The San Diego Padres are in a unique situation as they head towards the 2025 MLB trade deadline. The Friars are holding on to the final wild-card spot in the National League and are certainly in need of upgrades. But they also have players other teams covet, so general manager A.J. Preller could opt to buy and sell, walking a fine line towards competitiveness.

Preller is never scared of making a big deal or taking a huge swing, and this could be the year he truly shines by treading two paths. San Diego has one of MLB's deepest bullpens, a thin starting rotation, and two holes in its lineup, and more on the bench.

What follows is a look at three moves the Padres can make before the trade deadline that would fit what they need to do perfectly.

Trade for Ramon Laureano

A lot has been written about the Padres' need for a left fielder—I know because I've written some of it. While Gavin Sheets has filled in admirably out there, he should be locked in at designated hitter. Big names like Luis Robert Jr. and Jarren Duran have been connected to San Diego, but this might be the right move. Ramon Laureno had his breakout season in 2019, but now, as a 31-year-old, he's breaking out again.

Through the first 78 games of the season, the Baltimore Orioles outfielder is slashing .279/.341/.526 with 15 home runs and 46 RBIs. That .866 OPS is his highest since 2019, and his wRC+ (136) is a career-high. Meanwhile, his underlying metrics look outstanding as he's notching near career-bests across the board. As a team, the Padres rank 24th in OPS against righties (.698) and 28th in home runs (63). Laureano's OPS against righties is .918, with a .301 batting average and 10 home runs. He fills a need and is an excellent fit.

While there are sexier options out there, Laureano's contract also has a $6.5 million club option for 2026. He shouldn't cost the prospect capital of the bigger-name outfielders, which will allow the Padres to keep high-end prospects like Leo De Vries, Ethan Salas, and a number of their young pitchers, and he can return cheaply next season. Those things should be enough to entice Preller.

Trade for Charlie Morton

There are a number of pitchers out there the Padres could take a shot at, but it's another member of the Orioles they should target. There are two reasons for this: the cost and the ability to make this deal a package, thereby reducing the return. So far this season, the San Diego has made do with a starting rotation thrown together with duct tape and tissue paper. Joe Musgrove is out for the season due to Tommy John surgery, while Yu Darvish and Michael King have both missed huge chunks of the season. That has left a rotation led by Nick Pivetta, backed up by Randy Vasquez, Stephen Kolek, and a cast of fill-ins.

Morton is a 41-year-old rental with a 5.48 ERA, which makes him sound like a punishment, not an upgrade. But the Padres need someone to eat innings, and the veteran righty has two World Series rings and a 3.60 career postseason ERA. Despite his high season ERA, from May 10 through July 10, he was 5-0 with a 2.61 ERA, 2.80 FIP, and a 1.18 WHIP over his previous 51 2/3 innings. Again, he could be a relatively cheap boost to an already good rotation.

Trade Robert Suarez

One thing the Padres have in abundance is high-end relief arms. The Padres have four of MLB's best relievers in All-Stars Robert Suarez, Adrian Morejon, and Jason Adam, plus the hard-throwing Jeremiah Estrada. There is more depth in the minor leagues, which would give them the ability to trade from a strength to get a haul of young players. The top of San Diego's minor league system lacks bats, which has reared its ugly head this season and contributed to the team's awful bench production.

With Emmanuel Clase sidelined due to a gambling investigation, Suarez would almost certainly be the top reliever available. The two-time All-Star closer is 2-4 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and boasts an MLB-best 30 saves in 33 chances. His 2.27 FIP shows he's been a bit unlucky this season as well. He has an $8 million player option for 2026 he is expected to decline, so he'd be a pure rental, but the Padres have the relievers to replace him as closer. They should take advantage of the market and get as much as they can before he walks.

