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No one has had to work harder for his success in this series, and Mohammed Siraj finally has the recognition to go with his rewards

Sidharth Monga04-Aug-20255:16

Harmison: Siraj never looked like running out of steam

Mohammed Siraj, they call you a workhorse. It’s a back-handed compliment. Some say it openly, some privately, but they feel you don’t have the skill to take wickets or lead attacks. When we point to the sustained pace and the accuracy that puts you in the league of Jasprit Bumrah – of course, nobody says you’re Bumrah as a complete package – they point to a lack of an intangible skill, that of taking wickets. Or five-fors, of which you have only five in Test cricket.You stick to the process. Not results. You are a true disciple of your Jassi . You never bowl a half-volley without meaning to. You don’t want to go searching, leak runs and ruin it for the guy who has to bowl after you. You look for lbws and bowleds. You have the outswinger, but you love the other toy more: the wobble-seam ball that tends to move in.Despite being stoic about bowling outcomes, you are an emotional person. You have been all over this series: taking a stunning catch at Edgbaston, on your haunches after being bowled despite middling a back-foot defence to become the last wicket at Lord’s, your head in your hands after reprieving Harry Brook at The Oval. You are going to be the tragic hero. The face of India’s misfortune this series. Like you were at the 2023 ODI World Cup final.Related

• Gill shows he is ready for the grind of India's Test captaincy

• India's win at The Oval might herald a golden era for them

• With Ronaldo in his heart and phone, Siraj runs on 'belief'

• Siraj goes on and on and on, tired but undeterred

• Siraj the star as India square series with epic six-run victory

Unless you can do something about it. What more can you do, though? You have bowled the most overs in the series, taken the most wickets. Since we started keeping these records, you have drawn more false shots in a series in England than anyone bar Pat Cummins in the 2023 Ashes. Even when India have come back in this match, Prasidh Krishna has the wickets, not you. You have only created excitement by beating the bat.Why don’t you just give up? You don’t have the “it”. You are not him. It’s only 35 runs and four wickets to get.You wake up two hours before the alarm, usually 8am. You pick up your phone, find a Cristiano Ronaldo poster that says “believe” and make it your wallpaper. Hope you know belief is not a skill. People want wickets.You turn up with belief but England turn that 35 into 27 in the first two balls of the morning. How’s that belief now?Last night, when it looked like you were beating the bat almost every ball, you were actually missing leg 30% of the time. Too many shouts, too few results. False shots are a spectrum, not a binary. False shots to your bowling are inferior to false shots to others’ bowling, they say. Did you miss the window of opportunity because England had time to regroup and use a heavy roller?Mohammed Siraj celebrates after winning the match for India•Getty ImagesYou turn up thinking, let me start with an outswinger. Just to see how it’s coming out. It goes away nicely. You get not only big swing, but also big seam. Something clicks inside you. You start playing with England’s muscle memory and their subconscious. All series, they have been watching for your ball that jags back in. They are not prepared for this change in plan you have made in this moment. It is not a team plan. It is something you have decided to do on instinct.Through this series, you have swung the ball away from right-hand batters only 30% of the time. Now you are practically bowling only outswing. And getting seam. With a 78-over-old ball. What sorcery is this? Batters can see what is coming but they can’t react quickly enough because it’s the last thing they expect. The control is impeccable again. Nothing fuller than 5m.Jamie Smith tries to walk at you, ends up nicking behind. After taking it away nine times in a row, you try the wobble seam again. Down the leg for Gus Atkinson. Goes for a leg-bye. That brings the requirement down to 20. You try it again. Big inswing, big seam in. The shout is huge. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena takes forever to raise his finger.

