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Nielsen will coach a 15-man squad against India Under-19s in Australia next month but Ollie Peake is not available due to Australia A duty

Alex Malcolm08-Aug-2025Former Australia coach Tim Nielsen will take over as Australia’s Under-19s coach ahead of the upcoming series against India Under-19s with the World Cup on the horizon but Australia’s squad won’t feature star batter Oliver Peake as he will be touring with the Australia A team.Cricket Australia announced a 15-man squad for the upcoming home series against India Under-19s in Brisbane and Mackay starting next month, which will feature three 50-over matches and two four-day games. The three Youth ODIs will be played on September 21, 24 and 26 at Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane. The first Youth Test will be held at the same venue starting on September 30 while the second will played in Mackay from October 7.Nielsen, 57, coached Australia’s men’s team between 2007 and 2011, having been a long-time assistant to former Australia coach John Buchanan before that, as well as being head coach of CA’s Centre of Excellence, a position that no longer exists.Related

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Following his stint with Australia’s men, Nielsen was South Australia and Adelaide Striker’s long-time high performance manager before resigning in February 2024. He took up a brief post as Pakistan’s high-performance red-ball coach alongside close friend and long-time colleague Jason Gillespie when the latter was Pakistan’s Test coach in 2024.Nielsen returns to a development role at CA after Lachlan Stevens resigned as CA’s development coach earlier this year and his first duty will be to lead an Under-19s squad in their last bilateral series before the Under-19s World Cup in January in Zimbabwe and Namibia.Australia’s 15-player squad looks very different to the one CA sent to India in September and October last year, where they were beaten soundly 2-0 in the Youth Test series and 3-0 in the Youth ODI series. Only four players, Simon Budge, Steve Hogan, Hayden Schiller and Alex Lee Young, remain from that tour where India batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi announced himself with a 58-ball century in the first Youth Test.Oliver Peake made an impressive 52 on first-class debut aged 18•Getty ImagesSuryavanshi has been named in India’s Under-19 squad to tour Australia. But Peake, who made a century in the second youth Test in India last year, has been selected on Australia A’s tour of India that will occur at the same time, following an impressive first-class debut for Victoria in March and scoring 92 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A last month. Peake, 18, is still eligible to play in the Under-19s World Cup next year but it remains to be seen whether he will given he is contracted to Melbourne Renegades in the BBL and a key part of Victoria’s plans for the upcoming Sheffield Shield season.”We’re excited to continue our preparation for the ongoing ICC U19 World cup cycle, with an exciting squad of emerging players,”CA’s Head of National Development Sonya Thompson said.”This series against India provides a valuable opportunity for our young players to experience international cricket in white-ball and red-ball formats, and to test themselves against a high-quality opponent.”The multi-format tour is designed to challenge players to adapt and grow, while also giving selectors and coaches meaningful insights ahead of the National U19 Championships in December.”We’re also thrilled to welcome Tim Nielsen as Head Coach of the National U19 squad. His extensive international experience and leadership will be instrumental in guiding and inspiring Australia’s next generation of cricketers.Australia Under-19 squad: Simon Budge, Alex Turner, Steve Hogan, Will Malajczuk, Yash Deshmukh, Tom Hogan, Aryan Sharma, John James, Hayden Schiller, Charles Lachmund, Ben Gordon, Will Byrom, Kasey Barton, Alex Lee Young, Jayden Draper

The good times keep rolling for Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side are flying in the Premier League, unbeaten in the Champions League and now through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

The North Londoners had the tough task of beating Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night, and they did so even with an almost entirely changed starting lineup.

There were impressive displays across the pitch for the hosts, including from Max Dowman, and if that wasn’t enough good news, Hale End is already brewing another version of the teenage sensation.

Dowman's performance against Brighton

Several Arsenal players shone against Brighton, from Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to the centre-back pairing of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

However, when it comes to the starter who got everyone talking and the fans on their feet the most, it’s impossible to ignore Dowman.

The 15-year-old became the youngest player to start a game in the club’s history, but you wouldn’t have guessed that from the way he played.

