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Ernie Banks, the Hall of Fame shortstop of the Chicago Cubs, loved baseball so much that playing one game wasn't enough. His popular saying of "Let's play two" is as much a part of his legacy as his 512 career home runs.

The two-time National League MVP might have changed his tune if he had to endure a marathon contest comprising nearly three games' worth of innings. The longest games in MLB history felt like they would never end.

What Makes an MLB Game Long?

Unlike the constant action of basketball, hockey and soccer, baseball is a sport that historically has been played to its own beat.

If hitters didn't step out of the batter's box to adjust their gloves, pitchers walked off the mound to grab some extra rosin to get a better grip on the ball. Managers also made nonstop pitching changes to find the best matchups to get outs. The introduction of video replay in 2008 added more stoppages.

On occasion, competition goes beyond the regulation nine innings when teams are tied, forcing "extra" innings.

The longest game in MLB history by number of innings was an early-era stalemate between two pitchers who refused to budge and let the other team score.

Longest MLB Games by Innings

On May 1, 1920, the Brooklyn Robins and Boston Braves played the most innings ever in an MLB game at Braves Field in Boston. The teams were tied at 1–1 after six innings and proceeded to play 20 consecutive scoreless frames before the contest was called due to darkness.

The record 26-inning affair only took three hours and 50 minutes to play. Incredibly, both starting pitchers twirled 26-inning complete games.

Right-hander Leon Cadore surrendered one earned run, 15 hits and five walks and recorded seven strikeouts for the Robins (a predecessor of the Dodgers). Braves righty Joe Oeschger gave up one earned run, nine hits and four walks and also struck out seven.

The next day, Oeschger said, "My elbow is a little lame, but that is the usual thing."

The second-most innings played in an MLB game is 25. Two contests share the honor.

In 1974, the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets were locked in a 3–3 tie at Shea Stadium when Cardinals center fielder Bake McBride scored from first base on an errant pickoff throw by Mets reliever Hank Webb. Luckily for St. Louis, the speedy McBride ignored the stop sign from third base coach Vern Benson.

"Bake was running so fast that he couldn’t see the sign," Cardinals manager Red Schoendienst said.

The Cardinals' 4–3 victory was secured by righthander Sonny Siebert, who earned the win with 2 1/3 shutout innings. St. Louis's MVP on the mound was lefthander Claude Osteen, who preceded Siebert with 9 1/3 scoreless innings.

In 1984, the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox played MLB's second-ever 25-inning marathon. The game set the American League record for most innings, but it also made history for the amount of time it took. And one day wasn't enough to complete it.

Longest MLB Games by Time

On May 8, 1984, the Brewers and White Sox played the second game of a midweek series at Comiskey Park. They wouldn't finish it until the next day after a total of eight hours and six minutes of baseball—the longest duration of a game in MLB history.

Milwaukee broke a 1–1 tie with two runs in the top of the ninth, and Chicago responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to force extra innings. They matched scoreless frames through the 17th inning when play was suspended due to the AL's 1 a.m. curfew.

Play resumed the next day at 6:30 p.m. before the teams' scheduled contest. Ben Ogilvie's three-run home run in the 21st inning appeared to give the Brewers the victory, but the White Sox battled to make it 6-6 on Carlton Fisk's RBI single and Tom Paciorek's two-run single.

In the 25th inning, Chicago brought in its scheduled starter that night, Hall of Fame right-hander Tom Seaver, to make his first relief appearance since 1976. After Seaver threw a scoreless frame, Harold Baines had only one thing on his mind when he stepped to the plate in the bottom of the inning. “Winning the game is my only goal,” Baines told the Associated Press.

Baines blasted a Chuck Porter pitch 420 feet into the center-field bullpen to give the White Sox a 7–6 victory and finally end the longest game in MLB history. “I wish it would have went a little longer,” said Porter, the losing pitcher.

The second longest game in MLB history was also part of what was the longest doubleheader ever at the time. On May 31, 1964, before a crowd of 57,037 fans at Shea Stadium, the San Francisco Giants defeated the Mets 5–3 in the first game and then won 8–6 in a 23-inning nightcap that lasted seven hours and 23 minutes.

