Tag Futebol

Leeds United have now joined the race for a “phenomenal” striker who could be the “next Harry Kane”, but there could be competition for his signature from a Premier League club, according to a report.

Leeds stepping up summer transfer plans

Following the 2-1 victory against Preston North End on Saturday afternoon, Leeds are on the brink of promotion, with Sheffield United’s shock defeat against Plymouth Argyle leaving Daniel Farke’s side five points clear with four games left to play.

However, the fact that all three of 2023-24’s promoted clubs are set to be relegated from Premier League this season will serve as a reminder that Farke must strengthen his squad this summer, should his side achieve their aim of Championship promotion.

The Whites are now stepping up their summer transfer plans, and a £3.5m bid for Montpellier defender Modibo Sagnan is now being considered, with the 26-year-old viewed as a potential replacement for Maximilian Wober.

Leeds set to join race for "fantastic" star likened to Jobe Bellingham

He’s a man in demand…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 11, 2025

There are also doubts over Illan Meslier, given that the Frenchman has made a number of costly mistakes this season, and Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale is being eyed, with the Englishman available for around £25m due to a relegation release clause.

Not only are Leeds looking to strengthen in defence, but they could also look to bolster their attacking options this summer, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing they have now joined the race for Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson.

Ferguson was valued at £45m during the January transfer window, and the Irishman is attracting interest from the Whites and Everton ahead of the summer, despite a disappointing spell on loan at West Ham United.

West Ham’s loan agreement doesn’t include an option to buy, which means the race for the 20-year-old will be wide open this summer, and there is a feeling Brighton will be willing to sanction his departure.

"Phenomenal" Ferguson could be "next Harry Kane"

The Ireland international’s spell at West Ham hasn’t gone exactly to plan, failing to score in six appearances for the Hammers, but he is still very young, and it is clear he has a lot of potential.

The youngster has previously been lauded as a “phenomenal finisher” and “the Premier League’s next Harry Kane” by members of the media, while he has also been singled out for praise by the Bayern Munich striker himself.

Ahead of England’s clash with Ireland earlier this season, Kane said: “I think he’s a good player, he’s a great finisher and obviously he will be a threat for them tomorrow night. I appreciate good strikers who score goals and he seems to be able to do that quite well.”

Despite his recent struggles, Ferguson could be an excellent signing for Leeds this summer, capable of providing enough goals to give Farke’s side a fighting chance of avoiding the drop.

Our correspondent writes up a report card for England’s not so merry fellows in India, ranking how true they were to the B-word philosophy

Alan Gardner15-Mar-2024Firstly, the Light Roller would like to make a statement to our loyal reader.It has come to our attention that we may have, at various unspecified points in the past, referred to the so-called “Bazball” as the greatest thing ever to happen to cricket, a feat of genius with no parallel in the history of the game, the latest English sporting innovation set to sweep the world, and the only thing worth getting out of bed for in the morning.Regretfully, we must now inform you that these views were, at best, misguided, at worst, deviant. The so-called “Bazball” is in fact an overhyped chimera, a flawed piece of one-dimensional thinking that was destined to fail, the latest blight on England’s much-tarnished sporting reputation, and a very annoying word to boot.This much has become painfully clear in the wake of England’s 4-1 humiliation in India, which differed so vastly from their previous visits to the country – such as in 2021, when they valiantly lost 3-1 despite not having a single batter who had ever faced spin bowling, and in 2016, when they stodgily plodded to a respectable 4-0 defeat (which included twice scoring 400 only to lose by an innings).With the so-called “Bazballers” returning home in order to be publicly flogged/made to practise their forward defence, the Light Roller hopes to help make amends with this special England report card.Related

