Ahead of Samsung and Apple, Huawei unveiled a new foldable with a wide display design. Samsung’s reveal is anticipated in July 2026, but a tipster just leaked a design comparison of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide with its Huawei counterpart.
For years, Samsung stuck to a tall and narrow cover display. That approach had its logic, but it never felt fully natural in daily use.
With the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, Samsung is finally stepping away from that identity. When you line it up against Huawei’s latest attempt, the shift becomes obvious – via Ice Universe.
Huawei Pura X Max
Width 166.5 mm | Height 120.0 mm
Thickness unfolded 5.2 mm | Thickness folded 11.2 mm
Folded width 85 mm
Outer display ratio 4.4:3 | Inner display ratio 4.24:3
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide
Width 161.4 mm | Height 123.9 mm
Thickness unfolded 4.3 mm | Thickness folded 9.8 mm
Folded width 82.2 mm
Outer display ratio 4.7:3 | Inner display ratio 4:3
Huawei still pushes a wider footprint; when folded, the Pura X Max sits at 85 mm, which is closer to a traditional slab phone than Samsung’s 82.2 mm. The Fold 8 Wide is noticeably wider than older Folds, but it stops short of becoming bulky.
Source – Ice Universe
When it comes to thickness, Samsung comes in at just 4.3 mm when unfolded, while Huawei sits at 5.2 mm. This difference changes how the device feels entirely. It feels lighter in the hand, less tablet-like, and more refined.
When folded, Samsung holds the lead at 9.8 mm compared to Huawei’s 11.2 mm. That gap is even more noticeable in your pocket. A thinner foldable is easier to carry, sits flatter, and simply feels less like a compromise.
Samsung’s outer display ratio of 4.7:3 is another big move. Huawei still leans slightly wider with 4.4:3, but Samsung’s tuning feels more intentional. The inner display at 4:3 also signals a cleaner tablet-like experience.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide might not be the widest foldable out there, but it is arguably the most balanced one yet.
Samsung shared exclusive visuals right from its exhibition at the Milan Design Week. The pictures and videos spotlight artificial intelligence, foldables, and wearables.
The company took over Superstudio Piu with 12 immersive zones built around its “Expressive Design” philosophy, and the whole thing reads less like a trade show and more like Samsung trying to convince you it has feelings.
You walk in, and the first thing that hits you is The Welcome Show. Multiple devices, synchronized across a shared performance, each paired with its own screen.
From there, the exhibition moves into Unfold Your Story, a zone dedicated entirely to Samsung’s foldables displayed across a spectrum of colors.
The Wearable Intelligence and Culinary Intelligence zones are exactly what they sound like. Wearables that track your body and AI that helps you cook.
The Forum zone hosts live discussions with Samsung’s design leadership alongside video clips surfacing perspectives that rarely make it into press releases.
Adjacent to it, the XR Experience zone built on Android XR invites visitors into Galaxy XR territory. Transparent Symphony puts Samsung’s transparent Micro LED displays to work, dissolving the boundary between screen and space.
The exhibition closes with The Goodbye Show, where Luna, Samsung’s AI home device, waves you out.
Anker Innovations has announced a major change to its Soundcore brand. The change will see the company switch to a new name that correctly covers all products sold under the brand.
Xpeng plans to start series production of a two-part “flying car” system from 2027, consisting of a carrier vehicle and an eVTOL. According to the company, more than 7,000 orders have already been placed. Whether this ambitious timeline can be met, however, will depend largely on approval from China’s aviation authorities.
Garmin has released a new update for multiple of its recent mid-range smartwatches. Available globally, the firmware introduces almost a dozen improvements for the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970, including one that improves LiveTrack functionality.
The Google Pixel Watch 4 will soon be getting a brand new subscription, which is also likely to be offered for the Fitbit Air fitness wearable, as Google is now listing this new Google Health Premium subscription in advance, including pricing.
A new projector series is now available at a substantial discount, aiming to stand out with exceptionally high-contrast visuals. The 4K projectors also feature a flexible projection ratio for versatile setup options.
Wisconsin’s lawsuit against Kalshi, Robinhood, Coinbase, Polymarket and Crypto.com deepens the battle between state gambling enforcers and federal regulators over sports prediction markets.
Cryptography company Succinct launched Zcam, an iPhone camera app that signs photos and videos at capture to help prove media authenticity in the AI era.
Metaplanet raises $50 million through zero-interest bonds from EVO FUND to expand its Bitcoin treasury, extending its capital markets-driven accumulation strategy.
After one of 2026’s largest DeFi exploits, Kelp DAO is working with Aave and ecosystem partners to recover losses tied to rsETH. The attack, which involved minting unbacked tokens through a compromised cross-chain setup, created a major deficit across lending platforms. From the initial 163,200 ETH shortfall, around 43,000 ETH has been recovered and 30,700 ETH secured, leaving roughly 89,500 ETH still unresolved, while partners like Mantle, EtherFi, Lido, and Golem have pledged 43,500 ETH to help close the gap.
This week, Bitcoin jumped 4%, rising from $76,351 to $79,447. But CryptoQuant analyst Carmelo Aleman says the move was not driven by real buyers. Instead, the push came from the futures market, forcing short sellers out of their positions in a $1.19 billion short squeeze.
Thus, Carmelo Aleman says the rally looks strong but is fragile and could turn bearish soon.
BTC Rally Driven by Derivatives, Not Spot Demand
According to Carmelo Aleman, the recent Bitcoin rally was not backed by strong buying in the spot market.
During the rally, Bitcoin’s open interest across all exchanges surged from about $24.8 billion to nearly $28 billion. This sharp increase shows that traders were heavily adding leveraged positions using borrowed funds.
Instead of fresh capital entering the market, the move came from pressure in the futures market. As prices rose, short sellers were forced to close their positions, triggering a chain reaction that pushed Bitcoin even higher.
Aleman said, “As long as price depends more on derivatives than on solid spot validation, the structure will remain vulnerable to reversal.”
Over $1.1 Billion Liquidations Shock the Market
The charts shared by the analyst highlight a clear spike in short liquidations. On April 22, Bitcoin short liquidations across all exchanges reached over $607 million in a single day.
Ethereum was not far behind. ETH short liquidations on the same day hit $581 million. Together, this pushed total short liquidations to about $1.19 billion, wiping out in one single session.
That forced liquidation created a wave of buying pressure that pushed prices up sharply, but it was not real demand.
On the other hand, long liquidations were much smaller, totaling just over $111 million across both assets.
$9.87 Billion in Options Expiry Added More Pressure
Another factor adding uncertainty is the large number of options expiring today.
According to Deribit data, around $9.87 billion in Bitcoin and Ethereum options contracts are expiring.
April-End Options Expiry Alert. At 08:00 UTC tomorrow, ~$9.8B in crypto options are set to expire on Deribit.$BTC: ~$8.47B notional | Put/Call: 0.94 | Max Pain: $72,000$ETH: ~$1.33B notional | Put/Call: 0.74 | Max Pain: $2,200
Bitcoin’s max pain level is currently near $72,000, while the market price is trading significantly above it. On the options side, Bitcoin’s put-to-call ratio stands at 0.93, showing that bearish and bullish positions are almost evenly balanced.
Ethereum, however, shows a slightly stronger bullish tilt. Its put-to-call ratio is lower at 0.72, with ETH trading around $2,315 compared to a max pain level of $2,200.
What Next for BTC Now?
For now, the overall trend still looks positive, with Bitcoin forming higher highs and higher lows through April.
However, a stronger move will likely depend on real spot buyers stepping in. If that demand picks up, Bitcoin could once again attempt to break above the $80,000 level.
Cosmos price is stabilizing as it continues to hold within a rising structure, keeping the broader setup aligned with continuation. While recent ecosystem developments around Cosmos licensing signal a shift toward stronger internal value capture, ATOM price remains near $1.94, maintaining higher lows within an ascending channel. Meanwhile, price stability persists despite broader market noise, reflecting sustained demand.
As structure and narrative begin to align, the setup is moving beyond passive consolidation. With accumulation holding and trend support intact, the market is positioning for a directional move. With pressure building beneath resistance and higher lows continuing to form, the focus now shifts to whether ATOM price can break above $2 resistance, opening the path toward higher levels.
Ecosystem Shift Reframes Cosmos Price Positioning
While price action remains controlled, the underlying shift within Cosmos is beginning to reshape its positioning. As updated licensing terms restrict external commercial usage of key modules, the ecosystem becomes more internally aligned. Meanwhile, reduced value leakage strengthens the role of Cosmos-native assets.
With tighter control over value flow, Cosmos price begins to reflect a more structured foundation. As this dynamic continues to evolve, long-term positioning increasingly favors ATOM as a core asset within the ecosystem.
ATOM Price Outlook: Can Cosmos Price Surpass $2 Hurdle?
While fundamentals provide context, ATOM price is developing a technically consistent continuation structure. As price continues to respect the ascending channel, higher lows are forming across successive swings, signaling steady demand at elevated levels. Meanwhile, resistance is being tested gradually, without sharp rejection.
With price holding above short-term moving averages and trend support intact, the structure remains constructive. As long as the channel holds, continuation remains the dominant scenario. As a move above resistance confirms breakout acceptance, ATOM price could extend toward the $2.20–$2.50 range, where broader supply begins to emerge. However, a loss of channel support would weaken the structure and shift Cosmos price back into consolidation.
Liquidation Clusters Build Above as ATOM Price Pressures Resistance
While ATOM price continues to compress beneath resistance, liquidation data highlights where the next move could accelerate. As Binance liquidation maps show, dense clusters of short-side liquidity are building in the $2.00–$2.10 region, just above current price levels. Meanwhile, long liquidation exposure below the $1.80–$1.85 zone remains comparatively thinner, indicating limited downside pressure unless structure breaks.
With price holding near $1.95–$1.97 and gradually approaching resistance, this positioning creates a clear imbalance. As shorts continue to stack above current levels, any breakout into this zone could trigger a cascade of liquidations. As a result, upward movement is not solely dependent on spot demand, it is structurally supported by liquidity positioning. Once resistance begins to give way, these clusters can act as fuel, accelerating price toward higher levels. However, failure to sustain above the current range would shift attention back toward lower liquidity zones, delaying the breakout phase.
Final Words
As Cosmos price continues to align with evolving ecosystem dynamics, the broader structure remains constructive. While ATOM price holds within its ascending channel, consistent higher lows reinforce demand across the current range. Meanwhile, the convergence of structural strength and narrative support strengthens the case for continuation.
With resistance now in focus and pressure building within the trend, the next move is poised to define direction, alignment across structure and narrative, the next move is less about possibility and more about timing.
Xiaomi’s last foldable, the Mix Fold 4, was unveiled nearly two years ago in July 2024. Now, a new report suggests the company may finally be preparing to announce its successor.
According to the report, a next-generation Xiaomi foldable has been spotted in the Mi Code database. The device bears the model number 2608BPX34C and is codenamed ‘lhasa’. It also carries the internal designation Q18, where the number 18 is reportedly used for Xiaomi’s foldable lineup.
Xiaomi Mix Fold 4
The report suggests the device in the database is likely the Mix Fold 5, although Xiaomi may choose to...
Honor unveiled the Honor 600 Lite last month, and recently, the Chinese brand introduced the Honor 600 and Honor 600 Pro. But it seems Honor isn't done launching 600 Series smartphones yet, as an unknown Honor device, bearing model code LNA-NX3 and said to be the Honor 600e, has surfaced on Geekbench with its key specs.
The Honor LNA-NX3 scored 993 and 3,054 points in Geekbench's single and multi-core tests, respectively. It runs Android 16 and is powered by MediaTek's MT6858 octa-core processor, which is likely the Dimensity 7100 SoC.
We say so because the Geekbench listing...
China’s DeepSeek is making waves again by claiming its new V4 models are now just months away from catching up to industry leaders like OpenAI and Google. Roughly a year after its previous release, the Hangzhou-based startup introduced the DeepSeek…
XRP price trends draw investor focus as SHR Miner expands cloud mining access in the digital asset market. With the price movements of Bitcoin and Ethereum influencing the overall market, XRP trend prediction continues to attract investor attention, and SHR…
is likely to land another big fight before the end of the year after success against Derek Chisora, and now one of his most fierce rivals has called for a ‘personal’ grudge match. Wilder has strung together two consecutive wins for the first time since 2019, first defeating Tyrrell Herndon in a low-profile return last […]
and appear set to collide later this year in what could be one of the biggest British boxing events of all time. Another British legend, Naseem Hamed has offered a surprising take on how the fight could unfold. Fury made his ring return in a decision win over Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this month, shaking off […]
The AI Agent Authority Gap - From Ungoverned to Delegation
As discussed in our previous article, AI agents are exposing a structural gap in enterprise security, but the problem is often framed too narrowly.
The issue is not simply that agents are new actors. It is that agents are delegated actors. They do not emerge with independent authority. They are triggered, invoked, provisioned, or
Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a set of malicious apps on the Apple App Store that impersonate popular cryptocurrency wallets in an attempt to steal recovery phrases and private keys since at least fall 2025.
"Once launched, these apps redirect users to browser pages designed to look similar to the App Store and distribute trojanized versions of legitimate wallets," Kaspersky
Real Madrid, Franco Mastantuono'yu resmen kiralık listesine koydu. Galatasaray, genç yeteneğin durumunu yakından takip ediyordu. Bu gelişme üzerine hareketli bir döneme girilebilir.
Real Madrid bu sezon başında River Plate Kulübü'ne 45 milyon euro ödeyerek Franco Mastantuono'yu kadrosuna katmıştı. 18 yaşındaki kanat oyuncusu, fazla forma süresi alamadı. Arjantinli genç yetenek, La Liga'da 18 karşılaşmaya çıktı. Sahada 818 dakika kaldı. 1 gol üretti.
ASPRİLLA YERİNE
Galatasaray, kiralık olarak kadrosuna kattığı Asprilla'nın satın alma opsiyonunu kullanmayacak. Sarı-Kırmızılılar bir süredir Franco Mastantuono'nun durumunu takip ediyordu. Real Madrid'in oyuncuyu resmen kiralık listesine koymasının ardından çok sıcak gelişmeler yaşanabilir.
GENÇ KONTENJANINA UYGUN
Arjantinli futbolcu, sağ kanat ve 10 numara bölgelerinde görev yapabiliyor. Ayrıca 18 yaşında olduğu için önümüzdeki sezon için belirlenen genç yabancı kontenjanını da fazlasıyla karşılıyor. Arjantin Milli Takımı'na da çağrılan 1.78 boyundaki futbolcu, düzenli forma süresi alabileceği bir takıma gitmek istiyor. Galatasaray resmi teklif sunarsa, işi bitirebilir. Şu anda konuyla ilgili değerlendirme yapıldığı öğrenildi.
Victor Osimhen'in gazeteci arkadaşı Buchi Laba'dan çok konuşulacak bir açıklama geldi. Laba, Fenerbahçe'nin, Osimhen'in kolundaki koruyucu materyalle ilgili yaptığı itiraz sonrasında, "Bu kadarını beklemiyordum!" dedi.
Galatasaray'ın Nijeryalı forveti Osimhen'in en yakın arkadaşlarından biri; gazeteci Buchi Laba... Laba sık sık Türkiye'ye de geliyor. X (eski adıyla twitter) hesabını son derece aktif kullanan Laba; Fenerbahçe'nin, Osimhen'in kolundaki koruyucu aparatla ilgili şikayet haberlerinin üzerine açıklamalarda bulundu.
CİDDEN NE İSTİYORLAR?
Buchi Laba sosyal medyadan, "Fenerbahçe itiraz dilekçesiyle tam olarak ne istiyor? Cidden ne istiyorlar? Bu gerçek olamaz. Fenerbahçe'nin, Victor Osimhen'in oynamasından korkmasını bekliyordum. Ama bu kadarını değil! O kadar çok gülüyorum ki!" ifadelerini kullandı.
UZUN SÜREDİR YOKTU
Liverpool deplasmanında kolunda kırık oluşan Victor Osimhen, arkadaşlarını uzun süre yalnız bırakmıştı. Takım onun yokluğunda çok zorlandı. Yıldız isim, Türkiye Kupası'ndaki Gençlerbirliği sınavının son bölümünde şans bulmuştu. Kolunda da koruyucu materyal bulunuyordu.
Geçtiğimiz günlerde Alman basınında Bayern Münih'in, Uğurcan Çakır'la ilgilendiği yönünde haberler çıkmıştı. Ancak Bayern'den kritik bir hamle geldi.
Galatasaray ve Milli Takım'da çok iyi performanslar sergileyen Uğurcan Çakır, birçok Avrupa devinin radarına girmişti. Geçtiğimiz günlerde Alman basınında çıkan haberlerde; Bayern'in, Uğurcan'a karşı olan ilgisi doğrulanmıştı. Ancak Galatasaray Yönetimi'nin yıldız kaleciyi satmaya sıcak bakmadığı da belirtilmişti.
41'İNDE SAHADA OLACAK
Bu haberlerin ardından Bayern Münih'ten kritik bir hamle geldi. Alman devi, 40 yaşındaki efsane kalecisi Manuel Neuer'le 1 sezon daha devam etme kararı aldı. Yani 1.93 boyundaki file bekçisi, 41'inde de Bayern Münih ile maçlara çıkacak. Böylece Bundesliga temsilcisi, muhtemel kaleci transferinden de kısa vadede vazgeçti.
SENEYE NELER OLACAK?
Önümüzdeki sezonun ardından neler yaşanacağı ise bilinmiyor. Sonuçta Neuer sonsuza kadar Bayern kalesini korumayacak. Alman devi, 2027 yazında Uğurcan Çakır için resmi teklifini sunabilir. Yaklaşan transfer döneminde ise herhangi bir hamlede bulunmayacaklar...
Hafta sonu oynanacak Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derbisi için sarı-kırmızılı taraftarlar ayağa kalktı. ultrAslan tribün lideri Sebahattin Şirin maç ateşini yaktı.
Süper Lig'de bu hata kritik bir mücadele yaşanacak. Lider Galatasaray evinde Fenerbahçe'yi ağırlayacak. Dev derbi iki takım için de hayati bir öneme sahip. Galatasaray galip gelerek şampiyonluğa bir adım daha yaklaşmak isterken Fenerbahçe ise bütün şansını tüketmek istemiyor. İki takım da galibiyet için elinden geleni yapacak.
TARAFTAR AYAĞA KALKTI
Galatasaray cephesinde ise derbi için hareketlilik başladı. ultrAslan tribün lideri Sebahattin Şirin açıklama yaparak taraftarı ayağa kaldırdı. Şirin'in açıklaması şöyle:
-Bize ait olan desibel rekorumuzun üstüne bu maçta çıkmalıyız! Herkes sorumluluğunun farkında olsun maç öncesi aktiviteleri kısıtlayarak DAHA DİNÇ, DAHA DİRİ VE DAHA KONSANTRE tribünde erkenden yerini alsın.
DERBİ NE ZAMAN?
Galatasaray - Fenerbahçe maçı 26 Nisan 2026 Pazar saat 20.00'de oynanacak. Rams Park'ta oynanacak mücadele beIN SPORTS 1 ekranından canlı olarak yayınlanacak.
Gelecek sezon kadro çalışmalarına başlayan Galatasaray orta saha transferi için gündemine aldığı Teun Koopmeiners'tan vazgeçmiyor. Sarı-kırmızılılar kış transfer döneminde olumsuz cevap aldığı yıldız futbolcudan kolay kolay vazgeçecek gibi durmuyor.
Süper Lig'in bitmesine kısa bir süre kala Galatasaray gelecek sezonun kadro planlamasına start verdi. Galatasaray orta saha transferi için Juventus forması giyen ve devre arasında da gündeme gelen Teun Koopmeiner ile ilgileniyor.
İLGİSİ DEVAM EDİYOR
La Gazzetta dello Sport'un haberine göre, Galatasaray, kış döneminde aldığı “hayır” cevabına rağmen Teun Koopmeiners'a ilgisini sürdürüyor. Sarı-kırmızılı yönetim yaz transfer döneminde bu transfer için yeniden somut adımlar atmaya hazırlanıyor. Öte yandan Hollandalı orta saha için İngiltere'den Manchester United'ın da devrede olduğu biliniyor.
SEZON PERFORMANSI
Juventus'ta bu sezon 40 maçta süre bulan Teun Koopmeiners, 2 gol attı ve 1 asist yaptı. Koopmeiners, bu sezon attığı 2 golü de Şampiyonlar Ligi'ndeki Galatasaray maçında kaydetti.
Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (TFF) Profesyonel Futbol Disiplin Kurulu (PFDK), Süper Lig'den 11 kulübe para cezası verdi.
Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (TFF) Profesyonel Futbol Disiplin Kurulu (PFDK), Trendyol Süper Lig'den 11 kulübe ceza verdi.
TFF'nin açıklamasına göre PFDK, Fenerbahçe'ye, çirkin ve kötü tezahürat nedeniyle 1 milyon 600 bin, saha olayları ve zaman çizelgesine uygun hareket edilmemesi gerekçeleriyle 220'şer bin, merdiven boşluklarının boş bırakılmamasından dolayı da 210 bin olmak üzere toplamda 2 milyon 250 bin lira para cezası ile kısmi tribün kapatma cezası verdi.
Kurul, Galatasaray'a merdiven boşluklarının boş bırakılmamasından 210 bin, taraftarlarının neden olduğu saha olaylarından 330 bin, çirkin ve kötü tezahürattan 1 milyon 240 bin ve zaman çizelgesine uygun hareket edilmemesinden 220 bin olmak üzere toplamda 2 milyon lira para cezasının yanı sıra kısmi tribün kapatma cezası uyguladı.
Futbolun itibarını zedelemeye yönelik açıklamaları gerekçesiyle kurula sevk edilen Galatasaray Kulübü İkinci Başkanı Metin Öztürk'e ise ceza verilmedi.
PFDK, Beşiktaş'a çirkin ve kötü tezahürattan 1 milyon 240 bin, saha olaylarından 220 bin ve merdiven boşluklarının boş bırakılmamasından da 300 bin olmak üzere 1 milyon 760 bin lira para cezası ile kısmı tribün kapatma cezası kesti.
Antalyaspor ile Konyaspor'a taraftarlarının neden olduğu saha olaylarından 220'şer bin lira para cezası veren kurul, kulüplere çeşitli sebeplerden kısmi tribün kapatma cezası da uyguladı.
Çaykur Rizespor'a takım halinde sportmenliğe aykırı hareketten 72 bin, zaman çizelgesine uygun hareket edilmemesinden de 220 bin olmak üzere toplamda 292 bin lira para cezası ile kısmi tribün kapatma cezası verildi.
Kurul, Kocaelispor'a da saha olaylarından 440 bin, merdiven boşluklarının boş bırakılmamasından da 300 bin olmak üzere 740 bin para cezası ile çeşitli nedenlerden kısmi tribün kapatma cezası kesti.
PFDK, Göztepe'ye taraftarlarının neden olduğu saha olaylarından 660 bin, çirkin ve kötü tezahürattan 520 bin, merdiven boşluklarının boş bırakılmamasından 210 bin ve takım halinde sportmenliğe aykırı hareketten de 63 bin olmak üzere toplamda 1 milyon 453 bin lira para cezası ile kısmı tribün kapatma cezası uyguladı.
Gençlerbirliği'ne merdiven boşluklarının boş bırakılmamasından 210 bin, stadyuma usulsüz seyirci alınmasından da 960 bin olmak üzere 1 milyon 170 bin lira para cezası kesen kurul, Samsunspor'a saha olaylarından 220 bin lira para cezası ile çirkin ve kötü tezahürattan kısmi tribün kapatma cezası verdi.
PFDK, Gaziantep FK'ye de çirkin ve kötü tezahürattan 400 bin, saha olaylarından da 220 bin olmak üzere toplamda 620 bin lira para cezası ile kısmi tribün kapatma cezası kararı aldı.
Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan Kubokunun final görüşünün nominal meydan sahibinin müəyyənləşdirilməsi məqsədilə püşkatma mərasimi keçirilib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Peşəkar Futbol Liqasının rəsmi saytı məlumat yayıb.
Mərasimdə Peşəkar Futbol Liqasının, “Zirə” və “Sabah” klublarının nümayəndələri iştirak ediblər. PFL Yarışların təşkili və qeydiyyatı şöbəsinin rəisi Elçin Mehtiyev, “Zirə” mətbuat katibi Elmar Abdullazadə, “Sabah” isə klubun meneceri İlahə Vəlizadə ilə təmsil olunub. Püşkatmaya əsasən “Sabah” nominal meydan sahibi olub.
Püşkatmadan sonra klub nümayəndələri ilə Peşəkar Futbol Liqası arasında geniştərkibli görüş keçirilib. İclasda Peşəkar Futbol Liqasının Texniki-idman direktoru Elgiz Abbasov, Media və marketinq direktoru Sənan Abdullayev, icraçı direktor Zaur Hacı-Məhərrəmov da iştirak ediblər. Görüşdə finalla bağlı ilkin təşkilati məsələlər, nəzərə alınacaq nüanslarla bağlı müzakirə aparılıb.
Xatırladaq ki, Azərbaycan Kubokunun final oyunu mayın 13-də “Neftçi Arena”da keçiriləcək. Həlledici matça saat 20:00-da start veriləcək.
İtaliyanın “Roma” klubunun idarə heyətinin müşaviri, bu komandanın sabiq baş məşqçisi Klaudio Ranyeri vəzifəsindən ayrılıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə paytaxt təmsilçisi rəsmi saytı vasitəsilə məlumat yayıb.
Klub Ranyeriyə xidmətləri üçün təşəkkür edib, gələcək həyatında uğurlar arzulayıb.
İtaliya mətbuatının yazdığına görə, ayrılığın əsas səbəbi təcrübəli mütəxəssislə komandanın baş məşqçi Can Pyero Qasperini arasında yaranmış fikir ayrılığıdır. Tərəflər transfer siyasəti ilə bağlı ortaq məxrəcə gələ bilməyiblər. Qasperini komandanın heyətindən narazılığını bildirib, Ranyeri isə transferlərin birgə razılaşdırıldığını vurğulayıb. Məlumata əsasən, mövsümün sonuna yaxın qeydə alınmış qeyri-sabit nəticələr tərəflər arasında gərginliyi daha da artırıb.
Xatırladaq ki, “Roma” hazırda A Seriyasında 33 turdan sonra 58 xalla 6-cı pillədə qərarlaşıb.
Qeyd edək ki, 73 yaşlı Klaudio Ranyeri 2024-cü ilin noyabrında “Roma”nın baş məşqçisi təyin olunmuş və mövsümün sonuna qədər komandaya rəhbərlik etmişdi. O, daha əvvəl də 2009–2011 və 2019-cu illərdə paytaxt klubunda çalışıb.
Yunanıstandan olan 56 yaşlı mütəxəssis Georgios Donis futbol üzrə Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı milli komandasının baş məşqçisi təyin olunub.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı Futbol Federasiyasının mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.
56 yaşlı mütəxəssisin müqaviləsinin müddəti 2027-ci ilin yayınadək nəzərdə tutulub. O, baş məşqçi bu postda Herve Renarı əvəzləyib.
Herve Renar 2024-cü ilin oktyabr ayından Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı yığmasına rəhbərlik edirdi. Sözügedən komandanı 28 oyuna çıxarmış fransalı mütəxəssis 11 qələbə, 6 heç-heçə, 11 məğlubiyyət görüb. Ərəblər məhz Renarın rəhbərliyi atlında DÇ-2026-ya vəsiqə qazanıblar. Amma bir neçə gün öncə Herve Renar millidən ayrılmağa qərar verib.
Xatırladaq ki, Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı seçməsi bu il ABŞ, Kanada və Meksikada keçiriləcək dünya çempionatının H qrupunda İspaniya, Kabo Verde və Uruqvay yığmaları ilə üz-üzə gələcək.
Georgios Donis isə son olaraq Səudiyyə Ərəbistanının “Əl-Xalec” komandasına rəhbərlik edib. O, məşqçilik karyerası ərzində “İlisiakos”, AEL, AEK, “Atromitos”, PAOK, APOEL, “Əl-Hilal”, “Əl-Şarca”, “Panathinaikos”, “Makkabi” (Təl-Əviv), “Əl-Wehda”, “Əl-Fateh” kimi komandalara da rəhbərlik edib.
Bursa Büyükşehir Belediye Başkan Vekili Şahin Biba, Bursaspor Başkanı Enes Çelik ve yönetimiyle bir araya gelerek kentin ortak değeri için hayata geçirilecek işbirliklerini görüştü.
Kariyerinin çok parlak olacağı düşünülen Liam Rosenior, Chelsea'de sadece 107 gün kalabildi. İşte o sancılı 107 günün hiçbir yerde bilinmeyen öyküsü...
Tottenham, Bournemouth ile sözleşmesi biten Arjantinli stoper Marcos Senesi ile prensip anlaşmasına vardı. Senesi, Tottenham'ın Premier Lig'de kalması halinde transfere "Evet" dedi.
Türkiye Sigorta Basketbol Süper Ligi'nde 26 Nisan Pazar günü saat 13.00'te, Safiport Erokspor ile karşılaşacak olan Karşıyaka sahaya peluş oyuncak atacak.
Galatasaray'ın sezon başında satın alma opsiyonuyla Udinese'ye kiraladığı Nicolo Zaniolo hakkında İtalyan ekibinin Sportif Direktörü Gianluca Nani konuştu. Nani, Zaniolo'nun satın alma opsiyonunu kullanıp...Devamı için tıklayınız
Azərbaycanın iki sərbəst güləşçisi Albaniyanın paytaxtı Tiranada keçirilən Avropa çempionatında yarımfinala vəsiqə qazanıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, İslam Bazarqanov (57 kq) 1/4 finalda Arıyan Tsyutrini (UWW), Cəbrayıl Hacıyev (79 kq) isə Aksarbek Qulayevi (Slovakiya) məğlub edib.
Bazarqanov final yolunda Gürcüstanı təmsil edən Roberti Dinqaşvili, Hacıyev isə Maqamedxabib Kadimaqamedov (UWW) ilə qarşılaşacaq.
Rusiyanın “Dinamo” (Mahaçqala) klubunun futbolçusu Məhəmməd Cavad Hosseynejad adının “Qarabağ” və “Neftçi” ilə hallanmasına münasibət bildirib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, o, “Championat.com”a açıqlamasında heç kimin onunla əlaqə saxlamadığını deyib:
“Klubumla müqaviləm davam edir. Bütün diqqətim qalan oyunlardadır. Mövsümün son mərhələsidir və bizim üçün önəmli perioddur. O ki qaldı transfer xəbərlərinə, şəxsən mənimlə heç kim danışmayıb”.
22 yaşlı yarımmüdafiəçi bu mövsüm26 oyudan 4 qol vurub, 1 məhsuldar ötürmə edib.
Belçikalı futbolçu Jorti Mokio “Ayaks”la müqaviləsini uzadıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. 18 yaşlı futbolçu ilə müqavilənin müddəti açıqlanmayıb.
Mokio klubla sözləşmədən sonra ailəsi ilə münasibətlərini pozub. Bu barədə “Voetbal İnternational” nəşri məlumat yayıb. Mokio bundan öncə qazancının hamısının valideynləri tərəfindən alınmasına görə ailəsindən imtina edib. Futbolçunun artıq sevgilisi ilə ayrı yaşadığı bildirilir.
24–26 aprel tarixlərində Türkiyənin İstanbul şəhərində karate üzrə Şotokan Dünya Çempionatı keçiriləcək.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, nüfuzlu beynəlxalq yarışda Azərbaycanı 10 deflimpiyaçı idmançı təmsil edəcək.
Hikmət Ağayev, Sahib Sahibli, Səma Tağıyeva, Aytən Qədriova, Maral Orucova, Əliəkbər Əlizadə, Elnur Qasımzadə, Nizaməddin Əzimzadə, Yusif Əzimzadə və Elmin Hüseynli dünya çempionatında mübarizə aparacaq.
Azərbaycan Kubokunun final görüşünün nominal meydan sahibinin müəyyənləşdirilməsi məqsədilə püşkatma mərasimi keçirilib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, mərasimdə Peşəkar Futbol Liqasının, “Zirə” və “Sabah” klublarının nümayəndələri iştirak ediblər. PFL Yarışların təşkili və qeydiyyatı şöbəsinin rəisi Elçin Mehtiyev, “Zirə” mətbuat katibi Elmar Abdullazadə, “Sabah” isə klubun meneceri İlahə Vəlizadə ilə təmsil olunub. Püşkatmaya əsasən “Sabah” nominal meydan sahibi olub.
Püşkatmadan sonra klub nümayəndələri ilə Peşəkar Futbol Liqası arasında geniştərkibli görüş keçirilib. İclasda Peşəkar Futbol Liqasının Texniki-idman direktoru Elgiz Abbasov, Media və marketinq direktoru Sənan Abdullayev, icraçı direktor Zaur Hacı-Məhərrəmov da iştirak ediblər. Görüşdə finalla bağlı ilkin təşkilati məsələlər, nəzərə alınacaq nüanslarla bağlı müzakirə aparılıb.
Qeyd edək ki, Azərbaycan Kubokunun final oyunu 13 may tarixində “Palms Sports Arena”da keçiriləcək. Matç saat 20:00-da start götürəcək.
Bizon Azərbaycan Kubokunun final görüşünün nominal meydan sahibinin müəyyənləşdirilməsi məqsədilə püşkatma mərasimi keçirilib. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, mərasimdə Peşəkar Futbol […]
Roma’s Senior Advisor Ranieri has officially left the Giallorossi.
Ranieri leaves Roma: official statement
“AS Roma confirms the relationship with Claudio Ranieri has ended,” Roma said in a statement on Friday.
“The Club would like to thank Claudio for his significant contributions to Roma.
“He lead the team through a very challenging time and we will always be grateful for his efforts.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 12: Claudio Ranieri, Head Coach of AS Roma looks on prior to the Serie A match between Atalanta and AS Roma at Gewiss Stadium on May 12, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Ranieri had a public dispute with coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who had previously complained about the club’s transfer activity and the management of some injured players.
Before a Serie A match against Pisa two weeks ago, Ranieri not only said that Gasperini had approved all transfers completed by the club, but also that he was the fourth option for the job last summer, after the top three targets had turned down Roma’s offer.
As the relationship between Ranieri and Gasperini deteriorated, the Roma owners had to choose between the two to move forward.
“As we look to the future, our direction is clear. The club is strong, with solid leadership and a defined vision,” the club continued.
ROME, ITALY – APRIL 18: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AS Roma and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on April 18, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
“AS Roma will always come first.
“We have full confidence in the path ahead under Gian Piero Gasperini, with the shared objective of growing, improving, and delivering results worthy of our history.”
Ranieri was appointed as Roma’s Senior Advisor last summer, after ending a six-month spell as the team’s head coach.
Fabrizio Romano says it’s “impossible” to see Enzo Maresca returning for another spell as Chelsea manager, with the Italian tactician a leading candidate for Manchester City.
Maresca left Chelsea earlier this year to be replaced by Liam Rosenior, who himself was then sacked by the Blues this week.
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However, the Italian tactician is now seen as more likely to replace Pep Guardiola if and when the current Man City manager steps down, according to Romano on his YouTube channel.
Maresca previously worked under Guardiola at City, and it seems he’s now seen internally as an ideal candidate to continue the Spanish tactician’s work once he’s gone.
Fabrizio Romano on Enzo Maresca links with Chelsea and Man City
Discussing the Maresca situation, Romano played down talk of a possible return to Chelsea now that Rosenior has left, describing it as “impossible” and suggesting taking the City job in the near future was much more likely.
“I maintain my position – Enzo Maresca will not return to Chelsea. Impossible,” Romano said.
“So I maintain this name. I know you see links with (Vincent) Kompany. I know you see links with more managers, Spanish managers, but my understanding is that the future could be Enso Maresca.
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“I say ‘could’ because there is nothing signed, nothing completed. But Maresca is a serious candidate, the leading candidate to become the next Manchester City manager whenever Pep decides to go.”
The former Leicester City manager guided the Blues to glory in the Europa Conference League and Club World Cup, while the team has also looked a lot worse since he left.
CFC must have some regrets about letting him go, and it will be interesting to see if he now ends up taking over at a major rival, and if he can be successful there.
The big question for now, however, is if Guardiola will leave this summer or in a year’s time, with no definitive answer on that just yet based on recent reports.
Prediction: Villarreal to win 2-0 Best Odds: 9/1 Bookmaker: Zetbet Villarreal and Celta de Vigo will lock horns with each other in La Liga this weekend. The match between Marcelino’s side and Claudio Giraldez’s team will be held at Estadio de la Ceramica and is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time on Sunday. […]
Injury-hit Ulster will hand debuts to three academy players in Saturday's crucial United Rugby Championship trip to inter-provincial rivals Munster.
Flankers James McKillop and Tom Brigg and winger Aitzol Arenzana-King will make their senior bow for the derby at Limerick's Thomond Park (17:30 BST).
Faced with a raft of injuries and with one eye on next week's Challenge Cup semi-final against Exeter, head coach Richie Murphy has made 15 changes from last week's defeat by Leinster in Belfast.
Without props Angus Bell (foot), Scott Wilson (ankle) and Tom O'Toole (hand), Eric O'Sullivan and Bryan O'Connor have been recalled at loose-head and tight-head as James McCormick returns at hooker.
Harry Sheridan and Charlie Irvine start in the second row, while Lorcan McLoughlin joins debutants McKillop and Brigg in the back row.
Joining fit-again full-back Michael Lowry - who will captain the side - in the back three are former Leinster wing Arenzana-King and Ben Moxham, who makes his first start since November 2023.
With James Hume (neck) and Jude Postlethwaite (hand) ruled out, Ethan McIlroy and Ben Carson start in midfield, while Conor McKee and Jake Flannery are paired at half-back.
Prop Tom McAllister and centre Jonny Scott, both of whom made their debut last month, are named on the bench alongside John Andrew, Callum Reid, Joe Hopes, Marcus Rea, Dave Shanahan and Jake Humphreys.
Murphy is without Nick Timoney (hip), James McNabney (knee), Rob Herring (calf), Robert Baloucoune (elbow), Rory McGuire (shoulder) and Stewart Moore (knee), while Ireland internationals Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey and Iain Henderson are among those not included in the squad.
Ulster are fifth in the URC table, a point above sixth-placed Munster, in the race for the play-offs.
When it comes to the NFL Draft, the No. 1 overall pick carries a unique blend of expectation, pressure, and opportunity. It represents not just elite talent, but the belief that a single player can alter the trajectory of an entire franchise. Over the decades, this top selection has produced a wide spectrum of outcomes—ranging from generational superstars to cautionary tales—but only a select few have truly justified the weight of that distinction. The ranking compiled by Fox Sports focuses on those rare individuals who not only met expectations but exceeded them, shaping eras and redefining excellence at their positions.
This list spans multiple generations of football, highlighting quarterbacks who became the face of the league, defensive players who dominated the line of scrimmage, and foundational pieces who elevated entire organizations. What binds these players together is not just individual achievement, but sustained impact—measured in championships, accolades, and influence on the game itself. From the precision and intellect of Peyton Manning to the relentless dominance of Bruce Smith, each name represents a different path to greatness.
Importantly, this ranking also reflects the evolving nature of football. Earlier legends like Terry Bradshaw and Earl Campbell set physical and cultural benchmarks, while modern stars such as Myles Garrett continue to push the boundaries of athleticism and versatility. Together, these ten players form a compelling narrative of what it means to fulfill—and transcend—the promise of being the NFL’s top draft selection.
10. Matthew Stafford (2009)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass against the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Matthew Stafford brought stability and elite arm talent to the Detroit Lions before later achieving championship success with the Los Angeles Rams. Known for his toughness and ability to make difficult throws, he consistently produced high-level passing numbers. His crowning achievement came with a Super Bowl victory, validating years of perseverance. Stafford’s career reflects both resilience and top-tier quarterback skill.
9. Orlando Pace (1997)
Saint Louis Rams former tackle Orlando Pace poses with his bust during the 2016 NFL Hall of Fame enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Orlando Pace anchored the offensive line for the St. Louis Rams during their “Greatest Show on Turf” era. As a blindside protector, he was instrumental in the success of their high-powered offense. Pace combined size, agility, and technique to neutralize elite pass rushers. His dominance earned him a place among the greatest offensive linemen ever.
8. Earl Campbell (1978)
Houston Oilers former running back Earl Campbell enters the stadium during the Professional Football HOF enshrinement ceremonies at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Earl Campbell was a punishing runner whose physical style defined an era for the Houston Oilers. He won the MVP award in 1979 and led the league in rushing three consecutive seasons. Campbell’s ability to break tackles and dominate defenses made him one of the most feared backs in NFL history. Though his career was relatively short, his impact was profound.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) riles up the crowd against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Myles Garrett has emerged as one of the most dominant defensive players of his generation with the Cleveland Browns. His rare combination of speed, power, and explosiveness makes him a constant disruptive force. Garrett consistently ranks among league leaders in sacks and pressures. Still in his prime, he continues to build a Hall of Fame-caliber résumé.
6. Eli Manning (2004)
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) celebrates after winning Super Bowl XLII at the University of Phoenix Stadium. New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots with a final of 17-14. Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Eli Manning carved out a legacy defined by clutch postseason performances with the New York Giants. He led the team to two Super Bowl victories over heavily favored opponents, earning MVP honors in both games. While his regular-season play was sometimes inconsistent, his composure under pressure was undeniable. Manning’s career is a study in resilience and timely excellence.
5. Troy Aikman (1989)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman (8) talks to the media after defeating the Buffalo Bills 52-17 at Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl. Credit: James D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Troy Aikman guided the Dallas Cowboys through one of the most dominant stretches in NFL history, winning three Super Bowls in the 1990s. Known for his accuracy and poise, he excelled in a balanced offensive system. Aikman’s leadership and consistency were critical in managing a roster full of star talent. His career exemplifies efficiency and championship-caliber quarterback play.
Bruce Smith remains the NFL’s all-time sack leader, a testament to his longevity and dominance as a pass rusher. Spending most of his career with the Buffalo Bills, he was a central figure in their four consecutive Super Bowl appearances. Smith’s blend of strength, technique, and relentless effort made him nearly unblockable. He set a benchmark for defensive excellence that still stands today.
Terry Bradshaw was the cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty of the 1970s, leading the team to four Super Bowl titles. Though sometimes underrated statistically, his clutch performances in big games defined his career. Bradshaw combined a powerful arm with a fearless mentality that thrived under pressure. His leadership helped establish one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history.
Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway (7) throws a pass against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 31-28. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
John Elway was the face of the Denver Broncos for over a decade, known for his arm strength, mobility, and late-game heroics. After several near misses, he capped his career with back-to-back Super Bowl victories, retiring on top. Elway’s toughness and competitive drive made him one of the most respected quarterbacks of his era. His legacy extends beyond playing, as he later helped build championship teams as an executive.
1. Peyton Manning (1998)
Peyton Manning looks on during the game between the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Peyton Manning redefined the quarterback position with his unmatched command of the offense and pre-snap intelligence. Over an 18-year career, he won five MVP awards and two Super Bowls, cementing himself as one of the most accomplished players in league history. His tenure with the Indianapolis Colts transformed the franchise into a perennial contender. Manning’s precision, preparation, and leadership set the gold standard for modern quarterbacks.
Conclusion
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) looks on against the Tennessee Titans during a timeout in the third quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
The No. 1 overall pick is less about draft position and more about legacy, and these players exemplify that distinction. Each carved out a career that justified the immense expectations placed upon them, leaving a lasting imprint on the league. As evaluated by Fox Sports, this group stands as the definitive benchmark for draft-day success.
Texas A&M's spring season ended after last Saturday's Maroon & White Game, providing third-year head coach Mike Elko with an extended scrimmage to evaluate this offseason, as the summer always goes by faster than expected before the fall practice season rolls around in early August. Officially welcoming 17 transfer additions and 25 of 26 2026 recruiting class signees, the Aggies' 2026 roster is set.
While some will say it's "too early" to project the Aggies chances of making it back to the College Football Playoff for a second straight season, it's clear that the roster has upgraded at several positions, while double-digit losses to the 2026 NFL Draft, including star wide receiver KC Concepcion and four of five starting offensive linemen, have led to plenty of questions.
Coupled with losing unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell, Mike Elko and his staff have their work cut out for them, but after Saturday's scrimmage, several newcomers stood out. The loss of senior linebacker Daymion Sanford, who sustained a brutal lower-body injury just seconds before halftime, proved to be extremely important as sophomore LB Noah Mikhail's impressive performance proved to be extremely important.
This week, ESPN Texas A&M writer Davie Wilson provided his take on what Texas A&M's predominant "strength" and "weakness" from a position standpoint will be heading into the fall, mirroring my own perspective after rewatching the Maroon & White Game.
Even after losing KC Concepcion, the addition of Alabama transfer WR Isaiah Horton provides much-needed size to an already established room.
"The Aggies lose KC Concepcion, a likely first-round NFL draft pick, but are deeper this year, adding the 6-4 Isaiah Horton from Alabama alongside last year's breakout star Mario Craver. Ashton Bethel-Roman and Terry Bussey are both expected to take big leaps and a freshman class led by Aaron Gregory has impressed in spring."
Going back to Daymion Sanford's injury, Texas A&M's linebacker depth could be an issue if Noah Mikhail, transfer LB Ray Coney, and junior Jordan Lockhart don't develop into a dependable unit, especially against the run. The 2026 Aggie defense could enter the year with a significant gap.
"The Aggies have talent at linebacker, just not much experience. Three-year starter Taurean York is gone, as is Scooby Williams. Daymion Sanford returns, but will have two new starters alongside him, with Ray Coneyarriving from Tulsa, where he had 128 tackles last year, and sophomore Noah Mikhail playing a bigger role."
Texas A&M will kick off the 2026 season against Missouri State in Kyle Field on Saturday, September 5.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
The Denver Broncos are going into the 2026 NFL draft with 73 players on their 90-man offseason roster. The Broncos currently hold seven picks, and if they make exactly seven picks (which isn't guaranteed due to possible trades), the roster would be at 80 players coming out of the draft.
That would leave room to sign 10 undrafted free agents to fill out the 90-man offseason roster. However, it's not uncommon for Denver to reach agreements with more UDFAs than they have room for, then cut bottom-of-the-roster players to make room for the new rookies.
So it wouldn't be surprising to see the Broncos add more than 10 UDFAs following the draft. Denver has a great history of UDFAs making the 53-man roster, with linebacker Karene Reid being a recent example from 2025. At least one UDFA has made the Broncos' active roster in 21 of the last 22 years.
Denver's list of all-time great UDFA signings includes wide receiver Rod Smith, cornerback Chris Harris, outside linebacker Shaq Barrett and running back C.J. Anderson, who all won at least one Super Bowl with the club.
You know. I know it. Everyone knows it. The Iowa Hawkeyes want to run the ball, play good defense, win the field position game, and suffocate teams with their tried and true strategy. Kudos are deserved, as it has won a ton of games during Kirk Ferentz's tenure.
But what if the offense looked different? What if Iowa looked like a more explosive team in 2026? Offensive coordinator Tim Lester discussed how Iowa can be explosive and what the growth looks like entering his third year calling plays.
"I like the way you asked the question. My job is about being explosive. I think I said that in my opening press conference, and it will be interesting to see.
"Coach does an unbelievable job of having us list who we think, and we do it like monthly, and we have to do the whole team, the leaders, the top-20 players, and who our top playmakers, who are the best leaders of the team, and we always hand it into him. I don't know what he does with it, but he's looking at it. He's keeping track.
"He'll bring some old ones out. Remember two years ago on this day we had this guy not even on the list, and now he's number one. It's fun to see the growth of the players.
"Yeah, year one was 100% Kaleb. Third and long, going to give it to Kaleb again, because that's our biggest chance of an explosive play, right?
"Last year No. 11 ended up being our explosive play guy. He made the most. We started doing some more things and letting him run the ball and have pass options and then DJ started coming along. It was great to get Reece back. We really kind of had the last couple of games I felt we were a pretty good balance of running and throwing and being explosive.
"This will be a totally new team. I've been pretty much calling practice the same way since I've been here. You've got to practice everything. Then on Saturdays you do the things you're good at, but you're always trying to improve on everything you do.
"So having Tony out there has helped our explosiveness a little bit. Running the same plays we've been running. We've just been getting over the top. You like that one-on-one matchup to number two, and you like it to 81. Now you like it to 14 and eight and seven. There's more options, right?
"You got to get those guys the ball. Well, there's only one way to get receivers the ball. So we've got to continue to find ways to do that. I've been coaching them up on how this offense. We still won't know until camp, right, how we have to find explosive plays. Even if we ran the triple option, you have to find ways to find explosive plays.
"Really our running backs are coming along too. It will be interesting to see if Kamari, who has been great in practice, can he take the next step and get over the 100-yard mark one time? Unbelievable. He did such a good job. I couldn't believe it.
"So we're going to continue, but obviously when you have some guys that are playmakers, you're going to have to get them the ball. We are doing some things. I've had a couple play series that, we'll call them, we had in for two years and never called them. You need to really have a guy. You need to have a couple of guys and one on the front and one on the back, and we can protect it and try to get a one-on-one matchup.
"We tinkered with it with Wetj back out there by himself. We've been getting much better at it, because we have some of the horses that we need to get that done now. It's been fun to watch even some of our coaches, like, man, I didn't really like that play in year one, in year two, but now it's starting to look pretty good. Yeah, it's amazing. Players over plays.
"So we're continuing to figure that out, but it's definitely going to look different this year than it did other years. It might change as the year goes on as we figure out what -- guys can always emerge. It's kind of a program of stories. So we'll see what the next story is, but there's definitely been some stories up front with the O-line and with Tony and Evan and even LJ in the spring. There's already starting to develop those, and it will be fun to continue to watch them grow," Tim Lester said about Iowa's offense continuing to grow.
It's undeniable that Tim Lester's offense has taken strides in the right direction, albeit in different ways. Kaleb Johnson wore teams down in a traditional ground-and-pound attack in 2024, while Mark Gronowski's legs and unique style opened things up for Iowa to run more of a zone scheme and spread teams out in 2025.
With the new receivers, a loaded running back room, and a quarterback competition, the 2026 version of Iowa figures to be a combination of both.
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Scarlets will give academy wing Callum Woolley his United Rugby Championship (URC) debut in Saturday's home game against Bulls (19:45 BST).
The 6ft 4in back has impressed for Carmarthen Quins in Super Rygbi Cymru and was called up by Great Britain 7s for the Singapore and Perth legs of the World Series in January.
The 20-year-old from Cardigan has been working in training with Wales and British and Irish Lions great Liam Williams, and he gets his chance on the right wing in place of Ellis Mee, who sustained an ankle injury in the loss to Cardiff last weekend.
There is also a change on the other wing with Macs Page starting in place of Tom Rogers, who is going through return-to-play head injury protocols.
In the centre, Joe Roberts gets the nod in the No 13 jersey, partnering Eddie James who moves to inside centre, while Joe Hawkins and Dane Blacker continue at half-back.
In the pack there is just one enforced change, with Wales prop Henry Thomas coming in at tight-head for Archer Holz, who is also recovering from a head knock.
Kemsley Mathias and Ryan Elias continue in an all-Wales front row, while Sam Lousi continues his partnership with Max Douglas at lock.
Taine Plumtree, skipper Fletcher Anderson and Jarrod Taylor continue in an unchanged back row, while another breakaway forward, Dan Davis, will make his 100th Scarlets appearance if he comes off the bench.
Marnus van der Merwe, Josh Morse, Harri O'Connor and Jac Price provide the rest of the forward cover, with Archie Hughes, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones and Ioan Jones covering the backline.
Josh Macleod, Sam Costelow, Jake Ball, Alec Hepburn, Will Evans and Dom Kossuth are the other Scarlets unavailable due to injury.
Scarlets go into the game 14th in the URC table and looking to bounce back from their late capitulation to Cardiff when they conceded 21 points in the final 10 minutes.
"Last weekend's result hurt, but the response this week has been exactly what you want to see," said Scarlets interim director of rugby Nigel Davies.
"There's been honesty, energy and a real determination to move forward together.
"We are very clear as a group that our discipline hasn't been where it needs to be and that sits with me. It's my responsibility to ensure we get that right because it's impacting our performance and results."
Eighth-place Bulls arrive at Parc y Scarlets needing a win to keep up their bid for the play-offs.
"The Bulls bring a big, physical challenge, but these are the games you want to be involved in," added Davies.
"We've shown before that we can compete with them and we've got the ability within this group to do that again.
"There's a nice balance to the side. Some exciting young players get their chance and experience against a challenging Bulls side - blended with enough experience and leadership to deliver the performance we're after.
"For us, these games are about standards. What we produce now sets the tone for everything that comes next."
The 2026 NFL Draft is underway in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a record-setting crowd showing up in the Steel City. It’s going to be an exciting atmosphere as the team continues throughout the weekend, with the second and third rounds on Day 2 and the final four rounds on Saturday afternoon.
The logo of the 2026 NFL Draft is showcased at the big screen inside the theater Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from outside Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Ty Simpson of Alabama embraces NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected 13th overall by the Los Angeles Chargers during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Is the Los Angeles Rams squad better after Round 1 of the NFL Draft? Yes, it is. They added a desirable quarterback to their roster.
With Jimmy Garropollo potentially retiring, the Rams didn’t have a backup quarterback outside of Stetson Bennett. Unless Bennett and the Rams surprise everyone more than they did with the Simpson pick, Bennett will not take the field for L.A. in any meaningful games.
With Simpson drafted, the Rams can continue their plan of having Bennett on the roster for whatever their reasons are, but they have two actual quarterbacks who they can stomach putting on the field in Matthew Stafford and the newly added Simpson.
Could the Rams have picked someone other than Simpson? Yes. Did the Rams improve their roster taking Simpson? You can say no. The Rams will disagree, so would I. The roster improved.
Maybe years from now there will be a book written, and that book will spell out that someone in L.A. hated this pick (maybe I’ll write a book about how counterintuitive the Simpson pick is), but for now, Simpson is the pick, and the Rams are going to try and sell that fans on improving their roster both now and later.
On paper, L.A.’s roster has improved.
Was this improvement worth the 13th overall pick of 2026? To be determined. Could the Rams have done better with their 13th overall pick? To be determined.
Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
The New England Patriots have made their stance clear after Mike Vrabel’s decision to step away from Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
With the franchise navigating both a crucial draft weekend and an off-field situation involving their head coach, the focus has quickly shifted to how the organization is handling the moment internally.
Vrabel’s absence comes after he chose to begin counseling following the Dianna Russini controversy, a move that has drawn attention across the league during one of the NFL’s busiest weekends.
Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
New England Patriots publicly back Mike Vrabel amid draft absence
In a statement shared via Adam Schefter, the Patriots made it clear that they are standing firmly behind their head coach.
“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being,” the statement read.
“Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment,” it added.
The statement comes as Vrabel steps away to focus on personal matters, with the organization choosing to emphasize support rather than distraction during a critical stretch of the offseason.
Given the timing, just as the draft unfolds, the Patriots’ response highlights a clear priority on stability and backing their head coach through a difficult moment.
