Leeds United’s start to the 2025/26 Premier League season has been impressive. The Whites have begun strongly in their return to the top flight, after two seasons in the Championship.

Of course, their promotion campaign last term was one of complete dominance under Daniel Farke.

They’ve already picked up eight points this season, which, according to Understat, is actually below the number of expected points. That tally sits at 9.96xPTS, which places the West Yorkshire outfit 10th in the table for that specific metric.

After a big summer transfer window, this Leeds side has a new look, with a few of their integral player from the Championship success struggling to get into the side this term.

The Leeds promotion stars who can’t get into team

It might be strange to see a couple of players from Farke’s dominant side last season, now struggling to get any sort of regular gametime this term. One of those is midfielder Ao Tanaka, who was a key cog in the middle of the park in 2024/25.

Yet, the Japanese international simply can’t get a look in, with Farke’s midfield signings of Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach preferred.

Last season, he played 43 times in the Championship, chipping in with seven goal involvements. So far this term, he’s only played 181 minutes of top-flight football.

Midfielder Tanaka is not the only player who falls into this category. Centre-forward Joel Piroe was a key player for Farke last season, scoring 19 times in 43 games, backing up his 13 goals from the season before.

He even bagged four goals in a single game against Stoke City.

After signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, however, Piroe simply can’t get a look in. He’s played fewer minutes in the top flight than Tanaka, racking up 147 across just three appearances this season.

He hasn’t scored yet, either.

There is one Leeds player who has played even fewer minutes this season, despite an important role in the 2024/25 campaign.

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The start to the new season has shown that Farke is not afraid to make some big calls and replace the players who were so integral last season. You could call it a lack of loyalty, although it is a decision that is proving to be correct so far.

Another player who falls into the same category is goalkeeper Illan Meslier. Once described by Farke as “the best goalkeeper in the league,” he’s now fallen down the pecking order and can’t get into the Whites’ starting lineup.

Last term, the 25-year-old was, for much of the season, Leeds’ first-choice shot-stopper. He played the first 39 games of the season, but for the last seven, he was dropped from the side, following a string of mistakes.

That included his remarkable error against Sunderland.

It was not just that moment against the Black Cats, but “numerous monumental errors,” that cost him his place, according to Jonathan Buchan, BBC Radio Leeds Sports Editor.

As a result, Meslier has not played a single minute this season.

There are stats that back up this poor form on display from the goalkeeper, who was born in Lorient. For example, last season he averaged minus 3.11 goals prevented, meaning he conceded three extra goals than he should have.

Goals conceded

0.7

27

Saves made

1.7

65

Long balls completed

98

2.5

Goals prevented

-0.08

-3.11

Perhaps it is time for Leeds to move on from the Frenchman. He is the second choice behind Karl Darlow at the moment, and when summer signing Lucas Perri returns, it is surely safe to assume he will become Farke’s third choice.

It is a sad fall from grace for a goalkeeper once so highly rated by Farke. Yet, with the number of mistakes made by Meslier over the last 12 months in particular, it is understandable why he has been dropped, especially in the pressure cooker of the Premier League.

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She will remain in India and will support Mandhana whose wedding was postponed due to her father’s health issues

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2025

Jemimah Rodrigues played three games for Brisbane Heat this season•Getty Images

India batter Jemimah Rodrigues will miss the rest of the WBBL season, with her club Brisbane Heat agreeing to her request to remain in India.Rodrigues had returned home after playing three games for Heat, the last of which was against Hobart Hurricanes on November 15, as part of a pre-arranged commitment. She was set to be part of her India team-mate and close friend Smriti Mandhana’s wedding last weekend. But the event was postponed at the last minute because of a health issue with Mandhana’s father. Rodrigues will stay back in India to support Mandhana.”It has obviously been a challenging time for Jemi, so while it is unfortunate that she will take no further part in the WBBL, we were more than willing to agree to her request to remain in India,” Heat CEO Terry Svenson said in a statement. “The Heat club obviously wish her and Smriti Mandhana’s family all the best for the future.”Jemi told us she was disappointed not to be coming back and has passed on her appreciation to the club and the Heat fans for being so understanding of the circumstances. She has been in touch with the players and wished them all the best for the rest of their games.”Rodrigues, 25, scored 37 runs at an average of 12.33 and a strike rate of 102.77 in the three WBBL matches, after helping India Women clinch their maiden ODI World Cup title earlier this month.Heat, though, will be bolstered by the return of allrounder Grace Harris for the match against Sydney Sixers on November 28. Harris will replace seamer Lily Bassingthwaighte after she missed the last fixture as part of her workload management plan.Heat are searching for their first win this season, having lost all their six matches so far.

