Bayern Munich’s honorary president has claimed that Newcastle massively overpaid for their new striker Nick Woltemade.
Hoeness claims Newcastle overpaidMagpies added Woltemade and Wissa to attackFollowed record sale of Isak to LiverpoolFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Uli Hoeness has claimed that the Magpies spent too much on the imposing German striker who arrived at St. James’ Park for £69 million (€80m) in the closing days of the transfer window. Bayern had seemed the likely destination for the 6’ 6 forward earlier in the summer, but the Bavarian giants were unwilling to match Stuttgart’s asking price. Now, with Bayern having Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson as a costly loan back up for key man Harry Kane, Hoeness has criticised Newcastle.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT HOENESS SAID
Speaking to SPORT1-Doppelpass, Hoeness said: "He [Woltemade] isn’t worth the 90 million. That only happened because of the money flowing from Saudi Arabia."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Hoeness dismissed a question that asked whether Bayern and Germany legend Lothar Matthaus’ assessment of Woltemade as a €80-€100m player was spot on. However, Newcastle fans may feel aggrieved by the notion that Saudi Arabian money funded the deal. The Magpies earned a British transfer record fee from Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool and were able to bring in both Woltemade and Yoanne Wissa for a similar combined fee.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
gettyWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?
Having missed out on Woltemade, Bayern will have to rely on a strike force of Kane and Jackson. Although, the long-term future of the latter at the club is already being quashed by Hoeness – despite the Senegalese striker yet to kick a ball in a Bayern shirt.
أكد سيد عبد الحفيظ، مدير الكرة السابق بالنادي الأهلي، أن المرحلة الحالية تتطلب تكاتفاً ودعماً كبيراً للفريق قبل المواجهة المرتقبة أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا في الدوري الممتاز، مشدداً على أن الانتقادات في هذا التوقيت لن تكون في مصلحة النادي.
وقال عبد الحفيظ في تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعيب” على قناة “MBC مصر”: “ما أراه إن هذا التوقيت يحتاج إلى تكاتف أكثر، الفترة الماضية انتقدنا الفريق، لكن الآن نحن على وشك مباراة هامة جدًا قد تعيدك للمنافسة”.
وتابع سيد عبد الحفيظ: “أنا كمنتمي للأهلي أتساءل، هل من مصلحة الأهلي أن ننتقد الآن؟ لا، المفترض أن نجتمع الآن قبل مواجهة سيراميكا كليوباترا لأنها مباراة هامة”.
وأضاف: “مشكلة الأهلي في اللاعبين أنفسهم، عليهم أن يعرفوا المعنى الحقيقي للأهلي والسمات الحقيقية التي تميز النادي، وأن من يدخل الفريق يأخذ من سمات النادي وليس العكس، وهي أن اللاعبين يكون قلبهم على قلب بعض، هذه هي الروح التي تجعلك تكسب بطولة”.
طالع أيضًا | شوبير يوضح موقف فيتوريا من تدريب الأهلي.. ويوجه اللوم للجمهور
وأردف: “بداية الأهلي المتعثرة قد تحدث، لاعبو الأهلي ليسوا في حالتهم الجيدة، في موسم 2010 -2011 كان هناك أسماء كبيرة في الأهلي وكانت نفس الحالة السيئة، ثم عادوا وانطلقوا انطلاقة قوية، لذلك أطلب من الجميع الاتحاد والاجتماع خلف الفريق في الفترة الحالية لنتخطى هذه الفترة”.
وبسؤاله عن إمكانية توليه منصب المدير الرياضي للنادي الأهلي، أجاب عبد الحفيظ: “لا يجب أن تسألني هذا السؤال خاصة وأن هناك من يعمل في هذا المنصب الآن منذ فترة قليلة، فلا بد أن يأخذ فرصته وما زال الوقت مبكرًا جدًا”.
ومن المقرر أن يواصل الأهلي مبارياته في الدوري المصري بخوض لقاء قوي أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا، في إطار مواجهات الجولة السابعة من المسابقة المحلية، وذلك يوم الجمعة المُقبل الموافق 19 سبتمبر.
