Snooker legend and BBC commentator John Virgo has died aged 79.

Virgo enjoyed an 18-year professional career, winning the UK Championship and reaching the semi-finals of the World Championship in 1979.

He is perhaps best known for his post-playing career, presenting snooker TV programme Big Break alongside comedian Jim Davidson from 1991 to 2002.

Following his retirement from playing in 1994, Virgo became a BBC commentator.

His last commentary for the BBC came 17 days ago when Kyren Wilson beat John Higgins in the Masters final.

Virgo was a popular commentator, with his famous "where's the cue ball going?" catchphrase when a player was close to committing a foul.

Four-time world champion Mark Selby said: "So sad to hear the news of the passing of John Virgo! Such a great guy and a huge character! He will be greatly missed! RIP JV."

A World Snooker statement read: "Everyone at World Snooker Tour is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of legendary snooker player and broadcaster John Virgo."

Virgo, who was born in Salford in 1946, had two children - Gary and Brooke-Leah.

• Virgo on the Snookered podcast in 2023
• Virgo speaking on the Framed podcast

Everton have sacked manager Brian Sorensen only three days after their first home win of the Women's Super League season.

They are fourth from bottom of the table under Sorensen, who was appointed in 2022.

"Sunday's first win of the season at Goodison Park was important, but it has become evident that a change of direction is necessary to ensure the progression on the pitch we are all striving for," read an Everton statement.

Coaches Stephen Neligan and Ashley Toole have also left the club.

Everton Under-18s coach Scott Phelan, 37, will take charge of the women's team for the rest of the season.

Women's first-team coach Jennifer Foster will remain at the club to work alongside Phelan, as will goalkeeping coach Ian McCaldon.

More to follow.

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

• Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page

Over the last two years, the offensive line for the New Orleans Saints has been among the worst in the NFL. They were especially awful in the middle, with the team needing major upgrades at the guard positions heading into the 2026 offseason. Another reason for poor play inside has been due to the absence of Erik McCoy, one of the league's most underrated centers. Injuries limited McCoy to only to just seven games in 2024. The injury bug bit McCoy again in 2025, when a torn biceps ended his season after only seven contests. The difference was incredibly noticeable and crippling.

Late in the 2025 preseason, the Saints swung a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to bring in veteran offensive lineman Luke Fortner. A third round pick by the Jaguars in the 2022 NFL draft, Fortner had started all 34 games over his first two years and had experience at both guard and center. As it turned out, the Saints needed that experience more than they'd originally anticipated.

Luke Fortner Year in Review

• Position: Center
• Age: 27
• Height: 6-feet, 4 inches
• Weight: 307 pounds
• NFL experience: 4 years (1st with Saints)
• 2025 season: 17 games (10 starts)

Immediately after their preseason game against Jacksonville in August, the Saints traded defensive tackle Khalen Saunders to the Jaguars in exchange for Fortner. The goal was to strengthen the weak interior of their offensive line with the fourth-year pro. Over the first six games, Fortner would play just six offensive snaps in reserve duty. After McCoy went down in Week 7 against Chicago, Fortner would start the remaining 10 games in his center spot.

While guard play was putrid with Dillon Radunz and Cesar Ruiz, Fortner was adequate at center. He isn't nearly the technician and doesn't have the power of McCoy. However, Fortner was decent in pass protection and a solid finesse run blocker. Fortner played every offensive snap for the Saints over the last 10 games, the only New Orleans offensive lineman to do so.

Luke Fortner is officially a free agent in March. Don't be surprised if the Saints attempt to bring him back on a reasonable deal. New Orleans should upgrade their guard spots, but Fortner brings valuable starting experience along the inside and provides some insurance behind Erik McCoy.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints 2025 Year in Review: Luke Fortner was an underrated pickup

Florian Wirtz Leads Liverpool Revival as David Lynch Highlights Rising Influence

Mood Shift Following Newcastle Statement Win

Liverpool’s emphatic victory over Newcastle United did more than deliver three points. It marked a turning point in atmosphere, narrative, and confidence at Anfield following a turbulent January period.

Speaking on Anfield Index’s Media Matters, respected journalist David Lynch reflected on how quickly perceptions can shift when performances improve. He emphasised that speculation around transfers, press conferences, and long-term planning quickly fades when results arrive.

“It just helps when you get a good performance and a good win,” Lynch explained. “All the talk about what Arne Slot is saying, what’s happening in the transfer market, this, that and the other, it all boils down to results.”

Liverpool’s display against Newcastle provided exactly that reset. After early discomfort, the team asserted control, delivered goals, and restored belief among supporters.

Crucially, this shift coincided with Florian Wirtz reaching a new level of authority in Liverpool’s attacking structure. His influence became central to the game’s momentum and its outcome.

Wirtz’s “Pure Magic” in Tight Spaces

Florian Wirtz’s performance against Newcastle underlined why Liverpool invested so heavily in his potential. Operating increasingly in central areas, he dictated tempo, created openings, and delivered decisive moments.

David Lynch was clear in his assessment of Wirtz’s assist for Hugo Ekitike.

“That assist is exactly what you thought Florian Wirtz would be,” he said. “A mass of bodies in the box, a low block, and he just jinks past a couple, little cut-back, and all of a sudden the ball is in the back of the net.”

Lynch described the moment as “pure magic,” highlighting Wirtz’s ability to find solutions when space is limited.

“It’s just pure magic,” he added. “Exactly what we expected him to do and hoped that he would do.”

Beyond that single action, Wirtz’s overall contribution reflected his growing maturity. He repeatedly carried the ball through pressure, linked midfield and attack, and provided clarity in possession.

“He’s just adding to it now, isn’t he?” Lynch observed. “He’s adding the goals and the assists every week now to already being a brilliant quality player.”

The consistency of Wirtz’s output has become as important as his technical flair. He is no longer delivering isolated moments, but sustained influence.

Central Role and Tactical Evolution Under Slot

One of the most significant developments in Wirtz’s Liverpool career has been his transition into a central attacking role. Initially deployed wide to provide balance, he is now increasingly trusted as the primary creative hub.

David Lynch explained that this evolution had always been part of Arne Slot’s long-term vision.

“Slot always said the long-term plan was for him to play a lot of games in the ten,” Lynch noted. “So to see him go back there and be so influential is really encouraging.”

Against Newcastle, this approach proved effective. Despite early pressure, Liverpool retained structural discipline while maximising Wirtz’s creativity.

“They can be a balanced team with him in there,” Lynch said. “If they get the selection right around him and the relationships are right.”

Importantly, Wirtz’s defensive contribution has supported this balance.

“He covers a lot of distance and he presses well,” Lynch added. “That’s something you’ve got to say about him.”

Rather than being a luxury playmaker, Wirtz is becoming a complete attacking midfielder, capable of shaping games on and off the ball.

“That’s Why Liverpool Paid So Much” for Wirtz

As Wirtz continues to deliver decisive performances, his value to Liverpool becomes increasingly evident.

David Lynch was unequivocal about the significance of his development.

“He’s a world-class player,” he said. “That’s why Liverpool paid so much for him.”

This assessment reflects both present impact and future potential. At just 22, Wirtz is still refining his game, yet he already influences matches at the highest level.

“He can continue to get better as well,” Lynch added. “That’s really exciting.”

His combination with Hugo Ekitike has strengthened Liverpool’s attacking identity, while his leadership in possession provides stability during difficult phases.

With goals, assists, pressing, and creativity now arriving consistently, Wirtz is emerging as one of the defining figures of Liverpool’s new era.

As Lynch concluded, his progress is impossible to ignore.

“He’s getting better and better every week,” he said. “I’m really enjoying watching him.”

For Liverpool, that development could prove decisive in the second half of the season. With Wirtz at the heart of the system, supported by improving cohesion around him, the club appears increasingly equipped to meet its domestic and European ambitions.

Jess Fishlock says she is "fleshing out the details" over a potential role with Wales following her retirement from international football.

Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson said in December that she hoped Fishlock, who ended her stellar international career last October, would join her coaching staff for the start of World Cup qualifying in March.

Seattle Reign midfielder Fishlock, 39, says her phone "blew up" after Wilkinson's comments – and that she got a telling off from her mother because she found out the news from the media rather than her daughter.

"My mum saw it and asked, are you working for Rhian? She got me in trouble," Fishlock said.

On whether she has spoken to Wilkinson and what the role might be, Fishlock said: "I can't say, but we had a brief conversation about me being involved and what it would look like - I just didn't realise it would go public.

"But we have had conversations, we are on the same page, just fleshing out the details."

Fishlock is Wales' record appearance maker and goalscorer, having won 166 senior caps and scored 48 times.

She stepped away from Wales duty in the wake of Euro 2025, the country's first major international women's football tournament, insisting it was "the right time" after her farewell appearance in a friendly against Australia.

On the idea of playing some part for Wales in their 2027 World Cup qualifiers against Czech Republic and Montenegro in March, Fishlock remains coy.

"I would love to stay involved in some capacity; it wasn't a clean break - I still text the girls all the time. But we will just wait and see," Fishlock told BBC Sport.

Fishlock played 18 times for Seattle Reign last season and helped them qualify for the end-of-season play-offs in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Her contribution at club level has led some in Wales to suggest she could still play a full part as Wilkinson's team attempt to qualify for the Women's World Cup finals for the first time.

But though Fishlock says she misses her international team-mates, she has reiterated that the time has come for the next generation to take over.

"People have said, if you are back you may as well play," she says. "But it is still the right time not to play internationals.

"I still want to help any way I can, my experience being around might help. But no, no thoughts about coming out of retirement."

Fishlock also has no regrets about the Euros, despite Wales being outclassed in a group with France, Netherlands and eventual champions England.

Wales lost all three games while conceding 13 goals, leaving them with the worst group stage record in the history of the competition.

"I still look back at it with such pride and joy," Fishlock says. "Getting to represent the entire country, it was even more impactful that I thought it was going to be.

"Seeing how Wales showed up for us, that was the best part of it all. As a competitor it hurt, but the whole world seeing who we are as a nation overrides it.

"I still get goosebumps coming out for the first game [versus Netherlands] and seeing the Red Wall - it will stay with me forever."

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

• Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page

The men's T20 World Cup starts on Saturday against a backdrop of political tension.

The tournament, which features 20 teams, will be held in India and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh are boycotting it after a request for their fixtures to be switched from India to Sri Lanka was refused by the sport's governing body.

Their place in Group C has been taken by Scotland.

Pakistan had considered boycotting but have since confirmed they will take part, though will not play their scheduled match against India.

Why are Bangladesh boycotting?

Bangladesh had asked for their games to be switched from India, citing safety concerns amid growing tensions between the countries.

Relations between the South Asian neighbours have soured since former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in 2024, following deadly protests.

India has not agreed to send her back despite several requests, and violent protests broke out after Sharif Osman Hadi - a prominent student leader in Bangladesh - was shot dead.

India itself has raised concerns over violence targeting members of the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh.

In December, a Hindu man was accused of blasphemy and beaten to death by a mob in an incident that resulted in protests by Hindu nationalist groups in India.

Against that political backdrop, Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman in January after being instructed to do so by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

In response, Bangladeshi authorities banned broadcasts of the IPL in the country.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board then requested that their World Cup fixtures be played in Sri Lanka.

The International Cricket Council - the sport's governing body - rejected that request, saying there was an "absence of any credible security threat" and gave the BCB a final 24 hours in which to declare their participation.

When that deadline passed, Scotland were invited to the tournament.

The ICC said it was keen not to establish "precedents that could undermine the neutrality and fairness of ICC events".

Why are Pakistan boycotting their game against India?

Pakistan are boycotting their match against India, which was scheduled to take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 15 February.

In a statement, the Pakistan government said it granted "approval" to the team's participation in the tournament but they "shall not take to the field" for the match against India.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi previously said the team could pull out completely after Bangladesh were removed from the tournament.

Pakistan and India have not faced each other outside men's major tournaments since 2013, and India have not played in Pakistan since 2008.

Pakistan did not host any touring nations between 2009 and 2019 following the Lahore attack on Sri Lanka's team bus, which killed six policemen and two civilians.

Pakistani players have also been banned from the IPL since 2009 following the Mumbai attacks that left 174 people - including nine gunmen - dead.

Last year India refused to travel to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy and eventually played their matches in the United Arab Emirates.

It resulted in the two nations signing an agreement stating the two countries would play at neutral venues whenever one of them hosts an ICC event.

The neighbours have fought a number of wars and had several military stand-offs since the partition of India in 1947, when the nation was split into India and the new state of Pakistan. It created an upsurge of violence, in which approximately 15 million people were displaced and an estimated one million died.

Recent escalations were sparked after the neighbours engaged in a four-day military conflict in April 2025 following a deadly militant attack on tourists in India-administered Kashmir.

How did the ICC respond?

The ICC said Pakistan's stance was "difficult to reconcile" and called on the country's cricket chiefs to explore a "mutually acceptable resolution".

The governing body said that "selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions".

It said it "respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy" but continued: "This decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan."

It added it hoped the PCB would "consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country".

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is among those who have accused the ICC of mishandling the situation.

In a post on X, he said: "It's regrettable that Pakistan won't play India, but I stand behind my government's decision.

"This is the moment for the ICC to lead and prove through decisions, not statements, that it is impartial, independent and fair to every member."

Matches between Pakistan and India can draw huge TV audiences.

Reportedly, more than 600 million people watched last year's Champions Trophy fixture on Indian streaming platform JioHotstar.

Will Pakistan be punished?

The ICC has not published its playing conditions for the tournament so it is not known what sanction Pakistan could face.

However, the rules for the previous tournament stated: "If the match is decided by one side conceding defeat or refusing to play, the result shall be stated as match conceded or match awarded, as the case may be."

It is assumed India will be awarded two points for a win and Pakistan's net run-rate will also be hit by the forfeiture.

Pakistan face the Netherlands, USA and Namibia in their other group-stage games, and it is unclear what could happen if they were to face India in the final.

Teams have pulled out of tournament fixtures before, with Australia and the West Indies both deciding not to travel to Colombo in the 1996 World Cup that was co-hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

England also decided not to play their 2003 World Cup match against Zimbabwe in Harare, citing security concerns and social unrest in the country.

None of those nations received a subsequent fine or punishment from the ICC, though all forfeited the matches.

What could happen in the long term?

Both Pakistan and Bangladesh could receive other sanctions as the ICC has a precedent for punishing governments who interfere in the game.

Under article 2.4 of the ICC constitution, it outlines boards must manage their affairs "autonomously and ensure that there is no government (or other public or quasi-public body) interference in its governance, regulation and/or administration of cricket".

In 2019, Zimbabwe were suspended for three months after the government replaced the cricket board, leading to a freeze on funding and exclusion from World Cup qualifiers.

Four years later, Sri Lanka also lost the right to host the Under-19 World Cup after its government dismissed the national board following poor performances.

Both nations later had their ICC membership restored.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

More questions answered...

• ICC Men's T20 World Cup - everything you need to know
• Who owns the teams competing in The Hundred?
• What is the 'designated batters' rule introduced by Big Bash League?

England hooker Curtis Langdon has become the latest Northampton Saints player to sign a new contract with the Prem leaders.

The 28-year-old made his 50th appearance for the club in last season's European Champions Cup final against Bordeaux and will extend his time at Franklin's Gardens.

He has been unable to add to that tally in the current campaign because he is still recovering from shoulder surgery.

Langdon won his first two caps against the US and Canada in 2021 and added two more during England's summer tour last year.

"Curt has had an enormous impact at Saints. He's an outstanding talent, and he's worked very hard over the last couple of years to put himself back into international contention," said Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson.

"His physicality, his ability to break a game open, his offloading skills, and his knack for being in the right place at the right time because he reads play so well make him a top class hooker."

• Hendy sign new Northampton Saints deal
• Lock Prowse signs new Northampton contract

Langdon, whose brother Nathan also played for the club before being released at the end of last season, is hoping to play again "at the back end of the season".

"Mentally, this season has been one of the toughest of my career as I've worked through my first surgery," he said.

"The support the club has shown me throughout my recovery – especially from our head of medical, Matt Lee – has been outstanding, and has helped me push through the difficult moments.

"Staying positive during rehab has also been so much easier because of how well the team has been playing."

Northampton did not disclose the length of the contract.

MILAN (AP) — Norwegian skier Nikolai Schirmer on Wednesday handed the International Olympic Committee a petition signed by more than 21,000 people and professional athletes who want to stop fossil fuel companies from sponsoring winter sports.

Schirmer delivered the “Ski Fossil Free” petition to the IOC's head of sustainability, Julie Duffus, at a hotel in the Italian city of Milan two days before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics kick off.

The petition asks the IOC and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, FIS, to publish a report evaluating the appropriateness of fossil fuel marketing before next season. Schirmer, a filmmaker and two-time European Skier of the Year, spoke exclusively with The Associated Press outside the hotel, and said the IOC informed him that it would not allow media to witness their meeting.

“It seems like the Olympics aren’t ready to be the positive force for change that they have the potential to be,” Schirmer told the AP afterward. “So I just hope this can be a little nudge in the right direction, but we will see.”

Retreating winters spurred the skier to take action

Schirmer is a freeride skier who documents his adventures exploring Europe’s steep terrains. While freeride skiing is not currently an Olympic event, he said he felt like he needed to bring attention to fossil fuel marketing.

“The show goes on while the things you depend on to do your job — winter — is disappearing in front of your very eyes,” he said. “Not dealing with the climate crisis and not having skiing be a force for change just felt insane. We’re on the front lines.”

Burning fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – is the largest contributor to global climate change by far. As the Earth warms at a record rate, winters are shorter and milder and there is less snow globally, creating clear challenges for winter sports that depend on cold, snowy conditions. Researchers say the list of locales that could reliably host a Winter Games will shrink substantially in the coming years.

Schirmer launched his petition drive in January. He surpassed his goal of 20,000 signatures in one month, and people continue to sign.

It's a first step, he argues, much like a campaign nearly 40 years ago that led to a ban of tobacco advertising at the Games. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged every country to ban advertising from fossil fuel companies.

In his meeting on Wednesday, Schirmer said, the IOC's head of sustainability pointed to the organization's commitments to renewable energy. He said he feels that isn't enough.

The IOC told the AP in a statement that climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing sport and society. It didn’t say whether it will review fossil fuel marketing, as demanded by the petition.

Olympic partners play an important role in supporting the Games, and they include those investing in clean energy, the statement said.

FIS welcomes mobilization campaigns like this one, spokesperson Bruno Sassi said. He noted that He noted that no fossil fuel companies are partners of the FIS World Cup and FIS World Championships.

Athletes say the petition is the start of a conversation

Athlete-driven environmental group “Protect Our Winters” supported the petition drive. This is the first coordinated campaign about fossil fuel advertising centered around an Olympic Games, POW's CEO Erin Sprague told the AP.

American cross-country skier and Team USA member Gus Schumacher said he signed because it starts the conversation.

“It’s short-sighted for teams and events to take money from these companies in exchange for helping them hold status as good, long-term energy producers,” he wrote in a text message.

American cross-country skier Jack Berry said he’s hopeful this is an influential step toward a systemic shift away from the industry. Berry is seeking a spot on Team USA for the Paralympics in March.

An Italian oil and gas company is sponsoring these Olympics

Italy's Eni, one of the world’s seven supermajor oil companies, is a “premium partner” of these Winter Games. Other oil and gas companies sponsor Olympic teams.

Eni said it's strongly committed to the energy transition, as evidenced by how it's growing its lower carbon businesses, reducing emissions and aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. And the company defended its role in the Winter Games.

“Through the partnership with the biggest event hosted by Italy in the next 20 years, Eni wants to confirm its commitment to the future of the country and to a progressively more sustainable energy system through a fair transition path,” spokesperson Roberto Albini wrote in an e-mail.

A January report found that promoting polluting companies at the Olympics will grow their businesses and lead to more greenhouse gas emissions that warm the planet and melt snow cover and glacier ice. Albini disputed the emissions calculations for Eni in the Olympics Torched report.

Published by the New Weather Institute in collaboration with Scientists for Global Responsibility and Champions for Earth, the report also looks at the Games' own emissions.

“They have lots of sponsors that aren't in these sectors,” said Stuart Parkinson, executive director at Scientists for Global Responsibility. “You can get the sponsorship money you're after by focusing on those areas, much lower carbon areas. That reduces the carbon footprint.”

___

McDermott reported from Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy.

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

___

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

MILAN (AP) — Norwegian skier Nikolai Schirmer on Wednesday handed the International Olympic Committee a petition signed by more than 21,000 people and professional athletes who want to stop fossil fuel companies from sponsoring winter sports.

Schirmer delivered the “Ski Fossil Free” petition to the IOC's head of sustainability, Julie Duffus, at a hotel in the Italian city of Milan two days before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics kick off.

The petition asks the IOC and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, FIS, to publish a report evaluating the appropriateness of fossil fuel marketing before next season. Schirmer, a filmmaker and two-time European Skier of the Year, spoke exclusively with The Associated Press outside the hotel, and said the IOC informed him that it would not allow media to witness their meeting.

“It seems like the Olympics aren’t ready to be the positive force for change that they have the potential to be,” Schirmer told the AP afterward. “So I just hope this can be a little nudge in the right direction, but we will see.”

Retreating winters spurred the skier to take action

Schirmer is a freeride skier who documents his adventures exploring Europe’s steep terrains. While freeride skiing is not currently an Olympic event, he said he felt like he needed to bring attention to fossil fuel marketing.

“The show goes on while the things you depend on to do your job — winter — is disappearing in front of your very eyes,” he said. “Not dealing with the climate crisis and not having skiing be a force for change just felt insane. We’re on the front lines.”

Burning fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – is the largest contributor to global climate change by far. As the Earth warms at a record rate, winters are shorter and milder and there is less snow globally, creating clear challenges for winter sports that depend on cold, snowy conditions. Researchers say the list of locales that could reliably host a Winter Games will shrink substantially in the coming years.

Schirmer launched his petition drive in January. He surpassed his goal of 20,000 signatures in one month, and people continue to sign.

It's a first step, he argues, much like a campaign nearly 40 years ago that led to a ban of tobacco advertising at the Games. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged every country to ban advertising from fossil fuel companies.

In his meeting on Wednesday, Schirmer said, the IOC's head of sustainability pointed to the organization's commitments to renewable energy. He said he feels that isn't enough.

The IOC told the AP in a statement that climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing sport and society. It didn’t say whether it will review fossil fuel marketing, as demanded by the petition.

Olympic partners play an important role in supporting the Games, and they include those investing in clean energy, the statement said.

FIS welcomes mobilization campaigns like this one, spokesperson Bruno Sassi said. He noted that He noted that no fossil fuel companies are partners of the FIS World Cup and FIS World Championships.

Athletes say the petition is the start of a conversation

Athlete-driven environmental group “Protect Our Winters” supported the petition drive. This is the first coordinated campaign about fossil fuel advertising centered around an Olympic Games, POW's CEO Erin Sprague told the AP.

American cross-country skier and Team USA member Gus Schumacher said he signed because it starts the conversation.

“It’s short-sighted for teams and events to take money from these companies in exchange for helping them hold status as good, long-term energy producers,” he wrote in a text message.

American cross-country skier Jack Berry said he’s hopeful this is an influential step toward a systemic shift away from the industry. Berry is seeking a spot on Team USA for the Paralympics in March.

An Italian oil and gas company is sponsoring these Olympics

Italy's Eni, one of the world’s seven supermajor oil companies, is a “premium partner” of these Winter Games. Other oil and gas companies sponsor Olympic teams.

Eni said it's strongly committed to the energy transition, as evidenced by how it's growing its lower carbon businesses, reducing emissions and aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. And the company defended its role in the Winter Games.

“Through the partnership with the biggest event hosted by Italy in the next 20 years, Eni wants to confirm its commitment to the future of the country and to a progressively more sustainable energy system through a fair transition path,” spokesperson Roberto Albini wrote in an e-mail.

A January report found that promoting polluting companies at the Olympics will grow their businesses and lead to more greenhouse gas emissions that warm the planet and melt snow cover and glacier ice. Albini disputed the emissions calculations for Eni in the Olympics Torched report.

Published by the New Weather Institute in collaboration with Scientists for Global Responsibility and Champions for Earth, the report also looks at the Games' own emissions.

“They have lots of sponsors that aren't in these sectors,” said Stuart Parkinson, executive director at Scientists for Global Responsibility. “You can get the sponsorship money you're after by focusing on those areas, much lower carbon areas. That reduces the carbon footprint.”

___

McDermott reported from Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy.

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

___

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Top 10: The best European goal scorers

The ranking of the top 10 European goal scorers

The hierarchy of Europe's top scorers reveals a fierce battle at the summit, where efficiency, consistency, and minutes played shape highly contrasting profiles. Across the five major leagues and beyond, several strikers are cementing their status, while others are emerging as the breakout stars of the season.

At the top, the duel between Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé epitomizes this elite-level contest, with Erling Haaland hot on their heels. Behind them, the diversity of clubs and leagues highlights the breadth of attacking firepower across the continent.

Ranking of the top 10 goal scorers:

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta credited Kai Havertz’s attitude after his late winner, sending the Gunners to the Carabao Cup final.

The Gunners edged past Chelsea 1–0 at the Emirates Stadium, sealing a 4–2 aggregate victory and a first cup final appearance since 2020.

Arteta credited his match winner’s day-to-day conduct following what he described as a “special” moment for the German.

He said: “I think everybody that knows Kai a little bit, we feel generally happy for him in a special way.

“He deserves the best, the way he works, the way he treats people, the way he behaves every single day. Today was a special moment for him.”

Arteta went on to say felt his side were worthy winners across the two legs.

“Two games, I think we deserved to be through,” he said.

“It was a long match, we expected that. We wrapped it up at the end in a beautiful way with Kai scoring the goal in the manner that he did and the reaction from the crowd.

“The starters, the finishers, the staff, it just was magical.”

The Arsenal boss praised both his players and the atmosphere inside the Emirates, highlighting how the supporters helped carry the team through a nervy finale.

He said: “I think the crowd was brilliant today. It brought so much energy and belief to the team in different moments that it was very much needed.

“I think we all deserve to be together in Wembley in a few weeks’ time.”

Chelsea altered their approach to a back four in the second half, forcing Arsenal to adapt, but Arteta was pleased with how his side managed the game, limiting the visitors while creating just enough at the other end.

“We knew that we’re going to have to play a lot of games within that game,” the Spaniard explained.

“We’re going to have to be very flexible and smart using the bench and the adjustments that we have to make. The margins are going to be small because they are a really good side.”

