[Getty Images]
We asked for your views on whether Iliman Ndiaye's "end product" makes him a player worth cashing in on.
Here are some of your comments:
Andy: Ndiaye is really the only player we have who gets fans out of their seats. He runs at defences and causes panic. He is great at winning the ball back in the opposition half. He links up well with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Could he score more? Yes, but as our forwards are no real threat, he gets double or triple-teamed regularly. I'd like him to stay, but since he won't sign a new contract I would reluctantly sell.
Stephen: £70m is far too low with the length left on his contract, we should be looking easy £100m.

#player #contract #kiernan

Niclas Fullkrug has been linked with a move to Lazio as Gennaro Gattuso searches for a new number nine. The experienced 33-year-old is reportedly eager to head to Rome, yet there are a few factors hindering the deal.
Firstly, while Fullkrug has been offered up to the uncertain Biancocelesti following his loan stint with AC Milan last term, he earns €3.5 million and would have to cut his salary to return to Italy.
Second of all, the German's single goal in 20 Serie A appearances hardly makes for good reading. In fact, as Corriere dello Sport confirm, Gattuso is eyeing up a loan-to-buy move for Milan's Santi Gimenez. The risk with that, however, is that it's a deal that can only be evaluated in late August, ****** uming the striker is still with the Rossoneri after struggles of his own.
Gattuso has quite the recruitment job on his hands. At the time of writing, this window sees him with an exposed defence and a blunt attack – one that only registered 41 goals last season.
Petar Ratkov could leave the club after a bleak spell on the team's fringes, despite Lazio shelling out €13 million to Salzburg for him. Plus, with the side's ninth-placed finish last term, there isn't exactly a huge transfer fund to dip into for what is a very expensive position.

#deal

Arsenal have reportedly been monitoring Jurrien Timber closely after he underwent a minor operation on a groin issue weeks ago. ******* nal manager Mikel Arteta already has fitness headaches to deal with at the Emirates Stadium club ahead of next season. The Gunners boss will be without William Saliba when the 2026-27 campaign kicks off, and Timber will be desperate to return to action for the North London club before the end of pre-season.
The Netherlands international defender missed the World Cup as a result of the injury but has been training with the ******* nal team so far. However, he has yet to make a full return and it is unknown if he will be available for their first pre-season fixture against Girona on Saturday. Timber missed most of the ******* le run-in last term due to the longstanding issue and will hope to be fully fit when the new season starts.
Arsenal also take on Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund and Como in pre-season before facing Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 16. They kick off their ******* le defence at home against newly-promoted Coventry City on August 21.

#arsenal #season #city #ISSUE

Listen to Sportsound commentary from Tynecastle
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Vrancken's first competitive home match as Hearts head coach

#hearts #listen

Liverpool's planning at centre-back has taken an uncomfortable turn after Joe Gomez suffered an injury in the pre-season friendly against Sunderland, a development that further narrows Andoni Iraola's options before the new season begins.
As reported by BBC Sport, Gomez went off after only eight minutes and was then absent from training in Chicago on Sunday. There is still no confirmed timescale on the issue, but the immediate picture is clear enough. Liverpool are short in a key area of the pitch, and that shortage is sharpening the focus on both recruitment planning and existing contingency measures.
Photo IMAGO
At present, Virgil van Dijk stands as the only fit senior centre-back available. For a side preparing for another demanding campaign, that is far from ideal. Van Dijk's status as captain and defensive leader remains central, but relying so heavily on one established figure at this stage of pre-season leaves little margin for error.
The problem has been compounded by the unavailability of summer arrivals Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni. Jacquet's issue is understood to be minor, yet the timing leaves Iraola with an undeniably thin group in central defence. It is the sort of situation clubs prefer to avoid in July and August, because even short absences can disrupt rhythm, partnerships and tactical work.