Nuthyangana, the wicketkeeper, is the only addition to Sri Lanka’s victorious Asia Cup squad
Madushka Balasuriya03-Aug-2024Chamari Athapaththu will not be available for Sri Lanka’s T20I series in Ireland due to her commitments with Oval Invincibles in the Women’s Hundred, where she is set to compete in all the group-stage games. Invincibles’ last group match is on August 14 while the T20Is will be played on August 11 and 13. She will link up with her national team-mates for the ODIs, which are part of the 2022-2025 ICC Women’s Championship cycle, starting August 16.Athapaththu, who was named Player of the Tournament in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, will no doubt be a considerable miss for Sri Lanka, but it will also serve as an opportunity for the younger members of the squad to show that they can step up in her absence. Harshitha Samarawickrama was the last designated vice-captain, though there was none mentioned for the Ireland tour. She could be in line to captain Sri Lanka in Athapaththu’s absence.Wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana has been included in the 16-member squad, in what is the sole addition to the one that lifted the Asia Cup last week. Nuthyangana, who is yet to make her ODI debut, will serve as backup to regular wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani.In terms of the batting, much of Athapaththu’s burden will fall on the shoulders of 18-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne – who has the fifth-most runs in women’s T20Is in 2024 with 416 in 17 matches – and Samarawickrama, who starred with a Player-of-the-Match effort in the Asia Cup final. Spin-bowling allrounder Kavisha Dilhari, meanwhile, has also begun to show more consistency with the bat, as showcased by her blistering 30 not out off 16 balls against India last week.It’s below those three, though, where some uncertainty may lie, though all of Hasini Perera, Nilakshika Silva and Sanjeewani have produced exciting cameos over the past year. With the rest of the squad made up of bowlers, Nuthyangana will also likely get game time as Sri Lanka do not possess another batting replacement in the squad for Athapaththu. Four frontline spinners and three seamers make up the bowling options.Sri Lanka squad for the tour of IrelandChamari Athapaththu (capt), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Kawya Kavindi, Sachini Nisansala, Shashini Gimhani, Ama Kanchana, Kaushini Nuthyangana
Liverpool’s transfer activity over the last couple of weeks has been nothing short of sensational, with the hierarchy certainly looking to back Arne Slot in the transfer market.
Jeremie Frimpong has already completed his switch from Bayer Leverkusen, with former teammate Florian Wirtz continuously linked with a summer move to Anfield.
The German international has already been subject to a bid from the Reds in recent days, which could see the club break the English transfer record if they complete a deal for his signature.
In recent days, he’s posted on social media, hitting back at claims that he will demand the number 10 shirt if he moves to Merseyside, but didn’t deny that he is close to making the move to England.
Such a move for the 22-year-old would undoubtedly improve the options at the manager’s disposal, creating excitement among the fanbase, but could be joined by another big-money talent at Anfield in 2025/26.
The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new additions this summer
Left-back Milos Kerkez has been firmly on Liverpool’s radar over the last couple of months, as Slot looks to add depth to the full-back department in their quest to retain the Premier League title.
The latest reports suggest that the Bournemouth star has already agreed personal terms with the Reds, as the clubs are expected to meet once again to get the deal over the line this summer.
AFC Bournemouth's MilosKerkez
However, despite the interest at the back, Slot desperately wants attacking reinforcements, with Alexander Isak once again emerging on their shortlist, according to TBR.
The report claims that Slot’s side are still in the market for a new striker, even if Wirtz joins in the coming weeks, with the Newcastle United talisman their number one target this window.
It also states that the Swede, who scored 23 league goals this season, is their dream option within the final third, but could cost a pretty penny, with the Magpies demanding a fee in the region of £150m.
Why Liverpool’s £150m target could be Slot’s own Mbappe
Over the last couple of years, Kylian Mbappé has been one of Europe’s leading stars, producing massive numbers within the final third for PSG and Real Madrid.
The French international joined the Spanish giants last summer, scoring 43 times in his 56 appearances, but it wasn’t enough to secure a Champions League triumph, with his former employers getting their hands on the trophy.
His numbers this campaign have been nothing short of remarkable, but he was unable to get the better of the Reds in the clash at Anfield, missing a penalty with Conor Bradley producing a last-ditch tackle to prevent him getting on the scoresheet.
Given his tally of goals, the Reds must wish they had a player who could produce such a tally alongside Mohamed Salah in attacking areas, undoubtedly making them a bigger force to be reckoned with next season.
