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Geo-political relations between them have been strained for a while. Cricket-wise, it’s a contest between two evenly-matched teams

Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom30-Jan-2020One thing needs to be said upfront: so far at this Under-19 World Cup, no game has been as highly anticipated as the last quarter-final, between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Benoni.There are plenty of reasons why the knockout fixture between the two teams is set to be a cracker.They are neighbouring countries, and geo-political relations between them have been strained for quite a while now. As recently as at the 2019 50-over World Cup in England and Wales, the match between them at Headingley featured fans throwing punches at each other in the stands, rubbish, bottles, and even a rubbish bin being chucked around, and fans invading the pitch as soon as the match got over. There were unsavoury scenes outside the stadium too.Cricket-wise, it’s a contest between two very evenly-matched teams. “The match is winning the World Cup for us; we are cool with [exiting in the] semi-final, as long as we win tomorrow.” That isn’t an official quote but that sentiment, expressed by a travelling Afghan fan, could be the prevailing feeling in the team camp. One hopes that the stump mics are turned up for this contest, for a lot of passion and emotion will be on show. Oh, and the winner faces another neighbour in the semi-final: India. And the political history there is, well, a bit iffy too.Back to the tournament, and the two teams are facing off because Afghanistan finished top of Group D while Pakistan finished runners-up in Group C. But don’t let the standings fool you. While Afghanistan steamrolled all opposition, including hosts South Africa in the tournament opener, one can say Pakistan finished second – behind Bangladesh – in their group only because of a washout. Bangladesh were tottering at 106 for 9 when that game was called off, Pakistan falling second in the group on net run-rate.Afghanistan, however, can take confidence from the fact that they have defeated Pakistan in each of their last four completed encounters going back to November 2017. Generally, one would not read too much into games that go that far back, but the two teams’ most senior players – Rohail Nazir for Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran – featured in that November 2017 game.Then comes the manner in which the two sides won their two games in the group stage.Afghanistan had bowled South Africa out for 129 and beat a formidable United Arab Emirates by 160 runs. It was, perhaps, their misfortune that the game against Canada was washed out without a ball bowled.While Pakistan did shoot Scotland out for 75 in their tournament opener, they were made to work hard in their 38-run win against Zimbabwe, who made 256 chasing 295. After 36 overs in that game, it seemed like Zimbabwe would win, but a late burst from Tahir Hussain, who took three lower-order wickets – flipped it around. And then there was the Bangladesh game.So, where can the game be decided? One would think it’s in Pakistan’s batting innings, because of how ruthless Afghanistan spinners Shafiqullah Ghafari and Noor Ahmed, and left-arm seamer Fazal Haque have been. But Pakistan’s bowlers may have something to say about that, mostly because their effort has been one of teamwork: among their four bowlers with four or more wickets, none have an average of more than 15.50, and their pacers are significantly quicker than Afghanistan’s.After the quarterfinal line-ups were announced, Afghanistan coach Raees Ahmadzai had told : “We will try not to be emotional and will play with a clear mind because when players are emotional, they tend to lose their control and are not able to focus on the match properly.”Sensible words, those.It is certain that both sides will have plenty of support in Benoni, because of its proximity to South Africa’s most populated city – Johannesburg. Quite a few Afghanistan fans want to win this game more than any other. In that case, will the team with better skills or the one with a greater grasp of their emotions win the contest? One way or other, this one will be worth tracking.

Anderlecht’s teenage sensation Nathan De Cat has spoken publicly about growing Premier League interest from Tottenham and Aston Villa, insisting he has “no intention” of leaving in January despite major clubs tracking his rise. With the 17-year-old already valued at over €20 million (£17.5m/$23m) and viewed as one of Europe’s elite young midfielders, speculation continues to mount.

De Cat invites interest from Spurs, Aston Villa and Bundesliga sides

De Cat has emerged as one of the most coveted young midfielders in Europe, prompting significant transfer interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Brighton as the January window approaches. The Premier League trio have been monitoring the 17-year-old’s rapid progression since he broke into Anderlecht’s first team earlier this year and established himself as a key figure in Belgium’s most successful club. Reports have suggested valuations between €20 million (£17.5m) and €35 million (£30.6m), but Anderlecht have no desire to sell mid-season, especially with the player under contract until 2027 and central to their long-term sporting project.

