India’s vice-captain taken to hospital for “further evaluation and assessment”

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Oct-2025

Shreyas Iyer is helped off the ground after catching Alex Carey•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

India’s vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has suffered an injury to his left rib cage during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney. The BCCI said he “has been taken to hospital for further evaluation and assessment.”The injury occurred during the 34th over of Australia’s innings at the SCG, as Iyer completed an outstanding catch to dismiss Alex Carey off Harshit Rana. Carey had attempted to slap the ball down the ground but got a top edge that sent the ball high between backward point and deep third.Iyer tracked the ball from backward point, running at full tilt and diving as the ball dropped over his head, but hit the ground hard while holding the catch. He immediately clutched his side in pain, had to be attended to by the physiotherapist, and went off the field before the next ball was bowled.Iyer did not return to the field for the remainder of the innings as Australia were dismissed for 236 in 46.4 overs. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli adding an unbroken 168-run partnership for the second wicket, Iyer was not required to bat in the chase as India sealed a nine-wicket victory in the 39th over. Australia won the series 2-1.

Manchester United are now reportedly racing Arsenal to sign Serhou Guirassy from Borussia Dortmund amid rumours that he has a release clause worth just £45m for selected clubs.

The Reds Devils successfully overhauled their frontline last summer, but could now be aiming to add that extra bit of quality now that Ruben Amorim’s side have found form. Before the international break, they stretched their unbeaten run to five games and will be desperate to continue that run when they play host to David Moyes and Everton on Monday night.

Despite their cost-cutting measures elsewhere, INEOS have shown a willingness to spend big on improving Amorim’s side and 2026 is unlikely to be any different. Those at Old Trafford are already reportedly eyeing a move to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest and after his recent rise, no one’s doubting that he’d be an excellent addition.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has also been full of praise for the Man United target during the November international break, telling reporters: “Anderson is a key player for us at the moment. He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League – that’s why he is with us and starting for us.

“He deserves it because he has been nothing but impressive. He has to keep on going now though. He is a very complete and mobile midfielder, and that’s what he keeps showing me.”

It would be an incredibly positive sign if United managed to welcome such a promising player next year, before then potentially shifting their focus towards signing yet another attacker. Having already welcomed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig and the Bundesliga last year, reports are claiming that INEOS could be heading back to Germany.

Man Utd racing to sign Guirassy

As reported by Caught Offside, Man United are now racing to sign Guirassy from Borussia Dortmund alongside PSG and Premier League rivals Arsenal. The forward has been a late bloomer, but is now one of Europe’s most clinical strikers. And with reports claiming that his release clause is worth just €50m (£45m) to a selection of clubs, the Red Devils should go all out.

League stats 25/26

Guirassy

Sesko

Minutes

788

621

Goals

5

2

Assists

1

1

Expected Goals

5.6

2.1

Although Sesko is very much the future of United’s attack, Guirassy could quickly ease the pressure on the forward’s shoulders in 2026. The 29-year-old could guarantee Amorim goals in the here and now, with five to his name already in the Bundesliga this season.

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Just how stubborn Dortmund will be amid interest in Guirassy is the question. Former German international went as far as to dub the forward one of the “most complete” he’s ever seen in incredibly high praise. For Dortmund to lose that would be a major blow, but as January approaches their star man could be one to watch.

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Former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has been forced to defend himself from ridicule following the release of a video online that shows him holidaying in Mexico. The clip in question sees the ex-England international walking down the street with a woman, with many – including far-right activist Tommy Robinson – jumping to the wrong conclusion.

• What Robinson said on social media

  Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was among the first to share the video of Lineker on social media. It had been taken by a fellow holidaymaker in Mexico and shows the 65-year-old former Three Lions striker out and about with a female companion who was unidentified at that point.

  Robinson, who has been quick to question some of Lineker’s behaviour in the past – especially his views on political matters – reposted the video in question on his accounts and asked: “What are you up to here @GaryLineker?” He was insinuating that Lineker was enjoying the company of somebody who he should not have been.

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• How Lineker responded

  The passer-by who filmed the original clip posed a similar question to the ex-BBC Sport host before advising him to “enjoy his holiday”. Lineker has been left bemused by the entire saga, which he has been forced to explain.

  Responding to Robinson, who he has once again accused of stirring up unnecessary “hatred”, Lineker said: “If you must know, I was going to a chemist with my daughter-in-law, to get some medicine for her unwell husband….my son. Hatred is a dreadful weakness.”

  Lineker went on to share a post suggesting that Robinson had “thrown his followers under the bus by inciting them to recirculate libellous claims”.

• Lineker has clashed with Robinson supporters

  The son that Lineker is referring to is 31-year-old Harry. He got married to partner Bella at a luxurious ceremony in the summer of 2025 that took place on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza. He has seemingly been feeling under the weather while taking in another trip to the sunshine.

  His brother, George, also felt the need to respond to Robinson and efforts to spread idle gossip. He said in a social media post of his own, which included a laughing emoji: “It’s his daughter-in-law you f*cking idiot.”