In extra innings, Willie Mays, one of the greatest center fielders ever, played shortstop for the Giants. Another future Hall of Famer, righthander Gaylord Perry, threw 10 innings of scoreless relief to earn one of his 314 career victories.

The longest nine-inning game in MLB history is four hours and 45 minutes. On Aug. 18, 2006, the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 14–11 in the nightcap of a day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park. Each team collected 17 hits but managed only one home run.

Rule Changes to Shorten Games

In 2021, Major League Baseball games averaged three hours and 10 minutes. To speed up the pace of play and make baseball more palatable to a younger audience, the league adopted new rules, including a pitch clock to limit dead time during at-bats.

The changes worked. In 2024, a regulation nine-inning contest averaged two hours and 36 minutes.

MLB also took steps to shorten extra-inning games.

In 2020, as part of its pandemic measures, the league introduced the "ghost runner,” an automatic runner placed at second base at the start of each team's half inning to provide an immediate scoring opportunity.

Extra-inning contests dropped from 233 in 2021 to 216 in 2022. The longest game across the two seasons lasted 16 innings.

In 2023, MLB made the extra-innings format permanent for the regular season.

Fakhar Zaman, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first week of August, has recovered and is part of the squad

Danyal Rasool17-Aug-2025Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have not been selected in Pakistan’s T20I squad for the upcoming Asia Cup in the UAE. Fakhar Zaman, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first week of August, has recovered and is part of the side.Salman Agha will lead the 17-member squad, which will also participate in the tri-series against UAE and Afghanistan in the lead-up to the Asia Cup.Babar last played a T20I in December 2024. In PSL 2025, he scored 288 runs in ten innings for Peshawar Zalmi. It included knocks of 56*, 53* and 94 but his overall strike rate was 128.57. He was part of the recent ODI series against West Indies where he had scores of 47, 0 and 9.ESPNcricinfo LtdRizwan, like Babar, has not been part of Pakistan’s recent T20I squads for the home and subsequent away series against Bangladesh, followed by the T20Is in the West Indies. He made 53 in the opening game of the ODI series against West Indies, followed by scores of 16 and 0.Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said Babar had been challenged with improving his T20 game. I think it’s really harsh to challenge a player on their form on three games,” he said at a press conference. “Babar played nicely in the first ODI but missed out on the next two. There’s no doubt Babar’s been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate. Those are things he’s working really hard on.”But at the moment, the players we have have done exceptionally well. Sahibzada Farhan has played six games and won three Player of the Match awards. A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas in T20s. He’s too good a player not to consider.”Shaheen Afridi, who had also found himself out of favour in T20 cricket of late, retained his place for the tri-series and the Asia Cup, though Naseem Shah missed out once again. Naseem is currently in action in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).Lahore Qalandars fast bowler Salman Mirza, who was Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker with eight against Bangladesh in the away T20I series, was included in the side. Ahmed Daniyal, who also impressed briefly, though was not part of the squad. Both specialist wristspinners – Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem, kept their place.The squad is something of an amalgamation of the sides that have played T20I cricket under Hesson in the three T20I series over the summer. The recent ODI series – which Pakistan lost 2-1 in the Caribbean – appears not to have influenced decision making either way. Hesson said he intended to stick to the aggressive top-heavy approach he has championed in the format, and repeated that Pakistan’s game was suited to such a style.”We were challenged with three different surfaces [in each of the three series]” Hesson said. “In Lahore, the surfaces were flat and the batting excelled. We went to Bangladesh where they were incredibly challenging and low-scoring games. Our top order sets the game up. All the games we won the top order performed really well. The third game in the West Indies, our openers put on 140 [138]. We need that at a run rate that gets us ahead of the game. T20 is all about setting the game up and being ahead of the game all the time in case you get yourself out. From a batting point of view we’ve got a line-up that can continue to do that.”The tri-series in the UAE between the hosts, Afghanistan and Pakistan will serve as a warm-up to the T20 Asia Cup, which will begin on September 9. Pakistan have never won the T20 version of that tournament; they reached the final when it was last played in 2022.Pakistan squad for the UAE tri-series and Asia CupSalman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed a double injury setback following their Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, with Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembele both ruled out for several weeks. Hakimi suffered a severe ankle sprain after a reckless challenge, while Dembele sustained a calf issue. Both will be reassessed after the international break, heightening concern ahead of a congested fixture run.

