All posts by h716a5.icu

Manchester City have enacted something of a rebuild across the last two transfer windows and could now be set to continue their spending spree once the January window opens, according to a report.

Manchester City look to overcome mixed Premier League start

Despite making some impressive summer signings, Manchester City have lost consecutive Premier League fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Pep Guardiola has changed the guard in several positions and may need time to let new faces settle in at the Etihad Stadium, albeit he will be hoping for an improved return on the club’s investments after the international break.

Still, Joe Cole preserves optimism that one of Manchester City’s main men can go on to thrive this campaign and has claimed that Phil Foden is the best player in the Premier League when he is in form.

The former England international told talkSPORT: “He had a difficult season last year. We don’t know the problems he had off the pitch or injuries or what it was, but what you have to do is keep faith with these types of players.

“When Phil Foden plays to the best of his ability, like the season before last, he’s the best player in the country, you know, but there’s only one player who can produce that type of level of performance over the last 15 years consistently. That’s Lionel Messi. And there’s a reason he’s the greatest player in the world.”

Intriguingly, Guardiola could add a new superstar to the fold amid Manchester City’s plan to launch an ambitious move to sign Vinicius Junior in January, albeit it remains to be seen whether they could tempt him away from the Spanish top-flight.

Remaining on that topic, the Citizens could be set to raid La Liga for a rising young star who could now have a pivotal decision to make on his future.

Man City could launch January move for Dro Fernandez

According to reports in Spain, Manchester City want to sign Barcelona talent Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernandez, who is viewed as a breakout star in his homeland after entering La Blaugrana’s second string at 17 years of age.

Predominantly an attacking midfielder, the Spain Under-17 star is also wanted by Chelsea and has registered four goals in 14 appearances for club and country at various youth levels.

"Unbelievable" Man City player in demand as clubs queue up to sign him

Would selling him make any sense?

ByHenry Jackson Sep 6, 2025

Adored by Hansi Flick for his contribution during Barcelona’s pre-season, he has already got off the mark at first-team level by scoring in a friendly against Vissel Kobe, potentially opening the door to further senior opportunities down the line.

Nevertheless, he now faces an intriguing decision amid interest from the Premier League, which could force his club to offer him a contract extension with guarantees that his developmental needs will be met.

Guardiola always has an eye out for prodigious talent and may have spotted an opening to convince one of Europe’s stars to move to the Etihad Stadium.

They have won just one out of four completed matches at home this season, and take on RR, who are already knocked out

Sreshth Shah03-May-20251:36

Rayudu: Narine completely dismantles oppositions

Big picture: Time running out for KKRKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) aren’t out of the playoffs race yet, but the margin for error has all but vanished. They can still reach 17 points, but that requires a perfect run in their final four games. Two of these games are at Eden Gardens, where they’ve managed just one win in four completed matches this season. Saturday afternoon’s match marks their penultimate home game.To stay in the hunt for a top-four finish, KKR need to break new ground this season by stringing together back-to-back wins for the first time. Their last game, against Delhi Capitals (DC), wasn’t perfect, but a few performances offered some hope that there’s still fight left in them. Rinku Singh and Andre Russell found their spark, Sunil Narine dismissed three high-quality batters, and the openers finally laid a solid foundation. For KKR, replicating all of that – and getting more out of Venkatesh Iyer – is essential for their playoff hopes. A loss wouldn’t eliminate them outright, but it would leave them hanging by a thread.Up against them are Rajasthan Royals (RR), already eliminated, but a side that’s hurting. The Vaibhav Suryavanshi – Yashasvi Jaiswal show against Gujarat Titans was scintillating, but what followed was a tame submission against Mumbai Indians, when they went down by 100 runs.Lifting themselves up to produce a performance with Sanju Samson still injured and Sandeep Sharma out of the tournament will be difficult, but a hurting side with nothing to lose can be a dangerous unit. And as their bowling coach Shane Bond suggested on the eve of the game, there’ll be some players waiting to make full use of any opportunities afforded to them in their last few fixtures, with the management having one eye on IPL 2026 and beyond.Form guideKolkata Knight Riders: WLLWL
Rajasthan Royals: LWLLLThe big questionKKR have three overseas players locked in: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Narine and Russell. But how do their best use their fourth? It appears Spencer Johnson and Anrich Nortje are not in the mix right now. Rovman Powell, the current preference, has been carded at No. 8 for their last two games, and a batter at that position averages fewer than six balls per game.In the spotlight: Venkatesh Iyer and Dhruv JurelVenkatesh Iyer is being plagued by inconsistency. In seven innings this season, a struggling top order has offered him ample opportunity. But he has been out in single digits four times, and has crossed 40 only once. Compared to last season, Venkatesh’s average has dropped from 46.3 to 20.3, while his strike rate has fallen from 159 to 139. Only Rishabh Pant and and Abdul Samad have poorer averages this season (minimum 100 runs). With the batters above and below Venkatesh beginning to stitch together scores, it’s time for KKR’s vice-captain to do the same with qualification for playoffs still a possibility.5:35