Despite the outside noise, De Cat has shown no inclination to entertain a move at this stage of his development, choosing instead to remain focused on his role at Anderlecht. His physical profile, tactical intelligence and mature performances have attracted rave reviews, yet he has maintained a grounded approach as speculation intensifies around him. Even as scouts from the Premier League and Bundesliga track his performances closely, De Cat's priority remains consistent minutes and steady progression, where he currently feels supported and settled.

The interest from England joins what has already been a fierce transfer battle across Europe, with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen also keeping tabs on the teenager.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesDe Cat not interested in leaving Anderlecht in January

Speaking to Nieuwsblad, the 17-year-old left no doubt about where he stands: “I have no intention of leaving in the winter.”

He went on to explain why contract talks and transfer interest are currently not occupying his mind: “I’m not personally concerned with the interested clubs, nor with that contract extension. My parents are looking into that and are keeping me well away from it.”

De Cat also made clear that his focus is on long-term improvement rather than deadlines or career milestones: “A career plan? I’m not the type to think I have to achieve this or that within a year or so. My only concern is getting better every day, always raising the bar. My role models are Declan Rice of Arsenal and Rodri of Man City. To reach that level, I have to work hard. Again: the only thing that matters is the next match.”

De Cat's meteoric rise with Anderlecht this season

De Cat’s rapid rise at Anderlecht has been one of the standout stories of Belgian football this season, with the midfielder already surpassing 1,300 senior minutes by the age of 17. His combination of technical control, reading of the game and dominant physicality — especially for a player standing 1.92m tall — has drawn comparisons to a young Sergio Busquets, while scouts have highlighted his unusual maturity in high-pressure environments. For Anderlecht, his development has been a major validation of their youth-first approach, and they see him as a central pillar in their rebuild.

Interest from abroad was inevitable, with Tottenham and Aston Villa particularly intrigued by his profile and long-term potential. Spurs are seeking dynamic young midfielders capable of playing in Thomas Frank's system, while Villa believe he could eventually be a Premier League-level anchor beside Boubacar Kamara. Brighton’s model of recruiting elite young talent also makes them a natural fit, though they may struggle to match the financial muscle of their rivals if a bidding war erupts in future.

However, the Premier League is not the only destination being discussed. Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are widely seen as the most strategically aligned clubs for De Cat’s next step, given their track record of developing teenage talent into world-class midfielders. Dortmund have even been tipped as favourites due to personal connections in Germany and an existing pathway for Belgian prospects, though Anderlecht believe the best thing for the teenager is to remain in Brussels for at least another full season.

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AFPDe Cat expected to stay at Anderlecht until summer 2026

Anderlecht expect De Cat to remain at the club until at least the end of the 2025/26 season, with their stance reinforced by his own desire to stay and continue developing without external distractions. His performances over the next six months will likely shape the scale of interest heading into the summer, when clubs across England and Germany are expected to return with more concrete offers. For now, the teenager’s focus remains entirely on improving game by game, and Anderlecht plan to build their midfield around him as long as possible.

If the Premier League clubs want to prise him away, they will need to both meet Anderlecht’s valuation and convince a player who has made it abundantly clear that timing and development matter more to him than a fast-track move.

New Zealand managed a win after two defeats while Sri Lanka’s only points have come courtesy a wash out

Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Oct-20253:17

Can Sri Lanka ride on their recent record against New Zealand?

