Sunderland had to take the long route back to the Premier League after they were relegated from the division at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

The Black Cats endured seasons in League One, a Championship play-off loss, and a midtable finish in the second tier before they eventually earned promotion back to the big time earlier this year under Regis Le Bris.

One of the most impactful signings made on their journey back to the Premier League, despite it not being in their promotion season, was the loan arrival of Amad Diallo.

Where Amad ranks among Speakman's pre-Premier League signings

Kristjaan Speakman brought a strategy of buying and loaning in talented young players with potential to improve with him to the sporting director role at the Stadium of Light, and has had plenty of success with it over the years.

In the seasons leading up to this summer’s recruitment, it is hard to argue against Jack Clarke being his best piece of business. The winger initially joined on loan in the 2021/22 campaign, signing permanently in 2022, and scored 28 goals in 114 matches, per Transfermarkt.

1

Jack Clarke

2

Amad Diallo

3

Ross Stewart

4

Daniel Ballard

5

Trai Hume

Ross Stewart also deserves to be up there for his 24-goal haul in the 2021/22 League One season, per Transfermarkt, whilst defender Dan Ballard and Trai Hume also rank highly as they have both played in the Championship and the Premier League.

Amad, though, ranks in second place, with his return of 14 goals and three assists in the second tier on loan from Manchester United in the 2022/23 campaign, per WhoScored.

The Ivorian talent fired the Black Cats to the play-offs, scoring four more goals than any other player in the squad, as an incredibly exciting player to watch on the right wing, and his impact was evident by the fact that Sunderland finished 16th the season after he left.

Now, Sunderland have found their most impactful signing since Amad Diallo by bringing Granit Xhaka to the club from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

Why Xhaka is Sunderland's most impactful signing since Amad

As Amad was signed more recently than Clarke was, the former United loanee is the player to beat to be the most impactful signing since his arrival on Wearside.

Xhaka, signed from Leverkusen for £13m in the summer, has had a colossal impact on the side with his exceptional performances in the middle of the park for Le Bris.

The left-footed star arrived at the club as a proven Premier League performer, with 297 appearances for Arsenal (Transfermarkt) under his belt, and his performances have reflected that experience.

FotMob rating

7.42

1st

Assists

4

1st

Goals + assists

5

1st

Chances created

18

1st

Big chances created

5

1st

Passes made per 90

42.9

1st

xA

1.3

1st

Long passes made per 90

4.4

1st

As you can see in the table above, the Switzerland international tops the charts for the Black Cats in a host of key statistics, which highlights just how influential he has been on the pitch in the top-flight this term.

Last month, Wayne Rooney described him as “the signing of the season” and suggested that Xhaka, 33, is like a “father figure” to the rest of the players in what is a young squad, setting an example for his teammates.

Rooney’s point about him being a father figure is an interesting one. He was the oldest signing of the summer, per Transfermarkt, and is the oldest player in the squad to have made an appearance in the Premier League this season.

Whilst this is unquantifiable, someone like Rooney, a Manchester United legend, will know what kind of an impact that can have in a dressing room, and he feels that Xhaka is an important presence for this young Sunderland squad.

Couple that with his clear and quantifiable impact on the pitch in the Premier League, and it is hard to argue against him being the most impactful signing of the summer.

Xhaka has been a phenomenal addition to the squad, their best since Amad’s sublime loan spell, and Le Bris will be hoping that he continues to be a shining light in midfield for the rest of the season and beyond.

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The signing of the Swiss star has shown how important it is to have experienced players in key positions to be the backbone of the side, in order for the younger players to develop and thrive around them.

Manchester United’s midfield pivot has been something that Ruben Amorim has seemingly found a formula he likes. The Portuguese manager has caused lots of debate with his infamous 3-4-2-1, with the wing-backs being one thing to spark such conversation.

However, the makeup of his pivot has been interesting to see, too. This season, it seems as though the former Sporting boss has landed on captain Bruno Fernandes and the experienced Casemiro as his ideal duo in midfield.

It is a new role for Fernandes, who has played most of his career as a number ten.

As for Casemiro, he has done well this season. Yet, against Crystal Palace at the weekend, he looked exposed at times.

Why Casemiro can struggle in the pivot

Brazil legend Casemiro has certainly adapted well to playing in Amorim’s system.

Not too long ago, he was told to “leave the football before the football leaves you” by Jamie Carragher. Now, he is a regular starter for United at almost 34 years of age.

