FC Barcelona have begun the process of renewing defender Gerard Martín's contract, per multiple reports. The 24-year-old footballer has risen through the ranks and become an important part of manager Hansi Flick's set-up.
Barça are said to be looking to tie him up for longer, with a bigger release clause and a higher salary. There is reportedly no hurry on either side, as he has a contract until 2028. There is a sense of optimism surrounding the negotations, as the team is happy with his performances and the player wants to stay.
Barça reportedly see him continuing to be a key part of the squad and possibly even improving as time goes on. A Barcelona native, Martín was a product of UE Cornellà's academy before going to Barcelona's B team. Reports say he's happy to stay with his hometown club.
So far, there have been no concrete negotiations or even a set date for a meeting on the matter. All that has been reported are preliminary conversations.
A left-back by training, he has broken through as a center-back under Flick. With Ronald Araujo on loan to Liverpool FC, Barça are set to use Martín often this season alongside Pau Cubarsí. There was talk of a potential center-back signing, though none came. Andreas Christensen has split duties as the other center-back to start this season. Barça also has Eric Garcia, though he often plays as a full-back.

#back #Barcelona #part #team

Pistons rumors: Jalen Duren feels 'disrespected' amid Detroit extension stalemate appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As All-NBA center Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons inch closer to the October 1 deadline, there are reportedly no signs of the two reaching an agreement. Duren and the Pistons remain at a stalemate amid negotiations on a potential contract extension ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Sacramento Kings' reported interest in acquiring Duren was mentioned in addition to the All-Star center's frustration. The entire contract negotiating process over his future with the Pistons isn't sitting well with Duren, according to ESPN NBA Today's Marc Spears.
"Scott Perry ain't playing around; neither is BJ Armstrong," Spears said. "Scott Perry has a relationship with Jalen Duren dating back to when he was trying to get the Knicks to draft him, which they did. But they traded him to the Pistons. Scott Perry also has NFL ties from his father. Duren's agent is an NFL agent. So, he has a connection with him, and Duren likes Scott Perry a lot. He likes Sacramento a lot. The Pistons are focused on bringing him back. They have some optimism, but it's complicated.
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#pistons #perry #sacramento #spears

The trade sending Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto is finally going forward, with the Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers agreeing to complete the deal that was agreed to earlier this summer, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Monday.
The deal will be the same as what was agreed to 2 1/2 months ago: Leonard returns to the Raptors, with the Clippers getting Brandon Ingram, Gradey ******* , two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks and a pick swap, said the person who spoke to The ******* ociated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not received the required league approval.
It's a huge move for Toronto, which won the 2019 NBA ******* le with Leonard leading the way and is expecting to contend in the Eastern Conference. But the sides put the agreement on hold in early July pending any resolution of NBA's investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules with regard to Leonard's compensation.
The NBA hit the Clippers earlier this month with massive penalties as a result of that probe, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing it to forfeit five first-round draft picks, among other sanctions.
Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, was hit with a $700,000 penalty as a result of that investigation. But he was not suspended and his contract was not voided, and the Raptors evidently are now certain that his status will not be affected.

#clippers #raptors #picks #deal

One of the longest-tenured members of the Houston Astros leadership will be taking his talents to the East Coast to try out a new professional sport.
On Monday afternoon, the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins announced the appointment of Marcel Braithwaite as the team's new President of Business Operations.
Braithwaite has been promoted to the new role after 14 years with the Houston Astros. He notably served as the Senior Vice President of Business Operations and was one of the initial hires under the Jim Crane-led baseball organization.
"It's an honor to join the Penguins at such an exciting time under new ownership," said Braithwaite. "I am grateful to the Astros and look forward to serving the employees, fans and city of Pittsburgh by bringing a winning culture to this franchise alongside Geoff, Kyle and the rest of this talented Front Office."
As a member of the Astros' Executive leadership team, Braithwaite guided the franchise through several ballpark renovations, security upgrades and naming rights negotiations, ensuring the business maximized revenue opportunities while providing a best-in-class fan experience.

