Four match referees and 14 umpires form the 18-member group that will officiate in India and Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2025The upcoming women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka will feature an all-female line-up of match officials. On Thursday, the ICC announced the panel of four match referees and 14 umpires, featuring women from nine countries for the tournament that runs from September 30 to November 2.The match referees are Trudy Anderson (New Zealand), Shandre Fritz (South Africa), GS Lakshmi (India) and Michell Pereira (Sri Lanka).The on-field and TV umpires are Sue Redfern (England), Claire Polosak and Eloise Sheridan (Australia), Candace la Borde and Jacqueline Williams (West Indies), Kim Cotton (New Zealand), Sarah Dambanevana (Zimbabwe), Shathira Jakir Jesy (Bangladesh), Kerrin Klaaste and Lauren Agenbag (South Africa), N Janani, Vrinda Rathi and Gayathri Venugopalan (India) and Nimali Perera (Sri Lanka).Related

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Among them, Polosak, Williams and Redfern will be appearing in their third women’s ODI World Cups, while Agenbag and Cotton will be at their second.Three recent events – the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the two most recent women’s T20 World Cups – also featured all-female panels of match officials.Panel of match officials

Match referees: Trudy Anderson, Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michelle Pereira
Umpires: Lauren Agenbag, Candace la Borde, Kim Cotton, Sarah Dambanevana, Shathira Jakir Jesy, Kerrin Klaaste, Janani N, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Gayathri Venugopalan, Jacquline Williams

“This marks a defining moment in the journey of women’s cricket, one that we hope will pave the way for many more trailblazing stories across all facets of the sport,” ICC president Jay Shah said in a statement. “The inclusion of an all-women panel of match officials is not only a major milestone but also a powerful reflection of the ICC’s unwavering commitment to advancing gender equity across cricket.”This development goes beyond symbolic value. It is about visibility, opportunity, and the creation of meaningful role models who can inspire future generations. By highlighting excellence in officiating on the global stage, we aim to spark aspiration and reinforce that leadership and impact in cricket know no gender.”We are honoured to recognise a new chapter in the growth of the women’s game. We believe the influence of this initiative will resonate far beyond this tournament, motivating more women worldwide to pursue officiating careers and helping redefine what’s possible within the game.”The 13th women’s ODI World Cup begins with hosts India and Sri Lanka facing off on September 30. Defending champions Australia will take on New Zealand on October 1. Each team will play the other seven teams once with the top four moving into the semi-finals.The matches will be played in Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, Navi Mumbai and Colombo with the final scheduled for November 2.

علق وائل جمعة لاعب الأهلي السابق، على تقدم فريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي، بهدفين في مرمى فريق شبيبة القبائل الجزائري، ضمن منافسات دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويلتقي الأهلي مع شبيبة القبائل، في الجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي، وانتهى الشوط 2-0 للأهلي.

طالع| فيديو | في 3 دقائق.. تريزيجيه وشريف يسجلان هدفين لـ الأهلي أمام شبيبة القبائل

وقال وائل جمعة لقناة بي إن سبورتس: “شوط جيد من الأهلي حتى بغض النظر عن الهدفين، كنت سعيداً بالأداء، سيطرة واستحواذ وخطورة، ولكن العيب الوحيد قبل الهدفين هو الرعونة”.

وتابع: “الفريق يصل لمرمى المنافس ويضغط بقوة ويخلق فرصًا، والتحركات على الأطراف ممتازة، تريزيجيه وبن شرقي ممتازان في الاختراقات، وأكثر من يعجبني هو زيزو، توقيت الركض والتحرك واستغلال التحرك بحرية”.

واختتم: “العيب الوحيد فقط هي الرعونة التي من الممكن أن تؤذيك فيما بعد، وما زال الرباعي الدفاعي يقف بشكل خاطئ، تجد واحدًا دائمًا يغطي التسلل، هنا لا بد أن يكون هناك قائد للخط الخلفي، وتنظيم وتفاهم بين ياسر إبراهيم وياسين مرعي وتوجيه التعليمات للاعبين”.

With Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic playing in big games, and others hoping to establish themselves again, it should be a captivating week

Welcome back from the international break. Did you miss club soccer? There are certainly reasons to do so – but after a genuinely excellent 10 days for the international game, you'd be forgiven for feeling a little lukewarm about what comes next.

From an American point of view, though, there’s plenty to keep an eye on. Two of the USMNT’s biggest names stayed home as the U.S. won back-to-back friendlies. One was AC Milan's Christian Pulisic, who wasn’t risked after picking up an injury in October – an unsurprising call for a player, especially with the Milan derby ahead. 

The other absence was far more surprising. Juventus' Weston McKennie missed out despite no injury, no reported fallout, and no indication of any issues within the camp. When he’s with the U.S., he's usually just fine. But apparently, that wasn’t enough this time. Either way, both stars return to big Serie A fixtures this weekend.

And then there's Gio Reyna, who suddenly channeled prime Kaka for the U.S. 10 days ago. If only that version showed up more often for his club, Gladbach.

GOAL breaks down the four main storylines to watch among Americans Abroad this weekend…

GettyMore minutes for Gio?

The international break proved one thing definitively:  Reyna can still play a bit. It's something we perhaps all knew deep down. Class doesn't just go away, and this 23-year-old remains an immense talent – no matter how much he has struggled at the club level for the last few years. And Reyna showed that there's still a player there, running the show in a 2-1 win over Paraguay, before grabbing an assist as a second-half sub in a 5-1 hammering of Uruguay. 

The question is, then: were you watching, Monchengladbach? They have struggled immensely to start the season, and a tad unfairly sacked Gerardo Seoane after going winless in their first three. Under-23s manager Eugen Polanski was named interim shortly after, and has now been handed the reins on a full-time basis, with a contract in place until the end of the 2027-28 season – which is a lot of trust to put in someone who is yet to have a senior managerial position. 

But, to his credit, the 39-year-old has steadied the ship a little. Monchengladbach are 12th and climbing. They play relegation strugglers Heidenheim, Mainz, and Wolfsburg in the next month. This would seem to be high time for Reyna to perform. Heidenheim, Saturday morning, is a fine starting point. 

AdvertisementGetty ImagesChristian Pulisic, on the big stage

We are told that Pulisic is a "big game player" – whatever that means. OK, there is something to that sentiment. The American does tend to show up when the stakes are at their highest, when something is truly on the line. He is, historically, not one to go quiet when his side needs him. And, for the first time this season, he has a chance to show off his big game chops. 

The Milan derby has been a fine hunting ground for Pulisic of late, with the American scoring in two of the last three – and turning in a dominant performance in the other. This is his forum against the team that his club hates more than any other. Pulisic should come into the game well rested, too. He missed out on the most recent USMNT camp, still nursing a bit of a knock picked up in October. He's had two weeks, then, to get fit, prepare, and prime himself to turn in the kind of performance that he can hang his hat on. 

These fixtures always tend to mean something, and this iteration of the Milan derby is no different. Inter are in first. Milan are two points behind them in third. "Early title decider" this isn't, but the three points here could be crucial come May.  

Getty ImagesMcKennie fights to get Juve on track

So what’s going on with McKennie, then? Every year, we hear the same cycle: transfer-listed, written off, then suddenly indispensable again. And this season feels no different. The American hasn’t exactly lit up Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus, but he remains a key piece and played every minute against Torino before the international break.

The numbers, though, aren’t especially inspiring. And he isn’t getting much love from Mauricio Pochettino, either. So what gives? Is McKennie just the kind of player who eats up minutes, does a solid job, and goes home? If that’s the case, it feels like a waste of talent – and it certainly isn’t enough to sway the U.S. manager with a World Cup less than a year away.

Some factors are out of his control, of course. But McKennie could use a sharp reset, and that starts with Fiorentina this weekend. Juventus sit sixth and badly need a win to get their season back on track. What role McKennie plays remains to be seen, but if history is any indication, he’ll be involved – one way or another.

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Getty Images SportJosh Sargent struggles for form

A few months ago, Josh Sargent looked like he had a real shot at becoming the USMNT’s long-term No. 9. A month into the Championship season, he was top of the scoring charts. And with Folarin Balogun injured, it felt like the door had finally swung wide open for him.

