Tristan Stubbs was also not included in the playing XI in South Africa’s tournament opener
ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-2025There was no Heinrich Klaasen or Tristan Stubbs in South Africa’s team sheet for the Champions Trophy game against Afghanistan in Karachi on Friday afternoon, and CSA confirmed that Klaasen had been ruled out “as a precautionary measure due to a left elbow soft tissue injury”. Stubbs might not have been a contender for the first-choice XI anyway.South Africa, who won the toss and asked Afghanistan to field first, still had a formidable-looking batting line-up, with Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi up top, and Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram and David Miller in the middle, and the allrounders Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen at seven and eight.But Klaasen is one of their big players, and the form player in ODIs. In the four ODIs he had played in the past few months, all against Pakistan – at home late last year and then the one in the tri-series preceding the Champions Trophy – his scores were 86 in 97 balls, 97 in 74 balls, 81 in 43 balls and, in the latest game, 87 in 56 balls.Overall, he averages 44.12 from 54 ODI innings – in which he has scored 2074 runs – and strikes at 117.44. Crucially, keeping the venues of the Champions Trophy in mind, Klaasen has a strike rate of 125.31 against spinners in ODIs since the start of 2020, all while averaging 57 runs-per-dismissal against that kind of bowling.Among 97 batters to have faced 500-plus balls of spin in this period, Klaasen’s strike rate is the highest and comfortably better than the next best – Rohit Sharma’s 111.59. In this game, against Afghanistan, South Africa will likely face at least 20 overs of spin, with Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad among the frontline bowlers, and Mohammad Nabi in the mix too.South Africa’s next Champions Trophy game is against Australia on February 25 in Rawalpindi.
نجح إشبيلية في تسجيل هدفين متتاليين أمام برشلونة، خلال المواجهة التي تجمع بين الفريقين حاليًا على ملعب رامون سانشيز بيزخوان، في الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم.
وكان ألكسيس سانشيز قد افتتح التسجيل لصالح إشبيلية من ركلة جزاء في الدقيقة 13، بعد خطأ من رونالد أراوخو.
وأضاف إيزاك روميرو الهدف الثاني لإشبيلية في الدقيقة 36، بعد افتكاك الكرة من جول كوندي، وقبل نهاية الشوط الأول قلص ماركوس راشفورد الفارق بصناعة بيدري في الدقيقة 52.
اقرأ أيضاً.. فيديو | أول أهدافه في الليجا.. راشفورد يقلص الفارق لـ برشلونة أمام إشبيلية
وانتهى الشوط الأول بتقدم إشبيلية بهدفين لهدف واحد، وبعد سلسلة من إضاعة الفرص خاصة من طرف برشلونة، فقد قضى الفريق الأندلسي على آمال البلوجرانا بالهدف الثالث.
وسجل خوسيه أنجيل كارمونا الهدف الثالث بعد تسديدة رائعة من داخل منطقة الجزاء في الدقيقة 90 لم ينجح تشيزني في التصدي لها.
وفي الدقيقة 96 أحرز إشبيلية الهدف الرابع بعد تمريرات رائعة متتالية لتصل أمام أدامز ليسجل الهدف الرابع.
وبهذه النتيجة، يكون برشلونة قد تعرض للهزيمة الثانية على التوالي ولكن في الدوري الإسباني بعد خسارته أمام باريس سان جيرمان في دوري أبطال أوروبا بهدفين لهدف واحد.
It’s an exciting time to be of a Chelsea persuasion. Enzo Maresca led the Blues to two major titles last season and finished fourth in the Premier League to open the doorway to this year’s Champions League proper.
And the signs throughout pre-season are promising. Though it’s important not to get carried away by the happenings of this off-season hinterland, Chelsea look fluid and dangerous in attack, with the summer signings widening the scope of Maresca’s tactical vision.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescabefore the start of the second half
New players have arrived, and old players have locked their lockers at Stamford Bridge. Everything is primed for the 2025/26 campaign.
To lose one of the club’s superstars now would be a vicious blow, but, according to reports, that’s something Maresca and the board might have to contend with.