Now there should be reels and TikToks saying “I am only believe on . Because game-changer player he is. Only one guy. Mohammed Siraj”

You need this decision more desperately than can ever be described. Since your debut, nobody has been denied by the umpire’s call as often as you have: six times. Nathan Lyon comes close with five, but he has also had five umpire’s calls go his way. You have only two. On form, you are the last person who should be getting the rub of the green, but there are cricketing gods. They are watching. This replay shows the projection is just clipping leg.You are now not only swinging the ball more than you have all series and seaming the old ball more than in all of the final innings, 182 overs into your work, you have the reserves to bowl your fastest spell of the series. Of the two balls you have bowled above 145kph in this series, one is in this spell. Five of your 50 balls above 140 kph have come in this spell. The final yorker to end the game is 143.Now you have the five-for in a thrilling win. A series-levelling win. As the leader of the attack. You are him. You have “it”.Now there should be reels and TikToks saying “I am only believe on . Because game-changer player he is. Only one guy. Mohammed Siraj.” A riff on the most beautiful line said about Bumrah. By you. On the sidelines of India’s T20 World Cup win. Now you are in the middle of it. Only one guy. Mohammed Siraj.

Australia continue to top the table while Sri Lanka jump to fifth after their first points of this World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2025Abandoned Sri Lanka will probably be the happier team to get a point out of their washout against world champions Australia in Colombo on Saturday. The conditions didn’t look as bad a day before the game and even on Saturday when the two teams had walked out before toss time to assess the ground. But the rain picked up quickly, and even though the entire ground was covered, the match had to be abandoned about two and a half hours after the scheduled start time.The two teams came into this match with contrasting results in their opening games – Australia had beaten New Zealand by 89 runs in Indore and Sri Lanka had lost to India by 59 runs (via the DLS method) in Guwahati.Australia continue to top the table with three points and Sri Lanka have jumped to fifth place, but with a negative net run rate of -1.255. Australia were the favourites for this game – like they are in the tournament – as Sri Lanka have never beaten them in international cricket across 11 ODIs and eight T20Is.This also means Sri Lanka head into their next fixture – against England on October 11 – after what is now a gap of 10 days, having played India in the World Cup opener on September 30. Australia had flown into Colombo on Thursday from Indore and will continue to stay in Colombo to play Pakistan on October 8 before flying to Visakhapatnam to face India on October 9.Colombo is also set to host the India vs Pakistan match on Sunday, and the weather forecast doesn’t look too optimistic for that either.

Manchester United have reportedly convinced Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes to leave his club, as they look to snap him up in a £50m deal.

Casemiro’s form may have improved for the Red Devils this season, but he is still past his best at the age of 33, and struggled in Monday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Everton in the Premier League.

Gomes has emerged as a potential option for United, coming in as a direct younger replacement for Casemiro, with David Ornstein saying Wolves could be forced to sell him in the January transfer window.

“There’ve been reports about Joao Gomes at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Sources I’ve spoken to around Molineux are sort of playing it down. They’re saying there’s no club-to-club talks at this point. And of course, if Wolves are staring at relegation come January, they might look to cash in on him then. As opposed to letting it go into the Championship when his value will decrease.”

Gomes looks to be a leading midfield option for United and now a fresh update has shed further positive light on the situation regarding him.

Big Joao Gomes to Man Uts claim

According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United and INEOS believe they will secure the signing of Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, with the report saying they are “making behind-the-scenes moves”.

The player himself has already said ‘yes’ to the idea, so all that’s left is for INEOS to come up with an acceptable package for the higher ups at Molineux.

Transfer insider Dean Jones shared insight on a move for the £50m-rated Brazilian, saying: “Mainoo finally got a run out against Everton, but I’m not sure how much that is going to change his feelings about being wanted at the club. If they do sign a midfielder, then it’ll open the door for him to leave. We will have to see whether the Gomes one can truly open up.”

“I think that could turn into a player versus club battle that Man Utd have to deal with if they try to get him out of Wolves, because they don’t want to sell him. They will probably hike the price up, too. Man Utd don’t have much interest in loaning Mainoo out to another Premier League club at the moment, either, so that is another issue that will need to be dealt with.”

Gomes looks like a fantastic option for United, with the Brazil international similar to Casemiro in terms of style, but being able to offer more legs than his compatriot these days.

The 24-year-old is coming right into his prime and would arrive as an immediate key man for the Red Devils, with former Wolves manager Gary O’Neill describing him as a “super talent”.

Man Utd have advantage over Chelsea in race for "midfield sensation" Assan Ouedraogo

He has a massive future in the game.

