All posts by n8rngtd.top

Dayot Upamecano’s future has become one of Europe’s most closely watched contract sagas as Bayern Munich push for an extension while Real Madrid and now Paris Saint-Germain circle for a free transfer. The French defender is enjoying the best season of his career, yet negotiations remain stalled. With major clubs positioning themselves, Bayern face a defining decision over a key piece of Vincent Kompany’s defence.

• Upamecano contract saga intensifies as PSG joins Madrid

  French international Upamecano’s superb form this season has only added urgency to Bayern’s race against time to secure the defender’s long-term future. The French centre-back has been one of boss Kompany’s most influential performers, recently showcasing his impact in Bayern’s 6-2 victory over Freiburg, where he also scored. But despite Bayern’s desire to tie him down until 2030 or 2031, as reported by the signature remains missing.

  This delay has opened the door for Europe’s heavyweights. Madrid, long in the market for a long-term defensive successor, remain strongly interested. PSG, meanwhile, have now emerged as a serious contender, with reporting the French side have joined Madrid in vying for a potential free-transfer move next summer, a scenario Bayern desperately want to avoid.

  Bayern’s position is clear, Upa is seen as central to the club’s defensive rebuild under Kompany, and the hierarchy is pushing to finalise terms as soon as possible. However, with his contract running until 2026 and financial constraints limiting Bayern’s flexibility, the situation remains delicate, and increasingly competitive.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Upamecano downplays money motive

  In the aftermath of Bayern’s win over Freiburg, Upamecano openly addressed the growing speculation around his future. The Frenchman stressed that finances were not the decisive factor as talks continue.

  Upamecano has insisted that he was not driven solely by economic incentives, insisting that sporting conditions would have significant influence. And on the constant speculation surrounding his next steps, he kept things deliberately vague, saying: “I can say this 100 more times, but we’ll see what happens.”

  As per the report, those close to the club believe Upamecano is genuinely torn. He is settled in Munich, buoyed by Kompany’s trust, and thriving in a system that suits his strengths. Yet the prospect of joining Real Madrid or returning home to France with PSG is a powerful one, especially with a free transfer potentially offering greater long-term flexibility.

• Elite clubs sense rare opportunity as Bayern fight to keep star

  Upamecano’s appeal across European giants stems from more than Bayern’s contract struggles. Madrid view the 27-year-old as a potential partner for Eder Militao or replacement long-term option alongside Antonio Rudiger. PSG, meanwhile, consider him a cornerstone for their next cycle, particularly as they continue building a French core under Luis Enrique.

  With modern centre-backs commanding fees north of €80m, the possibility, however slim, of a free transfer next summer has alerted every major sporting director in Europe. Bayern are aware of this leverage and recognise they must act quickly to maintain control of the situation.

  Behind the scenes, Bayern sporting director Max Eberl is intensifying efforts to finalise an agreement, but financial realities complicate the process. Bayern have already committed major resources to keep Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies and Joshua Kimmich, which has stretched the wage structure and made negotiations with Upamecano more delicate.

  The interest from the European elites continues to grow as Real Madrid and PSG have been the most persistent suitors, but Barcelona have also monitored developments as part of their long-term defensive planning.

  With each passing week, pressure rises on Bayern to deliver a deal that reflects Upamecano’s value without disrupting their evolving wage model. The risk of losing him on a free would be a massive sporting and financial setback.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Bayern push for winter breakthrough as rivals wait

  Heading into a crucial phase of the season, Bayern hope to accelerate talks before the January window, aiming to remove any uncertainty around Upamecano’s status. An early resolution would give the club clarity as they continue monitoring young defenders in case negotiations collapse.

  Madrid and PSG are expected to intensify contact with the player’s representatives if no extension is reached on table quickly. Bayern, however, remain confident that Upamecano’s preference is to stay, provided a mutually acceptable deal is reached.

  For now, the defender remains central to Kompany’s plans, and both sides recognise that a long-term extension would bring stability. But unless Bayern can match his expectations without breaking their wage structure, a high-profile transfer battle could define the upcoming summer window.

