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In a deal that would see the 49ers hand Daniel Farke a solution to his attacking problems, Leeds United are now reportedly closing in on an experienced striker.

Farke still keen to add attacking additions

After his admission that Leeds’ frontline is not quite ready for the Premier League, those at Elland Road have turned towards the transfer market once again for Farke this summer. The Whites have already welcomed six fresh faces, but have now set their sights on some attacking reinforcements to match the likes of Jaka Bijol, who have already boosted their backline.

With one month to go until the transfer window slams shut, just who arrives to take Farke’s attack to Premier League level is the big question. Names such as Rodrigo Muniz and Beto were among the headlines earlier in the window, but it now seems as though Leeds will be forced to look elsewhere.

To that end, Liverpool’s Ben Doak has reportedly emerged as an option. The 19-year-old winger enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Middlesbrough last season and is now free to leave Anfield for around £20m this month.

What’s more, names such as Jonathan Rowe have also been mentioned – a name that Leeds fans will be familiar with thanks to his time at Norwich City.

The England U21 international has reportedly been identified as a key target by those in Yorkshire, as they weight up whether to match his £17m price-tag. Alas, before either of those young stars arrive, Leeds’ focus looks to have turned towards a veteran striker who has scored over 200 career goals.

Leeds closing in on Taremi

According to Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by TeamTalk, Leeds are now closing in on signing Mehdi Taremi from Inter Milan after fending off competition from West Ham United and Nottingham Forest to take pole position for his signature.

Given that Farke wants Premier League-level quality, Leeds’ pursuit of Taremi should come as no surprise. The 33-year-old has scored over 200 career goals and featured for the likes of Porto and, most recently, Inter Milan.

Huge upgrade on Nmecha: Leeds plotting move to sign £26m "monster"

Leeds are in the market for another number nine this summer

4 ByJoe Nuttall Aug 7, 2025

With three goals and nine assists to his name in all competitions last season too, it’s clear that Taremi can still make an impact at the top level – even if that comes as a creator more than a goalscorer these days.

Even in more of a squad role at Inter last season, Taremi still earned impressive praise from the legendary Clarence Seedorf, who said after the forward helped his side defeat Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final: “He was attacking, defending, and he even won one against Lamine Yamal. He really made a difference. Mehdi has been underrated here [at Inter] all year.”

Alexander Isak’s arrival at Liverpool will allow some goal-scoring responsibility to be shifted away from Mohamed Salah, but the Egyptian superstar has been told that the addition of another forward “won’t improve” his numbers. Salah has been a revelation for the Reds, but they have now splashed out £125 million ($170m) on adding Swedish striker Isak to their ranks.

Salah's record: Total number of Liverpool goals

Salah has registered 247 goals for Liverpool through 406 appearances, becoming a club legend at Anfield in the process. He has committed to a new contract that is set to keep him on Merseyside until 2027.

AdvertisementGettyIsak the most expensive signing in British football

Isak has now linked up with the reigning Premier League champions, becoming the most expensive player in British football history, and should help to make Liverpool an even more formidable proposition in the final third of the field.

Isak's impact? What ex-Reds star thinks

Quizzed on whether Isak’s presence could impact Salah’s output, former Reds midfielder Dietmar Hamann – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “Salah found it hard to score from open play in the second half of last season. Once you get past 30, and I think he’s 33 now, there aren’t an awful lot of players scoring on a consistent basis in the Premier League. You’ve got [Robert] Lewandowski who does it, you’ve got [Harry] Kane; in the Premier League, you don’t.

“Salah was a freak of nature, very rarely injured, the numbers he got. But I think everything will deteriorate at some stage, and I think we saw it at times last season. Again this year he hasn’t found it easier scoring goals, creating or getting chances. The dynamic has changed as well because in the past Salah was the guy they looked for. Now it might be [Florian] Wirtz, even though he’s had a very disappointing start to his Liverpool career, and now with Isak coming in, obviously there are two ways of seeing it.

“You can say there’s another guy taking attention and maybe taking balls away from Salah. On the other hand, you can say maybe it gives him a bit more space because they have to look after two or three top players. My gut feeling is that the arrival of Isak won’t improve Salah’s numbers.”

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Getty ImagesWill Wirtz come good for Liverpool?