Indeed, Amorim has put a lot of trust in the former Real Madrid star this season. He’s played in 12 Premier League games, missing one due to a suspension.

Since the middle of September, he’s started every game in the league he’s been available for, and has even scored three times.

However, there are struggles that the United number 18 can experience in midfield.

Physically, Casemiro is a little behind the eight ball at times and can get exposed, often being left in the dust and opposition midfielders coasting past him.

Coming up against the Eagles last Sunday, it was an issue in the first half for the 82-cap Brazil international. As Goal journalist Calum Preston Kelly pointed out, he “struggled to prevent Palace dictating play in the first half.”

The energetic duo of Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada found it all too easy and were able to breeze past him countless times, having looked “haunted” up against the Englishman, in particular.

Perhaps this is an issue Amorim would like to nip in the bud before long. It might well make a change of personnel in the pivot to have a true impact.

United’s ready-made Casemiro alternative

There are options if Amorim wants to switch things up in midfield.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Mason Mount briefly played next to Bruno Fernandes away to Fulham at the start of the season, and Manuel Ugarte is another player who could slot into the side.

Yet, the obvious answer is Kobbie Mainoo. Amorim continues to ignore his obvious talent, despite being called a “future £100m+ footballer” by Alex Turk and starting in the final of Euro 2024 just 18 months ago.

It has been a tough campaign for the Stockport-born midfielder. He’s only played nine times in the Premier League, and is yet to start a game.

He’s featured for just 171 minutes, averaging 20 per game that he has played in.

Let’s not forget, though, the skill Mainoo possesses. He is a master in small spaces, able to break the press with his carrying ability and drive forward.

He’s also intelligent off the ball and is a strong dueller. Those were all on show on his Premier League debut against Everton, where he had 61 touches and won five duels.

Touches

61

Pass accuracy

83%

Passes completed

38/46

Ground duels won

3/5

Aerial duels won

2/3

Ball recoveries

3

Dribbles completed

2/3

The skills Mainoo could bring to United’s pivot would surely only benefit Amorim’s side. He is more physically up to speed than Casemiro and is less likely to get outrun.

On top of that, he brings different qualities on the ball which could add a new dynamic to midfield.

Plus, he still has an eye for goal like his fellow midfielder.

Mainoo has seven goals in a United shirt, with the most important one coming in the 2023/24 FA Cup final, which turned out to be the winner against Manchester City.

Mainoo has to get his chance in the United midfield soon enough. Their number 37 simply must be playing football every week, to continue on the path he was on just one year ago.

Don’t forget, he was trusted to start England’s biggest game in years.

With Casemiro’s occasional struggles out of possession, the starlet could be the Red Devils’ answer to their issues in midfield.

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ByRobbie Walls Dec 3, 2025

Bavuma and Esterhuizen also struck half-centuries in what was the sixth-highest successful chase in India

Shashank Kishore09-Nov-2025Connor Esterhuizen showcased his impressive game against spin in a bludgeoning 52 not out that helped South Africa A beat fading light to chase down 417 five wickets in hand against India A at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. This was the highest fourth-innings chase in a first-class game in India since 2016, and the sixth-highest ever in the country.Esterhuizen’s innings comprised eight fours and a six, as he helped South Africa A convert a tricky chase in the final hour into a cruise. His unbroken sixth-wicket partnership with Tiaan van Vuuren was worth 65 off just 52 balls.While Esterhuizen delivered the knockout blow to India A, the chase was set up by Lesego Senokwane and Jordan Hermann. The openers put on 156, much of it during the course of a wicketless morning session where they took the attack to Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep.Even Kuldeep Yadav wasn’t spared, but it also helped South Africa A that he was far from his best on a surface that didn’t aid spin as much as he would have hoped for. With the surface showing no signs of breaking down, Kuldeep hardly found turn and was easily picked off as Senokwane and Hermann didn’t allow him to settle. When he went full, he was imperiously driven. When he bowled shorter, the turn was so slow that it gave batters enough time to play him comfortably off the back foot.Hermann did the early running when he hammered an off-colour Akash Deep for four boundaries – an off-drive, two cover drives, and a square drive behind point. He soon got to his half-century, off 73 deliveries. India A’s frustration stemmed from the edges not carrying. The lateral movement that was there on the first two days and a bit also went missing.Jordan Hermann scored 91•PTI

