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Nottingham Forest are believed to be optimistic about the chances of signing loan star Djed Spence next season, according to a report from a reliable source in The Guardian. 

The lowdown: Stellar season

Signed on loan from fellow second-tier side Middlesborough back in September 2021, Spence has proven to be a superb addition to the Forest squad.

The marauding right-back has been a key component of Steve Cooper’s side and looks certain to play an important role as the Reds prepare to take on Huddersfield Town in the Championship playoff final.

Regardless of whether Forest reach the promised land of the Premier League, it appears plans are already in place to bring the 21-year-old back to the City Ground for 2022/23.

The latest: ‘Quiet optimism’

As per The Guardian, Nottingham Forest are said to hold ‘quiet optimism’ that Spence will return on loan even if a move elsewhere is available this summer.

It’s claimed that the club are ‘confident’ of re-signing at least two of this season’s loanees, with Philip Zinckernagel, James Garner and Keinan Davis all mentioned as possible permanent captures.

Should Cooper guide the Reds to the top flight, the report states that the hierarchy would need to shell out a ‘Premier League premium’ to bring any of the aforementioned stars in.

The verdict: Statement signing

If Forest could sign Spence for good next term it would be a remarkable coup for the club and a sure sign of the pulling power returning to the Midlands outfit.

During the regular 2021/22 campaign, the youngster who was hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by Arsenal legend Ian Wright following the FA Cup triumph over the Londoners, scored twice and provided five assists in 42 Championship appearances.

With interest from the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United as well as currently being valued at a rising £7.2million (Transfermarkt), the Reds’ hierarchy would make a real statement of intent by beating teams with European football to offer to get their man.

In other news, a Nottingham Forest bid for one player is expected this summer. Find out who it is here.

Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah’s confirmation that he will be a Reds player next season is ‘huge’ news for the club, according to journalist David Maddock.

The Lowdown: Salah speaks out

The future of the 29-year-old is one of the main talking points among Kopites at the moment, with no new deal signed with the Reds as things stand.

Salah’s current Liverpool contract expires at the end of next season, at which point he could leave for free, but on Wednesday he publicly stated that he would be at Anfield in 2022/23.

That means he won’t be leaving this summer, which will come as a huge relief to many Reds fans, although it remains to be seen whether or not he will extend his stay beyond the end of his current contract.

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The Latest: Maddock reacts to Salah news

Taking to Twitter, Maddock claimed that this is a massive moment for Liverpool, believing that it hints at Salah possibly signing a new deal over the next 12 months..

Sharing a corresponding report for The Mirror, the journalist stated: “Real bombshell this from Salah – no one expecting him to confirm he’s staying next season. Could be a clever move, as it surely strengthens his hand in contract talks…and suggests he believes deal will be struck. FAR MORE details here…on what could be huge moment for #LFC.”

The Verdict: Strong bargaining position

As Maddock has claimed, this could put Salah in a strong position in terms of negotiating a new deal, making it very clear that he could leave for free instead of for big money this summer.

There are clearly a few stumbling blocks regarding the contract being sorted but the hope is that all parties will eventually agree and that the Egyptian will sign for another few years.

He is already an undisputed Liverpool legend, but if he stays put for another four or five years and continues his extraordinary brilliance, he could end up rivalling the likes of Sir Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard as the club’s greatest-ever player, having already scored 156 goals in 253 Reds appearances.

Therefore, it’s no wonder that Maddock has dubbed this a potentially “huge” development for the Merseyside club.

In other news, a pundit has made a key claim over another Liverpool star’s future. Read more here.

The Andhra player was primarily a batter at age group level but has since been working hard on his fast bowling

