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An update has emerged on Rangers and their pursuit of a new goalkeeper to bring to Ibrox during the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Gers are one of two teams interested in signing Jack Butland ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Ross Wilson is plotting a move for the Englishman as a potential replacement for Allan McGregor in Glasgow as the veteran’s contract expires this year.

The report claims that Bournemouth are also keen on the shot-stopper and the Gers will need to beat off competition from the Cherries to land him.

Gio van Bronckhorst needs him badly

The Ibrox head coach needs him badly this summer as McGregor needs to be given significant competition – or to be replaced – next season.

In the Premiership, the 40-year-old played 29 games and conceded 0.9 goals per game as he made four errors directly leading to shots/goals. This shows that he had lapses in concentration as he made costly mistakes in the top-flight, including two errors in the 3-3 draw with Ross County.

If he does put pen to paper on an extension then Butland must be brought in to push him for the number one position so that they are not resigned to having an error-prone goalkeeper between the sticks. Of course, if the Scot decides to call a time on his career then the Gers will have a number one jersey to give to the Palace man.

Eagles reporter Mark Wyatt dubbed him as “incredibly brave” earlier this season as he won his place back in the team for a spell under Patrick Vieira. He made nine Premier League appearances ahead of Vincente Guaita and conceded 1.4 goals per game, whilst saving 100% (1/1) of the penalties against him.

In those nine matches, Butland did not make a single error directly leading to an opposition shot or goal, which suggests that he was a reliable option between the sticks for the English outfit. He has also only made one leading to a goal in his five Premier League campaigns throughout his career.

The £35k-per-week tank can, therefore, be can be a much-needed addition to the team if he can continue that level of reliability next term, given McGregor’s mistakes in the Scottish top-flight.

He still has plenty left to give at the age of 29, 11 years younger than McGregor, and can be van Bronckhorst’s number one for many years to come if Wilson can strike a deal for him.

AND in other news, Race won: Wilson lands Rangers deal for sought-after teenage gem, GvB will be buzzing…

Leeds United remain firmly in the race for the signing of Aberdeen youngster Calvin Ramsay this summer, according to reports from Italy.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Ramsay

The Whites have been linked with a move for the 18-year-old following some impressive performances for the Scottish Premiership club.

The teenager made two league appearances in 2021/22 and seven in all competitions, and has been described as an ‘elite’ player by Pittodrie chairman Dave Cormack.

It appears as though Leeds continue to view the right-back as a long-term transfer target, with reports of their interest refusing to go away.

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The Latest: Leeds still interested in Ramsay

According to Italian outlet Tutto Bologna Web [via Sport Witness], the Whites remain in the conversation regarding Ramsay, but that also remains the case with Bologna and Liverpool.

However, it is suggested that Aberdeen could be looking to increase their asking price for the player amid the renewed interest of two Premier League clubs.

The report suggests that a heightened asking price could eliminate Bologna from the equation, coming as an undoubted advantage for Leeds.

The Verdict: Hugely exciting prospect

Ramsay looks like an exceptional prospect, and it would feel like a significant coup if he opts to join Leeds over Liverpool it would feel significant, given the Reds’ current standing in the European game.

The Whites need to be looking at long-term right-back replacements for Luke Ayling, who turns 31 later this year, and the Aberdeen youngster could fit the bill perfectly, slowly becoming a regular in years to come and suiting Jesse Marsch’s style of play with his attacking forays.

There would surely be more chance of him earning playing time at Elland Road than at Anfield, too, considering that Trent Alexander-Arnold is virtually unmovable in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI and is still only 23 years old, therefore looking set to nail down the position for another few years yet.

Leeds also set a Premier League record for the most teenage debutants in a season (eight) in 2021/22, so there is a clear first-team pathway for Thorp Arch’s top talents.

In other news, a worrying Leeds transfer update has emerged. Read more here.

