Leeds United play host to West Ham United at Elland Road in the Premier League this evening as they look to bounce back from their defeat to Burnley last weekend.

Daniel Farke’s side created four ‘big chances’ against the Clarets at Turf Moor last Saturday, but were unable to score any of them in a drab defeat.

It is safe to say that the German tactician needs more from his players at the top end of the pitch to pick up enough points to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The Whites only made three attacking signings in the summer, Noah Okafor, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Lukas Nmecha, and they are the only attackers in the squad who have directly contributed to goals.

Noah Okafor

2

0

Lukas Nmecha

1

0

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

1

0

Brenden Aaronson

0

0

Dan James

0

0

Wilfried Gnonto

0

0

Jack Harrison

0

0

Joel Piroe

0

0

As you can see in the table above, not a single attacker in the squad has registered an assist in the league, and none of the players who were already at the club before the window have scored any goals in the top-flight.

Jack Harrison started on the left flank, in a 4-3-3 system, in the loss to Burnley last time out, and Farke should drop him from the team for this clash with the Hammers.

Why Jack Harrison should be dropped

The German head coach should drop the left-footed forward from the starting XI because his current form and his form from his two seasons with Everton suggest that he is not the answer to their problems.

Leeds, as aforementioned, are lacking goals from their attacking players. That was an issue against Burnley as the Whites missed all four of their ‘big chances’, one of which was spurned by Harrison.

Minutes

66

Shots

2

Shots on target

0

Big chances missed

1

Key passes

1

Big chances created

1

Successful crosses

0/7

Possession lost

14x

Harrison, as shown in the table above, did create a ‘big chance’, for Brenden Aaronson, in his defence, but that was one positive in an otherwise dismal showing.

The 28-year-old dud has now failed to provide a goal or an assist for the team in seven Premier League matches, per Sofascore, whilst creating just one chance in that time.

Harrison also managed just four goals in 63 Premier League outings for Everton during his time on loan at Goodison Park, per Sofascore, which included one goal in 34 appearances in the 2024/25 campaign for the Toffees.

This suggests that Farke cannot rely on the left-sided attacker to turn things around and prove himself to be a consistent threat at the top end of the pitch for his side in their battle against relegation this season.

Chalkboard

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

It is also why Farke should take Harrison out of the starting line-up for this clash with West Ham United, because it seems unlikely that he will provide the ruthlessness they need in front of goal.

The manager, as shown in the post above, suggested in his pre-match press conference that Noah Okafor may return from his adductor injury to be involved this evening.

Why Noah Okafor is a difference maker for Leeds

AllLeedsTV present Oscar Marrio described the Switzerland international as a “class difference maker” for the West Yorkshire outfit earlier this month, but why is that the case?

The simple answer is that it is down to quality. Okafor’s technical ability, on this season’s showing, is on another level compared to the other attackers in the first-team squad.

Per Sofascore, the Swiss star has completed 2.2 dribbles per game on average in the Premier League. No other player in the team has completed more than 1.3 per game and no one other than Gabriel Gudmundsson has completed more than 0.9 dribbles per game.

The statistic in the post above shows that his dribbling skills have been impressive by Premier League standards, not just Leeds United standards, which further speaks to the ability that he can provide on the ball.

Okafor is not just a flashy dribbler who can take players on and get fans off their seats, though, as he has also shown that he has end product to his performances.

Starts

4

xG

1.16

Goals

2

Conversion rate

33%

Big chances missed

0

Big chances created

1

Assists

0

As you can see in the table above, the £18m signing from AC Milan has provided genuine quality at the top end of the pitch with two goals from 1.16 xG, without missing a single ‘big chance’.

Okafor’s goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the club’s 3-1 win back in September was a great example of him combining his pace, composure, and quality all into one piece of play.

The 25-year-old dynamo is a difference maker because he has attributes that allow him to make an impact in the final third, whilst Harrison’s statistics suggest that he does not share many of those attributes.

Okafor, given his start to life at Elland Road, seems far more likely to produce a moment of magic to win Leeds points against West Ham this evening in the Premier League, which is why Farke should drop Harrison to bring him into the starting line-up.

Farke can bin Harrison by playing Leeds academy star who's a "joy to watch"

Leeds United have a teenage prospect in their academy ranks who could replace Jack Harrison.

