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After Paris Saint-Germain hard-fought 3-2 win over Lyon, manager Luis Enrique hinted at possible January transfer activity but admitted that “very few players” could actually improve the reigning European champions. While praising the team’s resilience and Warren Zaire-Emery’s growing influence, Enrique stressed the need for defensive refinement, even as PSG’s new wage model and sustainable transfer strategy redefine how the club operates.

PSG edge Lyon in tense encounter as Enrique calls for ‘resilience’

PSG reclaimed the top spot in Ligue 1 after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Lyon, sealed by Joao Neves’ stoppage-time header. The contest, filled with quick goals and controversy, showcased PSG’s offensive sharpness but also exposed defensive lapses that Enrique was quick to highlight.

The decisive moment came deep into injury time when Neves converted a corner to give PSG the win, moments after Lyon’s Nicolas Tagliafico was sent off for a reckless challenge on Vitinha, a decision that sparked post-match protests from Lyon players and staff.

Speaking after the match, Enrique said, “Resilience is what I wanted to see. We fought until the end, but we need to defend better. Both goals came from poor alignment. You can’t push the line up when there’s no pressure on the ball.” Despite defensive flaws, he commended his squad’s mentality and composure in closing out the win.

AdvertisementAFPEnrique hints at January plans

Addressing questions about the upcoming January transfer window, Enrique struck a measured tone. He reaffirmed that PSG are “always open to strengthening,” but emphasised the difficulty of finding players capable of elevating an already elite squad. “Reinforcing a team of this quality is very difficult. There are very few players who can truly strengthen this team,” he said.

"We have complete confidence in our current players. We won't make any signings if someone else thinks we need them. We clearly hope to have a well-thought-out team and a balanced squad. There are many young players who can develop and contribute even more."

Among potential targets, PSG have been linked with Barcelona’s Eric Garcia, a player Enrique knows well from his time as Spain’s manager. PSG are reportedly preparing a €5 million winter bid, though Barcelona remain hesitant to sell. The 24-year-old’s tactical intelligence and composure on the ball fit Enrique’s possession-oriented system, particularly given injuries to key defenders like Achraf Hakimi.

PSG building smarter, not flashier

Under sporting director Luis Campos, PSG have undergone a major philosophical shift. Gone are the days of splashy, high-salary signings; the club now focuses on sustainable spending and versatile players who fit Enrique’s tactical model. Campos has worked to flatten the wage structure, introducing merit-based pay tied to performance and appearances rather than star status.

Campos explained that the new policy ensures “you earn more when you deserve it, when you play.” This change was central to Gianluigi Donnarumma’s departure in summer 2025, as his salary demands exceeded the club’s revised framework. Campos defended the decision, stating, “Donnarumma wanted a PSG that no longer exists. The club is now more important than any player.”

The result is a leaner, more cohesive squad built around tactical flexibility. Even without marquee transfers, PSG maintain depth across positions and rely on internal development to sustain success. The approach reflects a broader modernisation trend in elite football, where financial discipline and squad balance outweigh individual star power.

Campos and Enrique’s collaboration ensures that signings now serve a clear tactical purpose, a stark contrast to the past era of impulse buys driven by branding and marketing value.

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AFPPSG’s new balance hangs on success, sustainability, and long-term vision

PSG’s victory over Lyon underscored the balance the club is striving for, excellence on the pitch paired with responsibility off it. Despite injuries and fixture congestion, the team remains competitive at the top of Ligue 1 and continues to show resilience in crunch moments.

Coach Enrique, while pleased with the win, maintains that PSG “must keep improving,” particularly in defensive transitions. His emphasis on structure, discipline, and adaptability mirrors the club’s broader off-field restructuring under Campos.

After the Lyon match, Enrique summed up the club’s direction succinctly: “We’re happy to be at the top, but it’s not enough. We want to play better, defend better, and grow together. The goal is not just to win, it’s to build something lasting.”