Senokwane soon followed suit, albeit sedately, getting to his half-century off 113 deliveries. Having played cautiously against the fast bowlers, he was severe on left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, whom he welcomed with a superb slog sweep. Hermann was equally punishing, using the paddle sweep as Dubey struggled to vary his pace – he was guilty of bowling too quickly.Hermann had a slice of luck on 66 when a rip-roaring bouncer that rushed him for pace lobbed off the glove only to land behind Rishabh Pant as he ran backwards. But even half-chances like those were far and few in between.Prasidh provided the breakthrough when Hermann smashed a full toss back towards the bowler. Fortunately for India A, it got stuck in Prasidh’s hand and Hermann had to walk back for 91. The wicket briefly fired India A’s seamers, Siraj, in particular, as he delivered a telling spell in the afternoon, beating Senokwane a handful of times and then exchanging some words with him.All that seemed to have affected Senokwane as he was lulled into a sweep that he missed and was lbw to Dubey on 77. This brought Zubayr Hamza and Temba Bavuma to the crease – the only two batters from this squad to feature in the Test squad – and they added 107 for the third wicket to bring the target in the double digits.Having bagged a first-ball duck in the first innings, Bavuma was more sedate and copybook in his approach; Hamza was a bit more enterprising and looked to take the bowlers on from the get-go to make a push for the target.In between, India A had a scare when Siraj hurt himself trying to stop the ball at mid-off and immediately rushed off the field for treatment. Pant too didn’t keep for two sessions with Jurel taking over the gloves. It was established much later that the decision to take Pant off the field was keeping in mind the workload he has had over the past two games – with both bat and gloves.Hamza fell when he got an inside edge onto the stumps off Prasidh, and Bavuma fell soon after. India A had an opening with the visitors needing 89 when Marques Ackerman was bounced out by Siraj, only for replays to confirm the bowler had overstepped. Ackerman was eventually caught behind for 24 to bring Esterhuizen to the crease. The mood of the game changed considerably thereafter as he took the attack to Kuldeep and Dubey to seal victory in fading light.

The Champions League remains the pinnacle of the European game, showcasing the very best that the continent has to offer, both collectively and on an individual basis.

Paris Saint-Germain romped to the title in emphatic fashion last time around, yet with talisman – and Ballon d’Or winner – Ousmane Dembele seeing his impact limited this time around due to injury, who else is now leading the way instead?

Ranking factors

• Current form
• Importance to team
• Reputation and honours

50-41

50. Xavi Simons	Spurs
49. Desire Doue	PSG
48. Phil Foden	Man City
47. Ivan Perisic	PSV
46. Carlos Forbs	Club Brugge
45. Rayan Cherki	Man City
44. De Ketelaere	Atalanta
43. Virgil van Dijk	Liverpool
42. Noni Madueke	Arsenal
41. Couhaib Driouech	PSV

A fair few new entrants to our top 50 this week, with Xavi Simons notably securing that final spot following his standout display against Slavia Prague, while Rayan Cherki also gets a nod following his stellar performance as Man City saw off Real Madrid.

Perhaps the performance of the week, at least from a Premier League perspective, came from Arsenal’s Noni Madueke, however, with the Englishman’s first of the night against Club Brugge an early contender for goal of the competition.

40-31

40. Serhou Guirassy	Dortmund
39. Eberechi Eze	Arsenal
38. Harvey Barnes	Newcastle
37. Scott McTominay	Napoli
36. Trincao	Sporting
35. Goncalo Ramos	PSG
34. Lennart Karl	Bayern
33. David Raya	Arsenal
32. Lamine Yamal	Barcelona
31. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	Marseille

A fresh face also emerges in this next batch of names, with Bayern Munich’s teen sensation, Lennart Karl, deserving of a first inclusion, having now scored in three Champions League games in a row – the youngest player to have achieved that feat.

Elsewhere, Madueke’s ever-reliable teammate, David Raya, also surges up our list, having kept yet another clean sheet away at Brugge – his fifth in just six outings in this year’s edition.

30-21

30. Kenan Yildiz	Juventus
29. Gabriel	Arsenal
28. Marc Cucurella	Chelsea
27. Hakan Calhanoglu	Inter
26. Marcus Thuram	Inter
25. Estevao	Chelsea
24. Jeremy Doku	Man City
23. Micky van de Ven	Spurs
22. Alejandro Grimaldo	Leverkusen
21. Gabriel Martinelli	Arsenal

It’s a bit of an Arsenal theme this week, with a word also needing to be said for Gabriel Martinelli, following his stunning second-half effort. The Brazilian speedster already has five goals in this season’s Champions League, despite making just three starts.