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Ben Stokes
Scored his runs at a strike rate of 54.22. Only took one wicket. Failed to produce any miraculous single-handed match-winning heroics. Has this guy even heard of the so-called “Bazball”?So-called Bazball rating: -1James Anderson
About as funky as you would expect of a man who has seemingly been bowling fast-medium swing since the dawn of Test cricket.So-called Bazball rating: 3Jonny Bairstow
The batter who blew India away with twin hundreds at Edgbaston in 2022 barely blew more than a few raspberries this time around – though he did admirably try to hit the cover off every ball in his 100th Test.So-called Bazball rating: 6Shoaib Bashir
Trust in youth, let players express themselves. Ideally make sure they get issued their visa in time. These are the tenets of the so-called “Bazball”. Loses a mark for being an offspinner, which is quite boring.So-called Bazball rating: 7Zak Crawley
Turns out that when Crawley is consistent, England don’t win Test matches. Chalk that one up to Brendon McCullum’s galaxy brain.So-called Bazball rating: 6Tom Hartley: understood the “Bazball” assignment•BCCIBen Duckett
Scored an 88-ball hundred and not much else besides, but – crucially – wound up the opposition at a key juncture with a textbook bit of needless preachy grandstanding in a press conference.So-called Bazball rating: 7Ben Foakes
So endearingly old school that he rarely hits the ball off the square, never mind in the air. Often seems to be working at deliberate cross-purposes to the so-called “Bazball” agenda.So-called Bazball rating: 0Tom Hartley
Got hit for six from his first ball on debut. Hit the first England six of the tour. Often got out trying to hit the ball for six. Oh yes, and he took quite a few wickets.So-called Bazball rating: 9Jack Leach
As he did in the very first Test under Stokes and McCullum, Leach injured himself in the line of duty and was not seen much from that point on.So-called Bazball rating: 5Ollie Pope
Played the “greatest innings by an Englishman in the subcontinent” in Hyderabad, according to his captain. The rest of his series reminded us more of infinite monkey theorem.So-called Bazball rating: 8Next in the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka rivalry: Sri Lanka fielders welcoming Bangladesh batters on to the field with a rendition of Britney Spears’ “(Hit Me) Baby One More Time”•BCBRehan Ahmed
Made an appearance as the Nighthawk, batting at No. 3 in Vizag and bowled nicely on several occasions without changing anything much. Loses several marks for not liking golf.So-called Bazball rating: 4Ollie Robinson
Can you do the so-called “Bazball” if you are injured/busy recording a podcast? No, it would seem.So-called Bazball rating: 1Joe Root
A series of two halves. Was having an absolute shocker, epitomised by his reverse-scoop dismissal in Rajkot, before remembering he is the team’s best batter and losing all the slap-happy credit he had built up.So-called Bazball rating: 9, 1Mark Wood
Scored 48 runs from 53 balls faced for a strike rate of 90.56, thereby topping the standings for the series in the only metric that counts.So-called Bazball rating: 4

****

Is the rivalry that accompanies contests between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh petty, small-minded and unbecoming? Yes. Is said rivalry the main reason we take an interest in contests between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh? Also yes. After the -dance years, we are now officially in the timed-out era, after Sri Lanka’s players celebrated their T20I series victory by posing with the trophy while pointing to their wrists – a classic bit of banter referencing Angelo Mathews’ dismissal at last year’s World Cup. We can only hope the BCB stands ready to respond and is already in discussions with international watchmakers about sponsoring this timeless beef for years to come.

