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The tournament begins on July 31 at seven venues across the USA

Peter Della Penna30-Jul-2021After initial launch plans were disrupted by the pandemic last summer, the 27-team Minor League Cricket (MiLC) T20 franchise tournament is set to kick off on July 31 at seven different venues across the United States of America. The tournament is meant to act as a feeder into the higher-profile six-team Major League Cricket (MLC) T20 franchise league which is designated for launch in 2023. That is the tournament USA Cricket wants to be on par with Full-Member-run T20 leagues around the world. Here is a rundown of how the MiLC will play out.Who’s playing?
American Cricket Enterprise (ACE), USA Cricket’s commercial partner, has already signed more than a dozen overseas players to three-year contracts with an eye on having them as anchor players for the six-team MLC, as well as putting them on the ICC residency qualification pathway to potential USA selection.These players are also available to feature for MiLC franchises and include Sami Aslam (ex-Pakistan, Golden State Grizzlies), Corey Anderson (ex-New Zealand, Irving Mustangs), Smit Patel (ex-India U-19, Manhattan Yorkers), Shehan Jayasuriya (ex-Sri Lanka, Silicon Valley Strikers), Dane Piedt (ex-South Africa, DC Hawks), Justin Dill (ex-South Africa U-19, New Jersey Stallions) and Corne Dry (ex-South Africa U-19, Atlanta Fire). Aside from these names, numerous West Indian players have also been signed as Wildcard overseas players, including Rahkeem Cornwall (Atlanta Fire).Related

• USA's MLC T20 tournament pushed back to 2023 at AGM

• USA Cricket stepping up foreign recruitment to live up to ODI status

• New York, Boston, Chicago, LA among 22 targeted launch cities for USA T20 competition

The teams were put together at a draft that took place earlier this year with squads of 16 to 18 players. According to league rules, there is a mandatory policy to include at least one U-19 and one U-21 player in each starting XI to promote development. There is also a shift to play as many matches as possible on natural turf wickets, which in the past has been one of the biggest hurdles for players attempting to transition from club cricket to international tournaments. MiLC’s first season will feature at least 11 venues using turf wickets with more planned for 2022.What are they playing for?
MiLC will feature an USD 250,000 prize pool, the largest for any tournament organised in the USA. The tournament champions will receive half of that and the runners-up USD 30,000 while the Division Champions who do not reach the final will receive USD 15,000.More than 100 matches will be livestreamed on YouTube throughout the tournament, offering more visibility to players both locally and internationally.ESPNcricinfo LtdSplit across four divisions on a regional basis
The 27 teams have been split into two conferences (Atlantic and Pacific) with two divisions (Eastern and Southern; Central and Western) in each conference. Because of the odd number of teams the schedule is slightly unbalanced. Both Pacific Conference divisions have seven teams and each will play a 15-match league slate of home and away fixtures against the other six teams within their division plus three matches against teams in the other division within their conference.The Southern Division holds six teams and will play a 14-match schedule consisting of home and away fixtures within the division plus four crossover matches with the Eastern Division. Meanwhile, the seven Eastern Division teams will play a 16-match schedule featuring home and away fixtures within the division plus four matches against teams in the Southern Division. The league phase runs from July 31 to September 19 with matches played on weekends to ensure player availability in a competition featuring both professionals and amateurs. In some instances, teams will be playing a morning-and-afternoon double-header on the same day.Eight-team playoffs
Playoffs qualification will be determined on a divisional basis. The top two in each division advance to the playoffs where the division winner will play the second-place team from the opposite division in their conference (i.e. Western Division champion vs Southern Division runners-up) on September 25 and 26 in a best-of-three round. The winner of each quarter-final will advance to the championship weekend on October 2 and 3 at Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina.That weekend will be a straight knockout. The two teams advancing from the conference semi-finals (i.e. Western Division champion vs Southern Division champion) will play each other in a national semi-final on October 2 before the conference champions square off in the tournament final on October 3.

