The Tigers' slide heading into the end of the regular season has made manager A.J. Hinch's job a bit tricky.
They snapped an eight-game skid Thursday with a win over the Guardians in their series finale in Cleveland where the AL Central lead officially changed hands. With the 4-2 win Thursday, the Tigers evened things back up in the division with Cleveland, although the Guardians hold the tiebreaker.
Detroit's final regular-season series began Friday against the Red Sox against Fenway Park. They can clinch a playoff berth with a win and an Astros loss, but there's a chance that the Tigers can go into Sunday's finale still looking to get into the playoffs. If that comes to fruition, the good news for Detroit is their ace Tarik Skubal is scheduled to pitch Sunday following his most recent start Tuesday in Cleveland.
If Detroit's season is on the line, there's certainly nobody else they'd rather have on the bump. However, if they are able to clinch before Sunday, Hinch can save Skubal for Game 1 of their three-game wild-card series. On Friday, Hinch left nothing up for debate on the plan for Skubal. He'll pitch Sunday if needed. If not, he'll be on the shelf for the playoffs.
"It’s pretty clear," the Tigers manager said Friday via 's Cody Stavenhagen. "If we need to get into the playoffs, we’re going to pitch Tarik. If we’ve clinched a playoff berth, then we won’t pitch him."
Hinch and the Tigers did schedule gymnastics last year during their magical run to the postseason to ensure they could have their ace available for critical moments while on optimal rest. Last year, Skubal won the AL Cy Young Award with an 18-4 record and a 2.39 ERA while striking out a league-high 228 batters. This season, he's the Cy Young Award frontrunner with a 13-6 record, 2.21 ERA and 241 punchouts.
It's not a surprising move to play Skubal's Sunday start by ear, but opponents can be certain they'll see the dominant lefthander when it matters most.
Around 20 punters watched England’s first evening net at the Gabba ahead of the day-night Ashes Test starting on Thursday.The outdoor facilities at this historic but ageing colosseum are the most amenable in the world for observers, offering a behind-the-batter view of what it’s like to face the fiercest bowlers going. There were plenty of eyes on the lane closest to Main Street, as Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson steamed in with the pink Kookaburra ball.But it was the net furthest away that had the most immediate interest ahead of the second Test. Both Shoaib Bashir and Will Jacks were bowling their offspin to England captain Ben Stokes, duking it out for what seems, at this juncture, the last available spot in the XI.Related
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Mark Wood has been ruled out – England are optimistic his heavily strapped left knee will get adequate rest to ensure he is back in the mix for Adelaide – but the other 10 starters from the defeat in Perth are likely to be rolled out again.Josh Tongue is the most like-for-like replacement if the tourists want to repeat their all-pace attack from Perth. But they are understood to be trending more towards spin in their bid to come back from 1-0 down, with the expectation that the pink Kookaburra will soften earlier than the red one.The pair have had very different routes to these Ashes. Bashir has been the captain’s go-to spinner since a shock call-up to the India tour at the start of 2024, with 68 wickets in 19 caps to date. His traits – a high release-point, revs coming from over the top of the ball – were deemed better suited to Test pitches (particularly Australian ones) compared to traditional English, doorknob-turning finger spinners.Jacks, an allrounder, was the first conventional offspinner picked by Stokes, drafted on the tour of Pakistan in the winter of 2022 for his only two Test caps after developing as Surrey’s primary spin option. He took 6 for 161 in his first go on debut – the first Test at Rawalpindi – and showed his dexterity as a batter by slotting in at No. 3 in the second innings of the next Test in Multan to give Ollie Pope extra rest after keeping. That he is on this tour owes as much to his batting – destructive qualities, and comfort filling in any top six position – and his tall action and ambition with the ball.Bashir is understood to be the one in pole position, though it was Jacks who seemed to have the better of it on Monday night, before padding up. Nets can only tell you so much, of course. Stokes and the rest of England’s batters were