Big picture – Both sides looking for a sparkSomeone find a power pylon, a generator… even a car battery would do. Attach the wires to Sri Lanka’s Women’s World Cup 2025 campaign. Two games (and one washout) in, it desperately needs to be shocked to life. Although they are playing at home, this World Cup schedule was always going to be a challenge – they were playing the teams they have struggled most against in their first three games. And so far, only that point from the washout against Australia is keeping some sort of hope alive.New Zealand have had a rough start to the tournament too, thumped by Australia in their opener, before South Africa strode past them with relative ease. But they do, more recently, have that win against Bangladesh to hold them over. Their campaign doesn’t quite need the defibrillator as badly as Sri Lanka do. But a loss in Colombo on Tuesday be a major blow to their hopes of qualifying for the semi-final, with South Africa and England now rolling into serious form, while Australia and India have more-or-less played like the tournament favourites they were expected to be.The problem for New Zealand, is that Sri Lanka have beaten them in their most-recent ODI series in Sri Lanka – a three-match series in Galle in 2023, which Sri Lanka won 2-1. The problem for Sri Lanka, is that both those ODI victories had been founded on truly epic performances from Chamari Athapaththu, with the 140 not out off 80 balls in the conversation for being her best innings ever.In any case, New Zealand’s batting – however lacklustre by their own standards – is in significantly better shape this tournament than Sri Lanka’s has been. All three New Zealand innings have produced totals between 225 and 240. Against England on Saturday, Sri Lanka nosedived to 164 at this very venue.New Zealand meanwhile, are fresh from rolling Bangladesh over for 127. That performance was more a result of their seamers – Jess Kerr and Lea Tahuhu taking three apiece – where it is spin that usually decides matches at Khettarama. Legspinner Amelia Kerr has five wickets in the tournament, but may need a little more support from the other spinners than she has had so far, if New Zealand are to make a statement on Tuesday.Form guideSri Lanka LLLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand WLLWW2:14

Green: ‘Halliday has many options against spin’

In the spotlight – Amelia Kerr and Hasini PereraSri Lanka will be extremely wary of Amelia Kerr’s bowling, given she averages 24.62 in Asia. But this tournament is yet to see the best of Kerr the batter, and perhaps their stop in Sri Lanka is the place to change that. She has played only three innings on the island – in that 2023 series. But she did hit a 108 off 106 balls in the only match of that series that New Zealand won. It’s not as if she’s been especially bereft of form, having made some starts at No. 3 this World Cup. But each of those innings has been slightly laboured. Kerr firing at first-drop would make New Zealand a much more daunting opposition towards the end of this tournament.Sri Lanka batter Hasini Perera has attracted a little bit of criticism over the past week or so. While Sri Lanka’s top order fails, she has been an easy target, partly because of her long-term record. After 53 ODI innings, Hasini has a high score of 46. She has, this year, been asked to sacrifice her preferences for the team, however. Sri Lanka see Vishmi Gunaratne as an investment in the future, and have sent her down to No. 4, where, it is hoped, she will have a greater chance of success in this development phase of this career. And Hasini, who averages a respectable 33 at No. 4, has been asked to open. She top-scored for Sri Lanka in the loss to England, so clearly she is not out of her depth at the top of the order. But she needs a good score – a fifty ideally – to fend the critics off.Pitch and conditions – More rain (perhaps). More spin (for sure)Colombo’s weather continues to be as it has been in the last two weeks – humid, hot, with frequent showers rolling through. Expect the track to take good turn again, as it did on Saturday.Dewmi Vihanga’s spot in the XI could be in focus•ICC/Getty ImagesTeam news – Spotlight on Sri Lanka’s attackSri Lanka will think about Dewmi Vihanga’s place in the XI. She offers offspin and some hitting with the bat, which is why Sri Lanka picked her against England ahead of another seamer. But she does also tend to be a liability in the field. Seamer Malki Madara, who impressed in the tri-series earlier in the year, also waits in the squad.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Hasini Perera, 2 Chamari Athapaththu (capt), 3 Harshith Samarawickrama, 4 Vishmi Gunaratne, 5 Kavisha Dihari, 6 Nilakshika Silva, 7 Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), 8 Dewmi Vihanga/Malki Madara/Achini Kulasuriya, 9 Sugandika Kumari, 10 Udeshika Prabodhani, 11 Inoka RanaweeraNew Zealand may retain their winning XI.New Zealand (possible): 1 Suzie Bates, 2 Georgia Plimmer, 3 Amelia Kerr, 4 Sophie Devine (capt), 5 Brooke Halliday, 6 Maddy Green, 7 Isabella Gaze (wk), 8 Jess Kerr, 9 Rosemary Mair, 10 Lea Tahuhu, 11 Eden CarsonStats and trivia New Zealand had never lost an ODI against Sri Lanka, until they lost twice in one series in 2023. Their overall record is 13 wins to those two losses. They won by big margins against Sri Lanka this year as well, but those two games had been played in New Zealand Amelia Kerr enjoys bowling in Asia, but her batting in the continent has not been quite as strong – she averages 36.37 in Asia, down from her overall average of 41.18 Inoka Ranaweera has been Sri Lanka’s best bowler by a distance in their first two completed matches. So far this tournament, she has seven wickets at an average of 11.29Quotes”In this tournament so far we’ve seen wickets falling early in just about every ground pretty much. It’s about trying to build big partnerships up top.”New Zealand allrounder Maddy Green on the way the batting in this World Cup has tended to go so far.“Even though Hasini has played short innings, we think those are good innings. And sometimes no one has played better.We know what she is capable of.”Sri Lanka coach Rumesh Ratnayake on Hasini Perera.