Journalist Dean Jones has now made a promising Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving Villarreal star and Spurs centre-back target Pau Torres.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye move for Torres…

The 25-year-old is said to be a primary target for the Premier League club this summer as Spurs manager Antonio Conte prioritises the signing of a central defender.

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It is believed that securing a new defender is one of the Italian’s transfer wishes as he eyes a major north London overhaul, with The Daily Mail previously reporting that Tottenham are confident they can strike a deal.

Torres is apparently eager to leave Unai Emery’s side this summer, with Football Insider also claiming that the Lilywhites believe they can sign him for £10m less than the 25-year-old’s release clause of £55m.

The Latest: Jones makes promising Torres claim…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has now made a promising claim, stating that a move away for Torres ‘seems imminent’ and that he ‘will now become available’ as Spurs eye a move for the defender.

The journalist explained:

“Pau Torres is good value at £45 million, to be honest. It’s really hard to find centre-backs that have been tested at European level and are available.

“I believe that Torres will now become available, he’s been mooted for a transfer for so long that it seems imminent. So, I think Tottenham should push for him and look to get that perfect partner for Romero.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Speaking to the same outlet, Journalist Pete O’Rourke also believes that Torres would be a ‘great signing’ for the north London club.

We wholeheartedly agree with both reporters that Spurs may need to get a deal over the line for Villarreal’s star defender, especially considering just how much of a mainstay he has been for them in La Liga.

Only goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli has played more league minutes for the Yellow Submarine over 2021/22, with Torres also making the second-most clearances and winning among the most aerial duels per 90 (WhoScored).

With numbers like these, he could well be Romero’s ‘perfect’ ally at the back for Tottenham.

In other news: Paratici tables crucial bid as Conte personally pushes for Spurs signing, find out more here

Aston Villa have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Phillips links

Phillips, who Andrea Pirlo described as a ‘rock’ last summer, has been heavily linked with a summer switch to Villa in recent months.

Reports in March suggested that Steven Gerrard’s side were leading the race for the England international and were willing to pay Leeds £60m and Phillips around £10m-a-year.

Leeds are now on the verge of relegation back to the Championship, which has led to a major update emerging on the star midfielder’s future and a possible Midlands move.

The Latest: Source shares update

FI shared a story regarding Phillips on Thursday lunchtime claiming he is now ready to quit Elland Road even if Jesse Marsch’s side stay up.

A Villa source informed the site that NSWE are now readying up an offer after being given such encouragement, with Phillips feeling now is the right time to move on.

The Verdict: Record deal?

Should Leeds go down in the next ten days, then you’d like to think that their £60m valuation for Phillips could drop slightly. However, Villa could still smash their club record for Phillips in a deal worth over £35m.

Gerrard wants midfield reinforcements and a ‘specialist No.6’ this summer, and with Phillips a big admirer of the Villa boss, it seems as if a move is a real possibility.

Villa chiefs may well be hoping that the Whites drop back down to the second tier, making this a transfer to keep a close eye on over the coming weeks.

In other news: NSWE now close to agreeing deal for another midfielder alongside Coutinho.  

He says he waits patiently for his chances and, at the Wankhede, he made the most of the one he got – despite only five minutes’ notice

