Chariot Ltd (AIM:CHAR, OTC:OIGLF) is doubling down on oil production in Angola with a second major transaction alongside Etu Energias and BW Energy. CEO Adonis Pouroulis says the deal follows February's transaction involving Etu Energias and Azule Energy interests in the same blocks.
Metals One PLC (AIM, FRA, OTCQB) has secured a £4 million loan facility from a fund managed by Yorkville Advisors to accelerate its gold-focused growth. MD Daniel Maling says it means the company can grow without diluting shareholders at depressed prices.
Rome Resources Plc (AIM:RMR) has seen contained tin at its Kalayi deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo jump 45%, with no drop in grade. CEO Paul Barrett says the margin on the project is "fantastic."
Connecting Excellence Group Plc (AQSE:XCE, OTCQB:XCELF) has agreed its first acquisition, a recruitment firm that generated £431,000 in EBITDA in its last financial year. CEO Scott Ellam says the company is targeting profitable, scalable, owner-managed recruitment firms where existing owners want to stay involved.
Tap Global Group PLC (LSE:TAP) has launched a new digital ******* et income strategy to monetise its crypto holdings rather than just hold them. CEO ******* n Torosian thinks Bitcoin's about to start "another bull run."

#energias #managed #recruitment

Barcelona came closer to exploring an Aymeric Laporte transfer this summer than previously understood, with The Athletic revealing that the Spain international was interested in joining the Catalan club.
Laporte emerged as a potential solution to one of Barcelona's clearest recruitment priorities: finding a left-footed centre-back capable of filling the role previously occupied by Inigo Martinez.
As per the outlet, the club initially believed a deal could be possible for around €15 million.
However, that expectation changed once Athletic Club made their financial demands clear, which were considerably higher.
Barcelona considered the asking price too high and withdrew before the idea developed into formal negotiations, meaning Laporte never came particularly close to becoming a Barça player.

#Athletic

Everton's pursuit of Folarin Balogun has collapsed at the final stage, leaving David Moyes and the club's recruitment team with a major problem after a dramatic deadline day twist. According to The Athletic, the United States international decided against completing the move after late complications, despite Everton having already pushed deep into the process with Monaco.
This was far from a routine transfer that simply ran out of time. Everton had worked to renegotiate terms with Monaco after concerns emerged during Balogun's medical. They then filed a dealsheet with the Premier League in an attempt to secure the extra window needed to finish the paperwork beyond the 11pm BST deadline. Even then, the expectation around Finch Farm was that a route remained open. Instead, Balogun chose not to continue and left without signing.
For Everton, that detail matters. This was not a case of Monaco pulling away or the numbers becoming impossible. The club had stayed at the table, tried to reshape the structure and remained hopeful that an agreement could still be salvaged. In the end, the player made the call.
The timing makes the setback even more severe. Everton had already allowed Beto to leave for Fiorentina, a significant decision in itself given the need for reliable depth in attacking areas. Iliman Ndiaye has also moved on to Manchester City, further reducing the options in the final third. Tyrique George has arrived permanently from Chelsea, while Jack Grealish has returned on loan from Manchester City, but neither development truly addresses the obvious need for a central striker ready to carry the line.
Photo IMAGO

#monaco #city #already

Former Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has admitted that Real Madrid look stronger with Jose Mourinho in charge, although the Polish forward was quick to make it clear where his loyalty remains.
Lewandowski, who left Barcelona this summer to continue his career in Major League Soccer, spoke to AS about several subjects and was asked about Madrid's prospects following an eventful summer at the Santiago Bernabéu, and his ******* sment was positive.
Real Madrid have added several high-profile players during the transfer window, but Lewandowski believes Mourinho's arrival could be just as important as the new signings.
"Real Madrid are now stronger with the new signings and with José (Mourinho)."
Real Madrid's summer has been about more than recruitment.