How New England Patriots plan to handle Day 3 without Mike Vrabel
Despite Vrabel’s absence, the Patriots have made it clear that their draft process will continue without disruption.
The groundwork for the weekend had already been laid over months of preparation, allowing the front office to move forward with confidence even without their head coach physically present.
“We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process,” the statement continued.
The Patriots concluded, “While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend.”
In that sense, the Patriots are leaning on continuity. Vrabel’s influence remains embedded in the evaluations and strategy already in place, even as the team operates without him on the final day.
It’s a situation that underscores both the seriousness of his decision and the organization’s belief that their draft plan is strong enough to carry on as intended.
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Auburn Tigers defensive end Keldric Faulk is selected by the Tennessee Titans as the number 31 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Titans must strengthen the interior of their offensive line. Chase Bisontis was a borderline first-round prospect who is still available, and the Titans hosted him for a pre-draft visit. Bisontis would be plug-and-play at right guard as an immediate starter.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Linebacker isn’t the Titans’ biggest need, but Jacob Rodriguez is an excellent prospect at the position. Head coach Robert Saleh could use another high-end linebacker next to Cedric Gray to truly transform his defense. Rodriguez is a proven prospect with a ton of athleticism and recent (2024-25) production.
Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona
The Titans hosted cornerback Treydan Stukes on a pre-draft visit. He’s been described as a surefire second-round pick by various NFL insiders. Stukes plays that “BIG NICKEL” position. The Titans invested in cornerbacks in free agency, but unproven sophomore Marcus Harris is the current nickel.
Emmanuel Pregnon, IOL, Oregon
Oregon blocker Emmanuel Pregnon is another potential right guard starter if Zeitler isn’t coming back. Pregnon was elite on tape this past season. He’s a legitimate people mover with overwhelming power in the trenches. The Titans should possess interest given the current state of their interior offensive line.
Keionte Scott, Miami, CB
The Titans still need a nickel cornerback to potentially compete for snaps with Marcus Harris. Miami’s Keionte Scott is an instinctive cornerback with a high football IQ and rare playmaking ability. Drafting Scott would arguably complete a Titans secondary that also added Alontae Tayor, Cor’Dale Flott, Joshua Williams, and Tony Adams this offseason.
Potential alternatives: Jake Golday (Cincinnati, LB); CJ Allen (Georgia, LB); D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana, CB); Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas, LB); Zakee Wheatley (Penn State, S); A.J. Haulcy (LSU, S); Jake Slaughter (Florida, IOL); Chandler Rivers (Duke, CB); Sam Hecht (IOL, Kansas State).
Another day, another recruiting update for Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope.
It’s no secret that the Big Blue Nation is frustrated with how this past season went and the current status of recruiting for UK basketball.
Kentucky has missed on several players they appeared to be “all in” on and that’s a major red flag.
However, things could turn around a bit if they land a commitment from James Madison transfer Justin McBride.
The small forward just finished his third year of college and made a massive leap playing for the Dukes, averaging over 15 points per game and shooting the basketball at a high percentage from long-range (40%) in just 27 minutes of action.
“Sources say things are trending in the right direction for Mark Pope in this recruitment as UK is well-positioned,” Tipton said, later adding, “This recruitment sounds like it’s the Wildcats to lose.”
Landing the heavily skilled forward would be another boost to what has been a rather underwhelming offseason for Pope and his staff.
Until we get news on McBride, though, Day Two of the NFL Draft kicks off tonight on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network starting at 7 PM ET for both the second and third round.
While it’s up in the air if Kentucky will have anyone selected tonight, some of the former players that were originally slotted as potential Day Three picks may slide up the draft board.
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Single-session tickets for the 2026 SEC Softball Tournament are on sale now!
ALEMERE, NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 10: (L-R) Thom Haye of Almere City Givairo Read of Feyenoord, Vasilios Zagaritis of Almere City during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Almere City v Feyenoord at the Yanmar Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Alemere Netherlands (Photo by Roy Lazet/Soccrates/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bayern Munich have long maintained an interest in Feyenoord right back Givairo Read as the club’s front office is planning for this summer’s transfer window. They want to bring in reinforcements during the upcoming window as they are prepping for departures of Leon Goretzka and Raphaël Guerreiro, while there could be other players on their way out. In the defensive department, they also already offloaded Sacha Boey back to Galatasray during last winter’s transfer window.
In Read, Bayern identified a player with the right profile to go on and have a bright future. He’s only 19-years-old, has been a regular starter for Feyenoord, and has been attracting interest from some of Europe’s top clubs other than Bayern. While he is currently dealing with a hamstring problem, there’s still been no indication that Read won’t work his way back into the starting lineup when he’s fully fit, but there’s plenty of interest in him going into this summer.
Per information from Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, negotiations between Bayern and Feyenoord for a potential Read transfer this summer have not progressed whatsoever. Internally st Bayern, they really do not want to have to spend more than roughly €30 million to bring the youngster to Munich, but Feyenoord want more than that, creating the roadblock. Per Transfermarkt, he’s currently valuated at €25 million, but his contract with the Eredivisie club runs through June 2029, so Feyenoord have the power at the negotiating table. He also does not have a release clause in his current contract with the Dutch side.
Plettenberg also reports that Manchester City are also still interested in Read and potentially trying to sign him this summer. From a financial perspective, they would more than likely be willing to spend more money than Bayern would.
For now, Bayern is going to keep their focus on players like Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon and Hertha Berlin’s Kennet Eichhorn for this summer’s transfer window, while they have also maintained an interest in Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Aslani, who has also garnered a great deal of interest from abroad.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
The Chevron Championship has a new home in 2026, with the first women’s major of the golfing year is being played at Houston’s Memorial Park.
Until 2022, this event was played at Mission Hills, a place steeped in the traditions of this major championship. It has moved twice since then in an unpopular development.
The Chevron Championship has been poorer for it, with middling attendance and a real lack of identity. But what about the golf course itself?
Memorial Park hosted the Houston Open on the PGA Tour just a month ago, but how is it holding up for this LPGA major? Nelly Korda, who leads the Chevron Championship after one round, shared her honest thoughts.
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Nelly Korda gives verdict on Memorial Park after round one of the Chevron Championship
There was a lot of rain in the build-up to this major, which has severely affected the conditions out there. That didn’t affect Korda, however, who shot an opening round 65 to take the lead through round one.
Speaking after Thursday’s play, the former world number one shared her thoughts on the shape of the course: “Definitely had a little bit of mud on the ball. But, yeah, I mean, it’s not rolling out too far in the fairway so someone that’s hitting it longer definitely has an advantage. There are times where my pitch mark was right next to my ball.
“So you’re not seeing too much run-out. It’s definitely a second-shot golf course where you’re thinking about the misses or the bigger parts of the greens, where you can be aggressive, where you can’t be aggressive, and also in the back of your mind, okay, is short a better miss, is long better miss?
“Because it was gusty out there where it may not seem like it, but through this golf course there are some openings in the trees where you’ll just feel a really big gust and all of a sudden it just lays off.
“So being committed to your irons was also a big part of today because I had one on like I think 12 where I was between an eight and a seven and I went with the seven, but the wind completely laid off and I kind of just flew it through the green.”
Nelly Korda responds to Charley Hull’s comments on the course setup
The setup was tough for many players, which has sparked debate about how the golf course should play. Charley Hull said she loves to play a difficult course and see the players tested.
Korda weighed in on those comments when asked how she likes to see a course play. She said, “Long. You know, I think it should test every part of your game. I just think it should just play long and tough.”
She continued, “I mean, they’re dealing with a very saturated golf course so they can’t push it too far because you don’t get the run-out. I think I like when par-5s are gettable. Where you have to hit two really good shots, and par-5s are gettable.
“I love when par-3s are tough, which a lot of them are. I had a hybrid into one and a 5-iron into another and I’m a longer player. And then you have a couple shorter par-4s and a couple longer par-4s. That’s what I really like.
“I think when you make a golf courses really short, especially par-5s where everyone is laying it up the same exact area and at the end of the day it’s a wedge contest, to me that’s not very exciting.
“Like the people that hit a really good drive and have the opportunity to go for it should be able to go for it and not where you’re like okay this is a three-shotter today.”
It’s great to see that Korda doesn’t shy away from a challenge, and she’s been rewarded for that attitude with an opening round lead.
DL Kayden McDonald at the NFL Combine | Getty Images
The New York Giants were the beneficiary of one of the early surprises in the 2026 NFL Draft, when linebacker/edge defender Arvell Reese, projected by many to go as high as No. 2 (he was Dane Brugler’s No. 1 in his Top 100), fell into their laps. The Giants passed on linebacker Sonny Styles, perhaps not surprisingly, to draft him, and then they maybe more surprisingly passed on safety Caleb Downs to draft offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa (who will probably move to right guard, at least early in his career). The Giants will get to see a lot of Styles and Downs, who went to Washington and Dallas, respectively, but it’s hard to argue with Reese and Mauigoa. It’s fair to project that the Giants’ starting offensive line is now defined, as well as their off-ball linebacker corps, although Reese may be a chess piece in Dennard Wilson’s defense.
Now Day 2 of the draft is almost upon us, and thanks to the trade-up for Jaxson Dart last year and the absence of a trade-down this year on Day 1, there will be early intrigue and then a lot of waiting for Day 3 to roll around…unless the Giants trade down from No. 37 to get an additional Day 2 pick.
For now, though, let’s look at a few players the Giants might consider drafting in Round 2 when they are on the clock at No. 37. The Giants must navigate a four-team gauntlet of teams whose needs partly overlap theirs (SF, ARI, BUF, LV).
Interior defensive line
Kayden McDonald
Mc Donald is DT1 on most experts’ lists, and he was projected to go late in Round 1, so getting him at No. 37 would be a great find for the Giants. McDonald doesn’t give you much in pass rush at this point in his career, but he’s devastating against the run. Chris Pflum and Nick Falato said of him:
He has a very good initial burst, firing off the ball low and hard which allows him to be far more disruptive than expected for a nose tackle.
He shows a wrestler-like understanding of leverages, consistently getting under blockers’ pads and maintaining a low center of gravity to fight off blocks and control double teams. He also understands how to get skinny, either using half-man leverage to bull his way into the backfield or put his hips in a gap to force cutbacks in one-gap defensive schemes.
McDonald is very strong, consistently driving solo blockers into the backfield and is also fully capable of taking on double – and even triple – teams. He does an excellent job of creating piles in the middle of the defense, allowing his teammates to flow to the ball.
Other IDL possibilities if McDonald is off the board by No. 37: Christen Miller, Lee Hunter
Cornerback
Colton Hood
Hood played opposite Travis Hunter in Colorado, then transferred to Tennessee and played opposite Jermod McCoy, becoming CB1 when McCoy went down with an ACL injury. McCoy is also still on the board, but his injury combined with questions about whether he might need additional surgery may scare the Giants and other teams off until later rounds. Hood meanwhile took over as CB1 and got himself noticed at the Senior Bowl. Chris and Nick say the following about him:
Hood has slightly below average size, but plays more like an old-school box safety. He plays with tremendous competitive toughness, offering great effort throughout the play. He’s fearless coming downhill to defend the run, featuring a hair trigger from zone coverage and willingness to fill gaps at full speed. Hood is a very willing tackler who seems to enjoy hitting ball carriers.
He needs to polish up his tackling technique and settles for shoulder checks too often. However, the willingness with which he launches himself at ball carriers suggests he’ll get there with coaching.
Hood has quick, light feet as well as the fluid hips necessary to stay in phase with receivers throughout their routes in man coverage. He does a good job of getting in sync and being physical with receivers without crossing the line into being grabby. Likewise, he has a solid understanding of route concepts as well as coverage structures. That allows him to avoid schemed traffic as well as efficiently pick up and pass off receivers in zone coverage.
Other cornerback possibilities: Avieon Terrell, Brandon Cisse (and Jermod McCoy if the Giants want to roll the dice on his health)
Nickel
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
McNeil-Warren is one of the hybrid types of cornertback-safety-linebacker hybrids that defensive coordinators have begun to use as chess pieces to match different types of offenses and confuse them. McNeil-Warren somewhat surprisingly did not get chosen in Round 1; he was considered a first round talent by several analysts. You might imagine that the Giants passed on Caleb Downs gambling that this player might slide to them in Round 2. Chris and Nick said of him:
McNeil-Warren has great length for the position at 6-foot-3 with 32-inch arms. That length allows him to effectively wrap up ball carriers, attack the football and force fumbles (9 on his career, 3 last year), and be disruptive at the catch point (13 passes defensed, 5 in 2025).
He sports a high football IQ and is an active communicator in both the pre and post-snap phases of the game. McNeil-Warren is consistently directing traffic in the back end of the Rockets’ defense and plays a major role in orchestrating their post-snap coverage rotations. He has enough speed to quickly hit depth when dropping into a center field coverage zone and enough range to execute those responsibilities. Likewise, he has enough range and speed to come down and play the run from the intermediate area of the field.
McNeil-Warren typically diagnoses the opposing offense well and shows impressive processing speed mid-play. He reacts very quickly to misdirection or cut-backs from running backs, altering his pathing almost in sync with his opponents. He also has a lightning downhill trigger and flies to the ball once he diagnoses a running play.
McNeil-Warren has a very good closing burst, built on his ability to quickly stop and gather himself. He is very quick to drop his center of gravity before uncoiling to strike opponents. That allows him to hit much harder than his 201-pound frame would suggest. He seems to truly love the physical aspect of the game and has upside as a box safety thanks to his ability to knife through gaps and be a violent hitter.
Other possibilities: Treydan Stukes, D’Angelo Ponds
Safety
A.J. Haulcy
The Giants lost Dane Belton but still have Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin, Jason Pinnock is back for a second stint in blue, and they added Ar’Darius Washington. Do you have confidence in any of them? Holland was excellent early in his career but has declined in recent years. Nubin showed promise as a rookie but has never become the ballhawk he was in college and was awful defending the run last year. Pinnock started well as a Giant but was poor in his final year. Washington is an intriguing addition but we haven’t seen him yet as a Giant.
Many Giants fans (including me) wanted and expected Caleb Downs to be the pick at No. 10, but the Giants went for Francis Mauigoa instead to fill the hole at right guard. Hard to argue with that. Dillon Thieneman came off the board at No. 25. Might the Giants instead take a safety in Round 2?
A.J. Haulcy is a good sized (6-foot, 215 pounds) and fast safety who was utilized all over the field at LSU. Chris and Nick said about him:
Haulcy was frequently asked to execute coverage rotations in LSU’s defense and was easily able to get depth and in position on schedule. He’s also an active communicator in the pre and post-snap phases, allowing him to help keep the structure of the defense intact.
He processes the game well, typically diagnosing run or pass quickly and accurately. Likewise, he generally takes smart – if aggressive – angles to the ball which maximize his long speed and allow him to impact the play from distant alignments. He also does a very good job of positioning himself for ball production. He has a good timing and technique with his “Peanut Punch” and also does a good job of positioning himself to collect interceptions.
Haulcy is, above all, a mean, competitive, and physical safety prospect. Haulcy seems to relish the physical aspect of the game and looks for opportunities to deliver hits to offensive players. He commits hard and fast when he diagnoses the play, often flying in from off-screen to tackle the ball carrier. He plays with bad intentions and lets offensive players know it early and often.
Other possibilities at safety: Really none at the top of Round 2.
Wide receiver
Denzel Boston
The Giants really need a traditional X-receiver. It’s a surprise that Boston got out of the first round, and if he somehow makes it to No. 37, it would be very tempting for the Giants to take him. Chris and Nick have this to say about Boston:
Boston has excellent size for an outside receiver at 6-foot 3 ¾ inches, 212 pounds, with 32-inch arms and 9 ¾ inch hands. He makes great use of his size as a target at all three levels of the field, and as a blocker. Boston is also surprisingly quick in and out of his breaks and has good stop/start quickness for a bigger receiver.
His size and quickness make him a capable receiver in the short to intermediate area of the field, and he does a good job of running his routes past the sticks as a possession receiver. Boston also has excellent body control, extending and contorting to make circus catches in traffic or along the sideline. He also has truly excellent ball skills down the field as well. His long strides allow him to get vertical, and he’s very quick to pick up the ball in the air. Boston does a great job of tracking the ball after he locates it, while his length and body control allow him to make excellent adjustments to expand his already-massive catch radius.
Boston is a natural hands catcher, who plucks the ball out of the air well away from his frame and does an excellent job of attacking it at the highest point. He quickly secures the ball after catching it, and was charged with just two (2) drops and a 76.9 percent catch rate on contested catches in 2025.
Other wide receiver possibilities if Boston doesn’t make it to 37: Germie Bernard, Chris Bell, Chris Brazell II, Ted Hurst (Hurst in particular is someone who might make it to Round 4.)
With the first round of the 2026 NFL draft in the books, let's take a look at who the Indianapolis Colts are taking with their first selections in the latest Day 2 NFL mock drafts.
Considering that the Colts were without a first-round selection, things played out quite well, and GM Chris Ballard should have a strong board to work with on day 2. With only two picks and several needs to fill, Ballard must deliver with these upcoming selections.
Let's take a look at who the Colts are picking in these Day 2 mocks.
Takeaways: In Miller's mock, he addresses the Colts' two biggest needs right away. Linebacker needs added competition throughout that depth chart, while the Colts should still be looking to add more pass-rush juice at defensive end.
Takeaways: As Edwards said, landing Parker at pick 47 would be a "great value." He could compete for snaps opposite of Laiatu Latu right away. And while adding OT depth makes sense, I don't think that the Colts have the luxury of doing so on Day 2.
Takeaways: Perhaps the best development for the Colts coming out of Round 1 is that no linebackers were taken. I'm interested to see what Ballard does at safety. He made several additions there in free agency, but unknowns at this position -- outside of Cam Bynum -- linger. Is Ballard content with how this room is shaped or will he add more competition?
Takeaways: Rodriguez is a Day 1 starter at linebacker for the Colts, while Fields would compete with Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for the WR3 snaps.
Colts Wire
Pick 56 (TRADE): Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, Penn State
IOWA CITY — It's important not to fall into the tempting trap of overreaction when evaluating Iowa football's open spring practice on April 25.
But that is not always easy to do.
Blowing things out of proportion is something we have become accustomed to. And with the 2026 Iowa football team, it's not like there is a huge sample size to go off. This is the most competitive, game-like scenario that will be open to the public until Kids' Day at Kinnick in August.
It's important to qualify what happens on the field Saturday.
That can go both ways.
Yes, this player had a really good day, but it was just one day.
Yes, this player had a really bad day, but it was just one day.
The 2026 season-opener against Northern Illinois is still months away, meaning there is time for improvement between now and September.
Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker alluded to that when speaking about redshirt freshman defensive lineman Iose Epenesa.
"Iose's doing good," Parker said. "He's making some progress. Obviously, he's a young kid that has a lot of expectations on him, and I think he's done a good job as far as improving. There are sometimes you sit there and say, 'Hey, I wish he was farther along,' but I think he keeps on working. It's not like we're playing a game this Saturday. So, it gives us time for more growth."
So, it's best not to jump to conclusions based on one day in April.
That said, it's fun to get a snapshot of where the Hawkeyes stand.
Here are some things to watch during Saturday's practice.
The quarterbacks
Unsurprisingly, one of the biggest storylines going into the 2026 season is who takes over at quarterback.
After Mark Gronowski elevated Iowa's quarterback play last season, the Hawkeyes will look to continue that upward trend. But exactly who takes the reins is still up in the air.
Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown are locked in competition for the starting job, and there's no definitive end to the battle in sight.
"There's really not a time frame," said offensive coordinator Tim Lester. "There's part of me thinking, 'Man, it would be great if it was clear by the end of spring,' and it's not even close to clear. It's a good problem to have. It's definitely going to go into camp. It could go into the season. I don't really know. But I like where they're both at."
We will get a small window into how both quarterbacks look during Saturday's open practice. More broadly, Iowa's passing game, which includes its receivers, will be in the spotlight. The Hawkeyes have made progress in two seasons under Lester, but the passing game has still left much to be desired.
Hecklinski and Brown are the headliners, but they are not the only quarterbacks on Iowa's roster. Jimmy Sullivan and Ryan Fitzgerald are entering their redshirt freshman seasons. Both are worth keeping an eye on when it comes to the longer-term outlook of the quarterbacks room.
"Jimmy Sullivan has really taken strides, too," Lester said. "Watching him and (Fitzgerald) is doing a great job. (Fitzgerald) is on time, on target, really smart football player. Jimmy is extremely talented and the game is slowing down for him. He got here spring last year, so it's his second spring, although he's a true freshman. He's got an unbelievable arm. His feet and his timing are getting better."
The newcomers
Several offseason additions have the chance to make an impact for the Hawkeyes in 2026.
Offensively, that is highlighted by transfers Tony Diaz (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), Evan James (Furman) and L.J. Phillips Jr. (South Dakota).
There is hope that Diaz and James can help spark an Iowa wide receiver room that has largely underwhelmed. That duo combined for nearly 1,700 receiving yards last season. Meanwhile, Phillips, who rushed for more than 1,900 yards last season, provides even more firepower to an already loaded running back room.
Unfortunately, Lester raised some doubt about whether Diaz would participate on Saturday due to injury, although he did not seem concerned about it in the long term.
Tyler Brown (James Madison) and Anthony Hawkins (Villanova) are intriguing transfers in the secondary. Brown started every game last season for a Dukes team that made the College Football Playoff. Hawkins was an FCS second-team Freshman All-American by Phil Steele. There's also interest to see if returning defensive backs like Jaylen Watson, Rashad Godfrey Jr. and Jacob Wallace look ready to take on larger roles in 2026.
The defensive line is arguably the biggest question mark on defense entering the season, considering that unit lost a boatload of production, including Aaron Graves, Max Llewellyn, Ethan Hurkett, Jonah Pace and Brian Allen. The Hawkeyes were active in bolstering that unit through the transfer portal. They will need some returning players to step up, too, but Kahmari Brown (Elon), Brice Stevenson (Holy Cross) and Emmanuel Olagbaju (North Dakota) are all transfers who could crack the rotation on the defensive line.
Hopefully, we can get an early glimpse of what they bring to the table.
The specialists
Iowa's special teams unit has endured a major overhaul ahead of the 2026 season.
LeVar Woods, who had great success leading that unit, left to be the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator for Big Ten foe Michigan State. Iowa also saw the departures of Kaden Wetjen, the program’s all-time leader in combined return touchdowns, and Drew Stevens, the program’s all-time leading in made field goals. On top of that, punter Rhys Dakin followed Woods to Michigan State.
Now under the direction of Chris Polizzi, there is a lot to be answered about unit moving forward.
Iowa has a pair of newcomers competing for the punting job. Transfer Tanner Philpott, a Waukee Northwest grad, was an AFCA Division III Coaches’ second-team All-American at Simpson College last season. Meanwhile, Boston Everitt comes from a far different background as a native of Australia, who has never played a game of American football before.
At kicker, Iowa brings back Caden Buhr, who appeared sparingly last season behind Stevens. The Hawkeyes also added someone much more experienced in North Dakota State transfer Eli Ozick, who has converted on 19-of-23 field goals in his college career.
Iowa's special teams are rich in tradition and an integral part of how the Hawkeyes win games. So, they aren't an afterthought at this spring open practice.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 20: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox leaves the field prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday, April 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Roman Anthony had the weight of the world thrown on his shoulders by the Red Sox and the front office’s failure to construct a contending lineup around him.
Last June’s trade of Rafael Devers and the subsequent free-agent departure of Alex Bregman left little to fear in Boston’s offense. Anthony did produce at a high level in 2025 before his September oblique injury. That doesn’t mean it’s smart to immediately force him into the role of the primary offensive weapon in his age-22 season.
Whether it’s pressure, the flow of the early weeks or just a plain slump, Boston’s young star simply hasn’t hit like one so far. His lone home run came in a pinch-hit at-bat in Houston, though the swing was impressive with an opposite-field blast against Astros closer Bryan Abreu.
Anthony holds just a .686 OPS through his first 22 games. He also missed the final two games of the series loss to the New York Yankees with a back issue. Not great news given his injury last fall.
His struggles are among the many reasons for gutted belief in the team after a 9-16 start.
Want a little bit to believe in?
Anthony continues to show progress in the areas that built his offensive profile: he’s hitting the ball hard (89th percentile average exit velocity) and still takes his walks (91st percentile walk rate).
Not to mention that he already showed once in 2026 that he can get hot quickly. Former Red Sox infielder and Team USA hitting coach Sean Casey got an up-close view of that run during the World Baseball Classic in March.
“I like the way he works in the cages,” Casey told OverTheMonster.com in a recent interview. “I like how he was really driving the ball in the gaps in batting practice, really trying to work that left center gap. You can tell he was really working the middle of the field. So I just love the way he worked. I think sometimes it takes years to develop a really good routine. And I feel like he has a good routine. He has a good feel of what he’s trying to do and a good feel of what his strengths are.”
We’ve all seen Anthony unload on some pull-side blasts over the last year, from his Spring Breakout rocket to his 497-foot grand slam in Worcester and his Yankee Stadium second-deck shot in August. With that said, Casey sees Anthony’s ability to join elite left-handed hitters and find a new gear with pivots to the opposite field.
“Your best hitters, their approach is out over the plate,” Casey explained. “For Roman Anthony, I was waiting to see what he said, but I think the best hitters are trying to drive the ball to left center. He was saying center, left of center; which I liked. And he was like, ‘I try to stay in the middle of the field. That’s when I’m at my best.’ And I was like, ‘Man, that’s a great approach for anybody.’ But for a 21 year old kid and seeing how his approach was, I could understand why he’s such a great player.”
The conventional thinking for optimizing offense at Fenway Park is to load up on right-handed power. That’s valid and the Red Sox must build offenses around that trend for years and years to come. At the same time, the wall can kill slumps for the adaptable lefties who can embrace it.
“He’s gonna get hot. He’s gonna get hot and put up some damage numbers,” Casey said. “The thing about Roman, he’s got big-time power so he could put up five homers in a week and drive in a bunch of runs.”
Casey continued: “I think the biggest thing for him is really to use that Monster. He’s got a really good left center approach. I think the Monster can get you hot quickly. I saw Big Papi do it when I played with him in 2008. For years watching him, I always felt like when he got in trouble, he’s like, gotta get off that monster and everything would open up. I think Roman’s gonna learn that if he can really use the dimensions of Fenway to help him out. But the biggest thing is, he’s gonna get hot. I mean, that’s the bottom line.”
His abilities at the plate will spark great seasons. His humility and personality will make him a perennial All-Star and an impeccable teammate. Those qualities may be Casey’s greatest takeaways from his time with Anthony last month.
“That was probably one of my first impressions,” Casey recalled. “Like man, this guy feels like a veteran. It feels like a veteran the way he handles himself. But just such a great kid, man. Just a nice guy, hard worker. You know, one thing I loved about talking to him as the hitting coach was just asking him what his approach was and what he’s thinking in the box, what he’s thinking about in practice. What his work looks like. You know, he had some great answers about what he does and what he’s thinking and what he’s working on in the cages.”
Everybody knows the story of Anthony’s “rookie” responsibilities on Team USA of purchasing and lugging around the team’s massive speaker from workouts to bus rides and everywhere in between. Obviously vibes are different in WBC settings, rather than the exhausting grind of the season, but Casey watched this job bring Anthony into a core role in a star-studded clubhouse.
“These guys, these guys all have that swagger about them in a confident way, you know, not cocky, but a confident way,” Casey said. “There’s an air about him and something about Roman that he has.”
Alex Cora challenged Anthony when he left camp to soak up as much experience from as many teammates as possible, not just his friend and mentor in Bregman. Thus, the Red Sox outfielder quickly earned the respect of Aaron Judge, who will challenge him for years to come in the current state of baseball’s most historic rivalry, with a quick turnaround following a tiring travel day to Miami for knockout rounds in the WBC.
“The coaches go and we’re getting BP going,” Casey shared. “And I think Roman was in group two. And so he was behind the cage with me on the turtle and Judge says, ‘Hey, Roman. Good to see you’re on the other bus.’ And then, Roman says to Judge, ‘Hey, if there was a 7:30 (AM) bus, I would have been on it.’ And I was like, that’s awesome. You know, like you got these guys, the WBC is the best of the best, but you got Roman Anthony at 21.”
“They needed a rookie on the WBC team and he was kind of the guy and he really embraced it. It was kind of a fun thing and it endeared me to him more,” Casey added.
On the field, Anthony lived up to manager Mark DeRosa’s request to be ready to play every day. He joined Judge, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber as the only four USA players to play in all seven WBC games. Anthony hit .280 with a .920 OPS for the tournament and his clutch home run against the Dominican Republic helped vault the Americans back to a third-straight finals appearance.
“There were some pretty big environments there,” Casey said. “Felt like the moment wasn’t too big for him. You know, I felt like he believes in himself. He’s very confident. And, you know, I think that was one thing that really stuck out like, man, this guy’s not overwhelmed with anything. … When he came up with that big hit against the D-R, the big homer, you’re like, man, that’s huge right there. That place was basically an away game for us. I mean, so it was a pretty raucous environment, which is really cool.”
Anthony clearly made the strongest of impressions on the hitting coach, 12-year big-league veteran and MLB Network analyst. Casey kept Anthony in an elite class of young talent with names like Konnor Griffin and Bobby Witt Jr. with blindingly-bright futures as they rack up games under their belts.
That’s why it’s only a matter of time for Anthony’s resurgence if you ask “The Mayor.”
“You can’t teach experience,” Casey said. “I think for a guy like Roman Anthony, I don’t think the stage of Boston rattles him in the big leagues. I think it’s more about him getting settled in and getting hot pretty soon. Really feeling himself and then getting going.”
The Los Angeles Rams made arguably the most surprising selection of Thursday's first round when they spent the 13th overall pick on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
The pick definitely caught some attention, and what truly had fans talking by the end of the night was the look on HC Sean McVay's face when he discussed it.
Multiple reporters who covered the press conference noted that McVay came across as unusually flat.
The Athletic's Nate Atkins, who has covered a lot of first-round pick pressers, posted that it was "by far the most muted I have seen a regime about the player they drafted."
The LA Times' Gary Klein echoed that, noting the presser lacked the "trademark ebullience and sense of humor" McVay and GM Les Snead usually bring.
FWIW, of all the draft pressers with Snead and McVay, whether it involved a first-round pick or a second-round pick, this one lacked their trademark ebullience and sense of humor.
Snead, meanwhile, was visibly more energetic. Simpson told SiriusXM that he had never even met McVay.
McVay called the Rams "Matthew's team" more than once and insisted the pick would have no bearing on ongoing extension talks with Stafford, who was the NFL's Most Valuable Player last season and had the Rams a win away from the Super Bowl.
🚨🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨🚨#RAMS HC SEAN MCVAY APPEARS TO BE EXTREMELY ANGRY THAT THEY PICKED QB TY SIMPSON WITH THE 13TH PICK.
McVay was not happy throughout the entire press conference tonight.
Sean is extremely tight with starter Matt Stafford.
McVay confirmed he had spoken to Stafford before the pick was made and said he would keep the details of that conversation private.
It may mean nothing. But it is worth noting that Simpson said he'd never met McVay, Snead was reportedly the one with a relationship to Simpson's family, and McVay spent over a minute at the podium explaining why the pick made sense.
Sometimes, that is a coach selling himself on something as much as he is selling it to the press.
The New York Knicks are now facing a harsh reality: decisions made after Game 2 may have directly contributed to their Game 3 heartbreak.
After falling 109-108 to the Atlanta Hawks and slipping behind 2-1 in the series, questions are growing louder around Mike Brown’s rotation choices, particularly his decision to limit Mitchell Robinson’s role.
Mike Brown, Knicks, and the Mitchell Robinson Call
The context matters now more than ever. Mike Brown’s statement about the KAT–Mitchell Robinson pairing came before Game 3.
“The combination of [KAT and Mitch] hasn’t been great, so I’m choosing to not play them together in this series because of the matchups.”
Mike Brown is asked if he'd like to get Mitchell Robinson more minutes:
"The combination of [KAT and Mitch] hasn't been great, so I'm choosing to not play them together in this series because of the matchups" pic.twitter.com/i2nLGBO2wM
That decision translated directly into Game 3 rotations. Robinson played only 11 limited minutes and was largely absent in key stretches, particularly late in the game, when defensive stops and rebounding were critical.
Brown defended his team postgame, saying: “I liked the fight our guys showed… we gave ourselves a chance down the stretch.”
"I liked the fight our guys showed, I liked the resiliency that our guys showed… we know we didn't play our best basketball, that's not taking anything away from the Hawks.. we gave ourselves a chance down the stretch"
But the stats tell a different story: the Knicks didn’t have a strong enough presence inside the paint when it really counted.
Karl-Anthony Towns vs Mitchell Robinson Impact
Karl-Anthony Towns did his part. He wrapped up the game with 21 points and 17 rebounds, consistently showing up on both ends of the floor and helping the Knicks bit by bit erase a double-digit deficit.
But basketball is not a one-man show. When Mitchell Robinson was not on the floor for long stretches to lead the defense, the Knicks fell into trouble with second-chance opportunities and rim protection, two things Robinson is very good at.
Atlanta took full advantage of this. Onyeka Okongwu and the other players were able to get inside quite easily, while the guards were also more successful in attacking the paint. The Knicks may technically have dominated the paint according to the numbers, but the Hawks got the better of some very important possessions, especially late rebounds and defensive rotations.
In such a close game, these things can be the difference between winning and losing.
Knicks Under Pressure After Back-to-Back Losses
Their anger does not start and end with losing one game – it is the whole situation. Two consecutive losses, both in the final moments, have made Brown a subject of intense criticism.
Towns acknowledged the issue clearly: “We fought… but we need to close out the game. We just didn’t today.”
"We fought, and it shows that we've got that fight. We'll never quit on ourselves, no matter how the game is going…but we need to close out the game. We just didn't today."
And that’s the main point. The Knicks are fighting, even coming out strong, but their player substitutions and performance in the closing stages are letting them down.
The decision to limit Robinson might have been a tactical move targeting the match-up, but Game 3 revealed the price.
If being a tough, rebounding, defensive team is part of your identity, then not having your best interior player on the floor in the final minutes is a big risk.
Currently, it is a risk that is not bearing fruit.
Kenyan Sabastian Sawe, the world's top marathoner, gave a sheepish grin when asked if the shoes he will wear in Sunday's London Marathon are of course record quality and could maybe deliver a world record.
Sawe and Ethiopian Tigst Assefa could repeat as champions in London — the deepest spring marathon — and could run even faster than their historic 2025 times.
Sawe won last year's title in 2:02:27, the second-fastest time in London history behind the 2:01:25 the late Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum clocked in 2023. (Kiptum also ran the world record of 2:00:35 in Chicago in October 2023.)
Sawe, 31, has run three career marathons and won all of them in sub-2:02:30, posting the eighth-, ninth- and 13th-fastest times in history among record-eligible courses.
He was the world's fastest marathoner in 2024 and 2025.
Sawe dealt with a stress fracture to a metatarsal in his foot in the fall and a back injury in December, according to LetsRun.com, but said Friday that he is completely recovered and ready to race.
The men's field also features Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo, who was second to Sawe in 2025 in London and by best overall time for the year (2:02:23 to win Chicago on Oct. 12).
Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha, the 2025 World 10,000m silver medalist and former world record holder in the half marathon, makes his 26.2-mile debut.
Olympic gold medalist Tamirat Tola, a fellow Ethiopian, looks to make his first major marathon podium since the Paris Games. He was fourth in New York City in 2024, then fifth in London last year.
Also Sunday, Assefa believes based on her training that she can lower the women's-only world record of 2:15:50 (no male pacers) that she set last year in London.
"I'm expecting that the time that the pacemakers will set for the half distance will be allowing me to run faster than the record last year," she said Thursday through an interpreter.
That means that British legend Paula Radcliffe's London Marathon record time of 2:15:25 (with male pacers) is under threat. That time was the world record for 16 years.
The London women's field also includes two standout Kenyans: Joyciline Jepkosgei (the world's fastest female marathoner in 2025 with a 2:14:00 in Valencia in December) and Hellen Obiri, who owns two wins each in Boston and New York City and makes her London debut.
The Chicago Bears waited patiently for the first round to fall and come to them on Thursday night and selected safety Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 overall pick, addressing a big position of need for them this offseason.
Chicago had been widely expected to address the defense with their first round pick, the question came down to where on the defense the Bears would go given how their board played out. Now able to pair Thieneman alongside free agent signing Coby Bryant on the back end of the defense, the Bears will now more than likely be focused on addressing the trenches on both sides of the ball for the rest of this draft.
With three picks coming up on Friday, Chicago will have plenty of options, especially on defense, as they look to continue to add the missing pieces after a busy offseason.
Here are the Top 10 players available for Chicago on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Kayden McDonald was graded as a first round pick, but only Caleb Banks out of Florida was selected in the first round at the defensive tackle spot. McDonald has great run-stopping ability and would open up plenty of opportunities for the edge rushers Chicago will have on the outside. His run defense was one of the best in all of college football last season, and it's certainly an area in which the Bears need to improve.
T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Another player who had a first round grade on him, T.J. Parker is coming off a disappointing 2025 season, where he finished with just six sacks compared to the 12 he finished with in the 2024 season. Parker certainly knows how to get after the quarterback, but doesn't have one elite trait that made him standout above others at his position, showing why he fell to the second round.
Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
Continuing to focus on the edge rusher position for Chicago, Zion Young would be another top target for the Bears with one of their two second round picks if he's still available. Coming off the best season of his collegiate career, Young had eight sacks for Missouri last year, and he plays with a high motor and relentless energy.
Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The trend doesn't stop, Chicago needs to be looking at the defensive line prospects as they wait their first selection of the second round with pick No. 57. Cashius Howell had 26 sacks over the past three seasons in college, including 12 for the Texas A&M Aggies this last year, but he could also be used as a situational pass rusher where he can thrive in winning one-on-one battles.
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Bears have been linked to adding more in their secondary this offseason, especially after the departure of Nahshon Wright in free agency. Avieon Terrell has great football IQ and ability to make plays on the football, falling in line for what the team already has built in their secondary.
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
If Chicago has done their research and believe in Jermod McCoy's recovery from a torn ACL, and he's still around when they select in the second round, they need to run the card up to the podium on Friday night. McCoy could build quite the duo with Jaylon Johnson on the outside at the cornerback position, as he has similar potential to become a shutdown corner as Jaylon Johnson has been for the last several seasons for the Bears.
Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
With so much focus on the defensive side of the football, Chicago should also keep their minds open to adding more competition at the left tackle spot, which they sounded very willing to do in pre-draft meetings with the media. Caleb Tiernan wouldn't have to go far from his college days at Northwestern, where he displayed great IQ and technique which helps make up for his shorter arm length.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
A Heisman Trophy finalist this past season, Jacob Rodriguez fits the Bears model perfectly, as an athletic linebacker who knows how to make plays on the football and with it as well. More so a potential pick in Round 3 than Round 2, the Bears have a bunch of veterans at linebacker including the return to the franchise for Jack Sanborn, as well as the re-signing of D'Marco Jackson, and free agent addition of Devin Bush. The linebacker spot is not a major concern for the Bears, but a player with the talent level of Rodriguez should be in consideration.
R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
Back to the defensive line with R Mason Thomas, who is incredibly explosive but his lack of ideal size could make him a situational pass rusher at the NFL level. He had 6.0 sacks this past year for Oklahoma, down from his total of 9 in the 2024 season.
Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
If Chicago wants to look for another option at defensive tackle, Christen Miller has good speed for his size, including a great first step to go along with his outstanding strength. Miller can hold his own in the middle of the defensive line, and has excelled in run defense, with a great capability to shed blocks.
Day 1 of the NFL Draft generates most of the headlines but plenty of talent remains on the board heading into Day 2.
Teams will follow up a busy opening night with Rounds 2 and 3 Friday in Pittsburgh, which should see more potential rookie starters find their NFL homes.
While numerous college standouts will see their names called today, the deeper the draft goes, the more helpful expert analysis and breakdowns can be. Fans can once again choose from three networks for live coverage breaking down every pick, trade and possibility.
Here's all you need to know about when and where to tune in for Friday's festivities.
What time does NFL Draft 2026 start today?
Date: Friday, April 24
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Round 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft is set to begin shortly after 7 p.m. ET on Friday. This year's draft will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The NFL Draft will be available to watch on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
Friday's ESPN broadcast will feature Mike Greenberg as the host alongside analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Booger McFarland and Louis Riddick. Turn to ABC for a more college-themed feel with Rece Davis, Nick Saban and Desmond Howard. The NFL Network broadcast is led by Rich Eisen with analysis from Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis and Joel Klatt.
Viewers hoping to stream the NFL Draft can stream live coverage from all of those networks with fubo, which offers a free trial so you can try before you buy.
Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
However, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid absolutely have no intentions of selling Tchouameni in the summer.
The midfield mainstay, for his part, is also very happy at the club and is not looking for a way out. Therefore, there are no plans for a departure in the summer despite the growing interest from Manchester United.
Not going anywhere. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Tchouameni has made 45 appearances for Real Madrid this term, being one of the regular starters both under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa. He has also recorded two goals and two assists in the process.
The 26-year-old French international’s current contract with Los Blancos runs until the summer of 2028, meaning he will have two more years left on his deal at the end of the season.
Currently, Tchouameni is dealing with a left hamstring overload that has ruled him out of tonight’s La Liga encounter against Real Betis away at Estadio de La Cartuja.
In Wednesday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Quin Snyder’s Atlanta Hawks went up 2-1 on the New York Knicks with a 109-108 thriller. RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram helped the Toronto Raptors to a 126-104 blowout over Tyrese Proctor and the Cleveland Cavaliers. And finally, the Minnesota Timberwolves took out Tyus Jones and the Denver Nuggets, 113-96.
Jalen Johnson was very close to a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists vs. the Knicks as CJ McCollum put the game away with a dramatic fadeaway, with 12.5 seconds left on the clock.
Meanwhile, RJ Barrett had a great game against Cleveland, racking up 33 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Brandon Ingram had 12 points and broke out of his recent shooting slump, hitting 5-9/1-2.
Tyrese Proctor had 2 points in 3 minutes.
Finally, Tyus Jones had 2 points in 4 minutes against the T-Wolves.
On Friday, we’ll get Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics against the Philadelphia 76ers. Luke Kennard will help lead JJ Redick’s Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Rockets. And in the nightcap, Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs take on the Portland Trail Blazers.
Dutch top-flight club Go Ahead Eagles rolled out a giant tifo in tribute to their long-serving kit woman.
Carla Whittie is retiring from Go Ahead Eagles after 28 years at the Eredivisie club and fans held up a giant banner of her face before their match against AZ Alkmaar.
Before kick-off on Thursday, the 53-year-old received a certificate of appreciation on the pitch.
The game ended 0-0 but the tifo stole the show, reading: "Carla club icon. Thank you for everything!"
The players also wore shirts with the message "Carla, thank you".
Whittie joined the club in July 1998, initially as a volunteer before her role quickly became a paid position.
"When I started at Go Ahead Eagles, I wasn't even allowed to enter the players' lounge," she told the club website in 2023. "In fact, I wasn't even in the team photo. Kit people were never really a full part of the squad at the time. Nowadays it's different.
"My experience was different in the early years. Back then, I sometimes really sat on the bench like a supporter. Then I was eating myself up if we didn't play a good game. That took about 15 years. Nowadays it's different: players are now just my colleagues.
"Within the current organisation of Go Ahead Eagles, I am the only one. I don't think anyone has ever been on the payroll for so long. I'm really proud of it!"
The club said Whittie is "really loved by all the employees at the club, the players and the supporters".
During her time at the club she witnessed multiple relegations and promotions, winning the Dutch Cup last season, and the team competing in the Europa League.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 27: Tai Tuivasa (R) speaks during the UFC Fight Night Perth Press Conference at RAC Arena on March 27, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Matt Jelonek/Zuffa LLC)
Sean Sharaf is out. Louie Sutherland is in to face Tai Tuivasa at UFC Perth on May 2nd.
Like a number of recent UFC fight night cards in Australia, this one is a bit light on name power. Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates is the main event and a certified banger. Beyond that? There’s not a ton of star power, which is where Tai Tuivasa comes in. The shoey drinking joker hasn’t won a fight since 2022, going 0-6 since then. But he’s still one of the most popular Australians out there.
The UFC looked ready to squeeze the last dregs out of Tuivasa’s career when they booked him against surging monster Tallison Teixeira at UFC 325. 8 of Teixeira’s 9 fights had ended via first round knockout for “Xicao,” but Tuivasa survived and nearly pulled off the upset win. He was rewarded with a soft rebound: Sean Sharaf, who is 0-2 at heavyweight, both KO losses.
BOUT UPDATE 🇦🇺
Tai Tuivasa will now take on Louie Sutherland at #UFCPerth!
Now the UFC has rectified that. Tai will fight another fighter who is 0-2 in the UFC: Scottish fighter Louie “Vanilla Gorilla” Sutherland. To be fair, Sutherland has had a tough go of things. He was supposed to fight the very beatable Justin Tafa in his UFC debut, only for that fight to fall out and for him to get shifted into a match against “Clean Monster” Valter Walker (resulting in a first round loss via heel hook).
We’ll see how his most recent loss to Brando Pericic ages (Pericic fights Shamil Gaziev in Perth), but there’s still people who think Sutherland is worth watching out for.
We’ll get an idea when Sutherland fights Tuivasa at UFC Perth. Both men have a lot to prove, and while Tuivasa dug deep against Teixeira there’s still big issues regarding his gas tank and fight IQ, which both failed him in his last fight.
City are two points from safety with two games to play in the final relegation place and travel to a Burton Albion side on Saturday (15:00 BST) who could still go down if they lose their remaining fixtures and results go against them.
"The high, and it was a big high post-game Saturday, has now got to turn into a real focus going into Burton," Taylor told BBC Radio Devon.
"It feels like there's some momentum building now, positive momentum around the results that we've seen.
"We've lost once in five, scored eight in the last three and defensively we have to improved certain areas.
"But I think in terms of the way we've looked as a team and the fight we've shown as well in big moments has been crucial in terms of building that feel.
"But that's got to sustain us for a longer period then maybe the first half or the first few minutes of the game and regardless of what the opposition throw at us as well."
Jack Bycroft score on only his ninth appearance for the club after signing from Swindon [Shutterstock]
Should the Grecians lose, a win for closest rivals AFC Wimbledon and a draw or better for Leyton Orient would confirm relegation back to League Two after four seasons in the third tier.
Exeter's recent results have improved after a 15-game winless run that saw them drop from 10th place to the drop zone.
They have won one and drawn two of their past three league matches, scoring eight goals in the process - the same as they managed in the 10 games beforehand.
"I do feel that if we get our execution right in that final third, we'll blow a team away, and we'll blow a team away early on in the game, which we've not done at any stage," Taylor added.
"We've been a nearly team in so many attacking moments we've got to make it count.
"The goal return in the last few games says we're going in the right direction, but not in terms of early first half goals where we have created chances.
"Those counter-attacking moments against Plymouth in that first half where we went through the space should have materialised in the keeper working at least, if not shots on the opposition goal.
"We go from a really good shape into really good attacking moments but then really didn't make them count."
After the news that Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is unlikely to play again this season after sustaining a hamstring injury in last weekend's Merseyside derby defeat, BBC Sport has spoken to sports physiotherapist Ben Warburton to discuss what the recovery process will look like.
Branthwaite missed the first five months of the season - having hamstring surgery in October - and returned to the side in January.
However, his latest injury is unrelated and a scan shows he does not require an operation, Everton have confirmed.
"It's far from ideal that Branthwaite is getting repetitive hamstring issues and there is a slight cause for concern," Warburton explained.
"However, I've dealt with sports players myself where they have an inconsistent couple of seasons with either a repetitive hamstring or calf injury, then after extensive rehab and thorough investigations they have come out the other side.
"I'm sure he'll now have time on his side over the off-season and pre-season to get his hamstring as robust as possible.
"I am sure they will be looking to restore any strength deficits as well as 'rate of force development' deficits (how quickly you can contract a muscle).
"However, it's not all about strength or how quickly you can activate. They will be looking at his acceleration and running gait to check his biomechanics, as well as keeping his acceleration and high speed/sprint metres consistent week-to-week in order to avoid any potential increase in training and running demands.
"I have heard Everton have very good physios so I'm sure they're doing all they can."
Newcastle have lost five of their last seven games in thePremier League to drop to 14th in the table. After securing Champions League qualification last season, the Magpies now face the prospect of missing out on European football.
Newcastle are expected to make changes to their squad in the summer and Howe has hinted that his side are playing for their futures at the club.
Speaking to the media ahead of this weekend's trip to Arsenal, Howe said: "We're always looking at the team and trying to make assessments and judgements for the future.
"That's natural. Of course, if the team is not performing then there will be bigger changes in the summer than previously. You have to react to what you see. That goes on, on a weekly, daily basis behind the scenes.
"I think the players will expect that, there is a responsibility to try and be at your best, that falls on me as well to deliver the best I can for the players and the staff. It goes with the territory."
One name who could leave Newcastle is Nick Woltemade. The £69m record signing has fallen out of favour in recent weeks, with Howe admitting that others are ahead of the German in his thoughts.
"It is difficult because our centre forwards have been productive. Anthony Gordon played up front, he was scoring as the number nine and now Will Osula has come in and scored as a number nine.
"It is difficult, you have to reward players for what they deliver and at the moment I have gone with a different option to Nick. There is no problem with his fitness, when he plays he has to do the same and try and deliver the goals we need."
Detroit had its eyes locked on Miller well before draft night.
Holmes admitted the team had been tracking the Clemson standout closely for years, with his growth from 2023 to 2024 really standing out during film study.
That belief nearly led to an aggressive move up the board.
“We did, yeah. We talked to teams up, way up,” Holmes said. “And we just talked about it and tried to see if we can be at peace with what the capital is that you’d have to expend. But we definitely explored strongly about trading up.”
In other words, the Lions were serious about going and getting their guy.
Trade-down calls also came in
At the same time, Detroit’s position at No. 17 made them a prime target for other teams.
With a known need at offensive tackle, the Lions had what Holmes described as a “target on their backs,” especially with other tackle-needy teams lurking behind them.
“I felt like, from the outside looking in, we had this big tackle target on our backs,” Holmes explained. “So if a team behind us was in the tackle market then they might want to jump us as well.”
That created a tense balancing act.
Move up and risk losing valuable draft capital.
Stay put and risk getting jumped.
Or trade back and potentially miss out altogether.
Draft board fell perfectly for Detroit
In the end, patience paid off.
When the Los Angeles Rams selected a quarterback instead of a tackle, the Lions’ confidence began to grow.
“As Holmes explained, “right after LA took the quarterback, I felt pretty good that we might be able to just get Blake.”
From there, the board continued to break in Detroit’s favor.
“Right about pick 14 I felt pretty good that we would be able to keep our assets and still land Blake,” Holmes added.
The bottom line
The Lions were prepared to be aggressive.
They explored moving up.
They fielded interest from teams looking to move down.
But when it mattered most, they trusted the board, and it rewarded them.
Detroit landed its guy in Blake Miller without sacrificing valuable assets.
And in a draft full of uncertainty, that may end up being the biggest win of all.
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 30: Caleb Lomu #71 of the Utah Utes takes an offensive stance during the first half against UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New England Patriots entered the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft with some clear needs to be addressed. Tops among them were the defensive edge and the offensive tackle position, two spots that have established starters in place but lack long-term perspective.
Toward the tail end of the first round, the Patriots added such perspective to the latter of the two spots. Trading up from the 31st to the 28th overall selection, the team of head coach Mike Vrabel selected Caleb Lomu out of the University of Utah.
How does his addition impact the offensive tackle group in particular as well as the O-line as a whole? Let’s find out.
Patriots offensive tackle depth chart
Will Campbell (66): Even though Campbell struggled down the stretch in 2025 after returning from a knee injury, the fourth overall pick in last year’s draft still had a strong overall rookie season. It is why he will remain as the Patriots’ left tackle even with Lomu added to the mix. And considering that Campbell is still only 22 years old — i.e. only 11 months older than Lomu — he will continue to further develop into the franchise cornerstone he was selected to be.
Morgan Moses (76): The Patriots signed Moses to a three-year, $24 million free agency contract last offseason to solidify the right side of the line. That is what he did in 2025, and that is what he will continue to do in 2026. That said, his long-term outlook is unclear given that he turned 35 in March. Moses was brought in with the expectation of being more of a stop-gap option at the position and somebody New England will have to replace eventually within two or three years. Adding Lomu puts the team on track to do so.
Caleb Lomu (—): Lomu is a natural left tackle, having spent almost 98% of his career snaps at Utah in that position. The Patriots see some flexibility in him, however, which is why he will spend his rookie campaign as a swing backup behind Campbell and Moses before eventually taking over for the latter as right tackle in 2027. There is a chance that timeline is accelerated depending on both players’ performance in training camp and preseason as well as potential injuries happening, but that appears to be the rough schedule for now.
Marcus Bryant (52): A sixth-round draft pick last year, Bryant started his rookie campaign as the top backup to Morgan Moses at right tackle. As such, he saw action in three games. However, he eventually lost his spot on the game day roster to Thayer Munford Jr, who provided more flexibility as a backup alongside Vederian Lowe. With Munford Jr. remaining unsigned and Lowe now in San Francisco, Bryant again is in a position to compete for the fourth spot on the depth chart this summer.
James Hudson III (68): The Patriots signed Hudson to a one-year deal in free agency, and he has five NFL seasons as well as 20 career starts under his belt. He will not push for a starting role in New England, but instead will compete with Bryant and others for that fourth and possible final spot on the roster. As far as fourth-string tackles go, he offers superb experience and positional versatility — two things that Caleb Lomu does not have upon entering the NFL.
Sebastian Gutierrez (61): Gutierrez is on his seventh team in five NFL seasons. He spent 2025 on and off the Patriots’ practice squad and at this stage in his career projects as little more than a camp body who provides emergency depth. Realistically, he will have to fight for a practice squad spot again this training camp.
Lorenz Metz (72 | international exemption): At 6-foot-9, Metz is the tallest player on the Patriots’ roster. He also does technically not count against it: the German-born lineman counts as an international player and as such carries an exemption. If he looks the part over the summer, he could very well earn a 17th practice squad spot.
With seven tackles on their current roster, the depth chart seems relatively full at the moment. That does not mean there won’t be additional turnover — if a chance to add another young tackle presents itself later in the draft, the Patriots likely would not say no — but it is certainly no longer the priority it was entering Thursday night.
Patriots projected offensive line
In the long term, Lomu’s addition has a transformative effect on the Patriots offensive line: he will take over as their right tackle at some point, or potentially even serve as security at left tackle should Will Campbell’s playoff issues turn out to be more than injury fallout. For now, however, he enters the team as a backup.
As a consequence, the projected depth chart now looks as follows:
LT: Will Campbell, Caleb Lomu, James Hudson III, Lorenz Metz
LG: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Ben Brown, Caedan Wallace
C: Jared Wilson, (Ben Brown)
RG: Mike Onwenu, (Ben Brown), Andrew Rupcich, Mekhi Butler
RT: Morgan Moses, (Caleb Lomu), Marcus Bryant, Sebastian Gutierrez
As it already was into the draft, the top-level group is very much set for the upcoming season. Will Campbell and Morgan Moses will be the starters at left and right tackle, respectively, with Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson and Mike Onwenu manning the guard and center spots; Lomu and Ben Brown will be the top backups at tackle and along the interior.
