certainly be the one we’ll be desperate to get out. It’ll be really well planned for.” Athapaththu is no stranger to being one of the most-analysed players by oppositions, having been such a singular star for Sri Lanka for a decade.And yet it feels accurate. If Sri Lanka are to topple England, it feels almost inescapable that Athapaththu will have to play a role. England, though, have a bowling attack brimming with confidence. They decked South Africa for 69 all out in their tournament opener, then restricted Bangladesh for 178 in their next game. England’s slow bowlers have been doing the damage. Finger-spinners Linsey Smith, Sophie Ecclestone, and Charlie Dean have 14 wickets between them, in two matches.Form guide:England: WWLWL LLLWW (last five matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka:In the spotlight: Heather Knight and Inoka RanaweeraIn 11 innings against Sri Lanka, Heather Knight has three half-centuries, and an average of 50. In Sri Lanka, her returns are even better – 208 runs, four not outs, and an average of 52.00. She hasn’t batted on the island since 2019, though. Sri Lanka will be aware that Knight comes in to this match with some runs, having top-scored against Bangladesh with 79. Her vast experience and success in Asia is daunting.Athapaththu may dominate opposition bowler’s minds ahead of a match against Sri Lanka, but left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera will have plenty of airtime in the batting discussions. In Sri Lanka’s first match, she took three wickets in one over to leave India 121 for 5, before they recovered (a theme of this World Cup so far). She finished with 4 for 46 in that match. If the Khettarama track takes turn – which it is likely to do – she will be difficult to handle again.Pitch and conditions: Spin, swing… and rain?It has been drier in the last few days in Colombo, but the forecast is again for showers, which is normal for this time of year. Expect another track on which there will be turn. But the humidity at this time of year also makes for great swing-bowling conditions.Team news: Hasini to open for SLEngland could stick with a winning XI for the third game running.England: (possible) 1 Tammy Beaumont, 2 Amy Jones (wk), 3 Heather Knight, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), 5 Sophia Dunkley, 6 Emma Lamb, 7 Alice Capsey, 8 Charlie Dean, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Linsey Smith, 11 Lauren BellSri Lanka have been trying Hasini Perera as opener rather than Vishmi Gunaratne. They will likely retain that order for this match.Sri Lanka: (possible) 1 Hasini Perera, 2 Chamari Athapaththu (capt), 3 Harshith Samarawickrama, 4 Vishmi Gunaratne, 5 Kavisha Dihari, 6 Nilakshika de Silva, 7 Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), 8 Sugandika Kumari, 9 Achini Kulasuriya, 10 Udeshika Prabodhani, 11 Inoka RanaweeraStats and trivia Although she hit an important 62 in that 2013 win against England, Athapaththu’s numbers against this opposition are modest. She hasn’t hit another half-century against them in 13 other innings. One of Knight’s two half-centuries in Sri Lanka came at Khettarama. She strikes at 80.62 in the country, up from a career strike rate of 72.45. Although Sri Lanka have never beaten England in an ODI series, they did win a T20I series 2-1 in England in 2023. Quotes”I think you can never write off Chamari at all. We’ve been on the tough end of it a couple of times over the last few years, particularly when Chamari came to England. She played a couple of amazing innings. But I think over the last few years there’s probably a few more [players] that we’ve started to talk about. There’s certainly a lot more depth to that team that can bat around someone like Chamari.”England opener Tammy Beaumont says Sri Lanka’s batting isn’t all about Athapaththu any more