#madrid #stronger #former

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI has seized more than $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations intended for Hamas, the Justice Department said Tuesday in announcing a disruption of financing for the militant group.
In addition to seizing cryptocurrency meant to support Hamas' military wing, the department said that it had taken control of website domains and communication platforms used for fundraising and recruitment, and had obtained information about thousands of people who had contacted Hamas with a goal of giving money to the group.
"My message to Hamas is clear: your networks are not secure, your crypto is vulnerable, and we will not stop until your ability to wage war is defeated," Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said in a video statement announcing the operation.
According to FBI affidavits filed in connection with the seizures, Hamas began testing virtual currency fundraising in or around early 2019 through its Qassam Brigades, or military wing, and solicited donations on its Telegram channel and also used direct online fundraising. Hamas officials bragged that the currency would be untraceable and their websites offered instructions for how to make anonymous donations, the affidavits say.
A major investigative break arrived last year when FBI officials identified a financing network soliciting donations to the Qassam Brigades via virtual currency and a confidential source located in the United States alerted law enforcement to a Telegram post asking for contributions to an email address **** ociated with Hamas.

#telegram

Real Madrid have not completely ruled out a late departure for Ferland Mendy, although the club do not expect an offer to arrive for the injured left-back before the transfer window closes.
According to AS, Mendy remains one of the few players whose future has not been entirely settled, but his current physical condition makes a late transfer extremely difficult.
Real Madrid are otherwise expected to finish the window without further activity.
The club consider their squad complete after an ambitious summer of recruitment, while the lack of players willing to leave has also left little room for another move.
Mendy's situation is different, but not enough to suggest a transfer is imminent.

#club

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reportedly does not fully trust Luke Shaw off the ball. The Red Devils left-back was below par on Sunday despite a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town at Old Trafford. Shaw had a nightmare and was at fault for Ipswich's opener, struggling to contain Abdul Fatawu. Carrick has made the need for another left-back clear to the Man United recruitment team, and they have to sign one before tomorrow's deadline.
Shaw admitted after the game that he should have done enough to prevent the opener, and the Red Devils cannot afford having only him as their option in such a crucial position. The 31-year-old needs quality competition and not just another cover. Carrick has other players who can cover at left-back in his squad, but Man United need to sign a player capable of improving their squad. They have been linked with Newcastle United's Lewis Hall all summer, but the Magpies have no interest in selling the Englishman.
The Red Devils have just a few hours left in the transfer window to sign a top left-back. It could make all the difference for them this season, and yesterday's result should not paper over the cracks.

#carrick #shaw #need

Liverpool are keeping a watching brief on Genk goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans as the final stages of the transfer window bring uncertainty around Giorgi Mamardashvili's future, with Echo reporting that Nottingham Forest are weighing up a move for the Georgia international.
Brughmans, who turned 18 in June, has quickly emerged as one of the more highly regarded young goalkeepers in Europe. Liverpool's interest is understood to sit at monitoring stage for now, rather than anything more advanced before Tuesday's 11pm deadline. That position reflects both the competitive market around the player and the fact that any immediate movement may depend on developments involving Mamardashvili.
imago
Within Liverpool's recruitment structure, Brughmans has been identified by the club's Global Talent department, led by Matt Newberry, as a goalkeeper of significant long-term promise. He has already made four senior appearances for Genk and has represented Belgium at Under-19 level, factors that have helped elevate his profile among top European clubs.
There is further competition too, with Real Madrid among those credited with interest. That naturally makes any future pursuit more complex, and there is no indication at this stage that Liverpool are preparing a late push before the deadline passes.