  This is not the first time that Lineker has clashed with outspoken Robinson and his supporters. He has previously admitted to being “elbowed in the back” by a “little old lady” who was on her way to one of Yaxley-Lennon’s rallies.

  He has also been told, in a face-to-face confrontation, that he “hated Britain” after speaking out on matters that he believes in. Lineker has said of those that he clashes with: “It’s the same lot every time. It’s the same people.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Lineker left BBC role in May 2025

  Lineker confirmed back in May that he would be leaving his role with the BBC – which included 25 years in the Match of the Day hotseat. He had faced criticism for sharing a social media post that included a rat illustration, which has been used to represent Jewish people in antisemitic propaganda.

  Lineker said in a statement: "Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio. I care deeply about the game, and about the work I've done with the BBC over many years. As I've said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for. However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”

  Lineker walked away from his presenting post on Match of the Day when the 2024-25 Premier League campaign came to a close. The man who earned 80 caps for England in his playing days, scoring 48 goals, is still a host of ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast alongside fellow former Three Lions stars Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.

Mikel Arteta has built a truly world-class squad at Arsenal over the last few years.

From front to back, the likes of William Saliba, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze would comfortably get into any side in the Premier League.

Yet, even though he’s not been at his very best this season, Bukayo Saka still stands as the club’s most important player.

The Hale Ender is their talisman, someone capable of winning games on his own, so fans should be delighted by reports linking Arsenal to someone even better than Saka.

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For example, Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız has been touted for a £88m move to the Emirates, as has Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

However, while both of these wingers are sensational talents and would undoubtedly improve the Gunners’ squad, neither one is better than Saka.

Vinícius Júnior, on the other hand, just might be.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are now interested in the Madrid superstar.

The report has revealed that with talks over a new deal at the Bernabéu going poorly, the Gunners are now ‘pursuing the Brazilian.’

A potential price is not mentioned, but with Transfermarkt valuing the winger at €150m – about £132m – it would likely require a new British record transfer fee.

With that said, if Arsenal have the chance to sign Vini Jr, they should take it, not least because he’s one of the few attackers in the world better than Saka.

How Vini compares to Saka

Now, the first thing to make clear is that Saka is a genuinely world-class footballer, and not only that, but he has the chance to become a legend at Arsenal.

However, what is equally true is that Vini Jr might just be a marginally better player, but one who could form a devastating partnership with him on the opposite flank.

With that out of the way, which international superstar comes out on top when we look at their output this season?

Well, so far this year, the Gunners’ number seven has scored six goals in 15 appearances, totalling 1053 minutes, coming out to an average of a goal every 2.5 games, or every 175.5 minutes.

For his efforts, the former Flamengo gem has scored five goals and provided four assists in 17 appearances, totalling 1172 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.88 games, or every 130.22 minutes.

Which game-changing wideman comes out on top when taking a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers?

Well, perhaps a little surprisingly, the Brazilian dynamo doesn’t just come out better in most metrics, but practically every single relevant one.

Vini Jr vs Saka
Statistics per 90	Vini Jr	Saka
Non-Penalty Expected G+As	0.57	0.47
Progressive Passes	4.80	2.21
Progressive Carries	8.90	4.07
Shots	3.21	2.22
Shots on Target	1.40	1.05
Passing Accuracy	79.9%	72.4%
Key Passes	2.90	2.21
Passes into the Penalty Area	2.10	1.74
Shot-Creating Actions	6.92	4.55
Goal-Creating Actions	0.80	0.12
Tackles Won	0.80	0.58
Successful Take-Ons	3.00	1.98
All Stats via FBref for the 25/26 League Season

For example, these include metrics like non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots on target, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Saka is an exceptional player, but as Ronaldo once pointed out, Vini Jr is arguably “the best player in the world”, and therefore, if Arsenal have even the slightest chance to sign him, they should go all out to do so.

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Celtic look set to finally confirm the appointment of their permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers in the dugout at Parkhead with the arrival of Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew.

Rodgers tendered his resignation at the end of October, after a 3-1 loss to Hearts, and experienced manager Martin O’Neill has taken the reins as interim head coach for the past month or so.

The former Celtic boss, as shown in the graphic above, won the Scottish Premiership title in his first two seasons back at Parkhead, and it will be down to Nancy to overcome Hearts to win the division in his first season.

Journalist Graeme Bailey claims that the Hoops are set to confirm the appointment of the MLS boss before the weekend, but that means that it remains to be seen if he will be in the dugout for the weekend’s clash with Hibernian.

Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen and Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna were also said to be in the running for the role, but it is the Frenchman who is poised to replace Rodgers.

Whilst Nancy will have to deal with the players that he inherits for the first month or so of his reign in Glasgow, the incoming boss has already been linked with a move to bring one of his Columbus Crew stars to Scotland.

The Columbus Crew star Wilfried Nancy could bring to Celtic

Earlier this week, it was reported that Celtic are lining up a move to bolster their attack by swooping for one of the French head coach’s key players from the MLS side.

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Nancy is reportedly set to swoop for Columbus Crew centre-forward Wessam Abou Ali to provide him with a proven and lethal number nine at Parkhead for the second half of the 2025/26 season.