The comparisons will continue till the end of time, but for now, this is just a moment to plunge into, emotions and all

Karthik Krishnaswamy15-Nov-20232:59

Hayden: Kohli a great story of resilience and professionalism

It’s the afternoon of October 8, and the crowd noise, filtered through the press-box glass at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, is a low hum as David Warner and Steven Smith put on a cagey half-century stand. Then it turns, for no immediately discernible reason, into a roar, a constant roar that defies the slow burn of the action in the middle. Then you spot that Virat Kohli has moved to long-off, right in front of the stand beyond the press-box glass.This sparks a conversation, between you and the cricket journalist next to you. You were both born in the mid-to-late 80s, and grew up watching cricket in the 90s and early 2000s. You both belong, in short, to the Sachin Tendulkar generation, a generation that enjoyed an absurdly extended childhood simply by virtue of Tendulkar’s longevity. You try and compare what you’re seeing now to what you remember from Tendulkar’s time. Has Kohli worship reached the level of Tendulkar worship?Related

• How the pieces of the jigsaw fell in place for incredible India

• Who's the greatest ODI batter of them all? Two contenders come to mind

• School's out as Rohit, Iyer rip up the textbooks in Mumbai

• Shami turns jeopardy into joy as India briefly confront their own mortality

• India waltz into World Cup final after Shami seven-for and centuries from Iyer and Kohli

No, you argue at first. It cannot have. How could it? But you concede, against your will, that you can’t even pretend to be able to judge this objectively. You’ve watched Kohli hundreds of times, often at heaving stadiums like this one, but you’ve watched him with the cynical eye of a journalist, never once feeling in the pit of your stomach the dread you so often felt when you watched Tendulkar bat, standing with your face pressed to the TV because you couldn’t bear to sit. You felt the crowd’s adulation then because you were part of it even when you were not; now you’re right there with them, separated only by a sheet of glass, but that’s enough to cut you off entirely.

****

November 12. More than a month has passed and you’re at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. You’ve spent an hour in the P Terrace stand, in though not entirely of the crowd as it rode the Kohli wave, its noise building slowly at first and surging as he stepped out to whip successive balls from Logan van Beek over and past mid-on to go from 20 to 30.You head inside, to the dining area behind the press box, when he brings up his fifty. You need a chai and a think. The 50th ODI century is imminent, perhaps even inevitable. The tribute piece will have to be written. What do you write that’s new and fresh about someone you and everyone else in this press box have written about thousands of times?It turns out you don’t have to. Not today. He makes room for an off-side slap and is bowled by a skidder from Roelof van der Merwe. You watch this on a TV in the dining area, and around you are five or six other journalists. You exchange handshakes and high-fives with all of them. No tribute piece today, boss.This is the dirty, compromised relationship you share with Kohli.Tendulkar or Kohli? It doesn’t really matter at the moment•ICC via Getty Images