Josh Bohannon’s century goes in vain for Lancashire

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-Aug-2025Kent 315 for 8 (Denly 91, Dawkins 85) beat Lancashire 293 (Bohannon 133, Harris 54, Parkinson 3-57) by 22 runsKent Spitfires beat Lancashire by 22 runs in a Metro Bank Cup thriller at Beckenham, despite a magnificent century from Josh Bohannon.Jaydn Denly and Ben Dawkins both hit their highest List A scores, making 91 and 85 respectively as Kent posted 315 for 8.Bohannon, who batted through what looked like significant pain towards the back end of his innings, made 133 from 110 balls, including 17 fours and two sixes, but when he fell to Denly in the 47th over, Lancashire’s last-wicket duo of Tom Bailey and Charlie Barnard needed 30 from the last three overs.Bailey hit the first ball of the 48th for six, but he was run out by Chris Benjamin chasing a non-existent single and Kent had won with 15 balls remaining. Kent’s Matt Parkinson finished with 3 for 57 against his former county, while Marcus Harris made 54.Lancashire chose to bowl but failed to take a vital wicket: Denly was on 2 when he was put down by keeper George Bell off George Balderson. Assuming he’d been caught Denly was out of his ground when he was nearly run out by a shy at the stumps from first slip.The teenage duo responded by putting on a record first-wicket stand of 155 for Kent against Lancashire, with Dawkins making the early running and blazing 50 from 43 balls before Bailey had him caught by Bohannon in the 25th. Kent’s next highest partnership was 36.Bailey struck again in his next over, getting Joey Evison for four and Denly was lbw to Arav Shetty nine runs shy of a century. Benjamin was the next to go for 34, caught by Luke Hands off Charlie Barnard.Harry Singh bowled Harry Finch for 15 and Balderson had Ekansh Singh caught by Joseph Moores for 21.Lancashire might have had even more joy but Shetty somehow dropped an easy caught-and-bowled chance off Jack Leaning when he was on six. Leaning couldn’t cash in however and was out for 17, ramping Balderson straight to Marcus Harris.Grant Stewart clubbed two sixes in the final over but was run out off the final ball for 32 from 17 balls.Matt Quinn struck in the second over of the chase, getting Bell caught by Benjamin at first slip for a duck, but Kent then lost captain Stewart after what looked like a recurrence of a thigh injury, pulling up at the start of what would have been his fourth over. Quinn was also forced off with an unspecified injury.Evison took over and bowled Michael Jones leg stump for 26, but Bohannon and Harris hit back with a partnership worth 96 that was broken when the latter hit Parkinson to the sub fielder Fred Klaassen at cow corner.Parkinson then had Harry Singh caught by a diving Jack Leaning for 5 before Leaning got Joe Moores for 19, just as the 16-year-old was looking set, thanks to a brilliant catch by Ben Compton, also a sub.When Leaning then removed Balderson for a duck, caught by Denly, Kent looked favourites but Bohannon reached three figures after hitting a Denly full toss for four and Shetty was looking good until Parkinson had him stumped by Finch for 27, ending a stand of 54.Denly got Luke Hands for 3 and, with 50 needed from the last five, the 46th went for 11, but at the end of the 47th Bohannon holed out to Evison and was caught by Klaassen on the boundary before walking off to a standing ovation.Bailey responded by whacking the next ball, from Parkinson, for six, but after taking a single from the next ball, Charlie Barnard called a suicidal single and Bailey was run out by Rizvi and Benjamin and Kent were finally off the mark in Group B.

After being mired in a years-long stalemate with the Chicago Cubs since his retirement from MLB in 2007 stemming from his reluctance to apologize for his apparent use of performance-enhancing drugs, Sammy Sosa is returning to the organization that he called home for 13 seasons.

Sosa, who on Thursday released an apology for past "mistakes," was invited to the 2025 Cubs Convention by team owner Tom Ricketts.

Sosa said the following in his statement, obtained by multiple outlets, including Jon Heyman of .

"There were times I did whatever I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep my strength up to perform over 162 games," Sosa wrote. "I never broke any laws, but in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize."

Sosa, who belted 609 home runs in his 18-year MLB career, enthralled baseball fans during the summer of 1998, when he and Mark McGuire embarked on a historic home run chase, with both sluggers eventually breaking the then-record of 61 home runs in a single season.

But in what became known as the Steroid Era in baseball, both Sosa and McGuire were alleged to have been users of performance-enhancing drugs, and those accusations, as well as his apparent poor behavior towards the end of his tenure in Chicago, alienated him with the franchise.

On multiple occasions, including in 2014, Sosa almost had a homecoming at Wrigley Field. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts remained steadfast that he would not welcome the six-time Silver Slugger back into the friendly confines until he apologized for his transgressions.

Both were true to their words.

Ricketts said the following in a statement.

"We appreciate Sammy releasing his statement and reaching out," Ricketts wrote. "No one played harder or wanted to win more. Nobody's perfect but we never doubted his passion for the game or the Cubs. It is an understatement to say that Sammy is a fan favorite.

"We plan on inviting him to the 2025 Cubs Convention and, while it is short notice, we hope that he can attend."

There is no official word on whether Sosa plans to attend the convention, but he had this to say at the end of his statement.