Since then, though, things have unraveled. The goals have dried up. Norwich have lost four of their last five. And Sargent? He hasn’t scored since August. He’s still the focal point up front for , and his overall play has picked up a bit recently, but the results haven’t. With Norwich winless for months, he’ll be under pressure to rediscover his finishing touch against a surging Birmingham City on Saturday morning.

MatériaMais Notícias

A zaga do Corinthians vai ganhando cara para 2024. Após assegurar a permanência em definitivo de Lucas Veríssimo, o Timão encaminhou a contratação do zagueiro Félix Torres, do Santos Laguna, do México. O defensor da seleção equatoriana assinará contrato válido por quatro anos.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

O Corinthians irá desembolsar 5,5 milhões de dólares (cerca de R$ 26,7 milhões na cotação atual) para contratar Félix Torres, que deve desembarcar em São Paulo e realizar exames médicos no dia 2 de janeiro, data em que Augusto Melo será empossado como novo presidente do clube. A informação foi divulgada pelo jornalista Venê Casagrande e confirmada pelo Lance!.

O jogador de 26 anos chega para suprir as saídas de Bruno Méndez e Gil, que não tiveram seus vínculos renovados pela nova diretoria. O uruguaio foi anunciado pelo Granada, da Espanha, enquanto Gil reforçará o Santos na próxima temporada.

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+ Veja como ficou a tabela do Brasileirão após a última rodada

Félix Torres acumula 30 convocações e foi titular nos três jogos do Equador na Copa do Mundo realizada no Qatar. Revelado pelo Alianza Pailon (EQU), o zagueiro defendeu o Galáticos FC, LDU Poroviejo e Barcelona de Guayaquil, todos do Equador, antes de se transferir ao futebol mexicano. Nesta temporada, Félix marcou cinco gols em 19 partidas pelo Santos Laguna.

Mason Greenwood sparked a mass brawl after scoring his opening goal in Marseille’s feisty 5-1 win over Riviera rivals Nice in Ligue 1 on Friday evening. The former Manchester United forward is now the leading goalscorer in France's top flight after netting a brace in a victory which saw Roberto De Zerbi’s side leapfrog Paris Saint-Germain at the summit.

• Marseille's Emerson struck by lighter after Greenwood's first goal

  Already in front thanks to former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s effort after 11 minutes, Greenwood soon doubled Marseille’s lead with the first of his two goals at the Allianz Riviera. Shifting onto his right foot inside the penalty area, the 24-year-old’s shot took a deflection which wrong-footed Nice goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf.

  Greenwood and his Marseille team-mates subsequently celebrated the goal in front of the Nice ultras, which was one of a number of trigger points for the unsavoury scenes which marred the derby-day encounter. According to via French broadcaster Marseille defender Emerson Palmieri was struck with a lighter that was thrown by a Nice supporter.

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  Mass brawl broke out by dugout as Nice protested Greenwood's strike

  The report adds referee Jeremie Pignard then brought the lighter to the match delegate and asked both sets of players to gather near the touchline. However, control was soon lost as a melee broke out with Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and Nice defender Ali Al-Abdi at the heart of it. The two substitutes were cautioned as a result.

  Nice were already angered over what they felt was a foul by Aubameyang on defender Juma Bah in the build up to Greenwood’s goal. But after a check by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the goal was allowed to stand, bringing an end to the fracas which disrupted the match for three minutes.

  Marseille went on to record a thumping victory over their fierce rivals as Greenwood netted again after 53 minutes, while forward Timothy Weah and winger Igor Paixao joined him on the scoresheet. De Zerbi’s men moved top as a result of the win, with PSG set to entertain Le Havre on Saturday evening.

• Greenwood becomes Ligue 1 top goalscorer following Nice brace

  Greenwood’s two goals saw him move above Strasbourg attacker Joaquin Panichelli at the top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts. He has now scored 10 times in 13 league games for OM in 2025-26, while he has also found the back of the net on one occasion in this season’s Champions League.