#interest

Liverpool's pursuit of Ismaïla Sarr appears to be moving with purpose, with confidence growing around the proposed transfer as the club continues to shape its attacking options for Andoni Iraola. Credit to Khadim Diakhate, whose report indicates there is increasing belief among those close to the situation that the move can be completed.
There is also a significant detail on Liverpool's side of the negotiations. The report suggests the club are expected to improve their offer for Sarr, with that revised bid likely to be their final proposal. That usually signals a club entering the decisive phase of talks, trying to establish whether an agreement can be reached without allowing the process to drag on.
The wider picture is also revealing. Liverpool are said to want two wingers, with Sarr part of that plan alongside either Yankuba Minteh or Estêvão, who is referenced as Chelsea. That points to a recruitment drive focused on adding pace, directness and flexibility in the attacking line, particularly after a summer of change and the need to refresh options in the final third.
Sarr's appeal appears to go beyond the wing. He is viewed as someone capable of playing through the middle too, which may carry extra relevance if Alexander Isak fails to deliver at the required level, while Hugo Ekitike is currently unavailable through injury. That versatility could be a major factor in Liverpool's thinking.
From Liverpool's perspective, this looks like a deal built around tactical utility as much as raw talent. Sarr has long been **** ociated with speed, running power and vertical threat. For a head coach like Iraola, those qualities can be valuable across multiple attacking roles, especially in a system that asks forwards to attack **** e quickly and work intensely without the ball.

#sarr #appears #options #without

Arsenal's striker search continues to generate noise, but the latest update has brought some clarity around one name that had started to gather momentum. According to Caught Offside, Endrick is not part of **** nal's current plans, despite the rumours that have circulated in recent days.
The key line is unambiguous. "Arsenal are not working on a deal to sign Endrick – the Brazilian is not a target for **** nal at all, and the striker is going to stay at Real Madrid." For **** nal supporters watching a crowded forward market unfold, that is a significant update. Endrick is one of Europe's most high-profile young attackers, but this report makes it clear that a move to north London is not under consideration.
There is also a firm stance from Madrid. "The expectation is absolutely for Endrick to continue there, the decision has been made by the club, with the management, with the president Florentino Perez." That suggests there is no meaningful opening for suitors, whether from the Premier League or elsewhere.
One interesting detail is that **** nal were not the only English club linked. "Liverpool tried three weeks ago to understand the situation of Endrick, asking about potential conditions of the deal, to buy or to get the player on loan." Yet Real Madrid's response appears to have shut down any possibility of movement. "But the answer from Real Madrid was very clear – they don't want Endrick to go."
That leaves **** nal looking elsewhere, with the report adding that "Arsenal keep waiting for the Julian Alvarez situation, depending on what the player decides to do." In practical terms, that points towards patience rather than panic. **** nal's recruitment team seem prepared to hold their position while Alvarez's future becomes clearer.

#madrid

The University of Florida is one of seven schools on the official visit list for five-star point guard Cayden Daughtry.
Daughtry, the No. 3 overall prospect in the class of 2027, narrowed his list of 33 scholarship offers to 14 teams, including Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Providence, Tennessee, UConn, USC, Vanderbilt and Villanova, according to 247Sports.
His visit to Florida is set for Sept. 25-27, and there's potential for other get-togethers with Todd Golden's coaching staff, with Daughtry playing at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale. Florida offered him June 5 and has quickly surged in his recruitment.
Daughtry will also visit Florida State from Aug. 28-30, Tennessee from Sept. 4-6, Iowa from Sept. 11-13, UConn from Sept. 19-21, Miami from Oct. 16-18 and Arkansas from Oct. 30-Nov. 1.
The 6-foot point guard's stock exploded over the summer following strong event performances at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions — 25 points, five **** ists, four rebounds and five steals — and The Throne, where he scored 36 points. He also won gold with USA Basketball at the FIBA U17 World Cup.

