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Pooja Vastrakar’s fitness and Nat Sciver-Brunt’s form could also be key, if Mumbai are to repeat their success from the inaugural season

S Sudarshanan11-Feb-20253:22

What is MI’s biggest strength?

Where Mumbai Indians (MI) finished in WPL 2024

They finished second in the league stage for a second season in a row, but went down to title-winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the closely-fought Eliminator. They were inaugural champions in 2023.

What’s new for MI in WPL 2025?

Allrounder Nadine de Klerk and Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup winner G Kamalini, who was India’s wicketkeeper and opening batter in the tournament, are among their newest additions. The other two new players in the squad are Rajasthan seam-bowling allrounder Akshita Maheshwari, and Madhya Pradesh’s offspin-bowling allrounder Sanskriti Gupta.De Klerk’s addition comes at a time when India’s own seam-bowling allrounder Pooja Vastrakar is injured. Vastrakar had last played for India at the Women’s T20 World Cup in October 2024, and then three matches in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy after being rested from the home ODIs against New Zealand.Related

• Harmanpreet: WPL will play 'very big role' in lead-up to home ODI WC

• A Sunday to savour for Kamalini: runs, a trophy and a big payday

• Coach Edwards reveals MI's mantra for WPL 2025

“Pooja’s currently injured at the moment, so will be making a call on that very, very soon,” MI head coach Charlotte Edwards said in the pre-season presser. “Clearly she’s been a big player for us for the last couple of seasons, but obviously we’re monitoring her fitness and, hopefully, we should be able to announce something really soon.”MI also have a change in the coaching staff, with former Australia opener Nicole Bolton replacing England’s Lydia Greenway as the fielding coach.

MI’s likely XI

1 Yastika Bhatia (wk), 2 Hayley Matthews, 3 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Amelia Kerr, 6 S Sajana, 7 Nadine de Klerk, 8 Amanjot Kaur, 9 Akshita Maheshwari, 10 SB Keerthana, 11 Saika IshaqueOther players: Chloe Tryon, Shabnim Ismail, Pooja Vastrakar, Sanskriti Gupta, G Kamalini, Jintimani Kalita and Amandeep Kaur

Key players: Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Saika Ishaque

Harmanpreet Kaur is MI’s leading run-getter in the WPL, followed closely by Nat Sciver-Brunt. A lot of MI’s fortunes hinge on how the pair performs. Harmanpreet averages 17.40 at a strike rate of 102.35 in MI’s losses, while the corresponding figures for Sciver-Brunt in those games are 10.33 and 106.89. Sciver-Brunt heads into WPL 2025 on the back of a difficult Women’s Ashes, where she picked up just two wickets and hit two half-centuries across the multi-format series.Nat Sciver-Brunt heads into WPL 2025 on the back of a difficult Women’s Ashes•PTI There will also be additional spotlight on Harmanpreet in a home ODI World Cup year, which will be her first as India’s captain. Of late, her slowish starts in T20s have been in focus, even if she possesses the ability to make it up later. A case in point being MI’s must-win league-stage game against Gujarat Giants in WPL 2024. In that match, Harmanpreet was on 20 off 21 balls at one stage, before surviving a dropped chance and turning the game around to finish on 95* from 48. MI, and India, would want their captain to be in good striking form.Saika Ishaque has been the find of the WPL, and is its second-highest wicket-taker so far. Performances for MI helped her make her India debut, although she finds herself out of the reckoning after only four matches across white-ball formats. Ishaque has the ability to bowl across phases, and heads into WPL 2025 on the back of successful performances in domestic cricket, where she picked up 39 wickets and captained Bengal to a runners-up finish in both the Senior Women’s One-Day and the T20 Trophy.

Young one to watch: Akshita Maheshwari

Maheshwari, 24, could be expected to feature in MI’s starting XI, given the question marks over Vastrakar’s availability. She is a seam-bowling allrounder who plays for Rajasthan in the domestic circuit, and is the first from her state to be part of the WPL. In the Under-23 Women’s One Day Trophy last season, Maheshwari had finished with 23 wickets, the second-most in the competition, and picked up two hat-tricks: against Mizoram and Odisha, both in Mumbai. She also returned 4 for 23 against Meghalaya in the One Day competition earlier this domestic season. Maheswari was even part of the Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy, although she did not get a game.

