Dolphins part ways with 7 players in post-draft roster moves originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

NFL offseason rosters can be a bit of an adventure, especially so soon after the NFL Draft.

That was definitely true for the Miami Dolphins on Monday as they cut seven players.

Officially, one of the cuts was a release, long snapper Taybor Pepper.

The other six are players who are being waived: punter Seth Vernon, inside linebacker K.C. Ossai, edge rusher Derrick McLendon, cornerback Jason Maitre, tight end Zack Kuntz and cornerback Isaiah Johnson.

Johnson and Maitre were both waived officially with a failed physical designation.

Most recently, Johnson got into four games with the Dolphins in 2025 as a special teams player.

McLendon also has played for the Dolphins, although in just a single game.

The most-tenured NFL player on the list is Pepper, the long snapper. He has played 100 games across time with the Packers, Dolphins and 49ers -- and he snapped in nine playoff games for San Francisco, too.

Kuntz played part of two seasons with the Jets.

Ossai and Maitre have yet to appear in a regular season NFL game.

Vernon has most recently punted in the UFL in 2025 for the Michigan Panthers, although he's not in that spring league at the moment -- maybe this move will push him back in that direction.

These won't be the last moves for the Dolphins by any means, because the large offseason rosters in the NFL result in plenty of churn.

An idea for a poll question emerged from a short conversation I had with Iowacoltsfan on a previous post. I suggested that I believed that the negativity towards Chris Ballard had reached a point that many fans would trade a good season, for a bad one that produced his ouster. He shared that he didn’t believe that the ire was that strong, but admitted he didn’t know what a poll would produce.

So, why not just ask? One question, two options.

Would you prefer a season that produced a division title and playoff win, but resulted in a new 3 year contract for CB and Shane? Or, would you prefer a season that did not produce a playoff appearance, but resulted in the firing of CB and Shane?

Pretty simple. Feel free to back up your choice.

Tim Tszyu spent some time talking to boxing media about his July 26 fight against Errol Spence that will take place at a 158 lb catchweight. Spence, who will be working his way back into action after three years out of the game, expects to return to form while Tszyu says he’ll be a well-oiled machine heading into the matchup. Here’s some of what Tsyzu had to say below.

Tszyu on his style approach to fighting Spence

“As much as I try to jab, jab, move a little bit, box — yeah, I am a forward-type guy, I bring the heat and that’s what I plan to do this fight…I’ve got plenty in the tank. I’ve learned a lot, I’ve experienced a lot in the last three or four years.”

On being confident he can beat Spence

“100%. I wouldn’t take this fight if I thought I was going to lose. If I had a little glimpse of losing I would have said ‘you know what, maybe I’m not ready.’ I’m taking this fight because I know I’m going to win.”

On how he’ll deal with Spence’s volume and pressure

“Yeah, I sort of understood that from Fundora. He throws a sh-tload of punches, as well. Southpaw. Errol Spence will just be maybe easier to hit, not as tall. Just going to be a different game plan this time around.

“I’m going to bring the heat from round 1. He’s the one that’s had three years off. I’m not rusty, my wheels have been in motion. So I’ll be ready to jump on him.”

With the Jacksonville Jaguars' roster for the 2026 season mostly set following free agency and the NFL draft, let's project what the Week 1 starting offensive lineup could look like.

We recently went through this same exercise of the defensive side of the ball.

Let's dive in.

Quarterback

Trevor Lawrence

No mystery here.

Running back

Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez

I'm going to cheat a bit with this one. On paper, there will be a starter, but my early guess is that these two share the workload out of the backfield. One week, Tuten may have more carries, and then the next week, Rodriguez might.

Wide receiver

Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers

Travis Hunter will be factored in as well, but these three will sit at the top of the depth chart and be the steady contributors.

Tight end

Brenton Strange

The real competition will be taking place behind Strange, with Quintin Morris and Nate Boerkircher competing for snaps. Tanner Koziol could also push Hunter Long off the roster.

Offensive line

Cole Van Lanen, Ezra Cleveland, Robert Hainsey, Patrick Mekari, Anton Harrison

I do think that Emmanuel Pregnon could push Mekari, specifically, for playing time. But for now, I'll go with Mekari's experience as the differentiator. But if Pregnon is starting Week 1, I won't be surprised.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2026 NFL draft: What does Jaguars' starting offense now look like?

Steelers sign 24-year old TE with Patriots experience who Eagles just parted ways with originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

In very unsurprising news, the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed another tight end.

At times, it seems like their favorite position on the entire roster. They can't have too deep a TE depth chart.

The new guy is Jaheim Bell, who the Steelers announced the signing of on Monday.

Bell was most recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, but they waived him last week, which sent him into the free agent pool and allowed for Bell's signing by Pittsburgh.

He entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots after splitting his college career at South Carolina and Florida State.

Bell is listed at 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds and will turn 25 on June 14.

MORE: Shilo Sanders under fire for telling female reporter to 'make a sandwich'

All his regular season NFL experience came in the 2024 season. He appeared in 15 games for the Pats and caught a pair of passes for 20 yards.

The Patriots kept Bell through the 2025 summer but released him late in the preseason in August.

He didn't get a new contract until October 2025, when the Eagles brought him aboard the practice squad, but he lasted just a week before being released.

The Steelers brought Bell onto the practice squad in late December, then cut him in mid-January.

The Eagles signed Bell to a futures contract soon after his Pittsburgh release, but they eventually waived him about three months after that deal.

That set Bell up to sign with Pittsburgh, where he'll hope to spend the rest of the offseason and try to make a good impression.

More NFL news:

• Saints still have an Alvin Kamara decision to make
• What's going on with Aaron Rodgers and the Cardinals?
• Eagles might have a DeVonta Smith problem
• Patriots give another A.J. Brown signal
• From Falcons to Cardinals, Tyler Allgeier can't catch a break

Benfica attacker Jaden Umeh is one of seven new faces called up by Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson for the upcoming training camp and friendly against Granada on Saturday, 16 May in Spain.

The 18-year-old has been released by the Portuguese club to take part in the training camp which is his first step up to the international squad.

With the English Football League (EFL) regular season over, Halgrimsson's 21-man squad is mainly made up of players who ply their trade in the Championship or League One, with those involved in the EFL play-offs or based in the Premier League, Scottish Premiership, League of Ireland or other major leagues available for the games against Qatar and Canada later in the month.

Umeh's release ensures he is eligible for this camp and will be joined by further newcomers in goalkeeper Killian Cahill, defenders Eiran Cashin, Tayo Adaramola and Joel Bagan, midfielder Jack Moylan and forward Aidomo Emakhu.

Dara O'Shea, Jayson Molumby, Adam Idah and Jason Knight provide experiencem while there is a return for Kasey McAteer, Tom Cannon and Mark McGuinness.

Republic of Ireland take on Grenada at the Estadio Nueva Condomina in Murcia on 16 May at 17:00 BST.

Who is Jaden Umeh?

The 18-year-old from Mahon in Cork began his career with Cork City in the League Ireland, making his debut in November 2023 despite being just 15 years of age, making his the youngest player to play for the club.

He would set another record as the youngest goalscorer for Cork City when netting against Wexford FC when aged 16 years and 14 days, going on to make 15 appearances for the club before joining Portuguese club Benfica in July 2025, where he is currently a member of the U23 squad.

Umeh has represented the Republic of Ireland at U15, U16 and U17 level, named in the squad for the 2025 U17 World Cup in Qatar with his performances earning him a call to join the U21 squad and is now part of the senior set-up for the first time.

Republic of Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Max O'Leary (West Bromwich Albion), Josh Keeley (Luton Town), Killian Cahill (Leyton Orient)

Defenders: Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Eiran Cashin (Blackburn Rovers - loan), James Abankwah (Watford), Mark McGuinness (Sheffield United), Tayo Adaramola (Sheffield Wednesday - loan), Joel Bagan (Cardiff City).

Midfielders: Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Conor Coventry (Charlton Athletic), Andrew Moran (Preston North End).

Forwards: Adam Idah (Swansea City), Tom Cannon (Sheffield United), Chiedozie Ogbene (Sheffield United - loan), Kasey McAteer (Ipswich Town), Millenic Alli (Portsmouth), Jack Moylan (Lincoln City), Aidomo Emakhu (Oxford United), Jaden Umeh (Benfica).

In late March, Tina Charles traveled to China to play in a best-of-five series with Henan Phoenix, a Chinese women’s basketball club looking to move into its league’s top tier. Through four games, Charles, 37, averaged 22 points and eight boards while playing 29 minutes a game. Henan won, and Charles celebrated with teammates before boarding a flight back to New York.

Through the festivities, merriment and jet lag, Charles also felt something different — a true sense of clarity.

She had gone into that decisive Game 4 knowing it could be her last basketball game she played. She put on and took off her uniform that day understanding it could be the final time she ever did that. Ultimately, it was.

After a storied career that included 14 seasons in the WNBA, two national championships at UConn, three Olympic gold medals and hundreds of games overseas, Charles’ final points came in a small gymnasium in central China.

Charles told The Athletic she has retired from professional basketball and is at peace with moving away from the hardwood.

“I’m very thankful for the career that I’ve been able to have, the experiences I was able to have,” Charles said. “I gave everything to this game, and the game gave me everything that I needed to become who I am. So now, it’s just time to apply that same standard of what I held myself to on the court to what’s next.”

Charles is considered one of the WNBA’s silent megastars, the most talented player who never won a WNBA title. She leaves as one of the preeminent — and one of the last — back-to-the-basket posts who also revolutionized her own game, expanding her range to the 3-point line after attempting just 17 3s through the first six seasons of her career.

She retires atop the WNBA leaderboard in career rebounds (4,262) and field goals made (3,364), and second in points scored (8,396). Charles, an eight-time All-Star who’s undoubtedly headed to the Hall of Fame someday, led the league in scoring twice during her career and was named the 2012 MVP. She was most recently a first-team all-league player in 2017. She was still considered a free-agent option during this offseason cycle, though the likelihood of being an immediate impact player has diminished.

Charles was the No. 1 pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft, after leading UConn to NCAA Tournament titles in 2009 and 2010 to cap undefeated seasons. In 2010, as a rookie with the Connecticut Sun, she led them in points and rebounds. She spent four seasons there before moving to the New York Liberty, her hometown team, in 2014. In 2020, New York traded Charles to the Washington Mystics, and she then journeyed to four teams during five seasons, culminating with a return to the Sun last season.

It was a new role for her, and ultimately, a clarifying season. As she did as a rookie with the Sun, she led Connecticut in scoring last season. But in 2025, her position and the space she occupied had changed.

“Playing around the younger players gave me perspective,” said Charles, who averaged 17.8 points and nine rebounds per game during her WNBA career. “They pushed me in a different way. It wasn’t just about competing, it was about adapting and learning and understanding where I fit in a new version of the game. It’s like they brought the energy, I brought the experience, and somewhere in that I was able to gain clarity. It’s just a full circle moment — you remember when you were in their shoes, when you were them, and you recognize when it’s their time to grow into the space you once held.”

The thoughts of retirement began to linger last season for Charles. She still opted to play in Athletes Unlimited this past offseason and travel to China for the series with Henan. Even in July, on an episode of Sue Bird’s podcast, Charles said, though with a laugh, that she thought about retirement “every day.”

“When you do the things that nobody sees, you’re going in to go work out, to strengthen your body and do all those little things — that started to escape me. I always showed up, but just the intention and why I’m doing it, it started to feel like work versus like what it used to,” Charles told The Athletic. “Once that started creeping in, that’s when I knew, like, all right, I’ll see if I want to give this a go this summer.”

But after that trip to China, Charles knew it was the right time to retire. Charles — who was born and raised in Queens and attended Christ the King Regional High School — will continue to live in New York while bouncing between home bases in Connecticut and Jamaica, where she feels a deep connection to her mother’s birthplace.

Charles is currently earning her master’s degree in sports management at UConn, and sees herself possibly working in a front office of the WNBA or NBA, or for a college team. This past semester, she worked as a graduate assistant for UConn athletics’ chief operating officer, learning about revenue share, name, image and likeness, scheduling and operations.

Charles has also founded and owns 78 Brewing Co., named for the Huskies’ 78-game win streak during her junior and senior seasons, joining the less than one percent of Black-owned American breweries. She will also continue her involvement with Hopey’s Heart Foundation, a non-profit she founded in 2013 that has placed more than 500 free automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools and communities.

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurship spirit. I’ve always had the mindset, and this chapter allows me to grow more into it,” Charles said. “I’ve never wanted to stay in one version of myself.”

Charles said she’s looking forward to this next stage of her career and life. After 20 years — between the WNBA, overseas play and UConn — of year-round basketball, she’s excited to reflect on her career and spend time with her family and friends.

The WNBA Charles leaves is far different from the one she joined in 2010. She earned a rookie salary of $45,827. The No. 1 pick this season, fellow UConn alum Azzi Fudd, will earn $500,000. The WNBA’s growth, represented by its groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement, has been significant as salaries, benefits, franchise valuations and television deals have skyrocketed. Though Charles ultimately won’t be a part of this next iteration of the league, she’s proud of the part she played in getting women’s basketball to this point.

“If I’ve done anything, I hope it’s that I made the path a little clearer and a little wider for the next generation,” Charles said. “Just having a tiny thing to do with that since entering the league in 2010 — making the league more exciting, expanding players’ minds to what they should be doing actively while playing off the court, and how to use the platform of the WNBA to elevate their beliefs and their dreams and their business aspirations; how to impact someone with just your kindness and just with your work. So, I think for me, that’s what legacy is.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Connecticut Sun, Phoenix Mercury, Connecticut Huskies, WNBA

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Barcelona’s plans to strengthen their defence have hit an unexpected obstacle, with fresh developments suggesting that their top target is no longer a straightforward signing. 

According to SPORT, Alessandro Bastoni is now reconsidering his future despite being close to agreeing a move to the Catalan club.

It is known that Bastoni has been identified as Barcelona’s priority defensive signing, with the club fully committed to bringing him in ahead of next season. 

Talks with the player’s camp had progressed well, and there was growing confidence that a long-term deal could be finalised. However, the situation has taken a turn in recent days.

Why is that?

According to the outlet, the defender’s position appears to have shifted following Inter Milan’s Scudetto celebrations. 

The strong support he received from fans, combined with personal and family ties to the region, has created fresh doubts in his mind. What once seemed like a near-complete agreement is now far less certain.

Barcelona had deliberately taken a step back in negotiations out of respect, choosing not to advance discussions until Inter secured the league title. 

Bastoni is having second thoughts over Inter exit. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The expectation was that progress would accelerate immediately after. Instead, the process has slowed, with a key step still missing – Bastoni has yet to formally communicate his desire to leave to Inter.

So what now?

At Barcelona, there is now a growing sense of urgency. The club wants clarity as soon as possible so they can either move forward with negotiations or shift focus to alternative targets. 

Their sporting leadership has remained in close contact with the player’s representatives, hoping to push the deal forward.

Inter, for their part, are aware of the situation. They understand that if Bastoni decides to leave, it will be difficult to keep him. 

However, without a clear signal from the player, there is little movement between the clubs at this stage.

Despite the recent doubts, Barcelona remain cautiously optimistic, as they believe that once emotions settle, Bastoni will still favour the move, especially considering the sporting project on offer and the potential benefits.

West Ham United have sent a significant offer to the representatives of Paris FC defender Moustapha Mbow but could face competition from Liverpool and other suitors, according to French outlet RMC Sports. West Ham are desperate to stay up and hold on to Nuno Espirito Santo, which would boost their chances of bringing Mbow to the London Stadium club, but their Anfield counterparts want him too. Liverpool have been keeping a lower profile but the Reds have already inquired about the 26-year-old 6ft 4in Senegalese star as manager Arne Slot will look to strengthen at the back.

The Merseyside club have lost 11 Premier League games this term, conceding 47 goals, more than 16th-place Nottingham Forest. They need to get things right in the summer transfer window, and signing a centre-back is in their plans. Mbow has impressed in the French top-flight league, with more than 100 appearances to his name for the club. He has impressed since helping Paris FC to promotion last term, and West Ham and Liverpool are not the only clubs keen on his services. Ipswich Town, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Lille are also interested in signing him, and more suitors could join them should he feature and impress at the World Cup this summer.

Senegal manager Pape Thiaw has been keeping tabs on the Reds target and is likely to take him to the summer tournament. Mbow has played 30 Ligue 1 games this term and some of his strengths include playing long balls and clearing the ball out of defence. A move to the Premier League would appeal to him, with Liverpool likely to be playing in the Champions League next season. However, the defender will be keen on playing regularly and will need guarantees from Slot that he features in the Dutchman’s plans despite the presence of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk.

West Ham can offer him regular football, but they need to hold on to their Premier League status first.

Donovan isn’t the only widely respected, veteran head coach who’s hoping for a return to the sidelines, though, as league sources say Tom Thibodeau is also very interested in a comeback. The 68-year-old was fired from his Knicks post last summer but is looking for the right fit for his coaching future again. And yes, league sources say, that includes the prospect of a Bulls reunion if the Reinsdorfs and new executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham, who was hired away from the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, had interest.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Tom Thibodeau an option for Chicago?

Draymond Green: “The big question is: what’s next for this Boston team? Is it the end of the Jaylen Brown–Jayson Tatum era? I would say no. I don’t think it’s the end of their era. Look at the success they had this year with Jayson Tatum out most of the year, and then with Jayson Tatum coming back and them having success, ultimately getting ahead to a 3-1 lead. Obviously, they squandered the lead away, but you got right where you wanted to be.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “The big question is: what’s next for this Boston …

Jaylen Brown has mentioned he’s a big fan of your game. Looking at it from the other side, what is it about Jaylen’s style of play that you respect the most? Lu Dort: [Smiling] Jaylen Brown for real? As a scorer, he’s “on go” every single time. He doesn’t shy away from any type of contact. He’s going downhill no matter what and that’s just the type of player he is—physical and aggressive. With guys like that, you have to tip your hat because he’s always going to make tough shots. The fact that he’s doing it on both ends—being aggressive offensively and defensively and taking on those tough matchups—I have a LOT of respect for that.

ScoopB.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jaylen Brown has mentioned he’s a big fan of your …

‪Tom Orsborn‬: Julian Champagnie thought he was about to hit the shot of his life when he took a 26-ft side-step jumper just before the final buzzer sounded. Unfortunately for the Spurs, the ball hit the front of the rim. On Monday night's frantic final seconds: www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Julian Champagnie thought he was about to hit the shot …

Serge Ibaka: “Best OKC player of all time: Shai or Kevin Durant?” Chet Holmgren: “I’d say probably Shai.” Serge Ibaka: “Shai or Russell Westbrook?” Chet Holmgren: “Uh, Shai.”

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “Best OKC player of all time: Shai or Kevin Durant?” …

Joel Embiid grabbed his stomach as play stopped late in the second quarter for teammate Kelly Oubre Jr., to shoot free throws. The 76ers’ star big man had just set a screen in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the Knicks, when Mikal Bridges hit and extended his arm into that area of Embiid’s body. It served as a reminder of the latest postseason ailment that Embiid is playing through, less than a month after an appendectomy. And following the Sixers’ dreadful 137-98 loss Monday night at Madison Square Garden, Embiid said he did not believe Bridges’ contact was “necessary” because Tyrese Maxey had already gotten past both players with the ball.

inquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The 76ers’ star big man had just set a screen in Game …

“I don’t know if it was dirty or not,” Embiid said from the locker room, after totaling 14 points and four rebounds in 25 minutes. “I guess I’ve got to do a better job of protecting, especially that part [of my body]. … Tyrese was already gone, and it was kind of after the play. “I just felt like it wasn’t necessary, but we move on. It is whatever. It’s playoff basketball. If that’s the reality of it, I guess we got to go out and be physical, too, and do it, too.”

inquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “I don’t know if it was dirty or not,” Embiid said …

Shams Charania: “Anyone that knows anything about Orlando, they’re going to keep things very buttoned up in terms of, this is now the start of the process. They fired Jamahl Mosley. There was a point that I heard over the last few weeks that, even though a lot of people around the NBA expected this outcome if the Magic were to lose in the first round, no real names had surfaced, or there was not that back-channel conversation that took place. But now Jeff Weltman and the Magic will be going through their search. Listen, there’s going to be a ton of names that get thrown around. I particularly don’t see Dusty May. I think he has a good thing going at Michigan.”

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Listen, there’s going to be a ton of names that get …

Per league sources, new Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins signed a long-term deal with a salary that is well north of $10 million annually. Jenkins isn’t the highest-paid coach in the league, as that honor goes to Golden State’s Steve Kerr at $17.5 million annually (for now, as he continues to contemplate whether to return). Miami’s Erik Spoelstra is second (approximately $15 million). And Jenkins, the former Memphis Grizzlies coach who was once a Bucks assistant in Antetokounmpo’s early days, is up there now.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Tayler Jenkins will make eight figures annually in Milwaukee

As league sources said on Monday, the Trail Blazers have cast a net so wide that the list of candidates could be almost 20 coaches long and, in the end, will consist of names procured by both Dundon and general manager Joe Cronin. What’s more, league sources say, there is no clear messaging as of yet about a possible timeline on the hiring. And while Dundon has pushed back on the notion that he’s cutting corners as a matter of what he believes is good business, the proof will be in the paycheck.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: What’s more, league sources say, there is no clear …

Even if the Blazers go with a coach with no previous head-coaching experience, it shouldn’t be tough to top what is believed to be the lowest head-coaching salary in the league, that of the Sacramento Kings’ Doug Christie ($2 million annually).

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Doug Christie is the lowest-paid head coach in the NBA at $2 million per year

At the core of Bickerstaff’s coaching philosophy is his understanding of people. Bickerstaff’s emotional intelligence allows him to approach each new relationship differently, rather than coming into his position with a one-size-fits-all method. Since being at the helm in Detroit, Bickerstaff has cultivated relationships with his players and assistant coaches that help illuminate them. “He truly cares about people,” Luke Walton, a former NBA player and head coach who is now an assistant in Detroit, told The Athletic during a January shootaround. “Players are extremely intelligent on when they’re being bullsh–ted or when people actually care. He truly does (care), and the players recognize that. … He tells us every year going into the season, ‘Our job is to make these players feel invincible, and we’ve got to put them in the best position for them to succeed.’ “Between taking the time to get to know them, talking to them, caring about them and then giving them the belief on the court to do what they’re capable of doing, it’s just a great combination. Especially for a young team that was trying to build something after a pretty rough year before we got here.”

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “He truly cares about people,” Luke Walton, a former …

“He’s super supportive of all of us outside of just basketball,” Cade Cunningham told The Athletic. “Everybody feels like they can call him to talk about if they have problems with their girlfriend or if they need something for their kids. He’s just a very selfless and supportive person. Having somebody like that who cares about you on the court and wants you to be great on the court, but then also actually cares about your life and your well-being off the court is huge.”

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “He’s super supportive of all of us outside of just …

Tim MacMahon: If Bob Myers would have taken this job and relocated from L.A., then I think that it might be Bob Myers. But this wasn’t a late pivot, necessarily, to Masai. It was very quiet, months-long conversations with him. He first met with Patrick Dumont — I was told it was a four-hour lunch in Las Vegas in December. That’s when the process started with him, and everything was handled as quietly as they possibly could.”