#Florida #daughtry #visit #Miami

Jonathan ******* inga picked the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that stunned fans expecting a bigger paycheck. The 23-year-old forward signed a two-year, $12.4 million deal that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. This structure lets him test free agency again next summer when more teams will have cash to spend.
His agent, Aaron Turner, told The Athletic that defense was the main reason for the switch. Turner said, "Ant was super active in the recruitment of him," referring to Anthony Edwards' role in the process. Edwards focused his message on the team's defensive identity rather than just offense.
Turner explained that while everyone else looked at the offensive side of the ball, ******* inga and his team looked at the defensive end. "He made this decision because of the defensive versatility of this team," Turner stated. The Lakers offered a sign-and-trade that would have locked ******* inga into a three-year deal worth $12 million a year. Minnesota offered a shorter path to a massive payday later. ******* inga wants to prove he can guard multiple positions before signing a long-term contract in 2027. The Timberwolves need that specific skill set to win now, and ******* inga sees a clear role where he can shine.
This choice follows a pattern of ******* inga turning down safer options to bet on his future value. Before leaving the Golden State Warriors, he declined a three-year, $75 million extension. According to reports, prioritizing finances over the game doesn't sustain the ability to generate increasing revenue. The Warriors didn't offer a clear starting role, so ******* inga felt he couldn't bet on himself there. He took the shortest option available, which eventually led to his trade to the Atlanta Hawks and then to Minnesota.
The Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option, making him an unrestricted free agent. Now, he faces a new challenge in Minnesota alongside stars like Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. This mindset fits a team that prioritizes winning over individual numbers. ******* inga knows he must play well to maximize his next contract, and the Timberwolves provide the right system to show off his two-way potential.

#timberwolves #edwards #team

Notre Dame football has a fantastic 2027 recruiting class, with four 5-star commits in the 247Sports composite, but it could have been more and might still have a chance at adding another.
At one time it seemed like Florida linebacker Kaden Henderson would commit to the Irish, but ended up picking Texas A&M instead. It's the one position that Notre Dame has struggled with in the cycle, but it looks like there's potential to change Henderson's mind.
According to a report by 247Sports Cade Draughon (subscription required), Henderson told him "Miami and Notre Dame are the only schools that'll be talking to me still. But yeah, my recruitment is pretty set, pretty much shut down." While it's not a wide open door, it does seem like the elite linebacker hasn't completely ruled out a flip.
He's clearly still talking to the Irish and Hurricanes, which tend you to think there's at least a slight chance for him to flip. Notre Dame should continue to recruit Henderson, even if he does shut down, he's that good at a need position in the class.
This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Former Notre Dame 2027 5-star target cracks door open for a flip

#dame #irish #still

Italian giants Napoli are in talks to sign FC Lorient midfielder Noah Cadiou (27), according to a report from Sacha Tavolieri.
Cadiou shone for Les Merlus last season. The France-born midfielder impressed with his physicality as well as his technicality on the ball. He has started both of Les Merlus' Ligue 1 games this season under new manager Alexandre Dujeux, however, it was during Saturday night's defeat to ESTAC Troyes that links with a move across the Alpine border emerged.
Tavolieri understands that Napoli are looking to sign Cadiou before the closure of the transfer window on Tuesday night. The Italian side have already made contact with their counterparts at Lorient. Talks are currently ongoing. It is Max Allegri who is leading the recruitment of the Guadeoupe international.
Les Merlus, under no obligation to sell the player, value the player at €9m. It is an attainable figure for a club with the wealth of Napoli.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle

#italian #lorient

Hull City look to be moving with real purpose in the transfer market. According to GFFN, citing Fabrizio Romano, the club have reached an agreement in principle with Eintracht Frankfurt for Jean-Mattéo Bahoya. The next step is simple enough, the player must decide.
That matters, because Bahoya is not short of options. Everton have also been linked, and when a 21-year-old French attacker with Bundesliga experience becomes available, interest tends to follow. Hull, though, have put themselves in position. That is the key point here.
Bahoya is primarily a left winger, but modern recruitment is about more than one fixed role. He can operate across the front line and offers the sort of positional flexibility Premier League squads need. For a promoted club, that has obvious value. You do not always buy specialists, you buy players who can solve several problems at once.
Photo: IMAGO
His numbers are respectable rather than spectacular. After joining Frankfurt from Angers in January 2024 for €8m, he made 33 appearances in all competitions in his first full season, scoring three goals and adding four ***** ists. In 2025-26, he featured 37 times, with four goals and four ***** ists. Those are not elite outputs, but they suggest development, availability and trust from coaches in a demanding environment.