MI’s league fixtures in WPL 2025

MI start their campaign against Delhi Capitals (DC) on February 15 in Vadodara, and are one of the three teams that play league matches in all four cities hosting WPL 2025. Their two league games in Mumbai are back-to-back, making MI one of only two teams – the other being DC – playing on successive days in this edition. MI also play the last game of the league stage, which could help if things are tight – they will know the exact qualification scenarios.

Chase Burns is fast. Just 11 months after the Cincinnati Reds selected him with the second pick of the draft and just three months after he made his pro debut in Class A ball in front of 4,532 fans in Comstock Park, Mich., the righthander will make his major league debut Tuesday against the New York Yankees.

His rapid ascent of just 66 innings of pro ball is a testament to how he has dominated (13 walks, 89 strikeouts and just 38 hits) with his high-spin, high-velocity fastball. At 22 years and 159 days old, he is the youngest starter to debut against the Yankees since Ian Anderson of the Braves beat New York in 2020.

If you’re looking for comps for Burns, you must look beyond this year. There is no starting pitcher in MLB who throws this hard and with such a high release point as Burns does. Here is how he ranks if you consider his minor league metrics:

Highest release point, MLB starters with 95+ mph fastball

To find the best comp, you need to go back a decade to a prime Justin Verlander:

Four-seam comparison

That is a close match on paper. But when we look at the mechanics, we see Verlander had a smoother delivery. Burns has the same release height, but a higher arm angle. He needs to tilt his torso to move his head to allow his arm to work at that angle, a move that can tax the shoulder more—a move that caught up to Anderson and prompted Michael Wacha, after injury concerns, to lower his arm slot.

Phallon Tullis-Joyce's surprising error proved costly for Manchester United on Wednesday as their hopes of qualifying automatically for the Champions League quarter-finals were dealt a real blow in a 3-0 loss to Lyon. The United States goalkeeper failed to make what looked set to be a comfortable save from Tabitha Chawinga's header with just 12 minutes on the clock and the Red Devils couldn't get back on level terms, with Lyon dominating the game and wrapping things up late on when Melchie Dumornay's stunning brace sealed all three points.

Marc Skinner took quite a risk with his team selection, making some eyebrow-raising calls to leave all of Jess Park, Ella Toone, Dominique Janssen and Julia Zigiotti Olme on the bench. Citing the desire to add physicality to the midfield as the reason for his choices, it certainly didn't work in the first half, with United unable to get anywhere near the visitors for the most part.

The Red Devils had just one touch in Lyon's box before the break, when Melvine Malard headed well over, with the French side running the show. That said, OL didn't create too many clear cut opportunities, bar a header for Ada Hegerberg, with some last-ditch defending from Jayde Riviere in particular able to thwart them on a couple of occasions.

It was no surprise when Skinner made changes at the break then, and the introductions of Park, Toone and Zigiotti helped them get into the game. However, the Red Devils still weren't doing anything to hurt Lyon in anyway, with some nice passing sequences occurring to get them into the final third, but there no end product to cap it all off.

Instead, it was Lyon who became more ruthless and clinical as the game progressed, to put it to bed for good. It was Dumornay, the star of the show, who made it 2-0 with a superb strike from the edge of the box, before a powerful finish from closer range really put the gloss on things late on.

Ahead of next week's final league phase fixtures, United are not out of the race for an automatic qualification spot to the next round of the Champions League, with a play-off berth already secure. But it's out of their hands now, and with them sat in an unfavourable position when it comes to seeding for those play-offs.

GOAL rates United's players from Leigh Sports Village…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Phallon Tullis-Joyce (4/10):

  Had to do better with Chawinga's header that broke the deadlock. That moment left United at a disadvantage so early, with them unable to recover.

  Jayde Riviere (6/10):

  Did some great last-ditch defending, thwarting Hegerberg and Heaps brilliantly on two separate occasions.

  Maya Le Tissier (5/10):

  Looser in possession than usual and struggled to win many duels, though did improve as the game went on.