S Sudarshanan13-Jan-2024After close to 50 overs on another hot Mumbai day, Andhra’s time on the field had finally come to a close, and that’s not counting the 88 they delivered yesterday. Their tired bodies were on auto-pilot when Hanuma Vihari paused just before heading into the dressing room. He stepped aside, broke into applause and asked Nitish Kumar Reddy to lead the team off.Reddy picked up five wickets, his second in first-class cricket, in the Ranji Trophy clash against Mumbai at the Sharad Pawar Academy. Among his dismissals on the first day were Ajinkya Rahane for a first-ball duck and Shreyas Iyer after a free-flowing 48.Brought on as the second change bowler in the 12th over, Reddy struck in his sixth over dismissing Jay Bista and Rahane off successive balls. While Rahane’s lbw call was contentious, it was still pretty much the perfect inswinger, full length, with prodigious movement in the air creating problems for the new batter.”I bowled a lot of outswingers [to Bista and Bhupen Lalwani] and tested their patience,” Reddy said on Friday evening. “I did not bowl any inswingers from the start of the innings. So [Hanuma] Vihari and Ricky [Bhui, captain] came to me and asked me to get the sharp inswing [going]. ‘Let it be full toss or yorker, but you should hit the pad,’ they said. I just came and delivered that, and it worked. In this game, it was first inswinger.”We actually planned the bouncers for Shreyas, but were leaking too many runs. That’s when we came to the normal plan and we bowled full [from around the wicket], and it worked,” Reddy said of Iyer’s wicket, caught by the wicketkeeper.On Saturday, he had Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani caught at slip to complete the five-for and leave Mumbai on 316 for 8. Vihari had grassed Mulani at first slip a ball before he pouched one to signal the celebrations for Reddy. Andhra, however, had to wait a further 37.4 overs as the last two wickets for Mumbai added 79.Reddy rose through the ranks for Andhra as an opening batter, primarily. He batted No. 3 in the Vinoo Mankad Under-19 tournament in 2018-19. He opened for India Green in the Under-19 Challenger Trophy that same season. He turned up at No. 3 or 4 for Andhra as well at the senior level. At the same time, he kept working hard on his fast bowling until eventually a decision had to be made.”In my Under-16 days, I bowled with the new ball and was the opening batter,” he said. “I got plenty of runs and picked up wickets too. But as I went along, I found it hard to open the batting as well as bowling – padding up after bowling a lot of overs, I felt it affected my concentration.”A conversation with his coaches led him to shift down the order and contribute in both the facets. Like picking up five wickets against Maharashtra in December 2022 or scoring 66 batting at No. 7 against Delhi in January 2023.”It is hard that allrounders do all the jobs – fielding, batting and bowling,” Reddy, who classifies himself as a batting allrounder, said. “It is really hard. Hardik Pandya is doing brilliant; and even Ben Stokes. So I just admire them, enjoy seeing them and I like them.”Sunrisers Hyderabad selected Reddy for his base price of INR 20 lakh in the auction ahead of IPL 2023, where he played two matches but returned wicketless and did not get to bat.”There are a lot of differences in domestic cricket and the IPL, not in terms of the game itself but in terms of preparations levels,” he said. “There will be a crowd in the IPL while not so much here [in domestic cricket]. In the IPL I was at deep point. Bhuvaneshwar [Kumar] is bowling. The batsman just sliced the ball.”In domestic cricket, we hear the sound of the ball hitting bat and [know whether] it is timed well or not. We will accordingly chase the ball in that direction. But in the IPL, I did not hear the sound. I just ran ahead, thought it was mistimed but eventually missed it. I couldn’t hear the sound off the bat due to the crowd. There are a lot of things to learn.”Andhra were 98 for 3 after day two, trailing Mumbai’s first innings score of 395 by 297. With plenty of time left in the game, there’s chance for Reddy to earn more applause perhaps with a batting show.

Coach Andrew McDonald hopes the batters can tire out England’s quick at Old Trafford

Andrew McGlashan11-Jul-2023Mark Wood has changed the mood around this Ashes and Australia know they need to find a way to exhaust him to nullify his impact.Wood claimed seven wickets at Headingley, including 5 for 34 in the first innings, and touched speeds of 96mph as Australia faced an entirely new challenge to one that confronted them in the first two Tests.At Edgbaston and Lord’s, Australia managed to put considerable overs into England’s quicks but at Headingley their two innings lasted for 60.4 and 67.1 overs. Wood did extend himself into a seven-over spell at the back-end of Australia’s second innings, but Ben Stokes was largely able to use him for maximum impact.Related

