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Napoli are eager to expand their Scottish contingent for next season with Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson, but Inter are also said to be interested.
The Partenopei have already found great success with the arrival of Scott McTominay from Manchester United and Billy Gilmour from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer.
Now there might be another Scotland international joining them at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, as Calciomercato.it claim that Napoli are preparing a bid for Ferguson.
Ferguson still finding his feet after serious injury
The 25-year-old has just made his comeback after suffering a serious knee ligament injury at the end of last season.
Bologna showed their faith in him by getting the player to sign a new contract to June 2028, with an option to extend for another year.
Ferguson was purchased from Aberdeen FC in the summer of 2022 for just €2m, but his value has since sky-rocketed thanks to performances for Bologna in Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League.
However, Napoli are not the only ones targeting him, as Inter are said to be interested in a swoop for the Scotsman too.
Italian talent scout Michele Fratini told Calciomercato.it that Ferguson is “a complete midfielder, solid both defensively and in attack. He could be an ideal heir to Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Inter or Frank Anguissa at Napoli.”
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Report: Chelsea and Tottenham monitoring 20-year-old Premier League prodigy
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has been linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks. According to TeamTalk, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are attentive to his situation, and they could look to sign him in the near future. The 20-year-old is unlikely to be allowed to leave the club in January, and a summer move seems more likely. Tottenham and Chelsea need more quality and depth in the middle of the park, and the 20-year-old would be a long-term acquisition. He will add creativity, control and technical attributes in the middle of the park. Mainoo is quite young, and he will only improve with coaching and experience. He could develop into a quality player for the two clubs. He has struggled for regular opportunities at Manchester United, and the Red Devils are unlikely to stand in his way. However, selling a player of his potential to a direct rival could prove to be a huge mistake. Chelsea and Tottenham could groom Mainoo into a star. Meanwhile, the 20-year-old will be desperate to get his career back on track with regular opportunities. Joining either of the two English clubs could be ideal for him. They could provide him with the platform to compete in Europe and fight for trophies. The player is highly rated across Europe, and Manchester United value him as well. However, he is not an indispensable asset for their manager, and it remains to be seen whether he will be sold in the coming months. Manchester United need talented young players like him to build for the future. It will be interesting to see if they can play a key role in his transfer.
North Carolina reportedly considering nuclear option with Bill Belichick, and that's justified
Ex-Cardinals Hurler Cuts Ties With Diamondbacks Following 6th MLB Season
Offseason player movement is starting to pick up, and the St. Louis Cardinals are watching some old friends re-enter the market. Four-year Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford elected free agency from the Arizona Diamondbacks last week. But as it turned out, he wouldn't be the only ex-St. Louis hurler on his way out of the desert. On Monday, Woodford was joined in free agency by a pitcher some may have forgotten made his Major League Baseball debut with the Cardinals, before beginning a journeyman arc. Nabil Crismatt elects free agency On Monday, right-hander Nabil Crismatt elected free agency from the Diamondbacks, according to his official transactions page. The 30-year-old has now played for four teams in his six-year professional career. Crismatt debuted with the Cardinals in 2020, pitching six games and allowing three earned runs in 8 1/3 innings. He elected free agency after that season, too, setting the tone for what was to come over the next several years floating around the National League West. From 2021 to 2023, Crismatt found a gig with the San Diego Padres, pitching 159 2/3 innings in the brown and gold. Then, he was designated for assignment and signed with the D-backs for the first time, and progressed to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2024 season. In total, Crismatt has been released or DFA'd nine times in his professional career, and has now elected free agency eight times. The life of a journeyman is all about persistence. For Arizona this season, Crismatt put up a 3.71 ERA in 34 innings, allowing 40 hits and striking out 25 batters. His best work came out of the bullpen in San Diego, especially in 2022, but he's been more of a swingman/starter of late. Would the Cardinals consider taking a minor-league flier on Crismatt this winter? It's not out of the question, as there will likely be some spot starts and swingman roles available throughout the year as St. Louis tries to integrate some of its younger pitchers into the rotation on a more permanent basis.
Packers could see breakout star emerge on defense in weeks ahead
The Green Bay Packers’ secondary got lit up by Dak Prescott in a 40-40 tie against the Dallas Cowboys before heading off to the bye week, but help could be on the way. Through the season’s first five weeks, the Packers rank 11th against the pass, but they allowed 319 passing yards and three touchdowns to Prescott in their final game before the bye week. Help, though, could be on the way. Could Nate Hobbs elevate Packers’ secondary? With a showdown against the likes of wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on Sunday afternoon, a breakout star could be about to emerge. Mike Spofford of the Packers’ official website suggests that cornerback Nate Hobbs getting healthier could be a major asset for coordinator Jeff Hafley and Green Bay’s defense moving forward. “Nate Hobbs,” Spofford writes, when asked the player he’s most looking forward to see the rest of the season. “He’s getting further removed from his knee procedure during training camp, and he’s also back on the practice field after leaving the Dallas game to be evaluated for a concussion. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Hobbs yet in this defense.” Hobbs has appeared in three games for the Packers this season, posting 10 total tackles, one pass breakup and one tackle for loss. Given that the 26-year-old had the added time during the bye week to get further away from the injury he suffered during the summer, he could be a player whose best football this season is still in front of him. That would be huge for a defense looking for consistent playmakers to step up.
Officiating Crew For Steelers-Browns Game Gives 1 Team Clear Advantage
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been dominant against the Cleveland Browns under Head Coach Mike Tomlin. However, an AFC North contest coming off a bye week is never something Steelers fans overlook. With the Browns sitting at 1-4 and the Steelers at 3-1, a victory in this matchup is pivotal for Pittsburgh to start AFC North play on the right foot. The Steelers are looking to carry momentum from a strong start to the season, and continuing their winning ways against a divisional rival would set a positive tone for the months ahead. The Browns will be starting rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who will be making just his second-ever NFL start. The Steelers' defense will look to make life extremely difficult for the rookie on Sunday. One area that is always important in these matchups is the officiating crew. According to NFL Ref Stats, the Steelers appear to have a significant advantage in this contest against the Browns. Historically, Pittsburgh has fared well under certain officiating crews, particularly those with tendencies that favor defensive schemes and physical play at the line of scrimmage. This statistical edge may not guarantee a win, but it certainly provides a subtle advantage that could tip critical calls in Pittsburgh’s favor during a tightly contested game. Beyond the numbers, the Steelers will need to execute clean football on both sides of the ball. Protecting the quarterback, establishing the run, and maintaining discipline on defense will be key to neutralizing Cleveland’s biggest playmakers. While the Browns are struggling this season, divisional games often bring out unexpected performances, making preparation and focus essential. If Pittsburgh can combine their historical dominance, officiating edge, and disciplined execution, they have a strong chance to assert control early in AFC North play and keep their division hopes alive. Ron Torbert will serve as the officiating head for this contest, and the numbers clearly favor the Steelers. In games Torbert has officiated, Pittsburgh has gone an impressive 10-1, showing a consistent trend of success under his oversight. Even more striking, the Steelers are a perfect 8-0 at home in games where Torbert is the head referee, highlighting a significant home-field advantage when he is on the crew. Steelers Should Have Edge In Week 6 Against Browns Expect the officials to focus heavily on offensive penalties, as Torbert has a reputation for calling more infractions on the offense than the defense. According to NFL Ref Stats, he assesses 52.5% of all penalties against the offense, ranking fourth in the league for offensive penalties per game. This suggests that both teams will need to maintain discipline, but it could particularly benefit Pittsburgh, a team built around physical play and disciplined execution. For the Steelers, this officiating angle could be an advantage they can capitalize on, especially early in the game. By staying sharp and minimizing mistakes, Pittsburgh can force Cleveland into difficult situations while maintaining momentum. With Torbert on the field, the historical trends and penalty tendencies both point to a scenario where the Steelers have an extra edge in controlling the pace and flow of this crucial AFC North matchup. The Steelers sit as -200 favorites in this contest and it seems like a lot is on their side.
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