If you ignore his underwhelming display on Sunday, it has largely been a positive start to life at Arsenal for Eberechi Eze.

Despite it taking him a little while to get up to speed with what Mikel Arteta wants from him, the former Crystal Palace star has already amassed five goals and four assists for the team in 18 games.

Moreover, he’s already etched his name into the club’s history books by scoring an unreal hat-trick in the North London Derby, the first anyone has scored since 1978.

Eze’s Arsenal Record

Appearances

18

Starts

14

Minutes

1216′

Goals

5

Assists

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.5

Minutes per Goal Involvement

135.11′

Points per Game

2.50

All Stats via Transfermarkt

So, fans should be delighted about reports linking Arsenal with someone who could be the club’s future Eze.

Arsenal target their future Eze

With the transfer window reopening next month, Arsenal have once again begun being linked with a host of talented players.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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For example, Nottingham Forest’s £79m Murillo has been touted for a move to the Emirates, as has his £120m teammate Elliot Anderson.

Yet, as talented and potentially game-changing as the two Forest men are, neither one could be described as Eze-like, nor a long-term heir to him, unlike Holger Quintero.

Yes, according to a recent ESPN report, Arsenal are looking to sign the highly rated teenage talent.

In fact, the report has revealed that the club have already agreed a deal in principle for the midfielder and his twin brother, Edwin Quintero.

The two 16-year-olds are said to be in London at the moment to iron out the final details of the move, with an official announcement to come at a later date.

They will then move to the Emirates in August 2027, when they are both 18, due to rules around foreign-born youngsters.

Holger Quintero is unlikely to make an impact on the team for some time, but based on what those in the know say about him, he could prove to be Arsenal’s next Eze.

Why Holger Quintero will be Arsenal's next Eze

Now, the first thing to say is that given Eze is still just 27 and in fine form, there is little chance of Quintero coming in to replace him.

However, five or six years from now, when the former is ageing out, the latter could be the ideal player to step in and add creativity to the midfield.

At least it sounds like that is the case based on what those in the know are saying, like Ben Mattinson.

The Como scout has described the 16-year-old as a “skilful attacking midfielder with 1v1 prowess to take on players,” which sounds an awful lot like the former Palace star.

Moreover, he highlights that, in addition to his close control, the teenager also has an “excellent weight of pass” and is a “decisive creator with a killer final ball.”

That combination of being a direct threat while also creating ample opportunities for teammates is just like the Englishman at his best.

It’s not just Mattinson raving about the young phenom, though, as U23 scout Antonio Mango has described him as someone who is blessed with “high technical & intellect qualities” and is “effective in all thirds of the pitch.”

Finally, if that still isn’t enough, respected talent scout Jacek Kulig has been bold enough to describe the midfielder as “one of the most exciting U17s in South America.”

Ultimately, while it is too early in his career, Quintero looks like an exceptional superstar in the making, and his combination of incredible close control and game-breaking passing means he could be the perfect long-term heir to Eze.

Related Rice was fuming with him: Arsenal's "future captain" has regressed big time

It has been a season to forget for the Arsenal star so far this year.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 1, 2025

Flying high at the top of the Championship, Coventry City have now reportedly scheduled talks in an attempt to sign Abdoulie Manneh from Swedish side Mjallby AIF.

The 21-year-old would provide Frank Lampard’s side with another attacking boost as if they’re lacking in that department. So far this season, no team have scored more goals in the Championship than Coventry, who have found the back of the net a staggering 40 times in 15 games.

To put that into context, Hull City and Ipswich Town are their closest contenders in that department and have scored 26 goals. Whilst others search for a manager, Coventry and Lampard are thriving.

Lampard is making sure that his side keep their feet firmly planted, however. In a recent interview with Sky Sports, the Chelsea legend explained the risks of overconfidence.

Up next for Coventry is the visit of West Bromwich Albion, who have struggled for form under new manager Ryan Mason. Victory over the Baggies would at least maintain the Sky Blues’ five-point lead at the top of the Championship.

After previous promotion heartbreak, it doesn’t look like Coventry chiefs are willing to take any chances, either. Recent reports have indicated that they’re willing to spend in the January transfer window to get Lampard’s side over the line and sign a former Brighton target.