  Gabby George (6/10):

  Better on the ball than most and came up with some timely interventions.

  Anna Sandberg (5/10):

  Wasn't able to impose herself on the game in an attacking sense, but did keep Brand relatively quiet.

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  Midfield

  Hinata Miyazawa (5/10):

  Allowed Chawinga to get away far too easily so she could score the opening goal. Was more influential in possession once the half-time changes were made, often involved in some of United's better play.

  Simi Awujo (4/10):

  Struggled to win duels and was poor in possession at times. Off at the break.

  Lisa Naalsund (4/10):

  Lucky not to be sent off after a late tackle towards the end of the first half while already booked, though it was a loose pass from a team-mate that put her in a bad position. Another taken off at half-time.

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  Attack

  Melvine Malard (4/10):

  Had a great chance to level the scores just before the break, but didn't show the ruthlessness she has in front of goal most of the season.

  Rachel Williams (4/10):

  Completely isolated up top, with no service at all before being taken off at half-time.

  Fridolina Rolfo (4/10):

  Gave the ball away far too easily and struggled to be an effective outlet.

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  Subs & Manager

  Jess Park (5/10):

  Couldn't win many duels but was good on the ball and added impetus to the attack.

  Ella Toone (6/10):

  Played some good passes to get United into the game more.

  Julia Zigiotti Olme (5/10):

  Another impactful half-time sub, though a rash challenge soon after coming on could've been costly.

  Dominique Janssen (N/A):

  Took Sandberg's spot at left-back for the final 15 minutes.

  Leah Galton (N/A):

  A late sub.

  Marc Skinner (4/10):

  Raised plenty of eyebrows with his team selection and it didn't work at all, with Lyon totally dominant in the first half. Changed things at the break, making three half-time substitutions, but the damage was already done, with United unable to really create anything to level the scores before OL put the game to bed. Need to rotate was understandable given the small squad but perhaps could've been done in a smaller measure here.

They might still be in the relegation zone, but things are starting to look up for West Ham United this season.

Following their draw away to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have lost just one of their last six games.

The Portuguese manager has made the East Londoners far harder to play against and is getting more out of players, such as Callum Wilson.

The Englishman is starting to look like his old self, but if reports are to be believed, West Ham could soon sign an upgrade.

West Ham target Wilson upgrade

While the Hammers have most certainly improved over the last couple of months, it’s clear that they still need reinforcements in the January window, and so it’s not been a surprise to see them linked with a host of talented players.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, Chelsea’s Axel Disasi has once again been touted for a move to the London Stadium, as has Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jose Sa.

Yet, as good a signing as those two would be, neither one could be described as an upgrade on Wilson, unlike Joaquín Panichelli.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, West Ham are one of a few Premier League clubs interested in the Argentine striker.

Alongside the East Londoners, the report has revealed that Chelsea and Aston Villa have set their sights on the RC Strasbourg star.

A potential price for the 23-year-old is not mentioned in the report, but given that his £28k-per-week contract runs until 2030, he’s unlikely to come cheap.

With that said, West Ham should still do what they can to sign Panichelli, even if his arrival would be bad news for Wilson.

How Panichelli compares to Wilson

Now, it should be said that, as things stand, Wilson is doing an excellent job for West Ham.

However, football is a brutal game, and if the Irons can find themselves a better striker in the winter window, they should sign them.

So, with that said, is Panichelli a better forward than the Englishman?

Well, when it comes down to their output, the most important metric of all for forward, the answer is resounding yes.

For example, so far this season, the Argentine, whom U23 scout Antonio Mango has dubbed “one of the most in-form Strikers in Europe,” has scored ten goals in 19 appearances.

That means that the former Deportivo Alavés star is averaging a goal involvement every 1.9 games.

In contrast, the former Newcastle United ace has scored four goals and provided one assist in 13 appearances this season, resulting in a goal involvement every 2.6 games.

Another area in which the Córdoba-born gem clearly has a significant advantage over the Irons ace is age.

The once-capped international only turned 23 in October, whereas the Coventry-born poacher is 33 and set to turn 34 in February.