It also proved to be another positive outing for Bayer Leverkusen’s talisman, Alejandro Grimaldo, with the in-form left-footer denying Newcastle all three points late on in the BayArena.

20-11

20. Marquinhos	PSG
19. Anthony Gordon	Newcastle
18. Dean Huijsen	Real Madrid
17. Denzel Dumfries	Inter
16. Julian Alvarez	Atleti
15. Lautaro Martinez	Inter
14. Achraf Hakimi	PSG
13. Kvicha Kvaratskhelia	PSG
12. Enzo Fernandez	Chelsea
11. Nuno Mendes	PSG

The top 20 sees Anthony Gordon retain his place, having now scored five times himself this season, while Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez also deserves his own surge up this list after netting the opener against PSV Eindhoven.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s shock defeat away to Atalanta sees Enzo Fernandez drop out of the top ten, with the Serie A side coming from behind to win 2-1 in Bergamo.

So, who is included in the top ten after match week five?

10

Pedri

Taking Enzo’s place in this top ten is Barcelona genius, Pedri, with the Spaniard again putting on a midfield clinic in the 2-1 triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt.

108 touches. 100% of his dribbles successfully completed. 100% of his tackles won. Need we say more?

9

Jurrien Timber

Heralded by some as the best right-back in the world after helping Arsenal beat Bayern at the end of November, Timber has showcased himself to be a phenomenal signing by the Gunners.

The Dutchman may have missed the clash with Brugge, but it would be harsh to dislodge him from his place in this top ten.

8

Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen has stormed into the top ten following his stunning hat-trick away at Ajax in match week four.

He didn’t play in game week five, and failed to fire this time around against Monaco, but still sits second in the scoring charts, now up to six goals from just four appearances in 2025/26.

7

Marcus Rashford

There can be a perceived lack of interest or importance placed on these league phase fixtures, although Marcus Rashford has already served up reasons to be entertained, notably lashing home that stunner at St James’ Park, while producing an early contender for assist of the season after picking out Ferran Torres against PSG.

With two more goals under his belt against Olympiacos, having also picked out Jules Kounde in stunning fashion in midweek, the 27-year-old is finally looking back to his brilliant best.

6

Michael Olise

Bayern Munich must be rubbing their hands with glee at having prised Michael Olise from Crystal Palace for ‘just’ £50m, with the France international going to new heights at the Allianz Arena.

With four goals and assists already in this year’s competition, the fleet-footed winger is already looking deadly again.

5

Declan Rice

Last season, Rice powered Arsenal to the Champions League semi-finals courtesy of two remarkable free-kicks against Real Madrid, deserving of the Puskas award. If you didn’t think he couldn’t get any better, think again.

He may have sat out Brugge through illness, although he memorably rocked up against Bayern Munich in match week five to deliver a virtuoso man-of-the-match display.

Is there a better midfielder in world football? Perhaps there’s one.

4

Vitinha

From struggling against Chorley in the FA Cup for Wolves, the Portuguese midfielder has come a long way since. He’s a Champions League winner and arguably delivered his finest performance in the competition to date against Tottenham in match week five, scoring a stunning hat-trick which included a cracking equaliser in the first half.

Thomas Frank remarked after the game that he is “the next Ballon d’Or winner”. Any complaints? Very few.

3

Harry Kane

The fastest player this century to reach 100 goals for one club, the England skipper is in the form of his life right now, notching up five goals already to kickstart his – and Bayern’s – bid for an elusive Champions League crown.

He was the finest player in the competition to date until he came up against Arsenal in match week five, having also failed to fire against Sporting in Bayern’s comeback 3-1 win.

2

Erling Haaland

Excluding the obvious duo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the modern era hasn’t witnessed such a prolific presence as Erling Haaland, with the Norwegian already ripping it up in the new campaign.

A star for club and country, the 25-year-old arguably only ranks behind a certain Harry Kane as the continent’s finest number nine, scoring for the sixth time in the Champions League this season against Madrid.

1

Kylian Mbappe

Having somewhat upset the apple cart after joining then-holders Real Madrid last summer, Kylian Mbappe is back in the groove again under Xabi Alonso.

He may have missed the Man City clash through injury, but with nine goals in just five games, there’s no one better for the top spot.

Yamal this, Yamal that. The Frenchman is the greatest in the world right now.

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By
Charlie Smith

Nov 6, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are stuck in a cycle of repeated mistakes, time and time again struggling to establish a winning formula on home turf and struggling also to weave Thomas Frank’s tactics into their identity.