The biggest questions about the O-line concern the fourth tackle spot between Marcus Bryant and James Hudson as well as a potential fifth spot in the middle behind top backup Ben Brown. The group’s future is also fairly uncertain with Campbell still only a sophomore, Vera-Tucker having an extensive injury history, Jared Wilson not yet having played center in the NFL, Mike Onwenu on the final year of his contract, and Moses 35 years old.
Ultimately, though, the Patriots have made their intentions clear at tackle. They will put their trust in Campbell and Moses in 2026, and likely Campbell and Lomu from 2027 on.
The Patriots held a news conference from Gillette Stadium on Thursday night, just minutes ahead of the start of the 2026 NFL Draft, during which Vrabel addressed why he will skip Saturday’s final day of the draft.
“My priorities are my family in this football team and in that order,” Vrabel said. “There’s a balance there that I am going to create, and my family needs me this weekend, and that’s where I’ll be,” Vrabel said.
The coach is expected to remain with the team through Friday night, then leave after the Patriots wrap up the second night of the draft as he seeks counseling. He and his family plan to be out of Massachusetts this weekend.
The situation escalated Thursday, just hours before the draft began, when the New York Post released pictures that appear to show Vrabel and Russini together in 2020, kissing and embracing in a New York City bar.
At the time, Vrabel was coaching the Tennessee Titans, and Russini was working for ESPN. Vrabel was married, and Russini was engaged.
EXCLUSIVE: Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini were “all over each other” at a secluded bar in New York City — six years before they were caught holding hands and hugging at an Arizona resort. More pics: https://t.co/kIdr6RlQUBpic.twitter.com/DCgbDEZ8PB
During Thursday’s news conference, Vrabel told the media he takes accountability for his actions.
“I understand that there are questions. I take accountability for my actions, and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care most about — my family, this football team, the organization, and our fans,” Vrabel said. “My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don’t.”
Vrabel continued, “What I believe is best for the two most important things in my life, my family and this football team, is for us to take the necessary steps to work together and to give them what I told them I’d give them, which is the best version of me. And that’s what we’re going to do,” Vrabel continued. “That’s going to start, that has started, that will continue this weekend, and it will continue for however long it takes for me to give them, to complete that promise and give them the best version of me possible. That’s what’s going to happen, and that’s what’s been happening.”
Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and fellow personnel vice president Ryan Cowden will run the draft room with Vrabel away.
However, Hearn soon revealed that Joshua, 36, was simply keen to focus on actual negotiations over the fight – talks that are nearing completion, according to the Matchroom promoter.
Anthony Joshua (left) with his promoter Eddie Hearn in early April (PA)
Earlier this month, Hearn told The Independent and other outlets that Joshua would almost certainly box another opponent in July before facing Fury, 37, towards the end of the year. And Hearn has doubled down on this plan while providing his latest update.
“We will have a contract, and we haven’t signed a contract yet, but we are negotiating the final points in an agreement to come back to the ring in July and [then] fight Tyson Fury,” Hearn told iFL TV.
“Once we sign up for that agreement, it is over to [Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh] for the staging. We will be promoting for July; I would think that the November fight or whatever it will be, will be promoted by [Saudi company] Sela.
“The good news is: if we take a [warm-up] fight like this, we have signed to fight Tyson Fury, and all you’ve got to do is bite your fingernails in July for 36 minutes or less and you’ve got not the fight of the century – the fight of all-time.
“Myself and AJ, Tyson Fury, we’ll have a contract where [Alalshikh] is basically funding the fight. It’s up to him where it is.
“Now, he also wants to make history; he is not going to put it in some random place. He wants this to deliver for the fans what it is, which is the biggest fight in the history of our country. I am hopeful that the fight takes place in the UK.”
Joshua during his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk, in 2022 (PA)
Of the plan for Joshua to fight once before facing Fury in a clash of former world heavyweight champions, Hearn added: “I am sure they won’t mind me saying it, a lot of this has come from Oleksandr Usyk. He was part of these conversations, and the conversations were absolutely: ‘He is having a comeback fight.’”
Just 10 days after stopping YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, Joshua was involved in an accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his teammates.
AJ was quick to return to the gym, however, before visiting Kyiv and training alongside Usyk, who outpointed Joshua in 2021 and 2022 and will face kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven on 23 May.
Tyson Fury (left) eased past Arslanbek Makhmudov on points this month (Reuters)
Meanwhile, Fury is not expected to fight again before facing Joshua, having eased past Arslanbek Makhmudov for a points win this month.
The bout was the “Gypsy King”’s first since December 2024, when he was outpointed by Usyk for the second time in seven months. Fury had never previously lost as a professional, and the second defeat heralded his fifth retirement from boxing.
Everyone has their favorite fighters, or fighters that get them excited to tune in. During a recent episode of Deep Waters, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman revealed the top 5 fighters that he enjoys watching.
"It's tough because like thinking in America what we think of as being stars versus like worldwide stars. You could look at like social media presence, but sometimes that doesn't like really correlate with being like a star," Weidman said.
"For me, I ended up doing like who am I most excited to watch fight? Who do I get that buzz, you know, when they get ready to fight?"
Beginning with No. 5, Weidman picked current welterweight titleholder Khamzat Chimaev and moved up his list.
"Number five, I got Chimaev. Four, I got Jon Jones. Then I've got [Ilia] Topuria, Alex Pereira, and then Conor McGregor," said Weidman. "Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. have been out for awhile, but they're still on the UFC contracts, so I'm putting them in there."
Four of his top five are two-division UFC champions. One is considered the GOAT, and another is undeniably the biggest star the fight promotion has ever produced. What do you think of Weidman's list?
Before the latest round of Premier League fixtures, here is all the key injury news alongside essential Fantasy Premier League statistics.
The gameweek kicks off on Friday with Sunderland hosting Nottingham Forest in the late kick-off (20:00 BST) - here is the full fixture list.
This article will be updated as Premier League managers give their weekly news conferences.
For more FPL help, don't miss our regular Friday Q&A from 15:30 GMT live on the BBC Sport website, with one of our four experts answering your questions
Friday 24 April
Sunderland v Nottingham Forest (20:00 BST)
Omar Alderete is available for Sunderland after missing last weekend's defeat by Aston Villa due to illness.
Head coach Regis Le Bris said Jocelin Ta Bi has returned to training, while Nilson Angulo and Bertrand Traore could step up their recoveries next week.
Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi is out for the season following thigh surgery.
Murillo is ruled out of the trip to Sunderland after picking up a muscle injury in the 4-1 win over Burnley, but Dan Ndoye returns to the squad after recovering from a minor issue.
Only one defender has created more big chances (seven) than Sunderland's Nordi Mukiele (£4.5m) this season, while only three have returned more points on home turf (85).
Enzo Le Fee (£4.8m) of Sunderland produced nine points in Gameweek 33, thanks to an assist, bonus and defensive contribution points. The budget midfielder is averaging 5.4 points per start at the Stadium of Light this season.
In the last four Gameweeks, no midfielder has amassed more FPL points (33) than Morgan Gibbs-White (£7.5m) of Nottingham Forest, who scored a hat-trick last time out.
Saturday 25 April
Fulham v Aston Villa (12:30 BST)
Marco Silva and Unai Emery will provide further team news in their respective press conferences later on Friday.
Players out:Fulham - Iwobi, Tete Aston Villa - Kamara
Doubts: Fulham - Kevin Aston Villa - Alysson
Key FPL notes:
Since Gameweek 20, only three midfielders have amassed more than the 70 points of Fulham's Harry Wilson (£6.0m). All five of the Welshman's goals scored in that time have arrived at Craven Cottage.
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers (£7.4m) has produced an attacking return in each of the last three Gameweeks, amassing 20 points.
Ollie Watkins (£8.7m) has returned three goals and an assist in his last three matches. The Aston Villa forward is the most transferred-in player ahead of Blank Gameweek 34.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot confirmed that Joe Gomez is back and available for selection after missing last weekend's Merseyside derby win through injury.
Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili will be "out for weeks" but first-choice Alisson could be back in contention.
Oliver Glasner will provide team news for Crystal Palace in his press conference later on Friday.
In the last four matches, only one midfielder has scored more goals than the three of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (£14.0m), while none have had more big chances (four).
Liverpool's defender Virgil van Dijk (£6.2m) netted his fourth goal of the season in Gameweek 33; only one FPL defender has scored more.
Maxence Lacroix (£5.1m) of Crystal Palace has returned defensive contribution points in five of his last six matches to take his season's tally to 34, a total bettered by only three defenders.
West Ham v Everton (15:00 BST)
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo reported no fresh injury concerns for West Ham following their 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Monday.
The Hammers boss should have a full squad available.
Everton will assess in-form striker Beto, who was substituted during the Merseyside derby following a clash of heads with Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate.
Jarrad Branthwaite is unlikely to feature again this season after suffering a fresh hamstring injury.
Players out:Everton - Grealish, Branthwaite
Doubt: Everton - Beto
Key FPL notes:
Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m) has produced seven assists in the last eight Gameweeks, including a hat-trick of them in Gameweek 32 for the West Ham captain.
No defender has racked up as many FPL points in the last four Gameweeks as Hammers defender Konstantinos Mavropanos (£4.4m), with 42, which is nine more than any other player in his position. He has produced three goals, two clean sheets, five bonus and four defensive contribution points in that time.
In the last six Gameweeks, Everton's forward Beto (£5.0m) has served up 10 more FPL points than any other forward (45). His five goals and 10 bonus each surpass the efforts of any other player in his position.
Wolves v Spurs (15:00 BST)
Wolves face a goalkeeping crisis as Sam Johnstone is likely out for the season with a shoulder injury, while Jose Sa remains a major doubt with a similar issue.
Defender Yerson Mosquera is suspended for a second game after reaching 10 yellow cards but Angel Gomes and Ladislav Krejci could return from injuries.
Tottenham remain without six long-term absentees.
An update on team news for both teams will be provided in the respective managers' press conferences later on Friday.
Joao Gomes (£5.3m) of Wolves has produced three attacking returns in his last five appearances for an average of 5.6 points per start. He is Wolves' highest scoring player with 96 points.
In the last six Gameweeks, only four defenders have had more shots than Tottenham's Pedro Porro (£5.1m, eight), who scored in Gameweek 33.
Spurs' player Xavi Simons (£6.5m) excelled in Gameweek 33 with his second goal and fifth assist of the campaign, amassing 11 points.
Arsenal v Newcastle (17:30 BST)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will give team news in his press conference later on Friday.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe confirmed that Antony Gordon is unavailable because of a hip injury but could be back next weekend.
Midfielder Joelinton completes a two-match ban for accruing 10 bookings.
Arsenal's defender Gabriel Magalhaes (£7.1m) delivered his fifth assist of the season in his last home appearance. No defender has returned as many clean sheets (eight) on home soil than the Brazilian.
No forward had as many big chances (four) as Kai Havertz (£7.3m) of the Gunners in Gameweek 33. Against Manchester City, he scored his third goal in six matches in all competitions.
William Osula (£5.4m) has scored in back-to-back games for Newcastle, amassing 17 points in that timeframe.
Monday 27 April
Manchester United v Brentford (20:00 BST)
Manchester United defender Leny Yoro could be fit to return on Monday from the hip injury that kept him out of last week's game against Chelsea
Harry Maguire is back after suspension but Lisandro Martinez remains banned.
Brentford head coach Keith Andrews will provide a team news update later on Friday.
could be without Jordan Henderson who remains a doubt.
Joshua Dasilva has rejoined team training after long term knee injury. Vitaly Janelt remains unavailable for the trip to Old Trafford as he continues to nurse a lingering ankle injury.
Andrews will provide further news update later on Friday.
Bruno Fernandes (£10.3m) has produced six assists in the last seven Gameweeks to take his total for the season to 19. His 109 chances created this season is 48 more than Manchester United captain's nearest rival.
Since Gameweek 29, only one midfielder has scored more than the three goals of Casemiro (£5.7m) of the Red Devils. The Brazilian has hit the net more times from set-pieces (seven) than any other player this season, and six of those were supplied by Fernandes.
Only Man City' striker Erling Haaland (£14.5m) has scored more league goals this season than the 21 of Igor Thiago (£7.4m), who is averaging 4.7 points per start on the road in 2025/26.
Going into Day 2, it only makes sense for the Cowboys to continue their nomadic ways on the draft board. With only one pick, No. 92 located in the third round, the Cowboys would be wise to explore options to trade up and take advantage of the current pool of prospects staring them in the face. Armed with four picks in the fourth round, getting back up into Day 2 for another pick is certainly a realistic possibility.
But who might they target and why would they find it necessary to make such a move?
The Cowboys have massive issues at the linebacker position and have done little-to-nothing to address it this offseason. Rodriguez would be a plug-and-play solution they could slot into the middle of their defense right away.
The linebacker market has yet to take off in the draft. Only one prospect went off the board, Sonny Styles, and a run on the position is likely to happen soon. The Cowboys would have to move up to the top of the second round to get a shot at the Texas Tech product, which means they may have to dip into next year’s capital, but it might just be worth it.
Josiah Trotter, LB
Josiah Trotter is a violent, attacking downhill LB prospect who will make an immediate impact as a run defender and blitzer
With an expected draft position of 73, the Cowboys could address their issues at linebacker with just a few of their surplus Day 3 picks. Trotter plays a vital position and he’s someone the Cowboys are familiar with, having met during the pre-draft process.
Trotter is more of a run stopper at this point in his development, so the 21-year-old would be a project for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. But he’s a born linebacker with NFL bloodlines and someone who could realistically see a significant role in his rookie season.
Colton Hood, CB
Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy each ran sub 4.40 40s at the Tennessee pro day and are both likely to be 1st round picks 👀
Colton Hood is a player the Cowboys were considering in the first round. Trading up for Hood would require a big move up since he’s likely one of the first players off the board on Day 2. But starting quality cornerbacks like Hood don’t always fall to the second round, so there’s value in a move up like this.
Hood fits best as an outside cornerback, so drafting him would signal something about what the Cowboys think of DaRon Bland or Shavon Revel. Both of Dallas' carryovers are looking to rebound and both remain a mystery at this important point in their careers. Regardless, one can never have enough cornerbacks and Hood is someone the Cowboys clearly like.
After addressing offensive tackle, ESPN lists EDGE, cornerback, defensive tackle and running back as remaining needs for the Detroit Lions in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Lions still have eight draft picks remaining, but Detroit owns just the lone day two pick. That's the No. 50 overall selection in the second round.
Here's a look at the best available players at each of those position groups per ESPN entering day two:
Some felt it was a reach for a quarterback who isn't a top-13 talent. Others wondered why a win-now team would make a win-later move. And then there's the question about whether head coach Sean McVay can work his usual magic on the young Matthew Stafford heir.
On top of all that, a lot of folks on social media looked at McVay's responses in the post-first round press conference. He seemed... non-plussed. Here's a look at some of what he said and the reaction on social media:
He’s over the moon. Never seen anyone this ecstatic about their future franchise guy. pic.twitter.com/KWOcHIxcfk
I’ve covered a lot of first-round pick pressers across four beats. This was by far the most muted I have seen a regime about the player they drafted. https://t.co/g0W27EjINE
Marcos Senesi and Tottenham Hotspur reach an agreement in principle over summer move
Bournemouth centre-back Marcos Senesi and Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement in principle over a potential summer move, according to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg. The Spaniard has given his commitment to join the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club as a free agent if they stay up. It is a huge boost for Spurs given Senesi’s quality and experience, and the North London club now have to ensure they stay up if they want the 28-year-old.
Tottenham are back in action against Wolverhampton Wanderers tomorrow and will be desperate to pick up their first Premier League victory of 2026. While Wolves are relegated, they will look to give Spurs a hard time tomorrow and win if possible, and Roberto De Zerbi and his men cannot afford to be lackadaisical.
Arne Slot backs Alexander Isak to use World Cup as springboard for a big second season at Liverpool
Arne Slot is hopeful that Alexander Isak can use the World Cup as a springboard to a strong second season at Liverpool.
Isak has endured a difficult debut season since signing for Liverpool from Newcastle United in a £125m British record deal last summer.
The Swedish striker has scored just three times in 20 appearances across all competitions, during a campaign derailed due to a lack of pre-season and serious injury in December.
Isak has recently returned from the fractured fibula and ankle issue sustained in the winter and has been eased back into action at Anfield.
His return is well timed, after fellow forward Hugo Ekitike sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon to curtail his own campaign.
Isak is expected to start when Liverpool host Crystal Palace in thePremier League tomorrow, and Slot has said he has seen encouraging signs from the 26-year-old in training.
The Dutchman has backed Isak to bounce back from a challenging campaign and said this summer'sWorld Cup can be the platform to get back to his best.
"A very good pre-season with us would have been a very good lead up to the season. If he has a good World Cup where he plays a lot of games, that would be very helpful,"Slot said at his pre-match press conference.
"I'm happy he's back. What is realistic, where he is now? You tell me. I think we can all understand that if a player missed out four months or five months of training before he came to us, then we build him up and the moment that he was ready he got injured again, missing out four months again and now he's two weeks with us... that's a lot of months without training time with the team.
"In the middle of a season where everyone is top and top and top fit, that's not the easiest part to come back, but I think we are seeing progress in the games he's played – Paris Saint-Germain and now this one [Everton].
"We're hoping that progress can continue and how fast he's then at his best level, I don't know that. I cannot look at the future, but I'm hoping – for us and for himself – very soon."
The first 32 picks have come and gone, but there is still plenty of talent on the board as the Cincinnati Bengals look forward to the 41st pick on Friday night.
After trading Dexter Lawrence away for the 10th pick, the Bengals will make their first pick early in Round 2, and there are several Round 1-level prospects looking to hear their names called.
Here’s a look at the best available NFL Draft prospects for Rounds 2-3.
Defensive Line
The Bengals have been pretty busy adding pieces up front, but I suspect they aren’t done.
To many, Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald was DT one in this class, and he has no business still being on the board. However, he is a nose tackle, and the Bengals traded their 1st Round pick for Dexter Lawrence. It seems pretty far-fetched to think that the Bengals would then use their 2nd Round pick on a player at the same position. The advantage would be that it allows you to move on from T.J. Slaton and save a few bucks. McDonald would spell Lawrence at times and could come in at nose to free up Lawrence to move around the defensive front for advantageous matchups.
Gabe Jacas has a great get-off, powerful hips, and excellent feet as a pass rusher. While the Illinois edge hasn’t shown a wide array of pass-rush moves, he is excellent at getting off the block and closing the rep. Jacas is in the mold of a 3-4 outside linebacker and, as such, brings a unique skillset to the table.
With a wingspan of almost 82 inches, Missouri’s Zion Young’s best comp is an albatross. He is strong in the run game and has a deep bag of tricks as a pass rusher. He can rush with power or speed and goes from power to speed with ease.
TJ Parker may be coming off a down year, but that seems to be Clemson’s problem more than anything. He has burst off the edge and a mean slap in pass rush. He can hold the edge in the run game or move inside in certain fronts.
Defensive Backs
Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy is a top 5 talent in this draft, but clearly, his knee is scaring people off. At what point is it worth the risk to get such an elite talent?
Other outside cornerbacks who should come off the board quickly include McCoy’s teammate Colton Hood and South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse. Hood is a lockdown man corner with silky smooth hips. He has some technique issues that need to be cleaned up, but with D.J. Turner and Dax Hill around, there is no rush to get him on the field. Cisse has impressive athletic traits, but hasn’t put things together on the field. He is frequently out of position and doesn’t bring much as a tackler.
Then there are a plethora of players who would primarily fit into a slot role.
Avieon Terrell is technically sound and has great eye discipline in man coverage. The Clemson product would be fine outside in a pinch, but fits best as a nickel. He has a knack for knocking the ball out and caused 5 fumbles last season.
Coming off a National Championship with Indiana, DeAngelo Ponds is about 3 inches short of being a top prospect. He’s excellent in zone coverage and always around the football, but at 5-foot-9, man matchups can be tricky. Of course, his 41-inch vertical helps.
On the other end of the National Championship game was Keionte Scott. The Miami Hurricane has got a little bit of Mike Hilton in him and is an excellent blitzer. He’s great against the run and matches up well with big and small slots in man. Last season, Scott had 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 pick-sixes.
Treydan Stukes has the versatility to play literally anywhere in the secondary. He is praised for his work ethic and was a 3-time captain at Arizona. He is an excellent athlete who makes good reads and gets his hand on the ball. He would make a ton of sense for the Bengals.
Toledo Rocket Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a long, rangy safety with great turnover production. His pursuits are a little inconsistent, which I know is a hot-button issue for Bengals fans. Having said that, I think he could develop into an All-Pro free safety.
AJ Haucly makes incredible reads and turned them into 8 interceptions over the last two seasons at LSU. He is also a heavy hitter and does a great job in run support.
Linebackers
The Bengals have never drafted a UC Bearcat. Does that change today? Defensive coordinator Al Golden has talked about wanting another linebacker who can play on the line of scrimmage to take that off of Demetrius Knight’s plate. Jake Golday is the perfect hit. Golday is tall and long with the strength to hold the edge and the range to play over a slot receiver.
Anthony Hill Jr. brings similar physical attributes, but there have been questions about the former Texas star’s processing and consistency.
Jacob Rodriguez does not have the length of Golday and Hill, as Rodriguez projects as an off-ball linebacker. The Texas Tech backer gets where he needs to be, but he is an extremely inconsistent tackler. He tested well, but that speed was not evident on film.
Offensive Line
Northwestern’s GM is former Bengals scout Christian Sarkisian. The top available tackler going into Day 2 just happens to be Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan, and you can bet the Bengals know everything there is to know about him.
Pass Catcher
The hot name at receiver is Chris Brazzell. The Tennessee product is 6-foot-5 and has great speed. He could give the team the deep threat they thought they were getting in Jermaine Burton.
Louisville’s Chris Bell is a big-bodied receiver who fits best in the slot. His bulk allows him to be a force as a blocker in the run game. His explosiveness makes him a real threat catching the ball.
Elijah Sarratt caught a lot of back shoulder fades from Fernando Mendoza in his time at Indiana. Maybe he could catch a few from Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. He projects into the slot, which is perfect with Andri Iosivas going into a contract year.
Georgia didn’t throw him the ball much, but tight end Oscar Delp is an excellent athlete as well as an elite blocker. He could give the Bengals the Y tight end they have been looking for.
Round 3 Options
If you were hoping the Bengals would get Caleb Downs, South Carolina’s Jalon Kilgore could be the next best thing. Like Downs, he is a versatile moving piece who could come in and start at nickel and potentially shift to safety in a year. Another similarity is how both have been praised for their football intelligence. Kilgore hits like a linebacker and runs like a corner. He’s also a ballhawk who has interceptions in the last two seasons.
Bud Clark brings similar versatility from TCU. He isn’t the enforcer that Kilgore is, but he has fantastic burst and a nose for the ball.
Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton’s film was a lot of fun to watch, but he didn’t look as athletic on film as he tested. If he can get that 39.5-inch vert to show in explosiveness on the field, he could be a huge pick-up for the Bengals in Round 3.
Former linebacker turned edge rusher Jaishawn Barham could be the perfect fit for Al Golden’s defense. He has the length and explosiveness to play on the edge and the athleticism to drop off in coverage.
There are not a lot of defensive tackles in this draft who can get after the quarterback and stuff the run. Missouri’s Chris McClellan is one of them. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive tackle had 8 TFLs and 6 sacks last season and could be a big producer in the NFL as well.
Mock draft simulators have lied to you. If you wait until pick 110 to draft an offensive tackle, you are probably getting the 20th offensive tackle off the board. I know everyone thinks Miami’s Markel Bell is a Round 3 prospect, but the 6-foot-9, 346-pound monster will never make it out of Friday night. The Bengals have a type, and he is certainly it. Give this behemoth to offensive line coach Scott Peters and see what he can do with him.
Five years ago, longtime baseball coach Joe Cascione left coaching the sport to start a women's tennis team at Mission College.
On Wednesday, Mission College won the state women's tennis championship armed with local players from Kennedy, Granada Hills, Sylmar and Birmingham high schools, among others.
It's quite an achievement to win it all with local athletes.
Key contributors included Amy Nghiem, Priscilla Grinner and America Fragoso from Granada Hills; Jaelyn Rivera from Birmingham; Josilyn Rivera and Natalia Ponce from Kennedy; Alitzel Ortega Partida from Golden Valley; Genesis Nochez from West Ranch and Kristen Bonzon from Sylmar.
Cascione singled out his players for their passion and commitment.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
It's been an emotional week for Blackburn Rovers - a week that seemed to hold both relief and heartbreak in the same breath.
In the club's 150th season, when relegation had hovered like a shadow for so long, Wednesday night finally brought the points needed to stay in the Championship.
And then, only hours later, came the news that broke so many hearts: the passing of one of Rovers' most beloved sons, Tony Parkes.
Losing Tony has hit me hard, both personally and professionally.
He wasn't just a club legend to me - he was a friend.
We lived in the same village, and our daily routines often crossed on long walks. We'd stop, talk football, set the world right for a few minutes, and if we bumped into each other the next day, we'd happily do it all again.
Tony would join me on BBC Radio Lancashire for match commentaries, preferring the touchline to the press box, but always bringing insight that fans valued. When Tony spoke, people listened.
Players and managers come and go. Some leave as heroes, others less so. But few stay the course - steady, loyal, unshakeable. Tony Parkes was one of those few. He embodied resilience, humility, skill and hard work. It's no wonder people called him "Mr Blackburn Rovers," a title he never sought but wore effortlessly.
Over the last day, tributes have poured in from supporters who adored him. Many believe he left this world knowing his beloved Rovers were safe and that their survival came in Sheffield, the city where he was born in 1949.
Former players have shared their memories too. At the club's 150th anniversary gala, Alan Shearer, Colin Hendry, and Kevin Gallacher spoke of his kindness, his humour, and the quiet strength that defined him.
Tony's Rovers story began in 1970, when he was plucked from non-league Buxton Town for a trial.
A striker turned midfielder, he became a constant presence - part of the 1974–75 promotion side under Gordon Lee, and again influential in the team that rose back to the second tier under Howard Kendall in 1980. A broken leg in 1981 ended his playing days but opened the door to a remarkable coaching career.
He took charge of Rovers six times. Three times he came close to being appointed permanently.
In 1986, after Bobby Saxton's departure, he was a strong contender before Don Mackay got the job. In 1991, after Jack Walker took control, Tony steadied the ship with five wins, two draws, and just one defeat - a run that helped pave the way to Wembley and the 1992 play-off final, a moment he cherished for the rest of his life.
Again in 1999, after relegation and Brian Kidd's departure, Tony stepped in, calmed the waters, and prepared the ground for Graeme Souness.
Through all the big-name arrivals and departures, Tony remained. Jack Walker trusted him implicitly. When things got tough, the answer was simple: send for Tony.
As a caretaker, he believed in change. "Why carry on what the previous manager was doing if he'd just been sacked?" he'd say.
He backed youth, gave players freedom, and treated everyone the same - whether they cost five million or five thousand. Mark Atkins moved from right-back to central midfield under Tony. Jason Wilcox got his chance. The late Len Johnrose was given an opportunity. Tony saw potential where others saw risk.
Away from football, Tony's world revolved around family. He preferred a quiet night at home with his late wife Eileen and his daughter Natalie to any spotlight or ceremony. Even persuading him to attend the North West Football Awards - where he was surprised with a lifetime achievement award - took some convincing.
After a spell at Blackpool and his retirement, Tony's health began to decline. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a cruel contrast to the fitness he'd maintained all his life.
I'll never forget sitting with Tony and Natalie as they prepared to share his diagnosis publicly. I'll always be grateful they trusted me with something so deeply personal.
Though conversation became difficult for him, his love for football never faded. He still came to Ewood Park, still felt at home there, still found moments of that dry humour and those one-liners that made him who he was.
Reading the tributes over the last 24 hours, it's clear Tony Parkes meant so much to so many. My sincerest condolences go to his family - the people he loved above all else.
Thanks for the memories, Tony. And thank you for the friendship.
PHOENIX — The debates are raging on the Chicago airwaves:
Who will the Bears draft? Who should the Bulls hire? Will the Blackhawks ever win again? Are the Cubs are built for October?
Meanwhile, ever so quietly on the South Side of town, one of the best stories in all of baseball is materializing.
The name is Munetaka Murakami, and the Chicago White Sox slugger has burst onto the scene as one of the game’s premier home-run hitters in the infancy of the 2026 season.
Murakami has already hit 10 home runs – one shy of the MLB lead – and tied a White Sox franchise record by homering in five consecutive games. He also has the most homers by a Japanese-born player in the first 25 games of a career, 42 games earlier than four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani in his 2018 rookie year.
If you care to dream, Murakami heads into the White Sox’s homestand beginning tonight at Rate Field against the Washington Nationals on pace to hit 65 homers with 123 RBIs and 136 walks this season.
“I’m really enjoying myself," Murakami told USA TODAY Sports. “I’m getting more comfortable every day. I’m getting used to the different rules and different playing styles in the major league. Everything has been great."
The White Sox, stunned themselves when Murakami fell into their laps this winter with a modest two-year, $34 million contract coming from Japan, couldn’t be more thrilled.
He has been everything the White Sox could have imagined, and much, much more. Everyone knew his power, breaking the single-season home-run record in Japan with 56 homers. You don’t win two MVPs without talent. But he’s making much more contact than talent evaluators predicted, hitting .253 with a .394 on-base percentage and .992 slugging percentage. He looks much better defensively at first base than the scouting reports indicated. He’s even got speed, beating out two infield singles this week on ground balls in Arizona.
And he has a whole lot of teams kicking themselves why they severely underestimated Murakami’s skills and didn’t make an offer.
You don’t think a team like, oh, say the New York Mets, could use him right about now?
“Obviously, there weren’t teams that raised their hands when I came over,’’ Murakami said, “but I’m really glad and happy that the White Sox picked me up. …. I love the team very much. All my teammates are very open to communication. They are really just good teammates overall. Staff, coaches, I love them very much."
The feeling, needless to say, is quite mutual.
“I'm running out of things to say," White Sox manager Will Venable said. “When he hits it, he hits it really hard. Even the singles he's hitting, he's hitting hard. And obviously the damage is incredible, too.
“It's impressive to watch."
Certainly, he has played a major factor in their surge. The White Sox have 32 homers this year, ranking third in the American League and sixth in MLB. A year ago, they were next-to-last, with only the Kansas City Royals hitting fewer.
“He’s a game-changer," White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi said. “He’s impacted this whole lineup. I love hitting in front of him. I see more balls in the zone, and especially heaters.
“I just hope the wind starts changing in Chicago so you’ll see him hit more balls. I mean, he’s got unbelievable power."
Murakami hit 2,156 feet worth of homers in his five-game barrage, including a 451-foot blast Wednesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He already has three homers that have traveled at least 113 mph off his bat, leading MLB.
Really, the person probably least impressed is Murakami himself. He expects this. And a whole lot more as the season progresses.
“My swing is pretty good overall,’’ Murakami says. “It’s still early in the season, so I still have to keep adjusting to the pitchers, but right now I’m swinging really well. If the stats do come up as all good, that will be wonderful."
The White Sox’s young players have been mesmerized by Murakami since his arrival. They marvel at his meticulous preparation. The way he takes batting practice. The way he grinds tape. There’s a genuine purpose to everything he does from the moment he enters the clubhouse.
“Just watching him go about his day-to-day business and the detail that he puts in and the amount of time he puts in," said White Sox catcher Kyle Teel says, “it’s just awesome to see. He’s very detail oriented. The details he puts in is just fantastic.
“So, when the game starts, the success doesn’t surprise me because he just works so hard. He competes the way way every single at-bat, no matter what the score of situation. He never gets down on himself. I just love that."
And, oh, yes, there’s that work ethic.
“When we’re on the road, it’s mostly the rehab guys that get on that early staff bus to get here early, and he’s on it," said Teel, recovering from a strained hamstring during the WBC. “I’m not going to lie, I didn’t even know players were allowed to take the staff bus until I got hurt."
Said Benintendi: “He’s got a routine, and he sticks to it every day. We were joking already that he’s a lot more disciplined than a lot of us in here. He gets his work in, and he’s a process-oriented guy for sure."
The White Sox also are learning that despite the language barrier, the dude can be a comedian. He’ll crack jokes. He’ll go along with pranks. And he’ll even sing, picking up the tunes and learning the words from the “Party Apple Peel," an alternative rock cover band in Chicago.
The White Sox players still are laughing about the time he took the mic on the team bus and belted out a few tunes, much to their pleasure as part of his rookie initiation.
“He’s got a great sense of humor," White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery said. “Actually, he’s hilarious. You pull back the layers after first meeting someone, and you find out he’s one the boys."
“Every day, you find out something new talking to him, but the biggest surprise is that sense of humor. I can’t wait until he starts picking up more English, then I think you’ll really see that personality come out."
Murakami has been a smash hit with the media, too. He’s available to talk virtually every day, and has spoken to reporters upon request after he has homered. It’s a little different on the South Side, with only a handful of Japanese reporters covering him on a daily basis, than ten times that number covering the Dodgers with Shohei Ohtani and company. But this small media gathering suits him just fine.
“I don’t really know what the Dodgers are like,’’ Murakami says, “but I like the media over here. I’m all good. It doesn’t really affect me at all or change who I am.’’
It also works out quite nicely that on the North Side of town the Cubs have Japanese stars Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga to provide plenty of tips for dining, shopping or just hanging out. And if he needs any hitting advice, hey, he’s got Ohtani’s digits on his cell phone too.
“A lot of different Japanese baseball players across the country have reached out and helped me," Murakami said. “They’ve all given me good advice."
Now, the scene is set for Murakami to perhaps even become the first White Sox player to win the American League home-run title in more than a half-century. The White Sox, even having sluggers like Frank Thomas, Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Ken Griffey Jr, Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn over the years, have not had a home-run champion since Hall of Famer Dick Allen hit 32 homers in 1974.
“I definitely think it’s becoming much-see TV," said White Sox analyst Steve Stone, the former Cy Young winner, “because even though we’re not winning the World Series this year, we are entertaining. I remember [former White Sox owner] Bill Veeck said to me, “If you’re playing on short money, always error on the side of offense, because offense is exciting.’’’
So, if Murakami keeps hitting homers, does he create enough of a frenzy to become a bigger gate attraction than a Pope Leo hat giveaway?
“There’s no doubt about it that fans will show up if that’s the case,’’ Stone said. “We’ll see what happens. I know fans love the long ball.
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 20: Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Colton Hood (8) defends during the college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the UAB Blazers on September 20, 2025, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Bengals’ front office got to enjoy the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft the same way the rest of us did.
They watched patiently as prospects they were interested in—like Mansoor Delane, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Rueben Bain Jr., and Peter Woods—went in the first round.
And now they’re ready to get in there and select someone they’re high on in the second round.
Here’s who the experts think the Bengals will draft:
After serving his three match ban, Lisandro Martinez (right) could return for Manchester United on 9 May against Sunderland [Getty Images]
A Football Association disciplinary panel has said hair pulling "ought not to be tolerated" in its reasons for upholding a three-game ban for Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.
The independent regulatory commission rejected the club's appeal against the punishment and sending off, for pulling the hair of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin during a game.
Martinez, 28, was given a straight red card for violent conduct during the 2-1 defeat by Leeds at Old Trafford, after referee Paul Tierney was instructed to review the incident on the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR).
In a written report, the panel said it accepted other forms of violent conduct "carry a much higher risk of harm to an opponent".
But it stressed: "In the wider interests of football 'hair pulling' ought not to be tolerated and should be discouraged through consistent punishment."
United manager Michael Carrick called the decision earlier this month "one of the worst" he has seen.
Argentina international Martinez missed the away win against Chelsea last weekend and will also sit out of the home games with Brentford on 27 April and Liverpool on 3 May.
While hair pulling is not specifically mentioned in the Laws of the Game, it is categorised as 'violent conduct' because it cannot be considered as something you would legitimately do when challenging for the ball.
United were trailing 2-0 in the second half when Martinez tried to stop Calvert-Lewin by holding his hair in an off-the-ball incident, after being caught in the face himself.
Carrick argued Martinez's sending off was a clear and obvious error by Tierney, as he was "off balance and grappling", adding the action was "not a pull, not a tug, not aggressive".
But after reviewing the footage, the panel wrote they could not say with confidence the contact by Martinez was small because Calvert-Lewin "had reacted in a manner that suggested that he had felt a certain amount of force exerted upon his hair/scalp".
Calvert-Lewin confirmed after the game he did feel his hair get pulled so told the referee.
"The commission members were unanimous that the referee could not be said to have made an 'obvious error' in dismissing LM (Lisandro Martinez)," the report says.
It also pointed out cases need to be "truly exceptional" for a punishment to be deemed excessive, and did not agree that was the case here.
In January, Everton were unsuccessful in their bid to overturn Michael Keane's dismissal for tugging the hair of Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare.
Toffees boss David Moyes said he was "angry" with the appeal panel and "embarrassed" for the video assistant referee Chris Kavanagh.
NEW DELHI: Marco Jansen’s evolution as a cricketer is one of the standout stories over the last year and a half. Besides his impactful cameos with the bat down the order, he has consistently shouldered the responsibility with the ball for South Africa. In the IPL, he has come into his own as a bankable player for Punjab Kings. It has been a remarkable rise for someone who only took up cricket as a career at the age of 17 after giving up on pursuing rugby.
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At the age of 25, Jansen found his calling by bowling the hard length across formats. He has managed to be unfazed by the chaotic world of T20 cricket, which demands a range of variations from bowlers. Importantly, Australia’s metronomic Josh Hazlewood has been the inspiration behind his transformation as a cricketer.
“It doesn’t surprise me because Josh Hazlewood does the exact same thing,” Jansen said, responding to a query from TOI on the consistent ‘Test-match’ lengths he bowls irrespective of formats. “People ask the same question (about him). How does he just hit a length and pick up wickets? He doesn’t go for a lot of runs and he’s consistent as well,” Jansen said.
“Josh also has variations. I also have one or two variations. We’re both tall bowlers but we bowl different lengths,” Jansen said. “When I was younger, the problem was I was trying to bowl similar lengths to the other guys. I didn’t realise that what I bring to the table is completely different. I’ve to find my own way to be effective. The last year or so, I’ve felt comfortable in my own skin,” he added.
However, his role has changed at Punjab Kings. He can’t use swing as a weapon because he doesn’t get to bowl with the new ball, so Jansen has had to work on bowling with the older ball. The hard work paid off in the Test series in India last winter, when he troubled the Indian batters throughout. Even in the IPL, his approach has been to look for wickets. “I’m used to taking the first or second over but I also know I have the skills to adapt,” Jansen said. “Coming in to bowl the third, fourth or sometimes fifth over is definitely a different approach.
Anthony Lucas has the size of a good NFL player, but his production leaves more to be desired. Many coaches lean on the belief that they can elevate underperformers. Lucas gives confidence that he can be a promising young player; he just needs to land in the right organization. Here are the best potential landing spots for Trojan edge rusher Anthony Lucas at the NFL draft:
Philadelphia Eagles
Howie Roseman is always looking for young developmental prospects. He is one of the best at the rinse and repeat roster-building strategy. The Eagles roster is getting younger, but with Vic Fangio in the building, this defense will remain one of the best. I really like how Anthony Lucas can fit into things on this defensive line. Vic Fangio can use him as a versatile piece and mix him into the rotation after letting him sit and learn for the majority of the season. I can see Lucas being a nice piece on the Eagles' defensive line.
Los Angeles Rams
Chris Shula is still in the building as the defensive coordinator, and he has done a great job with the Rams' defense. This defensive line already has stars at every position, but they could use some more depth. I think Anthony Lucas won't provide much as a rookie, but he can use his rookie season to develop and be an impact player in year 2 or 3. The Rams have what it takes to squeeze as much as possible out of a high-upside, trait-rich player like Lucas.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are as good as it gets on the defensive line. Last season, they led the NFL in sacks with 68. However, they lost a big, pivotal piece in John Franklin Myers. He was huge for them up front, and I think taking an edge in this draft class would be very necessary. With Lucas' current draft stock, they can wait and take him late, still filling that need. He fits in with the culture and how physically imposing their defense is.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans hired Robert Saleh to help turn them into a winner, and I think he will. He made the defensive line a priority this offseason, and I expect him to take more shots at that position in the draft. Anthony Lucas, with his size and how dominant he is physically, the one wrinkle in his game he has his pass-rush moves. Robert Saleh can get him to where he needs to be, as he has done with many other projects before in his coaching career.
The Texans have had good luck with taking USC Trojans. Demeco Ryans is a player's coach, and he knows how to get the most out of his guys on defense. The Texans have the best defensive line in football, but with Danielle Hunter being 30 years old, they could look to try to get some long-term developmental guys behind him. Anthony Lucas would not have to play right away, and he can learn behind the best of the best. This would be the best-case scenario landing spot for Lucas.
Tavernier revealed his intention to move on just two days after suggesting he would wait until the campaign had concluded to decide on his future.
Asked if he would have liked to the defender to have signed on for next season, Rohl replied: "That's not a topic for today. He made the final decision.
"We were very clear on our process. We said, if the time is right, we will speak about him.
"He gave me the information before it came out. It was very fair from him. He spoke to the group and I think the most important thing is now, you have 21 days to go.
"Five games, focus on these five games, and then you will have an incredible goodbye, what he deserves, and this is all that is important for me, for us, for the group, focus to what happens now."
Tuur Rommens and Ryan Naderi are again missing for Sunday's home game with Motherwell, although Rohl said both could return from injuries for the final four games.
Markus Weinzierl will step down as Bayern Munich’s campus sporting director at the end of the season, the German champions announced on Friday.
The 51-year-old’s contract expires this summer and will not be renewed, with both parties agreeing to part ways by mutual consent.
“Markus drove many topics forward during his time at our academy and played a special role in ensuring that we celebrated more first-team debuts this season than ever before,” said FC Bayern’s director of youth development, Jochen Sauer.
“I would like to thank him for the constructive and harmonious cooperation and wish him all the best for his personal and professional future.”
Weinzierl explained that he would like to return to coaching, having previously been in the dugout at 1. FC Nürnberg, FC Augsburg, VfB Stuttgart, Schalke 04 and Jahn Regensburg.
“We have mutually decided not to extend my expiring contract. It has been a very successful and enjoyable time, but I would like to work again as a head coach in professional football. I take a lot with me from my two years at FC Bayern Munich for my personal and professional future," he said.
“I would like to sincerely thank all the staff at the Campus who, through their work, made it possible for Vincent Kompany to find so many talents from the youth ranks for his first-team squad. Ten players making their professional debuts in one year, led by Lennart Karl, make the 2025/26 season a sensational success for the Campus. I look forward to following our talents’ further development from afar.”
Ubisoft updates The Crew 2’s offline mode to add liveries and statistics After releasing their “Hybrid Mode” for The Crew 2 in October, which makes the game playable offline, Ubisoft has released its first major update for the new game mode. Until now, The Crew 2’s offline mode lacked a “My Livery” menu, which prevents […]
Microsoft has announced a collection of games that can be played for free temporarily from April 23 to April 26, 2026. These games are MLB The Show 26, Age of Mythology: Retold, Anno 117: Pax Romana, and The Survivalists.
Intel's upcoming "Nova Lake" Core Ultra 400 series processors will introduce not only a new CPU platform and socket but also a new motherboard chipset segmentation, unlike anything we have seen from Team Blue. According to a well-known leaker, Jaykihn, the new Z970 chipset platform is set to take over much of the space currently reserved for B860 motherboards. Meanwhile, B960 is expected to be positioned lower in the lineup as a value-focused option, often used by Intel's OEM partners for all-in-one builds or mini-PCs. This makes the Z970 the primary choice for a large share of "Nova Lake" builders, not just enthusiasts. Intel's higher-end Z990 boards are still expected to target the most demanding systems, while Z970 seems to bridge the gap between premium and mainstream desktop segments, incorporating many features that the Zx70 chipsets typically reserved from the Bx60 chipset ranges over the past few years.
The most likely scenario is that the Z970 will offer overclocking and wider I/O selection, while the Z990 will focus on more diverse expansion capabilities. The B960 boards are expected to be entry-level designs without overclocking support, intended to get the platform up and running with minimal I/O and SSD expansion. One of the biggest attractions of the Z970 would be CPU overclocking support, a key advantage over the B960, which is anticipated to be the more affordable option but without the same tuning flexibility. While the two chipsets may share similar baseline I/O features, motherboard manufacturers are likely to differentiate them through board design, port count, storage support, and overall feature set.
The buyout program will open to around 7% of Microsoft's US employees, according to CNBC, which cites a person familiar with the plans who can't be named.
During the Nintendo Switch generation, Nintendo had no trouble delivering a steady stream of first-party games created using what is likely a reliable pipeline. Often, we have heard how the Japanese company likes to sit on completed games for months, only to release them when deemed appropriate, but this could become a thing of the past moving forward as the Japanese company's studios focus on the Nintendo Switch 2, according to what former employees Kit and Krysta revealed during their podcast. "That totally happened, though in the past where a lot of these things they just socked away in the […]
There's a high-stakes game of chicken afoot at Samsung, with its management and unionized workers both trying to strengthen their hand via a series of moves and countermoves ahead of a planned showdown next month. Even so, Samsung workers appear to have won the latest round by successfully disrupting nearly a fifth of the output at the highly mechanized Samsung memory fabs as well as nearly three-fifths of the output at the more labor intensive foundry lines. Samsung workers recently managed to curtail output at the tech behemoth's memory fabs and foundry lines by 18.4 percent and 58.1 percent, respectively […]
Amazon’s Eero is the latest router manufacturer to gain “Conditional Approval” from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to sell its routers in the United States.
Japan’s SaiMemory, a SoftBank subsidiary collaborating with Intel, has secured NEDO funding to develop Z-Angle Memory (ZAM), a next-gen DRAM architecture addressing HBM limitations
HitPaw VikPea is an AI video enhancer that upscales footage to 4K/8K, sharpens details, reduces noise, and repairs damaged clips. It restores low-light and old videos, improves colors with automatic correction and colorization, and stabilizes shaky shots with frame interpolation up to 60 FPS. Use cloud GPU acceleration for 10x faster rendering, batch process multiple files, and export without re-encoding common formats. Available on Windows, Mac, and mobile, VikPea also offers an API to integrate pro-grade enhancement into your workflow.
Nicko Cruises is cancelling a cruise onboard the Vasco da Gama on short notice to make room for an unscheduled shipyard visit. Local sources report that the 1993-built ship is currently facing a technical issue that also led to the shortening of its 2025-26 world cruise. The cancelled cruise was scheduled to depart from Hamburg...
Nepal Government Mandates 45% Student Fare Discount on Public Transport, Ensuring Affordable Education Access Nationwide for Millions of LearnersNepal Government...
After an innovative back step, Samsung appears to be in the mode of course correction. Samsung is developing the Galaxy Z Fold 8 foldable smartphone, and the cover screen features a smaller camera hole than the Z Fold 7.
Samsung insider IceUniverse just revealed that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 selfie camera hole is just 2.5mm (diameter). It’s significantly smaller than the 3.7mm of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, with CAD rendering showcasing the difference.
The source hints at a technological shift inside Samsung, which may have led the hole to shrink. This change will offer even more functional estate on the cover screen of the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold smartphone this year.
Samsung introduced an under-display camera with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The technology evolved gradually until the Galaxy Z Fold 6. However, Samsung removed it, starting with the Z Fold 7, and the Z Fold 8 may follow the legacy.
Image – Z Fold 7 (Top) | Z Fold 8 (Bottom)
The CAD image aims to show the difference in the camera hole’s diameter. If other aspects are true, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will feature thinner side bezels. The camera system design may remain the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Samsung is expected to unveil three foldable phones this year. A new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide could join the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 this July. The company may hold an Unpacked event on July 22 in London, a strategic shift in venue.
The Clarity Act is running late again. What lawmakers described just weeks ago as nearly done has now slipped into May, and the crypto industry is no longer staying quiet about it.
Analyst Dan Gambardello said this week that the delay has taken over conversations across the industry, with pressure mounting directly on Senate Banking Republicans to bring the bill to markup without further stalling.
Industry Push Reaches Critical Mass
More than 100+ major players, including Coinbase, Ripple, Kraken, Circle, and Chainlink Labs, have signed a joint letter urging immediate action. Gambardello stressed that this is not just routine lobbying but a coordinated industry-wide effort after years of bipartisan groundwork.
For many, the bill represents a long-awaited framework to bring clarity around regulation, jurisdiction, and market structure. Yet despite being at the final stage, it continues to face delays.
The Clarity Act Delay Pattern Continues
Gambardello walked through how the timeline has kept slipping. Back in late 2025, expectations were set for completion by year-end. Moving into 2026, optimism grew with projections of an 80–90% chance of passage by April.
That didn’t happen.
Through March and early April, updates kept pointing to a deal being “very close,” but now the bill is likely moving into May. Gambardello stressed how quickly sentiment shifts, where even strong probabilities can break down as new developments emerge.
What’s Holding It Back
The latest delay is largely tied to ongoing disagreements between banks and crypto firms, particularly around stablecoin yield rules. Senator Tom Tillis has pushed for more time to resolve these issues.
Gambardello, however, objected to further delays, arguing that the U.S. risks falling behind if action is not taken soon. He called on leadership, including Senator Tim Scott, to move the process forward.
Latest Update
The latest update on the Clarity Act shows mixed signals, as the bill’s possibilities are shifted towards next month. Senator Bernie Moreno, as reported by Eleanor Terrett, said he expects the bill to be “done by the end of May,” suggesting confidence from within the Senate despite ongoing delays.
While Senator Cynthia Lummis said that, “We have bipartisan support. We have the president’s support. This is our moment. let’s get this done.”
So in short, if they’ve finally reached bipartisan approval, this could be the biggest thing to happen to Crypto – ever.
Ethereum price fell for the second straight day on Friday as institutional investors took a step back from the asset as they weighed rising geopolitical risks. According to data from crypto.news, Ethereum (ETH) price fell 4% from the Wednesday high…
Wisconsin has escalated its challenge against prediction market platforms, widening a legal fight already taking shape across several U.S. states over how these products should be classified. Fresh complaints filed in Dane County name Crypto.com and its derivatives arm, Polymarket,…
Fold Holdings has rolled out a Bitcoin-based bonus program for employees, expanding its push to bring BTC into everyday workplace compensation. Fold said the new offering, launched under its enterprise arm Fold Business, allows companies to distribute recurring bonuses in…
Nearly a year after launching its gamer-centric GT 30 Pro, Infinix is back with a successor. The brand new GT 50 Pro brings a refined design, improved cooling and larger battery capacity.
Staying true to its gaming phone heritage, GT 50 Pro is equipped with a dynamic RGB light array on its back. It is integrated with the all-new HydroFlow liquid cooling system, which covers a 6,437mm² area, ensuring optimal thermal management.
GT 50 Pro is equipped with MediaTek’s Dimensity 8400, featuring an all-big core CPU architecture, faster GPU and better NPU performance.
The...
The United Kingdom has produced some tremendous heavyweights in recent years, ending a near century-long curse and having success in the division ever since. When predicting how a clash between two of the country’s best in Lennox Lewis and Tyson Fury, Roy Jones Jr said that it would be a ‘great fight’. Bob Fitzsimmons became […]
Rico Verhoeven faces an almighty challenge when he collides with reigning and unified heavyweight world champion, , in just his second professional boxing bout. However, there is one well-ranked heavyweight that believes that the Dutchman will come out on top. Whilst recognised as a legendary kickboxer, Rico Verhoeven’s boxing credentials are far less impressive, with […]
Chinese-speaking individuals are the target of a new campaign that uses a trojanized version of SumatraPDF reader to deploy the AdaptixC2 Beacon post-exploitation agent and ultimately facilitate the abuse of Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VS Code) tunnels for remote access.
Zscaler ThreatLabz, which discovered the campaign last month, has attributed it with high confidence to Tropic Trooper (aka
Budget action camera brand SJCAM has released the SJ30, the follow-up to 2024's SJ20, complete with 8K video, improved image stabilization, and a flip-type LCD screen
Galatasaray, pazar günü ligde Fenerbahçe'yi konuk edecek. Sarı-Lacivertliler, Osimhen'in kolundaki koruyucu materyalin futbolcu sağlığını tehdit ettiğini düşünüyor. Peki FIFA bu tarz durumlarda ne diyor?
Fenerbahçe'nin, Victor Osimhen'in kolunda kullandığı koruyucu materyalin rakip oyuncuların sağlığını tehdit ettiği gerekçesiyle TFF'ye başvuru yaptığı belirtilmişti. Hatırlanacağı üzere; Nijeryalı yıldızın kolunda Liverpool deplasmanında kırık oluşmuştu. Takımını uzun süre yalnız bıraktı. Ancak şu anda koruyucu ekipmanla sahaya çıkabilecek düzeyde. Hatta Gençlerbirliği'ne karşı da şans buldu.
İLK 11'DE OLACAK
Pazar günkü Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derbisinde de Victor Osimhen'in ilk 11'de başlaması bekleniyor. Peki FIFA bu tip durumlara ne diyor? Aslında konuyla ilgili çok sayıda örnek var. Gençlerbirliği sınavında Osimhen'in kolundaki sert atelin üzerinde yumuşak bir ped bulunuyordu. Benzer sıkıntıları yaşayan çok futbolcu oldu.
FIFA BİR ŞEY DEMİYOR
Sert koruyucu materyallerin üzerine belirli bir seviyede yumuşak pedler ekleniyor. Böylece futbolcular sahaya çıkabiliyor. FIFA'dan daha önce bunun aksi yönünde bir karar gelmedi. Özetle, Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe karşılaşmasında Nijeryalı futbolcunun oynamasını engelleyecek bir durum gözükmüyor.
Türkiye Kupası'nda kaybedilen Gençlerbirliği maçında gözyaşlarına boğulan Günay Güvenç'e çok uzaklardan destek geldi. Dries Mertens, eski takım arkadaşına telefon açtı.
Gençlerbirliği'ne kendi evinde kaybeden Galatasaray, Türkiye Kupası'na veda etmişti. Hatalı bir gol yiyen Günay Güvenç ise gözyaşlarına boğulmuştu. Onu takım arkadaşları teselli etmeye çalıştı. Ancak alınan bilgilere göre; o anda yanında bulunmayan eski bir arkadaşı da onu unutmadı.
ÇOK İYİ KALECİSİN
Galatasaray'la mukavelesi bittikten sonra futbolu bırakan Dries Mertens'in, Gençlerbirliği sınavının ardından Günay'a telefon açtığı öğrenildi. Belçikalı efsanenin, "Sen çok iyi kalecisin. Herkesin zaman zaman böyle maçları olur. Bunları kafana takma" ifadelerini kullandığı belirtildi.
