Tag Futebol

Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has now decided which team he would like to join in January as he looks to leave Old Trafford ahead of the World Cup.

Zirkzee could get new opportunity at Man Utd after Sesko injury

After joining from Bologna in 2024 in a deal worth £36.5m, it is safe to say that things haven’t gone to plan for Zirkzee in Manchester.

Under both Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim, the forward has failed to find the back of the net on a regular basis, scoring just seven times in 54 appearances for the Red Devils.

So far in 2025/26, Zirkzee has played 90 minutes of football in all competitions but could be in line for more appearances following the news of Benjamin Sesko’s knee injury that could see him sidelined for a month.

Talking about Sesko and Zirkzee, Fabrizio Romano has claimed that there could be an “opportunity” for the latter, who Amorim thinks can still be “very important”.

Zirkzee has also started to become a forward in demand ahead of the January window, and there have also been suggestions that the Red Devils are happy to sell the “imposter” for £35m with up to nine different clubs circling.

Aston Villa

Brighton

Everton

Sunderland

West Ham

Inter Milan

Juventus

Roma

Sevilla

Now, the 24-year-old appears to have selected his preferred destination in 2026.

Zirkzee looking to leave Man Utd for Roma

According to reports in Italy relayed by Sport Witness, Zirkzee has made it clear that he would like to leave Man Utd and join Serie A side Roma in the New Year.

It is suggested that Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are offering him a clear starting spot in the side, something which appeals to the forward as he looks to increase his chances of making the Netherlands squad ahead of the World Cup.

Roma are looking to agree a deal with Man Utd as soon as possible and have already made initial contact over a transfer.

Should a move go through, Zirkzee, who scored 11 Serie A goals in 2023/24 before his move to Manchester, would be rivalling the likes of Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Brighton loanee Evan Ferguson for a starting spot.

Meet the ex-Man Utd star with over double Messi and Ronaldo's combined net worth

A former Premier League player has amassed an extraordinary net worth since retiring from football.

ByDominic Lund Nov 17, 2025

All three centre-forward options are currently injured, though, potentially explaining the reason why Roma want to land a new striker as soon as possible in the New Year.

How £100m Carlos Baleba now feels about leaving Brighton to join Man Utd

While they’ve not all been hits, Chelsea have signed some seriously talented players over the last few years.

The best of them all, though, has undoubtedly been Cole Palmer, who has taken the Premier League by storm since his arrival in 2023.

The Englishman has already produced 74 goal involvements for the side in just 101 appearances and, so long as he’s fit, will most certainly be going to the World Cup with England.

So it’s great news that Cobham looks like it may well have just produced Chelsea a right-footed version of the ice-cold superstar.

Chelsea's most exciting academy gems

Cobham has long been one of, if not the best, academies in England, and there are once again a handful of seriously exciting academy prospects who could soon be making a significant impact on the Chelsea first team.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

For example, Shim Mheuka has been on fire for some time now and even made a few appearances for the senior side last season.

As things stand, the 18-year-old phenomenon has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in just 12 appearances across various youth sides, totalling 977 minutes.

That comes out to an outrageous average of 1.33 goal involvements every game, or one every 61.06 minutes, and helps to explain why respected talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as “the future of Chelsea and English football.”

Moving deeper down the pitch, and while it’s likely going to be a couple of years before he’s given a chance in the first team, Reggie Watson looks to be the real deal.

The 15-year-old can, and has played in a few positions for the youth sides, but is at his best as a six, with respected analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as a “midfield powerhouse.”

Another analyst has highlighted his impressive “passing and vision” as well as his knack for “dictating the tempo of the game.”

He’s not just impressive at club level either, as, after producing six goal involvements in six appearances for England’s under-15s, he was moved up to the under-16s, where he has already scored three goals in just six games.

With all that said, there is another gem who is arguably the most exciting of the lot, and the one who could be Chelsea’s own homegrown Palmer.

Chelsea's homgrown Palmer

While there are an impressive number of academy talents who could become first-team stars at Chelsea, one of the most exciting, and the one who could become the club’s homegrown Palmer, is Reggie Walsh.