What all went wrong for Rajasthan Royals this IPL?

RR have shown a lot of faith in Dhruv Jurel, but his role this season has been a bit muddled. He has always been inventive and attacking against pace, but at both No. 4 or No. 5, his game against spin has been tested. Jurel strikes at only 110 against spinners this season, and it’s 179 against pace while boasting an average of 81.5. Is it time for RR to utilise him differently?Team news and probable XIIsWith only two right-handers in the RR top five, and KKR trusting Russell more with the ball, Anukul Roy, who picked up 1 for 27 against DC, might make way for Ramandeep Singh to get more batting power. Ajinkya Rahane had his right hand bandaged after being injured against DC, but Powell suggested he should be available.Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Rovman Powell/Moeen Ali, 9 Ramandeep Singh/Anukul Roy, 10 Harshit Rana, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Vaibhav AroraAkash Madhwal got his first opportunity with Sandeep’s injury in RR’s last game, and should keep his place. Left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya remains a tempting option against KKR’s line-up. Wanindu Hasaranga could be back for his googlies against Russell.Rajasthan Royals: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Riyan Parag (capt), 5 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Shubham Dubey, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Maheesh Theekshana/Wanindu Hasaranga, 10 Fazalhaq Farooqi/Kwena Maphaka, 11 Akash Madhwal, 12 Yudhvir Singh/Kumar KartikeyaPitch and conditionsA look at the surface showed rough marks outside both off and leg stump, and it could be a drier pitch that assists spin just a bit more. The last few days have been hot, with a short stormy period to cool the city down every evening. Chances of the game being affected by rain remain high.Yashasvi Jaiswal has struck four fifties in his last six outings•BCCIStats and trivia RR’s spinners have the second-lowest average (36.7) and economy (9.4) this season. Only SRH are worse. While Angkrish Raghuvanshi has a dazzling strike rate of 170 in his first ten balls in IPL 2025, it dips to 106 by the time he moves on to play his 21st ball and beyond. Jaiswal has struck four fifties in his last six outings. He has also hit the most sixes (18) in the powerplay this season. It has helped RR maintain the highest powerplay run rate (10.8) this time. The middle-order struggles for KKR and RR are evident in their dot-ball percentage between overs 7 and 16: KKR (37.2%) are the worst, while RR (32.9%) are right behind them. Quotes”Whatever happened before in the first half of the competition is history. We all know that in the IPL, it is important for teams to find their momentum at the back end of the competition. If we can do that, we give ourselves the best chance of being back-to-back champions.”
“Regardless of whether you’re in the competition or not, you’ve got the RR badge on your chest, and you’ve got players with the attitude of wanting to turn up, compete, win, and that shouldn’t matter if you’re in the competition or not. So that energy and intensity is expected from the players regardless of the points table, and we didn’t do that very well the other night [against Mumbai Indians]. It will be a hot day in Kolkata, and it will be challenging, but that’s what’s expected, and I want to see that from the boys.”

Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United has certainly divided fans, and the jury is still out as to whether it works or not. One of the major changes to the system compared to previous great United teams over the years is the midfield.

Amorim operates with two number sixes in a double pivot, with two number 10s ahead of those, either side of the striker. He has adapted Bruno Fernandes’ game, with the talismanic United midfielder now playing in that pivot, rather than close to goal, where he has had lots of previous success for the club.