MatériaMais Notícias

da fezbet： O goleiro Weverton, do Palmeiras, se manifestou em entrevista ao LANCE!/NOSSO PALESTRA nesta quinta-feira (04) reclamando do preço dos ingressos para a final da Libertadores, que será disputada em no dia 27 de novembro, em Montevidéu, no Uruguai, diante do Flamengo.

Ferramenta aponta os 10 jogadores mais valiosos do Brasileirão; veja o ranking

Para o arqueiro palestrino, o preço da entrada não condiz com a crise financeira que o Brasil vive atualmente. Ainda na visão do arqueiro titular da equipe comandada por Abel Ferreira, o torcedor precisa ter o direito mínimo de lutar pelo ingresso para uma partida de final da competição mais badalada do continente Sul-Americano.

– Lamentamos muito. Chegar em um jogo desse tamanho, o torcedor tem que ter no mínimo o direito de lutar por esse ingresso. Não concordo com o preço. Tudo está muito caro. Vivemos uma crise – analisou.

Veja a tabela completa do Brasileirão

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasFernando Prass relembra passagem pelo Palmeiras e revela ‘desagrado’ por saída do clubePalmeiras04/11/2021PalmeirasJorge treina em dimensões reduzidas e Palmeiras segue preparação para enfrentar o SantosPalmeiras04/11/2021PalmeirasWeverton fala sobre quebrar recordes no Palmeiras e projeta decisão no Uruguai: ‘Vale até cabeçada na trave’Palmeiras04/11/2021

da spicy bet： Ainda sem saber se vai levar a família para a decisão, destacou o medo com a insegurança de uma final entre dois clubes brasileiros ser disputada fora do país, lembrando que o Uruguai foi palco de uma grande briga entre torcedores do Peñarol e do Palmeiras na Libertadores de 2017.

– Só quem tem dinheiro vai para a final, mas o Palmeiras é de todos. Até para a gente (jogadores) é ruim tirar nossa família daqui para levar para Montevidéu. Não sabemos se terá segurança total. Esse jogo poderia ser aqui no Brasil, tudo seria muito mais fácil – concluiu.

Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada

No Palmeiras desde 2018, a conquista da Libertadores marcaria ainda mais a trajetória de Weverton com a camisa palestrina. Já multi-campeão e nono goleiro com mais partidas pelo clube, o camisa 21 foi peça fundamental para a conquista do Campeonato Brasileiro de 2018 e os títulos do Paulista, Copa do Brasil e Libertadores na magica campanha da tríplice coroa em 2020.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aF042rwDfg

da esport bet： Everton are reportedly exploring a move to sign James Ward-Prowse, who has been frozen out at West Ham United ever since the arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo.

da brwin： The Toffees are making a habit of offering transfer lifelines, having welcomed Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City in the summer and since been linked with Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee.

Their decision to sign Grealish on loan in the summer has so far gone as well as they could have wished. The Premier League winner has been back to his very best form for the most part and is likely to play a crucial part in the outcome of Everton’s season.

Full of praise for his summer arrival, Everton boss David Moyes recently told talkSPORT: “Jack’s been really good. He’s helped us maintain the ball more, we’re up on numbers in terms of possession.

“His goals have been huge, I’m sort of driving home to him that it’s good being an assist maker but it’s even better being a goalscorer. He’s given us a real strength in how he plays.