ByDan Emery Oct 22, 2025

Prior to the news that Okafor was in contention to feature, Football FanCast, in the article above, suggested that U21 starlet Connor Douglas could be an alternative to Harrison. If the Swiss star does end up not being fit enough to start, the 20-year-old gem could still be an option.

MatériaMais Notícias

da bet sport： Com alta demanda, a diretoria do Botafogo abriu um novo setor para a partida contra o Operário, na próxima segunda-feira, pela Série B do Brasileirão. Com o setor Leste Inferior esgotado, a parte Superior foi disponibilizada para venda nesta quarta-feira.

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da 888： + Botafogo tem destaques com contratos chegando ao fim: saiba vínculos dos jogadores do elenco

Nas redes sociais, muitos torcedores fizeram coro para a diretoria abrir o local nos últimos dias. O Setor Leste é um dos favoritos dos botafoguenses e a diretoria atendeu.

Os valores para a parte Superior serão de R$ 50, na inteira, e R$ 25, de meia-entrada. Sócios-torcedores têm desconto de acordo com o plano assinado junto ao “Camisa7”, programa de associados do Alvinegro.

A questão da retirada de ingressos e parte de vacinação continua a mesma. O Botafogo exige exame antígeno realizado até 48 horas antes da partida para quem ainda não tem esquema vacinal completo.

Ao todo, mais de 10 mil ingressos já foram vendidos para o duelo. O Botafogo pode garantir o acesso à elite do Campeonato Brasileiro nesta quinta-feira contra a Ponte Preta, em Campinas.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will remain in the spotlight while a big question remains on who replaces Shreyas Iyer in the middle order

Sidharth Monga29-Nov-20251:37

Saba Karim: ‘Expect Rohit, Kohli to do well in home series’

Big picture – India can’t be complacent despite recent dominance in ODIsWe can sometimes forget the unfortunate part injuries play in a team’s fortunes. India are now going into a third straight international match with a third different captain after Shubman Gill’s neck injury in the Kolkata Test forced him out of action following non-stop cricket for India’s newest three-format obsession. Their ODI vice-captain, Shreyas Iyer, is also out with a rib injury he sustained while taking a catch back in Australia.This format, though, is still the ideal sweet spot for India. Or at least this generation of players, up until the injured full-time captain and vice-captain. India have been dominant in ODIs, winning the last Asia Cup and the last Champions Trophy, and losing only the final in the last World Cup.Related

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However, they are careful not to be complacent because the next World Cup takes them to South Africa. So they are always going to be wondering if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will still be good to go in late 2027, how to find a seam-bowling allrounder, how to manage workloads. And this is the format teams play the least of.India’s opponents are nowhere near as dominant in ODIs in recent times but they will be riding the high of having beaten India 2-0 in the Tests. This is a rare full tour as nowadays home teams prefer to split Tests and shorter formats to allegedly maximise the earnings. However, all-format tours have their own charm of one side trying to dominate the other team completely and the other looking for some redemption in the other formats.Also, South Africa are closer to full strength now with the exception of Kagiso Rabada’s injury-enforced absence. The return of Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma should add heft to their batting, and Keshav Maharaj should provide them the spin control they missed in Pakistan.These are just three ODIs and they will be forgotten quickly, what with more focus on T20Is right now, but they promise to be cracking contests while they last.Form guideIndia WLLWW
South Africa LWLLWMatthew Breetzke comes to India with a huge reputation to live up to•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlight: RoKo and Matthew BreetzkeKL Rahul will take over India’s leadership as the selectors have resisted the temptation to go back to Rohit Sharma, who returned to the ODIs, his only active international format, with a century in the third match against Australia. It is a clear sign that Rohit and Virat Kohli will forever remain under extra scrutiny just by the virtue of how old they will be by the World Cup in 2027.Matthew Breetzke comes to India with a big reputation to live up to. He is the only player to have scored 50 or more in each of his first five ODIs, and he averages 67.75 while playing the difficult role of batting in the middle order.Team news: Shubman Gill and Kagiso Rabada are outYashasvi Jaiswal should be the natural replacement for Gill at the top of the order with Ruturaj Gaikwad primed to take Iyer’s slot in the middle order. If Gaikwad gets the nod, Rishabh Pant, who is back in the squad, will struggle to make the starting XI because India will need two allrounders. It remains to be seen if one of those allrounders will be a seam bowler in Nitish Kumar Reddy. In Australia, they played all three while the series was live because they wanted batting depth. If they repeat the formation, all three will get in.India (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Ruturaj Gaikwad/Rishabh Pant, 5 KL Rahul (capt, wk), 6 Washington Sundar, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 9 Harshit Rana, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Prasidh Krishna1:09

