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It’s still early in the season, but even so, Chelsea’s summer business is starting to look questionable.

For example, Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho do not look at the level required, and Joao Pedro has one goal in his last seven Premier League games.

Moreover, even though Jorrel Hato is one of the most promising young defenders around, he looked out of his depth in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Fortunately, there is plenty of time for the players to come good, although there is another member of Enzo Maresca’s squad who is starting to look like one of Chelsea’s worst ever signings: Danny Drinkwater.

Drinkwater's Chelsea career

Drinkwater first shot to prominence when he played a pivotal role in Leicester City’s legendary Premier League triumph in the 15/16 season.

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The Englishman actually stayed at the King Power Stadium for the following campaign, but then, in the summer of 2017, made a £35m move to Chelsea.

While he was a title-winning midfielder, it felt like something of an unnecessary move from the Blues at the time, but nobody would have predicted quite how poorly it was going to go.

He would only make 22 appearances, totalling 1151 minutes, in his first season, on top of dealing with his role as a squad player, he had to contend with persistent calf injuries.

Unfortunately, the following season was even worse, as in addition to yet more injuries, it also became clear that Marizio Sarri did not fancy him at all, and so he ended the season with a solitary 30-minute appearance in the Community Shield.

The following campaign saw him join Burnley on loan for the first half of the season and Aston Villa for the second half.

However, injuries limited him to two appearances for the former, while a training ground incident saw him return to West London after just four appearances for the latter.

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The writing was on the wall at this point, and after a loan to Turkish side Kasimpasa for half a season in 2020/21, he made one more move to Reading the following year, where he made 34 appearances and then retired.

It would be hard to describe Drinkwater’s move to Chelsea as anything other than a disaster, and while there were some reasons why, it mostly came down to his inability to remain fit.

Unfortunately for Maresca, it appears that he may now have someone like that in his squad today.

Chelsea's modern Drinkwater

While several players in Chelsea’s team have a less-than-ideal injury record, it’ll come as no shock that Roméo Lavia is the star in danger of becoming Maresca’s own Drinkwater.

Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, the Belgian has already shown far more in West London than the former Blues man ever did, but that’s not really the point.

Like the former Leicester star, the 21-year-old has been so incredibly unlucky with injuries, and it’s now got to the point where some fans are questioning whether he should still be at the club come next season.

That might sound extreme, but considering he cost in excess of £45m in 2023, it’s really not.

For example, in his first campaign with the club, the midfielder, whom talent scout Jack Kulig once described as having “enormous potential,” played a single game.

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Then, despite managing 22 appearances last season, they only amounted to 1,069 minutes of action.

This season, he has made seven appearances, totalling 240 minutes, but is now set to be out for some time after suffering yet another injury against Qarabag FK on Wednesday night.

Unfortunately, availability is the best ability, and as one content creator put it, “there is a world-class player in there when he’s fit, but that is the case so rarely.”

Ultimately, Lavia is a better player than Drinkwater was, but due to his inability to remain fit, his Chelsea career could follow the same path.

He was as bad as Hato: Maresca must now ruthlessly drop 5/10 Chelsea dud

It was a night to forget for the Chelsea ace, who was as bad as Jorrel Hato.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 6, 2025

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A Argentina venceu El Salvador por 3 a 0, na noite desta sexta-feira (22), no Estádio Lincoln Financial Field, nos Estados Unidos. Os gols da atual campeã do mundo, que entrou em campo sem Lionel Messi, foram marcados por Romero, Enzo Fernández e Lo Celso.

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⚽ COMO FOI A PARTIDA?
O jogo começou de maneira discreta e a Argentina sequer se esforçou para vencer El Salvador. Inclusive, a atual campeã do mundo estava sem o astro Lionel Messi. No primeiro tempo, Romero e Enzo Fernández marcaram e, na segunda etapa, Lo Celso fechou o placar.

➡️ O QUE VEM POR AÍ?
Agora, a Argentina volta a entrar em campo na quarta-feira (27). Os campeões do mundo vão enfrentar a Costa Rica, às 00h, no Estádio United Airlines Field at the Memorial Coliseum.