Coventry schedule talks to sing Manneh

According to Swedish outlet Fotboll Direkt, Coventry have now scheduled talks to sign Manneh from Mjallby in the January transfer window. The Championship side are reportedly willing to break Mjallby’s sale record by paying £3.6m to sign the talented winger.

It’s clear to see why the Sky Blues are so interested in the 21-year-old, too. He’s scored nine goals and assisted another three in all competitions in 33 games in Sweden this season and is rightly on the radar of clubs around Europe.

Whilst Coventry need no help finding the back of the net, having another goalscorer at their disposal certainly won’t hurt their chances of securing automatic promotion. For under £4m, they could land a player who quickly turns into a January bargain if he settles quickly in the Championship.

Mjallby manager Anders Torstensson has been full of praise for Manneh during his time at the club and told reporters: “He has grown into it really well. He has been really good at training. He has learned from instructions. He is a really ambitious, humble guy who works really hard.”

An improving and impressive player, the winger is one to watch – especially if Coventry secure his signature.

أضاف داني أولمو الهدف الثاني لبرشلونة أمام ديبورتيفو ألافيس، خلال المباراة التي تجري ضمن منافسات الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

ويستقبل برشلونة ديبورتيفو ألافيس على ملعب الكامب نو، في الجولة الثالثة عشر من منافسات الليجا.

وكان ديبورتيفو ألافيس قد فاجأ برشلونة بالهدف الأول عن طريق إيبانيز في الدقيقة الأولى قبل أن يتعادل لامين يامال في الدقيقة الثامنة من صناعة رافينيا.

أقرأ أيضاً.. فيديو | ألافيس يسجل ولامين يامال يتعادل لـ برشلونة في الدوري الإسباني

وفي الدقيقة 26 أضاف داني أولمو الهدف الثاني لصالح برشلونة بعد صناعة جديدة من البرازيلي رافينيا.

أولمو يعطي الأسبقية لبرشلونة بعد تمريرة سحرية من رافينيا#الدوري_الإسباني #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/fda3Szxmi4 — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 29, 2025

ودخل هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة لقاء اليوم بتشكيل مكون من: جارسيا، إريك جارسيا، كوبارسي، جيرارد مارتن، بالدي، كاسادو، بيرنال، أولمو، رافينيا، لامين يامال، ليفاندوفسكي.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com superavit de R$ 62,7 milhões, o Corinthians divulgou o balancete financeiro referente a janeiro de 2024, primeiro mês de Augusto Melo na presidência do clube. O documento foi analisado por uma auditoria externa e recebeu aprovação dos órgãos internos do Timão.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSeleção BrasileiraEx-diretora do Corinthians assume cargo na Seleção BrasileiraSeleção Brasileira20/03/2024Futebol NacionalCorinthians quer novas receitas com estádio, e Santos estuda semi do Paulistão na Neo Química ArenaFutebol Nacional20/03/2024PalmeirasPalmeiras ‘recria’ grupo do Corinthians e foge de longas distâncias na LibertadoresPalmeiras19/03/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Corinthians

Apenas na venda dos direitos econômicos de jogadores, o Corinthians faturou R$108,18 milhões. O valor foi impulsionado pela transferência de Gabriel Moscardo ao PSG por 20 milhões de euros, cerca de R$ 100 milhões. O volante foi emprestado ao Timão até junho para concluir recuperação de lesão antes de ir ao clube francês.

Mesmo com superávit financeiro, as dívidas do Timão seguem alarmantes. De acordo com o balancete de janeiro, a dívida do clube está em R$ 910,3 milhões. O valor citado não inclui o financiamento relacionado à Neo Química Arena.

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➡️ Combinadona Lance! Betting! Fature mais de R$1300 com os clássicos da Copa do Nordeste!

VEJA AS RECEITAS DO CORINTHIANS NO FUTEBOL EM JANEIRO DE 2024

R$ 108,1 milhões com repasses de direitos federativos R$ 21, 9 milhões em direitos de transmissão de TVR$ 18,0 milhões em patrocínios e publicidadesR$ 7,3 milhões em arrecadações de jogosR$ 6,6 milhões em premiações, Fiel Torcedor e loterias

VEJA AS DESPESA DO CORINTHIANS NO FUTEBOL EM JANEIRO DE 2024

R$ 25,5 milhões em vendas e aquisição de atletasR$ 17,9 milhões em pessoalR$ 12,0 milhões em serviços de terceirosR$ 8,8 milhões em gerais e administrativosR$ 6,0 milhões em amortizações de direitos; R$ 2,4 milhões em futebol.

