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Newcastle United sealed their place in next season’s Champions League after finishing fifth in the Premier League, widening the scope of Eddie Howe’s plans.

As per The Athletic’s David Ornstein, star striker Alexander Isak is now expected to remain at St. James’ Park next year, while recent reports have suggested the Magpies are now ready to make an audacious double swoop for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and FA Cup winner Marc Guehi, titan at Crystal Palace.

However, the work won’t stop there. Newcastle, indeed, are looking to strengthen between the sticks.

Newcastle ready bid for rising star

As per The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Newcastle are preparing to make their first formal offer to Burnley for shot-stopper James Trafford, who is valued at over £20m.

A flurry of interest is expected in the 22-year-old keeper, with Chelsea and Manchester United both keen on the Championship superstar.

However, Newcastle are looking to get a deal done nice and swiftly, with Nick Pope mooted to be in line for an exit.

Why Newcastle want James Trafford

Pope has been a stalwart servant for Newcastle, joining from Burnley in a £10m deal back in June 2022. Now, the Toon can repeat the trick by bringing Trafford into the mix.

However, it’s not Pope who the England U21 international would be emulating in making the move to Tyneside; rather, Trafford could become Howe’s next version of Anthony Gordon.

Before we look at exactly why, let’s take a quick look at Trafford’s meteoric rise.

Leaving Manchester City’s youth academy for Turf Moor in 2023 after several successful loan spells in League One, some felt the £19m transfer fee was a little excessive.

He’s since been an instrumental part of Burnley’s success, the focal point of a watertight defence which kept 30 clean sheets across the Championship season.

Trafford only missed one match, and enjoyed 29 shutouts, saving two penalties and incredibly conceding just 16 goals.

Bolton

74

33

Burnley

73

31

Man City U21

13

6

Acc. Stanley

11

2

Man City U18

10

6

Truly, he’s been crucial in helping the Clarets secure promotion back to the Premier League, also receiving praise from his manager Scott Parker, for being a “world-class goalkeeper.”

With a cheeky personality and an acrobatic athleticism to back up his swagger, Trafford will no doubt have his sights set on becoming a Three Lions mainstay, emulating Gordon.

England international Gordon, indeed, made the right move in leaving Everton for £45m in January 2023, crowned Newcastle’s Player of the Year in his first full season after notching 28 goal involvements from 48 matches.

The duo played together for the U21s, with Gordon even remarking, “I’d trust him to save anything” after one wondrous display against Spain in the final of the U21 European Championship, en route to a 1-0 victory.

Like Gordon, Trafford also came through the academy of one of the Premier League’s goliaths, though he failed to make a senior appearance at Manchester City.

Although saying that, the 24-year-old Gordon was actually a member of Liverpool’s youth fold before leaving aged 11 and finding a new home over on the blue half of Merseyside.

While Newcastle’s star winger didn’t set the world alight at Goodison Park, scoring just seven times across 78 matches as a Toffee, he showcased a hunger and skill that could be shaped and developed under Howe’s wing, and indeed has.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Now, Trafford must take the leap and follow suit.

He'd be incredible with Isak: Newcastle prepare bid for "deadly" £60m star

Newcastle are looking to make some impactful signings in the transfer market this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair May 30, 2025

With INEOS looking to send a statement this summer, Manchester United are now reportedly ready to table a shock offer worth as much as £85m to sign a Premier League rival.

Man Utd must get summer incomings right

In what feels like an Old Trafford groundhog day, Manchester United cannot afford to get their incomings wrong this summer. Like in 2014 under David Moyes and then under the likes of Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunner Solskjaer, the Red Devils are in no position to make mistakes in the transfer market as they look to hand their latest manager the keys to unlock a place among Europe’s elite again at long last.

Related Same agent as Dorgu: Man Utd now offered chance to sign "incredible" winger

He’s a serial winner.

Posts ByTom Cunningham May 10, 2025

What does seem to be different about Ruben Amorim compared to Moyes, Van Gaal, Solskjaer and in some ways even Mourinho is just how honest he’s been about the extent of the task in front of him.

