Fans of all ages are still bringing their baseball gloves to games because who knows when the opportunity to get involved in the action will arise. Usually that happens at a safe distance from the playing field in the form of a paid customer catching a foul ball or home run. But one Arizona Diamondbacks fan has now found themselves either right on the line of interfering or actually interfering with play in four consecutive years.
The streak extended into another year on Monday night when the slick-fielding supporter once again reached over the wall to pull in deep shot from Giants' Christian Koss. And if you're thinking this is some sort of stroke of luck or accident, check out the full extension the fan got while making it harder for a Diamondbacks outfielder to make the play.
Initially ruled a home run, the play in question turned into a double. The fan was escorted out and therefore missed Arizona wrapping up a 4-2 victory.
Some numbers are just synonymous with the game. Cal Ripken's 2,632 straight games. Roger Maris's 61 home runs. Ted Williams batting .406. A D-Backs fan being a part of a replay review in four straight years.
The fan may be standing in the way of pace-of-play efforts but at least they're kinda-sorta helping their team almost half of the times they get involved.
The MLB All-Star break is almost here, which means we are already past the halfway point of baseball’s marathon regular season. And what a season it’s been. Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani continue to amaze. Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is doing things no backstop has ever done. Tarik Skubal has separated himself as the best pitcher in baseball. As the woeful Colorado Rockies continue to trend towards the worst kind of MLB history, they—and a few other teams—parted ways with their manager during the first half. Oh, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers have emerged as early World Series favorites.
Baseball’s biggest stars will take center stage at the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game on July 14 and 15, respectively, and that will be our focus here in another edition of Fact or Fiction.
Paul Skenes should be the National League’s starting pitcher for the second straight year
Verdict: Fiction
This is a tough one. The honor could realistically go to one of three guys: Skenes, Zack Wheeler or perhaps even longtime Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, an addition to the roster as a “Legend Pick,” if NL manager Dave Roberts is feeling particularly partisan.
But if we’re being realistic, this decision will come down to Skenes and Wheeler. And in many ways, it’s a toss-up. Skenes leads the NL in ERA. Wheeler, second in the NL in ERA, leads the league in strikeouts. Wheeler, as a result of playing for the better team in the Phillies, has racked up nine wins compared to Skenes’s four. But the margin between these pitchers is razor thin, as evidenced by their ERAs (Skenes: 1.94, Wheeler: 2.17) and WAR (Skenes: 4.8, Wheeler: 4.8).
I’m giving the slight edge to Wheeler. Since May 1, Wheeler has been the undisputed best pitcher in his league. He leads all NL starting pitchers in the following categories since that date: ERA, K-BB%, opponents’ batting average, WHIP and opponents’ barrel rate. To put it simply, he’s been unhittable.
Look no further than Wheeler’s most recent start, a complete game one-hitter in which he allowed one run and struck out 12 Cincinnati Reds. It put a bow on a convincing case for Wheeler to toe the rubber for the NL.
I’d typically be the first guy to advocate for Skenes to start again. Who want to see him face off against Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh back-to-back, depending on how American League manager Aaron Boone writes up the lineup card?
But the honor should go to Wheeler, not only for his success this season, but his overall body of work over the last several years. Plus, at 35 years old, this may realistically be the last shot he has at starting the All-Star Game.
Roberts should give Wheeler that shot. And if given the chance, Wheeler will be the first pitcher on the mound for the NL on July 15 at Truist Park, just a few miles away from where the Smyrna, Ga., native grew up.
Cal Raleigh will win the Home Run Derby
Verdict: Fact
I have, admittedly, been a bit doubtful of Raleigh’s ability to keep up his torrid pace in past iterations of Fact or Fiction. So consider this a mea culpa of sorts to the Big Dumper’s success.
Before I outline why I like Raleigh to win here, let me be clear about one thing. The field for the Derby is not fully set yet, so we don’t yet know exactly who will be opposing Raleigh aside from Ronald Acuna Jr., James Wood, Byron Buxton and Oneil Cruz.
That said, I like Raleigh to emerge here for several reasons. Aside from the fact that he’s been the best home-run hitter in baseball in the first half, he also leads all Derby contestants—regardless of who enters—in several statistics that are highly predictive of home runs. He owns a Derby-best .372 isolated power. He leads all of MLB in fly-ball rate. Raleigh trails only Cruz in barrel rate, essentially the number of baseballs he connects with that are hit at the ideal exit velocity and launch angle to leave the park. And lastly, Raleigh’s MLB-high average launch angle of 24.5 degrees is right near the typical sweet spot of 25 to 35 degrees for home runs.