Unscheduled break puts spotlight on captain’s faltering form in recent months

Matt Roller28-Jan-2022Are we heading into the final stages of Eoin Morgan’s England captaincy?Morgan was so quick to confirm his desire to stay on after the T20 World Cup semi-final loss to New Zealand in Abu Dhabi that his future has hardly been raised. “I’m still offering enough to the side,” he said in the post-match presentation; Chris Silverwood, England’s coach, later revealed that Morgan had been making plans for the 2022 tournament on the team bus back to Dubai after that defeat.But Morgan’s absence from the final three games of England’s series in Barbados – he has been ruled out through a minor quad injury – does beg the question. He turns 36 in September, a month before the T20 World Cup in Australia, and Jos Buttler – his heir presumptive – is at a natural inflexion point in his career with his Test future in doubt.Morgan’s batting has reached a point where it is increasingly difficult to justify his place in England’s middle order. Since the start of 2021, he has averaged 16.36 with a strike rate of 108.43 for England. It is still a relatively small sample size, but the evidence at domestic level has been not better: across 28 innings for Middlesex, London Spirit and Kolkata Knight Riders, he has averaged 18.13 with a strike rate of 118.13.Morgan has always been a streaky player. His peaks and troughs have been extreme across a 15-year T20 career, and the volatility of middle-order batting in T20s – particularly since he shuffled down from No. 4 to No. 5 or 6 – has created what Buttler called “a myth” around Morgan’s form. “I think the longer you go without contributing a significant score, the closer you are to actually contributing – and that’s coming from experience,” Morgan said before the World Cup.And it was not long ago that Morgan was in the best hitting form of his career. In 2019 and 2020, he averaged 40.71 with a strike rate of 158.32 in T20 cricket, the third-highest in the world behind Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard among those who batted 40 times or more. At 5.25 crore (£560,000 at the time) he was one of the bargains of the auction for the 2020 IPL.But his recent run has been a tough watch. There have been occasional glimmers of form – five sixes in a Hundred game at The Oval, a cool-headed finish in the IPL and a late swing for victory at Old Trafford – but for the most part it has been a struggle, as highlighted by his only real innings of note for England: 40 off 36 balls on a slow, low Sharjah pitch, playing second fiddle to an extraordinary century from Buttler.His performances in Barbados continued the trend, with 30 runs off 41 balls across his two innings. In the first, he came in at 10 for 3 and missed the first six balls he faced in a maiden from Jason Holder, eventually scoring off his ninth ball thanks to a thick edge. The pitch was tough, but much flatter in the second game, when he picked out long-off for 13 off 12 balls – and then dropped two catches, one of them straightforward, during West Indies’ run chase.Perhaps all he needs is a break. Morgan’s schedule in the last year has been relentless: India tour, IPL (first half), isolation at home, T20 Blast, England’s home summer, yet more isolation, the Hundred, a short break, IPL (second half), World Cup, Abu Dhabi T10. He admitted towards the end of the Hundred that he was exhausted, and opted against playing in the BBL or PSL either side of this tour in favour of time off.Related

Death-bowling problems rear their head again to take shine off England win

Eoin Morgan will make decision on his future himself, says Chris Silverwood

Eoin Morgan remains determined to stay on as England captain

Morgan ruled out of T20I series after sustaining quad injury

“The break for every player, coach and support staff gets more necessary with all the restrictions around Covid,” he told magazine last month. “If I’ve ever gone through a rough patch and had the chance to take a break from it, I’ve always put the bat down and gone and enjoyed the rest for what it is.” Depending on February’s IPL auction – where he has a base price of Rs. 1.5 crore (£150,000) – he may yet get a longer break than anticipated.As for Morgan’s captaincy? It is impossible to put a value on the intangibles of leadership but there have been the first hints of cracks appearing. Morgan said at the toss in the first T20I that he was hoping to bat first, having chosen to bowl 23 times in a row dating back to September 2016 – a tacit admission that his insistence on chasing had been a factor in England making a par score of 166 for 4 in November’s semi-final defeat when their batting-heavy strategy and the conditions meant they needed more.Their death bowling has been poor for a while. Morgan was widely given credit for his calming influence on Jofra Archer in the Super Over in the 50-over World Cup final in 2019, having learned from Ben Stokes’ nightmare in Kolkata three years earlier; but that same influence could not stop Chris Jordan (twice), Chris Woakes and Saqib Mahmood all conceding 20 or more runs in a single death over during Morgan’s last three T20Is.What would England’s limited-overs set-up look like without Morgan? Phil Salt’s assertive debut half-century on Wednesday, out of position at No. 6, underlined the depth of talent in England’s T20 batting. Buttler is an inexperienced captain, but Morgan’s implementation of a signalling system with Nathan Leamon, the white-ball analyst, has made him replaceable. It is often assumed that Morgan would move to a coaching or mentoring role, but he may prefer to spend his thirties cashing in on the franchise circuit – or spending time out of the game altogether.Morgan’s legacy as England’s greatest-ever white-ball captain is already secure and has been reinforced by the depth of talent coming through the ranks under his watch. With a men’s ICC event scheduled for each of the next 10 years – including the defence of England’s 50-over title in 2023, by which stage he will be 37 – there is no perfect time for Morgan to step down. But it feels increasingly like this winter’s T20 World Cup is his natural endpoint.

The Mariners made the first big splash of MLB free agency on Sunday night, agreeing to a long-term contract that will keep Josh Naylor in the organization for another five seasons.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan provided some further information on the agreement between Naylor and Seattle on Monday, indicating that the contract would be worth a total of $92.5 million. As such, Naylor will collect an annual average value of $18.5 million throughout the course of the deal. The contract does not include any deferred money. Additionally, Naylor’s deal to return the Mariners comes with a full no-trade clause.