#season #centre #short

We have just reached half-time in Real Madrid's second pre-season match against Leganés. Real Madrid took to the field with the following line-up: Lunin, Alexander-Arnold, Huijsen, Asencio, Carreras, Camavinga, Valverde, Güler, Mastantuono, Ciria (Castilla), García. Attendance at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano was restricted to journalists and staff, with new signing Denzel Dumfries amongst the few spectators.
After a slow start to proceedings, with Madrid maintaining possession at almost walking-speed – we ended up seeing a good amount of action. Arda Güler linked up with Fede Valverde for the first chance of the game, but the Uruguayan could not get his toe to the delicate pass. The same combination would later open the scoring, this time with a combination along the floor allowing Fede to poke the ball home. Madrid would make it two straight after a drinks break, when a trademark Trent Alexander-Arnold pass found Gonzalo García who **** ed the ball over the keeper to score. Trent was deployed very high up the pitch, and was a standout alongside Arda.
Leganés did pull a goal back with an unstoppable effort that left Andriy Lunin and his defence mesmerised. A great first-half test against a strong second division side – with the score currently reading 2-1 to the hosts ahead of the second period. Changes are expected at the break. Check out our socials for coverage for the remainder of the game.

#second #alexander #arda

Bayer Leverkusen have entered negotiations with Olympique de Marseille over the potential signing of Facundo Medina, with the Argentina international emerging as one of the club's primary defensive targets this summer.
According to reports, discussions between the two clubs are already underway. Medina, who recently featured for Argentina in the World Cup final, is viewed as an experienced and versatile addition capable of operating both as a centre-back and on the left side of defence.
The 27-year-old only joined Marseille recently but has quickly attracted interest following his impressive performances at both club and international level. His versatility and composure in possession reportedly make him an ideal fit for Leverkusen's style of play.
Leverkusen's recruitment drive is not limited to central defence, however. The club also continue to monitor KRC Genk full-back Zakaria El Ouahdi as they explore options to strengthen the right side of their defence, too.
The Moroccan international has been on Leverkusen's radar for some time and remains an alternative should the club decide to add another full-back before the transfer window closes. While no agreement has yet been reached, El Ouahdi is still considered a realistic option.

#side

Manchester City have confirmed that Josko Gvardiol has signed a new long-term contract, keeping the Croatia international at the Etihad until at least 2031.
The 24-year-old has agreed a five-year extension, with the club holding the option to extend his stay by a further 12 months. Gvardiol becomes the second City defender to commit his future this week, following Abdukodir Khusanov's new deal.
Since joining from RB Leipzig in 2023, Gvardiol has developed into one of City's most important players. Comfortable at both centre-back and left-back, he has made 122 appearances, scored 13 goals and helped the club win six major trophies, including the Premier League and FIFA Club World Cup.
The new contract comes after speculation linking Gvardiol with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Instead, the Croatian has reaffirmed his commitment to City as they continue to reshape their defence following the departures of John Stones and Nathan Aké ahead of the new campaign.

#year

Josko Gvardiol has become the second Manchester City defender to commit his future to the club this week by signing a new deal.
The Croatia international has put pen to paper on a five-year contract, with an option for a sixth season.
Gvardiol follows Abdukodir Khusanov, who also agreed a contract extension, as City's defence for the future takes shape after the departures of John Stones and Nathan Ake.
The most expensive defender in City's history, Gvardiol cost £77m when he joined from RB Leipzig in 2023 and went on to win the club's player-of the-year award for 2024-25.
He had attracted interest from Real Madrid but said: "As soon as City wanted to renew my contract, I knew it was what I wanted."