His swing is also perfect for Truist Park, which features especially short dimensions to the corners. In fact, Truist Park’s 335-foot left field corner and 325-foot right field dimensions are extremely similar to those of Raleigh’s home park with the Mariners, T-Mobile Park, which is 331 feet to left and 327 feet to right.
That would seem to play right into the hands of Raleigh, who leads all Derby entrants with a 55.2% pull rate. This means that no one in the Derby will be better equipped to take advantage of the shortest parts of Truist Park than Raleigh, who will have the added benefit of batting from both sides of the plate, which he apparently intends to do.
Working against Raleigh is the fact that he’s a catcher—no backstop has ever won the Derby. But he’s already doing things no other catcher has ever done. Why not add another to the list?
Juan Soto is the biggest All-Star snub
Soto wasn’t selected for the All-Star Game despite leading the NL in on-base percentage. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Verdict: Fact
Another tough one, because there were, as always, plenty of snubs (it’s tough to please everyone!). There’s Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who leads MLB in RBIs. There’s Houston Astros southpaw Framber Valdez, who ranks among the top 20 starters in ERA, quality starts, innings pitched and WAR. And there’s Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, the NL leader in hits and one of the best defensive shortstops in the game.
But the biggest snub of them all is Juan Soto.
The first two months of Soto’s career in Queens were underwhelming, as he was on pace for the worst OPS of his career while simply looking… off, both in terms of his approach at the plate and his demeanor. Those days are long gone, though. After a torrid June and red-hot start to July, Soto ranks third in MLB in OBP and sixth in the NL in OPS.
Since May 1, Soto ranks first in walk rate, sixth in OPS, fourth in wRC+, and in the top five in average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit rate. He’s been a terror to opposing pitchers.
Soto likely didn’t make it because of his lackluster start, as well as the Mets’ June swoon. But it’ll be unfortunate to play a game that supposedly features baseball’s biggest stars without Juan Soto on the field.
The Blue Jays will win the AL East
Verdict: Fiction
How about those Blue Jays? They’ve won nine games in a row entering Tuesday and recently swept the New York Yankees in a four-game series to overtake them for first place in the AL East. But this has been far from just a hot streak for Toronto.
Since May 25, the Blue Jays own the best record in baseball and have been powered by a mighty offense that has scored more runs than all but one team during that stretch of play.
So, to be clear, this is no fluke. But there are at least a couple of reasons why some healthy skepticism about the Blue Jays’ chances of winning the AL East is warranted.
Toronto currently has a plus-16 run differential, which is the worst of any current division leader in MLB. In fact, that plus-16 run differential is just the fourth-best in the AL East, behind the Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. The Blue Jays’ Pythagorean win/loss record is 47–44. The club’s actual record? 53–38. Could there be some regression to the mean incoming for the Blue Jays? It’s possible.
The other reason I’m a bit leery to anoint them atop the AL East right now is that the Blue Jays’ starting pitching is suspect. Toronto’s starters have compiled the sixth-worst ERA in the majors. Conversely, both the Rays and Yankees have better and more reliable starting pitching staffs. Perhaps the Blue Jays’ front office swings a deadline deal for a top-of-the-rotation starter. Maybe that tilts the race in their favor. But for now, if asked to bet on the Blue Jays or the field winning the AL East, I’ll take the field.
Manny Machado’s 2000th hit secured his Hall of Fame enshrinement
Verdict: Fiction
is a bit strong for my taste, but that’s the only thing holding me back from calling this a fact. Machado is on the statistical path to the Hall of Fame, and 2,000 hits was an important checkpoint.
Consider this. There are 19 third baseman in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Only 14 of them compiled at least 2,000 career hits. Machado, 33 and with eight years left on his San Diego Padres contract, already has 2,001 and counting. Of the five third basemen who have ever hit 400 or more career home runs, four are in the Hall. Machado, who currently has 357 career homers, will almost certainly surpass 400 and already ranks 10th at his position.
The remarkably durable Machado, who has nine times played 150 or more games in a season, could, with continued good health, realistically flirt with 3,000 hits and 500 career homers, numbers that would ensure a one-way ticket to the Hall. Even if he were to fall short of those landmark numbers—think 2,700 hits and 450 career homers—I still like Machado’s chances.
So, too, do the advanced metrics. In both WAR and JAWS (a metric that compares players to those already enshrined in the Hall of Fame using career WAR and seven-year peak WAR), Machado is already approaching Hall of Fame territory.
