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The Yankees' season ended in the 2025 ALDS against the Blue Jays last week, and the team didn't waste much time making some cuts to the coaching staff in the aftermath of their postseason exit.

On Tuesday, SNY's Andy Martino reported that longtime bullpen coach Mike Harkey and first base/infield coach Travis Chapman are not expected to return to the organization next season. Martino suggested other changes could also be on the horizon for New York in the offseason.

Harkey, 58, is in his second stint as the Yankees' bullpen coach, a role he's been in since 2016. He was previously the bullpen coach for the team from 2008 to '2013, too. As for Chapman, he'd been in his role since '22.

Additionally, Yankees hitting coach James Rowson permission to interview for the Twins' managerial vacancy. Minnesota parted ways with former skipper Rocco Baldelli after the 2025 season, and Rowson is seemingly on their radar.

The Yankees' bullpen struggled in 2025, and the team was not very sound defensively. The group had a 4.37 ERA in the regular season and a 6.15 ERA in the playoffs. Despite Brian Cashman being aggressive at the trade deadline, bringing in David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird, late-innings pitching was still a weakness for the team throughout the season.

Cristian Romero’s Tottenham future has been thrown back into doubt after Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez revealed he held talks with the Spurs captain about a potential summer move to Spain. The World Cup-winning defender ultimately signed a new long-term contract, but Alvarez’s admission has reignited speculation. With Atletico still admiring Romero, his commitment could again be tested next summer,

Atletico Madrid wanted Romero in the summer

Atletico Madrid made Romero one of their priority defensive targets last summer, with Diego Simeone pushing for a deal to bring the Argentine to the Wanda Metropolitano. The Rojiblancos believed his aggressive style and leadership made him an ideal fit, but talks never progressed far due to Tottenham’s refusal to lower their valuation. With Spurs convinced of Romero’s importance, the north London side stood firm and ensured no negotiations on personal terms were ever meaningfully opened.

The collapse of the move allowed Tottenham to take decisive internal steps, securing Romero’s long-term future amid growing speculation. By August, the centre-back had not only committed to a new four-year contract but was also named club captain following Son Heung-min’s departure to LAFC. These developments were seen as a significant show of trust by new manager Thomas Frank, who considered Romero a foundational figure in his tactical and cultural reset.

Despite that clarity at the time, Alvarez’s admission that he and Romero discussed the possibility of a transfer has reignited lingering doubt. The forward revealed that while the talks did not progress due to “details,” the idea of playing together at club level was very real. With Atletico Madrid still monitoring high-level defensive options, the story has resurfaced.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAlvarez reveals why Romero's Atletico talks broke down

Alvarez openly expressed admiration for Romero in an interview with MARCA, saying: “Yes, yes. Obviously, I would have liked to (sign him), Cuti is one of the best defenders in the world.” He emphasised the elite qualities Romero brings to the national team, adding: “I share time with him on the national team and I really think he's a star, a fierce competitor, very strong defensively.”

The Atletico forward also confirmed direct interactions about a possible move, offering new insight into how seriously the idea was considered. “Yes, I had some conversations with him, and due to some details it didn't work out, but hopefully one day we can play together,” Alvarez continued. This acknowledgment suggests that while the transfer never advanced formally, the players themselves envisioned the possibility more seriously than previously understood.

Romero’s own statements at the time of signing his contract had strongly indicated that he felt settled and valued at Tottenham, making Alvarez’s remarks even more striking in retrospect. Shortly after extending his deal, the defender said: “Honestly, the last two weeks, first captain, now a new contract with the club, I’m very, very happy… For me, this club is the best in the world. For this, I extend my contract.”

Romero has evolved under Frank — but Atletico links persist

Romero has been central to Tottenham’s season under Frank, evolving from a talented but volatile defender into a more measured, influential leader. His early-season absence with an adductor strain was notable, and Spurs struggled without his presence, but he returned with a significant impact. A brace against Newcastle and an assist in the 3-0 Champions League win over Slavia Prague highlighted not only his defensive value but his unexpected attacking contributions.