Leeds United have been linked with a move for “one of the best coaches ever” to replace Daniel Farke at Elland Road.

Pressure mounting on Farke at Leeds

After a promising start back in the Premier League which began with a 1-0 win over Everton, the pressure is starting to build on Farke in Yorkshire.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to rivals Burnley means it is now one win in the Whites’ last eight games in all competitions, with Leeds sitting two places and three points clear of the relegation zone.

Leeds vs West Ham

October 24

Brighton vs Leeds

November 1

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds

November 9

Leeds vs Aston Villa

November 23

Man City vs Leeds

November 29

Taking chances, injuries in the final third and a lack of clinical edge are already proving to be a real problem for Leeds, with Brenden Aaronson guilty of missing a big chance last time out.

Talking after the defeat at Turf Moor, former Leeds United left-back Aidy White played down claims that the 49ers Enterprises should be looking to replace the German.

“I don’t think changing manager, in this period over the next three or four games, is wise. This is an important period. I don’t think it’s the right thing to do. If he doesn’t do well in this period, then huge decisions will need to be made.”

The 49ers have already pulled the plug on Russell Martin’s tenure as Rangers boss, and if things don’t improve for Farke in Yorkshire, the American owners could have another managerial search on their hands.

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ByCharlie Smith Sep 23, 2025

Next up for Farke and Leeds is a crucial fixture at Elland Road against West Ham United on Friday evening, with the Hammers currently sitting second bottom and four points adrift of Leeds.

Liam Rosenior linked with Leeds move

As shared by TEAMtalk, Liam Rosenior is one manager who has been linked with a move to Leeds after impressing in France with Strasbourg.

Rosenior’s side currently sit 3rd in Ligue 1 and drew 3-3 against Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain last time out.

The 41-year-old, who plays a 4-2-3-1 system, has experience of managing in England with Hull and appears to be going from strength abroad.

Former striker and now pundit Clinton Morrison is also a fan of Rosenior’s, going as far as calling him “one of the best coaches ever”.

“I actually think he’s a top manager. I spoke to a few people at Derby. He was unlucky to lose his job, the players respected him. He’s one of the best coaches ever.”

Rosenior also shares the same agency as Leeds attacker Aaronson, and if things don’t get better on the pitch, the 49ers may look to firm up their reported interest in the English coach.

The two bowlers picked up four wickets apiece and Taijul also completed 250 Test wickets

Mohammad Isam23-Nov-2025

Taijul Islam got his 250th Test wicket•BCB

Hasan Murad broke through Ireland’s resistance on the fifth day in an improbable chase of 509 to complete Bangladesh’s 217-run win in the second Test in Dhaka. Curtis Campher remained unbeaten on 71 from 259 balls for an effort that lasted more than six hours. Gavin Hoey and Campher survived for more than 31 overs, before Murad removed both Hoey and No. 11 Matthew Humphreys in consecutive balls to complete Bangladesh’s 2-0 win.Murad and Taijul Islam finished with four wickets each, but Mushfiqur Rahim’s century in his 100th Test was the highlight of the match. Taijul also completed 250 Test wickets, becoming the sixth left-arm spinner to reach the mark. He had earlier gone past Shakib Al Hasan’s 246 wickets to become Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker.Campher and Hoey batted with remarkable composure on the fifth morning, as Bangladesh’s frustration grew after lunch with only two wickets left for victory. The pair ensured that Ireland batted 59.3 overs on the last day, despite there being a few close calls.Ireland started the day on 176 for 6 and Campher offered the full face of the bat while his overnight batting partner Andy McBrine survived for almost an hour before he was trapped lbw by Taijul for 21 to become his 250th Test wicket. Jordan Neill started off with a string of boundaries off Taijul, using the square cut and cover drives, before launching him down the ground. Neill’s only six came off Murad, though he also survived a dropped chance by Litton, on 23. It was Mehidy Hasan Miraz who got one to spin past Neill’s forward prod, which snuck through to hit the stumps soon after the second new ball was taken. Campher got to his fifty with a straight six that sailed over the long-on boundary.Campher and Hoey then took Ireland to lunch on 263 for 8 with a stand that crossed 50 in the second session, barely scoring at two runs an over. Even as Campher continued to resist, it took Murad just two balls in the end to seal the game.