#goals

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is dropping a categorical hiring ban on applicants who have had ****** ual encounters with prostitutes and will instead consider in a more holistic manner at least some candidates who have engaged in the practice in the past, according to people familiar with the matter.
The move away from an automatic disqualification falls along a continuum of evolving recruitment standards within federal law enforcement and at the ****** oned-up bureau, which several years ago relaxed its approach to candidates' past marijuana use and has drawn more recent concern among some current and former agents about a perceived loosening of recruitment requirements as it seeks to replenish its ranks.
The bureau still intends to dismiss applicants who are revealed during the vetting process to have engaged in prostitution within the last 10 years, three or more times overall or while in a position of trust such as public safety, according to guidance issued this past spring and described by a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss internal decision-making and spoke on condition of anonymity. For others, it will allow for consideration of the context of the conduct rather than treat it as grounds for an automatic rejection from the FBI's hiring process.
The practical impact is not immediately clear since many who have engaged in prostitution may still be either immediately disqualified or weeded out upon further scrutiny from FBI polygraphers and security officials.
The FBI said the change was meant to account for the fact that some otherwise suitable candidates, including service members, may have engaged in the practice in places where it is legal and to accommodate applicants who themselves may have been victims of ****** ual abuse.

#according

The Los Angeles Lakers failed in their quest to sign Jonathan ***** inga in free agency, with the forward opting to join the Minnesota Timberwolves instead. The Lakers reportedly put a three-year, $36 million deal on the table, but ***** inga agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the Timberwolves.
It was an interesting decision, and ***** inga's agent, Aaron Turner, revealed to The Athletic how Anthony Edwards helped convince his client to come to Minnesota.
"Ant was super active in the recruitment of him," Turner said. "One thing he did was focus his message on, we're gonna really guard here. Everybody looked at the offensive end. JK and I looked more at the defensive end."
The Timberwolves were initially offering ***** inga just the $3.6 million veteran minimum salary, and that was too low for even Edwards to do anything. Turner unsurprisingly asked them to free up more money to put up a more appealing offer. So why did they do that now?
Well, the Timberwolves just got a new controlling owner in Marc Stad. Stad told the president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, to do whatever it took to get up to the $6 million taxpayer mid-level exception.

#million #turner #free #year

Manchester United's search for a left-back has developed into a longer game, with Lewis Hall still viewed as the standout target despite Newcastle United's firm position this summer. Credit to Ben Jacobs for The United Stand, whose latest update suggests Old Trafford decision-makers believe there is still a realistic route to the player, even if any immediate move remains highly unlikely.
Hall, 21, has been admired internally for some time and is considered a strong stylistic fit for Manchester United. Yet Newcastle's message has been consistent. After several notable exits from St James' Park during this window, the club have had no intention of entertaining a sale. That has effectively shut down any prospect of a late summer breakthrough.
What keeps the situation alive for United is the belief that the player remains open to the move in the future. "The signs from the Hall camp are he sees a very strong fit at Manchester United," Jacobs said. That confidence appears central to United's thinking, especially as they weigh whether to commit significant funds to another option now or preserve flexibility for a future push.
United have discussed other names, including Alejandro Balde and Jorge Salinas, but Hall continues to stand apart as the priority profile. The recruitment logic is understandable. He offers age, Premier League experience, technical quality and room for further development, all while filling a position that has demanded greater stability.
Newcastle, however, are moving to strengthen their own position. Hall is in talks over a new contract, and Matthias Jaissle has already made clear that Manchester United have "no chance" of signing him. Even so, there is a view at Old Trafford that a new deal would not automatically remove the possibility of a future transfer. "A new deal doesn't mean not for sale," Jacobs added.

#stand

A number of stars from overseas have joined the Women's Super League this summer - but one move that has gone slightly under the radar could turn out to be more important than them all.
Kirsty Hanson has swapped Aston Villa for Tottenham and there is reason to believe Spurs have quietly pulled off a recruitment masterstroke.
The 28-year-old was the third-highest goalscorer in the WSL last season despite the Scotland forward's side labouring in ninth place in the table.
With 12 goals in 22 matches, only PFA player of the year Khadija Shaw and England striker Alessia Russo scored more than her.
So why did Hanson make the move and how does she intend to take ambitious Tottenham - who start their WSL season on 6 September at home to West Ham - to another level this season?