Chelsea receive record-breaking offer
Chelsea might fork out a fair bit each year, but they also recoup plenty of money from cashed-in surplus. Indeed, the Blues have mastered the art of pawning off unwanted players, thus mitigating their losses when Todd Boehly doesn’t receive bang for his buck.
While players such as Nicolas Jackson are touted to leave west London this month, moves are being made to welcome a series of further attacking signings.
If rivals feel that means one of Chelsea’s main men could be leaving, they are wrong.
But even so, Spanish sources have reported that Manchester City are preparing an audacious £200m +£50m in add-ons offer to sign Cole Palmer, having already seen an approach rejected for the England international.
Chelsea'sColePalmercelebrates with the golden ball trophy
In September 2023, Chelsea signed Palmer from Pep Guardiola’s side for £42.5m. He was unknown at the time, but now stands as one of football’s poster boys.
For all the money in the world, losing the 23-year-old at this stage of his career and this stage of Chelsea’s development is unacceptable.
Another Salah situation for Chelsea
Were Chelsea to sell Palmer, they would not, at least, be blighted in terms of depth. Not really. The Blues have welcomed many players into the fold over the past few years, and are in talks with RB Leipzig to sign versatile playmaker Xavi Simons for £60m, with Christopher Nkunku headed the other way.
But Palmer was named “the best player in the Premier League” by pundit Jamie Carragher last season, and indeed, he’s been nothing short of a revelation for the Blues, talismanic in winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup last season.
Across two seasons in all competitions, Palmer has scored 43 goals and supplied 23 assists across 97 matches for Chelsea.
Were BlueCo to let him leave and grow into an even bigger sensation with a Premier League rival, it might just prove to be Chelsea’s biggest mistake since selling Mohamed Salah to Roma in 2016.
Salah, as we all know, has since returned to the Premier League and cemented himself as one of the division’s greats with Liverpool, winning two top-flight titles and the Champions League among many other honours, posting 245 goals and 113 assists across 402 matches for the Reds.
As Arne Slot won England’s biggest prize in his debut campaign last year, somehow replacing the irreplaceable Jurgen Klopp, it was Salah who knuckled down and ensured the Anfield side claimed their prize, breaking the record for goal involvements in a 38-game top-flight season, notching 47 all told (29 goals, 18 assists).
Carragher might feel that Palmer is English football’s finest player, but it was Salah’s season. However, a decade the Chelsea star’s senior, there could be a passing of the torch in a short time, with Palmer dominating such conversations over the coming decade.
The nature of Chelsea’s transfer model means that letting certain stars-in-the-making slip through the cracks is unavoidable, but that’s why cashing in on Palmer would be such a bleak transgression.
Could it be that Palmer has the potential to become one of the Premier League’s greatest players of all time? One of the most revered and the most decorated in Chelsea’s long history? Big, bold claims, but not without substance. Palmer, to be sure, has started in such a vein, and if he’s started as he means to go on, there’s every chance such predictions could come true.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
At least Salah was sold to a team out on the continent, where he found his footing and cut his teeth on the Serie A scene, working toward elite status.
Now, he’s peerless at the top of the English charts. But Palmer is gaining, and he’s gaining fast. Since joining, Chelsea’s star attacking midfielder has notched just one goal involvement fewer than Man City’s Erling Haaland, who is the most prolific striker in the world and has assumed second place.
Most Goals + Assists in PL (23/24 & 24/25)
Player
Apps
Goals
Assists
G/A Total
Salah
70
47
28
75
Haaland
62
49
9
58
Watkins
75
35
23
58
Palmer
70
37
20
57
Isak
64
44
8
52
Data via Transfermarkt
Ultimately, Chelsea have shown that they can stretch out their financial arm and match the biggest hitters in the Premier League and across Europe in the transfer market.
Were £250m banked for Palmer, it stands to reason that several new offensive signings should be brought in.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer
But the Three Lions “superstar”, as he has been called by journalist Jonathan Northcroft, is a transcendental player, utterly brilliant and one-of-a-kind. To lose him would be to lose the nucleus of Maresca’s side, unthinkable when looking at the progress made: two trophies last season and a reclaimed seat at the Champions League table.
When Chelsea got rid of Salah way back when, he was a talented but unproven up-and-comer. To part with Palmer when he’s already one of the best players in Europe would be a far more egregious mistake.
