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Noni Madueke has sent a stern warning to Arsenal's Champions League and Premier League rivals as the Gunners maintained their perfect European record with a 3-0 victory over Club Brugge. The forward stole the show with a devastating double, becoming the first player in the club’s history to score his first three goals in the Champions League. It is a rare feat that has vaulted him into the spotlight at a time when Mikel Arteta’s side are chasing silverware on multiple fronts.

• Madueke’s magic: A performance to remember

  Madueke’s first goal was the kind that can transform a player’s trajectory. Picking up the ball on the right flank, he powered past one defender, brushed aside another and unleashed a ferocious strike that cannoned in off the underside of the crossbar. His second was far simpler. When Martin Zubimendi curled a measured cross into the six-yard box, Madueke ghosted in unmarked to nod home from close range. Two goals, two contrasting finishes, and a display that confirmed his growing influence within this Arsenal side. Moments later, Gabriel Martinelli, perhaps inspired by the heroics unfolding on the opposite wing, carved out a sensational effort of his own. After a fortuitous ricochet, the Brazilian burst forward and curled an unstoppable strike into the far corner, sealing the victory in style. 

  The victory, Arsenal’s sixth in six group-stage games, places them firmly atop the league phase standings. Opta’s supercomputer now gives them a 95.2 per cent chance of finishing first and rates them as outright tournament favourites with a 23.3 per cent probability of lifting the trophy. Arsenal could have added more. Their control was total as Brugge rarely threatened and Arteta’s men looked every bit the title contenders their numbers suggest.

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  Madueke wants a double in May

  "We’re fighting on all fronts," Madueke told . "I feel like we can win this competition and win the league, that has to be the aim. We're in a good place at the moment."

  The young England international emphasised the unity of the squad, a theme that Arteta has championed throughout the campaign.

  "We're tight, that's the main thing," he said. "We want each other to do well, we know there are loads of minutes for all of us. It's about all of us as a collective, we know we all have a part to play. That's the good thing about this team."

  On his own development, he added: "I think the bare minimum I need to give to my team is threat. Obviously, trying to score and be as decisive as possible, that's the next level I need to get to in terms of being consistently decisive for club and country. I think I can reach that level. Last Champions League game I scored, nice to get another two, hopefully I can bring that form into the league."

• Arteta praises 'magic moments' from Madueke and Martinelli

  Arteta has spoken frequently about the need for individual brilliance to unlock games in Europe, and on Wednesday night, he saw exactly that.

  "Unbelievable goal," he said of Madueke’s opener. "When you talk about individual quality, individual action, a magic moment, that's it. A player that is able to pick the ball that far, dribble past people and finish with the quality and the power that he's done."

  The manager was equally effusive about Martinelli’s strike. He added: "The same as Martinelli as well, I think at this level you want to win games, you need individual players to step up and to do something different. So, I'm very happy because now we have some players back in the front line and you can tell how much better we have done."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Saka vs Madueke: A healthy rivalry brewing

  Bukayo Saka remains one of the first names on Arteta’s team sheet, but Madueke’s explosive run in Europe has sparked conversation among supporters about his claim to more regular Premier League starts. And Arteta welcomed the competition.

  "Yes, maintaining the level," he said. "They both have different qualities as well and it's great because we're going to need them. We are playing every three days and players with that freshness and with that bite in the teeth as well, understanding that they have to perform at that level and this is the standard that we set, it's something really good."

  Arsenal now turn their attention to the Premier League, where they face bottom club Wolves on Saturday. Rob Edwards’ side have mustered only two points from 15 matches and sit eight adrift at the foot of the table. Anything other than a home victory would be a seismic shock, particularly given the form Arsenal displayed in Belgium.

Three double centurions on the second day while J&K’s Khajuria was dismissed on 190

