Liverpool are now reportedly eyeing a move to sign Jean-Matteo Bahoya from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2026 after Michael Edwards sent scouts to watch the Frenchman in action in the Bundesliga.
A player that Hugo Ekitike knows well, Bahoya could help spark Arne Slot’s big-money attack into life. The Dutchman was handed a spending spree of more than £400m in the summer as the Reds broke their transfer record twice to welcome Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.
So far, however, they’ve yet to see the fruits of their labour. Liverpool have been handed four defeats in their last four Premier League games and have looked a shadow of the champions that they became last season. Their crown hasn’t just slipped, it has disappeared entirely.
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Out of the big signings, only Ekitike has truly made his mark – scoring six goals in 13 games – while Isak and Wirtz have continued to struggle.
Having his say on his side’s recent struggles, Slot admitted that it’s not surprising that change has disrupted Liverpool, but he did not expect to lose four games in a row.
Nonetheless, Liverpool simply have to pick themselves up and go again on the pitch. Meanwhile, it’s up to Edwards and Richard Hughes to find some balance for Slot’s side, which could see Bahoya arrive from Frankfurt when 2026 arrives.
Liverpool scouts spot key Bahoya and Ekitike partnership
As reported by Anfield Watch, Liverpool sent scouts to watch Bahoya whilst also watching Ekitike last season – taking note of how impressive the duo were when working together. In the end, the Reds welcomed just Ekitike in the summer, but they could now return for his former teammate.
Whether it’s Cody Gakpo, Wirtz or Isak, so much of Liverpool’s attack centres around forwards who prefer the ball to feet rather than runners in behind. And that’s why Bahoya would make such a difference to Slot’s side.
After clocking a record speed of 37.16 km/h in the Bundesliga this season, it’s clear that the Frankfurt winger would add some much-needed directness to Liverpool’s frontline – the kind that Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane added in the past.
A record speedster would also be arriving just when Mohamed Salah begins to slow down. In comparison, the Egyptian’s average speed in the Champions League this season has been 34.29 km/h.
The 20-year-old isn’t just about speed, either. So far this season, he’s been involved in four goals in 12 games, with three goals and one assist in all competitions. A rapid, young winger, Bahoya stands out as another top talent emerging from Frankfurt.
Varun Chakravarthy also made the cut as India picked three spinners for their Asia Cup opener
ESPNcricinfo staff10-Sep-20252:34
Bangar: Samson deserves a slot in the top three
India won their first toss in 16 attempts across formats, and chose to bowl first in their Asia Cup opener against UAE. Suryakumar Yadav, the India captain, felt there was a chance of dew later in the match on a humid evening in Dubai.Muhammad Waseem, the UAE captain, said he would have preferred to bowl first too, and expected a bit of early help for the seamers.India sprang a few surprises with their selection. They retained Sanju Samson as wicketkeeper, despite the return of Shubman Gill to the top of the order displacing him into a middle-order role more familiar to Jitesh Sharma. They also picked both their wristspinners in Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.This left the issue of whether they would prioritise depth in their batting or their seam attack. They went with the former, picking the allrounder Shivam Dube rather than a second frontline quick in Arshdeep Singh or Harshit Rana. Jasprit Bumrah starts as the only specialist quick, with Hardik Pandya expected to partner him with the new ball.Related
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UAE made one change to the XI that played their last match, the four-wicket loss to Afghanistan in the recent home tri-series, bringing in the offspin-bowling allrounder Dhruv Parashar for the legspinner Muhammad FarooqIndia: 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Sanju Samson (wk), 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Jasprit BumrahUAE: 1 Muhammad Zohaib, 2 Muhammad Waseem (capt), 3 Asif Khan, 4 Alishan Sharafu, 5 Rahul Chopra (wk), 6 Dhruv Parashar, 7 Harshit Kaushik, 8 Haider Ali, 9 Muhammad Rohid, 10 Junaid Siddique, 11 Simranjeet Singh
There has been plenty of speculation over who the next Celtic manager will be at Parkhead since Brendan Rodgers decided to resign from the role last month.