Firdose Moonda22-Oct-2023Five minutes before Aiden Markram walked out at the Wankhede to toss in place of Temba Bavuma, Reeza Hendricks found out his name had been added to the team sheet. That’s not an exaggeration for dramatisation’s sake. That is exactly how it happened, according to the man himself.”It was literally five minutes before the toss; coach came up to me and said, ‘You’re in,’ and I said, ‘I’m in! Okay cool, let’s go,’ and that’s exactly how I found out,” Hendricks told the media afterwards. “I obviously had to scramble and get myself into a good mindset to play the game.”There are unanswered questions about why Hendricks was unaware that Bavuma was not well and why he wasn’t put on standby before the team arrived at the ground, or at some point during the warm-ups, which Markram said Bavuma tried to brave through. If Markram knew Bavuma was struggling, it would seem only reasonable that the player who would have to replace him – Hendricks – should have known that too. Especially given the importance of the match, which was South Africa’s fourth of the group stage and first since losing to Netherlands.Perhaps in the coming days we will know more about the sudden onset of Bavuma’s illness and its seriousness. What we know for now is that he had to leave the ground about an hour into the game and watched a match that took place at a venue he dreamt of playing in from the team hotel. He will get another opportunity to emulate his idol, Sachin Tendulkar, if he is well enough on Tuesday, when South Africa play Bangladesh at the same ground.We also know that Hendricks, who was drafted into the side at the last of last minutes, was able to compose himself quickly enough in the circumstances to score a confident 85 in his first fifty-over appearance in over a month and only his fourth ODI this year. “It was quite challenging,” Hendricks conceded. “I felt everything was quite rushed for about an hour and a half. I had to somehow try to calm myself down and obviously they bowled well upfront so that didn’t help either. Luckily I got settled and then things started to fall into place quite easily.”Hendricks watched as Quinton de Kock slammed the first ball through point for four and then nicked behind off Reece Topley the next ball. He watched Rassie van der Dussen come in, under some pressure after playing a reverse sweep straight to a Dutch fielder a few days ago, and approach England’s bowlers with caution. He watched 13 balls before he scored his first run, a stunning square drive to get his first runs of the tournament. There would be more, including the first six of the innings, off a Mark Wood cutter, and two down the ground off Joe Root, as well as a pantheon of pulls. Together with van der Dussen, he laid the launchpad for Heinrich Klaasen and the rest… well, you know what happened.That Hendricks can play is obvious to anyone. How long he will continue to play in the ODI team is the point of discussion.Historically, South Africa have applied a principle of preferential treatment for the incumbent, which means if a player missed a match, a series or even a few months with an injury or illness, they slot back into the starting XI when available. Keshav Maharaj is the most recent example and re-established himself as the first-choice spinner after returning from a ruptured Achilles. That means when Bavuma recovers, Hendricks will be back to the bench.That’s not an unfamiliar position to him after there was also no space for him in South Africa’s T20 side at last year’s T20 World Cup, despite him scoring four successive half-centuries in the format three months before the tournament. The reason? Bavuma returned from an elbow injury and, as the appointed captain, had to take his place in the team.Then, the situation was tense because Bavuma was in poor T20 form and has since stepped down from the leadership of the T20I side. Now, it is not quite the same. Bavuma averages 63.27 in ODIs this year and has scored three hundreds in crucial games. His World Cup returns so far are modest – 59 runs from three innings – but he led South Africa to two wins in their first two games. Although he lacks experience in India and has only played four ODIs in the country, he approaches the game as a scholar and his tactical acumen as captain has been widely praised. He is expected to be back in the side as soon as he returns to full health and, for now, there isn’t much arguing against that.Hendricks’ position is further complicated because South Africa have no other way to make room for him. The balance of the current side cannot accommodate seven specialist batters without leaving them a bowler short no matter which way you try to juggle it. They need Marco Jansen in the allrounder role at No.7 with three quicks and a spinner or two of each. While Markram is a bowling option, South Africa are unlikely to go in with four specialists and expect a full 10 overs from him in every match and Hendricks, who also bowls offspin, has only sent down seven overs in his ODI career.At least, this is not something Hendricks is completely unused to. He has never been a regular in the team and has become accustomed to his role as a back-up and approaches it philosophically. “It’s challenging but you have to make peace with the situation and see how things unfold. I have to try and control what I can and that means me being ready when the opportunity arises,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how it comes but I’m training every day, making sure I am on top of my game, controlling what I can and making sure I wait patiently for the opportunity to come. There’s no point beating around the bush and being hard on yourself. I try to stay in a good frame of mind and, when the opportunity comes, to make sure I am on top of my game.”On that front, he gets full marks. With a five-minute warning, he played an innings that set the tone for a statement win over England and put South Africa in a situation most teams would be only too happy to deal with: a problem of plenty. How they solve it could define this World Cup campaign.