Even in the build-up to Manchester United’s 7-1 aggregate mauling of Athletic Bilbao to reach the Europa League final, Amorim assured reporters that silverware would not take away from what has been a disastrous season.

The former Sporting Club boss told reporters: “For me, in that moment and you look at Premier League, we are the worst team since I arrived in terms of results. That is my idea. In the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title.

“So we will not change anything. We know that this season was disappointing. Nothing is going to change, in that moment, I have to think a bit more but I felt that. I still feel that this season was the worst in the last 50 years.”

Whether the Red Devils have what it takes to overcome Tottenham Hotspur in the final is another question, but if they do manage to win the competition then their transfer plans could become all the more interesting.

Man Utd readying shock Tonali offer

According to Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, INEOS and Manchester United are now ready to table a stunning €100m (£85m) offer to sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United this summer. In an ambitious move, the Red Devils have set their sights on the Italian, who has enjoyed an excellent season at St James’ Park.

Premier League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Sandro Tonali

Manuel Ugarte

Starts

25

21

Goals

3

1

Progressive Carries

33

16

Ball Recoveries

163

117

Manchester United’s interest, whether a deal is feasible or not, should come as no surprise. As the numbers show, Tonali would be an instant upgrade on Manuel Ugarte and perhaps the difference between taking Amorim’s side into Europe and a place in mid-table once again next season.

Eddie Howe will likely be keen to keep hold of his midfielder, however. Full of praise, the Newcastle boss told reporters earlier this season: “We’ve seen that in recent games from a defensive viewpoint now more than an attacking viewpoint, where he’s sprinting to put out fires for us, nicking balls, intercepting balls, using his athleticism to track runners. He’s been excellent in that respect and think that’s really helped the team.”

While there is certainly more than one issue at Manchester United, much of the current problems can be centred around the long-standing woes of one key position – centre-forward.

Since arriving from Atalanta on a £64m deal back in 2023, Rasmus Hojlund has just scored 24 goals in 88 games in all competitions. Another Serie A import, Joshua Zirkzee, scored just seven times during his injury-curtailed debut campaign in Manchester.

Prior to Hojlund’s arrival, Erik ten Hag had been forced to rely on an injury-prone Anthony Martial for much of 2022/23, following Cristiano Ronaldo’s hasty exit, a fact that led to the shock, short-term signing of two-goal loanee, Wout Weghorst.

The January addition of the Dutchman marked the lowest ebb in United’s search for a stop-gap, short-term striker – following the days of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Odion Ighalo – while the desire for more long-term acquisitions, like Hojlund and Zirkzee, has also backfired.

Season

Player

Goals

2024/25*

Bruno Fernandes

8

2023/24

Bruno Fernandes & Rasmus Hojlund

10

2022/23

Marcus Rashford

17

2021/22

Cristiano Ronaldo

18

2020/21

Bruno Fernandes

18

2019/20

Marcus Rashford & Anthony Martial

17

2018/19

Paul Pogba

13

2017/18

Romelu Lukaku

16

2016/17

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

17

2015/16

Anthony Martial

11

2014/15

Wayne Rooney

12

2013/14

Wayne Rooney

17

2012/13

Robin van Persie

26

That latter pursuit has sparked speculation surrounding the capture of Ipswich Town’s 22-year-old talisman, Liam Delap, although Ruben Amorim’s side need a proven, ready-made goal machine to arrive through the door this summer.

The latest on Man Utd's striker search

Alongside the desire to bring in a new number ten, in the form of Matheus Cunha, the latest reports indicate that the Red Devils are also ramping up their pursuit of Delap, with the Englishman available for £30m this summer, amid Ipswich’s imminent return to the Championship.

The former Manchester City academy graduate has enjoyed a fine season regardless of the club’s collective woes, after scoring 12 Premier League goals, although such a move would still represent a risk, considering he scored just eight times for Hull City in the Championship last term.

With that in mind, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is among those seemingly under consideration as a potential upgrade, while The Mirror have only recently reported that Amorim and co are keen on a deal for Napoli’s Victor Osmihen.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to the report, the Old Trafford outfit are ‘pushing’ to strike a ‘cut-price’ deal for the Nigerian sensation, with Amorim said to have made the on-loan Galatasaray man his ‘top striker target’.