The Argentine has long been viewed as a player whose ceiling spans across top European leagues, and his previous openness about eventually playing in Spain has kept speculation alive. Atletico Madrid’s admiration dates back several seasons, with Simeone publicly acknowledging his desire to work with the defender.

Tottenham’s internal situation also adds context, with ongoing scrutiny around defensive consistency and the changing dynamics under a new manager. While Romero has thrived in Frank’s structure, the club’s broader performances have fluctuated.

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Getty Images SportTottenham confident of keeping Romero in North London…

For now, Tottenham maintain complete confidence that Romero is committed and central to their project, with his contract running until 2029 and marked by his status as club captain. Internally, he is viewed as integral to the team’s mentality and tactical framework, making any future approach from Atletico Madrid far more complicated than last summer’s speculative interest.

Spurs believe the structure now in place under Frank offers Romero the stability and ambition he previously craved. However, Alvarez’s revelations ensure that the Argentine’s future will remain a topic of discussion, especially if Atletico choose to revive their pursuit in the next transfer window.

Gavin Larsen is empowered to brief, advise, collaborate with, and challenge the NZ head coach Rob Walter, who retains the ultimate decision-making authority

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2025

Gavin Larsen has returned to New Zealand cricket after being away for two years•Getty Images

Gavin Larsen has been appointed selection manager of New Zealand men, filling the gap left by the departure of Sam Wells. Larsen, in conjunction with head coach Rob Walter, will be responsible for selecting the New Zealand men’s senior team, and the New Zealand A and New Zealand XI squads.”I feel absolutely honoured to be stepping back into the BlackCaps and the national high performance environment,” Larsen said. “I’m hugely passionate about cricket in this country and to be given another opportunity to contribute at the highest level is really exciting. I can’t wait to get started this summer and hopefully help play a part in continuing the success of the BlackCaps.”Larsen, who played eight Tests and 121 ODIs for New Zealand as a medium pacer between 1990 and 1999, was the chief executive of Cricket Wellington and the cricket operations manager ahead of the 2015 ODI World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand, before being appointed New Zealand’s selection manager from 2015 to 2023. He then took on the role of performance director at Warwickshire County Cricket Club before returning to New Zealand and accepting the role of commercial manager for basketball team Nelson Giants.NZC chief high-performance officer Daryl Gibson said Larsen would be responsible for managing the selection processes as well as working with domestic scouts and the major association coaches to stay up to date on the domestic scene.”Gavin’s familiarity with the role and his understanding of the requirements played an important part in his appointment,” Gibson said. “But we were also impressed with his passion and energy, and his desire to get back into the game and help make a difference.”Gibson confirmed that the selection model would remain unchanged, with Larsen empowered to brief, advise, collaborate with, and challenge Walter, who retains the ultimate decision-making authority.”While Rob will make the final decisions as the chief selector, we want Gav preparing him with as much intel as possible, and challenging his thinking and decisions,” Gibson said. “This requires a strong relationship between the two parties and we’re confident Gav has the soft skills, and the acumen to make it work.”Larsen will begin his role officially on November 3.

Former England rugby star Joe Marler has impressed Celebrity Traitors viewers with his detective skills in the popular reality TV show, but one discovery the 35 year-old was not ready for was how much professional footballers earn.

Marler is far from the wealthiest figure on BBC’s Celebrity Traitors, with the likes of Jonathan Ross, Stephen Fry, Mark Bonnar and Alan Carr all believed to hold net worths in excess of £10m.

The former England and Harlequins star retired from rugby last year, but despite spending more than a decade at the peak of his profession, was left gobsmacked when he found out how much the average footballer makes.

Speaking on Marler’s Things People Do podcast last year, journeyman footballer Jimmy Bullard revealed: “My biggest contract was £50k-a-week.”

1998 – 1999: Ebbsfleet

1999 – 2001: West Ham

2001 – 2003: Peterborough

2003 – 2006: Wigan Athletic

2006 – 2009: Fulham

2009 – 2011: Hull City

2011 – 2012: Ipswich Town

2012: MK Dons

Bullard, who never won a major professional trophy or earned an England cap and retired in 2012, refused to admit which club had paid him that figure, which totals around £2.6m annually, leaving Marler in shock.

The Traitors star and his co-host then asked for an estimate on what kind of money a “top Premier League footballer” earns today, to which Bullard responded: “I’d have to say a few of the Man City boys must be on £350k-a-week.”

In fact, Man City’s highest earner is Erling Haaland on a whopping £525k-a-week, which is over £27 million in annual salary.

For context, Antoine Dupont was recently made the highest-paid rugby player in the world, penning a £1.2 million per season deal with Toulouse, while Marler earned an estimated £300k-a-year during his last contract with Harlequins.

That means Haaland takes home Dupont’s yearly pay roughly twice a month and matches Marler’s salary in a matter of days.

Marler’s performance on the hit BBC show has seen him touted for future roles in television, with a source telling MailOnline: “The BBC is constantly looking for new talent and the second he stopped playing rugby, there were eyes on him.

“Bosses knew that getting him on Traitors would be a very good shop window for him and they could test whether or not the viewers would like him. As soon as they saw it, they knew he would be someone the British public would adore and they seem to be right.

“At the same time, he himself is ready for a new career after retiring from rugby. He has long wanted to present from a BBC sofa and The One Show is one of his favourite programmes. To anchor that would be his dream.”

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake is now open to leaving the Etihad Stadium in the January transfer window, with the Premier League giants setting his price tag.

The Dutchman has been a fantastic servant for the Citizens since arriving from Bournemouth back in 2020, winning four Premier League titles and one Champions League crown, among other trophies.

That said, the 30-year-old has seen his playing time become more limited under Pep Guardiola this season, making only one start in the league, as well as making four substitute appearances in the competition.

Ake is now into the final two years of his current deal at City, with his contract running until the summer of 2027, so there are decisions to be made by both him and the club.

The Sky Blues may want to cash in on him while they still have time, assuming they don’t see a long-term future for him, and the player himself will no doubt like the idea of enjoying more regular playing time.

Ake wants to leave as Man City set £31m price tag

According to Caught Offside, the battle to sign Manchester City ace Ake is hotting up ahead of the January transfer window, with Inter Milan, Juventus and Crystal Palace all mentioned as options.

It is claimed that the Citizens are open to a deal and want as much as £31m for the Netherlands international. Ake wants to be earning more minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup and is looking to leave the club in January.

It does feel as though Ake’s time at City is reaching its natural conclusion, during a period in which so many members of the club’s title-winning sides have moved on, not least Kevin De Bruyne earlier this year.

The centre-back is understandably open to the idea of a fresh challenge, given Guardiola’s current stance on him, even though the Spaniard has lauded him as “incredible” in the past.

If Ake does leave City, he will be remembered as a great servant who has done so much for the cause in the past five years, with his ability to thrive at both centre-back and left-back proving to be priceless.

Whoever does potentially sign will be getting an excellent player who still has plenty to offer in his career, with Guardiola also saying of him: “I don’t think you can ever find a single teammate of his who has anything bad to say about him. Both at his clubs and with the Dutch national team. He’s very competitive and I wish he could play a season without injuries, but sometimes you run into those kinds of things. I adore him as a person and as a player.”

Man City ready bid for Vinicius Jr as feelings at Real Madrid are revealed

He is one of the best players in the world.

ByHenry Jackson Nov 2, 2025

From City’s point of view, if they can get as much as £31m for a player in his 30s, it would have to be considered good business, and they could then bring in a younger replacement instead.

Is Nathan Ake one of Man City's 10 highest-earning players?

Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly willing to launch a £70m offer to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid after the Spanish giants weakened their sale stance ahead of 2026.

The Lilywhites are looking to make a statement move next year in a new era without Daniel Levy. They already stole headlines when they won the race to sign Xavi Simons in the summer, but signing one of Real Madrid’s attacking stars would take Thomas Frank’s side to a whole new level.

Tottenham informed of Everton's Ndiaye stance as club-record price named

The Lilywhites are looking for an attacking boost.

1 ByTom Cunningham Nov 9, 2025

Whether they’ll be in a position to convince Rodrygo to join is difficult to say, however. Whilst Tottenham sit as high as fifth and only four points off second place Manchester City, they’re also on a run of just one win in their last four games in all competitions. Life under Frank has simply shown promise but featured inconsistency.

Saturday’s frantic 2-2 draw against Manchester United summed things up. Spurs were toothless and then ruthless as they came from behind to lead 2-1 in the 91st minute only for Matthijs de Ligt to equalise for the Red Devils in the last minute.

The international break comes at a good time after such a dramatic game, but things don’t get any easier for those in North London. Up next, Spurs are set to square off against Arsenal in the North London derby. The Gunners haven’t lost since August and just conceded for the first time in over 13 hours against Sunderland.

Up against the best defence in the league, if not the world, questions will be asked about the star power in Tottenham’s frontline. They’ll already likely be without summer arrival Randal Kolo Muani through injury in a frustrating blow despite his goalscoring woes, and will be forced to turn to Richarlison to get their frontline firing on all cylinders.

It’s a problem that needs addressing in 2026 and one that Rodrygo could certainly help solve.

Tottenham now willing to launch £70m Rodrygo offer

According to reports in Spain, Tottenham are now willing to launch an offer to sign Rodrygo worth as much as €80m (£70m) in 2026. The Brazilian has struggled for game time under Xabi Alonso and could yet seek a move away ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Florentino Pérez and co. are now reviewing the winger’s future and are more likely to accept a big-money offer for a player who is becoming less motivated sat on their bench week in, week out.

Alonso’s trash would instantly become Frank’s treasure. Rodrygo would transform Tottenham’s attack as a multiple-time Champions League winner and as one of the best wingers in world football. The Brazilian is also a player who has received incredibly high praise and comparisons with Real Madrid legend Raul – that’s the level that he’s at.

At £70m, everything points towards a player that Tottenham should go all out to sign when the January transfer window swings open.

Spurs flop who's been "swallowed by PL" must be dropped for Odobert

تلقى منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا، المشارك في بطولة كأس العالم للناشئين، ضربة موجعة من اللجنة المنظمة للمونديال، قبل المشاركة في دور الـ 32.

واستطاع منتخب مصر، حسم التأهل إلى دور الـ32 من كأس العالم للناشئين، بعد احتلاله المركز الثالث في مجموعته الخامسة، ليتأهل ضمن أفضل 8 منتخبات احتلت المركز الثالث للمجموعات الـ12.

وقدم منتخب مصر التماسًا إلى اللجنة المنظمة بشأن طرد وإيقاف لاعبه محمد حمد، حيث تعرض للطرد خلال مواجهة فنزويلا، في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العالم.

طالع | موعد مباراة مصر وسويسرا في دور الـ 32 من كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا

وعلم بطولات أنه تم رفض التماس منتخب الناشئين على عقوبة طرد محمد حمد لاعب الوسط، وسيتم إيقافه مباراتين ليغيب رسميًا عن مواجهة سويسرا في دور الـ32.

وغاب محمد حمد، عن صفوف منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا في مباراة إنجلترا التي أقيمت في الجولة الثالثة، بسبب الطرد.

ويخوض منتخب مصر مباراة قوية أمام سويسرا، في المواجهة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات دور الـ32 من بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا، يوم الجمعة المقبل، 14 نوفمبر.

