Rounding the Bases: MLB Straight Up Picks for Every Game Today (Take Boston in Battle of the Sox)

There's no better way to celebrate the start of the weekend than to sit back and cheer for a few bets across Major League Baseball. We have 14 games set to take place across the Majors and if it seems intimidating to handicap today's action, I'm here to help you out.

I'm going to go through each game and break down my pick for each one. Let's dive into it.

Twins vs. Pirates Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Pirates +106

Mitch Keller has been on fire since getting off to a slow start to the season. He has allowed no more than one run in four of his last five starts. The Twins offense has been bad of late and it's not going to get easier for them going up against Keller today.

Brewers vs. Tigers Prediction and Pick

Braves vs. Nationals Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Braves -210

No offense has been worse in Major League Baseball over the past month than the Washington Nationals, who have an OPS of .621 over that time span. Now, they have to take on Chris Sale who has an 8-1 record and a 3.06 ERA this season. Braves all day.

Orioles vs. Rays Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Orioles -116

I still think the Rays are one of the most overvalued teams in the betting market this season. The Orioles rank third in OPS over the past month while the Rays come in at 28th, while also rocking one of the worst bullpens. One top of all that, the O's are starting Cole Irvin (2.84 ERA) against the Aaron Civale (5.37 ERA). Baltimore is the obvious pick.

Dodgers vs. Yankees Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Yankees +108

The Yankees have statistically been the best team in baseball this season so I'm surprised they're this big of underdogs to the Dodgers at home on Friday night. Over the last 30 days, the Yankees have an eye-popping OPS of .825 while the Dodgers have an OPS of just .708, which ranks 14th in the Majors. I'll take New York at home.

Cubs vs. Reds Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Reds -110

After a terrible start to the season, the Reds offense is starting to wake up so it's time to buy some stock in Cincinnati. They're fifth in the Majors in OPS over the last 30 days while the Cubs are 29th in that time span.

Guardians vs. Marlins Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Guardians -126

The Marlins may have the better pitching matchup with Ryan Weathers (3.41 ERA) taking on Logan Allen (5.83 ERA), but what's more important is that both pitchers are lefties. The Guardians have been specifically better against left-handed pitchers this season, ranking sixth in OPS against lefties compared to the Marlins who are dead last in that stat with an OPS of just .589.

Giants vs. Rangers Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Giants -120

Not only do the Rangers have one of the worst bullpens in the Majors, but their offense has been terrible lately as well. They rank 25th in OPS over the last 30 days. I can't find a single reason to back the Rangers at home in this interleague showdown.

Mariners vs. Royals Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Royals +106

We have a chance to bet on the Royals, who are second in OPS over the past 30 days, as underdogs against the Mariners, who are 26th in that stat over the same time frame. Sure, Bryce Miller is on the mound for Seattle, but I can't trust this Mariners offense enough to bet on them as road favorites.

Red Sox vs. White Sox Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Red Sox -110

I'll back Boston as a pick'em in the battle of the Sox. I see now reason why the odds should be this close considering the Red Sox have had a top 10 offense in the Majors almost all season while Chicago has been one of the worst.

Rockies vs. Cardinals Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Rockies +158

Austin Gomber, despite having to pitch at Coors Field, has been fantastic this season with a 3.06 ERA. If there's any time you want to take a shot on Colorado as a big underdog, the time to do it is when Gomber's on the mound.

Astros vs. Angels Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Astros -184

The Astros' offense has woken up and now rank fourth in the Majors in OPS over the last 30 days while batting .260 over that stretch. With Framber Valdez (3.95 ERA) on the mound, the Astros have a chance to win this game running away.

Blue Jays vs. Athletics Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Athletics +136

The A's might be a better team than people think. They have one of the best bullpen ERAs in Major League Baseball, while the Blue Jays have one of the worst. Hogan Harris has also pitched well in his first handful of starts, sporting a 3.14 ERA. We should feel comfortable betting against the Blue Jays this season.

Diamondbacks vs. Padres Prediction and Pick

  • Pick: Diamondbacks -102

The Diamondbacks offense has better numbers than the Padres over the last 30 days, with a .701 OPS compared to a .683 OPS for San Diego. With a game that is close to a coin flip in my opinion, I'll back the slight underdog in Arizona.

Man Utd submit £13m bid to sign "great" Real Madrid player and get reply

Still on the hunt for an Andre Onana upgrade, Manchester United have now reportedly submitted an opening offer worth £13m to sign a Champions League-winning shot-stopper.

Man Utd's goalkeeper search still ongoing

Having already reinforced their attacking options with the arrival of Matheus Cunha and with negotiations ongoing to sign Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United have turned their focus towards their goalkeeper department.