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: If Bob Myers would have taken this job and relocated …

Considering Ujiri’s hefty Raptors salary (reportedly more than $15 million) was known to be a significant factor in his Toronto departure last June, the widely held belief here is that it cost Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont a pretty penny to bring him to town.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The widely held belief here is that it cost Mavericks …

On BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, former Premier League midfielder Charlie Adam and The Observer's Rory Smith discussed Viktor Gyokeres' season to date.

Smith said: "I do wonder whether Gyokeres suffers in comparison to Erling Haaland because Haaland has redefined the numbers that we think count as good for a striker.

"Although Gyokeres has had a solid season in terms of 21 goals, 14 in the league now - they're decent numbers - because Haaland scored 50 before Christmas or whatever it looks like Gyokeres is a level below.

"I think the problem there is that Haaland is a total outlier statistically and you can't compare people to him."

Adam added: "Arteta might be asking Gyokeres to do different little things, coming linking the play and then ultimately when he comes to link the play he's further away from goal.

"I think he's had a good season and what would make it into a very good season would be if they could cap it off and win a trophy."

Listen to Monday Night Club in full below or on BBC Sounds

When Bukayo Saka cleverly curled past Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno to double Arsenal's lead, it was his first goal for nine games and the first time he had scored and assisted in a Premier League game since November 2024.

Mikel Arteta said "I think the pain is gone" - referring to Saka's Achilles problem - and that it had been "restricting his capacity to deliver certain actions".

But what was even more promising for Arsenal was that it looked like Saka and striker Viktor Gyokeres had finally clicked.

At times this season it looked like the pair were struggling to form a partnership.

Saka's role has been tactically tweaked to help Gyokeres, who prefers to run behind the opposition defence rather than link play when building attacks.

Saka has been moving in different ways to make space in the box and has been doing more work outside the area, which has impacted the number of goals he has scored - but not the winger's influence on games.

However, against Fulham the pair looked on the same wavelength as they assisted each other in the first half.

"I think when he [Bukayo Saka] is in that form and he is playing like he always is, it is of course amazing for me and all the other guys to have him on the pitch," Gyokeres said when speaking before Arsenal play Atletico on Tuesday.

Surprisingly, when Saka crossed for Gyokeres' opener, it was the first assist he had provided for the Sweden striker in the Premier League.

"That's what we need when we arrive in this stage of the competition," Arteta said.

"Not only the players to be available but to be in top condition to perform and make the difference - and Bukayo certainly gives us that."

Anthony Edwards gives Mike Conley his flowers after Wolves' Game 1 win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Minnesota already had the headlines on Monday night with Anthony Edwards returning from injury to help the Wolves beat San Antonio 104-102 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

But buried inside the postgame session was something quieter and equally worth paying attention to. Edwards, the 24-year-old superstar guard, was asked about his veteran teammate Mike Conley, and his answer stretched beyond a standard tribute.

Edwards went back to his childhood to make the point he wanted to make, and the sincerity of it came through clearly.

Edwards wants people to remember who Mike Conley was before they write him off

"Mike Conley was an All-Star in the NBA," Edwards said. "I think people forget about that. Once upon a time, he was one of the best point guards in the league. I always tell him that you used to be one of my favorite players. When I played 2K, I played with you."

More NBA news: Austin Reaves sends clear 3-word message to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder 

Mike Conley, 38, has been in the NBA since 2007. He spent 12 seasons as the face of the Memphis Grizzlies franchise before moving to Utah and eventually joining Minnesota.

His lone All-Star selection came in 2021, after more than a decade of steady, elite production that often went underappreciated because Memphis rarely competed for titles.

Anthony Edwards on Mike Conley: “Mike Conley was an All-Star in the NBA. I think people forget about that. Once upon a time, he was one of the best point guards in the league. I always tell him that you used to be one of my favorite players. When I played 2K, I played with you.” pic.twitter.com/11RXzkcUmi

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 5, 2026

He's in a backup role with the Wolves now, coming off the bench to provide experience and floor spacing in tight games.

Conley acknowledged Edwards' return after the game, putting the moment in perspective.

"Nobody expected him to play," Conley told reporters. "It was just his level of commitment to the game. Not just to the game, but to his teammates. It showed a lot."

That was an exchange between the two, in different rooms at different moments.

More NBA news:

How Cleveland's crowd gave Jarrett Allen a moment he didn't think was his

JJ Redick already sounds like a coach managing expectations vs. OKC 

Austin Reaves sends clear 3-word message to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder 

Steve Kerr's Warriors decision is no longer just a basketball decision

The Minnesota Vikings probably need an extra WR3 for the 2026 campaign, and Pro Football Focus knows just the guy: veteran Deebo Samuel. The wideout curiously hasn’t signed anywhere through two months of free agency, a drought that could end if PFF’s Bradley Locker gets his way.

Samuel would bring experience, versatility, and another catch-and-run weapon to Minnesota’s offense.

Samuel is 30 years old and should have a few productive seasons left in the tank.

A Veteran Playmaker Could Round Out the Vikings’ WR Room

Would you endorse Samuel to Minnesota?

PFF: Vikings Should Sign Samuel

Locker sized up the NFL’s 1o best free agents on the open market last week and where they should land. On Samuel, he picked the Vikings and wrote, “The Vikings put an emphasis on retooling their impressive defense in the draft, grabbing Caleb Banks, Jake Golday and Domonique Orange with their first three picks.”

“However, Minnesota could use more at receiver after losing Jalen Nailor to the Raiders. Samuel’s effectiveness has taken a step back over the last two campaigns, but he still finished 2025 with a 70.3 PFF receiving grade and 1.66 yards per route run.”

The Vikings did not draft any receivers last month despite a widespread expectation for them to do so.

Locker added, “Further, Samuel’s 6.5 yards after the catch per reception was fourth among wideouts with 95 or more targets. Next to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, Samuel could help fill Nailor’s void in the slot while infusing more juice after the catch and overall creativity for Kevin O’Connell.”

The Career Output

Samuel certainly has the career numbers for Minnesota’s WR3 job. Here’s his receiving resume since turning pro in 2019:

Samuel, too, is known for his versatility, able to run the football as a tailback better than most wide receivers. In seven seasons, he’s tabulated over 1,200 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. His speed isn’t quite the same these days, but the Vikings could still get creative with him.

Would-Be WR Corps

Suppose Minnesota runs with PFF’s idea, adding Samuel from free agency. Before training camp, the WR depth chart would look like this:

Jefferson-Addison-Samuel would form one of the NFL’s top WR3 trios, and few would debate it. In fact, Samuel’s production from last year in Washington — 72 catches, 727 yards, and 5 TDs — would be just what the doctor ordered in O’Connell’s offense, even dwarfing Nailor’s 2025 campaign, when he banked 444 receiving yards.

Our Janik Eckart on the prospect of Samuel to Minnesota: “Samuel has been an outstanding after-the-catch player in the NFL, something the Vikings have lacked in recent years. Sure, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison can run with the ball in their hands, but they are far too valuable down the field. Samuel, meanwhile, excels in the short passing game.”

“That could be attractive for the Vikings, especially with Kyler Murray under center, whose short passing rate has been off the charts. His asking price could be a challenge for the Vikings, though. While his athleticism has declined, he might still view himself as a WR2 in the league and the Vikings wouldn’t offer a groundbreaking salary for someone who’d be third in their WR hierarchy. The Jennings sweepstakes might present a comparable problem.”

Keep an Eye on the Other Ex-49ers WRs

Minnesota needs a WR3; that’s not a controversial take, unless it loves Felton, who barely played as a rookie in 2025. It’s a safe bet to assume that interim general manager Rob Brzezinski will end up with a wideout who used to play for the 49ers:

• Brandon Aiyuk
• Jauan Jennings
• Deebo Samuel

San Francisco wants to trade Aiyuk, probably after June 1st, when the financial pain will diminish. He’s arguably the best option of the three. Jennings met with the Vikings’ brass last week, though no contract came together.

And then there’s Samuel, whom PFF has nominated as the wisest fit.

Samuel will turn 31 during the 2026 playoffs. His birth name is Tyshun Raequan.

Anthony Edwards owns late-game errors after narrow Wolves win in Game 1 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Minnesota beat San Antonio 104-102 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night. Edwards, the 24-year-old Timberwolves guard and one of the most dynamic players in the league, returned unexpectedly from a bone bruise and hyperextended left knee to score 18 points in 25 minutes.

Edwards identifies mental lapses as the real issue from Game 1's closing stretch

"Ah man, I made so many mistakes at the end of the game. I'm disappointed in myself," he said. "For me, 75% of the game for me is my mind. My mind's got to be where it needs to be and in the last 2 minutes of the game, it wasn't. I gave up 2 offensive rebounds, turned the ball over. Yeah. I'll be better."

More NBA news:How Cleveland's fans gave Jarrett Allen a moment he didn't think was his

Both of those rebounds went to Julian Champagnie, the Spurs' reserve forward. He made them count, giving San Antonio the ball back and a final three-point attempt that could have tied the score.

"We've just got to stay locked in on the game-plan, especially myself man," he told reporters. "I can't give up 2 offensive rebounds to Champagnie. I may not be as athletic as I usually am, but I've got to be able to box out, make the small plays to win the big time games."

Anthony Edwards was very critical of himself after Game 1 of Timberwolves-Spurs:

“Ah man, I made so many mistakes at the end of the game. I'm disappointed in myself… For me, 75% of the game for me is my mind. My mind's got to be where it needs to be and in the last 2 minutes of… pic.twitter.com/kA8m0czsII

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) May 5, 2026

Edwards returned weeks earlier than doctors anticipated. He played through real pain and competed as hard as anyone in the building. But the physical limitation shows up in the margins.

Game 2 is Wednesday, and the correction he's demanding of himself privately will help more than any adjustment the coaching staff draws up.

More NBA news: 

JJ Redick already sounds like a coach managing expectations vs. OKC 

Austin Reaves sends clear 3-word message to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder 

Steve Kerr's Warriors decision is no longer just a basketball decision

With the Indianapolis Colts' roster for the 2026 season mostly set following free agency and the NFL draft, let's project what the Week 1 starting offensive lineup could look like.

We recently went through this same exercise of the defensive side of the ball.

Let's dive in.

Quarterback

Daniel Jones

Jones is still working his way back from an Achilles injury, but Shane Steichen recently provided a very positive update.

Running back

Jonathan Taylor

No mystery here. The question at running back is whether DJ Giddens or Seth McGowan ends up as RB2.

Wide receiver

Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin

Dulin, along with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Deion Burks, could all end up competing for the WR3 role. For now, Dulin's experience in Steichens' offense gives him the early advantage.

Tight end

Tyler Warren

Along with Warren, we will continue to see a lot of two tight end sets under Steichen, paving the way for Mo Alie-Cox to see his share of playing time as well.

Offensive line

Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, Matt Goncalves, Jalen Travis

I do think that Jalen Farmer could push Goncavles for snaps, and if he is the Week 1 starter, I won't be surprised. But for now, with training camp still needing to take place, I'll give Goncalves and his experience the benefit of the doubt.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: What does Colts starting offense look like after picks?

Raiders sign Fernando Mendoza's national champion WR teammate originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Las Vegas Raiders certainly didn't stop with Fernando Mendoza.

They've been quite active in bringing aboard various Indiana Hoosiers in recent days.

The latest is wide receiver Jonathan Brady. The Raiders announced on Monday that they've signed him to a contract.

Brady went undrafted before impressing the Raiders in the post-draft process.

He played just one season at Indiana, 2025, and ended it as a national champion.

Brady caught 14 passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns.

MORE: Shilo Sanders under fire for telling female reporter to 'make a sandwich'

His best skill, and one most likely to translate to the NFL, is punt returning. Brady averaged a ridiculous 16.5 yards per punt return for the Hoosiers, and he took one back for a touchdown.

Brady had previously spent college time at both New Mexico State and at Cal -- so he's got the Golden Bears connection with Mendoza, too.

He's not the first undrafted Hoosiers offensive player the Raiders have signed, either.

They previously brought aboard Roman Hemby, who was one of IU's running backs en route to the title, and wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr.

Vegas is definitely taking on a bit of a Bloomington flavor, and given how things went for the Hoosiers in 2025, that might not be a bad thing at all.

More NFL news:

• Saints still have an Alvin Kamara decision to make
• What's going on with Aaron Rodgers and the Cardinals?
• Eagles might have a DeVonta Smith problem
• Patriots give another A.J. Brown signal
• From Falcons to Cardinals, Tyler Allgeier can't catch a break

The Buffalo Bills are about to turn the page to a brand-new chapter in 2026… and it comes with a new stadium, a new head coach, and a fresh new energy. The only thing left pending is the new schedule.
Here’s a look at what we know ahead of the 2026 schedule release.

1. When will the schedule be released?

The NFL hasn’t officially announced the 2026 schedule release date yet, but the pattern is steady.

Recent releases:

• 2025: Wednesday May 14, at 8:00 p.m.
• 2024: Wednesday May 15, at 8:00 p.m.
• 2023: Thursday May 11, at 8:00 p.m.

The expectation is the full 2026 slate to drop in mid-May, complete with a primetime reveal on ESPN and wall-to-wall coverage over several days.

If the target date holds steady we should be hearing of the new schedule next Wednesday or Thursday, May 13th or May 14th.

Don’t be surprised if the NFL decides to make you wait this season. The NFL doesn’t kickoff until Wednesday, September 9th this year…which is a week later than historical starts over the last six years. This could mean fans may need to wait a week longer to get the schedule possibly May 20th or 21st, according to some sources.

2. A historic season: New stadium, new era

2026 won’t be just another season in Buffalo, it will be the inaugural season at the NEW Highmark Stadium.

That means:

• First regular-season game in the new building
• First primetime moments under the new lights
• First chance for Bills Mafia to break in a new home (in the most Bills way possible)

3. Who are the Bills’ 2026 opponents?

We don’t have dates yet, but we do know the lineup and it’s stacked.

Home opponents

• Miami Dolphins
• New England Patriots
• New York Jets
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Chicago Bears
• Detroit Lions
• Baltimore Ravens

Away opponents

• Miami Dolphins
• New England Patriots
• New York Jets
• Denver Broncos
• Green Bay Packers
• Las Vegas Raiders
• Minnesota Vikings
• Houston Texans
• Los Angeles Rams

Dates, kickoff times, and ticket details will all arrive with the official release this spring.

4. Why do they play those teams?

The NFL schedule formula is part rotation, part performance-based matchmaking.

Here’s how Buffalo’s 2026 slate comes together:

• AFC East (6 games): Home and away vs. Dolphins, Patriots, Jets
• Rotating divisions:
  • AFC West
  • NFC North
• Same-place finishers (3 games):
  • AFC North: second-place finisher
  • AFC South: second-place finisher
  • NFC West: second-place finisher

Because Buffalo is consistently near the top of the division, they’re once again drawing a top tier schedule.

5. What We Already Know

Season Opener (Kickoff Game)

• Seattle Seahawks (home) vs TBD opponent
• Wednesday, September 9, 2026
• Seattle (Lumen Field)

Week 1 International Game – Australia

• San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams
• Thursday, September 10, 2026 
• Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia

Week 3 International Game – Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)

• Baltimore Ravens vs Dallas Cowboys
• Sunday, September 27, 2026
• Maracanã Stadium

This isn’t just another schedule release, it’s the unveiling. New stadium. Loaded opponent list. And a fan base ready to turn every home game into something unforgettable.

Teenage wicketkeeper-batter Thomas Rew has signed a new contract with Somerset until the end of the 2028 season.

The 18-year-old penned his first professional deal with the county in July last year which was due to run until October 2027, after making his debut in the T20 Blast.

Rew and older brother James, 21 - who has established himself in Somerset's first XI - are among England cricket's brightest young talents.

He captained England's Under-19s as they reached a World Cup final in February and also toured Australia with England Lions.

"Opportunities such as those with the England U19s and the England Lions have arrived pretty fast for me in the last 12 months and events have happened in my cricketing journey so far that I wasn't necessarily expecting," Rew said in a statement.

"I'm grateful to Somerset for all the opportunities they have given me so far. I just try to take one match at a time and not look too far ahead, an approach which really helped me last year."

• Rew hopes to emulate brother's Somerset success
• Root takes four wickets as Yorkshire beat Somerset
• Which players could England turn to for 2027 Ashes?

Rew joined Somerset's youth set-up as an under-11 and has progressed to make 13 senior appearances - two in the T20 Blast, 10 in the One-Day Cup and his County Championship debut in their most recent outing against Yorkshire, which ended in defeat.

Head coach Jason Kerr said it was "easy to forget how young" Rew is.

"Thomas has an innate ability to be incredibly competitive and read situations effectively," he said.

"There's a maturity in his cricket that not everybody has and that's combined with ability and talent.

"It's going to be really exciting to see how he develops but I think it's important that we're patient."

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed their travelling squad to face Bayern Munich in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final clash. Les Parisiens’ squad includes one notable absentee with Achraf Hakimi (26) set to miss out on the trip to Bavaria. 

The Moroccan international defender suffered from severe muscle cramps in the final minutes of the first leg, from which PSG hold a 5-4 aggregate advantage. The severity of Hakimi’s cramps has seen him miss out on the opportunity to help his team reach consecutive finals in the competition. 

Who will replace Hakimi?

With the former Real Madrid full-back ruled out of the second leg, questions will be raised as to who will deputise for the 26-year-old. Warren Zaïre-Emery (20) has featured as an unorthodox right-back this season or Luis Enrique may opt for a change in tactical set up. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic will take charge of Athletic Bilbao next season, the club announced on Tuesday, following the departure of Ernesto Valverde this summer.

Terzic will arrive on a two-year deal to replace Valverde, who said in March he would step down from his role at the end of the season.

The 43-year-old Terzic has been without a club since leaving Dortmund at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, which ended with a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League final. 

Terzic won the German Cup in 2021 in his first spell at Dortmund. He returned for a second stint as coach a year later, narrowly missing out on the Bundesliga title on the final day of the 2022-23 season.

He was also a former assistant to Slaven Bilic at West Ham and Besiktas.

The departing Valverde, who has had three tenures as Bilbao coach, ended their 40-year trophy drought when his side won the Copa del Rey in 2024.

Bilbao are currently eighth in La Liga and three points off the European places with four games left.

gr/mw/ea

It’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen veteran fighter Jim Miller in the cage, and now we’re learning there’s a good reason why.

Miller is one of the longest lasting athletes in the UFC, having been with the promotion since 2008 and fighting a wild 46 times for them (57 times overall in his MMA career). He fought on UFC 100, UFC 200, and UFC 300. He says he’ll retire once he hits 50 UFC fights, which means you really want to appreciate his upcoming bout with Jared Gordon at UFC 328, especially once you hear what Jim went through over the past year.

Miller has been unusually absent over the past twelve months, and it turns out it’s because he’s been taking care of his son who went through cancer treatment.

“My older son, my 14-year-old son, ended up having some health issues,” Miller told BJPenn.com’s Cole Shelton. “He kicked its ass. We had a really tough six months, the last three months of last year and the first three months of this year. I couldn’t be happier with the way things turned out. He’s amazing, he’s an amazing young man, he makes me proud every day.”

“He had cancer, he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma,” Miller continued. “Which is a very aggressive and very rare childhood cancer. He had a tumor tucked into his sinus and eye socket. Frontally, location-wise, it was probably in the best spot it could be. It popped right out when he did the biopsy. But he still had to go through the two rounds of chemotherapy and a round of radiation. The radiation was for five weeks, every day by Rutgers, which is an hour-and-a-half from us.”

“The ability to do that and move my schedule around, cause I was training for a fight when he got into the radiation part. I’m glad I’m a fighter, I’m glad I chose this road, so I could be there for my son and help him through his struggles.”

Miller added that he has taken all the worry and stress from that situation and channeling it into training.

“For my own sanity, I needed to get in there and train,” he said. “And I’ve been in the gym for months now, not full-on fight camp, but it is healing to choke somebody sometimes.”

Miller is 3-2 over his last five while Gordon is 2-2-1. While Gordon is the favorite heading into New Jersey, Miller has always been a live underdog and undoubtedly comes into this hometown match with extra motivation.

Former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic has signed with La Liga side Athletic Bilbao, the club said in a statement on Tuesday.

Terzic signed a contract until June 2028. He will succeed Ernesto Valverde, who's leaving the team at the end of the season.

Terzic coached Dortmund from December 2020 until June 2021, and then again between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. He was recently working as a TV pundit.

With the Bundesliga side, he won the German Cup in 2021 and reached the Champions League final in 2024, losing to Real Madrid. He will be officially presented at the start of the new season.

"Currently, all focus is on the four crucial remaining matches," the club said. Bilbao still has a chance to qualify for European competition.

BOSTON (AP) — A woman who worked as a live-in chef for Stefon Diggs and is accusing the former New England Patriots wide receiver of assault is expected to continue her testimony Tuesday at his trial, marked the first day by sharply conflicting accounts of what happened inside his home.

Jamila Adams, who goes by “Mila,” testified Monday that Diggs slapped her and choked her during a dispute in December, leaving her struggling to breathe. Diggs’ attorney told jurors the attack never happened.

Adams told jurors that Diggs “smacked me with an open hand” before wrapping his arm around her neck. She described what she called a “complicated” employment dynamic, saying their relationship had previously been sexual, although not at the time of the alleged assault. She lived in his home, preparing meals and snacks, and had known Diggs for more than four years at the time she alleges that he attacked her.

Defense attorney Andrew Kettlewell said there was no evidence of an assault, noting that no one else in the house reported seeing or hearing anything unusual and that there were no medical records, photos or video documenting injuries. He also suggested Adams had a financial motive, telling jurors they would hear evidence she sought money from Diggs after reporting the incident.

Prosecutors say the case centers on what happened on Dec. 2, when they allege Diggs entered Adams’ bedroom, slapped her and put her in a headlock that made it difficult to breathe.

Diggs, 33, has pleaded not guilty to a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge. A jury was seated Monday in Norfolk County District Court in Dedham.

On Tuesday night, the New York Islanders and the other 15 teams that missed the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs will take part in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. 

The Islanders, who won the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery with just 3.5% odds (they selected future Calder-Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer), finished this season with the 13th-best odds to win the lottery at 2.0%.

While the Islanders could win the lottery, that wouldn't mean they'd select first overall for a second straight draft. Per the rules, a lottery team can only move up at most 10 spots. 

That means that the Islanders' "winning the lottery" would mean they'd select third overall. That would also mean that the Vancouver Canucks, who have the best odds at 18.5%, would win the lottery. 

The Islanders will either pick third overall or 13th. 

Here are the Islanders' lucky numbers, per team statistician Eric Hornick, with 20 total combinations that would give the Islanders the third pick:

1 2 5 6

1 2 5 11

1 3 4 13

1 5 7 9

1 5 11 12

1 6 7 11

2 3 7 13

2 3 12 13

2 9 12 13

2 12 13 14

3 6 13 14

3 8 12 14

3 10 11 14

4 5 8 11

4 5 8 14

4 6 9 14

5 7 10 14

6 11 13 14

7 9 13 14

8 9 10 14

As you can see, and as Hornick makes clear in his Draft Lottery "The Skinny", the number 14 is incredibly common, appearing 10 times. 

