Vinicius Junior was involved in an angry clash with Atletico Madrid star Koke during Real Madrid's 5-2 derby defeat away from home. Julian Alvarez starred for Diego Simeone's side with a brace as Atletico picked up a crucial La Liga victory over their rivals. For Los Blancos, Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler were on target but it was not enough as they slipped to defeat..
Vinicius Jr's feud with Koke
Vinicius Jr. clashed with veteran Atletico Madrid star Koke on multiple occassions during the derby and the duo shared heated exchanges, taking shots at each other. At one point, Koke even poked fun at the Brazilian with a Kylian Mbappe taunt, as reported by .
AdvertisementGetty Images'He's eating your toast'
The fight started with Vinicius Junior calling Koke a "f***ing crybaby", which the Atletico star laughed off. The Madrid winger then launched yet another attack as he said: "You always, always talk to the press. Everything I say to you, you say to the press."
Now, Koke joined the fight by pointing at Vincius' team-mate Kylian Mbappe, calling him "the best". In response, the Selecao star once again said: "Of course, but play with me and we'll win more."
Koke then took another dig using Mbappe's name as he told the Brazilian, "He's eating your toast." The Spaniard clearly indicated that the Frenchman was stealing his limelight.
Madrid's injury woes
Real Madrid have been plunged into a defensive crisis after Dani Carvajal suffered a calf injury during the Madrid derby, ruling him out for around a month. With Trent Alexander-Arnold already sidelined for up to eight weeks, Los Blancos are left without a single natural right-back, forcing Xabi Alonso to improvise ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
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Getty Images SportWhat next for Real Madrid?
Xabi Alonso's side have travelled to Kazakhstan to face Kairat in a Champions League away fixture on Tuesday. They will then face Villarreal at home in La Liga, which will be their final game before the international break.
It’s been an excellent summer for Chelsea so far this year.
On top of winning the Club World Cup, the Blues have made a number of exciting additions to the first team, including Joao Pedro, who was spectacular in pre-season.
However, the West Londoners looked less than impressive against Crystal Palace on Sunday, and the Brazilian centre-forward looks nothing like his usual dangerous self.
Chelsea forward Joao Pedro
It was likely just a one-off, but fortunately, Chelsea are now closing in on another brilliant signing who’d be able to help Pedro get up and running even faster this season.
Chelsea target dream signing for Pedro
In addition to Pedro, Chelsea have completed several potentially game-changing signings this summer, with Liam Delap coming in to provide real competition for the starting number nine position, and Jamie Gitten joining to liven up the left-hand side.
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The Conference League champions have even bolstered their defensive ranks with the seriously exciting Jorrel Hato, who at just 19 years old already has 111 appearances for Ajax and six senior caps for the Netherlands under his belt.
Yet, the West Londoners are not done there, as they now appear intent on picking up another incredibly exciting attacker, someone who could help Pedro get up and running as soon as possible.
At least that is according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has claimed that Chelsea are still very interested in Xavi Simons.
The Italian journalist has revealed that while talks between the Blues and RB Leipzig are still ongoing and there are things that need to be done, the club are “confident” of landing the Flying Dutchman, who still only wants them.
Romano does not mention how much the 22-year-old might cost, but reports from earlier this summer claim that a fee of around £61m should do the trick, which seems fair for a player of Simons’ quality, especially as he could get Pedro up and firing.
Why Simons would be perfect for Pedro
Now, the first and undoubtedly most crucial reason Simons would be able to help Pedro get up and running sooner is his output.
RB Leipzig'sXaviSimonsreacts after the match
For example, despite playing for a lacklustre Leipzig side that failed to qualify for Europe last season, the Dutch magician was able to score 11 goals and provide eight assists in just 33 appearances, totalling 2763 minutes.
In other words, the explosive “game-changer,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 minutes.
Therefore, not only would the Amsterdam-born dynamo be able to provide the Brazilian forward with an abundance of goalscoring chances, but he’s also got the finishing ability to get on the end of the chances created by the former Brighton & Hove Albion star.