Deivarayan Muthu02-Nov-2025Nair continues to rack up the runsLeft out of the senior India and the India A squads, Karun Nair served another reminder to the selectors and team management, converting his second successive fifty-plus score for Karnataka into a double-century, against Kerala in Mangalapuram. This was Nair’s fifth double-hundred in first-class cricket and third since 2024.After dropping him for the home Test series against West Indies in favour of Devdutt Padikkal, Nair’s state junior, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said that they ‘expected a little bit more’ than his 205 runs in eight innings at an average of 25.62 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.Nair went back to the Ranji Trophy and scored an unbeaten 174 against Goa in Shimoga in the second round. After that knock Nair felt that he “deserves” to be part of India’s Test team.”Obviously, it is quite disappointing, but I know that I deserve to be there after the last two years I have had,” Nair told reporters during the last round. “People might have their own opinions, but for me personally, I can have my own. My own opinion is that I deserve a lot better.”He eventually ran out of partners in Shimoga but found ample support from 22-year-old R Smaran, who scored a double-century of his own. The pair added 343 for the fourth wicket, stopping 12 short of Karnataka’s first-class record. Manish Pandey and Dega Nischal had piled on 354 for the fourth wicket against Uttar Pradesh in Kanpur in 2017-18.It was seamer NP Basil who ended the stand when he dismissed Nair for 233 off 389 balls, including 25 fours and two sixes. Smaran then proceeded to make a career-best 220 not out. Karnataka will hope that the twin double-centuries will translate into their first outright win this season.Shikhar Mohan: A new star for Jharkhand?•PTI Another double-centurion: Shikhar MohanJharkhand’s rookie opener Shikhar Mohan also hit a double-century, setting up his team’s push for an innings win against Nagaland in Ranchi. After Jharkhand had lost two early wickets on the first day, Mohan combined with stand-in captain Virat Singh, who was leading the side in the absence of Ishan Kishan, who had linked up with the India A team in Bengaluru as cover for the injured N Jagadeesan. They accumulated 253 for the second wicket before Virat was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Imliwati Lemtur.Mohan and Kumar Kushagra (58) then carried Jharkhand past 400. Robin Minz also helped himself to a half-century before Jharkhand declared on 510 for 8. Mohan finished with 207 off 303 balls, with 21 fours and three sixes in his third first-class innings. A prolific run-getter in age-group cricket for Jharkhand, Mohan, now 20, is making a smooth step up to the Ranji Trophy.Elsewhere in Raipur, Jammu and Kashmir opener Shubham Khajuria came close to a double-hundred, but left-arm spinner Aditya Sarwate denied him and dismissed him for 190 off 344 balls. His knock countered Chhattisgarh professional Ravi Kiran’s 7 for 82.Nachiket Bhute’s five-for wrecked TN•PTI Vidarbha flex their depthNo Danish Malewar. No Atharva Taide. No Harsh Dubey. No Yash Thakur. No problem for defending champions Vidarbha.Despite being hit by injuries and unavailability of their strike bowlers Thakur and Dubey, who are on India A duty, Vidarbha had enough depth to dominate Tamil Nadu in Coimbatore. Tamil Nadu were also without Gurjapneet Singh, Jagadeesan and India Under-19 allrounder RS Ambrish, but it was Vidarbha who coped better.Fast bowler Nachiket Bhute, who was playing his 14th first-class game, stepped into Thakur’s shoes and triggered a TN collapse. From an overnight 252 for 4, TN were bowled out for 291. Bhute threatened both edges, especially the inside edge of both right-handers and lefties with his inducker. Both M Shahrukh Khan and B Indrajith were done in by sharp induckers. Bhute gifted himself a five-wicket haul a day after his 26th birthday.Aman Mokhade then kickstarted Vidarbha’s reply with fluent strokes against both pace and spin. When TN captain R Sai Kishore pushed one marginally outside off, Mokhade stretched forward and swept him flat and hard into the square-leg boundary. When offspinner S Mohamed Ali darted one into the stumps from around the wicket, Mokhade dared to back away and pump him through the covers. But just when he was looking set to reel off this third successive century, Sai Kishore had him caught by Vimal Khumar for 80. Vidarbha’s professionals Dhruv Shorey and R Samarth then helped them cut their deficit to 80 by stumps on day two.

Sunderland’s extremely impressive start to life back in the Premier League has been built on a very strong defensive spine.

Indeed, the well-drilled Black Cats have only given up 11 goals across the 12 games they’ve played since dramatically returning to the big time, with five wins also coming their way.

Robin Roefs, in particular, has stood out as a top-drawer summer recruit in between the sticks, while Daniel Ballard has made the jump to the top-flight look routine, too, winning a commanding 6.3 duels per match across his seven Premier League starts.

This defensive doggedness is very unlike-Sunderland, when you look back at the woes they are used to experiencing at the foot of the top-flight table.

Still, even when times were consistently tough and bleak, previous club captain John O’Shea managed to stand out as a commanding force.