• Australia over-reliant as Cummins, Starc bust a gut

• Let's all bask in Mark Wood's climate of optimism

• Wood earns his wings as bombastic display provides Ashes lift-off

It made the double loss of Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith even more of pivotal moment, especially given England were a bowler down with Ollie Robinson having suffered back spasms.Wood’s performance continued an impressive record against Australia which has now brought him 34 wickets at 27.76, although prior to Leeds the majority of that had come from the 2021-22 Ashes tour where he claimed 17 at 26.64, a rare bright spot in a forgettable series for England.He caused Labuschagne and Smith uncomfortable moments, removing them a combined five times in the four matches he played. Both were again rushed by Wood’s pace at Headingley and this time his efforts at hurrying up Australia’s top order and cutting through the tail in the first innings ended with victory. He also brought wickets at the other end; it was no coincidence that he was bowling when Moeen Ali claimed his double.”I think the plans we had leading in, they’ll remain the same,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald said. “In the first innings he was swinging the ball at pace and that’s a challenge for top order, lower order.”You can plan for things but when you get out there you’ve got to be able to adapt and adjust. And maybe we didn’t do that in the first innings of the game.”Going forward, we’re going to be challenged with that. He’s a good bowler, he gives them variety in their attack and I think if we can put a few overs into him we saw that the ball speed can drop off a little bit.”But when he’s got his tail up he’s going to be a handful, so I think deny him any opportunities to make inroads and keep him out there a bit longer.”When Wood knocked over Australia’s tail in the first innings it was largely with the fuller delivery, crashing into the stumps of Mitchell Starc and Todd Murphy while pinning Pat Cummins lbw. In contrast, Australia bowled shorter at England’s lower order when they helped add 95 in 10 overs after lunch on the second day, and used a similar approach in the chase.By way of comparison, Australia bowled 52 deliveries classed as short or short of a length to England’s Nos. 8-11 in the Test, which brought three wickets but cost 65 runs. England bowled 40 balls classed as good length or full at Australia’s tail, taking four wickets and only costing 21 runs.McDonald believed that conditions played a big part in what tactics worked well, but added Australia would assess how they went about it.”The short ball’s been used more regularly in this series than I’ve ever seen before,” McDonald said. “And with the short ball comes the risk of runs, and that sometimes happens – shorter boundaries, faster outfield and the short ball probably didn’t reap the same rewards with the lower order as it has.”But I still think it’s going to be a plan that’s employed throughout the series. I think if it works you say that it works, and if it doesn’t then you’re probably on the opposite side.”Day one Mark Wood had ball speed and the ball was shifting, the overheads were pretty thick and you tend to pitch the ball up a lot more in those conditions. When the sun comes out and the ball’s not shifting as much, you’ve probably got less options on the fuller side so we’ve got to always balance that. We critique ourselves pretty harshly so we’ll be looking into that no doubt.”Ultimately, McDonald felt it was the two-hour session late on the third day after rain where the game took its decisive swing as England worked through Australia’s middle and lower order although Travis Head’s 77 gave the visitors a chance.”[There are] some areas where we can no doubt improve and a little bit of credit goes to England,” he said. “At certain times they got the conditions in their favour and they maximised those, and I thought [Saturday] went a long way to deciding the fortunes of today.”In difficult batting conditions, they maximised them with the ball and put us probably in a position where we didn’t have enough runs to be as creative as we would have liked.”

Hitting for the cycle is one of the rarest things a baseball player can do. The odds of doing so are roughly in line with throwing a no-hitter. Hitting a single, double, triple and home run in the same game is a truly incredible feat and only 348 players have done it.

With the MLB postseason upon us, let's examine the number of players who have hit for the cycle in the playoffs.

How many players have hit for the cycle in the MLB playoffs?

Despite MLB being formed 123 years ago, only one player has ever hit for the cycle in a postseason game. And it wasn't a household name.

Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Barry Bonds all failed to do it. The man who accomplished the feat was Brock Holt. He did it as a member of the Boston Red Sox during Game 3 of the 2018 American League Division Series. The Red Sox beat the Yankees 16–1 in that game at Yankee Stadium en route to a 3–1 series win.

In that game, Holt singled to center in the fourth inning, then tripled to right later in the same inning as the Red Sox batted around. Holt hit a ground-rule double in the top of the eighth and got another at-bat in the ninth inning, where he hit a home run to complete the cycle. He finished the game 4-for-6 with five RBIs and three runs scored. It was the second cycle of his major league career.

Holt and the Red Sox went on to win the World Series, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

Who is Brock Holt?

Holt is a former MLB player who played all over the diamond defensively. He started his big league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, debuting in 2012. In December of that year, Holt was part of a six-player trade between the Pirates and Red Sox. He made his debut with Boston on July 6, 2013. The Sox went on to win the World Series that season but Holt didn't play in the postseason.