Moreover, it’s not like the former PSV Eindhoven gem was lucky, or on a hot streak last season, as his underlying numbers are just as impressive.
According to FBref, he ranked in the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Bundesliga last season for passes into the penalty area, through balls, and carries into the final third. He also ranked in the top 5% for ball recoveries and the top 6% for progressive passes, all per 90.
These numbers paint the picture of a creative maestro who is as capable of passing the ball into dangerous areas as he is carrying it, meaning opposition defenders will never be quite sure what he’s planning to do.
Finally, the last reason the former Paris Saint-Germain gem would be such a great teammate for Pedro is his position versatility.
Simons’ Scout Report
Statistics
Per 90
Percentile
Goals – xG
+0.21
Top 2%
Non-Penalty Goals – npxG
+0.21
Top 2%
Passes into Penalty Area
2.51
Top 3%
Through Balls
0.96
Top 3%
Carries into Final Third
2.97
Top 3%
Passes Completed (Long)
3.64
Top 5%
Ball Recoveries
5.36
Top 5%
Progressive Passes
5.86
Top 6%
Goals/Shot
0.20
Top 7%
Passes Attempted (Long)
6.61
Top 8%
Touches (Mid 3rd)
32.07
Top 8%
Fouls Drawn
2.34
Top 8%
Progressive Passing Distance
167.32
Top 9%
Passes from Free Kicks
1.67
Top 9%
Dead-ball Passes
5.53
Top 10%
SCA (Fouls Drawn)
0.46
Top 10%
Touches
65.18
Top 10%
All Stats via FBref
For example, while he spent much of last season playing in attacking midfield and has even been dubbed “one of the best 10s in the world” by one data analyst, he’s just as comfortable playing on both wings and has even spent time up top.
In other words, Maresca would be able to play the 22-year-old wherever he needs him, in turn giving him more opportunities to play and form a proper understanding with the Brazilian sharpshooter.
Ultimately, Pedro looks like he’s going to be a success for Chelsea regardless, but if the club want to get even more out of him and help him get up and running faster, then Simons is the answer.
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The international star would be a far better signing for Chelsea.
Celtic have already been busy this summer, but this activity is only set to continue.
The main headlines are the fact that Nicolas Kühn has been sold to Como for a reported fee of £16.4m but, in more exciting news, Kieran Tierney has returned on a free transfer, six years after departing for Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Nygren, Hayato Inamura, Callum Osmand, and Ross Doohan have also arrived, as has a new striker, more on him in just a second, but could Brendan Rodgers be about to reinforce his attacking options further?
Celtic's search for a striker
On Saturday morning, ahead of a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United at Parkhead, Shin Yamada was unveiled as the Hoops’ latest summer recruit, arriving from Kawasaki Frontale for a reported fee of £1.5m.
The 25-year-old was the third-highest scorer in the J League last season with 19, accumulating a goal or an assist every 91 minutes, while also helping the Sky Blue and Blacks reach a first-ever AFC Champions League Final, dumping out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr en route.
Nevertheless, following Wednesday’s pre-season friendly victory over Sporting CP in the Algrave, Rodgers stated that he wants “to add [more] to our front line”, so could he be about to get his wish?
Well, according to reports in Romania, Celtic have seen a bid of around £6.9m rejected for CFR Cluj striker Louis Munteanu.
They add that the 23-year-old is valued at closer to £16m by the Railwaymen, while Ligue 1 duo Nice and Lille have also expressed ‘interest’ in signing him.
Munteanu is expected to be on the move this summer but, if he is to end up in Glasgow, it would require a sizeable fee.
How Louis Munteanu would improve Celtic
Munteanu was signed by Fiorentina as a teenager, representing I Viola’s Primavera side, but never in the first team, thereby returning to Romania with Farul Constanța, before joining CFR Cluj for around £2m last summer.
Lousi Munteanu.
