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Only one of Australia’s Ashes squad won’t feature for their states this week ahead of the first Test

AAP09-Nov-20251:45

Will Australian pitches affect England’s Ashes chances?

In the next five days, Australia’s players will enjoy the first huge luxury of hosting a home Ashes series.Not because of the conditions or the fact record-breaking crowds are expected, but in terms of what the last full week of warm-ups look like.Every member of Australia’s squad, with the exception of Usman Khawaja, will play in Sheffield Shield games at the SCG, WACA and Bellerive Oval this week.Related

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At the same time, England will be playing a three-day intra-squad game at Perth’s Lilac Hill, a venue that has never hosted a men’s international.The tourists’ preparations were questioned by former England captain Michael Vaughan last week, pointing to the vast difference in conditions to Optus Stadium.Keen not to light an early fuse, Australia’s players have stayed away from questioning England’s tactics.”England can prepare however they want to prepare,” Nathan Lyon said this week. “I am not worried about how they’re preparing or anything to do with them until the morning of November 21.”England’s preparations are nothing new, with a cluttered calendar making meaningful tour games a thing of the past. When Australia went to England in 2023, they played no warm-up games before the Test Championship final but won that and their first two Ashes battles with England.But there are very obvious advantages to having a longer lead-in for Australia’s players, given the timing of the series. England are coming off a white-ball series against New Zealand and their players haven’t featured in a red-ball match since early August.Mitchell Starc will make a rare Sheffield Shield appearance•Getty Images

In comparison, Steven Smith has already hit one red-ball century this summer and Marnus Labuschagne two.Lyon will play his fourth Sheffield Shield game of the season and Scott Boland his third, while Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and back-up quick Sean Abbott join them at the SCG this week when New South Wales host Victoria.Meanwhile, Travis Head and Alex Carey will feature for South Australia against a Tasmania side including the Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster. In Perth, all eyes will be on how Cameron Green goes on his return to bowling.”A lot of the skills are transferable between formats,” Abbott said on Sunday.  “But Josh Hazelwood has mentioned it a few times – your action gets into a little bit of a different position trying to hit yorkers constantly through white-ball cricket.”Then when you come back to red-ball cricket, you want to be a little bit up-and-over and get the kiss off the wicket and giving the ball every chance to move.”You can’t really match game intensity as much as we try to in the nets.  It’s just something about being out there in the middle and the thick of the contest. So, pretty lucky – home conditions, home summer.”As for Abbott, he is insistent he will be well prepared if his chance comes for a Test debut this summer.”I feel like I could get the tap on the shoulder,” Abbott said. “It felt that way potentially in the West Indies a little bit and games before that. I’ve not been getting a heap of game time recently, but being around those sort of guys is invaluable, whether you’re playing or not.”New South Wales squad Steve Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Ollie Davies, Jack Edwards, Ryan Hadley, Josh Hazlewood, Sam Konstas, Nathan Lyon, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Will Salzmann, Mitchell StarcVictoria squad Will Sutherland (capt), Scott Boland, Harry Dixon, Sam Elliott, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver PeakeTasmania squad Jordan Silk (capt), Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Nikhil Chaudhary, Jake Doran, Kieran Elliott, Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Matt Kuhnemann, Aidan O’Connor, Tim Ward, Jake Weatherald, Beau WebsterSouth Australia squad Nathan McSweeney (capt), Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Nathan McAndrew, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Henry Thornton