From the first minute until he was taken off, the Hale End gem gave the Seagulls’ backline hell, so much so that within no time at all, they were forced to double and triple team him.

Amazingly, that did little to stop him, and by the time he was taken off for Bukayo Saka in the 71st minute, he had completed five of nine dribbles – the most of anyone – played one key pass, won nine of 14 ground duels and won a foul.

Minutes

71′

Touches

34

Dribbles (Successful)

8 (5)

Fouls Won

4

Accurate Passes

14/16

Ball Recoveries

3

Ground Duels (Won)

14 (9)

Key Passes

1

Described as a “certified worldie of a talent” by analyst Rohan Jivan, the young Englishman was utterly sensational on the night, but given his performances earlier this season and in the summer, it was hardly a surprise.

With all that said, Dowman is still just a child, and as such, Arteta and Co have to be incredibly careful with how they manage him. Therefore, it may be a couple of years before he starts playing games regularly.

However, by that time, there might be another unreal Hale End talent playing alongside him in the team.

Hale End's next Max Dowman

Now, it must be said that Dowman currently appears to be a genuinely generational talent, the kind of player who will regularly compete for Ballon d’Ors in the future.

Therefore, the likelihood of Arsenal producing another talent of equal calibre in the coming years is extremely low.

However, that doesn’t mean the club won’t have another young gem who could come into the side and make them far more dangerous in attack while having some of the same skills as the 15-year-old.

In fact, there are a few players in Hale End today who could do just that, but one of the ones who feels most likely to succeed and follow Dowman into the side is Ceadach O’Neill.

The extremely exciting Northern Irishman joined the club from Linfield on an initial trial in November 2023 and has been a star of the academy ever since.

Right Winger

11

2

3

Left Winger

7

3

1

Centre-Forward

5

4

1

Right Midfield

2

0

1

Left Midfield

1

0

0

Like Dowman, the 17-year-old has already shown a great deal of positional versatility, as he’s played on both wings, up front and in wide midfield.

Moreover, he’s no stranger when it comes to chipping in with goal involvement, as in just ten appearances this season, he has already scored five goals and provided three assists.

Described as “brilliantly” talented by the Gunners’ U21 coach David Horseman, the Kilrea-born dynamo is also someone who could get the fans on their feet.

For example, one analyst has highlighted his “great technique, impressive ball striking and finishing with both feet,” which sounds quite a bit like the youngster who started on Wednesday night.

Ultimately, it’s still so early on in his career, but O’Neill looks like someone who could follow Dowman into the first team in the coming years and potentially form a brilliant partnership with him.

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The pitch for the two-day Ashes Test at Perth Stadium has been given the highest rating by the ICC.The surface, which produced 19 wickets on the opening day and a result late on the second as Travis Head flayed 123 off 83 balls, was graded as “very good” in the official report from the match referee Ranjan Madugalle.Under the ICC’s four-tier ratings system, “very good” reflects a pitch with “good carry, limited seam movement, and consistent bounce early in the match, allowing for a balanced contest between batters and bowlers”.Related

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At 847 deliveries it was the second-shortest completed Test in Australia and the shortest Ashes Test by balls bowled since 1888.Pace bowling dominated across the first three innings with Mitchell Starc taking 7 for 58, although England had been 160 for 5 before a late collapse before tea on the first day. The visiting attack was then relentless in reducing Australia 123 for 9 at the close with Ben Stokes claiming five.On the second day, England had extended their lead to 105 with nine wickets in hand before Scott Boland cut through the middle order.Set 205, Australia raced to their target inside 29 overs after Head was promoted to open the batting in place of the injured Usman Khawaja. Indications were that the pitch was approaching its best stage for batting, similar to how last season’s Test against India transpired after a clatter of opening-day wickets.England collapsed twice in Perth•Getty Images