Per Hornick, the odds of the Islanders winning the lottery at 3.5% and then 2.0% in consecutive years are 1 in 1,428. 

So, you are saying there's a chance? 

You can tune in and watch the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery live from NHL Network in Secaucus on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA at 7 PM ET. 

Luka Doncic is still building towards a return, but it won't come in time for Game 1.

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Doncic for the start of their second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on "Inside the NBA."

Charania reports the Lakers are evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week basis, and he is currently on a "slow path" in his recovery from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined for the past month.

"He's doing more and more on the court," Charania said. "But right now, still not full-fledged running or full-contact workouts."

Is Luka Doncic playing tonight vs. Thunder?

No, he is out for Game 1. The timeline for his return is also still unclear, according to Charania.

Doncic was seen putting shots up during Lakers practice on Monday, May 4, but he has yet to progress to 3-on-3 or 5-on-5. Lakers head coach JJ Redick had no update for reporters.

Doncic has missed 11 games since straining his left hamstring against Oklahoma City on April 2. The Lakers have gone 7-4 in that span and ran out to a 3-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets before winning the series in six games.

Luka Doncic, getting up shots Monday. When asked about his availability for Game 1, JJ Redick said, “no update.” pic.twitter.com/UZBw9x2E9R

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 4, 2026

The odds are stacked against Los Angeles yet again with a matchup against the defending NBA champion Thunder, who won a league-best 64 games in the regular season. The absence of Jalen Williams makes things slightly less lopsided, especially if the Lakers keep producing total team efforts with contributions from Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura.

Make no mistake, though: Doncic, who led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game and finished third in assists with 8.3 per game, will be needed this series. It just remains to be seen when – or if – he'll be back in time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic injury update, status ahead of Lakers vs Thunder Game 1

With the Detroit Lions’ 2026 roster mostly in place following free agency and the NFL Draft, it’s now time to take inventory on their entire personnel.

In the past, this team has been defined by their players on offense. They’ve finished top-five in scoring in four consecutive seasons. Typically, that’s been led by strong play from quarterback Jared Goff, and an offensive line that has allowed the team to move on the ball consistently. They’ve also built a strong receiving corps with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and tight end Sam LaPorta. The Lions also have one of the best running backs in the NFL in Jahmyr Gibbs.

But they’ve also built out some talent on the defensive side of the ball. Going into 2025, you could make a case Detroit had the best safety duo in the league, and with investments at cornerback with first-round pick Terrion Arnold and free agent signing D.J. Reed, they looked like a formidable secondary before injuries came crashing down.

So now entering 2026, the question is:

What position is the Lions’ biggest strength?

My answer: Last year, I answered offensive line, but the sudden retirement of Frank Ragnow and struggles at left guard resulted in that unit performing a lot worse than expected. With the additions of center Cade Mays and right tackle Blake Miller—along with fortification of depth pieces—offensive line is at least in the conversation again, but it’s not my choice this year.

I think quarterback also deserves to be in the conversation. It feels like Jared Goff is often taken for granted in this town, but he’s now produced four straight seasons of a passer rating of 97.9 or higher, at least 4,400 yards, and over that time has produced a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 130-to-39. Statistically, he’s been a top-five quarterback, and the importance of that can’t be overstated.

This may be the first year I would consider saying this, but the defensive line also deserves consideration. The starting lineup of Aidan Hutchinson, Tyleik Williams, Alim McNeill, and now Derrick Moore features two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in football. Unfortunately, I’m not ready to crown them until I see actual results—and there’s also some concern among the depth there.

Enough of the candidates, what’s my actual pick? I’m going to say receivers, and cheat a little. St. Brown and Jameson Williams produce one of the best duos in the league, but it doesn’t stop there. I’m including a top-five tight end in LaPorta, and I’m going to even throw the receiving skills of Jahmyr Gibbs in there, too.

I believe all five of those players should be bunched together, because with all those receiving weapons at their disposal, new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and pass game coordinator Mike Kafka should have no problem finding a mismatch in their favor every single week. Throw in the potential of a Year 2 jump from Isaac TeSlaa, and you’d be hard pressed to find better receiving weapons than Detroit across the entire NFL landscape.

What do you think the Lions’ biggest strength is right now? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Julian Alvarez has travelled for Atletico Madrid’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal, but he was seen testing his ankle on Monday night.

Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images

Julian Alvarez was forced off with an ankle injury in the second half of Atletico Madrid’s Champions League semi-final first leg match against Arsenal last Wednesday, subsequently missing their match in La Liga at the weekend.

Alvarez then travelled with the Atletico squad to London on Monday, joining the team for training at the Emirates Stadium. But his spot in the starting lineup remains in doubt, particularly as he was seen testing his ankle ahead of training.

Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images

Journalists in attendance at the Emirates spotted Alvarez working alone with Atletico physiotherapist Oscar Pitillas, doing various exercises to test his ankle before taking part in training with the rest of the squad.

From an Atletico point of view, an optimistic take on the situation would be that the tests proved Alvarez was fit enought to take part in the session.

On the other hand, the fact he still requires special treatment just 24 hours before the game must make him a doubt to play through the match to the final whistle. Given the 26-year-old’s importance to Atletico as their top scorer, that could be significant.

Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Nicolas Gonzalez and Pablo Barrios will certainly be absent, as they weren’t named in the travelling squad. They won’t be making their injury comebacks against Arsenal on Tuesday night.

But Jose Maria Gimenez has travelled, despite missing the first leg of the semi-final and Atletico’s match against Valencia at the weekend. That suggests he’s on the verge of an injury comeback, but it may be too much to immediately throw him into the starting lineup after eight games out.

Lamine Yamal’s injury came as a massive blow to FC Barcelona and Hansi Flick’s plans, but the team have bounced back well with two wins in two games after his setback.

While it is clear that the team’s attacking output is significantly poorer without Yamal, the club have decided that the teenage sensation will not play for the team again this season.

After all, the upcoming FIFA World Cup later this year is what is on his mind, and the player does not wish to miss that competition under any circumstances.

Back on the lawn

As reported by Cadena SER, Yamal has already begun his recovery at the club facilities and was at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper earlier this week, working on his return.

The Spanish forward is already working in the gym and has worked individually in the team’s training facility.

What’s bigger is that he has also started working on the grass cautiously under the guidance of the team’s staff.

Back training on the grass. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Yamal’s eyes are fixed on the FIFA World Cup, and he does not wish to miss it under any circumstances. 

His injury was said to need between six and eight weeks out, and given that he was injured on April 22nd, the best-case scenario placed him as a candidate to return just in time for the World Cup.

Even if his recovery requires a few extra weeks, however, Luis de La Fuente and Co. have no intention of excluding the Barcelona star and will help him work towards a speedy return, even if it is midway through the event. 

They cite Dani Olmo’s turnaround from being injured to becoming one of Spain’s most important players in the EURO 2024, and hope Yamal can do the same.

Patriots predictions add edge rusher, wide receiver to bolster offense and defense originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots have Super Bowl aspirations in 2026 after falling just short in 2025.

Well, saying they fell "just short" is up for debate. Yes, New England made it to the Super Bowl  in 2025, but they also got their doors blown off by a clearly superior team in the Seattle Seahawks.

That said, it's a reminder that the Patriots should be looking to add as much talent as possible before the start of the season to have a better chance to compete and edge rusher and wide receiver are two positions that could use more love.

New England added Dre'Mont Jones in free agency and Gabe Jacas in the draft, but the Pats could use more depth behind those two and Harold Landry, as Jacas is a total wild card as a rookie and Landry dealt with injury last season.

At wide receiver, the A.J. Brown saga remains unsettled and right now the Patriots have only added Romeo Doubs to replace the void left by the Stefon Diggs release. Even if the Pats had kept Diggs, they still needed more help at receiver.

Patriots predicted to sign Reddick, Aiyuk

In an article predicting landing spots for the top free agents left on the open market, Pro Football & Sports Network's Jacob Infante has the Patriots signing wideout Brandon Aiyuk and edge rusher Haason Reddick.

Of course, Aiyuk is still under contract with the San Francisco 49ers, but the expectation is they will cut him if they can't find a trade partner, which is considered unlikely.

"Haason Reddick reached double-digit sack totals every season from 2020 to 2023, earning two Pro Bowl honors in the process. In the two succeeding years, though, he’s combined for just 3.5 sacks," Infante said. "The chances he returns to that elite level of production at this stage seem slim, but an NFL team will take a chance on him to bounce back in their rotation."

"Brandon Aiyuk played only 7 games in 2024 and missed the entire 2025 season. What level of production he’d bring to a team at this point is anyone’s guess, but it’s worth noting that in 2023, he was a second-team All-Pro with 1,342 receiving yards in his last healthy season," Infante wrote. "Those highs should give him a starting shot wherever he ends up next."

Reddick would be a fine depth addition for the Patriots. Granted, he isn't the alpha edge rusher he once was after posting just 3.5 sacks over his last 23 games, but New England doesn't need him to be that with Jones and Harold Landry on the roster. As a rotational EDGE, Reddick would be an ideal fit to give the Patriots extra juice in the pass-rush on obvious passing downs.

Aiyuk was once on a star trajectory after posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, including a 2023 campaign in which he broke 1,300 yards, but a torn ACL in 2024 and his sitting out all of last season under some weird circumstances has no doubt hurt his stock.

While the Patriots shouldn't depend on Aiyuk for a significant role, he could offer a fantastic second or third option in New England's offense alongside Doubs and Brown, assuming the Patriots actually do acquire the latter.

If the Patriots don't end up trading for Brown, signing someone like Aiyuk would be even more crucial, although he shouldn't be relied upon as anything more than the Pats' third option in the offense.

While we could see the Patriots signing Reddick, all signs point to Aiyuk joining the Washington Commanders if he hits the open market, so signing the veteran wideout seems less likely for New England.

More NFL News

• NFL commissioner Roger Goodell blown away by Fernando Mendoza
• Why Packers are signing veteran QB Tyrod Taylor in free agency
• Panthers WR trade candidate should interest Chiefs, Raiders, Dolphins
• Steelers fans show excitement for 2026 draft pick through jersey sales
• Commanders listed among most likely landing spots for free-agent WR

Why Steelers' QB target Aaron Rodgers is being linked to the Cardinals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The assumption all along has been that if Aaron Rodgers doesn't retire, he'll play for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026.

Lately, there've been rumors -- more like speculation -- linking him to the Arizona Cardinals.

That would be a major twist in the tale, for sure.

If Rodgers ended up in Arizona, it would really hurt Pittsburgh's QB situation for the season ahead.

For now, though, no such decisions have been made.

MORE: Shilo Sanders under fire for telling female reporter to 'make a sandwich'

What's going on with Aaron Rodgers and the Cardinals?

The reality is that there hasn't been any real reporting on this, just speculation.

"In recent days, some in the media have connected dots that had been hiding in plain sight for weeks," Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio wrote. "Even after drafting quarterback Carson Beck, the Cardinals don’t have an obvious answer at the position... Regardless, nearly two months into free agency, there’s been no indication that the Cardinals are eyeing Rodgers or that Rodgers is eyeing the Cardinals. Could it still happen? Sure. Would it make sense at one level? Absolutely. At another level, it would make no sense."

The Cardinals currently have Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and the aforementioned Carson Beck. That's clearly not that good, but as Florio writes, their goal this season probably isn't to be all that good.

There are some familiar faces in Arizona, which is part of why the speculation at least makes some sense.

"Nathaniel Hackett, his former offensive coordinator with the Packers and the Jets, has that same role in Arizona now," Florio writes. "And Mike LaFleur, brother of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur (with whom Rodgers won a pair of NFL MVP awards), is the Cardinals’ head coach. Last year, Mike LaFleur was the Rams’ offensive coordinator. They viewed Rodgers as a potential Plan B, if Matthew Stafford had been traded to the Giants or the Raiders."

The good news for the Steelers is that despite those connections, there hasn't seemed to be any pursuit.

Rodgers probably wouldn't want to go to a non-contending Cardinals team, anyway.

It still seems most likely he picks the Steelers, as long as he doesn't retire.

More NFL news:

• Saints still have an Alvin Kamara decision to make
• How the Steelers are setting up for Arch Manning
• Eagles might have a DeVonta Smith problem
• Patriots give another A.J. Brown signal
• From Falcons to Cardinals, Tyler Allgeier can't catch a break

Following free agency and the NFL draft, where have the Jacksonville Jaguars improved the most this offseason?

Each of ESPN's NFL Nation reporters answered that question for their respective teams. When it came to the Jaguars, Michael DiRocco selected the cornerback position.

The main reason for DiRocco's selection? Travis Hunter being healthy.

"The Jaguars believe Hunter was their best corner despite the smaller workload on defense," DiRocco wrote. "Re-signing Montaric Brown to start on the other side is a major plus, too. If Jourdan Lewis returns to his level of play before his Week 16 foot injury, cornerback will be the Jaguars' strongest position group."

As DiRocco notes, Hunter played only 37% of the defensive snaps last season before his injury. However, he brings impressive ball skills and an innate coverage ability to the Jacksonville secondary. Those abilities can be maximized with him taking on a larger role defensively.

Along with Hunter, re-signing Montaric Brown was key to providing stability at this unit. Following a breakout season in 2025, Brown will start opposite of Hunter. At the nickel will be Jourdan Lewis, and the versatile Jarrian Jones will be the first option off the bench.

The Jaguars were already one of the best at taking the ball away last season. Sticky coverage on the back end will also go a long way in helping out the pass rush, as Josh Hines-Allen described recently.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2026 NFL offseason: Cornerback named Jaguars most improved position

NEW YORK -- Following an emotional Game 7 win over the Boston Celtics on the road on Saturday, the Philadelphia 76ers looked a bit tired and out of sync as they began Round 2 with the New York Knicks on Monday. The Sixers trailed by as many as 40 as they fell to the Knicks 137-98 in Game 1 of this series.

The Sixers received 17 points from Paul George, 14 points and four rebounds from Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey had 13 points and three rebounds. Kelly Oubre Jr. chipped in with 12 points and five rebounds and VJ Edgecombe added 12 points.

Here are the three biggest takeaways following the loss to the Knicks:

Defensive struggles

It was too easy for the Knicks in this one. They lived in the paint, finished at the basket, and kicked it out to open shooters. When the Sixers did close out, the Knicks put the ball on the floor and dribbled into mid-range shots in order to find an offensive rhythm. Jalen Brunson, especially, was able to get into a groove as he took advantage of any crease he was able to find in Philadelphia’s defensive scheme. It didn’t matter who the Sixers threw onto Brunson, he was able to get things moving for New York.

Coach Nick Nruse stated:

Well, I thought we got off to a decent start defensively, and then we we had, I think, five or six mid pick-and-rolls in a row that they they scored on in pretty much every way they could. Came off, hit a 3, we didn't get through the screen, they got a lob, a couple floaters down the lane. I think they scored six straight times off that, and that kind of extended it a little bit, but, I mean, listen again, it's not very easy to evaluate any of that stuff. I just feel like we were full step slow tonight defensively. It just seemed like we were chasing everything. Didn't guard the ball well enough, didn't contest shooters well enough. I mean, they were, obviously, picking us apart. Just moving a lot better than we were.

Embiid can’t find a rhythm

While the Knicks were firing on all cylinders, the Sixers struggled out of the starting blocks. Philadelphia tried to get Embiid going early in this one as it fed him the ball in his usual sweet spots, but the big fella was unable to find a groove. He was able to have success at the free-throw line as he drew fouls on the big men the Knicks threw on him, but other than that, he was unable to really find anything on the offensive end of the floor. It was also a tough night for him defensively as the Knicks found a groove.

"I think it was a pretty tough night for everybody," said Nurse. "I mean, it just again. I don't think we shot it particularly well, but I don't think we generated nearly as good as shots. I kept talking about the last series, the shot creation and generation was excellent, right? And it wasn't very good tonight. I thought we just have to figure out how to run some more offense to get some of the same looks we got in the last series. Obviously, it's a new series. We got to figure it out. We weren't—again, really hard to evaluate. I think that we just were kind of stuck in the mud at both ends, and they put it on us. They had a great shooting night. We didn't guard them well enough, and they put it on us."

Fatigue a factor?

It’s hard to really use fatigue as a factor in any situation, let alone the NBA Playoffs, but it has to at least be considered for the Sixers in this one. They played a competitive and emotional Game 7 in Boston on Saturday, had one day off, and then had to go face a Knicks team that has had some days off due to finishing off their Round 1 series in six games. One can excuse them for the poor performance to open this series, but this is their one mulligan. If it bleeds into Game 2 on Wednesday, then the Sixers will have a problem to face in this series.

"I won't use that as an excuse, but emotional roller coaster," said George. "You go from a Game 7 and one day off, and then you're right back into another matchup. I think there was some carryover of us trying to get up and get prepared for this next matchup, but, you know, we should have came out and did a better job. I won't use that as an excuse."

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 3 biggest takeaways for Sixers following Game 1 loss to Knicks

With all of the changes made by the Tennessee Titans this offseason, it is easy to see why everything feels different, and there is a tangible air of excitement surrounding the organization.

But, for the Titans to take the next step and see a massive jump in performance in 2026, Cam Ward must take a significant step forward in his second season. That being said, it’s no surprise that Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports believes Wards’ development is the biggest post-draft question for the Titans.

Tennessee TitansQuestion: Will Cam Ward enjoy a Year 2 breakout?

Cam Ward sneakily started to break out at the tail end of last season. Over his final seven games, his completion percentage (62%), total touchdowns to turnover ratio (11-2), and passer rating (90.5) all saw a noticeable tick up. The Titans also averaged 20.1 points over that stretch compared to the 14.3 points per game they averaged over his first 10 games.

The former No. 1 overall pick will try to keep that momentum rolling into 2026 with a totally new cast around him. Tennessee hired Robert Saleh as head coach and brought in Brian Daboll as the offensive coordinator, while adding veteran receiver Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency and using the No. 4 overall pick at the 2026 NFL Draft on Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate.

That's the type of firepower that Ward was missing over his rookie season and could help him fully break out in Year 2. If he does, Tennessee could surprise teams in 2026.

Ward and the Titans’ offense took off after the team parted ways with Brian Callahan, and they looked like one of the more complete units in the league, even though they lacked established playmakers on that side of the ball. Now with a new staff and added talent, Ward should be in a position to take that step forward in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans: What is the biggest remaining post-draft question?

The Pittsburgh Pirates have on paper one of the best rotations in baseball, but they cannot expect to maximize that talent if they continue to limit their ace, Paul Skenes.

In 2026, Skenes has seven starts under his belt with a 4-2 record and a 3.18 ERA. When he’s on the mound, he’s mostly been very effective, with his starts against the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals being outliers. Outside of those two ugly starts though ,Skenes has only allowed one earned run or less in his other appearances. The problem now though is when Skenes, pitches he’s averaging less than five innings pitched, 4.76 innings on average to be exact.

If this is the plan the Pirates have to keep Skenes fresh for the postseason, they will fail. The game plan of playing not to lose instead of playing to win has a weak foundation, and the Pirates won’t even sniff the playoffs if they continue to utilize Skenes this way. The middle innings have been rough for Pittsburgh’s bullpen, and the longer those arms are out there the more likely it is that opposing teams are going to win.

Perhaps the biggest flaw in Skenes’ game is why the Pirates have been cautious with his starts; his biggest flaw being that he throws a lot of pitches. Skenes relies a lot on swing and miss pitches, and balls that just barely miss the strike zone. Because of his approach, he racks up pitches, sometimes quickly. In his most recent start against the Cardinals, the 23-year-old righty threw 102 pitches in just five innings. His start before that against Milwaukee, he threw 93 pitches, and twice this season topped 85 pitches thrown as well. If it’s a matter of workload ,the Pirates are still letting him throw a high number of pitches in a smaller amount of innings, as he’s currently averaging roughly 78.3 pitches thrown per contest.

Perhaps the reason that the Pirates have limited the action that Skenes sees is the dark underlying one that all Buccos fans fear. It’s possible that the Pirates don’t see Skenes as a long term option for the club, but instead as a massive trade package for future assets. Let’s not sugarcoat it, Skenes is the best pitcher in baseball. The best pitcher in baseball figures to fetch quite the contract extension when his time comes. However, the 19-year-old unproven prospect who hadn’t yet played an inning of Major League ball got the largest contract extension in franchise history. Meanwhile Skenes is already a two-time All-Star and Cy Young Award winner, and is still playing on the deal he signed when he was drafted.

Ever since he was drafted but especially last season, there have been numerous rumors about the Pirates receiving trade offers for Skenes. Now even if the Pirates have no intention of trading the superstar pitcher now, they might not have him in the budget long term. Skenes could easily garner a $5o million yearly salary, which would break the bank for the thrifty Pirates. Zach Wheeler and Jacob DeGrom are currently averaging about $40 million a year, and Skenes could easily get that or more. Perhaps the Pirates are just trying to keep Skenes as healthy as possible to keep the trade market as bountiful as possible, or it’s entirely possible that Skenes doesn’t want to be a Pirate long term, although nothing to this point has indicated that.

Regardless of what the Pirates or Skenes’ plans are longterm, both parties need to be focused on the task at hand. Pittsburgh is at the bottom of the NL Central, and it’s not going to get any easier down the stretch. The goal should be to win, and Skenes is the guy that can help bring this team out of the basement and into the limelight.

They say if you can't beat them them join them and that's exactly what Chester have done with their managerial appointment.

No doubt less than delighted at watching bitter rivals Wrexham rocket through the leagues under the management of Phil Parkinson, the National League North side have gone and appointed Phil Parkinson as their new boss.

It would of course be quite the story had Phil Parkinson gone from missing out on a Championship play-off place and a potential fourth successive promotion, to the Premier League, to take over a side who have just finished seventh in the sixth tier.

On this occasion that isn't quite the case.

Chester have appointed former Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson as they look to secure promotion back to the National League after eight years away.

Whether Phil Parkinson will face Phil Parkinson during his time in charge of the Blues is probably unlikely but the two have met during Wrexham's time in non-league.

All four league meetings went the way of the Hollywood-backed Welsh side then but Alty did take the win on penalties when they met in the FA Trophy in 2023.

Phil Parkinson, the new Chester boss, has signed a two-year deal and said fans can "expect a real modern-day approach to football. We have a set way of going about things, an identity that we won't deviate from".

If he can have anywhere near the same success that his namesake has had with the Welsh neighbours then Blues supporters will be ecstatic.

France's television broadcaster of the Champions Cup has responded to criticism of the television match official (TMO) from Bath boss Johann van Graan, saying "the video referee is the master of what he wants to see".

Van Graan said that foul play incidents were missed in his side's semi-final loss to Bordeaux-Begles, and called for more consistency in the replays shown to the officials.

He said they missed three instances of head contact on Bath's Alfie Barbeary, but the broadcaster says all footage was shared correctly.

"The video referee is the master of what he wants to see, and nowadays he has access to every camera, every angle," France Televisions' rugby editor Cedric Beaudou told AFP.

"Until he makes his decisions, we leave him to see what he wants to see. It's impossible to hide footage."

Van Graan accepted his side was outplayed in the 38-26 defeat but said "certain things are not picked up when you play away from home in France".

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), who organise the tournament, also defended the TMO and explained how the video footage is used by the video referee.