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários dos jogos do Timão na Sul-Americana

Tudo sobre

Corinthians

Australia 248 for 4 (Gardner 104*, Sutherland 98*) beat England 244 for 9 (Beaumont 78, Sutherland 3-60) by six wicketsIndomitable Australia were at it again, this time with an unbroken 180-run stand between Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner which dug them out of early trouble and put them back into top spot on the World Cup table with a six-wicket win against England.It almost feels misguided to use the word “trouble” when it comes to an Australian side packed with so many gifted allrounders and boasting such depth that someone, anyone, in their XI can always get the job done.On Wednesday in Indore, where Australia lurched to 24 for 3 then 68 for 4, it was Sutherland and Gardner, who proved so dominant in their pursuit of 245 that they inadvertently turned the closing stages into a battle over who would reach a century first.Gardner did it, rocking back with intent to steer a Lauren Bell delivery to the boundary through deep third. She’d romped there from 69 balls, yet three dot balls followed to give Sutherland the strike, with four runs needed for victory and five for her ton.Sutherland attempted a six off Sophie Ecclestone and miscued high over cover where Heather Knight spilled the chance. Though she got back on strike with a two, a subsequent single left her at the non-striker’s end on 98, with Gardner hitting the winning boundary as Australia cruised to victory with 57 balls to spare.Both had played their part with the ball too in restricting England to 244 for 9. Sutherland claimed three wickets and Gardner two while legspinner Alana King was instrumental in smothering England through the middle overs with a miserly eight-over spell. She yielded just 13 runs while claiming the big wicket of Nat Sciver-Brunt for just 7. King finished with 1 for 20 from 10.Tammy Beaumont found form with the bat but, without her half-century and a late charge by seventh-wicket pair Alice Capsey and Charlie Dean, England would have been worse off than defending a total that still looked sub-par against a side as strong as Australia.Australia celebrate the DRS review that sent Heather Knight on her way•Getty Images

So it proved as Australia – missing injured captain, wicketkeeper and in-form batter Alyssa Healy – consigned England to their first defeat of the tournament.After a best score of 32 from five innings at this World Cup, Beaumont stood up for England with 78, sharing a 55-run opening stand with Amy Jones. Capsey was the only member of England’s struggling middle-order to make a significant contribution with 38 off 32 balls, while Dean provided another helpful cameo from No.8, this time worth 26 from 27 as the pair put on 61 runs together.It looked briefly like their efforts might have been good enough when new-ball duo Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith sent Australia reeling.Bell’s third ball was a gem which moved away from left-hander Phoebe Litchfield, whizzed past the outside edge and took out off stump. It was the first time in 33 ODI innings that Litchfield had been dismissed in the first over.Healy pursed her lips and shook her head in the dug-out as she watched a replay of her batting replacement, Georgia Voll, bottom-edging a slog-sweep off Smith onto off stump, losing her balance and toppling onto the ground into a backward somersault to complete the indignity.Smith claimed her second with a simple return catch off Ellyse Perry’s leading edge as she backed away from a shorter delivery, while stand-in skipper Beth Mooney was left chewing her top lip after she spooned Sophie Ecclestone to midwicket, where Sciver-Brunt took a sharp catch dive-rolling to her left.Sutherland looked scratchy early in her rescue mission but she settled into a rhythm, moving into the 40s with a powerful slog-sweep off Smith and clearing the covers off Dean for four to bring up her fifty. She then skipped down the pitch to Bell and steered another boundary expertly between extra cover and mid-off.Linsey Smith struck in her second over as Georgia Voll played on•ICC/Getty Images

Gardner raised her half-century with a glorious pulled four off Sciver-Brunt but didn’t stop there, adding two more straight away, a carbon copy of the first followed by a lofted drive down the ground.From there the Australian duo made their task look easy, Gardner becoming particularly aggressive with three consecutive fours off Capsey and three more off Ecclestone’s ninth over to move ahead of Sutherland.Earlier, Kim Garth, who replaced fellow seamer Darcie Brown in the Australian side, and Megan Schutt were wayward with their lines and lengths and the England openers capitalised. England reached 55 for 0 in eight overs, which was already their highest powerplay total of the tournament.But Sutherland’s introduction to the attack delivered instant rewards with a wicket maiden as she plucked out Jones, playing inside the line of a perfect ball on the top of off stump, and when Garth closed out the powerplay with her own maiden to Beaumont, Australia’s mid-innings fightback was underway.After a wise Australia review removed Knight, lbw to Sophie Molineux, King backed up the excellent economy of her player-of-the-match performance against Bangladesh and was rewarded with the wicket of Sciver-Brunt, lured down the pitch and skewing the ball to Sutherland at mid-off.King extracted prolific turn and bounce, her initial spell coinciding with a period between the 20th and 30th overs in which England added just 26 runs. Australia, by contrast, would rack up 77 for 0 in the same spell of their reply.A cool-headed catch by Voll, playing her first World Cup match, removed Beaumont. Feeling the need to pick up England’s tempo, Beaumont took on Sutherland’s slower ball as Voll ran backwards at long-on, parried the ball back into play as she toppled over the boundary rope, and stepped calmly back inside to complete the catch.It was a back-of-the-hand slower ball from Sutherland which extended Emma Lamb’s wretched tournament when she was bowled off her pads for 7, and after struggling for rhythm in her 22 from 48 balls, Sophia Dunkley misread a Gardner delivery, advancing and heaving towards the leg side as the ball spun past the outside edge. Mooney whipped off the bails as she tried in vain to make her ground.Capsey defied her lean run at No. 7 with back-to-back fours off Sutherland, taking her past her previous best of 20 for this tournament. But when she was pinned on the pad by Molineux and Dean chipped Gardner to cover two balls later, Australia wrested back control.

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that William Saliba and Leandro Trossard are major doubts for a London derby meeting with Brentford on Wednesday night. Both players missed the Gunners' 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the weekend. Arteta also delivered updates on Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes as they remain in the treatment room with more serious knocks.

• Summer signings set to step up again

  Saliba’s omission from the matchday squad at Stamford Bridge on Sunday raised eyebrows, but Arteta explained that the France international had suffered a knock during training on the eve of the draw with Chelsea. With centre-back partner Gabriel also sidelined, Arteta turned to an improvised pairing of summer signings Pierro Hincapie and Christhian Mosquera, who are likely to remain in the starting XI for Brentford's visit to the Emirates.

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• Getty
  

  Saliba facing 'days, not weeks' on sidelines

  After running tests on Monday, Arsenal determined that Saliba remains short of fitness and is a doubt to feature at the Emirates on Wednesday. Arteta described the injury as another puzzling episode, comparing it to the ankle problem that forced the defender to miss several matches back in August.

  "He had a little niggle, so I think it’s going to be a matter of days, so let’s see if he’s able to be there tomorrow," he said. "Well, the ankle one, it was a really random and a very unlucky action that kept him out for a few weeks. He tried at Anfield, he wasn't comfortable, and he had to stay away and this one as well, very bizarre. But hopefully it will be a matter of days."

  Trossard will also miss the midweek fixture after limping off in the Champions League win over Bayern Munich last week. Further tests conducted on Friday confirmed a minor calf problem, but Arteta also expects the Belgian winger to be available again in a few days.

  Arteta also shared a heartfelt assessment of Havertz’s ongoing recovery. The German forward, who underwent a minor knee procedure in August, has endured a stop-start calendar year marked by a hamstring injury late last season and fresh complications during pre-season.

  "We are all desperate to have him," he said. "I mean, it is a player that, personally, I love so much for what he brings to the team – his character, his personality. I see him suffer, being outside. Matter of weeks; let’s see how it evolves in the next few weeks. He’s doing really well, he’s doing stuff on the pitch, but I think he needs some time."

  Gabriel, another long-term absentee, is continuing his rehabilitation from a thigh injury. Arteta has offered encouragement, saying the Brazilian centre-half is "doing very well", though the medical team still estimates a recovery period of several weeks.

  "Big Gabi is doing very well as well, but that’s weeks as well," he said. 

• Will Rice or Timber be rotated?