The numbers are working in Machado’s case. What isn’t is the fact that he’s never won an MVP, often considered a good prerequisite to the Hall, despite having four top-five finishes. There’s also a chance that Machado rubbed some of the baseball writers the wrong way with his views on hustling. He once rather infamously said that hustling was “not his cup of tea” after he came under fire for not running out a grounder during the 2018 National League Championship Series. Would 33-year-old Machado make the same comments? Who knows. However, it’s fair to wonder if that will be held against him, as some might view that attitude as not very becoming of a Hall of Fame player.
But it’ll be hard to keep Machado out if he reaches certain statistical milestones. And if he continues his remarkably consistent statistical compiling, it’ll be easy to envision him one day being enshrined.
Meanwhile, Kwena Maphaka set a new record for youngest South Africa Test debutant
Shubh Agarwal05-Jan-20252 – South Africa are the only side to enforce the follow-on twice in this World Test Championship (WTC) cycle – once against Bangladesh in Chattogram and now against Pakistan in Cape Town. Sri Lanka are the only other team to enforce the follow-on in this cycle when they bowled out New Zealand for 88 after declaring at 602 for 5 in Galle. For Pakistan, it was the first time following on since the Southampton Test in 2020.Related
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205 – The 205-run stand between Shan Masood and Babar Azam is the highest opening stand while following on. The duo surpassed Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie’s opening stand of 204 runs against England at Lord’s in 2008 when South Africa batted for over two days to save the Test. This is also Pakistan’s highest opening stand in South Africa and only their second 100-plus stand for the first wicket. Coincidentally, three of their last four 100-plus stands overall have extended to more than 200 runs.1 – Masood became the first Pakistan captain to score a Test hundred in South Africa. Previously, Salim Malik, leading Pakistan in the only Test in Johannesburg in 1995, was out for 99. Inzamam-ul-Haq was left stranded on 92 while batting at number eight in Gqeberha in 2007.421 – South Africa’s first-innings lead of 421 is the sixth highest for them in a Test and their highest against Pakistan. After batting first in a Test, it is their third-highest overall. For Pakistan, it is the sixth occasion of conceding a lead in excess of 400 after the completion of the first innings – three times while batting first and three times when bowling first. It is also the fifth-biggest first-innings lead in South Africa in the 21st century.18 years 272 days – Kwena Maphaka became the youngest debutant for South Africa the moment he stepped on the field. On Day 3, picking up Babar’s wicket, he also became the youngest to take a wicket for South Africa in Test cricket.3 – With a fifty in the second innings of the Centurion Test and twin fifties here, this is the first time in Babar’s career that he has amassed three consecutive fifties without turning any one of them into a hundred. The number three doesn’t leave Babar here. He was out caught down the leg-side in the first innings, the third such occasion since 2022, the joint-most for a Pakistani batter alongside Saud Shakeel.
Newcastle United have now joined several top clubs in the race to sign a teenage star who’s the same “talent level” as Erling Haaland, according to reports.
Alan Shearer praises "excellent" Guimaraes despite Tottenham draw
Although Newcastle have the chance to redeem themselves against Burnley this weekend, they’ll look back on their 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur as a chance wasted. The Magpies largely dominated, but came unstuck by a shock Cristian Romero brace which included a late overhead kick.
Eddie Howe still has plenty of reason to be optimistic, though, and one of those reasons is the performance of Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian emerged from the bench before finding the back of the net and receiving high praise from Tyneside legend Alan Shearer.
It was a standout display from a Newcastle fan favourite, but that may not stop the Magpies from welcoming another midfield addition in the January transfer window.
£65m Newcastle duo should be fuming with Howe's team selection vs Spurs
Two Newcastle players, in particular, are unlikely to be too happy right now.
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Those at St James’ Park have already been linked with the likes of Scott McTominay on that front and could welcome the Scotland international, before turning their focus towards the in-demand Yan Diomande.
Newcastle join Yan Diomande race
Newcastle have now joined the race to sign Diomande, according to TeamTalk, and are among the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool all competing to land the winger’s signature.
One RB Leipzig source even went as far as to tell TeamTalk that the winger is the same “talent level” as Manchester City star Haaland, who also came through the Red Bull ranks at Salzburg a number of years ago.
Newcastle have reportedly sent their scouts to watch the 19-year-old in action, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll be able to position themselves to secure his arrival.
What’s more, Leipzig themselves are not ready to let their young star leave and his reported €100m (£87m) release clause should help fend off at least some of the interest.
Given how Anthony Elanga has struggled this season, Diomande is someone that the Magpies should be all in on if they want to complete their frontline alongside record signing Nick Woltemade.
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Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl was thrown in at the deep end at Ibrox after the Kevin Thelwell and Russell Martin double act lasted less than half a season.
The former Gers sporting director left the club a few weeks after Rohl’s arrival, and the German manager will now have an opportunity to spearhead recruitment heading into the January transfer window.
It will be interesting to see which areas of the squad he deems need to be added to after working with the group for the last couple of months, as a central defender will surely be on his agenda.
Why Rangers need to sign a centre-back
Rangers currently have Derek Cornelius, John Souttar, Emmanuel Fernandez, Nasser Djiga, and Clinton Nsiala as their centre-back options, whilst Dujon Sterling and James Tavernier are full-backs who can also play at centre-back.
On paper, that is a healthy set of options when they are all fit and available. However, the Gers have conceded 11 goals in six Europa League outings and 13 goals in 15 games in the Scottish Premiership, which shows that they have not had a tight defensive unit.
Nsiala has not played a single minute in any competition this season, per Transfermarkt, and may want to move on from Ibrox to pursue game time elsewhere.
That could open the door for Rohl to target a new centre-back addition, perhaps an experienced operator, because Fernandez and Djiga’s collective efforts have left a bit to be desired in recent weeks.
The German boss must find a way to drop both of them from the starting line-up because they look like they belong in the Pedro Caixinha era together.
Why Rohl must drop Fernandez and Djiga
Football FanCast recently noted that Djiga looked like the most improved player under Rohl, after he was dubbed a “rotten” player by Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar earlier this season.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Unfortunately, the Burkina Faso international, who is off to the African Cup of Nations after Monday’s game, regressed to his old self against Ferencvaros.
The Wolves loanee looked shaky throughout the match, losing 100% of his aerial duels (3/3), per Sofascore, and his central defensive partner, Fernandez, was arguably worse.
The English defender lost five of his nine aerial duels and five of his ten ground duels, per Sofascore, whilst he was caught out by Varga’s movement for what turned out to be the winning goal.
Fernandez left Ally McCoist, as shown in the clip below, lost for words as he somehow ended up facing the wrong way as their forward scored from close range in a bizarre moment.
Unfortunately, that mistake came only a couple of matches after he was beaten far too easily by Zac Sapsford in the 2-2 draw with Dundee United for the opening goal in that game, making it two high-profile errors in the last three matches.
During Caixinha’s time at Rangers, the club finished third in the Premiership in the 2016/17 campaign and were sat in third when he was sacked at the start of the 2017/18 season, per Transfermarkt, which speaks to the state that Ibrox giants were in before Steven Gerrard came through the door.
Djiga and Fernandez’s performances in recent matches suggest that they belong in that era of the Gers, as they have not shown that they can deliver consistently quality performances befitting of a team that wants to win trophies.
The English defender made two high-profile errors in the games against Dundee United and Ferencvaros, whilst Djiga lost three of his four aerial duels against the former and all three of his aerial duels against the latter, per Sofascore.
This shows that neither of them have shown that they have the consistency or quality, at this moment in time, to be relied upon by Rohl in the present day, which is why the manager should ruthlessly ditch both of them from the starting XI.
Djiga, of course, will have to come out of the team after the clash with Hibernian because of international duty, but Fernandez should also come out to provide another player with an opportunity to play, whether that is Sterling or Nsiala, or both of them.
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Then, when the January transfer window opens, Rangers will have an opportunity to find a permanent solution to that position by signing a new option.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been dealt another blow with an injured star now facing several weeks on the sidelines.
Arsenal navigate plethora of injuries to top Premier League table
Considering the sheer number of key first team players who’ve been sidelined at various points already this season, Arsenal’s position at the top of the Premier League table is all the more impressive.
The Gunners have endured a torrid season with injuries, much like last campaign, which has severely tested Arteta’s squad depth.
While Arsenal have still begun the campaign very strongly, and are unbeaten in their last 18 matches across all competitions, their relentless succession of fitness problems has affected big-name personnel across multiple positions.
Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal
Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham
Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Brentford
August proved particularly damaging, with Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Ben White and William Saliba all sustaining injuries.
Odegaard’s MCL knee injury against West Ham in early October proved especially problematic, keeping the captain out for nearly two months and robbing Arsenal of their creative heartbeat during crucial fixtures.