O'Shea's hero status at Sunderland

The Black Cats would have felt they’d won themselves a coup when O’Shea arrived through the door in 2011, having picked up 394 appearances for Manchester United during Sir Alex Ferguson’s heyday as a manager, before coming to the Stadium of Light.

The revered manager would even hail him as a “great professional”, despite his importance to the Red Devils’ cause sometimes slipping under the radar, with the Wearside outfit managing to win the five-time Premier League winner for just a reported £3m.

He would turn into a relegation fighter quickly, though, in his new surroundings, with his determined displays, matched by his knack of being in the right place at the right time to pop up with a big goal, making him a fan favourite from the get-go.

One of his former Sunderland bosses in Martin O’Neill, would go as far as to say he had “enormous” respect for the veteran defender, with the Irishman only absent from 18 league contests during his first four seasons at the club, all of which ended up in Sunderland surviving.

Unfortunately, the latter years of his Black Cats journey would culminate in a relegation down to the Championship, but he is still fondly remembered to his day for being a dependable giant.

In the current Sunderland ranks, it could be argued that the forceful Ballard – coming in at a 6-foot-2 frame – is most similar to O’Shea in his Stadium of Light prime, with two important goals already next to his name this season.

However, a different member of Le Bris’ rigid backline has caught the eye in this regard…

Sunderland's new John O'Shea

Sunderland might not be struggling against the drop this season, but that doesn’t mean certain members of Le Bris’ camp don’t still evoke similarities to heroes of the Black Cats’ recent past.

Like O’Shea, Nordi Mukiele would have been viewed as a statement deal for Sunderland to secure this summer when leaving Paris St Germain behind, having accumulated a hefty 200 appearances in both the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, before embarking on a fresh Premier League challenge.

For just £12m, too, Mukiele has now gone down as a steal similar to O’Shea, only costing £3m, with the Frenchman visibly at the peak of his career, donning Sunderland red and white.

The £100k-per-week fighter has jaw-droppingly beaten Ballard in the duels won count total so far for the season, with a mighty 7.6 duels won on average to date, among other impressive numbers, making him a regular from minute one of his Stadium of Light stay.

Games played

10

Goals scored

1

Assists

1

Touches*

63.7

Accurate passes*

29.9 (79%)

Clearances*

6.6

Total duels won*

7.6

Clean sheets

3

With a goal and assist also next to his name, alongside collecting three clean sheets, Mukiele has managed to stand out as a well-rounded performer for Le Bris and Co. so far, away from just being seen as a “colossus” in physical duels, as per the words of Sky Sports’ journalist Andy Sixsmith.

Mukiele will be aiming for a long career in the Premier League now, past just a standout debut season, to become even more like O’Shea, with his levels never dropping for the Black Cats so far, already putting him on the same pedestal as the “always solid” Irishman, as both Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves labelled him recently.

It could also be argued, like O’Shea, Mukiele’s determined performances have gone somewhat unnoticed to the neutral, next to Granit Xhaka stealing the spotlight for his equally combative showings.

But, if he were to be a vital part of the defence that saw Sunderland pick up a mid-table finish, or even higher, right after promotion, he would surely be handed his flowers, as a new batch of heroes begin to emerge on Wearside.

Le Bris can end £7m star's Sunderland career by signing Guendouzi

This Sunderland leader will surely be shown the exit door if Matteo Guendouzi does join Regis Le Bris’ ranks.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 26, 2025

Gary Stead can continue to work outside NZC too, like with Andhra in the Indian domestic circuit

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-2025

Gary Stead recently also signed with Indian domestic side Andhra, and that commitment still holds•AFP/Getty Images

Gary Stead has rejoined New Zealand Cricket (NZC) as the high-performance coach, just over three months after he had stepped down as the national men’s head coach after a seven-year stint – he ended as the team’s most successful coach. His new role will be “supporting player and coach development, as well as high performance programmes”, an NZC statement said.”New Zealand cricket’s very much been at my heart for the past 30 odd years and to be able to keep contributing to the game I love is really special,” Stead said. “I’m still passionate about coaching and trying to help people learn and improve. If I can pass on some of my skills and experiences to the wider cricket network and in turn help the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS win on the world stage – than that would be really satisfying.”I’m also appreciative of the opportunity to work outside of NZC to broaden my skills and experiences and hopefully I can bring what I learn back into our cricket environment.”Related