After four previous semi-final exits under Arteta, this victory will feel especially significant.

The former Arsenal midfielder said it can act as a springboard for the remainder of a season in which Arsenal are competing on multiple fronts.

“It’s the best vitamins that we can put in our bodies,” he said.

“You work so hard to achieve those moments and to have these moments together, it’s just magical.”

The scenes on the bench told their own story, with substitutes sprinting onto the pitch to celebrate with Havertz it’s a sign, Arteta believes, of a unified squad.

“They all feel that this is their own,” he said.

“The merit is there. And now we’re going to have to go on and win it.”

Wembley now awaits, but Arteta was quick to remind everyone that attention now turns back to the Premier League.

But after a disciplined display, this felt like a defining step forward for a team learning how to close out big occasions.

A quirk of the calendar promised a cheap gag about the deadline falling on Groundhog Day, 2 February, and the familiar feeling of Wolves leaving everything to the last minute.

That would have been both unfunny and probably unfair, this January being unlike any previous window since Wolves were last promoted.

The idea of lying doggo and holding money back until the summer gained more support than might have been expected. It had an undeniable logic.

You could wonder how it would really feel the morning after, realising that the rest of the campaign – which season-ticket holders paid for months ago – had effectively been written off as a bad job. (Perhaps, after the rest of the league was equally inert for most of Monday, not that bad after all.)

At a meeting with the club's senior management last week, a selection of fans' group leaders and podcasters were assured that work was continuing, but with a "focus on protecting the club's value".

It was also noted that attracting players had proved very difficult, which was not hard to believe. Players who feel their place is in the Premier League could consider any club in the top half of the Championship more likely to appear in the top flight next season than Wolves.

But the deadline day business offers encouragement that squad-building, now overseen by Matt Jackson, will be better next summer – as it will need to be if the stated aim of an immediate bounce back up is realistic. Adam Armstrong, proven in the second tier, was a logical purchase at a fair price.

The signing of Angel Gomes is more intriguing. A full England international within the last 18 months, his record suggests he could be a very high-end Championship player. The notion that he might use a loan at Wolves to remind Premier League clubs who he is feels misplaced after his first club interview, in which Gomes was clear that the chance to work with Rob Edwards, one of his coaches at England Under-20 level, was a major pull factor.

And of course there was the Jorgen Strand Larsen deal. It's better that we remember his form from last season, which feels more aligned to the Crystal Palace offer.

Last summer, Wolves' mishandling of the window left them in a position where both choices – either rejecting Newcastle's massive offer or allowing their striker to leave with no serious cover – felt equally unthinkable.

The next window could be their most complex for years and they cannot afford to be so poorly prepared again.

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Feb. 4—Aiken High recently expanded its athletics Hall of Fame with the induction of two of the Hornets' all-time greats.

Nessie Harris and Faye Norris were honored midway through a basketball doubleheader between Aiken and Gilbert, with their names now forever etched into a Hall of Fame that inducted its inaugural class in 2022.

Both were multi-sport athletes, and both played prominent roles on Johanna Gibbs' basketball teams that were among the state's very best, playing in three Class AAAA state championship games in a four-year span, capped by an undefeated title in 1975.

Harris, who also competed in track and field and volleyball, was the co-captain of the basketball team for two years and like Norris was part of a senior class that departed with a career record of 61-4. Her list of individual honors at Aiken High include first-team All-State and Upper State selections, Class AAAA Player of the Year, CSRA Player of the Year, Aiken Standard Player of the Year, All-County and an MVP award from the Aiken County Christmas Tournament.

She continued her playing career at the College of Charleston, earning multiple All-America and State Player of the Year honors as one of the nation's top front-court players. She led CofC to three consecutive Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women national championship appearances, and in the 1979-80 season she helped the team to 32 wins.

She graduated from CofC as a four-time All-State performer in addition to two All-America nods, and she ranks third in program history with 1,796 points scored. Her jersey hangs from the rafters at TD Arena, and in 1996 she was inducted into CofC's Hall of Fame.

Norris won the Hornets' Offensive Award in 1975, made the Upper State All-Tournament Team in 1974, made multiple All-CSRA and All-Tournament teams before following Gibbs to USC Aiken to be a member of the first women's basketball teams there.

She put together a Hall of Fame career at USCA, where her jersey No. 10 was retired. She played from 1976-79, capping her USCA career as a first-team All-American — making her the first in the school's athletic history. She was an All-State selection by the SCAIAW and South Carolina's sports writers in her final season, and in 2007 she was inducted into the Randy Warrick Athletics Hall of Fame.

She had a highly successful coaching career in South Carolina, and between her years at North Augusta and later Dutch Fork she amassed more than 500 wins with a dozen region titles, including three consecutive state championships at Dutch Fork. She was inducted into the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame in 2019.

Feb. 4—The USC Aiken men's basketball team knew it needed a win Friday over Middle Georgia.

The Pacers needed a win to get back to a .500 record overall, needed it to snap a two-game losing streak in Peach Belt Conference play, needed it to keep from falling any further down the PBC standings, needed it to remind everyone else — and maybe even themselves — of what USCA men's basketball is all about.

That meant an unorthodox lineup, with a few players earning rare starts as a way of being rewarded for their competitiveness in practice, anything to jolt the Pacers back into a rhythm during a season when their steps just haven't been timed right from song to song.

One thing it didn't take was some fiery halftime speech from head coach Mark Vanderslice with the Pacers only leading by one while still playing uncharacteristically. It didn't require a big commotion or any begging and pleading to get things back on track.

It just took a word from Caleb Byrd. The Pacers' senior guard inspired his teammates to a much more USCA-like second half, pouring in a career-high 26 points along the way to give USCA a much-needed 92-76 victory heading into a key stretch on the schedule featuring some of the PBC's heavy hitters.

In the second half, the Pacers issued a reminder that they can still pack a punch, too.

"One word from a leader, just one word from a leader," Vanderslice said. "The word was 'respond' from Byrd at halftime. Sounds simple, but it was something he wanted the guys to rally upon. We can say whatever we want as coaches, but leadership is not something — it's everything.

"When guys continue to take advantage of that ownership with leadership, then good things can happen. Unity can spread. Byrd really ignited the run in the second half because he just got on the fellas. He was a part of it, but he got on the fellas to respond."

Byrd, like the rest of the Pacers (10-10, 5-7 PBC) overcame a sluggish start to go 8-for-11 from the field, 6-of-9 from beyond the 3-point line and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line, with two steals thrown in for good measure. He surpassed 1,000 career points in the process in his second season at USCA after starting his college career at Newberry.

"At first, I think it was a little bit of a slow start for me. I had two fouls early in the first half, but our keys to victory, and I know I always talk about them, but support your teammates with energy," Byrd said. "That was our third key to victory today, so it was kind of what I wanted to do because we had to get a win today. Like I said, came out kind of slow, but we had to battle some adversity and I just wanted to make sure that we got the win at all costs. It was just going out and getting the win."

Byrd, one of just three players on the roster who played for last year's PBC Tournament champions, is a leader in a variety of ways, and he took time away from discussing his own milestone to credit Chedlet Delva for pulling down 16 rebounds and true freshman TJ Jackson for being ready to step up into a starting role.

He's the Pacers' top scorer at 16.8 points per game. He doesn't require a lot of volume to do it, either — he ranks 21st in Division II in 3-point shooting percentage at 43.5%, and that efficiency was on full display Friday.

"I was proud of everybody, especially (Byrd)," Vanderslice said. "He continued to keep battling, even in the face of adversity with some of the tough things that happened tonight — I guess I'll keep it at that. But he kept playing hard, playing well, and boy oh boy did he knock down some big jumpers."

The first half Friday wasn't USCA's best, but the second half looked a lot more like the kind of basketball the Pacers have played for years while remaining among the PBC's best. The Pacers are hopeful that's emblematic of the season as a whole, too, as now they must find a way to respond again and push forward in the league gauntlet. Up next is a road trip to North Georgia on Wednesday.

"I just think we can't look back," Byrd said. "Our past, it is what it is, and we know we have some shortcomings, but it's all on us. The rest of our season is on us. We're just going to take that word 'respond,' and now we're just going to build on it, have more momentum and keep pushing."

Amber Glenn’s face revealed the magnitude, even as the women’s finalists warmed up on the home ice of the St. Louis Blues. Her high-beam eyes aglow. Her smile straightened by the intensity. Her lips moved only to whisper to herself. The crowd doting on her as she skated by, in her sparkly navy blue costume, may as well have been invisible as Glenn focused.

She had every reason to be loose. Her short program at the U.S. championships last month set a national record. Her previous excellence had already secured her a spot in Milan. U.S. Figure Skating, the national governing body, decides who goes instead of leaving it to the results of that year’s nationals. Glenn also won the previous two U.S. championships, so she’s been on this stage, under that weight, before.

But anxiety doesn’t read the resume. And competitive edge comes with tunnel vision. This free skate before her in early January mattered most, which meant she felt every ounce of pressure. Her expression declared its presence.

“I felt like I was gonna throw up,” Glenn said after notching the highest-scoring free skate of her life and capturing a third consecutive national championship.

Also revealed, in the same expression: Glenn’s freedom.

She had battled stomach issues all day, so much so that she felt relief after getting through the warmup. Everyone could see her gutting it out, trying to “get in touch with my body and get a feel of the ice.” That inward struggle made it to the surface because Glenn no longer bothers with charades. She discarded the notion of hiding. Rejected the sport’s microaggressions.

As a result, her career took off. She enters these Winter Games as a serious medal contender. The culmination of a one-of-a-kind journey that’s taken her from an ice rink in a Texas mall to a pursuit of gold in Milan. She reaches this peak at 26, a proverbial auntie in a sport full of teenagers. For the longest time, this level didn’t seem to be part of her story.

Glenn has spent much of her career in a wide, frustrating space in figure skating. That place where talent is undeniable but transcendence keeps its distance. Glenn could always be described as a great skater. Pretty good skaters don’t win junior national championships at 14. But this sport reserves its greatest rewards for the exceptional while demanding so much that exceptional seems the only acceptable payoff.

Glenn landed the hard jumps, trained through the pain, endured the anvil that is expectations, year after year, yet got close enough to the summit only to confirm she didn’t reach it.

Figure skating is ruthless that way. It doesn’t just measure what skaters can do, it penalizes what they didn’t. It constantly reminds them of perfection not attained. For Glenn, the imperfection lay with her identity. The ceiling thwarting her exceptional talent originated from the constraints of tradition. She tried. Softened her edges, so to speak. Sharpened her skating. The difference between great and the best in figure skating exists in the margins, often small enough to be microscopic.

But while adding a clean triple axel to her repertoire in 2023 elevated her to another level, Glenn’s real elevation came from within. When she stopped expending energy on concealing her intensity, her aura, her truth.

“I didn’t fit the mold, and I tried so hard to fit into it,” Glenn said. “And once I accepted that just wasn’t going to happen, honestly, I started to kind of lean into it a bit more. I just let myself be me. And through that, I was able to find a new, unique shape that hadn’t been taken before.”

That new shape is unique indeed. The Texas roots. The delayed ascent. The triple axel she added during the pandemic. The coming out. The protective spirit she hovers over the other skaters. Based on tradition, she arrived late to this precipice. But, truly, Glenn is on time. Her time.

Now, she makes her Olympic debut as a favorite to end an American drought. The U.S. women haven’t won a medal since Sasha Cohen’s silver in 2006. The last American gold medalist was Sarah Hughes in 2002.

If Glenn wins gold, she’d be the oldest women’s Olympic champ since Madge Syers in 1908, back when figure skating took place in the Summer Games.

Of the 78 medals awarded all-time in the women’s singles competition at the Olympics, 17 have been won by women 23 and older. Eight of those medalists were at least 25 years old, with only three coming in the last 100 years. The average age of Winter Olympic gold medalists in women’s singles: 19.5 years old.

Glenn, however, found her stride past the prescribed prime. Because liberation worked out to be a competitive advantage. Because authenticity weighs less than facades.

The same skater who long hovered at the foothill of elite finally began to look it, be it, because she stopped editing herself. And instead found perfection in her imperfections. Now she’s an ambassador in a sport relishing a new era. A sport growing to appreciate individuality rather than squeezing it out.

“And some people love it,” Glenn said. “Some people think it’s a bit too much for figure skating. But who are they to judge? I’m figure skating. Obviously, it works. And if that’s not your preference, then don’t watch. I’m not forcing you to like what I’m doing, but I’m doing it anyways.”

North Texas isn’t an obvious figure skating pipeline. But as in the sport, timing is critical. The Dallas Stars’ trip to the Western Conference finals in 1998, followed by consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup Final, winning it all in 1999, helped spark a boom in ice rinks in Texas.

One of those opened in 2000 at the Stonebriar Centre. It lasted 13 years at the Frisco, Texas, mall. The NHL-sized rink, which hosted hockey practices and public skating near a California Pizza Kitchen, lost out to retail shops in Stonebriar’s renovation. But before it became a Forever 21 or whatever, the rink inspired a girl from nearby Plano, sparking the passion of an Olympian.

“That really helped fortify a large skating community in Texas,” Glenn said. “… I’m really lucky that I got into it at a young age in Texas.”

Back then, the sport for Glenn wasn’t about medals and scores and degrees of difficulty. It was about being with her sister and cousins. The way the movement felt like gliding. The way fantastical became tangible.

Glenn, who started skating as a 5-year-old, took to the ice like ham to burger. Even as a third-grader, her athleticism caught the attention of coaches. She started competing nationally. She developed rapidly as a figure skater. Before middle school, she could nail five of the sport’s six types of triple jumps. The only one she couldn’t — yet — was the triple axel. She became the U.S. junior champion at 14.

But the low point came soon.

“I didn’t want to be on this earth anymore,” Glenn said.

At about 16 years old, per her timeline, she battled depression, anxiety and an eating disorder. The pressure of being a prodigy, from within and without, proved too much. It landed Glenn in a mental health facility.

She withdrew from everything, returning to her source of security and peace. Her family, her friends and the relationships that maintained significance when the blades came off. She found the person again, the one valuable beyond her potential.

And later — when the brutality ever present in this sport of beauty extracted its pound of flesh from Glenn — she was equipped to deal with professional adversity.

In 2021, at 21 years old, she medaled at the U.S. championships, finishing second. It established Glenn as a serious hopeful for the 2022 Winter Games. In the next U.S. championships, though, she caught COVID, forcing her to withdraw from the competition before her free skate. At 22, she was passed over for an Olympic spot, named an alternate.

She called it her professional low point. But her previous suffering taught her to handle the disappointment.

“And it took just completely stripping down to just survive every day,” Glenn said. “Just wake up and make it to the next day. It’s taken a decade to get to where I am now. But I’m grateful to even be here and to be able to live out this dream after having suffered for a while. I still am working on my mental health. It’s something that’s with you forever.”

In 2024, she finished 10th at the world championships after several falls in her free skate. In 2025, after winning a second consecutive U.S. championship, she fell in the short program of the world championships. It was enough to keep her off the podium.

Still, Glenn got better and stronger as she got older. Each disappointment seemed to unlock more of her resolve. Her resilience required answers, and the answers she acquired produced wisdom. And wisdom helps her maximize her combination of experience and athleticism.

The battle with Glenn is never just about gravity and the math of rotations. But with her brain and her psychology. Years of high-level skating leave her dealing with neuropathy and the lingering effects of multiple concussions. Injuries that don’t always announce themselves with visible scars but quietly impact how the body responds to the stress of their profession. Glenn described how adrenaline can hijack her system, pushing her into a constant fight-or-flight state. Spiked heart rates. Dulled sensations. Command slipping away.

She learned how to regulate her intensity so it wouldn’t consume her halfway through a program. Glenn doesn’t need to get hyped before a skate, but to harness.

It forced her to delve deeper into her own brain and nervous system. Working with a sports psychologist, she turned to neurofeedback — a therapy that trains the brain to improve its performance.

“If I suppress it,” Glenn explained, “I’m gonna go out there and I’m just gonna like fall over. I have to have some sort of adrenaline and excitement to be able to go and do these jumps that are done in less than a second. But if I’m too excited and I get to about a minute and a half … I can’t feel my legs, no matter how much physical training I’ve done. So finding that perfect balance, the zone, has been absolutely essential, and I’m still looking for it.”

After winning her third consecutive U.S. title last month, Glenn stepped to the podium with the silver and bronze medalists, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito. Before they sat down to answer questions, Glenn had a command. She lacquered in enough warmth to make it feel like a great idea. She orchestrated a picture with them on the podium.

With their happiness to oblige evident on their faces, Liu and Levito posed on both sides of Glenn. The big sis. The fun aunt. The standard bearer.

Per the cliche of the sport, they should have beef. Their competitiveness should resemble animosity, and Glenn should draw their ire. The old head who won’t step aside.

But it takes two seconds to see how much they love Glenn. The new faces of the sport, in this new generation of figure skaters, promote congeniality much more than cutthroat competitiveness.

In St. Louis, after notching a program that vaulted her to first place, Liu sat and watched Glenn’s skate. Not in the back on a TV screen but live, rinkside. Liu smiled. She leaned on the jumps, as if to help Glenn rotate. Either she’s a great actress, or she was rooting.

“She’s just like a big sister to me,” Liu said. “I really just see her as like one of my friends and truly one of my teammates.”

It’s a spirit Glenn brings. That kind of unity doesn’t happen organically. Glenn knows too much, has been through too much, to not look at her fellow skaters and see them. Really see them. Because she knows the benefits, finally, of being really seen.

After wrestling with coming out as bisexual and pansexual, she decided she’d take a baby step by casually mentioning her orientation in a local article about training mates in 2019. If she slipped it in casually, she thought, the response would match her understated delivery. It became international news overnight. The baby step became a long jump.

The attention was a lot to process. But the clarity was unmistakable. No longer shoehorning into skates never made for her, the next version of someone else’s ideal.

“Eventually, I realized, if I’m gonna keep doing this, I want to at least do it as me,” Glenn said. “I’m going to be at the top anyway, so I might as well do it as myself. And in doing so, I ended up making it to the top. So I learned a lot, and I think that being an advocate for the queer community and for mental health is one of the reasons why I keep going and being able to be that person who has this platform. … I came out, and I’ve had success, and that motivates me to keep having success. ”

The success didn’t come all at once. Glenn wasn’t a superstar yet when she came out. Just a great skater finding her way, revealing her truth, leaving it all on the ice. Oddly enough, she learned a valuable lesson. People responded with an embrace. In a sport obsessed with flawlessness, Glenn appealed with genuineness. Perfection, she learned, belonged in mythology. The chase for it is worthy, but grace must follow.

Glenn gives it to herself. She showers it on others.

For the woman once knocked for her hard appearance on the ice, she’s as mushy as they come about skaters. She knows the harshness of their sport and bears the scars from her love of figure skating. Her survival inspired camaraderie. Her struggle produced appreciation.

Because she’s still here, her best self, long after the sport’s usual expiration date. The Olympic gold medalist from eight years ago, Russia’s Alina Zagitova, is three years younger than Glenn.

Because liberation is rejuvenating.

Today, Glenn stands on the cusp of becoming a legend. Rooted in her own skin, embraced by the next generation, she isn’t just skating toward history. She’s modeling what it looks like to arrive there whole.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Olympics, Global Sports, Women's Olympics

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Jack Draper says he has had to overcome "lots of dark moments" during his injury lay-off as he prepares to make his long-awaited return in Great Britain's Davis Cup qualifier against Norway in Oslo.

The 24-year-old's 2025 season was derailed by an injury to his upper left arm which first flared up during the clay-court season in the spring. He has played just one singles match since his second round exit at Wimbledon.

Draper, the British number one, had previously been enjoying a breakout season, reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open and French Open, winning his maiden Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells, and climbing to a career-high ranking of four in June.

Although he attempted a comeback at the US Open, partnering Jessica Pegula in the mixed doubles and winning his first round singles match, he later pulled out of the tournament due to injury.

He subsequently withdrew from the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in December and did not travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open.

"[It's] been a long time since I've been able to compete. I've stayed in a good place, although it's been tricky [with] a lot of dark moments and a lot of tough times, but that's the sport I signed up for," Draper told the LTA website.

"I'm happy to be back playing again. I miss the buzz of competing. I've missed the thrill of playing in front of people, against great players, and that winning feeling you can't replicate in training.

"It's going to feel great to get back out there again."

• GB back in Davis Cup elite with 'really good chance'

Draper, who has dropped down to number 13 in the rankings, hopes last year's positive start can serve as motivation as he attempts to return to the top.

"Last year started off amazingly well. The second half was extremely challenging," Draper said.

"I took a lot of belief and confidence from the first half of the year and what I achieved. I kept in mind that I want to be competing right at the top of the game.

"It's going to be a bit of a challenge and a journey to get back to where I was because I've been out for such a long time but at the same time, I'm constantly getting better and improving, and I hope I get to show that sooner rather than later."

'We're ready to fight for every point'

Ten-time Davis Cup champions Great Britain have only lifted the trophy once since the 1930s - an Andy Murray-led triumph in 2015 - and fell to Japan at the first hurdle last year.

Great Britain beat Poland 3-1 in September to retain their place in the top tier.

They head to Oslo, where their first-round qualifier will be held from on February 6 and February 7, as the favourites to advance. The squad features two singles players ranked inside the top 30 in Draper and Cameron Norrie, British number three Jacob Fearnley, and a Grand Slam-winning doubles pairing in Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash.

Hosts Norway are yet to confirm the availability of world number 12 Casper Ruud after he became a father last week.

Draper says Great Britain have to be prepared to "fight for every point" against an "amazing" Norway team.

"They've got a young player in [Nicolai Budkov] Kjaer, who was number one in the world juniors and playing great tennis on the tour. He'll be tough to beat – a young guy who's got a lot to prove," Draper said.

"We all know Casper Ruud has been a top-10 banker player for a long time.

"It's going to be a great challenge for us all but I think we're ready to embrace it and fight for every point."

The winner of this tie will face either Australia or Ecuador in a second round qualifier for a spot at November's Davis Cup Finals in Italy.

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When the NFL season was still in its early weeks, few people were seriously talking about the New England Patriots as Super Bowl contenders.

The franchise was coming off a period of transition, expectations were cautious, and belief outside New England was limited.

But back in September, Mark Wahlberg had no doubts about where the Patriots were heading under new head coach Mike Vrabel.

Now, with New England preparing to face the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Wahlberg’s emotional prediction has taken on fresh relevance.

What once sounded like blind fan optimism now reads as an eerily accurate forecast of the Patriots’ remarkable turnaround.

Mark Wahlberg’s September Patriots prediction now looks spot on

Speaking early in the season, Wahlberg made his confidence in the Patriots abundantly clear.

“We’re going to the playoffs. I believe in Vrabel. They’re starting to look good,” Wahlberg told Stephen A. Smith.

The lifelong Patriots supporter then described how the team’s resurgence had brought back emotions he had not felt for some time.

“For the last couple of years, I had no stress,” the actor said. “And I found myself sitting on the couch with my son, getting anxiety again, getting that knot in my stomach, right? I lose my appetite.”

Wahlberg went even further, predicting not just improvement, but a return to the very top of the sport.

“We’re going back. We’re going back to the promised land, adding more championships, adding more trophies,” he added. “The Krafts gotta build another trophy room. It’s happening.”

At the time, the comments felt like pure fan passion rather than serious analysis. With the Patriots now in the Super Bowl, they instead reflect a belief that has been backed up.

Patriots embrace underdog role against Seahawks in Super Bowl

Despite their journey to the Super Bowl, the Patriots arrive at Sunday’s matchup against the Seahawks as clear underdogs.

That dynamic suits New England’s season-long narrative. Under Vrabel, the Patriots have quietly rebuilt their identity, leaning into belief rather than outside praise.

For supporters like Wahlberg, that underdog status only enhances the story.

His early-season faith was rooted in emotion, but the Patriots have since supplied tangible proof on the field.

Now, with the Super Bowl finally here, New England have already validated one bold prediction.

Whether they can complete the story with another championship is the final question left to answer.

Man Utd presented with renewed striker opening after January twist

Manchester United may feel that January closed with more questions than answers, but a curious aftershock to deadline day has reopened a familiar door. As reported by the Mirror, the collapse of a late move has quietly altered the landscape around one of United’s long tracked forward targets, and timing now matters almost as much as talent.

Jean Philippe Mateta’s proposed switch to AC Milan unravelled after a failed medical, reportedly linked to a knee issue he had been managing. With no deal possible, the striker returned to Crystal Palace, although not to any sense of stability.

Photo IMAGO

Palace had already moved decisively, committing £48m to Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, a statement of intent that inevitably reshapes Mateta’s status at Selhurst Park.

Photo IMAGO

For United, this feels less like coincidence and more like football’s strange habit of circling back. Mateta has been on their radar for years, admired for his physical presence, durability and output in a league that increasingly values certainty over projection. With Palace now stocked in attacking areas and Mateta’s contract running until 2027, the balance of leverage may be shifting.

Palace uncertainty reshapes Mateta outlook

The immediate consequence of Palace’s January business is a narrowing pathway for Mateta. His absence from the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest was telling, with Oliver Glasner admitting the striker was “not at his best” amid growing uncertainty. It was only the second Premier League match Mateta has missed since November 2023, a reminder of both his reliability and his importance.

Statistically, Palace are facing an awkward dilemma. Mateta remains their leading scorer this season, with 10 goals in 34 appearances, and he has topped the club’s scoring charts in each of the past three campaigns. Relegating that level of output to rotation would be a bold call, particularly for a side that has relied heavily on his presence through the middle.

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Yet Palace’s decision to invest heavily in Strand Larsen signals a willingness to move forward without him. That leaves Mateta in an uncomfortable middle ground, too valuable to discard lightly, but potentially expendable if contract talks continue to drift.

United strategy and striker balance

United’s interest must be understood within a broader recruitment context. Old Trafford has recently leaned towards Premier League proven profiles, favouring familiarity over adaptation risk. The arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo last year underlined that approach, and both have delivered promising early returns.

That said, the pathway into United’s starting line up is far from clear. Over £200m was committed to attacking reinforcements last summer, with Benjamin Sesko installed as the new focal point. The Slovenian has endured scrutiny after an uneven start, but three goals in his last three matches hint at momentum building. If that trend continues, minutes at centre forward will be contested.

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Joshua Zirkzee’s experience offers a cautionary parallel. Signed with expectation, he has found opportunities sporadic, squeezed by competition and tactical priorities. Mateta would arrive aware of those realities, but also conscious that United’s depth has fluctuated sharply in recent seasons.