The tall fast bowler picked up 9 for 112 to spearhead Zimbabwe to a rare Test match victory

Mohammad Isam23-Apr-2025Blessing Muzarabani was always going to hit the pitch hard. He has the height advantage, and he had already used it well to take six wickets in the match. Could he do the same on the fourth day of a Test match in Bangladesh?He wasn’t supposed to get a lot of purchase out of his method. The straw-coloured surface should have become benign by then. That is how pitches in Sylhet have behaved in the last few years, particularly if you consider how the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Test match played out last year. The ball on this fourth day was also 57 overs old. The bowler in question had to be a little tired, this being his fifth or sixth spell in the match.Second ball, Muzarabani bumped one into Najmul Hossain Shanto. The left-hander, on 60 off 104, rolled his wrists over the ball to try and keep the pull down, but it didn’t work. The bounce coupled with the angle of the ball going across him was too much. Muzarabani’s eyes lit up when the ball took the top edge, and his celebration knew no bounds when Victor Nyauchi took a tumbling catch diving forward at fine leg.Related

'It was my fault ' – Shanto takes blame for Sylhet defeat

Zimbabwe seal Sylhet thriller to complete first away Test win since 2021

Zimbabwe had got rid of Bangladesh’s batting lynchpin at an ideal time. They had done a similar thing in the first innings when they got Shanto just as Bangladesh were turning a corner. This time, Zimbabwe struck before Bangladesh could even sit down properly in the dressing room.”Getting Shanto out as early as that in the first over was great for us,” the captain Craig Ervine said. “We wanted to get early wickets. I thought the way Blessing started was outstanding. He gave us the opportunity to put the squeeze on [even though] Jaker Ali played a really good role at the bottom end.”Blessing was our strike bowler in this Test match. I was giving him short bursts. I thought Richie [Ngarava] and Vicky [Nyauchi] had important roles holding the attack. Welly [Masakadza] and [Wessly Madhevere] bowled well too. In between those spells, it was important not to leak too many runs. When Blessing came back and bowled in the majority of his spells, he caused a lot of problems.”Muzarabani’s five-wicket haul came soon afterwards, when he had Mehidy Hasan Miraz caught at gully. Mehidy was always batting half expecting a bouncer, and half hoping for a full ball. He was caught between the two, and the bat came down late. Brian Bennett took the catch.

“The change room is going to be nervous. We are not familiar being in these sorts of positions, chasing in the fourth innings. It was more nerves of wanting to get over the line, wanting the win more than anything else”Craig Ervine on the tense finale

Bangladesh lost three wickets in the first 5.3 overs of the day. Jaker struck the ball around for a while, but he was simply delaying the inevitable, batting with the Bangladesh tail. When he was starting to look a bit too comfortable, Ervine brought back Muzarabani for one last burst.Again, the tall fast bowler took just two balls to do his job. Jaker couldn’t quite hit him over midwicket, with Nick Welch settling under a catch at the boundary. Muzarabani’s prophecy of trying to keep Bangladesh below a 200-run lead came true, thanks to him.Ervine said he rated Muzarabani highly, as he has now impressed with both the red and the white ball. He is slowly making an impact in some of the T20 leagues too, having played in the ILT20, the CPL, the PSL and the T20 Blast.”I think he [Muzarabani] would be up there,” Ervine said. “He has the experience through red ball and playing various leagues. He has the mindset. He has shown his ability. I am really excited to see where he goes in his career in all formats.”Blessing Muzarabani picked up 9 for 112 in the Sylhet Test•AFP/Getty ImagesMuzarabani took 7 for 58 against Ireland in Zimbabwe’s previous Test in February this year. He also took 6 for 95 in the match before that, against Afghanistan. Both were in defeats but this time, his combined tally of 9 for 112 got the team over the line.There was chatter during Zimbabwe’s stumble in their chase of 174 whether Muzarabani may have to come out to hit the winning runs. Luckily for them, Ngarava and Madhevere completed the three-wicket win.”The change room is going to be nervous. We are not familiar being in these sorts of positions, chasing in the fourth innings,” Ervine said. “It was more nerves of wanting to get over the line, wanting the win more than anything else.”Whether or not Zimbabwe get a pitch that responds to fast bowling in Chattogram next week, they have shown enough pluck here in Sylhet. They got in trouble a few times, but fought hard to get back into the game. Muzarabani epitomised this mindset. He bowled superb up front, and had plenty left in the tank for those crucial second and third spells. That’s where Bangladesh lost the Test.