Same agent as Caicedo: Chelsea now eyeing "warrior" who's better than Araujo
Chelsea defender Levi Colwill is set to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season.
Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain paid tribute to Shakib and said Mehidy has been picked in a batting-centric role
Mohammad Isam29-Sep-2024
Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been picked primarily as a middle-order batter•Getty Images
Bangladesh’s selectors have recalled Mehidy Hasan Miraz to the T20I squad for the three-match series against India starting next week. Mehidy played the last of his 25 T20Is in July last year, missing Bangladesh’s last 24 matches in that format while being a key allrounder in the two longer formats.There were also recalls for opener Parvez Hossain Emon and left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan.Related
Mayank's fitness, Jadeja's replacement among India's priorities in Bangladesh T20Is
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Shakib says he's done with T20Is, will play his final Test next month
Mayank Yadav called up as India name fresh-looking T20I squad
Shakib Al Hasan is the big absentee but this was expected following his announcement on Thursday that he was retiring from both Tests and T20Is. Soumya Sarkar is the other player who featured in the T20 World Cup earlier this year who has been left out.Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain paid tribute to Shakib, saying Bangladesh would have a tough time replacing him, and hoped Mehidy could step up to a batting-centric role in Shakib’s absence. Ashraf explained that Mehidy had been picked to bat higher up the order without a set bowling role.”The great Shakib Al Hasan has already announced that he has played his last T20I for Bangladesh,” Ashraf said. “We don’t have anyone to replace his experience and performance but we feel that Mehidy Hasan Miraz is a good batter who can handle the middle order. Mehidy can play as a batter. We didn’t pick him in the previous [T20] World Cup as we usually feel that he has a strong role as an allrounder in Tests and ODIs.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
“We didn’t feel his bowling was a great option in the powerplay in T20s. We didn’t want to disturb his rhythm in the other formats. This is why he wasn’t in our T20 World Cup plans, which we had clearly communicated to him. We are hopeful of seeing him higher in the order, just above the finisher’s role.”The new role will be quite a challenge for Mehidy, who currently has 248 runs in 20 T20I innings at an average of 14.58 and a strike rate of 118.66, with a highest score of 46. He has opened the batting twice, and batted once each at Nos. 5 and 6.Ashraf said that Parvez, the left-hand opener, impressed the selectors in various camps during the off-season. He added that Rakibul got the nod due to an injury to left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam.”We have made changes in the opening, middle order and spin attack while keeping the pace attack intact,” Ashraf said. “We have brought in Parvez Hossain Emon in Soumya Sarkar’s place. We have observed him in the recent camps. He is part of our future plans. Rakibul has taken Tanvir’s place, as the latter is recovering from a broken hand. Rakibul is useful with the new ball.”Ashraf said the selectors still believe the veteran Mahmudullah can do a job in the T20I side, despite his mixed-bag performance in the T20 World Cup earlier this year. “We have our future squad in mind,” he said. “We will give value to experienced players. We have belief in Mahmudullah. The captain will have all the options for combinations in this squad.”Bangladesh’s T20Is against India are in Gwalior (October 6), New Delhi (October 9) and Hyderabad (October 12).Bangladesh squad for T20Is against IndiaNajmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Litton Das, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rakibul Hasan. IN: Parvez Hossain Emon, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rakibul Hasan OUT: Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan.