The $18.5 million Naylor is due in 2026 would make him the third-highest earner on Seattle’s roster, behind only Luis Castillo ($24.15 million) and Julio Rodríguez ($20.19 million). His $92.5 million deal overtakes Ichiro Suzuki for the eighth richest contract in franchise history. Robinson Canó’s 10-year, $240 million contract still stands as the largest deal ever given to a Mariners player.

It’s a big commitment from the Mariners, but it shows just how highly regarded Naylor has become within the organization since arriving at the trade deadline in a deal with the Diamondbacks. Naylor quickly became a fan favorite in Seattle, and now he’s set to remain with the franchise through the 2030 season.

Last season, in 54 games with the Mariners, Naylor logged a .831 OPS with nine home runs, 33 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.

Adolis Garcia is a bad man.

His Texas Rangers were on the verge of an extra-innings defeat Monday night after a go-ahead home run from Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson in the top of the 10th to help power a three-run frame.

Garcia walked up to the plate with two on in the bottom half with an opportunity to restore the tie. And he did just that, hitting an absolute no-doubter to left on a full count. The ball quickly flew off his bat and over the left-field wall at Globe Life Field, leaving no question that he just evened the score once again.

The clutch homer wasn't the story, though—it was Garcia's epic celebration after he made contact.

From the broadcast angle, you can see Garcia immediately turned his head after making contact to let out a ton of emotion. But the close-up shot is even better:

He faced the Orioles dugout as he fired himself and the crowd up. And the best part is, he didn't start his trot around the bases until the ball long left the park.

Unfortunately for Garcia and the Rangers, they couldn't score after the one-out blast, which sent the game to the 11th inning where the O's put up four runs and held on for a 10–6 win.

Garcia's celebration will live on though, even if it just became a fun meme instead of a Rangers win.

Leeds United have their eyes on a tricky January transfer to sign a new forward who has been compared to Crysencio Summerville.

Leeds’ lack of goals in Premier League as 49ers eye forward

The Whites have struggled in front of goal so far following their return to the Premier League, with centre-back Joe Rodon the club’s joint top scorer in the top flight.

Joe Rodon

2

Lukas Nmecha

2

Noah Okafor

2

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

1

Anton Stach

1

Brenden Aaronson

1

Sean Longstaff

1

Daniel Farke’s side have only scored 10 goals in 11 games, with bottom of the table Wolves the only team to score fewer (7).

Only three attacking additions were made over the summer, two of which were free transfers in Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. It is looking like a decision the 49ers Enterprises could live to regret, but they do have their eyes on attacking reinforcements in the New Year.

Brazilian forward Jhon Jhon is one name that has emerged in recent weeks, and he already has Red Bull links at RB Bragantino in the Brazilian Serie A. Journalist Graeme Bailey said:

“He’s a fascinating player. Very interesting. A bit of an attacking midfielder, can play as a forward. His name has come up in conversations with Red Bull, and he’s within the Red Bull name. He’s a good age, good player. Ticks a lot of boxes.

“Leeds aren’t the only ones looking. He’s come up in conversations, and one I’d not heard before until recently.”

Leeds set to make imminent bid for Real Madrid ace after Farke convinces 49ers

The Whites are looking to bring in a new forward, having not scored enough goals so far this season.

ByDominic Lund Nov 21, 2025

Domestically, Coventry City’s Haji Wright is another attacker who has been linked with a move to Elland Road in recent months, and there has been a fresh claim regaring the Whites taking the USA international in the New Year.

Update on Leeds’ move for Haji Wright

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds have four attacking targets who they could move for in January, one of which is Wright.

It is stated that the Whites ‘have a genuine interest in signing Wright’ and ‘the club are considering a concrete move for a player they have tracked since the summer’.

A deal is viewed as tricky with Coventry top of the Championship, however, Wright’s contract is set to expire in 2027.

Despite the difference in size, Wright has been compared to former Leeds attacker Summerville due to his ability to play off the left.

Roony Bardghji

Barcelona

Marcus Edwards

Burnley

Crysencio Summerville

West Ham

Sadio Mane

Al-Nassr

Borja Sainz

Porto

Primarily a centre-forward, though, the 27-year-old has scored eight Championship goals in 14 appearances so far this season.