Karim: An opportunity for Jaiswal ‘to cement his place’

Markram should slot back into the opening role, something South Africa have tried since the last World Cup where he batted at No. 4. Bavuma should take his No. 3 position.South Africa (probable): 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Matthew Breetzke, 5 Dewald Brevis, 6 Rubin Hermann, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Nandre Burger, 11 Lungi NgidiPitch and conditionsThis is only the sixth ODI Ranchi is hosting. There has been only one score of over 300, which was defended successfully, but chases of 270-280 haven’t quite been cakewalks either. The pitch generally is on the slower side; in the last ODI there, Washington Sundar opened the bowling for India. The weather will be perfect to play cricket in, but a lot will depend on dew. Without dew, batting first is not a bad shout in Ranchi.Stats and trivia Since 2006, India and South Africa have played ten bilateral ODI series against each other. The scoreline is 5-5. Bavuma needs 59 runs to become only the 22nd South Africa player to score 2000 ODI runs.Quotes”Rutu, obviously, is a top-class player. We have all seen it. With whatever opportunities, limited opportunities he has got [with India], he has really utilised it and shown what he can do. Unfortunately, in ODI cricket, the top six or top five is quite settled. And they are performing really well.”
“When you add those two names to the line-up, we expect to see a full house tomorrow and that’s exciting. I think obviously two vastly experienced and dangerous players and they can cause a lot of damage to us, but we tend to try to focus on what sort of damage we can cause the opposition.”

Sussex seamer sets sights on New Zealand series after months on fringes of England squad

Valkerie Baynes31-Mar-2021For England’s Test hopefuls the start of the County Championship season offers a simple, if slightly vague, formula for realising their dream: make runs, take wickets, get noticed by the national selectors.Ollie Robinson, the Sussex seam bowler, is among a handful of current players to have progressed considerably further along that path. Having spent the best part of five months over the past year in bio-secure international squad bubbles, he has given those in and around the England set-up a clear idea of what he can do. In turn, they have given him clarity on where he should aim next: to make his debut in the two-Test series against New Zealand in June.And, with the start of the LV= Insurance County Championship just a week away, he feels a maiden Test cap is close.”They’ve said to me, ‘look towards the New Zealand series’,” Robinson says. “That is my aim at the moment – start the season well with Sussex and hopefully I can get in that squad and in the XI.”Related

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When the ECB named a 55-man return-to-training group last May in the first major step towards staging a full international season in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, Robinson was there, a deserving inclusion after a seven-wicket display for England Lions against Australia A and a haul of 137 wickets – the most of any seamer – over the previous two Championship seasons.Robinson earned his maiden call-up to the senior squad ahead of the second Test against West Indies in July as England sought to manage the workloads of James Anderson and Mark Wood. He was among five players released when the side for the third Test was named and, a week later, took eight wickets, including three in 14 balls during a second-innings five-for, as Sussex won their opening match of the Bob Willis Trophy against Hampshire.Just over a week after that, Robinson was back in the England squad ahead of the second Test against Pakistan and he subsequently travelled as a reserve on the recent tours of Sri Lanka and India.”I feel a lot better for the experience,” Robinson says. “India was pretty tough and pretty eye-opening in terms of the conditions out there and what to expect as a Test cricketer so that’s probably going to stand me in better stead moving forward.”I have learned a lot skill-wise and off the field as well. Jimmy [Anderson] is 39 now and is probably the fittest he has ever been. Seeing him work every day is what has stuck with me – how well he trains and how hard he works. Making that a habit and not just an England thing, England have drilled that into me, that they want me to work just as hard for Sussex as I did with them. If I want to have a long international career that’s what I want to do for the rest of my career.”A tall bowler, whose disciplined line and length is relentless, Robinson has achieved some outstanding figures, like his career-best 8 for 34 against Middlesex in 2019, part of a 14-wicket return for the match.Bowling in tandem with Craig Overton – the pair shared eight second-innings wickets evenly between them – Robinson helped lead England Lions to a nine-wicket victory over Australia A at the MCG in February 2020. Combined with his three wickets from the first innings, Robinson signalled that he was on track to take the next step should an opportunity arise as it did for Dan Lawrence, who scored a century in that same match and played the first five Tests of his career on the recently completed tours of Sri Lanka and India.While this English summer is hugely important to his ambitions of earning a place in the Ashes squad at the end of the year, Robinson feels somewhat liberated from putting pressure on himself.”It’s massive,” he says. “Performance-wise maybe not as much as in previous years. I feel England can sort of see and know what I do. They have watched me for a few years in terms of fitness and being around the England group.”I just need to get that breakthrough in a Test match or series to cement my place for the plane to Australia really. That is the most important thing for me this year.”Ollie Robinson played a big role in England Lions’ win over Australia A•Getty Images

