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Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has suggested that Everton would be set to face some serious competition if they tried to sign Manchester City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer.

The Lowdown: Zinchenko’s future up in the air

The Ukrainian first made the switch to the Etihad from FC Ufa back in 2016, where he has since gone on to make 128 appearances and nine trophies for the Sky Blues during his six-year spell at the club.

The 25-year-old still has two years remaining on his current contract with the Premier League champions, but it was recently reported by The Athletic journalists Patrick Boyland and Greg O’Keeffe that his future is very much up in the air, with the likes of the Toffees and fellow top-flight side Newcastle United believed to have identified the full-back as a possible transfer target for the upcoming window.

The Latest: Robinson unsure about Everton move

When asked during an interview with Football Insider whether or not he thought Zinchenko would be a strong addition at Goodison Park, Robinson said:

“As much as Zinchenko is a top-quality player, where does he fit in at Everton?

“They already have [Vitaliy] Mykolenko.

“Zinchenko is unlucky not to get more game time at Man City. He’s a very good player.

“If he is going to make a move this summer there will be a lot more clubs than just Everton looking to sign him.

“He can play left-back and in the midfield. His versatility and quality make him a very attractive proposition for a lot of clubs.

“I’m sure there would be a lot of managers keen on a player like him if it becomes common knowledge that he’s available. 100 per cent.”

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The Verdict: Zinchenko’s high ambitions

Despite only making 15 top-flight outings this campaign, the 48-cap international has more than shown what he’s capable of when he’s on the pitch, having provided four assists, as per Transfermarkt.

As well as making 1.3 tackles per game, the defender has been equally as threatening going forward, recording 1.1 key passes and 1.6 long balls per league game, via WhoScored, and he is exactly the profile of player that Everton should be looking at signing if they are aiming for a much higher place finish next season.

However, even if Zinchenko were to leave the Manchester outfit in the coming weeks in a bid to get more game time, he would highly likely want to switch somewhere that he’ll have a strong chance of continuing to get his hands on silverware after his success with City, a factor that might end up being a disadvantage for Everton in the race for their man.

In other news… Fabrizio Romano has revealed the transfer intentions of one of Everton’s ‘best’ players.

Nottingham Forest have secured promotion into the Premier League next season after taking the victory over Huddersfield Town at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, and they could already be about to make their first summer signing.

What’s the latest?

According to The Star, Nottingham Forest are keen to extend Max Lowe’s stay at The City Ground this summer following an impressive loan spell at the club.

As per the report, sources in the East Midlands have claimed Steve Cooper would like to keep the midfielder when they challenge in the Premier League next season but are aware that Sheffield United could offer their player a contract extension to tempt him away from signing a deal with the newly-promoted side.

Cooper would love it

It would not be surprising that the Forest manager wants to keep his winning side together for next season and take some of his loan players who have become key components into the Premier League with him.

Cooper would clearly love to keep Lowe at the club following his high praise of the player this season after he returned from a nasty groin strain that kept him sidelined for two months:

“I’m proud of Max, and generally pleased for him.

“He’s been an absolute credit to his profession in how he has handled himself through his rehab and his recovery.”

The £14k-per-week ace who was hailed a “king” by journalist Ryan Conway, has been phenomenal from the centre of the pitch for Forest this season, with SofaScore ranking him as the ninth top-rated player in the squad.

Lowe has scored one goal and contributed four assists, creating three big chances, making 1.5 interceptions, 1 key pass and 3.7 tackles on average per game as well as winning the majority of his duels (58%), and proving successful in the majority of his dribbles (53%) in his 20 Championship appearances this season.

These statistics prove that he has been a reliable and consistent performer in the Nottingham Forest team this season, and further illustrate good reason for the club to attempt to further extend Lowe’s time at the club and deploy him in the squad in the top flight.

With that being said, there is work to do now for the club and Cooper to identify the right players to get the best out of their campaign in the Premier League and will be hoping they will have enough to maintain their status in the league next term.

AND in other news: Nottingham Forest must secure deal for “unbelievable” £20m gem, Cooper loves him

On-loan Nottingham Forest striker Keinan Davis is not for sale this summer, according to parent club Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard as reported by the Mirror.