#astros #braithwaite #houston

Steelers news: AFC executive hits Joey Porter Jr. with humbling take amid contract dispute appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. spoke to reporters about the status of his contract negotiations, hoping for an agreement to be reached before kickoff. He explicitly dismissed rumors suggesting he demanded to become the NFL's highest-paid cornerback while trying to manage outside expectations about his contract demands.
Despite Porter's efforts to temper expectations, personnel evaluators around the league are skeptical about his true market value. There is a high-stakes standoff in Pittsburgh, with front-office executives questioning whether the 26-year-old cornerback has earned the right to command top compensation alongside the league's elite defensive players.
An in-depth report from The New York Times included a sobering **** sment from a rival AFC executive on Porter's leverage and standing: "Is Joey Porter as good as maybe he values himself? I would **** ume he wants to be on par with Surtain/Horn, maybe even higher. But he isn't at that level as a player. Perhaps the Steelers are willing to accept a compensatory pick or a franchise tag instead of committing to what might be an overestimate."
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#steelers #contract

On the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet, reporter and commentator Adam Pope was alongside Jonny Buchan and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix to discuss his recent chat with the Whites managing director Robbie Evans.
Pope said: "He [Evans] spoke for the best part of an hour to the local press. The mood was really good, as you'd expect because they'd instigated this sit-down on the back of the window, so I think it's fair to say the mood was 'look, we're on the back of a really good window'.
"It was a good window and a good deadline day. That was the context in which this was done."
Pope said one of the key headlines was the discussion around Daniel Farke's contract situation, on which Rix added: "I think it'd be naive to think there have never been any negotiations.
"I've said that I didn't think it was a worry that it hasn't been signed, even with the year left. I don't think that's a problem."

#think #evans #really

After Bayern Munich's 5-0 win against Bodo/Glimt, goal scorer Harry Kane was asked about his ongoing contract negotiations with the club. Though he could not offer any details of the contract or when he expects it to be done, he spoke with a calm confidence that everything would get done in due time.
"We had conversations, a couple of weeks ago and some more this week. As I said before, a contract doesn't happen overnight — it takes time to digest and see how we can make it best case possible for everyone involved. I don't expect it to be done in the next week or two, but hopefully in the next one or two months we should be where we want to be. Right now I'm at a happy place. All I want to do and what the club wants me to do is to focus on the pitch, score the goals and help the team. I'm calm.. It's hard to talk to you guys about it because it's confidential stuff. I'm sure in due time you'll know about the details and get the answers you're looking for. All I can say now is that the conversations are going well. We'll see what happens," Kane said (as captured by iMiaSanMia)
Kane's contract expires at the end of this season, but both sides seem to be confident that a deal will get done to keep the England captain in Bavaria. His comments on Thursday are consistent with updates from Bayern front office officials over the past months.
Where is your confidence level that Kane will remain with Bayern Munich after this season? Let us know in the comments.
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#club #calm

The bitter saga between Francis Ngannou and Dana White continues nearly four years after the Cameroonian parted ways with the UFC. For the unversed, Ngannou left the promotion in January 2023 after fighting out his contract, with negotiations breaking down over his desire to pursue boxing and other contractual demands.
White has repeatedly claimed that Ngannou is not a nice person to deal with and that he would never do business with him. Now, he has admitted that he was rooting against Ngannou when the heavyweight champion defended his ****** le against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.
For the unversed, the fight took place in January 2022 and marked Ngannou's final Octagon appearance. The Cameroonian successfully defended his heavyweight crown before leaving the UFC after negotiations failed to reach an agreement that would keep him with the promotion.
ALSO READ: Justin Gaethje Breaks Down Ilia Topuria's Emotional and Technical Flaws at UFC Freedom 250
White even considers Ngannou as unlikable as Oscar de la Hoya, his longtime promotional rival. During an interview with BigBoyTV, he said, "Listen, Ngannou is on my Oscar De La Hoya list. Look at the history of Francis Ngannou and the other companies he's been with since. He's a bad guy, man. He's a bad guy. I'm just at a point in my life where I don't want to do business with bad guys. I just don't."

#ngannou

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has dealt with a lot of trade rumors and highest-paid cornerback speculation over the past few months, but the real issue in contract talks is becoming more clear by the day.
According to PennLive's Nick Farabaugh, as well as Porter's own admission that he doesn't care about becoming the highest-paid corner, the contract negotiations are all about guaranteed money.
"Repeat after me -- It's not the AAV, it's the guarantees! (and always has been)," Farabaugh wrote via X.
So far this year, we've seen cornerbacks like Christian Gonzalez, Devon Witherspoon, and Trent McDuffie completely reset the cornerback market with deals surpassing $30 million per year. Their guaranteed money has been around 75% to 80% of their total contract value.
Previously, we at Steelers Wire predicted that Porter could sign a four-year, $128 million extension that pays him an average of $32 million per season with $101 million in guaranteed money. But it's evident the holdup is more related to the latter.

#million #cornerback #contract #porter

Tucker Kraft remains one of the Green Bay Packers' biggest unresolved situations heading into Week 1. Green Bay has yet to reach an agreement on a contract extension with the young tight end, while the team also awaits a timetable for Josh Jacobs' potential NFL discipline amid his legal issues.
Adam Schefter weighed in on Kraft's contract talks with Green Bay, urging the tight end to think twice before walking away from guaranteed money that could be available to him.
"He's coming off a torn ACL and the Packers have a relatively strong offer out there. I think it's hard coming off an ACL to turn down real money," the NFL ****** yst commented during his appearance on The Pat McAfee show.
Jan 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) reacts after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Christian Gonzalez and Baker Mayfield showed that players can hold their ground during contract talks without letting negotiations drag into the regular season. Schefter cited both cases as examples for Kraft, who is still trying to secure his next deal with Green Bay.

#philadelphia

Clippers, Kings predicted to battle for $19M Pistons' former first-rounder, elite versatile athlete originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Early in the summer, it was hard to tell what was going to be next for the Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren as they worked through their contract negotiations. The two sides were warned that it could be a long process because of Duren's camp and other factors.
It was known that the center wanted a max contract. It was his postseason play that had Detroit skeptical about giving him everything he wanted in a contract.
"The longer Jalen Duren remains unsigned in free agency, the Detroit Pistons will be forced to reconsider whether the hassle is worth the reward. Duren's All-NBA season officially made him eligible for a five-year supermax extension, but his underwhelming play in the postseason immediately made the chances of the big man landing that payday at an all-time low," Pistons Powered's John Canady wrote.
The latest update for Duren and the Pistons is not good. Both sides currently sit at a $5 million contract rift.

#jalen #postseason #play

Real Madrid have started the new season in excellent fashion, barring one small blip against Real Betis in La Liga.
Despite creating a truckload of chances against the Andalusian side, Los Blancos were unable to find a way past Alvaro Valles in Betis' goal.
Madrid's bright start to the season has to be attributed to the form of their superstars, including Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.
The latter has picked up from where he left off for England at the 2026 World Cup, scoring goals and influencing games for Jose Mourinho's side.
Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have opened active negotiations with Jude over a new contract at the club.

#jude #liga

Álex Rins is done with motorcycle racing. On the eve of the San Marino Grand Prix, the Monster Energy Yamaha rider confirmed he will leave MotoGP at the end of 2026, but ruled out a rumored move to the World Superbike Championship. Instead, Rins will step away from two-wheeled competition entirely and pursue a project on four wheels instead.
The rumors had been building at Magny-Cours, and Rins cleared them up himself during Thursday's media scrum at Misano. Discussions with Go Eleven reportedly fell through, and rather than chase a Plan B in WSBK racing, the 30-year-old Spaniard went a different direction entirely.
"I will not go to Superbike next year," Rins said. "I had two possibilities there. I really want to say thanks to them because they were quite interested in me. But I found another thing that really motivates me more." He added that he can't reveal the new project yet because negotiations are still on-going but hinted that it would be on four wheels instead of two.
"I'm really happy. For sure it was difficult to choose, because all my life in MotoGP, in this championship, many fights, many races, many wins," says Rins. "14 years, more or less. So yeah, I will stop with two wheels."
Rins didn't slam the door completely on bikes. He floated the idea of a limited return in the vein of Cal Crutchlow.

#wheels #motogp #entirely

The close of the free-agent market caused a real media stir in the Liga BetPlay. The boards of the country's top clubs are rushing key negotiations ahead of the registration deadline set for September 11.
James Rodríguez is reportedly finalizing details in Medellín to undergo medical tests and sign with Atlético Nacional. Meanwhile, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado has reached a verbal agreement with Millonarios FC to take medicals in Bogotá and complete his return to the local league at age 38.
The day took an unexpected turn with the possible return of Jackson Martínez. At 39, and after retiring in 2020, the striker is considering a formal offer from Independiente Medellín with the approval of coach Amaranto Perea.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

#return #rodr #meanwhile #juan

DETROIT — Claressa Shields wants her next fight to be her biggest one.
And she wants it to be on the biggest stage yet.
Representatives for Shields, the undisputed "GWOAT" of boxing who remains undefeated as a professional, have had recent negotiations to stage her next bout at downtown Detroit's Ford Field. Shields would be the first female boxer ever to headline a stadium card in the United States. Promoters believe the fight could draw 50,000 fans.
"We just feel like it's the right time to make history again, to break another glass ceiling," Dmitriy Salita, of Salita Promotions, told The Detroit News on Thursday.
"We would love for this milestone to happen in Detroit, as well."

#next

Comstock Resources, Inc. (NYSE:CRK) signed a nonbinding letter of intent under which SOCAR would pay $1.65 billion in cash, subject to customary adjustments. SOCAR would acquire non-operated working interests representing 20% of the Legacy Haynesville and 15% of the Western Haynesville upstream interests held by Comstock Resources, Inc. (NYSE:CRK). SOCAR would also acquire 15% of the 73% ownership interest held by Comstock Resources, Inc. (NYSE:CRK) in Pinnacle Gas Services.
The letter of intent requires good-faith negotiations but does not obligate completion. The parties are targeting a definitive agreement by October 31, 2026, and closing by year-end, subject to negotiations, approvals, and customary conditions.
Separately, a Jerry Jones family partnership will fund 85% of the drilling and completion costs for 18 Western Haynesville wells and 80% for nine Legacy Haynesville wells. The total 27-well program is expected to cost approximately $450 million over 12 months. After a 15% return on investment, 50% of the interest covered by the venture will revert to Comstock Resources, Inc. (NYSE:CRK).
If the SOCAR transaction closes, Comstock Resources, Inc. (NYSE:CRK) estimates that the proceeds would reduce company-defined non-GAAP net debt from $3.1 billion to $1.5 billion as of June 30, 2026. Net debt is calculated as total debt less cash and cash equivalents. The approximately $1.6 billion reduction would nearly halve the measure and could improve financial flexibility.
The drilling venture allows development to continue without equivalent near-term cash funding. Following completion of the SOCAR transaction, Comstock Resources, Inc. (NYSE:CRK) would retain operatorship of the upstream ****** ets and control of Pinnacle Gas Services. Drilling should provide volumes to Pinnacle and help delineate the 545,000 net acres in the Western Haynesville.

#SOCAR

One of the bigger question marks entering Detroit Red Wings training camp is seemingly answered − for now, at least.
Defenseman Simon Edvinsson, a restricted free agent, intends to report to camp even if he doesn't have a new deal, according to a report from The Athletic hockey insider Pierre LeBrun. LeBrun goes on to say Edvinsson is "patiently waiting for the Red Wings GM situation to iron itself out before resuming negotiations."
Edvinsson had 25 points (nine goals) in 72 games played this past season and finished with a plus-12.
Edvinsson should see a huge payday. Bowen Byram, the No. 4 overall pick from 2019, just received an extension from the Blackhawks with a hefty $12.5 million cap hit. The Wings can ill afford Edvinsson (No. 6 pick in 2021) to be on the sidelines awaiting a new contract when their season begins, as he is one of their top workhorses.
But who will hammer out that deal? That still remains to be seen, as the Red Wings are about a week away from the start camp (Sept. 17) and they still do not have a general manager. Steve Yzerman parted ways from the position on July 15, moving into a senior advisor role.

#edvinsson #lebrun #still

Surging heavyweight Josh Hokit went on tirade on social media after former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira posted a video campaigning for a rematch with Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt.
In a series of X posts targeting Pereira and making his case for the next shot at Gane, Hokit criticized the idea that Pereira and Ilia Topuria could challenge for belts next after both got finished by Gane and Justin Gaethje this past June at UFC White House, respectively.
"As a fan, that fight makes no ***** sense," wrote Hokit, who finished Derrick Lewis on that same card. "I watched you get demolished. How about a more favorable match up like Sergei [Pavlovitch] who is basically a striker & way less athletic than Ciryl. How about you get one ***** win in this weight class before you are gifted another ***** le shot."
"Growing up, I loved the UFC & all of its fighters," he continued on a separate post. "So it gives me great pleasure to use my platform today to speak the truth: neither Ilia Topuria nor Alex Pereira deserve a ***** ***** le shot in their next fight. They both got handily destroyed. Make them earn it and fight their way back like everyone else."
Hokit argued that Tom Aspinall's manager Eddie Hearn is "obviously" stalling to "buy time in contract negotiations" instead of working on a deal for a ***** le unification bout with Gane. Hokit suggests, then, booking him versus Gane on the upcoming Madison Square Garden show November in New York, while Pereira battles Pavlovich on the same card.

#fucking #ciryl

Matchroom Boxing's CEO has highlighted a problem in the ongoing talks between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, with their super-fight at risk of collapsing.
This year, British heavyweights Joshua and Fury signed to fight each other at long last, five years after they previously signed a deal that fell through. Once again, however, a problem has arisen.
Joshua's contract is for a clash in the UK, while Fury's contract is flexible on location. Fury and certain key figures are pushing for a 20 November showdown in New York City, while "AJ" is digging in his heels in hopes of boxing at Wembley Stadium.
Anthony Joshua (left) with Kristian Prenga after beating the Albanian (Getty)
And Matchroom's Frank Smith has pointed to an issue with the "narrative" around the negotiations, while speaking to Playbook Boxing – powered by Betway.

#fury #boxing #contract #matchroom

The biggest oil companies in the United States are playing hardball in unionized labor negotiations in a bid to get more concessions from workers' unions in the new contracts.
Over the past few years, some of the top U.S. refining companies have resorted to lockouts to ensure most of the company management's proposals in new labor contracts are accepted.
The trend began earlier this decade with Exxon locking out in 2021 as many as 650 workers out of the Beaumont refinery for 10 months. This was the longest labor dispute at a U.S. refinery in four decades.
Five years later, BP and Marathon are currently in a similar position, locking out workers at their Whiting, Indiana, and Martinez, California, refineries, respectively, amid labor disputes over union contracts.
The refineries continue to operate with contractors, supervisors, and replacement workers. The continued operations show that Big Oil is not as afraid as it used to be to use replacement staff while seeking concessions from the unions.

#contracts #unions #refinery

Christian Gonzalez Contract Details: Patriots Star Becomes Highest-Paid CB in NFL History originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Christian Gonzalez and the Patriots took contract negotiations down to the wire, but they managed to end their dispute before the first game of the 2026 season.
The Pats and their 24-year-old star have reportedly reached an agreement on a four-year extension that will make Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
After months of speculation about Gonzalez's status, the two sides were able to find common ground and eliminate any lingering concerns less than 48 hours before New England faces Seattle in a Super Bowl rematch.
Here are the full details on the structure of Gonzalez's contract extension.

#nesn #details #paid #history

The New England Patriots have reportedly agreed to a four-year, $102 million extension with Christian Gonzalez, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
All of the speculation surrounding the star defensive back can finally end.
The Patriots have decided to invest long-term in having one of the best cover cornerbacks in the NFL for years to come. And Gonzalez, Bill Belichick's final first-round draft pick, is digging his roots in as a foundational defensive stalwart in New England's secondary.
The extension comes after the Seattle Seahawks agreed to a blockbuster deal with All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon in August. There was a belief that Gonzalez was waiting for that deal to get done to set a baseline for his negotiations with the Patriots.
It took longer than expected, but Gonzalez and Witherspoon, who share the same agent, have both now made history in less than a month apart.

#gonzalez #agreed #extension #england

The New England Patriots and Christian Gonzalez have finally reached agreement on a contract extension. After months of negotiations, the two sides found common ground on a record-breaking four-year, $135 million deal.
Gonzalez's contract also includes $102 million in guarantees, another new high for a cornerback. NFL insider Jordan Schultz was first to report the deal.
This story will be updated.

#million #deal #Patriots

CAIRO (AP) — The new head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Sunday said Tehran plans to announce an "exclusion zone" outside the Strait of Hormuz aimed at vessels it believes are attempting to transit the waterway.
Mohsen Rezaei's comments to Iran's state broadcaster came with few details, a day after the U.S. struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to Tehran launching ballistic missiles at U.S. warships. Experts called the launches a dangerous escalation after Iran's previous attacks at sea targeted commercial shipping.
The new zone should be announced in the coming days and weeks and "will begin from the line of the U.S. naval blockade, extend toward the Strait of Hormuz, and from this side continue into the Persian Gulf," Rezaei said. "Any ship that enters this area with the intention of passing through the Strait of Hormuz and is identified will be placed on our sanctions list."
It is not clear where Iran defines the location of the weekslong U.S. blockade, which is aimed at Iranian ports and keeping Tehran from shipping out its oil. The U.S. military has said over 20 warships are supporting the blockade, which as of Sunday had redirected 92 commercial ships and disabled three.
The U.S. has been introducing new measures to increase the economic pain on Iran after negotiations collapsed and no end to the intermittent fighting appears in sight. Meanwhile, Iran continues to attack some ships trying to transit the strait, which has become an important source of leverage for Tehran in the war that began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes.

#strait

By Ayose Naranjo
HAVANA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Cuba's top diplomat said on Monday there are no talks underway with the United States, nor were there ‌any plans for future negotiations, amid a "genocidal" blockade that Cuba says has ‌cost the island nation over $8 billion in economic damages in the last year.
"There are no negotiations or agendas, although a willingness to stay in contact remains despite the lack of progress," Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, told reporters at a press conference in Havana.
Rodriguez said that damages caused by the decades-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba had jumped 7 percent in ‌2025 versus the previous year, ⁠to $8.1 billion.
Cuba's foreign minister said the financial hit to Cuba`s economy would balloon in the first months of 2026, after the Trump ⁠administration imposed an oil blockade on the island that has all but decimated output and led to nationwide blackouts that now span days.

#havana #billion

John Lewis Partnership has rolled out a three-year plan, internally called "Rise", designed to return the employee-owned retailer to a market-leading position, according to internal staff communications reviewed by the Financial Times (FT).
Led by partnership chair Jason Tarry, the initiative is aiming for more than £100m ($135.1m) in additional profit through a "joined-up" strategy across the group's John Lewis and Waitrose loyalty schemes, encompassing Little Treats and Beauty in My John Lewis.
The partnership is also pursuing £180m in annual profit from its retail media arm.
John Lewis intends to nearly double the number of customers using its money services, from 1.2 million to two million.
The group is also targeting roughly £500m in property portfolio growth over the next decade through freehold purchases and lease renegotiations.