#contract #future #manchester

Every start of preseason we make it clear that these games are nothing more than fitness preparation for the squad. However when you give playing time for several young players like we did today, you have to keep your eyes peeled for what may come next.
One of those young'uns, Dastan Satpayev, had some eyes set on him and showed why that was the case. A good run from Ryan Kavuma-McQueen's pass to break the offside trap from the hosts at Accor Stadium in Sydney and the Kazakh international scored not even 10 minutes into the match.
While offensively the Blues were very promising, the combination of Tosin Adarabioyo and 18-year-old centre-back Olutayo Subuloye in defence didn't make it for solid defending. In spite of Teddy Sharman-Lowe's best efforts to organise his teammates in a corner kick, he couldn't do much to avoid giving Western Sydney Wanderers the tying goal.
It didn't help that midfielders Reggie Watson and Dário Essugo weren't in the kind of rhythm needed to control action in their sector. The hosts were thus able to attack at whim with little to no counterpart offered by Chelsea, who had instead to keep defending against a barrage of shots from the Wanderers.
Unsurprisingly the hosts got in front via Aydan Hammond, with defence once again not covering themselves in glory. What was surprising, was Chelseaying at 2-2 with Dário Essugo ***** isted by Reggie Walsh on a Satpayev play and pass from the left flank.

#satpayev #keep #eyes

Manchester United are considering a bid for Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, according to talkSPORT. Man United want one more signing in the position after recruiting Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans earlier this month. Adams has been on the Red Devils' radar for a while, and a concrete move could now be on the cards. The American is loved by Man United's data department, and they want him at Old Trafford. It is believed around £40 million could be enough to get the Bournemouth star this summer.
The 27-year-old has been dubbed a 'great leader', and the Red Devils could do with his quality in the middle of the park. While the Cherries star is primarily a midfielder, he is capable of playing as a full-back on either side of the defence or midfield. Man United manager Michael Carrick is a fan of versatile players, and Adams fits the bill. The American brings much-needed experience to the table having spent four seasons in the Premier League after four seasons in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig.

#star #four #seasons

Liverpool are ready to test Paris Saint-Germain's resolve over Bradley Barcola, with Nico Schira reporting that a bid worth more than €100 million is being readied for the France winger. The 22-year-old is understood to be Liverpool's leading target as the club plans for life after Mohamed Salah, although PSG are said to value Barcola closer to €150 million to €170 million.
That gap is significant, yet it does not appear to have deterred Liverpool from moving the situation forward. The key line from the update is clear, "Liverpool are now ready to submit a bid to #PSG over €100M to try to sign Bradley #barcola ," which points to fresh intent rather than background admiration. It also underlines that Barcola has moved to the front of Liverpool's thinking in the wide forward market.
Barcola is widely regarded as one of Europe's most dynamic young attackers. His pace, one v one quality and capacity to stretch defences make him a natural fit for Premier League football, and Liverpool's recruitment team will know they are dealing with a player whose ceiling remains extremely high. If Salah's long-term succession plan is being accelerated, this is the sort of profile Liverpool would be expected to pursue.
PSG's stance is equally important here. The suggestion that Paris would demand €150 million to €170 million indicates they are in no rush to sell and would only engage seriously on elite terms. That leaves Liverpool with a familiar decision, pay a premium for a priority target or ***** s whether the market offers stronger value elsewhere.
From Liverpool's side, an opening bid above €100 million would carry weight and demonstrate conviction. It would also set the tone for talks, even if it falls well short of PSG's reported expectations. Clubs often begin with a number that reflects both intent and room to negotiate, especially in a deal of this size.

#Paris #bradley #ready #target

Chelsea are targeting deals for Maxence Lacroix, Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson - and the ages of the experienced trio seem to signal a major change in transfer tactics from the Blues.
At 26, it could be said that Crystal Palace and France defence Lacroix is in his prime, but the £52m target is still notably older than other recent Blues signings.
It has been two years since Chelsea signed a player older than Lacroix, and Tosin Adarabioyo was only marginally older when he arrived three months before turning 27.
Meanwhile, Brighton striker Welbeck is 35 and keen to move to Stamford Bridge, and Brentford and England midfielder Henderson is 36.
Welbeck's potential arrival could mean he replaces 23-year-old Liam Delap in the first-team picture.

#danny #crystal

Roberto De Zerbi says Spurs are targeting attacking signings in the transfer window.
Tottenham have strengthened in defence and midfield so far this summer, but the Spurs boss says he wants to boost his forward line too.
Manchester City winger Savinho is believed to be among the club's list of targets, as is Bournemouth's Junior Kroupi.
"The target now is to complete the attacking positions," De Zerbi said. "We want the first target, the first level, because we have already important players. But I think to start a new project we need another couple of important players for sure."
Stay up to date with all the latest Spurs news by joining our Tottenham WhatsApp channel.

#TOTTENHAM

FC Bayern Women kicked off 2026/27 pre-season with a 4-1 victory over RB Ōmiya Ardija at the NACK5 Stadium in Tokyo as part of their Allianz Women's Tour. Pernille Harder and Jovana ******* janović gave Germany's double winners the advantage in the first half, before Katharina Naschenweng added a third in the second period. Minami Munakata's header earned the hosts a consolation before Alara's penalty in added time wrapped things up in ******* an. Sarah Mattner, Kassandra Potsi, Ella Rauscha and Regina van Eijk all made their debuts for Bayern during the game.
Bayern got off to the better start in their first game of the new season in hot summer temperatures. José Barcala's side controlled proceedings before Momoko Tanikawa dribbled her way through the home defence and looked for Harder, who couldn't make the chance count. The Dane made no mistake at a corner a minute later as she was found at the far post and pounced on the bouncing ball to open the scoring.
Damnjanović had a great opportunity to double the lead after 19 minutes when played clean through by Harder, but she was unable to beat goalkeeper Yuria Ito. Klara Bühl got into the action when she struck the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the box.
Bayern remained on the front foot but Ōmiya had some promising moments, mainly through Hanon Nishio's three efforts off target. The Munich Frauen finally stretched their lead on the stroke of half-time when Tanikawa found ******* janović to finish at the far post.
Barcala made some changes for the second half but it didn't change the pattern of play. Nishio remained a lively outlet for Ōmiya, but she was well marshalled by captain Glódis Viggósdóttir and the defence. A Bühl corner was met by the head of Magdalena Eriksson but failed to hit the target, before Tanikawa won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area but couldn't beat the jumping wall.

#half

Italy to Pirlo
He'll be the coach after Guardiola's rejection. The target is the 2030 World Cup. Four-year contract: Buffon says no.
In Austria with Andrea, waiting for the signature
Milan, ***** ault on Karetsas thanks to the money of Leao to Turkey
Inter: A leader for the defence, Romero with Akanji's formula

#four #andrea #karetsas

Como remain firmly in the race for Trevoh Chalobah, with fresh talks scheduled with Chelsea on Saturday 25 July as the clubs attempt to reach a final agreement over the defender's future. According to Sky Italia, discussions are ongoing and the key issue continues to centre on the structure of the fee.
The broad outline of the negotiations is clear. Chelsea want £30m guaranteed to sanction Chalobah's departure, while Como are currently holding at around £25m, with a preference for part of the package to be tied to appearances and performance-related objectives. That gap is not vast, but it remains significant enough to prevent an immediate conclusion.
Como's recruitment drive has included a strong focus on adding quality at centre-back, with the club looking to provide Cesc Fabregas with a proven option in defence. Chalobah has emerged as the leading target, and this latest round of discussions suggests the Serie A side are serious about seeing the move through.
Photo IMAGO
From Chelsea's perspective, the stance is understandable. Chalobah is coming off a productive campaign in which he made 34 Premier League appearances and scored three goals, while also featuring eight times in the Champions League. Those numbers reflect both availability and trust, two attributes that naturally strengthen his market value.

#discussions

With the IBF world light-middleweight ******* le in his possession, Josh Kelly feels "it's a different version of me" since he dethroned Bakhram Murtazaliev as he promised to "put on a show" in his maiden defence against Caoimhin Agyarko on Saturday.
Kelly had to bide his time for his opportunity, but the silky 32-year-old from Sunderland grabbed it with both hands with a majority points decision verdict against the Russian in January, improving to 18 wins with one defeat and one draw.
In some ways, 29-year-old Belfast challenger Agyarko has followed a similar path, enjoying big promotional backing in spells under the Queensberry and Matchroom banners, but was cut adrift by the latter following what was then a career-best win over Troy Williamson in 2023.
Both men will walk to the ring in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's heavyweight return against Kristian Prenga fully aware of how tough it has been to get to this stage.
Kelly, who had to rebuild from a 2021 defeat by David Avanesyan, has rattled off eight successful wins, culminating in his ******* le victory over Murtazaliev in Newcastle, dropping the champion in the fourth before coming through a late storm and surviving his own 11th-round trip to the canvas.

#year #wins #defeat #caoimhin

The schedule for the cricket events at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, **** an, has been announced, with defending champions India receiving direct entry into the quarter-finals in both the men's and women's T20 tournaments.

Cricket will be played in the T20 format and will have full international status. The women's competition will run from September 17 to 22, while the men's tournament will take place from September 24 to October 1 at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture.

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have all been seeded into the men's quarter-finals based on their rankings. The remaining four quarter-final spots will be decided through a preliminary stage featuring six teams split into two groups.

Group A includes Afghanistan, **** an and Nepal, while Group B features Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals. Since India and Pakistan are on opposite sides of the draw, the two rivals can only meet if both reach the semi-finals or the final.

India will face one of the teams that qualify from the preliminary round in the quarter-finals.
— AsianGamesOCA (AsianGamesOCA)
India's women's team will start its **** le defence against hosts **** an in the quarter-finals. If India win, they will face either Bangladesh or China in the semi-finals.

The other quarter-final matches will see Sri Lanka take on Malaysia, while Pakistan will play Thailand. India will be aiming to retain the gold medals won in both the men's and women's competitions at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023.

#Japan #Pakistan #asian

Italian side Como have submitted an improved formal offer to Chelsea for versatile defender Trevoh Chalobah, with direct negotiations ongoing to finalise an agreement. Xabi Alonso is at Stamford Bridge.
The ambitious Serie A club have structured a new proposal worth a guaranteed €25 million, plus €5m in performance-related add-ons. Crucially, the add-ons are understood to be highly attainable, effectively ensuring the total fee reaches €30 million to satisfy Chelsea’s valuation.
This move follows an earlier opening bid from Como that fell short of Chelsea’s expectations. While the Blues hierarchy initially held out for a premium fee for their academy graduate, this upgraded, nearly guaranteed arrangement has significantly narrowed the valuation gap between the two clubs.
From the player’s perspective, Chalobah is said to be very keen on a move to Lombardy. The 27-year-old English defender is attracted by the sporting project under manager Cesc Fabregas, where he would be guaranteed a central role in the defence. Having spent recent seasons on the fringes at Chelsea, Chalobah sees a move to Italy as the ideal opportunity to re-establish himself as a regular starter.
Negotiations between Chelsea and Como remain active as the two clubs work to finalise the details of a deal. With personal terms not expected to pose any obstacle, given the player’s eagerness to join Fabregas’ side, momentum is building toward a swift resolution in the coming days.

#como #fabregas #negotiations #finalise

Celtic striker Camilo Duran is hoping to see more supporters inside Parkhead when their Scottish Premiership defence begins next week.
Martin O'Neill's side kick off the new Premiership campaign at home to Dundee on Monday 3 August and Duran is hoping the fans will get behind the team for their season opener.
The striker was on the scoresheet in his first outing in Glasgow's East End as Celtic drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly in front of a fraction of Parkhead's usual crowd.
But Duran seemed to enjoy his first taste of Parkhead.
"It was a great experience," he said.

#hoping #scottish

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results on Wednesday, as record orders, revenue and operating profit helped the company surpass Wall Street forecasts and lift its full-year guidance.
The aerospace and defence technology company posted adjusted earnings per share of $6.28, comfortably ahead of the **** yst consensus estimate of $5.79.
Revenue increased 9.8% year over year to $1.66 billion, exceeding expectations of $1.58 billion and setting a new quarterly record.
Shares of Teledyne rose 4.10% in premarket trading following the announcement.
Buoyed by its strong first-half performance, Teledyne increased its adjusted earnings outlook for full-year 2026.

#full #adjusted #billion

Luke Littler's World Matchplay **** le defence continued with a straightforward 16-7 quarter-final win over Josh Rock in Blackpool.
Rock initially kept pace with the world number one as the players traded breaks to reach 5-5.
But after 19-year-old Littler reeled off five legs in a row, there proved to be no way back for Rock as the defending champion, in dazzling form, cruised into the semi-finals.
After throwing 17 180s with a scoring average of 109.57, Littler said: "At the minute, everything's going to plan."
The teenager added: "I feel good. I can afford to miss a few doubles because the scoring's there.

#rock #defence

Derry City have to overcome a one-goal deficit in the second leg of their Conference League second qualifying round tie as Rijeka were 1-0 victors against the Candystripes in Croatia.
The sides were goalless at the break after the hosts dominated the ball, before Michael Duffy's late effort almost had the visitors ahead.
Croatia international Toni Fruk, fresh home from the World Cup, broke the dead-lock on 52 minutes with what proved to be the winner, punishing a lapse of concentration in the Derry defence.
Tiernan Lynch's side will now host the Croatian side at the Brandywell on 30 July.
The home side dominated for the majority of the first half without really troubling Brian Maher in the Derry City goal.

#croatia #goal #dominated

Ian Machado Garry has said he is “already thinking” about whom to defend the UFC welterweight ***** le against – before even fighting for the belt.
On 15 August, the Irishman will challenge champion Islam Makhachev, as the pair headline UFC 330 in Philadelphia.
The bout marks Makhachev’s first defence of the belt, although he broke the record for most lightweight-title defences before moving up to welterweight in November.
When it came time to challenge for the welterweight strap, Makhachev employed his wrestling skillset to dominate Jack Della Maddalena and win on points at Madison Square Garden, in New York City.
The result was the Russian’s 16th win in a row since his sole professional loss, while Machado Garry also has a single defeat to his name.

#welterweight

Plymouth Argyle have brought back central defender Alex Mitchell on a three-year-deal from Championship side Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed fee.
The 24-year-old was a mainstay of the Argyle defence during his season-long loan in 2025-2026, making 40 League One appearances as they finished eighth, two points adrift of the play-offs.
He was also named Supporters' Player of the Season after shoring up a defence that conceded 88 goals in their relegation from the Championship the previous season.
Head coach Tom Cleverley told the club website: "I'm so happy we've got Mitch back with us. He was superb for us last season, and everyone knows what a huge presence he is, both in the defence, and off the field.
"You need characters like him in a group if you are to be successful. What is also so nice is his desire to return. He clearly enjoyed playing in green and white, and for him to want to come back is very pleasing to us."

#mitchell #charlton

Football agent Enzo Raiola insisted Alessio Romagnoli will not be reinstated at Lazio, while explaining why the transfer to Al-Sadd hit a snag.
Last month, the Biancocelesti agreed to sell the defender to the Qatari giants for €3 million, seemingly ending a soap opera that began in January. However, the saga witnessed another unsavory chapter that saw the player stuck in Rome after encountering unforeseen bureaucratic hurdles.
In his interview with Chiamarsibomber.com, Raiola detailed all the stumbling blocks that have been derailing his client’s move to the Middle East, beginning with the death of the former Emir of Qatar, to the ongoing unrest in the region, which has blocked all transactions related to sports.
First and foremost, the negotiations have slowed down following the death of the former Emir, after which a period of national mourning was declared across the country. On top of that, there is the issue of the war: recently, an oil well in Qatar was attacked. As a result, the ministry responsible for overseeing sport has decided to allocate its resources primarily towards defence, considering it a higher priority than football. Consequently, football has temporarily taken a back seat. The ministry is responsible for providing the budget to be invested in the transfer market, but that step has not yet been taken. As a result, Qatari clubs are currently unable to reach agreements with other clubs. For now, everyone is waiting for the ministry to release the transfer budget.
Raiola thus insists that Al-Sadd still intend to buy Romagnoli, so it remains to be seen if the two clubs can find a way around this plaguing issue.

#ministry

Richard Gleeson, who was signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as an injury replacement for Nuwan Thushara for INR 1.6 crore ahead of IPL 2026, made a sensational start to his The Hundred 2026 campaign with MI London, producing a match-winning spell against Sunrisers Leeds.

The 38-year-old England pacer was drafted into RCB's squad after Sri Lankan speedster Nuwan Thushara was unable to join the franchise, with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) refusing to grant him a No-Objection Certificate (NOC).

Now representing MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles), the defending champions of The Hundred, Gleeson showcased his class in the opening match of the 2026 season at The Kia Oval.
Leading MI London's pace attack, Gleeson ripped through the Sunrisers Leeds batting lineup, returning outstanding figures of 4/25. The veteran seamer struck at crucial moments whenever Sunrisers Leeds looked set to build a partnership. He also came within one delivery of a hat-trick after dismissing Zak Crawley and Benny Howell off successive ****** , putting the opposition under immense pressure.

His disciplined spell restricted Sunrisers Leeds to 143, laying the perfect platform for MI London's chase.
MI London's chase got off to the worst possible start as Brydon Carse produced a fiery opening spell, clocking speeds in excess of 90mph. The Sunrisers Leeds pacer removed Will Jacks and birthday boy Jason Roy cheaply, reducing the defending champions to 4/2. When Nathan Ellis bowled James Vince for 13, MI London found themselves in trouble at 51/3, with the momentum firmly in Sunrisers' favour.

However, the game turned completely after Nicholas Pooran walked to the crease. The West Indies star launched a breathtaking counterattack, smashing 58 off just 22 ****** *, including five fours and five sixes. He raced to his half-century in just 19 deliveries, registering the fastest fifty in MI London's history.

At the other end, captain Sam Curran played the perfect supporting role, remaining unbeaten on 60 off 39 ****** . The duo stitched together an unbroken 93-run partnership off only 40 deliveries, guiding MI London to 144/3 in 84 ****** and sealing a commanding seven-wicket victory with 16 ****** to spare to begin their ****** le defence in style.

#spell #thushara #hundred

Ibrahima Konate's Liverpool exit may have been expected but, that doesn't mean that it hurts any less.
It's now been two seasons on the bounce where Liverpool have lost two of their regular starters to Real Madrid on free transfers.
During the 2025-26 season, the La Liga giants managed to prise Trent Alexander-Arnold away from his boyhood club and now, Konate has followed suit.
Indeed, talks between the Frenchman and Liverpool were ongoing over the last 18 months but, for one reason or another, the two parties just couldn't reach an agreement.
This has now left Liverpool with a gaping hole in their defence and, even though some people believe the gap can be filled by Jeremy Jacquet, it's still unclear whether the young Frenchman will be able to hold his own in the Premier League or not.

#Liverpool #real #liga #alexander

African football boss Patrice Motsepe offered an emphatic defence of FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday, portraying him as a devoted steward of the game and friend of the continent.
Infantino has faced growing criticism over FIFA's decision to delay a suspension for United States striker Folarin Balogun at the recently concluded World Cup, as well as the introduction of hydration breaks and the prospect of expanding the men's tournament to 64 teams.
"I like his deep love for football, deep committment for football in the world and support for Africa," Motsepe told journalists in Johannesburg.
Motsepe said the Swiss administrator "had remained loyal" to Africa and played a key role in advancing football across the continent.
"Gianni has played a pivotal role in expanding opportunities for African national teams on the global stage," he said, referring to the increase in Africa's allocation by four direct places and an additional playoff berth. The continent was represented by a record 10 teams at this year's tournament co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.

#motsepe #continent #gianni #africa