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أعلن ييس توروب، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، قائمة الفريق المتوجهة إلى المغرب صباح غد الأربعاء، استعدادًا لخوض مباراة الجيش الملكي.

ومن المقرر أن يلعب الأهلي أمام الجيش الملكي المغربي، في ثان جولات دور المجموعات لبطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، يوم الجمعة المقبل، في المغرب.

طالع|الأهلي يعلن تفاصيل إصابة محمد الشناوي أمام شبيبة القبائل

كان الأهلي قد استهل مشواره في دور المجموعات بتحقيق فوز كبير على حساب شبيبة القبائل الجزائري بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف، في اللقاء الذي جمع الفريقين مساء السبت الماضي على استاد القاهرة الدولي.

وشهدت قائمة الأهلي استبعاد محمد الشناوي حارس مرمى الفريق من رحلة المغرب لمواجهة الجيش الملكي، بسبب الإصابة في العضلة الضامة، وعودة أشرف داري وأحمد رضا بعد تعافيهما من الإصابة. قائمة الأهلي لمواجهة الجيش الملكي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

حراسة المرمى: مصطفى شوبير ومحمد سيحا.

خط الدفاع: ياسين مرعي وأحمد رمضان بيكهام وأشرف داري ومحمد هاني وأحمد نبيل كوكا وياسر إبراهيم ومحمد شكري.

خط الوسط: محمد علي بن رمضان وأحمد رضا ومروان عطية ومحمد مجدي أفشة وإمام عاشور وأليو ديانج وكريم فؤاد.

خط الهجوم: محمد شريف وأحمد سيد زيزو وحمزة عبد الكريم وأشرف بن شرقي ومحمود حسن تريزيجيه وطاهر محمد طاهر.

The Dodgers and Blue Jays battled in the most thrilling World Series in recent memory, with the championship ultimately coming down to extra innings in Game 7.

Unfortunately for Toronto, one side winds up the loser, no matter how good the fight is, and the Blue Jays wound up on the wrong side of the budding Los Angeles dynasty.

But Toronto’s season was still something wholly special, and star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. acknowledged as much in a heartfelt note he shared on Instagram alongside some photos of the Jays’ incredible run.

Guerrero put up one of the greatest postseasons we’ve ever seen from the plate, and his bat was nearly enough to bring Toronto the title.

While they came up just short in 2025, Guerrero is signed with the Jays through 2039, and as he said, plans to be with the team for life.

Sunderland aren’t going to rest on their laurels now that they’ve tasted success in the Premier League.

The hope will be that the Black Cats continue to punch above their weight and secure safety effortlessly, even if the 1-0 defeat away at Fulham last time out saw Regis Le Bris’ men return to league action, after the international break, looking rusty.

Still, with five impressive league wins already under their belt, the Wearside outfit have more than shown that they belong at the very top of English football.

To get over the line, though, and remain in a comfortable mid-table position, Sunderland could be prepared to flex their spending powers once more, as the January transfer window becomes the talk of the town.

The main incoming being hyped up at the moment is Matteo Guendouzi coming to the Stadium of Light, with Le Bris yet to rule out a statement deal.

Why Guendouzi would be a perfect signing

Once upon a time, Guendouzi worked under Le Bris at Lorient, before the French battler would seal a move to England with Arsenal.

While he wasn’t always showered with praise at the Gunners, he did bow out from his final Premier League season in North London with 4.9 duels won on average across 24 league outings, with more grit centrally perhaps what is required, alongside the likes of Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki.

Guendouzi has also matured now into a regular in Serie A with Lazio, away from his previous 57 Premier League appearances at the Emirates, with inviting deliveries such as this one last season, perfect for a commanding Daniel Ballard to latch onto.

In total, the Lazio number eight has six goals and ten assists for the Italian giants.