A new update has emerged regarding Manchester City’s pursuit of Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning attacking midfielder Arda Guler, with Pep Guardiola’s stance made clear.

The Turk is arguably one of the most talented and exciting young attackers in Europe currently, gradually becoming more of a key man for La Liga giants Madrid.

Guler has started 10 league games so far this season, scoring three goals and bagging five assists, while Madrid legend Toni Kroos has lauded him, also discussing comparisons between the pair.

“But I don’t believe in comparisons. Arda is also a different type of player than me. His best position is much more attacking than mine, so it’s not about me succeeding him at all. But I’m generally pleased because he’s a good lad. I’ve played alongside him.

“He has a really delicate touch, which he’s already used very effectively for Real this season. That’s why I hope he continues to get consistent playing time, because that’s the only way to improve. Then I’m sure he can make his mark at Real for many years to come.”

At 20 years of age, Guler has an enormous amount of potential, and while Madrid are no doubt hesitant to allow him to leave, it looks as though he remains on City’s radar.

Guardiola wants Man City offer for Guler increased

According to a report from Spain, Manchester City are readying an offer of £88m for Guler, but that won’t be accepted by Madrid, who will demand more for his signature.

Guardiola has asked ‘whether it’s feasible to increase the offer’, though, no doubt considering him a player who he values greatly, as he looks to snap up some of the biggest young talents in the game.

The idea of Guler in a City shirt is a mouthwatering prospect, with the Turkey star someone who could fit perfectly into Guardiola’s style of play, with his technical ability right up there with the best in Europe.

Like Phil Foden, he possesses an effortless class with his left foot, being capable of drifting in off the right flank or adopting a No.10 role, while Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has lauded him.

“With his quality, he’s a mix between Ozil and Guti. Guti had that vision and finesse to link play or operate closer to goal, and with Mesut I enjoyed football so much. Arda has that something special – that natural talent you can’t teach.”

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For now, it looks as though Madrid are going to be stubborn in allowing Guler to leave the club, but City and Guardiola should continue to pursue him as a top target, given his world-class long-term potential.

Man City leading race for Rodrygo with Real Madrid future now in major doubt

Suryakumar Yadav, the India captain, withdrew an appeal against Junaid Siddique on Wednesday night in Dubai despite the batter being given out by the third umpire.The incident took place in the 13th over of the UAE innings. Siddique was beaten while attempting a pull off Shivam Dube, and was found outside the crease when wicketkeeper Sanju Samson collected the ball and under-armed a direct hit to the stumps at the striker’s end. As soon as he missed the ball, Siddique seemed to point towards the towel that Dube appeared to have dropped while delivering the ball.Even as the square-leg umpire referred the decision to third umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Suryakumar walked up to the umpire at the bowler’s end to have a chat, and withdrew the appeal after he saw the replays on the big screen. The third umpire had declared Siddique out by that stage.Related

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Siddique was out one legal ball later, when he toe-ended a slog off a Dube slower delivery to Suryakumar at mid-on to leave UAE 55 for 9. It was Dube’s third wicket; UAE were eventually bowled out for 57, which India overhauled in 4.3 overs.On ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, Aakash Chopra suggested that Suryakumar’s decision was based on the match situation at the time, which was heavily in India’s favour.”It’s event-specific in my opinion, it wouldn’t have happened if [Pakistan’s] Salman Agha was playing on 14th [of September] and the game is in the balance, and he’s just roaming around, he [Suryakumar] won’t do that,” Chopra said. “It was a good throw, presence of mind from Sanju to hit the stumps.”If he was [outside the crease], it should be out, in my opinion. But opinions may vary. The problem is the moment you bring in ethics and generosity, it opens a can of worms: ‘oh, you did this today, why are you not doing the same thing tomorrow?’ Why go down that route?”Will you do it? If that’s the case, it’s like walking. You nick it and you walk. But the day you do not walk, that’s the day that decides which side of the divide you are on and that’s when you look like a hypocrite. I’m not saying SKY is going to do it again, or not do it again. But if it is within the rules and the umpire has given it out, just stay out. That’s it.”India went on to pull off their fastest chase in men’s T20Is, in terms of overs left – eclipsing the 6.3 overs’ chase against Scotland at the T20 World Cup in Dubai in 2021.