Onana’s position as Old Trafford’s No.1 has seemed at risk since his debut season and the former Inter Milan man could finally be forced to relinquish his role if United get their wish this summer.

To that end, a number of names have been mentioned as potential options, with the most prominent of which being Emiliano Martinez.

Best Young Player winner Argentina's Enzo Fernandez,GoldenBall winner Argentina's Lionel Messi,GoldenGlovewinner Argentina's EmilianoMartinezandGoldenBoot winner France's Kylian Mbappe pose

The World Cup winner reportedly prefers a move to Manchester United over Barcelona and could be on his way out of Aston Villa amid their PSR concerns this month.

Meanwhile, what would help speed things up in the goalkeeper department is if AS Monaco complete their move to sign Onana. The Ligue 1 side are reportedly interested in signing the Cameroon international in an unexpected move this summer.

By showing Onana the door, it would almost be a guarantee that Manchester United will welcome another goalkeeper this summer. It would just be a matter of who. As much as Aston Villa will be concerned about their PSR situation, they’ll no doubt be desperate to avoid selling one of Unai Emery’s star players to a Premier League rival this summer and that may leave INEOS scrambling for other options.

If the Villans successfully fend off any interest from United, then the Red Devils could yet reportedly welcome a two-time Champions League winner in the coming months.

Man Utd submit first Andriy Lunin bid

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United submitted a bid worth €15m (£13m) to sign Andriy Lunin from Real Madrid but have since had that offer rejected by the Spanish giants. A deal is still there to be made, however, even if the Red Devils must increase their offer.

Having rejected the £13m offer, Real Madrid are reportedly demanding around €25m (£21m) to sell Lunin this summer in what should be seen as an affordable price for those at Old Trafford to match.

Starts

7

34

Saves P90

1.86

2.59

Save Percentage

65%

68.9%

Whilst the Ukraine international deserves credit for how he stepped up for Thibaut Courtois at times last season, there remain question marks over his ability to become a permanent No.1 elsewhere.

It is Lunin’s ability on the ball that stands out rather than his shot-stopping skills according to Ben Mattinson, however. The analyst was full of praise for the Madrid man, dubbing his ball-playing ability “great” albeit whilst also describing the goalkeeper as a “top shot stopper”.

Amorim keen: Bayern Munich now open to selling Man Utd target for just £30m

Ruben Amorim wants to sign him this summer.

1 ByHenry Jackson Jun 22, 2025

Although the jury is still out on Lunin, it’s clear that United must replace Onana this summer and doing so by signing a two-time Champions League winner could be the way to do exactly that.

BCCI AGM: Finding Jay Shah's replacement as secretary on members' minds

Members present at the BCCI’s 93rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Bengaluru on Sunday requested incumbent secretary Jay Shah to speed up the process of finding his successor to make the transition as smooth as possible. Shah is expected to step down from his post in the last week of November to take over as chairman of the ICC for a three-year period from December 1.While selecting the new secretary was not on the AGM agenda, it has been learnt that the attendees discussed the succession plan among themselves.”It was a normal request to keep all due processes in place at the earliest as [then] there will be clarity for us,” a state association representative who attended the AGM told PTI.As things stand, Rohan Jaitley, president of Delhi and District Cricket Association, BCCI treasurer Ashish Shelar, joint-secretary Devajit Saikia and Gujarat Cricket Association secretary Anil Patel are in the mix to succeed Shah.The primary focal point of the AGM was the nomination of India’s two representatives to attend ICC meetings. Currently Shah is the BCCI’s representative on the ICC Board and IPL chairman Arun Dhumal has the same role in the Chief Executives’ Committee.The AGM entrusted the general body members with recommending two names for the posts at the earliest.Arun Dhumal and Avishek Dalmiya were also elected to the IPL Governing Council (GC) as general body representatives, with the former set to continue as the league’s chairman till at least IPL 2025.Former Andhra cricketer V Chamundeswarnath was nominated by the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA) as a player representative and was inducted into the IPL GC.The AGM also ratified the annual budget for the 2024-25 season, and the members unanimously resolved to maintain BCCI’s legal status as a society, an item which was originally not on the agenda of the meeting. “The members further resolved that the tournaments of the BCCI, including the IPL, shall not be converted into a company,” a BCCI statement said.

Everton could now make shock move to sign £250k-p/w England star for Moyes

Everton are all set for a summer of change now their move from Goodison Park has been completed and could now make a surge to land one of the Premier League’s most recognisable names.