With an 89% pass accuracy also averaged this season in league action, on top of a high 4.3 ball recoveries being averaged, it’s clear that he won’t move back to England for cheap, as reports suggest that a fee around the £26m mark could do the job.

Sunderland won’t be put off too much, if their excessive summer spending is anything to go by, but a deal in the works for a new star-man might ultimately shove this fan favourite closer to the exit door.

Sunderland's "proper leader" could be on borrowed time

The strange side-effect of winning promotion is that several of the players who clinched Sunderland’s unbelievable return to the Premier League now aren’t quite cut out for the pressures of the big time.

Dan Neil has definitely experienced this first-hand this season so far, with the mega-money arrivals of the aforementioned Xhaka and Sadiki plummeting him down the pecking order, so much so that he has only managed a mere two minutes of action in the bright lights of the Premier League to date.

Staggeringly, if you turn the calendar just back to May, Neil was the memorable captain figure who lifted Sunderland’s jubilant playoff honours at Wembley.

In the regular season, too, the Stadium of Light prodigy also lined up for the Black Cats 44 times, with two goals and three assists coming his way.

Sunderland youngster Harrison Jones would even herald him as a “proper leader” for the club, with Neil rising the ranks to become his boyhood club’s captain figure.

On top of that, he also had admirers in the form of Everton in the bumper summer window, which might be a move he now regrets not accelerating into motion, as he begins to stare the exit door in the face more through lack of gametime than inspired performances.

Journalist James Copley summed it up well when he called him a “bit part” player recently, which is a far cry from his Wembley heroics.

Neil’s last minutes for his hometown club actually came for the U21s as he continues to be frozen out by Le Bris, and with his contract expiring next summer, it’s not a good omen at all for his long-term future at the Premier League newcomers.

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To make matters worse, if Guendouzi were to arrive, Neil would find himself even further down the Frenchman’s selection list, with the 23-year-old simply unable to compete with the wealth of top-flight experience the Lazio man has under his belt.

It will be intriguing to see if any club gambles on Neil’s services in January, with a cut-price deal potentially on the table for a Championship-experienced promotion winner, who is currently valued at around £7m by Transfermarkt.

If no one does come in for him, expect Sunderland to just run his contract down, particularly if Guendouzi is added to the ever-rising wage bill.

An Isidor repeat: Sunderland line up move to sign "special" £4.7m star

Sunderland could win their next Wilson Isidor by going after this star in January.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 24, 2025

Hugh Weibgen was the hero as Queensland recovered from a top-order collapse to post a thrilling two-wicket victory over Western Australia at Allan Border Field.Joel Curtis struck 116 off 108 balls and Sam Whiteman a run-a-ball 83 as WA posted a formidable 321 for 9 on Sunday.In reply, Queensland slumped to 38 for 4 before Weibgen (115* off 94 balls) produced a masterful knock to lift his team to victory with just five balls to spare. Jack Wildermuth (74 off 49) and Michael Neser (41 off 23) also produced important knocks in the remarkable chase.Weibgen, 20 and playing just his second List A match, cracked nine fours and five sixes in an unforgettable innings. Wildermuth provided plenty of fireworks with five fours and six sixes, while Neser (three fours, three sixes) produced a handy late cameo to ensure the required run rate stayed within control.Fittingly, Weibgen hit the winning runs when he crunched a Matthew Kelly full toss for four.WA looked to be in an unbeatable position after removing Queensland’s top order.Dangerman Marnus Labuschagne, who posted 130 in Queensland’s’ win over Victoria earlier this week, was out for 2 off 19 balls. Jack Clayton (5), Matthew Renshaw (5) and Jimmy Peirson (18) were also part of the top-order collapse.Weibgen walked to the crease with the scoreboard reading 38 for 4 in the 13th over.He was dropped on 109 by Sam Fanning with Queensland still needing 11 more runs for victory, and the miss proved costly.Earlier, third-gamer Curtis struck 12 fours and four sixes during his sparkling knock, combining with Fanning for a 124-run third-wicket partnership for WA. Curtis brought up his maiden One-Day Cup century by hooking Neser (1 for 62) for six.It would take something special to remove Curtis, and Mitchell Swepson obliged with a spectacular one-handed catch at mid-off while running with the flight of the ball. Cameron Bancroft’s quest for early-season runs went unfulfilled, as he was out for 12 when he edged Tom Straker behind.Legspinner Swepson snared 4 for 52 and Straker chipped in with 3 for 65, but it was Weibgen’s heroics with the bat that set tongues wagging.

Cristiano Ronaldo was defended by Portugal manager Roberto Martinez after receiving the first red card of his record-shattering international career. CR7 was given his marching orders when earning his 226th cap. He lashed out during a 2026 World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland, with those antics further highlighting how the evergreen 40-year-old has lost none of his passion for the game and appetite for success.

• First red card in 226 appearances: Historic dismissal for Ronaldo

  Portugal could have done with their captain staying on the field, as they trailed 2-0 at the time of his dismissal. Two goals from Troy Parrott condemned them to defeat at the Aviva Stadium. Ronaldo was back in the dressing room by the time that the final whistle blew, having seen red just after the hour mark.

  While the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been known to lose his cool down the years, he had never exploded enough to earn an international suspension. History of the unwanted kind was made on Irish soil.

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  Martinez claims Ireland influenced Ronaldo sending off

  Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson had said in the build-up to the game that Ronaldo’s presence can influence match officials. Portugal coach Martinez referenced those comments when delivering his reaction to a red card that was brandished following a VAR review.

  Martinez said, having seen Ronaldo swing an arm in the direction of Dara O’Shea: "The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games – I think that just deserves credit – and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team.

  "He was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed and obviously when he tries to get away from the defender. I think the action looks worse than what it actually is, I don't think it's an elbow, I think it's a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it.

  "The only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is at the press conference yesterday, your coach was talking about the aspect of the referees being influenced, and then a big centre-half falls on the floor so dramatically at the turn of Cristiano's body."

• Martinez refuses to condemn Ronaldo's actions

  Martinez told other media outlets of seeing his skipper dismissed: "We talked, I think it's difficult for a player like Cristiano who's in the area. He had constant contact with the defenders, grabbing him. There's no violence, he tries to push them away. He was unlucky.

  "I've spoken to him and it's a play that shows his desire to reverse the score. I think the image is worse than the reality and it's good to remember that it's the first expulsion of his career [with the national team]."

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  Ronaldo ban: How many games will CR7 miss?

  Ronaldo will definitely be missing for Portugal when they complete their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Armenia on Sunday. It remains to be seen how many games he is banned for, as he could be stung with a three-match suspension for violent conduct.

  FIFA’s disciplinary code, chapter two, Article 14(i) states: "Players and officials shall be suspended for misconduct as specified below… at least three matches or an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or hitting an opponent or a person other than a match official."

  His fate will be determined by a disciplinary committee. If he were to be hit with a three-game ban, then Ronaldo could miss Portugal’s opening group games at next summer’s finals.

  If Martinez’s men slip into the play-offs, then it would be those games – along with the home date against Armenia – that he sits out. Portugal will be hoping that he is only ruled out for one 90-minute contest.

  Ronaldo, who is still going strong with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, will be desperate not to miss major tournament action having conceded that the 2026 World Cup will be his last – with the legendary frontman set to turn 41 in February.

Chelsea midfielder Roméo Lavia had only just returned to fitness and Enzo Maresca was easing him back into the team gently, but the Belgian could now be set for another spell on the sidelines in what is a frustrating blow.

Chelsea’s Champions League campaign continued on Wednesday night with a hard-fought 2-2 draw away to Qarabag, a result that leaves the Blues frustrated but relieved after squandering a 1-0 lead and facing a difficult fightback against the Azerbaijani minnows.

Maresca’s side started brightly and took an early lead through teenage sensation Estevao after dominating possession and probing Qarabag’s defence.