Relegation-threatened Notts make early running with ball before Westley-Walter stand
ECB Reporters Network09-Sep-2024
Tom Westley made his first hundred of the season•Getty Images
A 142-run fifth-wicket stand between the century-making Tom Westley and Paul Walter rescued Essex from impending doom and into a commanding position in their weather-interrupted Vitality County Championship match against Nottinghamshire.Westley’s unbeaten 108 from 214 balls, his highest score of the season so far, held together an Essex innings that was in danger of imminent collapse at 86 for 4 when the pair came together. Westley had himself arrived in the sixth over and was still there 68 overs later with Essex 262 for 5 at the close of a day when the players trudged on and off the field at irregular intervals.Walter’s big hitting under the Chelmsford floodlights bought him 10 fours and a six in his 72 from 106 balls, his third half-century in his last six innings and only eclipsed by a century against Durham in June.It became a day of toil for Nottinghamshire, but pace bowler Rob Lord, 23, in only his second Championship game, looked lively and claimed two of the first four Essex wickets to fall. He finished the day with figures of 2 for 53 from 15 overs.On a predominantly overcast and damp day, foreshortened by 22 overs, Nottinghamshire elected to put Essex in as they sought only their second victory of a relegation-threatened season, though they were considerably buoyed by a battling draw against Surrey last week.When play started 70 minutes late because of light drizzle that fell immediately after the 10.30am toss, Essex lost Dean Elgar cheaply when he dragged Lord to mid-on where Haseeb Hameed ran round to take the catch sliding on his knees. Fellow opener Robin Das had just been reprieved by a drop in the slips straight after lunch when he got a thicker edge to one from Lyndon James and was snaffled at second slip for 20.The giant figure of Luke Fletcher bowled unchanged for 13 overs either side of lunch, having Westley in some discomfort – notably with one that smacked into the Essex captain’s box – on a green-tinged wicket initially helping the seamers. He was finally rewarded when Matt Critchley left alone a delivery that jagged back.Debutant Luc Benkenstein’s maiden scoring shot in first-class cricket was a delightful pull for four, but next ball he nicked Lord thinly through to the wicketkeeper.The scoring improved as the conditions eased and the Kookaburra ball softened in the afternoon and Westley and Walter put on the first fifty of their partnership in just six overs. Westley’s own half-century took 79 balls and included five fours, one a particularly satisfying, flowing off-drive against his erstwhile nemesis Fletcher.Walter also played his way in carefully before whipping James off his legs for a first boundary and then twice elegantly lofting Farhan Ahmed to the rope behind the bowler.When Westley pulled Lord to fine leg it marked the pair’s century partnership in 26 overs. Next ball, Walter pulled the bowler through square leg for his eighth boundary to bring up a 65-ball fifty. He then welcomed the introduction of Liam Patterson-White’s spin with a four and a six to long-off.The pair were finally parted after 42 overs when Walter went to sweep Ahmed but got a leading edge as the ball looped up to gully. However, soon afterwards some careless fielding by the visitors handed Westley five runs courtesy of overthrows which took him to three figures from 193 balls.
The summer transfer window is here, and Tottenham Hotspur need to get moving.
The North Londoners may have broken their title drought in the Europa League, but it cannot be forgotten just how diabolically poor they were in the Premier League.
So, to ensure things improve next season, Daniel Levy and Co need to provide Ange Postecoglou – or whoever takes his job – with the right players.
Fortunately, recent reports have linked the Lilywhites with someone who’d be the ideal replacement, Son Heung-min, who may be on the way out.
Tottenham transfer news
Back in January of this year, Tottenham announced that they had extended Son’s contract for another year, and while it looked like he’d fulfil that extra season, things have changed.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
On Tuesday afternoon, Sam Wallace of the Telegraph revealed that the North Londoners captain, who has been at the club since 2015, could be ‘another high-profile departure this summer.’
He explains that, with interest from the Saudi Pro League, there is a real chance for the club to fetch a decent fee for the South Korean ace and that, following the club’s victory in Bilbao, he’d be going on a high and as an undisputed legend.
While selling the 32-year-old might not be a popular idea with all fans, it might explain the club’s interest in Antoine Semenyo.
Yes, according to a recent report from transfers expert Dean Jones, Spurs are one of several clubs in the picture for the Bournemouth star this summer.
Jones does not mention how much the international might cost, but a story from earlier this week that also linked Manchester United with the 25-year-old claimed that the Cherries might demand around £60m for their dynamic attacker.
It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Semenyo’s ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a great replacement for Son.
Why Spurs should sign Semenyo
While it would represent a significant investment, there are a few reasons why Spurs should be going out to sign Semenmyo this summer, starting with his output this season.
Antoine Semenyo for Bournemouth.
Despite playing for a midtable side, the Ghanaian international managed to rack up a pretty impressive haul of 13 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances, totalling 3562 minutes.
In other words, the former Bristol City gem averaged a goal involvement every 2.1 games, or 178.1 minutes this season.
