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Glasgow Rangers failed to win in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since they appointed Danny Rohl in their 0-0 draw with Falkirk at Ibrox on Sunday.

The Light Blues failed to score a goal in a home game against Falkirk for the first time this century, and it was a disappointing all-round display from the hosts.

Rangers were unable to find the back of the net from three ‘big chances’ and 1.07 xG, per Sofascore, and had to settle for one point and no goals in front of their supporters.

Despite the underwhelming performance and result, there was a positive for Rohl to take away from the match, as Nedim Bajrami showed that he has something to offer.

Why Danny Rohl must unleash Nedim Bajrami

The Albania international came in for his first start of the league season, having made six substitute appearances before Sunday, and his performance on the left flank suggests that he has been underused.

Bajrami ended his 75 minutes on the pitch with four dribbles completed, two chances created, and ten duels won, per Sofascore, which shows that he put himself about physically, moved forward with the ball with intent, and looked to make things happen in the final third.

Last season, the former Sassuolo man scored two goals and created four ‘big chances’ in 15 starts in the Premiership, to go along with one goal and six ‘big chances’ created in eight starts in the Europa League, per Sofascore.

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Meanwhile, one of the summer signings, Thelo Aasgaard, has failed to prove himself to be an upgrade on Bajrami and now looks to be the biggest waste of time since Sam Lammers.

Why Thelo Aasgaard may be the new Sam Lammers

Rangers signed Lammers from Atalanta for £3m in the summer of 2022, to bolster Michael Beale’s attack, and the attacking midfielder produced two goals and two assists in 31 games for the club, per Transfermarkt.

The left-footed flop spent the second half of that season on loan at Utrecht before being sold to FC Twente for an initial fee of £2.5m that could rise to £4m one year after joining the Gers.

This shows that Lammers was more or less a waste of time for the Light Blues because he rarely contributed on the pitch and he left Ibrox for a similar fee to the one that he was brought in for.

Rangers paid £3.5m to sign Aasgaard from Luton Town in the summer, only £500k more than Lammers cost, and he is, unfortunately, treading the same path that the Dutchman walked.

The Norway international, whom Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar dubbed “rotten” last month, has scored one goal and provided one assist in 21 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which is an even worse return than the Twente star ended his Ibrox career with.

Aasgaard, who was handed a 2/10 player rating vs Falkirk by IbroxNews, has as many red cards as goals, after he was sent off against Celtic in the semi-final of the League Cup, and, as aforementioned, he has not proven that he is an upgrade on the player that he was brought in to replace, Bajrami.

Starts

15

8

Goals

2

1

Key passes

28

9

Big chances created

4

0

Assists

1

1

As you can see in the table above, the Liverpool-born midfielder has not scored goals or created chances at a more impressive rate than the Albanian did in the Premiership last term.

The same is true for their respective form in the Europa League. Last season, Bajrami scored one goal and created six ‘big chances’ in eight starts, per Sofascore, whilst Aasgaard has no goals and no ‘big chances’ created in five outings in the competition in the 2025/26 campaign.

If the 2/10 Norwegian flop’s dismal form at the top end of the pitch continues and Bajrami gets more chances after his bright showing against Falkirk, then his future may already be in doubt when the January transfer window opens.

Like Lammers, Aasgaard may have to look at his options in January and see if there is a loan or a permanent option for him to go elsewhere, unless he can turn his form around in the coming weeks.

Rohl must bin Rangers flop who was even worse than Aarons vs Falkirk

Danny Rohl must replace this Glasgow Rangers flop in January to solve a glaring issue in the squad.

ByDan Emery Dec 1, 2025

For now, though, the former Luton and Wigan star looks to be the biggest waste of time since Lammers because of the fee he was signed for and the lack of consistent performances on the pitch.