However, just before halftime, Qarabag stunned Chelsea by turning the game on its head. The visitors struggled to contain Qarabag’s growing threat, and they capitalised with two goals in quick succession. Qarabag’s first equaliser came from a well-placed finish, and 10 minutes later, a second goal from the penalty spot put them unexpectedly 2-1 ahead at the break.

The swift turnaround rattled Chelsea, with the home side taking advantage of poor defensive lapses.

Luckily for the west Londoners, half-time substitute Alejandro Garnacho was quickly on hand to spare their blushes with a clinical finish into the bottom corner just minutes after the restart. Estevao, Enzo Fernández and Facuno Buonanotte all made attempts to win the game for Chelsea, with Garnacho also seeing an added-time effort saved from inside the area.

It was close but no cigar for Chelsea who ended up sharing the spoils, and Garnacho saved them from what would have been an historic loss, as no English team has ever lost to the Azerbaijani side before.

It was an evening of serious reflection for Maresca, who watched on as his side struggled defensively yet again amid reports that Chelsea are prioritising the signing of a centre-back in January.

The occasion was also marred by yet another injury blow for Lavia.

The 21-year-old was given his first starts of the season against Nottingham Forest and Ajax recently as Maresca slowly edged him back into the fold after his recovery from a muscle strain. Chelsea’s boss handed Lavia the nod again at Qarabag, but Lavia was hauled off after just eight minutes with what looks like a quadricep injury.

Going by the player’s own reaction, Lavia’s latest injury might not be minor.

What Roméo Lavia did moments after being taken off against Qarabağ

The Belgium international looked in visible disarray after being taken off against Qarabağ.

Lavia was spotted throwing a water bottle in anger as he made his way for Chelsea treatment, and given how much action he’s missed since joining Chelsea, this could also be put down to pure frustration on his part.

The midfielder, who was signed for around £58 million from Southampton in 2023, missed almost all of his debut season – bar 32 minutes against Crystal Palace – with ankle and hamstring problems. He was forced to sit out a grand total of 226 days last term as well, with Maresca and supporters now anxiously waiting for a more definitive update on his condition.

It’s a crying shame for a player who Maresca branded one of world football’s “best midfielders” when fit and available, but his patches of readiness to play are simply too few and far between.

For BlueCo and the board, an uncomfortable conversation may need to be had soon.

Defending champions MICT bought Shamsi for R500,000 in the September 2025 auction

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-2025Tabraiz Shamsi, the South Africa and MI Cape Town wristspinner, will not feature in the upcoming SA20 season. Shamsi made himself unavailable for personal reasons and has been replaced by allrounder Thomas Kaber, who also bowls left-arm wristspin.MICT’s spin-bowling contingent for the fourth season includes Rashid Khan, George Linde and Dane Piedt. Their fast-bowling attack features Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Corbin Bosch and Dwaine Pretorius.Kaber returns to the franchise he represented in the last two seasons. He played one game in MICT’s 2024-25 title-winning campaign and eight in the 2023-24 season.Related

How the SA20 squads stack up

Graeme Smith: 'Would love to have more Indian players' in SA20

Williamson to replace Taijul at DSG

Overall, Kaber has bowled in seven innings in SA20 and has taken 10 wickets, averaging 16.60 at an economy rate of 8.05. In four batting innings, he has scored just 34 runs but with three unbeaten knocks. In the ongoing CSA T20 Challenge, he has seven wickets in six games for Warriors at an economy rate of 6.31 and average of 17.42.Shamsi was picked by MICT in the auction held in September for R500,000 (US$ 29,000 approx.) and was set to play his maiden season with the franchise. He represented Joburg Super Kings last season and Paarl Royals for the first two seasons. Shamsi is currently representing Northern Warriors in the Abu Dhabi T10. Earlier this year, he opted out of a Cricket South Africa (CSA) national contract, and was not selected for the ODI series against India. His last T20I appearance was in the 2024 T20 World Cup.Defending champions MICT play in the season opener on December 26 against Durban’s Super Giants. Newlands, the franchise’s home venue, will host the opener as well as the final on January 25.

It does now appear that Daniel Farke’s days as Leeds United manager are very much numbered.

This isn’t exactly the biggest shock in the world, considering the Whites have now lost five of their last six Premier League games, with the Aston Villa loss sending them into that dreaded bottom three.

Reports are indicating that the German’s sacking looks inevitable amid doubts over whether he is the correct long-term man at Elland Road, albeit with a succession plan seemingly not yet in place.

Unfortunately, Farke looks as if he will fall victim to a fate that even the great Marcelo Bielsa had to come to terms with in the Premier League.

Not even a colossal 81 wins in charge could save the revered Argentine from the sack in the end, with far less sadness on display when Jesse Marsch was given his marching orders after the South American, when looking at his up-and-down stint in West Yorkshire.

Marc Roca's Leeds woes under Marsch

The new Canada boss would only muster up a weak 11 wins from the pressurised dug-out, in contrast, but that isn’t to say it was all doom and gloom while he occupied the hot seat.

Indeed, Marsch would steer the Whites to safety during the 2021/22 season after picking up the pieces from Bielsa, with a memorable away win at Liverpool even on his resume.

Still, a fair few of the signings the American signed off on during his brief stay in England were extremely hit-and-miss, including the one-season wonder of Marc Roca.

Initially, the Spaniard stood out as a rock-solid option in defensive midfield, with Leeds’ unbeaten start to the 2022/23 season seeing Roca win a high 15 duels in wins over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea.

Yet, much like Luis Sinisterra, who showed flashes of his excellence at Leeds with five Premier League goals put away, Roca’s efforts ultimately meant nothing, as Leeds succumbed to relegation during his only season at the club.

Pundit Adrian Durham would even state, during his brief time in West Yorkshire, that he wasn’t sure if Roca had the calibre to be a “Premier League footballer”. By the end of the campaign, he was merely a bit-part player, too, despite such early promise.

Leeds will hope history isn’t repeating itself now with this promising summer acquisition, who has gone off the boil somewhat in recent weeks.

Leeds' next Roca in the making

To make matters worse for the Whites, Roca would end up returning to home comforts in La Liga smoothly, having looked far more impressive back at Real Betis.

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Indeed, as per FBref, he currently ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for assists per 90, as well as in the top 10% for interceptions and the top 17% for tackles, showcasing an all-around quality that was sorely lacking at Elland Road.

Much like the Betis number 21, Anton Stach was a notable midfield purchase this summer from Europe, with £17.4m splashed out on the German, after he had collected a weighty five goals and 16 assists in the Bundesliga for the likes of Hoffenheim.

He has packed his shooting boots for England, too, with this outrageous free-kick against Wolves earlier in the season making him a fan’s favourite amongst Leeds supporters packed into Molineux.

During the same game, he also picked up an assist, while winning a combined eight tackles and duels.

Yet, since that standout performance against the bottom-of-the-table Old Gold, Stach has failed to consistently deliver, with his form out of sorts against Nottingham Forest at the start of the month, which culminated in the German completing zero successful dribbles and losing possession a high 15 times.

Looking at the table above, Stach has only won 22 of his following 40 duels since his man-of-match-worthy display in the West Midlands, with Farke even pushing him down to the bench on occasion, which is a fate Roca became very much used to during the latter stages of his hot-and-cold Leeds stint.

Farke has even openly come out and said that Stach needs to “step up” amid a concern that his performances have gone downhill, with relegation staring Leeds in the face, even with glimpses of promise here and there from the ex-Hoffenheim star.

The under-pressure German will hope Stach listens to his words and gets back to his best shortly.

If he doesn’t, and he fades into the background like Roca, relegation looks to be on the cards, as the walls begin to be “slowly closing in” on the ex-Norwich City manager, as per the Athletic’s Beren Cross.

Leeds star is becoming Elland Road's biggest liability since Berardi

Leeds United could now have their biggest liability since the days of Gaetano Berardi in this underperforming flop.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 25, 2025