Appearances
42
Minutes
3562′
Goals
13
Assists
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.47
Minutes per Goal Involvement
178.1′
On top of that, the Chelsea-born “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is incredibly versatile, and while he would be an excellent replacement for Son on the left, he’s ambipedal and just as comfortable playing off the right and even up top, which would give whoever is in the dugout next season, more tactical options.
Finally, the dynamic attacker, who Mattinson claims “is tailor-made for a big team”, has some impressive underlying numbers to his name, numbers which show he also puts a real shift in when it comes to his defensive duties.
According to FBref, he sits in the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League for blocks, the top 4% for passes blocked, the top 5% for total shots, the top 8% for aerial duels won, the top 10% for shot-creating actions from take-ons and shots, the top 12% for successful take-ons percentage and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, while it is a lot of money, Spurs would be wise to sign Semenyo this summer as he would not only add some real quality to the squad in his own right, but he’d also be an ideal replacement for Son.
Shades of Dembele: Spurs make "generational" £60m star a priority signing
The sensational gem could develop into something truly special at Spurs.
The summer transfer window officially opens for business on Sunday and Leeds United are preparing to build a squad to compete in the Premier League.
One star who is reportedly on their radar is Argentine attacking midfielder Emiliano Buendia, as journalist Sebastien Vidal recently claimed that the club are set to bid for the Aston Villa attacking midfielder.
The 28-year-old star racked up 24 goals and 41 assists in 121 appearances under Daniel Farke at Norwich, and has 12 more assists than any other player in the manager’s career to date.
Buendia produced two goals and two ‘big chances’ created in 11 games on loan at Bayer Leverkusen in the second half of this season before returning to Villa, and now he could be on his way to Elland Road.
The former Norwich star is a playmaker, as shown by his assist record under Farke, and Leeds could pair him with a new striker if they manage to bring him over from the Villans.
Leeds eyeing deal for new striker
Earlier this month, Football Insider reported that the club were not going to build their attack around Joel Piroe because they have doubts over his ability to make the step up to the Premier League.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It would make sense, therefore, for the West Yorkshire outfit to target a striker who has already scored goals in the English top-flight, which is what they are doing.
According to the Daily Mail, Leeds are considering a swoop to sign Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that they have identified Callum Wilson, Jamie Vardy, and Ferguson as potential options to bolster their attack, as all three have the Premier League experience that they would like.
Brighton’s Ireland international spent the second half of this season on loan at West Ham United, and it remains to be seen what will happen with him this summer, but Leeds have emerged as a potential option for him.
Why Leeds should sign Evan Ferguson
If the Whites can get a deal over the line for Buendia this summer, Ferguson could be a dream signing to partner the Argentine playmaker in the final third.
As aforementioned, the ex-Norwich star is a playmaker extraordinaire and he would benefit from having a clinical striker who can make the most of his creativity.
Brighton strikerEvan Ferguson.
Supporters may see that Ferguson scored one goal in 23 Premier League games this season and doubt his goalscoring credentials, but it is worth noting that he missed all of pre-season last summer with a knee injury and never found his rhythm in the campaign.
Evan Ferguson’s Premier League career
Season
xG
Goals
Differential
22/23
5.67
6
+0.33
23/24
3.97
6
+2.03
24/25
1.36
1
-0.36
Total
10.29
13
+1.89
Stats via UnderStat
As you can see in the table above, the Irish forward had caught the eye in his previous two seasons in the top-flight, outperforming his xG by 2.36 to score 12 goals for Brighton.
Former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker likened him to Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland in the 2023/24 season, when he scored six times, saying: “I do see a hint of Haaland about him, his stature, his movement, his youth and stuff like that.”
Ferguson still has plenty of time left to develop and improve, at the age of 20, as he is, clearly, not at Haaland’s levels of goalscoring yet, but Leeds could have their own mini-Haaland at Elland Road by bringing him to the club.
Haaland scored 22 goals from 22.01 xG in the Premier League for City this season, but does share a similar build and play style with the Brighton youngster as Lineker claimed.
Manchester City's ErlingHaalandduring the warm up before the match
The 20-year-old starlet has shown that he can score goals efficiently at Premier League level, as evidenced by his form in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns, and that is why the Whites should gamble on him this summer to arrive as a dream signing alongside Buendia.