****

November 15. You’re at the Wankhede Stadium, and India’s batters are all over New Zealand in this World Cup’s first semi-final. You’ve watched Rohit Sharma charge out to launch Trent Boult over extra-cover and swivel to hook him over long leg. You’ve watched an exhibition of Shubman Gill pulls: short-arm and arms fully extended, behind square and in front, along the ground and over the ropes. You’ll soon watch Shreyas Iyer send a wide away-spinner from Rachin Ravindra whistling unexpectedly over long-on with a tennis forehand, and KL Rahul manufacture a whirling slice off Boult between backward point and short third. Suryakumar Yadav won’t score too many runs today, but he’s also on your mind when you make this statement to the journalist next to you:This is all subjective, of course, and all relative. Kohli’s presence would significantly lift the aesthetic appeal of most other top sixes at this World Cup. And even if you think he’s only the sixth-most-attractive batter in this line-up, you still find yourself going “ooh” when he drills a wristy drive for a double between extra-cover and long-off.But it’s doubles – so many of them, in so many directions, most often either side of a deep backward square leg whose life at this moment must be pure torture – that you always seem to ooh and aah when Kohli’s batting, and not the fours and sixes. Nimble footwork, expert bat-face manipulation, astute judgment of the fielder’s distance from the ball and the time it would take that particular fielder to cover it: you appreciate these things because you think it makes you a refined cricket watcher.And all that running and turning and running again, all this on a muggy Mumbai afternoon during which the substitutes bring Kohli a plastic chair to spend his drinks breaks on. It’s to be marveled at, all this endless Kohli running, but you joke in the press box that all of it has forced poor Gill to retire hurt.There’s a growing realisation, however, that today might be the day for that tribute piece, the tribute piece you were so pleased not to have to write three days ago. Kohli steps out to Boult and plonks him over mid-off. He steps out to Tim Southee and whips him over wide long-on, and you almost feel the force of this hit pulsing through your bottom wrist. Then Boult goes short and Kohli opens his bat face to guide him past a diving short third.Virat Kohli walks back after scoring 117 off 113•ICC/Getty ImagesA murmur goes around the press box. To your right is the Sachin Tendulkar Stand, and to its right is the Sachin Tendulkar statue, unveiled two weeks ago. At 2 o’clock to the statue, roughly, is a box in which sits the man himself.Forty-nine ODI hundreds in 463 innings versus 49 in 290, soon to become 50 in 291. Run inflation has contributed significantly to this disparity – 300 would be an utterly inadequate total today, a line you very rarely heard in Tendulkar’s time – and there’s a convincing argument – made here by Kartikeya Date – that Tendulkar at his peak was both significantly more consistent and significantly more explosive than his average contemporary than Kohli has been, or has needed to be, in his time.But this isn’t a time for comparisons. The moment you’re about to witness is one to plunge into, emotions and all.The first Kohli hundred you covered, also against New Zealand, comes rushing back to you: 2010, Guwahati. It was your first ODI, and his fourth hundred. You remember almost nothing about his innings, but you remember the shots M Vijay played while scoring 29 off 32 balls. Vijay, enjoying a rare ODI audition, hit a four every 6.4 balls, while Kohli hit one every 10.5 balls. Kohli ended up with a significantly bigger score at a better strike rate. It was an early sign of what to expect over the coming decade and more.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe sun is setting behind the Tendulkar statue when the moment arrives. It arrives, inevitably, with a double. A wristy double into the gap between fine leg and deep square leg. This is an ODI career of many interlocking bits, but it is, at its core, an ODI career of wristy doubles between fine leg and deep square leg.Kohli’s second run takes him past the stumps at the Garware End. This is, coincidentally and providentially, the end at which Tendulkar is seated. In the same stand is David Beckham, a footballer defined by a right foot as magical as Kohli’s right wrist and an engine as tireless. Kohli bows in the direction of that stand, and blows a kiss to another of its occupants, Anushka Sharma. Interviewed after India’s innings, he describes her influence on his life in touchingly simple terms. “My life partner, the person I love the most.”The crowd pays its tribute, and for once you don’t pause to wonder about other tributes paid by other crowds to another champion. He’s watching this, and he seems to be enjoying every bit of it. You should too.

“We are starting to click together and performances are coming from every player,” Wolvaardt says

Firdose Moonda21-Mar-2021Captain Sune Luus praised South Africa’s new-found fearless style of play, which she credited with their double success in India. South Africa won the ODIs 4-1 and sealed the T20I rubber with a game to play, to pick up a first-ever T20I series win over India.”Our confidence levels are where we want them to be. The girls are backing themselves and playing fearless cricket and in T20s, that’s what you want,” Luus said at the post-match presentation.Not only did South Africa claim the T20I trophy, but they pulled off their third-highest chase in the second match, which was also among their most nerve-wracking. They needed 19 runs off the last 10 balls, nine off the final over and six off the last two balls, and Laura Wolvaardt was at the crease to ensure they got them all. She faced all but two deliveries in the 20th over, including the no-ball from Arundhati Reddy that she took two runs off on what would have been the penultimate delivery of the match, and said that eased the mounting pressure.Related