Well, safe to say he has impressed in Transylvania, scoring 26 goals in 43 appearances for Cluj, ending up the Romanian top division’s leading scorer, while also on target during a Europa League qualifying victory over Hungarian outfit Paksi FC at Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu as recently as last Thursday.
Louis Munteanu’s Liga I statistics 2024/25
Statistics
Munteanu
Liga I rank
Goals
23
1st
Goals per 90
0.76
1st
Non-penalty goals
19
1st
Shots
115
2nd
Shots on target
57
1st
Shots on target %
49.6%
3rd*
*minimum 40 shots attempted.
Statistics courtesy of FBref.com
These performances earned Munteanu international recognition, part of Romania’s squad for last month’s under-21 European Championships in Slovakia, scoring this absolute rocket against Spain at Národný futbalový štadión in Bratislava.
Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout documented the striker’s “amazing season”, while Ewan Paton of the National labelled his form ‘sensational’, having become the first player to reach 23 goals in a single Liga I season since Mihai Adam 51 years ago.
So how does he compare to Celtic’s latest striker signing Yamada?
Let’s find out.
Louis Munteanu vs Shin Yamada 24/25 comparison
Statistics
Munteanu
Yamada
Appearances
43
83
Minutes
3,052
4,212
Goals
26
26
Assists
3
8
All statistics below are on a per-90 basis.
Shots
3.8
3.28
Shots on target
1.88
1.43
Shots on target %
49.6%
43.5%
Big chances missed
0.52
0.63
Average Sofascore rating
7.22
6.72
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and SofaScore
Worth noting first and foremost that Munteanu’s statistics document last season while, because the J League runs from February to December, that is all of Yamada’s statistics throughout 2024 and 2025, hence why he made 40 more appearances.
Nevertheless, the Romanian’s statistics are more impressive, scoring the same number of goals but in almost half the number of appearances, while registering more shots and shots on target on a per-90 basis.
Most expensive SPFL signings (timeless) Rangers Celtic
Thus, it is clear that Munteanu would surely be an excellent addition to Rodgers’ squad, even if Cluj are demanding a record-breaking Scottish transfer fee.
Celtic learn star player's one key demand as contract talks near resolution
Liverpool’s ambitions of landing a move for Alexander Isak have dragged on throughout the summer transfer window, with a deal to land the forward not yet on the horizon.
The Reds tabled their opening offer last week for the Newcastle United striker, but their £120m offer for the Swedish international was quickly rejected by Eddie Howe’s side.
It’s thought that a fee in the region of £150m could be enough for the Black and White army to part ways with their talisman, who found the net on 23 occasions in the Premier League last season.
With less than a month remaining in the transfer window, Arne Slot’s side don’t have long to complete their business ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
As a result, they may be forced to turn their attention to other targets in the coming days to provide the boss with the depth and quality needed to regain their league crown.
The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new attackers this summer
There’s no denying that Isak remains Liverpool’s number one target for such an area of the pitch, but other options are constantly being looked at should they fail to agree a deal for his signature.
Luis Diaz has already departed Anfield, with the likes of Darwin Núñez and Federico Chiesa also touted with moves to Serie A to raise added funds for their pursuit.
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez
The money raised from such departures could go towards a move to land Real Madrid star Rodrygo, with the Brazilian once again in their sights, according to Football Insider.
The report claims that the Reds’ hierarchy have identified the 24-year-old as an alternative to Isak, potentially going back in for a move to land the forward in the near future.
However, the article also states he could command another huge fee from Slot’s side this summer, with the LaLiga giants currently demanding over £80m to offload him in the next few weeks.
Why Liverpool’s latest target would be their answer to Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé is a forward who has constantly tormented backlines across Europe in recent years, cementing himself as one of the best attackers in world football.
Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring for Real Madrid.
The 26-year-old joined Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer from PSG, after enjoying a seven-year spell in Paris, which saw him net 235 goals in his 264 appearances.
It all could’ve been so different for the Frenchman, with Liverpool previously interested in his signature before he completed a free transfer to join Real Madrid last summer.