Another player who has been affected by the different system is Kobbie Mainoo.

Why Kobbie Mainoo is in an awkward situation

It has certainly not been the easiest season for one of the most exciting young midfielders in the world, Mainoo. The 20-year-old ranked 36th in the recent Golden Boy awards, highlighting just how big a talent he is.

However, the 2025/26 season has not been plain sailing for Mainoo, through no fault of his own. The boyhood United star has only played 166 minutes across five games this term, and has registered an assist in that time. He’s yet to start a Premier League game.

Well, many United fans are confused as to why the England international cannot break into their starting lineup. Former Red Devils midfielder Owen Hargreaves said after the Manchester derby that he’ll “never know” why Amoirm isn’t picking Mainoo.

Indeed, it is strange, given the young midfielder’s exploits during his short career so far. The 20-year-old has started a final at a major tournament for England and scored an FA Cup final-winning goal.

Mainoo’s lack of involvement at United this season has certainly been disappointing, given his obvious talent, and left him in an awkward situation. Interestingly, there was a former United midfielder who was ahead of him at one stage.

The ex-midfielder ahead of Mainoo

Although Mainoo has not been given any opportunities this season, the 20-year-old is without doubt a huge talent. He could certainly be viewed as the heir in line to the throne when it comes to legendary United midfielders.

Well, before Mainoo made his first-team debut, there was someone else who could have staked a claim to that title. Fellow academy graduate Zidane Iqbal made his first-team debut just under a year before the England international, but did not quite follow the same career path.

Iqbal’s only game for United came in the Champions League against BSC Young Boys. He only played one minute of normal time, and never failed to get onto the pitch again, despite being on the bench several times.

The Iraqi international left the club for Dutch side FC Utrecht in 2023 and was sold for just £857k. He has since gone on to make a real impression for the Eredivisie side, making 41 appearances and scoring once.

The midfielder’s best skill is his passing, which has really shone during his time in the Netherlands. Last season, he averaged 6.58 progressive passes and 5.4 passes into the final third per 90 minutes, ranking him in the top 11% and 16% respectively, of midfielders in the Dutch top flight.

Pass completed

46.21

83rd

Pass accuracy

88.3%

98th

Progressive passes

6.58

89th

Passes into final third

5.4

84th

Passes into penalty box

1.18

74th

If Iqbal had stayed at Old Trafford and been given a chance to show off his talent, he could have been the natural successor to the famous number 18 shirt. That has previously been worn by midfield maestros Fernandes and, earlier, Paul Scholes.

Interestingly, the Iraqi international looked up to Scholes as a youngster. He once explained, “I’d kind of just base my game off him and put myself in his shoes”, which is not a bad way to learn the art of control in midfield.

Well, to wear the number 18 shirt as a creative midfielder at United, you really do need to be a player capable of pulling the strings. Fernandes has 86 assists in Red so far, and the legendary Scholes amassed 82, per Transfermarkt.

The stats show just how well Iqbal can dictate the game in midfield. He has proven himself to be a true controller of the midfield in a top league, and surely could have been considered worthy enough of donning that famous number 18 shirt.

United fans can only look back on this as what could have been. Iqbal was ahead of Mainoo in his development and perhaps could have formed the perfect partnership alongside the 20-year-old, with the number 18 on his back.

Bigger mistake than McTominay: Man Utd sold their own Trent for just £5m

Man Utd’s recruitment record has been called into question, with Scott McTominay not the only former star now shining…

ByRobbie Walls Sep 23, 2025

Real Madrid are preparing two key bargain signings for 2026 as part of a long-term squad rejuvenation plan. The Spanish giants are monitoring Stuttgart midfielder Chema Andres, viewed as a potential successor to Aurelien Tchouameni, while also finalising plans to bring back Nico Paz from Como. Both moves could cost under €20 million combined.

Real Madrid eye double 2026 return

Madrid have set their sights on two young talents for the 2026 project, Andres and Paz. Both are former academy products who could return to the Santiago Bernabeu at a combined cost of around €19m (£16m/$22m). According to , Madrid are particularly focused on strengthening their midfield depth and preparing a succession plan for Tchouameni, who currently lacks a natural backup. Chema Andres, now starring at Stuttgart, has caught the club’s attention with his commanding performances in Germany. Meanwhile, Paz’s situation appears even clearer, the club already informed him that he’s part of their future plans, prompting him to reject a major offer from Tottenham last summer.