The fast bowler and his Canterbury team-mate Mitch Hay could make their Test debuts in the second Test against West Indies

Deivarayan Muthu06-Dec-20251:57

Latham: Can’t fault the effort when we were a couple of bowlers down

Uncapped fast bowler Michael Rae has been called up to New Zealand’s Test squad for the second match against West Indies in Wellington. Rae, 30, earned his maiden New Zealand call-up after Matt Henry (calf) and Nathan Smith (side) suffered injuries during the first Test in Christchurch.Both Henry and Smith are doubtful for the second Test, especially considering the quick turnaround between the first two games. The Wellington Test will begin on December 10, four days after the end of the Christchurch Test. Injuries to Henry and Smith reduced New Zealand’s attack to two frontline seamers and left them shouldering a heavy workload.Rae and Blair Tickner, who was the reserve fast bowler in Christchurch, could be in contention for the XI in Wellington.Rae started the second round of the Plunket Shield for Canterbury and took 3 for 65 in the first innings against Central Districts in Napier before he sat out of the second innings. Fraser Sheat replaced Rae in the second innings as the latter prepares for a potential Test debut.Related

Henry, Santner, Nathan Smith ruled out of rest of West Indies Test series

Blundell, Smith, Henry sustain injuries in Christchurch; Jamieson returns to Plunket Shield

At 6 feet 6 inches, Rae could give New Zealand’s attack a point of difference and replicate shifts that his Canterbury team-mate Kyle Jamieson put in for New Zealand in Test cricket. Like Jamieson, Rae is also capable of bowling fuller lengths and swinging the new ball.Along with Jamieson, Henry Shipley and Zak Foulkes, Rae has been part of a tall, funky Canterbury attack.”It’s got to be one of the tallest bowling attacks in the world,” Paul Wiseman, current Black Caps talent manager and former spinner, told ESPNcricinfo last year. “Jamieson at 6’8” and then you also have Michael Rae, who is probably 6’6”, and then the others are about 6’5”. Henners [Matt Henry] is shorter, but he’s a genius. I don’t know if we can get all those guys on the park at the same time but it will be a real test for any batter, I think. They are an exciting group and it would be great to see all of them fit in at the same time.”Rae, with his retro headband, has been a regular in domestic cricket in recent years. He has played 69 first-class matches so far, taking 205 wickets at an average of 33.06, including three five-wicket hauls.He also has some first-class exposure outside of New Zealand, having played five games for Warwickshire in county cricket, claiming 14 wickets at an average of 30.28. Gavin Larsen, the current New Zealand selection manager, has tracked Rae’s progress closely both at New Zealand domestic cricket and Warwickshire. When he was with Otago, he had also worked with current New Zealand coach Rob Walter.Michael Rae, in action, with his retro headband on•Getty Images

New Zealand’s team management will also carefully monitor the progress of Jamieson, who returned to the Plunket Shield for the ongoing round, and tearaway Ben Sears, who is currently playing white-ball club cricket in Melbourne. Sears, who is also prone to injuries, will not be rushed back to red-ball cricket.”I’d say he’s doubtful [for red-ball cricket] given he is going through more of a white-ball stepping stone over in club cricket in Melbourne,” New Zealand bowling coach Jacob Oram said on Friday. “Just to get him some cricket on grass, good facilities, and a good training environment around him, which he’s got over there with a contact we had internally here. Speaking to Ben the other day, I know that he’s feeling really good about his bowling but the Test series will be a bridge too far for sure.”With Tom Blundell sidelined from the Wellington Test, with a hamstring injury, Mitch Hay is poised to make his debut and take over the gloves from captain Tom Latham, who kept wicket across both innings in Christchurch in addition to scoring 145 in New Zealand’s second innings.”It’s been a long shift. I don’t think I’ve done that many amount of overs behind the stumps before,” Latham said on Saturday. “Usually 50 [overs] is about my cap, but obviously not ideal losing Tommy either, but giving to the group as much as you can in a role that I’m used to keeping. So from a familiarity point of view it was fine, just the duration was a little bit more than I’m used to.”In Blundell’s absence, Daryl Mitchell stepped in as a substitute and put in a long fielding shift in the slips though he hadn’t fully recovered from a groin injury. Mitchell Santner, too, was not available for selection in Christchurch because of his own groin injury.

Daniel Farke will is set to be sacked by 49ers Enterprises if Leeds lose their next two Premier League matches against Chelsea and Liverpool.

Farke frustrated by Man City tactics at the Etihad

The Whites were left heartbroken by a late Phil Foden winner at Manchester City on Saturday, as a crucial point slipped through Farke’s fingers.

The German bemoaned City’s dark arts after the match, believing goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down with a “fake injury” that allowed Pep Guardiola to give his players a team talk.

“It is within the rules,” Farke said. “It is smart. If I like it, if it is in the sense of fair play, if it should be like this, I keep it to myself and I leave it to the authorities to find solutions for it. It is within the rules.

“I asked the fourth official at this point if you want to do something and he said: ‘No, our hands are tied, we can’t do anything’.

“If we don’t educate our players in football, what to do in terms of fair play, sportsmanship, if you just try to bend the rules to your advantage and you can do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is nothing I personally like but if it is within the rules I can’t complain about it.”

49ers keen on hiring Farke upgrade at Leeds who's a "bit like Bielsa"

Leeds fans can expect high-octane football with this manager

By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 30, 2025

Leeds want new manager in before January transfer window

The Leeds manager is feeling the pressure with his side now sat in the bottom three heading into two huge fixtures, as they take on Chelsea at Elland Road on Wednesday before welcoming Liverpool to Yorkshire on Saturday evening.

And according to a report from The Guardian, ‘multiple sources at Leeds have privately conceded that Farke’s fate is in the balance’.

He is likely to be relieved of his duties if they lose both games, despite some within the club feeling the performances have deserved better results.

More intriguingly, the report states the 49ers want to a new boss in before the January transfer window if they do indeed make a change, as they would like to make signings in January to mould the team to the new manager’s needs.

And while just who that is remains to be seen, a report shared by Give Me Sport claims Gary O’Neil is now the frontrunner to take over.

The former Wolves manager has been out of work for nearly a year after he was sacked in December 2024, but was looked on favourably during his time at Molineux.

“It’s unbelievable and you think the summer they had as well,” Shay Given said on BBC Match of the Day last year.

“I’ve just wrote some names down Nunes, Neves, Collins, Coady, Jimenez, he had to sell all them to balance the books up.

“So the job he’s done under such restraints and Financial Fair Play is just phenomenal.”

Taylor Rogers reportedly will no longer share a bullpen with his twin brother Tyler.

's Robert Murray reported Wednesday that the San Francisco Giants traded Rogers to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for right-handed pitcher Braxton Roxby.

Rogers was due $12 million in 2025, the last season of his three-year deal he signed with the Giants in 2023.

Over nine seasons in the big leagues, Rogers has logged a 28–34 record, 3.34 ERA and 83 saves as one of the game's better left-handed relievers. He made the 2021 All-Star Game in his last season with the Minnesota Twins, who selected him in the 11th round of the 2012 MLB draft.

After one year split between the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers in 2022, Rogers joined his twin brother, Tyler Rogers, in the Giants' bullpen. In 64 games last year, Rogers logged a 2.40 ERA and 9.6 K/9.

Rogers now joins the Reds' bullpen as another late-game option alongside Alexis Diaz and Emilio Pagan for manager Terry Francona to utilize.

Roxby, 25, has yet to make his MLB debut. The right-hander registered a 5.21 ERA and struck out 65 batters in 48 1/3 innings at Double-A last year.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series champions once again, and they won this one in style, rallying back from a 5-0 deficit in Game 5 on Wednesday night to beat the New York Yankees, 7-6. This is the franchise's eighth championship overall and its first since 2020.

The Dodgers got back in the game with a five-run fifth inning that was helped out by three brutal fielding mistakes by the Yankees, which included a horrible drop by Aaron Judge in center field.

They then took the lead in the eighth inning by scoring two runs, with Mookie Betts knocking in the winning run with a sacrifice fly to center.

Walker Buehler, who started Game 3 for the Dodgers, came in for the ninth inning and shut down the Yankees in order. He clinched it with a strike out of Alex Verdugo.

During the celebration Dodgers catcher Will Smith was approached by MLB to authenticate the ball that got the final out.

"I gotta give it to Walker," he said to the MLB official.

That moment is near the end of this video:

MLB fans loved that:

What a teammate.

Cummins often confirms his XI the day before a Test, but that wasn’t the case in Jamaica with “unknowns” at play

Andrew McGlashan11-Jul-2025

Nathan Lyon has been among the wickets during a pace-dominated series•Associated Press

A combination of the pink ball and pitch conditions at Sabina Park have left Australia pondering the balance of their side with captain Pat Cummins not ruling out omitting Nathan Lyon in favour of another pace bowler.Aside from the three matches Lyon missed in the 2023 Ashes when he injured his calf at Lord’s, he has not been absent from a Test XI since the 2013 series against England.Asked directly whether leaving out Lyon was a possibility, Cummins said: “I think everything’s an option. We honestly haven’t settled on it. We all left yesterday and thought we’d just sleep on it, come back and have a look and make up our mind today.”Related

Cummins to sit out white-ball matches against South Africa

'Might be a few things going on' as Sabina Park makes pink-ball debut

Starc @ 100: A beast at home, a pink-ball master and a menace for left-handers

West Indies, Australia weigh up selection for pink-ball challenge

As Australia’s training session wound up on Friday, there was a lengthy chat in the middle between Cummins, head coach Andrew McDonald and touring selector Tony Dodemaide. Chair of selectors George Bailey returned to Australia after the second Test. It has become common for Cummins to name the XI the day before the match.”[There are] a few more unknowns…I think mainly [the] pink ball and trying to get our heads around exactly what it’s going to do,” Cummins had said before the training session. “That last session [under lights] might be a little bit longer than Adelaide.”Even in a series dominated by the quicks, Lyon has taken nine wickets at 18.33, including six in Grenada, to move to 562 overall – one short of equaling Glenn McGrath’s record as the second-most for Australia behind Shane Warne.Overall in day-night Tests, Lyon has 43 wickets at 25.62, which is better than his red-ball average of 30.52. However, last season against India, he only bowled one over in the day-night Test in Adelaide and wasn’t required at all against England in Hobart during the 2021-22 Ashes. This match against West Indies is Australia’s first day-night Test away from home.Scott Boland, who has taken 12 wickets at 16.75 in three day-night Tests, would be the likely bowler to come into the side. Beau Webster, who has been the fourth seamer this series, would be able to provide offspin if required, along with Travis Head. The other slim option Australia may consider is bolstering the batting if they believe three frontline quicks and Webster would suffice as the attack.Not too long ago in Australia, it became something of an annual question around whether Lyon would ever be left out on the more pace-friendly grounds at home, such as the Gabba and WACA but, since 2013, he has always been there, and it could easily transpire that way on this occasion.It would be a significant game for Lyon to miss with Mitchell Starc making his 100th appearance. On Thursday, Starc spoke of the strong bond between himself, Lyon, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who are all from New South Wales.”We’ve spent a lot of time together,” Starc said. “So to play with a lot of really close mates, to play with a lot of really good people around the staff and the playing group has been really special.”However, Cummins did not foresee a negative reaction should a change be made. “I mean, it’s all hypothetical here. I think everyone here has a pretty good track record of doing whatever the team needs and being really excited for the guys that play.”Interestingly, West Indies captain Roston Chase said one of the key decisions they are mulling over is whether to recall their specialist spinner, Jomel Warrican, after he was left out in Grenada. “I think the wicket will offer some spin as well,” Chase said.”It has a bit of grass on it, but I think the groundsman said he might shave off a bit,” he added. “So still yet to see what the final surface will look like, but it looks pretty hard. I mean, the practice wickets look similar, so the ball has been doing a bit in the practice session. Looks like a good cricket wicket.”