Much has been made of Spurs’ attacking problems this season, but defensively, there are imbalances too. The north Londoners’ xGD (Expected Goals Difference) stands at -6.8, marking them 18th in the division for that metric.

Despite adding a range of talented additions to their ranks after winning the Europa League last season, the residual issues that stemmed from a torrid Premier League campaign remain, and Frank has to show that he has what it takes to wipe out the recurring patterns that are threatening an exciting season.

The likes of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons were welcomed to the ranks, but Frank has yet to pull it all together

The potential Frank replacements ENIC should consider

It has been reported that Frank is not under immediate pressure in the Tottenham hot seat, but after picking just two points up from his past five outings, the Spurs boss will know that results need to improve, especially with the win over Burnley in August standing as a lonely win down N17.

Kudus might be the joint-top assist maker in the division so far, but Tottenham’s creativity is a big concern, and ENIC Group may have the perfect replacement they can fall back on.

Back at the start of the summer, ESPN reported Tottenham had whittled their shortlist down to two candidates, Frank being one, Fulham manager Marco Silva being the other.

The Portuguese tactician is a well-seasoned Premier League manager, having led 221 matches across four different tenures.

Known for establishing stability and a clear tactical vision, the 48-year-old has earned his share of praise, with pundit Jamie Carragher among those to suggest Silva may well be a tailor-made fit for the Lilywhites.

Why Carragher has "always seen" Silva at Spurs

Carragher remarked on The Overlap this week that he has “always seen Silva at Tottenham”, with his blend of pragmatism and shrewd ideas potentially instilling the secure and balanced foundations the club have been lacking in recent years.

Implementing a 4-2-3-1 formation, Silva, whose Cottager side beat Tottenham away from home only last weekend, seeks to strike a balance between possession-based play and counter-attacking football, with both sides of that coin on show against Spurs.

There is an emphasis on overlaps and wide play that could also give rise to Kudus’ qualities. The Ghanaian – who England fans will be threatened by at the 2026 World Cup next year – has made a positive start to life in north London, but there’s a sense that there is more to come from the versatile wideman.

As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 3% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for successful take-ons per 90.

Matches (starts)

13 (13)

Goals

2

Assists

5

Touches*

52.4

Shots (on target)*

1.5 (0.5)

Accurate passes*

20.9 (87%)

Chances created*

1.6

Dribbles*

3.1

Ball recoveries*

5.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.9

Duels won*

6.5

Kudus needs to score more, and he also needs to make more of his inherent creative skills. Silva’s system could help achieve this.

Transfer reporter Dean Jones has even gone as far as to label Silva a “genius”, with his subtle and nuanced approach to the managerial game something Spurs may need to adapt to different situations and rediscover their fluency both in defence and attack.

Whether Tottenham decide to cut their ties with Frank down the line will be a matter of time and perserverance, but should an upswing fail to materialise, Silva could be the shrewd successor to finally take this team to a sustainable level at the top.

Spurs star is becoming Frank's own version of Kane & he's not even a forward

This Tottenham star is becoming a talismanic force for Frank’s side.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 5, 2025

He’s bowled three overs in the powerplay in each of their first two games – a marked difference in how Bumrah’s overs are usually deployed

Shashank Kishore16-Sep-20259:02

Talking T20: How innovations in the format have evolved over time

Two games into their Asia Cup campaign, India have used Jasprit Bumrah differently from the norm.Instead of bowling the majority – or at least half – of his overs at the death, Bumrah has been given three of his four overs inside the powerplay in both matches. Against UAE, it may have been to get him acclimatised to match conditions, having been on a break since the fifth Test against England ended in the first week of August. But India repeated the tactic against Pakistan too.In 244 T20s prior to the Asia Cup, Bumrah had bowled three overs in the powerplay only 11 times, and not once in T20Is since 2019. For context, even in IPL 2025, he averaged just one over in this phase. India have gone spin-heavy in this Asia Cup, and by opting for batting until No. 8, they are playing just one specialist fast bowler with Hardik Pandya taking the new ball. The plan to front load Bumrah’s overs is for him cause the damage that Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy can capitalise on.Related