"In my heart, I have always been a Cub and I can't wait to see Cubs fans again."

Sosa, the 1998 National League MVP, fell short of receiving the votes needed to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in his final year of eligibility on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot in 2022.

Since leaving Tottenham Hotspur in search of trophies back in 2013, Harry Kane, who has been named as one of the best strikers in the world, has continued his remarkable record in front of goal, having found the back of the net a whopping 108 times in 113 games for Bayern Munich.

Harry Kane’s goal return by season

Appearances (all competitions)

Goals

2023-24

45

44

2024-25

51

41

2025-26

17

23

Not only has the 32-year-old established himself as Bayern’s talisman, but he has also remained a consistent source of goals for England at international level, most recently scoring a brace in the Three Lions’ final World Cup qualifier in Albania.

Thomas Tuchel’s side have secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup in style, having won every single game in Group K without conceding a goal, and fans will be dreaming of football finally ‘coming home’, after two heartbreaking losses in finals of the Euros.

With one of the world’s best strikers leading the line, England certainly have a chance, and the captain recently surpassed a record set by three-time World Cup-winner Pele.

Harry Kane moves ahead of Pele for international goals

Indeed, courtesy of the brace against Albania, Kane has now moved ahead of Pele for international goals, while also going 25 clear of nearest-rival Wayne Rooney at the top of the Three Lions’ all-time goalscoring charts.

As such, it will come as no surprise that Thomas Frank has previously made it clear he wants to re-sign the former Tottenham star, saying: “He is an unbelievable player who did fantastic for Spurs and is doing fantastic for Bayern. Top player. I think there’s a lot of Tottenham fans, including myself, who would like to see Kane back.”

Frank’s comments came after learning about a clause in the Bayern Munich star’s contract, which means he will be available for just £54m in January, while Spurs also have a first option to sign the centre-forward, should they decide to open talks with the German club.

Kane is in the form of his life at Bayern, and will have aspirations of winning the Champions League this season, so it may be difficult to tempt him to return to N17, but if Tottenham were able to do so, he would undoubtedly be a fantastic signing, and could go on to break the Premier League goal record too.

Where does Harry Kane rank in the 2026 Ballon d'Or Power Rankings? Ballon d'Or 2026 Power Rankings

Who will be lifting the individual honour in 2026?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 6, 2025

The USAC-ACE contract termination has created uncertainty around USA’s preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup as well as the future of the MLC

Nagraj Gollapudi05-Sep-2025USA Cricket’s decision to terminate its contract with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), its primary commercial partner, which is also the parent company of Major League Cricket (MLC) – has left USA’s players “extremely affected” while dealing with uncertainty about their future. According to USA allrounder Corey Anderson, who is the operational director of the US Cricketers’ Association (USCA), the players fear that cricket in the country could be derailed if ACE pulls out.Anderson, the former New Zealand allrounder who moved to the USA and became eligible to play for them in 2023, suggested that ACE had been integral to the development of cricket in the USA for the past several years having invested in both Minor League Cricket and the MLC, which is now three seasons old.Related

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ACE takes USA Cricket to court as power struggle intensifies

MLC parent company calls its agreement termination by USA Cricket 'unlawful' and 'wrongful'