England have touched upon some strong form heading into their World Cup campaign, now head coach Charlotte Edwards wants to see them translate it onto the big stage.Edwards took over ahead of the English summer, which consisted of 14 games – six of them ODIs – in a dominant performance against West Indies before twin white-ball series defeats at the hands of India.But a training camp in Abu Dhabi combined with four wins from as many warm-up games – against New Zealand, India and Australia – has Edwards’ team right where she wants them heading into their World Cup opener against South Africa on Friday.”The players are really responding well, certainly to a slight change of style,” Edwards said on Wednesday. “Hopefully we’ve seen the results over the last four games, which have been really positive. We’re not getting carried away, don’t worry, but we know that we’re on the right track and we’re tracking really well moving into the first game.”England followed two tight wins against New Zealand by beating co-hosts India by 153 runs and Australia, the defending champions, by four wickets.Among the most notable performances for England were Heather Knight scoring runs in her first match since tearing her hamstring in May. Knight made 41 off 48 in the first warm-up with New Zealand and Edwards described her as “vital to our success out here”.Middle-order batters Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey and Emma Lamb all made runs, Lamb particularly impressive with three half-centuries in four outings.England head coach Charlotte Edwards and Alice Capsey spare time during training•ECB via Getty Images

Nat Sciver-Brunt, who took over the captaincy from Knight this year following the Ashes defeat that also cost then-head coach Jon Lewis his job, proved she would be key for England by retiring out on 120 as her side amassed 340 for 9 in their win against India.Legspinner Sarah Glenn shone with 5 for 32 from seven overs to help reduce Australia to 247 all out from 34.4 overs. Prior to that, she had played just twice for England during their home summer, in one ODI and one T20I against West Indies before being overlooked for India’s tour.”There’s never a friendly against an international opposition, so I think we’ve taken a lot of confidence, not necessarily around the result, but the way we’ve played,” Edwards said. “I feel we’re really nicely placed.”England’s struggles in the field and their ability to cope under pressure had been talking points since their group-stage exit at last year’s T20 World Cup and the Ashes, where they lost all seven matches contested in the multi-format series. But Edwards insisted there were no lingering scars from those experiences.”You’ll be pleased to hear we’ve been fielding really well, that’s something that we obviously wanted to work on,” she said. “So I’m really pleased with how the four games have gone and we’ve been put in some pretty tough situations at times as well. Under pressure, the players have responded really well.Related

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“I’ve not spoken about anything about the past,” she added. “It’s all about looking forward with this group now. We’ve created an environment where it’s about taking accountability now and we’ve got real clarity on how we want to play the game.”Hopefully that clarity is going to help this team under pressure, because I don’t think we’ll leave a stone unturned in terms of our prep. The signs have been really strong so far in terms of the development I’ve seen in the last six months. I’m just hoping we can take that now onto the big stage.”Edwards has vast World Cup experience in India, having made her first and last appearances at the tournament there, in 1997 and 2013. More recently in Indian conditions, she has coached WPL side Mumbai Indians to two titles in three years of the competition.And while Sciver-Brunt has been her standout self with the bat, it is her ability to bowl that remains under the spotlight. Because of a long-standing Achilles injury, Sciver-Brunt has bowled just 9.3 overs since the WPL final in mid-March, in which she took 3 for 30 in an eight-run victory over Delhi Capitals.She took 2 for 23 in 5.3 overs during the second warm-up with New Zealand on September 20 and conceded 22 off four wicketless overs against India five days later.The luxury of a four-pronged spin attack reduces England’s reliance on the seam bowling of Sciver-Brunt, whom Edwards expected to be able to bowl a full match allocation of ten overs if required.”We are very lucky, we’ve got four of the best [spinners] in world cricket in my opinion,” Edwards said. “We knew that they were going to play a big part when we selected this squad. That comes from my experience of coaching out here, that spin’s played a massive factor even in T20 cricket and WPL cricket.”Nat’s ready to go. She’s bowling. She hasn’t bowled in every warm-up game, but she’s doing lots of training overs as well. She’s in a really good place physically, so we are hoping to get ten overs out of Nat.”We’re going to have to really monitor her workloads throughout this tournament clearly, like any of the fast bowlers, depending on how hot it gets,” Edwards added. “Nat loves bowling and I think it helps her batting. She’s been probably one of the most successful bowlers in the WPL over the last few years. So we’re hoping to continue that form into ODI cricket.”