Holt was called up again in May 2014 and spent the rest of the season with the team. In 2015, he made the American League All-Star team. For the season, he slashed .280/.349/.379 with two home runs and 45 RBIs. He struggled to stay healthy in 2016 and 2017, but was a regular for the Red Sox again in 2018 as they won another World Series.

Holt never played a full season again and bounced around to the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals in 2020 and the Texas Rangers in 2021. He signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves in March of 2022, but requested his release a few weeks later. He announced his retirement on October 27, 2022.

To the well-trained eye of Baseball Hall of Famer and Fox Sports analyst David Ortiz, Game 3 of the World Series was over for the New York Yankees before it even started. Ortiz, speaking on Fox Sports' postgame show following the Los Angeles Dodgers' 4-2 win on Monday night, called out the Yankees'—and their fans'—"body language" from before and during the Game 3 loss, which put New York in a 3-0 hole in the World Series.

"I'll tell you what," Ortiz said. "You hit home when you talk about the body language. Even when Fat Joe came out, the body language from the fans was like damn! I was like what's going on here?! Are we in a funeral already?! You know what I'm saying? I'll tell you what."

Ortiz then went on to add that even after Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo's two-run home run in the ninth inning, which provided a glimmer of hope, he still didn't see any positive signs from the home team's dugout.

"Your body language had to be there all the way to the last out. Even when the home run was hit, they wasn't even celebrating."

The Yankees crowd was energized in the beginning but had the life taken out of it in the first inning by a two-run home run off the bat of Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who has homered in all three games of the World Series thus far. And any hopes of a comeback were spelled by Dodgers starter Walker Buehler, who blanked the Yanks for five innings to earn the victory.

To hoist a 28th World Series trophy, the Yankees will have to do what just one team in MLB history has done: erase a 3-0 deficit.

Heeding the words of Ortiz, who helped orchestrate the only comeback from down 3-0, might help.

Ajax are considering a sensational reunion with Erik ten Hag, with director Alex Kroes holding fresh talks to bring the former coach back amid mounting pressure on John Heitinga. The Dutch giants’ struggles under the ex-Liverpool assistant have prompted calls from fans and insiders for change as the club seek stability after another bruising European night.

• Ajax crisis deepens as Heitinga loses support

  Ajax’s season has lurched deeper into crisis following their 3-0 home defeat to Galatasaray, leaving Heitinga’s future hanging by a thread. The result sparked fury among fans, who demanded “a coach with experience” in a statement released by supporters’ group AFCA, urging director Kroes to act swiftly.

  Kroes, who has faced growing criticism over the team’s direction, reportedly met Ten Hag earlier this week in Huizen. Officially described as a “planned coffee meeting,” the timing just days before the Galatasaray collapse has fueled speculation of an imminent managerial change, according to .

  The ex-Manchester United boss, currently out of work after a brief spell at Bayer Leverkusen, remains deeply respected in Amsterdam after his trophy-laden tenure between 2018 and 2022, during which he guided Ajax to three Eredivisie titles and a Champions League semi-final. His potential return is viewed as the club’s only viable lifeline to restore order on and off the pitch.

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  Kroes looks to Ten Hag as crisis solution

  Inside the Johan Cruyff Arena, pressure is mounting not only on Heitinga but also on Kroes himself, whose credibility is now tied to the struggling manager. According to reports, the Ajax director will hold follow-up talks with Ten Hag, hoping to persuade him to take charge before the winter break. For Kroes, the stakes are clear. Without Ten Hag’s agreement, his own position could soon become untenable. 

  Ten Hag’s track record speaks for itself. Under his leadership, Ajax became synonymous with dynamic, high-pressing football and world-class talent development, producing stars such as Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Donny van de Beek. His return would not only bring tactical clarity but also much-needed stability to a fractured club structure.

  However, the 55-year-old will face a far tougher challenge this time. The current squad, described by Dutch media as “limited and flawed,” lacks the depth and technical quality of his previous era. Yet, given the club’s current state, expectations are modest, few believe a title race is even possible this season.

• Fan frustration reaches breaking point

  Wednesday’s humiliating loss to Galatasaray marked Ajax’s fourth straight defeat in the Champions League, leaving them bottom of the table and with just one goal scored. Heitinga, once seen as a steady interim figure, now looks increasingly out of his depth. Players’ silence spoke volumes: Davy Klaassen, echoing teammates Remko Pasveer and Steven Berghuis, stopped short of backing the coach, admitting there was still “little foundation” and “little development.”