AdvertisementAFPAndres impresses at Stuttgart

Andres, 20, has emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s most promising pivots, since moving to Stuttgart, the Spanish midfielder has cemented his place as a starter, often keeping Angelo Stiller out of the lineup. He has played eight of the club’s 10 matches this season, scoring a goal and maintaining a 94% passing accuracy. His performances have earned him a place in Spain’s Under-21 national team, further validating his growth. Real Madrid still own 50% of his rights after Stuttgart paid €3m for the rest, meaning reacquiring him would only cost around €10m. Madrid reportedly believe the price will not be an issue.

Andres earns Rodri comparisons

Right-footed and technically sound, Andres is viewed as a natural organiser and defensive midfielder a “Rodri-type” profile who could succeed Tchouameni in the future. However, he says he does not like being compared to the Manchester City star, though he said it is a "privilege and a blessing" to be seen as similar to the Ballon d'Or winner.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportPaz's return already planned

While Andres is under evaluation, Paz’s return appears to be a certainty. Madrid reportedly have a verbal agreement in place assuring the 21-year-old’s comeback next summer. The deal with Como allows Madrid to re-sign him for €9m in 2026 or €10m in 2027, a fraction of his current market value. Paz has been thriving under Cesc Fabregas in Serie A, registering three goals and three assists in six games this season after an impressive 2023-24 campaign. His tactical versatility, able to play as a midfielder, winger, or even a full-back, makes him an ideal squad option for Madrid’s long-term rebuild.

Bharat Arun will run the programme “aimed at further enhancing the standards of Sri Lankan fast bowlers across junior and senior squads”

ESPNcricinfo staff31-May-2025Bharat Arun will become the latest in a string of high-profile Indian coaches conducting specialised coaching programmes for Sri Lanka’s top cricketers.He will run a 14-day programmed “aimed at further enhancing the standards of Sri Lankan fast bowlers across junior and senior squads at the high performance centre,” a Sri Lanka Cricket press statement on Friday said. Arun, who was the bowling coach of the senior India men’s team from 2014 to 2021, will run a programme starting on June 2.Earlier in May, India’s former fielding coach R Sridhar had run a ten-day programme of his own. Last year, Zubin Bharucha, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) director of high performance, ran a brief batting coaching programme in Sri Lanka as well. These initiatives have all come during the tenure of Sanath Jayasuriya as head coach.”[Arun] will work with the Sri Lanka national men’s and women’s teams, the women’s ‘A’ team, the U19 men’s team, coaches of the high performance centre, club and provincial coaches, and coach-educators during his stay here in the country,” the SLC statement said. “He will conduct separate strategy sessions with the men’s red-ball and white-ball teams, hold technical and skill-based training with fast bowlers, hold video and performance analysis sessions with players and coaches, and also match scenarios to develop ‘game’ understanding.”The Sri Lanka men’s team, in particular, is having a quiet period, with only two Tests to play till next May and a light international schedule, having not qualified for this year’s Champions Trophy.

A “promising” Glasgow Rangers player may not make a decision regarding his Ibrox future until Russell Martin has been sacked, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Martin still under huge pressure at Rangers

The pressure on Martin isn’t easing at all currently, with the 39-year-old struggling badly since arriving at Ibrox before the 2025/26 season.

There is almost an inevitability about the Englishman being sacked at some point in the near future, unless there are drastic improvements on the pitch, with potential replacements already being mentioned.

Former Everton and Burnley manager Sean Dyche is reportedly considered a “serious option” to come in and replace Martin at Rangers, and he is thought to be keen on taking the job, having most recently been in charge of the Blues.

The current Gers boss has alienated certain players, with Nicolas Raskin only recently returning to the fold, and now a new update has emerged regarding the future of an individual in a similar position.

"Promising" Rangers player waiting for Martin to be sacked

Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke claimed that Clinton Nsiala is waiting for Martin to be sacked, and that could open the door for his future to still be at Ibrox under a potential new manager.