Having hinted at Wirtz’s slow start to life in England, Hamann went on to say of his fellow German – who moved to Anfield in a £116m ($158m) transfer of his own – and what a successful debut campaign with Liverpool will look like: “Well, if they win the league and he contributes, I’d say he’s done his job. He’s a young player, but age doesn’t really come into it because he cost a lot of money.

“I wouldn’t like to quote you a number. But obviously it’s got to start at some stage, because he’s had a disappointing start to his career. It’s a different game, it’s more physical, it’s quicker, and free kicks aren’t given as easily as in Germany. This is something he has to learn.

“When you come to England, you have to mature quickly, because if he has another two or three disappointing performances, I don’t think [Arne] Slot will worry about it, but there might be a time where he says, ‘Maybe it’s better I leave him out for half an hour or 60 minutes’. And if the team does well, then you might have a problem. Then again, they’ve got so many games there’ll be time for everybody. But you want him to come good sooner rather than later.

“I’m not a big fan of assists because if you pass the ball three yards and somebody knocks it in the top corner from 40 yards, you get an assist for it, so I’m not a big assists man. I know how good he is and I’ve told everybody how good he is. I hope he does come good sooner rather than later. In all competitions, I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t get into double figures for goals.”

Afternoon and evening sessions belonged to Sri Lanka with their top four producing best collective effort

Andrew Fidel Fernando06-Dec-2024Kyle Verreynne’s manic sprint to a third Test century lit up the second morning and sent South Africa speeding to a total of 358. But the afternoon and evening sessions belonged to Sri Lanka. Their top four produced their best collective effort in the series so far, with Pathum Nissanka hitting 89 off 157 balls, forging a 109-run second wicket stand with Dinesh Chandimal.With Angelo Mathews not out on 40 at stumps, and Kamindu Mendis unbeaten on 30, Sri Lanka have seven wickets in hand, and are well-placed to take a lead in the first innings. They have for the first time in the series, put serious pressure on a South Africa attack that seemed short of options on a flattening Gqeberha deck.Kagiso Rabada was the most menacing of their bowlers, conceding only 40 and taking the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne for the third time in the series, in his 15 overs. He’d also had Nissanka dropped by David Bedingham at second slip, on 22. Sri Lanka negotiated Marco Jansen with much more confidence than they had in the first Test, in which he’d claimed 11 wickets. By stumps, Jansen had given away 75 off his 18 overs, and was the only frontline bowler without a wicket.Though there were occasional plays and misses against Rabada in particular, Nissanka was largely watchful, scoring only eight runs off his first 50 deliveries. He eventually began to attack the shorter deliveries, and it was the pull shot that he favoured through the remainder of the innings, taking to Jansen’s shorter balls in particular. Most of his run-scoring came square of the wicket, and he raised his batting tempo in Chandimal’s company, settling into accumulation mode against the spin of Keshav Maharaj in particular.That he got out to Maharaj, whom he had early clubbed for six over deep midwicket, will particularly rankle, especially as he was nearing a century. He merely ran at the bowler, attempted a cross-batted shot to a ball that was full, and essentially yorked himself, the ball going on to clatter into leg stump.Pathum Nissanka brought up his ninth 50+ score in Tests•AFP/Getty ImagesStill, the stand between him and Chandimal had provided Sri Lanka a platform. Chandimal was looser with his strokeplay than either opener had been, and collected edged fours behind the wicket early on. He nevertheless stuck at it alongside Nissanka, until a tentative prod against Dane Paterson ended with him being snaffled behind the stumps.Mathews was also somewhat tetchy at the beginning of his innings, but found some boundaries down the ground, and settled into a rhythm later. Kamindu Mendis appeared assured from the outset. The two put on 43 runs together before stumps.The morning, however, had been reigned by Verreynne. Having lost Keshav Maharaj without South Africa adding to their overnight score, Verreynne put on 66 with Rabada, as Sri Lanka turned almost solely to bouncers and short deliveries to blast the final two wickets out. Verreynne crashed three boundaries between deep backward square leg and deep midwicket in one Asitha Fernando over to really get his engine roaring, before venturing even bigger hits when Rabada was bowled by Asitha, and he was left with the No. 11 for company.With 19 runs still to get for his hundred, Verreynne yanked the throttle with even more intensity, first smashing Prabath Jayasuriya over cow corner for six, before mowing Asitha into the banks to get within one strike of a 100. He reached triple figures with another mighty pull in that same over, sending the ball sailing over fine leg’s head.The milestone sparked wild celebrations, a bow from Verreynne to the dressing room, and a bear-hug from Paterson. Verreynne himself likely did not anticipate that a century would be on the cards when the morning’s play began, but finished unbeaten on 105 off 133 balls, having reaped 58 off 50 balls on day two.Lahiru Kumara claimed the last South Africa wicket, and ended with 4 for 79. Asitha and Vishwa Fernando shared five wickets between them.