Transfer priorities ahead of summer window

The prevailing expectation remains that United’s summer focus will fall on midfield reinforcement. Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba have all been linked, reflecting a desire to modernise the engine room rather than simply add firepower.

Still, transfer windows rarely unfold along straight lines. A proven Premier League striker, potentially available at a reduced fee to avoid a future free transfer, presents a temptation. Mateta may not headline a rebuild, but as squad evolution continues, United may find that opportunity and pragmatism briefly align.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

United circling a striker already proven in the Premier League has become something of a comfort blanket after years of adaptation gambles that never quite landed. Mateta may not scream glamour signing, but there is an appeal in reliability, particularly for a squad that has lurched between extremes in recent seasons.

Fans will inevitably question where he fits. Sesko was bought to lead the line, and recent goals suggest patience may finally be rewarded. Yet United’s attacking depth has repeatedly proven fragile, either through injuries or form drops. Mateta’s physical profile, durability and experience offer something different, a player who understands the league’s rhythm and demands.

There is also a sense of timing. At 28, Mateta represents a short to medium term solution rather than a long term project, and that may suit a club trying to stabilise rather than constantly reset. Supporters are acutely aware that midfield remains the priority, but football rarely offers clean choices. If a proven striker becomes available at the right price, many would see it as sensible opportunism rather than distraction.

Ultimately, United fans crave coherence. If Mateta fits a wider plan rather than papering over cracks, the idea will be met with cautious approval rather than excitement. That alone says much about the current mood around Old Trafford.

Armagh captain Aidan Forker says his headbutting incident with Michael Murphy on the Donegal forward's return last year was a "silly act".

In February 2025, Murphy made his first inter-county appearance in 981 days as a second-half substitute in the Allianz Football League fixture.

Moments after Murphy's introduction he found himself, the pair found themselves in a pushing match before the Amragh captain headbutted Murphy in the chest and was sent off.

"There's no explaining it, really. It was a silly act and a rush of blood, or whatever you want to say," Forker said on the GAA Social podcast.

"It's on me. I'll take responsibility and it was silly, but it's well gone now at this stage."

Forker said it was "in the moment" and he remained off social media for six weeks, but his wife, Eimear, struggled with seeing abuse sent in the direction of the Armagh captain.

"It was a silly thing to do, it looked silly and there was a bit of aftermath there," he said.

"Apparently I took a lot of abuse online, and Eimear really struggled with that. I just walked off the pitch and didn't see any of the coverage. It is what it is, no one got hurt so it's fine."

No date on return from injury

Forker had surgery on his ankle in the inter-county off season and has been managing a back issue, so did not feature in the McKenna Cup or Armagh's opening league games - a win over Moaghan and a narrow loss to Galway.

The 33-year-old said his "body is generally feeling good" but he is not putting a time frame on his return to action.

"The hunger is still there to keep going," Forker said.

"I'm determined to get back, the boys are flying and I want to be part of that again.

"I usually like putting numbers on things but I haven't with us, I'm just going by how my body feels.

"I'm not saying it's going to be three, six or 12 weeks, I'm just going by how I feel."

Forker said he was always talking to Kieran McGeeney about his return, but the Armagh manager wasn't putting any pressure on him to rush his recovery.

"Last year I wasn't feeling myself and I was probably lying to myself.

"I wasn't useful last year, I wasn't myself physically. I wasn't doing anyone a service.

"The itch is still there but you have to listen to your body.

"Hopefully I'm on the right track and over the worst of it."

Stay up to date with all the latest GAA news and reports here.

Brentford B take on FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih on Thursday 5 February (11am kick-off GMT) whilst on tour in Algorfa, Spain.

The young Bees will face the Ukrainian Premier League club in a friendly at La Finca Golf Resort.

Sam Saunders' side have been out on a training camp in Spain since Monday preparing for the clash.

They are joined by new signing Joseph Wheeler-Henry, who linked up with the squad on Tuesday after a successful trial period which saw him join on loan from Chelsea on deadline day.

Last Time Out

The west Londoners come into the game off the back of a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bristol City in the Under-21s Professional Development League.

Michel Boni scored the only goal of the game in the first half, with a controlled finish after a clever flick-on from Ethan Laidlaw.

Benjamin Arthur, who joined Celtic on loan on deadline day, and Julian Eyestone both played 90 minutes, whilst Beau Redknapp made his Under-21s debut off the bench.

About FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih

Formed in 1959 and reformed in 2015 after financial issues, FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih are a Ukrainian professional football club based in Kryvyi Rih.

They currently sit fifth in the Ukrainian Premier League and are managed by dutchman Patrick van Leeuwen.

Yegor Tverdokhlib leads the line, having scored seven goals and registered four assists in 15 UPL appearances.

Match Coverage

The club will have updates of the game against FC Kryvbas on social media, as well as a match report on the club's website and app.

Vikings Territory Breakdown Podcast

The Minnesota Vikings finished the 2024 season with a record of 14-3 and a playoff spot. They finished the 2025 season 9-8 and on the outside looking in at the playoffs. They have spent some time since being eliminated looking inward to divine what went wrong. And late last week they decided that at least part of the blame goes to general manager Kwesi Adolfo-Mensah—despite receiving a new contract before the season began.

Kwesi was relieved of his duties on January 30. And while the disappointing 2025 campaign was not all his fault, by any stretch of this imagination, plenty of blame can be laid at his feet. Since becoming the GM in 2022, Kwesi has produced uneven drafts at best and woefully unproductive ones annually. He made risky trades with division rivals, left holes in the roster that required plenty of free agents to fill, depleted the team’s depth with spotty drafting while producing the oldest roster last season and spending near the most money over the salary cap coming into the next one.

When you throw in some rumored/reported in-fighting with other members of the Vikings staff, it sounds like the timing of the firing (which many pundits were confused by) comes later than it perhaps should have. In fact, at least one of 

the fellas at the Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast, Joe Oberle, senior writer at vikingsterritory.com and purplePTSD.com and Mark Craig, NFL and Vikings writer for the Star Tribune and startribune.com) put Kwesi on the hot seat shortly after the team was eliminated from post season play. So, now without a new GM yet named, the Vikings begin again. Tune in to check out our discussion of it all. Skol!

Listen to Vikings Territory Breakdown here or on your favorite podcast network.

We are inching towards a sliding doors moment in the life of Gregor Brown.

The day is surely fast approaching when Brown is no longer quizzed about being Blair Kinghorn's cousin and when the Scotland full-back is instead asked what it is like being related to the Glasgow forward.

It is not exactly clear which position Brown is going to play for Scotland in the Six Nations, or indeed, if he starts or is on the bench, but there is one certainty - he is going to be pivotal to the team's hopes.

The 24-year-old is only really 18 months into his time as a top-level player - a whirlwind of progress that he calls "insane" - but his impact has been enormous.

He has played Test matches with four, five, six and seven on his back. He has started against France at lock and against New Zealand and Argentina at blindside flanker.

He was Jonny Gray's understudy in the Six Nations last season and by the summer had played some minutes for the British and Irish Lions in Australia.

"If I went back 18 months and you told me that I would have done all this, I would have laughed at you. Like, no way. It's just been absolutely mental," he told the Scotland Rugby Podcast.

True, but Brown is a pivotal figure now for Townsend, a guy who gives the coach some questions to answer.

Townsend's natural inclination for their Six Nations Opener against Italy in Rome on Saturday might be a second row of Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings.

That would leave Brown either starting at six or, more likely, on the bench covering lock and blindside.

No matter how you slice it, Brown's power, energy, footwork and all-round skill-set is indispensable. The only puzzler is how best to deploy it.

The man himself only sees the positives, no matter which way Townsend goes.

"Obviously, everyone wants to start, but I think a big growth in rugby over the past few years has been that it's an 80-minute game and that the bench has such an important role to play," he added.

"I have spoken about South Africa leading the way in that sense. When you're a pack and it gets to 50, 60 minutes and you see six or seven fresh forwards come on, it's like, 'right, we've got to up it now'.

"Test match rugby is physical, it's fast. When you get to those last 15, 20 minutes, it's usually the crunch time. The game is usually still in the balance at that point and it will be the bench making that difference."

So he's cool as a finisher, for now, even though plenty believe he should be in the second row alongside Cummings with Max Williamson as the bench lock.

"I remember Franco talking about it. He was kind of joking but also being serious about how you have all your friends around to watch a rugby game and when it kicks off, people are getting a drink, snacks, going to the toilet," said Brown.

"But in that last 15, 20 minutes, everybody is sat glued to the TV and that's when the bench are on.

"This old-school mindset of secondary players coming on is just not what it is any more. Off the bench, you can bring more punch, more dynamism in the carries, tackles, things like that.

"Everyone wants to start, but at the same time, being involved in a Scotland team is one of the greatest honours you can have and I dreamed of it as a kid. I'm not going to kick my heels if I'm on the bench. Being involved is absolutely huge."

• 'Uncage the gorilla' - Schoeman knows what Scots must improve
• Why autumn pain can bring Scotland Six Nations gain

The strength of Scotland's bench is particularly relevant given how many times they have fallen away late in games, which was a bit of a theme in their camp last week.

Stacking the bench as much as he can makes sense. It will be fascinating to see what Townsend does when he names the team on Thursday to face Italy.

In Brown, he has a player who is growing up fast. His cameo with the Lions - the highlight of which was coming on for James Ryan in the battle against First Nations & Pasifika in Melbourne - has only helped the process.

It was brief, sure, but he made the most of it.

"I was only there for a few days but being in the same environment as some of the best players in the world was absolutely incredible," he said.

"I've got my jersey and I still look at it. I'm just like, 'wow!'

"What came out from a lot of the Scottish lads is that a lot of the stuff that we do is right up there. We're sometimes just that one step away. Let's go and take that next step."

Related internet links

• Scottish Rugby Union

According to a recent report from The Athletic, Dani Ceballos was open to leaving Real Madrid in January only if Real Betis had made an offer for him.

Notably, the Spanish midfielder has been considering an exit for some time. 

In fact, reports suggest he asked to leave during each of the past two summer windows, and a similar situation could unfold again at the end of the current season. 

As such, Betis continue to be the club closest to the player’s heart, but finances have consistently blocked any potential transfer. 

The fellow La Liga side has struggled to match both Real Madrid’s asking price and Ceballos’ salary, which is believed to be around €4.5 million per year. 

That financial gap has prevented negotiations from progressing into something concrete.

No defined role at Real Madrid

As expected, sporting factors have played a major role in the uncertainty surrounding his future. 

Since returning to Madrid, Ceballos has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter. 

Ceballos is staring at an uncertain future at Real Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

He found it difficult to secure consistent minutes under Carlo Ancelotti, and the situation did not improve under Xabi Alonso.

Now, under the current coach, Alvaro Arbeloa, his role remains limited. 

Reports indicate that Arbeloa does not consider Ceballos an important part of his plans, and the midfielder’s profile does not fully match the manager’s tactical preferences. 

So what now?

With his contract still running and no immediate exit on the table, Ceballos appears set to finish the season in Madrid. 

However, the reality of his situation means he must already start thinking about the next step in his career.

This is not a new dilemma for the midfielder. 

For several years, he has explored the possibility of leaving in search of more regular football, yet two main obstacles have always stood in the way, which is the lack of firm offers and the difficulty for Betis to cover his wages. 

Unless those conditions change, the same story could repeat itself once again.

Turkish giants Fenerbahce have announced the signing of midfielder N’golo Kante from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad.

The Turkish club initially announced the collapse of the transfer due to the incorrect information supplied by Al-Ittihad.

The Istanbul outfit had agreed to sign the France international for €4 million, with forward Youssef En-Nesyri moving to the Saudi Arabian side.

Fenerbahce have now confirmed that the irregularity has been resolved. Kante has joined them on a two-and-a-half-year deal and is expected to be unveiled today.

En-Nesyri has also completed his move to Al-Ittihad, replacing Karim Benzema, who joined Al-Hilal last month.

Kante joined Al-Ittihad in 2023 from Chelsea and enjoyed a fruitful time at the club, winning the Saudi Pro League and King’s cup.

The 34-year-old made 110 appearances across all competitions, chipping in with 10 goals and 11 assists.

The experienced midfielder is expected to add leadership, defensive solidity, and top-level experience to Fenerbahce’s midfield options.

The Yellow Canaries also signed former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi during the winter transfer window, and beat Crystal Palace to the signing of Sidiki Cherif.

Fenerbahce are just three points behind leaders Galatasaray in the Super Lig standings and have also qualified for the UEFA Europa League play-offs.

Arsenal are heading back to Wembley after a 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium secured their place in the League Cup final, sealing the semi final 4-2 on aggregate and bringing an end to a six year wait to return to the national stadium.

Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

It was not a flowing contest, but Arsenal managed their advantage earned at Stamford Bridge and struck decisively in stoppage time through Kai Havertz, who rounded Robert Sanchez to score into an empty net as the visitors pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

The goal confirmed a place in the final on March 22, where Arsenal will bid to win the competition for the first time since 1993, having also previously lifted the trophy in 1987.

The tie developed into a tactical contest between Mikel Arteta and Liam Rosenior, with Chelsea operating with three centre backs for much of the match before later introducing Estevao and Cole Palmer, while Pedro Neto and Jamie Gittens were unavailable.

Arsenal were without Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka, with Eberichi Eze operating in the number 10 role, and although they enjoyed more of the ball, Chelsea’s ‘masterplan’, hailed by Gary Neville on Sky Sports, produced nothing.

Clear chances were scarce in a cautious first half, though Piero Hincapie tested Sanchez from the edge of the area following a corner, while Enzo Fernandez forced a save from Kepa Arrizabalaga, with a long range effort.

Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

The second half followed a similar pattern, tense and tightly contested, with Marc Cucurella clearing a header from Gabriel Magalhaes off the line. Despite needing a goal, the visitors managed only one shot on target across the entire match, and were ultimately punished when Havertz struck late to finish off his former club after a superb pass from Declan Rice.

After the match, Arteta said the achievement reflected years of work and the significance of finally breaking through at this stage. He said, “I can’t wait because we’ve been working really hard over the last few years. We’ve been very close many times and we really want to enjoy that moment.

“[I’m] very happy, especially the way we ended up at the end with Kai’s goal and the celebration of the players and staff, all together, because we knew how much it means.

“We really wanted to get to Wembley. I think overall, on the two legs, I think the team was extraordinary. I think we really deserved to be where we are and we play against a team that is very, very competitive and very difficult.

“With our people, I must say that the atmosphere they created was amazing tonight. We are where we want to be, so we’re going to be in Wembley in a few weeks’ time.”

Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

The winning goal was Havertz’s second since returning from the knee injury sustained against Manchester United on the opening day of the season, and Arteta said the moment summed up the collective effort behind the scenes. He said, “That’s the moment when you work so hard and a lot of people work so hard every single day. It’s for those moments, to score that goal, all together, celebrating, a big smile and a lot of energy and pride. We fully deserve to be in Wembley in a few weeks’ time, so let’s enjoy it.”

With Arsenal now one match away from silverware and set to face either Manchester City or Newcastle, who trail Pep Guardiola’s side 2-0 after the first leg at St James’ Park, Arteta was clear about what the final represents.

He said, “Well, to make history with the club. That’s the first trophy that we’re going to have the opportunity to win. So, let’s go for it.”

Everton have sacked head coach Brian Sørensen with the club ninth in the Women's Super League.

Sørensen was first appointed ahead of the 2022/23 season after stints with Fortuna Hjørring and Nordsjælland in his native Denmark. In his time at the club the Toffees finished ninth and eighth twice and currently still in ninth this season.

This season, Everton have been hurt by injuries and had to wait until just last weekend before recording a first win at new home Goodison Park.

Despite that, Everton have decided to sack Sørensen as well as coaches Stephen Neligan and Ashley Tootle.

"We would like to thank Brian, Stephen and Ashley for their hard work and efforts in their time at the Club," CEO Angus Kinnear said about the decision.

"Sunday’s first win of the season at Goodison Park was important, but it has become evident that a change of direction is necessary to ensure the progression on the pitch we are all striving for."      Under-18's coach Scott Phelan has been appointed in the interim with the Toffees facing a tricky trip away to London City Lionesses on Sunday.

Barcelona: an outcast takes back control

Barcelona: an outcast turns the tables

Long pushed to the sidelines and regularly targeted by criticism, Ronald Araújo delivered a resounding response during the Copa del Rey quarterfinal as FC Barcelona triumphed over Albacete. In a match that proved far more intense than expected, the Uruguayan defender asserted his authority, emerging as one of the key figures in Barcelona’s qualification.

Rock-solid in duels and decisive on set pieces, Araújo sealed Barcelona’s victory with an unstoppable header—a fitting symbol of a commanding performance.

"I hugged Flick because he’s been exceptional with me. He’s like a father to us," he added.

Hansi Flick echoed that sentiment, delighted with his player’s resurgence:

"That goal will help him regain his confidence and feel better."

At 26, Araújo seems to have turned a period of doubt into the launchpad for a genuine resurgence.

“We deserved at least a draw,” Lille OSC head coach Bruno Génésio said after his side’s 1-0 defeat away to Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday afternoon, “But we’ve played three matches against them this season, and all three times we’ve said the same thing.” Lille have been unable to get one over their European rivals this season, having lost home and away in the league and being eliminated by them in the Coupe de France. 

It perhaps won’t even be the last time these two will meet, with Lyon being one of the two possible opponents that Lille could face in the UEFA Europa League if they progress past FK Crvena zvezda in the playoffs (the other being Aston Villa). At this point, Génésio is likely sick of having to come across the team he managed from 2016 until 2020. 

In some ways, Génésio had a point when mentioning what Lille deserved; they weren’t particularly bad on Sunday. In fact, it was one of their better performances in 2026, which therein lies a problem, as they also weren’t particularly good. They dominated the ball, but created few problems for a Lyon side that scored late in the first half by debutant Noah Nartey, and were then happy to sit on their laurels, confident that a toothless attack wouldn’t break them down. 

Lille’s season stalls in barren 2026

Lille have had a terrible start to the year, and have slipped from fourth and level on points with Olympique de Marseille, to fifth and seven points adrift of the UEFA Champions League places. 

A run of five consecutive defeats was ended, coming into the match against Lyon with a 1-0 win over ten-man SC Freiburg on Thursday. A game that Freiburg did not need to win, and the Bundesliga sideplayed as if they had that fact on their mind. Even with this, Les Dogues needed a helping hand to crawl over the finishing line, with the Bundesliga side giving away a late, needless penalty in injury time. 

Injuries have certainly contributed to this barren record of six defeats and one win in 2026. Génésio is without Osame Sahraoui, Ousmane Touré, Nabil Bentaleb, André Gomes, Thomas Meunier, Ethan Mbappé, and, perhaps most importantly, Hamza Igamane. The Moroccan international was absent during his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations and then suffered an ACL injury in the final, which will rule him out for the rest of the season. 

Igamane has not been properly utilised by Les Dogues this season, with Génésio preferring to start the 39-year-old Olivier Giroud in the majority of league matches. However, faith in Giroud’s current ability has finally waned for Génésio, just as the point at which he has few other options. 

The transfer window to the rescue?

Against Freiburg and Lyon, Matias Fernandez-Pardo was given the nod as the no.9 over Giroud. It’s a position the Belgian-Spanish winger has occasionally played, most effectively during the 7-1 win over FC Lorient, but it wasn’t the fix that Lille were perhaps hoping for, as he looked isolated and ineffective in both of Lille’s latest games. 

Lille were one of the busier teams on transfer deadline day yesterday as they scrambled to bring in attacking reinforcements and reignite a season that looks to be drifting out of their control. Rumours began with glamorous names like Mathys Tel and Jhon Durán, but eventually it was former AJ Auxerre man Gaëtan Perrin and Toulouse FC prospect Noah Edjouma, who arrived through the door hours before the window shut. 

Génésio had said after the Lyon defeat, “We simply have to reassess our ambitions… As things stand, we cannot aspire to finish in the top three.” Whether Perrin and Edjouma will be the spark Lille needs to get back on track remains to be seen. Perrin was able to hit double figures last season for Auxerre before struggling in Russia with FC Krasnodar, while Edjouma has played in 12 matches this year and has not managed a single goal involvement. 

Question marks certainly remain, and Lille will need a convincing performance against bottom-of-the-table FC Metz on Friday if they have any hope of righting their course and matching their ambition of returning to the Champions League. 

This week’s Ligue 1 sub-plots

• Lyon made it ten wins in a row across all competitions with their win over Lille. Paulo Fonseca has his side flying in fourth and level on points with Marseille – an irony likely not lost on Lille. The season began with relegation concerns, but those have quickly faded with the club thriving as Europe’s in-form team. Read the full story HERE.

• Marseille continued a heartbreaking week where they were dumped out of the Champions League with a trip to the City of Love. It was a familiar result to an unfamiliar team as Paris FC pegged Marseille back with a late comeback. The 2-2 draw necessitated a 90-minute meeting with the ultras on Monday. You can read how it happened HERE. 
• RC Lens are not giving up on their unlikely title pursuit without a fight and have been attentive to the market this winter. The club were quick to snap up former France youth international Allan Saint-Maximin, who joined on a free transfer after leaving Club América in Mexico. Read all about it HERE.

This feature is a repost from Get French Football News and can be found HERE

GFN | Nick Hartland

In the second part of his chat with BBC Radio Newcastle looking back on breaking Jackie Milburn's all-time Newcastle scoring record 20 years on, Alan Shearer recalls the moment the ball hit the net and the feeling this gave him.

The Magpies led Portsmouth 1-0 through a Charles N'Zogbia effort on 41 minutes, before Shearer ran ontoShola Ameobi's backheel to fire past Dean Kiely.

"I remember that Shay [Given] kicks the ball, I flick it on into Shola [Ameobi] and sort of turn and swivel in the hope that he might be able to flick it into my path and he did just that," he recalled.

"It was a perfect little flick from Shola so then the rest was up to me. I had to get across the defender, who was Andy O'Brien actually who of course used to play for Newcastle, and then the goal is there and my eyes light up.

"It just happened so quickly to think 'God, this is this could be it'.

"It was just a matter of just get it in and worry about what happens afterwards but then once I got the connection, once I've seen it go under the goalkeeper then that was it.

"The relief, the feeling of joy and everything else, the emotion for all of those reasons that I've mentioned.

"Jackie Milburn was my dad's hero and still is to this day and people talk about Jackie, how great he was, everything he meant to the football club and how long the record had stood for.

"Then me being from Newcastle and doing it at the Gallowgate End just felt right.

"I can't remember ever having a feeling like that on a football pitch in all my years when I saw and felt the ball hit the back of the net.

"It was one of those moments where I wish I could have bottled that feeling because of the crowd noise, the excitement, the adrenaline. I've never had a hit like that to be honest.

"I've scored some pretty important goals in my time but I just think because of the build up, because of the enormity of it in Newcastle, and because of me being from Gosforth and my mum and dad being there it was just an unbelievable feeling - one of the best I've ever had on a football pitch.

"I used to stand and watch my hero Kevin Keegan and I remember all those years ago when he made his debut in 1982 when I was 11. From that day I wanted to understand what that felt like.

"I had that feeling lots of times but none of them ever felt like that did that afternoon."

Come back to this page later on Wednesday for the third part of Shearer's chat

Access Newcastle United audio on BBC Sounds here

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What are your memories of that day? Which of Shearer's 206 Newcastle goals was your favourite? Get in touch using this form

Penn State will open a brand new era of college football under head coach Matt Campbell in 2026, and the schedule is seemingly pretty manageable for a potential rebound season. After a tough 7-6 season in 2025, capped by a win in the Pinstripe Bowl, Penn State looks for a fresh start in 2026. The new era begins with a home game against Marshall in Week 1 and will include a big home game against USC in mid-October.

Penn State's road schedule is highlighted by road trips to Seattle to face Washington and Ann Arbor, Michigan, to take on the Michigan Wolverines. The Nittany Lions also take trips to Philadelphia (Temple) and Maryland this season.

Penn State will be the first opponent Northwestern will host in its rebuilt Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois in early October. The game was moved up a day to a Friday night game to showcase the opening of Northwestern's home stadium after two years.

Here is Penn State's 2026 football schedule with updated start times and TV information. This will be updated as needed. Home games are listed in all CAPS and all times are Eastern (ET).

DATE	OPPONENT	TV	TIME
Sept. 5	MARSHALL	TBD	TBD
Sept. 12	at Temple	TBD	TBD
Sept. 19	BUFFALO	TBD	TBD
Sept. 26	WISCONSIN*	TBD	TBD
Oct. 2 (Fri)	at Northwestern*	TBD	TBD
Oct. 10	USC*	TBD	TBD
Oct. 17	at Michigan*	TBD	TBD
Oct. 31	PURDUE*	TBD	TBD
Nov. 7	at Washington*	TBD	TBD
Nov. 14	MINNESOTA*	TBD	TBD
Nov. 21	RUTGERS*	TBD	TBD
Nov. 28	at Maryland*	TBD	TBD

• "*" denotes Big Ten Conference game
• Penn State's bye week is during Week 8 (Oct. 24)
• The Big Ten Championship game is scheduled for Saturday, December 5 in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Full Penn State 2026 football schedule, kickoff times, and TV info

John Virgo, a British snooker icon who gained popularity as a player and commentator, has died. He was 79.

Virgo's death was announced by the World Snooker Tour on Wednesday. It did not state a cause of death.

“Everyone at World Snooker Tour is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of legendary snooker player and broadcaster John Virgo, aged 79,” a statement read. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, JV.”

Virgo won the UK Championship in 1979 and had a long career. He then became a successful broadcaster as part of the BBC’s snooker coverage as a commentator.

He also enjoyed crossover fame for his role on the 1990s snooker game BBC show “Big Break” and was a regular on the exhibition circuit with his vast array of trick shots.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

After full-time on Sunday, you could feel that uneasy mood that hung over Aston Villa and their connections last August coming back, the general sense that the world was not quite giving them a square deal.

Like in August, you couldn't say that Villa were being cheated: the PSR regulations are what they are, and the ball probably was over the line, and all the way back there probably is where the attacking phase started - nothing personal, just rules.

But as they set off home, you could tell that the Villa collective were sensing the ground beneath them somehow tilting slightly uphill.

The fearsome look on Unai Emery's face as he left the playing area had softened by the time he arrived in the radio room 40 minutes later and the tone of his remarks was well-judged.

He gently protested against the disallowing of Tammy Abraham's goal – the words "not fair" made for an easy headline, but were part of the most polite of complaints – but his first thought was to congratulate Brentford on their outstandingly disciplined performance and he reminded all concerned that Villa being in third place at all remains a big deal.