The Villa boss has stated that he sees Davis’ loan spell at the City Ground as a “valuable part of his development” with the striker scoring five goals this season for Forest who are set to face Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final next Sunday.

However, although a permanent deal is currently out of the question, a second loan move hasn’t been ruled out as well as any mention of the 24-year-old being in Gerrard’s plans for regular football at Villa Park.

Therefore, Steve Cooper must push to sign the striker on loan again next summer, regardless of whether or not Forest are promoted.

Forest must keep Davis

The striker has made an excellent impression at the City Ground and has done exactly what he was signed to do: score goals.

Having netted just 21 career goals, six for Villa and ten for their U23s alongside five for Forest, regular first-team football is exactly what the Englishman needed at this stage of his career.

Cooper has certainly provided Davis with that, handing him 14 starts in the 15 matches he was available for prior to the play-offs with a hamstring injury keeping the Englishman out of action for the final six games of the regular season.

The Welshman will also be delighted that he can call upon the forward at Wembley if needed after two substitute appearances against Sheffield United in the play-off semi-finals.

Granted, if Forest are promoted then the Nottinghamshire outfit may opt to invest more money in a higher quality forward than Davis.

However, Premier League experience will be invaluable for Cooper’s men and the 24-year-old, described as “strong” by former Villa teammate Jack Grealish, certainly has that with 24 top-flight appearances for Aston Villa.

If the opportunity to take Davis back on loan for next season arises, it would be an absolute no brainer, especially if Forest are to face another season in the Championship next term.

AND in other news: Forest given ideal chance to sign “magic” £6.3m-rated “threat”, imagine him in the PL

How batters like Saim Ayub and Pathum Nissanka score in the upcoming series is also worth keeping your eyes on

Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Nov-2025So we have arrived at another bilateral ODI series. Believe it or not, these were all the rage back in the first half of the 2010s – used so frequently as schedule-filler, to bulk up tours. T20Is and T20 leagues serve that purpose now, and the ODI World Cup is not till 2027. Still, this is a chance for Pakistan and Sri Lanka to do some building towards the next big event. Here are five things to watch for the three-match series starting on Tuesday.Can Pakistan build on victory over South Africa?What is clear is that both Sri Lanka and Pakistan are middling ODI sides. The rankings are some reflection – Sri Lanka are currently fourth on the ODI charts, and Pakistan are fifth, and neither side has had a glut of ODIs this year. The difference, though, is that Sri Lanka appear to be an ODI outfit on the rise, having won seven of their 10 matches this year. Pakistan have lost 10 of their 14, and had also crashed out of their “home” Champions Trophy.There is a little recent uptick for Pakistan, however. They sneaked a victory in the first ODI against South Africa earlier this month, then strode to a thumping win over them in the third ODI to seal a 2-1 series win. That was against a depleted South Africa, and Sri Lanka have sent a full-strength squad.Still, for a team that was looking for inspiration, perhaps their first series under Shaheen Shah Afridi has provided a new beginning.Saim Ayub a threat at the top of the orderSaim Ayub averages 50.85 in ODIs•AFP via Getty ImagesSo fragile have their runs of form been in the last couple of years, you praise Pakistan batters at your peril. But so far, young left-hand batter Saim Ayub has been putting together the makings of a good ODI career. He has only played 15 innings in the format so far, so we are at the very early stages. But he averages 50.85, and crucially has a strike rate of exactly 100, having hit 712 runs so far.Against South Africa, he made scores of 39, 53, and 77 off 70 in the third ODI. This is the kind of consistency that could prove helpful in concert with Fakhar Zaman’s more erratic returns from the other end. This will be Ayub’s first series against Sri Lanka.How effective will Sri Lanka’s bowlers be on Pakistani tracks?While Sri Lanka have won three series this year, against Australia, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe, only the Zimbabwe win came away from home. Generally, over the course of the last two years, as they have rebuilt under captain Charith Asalanka and coach Sanath Jayasuriya, much of their limited-overs success has come at Sri Lankan venues still famed for the turn their tracks offer. The surfaces in Pakistan will likely be more batting-friendly, which will test Sri Lanka’s spinners in particular. This is the less-favoured of Wanindu Hasaranga’s formats, and Maheesh Theekshana has been far from his best in 2025. Sri Lanka will need them to assert themselves.Can Pathum Nissanka continue unlocking new levels?By his own increasingly-high standards, 2025 has been just a middling year for Pathum Nissanka in ODIs. In ten innings, he has hit one century and two fifties, and has an average of 32.40, and a strike rate of 84.81. He has been expanding his game in other formats, however. He has hit two Test hundreds in just three innings this year, and his most-recent T20I knock was an outstanding 107 off 58 balls against India. If the surfaces in Rawalpindi are on the flatter side, Nissanka may be a serious force.Abrar-Hasaranga funWanindu Hasaranga celebrates a wicket with the Abrar Ahmed celebration during the recent Asia Cup•MB Media/Getty ImagesAsia’s rivalries are packed with machismo and cheap political posturing these days, but one that continues to buck the trend is the Sri Lanka-Pakistan relationship. In their match in the Asia Cup, Abrar Ahmed mimicked Hasaranga’s wicket celebration (which Hasaranga had himself pinched from football player Neymar Jr.), and Hasaranga mimicked Abrar’s wicket celebration in return. Although this had the potential to turn tense, the players met after the match, and were seen animatedly bro-ing out together (this is the scientific term).That clip of them shaking hands and half-embracing then became a little piece of viral “brotherhood” content, in an otherwise acrimonious and shameful Asia Cup. The general vibe of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka fixtures over the last 15 years has been that although there can be on-field altercations, the tension seems to almost invariably give way to off-field cuteness.