The Northern Irish head coach decided to move on from the Glasgow giants after a defeat to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership left his side eight points adrift of first place.
Rodgers won the league title in both of his seasons back at the club, as shown in the graphic above, and it will take some doing to find an upgrade on the former Liverpool manager.
The latest on Celtic's manager search
The Daily Record claims that interim boss Martin O’Neill held talks with Dermot Desmond on Friday to discuss his future, and that he is willing to stay on longer if required.
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However, the report adds that the experienced manager has told the club that the sooner they find a long-term replacement for Rodgers the better, because of how important the January transfer window will be.
The outlet reveals that Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen was in the running to land the job – he was even reported to be a frontrunner – but that the tactician is now ‘likely’ to sign a new contract with the Norwegian side.
Meanwhile, the Daily Record’s latest update claims that the club are in talks with Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy as their number one target to take the role, with the Hoops hoping to snap him up before the end of the international break.
It was recently reported that Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen is on Celtic’s radar as a possible replacement for Rodgers, and he could be the club’s own version of Knutsen if they decide to go down that route instead of getting a deal done for Nancy.
Why Nicky Hayen would be Celtic's own Kjetil Knutsen
Stripping style of play and formations aside for a moment, the Bodo/Glimt boss would have been an exciting appointment because of his domestic and European success.
Knutsen has won 39 of his 79 games in Europe, per Transfermarkt, and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League and the quarter-finals of the Conference League. On top of that, the Norwegian boss has won the Eliteserien title in four of the last five seasons, which shows that he can win titles and progress a team in Europe.
Hayen, meanwhile, qualified for the league phase of the Champions League this season, something Celtic failed to do, and reached the semi-finals of the Conference League in the 2023/24 campaign.
European football
Nicky Hayen
Kjetil Knutsen
Matches managed
30
79
Wins
15
39
Draws
4
15
Losses
11
25
Points per game
1.63
1.67
Best finish
Conference League semi-finals
Europa League semi-finals
Stats via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, Knutsen and Hayen have a similar record and set of achievements at European level, which suggests that they would both help the Hoops to compete in Europe.
Like the Bodo/Glimt boss, the Belgian tactician has had domestic success with one Pro League title in two seasons, whilst his team currently sit second in the division after 14 matches, per Transfermarkt, in his third campaign in charge.
The 4-2-3-1 manager, who was described as “unbeatable” by one scout on X, also won the Belgian Cup last season and the Super Cup in the current term, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he knows how to win domestic trophies.
Therefore, Hayen could come in as Celtic’s own version of Knutsen because he would arrive with a similar pedigree, as they are both managers who have had similar levels of domestic and European success with their current clubs.
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Whereas, Nancy has only ever managed in the MLS with Montreal and Columbus Crew, which means that he would not bring the same experience and proven track record in European football that Hayen would.
Leeds United have made a major decision in their pursuit of AZ Alkmaar and Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott.
Parrott has made himself a national hero in Ireland in recent weeks, producing plenty of goalscoring heroics in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, scoring five times in two matches.
The 23-year-old scored the vital winner away to Hungary that booked his country’s place in the playoffs next years, with Ray Houghton waxing lyrical about his impact.
“In moments like that you are trying to find the right words to actually put across your feelings. As an ex-player, you know what’s at stake, you know what they’ve been through, you know that when you go through hard times you want to remember the good times even more, and it means so much to you.
“I understood it, that Troy was a young lad who came through and was going to be a sensational talent, went to Spurs as a kid, made his debut when he was 17 and had so much ahead of him, but it didn’t quite go the way everyone anticipated. He had to reinvent himself as a player, so to see the joy he had playing for his country and doing what he did, hopefully it will inspire the next generation of players.
Leeds have been linked with a move for Parrott, looking to bring him back to England, and there has now been a development regarding the situation.