Everton and the challenges that await them this summer

Without stating the obvious too much, there is still a lot of work for David Moyes and the Friedkin Group to do before the Toffees can safely say they have the strength in depth required to compete next term.

Joao Virginia, Asmir Begovic, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Ashley Young have departed, alongside several loanees, offering an indication of where incomings may surface.

At the same time, questions exist over other out-of-contract stars, such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Seamus Coleman.

Everton's DominicCalvert-Lewincelebrates their third goal, an own goal scored by Tottenham Hotspur's Archie Gray

In recent times, Everton losing out on Liam Delap to Chelsea has also hit the headlines. Nevertheless, the other end of the field may require the most attention to ensure the Toffees maintain their strong foundations next campaign.

Central defender Michael Keane is another star due to leave on a free transfer who hasn’t yet confirmed his future at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Why may his renewal become important? Simply put, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite is attracting a lot of interest from elsewhere, including former suitors Manchester United.

The England international is the jewel in the Toffees’ crown and it remains to be seen whether he will stick around. Seeking a contingency plan, Moyes could turn to Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah as an unexpected solution for a fee in the region of £29 million.

While that may come as a surprise to Everton supporters, they may be even more intrigued by the latest name to crop up on their shortlist as a target to strengthen their backline.

Everton eye shock move for Man City star John Stones

According to The Mirror, Everton are eyeing a shock move for Manchester City defender John Stones and he would need to take a pay cut from his £250,000 per week wages to sign for his former club.

The England international has one year left on his deal, and it is said that the Citizens wouldn’t stand in the way of his departure or be difficult to negotiate with due to his need for regular minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

John Stones at Everton – could a shock return be on the cards?

Years spent at Everton

3

Appearances

95

Goals

1

Assists

N/A

Joined Man City in 2016 for an initial £47.5 million

Dubbed “sensational” by Jamie Carragher, Stones has struggled with injuries this term and made just 20 appearances across all competitions, registering three goals and two assists.

Having turned 31 years of age, his time at the Etihad Stadium could now be over, and his openness to a move back to the blue half of Merseyside may prove to be a catalyst in the Toffees’ pursuit of a new defender.

Of course, Everton fans will know all too well that Stones is a force to be reckoned with after watching him claim six wins against his former side over the years. Now, he could be in the Blues’ corner the next time they face Pep Guardiola’s men.

After opening classic, Sri Lanka and India look to break tie and get the lead

Expect the Khettarama to aid spinners again, but rain could well disrupt the game

Karthik Krishnaswamy03-Aug-20245:07

1st ODI takeaways: India’s casual approach, Rohit’s reliability and more

Big picture – More grip and turn at the Khettarama?Where do ODIs sit on world cricket’s priority list? The answer sits right there in India’s schedule: they only have one more ODI series lined up between their current tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in February-March 2025.It’s a weird time for bilateral ODIs, then, and weirder still for a series involving Sri Lanka, who haven’t even qualified for the Champions Trophy. How appropriate, then, that Friday produced an absolute classic of the format, a twisty, slow-burning tie that showed – just as last year’s World Cup did, time after time – that the ODI remains a brilliant canvas for cricket’s skills. It would be a pity if the sport’s future landscape retained no meaningful space for the format.Related

Hasaranga, Asalanka pick up three-fors to force a tie

India, Sri Lanka throw it back to the '90s in Colombo classic

Wellalage turns to Nissanka for inspiration

For now, two more matches of an unexpectedly zany tour remain. After three successive collapses in the T20Is – 9 for 30, 7 for 31 and 7 for 22 – Sri Lanka will take some confidence from how they fought back from 101 for 5 in the first ODI on Friday, and will hope they can push India even further in the next two matches.The third T20I in Pallekele and the first ODI in Colombo both showed that spin-friendly conditions significantly narrow the quality gap between these teams. If Khettarama continues to provide ample grip and turn, then, who can say which way this series will tilt?Form guideSri Lanka TLWLW
India TWLWLIn the spotlight – Avishka Fernando and Washington SundarSince the start of 2023, when he returned from a year-long injury absence, Avishka Fernando hasn’t quite reached the heights he had promised in the early part of his ODI career. He has averaged under 20 over these last 19 months, and while that stretch has included scores of 88 and 91 against Afghanistan, it has also highlighted a tendency for early dismissal, with nine of his 13 innings bringing him single-digit scores. Avishka finished LPL 2024 as its third-highest run-getter, however, with 374 runs at an average of 37.40 and a strike rate of 162.60, suggesting that a return to his international best may also be imminent.In the first ODI, Washington Sundar was easily the most expensive of India’s three main spinners•PTI Washington Sundar began the first ODI promisingly, ripping his first ball past Charith Asalanka’s outside edge. He endured mixed returns thereafter, however; he picked up the wicket of the half-centurion Pathum Nissanka, but was easily the most expensive of India’s three main spinners, going for 46 in his nine overs and conceding 31 off 34 balls to left-hand batters, his favourable match-up. Then he was out for 5 after being promoted to No. 4. None of this would be held against him in the normal course of things, because all cricketers go through such days, but Washington knows he’s third in line behind Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel in India’s hierarchy of spin-bowling allrounders leading up to the Champions Trophy, with Riyan Parag also waiting for a chance to show what he can do in ODIs.Team news – will Khaleel or Harshit get a chance?Wanindu Hasaranga will miss the remainder of the ODI series with a hamstring injury. Jeffrey Vandersay has come into the squad as his replacement. Sri Lanka have the option of lengthening their batting by bringing in Chamika Karunaratne for Mohamed Shiraz, though it seems unlikely they would leave out a young fast bowler after just one game.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Wanindu Hasaranga/Jeffrey Vandersay, 9 Akila Dananjaya, 10 Mohamed Shiraz, 11 Asitha FernandoIndia, meanwhile, could look to give Mohammed Siraj, who has featured in all three T20Is as well as the first ODI, a break, and give one of Khaleel Ahmed and Harshit Rana a go in the pace attack.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Arshdeep SinghPathum Nissanka has the best average of the 21 Sri Lanka batters with at least 2000 ODI runs•Getty ImagesPitch and conditionsSpinners took 13 of the 18 wickets that fell in the first ODI, and this was by no means unusual for Khettarama. Since the start of 2022, spin has accounted for as many wickets here (101) as pace, and while fast bowlers have returned a slightly better overall average here (27.04) than the spinners (28.82) in this time, they have also been more expensive, going at 5.28 to the spinners’ 4.67. Expect similar scenes on Sunday, weather permitting: scattered showers are expected through the day.Stats and trivia India had won six ODIs on the bounce against Sri Lanka before Friday’s tie. Their last defeat came in July 2021, when Avishka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa made half-centuries in a successful chase of 227 in Colombo. Virat Kohli is 128 runs away from becoming the third batter, after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara, to reach the milestone of 14,000 in ODIs. Siraj has an absurdly good ODI record against Sri Lanka: 20 wickets in seven matches at an average of 9.10. Pathum Nissanka has the best average (44.72) of the 21 Sri Lanka batters with at least 2000 ODI runs. He also has the fourth-best strike rate among them (90.47), with only Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera and Sanath Jayasuriya above him.

Premier League Sack Race: Ranking Every Top-Flight Manager (2025)

The life of a Premier League manager is a precious one; they seldom last as long as they should, with trigger-happy owners desperate to instigate the change their ailing clubs need to remain competitive, whether that’s through surviving the drop or simply staying relevant in the race for European football.

So with 20 bosses fighting for their jobs on a weekly basis, who could be next to leave? With the 2024/25 campaign in its final weeks, there could be clubs contemplating changes ahead of the summer.

Here, our ranking takes us through the managers we think are closest to being shown the exit door. As well as the threat of dismissal, we have also factored in managers wo may be tempted to jump ship, adding some uncertainty to their futures at their respective clubs.

This is how we think the Premier League’s managerial sack race stands at this late stage of the campaign, with our reasoning for each one below:

Rank

Manager

Club

Date appointed

Oliver Glasner

Crystal Palace

February 2024

Arne Slot

Liverpool

May 2025

David Moyes

Everton

January 2025

Mikel Arteta

Arsenal

December 2019

Vitor Pereira

Wolves

December 2024

Unai Emery

Aston Villa

November 2022

Andoni Iraola

Bournemouth

June 2023

Marco Silva

Fulham

July 2021

Thomas Frank

Brentford

October 2018

Ange Postecoglou

Tottenham

June 2023

Enzo Maresca

Chelsea

June 2024

Eddie Howe

Newcastle

November 2021

Pep Guardiola

Man City

July 2016

Nuno Espirito Santo

Nottingham Forest

December 2023

Fabian Hurzeler

Brighton

June 2024

Kieran McKenna

Ipswich

December 2021

Graham Potter

West Ham

January 2025

Ruben Amorim

Man Utd

November 2024

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Leicester

November 2024

Here’s a further look at our rankings in more detail…

1 Oliver Glasner Crystal Palace

Oliver Glasner’s tenure at Crystal Palace could hardly have gone better. After comfortably staying up in the 2023/24 season, he picked the Eagles up from a slow start to the most recent campaign and survived with ease once again.

But the crowning glory came in the FA Cup final at Wembley, as Crystal Palace became cup winners for the first time with a historic 1-0 win over Manchester City to write their names into the record books. There is simply no one they’d swap the Austrian for right now.

2 Arne Slot Liverpool

Liverpool manager ArneSlotlooks on

There are few safer hot seats in Europe than the one occupied by Arne Slot at Liverpool. The Dutchman steered the Reds to a pretty comfortable Premier League triumph in his first season in charge as he replaced the great Jurgen Klopp.

Cynics will argue that the competition was nowhere near as fierce, but Liverpool’s status as a top side in English football and Europe looks assured under the former Feyenoord boss, who will look to emulate Jose Mourinho by securing two titles in his first two seasons.

Having not bought anyone of note in the summer (sorry, Federico Chiesa), his success is all the more impressive.

3 David Moyes Everton

It may be a slight stretch to call David Moyes a miracle worker, but even the Friedkin Group must be delighted with how things have gone in the past few months for Everton.

With the Scot drafted in to rescue his old club from relegation ahead of their move to Bramley-Moore Dock, Moyes not only made the Toffees more solid in the wake of Sean Dyche’s exit, but turned them into winners.

Seven wins and counting since January saw Everton coast to top-flight safety, and with only four league defeats since Moyes’ return, the Merseysiders were able to give Goodison Park the send-off it deserved without the threat of demotion hanging over them. There is no one more fitting to kickstart the new era.

4 Mikel Arteta Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has transformed the Gunners into a European powerhouse. Despite not adding to his FA Cup triumph in 2020, the north Londoners are undoubtedly one of the strongest sides in the league, if not on the continent.

That is a testament to the Spaniard’s work at the Emirates Stadium, with Arteta juggling injuries and suspensions galore in 2024/25 to steer Arsenal to just their third Champions League semi-final and what looks to be a third successive runners-up place in the Premier League.

With a big summer surely in the offing, you can bet Arteta will be backed to keep up the good work.

5 Vitor Pereira Wolves

Vitor Pereira was tasked with saving Wolves following his arrival in December 2024, with the Old Gold still in single figures in terms of points, and five from safety.

A superb run of form – including six straight wins between March and April – effectively secured their survival, even ahead of the likes of West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Heading into his first full season, Fosun must be licking their lips over what the Portuguese coach can do with his squad over the long term.

6 Unai Emery Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery.

Aston Villa have had a superb time of it under Unai Emery, with Champions League qualification leading to some of Villa Park’s greatest nights.

They have all been made possible by Emery’s work since his appointment in November 2022, which has seen the Villans transformed from Premier League strugglers to Champions League quarter-finalists in less than three years.

With European qualification assured (and perhaps another CL berth), Emery will surely not be going anywhere anytime soon.

7 Andoni Iraola Bournemouth

Andoni Iraola is one of the Premier League’s brightest minds in the dugout. He has taken Bournemouth to the brink of Europe following a superb top-flight campaign that has delivered their highest points total at this level.

That consistency will leave him with plenty of credit in the bank, though a big test will be how he addresses the departure of Dean Huijsen in the summer.

The next step for the Spaniard will be European qualification, and having performed well against the bigger sides in the league, Iraola may yet set his sights on new heights down on the south coast.

8 Marco Silva Fulham

Fulham manager Marco Silva

Marco Silva looks at home as Fulham boss, with the Portuguese coach delivering another impressive campaign. Indeed, the Cottagers have only just exited European contention at the back end of the season.

His record at Craven Cottage thus far suggests they will remain an awkward side to face, with cup success or European qualification surely only around the corner if they can keep progressing under his tutelage.

9 Thomas Frank Brentford

Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

How Thomas Frank continues to get results out of Brentford is remarkably impressive. Not panicked by the exit of Ivan Toney in the summer, the Bees have shown they are arguably a better side without him, while the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa have steadily improved, demonstrating Frank’s capabilities as a coach.

European qualification remains a slight possibility heading into the final game of the season, and it would be just rewards for a club that is one of the most stable in the Premier League, largely thanks to Frank’s prowess from the dugout.

You get the feeling that as long as Frank remains, Brentford are in good hands.

10 Ange Postecoglou Tottenham

Who knows what the future holds for Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur? Anyone with Spurs’ results record would surely have expected a dismissal at some point. But to give credit where it’s due, Daniel Levy’s decision to stick by his man delivered Tottenham that long-awaited trophy following Europa League glory in May.