The belief is that United are keen to strike a bargain £40m deal with the Serie A side, capitalising on the fact that the 26-year-old is set to enter the final year of his current contract back in Naples.

Amorim is said to ‘favour’ a move for Osimhen, ahead of Delap, and it’s easy to see why…

Why Osimhen could be the best signing since Bruno Fernandes

It has been made clear that INEOS are keen on pursuing a youth-centric approach to transfer dealings, a fact showcased with the recent signings of Patrick Dorgu (20) and Ayden Heaven (18), during the January transfer window.

That desire to plan for the future is all well and good, but United are crying out for figures who can instantly hit the ground running in Manchester. No longer can Amorim and co afford to play the waiting game.

Going down the route of signing the likes of Hojlund simply hasn’t worked, with the Old Trafford hierarchy needing to snap up players entering their peak years – much like with the capture of Bruno Fernandes in January 2020.

From his Man of the Match performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers on debut, the Portuguese playmaker has looked every bit a Manchester United player. Fast forward just over five years, and the now-30-year-old boasts 96 goals and 85 games in all competitions for the club.

It could be argued that bringing in Osimhen would represent a signing of similar ilk, with the former Lille man having ripped it up wherever he has been, as evidenced by his career tally of 144 goals in 258 club games.

Previously the driving force behind Napoli’s Scudetto success in 2022/23 – in which he scored 26 league goals – the towering striker is currently thriving out in Turkey, having only recently powered to 30 goals for the season across all fronts.

Lauded as the “best striker on the market” by Statman Dave, Osimhen looks like a centre-forward at the peak of his powers – much like Fernandes represented in his final full season at Sporting CP.

Games (starts)

24 (22)

33 (33)

Goals

21

20

Goal frequency

89mins

147mins

Big chances missed

21

7

Big chances created

10

9

Assists

4

13

Key passes*

1.1

3.2

Pass accuracy*

67%

75%

Successful dribbles*

0.6

0.9

Possession lost*

7.7

22.8

While yet to sample Premier League action, Osimhen has proven himself in France, Belgium, Italy and now Turkey, with it unlikely that he’ll find the jump too great a challenge next term.

In the case of Hojlund, United can hardly be too surprised by his current woes, considering he scored just ten goals for Atalanta prior to moving to Manchester. The promising Dane is a player of potential, but in Osimhen, Amorim could find the real deal.

Indeed, with club legend Gary Neville stating that Fernandes is the only signing of the last decade who has “done more than I thought he would”, perhaps the Napoli outcast could be the best addition since the Portugal star’s arrival.

New Cantona & Berbatov: Man Utd on the verge of signing £90k-p/w "maverick"

Man Utd appear to be closing in on what could prove to be a real marquee move

ByRobbie Walls Apr 22, 2025

The two batters combined well as India began to fight back against New Zealand

Ashish Pant18-Oct-20240:45

Manjrekar: Sarfaraz a 2024 version of Javed Miandad

Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan don’t have a lot in common, but almost nine years ago at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the venue for the first Test between India and New Zealand, they combined to give one of the moments of IPL 2015.Sarfaraz, then 18, while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore had thrashed an audacious 21-ball 45 not out which included a number of physics-defying shots. While walking back to the change room, he was greeted by an awe-struck Kohli, the captain then, who appreciated his innings with folded hands and a bow. The video quickly went viral.Kohli and Sarfaraz’s paths haven’t crossed a lot since their RCB days which ended after Sarfaraz was released in 2018. It was fitting that the first time that they were batting together in an international game was at the very ground where they had shared a lovely moment all those years back.When the two got together, India were in a spot of bother trailing New Zealand by 261 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma had fallen in quick succession after a good start and that meant, Sarfaraz and Kohli had to do the rebuilding exercise. What they had in their favour was a pitch which had settled down. What they had to overcome was scoreboard pressure, and maybe a demon or two.Kohli and Sarfaraz were two of the five India batters to fall for a duck in the first innings where India were bundled out for 46. Kohli had not scored a fifty in a Test match in 2024. It didn’t seem like he’s been out of form but he wasn’t converting his starts as comfortably as when he was at his peak. He’s also had to miss a few games for personal reasons. Sarfaraz has been fighting for his place in the India side since making his debut against England earlier this year. There is a chance he wouldn’t even have been in the playing XI had Shubman Gill been fit. But the way the two of them played belied the pressure that was on them.1:08