"The TMO interventions are managed by the television broadcast," EPCR told AFP.

"Two screens are used: one live, and another with a five-second delay. This is identical for all EPCR matches.

"Every incident the TMO wants to study can be the subject of a formal review."

The Champions Cup final takes place on 23 May where Bordeaux will defend their title against Leinster.

• Van Graan criticises TV replay 'consistency' after Bath lose semi-final

In the modern landscape of mixed martial arts, fighters utilize state-of-the-art sports science, hyperbaric chambers, and perfectly calibrated strength and conditioning programs to gain a competitive edge.

But occasionally, an athlete emerges whose physical power was forged not in a high-tech facility, but in the unforgiving crucible of absolute hardship. 

Reigning ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion “The Tormentor” Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu is the terrifying embodiment of that raw, unrefined power.

The Mongolian superstar has captivated fans around the globe with his suffocating grappling and an unbreakable, vice-like grip that has dismantled some of the best fighters on the planet.

Most famously, Baatarkhuu showcased this explosive upper-body strength when he claimed the organization’s bantamweight MMA crown by wrapping his arms around the neck of former divisional king Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade at ONE Fight Night 38 last December.

Once the Mongolian locked in the rear-naked choke, it was less like a standard submission and more like an industrial steel trap snapping shut. Andrade had no choice but to tap out or go to sleep.

But that world-class squeeze was not built in a gym. Long before he was strapping ONE Championship gold around his waist or capturing the attention of millions as a member of Team Mongolia on the hit reality show Physical: Asia, “The Tormentor” was a young man breaking his body against the earth to survive.

Forged In The Mountains Of Mongolia

To understand the impressive functional strength of the bantamweight MMA king, one must look back to the dark, freezing confines of the Mongolian mines.

At an age when most aspiring athletes are focused on amateur tournaments and high school wrestling brackets, Baatarkhuu was quite literally tearing minerals from the ground using nothing but his flesh and bone. Without access to proper industrial tools, he relied entirely on his hands to extract raw ore.

It was a brutal, grueling existence, but it secretly built the foundation of a World Champion. Grasping jagged rocks, tearing at roots, and hauling heavy, unbalanced loads day after day naturally developed a level of tendon density and crushing grip strength that no barbell or dumbbell could ever replicate. 

Baatarkhuu explained:

“There are two reasons that I developed this grip strength. When I was 17, I worked in the mines. Copper, iron, fluorite, and other minerals, I mined with my bare hands. We had no machines at the time. That job was quite hard. I really worked hard. 

“A year after that, I also worked in the mountains. We cut the trees down with our hands as well. That was really, really hard labor. We had no good tools, and it was quite cold outside. But I still had to work. These two jobs gave me great upper body and arm strength.”

The sheer mechanical force required to chop down timber with inadequate hand tools – absorbing the reverberating shock of every single strike – thickened his wrists, forearms, and shoulders.

It was an involuntary masterclass in isometric and concentric power development that built the physique he is known for today.

Unbeknownst to him at the time, every swing of the axe and every rock pulled from the earth was a deposit into an athletic arsenal that would one day rule the world’s largest martial arts organization.

The 12-Hour Shifts And The Frozen Steppes

Physical strength alone does not crown a World Champion. It must be coupled with an unbreakable mental fortitude. Baatarkhuu’s legendary stamina and sheer force of will were cultivated through a daily routine that would break the spirit of an ordinary man.

Working exhaustive 12-hour shifts of manual labor in the mines was merely the prerequisite for his actual passion. When his grueling workday finally ended, Baatarkhuu’s training had just begun.

“The Tormentor” recalled:

“While I was working in the mines in 12-hour shifts, even if I worked for long hours, I still trained so hard. My training was even harder than those mining shifts. When I stopped working in the mines, that gave me more time to train. 

“So, I started training twice a day after that, got some good rest, and worked really hard again. That was the turning point in my career. I truly became a professional athlete.”

Yet even as a full-time professional, Baatarkhuu never abandoned the extreme environments of his homeland.

Mongolia’s unforgiving climate is famously brutal, with winter temperatures plunging to lethal depths. Rather than hiding from the bitter cold in a climate-controlled gym, the bantamweight MMA king actively uses the frozen steppes to harden his mind and body. 

His conditioning routine sounds less like a modern athletic program and more like a mythical warrior’s rite of passage. This daily exposure to absolute physical extremes is what he believes granted him the superhuman strength he has been able to showcase to the world.

Baatarkhuu said:

“I have a few special workouts and training [routines] that I like to do, but it’s not something special. It’s pretty common among Mongolian people. But it is very hard for other people. 

“We train in the mountains, wrestling in the cold with just our training gear. We live in these extreme temperatures, rubbing snow on our bodies. When it’s minus 40 Celsius outside and there are parts of the lake or the river that have not frozen over, we take a bath there. It’s quite common in our country. I’m also one of those crazy guys who love to do that.”

An Unbreakable Hold On The Bantamweight MMA Throne

Today, the man who once mined copper with his bare hands stands alone at the summit of the martial arts world. 

His journey from the brutal mines of rural Mongolia to the global stage of ONE Championship is a testament to the fact that some fighters are simply built different. Baatarkhuu’s power is not a product of lifting weights. It is the physical manifestation of a lifetime spent conquering immovable objects.

Currently, the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion is awaiting his next assignment. While an official fight has not been booked yet, fans are eagerly anticipating his first World Title defense.

The division is teeming with world-class grapplers, elite strikers, and hungry contenders desperate to claim the 26 pounds of gold.

But whoever steps into the Circle with Baatarkhuu next will have to solve an impossible physical puzzle.

They will not just be fighting a mixed martial artist. They will be fighting a man whose hands were hardened by the mountains, whose lungs were strengthened by the freezing steppes, and whose iron grip refuses to let go.

Source

Pep Guardiola has conceded the Premier League title race is now in Arsenal’s control, and Manchester City can only win their games and hope for the best.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Despite a late comeback to draw 3-3, Manchester City dropped two points in the title race away to Everton on Monday night, leaving them five behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

City still have a game in hand on the leaders, so they can cut that gap to two points with a win over Brentford on Saturday. But they can no longer catch Arsenal unless the Gunners drop points in their final three matches.

Speaking after the match, Pep Guardiola reflected on the state of the title race following his team’s latest dropped points.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

“It was in our hands, in Arsenal’s hands as well before that game, depends on the goals conceded. Now it’s not,” Guardiola admitted. “We have to win our games. Now it’s not in our hands, if they win all the games, the title will be for Arsenal.

“So what we have to do is win our games, recover well, and then to have a series of games, three days, three days, three days. This is what we have to do.

“Brentford, recover and go for them, and after, Crystal Palace, and FA Cup final, and game by game it will happen.”

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

The encouraging thing for Arsenal fans is that City have slipped up at the first hurdle in these final five games, with the Gunners already having secured two wins.

The pressure is certainly on City to get a result against a high-flying Brentford side on Saturday, and the team still have to go away to Bournemouth in the final week of the season as well.

As for Arsenal, the Gunners have the midweek distraction of a Champions League semi-final, but they’ll then turn their attentions to a huge away game against relegation-battling West Ham United.

The Hammers have been in better form lately, and they desperately need the win, so it’s unlikely to be an easy three points.

The rest of this week could prove pivotal for the remainder of the season. If City slip up again and Arsenal win, it will be all but over. But if City win against Brentford and Arsenal falter against West Ham, we’ll be back to square one.

NEW YORK -- The Philadelphia 76ers fell in Game 1 to the New York Knicks by an ugly score of 137-98 to fall down 0-1 to open the Eastern Conference semifinals. Not a lot went right for the Sixers on the night as they shot just 41.1% on the night while the Knicks shot 63.1% and made 19 from deep compared to 11 for Philadelphia.

There was one play that stood out in the loss, and it was Knicks forward Mikal Bridges running into Sixers star Joel Embiid in the abdomen. Embiid then doubled over in pain as he is coming off an appendectomy and it is, obviously, quite painful for him to deal with at the moment.

Bridges was chasing Tyrese Maxey off the screen, but Maxey was already gone. It seemed like an odd and peculiar play for Bridges to keep going and run into Embiid.

"I got hit on it," Embiid said. "I don't know if it was—obviously, based on what’s been going on. I guess I got to protect it more. I don't know if it was dirty or not. I guess I gotta do a better job of protecting my (stomach), yeah, especially that part."

Joel Embiid is struggling with some abdominal pain after taking a shot from Mikal Bridges while setting a screen.

He's staying in the game, but something to keep an eye on. Embiid had an appendectomy less than four weeks ago. pic.twitter.com/b4wtNvT2AC

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) May 5, 2026

When asked a follow up on the play, Embiid went into a little more detail as he was, obviously, setting a screen for Maxey. Once Maxey came off the screen and was gone, the play should have been over from the perspective of Bridges. Instead, he kept going and hit Embiid which caused pain.

"Yeah, it was off the screen," Embiid added. "I don't think that was necessary, because, you know, Tyrese was already gone, and it was kind of like after the play. I just felt like it was unnecessary, but we move on. It’s playoff basketball. If that's the reality of it, I guess we got to go out and be physical, too and do it, too."

Embiid had 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting while going 8-for-9 from the foul line. He and the Sixers will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Joel Embiid addresses Mikal Bridges play after Sixers fall to Knicks

Pep Guardiola admits that Arsenal are in control of the Premier League title race after Man City dropped points to Everton on Monday night. 

Jeremy Doku put the visitors ahead at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a brilliant strike on the stroke of halftime, but the Toffees hit back with three goals after the break.

City managed to pull off a late comeback thanks to a goal from Erling Haaland and another stunner from Doku deep into stoppage time.

The result means City are now five points off leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. Their hopes are now dependent on the Gunners dropping points in their final three games of the season, but Guardiola says they will keep fighting to until the final day.

Guardiola: Premier League title race is in Arsenal’s hands

“Really good performance,” he told Sky Sports at full-time. “We played an outstanding first half. It was so difficult with their physicality.

“Second half, they made a step up. We didn’t have as much control and we gave away the goal. After that they come back and make a proper English game, so aggressive in the duels.

“But in general we made a really good performance.

“It’s not easy because they play so well defensively, with 10 players there and transitions with Beto with [Kiernan] Dewsbury-Hall.

“We take the point and until it’s over, we’re going to continue.

Read – Man City centre-back to complete Inter move after Serie A win

“Everton away is always difficult and I give credit to them for their composure and aggression.

“It’s better than a loss. We played to win. It just shows what the team are. We tried and we have done it.

“It’s not in our hands. Before it was in our hands. Now, no.

“We have to do it in our four games that we have in the Premier League. It will be quite similar against Brentford. We will see what happens.”

Read – Guardiola jokes about ‘disaster’ PSG and Bayern Munich game

See Also – Premier League players with 10+ goals and assists in all competitions this season

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Smylie Kaufman has suggested whether he thinks Rory McIlroy would have had a chance of beating Cameron Young if he had been in the field for the Cadillac Championship this past week.

Young produced a stunning performance at Doral to secure his second victory of the season. The 28-year-old opened up a five-shot lead by the halfway stage and barely looked back.

Ultimately, the American finished six shots ahead of Scottie Scheffler to move back into third place in the world rankings. It was also his third PGA Tour victory.

There is a debate to be had about whether Young is the best golfer in the world right now. Of course, we have not seen Rory McIlroy in competitive action since the Northern Irishman won his second Masters title last month.

Whether Rory McIlroy would have had a chance against Cameron Young at the Cadillac Championship

McIlroy triumphed at Augusta National despite not having his A game. And Doral would have been a great fit for the 37-year-old given how important distance was.

However, Smylie Kaufman is not at all convinced that anyone would have been able to stop Young getting across the line on the Blue Monster.

Speaking on The Smylie Show about whether Young’s victory highlighted a problem with smaller field sizes, Kaufman insisted all that having all of the best players playing would have done is create just a little more drama.

“I think 120 was always the best number when it comes to competitors playing in their big events. It flowed the best as a player. And you got enough guys in to where you maybe would have a couple more guys who would have an opportunity to chase,” he said.

“But the way that Cam Young and Scottie and these guys are playing, it would have been tough, of course, to see any of the extra 40 players that you could have added would have potentially taken down Cameron Young. No one was beating Cam Young this week, and that’s just the bottom line.

“But where you could point to the bigger issue is that you need all the guys to play that are at the top, the Rory McIlroys, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Robert MacIntyre, the list goes on of players who were not there. Now those guys could have made a difference.

“Would they have beaten Cam Young again? No, no one was beating Cam, but that’s where my head’s at there.”

Smylie Kaufman left amazed by Cameron Young’s performance at Doral

It was a real statement from Young, particularly as he was alongside Scottie Scheffler for three of the four days.

It is the second time that he has won by six shots, with his maiden victory at the Wyndham Championship coming by the same margin.

Obviously, Young needs to take that quality into the majors. That is what will put him alongside the best two players in the world right now.

But Kaufman clearly thinks that he has all of the tools to win one of the game’s four biggest prizes.

“19 under par is ridiculous. This golf course is 7,700 yards, the second longest on the PGA Tour, with water that’s in play on 13 of the 18 holes. And I’m looking at his stats, and of course, Cameron Young has so many weapons,” he said.

“He’s an elite driver of the golf ball. He hits it long and straight, and his iron game has improved tremendously since making the golf ball change at Wyndham this past year. He went on to win that first PGA Tour event. The putter, this is something that we talked about with him on the podcast, he’s tremendously improved in that statistic. But the stats this week, I’m blown away by some of these numbers.

“When you have greens that are big, like the ones at Doral, you’re going to hit a couple more greens in regulation, but you’re also going to have more of those putts outside of 10 feet. So you’d love to make a couple a day if possible to shoot a low score, but a lot of guys weren’t making many putts outside of 10 feet. But Cam Young, from 10 to 15 feet this week, he was five from nine. From 15 to 20 feet, he was also five from nine. So this guy was making more than 50 per cent of the putts in that 10 to 20 feet range. This is how not only do you win golf tournaments, that’s how you blow fields away.”

Many will certainly be tipping Young to contend at the PGA Championship later this month. He appears to have absolutely everything in his game to be the man to beat at Aronimink.

MIAMI — The problem with being reduced to playoff bystander is the danger of getting caught up in possibilities lost, at a time when rational thought about realistic possibilities is paramount.

As he wrapped up his team’s season last week, Miami Heat President Pat Riley spoke of having pushed for the playoffs, instead of a midseason asset reset, because of what the team viewed as a potential wide-open East race.

Hope trafficking? Sure.

But hasn’t that been the case with the Heat since the Big Three of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade fractured 12 years ago?

Since Riley spoke last week of an open East, the Heat, from the postseason sidelines, watched the No. 8 Orlando Magic push the No. 1 Detroit Pistons to a Game 7, the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers eliminate the No. 2 Boston Celtics and the No. 5 Toronto Raptors going to a Game 7 against the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Factor in a few shaky moments for the No. 3 New York Knicks early in their six-game elimination of the No. 6 Atlanta Hawks, and it would be difficult to argue there is anything as close to imposing in the East as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in the West.

Perhaps sensing what was to be teased in the first round in the East as he spoke last week, Riley offered a why-not-us take that either was prescient or puzzling.

“The only two teams,” Riley said, “that I would consider that I would be uncomfortable playing against would be OKC and San Antonio, and they’re out there (in the Western Conference).

“But if I can get into the (NBA) Finals, just like we did in ’23, then I would be happy.”

That, of course, is another element of what could be viewed as misguided optimism/hope trafficking, that outlier push to the 2023 NBA Finals with Jimmy Butler against the Denver Nuggets out of the play-in as the East No. 8 seed.

Since that 2023 postseason run before falling short, the Heat have won one playoff game, without even that the past two years. Butler by then had reached his Heat expiration date. But instead of regrouping, there was the hasty reach for Terry Rozier, of which Riley acknowledged, “We all know that turned out to be a nightmare.”

And even after that, incremental pushes forward instead of a reset, including landing Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell in the 2025 trade of Butler, and the Norman Powell addition last summer.

A year ago, it added up to 10th place in the East. This past season, again 10th place in the East, in a season that ended 17 games behind the first-place Pistons, who now play on.

And, still, another drag of hopium.

“I’m not dismissing any at the top of the conference, here in the East, because they’re all very good teams,” Riley said. “But take a look at what’s going on, it’s like very competitive. Anybody can almost win.”

When a franchise has won three championships and advanced to the NBA Finals four other times, “almost” has no place as the target for a reset.

The Heat are not the Pistons, who on Sunday won their first playoff series since 2008. The Heat are not the Magic, who with Sunday’s loss in Detroit remain without a series win since 2010.

The Heat have done enough in recent years to merit the right to step back, reset, not desperately chase fool’s gold in the belief of seizing on the perception of a down conference.

And yet, as one of the parties in the Heat hierarchy privately expressed recently, the view is that this could be the Summer of 2019 all over again, when the Heat exited from the lottery with Tyler Herro as the draft pick and exited free agency with Butler. By season’s end that time, the Heat were in the 2020 NBA Finals.

So, yes, possible.

But it has to be the right pick, the right player.

Basically, lightning striking in the same place seven years later.

Otherwise, no easy way out, no matter what the thinking about the state of the East after all the first-round mayhem that ultimately held to seed form, beyond the No. 2 Boston Celtics losing in the absence of Jayson Tatum.

Next season, Tatum likely will be back on the floor for the Celtics for a Game 7, unlike Saturday against the 76ers. Next season, Tyrese Haliburton will be back for the Pacers. Next season, the Pistons, Cavaliers, 76ers or Knicks could be more emboldened by the ongoing strides of this season.

Riley has spent the majority of the past two decades attempting to distance himself from his book-selling mantra of championship or misery.

From the depths of the bottom of the standings, with Alonzo Mourning again sent to scowl from the set of the draft lottery this coming Sunday in Chicago, the time has come for the Heat to reset with a championship mentality — no matter how long such a reset might require, no matter where the rest of the conference does or does not stand.

Even if the East was down this season, it was better, far better, than the Heat this season, as the first round of the playoffs ultimately showed.

____

Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners against Fulham at the Emirates stadium last weekend. After a tough midweek Champions League away match, where Arsenal drew 1-1 against Atletico Madrid, Mikel Arteta decided to make a few interesting changes to the starting XI against Fulham.

Surprise selection raises eyebrows

When the Arsenal Confirmed Team v Fulham was published there were a few raised eyebrows. Bukayo Saka was handed the captain’s armband and got his first start in a while following his return from injury. Richard Calafiori also returned to the starting lineup.

Probably most surprisingly, though, was Myles Lewis-Skelly being named in the starting XI ahead of Martin Zubimendi.

Lewis-Skelly played a blinder in midfield in a performance that was widely regarded as one of the most influential on the pitch. 

Speaking after the Gunners dominant victory, Lewis-Skelly said “Honestly, I was buzzing.“

Arteta admits uncertainty over timing

As quoted by Fabrizio Romano on X, Mikel Arteta was asked why it took so long for Myles Lewis-Skelly to start in midfield: “Probably I don’t have a clue! Maybe I should have done it earlier, I don’t know. It was a big risk, if we lost the game, what would have happened?”

The Arsenal boss was clearly aware of the gamble he had taken, but the decision ultimately paid off in emphatic fashion. Lewis Skelly’s performance not only justified his inclusion but also raised further questions about how he could be used moving forward.

With the season reaching its decisive stages, Arteta may now feel more confident in trusting the youngster in key moments, especially after such a composed and influential display.

Was this the breakthrough moment for Lewis Skelly in Arsenal’s midfield, and should he now be a regular starter?

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Liverpool’s ongoing rebuild under Arne Slot could soon extend beyond the pitch, with movement behind the scenes gathering pace as speculation grows over a key addition to the coaching staff.

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The focus is on Etienne Reijnen, a trusted figure from Slot’s time in Rotterdam, whose potential move to Anfield now looks increasingly realistic.

Van Persie responds to Liverpool interest in Reijnen

Quoted via Liverpool.com, Robin van Persie addressed the situation directly and didn’t exactly shut the door on the possibility of losing his assistant.

“It is mainly up to the club and Etienne himself. What I can say is that I am very happy with his work. He is a fantastic person who also fulfills his role very well.”

That response feels telling, because while the Dutchman praises the 39-year-old, there’s a clear acceptance that the decision won’t ultimately rest with him, especially if Liverpool push to reunite the pair.

It points towards a situation where the groundwork is already in place, particularly given Slot’s long-standing desire to bring Reijnen into his backroom team.

Liverpool changes extend beyond the pitch

This isn’t a new story either, because our boss had already tried to bring the former Zwolle defender to Merseyside last season, only for work permit issues and coaching qualifications to block the move at the time.

Now, with those barriers easing and Reijnen close to completing his coaching diploma, the pathway appears far clearer, which explains why the links have resurfaced so strongly in recent weeks.

It’s also been reported that the Dutch coach is ‘on the verge’ of a move, which would underline just how much trust the Liverpool hierarchy are placing in Slot to reshape not just the squad, but the entire structure around him.

At a time when ticket price protests continue to highlight tensions between supporters and ownership, decisions like this carry extra weight, because they reflect the direction the club is choosing to take moving forward.

The key point is that while results like the Old Trafford defeat dominate the headlines, the bigger picture is being shaped behind the scenes, and if Reijnen does arrive, it will be another clear sign that Slot is being backed to build things his way.

All six Arsenal players in the England squad featured, with De Bohan’s double winning the tournament opener against the hosts.

Arsenal’s Phoebe de Bohan scored twice as England opened their Under-17 European Championship campaign with a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland at Inver Park.

The match was well supported, with a strong attendance of 810, and there was significant Arsenal involvement throughout.

All six Arsenal players in the England squad featured, with Cairo Antoine, Bryony Brodie, Kyri Teer-Hutchins, Isabella Cowley and de Bohan starting.

Mia Dixon, who had been involved with the Arsenal first team in their last two games, including the Champions League semi-final, came on at half-time.

It was a classic attack-versus-defence contest, with England enjoying most of the possession and Northern Ireland looking to threaten with direct balls on the break.

Both sides set up in a 4-3-3, although Northern Ireland were tactically flexible without the ball, with captain Chloe Beckinsale moving from defensive midfield into a third centre-back role depending on the passage of play.

The opener came from an Antoine cross from the right that was not cleared by the Northern Ireland defence, allowing de Bohan to pounce and score in the 29th minute.

The second goal, which sealed the win late in the second half, came in similar fashion. Northern Ireland goalkeeper Ifeoma Agoha saved the initial shot well, but de Bohan was perfectly placed to put the rebound into the net in the 82nd minute.

Overall, it was a game of two halves.

England were physically and technically stronger, but did not always translate their periods of control into goals. They were also unfortunate, hitting the post twice through Antoine and Brodie. In the first half, England used the wings effectively to get around the Northern Ireland block and created a number of chances.

The second half was different. Northern Ireland moved to a back five to strengthen their defence, while England made three half-time changes, introducing players with different profiles in attacking areas. That led to fewer passing sequences, less continuity in attacking play, reduced off-the-ball movement and more predictability, which suited Northern Ireland’s game plan. The hosts also had a couple of chances on the break, including a one-on-one for Smyth, who rushed her shot and put it off target.

In the end, it was a deserved victory for England in their tournament opener, although there were plenty of positives for Northern Ireland too.

I spoke to Gail Edmondson, the Northern Ireland manager, afterwards and she was pleased with her team’s performance and resilience. She also confirmed the tactical use of her captain’s alternating position as a way to prevent some England attacks, as well as the move to a back five in the second half to stop some of the patterns that had been developing.

England will face Germany on Thursday, while Northern Ireland take on Norway.

The four tournament semi-finalists, as well as the play-off winner between the two third-placed teams, will qualify for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, which takes place later this autumn in Morocco

Paolo De Paola has criticised Luciano Spalletti’s tactical approach and in-game management following Juventus’ 1-1 draw against Verona at the weekend. The result came as a disappointment for the Bianconeri, who had been expected to secure victory and extend their positive run of form in recent weeks.

Playing at the Allianz Stadium, Juventus entered the fixture with confidence but were unable to impose themselves fully. Verona proved to be a difficult opponent, matching their intensity and creating problems throughout the match. The situation could have been even more damaging for Juventus had Dusan Vlahovic not found an equaliser to salvage a point.

Tactical concerns and missed opportunity

The draw highlighted areas where Juventus fell short, particularly in terms of attacking cohesion and overall effectiveness. Despite their efforts, they were unable to produce the level of performance required to secure all three points in a match widely regarded as winnable.

This outcome has added further pressure during what is already a challenging period for the team. With competition for a top four finish intensifying, dropped points at this stage of the season carry significant consequences.

Juventus were aware of the importance of delivering a strong display but ultimately failed to capitalise on their opportunities, leaving questions about their tactical execution.

De Paola’s assessment

As reported by Tuttomercatoweb, De Paola offered a critical evaluation of both the manager’s decisions and the team’s limitations. He said, “I think Spalletti made a half failure in this match and half exposed this team’s limitations. He’s still trial and error, and the critical issues are primarily in the attack. Either Vlahovic comes on consistently from the start or we risk running into problems. David, after all, is a bit lightweight and doesn’t really make an impact in the penalty area. I’d also add that the criticism of Bremer and Kelly is justified”.

His remarks underline concerns about consistency in team selection and effectiveness in the final third. The criticism also reflects a broader view that Juventus must address key weaknesses if they are to achieve their objectives this season.

With several crucial fixtures remaining, Juventus will need to respond decisively and deliver improved performances to secure the results required.

Manchester United have discovered where their upcoming FA Youth Cup final clash against cross-town rivals Manchester City will be staged.

United reach final

United booked their spot in the final after beating Crystal Palace 2-1 in the semis.

The tightly contested game was unlocked in the 77th minute after substitute Samuel Lusale found Chido Obi, who proceeded to slip in JJ Gabriel. The 15-year-old drove towards goal before producing a brilliant chipped finish to beat the goalkeeper.

But United’s advantage didn’t last for too long as Raihaan Anderson ruthlessly punished a big mistake from United keeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes.

But Darren Fletcher’s starlets had the last laugh, as Obi got on the end of a sensational defence-splitting pass from James Overy to round off the goalkeeper and fire into the back of an empty net. This winner set up a final against City, who just narrowly pipped United to the title in the northern section of the Under-18s Premier League.

Venue confirmed

City were drawn as the home side, and the expectation was that the final would be played at the Etihad Stadium.

However, according to the Manchester Evening News, an alternative venue has now been confirmed after City were unable to agree on a date for the game to be played at the Etihad.

Simon Bajkowski writes that City will host Fletcher’s side at the Joie Stadium.

He further notes, “The showpiece fixture of the youth calendar will be held next week, with a date to be confirmed shortly so that tickets can go on sale.”

“In a decision that will disappoint tens of thousands on both sides, the decision has been made to play at the 7,000-capacity stadium at City’s training ground instead.”

While the Joie Stadium is reserved for City’s women’s and academy sides, a sell-out crowd is expected for the first Manchester derby final since 1986.

Meanwhile, Michael Carrick and his players are next in action on Saturday when they go away to Sunderland.

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The New Saints manager Craig Harrison insists he did not feel under pressure despite a poor start to the season.

Saints finished the season 22 points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier to claim their 18th Welsh title.

That came after a disappointing European campaign and a heavy home defeat to Briton Ferry Llansawel on the opening day of the league season.

"There's always pressure being TNS manager because you expect to win every single game," Harrison told BBC Sport Wales.

"If you draw a game, it's catastrophe. If you lose a game, it's the end of the world.

"So there's always pressure and it's something I've been involved with for 10 years plus."

Under Harrison, TNS became the first Welsh domestic side to play in the group stages of a European competition in the 2024-25 season.

But earlier this season they lost to North Macedonia's KF Shkendija in the Champions League and Luxembourg's FC Differdange in the Conference League.

TNS chairman Mike Harris described those European defeats as "disappointing" amid speculation over Harrison's position as manager.

"Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a fantastic time and it wasn't particularly comfortable," Harrison reflected.

"But as in pressure, there's pressure every single day from myself to perform.

"I put on myself to win games, the standards that I want, the standards that I set, the standards that I think are acceptable."

• Harrison 'really proud' of Saints' latest title win
• FAW's Mooney excited for Cymru Premier expansion

Despite indifferent early season form – following on from the early exits in Europe – Harrison's side went on to win 26 of their 32 league games, losing four times and drawing twice.

But the Oswestry-based side were knocked out by Cardiff Met in the third round of the JD Welsh Cup and beaten by Barry Town United in the Nathaniel MG Cup final.

"League-wise we've been as good as any," Harrison added.

"We've ended up winning the league by 22 points, which is massive.

"It was my 10th title so I'm very proud of that and I think the longevity of it is amazing.

"We're disappointed in the cup competitions and we're a little bit disappointed about the European campaign.

"Previously, we'd either won the League Cup or we'd won the Welsh Cup and the year before that, we'd won all three.

"So, that's the standards that are set and we do our best to win every trophy.

"At some point, we're going to be a little bit disappointed because their standards are so high."

With their domestic season completed, Saints players have a month's break before they return to training later in Mayprior to July's Champions League qualifiers.

Harrison is looking to add new faces to the squad over the coming weeks and has already signed Connah's Quay Nomads forward Rhys Hughes.

"Rhys brings creativity, he brings quality and he brings more options at the front end of the pitch," Harrison said of the former Wales Under-21 international.

"Rhys knows the league, played in the league for the last couple of years and he's proven in the league.

"So, we know what we're going to get from Rhys."

And with the Cymru Premier relaunching as a 16-team league next season, Harrison's objectives for TNS are clear.

"Back again trying to win all three competitions - League Cup, Welsh Cup and Welsh Prem," he said.

The 2026-27 Prem rugby season will revert to a Friday night start on 25 September having begun on a weeknight this season for the first time in its history.

The Prem opened with a Thursday night game at the start of the current campaign to avoid a clash with the Women's World Cup final.

Next season's final will be held at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday, 19 June 2027.

The 2026-27 campaign will see promotion and relegation within the top tier officially scrapped as part of a series of changes to the league voted through in February.

Although there has been no promotion or relegation in English rugby's top flight since 2020 and 2021, when Saracens went down to the Champ and then secured an immediate return, the rules still allowed it if clubs met certain criteria.

• Prem relegation scrapped from 2026-27 season

Hull City striker Oli McBurnie has claimed it "would have been a real shame" if the Tigers had failed to get into the play-offs.

The 29-year-old scored both goals during the side's 2-1 victory over Norwich City to end a miserable run of six winless games (D4 L2) and set up a play-off semi-final against Millwall.

Wrexham also failed to win their game against Middlesbrough, which allowed the Tigers to enter the sixth spot, but McBurnie denies that good fortune has anything to do with the club's success this season.

"After the year on the whole, it would have been a real shame if we didn't make it," the former Scotland international told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We've put ourselves in this position. No-one has put us there, it's not been luck. It's been real hard work from the boys, grind.

"We found something. We had to find it. We did it, we just wanted to make it more exciting for the fans, that's why we've been terrible for the last six weeks!"

Hull host the Lions on Friday for their first semi-final leg before a trip to the Den on Monday (both 20:00 BST).

Alex Neil's Millwall were denied a place in the top two by just one point - but McBurnie isn't afraid of a big game.

"I didn't want to come [back to England] for a team that was happy being mediocre," McBurnie added.

"Me and [Joel Ndala] had a little text message last night and I said to him 'these are the days you live for, these are the days big players turn up' and that's what we've done."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

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"I did get a feeling early on with Henrik that it would click and we would work well with each other."

One hundred and forty-four matches, 109 wins, and six major trophies later, it's fair to say Chris Sutton got rather more than he bargained for when he linked up with Henrik Larsson.

Seldom before or since has a strike partnership been so efficient and entertaining for Celtic, with fans pining for something similar ever since.

Speaking to BBC Scotland for a new series of Icons of Football, with an episode centring on Larsson, the former Blackburn striker says the almost psychic understanding in their play together wasn't an accident.

"We did discuss it, but that understanding comes from training, it comes from playing, and it comes from building that relationship," Sutton says.

"And then it's knowing what suits each other. My role in the team was to be the link man, the foil.

"Henrik was quicker than me - and let's be honest, most people were quicker than me - so I always had to have that awareness.

"If we were playing against quite a high line, I'd hold the ball and clip it in behind and Henrik would already be on the move.

"So as soon as the ball's on the way to me, I know that if I can help it into space, Henrik would be going, and the opposition defence would be getting deeper."

It wasn't all tactical intricacies or in-depth discussions about every game, either.

Sutton and Larsson based their link-up play on a foundation of the basics: hard work, clear communication, and a clear understanding of each other's roles.

In their 144 matches together, Larsson bagged a hugely impressive 130 goals, while Sutton notched 66, with both players assisting the other 12 times.

Sutton adds: "That was our thing - always working hard to make sure we stayed within 10 or 15 yards of each other. Then it didn't matter who the defenders were; you work little combinations and little moves.

"I was relatively experienced, albeit after an iffy season at Chelsea the year before. But I did get a feeling early on with Henrik that it would click and we would work well with each other.

"When things are telepathic, you just know where somebody is. I'm sitting here now and I can imagine Larsson over my shoulder, but that was because of Henrik's intelligence.

"As a player, there's nothing better than walking on to the field knowing that if you get the right service and the right ball, you can cause any defence all sorts of problems.

"I think when we were in our pomp, that's what we could do - and certainly Henrik was the main guy."

WATCH: Icons of Football: Henrik Larsson on BBC Scotland on Thursday 7 May at 22:00 BST.

Fabio Wardley defends his WBO heavyweight title for the first time against Daniel Dubois in Manchester on Saturday.

An all-British heavyweight world title encounter is a rare thing in boxing, especially outside of London.

The Co-op Live Arena will host the fight with two of the division's biggest punchers in action.

Can Wardley continue his remarkable rise from white collar boxing? Or will Dubois become a two-time world champion at the age of 28?

Everything you need to know about the fight is below.

How to follow Wardley v Dubois on the BBC

Radio commentary will begin from 19:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app.

Live text commentary will start from 20:00 on the BBC Sport website and app, with radio commentary switching to BBC Radio 5 Live from 22:00.

You can follow all the action through fight week with the 5 Live Boxing podcast, with Steve Bunce and BBC Sport bringing you daily episodes from Manchester.

What time are the ringwalks for Wardley v Dubois?

The first fight begins at 18:00 on DAZN PPV.

Wardley v Dubois ringwalks are expected around 22:30, but as always, this depends on how the undercard fights go.

Wardley v Dubois undercard & running order

Fabio Wardley v Daniel Dubois - WBO heavyweight world title

• Callum Morrell v Zac Chelli - light-heavyweight
• Jack Rafferty v Ekow Essuman - light-welterweight
• Bakhodir Jalolov v Agron Samkici - heavyweight
• Liam Cameron v Bradley Rea - light-heavyweight
• Khaleel Majid v Gavin Gwynne - light-welterweight

How do Wardley and Dubois' records compare?

Wardley and Dubois are both known as knockout artists. Dubois boasts 21 in 22 wins while Wardley has 19 in 20 victories. That gives them both a knockout rate of 95% in their wins.

While Dubois has three fights at world title level, winning one, Wardley is in unfamilar territory in his maiden world championship fight.

Dubois has faced the better opposition as well, with two bouts against Oleksandr Usyk and wins over Filip Hrgovic, Jarrell Miller and Anthony Joshua.

Wardley's best victory was against Joseph Parker in his last outing, but has also beaten Frazer Clarke and Justis Huni.

On paper, not much separates them in terms of reach or height, but the experience at the top level may well prove the difference.

Form is on 31-year-old's Wardley's side, with his only blemish since making his pro debut in 2017 being a draw with Clarke in 2024.

Dubois is coming into the contest off the back of defeat by Usyk, another crushing encounter with the Ukrainian last July and three victories in between.

Which belts are on the line - and will winner fight Usyk?

Wardley's WBO world title is the on the line, with Dubois aiming to become a two-time heavyweight world champion.

Wardley was upgraded to full world champion in November after beating Joseph Parker when Oleksandr Usyk decided to vacate the belt.

Usyk, 39, holds the other belts but will defend only one of them, the WBC, against Rico Verhoeven on 23 May.

It is unclear what Usyk might decide to do next, but he has expressed an interest in fighting the winner of Wardley v Dubois.

Whether that would be for the undisputed championship is anyone's guess, with the WBC's number one challenger Agit Kabayel expected to be given the next crack at Usyk, should he retain his world title.

Wardley v Dubois fight week schedule

Thursday: News conference from 14:00 BST in Manchester

Friday: Weigh-in from 18:00 BST at the Bowles Exhibition Centre in Manchester

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Manchester United remain in the fray for Brazilian midfielder Ederson, who is expected to leave Atalanta at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old has been a mainstay in Bergamo since joining the club in the summer. He swiftly established himself as a pillar in Gian Piero Gasperini’s team, emerging as one of the most complete midfielders in Serie A.

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However, the ‘relentless’ Brazilian is now expected to leave Atalanta following a challenging campaign affected by Gasperini’s exit last summer.

Ederson’s Atletico Madrid move on the verge of collapse

In recent months, Atletico Madrid appeared to be Ederson’s next destination, with the two parties reaching an agreement on personal terms. However, the Colchoneros haven’t been able to strike a deal with Atalanta.

The Italian club are known for sticking to its guns in negotiations, and this time, they set their asking price at €45 million (£39m), a figure the Spanish capital side isn’t willing to shell out for a player whose contract will expire next year.

Hence, Fabrizio Romano believes that Ederson’s move to Atletico risks total collapse, as the club-to-club accord remains distant.

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The Italian journalist provided the latest on the midfielder’s situation in a video posted on his official YouTube channel.

The transfer market expert tells the viewers to ‘keep an eye on the Premier League’, revealing that Man Utd and an unnamed EPL club remain ‘keen’ on the Atalanta star.

Romano adds that United don’t consider Ederson a top target, but he represents a viable solution should they fail to acquire other profiles.

Should Man Utd meet Atalanta’s asking price for Ederson?

At this stage, Man Utd’s midfield plans remain shrouded in mystery. With Casemiro leaving and Manuel Ugarte placed on the transfer list, the club needs at least two new additions, while many observers insist three are required, as Kobbie Mainoo is the only out-and-out central midfielder who’s guaranteed to stay for next season.

Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Sandro Tonali, and Aurelien Tchouameni are some of the names that have been making the rounds for months, but INEOS are unlikely to afford signing more than one, given the hefty asking prices.

Therefore, Ederson can represent a cost-effective alternative. While Atalanta’s valuation might be inflated considering his expiring contract, he would still cost half or less compared with those mentioned above.

(Stats via DataMB)

The Brazilian is a well-rounded midfielder who combines physical strength and stamina with high tactical awareness and the ability to drive the ball forward.

These attributes render him a natural fit for the box-to-box role, but he can also act as a holding midfielder.

Portuguese giants Benfica are set to step up talks with manager Jose Mourinho over a new contract.

Benfica are aware of the growing interest in Mourinho from his former employers, Real Madrid, and Ojogo reports that they’re pulling out all the stops to keep the “Special One” at Estadio da Luz.

Madrid are almost certainly going to make another managerial change this summer, especially after another embarrassing trophyless campaign.

Alvaro Arbeloa was brought in to replace Xabi Alonso, who buckled under the pressure of player power, but his former teammate has failed to build on his initial work.

Madrid were still within touching distance of fierce rivals Barcelona in the perennial two-way La Liga title race when Alonso was relieved of his duty.

Fast forward months later, Los Blancos have fallen a staggering 10 points behind the champions-elect.

With just four games remaining, Barcelona are one win away from being confirmed La Liga winners and could be crowned champions in next weekend’s El Clasico at Spotify Camp Nou.

Arbeloa’s place in the dugout is already under serious scrutiny, but losing to Barcelona and allowing them to clinch the title could put the final nail in his coffin.

With Arbeloa one foot out the door, Madrid are once again looking at another ex-employee to help wrestle the La Liga crown from Barcelona.

That search has led them back to Mourinho’s doorstep, although luring him away from Benfica would be a significant battle, with the Portuguese club determined to retain his services.

Mourinho has one year left on his contract with Benfica, but the club are desperate to keep him in Lisbon until 2028 or 2029, and that intent has already been backed up by action.

Benfica president Rui Costa has held talks with Mourinho to map out plans for the upcoming season. 

However, there’s a narrow window that could allow clubs to act quickly. Mourinho has a €3.5 million release clause in his contract, but it’s only active for ten days after the end of the season.

Once that period passes, any club interested in hiring him will need to negotiate directly with Benfica, who are notorious for being difficult to do business with.

Donald Trump asked how Patrick Mahomes is doing to a Kansas City BBQ owner during the small business summit in Washington, DC. This question came when he was looking at the barbecues and t-shirts presented on the table. Last year in December, Mahomes suffered an injury in his left knee that disqualified him from playing the last three games of the season.

Donald Trump asks about Patrick Mahomes during White House meet

In a video shared by The White House’s Margo Martin, Donald Trump appeared to pay a visit to the stall of Joe Pearce, the owner of Slaps BBQ in Kansas City, during the summit. As he looked after the products, he asked Pearce about Mahomes. He questioned, “How is Mahomes doing?” He learned that he’s keeping well before wishing him a speedy recovery and praising his personality. “You tell the people of (Kansas City) we love him. He’s going to be OK. I hate to see that. He’s a fantastic guy,” he added.

“How’s Mahomes doing?! You tell the people we love him!” @POTUS speaks with the owners of Slap’s BBQ from Kansas City ?? pic.twitter.com/je8zceJf6k

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) May 4, 2026

In mid-December, Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL, and the following day immediately underwent surgery. Since then, he has undergone rehabilitation and has been recovering from his condition as another season approaches.

Recently, Coach Andy Reid provided a positive update about Mahomes’ health. He said, “We’ll have to see about that. He is in a good position to be able to do some things. If he can do some things, [he’ll do it]. Phase 2 [of the offseason program], remember, there’s no contact, and there’s no offense vs. defense. It’s Phase 3 that you get into that. Once you start the clock, then the clock’s gotta be rolling, you just have to evaluate what you want to do there. He’s in a position where he can do everything, I think.” He revealed that Mahomes is up to a lot of stuff, but reassured that he can throw the ball on his own (via ESPN)

Originally written by Shazmeen Navrange on Mandatory.

The post Donald Trump Name-Drops Patrick Mahomes During White House Meet appeared first on Reality Tea.

In the Italian Serie A, while Inter have secured their 21st Scudetto, there’s a true thriller going on in the lower parts of the table: Fiorentina, Cremonese, Lecce and Genoa are fighting to stay in the championship. One of them will certainly be relegated to Serie B. Two teams are already certain to go down: Pisa and Hellas Verona, who have already been mathematically relegated.

In such an uncertain situation, it’s not easy to predict which teams will be relegated or manage to stay up. For those who still want to place a bet, betting apps with free bets no deposit required are just what they need—allowing them to bet conveniently from their phone, while limiting potential losses should the outcome not go as hoped for the team they decide to trust in the not-so-easy mission of avoiding relegation.

Relegation trends in Serie A

The teams at the bottom of the table allow too many goals in a championship as defensively strong as Serie A traditionally is. Pisa and Verona are tied at the bottom and have almost no chance of escaping that position: together, the two teams have won fewer than five games at the midpoint of April. You can’t hope to avoid relegation with these few points.

Verona and Pisa scored 24 and 25 goals, respectively, in 35 matches, which is a pretty poor result. Lecce also managed 24, Cremonese found the back of the net 27 times, while Fiorentina and Genoa did considerably better: the Viola scored 38 times and Genoa 40. Their problem, though, are the goals they allowed. According to Opta Analyst statistics, Pisa allowed 63 goals. This is obviously the worst result of the season and the reason why they are so low in the standings. Cremonese allowed 53 goals; Verona 57; Lecce 47; Fiorentina 49 and Genoa 48. These are all among the highest in the league.

In the cases of Pisa, Verona and Genoa, the goals they concede are considerably higher than the scores they are expected to allow. This is a key stat in order to establish the favourites for relegation, so Genoa should be aware that the company is keeping. Pisa and Verona are bound to go down, but the Grifone can still win out and has the players to do just that. Genoa is a way better team than the last two of the bunch.

Games that matter until the end of the league

In the next few weeks, there will be some massive games to decide the relegations. Let’s see what the near future holds for the teams fighting to stay in Serie A.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 12: Eusebio Di Francesco, Head Coach of US Lecce, gestures to his players during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Lecce at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Lecce

Eusebio Di Francesco’s boys recently faced Fiorentina, Verona and Pisa in consecutive weeks, before closing down the season against Genoa. Obviously, they hope this last game will not matter at all, as it will be the case if they mathematically avoid relegation before that day. Their opponents are not that tough, and their position in the standings is no longer a concern.

Cremonese

The Grigiorossi have it worse. They play against Pisa (week 36), but must face Napoli and Como, two of the better sides in the league in a couple of games where Giampaolo’s team will probably drop points. So they must win out the other games, which are way more winnable but surely not easy.

VERONA, ITALY – APRIL 04: Paolo Vanoli, Head Coach of Fiorentina looks on during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on April 04, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

Fiorentina

The Viola is almost out of contention. The team is considerably better than the others we are writing about and must face Genoa, among other better teams. The Viola are probably the team that risks less, in the fight to avoid relegation, given their history, talent and financial means, but must play at their best to keep it safe.

Genoa

The Grifone plays against Fiorentina in a week 36 game where the Grifone is seen as the underdog and against Lecce, in a week 38 match that could be of paramount importance for one of the two sides, or could not matter at all, should Cremonese get to the last weekend of the season already sure of its relegation.

BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 02: Daniele De Rossi of Genoa FC looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Genoa CFC at Gewiss Stadium on May 02, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Giampaolo’s team seem to be the worst-positioned to stay in Serie A. Their roster is depleted and their schedule is considerably tough. Motivation will be key for them and they could use some help from their rivals.

Maybe some of them will lose out and eliminate themselves with their own hands. In Cremona, they would be quite delighted should that happen. On Football Italia, we will closely follow how this battle develops, keeping an eye on Cagliari as well, which is not in good shape after the defeat against Inter Milan and could be the sixth team involved in the clash to avoid relegation.

Phil Foden has reached an agreement in principle over a new four-year deal at Manchester City.