Tottenham Hotspur are poised to be without a big name for their crucial North London derby clash against Arsenal on November 23, with the player’s return from injury up in the air.

Spurs take on Mikel Arteta’s Premier League title frontrunners in a mouth-watering clash at the Emirates Stadium following the conclusion of this latest international break, and the stakes are high for both sides.

Thomas Frank is attempting to guide the Lilywhites to a top four finish and build upon Ange Postecoglou’s final season in charge with another piece of major silverware, but concerns have surrounded their general creativity in open play and plethora of key absentees.

While Arsenal have also struggled to keep their star attackers fit this campaign, with Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard and Viktor Gyokeres all racing to be fit for Tottenham, Frank’s extensive injury list is much longer.

Tottenham absentee list

Problem

Estimated return date (subject to change)

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

29/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Mohammed Kudus

Knock

23/11/2025

Randal Kolo Muani

Jaw

23/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Lucas Bergvall

Concussion

23/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

23/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

23/11/2025

Cristian Romero

Other

23/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are among the forwards who’ve been absent with serious injuries, and the latter is not expected to return until midway through 2026.

Summer signing Randal Kolo Muani was the latest to be sidelined after fracturing his jaw in their 2-2 draw with Man United last weekend. While the Frenchman, who only just returned to full fitness after a dead leg, won’t require surgery, it remains to be seen how long he’ll be out for or if he’ll be able to wear a mask and play against Arsenal.

Star winger Mohammed Kudus was ‘touch and go’ to face Man United and ultimately left out by Frank, with the 25-year-old also not selected for Ghana’s upcoming friendlies against Japan and South Korea.

There is every chance that Kudus, who’s stood out as their most in-form attacker this term, will recover from his knock in time to play against Arsenal, but the same cannot be said for striker Dominic Solanke.

Tottenham poised to be without Dominic Solanke for North London derby

The Englishman has yet to start a competitive game since Frank’s arrival at the club, playing just 49 minutes in total across all competitions, and his once minor ankle issue is taking a while to fully recover from.

Solanke was forced to undergo small surgery on his ankle problem and the initial prognosis was that he’d be back fairly soon. However, the 28-year-old still hasn’t played a single minute since Tottenham’s 2-0 win away to Man City right at the start of the season.

Recently, when asked if Solanke would be back on the field before the end of 2025, Frank’s response wasn’t that convincing at all.

Standard Sport have now reported that Solanke returning from injury to face Arsenal is looking “unlikely”, and they could even welcome back defender Radu Dragusin before him.

The Romanian is set to feature in a behind-closed-doors friendly during the international break, which will be his first piece of action since rupturing his ACL back in January. Some reports suggest that Tottenham could even sell Solanke when the window reopens, with Frank viewing the forward as “expendable” amid repeated links to former Brentford star Ivan Toney.

Right now, Frank has just Mathys Tel, who can’t participate in the Champions League after being left out of their 22-man squad, and Richarlison to select from as their readily available striker options.

If injury were to befall Richarlison, like it did for large periods of last season, Frank would be in serious trouble.

Solanke finished 24/25 as the club’s second top scorer behind Brennan Johnson, and they’ve missed both his poacher’s instinct and general link-up play.

Jordi Alba has rubbished comparisons between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, claiming that Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer “has no rival”. Teenage wonderkid Yamal has been thrust into an obvious debate ever since he stepped out of the La Masia academy system. He has become a global superstar in his own right, but there will never be another Messi.

Messi vs Yamal: La Masia graduates always being compared

Alba, who spent many happy years alongside the iconic Argentine at Camp Nou and is now a club colleague of the all-time great at MLS side Inter Miami, has always considered Messi to be the best in the business.