علّق الإعلامي أحمد شوبير على موقف لاعب النادي الأهلي إمام عاشور من اللحاق بالمشاركة في كأس السوبر المصري، وذلك بعد أزمته الصحية، عقب تحسن مؤشرات تعافيه بشكل كبير.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الثلاثاء: “من وجهة نظري الشخصية، من المستحيل أن يلحق إمام عاشور بمباراة السوبر، الأهلي قد يفكر في اصطحابه إلى الإمارات من الناحية النفسية فقط، لكن من ناحية الجاهزية الطبية، الأمر شبه محسوم”.

وتابع: “الحمد لله، حالة إمام تحسّنت بنسبة 98%، بعد أن كانت في البداية لا تتجاوز 1%، كل إنزيماته في الجسم تقريبًا استقرت، وهذا أمر يدعو للشكر، ولم يتبقَّ سوى إنزيم واحد يحتاج إلى ضبط خلال 48 ساعة”.

طالع أيضًا | طلعت يوسف يقدم نصيحة لـ توروب للسيطرة على انفعالات لاعب الأهلي

وأضاف: “من المقرر أن يخضع اللاعب لتحاليل جديدة بعد 48 ساعة لتحديد درجة التعافي النهائية، ثم يُحدد موعد عودته إلى التدريبات تدريجيًا، بدايةً من حضور النادي ثم أداء تدريبات خفيفة”.

واختتم: “نحن اليوم في 28 أكتوبر، ومباراة السوبر يوم 6 نوفمبر، لذلك الأمر يبدو شبه مستحيل من الناحية الطبية، الأمل الوحيد أن يسافر إمام مع البعثة لدعم زملائه نفسيًا، خاصة أن ييس توروب يعشقه، ويُقدّره كثيرًا، البعض سيقول لي ولكنه لم يشارك معه.. نعم، ولكن المدرب شاهد فيديوهات له ويعرف إمكانياته”.

Glasgow Rangers finally got their first win of the season in the Scottish Premiership to alleviate some of the pressure on head coach Russell Martin.

The Light Blues had failed to win any of their first five matches in the division, their worst start to a league campaign in 47 years, but finally got three points on the board on Sunday.

Max Aarons scored in the 94th minute to win the match for the Ibrox giants after coming off the bench to strike, scoring his first goal for the club since his loan move in the summer.

How Max Aarons won the game for Rangers

The former England U21 international popped up with a crucial goal that was desperately needed, because the Grs were staring down the face of six games without a win to start the season.

As heard in the clip above, Martin needed a goal from that corner and that is exactly what he got when Aarons evaded his marker to smash home a brilliant finish on the spin.

It was a goal that a striker would have been proud of. The way he moved to get away from his marker and then the finish to find the bottom corner was textbook centre-forward play, but it came from a right-back.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Whilst Aarons was the player who scored the winner, it may have been Nicolas Raskin who just saved Martin’s job at Ibrox with his performance against Livingston.

How Nicolas Raskin may have saved Russell Martin's job

Ironically, after being left out of the matchday squad for games against Celtic and Hearts by the manager, the Belgium international may have saved his job by heavily contributing to the 2-1 win for the Light Blues.

Martin is under a lot of pressure from some supporters, who protested against him before during the recent League Cup win over Hibernian, due to the nature of the results and performances this season.

A sixth game without a league win, after losing 1-0 to Genk on Thursday night, could have put the manager’s position into major doubt, at least from the outside looking in, which is why beating Livingston feels like a big moment for Martin.

It was a win that was largely orchestrated by the quality of Raskin in the middle of the park, because he showcased his ability in and out of possession throughout the game.

Minutes

90

Pass accuracy

88%

Key passes

3

Big chances created

1

Penalties won

1

Duels won

8/14

Dribbled past

0x

As you can see in the table above, the former Standard Liege star won the majority of his defensive duels and was not dribbled past a single time, which shows that he was incredibly reliable and solid defensively.