Orta wanted him: Leeds eyeing move for "very prolific" Piroe upgrade
Leeds United are eyeing a Joel Piroe upgrade who was previously wanted by Victor Orta.
1
By
Dan Emery
May 29, 2025
Farke could have a potentially lethal attacking pairing by reuniting with the Argentine playmaker to consistently create chances for the efficient Ferguson to finish off.
Celtic secured their place in the final of the SFA Cup on Sunday with a comfortable 5-0 victory.
Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops, who are also on the verge of winning the Premiership, now have the chance to complete a domestic treble, having already won the League Cup earlier this term.
Rodgers failed to secure the treble in his first season back at Parkhead last summer after his side lost to Kilmarnock in their first League Cup outing at the start of the campaign.
The club’s success in the League Cup in the first half of the current term, however, has provided them with the chance to win the treble by getting the Premiership and the SFA Cup over the line.
Jota
Celtic’s form in the second half of the season has been boosted by the arrival of Jota on a permanent deal in the recent January transfer window, joining from Rennes 18 months after his move from Glasgow to Al-Ittihad.
Jota's current market value at Celtic
At the time of writing, the Portuguese forward is currently valued at roughly £7.7m by Transfermarkt. Sky Sports reported that the club paid a fee of £8m to sign him from Rennes at the start of this year, which suggests that they negotiated a reasonable deal for the winger.
That came 18 months after they had sold him to Al-Ittihad for a staggering fee of £25m – a deal that now looks like a masterclass with the benefit of hindsight.
As you can see in the graphic above, Jota had already proven his quality in the Premiership for the Hoops during his first two seasons with the club under Ange Postecoglou in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns.
The former Rennes speedster has made an instant impact in the division for Rodgers with a return of four goals and two assists in six starts in the league, along with three ‘big chances’ created.
Goals
0.67
Top 3.9%
Expected Goals
0.51
Top 3.9%
xG on target
0.72
Top 1%
Shots on target
1.51
Top 1%
Assists
0.34
Top 17.6%
Expected Assists
0.39
Top 7.8%
Chances created
2.01
Top 21.6%
As you can see in the table above, Jota has been one of the most impactful forwards in the Premiership since his return to Celtic, ranking highly among his positional peers as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a wide position.
Despite his £25m move to Al-Ittihad and his exceptional form on the pitch for the Scottish giants in recent months, there are several players in the current squad who are worth even more than him at this moment in time.
Celtic players who are worth more than Jota
At a market valuation of £7.7m, there are not too many players in the squad who are worth more than the Portuguese attacker, but there are a few of them.
Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers
There are six Celtic stars who are worth more than £7.7m, as per Transfermarkt, and the most valuable of those six is Cameron Carter-Vickers, who has a valuation of £11.9m.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
27
£11.9m
Arne Engels
21
£10.2m
Nicolas Kuhn
25
£10.2m
Reo Hatate
27
£9.4m
Daizen Maeda
27
£9.4m
Alistair Johnston
26
£8.5m
Arne Engels, Nicolas Kuhn, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda, and Alistair Johnston are all also worth more than Jota at this moment in time, as they are all worth £8.5m or more.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
Celtic have hit the jackpot with these stars, who are currently regulars in Rodgers’ first-team squad, and one player they have played a huge blinder with is Hatate, because of how much his market value has soared over the years.
Why Celtic have hit the jackpot with Reo Hatate
The Hoops struck gold when they swooped to sign the Japanese midfielder from Kawasaki Frontale for a reported fee of just £1.4m at the start of 2022.
Looking back on it, £1.4m was a nominal fee to pay for a player who has provided the quality and longevity that Hatate has during his time in Glasgow to date, with a return of 26 goals and 28 assists in 138 matches in all competitions for the club to date.
The Japan international, who recently scored two goals in a 5-1 win over Kilmarnock, has proven himself to be a central midfielder who can chip in with goals and assists to be a difference-maker at the top end of the pitch.
His performances on the pitch for Celtic over the past three years or so have also caused his market value on Transfermarkt to skyrocket up from the £685k it was at when he signed for the club in January 2022.