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Depois de uma novela que se estendeu desde novembro, o Flamengo finalmente anunciou Léo Ortiz como novo integrante na zaga rubro-negra para 2024. O jogador é o terceiro reforço para a equipe de Tite nesta janela de transferência.

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Apesar da demora para fechar a contratação, o Flamengo correu para regularizar o zagueiro de 28 anos a tempo para jogar o Campeonato Carioca. O defensor já está inscrito no BID e no Boletim Informativo Diário da Ferj (BIRA). Com isso, Léo Ortiz já pode estreiar pelo Rubro-Negro.

O Flamengo enfrenta o Fluminense pelo primeiro jogo da semifinal do estadual neste sábado (9) no Maracanã, às 21h (Brasília), e tem a vantagem de dois resultados iguais, por ter tido uma campanha melhor na Taça Guanabara.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Flamengo

O zagueiro já treinou com o elenco nesta quarta-feira (6) e pode fazer sua estreia com a camisa Rubro-Negra já no jogo de ida da semifinal por conta de uma possível ausência de Fabrício Bruno, que sofreu uma fratura no nariz.

Léo Ortiz chega no clube da Gávea após cinco anos atuando no time paulista sendo um dos principais jogadores da equipe, que fez uma boa campanha na última temporada, e chegou a ser convocado para a Seleção Brasileira em 2021 e 2022.

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Comprado por 7 milhões de euros (R$ 37,6 milhões na cotação atual), o jogador é o terceiro zagueiro mais caro da história do Flamengo, mas pode chegar a bater recordes caso cumpra metas estabelecidas no contrato. Se ele conquistar títulos com a camisa rubro-negra, o Flamengo terá que pagar mais 1 milhão de euros (R$ 5,3 milhões) de bônus ao Bragantino. 

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Neymar and his father are set to to acquire the Pele brand through their company NR Sports. Neymar returned to Santos at the start of January having left the Brazilian side for La Liga giants Barcelona in 2013, where he'd go on to win La Liga and the Champions League. And the Brazil star is prepared to continue Pele's legacy as the player and his father acquire the brand rights.

Neymar set to acquire Pele 'brand' for €15.5m

Pele was on the Santos books between 1956 and 1974, where he excelled for the Brazilian powerhouse. Indeed, the Brazil icon scored 643 goals in 659 outings for Santos before spending three seasons with the New York Cosmos and ultimately retiring in 1977.

Pele is considered to be one of the best footballers of all time with Neymar and his father expected to continue his legacy when they announce a deal to acquire his brand rights later this week. According to UOL, an official agreement worth a reported €15.5m (£14m/$18m) is expected on Wednesday, November 19 to mark the anniversary of Pele's 1,000th career goal.

The Pele brand previously belonged to American company Sport 10 and relied primarily on appearances at events. However, the brand has been underutilised since Pele's tragic passing in 2022 at the age of 82 due to multiple organ failure, a complication of colon cancer, which was initially diagnosed in 2021.

AdvertisementAFPSantos star out to revive Pele's image

As a result of the acquisition, NR Sports will be able to use Pele's image and name, license for merchandise, and acquire historical footage as they look to revive and globalise the image of the former Brazil star. Pele's family still attend Santos games, with Neymar recently paying to renovate the box still occupied by the former's loved ones at the Vila Belmiro, which includes new seats, a remodelled bathroom, glass paneling, and air conditioning.