By
Henry Jackson

Nov 25, 2025

If a January move for Gomes materialises, it will be a big boost for United, allowing Casemiro to leave for free at the end of this season without too much fuss.

Worse than Bruno Fernandes vs Everton: Amorim must bin Man Utd's 3/10 flop

Out-of-favour Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford reportedly wants to leave the club, just five months after returning to the Etihad Stadium. The 23-year-old played a crucial role in helping Burnley earn promotion to the Premier League last season, but he has struggled to gain regular minutes following his summer switch to Pep Guardiola’s side.

• Trafford helped Burnley keep 30 clean sheets in special 2024-25

  Trafford emerged as one of England’s brightest prospects after helping Burnley secure promotion from the Championship in 2024-25. Featuring in all but one league game, the Cumbrian ‘keeper helped the Clarets record 30 clean sheets in the last campaign – a joint all-time English league record with Port Vale in 1953-54.

  Scott Parker’s side conceded just 16 league goals in 46 games with Trafford between the sticks, amassing 100 points as the Lancashire outfit finished second behind Leeds United, who finished top thanks to their superior goal difference. Daniel Farke’s men scored a whopping 95 league goals last term, with Burnley netting 69.

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  Former England U21 goalkeeper was close to joining Newcastle

  Following his heroics for Burnley, Trafford was close to joining Newcastle United in the summer as Eddie Howe’s side looked to strengthen their goalkeeping department following last season’s Carabao Cup success.

  However, City used a matching rights clause which allowed them to pip the Magpies to the signing of Trafford, having developed the former England Under-21 shot-stopper before selling him to Burnley in 2023.

• Trafford loses starting berth to Italy shot-stopper Donnarumma

  But after starting City’s first three Premier League games against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion, Trafford has since lost his place in the starting XI to Gianluigi Donnarumma. 

  Donnarumma joined Guardiola’s side from European champions Paris Saint-Germain after losing his own starting berth to Lucas Chevalier – a summer arrival from Ligue 1 side Lille. 

  The Italy international has since made 14 appearances in all competitions for 10-time league champions City, with Trafford being forced to watch on from the substitutes bench. The former Bolton Wanderers ace has been used in the cup competitions, starting the Carabao Cup victories over Huddersfield Town and Swansea City.

  Trafford’s last appearance came in City’s 2-0 reverse against Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last Tuesday, in a match which saw manager Guardiola make 10 changes to his starting lineup.

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  Report claims 23-year-old wants exit to keep World Cup hopes alive

  And now according to the Trafford is reportedly plotting a departure when the January transfer window opens next month. The report claims Newcastle are expected to show their interest in doing a deal with City, who may also lose fellow goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. 

  Once a reliable No. 2, the 32-year-old has slipped down the City pecking order following the summer arrivals of Trafford, Donnarumma and Marcus Bettinelli, who joined from Chelsea.

  The report concludes by claiming Trafford is worried about losing his place in the England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with manager Thomas Tuchel having stressed the importance of playing regularly in order to make the plane for North America next summer.

As the MLB regular season winds down, the races for a playoff spot in both the AL and NL are heating up.

So, here at SI Betting, we are going to share a detailed look at the playoff picture every week so fans can see where their teams stand and bettors can potentially find some value in a team that is just outside the wild card race.

Last week, it was pretty clear where each division leader stood, but a huge winning streak by the Seattle Mariners has flipped some things in the American League.

Meanwhile, the New York Mets and New York Yankees are struggling, and the teams trailing them in the wild card picture are starting to make a real push to enter the top three.

Let’s break down the odds for every team that still has a shot to make the playoffs at this point in the MLB season. 

American League Playoff Odds

Division Leaders

• Toronto Blue Jays: -3000
• Detroit Tigers: -3000
• Houston Astros: -1400

The AL division leaders have remained the same week over week, but the Seattle Mariners are making a real push in the AL West.

Seattle, which is -1100 to make the playoffs, has won seven games in a row and nine of its last 10 to pull within half a game of the Astros in the standings. Houston still has the inside track to a playoff spot (-1400), but it could end up in the wild card picture if it loses its early-week series with another wild card team – the Boston Red Sox.