Emery's tone is worth taking time to note because it is hard to think of another major club at present where the head coach is such a singular, totemic figure.

Managers are the most prominent public face and voice at most clubs now, but few are regarded with the reverence Emery inspires among Villa fans, players and staff.

This never lasts for ever – even Manchester City fans must soon contemplate a world after Pep Guardiola – and one could easily believe that Emery is so invested in his work that he is to some extent unaware of his own standing.

But players, when interviewed, frequently talk unprompted about his influence within the club, and fans take their cue from his mood. In Emery, they trust.

The Brentford defeat was of a different nature to the loss against Everton. Where they appeared short of energy a fortnight previously, this time they lacked guile to pick through the visitors' remarkably well-constructed defence.

A 10-man plan is seldom executed so well for so long as it was by Brentford, which was Villa's real misfortune.

Their response to the last setback, winning two demanding away fixtures in seven days, was impressive. This time the next task is equally difficult, to visit Bournemouth without being distracted by the pack behind them finally gathering momentum.

This working week, behind the gates of Bodymoor Heath, may therefore be the most important of the season to date.

Listen to full commentary of Bournemouth v Aston Villa at 3pm on Saturday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM]

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Aston Villa content on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's semi-final League Cup game between Arsenal and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

Jerry: This is the mark of champions. With backs against the wall, find a way regardless. Arsenal made a good account of themselves matching Chelsea's funny tactics - how do you set up defensively while chasing a game?

Micky: It certainly was not pretty, but a calculated and methodical approach saw us handle the game superbly. We never looked under any serious pressure and that's testament to the players sticking to the process. Well done to Arteta and the boys for getting us to Wembley, now let's go and win what will hopefully be the first of many trophies!

Zyd: For all the negativity that surrounds the way Arsenal play, the reality is that what matters is the scoreline at the end of the 90 minutes. As much as we celebrate our wins because of our solid defence and laser-sharp focus, we need to bring the same focus to the end of the season. A League Cup trophy might give us a mentality boost; it is level heads that will bring us a quadruple.

Bruce: They used to say we 'bottled it'. Now we show grit, steel, concentration and organisation...and we're 'dull'. Bring on 'boring, boring Arsenal'

Rachel: An uncomfortable watch. Yes Arsenal won, but the intensity was lacking and I didn't feel we ever had total control. Can we win a cup final playing like this?

Chelsea fans

Stuart: Totally understand the requirement to frustrate and subdue Arsenal for an hour or so. The concern is that when we did go for it we looked toothless in attack.

Graham: It was always going to be a big ask playing against one of the best teams in Europe, but great to see (at long last) a change of formation that made us more solid and far more flexible. We always needed not to concede and take the game as far as possible and we managed to still be in the tie at 95 minutes. If rotation takes place v Wolves on Saturday, please not seven players but two or three max.

Marco: Well, that was both confusing and disappointing. I understand Rosenior trying something different in terms of formation, but I have no idea why Delap was on the right wing, for example. It felt like a tactic that should be employed when you are winning, not when you are chasing the tie. The lack of urgency and obsession with keeping the ball would make one feel that Chelsea were the team in the lead. This is not how you want to see your team get knocked out.

Nicholas: Arsenal certainly didn't deserve to win this game but maybe we didn't create enough chances to win it either. I really don't think they are that good a team. They only appear to be good because everyone else is so average and that applies to European football in general. It's just not of a high calibre at the moment.

Keith: Good effort from Chelsea. Unlucky to lose on the night really, although Arsenal deserved it over the two legs. Thought the referee was too quick to stop the play. Delap has to go though, just not up to it!

James Vowles and Williams weren’t at the F1 Barcelona Shakedown last week, but they were naturally keeping a close eye on their competitors.

Williams skipped the session after struggling to clear FIA crash tests. Instead, Vowles chose to focus on getting ready for Bahrain, where they plan to show up fully prepared later next week.

There was a positive sign for Williams though. Mercedes, their engine supplier, had a strong showing during testing. They were the only team to put in over 500 laps.

Ferrari followed with 440 laps and Lewis Hamilton closed out the final day by posting the fastest time of the week at 1:16.348.

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli also picked out Ferrari as one of the top teams in Montmelo.

James Vowles voices doubts over Ferrari’s raw pace

Even with Hamilton’s strong finish, Vowles remains unconvinced about the outright speed of the SF-26. Still, he did acknowledge that Ferrari ran through the test without any major hiccups.

For him, the main positives were Red Bull, who combined with Racing Bulls to rack up more than 600 laps on their debut power unit, and Mercedes.

Mercedes got into race simulations early on. The only real interruptions came from red flags caused by other teams, highlighting just how smoothly things went for them overall.

“I’ve been really impressed with Red Bull, especially on the power unit side,” Vowles said at Williams’ Tuesday launch via The Race. “To do a power unit from scratch and turn up to be that reliable is mighty. Well done to them.

“Number two, Ferrari’s consistency. Perhaps the outright pace is in question, but the consistency is really impressive for them again from the get-go.

“And Mercedes always. I’ve been there for a long time; they’re very good at getting regulation change right and walking out with a package that’s just robust and reliable. But if you are doing a race sim just about a day into testing, it’s very impressive.”

Could Williams Outpace Ferrari When the 2026 F1 Season Begins?

Flavio Briatore has no doubts about the Mercedes engine under the new regulations, and when he decided to shut down Alpine’s works programme, he was only interested in buying power units from Brixworth.

If Mercedes’ fuel innovation lives up to its reputation, and Williams don’t lose too much ground from missing Barcelona, there’s a real chance they could jump ahead of both Ferrari and Red Bull in the early running order.

Read more:

The New York Giants are hiring Matt Robinson as their assistant defensive line coach, continuing the influx of talent from head coach John Harbaugh's former Baltimore Ravens staff.

Robinson, who spent five seasons with the Ravens (2021-2025), most recently served as outside linebackers coach. He joined Baltimore in 2021 as a defensive coaching fellow, progressed to defensive backs in 2022, defensive quality control (focusing on the front) in 2023, and assisted the defensive line in 2024.

During his tenure, the Ravens boasted one of the NFL's top defenses, including ranking first in rush defense in multiple seasons -- allowing the fewest rushing yards per game (80.1), yards per rush (3.6), and opponent rushing first downs (69) in 2024 -- while finishing second in sacks (54) and quarterback hits (115).

A University of Maryland product, Robinson played defensive end/outside linebacker from 2010-2014, tallying 198 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and other contributions across 39 games. After an undrafted stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars ended due to injury, he transitioned to coaching, serving as a graduate assistant at UConn (2017-18) and defensive quality control at Maryland (2019-20).

The move, first reported by CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, bolsters the Giants' defensive staff with experienced Ravens-developed talent familiar with Harbaugh's schemes.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants hiring Ravens' Matt Robinson as assistant DL coach

When the Washington Commanders hired Daronte Jones as defensive coordinator last week, we began connecting the dots about which coaches could follow him to Washington.

One of those names was former Vikings defensive line coach Marcus Dixon. Dixon was Minnesota's defensive line coach for the past two seasons, working with Jones, who served as the defensive backs coach/defensive pass game coordinator.

However, Dixon will not be following Jones to Washington. On Monday, he chose his next destination, joining new Cowboys' defensive coordinator Christian Parker in Dallas. Parker, like Jones, is a first-time NFL defensive coordinator. The 34-year-old Parker worked with Dixon for two seasons in Denver before going to the Vikings in 2024.

The Cowboys have agreed to a deal with Marcus Dixon to be their defensive line coach. He worked with new DC Christian Parker in Denver and spent the last 2 seasons in Minnesota, per source. He joins Derrick Ansley (pass game coordinator) and Ryan Smith (corners).

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) February 3, 2026

This was an outstanding hire for the Cowboys. It's also worth noting that while we and others connected the dots for Dixon to the Commanders, it's uncertain if they were even trying to hire him. Washington did move on from three assistants last weekend, including franchise legend Ryan Kerrigan, but defensive line coach Darryl Tapp remains.

The Commanders like Tapp. And it's not like he has had elite talent to work with over the last two years, especially at edge rusher. You could make the case that Washington should make sweeping changes in the secondary instead of the defensive line. One of the Commanders' assistants in the secondary, defensive passing game coordinator Jason Simmons, took the same position with the Steelers.

More changes are coming for Washington. Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic was the first to report last week that the Commanders were looking to bring in someone to oversee the front seven, with the goal of improving the pass rush. Jones will make additional hires, but it doesn't necessarily mean there will be a new defensive line coach.

Stay tuned.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Potential Daronte Jones assistant to Cowboys

Devils' huge Jack Hughes admission that led to loss vs. Blue Jackets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New Jersey Devils looked lost when the Columbus Blue Jackets came to visit Prudential Center. Coach Sheldon Keefe and Co. just could not find the momentum to get back in the game. It did not help that Mathieu Olivier played his heart out. However, the home team are missing a key piece and his absence was a big reason for why they could not claw themselves back in this 0-3 blowout — Jack Hughes.

New Jersey struggles without their center

There was just not a sustainable for on offense that the Devils had against the Blue Jackets. Coach Keefe's squad got 24 shots on goal and it was all saved by Elvis Merzlikins. The same could not be said for New Jersey. They allowed Columbus to heat up as Mathieu Olivier notched two goals while Dante Fabbro also found the back of the net in this game.

Clearly, the Devils were not pleased with the outcome of this game. Connor Brown admitted that a lot of it was because they were missing Hughes at center, via Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com.

"I thought we were the better team for two periods and then we broke in the third and they were able to capitalize and do a good job of not giving anything up. They weren't turning the puck over and that's something this team can learn from. It's a recipe for success. They got the lead and they played well with it. We couldn't capitalize 6-on-5 or 5-on-4 and needless to say, we're missing our quarterback ... it would be nice to have (Jack Hughes) in those moments," the Devils right winger said.

Notably, Hughes suffered a lower-body injury which kept him off the ice against the Blue Jackets. This is the second-straight game that New Jersey had to play without him. So far, Coach Keefe has not found a way to win without him. They have now lost to the Ottawa Senators and Blue Jackets.

Hopefully, they are able to turn things around when they face the New York Islanders because that will be their last game before the Olympic break pauses the NHL up until February 25. 

More NHL News:

• Capitals' Alex Ovechkin passes Wayne Gretzky in another historic NHL record

• Matthew Tkachuk blasts Panthers after disappointing loss vs. Sabres

• Glen Gulutzan names big change Stars made to achieve 5-game win streak

MILAN — Three-time U.S. figure skating champion Amber Glenn, the most prominent LGBTQ female athlete in her sport, criticized the Trump administration during a pre-Olympic news conference with fellow U.S. skaters Wednesday morning at the 2026 Winter Games.

“It's been a hard time for the (LGBTQ) community overall in this administration,” she said. “It isn’t the first time that we've had to come together as a community and try and fight for our human rights. And now especially, it's not just affecting the queer community, but many other communities, and I think that we are able to support each other in a way that we didn't have to before, and because of that, it's made us a lot stronger.”

Glenn, 26, said she will not shy away from talking about these issues during the Olympics. 

“I hope I can use my platform and my voice throughout these Games to try and encourage people to stay strong in these hard times. I know that a lot of people say you're just an athlete, like, stick to your job, shut up about politics, but politics affect us all. It is something that I will not just be quiet about because it is something that affects us in our everyday lives. So of course, there are things that I disagree with, but as a community, we are strong and we support each other, and brighter days are ahead of us.”

Glenn, a native of Plano, Texas, came out as pansexual in a December 2019 interview with the Dallas Voice.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US figure skater Amber Glenn speaks out for LGBTQ community at Olympics

Framber Valdez should have been wined, dined and extolled at a lavish press conference, signed to a contract with enough zeroes to assure lifetime wealth and picking out furniture for his new home.

Instead, less than one week before the start of spring training, he sits unemployed.

Valdez, 32, the two-time All-Star who has averaged 30 starts a year the past four seasons, with Cy Young votes in three of them, was arguably the best pitcher on the free-agent market.

He was projected to be the highest-paid player this winter outside his former Houston Astros teammate, Kyle Tucker. Yet, three full months have come and gone, and Valdez continues to wait with questions abound throughout the game.

Is he asking for too much money? Are teams concerned about the wear and tear on his arm, pitching 809 innings in the regular season and postseason the past four years?

Do they wonder whether Valdez intentionally hit his own catcher, Cesar Salazar, in the chest with a 93-mph fastball out of frustration in September after giving up a grand slam against the New York Yankees?

Whatever the reason, or if it’s simply a matter of a slow developing market for free agent pitchers, Valdez is easily the best player remaining on the market.

With time running out, in a survey of scouts, executives and agents, here are their predictions for the top six candidates to sign Valdez:

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles remain the heavy favorite to sign Valdez, and could turn a fabulous winter into a spectacular one. And let’s face it, if they’re going to have a real chance to bounce back and win the AL East, they need another front-line starter.

Valdez would give them a formidable rotation with Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin already in the mix. And remember, they were aggressive in the bidding for Ranger Suarez before he signed a five-year, $130 million deal with the Boston Red Sox.

The Orioles are clearly the team to beat in the Valdez sweepstakes, executives believe.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Orioles’ biggest threat to signing Valdez is the Blue Jays. They’ve had perhaps the best winter of any team in baseball, spending $337 million to give them every chance for a return trip to the World Series. So why not push it closer to $500 million?

If they signed Valdez, they will have locked up the top two starters on the market, having already signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract. They would be even further flush with starters with Valdez, Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce and Jose Berrios. Considering that Gausman and Bieber are free agents after the 2026 season, the signing of Valdez makes perfect sense.

Besides, if they had $350 million to sign Kyle Tucker before he went to the Dodgers, why not give up a chunk of that to Valdez?

San Diego Padres

They haven’t done anything all winter besides bringing back Michael King and signing Korean infielder Sung-mun Song, and may have trouble enough keeping up with the San Francisco Giants – let alone the Dodgers. The signing of Valdez could save the offseason..

Financial constraints and an impending sale has handicapped them, but if Yu Darvish walks away from the $43 million he’s owed – including $16 million this season – the Padres could use it to find a creative way of bringing in Valdez. It would be similar to their deal a year ago with free agent Nick Pivetta when he was left stranded on the free agent market, giving him an opt-out after two seasons.

The Padres are a longshot compared to the Orioles and Blue Jays chances, but with GM A.J. Preller at the helm, you can never rule anything out.

Chicago Cubs

You want the Cubs’ fans to lose their minds after their fine winter? Go ahead and sign Valdez, giving them a team that could not only run win the NL Central, but peraps challenge the mighty Dodgers.

The Cubs, who already dropped $175 million with the Alex Bregman signing, would have a sensational rotation of Justin Steele (when he returns the second half), Edward Cabrera, Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon in the mix for starts.

The Cubs, who have been engaged in talks with fellow free agent Zac Gallen, will need another front-line starter in a year, anyways, with Boyd, Taillon and Imanaga all free agents after the 2026 season.

Detroit Tigers

Can you imagine a rotation with Tarik Skubal and Valdez as your 1-2 punch? It would bring back memories when Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer were leading their powerful rotation during their glory days.

While it may seem to be far-fetched, the Tigers have to face reality, too. They are not going to fork out $400 million and sign Skubal when he hits free agency in 10 months. They will have a gaping hole in the rotation. So why not be proactive and grab his replacement a year early? This would give them a rotation of Skubal, Valdez, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, Reese Olson and Drew Anderson to start 2026.

They would have the team built for a deep October run. Who says no?

Milwaukee Brewers

We get it. If you can’t afford to keep Freddy Peralta, why turn around and spend money for Valdez? Yet, the Peralta trade was simply acknowledging they couldn’t keep him a year from now.

Considering the Brewers have spent only $1.25 million in free agency this winter, and the fans are loudly grumbling about losing Peralta. Why not get them feeling as if you’re giving away free beer and cheese curds at all home games?

The Brewers privately say they still are interested in signing a free-agent pitcher, they could shoot for the sunand leave the Cubs cursing under their breath.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Framber Valdez news and rumors as top MLB free agent remains unsigned

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Philadelphia 76ers walked into the Chase Center on Tuesday night and earned a 113-94 win over the Golden State Warriors for their fifth-straight as they continue trending upwards in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers dominated in a number of areas on their way to the win. They improved to 2-0 on their 5-game road trip and 3-0 since losing Paul George to the 25-game suspension.

VJ Edgecombe had 25 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists while Kelly Oubre Jr. had 15 points and five rebounds. Tyrese Maxey had 14 points, Adem Bona added 11 and seven rebounds, Quentin Grimes had 10 and five rebounds, and Trendon Watford had 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Andre Drummond added 12 and 11 rebounds while Dominick Barlow added 10 points and six rebounds.

Here are the three biggest takeaways for the Sixers after the win:

Second unit coming up large

The starters had some good moments on Tuesday, but the bench unit gave the Sixers a real spark. The play of Watford, Grimes, and Bona was a key reason why Philadelphia was able to build the lead it did in the early going. The Warriors didn’t have an answer for any of the three and the Sixers were able to lean on those three to help get the team moving with the spark they played with in the second quarter.

"All of them," said coach Nick Nurse. "Throw the whole group in there. Obviously, I think TWatt has given us some versatility that we've talked about. He'll handle. He can get a post up bucket here and there. He was really making good reads out of the double teams as well. I think Bona was bouncy tonight. A lot of dunks. A lot of shots at the rim."

Huge rebounding advantage

This is a big one for Philadelphia. It had been a struggle on the glass in recent weeks, but that changed in this one. Drummond set the tone early while Oubre, Barlow, and Edgecombe all made contributions on the glass. The Sixers played with much more energy than the Warriors and it showed in the hustle stats as Philadelphia was able to lean on that to come away with the victory.

"I think we're probably playing bigger lineups for one thing, but I just think, again, that obviously different games, different opponents present different things sometimes," Nurse explained. "We have tried to emphasize showing a lot of film on how to get better and practicing it quite a bit and stuff like that when we can."

Edgecombe produces in a number of ways

The rookie just makes an impact. After being helpful in Monday’s win despite shooting just 1-for-11, he had a big offensive game on Tuesday long with stuffing the box score in a number of other areas. It truly is impressive to see a player as young as Edgecombe continue to go through the grind of an 82-game regular season and the ups and downs of it all to stay focused and rise to the occasion on a nightly basis.

"He, obviously, was really good,: Nurse added. "I thought he took it to some points and bolted up and made a bunch of shots. He's got an ability to do it. We don't see it that often, but it kind of presented itself tonight. I thought he got us off to a great start as well. Just playing confidently. Obviously, they took the ball out of Tyrese's hands the whole night, so other guys had to step up, and they did a good job with him leading the way."

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 3 biggest takeaways for Sixers following road win over Warriors

Everton have sacked head coach Brian Sorensen with the club four points clear of the Women’s Super League’s relegation zone.

Assistant coaches Stephen Neligan and Ashley Tootle have also been dismissed.

The Athletic reported Sorensen’s departure on Wednesday and the club later confirmed the news, with under-18s coach Scott Phelan placed in interim charge. He will be assisted by Jennifer Foster, who had been part of Sorensen’s backroom staff for the past 12 months, and goalkeeping coach Ian McCaldon.

Sorensen’s dismissal comes after Everton secured just their third league win of the season, and first since December 7, on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa thanks to an 89th-minute Martina Fernandez goal.

The result left Sorensen’s side ninth in the WSL, four points clear of Liverpool in the division’s single relegation spot. There is no automatic relegation place in the WSL this season, with the league’s bottom side entering a relegation play-off with the team that finishes third in WSL2.

Sorensen, 45, had been at Everton since the summer of 2022 and signed a new two-year contract in April that had been due to run until 2027.

The Athletic reported on January 26 that there was recognition internally at Everton that the performances under Sorensen had not been good enough this season.

Everton brought in nine new signings in the summer, their first transfer window under the new ownership of the Friedkin Group, including midfielder Ruby Mace for a then club-record fee of approximately £200,000.

They have, however, been hit with key injuries, including to captain Megan Finnigan and forward Katja Snoeijs. France striker Kelly Gago was made the club’s highest-paid player in the summer, but was involved in a transfer row in January following interest from elsewhere. Forward Toni Payne suffered a muscle injury after the Villa victory and is set to be about for four to six weeks.

Despite the injuries and absences, Everton’s winter business was remarkably sparse. Inma Gabarro was recalled from her loan at Sevilla. Eighteen-year-old defensive midfielder Laila Harbert was secured on loan from Arsenal and midfielder Zara Kramzar was signed from Roma on deadline day.

While Everton broke their club-transfer record to sign Kramzar for £250,000, according to sources briefed on the deal, Everton’s overall squad budget this season ranks among the lowest in the WSL.

Everton’s women’s team relocated to Goodison Park this season following the men’s side’s move to the Hill-Dickinson Stadium for the 2025-26 campaign.

Sorensen joined Everton from Fortuna Hjorring and led the club to sixth in the WSL during his debut season in charge, followed by successive eight-place finishes.

Everton return to action against London City Lionesses on Sunday.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Everton, Women's Soccer

2026 The Athletic Media Company

“If I was West Ham, I’d be hammering down the door of Olivia Dean’s management and asking her how she wants to get involved in the club,” says Al Greenwood, drummer for the British band Sports Team.

On Sunday, Dean, the singer-songwriter of global chart-topping hits like Man I Need and So Easy (To Fall In Love), won the Grammy for best new artist. “I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated,” she powerfully said during her winning speech. 

The 26-year-old has been releasing music since 2019 but her soulful, pop-sounding second album, The Art of Loving, has cemented her status as one of the most exciting artists of her generation.

The weekend before performing and winning at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for the music industry’s most glitzy event, she was at the London Stadium cheering her beloved West Ham United during their 3-1 Premier League win over Sunderland.

Given Dean is one of the most famous artists in the world — she has joined names such as Amy Winehouse and Adele as winners of the breakthrough award — the question is: how can West Ham tap into Dean’s global appeal and will they try to?

Dean has been a lifelong fan and has mentioned them — and sometimes shouted the word “IRONS!” — in multiple interviews.

Growing up in Highams Park in north east London, Dean regularly attended West Ham matches at the team’s former stadium, Upton Park, with her father and brother. In previous interviews, Dean, who was a student at the renowned Brit School of Performing Arts, has spoken of going to the Black Lion pub before every match, of how their seats were near to the corner flag and recalled standing up for an entire game to cheer on her team.

During an interview on Apple Music 1, Dean excitedly received messages from men’s team captain Jarrod Bowen congratulating her on her new album and was invited to Chadwell Heath training ground by women’s team players, Ffion Morgan and Shelina Zadorsky. But other than the personalised messages and passionate mentions, Dean is yet to collaborate with her team.

Manchester United fan Greenwood, who has been photographed for her team’s kit launches in the past, is not alone in hoping Dean will be at a home West Ham game soon to show off her Grammy. The Athletic asked West Ham whether they were planning to invite Dean but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Greenwood is also one of the founders of Inmotion Collective, the creative group behind the Lionesses’ squad announcement video for the 2022 European Championship, featuring cameos from singer Joy Crookes, presenter Amelia Dimoldenberg and former England players such as Alex Scott, Ian Wright and David Beckham.

The drummer, who interviewed Dean in 2022 for Glorious Sport, a digital media brand centred on women’s sports, tells The Athletic: “I wrote that piece (for Glorious) four years ago and, at the time, I was like, West Ham need to jump all over this because she speaks so eloquently and has such an authentic connection to the club.

“Obviously, she just picked up a Grammy, her rise to stardom has been stratospheric and she’s such a great overall representative for the women’s game beyond just being an incredible artist. The way she speaks, the amount of brands she’s involved in. She is just such an impressive individual.

“But it’s not about saying: ‘Oh, do you want to be in the kit launch?’ That’s also brilliant, but you need to find ways to really engage with artists in ways that are meaningful to them.”

Last year, Dean performed alongside Newcastle United fan Sam Fender, with whom she collaborated on the song, Rein Me In, during his sold-out headline show at the London Stadium. At that show, Dean told the crowd it was nice to be performing at her “home ground” and the Newcastle-strong contingent booed. It wasn’t quite the homecoming she had planned, but she took it in good jest.

Fender has linked up with Newcastle in several creative ways. To promote his Mercury Prize-winning third album People Watching, the singer sponsored the back of the team’s shirts for their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford during the 2024-25 season. The shirt was then released as a limited edition by Adidas, with the match-worn shirts auctioned for charity. Fender has also performed multiple sold-out shows at St James’ Park, the home of Newcastle, and continues to authentically lead the way when it comes to the famous fan collaboration.

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) represent Dean. As senior creator marketing director for brand consulting, Ellen Topley works on the sporting side of the business. She has no crossover with Dean or her team, and a collaboration “really depends what the individual themselves is looking to get out of it”.

“It can be such a smart partnership (sports teams and artists) to win over new fans, bring in new revenue and new relevance for the club when it comes to culture,” Topley says.

“A lot of them probably don’t want to be doing a big kit launch with the club, right? They just want to go and enjoy their club and have a nice time with their friends and family. But I think that’s just where those relationships and conversations start. It is about understanding is there an opportunity to do more?”

Take a look at the Hollywood effect at Wrexham. When actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds bought the Welsh club in 2021, they used not just their fortunes but their fame to transform a then non-League side battling it out in the fifth tier of the English pyramid to a team currently knocking on the door of the Premier League. One more promotion and they’ll be competing in the world’s wealthiest football league.

Eva Longoria, Will Ferrell, Hugh Jackman and Channing Tatum are just some of the celebrities who have turned up to watch Wrexham play, bringing with them the extra social media likes and headlines that celebrities tend to garner. A fifth season of Welcome to Wrexham is currently being filmed, a documentary which has, over the past five years, captivated a global audience. On the pitch Wrexham are succeeding but off it too, thanks to some major brand deals, revenue has hit another stratosphere.

Other teams, like Birmingham City, who count NFL great Tom Brady as one of their minority stakeholders, have taken notes from the Wrexham playbook by using star power as a foundation for success both on and off the field.

No one is suggesting Dean should become an investor. But for Greenwood, who has experience of directing shoots and being in them, partnerships between artists and sports teams are important for many reasons. She can’t quantify whether her work with Manchester United or the Lionesses has brought her Mercury Prize-nominated band even more listeners, but it would be a surprise if those collaborations at least hadn’t boosted name recognition.

“What we always talk about as a band is the fact that there’s six of us who are all different individuals. And I think the more that you can do to express yourself as an individual, the more there is for a fan to get behind,” says Greenwood, the only female in the group.