The development comes a day after he went unsold at the ILT20 auction

Nagraj Gollapudi02-Oct-2025

R Ashwin went unsold in the ILT20 auction•PTI

R Ashwin has agreed to play the entire season of BBL for Sydney Thunder, a day after he went unsold at the ILT20 auction in Dubai.Ashwin, who announced his IPL retirement in August, became the first capped Indian player to play in the BBL, agreeing to play at least three matches in the latter half of the season for Thunder. That arrangement was based on Ashwin committing to play in ILT20, where he had listed the highest base price of USD 120,000.However, Ashwin went unsold when his name, listed in Set 5 for allrounders, came up for bidding with none of the six franchises showing interest. It is understood that Ashwin had requested ILT20 to remove his name from the accelerated second round of bidding, meant for unsold players.Related

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Ashwin said he had “verbally” agreed with ILT20 to feature in the 2025-26 edition, which will be played between December 2 and January 4. With the window for direct signings closed in July, Ashwin decided to put himself at the maximum base price and was the only player to list a six-figure reserve price. Ashwin also mentioned to ILT20 that he was expecting a certain bid for him to play in ILT20. When it became clear he was not getting that at the auction, he pulled out.”I had agreed verbally with ILT20 but then the franchise offers were pretty low because the direct signings had been closed by all teams,” Ashwin told ESPNcricinfo. “Meanwhile, Thunder came with a good deal, but since I had verbally agreed with ILT20, I entered the auction saying this is the minimum price I want to play for, else I am happy going to the BBL.”Ashwin, who ended his IPL career as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the league with 187 strikes at an economy rate of 7.2, was a sought-after name in BBL with Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Strikers and Thunder showing interest to sign him up. He became the first capped India cricketer to earn a BBL deal.Thunder begin their BBL campaign against Hurricanes in Hobart on December 16. Their second game of the season is the local derby against Sixers at ENGIE Stadium.Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg, who was the first to have consultations with Ashwin, spoke on Thursday about the importance of having Ashwin in the BBL. “It’s a big moment for the BBL to welcome Ravi here, I have been talking to him personally on a number of occasions,” he said.”I have found him a breath of fresh air, I think our fans are going to really enjoy watching him play and engaging with him when he’s here for the BBL.”

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including Agyemang getting back to his best.

The USMNT have a few good strikers to work with. What they don’t have, at least not yet, is a great one. This crop is full of ideas, full of talent, but none of them are the finished product. And that in itself comes with a certain appeal: the familiar excitement around what a player isn’t quite yet, but maybe could be. Could Folarin Balogun become world-class? Possibly. But he’ll need a few tweaks – and a sustained run of fitness – before that conversation gets serious.

That uncertainty is what fuels the weekly churn of the U.S. striker discourse, a position where relevance is gained and lost by the game. Patrick Agyemang was barely mentioned a few weeks ago; now, after a well-taken goal in a defeat, he’s back in the mix. Josh Sargent is still struggling to actually put the ball in the net, but a much-needed assist nudged him into the conversation again. And then there’s the mercurial Ricardo Pepi, who scored and assisted for PSV as his manager shifted to a two-striker system just to get him in the side. 

And even in a week in which Christian Pulisic missed action due to an injury, and Chris Richards misfired for Palace, there remains reason for optimism for USMNT hopefuls and regulars alike. 

GOAL looks at the major takeaways from this weekend's Americans Abroad.

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  More to come from Agyemang?

  Agyemang's signing with Derby was a puzzling decision at the time. He was scoring goals for Charlotte FC, performing at a high level, and at the very least giving Mauricio Pochettino something to think about. Sure, the money was always going to be better in the EFL Championship, but he had things pretty good in MLS.

  Yet when Derby beckoned, Agyemang answered – and saw his income jump dramatically, from $104,000 at Charlotte to a reported $1.5 million. On the pitch, though, the move hasn’t always made sense. Since returning from the injury he suffered in MLS before the transfer, Agyemang hasn’t consistently looked like a natural fit for John Eustace’s side, alternating between No. 9 and No. 10. He’s a fine footballer, but also a fairly one-dimensional presence.

  Still, the form is coming. And on Saturday against Middlesbrough, he scored a truly lovely goal.

  It was a proper striker’s move – reading the bounce, accelerating away from his defender, and shaping the perfect angle to slot past a helpless goalkeeper. Agyemang isn’t quite the finished product yet, but he’s a regular starter and already has six goal contributions for Derby.