  The Bradford-born forward left Premier League side United after charges against him, including attempted rape and assault, were dropped in February 2023. He joined La Liga outfit Getafe on loan before signing for French giants Marseille on a permanent basis in 2024, scoring 21 goals in 34 Ligue 1 matches last season.

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  Former Manchester United forward expresses happiness at Marseille

  As he continues to rebuild his career at Marseille, Greenwood has previously expressed his happiness at the club, amid tentative speculation linking him with a return to England.

  Speaking in July, he said: “I hope to be here again next year and play in the Champions League. Other players told me it would be special to play here. I think it was a very positive season, we achieved our goal.

  "I had a baby here with my girlfriend, I feel at home, it’s a really special place. Not many people have the opportunity to come to Marseille and play for such an amazing club.

  "I’m happy with the goals I scored this year. This is a great result for me and with the players and staff we have here, anything is possible.”

Still searching for their next manager, Middlesbrough are now reportedly serious about hiring Swiss manager Raphael Wicky, who has emerged as an early candidate to take the job.

Unlike other managerial vacancies in the Championship, coaches would be walking into a fairly healthy environment at Middlesbrough. The Teesside club currently sit second in England’s second tier and five points behind leaders Coventry City. As things stand, they will be earning promotion to the Premier League come May.

A lot can still change, however, and Boro must get their next manager right whilst they are in such a positive position. Just who that next manager is remains the question. Steven Gerrard, Tony Mowbray and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink have all been mentioned as early candidates, with Gerrard the most interesting option of the three.

The former Rangers boss recently rejected the chance to return to Ibrox, but is keen to make a return to the dugout for the right job. With Boro on course to fight for automatic promotion in the Championship, it’s tough to pick out a reason why most managers of Gerrard’s calibre wouldn’t want to walk straight into the job before the end of the international break.

Replacing Rob Edwards, who chose to leave for Wolverhampton Wanderers, will be no easy task for any potential candidate. As much as he has ruined his reputation with those in Teesside, the former Luton Town boss certainly steered the club in the right direction and attempted to explain his decision in a recent statement.

Boro fans are unlikely to forgive or forget any time soon, however, and must instead hope that the club’s next appointment continues their push for automatic promotion.

Middlesbrough get serious about appointing Raphael Wicky

As reported by Sports Boom, Middlesbrough are now serious about appointing Wicky after he impressed Riverside chiefs with an unofficial presentation. The Swiss manager is currently a free agent and will be easier to convince as a result, but that’s not to say the 48-year-old isn’t an impressive candidate.

During his time in Switzerland, Wicky won the league and cup double with BSC Young Boys and his 4-4-2 diamond system proved to be incredibly successful. If Middlesbrough fail to hire the likes of Gerrard, then the former Young Boys manager is someone who’d offer them similar experience and success.

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The manager’s style also includes an exciting high press, which could yet help Boro bridge the gap on an exciting Coventry side at the top of the Championship.

The fact is, although they run the risk of getting their next appointment wrong, Riverside chiefs could also take their side up another level entirely if they get things right.

As things stand, the battle seems to be between Gerrard and Wicky for the job. With both holding similar reputations though, it remains to be seen which direction Middlesbrough head towards.

Middlesbrough make "impressive" manager top target to replace Edwards

Being an MLB announcer has its own workplace hazards, too.

A scary moment occurred during MLB spring training when Seattle Mariners radio broadcaster Rick Rizzs was suddenly hit by a foul ball while in the booth for Monday’s Cactus League game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The incident happened in the fifth inning of the Mariners’ 7-5 loss, when Brewers’ Rhys Hoskins fouled off a 1-2 fastball and sent the ball hurtling backward. The ball soared over the net at American Family Fields of Phoenix and toward the Mariners’ visiting radio booth, where Rizzs and broadcasting partner Gary Hill were sitting.

Rizzs could be heard saying, “A swing and a foul,” on the radio call before getting hit in the head by the foul ball, leading to what sounded like grunts of pain from the longtime Mariners broadcaster.

Here’s audio of the scary moment: 

Thankfully, Rizzs didn’t sustain any major injuries and will reportedly be back on the call on Wednesday when the Mariners play the Kansas City Royals.