Gabriel Magalhaes remains absent for weeks following a thigh injury sustained during Brazil’s November friendly against Senegal. His regular partner Saliba has battled recurring problems, missing recent matches against Chelsea and Brentford due to an unspecified knock.
Arsenal handed Declan Rice injury twist after pre-Aston Villa update
The England international has been their arguable player of the season.
By
Emilio Galantini
Dec 5, 2025
Summer signing Cristhian Mosquera compounds Arteta’s concerns after suffering a ‘complicated’ ankle injury that will require further testing to determine his recovery timeline.
Declan Rice provided fresh worries after limping off late against Brentford with a calf problem, and while the England midfielder insisted he felt “fine” ready to play against Aston Villa this afternoon, Arteta suggests he’s subject to a late fitness test.
Leandro Trossard has missed matches with muscular issues but should return within ‘days’ according to Arteta’s latest briefing, with the same going for Saliba.
Havertz suffered a setback in his knee rehabilitation and won’t return until possibly late December, while Gabriel Jesus finally returned to contention recently after missing nearly a year recovering from an ACL tear.
Summer signing Noni Madueke was out for two months after knee damage against Man City in September, though scans cleared him of cruciate ligament damage. The winger has since returned to action, providing Arteta with a renewed attacking threat.
That is a staggering 10 first-team stars who’ve been sidelined at various points, or still are, with a pretty concerning update now coming to light on Mosquera’s condition.
Cristhian Mosquera facing eight weeks out after Arsenal injury blow
The Spaniard was forced off early doors during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Brentford in midweek, and according to BBC journalist Sami Mokbel, Mosquera now faces ‘at least’ six weeks out through injury in ‘another blow’ to Arsenal.
The key phrase there is ‘at least’, and it could be as long as two months, with Saliba’s fitness now becoming more crucial than ever.
If the Frenchman is still unable to start, then Arteta will have little choice but to play Jurrien Timber alongside Piero Hincapie for this afternoon’s crunch clash against Villa in the Midlands.
White would then likely be handed his second consecutive league start at right-back for the first time since May, with Arsenal’s strength in depth now set to play an even more pivotal role in their quest to win a first league title in 22 years.
It is important to note that the timeframe for Mosquera’s injury lay-off are initial concerns from within Arsenal, with the ex-Valencia starlet set for further testing to determine his exact recovery timeline.
It is a blow for the centre-back personally after his fine start to life at N5, despite having to contend with being a back-up to Arteta’s first-choice centre-back pairing.
Arsenal believe Mosquera could become one of the best centre-backs in world football in a few years, according to some reports, and nothing we’ve seen so far disproves that theory.
Wolves are now expressing an interest in signing a Man City player, with one of their squad members potentially set to leave in January.
Wolves nailed on for relegation barring Rob Edwards miracle
The Old Gold face the most perilous situation in the Premier League, rooted firmly to the bottom of the table with just two points from 14 games.
Wolves appear destined for Championship football unless Rob Edwards can orchestrate an almighty turnaround during the second half of the campaign.
Edwards arrived from Middlesbrough in mid-November, leaving a promotion-chasing outfit second in the Championship to tackle one of football’s most daunting rescue missions.
Wolves still remain winless, sitting 12 points adrift of safety – a margin that already carries significant historical weight.
No team has ever survived relegation after collecting merely two points from their opening 14 games, and at their current rate, they would finish the season with just seven points — threatening to eclipse Derby County’s infamous 11-point record from the 2007-08 campaign.
Lowest points totals in Premier League history
Huddersfield Town (18/19)
16
Sheffield United (23/24)
16
Sunderland (05/06)
15
Southampton (24/25)
12
Derby County
11
The appointment of Edwards represents a desperate gamble by chairman Jeff Shi, who acknowledged the club needs a complete philosophical refresh.
Edwards’ deep connections to Molineux — having made over 100 appearances as a player before serving in various coaching capacities — offer hope that he understands the DNA required to navigate this crisis.
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However, his task is monumental. Vitor Pereira managed just a 36.8 per cent win rate before his sacking in early November, inheriting a squad stripped of its best talent through successive transfer windows.
The pattern has become devastatingly familiar.
After selling Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes in 2023, then Pedro Neto and Max Kilman in 2024, Wolves lost Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri last summer without securing adequate replacements.
Cunha’s departure to Man United for £62.5 million removed their most reliable goalscorer, 17 goals in all competitions last season, while Ait-Nouri joined Manchester City for £31 million.