Sam Curran makes 40 in run-chase as Durham’s relegation woes are heightened

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay31-Jul-2025Surrey 322 and 176 for 5 (Curran 40) beat Durham 153 and 344 (Gay 99, Kishore 5-72) by five wicketsSurrey’s cricketers took a vital step towards the retention of the Rothesay County Championship when they defeated Durham by five wickets at the Banks Homes Riverside.Indian slow left-armer, Sai Kishore, took five for 72 as Rory Burns’ side dismissed Durham for 344 in their second innings and Sam Curran made 40 to help Surrey score the 176 runs they needed for their fourth victory of the season.With the game between Nottinghamshire and Somerset at Trent Bridge seemingly heading for a draw, it appears certain the 21 points Surrey earned for their victory will ensure they extend their lead at the top of the Division One table and make them even stronger favourites to clinch their fourth successive title at some point in September.However, the three points they earned from the game does nothing to ease next-to-bottom Durham’s relegation concerns, although their precise situation will not be clear until the results at Scarborough, Chelmsford and Worcester are known on Friday.But this third day did not go entirely according to Surrey’s morning plans. For nearly 45 minutes, the spin bowling of Sai Kishore and Dan Lawrence gave Durham’s overnight pair, Graham Clark and Codi Yusuf, few problems and it was no surprise when Burns took the new ball as soon as it was available. However, neither Dan Worrall nor Jordan Clark, the latter bowling to his brother, could make a breakthrough and it was left to Lawrence to take the first wicket of the day twenty minutes before lunch when Clark inside-edged a sharply turning off-spinner to Ryan Patel at short leg and departed for 42.But Clark’s 71-run partnership with Yusuf had increased Durham’s lead to 121 and that figure had been nudged up to 136 at the first interval, when the home side were 305 for six, with Yusuf unbeaten on 38.After lunch, though, Durham lost their last four wickets for 33 runs in ten overs and the magnitude of Surrey’s task became clear. After batting for 149 minutes and facing 117 balls, Yusuf was caught at the wicket by Ben Foakes off Sai Kishore for 43, seven short of what would have been only his second first-class fifty; Bas de Leede was then lbw for five when he pushed forward to a ball from Sai Kishore that slid on with the arm; and the left-handed Ben Raine departed for 27 when he moved a yard or so across his stumps and was hit on the pads when trying to swing Sam Curran to leg.Sai Kishore then completed his first five-wicket haul for Surrey in his final spell for them this year when Matthew Potts drove him to Patel at short extra-cover and Surrey were left with the task of scoring 176 to secure their fourth win of the season.Their pursuit began in straightforward fashion. Despite being handicapped by a groin strain and needing Tom Lawes to run for him, Dom Sibley made 35 and had put on 49 with Burns before he was caught at slip by Colin Ackermann off Callum Parkinson. Patel joined his captain and the pair had put on 45 runs either side of tea before both were dismissed in the space of three balls.Having made 28, Patel was the first to go when he attempted to pull Metthew Potts through the leg side but only skied a catch to Clark at midwicket. Two balls later, Burns was stumped by Robinson off Parkinson for 24. That left Surrey on 94 for three and Durham’s hopes were raised once more.Not for long, however. Curran and Lawrence took their side to 135 for three, just 41 runs short of their target when the umpires decided the light was too bad and briefly took the teams off the field. When they returned, Surrey’s batsmen accelerated towards their target with a flurry of boundaries. Although Curran was caught at long-on by Ben McKinney off Parkinson when nine runs were needed and Foakes was bowled for seven by Potts in the next over, Clark ended the game by hitting his first ball through the covers for two.

Leeds United fans must now be growing impatient with Daniel Farke at the helm, as another disastrous away performance was put in against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Heading into this huge tie towards the lower reaches of the Premier League, Forest had managed to collect just one home victory all season long.