The 25-year-old's current contract was due to expire next summer but fresh terms will keep him at Etihad Stadium until 2030, with the option of another year.

Though midfielder Foden has struggled for form in recent months and has not scored since 14 December, a new contract signals a commitment from both parties to continue working together.

Foden came on as a substitute in Monday's six-goal thriller at Everton, which leaves City five points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.

The midfielder will be hoping to secure a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for this summer's World Cup.

Last month, boss Tuchel said Foden's place in the 24-man squad is not guaranteed despite being the only player to start both games in England's final camp before the tournament.

Foden was given his first-team debut as a 17-year-old by boss Pep Guardiola and has gone on to make 365 appearances for City, winning six Premier League titles, one Champions League and two FA Cups.

Despite his recent form, former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney says Foden has to "play every game" for City.

"I think you have to put him in the team," he said on the BBC's Wayne Rooney Show. "I love watching him play, I love his little movements, how he gets into the pockets of space. It's not nice watching him sitting on the bench.

"I think he was doing well [this season]. He's had bad moments, but when you have a bad moment and you're taken out and put on the sidelines for weeks on end, I just think a player of that quality, you have to just keep playing him.

"You've got [Jeremy] Doku there who can do anything. You've got [Antoine] Semenyo, who can go outside, come inside. It's real power, pace and raw speed going up against you, so I don't know whether that's a reason why Foden's not playing. Pep may want a little bit more help defensively."

Celtic picked up a massive three points on the road on Sunday (May 3) with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road. 

After Hibs' Jamie McGrath was shown a red card for a foul on Alistair Johnston, Daizen Maedagave the Hoops a first-half lead which was cancelled out by the home side just before the break.

Midway through the second half, Martin O'Neill brought Kelechi Iheanacho off the bench and his impact was instantaneous, with the Nigerian striker producing an excellent finish to put Celtic ahead and seal the three points. 

Here are some of the best images from the match. 

MORE ON THE MATCH

• Match report - Read now
• Manager: Easter Road win was a big result for us - Full story
• Iheanacho: I'm always haappy to help the team win - Full story

Fixtures

Hibernian Vs. Celtic - Sun, May 3rd 2026, 12:00 Final score: 1 - 2Match Report

The hockey world may get a good glimpse at what is coming next for Penn State star freshman Gavin McKenna on Tuesday evening. The NHL will hold its draft lottery to determine the draft order for teams that did not make the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff, and the team drawing the first pick will be first in line to bring McKenna to their organization.

McKenna has been viewed as the NHL's top draft prospect since his arrival in Happy Valley, and that remains the case as the draft lottery is set to play out. ESPN's updated ranking of draft prospects has McKenna ranked as the top prospect in the draft pool, as he is the player with the most certainty of being an NHL player. But will he be the top pick?

"There is no consensus on any player except Gavin McKenna, and even he has scouts questioning whether he should be the first player off the board," Rachel Kryshak of ESPN says. "If your team needs a high-end defenseman, this is the year. There are a handful of prospects projected to become foundational pieces on the top pair."

So if the team with the top pick has a need to bolster its defense, McKenna could potentially have to wait to hear his name. But regardless, McKenna will not be waiting long before getting his call to the NHL.

McKenna played in 35 games with 15 goals and 36 assists during his freshman season at Penn State, giving him the Big Ten scoring championship and earning conference honors as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten Second Team, and All-Big Ten Freshman Team. McKenna also earned AHCA West Second Team All-American accolades.

In addition to being a star forward for Penn State in the 2025-26 season, McKenna was part of gold medal teams for Canada in the 2024 world U18 championships and Hilinka Gretzky Cup. He is coming off a bronze medal performance for Canada in the World Junior Championships.

Kevin McGuire is the lead writer for Nittany Lions Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on BlueSky, Threads or any of these other platforms.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Where Penn State's Gavin McKenna ranks entering NHL draft lottery

Pro Football Focus has released a new way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft, and the Pittsburgh Steelers were predicted to select a quarterback within the top 10.

In the new mock draft created by PFF's Daire Carragher, the Steelers selected Brendan Sorsby with the No. 8 overall pick.

"There is a strong possibility that four quarterbacks go in the top 10 next season, heightened by the fact that none of the obvious quarterback-needy teams selected Ty Simpson this year. Sorsby could be one of several quarterbacks to emerge in 2026, and the Steelers are among the teams in search of a franchise option," Carragher wrote. "Teams will value his decision-making and composure under pressure — he took just seven sacks on 114 pressures last season at Cincinnati."

While Sorsby would be a terrific pickup, it's difficult to imagine the Steelers heavily targeting a quarterback in 2027 over other positional needs, especially when the team is seemingly committed to Will Howard and Drew Allar's development.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers select Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby in 2027 nfl mock draft

In the final game of the Round 1 series against the Blazers, Victor Wembanyama had 6 blocks. The unanimous DPOY picked right where he left off and created playoff history with 12 blocks against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But fans remained vocal about missed foul calls, and even the Wolves’ head coach pointed out the same issue against the 22-year-old Frenchman.

“A little bit, yeah, better spacing a little bit, better ball movement,” Chris Finch spoke about containing Wemby for just 11 points. Then shared his thoughts on some of the blocks that robbed the Timberwolves of crucial points. “He had a lot of blocks. He had a couple uncalled goaltendings too. So, those are valuable points we’d like to have back. I thought there was smarter offense to be had in the second half, and I think we did a better job of finding that.”

Victor Wembanyama had 3 blocks in 3.5 minutes at the start of Game 1, but not all were legal.

Long-time NBA writer and reporter, Tom Azarly, tweeted out the glaring mistakes. “– A good block – An uncalled goaltend – An uncalled foul”. He made another tweet, “Another missed goaltend on Wemby on this Randle drive to the basket.” But the officials did not make one goaltending call against the Spurs center. Within the first half, his blocks tally reached seven. By the end of the third quarter, he reached 10, breaking Tim Duncan’s record for most blocks in a playoff game in Spurs history.

Two more rejections later, Victor Wembanyama made history for the most blocks recorded in a playoff game period. While on the court, he was heating up, and the netizens on social media had similar raging reactions. The referees did appear to miss a few obvious calls against the French Phenom.

On one possession, Wemby got away with hitting Rudy Gobert’s arm. In the second half, the two-time All-Star had another block where the first contact seemed to be on a Timberwolves player’s arm, before Wembanyama used his other hand to swat the ball away. And the goal tend call against Randle was missed as the ball’s trajectory was clearly downward, but the officials missed it.

Victor Wembanyama gets challenged for Game 2

While Wemby blocked 12 attempts, Terrence Shannon Jr. is not afraid to drive again. The 25-year-old had his shot blocked three times by the Spurs star (one was a goaltend early in the first quarter). Shannon Jr. recently got extended minutes as Anthony Edwards started from the bench. So, he is ready for the challenge that the French phenom might throw at him again.

“He gonna have to block it every time, I ain’t gonna stop going downhill, and I told him that when he said a little something after he blocked my second one. He gonna have to block it every time, man. I know he ain’t gonna block it every single time. I’m gonna dunk on him,” he said. Shannon Jr. is a 6’6” wing with a near 40-inch vertical.

That’s why he is ready to challenge Victor Wembanyama once again. The 25-year-old remains 46% shooter from FG, but against the Spurs tonight, he was limited to just 38%. Another reason why Shannon Jr. wants to have this battle once again.

The post Chris Finch Bluntly Calls Out Victor Wembanyama for Goaltending on Spurs Superstar’s Record-Breaking Night appeared first on EssentiallySports. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Strength of schedule for all 32 NFL teams: Which teams have the hardest, easiest schedule for 2026? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Free agency and the draft have come and passed. That means just one more significant event is on the way for the NFL's offseason: the schedule release.

While teams do know which opponents they'll play this fall, they do not know the order of those games quite yet. It may be a bit early to start game planning — but because opponents are already pre-determined, all 32 squads do have an idea of how difficult their path to the playoffs may be.

Things are sure to change by the time the 2026 season begins, but by using each team's 2025 record, an early strength of schedule can be assessed.

Here's a look at the hardest and easiest projected NFL schedules for the 2026 season. 

MORE:Grading every 2026 NFL draft class from each team

Toughest NFL schedule 2026

Chicago Bears (.550 opponent win percentage)

Last season, the Bears returned to the top spot in the NFC North behind Caleb Williams and first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Their path back to the playoffs, however, could prove difficult.

Chicago's 2026 opponents had a collective .550 win percentage last year, which can partially be attributed to a strong NFC North division, but also because the Bears are set to host the Patriots, Eagles, Jaguars and Buccaneers, then travel to face the Bills, Panthers and Seahawks.

MORE: Who were the winners and losers from the 2026 NFL Draft?

Who has the easiest NFL schedule in 2026?

Cleveland Browns (.429)

Based purely on teams' 2025 win percentage, the Cleveland Browns would appear to have a favorable path to a good 2026 season behind new head coach Todd Monken.

Outside of AFC North play, Cleveland is set to face plenty of non-playoff teams from last year, including hosting the Colts, Falcons and Raiders, then traveling to face the Titans, Saints, Giants and Jets. 

MORE: 2026 NFL Draft picks by college: Which schools topped the list?

2026 NFL strength of schedule rankings

Here is the strength of schedule rankings for 2026. No. 1 is the toughest strength of schedule based on 2025 win percentages, while No. 32 is the easiest.

Last season's win percentage isn't always a perfect way to assess a team's schedule, however —a lot changes between offseasons, between coaching changes, signings, trades and the draft. 

Below is a look at Sharp Football Analysis' strength of schedule rankings based on their opponents' projected 2026 win total from oddmakers, from easiest (Lions) to hardest (Cardinals). 

MORE:First look at 2027 NFL Draft big board

How is the NFL schedule determined?

Virtually every aspect of the NFL schedule process, outside of when the games are played, is predetermined — opponents are decided upon long before the schedule is released, which is why every team already knows its 2026 home and road opponents.

The NFL uses this formula to put together each team's schedule:

1. Each team plays six divisional games, facing each divisional opponent three times at home and three times on the road (six games).
2. Each team faces all four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (four games).
3. Each team faces all four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (four games)
4. Each team faces two more intraconference opponents based on the prior year’s standings. For example, because the Browns already play the entire AFC North and AFC South in 2026, they face the teams in the AFC West and AFC East that finished in the same spot in the standings as Cleveland did (fourth) the previous season. In their case, it's the Jets and Raiders (two games).
5. Each team plays one additional game against a team from the other conference based on the prior year's standings on a rotating four-year cycle. These games match a first-place team from one division against a first-place team in an opposite conference division that the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in each division are similarly paired. The home conference for this game rotates each season (one game). Using the Browns example, they will travel to face the NFC East's Giants in 2026. 

Find out how you can watch City's Premier League home clash with Brentford from wherever you are in the world.

We host the Bees at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 9 May with a 17:30 (UK) kick-off.

The game will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.

You can also keep across all of the action via mancity.com and our official app with our Matchday Live show featuring Keith Curle and Neil Warnock alongside host Cel Spellman while audio commentary comes to you via Alistair Mann and Clive Allen.

Our team of journalists will also keep you updated in the Matchday Centre which starts two hours before kick-off while you can also check out the key moments on X/Twitter: @ManCity.

Supporters living around the world can find out how they can tune in via our global listings below, courtesy of livesoccertv.com.

(Listings correct as of Tuesday 5 May)

Florida only added one player via the college basketball transfer portal ahead of the 2026-27 season, but came away as one of the biggest winners of the offseason due to retention.

The Gators were able to keep leading scorer Thomas Haugh and two-year starting forward Alex Condon for next season, despite both players having heavy NBA interest. Starting guard Boogie Fland is also returning, and starting center Rueben Chinyelu is testing the NBA draft waters while maintaining his eligibility.

Elsewhere, Connecticut was able to keep March Madness hero Braylon Mullins for his second season, despite Mullins being projected as a first-round pick.

There's a new No. 1: College basketball transfer portal team rankings

Basketball portal’s early losers: Big names, big swings, bigger questions

Sometimes the best additions are the ones already on the roster, especially in today’s era of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness influencing players' decisions.

Here’s a look at our top-10 retentions ahead of the 2026-27 college basketball season, whether it was an NBA or portal decision looming:

College Basketball Transfer Portal Retention Wins

Braylon Mullins, UConn

Mullins proved to be a missing puzzle piece for Dan Hurley and UConn to get back to the Final Four as an all-around player, highlighted by his ability to hit challenging shots. He hit the game-winning shot to get the Huskies to within two wins of their third national championship title in the past four NCAA tournaments.

After averaging 12.0 points per game, 33.5% from 3-point shooting and 29 starts in 33 games, he was being projected as a mid- to late-first round draft pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. However, he opted to return to the Huskies for his sophomore season, where there's "unfinished business" to be settled.

Mullins’ return to UConn positions him as one of the top players in the country and one of the Huskies' leading scorers next season, but also gives him a real chance to elevate his stock into a lottery pick for the 2027 NBA Draft.

Thomas Haugh, Florida

Haugh is another player who seemed destined to declare for the draft. He decided to pass up on being a projected lottery pick and return to the Gators in an attempt to making one last deep run in March Madness after an abrupt end this past season.

"Most guys in my position in the draft, it would be a no-brainer to go to the NBA," Haugh said on his reasoning. "It’s not just the NIL. It’s a chance to play with my boys. To play for coach (Todd) Golden." While NIL certainly isn't the main reason in his return, it certainly is a factor in why the Gators were able to retain him. As noted by ESPN, Haugh is expected to be one of the highest-paid players in the country this upcoming season which, like Mullins, will likely be more than he would have potentially made in the NBA.

His return gives Golden an All-American returning to his frontcourt and a reliable go-to scorer and rebounder who averaged 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season.

MORE: When the stars are gone, the smart transfer portal moves matter most

Patrick Ngongba II, Duke

Patrick Ngongba II was another top talent who opted to run it back one more year in college rather than go to the NBA, where he was projected as a late first-round draft pick.

The return of the 6-11 center is a big one for Duke, who will look to give it another go at snapping an 11-year national championship drought. Ngongba finished as Duke's third-leading scorer last season with 10.1 points per game and 60.6% shooting from the field, while being one of the top defensive players in the country with 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.

Before sustaining a foot injury just before the ACC Tournament, Ngongba was playing some of his best basketball down the stretch of the regular season, as he scored in double figures in five straight games before the injury.

Nigel James Jr, Marquette

One of Marquette's most important offseasons in the Shaka Smart era began with retaining the core three — Nigel James Jr., Adrian Phillips and Royce Parham — of the Golden Eagles' freshman class for their 2026-27 roster rebuild.

The first domino to fall came on Day 1 of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden when James announced he was returning to the Golden Eagles for his sophomore season during his Big East Freshman of the Year acceptance speech. It was not only a moment that shut down any thought of him potentially entering the transfer portal, but it also provided Marquette with a point guard and go-to scorer to build around with its expected portal activity.

The 6-foot guard finished as one of just two freshmen in the country to finish with at least 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game in conference games this past season, with the other being Darius Acuff Jr. at Arkansas.

Cayden Boozer, Duke

All signs pointed to Cayden Boozer returning to Duke for a sophomore season after playing alongside his brother, Cameron Boozer. His announcement of his return was a big one for Jon Scheyer.

Boozer provided Duke with quality minutes at the end of the season when Caleb Foster got injured ahead of the ACC Tournament. The 6-4 guard, the son of former Duke legend Carlos Boozer, averaged 13 points per game in the seven starts he made during Foster's absence.

Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt

Tyler Tanner enjoyed a breakout season in 2025-26, averaging 19.5 points with 3.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game for Vanderbilt. The 6-foot sophomore declared for the 2026 NBA Draft while maintaining his eligibility, keeping the option to return to school.

Tanner returning to Vanderbilt looks likely, where he’ll be well-compensated and be one of the best returning guards in college basketball. His size (listed at 6-foot), along with the 2026 class being loaded at guard, could factor into his decision.

Alex Condon, Florida

Condon nearly left Florida for the NBA Draft after winning a national championship in 2025. He returned for 2025-26 and now will be back again for 2026-27 as a senior.

The 6-11 Australian averaged 15.1 points with 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game last season for the Gators, and formed one of the best frontcourts in college basketball with Haugh and Chinyelu, who’s also trending toward a return next season.

Condon could be the best returning big man in college basketball next season, especially with his playmaking ability as both a scorer and passer.

Trey McKenney, Michigan

One of the most popular breakout picks for next season, former five-star recruit Trey McKenney is returning for 2026-27 despite having NBA interest after his true freshman season at Michigan.

The 6-4 former McDonald’s All American averaged 9.9 points while shooting 39.1% from 3-point range off the bench for the reigning national champions. He should enter the starting lineup next season, and has a chance to turn into Michigan’s go-to scorer as a sophomore.

McKenney averaged 12 points per game during the NCAA Tournament and was a huge retention win for coach Dusty May and the Wolverines.

MBB recruiting 2026 team rankings: Kansas lands top player, but another program is No. 1

Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois

Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic also entered his name into 2026 NBA Draft consideration, although it's becoming increasingly likely he'll return to school.

The 6-7 guard was an NCAA Tournament breakout, earning All-Region honors after averaging 13.8 points with four rebounds per game off the bench for the Fighting Illini. The two-time transfer will likely start alongside a cast of Illinois returners, including Tomislav Ivisic and David Mirkovic, along with transfer Stefan Vaaks from Providence.

Stojakovic, the son of former NBA star Peja Stojakovic, averaged 13.5 points per game in his first season after transferring from Stanford and Cal.

Rob Wright III, BYU

BYU guard Rob Wright III initially entered the transfer portal, but the Cougars were able to retain their second-leading scorer for his junior season.

Wright averaged 18.1 points with 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game last season, despite playing second fiddle to projected No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa. Wright will pace BYU in 2026-27 and will be the No. 1 option for the squad in his second season after transferring from Baylor.

Wright was one of the top-ranked players in the transfer portal, but he ends up returning to BYU, where he’ll be asked to score early and often.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sometimes best transfer portal move is keeping what you already have

The eyes of the footballing continent will be on the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night. Who will advance to the Champions League final – FC Bayern or Paris Saint-Germain? Ahead of the semi-final second leg, you can put your football knowledge to the test and win an FC Bayern 2026/27 home shirt in our minigame! What happens next in the following scenes from matches against PSG?

Once you’ve solved all scenes, you can take part in our competition and get your hands on the adidas home jersey for next season.

Dieser Inhalt kann hier leider nicht dargestellt werden. Zum Anschauen kannst du die Website des FC Bayern München besuchen:Artikel auf fcbayern.com

Win more prizes with the Matchday Quiz:

Matchday Quiz: FC Bayern vs. PSG

TUSCALOOSA, AL – Kalen DeBoer never talked to anyone at Michigan. Those are his words.

We’re seated inside DeBoer’s office at Alabama, and we’ve dispensed with a couple of softball questions to warm up the conversation, before shifting to some brass tacks.

Michigan.

You know, that blue-blooded job that opened last winter, that job that had DeBoer’s name linked to it for days, attached with enough stickiness it seemed like maybe this was more than rampant speculation.

Exlcusive: He's not a Michigan Man, but Kyle Whittingham is exactly what Wolverines need

More: How deep does Auburn’s hatred of Alabama go? Check the Gatorade

Did DeBoer have interest in Michigan?

“I never once talked to anyone there,” he says.

He never talked to anyone at Penn State, either. Also, his words.

It’s important to be clear on these matters. So, I ask a second time: You personally did not talk to Penn State or Michigan, is that accurate?

“That’s accurate,” DeBoer said in an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with USA TODAY Sports earlier this spring. “That’s 100% accurate.”

As for whom his agent might have spoken to, well, agents like to talk, don’t they?

So, what of it, did DeBoer’s representatives talk to anyone?

“I mean, when they’re reaching out to people...,” he answers, before transitioning to another thought.

Hey, that’s agent business.

Agents drive up market value and secure extensions and raises, and they fatten buyouts. They use job openings to aid their quest. DeBoer’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, plays the coaching carousel game like Bobby Fischer played chess.

Only a fool would say the Michigan and Penn State coaching vacancies did nothing to help DeBoer’s paycheck. Those are premier jobs within college football’s best conference. DeBoer would’ve been well-qualified for either position. Those are my words.

Now, let’s return to DeBoer’s words, the words of a coach who’s not built to tuck and run.

“I never flinched or looked at or talked with anyone about going there once,” DeBoer says of Michigan. “I’m at Alabama. I don’t mean that in an arrogant way. I just, I have a great opportunity. I’m at a great place. I’ve got great support.

“I didn’t leave a place that I really enjoyed being at, at Washington, that was one of the premier programs in the country in my mind, to come to Alabama, to then leave Alabama two years later. My family enjoys it here.”

DeBoer came to Alabama, because he wants to be at Alabama. He wants this job. He accepted being Nick Saban’s heir. And, he embraces the demands of a fanbase that’ll only truly cherish him if he restores Alabama to a perch it hasn’t held since 2020.

That’s the only way to interpret his words.

In April, Alabama announced a contract extension for DeBoer that included a raise and a beefed-up buyout. Alabama would be on the hook for nearly $70 million if it fired DeBoer after this season. The deal runs through the 2032 season.

Alabama’s administration wants DeBoer to be its coach, wants him badly enough to push in more chips, lest it risk losing him during a particularly active carousel.

That’s how to interpret this extension.

“I’d much rather have a coach in demand,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne told me in March, when I asked him whether Alabama worried it might lose DeBoer, “than one that you’re saying, ‘Is that going to work here, long-term?’”

In truth, it’s fair to hold both thoughts, simultaneously.

Fair to recognize DeBoer was in demand, and why shouldn’t he be? He catapulted Washington to national runner-up status within two seasons. He took Alabama to the CFP quarterfinals and won 11 games in his second season. At almost any other program, that’d be a celebrated Year 2 achievement.

Alabama isn’t any other program, and Saban set an unreachable bar, so it’s also fair to wonder: Is this going to work, long-term?

What’s unfair to question anymore: Whether DeBoer wants to be at Alabama, and whether Alabama wants him.

They’re married to one another, and they’ve renewed their vows.

What Kalen DeBoer did after Alabama got trounced in Rose Bowl

What does one do in the 24 hours after suffering the ugliest postseason loss in program history?

That’s not a rhetorical question. It demands an answer.

So, what did DeBoer do the day after the Rose Bowl spanking?

“We flew home, and I was up here doing Zooms by 9 o’clock the next morning,” DeBoer said. “It was roster retention, it was portal. We were on it.”

“The very next morning,” DeBoer added, “our whole staff was locked in and rolling.”

No time to sit in the failure. No day off for a pity party. No coming in late so he could spend the morning licking wounds.

“When you fall short like we did,” DeBoer said, “we’ve got to raise our bar to catch others and close the gap.”

If anyone needs a reminder, the scoreboard looked like this:

Indiana 38, Alabama 3.

That’s the gap between the national champion and the SEC’s runner-up.

“We’re hungry,” says senior safety Bray Hubbard. “Obviously we lost in the Rose Bowl last year, and there’s guys that still remember that. We’ve obviously got to learn from that.

“You have to use it as motivation.”

Hunger and motivation are good fuel.