“Folks, I want to let you know that I took a pretty good shot to the back of my head with a foul ball up here in the radio booth,” Rizzs said on the air after getting checked out by medical staff. “I got a good-sized bump on my head, but I’m going to be O.K. My mom always said I’ve had a hard head, Gary, so it paid off today. I could not believe that ball got up here that quickly.”

Can Rob Edwards save Wolverhampton Wanderers from relegation?

During the international break, the 42-year-old controversially left Middlesbrough, currently second in the EFL Championship, to take over the reins at Molineux, returning to the club for whom he made 111 appearances as a player, but he has a massive task on his hands.

Wolves currently have just two points on the board after 11 matches, no side in Premier League history has ever survived from this position, losing four on the spin ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit to the Black Country on Saturday afternoon.

The Old Gold’s eight-year stay in the top-flight is under serious threat, so if Edwards harbours any realistic hopes of leading Wolves to a great escape, he must surely unleash a new-look forward line in attack.

Jørgen Strand Larsen's downturn in form

Last season, his first after arriving from Celta Vigo, only nine players scored more Premier League goals than Jørgen Strand Larsen’s tally of 14, an impressive figure considering Wolves finished 16th.

This saw Newcastle make multiple bids to sign the 25-year-old, the highest of which was £55m, despite the fact he had cost the Old Gold only €30m (around £26m).

Wolves rejected all of these bids, with Strand Larsen instead signing a new five-year contract, but now they desperately need him to rediscover his best form.

So far this season, the striker has just three goals to his name, bagging a Carabao Cup double against West Ham in August, while his only goal in the Premier League thus far was a penalty during the infamous 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Burnley that ultimately cost Vítor Pereira his job.

Strand Larsen did find the target last Sunday as Norway crushed Italy 4-1 at San Siro, officially confirming his country’s place at next summer’s World Cup, so will be hoping to take confidence from that back into his club form.

Nevertheless, Wolves could be doing more to get the best out of their number nine, underlined by the fact that Strand Larsen’s shots and shot on target per 90 statistics have significantly decreased this season, so could partnering him alongside a “huge talent” be the solution?

Rob Edwards must unleash Wolves' next Jimenez

Wolves only made five senior summer signings, all of whom have had varying degrees of little impact, namely Fer López, Jhon Arias, David Møller Wolfe and Jackson Tchatchoua.

The last of the additions, arriving on deadline day, was striker Tolu Arokodare, joining from Genk for £24m, and he is possibly the most exciting of the quintet, even if the Wolves faithful have seen very little from him thus far.

The 24-year-old has taken an unusual route to the Premier League, beginning his senior career at Latvian club Valmiera, scoring 22 goals in just 34 appearances, hence why Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout described him as “simply too good” for the Virslīga, currently ranked the 36th best league in Europe.

​​​​​​​

After a brief and unsuccessful stint at Köln, scoring no goals for die Geißböcke, Arokodare​​​​​​​ rediscovered his mojo at Amiens, netting 21 times across two seasons for the Ligue 2 side, earning a move to Genk, scoring on 41 occasions for the Smurfs.

Of these goals, 21 came in last season’s Jupiler Pro League, which Global Football Rankings believes to be the sixth-strongest league in the world, and the Nigerian international’s statistics make for impressive reading.

Goals

21

1st

Goals inside the box

21

1st

Headed goals

3

3rd

Expected goals

28.53

1st

Shots

158

1st

Shots per 90

4.9

1st

Shots on target

52

2nd

Big chances missed

34

1st

Assists

5

17th

Big chances created

7

32nd

Key passes

32

52nd

Shot-creating actions

77

16th

Goal-creating actions

9

13th

Aerial duels won

156

3rd

Touches in the box

217

1st

The table makes for interesting reading, emphasising the fact that Arokodare is a penalty box presence, considering all 21 of his goals came inside the area, while also ranking first for shots, shots per 90 and touches in the opposition area.

Meantime, he is also excellent in the air, scoring three headers while also ending up third for aerial duels won, behind only Daan Heymans​​​​​​​ and Aurélien Scheidler​​​​​​​; the former joined Genk to replace Arokodare, while the latter moved to Royal Charleroi to replace the former.