If he does secure an Ashes berth, Robinson feels he already has good experience of the conditions, having played two seasons of grade cricket before the Lions tour.”I feel like my experiences Down Under are good enough to perform if called upon, even if I didn’t make my debut this summer,” he says. “I think that Lions tour was a really strong tour for everyone involved. Dan Lawrence was on it as well. We’ve both spoken and said if we are selected we almost know we can do well already.”While the Ashes are a big draw, Robinson is prepared to take his chance, wherever it comes. If that means more time sequestered in bio-secure environments, so be it.”I’m hungry to play any series, any game,” Robinson says. “I feel like if the Ashes is the only thing you’re looking at you’re not in the right mindset. You should want to play for England no matter who you’re playing against or what series it is. Bubble life is tough but there are tougher things – it’s not the hardest thing in the world.”In the meantime, Robinson will spearhead the attack at Sussex, who open their campaign on April 8 against Lancashire at Old Trafford after the fixture was moved north because a plague of bug larvae damaged the Hove outfield.LV= Insurance is the new title partner of the County Championship. The season begins on April 8 with champions Essex taking on Worcestershire. For more information visit lv.com/gi/cricket.

Harmanpreet didn’t find runs, Mandhana was below par and Deepti’s scoring rate left India short. The younger lot, though, impressed

S Sudarshanan10-Jan-20244:25

Muzumdar backs Harmanpreet to bounce back from lean patch

Harmanpreet’s lean run
The form of India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been in focus following six single-digit scores in the white-ball series against Australia. A look at the bare numbers would show that she has scored in double-figures only three times in nine outings since the T20 World Cup last year. Moreover, some of her captaincy calls have also come under the scanner. Dropping her might not be the solution since India do not play for another eight months or so, and by then the T20 World Cup would be around the corner.The WPL will act as a final barometer to judge Harmanpreet, who will lead defending champions Mumbai Indians. There, she essays a role similar to that in the Indian team – leading the team and batting at No. 4. Tough calls may have to be taken if her slump continues there.Sadhu and Patil impress
India’s love for spin-heavy XIs is no secret. But against Australia, they fielded as many as four seamers and just two spinners. With India moving on from Shikha Pandey, Renuka Singh has cemented her spot as the frontline fast bowler with Pooja Vastrakar for company.Titas Sadhu, who starred at the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup early last year, has made a stirring case for the third seamer’s slot with strong performances against Australia. Her four-for in the opening T20I gave India their only win in the white-ball series against Australia. She mostly bowled impeccable lines and lengths and often had batters in trouble with her change of pace in good batting conditions. She was also the most economical India seamer.Like Sadhu, Shreyanka Patil also made a good step up after impressing in WPL 2023. That she made the XI in all games despite Deepti Sharma’s presence showed the faith the team had in her. While Deepti is known to offer control by bowling in consistent areas, Patil is different in that she relies on variations in flight and dip. She possesses a solid yorker and a calm head, which explains why she bowled at the death in each of the matches.Does Deepti have the gears to deliver maximum impact at No. 6?•BCCIDeepti and the batting question
Deepti is a quality bowler and she can make the XI on that skill alone. But time and again, India have trusted her to bat at No. 6 in a role that doesn’t come naturally to her. She scored fifties in back-to-back Tests but has found it difficult to develop another gear to her white-ball batting. Even UP Warriorz had to rely mainly on Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris in the WPL 2023 for the batting fireworks.The twin series at home were the first for the new coaching setup led by Amol Muzumdar. That could, perhaps, explain why Deepti was persisted at No. 6 despite her diminishing returns with the bat. She faced 45 balls in the T20Is and finished the series with a strike rate of 97.77. That gave little time for Vastrakar and Patil, a pair who could’ve potentially helped India score more first-innings runs in the second and third T20Is.Mandhana not converting starts
Smriti Mandhana got starts in five of the six T20Is this home season, but the big runs have eluded the opener. In each of the three outings against Australia, she picked a boundary rider perfectly after getting her eye in. The mantra earlier was to rein Mandhana in and dismiss her with Ashleigh Gardner’s offbreaks; the India batter managed 31 off 36 balls against Gardner for no dismissals. But she managed only one half-century – and a couple of scores in forties – in 12 T20I innings since the T20 World Cup last year. Her form is not yet a concern for India and the WPL will present her an opportunity to get among the runs again.