However, one gets the impression that all is not rosy for the Australian in N17, with Postecoglou appearing to have a fractured relationship with the supporters during the past 10 months.

Whether a European trophy can build bridges and lead to a season more akin to his first in north London remains to be seen, so you do feel that Postecoglou’s future is still in the balance.

Spurs flop who's becoming the new Ndombele must not play for the club again

da aposte e ganhe: The season may be over, and the fans may still be basking in the glory of Europa League success, but there is still plenty of work for the Tottenham Hotspur board to do in the coming months.

da apostaganha: The summer transfer window is set to open in a matter of days, and with Champions League football now secure, Daniel Levy and Co must do everything they can to bring in the best players to support Ange Postecoglou and his squad.

However, it’s not all about incomings, as the club now have a golden opportunity to offload a number of players who simply aren’t good enough.

Specifically, Levy and Co should look to sell someone who’s in real danger of becoming the club’s new Tanguy Ndombele.

Ndombele's Spurs career

Back in the summer of 2019, Spurs were crying out for some midfield reinforcements, and so the club did something quite out of character and smashed their transfer record to bring in Ndombele for around £63m.

Tanguy Ndombele

There was plenty of excitement around the move at the time, as the Frenchman was coming off a stellar campaign with Lyon, and several prominent journalists were even comparing him to the simply sensational Mousa Dembélé – yes, seriously.

Unfortunately, aside from the good performance here and there, the Longjumeau-born ace never got anywhere near the level that was expected of him, so much so that after just two and a half years, he was sent back to Lyon on a short-term loan.

Ndombele’s Spurs career

Appearances

91

Goals

10

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.20

All Stats via Transfermarkt

After that, he spent a season with Napoli and then another with Galatasary, finally leaving N17 after his contract was terminated by mutual consent, with 91 Tottenham appearances to his name, in which he scored ten goals and provided nine assists.

With his fee, lack of game time and poor performances all taken into account, it’s not hard to see why journalist Paul Brown described Ndombele as “one of the worst signings Spurs have ever made.”

tanguy-ndombele-tottenham-hotspur-transfer-hojbjerg-pochettino

Unfortunately, the club now have another midfielder who could be in a similar conversation, unless they sell him this summer, that is.

The Spurs player who must be sold

Now, while a number of squad members should be sold this summer, the player we are talking about is Yves Bissouma.

Chalkboard

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

Like Ndombele before him, there was quite a bit of excitement around the Mali international’s transfer to Spurs back in 2022, with content creator George Benson describing the deal as “an absolutely brilliant signing.”

However, instead of getting the unreal midfield destroyer who was sensational for Brighton & Hove Albion, the North Londoners ended up with a player who has had more questionable performances than good ones.

Tottenham Hotspur's YvesBissoumaarrives before the match

For example, while he was undeniably excellent in the Europa League final, he was terrible against his old club on Sunday, earning himself a 4/10 match rating from Alasdair Gold, who rather charitably described him as ‘clumsy.’

It was a similar story away to Fulham earlier in the season when Gold gave him 3/10 and wrote that ‘his use of the ball was dreadful.’

Go back another few months to December, and he put in such a poor display at home to Chelsea – in which he gave away a penalty – that Jamie Carragher slammed him for being “absolutely ridiculous.”

Finally, on top of being unable to string together a number of good performances, the 28-year-old has a sketchy fitness record at best, which has seen him miss 25 games for club and country since moving to N17.

Tottenham Hotspur's YvesBissoumareacts after being substituted

Ultimately, it’s in Spurs’ best interest to say thanks for the performance in the final and sell Bissouma this summer before another season of dismal displays turns him into the modern Ndombele.

Massive Tel upgrade: Spurs ready £38m offer to sign "unstoppable" star

Spurs could sign an upgrade on Tel for £38m this summer.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 27, 2025

A bigger name than Mourinho: Spurs should hire "elite" Postecoglou upgrade

Tottenham Hotspur are potentially two games away from doing something seriously special in the Europa League.

However, while Ange Postecoglou could lead his side to continental success, the club’s domestic form cannot be described as anything other than shambolic.

With three games left to play in the Premier League, the North Londoners have been on the losing side 19 times and sit just a point above West Ham United in 16th place.

Unsurprisingly, such wretched form has led to reports suggesting that Postecoglou is set to be replaced in the summer, regardless of what happens in the Europa League.

There have been a whole host of names linked with the club in recent weeks, but there has been one which would represent a massive coup for the Lilywhites: someone who’s an even bigger name than José Mourinho and would be an enormous upgrade on Ange.