Meanwhile, Detroit (six-game lead in the AL Central) and Toronto (four-game lead in the AL East) both have pretty comfortable margins – for now – atop their divisions. An 8-2 stretch by the Cleveland Guardians has tightened things for Detroit, which has a worse record than Toronto in the 2025 season. 

Wild Card Race

• Seattle Mariners: -1100
• Boston Red Sox: -370
• New York Yankees: -330
• Cleveland Guardians: +200
• Texas Rangers: +275
• Kansas City Royals: +700
• Tampa Bay Rays: +1800
• Minnesota Twins: +1800
• Los Angeles Angels: +5000

Last week, I wrote about the Yankees fading in the AL playoff picture, and they’ve continued to do so by losing a weekend series to the Astros.

New York has a half-game cushion on the surging Guardians and just a 2.5-game cushion on the Texas Rangers in the standings. So, it’s very possible the Yankees could find themselves behind multiple teams if they don’t turn things around sooner rather than later.

Texas has lost four in a row, allowing the Guardians to leapfrog it in the standings. Cleveland may be the team to bet on right now, as it’s peaking at the right time and has a shot at both a wild card spot and the division lead. 

New York and Texas are both third in their respective divisions. 

National League Playoff Odds

Division Leaders

• Milwaukee Brewers: N/A
• Los Angeles Dodgers: -20000
• Philadelphia Phillies: -10000

The Milwaukee Brewers have been so good, winning nine games in a row, that their odds to make the playoffs are off the board, a sign that oddsmakers expect them to be in the playoffs no matter what.

Milwaukee could move to 30 games over .500 with a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night. 

Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ lead in the NL West is just two games, as the San Diego Padres (7-3 in their last 10 games) are making a serious push. As of now, it seems like the team with the best record in MLB will come out of the NL, but a lot could change over the final weeks of the regular season.

Wild Card Race

• Chicago Cubs: -2500
• San Diego Padres: -1200
• New York Mets: -280
• Cincinnati Reds: +320
• San Francisco Giants: +550
• St. Louis Cardinals: +650
• Arizona Diamondbacks: +3000
• Miami Marlins: +50000

The Chicago Cubs have the best odds to make the playoffs of any wild card team, but I think the Padres may be the safest team here since they are still within striking distance of their division lead.

Chicago is six games back in the NL Central, while the Mets, who have lost seven in a row, are 5.5 games back in the NL East.

If New York continues to struggle, there is a real path for the Cincinnati Reds (1.5 games back in the wild card) to make the playoffs.

Cincy doesn’t have as talented a roster as the Mets, but it did go all in at the trade deadline by adding Ke’Bryan Hayes, Zack Littell, and others. The Reds are +320 to make the playoffs, which is good for an implied probability of 23.81 percent.

However, with the Reds just 1.5 games out of a playoff spot, they may be undervalued at this price.

Bukayo Saka is officially engaged, with the Arsenal and England star going “all out” on a romantic proposal to longtime girlfriend Tolami Benson at a top London hotel. After five years together, the 24-year-old surprised her with what insiders describe as an “absolutely enormous” ring, marking a huge personal milestone for the Gunners’ talisman as he continues to shine on the pitch.

• Saka proposes to long-term girlfriend Tolami Benson

  Saka has taken a major step in his personal life after proposing to his girlfriend of five years, Tolami, during a carefully planned evening at a luxury hotel in London. The Arsenal forward arranged the romantic setup privately, surprising Tolami with a proposal that insiders described to The Sun as stunning in both scale and sentiment. Saka presented her with what was called an “absolutely enormous” engagement ring, leaving her “totally blown away” by the gesture.

  The couple, both 24, have been together since 2020 but have largely kept their relationship out of the public eye, choosing to avoid spotlight attention during Saka’s rise to global stardom. They first confirmed their relationship publicly when Tolami was seen supporting him at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and she has since become a regular presence at major England fixtures. From cheering him on at Euro 2024 to wearing a jacket featuring his first Arsenal squad number, 87, Tolami has been a consistent figure behind the scenes during key moments in Saka’s career.