However, a move for Isak could allow them to have just that, with FBref ranking the Magpies’ talisman as a similar player to Mbappé, based on the figures he’s produced in the Premier League this season.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
When comparing their respective stats, the Swede has massively outperformed him in key areas, with his talents undoubtedly handing Slot the main focal point he’s desperately craved this summer.
Whilst he’s registered fewer combined goals and assists in 2024/25, Isak has achieved a better goal per shot-on-target rate than the Frenchman, highlighting the threat he poses in front of goal – something which would take the Reds to the next level.
How Alexander Isak compares to Kylian Mbappé in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)
Isak
Mbappé
Games played
34
34
Goals & assists
29
34
Goal per shot on target rate
0.5
0.3
Shot on target accuracy
50%
49%
Take-on success
46%
44%
Aerials won
0.9
0.1
Times caught offside
0.6
1.4
Stats via FBref
He’s also managed to complete more of the take-ons he’s attempted, and won more aerial battles, handing the side an all-round option within the final third – something which the club have lacked in central areas of late.
Whilst it’s unclear if the Magpies would be willing to part ways with the star after their Champions League qualification, his talents are there for all to see, with his performances against the Reds in recent times nothing short of remarkable – as seen in the Carabao Cup final.
It would be another expensive addition given the move for Wirtz, but it’s phenomenal to see the hierarchy massively backing the manager in the market after his success in his first campaign.
If he does move to the club and matches the levels produced by Mbappé in Europe over recent years, it would be a stellar addition, and one that could lead Slot’s side to consistent European glory alongside their domestic ambitions.
He's Coutinho 2.0: Liverpool hold talks to sign "Ballon d'Or level talent"
Florian Wirtz isn’t the only midfielder Liverpool have their eye on.
Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to enter discussions as they plan an offer to sign an astute Man United and Chelsea target, and he’s viewed as a potential snip if they can get a deal done this summer.
Tottenham eyeing new forward amid Ange Postecoglou uncertainty
Amid the uncertain future of manager Ange Postecoglou, chairman Daniel Levy and the Spurs recruitment team must also get to work on planning for the upcoming transfer window.
Tottenham favourites to appoint "exciting" manager over Bundesliga club
Contact has reportedly been made already.
1
By
Emilio Galantini
May 7, 2025
This year, a special edition window will be open from June 1 to June 10 – which gives some clubs the opportunity to sign players before the Club World Cup begins. It could also be an opportunity for Levy to strengthen early doors, but it is unclear whether the Lilywhites plan to make use of this early window.
What’s crystal clear, though, is Tottenham’s need to strengthen certain areas of the squad.
Tottenham’s final Premier League fixtures
Date
Crystal Palace (home)
May 10th
Aston Villa (away)
May 18th
Brighton (home)
May 25th
Their 2024/2025 campaign has been overshadowed by a plethora of injuries to key players, leaving Postecoglou with precious few options at times, and it has undoubtedly contributed to their lowly 16th-placed position in the Premier League table.
Spurs are reportedly in the market for a new striker to bolster their forward line, among other transfer priorities, with Richarlison’s long-term future also in question after a season blighted by injury for the Brazilian.
This week, reports claim Tottenham are targeting Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Tim Kleindienst, following the German’s exceptional Bundesliga campaign, and they’re ready to pay up to £30 million for his signature (CaughtOffside).
However, he is by no means the only centre-forward being looked at, with Ipswich Town starlet Liam Delap coming as another name on their radar.
Tottenham preparing to enter talks for Ipswich striker Liam Delap
According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham are planning an offer for Delap and preparing to enter talks for the Englishman’s signature – but face competition from West Ham, Chelsea, Everton and United in pursuit of him.
The 22-year-old has been a bright spark in an otherwise torrid campaign for Kieran McKenna’s relegated side, bagging 12 goals in all competitions, and reports claim Delap’s contract includes a £30 million release clause tied with Ipswich dropping back down to the Championship.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapreacts
Delap is viewed as a “bargain” behind-the-scenes, according to GMS, but a major obstacle could still form in the ex-Man City starlet’s wage demands. Indeed, it is believed Delap wants around £150,000-per-week from any new suitor, which would actually make him one of Spurs’ highest earners.
This could be tricky to navigate for Levy, who has managed to keep control of Tottenham’s wage bill, and may be reluctant to green-light moves for players with extortionate requirements when it comes to personal terms.