The club’s attacking output has obviously collapsed as a result, with just seven goals scored so far — the division’s worst record and only team failing to reach double figures.
However, according to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, Shi and Fosun do have a succession plan for goalkeeper Jose Sa.
Wolves express James Trafford interest with Jose Sa set to leave
Indeed, it is believed that Wolves have expressed interest in signing Man City’s James Trafford on loan in January as Edwards searches for solutions.
The 23-year-old England youth international finds himself behind Gianluigi Donnarumma in Pep Guardiola’s pecking order after the Italian’s summer arrival, which is bad timing ahead of the World Cup next year.
After starting the campaign as City’s number one following Ederson’s departure to Fenerbahçe, Trafford has managed just three appearances since August and is eager to continue his development elsewhere.
Wolves face mounting concerns between the posts, with current number one Sam Johnstone enduring a difficult spell.
His error against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday proved costly, failing to connect properly with Omari Hutchinson’s cross and allowing the winning goal.
Meanwhile, second-choice Sa is ‘potentially set to leave’ next month, with West Ham monitoring the Portuguese ahead of a potential winter swoop.
Trafford enjoyed an outstanding 2024-25 Championship campaign with Burnley before returning to City, keeping 29 clean sheets in 45 appearances with an impressive 84.6 per cent save percentage.
His promotion-winning pedigree under Scott Parker could prove invaluable as Edwards desperately seeks reinforcements capable of mounting an unlikely survival bid during the second half of the season.
However, they’ll have to contend with competition for Trafford’s services, with Tottenham also believed to be exploring a move for the ‘top talent’.
كشفت تقارير صحفية، يوم الإثنين، أن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم أخبر الأندية التي تمتلك لاعبين مشاركين في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا، بإمكانية الاحتفاظ بهم حتى موعد محدد.
وتستضيف المغرب نهائيات بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا، وذلك في الفترة بين 21 ديسمبر 2025 و18 يناير 2026.
ويستعد منتخب مصر للمشاركة في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا حيث يتواجد في المجموعة الثانية، والتي تضم كل من زيمبابوي، أنجولا وجنوب إفريقيا.
ويبدأ منتخب مصر، بقيادة المدير الفني حسام حسن، مشواره في كأس أمم إفريقيا بمباراته ضد زيمبابوي يوم 22 ديسمبر، ثم جنوب إفريقيا 26 وأنجولا 29.
ويخوض منتخب مصر مباراة ودية ضد نيجيريا يوم 14 ديسمبر الجاري، في حين أن المعسكر التدريبي الأولي سينطلق يوم الأربعاء المقبل، على أن يتجه الفراعنة إلى المغرب يوم 17 من الشهر نفسه.
اقرأ أيضًا.. ليفربول يأمل شيئًا ما بعد استدعاء محمد صلاح لقائمة منتخب مصر
وتواصل الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، قبل أيام، مع ليفربول ومانشستر سيتي من أجل السماح بإطلاق سراح الثنائي محمد صلاح وعمر مرموش مبكرًا، حتى يتسنى لهما المشاركة في مباراة نيجيريا الودية.
وذكرت تقارير صحفية سابقة أن ليفربول ومانشستر سيتي يخشيان إجبارهما على التخلي عن محمد صلاح ومرموش في وقت مبكر، ومن ثم غيابهما عن مباريات أكثر مع فرقهما، حسب قواعد فيفا.
وكانت هناك تقارير قد ذكرت أن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم قد يجبر الأندية على إطلاق سراح لاعبيها، المشاركين في كأس أمم إفريقيا، قبل نحو أسبوعين من البطولة.
ولكن الصحفي كيث داوني، بشبكة “سكاي سبورتس” العالمية، ذكر أن فيفا أبلغ الأندية بإمكانية الاحتفاظ باللاعبين المشاركين في كأس أمم إفريقيا حتى يوم 15 ديسمبر.
هذا الأمر، حال الإعلان عنه بشكل رسمي، يعني بقاء محمد صلاح مع ليفربول حتى مباراة برايتون يوم 13 ديسمبر، كما سيظل مرموش مع مانشستر سيتي حتى مباراة كريستال بالاس في اليوم التالي.
Tottenham Hotspur’s unbeaten run across all competitions has now extended to three games across all competitions after Tuesday’s Champions League win over Slavia Prague.
The Lilywhites claimed a superb 3-0 victory in Europe after penalties from Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and an own goal from opposition defender David Zima.