Stead calls time on seven-year tenure as NZ coach

Stead appointed as Andhra head coach for 2025-26 season

Interview: Gary Stead did it his steady way

One such opportunity is to work with the Andhra Cricket Association in India as the head coach of the men’s team, which will continue. Stead also provided interim coaching support to Otago Cricket over the winter pre-season and has been involved in a New Zealand Under-19 camp this month.”Gary’s knowledge and experiences in cricket is immense and the fact he’s still passionate and motivated to give back to the game in this country speaks volumes about his character,” NZC chief high-performance officer Daryl Gibson said. “His role, which is a commitment of three days a week on average over the year, will see him work across much of the high-performance network, allowing our national and domestic coaches, players and staff to tap into his expertise and IP.”Gary is also able to work outside of NZC, such as his recent part-time appointment to the Indian domestic side Andhra for their upcoming four-day competition, an experience which will allow him to further grow his knowledge and experience.”Stead’s highlights as the head coach of the men’s national team included winning the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) title in 2021 and sweeping India 3-0 in India in a Test series last year.Stead first joined NZC as a coach development manager (2004-2009), before becoming an assisted coach at the NZC Academy (2005-06), New Zealand Women’s head coach (2009-12), and Canterbury head coach and director of cricket (2012-18), before he joined the men’s senior team in 2018.

Tottenham Hotspur are adjusting to a more pragmatic tactical style under Thomas Frank. This has caused several contentious talking points to spring up over the past several months.

Yes, Spurs are imperfect, and improvements are needed. But they are also fifth in the Premier League after 11 matches, and have lost only three times.

Goals are being scored, albeit with underlying attacking metrics emphasising the work is needed in creative departments. But then, even this comes with the caveat that Tottenham have been without Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, arguably the two most creative outlets at the club, since before the start of the season.

1. Chelsea

3rd

20.4

2. Crystal Palace

2nd

19.4

3. Man City

10th

19.0

4. Arsenal

1st

18.8

5. Man United

7th

18.2

15. Tottenham

5th

11.0

Yes, more is needed. And Frank will consider across the next two international-break-filled weeks his options across the park, and how he can water the roots of his philosophy while growing his Tottenham garden into something viewed as new and growing, rather than negative and Nuno-esque.

The changes Frank needs to make at Spurs

Tottenham showed spirit and resolve against Manchester United last weekend, and though Richarlison’s late strike was cancelled out at the death by Matthijs de Ligt’s header, the hosts did not crumble but responded after a wretched first half.

That’s a glass-half-full way of looking at it, sure, but Tottenham must take the positives – as Frank did.

However, the Danish tactician needs to iron out the many creases in this squad, and one sure-fire way to start that process is by forgoing the decision to field Djed Spence and Richarlison as a left-sided partnership. Width and dynamism are needed down the flanks, and the out-of-position Spence and technically limited Richarlison don’t work well together.

When Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert connected in the second half, things changed.

Likewise, there must be a wider shift in regard to mentality and confidence. Over the past year, Tottenham have played 20 home games and they have won only three. Much-improved away results and a tougher framework from head to toe have scrubbed away the bitter lower-table position of last year, but there remains a need for more positivity, more fluency and enterprise on the ball.

The forwards need to much do more, yes, but the midfielders have flattered to deceive from this perspective this season, and it’s time for Frank to consider parting with one player who lacks the nuance in his role to thrive and make the system tick.

Frank must drop struggling Spurs star

When Tottenham signed Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus in January 2022, initially on loan and then for a fee just shy of £22m, they knew they had landed a talented and multi-faceted midfielder.

And yet he’s falling by the wayside in Frank’s system. The 28-year-old hasn’t fallen, not yet, but his performances are becoming a concern, with analyst Raj Chohan even describing him as a “candidate for worst centre-midfielder at a big six club”.

The conundrum here is two-fold: Bentancur has just signed a new contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, raising his salary considerably to around £120k per week.

But the other angle here is that the Uruguayan just doesn’t work alongside Joao Palhinha, a player who has been regarded by many as one of the best Lilywhites players so far this season, having arrived on a loan deal from Bayern Munich in the summer.

So, if Palhinha has to play, his tough-tackling, protective presence in the middle, Frank must start playing a deep-lying midfielder beside him who can drive play forward with surgical passes. Instead, two pragmatic midfielders have been yoked together in a midfield lacking creativity under a manager who is facing criticisms for a pragmatic style of play.