Yamal, at 18 years of age, is showing signs that he could tread a similar path. Records have tumbled around the youngster on the back of making his senior debut at just 15. As a left-footed forward that glides past opponents and boasts an unerring eye for goal, he was always going to be likened to Messi.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALNobody like Messi! Alba steers clear of Yamal debate

Alba is, however, eager to steer clear of that discussion. He told when naming three other Barca stars that deserve the same amount of credit as Yamal: “I think he's a great player, but there are others at Barca, like Pedri, Gavi, [Frenkie] de Jong. And I'm leaving out many. I think comparing him to Leo… there's no comparison, but that's because Leo has no rival.”

Alba is preparing to sever professional ties with Messi. While the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has committed to a new three-year contract at Inter Miami, his close friend has decided to retire at the end of the 2025 MLS Cup play-offs.

Explaining that decision, 36-year-old full-back Alba said: "Honestly, physically I could have lasted another year or two. But because of how I've felt, especially at the beginning of the season, and because of the new projects that are coming up…

“It's a well-considered decision, and I'm very clear about it. I'll miss football, but I'm happy with what I've been able to achieve. I still enjoy the matches, but the day-to-day grind and traveling every week is harder. The enthusiasm you have at 20 years old fades. When you have a family, it shows.”

Retirement calls: Will Suarez follow Alba & Busquets?

Sergio Busquets is heading into the same direction, as he prepares to hang up his boots, with Alba adding on his fellow former Barcelona legend: “His retirement? Obviously, these decisions are very personal. We've talked about the situation we were in during the year. It's a decision for each of us. I'm lucky to share a team and a friendship with him; our families also get along very well. We live very close to each other in the same residential area.”

Luis Suarez is another ex-Barca star that is yet to decide what the immediate future holds for him. The Uruguayan striker has struggled with knee problems in recent times, but continues to score goals ahead of turning 39 in January.

Alba added on Suarez potentially playing on alongside Messi: “There he is, the guy. I don't know if he has a contract for years, but it's everyone's own decision. It's not just about changing teams anymore, it's about quitting football, what you've done your whole life. I'll be sad, but it hasn't been hard for me. I've accepted it and I'm taking it calmly.”

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Getty/GOALMSN reformed: Will Neymar reunite with Messi & Suarez?

It has been suggested that Messi and Suarez could see their fabled ‘MSN’ strike force with Neymar reformed in 2026. That is because the Brazilian superstar is running down his contract at Santos and heading towards free agency.

Any move to Florida would generate plenty of interest, with some headlines being stolen away from Yamal in Europe. The teenage wonderkid does, however, appear to be destined for greatness himself – with some suggesting that he could go on to eclipse Messi’s record-shattering haul of Ballons d’Or. Yamal finished second in the 2025 Golden Ball vote, behind Ousmane Dembele, but has time very much on his side – unlike Alba and Busquets.

Danny Rohl’s start to life in charge of Glasgow Rangers on the European stage has not gone to plan so far, as he has lost both of his Europa League games without his side scoring a goal.

The former Sheffield Wednesday head coach, though, has inherited a team that struggled badly under Russell Martin, and will not have any of his own signings until the January transfer window.

Rohl took over from Martin after the Scottish manager only won five of his 17 games and one of his Scottish Premiership outings in the dugout for the Ibrox giants.

The German tactician has had an instant impact on the side in the Premiership. Rangers have won all three of their league games since his arrival at the club, and kept back-to-back clean sheets away from home.

A 3-0 win at Dens Park on Sunday means that the Light Blues can head into the final international break on a high, after goals from Nicolas Raskin, Mikey Moore, and Djeidi Gassama.

However, there are still some individuals within the squad who have been unable to step up. Bojan Miovski, for example, was hooked off at half-time against Dundee.

Why Rangers should be worried about Bojan Miovski

The Light Blus should be concerned by the Macedonia international’s dismal start to life at Ibrox, because he has yet to show any signs of replicating his form with Aberdeen.

Miovski was signed from Girona during the summer transfer window to bolster Martin’s options at the top end of the pitch, possibly because of his proven track record in Scottish football.