  The cluster of defensive injuries has prompted questions about whether players such as Declan Rice or Jurrien Timber should be rested, given their heavy workloads in recent weeks. Arteta, however, defended his selection philosophy, saying he always prioritises fielding the strongest available side.

  "We try to manage every case, every individual in relation to how they feel in the context of the matches, adjust with the only purpose to have the best options on the best pitch and to be better than the opponent, that’s it," he said. 

  "Our motivation comes from preparation and how we prepare for every game to try to be better than the opposition. Where we are in the league and what we are doing, I don’t think we need any more motivation than that."

  Reflecting on the season’s injury turbulence, Arteta said the team has had to navigate several unexpected blows. Losing Trossard when he was hitting his stride, reintegrating [Gabriel] Martinelli gradually, and then coping with Saliba’s late withdrawal at Chelsea have forced players into unfamiliar roles.

  "Especially how we lost them [the injuries] with Leo as well, because Leo was in a great moment, and Gabi Martinelli was just coming back, and we had to manage his minutes," he said. "He wasn't able to play more than he did on Sunday. So, managing that, the fact that obviously Willy trained the day before, and then he was uncomfortable, players are not training in certain positions, having to play there. But again, the attitude towards it and the way the players are performing and giving absolutely everything they can to fulfil those absences, it's been the key part of the season because we have to deal with a lot already."

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• Getty
  

  Gyokeres and Odegaard ready to start

  Viktor Gyokeres, who made an appearance from the bench at Chelsea after recovering from a muscle injury suffered in the 2-0 win over Burnley, is expected to be fit enough to start on Wednesday. Meanwhile, captain Martin Odegaard, who has not started a match since damaging his MCL in early October, is also ready to rejoin the starting XI after making substitute appearances against Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

GOAL takes a look at which American players are playing the best heading into the final weeks of 2025.

It’ll be a while before the U.S. men’s national team convene again – a few months, to be exact. With no international breaks until March, everything shifts back to the club level, even as that little thing called the World Cup looms in the distance.

As the U.S. build toward that tournament, most of the heavy lifting now happens with their clubs. From the Champions League to the MLS playoffs, several of the USMNT’s key players are finding form at the right time, putting in meaningful performances as 2025 winds down. Keeping that momentum rolling into the spring will be vital, especially for those hoping to carve out bigger roles by summer.

From established USMNT starters to those pushing for a breakthrough, these are the American stars thriving at the club level. This is not a ranking of the best players, overall, but rather a snapshot of who is showing the best form at the moment. GOAL takes a look at this recurring feature, tracking the pulse of U.S. talent worldwide.

Imagn5Sebastian Berhalter

The only MLS player on this list but, when you look at the quality of his recent performances, you can't leave him off.

Berhalter has been magnificent for the Vancouver Whitecaps all season long, which is why he's vaulted himself right into World Cup contention. Down the stretch, he's taken his game up a notch, particularly in the games that have mattered most. Just four days after scoring and assisting against Uruguay, Berhalter played 120 minutes in an instant classic against LAFC, finishing the game as a pseudo-fullback after seeing the Whitecaps go down two men. He was really good against San Diego FC, too, to help the Whitecaps book their spot in the MLS Cup final.

If the Whitecaps do beat Miami in that final, it is easy to assume Berhalter will have played a huge part.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport4Tyler Adams

If you don't know why he's here, check out his recent goal against Sunderland. That finish was nothing less than world-class. It was surprising, then, that it came from a player like Adams, who is much better known for his defensive prowess than his attacking contributions.

The Bournemouth midfielder, though, has been contributing more on that attacking end. He provided an assist in a win over Nottingham Forest, although, admittedly, that one was a bit lucky. He scored a goal against Manchester City to open November, netting his first Premier League goal of the season, and then, of course, scored that stunner against Sunderland.

This season, Adams is proving that he's more than just a midfield bulldog as he continues to show the world that he can make things happen with the ball at his feet, too.

Getty Images3Christian Pulisic

He'd almost certainly be higher on this list of injuries didn't limit him for a while, but Pulisic also seems eager to make up for lost time.

With his recent game-winning goal agaisnt Inter, Pulisic scored in his first start in six weeks, continuing the good form he showed throughout the early Serie A season. With that goal, he now has five goals and two assists in just 422 minutes played, a fantastic haul for a player that, throughout the campaign, has sure looked like world-class winger for AC Milan.