January 2022
£685k
June 2022
£2.1m
December 2022
£3.6m
March 2023
£5.5m
June 2023
£9.4m
March 2024
£8.5m
December 2024
£9.4m
As you can see in the table above, Hatate’s market value has soared to £9.4m from the £1.4m fee that the club paid for him just over three years ago, which shows that the initial fee paid for the star was a fantastic investment from the Hoops.
In fact, former Celtic icon Stiliyan Petrov recently claimed that it is “priceless” to have a player of his quality in the middle of the park, because of his ability to score and create goals from a midfield position.
Hatate has scored nine goals and provided four assists in 24 Premiership starts so far this season, which illustrates how effective he has been in the final third, and will be looking to end the campaign in style after his brace against Kilmarnock last time out in the division.
Overall, Celtic have hit the jackpot with the midfielder because they snapped up him for a modest fee and he has developed into a highly-valuable asset, who is worth even more than Jota, as well as being a key player for Rodgers on the pitch with his superb performances n midfield.
Value soared £9.5m: Celtic hit gold with star sold for more than Kyogo
Celtic hit the jackpot with this star who was sold for more than Kyogo Furuhashi was.
Chelsea have now joined the race for a “top” goalkeeper, who has been recommended by club legend Didier Drogba, according to a report.
Maresca's goalkeeper problem at Chelsea
Goalkeeper has been a problem position for Enzo Maresca this season, with the manager rotating between Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen, who have both made errors leading to goals in the Premier League.
Sanchez has made four costly mistakes, which have made the Spaniard the subject of some heavy criticism, and it now appears as though Maresca could look to bring in a replacement in the summer transfer window.
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is one of the most recent players to join the shortlist, with the Frenchman potentially set to be available for just £34m, given that his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026.
Chelsea now want £30m Milan star with "incredible speed" ahead of Man City
The Blues have set their sights on a defender, but there could be fierce competition for his signature…
ByDominic Lund Apr 13, 2025
The Blues have made contact over a deal for Maignan, indicating the AC Milan shot-stopper is a serious target for Maresca, but an alternative option has now entered the frame, according to a report from Football Insider.
The player in question is Angers goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, with Chelsea now joining the race for the Ivory Coast international, who has established himself as one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe with his performances in Ligue 1.
Angers'YahiaFofanareacts
Fofana has no shortage of suitors, with Newcastle United, Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers also interested in a deal, having sent scouts to watch him in action, so there could be stiff competition for his signature.
Maresca’s side are set to conduct a scouting mission of their own this weekend, having been recommended to sign the 24-year-old by club legend Drogba, who has been impressed by his form for Angers and the Ivory Coast.
Fofana impressing in Ligue 1
Previous reports have revealed the Angers shot-stopper could be available for a fee of just £15m, which could be a bargain, given the level of his displays in Ligue 1.
Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has lauded the Ivorian as a “top” goalkeeper, while also detailing that he claims crosses well and has a good range of passing, with the latter quality perhaps particularly important if he were to play in a Maresca system.
Maresca has made it clear he wants his goalkeeper to take risks with his passing, which has led to mistakes from Sanchez this season, so the fact that Fofana is a solid passer of the ball is of key significance.
Chelsea may not choose to pursue a new goalkeeper this summer, given that Djordje Petrovic has been impressing on loan at Strasbourg, but if Maresca decides a new option is needed between the sticks, the Angers goalkeeper could be a quality signing.
And which Indian Test bowler has sent down the most overs after age 35?