  The discontent reflects deeper structural failings. Ajax’s recruitment has faltered, academy integration has slowed, and confidence has drained from a squad built on uncertainty. The AFCA supporters’ group voiced what many fans feel: “This football will bring tears to your eyes.”

  For a club once hailed as Europe’s model of modern success, the current malaise has been jarring and it explains why Ten Hag, despite previous tensions with the board, is seen as the only man capable of restoring identity and purpose.

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  Ten Hag’s return: motivation, timing and obstacles

  Since the abrupt end to his three-game stint at Leverkusen, Ten Hag has been taking time away from football. Reports suggest he is open to returning to Ajax in January, provided the club demonstrate both ambition and structural support.

  Financially, the move will not be simple. His €6 million severance package from Leverkusen complicates immediate negotiations, but Ajax are prepared to wait if it means securing their preferred candidate. Rival interest from Wolves, currently battling relegation in the Premier League, adds a layer of urgency. 

  For Ten Hag, the appeal is clear – a chance to reclaim his legacy at the club where he built his reputation and reignite a project that still bears his tactical fingerprints. For Ajax, it’s a gamble they can’t afford not to take.

The squad is missing some key names, forcing Mauricio Pochettino to shuffle the deck ahead of final two matches of 2025

The November U.S. men's national team camp was supposed to be a glorious return. It was meant to be a big test, one designed more around building rather than experimenting. Parguay and Uruguay, the two upcoming opponents, were supposed to be measuring sticks for a full-strength USMNT.

Instead, this camp serves as something of a reminder that, at this level, not everything goes as planned. Players come and go, injuries take their toll and tough decisions have to be made. This camp, then, is now defined once again by a team at less than full strength.

That's not to say this November camp lacks purpose. These games are still vital tests, but will be played with a different roster than anticipated.

"We want to win and, for sure, we are going to give the possibility to different players and the chances to perform, and maybe to present the possibility for them to be called in the future," USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino told reporters on Thursday after revealing the roster. "We want to give the opportunity in international duty to give experiences to some players, because you never know what can happen before we announce to the world the roster for the World Cup."

This, ultimately, is what can happen before – and during – a World Cup. Injuries can take away players such as Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson. Poor form can impact players such as Yunus Musah. Wear and tear can get to someone such as Chris Richards, who has been so ever-present.

How, then, will those players in camp respond? 

GOAL looks at key takeaways from Pochettino's roster release.

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  Reyna's return

  The prescription for Reyna has been obvious for some time now: he needs to play. It's why he hasn't kicked on with the USMNT in recent years. It's also why he had to move clubs in Germany this summer. So far, he hasn't played nearly as much at Borussia Monchengladbach as many would have liked.

  Yet, for the first time since the Nations League collapse in March, he's been called back into the USMNT. What he makes of that is up to him.

  "We already know the potential of Gio, and the talent," Pochettino said. "He is an enormous talent and it's true that he's not playing too much. But I think it's a good opportunity in November because, until March, we're not going to be able to be together again. There are not too many possibilities to see him again, and try to share time or to perform on the pitch. It's about being with him, to share time, and get to know him better. 

  "He's a special player. He's a very talented player. That is why we need to be open and to provide – even if he's not playing too much – because he's suffered and was injured. Now, he's started to be fit again, and it can be a boost of motivation for him to be with us. That is important for us."

  This isn't necessarily Reyna's last chance to make the World Cup roster, but it is getting late. He's featured just once under Pochettino and did little to impress. Now, handed another lifeline, can Reyna deliver?

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  'Milan or Palace, they are not right to complain'

  Per usual, there are a variety of reasons for absences. Several players, such as Antonee Robinson, Tim Weah and Cameron Carter-Vickers, are out injured. Others, such as Pulisic, Johnny Cardoso and Malik Tillman are just getting back from injury.

  Others were more surprising. Weston McKennie, Pochettino says, will stay with Juventus to adjust to life under Luciano Spaletti, his newest coach on the club level. Perhaps the most notable absence, though, is Chris Richards, who was left out of the squad days after Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner took aim at the USMNT for playing the centerback last month despite an ongoing calf issue.

  Glasner, it should be noted, proceeded to play Richards 90 minutes the very next day. Pochettino, meanwhile, was left frustrated by the coach's comments, particularly as a coach who – with experience at Tottenham, PSG and Chelseas – used to be in his shoes on the club level.