focused on getting attuned to the shift from day to night, and then how the floodlights transformed the grass beneath their feet. They will have one more hit in similar conditions on Wednesday before they get going in their attempts to square the series.Visiting spinners have had very little success with the pink ball over here, collectively managing just 28 wickets at 64.03. Joe Root’s three in the Adelaide Test on the 2021-22 tour has him joint-second on that list (with Yasir Shah); Dawid Malan is joint-fourth with two picked up from that same game. R Ashwin sits top with six at 20.66.England would not be wrong to look at Nathan Lyon’s impressive record of 43 dismissals at 25.62 from his 13 day-night home Tests and surmise spin is a must. But they may take more meaningful notes from Kevin Sinclair’s cameo in Australia’s one and only pink ball defeat.That came here at the Gabba last year. Sinclair – also an offspinner – struck a vital 50 and then 14 not out, both from No. 7, in a tight eight-run win. He bowled just eight overs, all in Australia’s first innings which sandwiched his batting efforts, but was able to snare Usman Khawaja for 75. Replicating Sinclair’s impact rather than Lyon’s is a far easier task and would favour Jacks.It will be these cues from day-night affairs in Australia, and England’s own learnings from the seven they have played, that will continue to be disseminated among the group over the coming days. The entire top five played in England’s last pink-ball Test – against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui in 2023 – but Jamie Smith, for instance, will be playing his first of any kind.”We’ve spoken with the guys who have played some pink-ball games, and had a look at some of the pink-ball games that have been played in Australia in the past four or five years,” Carse said. His only day-night match happened to be in this country for England Lions against Australia A at Melbourne in January 2020.”On an evening, it does seem to do a little bit more, especially if you have a slightly newer ball, which I’m sure we’ll take into consideration throughout the game. It’s going to be exciting. I’m expecting a massive crowd, a hostile crowd. The guys are really looking forward to it.”I think looking back at a couple of highlights of previous games played in Australia, it’s certainly very admirable how their new-ball bowling goes. You know, they strike early and I think that’s going to be important, whether that’s certain lines we’ll be bowling or maybe bowling a touch fuller to let it swing. They’ve played some really good cricket with a pink ball. So, yeah, I’d like to say that we’ve had a look at some of the stuff that they’ve done over the previous years.”
He made his fourth century of the season, and his second in consecutive Sheffield Shield innings, to all-but guarantee a recall
AAP16-Oct-2025Marnus Labuschagne appears certain to return to Australia’s team for the Ashes, his fourth century in five innings making a compelling case to selectors.Fresh off posting 160 in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield, Labuschagne struck 159 for Queensland at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.His innings helped them to 319 for 6 when bad light forced an early stumps on day two, well ahead of South Australia’s first-innings score of 228.Related
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Dumped from Australia’s Test team back in June after a long run of outs, Labuschagne now has four tons across all formats to start the summer. And while two of those were in 50-over games, his overall returns stand at 556 runs at 111.2.Labuschagne played with ease and control all around the wicket on Thursday, hitting 18 boundaries and one big six off Lloyd Pope in the first two sessions.A week after Australia coach Andrew McDonald declared the 31-year-old was looking back near his best, Labuschagne certainly looked it in Adelaide. He drove the quicks down the ground and through the covers with confidence, and was back hitting spinners to the mid-on and mid-wicket boundaries.There is little doubt this was the Labuschagne whose meteoric rise saw him become the world’s No.1-ranked Test batter for large periods between late 2021 and early 2023.He got off the mark with a thick outside edge from Nathan McAndrew after having dust caught in his eye before he took strike. And while another ball dropped marginally in front of second slip when he was on 31, that was still played with soft hands in an innings where false shots were incredibly rare.