It is not that difficult to identify the potential problem here, especially when bringing Xavi Simons into the equation, the playmaker yet to adapt to the rigours of the English game, and then addressing again the duel absence of Kulusevski and Maddison.

25/26

10

659′

24/25

26

1,653′

23/24

23

1,007′

22/23

18

1,506′

21/22

17

1,365′

As per data-led platform FBref, Bentancur actually ranks among the bottom 39% of Premier League midfielders this term for progressive passes per 90, underscoring the issues presented in the build-up. Palhinha, unsurprisingly, does not rank highly himself (bottom 11%).

The decision to start Bentancur from the bench against Man United – ending the South American’s run of six successive Premier League starts – tells of Frank’s awareness about all this, but then Pape Matar Sarr wasn’t at his best on that day in any case, albeit growing into the game after a shaky start, his energy and optimism a nice counterpoint to Palhinha’s ruggedness.

Much to chew on. Lucas Bergvall has the progressiveness to forge a protean partnership with Palhinha in the centre, but the teenager has not yet nailed down a prominent role under Frank.

Bentancur might have signed a new contract recently, but that does not mean he is unsellable. Conversely, this could provide an insight into a longer-term plan; this summer, Atletico Madrid were among those interested in an experienced midfielder whose stock has now risen from a financial vantage.

If Tottenham are to persist with the anchoring presence that is Palhinha, it might not be a bad thing to ship Bentancur and his limitations out. When the injured parties return, the picture will become a whole lot clearer, and Bentancur may well be absent from the view.

Spurs flop who's been "swallowed in the PL" must be dropped for Odobert

Thomas Frank can unleash Wilson Odobert by ruthlessly dropping this Spurs flop.

2 ByDan Emery Nov 10, 2025

يستعد النادي الأهلي بقوة لخوض منافسات دور المجموعات في دوري أبطال إفريقيا، وسط تركيز كبير على تحقيق بداية مثالية تمنح الفريق دفعة معنوية نحو اللقب القاري الثالث عشر في تاريخه.

ويستهل الأهلي مشواره بمواجهة مرتقبة أمام شبيبة القبائل الجزائري على استاد القاهرة الدولي، قبل أن يشد الرحال إلى المغرب لملاقاة الجيش الملكي في الجولة الثانية.

اقرأ أيضًا | الأهلي يبدأ ميركاتو يناير.. 3 صفقات في مرحلة التفاوض وظهير أيسر في الطريق موعد مباراة الأهلي والجيش الملكي في دوري أبطال أفريقيا

وأكد نافع الرفاعي، المتحدث الرسمي لنادي الجيش الملكي المغربي، في تصريحات خاصة عبر بطولات، أن المباراة أمام الأهلي ستقام يوم 28 نوفمبر الجاري في الساعة الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت المغرب، أي التاسعة بتوقيت القاهرة.

وأضاف الرفاعي أن اللقاء سيُقام على ملعب الأمير مولاي عبد الله بالعاصمة الرباط، في أجواء جماهيرية كبيرة ينتظرها عشاق الفريق المغربي، خاصة أن المباراة تجمع بين اثنين من أعرق أندية القارة الإفريقية.

ويواجه الأهلي نظيره شبيبة القبائل الجزائري يوم 22 نوفمبر الجاري على استاد القاهرة، في افتتاح مشواره ضمن المجموعة التي تضم أيضًا الجيش الملكي ويانج أفريكانز.

ويأمل الجهاز الفني بقيادة ييس توروب أن يحقق الفريق نتائج إيجابية في أول جولتين، تمهيدًا لتصدر المجموعة مبكرًا، خاصة مع عودة عدد من اللاعبين المصابين الذين يمثلون قوة إضافية للفريق الأحمر في هذه المرحلة المهمة وعلى رأسهم إمام عاشور.

The St. Louis Cardinals (31-33) host the PIttsburgh Pirates (31-34) tonight at Busch Stadium with rookie sensation Paul Skenes on the mound for the Pirates.

Here are two player props to target in plus-money tonight. 

MLB Best Bets Today

Paul Skenes over 7.5 strikeouts (+110) at DraftKings

If you are an MLB fan, you are obligated to always take the over on Paul Skenes K props. 