Manjrekar: Kohli attacked really well against spin

After four balls of staunch defence, Sarfaraz went to his favourite sweep shot taking Ajaz Patel for back-to-back fours. It was an important passage of play. Ajaz was the one who had dismissed the Indian openers, but all of a sudden he was not allowed to settle into any sort of rhythm. Kohli, who was on 9 off 22 at the time having played a few tentative strokes, laced Will O’Rourke for a delightful cover drive. And when Sarfaraz guided the quick bowler past the slips the Chinnaswamy Stadium which had been silenced for a bit, found its voice again.It wasn’t a roar just yet. More of a hum. Sometimes that’s what the scoreboard does. India had reached 121 for 2, were going at close to 4.70 runs an over, but were still behind by 235 runs. Then came two shots from Sarfaraz, which wound the clock back right to 2015. Both shots came in an O’Rourke over. Both shots highly unconventional for a Test match.O’Rourke tried testing Sarfaraz with a bouncer, but the line was outside off and with the pitch not as quick, the batter used all the pace on offer to ramp him for six. Two balls later, O’Rourke went short again. This was a quicker bouncer aimed right at Sarfaraz’s body. But he arched back, and while almost ducking, plopped the face of the bat in the same path as the ball and got it over the keeper’s head even as he was falling onto his backside.This was the moment. Kohli was in splits. Bengaluru was delirious.Sarfaraz Khan and Virat Kohli scored quickly in the third session•Getty ImagesBy this time, Kohli also wanted to join in on the fun. As Ajaz came on to bowl his 11th over, he jumped down the track and smashed the left-arm spinner for a straight six. But it was the reaction after the shot which showed that he was zoned in. Kohli took a step to his right, adjusted the straps of his gloves and just nodded while looking at Sarfaraz. The next ball, out came a sweep through square leg which brought up the fifty partnership off just 45 balls before Kohli ended the over with another four through long leg.In all this, the crowd made sure to make their presence felt. They were quiet for most of the day with New Zealand and Rachin Ravindra piling on the runs, so much so that when the India innings began even the forward defence was met with a loud roar. When Kohli and Sarfaraz finally got things going India’s way, pandemonium set in.The ‘RCB, RCB’ chants came up but were soon replaced by ‘India, India’. The Bharat Army was singing its songs, the Mexican wave lasted for a good half an hour, the noise from the was deafening and in all this, Sarfaraz and Kohli carried on.The camaraderie between the two was also very much visible. The first ball of the 45th over by O’Rourke was a wayward short ball well down leg. Sarfaraz instinctively flapped at the ball to no avail, and then sheepishly glanced at Kohli, knowing he had erred with 15 minutes left for stumps. Kohli unimpressed, looked to his right and almost immediately broke into a wide grin without saying much.The duo added 136 runs for the third wicket and reduced the deficit to 125. It would have been a near-perfect day for the two if not for Kohli falling off the final ball. But they will know that with their backs to the wall, they have helped India dream the unthinkable. Only once in the history of Test cricket has a team won after falling for less than 46 in the first innings. That happened in 1887. If Sarfaraz can last for any length of time and help the hosts take a sizeable lead, Bengaluru could witness some unprecedented scenes in the next couple of days.