da bwin： Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on a pair of appointments that Wolverhampton Wanderers are expected to make in the near future.

da luck： Despite being given a contract extension just weeks into the season, Vitor Pereira was sacked by Wolves following 10 Premier League games without a win. The Midlands side have since been linked with a number of managers that could potentially replace the Portuguese.

Wolves are eight points adrift of safety, sitting rock bottom of the league table with just two points taken from a potential 30. Whoever replaces Pereira will have a sizeable job on their hands, and the frontrunner appears to be Rob Edwards, with an approach made on Thursday.

For their upcoming clash against Chelsea, Wolves have decided on who will take interim charge of the first-team as they seek not one, but two new appointments.

Soon after Pereira was relieved of his duties, director of football Domenico Teti departed the club, having only joined in the summer to work alongside the manager.

Romano shares update as Wolves pursue appointments

It is imperative that Fosun, who have owned Wolves since 2016, make appointments that will be effective in their roles and able to contribute to Wolves’ efforts to retain their status as a Premier League outfit. As per GIVEMESPORT, Romano has revealed that work is ongoing on both fronts.

Though Wolves have been linked with some options, such as Erik ten Hag, who have no prior connection to the club, reports have suggested that Wolves are interested in a manager that knows the club. Until pulling himself out of the running, ex-Wolves boss Gary O’Neil was linked with a return.

Edwards seems the most likely candidate, having enjoyed a strong start to the season as Middlesbrough head coach. The former defender, who guided Luton Town to the Premier League, spent four years at Molineux during his playing career.

As per Romano, Wolves are looking to “cover” their director of football position alongside hiring a new manager, ensuring that they are prepared for both the remainder of the season and the fast-approaching January transfer window.

There is still time for Wolves to salvage something from the season, but such an act relies on the correct decisions being made with important appointments such as the ones they must now make.

One of "England's best young coaches" linked with Wolves

كشف ديفيد أورنستين، الصحفي المعروف بصحيفة ذا أتلتيك، تفاصيل جديدة حول حقيقة رحيل محمد صلاح عن صفوف نادي ليفربول خلال فترة الميركاتو الشتوي المقبل في يناير.

ويعاني محمد صلاح الأمرين مع نادي ليفربول خلال هذا الموسم، حيث بقي الدولي المصري على مقاعد البدلاء خلال آخر ثلاث مباريات لعبهم الريدز في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وقام محمد صلاح بالرد على بقاءه كبديل، حيث أشار إلى أن علاقته مع مدرب ليفربول، آرني سلوت، قد انتهت تمامًا، مؤكدًا أن إدارة الريدز قد خدعته ولم تنفذ الوعود التي قدمتها له.

ورد ليفربول على تصريحات محمد صلاح، حيث قام باستبعاده من مباراة الفريق المقبلة أمام إنتر ميلان، والتي سوف تلعب غدًا الثلاثاء في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

طالع .. قائمة ليفربول لمباراة إنتر ميلان في دوري أبطال أوروبا.. موقف محمد صلاح

وأفاد أورنستين، أن ليفربول لا يرى أن استبعاد محمد صلاح من مباراة إنتر ميلان إجراء تأديبي ، ولا ينظر إلى هذا الاستبعاد على أنه إشارة على رحيل اللاعب في يناير.

وأضاف أورنستين، بأن ليفربول أكد التزامه التام بصلاح وعقده، الذي يمتد حتى عام 2027، مع التأكيد على أن الوضع الحالي مؤقت ويمكن تحسينه.