That being said, Delap is a homegrown player of serious quality and sky-high potential, so it could be worth the concession in this instance.
“He is a quality player,” said former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson.
“He led the line on his own against Chelsea. At times, Chelsea were playing a back five with four players in front, and they defended resolutely, but he was always an outlet.
“He is a pest. He is a nuisance. He is always there on the shoulders of the centre-backs. He is making runs in the channels. He is always available. When it looks like he isn’t going to win the ball, he puts his body in between the player and the ball, somehow managing to win a free-kick or something for his team.
Tottenham Hotspur are in contact with a former Bayern Munich boss to potentially replace under-pressure head coach Ange Postecoglou, according to reports, with the clock seemingly ticking on his stay in N17.
Tottenham likely to part ways with Ange Postecoglou
The prospect of Postecoglou’s departure from north London is gaining more and more traction.
Jamie O'Hara thrilled by "brilliant" new manager Tottenham could appoint
He’s got credentials.
2
By
Emilio Galantini
Apr 24, 2025
This week, The Telegraph reported that Tottenham could relieve Postecoglou of his duties, regardless of whether the Lilywhites end their 17-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Europa League.
Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures
Date
Liverpool (away)
April 27th
West Ham (away)
May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)
May 10th
Aston Villa (away)
May 18th
Brighton (home)
May 25th
Even an historic night in Bilbao may not be enough to save the Australian, with Spurs on course for their worst ever Premier League season to date. They’re just one loss away from equalling their record for most defeats in a single domestic season, and it is highly likely Postecoglou is bestowed with that dismal record as champions elect, Liverpool, await them next at Anfield.
The 59-year-old has faced an uphill battle all season long, having lost a plethora of key players to injury for extended periods on a consistent basis, but 16th in the table is arguably still nowhere near good enough – even when factoring in their serious bad luck.
Attention is already turning to who could succeed Postecoglou, and there is no shortage of candidates linked to the potentially vacant role.
Mauricio Pochettino would privately love a return to Tottenham, according to reports, while the likes of Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Scott Parker (Burnley) have all been linked recently.
Now, a new name in the form of ex-Croatia captain and former Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovač has emerged as a managerial target.
Tottenham make contact with Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovač
The 53-year-old was appointed by Borussia Dortmund on an 18-month deal to replace the sacked Nuri Şahin, and he’s since done a solid job, as Kovac attempts to spearhead European qualification after a previously disappointing campaign for the Bundesliga heavyweights.
The tactician, who’s previously won a German title with Bayern and two German cups – one with the Bavarians and one at Eintracht Frankfurt – has now turned heads at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
According to newspaper Bild, via Sport Witness, Tottenham have made contact with Kovac, via an intermediary but not directly with the club, as chairman Daniel Levy casts his net to Europe in search of a new head coach.
Spurs are said to view him as a good fit due to his intense and aggressive style of play, but as things stand, he doesn’t have an interest in leaving Dortmund. If this stance changes, Kovac’s reputation as a true leader appears to be exactly what Tottenham are crying out for.
“He [Kovac] has experience, he was a very good player and was the captain of the Croatia national team,” said Bayern legend Lothar Matthäus.
“He has charisma, he has passion, he knows about football. He was a leader as a player and is showing this as a coach too.”