“He and Iliman Ndiaye have played really, really well and probably changed the way we are, we wanted to evolve and become better and both those players give us that opportunity.

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“He’s an incredible character, loves his football, watches and listens, which a lot of the modern players don’t so much, but Jack loves his football and Tuchel’s got a really difficult job [picking the squad].”

With Zirkzee already linked with a similar move from Man United and now Ward-Prowse emerging as a target, 2026 could be all about the revival of impressive players in Merseyside.

Everton now exploring Ward-Prowse move

As reported by TeamTalk’s Dean Jones, Everton are now exploring a move to sign Ward-Prowse in January. The midfielder has been given the cold shoulder by Nuno ever since the manager arrived at West Ham and is now almost “certain” to move on from the London club.

A reunion with Moyes could, therefore, be on the cards. Ward-Prowse played 51 games under the Scot during their time together at West Ham, scoring seven goals and assisting another 11 in an impressive run. Now frozen out in London, his former manager could hand him a much-needed lifeline.

It’s easy to forget the quality that the former Southampton star can offer these days, but it’s worth remembering that Ward-Prowse is only one free-kick goal away from equalling David Beckham’s Premier League record of 18 direct goals. That’s the unique quality that he could offer Everton, who would suddenly take their set-pieces to a whole new level.

Moyes knows all about Ward-Prowse’s specialty, having been full of praise for the midfielder at West Ham – telling reporters in 2023: “We could have scored four or five from corner kicks.

“We’ve been a decent side from set pieces, maybe without the word “specialist”, but I think we’ve got a specialist now in Ward-Prowse. He’s contributing to us and our results at the moment.”

Joshua Zirkzee now a priority target for Everton as Arsenal refuse Gabriel Jesus sale

Paul Pogba claimed he was "touched" following his return to football more than two years after his last professional appearance. The Frenchman moved to Monaco over the summer after his worldwide ban following a failed drugs test in 2023 expired. Pogba was initially banned for four years for the offence, which was reduced to 18 months last October, meaning he has been eligible to play since March.

• AFP
  

  Pogba hadn't played competitively since September 2023

  As a result of the ban, Pogba and former side Juventus agreed to mutually terminate his contract last November and it wasn't until June this year that the 2018 World Cup winner signed for a new club, penning a two-year deal with French side Monaco. In the time since, Pogba has been building up his fitness and at long last made his Monaco debut on Saturday night in a 4-1 loss to Rennes.

  Goals form Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Kamara, Breel Embolo and Ludovic Blas saw Rennes go into the final knockings of the weekend's game at the Roazhon Park with a four-goal lead. Mika Biereth bagged a late consolation for Monaco, who were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half after Denis Zakaria received his marching orders, but the moment of the night came in the 85th minute as Pogba replaced Mamadou Coulibaly.

  The moment marked Pogba's first appearance since September 2023 in Juventus' 2-0 win over Empoli, and the midfielder admits he was "touched" by the reception he received from the home support.

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• Midfielder sends his thanks to those who supported him

  Speaking in the mixed zone after the 4-1 loss, Pogba said: "I was disappointed to lose this match. It's Paul Pogba's return, but I play for Monaco, and I don't like losing. I was really happy on one hand, but on the other, I was disappointed with the result and what we did on the pitch. The reception? It touched me. Seeing the crowd stand up and applaud, I wasn't expecting that. A big thank you to the fans who personally supported me."

  Pogba, who was in tears when he signed his Monaco contract earlier this year, had been expected to return to action earlier in the season but suffered a setback during the October international break having pulled up with a thigh injury to delay his first outing for Sebastien Pocognoli's side.

  "There were a lot of emotions. I was happy, but there's a bit of sadness with the result. We've come a long way. Today was a step to take. I did it and I'm happy about that," Pogba added on Saturday night.

  "The rest, we're a bit gutted to have lost. I feel good, there's been a lot of work. I still need time to be fit and play 90 minutes. But it will come with time. We're training for it. We're going to try to help the team as much as possible. It felt strange at first to get back on the plane with the group. I've settled back in well. We have a very good group. We're getting back into the right routine."