Now, this may not be an issue at the moment, but it does mean Nuno cannot build a team around the Englishman, which isn’t the case for the “clinical” Strasbourg striker, as dubbed by Mango.

Ultimately, while Wilson shouldn’t be moved on, West Ham should sign Panichelli next month to rival him for game time and then eventually surpass him to become the club’s starting number nine.

West Ham already have a Paqueta replacement who's 'like Kevin De Bruyne'

Nuno already has his Paqueta replacement in a hugely exciting West Ham star.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

6 days ago

Bayern Munich sensation Lennart Karl has etched his name into the history books once again with a stunning Champions League performance against Sporting CP, leaving manager Vincent Kompany in awe. The 17-year-old prodigy continues to justify the hype with a "killer" instinct that team-mate Joshua Kimmich believes should earn him a spot in the German national team for the World Cup.

• Karl strikes again in the Champions League

  On a night where the Bundesliga giants found themselves in a precarious position as they trailed 1-0 to Sporting CP at the Allianz Arena following a shock Kimmich own goal, it was their teenage wonderkid who once again provided the catalyst for a vital 3-1 comeback victory.

  In doing so, Karl achieved a feat that eluded even the greatest names in the competition's history at his age. By firing home the decisive goal in the 69th minute, cushioning a Konrad Laimer cross before lashing a finish past Rui Silva, the teenager became the youngest player in Champions League history to score in three consecutive matches, aged just 17 years and 290 days. It is not the first European record he has set during this breakthrough season for the Bavarian giants.

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  Kompany: 'He gets his moments and kills'

  For Kompany, who has not hesitated to throw the youngster into the deep end this season, the impact of his young forward is becoming a reliable weapon. Speaking to after the match, the Belgian coach offered a candid assessment of the performance, noting that while the teenager is still developing, his ability to affect the scoreboard is elite.

  "Lenny is always dangerous," Kompany explained. "To be totally honest, he's had better games, but four or five times he's always there, and that's also a strength, and then you don't always have to be the best player on the pitch. He gets his moments and then he just kills."

  This "killer" instinct was evident as Karl ghosted into the box to score the goal that broke Sporting's resistance, turning a potential frustration into a comfortable night that was eventually sealed by a late strike from Jonathan Tah. Even before Karl's goal, he had appeared to have given his side the lead in the early stages of the game, but saw the effort ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

• Karl has 'something you can't coach'

  The praise was not limited to the dugout. Max Eberl, the club's director of sport, was effusive in his admiration for the academy graduate's natural skillset. Eberl highlighted that the forward possesses intangible qualities that separate good players from the truly special ones.

  "He can head the ball and use both his left and right foot, and he has that feel that you can't teach as a coach, you can only support him where possible," Eberl stated. "He has that special something. He plays a very, very important role for us."

  Perhaps the most significant endorsement came from the captain. Kimmich, who had endured a difficult evening personally after conceding the own goal that put the hosts behind, was quick to shift the spotlight onto his young team-mate. The midfielder believes the youngster's form is now impossible for national team boss Julian Nagelsmann to ignore.

  "I assume that Lenny will continue to get playing time with us," Kimmich said of the attacking midfielder who has three goals from his two appearances for Germany Under 21s and is waiting on his first senior call up. "Currently, he has broken into the starting eleven, and every regular player at Bayern Munich – especially now, the way we are playing – also belongs in the national team."

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  Karl's feet on the ground

  Despite the clamour for a senior international debut and the record-breaking statistics, Karl remains grounded. The teenager, who has now scored against Club Brugge, Arsenal, and Sporting in succession, spoke with a maturity that matches his play.

  "Playing in the Champions League at 17 is something very special for me," the forward told reporters. "I'm very proud of myself and the team, and that's why everything came together today."

  With Bayern flying high in both the Bundesliga and Europe, the role of their new star is set to grow even further. The Bavarians face a busy winter schedule, and with Kompany’s rotation likely to be minimal for his "dangerous" talisman, the 17-year-old will have ample opportunity to extend his record-breaking run. If Kimmich is correct, a phone call from Nagelsmann may not be far away.

Leeds United had a busy 2025 summer transfer window, which has so far helped guide them to 16th in the Premier League and out of the relegation zone.