The 17-year-old gem joined the Blues at the under-8s level and has worked his way through the academy, impressing at every step of the way and made his competitive debut for the club in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final against Djurgarden last season.

He then became the club’s youngest European starter in the second leg, aged just 16 years and 200 days.

With all that said, what about him means he could be the club’s next Palmer?

Well, while he hasn’t got an outrageous goalscoring record with the youth sides, he, like the Blues starman, is a proper entertainer on the ball, someone capable of doing the simple things while also playing with some flair.

For example, he has been described as a “truly ridiculous” talent by Como scout Felix Johnston, and when asked about him last season, Maresca was full of praise for his playstyle, describing him as “perfect for our system.”

As if that wasn’t enough, another analyst claimed the youngster is “a joy to watch”, and u23 scout Antonio Mango went even further than that, stating that “watching Reggie Walsh perform is a thing of beauty.”

The right-footed gem isn’t just making waves at club level, though, as he’s gone through England’s u15s, u16s, u17s and u18s.

Ultimately, it is still so early in his career, but Walsh is clearly a star in the making, and like Palmer, is a truly entertaining player to watch.

Forget Delap: Cobham star who "lives & breathes goals" is Chelsea's future #9

The incredible Cobham gem could be a star for Chelsea but a problem for Delap.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 13, 2025

How many players have made the final list, which team has the biggest purse, and all other details ahead of the auction on December 15

Shashank Kishore13-Dec-2024There’s another auction we’re hearing about…
Yes, that’s right. Hot on the heels of the mega IPL auction that was held in Saudi Arabia is another auction, which is ahead of the third season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). It will be held in Bengaluru on December 15.Why is no one talking about it?
That’s because there are only a total of 19 slots to be filled between the five WPL franchises. This could make it the smallest of all mini-auctions, and could even be wrapped up in two hours.How many players have made the final auction shortlist?
From a long list of over 400 names, the BCCI has pruned it to 120 based on inputs and interest received from the franchises. This list includes 91 Indians – nine of them capped – and 29 overseas players, who will vie for a maximum of five slots.Related

• WPL 2025 auction – Full list of 120 players

• What each team needs at the WPL 2025 auction

• Dottin, Knight, Rana among big attractions at WPL 2025 auction

Who is likely to be the biggest spender?
Gujarat Giants, owned by Adani Sportsline, have the biggest purse of INR 4.4 crore (approx. US $518,461) available to fill four slots, of which two can be overseas. This is a direct consequence of them finishing last in the first two editions, leading to them releasing as many as six players – the most by a franchise heading into the auction.Who has the smallest purse?
At INR 2.5 crore (approx. US $294,580), Delhi Capitals, runners-up of the first two editions, have the smallest purse. They can fill a maximum of four slots, including one overseas. But overall, each of the five franchises have a total budget of INR 15 crore (approx. US $1.76m), up from INR 13.5 crore last year, to build their squads.Are the team composition rules the same as IPL?
Unlike at the IPL, the WPL doesn’t have the Impact Player rule, which means teams can field only the XI players they announce at the toss. However, WPL teams can field five overseas players, provided the fifth one belongs to an Associate country.How many Associates have previously been part of WPL franchises?
Two of them have featured in the tournament so far: USA’s Tara Norris and Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce. In fact, Norris picked up the WPL’s first five-wicket haul, for DC against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.Heather Knight, along with Deandra Dottin, has placed herself in the highest slab•BCCIHow many Associate players are part of this year’s shortlist?
Only three: UAE top-order batter Theertha Satish and allrounder Samaira Dharnidharka, and Scotland batter Sarah Bryce, who was recently part of Sydney Sixers’ squad in the WBBL.How many players are part of the highest slab at the auction?
Three: England captain Heather Knight and West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin and South Africa’s Lizelle Lee have placed themselves in the highest slab, with a reserve price of INR 50 lakh (approx. US $58,916).Are there any other interesting facts about this year’s auction pool?
Aged just 13, Delhi’s left-arm seamer Anshu Nagar is the youngest player in the shortlist. Australia batter Laura Harris, released by DC, is the oldest at 34.What’s the window for the tournament?
With the IPL starting on March 14, the BCCI is looking at a three-week window for the third edition of the WPL from the third week of January onwards. The final dates and venues, though, are yet to be officially announced.

When Everton wrapped up a season-long loan deal for Jack Grealish ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, it felt like the Three Lions star had entered the last-chance saloon.

It also raised questions as to what David Moyes was to do with his Toffees talisman, Iliman Ndiaye. Both mavericks couldn’t play on the left flank, after all.

But Ndiaye has performed excellently in a new right-sided berth, leading the club’s scoring charts with three goals from nine Premier League matches.

Iliman Ndiaye's importance to Everton

Alongside Grealish, he is the standout star in Moyes’ squad. Ndiaye only arrived in 2024, signing from Marseille for about £15m, but he was a beacon of hope throughout the end of Sean Dyche’s tenure and has scored nine goals under Moyes; no active Everton player has bagged more.

His electric pace and sharp-witted brain makes him a tricky customer for even the sternest Premier League defence. As per Sofascore, the Senegal international has won seven duels per game so far this season, and he has yet to miss a big chance when played in on goal.

Grealish has a unique skillset of his own, but there is really no one else quite like him on the blue half of Merseyside, perhaps the red streets too.

He wears the #10 shirt with pride and purpose, and it’s unlikely anyone in Moyes’ squad has the quality to take it from him right now.

There is an Everton up-and-comer who would fancy his chances, though. He’s currently out on loan, and causing quite the storm as he angles toward an emphatic return to the Premier League next season.

The Everton prospect who could take Ndiaye's shirt

For those of an Everton persuasion, it’s a hard thing to admit, but if Ndiaye isn’t playing European football before long, he may well cast an eye on the continent. Already, the likes of Tottenham Hotspur are weighing up a bumper bid, and the Friedkin Group have responded with a price tag spilling over the £70m mark.

Should he leave, Harrison Armstrong might fancy himself worthy of the summer. Certainly, the teenager has been riding the crest of a wave out on loan in the Championship with Preston North End this season, with his performances leading writer Jonny Nelson to predict that he “will be playing for England in two years”.

The 18-year-old has the grace, technical skill and physicality to become a mainstay in the Premier League, and after a promising spell on loan with Derby County last year, he has taken his game to the next level at Deepdale.

Rangy and ever-more athletic, he’s already featured eight times for Everton’s senior side and has racked up three assists, having played prominently for the development side before being determined to warrant a series of loan moves at a lower level.

Lauded for his “unreal” recent performances by the Second Tier Podcast, Armstrong is going from strength to strength.

We are seeing improvements. We are seeing maturity and growth. Armstrong ranks among the top 10% of Championship midfielders this season for progressive carries and the top 13% for successful take-ons per 90 (data via FBref).

But, more crucially, it is the overall level of his game that has been raised, more confident on the ball, more combative against the run of play. This is a Moyes midfielder, and one who stands a compelling chance of emulating Declan Rice at West Ham United, who was schooled into the superstar he is by the Scotsman.

Matches (starts)

15 (12)

8 (5)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

0

Touches*

33.6

35.0

Accurate passes*

14.8 (68%)

20.1 (82%)

Chances created*

0.3

0.3

Dribbles*

0.6

0.8

Ball recoveries*

3.8

3.0

Tackles + interceptions*

3.2

2.1

Ground duels won*

2.9 (57%)

2.8 (59%)

Aerial duels won*

1.0 (45%)

1.1 (75%)

He is not a winger, and would not replace Ndiaye in terms of tactical role, but the Finch Farm starlet has what it takes to dazzle on Merseyside and provide Everton with a new dimension, much like the silky winger.

Everton might just have a superstar on their hands in Armstrong, one who could hit the heights Ndiaye has reached, and more.