ANOTHER century for Marnus Labuschagne #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/suSMfoEByg
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 16, 2025
Labuschagne brought up his century when he clipped Liam Scott to the boundary on the 129th ball he faced, earning congratulations from Test keeper Alex Carey.Carey eventually had Labuschagne caught behind late in the day, playing at a ball outside off stump from Wes Agar.Labuschagne now appears almost certain to be in Australia’s Test team for the series opener in Perth on November 21. The only question for selectors will be where to bat him.Labuschagne’s preferred position is No. 3, where he is batting for Queensland and has spent most of his Test career. The likes of David Warner and Matthew Hayden have urged against moving Labuschagne to open, but Australia’s options to partner Usman Khawaja are limited.Sam Konstas is yet to fire a shot for NSW, while Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft are also yet to impress. Jake Weatherald did hit 94 for Tasmania against Western Australia on Thursday, with the left-hander the only other opener in real form.If Labuschagne was to open, it would allow Cameron Green to stay at No. 3 and Beau Webster to remain in the side at No. 6 if he overcomes an ankle injury.Putting Labuschagne back in at No. 3 would likely force a squeeze on Webster, who hopes to be fit to return for Tasmania for the next Shield round this month.Khawaja hit a solid 46 on Thursday before he was caught behind off, while youngster Lachlan Hearne was unbeaten on 66 at the close.
Manchester City are now frontrunners in the race to sign a “world-class” £80m star, who Pep Guardiola has called “extraordinary”.
Man City eyeing new forward after Bayer Leverkusen defeat
Guardiola rung the changes on Tuesday evening, making 10 alterations to the side that lost 2-1 at Newcastle United at the weekend, and Bayer Leverkusen made them pay, emerging as 2-0 winners at the Etihad Stadium.
City did manage to create some chances, with Nathan Ake, Savinho and second-half substitute Erling Haaland all squandering big opportunities, but they weren’t clinical enough on the night, and the German side emerged as surprise winners.
Pep would’ve been hoping that his attackers would step up in the absence of Haaland, with Omar Marmoush being given the nod ahead of the Norwegian at centre-forward, but it was a subpar performance from the Egyptian, who received a 6.2 SofaScore match rating, the lowest of any player.
The defeat arguably underlined the need for the Blues to bring in another forward to support Haaland in the January transfer window, and there has now been a positive update on their interest in Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr.
According to a report from Football Insider, Man City are now frontrunners in the race to sign Vinicius, alongside Premier League rivals Chelsea, with the forward’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu in doubt, following a fallout with manager Xabi Alonso.
Talks over a contract extension have stalled, meaning the Brazilian could be set to depart the Spanish club, and City would have the financial muscle to get a deal over the line, with his current employers looking to receive £80m.
Should Madrid decide to cash-in this summer, with the 25-year-old’s current deal set to expire in 2027, a number of Saudi Pro League clubs would also join the Blues in the race, so there could be stiff competition for his signature.
"World-class" Vinicius could elevate Man City's forward line
With the likes of Savinho, Marmoush and Oscar Bobb failing to deliver against Leverkusen, Pep may be keen to bring in a forward who is already proven at the top level, and he is known to be a keen admirer of the Real Madrid star.
The City boss lauded the Brazil international as “extraordinary” last year, while he has also received high praise from Jurgen Klopp, who described the winger as “world-class” and a Real Madrid “legend”.
The former Flamengo man has been one of Madrid’s most important players for several years now, and he remained potent in front of goal right across the 2024-25 campaign, weighing in with 41 goal contributions in all competitions.
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As such, should Vinicius Jr become available, Man City should undoubtedly make a move, and £80m would be reasonable fee for a forward who is still young, and regarded as one of the best wingers in the world.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will this Manchester United team be under Ruben Amorim, with it likely to require patience – and the chequebook – for the Portuguese to turn the Red Devils back into true contenders again.
It is still early days, although the signs are promising following his first window in charge, with the summer arrivals of Senne Lammens, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko all making an impact to date.
That investment will surely be just the start as Amorim seeks to shake things up, however, with a turbulent 2025/26 thus far having again showcased the scale of the task at hand, with reinforcements needed all across the park.
At wing-back and central midfield, in particular, there remain problems to be solved, with January providing the perfect opportunity for the required upgrades to be found.
With that in mind, here’s a look at how United could shape up after the window closes, should all go to plan in this dream scenario…
1 GK – Senne Lammens
Perhaps up there with Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka as the bargain of the summer in Premier League terms, United’s £18m man is yet to taste defeat in his new surroundings, having hardly put a foot wrong to date.
He might not be the second coming of Peter Schmeichel – who is – but he’s certainly made a stronger first impression than Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir, that’s for sure.
2 RCB – Matthijs de Ligt
Second time’s the charm for Matthijs de Ligt, with the Dutchman building on a solid, but unspectacular first campaign to emerge as arguably one of Amorim’s key lieutenants this time around.
The hero at the death against Spurs, the 26-year-old is the only member of the squad to play every minute in the Premier League this season. A future captain in waiting?
3 CB – Marc Guehi
So close to a last-gasp move to Liverpool over the summer, Marc Guehi is now for anyone’s taking heading into January, with a potential bargain deal on the cards amid his expiring contract.
Those at Anfield might still be frontrunners, but reports have suggested that United will also be in the mix for his coveted signature, with the England international a possible successor to the ageing, but influential, Harry Maguire at the heart of the backline.
4 LCB – Lisandro Martinez
Not seen in action since early 2025 due to an ACL injury, Lisandro Martinez is inching ever closer to a return to action – providing a significant boost for Amorim and co.
Luke Shaw, for what it’s worth, has held the fort impressively in the left-sided centre-back role of late, yet the Argentine – part of United’s new-look leadership group – looks destined to start when fit and firing again.
5 RWB – Amad
The Amad and Mbeumo combination endured some early teething problems, although in recent weeks, United’s right-hand side has been so effective, with the pair notably combining for the opener at Anfield last month, as well as in the game’s first goal against Spurs.
Such form – which also saw Amad net late on at the City Ground – will only serve to make it all the more concerning when the pair head to AFCON in December.
6 CM – Bruno Fernandes
The debate will rage on over whether this is Bruno Fernandes’ best position, but the 31-year-old – who came close to an exit over the summer – is still quietly pulling the strings from his deep-lying role.
Two goals, three assists and two penalties missed in the Premier League this season showcases that the Portuguese maverick is still bringing the usual chaos and consistency as the heartbeat of Amorim’s side.
There’s no dislodging him just yet…
7 CM – Carlos Baleba
He wants United – by all accounts – and United want him. So make it happen INEOS.
The midfield “monster” – as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson – was touted with a £100m plus move to Old Trafford over the summer, although there might be some wriggle room in negotiations, considering his drop in form in 2025/26.
Those woes – which have seen him substituted at half-time on three occasions already – may be cause for concern, but at his best, the athletic, all-action 21-year-old could be the Casemiro successor that United are crying out for.
8 LWB – Federico Dimarco
The caveat to this next addition would be that if United and INEOS were to fork out for Guehi and Baleba, there would likely have to be notable sales made to balance the books, be it a figure like Joshua Zirkzee or Diogo Dalot.
The beauty of moving for Federico Dimarco is, however, that the Italian defender has just 18 months left on his current contract at Inter, ensuring an astute deal could be struck amid reported interest from Manchester.
At a time when neither Dalot nor Patrick Dorgu has nailed down that left wing-back role, signing a specialist like Dimarco would be the perfect upgrade for 2026.
9 RAM – Bryan Mbeumo
As already stated, Mbeumo and Amad are emerging as a deadly duo down the right flank, although it is clear to see who the main man in that pairing is, with the Cameroonian already scoring six times in 12 games following his £71m switch from Brentford.
Comfortable on either foot, or with his head, the 26-year-old is the ready-made attacking spearhead that Amorim needed. Long may his rampant form continue.