  Before the engagement, the pair had recently been photographed sharing a pitch-side kiss after England’s draw with Slovenia, signalling the strength of their long-term relationship. Tolami, originally from Hatfield and now a senior planning executive in London, has often attended Saka’s matches while balancing her own career in media and public relations.

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  Saka continues to shine under Arteta at Arsenal

  Saka’s engagement arrives during another hugely influential season for the winger, who continues to serve as Arsenal’s most important attacking outlet under Mikel Arteta. Despite dealing with a recurring hamstring issue that caused him to miss three early-season games, he has maintained elite output across domestic and European competitions. His goals, assists and overall attacking leadership have been central to Arsenal’s continued push on multiple fronts, including a standout Champions League campaign.

  Balancing personal and professional milestones has not affected his form, as he enters late November with six goals and one assist across 16 appearances in all competitions. His Premier League productivity remains high despite constant double-marking, while his Champions League contributions have been pivotal in Arsenal’s dominant run. Even with managed minutes, he continues to deliver match-defining moments, such as his role in the recent 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich.

  Beyond his statistics, Saka’s position within the squad has evolved further, representing the composure and maturity expected of a senior figure despite his young age.

• Saka continues to play major part in England's plans as well

  Behind the scenes, Saka and Tolami’s relationship has grown in tandem with his rise from Hale End graduate to one of the world’s leading wingers. Their decision to keep their romance private for years reflects an emphasis on stability amid the increasingly hectic demands of elite football. It wasn’t until Tolami appeared at the 2022 World Cup that their relationship entered the public eye, reinforcing how carefully they have navigated personal exposure.

  Saka and Tolami's engagement now marks a new stage in their partnership. The timing of the engagement aligns with a period of personal and professional stability for Saka, who has also become an increasingly central figure for England. He recently scored in World Cup qualifiers and continues to be a decisive figure in Thomas Tuchel's plans.

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  Saka prepares for Chelsea — wedding likely planned for the summer

  Saka will quickly shift focus back to the pitch as Arsenal prepare to face Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in a key Premier League encounter. With the Gunners competing strongly on multiple fronts, his fitness management and attacking influence will remain crucial throughout the busy winter period. Off the pitch, plans for the couple’s wedding are expected to unfold in the coming months, with the likeliest dates to be set for the summer, likely after the World Cup in North America.

Stats highlights from the fourth day between England and India at Edgbaston

Sampath Bandarupalli05-Jul-2025

Shubman Gill walks off after a majestic 161 in the second innings•Getty Images

430 Shubman Gill’s runs in the Edgbaston Test against England – the second-highest aggregate in a Test behind Graham Gooch’s 456 against India in 1990.2 Gill is the second batter to make two 150-plus scores in a Test, after Allan Border who scored 150* and 153 against Pakistan in Lahore in 1980.Gill is one of nine batters with a century and a double-century in a Test. Among Indians, only Gavaskar had done the double before Gill.2 Indian captains with hundreds in both innings of a Test before Gill. Gavaskar scored 107 and 182 not out against West Indies at Eden Gardens in 1978, and Virat Kohli scored 115 and 141 against Australia in Adelaide in 2014.Gill is also the second Indian with hundreds in both innings of a Test in England, after Rishabh Pant, who did it in the previous Test at Headingley.1014 India’s total runs at Edgbaston – their highest aggregate in a Test, beating the 916 against Australia at the SCG in 2004. It’s the fourth-highest aggregate overall and the sixth time a team has scored more than 1000 in a Test.1 Gill and Ravindra Jadeja are the first Indian pair with a hundred and double-hundred partnership in the same Test. They are also one of nine Indian pairs with two century partnerships in a men’s Test match.4 Number of century partnerships for India in the Edgbaston Test and all of them involved Gill. He is the first Indian and only the fifth batter to be part of four century stands in a Test. The others are: Hanif Mohammad (vs West Indies in 1958), Graham Gooch (vs India in 1990), Mark Taylor (vs Pakistan in 1998) and Joe Root (vs Pakistan in 2016).585 Gill’s runs in the first two Tests of the tour of England – the second-highest aggregate in the first two matches of a series, behind Graeme Smith’s 621 in England in 2003. Gill also has the highest tally in the first two Tests as captain, bettering Kohli, who scored 449 runs.24 Rishabh Pant’s sixes in Tests in England – the most by a visiting batter in a country. He went past Ben Stokes, who has hit 21 sixes in South Africa.