“This wicket, it kind of gets better I think at the end of day two, it’s probably at its best for the game late this evening … we saw similar last year as well,” captain Steven Smith said.The Perth Test came shortly after another rapidly-moving, low-scoring contest between India and South African in Kolkata which had prompted significant debate over the surface. The rating for that pitch has yet to be made public.The early finish in Perth is expected to cost CA somewhere in the region of AU$3-4 million.”The match referee’s “very good” rating justifies our belief Perth Stadium produced a pitch that provided a fair balance between bat and ball,” James Allsopp, Cricket Australia’s chief of cricket, said. “The dominance of some brilliant pace bowling from both sides and the frenetic nature of the contest meant the match lasted only two days.”This was disappointing for fans holding tickets for days three and four, but we saw some incredible moments which captivated huge viewing audiences and will inspire even more kids to pick up a bat and ball this summer.””As always, we want to ensure pitches across Australia have their own characteristics and we’re looking forward to another enthralling contest under lights at the Gabba starting next Thursday.”There will be much intrigue into the pitch in Brisbane for the day-night Test which starts next Thursday although curator Dave Sandurski is confident it will provide a fair balance.”All indications are there is a bit of heat around,” he told AAP earlier this week. “The wicket will dry out a lot quicker so you’ve got to make sure you keep enough moisture in it to last five days.”We try and make our wickets pretty much the same for four and five-day cricket. The aim is to provide a wicket where all players get a chance to perform their skills so hopefully all facets of the game come into the match.”The Gabba staged a two-day Test against South Africa in 2022-23 when too much grass was left on the surface and was rated “below average” under the ICC’s previous ratings system which earned the venue a demerit point. However, there have been no issues with the pitches for the two Tests that have followed against West Indies and India.The West Indies match in 2023-24 is the only day-night contest Australia have lost while last year’s match against India was spoiled by the weather.

All the stats from an extraordinary batting onslaught in the second T20I at Old Trafford

Sampath Bandarupalli12-Sep-2025304 for 2 England’s total in the second T20I against South Africa at Manchester. It is their highest total in men’s T20Is and the third highest by any team in the format.Zimbabwe’s 344 for 4 against Gambia in 2024 and Nepal’s 314 for 3 against Mongolia in 2023 are the higher totals.England’s total is also the fourth-highest in all men’s T20s and the highest in England, surpassing Somerset’s 265 for 5 against Derbyshire in 2022.141* Phil Salt’s score against South Africa is the highest for England in men’s T20Is, surpassing his own score of 119 against West Indies in 2023. It is also the seventh-highest individual score in men’s T20Is and the highest against South Africa.228 Runs scored off boundaries by England batters on Friday, the third-most by a team in a men’s T20I. Zimbabwe scored 282 runs off boundaries against Gambia during their record total, while India scored 232 boundary runs against Bangladesh in last year’s Hyderabad T20I.ESPNcricinfo LtdEngland batters hit 30 fours against South Africa, the joint-most by any team in a men’s T20I. The 48 boundaries they hit, including 18 sixes, are the second-most, behind the 57 by Zimbabwe (30 fours and 27 sixes) against Gambia.146 England’s margin of win by runs against South Africa is their biggest in men’s T20Is. It is also the heaviest defeat by runs for South Africa in this format.The margin of 146 runs is the third-biggest in a men’s T20I between two Full Member teams, behind India’s 168-run win against New Zealand in 2023 and their 150-run win against England earlier this year.462 Runs aggregated by England and South Africa at Manchester on Friday, the most for a men’s T20I match in England. It is also the eighth-most aggregated match in men’s T20I cricket.ESPNcricinfo Ltd39 Balls that Salt needed to complete his hundred, the fastest for England in men’s T20Is. The previous quickest was off 42 balls by Liam Livingstone against Pakistan at Nottingham in 2021.3 South Africa bowlers conceded 60-plus runs in England’s innings – Kagiso Rabada (70), Marco Jansen (60) and Lizaad Williams (62). It is the first instance of three bowlers conceding 60-plus runs in an innings in all men’s T20s.4 Number of hundreds for Salt in his 45-match T20I career. Only Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell, five each, are ahead of Salt, while Suryakumar Yadav also has four tons.16.2 Overs needed for England to bring up 250, the joint-fastest team 250 in men’s T20Is, where ball-by-ball data is available. Zimbabwe also reached the 250-run mark in 16.2 overs against Gambia last year.12.1 Overs that England needed to reach the 200-run mark. Only one team got there quicker in men’s T20Is – in 11.5 overs by Turkey against Bulgaria earlier this year (where ball-by-ball data is available). The fastest team 200 in all men’s T20s is off 10.5 overs by Baroda against Sikkim in 2024.England reached the 150-mark in 9 overs, which is also the second-fastest in men’s T20Is, behind Turkey’s effort in 8.3 overs against Bulgaria in that game.ESPNcricinfo Ltd166 for 1 England’s total at the halfway point of their innings, the second-highest by any team in men’s T20Is, a run behind Turkey’s 167 for 1 against Bulgaria (where ball-by-ball data is available).100 for 0 England’s total in the powerplay at Manchester is their highest in that phase in men’s T20Is. England’s effort is only the seventh instance of a three-figure total in the powerplay in men’s T20Is (where ball-by-ball data is available).Only one of the previous six has been against a full-member team – 102 for 0 by South Africa against West Indies in 2023.2 Salt and Jos Buttler are only the second opening pair to score fifties in 20 or fewer balls in men’s T20Is (where ball-by-ball data is available). Romania’s Taranjeet Singh and Ramesh Satheesan were the first to do so, against Serbia in 2021.70 Runs conceded by Rabada in his four overs, the most by a bowler for South Africa in a men’s T20I. Kyle Abbott’s 68 against West Indies in 2015 were the previous most. Rabada’s 70 runs are also the joint-fifth most conceded by a bowler in a men’s T20I.Rabada conceded only seven runs in his first over, but the next three overs went for 20, 23, and 20 runs, respectively, making him the first bowler to concede 20-plus runs in three different overs in a men’s T20I.2.1 Overs in which Williams conceded 50 runs. Only two bowlers conceded 50 runs in a quicker time in a men’s T20I than Williams (where ball-by-ball data is available).Romania’s Vasu Saini gave away 50 runs in only 1.4 overs against Belgium earlier this year, while Mongolia’s Mungun Altankhuyag conceded 50 in 2 overs against Nepal in 2023.