Neymar has looked to continue his compatriot's legacy by adorning the famous number 10 shirt once worn by Pele for both Santos and Brazil. However, Neymar's return to Santos has been plagued by injuries, meaning the former Barcelona and PSG star has only made 13 league starts for the Peixe.

Santos are also enduring a difficult domestic season and they head into the final knockings of the 2025 Brasileirao just one point and one place above the relegation zone. They did, though, claim a 1-0 win over Palmeiras at the weekend as Benjamin Rollheiser netted in second half injury time to claim a priceless three points.

Neymar issued Brazil ultimatum

Neymar has also been issued an ultimatum by Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti. The Selecao were underwhelming in CONMEBOL qualifying as they booked their 2026 World Cup spot in a bid to land a record-extending sixth World Cup, and their first since 2002.

Earlier this month, Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti said: "Neymar is on the list of players who can go to the World Cup. He has six months to make the final list."

The 33-year-old returned to the Brazil squad back in March having last featured for the national team in October 2023, when he suffered a knee injury in action against Uruguay. And Ancelotti has made it clear that any decision for Neymar to return to the Brazil squad will be down to his physical condition after years of setbacks and fitness issues.

"Neymar has recovered, but he needs to show performance. When the Brazilian league ends he'll have some vacation time, and then he must show his quality and physical condition again," the Italian added.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty Images SportNeymar set for January transfer?

One way for Neymar to maintain his fitness is to secure a January switch, with a transfer away from Santos mooted. Neymar's current deal runs until the end of the year, and Fabrizio Romano has hinted that the Brazilian trickster could be on the move again in the New Year.

"Neymar is trying to help, but don't forget that Neymar could eventually be available as a free agent from the beginning of January," Romano said. "So an interesting situation to follow because Neymar could consider a move in the January transfer window. Now Neymar wants to be 100 per cent focused on his priority, so to help Santos avoid relegation and to do his best for his club.

"In this moment Neymar is not having any advanced negotiation, but some calls have started to understand the situation of Neymar. When there is a player of his level available on the market, it is obviously an opportunity. Okay, maybe Neymar is not in the best physical condition now, Neymar is coming from an injury, he had several injuries recently. But now he’s back, he's fit, he’s trying to help Santos.

"He's trying to find his best condition, and so keep an eye on Neymar because he could be one of the names to watch for the January transfer window on a free transfer, and so that could be an interesting situation to follow."

Ligue 1 referee chief Amaury Delerue has defended the controversial decisions made by both the on-field and VAR officials during Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-2 win over Lyon. The last-minute defeat left Lyon players furious but Delerue has explained the process behind the officials' decisions and insisted that each call was made correctly.

Lyon frustrated with calls all in favour of PSG

Lyon were left furious after a series of key moments went against them in their match against PSG. In the 27th minute, Ilia Zabarnyi’s apparent handball inside the penalty area went unpunished. Soon after, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s goal stood despite Vitinha’s tackle from behind on Tanner Tessmann. Just before half-time, a challenge by Kang-in Lee on Nicolas Tagliafico inside the PSG box was ignored. The controversy deepened when Tagliafico was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Vitinha, leaving Lyon with 10 men. VAR upheld the decision, sparking outrage from the Lyon players and staff.

Lyon’s assistant coach Jorge Maciel launched a scathing post-match rant, claiming that only the four referees on the pitch failed to notice the fouls committed during the game. He said: “I think there are 59,000 people in the stadium, and only four of them didn’t see the fouls we analysed. We don’t even need to watch the replays. When it happens one way, we don’t understand it. When it happens with the arrogance of not even having the opportunity to discuss it, we don’t understand it.”

Maciel went on to accuse the officials of favouring PSG, suggesting that the champions didn’t need to “play with 16 men” as they are already the best team in Europe.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportDelerue defends the referees

In an interview with, Ligue 1 referee association chief Delerue defended the officials appointed for the match and explained the reasoning behind their key decisions.

He clarified why no handball was called on Zabarnyi, saying: “The VAR followed IFAB protocol by reviewing all available angles and images, none of which clearly showed that the decision not to award a penalty was definitely wrong, or whether Zabarnyi actually touched the ball.”

Delerue also justified the decision regarding Lee’s challenge on Tagliafico, stating: “Lee’s intervention is not punishable under the laws of the game. It was natural contact that did not prevent Tagliafico from playing the ball.”