10 LAM – Matheus Cunha
While Casemiro may be approaching the climax of his United journey, with just six months left on his deal, the club do have a new Brazilian hero to cherish in the form of Cunha, with the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman already earning rave reviews at Old Trafford.
Powerful and elegant in equal measure, the 26-year-old has the makings of a future United star, although he will have to improve upon his return of just one goal to date.
Mike Shildt does not agree with how Dave Roberts is handling himself.
On Tuesday, hours before Game 3 of the NLDS between Shildt's San Diego Padres and Roberts's Los Angeles Dodgers, the Padres manager subtly jabbed Roberts for claiming Manny Machado threw a ball at him during a contentious Game 2.
Shilt was asked if he believed Machado was trying to hit Roberts with the ball he threw towards the dugout before the seventh inning Sunday night, he was emphatic, saying, "No." He added, "Manny has an exceptional arm," implying he could have hit Roberts if he wanted to.
When asked for his thoughts on how Roberts was handling himself, Shildt said the following:
"Well, I come from maybe just a different philosophy of dealing with this … I got into this game to help players get the most out of their God-given ability and to compete on the field and respect the opponent. I'm not, nor will I ever, disparage another player on another team. Especially anybody I've managed in the past. Nor Will I do it to a collective team. That's not how I want to operate."
This was clearly a direct shot aimed at Roberts, who managed Machado for several months at the end of the 2018 season.
"I have a lot of respect for their club, the players on their club," Shildt said. "As far as Manny goes, it's unfortunate people can't move on from things from the past. I thought Manny's exhibition of professionalism and leadership were on display the other night in a very tough environment. But people have their right, clearly, to share what they want and how they want to share it."
On the surface, those were remarkably tame comments, but the subtext is clear. The Padres and Dodgers may respect each other, but they certainly don't like each other.
The BCCI has been directed to pay INR 385.50 crore to Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL) and INR 153.34 crore to Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) over the termination of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala IPL franchise in 2011. The Bombay High Court on Tuesday upheld the arbitral awards made against the BCCI in 2015.The Kochi franchise, which was owned by KCPL and RSW, played one season of the IPL in 2011, finishing eighth among the ten teams. In September 2011, the BCCI terminated the franchise for allegedly breaching its terms of agreement by failing to provide a bank guarantee by the stipulated deadline, following which both parties were involved in arbitration proceedings.Related
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“The jurisdiction of this Court under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act is very limited,” Justice Riyaz I. Chagla said in his order rejecting the BCCI’s challenge of the arbitrator’s award. “BCCI’s endeavour to delve into the merits of the dispute is in teeth of the scope of the grounds contained in Section 34 of the Act. BCCI’s dissatisfaction as to the findings rendered in respect of the evidence and/or the merits cannot be a ground to assail the Award.”The conclusion of the learned Arbitrator namely that BCCI had wrongfully invoked the bank guarantee which amounted to a repudiatory breach of the KCPL-FA would call for no interference under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act considering that this is based on a correct appreciation of the evidence on record.”The BCCI has been granted six weeks to file an appeal.
Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White has hailed Ruben Amorim for masterminding an "incredible" Manchester United resurgence ahead of a crucial Premier League showdown at City Ground. At the end of September, United were being written off as a sinking ship. A humiliating 3-1 loss to Brentford left Amorim’s side stranded in 14th place and seemingly spiralling toward another season of disappointment. But after a sensational October, the narrative has flipped on its head.
AFP
Amorim’s stunning turnaround
Amorim’s United have roared back to life after putting in a series of performances that have propelled them to sixth in the Premier League standings. They started October with a gritty 2-0 win over high-flying Sunderland. Many feared that the two-week international break would dent their momentum, but the Red Devils shocked their critics after churning out a historic 2-1 victory at Anfield to end a nine-year jinx. The squad started to believe, and then riding on the bright form, they dispatched Brighton 4-2 in a pulsating encounter at Old Trafford on Saturday. Suddenly, the Red Devils are back in the European mix and are just six points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
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Gibbs-White wary of United threat
Gibbs-White has admitted he is an admirer of Amorim’s transformation job. Speaking to , the Forest playmaker was full of praise for how United have rediscovered their identity.