“It’s always been key to how I see the sport expanding and more women getting involved, more people accessing and enjoying women’s sport.

“Culture is going to be key to unlocking that. Through my career as a drummer, and through the work we’ve done as a creative collective, we’ve tried to always blur that increasingly permeable wall between culture, music, art and sport.”

Ahead of the women’s World Cup in 2023, Dean wrote the song Call Me A Lioness and sang on the track alongside a talented collection of artists, who called themselves Hope FC, including Self Esteem and Melanie C, the former Spice Girl. “It feels like she’s got her own sort of creative pursuits and endeavours,” Greenwood, who drummed on the song, says. “And if I was working with her, I’d be trying to open doors to enable her to express herself in a way that feels good and meaningful to her.”

The photograph of Dean applauding at the London Stadium, with a claret and blue scarf draped over her shoulder, was shared on X by West Ham, getting 1.5 million views and over 10,000 likes. There was also a collaboration post on Instagram between the club and the Premier League using the same image which had over 59,000 likes. By contrast, West Ham’s post at full-time for the 3-1 win against Sunderland had nearly 40,000 likes on Instagram.

Spotted in the stands: Olivia Dean ✨ pic.twitter.com/QxmGhG6jDi

— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 25, 2026

Topley adds: “Across any kind of brand partnership, if someone is excited about the brand or the team it’s so much easier to get something over the line. If you’re having to force something from the beginning, it just makes it hard.

“If you can tap into talents’ passions, whether that is the way that you bring the partnership to life or whether it is the actual partnership itself, it’s just so much easier for negotiations and even getting that initial conversation started.”

Might we even see Dean and Lionesses captain and Arsenal defender Leah Williamson creatively linking up on a future project? The two-time European Championship winner is now represented by fivethree, an agency co-founded by Emily Braham, Dean’s manager of 10 years and a person whom she thanked on stage last Sunday. Williamson joining forces with fivethree is just another example of how football, music, fashion, art and film are already deeply intertwined.

And there is clearly an opportunity for West Ham and Dean should they wish to collaborate. But, for now, it seems both are content with being nice to each other, to half borrow a line from Dean’s most viral track.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

West Ham United, Soccer, Sports Business, Women's Soccer, Culture, Premier League

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Not that long ago, we wrote that the Cincinnati Bengals’ upcoming tough decision on free agent Trey Henrickson isn’t that simple. 

Hendrickson contract projections aren’t making it any easier. 

Over at Pro Football Focus, the latest Hendrickson contract prediction comes from Mason Cameron, who suggests an average annual value of $25 million: 

“Let’s not overthink this. Even at 31 years old, Hendrickson hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. He is one of six edge rushers to record a pass-rush win rate above 20% over the past three seasons, and he also places in the 96th percentile in PFF pass-rush grade on true pass sets.”

The Bengals actually went to $29 million average annual value before the season with Hendrickson. Granted, this is the Bengals, so structure and length of guarantees beyond Year 1 become hiccups compared to normal franchises. 

Still, $25 million AAV to retain Hendrifckson and keep the win-now window open doesn't sound like that bad of way to spend cap space. 

Reports have said the Bengals and Hendrickson are fully done with each other. But his age, recent injury and money demands could make for a quieter market than perhaps expected. Plus, the Bengals still have the option of the franchise tag. 

The Bengals want to move forward with Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart. But if the Hendrickson market is in this range and short-term, he’s an All-Pro defender for a team that wants to win right now, too. 

Never say never, right?RELATED: Bengals sound ready to leave comfort zone, do contract extension early

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Trey Hendrickson contract projection comes in lower than expected

Everton have announced the news that they have parted company with manager Brian Sørensen.

WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Toffees this morning.

The 45-year-old leaves Goodison Park following a difficult period which has seen Everton win just three of their opening 14 matches in this season’s Barclays Women’s Super League. Sørensen did guide Everton back to winning ways last weekend as they recorded their first home victory of the season by defeating Aston Villa 2-1 at Goodison Park.

Sørensen was appointed Everton manager in summer 2022 and he guided the team through a challenging period which was dominated by takeover uncertainty. Despite having to juggle minimal financial resources and a catalogue of injuries, Everton often exceeded expectations. The Toffees have never been in any relegation danger during Sørensen’s tenure.

This season has brought added pressure with new owners investing heavily and allocating the team Goodison Park as their permanent home. It took Everton six attempts before they won a league match in L4. With Everton occupying ninth position in the league table, the club’s hierarchy have opted for a managerial change.

Stephen Neligan and Ashley Tootle have also left thier roles. Everton have placed Under-18s coach Scott Phelan in charge on an interim basis until the end of the season. He will be assisted by Jennifer Foster and Ian McCaldon.

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens interviewed 20 head coaching candidates this offseason. No other NFL team came close.

The size of Baltimore’s search reflected owner Steve Bisciotti’s dynamic hiring approach: gather pertinent information first, then make one of the most important decisions in recent franchise history.

The Ravens still possessed apparent urgency throughout, but they also understood the stakes. With a two-time NFL MVP quarterback still in his prime and a roster built to contend immediately, the Ravens treated the interview process as something to be studied and obsessed over. After all, Baltimore was widely viewed as the league’s top opening.

General manager Eric DeCosta described the team’s process as his own two-week draft.

Of the record-tying 10 teams with coaching openings, Baltimore conducted the league’s most expansive search, ultimately narrowing its focus to three finalists: Jesse Minter, new Bills coach Joe Brady and new Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. It opened the team’s brass to nearly two dozen respected football minds, each offering an external evaluation of the Ravens’ roster, schemes and blind spots that surfaced too often throughout a disappointing 2025 campaign.

For a franchise coming off a season in which the defense strayed from its longtime standard, allowing too many chunk plays and struggling to close games, those conversations possess tremendous value moving forward.

“[We had] the chance to talk to a lot of people and gather as much information as you can,” DeCosta said. “There is a great value to an organization to go through that process this way. It was time consuming. It [required work] from a lot of people. A lot of people that were very, very involved. We learned a lot, and we had a chance to canvas a wide net and talk to the very, very best people in the NFL.”

Other NFL general managers might’ve preferred to concentrate solely on a new leader during an introductory news conference, but DeCosta acknowledged the value in the Ravens’ broader hiring practices.

Before Buffalo tabbed Brady to replace Sean McDermott, the Ravens hosted the former offensive coordinator in Owings Mills. That gave Baltimore’s decision-makers a rare opportunity to receive a direct assessment from the opposing sideline on one of the most jarring games of the season. In Week 1, the Ravens witnessed a commanding fourth-quarter lead evaporate as Josh Allen and the Bills stormed back in an improbable comeback that left Baltimore stunned.

Brady had coached against Baltimore’s defense through that epic collapse. His perspective was undoubtedly valuable.

Other offensive coaches the Ravens interviewed included Mike McDaniel, Klint Kubiak, Kliff Kingsbury, Matt Nagy, Davis Webb and Nate Scheelhaase. Alongside Minter, the Ravens interviewed a deep bench of defensive gurus including Brian Flores, Vance Joseph, Jim Schwartz, Robert Saleh, Chris Shula, Anthony Campanile and Weaver.

That depth helps explain how the Ravens were able to move quickly to secure Weaver as Minter’s next defensive coordinator on Monday afternoon. Weaver interviewed for five openings and emerged as a finalist with the Ravens, Steelers and Cardinals.

By the end of the process, five of the 20 candidates Baltimore interviewed (Minter, Saleh, Kubiak, Brady and Kevin Stefanski) were hired or are expected to be hired across this cycle’s vacancies. Another three assistants were either promoted or received contract extensions.

Baltimore’s dedicated approach followed the departure of John Harbaugh, the winningest coach in franchise history. Harbaugh delivered sustained success and stability over 18 seasons, but it became clear to owner Steve Bisciotti that change was necessary after two consecutive years of postseason regression, culminating in a 2025 season in which Baltimore missed the playoffs entirely despite a wide-open AFC field that did not include Patrick Mahomes.

Across the AFC North, the Browns interviewed 10 candidates before settling on former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, while the Steelers interviewed nine before hiring Mike McCarthy. Both are fine hires. But Baltimore interviewed double the number of candidates and as a direct result, walked away with twice the amount of firsthand insight.

Last offseason provided an even deeper reminder of how differently organizations approach these critical moments. The Cowboys interviewed just three external candidates after parting ways with McCarthy, then handed the job to Brian Schottenheimer. The Ravens spoke with nearly seven times that many coaches before making its decision.

Quantity doesn’t always rule, but Bisciotti has great instincts and is the founder of Aerotek, the largest privately owned staffing and recruiting firm in the U.S.

Bisciotti was not made publicly available during Minter’s introductory news conference last Thursday, instead sitting in the front row as the pomp and circumstance unfolded. But afterward, as former Baltimore Sun and ESPN reporter Jamison Hensley began a live standup outside the team’s headquarters, the Ravens’ owner briefly interjected, offering an unscripted glimpse into his thinking.

When asked why he hired Minter, Bisciotti replied: “I didn’t. Eric did. I approved it. I can tell those two are going to work really well together. [Minter] stood out. We got some good candidates out there, but he stood out. So we’re really happy with him.”

Said team president Sashi Brown: “We’re at an important time for our locker room. We know we have the talent to go out and pursue championships now. When we set out to find our new coach, we wanted to make sure that we were very serious about bringing a great leader, but also a great person to this organization, to our locker room, and we found that in Jesse Minter.”

Now, Minter becomes the franchise’s fourth coach, empowered to establish his own leadership style while benefiting from the intel Baltimore gathered throughout the search.

Of course, none of this guarantees success. But if Minter works as well as many inside the organization believe he’s capable of, the Ravens will have given themselves a familiar advantage inside the AFC North. While other franchises moved quickly or slowly with less direction to resolve their openings, Baltimore separated itself and invested in understanding the full landscape first.

That’s easy to take for granted.

____

The latest Cleveland Browns coverage from Dawgs By Nature:

• Browns get 2 QBs in, what should be next for the Pro Bowl Games (Abby Mueller) Browns Shedeur Sanders, Joe Flacco show the slow decreasing significance of the Pro Bowl, players are not to playing
• Browns HC Todd Monken: Everything you need to know about CLE’s new head coach (Barry Shuck) All the history, experience of Cleveland Browns HC Todd Monken should help. In-depth profile on Cleveland’s head coach
• Browns HC Todd Monken could be a ‘bridge’ head coach and that is okay (Curtiss Brown) The idea of a “bridge QB” is known, Todd Monken could be a “bridge head coach” for the Cleveland Browns, successfully
• Questions of the Day: Who will be, who do you want to be the starting QB for 2026? (Jared Mueller) Shedeur Sanders is the Cleveland Browns starting QB for now but NFL free agency, NFL draft could change things

More Cleveland Browns news:

• Todd Monken ‘jacked’ to lead the Browns into their next chapter | Team Coverage (clevelandbrowns.com) “Monken plans to keep same defensive scheme with the Browns.”
• ‘There’s no better place to do it than Cleveland’: Browns introduce Todd Monken as new head coach (Spectrum News) “The Cleveland Browns officially introduced Todd Monken as the team’s 19th head coach on Tuesday.”
• Todd Monken gives 1st press conference as Cleveland Browns head coach (Cleveland 19 News) “Todd Monken gives 1st press conference as Cleveland Browns head coach.”
• Browns new coach Todd Monken: ‘I didn’t take this job because of Jim Schwartz’ (The New York Times) “Monken discussed many topics at his introductory news conference, including his plan for developing the young talent on Cleveland’s roster.”
• Jim Schwartz Linked to AFC West Team for Potential New Job (Sports Illustrated) “With Schwartz potentially on the way out, this struggling team could use him to command their defense.”
• Browns coach Todd Monken talks with media for first time, live updates (Akron Beacon Journal) “New Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken meets with media at his introductory press conference. We’ll have live updates here on what’s said.”
• See photos from Todd Monken’s first Cleveland Browns press conference (Canton Repository) “The Cleveland Browns formally introduced new head coach Todd Monken in a press conference Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. See the photos.”
• Todd Monken on if Shedeur Sanders is Browns’ QB1: That’s still to be determined (NFL.com) “Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken talks quarterback at introductory press conference.”
• Mike Polk Jr. overthinks Todd Monken’s first Cleveland Browns press conference so you don’t have to (WKYC) “From a much-needed wardrobe glow-up to unexpected emotion (and a little Jim Schwartz tea), here’s what actually stood out in his first presser as head coach…”
• NFL insider provides insight on Jim Schwartz’s future with Cleveland Browns (On3) “Last week, the Cleveland Browns hired former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as its next head coach. Shortly after the news was revealed,…”
• New Browns head coach Todd Monken declines to dish details on Jim Schwartz, QB decisions (WOSU Public Media) “Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken said he will hold players accountable for “their dreams and aspirations.”
• Shedeur Sanders’ Pro Bowl accolade somehow sees value diminished even further (Marca) “The NFL world was stunned when news first broke of Shedeur Sanders making the AFC Pro Bowl team. Sanders’ rookie season was not great, or even average,…”
• Browns did a great job introducing Todd Monken (Youtube) Quincy Carrier reacts to the latest

Travis Kelce has revealed his fiancée, Taylor Swift, is “gonna kill me” again for another mishap. In a preview for the upcoming February 4 episode of the New Heights podcast, the Chiefs’ tight end accidentally broke a chair. He joked that he hoped Swift wouldn’t find out about his mishap.

Travis Kelce says Taylor Swift is ‘gonna kill me’

Travis Kelce joked that Taylor Swift is “gonna kill me,” as he accidentally broke a chair while recording an episode of his New Heights podcast at home. In the brief snippet, the Chiefs tight end is laughing at a comment made by his brother Jason. He instinctively leans back in his chair and suddenly realises he is about to lose his balance.

Travis Kelce apparently broke one of Taylor Swift’s chairs.

“Taylor is gonna k me” ??

pic.twitter.com/AS8M1aiuVg

— Taylor Swift Updates (@TSUpdating) February 3, 2026

Jason exclaimed, “Oh s**t. Are you alright?” to which the 36-year-old replied, “We are good.” Furthermore, he quipped, “Taylor’s gonna kill me.” The Eagles alum guffawed at Travis’ fear of Swift.

Unsurprisingly, the little snippet has gone viral on X, and fans are making memes and jokes out of it. One fan joked, “Taylor 10 min later with the couch where Travis watches the games.” A second fan quipped, “Taylor needs to start buying Travis proof furniture.” A third fan commented, “Lmao he’s gonna break all the furniture in Taylor’s house,” followed by a crying emoji. Finally, one fan wrote, “He did not knock on wood.”

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Travis has admitted that Swift will “kill him” over something. The Chiefs’ tight end completely missed a reference to the pop star’s song “Wood” in the January 21 episode of his New Heights podcast.

During the podcast, Jason read a fan comment that said, “I can’t believe none of the hoodies are called ‘New Heights of Man-Hoodie.’” The Kelce brothers looked confused and confessed they didn’t understand what it meant.

Producer Brandon Borders stepped in to explain that it was a reference from The Life of a Showgirl. He said, “It’s a Life of a Showgirl reference, come on. ‘New Heights of manhood,’ it’s the time you were referenced in the album.”

Travis quipped, “I didn’t understand that. Taylor’s gonna kill me for not knowing that!”

The post Travis Kelce Says ‘Taylor’s Gonna Kill Me’ Again For Another Mishap appeared first on Mandatory.

Who will succeed Horst Steffen at Werder Bremen? This question now appears to have been answered. According to consistent reports from 'Bild' and 'DeichStube', Daniel Thioune is set to become the new coach of the Green-Whites.

According to 'DeichStube', the former Fortuna Düsseldorf coach is already in Bremen to finalize the last details. In the meantime, 'Sky' has also confirmed the potential successor to Steffen.

It was only in October that Thioune had to vacate his coaching position at Fortuna Düsseldorf. Since his contract runs until 2028, a transfer fee is likely to be required. This still needs to be settled, but once it is, nothing should stand in the way of the signing.

However, whether all fans are happy about the new coach remains to be seen. After all, from June 2020 to May 2021, he coached Hamburger SV.

What do you think about Werder’s decision? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

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📸 Stuart Franklin - 2026 Getty Images

Juventus are on the verge of tying down Kenan Yildiz to a new long-term contract, with the Turkish star set to become the cornerstone of the club’s present and future.

With the January transfer window now closed, the Bianconeri are ready to complete what many fans see as their most important move of the season: the renewal of arguably their best player.

Talks have advanced significantly in recent days, with only the final details left to be resolved before the agreement is sealed, as per the Corriere dello Sport.

SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus celebrates his team’s first goal, an own goal scored by Tarik Muharemovic of US Sassuolo Calcio during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Yildiz signs with Juventus until 2031: the details

Yildiz is expected to sign a new deal running until June 2031, extending his current contract by a further two years.

The Turkish forward will also receive a major salary increase in line with his new status within the squad.

His wages are set to rise to €6m net per season, which would make him Juventus’ second-joint highest earner, alongside Jonathan David, behind Dusan Vlahovic.

Securing Yildiz’s future was one of the club’s top priorities at the start of 2026.

Juventus ownership have given clear instructions to build around the young forward, who has already attracted interest from several European giants, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Barring any last-minute complications, Juventus are now closing in on the finish line.

Arsenal reach the final, City on the brink: Wembley awaits its dream showdown

Carabao Cup 2026 / @x.com/ariyadhiah/

Arsenal have booked their ticket to the English League Cup final (Carabao Cup) after knocking out Chelsea in the semi-finals.

Arsenal reach the final, City on the brink: Wembley awaits its dream showdown

The London club clinched a 1-0 victory in the second leg at Stamford Bridge, capitalising on their first-leg advantage (3-2) to seal qualification with a 4-2 aggregate score.

The decisive goal came deep into stoppage time (90+7), courtesy of German international Kai Havertz.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are just one step away from the final. The Citizens secured a crucial 2-0 win at St James' Park against Newcastle United in the first leg, putting themselves in a commanding position ahead of the return fixture.

Manchester City host the second leg tonight at the Etihad Stadium, aiming to confirm their away advantage and seal their place in the final. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 (GMT).

The final will take place on March 22 at Wembley Stadium in London, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash between Arsenal and Man City.

Super Bowl week is always good for some soundbites, and this year has been especially fruitful with former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel leading the New England Patriots to the big game in his first season as head coach. 

With Vrabel in New England, it should come as no surprise that some of his former players joined him when their time in Nashville was up, and one of those is edge Harold Landry. Landry was released during the last offseason in a cost-cutting move, and almost immediately signed with the Patriots. 

During Super Bowl festivities, Landry was asked to compare the culture of the Titans with that of the Patriots now, and he had an interesting response. 

“I mean, I ain't really gonna speak on my last year in Tennessee, but the coach is very similar to when Vrabel was in Tennessee. High-quality guys, no egos, no selfishness, high standards for everyone, no matter who you are. But yeah, I would say that's the same standard.”

Harold Landry III on the biggest culture difference between Titans and Patriots:

"I ain't really going to speak on my last year in Tennessee"#thesickpodcastpic.twitter.com/Zjp2pkkSov

— The Sick Podcast - Talking Titans (@SickPodTitans) February 3, 2026

This isn’t the first time a current or former member of the Titans deflected questions on the team’s culture under Brian Callahan. In fact, it has been a theme throughout the organization's coaching search and in discussions of its future. 

There is no doubt that the goal of this offseason is to rebuild the team's culture, and hopefully, Robert Saleh can do what Callahan failed to do during his tenure. 

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans: Patriots' Harold Landry doesn't have much to say

Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr – this partnership might soon be history.

Although CR7 is still delivering on the field, his patience with the conditions in Saudi Arabia seems to be wearing thin. According to information from the newspaper 'Record', the now almost 41-year-old (he celebrates his birthday tomorrow) is reportedly seriously considering leaving the club in the summer.

The reason? Ronaldo is said to feel disadvantaged with his team in the transfer market. This is reported by Portuguese media. While league leader Al-Hilal strengthened with Karim Benzema and Al-Ittihad signed European talents (like Ilenikhena from Monaco), Al-Nassr has only received less significant, regional reinforcements.

The striker believes that the Saudi state fund (PIF) is making it difficult for his team to sign stars in order to balance the title race – Al-Nassr is only one point behind Al-Hilal in the standings.

Particularly explosive: Ronaldo is said to have already shown his displeasure by voluntarily opting out of playing in the last match – a silent protest.

In doing so, CR7 sees himself not just as a player, but as the face of the league. After all, he was the first major superstar to take the step to Saudi Arabia, truly setting the hype in motion. As the official ambassador for the 2034 World Cup, he apparently feels even more justified in expecting stronger support.

What will happen in the summer?

Two scenarios are considered likely: Either a move to the MLS, where he could end his career in the USA similarly to Messi. Or – and this would be the bigger surprise – a return to Europe, provided a sporting project of interest is found.

A move, however, would not come cheap: a release clause of 50 million euros is on the table.

One thing is certain: With CR7, things won't be boring even at 40 years old.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

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📸 Abdullah Ahmed - 2026 Getty Images

Yes, the Washington Commanders' official website ran a mock draft story on Monday. No big deal, right?

The much BIGGER news of the story was not (and accordingly, should not be) who the Commanders will take at No. 7 in April's 2026 NFL Draft. We are going to be force-fed mock drafts daily until the draft. We will be sick of seeing mock drafts anyway. More importantly, the Commanders were sporting a new look on their website.

Commanders show off a new look on their website featuring double spears going through the W. It's an awesome look that will hopefully pop up more places. https://t.co/ZFNwGrvRxZpic.twitter.com/wS0RCKggIm

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) February 3, 2026

Is this logo testing? Are the Commanders testing the fanbase to gauge the reaction? The Harris Ownership Group (HOG) last season received much praise for the Super Bowl-era uniforms, rather than the alternate uniforms implemented to eliminate historic franchise throwbacks. Perhaps if the fan base shows enough support and excitement, the HOG might consider changing the boring "W" logo they inherited?

#67 DT Clarence Washington of the Pittsburgh Steelers trying to wrap up Washington Redskins QBand future Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgensen in the Redskins 14-7 victory on October 26, 1969 at Pitt Stadium.Rookie and future Hall of Fame DT Joe Greene is being blocked by #74 Jim Snowden pic.twitter.com/EZFcPQPRvA

— Cool Old Sports (@CoolOldSports) April 12, 2024

Those of us old enough remember the spear helmets in the 1960's (above). They were awesome! The younger crowd will recall those awesome throwback uniforms for the 70th Anniversary season of 2002 (below).

WASHINGTON REDSKINS Custom 2002 70TH ANNIVERSARY VINTAGE REEBOK JERSEYhttps://t.co/4PNIqwbuHt
US size
Name Must be Within 12 Chars, Number Must be 1 or 2 digits.
Material: 100% Recycled Polyester
Custom WASHINGTON REDSKINS Jersey pic.twitter.com/0904iSLMOg

— Ravi Kumer (@KumerRavi1049) August 27, 2025

The HOG recognizes they will never get the support of the other NFL owners to return to "Redskins." But the HOG also recognizes that they inherited a frustrated fan base whose historic team name, "Redskins," was taken from them, as well as the iconic helmets worn by the franchise from 1972-2019. Many fans are justifiably never going to get behind the Commanders' uniforms, logo, and name. So, perhaps the HOG will at least give fans more of their team's history in the logo and uniforms?

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Is a new logo/helmet on the way?

In early December 2016, Chelsea went to the Etihad to play Manchester City. Antonio Conte, in his first year as Chelsea head coach, set out his team to survive the first hour, keep things close, and then try to get a result late on. City were not quite the dominant force at this time that they’d soon be — this was also Pep Guardiola’s first season at the helm — but they would take the lead thanks thanks to an unlucky own goal from Gary Cahill on the stroke of half time, before missing a couple sitters, including Kevin De Bruyne smashing the crossbar from like a yard out. Diego Costa would equalize soon after that, with Willian (a key sub early in the second half) and Eden Hazard also scoring in the final half hour to make Conte look like an absolute tactical genius. Boosted by that result, we’d go on to waltz to the title (still our most recent league title, sadly).

The following season, in the spring of 2018, Conte and Chelsea went to the Etihad to play a now much more settled, and league-leading (by a massive margin) City side. Conte, in his second year as head coach and with the seams already well frayed and not just on the edges, set out his team without a recognized striker, looking to survive at least the first hour, keep things close, and then try to get a result late on. But Bernardo Silva would score the game’s only goal early in the second half, with Chelsea unable to muster a response in the latter stages of the match. Conte was universally derided for his cowardly approach, and a few months and an FA Cup trophy later, would be sacked.

The next season, in May of 2019, it was Maurizio Sarri taking Chelsea to the Etihad to play the champions-elect. Sarri, in some ways the exact antithesis of Conte, stuck to his usual approach. He set his team out to play on the front foot, to dominate possession, to try to meet prime City at their game. City would be up 4-0 by the 30th minute, and go on to embarrass us, 6-0. This game remains the lowest rated game in WAGNH Community Player Ratings history, and for good reason. Sarri was universally derided for his naïve approach, and a few months and a Europa League trophy later, would take his talents back to Italy.

I guess my point is, you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Brave or cowardly, deserved or undeserved, lucky or earned. It doesn’t really matter. Win and you’re a genius; lose and you’re an idiot.

To some extent, that’s the nature of the job. Head coaches, in any sport, are always judged on wins and losses, and, if they’re lucky, trophies. It’s never that simple, never that binary of course, but in this short attention span era especially, ain’t nobody got time for nuance.

Liam Rosenior certainly knows; he’s been on both sides of the fence.

“I’ve been a pundit. It’s easy. It’s easy in hindsight. So, if I go and attack the game, press really high and we concede two goals early, everyone says, ‘what’s he doing?’ That’s the reality of my job. The reality of my job is if you lose games, you’ll be criticised. If you win, you’re a genius. It’s normally somewhere in between, I think.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean that Rosenior’s approach was the right call, or the best choice. But there was a very clear plan, a very obvious gambit. Survive the first hour, keep things close, and then bring on cavalry to try to get the result late on.

Was it the right call? Personally, I would’ve done the same. Get the one goal, get to extra-time, who knows what can happen from there. Our defense can be suspect, which could’ve been a problem, but Arsenal didn’t push the issue either — not unsurprisingly given Mikel Arteta’s tendencies — so the setup was there. We just couldn’t execute with enough quality when it mattered. That will frustrate everyone involved, as it should.

“I’m extremely disappointed every time I lose a game of football. Every time we win, I’m happy. Every time we lose, I’m not happy. I’m not happy that we lost the game. There are aspects of our game today that I’m very happy with, but I’m here with the team. You could see how devastated the lads were after the game for what they put in.