How India’s historic win at The Oval reaffirmed the joy of Test cricket for this fan

Amit Bordia07-Sep-2021Choice of game
We now live at a stone’s throw from The Oval, so I wasn’t going to miss this game. With the series delicately in balance, an Indian team that must have been equally buzzing and hurting after Lord’s and Leeds, I was looking forward to a great time at the ground, and the prospects of enjoying the lunch break with aloo parathas at home.My commute regularly takes me to the road outside The Oval and for the last full year, I have seen it become a construction site, with a new stand being built. There was almost no cricket there in all of 2020. Often, I was left wondering how the feel of the ground would change. It was nice to be in the same stand, having seen them built slab by slab. They have been a great addition to the facilities and provide a modern touch to the gasholders in the backdrop.The build-up
Here we were – 4th Test, day five – with all the four results possible. I left for the stadium early and even then the streets from Vauxhall station were packed. The stands were full well before Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja started the proceedings. Schools and offices in the UK are now fully open – and one could sense that there were more than a few bunked classes, a few sick leaves and work-from-home requests that would have enabled those in the stands to be there.Related

Jasprit Bumrah happens. And England's challenge ends

England have looked outgunned and outplayed by India

Stats – India's first Test win at The Oval since 1971

Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar to miss fifth Test after positive Covid-19 results