Troy Parrott now moving up Leeds striker shortlist
According to a new report from talkSPORT‘s Alex Crook, Leeds now have Parrott “high on their list” of attacking options. Both the Whites and Wolves are “among the clubs” keen on snapping him up in 2026, with his current club demanding as much as £20m for his signature.
Parrott is the man of the moment, with his stock never higher in his career to date, and he could be a strong signing for Leeds, whether it be in the January transfer window or next summer.
Whites supporters will no doubt hope that it is the former, in order for the Irishman to help Daniel Farke’s side avoid relegation from the Premier League back to the Championship.
Parrott is far from a flash in the pan, having been highly-rated as a youngster and Tottenham, and being lauded by Alkaar head coach Maarten Martens.
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There is likely to be a battle for Parrott’s signature among Premier League clubs, but if Leeds can come out on top, it could prove to be an inspired piece of business, especially given the striker’s age.
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دافع فران سوتو، رئيس اللجنة الفنية للحكام بالدوري الإسباني، عن عمل هيئة التحكيم بشكل عام، وعن الحكم أليخاندرو كوينتيرو جونزاليس بشكل خاص، عقب أحداث مباراة ريال مدريد وسيلتا فيجو.
وشهدت مباراة ريال مدريد وسيلتا فيجو بالجولة الماضية للدوري الإسباني، جدلاً تحكيميًا واسعًا، بعد طرد ثلاثي مدريد، ألفارو كاريراس، فران جونزاليس، وإندريك، وانتقد تشابي ألونسو مدرب الفريق، أداء الحكم أليخاندرو، مؤكدًا أنه أثر على المواجهة وأربك اللاعبين.
وأوضح سوتو في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “بصراحة، كنت أتوقع توترًا أقل، هذه حقيقة، توقعت أنه مع إجراءات الانفتاح والشفافية التي نتخذها، سيكون هناك توتر أقل، وجودكم هنا اليوم (الصحافة) حدثٌ تاريخي، ليس لدينا ما نخفيه، وأبوابنا مفتوحة، ما أطلبه من الجميع هو احترام الحكم”.
ورفض سوتو التعليق على كلمات لاعبي ريال مدريد تجاه الحكم، مؤكدًا أن أليخاندرو كوينتيرو قد يُدير مباريات ريال مدريد مجددًا هذا الموسم.
وأكد سوتو: “من خلال لجنة التعيينات، نسعى لضمان إدارة جميع الحكام مباراة واحدة على الأقل لكل نادٍ، سنتخذ القرارات التي نراها مناسبة بشأن المباريات المُقامة، ولكن دون أي اعتراض سواءً كان داخليًا أو خارجيًا”.
وبخصوص تصريحات كارفاخال (لمطالعتها من هنا)، التي سجلها كوينتيرو في تقرير المباراة، أفاد سوتو: “سجل الحكم ما سمعه في التقرير، وستتخذ لجان المسابقات القرارات المناسبة”.
كما رفض رئيس اللجنة الفنية للحكام وصف العلاقة مع ريال مدريد بأنها متوترة أو متقلبة، وأتم: “لم نتحدث معهم، وهذا ليس أمرًا يجب علينا فعله، نحن خدام كرة القدم؛ علينا اتخاذ أفضل القرارات الممكنة والتركيز على عملنا”.
Marsh fell for 4 as WA slumped to 98 for 4 on a day when only 30 overs were bowled due to rain
AAP06-Dec-2025
Mitchell Marsh fell cheaply for the second time in the game•Getty Images
Mitchell Marsh’s Test audition has failed, dismissed cheaply for the second time in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the MCG.In his first red-ball game since being dropped by Australia following last year’s Boxing Day Test, Marsh made just 4 in WA’s second innings on Saturday after managing 9 on day one.Related
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He lasted just six balls as he fell to Victorian seamer Sam Elliott, who is enjoying one of the best games of his first-class career.Marsh, who last played a Shield match in October 2024, had been touted as a potential shock factor at the top of Australia’s order in this summer’s Ashes.But another Test call-up seems unlikely with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald making a promising start to their opening combination for Australia.Marsh had to wait more than half a day on Saturday to get an opportunity to bat, with no play possible until midway through the second session due to rain in Melbourne.With WA starting day three on 5 for 1, Marsh was quickly in the game after nightwatchman Corey Rocchiccioli was trapped lbw by Elliott.The visitors crumbled to 17 for 3 when Marsh exited, before captain Sam Whitemanand fellow veteran Hilton Cartwright rallied.The pair got WA to 75 for 4, a lead of 14, when bad light stopped play midway through the final session. But play was able to resume again, with WA getting to 98 for 4 at stumps and Whiteman unbeaten on 56.With the weather likely to be fine on Sunday, Victoria will still fancy their chances of running through WA and securing an outright win.
Manchester City closed the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League to just two points after they beat Sunderland 3-0 at The Etihad on Saturday.
A screamer from Ruben Dias set the Cityzens on their way before Rayan Cherki provided a genius rabona assist for Phil Foden to seal all three points with the third goal.
Despite a run of five wins in their last six matches in the Premier League, there is always room for improvement at Manchester City for Pep Guardiola, which means that they could be active in the upcoming January transfer window.
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According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a potential swoop to sign RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande in the January transfer window.
The report claims that the Premier League side have sent scouts to watch the Ivorian talent in action in the Bundesliga this season, ahead of a possible move for him next month or next summer.
It adds, though, that Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool have also been watching the 19-year-old starlet, which suggests that there could be plenty of competition for his signature.
CaughtOffside reveals that insiders believe that his value could rise as high as £87m amid interest from a host of top European clubs, whilst his contract does not expire until 2030.
Why Man City should sign Yan Diomande
The Cityzens should push to win the race for the teenage whiz’s signature because he could be Guardiola’s new Sterling, as a rapid right-footed right winger who can provide a real threat in behind.
In Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Rayan Cherki, City have a collection of right-sided attackers who are at their best dropping into play to take the ball with their back to goal or on the half-turn, but they do not have a natural right winger who wants to run in behind.
U23 scout Antonio Mango described Diomande, meanwhile, as a “crazy speedster” who has become a “weapon” in the final third by adding goals and assists to go along with his electric pace.
The Ivorian star scored a hat-trick against Frankfurt in a 6-0 win for Leipzig at the weekend, taking his tally for the season to seven goals in 15 appearances for the German side.
Diomande has scored six goals from 3.03 xG and registered two assists from two ‘big chances’ created, per Sofascore, in the Bundesliga for his club, whilst he has also completed 2.8 dribbles per game, which speaks to how direct and purposeful his play is.
Man City’s all-time leading scorers and assisters
Goals
Assists
Sergio Aguero (260)
Kevin De Bruyne (177)
Joe Hayes (146)
David Silva (136)
Eric Brook (145)
Raheem Sterling (86)
Erling Haaland (144)
Bernardo Silva (75)
Colin Bell (149)
Phil Foden (65)
Francis Lee (138)
Sergio Aguero (65)
Raheem Sterling (131)
Riyad Mahrez (59)
Stats via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, Sterling was also a player who provided quality in the final third to go along with the pace that he used to run in behind opposition defenders.
The fact that the England international and Sergio Aguero are the only two players who feature in the top seven for both goals and assists speaks to how effective he was for Guardiola on the right wing as both a scorer and a creator.
Diomande is a talented young player who has the potential to follow in Sterling’s footsteps, because he has already shown that he can provide quality on a regular basis in the Bundesliga with Leipzig this term, with eight goal contributions so far.
Like Sterling, the 19-year-old winger is a dynamic forward who can go down the line or run in behind on his right foot, but he can also drop deep and come inside onto his weaker foot, having scored four goals with his left foot and two with his right, per Sofascore.
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This is why City should be pushing to get a deal done for the youngster when the January transfer window opens, because Diomande could provide Guardiola with a right-sided option that he has not had since Sterling left the club.
كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، أن برشلونة تلقى دفعة معنوية قوية بشأن داني أولمو، الذي يقترب من العودة والتعافي من الإصابة التي أبعدته عن صفوف الفريق.