“I guess the termination of this contract between USAC and ACE just leaves players in a limbo and in a scenario where they are now so uncertain of their futures,” Anderson told ESPNcricinfo on a call from his home in Dallas. “And this is something that they’re extremely affected by in the way that they earn a living. How long does this last for? What does future seasons of Major League or Minor League or anything like that – what does that start to look like from that regard?”Apart from the significant sums of money it spends to conduct cricket in the country, ACE is also the backbone of cricketing operations in the USA. ACE owns the ground that houses the High Performance Centre at Grand Prairie in Dallas, Texas, holds exclusive license to the ground in Morrisville, has agreements with Broward County in Florida, and owns two drop-in pitches at the Oakland Coliseum, which made its debut during the 2025 MLC.As part of a long-term deal inked in 2019, ACE is contracted to funnel a minimum of USD 1.2 million annually to the USAC to cover the contracts of the national team including support staff. A failure to pay out that money consistently, the USAC has claimed, was one of the breaches that led to the termination of the contract. ACE strongly disputes this, claiming it has actually paid more than the agreed amount.Another thing that bothers Anderson, in case the standoff continues, is its potential impact on several important events leading up to the 2026 T20 World Cup, which is set to be played in February-March in India and Sri Lanka with USA among the 20 participating teams. In consultation with USAC, ACE had planned a high-performance camp for 35 top men’s players with trial matches – three 50-over games and three T20s – in Morrisville against West Indies A.Anderson, the former New Zealand allrounder who now plays for USA, is the operational director of the US Cricketers’ Association•Major League CricketThe objective of this camp was to identify the best players for the T20 World Cup as well as prepare the team for World Cricket League 2 in October, which is USA’s qualification pathway for the 2027 ODI World Cup. ACE is also meant to be hosting the USA Women’s team at the HPC in Grand Prairie along with five-match T20 series against West Indies in October-November.”Is that all still taking place or not? These camps have to take place for the players to get ready for those things,” Anderson said. “All of those things are very much in a big question mark at the moment, which again just creates more uncertainty around the players. And effectively anything that goes on regarding those contracts ends up ultimately just affecting the players.”It’s just throwing a question mark on what players don’t know and their uncertainty around even that, which is again so unfortunate, because we’re in a space now with USA [where cricket] is growing and it’s growing very fast, and there’s a lot of money getting put into it and a lot of investment. But again [as things now stand], for what? Because players are now disrupted, unsure of what they need to do, unsure of where they’re going, and what their future looks like.”Has USAC written to the players since the public termination of the ACE contract? Not yet, according to Anderson. He pointed out that while the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) recognizes USACA, USAC doesn’t. “We haven’t heard anything from USAC,” he said. “Again, I do want to establish that we aren’t recognized by USA Cricket, so in terms of being bound by anything, they do not have to say anything to us. But again, it would be very neglectful of them not to inform the players’ association considering we do have majority of the members [players] of Major League Cricket and in fact we have the majority of the USA national team as our members. And so when we speak up and get into bargaining discussions and things like that, we are doing it for them. It’s a players’ union run by the players.”Anderson said he had personally not reached out to any USA players, although there had been several discussions between players during the ongoing Minor League, where he plays for Dallas Kings Eleven. “I have not been in touch with any of the players because at the moment we don’t have any information to provide those players. If they’ve been provided information, that hasn’t been given back to us or given to any other players. This is where things can get pretty messy, because it starts becoming a little bit of the whispers start going around, and the rumour mill starts up, and [nobody knows] what’s actually true and what’s correct. And everyone’s a little bit unsure of what that actually looks like. So again, it’ll be nice to hear from the governing body [USAC] itself and understand what it looks like.”We’re currently in the middle of Minor League at the moment, so there are a lot of players asking what’s happening. Text messages, phone calls, what does this look like for Major League and our World Cup preparation? Minor League is currently running, but what does the future of that look like? Is this going to continue? So again, messages that unfortunately don’t have any answers.”According to USAC chairman Venu Piske, ‘it’s too early to make any assumptions’ about the future of the MLC•Sportzpics for MLCUSAC open to ‘renegotiate’ and ‘sanction’ 2026 MLCVenu Piske, the USAC chairman, said he understood the concerns raised by Anderson, and added that players would always be the priority. “I certainly can understand the sensitivity and also the players may have some concerns,” Piske said. “It’s understandable, but players are our No. 1 priority without any doubt. We have made sure we take care of players in all situations even when we are getting our funding as per the contract from ACE, or not getting the funding.”Piske said while there remained outstanding issues to sort out with ACE, USAC would not overlook players’ welfare including the financial aspect. Piske said USAC had given out 15 national contracts, which he said were the highest number offered in the board’s history. Piske said he could understand players being concerned about the future of MLC, and whether it would happen next season, but remained optimistic, saying USAC were open to “renegotiate” with ACE and even “sanction” the next season.”I know there may be some concerns around what’s going to happen with MLC, that’s understandable, but it’s too early to make any assumptions. As per our communication to ACE at the time of termination, we are committed to renegotiate on different terms because the current terms they [ACE] have not met; we always had a friction environment for the last six years, but considering their [ACE’s] commitment and investment to MLC, we are open to even sanction MLC while this is going on or we are open to some agreeable terms to resolve this.”MLC CEO Johnny Grave said ACE was not in breach of any terms in the original agreement and said it was focused on continuing to support USA Cricket. “We are fully compliant with our agreement with USAC and we continue to work to build all aspects of cricket in America.”According to Anderson, the best solution ought to involve ACE, without whose support he felt USA Cricket cannot provide a “premium product”. A “resolution sooner rather than later”, Anderson said, would benefit not just the game in the USA, but also reassure players that they have a secure future. “It needs to be anything that’s going to benefit the players in terms of just answers that will give us some suggestion that the future of the game here in the States is going to continue to be invested in and continue to grow, and players understand that they have a way of earning a living and being able to play quality cricket here again,” he said. “With the runway of what the USA team specifically has in terms of a World Cup and then an Olympics in 2028, those are massive markers for USA cricket to be able to hit. And I don’t see a world in which they can provide a premium product or quality of product without funding from ACE.”