  Palace weren't the only club that expressed frustrations, though, as Milan also reportedly reached out to US Soccer about Pulisic's status following his hamstring injury last camp. Pulisic, who was the subject of much controversy over the summer when he decided to skip the Gold Cup, has reportedly resumed training and is expected to return to Milan’s squad for Saturday’s Serie A trip to Parma.

  "This is to provide him the possibility to recover 100-percent and be full and be ready to play after international duty with his team," Pochettino said of the decision to allow Pulisic to stay with Milan. "That is common sense. We never risk players. He played against Australia because he felt really good and because all of the assessment from our doctors and medical staff were right – and the player agreed with us.

  "He didn't play the first game against Ecuador because he came into the game with a problem that he made, again, with his club in Italy. That is why. We care about him. But that can happen when you play game. There is always a risk when you play."

  Regarding the protests from Crystal Palace and Milan over conflicts between club and county responsibilities, Pochettino has a clear point of view, saying, "they are not right to complain."

  "People say, 'It's a friendly game', but no, that is wrong," Pochettino said. "We are not playing friendly games. We are playing games that prepare our journey to the World Cup. If not, we'd just play the Under-20s, because why play games? It's something that makes me very, very sad because I think sometimes people don't understand, or maybe they don't think about what it means to have the responsibility to represent a country or a national team, in this case, the USA.

  "I was in different clubs for more than 15 years working and I was always respectful of the national team, accepting the rules. I think the players are the most important. And the players know how we act, and how we respect, and they respect that because we are clear in our communication. I think in these situations, Milan or Palace, they are not right to complain. Because I think as a coaching staff we care about the player. We are the first to care, and we've never made a player play with some doubt. Never. Never."

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  The star strikers

  Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright are all in camp together. That hasn't happened since the Copa America in 2024, largely due to extended injury absences by Balogun and Pepi. Now fit, all three are scoring at the club level. It's a great time for all three to be in camp.

  Realistically, if the World Cup were to start today, this would likely be the striker group. There's an argument to be made to include someone such as Patrick Agyemang or Josh Sargent, but if you're selecting three, these are clear choices. They all check the boxes for the striker position, including the most important one: goals.

  Balogun has built momentum with the USMNT and Monaco by scoring multiple goals recently, Wright is running rampant through the Championship, and, now healthy, Pepi is still finding ways to score despite not starting for PSV.

  "This type of player is a very talented player," Pochettino said of Pepi. "We were talking about Gio, but it's the same with Ricardo, and the aim is to provide a big boost or motivation to them to keep pushing and keep improving. They need to have that motivation and to know that we care about them. When players are good in the mind, it's important to improve their legs and physical condition. They need to know that they are in the race for a place on the roster for the World Cup, and that is the most important thing.

  "Then they can play, more or less. But the thing is that they need to give their best to try and arrive in the best shape, to be animals, to be really strong and arrive for a competition that is going to be the most important in the history of the national team."

  While there are few questions about the top three spots on the striker depth chart, there are still questions about the first one. Who starts in this camp? Who starts when the World Cup begins? We may finally get some answers to those questions now that everyone is healthy, scoring and, finally, in camp together.

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  No room for Turner among goalkeepers

  Since the start of the Gold Cup, Matt Freese has been the starter in goal. By and large, Turner has been his backup. However, even following news that Turner is training with Crystal Palace to stay fit, he was not included in this squad. That seems as clear of a message as any as to where he stands in the goalkeeping group.

  The belief, by and large, has been that Freese is in pole position, but nothing is decided. Turner, the former USMNT starter now back in MLS with the New England Revolution, would be waiting for his chance to prove why he should be the guy in goal for a second consecutive World Cup. He won't get that chance this camp, though, as he was left off in favor of Patrick Schulte, Jonathan Klinsmann and Roman Celentano.

  There are now questions about Turner's pathway back, particularly given the fact that there's just one more international break before the World Cup. All eyes will be on him to start the next MLS season, then, as he now fights to earn his place on the team.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim “loves” a key midfield target who’s similar to Mason Mount and would like to bring him to the club.

Amorim heaps praise on Mount

Mount’s time as a United player has been frustrating to date, with injury problems often getting in the way and preventing him from kicking on his career.