Vitinha finds the loophole

PSG, who were without key players such as Achraf Hakimi, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Nuno Mendes due to injury, took an early lead through Warren Zaire-Emery within the first ten minutes. Lyon quickly equalised through Moreira, but Kvaratskhelia restored PSG’s advantage soon after. Ainsley Maitland-Niles struck again to make it 2-2, and the match appeared to be heading for a draw until Joao Neves rose highest to score from a late corner, sealing the win for Luis Enrique’s side. The result moved PSG back to the top of the table, while Lyon slipped to seventh.

Kvaratskhelia’s goal came right after Vitinha’s foul on Tessman. Delerue admitted that Vitinha took advantage of a loophole in the rules to avoid punishment when he said, “This is a very complex situation on which the DA was unable to reach a 100 percent unanimous decision. The contact affected Tessman’s ability to maintain control of the ball, which is why we would primarily consider it a foul during recovery and disallow the goal. But we are in a grey area, which is why the VAR’s decision not to challenge the central referee is understandable.”

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Getty ImagesPSG using the international break to grow stronger

Enrique will use the international break to recover key players from injury and refine his tactical system. The PSG manager aims to learn from their defeat against Bayern Munich, make the necessary adjustments to avoid similar mistakes in future matches, and further strengthen his team’s overall performance.

They sit top of the French top flight with a two-point lead over Marseille and Lens, while Lyon's defeat – winless in four games – are seventh in the table and seven points adrift of the reigning champions.

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Na goleada por 4 a 1 do Santos contra o Vasco, houve um festival de cartões após uma confusão generalizada iniciada por Soteldo. Nessa onda de punições distribuída pelo árbitro Anderson Daronco, o meio-campista Lucas Lima foi expulso da partida.

+ Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro-2023 clicando aqui

Por meio da sua rede social, o camisa 23 do Peixe fez questão de postar que questionou o dono do apito sobre o motivo que causou o cartão vermelho: “O que eu fiz para ser expulso?”, indagou o jogador.

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De acordo com a súmula de Daronco, a causa do vermelho aplicado a Lucas Lima foi por empurrar e pisar no pé do atacante Pablo Vegetti, do Vasco, enquanto a partida estava paralisada. 

O meio-campista não foi o único a ser expulso da partida. Por conta da confusão generalizada, Rodrigo Fernández, que estava no banco do Santos, e Gary Medel, zagueiro do Vasco, também foram mandados embora do campo de jogo.

Com isso, Lucas Lima e Fernández se juntam a Dodô e Soteldo, que foram punidos com o terceiro amarelo, na lista de suspensos para o clássico contra o Palmeiras, no próximo domingo (8), às 16 horas (de Brasília).

The centre-forward position at Celtic has been a tricky one for Brendan Rodgers to deal with for a long time now, possibly stretching back to January 2024.

Adam Idah was brought in to compete with Kyogo Furuhashi in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, before they battled it out again in the 2024/25 season.

Both Idah and Kyogo left the club this year, the latter in the summer and the former in January, and Kelechi Iheanacho is currently the first-choice number nine at Parkhead.

Why Celtic may sign another striker in January

Iheanacho has scored three goals in six matches for the Hoops in all competitions since his move to the club on a free transfer from Sevilla, but two of those three goals came from the penalty spot, per Transfermarkt. One goal from open play in six matches is not an ideal return for the Nigeria international.

Celtic bid £10m to sign Kasper Dolberg from Anderlecht on deadline day, only to miss out on his signature to Ajax, which suggests that there is cash in the bank to spend on a striker when the January window rolls around.

This means that the Hoops may dip back into the market to sign a striker in the hope of bringing in a reliable goalscorer who Rodgers can trust to deliver consistent quality.

The arrival of a new centre-forward at Parkhead in January could spell the end of Johnny Kenny’s time at Celtic, as he has not kicked on in Glasgow this year.

Why Johnny Kenny is on borrowed time at Celtic

The Irish number nine returned to the club in January after a loan spell with Shamrock Rovers to play a supporting role in the second half of last season.

Kenny scored one goal in eight appearances in the Scottish Premiership as a back-up to Idah and was only handed one start by Rodgers. This did not suggest that he was likely to kick on and become a regular in the 2025/26 campaign.