“We believed we could come here and turn it around. In terms of the control and domination we had in the second half, there were moments in the second half I thought it was there for us. We just didn’t take it.”

“[…] You can come away from home, press all over the pitch, man-to-man and you could go 2-0 up or you could go 2-0 down. I felt that the psychological aspect of the tie was very important as well and I felt in the stadium as well. 60 minutes, I bring on Cole and Estêvão and the game opens up and we have moments in and around the box. I think there was a feeling in the stadium that this tie could turn.

“We didn’t achieve what we wanted to, but it’s not about game plans, it’s about results. I have to give our players so much credit for what they put into the game and ultimately their goal comes when we’re just throwing the kitchen sink at the game. That’s going to happen, but we have to make sure that we take the positives from that, but we’re here to get results.”

“[…] The spirit, the togetherness, the fight in the team was there. There’s a lot of encouraging signs. Now I need to see what we look like after a setback. We need to react positively. We have a difficult game away in Wolves on Saturday and I need to see what our reaction is to that.”

-Liam Rosenior; source: Football.London

And the games just keep on coming.

For the first 24 minutes of Tuesday's contest, the Golden State Warriors battled the visiting Philadelphia 76ers. In the second quarter, the Sixers stretched their early lead to 15 points. However, the Warriors closed the second quarter strong, trimming the Sixers' advantage to only three at the halftime buzzer.

After exchanging buckets throughout the first two quarters, the second half was different. The Warriors' offense went cold in the third and fourth quarters. With Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler sidelined and the Warriors' offense struggling, the Sixers took advantage.

Rookie VJ Edgecomb led the Sixers with 25 points, seven assists and seven boards on the way to a 113-94 victory over the Warriors on Tuesday night at Chase Center. Alongside Edgecomb, seven other members of the Sixers notched 10 or more points against the Warriors, including Trendon Watford with 16 points off the bench.

In the second half, the Warriors shot 40.5% from the field with nine turnovers. The Warriors struggled with turnovers on Tuesday against the Sixers, turning the ball over 20 times. The Warriors also had trouble defending the paint, allowing 54 points in the paint to the Sixers. The Warriors were outscored 54-30 in points in the paint on Tuesday evening.

Gui Santos and Pat Spencer each tallied 13 points to lead the Warriors. Santos finished with 13 points to go along with three assists, two rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 26 minutes. Spencer tallied 13 points, four rebounds and three assists. Spencer also led the Warriors with five turnovers. Brandin Podziemski added another four turnovers.

After winning four games in a row, the Warriors have now dropped five of their last seven, falling to 27-24 on the season. The Warriors will hit the road on Thursday for a contest against the Suns. Before tipping off against the Suns on Thursday, the NBA trade deadline is set for 1 p.m. PT.

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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors can't answer Sixers in second half on way to 113-94 loss

Liverpool FC continue to invest in their future, and their latest youth-related movie is appointing former Paris Saint-Germain youth coach Bafode Diakhaby as their new Youth Development Phase (YDP) coach at the academy, which will involve working with some of the club’s young players to help them reach their maximum potential.

︀︀The 36-year-old brings nearly a decade of experience from PSG’s academy, where he led pre-academy development and coached the U14, U15 and U16 sides in the French capital, including some of their best talents in Warren Zaire-Emery, Senny Mayulu, Ibrahim Mbaye, Moussa Diaby and Joane Gadou.

Diakhaby himself was a former PSG youth product (from the same class as Liverpool FC striker David Ngog), but injuries would force him to retire at age 26. He took up a coaching position at PSG’s academy and the rest is history.

In an interview with Culture PSG, he described his coaching style:

“My main role is that of an educator. Every sporting activity is associated with an educational message. The pre-training program is based on three components: sports, academics, and education. Although there are people authorised to intervene within the club, I sometimes participate in extracurricular activities.”

“In my opinion, the role of an educator is quite similar in all clubs. There’s the role of ambassador, which involves absorbing and transmitting the club’s values ​​to the players, and the role of the coach, who seeks to develop the players in all aspects. At Paris Saint-Germain, the difference lies in the level of expectation. We must strive for excellence everywhere, offer the players the best, demand the best from them, and do so constantly. The ambitions are high: to develop top-level players in a club that wants to be at the top. Therefore, we must provide the necessary resources. This requires a spirit of innovation, research, and a focus on the very highest level.”

“Interests in football vary across generations. I find that there’s much less presence in city pitches, in five-a-side games, in those places where unstructured play is crucial for player development. It’s in those moments that players progress tremendously. It’s up to us coaches to find the right ways to engage them as well. For several seasons now, in our youth development program, we’ve been trying to recreate this ‘ street football’ context that characterises our players at times during training sessions. In those moments, some players surprise us, and that passion resurfaces.”

Hey, the man sure seems to know what he’s talking about! With a fresh new crop of young new centre-backs signed, we’ll be waiting for Diakhaby to work his magic with bated breath.

Juventus and Stanley 1913 are pleased to announce a new multi-year partnership, designed to elevate the fan experience and create a deeper connection between the Club, players and fans. Sitting at the intersections of sport, heritage and culture, the partnership brings together two globally recognized brands united by shared values of quality, innovation, and authenticity.

Together, the brands will leverage Juventus’ exceptional digital ecosystem, with more than 190 million followers worldwide and 114 million across youth-focused platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, to amplify the partnership and forthcoming product collection

The partnership will activate across Juventus’ digital and social media ecosystem, which generated 600+ million engagements and over 6 billion video views during last season. Through authentic storytelling and player‑driven content, Stanley 1913 will be integrated into high‑value moments spanning training, behind-the-scenes access, lifestyle narratives and matchday experiences. These touchpoints support the shared objective of enhancing visibility, relevance and cultural impact among global football audiences.

“Juventus and Stanley share the ambition to represent a bold, contemporary way of life where performance, style and creativity come together,” commented Peter Silverstone, Juventus’ Chief Business Officer. “This partnership reflects a natural synergy between performance and lifestyle, grounded in authenticity and cultural relevance. Juventus is the first and only Italian Club to partner with Stanley 1913 once again confirming our distinctive position in the global landscape as the first and largest Italian brand on social media, while also boasting one of the youngest football fanbases in Europe. This demonstrates our strong connection with new generations and our appeal to the forward‑thinking brands that shape modern living”.

Ben James, General Manager EMEA of PMI WW Brands, LLC, said, “Football has always connected generations, just as Stanley 1913 has always connected people to durable, performance-led products, for over a century. Both Stanley 1913 and Juventus share a heritage rooted in performance that has evolved into lifestyle – bringing creativity, innovation, longevity, and design to the moments that matter, on matchday and beyond. We are incredibly excited to kick off our partnership, and we look forward to what it will unlock for our consumers”.

Juventus and Stanley 1913 will also explore the development of co‑branded products that blend the Club’s iconic identity with Stanley 1913’s contemporary and functional design. These collections will offer supporters new ways to express their connection to Juventus beyond matchday, merging style, performance and everyday practicality.

The partnership includes experiential activations aimed at creating meaningful moments for supporters. Player‑focused content will serve as a key driver for engagement, representing a culture of movement and connection across generations and communities and uniting hydration, performance and style.

Reinforcing Juventus’ positioning beyond football, this partnership further strengthens the Club’s role as a cultural and generational intersection point. Today, Juventus reaffirms its role as a leading sports institution and an influential lifestyle brand, capable of engaging diverse audiences through shared values, contemporary narratives and a global cultural relevance that extends beyond the pitch.

According to a report from Mario Cortegana in The Athletic, it has come to light that Real Madrid are closely monitoring two of Europe’s most influential midfielders, Vitinha and Enzo Fernandez. 

However, despite the club’s admiration, both operations are currently viewed as extremely difficult from a financial perspective.

Real Madrid are expected to address the central midfield position in the summer, especially with the long-term transition in the middle of the park still ongoing. 

The arrival of a true organiser is seen internally as almost essential, someone capable of controlling the tempo and bringing structure to the team’s build-up play.

Vitinha is quite impressive

Among the profiles that fit this description, Vitinha stands out. The PSG midfielder’s technical quality and positional intelligence make him an ideal stylistic fit for Madrid. 

However, prising him away from the French champions appears unrealistic at this stage. 

This is because PSG have no intention of weakening their midfield, and any potential transfer would require a fee far beyond what Madrid are willing to pay.

Real Madrid are interested in Vitinha. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)

Because of that, the club is also considering a different approach, which involves targeting younger players with high potential rather than established stars. 

One of the names linked in that category is Kees Smit, a talent viewed as someone who could be developed within the squad over time.

Then there is Enzo Fernandez

Meanwhile, reports continue to associate Enzo Fernandez with a move to Real Madrid. 

The Argentine midfielder is one of the central figures at Chelsea, where he remains under contract until 2032. 

With a market value around €85 million and the London club under no pressure to sell, the chances of a deal remain slim. 

Furthermore, Financial reality is the main obstacle, as Real Madrid are reluctant to commit to a massive transfer fee, while Chelsea reportedly value the midfielder between €100 million and €110 million. 

That figure could rise even further depending on his performance at the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Barcelona need Ronald Araujo this season. It’s as simple as that.

How big his role will be down the stretch, however, is yet to be determined.

Against Albacete in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, he showed once again that his physical attributes are a difference maker. He spent the game chasing down attackers, winning duels on the ground and in the air, and ultimately rising for the game winning header.

It seems clear that Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsí, and even Gerard Martín, are ahead of him in the pecking order, and honestly, that’s fine. In fact, being a rotational player may be what’s in the best interest of the player at the moment.

It’s also a role that Hansi Flick will need him to perform well, whenever his number is called.

Barcelona is alive in every competition.

There’s just a one-point lead in La Liga, they are now in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League round of 16 is right around the corner. The calendar will be demanding, and all the players will need days off from time to time.

Beyond the rotation, Araujo’s return will remind everyone of certain situational advantages only he can provide.

There may be games when it makes sense to deploy him for tactical reasons.

He is the team’s best defender of set pieces, an area of vulnerability for the Blaugrana. In the past he has pocketed some of the most dynamic and dangerous attackers in the game, just ask Vinicius Junior. Araujo has also been good for a goal in crunch time.

Beyond that, he is also someone who is a spiritual leader for his teammates.

From the beginning of his career, he was out there delivering crunching interventions that would keep opponents honest, while turning the momentum for his team, providing a boost of adrenaline when they needed it most.

This style of play has also gotten him into trouble in high profile games. He may be a bull in a china shop at times, but if he can rein that in, a bull may be just the thing that Barcelona needs.

It’s been sad to see him go from a true hero to zero in the minds of so many Barca fans.

The question many will be asking now, especially after he took a short break away from the game, is if Araujo has reached a turning point.

Is he ready for a career comeback? Does he still have a future at Barcelona?

In the coming months, it looks like Araujo will continue to have opportunities to test and prove himself.

By the look of it on the field, his coach and his teammates still have his back.

Seeing him get back to his best would be an incredible feel good story, and it would be an indicator of good things to come for Barcelona too.

Barcelona advanced to the Copa del Rey semifinals after a tight 2-1 win over Albacete, but not every decision from Hansi Flick paid off on the night. 

One of the biggest talking points from the quarter-final was the performance of January signing Joao Cancelo, who was handed a starting role at right-back but failed to complete the match.

Flick opted to rest Jules Kounde, opening the door for Cancelo to make an impact. 

The Portuguese full-back arrived in January with the expectation that he would immediately raise the level on the flanks.

So far, though, his integration has been gradual. 

Before this match, Cancelo had featured in three games, including a short appearance in the league defeat to Real Sociedad and a start in the home win over Oviedo, both times operating on the left side of defence. 

The clash with Albacete marked a different test, with Flick trusting him on the right.

Did not convince Flick

Cancelo was unconvincing against Albacete. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

In the attack, Cancelo showed glimpses of his quality, as he frequently supported Lamine Yamal down the flank. However, defensively, he found the game far more complicated.

Albacete wing-back Dani Bernabeu targeted his side, forcing Cancelo into several uncomfortable situations. 

Just 15 minutes into the match, the defender was booked after a poorly timed challenge as he tried to stop a counterattack. The early yellow card immediately put him under pressure for the remainder of the half.

Matters nearly worsened a few minutes later, as Cancelo mistimed another challenge in midfield during a 50-50 duel, a moment that could easily have resulted in a second yellow card. 

The referee judged the action to be accidental, allowing him to stay on the pitch until the break.

Flick, however, had seen enough. Unwilling to risk a red card and a possible collapse on that flank, the manager made a decisive change at half-time. 

Cancelo was withdrawn, Pau Cubarsi was introduced, and Eric Garcia shifted to the wing to stabilise the defence.

Spotlight on new African signings in the Bundesliga

Bara Sapoko Ndiaye/@Bayern

The German championship (Bundesliga) has become a prime destination for African players.

During the latest transfer window, eight African players were signed by German clubs.

Jonas Adjetey

The central defender was signed by VfL Wolfsburg for €9.50 million. In the first half of the season, he played for Swiss club FC Basel, making 23 appearances without scoring a single goal.

Philip Otele

The Nigerian striker will play for Hamburger SV on loan from FC Basel. In 32 matches played so far in the 2025-2026 season, he has scored 9 goals and provided 4 assists.

Sulemani Sani

The Nigerian winger was signed by RB Leipzig for €5.00 million from Slovakian club AS Trenčín. At just 19 years old, Sulemani Sani has made 14 appearances this season, recording 3 goals and 4 assists.

Uchenna Ogundu

The Nigerian forward joined FC Augsburg for €4.50 million. In the first half of the season, he featured in 20 matches for Turkish side Alanyaspor, notching 3 goals and 2 assists.

Issa Traoré

The Malian defender was signed by Bayer 04 Leverkusen for the modest fee of €0.80 million. Developed at local club Djoliba AC, he has already made a name for himself with Mali’s youth teams.

Bara Sapoko Ndiaye

Elie Mpungu Kongolo: the Congolese talent arrives in Belgium

Elie Mpungu Kongolo is set to continue his development in Europe. At just 18 years old, the young Congolese striker joins Jong Genk from TP Les Anges. He arrives in Belgium on loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy.

After a remarkable first half of the season in the Congolese third division, where he netted 16 goals in 19 matches, Mpungu Kongolo finished as both the top scorer and the best player of the first leg. These standout performances convinced KRC Genk to bet on his potential.

Quick and clinical in front of goal, the Kinshasa native joins a club renowned for developing young talent. With KRC Genk, Elie Mpungu Kongolo will look to take the next big step in his career.

Wirtz and Ekitike Partnership Leaves Rio Ferdinand Worried as Liverpool’s Revival Gathers Pace

Liverpool’s attacking evolution under Arne Slot continues to gather momentum, with Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike emerging as central figures in the club’s push for consistency and Champions League qualification. Their growing partnership has not only energised supporters at Anfield but has also prompted concern from rival voices, most notably former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

Speaking recently, Ferdinand admitted that Liverpool’s attacking duo is becoming a genuine threat, reflecting wider recognition that the Reds may be rediscovering their competitive edge after an inconsistent start to the campaign.

This assessment follows reporting by James Findlater for Liverpool.com, which highlighted Ferdinand’s reaction to Wirtz and Ekitike’s recent performances, particularly after their influential roles in the win over Newcastle.

Florian Wirtz of Liverpool scores to make it 3-1 Liverpool v Newcastle United, Premier League, Football, Anfield, Liverpool, UK – 31 Jan 2026Liverpool Anfield United Kingdom EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROUxBULxUAExKSAxCHNxDENxINDxITAxPORxESPxSWExTURxMEXxCOLxVENxPERxECUxBRAxARGxCHIxURUxPARxPANxONLY Copyright: xPaulxCurrie/Shutterstockx 16496754bt

Wirtz and Ekitike Driving Liverpool’s Attacking Resurgence

Liverpool’s season has been marked by periods of uncertainty, particularly in the early months following managerial transition and squad adaptation. However, the partnership between Wirtz and Ekitike has offered renewed optimism.

The pair have developed a natural understanding in advanced areas, combining intelligent movement with technical precision. Wirtz’s ability to find pockets of space between midfield and defence has complemented Ekitike’s instinctive runs beyond the back line, creating regular problems for opposing teams.

Their link-up play has become increasingly decisive. In recent fixtures, Wirtz has frequently been the creative catalyst, while Ekitike has provided clinical finishing and constant pressing from the front. Together, they have been instrumental in lifting Liverpool’s attacking output and restoring fluency to Slot’s system.

This improvement has coincided with Liverpool closing the gap on their top-four rivals, reinforcing the sense that momentum may be shifting in their favour.

Ferdinand’s Full Assessment Reveals Growing Concern

Ferdinand’s comments, made on his podcast, offered a candid insight into how Liverpool’s progress is being perceived by competitors.

He said: “I’ll tell you what I’m not laughing at. I’ll tell you what I’m not laughing at is how good is Ekitike? And Wirtz is starting to cook a little bit as well. Yeah, I’m not happy about that.”

The former defender’s words reflect more than casual observation. They suggest a growing awareness that Liverpool’s attacking structure is becoming increasingly refined, particularly against high-level opposition.

Coming from a figure closely associated with Manchester United, the remarks carry added significance. They underline how Wirtz and Ekitike are beginning to shape narratives beyond Merseyside, influencing how rivals prepare for upcoming encounters.

Rather than dismissing Liverpool’s revival as temporary, Ferdinand’s assessment implies that the improvement is substantial and potentially sustainable.

Slot’s Influence on Tactical Growth and Player Development

Much of Liverpool’s progress can be traced to Arne Slot’s gradual tactical implementation. Rather than imposing immediate wholesale changes, the Dutch coach has prioritised structure, discipline, and positional clarity.

Slot recently explained: “For me, as a manager, I see throughout the last six or seven months improvement but lately a lot of improvement in terms of work-rate off the ball — not even work rate, but the ability to keep on going off the ball, especially with Hugo and Florian.”

This emphasis on intensity without possession has been central to Liverpool’s resurgence. Wirtz and Ekitike are now contributing consistently in defensive phases, pressing intelligently and supporting midfield transitions.

Such development has allowed Liverpool to sustain pressure for longer periods, reduce vulnerability in counter-attacks, and maintain greater territorial control. It has also enhanced the overall balance of the side, ensuring attacking ambition does not come at the expense of stability.

Slot’s approach appears to be accelerating the maturation of both players, positioning them as cornerstones of his long-term project.

Champions League Ambitions and Premier League Implications

Liverpool’s renewed attacking efficiency arrives at a critical stage of the season. With the Premier League race for European qualification finely balanced, marginal gains are increasingly decisive.

Wirtz and Ekitike’s partnership offers Liverpool a reliable offensive platform capable of influencing high-stakes fixtures. Their ability to unlock compact defences and convert limited chances may prove vital in matches against direct rivals.

Beyond domestic competition, their form also strengthens Liverpool’s prospects in continental tournaments. European campaigns often hinge on moments of individual quality and tactical coherence—areas in which both players are now excelling.

Former players such as Jamie Carragher have already identified the duo as symbols of hope for supporters, while internal confidence continues to grow. With performances stabilising and confidence rising, Liverpool appear better equipped to manage the pressures of the run-in.

Ferdinand’s admission of concern, therefore, may be viewed as an early acknowledgement that Liverpool’s recovery is becoming difficult to ignore.

As the season progresses, Wirtz and Ekitike are likely to remain central to Liverpool’s ambitions. Their partnership not only defines the present resurgence but may also shape the club’s competitive identity for years to come.

After having an offer in the region of €15 million turned down for Said El Mala last summer, Brighton & Hove Albion reportedly made a fresh attempt to sign 1. FC Köln’s rising star towards the end of the winter transfer window.

According to Sport Bild, the Premier League side tabled a bid worth around €25-30 million plus add-ons to sign El Mala in the summer, but Köln rejected the offer.

Köln argued that the timing – just before the winter transfer window closed – was unsuitable for negotiations, and they also deemed the proposed fee too low.

That hasn’t deterred Brighton, however, with German head coach Fabian Hürzeler still keen to bring the 19-year-old to England. Further negotiations are expected soon.

As per Sport Bild, El Mala himself hadn’t considered a move until a few weeks ago, but that stance has changed due to his limited playing time.

The report even states that the youngster has informed Köln of his desire to leave in the summer, with the English Premier League his preferred destination.

Brighton are reportedly offering him around €15 million in fixed wages, plus bonuses, over the next five years.

The report further claims that Brighton are also interested in Said El Mala’s older brother, 20-year-old Malek El Mala. An offer for him was likewise rejected before the winter transfer window closed.

Should Brighton succeed in signing Malek as well, the plan would be to develop him through Premier League 2.

Chelsea forward Fran Kirby says the evidence of the players "buying into" Liam Rosenior's methodology was clear in Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal.

The Blues lined up with three centre-backs and restricted the Gunners to very few chances before a double attacking substitution on 59 minutes, with Cole Palmer and Estevao Willian replacing Jorrel Hato and Liam Delap, to move back to a more familiar shape and push for an equaliser.

However, they could not find a goal and were eventually caught out on the counter-attack to lose 1-0 on the night with the last kick.

"I think Chelsea can take huge confidence from the game," Kirby told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"They really nullified Arsenal and that's not easy to do, especially at the Emirates.

"Rosenior hasn't had long to work on this, players are playing out of position and having to learn where to be in and out of possession.

"But, you could see they have been working on their shape and their press. They reduced Arsenal to a lot of long balls as they struggled to find their pockets around how compact Chelsea were.

"Malo Gusto was coming into midfield, Enzo Fernandez was moving out to the left - these are not their natural positions so they had to learn.

"The effort levels that the players put in - you can see the way Rosenior wants them to press aggressively and run back for each other is starting to rub off on them.

"You can see the players are buying into it, there were no arms being thrown in the air or complaining at each other.

"You look at Fernandez - he covered every blade of grass with his effort levels out of possession and then towards the end of the game was getting involved in possession and driving the team forward.

"Those are the players you want your other players to look at as an example and the ones you want in your team."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The 25th Winter Olympics is taking place in Milan and Cortina in Italy and will feature a record 116 medal events.

There are 16 sports at this winter's Games, eight on ice and eight on snow. Can you name them all?

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Last week I wrote that, too often, Aberdeen have been the perfect opponent for a side in desperate need of a victory and more evidence of this was presented to the court last weekend.

17 games and almost four months had elapsed since Kilmarnock last enjoyed any sort of win. They had lost 13 of those 17, scored just eight times and hadn't managed more than one goal in a game since that last success at the start of October.

Step forward the Dons bearing gifts.

An insipid performance from the off at Rugby Park saw them lose 3-0. In truth, Neil McCann's men could, and should, have scored many more against the 10-men.

It was the first time Killie had scored three goals in a single league match since last May, it was just their third win of the season in the Premiership and it was their biggest margin of victory in the competition since a 4-0 victory on Boxing Day 2024 when, yes, you guessed it, Aberdeen were in town.

The Dons have an 11 point cushion over 11th placed Kilmarnock as it stands, but when you look at the fixtures laid out in front of them this month, there is no guarantee they won't get dragged into the mire with trips to Tannadice, Fir Park and Tynecastle all awaiting them.

The run begins with a visit from Celtic tonight, a team they haven't got the better of in 90 minutes since 2018 and at Pittodrie in almost exactly a decade, with the champions unbeaten on their last 18 visits to the Granite City since Jonny Hayes and Simon Church scored in a 2-1 win to take them to within three points of the then leaders. Halcyon days for the Dons fans by comparison.

Almost a quarter of a century has passed since Celtic last failed to score at least once in Aberdeen, amid a barrage of snowballs in December 2001, during Martin O'Neill's second season in charge. The Aberdeen keeper that night, and the last one to keep a clean sheet against the Glasgow side at Pittodrie, was Peter Kjaer. He celebrated his 60th birthday last year.

After Celtic comes their now season-defining Scottish Cup tie at home to red-hot Motherwell who have conceded as many goals in their last 14 games as Aberdeen did in 90 minutes at Rugby Park.

If their grip on the trophy is loosened completely on Saturday night, all that remains a dark chasm of what 2025/26 might have been.

James Harden is set to join the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Los Angeles Clippers, with Darius Garland moving in the opposite direction after the sides agreed a trade.

Harden, 36, is an 11-time NBA All-Star and regarded as one of the greatest guards in history, but he has never won an NBA title.

Although the deal is yet to be confirmed by the NBA, Harden said the opportunity to win a first championship was key in deciding to move.

The Cavaliers are fifth in the Eastern Conference in their pursuit of a play-off spot, while the Clippers are ninth in the West.

"I see an opportunity to win in the East - they got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above," Harden told ESPN.

"As much as I wanted to stay in LA and give it a go, I've never won one before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance."

Harden has helped the Clippers climb the table after a dismal 6-21 start this season, but sat out Sunday's defeat by the Philadelphia 76ers while talks with the Cavaliers progressed.

Harden, who won the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award in 2018 while with the Houston Rockets, denied speculation that he requested a trade from the Clippers.

"That wasn't the case at all. In life, not even just basketball, when things don't work out, there are ways to end things in relationships without having to crack each other," he said.

"Maybe we just don't see a future with each other. Maybe we just outgrew each other. Whatever the case may be, I feel like our situations weren't like that."

Across stints at five franchises, Harden has scored 28,805 points, putting him ninth on the NBA's all-time list.

The Cavaliers have not won a title since 2016.

Garland, 26, averages 18 points this season in a campaign blighted by injury.

As part of the trade, the Clippers secured a second-round pick for this year's draft.

The Clippers host the Cavaliers on Wednesday, but Harden and Garland must pass medicals before the trade is confirmed.

Former Premier League star Troy Deeney has blamed Chelsea’s Carabao Cup exit against Arsenal on the club’s recruitment policy.

The Blues crashed out of the competition at the semi final stage after a 4-2 defeat over two legs, and failed to create any meaningful chances over the 90 minutes.

Chelsea trailed 3-2 from the first leg, but couldn’t find the breakthrough and Kai Havertz scored with the final kick of the game.

Troy Deeney blames Chelsea exit on recruitment policy

Liam Rosenior once again made a number of changes to the team, and surprisingly fielded a back five, with Cole Palmer and Estevao both on the bench.

Reece James wasn’t in the squad at all, and it’s clear the tactics were to stay in the game for as long as possible, and try and score a goal or two in the second half.

Deeney believes a lack of quality cost Chelsea. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Pundits were left surprised by the approach, but Trevoh Chalobah claimed the game plan worked despite the Blues losing.