وأوضح أورنستين في حديثه، أن ليفربول ربما كان يحتاج إلى وجود محمد صلاح في تشكيلة الفريق الأساسية لولا تصريحاته الأخيرة، حيث تعتبر خسارة لاعب بمكانة الدولي المصري ضربة موجعة.

واختتم أورنستين حديثه قائلًا، إن استبعاد محمد صلاح من تشكيلة ليفربول سوف يزيل بعض الضغوط من على سلوت، وفي انتظار ما سيحدث لحين مباراة برايتون يوم السبت المقبل في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

Versatile batsman explains importance of “standing still and reacting, to go for the right option at the right time”

Deivarayan Muthu21-Dec-2020Tim Seifert has all the shots in the book, ranging from the scoop over the keeper’s head to the down-the-track leg-side slog to the perfect straight drive. But, until recently, he didn’t seem to have the clarity to pause and reflect on the game-scenario before pulling out his trick shots. For instance, in the Super Over against Chris Jordan at Eden Park last year, he searched for the scoop when he might have been better off trying to clear the shorter straight boundary. Jordan knew that Seifert would go searching for that shot and darted a wide yorker away from his reach. It resulted in another Super Over heartbreak for New Zealand.

****

A year on, Seifert understands his strengths better and knows when to play the right shot at the right time. This mindset change came to fore during his back-to-back half-centuries in the ongoing T20I series against Pakistan.In the series opener at Eden Park, Seifert shelved his scoops and ramps and instead focussed on timing orthodox shots like defensive push off Faheem Ashraf which whistled past extra-cover for four. The in-form Glenn Phillips holed out in the next over, but Seifert still played within himself, gliding a rapid short delivery from Haris Rauf to the third-man boundary. He fell for 57 and after the game said that he was disappointed at not finishing off the chase. Two days later, Seifert remedied that.Watch cricket on ESPN+

New Zealand vs Pakistan is available in the US on ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the series

The conditions at Seddon Park were strange. The new ball didn’t swing, but then Tim Southee got a semi-new ball to move both ways. Then, in the second innings, Pakistan’s seamers got spongy bounce from a good length. Wary of that bounce, Seifert realised that scooping the ball in the ‘V’ behind the wicket would be a better option than looking to hit it in the ‘V’ in front of it.After plays-and misses against Shaheen Afridi and Ashraf, Brendon McCullum, who has coached Seifert at Trinbago Knight Riders and Kolkata Knight Riders, called it on the commentary that the batsman would “pick up the ball” behind the wicket. The scoop found the boundary, as McCullum predicted, and Seifert was off and running. He would be unstoppable on Sunday, finishing with an unbeaten 84 off 63 balls.”There was a tricky little period when Kane [Williamson] came in,” Seifert said at the post-match media conference. “But, you know in T20 cricket if you just ride that wave, the tough little period could just be one or two overs. Then you get one good ball out of the middle – that gets your innings underway.”Personally, [I] felt like I chewed up a couple of balls and then that’s when I did my scoop and got my second half of my innings underway. I just felt on that wicket, hitting through the line over the top of the bowler was a tough option with the ball popping up a little bit. I thought it was a good time to bring the ramp out and it worked.”

There’s a team in yellow (CSK) that might have a look at you as wellStephen Fleming to Tim Seifert on Spark Sport