The Englishman, on £150,000-a-week, is admired greatly by Amorim, however, who hailed his qualities back in August, showing that he sees him as an important part of his plans.

“It’s unbelievable the way he [Mason Mount] works, moving all the time from positions. He knows all positions, but also the other guts, it was a good test to prepare the first team.”

For Mount, it’s a case of staying fit and proving his worth, with his versatility allowing him to thrive in a two-man midfield in Amorim’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, or as one of the attackers behind the striker.

United need further depth in the middle of the park, however, especially with Casemiro potentially departing at the end of the season, and they have now been linked with an excellent potential replacement.

Amorim "loves" Man Utd transfer target

Speaking to Tipsbladet [via Sport Witness], journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claimed that Manchester United boss Amorim “loves” Morten Hjulmand and would ideally like to snap him up, providing he stays in a job, with the Sporting CP defensive midfielder having a £70m release clause.

“In relation to United, it is about whether Amorim is fired or not. Amorim loves him and Juventus is also interested in him. This summer, Juventus could not spend €50-60m on his position because they needed strikers.”

Hjulmand could be exactly what United are after, being compared to Mount in terms of style, albeit playing a more defensive role, as well as earning praise from Denmark manager Brian Riemer.

“His character, his leadership, his personality [and] his communication are not very common in today’s football, and I was at many clubs, in Copenhagen, Brentford, Anderlecht. It reminds us of the defensive midfielders of the past, who controlled the entire game, who led the teams, you don’t see that much nowadays. It’s something rare what Hjulmand has. I’m a big fan of his, I think we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg with Hjulmand.”

This season, Hjuland has completed 91.5% of his passes in the Primeira Liga, as well as averaging 2.3 tackles per game, so he is a force both in and out of possession.

Man Utd could now pay £52m for "lethal" new striker with 28 goals last season

The Red Devils may be willing to shell out a huge fee to sign a centre-forward.

By
Dominic Lund

Oct 17, 2025

The fact that Amorim already knows the 26-year-old Dane well from their time together at Sporting can also only be a good thing, and he has quality and energy to bring so much to United’s midfield.

A full day of Major League Baseball gets started on Saturday afternoon and rolls through the evening. 

The story of the last two weeks has been the shaky play from the Yankees, relative to its blistering start. However, it seemed like the offense broke out of its slump on Friday against the Blue Jays. Can the team keep it rolling on Saturday with Nestor Cortes on the mound? 

Here’s our pick for that game as well as every other one on the stacked Saturday card. 

Rockies vs. White Sox Prediction and Pick

Pick: White Sox (-115)

Two of the most futile teams in the big leagues meet on Saturday and I’ll side with the small home favorite.

Rookie Jonathan Cannon has made six starts this season and has showcased a decent breaking ball with pinpoint control (94th percentile walk rate). 

His best days are also ahead of him. While he has a 4.59 ERA, his xERA sits at 3.81, meaning some positive regression is coming. 

Reds vs. Cardinals Prediction and Pick

Pick: Cardinals (-190)

The Cardinals are justified big favorites with Sonny Gray on the mound, who has been on point all season with a 2.81 ERA with a near-32% strikeout rate.

Yankees vs. Blue Jays Prediction and Pick

Pick: Yankees (-125)

The Yankees skid has been prolonged, but I think the team is in a good spot to snap out of it against the Blue Jays due to an edge on the mound and at the plate. 

The Blue Jays struggle against left handed pitching, 24th in OPS, which sets up nicely for Yankees’ starter Nestor Cortes. 

Further, Chris Bassitt can’t be trusted. He has diminished control (near-nine percent walk rate) and has an xERA nearly one run higher (3.45 vs. 4.22). 

Marlins vs. Phillies Prediction and Pick

Pick: Phillies (-250)

The Phillies had no issues with the Marlins with Bryce Harper out of the lineup, and I expect another win on Saturday against a lowly Miami team with the always capable Aaron Nola on the bump. 

Athletics vs. Diamondbacks Prediction and Pick

Pick: Athletics (+170)

Zac Gallen will return to the mound for Arizona after hitting the injury list for a hamstring strain on May 30th, and I’ll fade him in his first start back. 

Gallen may be on a pitch count, which can lead to more variance from a shaky Diamondbacks bullpen.

There are enough question marks to take the big underdog.

Nationals vs. Rays Prediction and Pick

Pick: Nationals (+115)

Aaron Civale is due positive regression from his poor metrics, posting a 5.20 ERA against a 4.00 xERA, but there are still some poor numbers indicating it may not come so fast. 