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“We’re very happy using him as an attacking option,” captain Suryakumar Yadav had said after the seven-wicket win over Pakistan on Sunday. “If he picks two wickets, even if he bowls a tight spell of his overs, later on we can have a good cushion for all the spinners to come over and make our job a little easier.”With Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana on the bench, the question is who India will turn to at the death if stretched at the Asia Cup and Bumrah doesn’t have many overs left? If Arshdeep gets into the XI at some stage, he’s the obvious choice for the death overs, having made the role his own in Bumrah’s absence from the T20I side following the 2024 T20 World Cup.The other question is whether any of their opponents can stretch India at the Asia Cup? Their next game is against Oman in Abu Dhabi on Friday – a game of no consequence considering India have already qualified for the Super Four round.None of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel or Varun Chakravarthy are regular bowlers in the death overs. In T20Is since 2023, Kuldeep has bowled only 8% of his overs in this phase. For Varun it’s 4% and Axar 6%. While dew hasn’t been a factor so far, it could be later in the tournament, making it trickier for the spinners later in the evening.Jasprit Bumrah has bowled three overs in the powerplay in both matches at the Asia Cup•AFP/Getty ImagesOn Sunday, Shaheen Shah Afridi was able to score a career-best 33 off 16 balls at the death, lifting Pakistan to 127 when they had looked like being restricted for less. Kuldeep conceded seven runs in the 17th over, Varin 9 in the 18th, Bumrah 12 in the 19th and Hardik 16 in the final over.”I think Bumrah should bowl two overs with the new ball. That gives you flexibility later,” former India fast bowler Varun Aaron told ESPNcricinfo. “Obviously, the spinners are bowling really well, but if one of them has an off day and you desperately need a wicket, Bumrah is the guy who can break through in the middle. Or be your death overs king.”When you hold him back for two overs at the end, you’re almost guaranteed he won’t go for more than 10 an over. Imagine a scenario where opponents need 50 off five overs. With only one Bumrah over to play [in the death], opponents can afford to play him out and still chase down 43 or 44. With two overs of Bumrah up their sleeve, the equation shifts dramatically.””Having said that, the team management must have thought it through, maybe believing he could get the top batters early by bowling three up front. But personally, I feel two at the start is ideal. Then you have the flexibility of either two at the death or splitting it one in the middle and one at the end. When it gets to the business end, they’ll probably switch to a 2-2 split.”

Unsatisfactory series demonstrates so much that is wrong with international game

Cameron Ponsonby23-Oct-2025I’m gonna be honest. You’ve read this one before.The hyperinflation of the modern game, where cricket is on all the time in a desperate attempt to stay relevant, while diluting its product with every caveated fixture.It has been a constant question to Black Caps players this series.”What’s it like playing cricket in October?”It is not cricket season here. The domestic season hasn’t started yet – it begins in full this weekend. The opening match of New Zealand’s series against Australia earlier this month was played on October 1, the earliest that the Kiwis had ever played a home international.Six matches and three washouts later, the result was entirely predictable. It rained. A lot. The weather here has, admittedly, been extreme. Warnings were announced for much of the country as high winds left 90,000 homes on the South Island without power. Kiwi head coach Rob Walter made the point that, across both the Australia and England series, they had been unlucky with sunny training days sandwiching rainy matchdays. That is true – and in his position it is a point he is almost contractually obliged to make – but some sunny days and some rainy days sounds an awful lot like the middle of spring to me.The result was an uncomfortable theme that ran throughout, of Kiwi players talking about the importance of taking the opportunity to play the likes of Australia or England whenever you can. A team that won the World Test Championship in 2021, and has reached numerous ICC finals in recent years, is still thankful for the chance to take the pitch against their equals.”You’ve got to take every chance to play them,” Kiwi wicketkeeper Tim Seifert said ahead of the match at Auckland. “You’d rather play them at this time of the year than not.”For the second year in a row, New Zealand have no home international cricket scheduled for January or February. The height of their summer. The rest of their season consists of West Indies arriving for a multi-format tour in November and South Africa arriving for a white-ball tour in March, which will clash directly with the IPL and be without several high-profile players for either side.England are a key drawcard for the nations that rely on the income they generate•AFP/Getty Images”There’s no point trying to compete against some of the top franchise leagues,” explained Walter after the Auckland washout. “But rather coexist with them.”And are they co-existing?”It depends on who you ask, I guess.”New Zealand have been up against this for years. Shane Bond missed 18 months of international cricket in 2007 after signing up for the Indian Cricket League. Trent Boult was the first Kiwi to move to a “casual” contract in 2022 and now there are five players – Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Seifert and Kane Williamson – in the New Zealand squad who operate on such a deal. The cold hard cash facts are that top Black Caps players believe they can earn up to US$1 million more a year by pursuing a life solely on the franchise circuit.”We are really privileged that the guys really do enjoy playing for their country and want to come back and play for the Black Caps,” said Walter. “We want to maintain that but part of the job is understanding that you can’t have guys playing all formats and in every game.”The “casual” contracts symbolise a commitment from the player to be available for a certain number of matches a year. They operate on an annual basis and the number jumped from two to five this year due to the upcoming T20 World Cup, as the T20 specialists had to commit themselves to x number of games to be eligible for selection.Related