Daniel Farke is battling to keep his job at Leeds United and a fresh update has now dropped regarding his future at Elland Road.

The Whites now sit 18th in the Premier League table, having lost five of their last six games in the competition, heaping the pressure on Farke with Leeds already linked with new managers such as Brendan Rodgers.

Former scout Mick Brown recently told Football Insider that 49ers Enterprises were even looking to make a change during the summer.

He wants to join: Leeds choose number one manager candidate as Farke nears sack

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BySean Markus Clifford Nov 24, 2025

Opinion is split amongst Leeds fans about Farke’s future and what the next steps should be, with Adam Pope providing insight on the situation this week.

Pope makes new claim about Farke succession plan

Speaking on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast [via MOT Leeds News], Pope shared an update on Farke’s position at Leeds. While the BBC journalist stated the 49ers do not currently have someone “waiting in the wings”, he was then asked if they have someone they’re “looking at”, providing an intriguing response.

This now feels like a critical period for Farke, with Leeds’ results simply not good enough after some better ones earlier in the season, leading to them sliding into the relegation zone.

The German will know that improvements have to happen or 49ers will have to make a big decision, but unfortunately for him, next up is a trip to Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, which is nearly as tough as it gets.

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An ugly scoreline at the Etihad would crank up the pressure to new heights, and it would be a surprise if the Whites weren’t eyeing up potential replacements for Farke, with Rodgers perhaps the most likely given his status as a free agent with top flight experience.

He wants to join: Leeds choose number one manager candidate as Farke nears sack

Starting in 2027, Major League Soccer will transition from its current calendar-year schedule to a summer-to-spring format, aligning with top international leagues. The move has caused much discussion, but United States national team boss Mauricio Pochettino has thrown his full support behind the move, saying it's a great step forward for the game in America.