Civale has been a victim of a ton of hard contact with his diminishing fastball, allowing a hard-hit percentage of 40.6% (career high) and is a predominantly flyball pitcher (sixth percentile ground ball percentage), meaning he can quickly find himself into trouble. 

Astros vs. Mets Prediction and Pick

Pick: Mets (+100)

The Mets should be able to stay hot against the Astros, who are top five in the big leagues against left handed pitching. 

Southpaw Framber Valdez has struggled to stay healthy this season and pitch to his Cy Young expectation. Valdez has a fourth percentile hard-hit percentage and has lost his ability to find his strikeout prowess, right at the big league average. 

Ride the streaking Mets. 

Guardians vs. Royals Prediction and Pick

Pick: Royals (-110)

The Royals, one of the best home teams in baseball, have arguably its best pitcher on the mound in Cole Ragans. Ragans is the superior pitcher with a nasty fastball that strikes out nearly 30% of the batters he has faced this season, and will have the Royals’ bats playing at home to back him up. 

Kansas City is the second best hitting team at home this season, a big reason why the team is 29-15 on the year at Kauffman Stadium. 

I’ll take the home team in a matchup that is lined like a coin flip. 

Cubs vs. Brewers Prediction and Pick

Pick: Cubs (-105)

Justin Steele should continue to pitch to his fine form against a Brewers team that is 20th in OPS against southpaw. 

Steele may have an 0-3 record, but he is pitching to a 3.08 ERA with a similar xERA (3.27) while striking out about a quarter of the batters he is facing. 

I think this matchup sets up nicely for him to grab his first win of the year. 

Pirates vs. Braves Prediction and Pick

Pick: Braves (-155)

Will Paul Skenes, the NL Rookie of the Year front runner, put together another monster effort against a talented Braves roster? 

While Skenes is more than capable of handling any big league roster, the Pirates inability to give him run support will stop the team from winning. 

The Pirates are hitting .238 against lefties and rank 19th in OPS, but I think we are getting a break on the price because of Skenes. 

Padres vs. Red Sox Prediction and Pick

Pick: Padres (+125)

The Red Sox will start Cy Young candidate Tanner Houck (2.18 ERA) on Saturday, but the Padres may be up to the test with Michael King on the mound. 

King has been fantastic all season, pitching to a 3.75 ERA with an excellent offspeed pitch arsenal that leads to a 92nd percentile hard-hit percentage. The Red Sox have serious power in the lineup, but King has done a fine job of avoiding blowup innings with his ability to work around hitters. 

Dodgers vs. Giants Prediction and Pick

Pick: Giants (+185)

While Tyler Glasnow has been excellent in his first season with the Dodgers, this is simply too wide of a price for him on the road. 

Glasnow has a ton of strikeout prowess, he is in the 98th percentile in terms of strikeout rate, but the Giants strikeout at a league average rate and the team held up nicely against him earlier this season. San Francisco tallied three earned runs with four hits in six innings, good enough that can extend this game into the bullpen portion of the evening. 

Meanwhile, Erik Miller is an elite groundball pitcher, 93rd percentile with a strong strikeout rate, 27%, that can limit the power of the Dodgers lineup. 

Rangers vs. Orioles Prediction and Pick

Pick: Orioles (-155)

The Rangers issues against lefty pitching is well documented, 20th in OPS against southpaws. However, this month as a whole has been trying for the defending World Series champs, as the team limps in batting .227 as a unit in June. 

I’ll grab the Orioles at a reasonable price tag.

Tigers vs. Angels Prediction and Pick

Pick: Angels (+105)

The Tigers continue to be overpriced due to a strong pitching staff, but the run support simply isn’t there. Detroit is hitting .213 as a unit this month, and can’t cover this price tag against a better lineup on the road. 

Twins vs. Mariners Prediction and Pick

Pick: Twins (-125)

Twins’ starter Pablo Lopez continues to erase a slow start to the season, and his underlying metrics make him a worthwhile bet against a Mariners team that is only hitting .210 in the month of June, the lowest in the big leagues. 

Lopez has been a victim of poor variance, his 3.27 xERA is far lower than his 5.11 ERA with an elite strikeout rate of 27%. 

I’m counting on the Twins’ starter to roll through the overrated Seattle lineup.