"It’s been incredible to see, obviously they’ve been going through a tough time in the past couple of years," he said. "But they’ve stuck with the gaffer [Amorim] and the past four or five games, you’re really starting to see how Man United should be playing, that grit and that determination to want to play for the badge. I feel like it’s been incredible to see, it’s something I feel like the league has missed."
However, while Gibbs-White respects United’s resurgence, he has warned that Forest must not get drawn into the hype.
"All we can do is focus on ourselves, we can’t focus on how Man United are doing and how their performances are because if we do that, we’re just almost bowing down to them," he added. "We’ve got to focus on what we want to do and how we can win the game. I feel like this week we’ve already started to implement some ideas, and obviously we’ve still got a few more days until the game, so I’m sure the gaffer [Sean Dyche] will have more ideas of how we can beat them."
Amorim's tactical evolution at Man Utd
A major reason for United’s revival lies in Amorim’s subtle but significant tactical tweaks. Early-season criticism was fierce, with fans tearing into his rigid 3-4-3 formation, accusing him of being too stubborn and naive in the Premier League. But instead of abandoning his philosophy, Amorim refined it. Without the ball, United now defend in a compact 5-4-1 shape, with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro forming a disciplined midfield block. They get additional help from Luke Shaw, who has been instructed to step into midfield when out of possession, creating an extra body in the press. The changes have made United harder to break down, and the results are there for everyone to see.
Club legend Rio Ferdinand, who lifted 14 trophies in his 12 glittering years at Old Trafford, is among those who has been pleased with the recent changes. On he hailed the manager's flexibility to tweak his ideas to suit the players.
"I admire it to a certain extent. But like I said, I think he was playing Russian Roulette with his job. I don't think he's changed drastically; he's just tweaked," he said. "That's what a lot of fans were asking for. Just tweak what you've got. Maybe don't be so much on the front foot, maybe be a bit more conservative at times when we haven't got the ball. You can't press, press, press for 90 minutes, unless you're an absolute beast of a team. PSG do it. This manager couldn't do that with this squad."
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A fourth victory on the trot at Forest?
While United climb the table with renewed purpose, Forest find themselves in dire straits. Ange Postecoglou has been shown the door after a disastrous spell, and Sean Dyche’s first Premier League game in charge ended in a sobering 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, leaving Forest 18th with just one win from nine matches. A rejuvenated United side, brimming with confidence, might be licking their lips at the opportunity to register a fourth straight Premier League victory. This would mark United’s best run since February 2024 and indicate a genuine transformation from an early-season disarray to a top-four contender. However, Gibbs-White will be out to try and spoil the party.
Leeds United’s return to the Premier League has been anything but quiet.
Following their 100-point Championship campaign, the 49ers Enterprises ownership backed Daniel Farke heavily in the transfer market, landing a string of ambitious signings.
Players such as Lucas Perri, Sean Longstaff, James Justin, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all arrived.
Yet it was not just arrivals that made headlines.
Key exits included Rasmus Kristensen, Maximilian Wöber, Junior Firpo, and perhaps most controversially, Largie Ramazani.
The Belgian winger had been a lively outlet during last season’s promotion push, but he was loaned to Valencia for the campaign – a move that left many supporters questioning whether Leeds had weakened their wide options.
With the club still finding its Premier League rhythm, the debate over whether Ramazani should have stayed has grown louder.
Why Leeds were right to let Ramazani go out on loan
Ramazani’s departure on a temporary basis is a curious subplot to Leeds’ summer.
The 24-year-old Belgium youth international only joined from Almería last year but quickly carved out a role in the promotion campaign.
Featuring 29 times in the Championship, he produced six goals and two assists, his pace and directness often unsettling second-tier defences.