• PSG issue medical update after Bayern loss

  PSG have confirmed that Hakimi and Dembele will be sidelined for several weeks following injuries sustained during the Champions League defeat to Bayern at the Parc des Princes. The match, which ended 2-1 in Bayern’s favour, proved costly beyond the scoreline as PSG lost two key starters before half-time.

  Hakimi was forced off after suffering a severe sprain to his left ankle in first-half stoppage time, with PSG announcing the following day: "Achraf Hakimi has severely sprained his left ankle, which will leave him unavailable for several weeks.”

  Minutes earlier, Dembele had already exited the field after signalling discomfort in his left calf immediately following what he believed to be the opening goal. He has “picked up an injury to his left calf and will therefore remain on the treatment table for the next few weeks,” according to the French side.

  The club confirmed that detailed updates will arrive “after the international break,” leaving the timeline for both players’ returns uncertain.

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• AFP
  

  Luis Diaz challenge sparks fury and concern

  Hakimi’s injury stemmed from a reckless tackle by Bayern winger Luis Daz in the closing moments of the first half. The Colombian initially received a yellow card, but after a VAR review, the referee upgraded it to a straight red due to the severity of contact and the dangerous twisting motion of Hakimi’s ankle.

  The Moroccan right-back was visibly emotional as he was helped off the pitch, later confirming his determination to return quickly: "Falls are part of the journey, the comeback makes the difference. Thank you all for your messages."

  Hakimi left the pitch in tears and could not put weight on his leg, he now faces a race against time to be fit for the Africa Cup of Nations, with Morocco set to open their tournament on December 21. The national team captain was expected to be one of the poster figures of the campaign.

  Bayern coach Vincent Kompany expressed his concern for the full-back post-match, saying: “I hope Hakimi recovers quickly. We know what it’s like to have an injured player in a match of this intensity.” Meanwhile, Colombian international Diaz posted soon after on Instagram: “Wishing Hakimi a quick return to the pitch.”

• Another upset for Ballon d'Or winner Dembele

  For Dembele, the injury represents another disruptive moment in an already stop-start season. The France forward had only recently returned from a six-week absence due to a hamstring issue sustained in September, and this latest calf injury threatens to derail his rhythm once more. The French superstar headed straight to the tunnel after being substituted, suggesting immediate concern from the medical staff.

  This setback comes at a difficult time for PSG, who are also without Desire Doue and Nuno Mendes, stretching squad depth significantly during a crucial stage of their European campaign.

  The timing of both injuries is far from ideal for PSG, as the European champions are balancing domestic title pressure with high Champions League expectations, but recent performances have shown signs of fatigue and inconsistency. Luis Enrique's team lacked sharpness against Bayern especially in defence, and losing two key starters only complicates matters.

  Hakimi has been instrumental in PSG’s transitional play, while Dembele has slowly grown into Enrique’s tactical framework. Without them, the team may need to rely on less experienced or out-of-position replacements. 

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  Challenges lies ahead for PSG

  The upcoming Ligue 1 fixtures and remaining European group matches will test depth and adaptability, as they will hope both players can respond well to treatment after the international break. The club remain confident Hakimi will recover in time to feature at AFCON, but his status will depend on stability and swelling reduction. For Dembele, the key will be avoiding further muscular relapse.

  PSG face Lyon next in Ligue 1 before returning to Champions League action in a demanding continental schedule. Enrique will need to reshape his lineup, rediscover rhythm, and keep the squad physically managed to avoid further setbacks.

Chelsea have had their ups and downs over the past decade, but the strength of the Cobham academy has remained a satisfying constant throughout.

Whether talented hopefuls are integrated into the Stamford Bridge set-up or sold for pure profit, it’s a model that has served Chelsea well and has bred trophy-winning success with comparative consistency.

Enzo Maresca demonstrated throughout the first year of his tenure a willingness to promote youth. In fact, Chelsea fielded one of the youngest average line-ups in the Premier League last year, securing their place in the Champions League with a top-four finish.

That emphasis has carried into the new season, with the Londoners’ strategy seeing them field a younger average XI than any other team in the division.

Tottenham

3rd

25.1

Man City

5th

24.9

Sunderland

9th

24.7

Brentford

16th

24.7

Chelsea

7th

23.9

This thread has only strengthened during Maresca’s second year in the dugout, with a few of England’s most talented rising stars under the Italian tactician’s wing.

Chelsea's next England stars

Chelsea don’t just promote internally; they sign exciting rising prospects too. And this summer, Jamie Gittens was added to the ranks, having been hailed as a “really sharp” and “electric” winger by his teammate Tyrique George.

George, for that matter, is another of the Blues’ most exciting young players, having graduated from Cobham to make his professional debut at the start of last season, featuring against Servette during Chelsea’s Conference League qualifiers.

The duo have struggled for minutes in Maresca’s team so far this term, but they have showcased an intriguing partnership on international duty with England U21 over the past week, Gittens demonstrating his balletic movement to slide past defenders and play through the 19-year-old George, who rifled his strike into the roof of the net.

Gittens spent some time with Chelsea during his formative days, but the bulk of his development was played out at Reading.

There’s no question that the 21-year-old is a talented winger, but he hasn’t started as strongly as he might have liked after arriving from Borussia Dortmund for about £52m in July, having started only twice in the Premier League so far.

The teenage George is earlier in his development, but given that he started up top as Chelsea beat Benfica in the Champions League last month and replaced the injured Liam Delap just 16 minutes into Chelsea’s clash against Fulham at the end of August, with Gittens staying on the bench, it’s clear Maresca values him.

Both fleet-footed stars typically play off the left flank and have shown signs of potency at different stages, but the nature of Chelsea’s system suggests both could be superseded by an even bigger talent in the coming years. Indeed, there’s a new Cobham up-and-comer who’s storming his way to the first team.

Cobham's biggest English talent

One thing’s for sure: the Cobham production line will continue to churn out exciting prospects. And latest on the belt is Shumaira ‘Shim’ Mheuka, who, aged 17, is already demonstrating significant potential as a centre-forward.

Poached from Brighton & Hove Albion following impressive performances at U14 level, it has been reported that Mheuka is ‘one of if not the most regular’ academy players to train with Maresca’s first team, and all the pointers lead to further opportunities to showcase his potential within the senior Blues fold.

This season, the youngster has scored ten goals and assisted one more across just ten appearances for Chelsea’s U21 outfit, fast-tracked from the U18s to the club’s senior development side in age-belying fashion.

It bears testament to the rangy forward’s potential and the awe he has collected from observers already that he has played 32 times for the U21s, but only 24 times for the U18s. Again, he is 17 years old.

In fact, so exciting is Mheuka’s name that he has been described as “the future of Chelsea and English football” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and it feels certain that he will start earning regular minutes in Maresca’s senior system.

Because, of course, Mheuka featured four times in the Conference League last year and made his Premier League debut as a late substitute against Southampton in February, during a 4-0 win.

Mheuka is tall, but he is also mobile and sharp when in possession and through his movement when on the ball. A devastating blend of physicality and technical ability marks the perfect profile for Maresca’s set-up, and he might just come to leapfrog over Gittens and George, especially with the latter earning opportunities as a central striker for club and country this season.

Instinctive in front of goal, the teenager is also maturing physically and ticking all the boxes as he looks to nail down a position in the Chelsea first team.

The youngness of Maresca’s project will not be lost on Mheuka and his representatives, nor the fact that he has already been entrusted with opportunities across the 2024/25 campaign.

Considered a leader by example more than a vocal enforcer, the fast-improving number nine is proving his worth at Chelsea, alright, and there’s every chance that his journey will take him up and up and beyond that of George and Gittens, who are fine players in their own right but are already encountering difficulties in breaking into the starting line-up at Chelsea.

Centre-forward has long been a contentious area of the field in west London, but Mheuka could be the long-term solution for a side returning to the very summit of English and European football.

After Estevao: Chelsea have signed another "future Ballon d'Or winner"

Chelsea has another sublime youngster they’re ready to unleash, who could be as jaw-dropping to watch as Estevao.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 14, 2025

Big-money transfers haven’t been alien to Manchester United over the last couple of years, with mammoth funds being splashed on numerous talents in the transfer window.

At present, the Red Devils’ £89m deal to re-sign Paul Pogba from Juventus in the summer of 2016 remains their record signing, but the club have been perilously close to breaking such a sum in recent windows.

Antony joined during the Erik ten Hag reign, moving to Old Trafford alongside the boss after spending multiple years with the Dutchman at Eredivisie outfit Ajax.

The deal for the Brazilian will go down as one of the worst in English history, scoring just 12 times in his 96 appearances in Manchester after joining the club for a staggering £86m.

The 25-year-old has since left in a £19m deal to join Spanish side Real Betis – with Ruben Amorim’s side taking a £67m loss on the investment made back in the summer of 2022.

However, there’s a new attacker at the Theatre of Dreams trying to avoid suffering a similar fate in his quest to help catapult the side back to their former glory in the near future.

United’s move to land Bryan Mbeumo this summer

After ending the 2024/25 campaign in a measly 15th place in the Premier League, huge changes were needed at United during the off-season to prevent a repeat this time around.

Amorim wasted no time in clearing the deadwood out from his first-team squad, subsequently freeing up valuable wages to land new top-level talent to transform the club’s fortunes.

Bryan Mbeumo was one of three big-money attacking reinforcements made during the summer, arriving in a package totalling £71m including potential add-ons.

The Cameroonian international scored 20 times in the Premier League for Brentford last campaign, ending the year as only one of five players to achieve such a feat in England’s top-flight.

Whilst it’s undoubtedly another expensive addition made by the hierarchy, it’s one that has injected needed top-flight experience into the current squad to aid their ambitions of rising up the table.

At 26, he will be entering his prime years at Old Trafford, also having the opportunity to make himself a fan-favourite during any attempt of domestic and continental success.

Mbeumo has already made an immediate impact in 2025/26, scoring twice in his first four outings for the Red Devils – arguably being the biggest threat currently available to Amorim within the final third.

Whilst his early form in Manchester has given supporters a newfound sense of optimism, the hierarchy could’ve saved themselves millions had they put more faith in one talent who left a couple of years ago.

The former United star who is just like Mbeumo

The Ten Hag era at United was certainly a topsy-turvy one, achieving great feats like winning the FA Cup, but also getting hammered 7-0 by rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

His recruitment in the transfer market was also extremely lacklustre, splashing big money on players who ultimately failed to cut it in the Premier League – as seen by Antony’s spell at the club.

Casemiro was another addition made during his tenure, costing a fee in the region of £70m from Real Madrid despite being 30 at the time of his switch to England.

Numerous of his outgoings also proved to be mistakes, with the decision to offload Anthony Elanga for just £15m another blunder made when he was at the helm.

The Swede came through the youth ranks at Old Trafford, going on to make 55 appearances over a three-year period – but only 26 of which came during Ten Hag’s spell in charge.

He failed to net a single goal during the 2022/23 campaign, leading to his subsequent move to Nottingham Forest that summer in a deal that catapulted him to the next level.

Elanga spent two years at the City Ground, racking up 11 goals and 21 assists in his 82 appearances – subsequently catapulting the Reds to Europe for the first time in three decades – before joining Newcastle United in a £60m deal this summer.

One of his efforts came against United last campaign, producing an incredible 85-yard solo effort which saw Nuno Espírito Santo’s side claim a 1-0 win over Amorim’s men.

As a result of his performances, he was labelled as a similar player to new addition Mbeumo by FBref, managing to outperform the £71m man in numerous key areas.

The Swede managed to post a higher shot on target accuracy rate in 2024/25 (55%), subsequently making the most of the opportunities falling his way and demonstrating his clinical nature.

His dominance over the Cameroonian is further reflected in his higher tally of key passes per 90 (1.9) and carries into the opposition box per 90 (2.7) – having the technical ability to subsequently cause the opposition havoc.

That’s an attribute that’s been outlined much through Elanga’s career, with former Red Devil Paul Parker once stating that he is like “a young Ryan Giggs” in the way he drives forward with possession.

Games played

38

38

Goals & assists

17

27

Shot on target accuracy

55%

43%

Key passes made

1.9

1.8

Progressive carries

2.7

1.9

Carries into the opposition box

2.7

1.9

Crosses completed

6.7

5.3

Fould drawn

1.7

1.1

Tallies such as 3.7 progressive carries per 90 and 6.7 crosses completed per 90 were also higher than those produced by Mbeumo – further showcasing the constant threat he possesses in attacking areas.

Given the lack of success from the United first team in recent years, the decision to allow Elanga to depart now looks to be a huge mistake – especially given his rapid development away from the Theatre of Dreams.

Undoubtedly, there’s huge excitement around Mbeumo at present, but the club may well have been better off keeping hold of the Swede instead of splashing yet more funds on a new attacker.

Man Utd talent who left the club for £0 has been outscoring Sesko & Mbeumo

Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing one former talent to depart Old Trafford.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 11, 2025

Jordan Henderson's Brentford transfer has reportedly caused behind-the-scenes trouble at Ajax, with the players disrupted by his exit. After his brief and turbulent stint in Saudi Arabia, Henderson had looked to rebuild his career in the Netherlands. Though his early days at Ajax were rocky, the England international eventually found his footing, becoming a consistent figure in the team’s midfield and a respected voice in the dressing room.

Trouble in Amsterdam over Henderson’s departure

According to Dutch outlet , Ajax’s sporting director, Alex Kroes, has found himself in the firing line after overseeing Henderson’s departure as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy. His restructuring plans ruffled feathers among the senior squad, with several players reportedly furious at how Henderson’s situation was handled.

AdvertisementGettyKroes under fire for pushing Henderson out

A report from the publication read: "Kroes also antagonised several top players. Henderson even publicly expressed the feeling of being deliberately pushed out by the director. Kroes finally allowed the undisputed leader to leave on a free transfer this summer. That earned him a dig from Steven Berghuis last week."

Brentford reaping the rewards

Meanwhile, Brentford appear to be the big winners in this saga. Henderson has slotted seamlessly into the Premier League side, providing much-needed composure, leadership, and experience in midfield. Speaking this week as part of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad ahead of fixtures against Wales and Latvia, the midfielder made it clear he’s still driven to contribute at the highest level.

“I have shown what I can do for England over the years and I am still playing at a high level,” Henderson said. “Outside, people can think what they want – media or whoever. The most important people are the manager, the coaching staff and the players. Ask them what they think; if I am a cheerleader when I am here. I don’t think one of the best managers in Europe would be choosing me just to do that. I am here to perform – whether that is in training every day, whether that is when I am on the pitch. My main job is to be performing for the team and helping the team.”

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Getty Images SportAjax’s gamble that may haunt them

As Brentford benefit from Henderson’s resurgence, Ajax’s decision looks increasingly shortsighted. What was meant to be a simple wage-trimming exercise has now ballooned into a full-blown controversy that’s damaged the harmony within the squad and raised questions about the club’s leadership. In the end, Ajax may have saved some money, but lost a leader. And in football, that’s often an expensive price to pay.

Nottingham Forest have now submitted an offer for a “big-game” player, who has been personally requested by Nuno, and negotiations are currently ongoing.

Nuno requests new signing amid uncertainty over his future

Nuno is expected to hold talks with Evangelos Marinakis over his future at the City Ground, after publicly revealing his relationship with the Forest owner is not what it used to be.

However, in the meantime, the Portuguese manager remains focused on the task at hand, saying: “I am working, and trying to do my job the best I can. I have had good conversations [with Marinakis and Edu], to provide a good platform for the team.”

It remains to be seen whether the 51-year-old is still in charge by the end of the summer transfer window, but he certainly had the backing of the traveling fans in the recent 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhrust Park.

The recent developments certainly haven’t done Marinakis’ reputation any favours, but the Tricky Trees’ owner has certainly backed them in the current transfer window, and there could still be more arrivals on the way.

That is according to a report from Sporx (via Sport Witness), which states Nottingham Forest have now tabled an offer for Fenerbahce goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, with Nuno keen to bring in another goalkeeper to provide competition for Matz Sels.

In fact, the Forest boss has personally requested the signing of Livakovic, but a move could be difficult, given that the goalkeeper wants to be first-choice, which would not be a guarantee at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest prepare £17m bid to bring "silky" star to the City Ground

The Tricky Trees are looking to strike an exciting deal.

1 BySean Markus Clifford Aug 26, 2025

Not only that, but the Tricky Trees are also struggling to meet the 30-year-old’s salary demands, so they may be forced to move on to alternative targets.

Livakovic could be solid back-up to Selz

Nuno will certainly be in no rush to replace Selz, but there are signs the Fenerbahce goalkeeper could be a solid back-up option, or perhaps even be capable of pushing for the 33-year-old’s starting spot, should Forest get a deal over the line.

The Croatian shot-stopper is vastly experienced at international level, collecting 66 caps for his country, and he was dubbed a “big-game” player by Statman Dave courtesy of a fantastic display against Brazil at the 2022 World Cup.

Not only that, but the Zadar-born goalkeeper has a combined 51 Europa League and Champions League appearances to his name, and that level of experience could serve the Tricky Trees well, given that they are set to embark on a European campaign this season.

Livakovic, who cost Fenerbahce €6.65m (£6m) could be an excellent addition for Forest, but it would not be a huge blow if they missed out, given that Nuno already has the ever-reliable Selz at his disposal between the sticks.

After Tottenham’s late collapse in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday evening, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange are under slightly more pressure to reinforce Thomas Frank’s squad with proven quality.

In truth, Spurs were extremely impressive against last season’s French treble-winners, especially considering they were minus chief creators Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.

Frank’s side found themselves 2-0 up just after half-time, and deservedly so, courtesy of two excellent finishes from central defensive duo Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

However, for all their dogged defending thereafter, PSG managed to claw their way back in with two very late strikes from Lee Kang-in and Gonçalo Ramos – taking the game to penalties.

Luis Enrique’s men reigned victorious in the shootout, but the PSG boss himself admitted that Spurs were superior and deserved something from the game.

Barring their capitulation in the dying minutes, there were definitely positives for Frank to take from this game, but the Lilywhites now head into their first Premier League match of 2025/2026 on the back of defeat.

There are still over two weeks to go until the summer window closes, with supporters extremely eager to see Levy make a late transfer statement ahead of a long campaign – even more so after their PSG loss.

Earlier this week, reports emerged that Tottenham opened talks with Crystal Palace to sign Eberechi Eze, who’s been a long-time target for north London rivals Arsenal, as Spurs look to beat them to the punch.

Eze, who bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, would fill the gaping creative void left by Maddison’s long-term absence.

The England international is reportedly open to joining Tottenham as well, but the Lilywhites have a limited time only to trigger Eze’s £68 million release clause – which expires this Friday.

The 27-year-old isn’t Levy’s only late-summer attacking target, either, with Spurs also in talks over a deal for Man City winger Savinho.

Tottenham place opening bid for Man City forward Savinho

Right now, the Londoners are negotiating moves for both forwards in separate moves (Fabrizio Romano), so the prospect of Tottenham making a very ambitious double-attacking signing is very much alive.

There is a case to be made that the direct and pacey Savinho would be a perfect replacement for club legend Son Heung-min, and according to journalist Jorge Nicola, who spoke to the player’s agent, Tottenham have now placed their opening bid.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, Nicola shared some intriguing information he’s heard from the 21-year-old’s representative, Frederico Moraes.

It is believed that Tottenham’s opening bid of £42 million has been rejected, and City are holding out for a fee closer to the £67 million mark if they’re to do business.

Pep Guardiola is also yet to give his green-light to the player leaving as well, so it appears Levy and Lange still have work to do when it comes to signing Savinho.

The South American, who only joined City from sister club Troyes last summer, was once a key member of Girona’s squad that surprised everyone by challenging for the La Liga title in 2023/2024.