With the World Cup just months away, GOAL looks at how the U.S. squad might look next summer after a November camp proving no spot is guaranteed and depth runs deep.

If it wasn’t clear before, it certainly was after Mauricio Pochettino’s postgame press conference following the win over Uruguay. he said – over and over, each time with a bit more fire. No one is guaranteed anything, no player is above or below another, and no one in a U.S. men’s national team shirt should count themselves safely in or out. Pochettino believes in the power of this player pool. In his mind, it’s time the rest of the world caught up.

November, by and large, backed him up. The U.S. were missing names, sure, but they weren’t missing much of anything in terms of performance. They beat Paraguay 2-1, then smashed Uruguay 5-1, showing real strength in depth. Those games proved that this player pool isn't made up of just a certain group that can compete at a high level, it's made up of dozens of players who have earned the right to believe they can go to a World Cup. It's also put those who weren't in camp on high alert. No one is safe, and everyone who puts on the jersey is just as much a USMNT player as the next guy, no more or no less.

Ultimately, Pochettino will have some tough choices when it’s time to make that call. It’s a good problem to have, in truth. Over the past year, he’s elevated this USMNT player pool to an entirely new level, raising both the team’s ceiling and its floor in a massive way. The days of worrying about one or two individual absences feel long gone; now there’s competition everywhere, and no one is being placed above – or protected below – anyone else in that fight for spots.

But, when the big decisions do come next summer, what will they look like? Who could be in the USMNT World Cup squad? GOAL takes a look at where the U.S. stands after the November camp…

Getty Images SportGOALKEEPERS

GOAL's picks: Matt Freese, Patrick Schulte, Matt Turner

At the top of the depth chart, the goalkeeper spot seems pretty straightforward. Freese has now started the last 12 USMNT games and 13 of the last 14. Barring anything crazy, it seems that it's his job and will be for the foreseeable future. That doesn't mean it's guaranteed, though, as a lot can still happen between now and summer, but Freese's spot is looking pretty good.

For the others, it gets interesting. Despite being left off the November roster, Turner remains an experienced player and, in reality, is probably the best option outside of Freese, given his 2022 World Cup resume. There's a battle going on for that third spot, though, and, with Freese starting every game essentially, there's little clarity from the coaching staff on what that battle is looking like at this moment.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesDEFENDERS

GOAL's PICKS: Max Arfsten, Sergino Dest, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally

There's a lot to unpack here, largely because these positions are all very fluid. We've seen traditional four-at-the-back systems. We've seen five-at-the-back systems. We've seen fullbacks as centerbacks. Versatility will be key here. So, too, will fitness.

On that fitness note, we'll start on the left, where Antonee Robinson is this team's biggest question mark. If he's fit, he's fantastic, but he hasn't been fit at all this year. Is there a reason to be concerned for next summer? Possibly, but the good news is that there are capable understudies. Arfsten has grown by leaps and bounds. Dest can switch over, too, and someone like Tim Weah can play that spot if needed. With or without Robinson, the USMNT should be fine, which would feel crazy to say a year ago.

The right side, meanwhile, feels pretty secure. Dest is Dest – no concerns there. And Freeman has blossomed into a two-way contributor, highlighted by his goals against Uruguay. He also has the physical tools to compete at the highest level, so there’s not much worry on that front either.

As for center back, there's still some shaking out to do after Richards. Ream seems safe, as does McKenzie following his captain recognition against Uruguay. That leaves the rest of the group fighting spots, with that group including Scally, who remains the wild card on this backline.

Getty ImagesMIDFIELDERS

GOAL's picks: Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Weston McKennie, Aidan Morris, Gio ReynaCristian Roldan, Tanner Tessmann, Malik Tillman

There have definitely been some shakeups in this group following the November camp.

Reyna, of course, is the headliner and, at the moment, he's probably in. It all depends on his fitness, yes, but when he is healthy, he's too good to leave at home. He showed that this camp, despite his lack of minutes on the club level. What could he look like, then, if he did get some run with Borussia Monchengladbach?

Berhalter, ironically, also boosted his stock massively. His performance against Uruguay was fantastic, but it also showed what he could bring to a team in a tournament setting. Most teams in the world could use a guy who fights like there's no tomorrow and delivers elite-level set pieces. Berhalter is that type of guy, and, for now, that has him in the team.