His move to the Santiago Bernabéu has seen him continue his magnificent goalscoring record, finding the net 44 times in his 59 appearances during 2024/25, ending his first season in Spain as the division’s top scorer.
There’s no denying Mbappé is one of Europe’s leading talismen, being a player many sides around the world wish they had at their disposal – but unfortunately, that honour goes to Xavi Alonso’s side.
Whilst a move for the Frenchman to Anfield this window is off the cards, they could sign their own version of him in the form of Rodrygo, with the Brazilian labelled as a similar player by FBref.
When comparing their respective stats from last season, the 24-year-old managed to outperform the world beater in numerous key areas, potentially being a superb addition to Slot’s star-studded side.
Rodrygo, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, registered more progressive passes and carries per 90, showcasing the threat he possesses with the ball at his feet.
He also managed to complete more key passes and more passes into the final third per 90, able to provide new signings Hugo Ekitiké and Florian Wirtz with added opportunities, should he also move to Merseyside.
How Rodrygo & Mbappé compare in LaLiga (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Rodrygo
Mbappé
Games played
30
34
Goals & assists
11
34
Progressive carries
5.3
4.6
Goals per shot on target
0.3
0.3
Pass accuracy
86%
82%
Key passes made
2.5
1.3
Passes into final third
3.1
2.3
Carries into final third
4.1
2.9
Crosses completed
3.8
1.1
Progressive passes
5.1
4.3
Stats via FBref
His dominance over his teammate is further reflected in his higher pass completion rate, whilst completing more crosses per 90, having a superb creative nouse within his arsenal.
Isak will rightfully be the main target for Liverpool over the next few weeks, but it still remains to be seen if a deal can be completed before September 1st.
However, the fanbase shouldn’t worry, with the Brazilian proving he’s more than capable of being a top-quality addition who could provide Slot with an Mbappé-like talent at Anfield.
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Liverpool still need to sign a centre-back this summer.
Two iconic Manchester City players now want to leave the Etihad and join the same club during the summer transfer window.
A new era dawning at Man City this summer
It became clear that Pep Guardiola’s squad had aged together last season, with a number of players showing signs of being past their best, from Kyle Walker to Kevin De Bruyne.
City surrendered their Premier League title to Liverpool, and it was paramount that fresh blood was added to the squad this summer, with the club doing exactly that, bringing in Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, among others.
It feels like the end of an area at the Etihad, with doubts existing over the futures of many heroic figures from down the years, whether it be Ederson between the sticks or Ilkay Gundogan in the middle of the park – Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa has been linked to come in as a replacement for the former.
Guardiola needs a younger, fresher team to wrestle their title back next season, and receiving money for ageing figures will aid them in that respect, generating more funds for transfers. Now, a key update has emerged regarding two players who look set to depart in the coming weeks.
Two Man City legends looking to leave
According to Yagiz Sabuncuoglu for Haber Sarikirmizi [via Sport Witness], both Ederson and Gundogan are keen on leaving Manchester City and joining Galatasaray this summer, bringing an end to legendary stints at the club.
“Okan Buruk wants a goalkeeper with good feet from the beginning. Ederson is one of the best players in that description. The player rejected Napoli. He wants to come to Galatasaray. His asking salary is less than €10m. The figure Manchester City wants is not high. If Galatasaray sign Ederson, Manchester City are ready to let him go.
“Ilkay Gundogan is ready for the squad, he wants to come to Galatasaray. Galatasaray haven’t been able to make a comeback yet because they are trying to get Osimhen done first and then the goalkeeper.”
While it will be sad to see Ederson and Gundogan leave City this summer, it does feel as though their time at the club has reached its natural conclusion.
The combined £330,000-a-week pair have achieved so much at the Etihad, winning an incredible 12 Premier League titles between them, but the brutal fact is that neither are quite at the level they used to be.
Ederson’s decline is arguably the most surprising of all City’s players, considering he is still only 31 years of age, which is nothing for a goalkeeper in the modern game, but errors have crept into his game more and more, both on and off the ball.