• AFP
  

  Pogba's return sends 'positive vibes to French football'

  Monaco boss Pocognoli was insistent that Pogba's return to action is a good thing for French football, saying on Saturday: "I'm happy for him, even if the circumstances are a bit unfortunate. He came on at 4-0, with 10 men against 11. It was planned that he would come on today, regardless of the scenario, because he had put everything in place. It will do him good, it will do the team good. Apart from our defeat, it sends positive vibes to French football."

  "We are all happy, even the Rennes supporters who are not Monaco fans. I hope he can bring us his experience," Monaco team-mate Lamine Camara added.

  Pogba's first appearance in over two years also resonated well with the Rennes squad, as Mahdi Camara said at full time: "Everyone knows Paul Pogba, he's a legend of French football. "It's great to see him on a Ligue 1 pitch. We've already seen… seen how he plays, you can see he's already at a good level. As spectators, we can't wait to see him at his best. It's fantastic. He tried to put a sombrero on me!"

  Former Monaco man Embolo, who scored Rennes' third, added: "Paul deserves it, he's a truly great player, a truly great man." And on the reception from the fans, the Swiss striker commented: "Well done to our fans. He deserved it, I'm very happy for him, I hope he'll bring good things to his team."

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• Pogba's home debut could come against Ligue 1 powerhouse

  Monaco will look to build upon an indifferent start to their Champions League campaign when they face Pafos on Wednesday night. While unbeaten in three in European competition, the French side have won just the once in the Champions League this season as they claimed a 1-0 victory at Bodo/Glimt earlier this month having opened up the league phase with a 4-1 defeat to Club Brugge before back-to-back draws with Premier League pair Manchester City and Tottenham.

  And Pogba may make his first appearance at the Stade Louis II next weekend when Monaco host defending Ligue 1 and European champions PSG. Luis Enrique's side reclaimed top spot in France's top tier on Saturday night as they eased to a 3-0 win over Le Havre having briefly dropped to second as rivals Marseille tore Nice to shreds on Friday night.

Manchester City are now circling to sign a £70m Premier League forward, who has made a fantastic start to the new season.

Haaland setting the pace in the goal-scoring charts

Erling Haaland will have his sights set on winning the Premier League Golden Boot for the third time, after finishing top of the goal-scoring charts in each of his first two seasons, and the Man City star is setting the pace in the early stages of the campaign.

Remarkably, the Norway international is averaging 1.42 goals per 90, having found the back of the net eight times in his opening six games, which places the centre-forward way out in front as the leading goalscorer.

Pep Guardiola has a number of top-quality attacking options to choose from, with Phil Foden proving he may be getting back to his best by picking up two goals and two assists in all competitions this season, while Jeremy Doku also has four goal contributions to his name.

However, according to a report from The Boot Room, Pep could now look to enhance his forward options even further, with Man City circling to sign AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, after the winger’s fantastic start to the campaign.

Previously, Semenyo has been valued at £70m by the Cherries, and the forward’s stock is only likely to have risen after amassing six goal contributions in his opening six Premier League games this season.

In light of his performances, the Ghana international has now attracted the attention of a number of English clubs, namely Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, with Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Atlético Madrid also keen.

The 25-year-old has admitted that his dream is to play for a Champions League club, which means a move to the Etihad Stadium should appeal, although Bournemouth are reluctant to sanction a winter departure.

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"Unbelievable" Semenyo could excel at the Etihad

Lauded as “unbelievable” by reporter Lewis Cox, the Bournemouth star has established himself as one of the best forwards in the Premier League over the past three seasons, having shown consistent signs of improvement.

Season	PL appearances	Goal contributions
2023-24	33	11
2024-25	37	17
2025-26	6	6

Perhaps the former Bristol City man’s most impressive individual performance this term came against Liverpool, scoring a brace to claw his side back into the game, although they did eventually go on to lose the game 4-2.

The Ghanaian is clearly a talented player, given his exploits across the past three seasons, but there are doubts whether he would be a necessary signing for Man City, with Savinho in line for a new contract.