The visitors lasted only 30.1 overs in Dhaka, getting bowled out for 117 in a chase of 297

Mohammad Isam23-Oct-2025Bangladesh blazed a hole through West Indies in a 179-run win in the third ODI, achieving their first series victory since March last year. Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar put together a scintillating 176-run opening stand which provided the backbone for Bangladesh’s 296 for 8. The visitors lasted 30.1 overs, getting bowled out for 117 in reply.Rishad Hossain claimed three wickets to take his series haul to 12, becoming the first Bangladesh bowler since 2015 to take more than ten wickets in a bilateral ODI series. Nasum Ahmed also picked up three wickets while Tanvir Islam finished with 8-0-16-2.Bangladesh got off to a fast start, unusual for this series as it was played on mostly dark, cracked, spin-dominated pitches. Sarkar (91 off 86) and Saif (80 off 72) went on a boundary spree that lasted 25 overs. The two stylish batters matched each other stroke for stroke as they raised Bangladesh’s second-highest opening partnership in ODIs and the first century opening stand at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in ten years..Saif struck Akeal Hosein for two fours in the first over, followed by his first six in the left-arm spinner’s next over. That inside-out strike over the covers set off the big-hitting spree. Sarkar struck Roston Chase for two sixes, both reverse-hits early in the innings. Saif focused on hitting straight, blazing Chase for his second six before he overturned an on-field lbw decision when he was on 28 and extended his innings.Alick Athanaze pulled off a stunning catch off his own bowling•AFP/Getty Images

Justin Greaves broke a sequence of 59 consecutive overs of spin from West Indies, across two matches, and Sarkar welcomed him two fours through fine leg. Saif, then, played the shot of the innings. He charged Greaves who tried to cramp him, but the batter backed himself and the result was a lovely high-elbow loft that went for a big six down the ground.Saif struck two boundaries in the 16th over, one bringing up Bangladesh’s 100-run opening stand, and the next one taking him to his maiden fifty. Sarkar wasn’t done at the other end. He slammed Khary Pierre for a straight six before he went after Motie with a six and four in the 25th over. Just like that he was into the nineties.Chase ended the opening stand in the 26th over when he had Saif caught at long-on. Sarkar was left distraught when he also holed out in the deep, at midwicket, nine short of his fourth ODI ton.The rest of the Bangladesh batters couldn’t quite do justice to the Saif-Sarkar double act. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy added 50 runs for the third wicket. Alick Athanaze took a tremendous catch to remove Shanto, running back from his bowling mark before diving full length.West Indies had a bit of respite when Hosein removed Mahidul Islam, Rishad and Nasum, all in the 46th over. Still, Bangladesh’s 296 – which included a record-equalling 14 sixes – looked like a formidable total on the Dhaka surface.West Indies never got their chase going, as they ran into Nasum who took their first three wickets. Athanaze fell lbw trying to paddle Nasum in the fifth over, before Ackeem Auguste, playing a similar shot, also fell lbw for a duck.Brandon King, who struck a six and two fours, was Nasum’s third wicket, bowled for 18. Shai Hope fell for just 4, mishitting Tanvir Islam in the 14th over. Sherfane Rutherford became Rishad’s first wicket, when he inside-edged one to Mehidy Hasan Miraz at midwicket, having made 12. He had a particularly poor ODI series.West Indies’ lower half caved in steadily. Rishad bowled a full toss and had Chase out for a duck, before trapping Gudakesh Motie for his third. After winning the first ODI and losing the second in a Super Over, the emphatic victory in the third match sealed the series 2-1 for Bangladesh.

West Ham are believed to be in the market for three major signings this January, and could now turn back to a familiar face in pursuit of fresh quality.