Fewer touches than Pickford: Everton flop must be axed if Richarlison joins

This Everton dud will surely be on borrowed time even more if Richarlison rejoins the Toffees.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 27, 2025

Any Glasgow Rangers fan who uses social media every day will likely have seen the clip going around of Hamza Igamane’s goal for Lille at the weekend.

The Morocco international, not for the first time this season, provided the Gers with a reminder of what they are missing with a brilliantly worked goal for the French side.

Igamane was sold to Lille for a fee of £10.4m in the summer transfer window, due to a release clause in his contract that existed before Kevin Thelwell’s arrival at Ibrox.

Ranking Rangers’ attempts to replace Hamza Igamane

It is fair to say that, on current evidence, have failed to replace the Moroccan star with the work that they did for Russell Martin heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

Igamane, as shown in the graphic above, provided a big goalscoring presence as a maverick playmaker, who could play out wide on the left or through the middle as a centre-forward, in his one season with the club.

Rangers signed six wingers and strikers in an attempt to replace the mercurial talent in the summer, and Djeidi Gassama, with six goals, is the only one of them to have scored more than two goals so far this season, per Transfermarkt.

1

Djeidi Gassama

2

Mikey Moore

3

Thelo Aasgaard

4

Youssef Chermiti

5

Oliver Antman

6

Bojan Miovski

Thelo Aasgaard, in theory, should have been the Igamane replacement as he is a number ten with good technical ability and flair, as evidenced by his wonder goal against Dundee United at Ibrox, but he has only scored one goal all season.

In terms of the strikers, Bojan Miovski has scored two, and Youssef Chermiti has scored one, per Sofascore, but the latter is five years younger and could develop into a star in the future.

Meanwhile, we have ranked Mikey Moore in second place for now, but he could rise up to first if Danny Rohl unleashes him in a central position when he is back fit.

The new position Mikey Moore should be unleashed in

The 18-year-old starlet is currently out with a muscle injury, which he is set to return from later this month, so he will not be available for selection against Dundee United on Wednesday night.

Chalkboard

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

However, when he is back and available for selection, Rohl should unleash Moore as a number ten in the 4-2-3-1 system, which is the role that Thelo Aasgaard has played, as he has not had an opportunity in that position yet.

Per Transfermarkt, the only two matches that the Englishman has played as an attacking midfielder came against Hibernian and Roma as one of two 10s in a 3-4-2-1 system, which meant that he drifted wide more than being the central pivot of the attack.

Moore, as shown in the clip above, produced his best moment in a Rangers shirt against Dundee when he drifted into a central area from the right wing to spark an attack and score a brilliant goal, in Igamane-esque fashion.

Like the former Rangers playmaker, the teenage whiz has the technical quality, explosive burst of pace, and finishing potential to emerge as a real star for Rohl as a number ten or second striker.

The Spurs loanee, who was described as an “outrageous” talent by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists in 24 matches for Tottenham’s U19s, per Transfermarkt, which shows that the potential is there for him to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

However, the vast majority of his appearances for Rangers have come out wide, on the left or the right, and he has only scored one goal and registered two assists in 17 games, which is why Rohl should look to unleash him in a new position.

If Moore thrives in a central role and starts to display the kind of form that he did at U19 level for Spurs, Rangers will have a super talent on their hands and could finally say that they have replaced Igamane’s mercurical quality at the top end of the pitch.

A "spell on the sidelines" is needed for the "best player" at Rangers

This Glasgow Rangers star who was called the team’s best player should be dropped from the starting line-up.

ByDan Emery Dec 2, 2025

Manchester City are firmly in the Premier League title race and could bring a high-profile star to the Etihad Stadium in January after Pep Guardiola hatched a plan to land his signature.

Manchester City move on after seeing off Leeds United

Truthfully, Manchester City didn’t put on their best display against Leeds United. However, they will be delighted by the end result as Phil Foden’s classy winner prevented back-to-back defeats after losing out at Newcastle United.

Title races are never straightforward and always require steel in the face of uncertainty, albeit Guardiola reserved special praise for the scorer of the Citizens’ crowning strike as they kept on track in pursuit of the top-flight crown.

“It’s not the first time we saw that. A thousand, thousand, million times he’s done it. The quality, shooting, strong. Like his goal against West Ham to win the Premier League. Phil has to be around the box. Shoot or pass. His finishing is so quick. Phil is doing a really good season.”

Back-to-back blanks in front of goal for Erling Haaland may be a sign that more needs to be done in the way of recruiting someone to plug the gaps at the top end of the field. Still, Omar Marmoush is likely to be given more opportunities as the season continues to unfold.

Keeping pace at the top will require investment in January, especially given the Citizens’ rivals are likely to strengthen after a bruising festive period, which is set to stretch everyone’s squad to the limit.

Finding solutions when certain sources of goals dry up will be the challenge for all title contenders, not just Manchester City, but they could be the ones set to benefit early on in the January window if the Sky Blues can wrap up an exciting deal.

Elliot Anderson is one of their main targets but there are other irons in the fire.

Man City keen to activate Antoine Semenyo's release clause

According to The Times, Manchester City are exploring a move for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

They are considering activating the winger’s £65m release clause on New Year’s Day, potentially beating other suitors to sign the Ghana international.

Although not set in stone, there is a feeling at the club that bringing in the Cherries attacker could be the difference in their hunt for the Premier League title, an opinion that many will share after his flying start to the campaign.

Dubbed “talented” by Jamie Redknapp, Semenyo has also created 15 chances and completed 21 dribbles on Premier League duty, per Fotmob, showcasing his appeal to suitors keen to tempt him away from the South Coast.

Now, it will be over to City officials as they aim to convince Semenyo that moving to Manchester is the best course of action for his career. On the face of it, playing a part in a title chase could be an appealing prospect.

Alongside Anderson: Man City open talks to sign "top-drawer" £70m star

The Citizens are in the market for attacking reinforcements and have now identified a Premier League star.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Nov 30, 2025

Sunderland are now reportedly in pole position to sign a midfield star who Regis Le Bris already knows well ahead of rivals Newcastle United.

Le Bris eyes Sunderland reaction vs Bournemouth

It’s not often that Sunderland have been handed setbacks this season, but defeat against Fulham last time out was exactly that for Le Bris’ side.

Whilst it was just their third loss of the season and there’s no reason to think that last week’s result could derail their strong start, the Black Cats will be eyeing a reaction against Bournemouth.

Three points could take the Black Cats to as high as third if other results also go their way and after 13 games that would simply be remarkable. In many ways, those at the Stadium of Light are replicating the impressive work that Bournemouth have gradually enjoyed since their own promotion.

Le Bris admitted his admiration for the Cherries, saying: “Bournemouth are a good model for us. They way they have built in the last four seasons in the league is really interesting for us.”

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.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 24, 2025

It must be said, however, that Sunderland’s model has so featured more investment and the type of investment that could see them land Matteo Guendouzi ahead of Newcastle in January.

Sunderland leading Newcastle in Guendouzi race

According to TeamTalk, Sunderland are now ahead of Newcastle in the race to sign Guendouzi in 2026 in a deal that could be worth up to £26m. Le Bris knows the Lazio midfielder well from their time together at Lorient and admitted that he’s still in contact with his former midfielder a few weeks ago.

It would be a statement move if the Black Cats landed a transfer target ahead of their rivals, who are backed by the extensive riches of PIF. But that’s the position they find themselves in after such an impressive start to the Premier League campaign.

It’s easy to see why Sunderland are chasing a reunion between Le Bris and Guendouzi, given how the Frenchman has compared to star man Granit Xhaka so far this season. The transfer report even states that the Black Cats view Guendouzi ‘as the perfect midfield partner for Xhaka, adding experience and bite to their engine room’.

Previously dubbed a “great professional” by former Hertha Berlin sporting director Arne Friedrich, Guendouzi also has unfinished business in the Premier League after leaving Arsenal under a dark cloud in 2021 and could earn redemption at Sunderland.