Pep already has plenty of options in wide areas, with Doku and Omar Marmoush also on the books, so it may not be wise to shell out around £70m on Semenyo.

The New Zealand batting allrounder looks back on a very memorable World Cup

Interview by Mohammad Isam30-Nov-2023Rachin Ravindra turned 24 just after starring for New Zealand in a very successful World Cup, where he finished as the fourth highest run-getter, with 578 runs, including three hundreds. On the sidelines of a nets session ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet, Ravindra talked to us about playing his first major tournament, his partnerships with Kane Williamson and Devon Conway, and what he’s focusing on as an exciting future unfolds in front of him.How would you describe your World Cup?
I have probably been asked this question a little bit. It is pretty surreal. I think playing the World Cup in India, to be able to experience that, win some games, being in the playoffs, was pretty special. The India crowd is unbelievable. Every chance you get to play in such a cricket-crazy nation is always very enjoyable. I think it is important to cherish what has happened, let it soak in. But I understand everything moves on and we are focused on whatever challenge is ahead.When did you find out that you would be batting at No. 3 in the opening World Cup game, against England?
I found out towards the back end of training on the day before the match. I wasn’t really expecting to be playing, in terms of the team make-up. Luckily enough, I got a chance to bat at No. 3. It was pretty cool to play my first World Cup game and to be able to share that with Dev [Devon Conway], someone I idolise and am very close with. It was pretty special.Related

• Ravindra sets T20 wheels in motion to pass test of adaptability between formats

• Wellington to Wankhede: How Rachin Ravindra has made himself cricket's new poster boy

• Shanto's century puts Bangladesh in driver's seat

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• A New Zealand campaign that was a little 2015 and a little 2019