On a green surface, Southee backed his openers to grind it out – there are few better than Conway and Latham for that job anyway

Danyal Rasool02-Jan-2023The first Test hadn’t yet finished when talk of the strip this Test would be played on began. Interim chief selector Shahid Afridi promised a “green” pitch, and on the eve of the second Test, pictures on the PCB’s social media account showed enough grass to barely distinguish it from the outfield. On the morning of the game, Shakil Shaikh, a member of the PCB’s (not very) new-look management committee, declared that the pitch problem had been resolved “in a wink” on a “new, lively surface”.When Tim Southee walked out to the middle for the toss, he paid no attention to any of this. Not just because he probably doesn’t hang on to every word Afridi says, and he certainly doesn’t follow Shaikh on Twitter. But he couldn’t ignore the look of the pitch itself, which, while not quite as emerald green as pictures from the previous day suggested, had a distinct greenish hue that hadn’t been in evidence on any surface used for international games all season. He batted.

****

New Zealand are second from bottom in this cycle of the World Test Championship and haven’t won a Test since February. They have lost four of their last five matches. There aren’t too many things they have done well in the format since lifting the WTC trophy 18 months ago. But in Devon Conway and Tom Latham, they possess an opening pair that might just go on to become the envy of the world.Related

• Imam steadies Pakistan after Ajaz, Henry lift NZ to 449

• Williamson and Latham, the two constants of NZ cricket

• Pakistan claw back after big Conway and Latham stand

Since the start of 2016, no pair averages more for the first wicket than the 67.25 Latham and Conway (minimum 500 runs) have. While this was just their eighth innings together as an opening pair, their credentials in the top order are rock solid. When Conway dropped down to No. 3 in New Zealand’s home season last year, he amassed 388 runs in six innings, including two centuries against Bangladesh and a 92 against South Africa.That was why, on a green surface that retained a fair bit of moisture, Southee showed no hesitation in backing his openers to see the first hour out. There are few better equipped to grind out an opposition bowling attack, their partnership in the first Test a perfect exhibition of their abilities. Pakistan appeared to have bought into the hype around the pitch, dropping a spinner [Nauman Ali] for an extra fast bowler [Naseem Shah], one whose fitness has been questioned of late.Conway and Latham can do the grind, but are also astute enough to know when to choose belligerence. A green surface and three fast bowlers invariably meant Pakistan would go searching for something; 46 of the 115 deliveries bowled by the fast men in the first session were overpitched. And while the swing faded away fairly rapidly, the run-scoring when Pakistan erred did not; balls that were either short and/or wide or too full went for 45 in 53 deliveries.But when Babar Azam turned to Agha Salman as early as in the seventh over, the bowler found the turn too slow, and New Zealand milked the spin at over four runs an over. Conway took a particular liking to Abrar Ahmed, using his feet to hit him down the ground, plundering him for 60 runs in as many balls, with eight fours and a six.”With the nature of the grass on the surface, it had maintained a bit of pace in the wicket,” Conway, who scored 122 to Latham’s 71, said after the day’s play. “When the ball’s harder, it comes off the bat a bit better as well. We were rewarded for good cricket shots that went for boundaries. We managed to get off to a quick start.”Agha Salman got purchase off the surface as the day wore on and picked up three wickets•Associated PressIt might sound simple enough in theory, but none of this is easy. After all, the two became the first New Zealand opening pair to put on consecutive century stands away from home. They are the first visiting openers to register successive century stands in Pakistan; only one other pair had managed two in the same series. That was over 25 years back.The game might have turned in more ways than one in the final session, but Pakistan might find an imposing enough total by the time they get a chance to bat. Salman’s three wickets and the speed at which the ball spun in the final session might have encouraged them, but New Zealand have fielded three spinners, and should have the resources to exploit any such liveliness.”It’s starting to change,” Conway said. “After tea, there was a bit more turn on offer, which is showing the nature of the wicket drying out and assisting the spinners a little bit more. It’s skidding on a little bit more, and there isn’t as much carry as the morning, so it’s interesting to see what the wicket will look like on the last three days”.Some sides might have viewed a toss won on this surface against a three-pronged seam attack as an automatic bowl-first. New Zealand, instead, saw it for the opportunity. They cut Mir Hamza when he strayed wide and drove Naseem while the bounce was true and the trajectory straight. They milked Agha around the square and smashed Abrar around the park. They kept the runs ticking along, and the wickets column dry.For that, you need a quality opening pair, and in Conway and Latham, New Zealand are well sorted.