Tottenham's manager search

The last few weeks have seen a variety of managers linked with the Spurs job, and while there have been some underwhelming ones, like Scott Parker, there have been some more exciting ones as well, like Marco Silva and Andonio Iraola.

Transfer Focus

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The former has helped turn Fulham from a yo-yo club into a mid-table Premier League side that can give anyone a game on their day.

It’s been an even more impressive transformation down at the Vitality Stadium, with Iraola taking the Cherries from relegation favourites near the start of last season to genuine contenders for a European place this season.

Moreover, the Spaniard helped to get the financially minuscule Rayo Vallecano promoted to La Liga during his time in the Spanish capital.

However, even with the aforementioned managers, there is an element of risk, as none of them have taken over a club as big as Spurs, so there will always be lingering questions over how they’d cope with it.

So, with this in mind, reports from GIVEMESPORT late last month that claimed the Tottenham board had held international discussions about hiring Carlo Ancelotti are so exciting.

It would be an incredibly ambitious move, and one that might not pan out if reports linking the Italian to the Brazilian job are accurate, but if it paid off, the club would have themselves a significant upgrade on Postecoglou and a bigger name than Mourinho.

Why Ancelotti would be an incredible hire

So, before we look at how he stacks up against Postecoglou, let’s delve into just why we think he’s now a bigger name than Mourinho, as we’re sure it’s a point that the ‘special one’ would wholeheartedly disagree with.

Firstly, timing is crucial in this argument, as during Mourinho’s peak years at Chelsea, Inter Milan and, to some extent, Real Madrid, he’d undoubtedly be the ‘bigger name’, but in the last seven years or so, that has completely changed.

For example, since the start of the 16/17 season, the Portuguese coach has only won the League Cup and Europa League with Manchester United, and the Conference League with AS Roma.

In comparison, the Real boss has won the Bundesliga and two German Super Cups with Bayern Munich and three Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles, one Spanish Cup, two Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Supercups, the FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, all with Real Madrid.

Moreover, the Reggiolo-born mastermind also won the Champions League in his first stint with Los Blancos and twice with AC Milan, so there is a very genuine case for him being the greatest manager in the world.

With all that said, it should come as no surprise that when we compare his recent record to Postecoglou, he comes out so far ahead that it is almost pointless.

For example, in his current stint with Real, the “elite” 65-year-old, as dubbed by talkSPORT host Adrian Durham, has won 161 games, drawn 34 and lost 35, which comes out to an average of 2.25 points per game.

Games

230

96

Wins

161

45

Draws

34

14

Losses

35

37

Points per Game

2.25

1.55

In contrast, the Australian has overseen 45 wins, 14 draws and 37 losses, resulting in a far worse average of 1.55 points per game.

Ultimately, if there is any chance whatsoever for Spurs to sign Ancelotti in the coming weeks, they have to take it, as he’d be a monumental upgrade on Ange.

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Suryakumar and Bumrah give India a winning start to the Super Eight

Rashid Khan starred with the ball for Afghanistan but their batters fell short against India’s attack

Alagappan Muthu20-Jun-20241:18

Manjrekar: SKY showed his value on a tricky pitch

There were geniuses at play in Bridgetown, wearing the India blue as they cruised to victory in their first Super Eight game against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2024. The pitch, once again, was tough to bat on: slow and offering purchase to everyone willing to roll their fingers across the ball. Suryakumar Yadav, though, found a way to prosper as he often does in T20 cricket, helping his team post an above-par total of 181 for 7. That brought Jasprit Bumrah into the fray and he immediately set about dismantling Afghanistan, his two early strikes leaving them indisposed for the rest of the chase.

The old guard

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma did not play a single T20I between the end of the previous World Cup in 2022 and January this year. But they’re here now because they want that medal around their neck. They want to be world champions. And to that end, they’ve been open to batting in a different way. Rohit made only 8 off 13 but he looked to hit a boundary off six of those balls. Kohli was going smoothly but he wasn’t willing to settle for that. He looked to hit Rashid Khan for six and got caught.After being burned in big matches for being too conservative, India have ditched the safety-first approach. And the reason for that played out in the middle overs of this game. When Kohli fell, ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster had their total tracking down by 18 runs to 171. In the space of a mere six balls, the other batters had it tracking back up by the same number of runs. India were set to reach 189 now. That’s how quickly a game can change in this format. That’s why it’s better to have tried and failed than not try and all.