What was your conversation like with your captain, Williamson, whose position you were playing in?
There wasn’t anything too crazy. Kane is such a good leader. He does what he speaks. He acts what he speaks. Even when he wasn’t playing, his leadership was huge. The message from the team environment was to do your own processes. Trust the process. A lot of the time in cricket, the results can be very up and down. You control what you can control – how you prepare and how you go about it ball after ball. Whatever the result is, you can sit back and say: I gave it my best.How did you get into your zone in the first match, against the defending champions?
I was trying to detach from all that noise: first game of the World Cup, you have to start well against England, a world-class team, you have do this, do that. But I think if we can really dumb it down, to make it simple: what was required from us? Watching the ball and reacting to what’s in front of us, adapting to that situation. I think it was more important to stay away from all those narratives and play the bat-and-ball game in front of us.On batting in the top order in the World Cup: “You trust your plans, you trust what you have learned from other people. When I got a chance, I was lucky enough to do reasonably well”•Robert Cianflone/Getty Images How enjoyable was it to bat with Conway in that 283-run partnership?
It was awesome. I spent a lot of time with Dev, not just on the field; we always spend time in each other’s rooms. We chat about cricket and other things. It was pretty cool to be out there with him, seeing him score 150 not out – what a special innings that was. Having the best seat in the house for that. I bat a lot with him for Wellington.Did your expectations from yourself increase after the century against England?
I think as a cricketer or as a competitor, you want to do well, so no matter what, you will have expectations of yourself, for the team and everything. Like I mentioned before, you take away all that external stuff and focus on what’s at hand. It doesn’t matter what happens in the future. If you are present ball by ball, what will be, will be. You are allowed to have a good day and a bad day. If it’s your day, make use of it.What was it like playing Australia in that high-scoring game in Dharamsala where you scored your second hundred?
It was cool. Obviously a world-class bowling line-up. It was the first time I was playing Australia at any professional level. The opportunity to face [Pat] Cummins, [Josh] Hazlewood, [Mitchell] Starc and [Adam] Zampa – these are very, very good bowlers in their own right. I tried to keep it as simple as possible, try to do what I do well. It helped the lot batting with the other guys. Being able to share partnerships with [Will] Young, Daryl [Mitchell] and Tommy Latham certainly helped me a lot. New Zealand seem to have a very team-first environment. There’s no superstar culture. Does that help when you have suddenly made a lot of runs? It keeps you grounded, doesn’t it?
I don’t think there’s any sort of thing like a superstar [culture]. We all enjoy our cricket, we are all good mates who love to spend time with each other on and off the field. I think it definitely helps to have a good team environment and pushing what you do best for the team. It doesn’t matter how many runs you get. It’s for the team. Obviously, you are focused on contributing to the team, not necessarily your own personal accolade. That will come if you push the team in the right direction.Your third hundred of the World Cup came against Pakistan, in a partnership with Williamson. It must have also have been special to get a big score in Bengaluru, where your father is from.
It was cool to score that hundred in Bangalore where my father is from, but sharing the crease with Kane, someone I have idolised during my teenage years, someone I modelled a little bit of my game [after], in the way he goes about it, was pretty cool. I saw how he gets into his zone, his bubble. It is very unique. I cherish every single moment I get to bat with my team-mates. They have so much experience, such world-class cricketers. It was pretty fun.”It was pretty cool to play my first World Cup game and to be able to share that with Devon Conway, someone I idolise and am very close with”•AFP/Getty ImagesYou ended up as the fourth highest run-getter in the World Cup. What does this mean for you at this moment in your career?
Firstly, I am grateful to be in this position, grateful to play games in the World Cup. It worked out reasonably well. Apart from all that, it is cool to see your name among world-class cricketers. Honestly though, it is not the complete reason why I play cricket. It is nice but not necessary that I play for personal accolades. You play to push the team forward. Whatever results come as part of the process and journey is a bonus.Before the tournament began, you said your role in the World Cup would be to bowl and score quick runs in the back end of the innings. But you went on to open the innings instead. How did you adjust your mindset?
I think it is a lot of trust. I have been a top-order batter all my life. I have played in the top three in all formats for Wellington. I used my experience. You trust your plans and what you have done in the past. You trust what you have learned from other people. I might not have got opportunities in the top order in the past, but it shows the team that we have. It is an experienced team with world-class performers. It was nice to have that little transition period to get used to international cricket, and then when I got a chance [in the top order], I was lucky enough to do reasonably well. It was a cool opportunity. The way it happened suddenly didn’t give me too much time to think about it, which was quite good.Did you get to catch up with your family in India during the World Cup?
I got to catch up with both sides of my family. My grandparents on my mom’s side, my uncle and aunty. It was nice to connect with them after a little while. It was a little feeling of home in a different country. I get to see them when I do go to India.Did your dad’s love for cricket fuel your connection with the game?
I think so. Dad played club cricket, he watched a lot of cricket, played it on PlayStation as well. It was always on around the house all the time. Naturally I picked it up. Mum and Dad would always throw me plastic balls. I always wanted to bat or bowl. It accumulated to where I am today. They never forced me to play cricket at all. It happened naturally. I really enjoyed playing cricket with my mates. I enjoyed going to the nets every day, hitting and bowling balls. I guess that’s how it happened.Was Daniel Vettori your hero growing up?
Yeah, huge. I tried to model my action around him. He was an unbelievable bowler. The amount of drop he got, his consistency. I definitely love watching him bowl.Ravindra chats with Rahul Dravid and Kane Williamson after New Zealand’s semi-final defeat to India•Alex Davidson/ICC/Getty ImagesDo you have conversations about spin bowling with Mitchell Santner these days?
We have a spin-heavy group in Bangladesh – Ish [Sodhi], Jazzy [Ajaz Patel], [Mitchell] Santner, GP [Glenn Phillips]. They are all very good bowlers. I have a great connection with every single one of them.Santner has an unbelievable brain for cricket. His left-arm spin-bowling knowledge is through the roof. He is a world-class bowler. You see the amount of revs he gets on the ball. The beauty of it all is that he is this calm guy who doesn’t go up or down at all. He goes about his work, bowls the right ball. Makes for a very cool idol to aspire to. Has your life changed since the World Cup?
I wouldn’t say that my life has changed. I’m still the same. I am Rachin. I enjoy the time with my team-mates and family. Hopefully nothing really changes that.I get a little bit more attention from people. They ask for photos and signatures. I have more presence online, or whatever it is. I think it’s bound to happen when you have a few good games.How has your dad reacted to all this?
Like everyone close to me, he was very happy, very proud. Dad seems to keep it very level. He keeps his cards close to his chest. Mum was very happy. You can feel the love and support from everyone. My big friend group watched every game. They talked about it in the group chat, which was really cool. I would read it at the end of the game. It made me feel the love of my good mates, my support from my family. It is special when you are playing a World Cup.How would you define “expectations” then, at this stage?
I don’t think you necessarily have to be like, “I have scored this many runs, I have scored this many hundreds, so I have to do this.” For me, that’s when I get tense and worried about the results. How the team functions is to figure out what process we use to get each other better. We drive ourselves to the direction we want to go. Whatever happens after that will take care of itself. I am not worried about runs and wickets and stuff. I think you just work hard and see where it takes you.Your performance at the World Cup begs the question whether an IPL contract is on the way. Do those things cross your mind – that life is about to get very busy?
Whether it is noise or what is being reported, I think what’s important, what matters right now is what series you have in front of you. There’s so much time to the IPL. There’s no guarantee that I will get picked up [in the auction]. There are no guarantees in life and cricket. I am just focused on what’s in front of me: the Bangladesh Test series. You stay in the present, you savour those moments. Every moment I get to play for New Zealand, I am very, very grateful.