Seifert felt that he went too hard at the top against West Indies at the start of the international home summer and tossed his wickets away. In the first T20I against West Indies, he backed away and spliced a catch to mid-on, and in the second he jumped across off and dragged the ball back onto his stumps. Against Pakistan, he learnt from those errors, he said, and maintained a stable base while meeting the ball.”Being able to play 360 [degrees] – sometimes a lot of shots are going through your head, which can be a downfall as well,” Seifert said. “So, I think it was a big learning from the West Indies series that I got off to a good start, but I didn’t really push through. The two times I got out, I got myself out with trying things.Tim Seifert hooks during the course of his half-century•Getty Images”So, it’s just a matter of standing still and reacting. You know when you need to bring those shots out like tonight there were a few dots balls that built up, so I knew it was the right time and right option. I’ve just learnt over experience and obviously not doing as well as I wanted last series as to when to actually play those shots and when to go hard and what bowlers to attack.”The experiences that have contributed to Seifert’s evolution include stints under McCullum at both the Knight Riders franchises in the CPL and IPL. Even during Managed Isolation Quarantine (MIQ) in Christchurch following his return to New Zealand, Seifert was doing shadow-keeping with McCullum. Indeed, McCullum was particularly pleased with Seifert’s ability to adapt over a short period of time.”There are people who want to learn and then there are people who go and get what they desperately want in the game,” McCullum told the host broadcaster. “He picked up the phone and tried to get some help around him but then I was lucky enough to spend some time with Seif over the past six or seven months. I’ve seen his work ethic up close and his ability to develop quickly is something very few players have. Not just his batting but his wicketkeeping has been one of the most improved aspects that I’ve seen. His best years are in front of him. The rest of the world needs to see over the next couple of years to see how good this guy can be.”Seifert’s progress has also caught the attention of Chennai Super Kings coach and commentator Stephen Fleming who said: “There’s a team in yellow that might have a look at you as well. Not just Brendon’s team, there are other teams out there!”From having been ignored for the 50-over World Cup in 2019, Seifert is now becoming too hard to ignore.

West Ham have a new preferred choice to take over from Graham Potter, with the Englishman’s dismissal appearing inevitable after a poor start to 2025/2026.

Graham Potter on the verge of leaving West Ham

Potter’s nine-month tenure in the Hammers dugout has been one to forget so far.

Under his leadership, West Ham have recorded their second-worst win percentage of the Premier League era, behind only Avram Grant, who led them to relegation in 2011.

Worst West Ham managers in the Premier League	Win percentage
9. Sam Allardyce	30.7%
10. Julen Lopetegui	30%
11. Gianfranco Zola	27.8%
12 Graham Potter	26.1%
13. Avram Grant	18.9%
via StatMuse

The mood around East London is already sour, with supporters poised to stage protests against West Ham’s ownership at every Saturday home game this season (The Telegraph), and Potter’s side aren’t exactly helping matters.

Their hugely frustrating opening five Premier League games are best summed up in one word — fragile.

They’ve leaked 13 goals already, more than any other Premier League side, with seven of them coming directly from corner kicks. Rivals are taking serious advantage of West Ham’s set-piece weakness right now, and that is on the manager to fix.

Whether that be Potter, or far more likely a replacement, West Ham are staring relegation in the face if they cannot plug their gaping holes – a fact not lost on critics like Wayne Rooney.

Reports suggest Potter could stay on at West Ham until after the Arsenal game, depending on how they fare at Everton, with ExWHUemployee suggesting that the hierarchy want to give any new boss the best possible chance of a good start at home to Brentford on October 20.

Out of every linked manager, Nuno Espírito Santo has been tipped as the favourite to take over from Potter at West Ham, and there are suggestions that he’s “close” to agreeing a potential deal if the latter does depart (ExWHUemployee).

However, while Nuno is most likely as things stand, insider Claret & Hugh has claimed that they’d actually prefer someone else.

West Ham would prefer Marco Silva over Nuno Espírito Santo

Indeed, that man is Fulham boss Marco Silva, who has done an excellent job at Craven Cottage with very limited resources for years.

The former Everton and Hull City manager had Fulham briefly contending for a European spot last season, with Silva’s side also making a solid start to 2025/2026 — losing just one of their opening five Premier League matches.

The Whites have won three games on the bounce in all competitions, and Silva is yet again doing very solid work in West London despite spending the least money of any Premier League side last summer.

Premier League’s lowest summer spenders
Team	Money spent	Money received	Net spend
Wolves	£121,000,000	£119,000,000	£2,000,000
Bournemouth	£120,000,000	£207,000,000	-£87,000,000
Everton	£112,000,000	£3,500,000	£108,500,000
Burnley	£111,000,000	£31,000,000	£80,000,000
Leeds	£98,000,000	£7,000,000	£91,000,000
Brentford	£85,000,000	£134,000,000	-£49,000,000
Brighton	£69,000,000	£133,000,000	-£64,000,000
Crystal Palace	£47,000,000	£63,000,000	-£16,000,000
Aston Villa	£37,500,000	£47,000,000	-£9,500,000
Fulham	£34,500,000	£15,000,000	£19,500,000
via BBC Sport

Now, C&H report that Silva is West Ham’s preferred managerial choice over Nuno, but the latter is still in pole position.