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But it is wishful thinking to consider that any “casual” relationship can end well. Just ask any 20-year-old across the globe.England, Australia and India are now committed to touring each other once a year. These arrangements take up space, meaning that other series end up being shortened, played with weakened sides, and pushed to the margins. And so the un-valuable series become even less valuable. And the invaluable tours become even more so. It is a vicious cycle. And one that administrators show no signs of breaking. South Africa, the current World Test Champions, are currently poised beautifully at one-all in their series against Pakistan – with zero games to play. An unsexy series, deprived of the chance to make itself more attractive to broadcasters next time round.It would be funny if it wasn’t so relentless. A year ago, England played a white-ball series in the West Indies with a second string squad because the matches had been sandwiched in between their Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. The games were scheduled, for broadcast reasons, at 4pm which had the double-jeopardy effect of meaning fewer fans could attend the game in person and dew had a decisive impact on each match as it arrived at the halfway stage in each fixture. Of the seven completed matches on that tour, all were won by the team who won the toss.”When we looked at the schedule we knew that would be a problem,” Windies captain at the time Rovman Powell said.Cricket relies on broadcast rights to keep it, barely, afloat. The problem is that with every series that is designed for TV at the cost of quality, the product becomes less valuable the next time around. Ultimately, broadcasters are creating a product that, eventually, it won’t want to buy itself.You know this. You’ve read it before. And one day, hopefully, it will change. England won this three match T20I series one-nil. 61.4 overs were bowled.

Kylian Mbappe's European Golden shoe defence is being challenged by the likes of Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.

The European Golden Shoe remains one of football’s most prestigious individual trophies, rewarding the most prolific marksman across Europe’s top domestic leagues.

Each season brings a fresh battle among elite forwards who consistently deliver extraordinary goal tallies. While form, fitness and team dynamics inevitably fluctuate, certain names have become perennial contenders – strikers whose finishing ability, movement and consistency ensure they remain in the conversation year after year.    

Over the decades, it has been dominated by legendary strikers, from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking eras to more recent winners who have defined the modern game. The 2024-25 edition was claimed by Kylian Mbappé, whose blistering scoring campaign underlined his status as one of the sport’s most reliable goal machines, beating Salah to the honour. As the 2025-26 season unfolds, the race once again features a mix of established superstars and rising elite forwards. 

The European Golden Shoe uses a weighted scoring system based on the difficulty of each domestic league. A player’s points are calculated by multiplying their league goals by a factor assigned to that league — 2.0 for the top-ranked leagues such as the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga, 1.5 for mid-level competitions, and 1.0 for lower-ranked leagues. This ensures that goals scored in more competitive leagues carry greater value in the final standings.

Below is a look at the leading candidates who routinely shape the race for Europe’s top goalscorer.

Getty Images1Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 14 goals

Erling Haaland is widely considered the benchmark for pure centre-forward play in Europe. His blend of explosive pace, physical dominance and clinical finishing makes him a constant threat in any scoring race.

Supported by a chance-creating machine at Manchester City, Haaland regularly posts remarkable numbers in both league and continental competitions. His positioning, relentless mentality and ability to convert even low-quality opportunities ensure he remains a perennial favourite for the Golden Shoe.   

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport2Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | 14 goals

Harry Kane’s all-round excellence as a goalscorer and creator ensures he is always near the summit of league scoring races. His precision finishing, ability to strike from anywhere around the box and instinctive movement make him ideally suited to Bayern Munich’s dominant style of play.

With his experience and consistency, Kane remains one of the most reliable attackers in Europe, capable of delivering 25–30 league goals in any given campaign.       

AFP3Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid | 13 goals

Kylian Mbappé brings a unique mix of speed, intelligence and elite finishing that keeps him among the top scorers every season. Whether deployed centrally or drifting in from the left, he consistently finds ways to exploit defensive gaps. 

Playing in an attack-minded Real Madrid side amplifies his output, and his reputation for stepping up in big moments makes him one of the strongest long-term contenders in Europe’s scoring charts.     

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Getty Images Sport4 Igor Thiago | Brentford | 11 goals

Igor Thiago is a physically imposing and relentlessly energetic forward whose aggressive style fits seamlessly into Brentford’s high-tempo approach. He excels at pressing, holding up play and attacking crosses, giving him multiple avenues to find the back of the net.

