SPORTS
World number four Casper Ruud crashed out in the second round of Wimbledon on Thursday at the hands of British wildcard Liam Broady. Broady held his nerve when trailing two sets to one against the French Open finalist, rallying to win the Centre Court clash 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. Norway's Ruud, who has been runner-up at Roland Garros in the past two years, was also the beaten finalist at the US Open last year.
The 24-year-old has never gone beyond the second round at the All England Club. Broady, 142 in the world rankings, took a medical time out at the end of the fourth set to change some bandaging on his wrist.
But the 29-year-old came out fit and firing in the evening sunshine, demolishing Ruud 6-0 in the decider before soaking up the applause from the partisan crowd.
"I would have liked to have played him back home, but Centre Court of Wimbledon will do," said Broady. "When I went to bed last night, I was having a think of what I'd say if I won the match, but now I'm here I don't know what to say.
"I said to my mum this morning, she doesn't like watching, but I said I've already won £80,000 ($102,000) this week so she can chill out a bit."
The British player will play Canadian 26th seed Denis Shapovalov in the third round. "Denis is a mercurial talent, he's one of the best players in the world as is Casper," he said. "He's won junior Wimbledon. He's an amazing player. With a crowd like this then why not have a go again."
Teen power
Meanwhile, Russian 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva reached the third round of a Grand Slam for a second successive time at Wimbledon on Thursday. Andreeva was leading Czech 10th seed Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 4-0 when the former French Open champion retired with an injury.
Just as she had done at the French Open, the teenager came through qualifying for Wimbledon and next faces either compatriot Anastasia Potapova or Kaja Juvan of Slovenia. Making her main draw debut, Andreeva, ranked at 102 in the world, saw off China's Wang Xiyu in the first round in a match that finished late Wednesday.
In Paris last month, it took world number seven Coco Gauff to stop her in three sets in the last 32.
[sports]
British journeyman Liam Broady has sent Centre Court into raptures with a stunning defeat of world No.4 Casper Ruud at Wimbledon.
Ruud, who was in the French Open final three weeks ago, lost 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-0 to the world No.142 in three hours, 27 minutes.
Norwegian Ruud has never looked comfortable at Wimbledon, winning once in three previous appearances in SW19. He has, however, reached three grand slam finals in 14 months and this was by a distance the biggest win of Broady's career.
"When I went to bed last night, I had a think about what I would say if I won and now I don't know what to say!" the 29-year-old said.
"It was a pretty terrifying, exhilarating experience coming out at Centre Court on Wimbledon, but it's been my dream since I was five years old."
"I said to my mum this morning, she doesn't like watching, I've already won PS80,000 ($A152,000) this week so she can chill out."
Three-time grand slam winner Stan Wawrinka turned back the clock, defeating seeded Argentine Tomas Etcheverry to set up a first grass-court meeting with Novak Djokovic.
The 38-year-old defeated the No.29 seed, 15 years his junior, in four sets as Wimbledon finally enjoyed a sunny day.
It is the first time Wawrinka has reached a grand slam third round for three years. "It's a long time that I didn't win too much at grand slams," the Swiss said. "I've been working hard to get back to a better level and I'm happy with the way I'm coming up."
Wawrinka, who won every major except Wimbledon, has beaten Djokovic six times in 26 meetings, including the 2015 French Open final and 2016 US Open final.
He said of facing the defending champion on Centre Court on Friday, "I'll enjoy it if I don't get killed. It's a big challenge but hopefully I can come to a higher level and be competitive."
A trio of Italians won, though one knocked out a compatriot. Eighth seed Jannik Sinner coasted into the third round with a 7-5 6-1 6-2 victory over Diego Schwartzman, while Lorenzo Musetti, seeded 14, outclassed Spain's Jaume Munar 6-4 6-3 6-1 to set up a third-round clash against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.
Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 runner-up, recovered from a slow start to beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 in a match which had begun on Tuesday.
Berrettini, who arrived at Wimbledon undercooked having not played much due to injury, now meets Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur.
Alexander Zverev, who finally got a chance to play his first-round match on the fourth day of the tournament, moved into the second round with a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) victory over Dutchman Gijs Brouwer.
The 19th seed Zverev, a former world No.2, suffered a bad ankle injury at the 2022 French Open.
"I missed it last year so just to be on this court I'm happy to be here with 10,000 people," he said.
"I play again tomorrow and the day after, well if I win of course. It's going to be a tough few days with back-to-back matches and it is never easy physically - I'm just happy to be playing tennis now," Zverev said.
Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev advanced to the third round at Wimbledon for the second time defeating compatriot Aslan Karatsev.
[thewest]
Arsenal are, according to reports by David Ornstein and others, close to completing deals for Declan Rice of West Ham and Jurrien Timber of Ajax. If the Gunners are successful in getting both deals across the line then their summer spend will reach £210mil after the earlier addition of Kai Havertz.
Arsenal’s Rising Optimism Following Last Season
Big-name signings excite fans, and Arsenal fans entered the transfer window in optimistic moods after their side’s 2nd placed finish in last season’s Premier League. The Gunners are on the up, and they are splashing the cash. But are they getting better?
Havertz’s Potential Role: A Fitting Replacement for Xhaka?
Let’s start with Havertz, who seems like a replacement for the now-departed Granit Xhaka. There is no question that Havertz is a better footballer than the Swiss midfielder, but is a better fit for that role? He can definitely offer more in the final third, but Xhaka is coming off a season where he contributed 9 goals and 7 assists across all competitions. Havertz has averaged 11 goals and 5 assists in his three seasons at Chelsea, but those came predominately while playing as a striker.
Havertz and Defensive Contribution: Matching Up to Xhaka
And then there’s the question of whether Havertz can match Xhaka’s defensive contribution. The German is a hard-working player, but not one noted for his defensive output. Xhaka provided vital balance for Arsenal in sharing some of the defensive workload with Thomas Partey to enable Arsenal’s attacking brand of football to flourish.
Assessing Timber’s Position: Backup or Starter?
What about Timber? Is he a starter for Arsenal? If so, where? Arsenal fans will insist that they needed additional depth in defense, but is Timber the right fit as a backup to William Saliba? Or will be he the backup to Ben White? Perhaps both. Perhaps he replaces White, and White becomes a utility squad player who can offer cover at right-back, centre-back, and in defensive midfield.
Evaluating Timber’s Role: Improvement or Expenditure?
Timber is a better defender than White and a better dribbler, but he doesn’t have White’s passing ability or decision-making in the final third – things that have been vital to the development of Arsenal’s attacking patterns down the right side of the pitch.
Rice’s Big Move: What Position Will He Play?
Finally, the biggest outlay of them all, Declan Rice. The Gunners are paying a guaranteed £100mil plus £5mil in add-ons to bring in the West Ham captain, and the question here is what position will he play?
Rice’s Potential Impact: An Upgrade or Downgrade?
If he is the Xhaka replacement and not Havertz, then it’s a home run for Arsenal in terms of a player-for-player upgrade. Rice is a significantly better player than Xhaka. He won’t offer the goal contributions that Xhaka did this past season, but his passing, pressing, counter-pressing and ball-carrying will be an improvement. Defensively he can offer more than Xhaka as well with his ability to cover mammoth amounts of ground.
Rice in the Defensive Role: Is He Up to the Task?
But what if he’s coming in to replace Thomas Partey? Rice is a flawed number 6, who gets drawn to the ball far too often and leaves big spaces behind him. That was somewhat ok with Thomas Soucek to cover him for West Ham but if he’s partnering Odegaard and Havertz in midfield? Arsenal could have avery soft centre. Rice’s strengths all involve his ability to cover ground, as a ball-winner and a ball-carrier. Putting him in a box and asking him to shield a defense? Not something he has excelled at.
Comparing Rice’s Performance: International Vs. Club Football
Some people will point to his form with England, but international football is a different sport played at a much slower tempo against vastly inferior opponents, and Rice largely had Kalvin Phillips sitting in to help out anyway. Rice is not as good defensively as Thomas Partey in the number 6 position, nor is he as good a passer as the Ghanaian.
Assessing Rice’s Price: Is It Justifiable?
The price is outrageous, Rice is not a £100mil footballer, but if he’s the Xhaka replacement he will improve the team and it might not matter. If he’s the Partey replacement then it’s a downgrade, at least in the short term, and a massive overpay.
Arteta’s Spending: Massive Expectations
Mikel Arteta’s spending as Arsenal manager will cross the £575mil threshold with these signings, and having had no pressure placed on him in his three and half years to date, he will surely go into this season with high expectations. The Kroenke’s will want silverware in return for their outlay.
Evaluating Arteta’s Impact: Has the Team Improved?
Has he improved the team since arriving? Of course, without question. Has this summer’s spend, which has been driven by his demands, taken them closer to the title? Possibly not.
[eplindex]
Cesar Azpilicueta is headed back to Spain.
The 33-year-old defender joined Atletico on Thursday after 11 years at Chelsea.
"I’d like to say so many things, but I’m going to keep it short," Azpilicueta said in a farewell message. "I want to say every time you are part of this club, you give your best. That’s how I learned to be part of Chelsea. The demands are really high, the commitment to the club, to the fans, every single day, even in tough moments when maybe it’s easier to go down a different path. That’s the moment to show the personality, the soul of the club, all together, pushing in the same direction. I know Chelsea will be back where it should be."
Azpilicueta joined the Blues in 2012 from Marseille. He went on to make 508 appearances across all competitions for the club, seventh-most all-time in club history, winning two Premier League titles, two Europa League titles, a League Cup, an FA Cup and the 2021 Champions League title.
Internationally, Azpilicueta has been capped 44 times by La Roja and was a member of Spain's squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
[tsn]
Not for the first time, Kylian Mbappe has been linked with a transfer to Liverpool.
On the face of it, this is not a link that makes a great deal of sense from the Reds' perspective. While not short of money, their transfer kitty is not limitless and Jurgen Klopp must prioritise other areas of his squad ahead of strengthening his attack.
Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo ensure there are no shortage of options and variety to play in Liverpool’s front three. Furthermore, the Reds have signed attack-minded midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig and Brighton’s Alexis MacAllister.
However, Sport Witness cites reports from Spain that Liverpool have made a £170million move for French superstar Mbappe. The veracity of this may be doubtful, but there is clearly a strong mutual respect between the club and the Paris Saint-Germain frontman.
Mbappe's PSG exit stance
Image:
Getty Images)Mbappe will not sign the one-year contract extension in his PSG contract meaning that his deal will expire in 12 months. Mirror Football understands that the French club’s priority is to ensure he does not leave without a transfer fee, meaning they are prepared to cash in on the superstar this summer.
The French superstar has confirmed that he intends to remain at the Ligue 1 champions beyond this summer but it is understood that PSG will push for his exit as they are aware that the alternative is missing out on a landmark transfer fee entirely.
On Wednesday, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi set an ultimatum of two weeks for Mbappe to either decide to leave the club this summer or sign a new contract. However, the striker is well within his contractual rights to do neither and wait it out until next summer. Real Madrid's interest in signing Mbappe is long-standing and well-documented.
What Mbappe and Klopp have said
Mbappe and Klopp have a history of publicly complimenting each other – which has, predictably, played into suggestions that the two may work alongside each other one day.
Speaking in 2020, the Frenchman claimed: 2020: "This season, Liverpool have been a machine in the Premier League. They have made winning look easy but the truth is that it is never easy. Performances like they have been having don't just happen.
Mbappe didn't stop there and had some compliments for Klopp as well, adding: "To be as ruthless as they have been would come from lots of hard work in training and from having a very good manager."
Speaking before Liverpool faced PSG back in 2018, Klopp told RMC Sport: "I love him, to be honest. What a player he is and a nice lad as well, so he's a really good kid. What a player, what a player.
"Everyone knows him since he was 16, 17 when he impressed in Monaco's youth teams, and I saw videos of him when he was 17 and he destroyed defensive lines as he is doing now.
"He's at an unbelievable level of consistency at that age. He's an outstanding player, that's clear, but he can deliver, deliver and deliver, which shows he's really good educated boy and he knows what he is doing.”
[mirror.co.uk]
Swiss federal judges dismissed FIFA´s appeal against a ruling that overturned its life ban for the former president of Haiti´s soccer federation for alleged sexual abuse of women´s national team players.
A verdict from Switzerland´s supreme court released on Thursday rejected FIFA´s request filed in March to annul a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that lifted Yves Jean-Bart´s expulsion from the sport.
The federal court can review CAS decisions on limited procedural grounds and rarely overturns the sports court´s verdicts. FIFA argued that CAS judges failed to evaluate some evidence.
The decision by three Swiss Federal Tribunal judges was dated June 28, less than a month before Haiti makes its debut at the Women´s World Cup against England in Brisbane. Haiti's group includes China and Denmark.
The Haitian women progressed through qualifying for the July 20-Aug. 20 tournament, being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, while long-time federation president Jean-Bart was banished from the sport.
FIFA´s ethics committee banned Jean-Bart in November 2020 after hearing allegations of multiple sexual offenses against women and girls who were in national team squads. Witnesses in Haiti were alleged to have been threatened not to give evidence.
Jean-Bart denied the allegations, and at his appeal the judges decided "none of the testimonies heard by the CAS were sufficiently precise and convincing to establish (his) guilt," the sports court said in February.
FIFA was ordered by federal judges to pay 15,000 Swiss francs ($16,740) in court costs and 17,000 Swiss francs ($19,000) to Jean-Bart.
[dailymail]
Bayer Leverkusen have signed Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka from Arsenal on a five-year deal, the Bundesliga club said on Thursday.
Financial details were not disclosed but British media reported the German club paid €25 million euros ($27.2m) for the 30-year old.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
Xhaka joins Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen after spending seven seasons with Arsenal in which he made 297 appearances, with 23 goals and 29 assists, and helped the club win two FA Cups.
Xhaka will return to the German league having had a four-year spell with Borussia Monchengladbach before joining Arsenal in 2016.
"I know the league inside out and I watched it when I was in London. Bayer 04 is a club with an impressive history and ambitious targets," said Xhaka.
"Above all, I see it as a club with a great future. Everybody here is ambitious and wants to achieve something - I'm very much looking forward to the next few years."
[espn]
Arsenal are reportedly keen on signing Dutch defender Jeremie Frimpong from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
According to Stefan Bienkowski, Arsenal have initiated discussions with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Jeremie Frimpong. The Bundesliga giants want to recoup €50 million to part ways with the Dutch full-back.
The young defender was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in recent months as well. So it will be interesting to see if Arsenal can agree on a fee with the German club. The Gunners have recently emerged as a suitor for the 22-year-old.
Arsenal need to bring in a specialist right-back this summer, and Frimpong could be an upgrade on Ben White, especially going forward. The former Brighton and Hove Albion star was deployed as a full-back last season, and he did reasonably well. But Arsenal lacked the attacking qualities of a natural full-back.
Frimpong is exceptional going forward and he could add a new dimension to the Arsenal attack with his creativity and pace. The 22-year-old contributed to nine goals and 11 assists across all competitions last season, and he has the potential to develop into one of the finest young full-backs in Europe.
Mikel Arteta has done well to nurture talented young players during his time at Arsenal, and he could help the talented young Dutchman develop into a key player for the Premier League club. Arsenal are desperate to put together a formidable squad that is capable of winning the Premier League title, and they have been very active in the transfer market so far.
The Gunners have already spent significant sums of money to acquire the services of Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, and Jurrien Timber. It seems that they are concentrating on signing a full-back now. Frimpong would undoubtedly be a solid, long-term investment, and the 22-year-old is likely to be tempted to join Arsenal as well. Meanwhile, talks for the young full-back have begun between the two clubs.
The Gunners are one of the biggest clubs in the world and they have qualified for the Champions League. They will be an attractive destination for most players and a move to Arsenal would be ideal for the 22-year-old’s development as well. Playing against top-class attackers in the Premier League will accelerate his development and help him achieve his world-class potential.
[thehardtackle]
Manchester United will bid to make young Denmark international Rasmus Hojlund their new first-choice striker this window, as they seek to deliver Erik ten Hag the second major signing of the summer amid growing uncertainty on the proposed takeover.
The club have been working according to a strict budget because of financial fair play considerations but believe that they can deliver Hojlund this summer for around £50 million – although the deal might have to wait for resolution in the Glazer sale process. The 20-year-old had an impressive breakthrough season at Atalanta in Serie A last season with nine league goals in 32 games and is regarded as a player with huge scope for improvement.
United have been pushed hard for the £60 million fee for Mason Mount from Chelsea and are now seeking to cover their two other key positional targets this summer. Their striker options going into the window were Hojlund and the Eintracht Frankfurt striker, and France international, Randal Kolo Muani. Ten Hag has identified Højlund as his preference.
United’s losses in the previous financial year of £115.5 million have put limits on what is available to Ten Hag this summer and put pressure on to make sales. It was anticipated that there would have been a final decision made on the takeover process by now but the Glazer siblings continue to mull over their three options. Those are Qatari Sheikh Jassim’s bid, the opposing offer from Ineos billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, or seeking further investment while retaining control. In the meantime, the club is working to the original plan.
That means that a goalscorer must be found, alongside a goalkeeper, as well as the many sales that the club had hoped to push through. Andre Onana, a former Ajax player with Ten Hag now at Inter Milan, is the principal goalkeeper target. The Inter valuation of £51.5 million is believed to be some way off that made by United, around £38.5 million.
As for the striker, Hojlund is the more realistic although his price has rocketed this season in what is a restricted market for established goalscoring talent. He has played fewer than 100 senior club games since his Danish Superliga debut for Copenhagen in October 2020. He joined Austrian Bundesliga club Sturm Graz in January last year and then Atalanta in the summer. He was first capped for his country less than a year ago and is undoubtedly a very promising talent.
Meanwhile United are looking at the sale of one or all of Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho, Fred, Scott McTominay, Antony Martial, Alex Telles, Anthony Elanga and Eric Bailly in order to reset their financial fair play consideration.
United had looked at the possibility of a bid for Harry Kane, with one year left on his contract at Tottenham Hotspur. With no resolution yet on the takeover that is currently not a viable option given price and Spurs’ unwillingness to sell him within the Premier League. Nevertheless Ten Hag is an admirer of the player.
[Telegraph.co.uk]
Barcelona have made significant progress over the last few seasons under the leadership of the new management, led by Joan Laporta, despite coming into a club that was well corrupted by economic and financial limitations.
Now, as they look forward to the new 2023/2024 season up ahead, it is a good chance to look back at one of the most important aspects of Laporta’s tenure thus far; his recruitment of free agents that have helped stabilize the club in important areas when spending too many funds was not an option.
In total, with the two new free transfers added to the count, Barcelona have managed to recruit 13 free agents over the last 3 years since the 2020/2021 season.
Eric Garcia (Manchester City)
The young central defender came from Manchester City as a free transfer and has since found moments within the club where he has held solid importance, under Ronald Koeman in particular, and also periods of not much importance, as he has been going through this season under Xavi Hernandez.
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Despite having arrived as a promising player given his massive experience and proven quality, the player’s time at the club was unfortunately cut short due to various health-related issues.
Memphis Depay (Olympique Lyon)
The Dutchman arrived as one of the most prized possessions of France’s Ligue 1, but despite an exciting first season at the club, he was not able to live up to the massive expectations piled up on his shoulders.
Luuk De Jong (Sevilla)
Another Dutchman who arrived to much dismay initially amongst fans, but courtesy of his various late winners and equalizers as a super sub, managed to forever become a fan favorite among the Camp Nou faithful.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)
Tension at Arsenal and internal problems forced the player to be on bad terms with his former club, but hopping onto the Catalan ship the moment the chance presented itself on deadline day would end up being a free transfer that provided benefits to both Barcelona and Aubameyang himself.
Adama Traore (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Known for his rapid pace and insane levels of acceleration, the former La Masia player came for a year-long loan that would end up being a good deal for La Blaugrana, providing them a new kind of option on the wings besides just having to rely on Ousmane Dembele, despite the Catalans not having triggered his buy option.