Robert Sanchez made unwanted history with a disastrous early red card against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday evening. The Blues’ goalkeeper endured a shaky start, fumbling simple touches, but matters escalated catastrophically when Bryan Mbeumo surged through on goal.

Sanchez given his marching orders

Benjamin Sesko’s flick-on sent Mbeumo behind Chelsea’s defence, and Sanchez made a split-second decision to charge from his line. The moment backfired spectacularly. Mbeumo toyed with the Spanish stopper, rolling the ball around him before Sánchez’s outstretched leg brought him crashing down. The referee’s whistle followed immediately – red card. It became Chelsea’s earliest in the Premier League era and ranks as the third-fastest goalkeeper sending-off in the history of the competition.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMaresca makes a couple of brave calls

Enzo Maresca could do little but watch as his goalkeeper trudged off, gloves in hand, the early dismissal leaving the Blues with 10 men in the first quarter of the match. Backup keeper Filip Jorgensen was hurried onto the pitch, replacing Estevao, while Maresca, refusing to let the chaos settle, made a bold tactical tweak. Pedro Neto was sacrificed, making way for centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo. The Blues switched to a five-man defence, packing the backline with Tosin alongside Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah, flanked by Reece James and Marc Cucurella.

United pounce as blues struggle

Playing with a man down so early, Chelsea struggled to keep their shape. United wasted no time exploiting the numerical advantage. Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro found the net before the half-time whistle, putting the visitors in command with a 2-0 lead. Chalobah pulled one back, giving the Blues a glimmer of hope, but the deficit proved too large to bridge.

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Getty Images SportMidweek focus shifts to cup duties

Chelsea will now look to regroup ahead of their midweek assignment against Lincoln City in the third round of the EFL Cup. The fixture provides an opportunity to restore confidence before they host Brighton next weekend at Stamford Bridge.

Birmingham City have found their return to Championship life to be comfortable so far.

Unlike fellow promoted new side Wrexham, who have already been made well aware of the jump-up in quality, Chris Davies’ Blues look ready for the challenge ahead of the 46-game marathon, having recently fought back dramatically to win 2-1 at Blackburn Rovers.

Having also just been acknowledged at the PFA Awards with seven members of the Birmingham first team squad in League One Team of the Year, everything appears to be rosy currently at St. Andrew’s.

That’s the case even after rumours linking the Blues to an audacious move for Aleksandar Mitrovic were rubbished, with the temporary thought of Mitrovic leading the line for another Championship side a terrifying prospect.

Birmingham's rumoured interest in Mitrovic

There may well have been some weight behind Birmingham plotting a stunning move for the ex-Fulham attacker, considering they have forked out a notable £10m on Kyogo Furuhashi’s services in recent times.

However, landing the Serbian would have undoubtedly been the signing of the summer from the Blues’ perspective – away from the former Celtic man’s arrival on to the scene – when you assess his unbelievable goalscoring exploits in the EFL’s elite division previously.

In total, Mitrovic has managed to bag an insane 83 strikes from just 126 career appearances in the competitive league, with 43 of those coming during just one Championship season.

Of course, it wasn’t just Birmingham taking a look at Mitrovic in isolation, unfortunately, with Leeds United and Sunderland also named as other parties keen on snapping up the imposing centre-forward.

The Al-Hilal attacker wouldn’t be joining the Blues camp on a cheap deal, either, with reports suggesting that he had a £26m price-tag above his head, before you even factor in his wild £414k-per-week salary in the Saudi Pro League, as per Capology.

Therefore, it’s safe to assume – despite Journalist Alex Crook hinting on talkSPORT (17:55, 17th August) that it could have been a possibility – that Mitrovic leaving the luxuries of the Middle East behind for St. Andrew’s was always going to be far-fetched to pull off.

Transfer Focus

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

However, going back in for this former target does seem more realistic and a perfect way to get over this ambitious switch not happening.

Birmingham can forget Mitrovic by signing £13m star

For half of Mitrovic’s extortionate valuation, Birmingham could set their sights on this alternative figure up top instead, with Che Adams – who is worth £13m according to Football Transfers – tipped for a return to St Andrew’s.

As was reported earlier this month, the Championship newcomers still hold some interest in bringing their former striker back to the West Midlands, having been in the race for his signature earlier in the transfer window.

While he might not boast a 43-goal season at the unforgiving level, the Scotsman certainly knows how to find the back of the net with some venom in the EFL’s top league to be seen as an adequate move to go after, instead of landing a more expensive Mitrovic.

Indeed, Adams has managed to register a healthy 49 Championship strikes across his well-travelled career to date, with his last season at the punishing level seeing him bag a career-best 17 goals as his then employers Southampton soared up to the Premier League.

Southampton

191

48 + 21

Birmingham

123

38 + 13

Sheffield United

55

15 + 5

Torino

39

10 + 4

This will surely pique Birmingham’s interest as they try to make the best possible moves to ensure back-to-back promotions occur, with the 29-year-old proving himself to be a reliable goal machine wherever he’s been across his playing days so far. Indeed, ex-Torino manager Paolo Vanoli hailed him as “perfect” for the Serie A side’s system when powering home ten strikes from 39 clashes in Italy.

Rather than Mitrovic ditching the Saudi Pro League for a chance back in England, therefore, it could soon be Adams tempted by a second chance at glory with his ex-side.

In an ideal world, Birmingham might well have shown more purpose as they attempted to bring Mitrovic into the building on a statement deal.

But, any potential lost move for the ex-Championship menace irking Birmingham will be swept under the carpet if Adams joins Davies’ camp last minute, especially if he powers home more crucial second-tier strikes to add another promotion up to the Premier League on his resume.

Birmingham eyeing "great player" with 44 Premier League goal contributions

What a signing this could be.

ByHenry Jackson Aug 19, 2025

With the loss Renegades’ chances of making it to the playoffs took a massive beating

AAP14-Jan-2025Big hitting from Hobart Hurricanes mainstays Matthew Wade and Tim David has proved to be the difference in a crucial win over Melbourne Renegades in Hobart.The four-wicket home win with two balls left, however, has come at a potentially high cost, with opening bowler Billy Stanlake injuring his shoulder only six days out from the knockouts. The win puts Hurricanes on top of the points table with two games left and almost ends Renegades’ slim playoffs hopes.Sent into bat, Renegades fought hard after another top-order collapse, but their 154 for 7 was not enough. In the chase then, after limping to 66 for 4 at the ten-over mark, Hurricanes steadied through Nikhil Chaudhary’s 36. Wade then belted 36 from 23 balls with five fours and one six, but his dismissal in the 17th over meant another plot twist, with Hurricanes needing eight off the last over.Tom Rogers was unlucky not to trap David leg before with the third ball of the over – the review showed it pitched just outside off stump. Rogers tried a yorker with the next ball and David hoiked the low full toss over deep square leg for a massive six that tied the scores.David’s single then won the game and he hit an unbeaten 24 from 15 balls, including two fours and a six.Jacob Bethell scored a fluent 87 off 50 balls•Getty ImagesJacob Bethell picked two wickets with his left-arm spin after anchoring the Renegades with a 50-ball 87.The Hurricanes won the toss and paid a high price for the first Renegades wicket when Stanlake took a great diving catch off Riley Meredith to dismiss Josh Brown. Stanlake immediately held his right shoulder and briefly left the field. He twice tried to start the next over, but pulled up in his delivery stride and went off the ground again for the rest of the innings.The Renegades’ top order failed again and were in trouble at 23 for 3 and then 69 for 4. Then Bethell combined with Tim Seifert (24) and Sutherland (15) to put the pressure back on the hosts.Bethell was run out in the last over after facing 50 balls, with eight fours and four sixes. Meredith was the pick of the Hurricanes attack, taking 3 for 36 from four overs.Hurricanes brought in Caleb Jewell and Jake Doran for Ben McDermott (hamstring) and Chris Jordan (back), while Renegades’ left-arm wristpinner Callum Stow took a wicket on debut after he replaced Kane Richardson (soreness).

The team made gains on the bowling rankings as well with Kuldeep Yadav ranked third and Jadeja tenth

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2025After India’s unbeaten run through the Champions Trophy, several of their star performers have moved up the ICC’s ODI rankings. They make up four of the top-eight batters in the world with Shubman Gill still at No. 1. Rohit Sharma, Player of the Final for his match-winning 76, has moved up two places to No. 3, and Virat Kohli, with 218 runs in the tournament, is at No. 5. Shreyas Iyer has retained his No. 8 spot.The side’s third Champions Trophy title was set up by their spinners and two of them have made it to the top ten on the bowlers’ rankings. Kuldeep Yadav, who began his spell in the final with a wicket, is up at third place, and in tenth is Ravindra Jadeja, who had a miserly economy rate of 4.35 in the tournament.Full rankings tables

Click here for the full team rankings

Click here for the full player rankings

India’s next ODI assignment is away in Bangladesh in August, followed by ODIs in Australia in October-November. South Africa and New Zealand then tour India over December and January, and one question has been whether Rohit and Kohli continue playing the format with the 2027 ODI World Cup still quite far away.Ricky Ponting, though, believes Rohit certainly has some unfinished business in the ODI game. “I think probably the fact that they lost the last one [2023 World Cup in India] and he was captain, that might be the thing that’s playing on the back of his mind,” Ponting told . “Just have one more crack at trying to win the T20 World Cup, the Champions Trophy, and the ODI World Cup. I mean when you see him play like he played in the Champions Trophy final, you wouldn’t say that his time is up just yet.”Santner, Bracewell, Ravindra zoom upNew Zealand’s players made significant gains as well after their team’s run to the final of the Champions Trophy. Captain Mitchell Santner is ranked second on the ODI bowlers’ list, moving up six places on the back of several eye-catching performances. Santner finished with nine wickets in the tournament with an economy rate of 4.80.Santner is also fourth on the ODI allrounders’ rankings with Michael Bracewell, who made a fifty in the final and was New Zealand’s second-highest wicket-taker in the Champions Trophy, in seventh place.The other standout New Zealand player, Rachin Ravindra, who was the highest-scorer of the competition, jumped 14 places to 14th on the ODI batters’ rankings and eight places up to eighth in the allrounders rankings.

Kylian Mbappe was hiding in the background while Xabi Alonso soliloquised. It was just after the opening game of the Champions League group phase. Mbappe had pieced together a remarkable Blancos rescue act, scoring twice to overturn a 1-0 deficit (and he might have had one or two more.) Alonso was singing his praises. He hailed Mbappe's "incredible impact", and promised that they were "just getting started.” And then, as he realised Mbappe was in the room – just out of the shot – he tailed off.

It was a funny moment, but one that encapsulates the Alonso-Mbappe dynamic this season. Thus far, the Spaniard has made Mbappe the centre of his team, the focal point Mbappe perhaps always wished he could be. But, as with the rest of this Madrid team, Alonso has also been remarkably stern. Mbappe has not been allowed to dictate this team. Instead, he has been asked to play in different roles, embrace various styles – and trust that the goals will come as a result.

And in the early goings of the season it seems that the two have an excellent working relationship. Mbappe trusts Alonso. Alonso trusts Mbappe. Madrid might just have unlocked the Frenchman's best in cultivating that partnership. 

AFPA difficult first season

It is worth remembering, first, how we got here. Mbappe's first season at Madrid was a strange one. The raw numbers were nothing short of staggering. He bagged 31 goals in La Liga and 42 in all competitions. He set the record for the most goals in a debut season for the club and won the European Golden Boot. He established himself as the only Madrid player to score in seven different competitions in a single season. 

This is the elite goalscorer Madrid knew they had signed. But the bigger picture isn't so flattering. Madrid may have gotten goals out of Mbappe, but they got little else. 

It wasn't just a lack of assists as much as the way he failed to work as part of the collective. He didn't press. He didn't run. He invaded spaces that others liked to operate in. For a lot of the season, it felt like Mbappe scoring lots of goals while 10 others watched. 

The result was a team-wide failure, Madrid finishing second in La Liga, being bounced from the Champions League, and going a full season without a major trophy. It cost Carlo Ancelotti his job, and threw the rest of the side into jeopardy.

AdvertisementAFPClub World Cup questions

It all left things a little uncertain. The Club World Cup always felt like a bit of a wash for Madrid. They might have retooled before the tournament, but there was an overwhelming sense that they were an incomplete side, outmatched by whomever they faced. 

Paris Saint-Germain beat them in the semi-final emphatically, and it really wasn't much of a surprise. After that game, Los Blancos' media team didn't make a single player available to awaiting journalists. 

Mbappe was hospitalised for a few days during the group stage, but still managed to appear in all three knockout games. In fairness, he grabbed a signature moment, burying an acrobatic volley late on to defeat a resilient Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-final. But he turned in an anonymous showing in the semis against his former club, going 90 minutes without having a real impact.

In fact, the real star of that tournament for Madrid was someone who operated in Mbappe's position. Gonzalo Garcia, a little known academy striker heading into the tournament, paced Madrid's attack during the group stage, scoring in each of Los Blancos' first three games. There was scattered talk that with Vinicius Jr and Mbappe dueling for two spots, he could also make a push. 

Getty Images'Kylian understands football very well'

Alonso did away with those concerns from day one. Mbappe has started every single game for Madrid thus far, and played all-but 16 minutes of Los Blancos' perfect start to the season. 

Nominally, he has operated as a striker, but Alonso has been flexible in the way he has used him. Indeed, the manager relies heavily on positional play, asking his side to fill individual tasks within a position. Against Osasuna, in the first week of the season, Mbappe played much like a traditional striker – staying mostly central, and offering a run off the last defender when Madrid had a chance to hit on the break. He grabbed the only goal in a slightly unconvincing 1-0 win. 

But he has filled other roles, too. Against Espanyol, he started up front with Garcia. It seemed a confusing set-up. But instead of having two alongside each other, Alonso used Mbappe as a second striker of sorts, linking play and working in coordination with the midfield.

"Today he played in a more different role, as a playmaker," Alonso explained after the game. "We talked about the responsibility he had to be closer to Urko (Gonzalez de Zarate). On (Marko) Dmitrovic’s long balls, that superiority was important. Kylian understands football very well. Today in his role, in a different position, as a second striker, he did very well."

It would perhaps be a bit premature to dub Mbappe a "complete striker". There is a long way to go on that front. But his improvements are clear to see.

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Getty ImagesThe impressive numbers

But more than anything, Mbappe is a goalscorer. That's why he's here. Sure, Madrid can try to tinker with more versatile genres of him, ask him to do different things against different teams; that's just good coaching. But getting Mbappe into positions where he can put the ball into the net is absolutely vital. And the stats there aren't bad, either. 

Mbappe has scored seven in six games. He bagged two against Levante in a 4-1 win, two against Oviedo in a 3-0 win, and played a crucial role in a signature Champions League comeback. He has scored or assisted in all but one of Los Blancos' contests so far.

The underlying numbers make for good reading, too. Mbappe is being clinical in front of goal. Thirty-three percent of his shots have been on target – the best mark in the league. He leads La Liga in goals, expected goals and shots. But he has also created 18 chances, and is in the 96th percentile in pass completion percentage.

More impressive, though, are his defensive figures. He has won possession in the final third 10 times, putting him in the 99th percentile among all La Liga players. He is winning his duels at a higher rate than in previous years. 

So, while the assumption had always been that Mbappe was perhaps a little one-dimensional, that perception is eroding, little by little.

Birmingham City are now waiting to be given the “green-light” over the signing of a “valuable” £3m attacking player on deadline day.

Davies wants last-gasp signings for Birmingham

The Blues were beaten 2-0 away to Leicester City on Friday evening – their first Championship defeat of the season – perhaps highlighting the need for late summer transfer business.

That’s certainly the opinion of Birmingham manager Chris Davies, even though he has stressed that not a huge amount needs to be done on deadline day.