Thomas Frank looks to have finally found a winning formula, as seen in recent weeks, after previously failing to win in any five matches, four of which came in the Premier League.
Some may argue that the Dane is starting to get the best out of his current playing squad, with a period of adaptation evidently needed after his summer appointment.
However, despite the three-goal triumph in North London last night, the manager will no doubt have seen some glaring flaws that will need correcting in the weeks ahead.
Spurs's biggest underperformers against Slavia Prague
After starting each of the last four games on the substitutes bench, winger Wilson Odobert was handed the chance to start from the off against Slavia Prague.
However, the Frenchman struggled to make the desired impact, as seen by his tally of 86% duels lost, leading to his withdrawal in the 76th minute of the clash.
Other figures, such as zero dribbles completed and two big chances missed in the final third, also highlight his lack of positive impact despite Frank’s faith shown in the youngster.
He wasn’t alone in struggling to deliver during the win, with Pedro Porro unable to produce the regular attacking quality the fanbase have become accustomed to in recent years.
The Spaniard only managed to complete one of his five attempted crosses, whilst completing just 66% of the passes he attempted – largely being ineffective when in possession.
He also failed to win any tackles against the Czech side, whilst failing to complete any of his attempted dribbles – showcasing his lack of quality at both ends of the pitch in North London.
Spurs star needs to be dropped after Slavia Prague
Spurs have spent heavily over the last couple of years to try and be competitive in the Premier League and try and compete for titles under Frank in the years ahead.
In the recent summer alone, the Lilywhites hierarchy backed the manager with over £120m worth of funds to make an immediate impact during his first year at the helm.
Xavi Simons was just one of the additions made by the hierarchy during the off-season, but he’s struggled to make an impact across various competitions in recent months.
He went 17 games without a goal until last week, but the Dutch star has started to find his feet – as seen by his tally of two goals in his last two games for the Lilywhites.
The same can’t be said for striker Richarlison, who has constantly struggled for consistency after his own £50m transfer from Everton back in the summer of 2022.
The Brazilian international has been Frank’s starting centre forward for the majority of 2025/26 to date, subsequently managing to net a total of seven goals across all competitions.
Whilst such a tally may seem respectable, he’s often gone missing in major moments this campaign, as seen against Slavia Prague in the meeting on Tuesday.
He was once again handed a start at the top end of the pitch, but he was unable to provide the goods in front of goal and was subsequently replaced in the 68th minute.
Richarlison was only able to register a measly tally of 22 touches, a tally fewer than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who managed 50 – showcasing his lack of impact in North London.
Minutes played
68
Touches
22
Passes completed
9
Possession lost
7x
Big chances missed
1
Aerials won
50%
Passes into final third
1
Fouls committed
2
He also only managed to complete nine passes and lost possession on seven separate occasions, further highlighting his lack of positive impact during the Champions League clash.
The Brazilian also missed one big chance in front of goal and won just 50% of his aerial battles, often struggling to provide the focal point Frank has massively craved.
As a result of his showing, the striker was handed a measly 6/10 match rating by Football London’s Alasdair Gold, further showcasing his struggles in North London.
After such a showing, Frank must certainly be left with no choice but to drop the forward and hand the likes of Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani the chance to stake their claim for the number nine role.
Richarlison has no doubt been a decent option for Spurs over the last couple of years, but it’s becoming increasingly evident week on week that he’s not at the level needed for success.
Frank's new Mbeumo: Paratici set to make Spurs bid to sign "world-class" CF
Tottenham Hotspur could be about to land a new talisman in the upcoming January window.
MatériaMais NotíciasVer Resumo da matéria por IAConfronto Corinthians x Cruzeiro é tradicional na Copa do Brasil.Clássico tem 13 jogos, com leve vantagem para o Corinthians.Último jogo foi em 2025, Corinthians venceu por 1 a 0.Resumo supervisionado pelo jornalista!
O confronto Corinthians x Cruzeiro é um dos mais tradicionais da Copa do Brasil, reunindo camisas pesadas, jogos nervosos e decisões marcantes ao longo de mais de três décadas. Mesmo com caminhos distintos em diferentes gerações, o duelo mantém histórico equilibrado, alternando períodos de domínio mineiro e momentos de superioridade paulista. Ao todo, os clubes se enfrentaram 13 vezes, todas pela Copa do Brasil, com leve vantagem do Corinthians no número de vitórias. O Lance! relembra todo os confrontos de Corinthians x Cruzeiro pela Copa do Brasil.