Of course, they still have a huge fight on their hands, but they are making good inroads and are in strong form.

Two of the players who joined this summer for free were strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha. Both players have four goals this season.

Another of their summer additions, Anton Stach, has stepped up alongside Ethan Ampadu in midfield to become a key man in the centre of the park.

It seems Daniel Farke’s side are targeting further reinforcements in midfield this winter.

Leeds’ latest transfer target

Midfield is one key area Leeds are focused on improving over the course of the next few transfer windows.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

They have recently been linked with a move for Tromso star Jens Hjerto-Dahl, who is one option for the club.

However, in recent days, reports have emerged which suggest the Whites are involved in the race to sign Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan.

According to Foot Mercato, they are said to be ‘closely monitoring’ the Scotland under-21 midfielder and could make a move.

However, they wouldn’t be alone in trying to sign the 23-year-old. Leeds face competition from the Premier League, in the form of Nottingham Forest, and with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg and Ligue 1 outfit Lille also interested.

A price is yet to be named, but Football Transfers value him at no more than £1.5m.

Why Mulligan would be a good signing

Versatile midfielder Mulligan only moved to Hibs this summer, leaving fellow Scottish outfit Dundee to switch to the country’s capital city, Edinburgh.

The 23-year-old has shone in the short time he’s played for the club.

So far, Mulligan has made 24 appearances across all competitions in Green, chipping in with three goals and three assists in that time, shining in domestic football and in European competitions, too.

Performances like this one against Falkirk have shown why ex-teammate Simon Ferry described him as a “Rolls-Royce” footballer.

One of the real benefits of Mulligan’s game is the fact that he is so versatile. The 23-year-old is able to operate all across the midfield, although he has played as a defensive midfielder more often than not this term. He can also play at full-back and on the wing.

This sort of versatility is one of the key strengths that Farke saw in Leeds academy graduate Archie Gray. The former Whites star could operate in midfield or, as he did more often in the 52 games he played for the club, as a right-back.

Now at Tottenham Hotspur, Gray has also played as a centre-back and at left-back.

His former manager in North London, Ange Postecoglou, praised the youngster for the way “he just adapts and handles” playing in a variety of positions.

The numbers from Mulligan this term and Gray’s 2023/24 season for Leeds show how similar they are.

The Hibs man averages 11.1 forward passes and 6 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, compared to 13.8 forward passes and 4.8 ball recoveries each game for Gray two years ago.

It is certainly interesting to think Farke may be able to recreate the dynamic he had with Gray at right-back if Leeds were to sign Mulligan.

The ex-Leeds star would often tuck into midfield in possession, and was comfortable doing so because he is naturally a midfielder.

Looking at the underlying numbers above, it seems likely the Scot could do that job, too. He is certainly comfortable operating in central areas, with good technical ability.

It would certainly be an interesting move for Leeds that could make them even better in possession.

Farke's new Buendia: Leeds lining up move for "sensational" UCL star

Leeds United are reportedly lining up a move for a star who could be Daniel Farke’s new Emi Buendia.

By
Dan Emery

3 days ago

Hunter Dobbins might want to watch what he says before hit pitches again.

This weekend, the 25-year-old Boston Red Sox rookie said he'd "retire" if the New York Yankees were the last team to give him a contract. Yankees manager Aaron Boone responded to those comments before Dobbins faced New York on Sunday. Then Aaron Judge had his say.

In the first inning of Dobbins's start, he surrendered a single to Ben Rice, then faced Judge. He tossed a 97 mph fastball in the reigning American League MVP's direction and Judge launched it 436 feet over the fence to right center field.

That was Judge's 22nd home run of the season and it came off the bat at 108.6 mph.

In the future, it might be best for Dobbins to refrain from insulting the team he's about to play. Wait until after you beat them to drop that bomb. In this case, Judge had the last word.

Steven Heighway knew when Steven Gerrard was still only 14 years of age that the midfielder was going to "make it" as a footballer. The man himself, though, was less convinced of his quality – at least when he took his first tentative steps in the professional ranks. When Gerrard warmed up in front of the Kop for the first time ahead of his Liverpool debut on November 29, 1998, the nerve-racked teenager "could almost hear them saying, 'Who's this skinny tw*t?!'"

