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Television ratings for Major League Baseball's postseason have been extremely good and could get even better if the New York Yankees-Los Angeles Dodgers World Series matchup becomes a reality. How much that matters depends on who you ask. Obviously, it's great for the presenting networks and MLB can put some public wins on the board when it comes to the somewhat opaque goal of "growing the game" and combating tired narratives about baseball dying.

Not to suck all the life and fun out of things but broadly, baseball will be just fine even if ratings aren't great and a huge bump probably doesn't mean all that much for coming years as so much of this is matchup-dependent.

We'll all be back here in the same spot trying to make sense of a 15 percent gain or drop next year.

What is much clearer is that Shohei Ohtani is an international draw. Major League Baseball anounced on Thursday that Game 5 of the NLDS between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers was the most-watched MLB postseason game ever in Japan as nearly 13 million viewers tuned in. Add this to the U.S. viewership and there's a global number north of 20 million.

For context, the population of Japan was 123 million in 2023. Some rudimentary math reveals that more than 10 percent of the country's population was watching a game that aired at 9 a.m. local time on a Saturday.

It will be super interesting to see what the numbers from Japan look like as Ohtani and the Dodgers get closer to winning a World Series. There has to be some cap on viewership but 10 percent of the population watching a game suggests the sky might be the limit.

Liverpool need to make urgent changes to their starting line-up, changes which include the painful omission of Mohamed Salah, according to former Reds midfielder Don Hutchison. Arne Slot's side have faced mounting issues all season, from the integration of new players, poor performances and increasing injuries and sit well off the pace in the Premier League title race and Hutchison believes there’s only one answer to solve their problems.

Reds rocked by poor early season form

Salah's reduced output and the underwhelming form of new attacking signings like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have played a major role in the Reds’ struggles so far this season. Salah's productivity has dropped significantly, with shots and touches in the box having nearly halved, exacerbated by the departure of long-time partner Trent Alexander-Arnold. Meanwhile, Wirtz, is yet to record a Premier League goal or assist and is still adjusting to the pace and physicality of English football. 

Isak, arriving from Newcastle for a record fee, has also failed to make an impact, with his time limited by persistent injury issues. And while Hugo Ekitike has shown moments of great promise, he has been inconsistent after a promising start, further highlighting the attack's struggles to find cohesion. And Hutchison, who made 45 league appearances for the Anfield club between 1991 and 1994, believes Salah should take a back seat and allow the new arrivals to flourish. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHutchison: 'Uncomfortable conversation about Salah'

Hutchison said: "The uncomfortable conversation will be around the likes of Mo Salah because there’s a way to get Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz into the same team, but it means there’s no place for Salah. You can have [Milos] Kerkez on the left and [Conor] Bradley on the right as wing-backs. Then you have [Dominik] Szoboszlai and [Ryan] Gravenberch in midfield. If you want to put a positive spin on it, every team in the Premier League would love Wirtz, Isak and Salah. Now Slot’s job is trying to come up with a formula to get all those three into the same 11, with Ekitike, because you can’t spend all that money on Wirtz, Isak and Ekitike and tell them to fight for their place in the side."

He added: "They have to be starters now. I would be very tempted to play all three from now to the end of the season and play their way into form, into goals, into chemistry, into improving the league position. I know it’s a big jump from now to the end of season, but that will be Liverpool’s team and individuals going forward. That’s what I would look at. So the uncomfortable conversation is around why and how you don’t get Mo Salah into that team anymore. Perhaps the Africa Cup of Nations would be the time to try it!"

Wirtz comes under fire from Utd legend

Salah isn’t the only player coming under the microscope as Liverpool’s attacking puzzle under Slot has taken a new twist after Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke claimed £116 million summer signing Wirtz is blocking the club’s best tactical solution. Yorke said: "The problem Liverpool have got is Wirtz. That might cause a little bit of an issue because of the money he has come in on too. But Slot has to trust himself and trust his instincts on whether Ekitike and Isak can score goals together because they can both score goals as individuals. You’d think together they are only going to be a bigger threat for their opposition."

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Getty Images SportClock ticking to find solutions

The questions for Slot to start with Liverpool's porous defense, which has become uncharacteristically vulnerable, and address their midfield's imbalance. He will at some stage also have to address Salah’s role and the problems in attack, but the Dutchman will have a window of opportunity when the Egyptian star heads off to play at the Africa Cup of Nations next month.

Clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan supporters had marred a game between the two sides in Sharjah in 2022

Danyal Rasool28-Aug-2025Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan urged fans to avoid a repeat of the ugly scenes that marred Pakistan and Afghanistan’s clash in Sharjah in 2022, saying that cricket brought “people and nations together”. Sharjah will host the opening game of the tri-series between the two sides.The end of the see-sawing game, which Pakistan won by one wicket in the final over, was followed by clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan supporters in the stands, leading to the PCB writing to the ICC in protest, with then-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja calling it “hooliganism”. Several Afghanistan fans were detained by the Sharjah police following the incident. However, no arrests were made.Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have politically soured further since. But this time around, there is heightened awareness about the potential for flashpoints. There are separate sections at the stadium for Pakistan and Afghanistan supporters, and greater alertness to nip potential crowd trouble in the bud.Related

Afghanistan bring back former Ireland allrounder John Mooney as fielding coach

Afghanistan pick 16 of 17 Asia Cup squad members for UAE tri-series

Pakistan, Afghanistan, UAE gear up for Asia Cup rehearsal

It is, however, not the first time supporters of the sides will be separated in the general stands; that was also the case in 2023 when they played a bilateral series against each other. There are sizeable diaspora populations of both nations in the UAE, particularly Sharjah, and fixtures between the two sides have been historically well attended in the country.”[My] message to everyone who comes and watches the games in the stadium is that cricket brings unity,” Rashid said. “It brings people and nations together. It sends a peaceful message. This game is all about enjoyment. We play this game to enjoy ourselves and give entertainment to the crowd and the fans. It’s just a game of cricket. I ask people to come, enjoy themselves, support their respective teams and enjoy every moment of the game.”Rashid also believed the format, as well as the short nature of the tri-series, meant assigning a favourites tag to any side was difficult. “No team is favourite, especially in T20Is. You have to play good cricket. One or two players can totally change the game. Everyone will be trying to deliver their best performances.”Pakistan play back to back games, taking on UAE on Saturday following their contest against Afghanistan on Friday. The final, after two rounds of fixtures, is on 7 September.

The grey clouds that have been hanging over West Ham United this year might just be starting to shift.

It’s still very early on in Nuno Espírito Santo’s tenure, but in the draw away to Everton and, more crucially, the win over Newcastle United, he’s shown enough to excite the fans.

More importantly, though, the win over the Toon suggests that the Portuguese coach might just be able to keep the Hammers in the Premier League.

Another huge positive to come out of that game was the display of Freddie Potts, and it’s already looking like the academy is brewing another talent like him.

Why Freddie Potts is such an exciting talent

Potts had made a few fleeting appearances for West Ham before Sunday’s game, but that was his first competitive start for the club.

However, he’s no inexperienced youngster, as he spent last season on loan with Portsmouth in the Championship, where he made 38 appearances, and the season before that with Wycombe Wanderers, where he made 43 appearances.

That experience clearly paid off against the Toon, as despite them being a Champions League side, the Barking-born ace looked completely unfazed.

Minutes

90′

Key Passes

2

Crosses

2

Passes

33/39

Touches

57

Tackles (Won)

3 (2)

Interceptions

1

Clearances

6

Recoveries

1

Ground Duels (Won)

4 (3)

In fact, he thrived, and from the first minute to the last, he was practically faultless, putting in a perfect all-action midfield performance.

One analyst claimed he had a “similar aura to Rice” and was particularly impressed with his “confidence and ability to create time and space on the ball.”

He was so good, in fact, that he got special attention on Match of the Day, and it feels like it won’t be the only time that happens this season.

In all, while it is still early on in his career, it looks like West Ham have an unreal midfield talent in Potts.

So, fans should be excited that the academy appears to be producing another prospect who could be a lot like him.

West Ham's next Potts in the making

The good news for West Ham and the fans is that there are currently several genuinely exciting players in the academy.

Bowen thinks he's "special": West Ham are brewing a bigger gem than Potts

The incredible gem could be an even bigger star for West Ham United than Freddie Potts.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 3, 2025

For example, Preston Fearon appears to have the potential to become a midfield destroyer one day, Emeka Adiele has been providing assists with ease at left-back, and Josh Landers seems to be a natural centre-forward.

However, another youngster, less well-known but with the potential to be a future Potts-esque star, is Isaac Thomas.

The 16-year-old Welshman made his debut for the club’s U18S over the weekend, and to say he impressed would be an understatement.

The young Hammers beat Ipswich Town 8-2 away from home, and instead of scoring one, a brace or even a hat-trick, the exciting prospect ended up with four goals to his name.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Amazingly, three of his goals were headers, with the fourth coming off his foot in the dying embers of the match. However, what makes the whole thing even more remarkable is that he was playing at centre-back.

Perhaps a little unsurprisingly, Thomas is not a natural defender, but stepped in to play there for the team regardless.

It’s this ability to be something of a utility player so young that makes him feel similar to Potts, as he, too, played at the back for the U21s and U18s on occasion.

Furthermore, if the “brilliant” teen, as dubbed by his coach, Lauris Coggin, possesses both the tactical awareness to play in defence and the technical ability to score four goals in a game, there is no reason he couldn’t eventually thrive in the middle of the park.

Ultimately, it is still so early in his career, but in Thomas, West Ham look to have another hugely promising talent, much like Potts.

Elly De La Cruz is picking up right where he left off.

The Cincinnati Reds phenom got his spring training off to the best start possible Saturday, as he crushed a high-flying solo home run in the first inning of an exhibition matchup against the Cleveland Guardians.

Three innings later, he did it again. In his second at-bat of the day—this time as a right-handed hitter—De La Cruz mashed a 91.8-mph fastball from Logan Allen deep over the wall in right-center field.

Two at-bats, two home runs. That is one sweet, sweet swing.

De La Cruz is hoping to build off a promising All-Star campaign in 2024. In 160 games last season, the shortstop led the big leagues in strikeouts (218) but also batted .259/.339/.471 with 25 homers and 67 stolen bases. He became the first player in MLB history to notch at least 100 stolen bases and 30 homers over his first two seasons.

De La Cruz is set to start at shortstop once again for the Reds, who are looking to improve upon a disappointing 77–85 campaign in 2024 and make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

One manager who has previously hailed Swansea City supporters is open to the idea of replacing Alan Sheehan in south Wales.

Swansea City managerial latest

The search for a new permanent Swans manager is underway after parting ways with Sheehan on Tuesday following a poor start to the Championship campaign.

A club statement on Tuesday read: “In the wake of a disappointing run, it is felt results and performances do not meet the standards expected at this stage of the season, and we have had to take this difficult decision.

“The process to appoint a new head coach is already under way. We will update supporters on this process once it has been concluded.”

CEO Tom Gorringe and head of recruitment Adam Worth are leading the search for Sheehan’s successor, with Hammarby manager Kim Hellberg the favourite to come in during the international break.

Talks have been held with the 37-year-old who at this stage appears to be one of the frontrunners after initial discussions.

Swedish coach Hellberg isn’t the only name, though, with former managers Russell Martin and Brendan Rodgers out of work at this moment in time, as well as former Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick.

Russell Martin open to Swansea City return

According to the BBC, Martin is open to the idea of returning to Swansea, more than two years on after leaving for Southampton.

The outlet states that Martin ‘remains a popular figure among players and staff at Swansea’, however, a move back to south Wales for the available manager ‘is unlikely’ despite still having ‘many admirers within the club’.

The Swansea owners are the ones who are seemingly against a return for Martin, who was sacked from Rangers earlier this season following a disastrous short tenure at Ibrox.

The 39-year-old did take Southampton to the Premier League in his first season in charge before being sacked in the top flight by the Saints. Martin has actually taken charge of more games for Swansea than any other club in his managerial career and clearly has a soft spot for Jacks supporters.

Club

Games

Points per game

MK Dons

80

1.38

Swansea

99

1.35

Southampton

73

1.58

Rangers

17

1.24

Following a draw at Huddersfield during his time in charge, Martin was full of praise for the Swansea supporters.

Australia have won their last nine ODI series, but New Zealand have shown in the past that form and records don’t mean much at the world stage

Vishal Dikshit30-Sep-20252:21

‘Tough to make a case against Australia winning the lot’

Big pictureIf recent form is anything to go by, Australia have been bossing ODIs like, well, the world champions, whereas New Zealand, ranked fourth in ODIs, have a forgettable streak coming into this World Cup. Australia have won their last nine ODI series, last going down in the ODI leg of the 2023 Ashes in England, brushing teams aside both at home and away. They have been touring India almost every year in recent times, their top players have been getting used to the conditions in the WPL for the last three years, and they even played a three-match series in north India as a warm-up for this World Cup, which they won 2-1.Related

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New Zealand have no such records or achievements to show for. Jogging their memory back to the 2022 World Cup will only bring back disappointing recollections as they finished sixth out of eight teams in a home World Cup, they were rolled over for 128 by Australia for a 141-run thrashing in Wellington, and they haven’t played an ODI in six months.But they had shown last year that form and records are not much to go by. New Zealand entered the T20 World Cup with 10 consecutive losses in the format but went on to lift their maiden T20 World Cup with a stellar all-round show in alien conditions in the UAE. And they have a big chunk of players from that campaign to turn things around this time: captain Sophie Devine, former captain Suzie Bates, leader of the pace attack Lea Tahuhu, ace allrounder Amelia Kerr, among others.These two teams will clash it out at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, which is known for its flat tracks and will host its maiden women’s international on Wednesday.Form guideAustralia WLWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand WWLLLIn the spotlight: Alyssa Healy and Sophie DevineThe last time Alyssa Healy turned out in a World Cup, she finished the 2022 edition by smashing back-to-back centuries in the semis and final to help Australia lift their record seventh title. Things are a lot different this time; it’s her maiden ODI World Cup as captain, after Meg Lanning’s departure, and she has just returned to action after a long injury layoff of a stress fracture in the foot. She got in the groove of international cricket with modest scores of 1, 30 and 9 in the recent bilaterals in India, but would want to use the big stage to get some runs going on a flat pitch. She averages 31.40 against New Zealand with a strike rate of 89.97 against New Zealand much lower than her overall ODI strike rate of 97.90, and New Zealand would want to keeps those numbers down on Wednesday too.This is going to be Sophie Devine’s farewell ODI series, only available for T20Is after this. Having led her side to T20 World Cup glory less than 12 months ago, she wants to end her ODI career with a double and her all-round skills could play a major role, starting Wednesday. She comes into the tournament after a rich run of form in the Hundred and bucket loads of experience of Indian conditions, having first toured the country back in 2007 when she was just 17.2:19

‘NZ might find it tough switching to ODI mode’

Team news: one concern for New ZealandAustralia’s full squad trained on Tuesday evening under the lights after a few injury concerns to Phoebe Litchfield (low-grade quad strain), Annabel Sutherland (hip soreness) and Darcie Brown (back spasms) during the recent bilateral games against India, and Ellyse Perry was down with an illness during the warm-ups. Vice-captain Tahlia McGrath, however, confirmed on Tuesday that everyone in the squad will be available for selection. What mix of spinners and pace bowlers they finalise is the only question that remains, as Sophie Molineux returned to action after a knee surgery, in the warm-up against England, and Australia could think about leaving out one of the legspinners – Alana King or Georgia Wareham – to make place for her.Australia (probable): 1 Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), 2 Phoebe Litchfield, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Beth Mooney, 5 Annabel Sutherland, 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Tahlia McGrath, 8 Sophie Molineux, 9 Kim Garth, 10 Alana King/Georgia Wareham, 11 Megan SchuttNew Zealand have one injury concern and Devine intentionally kept her name under wraps at the press conference on Tuesday. Their line-up is otherwise a great blend of youth and experience and if that mysterious player with a niggle is also fit on Wednesday, they won’t have too many headaches for the final XI. Devine also didn’t rule out uncapped 22-year-old left-arm spinner Flora Devonshire making her ODI in their opener.New Zealand (probable): 1 Suzie Bates, 2 Georgia Plimmer, 3 Amelia Kerr, 4 Sophie Devine (capt), 5 Brooke Halliday, 6 Maddy Green, 7 Isabella Gaze (wk), 8 Eden Carsen, 9 Jess Kerr, 10 Flora Devonshire, 11 Lea Tahuhu2:02

McGrath on playing NZ: ‘We know each other’s game really well’

Pitch and conditionsThe curator at Indore has decided to roll out a flat track for its maiden women’s international, testified by both Devine and McGrath after they saw the pitch. They had no hesitations to call it “an incredibly flat” pitch which has the makings of a “run fest,” as is often the case there in men’s white-ball matches. Indore has been muggy in the lead up to this game, with plenty of clouds spread across and the sun appearing in parts. Temperatures are unlikely to cross 30 degrees Celsius but it could feel a lot worse with the humidity when the match starts, for the fielding team.Stats and trivia Australia have won the last 15 completed ODIs against New Zealand, last losing one in February 2017. New Zealand have won just one ODI series since the start of 2024, and lost four (two home and two away). Suzie Bates, 38, is just 104 runs away from 6000 in ODIs, and will be just the second woman to get there after Mithali Raj (7805). Bates is also joint-second with Smriti Mandhana with the most ODI hundreds, only behind Meg Lanning’s 15. The last time New Zealand beat Australia in an ODI World Cup was in 2009, when Devine batted at No. 10 and Australia’s current coach Shelley Nitschke opened the batting.Quotes”Those stats are there and we’re aware of them, but at World Cups, it doesn’t matter. I think records and previous results go out the window for us.”
“I joke that I’m basically a spinner at times when I can get slower and just bowl some pace off. So I feel as though I can adapt to any wicket and use some of my variations to suit different wickets.”

Former Germany defender Jerome Boateng has started training with Hansi Flick and Barcelona as he aims to to complete practical requirements for his coaching license. The recently-retired player saw a planned internship at former club Bayern Munich cancelled following vocal fan protests regarding his conviction for domestic assault.

Barcelona welcome Boateng for coaching practicals

According to a report from , the retired German defender visited the club's training ground to meet with current Barcelona head coach Flick and striker Robert Lewandowski, both former colleagues from his time in Bavaria. Boateng, who retired from professional football at the age of 37 in September following a final spell with Austrian side LASK, intends to obtain his coaching badges and requires practical training hours to complete the process.

Barcelona officially acknowledged Boateng’s presence via their social media channels, posting a video of his arrival with the message: "Welcome to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Jerome Boateng!" The Catalan club have opened their doors to the 2014 World Cup winner to allow him to observe training sessions under Flick, whom he worked with successfully during treble-winning campaigns at Bayern and with the Germany national team.

A Report from indicates that Boateng is expected to spend several days using the club's facilities as he navigates the next steps in his post-playing career. 

AdvertisementBayern internship cancelled after supporter backlash

Prior to arriving in Catalonia, Boateng had attempted to begin a similar coaching internship at Bayern Munich’s Sabener Strasse base. However, the proposed return of the long-serving defender was met with fierce opposition from the club's supporters' groups due to his legal history.

During recent matches, Bayern fans displayed banners in the stands unequivocally condemning the club's decision to offer him a platform. One banner displayed by ultras read: “Draw the line against misogynistic violence”, while another stated: “No place for villains in our club — no more space for Boateng,” alongside explicit chants telling the former defender to leave. Consequently, Bayern management made the decision to halt the internship programme for their former player in response to the hostile reaction.

The protests and controversy stem from Boateng’s prolonged legal issues regarding domestic violence. In July 2024, a Munich court issued a final ruling in a long-running case concerning assault against his ex-partner and mother of his twin daughters, Sherin Senler.

Boateng was found guilty of intentional simple bodily harm following an incident during a vacation in the Caribbean in 2018. According to the complaint, the player was accused of insulting, punching, and biting Senler, causing facial injuries. While Boateng admitted to a heated argument occurring, he denied assaulting her. The final verdict imposed a suspended fine of €200,000, a formal warning, and a mandatory donation to charity. This followed earlier trials in 2021 and 2022 which had initially seen significantly higher fines handed down before appeals and procedural errors led to the reopened trial and final reduced sentence.

Further allegations and the Kasia Lenhardt tragedy

Boateng has faced further intense scrutiny regarding his relationship with another ex-girlfriend, model Kasia Lenhardt, who committed suicide in 2021. Following her death, allegations of abuse during their relationship emerged.

German outlet reported that Lenhardt possessed voice messages in which she claimed Boateng had almost broken her left thumb, alongside photos of bruises on her arms she alleged were caused by him throwing glasses in a hotel room. A Berlin lawyer confirmed to the newspaper that Lenhardt intended to file a formal assault complaint shortly before her death. Munich prosecutors reopened an investigation into alleged bodily harm related to this relationship after her suicide, but the case was definitively closed in March 2025 due to insufficient evidence, partly because the primary witness had died.

The controversy surrounding the former Germany international intensified further in March 2024 when obtained a document containing an email allegedly sent by Boateng's own mother, Martina, to a lawyer in 2021 following Lenhardt's death.

In the document, she reportedly confirmed allegations of domestic violence against her son, stating: "For years, my son has psychologically and physically abused women; now Kasia Lenhardt has committed suicide, and he continues to refuse to face the consequences of his actions."

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(C)Getty ImagesWhat next for Barcelona and Boateng?

Boateng is expected to remain at Barcelona's training facilities for the coming days as he completes the practical components required for his coaching qualifications. The club's decision to facilitate this has already drawn criticism and is likely to face continued scrutiny. Meanwhile, Flick’s first team continue their preparations for their return to La Liga action against Athletic Club on Saturday, looking to maintain their lead at the top of the table.

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Nicky Lopez was standing in the batter's box after taking a ball against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday when he was suddenly hit in the head by his own bat.

How could something like that happen? Well, Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera went to throw the ball back to the pitcher but instead he threw it right into Lopez's bat, which then struck him in the head so hard that his helmet popped off.

This was easily one of the weirdest moments of the young 2025 season and it took a slo-mo replay for us to figure out what in the world happened during what is normally such a basic move in a baseball game.

Making matters worse for Lopez was that he struck out swinging a few pitches later.

Double ouch.

There’s no denying that Chelsea employed a scattergun spending approach in the early days of BlueCo’s ownership, but that has since been streamlined over the past few years, with Enzo Maresca proving the perfect man for the job.

Sunday’s Premier League clash is a big one, with Stamford Bridge playing host to a top-of-the-table clash between Chelsea and Arsenal. The second-place Blues will narrow the deficit to just three points with a win.

This is a team building toward a period of sustained success, and the tactical readings suggest that Chelsea are already one of the most exciting attacking outfits in the division, even if there is a sense that there are several levels still to be scaled.

Chelsea

2nd

22.1

Man City

3rd

21.8

Arsenal

1st

20.7

Crystal Palace

5th

20.2

Man Utd

10th

19.9

However, a question mark lingers over number nine, with Liam Delap yet to prove he is the answer. Could Chelsea be looking to sign an upgrade?

Why Chelsea are searching for a striker

In fairness, Delap has spent a sizeable portion of his first months in west London in the infirmary. Still, since returning from a hamstring injury that has kept him out for much of the autumn, the English striker has started twice in the Premier League and failed to break his duck on both counts.

That said, he did net his first goal of the campaign for the Blues against Barcelona in midweek, coming off the bench and coolly converting to seal the 3-0 win after neat interplay between Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez.

However, the £30m summer signing from Ipswich Town has yet to prove he has what it takes to nail down a berth at the front of Maresca’s system, and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart are searching for a potential upgrade.

They may have found one. According to Sky Germany, Chelsea are among the outfits to have been informed that Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy is worth about €50m (£44m), applicable for a number of top European outfits.

Chelsea are in the mix, and though Delap and Joao Pedro make up a dynamic central strike force in west London, Guirassy’s clinical record suggests he could add an interesting dimension to a title-challenging side.

What Guirassy would bring to Chelsea

Guirassy, 29, might not fit the age profile Chelsea have focused on targeting in recent years, but his experience and maturity in the final third would serve as a neat counterpoint to the younger generation.

Delap caught the eye for Ipswich last season, a shining light as he scored 12 goals across 37 Premier League outings. Kieran McKenna’s side were relegated, but so many teams swarmed for Delap’s signature, and Chelsea won the race.

The 22-year-old has a future at Stamford Bridge, but Maresca’s side need someone in the now who can maintain a fight against Arsenal, while pushing deep into the Champions League too.

Guirassy is “one of the best strikers in Europe”, according to German legend Lothar Matthaus, and he ranks among the top 11% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

25/26

10

5 + 1

24/25

30

21 + 2

23/24

28

28 + 2

22/23

22

11 + 0

He’s hardly just a mindless poacher, with silky footwork and intelligent positioning that allows him to roam around the attacking half and link up with teammates.

But, at his core, Guirassy is indeed a goalscorer, and Chelsea may find that Delap earns fewer minutes with the Guinean striker in the mix.

It’s a tough one, but given the promising position Maresca’s side have placed themselves into, it might just be the move to make.

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