Enzo Maresca has expressed his frustration at Chelsea striker Liam Delap after the Blues frontman was dismissed for two yellow cards within seven minutes as Chelsea hung on to win 4-3 in a tense Carabao Cup encounter against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. Delap had been out injured since August but had an unsavoury return to action as he pushed Yerson Mosquera then barged into Emmanuel Agbadou to earn his marching orders in the 86th minute.

• Another red card for ill-disciplined Blues

  Red cards have been one of the stories of Chelsea’s season so far, with the Blues having seen an astonishing six dismissals in their last nine matches. On this occasion, Maresca had little sympathy for Delap, who came on in the 61st minute for his first appearance since victory over Fulham on August 30 and let frustration get the better of him in a brief cameo.

  The Italian head-coach accused the 22-year-old striker of “playing for himself” as calls for calm fell on deaf ears when Delap earnt himself a second yellow card in the space of just seven minutes to earn "thug" accusations from fans.

  Chelsea had been 3-0 up at half-time against the Premier League’s bottom side but Wolves rallied in the second period to set up a nervy finish. The Blues’ young stars had been at it again as Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, Estevao and Jamie Gittens all found the net, all 21 years of age or younger. Delap, just a year older than Santos and Gittens, had less of a positive evening as he earnt the first red card of his professional career.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Embarrassing' – Maresca's fury at Delap

  Asked post-match by The Athletic about Chelsea’s red card tally and if it is becoming an embarrassment, Maresca replied: “Yes, it’s embarrassing when it’s a red card like today. Because it’s two yellow cards in five minutes, 10 minutes, I don’t know, seven minutes. Both, I think we can avoid that. So it’s not good.

  “After the yellow card I told him four or five times to keep calm. But Liam is a player that when he’s inside the pitch probably he’ll be playing the game for himself, and he struggles to realise and to listen around him.

  "Very stupid red card that was completely unnecessary. Absolutely deserved. It was a stupid foul. We can avoid that. I completely support the red card,” Maresca added.

  "I completely understand when there are red cards like Brighton or Manchester United as that is difficult, but the red card against Nottingham Forest and this red card we can avoid. We have to avoid that.”

• Chelsea through to next round of Carabao Cup despite scare

  "Very happy first half, very upset second half," Maresca expressed at full-time. "It's always complicated to go away and score three goals. We were playing nice [going] forward, great chances.

  "Second half, we were not doing the right things. The first goal we conceded opened a little bit the game – gave them the boost and the energy to come back into the game. And then I think all of [the three goals conceded] we can avoid."

  Maresca’s words sum up a game of two halves for Chelsea, who will feel fortunate to have gone through to the next round unscathed despite Delap’s dismissal.

  A quarter-final tie away at League One side Cardiff City awaits, the Bluebirds having beaten Welsh neighbours Wrexham 2-1 on Tuesday to secure a place in the last eight at the expense of their big-spending Championship rivals.