Thomas Frank’s appointment at Tottenham Hotspur has seen a new era begin at the football club, with the Dane tasked with taking the side to the next level under his guidance.

The 52-year-old has already formed numerous impressive partnerships across the first-team squad, with centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero nailing their places down as regular starters.

The duo have started all but three league games together in 2025/26, with the pair no doubt playing a crucial role in the Lilywhites’ away record – which is the joint-best in the division at present.

Spurs’ latest fixture against PSG saw Frank unleash a midfield duo of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray, an opportunity which both players took full advantage of, potentially making them the manager’s long-term pairing at the heart of the side.

However, the Dane will no doubt be wishing that he could rely upon a couple of players who set the Premier League alight during their period together in North London.

The success of Kane & Son’s partnership at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2015, Spurs completed the £23m signature of winger Heung-min Son from Bayer Leverkusen – subsequently arriving as an unknown quantity to many supporters.

Such a move came at around the same time as academy striker Harry Kane was making his mark in the first-team ranks after various loan spells across the Football League.

However, not many people could have foreseen the impact they would have alongside one another, with such a partnership being one of, if not, the best, in England’s top-flight.

The pair linked up for 47 goals between one another – the most of any duo in the division’s history – with many of which handing the fans memories to last a lifetime.

A two-year spell between 2020 and 2022 was by far and away their most successful, as the duo linked up on 21 separate occasions for goals – a simply staggering feat.

One game will no doubt stand out, as Kane registered all four assists for Son in the 5-2 demolition of Southampton back in 2020/21 – with such a record putting the Englishman joint-top for most assists in a single English league game.

However, in 2025, Frank is unable to rely upon either of the aforementioned talents, with both moving on to pastures new over the last two years – undoubtedly leaving a huge hole in the Lilywhites’ attack.

The Spurs duo who are becoming Frank’s own Son & Kane

During his time as a manager, Frank has not been alien to iconic duos at the top end of the pitch, with the Dane fortunate to work with multiple elite attackers at Brentford.

In the Championship years and the first few seasons in the Premier League, he was able to rely upon the likes of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo at the GTEC.

The pair scored 29 combined goals back in 2022/23, 11 goals shy of the tally produced by Kane and Son, but still managed to cement themselves as one of the division’s most threatening pairs.

In the present day, the Spurs boss has none of those players at his disposal in North London, but the Lilywhites hierarchy have handed him the opportunity to improve the options in his current squad.

He took full advantage during the summer window, splashing a reported £55m on the signature of winger Mohammed Kudus from fellow Premier League side West Ham United.

Such a fee will have raised eyebrows, but the Ghanaian international has already made an immediate impact in North London after his controversial transfer.

He’s already managed to register four assists in the Premier League to date, with such a tally putting him joint-top in the division alongside the likes of Jack Grealish and Yankuba Minteh.

The numbers produced by Kudus are similar to Son’s, leading to similarities being drawn due to their ability to create endless opportunities for their teammates in North London.

Their playstyles are also extremely similar, with both talents loving to take on their opponents, before cutting off their respective flanks and getting shots off on goal.

Games played

11

Goals & assists

5

Pass accuracy

87%

Successful crosses

1.8

Successful dribbles

3.3

Dribble success

48%

Chances created

1.5

Duels won

7.1

The other half of Frank’s duo at the top end of the pitch is made up by loanee Randal Kolo Muani, who joined the Lilywhites on a season-long loan from PSG.

The striker has often had to bide his time to regular minutes since his switch, as Richarlison has often been ahead of him in the pecking order, or he’s been sidelined with fitness issues.

However, his showing against his parent side on Wednesday night highlighted his impressive ability within the final third when given an opportunity to thrive.

The 26-year-old netted twice and registered an assist in the 5-3 defeat in the Champions League, but his clinical finishes certainly did show glimpses of what Kane produced in North London.

The pair, who earn a combined £300k-per-week at Spurs, will need time to gel and form a deadly partnership, but the early signs appear positive for the individuals.

If they can click together in the near future, there’s no reason why they can’t star together in the remainder of 2025/26 and potentially lead Frank to a successful first season at the helm.

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India coach Gautam Gambhir has called for the introduction of injury replacements in Test cricket, a stance which England captain Ben Stokes considers “absolutely ridiculous”.Rishabh Pant, India’s wicketkeeper-batter, retired hurt on the first day of the drawn fourth Test in Manchester but re-emerged on the second day to resume his innings despite scans confirming a fracture in his right foot. Gambhir praised Pant’s bravery, saying “any amount of praise is not enough for him”, but said that injury replacements should be permitted in such instances.”Absolutely, I’m all for it,” Gambhir said. “If the umpires and the match referee sees and feels that is a major injury, I think it’s very important. It’s very important to have this rule where you can get a substitute – that is, if it’s very visible. There’s nothing wrong in doing that, especially in a series like this where it’s been such a closely fought series in the previous three Test matches. Imagine if we would’ve had to play with ten men against 11. How unfortunate would this be for us.”Related

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India were able to use Dhruv Jurel, a substitute, as their wicketkeeper in Pant’s place, but he would not have been available to bat in their second innings. The ICC’s playing conditions allow teams to make replacements if a player is concussed or contracts Covid-19, but there is no scope to replace an injured player.Some boards will trial injury replacements at first-class level later this year, but Stokes said that the conversation should be “shut down and stopped” because any proposal would contain too many “loopholes” for teams to exploit.”I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that there’s a conversation around an injury replacement,” Stokes said. “I think that there would just be too many loopholes for teams to be able to go through. You pick your XI for a game; injuries are part of the game. I completely understand the concussion replacement – player welfare, [and] player safety. But I think the conversation should just honestly stop around injury replacements because if you stick me in an MRI scanner, I could get someone else in straightaway.”If you stick anyone else with an MRI scanner, a bowler is going to show, ‘oh yeah, you’ve got a bit of inflammation around your knee; oh sweet, we can get another fresh bowler in’. I just think that conversation should be shut down and stopped.”Gautam Gambhir on Rishabh Pant: “Any amount of praise is not enough for him, especially batting with a broken foot”•Getty Images

Pant has been ruled out of next week’s fifth Test at The Oval, which starts on Thursday, and replaced in the India squad by N Jagadeesan. Gambhir praised Pant for returning to bat and adding 17 runs after retiring hurt, and said that “generations to come forward” would talk about the bravery.”Rishabh, already it’s been declared that he’s out of the series,” Gambhir said. “One thing I want to say is that the character, the foundation of this team, will be built on something that [he] did for the team and for the country as well. Any amount of praise is not enough for him, especially batting with a broken foot.”Not many people have done that in the past, and he had put his hand up and that is why I say it. Any amount of praise [is not enough]. I can sit here and talk about this for hours and hours. I think the generations to come forward will talk about this, and generations coming forward should talk about it that there is someone who’s batted with a broken foot.”It’s unfortunate because of the kind of form he was in, but again, he’s an important member of the Test side, and I hope he recovers quickly and comes back quickly, and try and deliver again for us.”

Son Heung-min said Tottenham will "always be my home" on an emotional return to his former club. The South Korean ended a 10-year stay with Spurs this summer as he completed a move to Los Angeles FC. But on Tuesday night, he got the chance to return to his old stomping ground and deliver a speech to the fans before the north London team's Champions League win over Slavia Prague.

Son's Spurs era ends in glory

Son joined Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and went on to score 173 goals in 454 appearances for the club. The highlight of his spell was being part of the side that lifted the Europa League trophy in May after beating Manchester United for Spurs' first piece of silverware in 17 years. And then, to the shock of many, the forward announced he would be leaving the north London outfit this summer.

He told reporters during Tottenham's pre-season tour of Asia in early August: "I just want to share the information that I have decided to leave this club this summer. Respectfully, this club is helping me to make my decision. It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. The main reason is I have achieved everything I can at Tottenham. I need a new environment for a fresh challenge. I have been here for 10 years. It’s a beautiful club with beautiful fans. I have such amazing memories. I just felt like I need a new environment to push myself to get more out of me. I think I need a little bit of change. Ten years is a long time. I came to north London as a kid. 23 years old, a very young age. A boy who couldn’t speak English. I leave this club as a man."

AdvertisementGettySon makes speedy Tottenham return

Just a few months after joining Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC, news got out that the 33-year-old would be returning to Tottenham in December, while a special mural has been painted in his honour next to their stadium. Spurs announced that Son would attend their Champions League home game against Slavia Prague on December 9, prompting former team-mate Gareth Bale to send him a special message. 

In a video message, the Welshman said, "Hi Sonny, Just wanted to say a massive congratulations on your time here at Tottenham. Not many players get to bow out with their last game for their club with a trophy. You are a living legend here. Hopefully you will enjoy the evening. You deserve all the plaudits you get and good luck with my old club, LAFC, and hopefully you can bring home the title there as well."

Son's speech to Tottenham fans

As Son's last Tottenham game came on foreign soil, this match provided the South Korean with the chance to thank the Spurs fans in person. In addition to addressing the supporters at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night, he was given a commemorative golden cockerel by club legend Ledley King. 

He said on the pitch before kick-off, "Good evening, everyone. It's Sonny here. I hope you guys don't forget me. It's been an amazing ten years, guys, an incredible ten years. Just want to say thank you and I will be always Spurs, and I will always be with you. This will always be my home. This will always be by home. I will never forget you. Please stay with me and come visit LA when you want, I would love to have you guys. I love you all, guys. Come on you Spurs!"

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Son?

It would not surprise many to see Son return to this stadium many times in the future but for now, he will be enjoying the off-season following the conclusion of the 2025 MLS campaign, which ended in the quarter-final stage of the play-offs for his new team. Meanwhile, after Tottenham's 3-0 win over Slavia Prague, which puts them just outside the top eight automatic qualification spots for the round of 16, Thomas Frank's side travel to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.

Western Australia have lost seven wickets and are still 54 runs behind after the second day’s play

AAP05-Oct-2025Stumps Western Australia opener and Test hopeful Cameron Bancroft might have fallen victim to a bizarre dismissal in the Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales.After rain ruined most of day one, 14 wickets fell on Sunday in Perth to put the visitors narrowly in front. Resuming on 35 for 3, New South Wales were dismissed for 170 and then had Western Australia floundering at 116 for 7.Bancroft mirrored New South Wales opener Sam Konstas as Ashes top order hopefuls who did not advance their causes in their first innings at the WACA ground.The Western Australia opener had made 10 when a superb delivery from opening bowler Ryan Hadley appeared to have him caught behind. But replays suggested the noise might not have been an edge, but the ball glancing the off bail on the way through to wicketkeeper Matthew Gilkes.The bail wobbled, but stayed put – meaning Bancroft would have been not out had he not nicked the ball.In better news for Test hopefuls, Western Australia allrounder Cameron Green took a wicket in four overs on Sunday – his first bowling at first-class level since his back surgery late last year.Will Salzmann top-scored for New South Wales with 43 and Gilkes made 36 for them, while Ashton Agar took three wickets late in the innings.Agar (18) and Matthew Kelly (20) came together with Western Australia struggling at 84 for 7, surviving to stumps.Hilton Cartwright made 34, while Hadley had taken 3 for 29 from 12 overs.

Martin Guptill has joined the West Indies camp to provide specialist support for the two T20Is at Eden Park

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Nov-2025Tim Seifert has been ruled out of New Zealand’s upcoming home T20I series against West Indies with a broken finger. Mitchell Hay has been called in to the squad as Seifert’s replacement and joined the team on Monday night.Seifert retired hurt after being hit on the finger while batting for Northern Districts in Monday’s Ford Trophy match against Wellington Firebirds, and a subsequent X-ray revealed a fracture to the right index finger.”We’re all feeling for Tim,” Rob Walter, New Zealand’s head coach, said in a statement. “He’s a key member of this T20 unit given his power at the top of the order and his role as keeper, so he’ll be missed over the next five matches.

NZ vs WI, T20I series

Nov 5 – 1st T20I, Auckland
Nov 6 – 2nd T20I, Auckland
Nov 9 – 3rd T20I, Nelson
Nov 11 – 4th T20I, Nelson
Nov 13 – 5th T20I, Dunedin

“He showed in the recent T20 series’ that he’s building up to top form, so it’s disappointing that that has been halted as we continue to prepare for a pinnacle event.”We’re hoping Tim’s recovery will be quick and he’ll be back on the park as soon as possible.”A wicketkeeper-batter like Seifert, Hay is not as experienced as the man he has replaced but has featured in 11 T20Is since making his debut against Sri Lanka in Dambulla in November last year and holds the world record for the most dismissals (six) in an innings in the format.”Mitch has shown in his international opportunities so far that he’s a top-quality wicketkeeper batter and is more than capable of contributing at this level,” Walter said. “We’re lucky to be able call on another player of his ability which shows the level of depth we currently have in the T20 format.”<!–#cricinfo_insert
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A familiar face in different colours at Eden Park

After a career marked by both triumph and turmoil, Frank de Boer has ruled out a return to football management, saying he’s had “enough of all that misery.” Once hailed for leading Ajax to four straight Eredivisie titles, the Dutch tactician’s later stints at Inter, Crystal Palace, and the Netherlands national team left him disillusioned. Now, settled in Spain and content with family life, De Boer says he’s done chasing touchlines.

From golden years at Ajax to turbulent times abroad

Few Dutch managers have lived as extreme a managerial journey as De Boer. At Ajax, between 2010 and 2016, he was nothing short of a legend, winning four consecutive Eredivisie titles, the Johan Cruyff Shield, and earning back-to-back Rinus Michels Awards as the best coach in the country. His Ajax side embodied Dutch football’s ideals laced with possession-heavy, attacking, and relentlessly dominant.

But after narrowly missing a fifth league title in 2016, De Boer resigned, bringing an end to an era of domestic dominance. What followed, however, was a sequence of bruising experiences that reshaped his perspective on football management and also his place within it.

His move to Inter in 2016 lasted just 85 days. A low scoring average in games and four losses in five matches saw him dismissed before winter. Months later came his ill-fated Crystal Palace stint with a mere 77 days and five games in the Premier League which all ended in defeats. What began as a mission to modernise teams quickly turned into a pattern of short-lived chaos.

AdvertisementAFPDe Boer is done with the dugout

In a recent interview with , De Boer made it clear that his coaching days are likely behind him. With Ajax in the hunt for a new coach, he was asked if he would be open to step back into the hot seat.

"Not at all. All that misery," he said. "I just hope they get it right. Also for Johnny [Heitinga], a true Ajax man. They could use some improvement in their squad. They certainly have quality, especially for the Eredivisie. Let's hope for some structure. That Ajax, as it should be, dominates almost every opponent. I don't mean 50 minutes, but 70 or 80.  Last week, the first half against Twente. That was embarrassing. It could have been 5-0. It shouldn't be, not at Ajax. You see it with [Liverpool coach Arne] Slot now: they have fantastic players, but things aren't going well. That puzzle just has to fall into place at Ajax too."

Despite his fondness for the club that defined his career, De Boer admits he’s lost the appetite for football’s relentless negativity and pressure.

"Never say never, but I'm not exactly thrilled. I don't miss all that negativity at all. I'm a grandfather three times over, I do things for UEFA and on TV for Viaplay, I have my house in Spain. And I get to play a lot of padel. I'm very happy with my life," said De Boer.

Lessons from failure: Inter, Palace, and the Dutch national team

Each of De Boer’s managerial exits tells a story of promise undone by timing, pressure, or misfit environments. At Inter, he inherited a fractured squad, battling internal politics and inconsistent performances. By November 2016, he was gone.

His brief tenure at Palace became one of the shortest in Premier League history with five league games, zero goals, zero points. Jose Mourinho infamously mocked him afterward, calling him “the worst manager in Premier League history,” a label De Boer has since brushed off.

His stint with Atlanta United in the United States offered temporary respite. He guided them to the 2019 U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup, before parting ways in 2020 after a poor tournament run. A year later, as Netherlands head coach, he led the Oranje to Euro 2020, only to crash out in the round of 16. The early exit triggered harsh criticism and before long he was gone again.

By the time he managed Al Jazira in 2023, De Boer’s managerial fire had cooled. A mid-table finish and modest record ended with another dismissal.

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Getty Images SportDe Boer's life after whistle

After leaving Al Jazira at the end of 2023, De Boer has consciously stepped away from full-time coaching and is currently not involved in any managerial position. Having endured the intense scrutiny that follows every setback, he has made it clear that he feels no urgency to return to the dugout.

De Boer has openly acknowledged that the pressures and negativity surrounding modern football management have taken their toll. Instead of chasing another opportunity on the sidelines, he has chosen to focus on a quieter, more balanced life.

Now based in Spain, De Boer divides his time between family life, working on projects for UEFA, and serving as a television analyst for Viaplay, where he provides commentary and tactical insights. Away from the spotlight, he’s also developed a passion for golf and padel, sports he says keeps him active and grounded.

Leeds United have now shown that they have enough quality in the big matches in the Premier League this season to clinch survival.

The 3-1 win over Chelsea saw new recruits Jaka Bijol and Dominic Calvert-Lewin come into their own as the goals were shared out, while the following 3-3 draw against Liverpool – which Daniel Farke coined as another “magic night” at Elland Road – also saw faces such as Anton Stach deliver the goods on the tense occasion.

All of these fresh signings that have contributed to the positive patch of form unfolding will hope they’re viewed in the same glowing light Raphinha is still held in down the line.

The Brazilian winger was key to Leeds beating the drop during the 2021/22 season, when collecting a memorable 11 league strikes.

Of course, while the likes of Stach have stuck out as positive influences ever since moving to England, Leeds’ success rate in the transfer department since Raphinha’s £17m switch has been rather mixed.

Rating Leeds' transfer business since signing Raphinha

While the £17m splashed out on Raphinha’s services ended up looking incredibly shrewd, other bits of business signed off on at Elland Road since this masterstroke purchase have gone down as extortionate wastes of money.

The summer window right after the South American’s departure, before the 2022/23 season kicked off, sticks out as having a lot of misfires, with nearly £70m spent on obtaining Brenden Aaronson, Luis Sinisterra, and Tyler Adams, as Aaronson has the tag next to his name of being the only remaining first-team presence today.

Thankfully, though, Leeds haven’t just been setting cash on fire since Raphinha’s exit, with the reported £10m fee to bring Joe Rodon to West Yorkshire in 2024 still looking to be a fine acquisition, as the Welshman remains an undroppable part of Farke’s starting XI, with two Premier League goals next to his name this season.

Moreover, the £7m dropped to pick up Ethan Ampadu the summer before Rodon made his move permanent is another bargain that’s arguably on the same level as Raphinha’s coup, with the ex-Chelsea man winning a mighty nine duels against his former employers and Arne Slot’s visitors, to firm up his own concrete starting spot.

That said, there’s a deal that eclipses the moves to bring both Ampadu and Rodon to Elland Road.

Underrated Leeds star must now start every game

Although Leeds have splashed the big bucks on the likes of Georginio Rutter in recent years, they have also demonstrated an eagerness to bring in cheap gems who have then exploded into life at Elland Road, as seen in the glittering examples of Rodon, Ampadu, and Raphinha.

Ao Tanaka’s name now has to be added to this ever-growing list, with the modest £2.9m the Premier League newcomers had to part ways with last year to land the Japanese midfielder from Fortuna Düsseldorf, continuing to look like an insane steal, and one of “the best bargains in Leeds history” as per writer Adonis Storr.

Tanaka has become an ice-cold figure Farke can rely on in the big moments, with his ultra-cheap price-tag justified just with his last-minute equaliser against Liverpool last time out, as the Japan international was in the right place at the right time to slam home a 96th-minute leveller.

He was also the hero against Chelsea, who gifted his relegation-threatened side a two-goal cushion, as the German just continues to get more and more out of his “unbelievable” signing, as he referred to the 27-year-old during his team’s promotion-winning exploits.

Games played

57

Goals scored

7

Assists

2

Promotions won

1x

Indeed, Tanaka hasn’t just shown up to the party in the Premier League, with five goals and two assists in the hustle and bustle of the Championship, helping steer the Whites to the title in emphatic style.

While Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe would steal many of the plaudits last season, Tanaka would have his own fanbase forming, too, with the “underrated” star – as per journalist Bence Bocsak – now ready to become a regular in the top-flight and start every game.

For just £2.9m, Leeds really have won themselves a once-in-a-lifetime deal, with Tanaka’s heroics continuing on, surely securing survival, as Farke hopes he remains put for the foreseeable future, unlike Raphinha.

Forget Tanaka: Leeds hero who had 100% passing now has to start every game

Leeds United’s wild week continued with a last-gasp draw against Liverpool.

ByRobbie Walls 5 days ago

Manchester United are reportedly inching towards recruiting rising Colombia star Cristian Orozco. The Red Devils have been looking to try and strengthen their midfield as Casemiro heads into the final years of his career, and academy product Kobbie Mainoo struggles to force his way into Ruben Amorim's plans. Now, they look set to sign the 17-year-old ahead of a switch next summer.

• Man Utd near €1m transfer

  According to Fabrizio Romano, United's next signing will be Orozco, who will be in England in the next few days to complete his Old Trafford move. He adds that the Red Devils will pay $1 million to Colombian side Fortaleza to join from June 2026. He will be able to link up with his new team then as he will have turned 18.

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• Young recruitment drive from Man Utd

  Ever since Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought a minority stake at United in early 2024, the club have shifted their transfer priorities towards signing younger players who might have a big sell-on value. And the pursuit of this teenage defensive midfielder is the latest example of that. In addition to the Colombia Under-17 international, United raided the South American market earlier this year for 18-year-old left-back Diego Leon, and in 2024, director of football Jason Wilcox was instrumental in securing the signing of Mali midfielder Sekou Kone. 

• AFP
  

  Ratcliffe's Man Utd challenge

  One big downside of Ratcliffe's reign has been the widespread redundancies as the club bids to cut costs. Going forward, the INEOS owner has challenged the Red Devils to be as cost-effective as possible in order to ensure long-term success. 

  "I'd rather find the next [Kylian] Mbappe than spend a fortune trying to buy success," Ratcliffe told The Geraint Thomas Cycling Club Podcast last year. "It's not that clever, is it, buying Mbappe, in a way? Anyone could figure that one out. Much more challenging is to find the next Mbappe or Jude Bellingham or the next Roy Keane."

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• What comes next for Man Utd?

  As this transfer heads towards its apparent conclusion, Ruben Amorim's side will look to bounce back from their disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Everton when they round off the month with a trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday. The visitors are five places behind the Eagles in 10th but could overtake the south London outfit by a point if they win at Selhurst Park this weekend.