It is becoming a habit, but their coach Lewis believes other factors – like training patterns and unfamiliar playing spaces – are also playing a role
Vishal Dikshit08-Mar-20245:42
Warriorz coach Lewis defends Healy’s batting form
When Saima Thakor of UP Warriorz nailed a direct hit against Gujarat Giants a week ago to find Phoebe Litchfield short in the death overs, it proved to be a vital wicket. It kept the Giants down to 142 and the Warriorz chased it down easily. But they haven’t won a game since, and have slipped to second from bottom on the points table.Since that inspiring Thakor effort, her team-mates have taken six catches but also put down four, of which two have been regulation chances. With such a catching conversion rate, Warriorz are going to find it very difficult to finish in the top three for the knockouts.The first of those two regulation chances was of Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Smriti Mandhana who got a life on 28 and finished on a match-winning 50-ball 80 to power her team to 198.On Thursday, of their three dropped chances they put down against Mumbai Indians, two were hard to grab. Grace Harris could not hold on to a blazing return catch from Nat Sciver-Brunt, who was then on 4 and finished on a breezy 45 off 31. The second was when Alyssa Healy couldn’t pouch an edge from Amelia Kerr off a flat delivery from offspinner Chamari Athapaththu.But the regulation chance Warriorz will rue is when Sophie Ecclestone gave Kerr another life, in the 19th over, after the ball was struck straight to her at extra cover. They also had misfields which offered extra runs, with Shweta Sehrawat and Harris letting the ball slip in the circle and at the boundary rope respectively to leak boundaries.According to ESPNcricinfo’s data, Warriorz have shelled 13 catches this WPL season of which five have been regulation, both more than any other team. They have also leaked overthrows and have misfielded in other matches, and their uncapped Indians Poonam Khemnar and Dinesh Vrinda have also given opposition batters second lives. Warriorz head coach Jon Lewis had a straightforward explanation for the uncapped or inexperienced Indian players shelling chances.”I think primarily it’s the local Indian domestic players that are dropping balls under the lights and I think it’s probably they’re not used to the ball coming as fast as it does,” Lewis had said after their loss to RCB earlier this week. “It’s very hard to perceive depth when the ball is coming out of the sky especially if they go high and the ball comes a little quicker than you expect it under the lights, and I think it’s just a little bit of inexperience in terms of playing in the conditions that we are.”What I would say is that international cricketers hit the ball a lot harder than domestic cricketers do. Therefore, the fielders are under a lot more pressure. And the crowd, don’t forget the crowd [in Bengaluru]. That’s something the players are not used to as well.”UP Warriorz are now second from bottom•PTI To rectify the issue of catching under lights, the players are unable to replicate that in training because there are matches every evening at the same ground. This year’s WPL had 11 games daily at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and is now seeing nine non-stop league matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. As a result, the teams have had to train at other smaller grounds and have not always had the chance to train with floodlights.”There aren’t many opportunities for us to practice during this tournament,” Lewis had said. “We had one practice session here before the tournament started, so it’s very hard for us to get facilities to practice under lights here in Bangalore with the regularity of our games. So it’s quite a tricky thing to practice and I think over time those players will get used to it.”For the chances going down by the international players, Lewis, who is also the head coach of England, offered a different reason.”That’s a catch I would have expected her to take,” he said of the straightforward chance put down by Ecclestone on Thursday. “Again, she said she didn’t quite see off the background in the lights somewhere. She didn’t pick the ball up. What you also find I think is when you play franchise cricket, a lot of the time the international players will field in different positions than they would normally field when playing for their country. So sometimes they get a little bit surprised by the pace of the ball that comes to them. So Sophie wouldn’t normally be at extra cover for us (England), she’d be in a different position.But she would expect to catch that ball and I would expect her to catch that ball as a coach for UP and for England as well. But yeah, it seems like a bit of a trend in the tournament. There’s a lot of balls going down but that’s, I suppose, a little bit of lack of experience for a lot of players and especially under the lights.”The team to drop the most catches after Warriorz this WPL is Mumbai, with a total count of 11 of which four have been regulation. Jhulan Goswami, their bowling coach and mentor, however, didn’t cite playing under lights as the reason when she was asked about it after their loss to Delhi Capitals, in which Saika Ishaque and Kerr had let catches slip.”Sometimes these things happen, I’m not going to give you any excuse because of light and all, but sometimes a different venue…girls are not used to it playing in different venues so quickly,” she had said. “Overnight you’re playing in a different venue, so this is a new thing. They’ll probably learn from these things in the coming season because last year we played in one (two) venue and this year within 24 hours we are playing in a different venue.”Goswami did concur with Lewis’ theory of teams not getting to practice for fielding on the same grounds where matches were being played.”So give them a little bit extra time and probably in the coming days they will improve because sometimes the ground dimension is also different and understanding the angles takes you time because you don’t even have the time to practice [at that ground],” she had said. “They just practice before the match for 45 minutes, that’s all. But if we were getting the chance to practice at this ground a day before the game, get used to the angles and dimensions then maybe the runs being leaked and catches going down would be reduced. These things happen in the cricket field and whichever team practices and does it best will be in the best position to win the tournament.”