The damage was ultimately done in the first leg, but Deeney believes a lack of experience coming off the bench is what cost Chelsea.

“I didn’t feel they [Arsenal] were under that much pressure. It was just more of a tactical battle; we’re going to stop you, you’re going to stop us. No-one showed any real quality going forward,” Deeney told CBS Sports.

“We talk about Chelsea’s negativity, but buying young and developing players, Arsenal had ready-made, quality players that can impact the game. You bring on Estevao, Garnacho, hoping they can perform well.

“When you bring on a Havertz, a Jesus, you know what you’re going to get from them and that is why, I feel, Arsenal won the game.”

Chelsea need a big summer window

The general consensus is the Blues have a lot of talent in their squad, but they are still lacking proven quality in a number of positions.

More Stories / Latest News

Troy Deeney names two players as reason why Chelsea lost to Arsenal

4th Feb 2026, 08:45am

Rosenior points to two things his team improved in their two legs against Arsenal

4th Feb 2026, 08:30am

“Absolutely crazy” – Gary Neville stunned by what he saw Chelsea do against Arsenal

4th Feb 2026, 08:15am

Chelsea didn’t make any signings in January, and once again face a crucial summer, where they have to add the required quality.

It’s believed the Blues have made a midfielder a priority, whilst they are also looking to add a centre back and another attacker.

Get French Football News had the opportunity to have a chat with former France, Arsenal and Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna. In this part, Sagna reviews his former clubs’ season so far and their prospects for winning the Premier League title.

On Arsenal and City’s season so far, how do you see the Premier League title race playing out?

I think that Arsenal are fulfilling their potential and the season they’re having is the natural progression from the past three to four campaigns. They’ve found a stability, an energy, a synergy in the team. They have found their cruising speed, which enables them to be competitive, whether it is in the Premier League, the Champions League, or the cups. They have expanded the squad to be able to be competitive, as that was what caused them a problem in the past – it was the number of injuries at key moments.

I’m thinking of William Saliba. When Saliba was injured last season, it was a big problem. There was a lack of stability defensively and it seems that now defensively they are solid, and that even in difficult matches, they manage to still come out of the game with a point even when they’re not at their best. That is the difference between this year for now, and previous years. When it’s difficult, they still manage to win. It’s the mark of the big teams, of champions. You can’t play brilliantly every week; you can’t always meet the expectations of fans in terms of style of play. There are a lot of games, and there are a lot of different competitions; players will start to feel a certain fatigue. But despite everything, they manage to keep winning, to deal with the pressure put on them by Manchester City, by Aston Villa and other teams. 

As for City, I think that after being so successful for all these years, it’s normal that they experience a bit of a drop. They set the bar so high that when they don’t match those standards, everyone is shocked. But after winning so many trophies over four to five years, after rebuilding the team – because it is a rebuild – they are gradually becoming competitive, today they’re second and not too far off, so the league isn’t a done deal. There isn’t a lot between the teams and it would only take one slip-up by Arsenal for the pressure to return. So there is still lots to play for.

This exclusive interview is a repost from Get French Football News and can be found HERE

Bacary Sagna was speaking to GFFN courtesy of talkSPORT Bet Online Slots

GFN | Jeremy Smith

Barcelona secured their place in the Copa del Rey semifinals after beating Albacete 2-1. 

It was not a comfortable night, but Hansi Flick’s side handled the pressure and took a decisive step towards another final. 

While Barcelona have already booked their spot, the rest of the quarter-final stage is still being completed. 

Two more ties are scheduled for Wednesday, with the final game set for Thursday. Once those matches are played, attention will turn to the semifinal draw, which is scheduled for Friday. 

Barcelona’s possible opponents

At the moment, there are six potential opponents for Barcelona, although that number will be reduced to three by the time the draw happens. 

As such, all possible rivals come from the Primera División, which guarantees a high level of competition regardless of the outcome.

Barcelona have already qualified for the final. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Unlike the earlier rounds, the semi-finals will be played over two legs. The first leg is expected to take place next week, across February 10, 11, or 12, while the return leg is scheduled roughly three weeks later, during the first week of March.

Pending matches

Wednesday’s fixtures offer two intriguing matchups, as Alaves host Real Sociedad. At the same time, Valencia take on Athletic Club. 

The final quarterfinal takes place on Thursday, when Real Betis meet Atletico Madrid at La Cartuja, the stadium that will host the final on April 18. 

On paper, it is another evenly matched contest, as Betis are enjoying a strong campaign under Manuel Pellegrini, while Atletico remain unpredictable but dangerous, with game-changing players in attack.

In short, Barcelona’s semifinal opponent will be one of these six clubs, namely, Alaves, Real Sociedad, Valencia, Athletic Club, Real Betis, or Atlético Madrid. 

The draw on Friday will reveal the path, but one thing is certain that there will be no easy route to the final.

Lille OSC failed in a January bid to bring back their former forward, Martin Terrier (28), according to a report from Mohamed Toubache-Ter.

Lille were in the market for a forward ever since Hamza Igamane suffered an ACL injury during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. It is an injury that left an aged Olivier Giroud as the sole No.9 option. Naturally, Bruno Genesio wanted to bring in reinforcements in this sector and LOSC made advances on several profiles, without getting any over the line. 

As exclusively reported by Get French Football News, Goztepe forward Juan was a profile that Lille admired, but they saw a €15m bid rejected by the Turkish outfit.

LOSC were also interested in a move to Terrier, who has four goals in 13 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen this season. Whilst the Frenchman was keen on the move, LOSC were met with a hard no from the Bundesliga side.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The pressure is steadily rising at Real Madrid, and this weekend’s league meeting with Valencia has become a genuine test of authority for Alvaro Arbeloa. 

With results now a necessity rather than a luxury, the Madrid coach finds himself forced into key decisions that could shape the immediate future of his project.

The context does not help, as Arbeloa must prepare for the Valencia game without Vinicius Jr., who is suspended, and Jude Bellingham, who remains sidelined through injury. 

Those two absences remove creativity, energy, and leadership from the starting XI, increasing the importance of the supporting cast.

What now for Arbeloa?

As per Mundo Deportivo, that situation has placed the spotlight on a trio of attacking players, namely, Franco Mastantuono, Brahim Diaz, and Rodrygo. 

None of the three has clearly made a strong case, and that lack of clarity has created what feels like an open audition. 

This is where Arbeloa’s selection philosophy comes under close observation.

Who will replace Bellingham and Vinicius against Valencia? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Notably, Arbeloa has already shown signs that pure form does not always dictate his choices, which is why Rodrygo appears to hold a natural advantage. 

Furthermore, Brahim’s impressive Africa Cup of Nations campaign, Mastantuono’s run of starts, or even the fact that Gonzalo Garcia finished January as the team’s second-highest scorer, do not automatically guarantee minutes. 

Major selection calls

So far, Arbeloa’s approach suggests trust and hierarchy may weigh more than short-term momentum.

Beyond the obvious names, other options are pushing for consideration. 

Dani Ceballos made a strong impression against Rayo Vallecano, while Arda Guler continues to feature regularly, even if often from the bench.

There is also the academy angle, as Arbeloa knows La Fabrica, and players such as Jorge Cestero, Pol Fortuny, and Cesar Palacios remain on his radar whenever opportunities arise.

Liverpool fans were taken by surprise during the January transfer window when it emerged that the Reds had entertained an offer from Tottenham for Andy Robertson.

The 31-year-old joined the Premier League champions back in 2017 from Hull City on an £8m deal - going on to establish himself as one of the best left-backs in the world.

The Scotland captain has won all there is to win in the club game throughout his time at Liverpool - including the Champions League and two Premier League titles.

But the sun began to set on his successful spell on Merseyside last season. New head coach Arne Slot opted to use Kostas Tsimikas more frequently as a rotation option - and Robertson began to make some uncharacteristic errors.

It led to left-back becoming a priority focus in the summer 2025 transfer window - with sporting director Richard Hughes sanctioning a £40m deal for Milos Kerkez.

Although it took the Hungarian a while to find his feet he is now a firm fixture in the first team - leaving Robbo on the outside looking in.

Liverpool hang up the phone on Tottenham

With a contract expiring in summer 2026 - and a sizeable £160k per week salary - perhaps considering a sale in January made sense.

Liverpool would receive £5m or so for the Scot - who is known to be desperate for first-team football ahead of his nation’s first FIFA World Cup since 1998.

But the move was brought to a halt as the Reds could not conclude a deal with Roma which would see Tsimikas return early from his loan deal in time.

It has now been claimed by Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge that Spurs conducted a last-minute check-in with Liverpool to ensure their minds hadn’t changed over Robertson.

“Our information was that a check call has gone in just to see if Liverpool’s position has changed as to the availability of Andy Robertson, but that’s a no,” he said late on deadline day per GIVEMESPORT.

The Women's Super League winter transfer window closed on Tuesday - but which club did the best business?

League-leaders Manchester City made a statement signing, reigning champions Chelsea had a quiet one and it was a busy month for struggling West Ham and Liverpool.

We asked former internationals Steph Houghton, Ellen White, Karen Bardsley and Jen Beattie for their opinions - and you can rate each club's dealings too.

• Every WSL winter window transfer
• WSL: Latest updates as winter transfer window set to close

How have the WSL's top four fared in the transfer window?

Sitting 11 points clear at the top of the WSL, Manchester City could not have hoped for much more at this point in the season.

The club's first WSL trophy since 2016 is well within their reach but the £600,000 addition of United States midfielder Sam Coffey from Portland Thorns will give Andree Jeglertz's side an extra boost going into the final eight games of the season.

"Coffey is a very shrewd signing," said former City captain Houghton. "She has international experience and is a more defensive-minded midfielder, which City didn't really have."

Any faint hopes Chelsea had of overhauling City to claim a seventh straight title have not been helped by the lack of recruitment this month, although Houghton was not surprised.

"Chelsea have got a really good squad already," she said. "They've built one for the future and have experienced players as well. It's just at this moment in time they haven't been performing to the expectations we have seen."

After Sunday's humiliating defeat by City, Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor indicated she had hoped for more January signings.

"I couldn't believe that. She has the strongest team quality-wise when looking at depth and signings made," former Scotland defender Beattie told BBC Women's Football Weekly.

"I could not tell you what positions she is looking to fill. There are no gaps."

Second-placed Manchester United, meanwhile, were active early on in the window, bringing in experienced Germany striker Lea Schuller, along with Sweden's Hanna Lundkvist and Ellen Wangerheim.

"There's been a lot of talk about where United want to take their women's team and the signing of Lea Schuller is the answer - she is prolific," Houghton said.

"Defensively, they've always been solid and now they've bought a really good all-round player to strengthen their forward line. They are right in the mix."

Meanwhile, Champions Cup winners Arsenal have also added some young Swedish talent to their squad, with Smilla Holmberg the only new arrival in north London.

As Tottenham look to continue their fine start to the season and boost their chances of European football next term, Martin Ho has added a handful of new signings to his squad - including one of the world's best young talents in Signe Gaupset.

"Martin Ho has done a really good job of propelling them into the top half of the league and making them more consistent," said Houghton. "I think Spurs have been really clever this window and are going from strength to strength."

Promoted side London City Lionesses were the busiest team in the summer transfer window but they've taken a more measured approach this time around with just one new signing - France international Delphine Cascarino.

"She's clever, quick and I like watching her play," Houghton said of Cascarino. "London City did a lot of their business in the summer and now all the foundations are there for them in the WSL."

Aston Villa, meanwhile, have shown ambition in bringing in Oriane Jean-Francois from Chelsea for £450,000 and they've also signed Arsenal defender Jenna Nighswonger on loan.

By contract, Brighton have had a quiet winter window. They have signed Norway midfielder Olaug Tvedten along with American forward Olivia Garcia, who has been sent straight out on loan to Swedish side AIK.

Everton, who sit ninth, have opted to bring in two players on loan deals, with Manchester United's Hannah Blundell and Arsenal's Laila Harbert joining for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, 10th-placed Leicester have been more active, snapping up experienced WSL players Alisha Lehmann, Ashleigh Neville, Sarah Mayling and Rachel Williams to help distance themselves from the relegation play-off spot.

But it is the bottom two clubs - West Ham and Liverpool - who have been the busiest, each bringing in six new players.

Under new boss Rita Guarino, the Irons have strengthened their defence with the additions of Estelle Cascarino and Tuva Hansen while Katie Zelem - on loan from London City - adds experience to the midfield.

However, key defenders Anouk Denton and Amber Tysiak have left the club.

Struggling at the bottom of the table, Liverpool have reinforced across their squad to try to get out of trouble.

Sweden goalkeeper Jennifer Falk has already become the club's number-one goalkeeper, while Republic of Ireland midfielder Denise O'Sullivan became the club's record signing.

In attack, forwards Alice Bergstrom, Anna Josendal and Aurelie Csillag have all joined on permanent deals, along with Spurs striker Martha Thomas on loan.

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

• Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page

Jens Berthel Askou has confirmed Motherwell dismissed late deadline-day interest in Tawanda Maswanhise, who had been interesting Anderlecht, Celtic and Blackburn Rovers. (Scottish Sun)

Interim manager Martin O'Neill says Arne Engels and his agent "did not kick up a fuss" about Celtic rejecting Nottingham Forest's late interest in the Belgium midfielder. (Daily Record)

Celtic are set to bank some income with Besiktas reaching an agreement for striker Hyeon-Gyu Oh, who had a sell-on clause inserted in his deal when the Glasgow club sold him to Genk. (Scottish Sun)

Felix Passlack - a deadline-day arrival at Easter Road who is in line to make his debut against Dundee United - says his Borussia Dortmund upbringing is perfection preparation for him to thrive at Hibernian. (Daily Record)

Hibs head coach David Gray has stressed Thibault Klidje can still have a long-term future at Easter Road despite his shock deadline-day move. (The Scotsman)

• Tuesday's Scottish gossip
• Wednesday's English and European gossip

Celtic and Rangers' "snobbishness in judging players from within Scottish football" could cost them in the transfer game and the title race. (The Herald)

Dundee's season could have been ruined by Luke Graham's exit, says boss Steven Pressley. (The Courier)

Dons legend Willie Miller insists change was necessary in the dugout and the playing staff at Pittodrie after an inconsistent campaign for Aberdeen. (Press & Journal)

Former Scotland striker Steven Fletcher is poised to play for a $1m prize when he represents the Wrexham Red Dragons in the TST 7v7 - a golf tournament. (Scottish Sun)

A day when matches from various European cups make the news, but eyes should also be on Arabia.

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Barça in the Copa semi-finals

The Blaugrana defeated Albacete in a closely contested match that ended in favor of the current champion thanks to Lamine and Araujo.

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Arteta at Wembley

Arsenal defeated Chelsea in the last minute thanks to a goal by Havertz to reach the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, where they await either City or Newcastle.

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And today... more cups

Valencia-Athletic and Alavés-Real Sociedad face off for a spot in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, which concludes its quarter-final phase tomorrow with Betis-Atlético de Madrid.

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Kanté, first no and then yes

Initially, it seemed that the Frenchman's transfer to Fenerbahçe was falling through due to paperwork issues from Al Ittihad. FIFA intervened, and after everything was resolved, Kanté lands in Turkish football. 

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Cristiano, goodbye to Arabia?

The feeling is growing that Cristiano Ronaldo might be experiencing his final moments in Arabia after refusing to play with Al-Nassr.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

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📸 Clive Mason - 2026 Getty Images

The future of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr seems to be numbered.

On the verge of turning 41, the Portuguese star is dissatisfied with the direction of football in Saudi Arabia and is seriously considering leaving the club in June, at the end of the European season.

According to information from the newspaper Record, the star is considering playing in the MLS or returning to Europe, due to dissatisfaction with the management of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

It's worth noting that to take Cristiano from Al-Nassr before the end of the contract, any interested party will need to pay the release clause set at 50 million euros.

Reason for dissatisfaction

The Portuguese press has been reporting that Cristiano Ronaldo feels that Al-Nassr is being overlooked compared to its rivals during transfer windows.

While the leader Al-Hilal strengthened with Karim Benzema and Al-Ittihad sought out European football prospects (such as Ilenikhena from Monaco), Al-Nassr only brought in reinforcements with less regional impact.

The forward believes that the PIF is making it difficult for stars to join his team to balance the national title race – Al-Nassr is just one point behind Al-Hilal in the standings.

'Protest' and departure

As a way to show his dissatisfaction, the star chose not to take the field in the last victory against Al-Riyadh (1-0).

CR7 believes that, due to his fundamental role as an ambassador for the 2034 World Cup and for being a pioneer in valuing the league, he deserved greater support from the federation.

Likely destinations

If the departure is confirmed in June, two paths are gaining traction behind the scenes:

• Major League Soccer (MLS): The U.S. market would be a natural destination for the end of his career, following in Messi's footsteps.
• Return to Europe: The star is still considering whether there would be space for him in a competitive project on the Old Continent.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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📸 Abdullah Ahmed - 2026 Getty Images

What channel is UConn women's basketball on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch Huskies vs. DePaul originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

As March Madness looms around the corner, UConn continues to dominate in conference play. The Huskies take on DePaul Wednesday.

National No. 1 UConn has had no slip-ups since taking home the NCAA tournament trophy last spring. After a series of easier matchups in the Big East conference, the Huskies defeated No. 15 Tennessee 96-66 over the weekend, proving their strength against ranked squads as well.

Meanwhile, DePaul has settled for the bottom of the Big East standings, struggling with a 5-19 record. The Blue Demons have had several strings of poor losses, with their last win coming against Creighton on Jan. 25, 76-61.

Can DePaul put up any fight against the Huskies?

Here's everything you need to know about UConn vs. DePaul, including TV channel and streaming options for the college women's basketball game.

What channel is UConn women's basketball on today?

• TV channel: truTV
• Live stream:DIRECTV

The matchup between UConn and DePaul women's basketball will be broadcast live on truTV. Cord-cutters can also stream the action on DIRECTV.

Catch Every Game – Try DIRECTV FREE Today! Stream live Soccer, MLB, and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.

Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.

UConn vs. DePaul women's basketball start time

• Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4
• Time: 8 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. CT

UConn vs. DePaul women's basketball will tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The game will be played at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.

UConn vs. DePaul women's basketball radio station

• Radio station:SiriusXM channel 85

Fans can tune into UConn vs. DePaul live on SiriusXM. The Huskies' call can be heard on channel 85.

New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.

UConn women's basketball schedule 2025

Here's a look at the Huskies' next five matchups.

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)
Feb. 4	vs. DePaul	8 p.m.
Feb. 7	vs. Butler	Noon
Feb. 11	vs. Creighton	7 p.m.
Feb. 14	at Marquette	1 p.m.
Feb. 18	at Villanova	7 p.m.

DePaul women's basketball schedule 2025

Here's a look at the Blue Demons' next five matchups.

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)
Feb. 4	vs. UConn	8 p.m.
Feb. 10	vs. St. John's	7 p.m.
Feb. 14	at Seton Hall	1 p.m.
Feb. 18	at Providence	7 p.m.
Feb. 22	vs. Xavier	1 p.m.

La Gazzetta dello Sport

“What the Devil!”

Milan overwhelm Bologna (3-0) and remain five points behind Inter.

The Rossoneri win and put on a show. Goals from Loftus-Cheek, Nkunku and Rabiot. Allegri: “Now Roma at home.”

Chivu chooses a brand new Inter Torino go all-in and look for an upset.

Spalletti changes Juve Now they move at Champions League pace.

Serie A is red Losses of €360 million.

Tuttosport

Milan, Scudetto show

Proof of strength without Leao, Pulisic and Saelemaekers.

Thanks, Allegri.

Agreement reached, announcement imminent

Yildiz 2030 – Juve, it’s time!

A top player already.

Written in black and white until 2030.

Now to sort out Vlahovic’s future: a leap forward next season is possible.

Koopmeiners still out.

Corriere dello Sport

Milan enjoy themselves

Allegri wins 3-0 away: message for Inter.

They beat Bologna: Max now five behind Chivu.

Fast start Second straight win Loftus-Cheek opens Nkunku scores again (5th goal) Rabiot completes the party

Juve, blitz for Senesi

The centre-back, set to leave Bournemouth, is the priority target. The Argentine is free on June 30: Comolli first in line.

RC Lens have confirmed the transfer of Morgan Guilavogui (27) to Major League Soccer for €5m. The Guinean international forward (21 caps, two goals) has signed with Real Salt Lake until June 2029. An option for an additional year has been included in his contract.

Signed by Lens from Paris FC in the summer of 2023, Guilavogui played 46 matches for Les Sang et Or, including four in the Champions League. On loan to German club Sankt Pauli last season, he distinguished himself with seven goals and four assists, as well as helping the Hamburg-based club stay in the Bundesliga.

Returning to northern France last summer, he has made a total of 18 appearances in all competitions, including 16 in Ligue 1. In the United States, he is about to discover the third country of his career. Ninth in the Western Conference last season, Real Salt Lake were eliminated in the round of 16 of the playoffs.

GFFN | Léo Aschi

Liam Rosenior has had a good start at Chelsea in terms of results – he’s lost twice, narrowly, to Arsenal, and won every other game.

He’s also convinced that you see differences between that first leg of that game a few weeks ago and last night’s. This is really his first claim to be having a serious influence on the team,

Rosenior points to first leg flu and overall improvements

Liam Rosenior with his players at full time. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

“The first leg, we had a flu virus. It’s not an excuse, it’s the reality. We had a flu virus and had to change the team on the day of that game,” Rosenior pointed out when asked if he was frustrated by how the first leg had made it difficult for his team in the second.

“I would only have been in the club for four days [then]. For me, the frustration is not going through. If you even see the organisation levels from that game to now, in terms of controlling a game, in terms of being on the front foot, I think there’s a clear difference. I’m very, very pleased in the direction of our performances if the result wasn’t where we wanted it to be tonight.”

Tonight there really wasn’t much of being on the front foot. There was some controlling of the game. It was indeed that first leg that cost us, but a swaggering showing at the weekend will get some wind back in our sails.

In other news…

The manager was also asked about the status of some of his players. Reece James and Pedro Neto were left out, and the story Rosenior gave contradicted those briefings given to the media earlier about the pair.

Rosenior also spoke to the TV cameras at full time. With BeinSport, he tried to find the positives of a game which was ultimately a very disappointing one for Chelsea and their fans.

France World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry has branded Liverpool ‘suckers’ for paying a €70m fee to sign Jeremy Jacquet.

Liverpool agreed a deal to sign the centre-back on transfer deadline day, with the 20-year-old set to link up with the Reds from Rennes in the summer.

The Premier League champions will pay an initial €60m (£51.7m) fee for Jacquet, with a future €10m (£8.6m) in potential add-ons.

It’s a huge fee for a defender who has made just 29 starts in Ligue 1 across his fledgling career to date. Chelsea had also been interested in signing Jacquet but were unwilling to meet the player’s asking price.

Dugarry, who played in the Premier League at Birmingham City, praised Rennes for getting a premium price for Jacquet and said there is ‘no justification’ for the size of fee involved.

“When you have suckers like that… well done to Rennes,” Dugarry said to RMC Radio.

“They managed to find a sucker like Liverpool that was [willing to pay] €70m. Let’s stop trying to pretend there’s a justification for it. There’s no justification whatsoever.”

Read – The most expensive Premier League deals in the January transfer window

See more – Five Premier League transfers that failed on Deadline Day

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Stade Rennais have announced the permanent transfer of Warmed Omari (25) to Hamburg SV, where he had been on loan since last summer.

Coming through the ranks at the Rouge et Noir Academy, the right-footed defender played nearly 100 matches for Rennes, including 15 in European competitions. Loaned to Olympique Lyonnais during the 2024/25 season, Omari never managed to establish himself in the Rhône. So much so that he had to settle for just four brief appearances in all competitions.

Loaned to HSV to gain more playing time, the Bandraboua native unfortunately suffered a torn lateral ankle ligament that halted his promising start to the season, during which he had established himself in the German club’s central defence, starting five of his first five Bundesliga matches.

An international player for Comoros, Omari has made 11 appearances for the Coelacanths, representing them in the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 World Cup.

GFFN | Léo Aschi

Ivan Rakitic has said Tottenham Hotspur defender Luka Vuskovic is ‘shaking up the football world’ after an outstanding loan spell at Hamburg.

Vuskovic joined the German side in search of regular first-team football last summer and has had an excellent campaign.

Just one player has won a higher percentage of their aerial duels than Vuskovic across Europe’s top five leagues this season, while the Croatian has scored four goals from centre-back, including an equaliser against Bayern Munich last month.

Rakitic, who won 106 caps for Croatia, believes his compatriot will be a target for all of Europe’s top teams next summer. He urged Bayern Munich to move for the defender who has ‘shaken’ up the football world this season.

“All of Europe is talking about him right now. FC Bayern needs to do everything [to sign him],” Rakitic said to Sky Sports Germany.

“I believe the boy has to go to Bayern. He has everything it takes to become one of the best centre-backs. I’m curious to see if Tottenham will manage to keep him beyond the summer, because in my opinion he’s already ready for the next step to one of the absolute top clubs. And for me, there are only four or five of those clubs in Europe. It is incredibly nice to see how such a young guy can shake up the football world.”

Rakitic’s praise comes after Germany legend Lothar Matthaus also spoke positively on Vuskovic’s performances. He praised the maturity that the 18-year-old has played with this season.

“At the age of 18, he plays as if he had already played three World Cups! Even when I was 30, I didn’t see what he saw at 18. This player is so intelligent.”

Read – Five Premier League transfers that failed on Deadline Day

See more – The most expensive Premier League deals in the January transfer window

Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

N’Golo Kanté (34) has completed his move to Fenerbahçe. The France international has signed a deal that runs until the summer of 2028.

Kanté had looked all set to join Fenerbahçe on deadline day. However, the deal ultimately fell through at the final hour, with the Turkish club blaming Al-Ittihad for failing to send through the relevant documents. The failure of that deal also caused the deal to take Youssef En-Nesyri to fall through, a deal that couldn’t be revived due to the closure of the transfer window in Saudi Arabia on Monday. 

However, Kanté was desperate to complete the move to Fenerbahçe and it is now a done deal. In order to complete the move, he had to terminate his contract at Al-Ittihad, allowing him to join the Turkish side on a free transfer. En-Nesyri does the same, moving in the opposite direction. 

Having completed the move, Kanté will now have his sights on securing his place in the France squad ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Spotlight on Ligue 1’s new African signings

Adingra/@Nice Matin

Ligue 1 has welcomed a fresh wave of African talent during the latest transfer window. Six new African signings are ready to make their mark in France’s top flight.