The prospects of losing his batting because of the captaincy is too frightening to consider

Osman Samiuddin20-Nov-2020In October last year he became Pakistan’s T20I captain. Since then he averages 55, striking at nearly 143 and has six fifties in 11 games. In May this year, he was appointed Pakistan’s ODI captain. Since then he averages 110.50 (ok, it’s only three ODIs and all against Zimbabwe). This month, Babar Azam became Pakistan’s Test captain. Now?Now, he is readying to fly out in a few days’ time as Pakistan’s all-format, all-powerful captain to New Zealand which, great country and all, has become an unforgiving cricket host since the turn of the century. Only Australia and South Africa have favourable Test win-loss ratios there in that time, and although Pakistan are the only other side New Zealand haven’t won more Tests against, more recent history is pretty one-sided.In fact, very much unlike the ’90s, New Zealand have become a pretty unforgiving opponent for Pakistan anywhere. Pakistan have won only two – a pair of T20I series – out of their last 12 bilateral series across formats and venues against New Zealand. Most recently was a fairly traumatic Test series defeat in the UAE, where they lost one Test by four runs (a target of 176) and one after gaining a 74-run first innings lead.So the platitudinous tone of Azam’s assessment on Friday sat slightly out of kilter with that record. “We’re quite excited about going to New Zealand,” he said. “Quite confident as a group. We’ve been playing back-to-back cricket. We’ve got decent stats against them and we’ve played pretty good cricket against them too, in New Zealand and outside. We hope to go there and start well and play with the confidence that we have right now.”It’s quite possible he was talking from a personal standpoint. should be quite excited and confident because his record against them is no short of outstanding. He has healthy averages in all formats and some key, landmark innings: the majestic, unbeaten 90 in Hamilton in 2016, the first signs of his prowess in red-ball cricket; his first Test hundred in a dominant win in Dubai; and possibly his finest innings to date, the World Cup hundred at Edgbaston.It is the fear of losing precisely these performances that accompany his ascension to this moment, more even than the more intrinsic question of whether he has the aptitude for captaincy.So far at least, the batting has not been hit.”The pressure has always been there, right from the start when I came into the Pakistan side,” he said. “Challenges keep coming every day and now I have a new challenge, a new responsibility. It’s not added pressure. I enjoy it and the things I’ve learnt in white-ball cricket over the last year, there’s been a bit of improvement. I want to try and enjoy it. I was vice-captain to Azhar [Ali], I learnt a lot under Saifi [Sarfraz Ahmed], so I want to apply that.”As for the batting, this is just another step forward, another challenge that I want to set myself. The team relies on me and I accept that responsibility. I enjoy taking on that pressure, playing with that pressure.”A perfectly timed pull shot from Babar Azam•Getty ImagesHackneyed again, perhaps, but no captain is picked because of his oratory. He will come from a position of some empathy for younger players, a few of whom Pakistan will be relying on. The promise of something special was evident during periods of the summer tour to England if not quite the actual performance.But Azam himself was the beneficiary of patience and persistence, citing former coach Mickey Arthur’s support early in his own Test career. “You have to support them, you have to back them. I struggled early on but I had support from my team. Especially I’ll say of Mickey. He always said, ‘the more you back them, the more you play them, the better they’ll get’.”Patience is one of the aspects missing from the PCB’s appointment of captains since the departure of Misbah-ul-Haq – although not the only one. Azam is the third man in three years to lead the Test side, Pakistan having used one in the nearly-seven years prior to that.For now, Azam thinks he has the support. “The PCB has given me the confidence to go out there and play,” he pointed out. “They’ve said I don’t need to worry about it, that I am in their long-term plans. There’s certainly no pressure from the PCB that you lose this series and what will happen then, nothing like that. They’ve given me the freedom, that we are thinking of you long term.”All of Pakistan will be hoping likewise, for the prospects of losing his batting because of the captaincy – or its fallout – is too frightening to consider.