The left-footed forward’s return of 32 goals in 78 games in the Premiership for the Dons suggested that he was a safe and sensible signing to add goals to the Gers attack, but it has not played out that way.

Miovski has scored one goal in eight appearances in the top-flight for Rangers, against Falkirk, from an xG of 1.84, per FotMob, which suggests that he has underperformed as a finisher.

The Rangers centre-forward was given the nod to lead the line against Dundee at Dens Park, after coming off the bench against Roma last week, but he was unable to prove to Rohl that he deserves more starts on the other side of the international break.

As you can see in the table above, Miovski failed to register a single shot on goal in 45 minutes of action before being taken off at half-time. Whilst you could point to a lack of creativity behind him, his struggles in duels meant that he was unable to fashion chances for himself.

The Scottish giants, therefore, should be worried about the former Aberdeen marksman, because he has been at the club for several months now and is no closer to showing the kind of quality that earned him a good reputation in the Premiership in the past.

Miovski, though, was not the only Rangers player who failed to deliver an impressive performance in spite of the 3-0 victory against Dundee last time out.

Chalkboard

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

Rohl must ruthlessly drop central midfielder Mohamed Diomande from the starting line-up when the Gers return to action on the other side of the international break, as he was just as bad as Miovski at Dens Park.

Why Rangers should drop Mohamed Diomande

The Ivorian midfielder was taken off by the German head coach at half-time, just as Miovski was, and was replaced by Scotland international Connor Barron.

Per Sofascore, Diomande lost 75% (3/4) of his duels in the opening 45 minutes of the game at Dens Park, which shows that he was too much of a lightweight in the middle of the park. That may have been why Rohl decided to take him off for Barron, who won 100% (2/2) of his duels in the second half.

The Rangers midfielder also failed to take any shots on goal, did not create any chances for his teammates, and did not attempt a single dribble, per Sofascore, which shows that he offered very little in midfield and was just as bad as Miovski, who was as ineffective in and out of possession.

Diomande, who was sent off against Genk in the Europa League in September, has endured a frustrating 2025/26 campaign after catching the eye with his impressive performances last term.

The left-footed star scored four goals and provided seven assists in 36 outings in the Premiership last season, but his form in and out of possession has dropped off a cliff this year.

As you can see in the table above, his defensive and offensive numbers are down across the board in the Premiership for the Gers, which shows that he has been unable to carry last season’s success over to the current one.

His underwhelming performance against Dundee on Sunday was simply the latest in a long line of disappointing performances from the central midfielder for the Light Blues in the 2025/26 campaign, as he has struggled in and out of possession throughout the season.

Given that Barron came on and showed great energy and desire to win 100% of his duels off the bench in the second half, Rohl should ruthlessly ditch Diomande from the starting XI for the clash with Livingston at Ibrox on the other side of the international break.

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The Gers desperately need reinforcements.

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 7, 2025

Miovski and Diomande both failed to offer enough quality on the pitch in the first half against Dundee, hence why they were hauled off at the break, and they should both lose their place in the starting line-up as a result of that.

Former Manchester United winger Antony has become a fan favourite and key figure at Real Betis following his move away from Old Trafford, with centre-back Marc Bartra hailing him as a mixture of Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo. The €25 million signing has rediscovered his confidence and flair in La Liga, earning admiration from those who believe he is now playing the best football of his career.

• Antony enjoying life at Real Betis after Man Utd horror show

  After struggling to make an impact at Manchester United and later falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim, Antony’s future looked uncertain. The Brazilian arrived at Old Trafford as one of the club’s most expensive signings, but inconsistent performances, limited effectiveness in the Premier League’s physically demanding environment, and relentless scrutiny saw him lose confidence rapidly. The collapse of his form became symbolic of United’s broader attacking frustration, leading both the player and club to seek a solution.

  Real Betis provided that opportunity, initially taking him on loan before completing a permanent transfer worth €25 million plus add-ons in the summer window. While he had shown flashes of his old self during his loan spell, returning full-time to La Liga has been transformative. The Spanish style of play, slower tempo, more technical interplay and freedom to take risks, has proven far better suited to his strengths.