Those two were the big winners from this camp. As for the rest of the midfield, it’s mostly filled out by familiar faces. But the big question remains: who starts? Adams is likely locked in – but who earns the spot next to him going forward?

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Getty ImagesFORWARDS

GOAL's picks: Folarin Balogun, Diego Luna, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Haji Wright

Balogun continues to score, and that fact will almost certainly carry him to the starting gig at the World Cup. There's competition alongside him, of course, and striker selection is often based on form. Because of that, Pepi and Wright, who have played well with the USMNT during this Pochettino, will have a chance, too, while Agyemang and Sargent will know that a good run in the Championship could make all the difference.

In terms of the attacking midfield role, several are listed in the category above, players like Tillman, Reyna, and McKennie, who could play next to Pulisic. Luna is in that mix, too, as are Aaronson and Zendejas, who are both right on that bubble for spots in the squad.

New York Yankees star outfielder Aaron Judge didn't understand why Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad was so angered by teammate Pablo Reyes's maneuver at second base, which irked Kjerstad and led to the benches clearing during Wednesday's game.

"Yeah it was a weird bench clearing," Judge said while speaking to reporters after the Yankees' 5-4 loss to the Orioles. "The guy's [Reyes] jumping up to make a play. I don't know what he's [Kjerstad] all mad about. But I don't know about a rivalry. We've got a job to do. We're just out here to play ball."

In the bottom of the fourth inning with no outs and the count full, Kjerstad, who was on first base, took off for second on a stolen base attempt. Yankees catcher Austin Wells's throw careened skyward and forced Reyes to leap into the air to corral the ball. As Reyes was airborne, his left foot made contact with Kjerstad's head, to the chagrin of the Orioles outfielder.

Kjerstad immediately had words for Reyes, leading to the benches clearing—and one very memorable reaction from Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay.

Order was eventually restored, though the umpiring crew did issue a warning to both teams. After the game, Reyes explained to reporters that he was simply trying to "make a play" to prevent the ball from sailing overhead into the outfield.

"Especially on a play like that, you're just trying to make a play there,” Reyes said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “It happens in the game when you're competing sometimes. It's out of your control sometimes, the intensity that can come up."

Kjerstad, meanwhile, downplayed the incident after the game.

"We got tangled up there," Kjerstad said. "Emotions from both sides kind of went up. I don't think it was too much."

It's not the first time Kjerstad has taken a hit to the head against the Yankees. Last July, he was plunked in the head by then-Yankees pitcher Clay Holmes, sparking a heated fracas.

By comparison, Wednesday's benches-clearing incident was mild.

"Just a high throw, and Pablo jumped and bumped him," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "So I don't think anything more than that. It was really not that big a deal. I think it was probably a misunderstanding."

Orioles skipper Brandon Hyde agreed.

"I had somebody run in front of me, so I didn’t exactly see what happened," Hyde said. "It sounded like Heston and Reyes got tangled up a little bit. I didn’t think it was much."

The Yankees and Orioles next play in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium, beginning on June 20.

Celtic are now targeting a move to sign Wessam Abou Ali from Columbus Crew, according to reports, with Wilfried Nancy looking to bring one of his star men to Scotland.

At long last, the Bhoys are closing in on a managerial appointment. The Scottish giants have taken their time, waiting for the right appointment, with Martin O’Neill doing an impressive job as interim boss in the meantime.

The 73-year-old has reiterated every week that he will happily step aside once Celtic have found their next permanent option and that looks set to happen sooner rather than later amid recent reports.

The Columbus Crew manager looks set to take his first job in European football and has the task of bridging the gap on Hearts in a shock Scottish Premiership title race.

O’Neill, meanwhile, will bow out of his second stint in charge after steadying the ship. Whether he’s still in charge by the time that Celtic travel to face Feyenoord this Thursday is the big question.

Speaking to reporters, the veteran manager said: “The answer is this: the game is on Thursday so the plane leaves on Wednesday. They better make their minds up very quickly.”

Of course, if Nancy doesn’t arrive in time, then O’Neill will have the opportunity to win his first European game of his second stint in charge to cap off a small tenure full of nostalgia.

The ball will then be in the new manager’s court, who has already reportedly identified the need for a new striker at Celtic Park and set his sights on exactly who that new striker should be.

Celtic now lining up January move for Columbus Crew star

According to the Scottish Sun, Celtic are now targeting a move to sign Abou Ali from Columbus Crew in the January transfer window. The 26-year-old Palestinian striker has been one of Nancy’s best players in the MLS and quickly won the faith of his manager after arriving from Ahly SC.