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber recorded the 1,000th hit of his career on a classic "Schwarbomb" home run against the New York Yankees. Though Schwarber was unable to reach this milestone in front of the Phillies home crowd, the home run was caught by a Phillies fan in attendance at Yankee Stadium.

After the Phillies' 12-5 win, Schwarber met up with the fan that caught the home run ball and his two friends. Schwarber traded two signed baseballs to get the milestone baseball back, and even offered to sign a third ball for the trio. However, they declined, replying that they simply just want Schwarber to re-sign with the Phillies, per Scott Lauber of .

"It's been fantastic these last three and a half, four years now, the support that we get from our fans," Schwarber told reporters. "Means a lot to me that they attach themselves onto our team, myself, whatever it is. We can feel that support, always appreciate it."

Schwarber, who is in the middle of his fourth season with the Phillies, will have his contract with Philadelphia expire following the 2025 campaign. He signed a four-year deal for $79 million with the Phillies in 2022, and is in the middle of another tremendous year for Philadelphia. He has hit 36 home runs and 82 RBI with a .960 OPS this season, ranking top-10 in all of MLB in all three categories.

The fans are not the only ones interested in getting Schwarber extended with Philadelphia. Phillies managing partner John Middleton expressed earlier this week that the team wants to get a new deal done with Schwarber, vi. Though the two sides were unable to agree on a new contract before the season, re-signing Schwarber will likely be a priority heading into the offseason.

They have received plenty of criticism for it, but Chelsea have signed some extraordinary young talents in recent seasons.

For example, despite still being just 18 years old, Estevao has been a revelation for Enzo Maresca’s side this season.

The young Brazilian has already scored five goals and provided one assist in just 843 minutes, and looks like he could be something truly special.

So, fans should be ecstatic that Chelsea have now signed another highly rated wonderkid who’s been compared not only to Estevao but also to Moises Caicedo.

How Chelsea are repeating their Estevao success

As if Estevao’s doing what he’s doing this season wasn’t already enough, Chelsea fans will have a few more wonderkids making their way to the club in the summer.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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Perhaps the pick of the bunch, and the one who feels most ready to have an impact akin to the Brazilians, is Geovany Quenda.

The Blues paid a whopping £44m for the Portuguese gem back in March, and while that’s a lot of money to spend on someone who is still just 18, he already looks value for money.

For example, in 22 first-team appearances this season, totalling 1273 minutes, the dynamic winger has scored five goals and provided eight assists.

In other words, the “relentless” teenage sensation, as dubbed by Mattinson, is averaging a goal involvement every 1.69 games, or every 97.92 minutes.

Quenda’s 25/26

Appearances

22

Starts

12

Minutes

1273′

Goals

5

Assists

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.59

Minutes per Goal Involvement

97.92′

Points per Game

2.32

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Another wonderkid who’ll be making their way back to Stamford Bridge in the summer alongside Quenda is Kendry Páez.

The Ecuadorian midfielder is currently on loan with RC Strasbourg in Ligue 1 and, despite being just 18 years old, is making quite an impression.

In all, he has made 17 first-team appearances for the French outfit and was named young player of the month for September.

Perhaps even more impressive than his club record, the teenage star has also already won 23 caps for Ecuador and will undoubtedly play a role for them at the upcoming World Cup.

The conveyor belt of young talent is going to stop next year though, as BlueCo have now got their hands on another incredible prospect who has been compared to Estevao and Caicedo.

Chelsea's next wonderkid

It was announced on Wednesday that the consortium that owns Chelsea and Strasbourg, BlueCo, had agreed to sign Burkina Faso youngster Mohamed Zongo.

The 16-year-old will join the French club once he is 18, and according to the report, so long as he performs well, he will likely then move to the Blues at a later date.

While this isn’t a story that is going to get the fans all that excited, it is another example of the West Londoners’ owners being proactive and seeking out the best young talent in the world, which is a category Zongo most definitely belongs in.

For example, respected scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed him “one of the most exciting U17 talents in Africa.”

On top of that, U23 scout Antonio Mango has described him as a “magic” talent who has “incredible vision” and “ability to open up the game from all angles and areas.”