It was absolutely buzzing. By the end of day four, England had provided hope by their staunch resistance. While I knew that such a score has never been chased at The Oval, one of my earliest cricket memories was reading about India at the venue in 1979, and how Gavaskar’s 221 took India to 420 odd, just a few runs short of the target. Then there always was Headingley 2019 in the back of the mind! And of course, India did not have R Ashwin.The crowd
Whoever said Test cricket is on a decline needed to be at The Oval. Most of the fans were in their seats before the start of play. Not just the usual faithful but also young kids and families were all around. The stands were packed to the rafters all five days.The Indians get into a huddle as Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed walk out•Getty Images for Surrey CCCBetween shouts of support, it was normal to hear someone explaining to their kids how the ball could reverse. The more passionate Indian fans were still arguing about the inclusion of Ajinkya Rahane (a banner saying “oh Rahane- no more (excuses)” was a crowd favourite) and the exclusion of Ashwin – who was seen practice bowling in almost every break.I had been to a few games at the Hundred this summer and the buzz in the crowd in the last five days matched the best of those – and that speaks volumes of the love of Test cricket in these parts.The resistance from the England openers carried on through the first hour of the day. But just when the Indian supporters were starting to feel a bit down, the first couple of wickets fell. All hell broke loose.The Indian supporters were in full swing. Dhols (Indian drums), turbans, flags, and people dressed in all shades of blue – the dark-blue retro jerseys from the 1992 World Cup, the light blue ones from 1996 to 2007, and then the slightly darker versions that the World Cup champions wore in 2011 – were all there.An ode to The Oval
To a cricket fan, The Oval does not have the history and reverence that Lord’s enjoys, but it does almost always assure an incredible atmosphere and a buzz – slightly rebellious and much less formal than the “Home of Cricket”.It is also one ground where the dressing room is very accessible to the viewing public – and a seat at the Bedser Stand is one of my favorite spots in the world to watch cricket. For it not only provides a great behind-the-bowlers-arm view of the game, it allows a rare glimpse of the body language of those walking up and down on their way to battle, and those in the dressing rooms.My Bedser Stand favourites have included a near ring-side view as Inzamam-ul-Haq called his team from the field in 2006, as Kevin Pietersen waited to bat, sitting in a very contemplative mood, against South Africa in 2012, and as Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid made their way to the middle after following-on in 2011.Fans arrive at The Oval•Getty Images for Surrey CCCThe wow performance
By far, the best cricketing performance of the day belonged to the smiling assassin, Bumrah. He has such an energy about him – the way he bowls, and then turns almost hurrying to his mark and smiling all the way back – it is hard not to love him. In many ways, he is very similar to how Neil Wagner, another much-loved character, goes about his business.The six-over spell that Bumrah bowled was my defining cricketing memory of the day. Old ball, dead pitch, strong home support, good batting line-up, tired body – none of these seemed to have mattered to him.Fifty years on…
The last time India won at The Oval was when Bangladesh had just become a nation, Sunil Gavaskar had made his debut a few months back, India still played three-four spinners overseas, and my parents weren’t even married – and I am not young by any standards! By all measures, this was a historic win. But more importantly, it reaffirmed the joy of Test cricket – for how it unfolds over many sessions and days, and how a day (or two) at the cricket beats almost everything else. The Oval might not be the Home of Cricket, but for the last five days, for me and for many others – it was the “Heart of Cricket”!
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Beth Mead and Alessia Russo took centre stage on Sunday as Arsenal looked much more like themselves in a comfortable and convincing 4-1 win at Leicester. Despite being crowned European champions back in May, the Gunners have struggled at the start of this new season, unable to use that continental triumph as a springboard for a Women's Super League title challenge. This win, though, was a sign that the tide is turning, with it certainly the most impressive of the three on the bounce they have now registered.

One of Arsenal's most notable issues in recent times has been the inability to really kill games off once they take the lead and, in that sense, this was a really encouraging day out as goals from Russo and Stina Blackstenius, either side of an own goal from Sari Kees, allowed the Gunners to race into a 3-0 lead before half time. Renee Slegers' side were positive, looked confident and showcased the sort of ruthlessness that is going to be vital if they are to mount a serious charge for a first WSL title since 2019.

That Arsenal were able to play at this level given the list of absentees was notable, too. Olivia Smith and Frida Maanum both sustained injuries on international duty, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Kyra Cooney-Cross were missing due to illness and Emily Fox could only make the bench, having played in the United States on Wednesday night. It meant a first league start for Laia Codina in over a year; just a second start of the season, in all competitions, for Blackstenius; and a place at right-back for the left-footed Taylor Hinds, fresh off an England debut in midweek.

But that enforced reshuffle proved to be anything but a negative as Arsenal breezed to a well-needed victory, as a clinical strike from Russo, an own goal from the England striker's teasing cross and two great finishes from Blackstenius saw off Leicester with ease, despite Noemie Mouchon's late consolation. Was it a performance of title contenders? It's perhaps hard to say so, given this was a game many expected Slegers' side to win and the fact there were a few decent opportunities that a better team than Leicester would not have wasted. However, it was certainly a good tune-up for the Gunners ahead of next week's clash with Chelsea, where those credentials will really be put to the test. 

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the King Power Stadium…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Daphne van Domselaar (6/10):

Had a couple of iffy moments in possession but was confident claiming crosses and stood tall in a big one-v-one chance for Leicester, even if Mouchon should've done better with her effort.

Taylor Hinds (7/10):

Looked settled and assured throughout, despite starting at right-back and switching to left-back on the hour. Her pass in behind for Russo kickstarted the move for the second goal.

Laia Codina (6/10):

A solid performance on her first league start since October of last year, and first start in all competitions since February. Won all four of her aerial duels.

Steph Catley (6/10):

Like Codina, she was good on the ball and won most of her duels. 