  After the match, Eustace praised him. Odds are, there’s more to come.

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• Adams defies logic

  Have a hit, yeah, Tyler? Sometimes, watching football is hard to comprehend why, exactly, a player does what they do. Sometimes it's a silly decision: a backpass that goes awry, or an ill-advised attempt at a nutmeg. But on Saturday morning, it was Tyler Adams deciding to shoot from 50 yards. And why? It seemed, in real time, a truly puzzling move. But as the ball floated, and the camera adjusted accordingly, his whack down the field looked a stroke of genius. 

  You will see few better goals this season than Adams' long-range clip, the American midfielder recognizing in an instant that the goalkeeper was 15 yards off his line for no apparent reason. It capped off a fine performance in defeat for Adams. He seems to have three lungs these days, a perfect element in the middle of Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth machine, all whirring legs and instinctive moves. Bournemouth lost 3-2 – but if football is about individual moments, then Adams had the best of the weekend, by far. 

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  Richards fails to deliver against United

  Sunday morning's game against Manchester United felt important for Crystal Palace. It will, in all likelihood, be a tricky season forThey secured European football last year, but didn't invest enough over the summer to prove that they can stay there. But big results, such as a late win over Liverpool earlier in the season, showed that there remains plenty of fight here. 

  And Richards will be central to that effort. He has performed wonderfully on the right side of a back three for Oliver Glasner for over a year now, and has been part of a well-drilled defensive system. Man United seemed to be a good test. These are the kinds of games that Palace should win – especially at home. Instead, they were a little mixed. Richards won his headers, but wasn't quite convincing when the ball was on the ground. To be clear, he can't be totally blamed here, but Palace really shouldn't have conceded twice. And the American was part of that letdown. There will be better days…

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  Moments you might have missed

  + Ricardo Pepi scored and assisted in PSV's win over lowly Volendam

  + Brenden Aaronson came off the bench in Leeds' 3-2 loss to Man City

  + Christian Pulisic missed Milan's 1-0 win over Lazio with a knock

  + Weston McKennie played all 90 minutes in Juve's nervy 2-1 win over Cagliari

  + James Sands went the full 90 but couldn't make an impact as St. Pauli conceded a 93rd-minute winner to Bayern Munich 

  + It was a frustrating one for Malik Tillman, who couldn't quite make an impact as Bayer Leverkusen lost 2-1 to Borussia Dortmund 

  + Folarin Balogun was feeding off scraps, but Monaco got the job done in a 1-0 win over PSG

  + Josh Sargent finally found a bit of form and grabbed an assist in Norwich's much-needed victory against QPR 

  + Tim Weah played all 90, but Marseille threw away a late lead against Toulouse 

  + Yunus Musah did not play in Atalanta's 2-0 win over Fiorentina

  + Tanner Tessmann shined in Lyon's 3-0 win over Nantes

Former Premier League star Kevin Doyle, who represented the likes of Wolves and Reading in his playing days, has been caught on camera appearing to call Dominik Szoboszlai a “Liverpool c***”. Said words were allegedly uttered during the wild celebrations which accompanied the Republic of Ireland’s dramatic World Cup qualifying win over Hungary.

• Luck of the Irish: Parrott hat-trick secures play-off berth

  Ex-Ireland international Doyle was helping to cover that game for RTE Sports. The 42-year-old lost his composure after seeing Troy Parrott complete a historic hat-trick at the Puskas Arena. Said effort was recorded in the 96th minute of an epic encounter that saw Ireland trailing a must-win contest with just 10 minutes remaining.

  One-time Tottenham striker Parrott, who is now plying his trade in the Netherlands for AZ, helped to turn that tie on its head. With the Irish going on to prevail 3-2, they have now booked a World Cup play-off berth – presenting them with a shot at qualification for the 2026 finals.

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• What ex-Ireland star Doyle said during wild celebrations

  Jubilant Doyle was left wheeling around the RTE studio after seeing Parrott land himself a match ball in Budapest. An edited version of his celebration was posted by RTE, but the full scenes were captured off camera – with an uncut video making its way onto social media.