ŞAŞIRDI VE MUTLU OLDU
Günay Güvenç ise bu telefon konuşmasına hem şaşırdı hem de çok mutlu oldu. Mertens, aktif kariyerine noktaladıktan sonra ailesiyle birlikte dünya turuna çıkmıştı. Fakat Galatasaray'la bağları hiçbir şekilde kopmadı. İstanbul'a maç izlemeye geldi. Sosyal medya ve telefon aracılığıyla da eski takım arkadaşlarıyla iletişimini sürdürüyor.
CIES'in scouting raporunda Christ Inao Oulai parlamıştı. Fildişi Sahilli yetenek; Avrupa'nın 5 büyük ligi dışında, dünyanın en iyi U20 oyun kurucu orta sahaları arasında yer aldı. Listenin 10. basamağında bulunuyordu.
CIES, 2025'te Avrupa'nın 5 büyük ligi dışındaki 20 yaş altı oyun kurucu orta sahalar arasında bir araştırma yapmıştı. Ve Trabzonsporlu Christ Oulai, listenin 10. basamağında yer almıştı:
1- Rodrigo Mora (18 yaş): Porto
2- Konstantinos Karetsas (18 yaş): Genk
3- Otto Ruoppi (19 yaş): Kups
4- Vasilije Kostov (17 yaş): Kızılyıldız
5- Alphadjo Cisse (19 yaş): Catanzaro
6- Ognjen Ugresic (19 yaş): Partizan
7- Filip Rozga (19 yaş): Sturm Graz
8- Gilberto Mora (17 yaş): Club Tijuana
9- Jonathan Asp Jensen (19 yaş): Grasshopper
10 Christ Oulai (19 yaş): Trabzonspor
NOT: Rapor 2025'te yayınlandığı için bazı oyuncuların yaşlarında şu anda farklılıklar bulunuyor. Örneğin Oulai 20 yaşına girdi...
YENİDEN GÜNDEME GELDİ
Bu rapor, yeniden gündeme geldi... Özellikle Avrupa ekiplerinin listedeki genç yetenekler için 2026 yazında ciddi teklifler sunacağı konuşuluyor. Hem top kullanan hem adam geçen hem de topları geri kazanan Christ Oulai'ye, İngiltere kulüplerinden ilgi olduğu biliniyor...
70 MİLYON EURO BEKLENİYOR
Listenin zirvesindeki Rodrigo Mora için Porto'nun 70 milyon euro seviyesinde beklentisi var. Oulai, Trabzonspor'daki performanslarının ardından Fildişi Sahili Milli Takımı'nın da önemli parçalarından biri haline gelmişti. Bordo-Mavililer onu bu sezon başında Bastia'dan 5.5 milyon euroya transfer etti. Satışı halinde çok daha fazlasını kazanmaları bekleniyor.
NOT: CIES (Uluslararası Spor Çalışmaları Merkezi), İsviçre'nin Neuchatel kentinde bulunuyor. 1995'te kurulan bağımsız bir spor araştırma ve eğitim merkezi...
Galatasaray'da Osimhen, Trabzonspor'da ise Onuachu Nijeryalı... Fenerbahçe'nin, Sevilla forması giyen Akor Adams'ın menajeriyle bir görüşme gerçekleştireceği öğrenildi. Eğer transfer biterse, ligimizde ilginç bir durum oluşacak.
Fenerbahçe yaz dönemi için golcü çalışmalarını sürdürüyor. Ve duruma göre; bu bölgeye 2 takviye yapılabilir. Sarı-Lacivertliler'de birçok isim gündemde... Ancak Sevilla forması giyen Akor Adams'da çarpıcı gelişmelerin yaşandığı öğrenildi. İddiaya göre; oyuncunun menajeriyle İstanbul'da bir görüşme yapılacak.
SEVİLLA İLE TEMAS
Bu esnada Sevilla Kulübü'yle de pazarlıkların sürdüğü ifade edildi. 26 yaşındaki futbolcunun La Liga temsilcisiyle 30 Haziran 2029 tarihine kadar mukavelesi var. Eğer transfer tamamlanırsa; Galatasaray (Osimhen) ve Trabzonspor'un (Onuachu) ardından Fenerbahçe'nin forvet hattında da bir Nijeryalı bulunacak.
5.5 MİLYONA ALMIŞLARDI
1.90 boyundaki forvet bu sezon 27 lig sınavına çıktı. Sahada 1.840 dakika kaldı. 8 gol ve 3 asisti bulunuyor. Ayrıca Nijerya Milli Takımı'yla da 13 maça çıktı. Ülkesi adına 5 gol kaydetti. Akor Adams'ın tahmini piyasa değeri 12 milyon euro civarında... Sevilla onu 2025'in Ocak ayında Montpellier'den almıştı. O dönemde 5.5 milyon euro bonservis bedeli ödediler.
Real Madrid Kulübü, milli futbolcumuz Arda Güler'in kas zedelenmesi problemi yaşadığını açıklamıştı. Arda, Dünya Kupası'nda Ay-Yıldızlı ekibimize katılacak. Fakat bu kez de farklı bir sıkıntı söz konusu...
Real Madrid Kulübü'nden, "Arda Güler'e yapılan testler sonucunda, oyuncunun sağ bacağındaki uyluk kasında bir kas zedelenmesi tespit edildi" açıklaması gelmişti. Marca gazetesi ise milli futbolcunun sezonu kapattığını belirtmişti. Peki Milli Takımımız açısından durum ne olacak?
BİR İYİ BİR KÖTÜ HABER
Öncelikle Arda Güler, Dünya Kupası'nda takım arkadaşlarına katılacak. Bu bizim açımızdan sevindirici bir gelişme... Fakat 21 yaşındaki orta saha oyuncusu, dev organizasyona aynı zamanda önemli bir maç eksiğiyle gelecek... Temennimiz, temposunu yeniden kazanma konusunda fazla vakit harcamaması...
RAKİPLER VE FİKSTÜR
A Milli Futbol Takımımız, Dünya Kupası'nda D Grubu'nda yer alacak. Rakiplerimiz ve maç fikstürü ise şöyle:
14 Haziran: Avustralya-Türkiye (07.00)
20 Haziran: Türkiye-Paraguay (06.00)
26 Haziran: Türkiye-ABD (05.00)
Arda Güler'in varlığı, Ay-Yıldızlılar için çok önemli... Dünya Kupası'nda öncelikli hedefimiz; grup aşamasında başarılı olmak... Sonrasında da tarih yazmak istiyoruz.
Galatasaray'dan kiralık olarak Udinese'ye transfer olan Nicolo Zaniolo'nun geleceği netlik kazandı. Kulüp cephesinden transfer açıklaması geldi.
Udinese Sportif Direktörü Gianluca Nani, Galatasaray'dan satın alma opsiyonuyla kiralanan Nicolo Zaniolo'nun geleceğiyle ilgili açıklamalarda bulundu. Nani, İtalyan oyuncunun opsiyonunu kullanmayı ve kadroda tutmayı planladıklarını söyledi.
Gianluca Nani'nin açıklamaları şöyle:
-Özellikle teknik kalitesinden şüphemiz yoktu ve iyi bir performans gösterdi. Ayrıca kendisi de istekli, yani bu yönde ilerleyeceğiz. Şu anda bunu konuşmak için erken, bu bizim hakkımız, yani bizim seçimimiz ve şu anda başka konulara odaklanmış durumdayız.
-Kapımızı çalanlara nazik davranırız, onlara bir fincan çay ikram ederiz ancak Nicolo Zaniolo'yu satmayacağız.
SEZON PERFORMANSI
Udinese'de bu sezon 31 maçta süre bulan Nicolo Zaniolo, 6 gol attı ve 6 asist yaptı.
San Antonio Spurs yıldızı Victor Wembanyama, beyin sarsıntısı protokolü sürecini sürdürürken hafta sonu oynanacak Portland deplasmanı için Spurs kafilesiyle birlikte seyahat edecek.
Dünya ve Avrupa şampiyonu milli cimnastikçi İbrahim Çolak, katılmayı hedeflediği olimpiyatlara bilet alabilmek için Dünya ve Avrupa organizasyonlarına yoğun tempoyla hazırlanıyor.
TBF Başkanı Hidayet Türkoğlu, "NBA dünyanın en büyük organizasyonu. Kendimi 15 sene orada tutabildiğim için şanslı hissediyorum. O yüzden ilk oynadığım maçtan son maçıma kadar hepsi benim için çok anlamlı, çok değerli" dedi.
Galatasaray'da seçime günler kala Dursun Aydın Özbek seçime şimdilik tek aday olarak gidiyor. Başkan Özbek üst üste üçüncü kez koltuğa oturmak için iddialı bir yol haritasıyla sahaya iniyor.
Fenerbahçe'nin Victor Osimhen'in kolundaki koruyucu ekipman için Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu'na başvurmasının ardından Galatasaray'dan savunma geldi. Sarı-kırmızılılar, ekipmanın tamamen yumuşak ve güvenli olduğunu, hatta Edin Dzeko'nun kullandığından daha esnek olduğunu vurgulayarak iddiaları reddetti.
Galatasaray, Ziraat Türkiye Kupası'na veda etmesinin ardından tüm dikkatini lig şampiyonluğuna yöneltti. Trendyol Süper Lig'de Fenerbahçe ile oynanacak kritik derbi öncesinde sarı-kırmızılılarda en çok...Devamı için tıklayınız
Trendyol Süper Lig'in 31. haftası, Galatasaray ile Fenerbahçe arasındaki büyük derbiye sahne olacak. Kritik karşılaşmaya hakem olarak Yasin Kol'un atanması, iki ezeli rakibin sosyal medyada dikkat çeken...Devamı için tıklayınız
Trendyol 1. Lig'in 36. haftasında Sipay Bodrum FK ile 1-1 berabere kalarak ligin bitimine 2 hafta kala Süper Lig'e yükselmeyi garantileyen Erzurumspor FK'nin tecrübeli savunma oyuncusu ve kaptanı Mustafa...Devamı için tıklayınız
Türkiye Basketbol Federasyonu (TBF) Başkanı Hidayet Türkoğlu, “NBA dünyanın en büyük organizasyonu. Kendimi 15 sene orada tutabildiğim için şanslı hissediyorum. O yüzden ilk oynadığım maçtan son maçıma...Devamı için tıklayınız
NBA'de heyecan play-off maçlarıyla devam ediyor. Play-off turunda Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers'ı 126-104 mağlup ederek seride durumu 2-1'e getirdi.Devamı için tıklayınız
Premyer Liqaya vəsiqə uğrunda mübarizə aparan “Mingəçevir” qeyri-peşəkar davranışı ilə gündəmə gəlib.
Bölgə təmsilçisi martın 17-də qapıçı Orxan Sadıqlı ilə yollarını ayırdığını elan edib. İddiaya görə, klub “Səbail”lə matçda buraxılan şübhəli qoldan sonra qolkiperlə vidalaşmağa qərar verib. Səslənən iddia rəsmi təsdiqini tapmayıb, tərəflərin yollarını ayırması da bir futbol klubunda yaşanacaq normal haldır.
Anormal olan nədir? Sadıqlı ilə yolların ayrılmasına baxmayaraq, qapıçının adı I Liqada son üç oyunda iştirak ərizəsində yer alıb. O, ehtiyat oyunçu kimi matçları kənardan izləyib.
Klub qolkiperlə yolları ayırıbsa, nə üçün hələ də komandadadır? Bağışlanıbsa, niyə rəsmi açıqlama yoxdur? Ümumiyyətlə, klub bu məsələdə sosial şəbəkə hesablarında edilən paylaşımdan əlavə, hansı rəsmi addımı atıb?
I Liqada son illərin rəqabətli mövsümü keçir. “Mingəçevir” sona 4 tur qalmış 42 xalla 3-cü sıradadır və ikinci pillədən bir xal geri qalır. Liqada gümüş medalları qazanan komanda elitaya vəsiqə uğrunda Premyer Liqanın 11-cisi ilə bir oyundan ibarət pley-off oynayacaq.
Fransalı hücumçu Kərim Benzema sabiq klubu “Lion”a qayıtmayacaq.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Əl İttihad”da çıxış edən forvard bununla bağlı sosial şəbəkədə qatıldığı canlı yayımda bildirib. O, futbolçu kimi Fransa klubuna dönməyəcəyini qeyd edib.
Benzema 2005-2009-cu illərdə “Lion”da forma geyinib. O, daha sonra “Real”, “Əl Hilal” kimi klublarda da çıxış edib.
AFFA-nın baş katibinin müavini Elçin Məmmədov UEFA-nın Nyon şəhərindəki baş qərargahında Klubların Lisenziyalaşdırma Komitəsinin iclasında komitə üzvü qismində iştirak edib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, iclasda UEFA-nın Klubların Lisenziyalaşdırılması və Maliyyə Dayanıqlığı üzrə qaydalarda nəzərdə tutulmuş dəyişikliklər, həmçinin müasir futbolun aktual mövzularından olan çoxsaylı klub sahibliyi (multi-club ownership) məsələləri əsas müzakirə predmeti olub.
Səfər çərçivəsində E.Məmmədov, həmçinin UEFA-nın müxtəlif departament rəhbərləri ilə işgüzar görüşlər keçirərək gələcək əməkdaşlıq perspektivlərini müzakirə edib.
“Sheki City” – “Ağdaş”
Hakimlər: Maqsud Şamıyev, Ruslan Babayev, Hüseyn Vəliyev, Sərxan İsmayılov
Hakim-inspektor: Rövşən Əhmədov
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Erkin Hüseynov
Zaqatala OİK stadionu, 16:30
“Şəmkir” – “Quba”
Hakimlər: Murad Səlimov, Sevda Nuriyeva, Əhməd Əhmədsoy, Vüqar Alıyev
Hakim-inspektor: Babək Quliyev
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Azər Əsgərov
Şəmkir OİK Stadionu, 16:30
“Milan” və “Bavariya” A Seriyasının digər təmsilçisi “Yuventus”un hücumçusu Duşan Vlahoviçi azad agent kimi transfer etmək variantını nəzərdən keçirirlər. Msport.az […]
AFFA-nın baş katibinin müavini Elçin Məmmədov UEFA-nın Nyon şəhərindəki baş qərargahında Klubların Lisenziyalaşdırma Komitəsinin iclasında komitə üzvü qismində iştirak edib. […]
Georgios Donis Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı millisinin baş məşqçisi təyin olunub. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı Futbol Federasiyası məlumat […]
TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 19: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts prior to the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Allianz Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Juventus are looking for a new central midfielder for next summer, and Gazzetta reports that Swiss international Jashari is one of the names on the Bianconeri’s agenda.
According to the pink paper, the Milan midfielder is being monitored by the Bianconeri, who are determined to sign a new deep-lying playmaker for the 2026-27 campaign.
Jashari joined Milan from Club Brugge last summer in a deal worth €34m plus add-ons, but the Swiss midfielder suffered a serious fibula injury after just a few days of training, affecting his whole season.
Jashari has only played 657 minutes across all competitions this season, playing just 13 matches and spending 15 on the bench.
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Ardon Jashari of AC Milan in action against Domilson Cordeiro dos Santos known as Dodo of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and AC Milan at Artemio Franchi on January 11, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Juventus were already interested in Jashari last year and would consider a deal with Milan this summer if the financial terms are favourable.
The likes of Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Marseille) are also Juventus targets, and the Serie A giants have already begun talks with Bernardo Silva’s entourage, as the midfielder’s contract with Manchester City ends in June 2026 and won’t be renewed.
Reports in Italy claim that Roma sporting director Frederic Massara is also expected to leave the club after Claudio Ranieri, which would boost Francesco Totti’s chances of returning to the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma are undergoing a major management overhaul, as Senior Advisor Claudio Ranieri is expected to leave the club following a public spat with coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
WALSALL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Frederic Massara, Sporting Director of AS Roma, looks on prior to the pre-season friendly match between Aston Villa and AS Roma at Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on August 06, 2025 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
According to Gazzetta, Roma will confirm Ranieri’s departure on Friday, either with an official statement or through a press conference.
Ranieri’s exit will likely lead to Massara’s departure as well, given that the Roma sporting director is also on bad terms with Gasperini.
ROME, ITALY – APRIL 18: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AS Roma and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on April 18, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
The coach expressed concerns about injury management and transfer decisions, and the latest discussions with the club owners have resulted in him prevailing over the club directors.
Gazzetta adds that Massara and Ranieri’s exits will pave the way for Totti’s return to the club.
The Roma legend had dinner with Gasperini in March, and the coach has already confirmed his availability to work with the former striker at the Stadio Olimpico.
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The former Middlesbrough boss has performed well since taking over from Ruben Amorim, though it remains to be seen if he’ll be named the club’s permanent manager beyond the current deal he’s on until the end of the season.
Speaking in his press conference today, Carrick suggested he’d like to continue, but he doesn’t currently have any updates on the situation, and he’s not in a particular hurry to talk with the board about it as he’s just focused on continuing to deliver results for Man Utd…
? Michael Carrick has made it pretty clear he wants the job…what are Manchester United waiting for? ? pic.twitter.com/5KiFtGMy1V
When asked about staying on as United manager beyond the end of the season, Carrick didn’t give too much away apart from saying how much he’s enjoying the job.
“I’ve said it many times, I enjoy being here,” Carrick said.
“I enjoy the role I’m in. We’ve had some good results and we’re in decent shape.
“There’s a lot to go, we want to keep improving … I’ll see, you know … there’s only so much I can say in terms of that but I’ve said it many times I enjoy being here, I love being here, it’s a real privilege to be in the position I am.”
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He added: “Genuinely it’s not something in terms of deadlines that I’m really chasing. I think it’ll become clear when it’s going to become clear.
“I’m here at the moment to help the team and help the club get results. At the moment we’re doing alright .. and that’s genuinely all I’m focused on right now.”.
Carrick clearly seems like he’d be happy to take the job, so it will be interesting to see if United decide to gamble on him.
Carrick manager stats
Wins
Draws
Losses
Win %
Man Utd (caretaker)
2
1
0
66.7
Middlesbrough
63
24
49
46.3
Man Utd (interim)
8
2
2
66.7
The former England midfielder is relatively inexperienced, and the Red Devils may favour a bigger name who’s won things at the highest level.
At the same time, there’s no ignoring that Carrick has a fine record since taking over, so it could be that he’s the better option due to his long association with the club and experience of winning things in the Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Manchester United reportedly have Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton on their list of midfield targets this summer, and he’s keen to leave for a club in the Champions League.
Wharton has impressed a great deal during his time at Selhurst Park, becoming a key player in the club’s FA Cup win last season and winning four caps for England.
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Still only 22 years of age, Wharton looks like he has a big future in the game, and it makes sense that he’s now eyeing a big move.
Man Utd are one of his admirers, with Wharton now said to be keen to leave Palace in order to move to a Champions League team, according to the Sun.
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It clearly won’t be cheap or easy to sign Wharton, who will likely attract a lot of interest this summer, but he certainly makes sense as someone for MUFC to make a priority.
The Red Devils need to rebuild their midfield as Casemiro prepares to leave, with an upgrade also needed on the unconvincing Manuel Ugarte.
All in all, Wharton seems like one of the best candidates out there, even if it also makes sense for the club to keep alternatives in mind.
Arsenal reportedly look to have been handed a boost as Newcastle United will be without two key players due to injury this weekend.
According to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, Eddie Howe’s side will have to make do without both Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento for Saturday’s trip to the Emirates Stadium.
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See below for details from Hope’s post on X, as he says Gordon is out with a hip injury, while Livramento is sidelined with a thigh problem…
? NUFC INJURY UPDATE
? Anthony Gordon (hip) & Livramento (thigh) OUT of Arsenal
?? "Anthony hasn't trained this week. It's not a serious injury. Hopefully he'll make the next one" says Howe
Newcastle fans won’t be pleased with this update as their team is already on a poor run of form and surely set for a long afternoon against Arsenal.
Gordon in particular has been one of the Magpies’ best players this season, with the England winger a consistent threat out wide and someone who can chip in with goals.
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Livramento has also performed well in the NUFC back four, so the club’s fans will no doubt hope they can return as soon as possible to give the side a strong end to the season.
Can Arsenal keep title hopes alive vs struggling Newcastle?
Both Arsenal and Newcastle go into tomorrow’s game in poor form, but the Gunners will surely be the favourites to pick up three points.
Mikel Arteta’s men are in an extremely close title race with Manchester City, have have just one win in their last six games in all competitions.
Back-to-back league defeats to Bournemouth and Man City have seen Arsenal lose momentum in the title race, but this will be an opportunity to lift the mood.
Newcastle are 14th in the Premier League table, and are on a run of four defeats in a row in all competitions, while their record in their last 12 league games is pretty dire, with just three wins, one draw, and eight defeats.
It’s certainly far from an ideal time for Newcastle to have to cope without Gordon and Livramento, but if AFC can’t pick up a comfortable three points in a game like this then their title hopes are surely over once and for all.
Although nothing is advanced with Man City and Nottingham Forest yet, it seems that Pep Guardiola’s side would be willing to make a big offer for Anderson this summer.
Romano says City are leading the race for the England international’s signature, as has also been reported by Sky Sports.
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See below for Romano’s post on X about Anderson as he also says Man Utd could still be in the running if things with City don’t work out…
? Manchester City are prepared to make a very important financial proposal to Elliot Anderson, leading the race as revealed since March.
Manchester United still attentive and keen if Man City deal won’t happen.
“Manchester City are prepared to make a very important financial proposal to Elliot Anderson, leading the race as revealed since March. Manchester United still attentive and keen if Man City deal won’t happen. Nothing advanced with Forest yet,” Romano said.
It could be that City’s major offer will eventually end up deciding this saga, but while it’s looking good for the Sky Blues, it’s not a done deal yet and a lot can change.
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Should Elliot Anderson choose Man City or Man United transfer?
If Anderson is to leave Forest this summer, he clearly looks set to have his pick of elite clubs, with City surely the most tempting destination.
The 23-year-old would likely be given a key role in Guardiola’s side, who need a long-term replacement for Rodri, who is not getting any younger and who has had injury problems in recent times.
United could also be a decent opportunity for Anderson, though, as they would likely build their midfield around him for many years to come.
The Red Devils haven’t had a lot of success lately, but they should at least be back playing in the Champions League next season after an improved run of form under interim manager Michael Carrick.
Gary Lineker's final game in English football was in May 1992, a few months before Gary Neville made his debut for Manchester United.
But while two of England's most capped internationals never crossed paths on the pitch, they have since emerged as rivals in business.
Lineker and Neville are now two of the biggest players in a rapidly changing media industry, each with their own digital empires, via their Goalhanger and Overlap platforms respectively.
So what lies behind this phenomenon? Is it the future of sports media? And which of them is winning? BBC Sport takes a closer look.
How both Garys grew media empires
Lineker scored 48 goals in 80 games for England during his playing career [Getty Images]
The recent acquisition by Neville's 'The Overlap' network of United influencer Mark Goldbridge's YouTube channels was a reminder of the influence the former Manchester United defender-turned Sky pundit now wields in football's media industry.
"We are building what we believe will become one of the most exciting independent football communities in the world - one that gives fans direct, personality-led content," said co-chair Neville at the time.
Having co-founded the sports entertainment production company Buzz16 a decade ago, Neville launched YouTube platform The Overlap in 2021.
Featuring the long-form discussion show 'Stick to Football', alongside interviews and fan debates, and sponsored by Skybet, it went on to become one of the UK's most popular football content channels, claiming 2.2 billion views across all platforms in 2025, and with ambitions to become the "biggest non-live football platform in the world".
With Buzz16 also producing content for a range of broadcasters, including the BBC's WSL coverage, and TNT's rugby union programming, the Overlap has branched out into cricket and rugby spin-offs, and even secured live Bundesliga rights.
This year a majority stake in the business was sold to Global - one of Europe's biggest commercial radio companies.
And a few weeks later came the deal with content-creator Goldbridge, a former policeman whose real name is Brent di Cesare.
Largely known for viral clips of his expletive-laden rants during streamed 'watchalongs' of United matches, his two YouTube channels have amassed 3.7 million subscribers.
Buzz16 generated £11.6m in revenue last year. But that is short of the £14m that Goalhanger - the production powerhouse co-founded by former BBC Match of the Day presenter Lineker in 2014 - was reported to have earned from a deal with Netflix.
It meant the streaming giant will show Lineker's 'The Rest Is Football' podcast each day from a studio in New York during this summer's World Cup.
With 250,000 paying members, Goalhanger claims it gets more than 75 million downloads of its podcasts each month, and reportedly had profits of more than £3m in the second half of 2024.
Last year it partnered with DAZN to be able to show action from the Club World Cup, and also has a three-year deal with Spain's La Liga, with rights to weekly clips. It has also secured minority investment from a private equity company, as it seeks US expansion and new formats.
Who has the advantage?
Like Neville, Lineker's network has developed spin-offs, but the Goalhanger brand extends well beyond sport.
At the time of writing, its various podcasts dominate the top 40 of the Spotify podcast charts with its shows on politics (1st, 8th and 11th), history (6th), entertainment (9th) football (13th), and science (38th).
The Overlap's Stick to Football is at 17th. On Apple's charts, Goalhanger enjoyed an even tighter grip with the top four podcasts.
On YouTube however, The Overlap is ahead with 1.66m subscribers, three times more than The Rest is Football. The Overlap will also record shows from the US during the World Cup.
"I don't think we're rivals necessarily, but I've no problem if people want to think that," says Scott Melvin, who co-founded and runs The Overlap alongside Neville.
"They've done unbelievably well," he says when asked about Goalhanger.
"They're market leaders in the podcast space, whereas we're a 'video-first' business. They were 'eyes optional', and now pivoting into some video. We've always said we're 'ears optional'."
Lineker's Goalhanger co-founder Tony Pastor agrees that the two companies "have some similarities but in many ways we're very different".
"We've taken a broader approach in terms of genres," he explained.
"Our biggest show in the UK is The Rest Is Politics, and our biggest show worldwide is The Rest Is History. We don't really compete with Buzz16, we have different business models. I'm a massive fan of what they do."
A challenge for traditional media?
Neville joined Sky Sports after retiring in 2011 [Getty Images]
So what kind of challenge does Lineker and Neville's success pose to mainstream broadcasters?
"They are still niche, small businesses, admittedly with huge influence over fans and reach, but their turnover is very modest so they aren't taking on the big legacy media brands when it comes to hard business numbers", says Jimmy Worrall, who recently launched The Football Boardroom podcast after setting up a media business with former England manager Gareth Southgate.
"That said, they are taking eyeballs, and tapping into the shifting patterns of fans, and the way they consume sports news.
"Don't forget they don't have the real gold (premium live content).
"They are all trying to diversify and because they are nimble and entrepreneurial, and now have access to capital, they can now buy growth as well as take risk on new shows, both have speed to market and they could conceivably grow to be some significant media businesses if they invest heavily and quickly.
"They will need to constantly evolve, that is for sure." Worrall adds that The Rest is Football will be expected to perform a crucial function for Netflix during the World Cup, when the appetite for the streaming giant's content could drop off.
"It definitely makes life tricky for the established broadcaster," says Roger Mosey, a former BBC executive, when asked about the rise of athlete-driven content.
"The mainstream broadcasters are bound, overall, to be impartial - they can't be 'Manchester United TV' or 'the anti-VAR channel' or whatever.
"And they are still governed by regulation and their traditions, which means that they can't be as vigorous or sweary or impassioned as a podcast can."
During the 2024 Euros, Lineker faced scrutiny for being more outspoken about England's performances on his podcast than he was when presenting BBC coverage during the same tournament.
In contrast, Neville continues to work for Sky as its leading pundit. Goldbridge has insisted he will continue to say what he wants since being acquired by The Overlap.
But is there a risk that an outburst about United could conflict with Neville's role at Sky, or his relationship with United or their fans?
"If I was Sky, I would be watching Stick to Football every week knowing there's no commercial upside but potential brand downside if the editorial tone is off brand because the talent is inextricably linked to Sky," says Worrall.
"If I was Neville I would be watching Mark Goldbridge thinking the same, except he has the commercial upside as well.
"It's one thing having a fan rant at the performance of the club, it's another to have one of the most decorated players in their history fund and facilitate that rant. That won't be an easy one to square off."
"We see it as being separate", insists Melvin. "There's no point investing in Mark and turning him into a traditional presenter. What we want to do is grow his channels with him."
Another factor was to have more of a daily offering via Goldbridge's channels.
"When [former United manager] Ruben Amorim was sacked we didn't have a Stick To Football show scheduled for 10 days so we didn't talk about it until then", recalls Melvin.
"We can't do that. We have to be able to be agile."
Can others compete?
Lineker and Neville are part of a much wider trend that has seen a number of football personalities launch their own media channels and businesses in order to communicate directly with fans while retaining control over their content.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand - who left his role with TNT Sport to pursue his own content production business - has said global digital platforms allow pundits to circumvent the limits that accompany traditional broadcasts in terms of programme durations, and rights-holder based territories.
"I am sure others will follow although it's one thing building a media platform around a sports star's 'brand' (low risk and high return), while they are playing, and another building a real media business - which requires money, huge amounts of effort, people to manage, and significant risk," says Worrall.
"Building a business takes an immense amount of effort and it's not for everyone. But there is no reason why players or former players can't do it if they have the passion and motivation to do so.
"I don't think the industry has peaked by any stretch but I do think even the most successful podcasts will peak and then drop - they will have a lifecycle.
"And to make a podcast work is much more complex than people think: committed talent, aligned business model, high production values, constant innovation, research, social activation, audience engagement, infrastructure and subject matter or an entertainment format that serves an audience and has some form of longevity, and talent-led shows ultimately become outdated."
And what of the smaller content creators and production companies who are now trying to compete with Goalhanger and The Overlap?
"It's not a 'winner takes all' market," says Mike Carr, who runs Crowd Network, which develops digital sports media brands with former stars such as England cricketer Stuart Broad and rugby player Ben Youngs.
"It's still really early in terms of audience growth, especially on YouTube. There's still huge room to build - what Lineker and Neville have done is help to educate brands and audiences on the power of the space.
"What we do is slightly different. Rather than seeing them as competition, they have helped to accelerate the market."
"I hope Goalhanger proves that if you get your content offering right you can achieve the kind of scale that supports a successful modern media business," says Pastor.
"We've created 80 jobs which is great, but we've also proven that millions of people still want to listen to and watch long form, intelligent, hopefully entertaining content. And that has to be good news for everyone."
From fourth tier to continental final: Machida Zelvias remarkable journey
The AFC Champions League final will feature an unexpected challenger to reigning champions Al-Ahli , where it features Ivan Toney. Japanese outsiders Machida Zelvia have risen from relative obscurity to take on the continent’s elite - and done so with a pragmatic style that has made them unpopular at home even as it carried them to Asia’s biggest match.
Just 13 years ago, Machida were playing in the Japan’s fourth tier. Over the past decade, significant backing from a major Japanese technology company helped fuel a remarkable climb through the divisions.
In 2024, the club reached the J1 League for the first time and immediately challenged established heavyweights such as Vissel Kobe and Sanfrecce Hiroshima for the title, even opening up a five-point lead at one stage. They eventually faded late in the campaign to finish third, but their message to the rest of Japanese football was clear.
That breakthrough season laid the foundations for a historic run the following year. In the Emperor's Cup, Machida eliminated major opposition including Kashima Antlers, FC Tokyo and Vissel Kobe on their way to lifting their first major domestic trophy.
That success, combined with another strong league campaign, earned Machida their debut appearance in the AFC Champions League Elite. A lack of continental experience did little to slow them down. They topped Group B - made up of the competition’s 12 eastern-region clubs - and continued to outperform more established opponents.
In the knockout rounds, South Korea’s Gangwon were the next side to fall before Machida booked their place in the finals stage, staged entirely in Saudi Arabia. From there, the Japanese club brushed aside highly fancied Arab opposition, eliminating @Al-Ittihad Club in the quarter-finals and Al-Shabab in the semi-finals.
Efficient - and unpopular - by design
Machida’s surprise run has been built on a style rarely associated with Japanese football. Rather than the technical, possession-based approach traditionally seen in the country, they favour compact defending and ruthless efficiency.
Their organisation is reflected in a defensive record of just seven goals conceded in 11 matches. In the knockout rounds, they scored only three times - but conceded none - progressing from every tie by the narrowest of margins.
“It would be better if we could build from the back and score more goals,” head coach Go Kuroda admitted. “But this is my ideal style. Instead of playing beautiful football, we have to threaten opponents and make them fear us. Technique and tactics come afterwards.”
Alongside their reactive setup, Machida have also leaned heavily on classic South American-style gamesmanship - something that has further contributed to their reputation as outsiders within Japanese football culture. It may not be popular, but the results speak for themselves.
From school football to the continental stage
Machida’s underdog story is strengthened further by the background of Kuroda himself. Before taking charge of the club and leading them to promotion from the J2 League, the 55-year-old had never managed professionally.
Instead, he built his reputation across more than two decades in school football, winning three national high school championships with Aomori Yamada High School between 1995 and 2022.
That success earned him his opportunity at Machida - and his appointment has since proved inspired.
This Saturday, Kuroda and Machida Zelvia have the chance to complete one of the competition’s most unlikely stories. The anti-heroes of this year’s tournament now face the task of ending the recent dominance of Saudi Arabia’s big-spending clubs and returning Japanese football to the top of Asia.
Report: Liverpool set to battle Man United in the race for £60m forward
Rafael Leao Transfer Interest Builds Ahead of World Cup
Credit to the original reporting by the Daily Mail, whose detailed update has brought renewed attention to Rafael Leao and his uncertain future at AC Milan. As the summer transfer window approaches, the sense across Europe is that one of the continent’s most dynamic wide players could be on the move.
“Leao is one of the best wingers in Europe and is expected to play a leading role for Portugal at this summer’s World Cup in USA,” the report states, underlining both his current standing and looming global platform.
Interest is not casual. Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Real Madrid are all monitoring the situation closely, each assessing how Leao might fit into evolving attacking structures.
Market Value Sparks Strategic Moves
The quoted £60 million valuation has raised eyebrows, though not for the reasons one might expect. “That’s viewed as excellent value by many elite clubs for a 26-year-old of Leao’s calibre in the current market,” according to the article.
In a landscape where attacking talent often commands inflated fees, this figure presents a rare alignment of quality and affordability. Clubs are alert to timing too. The possibility of a standout World Cup could inflate his price significantly, prompting a push to secure a deal early.
Photo IMAGO
Milan’s Financial Balancing Act
From Milan’s perspective, the situation reflects broader financial realities. “Milan are understood to be open to offers for a number of their top players as they look to balance the books,” a line that speaks volumes about modern squad management.
Despite speculation, clarity has emerged on internal dynamics. “Leao has not fallen out with coach Max Allegri nor has he been offered to Barcelona,” the report confirms, dismissing some of the noise surrounding his future.
Still, with two years left on his contract, this summer represents a critical decision point.
Tactical Fit Across Europe
Leao’s versatility remains a key attraction. Able to operate wide or centrally, his pace and directness suit multiple systems. “He has scored 80 goals for Milan since joining from Lille for £30m in 2019,” a return that highlights both consistency and growth.
At Liverpool, succession planning around Mohamed Salah is ongoing. Manchester United seek attacking reinforcement, while Real Madrid are looking to refresh their forward options.
As the window nears, Leao’s situation feels poised at a tipping point, shaped by timing, finances and opportunity.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace at Anfield (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
In terms of goalkeeper availability, Giorgi Mamardashvili will "definitely not" feature but Alisson is "close to returning". This weekend's fixture might come "too early" for the Brazil international, but Freddie Woodman is a "fully fit" option.
He added: "We signed an experienced third goalkeeper for this very reason. You don't usually need them that much, but there is always a situation where you do. Apart from being a good goalkeeper, he is a very good man, he is very liked in the dressing room and he is always ready to play."
The club is looking into the muscle injuries Alisson is experiencing and for ways to manage his "training programme and playing schedule" moving forward.
Joe Gomez is back in the squad but isn't training with the first-team yet. Instead, the centre-back is "doing exercises with the rehab team on the pitches". It is hoped he will be back in contention before the end of this season.
On Hugo Ekitike's season-ending Achilles injury: "His surgery went well. It was an important step he needed to take. It will be a long rehab process for him. He is a very explosive player and usually that isn't very helpful when you have this kind of injury, but maybe he will be an exception."
He highlighted Liverpool have been unable to beat Crystal Palace across their three meetings so far this season, adding he has done "a little bit extra" to try to find ways to claim all three points.
On Oliver Glasner's side: "He is a great manager who has brought a lot of discipline to their team. It is really difficult to create chances against them, sometimes you can watch 60 minutes of their football and you won't have seen the other team create a chance. They are also very direct at the other end of the pitch. They have conceded the fewest goals after Arsenal as well, so that tells you a lot."
Liverpool's record of 16 points in their past eight Premier League games is "acceptable".
When asked about Mohamed Salah finding his goalscoring form again, he replied: "It's really important that our attackers score goals. If you look at our success last season, we had a number of attackers that scored a lot of goals. If you look at this season, there has been a little drop-off in chance creation but not so much that we shouldn't be scoring as many goals."
The World Cup "will not hinder" Alexander Isak's efforts to get back up to full fitness and ability before the 2026-27 season. Slot explained: "He's had months without training in a team so that's why it hasn't been easy for him to get back up to speed, but we are seeing progress in each game. I don't know how far he is off his best level, but I hope for him that it's very soon."
The biggest talk of college athletics over the last few weeks has been around the possibility of the NCAA moving to a 5-in-5 rule, meaning five years to play five years of your college sport.
There is plenty of momentum for this to go through, as redshirt years have practically become non-existent, but will the NCAA make the move official?
According to a new report, it seems we will start to get some answers early next week.
Per Jon Rothstien, the Division 1 Board of Directors will receive a report about the age-based eligibility report from the D1 Cabinet on Monday. This could prove to be a big day for how this rule would play out, and potentially other issues, such as if current players would be grandfathered in (like Otega Oweh).
Source: The D1 Board of Directors will meet Monday & receive a report from the D1 Cabinet on the age based eligibility proposal (5 in 5).
Multiple options are being reviewed regarding parameters for this potential rule & when it will be implemented if passed by a future vote.
There are still plenty of questions surrounding this, especially regarding whether current seniors will be eligible to participate in that fifth year. For Kentucky, that could change the game, especially if they can retain Oweh for another season if he doesn’t head to the NBA.
Sounds like we will start to get some more info on how that will go in the next few weeks.
The Chargers upgraded their edge rusher room with the selection of Akheem Mesidor. Heading into Day 2, Los Angeles still has a few positions to address, namely guard.
With that said, here is my best guess at what general manager Joe Hortiz could do with their second and third round selections.
Round 2, Pick 55: OL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
The Mesidor pick showed that the Chargers aren't afraid to take older players, likely because they believe their window to win is now. So I would expect Pregnon, who has played 39 games at left guard at USC and Oregon over the last three seasons, to be more on the radar than someone like Iowa's Gennings Dunker, who would be moving to guard for the first time. Pregnon is a bigger, slower guard who may not fit perfectly into Mike McDaniel's offensive scheme, but his weight-room numbers (655-pound squat and 465-pound bench) and durability will be appealing to Jim Harbaugh as a culture fit. The Athletic's Dane Brugler has compared Pregnon to Bills guard O'Cyrus Torrence, who went 60th overall in 2023 due to concerns over his fit in a zone scheme, but he's developed into a starter for a Buffalo squad that ran zone concepts 44 percent of the time in 2025. Pregnon could be on a similar path.
Round 3, Pick 95 (via Patriots): CB Chandler Rivers, Duke
After addressing their two primary needs, LA could look to find a trade back in the third round. Pittsburgh, New England, and Baltimore make sense as partners, as all three are flush with picks (the Steelers have 12, while the other two have 11). Here, I have the Chargers trading the 86th pick for 95, 171, and 247 to fill in their missing fifth and seventh round selections. Rivers has strong character feedback from NFL teams, as reported by The Athletic's Dane Brugler, and his instincts in both man and zone coverage on the outside or in the slot are appealing traits. The Chargers value instincts and experience on the boundary at corner, which makes Rivers a natural fit despite his 5'9" size (LA doesn't place as much of an emphasis on size at the position).
Arne Slot's Liverpool are on track to qualify for next season's Champions League (ANDY BUCHANAN)
Arne Slot warned on Friday that "margins are small" in the Premier League as Liverpool aim to strengthen their push for a place in next season's Champions League.
The Reds are fifth in the table after two straight league wins, five points clear of Brighton, who have played a game more.
The top five teams in the Premier League gain automatic entry into next season's Champions League.
Liverpool face a tough task on Saturday against Crystal Palace, whom they have failed to beat in three meetings so far this season.
Slot was asked at his pre-match press conference whether he was planning for next season after a disappointing title defence but was keen to shift the focus back onto the current campaign.
"Of course there are conversations going on about next season but my complete focus is, and still should be, on this season, because margins are small," said the Liverpool boss.
"One or two results can make a big difference, as we saw, because I think two weeks ago we weren't five points clear of the number six, and two results later we are, so it can also go both ways.
"So my full focus is on Palace, which is needed because, as you know, we've played them three times already this season and we're unable to beat them once."
Liverpool lost to Oliver Glasner's side on penalties in the season-opening Community Shield before defeats in the Premier League and the League Cup.
The Reds have picked up vital wins against Fulham and Everton this month but have also suffered demoralising defeats against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Manchester City in the FA Cup.
"In the last eight games we picked up 16 points, and it doesn't always feel like that, because in between we have to play PSG, Man City," said Slot. "But our recent league form is acceptable."
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker has not played since mid-March due to injury but Slot said he was close to a return and could be ready to face Palace.
Number two goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is sidelined with an injury he picked up last week against Everton, meaning that Freddie Woodman would deputise for Palace if Alisson were not fit.
Slot brushed aside speculation linking Alisson with a move away from Anfield at the end of the season.
"We don't react to rumours in this room," said the Dutchman.
"We only react when facts need to be told, and that's not the situation at the moment.
"But the main focus for Ali is, I think, very clear -- that's getting back into goal as soon as possible for the club he loves to play for, and then he wants to be in goal for the country he loves to play for, and that's Brazil."
Ranked 12th in the world by Fifa, Italy are the highest-ranked team not participating in the 2026 World Cup [Getty Images]
Fifa has no plans to replace Iran with Italy at this summer's World Cup according to sources, after the switch was proposed by US president Donald Trump's special envoy.
There has been ongoing uncertainty over Iran's participation in the tournament because of the war with US and Israel.
US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the Financial Times: "I confirm I have suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup.
"I'm an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion."
Fifa did not comment officially on Zampolli's suggestion but highlighted a statement made by Fifa president Gianni Infantino last week where he said: "The Iranian team is coming, for sure."
When asked about the proposal, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters: "Nothing from the US has told them they can't come.
"The problem with Iran would be not their athletes, it would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC [Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps].
"We may not be able to let them in, but not the athletes themselves."
The Iranian embassy said Zampolli's suggestion showed "moral bankruptcy" by the United States.
"Italy has earned its greatness in football on the pitch, not thanks to political privileges," the Iranian embassy said on X.
"The attempt to exclude Iran from the World Cup only reveals the 'moral bankruptcy' of the United States, which is afraid even of the presence of 11 young Iranians on the field of play."
The FT reported Zampolli's plan was suggested to smooth things over between the US and Italy after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised Trump over his comments towards Pope Leo XIV.
Four-time champions Italy have failed to qualify for their third successive World Cup following a qualification play-off defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina last month.
Iran are due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June respectively, and Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.
The tournament, which begins on 11 June, is being hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
Under Fifa rules, the world governing body has "sole discretion" on what happens if a team withdraws or is excluded from the competition.
Article six of its World Cup regulations also says: "Fifa may decide to replace the Participating Member Association in question with another association."
Italy's economy minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said the idea put forward by Zampolli was "shameful", while the country's sports minister Andrea Abodi told La Press: "Firstly it is not possible, secondly it is not appropriate... You qualify on the pitch."
The Italian Olympic Committee president Luciano Buonfiglio also disagreed with the idea, saying he would feel "offended".
"In order to go to the World Cup, you have to earn it," Buonfiglio added.
Speaking last week in Washington, Infantino said: "We hope that by then the situation will be a peaceful (one). That would definitely help. But Iran has to come if they are to represent their people. They have qualified, and they're actually quite a good team as well. They really want to play, and they should play. Sports should be outside of politics."
In March, following a visit to Iran's team in Turkey, Infantino confirmed their games would be played in the US as scheduled, after the Iranian football federation said it was "negotiating" with Fifa to relocate the country's matches to Mexico.
On Wednesday, Al Jazeera reported government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said Iran was "fully prepared" to participate in the tournament.
Zampolli made a similar request to Fifa for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when he was a United Nations ambassador.
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 17:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Howe gave an update on defender Tino Livramento, who was injured against Bournemouth last Saturday. "He went for a scan initially, we don't think it's a bad injury. Wait and see whether he'll play again this season but he will have another scan at the weekend to determine the full extent of his time out."
He added Livramento is "very level-headed and stable mentally" but has had a "frustrating season, which is the life of a footballer".
On Anthony Gordon: "He won't make the game, hasn't trained this week. Not a serious injury but not in time for this game, hopefully the next one."
Howe said that Bruno Guimaraes "has had a full week of training and he has trained really well. He's such an important player for us on so many levels that of course we are keen to get him on the pitch as soon as possible".
On recruitment: "If the team is not performing, there may be bigger changes [in the summer] than first thought. The players understand the job they are in. There is a responsibility to be at your best."
On Newcastle's poor form: "We're all feeling that pain at the moment, we're determined to put that right and win as many games as possible. Players are lacking a bit of confidence but we can find that through hard work, good training and trying to enjoy their football and find their best form again. We need to perform most of all for our supporters."
Asked why Nick Woltemade isn't starting, Howe said: "It's difficult because our centre-forwards have been productive for us. Anthony Gordon played up front against Chelsea and Sunderland. Will Osula has come in and he has scored as the number nine so it's difficult. You have to reward players for what they deliver and at the moment, I have gone with a different option to Nick so there's no problem on his fitness. Obviously when he plays, he has to try and do the same and deliver the goals that we need."
He added on Woltemade and Yoane Wissa: "Like with every player that is not playing, they have to show their worth in training and that's their shop window for me to pick them. How they train, how they commit to the training and how much they are prepared to put individual disappointment to the side for the team to then come back fighting but I believe in both players still, I've got no issues with either of them. They have unique qualities to offer the team but it's got to be on merit and deserved. They are both outstanding players and will be better for next season."
On five wins out of five to secure European football: "Five wins out of five are needed for ourselves, for the club, for everybody. We aren't looking at it for Europe, we're looking at it like we need to win a game. First step is win a game and then try and win another one."
Howe said Newcastle "have lost a bit of confidence with the recent results that we have had" and hopes they will get back to their best levels "individually and collectively".
On criticism Anthony Elanga has faced: "He's handled everything that he has faced this season with real integrity. He will continue to improve and get better and he has so much potential. I really believe in him and hopefully he can finish the season strongly."
Howe said Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) meeting next week is "something that happens regularly" and he "always likes the chance to talk directly to the owners and express things".
Birmingham City will hope to end their season on a high note as they aim to extend their unbeaten run to a fourth game against Bristol City at St Andrew's on Saturday (15:00 BST).
Blues has lost their previous three games before starting an undefeated streak with a victory over Wrexham on 12 April (W2 D1).
However, Bristol City are experiencing the opposite. Having won both their opening games under new boss Roy Hodgson, they have not claimed all three points in any of their previous three (D2 L1).
Birmingham City haven't conceded a single goal in any of their last three home league games against Bristol City (W2 D1).
After their 1-0 win in October, Bristol City could record their first league double over Birmingham since the 1992-93 campaign.
Birmingham won their final home league game in both 2023-24 (1-0 v Norwich) and 2024-25 (4-0 v Mansfield); the Blues last did so three seasons running from 1971-72 to 1973-74.
Bristol City have lost their final away league game in five of the last six seasons, winning the other 2-0 at QPR in 2022-23.
Bristol City have avoided defeat in all three of their Championship away games under Roy Hodgson this season (W1 D2); they only avoided defeat in four of his 10 away league games in charge during 1981-82 (W2 D2 L6).
The best players in world snooker are back at the famous Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, United Kingdom, for the 2026 World Snooker Championships.
Zhao Xintong enters the tournament as the reigning champion having come through qualifying last year to go on to beat Mark Williams 18-12 in the final.
There's plenty of the biggest names in the sport taking to the table over the next few days, including seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan aiming for a record-breaking eighth title.
As snooker's biggest global event continues, The Sporting News has all your scheduling, TV and streaming details covered from the 2026 World Snooker Championships.
2026 World Snooker Championships TV channel, live stream
TV Channel: BBC One,BBC Two, BBC Four, TNT Sports
Live stream: BBC iPlayer, HBO Max
The World Snooker Championship is also the jewel in the crown for broadcasters as the sport's most prestigious and must-see event, and as such the BBC in the UK are providing plenty of coverage in 2026. They will be showing matches across multiple channels (Two, Four, and the Red Button), as well as on BBC iPlayer.
For snooker fans who want to live stream the action from The Crucible over the next few days, HBO Max is the place to go. They've got full access to every single frame, as well as build-up and post-match analysis both live and on catch-up, allowing subscribers to tune into the action via TNT Sports.
2026 World Snooker Championships schedule, results
The 2026 World Snooker Championships is a 17-day long event which began on Saturday, April 18.
With 32 players competing at the World Snooker Championships two matches will take place per session during the first round. The second round will commence on Thursday, April 23, followed by the quarterfinals on Tuesday, April 28, and the semifinals on Thursday, April 30.
The final will take place across two days with the first half being played on Sunday, May 3, before culminating on Monday, May 4 crowning this year's champion.
Final
Match Start Date
Match
May 3
TBC vs. TBC
Semifinals
Match Start Date
Match
April 30
TBC vs. TBC
April 30
TBC vs. TBC
Quarterfinals
Match Start Date
Match
April 28
TBC vs. TBC
April 28
TBC vs. TBC
April 28
TBC vs. TBC
Round of 16
Match Start Date
Match
April 26
Mark Selby vs Wu Yize
April 26
John Higgins vs Ronnie O’Sullivan
April 26
Hossein Vafaei vs Judd Trump
April 25
Chris Wakelin vs Neil Robertson
April 24
Kyren Wilson v Mark Allen
April 24
Zhao Xintong vs Ding Junhui
April 24
Barry Hawkins vs Mark Williams
April 24
Xiao Guodong vs Shaun Murphy
Round of 32
Match Start Date
Match result
April 22
Mark Selby10-2 Jak Jones
April 22
Neil Robertson 10-6 Pang Junxu
April 22
Hossein Vafaei 10-3 Si Jiahui
April 21
Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-2 He Guoqiang
April 21
Judd Trump 10-5 Gary Wilson
April 21
Chris Wakelin 10-6 Liam Pullen
April 20
Shaun Murphy 10-9 Fan Zhengyi
April 20
Wu Yize 10-2 Lei Peifan
April 20
Kyren Wilson 10-7 Stan Moody
April 19
John Higgins 10-7 Ali Carter
April 19
Ding Junhui 10-5 David Gilbert
April 18
Mark Williams 10-4 Antoni Kowalski
April 18
Xiao Guodong 10-6 Zhou Yuelong
April 18
Barry Hawkins 10-4 Matthew Stevens
April 18
Mark Allen 10-6 Zhang Anda
April 18
Zhao Xintong 10-7 Liam Highfield
2026 World Snooker Championships prize money
As was the case last year, the total prize fund for the 2026 World Snooker Championship is £2,395,000 across 32 competitors. The winner of the competition will receive £500,000, with the runner-up receiving £200,000.
Every player competing at this year's World Snooker Championship is in line to receive at least £20,000, with the individual who records the highest break in the tournament to see their overall winnings topped up with another £15,000.
Wisconsin volleyball filled a major 2026 roster need on Wednesday when Italian libero Anna Bardaro signed with the Badgers.
As reported by John Steppe of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bardaro is a 5-foot-10 libero who will turn 21 by the start of the 2026 season and brings high-level international experience to Madison after competing for Italy’s U21 team. She posted 22 digs against Japan in the semifinals of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship.
Bardaro also played for the Imoco Volleyball Conegliano club from 2023 to 2025, with her teams winning titles in the Italian Cup, Italian Super Cup, CEV Women’s Champions League, and World Club Championship. She was on Cuneo Granda Volley’s 2026 roster. Bardaro said in an Instagram reel, “Can’t wait to see you in Wisconsin.” She added, “Excited to be a Badger.”
Her addition gives coach Kelly Sheffield the needed depth at a specialist position where Wisconsin previously had only 2025 starter Kristen Simon on the 2026 roster. Bardaro joins Simon as the two liberos after UW lost Maile Chan and Aniya Warren to the transfer portal after the season.
Wisconsin also added Florida transfer Jaela Auguste and UC-Santa Barbara transfer Eva Travis, plus incoming freshmen Halle Thompson, Audrey Flanagan, Lynney Tarnow, Kymora Scott, and Jane Manecke. Manecke verbally committed in March and signed in April, and she is the only newcomer not already on campus.
Next, Wisconsin will sort out the back-row rotation around Simon and Bardaro as the offseason additions blend into the roster heading toward 2026.
Cade Klubnik should hear his name called at the 2026 NFL Draft. Where, however, is yet to be determined.
The former Clemson QB finished a rather streaky career, despite finishing with a total of 10,000 passing yards. He has flourished when he has time to think before passing, but that is a rarity in today's NFL.
The 2024 season, his junior year, was when Klubnik showed his potential. The Austin, Texas, native finished third in the ACC in pass yards (3,639) and threw for 36 TDs. However, his senior year saw just 16 touchdown passes thrown, and he threw for under 3,000 yards. This has caused his draft stock to take a hit, but he could still be a viable backup QB for an NFL franchise willing to take a chance on him.
Here's a look at where the former Clemson Tiger may be taken in this year's NFL Draft.
While the 2026 QB class incoming to the NFL is far from what it's been in years prior, Klubnik has still had a tough time showing why he deserves a starting QB job in the NFL. His junior year at Clemson was solid, as he finished third in the ACC with 3,639 passing yards and led the Tigers to the College Football Playoff before falling to Texas in the first round.
Besides that, his collegiate career left more to be desired from a quarterback under Dabo Swinney. His field vision is lacking compared to other QBs in this class, and he is very streaky. Under pressure, he falters and can hold his team back in the long run. According to ESPN, he completed only 48.5% of his passes under true pressure.
When he is given extra time to throw the ball, Klubnik can excel. However, in the NFL, that is far from a given. The league's best QBs are known for their precise and quick decision-making, two things Klubnik has shown to lack when it truly matters. Klubnik will most likely be a mid-late round selection as a team's backup QB.
Here are some of the more prominent scouting reports on Klubnik's NFL prospects.
Much was expected of Klubnik after a strong showing in 2024, but his play and production declined in 2025. He’s undersized but athletic and shows an ability to attack zone windows with adequate velocity over the first two levels. He can make some timing throws with anticipation when in rhythm. However, when the first read isn’t there, his field vision is average and he’s not good enough off-platform/out of structure to succeed at a high enough rate. The accuracy numbers to most areas of the field fall below the mark, but tape study shows a high drop count by his receivers.