• MLS making switch to align with Europe

  The new 2027-28 regular season will kick off in mid-to-late July 2027 and conclude with the MLS Cup in late May 2028, with a lengthy mid-winter break from mid-December until early February. Before the full switch, a transitional mini-season will run from February to May 2027, featuring 14 games to determine qualification for other tournaments, including the US Open Cup and Leagues Cup. This historic shift aims to improve global competitiveness, enhance transfer market opportunities, and ensure the MLS Cup Playoffs do not compete with the NFL and college football seasons. The decision was approved by the league's Board of Governors. While owners and fans anticipate the benefits, the league is also addressing potential challenges, such as winter weather, for northern teams. 

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• AFP
  

  Pochettino expresses support

  Pochettino said: "For sure this is a great step forward for MLS to be on par with the top leagues in the world. Having managed club teams and now the US National Team, the ability to align with the international calendar will have a huge positive impact for the players, coaches and clubs. This also extends beyond the senior national teams; it will allow us to have access to the youth national team players during critical periods of international competition, further advancing their development."

  The former Spurs and Chelsea boss added: "My reaction is: well done. Congratulations, fantastic, I think great decision. What we can do from my personal view and the (US soccer) federation is to show our support. It’s a great decision. I think it’s going to be good for MLS, good for soccer in the US and I agree with the decision. I’m happy because, with me here or not, I think it’s a good decision for soccer. The feeling is going to be like were competing here in the U.S. like we are in Europe, that is always the reference. We are in a process to evolve and develop. The best way to grow in the sport is to see the principal leagues [in the world], how they act and how they are doing things."

• MLS chief explains switch

  MLS Commissioner Don Garber hailed it as a landmark moment for MLS, saying: "The calendar shift is one of the most important decisions in our history. Aligning our schedule with the world’s top leagues will strengthen our clubs’ global competitiveness, create better opportunities in the transfer market, and ensure our Audi MLS Cup Playoffs take centre stage without interruption. It marks the start of a new era for our league and for soccer in North America."

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  Potential pitfalls of switching calendar

  Switching to a summer-to-spring calendar creates significant problems for MLS, primarily in dealing with frigid weather and managing player relationships. Teams in northern markets will face lower attendance and tougher conditions for games and training during the winter months, despite the planned break. This move also risks disputes with the MLS Players Association over the length of the off-season and changes to existing player contracts. While the switch aligns with the global transfer market, it presents logistical challenges for a league covering a vast and climatically diverse area.

Kieran McKenna has delivered his verdict on Celtic following recent reports that the Scottish giants could look to land the Ipswich Town manager to replace Brendan Rodgers.

It’s been quite the week at Celtic Park. Chaos unfolded on Monday when Brendan Rodgers made the decision to resign and since then, the Hoops have travelled back in time – appointing Martin O’Neill on an interim basis.

The veteran manager has instantly got the Scottish champions back to winning ways, overseeing a 4-0 victory over Falkirk on Wednesday evening before telling reporters: “I’m really pleased to win in the manner we did, and we played some delightful stuff. Could have scored a couple more, too.

“My anxiety has calmed somewhat. When you get a few goals in front you can perhaps enjoy the last 10 or 15 minutes, and it kind of brought me back. I’ve not seen Celtic often, not live, to make criticism of this side. A restoration of confidence was great.”

Leaving O’Neill to turn things around on the pitch, Parkhead chiefs have commenced their search for a new manager and already faced their first blow thanks to Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian has reportedly chosen to take a break from football after getting the sack at Nottingham Forest just 39 days into the job. This shuts down any rumours that he could be making a sensational return to Scotland in the coming weeks.

Forced to search elsewhere, Celtic could yet turn towards Wales boss Craig Bellamy or Club Brugge’s Nicky Hayen, who has refused to rule a move out.

Meanwhile, another option is McKenna. The Ipswich Town boss has quite the reputation and has reportedly made Celtic’s shortlist as a result. Whether he decides to call it quits at Portman Road is another question, however.

Kieran McKenna delivers fresh Celtic verdict

Asked about the vacant job in his latest press conference, McKenna revealed where he ranks Celtic as a club whilst also speaking about his verdict on the position in Scotland.