His strength, aerial ability and improving composure in front of goal allow him to compete effectively in the Premier League’s demanding environment. As he continues to polish his finishing, Thiago has the tools to deliver consistently strong scoring seasons.

Beth Mead's early strike secured a vital Champions League victory for Arsenal on Tuesday, as the reigning European champions saw off Twente in a narrow but comfortable 1-0 win. It's a scoreline that doesn't reflect the dominance the Gunners enjoyed as they crept up the league-phase standings, moving to within one point of automatic qualification for the knockout rounds with one game left to play, while securing at least a play-off berth.

When Mead found the back of the net after 10 minutes, it felt like Arsenal could score quite a few. Two minutes before that, only some heroic Twente defending had prevented Mariona Caldentey, who fired not far off target even earlier on, and then Mead from scoring, with the Gunners' high and aggressive press working a treat and forcing the visitors into turning the ball over plenty in dangerous areas.

As it transpired, though, that would be the only goal of the game. It wasn't for a lack of trying; Alessia Russo would go close with three headers, including one which hit the bar late on, and the outstretched leg of Diede Lemey prevented her from scoring when she did get one on target. The goalkeeper's best save, however, might have been to prevent her own team-mate from netting an own goal, when she reacted brilliantly at her near post after Victoria Pelova's flick was inadvertently directed towards goal by Lieske Carleer.

Chances at the other end were few and far between, with Sophie Proost's header well over the bar, meaning the biggest scare Anneke Borbe, Arsenal's third-choice goalkeeper, had in the home goal was when she was caught by the onrushing Eva Oude Elberink, almost forcing the Gunners to hand a senior debut to 17-year-old Amy Liddiard. Fortunately, with Daphne van Domselaar and Manuela Zinsberger already sidelined, Borbe was able to continue and preserve the clean sheet that ensured her team's victory, their second in a row after three games without one.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Meadow Park…

• AFP
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Anneke Borbe (6/10):

  Essentially a spectator for this one. Made just 13 touches all game and her only call to action saw her bravely dive at the feet of Oude Elberink when she was put through one-on-one.

  Taylor Hinds (6/10):

  Another solid, if unspectacular, performance from one of England's most recent debutantes.

  Lotte Wubben-Moy (7/10):

  Calm and composed in possession and assured in her defending, helping the Gunners to restrict Twente to little in attack.

  Steph Catley (7/10):

  A little looser in possession than her centre-back partner, but only just. Always switched on and helped organise the defence well.

  Katie McCabe (7/10):

  Provided some quality service with that left foot of hers and nearly got on the scoresheet, too, through a clever free-kick.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Kyra Cooney-Cross (7/10):

  Started a little sloppily but got better as the game went on, showing plenty on both sides of the ball and delivering some good set pieces.

  Mariona Caldentey (6/10):

  Moved the ball well enough in deeper areas and looked a real goal threat early on, but her accuracy on the ball dropped off in the final third. 

  Victoria Pelova (7/10):

  Set up essentially as a second striker out of possession and was crucial to Arsenal's high press working so well.

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  Attack

  Beth Mead (8/10):

  Made the decisive contribution just 10 minutes in and could've added to her tally were it not for some heroic Twente defending. A classy display.

  Alessia Russo (6/10):

  Had several chances but couldn't find the back of the net, hitting the bar and forcing a good save out of the goalkeeper with her best efforts. She was able to get involved still with some nice moments in Arsenal's build-up play, though.

  Olivia Smith (7/10):

  Caused Twente all sorts of problems with her quick feet and direct approach, getting kicked plenty for her troubles. Unlucky to be booked for a good tackle.

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• AFP
  

  Subs & Manager

  Caitlin Foord (6/10):

  Full of running down the left, delivering a couple of great balls in her 30 minutes or so on the pitch.

  Frida Maanum (7/10):

  Provided a real goal threat after coming on before the hour and created for others, too, in an impactful performance.

  Kim Little (6/10):

  Added plenty of energy to the middle of the park, aiding defence and attack.

  Emily Fox (N/A):

  Helped Arsenal see the win out as a late sub.

  Stina Blackstenius (N/A):

  Only came on in stoppage time.

  Renee Slegers (7/10):

  Set up her team to press Twente aggressively and it worked a treat, leading to the only goal of the game. Subs were proactive to ensure the levels didn't drop and her team could see the win out.

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