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Meanwhile, Gundogan no longer possesses the box-to-box energy he once did, and he needs to move to a league that is less physically demanding. Both will be remembered as true legends for City, though, with the duo pushing hard to be in an all-time XI in the club’s history.
James Anderson draws a crowd at Canterbury, even as a side-show
ECB Reporters Network23-Jun-2024
George Balderson was in the wickets against Kent•Getty Images
Lancashire were 38 for 1, trailing Kent by 206, after day one of their Vitality County Championship relegation showdown at Canterbury.Josh Bohannon and Luke Wells were unbeaten on 22 and 14 respectively at stumps, after Beyers Swanepoel had bowled Keaton Jennings for a duck.Earlier George Balderson and Nathan Lyon took three wickets apiece for second-from-bottom Lancashire, as they bowled out the division’s basement side for 244.Tawanda Muyeye was Kent’s highest scorer with 59, while Ben Compton made 55.Although both sides have struggled all season, the crowd for the first day of the 172nd Canterbury week was estimated at over 2,000. Cars were queueing for half a mile down the Old Dover Road and moving so slowly that they were overtaken by hundreds of pedestrians walking up the hill.If they’d come to see James Anderson they were disappointed. Despite making the trip south he was left out of the squad and, perhaps unable to believe his luck at having been asked to bat against an Anderson-free attack, Compton plundered 11 from Tom Bailey’s opening over.The scoring rate soon slowed however. Will Williams found Marcus O’Riordan’s edge in the fourth over and although George Bell dropped him, he’d moved on to just 16 when Balderson had him caught at third slip by George Lavelle.Bailey switched to the Nackington Road end and got Daniel Bell-Drummond for 4 but Joey Evison joined Compton and batted through to lunch, at which stage it was 102 for 2.It wasn’t a standard interval: the crowd realised Anderson was bowling at one stump on the outfield and around a hundred fans formed a circle to watch. When he’d finished it took him nearly five minutes to reach the pavilion as he stopped for dozens of selfies.When the outfield had finally cleared Kent suffered a mini-collapse. Evison went for 25, edging Bailey to Matty Hurst, before Balderson claimed two wickets in the space of 10 balls. Harry Finch drove him to Josh Bohannon at mid-off for one and Compton fell to an ankle-high catch by Jennings at second slip.That left Kent on 124 for 5 and it nearly got worse for the hosts as Muyeye was on 23 when he pulled Lyon to the midwicket boundary, only to be dropped by Jack Blatherwick.Having dropped into the middle order after struggling as an opener, Muyeye responded with his first half-century of the season.Debutant Charlie Stobo joined him and made an inventive 36 before he was bowled by Lyon, ending a stand of 82 and leaving Kent on 210 for 6 at tea.Swanepoel made 19 before he top-edged Lyon behind and Matt Parkinson went for a nine-ball duck against his former county, lbw to Luke Wells.Lyon then bowled George Garrett middle-stump for three and although Muyeye was dropped again, this time off Lyon by a sliding Williams, he was lbw to Wells in the next over, denying Kent a single batting point and leaving Lancs to face 14 overs before stumps.Swanepoel sent Jennings’ off stump flying for an eight-ball duck but he was the only victim, with Wells just surviving a dicey penultimate over from Stobo.
West Ham United are searching for reinforcements this summer and have now made contact over a bargain move for a striker with a proven track record who is available on a free transfer, according to reports.
West Ham United seek to recruit a goalscorer
Graham Potter hasn’t enjoyed the most fruitful spell since taking charge of West Ham. However, the Irons are set to be active on the market to address their fundamental issues.
Above all, the lack of a prolific striker at the London Stadium has led to a dependence on Jarrod Bowen, and it is fair to say the Irons are now moving in on targets to fill the vacancy available through the middle.
Hamza Igamane for Rangers against Fenerbahce.