Something else that should excite the Stamford Bridge faithful is that he appears to be reasonably versatile, playing as both an attacking midfielder and a right-winger.

Interestingly, journalist and Chelsea writer Lloyd Canfield made a bold statement that the youngster “plays like a unique mix of Estevao and Moises Caicedo.”

The comparison to the Brazilian feels rather straightforward given the 16-year-old’s position and skillset.

However, when it comes to the Ecuadorian, Canfield argues that it’s his ability to shoot from range and control possession in the middle of the park that makes the comparison reasonable.

Ultimately, it’s going to be a while before fans can get a proper look at him, but if what those in the know say is true, BlueCo and, potentially, Chelsea have a real star on their hands.

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Former MLB outfielder and designated hitter Chet Lemon, a three-time All-Star for two teams from 1975 to '90, died Thursday in Apopka, Fla. He was 70.

No cause of death was immediately given. Lemon suffered from a rare blood disorder called polycythemia vera, and had at least 13 strokes following his retirement.

A native of Jackson, Miss., Lemon was a steadying presence in the outfielder of the Chicago White Sox for seven years and the Detroit Tigers for nine. He made the American League All-Star team three times—1978, 1979 and 1984—and led the AL in doubles in '79.

In '84, he slashed .287/.357/.495 for a Tigers team that won the World Series.

Several of his teammates on that '84 Detroit team—among the most beloved in civic history—paid tribute upon Lemon's death.

"I’m so thankful for the time we spent together last summer," Hall of Fame shortstop Alan Trammell said in a statement, referencing the '84 Tigers' 40-year reunion. "Today is a sad day or us. He will be dearly missed."

Orla Prendergast claims three wickets as hosts subside once again at Chelmsford

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Sep-2025The Blaze 59 for 0 (S Bryce 33*) beat Essex 211 (Smale 41, Prendergast 3-43) by 35 runs (DLS) Orla Prendergast led the wickets charge as The Blaze won a rain-affected encounter with Essex at Chelmsford to book a home semi-final at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.Prendergast took 3 for 43, including a momentum shifting double strike to help bowl out the hosts for 211. Her efforts were ably supported by Lucy Higham’s 2 for 33 and some outstanding out-fielding, typified by Kathryn’s Bryce’s run-out of Ariana Dowse.Six of Essex’s batters reached double figures, but only Sophia Smale (41) got beyond 40, Jo Gardner making a run-a-ball 36. The pair added 52 for the seventh wicket after the hosts collapsed from 104 for 2 to 133 for 6.Blaze openers Sarah Bryce (33 not out) and Georgie Boyce had knocked 59 off the target in 11.2 overs when the weather closed in.Dowse and skipper Grace Scrivens gave the hosts a a solid start, the former caressing one through the covers and driving another square for four. Scrivens reached 16 before mishitting a half-tracker from opposite number Kirstie Gordon to square leg and a brilliant pick up and throw from Katherine Bryce ran out Dowse for 20.The response to the double setback was good with Lissy Macleod (30) and Lancashire loanee Liberty Heap (33) targeting the straight boundaries in a stand of 59 at almost a run a ball. Essex looked poised to push on, but Heath’s demise, top edging a short one from Prendergast to midwicket sparked a mid-innings slump.Flo Miller was another Prendergast victim and when Higham sent Macleod packing courtesy of a stunning caught and bowled, three wickets had fallen for six runs in 16 balls.Higham then bowled Amara Carr with a beauty, before Smale and Gardner rallied the home side’s flagging effort, the latter striking the ball powerfully back past the bowler in the mid-on/mid-off arc.But before they could entertain hopes of a score of 250, Prendergast splayed Gardner’s stumps and thereafter only Smale who was last out held up The Blaze for long.The bad weather was closing in by the time The Blaze began their reply, Sarah Bryce and Georgie Boyce immediately showing aggressive intent. Bryce hit Gray for the only six of the match while Boyce three times struck the ball firmly to the fence along the floor.By the time rain drove the players from the field enough overs had been completed to constitute a match and The Blaze were a mile ahead on the DLS and looking forward to a semi-final.