  Fans at the Benito Villamarin have embraced Antony as a talismanic winger who can decide matches with pace, trickery and sharp finishing. Inside the dressing room, he has become admired for his work ethic and mental reset, with his attacking contributions helping Manuel Pellegrini’s side push for European qualification.

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• AFP
  

  Bartra heaps massive Neymar-Ronaldo praise on Antony

  Bartra has been among the most vocal cheerleaders for Antony’s revival, praising both his mentality and his natural Brazilian flair. The former Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund defender says La Liga is the perfect environment to showcase the winger’s talent.

  Speaking to Mundobetis, Bartra explained why the club is finally showing the Premier League what they expected to see: “It’s a style of football that suits him very well, that’s why we’re seeing the real Antony again, even improved. The first day I spoke with him, I already saw his mentality, with that quality and that Brazilian talent. I always say he’s a mix between Neymar and Cristiano. He has the same mentality as Cristiano, always striving for more and being very focused on the game.”

  Bartra’s comments reflect the belief within the squad that Antony has rediscovered both his joy and edge in attack. His teammates view him as someone who is setting the tone for the rest of the front line.

• Antony's success at Real Betis down to more freedom

  Antony’s rise at Real Betis has been driven by a dramatic improvement in confidence and decision-making compared to his time in Manchester. At United, he was criticized for being too predictable, repeatedly cutting inside onto his left foot without creating clear chances. Defenders learned how to contain him, diminishing his impact and limiting his willingness to take risks in the final third.

  At Betis, Pellegrini’s system encourages him to drive at defenders, rotate positions more fluidly and combine quickly with overlapping full-backs. The winger has shown a renewed ability to go both ways on the dribble, making him far harder to defend against. He is also creating openings with clever passes that seemed absent from his game at Old Trafford.

  He is also benefiting from being a central focus rather than merely one of many rotating forwards. Betis supporters adore his showmanship, but also value how determined he is to deliver the end product, not just tricks.

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  Could Antony have a shot at the 2026 World Cup with Brazil?

  Antony’s challenge now is consistency — maintaining this level across a full season as Betis push to remain in the European qualification race. The club views him not merely as a short-term star but as a long-term leader of the project, justified by the significant transfer fee and continued support from the board. Betis fans believe he can cement himself as a club icon if he keeps delivering decisive performances in big games.

  Meanwhile, his turnaround has not gone unnoticed beyond Spain. Some Premier League watchers wonder if Manchester United will eventually regret allowing him to depart rather than giving him more time to adapt to English football.

  If the Brazilian continues on this trajectory, a return to the Brazil national team picture could also become a realistic ambition again as the Selecao prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

Leeds United fans will be fearing the worst regarding their lowly team when you glance at the slog of Premier League fixtures coming the Whites’ way across the rest of November and December.

Indeed, November ends with two tough contests versus Aston Villa and Manchester City, with Daniel Farke’s men needing to make home advantage count against the Villans, before travelling to the Etihad to take on the Erling Haaland-led Citizens.

December then throws up clashes with Chelsea and Liverpool, with Farke’s precarious position in the Elland Road dug-out no doubt on even shakier foundations if the losses continue, and Leeds slip into the bottom three in the league.

The pain of poor results across these winter months can always be somewhat remedied by the January transfer window opening, as Leeds attempt to turn around their fortunes with a big signing or two…

Where Leeds can bolster their forward line in January

Based on current rumours coming out of West Yorkshire, it’s clear that a new striker addition is a priority.

In recent days, Leeds have been tipped to make some statement moves, with an audacious swoop for Ivan Toney alleged. Moreover, FC Midtjylland centre-forward Franculino has been on their radar as Farke attempts to move away from solely relying on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha.

On top of talk of Toney and Franculino, Leeds are also chasing after the services of AZ Alkmaar goal machine Troy Parrott, who is very much in the limelight now for his Republic of Ireland heroics.