Reports suggest Rangers striker Hamza Igamane is being targeted by West Ham following a breakthrough season in Scotland. However, Brentford, Everton, Lens, RC Strasbourg, Lille, and Stade Rennais are among alternative interested parties.
Further back, Burnley’s Josh Brownhill could add goals from midfield for the Hammers as his Turf Moor future becomes increasingly uncertain with his contract set to expire.
Potter’s men endured an uninspiring campaign last term and require some inspiration, which has prompted Carlton Cole to urge West Ham land Jack Grealish ahead of their Premier League counterparts.
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Circling the wagons, West Ham have now made contact to sign an alternative England international who is set to be a free agent this summer.
West Ham make contact to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin
According to Football Transfers, West Ham have made contact to sign Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and they are prepared to better his current £100,000 per week salary in order to secure his services.
Michail Antonio is on course to depart the London Stadium after failing to agree terms on a short-term extension, and Potter believes the Toffees forward would be an ideal addition to strengthen his forward line without paying a transfer fee.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s record at Everton
Appearances
273
Goals
71
Assists
22
Dubbed a “proper number nine” by David Moyes, Calvert-Lewin is viewed as a low-risk high reward signing and has previously been offered to the Hammers, albeit they passed on the chance last summer due to his injury history.
Niclas Fullkrug didn’t set the heather alight last year and Evan Ferguson’s short loan spell didn’t have the desired impact, which may explain why West Ham have plumped for Premier League experience as they close in on a new striker.
After sending their scouts, Leeds United are now reportedly battling to sign an in-demand central defender whose agent is already holding talks over his immediate future.
Leeds United's summer transfer plans
More than ever, the three teams that earn promotion from the Championship to the Premier League must get things right in the transfer market. Those before Leeds, Burnley and what will now be one of Sunderland, Coventry City and Sheffield United got things disastrously wrong before paying the price of relegation. Now, those aforementioned teams must not make the same mistake.
For two consecutive seasons in the Premier League, all three promoted sides have instantly suffered relegation. What was once a rarity is now a worrying trend that the likes of Leeds must break. To that end, it looks as though the 49ers are ready to back those at Elland Road when the summer transfer window arrives.
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The reports have already been coming thick and fast ahead of the transfer window, with the Whites setting their sights on a fresh shot-stopper and a new striker. When it comes to those targeted, meanwhile, the likes of Caoimhin Kelleher and Beto have both threatened to steal the headlines as of late as Leeds look to commence their summer shopping in Merseyside.
Kelleher would be a particularly impressive signing, given how he’s performed as Alisson Becker’s deputy at Liverpool. The Irishman has been called on more often than not at times in the face of Alisson’s injury struggles, but has not struggled to step up in place of the Brazilian. And that, in itself, should speak volumes of his ability.
Tsimikas and Kelleher
Meanwhile, in front of a new No.1, it looks as though Leeds have also set their sights on a new centre-back.
Leeds now battling to sign Bologna defender Lucumi
According to The Boot Room, Leeds are now battling to sign Jhon Lucumi from Bologna this summer after sending scouts to watch the defender throughout the current campaign. Now up against the likes of Liverpool and Crystal Palace in pursuit of his signature, the 49ers could make an impressive statement by signing Lucumi.
With his agent already reportedly holding talks with intermediaries over his client’s future, however, those at Elland Road may need to act sooner rather than later if they want to sign the 26-year-old Bologna star. In terms of what he would add to Farke’s side, it’s clear that Lucumi could be a shrewd signing in Yorkshire.
Described as “one of the most composed” defenders that he has seen by analyst Ben Mattinson, Lucumi looks set to be one to watch this summer following another impressive individual campaign in Serie A and the Champions League.
With one eye on sealing automatic promotion and another on the summer transfer market, Leeds United and the 49ers are reportedly poised to join the race to sign a new midfielder from the Austrian Bundesliga.
Leeds face crucial five-game run
In the space of a week, Leeds have seen their automatic promotion chances thrown into serious doubt for the first time in months to reclaiming their place at the top of the Championship – summing up the drama of England’s second division.