The Mets have endured a difficult second half of the season, having lost seven games in a row and 11 of their last 12.

As the team's struggles continue to mount, manager Carlos Mendoza announced Tuesday that he'd be making a change to the starting rotation. Veteran right-hander Frankie Montas is no longer set to make his next scheduled start and will instead be pitching out of the bullpen for the foreseeable future, Mendoza told reporters.

The team hasn't officially decided on a replacement in the rotation for Montas. Mendoza indicated they'd been eyeing Noah McLean and Brandon Sproat, two of the organization's top pitching prospects, as potential call-ups, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. McLean is the No. 3 prospect in New York's farm, while Sproat is No. 5, per MLB Pipeline.

In 2025, Montas has made seven starts and eight total appearances. He has a career worst 6.38 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 12 walks in 36 2/3 innings. In his most recent outing, Saturday against the Brewers, Montas followed an opener and pitched three innings while surrendering three runs, though only one was earned.

The 32-year-old would've been in line to start Saturday against the Mariners, but instead it seems the team will look to one of its farmhands instead.

Rahul Chahar likely to be replacement, while status of Rahul Tewatia – who had also failed fitness tests – is unclear

Nagraj Gollapudi09-Mar-2021Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy is set to miss India’s five-match T20I series against England that will take place from March 12 to 20. Chakravarthy is understood to have failed to clear the mandatory fitness tests set by the BCCI. It is likely that the selectors will draft in Rahul Chahar as a replacement, with the legspinner having already been named as one of the net bowlers for the series.Related

• Kohli says 'no space for compromise' when it comes to fitness levels

• New fitness target for Indian players: yo-yo level raised to 17:1, time trial 2k run