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O encontro mais recente aconteceu na semifinal da Copa do Brasil de 2025, quando o Corinthians venceu por 1 a 0 no Mineirão e levou a disputa para ser decidida em casa. O novo capítulo está marcado para o dia 14 de dezembro, prometendo mais um jogo de alta tensão, já que Cruzeiro e Corinthians possuem retrospectos fortes como mandantes.
Embora o equilíbrio marque o duelo, cada equipe construiu capítulos de domínio. Em casa, o Corinthians tem números superiores — vencendo metade dos jogos disputados. Já o Cruzeiro, quando atua em Belo Horizonte, alcança seus melhores desempenhos, incluindo a maior goleada do confronto: 4 a 0 em 1996.
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A seguir, veja o histórico completo, estatísticas detalhadas, resultados marcantes e recordes do duelo.
Corinthians x Cruzeiro pela Copa do BrasilEquilíbrio nos números do confronto
No total, 13 jogos foram disputados entre Corinthians e Cruzeiro pela Copa do Brasil:
O retrospecto mostra leve superioridade corintiana, mas com placares quase sempre apertados. Mesmo as maiores vitórias de cada lado ocorreram com diferença reduzida em relação ao total da série.
Desempenho do Corinthians em casa
Jogando em São Paulo, o Corinthians enfrenta o Cruzeiro com números fortes:
O clube aproveita o fator Neo Química Arena (e antes, Pacaembu) para controlar melhor o duelo, algo que novamente pesará na semifinal de 2025. A maior vitória corintiana como mandante ocorreu em 1991, por 3 a 1.
continua após a publicidadeDesempenho do Cruzeiro em casa
Quando o duelo acontece em Belo Horizonte, o cenário muda:
7 jogos4 vitórias do Cruzeiro (57%)3 vitórias do Corinthians (43%)Nenhum empate
O Mineirão é historicamente decisivo para o Cruzeiro, que aplica pressão ofensiva e costuma controlar o confronto. Em 1996, os mineiros registraram sua maior vitória: 4 a 0, nas quartas de final.
Últimos jogos e momento recente
Último jogo
Copa do Brasil 2025 – Semifinal (ida)10/12/2025, MineirãoCruzeiro 0 x 1 Corinthians
Esse resultado deu vantagem ao time paulista, que agora decide em casa.
Próximo jogo
Copa do Brasil 2025 – Semifinal (volta)14/12/2025, Neo Química ArenaCorinthians x Cruzeiro
O duelo definirá o finalista da edição.
Recordes de Corinthians x Cruzeiro na Copa do Brasil
Corinthians
Maior vitória em casa: 3–1 (1991)Maior vitória fora: 1–0 (1991, 2025) e 3–2 (2002)
Cruzeiro
Maior vitória em casa: 4–0 (1996)Maior vitória fora: 2–1 (2018)
O confronto também registra um “resultado típico”: 0–1 para o Corinthians, repetido em duas ocasiões.
Números gerais das equipes no duelo
Corinthians
13 jogos6 vitórias2 empates5 derrotas20 gols marcados23 gols sofridosMarcou em 85% dos jogosSofreu gols em 85%
Máximas sequências:
2 vitórias seguidas3 jogos sem vencer3 derrotas seguidas4 jogos de invencibilidade
Cruzeiro
13 jogos5 vitórias2 empates6 derrotas23 gols marcados20 gols sofridosMarcou em 85% dos jogosSofreu gols em 85%
Máximas sequências:
3 vitórias seguidas4 jogos sem vencer2 derrotas seguidas3 jogos de invencibilidadeTodos os jogos entre Corinthians x Cruzeiro pela Copa do Brasil2025: Cruzeiro 0–1 Corinthians – semifinal2018: Corinthians 1–2 Cruzeiro – final2018: Cruzeiro 1–0 Corinthians – final2016: Cruzeiro 4–2 Corinthians – quartas2016: Corinthians 2–1 Cruzeiro – quartas2002: Cruzeiro 2–3 Corinthians – oitavas2002: Corinthians 2–2 Cruzeiro – oitavas1998: Corinthians 1–1 Cruzeiro – oitavas1998: Cruzeiro 3–1 Corinthians – oitavas1996: Corinthians 3–2 Cruzeiro – quartas1996: Cruzeiro 4–0 Corinthians – quartas1991: Cruzeiro 0–1 Corinthians – oitavas1991: Corinthians 3–1 Cruzeiro – oitavas
Tudo sobre
Copa do BrasilCorinthiansCruzeiroFutebol NacionalLancepedia