Victory against Middlesbrough last time out would have come as a huge relief for those in Yorkshire, who must now make it two wins in the space of a week when they play host to Preston North End on Saturday afternoon.
Leeds United vs Preston North End
12/04/2025
Oxford United vs Leeds United
18/04/2025
Leeds United vs Stoke City
21/04/2025
Leeds United vs Bristol City
28/04/2025
Plymouth Argyle vs Leeds United
03/05/2025
With just one game against one of the Championship’s top six coming up in their five fixtures, Leeds should be full of confidence that the league title and automatic promotion will be theirs for the taking in the coming weeks.
Currently top on goal difference, the Whites will be desperate to form a gap between themselves on Burnley when the Clarets square off against third place Sheffield United and they, themselves, face Stoke City on April 21.
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Speaking about the pressure on his side during Leeds’ promotion run-in, manager Daniel Farke told reporters: “It’s so difficult and I wish sometimes the fans knew this. We’re in a business where there is lots of pressure.
“I don’t like to complain about this because the players have a proper life and earn lots of money, but let’s not forget, we work with human beings and we must keep this in mind when we criticise them a little bit.”
Farke, like those at Elland Road, has just five games before he can breathe a potential sigh of relief and then turn his attention towards the summer transfer window for Leeds.
Leeds set to join race for Abubakr Barry
With promotion back in their hands, the Whites have reportedly shifted their focus towards the transfer market. According to Kronen Zeitung in Austria, as relayed by Sports Witness, the 49ers are now poised to join the race to sign Abubakr Barry from Austria Vienna this summer, battling against Hull City as well as clubs in Germany and France for the midfielder’s signature in doing so.
The 24-year-old midfielder has impressed in Austria this season and could yet find himself on the move as a result despite only arriving in Vienna last summer. Dubbed “fantastic to watch” and even compared to Jobe Bellingham by scout and analyst Mfalsafa on X, Barry is undoubtedly one to watch.
Whilst chasing such a player, promotion to the Premier League will certainly go a long way for Leeds, who are already planning ahead.
How hard-hitting batter turned to another sport after injury curtailed his rugby career
Matt Roller16-Sep-2025When Ross Adair walks out to open the batting at Malahide on Wednesday he will complete a rare sporting double.The last time Adair pulled on a green Ireland shirt to face England, his opponents included the future England rugby union captain, Maro Itoje; this time, his opposite number at the top of the order will be Jos Buttler. Even if his encounter with Itoje was an Under-19s fixture, he will surely become the only man to have faced both modern English sporting greats in international competition.The prospect of playing against Buttler makes Adair grin. “I’m a 31-year-old man, and I’m trying not to be too excited about this guy – who is not much older than me – coming over to play cricket against me,” he says, sheltering from the wind on the Sport Ireland campus on the outskirts of Dublin. “To be in the presence of someone who’s done so much in the game will be pretty cool.”It is the latest landmark in a second sporting life that Adair himself admits seemed unlikely when he was recovering from the double hip surgeries that effectively ended his rugby career. “That was life’s way of telling me that I was on the wrong path,” he says. “I didn’t expect to be here, if I’m quite honest. It just sort of happened.”Adair and his younger brother, Mark, juggled both sports as teenagers, but went in different directions. “I got to a stage where there was Ulster Under-20s or the Under-19 Cricket World Cup,” he explains. “Ryan Eagleson (now Ireland’s bowling coach) was the Under-19s coach and he left me out… The cricket door closed, the rugby door was open, so away I went.”Primarily a winger, Adair struggled to break into a strong Ulster backline. “The back three when I was there was [Andrew] Trimble, [Jared] Payne and [Tommy] Bowe – effectively a Lions back three.” He made a single substitute appearance at senior level in the Pro12, scoring a try during his seven-minute cameo, before moving onto Jersey Reds in the English Championship.Ross Adair in action for Ulster’s A team during his rugby union career•Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty ImagesCricket went on the backburner. “We played one-hand, one-bounce in the changing rooms. That kept