This season feels like a massive one for Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s side ended last season in spectacular fashion by securing Champions League football and winning the Conference League, and now there is an expectation they’ll at least challenge in the Premier League.

Fortunately, this summer has gone about as well for the Blues as could have, as they won the Club World Cup and are undefeated in their pre-season clashes.

Moreover, the board have made some smart additions to the team, and are now being linked with an upcoming star who has been compared to Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal.

Chelsea target a Bellingham & Yamal hybrid

Chelsea have really made the most of the transfer window this summer, as on top of making a pretty penny on the likes of Noni Madueke, Djordje Petrovic and Lesley Ugochukwu, they’ve seriously strengthened Maresca’s squad.

Transfer Focus

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

The likes of Liam Dealp, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens should bring a mountain of goals to the team, while Jorrel Hato looks like he could be one of the next great defenders in world football.

Yet, with the window still open, the Blues appear keen on adding more talent to their already impressive squad, and in this case, a player who has been compared to both Bellingham and Yamal.

At least that is according to a recent report from The Athletic, which has reaffirmed Chelsea’s concrete interest in Xavi Simons.

In news that should reassure fans, the report has revealed that the West Londoners are still in talks with RB Leipzig over the incredibly talented Dutchman.

A potential price is not mentioned in the story, but reports from earlier this summer have claimed that the German outfit want £61m for the dynamic attacker.

While that may seem like a lot, it’s probably fair for a player of his talent, especially as he’s been compared to Bellingham and Yamal.

How Simons compares to Bellingham & Yamal

So, there are a number of fairly surface-level similarities you can point to between Simons, Bellingham, and Yamal, such as them all being relatively young stars who are full internationals, play in Europe’s top five leagues, and are capable of creating chances out of nothing.

However, with FBref, we know that there are also plenty of quantifiable statistical similarities between them, as they looked at all attacking midfielders and wingers at last summer’s European Championships and concluded that the Real Madrid ace was the tenth most similar to the Leipzig star, and the Barça gem ranked as the sixth most similar.

You can gain a better understanding of how these comparisons were made by examining the underlying numbers in which the Dutchman ranked closely to the two international superstars.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.11

0.09

Passing Accuracy

82.6%

85.7%

Passes into the Final Third

3.60

3.78

Tackles + Interceptions

2.60

2.57

Ball Recoveries

3.40

3.65

When it comes to the former Borussia Dortmund star, these metrics include things like non-penalty expected goals, passes into the final third and ball recoveries per 90, suggesting that the former PSV Eindhoven ace could be as dangerous in the right situations.

Interestingly, one of the standout similarities with Barcelona’s teenage sensation is their goal-creating actions per 90, which encompasses the two most critical offensive actions that precede a goal, which is a great metric to share with someone as effective as Yamal.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.79

0.89

Live Passes

35.4

33.6

Goal-Creating Actions

0.79

0.72

Tackles Won

1.00

1.07

Carries

31.8

34.8

However, while comparisons to two of the most exciting players in world football are undoubtedly encouraging signs, there are other clear reasons why the Pensionsers should be all over the 22-year-old “game-changer,” as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him.

For example, in just 33 appearances last season, totalling 2763 minutes, the Amsterdam-born dynamo scored 11 goals and provided eight assists.

In other words, the sensational talent, who one analyst has dubbed “one of the best 10s in the world,” managed to average a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 144 minutes.

Ultimately, while he will cost a pretty penny, Chelsea should be doing all they can to secure Simons’ services as soon as possible.

Dream Colwill fix: BlueCo prepare bid to sign £43m "beast" for Chelsea

The incredible international could help solve Chelsea and Maresca’s most significant problem…

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 13, 2025

It’s set to be a massive season for Wolverhampton Wanderers this year.

Vitor Pereira took over a struggling relegation-threatened side from Gary O’Neil early last season and guided them to a 16th-place finish in the Premier League, 17 points away from the drop zone.

However, the next ten months could be even tougher for the Portuguese coach, as he’s already lost two of his best players in Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Fortunately, Jørgen Strand Larsen’s stay has now been made permanent, and if reports are to be believed, the club is closing in on a striker who could be the next version of the Norwegian.

Wolves target the next Strand Larsen

It would be fair to say that with Cunha and Ait-Nouri leaving for other Premier League sides, this summer has not exactly gone the way many Wolves fans were hoping it would.

Transfer Focus

However, it’s not been all doom and gloom on the transfer front, as Jhon Arias and Fer Lopez have both made their way to Molineux and produced a combined 28 goal involvements last year, which is the sort of output that could help Pereira keep his side in the top-flight.

Moreover, the Old Gold appear determined to bring in some more new faces before the window slams shut next month, including a young forward who could be the next Strand Larsen.

At least that is according to a recent report from Sebastien Vidal, who claims that Wolves are very interested in David Datro Fofana.

In fact, the journalist has revealed that the West Midlands outfit have already approached Chelsea over the player and would be willing to pay £15m for his services, which could also be enough to seal the deal.

Now, there is undoubtedly a risk in signing a young player who hasn’t played that much football in recent seasons, but when he has played, he’s looked great, and on top of that, he shares some similarities with Strand Larsen.

Why Fofana could be the next Strand Larsen

It’s important to clarify that while we and many others believed Fofana to be an incredibly talented striker, he is three years younger than Strand Larsen, and therefore, it would be unfair to expect him to join Wolves this summer and instantly be as effective.

However, with that said, the two share some similarities, and there is no reason why the Ivorian couldn’t reach the level of the 25-year-old, or even surpass it, within a couple of seasons.

The first and most significant similarity between the pair is where they both started to make waves in senior football: Norway.

Before earning his move to Dutch side Groningen in September 2020, the Wolves star racked up a decent tally of nine goals and nine assists in 61 appearances for Norwegian outfit Sarpsborg 08.

Interestingly, the Ouragahio-born gem did even better than that during his time in the Nordic country, winning the league and cup while scoring 24 goals and providing eight assists in 65 appearances, totalling 3414 minutes.

Appearances

65

61

Minutes

3414′

3316′

Goals

24

9

Assists

8

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.49

0.29

Minutes per Goal Involvement

106.68′

184.22′

That means the 22-year-old averaged a goal involvement every 2.03, or every 106.68 for Molde FK, and helps justify talent scout Jacek Kulig’s bold claim that he was “one of the biggest jewels in Norway.”

Unfortunately, his move to Chelsea in January 2023 hasn’t worked out for him, and while he impressed on loan with Burnley two seasons ago, scoring four goals and providing one assist in 15 Premier League appearances, his subsequent loan move to Goztepe was ruined by injury.

With all of that said, it is clear that the “outstanding” forward, as dubbed by former Clarets boss Vincent Kompany, is an incredibly talented player, and in the right environment, if he can remain fit, there is no reason his career couldn’t follow the same path as Strand Larsen’s.

Therefore, Wolves should do what they can to bring Fofana in this summer, as even if he only scores a handful of goals this season, that could be the difference between survival and relegation.

Matheus Cunha heir: Wolves plot late swoop for "generational" £20m star

The tremendously exciting talent could become as crucial to Wolves as Cunha was.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 13, 2025

As Chelsea continue to assess their wide options in the transfer market, their focus has returned to one long-standing target.

While efforts remain ongoing to secure Xavi Simons, the club are also monitoring a dynamic winger who combines the explosiveness of Noni Madueke with the creativity of Pedro Neto.

Having emerged as a Premier League force in recent seasons, this forward’s statistical output paints a compelling picture.

Not only does he rival Madueke for goalscoring impact and Neto for progression and movement, but he also offers a unique blend of the two that could fit Chelsea’s evolving attacking blueprint.

As relations with his current club continue to sour, and with his valuation falling significantly, Chelsea are understood to be keeping close tabs, ready to move if circumstances allow.

Chelsea looking at Premier League star

Alejandro Garnacho has long been touted as a future star.

Since arriving from Atlético Madrid in 2020, the Argentine has impressed at every level, from leading Manchester United’s youth side to FA Youth Cup glory, to making a smooth transition into the senior setup.

Transfer Focus

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

Senior figures at Old Trafford have long spoken about Garnacho’s ability to spark games into life.

After a Europa League match in 2022, Paul Scholes drew early comparisons with one of United’s most iconic players. “I think this lad was really entertaining. Almost like a young Cristiano at that age.”

Former Manchester United winger Febian Brandy echoed the sentiment, labelling Garnacho a “full-back’s nightmare. He can go either side, cut inside, he makes it difficult for defenders all game.”

Despite all of that, it looks as though he could be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer. According to Fabrizio Romano, the 20-year-old wants to remain in the Premier League, with Chelsea and Aston Villa among those monitoring his situation.

Initially priced at £70m, United have now dropped their asking price to £40m according to other reports, a valuation that may tempt Chelsea if they wish to act before his value rebounds.

How Garnacho compares to Madueke and Neto

According to data from FBref, Madueke and Neto are the first and fifth most similar players in European football to Garnacho across the last year.

More generally, across his senior career, Garnacho has averaged 0.27 goals per 90 minutes, behind Madueke (0.39) but ahead of Pedro Neto (0.16). In terms of total goal involvement per 90, he sits between the two as well: 0.40 for Garnacho, compared to 0.58 for Madueke and 0.42 for Neto.

Garnacho’s directness is a defining trait. He averages more shots per 90 (3.50) than either Madueke (3.09) or Neto (2.12), though his shot accuracy (31.3%) is lower than Madueke’s 42%.

Those numbers reflect a player still learning to pick his moments, but with a clear intent to impact games regularly. In terms of progression, he also offers plenty. Garnacho averages 5.93 progressive carries per 90, again, sandwiched between Madueke (6.56) and Neto (5.10), underlining their ability to get at their full-back.

His passing numbers are more modest: 2.19 progressive passes per 90, compared to Madueke’s 3.90 and Neto’s 2.32. But he still maintains a healthy pass completion rate (77.2%), while registering a solid 3.77 shot-creating actions per 90.

While he attempts fewer take-ons than his Arsenal and Chelsea counterparts, with just 1.45 successful dribbles per 90, Garnacho’s overall attacking involvement is consistent. He touches the ball in the attacking third 27.3 times per 90, just behind Neto (28.5) and Madueke (30.4), suggesting a player fully embedded in the final-third phase.

Crucially, Chelsea are weighing his profile not just against their current squad, but against their future vision.

Garnacho’s combination of aggression and youthful energy offers a stylistic contrast to more intricate wingers like Cole Palmer.

For a side seeking to sharpen its transitions and threaten on the break, he offers a compelling solution.

Yet despite that promise, United are keen to let him go.

A strained relationship with manager Ruben Amorim has meant Garnacho, along with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia, has reportedly been told to find a new club this summer.

Rashford has already joined Barcelona on loan, while Garnacho’s own future appears to lie away from Old Trafford.

He may not be the finished product, but the underlying data, coupled with a proven ability to excite and influence matches, makes him one of the more intriguing options on the market.

Whether Chelsea firm up their interest may depend on the Simons deal and their broader squad strategy. But in Garnacho, they could secure not just a winger but a player who, if harnessed correctly, could help reshape their attack for seasons to come.

Chelsea star says yes to joining Madrid; his exit can fund Simons & Rodrygo

Losing the international star would be far from ideal for Chelsea.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 23, 2025

استقرت لجنة الحكام في الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، على طاقم تحكيم مباراة منتخب مصر ضد غينيا بيساو، ضمن منافسات تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.

ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع غينيا بيساو، في شهر أكتوبر المقبل، في الجولة الأخيرة من التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة إلي نهائيات كأس العالم.

طالع.. حكم مباراة منتخب مصر وجيبوتي في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

ومن المنتظر أن يواجه المنتخب المصري نظيره غينيا بيساو في يوم الثاني عشر من أكتوبر الجاري، على استاد القاهرة الدولي في تمام العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.

ويأمل منتخب مصر في حسم التأهل إلى بطولة كأس العالم قبل مواجهة غينيا بيساو، حيث سيلتقي مع جيبوتي المباراة المقبلة وفي حال الفوز يضمن الفراعنة بطاقة التأهل رسميًا.

ويتصدر منتخب مصر ترتيب المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم، برصيد 20 نقطة، من الفوز في 6 مباريات والتعادل في مواجهتين. حكام مباراة مصر وغينيا بيسا

– حكم ساحة: دانيال لاريا (غانا)

– حكم مساعد ١: رولاند ني دودو (غانا)

– حكم مساعد ٢: أبارينجا أكورجي سيفوليس (غانا)

– حكم رابع: قدري عبد اللطيف (غانا)

Fast bowler Tumi Sekhukhune has been included in the South Africa women’s squad for their one-off Test against England. Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi and Chloé Tryon have also returned to the Test set-up for the Bloemfontein encounter that gets underway on December 15.Sekhukhune, who is not part of the squad for the ODIs against England, is a like-for-like replacement for Ayabonga Khaka, who is not part of the team’s red-ball plans, according to a Cricket South Africa (CSA) statement.Related

• Mashimbyi wants more long-format cricket for all-format development

“We reviewed the previous Test squad and made adjustments to bring balance to the team,” convenor of selectors Clinton du Preez said. “Lara adds versatility to the batting line-up as a left-hander, Hlubi provides variation as an impact seam bowler, and Tumi has been consistent in her past performances, offering control to the bowling attack alongside our other bowlers.”South Africa women Test squad for one-off game vs England•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The other three players left out from the Test squad that played against India in July are offspinner Nondumiso Shangase and allrounders Delmi Tucker and Eliz-Mari Marx. Mieke de Ridder, the uncapped wicketkeeper, retained her place.”It will go a long way for the ladies in terms of them understanding their game and what’s needed in the longer version of the game,” head coach Mandla Mashimbyi said. “Getting an opportunity to play red-ball is good for our cricket and I’m looking forward to what they can bring.”The measurables are quite simple for me, it’s how much time you are willing to spend in the crease as a batter and how patient you are willing to be as a bowler. So it’s all those things that we’re going to speak about and if we can see it coming to fruition during the game, that will give us a big plus.”The fixture, starting on Sunday, will be the first home Test for South Africa since 2002. It will also mark the eighth Test between South Africa and England. England have won two of the previous seven encounters, with the remaining five ending in draws.South Africa Test squad: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon.

England MD optimistic that fast bowler will be ready to play ‘one or two’ Tests against India

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Dec-2024

Rob Key has conceded that Jofra Archer’s decision to play in the IPL next year will put him “a couple of months behind” schedule in his attempted Test comeback. However, the league’s new rules left the ECB’s management feeling unable to deny him the opportunity to earn two seasons’ wages.Archer has not played a Test since February 2021 due to back and elbow issues, but has been injury-free in 2024. His chances of a comeback increased this week when he signed an extension to his central contract, which now runs beyond the 2025-26 Ashes, while Ben Stokes said that Archer remains “very interested” in returning to Test cricket.Key, England’s managing director, had initially planned for him to play for Sussex in the County Championship in April and May to build up his workload ahead of England’s Test series against India in June and July. But under new regulations, missing the IPL’s mega-auction would have rendered Archer ineligible for the subsequent mini-auction as well, at significant financial cost.Archer’s name was on the initial longlist of names circulated to IPL franchises before the auction but he did not feature on the shortlist, with the ECB making the case that they were still managing his injuries. But after clarification from the BCCI, he was added back to the shortlist and was bought for INR 12.5 crore (£1.18m) by Rajasthan Royals, following a bidding war with Mumbai Indians.”Jofra is always brilliant to deal with,” Key said, in an interview on Wisden Cricket Weekly’s Patreon channel. “We were like, ‘The best thing might be to miss the IPL this year and get yourself ready, and we’ll start building your loads up… if you can get through a bit of Championship cricket, and then you can start the Test summer. He was happy with that.Related

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“But we had to look and see what India were going to do with [the IPL’s rules]. We thought that we could make the case that he’s still in part of a managed workload period. The problem with that was he was then bowling with two slips and a gully and bowling 90mph in the T20s in the West Indies, so it’s hard to make the case that he’s injured when he’s bowling like that.”They [the BCCI] came back after a bit of back-and-forth and said, ‘Well no, he won’t be allowed to go into this year, next year from then on. So then you start thinking that could be about $4 million that he loses out on there, and I don’t then feel… then it’s on him, really. You say, ‘Jof, what do you want to do? This is your career, your life. You’ll still be able to play Test cricket.'”We believe there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge for that, but we still think he’ll be alright. We’ll just be a couple of months behind… So then Jofra decided that he felt the best thing for him was to go into the IPL [auction], which we had no issue with, and then do that loading throughout the IPL and get himself ready for the Test series that way.”Key still believes Archer could be “one of the best bowlers” England have ever had and that he could play a role against India – though cautioned that he will not be an automatic selection. “The plan is that he’ll be ready to play,” he said. “He was only ever going to play one or two Tests this summer, probably – at a push, three.”He’s also got to get in the team now. I think he could be one of the best bowlers we’ve had, but he’s got to find form. He’s got to be able to show that he can sustain it through a whole four-day game. It’s not a case that he’s fit, so he just comes into play. We’ve got some very good bowlers around now… I don’t see any reason why he can’t [return to Tests].”Key admitted that his decision-making as managing director has been informed in part by his concern that franchises will offer England players year-round deals which are so lucrative that they opt out of their central contracts. “You don’t know what other governing bodies are going to do,” he said. “We’re very much in a new world.”I don’t think we want to be in a place where centrally-contracted England players walk away from English cricket… Let’s say a franchise signs someone for $2 million to play all year round: we won’t see them for England. These franchise owners, they won’t say, ‘Oh, that’s fine, we’ll pay them $2 million and you go and bowl them 20 overs a day in a Test match.'”

Tottenham are widely reported to be in talks with Man City over a deal for Brazilian winger Savinho, but Thomas Frank still needs to strengthen other areas of the Spurs squad.

Late Sunday evening, reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano broke the news that Spurs opened club-to-club negotiations with City to sign Savinho – coming soon after they lost club legend Son Heung-min to LAFC.

Son brought an emotional end to his 10-year stay in N17, waving goodbye to the club during an emotional final game against Newcastle in Seoul, with the South Korean since being unveiled to MLS supporters as the division’s most expensive ever arrival.

The 33-year-old was both a standout attacking linchpin on the field and leader behind-the-scenes, but Frank is now forced to cope without Son’s presence ahead of his first full campaign in charge of the north Londoners.

Tottenham quite simply need an out-and-out replacement for the winger, and Savinho fits the bill.

The South American is adept at playing both in Son’s position and on the right-wing, bagging 13 assists in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s side last season over 48 appearances.

Savinho helped to set up two goals across two games against north London rivals Arsenal last season as well, and only Jeremy Doku managed more successful dribbles per 90 out of every City player in the Premier League last season.

The former Girona star’s pace and directness could be a major asset to Frank as the Dane looks to compete on four fronts next term, and despite reports of a rumoued Tottenham bid for Barcelona forward Ferran Torres, it appears Savinho is now their priority wide target.

However, given James Maddison will be out for the majority of 2025/2026 after rupturing his ACL, Spurs are also in need of a natural number 10.

Savinho actually played the role for City on two occasions last campaign – against Salford City in the FA Cup and Al-Hilal at the Club World Cup – but he isn’t exactly an experienced, proven playmaker.

Eberechi Eze forced to consider joining Tottenham as Arsenal deal stalls

According to TEAMtalk, £100,000-per-week Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze remains on Spurs’ radar as a potential option.

There are credible reports that Savinho may not be Tottenham’s only late summer deal (Fabrizio Romano), and their glaring need for a CAM means we surely cannot rule out a deal for Eze.

The 27-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a move to Arsenal for the last month, but the Gunners are hesitating to make a formal bid for him – meaning the door is still open for Tottenham to submit an offer of their own.

Despite his eagerness to join Arsenal, TT claim Eze is ‘forced to consider’ other clubs as Mikel Arteta’s side stall – and Tottenham have apparently gained significant momentum as an alternative.

Daniel Levy is also informed of the conditions of a possible deal for the England international, and the club have shown a growing willingness to explore it in recent days.

Eze managed more shots at goal, key passes and successful takes-ons per match than any other Palace player last season, and he’s arguably perfect to fill the void left by Maddison considering he’d also help to fill Tottenham’s ‘locally trained’ Champions League quota.

The ex-QPR sensation would cost in excess of £60m, according to TT, and given Tottenham were once ready to splash a similar amount on Morgan Gibbs-White, it could be a cost that Spurs are open to paying.

Phil Foden dedicated victory to late boxing legend Ricky Hatton after Manchester City beat local rivals Manchester United 3-0 in the derby just hours after it was announced that the famous City fan had passed away aged just 46. Foden scored on his first start to the season and claimed the tragic news gave his side extra motivation to win the derby.

Foden stars alongside Haaland in emotional victory

Foden scored the opener with a perfectly-placed header on 18 minutes, appearing to have a spring back in his step as City were too good for their visitors. Erling Haaland then stole the show with two ruthless finishes in the second period. A touching tribute was held for Hatton with a minute's applause prior to kick-off and City were inspired to an emphatic victory.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHatton inspires Foden to return to form

Foden struggled last season after enjoying the best year of his career so far the campaign prior. Pep Guardiola spoke prior to the game about his hopes for Foden to get back to his best and the England international appeared to be listening. For a local lad, the chance to shine in a Manchester derby in the memory of a club hero such as Hatton will no doubt have given him an extra push to succeed.

Foden's tribute to Hatton

Foden said to Sky Sports at the full-time whistle: "I had extra motivation going into the game, it was for him and his family and for the people suffering right now. The lads gave everything. It wasn't a pretty match but it was all for him."

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Getty Images SportFoden and City must take "extra motivation" forward

It is important for Foden that he continues to take such inspiration into the rest of the season as he hopes to nail down a starting spot in Guardiola's side. City fans and players alike are no doubt still grieving over the loss of Hatton and tributes are likely to continue around the club in his name.

German legend Sami Khedira has hailed Bayern Munich youngster Lennart Karl as the hottest talent in the country. Khedira believes Karl’s attitude sets him up for success and feels that Bayern’s thin squad will provide him with the opportunities needed to develop.

• Lennart Karl's debut and promise

  Karl, 17, made his debut for Bayern during the Club World Cup, coming on as a substitute against Auckland City. He quickly caught the attention of fans and pundits alike, impressing with his performances in preseason friendlies, where he scored against Tottenham and Grasshopper Zurich.

  He made his Bundesliga debut in the 2025-26 season opener against RB Leipzig, showcasing his potential on the big stage. Impressed by his promise and work ethic, Bayern moved to secure his future with a contract extension that keeps him at the club until 2028.

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• Khedira praises the Bayern teenager

  "Lennart Karl is the hottest asset we have," World Cup winner Khedira told . "He has an incredible sense of humour. He has a certain arrogance—but a healthy arrogance. I simply love that. These are players who know: 'I'm incredibly good, but I still respect the seasoned professionals."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Karl's frustrations and Kane's encouragement

  After being left on the bench for Bayern's win against Augsburg at the end of August, German legend Lothar Matthaus said he saw the teenager looking upset and frustrated as the former star criticised coach Vincent Kompany for his reluctance to trust the academy's top performers.

  Bayern striker Harry Kane, however, urged Karl to stay patient and keep working hard, saying: “If I were him, I would train hard, work hard, and try to learn from the people around me. When he gets his chance, he has to take it, just as he has done so far.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Karl's future at Bayern

  Karl will be hoping that Kompany gives him more playing time in the future, allowing him to develop and live up to the expectations placed on him.

Marizanne Kapp rocked the top order with three wickets Tahlia Wilson and Anika Learoyd steadied the chase

AAP20-Nov-2024Sydney Thunder are one win away from their third WBBL grand final, after scratching home to a tense final-over victory against Melbourne Stars.After Hannah Darlington starred with the ball to keep the last-placed Stars to 108 for 9, she was forced to hit the winning runs late with two balls and four wickets to spare.The win means if Thunder beat the second-placed Melbourne Renegades in their final-round match on Saturday, they will finish first. That would automatically qualify them for the final on December 1, and giving them hosting rights as the top-ranked team.Related

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A loss to Renegades would likely mean they finish second or third, and have to go through at least one knockout match in order to reach the final.Wednesday’s result continued a horror season for Stars, who have won only two of eight matches and sit last on the ladder.But the match was not as easy as it first appeared it would be for Thunder on a difficult Drummoyne Oval wicket. They slumped to 15 for 3 in the third over of their chase with Marizanne Kapp bagging all three wickets to leave Thunder in serious troubleThunder then fell to 38 for 4 after eight overs, before Tahlia Wilson and Anika Learoyd steadied the ship. The pair got the equation down to 23 off 20 balls, before Wilson got too aggressive and was caught trying to take on Kim Garth on 33.Stars then had chances to run Learoyd out and have her caught on the boundary, but missed both and eight runs were eventually required off the last over. Learoyd hit the first ball for two and the next for four, before a single allowed Darlington to finish the job for the hosts.Darlington had earlier claimed figures of 3 for 26 from her four overs, with four of those runs coming from an overthrow. She cramped a cutting Meg Lanning and bowled her with a smart off-cutter for 12, and also had Kapp sky a ball to cover next over.Athapaththu was also miserly with her 2 for 12 from four overs and also produced a direct-hit run out in the field to remove Tess Flintoff. Ultimately that helped set up the win as Thunder close in on their first grand final since their 2020 title success.