Dani Alves (Free agent)
A Barcelona legend in his own right, the return of the Brazilian was met with massive uncertainty given his mature age, yet his dedication to the club and commitment to the cause under Xavi Hernandez allowed him to be a great asset both on the field and off it.
Franck Kessie (AC Milan)
The AC Milan midfielder was one of the most well-renowned talents in Serie A before his move to Barcelona, and while he has not been bad by any means during his time in Spain, the player is surely playing less minutes than he would have originally had hoped for at the club.
Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
The Danish defender has become one of the mainstays under the tutelage of Xavi Hernandez and for good reason. His ability on the ball as well as his understanding of the game have made him an immense part of Xavi’s Barcelona.
Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)
The former Chelsea man arrived on a free transfer after the termination of his contract with Chelsea alongside Andreas Christensen who left the London-based club as a free agent, and while the Dane has become undisputable under Xavi, the Spanish defender has also been able to provide much-appreciated depth.
Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)
Having arrived on a one-year deal following the termination of his contract at Arsenal, the Spaniard was more or less a signing for the short term, and albeit not extraordinary, his time in the city of his birth was not all too bad before moving on to his next club in Sporting CP.
Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City)
One of the most in-form stars in Europe at the moment of signing, treble-winner with Manchester City and captain of the English side as well, bringing Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer could turn out to be a masterful operation done right.
Inigo Martinez (Athletic Bilbao)
The most recent of acquisitions to be made official, the former Athletic Bilbao defender brings along with him proven quality and bundles of experience, particularly in the Spanish first division.
[barcanewsnetwork]
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It’s only the first week of July but thtere have already been several major transfer moves to be confimred across the Premier League with more bumper deals expected to be finalised this week.
Aston Villa have already moved to snap up Youri Tielemans on a free transfer after the Belgian midfielder left Leicester City and supporters will be hoping to see a few more signings being announced soon as Unai Emery strengthens his sqaud for next season’s Premier League and European campaigns. The next man through the door could very well be a a promising young star who is already an established international but the Birmignham side are expected to face competition from Everton.
Elsewhere, Villa could have been dealt a transfer blow this morning with reports suggesting one of their league rivals are now ‘eleading the race’ to sign a player they have eseemignly been tracking all window. Here are the latest Aston Villa transfer news headlines on Thursday, July 6:
Newcastle United lead race to sign £50m-rated Harvey Barnes from Leicester
The Guardian write that Newcastle United are leading the race to sign Leicester’s Harvey Barnes. The winger is understood to also be a transfer target for Aston Villa as well as Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.
The 25-year old has been linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium ever since the Foxes relegation to the EFL Championship was confirmed on the final day of the 2022/23 Premier League season. It is claimed that Eddie Howe wants a new left-winger and Allan Saint-Maximin’s reported move to the Saudi Pro League could open up space in the budget for him to make a move.
Aston Villa ‘make their move’ for Leeds United star Wilfred Gnonto
The future of Wilfred Gnonto is one of the biggest ongoing stories surrounding Leeds United at the moment with the Italian international expected to leave the Whites following their relegation to the EFL Championship. Among the clubs who have been linked with the forward are Aston Villa and Everton.
Per a report from Football Insider, both clubs have ‘registered their interest’ with Leeds about a potential deal for the 19-year old who arrived in Yorkshire for just £4 million in 2022. HE is under contract until 2027 so United will be hoping to command a significant transfer fee if they decide to sell.
[birminghamworld]
Tottenham to test Inter resolve by launching significant bid for potential Hojbjerg replacement
AdminTottenham are reportedly considering testing the resolve of Inter Milan by making a move for midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu as a potential replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
New Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is keen to strengthen all areas of his squad ahead of the start of the new season, with defence and midfield particular areas of concern for the Australian.
James Maddison has arrived from Leicester to add some creativity in Tottenham’s engine room but there have been strong rumours circulating that Postecoglou is happy to allow Hojbjerg to move on this summer.
The Dane was one of the club’s best performers in a woeful campaign last time around but there are suggestions that his play is too slow for what the former Celtic boss wants from his holding midfielder.
That has led to talk of a move for other targets and that list includes Turkey international Calhanoglu.