#super #aston

Once the five-star dominoes start to drop, they often fall in heaps. That was the case with the 32 best in the 2027 cycle. All 32 are already committed, as of Aug. 27. A majority have been off the board for months with their recruitments shut down.
The old school recruiting timeline has vanished. The December signing period will, of course, come with its fair share of drama as flips and decommitments occur, but it's not as if there will be many fresh decisions to be made.
$19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage
The 32 five-stars — according to the Rivals Industry Ranking — have dispersed among 16 schools. Nine of those schools have landed multiple. Rivals takes a look at those programs that reeled at least two big fish over the spring and summer:
OT Mark Matthews — No. 4 NATL. (No. 1 OT)
S Kamarui Dorsey — No. 11 NATL. (No. 1 S)
EDGE Zyron Forstall — No. 25 NATL. (No. 5 EDGE)
IOL Kennedy Brown — No. 29 NATL. (No. 4 IOL)
LB Kaden Henderson — No. 30 NATL. (No. 1 LB)

#rivals #once #full #ranking

It's getting to feel a lot like football season, but basketball news is still rolling in.
Nasir Anderson, one of the top guard prospects in the class of 2027, recently cut his list to just 10 programs, with Indiana being among them. Anderson will chose from the Hoosiers or a group consisting of Kentucky, North Carolina, UConn, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Providence, Syracuse and Virginia.
That's still a pretty wide and stacked group of programs, so Indiana still has plenty of work to do in this recruitment, but it's good to be in the game regardless.
Anderson attends Prolific Prep, based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He's rated as a 5-star prospect, per 247Sports, ranking in as the 7th highest-rated prospect overall and 2nd highest-rated point guard in the class. He's also rated as a 5-star prospect by Rivals, ranking in as the 7th highest-rated prospect overall and the 3rd highest-rated point guard in the class.
Indiana already has one commitment in 2027, La Lumiere guard Chase Branham, who's seen his stock rise as time as gone on.

#rated #anderson #prospect #Florida

Chelsea have made contact over a move for Emiliano Martinez, according to BBC Sport, and that tells you plenty about where the club are with the goalkeeper position. When a side starts exploring a deal for a 33-year-old World Cup winner, it usually means concern has moved beyond background noise and into active planning.
Martinez is considered available after Aston Villa signed Zion Suzuki from Parma for about £30m. Villa and Chelsea already know each other's numbers. These clubs have done enough business in recent windows for ****** ody to pretend this would be complicated in principle. Morgan Rogers joined Chelsea for a club-record £117m, Alejandro Garnacho went the other way on an initial loan, and Nicolas Jackson, valued at around £65m, has also been mentioned as a possible Villa target.
Then there is the wider pattern. The clubs were part of the arrangement described as a "PSR swap", with Ian Maatsen joining Villa and Omari Kellyman, now at Strasbourg, moving to Chelsea. So if Chelsea want to test Villa's appetite for another deal, they know the route.
The timing matters. Robert Sanchez remains Chelsea's current number one, but the scrutiny is obvious. He was beaten at his near post by Josh King in the 3-2 win over Fulham and later spilled another effort, allowing Gonzalo Garcia to score. Those moments are exactly why transfer stories like this gather pace. Clubs can talk about trust all they like, but mistakes shape recruitment.
Photo: IMAGO

#martinez #like #sport

The man who took the recruiting world by storm during his unbelievable run at the Peach Jam earlier this summer, Cayden Daughtry, has released a list of some of his final schools.
When I say a list of some, that's an understatement, with the list being Daughtry's top 14 schools.
Even though it's a list of 14 schools, it is still something to get excited about, considering a ton of programs were left off the list entirely.
The list includes Kentucky, along with Florida State, Iowa, Miami (Florida), UConn, Florida, Arkansas, Michigan, Tennessee, USC, Louisville, Providence, Villanova, and Vanderbilt.
Mark Pope and the Kentucky staff will have their hands full with this recruitment, given who they're battling. The schools that have collected the last four national championships are on the list, as well as two of Kentucky's biggest rivals in Tennessee and Louisville.

#louisville

Chelsea head into the closing stretch of the summer window with a familiar sense of movement, urgency and intrigue. The names shift, the numbers remain eye-catching, and the wider theme is clear enough, Stamford Bridge is still a place where squad building is constant, aggressive and occasionally uncomfortable. According to The Athletic, the final days of the market could yet reshape Xabi Alonso's first Chelsea squad in meaningful ways.
The broad picture is one of exits before arrivals. Chelsea have stockpiled depth, youth and possibility over recent years, but football teams still require balance, availability and clarity of purpose. In that regard, the club's late-window strategy appears practical. The report states that "the squad is largely set, with a priority being placed on getting several players out, either sold or on loan." That line speaks volumes. Chelsea are not merely browsing the market, they are trying to create order.
There is also the matter of Enzo Fernandez, a player central to Chelsea's midfield identity and central, too, to the market noise surrounding west London. Manchester City remain interested. Chelsea remain resistant, at least on their terms. The old verbal framework has gone and the new conditions are stiffer, both financially and competitively. As The Athletic reports, "the asking price for Fernandez is now higher than the £120million verbal agreement that was in place until the deadline ran out on August 14." Chelsea, significantly, "will also want to make sure they can sign somebody else before agreeing to any sale, as they do not want to weaken the squad."
That is the key detail. This is not a club inviting offers for a prized **** et. This is a club prepared to listen only if the structure of the deal protects their present and future. Chelsea are expecting an offer from City, and Alonso "did not confirm that Fernandez will still be a Chelsea player at the end of the window". That is the modern manager's balancing act, keep authority, preserve dressing-room equilibrium, and avoid making promises the market may challenge.
If Fernandez stays, Chelsea retain a midfielder of personality, technical **** urance and bite. If he goes, the consequences spread beyond one position. The report makes plain that Chelsea would not necessarily seek "a like-for-like replacement for the Argentina international. It could be a midfielder with a different profile, or a new attacker." That is a revealing football point. Chelsea's recruitment under Alonso appears to be guided by function rather than neat duplication.

#market #still #Athletic

Liverpool are expected to step up their pursuit of Bradley Barcola this week, with fresh movement anticipated as the club weighs a bid that could challenge, or even surpass, their current transfer record. According to Nicolo Schira, an offer is imminent, a significant development in a chase that has been building for months.
Barcola has been on Liverpool's radar for some time, with recruitment staff identifying the Paris Saint-Germain winger as a major opportunity in the market. Interest has remained strong despite the complexity of dealing with PSG, who have shown little willingness to soften their stance. The French champions are understood to value the 23-year-old at an elite level, leaving suitors with only one realistic route, table a huge proposal.
That is where Liverpool now appear to be heading. There is an acceptance internally that a conventional offer will not shift PSG's position. If a breakthrough is to come, it will likely require a figure beyond anything Liverpool have previously committed for a wide attacker, and potentially above the £125m paid for Alexander Isak.
The timing is notable. Liverpool have several areas of the squad to address before the window closes, and that creates pressure around both budget and prioritisation. Bradley Barcola remains one of the standout names under consideration, while other attacking options continue to be monitored in parallel.
What stands out in this situation is Liverpool's willingness to keep pushing despite PSG's hard-line approach. That suggests belief in the player's quality, profile and long-term fit. Barcola offers pace, directness and top-level upside, qualities that are clearly being valued highly during this market cycle.

#despite #willingness

Hull City make the trip to the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday on the back of the biggest result of their season so far, a 2-0 win over Manchester United on their return to the Premier League.
Sergej Jakirovic's side have taken four wins from their last five matches across all competitions and arrive as considerable favourites, though the manager is expected to rotate heavily with a trip to Coventry City to follow at the weekend. Stoke City, by contrast, need a lift after back-to-back Championship defeats, a difficult start head coach Mark Robins has attributed to a squad still gelling following a busy summer of recruitment.
Stoke progressed to this stage with a comfortable 2-0 win over League Two side Oldham Athletic, while Hull enter the competition at the second round as one of the Premier League's non-European entrants. The sides' most recent meeting came on New Year's Day, when Stoke won 1-0 at Hull's MKM Stadium in the Championship. Robins will hope home advantage and a motivated group of fringe players can trouble a Hull side expected to field a much-changed XI.
Date: Tuesday, 25 August 2026Kick-off: 19:45 BSTVenue: bet365 StadiumLast meeting: Hull City 0-1 Stoke City, Championship, 1 January 2026
Aaron Cresswell, Lamine Cisse, Bosun Lawal, Junior Tchamadeu and Ato Ampah are all out through injury, and Svante Ingelsson is suspended following his red card against Southampton. Robins described his side as having "played really well" against Southampton before tiring in areas he "can't strengthen right now," pointing to squad depth as an ongoing issue. Robert Bozenik could be recalled up front, with Tomas Rigo in line to replace the suspended Ingelsson in midfield.

#stoke #robins #back #premier

Joe Burrow said he is tired of waiting for next year in Cincinnati. James Harrison heard that message and immediately started imagining a much different future for the Bengals quarterback.
The two-time Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl champion used Burrow's comments about urgency as fuel for a playful recruitment pitch on "Deebo & Joe," telling the $275 million quarterback that Pittsburgh will soon have an opening.
Burrow recently said he is "trying to manifest" a championship run and is tired of pushing expectations down the road after Cincinnati missed the playoffs three straight seasons.
Harrison took the word "manifest" and ran with it. Alongside co-host Joe Haden, he turned the discussion into a prayer for Burrow to eventually trade orange and black for Pittsburgh's black and gold.
"The more and more and more I watch and the more and more and more I see, he's not playing," Harrison said in anX clip. "End of the day, I'm trying to win something."

#burrow #harrison #black

Liverpool have made a bid to sign an African star.
Richard Hughes' time at Liverpool appears to be drawing to a close, with his expected move to Al Hilal bringing an end to a relatively short but eventful spell as sporting director.
Assessing his tenure is difficult because it has contained such contrasting periods. Liverpool have enjoyed significant success during his time at the club, but that has been accompanied by several transfer windows in which the recruitment process has appeared increasingly uncertain.
Hughes' first summer was defined by the failure to land Martin Zubimendi, while his third has followed a similar pattern after Yan Diomande opted for Real Madrid. His second window was considerably more productive, with Liverpool securing a number of their primary targets. However, the performances of several of those signings have yet to consistently match the level of investment involved.
That context has inevitably shaped the perception of Hughes as he approaches the end of his tenure.

#hilal

Liverpool are reportedly planning a surprise late-window raid on one winger with an annoyingly excellent record against the Reds.
Andoni Iraola's team begin their Premier League season away to Newcastle today, with the fixture coming just nine days before the summer transfer deadline as the opportunity for recruitment narrows by the day.
The Merseysiders have seen two bids rejected for Brighton's Yankuba Minteh over the past 72 hours, the most recent of which was £60m (Sky Sports), although there's seemingly another wide attacker from the English top flight on their radar.
According to Turkish reporter Nevzat Dindar (via Forza Cimbom on X), Liverpool are showing an interest in Ismaila Sarr, who's a primary target for Galatasaray.
The Senegal international wasn't involved in Crystal Palace's defeat to Everton on Saturday – officially injured despite training in the two days prior to the game (Sky Sports) – and reportedly wants to leave the south London club, who are determined to keep hold of him.

#Liverpool #sports #newcastle #merseysiders

The Nuggets have been monitoring DeRozan's situation in Sacramento dating back to February, when they were prepared to pursue him on the buyout market if the Kings had released him then, league sources told The Post. When he became a free agent this summer, Denver put together a sustained recruitment that involved players, coaches and executives, one source close to DeRozan said. Aaron Gordon and **** istant coach Jared Dudley were two of the key individuals with prior relationships to DeRozan who spoke with him in recent weeks.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Nuggets have been tracking DeMar DeRozan since February

#derozan