  Chelsea have not won the League Cup since back in 2015, with no London side winning the competition in the decade since. Maresca’s side will hope that they can put that right this time around, with a relatively kind draw which will allow their young stars the opportunity to shine once again.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Delap absent for crunch Tottenham clash

  Delap will miss Chelsea’s London derby with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday, in what will be a blow for Maresca amidst the continued fitness concerns of Joao Pedro. The Brazilian has played through pain for much of the season and will hope to have some of the burden taken off him in the coming weeks by fellow new signing Delap, as Chelsea look to return to winning ways in the league.

Leeds United have some exciting talents brewing in their academy system who could look to make the step up to the first-team in the years to come.

Archie Gray is the most recent example of what you can achieve after making that step from the academy to the senior side, as he emerged as a genuine option in Daniel Farke’s first season.

The English talent then earned a £30m move to Tottenham Hotspur in the top-flight and went on to win the Europa League in his first campaign in North London.

At the time of his exit, before Georgino Rutter’s move to Brighton & Hove Albion for £40m, the England U21 international was the third-most expensive sale in the club’s history.

Leeds already have their next Gray in the making

Archie’s brother, Harry, may be the next Gray to make that step up from the academy because he has been in impressive form at youth level, and made his senior bow in the Championship as a substitute last season.

The 16-year-old centre-forward scored a stunning hat-trick for the U21s in the National League Cup on Tuesday night against Scunthorpe United.

That took the teenage talent’s tally for the season to seven goals in all competitions, having scored four goals in the Premier League 2, per Transfermarkt.

Gray, who scored eight goals in 11 games for the U18 side before his step up to the U21s, is an exciting young talent who the club should be looking to create a pathway to the first-team for, as they did with his brother.

Leeds, though, did have an even bigger homegrown talent than Gray brewing in the form of Charlie Cresswell, before Farke decided to cash in on him last year.

Leeds messed up by selling Charlie Creswell

The central defender came up through the youth ranks at Thorp Arch, joining at the age of 11, and progressed all the way up to the first-team.

Cresswell made five Premier League appearances for the Whites as a teenager in the 2021/22 campaign, before being sent out on loan to Millwall for the 2022/23 season.

The young defender scored five goals in 28 Championship matches for Lions, per Transfermarkt, but only played 135 minutes in the division under Farke in the following season.

Leeds United’s head coach then decided to bin him in the summer of 2024. The club cashed in when Toulouse came to the table with an offer of £4m for the English titan.

That turned out to be a mistake by the Whites because Cresswell has proven himself in one of Europe’s major leagues and was linked with a big-money move away from France in the summer.

Goals

3

Top 8%

Tackle success rate

65.7%

Top 36%

Duels won

151

Top 4%

Aerial duels won

99

Top 1%

Aerial duel success rate

66.4%

Top 26%

Shots blocked

28

Top 5%

Ball recoveries

103

Top 26%

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old colossus ranked highly among centre-backs in Ligue 1 in a host of key defensive metrics last season.

He was linked with West Ham United, Sunderland, and Premier League champions Liverpool during the summer transfer window just gone, but Toulouse were able to keep hold of the England U21 international.

The Ligue 1 side reportedly valued him at around £18m, which is higher than Transfermarkt values any of Leeds United’s natural centre-backs, and this further illustrates the howler Farke had by ditching him last year for £4m.

This is also why the club were brewing an even bigger talent than Gray, because he has proven himself in the Championship and now in Ligue 1, which has led to tangible interest from Premier League teams because of his performances at first-team level.

It's not Darlow: Leeds star is in danger of becoming their new Meslier

This Leeds United star is in danger of becoming the next Illan Meslier at Elland Road.

ByDan Emery Sep 16, 2025

It is all about potential for Gray at this moment in time because he has not had the chance to prove himself in senior football. Hopefully, he will get those opportunities instead of being sold too early, as Cresswell was.