Surya on song

It’s possible India knew this all along but were holding back because they weren’t comfortable with the options they had down the order. That’s changed now because their best T20 batter mans the No. 4 position.Suryakumar played some special shots – not in the way you usually associate with, where he finds a soft spot in the laws of physics and mercilessly pokes holes in them. But more in terms of just knowing his areas and trusting his skill. Even the one time when he made jaws drop to the floor – dragging Azmatullah Omarzai from somewhere off the wide line to the square-leg boundary – he was just trying to put away a full toss. The legside was the shorter boundary. It just made sense.Jasprit Bumrah struck off his second ball against Afghanistan and finished with 3 for 7•CREIMAS

Suryakumar focused on three things while he was out there. Sweep to mess with the wristspinners. He played four and each of them resulted in a boundary. Smash whenever the quicks went too full. He struck a six that sailed into the three Ws stand and held his pose. Worrell, Weeks and Walcott would’ve loved that. Finally swipe – after making sure to hold his shape – when they went slower ball. First time he tried it, he got beaten. Second time, he nearly hit the ball out of the ground. This was a classic case of an attacking batter paring down his options to just those he knew would succeed in the conditions.Suryakumar was box office, even without bat in hand. In between the innings, he admitted that he was nervous. “I began chewing my gum harder when Kohli got out.” But he knew he couldn’t let himself be bogged down. “It was important to keep the intent up.” India do not want to fall into the same traps as before. This World Cup, they’re going to bat like they have a full ten wickets to spare.

Bumrah on fire

He has twice as many wickets as he’s conceded boundaries (8 vs 4) in this T20 World Cup. Bumrah is undeniably India’s most important player. He came on to bowl after Rahmanullah Gurbaz had struck a lion’s share of the 13 runs in the first over of the chase. He had seen, in the first innings, that slower balls had been mighty effective (five wickets for 30 runs at an economy rate of 7.2). Immediately, he dialled one up and also shifted his line real wide to deny Gurbaz the straight hit that he likes so much. Assessing the conditions and the opposition to that degree that quickly is the reason why he is an all-format great. He gave away only seven runs, the second-fewest by an Indian bowling four overs in a T20I.There were further positives as well. Kuldeep Yadav, back in the XI to exploit favourable conditions, picked up 2 for 32. Axar Patel began with a wicket-maiden in the powerplay. Ravindra Jadeja had a good run out as well. And Arshdeep recovered from a two-over spell for 22 runs to almost pick up a hat-trick in the dying moments.

Marinakis pushing: £25m+ Nottingham Forest target now keen to complete move

In a major boost for those at the City Ground, one Nottingham Forest target is now reportedly keen to complete a move this summer with Evangelos Marinakis also pushing to get a deal done.

Nottingham Forest's UCL run-in

Whilst one win in their last five Premier League games should ignite plenty of concern around the City Ground, Forest’s fate is still in their own hands with three big fixtures left to play. After drawing against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sit sixth and two points adrift of Chelsea in the final Champions League place, who they face on the final day.

Nuno recently had his say on his side’s performance against Crystal Palace whilst instantly looking ahead to the Leicester City game.

The Forest boss said: “It was very important to react, it was a big blow to go behind because we were in a tough position when we conceded the penalty but the reaction of the boys was amazing and we should be proud of that. We are delighted to be in the fight. Let’s go game by game now starting with Leicester at The City Ground.”

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The impact that Champions League qualification would have both on and off the pitch cannot be overstated, especially as those at the City Ground go in pursuit of one particular target.

Yilmaz now keen on Nottingham Forest move

According to Turkish outlet Sabah, Baris Alper Yilmaz is now keen on a move to Nottingham Forest and Evangelos Marinakis is pushing to complete a deal ahead of this summer. The winger was at the centre of Forest’s interest in January but failed to swap Galatasaray for the City Ground. Now, six months on, Forest could match his price-tag reportedly worth over €30m (£26m).

Forest’s interest should come as no surprise either. The Turkey international has enjoyed an excellent campaign at Galatasaray – scoring 12 goals and assisting a further 10 in all competitions. The difference that another outlet would offer Forest must be noted amid Chris Wood’s recent struggles too. Without the New Zealand forward’s clinical form to turn towards, the Reds have struggled in the decisive moments.

What’s more, Yilmaz has already earned an impressive fan in the Premier League in the form of Virgil van Dijk. The Liverpool captain praised the winger after the Netherlands squared off against Turkey at the Euros last summer, telling reporters: “Baris Alper Yilmaz was running constantly. He was running elusive.

“It was difficult for every defender. He made it very hard for us. He couldn’t score a goal though. If we were to describe him in any way, he is a really important player.”

Now reportedly keen on a move to Forest, Yilmaz could finally be on his way to the Premier League and the City Ground in the coming months.