Steven Lynch02-Sep-2025Mackay in Australia hosted a one-day international again recently for the first time in 33 years. Was this a record gap for a single venue?asked Karthik Ramanan from India
The Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay staged two matches in Australia’s recent off-season white-ball series against South Africa. The ground – formerly known as Harrup Park – had previously held just one men’s international, the match between India and Sri Lanka during the 1992 World Cup. That one lasted only two balls before it rained, so the locals had to wait a long time for some meaningful cricket (men’s, anyway; the ground has staged five women’s white-ball internationals).The 33-year gap between men’s internationals is the second longest for any ground, and the identity of the first one is a bit of a surprise, considering the ground concerned had held its country’s first Test: it’s St George’s Park in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), which saw no international cricket between Tests against England in February 1914 and March 1949, a gap of more than 35 years.Mackay lies second, but there’s another slight surprise in third place: Edgbaston in Birmingham did not have an international match for nearly 28 years between 1929 and 1957. There were only Test matches back then, so no opportunities for occasional ODIs or T20Is.The Bulawayo Athletic Club in Zimbabwe went more than 25 years without staging a men’s international (1992-2018), while Essex’s County Ground in Chelmsford went almost 24 years without one between the 1999 World Cup and Ireland’s transplanted home series against Bangladesh in May 2023.I noticed in On This Day that Richard Illingworth scored 13 in both innings of his Test debut. I’m assuming that two ducks is the most common such double, but what’s the highest?asked David Cohen from Australia
Ten men managed a higher debut double than Richard Illingworth’s brace of 13s against West Indies at Trent Bridge in July 1991. Highest of all was two 36s, by South Africa’s Dan Taylor against England in Durban in February 1914. Dan was the younger brother of Herbie Taylor, one of South Africa’s early greats, and their captain in that series.Syed Abid Ali of India and Bangladesh’s Soumya Sarkar both scored twin 33s on debut, while in the 19th century Bernard Tancred made two 29s in South Africa’s very first Test, against England in Port Elizabeth in March 1889. The England pair of Arthur Carr and Mark Ramprakash both started their Test careers with two scores of 27.You’re right that a pair of ducks is the most frequent (and most unwanted) debut double: in all, 46 men and nine women have suffered this fate.Who has bowled the most overs among Indian Test fast bowlers after 35 years of age? And who has taken the most wickets?asked Chetan Mishra from New Zealand
The fact is there haven’t been many Indian fast bowlers aged 35 or more: top of the list is Lala Amarnath, with 28 wickets, followed by Zaheer Khan with 16 and Umesh Yadav with 12. Amarnath bowled the equivalent of 503 overs, Zaheer 195.3, and Yadav 124. Vijay Hazare bowled the equivalent of 199 overs at a fairly modest pace, and took only nine wickets.If you lump in all Indian bowlers then Anil Kumble leads the way with 154 wickets after turning 35, while R Ashwin took 114 (note that this could exclude wickets taken in matches during which the player celebrated his 35th birthday).Among pace bowlers worldwide, James Anderson took the remarkable total of 224 Test wickets after his 35th birthday, while Courtney Walsh had 180 and Richard Hadlee 116.Lala Amarnath sent down about 503 overs and took 28 wickets after turning 35•Getty ImagesWhich Test ground (which has staged more than ten matches) has the highest average runs per wicket? I’m thinking Adelaide Oval… or perhaps somewhere in Pakistan?asked Andrew Dowling from China
An interesting question, and your first guess is not far off: as this list shows, Adelaide Oval lies seventh overall, with an average of 35.07 runs per wicket, and it has staged many more Tests than the grounds above it – 83 so far, with Georgetown’s Bourda Oval (36.26) next of those higher up, with 30 matches.On top overall is the Antigua Recreation Ground, with an average of 38.47 runs per wicket from 22 Tests: next comes McLean Park in Napier, which just scrapes in with ten Tests, in which the average is 37.99. After Bourda (and not including Adelaide), there’s a run of subcontinental grounds: Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium (36.07), Mohali (35.7), Chattogram (35.16), Lahore (35.05), Kanpur (34.9), Delhi (34.86), the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo (34.73), Rawalpindi (34.71) and Ahmedabad’s Modi Stadium (34.5). The top English ground is Trent Bridge in Nottingham at 32.55.I gather from Wisden that Shane Warne dismissed 236 different batsmen in his career. Is this a record?asked N Ravikanth from India
I suppose this is the opposite to last week’s question about the bowler with the most unique wickets. You’re right that Shane Warne dismissed 236 different batters in Tests, but the list is headed – as you might expect – by the overall leading wicket-taker, Muthiah Muralidaran. He’s clearly fond of round numbers, as he took 800 wickets in all, made up of 300 different opponents.Warne actually lies fourth on this list, also behind Anil Kumble, who dismissed 264 different batters, and James Anderson (263). He’s just ahead of Stuart Broad (234).Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions