He will be available for South Africa for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia next month

Firdose Moonda05-May-2025South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has served a one-month ban, commuted from three months, for drug use during the SA20 earlier this year.A statement issued by the South African Institute for Drug Free Sports (SAIDS) confirmed Rabada had failed a doping test on January 21, after the match between MI Cape Town and Durban Super Giants, and he was notified of the result on April 1 when he was in India for IPL 2025. On April 3, his IPL franchise Gujarat Titans (GT) said Rabada had returned to South Africa for personal reasons after playing only two matches this season.According to SAIDS, Rabada has since participated in an education and awareness programme to prevent further substance abuse. He can resume playing immediately and could return to action as soon as Tuesday, when GT play Mumbai Indians (MI).Rabada’s sanction is in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) punishment for use of a recreational drug – including cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine or diamorphine. A similar punishment was handed to New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell last year after he tested positive for cocaine during the Super Smash.Related

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Kagiso Rabada returns home from IPL 2025 for personal reasons

However, there are instances of longer suspensions, which are up to individual boards. Last year, Zimbabwe’s Wessly Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta were banned from playing for four months each and fined 50% of their salaries for three months after testing positive for a recreational drug. In that instance, Zimbabwe Cricket chose to impose a sanction longer than the WADA recommendations.

“If you have a professional sportsman that’s tested for recreational drugs during a tournament in which he is playing, that doesn’t fall under personal issues for me. That falls under you have broken your contract”Tim Paine

It is not expected that Cricket South Africa will impose further punishment on Rabada after it issued a statement on Saturday afternoon calling the incident “regrettable”. CSA is satisfied with Rabada’s “commitment to upholding professional standards” after he apologised through the South African Cricketers’ Association when news of his positive drug test broke at the weekend.”I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down,” Rabada said. “I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted. This privilege is much larger than me. It goes beyond my personal aspirations.”With the matter considered closed, Rabada will be available for South Africa for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia next month, where he is crucial to their chances. Rabada was South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle with 47 wickets at an average of 19.97.However, not everyone considers the case to be as open and shut as CSA.Kagiso Rabada had left the IPL after playing just two games for Gujarat Titans•IPLSpeaking to SEN Radio, former Australia captain Tim Paine was critical of the statement initially issued by GT to explain Rabada’s absence from the IPL.”It stinks. I don’t like this use around ‘personal issues’, and it being used to hide stuff that isn’t a personal issue,” Paine told SEN Radio on Monday. “If you have a professional sportsman that’s tested for recreational drugs during a tournament in which he is playing, that doesn’t fall under personal issues for me. That falls under you have broken your contract.”That is not a personal issue, that is something that is happening in your personal life. Taking drugs – recreational or performance enhancing – is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month. A guy can be taken out of the IPL, moved back to South Africa, and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he’s already served his ban.”ESPNcricinfo contacted CSA and SACA officials multiple times after Rabada returned home from the IPL and were told he was dealing with a “personal issue”, while some officials claimed not to know anything about why he had come home.

Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac has leapt to the defence of his summer signing Jobe Bellingham after a costly mistake from the Englishman allowed Bayern Munich to score the winner in Der Klassiker this weekend. Coming off the bench, Bellingham attempted to clear a cross from Luis Diaz, but the ball got caught under his feet, and Michael Olise capitalised on the mistake.

Bayern blunder from Bellingham

During this weekend’s hotly-anticipated Der Klassiker clash, Bellingham made a critical error that led to Bayern's winning goal in the 78th minute which sealed Bayern's 2-1 triumph. This blunder has drawn significant attention, particularly given Bellingham's high-profile transfer from Sunderland and the added pressure of following in his brother Jude's footsteps at the club. The incident has fuelled discussions about Jobe's adjustment to life in Germany and his progress at Dortmund, but Kovac has defended his young midfielder, stating he was in a difficult situation. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportManager defends Jobe’s performance

Kovac said: "I can’t find any fault with Jobe. He was standing where he needed to be. The ball was played in so sharply. It was an artistic feat in its own right that he didn’t score an own-goal. When a ball is played in so sharply, his first task is to hold his centre of gravity. He had his head down and Olise took advantage of this split second and slid in. That’s not a simple (situation). There’s no fault. I think that everything is fine with that situation."

The Dortmund boss also claimed that the first goal, scored by Harry Kane, should have been ruled out due to a push from the Bayern striker on Serhou Guirassy. Kovac said: "There was a brief contact (with Guirassy). But I have to say one thing, (referee) Bastian Dankert whistled today in such a way that he should have whistled that. He blew the whistle on everything, so he should have whistled that too. If he had let the play continue in other situations, then he can let that too. But for me, that was a clear mistake because of his decision to whistle everything. He should have disallowed it."

Rising star, with big shoes to fill

Even at a young age, Bellingham has already had an eventful career. After coming through Birmingham City's academy and making his debut at 16, he made 24 league appearances for the club. He then joined Sunderland in 2023, where he truly established himself, making 85 appearances and scoring 11 goals in the Championship over two seasons. He played a key role in Sunderland's promotion to the Premier League and was named the EFL Championship Young Player of the Season, but left in the summer for a club-record £27 million ($36.2m) fee to Borussia Dortmund. Bellingham has also represented England at various youth levels up to Under-21.

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Getty/GOALBrotherly love and link with Man United

Jobe is just starting out life in the Bundesliga and will be hoping to emulate his big brother, whom he remains close to, despite the distance between the two teams they represent. Jude is currently in exile from the England team, following a shoulder injury, and Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel has hinted it won't be easy for him to regain his place. Bellingham has missed the last two international windows, and in a recent social media post, he shared a series of images and videos, the theme being legendary American musician Frank Sinatra, and wrote in the caption, "That's life". The post left his brother Jobe confused, as the Borussia Dortmund star wrote in the comments, "Ehhh?"

Meanwhile, recently reported that Premier League giants Manchester United are closely monitoring Jobe Bellingham with a view to potentially bringing the youngster back to his homeland. The report adds that Red Devils boss Amorim is an admirer of the midfielder, and he believes that Bellingham would nicely fit his complex 3-4-2-1 setup, as his physical strength will be of great use at the centre of the park.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com a saída de Murillo para o Nottingham Forest, da Inglaterra, um espaço foi aberto na zaga do Corinthians para o jogo de volta das quartas de final da Conmebol Sul-Americana, contra o Estudiantes, da Argentina, nesta terça-feira (29). Lucas Veríssimo e Caetano são os atletas que disputam a posição para entrar no lugar do agora ex-atleta corintiano.

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Contratado para ser titular, Veríssimo é uma escolha mais lógica, mas o fato de jogar pelo lado esquerdo pode ser um trunfo para Caetano ‘beliscar’ um espaço no jogo mais importante do ano para o Timão.

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

A dupla de zaga preferida do técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo era formada por Gil e Murillo. Eles, inclusive, foram poupados no empate com o Goiás, no último sábado (26), pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, e no dia seguinte fizeram um trabalho específico com Maurício Copertino, auxiliar de Luxa.

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Luxemburgo tem um carinho especial por Gil, tendo ”bancado” o jogador até mesmo no seu pior momento na temporada, quando o atleta foi cobrado fortemente por torcedores do clube alvinegro em um hotel em Belo Horizonte, após uma derrota para o América-MG, pela Copa do Brasil.

O entendimento de Luxemburgo é que a evolução do camisa 4 se deu a partir de quando ele foi fixado definitivamente como zagueiro pela direita. A alternância de sistemas, com o defensor atuando em linha de três, na sobra, e também nos dois lados, acabou prejudicando o profissional, no entendimento da comissão técnica. Assim, há o receio em modificar novamente o posicionamento dele justamente em uma partida decisiva.

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Caetano é visto como um zagueiro com características semelhantes às de Murillo, principalmente por jogar pela esquerda e por ser técnico com a bola. E isso pode ser fundamental para o camisa 14 ganhar um espaço no time corintiano em La Plata.

Quanto a Veríssimo, além da ‘grife’, pesam a favor as atuações contra Cruzeiro e Goiás, onde foi titular e, mesmo não tendo vencido, se destacou nas ações defensivas.

Faf du Plessis stood in as captain for Delhi Capitals (DC) for the second game in a row, and opted to bowl in their final game of the season, against Punjab Kings (PBKS). DC’s regular captain Axar Patel had missed their previous match, against Mumbai Indians three days back, due to a flu, and continued to remain out of action.Du Plessis said at the toss that they were playing an extra batter in Karun Nair, with Abishek Porel dropped, and KL Rahul once again starting on the bench in their bowling-first XI. Tristan Stubbs will slot in as wicketkeeper in Porel’s place. DC also handed an IPL debut to Afghanistan’s opening batter Sediqullah Atal, with Dushmantha Chameera making way.PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, wants his side to build on the momentum even as they are already into the playoffs. PBKS have won three games in a row going back to when the IPL hadn’t been disrupted, and had last played six days back, when they beat Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur itself.PBKS played the returning Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis in their batting-first XI, as they replaced Mitchell Owen and Xavier Bartlett from the side that beat RR.Victory over DC will push PBKS up to 19 points, and with that, the No. 1 spot in the points table.PBKS bat-first XI: 1 Prabhsimran Singh, 2 Priyansh Arya, 3 Josh Inglis (wk), 4 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 5 Nehal Wadhera, 6 Shashank Singh, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Azmatullah Omarzai, 10 Harpreet Brar, 11 Arshdeep SinghImpact Subs: Pravin Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Xavier Bartlett, Kyle JamiesonDC bowl-first XI: 1 Faf du Plessis (capt), 2 Sediqullah Atal, 3 Karun Nair, 4 Sameer Rizvi, 5 Tristan Stubbs (wk), 6 Ashutosh Sharma, 7 Vipraj Nigam, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Mohit Sharma, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Mukesh KumarImpact Subs: KL Rahul, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurna Vijay, Ajay Mandal, Darshan Nalkande

West Indies posted a mammoth 352 for 8 but rain didn’t allow Ireland’s chase to begin

Abhimanyu Bose23-May-2025

Keacy Carty celebrates his second ODI hundred•Sportsfile via Getty Images

No result West Indies marched to a mammoth total of 352 for 8 on the back of Keacy Carty’s second ODI century and Matthew Forde’s record-equalling fifty as they looked to level the three-match series against Ireland, but the second ODI was washed out as rain didn’t allow Ireland’s chase to begin.Ireland sent West Indies in under slightly overcast conditions. The West Indies openers, Brandon King and Evin Lewis, got going with boundaries through the off side but Barry McCarthy, who took four wickets in the first game, drew the outside edge from King to give Ireland the first breakthrough.The first bowling change also worked for Ireland as Lewis drove Josh Little straight to cover point in the bowler’s first over.Related

Matthew Forde equals AB de Villiers' record of fastest ODI fifty

Hope and Carty then rebuilt for West Indies, ensuring there wasn’t a repeat of the top-order collapse they suffered in the first ODI, as they rotated strike well with quick singles and doubles amid the odd boundary.Hope looked the more fluent in their 81-run stand off 90 balls as Carty slowly grew into the game. Hope also hit the first six of the game, coming down the track to Andy McBrine. But the West Indies captain nicked off on 49 to give Liam McCarthy his first international wicket.West Indies then picked up the tempo, with Carty doing the heavy lifting and Amir Jangoo happy to keep rotating strike. Carty brought up his half-century off 67 balls in the 27th over and then started to shift gears.Matthew Forde is all smiles after equalling the record for the fastest ODI fifty•Sportsfile/Getty Images

In the 29th over, he took on Barry McCarthy for two fours and a six. The six was probably his best shot; he backed away and slapped it over cover.Jangoo was caught at short third off George Dockrell before Carty brought up his century in the 36th over, off 105 balls.But when Carty was caught behind next over trying to cut Liam McCarthy and Roston Chase fell in the 44th with Paul Stirling taking a screamer at short fine leg, West Indies were reduced to 246 for 6 and suddenly were in danger of falling short of 300.Enter Forde. He hit his second ball for a six over cover before hitting four sixes off the next over, bowled by Josh Little – three of them off consecutive deliveries.The next two balls he faced brought ten runs as he scooped Thomas Mayes for four and six. Back-to-back sixes off Liam McCarthy in the next over saw him equal AB de Villiers’ record for the fastest ODI fifty, off just 16 balls before being bowled for a 19-ball 58.Justin Greaves (44* off 36), who scored just seven runs of the 68-run stand with Forde, then accelerated along with Gudakesh Motie (18 off 8) to power West Indies to their second-highest total against Ireland as they plundered 106 runs off the last 42 balls.However, it started to rain during the innings break and didn’t relent, and play was eventually called off at around 5.20pm local time, ensuring Ireland go into the final ODI with an unassailable 1-0 lead.

It was yet another busy summer for Arsenal, who focused on adding quality depth to improve their squad ahead of the new season. For the last few years, the Gunners have finished second in the Premier League, twice to Manchester City and once, most recently, to Liverpool.

Another busy summer was had at the Emirates Stadium, in an effort to break the cycle of second-place finishes they find themselves in. Eight major signings were made, although Mikel Arteta’s side have not started the season well, but not flawlessly. They sit in second place on 10 points, five behind Liverpool.

However, the new signings have hit the ground running, with Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze two of the most impressive.

Madueke and Eze’s start to life at Arsenal

England international Madueke joined the Gunners from Chelsea back in July. He cost Arteta’s side £48.5m, and has made a strong start to life at the Emirates Stadium. Although he’s yet to register a goal involvement, the winger creates an average of 2.3 chances per game in the Premier League.

The good form on show at the start of his Arsenal career from the England international has left many people impressed. One of those is BBC Sport’s tactics correspondent Umir Irfan, who said the winger has been “sensational” for the Gunners so far.

It is not just Madueke who has shone in an Arsenal shirt already. Eze, too, has been impressive. The England international completed a dream move to North London after previously playing for the club’s academy in his youth.

In seven appearances and 470 minutes for the Gunners so far, the former Crystal Palace star has one goal and two assists. That includes a sensational pass for Gabriel Martinelli to set up a crucial equaliser against Man City last weekend.

Both Madueke and Eze have performed well for the Gunners this season and are already key parts of Arteta’s squad. There is another key player who has also performed well, and is valued even higher than the England duo.

The Arsenal star worth more than Madueke and Eze

Arsenal’s summer signings have certainly enhanced an already talented squad, which can hopefully push them over the line for the Premier League title. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are two examples of that.

Well, another man who could be considered in that same bracket is talented defender Jurrien Timber, who signed for the club from Ajax for £38m in 2023. The Dutchman, described as a “diamond” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has cemented himself as Arteta’s first-choice right-back this season.

The former Ajax star has played 90 minutes in the last three of Arsenal’s Premier League matches and in their Champions League win over Athletic Club. His 64-minute performance against Leeds United saw him score twice and assist once, too.

Despite being in his third year as a Gunner, the 24-year-old missed almost all of his first season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Last season, he also missed a few games due to fitness issues.

But Timber has fully recovered now. The defender has shown this season just how good he is, which the stats back up. For example, per 90 minutes this season, he’s averaged 5.4 tackles and interceptions and 1.5 key passes.

Minutes

72.2

433

Key passes

1.5

7

Passes completed

36.8

177

Tackles and interceptions

5.4

26

Expected goal involvements

0.35xGI

1.67

With form like that in mind, it may not come as a shock that Timber is worth even more than both Madueke and Eze, according to Football Transfers. The Dutch star is valued at £57m, which certainly reflects his excellent performances.

In comparison, Arsenal’s new attacking duo are not worth quite as much. Former Palace star Eze is closer, with Football Transfers valuing him at £53.6m. As for ex-Chelsea winger Madueke, he’s said to be worth just shy of £45m.

Given just how key Timber is to Arsenal’s side, due to his quality on the ball and tenacity without it, there might not be much surprise to learn he has such a high value, but it does show that Arteta hit the jackpot on him because his value has soared from £38m to £57m within the space of two years.

Madueke and Eze are key members of the Arsenal squad, but Timber’s quality and importance to Arteta mean he is worth even more than the attacking pair.

Arsenal hit gold on "world-class" monster worth millions more than Saliba

The incredible international could go down as a legend for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 26, 2025

While it hasn’t been the perfect start to the season for Arsenal, it’s been a pretty good one.

Mikel Arteta’s side have had to play Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Newcastle United in the Premier League, and have come out with seven points out of a possible 12 from those specific games.

Add to that thumping wins over Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, and a good 2-0 win away to Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, and it’s hard not to be optimistic about the campaign ahead.

However, there have still been a few problems here and there, whether it be mounting injuries or a perceived lack of threat, especially when it comes to the club’s new talisman, Viktor Gyokeres.

It’s been a mixed start to life in England for the Swede, which isn’t helped by a former Arsenal striker outperforming him on the continent.

Gyokeres' start to the season with Arsenal

Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, it’s worth stating that, despite what some would have you believe online, Gyokeres has not had a terrible start to his Arsenal career, far from it.

However, it’s equally true that, so far anyway, the former Sporting CP star has not been the monstrous goal machine some had thought or hoped he’d be. After all, this is a player who found the net on over 50 occasions last term in Portugal.

He is officially the best striker in the world, so the Ballon d’Or awards would have you believe, anyway, so this certainly wasn’t a poor use of funds over the summer.

However, while he scored a wonderful goal and a penalty against Leeds, and then got himself another against Forest, it would be fair to say that the 27-year-old has struggled somewhat in the big games.

Granted, a significant reason he hasn’t been able to find the back of the net in the big games is the lack of service he’s received from his teammates, but even then, the very best strikers in world football can create their own chances.

His performance against Newcastle was a bit of a mixed bag as well.

While he held up the ball well at times, made some good runs and even won a penalty, which was then overturned, he still failed to do the most crucial thing: score.

Moreover, there were more than a few moments in which he got his feet stuck under himself, or took a touch too many and lost the ball in an advantageous position.

Yet, with all that said, it’s still early in the season, and as his teammates get more and more comfortable with his style of play, there is every chance he becomes that goal machine so many thought he’d be.

However, as things stand, he is currently being outperformed by a former Arsenal star whom Arteta let leave for free.

The former Arsenal star outperforming Gyokeres

While there are probably a few Arsenal players who could fit this label at the moment, the star in question is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabonese striker joined the Gunners back in the 2018 winter window, and to say he justified his £56m price tag would be a massive understatement.

The former Borussia Dortmund star would go on to become the fastest player in the club’s history to score 50 goals; he’d play a crucial role in their 2020 FA Cup triumph and even wear the captain’s armband at points.

However, after the goals began to dry up, and he fell out with Arteta over discipline and his off-the-pitch behaviour, his contract was terminated by mutual agreement in January 2022, which allowed him to join Barcelona for free in the same month.

He’d only stay in Spain for half a season before spending a dreadful year back in London with Chelsea, after which he made his way to Marseille, and once again regained his out-of-this-world ability.

In a single campaign in the South of France, the former Arsenal star scored 30 goals and provided 11 assists in 51 appearances, but instead of staying on, he made a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League.

Unsurprisingly, the “world-class” striker, as dubbed by Behdad Eghbali, also performed brilliantly in the Middle Eastern state, racking up an impressive tally of 24 goal involvements in 36 games for Al-Qadsiah.

Fortunately, the Laval-born monster felt the urge to return to European football this season and rejoined Marseille in the summer.

Since his return to the French giants, the 36-year-old has once again shown his quality, scoring three goals and providing one assist in just six appearances, totalling 337 minutes.

Appearances

6

8

Minutes

337′

572′

Goals

3

3

Assists

1

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.66

0.37

Minutes per Goal Involvement

84.25′

190.66′

In other words, he is averaging a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or every 84.25 minutes, which, unfortunately for Arteta and Co, means he’s currently outperforming Gyokeres, and by some margin.

For comparison’s sake, the Swede’s three goal involvements in eight appearances, totalling 572 minutes, come out to an average of one every 2.66 games, or every 190.66 minutes.

Ultimately, it would probably be untrue to claim that Aubameyang is currently a better striker than Gyokeres, but Arsenal fans will be hoping the former Sporting star can start putting the ball in the back of the net more regularly as the season goes on.

Arsenal have signed a "Fabregas-type" player and he's "near-perfect"

The international ace has been a monster for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 29, 2025

اتخذ نادي مانشستر سيتي قرارًا حاسمًا بشأن النجم المصري عمر مرموش، فيما يتعلق ببطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا المرتقبة، التي ستنطلق في المغرب في شهر ديسمبر المقبل.

وتستضيف المغرب بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا في الفترة بين 21 ديسمبر و18 يناير المقبل.

ويشارك منتخب مصر في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا حيث يتواجد في مجموعة تضم كلًا من أنجولا، جنوب إفريقيا وزيمبابوي.

وذكرت صحيفة “ديلي ميل” الإنجليزية أن مانشستر سيتي لن يسمح لمهاجمه عمر مرموش بالتواجد في معسكر تدريبي رفقة منتخب بلاده قبل كأس أمم إفريقيا.

وعاد مرموش إلى الملاعب مؤخرًا بعد غياب دام أكثر من شهر، بسبب إصابة في الركبة تعرض لها خلال فترة التوقف الدولي في سبتمبر.

اقرأ أيضًا | مواعيد مباريات مانشستر سيتي في شهر نوفمبر 2025.. مواجهة ليفربول

وجاءت عودة مرموش تدريجيًا قبل خوضه مباراة سوانزي سيتي في كأس كاراباو يوم الأربعاء الماضي، حيث سجل هدفًا رائعًا وساهم في تأهل مانشستر سيتي إلى دور ربع النهائي.

وقد يفتقد مانشستر سيتي خدمات عمر مرموش لمدة تصل إلى 10 مباريات حال وصول منتخب مصر إلى الأدوار الإقصائية في كأس أمم إفريقيا.

وسيخوض منتخب مصر مباراة ودية ضد نيجيريا في 14 ديسمبر القادم، لكن مانشستر سيتي سيسافر إلى كريستال بالاس في الدوري الإنجليزي في نفس اليوم، ويرغب في أن يكون مرموش متاحًا.

وأوضحت الصحيفة أنه من المتوقع أن ينضم مرموش إلى منتخب بلاده بعد تلك المباراة أمام كريستال بالاس، بينما يواجه ليفربول قرارًا مشابهًا مع محمد صلاح، حيث قرر المدرب حسام حسن الاستعانة به.

ومن المقرر أن يواجه ليفربول برايتون في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز في اليوم السابق، ومن المرجح أن يُتخذ قرار بشأن مشاركة صلاح إذا ما تم اختياره، كما هو متوقع، من قبل مصر لمواجهة نيجيريا.

ويبدأ منتخب مصر مشواره في كأس أمم إفريقيا بمباراته ضد زيمبابوي يوم 22 ديسمبر، ثم جنوب إفريقيا 26 وأنجولا 29.

West Ham United have made another disastrous start to the season, with under-fire manager Graham Potter at the centre of reports that he could be sacked after just nine months in charge of the east London club.

Graham Potter's terrible West Ham start in numbers

Numbers never lie, and the statistics from Potter’s tenure at West Ham so far make for pretty grim reading.

Potter’s men have shipped 11 goals already this term, and out of every West Ham side in Premier League history, only Avram Grant’s Hammers from 2010/2011 have conceded more at this stage of the season — they were relegated.

Potter has also recorded the second-worst Premier League win percentage of any West Ham manager since the competition’s inception, behind only Grant, and even the maligned Julen Lopetegui fared better last season.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12, Graham Potter

27.3%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

West Ham’s losses so far have all come by a three-goal margin too, and it’s the joint-earliest a Premier League team has lost this many games by such a score since Bournemouth in 2022/2023 — who eventually avoided a drop to the Championship by the skin of their teeth.

To make matters even less flattering for Potter, he also boasts the worst overall record of every single present Premier League club since his appointment in January.

Taking all of this into consideration, alongside the lack of a real playing identity under the 50-year-old, it is hardly surprising that West Ham are backing Potter for now but have a number of managers on their shortlist in case they decide to part company.

According to reliable media sources, like GiveMeSport’s Ben Jacobs, West Ham have internally discussed hiring Sean Dyche, Nuno Espírito Santo and former boss Slaven Bilic.

The latter, who was a fan favourite and managed the Irons from 2015 to 2017, took charge of 109 games before David Sullivan and the board replaced him with David Moyes on an interim basis.

Now, Bilic is emerging as a favourite for the potential West Ham job, as Sullivan apparently favours re-hiring the Croatian over alternative candidates (Ben Jacobs).

The 57-year-old’s stance on a return to east London has now emerged too, courtesy of Jack Rosser in The Sun.

Slaven Bilic would love to re-join West Ham amid Graham Potter uncertainty

According to Rosser, Bilic would be open to a West Ham comeback as senior figures present him as an option, but there is an err of caution as it is also believed that the tactician has offers from elsewhere.

In his opening season, Bilic guided the club to one of their highest ever league finishes, seventh, which also earned them a place in the early Europa League qualifying rounds.

West Ham finished 11th in his second campaign before Bilic was shown the door early in his third season, having left with the club sitting in the relegation zone, but Rosser also reports that Bilic would come in on an initial caretaker basis.

Matches

109

Wins

42

Draws

30

Losses

37

Goals scored

160

Goals conceded

167

Points

156

Average points per game

1.43

via Transfermarkt

Amid the fierce backlash from West Ham supporters, who are planning protests this Saturday before their home game against Crystal Palace, the board is under mounting pressure, and it is vital they get their next appointment right if Potter does leave.

Bilic has been out of management for well over a year, departing Saudi side Al-Fateh in 2024, and it is very debatable whether the ex-Hammers defender is really the right man to take them forward, especially with Nuno also readily available.

That being said, Bilic was once a popular figure, with Aaron Cresswell hailing his passion.

Bournemouth’s stunning rise this season could have taken a very different turn if they had accepted blockbuster bids for in-form star Antoine Semenyo. It has been reported that the Cherries rejected £50 million ($66.5m) offers from both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur for Semenyo in January — a bold call that has since proven to be one of the club’s best decisions in recent memory.

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  Telegraph Sport has revealed that Bournemouth turned down £50 million bids from Manchester United and Tottenham at the start of the January transfer window for Semenyo. Both Premier League giants made formal approaches for the Ghanaian forward, only to be rebuffed almost immediately by the south-coast club. The decision was driven by Bournemouth’s firm stance that Semenyo was a key part of their long-term plans under head coach Andoni Iraola.

  The Cherries were not tempted to engage in negotiations despite the financial incentive. Having already identified who they were willing to sell earlier in the window, Bournemouth made it clear that their attacking talisman was “off limits.” In hindsight, their conviction has been rewarded, as Semenyo’s continued rise has become a cornerstone of their best-ever Premier League start.

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  Dark horses

  The Semenyo saga was emblematic of Bournemouth’s strategic and disciplined approach to the transfer market. Despite selling over £200 million worth of players in the summer — including their goalkeeper and most of their defensive core — the club’s hierarchy operated with a clear plan. They prioritised stability and continuity in key positions, ensuring that any departures were offset by smart recruitment and internal development.

  This deliberate structure has been crucial to their rise under Iraola. The Spaniard’s high-energy, transition-based system relies heavily on wide forwards like Semenyo to stretch defences and dictate tempo and the result has been remarkable.

  After eight games of the new season, Bournemouth sit fifth in the Premier League table with 15 points — their strongest ever start at this level. Far from the relegation battle many predicted, Iraola’s men have emerged as one of the league’s most cohesive and tactically disciplined sides.

• Semenyo's development

  Semenyo’s form this season has justified every ounce of Bournemouth’s faith in him. The 25-year-old winger has been the best player in the Premier League alongside Erling Haaland, scoring six goals and providing three assists in just eight matches. His pace, power, and increasingly refined end product have made him indispensable to Iraola’s setup — and have turned him into one of the most sought-after players outside England’s traditional “big six.”

  The former Bristol City forward enjoyed a strong 2024–25 campaign, scoring 13 goals and registering seven assists across 42 appearances across all competitions. But this year, he has elevated his game to another level, becoming the focal point of Bournemouth’s attack and a constant threat to opposing defences. His performances even earned him the PFA Premier League Fans’ Player of the Month award for September 2025.

  Unsurprisingly, that form has reignited transfer interest from some of Europe’s top clubs. Reports suggest Bournemouth would now demand upwards of £75 million ($100m) to even consider a sale, with Chelsea, Liverpool, and several continental heavyweights monitoring his progress. For now, though, the Cherries are determined to hold on to their star forward at least until next summer.

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  What comes next?

   For Bournemouth, the challenge is to build on their early-season momentum while resisting renewed January approaches for their top performers. The club’s hierarchy has made its stance clear: Semenyo will not be sold midway through the campaign, and their focus remains firmly on securing a top-half finish or even challenging for European football.

  Iraola’s side will continue to rely on the Ghanaian’s influence in the final third, where his dynamism and direct play have been instrumental to their high-tempo identity. Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s success story — blending strategic transfer decisions with on-field consistency — continues to serve as a model for sustainable growth in the Premier League.

  Speaking about Semenyo, Iraola said: “I think Antoine is someone who accepts well our criticisms. If, you know, we always tell him, you need to improve this. You need to improve. You cannot stop here. Not focus in your numbers. Try to help us in other ways. Even in set pieces.

  “The other day, Eli Junior Kroupi scored, but he's the first one. I don't know if he touches the ball, but the first one to flick it or to arrive to those positions. He's adding aerial power to his game.

  “That is always nice. Defensively, he's honest and disciplined and this improves a lot the package. It's not just what people see on the highlights, it's a lot more. I hope he can continue building like this.

  “I think he can get better. Yes. I think there are areas that he knows he has to improve and he's improving and I think all the players can get better. But Antoine, yes, definitely.”