“I think we’re trying to finish the squad off in the next few days. I don’t think there’s going to be loads and loads going on, but we do need reinforcements in certain areas. We need to add to it a little bit, but there’s a lot of moving parts to that, like most clubs. So, I haven’t been too focused on that this last couple of days, but we can pick that up now this game’s finished.

“I think we need a little bit of reinforcement, just depth in our defensive area and again, we could do with a bit more depth, maybe higher up the pitch as well. But we have to see what the squad looks like in the next couple of days because there’s a lot of moving parts to it, as I said. But everyone’s trying, we’ll see what happens.”

Birmingham waiting for "green-light" over signing

Now, writing on X, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph claimed on Sunday that Birmingham are awaiting the “green-light” to sign Hyun-jun Yang for £3m from Celtic, following talks over the weekend.

Signing Yang before the window closes would be ideal for the Blues, giving Davies that extra bit of attacking quality that he could crave in his side’s Championship promotion push. The South Korean can shine on both flanks and in a central role, so he feels ideal.

The 23-year-old has 16 goal contributions in 70 appearances, and his end product should only improve with age, with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers praising him as a player.

“He’s obviously a young player still developing and adapting to the culture and everything about the game here and the size of the club. But he’s made a valuable contribution for us this season. When he’s been asked to play, he’s done well.”

Birmingham City in "talks" to sign" 23 y/o attacker in "permanent" transfer

The forward has been praised for his work ethic.

ByCallum Kemp Aug 28, 2025

Hopefully, a deal for Yang is agreed as soon as possible, potentially making him Birmingham’s final signing of a strong summer in the market.

Tom Bischof is emerging as Bayern Munich’s breakout star this season, blending youthful energy with relentless ambition. The German midfielder, who calls himself a “mentality monster,” has quickly adapted to the rigors of Allianz Arena, thriving under Vincent Kompany and embracing Bayern’s winning mentality as he aims to make an immediate impact on both the domestic and European stage.

Bayern’s dominant season and Bischof’s bright start

Bayern continues to dominate the Bundesliga, securing their sixth consecutive victory defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 and maintaining a perfect start to the campaign. The squad’s mix of seasoned stars and rising talent has created a formidable force on the pitch. Among the newcomers making waves is 20-year-old Bischof, who joined Bayern this summer from Hoffenheim. Bischof has adapted seamlessly to the team’s high standards, fitting into Kompany’s dynamic system and contributing meaningfully to the club’s ongoing success.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport“I’m a mentality monster,” says Bischof

In an interview with Bayern’s Sabener51 magazine, Bischof shared insights into his decision to join the club and the mindset he brings to the squad. He carefully considered the move, listening to advice from Kompany, Max Eberl, and Christoph Freund, while also studying Bayern’s style of play.

"I spent a long time thinking about what the right step would be for me. I didn’t just decide because we’re Bayern fans in my family. I also listened carefully to Vincent Kompany, Max Eberl, and Christoph Freund about what they wanted and expected of me. I watched a lot of Bayern. All of that played a role," Bischof said.

He further added: "“I think the kind of football Bayern plays suits me perfectly. Playing around the box, the high pressing, all of that suits me very well. And besides, I’m a bit of a ‘mental monster. I’m super ambitious, I want to win titles, I want to win every game, absolutely. And that’s FC Bayern’s identity."

Bischof's journey from Hoffenheim to Bayern

Bischof’s rise has been swift. A product of Hoffenheim’s youth academy, he impressed in his breakthrough 2024-25 season, scoring six goals and providing three assists across 42 appearances. His Bundesliga debut for Bayern has already seen him feature in four matches and record one assist, quickly proving his ability to compete at the highest level. Internationally, he has represented Germany at various youth levels and earned his senior debut during the 2024-25 Nations League against France, signaling a promising future for both club and country.

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Getty Images SportBayern's form is the result of collective strength

Bayern's current form is a testament to a squad firing on all cylinders. Harry Kane leads the Bundesliga scoring charts with 11 goals, while Luis Diaz tops the assists table with four, highlighting the potency of Bayern’s attacking and creative play. After the international break, Bayern will test their strength against rivals Borussia Dortmund on October 18.