Katie McCabe (6/10):

Strong in her duels and good on the ball, delivering some teasing crosses.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Kim Little (7/10):

Tidy in possession and excellent in her defensive work, winning nine of her 11 ground duels.

Mariona Caldentey (6/10):

Created more chances than any other player, showcasing her quality on the ball, though did also have some sloppy moments in possession, including one which gave Leicester their biggest opportunity of the game.

Alessia Russo (8/10):

Somehow seemed to get more service in this deeper role than she often has as a No.9. Broke the deadlock with a clinical strike and created the second with a teasing cross.

Getty Images SportAttack

Beth Mead (8/10):

After a couple of really good performances for England during the international break, she continued that momentum here with an excellent display at both ends of the pitch.

Stina Blackstenius (8/10):

Was full of running and on the end of a fair few chances as a result of her good movement, ending the day with two goals and an assist. Could've had a hat-trick, or better, had she been more clinical, too.

Caitlin Foord (6/10):

Perfect in possession, completing all 16 of her passes, and created a couple of opportunities. Was lively when involved, just didn't see tons of the ball.

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Chloe Kelly (6/10):

Still looks a little bit off her full fitness in terms of sharpness but, despite that, created a couple of chances after being introduced on the hour.

Emily Fox (6/10):

Slotted in at right-back just fine for the final half an hour as the game winded down.

Victoria Pelova (5/10):

Couldn't really get involved enough to make a significant impact on the game.

Jenna Nighswonger (N/A):

Made her first appearance of the season in the closing stages, having been surprisingly unable to get any game time until this point.

Katie Reid (N/A):

A late introduction when Little limped off with a knock.

Renee Slegers (6/10):

Hand was forced for most of her team selection, given the absentees, but she adapted well to put out a side capable of running riot. Some questions about her subs, with it a surprise to see her introduce Fox at all given this felt a great opportunity to rest a player who is almost ever-present, but it was good to see Nighswonger finally involved.

Nathan McSweeney, who was opening the batting, fell before the close of play

AAP21-Jul-2025Australia A’s batters faced a searching test to save their two-game series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin after the visitors built a formidable first innings total, thanks mostly to a century from Pavan Rathnayake.Resuming on day two of the second four-day match at 263 for 4, Sri Lanka A fully punished rival captain Jason Sangha’s decision to send them in, powering on to make 486 for 6 declared.In reply, the hosts were 76 for 1 at stumps at the Marrara Cricket Ground on Monday, with Jake Weatherald on 45 and Kurtis Patterson 19, and with a mountain still to climb to win the series after the first match was drawn.Australia A’s former Test opener Nathan McSweeney couldn’t replicate his fine 94 from the first match, falling for 12 when bowled between bat and pad by offspinner Nishan Peiris.Rathnayake resumed on 43, and made the most of an ideal batting strip in reaching 122 off 223 balls – his side’s second century following Nuwanidu Fernando’s 102 on day one.Sonal Dinusha, resuming on 5, also joined the run-fest in moving to 88 off 191 deliveries, as he and Rathnayake added 170 for the fifth wicket in 53 overs.Their stand ended when left-arm spinner Zanden Jeh lured Rathnayake into a rash clip to short midwicket where he was well caught low down by Oliver Peake.Dinusha and Sohan de Livera continued to punish the bowlers, adding 40 runs in 14 overs before Dinusha mishit a lofted pull and was caught at mid-on by Patterson.That gave a third wicket to unknown 22-year-old Zeh who was the pick of the eight bowlers used despite never having played top level state cricket. The Queenslander was chosen from left-field for game one as Australian officials continue their search for quality left-arm spinners.De Livera was the fifth batter to make a half-century or more, finishing 50 not out when the declaration came.McSweeney hit two fours in his 20 balls before being bowled between bat and pad. Weatherald and Patterson guided the home side to stumps adding 44 without further loss.