I kid. Sort of. 

No pitcher’s debut season has been this hyped since Stephen Strasburg in 2010, and so far Skenes has (mostly) lived up to the hype.  

Skenes struck out eight Dodgers in his most recent outing, also securing the win for the Bucs.  If Skenes can K eight Dodgers, I am happy to grab plus-money for him to tally eight punch-outs vs. the St. Louis Cardinals. 

The Cardinals have a 23.7% K-rate vs. righties this season — the 10th highest rate in MLB.

Skenes has exceeded this prop in three of five games started this year and he’s striking batters out at a rate of 12.67 per nine innings. If he makes it through six innings, he easily exceeds this mark. 

Rowdy Tellez over 1.5 Hits +Runs + RBI (+105) at DraftKings

I know, I know. Tellez has been awful this year, but hear me out.

Not only does Tellez tear the cover off the ball (his max exit velocity in the top 2% of MLB), he’s been heating up lately.

In June, Tellez is hitting .529 with seven RBI and a 1.461 OPS. He has hits in six of his last seven games, and he has exceeded this prop in five of those seven.   

Not only that, but Tellez has good career stats vs. Miles Mikolas.  

In 18 career at-bats vs. Mikolas, Tellez is batting .333 and has a 1.091 OPS. Take advantage of the value for Tellez tonight. 

Back in the Premier League after a long absence, Sunderland have wasted no time in trying to establish themselves as more than just relegation candidates.

In the summer, the club spent £141.5m – the second-highest spend by a promoted side in English football history, behind only Nottingham Forest in 2022.

That money brought in Habib Diarra (Strasbourg), Simon Adingra (Brighton), Chemsdine Talbi (Club Brugge), Noah Sadiki (Union SG), Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen), and Nordi Mukiele (PSG).

Such investment has been rewarded early.

With three wins from their opening fixtures, Sunderland sit fifth in the Premier League, a position even their most optimistic supporters could not have imagined at this stage.

The challenge ahead is sustaining that form, particularly with a trip to Old Trafford looming this weekend.

For all the headline arrivals, though – alongside the headline makers like three-goal hero, Wilson Isidor – it is perhaps the least expected of their summer deals that is proving to be the most significant.

Sunderland's previous £30m sensation

Sunderland fans know better than most the importance of having a goalkeeper who can make the difference at both club and international level.

Their academy produced Jordan Pickford, who emerged from a series of loans to displace Vito Mannone in 2016/17.

That season, Pickford was so impressive that he was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award, a rare honour for a keeper.

When Sunderland were relegated at the end of that campaign, Pickford became a prized asset.

Everton swooped with a £30m deal, which remains one of the most lucrative sales in the club’s history.

Since then, Pickford has made 325 appearances for Everton, keeping 91 clean sheets, and has established himself as England’s undisputed No.1 with 78 caps, producing defining moments in penalty shootouts at the World Cup and European Championships.

That legacy of homegrown excellence set the bar high for any future Sunderland keeper.

While most of the focus has been on flashy outfield signings this summer, it is the man between the posts who is beginning to capture the same kind of acclaim Pickford once did.

Sunderland's next £30m star in the making

Signed quietly from NEC Nijmegen for £9m, Robin Roefs has been nothing short of outstanding in his first Premier League season.

The 22-year-old Dutch youth international, with ten U21 caps to his name, has played every minute of Sunderland’s campaign so far – 540 minutes in total – and already has three clean sheets to his name.

Described by Andy Sixsmith as having had an “excellent start” to life at Sunderland – while being dubbed “absolutely awesome” by Kevin Phillips – Roefs has shown maturity beyond his years.

While he was at fault for a goal conceded against Aston Villa – palming a shot into the roof of his own net – his response since then has highlighted his resilience and temperament.

Statistically, he has been elite: a save percentage of 82.5% (99th percentile), a clean sheet rate of 50% (99th percentile), and a cross-stopping percentage of 10% (91st percentile).

A direct comparison with Pickford’s current numbers underlines the scale of his start, with the pair deemed to be statistically similar players, as per FBref.

Matches Played

6

6

Saves

18

11

Clean Sheets

3

2

Penalties Saved

1

1

Last season, Roefs averaged 3.0 saves per 90 minutes, compared to Pickford’s 1.83. His save percentage of 82.6% far outstrips Pickford’s 72.2%, and he has conceded just 0.67 goals per 90 against Pickford’s 1.0.