Klubnik has stretches of hot and cold play throughout games, similar to a streaky 3-point shooter. His clean throwing release allowed him to distribute the ball evenly to all his targets in the underneath areas the Tigers operated in. Klubnik is also a threat as a runner when forced to break the pocket. His mechanics tend to wane when facing pressure, and his accuracy becomes scattershot. Klubnik completed only 48.5% of his passes when facing true pressure. There were mixed opinions of Klubnik entering the season, but thoughts of him being a middle-to-late round passer have become more of a consensus.
Klubnik is best when throwing off play action or RPO concepts. These plays allow him to read the field with a little extra time and identify false steps by second-level defenders to attack the voids within the coverage. Feeling pressure inside the pocket for Clemson's third-year starter comes and goes. Sometimes he feels and evades, other times, he's locked into a read and takes unnecessary sacks. He struggles with post-snap reads. Too often, Klubnik believes what the defense is showing pre-snap, and the transition post-snap after the picture changes creates delayed reads and confusion for the QB.
Through four seasons at Clemson, Klubnik is a member of the 10,000-yard club. He has thrown for over 70 TDs and averaged over 200 yards per game across 49 total games. His best finish with the Tigers came in 2023, when Clemson lost to Texas 38-24.
Here's a look at the numbers behind his four-year collegiate career with the Tigers:
Jordi Cruyff plots Barcelona raid to strengthen Ajax – several players on the agenda
AFC Ajax are already deep into planning as they look to revive their sporting project after a disappointing season, with the aim of returning to European competition.
And, according to SPORT, Ajax’s new sporting director, Jordi Cruyff, intends to strengthen the squad with the help of FC Barcelona.
Indeed, the former Blaugrana director is exploring both permanent transfers and loan deals involving players who may not feature in the first team or could leave from the reserve side.
Inaki Pena a candidate
In the Netherlands, there is a clear belief that Cruyff’s strong relationship with Barcelona will be key in fostering collaboration between the clubs – with the Dutch side already in talks to face the Catalans in the Joan Gamper Trophy this year.
Ajax could provide an ideal environment for young Barcelona players to develop after their time in the reserve team, as well as for first-team players who are unlikely to remain.
As per the report, several names are under consideration, and in particular, the possibility of goalkeeper Inaki Pena, currently on loan at Elche, joining stands out as a deal that could benefit all parties.
Inaki Pena is on Ajax’s radar. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The La Masia graduate is seen as a realistic option following a difficult year in goal for the Dutch giants.
One of the club’s major ambitions would be Marc Casado, although his valuation makes a transfer highly unlikely.
Another player considered out of reach is Roony Bardghji. The Swedish winger is expected to leave Barcelona this summer in search of more playing time.
In this case, the player will decide his future, and it appears he may prioritise either remaining in Spain or joining a Champions League club.
Academy talents on Cruyff’s radar
Ajax are particularly interested in recruiting from the academy. Jordi Cruyff is very familiar with players developed at La Masia, and there is a clear preference in this regard: winger Shane Kluivert.
Barcelona believe he could take a step forward in the Netherlands and adapt well, although it remains to be seen whether he will leave on loan this summer or be retained.
Jofre Torrents and Guille Fernandez are two other players who could also be on Ajax’s radar.
Colwyn Bay v Penybont; 12:45 BST: Colwyn Bay, who were promoted to the JD Cymru Premier at the start of the current season, have secured their place in the play-offs for the first time. Mike Wilde's side finished the season in fifth spot but are without a win in their last three games. Rhys Griffiths' Penybont, who are bidding to qualify for Europe for the third time, failed to win during phase two and lost 3-1 at Colwyn Bay in February with the reverse fixture finishing goalless.
Sunday, 26 April
Barry Town United v Haverfordwest County; 17:00 BST: Barry are bidding to reach Europe for the first time since 2020 and having finished third in the Cymru Premier table a victory over Haverfordwest on Sunday would see them at home in the play-off final the following weekend. Barry won five games during phase two, as did County who finished seventh to claim the final play-off spot. Tony Pennock's side have won the play-offs twice in the last three seasons to qualify for the Europa Conference League.
Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane will be in front of the microphone (13:30 BST) in the club's first news conference since the sacking of Liam Rosenior
Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Jack Link’s 500 is Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, so how will the weather look?
The green flag waves at 3 p.m. Sunday, and race day is looking good! We will also break down the weekend forecast for those of you hoping to enjoy the festivities.
The Forecast
Talladega is one of my favorite races of the year. And no, it is not because of "Talladega Nights" — although I do love that movie. Below is the day-to-day forecast:
Friday And Saturday
Should you want to head down early to camp out at Talladega, something I long to do, the weather is largely looking to agree this weekend. For Friday, expect a great day with a high in the 80s. While showers could move in Friday overnight, lasting until early afternoon Saturday, it will clear up by the evening. Temperatures on Saturday will be a little cooler, with the high expected to climb to the upper 70s.
The forecast has improved greatly since earlier this week. Patchy fog should give way to sunny skies with a high in the 80s. The following graphic is an hour-by-hour forecast for the area, and you are going to like what you see:
Delays At Talladega?
As a meteorologist, I am always curious when the weather impacts sports.
The Jack Link's 500, previously known as the Geico 500, is one of the most important races in the first half of the year. But 2020 told a different story.
Initially, the race was delayed that year from April to June because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But when June rolled around, there ended up being rain delays and eventually a reschedule to the following Monday. And it rained on that Monday as well, causing even more delays.
The Talladega area generally sees its wettest months between December and March, with April still seeing a respectable average monthly rainfall of 4.77 inches.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Rob Shackelford is a meteorologist and climate scientist at weather.com. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Georgia studying meteorology and experimenting with alternative hurricane forecasting tools.
Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone has not played since the end of December [Getty Images]
Manchester United boss Marc Skinner says he is hopeful Ella Toone will be involved in Sunday's crucial Women's Super League trip to Tottenham.
Toone has not played since the end of December because of a hip complaint.
The injury ruled her out of United's run to the Women's Champions League quarter-finals and also two England camps that resulted in Sarina Wiegman's side charging to the top of their World Cup qualifying group.
However, as they head into the WSL run-in, when victories in their final three matches, including a last-day trip to Chelsea, will seal a place in next season's Champions League play-offs, Skinner is optimistic Toone will be back.
"Tooney will train [on Friday]," said Skinner. "We are hopeful she may be involved this weekend, which would be fantastic."
Skinner also confirmed Sweden full-back Anna Sandberg was available after recovering from the knee injury that has kept her out for two months, while striker Ellen Wangerheim is available after a month out with a shin problem.
Beaten in the League Cup final and the FA Cup by Chelsea and the Champions League quarter-finals by Bayern Munich, United were also defeated at Old Trafford by Manchester City the last time they played in WSL.
It has brought more focus on Skinner, whose contract runs to 2027, with some supporters believing he has taken the team as far as he can.
Now the longest-serving WSL manager, Skinner defended his work but opted not to look beyond the end of the season.
"You enter a job like Man Utd and of course you are open to scrutiny," he said.
"But we also live in a world where there is a constant 'look at the negative side'.
"Actually, the positive side is we have created history at this club and we have to continue to do so.
"My job is to prepare my team for these next three games and to try and win them.
"Regardless of what people think, I know who I am, I know what I do and I know what our focus will be. I am ready to take on the challenge of these next three games and get my team to do the same.
"After that, who knows what happens?"
[BBC]
Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed
Arsenal headed into the final 10 matches of the Premier League season with a healthy lead but everything still up for grabs. Now, the picture looks very different.
However, consecutive defeats to Bournemouth and City may well have caused irreparable damage. Is 2026 when the Gunners end the pain of three consecutive second-place finishes and win their first Premier League title for 22 years, or have they blown it?
Here, The Sporting News has a breakdown of Arsenal's title run-in schedule, fixtures and results, along with our predictions for each fixture.
A deflected goal from Bukayo Saka settled a combative but largely uninspiring contest on the south coast. The travelling Arsenal fans celebrated the win, and City's draw at home to Nottingham Forest, as though they had won the league already.
Result last season: Brighton 1-1 Arsenal Prediction this season: Brighton 1-1 Arsenal Final score: Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
Everton (H): March 14
Everton remain in the hunt for the European positions and have been a tough nut to crack under David Moyes. Nevertheless, it was hard to imagine how they hurt Arsenal in an attacking sense and this game might quickly turn into an attack vs. defence exercise.
Arsenal toiled for 89 minutes before Viktor Gyokeres came off the bench and snatched a lead, and Max Dowman's dramatic late goal sealed the three points in historic fashion. The victory extended the Gunners' lead to nine points after City were held to a 1-1 draw at West Ham.
Result last season: Arsenal 0-0 Everton Prediction this season: Arsenal 2-0 Everton Final score: Arsenal 2-0 Everton
Bournemouth beat Arsenal home and away last season, but the Cherries have blown hot and cold this term, the loss of key personnel understandably seeming to have caught up with them. On home turf, this should have been an assured win for the Premier League leaders.
And yet, it was anything but. Arsenal looked sluggish and fearful throughout the match, while Bournemouth played with a swagger. The Gunners went behind twice, and while Viktor Gyokeres was able to bag a penalty to nullify the first deficit, Alex Scott's second-half winner was a bridge too far, and Arsenal struck worry in the hearts of their supporters with this defeat.
Result last season: Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth Prediction this season: Arsenal 3-1 Bournemouth Final score: Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
They couldn't get it done. Although Kai Havertz cancelled out Rayan Cherki's opener, Erling Haaland secured a 2-1 win that might just swing the title race in City's favour.
Result last season: Man City 2-2 Arsenal Prediction this season: Man City 1-1 Arsenal Final score: Man City 2-1 Arsenal
Newcastle (H): April 25
Newcastle were unfortunate to lose 2-1 after a late Arsenal comeback at St James' Park last September and beat Arteta's side home and way in last season's Carabao Cup semifinals. Eddie Howe's men have toiled badly of late, but they could be dangerous if the Gunners have any sort of mental or physical hangover from the City game.
Result last season: Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle Prediction this season: Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle Final score: _
Fulham (H): May 2
Marco Silva's Fulham have been a pest for the Premier League's leading lights this season. Nevertheless, it will go down as a huge waste if Arsenal do not make their back-to-back home games count directly after facing City.
Result last season: Arsenal 2-1 Fulham Prediction this season: Arsenal 1-0 Fulham Final score: _
West Ham (A): May 9
Another London derby and opposition who have enjoyed success against Arsenal in the past. West Ham's 2-0 mid-season win in 2023/24 loomed large in the final analysis. Factor in a fired-up Hammers crowd as they battle relegation, and this one could be tricky.
Result last season: West Ham 2-5 Arsenal Prediction this season: West Ham 2-2 Arsenal Final score: _
Burnley (H): May 17
West Ham are fighting relegation, but an overmatched Burnley are mathematically doomed after their loss to Man City. Arsenal can take the opportunity to tee off in a race where goal difference could prove to be key.
Result last season: N/A Prediction this season: Arsenal 5-0 Burnley Final score: _
Crystal Palace (A): May 24
An all-capital clash closes Arsenal's campaign. If this was the Palace from the start of 2025/26, bathed in the glow of FA Cup and Community Shield success, this might look like an awful season-closer. As it is, Oliver Glasner will be one game from the exit door and his team have nothing to play for domestically.
Result last season:Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal Prediction this season: Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal Final score: _
Arsenal predicted final points tally in 2025/26: 83
Predicted final Premier League table 2025/26
The table below is based on our predicted results for Arsenal and Manchester City. If we're anywhere close to being right, it promises to be one of the closest title races in Premier League history.
Pos
Team
Points
Matches Played
Goals Scored
Goals Conceded
Goal Difference
1.
Arsenal
83
38
78
30
+48
2.
Man City
83
38
81
34
+47
And here is the real league table as it stands. Let's see how wrong we end up being...
Half of the picks in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft changed hands before the selection was made.
Of the 32 picks, 16 of them were traded, resulting in eight teams having no first-round pick, six teams having two first-round picks, and the Jets having three first-round picks.
The Falcons, Bengals, Broncos, Packers, Colts and Jaguars all entered the draft without a first-round pick, having previously traded theirs. The Bills and 49ers traded out of the first round during draft night.
Six teams drafted two players on Thursday night: The Browns took offensive lineman Spencer Fano and wide receiver KC Concepcion. The Titans took wide receiver Carnell Tate and defensive end Keldric Faulk. The Giants took linebacker Arvell Reese and offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. The Chiefs took cornerback Mansoor Delane and defensive tackle Peter Woods. The Cowboys took safety Caleb Downs and defensive end Malachi Lawrence. The Dolphins took offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor and cornerback Chris Johnson.
The Jets had three first-round picks: With their own pick they took linebacker David Bailey, with the Colts' pick acquired in the Sauce Gardner trade they took tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and then they traded back up into the late first round to draft wide receiver Omar Cooper.
All of the teams with multiple first-round picks missed the playoffs last season. They know they have big roster rebuilds ahead, and they hope they've added an infusion of young talent to get those rebuilds moving.
Man City 2025/26 Premier League run-in fixtures, schedule
Arsenal went into their final nine games of the Premier League season with a five-point lead over Manchester City in second place. City have a game in hand against Crystal Palace that is yet to be rescheduled.
Man City final Premier League fixtures, results in 2025/26
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
Result
Mar. 4
Nottingham Forest
H
D 2-2
Mar. 14
West Ham
A
D 1-1
Apr. 11
Chelsea
A
W 3-0
Apr. 18
Arsenal
H
W 2-1
Apr. 25
Burnley
A
W 1-0
May 4
Everton
A
_
May 9
Brentford
H
_
May 17
Bournemouth
A
_
May 24
Aston Villa
H
_
TBC
Crystal Palace
H
Man City predictions for Premier League run-in 2025/26
Here's a run-down of City's Premier League run-in schedule, along with our predictions as to how things will play out.
City twice took the lead against Forest only to be pegged back by two excellent goals from the visitors' best midfielders, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson. They may have heard the celebrations from Arsenal fans at the AMEX Stadium all the way up in Manchester.
Result last season: Man City 3-0 Nottingham Forest Prediction this season: Man City 2-0 Nottingham Forest Final score: Man City 2-2 Nottingham Forest
West Ham (A): March 14
West Ham have enjoyed an uptick in form since the turn of the year but remain embroiled in the relegation battle. This also wasn't an away game to strike too much fear into City, who had won eight and drawn three of their 11 matches at the London Stadium since the Hammers left Upton Park almost a decade ago.
And yet, the dropped points loom large in the title race as Bernardo Silva's goal was cancelled out almost immediately by Kostantinos Mavropanos's equaliser before halftime, and City could not find a winner. Nine points back in the title race, it will take a miracle for them to come back now.
Result last season: West Ham 1-3 Man City Prediction this season: West Ham 1-2 Man City Final score: West Ham 1-1 Man City
Aside from the obvious, this was City's toughest remaining game. Chelsea snatched a last-gasp point at the Etihad Stadium in January and needed a positive result to bolster their bid for Champions League football. In the end, City romped to a comfortable win after blowing Chelsea away in the second half.
Result last season: Chelsea 0-2 Man City Prediction this season: Chelsea 2-2 Man City Final score: Chelsea 0-3 Man City
The big one. The general consensus was that if City were to win this, they win the whole thing. However, this is not a juggernaut title race like the ones Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp shared, and further twists, turns and slip-ups are anticipated after this blockbuster.
Still, City's win feels absolutely monumental in terms of this particular battle.
Result last season: Man City 2-2 Arsenal Prediction this season: Man City 1-1 Arsenal Final score: Man City 2-1 Arsenal
Burnley had their relegation confirmed as Erling Haaland scored the only goal early on. City were unable to bolster their goal difference any further, edging ahead of Arsenal at the top on goals scored.
Result last season: N/A Prediction this season: Burnley 0-3 Man City Final score: Burnley 0-1 Man City
Everton (A): May 4
David Moyes has made Everton a horrid team to play against and City's first trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium could prove to be an any-means-necessary assignment.
Result last season: Everton 0-2 Man City Prediction this season: Everton 0-1 Man City Final score: _
Brentford (H): May 9
Brentford might remain in European contention at this point and Keith Andrews' side will consider themselves a touch unfortunate to have nothing to show for two fine efforts against City in the the Premier League and Carabao Cup so far this season. This could turn into the short of shootout Guardiola will be keen to avoid at this time of year.
Result last season: Man City 2-1 Brentford Prediction this season: Man City 4-2 Brentford Final score: _
Bournemouth (A): May 17
Bournemouth's 2-1 win over City at the Vitality Stadium last November started their mid-season downfall. Both clubs are in different places now and the Cherries have lost three keenly contested encounters since. Still, this feels like a dangerous game on the penultimate weekend and a probable free hit for Andoni Iraola's freewheeling side.
Result last season: Bournemouth 2-1 Man City Prediction this season: Bournemouth 2-2 Man City Final score: _
Aston Villa (H): May 24
On the final day in 2022, City had Aston Villa at home and needed a win to be sure of the title. They fell 2-0 down midway through the second half before sensationally coming back to win 3-2. The prospect of a repeat, if anyone's heart can take it, should factor in that Unai Emery has made Villa a far better team four years on.
Result last season: Man City 2-1 Aston Villa Prediction this season: Man City 3-1 Aston Villa Final score: _
Crystal Palace (H): TBC
City's advantage of a game in hand is a dubious one until a place can be found for the Palace match in the calendar. Arsenal's dramatic 2-2 draw at Wolves on February 18 was a rearranged match brought forward from Carabao Cup final weekend. City vs. Palace could not be similarly moved due to the London club having a Conference League playoff encounter that midweek.
With Palace in the Conference League semifinals and City potentially on track for the FA Cup final, there could be no slot for this match until the final midweek of the season. By that point, Palace and their departing manager Oliver Glasner might have checked out entirely.
Result last season: Man City 5-2 Crystal Palace Prediction this season: Man City 4-0 Crystal Palace Final score: _
Man City predicted final points tally in 2025/26: 83
Predicted final Premier League table 2025/26
The table below is based on our predicted results for Arsenal and Manchester City. If we're anywhere close to being right, it promises to be one of the closest title races in Premier League history.
Concepcion has a stutter. And he made it clear he will not let that define him.
"By now you’ve probably heard that I stutter," he said in his letter. "Everyone has. And look, I get it. It’s a good story. I’m not mad at it. And I appreciate the love. But every time I’ve sat down for an interview that’s where we start, and that’s where we end. The stutter. The stutter. The stutter. My stutter is part of who I am, but it’s not all of who I am. So, I figured … since I’ve got the pen this time, let me tell you the more complete story.
"Here’s who I also am: I’m the best receiver in this draft. Period. I run crisp routes. I catch everything thrown anywhere near me. I work my tail off every practice, every drill. I get in and out of my breaks fast. And I will outwork ANYBODY you put in front of me."
KC Concepcion was forced to grow up fast
The newest Cleveland Brown mentioned his father being in and out of prison in the letter and talked about having to pick up responsibilities that no one should at his age.
Like his stutter, he didn't let him define him.
In fact, he embraced it all.
"I wouldn’t change any of it, though," Concepcion said. "Because all of that has built character and compassion and fearlessness within me. It’s made me into someone I’m genuinely proud to be. Someone who doesn’t quit. Ever."
His dad put a football in his hands in Charlotte when he was in elementary school, and it never left.
As you can imagine, it beat him down, but again he didn't let it define him.
"My mom, she would do her best to comfort me," he said. "She’d tell me to keep my chin up, and she would always remind me that, no matter what anyone tried to say … there was nothing at all wrong with me. She’d do everything she could to boost my confidence. And tell me that tomorrow was another day."
KC Concepcion finds solace in Saturday, Sunday and football
Weekends became Concepcion's nirvana.
"Weekends meant I got to wake up early and go into my stealth mode," he said. "I’d tiptoe down the steps before my mom and my little brothers got up. Then I’d open up the pantry all quiet and pull stuff out and be grabbing different things from the fridge. It’d be like: pancake mix — check, bacon — check, eggs — check, those Pillsbury cinnamon rolls that come in that weird cardboard canister that pops when you open it — check.
"I’d do the pancake mix first, get that all ready. (It’s pretty easy to mess up pancake mix, btw. Especially when you’re like 8 or whatever.) Then I’d put the bacon in the toaster oven. When the bacon was ready, I’d swap in the cinnamon rolls and make the pancakes on the skillet. I’d have another skillet going with scrambled eggs. Then, when I had everything ready, I’d plate it all and trudge back upstairs and yell out to my family…. 'Goooooood morning, everybody!!!!!!!!! It’s that time again!!!!!! Breakfast in bed!!!!! Get it while it’s hot!!!!!!!!'"
Football became his sanctuary.
"When I put on those cleats and that helmet, none of the other stuff followed me out there," he wrote. "Not the overdue bills, not my dad being away, none of it. Out there it was just — what can you do? And what I could do was run.
"I’d basically run wild on whatever team we’d be playing. But since I was the quarterback, I had to be giving the plays to our offense in the huddle. And I remember at one point, when I was really little, I noticed that I’d sometimes have trouble getting the words out, or the numbers. My teammates would be looking at me like…. “Hurry up! Hurry!! Just say it!!!”
If you are a Browns fan and you are not OVER THE MOON about your team picking KC Concepcion, shame on you pic.twitter.com/9gZccJKUEf
KC Concepcion's summer of bliss and fall of frustration
There was a summer when his stutter went away.
Unfortunately, as soon as school started it came back, and it's been there ever since.
"I’d love to tell you I had a bunch of teachers looking out for me, or other grownups at school who would help me deal with all the teasing, but that wasn’t really the case," he said. "There also wasn’t anyone I knew or could look up to who was dealing with anything similar. So I basically just kind of figured things out on my own. And back then, how I would deal with my situation is, a lot of times … I’d basically just not talk. Especially around people I didn’t know. And when I did have to speak up, I learned how to clap back. I had those comebacks ready, man!"
On the field no one cared, so that's where Concepcion concentrated his efforts.
When he saw the high-fives in the crowd and the smile on mom's face, it made him even more determined.
It's also why he has no worries about excelling in Cleveland and becoming the wide receiver the Browns envision.
The role model KC Concepcion intends to be
Concepcion has been fighting his whole life, so let the doubters doubt.
"I know that this letter is supposed to be meant for GMs, but I also know who else might be reading it," he said. "So, to any kid out there who is carrying something heavy right now — a stutter, something that makes you feel different, anything that’s ever made someone look at you sideways … just know this: My success … it is your success, too. I want you to come along on this journey with me. Because you and me? We’re not weird. There is nothing wrong with us. Whatever makes you different — that’s not the thing holding you back. That’s your thing. Own it. Be you, fully. Without apology.
"I had to grow up fast and fight hard to get here, for sure. And I’d do it all again. You can do the same thing and reach whatever goals you set for yourself. I’m living proof of that. Before I get out of here, I do want to say, once again, for all to hear, that I’m the best receiver in this draft. But, at the end of the day, I’m so much more than just a football player. And any team that picks me is going to realize that immediately. So if you’re a GM out there reading this, put me on your team, and let’s get to work.
"You’re not going to regret calling my name. Never. And I mean never.
"Did I stutter?"
Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.comand is on X at @bbournival.
Slot on ticket protest: “The fans are still there to support the team”
Liverpool ticket price protests met with calm response from Arne Slot amid fan tensions
Ticket price protests set weekend backdrop
Supporter unrest is once again part of the matchday narrative at Liverpool FC. Planned demonstrations over rising ticket prices, including a coordinated yellow card protest, are expected to feature prominently.
Arne Slot addressed the situation with measured clarity. Rather than framing it as conflict, he positioned it as a natural aspect of football culture.
“I think as long as I’m in football there are disagreements,” Slot said. It was a pragmatic acknowledgement that differing perspectives exist within any club ecosystem.
Support remains despite disagreement
Crucially, Slot drew a distinction between protest and support. Reflecting on a previous demonstration, he noted that fan backing remained unwavering throughout the match.
“They are still there to support the team,” he said in the original source. This duality defines modern supporter behaviour. Fans can challenge decisions off the pitch while remaining fully committed during the game itself.
For players, that distinction is vital. The atmosphere inside the stadium continues to play a significant role in performance levels, particularly in high-pressure fixtures.
Impact on players and match preparation
From a managerial standpoint, the priority is shielding players from distraction. Slot’s comments suggest confidence that the squad can maintain focus regardless of external noise.
He highlighted the importance of crowd support, especially for individuals stepping into key roles. “A player like him… definitely needs a lot of support from our fans,” he said, referencing potential changes in the starting line-up.
This emphasis underlines a broader truth. Fan energy, whether expressed through protest or encouragement, directly influences matchday dynamics.
Balancing financial realities and fan expectations
Ticket pricing remains a sensitive issue across football. Clubs face increasing financial pressures, while supporters demand accessibility and fairness. The tension between those positions is unlikely to disappear.
Slot’s approach, as outlined in the original source, avoids taking sides. Instead, he frames all parties as acting in the club’s best interests. “We always have the best interest for the club,” he stated.
This neutral stance allows the focus to remain on football. Results, performances, and progression ultimately shape the broader narrative.
For Liverpool, maintaining momentum on the pitch is essential. Continued positive results would help stabilise the environment, even as off-field debates persist.
The upcoming fixture therefore carries significance beyond three points. It is an opportunity to reinforce unity, even amid disagreement.
New Mikel Merino injury update amid World Cup hopes
Another update on the fitness of Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has emerged from Spain, as he races to be fit after his foot surgery.
Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images
Spanish outlet AS reports that Mikel Merino has been seen at Arsenal’s training ground without crutches, and that it’s estimated he’ll be able to run again in two or three weeks.
If there are no setbacks in the player’s recovery, it’s expected that he should be ready for the World Cup.
AS add that Merino had to have a screw inserted in his heel as part of his operation, but the doctors and the player himself are convinced he’ll be fit in time for this summer’s tournament.
Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images
This update follows another recent report from Spain, with Sport claiming it was far from certain that Merino would feature at the World Cup.
Sport added that Spain boss Luis De La Fuente is prepared to wait until the last possible moment to include the player, but there are no guarantees.
It seems AS are more confident, and perhaps their timeline even suggests the player could play for Arsenal before the season is out. But taking the two reports in aggregate, maybe the most realistic outcome is that Merino reaches full fitness just as the club season comes to an end.
Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images
Merino had scored six and assisted three goals for Arsenal before his injury in January, but he’s already missed three months of football since then. It appears likely he’s facing another month out before a potential comeback.
The new F1 season is only three weeks into the campaign but we're now set for an unscheduled month-long break.
Mercedes are the early pace setters so far with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell occupying the top two spots in the drivers' standings.
Across 22 race weekends, six of them including sprint races, fans will follow every twist and turn of the campaign with defending champion Lando Norris yet to get to grips with his new car.
But they'll have to wait a little longer before the season resumes. Here's everything you need to know about when F1 will return.
Why is there an F1 break?
Following the conclusion of the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29, the F1 circuit was set to continue in Bahrain (April 10-12) and Saudi Arabia (April 17-19).
However, in mid-March, F1 announced after "careful evaluations" that it is not safe to hold either race because of the ongoing conflict across the region.
With Iran at war with the US and Israel, safety of those in the Middle East and those travelling to surrounding countries has been the priority. Logistically, it was also proving a headache for teams as equipment and chassis would have needed to travel through the blocked Strait of Hormuz.
Will the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia F1 races be rescheduled?
The races will not be rescheduled or replaced, meaning the F1 season will be reduced to 22 races.
Saudi minister of sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal said the country had been ready to host the event.
"We respect the decision taken by Formula 1 regarding the 2026 race calendar," he said.
"However, Saudi Arabia was fully prepared to host the race once again in Jeddah, building on the success of the five editions we have delivered so far.
"We want the international sporting community to know that the Kingdom remains a trusted partner and destination for global sport."
When is the next F1 race?
With the cancellation of the two races it means there will be a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on 27-29 March and Miami on 1-3 May.
How to watch F1 in 2026 in USA: TV channel, live stream
In the United States, Apple has the exclusive rights to F1 for the 2026 season.
New subscribers to Apple TV can sign up for a 7-day FREE trial. If you've bought an eligible Apple device recently, you can also get up to three months of the streaming service totally free. After that, the subscription will cost $12.99/month.
For the 2026 season, Apple TV will host all Free Practice, Qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix with select races and all Free Practice sessions throughout the season available to watch for free in the Apple TV app.
F1 TV Premium, F1’s own premier content offering, will continue to be available in the US via an Apple TV subscription only and will be free for those who subscribe.
Formula 1 2026 race calendar and schedule
The first race for the season took place in Australia in March.
It will be a 22-round campaign with the United States hosting three races, the most by any nation.
Madrid is the latest addition to the race calendar. Meanwhile, there are six sprint weekends in 2026.
Meanwhile, the Browns addressed two big needs — with tackle Spencer Fano and wide receiver KC Concepcion — in the first round. But with only 32 players off the draft board, the work has just begun for Cleveland and the rest of the NFL. Another 68 players will be drafted on Friday, April 24, when the draft resumes with Rounds 2 and 3.
Day 2 begins at 7 p.m. ET Friday, April 24, covering Rounds 2 and 3. The second round will have seven minutes between selections, then five minutes for round 3.
What channel is the 2026 NFL Draft? TV, live stream
Here's where to watch Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday, April 24:
Livestream: The draft can be streamed on platforms that carry those channels, as well as the ESPN app, the NFL Network app and the NFL app. Plus, Fubo has a free trial for new subscribers.
A moment that can only be described as the absolute pinnacle of embarrassment — the Pittsburgh Steelers were on the phone with top-wide receiver prospect Makai Lemon during the 2026 NFL Draft, ready to make their No. 21 selection without realizing the Philadelphia Eagles traded up to No. 20 for the talented playmaker. And Lemon just confirmed the humiliating draft story.
Following the draft moment, Lemon revealed that he was talking with the Steelers until he realized his phone was still ringing. And sure enough, it was the Eagles ready to make him their 20th overall draft pick after trading with the Dallas Cowboys.
"Yeah, first I answered the phone, and it was the Steelers," Lemon said via NBC Sports. "And then my phone kept ringing. I look, and it's the Eagles. They traded up, and then they were going to pick me. I feel like everything happened for a reason."
The Steelers, having their original selection preference in Lemon stolen out from under them, wound up reaching on Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor with the 21st overall pick.
Pittsburgh's front office had plenty of opportunities to trade up for Lemon throughout the 2026 NFL Draft and have no one to blame but themselves for this disastrous blunder.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
The New York Giants selected the best player on the board when they were on the clock at No. 5 during the first round of the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday night.
Almost every expert to a man chimed in about the steal the Giants had just gotten in Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese. But that wasn't how their star wide receiver, Malik Nabers, saw things, though. He wanted the team to take Reese's teammate, safety Caleb Downs.
Nabers was appearing on a Bleacher Report livestream and was clearly shocked and upset when the Giants selected Reese over Downs.
Although Nabers' question was a legitimate one, it was unprofessional for him to criticize the team publicly. The matter was cleared up shortly after when Giants head coach John Harbaugh said that Reese would start at inside linebacker. He has a position after all.
Nabers wore his emotions on his sleeve again when the Giants passed on Downs at No. 10, selecting Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa. To add to Nabers' misery, the rival Dallas Cowboys traded up to take Downs at No. 11.
"I'd rather get him than play against him. Oh my God," said Nabers. "And the fact that it's like the very next pick, like you guys were up on the clock. I even told him, I said, 'I'm coming to get you.'
"I gotta play against this thing again. He's doing a thing. He's so good. He's a -- oh, he's good, but he's, he's very good. He's very good. I'm -- bro, he's very good. We all got him number 1. He's very good."
Nabers likely received a prompt phone call for his emotional reactions and comments because he sprang to social media in damage control mode.
First off, we have to stop overreacting. I would never intentionally take away from the biggest moment/night of Arvell’s life. Very excited to see him play on the team and happy that we have another dawg on the squad!! #gobigblue
Unfortunately for Nabers, the Internet is forever.
But the reaction among Giants fans has been quite mixed. Some are frustrated with Nabers' commentary, wishing he would think more before he speaks, while others feel his stance was valid. The Giants obviously disagreed with the latter, as his social media commentary hints at a quick phone call from the team's public relations department.
The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t have another blockbuster move on Thursday night as the first round of the NFL draft unfolded.
Those Bengals, as expected, did not trade back up into the first round to compensate for the loss of the 10th overall pick while acquiring Dexter Lawrence via trade.
And looking at the best prospects remaining, that’s probably a good thing. Here’s an updated look at a Bengals seven-round mock draft, starting with Round 2, using the simulator from Pro Football Network.
Round 2 (41): D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
There’s a perception the Bengals must draft a linebacker no matter what in the second round. But Lawrence’s addition in the trenches will really help the guys already on the roster.
More concerning is cornerback, where they have yet to find a nickel starter. D'Angelo Ponds could be that guy as a rookie, which means they would get to keep Dax Hill in his very natural-feeling starter spot on the boundary.
Round 3 (72): Connor Lew, OC, Auburn
Boring? Maybe. But the Bengals need to start thinking about life after Ted Karras. Connor Lew is one of the supposed starting-caliber centers in this year’s class, so he might be able to help right away, if needed. Keep in mind the Bengals’ unexpected cut of Matt Lee recently.
Round 4 (110): Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
Yes, yes, boring. But it’s hard to pass on a guy with experience at left and right tackle right here. Offensive tackle depth is more important than ever. The Bengals’ top swing-tackle backup option is…Cody Ford. Isaiah World might have starter potential eventually, too.
Round 6 (189): Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan
Tight end depth is something the Bengals need to be thinking about in this draft. Mike Gesicki is a big slot guy and Drew Sample is one-dimensional in the other direction as a blocker. Erick All has the injury woes. Marlin Klein is a 6’6” target with some really interesting upside.
Round 6 (199): Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
Like tight end and wideout, the Bengals quietly need some better depth at running back. Adam Randall is notable for his background as a former wideout, which makes him a versatile weapon out of the backfield.
Round 7 (221): Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo
Undersized but massively productive, Red Murdock would be a possible impact player on special teams right away while beefing up the depth at linebacker.
Round 7 (226): Preston Hodge, CB, Colorado
Another shot at cornerback. No such thing as too many of those. Depth is quietly a big need. Preston Hodge could get in the mix in the slot and on special teams.
All four runners completed Couch to 5K to start their running journey [Alicja Jones, Janine Anderson, James Dyer, Sheila Mitchell]
To celebrate 10 years of the NHS Couch to 5K app, we spoke to four runners who started with the programme and are now attempting the 2026 London marathon.
They share their stories behind why they took up running and the inspirations that keep them going, mile after mile.
Sheila: In memory of her daughter
Sheila is running the 2026 London marathon for the NSPCC [Sheila Mitchell]
In 2021, Sheila Mitchell, from North Yorkshire, read an article about strength declining with age.
Her daughters suggested she try Couch to 5K to help counter it.
Previously a regular squash player, Sheila never felt running was for her and admitted she thought it sounded "boring".
But with her daughters' support, she downloaded the app and although at the start running for 30 seconds felt like "forever", it slowly got easier.
Sheila's daughter Holly was living with her at the time and supported her through the programme.
Holly had competed in triathlons, but struggled with her mental health and alcohol addiction.
She died aged 34 in November 2021.
Sheila's daughter Holly competed in triathlons [Sheila Mitchell]
"When we lost Holly, I turned to running," said Sheila, now 68. "It was my lifesaver."
When Sheila took breaks from running, she returned to Couch to 5K to get moving again.
While watching the 2023 London marathon, Sheila decided she wanted to enter, to use her running to raise money in Holly's memory.
Sheila ran her first marathon in 2024 for the Samaritans, aged 66, and loved it so much she signed up for the following year.
Injury meant Sheila had to defer her place, but she will be running the 2026 marathon to raise money for the NSPCC, a charity close to Holly's heart.
She said: "Here I am, running my second marathon. And that's all come from Couch to 5K.
"It's never too late to try."
James: Running with diabetes
James is running the 2026 London marathon for Diabetes UK [James Dyer]
James Dyer, from Biggleswade, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2023. Now 29, he is running his first marathon to raise money for Diabetes UK.
He started Couch to 5K in 2020 to stay fit and get some fresh air.
To start with, he said "the idea of doing a 5K felt really daunting".
However, James learned how to pace his runs using the programme and after completing a 5K Race for Life, decided to push himself further.
After a few unsuccessful London marathon ballot entries, he received an email about charity places and said choosing Diabetes UK was "a no-brainer".
Alicja has now joined her local running club and in 2024 she entered the London marathon to raise money for Breast Cancer Now.
Although the training was hard, she described the race as an incredible experience.
"I didn't think I would be here really, so to be here, running a marathon - what a privilege it is."
London 2026 will be Alicja's second marathon.
Her advice to anyone at the start of their running journey is to begin slow.
She said: "Give yourself time and grace.
"Regardless of pace, it's about being out, meeting people and moving your body."
Janine: A reborn runner
Janine is running the London marathon in memory of her husband, Brendan. [Janine Anderson]
In 2024, Janine Anderson's son finished the London marathon, turned to her and said "now it's your turn".
All three of Janine's children have completed the marathon, raising over £15,000 for Heart Research UK in memory of their father, Brendan, who died from an undiagnosed heart condition in 2013.
Following her son's prompting, Janine, 63, applied for the 2026 London marathon though Heart Research UK in July 2025.
She said: "I haven't run since my early 20s.
"I downloaded the Couch to 5K app and thought 'I've just got to take it little by little'."
Janine's children joined her on some of her runs and, steadily, the running became "a bit addictive".
Once she had finished the initial programme, she added a kilometer each week, building up to a half marathon in December 2025.
"Since I finished Couch to 5K, I've done 750km, in my mish-mash way of doing it," she said.
As someone who has gone from Couch to 5K to a marathon in under a year, Janine's top tip is to download the app.
"I think it would be hard to do on your own, without any support," she said.
"I really liked that it started so small.
"The app was brilliant."
You can download the Couch to 5K app for Apple and Android.
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (OL22) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images | Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
See first-round pick KC Concepcion’s new Browns jersey (Akron Beacon Journal) “Just about everyone assumed the Browns would come out of the first round of the 2026 NFL draft with an offensive tackle and a wide receiver.”
KC Concepcion Fantasy Value With Cleveland Browns (Sharp Football Analysis) “KC Concepcion was just drafted by the Browns. Here’s what the move means for his fantasy value, including role projection, touch share outlook,…”
AC MILAN RENEWS THE MATCHDAY TRADITION WITH THE SUNDAY STADIUM CREW
AC Milan presents the Sunday Stadium Crew, a new capsule collection that reinterprets the matchday tradition that brings together generations and fans from all over the world in a modern way. A ritual that becomes a shared experience, made up of gestures and habits both inside and outside San Siro, strengthening the sense of belonging to the Rossoneri community.
The Sunday Stadium Crew is a line characterised by a soft, contemporary fit, featuring essential and versatile pieces to be worn before, during and after the match: from the crew‑neck sweatshirt in two colourways to the trousers, from the 100% cotton white T‑shirt to coordinated women's tank top and cyclist shorts. A collection designed for the whole family, further enhanced by a Mini Me range dedicated to the youngest fans.
"This capsule collection is for our supporters, who carry their passion for our Club with them every day and at every moment," says Valerio Rocchetti, E-commerce, Retail and Merchandising Director of AC Milan. "The collection further strengthens our brand's positioning as a cultural and lifestyle institution, capable of going beyond the pitch while staying true to its identity."
With the Sunday Stadium Crew, AC Milan becomes the first Italian club to create an apparel collection made from organic cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and FAIRTRADE, underscoring the Club's commitment to best practices in environmental, social and economic sustainability.
The capsule collection is available online at store.acmilan.com and at official stores.
As soon as this year’s NFL draft ends, the attention shifts to Arch Manning.
Manning — Texas Longhorns quarterback and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning — appears poised to be the prize of 2027’s tantalizingly deep QB draft.
And his status as a blue-chip prospect is about much more than his royal (football) bloodlines.
“The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder has impressive physical tools and overcame some early-season processing bumps,” ESPN draft guru Matt Miller wrote of Manning in a recent 2027 lookahead.
“He can dial up velocity on his throws or layer the ball deep over the top, while also showing the strength and agility to be an effective runner. He’ll be regarded as the No. 1 quarterback prospect and perhaps the No. 1 overall player.”
Manning, the son of Cooper Manning, is set to be a redshirt junior. He is entering his second season as Texas’ full-time starter.
Going into last season, many pegged Manning as the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 draft.
But amid that hype, Manning struggled early on in 2025, losing against loaded Ohio State and lowly Florida while throwing five interceptions in his first five games.
Manning’s play improved dramatically as the season went on, and he finished the year with 3,163 passing yards, 26 touchdowns against seven interceptions, 399 rushing yards and 10 more TDs on the ground.
He was at his best in the Longhorns’ Citrus Bowl win over Michigan, passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 155 yards and two scores.
Manning then opted to return to Texas for 2026, even though some analysts believe he would have been the first QB taken in this year’s draft — even over Heisman-winning Fernando Mendoza, who just led Indiana to a national championship.
“I felt like I developed a lot this year, especially toward the back half,” Manning said in December. “I want to keep it going. There’s no reason to leave. I think I’ve got a lot more football left to play, and I’m excited to still be a part of this team.”
Much can change in 12 months, and Manning does technically have another year of NCAA eligibility after his one. But should he go No. 1 overall, Manning would be the third member of his family to be the first pick in an NFL draft.
The Indianapolis Colts took Peyton Manning first overall in 1998, while the San Diego Chargers did the same with Eli Manning in 2004 before trading him that same night to the Giants. Of course, both won two Super Bowls, with Eli spending his entire 16-year career with the Giants.
Arch Manning is much more of a dual threat than his superstar uncles, and by the end of last season, he was among the most productive passers in the country.
He currently headlines a star-powered 2027 QB class that is also expected to include Oregon’s Dante Moore, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers.
This year’s draft is considered much lighter at quarterback — Mendoza is the only QB viewed as a premium prospect — which is why several teams plan to address the position in 2027 rather than in 2026.
With another season of development, Manning could be even more in-demand this time next year.
“He’s a young man who’s gotten better as the season’s gone on, and not only physically, but mentally, maturity-wise,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said in December. “I would think he’s going to want another year of that growth to put himself in position for hopefully a long career in the NFL.”
Carvajal, Brahim start in a 4-3-3 – How Real Madrid can line up against Real Betis
Real Madrid will face off against Real Betis later tonight in La Liga, hoping to keep their slim hopes of a late title push alive.
The Merengues are nine points behind leaders FC Barcelona with six games left to be played in the season. But with the Clasico still to come and the Catalans losing their best player, Lamine Yamal, to an injury, there may be some hope for a turnaround.
Real Madrid go into the game on the back of a 2-1 win over Deportivo Alaves earlier in the week. Having brought an end to a four-game winless run, the Spanish capital giants will be eager to bag three more points tonight at Estadio de La Cartuja.
The last time these two teams met, Real Madrid secured a thumping 5-1 victory over Real Betis, courtesy of a brilliant hat-trick from academy graduate Gonzalo Garcia.
However, manager Alvaro Arbeloa has lost two key players heading into tonight’s match as both Eder Militao and Arda Guler are out for the season with hamstring injuries. Rodrygo Goes and Thibaut Courtois remain unavailable as well.
So, there will at least be a couple of changes to the starting lineup compared to Tuesday night’s game against Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu. With that being said, here’s how Real Madrid could take the field against Manuel Pellegrini’s men.
Defence
With Courtois still not available, Andriy Lunin will continue in the Real Madrid goal. The Ukrainian has failed to keep a single clean sheet so far this season and will be hoping to change that tonight.
A rare start for Dani Carvajal? (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
With Militao getting ruled out, Antonio Rudiger should come into the team at centre-back, where he will partner Dean Huijsen. David Alaba and Raul Asencio, back from his illness, will be options on the bench.
On the left side of the defence, there could be a change with Fran Garcia getting an opportunity ahead of Alvaro Carreras.
Midfield
With Arda Guler missing out, there could be a slight tweak in the Real Madrid midfield in terms of shape, as Arbeloa could revert to a three-man setup and add a forward on the pitch.
Aurelien Tchouameni, who has been one of Real Madrid’s top performers this term, will occupy the deepest position in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham will take up the remaining two positions in midfield, providing attacking impetus to the team from the centre.
Attack
With Guler’s spot vacant, Brahim Diaz is expected to get the nod against Real Betis, given his solid showings in recent weeks. The Moroccan international ought to take up the right flank for Real Madrid at Estadio de La Cartuja.
Kylian Mbappe, set to make his 100th appearance for Real Madrid, will operate as the centre-forward, while Vinicius Jr. will take up his customary role on the left wing.
The likes of Gonzalo Garcia and Franco Mastantuono will hope to get some minutes off the bench.
Matt Fitzpatrick entered the Zurich Classic with his brother, Alex, as the favorites.
No one has won on the PGA Tour more than Fitzpatrick this season, and he entered New Orleans off the back of a playoff win over Scottie Scheffler at the RBC Heritage.
The Zurich is of great significance for the Fitzpatricks, as a win would give Alex, who currently plays on the DP World Tour, a two-year exemption on the PGA. So Matt, the world number three, desperately wanted to play well.
Their opening round did not go to plan. They are in T30, six strokes behind the leaders. And Matt Fitzpatrick was incredibly frustrated by the way they ended their round.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick frustrated by opening round of the Zurich Classic
Round one of the Zurich Classic was a fourball format, where birdies were essentially pars. A lightning pace was set in the early window, as Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer finished 14-under.
The Fitzpatrick brothers couldn’t match that pace early, going one-under through four, and despite picking up form on the back nine, they inexplicably bogeyed the par five 18th to fall back to eight under.
That wasn’t good enough, according to Matt Fitzpatrick, who shared his thoughts on the round afterward: “I felt like it was a little slow to start with. We didn’t have enough balls on the green, early balls on the front nine to give ourselves chances. I thought we did a bad job on the back.
“I’ve holed two long and lucky putts really on sort of 16, 17 there, which is a nice bonus, but would have been nice to take an advantage on 18 and make a birdie.
“Yeah, really disappointing way to end with two balls in perfect position. It’s not good enough, really.”
Alex Fitzpatrick added, “Yeah, he hit the nail on the head. Obviously frustrated. The two putts kind of helped us get to nine. I kind of didn’t feel like I had my game today, so it was nice that he kind of played well and kind of carried us a little bit there.
“Yeah, overall frustrated. To do what I did on the last, there’s so much green to the left and a lot of grass over there. You know, to hit the shot I did was, yeah, not good enough. Hopefully, come out firing tomorrow and see what we’ve got.”
What a win at the Zurich Classic would give Alex Fitzpatrick
He’s a recent DP World Tour winner, but a win at the Zurich Classic would change everything for Alex Fitzpatrick.
Not only would he receive a two-year exemption for the PGA Tour and be able to enter fields alongside his brother, but he would also get entry to every single signature event for the rest of the year. These events have a $20 million purse and no cut, making them priceless opportunities for players.
And in addition to that, Fitzpatrick would also receive entry to the upcoming PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club. He only has one major appearance in his career, an impressive T17 at The Open Championship, so a win in New Orleans would present some incredible opportunities.
After their opening round, the Fitzpatricks have a lot of work to do, so hopefully they can regain some ground in Friday’s alternate-shot.
After dropping their series with the New York Mets, the Minnesota Twins turn to face the Tampa Bay Rays. Before their three-game series with the Rays, the Twins are getting back one of the core members in their bullpen.
Left-hander Kody Funderburk returns to reinforce the Minnesota Twins' bullpen
According to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes, left-hander Kody Funderburk will return to the Twins bullpen on Friday. The 29-year-old was placed on the paternity list on Tuesday and has a 1-1 record and a 2.00 ERA in 12 games.
To clear a space for Funderburk on the active roster, left-hander Kendry Rojas was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul. Rojas was added to the roster when Funderburk went on paternity leave and pitched two innings and walked three in the Twins' 3-2 loss to the Mets on Wednesday.
The move to option Rojas makes sense, as he will be able to build himself up to join the starting rotation if needed. Right-hander Mick Abel landed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation, and the Twins need someone to replace him.
Left-hander Connor Prielipp would be an option, as he, too, was recalled to join the Twins on Wednesday. Prielipp threw four innings in the loss on Wednesday, allowing two earned runs and striking out six.
Abel’s spot in the rotation will come up on Monday against the Seattle Mariners. Pitching on Wednesday would put Prielipp to start.
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow blanked the San Francisco Giants in a masterful performance on Thursday. The former All-Star (2024) threw eight shutout innings, allowing one hit, a walk, and striking out nine.
Glasnow’s impressive performance was due to his curveball/knuckle-curveball being on point. Six of Glasnow’s nine strikeouts came on the curveball.
Los Angeles Dodgers Tyler Glasnow uses two different types of curveballs depending on the situation
“I think early on, trying to throw for strikes, to throw a little slower, like spike it, and then when I want to put a guy away with it, I'll just keep both fingers on it, just try to throw it hard,” Glasnow said postgame to SportsNet LA. “But I think that got a little better as the game went on, as a little inconsistent, but I had good feel with it overall.”
Out of 84 knuckle-curveballs Glasnow has thrown, hitters are batting .160 with a .360 slugging percentage and have struck out 10 times against it. On his normal curveball (31 pitches), hitters have not gotten a hit and struck out seven times.
Glasnow’s usage rate of his breaking pitch has shifted dramatically from last season to this season. In 2025, Glasnow used his breaking ball 22% of the time, while he’s upped it to 30% this season. Using his curveballs as much as his four-seam fastball (37%) seems to be an effective mix for Glasnow.
Overall, Glasnow is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA and has struck out 33 in 33.0 innings. This hot start by Glasnow and the effective use of his curveball/knuckle-curveball could have him pitching in the Mid Summer Classic this summer.
Despite winning two straight games, the New York Mets haven’t received much production from infielder Bo Bichette. A two-time All-Star (2021 and 2023), Bichette has not lived up to the three-year ($126 million) contract he signed in the offseason.
Bo Bichette has not lived up to his contract with the New York Mets thus far
In his first 25 games as a Met, Bichette is hitting .238 with a .584 OPS and one home run. Not known for his strikeouts, Bichette is striking out at a high rate, 22.6%, which is above his career average of 19.5%.
Out of the norm for Bichette, who is a career .292 hitter, the 28-year-old said after Thursday’s win that he needs to “make adjustments and get to the player I need to be at."
"The desire to help a new team, the desire to perform at the level you know you can perform at,” Bichette said to SNY. “I don't know if any of that was weighing on me. Still need to get better, make adjustments and get to the player I need to be at"
This is Bichette’s second season in three years where he’s struggled out of the gate. In 2024, Bichette hit .219 with a .589 OPS and one home run in 25 games in April.
That season proved to be an injury-riddled season for Bichette, limiting him to 81 games. 2024 was also the first season Bichette really struggled, batting .225 with a .598 OPS.
With shortstop Francisco Lindor expected to miss a chunk of time with a calf injury, the Mets need Bichette to step up his production.
But Slot did not provide assurances over the Brazilian’s long-term future at Anfield as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract and amid reports he could move away this summer.
Alisson has been sidelined since Liverpool’s Champions League win over Galatasaray last month while an injury to Giorgi Mamardashvili means third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman may be required on Saturday.
Mamardashvili suffered a nasty cut during the win at Everton last weekend, which forced Liverpool to hand Woodman his Premier League debut for the club as a second-half replacement.
“Giorgi will definitely not be available for tomorrow and also for the upcoming weeks. Ali is close to a return of play, so let’s see if tomorrow comes too early,” Slot said.
Liverpool recently triggered a one-year extension to Alisson’s contract until 2027 but reports surfacing from Italy have suggested Juventus could target the Brazil international this summer.
“I am only focused on the short-term future and that is getting him back into goal as soon as possible,” Slot said. “The answer is going to be that all these rumours that are out there about him and about probably me and about others, we don’t react to rumours in this room, also not in my conversations with Richard [Hughes, the sporting director].
“We only react when facts need to be told and that is not the situation at the moment. The main focus for Ali is very clear, that is getting back in goal as soon as possible for the club he loves to play for and then he wants to be in goal for the country he wants to play for, that is Brazil. I think that is already the short and mid-term future.”
Two permanent managers, two underwhelming transfer windows, intense fan unrest, and the return, exit and return again of Martin O'Neill.
Yet, in a month's time, Celtic could be celebrating a league and cup double after one of the most turbulent seasons in their recent history.
The Parkhead side's sprint to the finish begins with the visit of Falkirk on Saturday, kicking off their post-split Premiership schedule, before concluding with a Scottish Cup final against Neil Lennon's Dunfermline next month.
O'Neill's men go into their final five league fixtures in third place, just three points behind leaders Hearts. However, their below-par performances have led pundits such as Chris Sutton to believe they have no chance of retaining their crown.
That view was likely shared by the entire fanbase when St Mirren fought back from two down at Hampden to take Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final to extra time.
But a four-goal blitz in the space of just six minutes sealed a 6-2 victory for Celtic, and suddenly a campaign that has felt cursed is refuelled with hope.
Since O'Neill's return following the dismal reign of Wilfried Nancy, the team have simply been getting by, relying on multiple late winners.
Luck ran dry on the sandy Tannadice pitch a month ago when Celtic slumped to an abject 2-0 defeat against Dundee United - a result that felt like the end their title challenge. However, back-to-back wins since then have kept them in touch.
Sutton says his former side will have to be perfect to win the title. To achieve that, their unconvincing displays will surely have to improve against a high-standard top six, with crucial home clashes against Rangers and Hearts to come, as well as trips to Hibernian and Motherwell.
Although league titles have often been all but wrapped up by this stage in recent campaigns, the fact only one Celtic side have managed to win all their post-split fixtures in the past five years highlights the size of the challenge.
And when you factor in that the overall calibre of the top half is at its highest level in a number of seasons, while the reigning champions' level has dropped, the task only becomes more difficult.
But much of Celtic's squad and their manager are made of the right stuff when it comes to the mental aspect of a title fight.
After a potentially morale-boosting extra-time period on Sunday, this weekend will provide a clearer picture of their credentials.
A backup plan emerges for Manchester City in their hunt for midfield reinforcements
The midfield is one area that Manchester City will look to strengthen this summer. With Bernardo Silva set to leave the club, and question marks surrounding the futures of players such as Mateo Kovacic, Tijjani Reijnders, and Nico, it is easy to see why City will look to bolster their engine room this summer. Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson appears to be City’s top midfield target entering the summer transfer window. There is no doubt that City will have a list of midfielders they have their eyes on in case a move for Elliot Anderson doesn’t materialize.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has been mentioned as a player whom City admire. The Argentinian midfielder is a proven commodity in the Premier League and seems well-suited to life at Manchester City.
Manchester City are reportedly considering a move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Sam Lee, Mario Cortegana, and Laurie Whitwell have reported for The Athletic that Manchester City are considering Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as a potential transfer target for this summer. Furthermore, it is reported that City’s interest in the World Cup winner is at an early stage. It is also reported by The Athletic that City are exploring moves for other midfielders such as Elliot Anderson.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also reported on Manchester City’s interest in a summer move for Enzo Fernandez. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “Enzo Fernandez has been discussed internally at Manchester City, but they have different other top targets like Anderson, and Tonali is appreciated. They made checks on Enzo before. No negotiations; if they miss out on other targets, they might look at him as an opportunity.”