Isidor upgrade: Sunderland open talks to sign "unstoppable" £26m striker

Having last played for Zimbabwe in 2018, he recently returned to domestic cricket and could be in contention for the T20 World Cup Qualifiers

Firdose Moonda08-Aug-2025Former Zimbabwe captain and legspinner Graeme Cremer has returned to the country’s domestic cricket structure and is available for international selection. Cremer, who is 38 and led Zimbabwe between 2016 and 2018, gave up cricket for golf and then moved with his family to the UAE, where his wife Merna works as an airline pilot. He has now made his return in Zimbabwe’s National Premier League, the 45-over club competition.ESPNcricinfo has confirmed he is eligible for selection for the national side and could be in contention for September’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers, which will be played in Zimbabwe.Cremer last played international cricket in March 2018 and has been involved in coaching roles in Dubai, including with the Rajasthan Royals Academy. He is now playing for the defending champions, Takashinga Patriots 1 Cricket Club, and is the leading wicket-taker after two matches.Related

• Cremer temporarily puts cricket career on hold for family

• 'A debut-like feeling' – Taylor grateful for second chance

“It’s amazing being back,” Cremer told about his return after the match against Queens Sports Club in Kwekwe. “Kwekwe was my home ground for many years, so it was great walking out and being part of Takashinga, which is such a prestigious club. They welcomed me into the team and it was an amazing team environment. I’m really happy with the start.”Cremer took 4 for 43 as Takashinga defended 263 for 6 and won by 134 runs. That match, played on August 3, also featured Brendan Taylor, who has subsequently made his return to the Test side after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code. Taylor scored 61 in that match as he tuned up ahead of his international comeback.”We are close friends, myself and Brendan, so it was an amazing feeling being on the field with him again and nice to see him score some runs,” Cremer said. “It’s great watching him bat, and then walking out onto the field with him, just how we communicate because we have played so much cricket together. It really helps someone like that out with me.”Taylor and Cremer are two of Zimbabwe’s most experienced players, and their return to the set-up with two ICC tournaments (T20 World Cup 2026 and ODI World Cup 2027, which Zimbabwe will co-host) speaks to Zimbabwe Cricket’s seriousness to ensure they qualify. Zimbabwe missed out on the last T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean after losing to Uganda in qualifiers and have not played a 50-over World Cup since 2015 after missing out on both the 2019 and 2023 editions.Zimbabwe will host the Africa Regional Qualifier for the upcoming T20 World Cup from September 26 to October 4. The tournament consists of eight teams, and the top two will progress to the main event.

As the Mariners prepare to face the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, star catcher Cal Raleigh will be tasked with trying to lead Seattle to their first World Series appearance in franchise history. The Mariners are the only team in MLB that have not made the World Series once, and one of four teams that have yet to win the title.

Regardless of the outcome of Monday's game and the ALCS, Raleigh will remain in contention to win his first MVP award, and become the first catcher since 2012 to claim the award.

Raleigh is in a close race with Yankees star Aaron Judge, who is also a strong contender to take home the AL MVP award this year. If Raleigh were to defeat Judge, he would become the 13th catcher in MLB history to win the award, and this would mark the 19th time a catcher has claimed the award.

Before the MVP winner is announced following the conclusion of the 2025 postseason, here's a look at how Raleigh's season stacks next to every other MVP-winning catcher.

Cal Raleigh's 2025 stats

This season, Raleigh has slashed .247/.359/.589 for 147 hits, 110 runs, 60 home runs and 125 RBIs, reaching new career-highs in practically every statistic. Raleigh's top competitor, Judge, slashed .331/.457/.688 with 179 hits, 137 runs, 53 home runs and 114 RBIs. He posted an OPS of 1.144 and a 9.7 WAR.

Raleigh led all of MLB in home runs and led the AL in RBIs. Judge led MLB in WAR, OPS, on-base percentage, slug rate and batting average and led the AL in runs. Raleigh finished second to Judge in WAR.

Every catcher to win MVP

Below is a list of every catcher that has won the MVP award. Notably, the first two catchers to win MVP, Bob O'Farrell in 1926 and Mickey Cochrane in 1928, won those awards when prior award winners were not allowed to win MVP again. This would change in 1931, when the Baseball Writers' Association of America took over the voting for the award.