“Obviously he’s not figured under Russell Martin since the former Southampton manager’s arrival at Ibrox. It doesn’t appear that he does have a long-term future under Martin, but we know things could change at Ibrox, especially if a new manager is appointed to replace the under-fire Martin.

“That would mean a clean slate for everybody. So Nsiala will be waiting to see what happens there because that might give him the opportunity to win back his place in the plans of a new manager as well.

“While Martin remains in charge, I don’t think he is going to change his mind on Nsiala and he will continue to find himself on the sidelines. As we said, with so much pressure on Martin, things could quickly change and then Nsiala could be back in favour under a potential new manager.”

Nsiala is a talented footballer, with The Rangers Review calling him a “promising” player, so it has been frustrating to see him not feature much for Rangers of late.

In fact, the 21-year-old defender hasn’t featured at all this season, highlighting what Martin thinks of him, so if he remains in charge of the Gers moving forward, he will surely feel the need to move on.

For Nsiala’s sake, though, he will hope that a change in manager happens sooner rather than later, which, in truth, is likely to be the mindset of many supporters who have already lost faith in the current boss.

"To be honest" – Miovski explains why Rangers have better players than people realise

The Gers are still seeking their first away clean sheet of the season.

ByBen Goodwin Oct 4, 2025

It would be disappointing to see the £10,500-a-week centre-back leave Rangers so soon after arriving, having only joined from AC Milan last year, but hopefully, that isn’t the case.

‘Outrage’ in the Atletico Madrid camp is said to have seen the Liga giants lodge a formal complaint to UEFA about Emirates Stadium. The Spanish outfit are in north London for a Champions League clash with Arsenal. They trained at the Gunners’ famous home on Monday, but were left without hot water on site – leading to contact being made with European football’s governing body.

Why shower issue at Emirates Stadium did not breach UEFA rules

UEFA lists showers with hot water as something that every dressing room in continental competition must be equipped with – with rules clearly being laid out in infrastructure regulations. Those rules do, however, apply to the hosting of matches, not informal training sessions.

Atletico were of the opinion, though, that facilities at such an impressive venue should have been in full working order for their visit. They are said to have suffered a hot water shortage in the away changing room that they occupied.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALAnger in Atletico Madrid camp after rain-soaked session

Diego Simeone put his side through their paces at the Emirates, but they were unable to freshen up afterwards – despite taking in a rain-soaked session on English soil. Sources have told that the plumbing problem “went unfixed for over an hour”.

It is claimed that the Rojiblancos were left “surprised” and “angered” by the lack of hot running water, leading to them flagging the “anomalous situation” to UEFA. Spanish media outlet says “outrage erupted” in the Atleti camp.

The Madrid-based heavyweights are said to have reported the issue to Arsenal officials prior to their training session getting underway. They were already “baffled” at that point as to “why the Emirates Stadium, one of the best grounds in England, would be lacking hot water”.

Plumbing issue fixed after Atletico returned to their hotel

Both dressing rooms were impacted by the issue, with reporting on how it was resolved “within 40 minutes of Arsenal being alerted to it”. A fix is said to have been found before Atletico were due to finish training, but their session was cut short. That led to the Liga side heading back to their hotel in order to shower and unwind.

Staff at the Emirates “acknowledged the error” and restored the hot water supply “shortly after the Atletico squad had left”. The Premier League outfit are said to have “apologised to their Liga counterparts for the inconvenience”.

Atletico have still taken the matter further, with it now being left in the hands of UEFA. Attention is about to turn to the pursuit of precious points in Champions League action – with the Rojiblancos taking in their second game of the season in England, having previously suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat at Liverpool.

Atleti sit 10th in the Champions League table at present, having responded to their loss at Anfield with a win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Arsenal, meanwhile, are fifth after winning both of their games against Olympiacos and Athletic Club.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettySimeone impressed by Premier League leaders Arsenal

Simeone has said of facing a Gunners team that continues to improve under the guidance of their Spanish coach: “They've been with [Mikel] Arteta for five or six years, with a clear identity that they won't compromise on. On the contrary, they're improving it, bringing in great players for the positions where they believe they can continue to grow with that same idea. They compete in every Premier League until the end, with merits that weren't always theirs, but they clearly reflect their identity. We'll have to take the game to where we believe we can do damage. It's a wonderful stadium, with a driving crowd and a surely high pace.”