Despite holding them in high regard, it looks as though Celtic will have a tough task on their hands if they want to lure McKenna away from Ipswich.

The former Manchester United coach has done an excellent job in Suffolk, taking Ipswich to as high as the Premier League following back-to-back promotions before suffering relegation last season.

Former Irish League star Thomas Stewart is one of many ex-players and pundits to have praised McKenna, previously telling reporters: “He’s well-educated, an intelligent man and I always felt that when we had conversations when we were younger.

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“I think we were the only two from the U16 Victory Shield team that got left out and went on to play for the U21 team. I’ve full respect for him and he’s doing an amazing job.”

For now, though, Celtic may be forced to miss out on their managerial target.

Celtic to contact Craig Bellamy

For a long time, one of Arsenal’s most significant problems was finding a proper backup for Bukayo Saka.

The Hale End icon is undoubtedly Mikel Arteta’s best player, and his time on the sidelines last season showed just how much the team were in desperate need of someone who could cover and compete with him on the right.

Fortunately, the North Londoners signed Noni Madueke in the summer, and while his arrival wasn’t met with universal excitement, his performances over the first five Premier League games suggested he may well be the player the club have needed for so long.

Therefore, supporters should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal to an international ace who has been compared to both Saka and Madueke.

Arsenal target Saka & Madueke hybrid

It’s not even December, but Arsenal are already being linked with a host of exciting players across Europe and beyond.

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, Levante’s Etta Eyong, who has already racked up nine goal involvements, has been touted for a move to the Emirates, as has Nottingham Forest’s incredible Elliot Anderson.

However, as talented as they are, neither of them could be described as being a hybrid of Saka and Madueke, unlike Karim Adeyemi.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are one of a few top sides interested in signing the Borussia Dortmund star.

More than that, the report has revealed that while the German international’s representatives have spoken to Manchester United, he would favour a move to the Gunners.

A potential price is not mentioned in the story, but other reports from Germany claim that Dortmund value their attacker at around £70m.

It could be a complicated and costly deal to get over the line, but given Adeyemi’s ability and potential, one worth pursuing, especially as he’s been compared to both Saka and Madueke.

How Adeyemi compares to Saka & Madueke

Even though it feels like it has been around for some time now, Adeyemi is still just 23 years old.

The Munich-born “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has been a key player for Dortmund for a few years, ending last season with an excellent tally of 12 goals and 11 assists in just 41 appearances.

He appears on track to match that tally this year as well, as in 14 appearances, totalling just 817 minutes, he has already racked up six goal involvements.

However, while his output is seriously impressive, the comparisons to Saka and Madueke primarily come from elsewhere, from FBref.

They have compared him to every attacking midfielder and winger across Europe’s top five leagues and have determined that the Hale Enders is the second most similar, and the former Chelsea star is the fourth.

You can gain a better understanding of how these comparisons were made by examining the underlying numbers in which the German dynamo has ranked closely to the two internationals.

In the case of the Gunners’ talisman, these metrics include expected goals plus assists, progressive passes, shot-creating actions, shots on target, and more, all per 90.

Then, for the former Blues star, the underlying numbers include metrics such as goal-creating actions, expected assists, and most interestingly, carries, also all per 90.

In other words, the former RB Salzburg gem seems to possess some of the creativity and goal threat of the North Londoners’ number seven, as well as the carrying ability of their summer signing, which helps explain why Mattinson called him a “serious transitional threat.”

Ultimately, it would be a costly and challenging transfer to get over the line, but given Adeyemi’s skillset, positional versatility and output, it is one Arsenal should pursue.

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Jack Salveson Holmes

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Chelsea have their finger on the pulse when it comes to talent around the world and they could now be set to fight off competition to sign Boca Juniors midfielder Milton Delgado.

The Blues have made their fair share of moves for young stars in recent windows, albeit patience has been a little here and there over their Premier League impact, with Enzo Maresca enjoying a mixed start to the campaign at Stamford Bridge.