With a market value of £6m, as per Transfermarkt, he represented a player in his prime years, and one many fans saw as ready for the next level.
A natural left-winger, Ramazani’s main strengths lie in stretching defences and committing opponents one-on-one.
His energy and willingness to run beyond meant he was often the difference maker in tight games.
On loan at Valencia, he has featured twice, offering the same blend of direct dribbling and counter-attacking thrust that made him popular at Elland Road.
Yet beneath the surface numbers, Ramazani’s output was limited at Championship level, suggesting that he may well have struggled up a division too.
His nine goal involvements across 30 matches last season, while respectable, were rarely decisive in big moments.
That is part of the reason Leeds sanctioned his loan, particularly given the scale of their recruitment drive and the emergence of an arguably bigger talent in the same position.
The answer to Leeds' wide problems
If Ramazani represented a promise unfulfilled, Noah Okafor offers a more complete package.
Signed from AC Milan for £18m, the 25-year-old Switzerland international arrived with a pedigree built across Europe.
His journey has taken him from FC Basel to RB Salzburg, where he developed a reputation as an explosive forward in the Champions League, before stints at Napoli and Milan.
Last season he featured 11 times in Serie A, scoring once, and added five appearances on the European stage.
Okafor is not simply a winger who hugs the touchline. Described by scout Jacek Kulig as “electric”, he combines agility and power with two-footed balance, close control and an ability to beat players in tight spaces.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Crucially, he is also far more rounded than Ramazani: his defensive work rate, progressive carrying and ambidextrous dribbling make him suited to both high-pressing and counter-attacking systems.
The statistical comparison already tilts in his favour.
Matches Played
15
Minutes
454
Goals
1
Progressive Carries
28
Progressive Passes
13
Last season, Okafor produced 5.60 progressive carries per 90 compared to Ramazani’s 4.61, while also averaging more shot-creating actions (3.50 to 2.97).
He hits the target more frequently too, with 1.83 shots on target per 90 compared to Ramazani’s 1.39.
Although Ramazani leads for goal involvements (nine to Okafor’s one), the Swiss forward’s underlying numbers point towards far greater efficiency once settled in the Premier League.
Another area where Okafor stands out is ball progression.
His 25.2 carries per 90 reflect how central he is to advancing possession, while his blend of strength and control ensures he can both hold play up and drive past opponents.
Ramazani’s raw pace is useful, but Okafor provides a wider range of tools that make him harder to defend against at elite level.
Okafor’s European experience is another clear distinction. Having faced Champions League knockout ties and Serie A defences, he arrives at Elland Road with a level of maturity that Ramazani is yet to prove.
His display at the weekend gave a glimpse of what he can bring: direct running, creative spark, and a physical presence Leeds have lacked in wide areas.
For Leeds, the decision to let Ramazani leave now looks less risky.
While the Belgian may yet prove his worth in La Liga, Okafor already appears capable of offering Premier League quality.
In a squad balancing survival with ambition, having a winger of Okafor’s calibre may prove the smarter investment.
Leeds were brewing bigger homegrown star than Harry Gray but Farke sold him
Leeds United sold a star who was brewing as an even bigger talent than Harry Gray at Thorp Arch.
Liverpool’s summer has been a whirlwind of activity, both in the transfer market and on the pitch.
The reigning Premier League champions kicked off their title defence with three wins from three.
They started with a 4-2 home victory against Bournemouth, followed by a hard-fought 3-2 win away at Newcastle, and a 1-0 success at home against Arsenal before the international break.
Alongside this, Liverpool have been busy in the transfer market, bringing in reinforcements like Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Geovani Leoni, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, and Alexander Isak.
While the club invested heavily in top-tier talent, they also opted to cash in on a number of established first-team players and youth prospects.
Luis Diaz departed for Bayern Munich, and Darwin Núñez moved to Al-Hilal, leaving gaps in attack that the new signings are expected to fill.