  In that, Doyle appears to bellow in the direction of current Anfield star Szoboszlai: "Suck on that you Liverpool c***!” He then apologises to former Reds midfielder Dietmar Hamann, who was also on punditry duty.

  Doyle hung up his boots in 2017 having finished his career in MLS with the Colorado Rapids. He has moved into media work since then, while also stepping up his long-standing interest in horse racing.

  While he was left beaming at the end of Ireland’s stunning victory over Hungary, Szoboszlai – who has been putting his versatility to good use at Premier League champions Liverpool this season – said when asked how much his heart aches after missing out on a World Cup berth: “Very much.”

• Emotional Parrott reacts to historic hat-trick for Ireland

  Ireland hero Parrott – who also bagged a brace when downing Portugal in a game that saw Cristiano Ronaldo sent off – told as emotion spilled out of him on the back of becoming the first man to net a hat-trick away from home for The Boys in Green: “I'm really really emotional right now…sorry. They're tears of joy. What a night. What a night.

  “I'd rather have that pressure on me and whatever happens will happen, rather than put it on somebody else and leave it out of my hands. I can't believe it. I really can't believe it. This is why we love football because things like this can happen.

  “Look, I love where I'm from. So this means the world to me. My family is here…this is the first time I've cried in years as well. It's unbelievable. Everyone's crying. I said against Portugal that this is what dreams are made of but tonight, I don't think I'll ever have a better night in my whole life. It really is a fairytale. You can't even dream about something like that. Honestly, I have no words to describe the emotions right now.

  “Everyone wrote us off at the start of the group. But I couldn't have said it enough, that there's always a chance. And we've taken the chance. Everyone should be proud of the group of players that are over there. To go down twice and come back like that, it's beautiful.”

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  2026 World Cup play-off draw: When is it & who could Ireland face?

  Ireland will now take their place in the play-off draw, which will be held on November 20. The semi-finals are set to start on March 26, 2026, with the finals getting underway five days later. There are 16 teams fighting for just four places at the World Cup finals.

  Having kept themselves in the hunt for tickets, Ireland could be paired with the likes of Wales, Slovakia, Scotland, Czechia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Kosovo. They will fear nobody when looking to complete a fairytale run to another major international tournament.

“When you have two of your seamers go down during a Test match, it’s never ideal,” Latham said of Henry and Smith’s injuries

Hemant Brar06-Dec-20251:36

Did West Indies think of going for the win on the last day?

Justin Greaves called it a “special, special day” for him and the team as he and Kemar Roach helped West Indies pull off an epic draw against New Zealand in the first Test at the Hagley Oval.After New Zealand set a never-chased-before target of 531, Greaves and Roach added 180 in 68.1 overs in an unbroken stand for the seventh wicket. Greaves scored 202 not out off 388 balls and Roach 58 not out off 233 as West Indies batted out 163.3 overs. Their 457 for 6 was the second-highest fourth-innings total in Test cricket, behind only England’s 654 for 5 in the timeless Test against South Africa in Durban in 1939.”[It was] just pretty much being resilient – the word we’ve thrown around in the dressing room a lot,” said Greaves, who also battled cramps towards the end of his innings. “So for me, to be there at the end was really important. So anything for the team at the end of the day.Related

Justin Greaves: 'Test cricket a massive step up from first-class cricket in Caribbean'

Blundell, Smith, Henry sustain injuries

Stats – Greaves' fourth-innings double and West Indies' marathon

Greaves 202*, Roach 58* anchor West Indies to epic draw

“I had a really long chat with coach Floyd Reifer. And he was saying, once you get in, stay in; it’s a good pitch. Rachin [Ravindra] and [Tom] Latham showed us in the second innings. So it was just for us to go out there and play ourselves.”It was not only Greaves’ highest Test score but also his best in first-class cricket. He became only the seventh batter to make a double-hundred in the fourth innings of a Test. Roach, who went 72 balls without scoring a run at one point, also registered his first-class best.”Special, special day for me; special day for the team,” Greaves said. “We were pretty much up against it. So, to come out here, batting the whole day after losing Shai [Hope]… We thought we would have probably pushed for a win. But then Kemar, the senior pro, guided me all the way. So pretty much happy for him being there at the end as well.”To be a part of history is ecstatic. But for me, one day at a time, continue to enjoy it. Probably it hasn’t sunk in just yet. Hopefully, over the next couple of days, it can.”West Indies were 72 for 4 at one point, before Shai Hope, who scored 140, and Greaves revived the innings. Hope and Tevin Imlach’s wickets in quick succession left them on 277 for 6, but when they entered the final session, needing 132 from a minimum of 33 overs, a win was not out of the realm of possibility. Eventually, they did not go for it.1:01