Labelled as a “constant problem” for defenders to keep tabs on by his manager Frank Lampard, it has previously been suggested that an offer of £20m could be required to sign Wright.

How Leeds believe they'll convince Raheem Sterling to join with move in the works

The details of the proposal Chelsea are willing to offer for FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen have now been revealed.

Robert Sanchez has received his fair share of criticism this season, with the goalkeeper being brandished an early red card in the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United, but he has since returned to form, keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

Speaking after the match, Sanchez said: “I feel confident, I am fit and at my best. I have always felt settled because the club always told me I am No. 1.

“But on a personal level and my performance I have to say yes (this is the most settled he has been at Chelsea).”

However, the Blues continue to be linked with new goalkeepers, with it being revealed they were offered the opportunity to sign Barcelona’s Ter Stegen at the end of October, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of the German.

Chelsea willing to submit proposal for Ter Stegen

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea are now willing to offer to pay 75% of the Barca shot-stopper’s salary to secure his signature in the coming days, although the loan move would have to wait until the January transfer window opens.

The La Liga club are willing to sanction a departure this winter, with the 33-year-old potentially set to join the Blues on an initial loan deal, before making a permanent move to Stamford Bridge for a fee of €10m (£9m) in the summer.

The veteran goalkeeper would welcome a move to a new club, given that he is keen to receive more game time ahead of the World Cup next summer, with the lack of opportunities at Barcelona jeopardising his chances of being Germany’s starting goalkeeper.

The 44-time Germany international has fallen down the pecking order at the Camp Nou and is yet to make an appearance this season, so it would be understandable if he decides to move on in January, ahead of what could be his final World Cup.

Having established himself at the top level, the £281k-a-week Barcelona man could also be an upgrade on Sanchez, with journalist Graeme Bailey saying: “Ter Stegen is world-class, and if there is a chance to bolster your ranks with a player of this calibre for the second half of the season, I think he is a fascinating option for a number of sides in January.”

The former Borussia Monchengladbach star is vastly experienced in Europe, having made 85 Champions League appearances, while he also knows what it takes to win major trophies, lifting 19 major honours with Barcelona.

As such, Ter Stegen could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea, who arguably need to bring in older players with experience of winning trophies if they are going to become title contenders.

Chelsea ready to bid for Vinicius Jr alongside Ter Stegen Bid ready: What BlueCo think about bringing Vinícius Júnior to Chelsea

The Blues have identified the man they want to become the face of their Stamford Bridge project.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 1, 2025

Are Rangers heading in the right direction?

On Sunday, Danny Röhl’s perfect start to life in the Premiership continued, making it three league wins out of three, with goals from Nicolas Raskin, Mikey Moore and then Djeidi Gassama downing Dundee at Dens.

Despite this, the Gers remain fourth in the table, level on points with Hibs, five points below fierce rivals Celtic and a whopping 12 adrift surprise leaders Hearts.

Goals though remain a problem for this team, having bagged only 15 in 11 Premiership outings to date, netting just 31 times in 24 fixtures across all competitions, with Sunday only the fourth time they’ve scored three or more in a match, despite doing so on 21 occasions last season.

Strikers Danilo, Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti continue to be, at best, inconsistent, but could Rangers’ youngster with “huge potential” solve this attacking issue?

Rangers' recent loan stars

While Rangers’ recent recruit has rightly come under scrutiny, with serious questions being asked of sporting director Kevin Thelwell, the club remain excellent in one particular area; identifying attackers on loan.

In the last four seasons, Rangers have signed a high-quality attacker on loan each time, as the table below documents.

As the table highlights, in each of the last four seasons, Rangers have brought in a high-class attacker on a season-long loan.

Amad is probably the outlier on this list, making little impact during his six months in Glasgow, albeit he’s since become a key figure for Rúben Amorim at Manchester United.

Since, Malik Tillman, Abdallah Sima and Václav Černý have all registered at least 17 combined goals and assists during one season at Ibrox, with the latter the most productive of the lot, starring during a season on loan from Wolfsburg, a major loss having joined Beşiktaş instead of returning this summer.

Now, could a current member of the Rangers squad keep the streak of outstanding attackers on loan going?

Rangers' latest loan star

Of course, the entire Rangers team has improved since Röhl replaced Russell Martin last month, an admittedly low bar, but the player who has thrived the most is Mikey Moore.