The challenge, as it has been, will be keeping Pulisic fit and firing. If he can stay on the field, Milan will be a much, much better team.

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AFP2Ricardo Pepi

It’s kind of crazy to have a player this high on the list when he isn’t even starting for his own team. But you can’t really hold that against Ricardo Pepi – he’s been that good.

Over the last month and a half, Pepi has scored against Napoli, Fortuna Sittard, Olympiacos, and FC Volendam. He added assists against Napoli and Volendam, and essentially created another when he sparked a goal against Liverpool. And yet, in that span, he’s started just once, with PSV unwilling to change a winning formula despite his consistent impact off the bench.

So we’re back to the familiar question: just how good could Pepi be if he finally gets a proper run of games as guy for PSV?

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was irate after umpires determined that Jordan Lawlar interfered with San Francisco Giants base runner Christian Koss when he attempted to round second base.

Lawlar was standing in the base path in between second and third base when Koss ran straight into him while rounding second. Koss went to the ground in pain. After reviewing the play, umpires called Lawlar for interference, which set Lovullo off, and he stormed onto the field in order to give the officiating crew a piece of his mind.

It didn't take long for Lovullo to get ejected from the game, but before he left the field, he pulled out the UNO reverse card and gestured as if he was ejecting all four of the umpires from the game.

Have a look at an all-time meltdown from the Diamondbacks' skipper:

Lovullo pointed at each umpire individually and hilariously attempted to eject them from the game, but to no avail. After getting his money's worth, Lovullo eventually walked off the field and into the clubhouse, though he was clearly still fuming.

The ejection was the second time this season and the 22nd time in his managerial career that Lovullo was tossed from a game.

There’s nothing like a classic baseball ejection.

Tom Verducci: The Red Sox traded Rafael Devers under duress and paid down none of his contract, which limited his value. So why trade him? When you sign someone to a 10-year, $313.5 million contract, that’s the kind of commitment to consider the player “the face of the franchise.” And your face of the franchise should set a culture that young players can emulate.

Not playing first base or third base when starters go down at those positions—positions in the spectrum of your defensive prowess, not moving from infield to outfield or corner to middle—is certainly Devers’s right. But it’s also the club's right to expect more. Taking pregame grounders at shortstop last week was just another layer of weirdness to what became a parlor game of guessing Raffy’s mindset.

The Red Sox are not faultless. Owner John Henry, GM Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora failed to get out in front of potential problems when it came to communicating. But nothing they did changed the fact that the team was in transition to a new, young core and Devers's intransigence was an obstacle. He should be happier in San Francisco after losing faith in the Boston front office.

The Giants are the winners of this deal today because they added an impact hitter in his prime without disrupting the major league team. Their pitching depth made Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison superfluous. The Giants have not had a left-handed hitter hit 30 home runs since Barry Bonds in 2004, and none other than Bonds since Will Clark 38 years ago. They must pay Devers, a full-time DH when Matt Chapman gets off the IL, $250 million over eight and a half years. That’s a worry for another day. His contract already doesn’t look so bad after the money paid to Juan Soto and Vlad Guerrero Jr.

Will Laws: This deal is being widely compared to the Red Sox’s disastrous trade of Mookie Betts in 2020. But I’d be shocked if this deal ages nearly as poorly as that one has. Yes, that’s setting a low bar. But Devers has never been the sort of player Betts is and his contract very well could’ve turned into an albatross long before it expires in 2033.

Devers has been a top-15 player this season in terms of offensive value, according to FanGraphs. But he’s 35th in terms of fWAR largely due to his poor baserunning and lack of defensive value. Devers has never finished in the top 10 of American League MVP voting. Betts has seven top-10 MVP placements. Betts likewise has seven seasons where he’s been more valuable by bWAR than Devers was in his best season—and that was back in 2019, the year of the juiced ball. And let’s not forget that while Devers refused to pick his glove back up in his team’s time of need after being slated as Boston’s full-time designated hitter before this season—which he was well within his rights to do—Betts has not only been willing to play multiple positions for the Dodgers over the last several years but has excelled at doing so.