Meanwhile, Liverpool also demonstrated strategic acumen in monetising young talent, turning promising academy graduates into substantial profits.
Selling young talent for big fees
This summer saw Liverpool secure impressive deals for their emerging stars.
Harvey Elliott joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan, with a £35m obligation to buy next summer, while Jarell Quansah departed for Bayer Leverkusen, also for £35m.
Ben Gannon Doak moved to Bournemouth for £25m, and Tyler Morton headed to Lyon for £15m.
These deals illustrate how Liverpool balance long-term planning with immediate financial prudence, often selling young players at the peak of their market value to reinvest in first-team quality.
Where Are They Now
Liverpool’s approach highlights their willingness to nurture talent in-house and then sell at the right time.
By capitalising on these transfer opportunities, the club can maintain squad balance while generating funds for strategic signings.
Liverpool’s original Wirtz is a fine example of that.
Liverpool's original Wirtz
One of the standout examples of Liverpool’s successful youth sales is Fabio Carvalho.
The 23-year-old midfielder joined Liverpool from Fulham in 2022 for just £5m, having made 44 appearances for the Cottagers, scoring 12 goals and registering eight assists.
Jürgen Klopp was a fan of the young talent, seeing in him a player with the vision and technical ability that the Bundesliga’s official website claimed was reminiscent of Florian Wirtz.
Carvalho’s time at Anfield, however, was challenging. Like Wirtz in the embryonic stages of his Anfield stay, he has struggled.
The former Fulham man made just 21 appearances for Liverpool, scoring three goals, including a dramatic last-minute winner against Newcastle, but he struggled to cement a regular starting role.
Loan spells at RB Leipzig and Hull City followed, before a permanent move to Brentford last summer for £27.5m.
The sale represented a 450% profit on Liverpool’s initial investment, showcasing the club’s ability to develop talent and sell at the right moment.
Carvalho’s statistics highlight why Liverpool’s decision to sell him made sense.
Matches Played
13
Minutes Played
347
Goals
2
Progressive Carries
9
Progressive Passes
12
After making the switch to the Bees, he averaged 1.76 progressive carries per 90, completed 3.33 progressive passes per 90, and managed 2.37 shots per 90 with a shot on target percentage of 41.7%.
He completed 34.9 passes per 90 minutes with a pass completion rate of 70.8%, and his progressive passing distance per 90 was 86.7 metres.
His shot-creating actions per 90 sat at 1.97. While these numbers indicate promise, they also illustrate the gap between Carvalho and his elite contemporaries.
While Carvalho’s technical style was previously likened to Wirtz, particularly for his first touch, vision, and ability to turn quickly under pressure, it’s safe to say there is a seismic difference in quality.
Indeed, the German superstar enjoyed a stellar season last year with 22 goal involvements.
He averaged 5.02 progressive carries per 90, 6.74 progressive passes per 90, and 2.83 shots per 90 with 47.3% on target.
The Germany international completed 52.5 passes per 90 with a pass completion rate of 78.3% and accumulated 198.1 metres of progressive passing per 90.
He also generated 5.66 shot-creating actions per 90. The statistical comparison underlines why Liverpool opted to sell Carvalho.
Fabio Carvalho Liverpool
Wirtz clearly outdoes him in multiple attacking metrics, particularly in goal contributions, progressive play, and chance creation.
However, Carvalho’s style, combining technical vision and composure, suggests that with regular game time he could still flourish in a competitive Premier League environment, as he has begun to at Brentford.
Ultimately, the sale of Carvalho demonstrates Liverpool’s dual strategy: build a squad capable of competing at the highest level, while monetising promising academy talent to reinvest in first-team needs.
Whilst it may be upsetting to see promising talent move on, the club’s market strategy highlights a balance between ambition and smart business.
Slot can bench Wirtz by unleashing Liverpool star who's "Gerrard-esque"
Florian Wirtz has endured a tough start at Liverpool.