Chase: Roach is a modern-day legend

“For us, it was just about getting to the last session,” Greaves said. “We always spoke about 100 runs in the last session, probably with a few more wickets in hand. Obviously, losing Shai and then losing Imlach shortly after was a big thing. But I think we did really well in the end to come up with a draw.”West Indies captain Roston Chase later revealed that they took the final call when the last hour commenced, when West Indies needed 96 from 15 overs.”Going back at tea, the guys wanted to see if they could push for the runs,” Chase said. “But it didn’t quite work out the way they wanted. When the last hour came, when they came off for the water break, we had a discussion. They said they would just play out. And we didn’t think that was a bad idea at that time. So we were happy for them to just straight up play out and that’s what they did.”While West Indies put in an admirable effort, they were helped by the fact that New Zealand had lost Matt Henry and Nathan Smith to injuries. Henry bowled just 11 overs in the second innings and Smith none at all.

“When the last hour came, when they [Greaves and Roach] came off for the water break, we had a discussion. They said they would just play out. And we didn’t think that was a bad idea at that time”Roston Chase

“It was a Test match that sort of had it all, really,” New Zealand captain Tom Latham said. “I think the way we were able to put ourselves in a position to win a Test match was what we were after and for it to head down to the final hour with kind of all three [four] results on the cards.”When you have two of your seamers go down during a Test match, it’s never ideal. I think the way the work that especially Zak [Foulkes] and Jacob [Duffy] put in throughout that innings, the amount of overs that they bowled, the way they kept coming, certainly never complained and just got on with it and threw everything that they could at West Indies. And also Michael Bracewell bowling 50-odd [55] overs.”We managed to create some opportunities, which is obviously what you want to do, but we couldn’t take them, unfortunately. Sometimes you have to give a little bit of credit where credit’s due, and the way that West Indies played in this fourth innings was pretty outstanding.”New Zealand dropped Roach twice off Bracewell. Still, Bracewell should have dismissed twice more – first lbw and then caught behind. On both occasions, the on-field umpire ruled it not out. Had New Zealand not burnt their reviews, they could have got those decisions overturned.”I guess [it was] one of those things that you have to deal with,” Latham said. “You look at many times before you’ve finished a game, and you’ve had lots of reviews left. You see your way out, what you think the best option is, and I guess at the time that’s what we thought was the best option.”

Diogo Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, has shared a moving message on Instagram as the couple’s youngest child celebrated her first birthday. It was the family’s first without the former Liverpool forward, whose life was cut short in a devastating car crash last summer.

• A heartbreaking milestone for a family still in mourning

  Jota and Cardoso were childhood sweethearts and married in a stunning ceremony in Porto on June 22, 2025, but their life together as newlyweds lasted only days. Less than two weeks later, the 28-year-old forward and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a horrific accident. Their daughter, born on 26 November last year, turned one this week. Cardoso marked the moment by posting a collection of photographs featuring Jota cradling and smiling with his baby girl. The caption contained only three words: “A whole year.”

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  Portugal still reeling from the loss of a star

  The tragedy struck just weeks after Jota had helped Portugal defeat Spain in the Nations League final. Instead of becoming a platform for the next chapter of his flourishing international career, the victory became one of the final images of Jota in a Portugal shirt. Tributes poured in that day, with skipper Cristiano Ronaldo leading the way.

  Writing on X, he said: "It doesn’t make sense. We were only just in the national team together, you had only just got married… To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you’ll always be with them."

  According to Portuguese outlet Sic Noticias Ronaldo has collaborated with luxury watchmakers Jacob & Co to design customised timepieces commemorating Portugal’s Nations League triumph. Each watch features a skeleton dial and a Portuguese coat of arms. The report adds that Ronaldo arranged for these watches to be sent to his international teammates ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Armenia, but crucially, he also ensured one was sent directly to Jota’s family. 

  Portuguese journalist Nuno Luz highlighted the gesture, saying: "These are details that are done without advertising and that show the genuine way that Cristiano Ronaldo is. Often, people from outside have an image of him that does not correspond." 

  On social media, Jacob & Co wrote of the design: "A skeleton dial, custom design and the Portuguese coat of arms, a watch as exceptional as the champions themselves."

• Liverpool continue to honour Jota

  Jota’s death has left an irreplaceable void at Liverpool. Speaking ahead of the match against Nottingham Forest, manager Arne Slot reflected emotionally on the impact of the tragedy.

  Slot said: "We are always judged, sometimes fair, sometimes not fair. But I saw the interview (with Robertson) live and I know that it is an issue for us, which is completely normal. At this moment in time, I always think how must it feel for his wife and his children? Because it is so, so, so much harder for them than it is for us. But that we will miss the player and the person is completely clear. Now we play Nottingham Forest, last season there we were 1-0 down and it only took him (Jota) one minute to score the equaliser. So now I am talking about the player that we miss for sure. That we also miss him as a person is also clear."

  He added: "It is good for us to remember him at all times. It is possible because of the person and player he was. It is impossible to measure what it does to the players and to our results. The last thing I would do is use it as an excuse. I don't know. What I do know is that we miss the player, that is 100 per cent sure, and we miss the person, but I cannot measure the impact that has on our results. That is impossible for me to say, and we will never use it as an excuse."

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  Liverpool retire Jota’s No. 20 shirt

  Liverpool have confirmed that Jota’s No. 20 shirt has been permanently retired across the entire club, including Liverpool Women and all academy age groups.

  A statement from Liverpool read: "It was the number he wore with pride and distinction, leading us to countless victories in the process – and Diogo Jota will forever be Liverpool Football Club’s number 20. After consultation with his wife, Rute, and family, the club can announce the squad number will be retired in honour and memory of Diogo across all levels, including LFC Women and Academy.

  "The move is recognition of not only the immeasurable contribution our lad from Portugal made to the Reds’ on-pitch successes over the last five years, but also the profound personal impact he had on his teammates, colleagues and supporters and the everlasting connections he built with them."

  Jota’s number might have been retired, but his memory remains vividly alive in every corner of Anfield.

Nishan Madushka, Nuwanidu Fernando and Milan Rathnayake are some of the other prominent names in the squad

Andrew Fidel Fernando05-Nov-2025

Dunith Wellalage has played 31 ODIs, six T20Is and one Test for Sri Lanka•AFP/Getty Images

Left-arm spinning allrounder Dunith Wellalage will lead Sri Lanka A in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Rising Stars T20 tournament, in Doha later this month.Also in the squad are legspinners Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Sahan Arachchige, allrounders Milan Rathnayake and Ramesh Mendis, and top-order batters Nuwanidu Fernando and Nishan Madushka, and seamer Pramod Madushan.Though none of the players in this squad have consistent places in the senior XI, Wellalage, Nuwanidu, and Madushka have all played white-ball cricket for Sri Lanka in the last few months. Rathnayake also played in Sri Lanka’s most recent Test series, against Bangladesh in June. Madushan has not played for Sri Lanka since 2024.Elsewhere in the squad is 20-year-old batting allrounder Vishen Halambage, who has been called up to the Sri Lanka senior squad, though has yet to play a match for the national team. Ramesh Mendis, meanwhile, last played for Sri Lanka in February this year, in a Test against Australia.ACC Rising Stars tournament schedule

Nov 14 – Oman vs Pak; Ind vs UAE
Nov 15 – Ban vs HK; Afg vs SL
Nov 16 – Oman vs UAE; Ind vs Pak
Nov 17 – HK vs SL; Afg vs Ban
Nov 18 – Pak vs UAE; Ind vs Oman
Nov 19 – Afg vs HK; Ban vs SL
Nov 21 – Semi-finals: A1 vs B2; B1 vs A2
Nov 23 – Final

Viyaskanth, 23, has also been on the fringes of the national team for several years, though the presence of Wanindu Hasaranga, and more recently Jeffrey Vandersay, has kept him out. He has continued to do well domestically however, including in the recent SLC T20 competition – the top T20 domestic tournament this year, in the absence of the postponed Lanka Premier League.The Rising Stars tournament begins on November 14. Sri Lanka A play Afghanistan A, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh A in the group stage. Group B comprises India A, Oman, Pakistan A and UAE. Two teams from each group will then qualify for the semi finals.Sri Lanka A squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup T20 tournamentDunith Wellalage (capt.), Vishen Halambage, Nishan Madushka (wk), Nuwanidu Fernando, Lasith Croospulle, Ramesh Mendis, Kavindu de Livera, Sahan Arachchige, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Pramod Madushan, Garuka Sanketh, Isitha Wijesundara, Milan Rathnayake, V Viyaskanth, Traveen Mathew

Tottenham have set a mammoth price tag for star defender Micky van de Ven amid serious interest from Real Madrid and Liverpool, according to a new report.

Micky van de Ven continues to shine at Tottenham

Van de Ven has been an outstanding presence for Spurs in the opening months of 2025/2026, quickly establishing himself as a key figure under Thomas Frank.

The young defender has combined defensive solidity with a remarkable goal-scoring touch, already finding the net five times across all competitions – a striking return for a player primarily tasked with keeping things tight at the back.

Van de Ven has also scored twice as many goals as any other Premier League defender so far this term, including Arsenal’s highly-praised set piece weapon Gabriel, with the Dutchman involved in all but one of Tottenham’s seven clean sheets this season too.

The 24-year-old’s combination of pace, power and goal threat has made him an indispensable member of Frank’s starting eleven, and his ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch gives Spurs a unique edge.

Van de Ven’s importance to the Lilywhites is nothing new, as he bailed Ange Postecoglou’s high line out time and time again when he was fit and available to take part.

With Cristian Romero out injured and steadily working his way back to match fitness, van de Ven and Kevin Danso have helped to fill the Argentine’s shoes to great effect as Spurs now sit third in the Premier League table.

Dejan Kulusevski

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James Maddison

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Radu Dragusin

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Ben Davies

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via Premier Injuries

Van de Ven’s brace against Everton, with both goals coming from set plays, sealed a crucial three points for Spurs last Sunday as they became the first away team to claim victory at the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Ever since van de Ven’s arrival in north London over two years ago, the Netherlands international has been linked with a high-profile move elsewhere.

Real Madrid have specifically been mentioned as suitors amid their reported search for new centre-backs, so much so that reports suggest Tottenham are prepared to double van de Ven’s salary to keep him away from the Bernabeu.

Spurs are in no immediate danger of losing the centre-half, considering he’s contracted until 2029, and Frank is convinced that he is happy in N17.

That being said, there is always a danger that Real could turn a player’s head, and if they manage to tempt van de Ven, Spurs are apparently clear in their demands.

Tottenham set 'historic' Micky van de Ven price tag as Real Madrid and Liverpool circle

According to reports from Spain, Tottenham have set an ‘historic’ price tag for van de Ven as Real, Liverpool and even Bayern Munich circle for his signature.

It is believed that Spurs want a minimum £88 million for van de Ven, which is described as an ‘historic’ sum and would make him the most expensive defender in football history — eclipsing the £80 million that Man United paid for Harry Maguire in 2019.

Frank’s side are determined to keep hold of him and only a “massive offer” would see him leave, highlighting his growing importance both on and off the pitch.

This valuation could be part of a broader strategy reflecting Tottenham’s ambition and financial muscle, especially following a significant £100 million capital injection by the club’s owners, the Lewis family.

The investment underscores their long-term commitment to strengthening the squad and competing at the highest level, and stopping key stars like van de Ven from leaving will be pivotal as the north Londoners look to kick on from their Europa League triumph in May.

On the TNT Sports panel for Liverpool’s Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, Steven Gerrard was hesitant to say that Arne Slot’s side are in a crisis.

But after being dispatched 4-1 by Peter Bosz’s Dutchmen, it’s difficult to argue anything even bordering the contrary. That was Liverpool’s ninth defeat in 12 matches across all competitions, and the crisis – yes, crisis – is deepening.

The most concerning thing is that there is so much talent in this side. Liverpool are chock-full of elite talent. But synergy and belief are in short supply at Anfield.

Slot is steadfast in his belief that he can craft an exit from this rut with the tools at his disposal, but sporting director Richard Hughes is gearing up for a January signing nonetheless.

Who Liverpool need to sign in January

There has been plenty of chatter relating to the need for a centre-back at Liverpool. It’s true. Despite Real Madrid ending their interest in Ibrahima Konate, the Reds are still short at the back after missing out on Marc Guehi last summer.

However, Slot has suggested that Liverpool have another area of the field on their mind, his frontline so imbalanced this season.

As per i News, Liverpool are leading the race for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, following initial enquiries, with David Ornstein previously confirming the Reds’ interest and that the Ghanaian winger has a £65m release clause in his contract that becomes active this January.

Semenyo is also courting intrigue from the likes of Manchester City, but Liverpool feel they have a good chance of bringing him over to Anfield after opting against signing a like-for-like Luis Diaz replacement this summer.

What Semenyo would offer Liverpool

It is promising to note the incremental progress Semenyo has made since joining Bournemouth from Bristol City in the Championship for about £10.5m in January 2023.

Last season, he was lauded for going to “another level” in the Premier League by teammate Lewis Cook, growing into his skin under the tutelage of Andoni Iraola, instrumental in the Cherries’ 56-point finish.

Ferocious and powerful, he has only gotten better since the summer, notching six goals and three assists across his first 11 matches in the division this term.

There is far more to the 25-year-old’s game than just goal contributions, but he has still managed to post more than all of his teammates at the Vitality Stadium.

Antoine Semenyo

27 + 13

40

Justin Kluivert

23 + 11

34

Dominic Solanke

21 + 4

25

Marcus Tavernier

10 + 11

21

Evanilson

13 + 6

19

His talismanic qualities and “world-class” form, as said by another teammate, Justin Kluivert, underscore Semenyo’s suitability at Liverpool, especially as his pace and power and burgeoning prolificacy has led Reds analyst Josh Williams to dub him “the closest you’ll find to peak Mane right now”.

This, and Semenyo’s big-game ability, suggests he could be one of the Anfield side’s finest signings in a long time, perhaps even since £60m was paid to RB Leipzig to bring Dominik Szoboszlai over from Germany.

Szoboszlai has had his ups and downs in a Liverpool shirt, but has bloomed into a superstar of a midfielder this season, stepping up and becoming a leader of men while applying his tireless energy and sharp technical skills at a time when ailing Liverpool desperately need them.

Liverpool’s Hungarian general is a masterful midfielder, cut and dry as the outfit’s best player this term; it is not even close.

While he is a wholly different type of player from Semenyo, they share an athletic likeness and have both established themselves as leading lights at their respective sides.

If Liverpool can both add balance to their side while infusing the squad with more in-form ability than has been on show this year, it will only be a good thing as Slot and Szoboszlai and the rest fight to steer the club out of the ditch they have slipped into.

Such a signing could be a catalyst for change, and at a comparatively shrewd £65m figure, Semenyo might just prove to be one of Liverpool’s best signings in a number of years.

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ByAngus Sinclair Nov 28, 2025

The series is tantalisingly poised after the much talked about Old Trafford Test. The podcast crew looks back and then looks ahead

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jul-2025Does Ben Stokes know what satisfies Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar? Are India better placed – physically – compared to England for the fifth Test? Will Jasprit Bumrah play, should Shardul Thakur be replaced, is it finally time for Kuldeep Yadav? Sidharth Monga and Karthik Krishnaswamy join Dustin Silgardo to talk about the much talked about Old Trafford Test in the latest edition of the Rock and Roll It podcast. Listen in: