Wolves boss Gary O’Neil has opened up about the sale of Matheus Nunes to Manchester City in a deal worth £53m.
The City decision to sign another midfielder was made after Kevin De Bruyne sustained a long-term hamstring injury that could keep him out of action until the new year.
Wolves boss O’Neil said: "Including players coming the other way and some of the add-ons, the valuation is around where the club would have considered it to be. We are fairly happy with where it has got to and it gives us the opportunity to also strengthen the group.
The Wolves boss was also asked about Nunes going on strike in a bid to force a move. He added: "The situation is resolved because he is joining Manchester City. If he were rejoining the group, I would have told him how I felt but the situation as far as I am aware is basically done so there is no need for me to comment on how I feel about Matheus Nunes or the way the last week went.
“Whenever I dealt with him before the situation came up, he was a great lad, worked hard, wanted to do his best for the team and the club. And then, obviously, a big club come calling and you understand that players like to play for Manchester City.
“Would I have dealt with it the same way? I wouldn’t. But I would rather save those conversation for Matheus and I to have privately. We move on.”
Doyle has agreed to move in the opposite direction on a year-long loan, with a £5m option for Wolves to make the deal permanent at the end of the season. As part of that arrangement, a significant sell-on percent of any future transfer has been agreed. Wolves are also set to pay all of the young midfielder's wages.
O'Neil added: "He had a really good season last year with Sheffield United. He is a talented boy, well educated football-wise, obviously, coming through the academy at Manchester City.
“He will be good to help with the structure and in terms of how we play."
[manchesterworld]
As the transfer deadline approaches, Liverpool is in talks with Bayern Munich over a possible deal for central midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.
The two parties are working towards an agreement for Gravenberch, as per Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, and the player has 'made clear' that he wants out before the end of the transfer window. He's simply waiting for the green light.
In terms of a transfer fee, Plettenberg reports that Bayern has laid out an asking price of $33m (£26m/€30m), which would represent a sizeable profit on the $21m (£16m/€19m) it paid to sign him from Ajax last summer.
Crucially, though, Bayern was only able to pick him up for a relatively cheap fee because he was into the final year of his contract with Ajax. With the protection of a long-term deal, he likely would have been a lot more expensive given that he'd emerged as one of the most exciting young players on the continent.
He was named the Eredivisie Talent of the Year in 2020/21, his penultimate year in Amsterdam, and made the top 20 for the prestigious Golden Boy award (given to the best under-21 player in a top-flight European league) the same year.
Bayern's then-sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić hailed him as 'one of the biggest talents in Europe' on his arrival (via the official club website) and expressed confidence that the club would 'enjoy lots of success with him'. The plan was to make Gravenberch the centerpiece of an imperious Bayern side for years to come.
However, the first year of the Dutchman's five-year contract proved to be a disappointment all round. He would play a mere 576 minutes in the Bundesliga, the equivalent of just 6.4 full matches, and his stocks have consequently fallen to the extent that he's now available for $33m, with Bayern already prepared to cut its losses rather than persevering.#
That doesn't necessarily mean that Gravenberch is a $33m player — instead, his value is simply at a $33m ebb. If Jürgen Klopp can unlock the potential he displayed at Ajax, this has the potential to be one of the great bargains of his tenure.
It also represents an excellent fee in the current central midfield market, especially so late in the transfer window. You need only look to two of Liverpool's closest rivals for favorable comparisons. Manchester United is reportedly demanding $57m (£45m/€52m) for Scott McTominay (via The Telegraph), a somewhat one-dimensional midfielder who's down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Manchester City is about to pay Wolves $67m (£53m/€62m) for Matheus Nunes even after his underwhelming start to life at Molineux, which has prompted his managers to shuffle him around the team in search of his best position. Gravenberch could join for half the price of the former Liverpool target, and potentially make a similar impact.
It's fair to say that the 21-year-old may not be exactly what Liverpool needs right now — a specialist number six and an elite left-footed talent in central defense looked like bigger priorities — but for the fee being talked about, you can certainly see why the club is ready to take the risk.
[liverpool]
Tyson Fury hilariously mocks Oleksandr Usyk over Daniel Dubois low blow controversy as he poses for picture in oversized shorts
AdminTyson Fury has produced a funny response to the Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois low blow controversy.
Usyk knocked Dubois out in round nine of their fight on Saturday night, but the victory did not come without debate.
Fury has mocked the positioning of Usyk’s shorts
In the fifth round, the British challenger floored the Ukrainian champion and he spent three minutes on the canvas.
Usyk was allowed this time to recover by the referee as he ruled the punch that dropped him to be a low blow.
Replays showed Dubois’ glove landed right on the borderline, prompting a heated controversy in the boxing world over whether it should have been ruled as a legal body shot.
Some have argued that Usyk’s shorts were pulled up relatively high, meaning that the punch landing on his waistband actually hit his body, and not his private area. Meanwhile others have vehemently disagreed.
The fight only happened in the first place as negotiations failed for an undisputed showdown between Fury and Usyk.
Following the collapse of these talks, a heated rivalry has developed between the pair.
As such, Fury has taken the Usyk vs Dubois low blow controversy as an opportunity to mock the Ukrainian.
On Thursday, he took to social media to post a picture of himself wearing massively oversized shorts pulled up not far below his nipples.
He then tagged Usyk and captioned the image: “Kit alert. SoftBelly #FuryNgannou #RiyadhSeason.”
Novak Djokovic has praised Coco Gauff, saying that she should be aiming high at the 2023 US Open.
Sixth seed Gauff has made a strong start at the last Grand Slam of the season in New York. In the first round, she overcame a dramatic match in which her opponent Laura Siegemund received a time violation to win the match 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
The 19-year-old then locked horns with 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva in the second round. The clash was a battle of the teens but it was the more experienced Gauff who prevailed, taking a commanding straight-sets victory over the Russian, 6-3, 6-2.
Djokovic predicts great things for Gauff
Gauff's success at Flushing Meadows comes off the back of two victories on the North American swing, winning both the WTA 500 DC Open and the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open earlier this month.
Now, 23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic has praised the rising tennis star, talking highly of her ability while also suggesting the American's coach Brad Gilbert, who she started working with in July, has been helping her to improve exponentially.
"Coco is on the rise. She’s yet to win a Grand Slam, but played in a final. She’s still young, but now with Brad Gilbert on her side with the experience of coaching some of the greats, things are coming together for her... she’s got the home support. Physically she’s very fit, striking the ball very well," Djokovic said.
The Serb added that while Gauff broke onto the scene at a very young age, she is now coming close to the level where she can win Grand Slams.
"She broke to the top of the women’s game quite early, but it still takes a few years to come together where you feel you’re complete as a player, ready to win Slams, and dominate the game.
"I think she’s coming very close to that stage and level. I’m sure she has high hopes for US Open, and she should. Because she’s playing really well," he added.
In the third round of the US Open, both players will face the 32nd seeds in their respective disciplines. Gauff will play Elise Mertens, while Djokovic is set to go up against his compatriot Laslo Djere as he continues his bid to win his fourth US Open title.
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is just under two weeks away from his next title defense against Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
But the often-boisterous champ isn’t focused on Strickland. Instead, it seems he still has his sights set on potential future opponent Dricus Du Plessis.
Du Plessis, who is fresh off a win over former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in June, was expected to be the next challenger for Adesanya’s title.
The reigning champ even entered the cage to confront him following the victory and the two exchanged words in the days after.
“Even after [UFC 290], he’s like, ‘Oh, bro, all you had to do was put some gloves on, we could have got it on right there.’ B——- f—. You wouldn’t have,” Adesanya said. ‘Cause guess what? He didn’t want it…People were like, ‘Oh, he’s so classy walking away. He’s so [classy].’ I’m like, ‘Bro, he didn’t even walk away. He felt me.’ He didn’t wanna feel me.”
But the fight never came to fruition due to a lingering foot issue for Du Plessis, who turned down the fight at UFC 293.
Now Adesanya says he may have missed a big opportunity
“I’m not mad, I’m disappointed,” Adesanya told MMA Fighting. “He missed out on his opportunity. That would have been [huge], but again, I think it’s for the greater good. That’s OK. When it happens, it will be one the biggest fights in sporting history. All in due time.”
Though the champion says he has other plans in mind for Du Plessis.
“It could happen in South Africa,” Adesanya said. “It could happen somewhere on the great continent of Africa. (Or) it could happen in Nigeria, Morocco, even South Africa — it would be better if we had it in South Africa. I’d like to whoop his a– in his own home country.”
One thing is certain, when the fight does happen (if it does happen), it’ll be must-see TV.
[brobible]
Chelsea are expected to return with an improved offer for Cole Palmer after having an opening bid of £35m for the winger turned down by Manchester City. Mauricio Pochettino is looking to sign an attacking player before the transfer window shuts and has given Chelsea the green light to move for Palmer. City are open to offers for the England Under-21 international and it is understood that a bid of £45m could be enough to convince the Premier League champions to sell the 21-year-old.
Palmer has been pushing for more opportunities at City and has made an encouraging start to the season, scoring against Arsenal in the Community Shield and Sevilla in the Super Cup.
There was a hope the youngster, capable of playing through the middle and on the right, would be given more opportunities after the departure of Riyad Mahrez. West Ham made an unsuccessful attempt to sign Palmer on loan this month. But City are not short of attacking talent and have added to Pep Guardiola’s options by signing Jérémy Doku from Rennes. Doku plays in a similar position to Palmer.
Pochettino, who wants a versatile forward, was forced into the market after Christopher Nkunku suffered a long-term knee injury. Palmer would find himself competing for a starting spot with Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke and Mykahilo Mudryk, who is injured.
Chelsea have assessed a number of attacking options, including Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe, Lyon’s Bradley Barcola and Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson, who is wanted by Tottenham. They have been linked with the Barcelona trio of Raphinha, Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres.
Nicolas Jackson has impressed as Chelsea’s No 9 and will soon have competition from Armando Broja, who is close to returning from a knee injury. They are open to signing another centre-forward but are prepared to wait until January before making a move. There is interest in Brentford’s Ivan Toney, who is suspended until January, but there is no need to rush into a move for the striker this week.
[uk.sports]
Week 4 of Dana White’s Contender Series (2023) took place Tuesday in Las Vegas, and we’re grading the winners from the five fight card, which streamed on ESPN+ from the UFC Apex.
With a simple but digestible format that has had the MMA fanbase responding, this series has shown to have legs in multiple ways while serving as a crockpot for contenders the UFC matchmakers can use for future events. With that trend in mind, I once again will be taking a look at the winning fighters, regardless of whether or not they won a UFC contract, and grading their performances in regard to their probability of returning to a UFC stage.
Bolaji Oki
Weight class: Lightweight
Result: Bolaji Oki def. Dylan Salvador via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:46
Grade: A+
Summary: Setting a strong tone for the night was a one-round barnburner between Bolaji Oki and Dylan Salvador.
I was familiar with Salvador and his striking background heading into this match – which is probably why I came away so impressed with Oki.
Not intimidated by his opponent’s pedigree, Oki did exactly what he needed to do to a fighter who is used to the pacing of a muay Thai/kickboxing bout by pressing the action immediately.
Oki utilized his cross beautifully by both doubling up on it and variating it to the body, which interrupted the kicks and striking rhythms of Salvador. Once Oki attached a solid left hook to the liver, Salvador clearly felt winded and backed up to the cage (crumbling soon after).
Between this being a body-shot stoppage to Oki being a near 2-1 underdog, I couldn’t help but give Oki the ever-elusive A+ for pulling off the upset in impressive fashion. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him paired up with someone like Yanal Ashmouz or Anshul Jubli for his first UFC assignment.
Thomas Peterson
Weight class: Heavyweight
Result: Thomas Peterson def. Chandler Cole via submission (Americana) – round 2, 1:08
Grade: B+
Summary: Despite doing basically everything he could’ve done as a fighter in his position, I still couldn’t quite get to an A when grading Thomas Peterson’s winning performance opposite Chandler Cole.
Don’t get me wrong: Peterson showed serviceable southpaw striking on the feet, as well as a fluid enough takedown and top game to stand out in the heavyweight division.
It’s just hard to get a good idea of Peterson’s potential ceiling given the quality of opposition he was against (with all due respect). Still, I don’t blame the UFC president for bringing Peterson aboard given the lack of grappling threats north of 205 pounds.
I say match him up with his British doppelganger, Mick Parkin, for an action-filled affair.
Timothy Cuamba
Weight class: Featherweight
Result: Timothy Cuamba def. Mateo Vogel via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Grade: B
Summary: Despite Timothy Cuamba being a fighter who carries a lot of Las Vegas support, I can’t say that I disagreed with Dana White in this spot.
Aside from the fact that Cuamba is still incredibly young, I didn’t like how he both let off the bodywork and the gas overall in regard to his output.
Although I have no issue with Cuamba winning two rounds to one, many (including myself) thought that Mateo Vogel had a solid argument to win on the cards due to the Canadian’s consistent leg kicks in the second frame.
Thankfully for Cuamba, he avoided that costly lesson marking up his resume and will live to fight another day. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cuamba called up on short notice (for hopefully a better contract) on a future UFC card due to his clear skills and athletic potential.
Marcos Silva
Weight class: Middleweight
Result: Marcos Silva def. Yousri Belgaroui via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Grade: B
Summary: Even though this ended up being sloppier than a steak at Truffonis, I couldn’t help but award Marcos Silva a B for doing what he had to do to come through as an underdog opposite Yousri Belgaroui.
An accoladed kickboxer who fought the likes of Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya, it’s safe to say that there were a lot of eyes on Belgaroui.
The former Glory kickboxer actually demonstrated solid takedown defense and clinch fundamentals up against the fence, but he was unable to string together more than one meaningful strike at a time (which left little room for error inside of the smaller cage). And by the end of the first round, Silva was already picking up steam, seemingly sensing a potential momentum shift.
Silva was able to clearly outwork Belgaroui for the rest of the contest, but it wasn’t enough to get Dana White to recruit the Chute Boxe Diego Lima product.
That said, if I were a betting man (which I am), I’d be willing to wager that Silva will get the call to fill in for a short-notice spot somewhere within the next three months given the way the UFC keeps their relentless schedule running these days.
Carlos Prates
Weight class: Welterweight
Result: Carlos Prates def. Mitch Ramirez via TKO (punch) – round 2, 1:14
Grade: A+
Summary: Closing out the night was an impressive performance from Carlos Prates, who took out an ultra-tough Mitch Ramirez.
Even though Prates wooed us with a fully-fledged muay Thai arsenal from multiple ranges, the Brazilian’s ability to effortlessly land long, lethal left-hands reminded me of former UFC featherweight, Kevin Souza.
The UFC president used Anderson Silva as his comparison, and I don’t blame him given the 70 percent accuracy that Prates was working with in that first round.
From mixing straight to circular to his consistent building off the bodywork, Prates was able to push all of the right buttons to get me to pull out another A+ on this card. I agree with White in regard to Prates being UFC-ready, so don’t be surprised to see him thrown on the upcoming Sao Paulo card against someone like Gabe Green or Adam Fugitt.
Former world champion Sergio Mora believes that Daniel Dubois did not deserve the win against Oleksandr Usyk.
The two heavyweights fought over the weekend in Poland, with Usyk successfully defending his IBF, WBO and WBO belts.
He ended the fight with a ninth-round jab that left Dubois counted out for the second time in his career.
However, the 25-year-old Briton might have had victory if Usyk had not recovered from his own knockdown in the fifth round. But the referee allowed the Ukrainian several minutes to recover instead, after ruling the shot to be a low blow.
Dubois rejected the interpretation from the ref after the fight, but with the punch coming on Usyk’s waistband, there is argument on both sides of the dispute.
Speaking on JABS on DAZN, Mora believes it was not a low blow, but Dubois failed to take advantage when he had the chance.
He explained: “The punch wasn’t low, it was borderline, and borderline isn’t low, but all this is to the discretion of a referee, so what I like to do, as a fighter, is take a look two times and know it’s a borderline shot. It wasn’t flagrant, it wasn’t on purpose like a lot of others do when they’re hurt. It was in the middle of a moment.
“The trajectory of the punch was an uppercut, when it landed, the moment of impact, it was above the hip line. You have to forget about the belly button or the trunks. It’s the hip line that you have to focus on, not the navel, not the trunks. If you look at Usyk’s trunks, you couldn’t even see his belly button.
“You have to imagine where the punch landed, it landed right on the money, it was a fair shot, it should have counted as a knockdown.
“Do I think Dubois deserved to win? No, Usyk dominated. It wasn’t a low blow and Usyk won fair and square and got up like a champion. Did he use the rules to his favor? Absolutely, like a lot of sly fighters do.
“That’s why Usyk is a great champion, he soaked up that time. He had more than three minutes, an entire round on the floor, and that’s Luis Pabon’s fault right there. Usyk should have gotten up. We’ve seen Usyk hurt to the body for, if you studied his amateurs. Anthony Joshua hurt him with the same body punch. You can tell that the punch was studied by Dubois and his trainer, but it just didn’t go in his favour.”
[dazn]
Manchester City have reached a verbal agreement with Wolves to buy midfielder Matheus Nunes for £47m.
The two clubs have settled on the fee – which is yet to be formally ratified – after City’s first offer for the Portugal international was rejected last week.
Nunes has refused to train with Wolves this week as he tried to force a move from Molineux and seems set to become City’s fourth summer signing before the transfer window closes on Friday.
Personal terms are not expected to be an issue for the 25-year-old, who was sent off in what is set to prove his final game as a Wolves player, the 4-1 defeat by Brighton.
Wolves are set to gain a replacement from City with Tommy Doyle set to go in the opposite direction and in a separate deal.
The 21-year-old, who helped Sheffield United win promotion to the Premier League last year, will move to the Midlands on a season-long loan. Wolves will have an option to buy him in a deal that would bring City a substantial sell-on clause.
Nunes only joined Wolves a year ago from Sporting Lisbon for a club record £38m and has scored one goal in 40 appearances for them.
City turned their attentions to him after Kevin de Bruyne was ruled out for four months with a hamstring injury and they had to abandon their interest in West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta, who faces an FA investigation into potential breaches of betting regulations.
[independent]
Former Premier League striker, Gabby Agbonlahor, has questioned Manchester United’s transfer decisions.
The Red Devils are being linked with Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella and Tottenham’s Piere-Emile Hojbjerg.
These transfer decisions have left Agbonlahor confused as he believes United should be targeting the best legs.
Erik ten Hag is desperate to bring in at least two players before Saturday.
The Red Devils are in advanced talks to sign Cucurella and Hojbjerg in the remaining days of the transfer window.
The Old Trafford landlords have been able to sign the likes of Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund this summer.
And Gabby has questioned their targets.
“Man Utd should be out for the best!”
“I don’t see them being that team that goes for players Chelsea and Tottenham don’t want.”
[DailyPost]
More...
Fulham eye Niclas Fullkrug as Lucas Ocampos mulls over £15m transfer in search for new strikers
AdminFulham are pursuing a bid for Niclas Fullkrug as they look to add multiple new strikers to their squad before the transfer deadline, with a £15million deal for Sevilla forward Lucas Ocampos agreed.
The Cottagers have agreed to pay £12m up front for the Argentine with a further £3m in add-ons.
However, the 29-year-old is yet to agree to the move despite the chance to double his salary to around £70,000-a-week at Craven Cottage.
Ocampos is reluctant having grown settled in Spain and will soon have the chance to play Champions League football after winning the Europa League in May.
Fulham believe they will ultimately get their man having switched their focus from Callum Hudson-Odoi after they failed to agree a fee with Chelsea.
The Cottagers are also chasing an additional striker and have sounded out Germany international Fullkrug.
The 30-year-old Werder Bremen frontman is one of a host of options being looked at including Flamengo’s Pedro, Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata and Paris Saint-Germain’s Hugo Ekitike.
Marco Silva also wants a midfielder, with Everton’s Alex Iwobi reportedly of interest, and is chasing a further full-back despite the £15m signing of Leicester City’s Timothy Castagne.
AC Milan’s Fode Ballo-Toure, Union Berlin’s Josip Juranovic and Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters are some of the additional defenders being discussed in west London.
[standard]
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has subtly confirmed the exit of Super Falcons’ coach to the just concluded Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Randy Waldrum, from his position as the country’s senior women national team manager.
Yesterday, the NFF charged its technical committee to search for new handlers for the team ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics’ qualifiers. Waldrum and the federation had a frosty relationship on the eve of the World Cup, but the country’s subsequent impressive performance at the championship papered over the feud. However, there were rumours after the championship that the NFF would not renew the American’s contract, which expired with the competition.
Speaking while inaugurating the recently constituted NFF Technical Committee in Abuja, the federation’s president, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, tasked them to constitute fresh technical crews for most of the national teams, and provide direction for them.
He said: “The Super Falcons are back from the FIFA World Cup with aplomb, but we must remember that they have 2024 Olympics and 2024 Women AFCON qualifying matches shortly and should start to prepare for those games. The home-based professionals have qualifiers for the CHAN and the male and female U17 and U20 teams have qualification matches of high importance in a few months to come.”
Gusau promised that the NFF would support the committee to accomplish its work while emphasising that meetings could be either physical or by video conference.
Responding, Chairman of the committee, Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, stated that the committee would discharge its duties with every sense of responsibility and be guided by the vision of the Gusau-led administration to work proactively and energetically to ensure the real growth of the game of football in Nigeria in all its aspects and ramifications.
[Guardian]
The second day of the US Open didn’t turn out to be one of those days when seeds drop like ripe cherries. Indeed the favourites of the bookmakers and the public came up with emphatic wins.
Daniil Medvedev was the first to step onto court, where he stayed no longer than 1 hour and 14 minutes to put away Hungarian Attila Balazs 61 61 60 in the swiftest grand slam match of his career. His next opponent will be Cristopher O’Connell, who won the all-Australian clash against Max Purcell in four sets.
Sacha Zverev faced a much tougher challenge in the person of Aleksandar Vukic, one of the hot players of the American summer, finalist in Atlanta. The German played consistently and never relented pressure, earning a three-set win 64 64 64. In the first two sets he only conceded one break point, and broke Vukic once per set. He snatched an early break in the third game of the third set as well, but the Aussie broke back in the eighth game. He also had a chance to move ahead 5-4, but Zverev eventually succeeded in snatching a second break and closed off the match with a comfortable serve hold.
Andrey Rublev won in three sets against French lucky loser Arthur Cazaux, ranked 119. The 21-year old Frenchman set up a valiant fight in the first two sets, serving proficiently, hammering forehands and frequently raiding the net. Rublev kept his bearings though, and after prevailing in a close second set tiebreak, cruised away. 64 76 61 the final score. In the second round he is awaited by yet another French player: veteran Gael Monfils, who defeated Taro Daniel in four sets. That will be some match.
Among the other seeds, Cameron Norrie scored a convincing win, 62 64 62 over the young Russian talent Alexander Shevchenko, conceding and saving only one break point in the whole match.
Though not seeded, after a year which has been hindered by physical issues, Matteo Berrettini, US Open semi-finalist in 2019, played his best tennis to dismiss 29th seed Ugo Humbert in three sets, 64 64 62. His greater overall power and some excellent returning made the difference, as well as his service, which got him through a few critical moments, such as the eighth game of the first set, when he saved three break points. By steering the gameplay away from Humbert’s most impressive weapon, his leftie two-handed backhand, he retained control of the match. Berrettini too will face another Frenchman in the second round: Arthur Rinderknech, who beat Diego Schwartzman 63 64 62.
We conclude with the feats of tennis greats: Stan Wawrinka, and John Isner, who joined their fellow veterans, Andy Murray and Gael Monfils, in the second round. The Swiss, US Open Champion 2016, just struggled in the first set, which he won in a battled tiebreaker, against Yoshihito Nishioka, and then cruised away to win 76 62 64. John Isner showed he is in no hurry to enjoy retirement and in three sets, 64 63 76, breezed past Argentine Diaz Acosta, currently ranked above him at 94. When rankings do not tell the whole story.
In the second round Long John will be up against Michael Mmoh, the American wild card who set up the greatest upset of the afternoon, knocking out 11th seed Karen Khachanov, who is still struggling to get back to his best form after injury.
Isner vs Mmoh will be an enthralling generation clash to look forward to.
[ubitennis]
Not content with spending the thick end of £350m in the current transfer window, Chelsea are ready to hose tens of millions more – cough – in the direction of Brentford’s Community Stadium if it means they can get Ivan Toney in return. The England striker is currently suspended from all football activities until January, a ban that apparently won’t preclude him from signing a contract with a different club. The Independent reports that Brentford will hold out for as much as £80m for a star player they’ve barely missed since he began his prolonged spell on the FA’s Naughty Step.
Left out of the Tottenham squad that got knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Fulham, Eric Dier could be on the verge of a reunion with his former skipper Harry Kane at Bayern Munich. Spurs have offered the defender to the German champions, while Borussia Dortmund are also believed to be keen on securing his services. Dier has also been offered to Fulham in part exchange for their central defender Tosin Adarabioyo. In other “unwanted Tottenham defender” news, Japhet Tanganga could be on his way to Italy to play for Torino, while Djed Spence’s loan move to Leeds is expected to be signed, sealed and delivered any second now.
Brought in by Wolves on a five-year deal for a club-record £38m from Sporting last summer, Matheus Nunes got his season off to a fairly inauspicious start. The midfielder got himself sent off against Brighton on the back of two daft yellow cards, before spitting the dummy and going on strike when his employers rejected a £47m bid for his services from Manchester City. The 25-year-old Portuguese midfielder may be forced into a grovelling apology after his manager, Gary O’Neil, said he fully expects him to still be at the club when the transfer window closes. Wolves want £60m for Nunes, while City are believed to be ready to walk away from the deal unless that valuation is lowered.
“The next few days will be key of course and conversations will take place that will be private between me and Matheus and I’m sure the situation will be resolved,” said O’Neil, after his side’s 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Blackpool. The out-of-favour winger Daniel Podence looks certain to leave Wolves in the next couple of days and has been linked with Celtic and Real Betis. Meanwhile in the Molineux arrivals hall, club staff are preparing to welcome the Girona and Uruguay centre-back Santiago Bueno. Wolves are also interested in signing the teenage winger Enso González from Club Libertad in Paraguay.
Rob Holding is wanted by both Luton and Real Mallorca, while the Sheffield United right-back George Baldock could be off to Greece to ply his trade with AEK Athens. Holding’s Arsenal teammate Nuno Tavares is on the verge of signing a loan deal with Nottingham Forest, who are also trying to wrap up a £14m deal to bring the Corinthians defender Murillo to the City Ground. Tottenham remain in the box-seat to sign Brennan Johnson from Forest, although Chelsea are also rumoured to be monitoring those particular proceedings with interest.
Despite their eagerness to bring Marc Cucurella in from Chelsea to provide cover for the injured Luke Shaw, Manchester United have also enquired about the possibility of signing Argentinian defender Nicolás Tagliafico on loan from Lyon. And finally, Fulham hope to sign Alex Iwobi from Everton and have agreed a deal to bring in the Argentinian winger Lucas Ocampos from Sevilla.
[uk.sports]