The statistic though that leaps off the page most is the fact that Arokodare missed 34 Opta-defined big chances.

For comparison, the leaders in this metric across other European leagues last season were Ollie Watkins in the Premier League (27), Kylian Mbappé in La Liga (29), Serhou Guirassy in the Bundesliga (21) and Roberto Piccoli in Serie A (26), so no one came close to the Nigerian’s 34, which shows he is often in the right position, albeit is regularly an erratic finisher.

Chalkboard

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

Despite this, Arokodare is still highly rated, with journalist Graeme Bailey​​​​​​​ labelling him a “huge talent”, while the aforementioned Kulig notes that “physicality, heading and link-up play” are his primary assets.

This all sounds rather reminiscent of Wolves’ best striker of their current stint in the Premier League, Raúl Jiménez, who is the club’s all-time leading scorer in the competition with 40.

After bouncing around Club América, Atlético Madrid and Benfica, the Mexican really flourished at Molineux, very much considered to be one of the best centre-forwards in the division prior to suffering a horrific fractured skull in November 2020.

Arokodare certainly possesses all the raw attributes to be as good as Jiménez, so now is the time for him to prove this.

Well, Wolves supporters have been treated to a mere amuse-bouche of what their new striker could offer so far, scoring in EFL Cup ties against Everton and Chelsea, starting only once in the Premier League thus far, not doing so in any of Wolves’ last six.

So, pairing him with Strand Larsen would certainly give opposition defences something to think about, with the duo possessing similar but also complementary skillsets.

With Palace captain Marc Guéhi a doubt due to a foot injury, surely Wolves’ best hope of claiming a first win of the season is to deploy the two strikers together.

£55m spent & Hackney signs: Dream Wolves XI Edwards can build in January

This is the dream Wolves starting line-up that Rob Edwards could build in the January window.

ByDan Emery Nov 11, 2025

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke is under pressure and could now potentially be replaced at Elland Road with a coach who has his fair share of Premier League experience.

Daniel Farke remains defiant in the face of scrutiny at Leeds

Managers coming under pressure is never nice to see. However, Farke is arguably the boss most at risk among anyone in the top flight at the moment amid growing fan discontent and patchy results in West Yorkshire.

So much so, reports suggest the Leeds manager has two matches to save his job, with the search for a permanent successor already taking shape and several candidates identified if he is to part ways with 49ers Enterprises.

Names such as Carlos Corberan and former Whites hero Marcelo Bielsa have been entered into the discussion. However, one of the strongest contenders comes in the form of Brendan Rodgers, who is available to take over after leaving Celtic earlier this season.

Nevertheless, Farke remained defiant when questioned over his future on Thursday, claiming that he is cut out to handle the pressure associated with managing Leeds and what comes with it.

He told BBC Sport: “I don’t need to hide. I was aware of this passionate club on the first day I walked in. We played the best season in club history last season. Several times there were questions. If you can’t handle it, don’t become manager or a player of Leeds United.”

Farke’s persistence and belief in his project is heartening, albeit there are sections of the Leeds support that are becoming increasingly frustrated with his reluctance to adopt pragmatism when it suits the flow of the game.

Either way, the Whites are clearly doing their due diligence in case they need to make a decision, and another strong candidate has come to their attention amid recent developments.

Leeds eyeing Ange Postecoglou as Farke successor

According to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, Leeds could hire Ange Postecoglou to replace Daniel Farke after his short spell at Nottingham Forest came to an end before Sean Dyche replaced him.

The Australian has admirers within the corridors of Elland Road and prefers an attacking 4-3-3 formation. However, it isn’t yet known whether he would be willing to go back into Premier League management after being dismissed at both Tottenham Hotspur and the City Ground in a relatively short space of time.

Ange Postecoglou’s record in the Premier League
Matches	81
Wins	31
Draws	12
Losses	38

Described as “really impressive” by Fabian Hurzeler, he famously claimed Europa League glory earlier this year. Also, he won five trophies in two seasons at Celtic, building an intriguing CV in British football.

Notably, a 9-0 victory over Dundee United during his second season in charge of the Bhoys gained worldwide attention, showcasing the attacking principles he possesses as a manager and what can happen when he has the freedom to implement them properly.

Of course, Leeds’ fight against relegation represents an entirely different proposition, and if he were to be hired, focusing on keeping the ball out at the other end would have to be his main priority.

After the 3-0 triumph over Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, the feel-good factor is well and truly back at Nottingham Forest under the keen eye of Sean Dyche.

The hometown hero has installed a reason to be proud of the first-team squad once again after Ange Postecoglou’s failed attempts to make the Reds a force to be reckoned with.

Back-to-back victories have teed the side up perfectly for the latest Europa League clash with Malmö, which is no doubt going to be a meeting for the ages.

However, the bigger picture will certainly be coming into view over the next few weeks, with the transfer window creeping on the horizon and opening in a little over a month’s time.

Numerous players have already been touted with a winter move to the City Ground, with Evangelos Marinakis looking set to get his chequebook out once again after the summer spending spree.

Nottingham Forest’s hunt for January additions

Over the last couple of weeks, Forest have been touted with a surprise reunion with James Garner, after the midfielder spent two years on loan with the Reds in the Championship.

He’s since moved to Everton, plying his trade under Dyche, which no doubt will have pushed the rumours over a potential switch back to the East Midlands this winter.

The 24-year-old has played every minute in England’s top-flight to date, with the Toffees unlikely to sanction his departure away from Merseyside this window.

However, he’s not the only Englishman in the hierarchy’s sights at present, with Brighton star Jack Hinshelwood another player being targeted by Dyche and Co.

According to the Daily Mail, Forest have made the 20-year-old their top target for January, after only featuring in four Premier League games for the Seagulls in 2025/26.

The report also states that the youngster, who’s an England U21 international, is happy at the AMEX at present, whilst also failing to mention the rumoured fee it would take to prise him away from Fabian Hurzeler’s squad, although Transfermarkt value him at around £21m.

Why Hinshelwood would be perfect alongside Anderson

Back in the summer of 2024, many Forest fans would have been unaware of the talent of Elliot Anderson, but it’s safe to say his success is recognised more than just at the City Ground in the present day.

The 23-year-old arrived in a PSR deal from Newcastle United, which saw goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos moving in the opposite direction – with the Reds paying a net £15m for his signature.

18 months on, such a deal could be one of the best in the club’s history, with the midfielder now a full England international and currently being valued at the £100m mark.

He’s featured in every minute of the Premier League campaign to date, subsequently ranking at the top of countless stats compared to other midfielders in the division.

Anderson has been partnered by various players at the heart of the side, but he may have the perfect partner should the hierarchy complete a deal for Hinshelwood in the coming months.

The 20-year-old’s stats from the ongoing campaign highlight the talent he possesses, with such a deal potentially being yet another excellent piece of business.

Hinshelwood, who’s been dubbed a “superstar” by content creator Ryan Adsett, has made 2.8 tackles per 90 and won 64% of the duels he’s entered – arguably being an excellent ball-winning option.

Jack Hinshelwood – PL stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

4

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

84%

Tackles made

2.8

Duels won

64%

Recoveries made

5.6

Aerials won

1.7

Chances created

1.1

Stats via FotMob

Such numbers would be perfect for Anderson, which could allow him to be freed up and continue his vein of completing the most passes into the final third per 90 of any player in the Premier League this season.

As for the Seagulls star, he’s also made a staggering 5.6 recoveries per 90 along with 1.7 aerial duels won – further showcasing his incredible ability without the ball.

However, the 20-year-old has also showcased his ability to pop up with a goal at key moments, with the youngster finding the winner in the clash against Brentford last weekend.

As previously mentioned, it’s unclear whether a deal for the Englishman could be agreed, but it would be a move that would add serious defensive quality to the current midfield.

The prospect of Hinshelwood starring alongside Anderson is certainly one for the fans to get excited about, which could see the club be the home to two of the country’s brightest talents.

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Posts ByDan Emery Nov 26, 2025