Simeone added on the threat that Arsenal pose from set-pieces, with Atleti having prided themselves on similar qualities down the years: “I see great ball strikers, tall players, and very good headers. The number of goals they score like this is unusual; they work very carefully. It's a huge strength. We won many games that way in 2014, and it's an option they have too.”

Arsenal head into the game perched top of the Premier League table, with a three-point lead being opened up at the summit of that division. Atletico are fourth in La Liga, eight points adrift of city neighbours Real Madrid in the battle for domestic supremacy in Spain.

Celtic full-back Colby Donovan is the current poster boy for the pathway from the B team to the first-team at Parkhead with his emergence this season.

Injuries to Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston convinced Brendan Rodgers to bring the 19-year-old right-back into the senior squad to fill in for several matches.

The Scotland U21 international started against Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle, Red Star Belgrade, and Braga before being left out of the matchday squad for the 3-2 win over Motherwell last time out.

Whilst he may not have been too pleased with dropping out of the squad last weekend in the Scottish Premiership, Donovan was delighted after he made his full European debut against Red Star Belgrade.

His appearances across all competitions in the 2025/26 campaign do show that Rodgers is prepared to bring through young players if they are ready and there is a space in the team to play them.

One position that the head coach could look to fill by utilising the B team is the number six position, as he starts to look to life beyond captain Callum McGregor.

Why Celtic may need to replace Callum McGregor

At the age of 32, the former Scotland international is not yet at the retirement stage or the point where Celtic have to worry about him becoming unplayable.

However, there have been some concerning performances at the start of this season that suggest that the veteran central midfielder’s influence on the team may be waning.

The left-footed star has never been the most powerful or intense player out of possession, due to his relaxed and composed nature in the number six position, but that has worked to his detriment this season.

Appearances

35

7

Goals

8

0

Assists

3

0

Ground duel success rate

54%

46%

Fouls committed

0.4

1.6

Fouls won

0.6

0.4

As you can see in the table above, McGregor’s physical output is down in comparison to the 2024/25 campaign in the Premiership, losing the majority of his ground duels and committing four times as many fouls per match on average.

This suggests that the captain has been a little off the pace in the league this term, as opposition players have been sharper than him to win duels and force him into committing fouls on them, whilst he has not provided as much of a threat in front of goal at the other end of the pitch.

The Scottish midfielder has also lost 64% of his duels in the first two outings in the Europa League, per Sofascore, losing 62% of his ground duels and 100% of his aerial battles.

With this in mind, Rodgers may start to think about what life will look like once McGregor is not a guaranteed starter, whilst also considering adding competition for his place.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

One option could be to look to the academy to find a long-term replacement for the captain, as well as competition for his position in the short-term.

19-year-old Jude Bonnar, who is on loan at Ayr United, may be a player supporters would earmark as a McGregor successor from the youth team, but he has played on the wing and as an attack-minded midfielder, which may not suit the number six role.

The Celtic youngster who could replace Callum McGregor

Samuel Isiguzo, unlike Bonnar, has experience playing as a defender and as a central midfielder, per Transfermarkt, which may put him in a better place to develop into a holding midfielder or the Hoops.The 18-year-old star is typically deployed in a central midfield position, where McGregor plays, and has caught the eye in the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign.

Isiguzo, who can play in defence, as a wide midfielder, or as a central midfielder, has scored five goals and provided one assist in 16 appearances in all competitions for the academy this term, per Transfermarkt.

The teenage talent, who scored four goals in 13 outings in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, has shown that he has a knack for scoring goals from a midfield position, as McGregor did last season with his eight-goal haul in the Premiership.

Isiguzo, who was praised for his “dangerous” play by journalist Josh McCafferty, could also be the heir to McGregor’s position in the team because of his leadership skills.

The 18-year-old starlet has captained the B team in 13 of his 16 appearances this season, which shows that he is a respected leader at youth level who can lead by example and rally the troops, as the current first-team captain does.

Of course, there is a difference between captaining a youth team in front of a small crowd, if any crowd at all, and captaining Celtic on European nights with thousands of fans in attendance, but it does show that Isiguzo has the leadership potential.

With Bonnar out on loan and potentially suiting a number eight role more, the Scottish youngster could be the player to look to give McGregor some competition for his place this season.

Academy graduates used

2

3

Academy graduate appearances

5

4

Academy graduate starts

0

0

Academy graduate minutes

90

25

As you can see in the table above, Rodgers has not given loads of opportunities to young players in recent seasons, but Donovan’s emergence in recent weeks shows that the manager is not completely against bringing through academy talent.

Therefore, Isiguzo could be an interesting player to watch out for in the coming months if the Hoops end up in a position where they feel that McGregor needs a rest, as the B team star could step in as a natural replacement.

Forget Tounekti: Celtic's "exciting" star could become their new Kuhn

Celtic may be brewing their next version of Nicolas Kuhn in this winger, and it is not Sebastian Tounekti.

ByDan Emery Oct 7, 2025

Visitors will have Mehidy Hasan Miraz back and could go with three spinners at SSC

Madushka Balasuriya24-Jun-2025Big Picture: WTC points at stake for both sidesAfter a draw in the first Test in Galle, the action moves to Colombo with more World Test Championship (WTC) points on the line for a Test arguably more important for Sri Lanka than Bangladesh. As their remaining two home series in this cycle are against India and South Africa, two Tests without a win against a lower-ranked Bangladesh might leave the hosts feeling like they left points on the table.As for the visitors, they were the closer of the two sides to getting a positive result in Galle, and will be heading to Colombo with the belief that they can go one better. And with their remaining two away series this cycle against WTC 2025 finalists Australia and South Africa, the points might prove more valuable than most.It is also Sri Lanka’s first Test of the post-Angelo Mathews era, with the search for his replacement now moving into full gear. The first to get a go looks likely to be spin-bowling allrounder Sonal Dinusha, whose slow left-arm spin makes him a handy option – particularly in home conditions. With no Tests on Sri Lanka’s cards until next year, he’ll be itching to make this opportunity one to remember.Related

