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Scotland are heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean all scored incredible goals to inspire the Tartan Army to a 4-2 victory over Denmark in Tuesday's do-or-die qualifier. The hosts needed all three points, whereas the Danes would have qualified with a draw. And in a frantic see-saw battle until stoppage time, Scotland emerged triumphant.

Tartan Army heading to first World Cup since 1998

Scotland’s meeting with Denmark had barely begun when one of the most extraordinary goals ever scored at Hampden Park sent the crowd into delirium. It came from McTominay, a player long admired for his engine and commitment but not typically spoken about in the same breath as audacious acrobats. Yet here he was, suspended in mid-air, executing a bicycle kick so clean that even Cristiano Ronaldo would have be proud of it.

The move began with Ben Gannon-Doak reading an attempted Danish clearance. He stepped in with confidence and turned away from his marker with elegance. He then floated a left-footed cross into the penalty area, a delivery that looked harmless enough until McTominay scored the wonder goal. 

However, only minutes after his decisive combination of anticipation and artistry had helped conjure McTominay’s wonder strike, Gannon-Doak collapsed to the turf clutching his hamstring. He buried his head in his hands as the medics rushed on, a stretcher in tow. He had been electric from the opening whistle, and his withdrawal sucked much of the early electricity out of Scotland’s performance. McLean, steady and experienced, came on in his place. But the shift in dynamic was undeniable as Scotland had lost their spark.

A tense and absorbing night at Hampden took a dramatic turn early in the second half when Denmark were awarded a VAR-assisted penalty, sparking the first major twist of a frantic 45 minutes. In the 53rd minute, Gustav Isaksen burst toward the edge of the Scotland box, spinning away from Andy Robertson before tumbling under a late challenge. The on-field referee waved play on, but the replays triggered an immediate VAR review.

After several minutes of deliberation, the verdict arrived, and it was a penalty for Denmark. Scotland’s frustrations grew as Craig Gordon dived left while Rasmus Hojlund calmly curled the ball into the opposite corner. Just as Denmark seemed poised to tilt the match in their favour, the game flipped again. With 61 minutes on the clock, John McGinn spun past Rasmus Kristensen. The defender dangled a leg, and McGinn hit the deck theatrically. The referee, convinced by the tumble, produced a second yellow card and Denmark were down to ten.

Three minutes after the red card, Clarke rolled the dice. Off came Ryan Christie and Lyndon Dykes; on came two out-and-out strikers, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland. It was a declaration of intent that Scotland were going for the win. And the gamble paid off. In the 78th minute, Scotland won a corner on the left. Lewis Ferguson whipped in a devilish delivery that skimmed off Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at the near post. Shankland reacted instinctively, nudging the ball in from point-blank range. 

But the joy lasted less than three minutes. Down to ten men but refusing to wilt, Denmark pieced together a wonderfully composed move. Hojlund held the ball brilliantly, Isaksen’s cross caused panic, and after Scotland failed to clear, Mattias Kristensen teed up Patrick Dorgu on the edge of the area. He opened his body and stroked the ball past Gordon to complete a finish full of class. 

But Scotland clawed their way back again when Tierney scored from 25 yards out in stoppage time. It was an extraordinary strike as he curled the ball into the top corner to send Hampden Park into a frenzy. However, the icing on the cake was McLean's strike from the halfway line as he chipped Kasper Schmeichel, who was way off his line. 

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McTominay produced a moment of individual brilliance to put Scotland in front. It is a goal that would have gone straight into his career highlight reel, and he would be thankful to Tierney that his sublime strike went in for a winning cause.

The big loser

Kristensen took his first yellow card to stop McGinn after he was pick-pocketed in a dangerous area in the first half. And just after the hour mark, he emerged second best in a duel once again, and the referee flashed a second yellow. A 10-man Denmark gave their all but ultimately laid down their weapons in stoppage time as Tierney and McLean took centre stage. 

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Liverpool fans gave Trent Alexander-Arnold a frosty reception upon his return to Anfield on Tuesday night, and the Real Madrid defender’s reaction was caught on video.

There were early signs the right-back wasn’t going to be welcomed with open arms by certain sections of the fanbase, with his mural being defaced on the morning of the game.

Considering Trent played a key role in the Reds winning every top honour during his time with his boyhood club, there has been a mixed reaction to the boos he received on Tuesday, although Jamie Carragher has come out batting for the supporters.

Upon hearing Peter Schmeichel brand the behaviour as “disgusting”, Carragher responded: “I don’t agree with what you’ve said there.

Trent receives boos during the warm-up

With the 27-year-old only being brought on in the 81st minute, there were limited opportunities for Liverpool fans to show him how they felt, but the defender’s reaction to the boos when his name was announced during the warm-up was caught on video.

From the outside, the England international seems unfazed, seen laughing and joking with his Real Madrid teammates, but it will surely have hurt, even if it was to be expected, given the manner in which he left the club.

Arne Slot clearly still has respect for his former player, however, with the Dutchman being pictured embracing him at the end of the match.

With the academy graduate moving on, Slot has rotated between Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley and even Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back, and the Hungarian put in a fantastic performance against Arsenal at the end of August, scoring a remarkable free-kick.

Bradley also showed he could be up to the task of replacing Trent with a solid performance against Madrid, making a number of important defensive and attacking contributions.

Statistic

Number completed

Clearances

2

Tackles

3

Duels (won)

13 (8)

Dribbles (successful)

4 (3)

Frimpong is yet to truly get going, having already suffered two injury set-backs, but Slot should be happy with the options he has at right-back, and the manager will be hoping his side winning their last two games on the spin can be a turning point in the season.

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Liverpool produced their best performance of the season to defeat Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Nov 5, 2025

Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson is among those to have paid homage to Pep Guardiola as Manchester City's head coach prepares to join the exclusive '1,000 Club'. The highly-decorated Catalan will join that group, alongside some illustrious figures such as Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger, when reaching four figures in the managerial department.

Guardiola's coaching career

Guardiola began his career in the dugout at Barcelona, being promoted from their B team into the top job at Camp Nou in 2008. He oversaw a remarkable era of success there, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta helping the Blaugrana to La Liga and Champions League triumphs.

After four years in the most demanding of roles, Guardiola’s next port of call came in Germany as he took the reins at Bayern Munich. More domestic trophy triumphs were enjoyed there, with a stint at the Allianz Arena brought to a close after three years.

In the summer of 2016, Guardiola agreed to fill a Premier League opening in Manchester. He has guided City to 18 honours, including six top-flight titles and a Champions League crown which formed part of a historic Treble in 2022-23. His contract has been extended through to 2027, which will take him beyond a decade of loyal service at the Etihad Stadium.

AdvertisementGuardiola proud of achievement

Guardiola is already assured of a place among the managerial greats, with that standing set to be enhanced when reaching 1,000 games in the dugout. Said milestone will be hit when City play host to old adversaries Liverpool on Sunday.

Guardiola has told the of the LMA: "Being a member of the League Managers Association is very important to me so I am really, really honoured to join the LMA Hall of Fame 1,000 Club. I am humbled to be inducted into such an esteemed club that includes Sir Alex Ferguson and many managerial peers that I have enjoyed competing against over the years. I am so proud to be reaching 1,000 games as a manager which has always been a special ambition for me.

"I would like to pay tribute to my family and friends for their support over the years as well as my players, staff and colleagues at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City who have helped me to reach this special landmark."

Getty/GOALReaction from Man Utd legend Ferguson

Former United boss Ferguson, who delivered 13 Premier League titles to Old Trafford during his reign, said of Guardiola: "Pep! I am absolutely delighted to welcome you to join the prestigious LMA Hall of Fame 1,000 Club. Your deep love and passion for the game has always been so evident and you should be very proud of the indelible impact you continue to have across the global game.

"Reaching 1,000 matches and achieving such longevity in football is a landmark that can never be underestimated and, to continue to deliver league, Champions League and domestic cup titles in three of Europe’s most competitive leagues is outstanding. I look forward to celebrating with you at an LMA gala dinner to formally induct you into the LMA Hall of Fame 1,000 Club."

LMA Chief Executive Richard Bevan OBE added: "Pep has dedicated his entire career to achieving excellence, driven by an unmatched will to win and a world-renowned style. His achievements and success in Spain, Germany, and England are unprecedented, and his influence continues to shape the game for future generations.

"Pep’s achievements rank among the most remarkable in football history, and on behalf of the entire League Managers Association, I offer my sincerest congratulations to him on reaching such a prestigious milestone."

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1,000 Club: Other names on the list

Guardiola is set to become the 39th manager in the modern era of English football to reach 1,000 games as a coach. Alongside Ferguson, Mourinho and Wenger, other names on that star-studded list include Brian Clough, Carlo Ancelotti, Sir Matt Busby, Roy Hodgson, Jurgen Klopp, Sir Bobby Robson, David Moyes and Neil Warnock.

Manchester United’s 15th-placed finish in the Premier League was their worst since the division’s formation back in 1992, with Ruben Amorim massively struggling in the role.

The 40-year-old was handed the benefit of the doubt after taking the reins early on in the season following the sacking of Erik ten Hag – with the board backing him in the summer window.

INEOS handed the manager £200m worth of funds to improve his first-team squad, subsequently making additions and reinforcements to his attacking department.

However, to date, the signings have been to no avail, with the Red Devils once again being sat in 15th place after losing three of their first six Premier League outings in 2025/26.

It’s been reported that the hierarchy aren’t currently looking to make a change of manager, but given the dismal form, it would be no surprise to see action being taken in the coming weeks.

Alternative options are already being drawn up by the board to replace Amorim, with numerous managers appearing on their shortlist over the last couple of days.

The latest on United’s hunt for an Amorim replacement

Over the last couple of days, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has emerged as one of United’s primary targets for the managerial role at Old Trafford.

The Spaniard has led the Cherries to new heights, finishing ninth in England’s top-flight last year, but he could be on the move given he has less than a year remaining on his contract.

However, he’s not the only Premier League manager in their sights, with Brighton & Hove Albion boss Fabian Hürzeler another under consideration, according to Football Insider.

They claim that the German is emerging as a top option for INEOS, with the hierarchy impressed by his work at the AMEX after his appointment in the summer of 2024.

The report also states that the 32-year-old could be tempted to jump ship should the Red Devils make a move for his signature, with his English top-flight experience another factor for the board.

Why United’s latest target could be Klopp 2.0

Whilst he’s no longer managing in the Premier League, former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp was a man that brought character to the division – but also endless pain to the United fan base.

The German only suffered five defeats in his 21 outings against the Red Devils, even claiming a historic 7-0 victory at Anfield back in the 2022/23 campaign.

Whilst he may have managed their bitter rivals, there’s no denying the former Reds boss is a serial winner – claiming a Premier League title at Anfield, a feat the Red Devils have failed to do in 12 long years.

The prospect of landing the 58-year-old is an unrealistic one, but they could be about to land their own version of the German with a move for Hurzeler.

The 32-year-old may be relatively inexperienced given his one-year spell in England’s top-flight, but he’s already massively impressed, winning 25 of his 53 outings in charge.

Hurzeler, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by Eddie Howe, has received huge praise from current Seagulls player James Milner, with the experienced man comparing him to former boss Klopp.

Such praise is a huge compliment to the German, subsequently highlighting the quality he possesses as a manager despite his tender age – whilst still having bags of time to improve further in the years ahead.

Games managed

53

Wins

25

Draws

15

Losses

13

Goals per game

2.02

Goals conceded per game

1.5

Points per game

1.7

Win percentage

47.1%

The underlying numbers further highlight how impressive the young boss has been on the South Coast, undoubtedly being an excellent option to replace Amorim should he be sacked.

His side have averaged over two goals scored per game during his tenure, whilst also conceding just 1.5 goals per game – with the German possessing an exciting brand of attacking football.

They’ve also achieved an average of 1.7 points per game, subsequently helping the Seagulls finish in the top half of England’s top-flight last season – with the Red Devils needing to take a risk in appointing the youngster.

It’s unclear how much it would cost to get him out of his current contract at the AMEX, but United desperately need a young and ambitious manager to inject a needed sense of optimism back into the squad.

If he can reach the levels achieved by Klopp during his own time in England, it would be a magnificent appointment, with the Red Devils needing to make a move quickly to prevent another embarrassing campaign.

Their own Pep: "Incredible" manager favourite to replace Amorim at Man Utd

Manchester United look set to turn to one other manager in their hunt to replace Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 1, 2025

Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim has welcomed the public backing he recently received from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in spite of the team's ragged results this season. The Portuguese claimed he already felt supported by the club's hierarchy even after losing four of United's opening eight games in all competitions. And he revealed the person who puts him under the most pressure.

• Amorim still enjoys Ratcliffe backing

  While pundits such as Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney were fiercely critical of Amorim's management in the wake of the 3-1 defeat by Brentford last month and called on him to be removed from his post, Ratcliffe declared last week that he fully supported the coach. Speaking to The Business podcast by , the billionaire admitted Amorim "has not had the best of seasons" but insisted that the Portuguese coach "needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years". The message of support came a week before United face arch rivals and Premier League champions Liverpool and Amorim said he appreciated it, even if he already knew that the club's big decision makers such as Ratcliffe, sporting director Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada were already behind him.

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  Amorim: Good to hear Ratcliffe backs me

  Amorim told a press conference on Friday: "He tells me all the time, sometimes with a message after games but you know I know and Jim knows that football is not like that. The most important thing in football is the next game. You cannot control the next day. But it is really good to hear that. But also because of the noise. Omar and Jason tell me that all the time. First of all I can feel it, it is not just that thing that people say, I feel it every day."

• Amorim: I put the most pressure on myself

  The coach then declared that he puts more pressure on himself than anyone at the club. And while he appreciated the support from the club hierarchy, he was keen to avoid the impression that he was not in a hurry to improve United's fortunes. "Sometimes the pressure I put on the team and myself is so much bigger. I know it is going to take a while," he said. 

  "It is really good to hear that. I think it helps our fans to understand that leadership know it is going to take a while. But at the same time I don’t like that because I don’t want that feeling in our club that we have time to sort things out. We need to prove in football and at big clubs that every week we are ready to win games."

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  What comes next?

  United have not won away to Liverpool in the last 10 seasons although they are unbeaten in their last two visits to Anfield. The Red Devils produced an impressive performance to draw 2-2 in January, with Harry Maguire missing a last-gasp chance to snatch victory. The display came amid a terrible run of results from United and prompted Amorim to declare he was "upset" that his side could not produce the same level of performance in other games.

  Amorim said his team tend to perform against better opponents because the pressure is off but he also acknowledged that was not a sustainable way of approaching games. He said: "Maybe the expectations, when you have to win and the responsibility of winning it is so much harder. When you play in big clubs, you need to win every game. We have difficulties some times to play with that responsibility. Maybe when Manchester United are not expected to win, it is easier for the players to perform but we need to change that.

  "I know it is special for our club. I know they are competing for a number of titles. It is one more game we need to prove again that we are playing better. We need to be better in both boxes. It's one more game that we need to win."

  Liverpool are in their worst run of form under Arne Slot after losing their last three matches. However, they have not lost at Anfield in the league since September 2024. United, meanwhile, have not won a Premier League away match since beating Leicester in March.

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O goleiro Nicollas Siqueira assinou seu primeiro contrato profissional com o Corinthians. O vínculo do arqueiro é de três anos, com duração até o fim de 2026. A multa rescisória está avaliada em 20 milhões de euros (R$106,81 milhões).

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– Muito feliz em assinar esse vínculo profissional com o Corinthians. Agradeço a Deus, a minha família, a SportsMaxi (empresa que gerencia a carreira) e ao clube que proporcionou esse momento único. Vamos dar o melhor, sempre – comentou Nicollas.

Nicollas chegou ao Corinthians aos 11 anos e atualmente integra a equipe sub-17. Dentro do clube, integrantes comentam que o menino tem traços de outro goleiro com história no Timão: Dida.

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+ Veja tabela e simule os próximos jogos do Corinthians no Brasileirão

No ano passado, Nicollas chegou a ser convocado para a Seleção Brasileira Sub-17 e ao lado de nomes como Pedro, do Timão, e Endrick, do Palmeiras, foi campeão do Torneio de Montaigu.

It would be fair to say that Daniel Levy made some questionable and unpopular decisions during his mixed tenure as Tottenham Hotspur chairman.

Across the 25 years Levy was at the helm, Tottenham won just two major trophies, in part due to some strange appointments from Levy, who worked with 14 permanent managers during his time as chairman.

Of course, the 63-year-old does deserve credit for overseeing the move to an impressive new stadium, but football is ultimately a results business, and the former chairman was unable to achieve the expected level of success.

Here at Football FanCast, we have now ranked the five worst appointments Levy made during his time at the helm.

5 Andre Villas-Boas

Villas-Boas made his name as an exciting young manager during a very impressive spell with FC Porto, leading the Portuguese side to the title in an undefeated season, but he was unable to make his mark at Chelsea, lasting just over eight months.

As such, it was always going to be a gamble to appoint the at-the-time young coach, and some blunders in the transfer market meant he didn’t last particularly long at the helm.

Following the sale of Gareth Bale, the likes of Roberto Soldado, Paulinho and Vlad Chiriches failed to make the desired impact, and the trio did not last long in north London.

Games

80

Wins

45

Draws

18

Losses

17

Players used

43

While the Villas-Boas era wasn’t all bad on the whole, having only narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification in his first season, the humiliating 5-0 defeat to Liverpool and 6-0 loss against Manchester City in his second campaign means he enters this list in fifth.

4 Jacques Santini

In fairness, the appointment of Santini made perfect sense at the time. The Frenchman arrived at White Hart Lane off the back of a very impressive spell with Lyon, during which time he was awarded the “best French coach” award in 2002.

The former Lyon boss got off to a promising start at Spurs too, making an unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign. However, Santini had to make this list simply because of the length of his tenure.

Santini lasted just 13 games before handing in his resignation, citing personal problems as the reason for his exit, although it has since emerged that broken promises behind-the-scenes may have played a part, with the ex-Tottenham boss saying: “They promised me a big apartment on the beach and I found myself 200m from the sea with a view of my neighbours.”

Games

13

Wins

5

Draws

4

Losses

4

Players used

24

3 Juande Ramos

It may seem strange to name one of only two Spurs managers to win a trophy during the Levy era on this list, but the terrible start Ramos made to the 2008-09 season meant there was no way he couldn’t be included.

After winning the League Cup in 2008, the Spanish manager failed to kick on in the following campaign, picking up just two points from the opening eight games, which left Tottenham rock bottom of the Premier League table.

Consequently, Ramos’ reign is probably remembered more for that disastrous start than the success in the previous campaign, and his managerial career slowly went downhill following his departure from N17.

The Spaniard returned to his native country after leaving Tottenham, landing the Real Madrid job, but his stint at the Bernabeu was short-lived, being sacked after around seven months in charge, before going on to have another unsuccessful spell with CSKA Moscow.

Games

54

Wins

19

Draws

16

Losses

19

Players used

34

2 Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time for good reason, having been extremely successful during his time at Chelsea, Inter Milan, FC Porto and Real Madrid.

However, the iconic manager was clearly on the decline before Levy appointed him, having been dismissed by Manchester United after winning just seven of the first 17 games in the 2018-19 Premier League season.

Having won 26 trophies throughout his career as a manager, it is clear Levy viewed Mourinho as a born-winner, who could end Tottenham’s trophy drought, but the timing of the decision to sack him is the main reason he is included on the list.

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With the former FC Porto boss, there is almost an expectation that the football won’t be great to watch, but he will win silverware. However, Levy made the bizarre call to pull the trigger just days before Spurs were set to play Manchester City in the EFL Cup final.

Tottenham were left to rue the decision, going on to lose the game 1-0 under the helm of Ryan Mason, with Levy later going on to admit it was an error to appoint Mourinho in the first place, saying: “The strategy was to bring in a trophy manager and we did it twice. You have to learn from the mistakes.”

Games

86

Wins

45

Draws

17

Losses

24

Players used

44

1 Nuno Espirito Santo

Like the majority of the names on this list, Nuno is by no means a bad manager, having gone on to prove himself at Nottingham Forest, leading the Tricky Trees to the Europa League after finishing 7th in the Premier League last season.

However, the 51-year-old felt doomed from the start, with Spurs well-known to have made approaches for a number of other managers before having to ‘settle’ for the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss.

The Portuguese manager actually went on to start the season very well, winning his first three matches, but results soon went downhill, and he didn’t last long, with Levy ultimately dismissing the now Forest boss at the beginning of November.

Jamie Carragher went on to suggest that Nuno’s style of play meant the appointment was simply never going to work out, saying:

“I can never justify a manager losing his job after 10 Premier League games, it doesn’t feel right, but I don’t think Nuno at Spurs ever felt right either.

“I don’t feel this is a bad sacking, I think it was a bad appointment initially. Nuno’s style of football was at odds not only with the ‘Tottenham way’ but also the ‘top-club way”.

Games

17

Wins

9

Draws

1

Losses

7

Players used

30

With Levy now gone, Tottenham fans will be hoping that this is the beginning of an exciting new era for the club.

Celtic were on the hunt for a striker to bolster their forward line on deadline day but were rejected in their efforts to sign a former wonderkid.

Celtic sell Adam Idah to Swansea City

Adam Idah was called back to Glasgow despite agreeing a deal to join Swansea City initially, but he wasn’t involved in the 0-0 draw with Rangers at Ibrox and has now completed his move to the Championship.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph confirmed he was set to leave the club on X, highlighting that he underwent the second part of his medical and headed to Wales for a fee of £6 million plus £1 million in add-ons.

He stated on deadline day: “Celtic striker Adam Idah has completed the second part of his medical ahead of a £7m move to Swansea City. Idah has also finalised the paperwork on a long-term contract. It’s understood Celtic & Swansea have agreed an initial fee of £6m, plus more than £1m in add-ons.”

Leaving with 29 goals in 76 appearances, Idah will be remembered as someone who produced big moments on occasion, though he never looked convincing enough to claim the Bhoys’ number one striking jersey.

Responding with plans to improve their attack, Celtic made a late loan move for Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who was also wanted by Rangers, Leicester City and Lyon before the deadline.

If it didn’t need upgrading already, the Hoops’ blunt attack in a 0-0 draw with their rivals at Ibrox on Sunday in the Scottish Premiership failed to fire, leaving Brendan Rodgers desperate to secure reinforcements at the top area of the field.

Celtic made £10 million bid for Kasper Dolberg

According to Sportsboom, Celtic made a £10 million bid for Denmark international Kasper Dolberg, who emerged as their leading target before the deadline.

Rodgers was deemed to be a big fan of the player, but Ajax swooped in at the last minute to agree a deal, leaving the Scottish champions scrambling during the final hours of the window before landing Sebastian Tounekti, who is not an out and out forward.

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Dolberg scored 24 times in 45 appearances for Anderlecht last term and has started 2025/26 with five strikes in his first nine outings, which made him a leading target to lead the Bhoys’ line.

While at Ajax the first time, the Dutch champions rejected a bid worth over £43 million from AS Monaco for the forward, who burst onto the scene at the Johan Cruyff Arena and has previously been likened to Marco van Basten by Flemming Rasmussen.

Nevertheless, he has opted for a new challenge elsewhere, in a scenario that left Celtic picking up the pieces in the final hours of the window.

Ben Stokes, England’s Test captain, has described himself as “the Bionic Man” after undergoing scheduled surgery on his torn left hamstring.Stokes, 33, suffered a recurrence of the injury while bowling during England’s third Test against New Zealand in December, having first torn his hamstring while batting for Northern Superchargers against Manchester Originals in the men’s Hundred in August.That initial injury kept him out of action for two months, meaning that he missed England’s home Test series against Sri Lanka. He later admitted that his race to get fit in time for the team’s winter assignments in Pakistan and New Zealand had led him to “physically drain and ruin himself”.However, with England not set to play a Test until the visit of Zimbabwe in May, Stokes has committed to three months on the sidelines, including his omission from next month’s ICC Champions Trophy.At the time of his diagnosis, he vowed that he still has “blood, sweat and tears” left to give to the team, ahead of a defining 12 months that will feature five-Test series against India at home and Australia away.Now, he has posted a picture on Instagram, showing him lying on the back seat of a car in the aftermath of his surgery, wearing a large leg brace and supported by pillows.”Bionic Man for a while”, he added in the caption, alongside a laughing emoji, plus the sign-off: “In a bit…”.