The Irons are preparing for what could be a vital transfer window in their quest to ensure Premier League survival. Looking to back new boss Nuno Espírito Santo, with West Ham currently sitting in the relegation zone after a torrid start to 2025/2026, David Sullivan and co have identified three key areas to reinforce.

Nuno’s would seriously benefit from signing a striker and a centre-back in January, while they’re also exploring options in midfield to add depth and quality in that area of the squad (Sky Sports).

In attack, West Ham are apparently targeting an athletic, mobile centre-forward who can provide a different profile to their current options. Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney is believed to be a target for Nuno’s side in that regard, while reports suggest that Santiago Gimenez of AC Milan is also on West Ham’s radar.

The same can be said of ex-Tottenham striker Troy Parrott, who’s currently enjoying the season of his life at AZ Alkmaar, having also fired the Republic of Ireland to the World Cup play-offs recently.

Parrott’s brace against Portugal, which led Ireland to a 2-0 win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s side, and a hat-trick against Hungary confirmed his country’s place in the draw, with clubs like West Ham apparently taking notice of the 23-year-old’s exceptional form.

The midfield area also requires attention, with West Ham reportedly targeting additions to bolster their options in the number eight role. The club has been linked with moves for the likes of Chelsea starlet Andrey Santos as they look to add technical quality and energy to the middle of the park.

Defensively, West Ham are pursuing reinforcements at centre-back.

They’ve reportedly made a £15.8 million bid to sign Lecce and Portugal Under-21 centre-back Tiago Gabriel already (La Gazzetta dello Sport), though the Italian club has rejected this opening offer and is holding out for around £22 million.

West Ham currently have the second-worst defence in England’s top flight, and despite their glaring need for a forward, Nuno’s backline also demands attention.

West Ham looking to 'reignite' Charlie Cresswell talks

Now, according to ExWHUemployee, they could turn back towards Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell as an option.

The former Leeds United defender was apparently ‘close to signing’ in the summer window, and West Ham are looking to ‘reignite talks’ over signing Cresswell in January as they attempt to shore up their leaky defence.

Cresswell represents the type of defensive reinforcement West Ham desperately need to address their relegation concerns.

The 23-year-old has demonstrated strong leadership capabilities and excels in aerial situations, while also contributing offensively with three goals last season.

Standing over six feet tall, he’s physically imposing and wins his defensive battles, providing the commanding presence that’s been missing from West Ham’s backline. His move to Toulouse has proven highly successful, with the defender establishing himself among France’s top young centre-backs and helping Toulouse to keep 10 clean sheets in 2024/2025.

His quality has translated to international football too, where he earned praise for his leadership during the recent Under-21 European Championships (GiveMeSport). The England youth international played a key role in his country’s successful title defence, showing he can deliver on the big stage.

Cresswell being homegrown and valued at around £18 million in the summer makes this deal all the more appealing to West Ham, especially considering their limited winter budget.

The Mariners left All-Star pitcher Bryan Woo off their AL Division Series roster ahead of Game 1 against the Tigers Saturday.

Woo hasn't pitched since Sep. 19 as he's dealt with pectoral inflammation, which will now keep him out of Seattle's first postseason series. Should the Mariners get past the Tigers and advance to the AL Championship Series, he'd be able to return if he's ready to go.

Woo's absence is a big blow for Seattle as the righthander started 30 games and had a 15-7 record in the regular season, earning his first All-Star nod along the way. He has a team-best 2.94 ERA among starters and also leads the team with 198 strikeouts.

Seattle hosts the first two games of the series and will give the ball to George Kirby in Game 1 as Luis Castillo is expected to start Game 2 against Detroit's ace Tarik Skubal. Castillo made 32 starts this season with a 18-11 record, 3.54 ERA and 162 strikeouts. Kirby started 23 games, notching 12 wins and striking out 137 batters with a 4.21 ERA.

First pitch between the Mariners and Tigers to open their ALDS matchup is slated for 8:38 p.m. ET Saturday at T-Mobile Park as Troy Melton toes the rubber for Detroit before Skubal gets the ball Sunday.