The Palestine international scored three goals in five MLS games for Nancy towards the end of the 2025 campaign, per Sofascore, after a £5.7m move from Egyptian giants Al Ahly back in July.

Prior to his almost £6m move to the MLS in July, Abou Ali’s form for Al Ahly in Egypt caught the eye, as he showcased his reliability in front of goal in the Egyptian Premier League.

Appearances

19

16

Goals

18

10

Minutes per goal

76

118

Big chances missed

5

1

Conversion rate

40%

23%

Big chances created

3

2

Assists

4

3

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old frontman scored a staggering 28 goals in 35 appearances in those two seasons, which shows that he can find the back of the net on a regular basis.

However, it remains to be seen how much money Columbus Crew would want for the prolific striker because they paid almost £6m for him earlier this year, and he has already scored three goals in five league games.

If the MLS side demand a hefty fee that Celtic are either unable or unwilling to pay in the January transfer window, Nancy will have to look at alternative ways to bolster his attacking ranks at Parkhead.

For example, the French boss could unearth his next version of Abou Ali by helping young striker Callum Osmand fulfill his potential when he is back fit and available for selection.

Why Osmand could be Celtic's own version of Abou Ali

The Jersey-born star is currently out with a hamstring injury and a timeline has not been given on his return date, so it remains to be seen when he will be available to the incoming Hoops boss.

With Kelechi Iheanacho and Osmand both missing through injury, Ireland international Johnny Kenny is the first-choice number nine at Parkhead. The young forward has had an impressive run under interim boss O’Neill with four goals in five matches, per Sofascore.

However, it may be the former Fulham youngster who is the most likely to emerge as the star goalscorer of the Nancy era when you consider his record at first-team and academy level to date.

Appearances

150

83

Goals

47

49

Games per goal

3.19

1.69

Assists

11

13

Games per assist

13.64

6.38

As you can see in the table above, Osmand has scored and created goals at a much more impressive rate than Kenny has throughout his career to date, with an exceptional haul of 49 goals in 83 matches.

Whilst the majority of those goals have been at youth level, the 20-year-old star also showcased his quality in the first-team with a poacher’s finish against Rangers in the semi-final of the League Cup at Hampden Park earlier this month.

Unfortunately, Osmand then suffered his hamstring injury off the bench against Midtjylland in the Europa League in the very next game, shortly after winning a penalty from which Reo Hatate scored.

The ex-Fulham youngster, who was also hailed as “lightning quick” by Fulham expert Jack Kelly, scored one goal and won a penalty in his first three first-team outings for the Scottish giants, which is an impressive start to senior football for the young attacker.

His exceptional goalscoring record in his career suggests that he has the potential to emerge as a real star for Celtic in the future, once he is back from injury, because he has the quality to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

Therefore, the summer signing could be unearthed as Nancy’s next version of Abou Ali, who has been a prolific scorer for his last two teams, as another number nine who can provide a lethal presence in front of goal, if the Hoops are unable to get a deal done for the MLS star.

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Afy Fletcher says tourists want to “really come out on top in one or two games” against new-look England side

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‘The minute you slip, you side’ – Afy Fletcher

Last time they met in a T20I, West Indies ended England’s World Cup campaign in the group stage, sparking a slide that led to a new England coach, captain and squad changes.Since then, West Indies have suffered heartbreak of their own after missing out on qualifying for the 50-over World Cup in India later this year, leaving them searching for a way to hit back on their first engagement since, a tour of England which starts with three T20Is from Wednesday.Afy Fletcher, the West Indies legspinner who has played 93 T20Is and 84 ODIs, believes that while it will take some time yet for her side to recover from the disappointment of missing out on the next global tournament, another win or two against England could put them back on track.Related

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“It’s really, really difficult, it’s really heartbreaking to be honest,” Fletcher tells the ESPNcricinfo Powerplay podcast ahead of the first T20I in Canterbury. “This one really touched everyone.”It was only one chance with each game and the minute you slip, you slide, and that’s what happened. Then the mood was really, really emotional after that last game and, to be honest, it’s going to take a while to get over it, especially when you see the World Cup happening, that’s going to be very sad.”But you learn, you live and you learn from your mistakes. We went to the drawing board and had chats and hopefully that will help. I know that our psychologists have been made use of after that moment.”So I hope we can build and move past that and take the positives to move on, build again from here, from this series going forward and keep expanding on our skills and our knowledge and that it can move us forward together as a team.”T20 cricket is the most brutal format in terms of requiring players to take their chances.England found that out to their peril when they put down five catches in the last encounter between these sides as Qiana Joseph and captain Hayley Matthews broke the back of a modest run chase in Dubai to reach the World Cup semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions New Zealand.Joseph and Matthews are both in England although West Indies are without big hitters Deandra Dottin and Chinelle Henry. Uncapped Jahzara Claxton, the 19-year-old fast bowler, and 20-year-old allrounder Realeanna Grimmond have been called into their squad in the only changes since last month’s World Cup Qualifier.