Sullivan and Karren Brady aren’t too keen on paying up to £10 million in compensation to take Silva off Fulham’s hands, meaning that Nuno is still the favourite to replace Potter as things stand.

This search for a new manager also comes amid increasing concern from West Ham shareholders over a potential drop to the Championship, so whether they move for Silva or Nuno, the board needs to get this appointment spot-on — especially amid growing unrest among the fanbase.

Inter have joined Manchester United in the race for Karim Adeyemi, with the Borussia Dortmund winger leaning toward a move away from Germany next summer. His camp has already held early talks with both clubs, signalling a growing market for the 23-year-old. With contract renewal far from likely and tensions rising at BVB, Adeyemi’s future is now one of Europe’s most intriguing storylines.

• Adeyemi’s future drifts away from Dortmund

  Speculation around Adeyemi’s next step has intensified after fresh reports indicated the Dortmund forward is “far from” considering a contract extension. The 23-year-old’s deal runs until 2027, but figures close to the player suggest he is leaning strongly toward a move in the summer, even if BVB have not yet been formally informed of his intentions. United have already held early contact with Adeyemi’s representatives, with super-agent Jorge Mendes, who recently orchestrated moves for Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte to Old Trafford, now central to discussions. According to , Inter have also entered the scene, with initial communication taking place as the Serie A giants monitor his situation and map out potential scenarios for 2026.

  The growing interest comes at a time when the forward has faced both on-field struggles and off-field complications, creating a sense of uncertainty around his long-term prospects at BVB. This rising tension naturally widens the lens on what his next career chapter might look like.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Adeyemi in a slump amid off-field troubles

  Adeyemi has neither scored nor assisted since late September, a stark contrast to the bright early-season form that once re-established him as a key figure under Niko Kovac. In recent weeks, tensions have bubbled over publicly. During BVB’s 1-0 win against Koln, he threw a water bottle toward the bench after being substituted, leading Kovac to respond sharply: “I think that's unnecessary. It's okay that he can be angry sometimes, but that's unnecessary, he's an adult.”

  The strained dynamic flared up again during the 1-1 draw with Hamburg, where the pair argued after Kovac substituted him in the 66th minute. These moments paint a picture of a player battling for composure as form dips and pressure grows. Off the pitch, the €450,000 fine for illegal possession of weapons added an unexpected layer to his year. Adeyemi addressed the incident publicly, calling it: “A huge mistake… one that I deeply regret, that cost me a lot, and that I remorse deeply.”

  BVB and the German Football Association (DFB) imposed additional community service, with sporting director Lars Ricken stressing the club’s stance: “We took the matter very seriously. However, it should also be taken into account that he had to pay an expensive fine, no one was harmed and the player is still not considered to have a criminal record."

  This combination of sporting frustration and personal turbulence has made Adeyemi’s situation one of the more complex transfer stories heading into the summer window.

• Mendes working on Adeyemi's future

  Behind the scenes, Mendes is believed to be shaping the German international's next move, leveraging his strong network in England and Italy. United’s long-term need for wide players and Inter’s evolving transfer vision for 2026 both position Adeyemi as a strategic target rather than just an opportunistic one. The legal issue, stemming from what Adeyemi described as ordering an online “mystery box” that unexpectedly contained restricted items initially raised questions about club interest. Yet early indications suggest that neither United nor Inter view it as a deal-breaker, especially given the player's transparency and the swift completion of sanctions.

  His community service commitment and willingness to publicly explain the situation have helped stabilise his image in the eyes of potential suitors. This rehabilitated narrative now plays into a broader storyline: a talented winger whose Dortmund chapter appears to be winding down as new doors open.

• AFP
  

  Summer window battle looms

  All signs point toward a decisive summer for Adeyemi. Inter and United are expected to intensify discussions once the season ends, while Die Borussen wait for formal communication before planning their next steps. With no extension in sight, BVB may be forced into a strategic sale rather than risk a depreciating asset over the next two years.

  Adeyemi’s immediate goal will be to break his scoring drought and repair ties with Kovac as Dortmund push through the second half of the season. But with rising transfer noise, increasingly public tension, and strong interest from two European giants, the stage is already set for a major battle for his signature. His next defining chapter appears to be approaching and Europe’s biggest clubs will be watching closely.