Discipline, execution, sound fundamentals, all of those buzz words matter, too.

Also, another important maxim was on display in Pasadena, California: If you have a quarterback, you have a chance. Nobody possessed a better quarterback than Indiana. Fernando Mendoza torched the Tide, while Alabama starter Ty Simpson had one of his worst performances, before heading to the NFL.

The starting quarterbacks in DeBoer’s first two seasons at Alabama were Saban leftovers. Now, one of DeBoer’s recruits will take the controls.

That’s where we must take this conversation next.

How do you know Keelon Russell’s talent? Just listen

Close your eyes if you want to understand Keelon Russell’s talent.

Listen.

That’s Hubbard’s advice.

“You can hear the ball sizzle when he throws it,” Hubbard said of Russell, Alabama’s redshirt freshman quarterback.

DeBoer won’t name a starting quarterback at this point in the calendar. No need to.

Maybe, the quarterback battle between Russell, the promising 19-year-old, and veteran Austin Mack is as competitive as DeBoer makes it out to be. The spring game told a different story.

Russell sizzled. Mack struggled.

Teammates point to attributes in each that they like.

“Austin, he does a really good job of commanding the offense,” Hubbard told USA TODAY Sports, before the spring game. “Keelon is a younger guy. Austin has been in the system (longer), but I will say, Keelon has got a cannon. He gets us all the time with some balls. I’m like, ‘Wow, that takes a really impressive arm to throw.’ ”

Wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams brags on Russell’s playmaking skills. Of Mack, he says he knows ball, as a former backup to Michael Penix Jr., then Jalen Milroe and finally Simpson.

Perhaps this oversimplifies the situation, but the choice appears to boil down to talent and upside versus age and experience.

Mack hasn’t played much, but he’s played more than Russell. Mack's time with DeBoer extends to Washington. Russell signed as a five-star prospect, as one of the first high-profile prospects to pledge to DeBoer after Alabama hired him to replace Saban. Russell’s talent “speaks for itself,” DeBoer says.

What’ll tip the scales? As DeBoer tells it, the quarterback who’ll win this competition will be the one who provides big-play ability and also ball security.

“There’s a fine line between a guy who can attack and be aggressive and make big plays," DeBoer said, "and also balance that with risk-reward and not having the big mistakes."

Fair enough, but a quarterback whose passes sizzle, so that you hear his talent, sounds appealing.

Kalen DeBoer reveals “the big question” facing his team

In Penix and Simpson, DeBoer coached first-round draft picks in two of the past three years. DeBoer's offensive acumen accelerated his career.

Defense, though, saved Alabama’s 2025 season and helped the Tide win seven of eight SEC games.

Ask DeBoer what he likes about this team, and he’ll likely begin his answer on defense.

In the secondary, everybody’s back.

“That’s exciting,” he says.

DeBoer saw the need to get bigger on the defensive line after Alabama got outmuscled in losses to Florida State and Indiana. Transfers Terrance Green (330 pounds) and Kedrick Bingley-Jones (320 pounds) supply some beef.

“I like the potential that exists,” on the defensive line, DeBoer said.

Alabama's stagnant ground game last season offered a stark reminder the program's heyday under Saban has faded into yesteryear. Fixing that run attack rates as a top priority.

“The big question,” DeBoer said, “is how much better can we be offensive line wise, as a whole, and in particular the run blocking?”

Those are the types of questions a third-year Alabama coach must begin to answer, if he wants to gain affection from a fanbase that can be best described as still on the fence.

Alabama football aches for a king. Can Kalen DeBoer wear crown?

DeBoer works a pressure-cooker job. Year 3 represents and up-or-down inflection point for his tenure. But, he’s not on the hot seat. His exorbitant buyout should tell you that.

And, still, there are miles between the hot seat and the king’s throne Saban once occupied, or that Kirby Smart built for himself at Georgia, or that Curt Cignetti swiftly ascended to at Indiana. DeBoer stands amid those many miles, not on the hot seat, but no king, either.

Alabama fans ache for a king.

“Until you experience being here at Alabama,” Byrne said, “there are very few, if any things, that prepare you for” the demands and scrutiny of the job.

DeBoer’s second season represented progress. Only the most ardent naysayers would deny it. He beat Smart for a second time, before losing the rematch in the SEC Championship. He swept rivals Tennessee, LSU and Auburn. He won a playoff game.

At programs like Alabama, though, coaches who’ve never won a national championship are only as good as their last game. In Alabama’s last game, Indiana defaced the elephant. That lingers in the zeitgeist.

Is it fair DeBoer didn’t earn more praise and affection for Alabama’s achievements in Year 2?

“When you say, is that fair? No,” Byrne says. “But, it’s reality, and you have to deal with reality.”

“Kalen,” Byrne adds, “is really steady-eddie.”

And, I’d add, he’s become increasingly aware of this job's realities.

“We have high expectations. That’s why I came here,” DeBoer said. “That’s what we signed up for. I remind the guys of that when the criticism comes: ‘Hey, this is part of it, and we got a choice, and we’re going to be better because of it.’”

He’s talking like a coach who chose Alabama, more than once. To be feted as king, he must rule like one.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppme

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama football craves a king. Can Kalen DeBoer wear crown?

Liverpool Could Secure Bargain Summer Signing

Liverpool’s reported interest in Marcos Senesi feels less like opportunism and more like quiet preparation for what comes next. The Bournemouth defender, approaching the end of his contract, represents the kind of market move that has defined Liverpool’s smarter recruitment cycles—low risk, tactically useful, and financially efficient.

At face value, adding another left-sided centre-back might seem unnecessary. Virgil van Dijk remains elite, a commanding presence who continues to operate at a level most defenders never reach. But this is not about replacing Van Dijk. It is about supporting him, future-proofing the defensive unit, and—perhaps more importantly—reshaping the system entirely.

Senesi offers something Liverpool currently lacks in depth: a naturally left-footed central defender who is comfortable progressing the ball under pressure. His ability to step into midfield, break lines with passing, and carry possession forward would immediately add balance to a side that has often looked uneven in build-up phases.

But the real intrigue lies in what his arrival could signal.

This is not just a squad addition. This is a structural hint.

Because signing Senesi only truly makes sense if Liverpool is preparing to shift toward a back three.

In that context, the move becomes far clearer.

As a left-sided centre-back in a three, Senesi would have the license to step wider, engage higher, and use his technical ability to support transitions. It would also reduce the physical burden on Van Dijk, allowing him to remain central, dominant, and protected.

For a player potentially available without a transfer fee, the upside is obvious.

And for a club needing to be smart with its resources this summer, it fits the model perfectly.

Photo: IMAGO

Built for the Next Manager, Not the Current One

It is becoming increasingly difficult to view Liverpool’s transfer links through the lens of the current manager. Arne Slot’s future feels uncertain at best, and decisions like this suggest planning that extends beyond his tenure.

This is not a move that aligns with what we are currently seeing on the pitch.

Liverpool under Slot has looked disjointed, structurally confused, and tactically inconsistent. There has been little to suggest a clear long-term defensive identity, let alone one that would require a specialist like Senesi.

Which brings us to the bigger picture.

If Liverpool is indeed preparing for a managerial change—as many expect—then this type of signing makes far more sense. Under a coach like Xabi Alonso, who has demonstrated a clear preference for fluid systems and back-three structures, Senesi becomes a logical and valuable addition.

Alonso’s teams rely heavily on ball-playing defenders who are comfortable operating in wider channels and contributing to build-up phases. Senesi fits that profile almost perfectly. His composure, positioning, and distribution would allow Liverpool to evolve tactically without needing a complete defensive overhaul.

And that is where the intelligence of this move lies.

It is not reactive. It is proactive.

Rather than waiting for a new manager to arrive and then scrambling to reshape the squad, Liverpool appears to be laying the groundwork early. Identifying players who can adapt to multiple systems, who raise the technical floor of the team, and who do so without major financial outlay.

That is how transitions should be managed.

Of course, none of this matters if the direction at the top remains unclear. But increasingly, moves like this suggest that clarity may already exist behind the scenes.

Senesi would not be a headline signing.

But he could be an important one.

Because sometimes, the smartest transfers are not about who you are—but about who you are about to become.

Manchester City have reached an agreement in principle with Phil Foden over a new long-term contract.

Foden is set to re-commit his future to the club with a new deal at the Etihad, that will run until 2030, with the option of a further season. The 25-year-old's current contract had been set to expire in 2027, with the Cityzens working in recent months to tie down his future.

Foden has been with Manchester City since joining his boyhood side the age of eight. He made his debut as a teenager and has since recorded 110 goals in 365 appearances across all competitions, becoming one of English football's most decorated players during that period.

The England international has won 18 trophies, including sixPremier League titles and the Champions League.

His performances have been scrutinised over the last two seasons, as Foden has struggled to replicate the standard from his 2023/24 PFA Player of the Year season. He has started 21Premier League games this season, scoring seven goals and adding three assists.

However, City view Foden as a key part of their long-term future, withThe Athletic reporting that an agreement in principle is completed. There are still formalities to be finalised but an announcement is expected imminently.

If a certain Danish lager company did football days, Saturday at the Gtech was the perfect one.

Watching a very welcome victory in sunshine and replica shirts, while moving up to sixth in the table, was brilliant - and the cherry on the cake was the return to action of the much-loved Josh Dasilva.

Brentford last won at home on the first Wednesday in January and hadn't won anywhere since the end of February - and we undoubtedly rode our luck at times on Saturday.

West Ham had an equaliser disallowed for a player's arm being offside and hit the woodwork four times.

But while they were unlucky to go in behind at the break, there is no doubt that the Bees stepped it up in the second half and thoroughly deserved the three points.

The Hammers must hate playing us - that's eight Brentford wins in 10 Premier League games against them.

The victory kept alive our European hopes and, although we were always unlikely to end the weekend in sixth, and we are away to Manchester City next, it looks like the qualification race will go right down to the wire.

Saturday also ended on a highly emotional note with Dasilva's first Premier League appearance since January 2024 after a nightmare run of injuries.

Dasilva, who joined us from Arsenal in 2018, played a massive part in our promotion from the Championship but has had only one injury-free season in five in the Premier League.

The stoppage-time substitution was one of three and of course he came on last. Many of us had a tear in our eye as we all gave him a standing ovation.

And it was wonderful to see the other players push him forward and then stand back so he could receive more thunderous applause on his own from us after the game.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast

When Ao Tanaka's shot was parried into the warm Elland Road air on Friday night by a sprawling Martin Dubravka, there was one player in the penalty area, eyes-wide, that was more alert than anyone else.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's leap seemed to leave his outstretched boot dangling for an age before his touch clipped the ball into the Burnley net for Leeds' third goal on the night and the Englishman's 13th of the season.

Leeds' number nine has matched his tally for his previous three campaigns at Everton combined; and part of the reason for his resurgence has been his fitness.

The three games Calvert-Lewin has missed this year are his fewest absent for five seasons.

Brought in at the back end of last summer on a free transfer, the Leeds striker was part of a trio of attackers that the club recruited who all had worrying injury records, that included Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor.

But United's medical team have ensured the Whites squad has missed the fewest games this season of any Premier League side on 77. By comparison Tottenham have missed the most on 363.

However, Calvert-Lewin's form cannot be explained by fitness alone.

Five months ago, the striker called Leeds "a breath of fresh air".

In March, he credited the club as the key reason he was back in an England shirt.

And after the Burnley game, the striker praised Daniel Farke, stating: "He has certainly helped get the best out of me this season and filled me with confidence."

Calvert-Lewin's improvised finish last Friday might have come off the boot of a free transfer, but if it keeps Leeds in the Premier League, it will be a golden touch worth over £100m.

From his hold-up play to his goals and goal-line clearances, Calvert-Lewin has been a revelation for Leeds this season and a big reason why they are almost mathematically safe.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock

Fulham were never going to play a starring role in determining the destination of the Premier League trophy on Saturday - our record in north London could tell you that.

But what is concerning is that we look content to play a bit-part role in our own storyline: the race for Europe.

We do not have the momentum of Bournemouth - 15 games unbeaten and destined for the top six. Or of Brighton, who have won four of their past six despite a surprise loss at the weekend.

Our form in our past six reads two wins, two draws, and two losses. And that sums up our season. It has been good in places, bad in others and often indifferent. And that is why, ultimately, we look destined to finish outside the European places.

Playing Arsenal away was never going to determine the fate of our season, but Fulham's task is a tough one now: collect seven points from a possible nine to surpass our record points total of 54 and finish in the top eight.

It starts against in-form Bournemouth on Saturday. The Cherries have not lost since the first game of 2026, but we must hand them that L to have any chance of giving our own story a happy ending.

There are chapters left in this tale - and plenty of players with narratives yet to conclude. Harry Wilson, so often the man behind our best moments this season, could play a key role.

Then there is Rodrigo Muniz, a man who has struggled since his early season injury, but who turned down a multi-million pound approach in the summer to lead us to the next level.

It might even be Antonee Robinson, who has endured the toughest season of his life, the nadir of which was at the Emirates on Saturday. Could he begin his redemption arc against the Cherries?

One thing is for sure, we need that main character energy in these next three games. The season depends on it.

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish

On Thursday evening, Crystal Palace took a massive step closer to a European final in Leipzig. On Sunday, they were humbled by AFC Bournemouth. The question in the aftermath is whether the Sunday result matters, or, in fact, whether there was likely to have been a different outcome.

Such are the competitive standards in the Premier League this season, especially against a club currently occupying sixth in the table, heavy squad rotation and seemingly pre-planned half-time substitutes were never likely to be a recipe for success – especially when the team lacks composure in possession.

If there was a time to question whether Palace should prioritise success in Europe over league position, that debate was out the window when the team reached the round of 16 in the Conference League. The club finds itself equal distance from eighth in the table, as it does 18th, and yet can't feasibly fight on both fronts.

Oliver Glasner's team has now played 54 matches across all competitions to Andoni Iraola's 37. That 17-game difference isn't an inbuilt excuse, but it speaks to the challenge faced by smaller clubs playing across multiple competitions.

The goal for now is for the squad to draw a line after a disappointing Sunday and refocus on the main prize. Thursday's encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk isn't without risk, despite a two-goal cushion from the first leg. It's likely that they will be forced to work out of possession, to contain the Ukrainian's Brazilian attacking talents, as they did the week before, and will have the chance to counter, which is ultimately where a Glasner team thrives.

The past twelve months have offered Palace fans success beyond our dreams, and if the travelling fans in Bournemouth proved anything at 3-0 down, it is that they were well aware of that, despite the scoreline.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast

Emma Raducanu faces a potential rematch with Coco Gauff in the third round of the Rome Open, with the American responsible for her fourth-round exit at the tournament last year.

The British No 1 has not played since Indian Wells in March after struggling to shake off a viral illness, and has yet to play a clay-court match this season.

Her stop-start beginning to 2026 was complicated by an injury to her right hand, which she cited as her reason for pulling out of last week’s Madrid Open.

But she is slated to take part in Rome. She will begin her campaign in the second round - after receiving a first-round bye - against either world No 72 Solana Sierra or a qualifier.

All of the WTA top 20 are taking part in the final WTA 1000 event before the French Open, where Gauff is the reigning champion. The American will face either Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva or Czech teenager Tereza Valentova in her opening match in Rome.

Should Raducanu replicate her strong run in Rome last year, her likeliest opponent in the quarter-finals would be world No 8 Mirra Andreeva, who has enjoyed a brilliant clay season so far, winning the Linz Open and finishing runner-up in Madrid.

World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka - who has been drawn in Raducanu’s half - willl play either 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, who is returning from injury, or Elsa Jacquemot. Defending champion Jasmine Paolini has been drawn in the same quarter as Gauff, Raducanu and Andreeva.

Four-time Roland-Garros champion Iga Swiatek has yet to reach her usual heights this season and faces a tough draw in Rome, with Emma Navarro potentially awaiting in the third round and Naomi Osaka in the fourth.

British No 3 Katie Boulter will open against Eva Lys; should she win that encounter, she will play Osaka in the second round.

In the men’s draw, British No 1 Cameron Norrie, who reached the Barcelona Open quarter-finals on clay, has a bye to the second round. Jack Draper is out for the remainder of the clay season as he continues to battle a series of injuries.

World No 1 Jannik Sinner is on a record run of five consecutive Masters 1000 titles and looking to make that six at his home Masters, while Novak Djokovic will be relieved he can only face the Italian in the final.

Sinner is aiming to replicate Djokovic’s achievement as the only man to complete the career Golden Masters - winning all nine titles at this level - with Rome the only one the 24-year-old has yet to claim.

Sinner is seeded to meet Jakub Mensik - one of the few players to beat him this year, in the Qatar Open quarter-finals - in the third round and rapidly rising Frenchman Arthur Fils, whom he defeated in the Madrid semi-finals, in the fourth.

Djokovic, who has been out of action since Indian Wells as he recovers from injury, will open against Marton Fucsovics or a qualifier.

Barcelona are looking to bring in a new left winger this summer if they do not find a deal with Manchester United for Marcus Rashford. Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon has been revealed as one of the alternatives that they would consider signing for the position.

United are adamant that Rashford will not leave for less than the €30m buy option stipulated in his contract this summer, but Barcelona have equally made it clear that they do not intend to stump up that money. On Monday night it emerged that Barcelona had met with the agents of Anthony Gordon, the Newcastle United forward also cited as an alternative.

Ez Abde is other leading option for Barcelona

As explained by Matteo Moretto, Real Betis winger Ez Abde is the other name high on Barcelona’s shortlist for the position. The Morocco international is enjoying a fine season in Seville, with 13 goals and 13 assists in his 39 appearances this season. Having sold him to Betis themselves, Barcelona also have a 20% sell-on fee on Abde, which would bring down the cost of the signing a little.

Abde for Rashford, Gordon for Raphinha?

Given the respective price tags, it has been discussed that Abde could be on his way out of Betis for as little as €25m this summer, and Gordon could cost suitors upward of €80m, it seems far more likely that Abde would be an alternative to Rashford. With some talk that Barcelona would consider offers for Raphinha, Gordon makes far more sense as his replacement, should it happen.

RCD Mallorca winger Jan Virgili is another name that is on their shortlist an economic alternative at the position, while Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup has also been mentioned. Links to the Norwegian have cooled a little, while interest in re-signing Virgili seems dependent on Barcelona’s budget, and whether they can strike a deal for the other options.

Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool – Premier League Postmortem

After another week of pressure, scrutiny, and growing uncertainty, Liverpool arrived at Old Trafford knowing that anything less than a complete performance would likely end in defeat. What followed was a tale of two halves — one defined by chaos and vulnerability, the other by fight and fleeting belief — but ultimately, the same outcome persisted.

Another loss.

Another step closer to the end for Arne Slot.

The Starting Eleven

Liverpool XI

• GK – Freddie Woodman

• RB – Curtis Jones

• CB – Ibrahima Konaté

• CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

• LB – Andy Robertson

• CM – Ryan Gravenberch

• AM – Dominik Szoboszlai

• CM – Alexis Mac Allister

• LW – Florian Wirtz

• CF – Cody Gakpo

• RW – Jeremie Frimpong

Substitutes Used

Milos Kerkez → Andy Robertson (59’)

Rio Ngumoha → Jeremie Frimpong (75’)

Federico Chiesa → Ibrahima Konaté (87’)

⸻

Goals

Man United 1–0 Liverpool – Matheus Cunha – 6’

Man United 2–0 Liverpool – Benjamin Šeško (Amad Diallo) – 14’

Man United 2–1 Liverpool – Dominik Szoboszlai – 47’

Man United 2–2 Liverpool – Cody Gakpo (Dominik Szoboszlai) – 56’

Man United 3–2 Liverpool – Kobe Mainoo – 77’

⸻

Match Statistics

• Possession – Man U 37% | Liverpool 63%

• xG – Man U 2.14 | Liverpool 0.89

• Total Shots – Man U 18 | Liverpool 13

• Shots on Target – Man U 6 | Liverpool 3

• Fouls – Man U 12 | Liverpool 11

• Corners – Man U 3 | Liverpool 2

⸻

First Half

The opening half was nothing short of dreadful for Liverpool. From the first whistle, the lack of structure, intensity, and organisation was glaring. Manchester United did not need to dominate the ball — they simply waited, pressed at the right moments, and cut through Liverpool with alarming ease.

The opening goal came early, a warning that was not heeded. The second, just minutes later, exposed everything that has gone wrong this season — poor spacing, slow reactions, and a midfield that offered no protection to a vulnerable defensive line.

Liverpool had possession, but it was meaningless. Slow, predictable, and entirely ineffective. There was no cohesion between units, no control in midfield, and no threat in attack. It was a passive performance dressed up as dominance, and United punished it ruthlessly.

At 2–0 down, it could have been worse.

Much worse.

⸻

Second Half

The second half brought a response — finally.

Driven by Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool found energy, urgency, and belief. His goal immediately after the restart changed the tone of the game, injecting life into a side that had looked beaten. Moments later, his influence continued as Cody Gakpo finished well to bring Liverpool level.

For a brief period, Liverpool looked like a team capable of turning the game around. The pressing improved, the tempo increased, and the midfield finally showed signs of aggression.

But even in that improved spell, the fragility remained.

And when the decisive moment came, Liverpool were once again found wanting. The winning goal arrived from yet another lapse — a failure to control space, a failure to track runners, and a failure to impose any defensive authority.

The fight was there.

The structure was not.

Final Thoughts

This was a performance of two contrasting halves, but one consistent theme — a team that is fundamentally broken in its organisation.

The first half was unacceptable. The second half was spirited but ultimately insufficient. And across both, the same issues persisted: a lack of structure, poor defensive coordination, and an overreliance on individual brilliance.

Arne Slot now looks like a manager on borrowed time.

There are only so many explanations, so many excuses, and so many “transitional” narratives that can be offered before reality takes over. Liverpool is not functioning as a cohesive unit, and that responsibility lies with the man on the touchline.

The end feels close.

And performances like this only accelerate that feeling.

⸻

Steven Smith’s Pre-Match Prediction:

Manchester United 2 – 1 Liverpool

Whoever Chelsea appoint as their next head coach - with former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Fulham's Marco Silva among those in contention - will have to navigate the forthcoming transfer window astutely.

In their recently published 2024-25 accounts, Chelsea reported a Premier League‑record £262m pre‑tax loss despite bringing in £490.9m in revenue - the club's second highest ever.

Following their triumph in last year's Club World Cup and a now rare season in the Champions League, Chelsea are predicting revenues will increase to £700m in next year's accounts.

However, forward Cole Palmer said in an interview this month that "everything changes" without Champions League football.

Chelsea earned approximately £78.9m in prize money for reaching the last 16 of European club football's premier competition this season compared to about £15m for winning the Conference League in 2025.

A conservative estimate would suggest those Champions League earnings rise beyond £100m when ticketing, hospitality and sponsorship revenue are included.

Accounts from parent company 22 Holdco Limited show transfer activity is a major factor behind the substantial losses, and the success of the men's team is a "clear driver" of revenues - while Chelsea are reliant on owner funding and loans to subsidise the club, which has long-term implications.

In the short term, Chelsea are bound by their Uefa settlement agreement after breaching their football earnings and squad cost rules in 2023-24.

The regulations stipulate Chelsea cannot record losses of more than than £52.2m once certain Uefa allowances are applied when filing their accounts at the end of June.