Brazil’s winger bagged 11 goals and 10 assists that year, with Savinho also hitting double-figures for goal contributions in his first season at the Etihad.

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O Vasco será alvo de uma ação judicial em breve por queixas de atrasos de uma dívida em relação a Andrey e aos representantes do atleta. Advogado do meia e do empresário Giuliano Bertolucci, André Ribeiro não poupou críticas à SAF do Cruz-Maltino.

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De acordo com Ribeiro, o Vasco fez uma promessa por escrito de que quitaria parte da dívida de R$ 12 milhões (segundo o jornalista Lucas Pedrosa) referentes à venda de Andrey para o Chelsea. No entanto, após a primeira parcela ser paga, o restante do acordo não foi cumprido.

– Era para ser ontem e haviam prometido inclusive por escrito. Haviam confirmado o pagamento para ontem. E não avisaram nada sobre a mudança – afirmou o advogado à ESPN.

André Ribeiro descartou a hipótese de uma futura renegociação acontecer de forma amistosa.

– Já iremos entrar com ações agora, não vamos mais aguardar. O Andrey retornou ao Vasco, aceitou parcelar um valor que já estava vencido. Acreditou na promessa do clube e foi desrespeitado – disse.

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O advogado, porém, negou que o problema afete os rumos do atleta em campo.

– São coisas distintas. A questão aqui é meramente patrimonial. O descontentamento do atleta e de seu estafe é que realmente foram atendidos todos os pedidos do Vasco para o retorno dele. Ele tem amor e carinho pelo clube, e isso pesou na decisão. Ocorre que agora sequer recebeu qualquer satisfação de uma situação de atrasos de pagamentos que já se arrastam por meses – disse.

Em seguida, ele detonou a conduta da SAF.

– Isso nos leva a questionar a própria estrutura das SAFs, e o risco de tradicionais clubes brasileiros ficarem nas mãos de grupos estrangeiros sem qualquer garantia de que obrigações financeiras sejam cumpridas. É o novo modelo (SAF), mas a velha falta de gestão de sempre – afirmou.

A reportagem também entrou em contato com o Vasco sobre o motivo do atraso no pagamento de Andrey. O clube, no entanto, respondeu que “não comentaria sobre assuntos internos”.

UEFA have announced a major Champions League rule change that could hand fresh hope to several high-profile stars left out of 25-man squads. Just days after Gabriel Jesus, Federico Chiesa and Mathys Tel saw their league phase dreams dashed, clubs will now be allowed to register a temporary replacement if a player suffers a long-term injury or illness.

UEFA confirm Champions League rule changeClubs can now register emergency replacements until matchday sixJesus, Chiesa and Tel handed fresh hope of European actionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The big names left out of Champions League squads last week included Jesus at Arsenal, Chiesa at Liverpool and Tel at Tottenham. Each had to face the prospect of missing the entire league phase, with the earliest opportunity for a recall being the knockouts in 2026. However, UEFA’s new ruling allows clubs to make an emergency change before matchday six, which is when the Conference League group stage ends, if one of their outfield players is sidelined long-term.

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UEFA announced that the decision is designed to ensure fairness and protect players from being overworked amid the increasing workload. Clubs previously had no flexibility if injuries piled up, forcing them to manage with shorthanded squads. The amendment, made official in Albania on Thursday, could help balance competition and reduce the risk of clubs losing momentum due to unforeseen absences.

DID YOU KNOW?

Thomas Frank’s decision to omit £30m signing Tel at Spurs was met with criticism, with the youngster later admitting the snub 'definitely hurt'. Chiesa’s exclusion from Liverpool’s plans under Arne Slot was branded 'cruel' by fans, while Mikel Arteta’s decision to leave out Jesus raised eyebrows at Arsenal. Now, those players could still feature if squad circumstances change, giving managers more breathing room in selection.

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The rule change takes effect immediately and applies until the end of the Champions League league stage. Managers will now reassess their squads with the safety net of a late inclusion option should injury strike. For the likes of Jesus, Chiesa and Tel, their Champions League hopes may not be over just yet.