Even in clean sheet percentage, Roefs comes out on top—50% to 33.3%.

It is no surprise, then, that Roefs has also been likened in style to Barcelona’s Joan Garcia and Arsenal’s David Raya, as per Fbref, both keepers renowned for combining strong shot-stopping with modern distribution.

For Sunderland, having a player of that calibre between the sticks provides a foundation for their survival hopes and long-term ambitions.

Supporters may have expected their big-money forwards or high-profile midfield additions to steal the spotlight, with Isidor certainly flourishing despite the step up, but it is Robin Roefs who has been their standout.

Just as Pickford’s rise once brought Sunderland significant acclaim and financial reward, there is already a sense that Roefs could follow a similar path—both in terms of on-field impact and, in time, market value.

At only 22, Sunderland may already have unearthed their most important signing of the summer.

Not Xhaka: Sunderland's "remarkable" star looks like their best signing

Sunderland sealed the best signing of their summer when landing this remarkable star.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 2, 2025

Leeds United finally scored a goal from open play in the Premier League in their exciting 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers away from home on Saturday.

The Whites had only scored one goal, a penalty against Everton, in their opening four matches of the top-flight campaign, which created concerns over the attacking quality within the group.

Daniel Farke’s side hit back at the critics with three goals in the first half at the Molineux, two coming from open play, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach, and Noah Okafor all got themselves on the scoresheet.

Stach’s goal was the pick of the bunch. The summer signing from Hoffenheim’s belting free-kick into the top corner was a beautiful goal, and he followed that up with an assist for Okafor’s strike.

That win does not put all concerns over the quality of the squad to bed, though, firstly because Wolves have lost all five of their matches in the division and appear to be one of the weaker teams in the league.

Secondly, because there are still some players in the team who are yet to reach lift-off in the Premier League, Brenden Aaronson is one of them.

Why Brenden Aaronson needs to step up for Leeds

To his credit, the USA international is a hard-working player who will always put in a shift and leave everything on the pitch with his relentless pressing and desire to win possession back.

Unfortunately, though, Aaronson’s lack of physicality often means that his hard work goes unrewarded at Premier League level, because opposition players are faster and stronger than him.

For example, the USNMT star has not won a single aerial duel in the division so far, across five appearances, per Sofascore, and he has already been dribbled past six times, ranking in the bottom 6% of wingers in the league in that statistic, per FotMob.

Aaronson showed flashes of quality in the Championship last season, scoring nine goals and providing two assists in 46 matches, but he has yet to prove that he is good enough for the Premier League.

His performances when the West Yorkshire outfit were last in the big time do not help the idea that he is not up to scratch at this level, as he was not up to the task in the 2022/23 campaign.

Appearances

36

xG

3.86

Goals

1

xA

2.59

Assists

3

Ground duel success rate

43%

Aerial duel success rate

17%

As you can see in the table above, Aaronson hugely underperformed in front of goal and lost the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air in that season, as Leeds were relegated from the Premier League.

This is why the 24-year-old attacker has to step up in the present day and start to show that he can deliver goals and assists on a regular basis, having failed to provide any goal contributions in five league games so far this term.

The lack of quality provided by Aaronson at the top end of the pitch should enhance the feeling of regret that the club should have for cashing in on a player who has gone on to be even better than the former RB Salzburg star.

Leeds had Polish attacking midfielder Mateusz Bogusz on their books before they decided to cash in on him in March 2023, for a fee of £874k, per Transfermarkt.

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

What the versatile forward has achieved since moving on from Elland Road suggests that the Whites had a mare by allowing him to move on for a fee that was less than £1m.

Why Leeds United should have kept Mateusz Bogusz

Bogusz only played three times for the first-team, starting two of those matches, at Leeds before his move to LAFC in 2023, which means that the midfield star did not get many opportunities to shine in West Yorkshire.

The Poland international’s transfer to the MLS provided him with the chance to play regular football and showcase his quality at the top end of the pitch week-in-week-out, and he grasped that chance with both hands.

Bogusz, who was hailed as a “dangerous” player by reporter Greg Beacham, scored 24 goals and provided 19 assists in 90 matches for LAFC in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he provided goals and assists on a regular basis.

The 24-year-old star, who is the same age as Aaronson, proved that he could produce consistent performances in the final third, mostly playing as an attacking midfielder for the American outfit.