Enzo Fernandez is quality midfielder in his own right, but a move to City may be hard to pull off.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is a proven commodity as a player. During his time at Chelsea, Fernandez has shown that he is one of the elite midfielders in the Premier League. The Argentinian midfielder can operate as a number six or an eight, and he is superb at dictating matches from midfield. Enzo Fernandez reads the game well out of possession, and like all Argentinian players, he is tough in a challenge and feisty when required. Also, Fernandez is a goal threat when arriving late in the opponent’s penalty area. The strengths of Enzo Fernandez as a player are well-known. Given that he is an elite midfielder, it isn’t a surprise to discover that City have an early interest in the Chelsea midfielder.
However, if Manchester City did decide to move for Enzo Fernandez, it is a move that wouldn’t come cheap. Chelsea will not want to lose such an influential player as they continue the rebuild of their squad. Chelsea’s hand may be forced if Enzo Fernandez does pursue a summer exit from Chelsea. Even then, Chelsea will demand a kings ransom to sell Enzo Fernandez. For now, it seems that City are focused on a move for Elliot Anderson, and it is hard to see City spending large sums on two midfielders this summer. In my opinion, City would only move for Enzo Fernandez if a City move for Elliot Anderson doesn’t come together.
Enzo Fernandez is the latest midfielder to be named as a potential Manchester City transfer target. Enzo Fernandez is a fine player, but for now, the World Cup winner seems to be a player City like rather than one they seem certain to move for.
Liverpool fans put on red alert after big morning Anthony Gordon transfer update from Christian Falk
Anthony Gordon is a ‘concrete’ option of Bayern’s transfer shortlist this summer, reports Christian Falk.
The Newcastle United winger is understood to be attracting serious attention from clubs across Europe.
That’s due in no small part to the Premier League-based outfit facing increased pressure under Financial Fair Play rules.
Anthony Gordon could leave Newcastle this summer
Gordon has reportedly ‘signalled’ that he could make the move over to the German top-flight amid links with FC Bayern.
However, the potential money involved in the transfer could prevent the Bundesliga champions from sealing a deal.
“It is TRUE: Anthony Gordon is highly-rated on Bayern’s shortlist. Now, there will be talks about money, so it’s very concrete!” Falk exclusively informed CF Bayern Insider.
“Gordon signalled that he could make a move to the Bundesliga, so I think perhaps this is partly Harry Kane’s doing. Normally, English national players rarely come to the German top-flight.
“That all said, the transfer fee Newcastle end up demanding for the winger could harm Bayern’s hopes of signing Anthony Gordon. There were many rumours of an €80m [£69.3m] fee. The Times now suggest it’s actually closer to €75m [£65m]. I think this would be too expensive for Bayern Munich.”
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However, ultimately, they will be prepared to consider cheaper alternatives. Even if it means the Bavarians can only bring in an out-and-out left-sided winger as backup to Luis Diaz, instead of a versatile attacking option.
Gordon may have to push for Bayern move
Christian Falk went on to add: “Of course, there’s always the possibility that if Anthony Gordon pushes for a move to Bayern and Bayern only, then perhaps Newcastle could be encouraged to lower the asking price.
“As things stand, Bayern Munich are in a good place with Luis Diaz, Harry Kane and Michael Olise, and with Jamal Musiala behind them. These are all positions Gordon can play, although he would be another option, so spending too much money would be difficult for FC Bayern.”
Signing Gordon would afford Vincent Kompany and his coaching staff a great deal of wiggle room with the starting-XI options.
However, if push came to shove, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Bayern Munich have, perhaps, the strongest forward line in Europe.
* Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz’s stats across all competitions in the 2025/26 season
The England international would no doubt improve matters in Munich.
But it’s not necessarily the end of the world if Bayern’s recruitment team is instead forced to pursue options they’d need to spend time developing.
Alisson Becker to be sold after Liverpool's bold move
Liverpool have given the surest sign yet that Alisson Becker will be sold. The Reds have made a bold move.
Moving to sign anyone from Manchester City is a bold move. Liverpool have rivalled them for the title plenty of times over the years - you typically don't see the club's swap players and risk boosting their rival.
And so it's interesting that Liverpool have made an initial move to sign James Trafford. Goal report that they've expressed their interest in the goalkeeper who looks set to leave this summer.
Trafford only signed for City ahead of this season but they would go on to complete a deal for Gianluigi Donnarumma at the deadline. That ripped away Trafford's no.1 spot and it means he's looking to move on in the summer.
Liverpool's interest is particularly interesting as it comes at a time when Alisson Becker is heavily linked with a move to Juventus. It certainly appears that the Reds are entering the market for a new goalkeeper - something that only makes sense if the Brazilian departs.
The Reds triggered a one-year extension on his contract to keep him until 2027. However, it now looks as though that was simply to guarantee a transfer fee for him when he departs later this year.
The end of the road, then.
Alisson Becker: Situation Summary
Season Stats and Injury Update
As of 23 April 2026, Alisson Becker has made 25 Premier League appearances this season, recording eight clean sheets and an 81% pass completion rate. He has also kept four clean sheets in six Champions League matches. However, the 33-year-old is currently recovering from his second hamstring injury of the campaign. Reports suggest he is targeting a return for the fixture against Manchester United on 3 May, with Freddie Woodman expected to deputise this weekend.
Contract and Juventus Agreement
Despite Liverpool recently triggering a one-year extension to keep him at Anfield until June 2027, Alisson’s departure appears imminent. As of late April, reports indicate he has reached a verbal agreement to join Juventus this summer. Liverpool have reportedly set a €15 million asking price, though negotiations continue regarding Juventus's ability to match his €8 million annual salary.
International Standing
Alisson remains Brazil’s undisputed number one under Carlo Ancelotti. Despite his recent injury lay-off, he has confirmed he will be in "full playing condition" for the 2026 World Cup this June, where he is set to lead the Seleção.
Former England captain Owen Farrell has added to the hype around teenage sensation Noah Caluori, praising his confidence and physical prowess on show in an astonishing breakout season.
The 19-year-old scored five tries against Sale twice this season - on his first Prem start for Saracens in the fixture last October, and again this weekend as Saracens ran rampant in a 85-19 win, a record victory for the club in this division.
The winger’s exploits handed Mark McCall’s side a lifeline in their bid to reach the Prem play-offs and made his case for inclusion in the senior England squad this summer. McCall: “I think that’s one of the better wing performances in the Premiership that I have seen to be honest, for a long time, and I have seen a lot.
“We have had Ashy [Chris Ashton], Sean Maitland and David Strettle at the club, but I am not sure I have seen as much from one player in one game, albeit it was a game that blew out.”
Farrell has now added his name to the list of Caluori’s admirers, telling The Telegraph: “Everyone sees all the high-ball stuff and his finishing, but he has at times done an unbelievable job coming off his wing and taking some tough carries as well.
“The highlighted bits that everyone sees are not just the only thing that he does. He is big and strong as well, and he makes a difference all over the field.”
Caluori has 17 Prem tries this season from just six starts, and clearly outshone Tom Roebuck, England’s current right wing, in the latest victory over Sale.
His rise has been all the more remarkable given just three weeks prior, the teenager - an England under-20 international - was on loan at Ampthill in the Champ.
Farrell highlighted his confidence and willingness to improve as key attributes, adding: “He’s obviously special. When he speaks, he knows he wants to get better. He knows he has to, he knows he wants to learn more and he wants to do it as quickly as possible. But he’s great in terms of how much he backs himself at the same time, I would have never been like that when I was younger.”
Farrell also dismissed talk of his own possible return to the England set-up, saying: “I’ve not given it a lot of thought, and I don’t know if I need to do anything different other than what I am doing anyway, which is just trying to get on and be the best that I can be and the best help I can be around here.
“It [the World Cup] is a long way off at the minute. I know everybody wants to talk about it and rightly so, but I just want to crack on with what I am doing.”
Halliday was the full-back's team-mate in over 100 games and also believes the 34-year-old's impact at the club won't be properly appreciated until he has left.
"I think there's no better way to end an 11-year career at Rangers than by lifting the trophy as a captain at the end of the season," Halliday said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"I'm sure Hearts and Celtic have loads to say about that.
"It's always really surprised me how kind of split the Rangers fans' opinion over James Tavernier is.
"Over the 11 years, he's arguably been the best player in the majority of the seasons and I feel as if they had more James Taverniers in those seasons, Rangers would have won a lot more trophies than they did.
"The fact of the matter is, I feel as if he's almost critiqued due to team success rather than what he's been like as a player.
"But he's been an incredible servant, over 550 games, 150 goals as a right-back, taking the club to the Europa League final as captain, finishing the Europa League as top goalscorer in the tournament.
"Obviously, the real kind of negative for him is the fact that he feels as if, as a captain, he's probably not won enough at Rangers."
Despite Tavernier having started less frequently this season, Halliday points out: "He's got 20 goal contributions.
"So he still had such an impact on the pitch any time he's played.
"I remember Connor Goldson saying this years ago when Rangers won the League Cup final, and fans talked about it, but I think it's so true that Rangers fans won't appreciate James Tavernier until he's gone.
"I think in five years' time, when you look back at what he'd done at Rangers, then you really start to see a lot of positive messages about him."
NEW DELHI: A deeply emotional night at the Wankhede Stadium saw Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad dedicate his side’s emphatic 103-run win over Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 to teammate Mukesh Choudhary, who played despite the recent passing of his mother.
The CSK players wore black armbands in tribute, turning a dominant performance into a poignant moment of solidarity and resilience.
‘Hats off to him’: Gaikwad on Mukesh’s courage
Gaikwad was visibly moved as he spoke about Mukesh’s effort under difficult circumstances.
“Pretty tough on him. Hats off to him, coming in that situation, it takes a lot mentally. He came back for the team, for the franchise, because he knew we needed him. All glory to him. We all wanted to be there for him and chipped away for him,” he said.
He reiterated the emotional weight behind the victory, adding, “Pretty tough on him (Mukesh Choudhary), I would dedicate this win to him. All glory to him. Everyone chipped in and wanted to be there for him.”
Mukesh responded with a disciplined spell of 1/31, striking early to remove Quinton de Kock and setting the tone for CSK’s dominance.
‘We are starting to click’: CSK captain on team effort
The victory itself was built on a complete team performance. Gaikwad revealed that the decision to bat first was instinctive.
“Feels good. I was still 50-50 at the toss. My gut feeling was saying we should bat first because it was a bit green but also a bit dry. We had to assess in the first couple of overs. Sanju and I said it's not coming on nicely, so anywhere around 200 would be good,” he explained.
That assessment proved spot on as Sanju Samson smashed a “magnificent” unbeaten 101 to power CSK to 207/6.
“Sanju also played a magnificent knock. He's been in fantastic touch. Everyone chipped in really well… even the 20s helped,” Gaikwad said.
He also praised the bowling unit, adding, “And then Akeal and Noor did well. Our bowling was improving from our earlier games. I feel we are just starting to click.”
Spinners Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad led the charge as Mumbai were bundled out for 104.
Michael Carrick enjoyed a strong start to life as Manchester United interim manager, but now, the pressure is on to deliver Champions League qualification over their remaining games.
Carrick has since done an effective job in steadying the ship and steering United towards the top five. They sit third in the standings ahead of this weekend, with an eight-point gap to Brighton in sixth, who have played a game more. However, last week's narrow win at Chelsea was part of a potentially tough run of matches that includes the visits of Brentford and Liverpool to Old Trafford in the space of a week.
Here is how their injury list looks, when they can expect players to be back, and what their predicted lineup looks like for their next game.
Below is the latest injury picture for Man United, and estimated return dates for those who are sidelined.
Leny Yoro
Injury: Knock
Expected return date: April 27 (vs. Brentford)
Yoro sustained a knock in training last week that kept him out of the Chelsea win. Carrick said there was "a possibility" of the defender being available for Brentford when he spoke to the media four days before the game, but there is no guarantee.
Matthijs de Ligt
Injury: Lower back
Expected return date: Uncertain
De Ligt has not featured since the reverse fixture at Palace at the end of November. Carrick has insisted for a few weeks that the player is "getting there", but the back issue is proving difficult to overcome. United posted an update on April 23 showing the centre-back working with a ball on the training pitches, so there are signs that his recovery is progressing.
Patrick Dorgu
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return date: May 3 (vs. Liverpool)
Dorgu suffered a hamstring injury during the second half of the win at Arsenal, in which he scored a spectacular goal. The Athletic reported on January 27 that the winger could be out for up to 10 weeks. Carrick later confirmed it would be at least "a few weeks," although he would not speculate on a precise time frame. Dorgu returned to individual training on the pitch in the opening days of April, and while Carrick is happy with his recovery, the player is not expected back just yet.
Man United suspension list
Harry Maguire
Suspension length: Two games (red card, improper conduct)
Expected return date: April 27 (vs. Brentford)
Maguire was shown a straight red card against Bournemouth after being judged to have pulled Evanilson to the ground and denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Such an offence carries a one-game ban as it was not serious foul play, causing him to miss the Leeds game. However, Maguire was then hit with an improper conduct charge, which meant he was also suspended for the Chelsea match.
Lisandro Martinez
Suspension length: Three games
Expected return date: May 9 (vs. Sunderland)
Martinez was shown a red card for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair in the loss to Leeds, with the offence considered violent conduct under the rules. That means he must serve a three-match ban and miss the matches against Chelsea, Brentford, and Liverpool.
Man United predicted lineup vs. Brentford
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Lammens (GK)
Dalot, Mazraoui, Heaven, Shaw
Casemiro, Mainoo
Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha
Sesko
Man United fixture schedule: Next five games
Man United vs. Brentford | Premier League | Monday, April 27
Man United vs. Liverpool | Premier League | Saturday, May 2
Sunderland vs. Man United | Premier League | Saturday, May 9
Man United vs. Nottingham Forest | Premier League | Sunday, May 17
Brighton vs. Man United | Premier League | Sunday, May 24
Top-flight German football is being shown live on the BBC this season after rights were secured to broadcast Friday night Bundesliga matches through to 2027.
The coverage continues on Friday, 24 April when Marie-Louise Eta seeks her first win as Union Berlin head coach as her side travels to Champions League chasing RB Leipzig.
Matches will be available to watch live on the BBC Sport website, app and on BBC iPlayer every Friday, with clips of the biggest in-game moments across BBC Sport's social media channels.
Who's playing this week
Union Berlin are seeking their first win under new head coach Marie-Louise Eta [Getty Images]
RB Leipzig are in some very good form, having only lost three of their 15 Bundesliga matches in 2026. With four wins on the bounce, the Red Bulls sit third in the table, with five points separating them and fifth placed Hoffenheim who will be looking to take one of the Champions League places for the 2026/27 season.
Leipzig have regained their confidence after an inconsistent Winter period. Wins against some of Germany's elite, including a 5-0 home win against Hoffenheim and a 3-1 away win last time out against Eintracht Frankfurt has put them in a strong position to secure Champions League football again after missing out last season for the first time in seven years.
Union Berlin will be looking to new head coach Marie-Louise Eta to turn their season around, who have been in poor form since the start of the 2026. Since the start of the year, Union have only won two of their 15 Bundesliga matches and gained 11 points, which has seen them slip to 11th in the table and five points separating them and St. Pauli in the relegation play-off position.
Eta didn't get off to the start she would have wanted, losing 2-1 at home to Wolfsburg in her first match in charge, and a bounce back against in-form RB Leipzig may be a hard ask from her players. However, Eta will take faith in the fact Union Berlin have shown their resilience against some of Germany's strongest sides, picking up 8 points against the league's current top four, including wins over RB Leipzig and Stuttgart.
This match has been played out 18 times, with a near even split between the two sides. Leipzig have come away with all three points on eight occasions whereas Union Berlin have won this fixture seven times. Should Union Berlin win on Friday night, it will only be the second time they have done the league double over Leipzig, after winning 3-1 earlier in the season.
Upcoming fixtures on BBC
List of confirmed fixtures and dates with more to be announced in due course:
FOXBOROUGH, Mass — Immediately after the New England Patriots selected Utah's Caleb Lomu, the offensive tackle received a message from a current player on his new team.
And it was one he will be working very closely with.
"Will Campbell already sent me a text," Lomu told reporters on a video call on Thursday night. "I haven't been able to respond yet, but I love that. Being able to come into a room, they just drafted him last year."
So, did the two know each other before this?
"Will Campbell? No, we didn't know each other before," Lomu explained. "He was probably the first person to text me when I looked at my phone after, then it kind of started to blow up a little bit. But I've never talked to him before.
"I do follow him on social media, and I've always followed his journey from college. So, the fact I'm able to go to work with him now is, it's amazing. But we didn't know each other beforehand."
But that didn't stop Campbell who was beyond excited to get another protector in the room.
"I actually didn't read the whole thing, but it was kind of just on my page, but it said just ‘Congratulations, can't wait to work with you," Lomu said. "So, I'm excited to be able to reply to that and text him back."
But, that wasn't all. Campbell also shared a post on his Instagram story, celebrating the team's pick while writing, "let's get it @caleblomu."
The Washington Commanders made Styles their 2026 first-round choice at No. 7 on Thursday night. The former Ohio State Buckeye had been mocked to be selected in the top five, but fell to the Commanders at No. 7 when the Kansas City Chiefs traded up with Cleveland, passing the Commanders to draft the highest-rated corner, Monsoor Delane.
Here are some interesting facts about the newest Commander's linebacker selected Thursday by GM Adam Peters.
Styles vaulted up draft boards with his eyebrow-raising Combine performance. At 6’5 | 244 pounds, Styles recorded an 11'2" broad jump (T-4th all-time)* 43.5" vertical jump (1st all-time)* 4.46 40-yard dash. Some referred to Styles as the top player in the class.
The Ohio State linebacker recorded 83 Tackles, one QB sack, 1 forced fumble, and one interception during the 2025 regular season.
Styles' career stats at Ohio State were: 245 tackles, passes defended 9, sacks 9, forced fumbles 3, interceptions 1
Styles was an Ohio State safety and has transitioned up to linebacker, still learning the position.
Styles may be the ultimate illustration of GM Adam Peters' declaration that the Commanders needed to get younger and faster.
DC Daronte Jones has suddenly obtained in his first off season linebackers Leo Chenal and Sonny Styles, perhaps the two most athletic linebacker teammates. Chenal ranked 3rd all-time in the RAS metric and Styles first.
In March, NFL Draft Files tweeted: Sonny Styles is my #1 overall player in the 2026 NFL Draft He put up a 9.99 RAS, but his film is so good that athletic testing feels like an afterthought. He is the only blue chip prospect in this year’s class:
Sonny Styles was quite the high school basketball player in Ohio.
Intel says that optimisation is critical for modern PC games – Software is holding back hardware Intel’s Robert Hallock has been discussing PC game optimisation and its impact on modern CPU performance. He argues that software optimisation plays a much larger role than it did before, and that PC gamers underestimate its impact. In an […]
Copilot Keyboard launches in Japan with AI‑powered text suggestions, Copilot Search, and the surprise return of Kyle the dolphin from Microsoft Office 97.
World of Warcraft is the most popular subscription based MMORPG in history owing to the absolute mountain of content it receieves in exchange for the monthly fee. Lately, though, it feels increasingly like Blizzard has spread itself thin.
Intel posted strong Q1 2026 earnings results, indicating improvements across multiple verticals, from Intel Products to Intel Foundry divisions. Both groups experienced operational enhancements, but Intel Foundry achieved a significant milestone: yield improvement across all major foundry nodes currently in high-volume manufacturing. This includes Intel 4, Intel 3, and 18A nodes, which power the majority of Intel's product portfolio. In the latest Q1 2026 earnings call, Intel CFO David Zinsner noted that the company continues to improve yields on its older nodes, such as Intel 4 and Intel 3, while refining the yield of the current top-performing 18A node to reduce waste and increase the number of functional chips, even in larger dies.
David Zinsner, Intel CFOIntel Foundry operating loss in Q1 was $2.4 billion, improved $72 million quarter-over-quarter as better yields across Intel 4, Intel 3, and 18A drove higher gross margins. This was mostly offset by increased operating expenses associated with an intentional step-up in Intel 14A investments to support both internal and external customer evaluations. As a reminder, Intel Foundry carries the bulk of the cost associated with the early ramp of Intel 18A, and we expect Intel Foundry's operating loss to improve through the year as 18A continues to ramp into volume and yields improve further. Within the quarter, Intel Foundry delivered output above our expectations, drove steady improvements in yields, and met key 14A milestones.
Until the PlayStation 5 era, Sony’s strategy was focused on delivering first-party games that stayed on the console to drive hardware sales. However, in a new interview with Back Pocket conducted during ALT. Games, where he also detailed how his 11-year PlayStation Studios run ended with Jim Ryan firing him, former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida revealed that the change in strategy was essentially forced by increasing AAA budgets, and actually helped the development of all first-party titles. “When I was working on the game development side, first-party at PlayStation, from the strategy standpoint, we are not allowed to bring our […]
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Mironik is an AI website builder that generates complex sites in seconds while giving you pixel-perfect visual control. It outputs clean, developer-friendly code using native Flexbox and CSS Grid, and maps your prompts directly into functional components like accordions and tables. Once you finish refining, deploy instantly on enterprise-grade infrastructure with built-in Stripe and OpenAI integrations.
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Qualcomm posted a video on X recapping every Samsung flagship that ran on Snapdragon, which ends up teasing the potential Galaxy S27 Ultra chipset.
Sixteen years is a long time in this industry, and Qualcomm knows it. The video posted by the chipmaker ends with the words, “and there’s so much more to come.”
Samsung has been playing chipset politics for years.
The Galaxy S26 series brought Exynos back to the lineup after a brief exile, though the company kept Snapdragon inside the S26 Ultra. Smart move, given how badly some Exynos launches have gone historically.
With whispers circulating that Samsung could eventually push its in-house silicon into every slot across the S series, Qualcomm clearly felt it was time to speak up, and it chose nostalgia as the weapon.
Earlier reports already pointed toward Samsung using the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, internally tagged as the SM8975, inside the Galaxy S27 Ultra. Samsung won’t unveil the S27 series until early next year, so there’s still runway for plans to shift.
The US chip designer is apparently preparing two variants of its next flagship chip, and the Pro version looks like Samsung’s pick for its top-tier model.
Qualcomm’s posting video at this moment isn’t random. These companies don’t post retrospective timelines out of sentiment. They post them to apply pressure, to signal confidence, to remind a partner publicly that leaving would be a story.
The Ultra has always been where Samsung puts its best foot forward. Qualcomm wants to make sure that the foot is wearing its chip.
Garmin is rolling out a new update for already well-equipped wearables. The update is designed to address various issues and enhance the overall user experience.
Threat group UNC6692 is using Microsoft Teams IT impersonation and mass email bombing to deploy the SNOW malware toolkit and steal credentials from enterprise networks.
XRP price outlook is turning bullish as spot demand continues to expand, with price holding firmly above its demand zone, reinforcing a structure that is now tilting toward bullish continuation. While cumulative spot CVD has climbed to $1.39 billion, Binance perpetual CVD has dropped near -$392 million, reflecting growing short exposure across derivatives. Meanwhile, the coin price is holding steady near $1.43, with no signs of structural weakness.
As demand continues to absorb supply and short positioning builds, the divergence is no longer passive, it is shaping into a directional imbalance. With pressure building beneath resistance and support holding firm, the XRP price setup now hinges on a break higher, bringing $2 into focus.
Spot Demand Climbs While Shorts Lean In: Imbalance Starts to Build
While spot buyers continue to accumulate, derivatives traders are increasingly positioning against the move. As spot CVD has added over $300 million in recent weeks, real demand remains consistent across exchanges. Meanwhile, Binance perpetual CVD continues to trend deeper into negative territory, reflecting growing short exposure.
With long liquidations already clearing excess leverage earlier in the cycle, the market is no longer crowded on the bullish side. As funding conditions stabilize, positioning is shifting toward a healthier balance. This divergence is constructive. With demand strengthening and shorts building exposure, the market is forming conditions that typically support continuation rather than rejection.
From Demand Base to Breakout Pressure: XRP Price Structure Starts to Turn
Following the extended decline within the descending channel, XRP established a base near the $1.30–$1.35 demand zone, where accumulation began to take shape. While the channel structure initially dictated direction, repeated support holds within this region confirmed that selling pressure was being absorbed. Meanwhile, price compression near the lower range signaled a gradual shift away from continuation lower.
As accumulation progressed, XRP transitioned into a tightening range beneath resistance, steadily building pressure toward breakout. With the latest move, XRP price is attempting to hold above this zone while aligning with short-term moving averages.
Currently, XRP is stabilizing near the 20-day EMA, which is beginning to flatten, reflecting a shift from downtrend to early expansion. While price continues to hold above $1.30 and maintain higher lows, the structure remains constructive. As a move above the $1.50–$1.60 region confirms breakout acceptance, continuation toward $1.80 becomes likely, with the $2.00 level emerging as the next major upside target. However, a loss of the $1.30–$1.25 region would weaken the structure and shift price back into consolidation.
Open Interest Picks Up Without Overheating: Positioning Turns Constructive
While the XRP price structure remains stable, derivatives participation is beginning to rebuild. As Binance open interest rises toward $449 million, now above its 30-day average near $420 million, positioning is gradually expanding. Meanwhile, the Z-score near 0.96 suggests that participation is increasing without reaching excessive levels.
With open interest building in a controlled manner, the market is reflecting gradual positioning rather than speculative excess. Meanwhile, the absence of extreme leverage reduces the likelihood of forced volatility disrupting structure. As participation continues to recover alongside price stability, the setup supports a constructive phase where positions are being built for continuation rather than short-term speculation.
All Eyes on Resistance as XRP Builds Toward Its Next Move
As XRP continues to hold above its demand zone, the broader structure remains aligned with accumulation rather than breakdown. While spot demand continues to expand and derivatives positioning remains skewed, the divergence is reinforcing a setup that typically resolves through expansion. Meanwhile, the lack of downside continuation strengthens the case for sustained support.
With structure stabilizing and pressure building beneath resistance, the path toward a higher move remains open. However, once resistance begins to give way, the move is unlikely to remain contained, bringing the $2 level into focus as the next major upside target.
U.S state Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against the five major platforms, including Coinbase, Polymarket, Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com, claiming their prediction markets violate state gambling laws. The case argues these “event contracts” are actually sports bets.
This adds pressure on the industry and raises a simple question: are these platforms real trading tools, or just gambling in disguise?
Wisconsin Targets Prediction Platforms Over “Event Contracts”
According to the complaint filed by the state, these platforms are offering products that closely resemble sports betting, which is illegal in Wisconsin outside tribal casinos.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul accused platforms like Kalshi, Coinbase, Polymarket, Robinhood, and Crypto.com of violating state gambling laws
He said that labeling these products as “event contracts” does not change what they actually are. According to him, these platforms are still facilitating illegal sports betting.
“The state says it wants to halt their alleged facilitation of illegal sports betting, a form of unlawful commercial gambling, in Wisconsin.”
Kaul also made it clear that no company is above the law. He argued that firms are simply using financial language to hide gambling activity. The state is now asking the court to stop these platforms from offering such services to users in Wisconsin.
Why Wisconsin Says This Is Gambling?
Prediction platforms claim users are trading financial contracts based on real-world outcomes. But Wisconsin disagrees.
The lawsuit shows that:
Users are effectively betting on outcomes like sports events
Platforms charge fees similar to betting systems
Marketing often promotes activities like gambling
Because of this, the state argues these contracts should be treated as traditional bets under local law.
Just in: Wisconsin DOJ is suing Kalshi, Robinhood, Coinbase, Polymarket, https://t.co/FZDqOPWpCL, and their affiliates. State says it wants to "halt their alleged facilitation of illegal sports betting, a form of unlawful commercial gambling, in Wisconsin."
Therefore, the lawsuit has been filed in Dane County, asking the court to declare these platforms illegal in Wisconsin. It also seeks to block them from offering sports-related contracts to users in the state.
Companies Push Back With Federal Argument
The companies strongly deny the allegations. They say users are not gambling but trading on outcomes, similar to financial markets. Platforms like Robinhood and Kalshi argue that their services are regulated at the federal level by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Kalshi, in particular, claims its contracts are legal financial instruments traded on a regulated exchange, not gambling products.
This creates a direct conflict between state and federal views.
Growing Nationwide Pressure on Prediction Markets
This is not the first time prediction markets have faced legal trouble. Other states like Nevada and New York have already raised similar concerns, calling these contracts no different from gambling.
If Wisconsin wins, it may force platforms to change or limit their services in multiple states.
But if companies win, prediction markets could expand more freely across the U.S.
Crypto prices stayed muted with major assets, including Bitcoin, experiencing slight declines on Friday as hopes of peace between the U.S. and Iran began to fade. Bitcoin (BTC) price traded sideways between $77,000 and $79,000 over the past 24 hours…
The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned Cambodian senator Kok An and a network of 28 entities over alleged ties to a large-scale crypto scam and trafficking-linked operation. The U.S. Department of the Treasury said Thursday that its Office of Foreign Assets…
U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed plans to attend a private gala for top holders of his TRUMP memecoin at Mar-a-Lago, following earlier uncertainty around his participation. According to Reuters, the White House said Trump will deliver a keynote address…
iQOO could soon launch a new smartphone in China powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset. While the official name remains unclear, a new leak suggests it could be a new Neo 11 series phone. The leak also reveals several key specifications of the upcoming device.
According to tipster Digital Chat Station, the handset is expected to feature a 6.83-inch flat AMOLED display with a 2K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate.
iQOO Neo11
While the tipster hasn’t confirmed the device’s name, several comments on the post suggest it could be part of the new Neo 11 series.
Some users...
A high-severity security flaw in LMDeploy, an open-source toolkit for compressing, deploying, and serving LLMs, has come under active exploitation in the wild less than 13 hours after its public disclosure.
The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-33626 (CVSS score: 7.5), relates to a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability that could be exploited to access sensitive data.
"A server-side
seems to have a new fight date set as he continues his surge towards the heavyweight throne, and talk not turns to who will step through the ropes with him. Itauma has not fought beyond six rounds in his 14-fight professional career, but now finds himself on the cusp of a shot at the coveted […]
Undefeated German contender is deemed by many to be the number two heavyweight on the planet, behind dominant and reigning unified champion Oleksandr Usyk. Kabayel got his hands on the WBC Interim heavyweight title when he knocked out Zhilei Zhang last February, continuing a rich vein of form which saw him halt Arslanbek Makhmudov and […]
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A Chinook helicopter successfully performed a fully autonomous landing using Boeing’s system, improving precision, reducing workload, and enhancing operational effectiveness.
Süper Lig'de 2026'ya girdiğimiz andan itibaren en çok gol pozisyonu yakalayan takım Beşiktaş (141). Ancak Siyah-Beyazlılar; Galatasaray ve Fenerbahçe kadar gol sevinci yaşamadı.
Süper Lig'de 2026 yılında en fazla gol pozisyonu yakalayan takımlar ve attıkları gol sayıları şöyle (Toplam):
Kartal, 141 gol pozisyonuyla bu alanda zirvede yer alsa da, toplamdaki gol sayısı Galatasaray ve Fenerbahçe'nin gerisinde kaldı.
TRABZONSPOR'LA AYNI
Beşiktaş, 141 pozisyondan 24 gol çıkarırken, Trabzonspor aynı sayıya sadece 112 pozisyonda ulaştı. Listedeki en ilgi çekici takımlarından biri de hiç şüphesiz Çaykur Rizespor... Karadeniz temsilcisi, son dönemlerdeki çıkışını gollere de yansıttı. 104 pozisyonda 21 kez sevinç yaşadılar.
DERBİ ÖNCESİNDE
Bilindiği üzere pazar günü ligde Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derbisi oynanacak. İki ezeli rakibin, 2026 yılında attıkları gol sayılarının arasında sadece 1 fark var. Sarı-Kırmızılılar, 126 pozisyondan 30 gol çıkardı. Sarı-Lacivertliler ise 129 pozisyonda 29 kez tabelayı değiştirdi.
Bu kulvarda Fenerbahçe'nin ciddi bir üstünlüğü bulunuyor.
KARŞI KARŞIYA GELECEKLER
Galatasaray ve Fenerbahçe, pazar günü Süper Lig'de karşı karşıya gelecek. Bütün Türkiye, Ali Sami Yen'deki derbiden çıkacak sonucu merakla bekliyor. Elbette, duran toplar da zorlu maçın gidişatını değiştirebilir. Şu anda Sarı-Lacivertliler bu konuda daha önde gözüküyor...
TOPLAMDAKİ GOL DURUMU
2025-2026 sezonunun geneline baktığımızda Galatasaray 30 haftada toplam 69 gol attı. Fenerbahçe'de ise bu rakam 68... Yani arada sadece tek gollük fark var. Savunma anlamındaki hikaye ise biraz farklı... Yenilen gollerdeki durum şöyle:
Kocaelispor sezon başında Joseph Nonge'yi Juventus'un B takımından bedelsiz olarak kadrosuna katmıştı. 20 yaşındaki orta saha oyuncusu, Süper Lig'deki performansıyla dikkat çekiyor.
Süper Lig'in 30. haftasında en fazla başarılı dripling yapan oyuncular şöyle sıralandı:
Joseph Nonge- 8
Dan Agyei- 5
Christopher Lungoyi- 4
Matteo Guendouzi- 3
Loide Augusto- 3
Denis Makarov- 3
Calegari- 3
Kocaelisporlu Joseph Nonge, bu kategoride farkını gösterdi.
TOP KAPMADA DA BİRİNCİ
Süper Lig'in 30. haftasında rakip sahada en fazla top kazanan oyuncularda da Nonge zirveyi ele geçirdi:
Joseph Nonge- 11
Habib Keita- 9
N'Golo Kante- 7
Anthony Dennis- 7
Filip Mladenovic- 7
Andri Fannar Baldursson- 6
Kocaelispor, 30. haftada Göztepe ile 1-1 berabere kalmıştı. Joseph Nonge, mücadelesiyle dikkatleri üzerine çekti.
BEDAVA GELDİ!
Joseph Nonge, sezon başında Juventus'un B takımından bedelsiz olarak Kocaelispor'a gelmişti. 20 yaşındaki orta saha oyuncusuyla 30 Haziran 2028 tarihine kadar mukavele yapıldı. Belçika U21 Milli Takımı'nın da bir parçası olan 1.84 boyundaki futbolcuyu bazı kulüplerin izlediği konuşuluyor.
2026 yılına girildiği andan itibaren Süper Lig'de en az gol yiyen takım Galatasaray oldu. Elbette bunda birçok futbolcunun emeği var. Fakat Uğurcan Çakır ekstra öne çıkarılabilir.
Süper Lig'de 2026 yılında kalesinde en az gol yiyen takımlar ve kalelerinde gördükleri gol beklentileri şu şekilde:
Galatasaray, kalesinde yaşadığı 14.98'lik gol beklentisine rağmen 2026'da 11 gol yedi. Bunda da Uğurcan Çakır'ın ciddi bir katkısı oldu. Milli eldiven, sezon başında Trabzonspor'dan transfer edilmişti. Sarı-Kırmızılılar, seneler süren Fernando Muslera döneminin ardından kalede yine aradığını buldu.
FENERBAHÇE FAZLASINI YEDİ
Bu listede en çok ilgi çeken takım aslında Fenerbahçe... Sarı-Lacivertliler, 13.62'lik gol beklentisine rağmen 2026'da 16 gol yedi! Brezilyalı kaleci Ederson'un performansı uzun süredir tartışılıyor. Kanarya; ezeli rakipleri Galatasaray, Beşiktaş ve Trabzonspor'dan daha fazla gol yedi.
Süper Lig'de 2026 yılına giriş yaptığımız andan itibaren ağları en fazla sarsan isim; Trabzonspor'dan Onuachu (10). Ancak Beşiktaşlı Orkun Kökçü'nün, gol beklentisine oranla skor katkısı gerçekten ilgi çekici...
Süper Lig'de 2026 yılında en fazla gol atan oyuncular ve ürettikleri gol beklentileri şu şekilde:
Trabzonsporlu Onuachu, toplamda 22 golle harika bir sezon geçiriyor. Bu 22 golün 10'unu 2026'da buldu. Orkun Kökçü'nün ilginç yanı ise 3.1'lik gol beklentisinden tam 7 kez tabelayı değiştirebilmesi... Beşiktaş'a devre arasında gelen Güney Koreli forvet Oh da iyi bir katkı verdi: 6 gol (3.04 gol beklentisi).
NENE'DEN BÜYÜK ÇIKIŞ
Fenerbahçe'den Dorgeles Nene, 24 Süper Lig sınavında şans buldu. 1.395 dakikalık görev süresine 10 gol sığdırdı. Bunların 7'sini, 2026 içinde kaydetti. Onun gol beklentisi ise 3.87'ydi... 23 yaşındaki Malili kanat oyuncusunun ayrıca 7 de asist katkısı bulunuyor...
Bir dönem Galatasaray forması giyen Johan Elmander hafta sonu oynanacak Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derbisi hakkında açıklama yaptı.
Süper Lig'de bu hafta önemli bir maç oynanacak. Lider Galatasaray derbide Fenerbahçe'yi ağırlayacak. Dev mücadele öncesi sarı-kırmızılıların eski futbolcusu Johan Elmander açıklama yaptı.
Johan Elmander'in açıklamaları şöyle:
-Galatasaray'ı hala takip ediyorum. Derbi için anahtar demek istiyorum. Şampiyonu büyük oranda belirleyecek maç. Galatasaray maçı kazanırsa her şey kendi elinde olur. Bence hafta sonu oynanacak derbiyi Galatasaray 2-1 kazanacak. Galatasaray şampiyonluk için çok iyi görünüyor. Fenerbahçe'ye karşı kazansalar bile işler zor. Galatasaray'ın yüzde 65-70 olarak şampiyonluk ihtimali var diye düşünüyorum. Oyuncuların derbide ne yapacaklarını bildiğini düşünüyorum.
-Galatasaray'la ilgili çok güzel anılarım var. Taraftarların sesi, gollerden sonra sevinçlerim... Deplasmanda Fenerbahçe maçları çok önemliydi. Oynamak zorlaşıyordu. Bazı maçlarda gol attığım için şanslıydım. Ama derbiler çok farklıdır her şey olabilir. Taraftarlar çok farklı, coşkulu. Bu tarz şeyler çok özel. Geçmiş derbilerde oynamak için çok mutluyum.
OKAN BURUK AÇIKLAMASI
-Okan Buruk çok arkadaş canlısı, iyi biri çok. Sahada duruşu ve karizması çok iyi. Oyunu okuyabiliyor, teknik geliştirebiliyor. Kulüp için önemli bir isim. Ben Galatasaray'dayken kazanmak çok iyiydi. Benim için amca gibi biri olan Fatih Terim vardı. Galibiyetler alıyorduk Fatih Terim ile ara ara hala görüşüyoruz.
-Galatasaray'ın kadrosunu izliyorum ve beğeniyorum. Tek bir oyuncuyu öne çıkaramam ama birlikte iyiler. Derbide öne çıkacak oyuncu olacağını düşünmüyorum. Frikik, korner bunlar çok önemli olacak belki de maçın kaderini değiştirecek. Fenerbahçe şu an ikinci, iyi işler yaptılar ama Galatasaray hala önde.
Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu futbolda haftanın fikstürünü yayınladı.
Süper Lig'de 31 ve Trendyol 1. Lig'de 37. hafta maçları oynanacak. Nesine 2. Lig Kırmızı Grup'ta 34, Beyaz Grup'ta da 38. hafta karşılaşmalarıyla normal sezon tamamlanacak.
Türkiye Futbol Federasyonunun açıklamasına göre liglerde haftanın programı şöyle:
Trendyol Süper Lig
Bugün:
20.00 RAMS Başakşehir-Kasımpaşa (Başakşehir Fatih Terim)
Yarın:
14.30 ikas Eyüpspor-Gaziantep FK (Recep Tayyip Erdoğan)
Kasımpaşa forması giyen Galatasaray'ın eski oyuncusu Kerem Demirbay, Socrates Dergi Youtube kanalına, sarı-kırmızılılara dair açıklamalarda bulundu. Demirbay, Galatasaray'ın futbol anlayışını da yorumladı.
Galatasaray'ın eski futbolcusu Kerem Demirbay, Socrates Dergi Youtube kanalına açıklamalarda bulundu. Demirbay, Zaha ve Ziyech'in Galatasaray kariyerine de değinirken tecrübeli futbolcu Galatasaray'ın başarı odaklı olduğunu belirtti.
Kerem Demirbay'ın açıklamaları şöyle:
-İnsan dokunuşları konusunda Nagelsmann, Okan Buruk seviyesinde. İnanılmaz, hocam gibi. Xabi Alonso'da biraz o eksik gibi. Futbolda bence en önemli şey bu. Okan hoca inanılmaz yapıyor bunu; insanlara, oyunculara dokunuşu çok farklı ve kaliteli. Bu konuda Nagelsmann ile aynı yani.
ZAHA AÇIKLAMASI
-Wilfried Zaha birebirde en güçlü topçulardan. Ama nedense burada seviyesinin altında oynadı. Keşke benim mentalitem ona verilse, onun da bazı yeteneği bana verilse. Hele hele hızı, inanılmaz bir topçu aslında ama yeteneğinin altında oynayan bir oyuncu.
''GALATASARAY'A TOK GELDİ''
-Hakim Ziyech saf yetenek olarak üst sıralarda ama sanki Galatasaray'a biraz tok geldi gibi. Yaşamış etmiş ama Galatasaray öyle bir kulüp değil. Galatasaray kazanma üzerine kurulmuş bir kulüp. Çalışanı da her şeyi, bir enerjide buluşuyorlar, bir nokta, o da kazanmak. Burada rahat etmek, oturmak, 'Ben tatile geldim' yok, bir maç sonra zaten taraftar yerle bir ediyor, haklı da. Beklenti vardı, veremeyince saldılar.
Futzal üzrə Azərbaycan çempionatında (Yüksək Liqa) 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 18-ci turunun oyun cədvəli açıqlanıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Azərbaycan Futzal Federasiyasının rəsmi saytı məlumat yayıb.
24-cü turun görüşləri aprelin 30-da “Olimpik Star”da keçiriləcək. Əvvəlcə “Şuşa” “Neftçi” İK ilə üz-üzə gələcək. Günün digər oyunu U-19 millimizlə “Baku Fire” arasında baş tutacaq.
Son çempion “Araz-Naxçıvan” isə meydana çıxmadan 3 xal qazanacaq. Belə ki, “Lənkəran” komandası çempionatdakı çıxışını dayandırdığına görə, rəqibinə avtomatik qələbə yazılacaq.
Yüksək Liqa 18-ci tur 30 aprel
Şuşa – Neftçi İK Bakı. “Olimpik Star”. Saat 14:30.
U-19 – Baku Fire Bakı. “Olimpik Star”. Saat 16:30.
Xallar: Neftçi İK – 46. Araz-Naxçıvan – 43. Baku Fire – 32. Şuşa – 18. U-19 – 12. Lənkəran – 0.
“Araz Saatlı” – “Göygöl” Hakimlər: Rəsul Babayev, Rəşad Quliyev, Sadiq Əliyev, Samir Musayev. Hakim-inspektor: İmanxan Sultani. AFFA nümayəndəsi: Namiq Əliyev. Saatlı Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 16:00.
“Şəki” – “Ağdaş” Hakimlər: Maqsud Şamıyev, Ruslan Babayev, Hüseyn Vəliyev, Sərxan İsmayılov. Hakim-inspektor: Rövşən Əhmədov. AFFA nümayəndəsi: Erkin Hüseynov. Zaqatala Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 16:30.
28 aprel
“Xankəndi” – “Qaradağ Lökbatan” Hakimlər: İnqilab Məmmədov, Orxan İbişov, Mirnihad Seyidov, Kamil Aydınov. Hakim-inspektor: Asim Xudiyev. AFFA nümayəndəsi: Törə Əhmədova. Şamaxı Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 16:00.
“Şəmkir” – “Quba” Hakimlər: Murad Səlimov, Sevda Nuriyeva, Əhməd Əhmədsoy, Vüqar Alıyev. Hakim-inspektor: Babək Quliyev. AFFA nümayəndəsi: Azər Əsgərov. Şəmkir Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin Stadionu, 16:30.
Premier Lig'de yaşanan teknik direktör değişimleri dikkat çekiyor. Premier Lig'de üst üste 5 maç kaybeden Chelsea, 6,5 yıllık sözleşme imzaladığı Rosenior'u 107 gün sonra görevden aldı. Nottingham Forest aynı sezonda 4 teknik adamla çalışarak rekor kırdı. Chelsea, Tottenham ve Manchester United, kulübedeki değişim için sadece bu sezon 70 milyon sterlin tazminat ödedi.
Udinese Sportif Direktörü Gianluca Nani, Galatasaray'dan kiralanan Nicolo Zaniolo'nun satın alma opsiyonunu kullanmak istediklerini ve İtalyan oyuncuyu satma planları olmadığını söyledi.
Beşiktaş, Ziraat Türkiye Kupası'nda yarı finale yükselirken Alanyaspor karşısındaki galibiyet hasretine de son verdi. Siyah-beyazlılar, rakibiyle oynadığı son 6 lig maçında kazanamazken, bu kötü seriyi kupada noktaladı.
Fenerbahçe, RAMS Park'ta Galatasaray'ı yenip hem puan farkını 1'e düşürmek hem psikolojik üstünlüğü eline almak hem de ligin bitimine üç maç kala şampiyonluğun en güçlü adayı haline gelmek istiyor.
Golcü arayan Fenerbahçe için Afrika'dan flaş bir iddia ortaya atıldı. İddialara göre Fenerbahçe, Salzburg'un 22 yaşındaki golcüsü Karim Konate için harekete geçti.
Irak babasını El Kaide'ye kaptıran bir golcünün son dakika vuruşuyla döndü. Kongo 52 yıl bekledi. Curaçao 150 bin nüfusla tarihe geçti. Ürdün ve Özbekistan ilk kez sahaya çıkıyor. 48 takımlı Dünya Kupası'nın en iyi hikayeleri burada.
1982'de sadece 5 dolara aldığı biletle Dünya Kupası yolculuğuna başlayan Andy Milne, 44 yıl sonra aynı tutkuyu sürdürmek için bu kez evini satma kararı aldı. Artan maliyetlere rağmen turnuvayı kaçırmak istemeyen Milne'in hikayesi, futbol sevgisinin sınır tanımadığını gösteriyor. Ve bir anda viral oldu...
“Sabah” qapıçısı Stas Pokatilovu komandada saxlamaq istəyir.
Futbolpress.az-ın məlumatına görə, “bayquşlar” qazaxıstanlı qolkiperlə danışıqlara başlayıb. Müqaviləsi yaya qədər olan Pokatilova daha bir illik sözləşmə təklif olunub.
Stas özü də komandada qalmaq və yeni mövsümdə avrokuboklarda oynamaq niyyətindədir.
Pokatilov ötən ilin əvvəlindən “Sabah”da çıxış edir. O, bu mövsüm 39 oyunda 38 qol buraxıb.
Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı millisinin baş məşqçisi açıqlanıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, komandanın sükanı Georgios Donisə tapşırılıb. Bu barədə Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı Futbol Federasiyasının mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.
Donis bu postda Erve Renarı əvəzləyib.
Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı yığması yayda ABŞ, Meksika və Kanadanın ev sahibliyi edəcəyi dünya çempionatında H qrupunda Uruqvay, İspaniya və Kabo-Verde ilə qarşılaşacaq.
“Koventri” klubunun baş məşqçisi Frenk Lempardın adı “Çelsi” ilə hallanır.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Çempionşipdə lider olan və elitaya vəsiqə qazanan klubun rəhbəri Daq Kinq mütəxəssislə bağlı çıxan xəbərlərə münasibət bildirib:
“Lempardın qazandığı nəticə ortadadır. Futbol da bir karuseldir və indi onu bir neçə klubla hallandıracaqlar. Qısa zamanda məşqçi dəyişikliyini sevmirəm. Bu, hardasa işlərin səhv olduğuna işarədir.
Frenk də burda xoşbəxtdir və düşünürəm ki, özü üçün rahat yer tapıb”.
“Yuventus” ingiltərəli futbolçu Con Stounzu heyətinə qatmaq istəyir. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, Turin təmsilçisi 31 yaşlı müdafiəçini azad agent kimi […]
“Liverpul”un mərkəz müdafiəçisi İbrahima Konate ilə yeni müqavilə imzalamağa hazırlaşdığı məlum olub. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, tərəflər arasında danışıqlar müsbət […]
“Mançester Siti” Premyer Liqanın digər təmsilçisi “Çelsi”nin yarımmüdafiəçisi Entso Fernandesin transferi üçün gözlənilməz addım atmağı planlaşdırır. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, […]
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa is expected to start on the bench for Napoli in a home game against Cremonese, and even Rasmus Hojlund is in doubt due to minor fitness issues.
It kicks off at 20:45 CET (19:45 BST) at the Stadio Maradona today, and it’s the opening match of Serie A Round 34.
The Partenopei have earned just one point in the last two games and come to this match without David Neres, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Antonio Vergara and Romelu Lukaku.
According to Italian sources, including Sky Sport Italia, Hojlund is not fully fit and might need rest, prompting Antonio Conte to possibly start Giovane up front.
CREMONA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli in action during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giovanni Zini on December 28, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Hojlund will be tested in a training session this morning, but remains slightly favourite to start in the Partenopei’s attack.
Anguissa is also not fully fit, so he’s expected to go to the bench, which means Scott McTominay will play in central midfield and Alisson Santos will be deployed as an attacking midfielder alongside Kevin De Bruyne.
CREMONA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giovanni Zini on December 28, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Cremonese are desperate for points in the race for survival and have travelled to the Stadio Maradona without injured striker Jamie Vardy and Faris Moumbagna.
Napoli vs. Cremonese – where to watch on TV
The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2, DAZN and HBO Max in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will provide live updates via a liveblog.
Napoli vs. Cremonese – probable line-ups
Napoli (3-4-2-1):Milinkovic-Savic; Olivera, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, Lobotka, McTominay, Gutierrez; De Bruyne, Alisson Santos; Hojlund.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola would consider becoming the Italy coach in the summer despite having one year left in his contract with the Premier League giants.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola would happily listen to an offer to become the new Italy coach, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
When will Italy hire a new head coach?
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 20: A general view as pyrotechnics are set off to recreate the Italy flag prior to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal leg one match between Italy and Germany at Stadio San Siro on March 20, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Gazzetta reports that Guardiola’s future at Manchester City is far from certain despite having a contract expiring in June 2027.
The pink paper indicates that if Pep were to leave Manchester City, he would not accept an offer from another club, as he would prefer to take a break to recover from the stress of many years at the Etihad Stadium.
This, however, doesn’t necessarily mean the Spaniard would take a sabbatical, as he already did in 2012; and a national team job would be an ideal compromise.
Guardiola has a solid bond with Italy
Gazzetta reports that Guardiola, a former Brescia and Roma midfielder, has built a strong bond with Italy and would be open to considering an offer to become the Azzurri coach.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 27: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, acknowledges the fans after the team’s victory during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Gazzetta recalls that back in 2018, Guardiola refused to rule out coming to Italy as a coach one day, even if, a few years later, he admitted: “Every nice thing happening in Italy makes me happy, but I think I’ll rather go to Italy on holiday than to coach.”
Italy legend Bonucci, a former assistant of Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, said Guardiola should be the first option for the new FIGC President: “I think it’s very hard, but dreaming doesn’t cost anything.”
Friedkin’s acceleration: ahead with the coach, could pave the way for Totti’s return.
Guardiola the Italian
Pep loves our country, and the national team attracts him
His farewell to Manchester City is taken for granted in Spain, and reviving the Azzurri is a big challenge. Trump’s envoy wants Italy at the World Cup. A choir of no and FIFA’s scepticism.
Tomori: ‘My Devil will win again.’
Jashari: Spalletti wants one more playmaker, open track
Conte today, Inter make the counting
Napoli against Cremonese to postpone Chivu’s party. Muharemovic says yes to the Nerazzurri.
Corriere dello Sport
Ranieri waves goodbye
Breakup at Roma
The rapport between the senior advisor, critical of Gasp, and the Friedkins ended yesterday
Looking for a shared solution
Two weeks after Claudio’s claims, which led to the dispute with Gian Piero, there was a decision to split up. More power and responsibility to the coach: Massara at risk.
Juve, there’s also De Gea
Not just Alisson: the Fiorentina keeper indicated by Spalletti
If Liverpool don’t release the Brazilian for free, the alternative is ready. Luciano relies on his international experience for the Champions League. The ex-Roma is the priority, but he wants to avoid a breakup with the Reds.
Conte changes: Napoli with Ali
Cremonese at the Maradona: Anguissa out, the Brazilian to play as an attacking midfielder with De Bruyne. Hojlund’s doubt: Giovane is ready.
Chivu, the first gift is in defence
Principle of agreement with Muharemovic, now the agreement with Sassuolo is needed. Deal can be closed at 25m.
Tuttosport
Gasp pushes Ranieri out
The coach’s sponsor has become his enemy due to injury management and the market. Friedkin’s advisor is on the verge of leaving after the controversies became unbearable. Massara resigns too?
Milan-Juve: Scudetto moves
The two clubs will fight for the best placement behind Inter on Sunday, but are already preparing for a market that signals ambition for next season, with common targets. Maddaloni suggests Kim for the defence.
Toro and Vlasic negotiate a new contract
Inter, here’s Koné to enhance Calha
The Turkish remains the leader for future talents. The Roma star is incoming to protect him.
US President Donald Trump will appear at an event for holders of the TRUMP memecoin after the White House previously said it wasn’t locked into his schedule.
Besides freezing crypto, the strike force also seized a Telegram channel used to recruit unsuspecting job seekers and took down 503 fake crypto investment websites.
The White House’s office of technology policy said that foreign entities are using proxy accounts and jailbreaking techniques to distill capabilities from American AI models.
Mantle, EtherFi Foundation, Golem Foundation, Lido DAO, Ethena, LayerZero, Ink Foundation and Tyrdo have all made pledges to the “DeFi United” recovery effort.
The Cole Palmer transfer situation has been making headlines for some time now, and I can confirm that Manchester United have a genuine and concrete interest in the Chelsea star.
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Numerous current Chelsea players are disillusioned with the current Blues project, but I cannot currently confirm that Palmer is one of them. Sources close to the player are not yet giving much away on his future.
Meanwhile, sources close to Chelsea insist the England international is simply not for sale. They point to his long-term contract, running until 2033, which was signed in August 2024.
How realistic is Cole Palmer to Manchester United transfer?
While some inside United might feel there is an opportunity to move for Palmer this summer, that’s not the unanimous view, as dealing with Chelsea doesn’t look promising at this stage. The Red Devils would prefer to avoid a lengthy saga, and there’s not currently any indication that Palmer could try forcing a move, which would likely be required for Chelsea to even consider coming to the negotiating table.
Even in that scenario, though, the Blues would be looking for a fee in the region of £150m, which is simply not feasible for United or any other club in the PSR era.
“United’s interest in Cole Palmer is real and concrete,” one source told me. “But I can’t see it being one for this summer. There’s been a lot of media noise, but that might be part of laying the groundwork for a deal in the future. Realistically nothing can happen now unless the player really pushes for a move.”