Intriguingly, the Italian boss has come under some pressure this season and Juventus had shown interest prior to appointing Luciano Spalletti.

Simon Phillips explained: “Enzo Maresca has been at the top of Juventus’ list for their new manager, but they knew that he is not attainable mid-season.

“This has not stopped them making contact with Maresca’s people in recent days. However, the word from Maresca is that at the moment he is not looking to make any changes to his current situation right now.”

Undoubtedly, Chelsea will spend again in January and Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr is a target at Stamford Bridge. Admittedly, BlueCo would need to show a sizeable level of ambition to pull off such a coup, but the Brazil international’s future in the Spanish capital appears uncertain with his contract up in 2027.

Juventus star Kenan Yildiz is also another player in the Blues’ sights, illustrating that they have their eye on developments across Europe when it comes to the window opening for business in January.

Keeping that fire lit, Chelsea may now be preparing to trigger the release clause of a talent who hails from South America.

Chelsea lining up bid for Milton Delgado

According to reports in his homeland via Sport Witness, Chelsea’s pursuit of Boca Juniors midfielder Martin Delgado has panicked his current club, while they are also braced for approaches from Sevilla and Inter Miami.

The Argentina Under-20 international has made 35 appearances in total for the South American giants, registering a solitary assist from his holding midfield role.

Starring in his national team’s run to the Under-20 World Cup final, he is set to be offered a bumper new contract by Boca that will raise his release clause value significantly, though his club are well aware they will receive an abundance of offers in January.

Chelsea also have a young star who is as exciting as Estevao

Chelsea have already concluded a number of deals ahead of 2026, namely the additions of Geovany Quenda, Denner and Emmanuel Emegha, hence why it would be a major surprise if Delgado was next in line to bolster Maresca’s squad depth.

A billionaire candidate who looked at buying the club has reportedly made his decision on completing a takeover of Sheffield Wednesday, as their initial deadline nears.

Sheffield Wednesday near initial deadline

Whether it was optimistic or not, Sheffield Wednesday’s co-administrator Kris Wigfield initially set a soft deadline of December 5 to find a preferred bidder for the club. That is just one day away, however, and it seems unlikely that the Owls will have their answer in the next 24 hours.

Instead, it’s been a frustrating week. The club has been dealt an additional six-point deduction thanks to the lingering consequences of Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership and must already turn their focus towards Championship relegation and a campaign in League One next season.

After a decision that only adds salt to their wounds, Wednesday will hope to see some progression regarding their takeover sooner rather than later.

On that front, several rumours have emerged about a number of interested candidates and one report even claimed earlier this week that some parties may choose to put a joint bid together.

It would be quite the move to match the Owls’ £30m valuation, but whether that move is deemed acceptable by Begbies Traynor remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, reports have also claimed that Mike Ashley has already seen one offer rejected for the club, having fallen below Sheffield Wednesday’s valuation. The former Newcastle United owner is one of interested candidates, albeit one who is yet to match other bidders.

However, the same can’t be said for Anders Holch Povlsen, who has dealt those at Hillsborough a frustrating blow with his latest verdict on buying the club.

Povlsen makes Sheffield Wednesday takeover decision

According to Danish outlet Tipsbladet, as relayed by The Star, Povlsen is not among the final candidates to buy Sheffield Wednesday. The Dane may have taken a look at the club, but has decided against putting his name in the hat ahead of the Owls’ crucial decision.

For those at Hillsborough, his interest would certainly have been welcomed. Povlsen already owns Midtjylland and a Forbes profile claimed his estimated networth was $11.3 billion (£8bn) in 2022.

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By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 28, 2025

The 53-year-old inherited a majority stake in ASOS and is reported to be the largest individual private landowner in the UK thanks to his land in the Scottish Highlands. So, to say that money is not an issue would be a major understatement.

Alas, it’s not just his money that made Povlsen an attractive takeover candidate before he decided against a move. The Dane also ticks the box for experience in the world of football – something other rumoured candidates do not have. In many ways, he was the ideal man for the job, but Wednesday must now look elsewhere.

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