Appearances

36

46

xG

9.20

11.43

Goals

16

9

Big chances created

9

9

xA

6.11

6.05

Assists

8

2

As you can see in the table above, Bogusz’s performances in the MLS during the 2024 season were more impressive, particularly from a goalscoring perspective, than Aaronson’s were in the Championship for Farke’s dominant side.

These statistics suggest that the Whites would have been better off with the Poland international in the number ten position, because he could have offered more quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals at the top end of the pitch.

As well as missing out on a quality player, Leeds also missed out on a bigger payday. Cruz Azul swooped in to sign the attacking midfielder for a fee of £7.4m in January of this year, which is significantly more than the £874k that the Whites raked in for his services in 2023.

At the time of writing (23/09/2025), Bogusz is valued at £6.5m by Transfermarkt after a return of two goals and seven assists in 32 outings for the Mexican side. This means that his value has soared by 644% from the £874k that he was sold for less than three years ago.

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Therefore, Leeds must regret cashing in on Bogusz for multiple reasons, because he would be an upgrade on one of the club’s current attackers, Aaronson, and because they missed out on millions.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma is facing a very uncertain future under Thomas Frank, following a less-than ideal start to the Dane’s tenure in charge.

Off the field, ex-chairman Daniel Levy has dominated headlines, after the polarising official was pushed to resign from his post after 24 years, with the Lewis family ushering in a new era at Spurs.

ENIC are reportedly planning to pump more cash into the club, and this windfall could be reinvested into their transfer activity in a bid to get Tottenham competing with the Premier League six for major silverware (Sky Sports).

While supporters will be wary of that old saying ‘the grass isn’t always greener’, it is a very intriguing time for the Lilywhites, but it is unlikely Bissouma will be along for the ride long-term.

The Mali international is out of contract next summer and Frank has already penalised the player for persistent lateness to training, which resulted in Bissouma missing out on a place in Tottenham’s 22-man Champions League squad.

Villarreal (home)

September 16

Bodo/Glimt (away)

September 30

Monaco (away)

October 22

FC Copenhagen (home)

November 4

PSG (away)

November 26

Slavia Prague (home)

December 9

Borussia Dortmund (home)

January 20

Eintracht Frankfurt (away)

January 28

He was also left out of the side which travelled to face PSG in the UEFA Super Cup last month, with Bissouma yet to make a single competitive appearance under Frank.

The transfer windows in Turkey, Mexico, Portugal and Saudi Arabia remain open for the time being, giving Spurs a chance to offload the £100,000-per-week ace even after the UK deadline on September 1.

Tottenham are open to offers for Bissouma, according to Sky’s Michael Bridge, but Fabrizio Romano says things have gone quiet when it comes to a potential exit for the 29-year-old and Frank’s side are not actively pushing to get rid.

Given the hectic fixture schedule awaiting Spurs, perhaps Frank is planning to keep Bissouma around in case of emergency as a squad player in the Premier League, with the ex-Brighton star fighting his way back to full fitness right now after sustaining an injury.

Bissouma held talks to join Galatasaray in the summer and fellow Süper Lig side Fenerbache also held an interest, but according to West Ham insider Claret & Hugh, Tottenham’s east London rivals were offered the chance to sign him too.

Tottenham offered Yves Bissouma to West Ham twice in a swap deal for Lucas Paqueta

C&H report, via an insider at West Ham, that Tottenham floated Bissouma towards the London Stadium on two separate occasions, with Spurs also proposing a straight loan swap deal for Brazil international Lucas Paqueta.

Before they sealed a £52 million deal for Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, Spurs were actively pursuing a playmaker — seeing two very advanced moves for Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze fall through in very dramatic fashion.

Paqueta was being targeted by Tottenham as an alternative to the duo, but the former Lyon star ended up staying with Graham Potter.

Spurs’ attempts to agree a swap deal involving Paqueta and Bissouma apparently had “no chance”.

The 28-year-old is now attempting to recapture the form he displayed from his early Hammers days, before Paqueta was embroiled in a spot-fixing scandal which derailed his career.

He would’ve been an intriguing signing for Spurs and only the third player to join them from West Ham in 14 years, after Scott Parker and Mohammed Kudus, but Simons’ sky-high potential has the fanbase very excited ahead of the Dutchman’s imminent debut.