“Chelsea letting Cole Palmer go is a non-starter,” another source said. “He’s under contract until 2033 and he’s the face of this project. It may well be that he’s keen to move back to Manchester at some point, but at the moment this is just media speculation and not confirmed by the player.”
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Cole Palmer could be dream Bruno Fernandes replacement
It’s also worth noting that Palmer has actually suffered a significant dip in form this season, which could complicate matters.
Although the 23-year-old remains very highly thought of in the industry, he’s only managed 10 goals in all competitions this season, down from 18 last term, and 25 the year before.
In the long run, Palmer could well be the ideal candidate to replace Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford, but United might do well to wait one more season to see if he rediscovers his best form.
Liverpool have been told they can likely beat Bayern Munich to the transfer of Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon this summer.
According to Christian Falk in his latest exclusive CF Bayern Insider column, Gordon is likely to cost around £65m and that would be too expensive for Bayern.
Although the German football expert has confirmed that Gordon is on Bayern’s list and tempted by the move, likely due to the influence of England teammate Harry Kane, it could depend on the price.
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Bayern don’t look like they urgently need another attacking signing, but Gordon has been in fine form so could be tempting if the opportunity arises for a reasonable fee.
For now, however, Liverpool have been tipped as being in a better financial position for this deal, while Falk also noted that the 25-year-old has an affinity to the Reds as he comes from a family of LFC supporters.
Christian Falk on Anthony Gordon transfer
“It is TRUE: Anthony Gordon is highly-rated on Bayern’s shortlist,” Falk said. “Now, there will be talks about money, so it’s very concrete!
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“Gordon signalled that he could make a move to the Bundesliga, so I think perhaps this is partly Harry Kane’s doing. Normally, English national players rarely come to the German top-flight.
“That all said, the transfer fee Newcastle end up demanding for the winger could harm Bayern’s hopes of signing Anthony Gordon. There were many rumours of an€80m [£69.3m] fee. The Times now suggest it’s actually closer to €75m [£65m]. I think this would be too expensive for Bayern Munich.
“Of course, there’s always the possibility that if Anthony Gordon pushes for a move to Bayern and Bayern only, then perhaps Newcastle could be encouraged to lower the asking price. As things stand, Bayern Munich are in a good place with Luis Diaz, Harry Kane and Michael Olise, and with Jamal Musiala behind them. These are all positions Gordon can play, although he would be another option, so spending too much money would be difficult for FC Bayern.”
Liverpool are still one of the top clubs in Europe and they have a lot of money to spend. By contrast, Bayern don’t want to spend so much money this summer. If they can’t get an agreement with Newcastle and Liverpool are able to put more money on the table than Bayern Munich, then you can understand why the Magpies would argue they shouldn’t sell Gordon cheaply to Munich when they can get more money from Liverpool. This could be a problem.”
Liverpool need Anthony Gordon more than Bayern
Liverpool clearly have the bigger issues in attack right now, so it seems a move to Anfield makes more sense for everyone involved.
Of course, Newcastle won’t be at all keen to sell the England international, especially after also eventually having to let star player Alexander Isak move to Anfield last year.
Still, Gordon looks like he could be an important addition to Arne Slot’s squad, helping replace Mohamed Salah in that front three, whilst also providing an upgrade on other unconvincing attacking players like Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo.
Gordon would surely play more often there than at Bayern, where there is so much high-quality competition for a place in the starting XI.
Writing for CF Bayern Insider, Christian Falk suggested this could be an opportunity that tempts Bayern, who were interested in the Netherlands international when he was at former club RB Leipzig.
Xavi Simons transfer chances rated
Bayern like Simons, but considered him too expensive before, so Falk insists this would only be of interest to them for the right price, or if they miss out on other targets.
“It’s a question worth asking in terms of whether someone like Xavi Simons would appeal if Tottenham were to be relegated this season,” Falk wrote.
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“Vincent Kompany and Max Eberl both like the player. However, he was simply too expensive to sign from RB Leipzig last summer.Uli Hoeneß, the former president of Bayern Munich (but still part of the supervisory board), shared a nice story about this particular topic. We knew Kompany paid a visit to Tegernsee (an hour away from Munich), where Hoeneß lives, along with Christoph Freund, the sporting director. They were asking permission to sign Simons. However, Uli Hoeneß simply said you can’t sign Simons, but you can have some apple pie!
“This summer, we have to see! Xavi Simons has to be really cheap for Bayern to even consider it. In the meantime, there are a few other names on the shortlist that are more highly rated. Of course, if FC Bayern can’t sign their top options and Simons is affordable, then perhaps this could be an option. But not for the moment.”
Spurs fans probably won’t be too keen to see Simons go, as the 23-year-old could still have a very bright future ahead of him.
At the same time, however, with only five goals and six assists this season, there’s no doubt he’s been a little underwhelming in his time in English football so far.
If there’s money to be made on Simons, then perhaps THFC should consider it, as it could allow them to rebuild in numerous other areas in what surely has to be a busy summer of changing up this struggling squad.
Karim Benzema (38) has ruled out returning to formative club Olympique Lyonnais, as a player, however, he has said that he would be open to returning in a coaching capacity once he hangs up his boots.
Benzema continues to perform in the Saudi Pro League. The Frenchman began the season with Al-Ittihad before moving to Al-Hilal. In all competitions this season, he has 24 goals in 29 games. His current contract with Al-Hilal runs until 2027.
Benzema has been linked with a return to Lyon, where he began his career. Prior to leaving to join Real Madrid back in 2009, he made 148 appearances for OL, scoring 66 goals. He will not add to those figures, however. “I can’t [return to OL],” said Benzema during a live stream interview with rapper Rohff, broadcast on Instagram.
The former France international continued, “Why not go and work there after, but as a player, no. As a manager? I don’t know. Maybe. I would first like to manage the youth teams. I don’t like the training that they have. I would like to be close to the young players, I want to explain to them how I see football.”
Whilst Benzema continues to be linked with a return to Europe, a return to OL is now off the table.
Alisson Becker back in contention: Liverpool boost as Slot hints at shock Crystal Palace return
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Alisson Becker could return against Crystal Palace this weekend.
The Brazil international has missed the last threePremier League games with a hamstring injury, including last weekend's Merseyside Derby win at Everton, which saw replacement Giorgi Mamardashvili suffer a knee issue.
Third-choice Freddie Woodman was introduced as a substitute to make his Liverpool league debut, and firstPremier League appearance in five years.
Woodman had been expected to start against Palace this weekend, but Slot has confirmed Alisson is unexpectedly back in contention.
The Dutchman revealed that Mamardashvili is facing 'weeks' on the sideline with his issue.
"No Giorgi [Mamardashvili] will definitely not be available tomorrow and not for the upcoming weeks," Slot said at hispre-match press conference.
"Alli [Alisson] is close to returning to play. Let's see if tomorrow comes too early.
"That leaves Freddie [Woodman] as an option who is definitely fit."
Everton U21s play Watford tonight at Walton Hall Park
Everton U21s play Watford U21s at Walton Hall Park on Friday evening in a playoff game that sees mid-table PL2 sides playing the top finishers in the league below PL2. kick-off is at 7 pm.
Although the U21s completed their regular PL2 season of 20 games last week, they finished 18th out of 29 to qualify as one of eight Category 1 Academy sides in a bizarre playoff bracket which sees them pitted against the Top 8 finishers in the Professional Development League 2, who are all Category 2 Academy sides.
There's no promotion or relegation in jeopardy from this but the ultimate winners will be able to lift the PL2 Challenge Cup. While it doesn't carry the weight of the "PL2 Champion" title, it is a formal piece of professional football silverware that could adorn the rather barren trophy cabinet at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Official Members of Everton Footbal Club who can't attend this evening will be able to watch a live stream of the clash on Everton TV.
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When Newport County last faced Oldham Athletic, it marked the beginning of Christian Fuchs' reign as Exiles boss.
Bottom of the League Two table, four points from safety and winless in three, Fuchs was given a reminder of just how difficult a task he faced as Oldham ran out 3-0 winners last November against a depleted Exiles side that looked destined for the drop.
Now, in his final home game of the season, Fuchs has the chance to turn that painful first chapter into a story of survival against the same opponents who inflicted his first managerial defeat.
Victory for Newport on Saturday (15:00 BST) , coupled with defeats for both Barrow at Cambridge United and Harrogate Town at Walsall the same afternoon, would mathematically secure their Football League status.
It would be an achievement Fuchs - a Premier League champion with Leicester City as a player - has already said would rank among the proudest of his career.
But the 40-year-old former Austrian defender is not getting side-tracked by the fairytale-like symmetry that securing survival against the side he first faced would bring.
"It's stories that football tells us, but we're not in a make-a-wish foundation here," said Fuchs.
Newport will 'give everything' with two matches to go
Newport boss Christian Fuchs will be seeking revenge against Oldham who inflicted his first managerial defeat back in November [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
There were moments this season when survival would have felt close to miraculous.
Newport have spent large portions of the campaign stuck inside the relegation zone, only climbing out for the first time nine games ago.
Sitting one point and one place above the drop with two matches remaining represents real progress from County's dismal start under David Hughes.
"I don't think we're in a situation where we need to look for a Great Escape," Fuchs said when asked to compare this run-in to the famous 2016-17 survival act under former boss Michael Flynn.
"We have everything in our own hands, and we are above the drop zone.
"I don't see it as a Great Escape because they [the players] have worked now over the last months to get above the drop zone, and then now to have it in their own hands is already a big effort that we put in. Now it's about finishing it off."
Defeat at Cheltenham Town last weekend was a setback, particularly with Tranmere Rovers claiming their first win in 13 matches in mid-week against the Robins.
That result moved Tranmere to the brink of survival, three points clear of the Welsh club, who are vying for survival for the third consecutive season.
Despite this, Newport remains a point behind Crawley Town and a point ahead of the bottom two, leaving the Exiles firmly the writers of their own destiny knowing six points from six and they could not be caught by the sides below them.
And if things go his side's way, the job could indeed be finished by Saturday evening.
"It's about getting it right, putting on a good performance, making sure that from the first whistle until the last whistle [we give] everything," Fuchs said.
Newport have won just five games at Rodney Parade all season [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Fuchs says his side will not be side-tracked by events elsewhere on Saturday.
"Its nothing we can affect," said the Austrian.
"The bottom line is that even with the Tranmere game [in midweek] we still have everything in our own hands, and we have a really good opportunity this Saturday.
"We don't think about the other results to be honest, because you cannot affect those it's about what we can do and what we need to do. The only thing we can affect is our performance."
Like Cheltenham, Oldham arrive in south Wales with little tangible to play for - 11th in the table but an unassailable nine points off the play-off places - but Fuchs does not see that as an advantage.
"They can probably play with a lot more freedom now because they're not playing for anything anymore, but everybody always plays for three points. And that's something that has to do with pride," he said.
"I'm expecting an Oldham team that will be up for it, but we will be up for it as well."
Rodney Parade has not proved a fortress this year with County winning just five games on home turf, the joint third-worst record in the league, making the backing of the Amber Army ever more vital for Saturday.
"We need their support as always, and together we can make something good happen," Fuchs said.
Newport will be without striker Nathaniel Opoku, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury, while fellow forward Courtney Baker-Richardson remains a doubt.
With two natural number nines a doubt, one of Bobby Kamwa or Michael Spellman could be deployed in a makeshift striking role as Fuchs hinted that they both have "a very important role" to play this weekend.
A tumultuous campaign could reach the conclusion everyone associated with County craves, and Fuchs says belief remains strong amongst the squad.
"We still have it in our own hands," he said. "That's a strong force to have but now it's about giving the answer on the pitch."
Can County survive, or will Fuchs be reminded of the scale of the task he inherited, just as he was in his very first match against the Latics?
Well documented and well rehearsed, Tony Adams has been through this line of questioning for some time. Three decades, in fact. It was the summer of 1996 – a home European Championships – when the then England captain reached rock bottom. After an excruciating penalty shootout exit against Germany, the talismanic centre-back embarked on a ghastly 44-day bender, mixing brandy with Guinness to avoid consistent vomiting. By August, aged 29, his alcohol addiction had gone too far.
“I felt so lonely and so desperate,” Adams recalls, now 30 years sober. “I was blacking out and it got into my psyche. I had this mask on, so no one saw it, but underneath I was dying. Everything had stopped working: the football, the drink. I felt scared, in terror, and I just didn’t want to be here. I had a moment where I broke down and cried – and that was a moment of clarity.”
Adams, refreshingly forthright and candid, speaks powerfully in adding: “I was stuck at that point of no return. We called it the ‘jumping-off point’ in [Alcoholics] Anonymous. I couldn’t work, my family had gone, and everything had collapsed. So fast forward 30 years, to now running around smiling at people on Sunday… that’s very special.”
Adams (bottom-centre) hit rock bottom after captaining England at Euro 96 (Getty)
Sixty-six England caps; 672 Arsenal appearances; 13 trophies. It’s quite the footballing haul. Now, four years on from his memorable two-month stint on Strictly Come Dancing, Adams is embarking on another mighty adventure in his 60th year. On Sunday, he will run the London Marathon, battling all the creaking of a metal knee in the process.
A larger-than-life figure in public, Adams will run for The Forward Trust, a charity he has chaired for 18 months, which helps people break the cycles of addiction, crime and unemployment. And he is keen to stress that, even on a day where the capital comes alive with annual fervour and exuberance from all corners, you never know what’s going on deep within.
“Even in a marathon with 50,000 people running, you never know who’s struggling,” he says. “I used to sit in rehab and try to guess who would ‘get it’. I was always wrong. Addiction is insidious; it’s buried inside. You can’t tell what someone is going through just by looking at them.
“Our charity is about real change. We’ve helped 1,000 people into employment last year and 35,000 people in total. Charities everywhere are struggling and we’re not a very ‘sexy’ charity. Alcohol and drug abuse are not high on the agenda. There’s no real funding for rehabilitation – but we’re trying to provide it.”
Beyond bygone stories of Arsenal’s infamous “Tuesday Club” of the 1990s, where the likes of Adams, Paul Merson, Ray Parlour and Lee Dixon embarked on heavy drinking sessions, Adams’s personal journey with sobriety reached a rather heart-rending chapter two years ago when his son Oliver, now 34, revealed the booze had taken hold of him too.
“When my son came to me and said, ‘I’m done, Dad’, I knew what I had to do,” Adams says. “That’s the difference compared to 30 years ago, when I reached out. Now, I know the solution. I can pass it on and he can pass it on to others. That’s why I do Chance [Adams founded the Sporting Chance Clinic in 2000, which provides addiction and mental health support for athletes] and The Forward Trust. It’s getting people to the right help.”
Now, Adams seems in arguably the best place he’s ever been. Or as he describes it, three days out from “plodding” around 26 miles, “life is pretty wonderful.” He has taken a “less is more” approach to training, having not completed a training run longer than 10 miles. Are alarm bells ringing? Not quite – Adams has been through this stage of anticipation before.
Adams won 13 trophies at Arsenal (Getty)Adams is chairman of trustees at the Forward Trust, a charity supporting recovering addicts (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Archive)
“I’m quite calm, I’m used to big events,” he says. “It’s not like Strictly – mentally, that was really tough. This will be a bit of fun, but you’ve got to be careful not to get carried away with the moment.
“My first trophy [the League Cup] was against Liverpool in 1987, but I was a young 21-year-old running around trying to win the game on my own. I left a big hole behind me and Ian Rush scored. That taught me a valuable lesson.”
Although insisting he is “not competitive”, Adams can’t help but mention the marathon time of John Terry – another former England centre-back captain, though 14 years younger – who clocked in at just over five hours last year. Adams is more conservative – “probably under six hours” – yet the Gunners legend does not need an invitation for a gentle jab at his London rivals.
“In my last game, in 2002 against Chelsea, I just did my job,” he says. “I got through the match, we won 2-0 and lifted another double. I’m approaching the marathon in the same way. I’m not going to run 26 miles in the first mile.
“I’ve been very lucky and won a lot in my career, but finishing the marathon would be equal to any achievement. This is personal, I’m on my own out there, but there’s a different responsibility to this one.”
Millwall said the image used in the children's educational booklet created "a false and damaging image of the club" [Getty Images]
Millwall are considering taking legal action after Westminster City Council used the Championship club's badge on an illustration of a Ku Klux Klan member.
The image appeared in a children's anti-racism booklet distributed in primary schools in the local area about the life of former footballer Paul Canoville, who was the first black player to play for Chelsea.
It shows a cartoon figure wearing a white hood and robes, which is typically associated with the white supremacist group, with the outfit also bearing Millwall's crest.
The figure is imposed next to a photograph of Canoville, with a speech bubble coming from the ex-player that reads: "Racism never went away. I was badly abused in a reserve match at Millwall, but then I could show the racists my 1984 2nd Division Champions medal!"
On Thursday, Westminster City Council apologised to the club for the "improper use of their logo and for any offence caused".
"We accept the use of this image was an insensitive way to illustrate the historic problem of racism within football," it said.
"The booklet has been removed from circulation, and we are reviewing processes to ensure this doesn't happen again."
In a message on X via the official supporters' club, Millwall said the "serious misuse of a registered club badge" created a "false and damaging image of the club".
Millwall said the council confirmed any remaining copies of the booklet they have will be destroyed and no more copies will be made and distributed.
"The club is still considering its legal position on the matter and are unable to comment further," it said.
The Paul Canoville Foundation said it was aware of the image, which was widely shared on social media, but stressed it had no involvement in the material's content, saying it was "not produced by, commissioned by, or approved" by the foundation or Canoville.
"Our involvement in the associated programme was limited solely to Paul's personal appearance; meeting students and sharing his lived experience," the foundation's chief executive officer Raphael Frascogna said in a statement.
"At no stage were we shown, consulted on, or asked to approve the content of the booklet, including any illustrations within it."
Frascogna added the illustration does depict a real incident Canoville experienced when playing for Chelsea reserves against Millwall reserves in the 1980s, "in which he was subjected to serious racial abuse by a number of individuals wearing Ku Klux Klan-style white hoods".
Former winger Canoville, now 64, played for Chelsea for five years from 1981 and scored 15 goals in 103 games, later retiring because of a knee injury aged 25 after a short spell at Reading.
Millwall are third in the Championship this season, level on points with second-placed Ipswich, who are in the automatic promotion places.
OneFootball x Kensington: Chaos at Ajax is down to the leadership
As part of OneFootball's collaboration series with Shoot Music we're interviewing an artist every week about their love of football.
This week it's Casper Starreveld, guitarist for Dutch rock band Kensington and huge Ajax fan.
Not only is Casper a supporters of Ajax, Kensington made history in 2018 as the only Dutch band to play a sold-out show at the club's iconic Johan Cruijff ArenA to 60,000 fans
When did you start supporting Ajax and why?
Around 1992 or ‘93, I was about six or seven years old, and the golden Louis van Gaal years inspired me a lot as a kid. First the UEFA Cup victory with Stefan Pettersson, but my big hero was Jari Litmanen, especially after the legendary Champions League campaign and victory in ‘94/‘95. I was starting to play football myself, and all I wanted was to be like Litmanen. Beautiful player, outstanding and underrated at the same time. A true Ajax legend.
What is your favourite memory of supporting Ajax as a child?
Patrick Kluivert scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final in ‘95. My family had a friend's dog over for a couple of days and he was so startled by our sudden cheers when we all jumped, that he bit my brother's leg! Chaos haha.
Close second is the Real Madrid away game in 2019. I watched it in a recording studio in Canada at midday, which was weird, but what a game.
It's now four years since Ajax were last Eredivisie champions - what's happened?
Many reasons I guess. Great talent leaves too soon. We need at least a couple of great years from young talent such as Jorrel Hato. Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van de Beek etc. There's no stable leadership within the club and a lot of chaos. Different opinions and vision. We also haven't brought in players that really raised the level or culture within the club, like Dušan Tadic or Hakim Ziyech did for instance.
On the other hand you've got a PSV that have everything together.
How do Ajax get back to the top of the Dutch game?
Keep investing heavily in the youth academy, that is in our DNA. Make sure we get that golden combination of young talent, supervised by seasoned veterans who are still in their prime - Daley Blind was great in that role. A good head coach with a strong vision, preferably attacking, but not unrealistic. I liked Francesco Farioli with his passion and drive, I think he could have done great things if he stayed.
Looking ahead to next season, who do you think is the right coach to lead the team in 2026/27?
I’m still rooting for Kjetil Knutsen. After a phenomenal campaign with Bodø/Glimt he’ll be hard to get, but let’s aim high!
Kensington’s new single, 'Livin' For', is out now.
So far, just one UGA Bulldog has come off the board.
Monroe Freeling was selected as the No. 19 overall pick during the first round by the Carolina Panthers.
Georgia Tech Guard Keylan Rutledge was also grabbed in the first round.
The Houston Texans drafted him as the No. 26 pick overall.
While he may not have played for a Georgia team in college, another Georgia native is heading to Texas.
Ohio State Safety Caleb Downs, a Gwinnett County native who attended Mill Creek High School, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys as the No. 11 overall pick.
❌ Aitana Bonmatí ruled out of Champions semi-final first leg v Bayern
FC Barcelona Women already know the players selected for the first leg of the Women’s Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich. And the big news — and the most significant for Pere Romeu’s plans — is the absence of Aitana Bonmatí.
The current Ballon d’Or winner has not managed to recover in time from her physical discomfort and will miss the first clash on German soil, now focusing her efforts on being available for the return leg at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Despite the absence of the Sant Pere de Ribes native, the Blaugrana squad travel with their ambition intact and a fully reliable group. The squad list stands out for the presence of key figures such as Mapi León and Irene Paredes, who will lead the back line.
In midfield, the responsibility will fall on Alexia Putellas and Patri Guijarro, who arrives in perfect condition despite suffering an issue with the Spanish national team during the last FIFA international break.
The match will be played this Saturday, 25 April, at 18:15, and Barça will look to put the tie on track as they dream of reaching their sixth consecutive final.
"Mrs H" - as she's known - is a librarian at New Hall School in Chelmsford [John Fairhall/BBC]
A 54-year-old ultra-marathon runner who had breast cancer says it is her ultimate ambition to complete the 100 Marathon Club challenge of the "Triple Crown".
Apryl Hammett, who works as a librarian at New Hall School in Chelmsford, will tick off her 100th road race at Sunday's London Marathon.
She has already completed more than 100 trail versions and 100 ultra-marathons, since she took up running 25 years ago.
"It has got harder as I have got a little bit older, but the target has kept me going, and I am almost there," she said.
Sunday's race will be Apryl's 465th marathon since she took up running 25 years ago [John Fairhall/BBC]
Hammett, who is running in aid of the Alzheimer's Society after a close family member was diagnosed with dementia, said she took up running originally to lose weight.
"After I had finished breastfeeding my last daughter, I carried on eating too much. I was very overweight and something had to be done, as it was going to affect my health," she said.
"I had a choice — either go on a diet or take up exercise."
Apryl said she had a friend who recommended a pair of running shoes for her and she never looked back.
On Sunday, she will take part in her 465th marathon race (made up of road, trail and ultra-marathons). She said she would love to make it to 500 before she considers hanging up her running shoes.
"Road marathons are harder, particularly as you get older," she said.
"The surfaces are less forgiving [on your joints], unlike the grass. So it might be a lot of trail marathons that helps me reach the 500 milestone."
Apryl poses with her medal alongside former British long distance runner Paula Radcliffe, a three-time winner of the London Marathon [Apryl Hammett]Apryl is running her 98th, 99th and 100th road marathons all in the month of April [Apryl Hammett]
Libby May, events fundraising officer at the Alzheimer's Society said: "The money raised provides vital support to people living with dementia, and funds ground-breaking research and campaigns to make dementia the priority it should be.
"There are around a million people living with dementia in the UK. We simply can't reach everyone who needs us without the continued help of our incredible fundraisers like Apryl."
Indeed, April has been a busy month for Apryl...
She has completed her 98th (Brighton) and 99th (Norfolk) road marathons before her 100th in the capital, when she hopes to accomplish the rare feat of the triple crown of 300 races.
She will become the 20th person (and fifth female) to officially run 100 road, trail and ultra-marathons and claim their award patch.
The 145-mile (233km) ultra-marathon goes from the centre of Birmingham to the centre of London along the waterway's towpath.
"It took me 39 and a half hours. I had a lot of support from friends, which was lovely, as we ran throughout the night, without sleep," she said.
"We also had to contend with an electrical storm during the evening, which made it even more challenging but we got there - just."
Apryl pictured with a cake celebrating her 500th Parkrun - a free 5km community event, which takes place on Saturdays all over the world [Apryl Hammett]
Apryl said she will warm up for Sunday's race with yet another Parkrun - she has already clocked up more than 500 goes at the free 5km running events which take place across the world every Saturday morning.
She said running for her chosen charity would keep her going.
"The Alzheimer's Society have been so helpful to us, and they continue to help so many other families.
"Dementia is tough, not only for the person involved but also the people around them, supporting them."
In recent years, Apryl has had her own personal struggles with health after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her husband Guy has been diagnosed with throat cancer.
"I love running, and being outdoors. I feel privileged to be able to do it and I hope to continue to run for many years.
"The London Marathon is just the best race. The crowds are phenomenal. It is so exciting when you hear people shouting 'Mrs H', or whoever's name it is.
"I have done the other two parts of the challenge, so my 100th road marathon in London to complete the triple crown will be an incredible experience."
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Dallas Stars (50-20-12, in the Central Division) vs. Minnesota Wild (46-24-12, in the Central Division)
Saint Paul, Minnesota; Saturday, 5:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Wild -135, Stars +114; over/under is 6
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Stars lead series 2-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Stars visit the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 2-1 lead in the series. The teams meet Wednesday for the eighth time this season. The Stars won 4-3 in overtime in the last matchup.
Minnesota has a 14-11-4 record in Central Division games and a 46-24-12 record overall. The Wild have a +33 scoring differential, with 268 total goals scored and 235 allowed.
Dallas has a 50-20-12 record overall and a 19-7-3 record in Central Division play. The Stars lead the Western Conference with 71 power-play goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Matthew Boldy has 42 goals and 43 assists for the Wild. Kirill Kaprizov has six goals and four assists over the past 10 games.
Jason Robertson has 45 goals and 51 assists for the Stars. Wyatt Johnston has scored seven goals and added four assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Wild: 5-4-1, averaging 3.6 goals, 5.8 assists, five penalties and 11.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.
Stars: 8-2-0, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.4 assists, 5.3 penalties and 12 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Wild: Yakov Trenin: day to day (upper-body), Mats Zuccarello: day to day (upper-body).
Stars: Nathan Bastian: out (hand), Roope Hintz: out (lower body), Tyler Seguin: out for season (acl).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (44-27-11, in the Atlantic Division)
Ottawa, Ontario; Saturday, 3 p.m. EDT
LINE: Senators -111, Hurricanes -109; over/under is 5.5
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Hurricanes lead series 3-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Thursday for the seventh time this season. The Hurricanes won 2-1 in the last matchup.
Ottawa has a 44-27-11 record overall and a 23-13-6 record on its home ice. The Senators have a 9-12-4 record in games they serve more penalty minutes than their opponents.
Carolina is 25-12-5 on the road and 53-22-7 overall. The Hurricanes are second in the league with 291 total goals (averaging 3.6 per game).
TOP PERFORMERS: Tim Stutzle has scored 34 goals with 48 assists for the Senators. Brady Tkachuk has two goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
Sebastian Aho has 27 goals and 53 assists for the Hurricanes. Logan Stankoven has scored seven goals and added five assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Senators: 5-3-2, averaging three goals, 4.6 assists, 3.6 penalties and 8.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.
Hurricanes: 8-1-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.6 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.
INJURIES: Senators: Jake Sanderson: day to day (undisclosed), Artem Zub: day to day (undisclosed), Nick Jensen: out for season (lower-body).
Hurricanes: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Pittsburgh Penguins (41-25-16, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (43-27-12, in the Metropolitan Division)
Philadelphia; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Flyers -119, Penguins -101; over/under is 5.5
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Flyers lead series 3-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Flyers host the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Wednesday for the eighth time this season. The Flyers won the last matchup 5-2.
Philadelphia has a 43-27-12 record overall and a 15-9-5 record in Metropolitan Division play. The Flyers have committed 322 total penalties (3.9 per game) to rank seventh in NHL play.
Pittsburgh has gone 41-25-16 overall with a 13-7-9 record against the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins are 41-8-9 in games they score at least three goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Travis Konecny has 27 goals and 41 assists for the Flyers. Porter Martone has six goals and six assists over the last 10 games.
Sidney Crosby has 29 goals and 45 assists for the Penguins. Evgeni Malkin has scored six goals and added five assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Flyers: 9-1-0, averaging 3.8 goals, 5.9 assists, 4.8 penalties and 11.2 penalty minutes while giving up 1.8 goals per game.
Penguins: 3-7-0, averaging 3.4 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.7 penalties and 13.2 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.
INJURIES: Flyers: Rodrigo Abols: out (ankle), Nikita Grebenkin: out (upper body), Emil Andrae: day to day (upper-body).
Penguins: Filip Hallander: out (leg), Caleb Jones: out for season (shoulder).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Vincent Kompany may finally get his Xavi Simons transfer wish on one condition
Vincent Kompany could at long last get his Xavi Simons wish, but only if the player is affordable.
Christian Falk reports that the Dutch international is not the highest-rated name on Bayern Munich’s summer transfer shortlist.
However, a potential Tottenham relegation, coupled with a lowering of the attacking midfielder’s valuation, could tempt potential suitors from Germany.
Xavi Simons would have to be cheap for Bayern to consider
Fans may remember that both Kompany and Bayern chief Max Eberl were attracted to the prospect of bringing Simons to Munich in the summer.
In the end, however, Uli Hoeneß put a stop to any such hopes, citing the need for the club to promote from within rather than splash an exorbitant amount of cash.
“It’s a question worth asking in terms of whether someone like Xavi Simons would appeal if Tottenham were to be relegated this season,” Falk exclusively informed CF Bayern Insider.
“Vincent Kompany and Max Eberl both like the player. However, he was simply too expensive to sign from RB Leipzig last summer. Uli Hoeneß, the former president of Bayern Munich (but still part of the supervisory board), shared a nice story about this particular topic. We knew Kompany paid a visit to Tegernsee (an hour away from Munich), where Hoeneß lives, along with Christoph Freund, the sporting director. They were asking permission to sign Simons. However, Uli Hoeneß simply said you can’t sign Simons, but you can have some apple pie!”
“This summer, we have to see! Xavi Simons has to be really cheap for Bayern to even consider it. In the meantime, there are a few other names on the shortlist that are more highly rated. Of course, if FC Bayern can’t sign their top options and Simons is affordable, then perhaps this could be an option. But not for the moment.”
It’s an intervention that keen observers would point out has worked in Bayern’s favour.
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Both Lennart Karl and Tom Bischof have emerged as strong contenders for a regular starting berth in the first-XI.
* Lennart Karl and Tom Bischof’s stats across all competitions in 2025/26
Would their opportunities have been curtailed by the availability of a technician like Simons?
Tottenham could be forced into Simons sale
Time is running out for Roberto De Zerbi’s relegation battlers.
Tottenham sit two points outside of safety (on goal difference), with five games to go in the 2025/26 Premier League season.
And the simple fact of the matter is that a good chunk of their elite stars simply won’t wish to hack life in England’s second-tier should the unthinkable happen.
In which case, Bayern may yet have competition for Xavi Simons’ signature either way – and for good reason!
* Xavi Simons’ stats in the 2025/26 Premier League season (Fotmob)
He’s been largely unable to show his best this season in north London, but we’ve seen plenty of flashes of brilliance to entice some of Europe’s elite clubs.
Take, for instance, Simons’ two-goal display against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Or his goal and assist against Brighton that came painfully close to taking Spurs out of the relegation zone.
There’s a player there for whoever wants to take a punt.
Report: Guardiola would consider becoming Italy coach
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola would consider becoming the Italy coach in the summer despite having one year left in his contract with the Premier League giants.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola would happily listen to an offer to become the new Italy coach, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
When will Italy hire a new head coach?
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 20: A general view as pyrotechnics are set off to recreate the Italy flag prior to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal leg one match between Italy and Germany at Stadio San Siro on March 20, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Gazzetta reports that Guardiola’s future at Manchester City is far from certain despite having a contract expiring in June 2027.
The pink paper indicates that if Pep were to leave Manchester City, he would not accept an offer from another club, as he would prefer to take a break to recover from the stress of many years at the Etihad Stadium.
This, however, doesn’t necessarily mean the Spaniard would take a sabbatical, as he already did in 2012; and a national team job would be an ideal compromise.
Guardiola has a solid bond with Italy
Gazzetta reports that Guardiola, a former Brescia and Roma midfielder, has built a strong bond with Italy and would be open to considering an offer to become the Azzurri coach.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 27: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, acknowledges the fans after the team’s victory during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Gazzetta recalls that back in 2018, Guardiola refused to rule out coming to Italy as a coach one day, even if, a few years later, he admitted: “Every nice thing happening in Italy makes me happy, but I think I’ll rather go to Italy on holiday than to coach.”
Italy legend Bonucci, a former assistant of Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, said Guardiola should be the first option for the new FIGC President: “I think it’s very hard, but dreaming doesn’t cost anything.”
Former UFC title challenger, UFC analyst and podcaster Chael Sonnen recently made some comments and an accusation about Jorge Masvidal that has drawn a fiery response from "Gamebred."
Masvidal claims to be in talks with the UFC for a potential octagon return with a big opportunity. Sonnen accused the orginal BMF titleholder of lying.
“I have no problem with Masvidal lying, trying to get headlines. As a matter of fact, I support it,” Sonnen recently said on his YouTube channel.
“You don’t want to contradict your own lie; that’s where the problem comes. If you’re lying to get headlines, you’re not a liar, you’re a performer, and you’re entertaining," Sonnen continued.
"But you have to keep track of your story. Masvidal has been workshopping a story that ‘I’m back in the pool, under contract, fighting in the UFC, and got something massive coming up’. Flirted and danced, he was at the White House ... it’s a work, there’s no truth to it, and Masvidal is out of the UFC."
On Thursday, Masvidal responded to Sonnen's comments with an expletive filled reaction.
"For starters, this motherf**ker has some nerve. He’s transitioning into a woman and he’s talking sh*t to me? You lesbian ass motherf**er, and no disrespect to the lesbians, this motherf**ker needs to chill,” Masvidal said.
"Now that he’s a lesbian, he thinks I can’t slap him? I’ll still slap the f**k out of you, Chael, you lesbian in transition. Look at them f**king tits and glasses he’s wearing, he looks like one of my f**king aunts.
“I can’t take this guy seriously. The only serious thing this guy did was fighting Anderson Silva, lost, got triangle tapped, and he was on seven different PEDs. Dude, you can never talk to me. I’ve never had a positive exam for steroids in my life, shut the f**k up, Chael, you’re talking to a real fighter," Masvidal continued.
“I never said I’m ‘officially’ fighting at the White House, you f**king lying piece of sh*t. There was a lot of interest in that fight, at first, and there was a big chance I’d be on that card. They asked me for a few things, and then the date changed … not contradicting anything, it’s called ‘Rolling with the punches’. Now, the UFC has offered me something else."
NEW DELHI: A post-match press conference in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 turned tense after Islamabad United head coach Luke Ronchi lost his cool following his team’s defeat to RawalPindiz.
Islamabad United endured a disappointing outing, getting bowled out for just 137, a target RawalPindiz chased down comfortably in 18.1 overs to register a six-wicket win.
The loss appeared to have left Ronchi visibly frustrated, and that frustration spilled over during his interaction with the media.
The situation escalated when a journalist interrupted Ronchi while he was in the middle of answering a question.
Clearly annoyed by the breach of protocol, Ronchi snapped, saying, "He can ask me a question, I don't give a s**t."
Watch:
— i (@i)
His remark created an awkward moment in the room, prompting the media coordinator to quickly step in and restore order, urging journalists to maintain decorum during the press conference.
RawalPindiz break losing streak in PSL 2026
Despite being out of contention for the playoffs, RawalPindiz finally had a reason to celebrate.
The franchise, playing its debut PSL season, had endured a difficult campaign with eight consecutive losses before this match. However, they managed to turn things around in their penultimate game.
The bowling unit, led by Mohammad Amir and Saad Masood, played a crucial role in restricting Islamabad United to a below-par total.
In the chase, a steady 45-run knock from Rizwan ensured there were no hiccups as the team sealed its maiden PSL victory.
Islamabad United still in playoff hunt
While the defeat was a setback, Islamabad United remain firmly in the race for a playoff spot. The team has won four of its eight matches so far and currently sits third on the points table with nine points.
With two league games remaining, Ronchi’s side will look to bounce back quickly and secure wins against Hyderabad Kingsmen and Multan Sultans.
FC Red Bull Salzburg have signed another talented youngster, Filip Matijasevic. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder will join us in Salzburg this summer from Serbian first-division club FK Cukaricki and has signed a contract until 30 June 2031.
The Serbian youth international, who played in his country's top flight at the age of 16, has already made 28 appearances and scored four goals for the team currently seventh in the Super Liga. He will join the Red Bulls squad this summer, while also having the opportunity to play for FC Liefering as a cooperation player.
Details
Born: 4 March 2008
Height: 1.82 m
Last club: FK Cukaricki
Position: Midfield
We are delighted to have brought another talented player, Filip Matijasevic, to Salzburg, whose career we have been following for some time. Despite his relatively young age, he has already gained considerable experience in professional football, but he will certainly be given the necessary time to settle in with us.
Marcus Mann
I'm very excited to be joining FC Red Bull Salzburg this summer. The club is known for its excellent work with young players. I want to seize this opportunity and will give everything I can to integrate as quickly as possible and be successful with my new team.
Samit Patel played three matches for Northern Superchargers in 2025 [Getty Images]
Samit Patel, who has announced his retirement from domestic cricket, says he "probably wouldn't have played" in a disapproved T20 league earlier this year had he known it would result in a ban.
Former England all-rounder Patel, 41, and Australian bowler Peter Siddle are both unable to play in the T20 Blast this summer after competing in the World Legends Pro T20 League in Goa.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) says players cannot play domestic cricket for 12 months if they have participated in a "disapproved" league such as this.
As a result, Patel has retired from domestic cricket in England but says he will still be playing franchise cricket elsewhere in the world.
"There was a lot of uncertainty about whether we could play or not but we can't get past that now. It just brought this stuff forward for me."
Patel played 60 times for England between 2008 and 2015 and made 629 appearances for Nottinghamshire over 22 years.
He then joined Derbyshire on a two-year white-ball deal in 2024 and was out of contract when he left the club at the end of last year's T20 Blast, but said he would have liked "one more year" of domestic cricket if he had not been dealt the ban.
"I would have played this summer," he said. "I had some chats with some counties, we weren't quite at a contract signing but we were in talks, so probably would've got a last-minute deal somewhere."
Patel and Ravi Bopara, who also retired earlier this year, are the only two players to have featured in every year of the Blast since it began in 2003.
Patel made his first-class and List A debuts for Nottinghamshire as a teenager in 2002, and was part of their County Championship-winning sides in 2005 and 2010.
He also won the One-Day Cup in 2013 when it was a 40-over tournament, and was instrumental in helping the Outlaws to double white-ball success in 2017, when he also earned the Professional Cricket Association's Most Valuable Player and the PCA Player of the Year awards.
Across all formats, Patel finished his Nottinghamshire career with more than 25,000 runs and took more than 800 wickets with his left-arm spin.
In his two years at Derbyshire, Patel scored 528 runs and took 33 wickets while he also represented Trent Rockets and Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.
Patel played six Tests, 36 ODIs and 18 T20s for England but fitness issues held him back from earning a regular place in the side.
He made his last England appearance in 2015, a Test match against Pakistan in Sharjah, and ended his career without playing a home Test.
Thorgan Hazard (33), younger brother of Eden, is set to join RC Lens at the end of the season, as per a report from Sacha Tavolieri.
The Belgium international came through the ranks at Lens, going on to make 16 appearances for the first team. He went on to join Chelsea in the summer of 2012, following his brother, who joined from Lille OSC. Hazard went on to play for the likes of Zulte Waregem, Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund, PSV Eindhoven, and RSC Anderlecht. He has played for the latter since 2023. This season, he has played 40 games for the Belgian side, scoring 15 goals and registering 11 assists.
However, with his contract at Anderlecht expiring at the end of the season, he is set to return to where it all began. Tavolieri understands that Hazard has already reached an agreement with Lens over a deal that will run until 2028. It is a free transfer for the Belgian forward.
Real Madrid set to face Barcelona competition for €50 million-rated La Liga defender – report
Real Madrid are scouring the market for a new centre-back heading into the summer transfer window.
While established names like Nico Schlotterbeck and Ibrahima Konate have been linked as the main targets, Los Blancos are also looking at young players with potential.
Just 20 years old, the Spanish defender broke into the La Real senior setup last season and has already made 45 first-team appearances, 27 of which have come in the ongoing campaign.
Seen as a young player with great potential, Real Madrid are keen on Martin and could consider making a move for him.
Barcelona enter the fray
However, according to SPORT, Real Madrid’s arch-rivals FC Barcelona have also entered the race to sign Martin.
Indeed, the sporting director of Barcelona, Deco, held an informal meeting yesterday with Inaki Ibanez, the agent of the Real Sociedad centre-back to assess his situation, although the Catalans’ priority remains Alessandro Bastoni.
Real Madrid, Barcelona want Jon Martin. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Martin is under contract at Real Sociedad until 2031 and, although he is developing rapidly and already has a market value of around €20 million, the release clause included in his latest renewal with the Basque club stands at €50 million.
Barcelona have positive reports on him and value his qualities. Although he is not left-footed, which is a profile the club is seeking to strengthen the centre of defence, he is still a player who appeals.
Sources close to the meeting indicate that it was an informal encounter, without any decisive nature, although they acknowledge that Jon Martín’s name was the main topic.
Even so, it was only an initial enquiry, as Barcelona have not communicated any concrete interest in signing the player.
While the Blaugrana continue to prioritise Bastoni, their meddling in the race for Martin could hurt Real Madrid. So, it remains to be seen how the situation develops in the coming weeks.
He's finally back! Liverpool midfielder trains with first-team at last
One Liverpool midfielder has finally made his return from injury.
Fitness issues have played a major role in shaping Liverpool’s season. While the total number of injuries hasn’t been excessive, the real problem has been their severity, with several key players sidelined for months, or even close to a full year.
Arne Slot has been forced to navigate repeated setbacks, making it difficult to consistently name his strongest XI, especially in attacking areas.
Right now, Hugo Ekitike remains out for the foreseeable future, leaving Alexander Isak to carry much of the goalscoring burden.
The young French forward has stepped up well in Isak’s absence, but the pressure of leading the line has understandably begun to show.
Slot’s challenge is compounded by a lack of reliable alternatives capable of operating as a central striker.
And that’s without factoring in the long-term absences of Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Wataru Endo, all of whom are ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Liverpool’s campaign might have looked very different had Slot been able to call upon a fully fit squad and rotate his options more effectively. The lack of depth, particularly during key moments in the season, has made an already demanding schedule even tougher to navigate.
What makes the situation more concerning is that injury problems haven’t been limited to the senior side, they’ve also hit the academy hard. Several promising young players have seen their development disrupted at crucial stages.
Jayden Danns, for instance, has endured another stop-start season dominated by time on the sidelines. Wellity Lucky suffered a serious setback just as he was beginning to edge closer to first-team involvement, halting his momentum at the worst possible time.
Meanwhile, Stefan Bajcetic has missed the entire campaign, focusing on recovery and rehabilitation rather than building on his early promise.
Amid all of this, there is at least some positive news.
James McConnell has now returned to action, taking an important step forward in his recovery. His comeback offers a timely boost, not just in terms of numbers, but also as a reminder that reinforcements, albeit from within, are finally on the way.
McConnell made a strong impression on Slot during the Dutchman’s first season at Anfield. The Liverpool boss regularly included the former Sunderland AFC academy player in matchday squads, with most of his minutes coming in cup competitions.
Jurgen Klopp was also a big admirer of the Liverpool youngster, even playing him in the League Cup final at Wembley.
Over the summer, McConnell committed his future by signing a new long-term deal before joining AFC Ajax on loan, where he linked up with John Heitinga.
However, his spell in the Netherlands was cut short in February, as injury forced a return to Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre.
But he's now finally back, and stepping up his recovery process.
McConnell has played two games in the last week - both friendlies for the Reds' U21 side.
Lewis Bower reported that he featured in a 6-0 win for Liverpool's reserve team, racking up 45 minutes under his belt.
And he followed that up by training with the first-team this week as per Jack Lusby.
A dominant all-round display led by Sanju Samson and Akeal Hosein powered Chennai Super Kings to a crushing 103-run win over Mumbai Indians in a high-profile IPL 2026 clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
Asked to bat first, CSK piled up an imposing 207/6, riding on Samson’s unbeaten 101 off just 54 balls. The five-time champions then dismantled MI for a paltry 104 in 19 overs, with Hosein returning match-winning figures of 4/17.
Samson shines in commanding total
CSK got off to a brisk start through skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made a quickfire 22 before falling early. From there, Samson took charge, blending aggression with composure even as wickets fell around him.
The right-hander smashed 10 fours and six sixes, bringing up his fifth IPL century in style off the final ball of the innings. Dewald Brevis chipped in with 21, but it was Samson’s ability to anchor the innings that proved decisive.
“Feels great to score a century in Wankhede versus Mumbai,” Samson said after being named Player of the Match. “After the powerplay, we kept losing wickets. I thought it's important for a settled batsman to bat through. The game tells you what to do.”
MI bowlers, including Allah Ghazanfar and Ashwani Kumar, struck intermittently, but Samson’s late assault ensured CSK crossed the 200-run mark.
Hosein, bowlers dismantle MI
In response, MI’s chase never got going. The hosts slumped to 11/3 inside three overs, with Quinton de Kock among the early casualties.
A brief resistance came through Suryakumar Yadav (35) and Tilak Varma (37), who stitched together a 73-run partnership. However, the rising required rate and disciplined bowling kept pressure firmly on MI.
Hosein broke the stand and then ran through the lower order, while Noor Ahmad struck twice in quick succession. MI captain Hardik Pandya admitted the failure with the bat proved costly. “It was the same track… we should have just batted well,” he said.
The emphatic win lifted CSK to fifth place in IPL 2026 standings, significantly boosting their net run rate, while MI slipped to eighth with five losses in seven games.
With the playoff race heating up, attention now shifts from Mumbai to Bengaluru, where third-placed defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru host sixth-placed Gujarat Titans at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in a crucial encounter.
🎥 Vallecas and surrealism, again: a goal held together with tape 🩹
Rayo Vallecano fans are used to anything involving their club having turned, for some time now, into a surreal situation.
Whether it’s paper-only tickets in the middle of 2026, the ownership’s constant snubs toward the fans, or the neglect of the facilities where the club plays and trains... “Miracle” sometimes falls short of describing how Rayo is where it is.
The latest episode happened last night. One of the goals at the Vallecas Stadium did not have the nets properly secured. What was the solution—improvised once again? A roll of medical tape and Dani Cárdenas standing on a ball to fix the mess and allow the match to start normally.
Unfortunately, this is not the only problem at the Vallecas Stadium, whose fans have criticized the lack of cleanliness and maintenance, as well as issues with the venue’s facilities and access points. To make matters worse, the scoreboard was not working last night and had to be replaced with a screen behind one of the goals.
Rayo Vallecano’s fans have more than earned their place in heaven, there is no doubt about that.
The celebration around the reunion, when Klein played a large part in recruiting Johnson to Manhattan before he departed to become Texas A&M's offensive coordinator, has come and gone. The focus now shifts to the football field, where Klein will try to make up for lost time and elevate Johnson to the quarterback everyone thinks he can be.
At the end of their second spring camp together, their first since 2023, Klein spoke to the growth he saw in Johnson, particularly late in camp, when Johnson began to build better chemistry with his newer wide receivers.
"I think we've taken a little bit of a step here the last couple of days, but there's more out there," Klein said. "With his expectations in himself and all of us... There's more in us."
Johnson thought he had a "really good spring," noting that some days had their ups and downs, but appreciated the chance to grow. All he's concerned about is getting better each day and learning from mistakes.
The learning curve hasn't been too steep as he reacclimates to Klein's offense. During his four years at K-State, he's had four different offensive coordinators or co-offensive coordinators, along with three different quarterbacks coaches.
Johnson said the verbiage in Klein's offense is the only thing that has changed since his two years at Texas A&M, aside from a few new schemes.
"The offense has evolved, and it's been tough, but I think learning a whole new offense would be a lot harder," Johnson said. "It's been pretty good and pretty seamless for the most part."
New offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson has been in awe of Johnson's speed at the position, but has been pleasantly surprised by the quarterback's ability to move effectively within the pocket as a mobile quarterback; he hasn't seen Johnson be "skittish" and feel the need to take off and run unnecessarily.
Gleeson has still been able to see the play-making ability that makes Johnson one of the more explosive players at the position in college football.
"Avery does a really good job at being able to make explosive plays at quarterback and just subtly move and still be a thrower, even when there's some trash around his feet," Gleeson said. "I think he has a really cool balance of play-making ability and pocket movement that's needed when you want to be a great downfield thrower."
Johnson spoke of the enhanced freedom he'll have in Klein's offense, which he said he likes most. He'll get a chance to use his instincts and "not be robotic," allowing him to take off when he notices that he has room to run. At other times, he believes Klein will scheme up open plays as the "offensive mastermind" he thinks his coach is.
That should bode well for Johnson, who saw his numbers drop from 2024 to 2025, both on the ground and through the air. Meanwhile, Klein had Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed in the College Football Playoff, excelling as both a thrower and a runner.
Now that the celebration around the reunion has come and gone, it's all about making sure Johnson is in a position to lead the Wildcats on a possible CFP run.
"When it comes down to it, we need to do the little things right and play hard for all four quarters," Johnson said. "Anybody can beat anybody in this league, and we can't think anybody's gonna lay over us. We need to come down with the underdog mentality every game, not overlook anybody, and come out strong and start fast."
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Peter Woods addressed reporters in a press conference for the first time shortly after being selected 29th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. He shared his excitement for the opportunity to learn from multiple-time All-Pro Chris Jones.
"I feel like I'm never satisfied. I'm never where I want to be," said Woods, "That's just kind of my mindset, just because so much work to be done, so much to learn, blessed to be in a room with veteran Chris Jones and be under Andy Reid, who has done it so many times, so just the situation is probably more of a blessing than anything else."
The Chiefs acquired the No. 29 pick to select Woods from the Los Angeles Rams at the start of the offseason in the blockbuster trade that involved cornerback Trent McDuffie. The former Clemson standout understands his skillset but seeks mentorship from the Chiefs' star defensive lineman.
"I think that I'd be crazy to come into a league that I've never played in and think I know everything," said Woods, "I think that I have the talent, I have the mindset, and I have the leadership skills, the capabilities to come in and make an impact immediately. But we're talking about a hall of famer (Chris Jones), so I'm going to be a sponge."
Woods was a Second-team Associated Press All-American in 2025. He started 12 games, finishing with 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.
The Tennessee Titans used their fourth overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate last night. Just before the night ended, the team traded back into the first round to select Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk. They acquired the 31st pick, along with picks #69 and #165, in exchange for picks #35, #66, and #101 from the Buffalo Bills.
That means the Titans will enter tonight without a second-round pick. They also dropped three spots from their original third-round selection. Last season, the Titans lacked a third-round pick heading into night two and proceeded to trade their high second-round pick (35th) to move back to #52 and add a third-round pick (#82). They don't have to worry about that this year, as they own the 69th pick in the third round tonight.
Barring another night two trade, the Titans will enter Day 3 of the draft on Saturday with six picks. They packaged their only fourth-round pick to move back into the first round, so now they will have three picks in the fifth round (#142, #144, and #165). Those will be followed by two picks in the sixth round (#184 and #194), before finalizing their draft with pick #225 in the seventh round.
History suggests that not all of those picks will remain in their current slots. They have already made a trade on the first night of the draft. That followed last year's draft, where Cam Ward (#1) and Chimere Dike (#103) were the Titans' only picks who were selected at their original draft position. Nonetheless, the Titans have plenty of selections remaining in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dip Metress had long seen the writing on the walls when it came to the transfer portal in college basketball. He just didn’t know when it would start to impact how he managed the Augusta University men’s basketball team.
It happened during the 2025 offseason. Metress, who’s been the head coach of the Jaguars for 21 years, had two of his top three scorers transfer up to Division-I programs. It was the first time he ever had players enter the portal and leave his program.
Loyal followers of D-I men’s college basketball get to enjoy the excitement that comes with recruiting a talented player from the portal who one day may help lead their team to a deep March Madness run. For Metress and others within the Division-II landscape, they have to contend with a new reality: the proliferation of the transfer portal has made them simply a stepping stone for players to achieve their dreams.
“I don’t think any league is going to be the same,” Metress said on the transfer portal. “It’s something that’s a daily conversation, especially at our level.”
A new reality for Division-II basketball programs
When the NCAA transfer portal debuted back in late 2018, it initially was a way to make the process of players declaring that they want to transfer more accessible and streamlined. An online database was created to do that.
Then in 2021, the NCAA created the “one-time transfer rule” that allowed players to transfer schools once without having to sit out a year and lose a year of eligibility. Three years later, the rules shifted to let players transfer multiple times without having to sit out a year.
It was those rule changes, according to Metress, that had a larger impact than initially implicated, particularly at the D-II level. Without any penalty for transferring, it incentivized players to switch schools whenever they found a better opportunity for themselves.
For players who were underrecruited out of high school that landed at a D-II, the current landscape allows them to treat the level the same way junior colleges were considered a stepping stone towards playing at the D-I level pre-transfer portal.
“I feel for these coaches because if they have a good player at the D-II level, especially with some size and the right skillset, he’s probably going to get poached by another coach,” said Eric Simpkin, a regional scout with the One Motive Sports agency. “Unfortunately, that’s just kind of the landscape of it now.”
Many of the players that get poached leave D-II because of the higher potential to transition to the professional game afterwards. If they have their sights set on the NBA and the talent to make it, then moving up to D-I is their best bet. For example, a player like Derrick White on the Boston Celtics, went from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (D-II) to the University of Colorado (D-I) en route to being drafted.
For those who aren’t quite NBA material, going overseas to play professionally is also a realistic option for them. But if that’s where they want to go, Metress argues, then D-II programs are still a viable option to get them to that goal. Keshun Sherill, a 2017 graduate and a four-year starter at Augusta, has played overseas for almost a decade.
While Metress can offer that potential pathway to his players, he, and many other D-II coaches, can’t come close to matching the type of NIL packages that players are receiving in the portal. High-major D-I programs can offer transfers well into seven-figures for their services.
Augusta University doesn’t have any NIL funding for players as of now. Few D-II programs can even offer players more than a few hundred dollars. With the type of life changing money that is now available, a D-II will almost always lose out on talent if that’s any type of priority for a player.
“It’s definitely been one of the factors with people,” said Evan Joyner, a sixth-year graduate student at Augusta who played at four different schools in his career. “They’re like, ‘Okay I average this much, and I seen somebody over here average the same, and they [make] this. If they’re getting this, I could potentially get this if I do the same thing.’”