The 29-year-old has excelled since his switch from cross-City rivals AC Milan 18 months ago. However, no player at the San Siro is considered ‘non-transferable’ this summer due to the club’s economic predicament.
Calhanoglu’s flexibility makes him an attractive proposition, given that he can play in a variety of midfield positions.
The report from InterLive.it states that Postecolgou’s men could tempt the Nerazzurri by submitting an offer of €35m (£30m) for the player.
Several clubs chasing Inter midfielder
Spurs are not alone in their admiration for the midfielder though, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea all linked in the past.
However, the report goes on to say that, as things stand, Inter have no plans to sell the player and will only do so if a ‘shock proposal arrives’.
That could well be on the horizon though, if Spurs opt to cash in on Hojbjerg – especially given that Rodrigo Bentancur is unlikely to be fit for the start of the new campaign.
The absence of the latter is, however, likely to give Yves Bissouma a chance to show what he can do in pre-season after failing to shine in his debut campaign for the club.
[teamtalk]
Fiery Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has paid a visit to the residence of billionaire business-cum-banking, Tony Elumelu.
Upon his arrival in Lagos, the Nigeria international who emerged as one of Europe’s leading marksmen in the 2022-23 campaign after netting a league-high 26 goals in 32 Serie A games during Napoli’s surge to the title visited his primary school in the Oregun area of Ikeja where he met with the head teacher who convinced his late father to allow him play football.
Osimhen, who lived in Olusosun, a small neighborhood near Oregun also visited his hood and was greeted by a large crowd that almost mobbed him.
As he continued to relive precious childhood moments, the Super Eagles striker also made time out to enjoy himself with some associates including entertainers.
Still on a tour of the metropolitan city, Osimhen made his way to the Elumele where he was received by the Chairman, United Bank for Africa Plc, and his wife, Awele Vivian Elumelu.
He bowed his head as a sign of respect as he shook hands with Elumelu who was very much pleased to receive him.
Osimhen also presented his jersey to the stylish 60-year-old Elumelu who expressed immense pride in him.
Captioning shared photos with the Napoli superstar, Elumelu tweeted: “We’re all proud of you Victor @victorosimhen9! #SerieATopScorer #Scudetto #TOEWay.”
Eagle-eyed tennis fans would’ve spotted Iga Swiatek’s mismatched kit as she kicked off her Wimbledon campaign on Monday.
The world No.1 came through in straight sets against Zhu Lin on Court One as she bids to win her fifth grand slam title following a hat-trick of victories at the French Open and her triumph last year in the US. Swiatek's latest victory comes off the back of a new deal off the court as well.
In March, Swiatek signed a money-spinning contract with Swiss brand On Running - the shoe company associated with Roger Federer - after a four-year association with Asics. She announced: "I’m thrilled to announce I am the first female tennis athlete at On. I’m happy the On team believes in me as an athlete and a person. We plan to grow, develop and make an impact together. Big thanks to my team for this amazing achievement in business."
However, the Polish star was spotted still wearing her former sponsor’s Gel Resolution 9 footwear on court almost four months later as she got her trophy tilt underway in SW19 with a 6-1, 6-3 win over her Chinese opponent to book her spot in round two. Wimbledon men's champion Novak Djokovic also wore Asics shoes but has a separate clothing deal with Lacoste.
Swiatek does not have the best pedigree on grass, having never made it past the fourth round, but signs are positive that this will be the year she has a proper crack at winning the title. Zhu - ranked 34th in the world - was no match for her, with a routine victory only slightly delayed by a rain shower that saw the roof closed.
The all white dress code is a big tradition at the All England Club in SW19 but a recent rule change now permits athletes to wear different colour underwear. The shift has been welcomed by players.
Heather Watson told Sky News: "When Wimbledon announced about the undershorts I was so happy because it makes such a difference. I speak openly about my period, I don't think it's a taboo subject and I would love for people to talk about it more.
"Last year I went on the pill to stop myself bleeding because I knew I had to wear white undershorts and I didn't want any embarrassment. We're running around sweating, doing the splits on court. This year I knew my period was going to be during Wimbledon again so I'm very happy I won't have to do the same thing as last year."
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