The teenager scored his first goal for the club at Dens on Sunday, doubling the Gers lead with this strike which flew into Jon McCracken’s bottom corner.

Even before opening his account, the Englishman had looked sharper since Röhl’s arrival in Glasgow.

Speaking during Sky Sports’ Coverage, Chris Sutton asserted that he is “flourishing” into his full potential under Röhl, while James McFadden notes that he is enjoying a lot more freedom with the German coach at the helm, forecasting that he will only continue to get better in the coming weeks.

When the 18-year-old arrived from Tottenham Hotspur in August, he did so with a massive reputation for someone who had only played 815 minutes at senior level.

Upon joining, then manager Martin praised his “huge potential”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelled him “the English Neymar”.

Despite his slow start to life at Ibrox, only two Rangers players, namely Gassama and Thelo Aasgard, have registered more successful dribbles on a per 90 basis in the Premiership, early signs that he is ready to make a significant impact.

As already alluded to, scoring goals is one of this team’s primary issues.

Across all competitions, only captain James Tavernier, Gassama, Danilo and youngster Findlay Curtis have bagged more than two goals thus far, with that strike against Dundee the first of Moore’s campaign.

Thus, there is a spot up for grabs for the 18-year-old to take responsibility and become a truly integral figure in this team’s attack, following in the footsteps of Sima, Tillman and Černý, the other high-class loan attackers who have come before.

Move over Moore: Rangers star proved why he's their "best player" vs Dundee

Rangers demolished Dundee 3-0 at Dens on Sunday and Danny Röhl’s “sensational” star was as key as Mikey Moore in this Scottish Premiership victory.

By
Ben Gray

Nov 9, 2025

Carlo Ancelotti’s time at Everton will always live long in the memory of Toffees fans. The legendary Italian boss was only at Goodison Park for one and a half seasons, but he got his side purring, playing some exceptional football.

In total, Ancelotti took charge of 67 games as Everton boss. He had a positive win rate, too, and was victorious in 31 of those matches, losing 22. His record in Merseyside derbies was excellent, losing once in four clashes, and securing three points at Anfield in his final derby in charge of the club.

Ancelotti also made some important signings during his time as Everton boss.

Ancelotti’s most important Everton signings

There was one signing in particular that Ancelotti made, which turned out to be a very important addition for the Toffees, that of Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Mali international played 34 games under the Italian coach, chipping in with six goals and assists.

It was his contribution after Ancelotti had left the club that was particularly vital for the Toffees. In total, he played 166 games and bagged 21 goals, but the most important strike came on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign.

His goal against Bournemouth ensured Everton avoided relegation. A crucial signing made by Ancelotti.

No doubt the biggest name Everton’s former boss signed during his stint at Goodison Park was James Rodriguez. The iconic Colombian attacking midfielder only spent a single season on Merseyside, but certainly left a huge impact.

He played 26 games under Ancelotti for the club, and started the Premier League season on fire. Rodriguez scored and assisted six goals in his first five games, ending the campaign with six goals and nine assists across all competitions. It was certainly a good deal, given he was signed on a free transfer.

Rodriguez was not the only bargain signing that Ancelotti made at Everton. Another player whom the Toffees signed for an excellent price is a key player at the club today.

The Ancelotti bargain in Everton’s first team

Years on from Ancelotti’s spell at Everton, almost all of the players he signed have now left the Toffees.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Rodriguez now plies his trade in Mexico for Leon, and Doucoure left in the summer to join Saudi side NEOM SC.

The only player that Ancelotti signed who still plies his trade at Everton is actually one of the most exciting young talents in England. Centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite joined the club in January 2020, signing from Carlisle United for just £1m.

The centre-back, who was born in Carlisle and represented them at first-team level, only played five times under Ancelotti, initially playing in the Toffees academy. Yet, they have the Italian to thank for bringing the defender to the club, given how good he’s become.

In total, the left-footed defender has played 86 games for the club now, impressing enough to make his England debut at the end of last season. He’s even chipped in with four goals, including a strike against Liverpool.

The 23-year-old is yet to make an appearance this season due to injuries.

Yet, his numbers from last term show just how much of a talent he is. For example, he won an average of 4.3 duels and made 6.8 clearances per 90 minutes.