English League One side Bolton Wanderers had a bid of £500k turned down by the Hoops during the summer transfer window, as they decided to keep him as part of their squad for the first half of this season.

Johnny Kenny (Premiership)

24/25

25/26

Appearances

8

3

Starts

1

0

Unused substitute

6x

2x

Goals

1

1

Big chances missed

2

3

Big chances created

1

0

Assists

1

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Kenny has only made three appearances as a substitute in the Premiership so far this term, which shows that Rodgers does not trust him to play regular minutes.

At the end of last season, former Fulham and Leeds star Ross McCormack suggested that he needed to go to League One or the Championship in England.

McCormack said: “I would imagine you’re probably looking at maybe a loan down south somewhere, bottom end of League One or top end of the Championship and see how he goes.”

Bolton are currently ninth in League One in England, so not quite the bottom end of League One. They were willing to pay £500k to sign the Irishman from the Hoops in the summer, and that would have given him an opportunity to go away and play regular minutes to develop as a player.

Instead, Kenny is rarely getting on the pitch for Celtic. His development is stalling by not gaining experience in a competitive environment, which is why he should be looking to move on in the next window to take the next step in his career.

Related Rodgers must sell Celtic flop who's now worth even less than Adam Idah

Celtic must sell this flop whose value has dropped millions and is now worth less than Adam Idah.

Posts ByDan Emery Oct 14, 2025

When you take that and the idea that Celtic may want to enter the market to sign another striker in January, the Irishman may be on borrowed time at Parkhead, as moving away from the club could be the best for all parties involved.

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and put faith in his “powerhouse” batting line-up by choosing to set a total. There were some changes to that XI that’s been putting up those big runs with Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis still to return to the IPL. In their absence, BBL winner, with a century in the final this season, Mitchell Owen, and fast bowler Xavier Bartlett get a go.The break allowed Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson time to recover from his abdomen injury earlier this season and he seemed happy with the way the toss went, saying he wanted to bowl anyway. Samson based that on the way the pitch had behaved during the last match played on it, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, when it was a bit slow to start off.Samson confirmed that RR will continue opening with 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi and it will be him shifting down the order to accommodate the youngster after his record-breaking century at the top of the order. Nitish Rana made way. The other change – along expected lines – was South Africa’s Kwena Maphaka coming in for Jofra Archer who did not rejoin the team for the IPL’s resumption.Rajasthan Royals bowl-first XI: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 3 Sanju Samson (capt, wk), 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Dhruv Jurel, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Kwena Maphaka, 9 Tushar Deshpande, 10 Akash Madhwal, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi
Impact Subs: Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh, Kumar Kartikeya, Ashok Sharma, Kunal RathorePBKS bat-first XI: 1 Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 2 Priyansh Arya, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Mitchell Owen, 5 Nehal Wadhera, 6 Shashank Singh, 7 Azmatullah Omarzai, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Xavier Bartlett, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal
Impact Subs: Harpreet Brar, Pravin Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Musheer Khan

Following reports that Nicholas Kirton, the Canada men’s captain, had been taken into police custody in Barbados, Cricket Canada has said it is “actively monitoring the situation”.”Cricket Canada has been made aware of the recent allegations and detainment involving national team player Nicholas Kirton,” the board said in a statement. “We are actively monitoring the situation and closely following developments as they unfold. Cricket Canada is committed to ensuring transparency and will provide updates as more details become available.”We take this matter seriously and remain steadfast in upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability within the sport. While this situation is being addressed, we would like to assure the public that our national men’s team is fully focused on their preparations for the upcoming North America Cup, set to begin on April 18th in the Cayman Islands.”Cricket Canada remains dedicated to supporting the team as they continue to represent our country with pride and professionalism.”The inaugural North Americas Cup will be held in April, pitting Canada against Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and USA.A report in the said Kirton, a Barbadian, “was taken into police custody on Sunday”.Kirton has played 21 ODIs for Canada, scoring 514 runs, and 28 T20Is, scoring 627 runs. In 2020, he played three CPL games for Jamaica Tallawahs.Before migrating to Canada, he played for West Indies Under-19 and Barbados.