Attack leader plays down concerns about workload and past injuries after latest stellar display

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-20254:39

Bumrah: ‘Nobody is dropping catches on purpose’

Jasprit Bumrah resumed Test cricket from where he had left off in Australia with a stress reaction in the already operated-on back: carrying the India attack and looking the most threatening bowler on the park. While he was away, there was concern aplenty if Bumrah had been bowled into the ground and how well he would be able to return from the injury.While Bumrah has kept his medical status close to his and his inner circle’s chest, experts felt another such injury could prove to be the last one for his Test career. The headlines haven’t impressed Bumrah. “I can’t control what people write,” he said. “Nor am I trying to teach people what to write and what not to write about me. Everybody is free to write what they want. I understand cricket is very popular in our country, and I understand that using my name in the headline boosts the viewership. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter to me. Because if I let it get into my head, I will start believing it. I need my beliefs and my ways to dictate how I go. Not the way others want me to play.”I always wanted to play for India. I played for India on my belief. I have played every format on my belief. I have always heard ‘no’ from people. First they said ‘you won’t be able to play’; then they said ‘you will last only six months’; then they said ‘you will last only eight months’, and just like that I have spent ten years in international cricket listening to all this. I have played the IPL for 12-13 years.Related

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Bumrah draws level with Kapil; Brook gets lucky again

Brook 99 and Bumrah five-for set up one-innings thrash

“Even now people keep saying this injury will be it. Keep waiting, I will not think about that. I will keep doing my work. Every three-four months there will be headlines but, let’s see, I will play till it is in my destiny. I prepare my best, and leave the rest to god. Whatever [abundance or good fortune] god has given me, I try to carry it forward, and try to take Indian cricket forward.”The last injury does seem to have changed his outlook towards how much he should push himself. He has already informed the team management he will not be available for all the Tests this series. That, he says, is why he opted out of captaincy.Given that it had been announced he would be playing only three Tests, it could increase the sense of urgency around these games – because he will have fewer days to make an impact in. Not for Bumrah. “You don’t look at what is going to happen in the future,” Bumrah said. “You are there in the ground at that moment. You have to do a job. So at that moment I’m trying to assess the wicket. I’m trying to assess what is happening, what are my options, how is the wicket behaving, who’s the batter there, what is he thinking, how do I outsmart him or what do I do? I look at all of those things at that moment. I was not thinking about what will happen or how many games I will play. At this moment, focusing on the Test match. When the match is over, think about all these permutations and combinations.”The expectations, he said, can be extra baggage, which he doesn’t want to carry. “I ask myself this question at night, did I give my absolute best?” Bumrah said. “If the answer is yes, I quietly go to sleep.”

Rangers are continuing their search for a new manager at Ibrox, with an “amazing” 36-year-old now impressing club chiefs as an interesting option.

Rangers snubbed by manager target after Ibrox talks

The Gers sacked Russell Martin last weekend, following a hugely unconvincing spell in charge, and it’s now a case of nailing his successor.

Steven Gerrard has stood out as a leading option to come in, having guided Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title back in 2020/21, but a new update claims that the Liverpool legend has decided not to take the job, looking elsewhere instead.

The Gers will now have to turn their attention elsewhere, and with both Martin and Philippe Clement struggling during their respective tenures, it is vital that the club avoid a third disappointing reign in a row.

Supporters are likely to be split over whether they want another young manager like Martin, or a more proven figure in the mold of Sean Dyche, but a boss who falls into the former category has now been linked with the job.

"Amazing" manager impresses Rangers bosses

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Rangers have been left impressed after talks with Danny Rohl, who is looking for a new job after leaving Sheffield Wednesday earlier this year.

Rohl stands out as an exciting option for Rangers, considering he is still only 36 years of age and impressed at Wednesday, pulling off a hugely laudable escape act in the Championship in 2023/24, often deploying a 4-2-3-1 formation.

It is added elsewhere that in discussions, Rohl has made it clear in talks he is ready to take the job and is already considering various ex-Rangers players who could be part of his backroom staff should he be appointed.

The German’s ability wasn’t lost on Owls legend Chris Waddle, who heaped praise on the job he was doing during his time at Hillsborough.

“I like this style of his tactics he got with the players he had, I think it was very limited, he didn’t really have a budget. You know, it was a lot of free transfers, there was a lot of players who played in League One with that team. I thought he got them organised, he got them together. The players obviously rolled their sleeves up and gave it 110%, and he got his reward. You know, at one stage, we were talking about getting in the playoffs, which was amazing.”