Long balls completed

3.1

85

Forward passes

18.6

518

Duels won

4.3

118

Clearances

6.8

188

Ball recoveries

3.4

93

With all that in mind, it might not be a surprise to learn that the “colossal” defender, as Statman Dave called him, has shot up in value. According to Transfermarkt, he is now worth £43.5m, a testament to his quality and future potential.

He has seen an enormous rise in his value of 4200%, which represents excellent business from Everton under Ancelotti, all those years ago. It also means that, if the Toffees are ever to sell Branthwaite, they are surely in line for a huge windfall.

It certainly seems like, for a fee of just £1m, Branthwaite’s signing has been one of the best pieces of business done by Everton in recent years.

Moyes can ditch Barry & Beto to unleash "special" Everton star in new role

Everton may be able to solve their issues in front of goal with this player

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 10, 2025

Bayern Munich legend Mario Basler has told GOAL why he would still pick Robert Lewandowski ahead of Harry Kane, despite seeing the England international star in German football. Kane has become a trophy winner and maintained remarkable individual standards with Bayern as he follows in the illustrious footsteps of prolific Polish sensation Lewandowski – who hit 344 goals for the Bundesliga giants.

Kane vs Lewandowski: Goal returns for Bayern

Lewandowski spent eight memorable years with Bayern between 2014 and 2022. He achieved his stunning goal contribution through 375 appearances – finding the target on at least 40 occasions across seven successive campaigns. He left a sizeable void when leaving for La Liga heavyweights Barcelona.

Bayern spent 12 months mulling over their options on the striker front before eventually prising Kane away from Tottenham. He stepped out of his comfort zone in north London after growing tired of waiting on elusive major honours. Kane has been a revelation at the Allianz Arena, netting 107 goals through 111 games.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWhy Bayern great Basler would pick Lewandowski over Kane

Kane, who is into his third season as a Bayern player, is matching Lewandowski in the strike rate stakes. He is, however, yet to eclipse the Poland international’s legacy. With that in mind, the iconic No.9 of the recent past is considered to be held in higher regard than the free-scoring performer in the present.

Speaking in association with , Bayern legend Basler told GOAL when asked to pick between Kane and Lewandowski: “Oh, that's a very difficult question. The comparisons have been made a lot in recent days and weeks. Robert Lewandowski was also an exceptional striker at FC Bayern. So, ideally, I'd like to avoid the question altogether or take both of them. But if I really had to choose, I would go with Robert Lewandowski.”

Pressed further on whether Lewandowski’s longevity in Bavaria gives him the edge, Basler added: “Yes, he played for FCB for many years and scored his goals; he was an exceptional striker. You don't really want to hurt either of them, but if I had to choose, I would go with Robert Lewandowski.”

Similarities & differences between Kane & Lewandowski

Basler, who won two Bundesliga titles with Bayern and scored in the 1999 Champions League final against Manchester United, has previously said of the differences between two superstar strikers that have passed through Munich: “Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski are similar in some ways. They are rarely injured and they always score goals, but I believe Kane is more of a team player – Lewandowski is sometimes a very selfish striker.

“I watch Kane play and notice that he also tracks back in midfield and distributes the ball quite well. I think he is more important for Bayern than Lewandowski was. He adds more to the team than Lewandowski ever did because he also works defensively and is more involved in the team’s build-up.

“I hope he doesn’t leave Bayern and I also believe that he knows exactly what he has at the club. Above all he is also of a certain age now, I’m not sure he’d be keen to make another change at this stage. I believe he feels very comfortable in Bayern, and I hope he stays there until he ends his career.”

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GettyPremier League return & Barcelona: Kane transfer speculated on

Questions have been asked of how long Kane will be sticking around at the Allianz Arena. He is tied to a contract through to 2027, but said deal includes exit clauses that can be triggered next summer. It has been suggested that an offer of £57 million ($75m) would be enough to enter into transfer talks.

Fresh terms for the 32-year-old frontman have also been mooted, given his importance to the collective cause, but rumours of a return to England being made refuse to go away. It has also been claimed that Kane could follow in Lewandowski’s footsteps again by heading to Spain, potentially to Barcelona where he could be a direct replacement for his counterpart as they allow their Polish striker’s contract to run down towards free agency. Kane has been giving little away when it comes to his future plans.