Devers is a fearsome slugger, and the Red Sox are now worse than they were Sunday morning. This should also be an excellent deal for the Giants, who have long needed an infusion of power into their lineup. But Boston boasts a wealth of hitting talent and a pitching staff in need of some reinforcements, and now has the opportunity to spend the $245 million or so it still owed Devers elsewhere.

Former Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom was forced by team ownership to trade Betts and never did enough to improve the roster to fill the void left by the former MVP’s departure. He was fired after the 2023 season as a result.

Bloom’s successor, Craig Breslow, just acquired the Giants’ former top prospect, 23-year-old pitcher Kyle Harrison, as part of the return for Devers, as well as pitcher Jordan Hicks and San Francisco’s No. 2 prospect in outfielder James Tibbs III. It’s not enough to make up for the loss of Devers, but it’s a start. Let’s see if Breslow uses some of his newfound payroll space to further upgrade Boston’s pitching staff this season before prematurely sentencing him to the same fate as Bloom.

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is facing a potentially defining week in his career at the club ahead of Premier League clashes with Chelsea and Liverpool at Elland Road.

The Guardian reported on Monday that Farke’s job may be on the line in these next two matches, because senior figures at the club believe that two losses could lead to his dismissal.

It added that his position in West Yorkshire could be ‘untenable’ if he does not pick up at least one point, as the report states that his job hangs ‘in the balance’.

The Guardian, though, also revealed that some sources have expressed sympathy for the German manager because the results have not been as positive as the performances have been.

Leeds exploring move for English head coach

Whilst a final decision has not been made on the former Norwich City head coach’s future at the club, a fresh report has named one of the managers already in the frame to take his place.

Manager Focus

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According to Football Insider, Leeds United are exploring the possibility of a move to appoint former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil as Farke’s replacement at Elland Road.

The report claims that the English tactician is ‘firmly’ in the running to be the next Whites manager if they decide to part ways with the German this week.

It adds that Farke will be in the dugout for the clash with Chelsea on Wednesday night, as the earlier report from The Guardian backs up, but his future beyond these next two games remains in doubt.

However, the 49ers should change their mind and avoid a deal to appoint O’Neil as their next manager if they opt to move on from Farke, because he could be a Javi Gracia repeat for the club.

Why Gary O'Neil could be a Javi Gracia repeat for Leeds

The Whites appointed Gracia to replace Jesse Marsch in February 2022 in an attempt to avoid relegation from the Premier League, and it seemed to be a shrewd move on paper.

Prior to joining Leeds, the Spaniard had finished 14th and 11th in the Premier League with Watford in his first two seasons with the Hornets, per Transfermarkt, before losing his job after three defeats in four games at the start of his third campaign.

He, therefore, arrived as a ‘proven’ Premier League manager, but that did not stop him from losing six of his 11 games in charge before being sacked by the Whites, who then brought in Sam Allardyce.

O’Neil would arrive at Elland Road with a similar reputation because he finished 15th and 14th with Bournemouth and Wolves in his first two seasons in the division, before being sacked after a run of 11 losses in 16 games in his third top-flight campaign, per Transfermarkt.

The English boss, who typically deploys a 3-4-2-1 formation, per Transfermarkt, lost his job with the Old Gold for a run of form that was even worse than Farke’s current performance at Leeds.

As you can see in the table above, Farke would still have a better record than O’Neil did last season if he loses these next two games against Chelsea and Liverpool.

These statistics suggest that there is no guarantee that the ex-Wolves manager would be an upgrade on the German in the dugout, as Gracia wasn’t, despite his Premier League experience, when they sacked Marsch in 2022.

With this in mind, the 49ers should avoid moving for the out-of-work head coach if they decide to sack Farke, because it could be a repeat of the mistake that former sporting director Victor Orta once made with Gracia.

Instead, they should look to appoint a manager who is a clear upgrade on the German boss, whether they have Premier League experience or not, to help them in their battle against relegation.

Leeds lining up January spending spree for "phenomenal" Farke replacement

Daniel Farke will reportedly be sacked if Leeds lose their next two matches.

By
Ben Goodwin

Dec 1, 2025

Of course, it would be remiss of us to ignore the possibility that Farke can turn things around in these next two games to save his job, which would alleviate any need for the board to step in and make a decision on a replacement for him in the coming weeks.