Thankfully for Sean Dyche’s men, Leeds felt in a charitable mood defensively as another horror show performance on the road saw the Whites crash to a 3-1 loss, which now leaves the away side just one point above the dreaded bottom three spaces.

While the Tricky Trees have shot up to nine points after the win, and have some much-needed hope now that they can get out of their relegation mire, Leeds seem to be getting sucked more and more into a dog-fight as the season progresses, with several Whites first-teamers letting their under-fire manager down in the dreadful defeat.

Leeds' biggest underperformers against Forest

Minus Lukas Nmecha, who hammered home Leeds’ opening strike of the day before the wheels fell off, not many Leeds shirts can come away from that 3-1 loss with their heads held high.

In particular, the Leeds midfield ranks badly let the German down, as Sean Longstaff looked nowhere near his assured best when squandering possession 13 times.

Moreover, Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu also looked a shadow of his Championship best up against Dyche’s rejuvenated hosts, with the Whites captain failing to provide the away side’s defence with a stern cover, when winning just four of his nine duel attempts.

He was also at fault when Morgan Gibbs-White headed home the game-clinching second goal for the Tricky Trees, as the Welshman – alongside an equally ropey Jaka Bijol – left the England international in acres of room to become Forest’s hero on the day.

Farke will know he needs to make some alterations for Leeds’ next Premier League clash against Aston Villa in a bid to save his job.

Farke must now ditch Leeds' new Meslier-like figure

A certain Illan Meslier is now nowhere to be seen in the Leeds starting lineups, despite once being a regular week in, week out, stretching all the way back to the glory days of Marcelo Bielsa.

He was a consistent starter last season up to a point, too, before far too many error-prone moments started seeping into his game, leaving Farke with no choice but to bring in reserve stopper Karl Darlow to see out the rest of Leeds’ promotion bid.

Former Arsenal winger Perry Groves would put it down to a “lack of concentration” on the ex-Lorient goalkeeper’s end when consistently making errors, which made Leeds move for a new number one stopper in Lucas Perri in the summer.

The Frenchman hasn’t always been dismissed as an accident waiting to happen in between the sticks, though, with 21 clean sheets tallied up last season when at the peak of his powers.

Another scapegoat in the shape of Brenden Aaronson could well be becoming a new Meslier-type figure in the here and now for Leeds.

An unbelievable performance against West Ham United, which saw him bag Leeds’ opener, was then followed up by two forgettable showings against Brighton and Hove Albion and Forest to start November off on a damp note and push him back into the spotlight as an inconsistent individual who lets his side down too often, just like Meslier.

Minutes played

90

74

Goals scored

0

0

Assists

0

1

Touches

41

38

Accurate passes

24/26 (92%)

14/15 (93%)

Shots

0

2

Successful dribbles

0/2

1/7

Possession lost

11x

10x

Ball recoveries

1

10

Total duels won

3/10

8/16

Across Leeds’ last two pitiful defeats on the road, Aaronson has only managed to muster up one successful dribble from nine attempts, which is a far cry from him completing all 100% of his dribbles against West Ham as a reliable livewire.

On top of that, while the American found himself in the thick of the action all night long against Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, he could only amass a lacklustre 38 touches of the ball versus Forest, with the aforementioned Perri even managing more in between the sticks at 44.

These constant hot and cold performances could kill Farke in the long run as he searches for consistent form from all his players to save his skin, with Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth handing Aaronson a 4/10 post-match rating even after he had a minimal part to play in Nmecha’s early strike.

Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto are available in reserve down the right flank if Farke wants to ditch the attacking midfielder who has been so staunchly loyal to.

BBC commentator drops immediate verdict on Farke amid Leeds sack rumours

Leeds have lost four of their last five Premier League games.

ByJames O'Reilly Nov 9, 2025

Chicago Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks is headed to the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year deal, 670's The Score's Bruce Levine reported. MLB Network's Jon Heyman is reporting the deal is worth around $3 million.

Hendricks was the last remaining player from the Cubs' 2016 World Series-winning team. It's the end of an era officially in Chicago.

The 34-year-old is coming off a .250 winning percentage in 2024, which is the worst in his career. He posted a career-high 5.92 ERA. He pitched 130.2 innings resulting in 147 hits, 88 runs, 86 earned runs and 87 strikeouts.

It was expected that Hendricks had played his final game with Chicago on Sept. 28 after playing all of his 11 MLB seasons there. The crowd at Wrigley Field gave him a standing ovation and celebrated one of the star pitchers from their team's legendary 2016 World Series run.

The Detroit Tigers elected to intentionally walk San Diego Padres designated hitter and two-time batting champion Luis Arraez to pitch to outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. in the bottom of the 10th inning of San Diego's 6-5 win on Wednesday.

And Tatis took that personally.

The Padres star, who on Monday returned from the injured list to a warm reception from Padres fans, gave the Petco Park faithful something else to cheer about on Wednesday with a single to score rookie Jackson Merrill for the winning run.

After the game, Tatis admitted the Tigers' decision fueled him, according to Darnay Tripp of NBC 7 San Diego.

"I took it personal," Tatis said. "As soon as I saw four fingers up, but it gave me the push that I needed, the energy that I needed. I just wanted to come through for the boys."

Of course, it's hard to blame the Tigers for walking Arraez. The Padres slugger is batting .315 and has struck out just twice since the All-Star break. Tatis, on the other hand, has logged just nine at-bats since June in his return from injury heading into the bottom of the 10th inning.

But Tatis, who just three years ago belted 42 home runs in a single season, is also one of the more productive hitters in the game when healthy. And the Padres star delivered for his club in a big spot.

Tatis compiled an .821 OPS in the first half of the season and was selected as an All-Star game starter for the National League, though he missed the game due to a stress reaction in his right thighbone.

Now healthy, Tatis will look to help the Padres (80-61) hold onto the top Wild Card spot in the National League, and perhaps push for the NL West division crown, where the club is currently 4.5 games back of first place.

Mexico have revealed the jersey they’ll wear at the 2026 World Cup, marking a return to the traditional green that fans have long associated with El Tri. Inspired by the nation’s cultural roots, the kit features subtle Aztec motifs and will debut on Nov. 15 against Uruguay in Torreón – months before Mexico open the tournament on home soil.

@MiSeleccionMXBack to tradition

After experimenting with darker and alternative tones in recent years, and Adidas have unveiled a home kit that brings back one of the country’s most recognizable colors while paying homage to Mexican heritage.

The jersey features the brand’s signature three stripes across the shoulders, an embossed holographic crest, and a central pattern inspired by the Piedra del Sol – a nod to the design worn during the 1998 World Cup in France. Red and white details on the collar and sleeves complete the classic look, while the phrase “Somos México” is printed on the back of the neck.

Advertisement@MiSeleccionMXConnecting with Mexican culture and pride

“Every design starts from the idea of connection – with the people, with culture, with pride,” said Rafael Pereira, Adidas’ sports marketing director, in an interview with . “We wanted a shirt that feels iconic, that makes Mexicans proud of their identity.”

Mexico will debut the new uniform on Nov. 15 in a friendly against Uruguay in Torreón, Coahuila, before wearing it again four days later against Paraguay – closing out their 2025 calendar ahead of the World Cup.

@MiSeleccionMXDebut date set

The full kit includes white shorts and red socks with green and white accents, evoking memories of Mexico’s classic World Cup look. Fans, however, are already divided on social media – many have praised the design’s cultural tribute, while others expected something bolder for a host nation’s kit.

The fan version of the home jersey will retail for $107, while the authentic “player” edition will cost $161. Long-sleeve and goalkeeper versions will range from $107–172.

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@MiSeleccionMXMexico gears up for opening day

Mexico are set to open the 2026 World Cup on June 11 at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City, where the team is expected to take the field in their new green uniform – a symbolic moment marking both a return to tradition and a celebration of national identity.