A report from Dutch outlet Voetbal Neuws, which has been relayed by Sport Witness, states that Leeds have entered discussions to sign the clinical 23-year-old, after being interested in the Dublin-born striker’s signature since the summer.

Now, with a hat-trick under his belt for his nation against Hungary, the ex-Tottenham Hotspur wonderkid is a hot commodity once more, with a bid in the region of £26m expected to be enough to prize him away from the clutches of his Eredivisie employers.

How Parrott can be Leeds' next Rutter

Splashing out such a big amount on an attacker could see Leeds pick up their next iteration of Georginio Rutter, with Rutter eventually going down as a fan’s favourite at Elland Road, after departing Hoffenheim for some lavish bucks.

After a wobbly start mid-way through the 2022/23 season, arriving in a whopping £35.5m deal, Rutter would find his feet under Farke during the following season.

In total, the attacker scored eight goals and tallied up a bumper 18 assists for the Whites, before leaving the building for a Premier League opportunity at Brighton and Hove Albion for £40m. Despite only being around for 66 matches, the skilful Frenchman is still very much fondly remembered, with pundit Jeff Stelling labelling him as a “class act” to watch in West Yorkshire.

Much like Rutter made everything look effortless and smooth donning Leeds white, Parrott has made goalscoring look like clockwork lining up for AZ Alkmaar.

He has netted a ludicrous 13 goals this season in all competitions from only 14 outings, meaning the Irishman is very much living up to his billing of being a “natural goalscorer”, which was handed to him by one of his former coaches in Darragh O’Riley, way back in 2019.

The hope would just be that Parrott would be able to enter the English game and be a hit from the first second he entered the Elland Road turf, with Leeds’ survival chances perhaps resting on the 23-year-old’s lethal instincts getting Farke and Co out of some sticky situations.

Games played

248

Goals scored

97

Assists

26

Career hat-tricks

6

Top goalscorer awards

2x

If he can be a reliable source of goals towards the foot of the difficult division, he will easily be able to reach the same fan favourite status as Rutter before him, with a mighty 97 career goals next to his name at the time of writing.

Parrott could well hit a century of goals in West Yorkshire; therefore, with his former international manager, Stephen Kenny, also noting that the in-demand centre-forward can “elevate” himself to that next level with ease, which could stand him in good stead to become a feared Premier League marksman.

Leeds would have to put their money where their mouth is in landing Parrott, but if the tale of Rutter is anything to go by, it could be worth splashing the big bucks in January as a new fan favourite is potentially unearthed.

Leeds can forget signing Ivan Toney by unleashing 17-year-old goal machine

Leeds United can forget about pursuing a move for Ivan Toney by unleashing one of their homegrown youngsters into the first team mix.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 17, 2025

As he has done so often in his already-impressive MLB career, Shohei Ohtani achieved a feat no other baseball player has accomplished. Ohtani, who made his seventh start of the season on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitched four innings for the first time in 2025, striking out eight batters while allowing no walks and just one earned run. At the dish, Ohtani belted a two-run homer to give himself some run support in the bottom of the third inning.

Since RBI became an official statistic in 1920, Ohtani is the only MLB player to hit a homer, strike out eight-plus hitters, drive in more runs than he allowed and draw more walks than he allowed, according to OptaSTATS. For good measure, Ohtani's third inning homer was also the 1000th hit of his career. In other words, he was quite busy.

The kicker? The Dodgers lost 5-3.

Ohtani, speaking to reporters through his interpreter Will Ireton after the game, expressed his belief that he could have done more to help the Dodgers win, particularly at the plate.

"A really close game throughout," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. "I think it would have been a huge win for us if we were able to flip the script. I could have done better with the quality of at-bats in the middle part of the game."

It's hard to believe that Ohtani could have done more, given just how much he accomplished on the field. But the mindset is admirable nonetheless. He did go on to acknowledge that it was a big day for him "personally", noting he was pleased to pitch through the fourth inning for the first time this season.

But it's clear that he would have been more pleased had the Dodgers managed to earn a win. And wins are becoming even more paramount for Los Angeles, which holds just a two-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League West.