On top of that, Raskin won the penalty that James Tavernier missed in the first half and created three chances for his teammates in total, the last of which was his excellent delivery from the corner that Aarons scored from.

The 23-year-old star, who earned an 8/10 player rating from IbroxNews, never stopped running from the first whistle to the last, closing down opposition players, making unselfish runs to stretch the game, bursting beyond his man to spark attacks.

It was a terrific performance that was full of energy, grit, determination, and quality. Things that the team’s overall performances this season have been lacking.

Not Dyche or Gerrard: Rangers should axe Martin for future "elite manager"

With Russell Martin under intense pressure as Rangers boss, the 49ers should make a future “elite manager” their top target to replace him at Ibrox.

ByBen Gray Sep 25, 2025

If Martin keeps his job and goes on to be a success at Ibrox, he may have Raskin to thank for his match-winning performance in midfield against Livingston in this game.

After three consecutive home defeats featuring underwhelming batting displays, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally posted a total north of 200 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to set up a thrilling win over Rajasthan Royals (RR). Virat Kohli, who top-scored with 70, said the batting unit had discussed what they needed to do differently, and on Thursday they were able to apply themselves and find a template that worked.”We’ve had three pretty average games at home and we discussed a few things in the batting unit that we need to get right and I think we applied ourselves well enough today to get that total on the board,” Kohli told the host broadcaster after RCB’s first home win of IPL 2025. “We felt like the pitch wasn’t as flat as the score displayed on the scoreboard.”Unlike in their previous three home games, where they lost at least three wickets in the powerplay trying to take on the bowlers, RCB got through the first six overs against RR with all their wickets intact. And after Phil Salt became the first batter to be dismissed in the seventh over, Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal put on a 95-run stand to set up a grand finish.Related

• RCB finally get the 'monkey off their back' as RR's season continues to go nowhere

• RCB have the (Hazle)wood on their opponents now

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• Parag: We didn't show enough intent against the spinners

“I think the template is simple, you know, one of the guys to kind of bat through and the others to kind of attack around him,” Kohli said. “So I have that responsibility. I know this pitch very well, so does Devdutt. So yeah, that was basically the plan. Let Salty do his thing and then once we have a couple of wickets down, then really capitalise and rebuild and yeah, today it paid off.”On the eve of the match, RCB captain Rajat Patidar had called on the batters to focus on their shot selection, and Kohli underlined the change in approach that helped them on Thursday.”There’s pace and bounce in the first three-four overs with the new ball, especially in the first innings. So I think we were trying to force the shots a bit too much in the last three games.”Today, we kind of let the ball come to us and, you know, really time the ball into the gaps and I think that was the adjustment and the application that I spoke about to assess the pitch and then find our options and then hopefully put enough pressure on the opposition for them to keep giving us boundary balls, which was the case today and we were able to capitalise on those.”Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli put on a 95-run stand•Associated Press

RCB posted 205 for 5, a total that RR fell 11 runs short of despite looking comfortable for large parts of their chase. That RCB prevailed was thanks largely to Josh Hazlewood’s excellent spell at the death.”[205] was enough in the end, but at one stage, I thought maybe [we needed] a few more,” Kohli said. “That’s the tricky part right now. We’ve figured out a way to bat now, so [the batters] have more confidence.”So heading into the last three more home games, I think we should be in a better position to try and get those 25-30 extra runs.”Kohli highlighted the importance of the toss in Bengaluru, citing dew as an important factor helping chasing teams. For the fourth home game in a row, Patidar lost the toss on Thursday.”I think the first challenge is to win the toss, to be honest, because the first half and second half … the second half you kind of have a look at the pitch,” Kohli said. “Also, the dew comes in, so it becomes a bit of an advantage. So we’ve been fighting hard to kind of get the total on the board in the first innings. We’ve fallen short by 25-30.”Today, we were able to get past 200, so that always kept us in the game.”