Significant Rangers manager update shared out of Ibrox after positive talks

It emerged on Saturday evening.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 12, 2025

Rohl’s teams try to play good football, but in a less risky manner to Martin, and if they do miss out on Gerrard, as appears to be the case now, the young German feels like an exciting option to bring in.

The MLSPA revealed MLS player salaries for 2025, and for the third straight year, Inter Miami's Lionel Messi is the highest paid player in the league. The report offered insight into new additions, including LAFC's Son Heung-Min, Messi's teammate Rodrigo De Paul, the Vancouver Whitecaps' Thomas Muller, and Colorado Rapids' Paxten Aaronson.

Getty Images SportThe top 10 highest-paid players

Inter Miami had two players in the top three: Messi at $20.45 million and Sergio Busquets third at $8.8 million. It is worth noting Messi's recent contract extension is not reflected in these numbers. LAFC's new star Son is second to Messi at $11.45 million. Atlanta United's Miguel Almiron and San Diego FC's Hirving "Chucky" Lozano round out the top five.

The 10 MLS players with the highest guaranteed compensation in 2025 Rank Player Club Guaranteed Compensation

1Lionel MessiMiami$20.45M2Son Heung-MinLAFC$11.15M3Sergio BusquetsMiami$8.78M4Miguel AlmironAtlanta$7.87M5Hirving LozanoSan Diego$7.63M6Emil ForsbergRBNY$6.04M7Jordi AlbaMiami$6.00M8Riqui PuigLA Galaxy$5.78M9Jonathan BambaChicago$5.58M10Hany MukhtarNashville$5.31MAdvertisementGetty Images SportAssessing the summer signing salaries

This report also revealed the salaries for De Paul and Aaronson. It is worth noting that the salaries of De Paul and the New England Revolution's Matt Turner represent the compensation the clubs are paying while the players are on loan in MLS. 

Top 10 Highest-Paid MLS Newcomers in 2025 Player Club Guaranteed Compensation

Son Heung-MinLAFC$11.15MRodrigo De PaulInter Miami$3.67M*Nico FernándezNYCFC$3.65MKristoffer VeldePortland Timbers$3.03MDjordje MihailovicToronto FC$2.28MPaxten AaronsonColorado Rapids$2.23MWessam Abou AliColumbus Crew$2.18MIván JaimeCF Montréal$1.99MMatt TurnerNew England Revolution$1.94MRwan CruzReal Salt Lake$1.86MGetty Images SportMLS payrolls

The report also shed light on team payrolls. Inter Miami, at $48.97M, outpace the rest of the league by $18.87 million – with that gap alone higher than the payrolls of 15 clubs in the league. The Herons will have $14.78 million come off the books following this season due to the  retirements of Busquets and Jordi Alba – which could lead to the club bringing in even more talent. 

LAFC are second at $30.1M, while Atlanta United ($28.5M), FC Cincinnati ($23.2M), and the Chicago Fire ($23.1 M) round out the top five. 

Guaranteed Compensation for MLS Franchises in 2025 (Source: MLS Players Association) Club Guaranteed Compensation

Inter Miami$48.97MLAFC$30.1MAtlanta United$28.5MFC Cincinnati$23.2MChicago Fire$23.1MNashville SC$22.4MPortland Timbers$22.4MLA Galaxy$22.3MSan Diego FC$22.3MNew York Red Bulls$22.1MColumbus Crew$19.2MNew England Revolution$19.1MCharlotte FC$19.0MNYCFC$18.8MSeattle Sounders$18.3MSporting Kansas City$17.6MVancouver Whitecaps$17.6MSan Jose Earthquakes$17.1MSt. Louis City$16.9MHouston Dynamo$16.8MOrlando City$16.1MAustin FC$15.7MReal Salt Lake$15.7MD.C. United$14.9MColorado Rapids$14.6MMinnesota United$14.5MToronto FC$13.7MPhiladelphia Union$13.4MFC Dallas$13.4MCF Montréal$12.92MENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesInter Miami frustrating the league?

While Messi has voiced MLS needs more spending, there have reportedly been some frustrations on how his team was able to circumvent the salary cap rules to sign De Paul, according to The Athletic.

It is worth noting that the Whitecaps used a similar mechanism with Thomas Muller, albeit not a loan, but they did sign the German to a smaller deal this season before a DP option for next season. Muller is making $1.44 million this season, according to the MLSPA.