Dhananjaya de Silva bets on pace in second Test against Bangladesh

Focused Shanto regains form despite instability all around him

If Sri Lanka opt to throw all their spin eggs in the Prabath Jayasuriya basket, then one of Pavan Rathnayake, Pasindu Sooriyabandara or even Oshada Fernando could come in.Bangladesh, meanwhile, welcome Mehidy Hasan Miraz back after he missed the first Test with fever. You would expect the No. 2-ranked allrounder in the world to be welcomed back with open arms. But his replacement Nayeem Hasan was arguably the best bowler on show in the first Test.With the SSC surface expected to be dry and batter-friendly, both teams will be trying to decipher the ideal combination. Dhananjaya de Silva hinted that three seamers were likely for Sri Lanka – which could potentially mean a debut for Isitha Wijesundara – but if Bangladesh were to follow suit, it might mean Nayeem misses out.Bangladesh, though, have the seam options to go with a three-pronged spin attack, with both Khaled Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain available for selection. With Ebadot just returning from an injury layoff, Khaled could get the nod, particularly owing to his proficiency with the new ball.Form guideSri Lanka: DLLLL
Bangladesh: DWLWLLAnamul Haque fell for 0 and 4 in the Galle Test•Associated PressIn the spotlight: Dhananjaya de Silva and Anamul HaqueFor most of his career, Dhananjaya de Silva has batted at No. 6 or lower. He was tried at No. 5 for the entire 2021 as well, and to some success. But with Mathews retired, Sri Lanka’s Test middle order is getting its first real shake-up in over a decade. The biggest beneficiary of that might be the Sri Lanka captain himself. Dhananjaya looks set to slot into that No. 4 role – at least initially – a position he has batted in on only six prior occasions, and one where he averages just 20.33. DDS, as he’s commonly known, has always been the man for a crisis in Sri Lanka’s lower order, and Sri Lanka will be hoping that crisis-management mode kicks in upon the retirement of one of the country’s stalwarts.Anamul Haque’s Test career hasn’t been one to write home about. Having made his Test debut back in 2013, he was in the wilderness from 2014 to 2022. Anamul’s return to the national team was brief, though, as he was dropped after a single Test for another three years. At 32 years of age, his return against Zimbabwe this April was less comeback, and more a reintroduction. He scored 39, his highest Test score, the only time he batted in that game. The Galle Test brought Anamul scores of 0 and 4, not ideal either. But on an SSC track that is expected to be as batter-friendly – if not, more – now, if ever, is the time to deliver.Mehidy Hasan Miraz will be back in action after a fever•AFP/Getty ImagesTeam newsSri Lanka will be pondering Mathews’ replacement, as well as whether to play three seamers. Milan Rathnayake’s injury has left open a spot for a bowling allrounder, and Dinusha seems likely to fill that role. Tharindu Ratnayake will be the one to make way if Sri Lanka go for an extra seamer.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Lahiru Udara, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Sonal Dinusha, 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Prabath Jayasuriya, 9 Vishwa Fernando, 10 Kasun Rajitha/Isitha Wijesundara, 11 Asitha FernandoBangladesh will have to decide how to slot in the returning Mehidy, while also pondering whether to go with three seamers or an extra spinner. It could be Nayeem who misses out if the extra seamer does come in. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto also picked up a finger injury at training, but it doesn’t look likely to rule him out.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Shadman Islam, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Jaker Ali (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Nayeem Hasan/Khaled Ahmed/Ebadot Hossain, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Nahid Rana, 11 Hasan MahmudOf active Sri Lanka players, Prabath Jayasuriya’s ten wickets are the most at SSC•AFP/Getty ImagesStats and trivia Sri Lanka have lost four of their last eight Tests at the SSC. Prior to that, they had gone 21 Tests without defeat at the venue. Of active Sri Lanka players, Jayasuriya’s ten wickets are the most at the SSC. Bangladesh have beaten Sri Lanka just once across 27 Tests.Quotes”Runs in the first innings is the key. Then we can try and take 20 wickets in the game. Toss will not be a major factor. Even in Galle, we were able to score the same number of runs as them.”
“To leave Naeem out is difficult. But we make sure everyone is on the same page, and if a decision has to be made, people understand that it’s what’s best for the team.”

Brenden Aaronson’s strong run of form reached new heights with a goal in Leeds United’s 2-1 victory over West Ham, earning plaudits from USMNT legend Alexi Lalas. The FOX Sports analyst praised Aaronson’s steady improvement and work ethic, saying the midfielder has played his way back into U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino’s plans.

Getty Images Sport'He's got an opportunity'

Lalas emphasized that Aaronson's previous solid form for the U.S. and his current strong run for Leeds make him a strong candidate for the upcoming U.S. call-ups in November. 

“Well, stock up again,” Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. “It's in the context of his club performance. We have seen Brendan Aaronson play well, not necessarily be the best player on the field for the U.S. men's national team. He's got an opportunity. I think he's worked his way back into the, not the good graces, because I don't think Pochetino didn't like him."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportReassessing Aaronson's ceiling

Lalas said that critics might have placed limitations on what Aaronson could achieve at the highest levels of European football.

“Always when we talked about Brenden Aaronson, it was about that ceiling and what he was,” Lalas said. “Maybe there's still a little room, and maybe we shortchanged him in terms of what he can be. But this is not surprising to me… people, and I'm talking about coaches, mostly fans, fans alike, too, recognize and I think they see value in his 'work ethic.'"

Getty Images'Very good soccer player'

Lalas emphasised how Aaronson's work rate has translated into appreciation from both the coaching staff and Leeds supporters. 

“Sometimes that can happen when you say someone works hard, it's, you know, damning with faint praise, right?” Lalas said. “It's they work hard. And what you are almost implying is that they're not really good at soccer. And so they make up for it with hard, with hard work. Very good soccer player. I think he’s kind of like a Cristian Roldán, who has done more with less than others…

"This is a good thing, and it's a good thing that he's being recognized and he's playing well. I don't necessarily think it's going to translate into him starring for the national team, but this is better than him not playing well and not even being involved in the national team going forward.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Road ahead for Aaronson and Leeds

face Brighton and Hove Albion next on Oct. 31 in the Carabao Cup, and then they’ll face Nottingham Forest on Nov. 8.