Celtic chiefs learn Nancy arrival date as personal terms update emerges

The Hoops are closing in…

ByTom Cunningham Nov 20, 2025

Described as “clinical” by Columbus Crew general manager Issa Tall, Abou Ali first grabbed the headlines when he scored a perfect hat-trick against Porto at the Club World Cup as the MLS side watched on, waiting to secure his signature.

Since then, the 26-year-old has only impressed even more in America and may yet be on his way to Scotland to strike an instant reunion with Nancy.

Games

5

Goals

3

Assists

1

With four goal involvements in five games under Nancy, Celtic would be wise to go all out to sign the 6’1 forward, who could solve their own striker problem in January.

Whether Columbus Crew will allow their star striker to leave with their manager is another question, however. Losing Nancy is already set to deal them a blow in its own right, let alone their top star alongside him.

Celtic set to make quadruple backroom appointment to Nancy's staff

Head coach admits team remains a work in progress as attention turns to T20 World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Oct-2025

Charlotte Edwards speaks to the media after England’s semi-final exit•ICC via Getty Images

Charlotte Edwards, England’s head coach, says that her team’s flawed World Cup campaign has made her all the more hungry to instigate the necessary changes, after stating it is “time to look to the future” following a crushing semi-final defeat to South Africa in Guwahati.Speaking to Sky Sports, just moments after England’s 125-run defeat, Edwards acknowledged the brilliance of South Africa’s matchwinners – Laura Wolvaardt, who was Player of the Match for her 169 from 143 balls, and Marizanne Kapp, whose five-wicket haul included a first-over double-wicket maiden to wreck England’s hopes of achieving a 320 target.However, having stated before the tournament that a semi-final berth was the bare minimum that should be expected of her squad, Edwards did not shy away from the underlying fragility of England’s campaign. Despite qualifying in second place with five wins out of seven in the group stages, their performances against Bangladesh and Pakistan had already exposed the weaknesses in their batting, before the tournament favourites Australia maintained the stranglehold of last winter’s Ashes whitewash with an emphatic six-wicket win in Indore.Edwards took over from her predecessor Jon Lewis back in April, but held back from wholesale changes to her squad for this winter, instead focusing on improvements within the existing set-up. These were arguably on display at times during the campaign just gone, not least in a gritty performance to beat the tournament hosts, and fellow semi-finalists, India by four runs in their group-stage clash in Indore.However, with the World Cup marking the end of this four-year ODI cycle, and with a home T20 World Cup looming next summer, Edwards accepts that it’s time to step up the squad’s overhaul, starting with a series of training camps from December to March, at which the next generation will be given a chance to prove its readiness.”I’m a winner,” Edwards said. “I don’t like losing. When I came into this role, I knew it wasn’t going to change overnight. I’ve seen some really positive things to come out of this trip. I think we’ve performed a little bit better under pressure, but certain moments we haven’t seized, and that’s going to be an ongoing thing.”Overall, we are making progress, and that’s the most important thing. But ultimately, you’re defined on your results. And today we’re going out of a World Cup in the semi-final stage, where we were all hopeful we could really make that final.””I knew it wasn’t going to be a quick fix. We’ve got some areas we need to work on, but that probably makes me more hungry now to go back home and work with these players over over the winter period.”A number of England’s players are due to head to Australia for next month’s WBBL. Thereafter, however, Edwards has earmarked a series of training camps, in Oman and South Africa, at which the players will be pitted against one another in an arrangement similar to the North versus South fixtures that Andrew Strauss, England’s former men’s director of cricket, began in 2018.Nat Sciver-Brunt after the defeat in the semi-final•ICC via Getty Images”We’ve got a new cycle now of ODI cricket, haven’t we, but first and foremost it’s the T20 World Cup,” Edwards said. “There’ll be a group of players that will be training from December through til March. We’re going to spend time with these players and hopefully upskill them, and hopefully they can deal with these occasions better.”That’s exciting for me. As an international coach, it’s rare to get time with players to actually advance their games. We’ve got an opportunity this winter to hopefully do that with some of our younger players. and I’m looking forward to getting that underway in December.”Edwards namechecked the likes of Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson, who missed this tournament through injury, while other names who will come into consideration for future campaigns include the likes of Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Davina Perrin, the breakout star of this year’s Women’s Hundred.”We’ve targeted 13 to 15 players who we’re going to work really, really hard with,” she said. “[This tournament] was too early. The players that had got this far, we wanted to stick with them, but it’s exciting now. We’ve got a new group of players coming through. We’ll go home and reassess. We won’t make too many rash decisions, but we’ve got to look at the future now. And we’ve got some unbelievable talent coming through.”England’s defeat to South Africa was especially painful given that they had beaten the same opponents at the same venue in their tournament opener, after bowling them out for 69. This time, however, the match was played on a bouncier red-soil surface that was more conducive to the seamers, most notably Kapp with her match-sealing figures of 5 for 20.Asked whether there had been any temptation to tinker with the spin-heavy line-up that had brought them this far, Edwards replied: “Hindsight is a wonderful thing. We’ve stuck with that combination. It’s done us really well throughout the [competition].”England had seemed competitive, having reduced South Africa to 202 for 6 going into the final ten overs of their innings. But then Wolvaardt cut loose, adding 119 runs in partnership with Chloe Tryon, before Nadine de Klerk helped add the finishing touches.”At times, we just didn’t hit our straps today, certainly that back 10 really cost us,” Edwards said. “If we’d have kept them to 280, which probably was a par score, we may have been able to chase that down, but, yeah, it wasn’t to be.”It’s going to be a sad dressing-room,” she added. “I don’t think I’ll say too much tonight. I don’t think there’s anything you can say tonight that’s going to make things better. As we all know, life moves on very quickly. These girls will be off to Australia soon. But yeah, I’m hurting too.”

Wrexham have received around £18 million ($24m) in funding for their stadium redevelopment project, despite the personal wealth boasted by the club’s Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac. The iconic Racecourse Ground is undergoing a serious facelift, with it revealed that said project is being paid for by tax-paying members of the public.

Wrexham stadium: What redevelopment project involves

The Welsh outfit have, as reported by , been awarded considerable non-repayable grants as they work on restructuring a venue that had become a little tired. It is claimed that “the amount of money received by Wrexham in state aid vastly outstrips public spending on any other football club in England and Wales”.

The Red Dragons were first awarded £3.8m ($5m) by Wrexham county borough council a year after Reynolds and Mac completed their stunning takeover of the club in 2021. A second payment of £14m ($18m) was made in September 2025.

Said funds have been passed on as Wrexham work on the construction of a Kop Stand – with the original structure having been flattened some time ago – alongside new floodlights and a playing surface that will allow the stadium to host international football and rugby matches.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesReynolds & Mac do not need to finance Wrexham rebuild

The Welsh government has been working on a £25m ($33m) regeneration project that centres on Wrexham General station – which sits next to the Racecourse. The Times reports that “it was not known that the vast majority of the state aid would be provided directly to the club”.

A previous bid for state help through the government’s levelling-up fund was rejected, with it suggested that the project in Wrexham would need to be equally split between public and private sectors – creating £3 of public benefit for every £1 invested.

Documents supporting the latest award of £14m state that there is now “no incentive for the private sector to pursue the project”. It went on to say: “The subsidy is therefore necessary to overcome this market failure to allow the redevelopment and contribute towards the objective of developing the economy of Wrexham.”

Why local government are funding Wrexham project

The Welsh government bought the land in question back in 2020 to help facilitate the building of a new Kop stand – with the plan being to bring other events, such as concerts, to the area.

Welsh councils have since been warned that they are “at risk of becoming financially unsustainable”. It is claimed that funding pressures will “squeeze services and inevitably lead to redundancies” across the working population.

Wrexham are not, however, the first football club to receive public money. Swansea City part-funded their Liberty Stadium home through grants.

The Red Dragons have said of their venture: “The impact of these improvements, and the ability to host international sporting events in North Wales, will create both a catalyst for local job creation and provide an overall economic uplift to the region due to the increased number of visitors attracted to the events and their economic activity while they are in the area.”

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Getty/GOALWelcome to Wrexham: Meteoric rise overseen by Reynolds & Mac

Local councils maintain that they only got involved because a “self-financed redevelopment of the ground” would not have delivered a final outcome which was “appropriate for international matches”.

The Welsh government said: “Public sector funding will make the crucial difference between the club satisfying league requirements and meeting the more demanding international fixture standards.

“This investment helps create a venue that can host competitive international football at the world’s oldest international stadium, boosting the local economy and delivering a fitting landmark for Wrexham.”

The Red Dragons are hoping that the Racecourse will soon play host to Premier League football, with a historic run of three successive promotions lifting the club out of the National League and into the Championship.

Reynolds and Mac have helped to finance that meteoric rise – with another record-breaking transfer spend being overseen during the summer of 2025 – while the award-winning ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series has opened up a window to the world and allowed a global fan base to be built.