Any loss beyond that threshold would result in a fine of up to £17.4m, while losses exceeding £69.7m would trigger a one‑season ban from European competition, provided they qualify within three seasons following the breach.

That pressure continues into the 2028-29 season, with Uefa constantly monitoring Chelsea's situation.

• Read more: What does missing out on Champions League mean?

It was another fine performance from Kobbie Mainoo as he donned his boyhood colours for the 99th time in the 3-2 victory over Liverpool.

Already, the 21-year-old has a wealth of experience for club and country, and Mainoo is on track to join the hundred club, if he features again this season for the Red Devils.

On The Devils' Advocate podcast, supporter Sam Drinkwater believes working alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes has turned Mainoo into "the ultimate midfielder".

"He is one of those players that, when he's on the ball, you feel safe," said Drinkwater. "You feel he is going to make the right decision or at least the decision I want him to make. That attribute is so underrated in a footballer."

Although Mainoo's minutes were hindered earlier in the season due to falling out of favour under ex-boss, Ruben Amorim. Michael Carrick has helped revitalise Manchester United and the youngster's season.

The midfielder's best season came under Erik ten Hag in the 2023-24 campaign, where he featured in 24 games and accumulated 1,924 playing minutes.

"What we are talking about is a player who has certainly improved from two years ago when he was at his best for Man Utd. I think he is a better all-rounded player [now]," said Drinkwater.

Fellow Devils' Advocate guest Nick McCabe added: "He is looking like a proper player now. When you watch Frenkie de Jong for Barcelona, the way they carry themselves across the pitch, the way they link, he is that perfect piece between Casemiro and Bruno. He links it really well, and he is only 21."

Listen to The Devils' Advocate below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Manchester United content on BBC Sounds

Roma is seeking clarity regarding the future. Gasperini was eloquent in his press conference: mistakes are forbidden in the pursuit of returning to the Champions League, and no more confusion in planning next season.

The Giallorossi are monitoring several candidates to replace Frederic Massara, who spoke yesterday before the match against Fiorentina, avoiding escalating conflicts with Gasperini by not even answering questions about next season.

Frederic Massara is set to leave Roma. Despite yesterday’s talk of a bright future for the club, he is unlikely to be a part of it.

As Il Tempo reports, given that the former AC Milan and Rennes executive will not continue his career in the capital, a casting call is currently underway to find his replacement.

Manna and D’Amico remain in the running, both under contract with their respective clubs (Napoli and Atalanta). Giuntoli and Sogliano are also in the mix, though they remain more distantly linked.

Paratici should also be added, although he is behind all the others given his ties to Fiorentina, even though he expressed his appreciation for Roma’s interest yesterday.

In a summer where Barcelona are expected to make key decisions in goal, Wojciech Szczesny has already made his position clear. 

The experienced goalkeeper is not interested in leaving the club, even if it means giving up a guaranteed starting role elsewhere.

According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Szczesny recently rejected a two-year contract offer from a top La Liga side that would have seen him become their first-choice goalkeeper. 

Despite the appeal of regular football, the Polish international has chosen to stay at Barcelona and honour the final year of his current deal.

Committed to Barcelona

It must be noted that Barcelona are actively exploring options in the market, with Alex Remiro being linked as a potential addition. 

If that move goes through, Szczesny could drop further down the pecking order, possibly becoming a third-choice option. Yet, none of that appears to concern him.

The veteran goalkeeper is said to be fully focused on continuing his journey at Barcelona, regardless of how much he plays. 

Wojciech Szczesny rejected a two-year offer from a La Liga club. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

His decision is not driven by money or status, but by personal comfort and stability. 

At this stage of his career, he values his happiness and family life more than chasing minutes elsewhere.

Szczesny initially arrived as a short-term solution, but his impact within the dressing room has been significant. 

His professionalism and experience have earned him the trust of manager Hansi Flick, while also making him a respected figure among teammates.

One of his key contributions has been his role in mentoring younger players. He has developed a strong connection with Joan Garcia, who treats every piece of advice as a valuable lesson. 

Even if his minutes remain limited, Szczesny believes he can continue to play an important role behind the scenes, helping guide a young and evolving squad.

Who will suffer Premier League relegation this season? Former goalkeeper Shay Given is still undecided, after Tottenham picked up three points against Aston Villa and West Ham suffered a heavy defeat at Brentford.

"A couple of weeks ago, I thought Tottenham were literally doomed," Given explained on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "I thought they were gone.

"It is amazing what one set of fixtures can do because us 'experts' are now saying it looks like West Ham are doomed.

"But they have been in this position all season, they know exactly what they need to do, and they have been fighting for their lives.

"Tottenham got a great result [against Aston Villa] but that doesn't mean they can just turn the tap on now. Things don't just change after one result.

"I think there are still a few twists and turns to come, and I think it is still too early to call who's going to go down."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

There’s a growing disconnect at Liverpool right now, and understanding the mindset of the man at the top might go some way to explaining why.

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A detailed profile from Sports Business Journal has offered a rare insight into John Henry, just as protests over ticket prices and fan treatment continue to dominate the conversation around Anfield.

Henry’s ‘strange’ path to building Liverpool empire

Henry himself summed up his journey in a way that feels both revealing and slightly detached from the reality supporters experience.

Reflecting on his ownership journey, he said: “I always refer to it as high levels of strangeness.”

That comment came as part of a broader explanation of how the American businessman has built a $14bn sports portfolio, including Liverpool, the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Penguins, often through unconventional thinking and complex deals.

He added: “In that portfolio, it has never, ever been about investment… it’s what you want to do with your time.”

That philosophy is central to how Fenway Sports Group operates, focusing on long-term value, sustainability and growth, rather than emotional or reactive decision-making.

Liverpool protests highlight growing tension

However, while that approach has delivered success on the pitch, including Premier League and Champions League titles, it’s now clashing with the current mood among supporters.

Recent protests, including the “not a pound in the ground” movement, have shown just how fractured things have become, with even a lifelong fan being banned after a viral video highlighted divisions among us inside the stadium.

The financial backdrop only adds to that frustration, with figures showing matchday revenue has risen from £40.9m in 2010/11 to £115.6m last season, an increase of 183%, while ticket prices have risen at a significantly faster rate than inflation.

Henry has acknowledged fan unrest in the past, stating: “Fans get frustrated… it doesn’t mean you ignore them, it means you work harder – you don’t settle for mediocrity. You have to win.”

From our perspective, that’s where the tension lies, because while success on the pitch has often been delivered, the feeling of being valued off it is increasingly being questioned.

With protests ongoing and further talks expected, the challenge now is whether that calculated, long-term philosophy can adapt quickly enough to repair the relationship with the supporters who ultimately define the club.

Real Madrid have been dealt yet another setback on the injury front, and this time it involves one of their most important defensive figures. 

Ferland Mendy has suffered his fifth injury of the season, and early indications suggest he could be sidelined for several months, potentially up to five.

For a team still chasing consistency, this is a serious blow, as Mendy’s presence at left-back has often brought balance and defensive stability to the side. 

When fully fit, he is one of the most reliable players in the squad, and his impact is reflected in the team’s improved performances when he features regularly.

Financially drying

As such, the ongoing injury issues have not only affected Real Madrid on the pitch but also financially.

According to reports from Defensa Central, the French defender’s situation has turned into a costly affair for the club. 

Based on his current salary, every minute Mendy plays costs Real Madrid over €23,000 in gross terms. 

With an annual salary of around €10.4 million gross (€5.2 million net), the numbers quickly add up, especially given how little he has played this season.

Ferland Mendy could be out for five months. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

His campaign has been disrupted from the very beginning. Mendy made his first appearance of the season in November during an away fixture against Olympiacos, only to suffer another injury setback in that same match. 

The situation worsened in January, when he managed just one minute against Real Betis and 21 minutes against Atletico Madrid before being ruled out again.

It was not until March that he began to see more consistent game time, featuring more regularly. 

Now, looking ahead, if surgery is required, Mendy could be out until December, effectively ruling him out for a significant portion of next season as well. 

Despite this, he is expected to remain at the club, as his contract runs until 2027.

However, there are growing indications that Real Madrid may not extend his deal beyond that point. 

With recurring injuries limiting his availability and increasing costs, the club could soon be forced to make a difficult decision regarding his future.

Successive defeats. Seven points off the Scottish Premiership summit. Four points behind second place.

Rangers' title challenge has been dismantled in two games after Danny Rohl's side had, in his own words, "worked so hard" to get in the fight.

Eight days on from a 3-2 loss at home to Motherwell that featured a winning goal in added time, Rohl took his players to Tynecastle knowing they realistically had to win or at least draw to preserve their hopes.

Forty-five minutes in, those hopes were high. Dujon Sterling's deflected volley had Rangers in front and their overall performance merited such a lead.

By 90 minutes, Hearts had scored twice without reply and Rangers, save for a late header off the bar by Thelo Aasgaard, never looked like recovering.

And therein lies Rangers' Achilles Heel this season - the inability to consistently produce over 90 minutes.

'Mentality questions' for 'choking' Rangers

"We knew that they would come with power," Rohl told BBC Scotland afterwards. "They played much, much more direct in behind. We had less pressure on the ball and then you have to defend in critical areas very often.

"We have to learn from this, we have a young, potential squad but this is a job in the next weeks and months to improve."

The youthfulness and inexperience of Rangers' squad perhaps accounts for some of their inconsistency.

Against Motherwell, Rangers were outplayed in the first half and trailed 2-0. They improved markedly in the second half and battled back to level only for Well to score again. In the previous game, Rangers also conceded two first-half goals but eventually ran out 6-3 winners at Falkirk.

They also had to recover from two down to draw with Livingston and were 2-0 up on Celtic after an impressive first half but ultimately drew 2-2.

Those Celtic, Motherwell and Hearts games in particular have undone the progress made previously under Rohl this term. A total of 12 league draws has not helped either.

Rangers had lost just twice in 33 games before the split, and have now lost consecutive games at the most crucial stage of the campaign.

Former Rangers forward Kris Boyd gave his assessment on Rangers in the wake of their Tynecastle loss on Sky Sports.

"There will be mentality questions asked of Rangers," he said.

"Hearts have been top for a number of months. You have to expect that you're going to suffer in the second half and that's mentality.

"You have to dig in and get a result, but they didn't. Rangers had to strike and once again they didn't - they have failed."

Ex-Celtic forward Chris Sutton shared similar sentiments: "They have spent a fortune this season, so there will be questions asked. This isn't a one-off, Rangers choking."

However, Rohl said: "This is not about mentality. Everyone who plays football knows what happens if the home team make the equaliser, then the crowd is there. The crowd in the first half was very quiet.

"It's not enough to play 45 minutes on a high level, you have to play 90 minutes on your highest level."

Another rebuild on the way?

The former Sheffield Wednesday boss can only take so much responsibility for Rangers' campaign. When he arrived in October to replace Russell Martin, Rangers were, after a significant summer squad overhaul, 13 points behind Hearts and eight off Celtic.

Improved form up until mid-April had Rangers within a point of Hearts and in front of Celtic before those recent losses pulled them back to third. Overall, Rohl has a 2.22 points per league game average, which is higher than Derek McInnes at Hearts (2.11) but short of Martin O'Neill's 2.5 for the Premiership fixtures he has had in charge of Celtic this season.

Only a win at Celtic Park on Sunday combined with a concession of points by Hearts at Motherwell the night before will give Rangers any hope in the final two games of the season. Defeat on Sunday would consign Rangers to their first third-placed finish since 2018.

When Rangers won 3-1 at Celtic Park in December, it was the last match of Wilfried Nancy's short spell in charge of the hosts. Rohl will need to get the better of O'Neill for the first time to secure a second victory at the home of their city rivals this season.

The German was only a couple of weeks in to the job when he took Rangers to Hampden to face interim boss O'Neill's Celtic and, despite a valiant recovery with 10 players after Aasgaard's first-half red card, the Ibrox side lost 3-1 after extra time.

By the time of their March Scottish Cup quarter-final with Celtic, O'Neill had been back in charge of Celtic since January. Rangers pressed and pressed without end product and Celtic won on penalties after 120 goalless minutes at Ibrox.

"It's over when it's over and it means it's not over because we have still three games to go," Rohl said.

"The last two games bring us in a really difficult situation. We worked so hard to come to this point and then you lose two times, so tight 2-1 and 3-2 and this is not good enough for the moment.

"What I demand from my group now is show personality and courage for the next three games and this is our job to do."

With captain James Tavernier having already announced he will leave this summer, six players coming to the end of their loan spells and the likes of goalkeeper Jack Butland about to enter the final year of their contracts, another significant turnover of players beckons.

"We will analyse the season - what was right, what was wrong, what we have to improve and then I'm totally convinced from the summer on, we go again," Rohl, 37, explained.

"How we make decisions in moments, this is really a part that we really have to improve."

• Leaders Hearts topple Rangers to take seismic leap towards title
• Captain Tavernier to leave Rangers after 11 years

Manchester United set up a repeat of last season's PL2 play-off semi-final with Manchester City by winning at Crystal Palace last night.

Central defender Dan Armer and striker Chido Obi scored the goals that sent Adam Lawrence's side through to the last four.

It means United must play City away from home twice in two key youth fixtures in a matter of days.

The two clubs are also due to meet in the FA Youth Cup final. The deadline for the match is 9 May, although that will not be met as talks continue over an actual date and whether the game will be played at the Etihad Stadium as scheduled.

United finished second in PL2 but only the winners, Chelsea, were guaranteed home draws throughout the tournament.

However, as the Blues were knocked out themselves by Tottenham on Friday, it is anticipated the winners of their semi-final with Brighton will host the final.

Last season, City beat United in the semi-final and went on to lift the trophy after overcoming Southampton.

It was noteworthy previous PL2 regulars James Scanlon and Gabriele Biancheri, whose unsatisfactory loan spells at Swindon and Rotherham have now ended, were both involved against Palace after being named as substitutes.

Inter Milan won the Scudetto, dominating the league with three games to spare.

Chivu’s team scored 82 goals, 23 more than Como, second in this ranking. The Nerazzurri are thinking about the future and strengthening an already very strong squad.

The club’s plan is to bring in players who can bring unpredictability and strength to the team: midfielders like Manu Koné or Ederson.

Inter’s interest in Roma’s number 17 is not new, but rather has deep roots that date back to last summer’s transfer window.

Inter are also considering solving their defensive problems, starting with the goalkeeper.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport reports, Marotta’s club has long blocked Vicario, but there’s another No. 1 who’s very intriguing: Roma’s Mile Svilar.

The Giallorossi could sacrifice their star player on the altar of capital gains to settle their financial fair play accounts. Additionally, Inter are monitoring several central defenders, including Roma’s Evan Ndicka.

Obviously, it’s impossible to imagine the Nerazzurri spending only on the Giallorossi, with at least three players.

Corriere dello Sport adds another: Gianluca Mancini.

According to the Roman newspaper, Marotta and Ausilio also like the No. 23 of Gian Piero Gasperini’s team: an experienced player to strengthen the defense.

Roma won and impressed in front of their fans at a passionate Stadio Olimpico.

This time, the team capitalized on the opportunity presented over the weekend: closing the gap by one point on fourth-place Juventus and closing in on third-place AC Milan (-3 points).

Gasperini’s side took control of the match after 13 minutes with a goal from Gianluca Mancini. Wesley, Hermoso, and Pisilli completed the scoreline: 4-0 and Fiorentina annihilated.

Roma delivered a top-notch performance against Fiorentina, showcasing their coach’s principles.

Goals from central defenders who transformed into attackers, aggression off the ball, effective wingers, and agility in scoring.

As Corriere dello Sport reports, at halftime, the 61,000 spectators at the Olimpico saw their team shoot more (7-1), retain possession more (63% vs. 37%), successfully complete twice as many passes (300 to 150), and by the end of the match, they had 130 attempts into the opponent’s penalty area.

In short, there was no match between Roma and Fiorentina.

Another statistic that draws the attention of numbers lovers is the percentage of duels won: an incredible 75% depicts a Gasperini team that thrashed Vanoli’s team.

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold is finally here.

With each passing week, the absence of the Reds' former right-back at Anfield has grown harder to ignore.

Few players in world football can match his quality, especially in terms of distribution and creativity from deep. His capacity to dictate play and break down defences is close to unrivalled.

Conor Bradley has often been tipped as the natural heir, but ongoing injury issues have raised concerns about his ability to hold down the role consistently over the long term.

He can still contribute meaningfully within the squad, but Liverpool need greater reliability in such a key position.

Meanwhile, Jeremie Frimpong has yet to prove himself as a dependable defensive option, with his strengths clearly leaning more toward attacking play higher up the pitch.

That uncertainty only underlines the need for a more specialised solution.

This summer offers the perfect opportunity for Richard Hughes to take decisive action.

More than a year after Alexander-Arnold’s departure, Liverpool now have the chance to secure a genuine successor.

But while the right-back position does need to be addressed, in terms of that creativity and control Alexander-Arnold offered, Hughes won't have to dip into the market.

There's already a young academy star at the club, who plays just like Alexander-Arnold.

Meet U18 midfielder Haydn Murray-Holme, who might just be the standout talent currently flying under the radar in Liverpool’s academy.

Much like Alexander-Arnold, Murray-Holme is very capable of dictating a game and playing through balls and decisive passes that ultimate determine the outcome of games.

But he's not a right-back, he’s a graceful midfielder, technically gifted, with the awareness and composure to spray passes left, right and centre.

His vision and scanning ability mirrors Trent's closely - as does the range and precision of his distribution.

So far this season, Murray-Holme has registered one goal and five assists in 24 appearances across the club’s U18 and U19 sides.

These are decent numbers but it's the numbers behind those that are on the surface are the ones that stand-out.

Murray-Holme is an intelligent reader of the game, someone who contributes just as effectively off the ball as he does on it.

He’s averaging 4.91 recoveries per 90 minutes in the opposition’s half - an excellent return. On top of that, he’s winning 63.4% of his 6.63 defensive duels per 90, while also averaging 3.27 interceptions per 90 minutes, highlighting his defensive sharpness and anticipation.

It’s in possession where the midfielder truly stands out.

On the ball, he’s a rare talent - arguably the most technically gifted player the academy has produced since Alexander-Arnold.

Murray-Holme’s first touch is outstanding, and his ability to shape passes is equally impressive. Whether it’s a daring outside-of-the-boot through ball or a perfectly weighted long pass over a defensive line, his execution is consistently precise.

His range of distribution is strikingly reminiscent of Trent.

He excels at breaking lines and has the kind of vision that can open up even the most stubborn defences, regularly putting opponents on the back foot.

The numbers back it up too. He has averaged 12.5 progressive passes per 90 minutes - the highest among midfielders in the U18 Premier League - while also ranking third for passes into the final third with 13.56 per 90.

He’s already had a taste of U21 football in a friendly last year, and given his skill set and Liverpool’s current needs, it feels like only a matter of time before he steps into the first-team picture.

We’re in the middle of a week of Champions League and Libertadores action, with leagues like the Premier League and the relegation battle in La Liga being decided.

Atleti, this is the big night

It’s now or never today for Atlético de Madrid, who have the chance to reach a Champions League final again ten years later. The first ticket to the grand final will be decided against Arsenal at the Emirates.

Mbappé pulls away

The latest developments involving the Frenchman and his recovery have not gone down well with a certain section of the Madrid fanbase, and he is being blamed for having gone two years without winning a major title.

Guardiola, goodbye to the Premier?

After their draw against Everton, City are four points behind Arsenal with a game in hand and three matchdays left in the Premier League. Difficult, yes, but not impossible.

Sevilla can breathe this matchday

After the fans’ rallying cry to support the team, the players responded on the pitch with a great performance against Real Sociedad that allows them to climb out of the relegation zone for the time being.

The Libertadores goes on

We are now heading into the fourth round of the Libertadores, with some truly interesting matches where the group standings are already starting to take shape.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given says he would "look to strengthen" the Magpies' attack this summer.

Given believes signings such as Nick Woltemade, Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa have not paid off for Eddie Howe.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, he explained: "Woltemade is a different kind of striker, a nine, a 10, I don't know what he is if I'm brutally honest. I don't know if he's suited to how Eddie Howe sets up his team, especially without the ball as much as with it.

"Wissa hasn't worked. Even at the weekend he had a big chance and didn't take it. Elanga looks like a different player as well.

"I just felt last summer, no director of football, no CEO, a lot of missing links. I think Eddie's season has sort of taken the brunt of that. I just think a lot of players will have to come and go this season to go again."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Bayern Munich have offered Newcastle United attacker Anthony Gordon and his representatives the terms of a five-year contract,according to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg. The Bundesliga club want to lure the Newcastle star away from the St James Park club this summer in what could be a big blow for manager Eddie Howe. Concrete talks have already taken place between Bayern and Gordon’s camp, but an agreement with the Magpies could prove tricky as there are yet to be club-to-club talks.

Newcastle are set to miss out on Champions League football next season from the look of things, and Gordon wants to join a club where he can compete for major silverware regularly. A move to Germany could appeal to the 25-year-old and the Magpies may need to sell him this summer to balance the books. The England international has not told Newcastle that he wants to leave, but the feeling inside St James’ Park is that he will seek a move in the summer. The Toons’ asking price for him is likely to exceed £80 million and whether Bayern are willing to meet it remains to be seen.

Ally McCoist has claimed that Liverpool have ‘missed’ one player in particular who they sold last summer.

There was a significant exodus from Anfield after the 2024/25 Premier League title triumph, with several members of that squad moving on to pastures new in the subsequent months.

One of those was Darwin Nunez, who joined Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia for £46.3m (BBC Sport) and has netted nine goals in 24 games so far for his current club.

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McCoist: Liverpool have ‘missed’ Nunez this season

Speaking on talkSPORT, McCoist was discussing Liverpool’s transfer activity from last summer in reflecting upon what’s gone wrong this season, and he feels that the much-maligned Uruguayan striker has been missed at Anfield.

He said: “Do you know something? I think they’ve missed the big boy up front, Darwin Nunez. He was criticised, and a lot of it was justified, but the one thing he did, he was a presence. He ran about, he made himself a real nuisance, he chipped in with some goals. They’ve missed him as well I think.”

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Nunez was an enigma but Liverpool have missed him this season

McCoist’s verdict on the 26-year-old has strong echoes of what Wayne Rooney said about him in February, with the ex-Manchester United striker remarking that our former no.9 ‘brought something to the team’ even if he ‘wasn’t great’.

Nunez was a frequent target for criticism during his time in England, with Robbie Fowler among those who lamented his finishing at times, and he’d lost his place in the Liverpool starting XI in the second half of last season, which ended with a poor return of seven goals in 47 matches.

One thing he did guarantee, though, was a wholehearted effort on the pitch which made him a popular figure among supporters, as did a happy knack for coming up with decisive stoppage-time winners – just ask Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Brentford!

It’s easy to be wise in hindsight, of course, and last August it certainly felt like a sensible move to take £46m for the Uruguayan when he was clearly out of favour under Arne Slot.

However, there’s definitely been times this season that Liverpool could’ve done with Nunez to call upon, particularly on Sunday when we’d no centre-forward in the matchday squad and six academy players on the bench.

FSG made what they felt was the right decision nine months ago – they now need to live with it.