• Shafali Verma goes past Beth Mooney to top spot among T20I batters

• Lee, Wolvaardt fifties seal last-ball thriller and series for South Africa

• Smriti Mandhana: We didn't deserve to win after poor fielding display

“A couple of balls before that then there was a full toss which was almost a no-ball and I didn’t hit it very well. I thought to myself, ‘did I just not score off a full toss?’,” Wolvaardt said, referring to the third ball of the final over that went for one. “But then when the [second] full toss came, and we had an extra ball, we didn’t need a boundary anymore. For the last ball, we needed one and I said to Nadine (de Klerk) that whatever happens, I am just going to try and get some bat on it. I’m glad it worked out.”South Africa’s victory came with an inside-edge off the last ball, avoiding a Super Over, though Wolvaardt admitted things didn’t need to get that close. “I didn’t start my innings as quickly as I would have liked so I put some pressure on myself, but I knew with a fast outfield, we were in with a chance if we took it deep. I’m glad I was there at the end to do it,” she said.Wolvaardt scored two runs off the first six balls she faced, which included a dropped chance, but with Lizelle Lee on the other end, South Africa were mostly able to keep pace with the required run rate. When Lee and then Mignon du Preez were dismissed, it was up to Wolvaardt and de Klerk to see South Africa home. That they did sends a strong message about the depth in the South African squad.”It’s so good for our future,” Luus said. “We know that if on the day we can’t play Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail or Lizelle Lee, there are players coming in and we back them, they back themselves.”South Africa won this T20I series without Kapp, who was rested for the past two matches, and without regular captain Dane van Niekerk and allrounder Chloe Tryon, who are recovering from lower-back injuries. They were also without Luus for two of the ODIs, when she picked up an illness, and Wolvaardt took over the captaincy. In doing so, she also experienced the improvement in the quality of players beyond South Africa’s big names.”In the past, that was one of the gaps between us and the big nations – if we had Dane missing the tour, we would do badly,” Wolvaardt said. “Now there is some healthy competition going forward and we are raising the bar for each other. This is also the first time in a long time we are all feeling it (confidence) together. We are starting to click together and performances are coming from every player. If we can ride this wave, that would be awesome.”They have one more opportunity to do that on this strip, with the final match in the series to be played on Tuesday. “There’s a chance for us to make it 3-0 and that will be even bigger than a series win,” Luus said.

Leeds United have been hit with an injury blow ahead of their clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road in the Premier League on Saturday.

Wales international Daniel James has suffered an ankle injury that is currently being assessed by the club, although they are hopeful that it will not be a long-term issue.

Journalist Graham Smyth claims that the forward is set for “weeks” on the sidelines, debunking some speculation on social media that he was due to be out for months with an ACL injury.

If James misses several weeks and games through injury with this ankle issue, Daniel Farke should avoid relying on Jack Harrison as an alternative to Brenden Aaronson on the right flank.

Why Jack Harrison should not replace Dan James

The left-footed attacker returned to Elland Road this summer after spending the previous two seasons on loan with Everton in the Premier League, and he has yet to fully win the fans back over.

Harrison has produced no goals, no key passes, no ‘big chances’ created, and no assists in five appearances in the top-flight for Leeds so far this term, per Sofascore, which shows that he has offered virtually nothing at the top end of the pitch.

That should not come as a surprise to many, though, because the former Manchester City academy prospect struggled badly in the final third for Everton in the 2024/25 campaign.

As you can see in the table above, Harrison managed one direct goal contribution in 2,088 minutes of football in the Premier League for the Toffees before his return to West Yorkshire.

This is why Farke should turn to U21 talent Connor Douglas to replace James in the squad whilst the Wales international is missing through injury.

Why Leeds should unleash Connor Douglas

The 19-year-old attacker is a versatile star who can play through the middle as a number ten or out on the right flank, which suggests that he could be a suitable alternative to Aaronson in the short-term, given that the American is a similarly versatile wide option.

In The Pipeline

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

Douglas’ form for Leeds at academy level suggests that he is an exciting young player who has the potential to make an impact at the top end of the pitch, after he scored in a 1-0 win over Norwich City’s U21s on Monday night.

The English winger has scored six goals and provided six assists in 36 appearances for the club at U21 level, as well as six goals and three assists in 27 matches for the U18 side, per Transfermarkt.

These statistics show that he can contribute with goals and assists from a wide position, something that Harrison has struggled to do, and that is why he should be given a chance to see what he can do at first-team level whilst James is out with an ankle injury.

Douglas was described as an “electric” forward who is a “joy to watch” by PureFootball writer Trent Gaffney, which also suggests that he could get supporters off their feet with his front-footed and direct play.

Fans may prefer to see a talented young forward given an opportunity to shine and showcase his exciting potential in James’ absence, instead of Harrison being given yet another chance after failing to impress in the last 13 months or so.

Leeds have found their new Phillips in "unbelievable" star & it's not Stach

Leeds United may have found their new Kalvin Phillips and it is not Anton Stach.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 29, 2025

That is why Farke must unleash Douglas as the replacement for James in the Premier League, for however many matches he misses, instead of just using Harrison.

A Leeds United player who the club made a millionaire at a young age has returned to the club.

Leeds’ youngest ever players

The Whites have had some brilliant teenagers come through their Thorp Arch academy in recent years, with Harry Gray the latest youth product who looks destined for a regular first-team role.

The forward, younger brother of Archie, made his senior debut for Leeds on the day they sealed their return to the Premier League in a 6-0 win over Stoke City.

At the age of 16 years, 6 months and 13 days, Gray is in the top five of Leeds’ youngest ever players, with club legend Peter Lorimer top of the charts after debuting as a 15-year-old.

Talking about Gray earlier in 2025, Daniel Farke said the teenage forward has the “confidence” and the “skills” to make it as a Leeds player.

“So he definitely has this confidence that you need but it’s also important to channel this a little bit and not to raise expectations too high. He is doing right now his first steps in senior level.

“He has many skills and we like his potential and professionalism. And how humble he behaves – with a few exceptions.

“But that’s totally OK, it would be a pity if your young players were not self confident. But we have to make sure he is not overdoing this. There is a long way to go, he has many things where he needs to improve.”

Weekly wages: Leeds United FC 2025/26 highest-paid players

We at Football FanCast have gathered all the information on exactly how much the wages of each player is at Leeds United.

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 23, 2025

Another former Leeds youngster, Aaron Lennon, is a previous success story of the Whites academy, and he has made a return to the club.

Aaron Lennon back at Leeds after becoming teen millionaire

Lennon, a teenage winger at Leeds between 2003 and 2005, made 43 appearances for the first-team prior to joining Tottenham Hotspur for a reduced fee following the financial troubles at Elland Road.

Lennon, who actually made approximately £1.37m in his time at Elland Road from wages and bonuses, admitted his Leeds contract was “silly”, with “crazy numbers” that ultimately impacted his playing time.

“My contract was silly looking back. It was crazy numbers, and they were thinking he won’t play. But then I started playing. I was on the bench, and they couldn’t put me on because I was going to hit one of those appearances.”

“I remember Gary Kelly going mad and saying our best player is on the bench now. Our most in-form winger is on the bench. I was just sat there, and Leeds fans were singing my name.

“At the end of the season, Ken Bates told me ‘you are done at this club’ because of the money. It wasn’t even in a nice way. And I was like, ‘this is my hometown’. I was upset, and I remember going away and got the call saying they have accepted a bid, ‘you are going Tottenham’.”

It emerged last month that Lennon, now 38, has made a return to Leeds in a coaching role for the U18s, working with Rob Etherington and Alex Purver.

Jonny Howson also made the move back to Leeds after leaving Middlesbrough over the summer, helping the U21 in both a playing and coaching capacity.

They all came for one man, but turned on the noise as another put on a six-hitting show for the ages

Matt Roller11-Oct-20232:13

Dale Steyn: Not easy to hit over the top and through the line like Rohit Sharma did

They came for Virat Kohli, but they got Rohit Sharma. This was an exhibition of white-ball batting in Delhi, as India’s captain turned a chase of 273 – which Afghanistan hoped would prove awkward – into a glorified middle practice, treating their seamers with the disdain usually reserved for net bowlers.India’s second match of this tournament was billed as Kohli’s homecoming, his second and final World Cup appearance in the city he grew up in. Twelve years ago, he made 12 off 20 balls in a low-key win over the Netherlands; now, he was the man whose name featured on every other blue jersey in the 32,000-strong crowd.Related

• 'I've taken a leaf out of Gayle's book' – Rohit after breaking WI opener's record for most sixes

• Live report – India vs Afghanistan, World Cup 2023

• Shahidi's game awareness earns Afghanistan free-hit

• Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq draw curtain on the mango episode

• Stats – Rohit Sharma goes past Sachin Tendulkar for most ODI World Cup hundreds

And yet Kohli’s unbeaten half-century – an innings which included the winning runs with a glorious straight drive off Azmatullah Omarzai – was merely the support to Rohit’s headline act. After a six-ball duck against Australia in Chennai, Rohit’s 131 off 84 balls seemed to make a statement: India are the favourites for this tournament, and they know it.Most opening batters will tell you that their job has become harder in the last two or three years, since fresh batches of white Kookaburra balls started swinging and nipping more than they once had. But Rohit has been playing a different game: his strike rates in the first powerplay this year and in 2022, of 111.58 and 100.68, are the best of his ODI career.Rohit’s innings included 16 fours, with the usual array of leg-side flicks, deft late cuts and drop-kicks over mid-off. Yet this is a batter who will be remembered not primarily for his elegance while hitting fours, but his timing, authority and power while hitting sixes: he hit five of them on Tuesday night, each an assertion of his dominance – and India’s.

Congrats, @ImRo45 – Most Sixes in International cricket. #45 Special pic.twitter.com/kmDlM1dIAj

— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) October 11, 2023