The Bangladesh batter opens up about playing multiple formats, understanding the game better, the famous win in New Zealand, and more
Mohammad Isam22-Feb-2022There is a bit of swagger about Litton Das. It is there in the way he walks to the crease, tucks up his sleeves and plays some of his shots effortlessly. It is there in his fluent wicketkeeping, too. Litton always seem to have a bit of time in hand. He has carried himself gracefully off the field, mostly staying out of the limelight. However, some see all of this differently. The swagger is often misinterpreted as pride. Which is why Litton’s lean patches come under a lot of scrutiny.Regarded arguably as the best batter of his generation in Bangladesh, he is also highly rated by the seniors in the side. But Litton spent the first two years of his career promising a big knock. That came in his second coming in the Bangladesh team, and only recently, in the last 12 months, has he shown real signs of consistency, as he was Bangladesh’s leading run-getter in Tests in 2021.Related
Bangladesh look for course correction against Afghanistan
Afghanistan appoint Noor-ul-Haq Malekzai as chief selector
Shakib, Mushfiqur back in Bangladesh squad for Afghanistan T20Is
Rhodes: 'Don't overcoach to try and warrant your salary'
There was a lull in his form last year when Bangladesh focused too much on spinning tracks at home, resulting in his poor T20 World Cup. Litton was dropped as punishment during the T20I series against Pakistan, but he has come back strongly. He got a maiden century in the Tests at home, before playing a crucial match-winning knock in the Mount Maunganui Test last month. He also scored a century in the second Test in Christchurch, before helping Comilla Victorians to their third BPL title last week.His next assignment is the ODI series against Afghanistan that begins in Chattogram on Tuesday.When you talk to Litton, rather than the swagger, his clarity of thought comes through. He believes that opening the batting in ODIs requires a level of self-assessment rather than planning too far ahead.”The bigger challenge in ODIs is preparing yourself,” Litton told ESPNcricinfo. “You can dominate the bowling once you get set. You know what you are going to get batting in the top order in ODIs. Every bowler wants to hit the top of off-stump. They have a slip and a gully. They want to get you bowled, nick off or lbw. The bigger challenge is in Test cricket where you can’t play a big shot if you just wanted to. You have to survive certain phases and get out of it.”Liton however has to constantly adjust to the three formats, being one of the few Bangladeshi cricketers now who plays all the formats. With the pressure of performing, he has had to figure out exactly how to slip from one format to the next. Litton said one must understand his or her role and be prepared for every situation.”It depends on what my role is. I am a wicketkeeper who bats at No. 7 in Tests. I play predominantly as a top-order batter in ODIs. I don’t usually keep wickets, so I have to field well. I have a similar role in T20Is. There are times when I suddenly have to keep wickets, maybe after break of few months. One has to adjust very quickly.”Even the best players are faced with challenging phases in international cricket. A lot depends on how much of a comfort zone you have been able to create for yourself. If you are scoring runs continually, things are easy for you. When you are off form, international cricket can be a tough place. You will find it hard to cover such times at that level.”Liton on the victory against New Zealand last month: “We never thought we’d win in such a dominating manner”•Getty ImagesLitton is one of the three Bangladeshi cricketers who have played more than 100 international matches in the last four years. Certainly the senior quartet are in their mid-thirties, meaning the likes of Mominul Haque and Litton are having to step up from time to time in leadership positions. Mominul is the Test captain while Litton’s regularity as the wicketkeeper shows glimpses of a future full of responsibility.But Litton insists that he has always been the type who offers his advice to the captain, whether it was his debut game or now.”Didn’t I have responsibility before? I believe that there was responsibility on me when I made my debut. Even at that time, I tried to give my input from whatever knowledge I had. It is the same thing now. Some want to take on the responsibility, some don’t. It depends from person to person, but I always had responsibility.”It showed during the Test win against New Zealand in January. Litton changed the mood of the game on the third day with his stroke-filled 86. His four-hour stay at the crease took Bangladesh to the lead, but more than that, his shots started Bangladesh’s domination. Litton said that they never really thought that they could beat New Zealand, but could certainly push them all the way to the end.”It was great to start the year with such a massive achievement. We celebrated on the day we won, and now it is in the past. But I wouldn’t call it a bizarre result, but certainly we never thought we’d win against New Zealand in a dominating manner.”Our motive was to take the Test to the fifth day, since we usually lose Tests in three or three and a half days in New Zealand. We are talking about the No. 1 team in the world in their home ground, so that was always something we considered.”At this juncture of his international career, Litton doesn’t want to make any tall claims. The last seven years have made Litton realise that, despite taking a bit of time, he has improved in his understanding of cricket, particularly Tests. For now he is happy with this bit of critical progress.”I won’t say that I have reached any new levels, but I have realised that a player needs 15 to 20 Test matches to grow into the game. Maybe someone with more talent needs fewer games but I needed a bit of time to know what Test cricket truly is. A lot of situations vary. I feel I am getting better at understanding Test cricket, which I think this is the big change.”