How do college basketball coaches adapt to the changing landscape?
At the D-II level, coaches will need to accept that players they recruit are no longer guaranteed to play all four years at that school. It’s much more likely to be two years, and if they have legit size and skill without any off-court issues, it’ll be one season. That’ll have to be in the sales pitch to players going forward because if not, coaches will lose out on talented guys, even if they are essentially a rental.
“I think coaches that aren’t doing that are probably going to fall behind,” Simpkin said. “All these kids want [to go] D-I, and they want to cash out while it’s so hot. Might as well lean into it.”
D-II coaches have always had to recruit from multiple avenues to field rosters. Metress routinely recruits talent from overseas in addition to high school players. He also has had the opportunity to get former D-I players who weren’t getting much playing time in the transfer portal.
However, with the rule changes that allow multiple transfers without having to sit a year, it’s much more unlikely that they come down a level without going to two or three D-I schools beforehand. If they do move down now, it’s more an indictment on them as a player than a lack of true opportunity.
“The transfers sometimes that we get at our level nowadays might be a little watered down,” Metress said.
The new landscape may also affect how high school players are recruited at the D-II level. High school seniors will still find their way onto rosters. But the type of player and their backgrounds coming into college, at least for Metress, will become a new factor on whether a kid will earn a scholarship to his program.
“Someone like me will look at a kid, and if he’s been to three different high schools, I’m probably not going to recruit him for Augusta. He’s a flight risk,” Metress said. “We try to look for kids that came to a high school and stayed at the same place, [with a] little more stability in their life.”
It isn’t the same world of college basketball that Metress stepped into 21 years ago. Instead of losing two players to the portal, the 2026 offseason saw five players leave Augusta with D-I aspirations. Things will only continue to stray away from what was once the norm. All that Metress and other D-II coaches can do is roll with the punches and try to adjust on the fly.
It might not be easy nor fair that they’ll have to adjust to a landscape that’s conducive for D-I programs. Yet, that’s always been the game that D-II’s have been forced to play. The growth of NIL and the transfer portal by the NCAA, unfortunately, just upped the difficulty.
“It’s always been a challenging level,” Metress said. “This is the way college basketball is. It is what it is. It doesn’t mean it’s okay. You’ve got to try to fix this. But that’s not my role.”
Just thought I’d empty out my reporter’s notebook while wondering if we’re watching the worst offensive team in Boston Red Sox history. Where have you gone, Ted Williams?
A small group of media and coaches from around the state vote in the poll. Yes, I am a voter in both the softball and baseball polls. I had the surging Wildcats ranked pretty high on my ballot this week (we submit our ballot every Sunday). When the votes were counted, NFA vaulted into the No 10 spot. The top three teams in the poll - Cheshire, Masuk, and Foran - are defending state champions. The Wildcats only loss was against Masuk.
Guided by head coach Tim Walsh, the Wildcats are also getting big contributions from juniors Jayden Johnston, Bella Ruta, Reilly York, Vivienne Przekop, Bella Cleary, and Bella Trask, and sophomore Alivia Bialowas.
NFA (7-1) captured their sixth straight victory on Wednesday, edging unbeaten Coventry, 4-3, at Depina Field in Norwich. Olivia Bourdon struck out four and went the distance to earn the pitching win behind a stout defense. She also had a big day at the plate. Bourdon hit a solo home run in the second inning and added a two-run double in the third.
Driscoll continued to swing a hot bat. The senior outfielder, who will play at the University of New England in the fall, went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
It’s great to see the defending ECC champion Wildcats getting some state recognition in this week’s Top 10 poll.
Travelers Championship
The state’s biggest professional sporting event - the Travelers Championship golf tournament - takes place on June 25-28 at the TPC at River Highlands in Cromwell.
There is no word yet on whether Masters champion Rory McIlroy is coming to the Nutmeg State, but the star-studded field already has commitments from defending champion Keegan Bradley, 2024 Travelers champion Scottie Scheffler, Players Championship winner Cameron Young, Collin Morakawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose, Chris Gotterup, Justin Thomas, and Xander Schauffele.
The great crowds at the Travelers has made it the second most attended PGA tour event annually, second only to the popular Waste Management Phoenix Open.
The Travelers has had many names and sponsors over the years: from the Insurance City Open to the Greater Hartford Open and the Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open; from the Canon Greater Hartford Open to the Buick Invitational.
Golfers who have come to Hartford and raised a championship trophy include Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Ken Venturi, Bill Casper, Lee Trevino, Greg Norman, Phil Mickelson, and Jordan Spieth. Spieth holing his bunker shot for birdie on the first playoff hole to win the Travelers championship in 2017 is one of Connecticut’s greatest sports moments.
The Connecticut High School Coaches Association will hold its annual Hall of Fame awards dinner on May 7 at the Aqua Turf in Southington.
The CHSCA Class of 2025-26 Hall of Fame inductees are: Tom Brockett (football, Ansonia); Sal Coppola (baseball, Amity); Peter Corbett (indoor/outdoor track and field, Ellington); Arleigh Duff (cross country/outdoor track and field, Nonnewaug); Cathy Federowicz (volleyball, Seymour); Maureen (Mo) Meniscus (field hockey, Darien); Brian Reiff (swimming, Brookfield); Ken Smith (boys basketball, Windsor); Paul F. Sponheimer (football, Seymour); Arthur Wheelock (baseball, Rockville); and Bob Rumbold (retired sports media, WTIC-61 and WTNH-8).
The CHSCA award recipients include: Kristie Kaminski and Randy Brochu (Joseph J. Fontana Service Award); Tom Dyer (Thomas R. Monahan CHSCA Honor Award); and Joseph Calvanese CHSCA Sponsorship Award).
The Hall of Fame dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 and can be purchased at chsca.org.
Gold Key Dinner
The Connecticut Sports Media Alliance will host its 83rd Gold Key Dinner on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington at 2 p.m. The Gold Key is presented to athletes, coaches and administrators who have made noteworthy career contributions to Connecticut’s rich athletic heritage. Receiving a Gold Key is comparable to being inducted into a state hall of fame.
This year, the CSMA is honoring five distinguished Gold Key recipients: Rachele Fico, Masuk and Louisiana State softball; Nick Giaquinto, Stratford, UConn football, Washington Super Bowl champion; James Jones, head basketball coach at Yale; Dave Wallace, Sacred Heart-Waterbury graduate and pitching coach of 2004 World Series champion Boston Red Sox; and Kara Wolters, UConn All-American, WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist.
Tickets for the 83rd Gold Key dinner are now on sale for $80. Send your check made payable to the Connecticut Sports Media Alliance and who you are there to see to the following address: CT Sports Media Alliance, P.O. Box 3234, Enfield, CT, 06083.
For more information or to pay through Venmo, contact John Holt at JohnDHolt@yahoo.com or call him at 508-740-4738.
On April 28, 1976, the mighty J. Geils Band - Peter Wolf (lead vocals), J. Geils (guitar), Seth Justman (keyboards, organ), Magic Dick (harmonica, saxophone), Danny Klein (bass), Stephen Jo Bladd (drums) - were welcomed home as Boston’s rock-and-roll heroes. Mayor Kevin White declared J. Geils Band Day in the city and following an afternoon of celebrations, Geils rocked the Boston Garden with a surprise concert.
Four days before, the band’s live album “Blow Your Face Out” was released on Atlantic Records. The two-LP set, which was recorded from two 1975 concerts at the Boston Garden (Nov. 15) and Cobo Arena (Nov. 19) in Detroit, captured the J. Geils Band at the top of their game: a band whose high-energy, rip-roaring legendary concert performances whipped crowds into a frenzy.
Wolf talked with Goldmine Magazine writer Jeff Tamarkin about the band’s alliance with the city of Boston and their adopted hometown of Detroit.
“There were the Red Sox, the Bruins, the Celtics, Boston’s hometown sports teams, and then there was Geils,” Wolf said. “When the Geils band would roll into Detroit, it would be a nonstop party for seven days and seven nights. We’d be tail-draggin’ out of there. We’d really try to blow the roof off the place.”
Jimmy Zanor is a sportswriter for the Norwich Bulletin and can be reached at jzanor@norwichbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter@jzanorNB.
Symptoms of climate change, including rising global temperatures, are increasing the frequency of extreme heat and negatively affecting the game of golf.
Extreme heat during professional tournaments can pose health risks for players, caddies, officials and spectators, according to the International Golf Federation.
Heat stress, dehydration, and heat illness are growing concerns, particularly during multiday events that require hours of walking and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Heat-related illnesses include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, rhabdomyolysis, heat syncope, heat cramps, and heat rash.
Climate change is also affecting golf in other ways, according to various sources, including the Environmental Protection Agency.
Extreme weather events, including thunderstorms, high winds, and torrential rainfall, are increasing the frequency of tournament delays and schedule changes.
Changing temperature and precipitation patterns can alter how championship courses play and appear.
Increased rainfall can damage bunkers, wash out fairways, and leave greens unplayable for days or weeks.
At the elite level, these changes can affect competitive outcomes by reducing predictability in course setup.
Climate-driven pest and disease pressure is also increasing turf maintenance challenges, raising costs and altering course aesthetics.
Professional golf relies on water-intensive course maintenance, making the sport especially vulnerable to drought and tightening water regulations.
Research shows climate change-driven water scarcity has already forced golf courses, particularly in arid and semiarid regions, to reduce irrigated acreage, experiment with drought-resistant turf, or accept less visually pristine playing conditions, according to the United States Golf Association.
Storm-related disruptions also reduce tournament revenue by limiting spectator attendance and forcing cancellations or shortened events, increasing financial risk for tour operators and host clubs.
In response to a changing climate, professional golf organizations are adopting adaptation strategies, including redesigned courses, climate-resilient turfgrasses, improved drainage, smarter irrigation systems, and revised tournament scheduling, according to the United States Golf Association.
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Journalism Funding Partners.
Erica Van Buren is the climate change reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at EVanBuren@usatodayco.com or on X: @EricaVanBuren32.
May will bring a tantalising title fight betweenDavid Benavidez and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, as Benavidez aims to become a three-weight world champion.
In a Las Vegas main event, Ramirez puts his WBO cruiserweight title on the line against Benavidez, a former super-middleweight champion who is now moving up from light-heavyweight.
The unbeaten Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) will enter this fight on the back of a bullying stoppage of Anthony Yarde in November, while his Mexican opponent Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) last fought in June and outpointed Yuniel Dorticos.
David Benavidez before beating Anthony Yarde in November (Getty)
Benavidez, 29, had set his sights on light-heavyweight stars Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, but Bivol’s next fight is set and a trilogy between the Russian and his compatriot Beterbiev is still on the cards. So, the American is climbing up to take on Ramirez, 34, who would arguably prove his biggest scalp yet – though the same would be true of Benavidez, if southpaw Zurdo can hand him his first loss.
Here’s all you need to know:
When is the fight?
Benavidez vs Ramirez will take place on Saturday 2 May at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Timings for the event have not yet been announced, but the main card will likely begin at 1am BST on Sunday (5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET on Saturday), with main-event ring walks following at around 4am BST on Sunday (8pm PT / 10pm CT / 11pm ET on Saturday).
How can I watch it?
The event will stream live exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view worldwide, at a cost of £24.99 in the UK, $79.99 in the US, and alternative costs in other countries. You can purchase the fight on DAZN here, where subscriptions are also available from £15.99 per month – although no subscription is needed to buy the pay-per-view.
Odds
Benavidez – 2/7
Ramirez – 5/2
Draw – 16/1
Via William Hill. Get all the latest boxing betting sites’ offers. The Independent vets betting sites for usability, security and responsible gambling tools. You can claim free bets here to use across a range of sports. Please read the terms.
Fight card in full
Subject to change; ‘C’ denotes champion
Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez aims to claim his biggest scalp yet (Getty)
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (C) vs David Benavidez (WBO cruiserweight title)
Jose Resendiz (C) vs Jaime Munguia (WBA super-middleweight title)
Oscar Duarte vs Angel Barrera (super-lightweight)
Isaac Lucero vs Alan Gutierrez (super-welterweight)
Jorge Chavez vs Tito Sanchez (super-bantamweight)
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Wardley enters the main-event showdown with an unbeaten record, having bailed himself out in his last two fights; against Justis Huni then Joseph Parker, the Ipswich boxer was down on the scorecards when he secured late knockouts.
The October win over Parker saw Wardley, 31, win the interim WBO title, which was later upgraded when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the regular belt. And Wardley may be able to edge closer to a fight with Usyk if he can overcome Dubois, 28.
Fabio Wardley (left) will defend the WBO title against Daniel Dubois (Getty)
Wardley vs Dubois will take place on Saturday 9 May at the Co-op Live in Manchester. Timings for the event have not yet been announced, but the main card will likely begin at 7pm BST (11am PT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET), with main-event ring walks following at around 10pm BST (2pm PT / 4pm CT / 5pm ET).
Betting sites give a slight edge to the champion with Wardley odds-on for the win over Dubois, who is around the even-money mark with most bookies.
Wardley - 5/6
Dubois - 21/20
Draw - 18/1
Odds via Betfred. The Independent vets betting sites for usability, security and responsible gambling tools. You can claim free bets here to use across a range of sports. Please read the terms.
Fight card in full
Subject to change; ‘C’ denotes champion
Wardley, down on the scorecards, stopped Joseph Parker last time out (Getty)
Fabio Wardley (C) vs Daniel Dubois (WBO heavyweight title)
Jared Anderson vs Solomon Dacres (heavyweight)
Jack Rafferty vs Ekow Essuman (super-lightweight)
Liam Cameron vs Bradley Rea (light-heavyweight)
Khaleel Majid vs Gavin Gwynne (super-lightweight)
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Augusta-area high school baseball is entering postseason competition. Baseball concluded its region play and declared its seedings over the weekend and teams are now gearing up for the GHSA-wide competition to start April 22.
The first, second, quarterfinal and semifinal rounds will be hosted by the higher seed in each matchup. The first round will be April 22-25, followed by the second found April 29-May 1, the quarterfinals May 5-6 and the semifinals May 14-15.
The championships are slated for May 22-23 and May 25-27. There will be four host sites for the finals. The classifications have not been set for each destination yet. AdventHealth Stadium in Rome, Synovus Park in Columbus and Georgia Southern University in Statesboro will host May 22-23 and May 25. Gwinnett Field in Lawrenceville will host May 25-27.
GIAA-wide competition does not begin until May 8-9 and will conclude May 28-20 at Georgia Southern University.
Hecht, a former preferred walk-on out of Mill Valley (Shawnee), passed on other FBS offers to play for the Wildcats. Previously an undersized tackle, Hecht worked toward being K-State's starting center over the last two seasons.
As a starting center, Hecht never allowed a sack. Now, he's considered one of the top center prospects in this year's NFL Draft.
Once drafted, Hecht will join an impressive group of former K-State walk-ons who went on to get selected. Here they are:
Rock Cartwright, 2002
Cartwright played fullback at Kansas State after transferring from Trinity Valley Community College. He rushed for 570 yards and seven touchdowns in his two seasons with the Wildcats. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Washington football franchise with the 257th overall pick. He played for Washington from 2002-09 before spending two seasons with the Raiders.
Randall Evans, 2015
Evans played defensive back for four years for the Wildcats, making 157 total tackles and seven interceptions. He was a First Team All-Big 12 selection in 2014 and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2015 draft with the 196th overall pick. He played in the NFL for three seasons.
Jon McGraw, 2002
A Manhattan native, McGraw developed into an All-Big 12 selection by the end of his K-State career. The safety was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2002 draft with the 57th overall pick.
Jordy Nelson, 2008
Nelson is the most notable of the K-State walk-ons, considering his success with the Wildcats and in the NFL. He developed into one of the program's all-time greats, going from a walk-on safety to becoming a record-breaking receiver and a consensus first-team All-American. He was a second-round pick in 2008 by the Green Bay Packers, with whom he won a Super Bowl, became a Pro Bowler and had over 8,500 receiving yards over an NFL career that lasted a decade.
Ben Sinnott, 2024
Sinnott went from a walk-on to becoming Pardon My Take's fullback of the year and being an All-Big 12 tight end by the end of his college career. He was drafted in the second round by the Washington Commanders in the 2024 draft with the 53rd pick. He's caught two touchdowns in two years.
Kansas State walk-ons to sign as undrafted free agents
Phillip Brooks, WR (2024)
Ian Campbell, WR (2009)
BJ Finney, OL (2015)
Hayden Gillum, OL (2024)
Ryan Mueller, DE/FB (2015)
Dalton Schoen, WR (2020)
Drew Scott, LS (2021)
Chris Tenannt, KR (2025)
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
BATTLE CREEK ― The B.O.B. is ready for spring sports.
The Best Of Battle Creek series in the Enquirer is being expanded this year to include the top players on baseball and softball fields throughout the area.
Each week, throughout the spring, we are going to ask, "Who is the Best Of Battle Creek?" as we look at each position in baseball and softball among the city/area high school teams.
Nominations for each position have come from the city/area coaches with a little information on each player. It will be a tougher list to make this year as we expand the field to city and area teams, but once we do, then it will be up to the Enquirer readers to decide who is the B.O.B.
Each week we will give readers choices and open our online poll for voting, with a winner decided by the following Tuesday with polls closing at noon.
Next up are the pitchers for the city/area softball teams:
Dakoda Carpenter
School: Athens
Class: Sophomore
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: Already a captain as a sophomore, Dakoda Carpenter is a leader from the circle for a young Athens team. She already h as 26 strikeouts in 19 innings and has also been a force at the plate, batting .312.
Layne Churchill
School: Harper Creek
Class: Senior
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: A four-year varsity player, Layne Churchill has 23 wins for her career as a pitcher. A force in the circle and the plate, the senior was all-conference, all-area, all-district and all-region a year ago.
Ashlynn Harris
School: Bronson
Class: Senior
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: A two-time all-state pitcher for Bronson, she was the league MVP a year ago. Already proving to be dominant once again this year, she is 3-1 with a 1.47 ERA and 33 strikeouts, while hitting .607 at the plate.
Alyse Langs
School: Climax-Scotts/St. Philip
Class: Freshman
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: Just a freshman, Alyse Langs has started her high school career strong on the rubber and the plate. In three starts, she is 3-0 as a pitcher with a 1.75 ERA. At the plate, she is hitting .625 with 12 RBIs.
Payten Minix
School: Homer
Class: Senior
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: Payten Minix is a four-year standout for Homer with 52 career wins as a three-time all-conference and all-area selection. Minix has four wins this season already with 44 strikeouts and his batting .600. She is committed to play at Cleary University.
Alaina Simmons
School: Pennfield
Class: Senior
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: An all-city pick last year, Alaina Simmons gives Pennfield veteran experience as a leader from the circle. Also earning all-conference honorable mention honors, Simmons is an important leader for a young Pennfield team.
Aleena Stahlhood
School: Harper Creek
Class: Junior
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: A junior captain and returning all-city and all-league players, Aleena Stahlhood is the ace of the Harper Creek staff with 44 strikeouts against the 99 batters she has faced with six wins already. At the plate, she is hitting .625 with four home runs.
Brooke Thomas
School: Union City
Class: Freshman
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: Having a breakout season as a freshman, Brooke Thomas is already leading the Union City pitching staff while also playing outfield. She has a one-hitter and a no-hitter in the early going and is hitting .471.
Laynie VanAken
School: Coldwater
Class: Sophomore
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: Named the No. 1 pitcher in the state for her class in Michigan by Softball America, Layne VanAken has helped Coldwater get off to an 11-0 start as she is 6-0 from the circle. She has a 1.05 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 33 innings and just two walks.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
GAYLORD ― The Gaylord softball program has built quite a name for itself over the past five seasons.
Winning back-to-back state championships in 2023 and 2024 made it clear across the state, but those around Northern Michigan had been well aware of the juggernaut the GHS team was becoming. The achievements they left behind tell the story: a 172-19 record over five seasons, the top two seasons in home runs hit by a team in MHSAA history (73 HR in 2023, 72 in 2024) and eight current players on college softball rosters.
Now, a relatively new group will fill attempt to fill those large shoes (or cleats) left behind, and while the coaching staff is not lowering the standard, the team understands that nothing will come easy just because of the name on the front of their jersey.
"I tell the girls that even though we're the Gaylord softball program, we're not the teams that have been here before," said senior Nora Bethuy. "We're going to have to work hard for every single thing we get."
With a player like Aubrey Jones on the roster, a state championship was always the ceiling for the GHS softball team.
There was certainly more that went into back-to-back state titles than one dominant player, but it was players like Jones, her sister Jayden, and other standouts like Alexis Shepherd, Alexis Kozlowski and others down the lineup that made Gaylord the most feared softball team in the state, regardless of division.
Slowly but surely, those key players have graduated and moved on. The roster now only features two players from the state-title-winning rosters and only one starter from either title game (senior Nora Bethuy).
That may change outside expectations, but it won't affect how the coaching staff views their team or the standard they hold them to.
"We're not lowering the bar for them," coach Bill Bethuy said. "The expectations are still here, and we're going to have to work hard to get there."
Seniors Nora Bethuy, Makayla Kozlowski and Lily Ryckman Hall will be key to GHS reaching its larger goals. They've seen the level of commitment it took to reach the mountaintop back in 2023 and 2024 and bring that college-level talent that people expect from the GHS lineup.
This year, a state title may be a bit far out of reach, but it'll be up to this group to prove the ceiling is still high for the Blue Devils' program.
Remaining schedule
Saturday, April 25 at Dow Invite
Tuesday, April 28 vs. Sault Area
Wednesday, April 29 vs. TC St. Francis
Wednesday, May 6 at Alpena
Saturday, May 9 vs. TBD
Tuesday, May 12 at Petoskey
Thursday, May 14 at Shepherd
Tuesday, May 19 vs. Cadillac
Wednesday, May 20 vs. Kalkaska
Saturday, May 23 vs. TBD
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
There are college football powerhouses. And then, there is North Dakota State, a buzzsaw of sorts at the FCS ranks.
The Bison might not have the name recognition of Ohio State, Notre Dame and Alabama. But rest assured; the program is more adept at winning national titles than all of them, hoisting 10 championships in the past 15 years. Whether helmed by Craig Bohl, Chris Klieman, Matt Entz or Tim Polasek, wins never appear too far from the Bison's grasp.
The Fargo-based program is renowned for its collective success. But a fair few individuals have seen their names shot up in lights, from one-time MVP candidates like Carson Wentz to more contemporary talents like Christian Watson, Grey Zubel and now, Bryce Lance.
With that, The Sporting News takes a look at NDSU's history in the NFL Draft, a billowing quilt certain to collect extra threads in the years.
There were 12 NDSU players who fielded snaps during the 2025 season. They are as follows:
Chris Board
A three-time FCS national champion with the Bison, Board has spent eight seasons in the league, turning out for four different franchises. Known as a special team specialist, Board inked a two-year, $6 million deal with the Giants ahead of the 2025 season. He played sparingly in the first two games of the season before being ruled out for the year with a chest injury. In March, New York released Board. He is still looking for a spot on an NFL team.
Josh Hayes
Hayes spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career at NDSU. The 6-foot cornerback transferred to Virginia following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hayes finished his collegiate career at Kansas State. The Buccaneers selected Hayes in the sixth round (No. 181 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. He has appeared in 47 games across three years in Tampa Bay, recording 67 tackles, three pass deflections, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Dom Jones
Jones, a cornerback, anchored the Bison's defense across four seasons, tallying 83 tackles, three interceptions and nine pass deflections for the two-time national champions. He opted to transfer to Colorado State to live out the final two seasons of his collegiate career, achieving modest success in Rams colors. Jones signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent, making five appearances before being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Trey Lance
Lance enjoyed a brief -- but wondrous -- career at the Fargodome, capturing the Walter Payton Award as FCS's most outstanding player after leading NDSU to national championship glory. He opted out of the 2021 season, prioritizing his NFL Draft prep. His decision paid off handsomely; the 49ers selected Lance with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Lance's NFL career has been marred by injuries and inconsistent performances. He's now a backup in Los Angeles, serving as Justin Herbert's understudy.
Hunter Luepke
A two-time FCS champion and three-time first-team All-MVC fullback, Luepke was a dominant force at the collegiate level. He signed for the Cowboys in 2023 as an undrafted free agent. Luepke has made a marked impact across his three years in the league, inking a two-year, $7 million deal with Dallas at the start of the 2025 NFL season. Luepke is currently the fifth-highest-paid fullback in the NFL based on average annual value (AAV).
Cody Mauch
A second round pick out of Fargo, Mauch was the FCS' best offensive lineman during his time with the Bison. He, too, was a member of the NDSU side that captured three-straight national titles.
All told, Mauch spent six seasons with the Bison. He started each of his first 35 games with the Buccaneers before being cut down by a season-ending injury in Week 2 of the 2025 season.
Dillon Radunz
Radunz, a hulking guard, found plenty of success during his time at NDSU, capturing three-straight FCS titles while picking up FCS All-American honors as a junior. Radunz's prowess as a pass-blocker earned him admirers. The Titans selected him in the second round (No. 53 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. He has since emerged as a steady option on the line, starting 41 games across his career. In 2025, he signed with the Saints.
Marques Sigle
Like Jones, Sigle took his talents from NDSU to the Wildcats, joining Kansas State after his redshirt freshman year. He emerged as one of the Big 12's better defensive backs during his time in Manhattan, earning all-Big 12 honorable mention honors. The Niners selected Sigle in the fifth round (No. 160 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. He started seven games for the playoff-bound 49ers in his maiden season, recording 52 tackles, two pass deflections and one fumble recovery.
Jalen Sundell
Sundell is one of two standout Seahawks linemen on this list. A center, Sundell actually shined at left tackle during his senior year with the Bison, earning first-team All-American honors after moving down the line. Despite his versatility, Sundell failed to hear his name called during the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Maryville, Missouri native didn't pay too much mind, agreeing terms to a deal with the Seahawks in the offseason of 2024. Sundell made 12 appearances as a rookie then emerged as a starter ahead of the 2025 season. Sundell suited up for Seattle until Week 10, when he was cut down with a knee injury. He returned to action before the end of the year and started Super Bowl 60 as the Seahawks captured their second-ever Lombardi Trophy.
Christian Watson
A rangy wide receiver with acrobatics flowing through his frame, Watson looks to be one of the league's better pass-catchers when healthy. He spent five seasons in Fargo, recording 2,140 yards and 14 touchdowns during his spell.
The Packers selected Watson in the second round (No. 34 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has struggled for fitness across his time in the league, playing in 48 of a possible 68 games across his four-year career. Watson has yet to break the 700-yard plateau in his career. But his mix of speed and leaping ability has made him a favorite of Jordan Love's when he's on the field.
Carson Wentz
Wentz is perhaps the most successful of NDSU's active NFL talent, earning second-team All-Pro honors, a Pro Bowl and a Super Bowl ring across a glistening -- if inconsistent -- career. Wentz was sizzling during his time in Fargo, finishing his Bison career with five championship rings. The Eagles proceeded to select the hulking sidewinder with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
By Wentz's second season, he was a star, emerging as an MVP candidate before being cut down by an ACL injury. Philadelphia went on to hoist the Lombardi Trophy -- albeit with Nick Foles under center.
Wentz returned to the starting post in 2018 and enjoyed a few decent campaigns. In 2020, he struggled, prompting the Eagles to deal him to the Colts in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick and 2022 first-round pick. Wentz shined during his lone season in Indianapolis, recording 3,563 yards and 27 touchdowns to seven interceptions. Despite this, he was shifted to the Commanders ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Wentz has primarily served as a backup in the years since his departure from Indianapolis. Nevertheless, his record is still glistening, especially in comparison to other Bison alums -- Wentz ranks first among former NDSU players in passing yards and passing touchdowns in the NFL.
Grey Zabel
Like Sundell, Zabel makes his bones on the popular front that is Seattle's offensive line. He, too, was a highly-accomplished college player, earning first-team All-American honors in 2024. The Seahawks selected him in the first round (No. 18 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Since his arrival, Zabel has taken his mantle as one of the league's finest guards. He started all 17 games in his rookie season, landing PFWA All-Rookie Team honors as a result of his skillset. Zabel also played a vital role in Seattle's momentous Super Bowl triumph.
What at first looked like an easy matchup for the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs is now in question after a disastrous Game 2. The major headline of the evening was Victor Wembanyama's early exit due to NBA concussion protocol.
In Wembanyama's absence, the Spurs struggled to find a consistent scorer, with no one on the team scoring more than 18 points. The Portland Trail Blazers squeaked out a three-point victory as a result, with Scoot Henderson's 31 points leading the way.
The Blazers had a three-headed monster in Game 2, with Deni Avdija and Jrue Holiday scoring 14 and 16, respectively. The front court trio of Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara and Robert Williams III combined for 30 points and 28 rebounds, giving the Blazers reliable options across the court.
It's currently unclear whether Wembanyama will return for Game 3, as there are still levels of concussion protocol that the center must clear. It will be up to the Spurs to fill in the gaps should they go through another string of games without Wembanyama on the floor.
Here's what you need to know about Friday's matchup between the Blazers and the Spurs, including broadcast information and start time.
Blazers vs. Spurs start time
Date: Friday, April 24
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs series between the Blazers and Spurs is set to tip off at 10:30 p.m. ET from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
Sancho gives green light to Borussia Dortmund return
Jadon Sancho has given the green light to a return to Borussia Dortmund this summer.
Sancho is set to become a free agent when his contract at Manchester United expires in the summer. He has spent the past two-and-a-half seasons out on loan, first with Dortmund and Chelsea, before joining Aston Villa for the 2025/26 campaign.
The winger has failed to do enough to persuade Villa to pursue a deal permanently, and a third spell at Dortmund now looks a concrete option.
Sancho has agreed in principle to return to the German side, despite rival offers, and is prepared to take a significant salary cut to facilitate the move. The 26-year-old has produced the best football of his career at the Westfalenstadion, where he returned 120 goals and assists in 158 games over two spells.
Sky Germany are reporting that the decision now rests on Dortmund, who have held initial exploratory talks with Sancho’s camp. Head coach Niko Kovac is keen to bring the winger back to the club, and a final decision will rest with managing director Lars Ricken.
A return to Germany would end an unhappy period in the Premier League for Sancho. He’s scored just 12 goals in 109 games in the Premier League, across three different clubs, since leaving Dortmund in a £72m deal in 2021.
Real Madrid could open the door to sell Arsenal’s summer target
Franco Mastantuono was one of the most sought-after young players in world football during the summer, with several leading clubs hoping to add him to their squads.
However, after a significant battle for his signature, Mastantuono ultimately chose to join Real Madrid instead of the other sides pursuing him.
Difficult Season In Madrid
Many expected the youngster to make an immediate impact at the Bernabeu, and he initially made a promising start to life in Spain.
Despite that early progress, the 18-year-old has since found opportunities harder to come by. As the season became more demanding, he lost his place in the side and is now receiving very limited minutes.
That situation is unlikely to be what Real Madrid had hoped for when they secured one of the game’s brightest prospects.
Young players often require regular football to continue their development, and a lack of game time can slow important progress during formative years.
As reported by Fichajes, Real Madrid are aware that Mastantuono needs consistent opportunities and are now prepared to sanction his departure at the end of the season.
Arsenal Could Revisit Interest
The report states that Madrid is open to sending him out on loan, although a permanent transfer could also be possible for the right fee.
That may reopen the door for Arsenal, who were previously linked with the player and could see an opportunity to strengthen with a highly rated young attacker.
A move to North London might offer Mastantuono a clearer pathway to regular football while allowing him to continue adapting to European competition.
Although still a teenager, he already possesses notable first-team experience, something that could make him a useful option for Arsenal if a deal were completed.
The Gunners have shown a willingness in recent seasons to invest in young talent with long-term potential, and Mastantuono would fit that profile.
Whether Arsenal decide to revive its interest remains uncertain, but his current lack of minutes in Madrid could create an opportunity that did not previously exist.
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Real Betis vs Real Madrid – Match preview and team news
Real Betis and Real Madrid go head-to-head in La Liga action on Friday night.
The visitors arrive aiming to put the pressure on Barcelona in the title race, while Betis battle for a top-five finish and potential Champions League qualification.
Real Betis vs Real Madrid – Match preview and team news
Date: Friday, 24 April 2026
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Venue: Estadio de La Cartuja
Team News
Real Madrid
Real Madrid heads into this clash grappling with a significant “double injury blow” that has prematurely ended the season for two vital players.
Following their midweek victory over Alavés, the club confirmed that both Éder Militão and Arda Güler suffered grade two hamstring tears, sidelining them for the final six matches of the campaign.
They join a busy treatment room that includes goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is recovering from a thigh issue, and Rodrygo, who remains out long-term with a cruciate ligament injury. On a more positive note, manager Álvaro Arbeloa welcomes back Raúl Asencio, who has recovered from a bacterial illness.
Despite the absences, the squad remains formidable, with a projected lineup featuring Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior leading the attack, supported by a midfield of Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde, as they aim to break their recent winless streak at the Estadio de La Cartuja.
Real Betis
Real Betis enters this fixture with a boost in attack but lingering concerns in their defensive line.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini welcomes back former Manchester United winger Antony, who is available for selection after serving a one-match suspension.
However, the backline is under pressure; Junior Firpo is officially ruled out with a muscle injury, while Diego Llorente and Ángel Ortiz remain doubtful as they face late fitness tests for ankle and shoulder issues, respectively.
Midfielder Marc Roca is expected to push through ongoing foot discomfort to start, delaying a potential surgery until the season’s end. Currently battling for a Europa League qualification spot, Betis will rely on the creativity of Pablo Fornals and Abde Ezzalzouli to challenge Real Madrid.
Form
Real Betis
Betis bounced back from a seven-game winless run in La Liga to beat Girona 3-2 last time out. The Spaniards came from behind to edge a five-goal thriller, courtesy of Rodrigo Riquelme’s 80th-minute goal. It was a much-needed result for Betis, whose top-four hopes faded amid recent results. Betis also suffered a disappointing Europa League quarter-final exit after losing 5-3 on aggregate to Braga.
Real Madrid
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side got back on track with a 2-1 win over Alaves in midweek. After a disappointing and dramatic Champions League exit to Bayern Munich, Los Blancos are facing a season without silverware. Real trail Barcelona by nine points in La Liga with six games to go. An inconsistent run, which includes three defeats in eight La Liga games, has opened up a significant gap.
Fantasy Premier League: FPL players to target for Blank Gameweek 34
There’s a big Fantasy Premier League blank gameweek this weekend with six teams out of action. FPL managers will be shuffling their squads to plug the gaps, with GW34 expected to be popular for remaining chips.
We’ve picked out five players to consider transferring in before the deadline.
Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United (£10.3m)
Bruno Fernandes has been one of the most reliable assets in FPL again this season and is chasing down personal history.
The Portugal international has five double-digit hauls at Old Trafford in his last six home appearances, during a remarkable run towards the Premier League’s assist record. He’s got 18 assists for the season to date, and needs three more in the final five games to eclipse Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s single-season record.
Jarrod Bowen – West Ham (£7.7m)
If anyone is going to dig West Ham out of trouble, it will be Jarrod Bowen. Even in a struggling side this season, the captain has impressed. He’s scored eight goals and created eight more in the Premier League this season, while he’s been perennially involved in West Ham’s best moments at the London Stadium.
Bowen has been directly involved in seven of the club’s last nine games on home soil, with a goal and six assists. His set pieces have been problematic with opposition sides, particularly targeting the in-form Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool (£14.5m)
Mohamed Salah has been largely overlooked for much of the campaign, with his 17.3% ownership far lower than recent seasons. The Egyptian’s drop-off has been stark, and he will leave Liverpool this summer.
However, Salah will have his sights on ensuring Champions League qualification first. He could be an option as those on a Free Hit reinvest funds saved from Erling Haaland’s absence.
Salah has 14 goals and assists in 17 career appearances against Crystal Palace. He’s also scored in three of his last four Premier League appearances.
Morgan Gibbs-White – Nottingham Forest
Morgan Gibbs-White has been key to Nottingham Forest’s climb away from trouble and scored his first career hat-trick in last weekend’s win over Burnley. A trip to Sunderland on Friday night is not the easiest of tasks, but form is with the midfielder, who has six goals in six games. Gibbs-White has 12 goals in the Premier League, a leading total among midfielders. Nine of those goals have come in a 14-game run to start 2026.
Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa (£8.7m)
Watkins is the most transferred-in player of the gameweek, with the Aston Villa forward having found form in recent weeks. The 30-year-old has scored six goals in his last five games across all competitions, adding an assist. Though Villa might have one eye on a looming Europa League semi-final next week, a Saturday lunchtime kick-off gives plenty of break between their trip to Fulham and the European tie.
Real Madrid team news and predicted lineup vs Real Betis
Real Madrid head to Real Betis in La Liga this evening knowing only a win will be enough to keep them in contention for the title.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side have fallen nine points adrift of Barcelona in the title race, with just six games to go. Los Blancos are up against it to overhaul their eternal rivals, but will hope to put the pressure on with three points this evening.
Betis are fifth in the table, a position that could deliver Champions League football. Spain currently hold second place in UEFA’s seasonal co-efficient table and are on course for an additional place in the competition.
Real Madrid team news
Alvaro Arbeloa remains without some big names, most notably Thiabaut Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper remains sidelined with a thigh issue, so Andriy Lunin will again deputise in goal.
Rodrygo remains a long-term absentee with an ACL injury that has also ended his World Cup hopes. The Brazilian has been joined in the treatment room by Eder Militao and Arda Guler, whose seasons is over. However, there is optimism that the duo can both return in time for the World Cup this summer.
Elsewhere, Raul Asencio could return to the squad after illness.
Real Madrid predicted lineup
Real Madrid predicted XI: Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Bellingham, Tchouameni, Diaz; Vinicius, Mbappe.
When is Real Betis vs Real Madrid?
Real Betis host Real Madrid in La Liga on Friday 24th April 2026. Kick-off at Estadio de La Cartuja is 8pm BST.
How to watch Real Betis vs Real Madrid
The fixture will be broadcast live in the UK on Premier Sports.
Moggi explains why he knew Conte would not join Juventus
Antonio Conte was widely tipped to return to Juventus at the end of last season, with the Bianconeri believed to be seeking an upgrade in management after Igor Tudor’s time in charge.
Conte had just guided Napoli to the Serie A title, and there was strong speculation that Juventus hoped he would leave the Partenopei and make a return to Turin.
However, events took a different turn. Conte reportedly held important discussions with the Napoli owner before agreeing to a new contract, bringing an end to Juventus’ hopes of securing his return.
Spalletti is widely regarded as a leading coach and has already shown why he is held in such high esteem. His recent work has helped improve performances and restore optimism around the club.
Former Juventus executive Luciano Moggi has now revealed that he always believed Conte would not be making a return.
As reported by Calciomercato, he said: “When everyone was saying last year that Conte would go to Juventus, he told me he would never go, yet that hype went on for months and months.”
His comments suggest that, despite the widespread rumours, Conte’s position may have been clearer behind the scenes than many believed.
Spalletti Making His Own Impact
Although Conte would have represented an experienced and high-profile appointment, Juventus now appear to have moved forward with another accomplished figure on the bench.
Spalletti has brought fresh energy to the side and has overseen encouraging progress in recent weeks. Improvements in structure, confidence and individual performances have all been noted since his arrival.
That progress means Juventus supporters may now feel less disappointment about missing out on Conte, particularly if current momentum continues.
There is no certainty that Conte would have delivered stronger results than those already being produced under Spalletti.
Outcomes often judge football decisions, and Juventus now seem focused on building under their current manager rather than revisiting missed opportunities from the past.
Tottenham keen to renegotiate new Joao Palhinha deal
Tottenham Hotspur are open to signing Joao Palhinha permanently from Bayern Munich, but want to renegotiate the terms of the deal.
Spurs signed Palhinha on a season-long loan deal last summer with an option to sign the Portugal international permanently. The potential fee involved is an initial €25m, which could raise to €30m with add-ons.
The North London side are not prepared to meeting that asking price, but have not ruled out a permanent deal. According to Sky Germany, Spurs are open to extending Palhinha’s time at the club, but only if Bayern lower the original asking price.
The 30-year-old has made 28 league appearances for Spurs this season, scoring three goals and providing two assists.
He has averaged more tackles per game than any player in the Spurs squad and ranks sixth in the Premier League for tackles won, despite only starting 19 games.
Bayern are open to his sale and will look to offload Palhinha to another Premier League team, if Spurs do not finalise a deal. Any transfer is dependent on Spurs surviving relegation this season.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 03: Chrisean Rock attends Normal Culture presents: Evolutionary Inception Fashion Show hosted by Winnie Stackz on February 03, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victoria Sirakova/Getty Images)
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On a weekend that is light in professional boxing events, Chrisean Rock's celebrity crossover fight could be the most compelling boxing card for fans to watch. The reality TV star makes her boxing debut against Zenith Zion. Interested? Here's all the info you need on the card and how you can watch.
What Time Does Chrisean Rock Vs. Zenith Zion Start And Where Is It?
The show begins at 7:30 p.m. ET. It's unclear when Rock and Zion will walk to the ring, and if you're interested in this fight, you'll definitely want to see the ring walks. However, it's safe to imagine we could see Rock and Zion in the ring between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET.
The XRumble Fighting Championships card comes from Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack in Chester, Pennsylvania, just outside Philly. The event window runs until around midnight ET.
How Can You Watch Chrisean Rock Vs. Zenith Zion?
The PPV cost isn't too bad. If this were the price for real boxing PPVs, most fans wouldn't complain. For this fight, we'll see how many fans are interested enough to tune in.
The card is exclusively on TrillerTV PPV for $29.99, with replays included once you buy in. There’s no DAZN, ESPN+ or traditional cable option for this one, so TrillerTV is the only route if you want to catch Rock and Zion live.
What Is The Full Card For Rock Vs. Zion?
Besides Rock, the other attraction for this card is the boxing debut of Fatimah Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s sister. We're looking at something of a variety fight night that might wind up as a guilty pleasure purchase for boxing fans.
Fatimah’s co-main opponent is Venus Marcial, and the undercard fills out with additional bouts, celebrity appearances and a ring-girl competition. Rock has been training under Calvin Ford, Gervonta Davis’ longtime coach, after an early viral sparring session with Ryan Garcia. Zion, a former AWA Women’s Television Champion from Philly, was selected out of 5,824 applicants who wanted the fight.
Main Event: Chrisean "Holy Hands" Rock vs. Zenith Zion — 3 rounds, women's celebrity boxing
Co-Main: Fatimah Mayweather vs. Vicious Venus Marcial — boxing debut for Mayweather
Undercard: Additional bouts announced at XRumble's March 18 press conference, specific pairings TBA
Entertainment: Live music performances, AllHipHop Music Performance Contest, celebrity guests, hosted by Josh from YNC
Should You Pay $29.99 For Chrisean Rock Vs. Zenith Zion?
I'll never tell another boxing fan how to spend their money. If you're legitimately interested, go for it. I'll be watching and I'll have the results and perhaps highlights from the event.
The 3-round main event limits what either fighter can do, and both enter 0-0 with no pro experience, so manage expectations on the quality of the boxing itself. If the appeal for you is the spectacle side of the sport, this one is priced right for a curiosity buy.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
LINE: Dodgers -163, Cubs +137; over/under is 9 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Chicago Cubs to start a three-game series.
Los Angeles has a 17-8 record overall and a 9-3 record at home. The Dodgers have the best team batting average in MLB play at .280.
Chicago has a 5-4 record in road games and a 16-9 record overall. Cubs hitters have a collective .357 on-base percentage, the highest percentage in the majors.
Friday's game is the first time these teams meet this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Andy Pages has a .337 batting average to lead the Dodgers, and has four doubles and five home runs. Max Muncy is 13 for 36 with four home runs and five RBIs over the last 10 games.
Nico Hoerner has seven doubles and four home runs for the Cubs. Alex Bregman is 14 for 43 with two doubles, a triple and three RBIs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Dodgers: 6-4, .263 batting average, 2.72 ERA, outscored opponents by 20 runs
INJURIES: Dodgers: Landon Knack: 15-Day IL (undisclosed), Brock Stewart: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jake Cousins: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gavin Stone: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Kike Hernandez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bobby Miller: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brusdar Graterol: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Evan Phillips: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tommy Edman: 10-Day IL (ankle), Edwin Diaz: 15-Day IL (elbow), Blake Snell: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Mookie Betts: 10-Day IL (back), Ben Casparius: 15-Day IL (shoulder)
Cubs: Caleb Thielbar: day-to-day (hamstring), Jordan Wicks: 15-Day IL (forearm), Shelby Miller: 60-Day IL (elbow), Porter Hodge: 15-Day IL (elbow), Phil Maton: 15-Day IL (knee), Ethan Roberts: 15-Day IL (finger), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow), Christopher Austin: 60-Day IL (knee), Daniel Palencia: 15-Day IL (oblique), Hunter Harvey: 15-Day IL (tricep), Cade Horton: 60-Day IL (forearm)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Mariners -161, Cardinals +135; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game series at home against the Seattle Mariners on Friday.
St. Louis has a 7-5 record in home games and a 14-10 record overall. Cardinals hitters have a collective .375 slugging percentage to rank ninth in the NL.
Seattle has an 11-15 record overall and a 1-8 record in road games. The Mariners have a 4-2 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.
The matchup Friday is the first meeting this season between the two clubs.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jordan Walker leads the Cardinals with eight home runs while slugging .607. Ivan Herrera is 11 for 38 with three home runs and six RBIs over the last 10 games.
Randy Arozarena has six doubles and two home runs for the Mariners. Cal Raleigh is 12 for 41 with two doubles, three home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cardinals: 6-4, .237 batting average, 4.70 ERA, outscored by three runs
Mariners: 4-6, .269 batting average, 4.13 ERA, outscored by five runs
INJURIES: Cardinals: Hunter Dobbins: 15-Day IL (knee), Matt Pushard: 15-Day IL (knee), Lars Nootbaar: 60-Day IL (heels)
Mariners: Victor Robles: 10-Day IL (pectoral), Logan Evans: 60-Day IL (arm), Carlos Vargas: 60-Day IL (lat), Miles Mastrobuoni: 60-Day IL (calf), Brendan Donovan: 10-Day IL (groin), Bryce Miller: 15-Day IL (oblique), Patrick Wisdom: 10-Day IL (oblique)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Royals -116, Angels -104; over/under is 9 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals begin a three-game series at home against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.
Kansas City has an 8-17 record overall and a 6-7 record at home. The Royals are 1-5 in games decided by one run.
Los Angeles has a 12-14 record overall and a 7-7 record on the road. Angels pitchers have a collective 3.99 ERA, which ranks fifth in the AL.
Friday's game is the first time these teams meet this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Maikel Garcia has six doubles and two home runs while hitting .265 for the Royals. Vinnie Pasquantino is 6 for 39 with a double, a triple and three home runs over the past 10 games.
Nolan Schanuel has four doubles, three home runs and 18 RBIs for the Angels. Mike Trout is 10 for 35 with a double and six home runs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 1-9, .236 batting average, 6.19 ERA, outscored by 25 runs
INJURIES: Royals: James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bailey Falter: 15-Day IL (elbow), Maikel Garcia: day-to-day (elbow), Stephen Kolek: 15-Day IL (oblique), Carlos Estevez: 15-Day IL (foot), Jonathan India: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
Angels: Kirby Yates: 15-Day IL (knee), Ryan Johnson: 15-Day IL (illness), Robert Stephenson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Grayson Rodriguez: 15-Day IL (arm), Ben Joyce: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Anthony Rendon: 60-Day IL (hip), Alek Manoah: 15-Day IL (finger)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag is getting a full remake on PC and current-gen consoles Ubisoft has officially unveiled Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, a full remake of 2013’s Assassin’s Creed Black Flag. The game is due to launch on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on July 9th, with the PC version coming to the […]
Saros protagonist Arjun, for all of the scattered bits and pieces of his backstory that Housemarque dripfeeds to the player, is a pretty awful main character when you take a step back from the sci-fi mythology and look over his shoulder at the way he interacts with his colleagues and chases after his missing partner. Arjun is a flawed man with anger issues toward his father, which manifest in the brief backstory vignettes players stitch together over the course of death and rebirth. The entire time I spent on Carcosa in his standard-issue space boots was watching a man who […]
Intel has confirmed that it will have multiple internal chip tape-outs using the 14A process technology, which will be seen as the Foundry's cleverest move to date. Intel Wants More Customers To Use 14A, And What Best Way To Make It Possible By Exerting Confidence With Its Own Products Using the Technology. Intel has gained Tesla as a 14A customer, which is the Foundry's biggest win so far, and they also have multiple external customers lining up as the company finalizes its 0.9 PDK. But while the 14A interest is gaining momentum, Intel just added a multiplier to the equation, […]
Intel has officially announced that its 18AP and 14A nodes are seeing big customer engagements, with 14A already securing a win at Tesla. Intel 18AP & 14A Were Chipzilla's Biggest Bets, & They're Paying Off With Tesla Just Being The Beginning of What's To Come! During its Q1 2026 earnings call, Intel's CEO Lip-Bu Tan confirmed the recent partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX, xAI, and Tesla to support the Terafab project. It was already confirmed that the 14A process tech will be deployed at TeraFab, marking a huge confidence boost for the chipmaker, which has spent years finding big names […]
Ekcho lets you broadcast your voice under a pseudonym so you can speak freely without showing your real name or face. Create a voice name in seconds, record anything, and share it for others to play. Explore recent broadcasts in the feed and listen to what people really think. Speak without pressure, be heard, and keep your identity private.
Cognitive Rebase is an AI enablement program for engineering teams that replaces classroom workshops with adaptive tracks and micro-coaching. It teaches executable specs with TDD, context isolation via hexagonal design, and small, verifiable steps so teams ship deterministic, auditable AI-augmented code. Teams get an AI avatar coach or a clone of your leadership, team-wide onboarding, and weekly upskilling reports. Engagements range from self-guided tracks to a 6-month partner retainer.
Cambodia Joins Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam in a Groundbreaking Tourism Revolution: Southeast Asia’s Boldest Move to Dominate Global Travel!Cambodia joins...
Ethiopian Airlines Commemorates 80 Years of Service with Special Lagos Event, Reinforcing Africa’s Air ConnectivityEthiopian Airlines celebrates its 80th anniversary...
An alleged Galaxy Z Flip 7 has made its debut on Geekbench with Android 17-based One UI 9 operating system. This is the same software Samsung has been developing for the Galaxy S26 series inside its software labs.
Galaxy Z Flip 7 running One UI 9 atop Android 17 scored decent scores on Geekbench. The device reached 2275 in single-core and 7843 in multi-core. It’s said that the Flip phone was running firmware version F766USQU9CZDF.
Geekbench 6.7.0 scores
Single-Core Score: 2275
Multi-Core Score: 7843
Samsung’s SM-F766U entry is live on Geekbench, but it could also be a spoof listing, as mentioned by tipster MohammedKhatri. Judging from the chip specs, it seems a genuine device, powered by a deca-core Exynos 2600 processor.
Geekbench scores are largely identical to the models running Stable One UI 8. As the development progresses, the scores will improve as well.
Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 will receive One UI 9 Beta with Android 17 in the near future. The Beta Program will first arrive for the Galaxy S26 series. Meanwhile, the software will make its official debut with the Z8 series.
Google recently released Android 17 QPR1 Beta 1 for Pixel phones. One UI 8.5 is reportedly built on Android 16’s QPR2 version. The next major upgrade may not be actually major, just like the Android 16-based One UI 8.
Galaxy Z Flip 7’s entry follows the Galaxy S26 Ultra on Geekbench. We are actively seeing early visuals from the internal One UI 9 firmware. The development is going well, with the addition of new features also progressing.
MicroStrategy is pushing a new narrative around Bitcoin, with CEO Phong Le detailing how the firm is building a yield-driven system around BTC.
Le described the approach as a “digital credit ecosystem,” where capital is deployed into Bitcoin-linked strategies with target returns as high as 30%, and a portion of that yield is passed back to investors holding preferred shares like STRC.
Step-by-Step: How the Model Works
Le broke the structure down clearly, drawing direct comparisons to traditional finance:
Step 1: Capital Base Is Built
The company first raises capital from investors, similar to how banks collect deposits. These investors become the “capital holders” in the system.
Step 2: Capital Is Deployed Into Bitcoin
Instead of issuing mortgages or car loans, Strategy allocates that capital into Bitcoin-related opportunities, targeting high-yield exposure (hypothetically ~30% ARR).
Step 3: Yield Is Generated From Deployment
The return comes from how that capital interacts with the Bitcoin ecosystem. While exact mechanisms aren’t fully detailed, the key idea is that Bitcoin becomes the base layer where returns are generated.
Step 4: A Portion Is Paid Back to Holders
Just like banks share interest with depositors, Strategy distributes part of the yield back to investors. Le referenced returns in the range of 7.5% to 11.5% going back to preferred shareholders.
The Traditional Finance Comparison
Le directly compared this to banking models, where institutions issue loans at 5% to 30% returns, depending on risk, and pass a share of that yield to depositors.
The difference is that Strategy is not lending to consumers or businesses. Instead, it is allocating capital into Bitcoin as the core layer of yield generation.
“Banks earn 5-30% yields on loans, then share a portion with depositors. That is how the digital credit ecosystem works,” he said.
What This Means
Phong Le is arguing that MicroStrategy isn’t a bank, but it’s using a similar playbook—taking capital, deploying it into Bitcoin to generate returns, and then sharing a portion of that yield back with investors. That’s what he calls “digital credit.”
“So that entire ecosystem of a bank, and we’re not a bank, right? But the ecosystem of a bank providing loans out, getting your percentage, and providing part of that back to a capital holder, that’s what digital credit is,” he added.
If this scales, Bitcoin shifts from just being held for gains to becoming part of a system where money flows in, earns yield, and pays out, like a credit market built on BTC.
It’s still early, but it gives enough room for investors to think that in the near term, Bitcoin could be positioned as the base layer for a new digital credit system.
You have to be able and willing to afford tablets from Apple. However, there are also tablets in the Californian company's portfolio that don't completely break the budget and still offer impressive performance: the iPad Air 13 2026, for example.
Microsoft’s Windows 11 KB5083769 April 2026 update causes critical boot failures, pixelated BSODs, and BitLocker recovery loops on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 PCs.
Samsung has expanded the devices available under its Certified Re-Newed program in the US. Buyers can now purchase 2025's Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, albeit in limited color options.
TCL has announced the upcoming launch of its new A400 Pro NXTVISION TV in Europe. This art TV has a woodgrain finish frame and a matte screen to make it look like a piece of art when not in use. Other features of the 4K include an up to 288Hz refresh rate, the Google TV interface and support for Dolby Vision IQ.
U.S. authorities have frozen more than $701 million in cryptocurrency tied to investment scams targeting Americans as part of an ongoing crackdown. The U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday that the funds were restrained through coordination with crypto exchanges and…
Morgan Stanley has introduced a new portfolio designed to hold stablecoin reserves within its money market fund structure. According to Morgan Stanley, the “Stablecoin Reserves Portfolio” allows issuers to place backing assets into its Institutional Liquidity Funds trust while earning…
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