When Gerrard made his first start for the Reds the following week, against Tottenham, he felt completely out of his depth while David Ginola was running rings around him. It wouldn't take Gerrard long, though, to adjust to the pace of the Premier League. He became a first-team regular at Anfield during the 1990-2000 campaign before being voted the PFA's Young Player of the Year the following season.

Being recognised by his peers capped a remarkably rapid rise to prominence for a kid that had initially been racked by self-doubt. There was also the fact that Gerrard had also been dealing with a persistent back problem caused by a combination of growing pains and excessive game time during his teenage years.

However, the truly incredible thing about Gerrard's emergence as a future superstar was that he managed to perform at such a high level on the field while going through hell off it, having been targeted by a local gangster intent on exploiting the England international's success for his own financial gain…

• 'Hoodwinked' into a heist

  In March 2006, John Kinsella, James Muldoon, Stephen McMullen and Thomas Hodgson were arrested on the M62 motorway near Huddersfield after a 130mph police chase. The four men – all from Liverpool – stood accused of stealing £41,000 worth of goods (Easter eggs, crisps and detergents) from a lorry depot in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

  Hodgson subsequently admitted to a charge of robbery, but Kinsella, Muldoon and McMullen all maintained their innocence when they went on trial at Lincoln Crown Court in April 2008. Kinsella, who also denied an additional charge of dangerous driving, insisted that he was not a member of the gang responsible for the heist, with his solicitor, Gorden Aspden, claiming that his client had been "hoodwinked" into getting involved.

  Kinsella stated that he knew nothing of the planned robbery beforehand and believed that he had been invited along to deal with a debt owed by a friend of his fellow accused Hodgson. According to Aspden, there was "a lot of evidence to back up” Kinsella’s story, while his defence also included a character reference from Steven Gerrard's father, Paul.

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  'Terrorised' by 'The Psycho'

  In a letter submitted to the court, and verified by police, Paul Gerrard wrote: "I would like to say that in 2001 my son Steven was being terrorised by a notorious Liverpool gangster known as 'The Psycho' (George Bromley Junior), who was threatening to maim my son by shooting him in the legs. Also, he was trying to extort a large amount of money from Steven. We immediately contacted the police and asked for protection."

  The letter also disclosed that Liverpool were in contact with the authorities during the period in question and had also provided extra security for their player. However, Paul Gerrard said that the threats and harassment "went on for a long time" and that his son had even been "chased" by the gangster as he drove home from training.

  "It was really having a bad effect on Steven's career," Paul Gerrard confessed, while also revealing that his son's car had been "smashed up" at one point. "This was one of the worst times of our lives and we were at our wits’ end when we were introduced by a family friend to John Kinsella."

• 'Nightmare'

  Kinsella was well-known within the Merseyside underworld, and had previously served a nine-year prison sentence for attempted robbery and carrying a firearm with intent to commit an offence. According to Paul Gerrard, after reaching out to Kinsella, the martial arts expert assured him and his family that he "would resolve our nightmare".

  During his trial in 2008, Kinsella explained that he was already familiar with both Bromley Junior and his deceased father, George Bromley Senior.

  "George Bromley Jnr was a young lad," Kinsella told the court. "but he was a very violent figure in Liverpool. I took steps. I spoke to George Bromley Jnr. I told him to stop it and leave [Steven Gerrard] alone. After I had spoken to him, he followed my advice."

  Indeed, Paul Gerrard confirmed in his letter that his family "never had any more problems from the Liverpool underworld", adding, "Steven and I have total respect for John."

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• 'Curious business'

  Despite Paul Gerrard's testimony, Kinsella was found guilty of the robbery and sentenced to 14 years in jail – though he wasn't in court for the verdict. Rather, during a lunch break at the trial on April 17, 2008, Kinsella absconded after being allowed to wander Lincoln Crown Court's grounds.

  Kinsella's legal team audaciously challenged the length of his sentence while he was still on the run – and actually managed to have it reduced by three years. Lord Justice Moses called the whole affair "curious business" but appeal judges accepted that the original jail term was "manifestly excessive".