#lewis

The biggest oil companies in the United States are playing hardball in unionized labor negotiations in a bid to get more concessions from workers' unions in the new contracts.
Over the past few years, some of the top U.S. refining companies have resorted to lockouts to ensure most of the company management's proposals in new labor contracts are accepted.
The trend began earlier this decade with Exxon locking out in 2021 as many as 650 workers out of the Beaumont refinery for 10 months. This was the longest labor dispute at a U.S. refinery in four decades.
Five years later, BP and Marathon are currently in a similar position, locking out workers at their Whiting, Indiana, and Martinez, California, refineries, respectively, amid labor disputes over union contracts.
The refineries continue to operate with contractors, supervisors, and replacement workers. The continued operations show that Big Oil is not as afraid as it used to be to use replacement staff while seeking concessions from the unions.

#contracts

The New England Patriots are still trying to find a resolution to Christian Gonzalez's contract situation before the NFL season begins, and head coach Mike Vrabel is making it clear that he wants to help get a deal done.
However, Vrabel also understands that there is a line he cannot cross when it comes to negotiations between the Patriots and their star cornerback. With the regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks just days away, the situation has become increasingly important for New England.
MORE: Previewing all 16 NFC teams & predicting every record in 2026
Aug 22, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Edward Finan-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Vrabel was asked Saturday whether he would give his input to the Patriots' front office or "go to bat" for Gonzalez during the contract negotiations.

#vrabel

Texas billionaire Dan Friedkin and The Friedkin Group (TFG) seem to be intently
focused on spinning multiple business deals involving sports franchises across two continents, whether to buy or sell.
Negotiations are currently underway between TFG, a prominent player in global sports investment that manages its multi-club portfolio through its Houston-based division, Pursuit Sports, and representatives from Houston and Austin. The group is awaiting agreement on terms and the approval of the NHL Board of Governors to establish a team in either city by the end of 2026.
But now Friedkin has another move in play, potentially selling a minority stake in Everton Football Club in the English Premier League. According to The Athletic, the idea is to find strategic investors who can help push the club forward.
However, a former Everton top executive believes that a full sale of the club is on the table, given the recent struggles to appease supporters and a catastrophic summer transfer window in which multiple top players left while the club acquired undesirable players in return.

#club #everton #multiple

The Sacramento Kings' interest in Jalen Duren isn't going away, even if the Pistons have basically shut the door on a sign-and-trade for now. On the latest episode of ESPN's The Hoop Collective, Anthony Slater said GM Scott Perry has Duren's name "with highlighter pen" as a possible target, while also noting that Sacramento could create max cap ***** e next summer if Duren takes his $9.6 million qualifying offer and becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2027. The Kings already met with Duren earlier in free agency, so this isn't just random trade-machine talk.
The problem is Detroit. The Kings would like to sign-and-trade for Duren with Domantas Sabonis going the other way, per Tim MacMahon, but "that's not happening," because the Pistons have made it clear they aren't interested in moving their 22-year-old All-NBA center. Detroit reportedly wants Duren closer to $35.0 million per season, while his camp is looking for more than $40.0 million, and the Pistons still "absolutely, positively, 100%" intend to keep him despite that gap in "nasty" negotiations.
So if the Kings really want Duren now instead of waiting another year, Sabonis alone clearly isn't getting it done. They would need to make the return much bigger, probably bring in more teams to solve the salary issues, and give Detroit enough immediate talent and draft capital to at least reconsider its current position. This four-team framework with the Bucks and Raptors does exactly that, while landing Sacramento the young center they clearly want to build around.
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Jakob Poeltl, Duncan Robinson, Ron Holland, 2027 second-round pick via Pistons, 2029 first-round pick via Raptors
Sacramento Kings Receive: Jalen Duren

#sacramento #pistons