• Suryakumar, Tewatia, Kishan called up to India T20 squad

• Doubts over Natarajan's availability for England T20Is

Meanwhile, Rahul Tewatia is currently training with the national squad in Ahmedabad. Tewatia, who received his maiden national call-up for the series, had also failed in his initial fitness test. It is not yet clear whether Tewatia – picked as a bowling allrounder after his exploits for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2020 – will get another chance to clear his fitness test or be asked to continue as a net bowler only.For Chakravarthy, 29, it’s the second time he’ll be missing out on an opportunity for a potential India debut, having been initially picked in the T20I squad for the tour of Australia, but ruled out due to a shoulder injury then. Chakravarthy was picked on the back of his IPL 2020 performances, where he emerged as one of the standout uncapped Indian players. However, the shoulder injury meant Chakravarthy never even travelled to Australia, which allowed T Natarajan to make his international debut.Chakravarthy had a lengthy rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, following which the selectors picked him for the England T20Is – subject to everyone being picked clearing their fitness tests, whose targets the BCCI had revised recently.It is understood that to be part of India’s limited-overs squads, clearing the fitness tests is a key selection criteria imposed by the BCCI at the behest of the team management and the selectors. In the new fitness standards, players have the choice to either clear the yo-yo test, whose level has been increased to 17:1, or run two kilometres in 8.15 minutes (for bowlers) and 8.30 minutes (for the rest).It could not be confirmed which of the tests both Chakravarthy and Tewatia had failed to clear. While Tewatia travelled to Ahmedabad from Jaipur after representing Haryana in the league phase of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (the domestic 50-overs competition), Chakravarthy’s whereabouts could not be ascertained.As for Chahar, this will be the second time he will part of the T20I squad after he made his debut in the Caribbean, where he played one T20I and picked up 1 for 27.

Chelsea have already reached out for discussions with the representatives of Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz, with Enzo Maresca hatching a new tactical plan involving Cole Palmer.

The west Londoners have lost three out of their last five Premier League games and narrowly escaped with a thrilling 4-3 win away to bottom side Wolves in the Carabao Cup earlier this week.

Despite spending nearly £300 million in the summer transfer window, there is clearly still work to be done from Chelsea’s perspective, and reports suggest that Juventus are even taking an interest in Maresca ahead of next summer.

The Old Lady appointed Luciano Spalletti on an interim basis until the end of the season, but if that doesn’t work out and Maresca fails to turn the tide at Stamford Bridge, a move to Juve could be on the cards in 2026.

In the meantime, Chelsea’s manager is surely tasked with finishing in the top four at the very least, and preferably adding more silverware to the club’s trophy cabinet after their Conference League and Club World Cup triumphs earlier this year.

According to some reports, Maresca is still quite unhappy with the options he has at Chelsea right now, so January could be a key month despite heavy summer backing in the market.

The most obvious area Chelsea are short in is centre-back, with ex-midfielder John Obi-Mikel claiming that the Blues will get nowhere near a Premier League title boasting that backline.

Ahead of the winter window’s opening, reports suggest that Chelsea are prioritising a new centre-back, with Levi Colwill expected to be out until spring 2026 after rupturing his ACL in pre-season.

However, they could also land a new forward, and have been linked with Yildiz as a serious option.

Chelsea make "very exciting" Yildiz offer amid Cole Palmer plan

Fabrizio Romano says that Chelsea “really like” the Turkey international who’s dazzled as Juve’s star attacker since the beginning of last season.

Yildiz racked up 12 goals and nine assists in all competitions across 2024/2025, finishing the campaign as their best-performing regular with over 10 starts, going by average match rating per 90 minutes (WhoScored).

The 20-year-old also made more key passes per 90 and completed more take-ons in the final third than any of his teammates, with Yildiz starting 25/26 in equally imperious fashion.

Juventus 2-0 Parma Calcio

8.88

Juventus 4-3 Inter Milan

8.51

Juventus 3-1 Udinese

7.55

Atalanta 1-1 Juventus

7.10

Genoa 0-1 Juventus

7.04

via WhoScored

He has seven goal contributions in 12 appearances already this term, attracting serious interest from Stamford Bridge.

According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea have “discreetly” reached out to Yildiz’s camp with a “very exciting” offer to join them, and Italian insiders are adamant that Maresca’s side are in pole position to land him.

This comes as Maresca hatches a plan to partner the young Turk with Palmer up front, as Chelsea see him as the “ideal” player to link up with their England superstar.

However, there are major obstacles to overcome in this would-be transfer — mainly Juve’s minimum demand of around £79 million — with Real Madrid also in the race.

Los Blancos are described as a “major threat” to Chelsea in pursuit of Yildiz, and the player is apparently very enticed by Xabi Alonso’s side as a possible destination.

There is also the matter of Juve apparently stepping up new contract talks to keep him out of rival clutches, so Chelsea could have to launch the kitchen sink if this move has any chance of happening.

Chelsea have been offered another Juventus star too