وبحسب صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، فإنه من المرجح أن يعود داني أولمو للمشاركة مع برشلونة ضد إسبانيول، في 3 يناير، في مباراة تمثل نقطة تحول حاسمة في موسمه.
ويغيب داني أولمو عن الملاعب منذ تعرضه لخلع مؤلم في كتفه الأيسر، خلال فوز برشلونة أمام أتلتيكو مدريد بثلاثية لهدف واحد.
وأشارت تقارير أخرى إلى أن برشلونة قد يستعيد أحد أبرز لاعبيه، حيث من المتوقع أن يحصل الألماني مارك تير شتيجن على التصريح الطبي الأسبوع المقبل، ليعود لقائمة الفريق ضد أوساسونا.
اقرأ أيضاً.. رافينها يحسم الجدل بشأن أنباء رحيله عن برشلونة إلى الدوري السعودي
ويمر شتيجن بالمرحلة الأخيرة من التعافي من إصابة في أسفل الظهر، أبعدته عن الملاعب لعدة أشهر، ويتقدم بشكل رائع وزاد من كثافة تدريباته اليوم بشكل ملحوظ، لاستعادة لياقته البدنية الكاملة.
وستمثل عودة تير شتيجن إلى برشلونة إنجازًا هامًا، بعد أكثر من أربعة أشهر من الغياب، وهي فترة غياب أطول بكثير مما كان متوقعًا وقت خضوعه لعملية جراحية.
ويستعد خوان جارسيا لحراسة مرمى برشلونة بشكل طبيعي، بعد أن أثار القلق بتعرضه لكدمة عقب الفوز ضد ريال بيتيس بخمسة أهداف لثلاثة على ملعب لا كارتوخا، حيث شوهد وهو يعرج قليلاً أثناء صعوده لحافلة الفريق في طريقها للعودة لمطار إشبيلية ومرة أخرى أثناء صعوده للطائرة مع بقية الفريق ليثير تكهنات حول حالته البدنية.
وكانت تدريبات برشلونة قد شهدت مشاركة رافينها بشكل طبيعي قبل لقاء آينتراخت فرانكفورت.
وكان فليك قد فضل إراحة البرازيلي ضد ريال بيتيس كإجراء احترازي في الدوري الإسباني بعد معاناته من إجهاد عضلي طفيف.
A Fifa retirou o transfer ban que impedia o São Paulo de realizar contratações e registrar novos reforços. A confirmação foi feita nesta segunda-feira (8).
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O clube realizou o pagamento de cerca de 1,2 milhão de dólares à Bama, empresa de agenciamento de atletas responsável pela contratação de Calleri em 2021. O valor corresponde a uma comissão de intermediação e foi pago na quarta-feira (3), mas só foi registrado oficialmente nesta segunda-feira (8).
➡️Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! São Paulo
Com a liberação, o São Paulo ganha mais tranquilidade em meio a problemas políticos, pressão da torcida por resultados e até depoimentos ao Ministério Público.
continua após a publicidade
Vale destacar que a janela de transferências abre em 5 de janeiro e, até o momento, o clube ainda não anunciou nenhuma negociação.
Segunda punição no ano
Este é o segundo transfer ban do São Paulo na temporada. O Tricolor sofreu o primeiro em agosto, após o atraso de parcelas da contratação de Damián Bobadilla com o Cerro Porteño, ex-equipe do jogador. A dívida, em si, foi quitada no mesmo dia.
➡️ Calleri promete reação no São Paulo em 2026: ‘Daremos a volta por cima’
Jonathan Calleri em 202518 jogos (14 titular)3 gols4 assistências164 minutos para participar de gol1.7 finalizações por jogo (0.4 no gol)10.3 finalizações para marcar25% de conversão em grandes chances0.8 passes decisivos por jogo5 grandes chances criadas46% de eficiência nos duelos1.4 faltas sofridas por jogoNota Sofascore 6.86