How does Cal Raleigh compare?

Of every catcher who has won MVP, Raleigh holds the largest edge in home runs. Raleigh broke the single-season record for most home runs by a catcher in a season with 60, 12 more than any other catcher has hit in one year. Raleigh's RBI total is tied for third among catchers that have won MVP, trailing only Johnny Bench and Roy Campanella. Both his OPS and WAR are also in the upper half of catchers that have taken home MVP.

Raleigh has a significantly lower batting average than every other catcher to win MVP. Over half the catchers hit above .300 when they won MVP, but Raleigh would be the only catcher to hit below .270 with his .243 average this season.

If Raleigh were to win the award, he would join Mauer and Posey as one of three catchers to win the award this century. Raleigh hit more than double the home runs either Mauer and Posey hit in their MVP-winning seasons, and also bests them in RBIs. Mauer and Posey both hold the advantage in batting average and OPS.

Notably, 10 of the 12 catchers to win MVP have also won at least one World Series in their careers, all but Mauer and Hartnett. With a win Monday, Raleigh maintains his chance to win MVP and the World Series in the same season.

Real Madrid endured a miserable afternoon against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday as they offered little attacking threat on their way to settling for a frustrating 0-0 draw. The high-powered attacking corps of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham were kept quiet in a frustrating contest for manager Xabi Alonso as Los Blancos failed to bounce back from their midweek defeat to Liverpool.

Madrid offered little in the way of attacking threat in the first half., but there were a few chances. Arda Guler, who looked much improved after a dull performance at Anfield, stung the goalkeeper's palms early while Raul Asencio failed to convert from a diving header. Rayo, meanwhile, weren't afraid to hit on the break, and drew a duo of signature stops out of Thibaut Courtois as the half wore on. 

Mbappe had a good effort on the hour mark, but skewed wide, while Bellingham went close after, but saw his poke denied by a late sliding challenge. The home side, in fact, looked more likely to score after the break as they peppered the Madrid goal and created opportunities on the break. At the other end, Mbappe lost his positional disclipline and Bellingham tried to do too much through the middle.

There will, admittedly, be games like this for Madrid – especially away from home – but with the title race poised to be as tight as ever, it could be costly. 

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from Vallecas…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Thibaut Courtois (7/10):

Made a few important saves, as per usual. Didn't put a foot wrong. 

Federico Valverde (7/10):

Motored up and down the right. His side was mostly quiet and he had little to do. 

Raul Asencio (6/10):

Had a good chance denied. Kept things tidy otherwise. 

Dean Huijsen (6/10):

A pretty poor first half. Got himself booked and looked a little unsteady. Hooked at the break. 

Alvaro Carreras (7/10):

Another mightily composed showing at left back. Tried to smash one into the top corner and put it comically wide. 

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Eduardo Camavinga (6/10):

Snapped into tackles, circulated the ball effectively. 

Jude Bellingham (7/10):

Full of creativity in the middle, and was a couple of tidy blocks away from a goal. 

Arda Guler (6/10):

Much more lively in the first half after a tepid midweek showing. Put one narrowly wide in the second. Saw his influence wane as the game wore on. 

GettyAttack

Brahim Diaz (6/10):

Lively on the wing, but could have released the ball more effectively. Replaced after 70 minutes. 

Kylian Mbappe (5/10):

Rather shut down in the middle, and started to lose his positional discipline. A rare off day. 

Vinicius Jr (6/10):

Relatively quiet, and saw his wing crowded by the impatient Mbappe. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettySubs & Manager

Eder Militao (5/10):

His side of the pitch looked very vulnerable in the second half.

Dani Ceballos (5/10):

Brought on for a little more midfield control, which he didn't really offer.

Rodrygo (5/10):

Chucked on late, and didn't provide much. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold (N/A):

No time to make an impact.

Xabi Alonso (5/10):

Went for an attacking setup against an opponent that figured to dig in a bit. Questionable to bring Ceballos on when needing a goal. His side didn't deserve more than a draw.