  However, Kinsella was eventually arrested by armed police in Amsterdam in February 2009 and he belatedly began his prison sentence two months later.

  He died on May 5, 2018, after being shot in front of his partner while out walking his dog on a secluded footpath in a wooded area that runs alongside the M62 on Merseyside.

Chelsea have now entered negotiations over a deal to sign a rapid new centre-back, and an opening offer is set to be made within weeks.

Blues looking to sign new centre-back despite Cahill comments

With Levi Colwill suffering an ACL injury back in August, the Blues’ offer centre-back options have had to step up to the plate this season, and Gary Cahill has been very impressed with their performances, so much so that he believes his former club don’t need to sign a new defender.

Cahill said: “There has been a lot of noise around this for a long time, but I think the lads that are there are doing a very good job of proving that they don’t need to add to this position,”

“I’ve been very impressed with Wesley Fofana since he’s come back. Touch wood that he stays fit.

“Trevoh Chalobah: look at the job he’s been doing – he’s a bit of an unsung hero. Trevoh is probably the most underappreciated player at Chelsea.

However, while a senior centre-back may not be required, BlueCo are always keen to bring in exciting up-and-coming prospects, and they have now entered negotiations over a deal for Gremio defender Luis Eduardo.

That is according to a report from AS (via Sport Witness), which states Chelsea have now entered talks to sign Eduardo, alongside Premier League rivals Manchester United, with opening offers set to be made in the coming weeks.

The Blues are now trying to ‘accelerate’ their pursuit of the centre-back, given that scouts have been left impressed with his performances, with the 17-year-old well-known for his pace, having reached 38 km/h for Gremio earlier this year.

The speedster has a €60m (£53m) release clause included in his contract with the Brazilian club, although it is unclear whether BlueCo would be willing to shell out such a big fee on a very young player.

Chelsea now ready to trigger £44m release clause for "unstoppable" striker

The Blues are looking to sign a new centre-forward, who has been in fantastic form so far this season.

By
Dominic Lund

Nov 30, 2025

Luis Eduardo impressing at youth level

The teenager is yet to establish himself as a regular starter for Gremio, having made just one appearance for the senior team, but he has put in some eye-catching performances for both club and country at youth level.

Despite being a centre-back, the Corrente-born ace managed to score two goals in seven appearances for Gremio U20s in 2025, while he has also netted three goals in 13 appearances for Brazil U17s.

Eduardo could be one for the future, but Cahill is correct in his assessment that Chelsea don’t need to worry about bringing in a new centre-back anytime soon, given Chalobah’s recent form, most recently netting the opening goal in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Enzo Maresca also has Josh Acheampong and Benoit Badiashile at his disposal as back-up options, and with Colwill still to return, the manager is well-stocked at centre-back.

The baseball card of the year, Paul Skenes's one-of-one rookie debut patch autograph, has a surprise new owner. The card was pulled by an 11-year-old collector who received a hobby box of Topps' Chrome Update product as a Christmas present.

Although the Pittsburgh Pirates put out a strong bounty for the card's finder, the collector decided to auction the card through Fanatics Collectibles. The auction recently ended with a $1.11 million sale, netting more than Skenes's $875,000 salary in 2025.

The buyer was later revealed as sporting-goods chain Dick's, who plans to make the card available to the Pittsburgh community by displaying it at their "House of Sport" store at Ross Park mall.

"Acquiring the Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card enables us to celebrate his incredible talent while giving our athletes a unique opportunity to experience a piece of baseball history up close," Dick's executive chairman Ed Stack said in a statement. "We're thrilled to bring this special card home and display it in our Pittsburgh House of Sport store where it can inspire the next generation of athletes and collectors."

The card features the patch that Skenes wore on his jersey sleeve during his Major League debut, making it a one-of-a-kind artifact for baseball fans. The Pirates offered season tickets for 30 years, to host a softball game at PNC Park, two autographed jerseys and a meet and greet with Skenes for the card. Skenes's girlfriend Livvy Dunne upped the ante by chipping in a spot in her luxury suite at a Pirates game.

Pittsburgh wanted the card. Ultimately, it ends up in the city. Just in a roundabout way.