There are six weeks left in the 2025 MLB season, and nothing has been decided.
Four division leaders are within five games of second place, and the wild-card picture in both leagues is a muddled mess. Everything is still to play for over the next month and a half, and it should be as exciting a finish as we have seen in years.
We’ve broken down each division race, ranking them based on how interesting they’ll be down the stretch.
1. NL West
The best rivalry in baseball is back in focus. The Padres and Dodgers are locked in a battle atop the division and are set to duke it out for NL West supremacy over the next few weeks. San Diego jumped into first place Wednesday night, and the teams will play six times in the next 10 days. Those games should be electric and could get a little chaotic, given the history here.
This is the latest in the season the Padres have held sole possession of first place in the NL West since 2010. They have been on fire, winning 14 of their past 17 games and getting excellent performances across the board. The team’s trade deadline acquisitions have all contributed, but while Mason Miller was the biggest name the Padres landed, left fielder Ramon Laureano (.333/.400/.600) and catcher Freddy Fermin (.355/.394/.484) have provided the most significant upgrades. The Friars are playing their best baseball of the season and peaking at the right time.
The Dodgers have stumbled, but should never be counted out. Shohei Ohtani is cruising to another MVP award and is starting to go deeper into games on the mound. The team’s loaded starting rotation is finally healthy, and there’s no doubting L.A. has the best roster in baseball. The defending champs won’t go down without a fight. Over the past few years, every time San Diego gets close, Dave Roberts’s squad seems to turn it on. The Padres have been Charlie Brown, and the Dodgers are Lucy with a football. Will that happen again this season?
Though L.A. and San Diego only play six times before the end of the season, it feels like they’re destined to see each other again in the playoffs. That would mark the fourth time in six seasons they have squared off in the postseason.
Major League Baseball has to be salivating at the prospect.
2. AL East
The Blue Jays have a five-game lead in the division and the American League’s best record, but the Red Sox and Yankees are both still within striking distance. Boston and New York hold the two final wild-card spots as well, so the next few weeks have the potential to get tense.
The Yankees host the Red Sox for four games next week, then the teams square off at Fenway Park for three games the second weekend of September. Meanwhile, Toronto travels to Yankee Stadium for three games the first weekend in September and gets Boston at home for three during the season’s final week. Those series could decide the division.
What the Blue Jays have done this season is remarkable, and their success is almost as shocking as the Orioles’ failures. The Yankees were expected to run away with the division and now look like they'll be fighting for a spot in the playoffs until Game 162. Meanwhile, Boston traded its best hitter and somehow got better. Baseball is funny like that.
Toronto has the inside track to win this thing, but all three teams have a chance, and there’s a decent shot they'll all be in the postseason.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads the Blue Jays with an OPS of .893. / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images3. AL West
The Astros have won the AL West in each of the past seven full seasons (the Athletics won during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 campaign), and lead the division this year. But this might be the fiercest battle they've had in those years.
The Mariners are hot on Houston’s heels, trailing by 1.5 games heading into the weekend. Seattle went all-in at the trade deadline, acquiring third baseman Eugenio Suárez, first baseman Josh Naylor and lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson. They splurged to add punch to their offense alongside MVP candidate Cal Raleigh, who continues his historic offensive pace. Given their rotation, they should stay in the race until the very end.
Houston didn't stand pat at the deadline, as they brought back former franchise cornerstone Carlos Correa. The results of the reunion have been excellent so far, as the 30-year-old boasts a .974 OPS in his 11 games back with the team. Fellow deadline acquisitions Ramón Urias and Jesús Sánchez haven’t provided the same punch yet, but stay tuned.
The Astros will host the Mariners for three games from September 19 to 21, and those matchups could determine who wins the division. Houston may be doing it without star closer Josh Hader, who just hit the IL with a shoulder strain.