my eye in… I maybe came back and played a couple of games for Holywood, my local club – [Rory] McIlroy territory. But if I’d gone back to Jersey with a broken finger, they’ve have been like, ‘What are you doing?'”By the time a degenerative hip condition prompted two surgeries in early 2018, he had started to fall out of love with rugby. He returned to play for Ballynahinch and for Ulster’s A team, but recalls clearly when he realised it was time to quit: “The ref blew the first whistle, and I was counting 80 minutes down in my head… I was like, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.'”Adair took a job in property development and started to play cricket again on the side – though an Ireland call-up was a long way off his radar: “It was just a bit of for me, a bit of fun.” Runs in club cricket earned him opportunities for Northern Knights in the Irish inter-provincial system – initially at No. 7 or 8 – before he blasted a century from the top of the order in 2022.His first Ireland call-up came on a tour to Zimbabwe, with senior players missing playing franchise cricket, and hitting 65 off 47 in his second cap ensured further opportunities would follow. He ran the drinks at last year’s T20 World Cup but marked his arrival at international level in September, launching nine sixes in a 57-ball hundred against South Africa.A combination of injury, bad weather and Ireland’s sparse fixture list means that he has only batted once since in T20Is, scoring 48 against West Indies in June. “I’ve had to watch the highlights of my hundred a couple of times, just to [remind myself], ‘You can still do this, you’re fine.’ Sometimes you second-guess yourself, but that’s all part of sport. It’s very normal.”By his own admission, Adair is a “raw” batter who relies more on temperament than technique. “I’m just glad I’m not one of the guys that go, ‘My head was a millimetre out of position there.’ You’d go insane… I like going with the flow. I could always strike a cricket ball, but I was just very, very raw. That helped me a lot when I came back.”He finds cricket more “mentally challenging” than rugby, particularly given the high-variance nature of his role as an attacking opener: “You could go five or six games in a row without getting any runs and you think you’re shit, but that’s not the case. There’s a score around the corner… It’s live by the sword, die by the sword. For me, it’s an amazing way to live.”Adair was inspired by England’s record-breaking hitting on Friday night, when they racked up 304 for 2 against South Africa: “That’s my kind of cricket. It always has been: see ball, hit ball.” He saw Phil Salt’s series – a first-baller, followed by an unbeaten 141 off 60 balls – as emblematic of the life of a modern T20 opener. “It’s scary… But that’s just the way it is.”When I went back to cricket, once I finished playing rugby, I could just go back and blast it. I wasn’t worried about the consequences… When it did take off a bit, I was trying to keep that mindset: don’t worry about it. If you get out, you get out. It’s fine. You could be 90 off 40, you could also be 0 off 1… That sense of freedom makes it a bit easier for me.”Related
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He believes there are more transferable skills between cricket and rugby than might be obvious – “being in front of a crowd, blocking out the noise… and I’ve taken a lot of high balls” – and sees T20 as the “closest thing” between the two. “It’s just such a good, explosive, aggressive version of cricket… That’s maybe why I love it the best.”Adair won his first central contract last year, shelving his day job to become a professional cricketer aged 30, and has one eye on next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. “Hopefully with these games coming up, I can put my foot down for that opening role… They’re proper cricketing countries – the people there are mad for it – so it’s a very exciting time.”Facing England will be the biggest challenge of his career so far, but he will not be changing his approach. “I respect them so much because of what they do, and the cricket they play, but you have to park that sometimes… I’ll keep coming and trying to take them on, no matter who they are. I’ll park the respect once it comes to the game.”The two nations’ cricketing rivalry is not as deep as in rugby, but Adair is still “incredibly” excited ahead of Wednesday’s series opener. “I love playing England. I’ve had my experience with England before and even then, as an 18-year-old in the rugby sphere, you just want to get stuck in. It’s a bit different in cricket because it’s not as confrontational – but it still means a lot to us.”