It’s worth noting that while the Rangers have fallen off the pace a bit, they’re only 3.5 games out of the final wild-card spot. The division may be out of reach at 7.5 games off the pace, but given the team’s dominant starting staff led by Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, Texas can’t be counted out.
4. NL Central
Raise your hand if you thought the Brewers would be the best team in baseball by mid-August. Anyone with their hand up needs to put it down. Somehow, that’s precisely what has happened.
Milwaukee has reeled off 12 consecutive wins and now has the best record in baseball by six games. The Brewers also boast the best run differential in the game at +159, 44 runs more than their nearest competition (more on that later). They lead the Padres by 7.5 for the best record in the National League, so they’ve all but sewn up the top seed at this point.
The Cubs picked the wrong season to go all-in because no matter how good they’ve been, Milwaukee has been that much better. Chicago is now eight games back of the Brewers in the NL Central despite boasting the second-best run differential in MLB at +115. The Northsiders own the top wild-card spot by 4.5 games over the Dodgers and look like a postseason lock. If the Cubs want to top Milwaukee, it’s looking like they’ll have to wait for the playoffs.
The Central’s playoff intrigue doesn’t end with the top two. The Reds are still in the postseason hunt thanks to the Mets’ big-time collapse. Cincinnati is a half-game behind New York for the final wild-card spot, and Fangraphs gives them a 20% chance to make the playoffs. That’s not insignificant. The addition of Miguel Andujar at the trade deadline has been tremendous. In 10 games, the 30-year-old has three home runs, is slugging .778 and has an OPS of 1.247. The Reds are having a fantastic season and, like the Brewers, no one saw this coming. They could be dangerous down the stretch.
5. NL East
The slumping Mets have allowed the Phillies to build a five-game lead in the NL East as we enter the weekend. It’s unlikely Philadelphia will surrender that advantage.
Though the Nationals just swept them, no one should be worrying about the Phillies. They boast a dominant starting rotation with two Cy Young contenders in Cristopher Sánchez and Zack Wheeler, plus Ranger Suárez, Jesús Luzardo and a now-healthy Aaron Nola. Meanwhile, Kyle Schwarber is having a career year to pace an offense that has even more juice than it has shown. Philly addressed its bullpen woes at the trade deadline and looks like a far more complete team than we saw a few weeks ago.
The Mets, well … the Mets have had a rough go of it. They have lost 13 of their past 15 games, and the offense has gone in the tank. Francisco Lindor has been emblematic of the team’s struggles, as he’s hitting .181 with a .538 OPS over the past 25 games. New York is now barely hanging on to the final wild-card spot, opening the weekend a half-game ahead of the Reds.
The Mets host the Phillies for three games starting on Aug. 25, then travel to Philadelphia for four beginning on Sept. 8. Just before that, they go to Cincinnati to face the Reds. There are plenty of opportunities for Juan Soto & Co. to make up ground, but they need to get it together.
If the Mets bounce back, this could get interesting down the stretch. As of now, expect to watch them battle for a wild-card spot while the Phillies roll to their second consecutive division title.
6. AL Central
The Tigers have had a stranglehold on the AL Central for months, though their grip has loosened recently. Detroit led the division by 14 games on July 7, and Cleveland was in fourth, 15.5 games back. Now, the Guardians sit 6.5 games back and are closing hard.
It’s unlikely the Tigers will give up the lead, but things could get dicey if they don’t find more consistency. Detroit hosts Cleveland from Sept. 16 to 18, and goes to Progressive Field for three games starting on Sept. 23. So six of the season’s final 12 games will see the division’s top two teams facing off.
If you want intrigue, tune in to watch Tarik Skubal do Tarik Skubal things. He’s baseball’s best pitcher by a solid stretch right now, and he's leading the Tigers from the front. Detroit's offense is also excellent, ranking eighth in MLB with 588 runs scored and an OPS of .737. Despite that, the Tigers haven't locked this thing up quite yet.
As for the Guardians, their late-season magic is more than improbable. A few weeks ago, they were looking to sell at the deadline and even traded franchise mainstay Shane Bieber. On top of that, they had their All-Star closer and a starting pitcher put on leave amid a gambling investigation, and they only have two hitters in the lineup with a WAR higher than 1.6. Your guess for their success is as good as mine.
Cleveland is a half-game behind the Yankees for the American League’s final wild card slot, and it would be foolish to count them out at this point.