Simon Adingra

The left winger has joined AS Monaco on loan from Sunderland for a fee of 1 million euros. Before arriving in the Principality, Simon Adingra featured in 14 Premier League matches, notching just one goal and a single assist.

Tochukwu Nnadi

The Nigerian defensive midfielder was snapped up by Olympique de Marseille for 6 million euros from Zulte Waregem. During the first half of the season, he took part in 18 Jupiler League matches, registering just one assist.

Amadou Haidara

The Malian midfielder has joined RC Lens for a fee of 2 million euros from Leipzig. Having fallen out of favour at the German club, he hasn’t made a single appearance so far in the 2025-2026 season.

David Datro Fofana

The Ivorian striker has moved to RC Strasbourg Alsace on loan from Chelsea. In the first half of the season, he played for Turkish side Karagümrük, scoring 8 goals in 15 appearances.

Yassir Zabiri

The Moroccan prodigy was signed by Stade Rennais for 10 million euros. He netted 4 goals in 14 matches for Portuguese outfit Famalicão during the first half of the campaign.

Ali Youssif

The Libyan centre-back was recruited by FC Nantes for a fee of 500,000 euros. He has 14 appearances and two goals to his name so far in the 2025-2026 season.

The PDC Premier League is back and is set to be more competitive than ever.

Luke Humphries is back to defend his title after triumphing over back-to-back world champion Luke Littler in the final of last season's edition.

The eight-player tournament starts on Thursday, 5 February in Newcastle.

There will be weekly fixtures until the finals night in London on Thursday, 28 May.

What is the Premier League?

Premier League Darts is an annual tournament contested by eight players, run by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).

The top four players in the world rankings qualify automatically and four others are selected as 'wildcard' entries by the organisers.

The tournament has taken place annually since 2005.

How does the Premier League Darts work?

Every Thursday, the eight players go head-to-head in a straight knockout tournament.

Each player enters at the quarter-final stage, before moving to the semi-finals and then a final.

These matches are all played over the best of 11 legs, or a race to six.

Players take home points from each of these rounds. The winner of the night gets five points, the runner-up three points, and each semi-finalist wins two points.

A new tournament starts each Thursday with the quarter-final line-up changing on a weekly basis.

The players meet each other once at the quarter-final stage from weeks one to seven, and then again in weeks nine to 15.

The matches in weeks eight and 16 are played based on position in the league at that point.

The four players at the top of the table at the end of night 16 qualify for finals night, which take place on Thursday, 28 May.

The semi-finals of the play-offs are played over 19 legs, while the winner is crowned in a final match played across the best of 21 legs.

Who is in the line-up this year?

Title defender Humphries will make his return, alongside world champion Littler, debutant Gian van Veen and seven-time winner Michael van Gerwen.

All four players qualified through the PDC Order of Merit, which is the world ranking system for professional darts players.

The remaining four players, Jonny Clayton, Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock and Gerwyn Price, have all been selected as wildcards.

The PDC told BBC Sport its board of directors "discusses a range of factors" when deciding who gets a wildcard place, including "form, achievements, whether a player is considered 'ready' for the Premier League, their experience and profile".

Van Gerwen is the most successful Premier League player of all time with seven titles.

What is the prize money?

There is a £1,250,000 prize pot for the competition.

The winner of each night takes home a bonus of £10,000.

The pot is then split based on the final positions in the league table.

Winner: £350,000

Runner-up: £170,000

Semi-finalists: £110,000

Fifth: £95,000

Sixth: £90,000

Seventh: £85,000

Eighth: £80,000

The 2026 Premier League champion's prize has seen an increase of £75,000 compared to last year's winnings of £275,000.

Full schedule and venues

Night one - Thursday, 5 February, Newcastle

Night two - Thursday, 12 February, Antwerp

Night three - Thursday, 19 February, Glasgow

Night four - Thursday, 26 February, Belfast

Night five - Thursday, 5 March, Cardiff

Night six - Thursday, 12 March, Nottingham

Night seven - Thursday, 19 March, Dublin

Night eight - Thursday, 26 March, Berlin

Night nine - Thursday, 2 April, Manchester

Night 10 - Thursday, 9 April, Brighton

Night 11 - Thursday, 16 April, Rotterdam

Night 12 - Thursday, 23 April, Liverpool

Night 13 - Thursday, 30 April, Aberdeen

Night 14 - Thursday, 7 May, Leeds

Night 15 - Thursday, 14 May, Birmingham

Night 16 - Thursday, 21 May, Sheffield

Play-offs - Thursday, 28 May, London

How to follow the Premier League Darts on the BBC

There will be live text commentary for each match night of the Premier League Darts.

Coverage will be on the BBC Sport app and website every Thursday.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

More questions answered...

• How do players get picked for Premier League Darts?
• What is dartitis and what causes it?
• How do darts world rankings work?

January was not just about plugging the gaps. For some clubs, the winter transfer window was synonymous with bold choices and headline signings.

Several teams invested heavily to secure their objectives or revive their momentum.

Let’s take a closer look at the most expensive transfers of the winter, with figures to back them up. Unsurprisingly, English clubs dominate the scene: nine out of the top ten transactions involve them.

📸 Transfermarkt

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

The victory of the Blaugrana against Albacete is one of the headlines this Wednesday in the sports press.

Barça is the first semifinalist of this Copa del Rey after defeating Albacete. Today, it's the turn for four more teams on a Wednesday that is all about the Cup.

Diario MARCA

Diario AS

Mundo Deportivo

Diario SPORT

Superdeporte

Estadio Deportivo

Sphera Sports

L'Esportiu

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

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📸 Angel Martinez - 2026 Getty Images

Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Authorities in Los Angeles said the brutal death of former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Kevin Johnson may be connected to three other homicides of unhoused people.

Johnson, 55, was killed Jan. 21 in a Los Angeles homeless encampment. He died of stab wounds and blunt head trauma, and his death was ruled a homicide.

The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department on Tuesday said in a statement that Johnson is one of four homicide cases that occurred in the 1300 block of East 120th Street along the Los Angeles River between October 2025 and January.

Investigators are working to determine if the deaths are connected, the department said.

All four victims were unhoused, living in encampments in the area.

The most recent death occurred days after Johnson was killed.

The sheriff's department said in a statement that early on Jan. 26, homicide detectives were called to an encampment regarding a death.

The individual was identified as an unhoused male, who was found dead by a flood control channel.

Information on the other two cases was not immediately available.

The investigations are being conducted by the county's homicide bureau with the assistance of Century Sheriff's Station personnel and Operation Safe Streets Bureau officers.

"Homicide investigators continue to pursue all investigative leads and remain committed to identifying the individual or individuals responsible for these crimes," the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said.

Whilst the transfer window has now slammed shut in France, one club is still active, Paris FC. As per a report from L’Équipe, Les Parisiens have secured the signing of Stade de Reims midfielder Patrick Zabi (19), who had been attracting high-level interest from clubs across Europe. 

In the final hours of the window, Paris FC confirmed the signing of Rudy Matondo from AJ Auxerre, a sign that the newly-moneyed club are looking towards the future. Zabi is also a player for the future and he will arrive at the club in the summer for a fee of €25m, L’Équipe understands. 

This season, Zabi has played 21 times for Les Stadistes, scoring two goals and registering three assists. However, he will move on in the summer, with Reims pocketing a huge profit on a player that they signed for just €100,000 18 months ago.

Paris FC have beaten the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle United, Bournemouth, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Fiorentina to his signature. Zabi’s move to Paris FC has not yet been made official, but it is thought to be just a matter of time.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Real Madrid are approaching a crucial stretch of the season at a time when positive results are no longer optional, but essential. 

Expectations are high, the margin for error is shrinking, and recent developments around the squad have only increased the pressure. 

For Real Madrid, the coming weeks could define both their campaign and the credibility of the project under Alvaro Arbeloa.

From a squad availability point of view, Arbeloa can hardly complain, as everything points to this Sunday’s clash against Valencia being played with a near full-strength team. 

To put things in perspective, only Eder Militao and Jude Bellingham are set to miss out, while Vinicius Jr. is suspended for this tie. Beyond that, the dressing room is largely intact for this match.

No margin for error

This removes one of the most common explanations for Madrid’s uneven performances. 

Physical condition can no longer be used as a shield, as Antonio Pintus has been working with the squad for close to a month. 

This is typically the phase of the season when a team like Real Madrid should look dominant, aggressive, and confident on the pitch. Instead, the performances have fallen short of those standards.

The coming days will therefore be decisive. After a full week focused on rest and training, questions remain over whether February will truly mark a turning point. 

Eyes on Arbeloa

This situation will also shine a spotlight on Arbeloa himself, as the coming fixtures will offer a clear verdict on whether he can handle the demands of this level. 

With fewer injuries and a manageable schedule, the responsibility now sits firmly on the bench and in the dressing room.

The immediate test comes at Mestalla, followed by another week without midweek commitments before hosting Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu. 

The real examination arrives later. From February 17 onwards, the calendar tightens, with the Champions League play-off against Benfica, sandwiched between a tough away trip to Osasuna at El Sadar and the return leg at home.

By then, excuses will be irrelevant, and results and commitment will speak for themselves.

Liverpool's perfect signing is doing amazing things right now. The Reds should break the bank for him.

The January transfer window is now closed and attention quickly turns towards the summer. Liverpool will surely bring in some new players then.

They chose not to add anyone to their squad in the winter window, despite a defensive injury crisis that many thought necessitated an arrival. But Liverpool saw things differently. The right player wasn't available for the right money and so nothing happened.

They did manage to complete a signing for next season, though. Jeremy Jacquet will join Liverpool in the summer, agreeing a move from Rennes for around £60m all-in.

But he certainly won't be the only addition. Liverpool's form this season has shown off holes in the squad and the Reds will need to fill them with new players.

One of those signings looks obvious to us - the current dream signing.

Yan Diomande doing incredible things

Yan Diomande has been consistently linked with a move away from RB Leipzig despite the fact he only moved there in the summer. Then again, he only broke through at Leganes around a year ago before they sold him after six months.

His efforts in the Bundesliga have been first class, though. Diomande looks like one of the most exciting wingers in world football and he's only turned 19 in November.

There's plenty of hype around the player andthe idea that he could be on his way to Liverpool. There seems little question at this stage that the Reds are interested - it's just whether they can be the ones who get a deal over the line.

But Diomande is essentially exactly what Liverpool need. They're desperate for a winger who can consistently drive forward and take on his defender - something they lost by selling Luis Diaz without a replacement.

And few are better at that than Diomande. Actually, no one is.

Whoscored tweeted at the weekend that the Ivorian has the highest dribble success rate across the five major European leagues this season (of players to have attempted at least 80). That's precisely why Liverpool are in the group looking at Diomande and why he could be the answer to one of their biggest squad problems right now.

We consider him to be a dream signing and everything he does reinforces that. Let's see what happens in the summer.

Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate is optimistic he will be allowed to perform to music from the Minions films at the Winter Olympics after receiving copyright clearance from Universal Studios.

Sabate, known for his flamboyant routines, has performed to songs from the Minions animated film series while wearing a yellow T-shirt and blue overalls, similar to the characters' outfits, throughout the 2025-26 season.

He said on Monday that he would not be able to perform to the music at the Olympics as rights holders Universal Pictures had not given permission.

However, on Tuesday Sabate said Universal Studios had reversed its objection and that he is "so close" to being allowed to perform his routine.

The Milan-Cortina Games officially start on Friday, although the action starts on Wednesday.

"Huge thank you to everyone who reposted, shared and supported," Sabate said.

"Because of you, Universal Studios reconsidered and officially granted the rights for this one special occasion.

"There are still a couple of things to be tied up with the other two music of the program, but we are so close to accomplishing it! And it's all thanks to you.

"I'm so happy to see that the Minions hitting Olympic ice is becoming real again!"

The routine in Sabate's short program - the first of two routines in singles figure skating - has proved a hit in competitions, including in Sheffield at this year's European Figure Skating Championships, where he finished 18th but became a fan favourite.

Sabate, a six-time Spanish champion set to make his Olympic debut in Milan, said he followed all required procedures and submitted the music through the International Skating Union's (ISU) ClicknClear system in August.

If he is unable to perform to the Minions mix, he may use music by the Bee Gees for his short program, as this was the routine he performed to in 2024-25.

The men's event starts in Milan on Tuesday.

"As soon as we have more details on this specific case, we will share them as appropriate," read an ISU statement.

"Copyright clearances can represent a challenge for all artistic sports."

• What’s happening when at the Winter Olympics?

talkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara was left perplexed at the lack of ‘any real invention to make something happen’ last night.

He was talking about the way Chelsea setup against Arsenal last night in their 1-0 defeat in the second leg of the tie.

EXCLUSIVE! Summer Scouting Transfer Shortlist Files – New CBs – FIVE names mentioned!

He wasn’t the only person who though that, Paul Merson was left fuming after the game, with a passionate lowdown on what he witnessed.

“I’m numb. I’m flabbergasted,” said Merson. “I can’t believe what I just watched.

“I honestly can’t believe what I just watched. This is Chelsea Football Club. They’ve got international football players. They’ve got a World Cup winner [Enzo Fernandez]. They’ve got players all over.

“This is not a bottom four, bottom five team. He [Wesley Fofana] is crying. He should be crying because they never had a go.

“I’m lost for words. I cannot believe what happened. They’ve just gone out with an absolute whimper, in the semi-final of a big competition. If it worked it was great, but it hasn’t worked and you can’t gamble like that.

“Have a go and go out in a blaze of glory. Don’t go out like that. I’m lost for words. Honestly, I’m lost for words.”

O’Hara reacts

Cole Palmer’s free kick hits the wall. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

“First half, you stay in the tie, I get that, you don’t want to lose it in the first 20 minutes,” O’Hara said.

“But now, you’ve got to throw everything at them, you’ve got to try and win the game.”

O’Hara was also perplexed at the lack of ‘any real invention to make something happen’, as reported by talkSPORT.

Saunders adds his thoughts

Former player Dean Saunders, who was on the show with O’Hara, added his thoughts.

“Half-time, Liam Rosenior would be sitting there thinking, ‘Do I bring [Cole] Palmer and Estevao on and risk them not running back and us going another goal down, at what point do I go for it,'” Saunders said.

“But they were a bit punchless and Arsenal defended well.”

Good morning everyone.

It’s been quite a few months since I last gave an update on Fitzie’s Film and TV Reviews, the regular hoddle feature where fitzie reviews all the things he’s seen on the television and in cinemas.

That’s because there haven’t been many (or any) new shows that I’ve been watching. At the very least, the ones I’ve watched are so forgettable that I don’t even think to mention them here.

The one movie that’s really exciting me – and now available to stream on HBO Max – is If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. I don’t know much about the movie except for that Rose Byrne’s character has some bad relationship with her therapist, played by Conan O’Brien.

Otherwise, I’m just treading water until the latest series of Survivor begins later this month. I’m satisfying some of the reality-tv itch with the latest series of The Traitors US, but I find this group of players so unlikable and in such contrast to the celebrity version of the UK’s celebrity tradition of The Traitors.

There must be something I’m missing here, right? There’s got to be some good television series or films out there that are worth watching. So I’m letting this hoddle be a small request in that I want you to share some of the things you’re watching.

Fitzie’s track of the day: I Put A Spell On You, by Nina Simone

And now for your links:

Matt Law: “Cristian Romero was Tottenham’s ‘pussycat’, now he is the bomb-proof rebel”

Jay Harris ($$): “Can Cristian Romero keep criticising the Spurs hierarchy and remain club captain?”

The Standard: “Tottenham confirm new hire as medical department revamp continues amid injury crisis”

The Daily Record: “Hearts stumble at St Mirren as ten men feel the Premiership title pressure – five talking points”

The Guardian: “Are the Whitecaps about to die? Vancouver sound alarm bells amid difficult sale process”

Pep Guardiola faced the media yesterday ahead of Manchester City’s Carabao Cup semi-final tie second leg against Newcastle. The Manchester City manager spoke on a host of topics ranging from the loss of life in Gaza, to the ICE situation in America and Sudan. He also sarcastically spoke on Manchester City’s net spend over the past five matches. It was clear that Guardiola was speaking sarcastically about how much his club has spent on players over the last five years. But that was lost on some judging by the reaction to Pep Guardiola’s comments.

Pep Guardiola raised the topic of Manchester City’s net spend during is press conference yesterday.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was in fine form yesterday. During his pre-game press conference he made sure to mention the fact that Manchester City sit seventh in the Premier League table for net spend over the past five years. Speaking on the topic, Guardiola said: “I’m a little bit sad and upset because in net spend the last five years we are seventh in the Premier League. I want to be the first, I don´t understand why the club don´t spend more money. I am a little bit grumpy with them. But, like we won in the past because we spent a lot, now six teams have to win the Premier Leagues, Champions Leagues and FA Cups because they spent more in the last five years.”

“Good luck to the six teams who are in front of us for net spend for the last five years. Let’s go. I´m waiting.”

Pep Guardiola’s sarcasm does seem to get missed at times.

It is always an entertaining sight when Pep Guardiola has an axe to grind, so to speak. He clearly took a sarcastic jab at critics of Manchester City’s spending during his time as manager. Yesterday was Guardiola at his best as he spoke on a wide range of topics. It was clear he had plenty to say on a host of issues, with net spend by clubs being the first of many topics that Guardiola spoke on yesterday.

The entire net spend topic, and how much money City or any other club spends, has always seemed to be a point of fascination in football. The fact of the matter is that every successful club in football has to spend. If they don’t, their rivals will. Manchester City have spent a lot of money since 2008, as have their rivals. That is the reality of football, as the days of famed youth teams rising through the ranks together to conquer the Premier League have long gone. But how much City spends will always be a point of conversation, as it has been since 2008.

Pep Guardiola sarcastically made his point about net spend yesterday. It was entertaining to see Guardiola poke fun at the topic. It isn’t a topic that is going away anytime soon, as how much City spend is always a point of interest across football.

Manchester United chiefs have conceded that Manuel Ugarte is unlikely to ever be a suitable or successful fit at Old Trafford.

As a result, the club will be looking to sell Ugarte come the end of the season, which would see his Red Devils tenure draw to a close after only two years.

Manuel Ugarte: What’s been said in recent months?

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

In the lead-up to the winter window opening, reports suggested United were preparing to part ways with the midfielder just 17 months into his contract.

Ugarte had received approaches from both Ajax and Galatasaray, but the board opted against facilitating a move in order to grant Michael Carrick as much depth as possible in his bid to secure Champions League qualification.

Since the former Red took the reins, Ugarte has not only not made it into any of Carrick’s starting line-ups thus far, but he’s also only featured for a total of 24 minutes across the three matches.

The Uruguayan played for nine minutes in the Manchester derby and for 15 minutes against Fulham last Sunday, while he was an unused option for the triumph over Arsenal.

*Ugarte’s complete record in all competitions for United (Transfermarkt)

Why Ugarte’s performances are an area of concern for INEOS

(Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

In the clash with the Cottagers last time out, United conceded twice in the brief period Ugarte was on the pitch. This season, 24 goals have been scored by the opposition while the midfielder has been in action, which is undoubtedly a red flag that INEOS will be taking note of.

iPaper Sport’s Pete Hall spoke on the 24-year-old’s situation yesterday, saying that ‘chaos ensues’ whenever he plays.

In regard to the options Ugarte, who signed in a £50.5 million deal when moving from Paris Saint-Germain, might have this summer, Turkish Football claims that Galatasaray retain their interest, and would ideally take the player on an initial loan that includes an option to sign him permanently.

The prospective agreement has been deemed ‘one of the most significant transfers in recent Super Lig history’ – if it were to go through.

More Stories / Latest News

£51m Man Utd man who brings ‘chaos’ every time he plays now being targeted by league leaders in ‘significant’ transfer

Feb 4 2026, 7:30

6ft4in colossus tells INEOS he’s willing to take substantial pay cut to play for Man United long-term

Feb 4 2026, 6:50

‘Difference-making’ Man Utd star tipped for return to homeland as league leaders deem him a ‘dream’ target

Feb 4 2026, 6:25

San Diego FC made a statement in their CONCACAF Champions Cup debut by demolishing a pathetic Pumas by a 4-1 score. San Diego FC went on the offensive from the start and overcame and early goal to crush a Pumas side that was extremely defensive and had no idea of what to do once they got tied. Pumas will now need to win by three goals in Mexico and not allow a goal or face a disastrous elimination in their first round of play in another embarrassment against an MLS side.

The 1st half started with Pumas coming out with their normal starting 11, the exception being Antonio Leone getting his first start with the team. A cross into the area was kicked wide by Anders Deyer. After making a good run in the area, Adalberto Carrasquilla got off a great cross that Robert Morales would volley with an amazing bicycle kick that went past San Diego FC’s Palbo Sisniega to score and give Pumas the 1-0 lead. It was a wonderful goal for Morales in the first opportunity for Pumas in the match. A left footed shot by Anibal Godoy was almost deflected into the net off Pumas’ defense. A left footed shot from outside the area from Dreyer would go wide. A cross into the area was lowered into the path of Amahl Pellegrino, who got off a right footed shot from close range that went wide. The halftime whistle blew and Pumas took a surprising lead to halftime even when they had been incredibly defensive after scoring their goal.

The 2nd half started with Pumas subbing out the injured Adalberto Carrasquilla for Jose Caicedo. A cross into the area was volleyed wide by Luca Bombino. A left footed shot from outside the area by Godoy would go wide. After getting the ball in the area, Pellegrino got off a right footed shot that went wide. Without Carrasquilla, Pumas went even more defensive in the 2nd half as the home side completely dominated the possession. San Diego FC subbed out Marcus Ingvartsen and Pedro Soma for Alex Mighten and David Vazquez. Pumas subbed out Robert Morales and Jordan Carrillo for Guillermo Maritnez and Alan Medina. Off a corner kick, a cross into the area was headed by a wide open Manu Duah past Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas to score and tie the match at 1-1. Off another corner kick, the ball fell to Godoy, whose right footed shot was deflected wide by Alvaro Angulo. From outside the area, Bombino got off a left footed shot that went wide. Also from outside the area, Dreyer got off a right footed shot that was saved by Navas. A cross into the area was headed from close range by David Vazquez past Navas to score and give Sand Diego the 2-1 lead. After another cross into the area got headed by Vazquez and although Navas made a great save, the ball fell to Alex Mighten, who scored into the empty net to give San Diego FC the 3-1 lead. Pumas subbed out Pedro Vite for Uriel Antuna. San Diego FC subbed out Wilson Eisner and Amahl Pellegrino for Ian Pilcher and Kieran Sargeant. A cross into the area was badly fielded by Leone and left there for Luca Bombino to score into the empty net and give San Diego FC the 4-1 lead. San Diego FC subbed out Anders Dreyer for Anisse Saidi. After getting the ball in the area, Angulo got off a left footed shot from Angulo that went right to Sisniega. A cross into the area was just out of reach of Nathan. It was the last chance as the match ended and San Diego FC crushed a pathetic Pumas.

Pumas once again made a new embarrassing disastrous performance in their CONCACAF Champions Cup history against an MLS side. The side that ended Liga MX’s run of CONCACAF titles by losing the final against MLS side Seattle Sounders, now gave an embarrassing 4-1 loss in San Diego FC’s debut in a CONCACAF tournament. Like against Tigres in the Liga MX, Pumas went on the defensive from the start and had the strategy to hold on to a 1 goal lead. This time though they gave up the tie and had no answer against a San Diego FC side that was overly superior. It was incredible that the MLS side, who is in post season, looked a lot faster and in shape than a Pumas side that was out of energy by the 60th minute, even when they are a month into their tournament. Pumas will now need to win by three goals in Mexico City next week, and not allow a goal or lose out in the first round of play, something that might spell doom for Efrain Juarez and his underwhelming tenure so far as Pumas’ head coach.

Drafted by the Warriors in 2012 and a driver of their dynastic run, Green first acknowledged the possibility he might be traded Friday, following a seven-point loss to the Detroit Pistons. “I’ve been here for 14 years, I have no reason to sit and worry about leaving,” said Green, who has a contractual player option for 2026-27. “But if I’m traded, that’s part of the business. It is what it is. I ain’t losing no sleep, though. I slept great last night, longer than I’ve slept in a long time.”

San Francisco Chronicle

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Draymond Green: 'If I’m traded, that’s part of the business'

“If you would have told me 13½ years ago, you can sign this sheet of paper to be in a place for 13½ years, would you sign it? And I would have signed it faster than you can blink. “So what do I have to worry about or be upset about? I’ve been here longer than probably 98% of NBA players have been in one place. And a guy from Saginaw has been in a place for 13½ years. I don’t know that it ends at 13½ years, but if it does what a f---ing run it’s been.” ‪https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/warriors/article/warriors-kerr-spoke-draymond-green-nba-21332141.php

San Francisco Chronicle

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “If you would have told me 13½ years ago, you can sign …

Ramona Shelburne says the Mavericks are a team to watch for Chris Paul, after he eventually gets waived: “I think the Dallas Mavericks make a lot of sense. He worked out with Cooper Flagg in the off-season, they’re represented by the same agency, I think Cooper likes him.” The only problem is the Mavericks don’t currently have a roster spot for CP3, but that can be solved.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “I think the Dallas Mavericks make a lot of sense. He …

That’s because, as the Celtics prepare to face the Houston Rockets, Simons is headed to Chicago, where he was traded earlier Tuesday afternoon in exchange for veteran big man Nikola Vucevic. And, though all of the Celtics understand that midseason trades are a part of the business, it doesn’t necessarily make things any easier. “We had a growing relationship that was really good,” Scheierman said. “He’s just a good dude. Was a great teammate. As far as a basketball player, obviously, very talented — came in and put his work in, did things the right way, and cared about the people here. I’m definitely sad to see him go.”

Celtics Blog

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “We had a growing relationship that was really good,” …

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe insists that Sandro Tonali is “committed” to the club after he was linked with a move to Arsenal on Transfer Deadline Day. 

The Gunners were searching a midfielder on the final day of the winter window after Mikel Merino sustained a bone injury in his foot. The Spain international will require surgery and could spend a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

It was reported, however, that Arsenal did not approach or make an offer to the Magpies for Tonali. The deadline came and went without the north London outfit signing a new midfielder.

Sandro Tonali ‘committed’ to Newcastle following Arsenal transfer rumours

Asked if Tonali would be unsettled by the transfer talk, Howe responded: “I don’t think so, but lots of things happen without my knowledge.

“As far as I’m aware, we’ve got a player who is an outstanding footballer, an outstanding person. He’s very happy here, he’s got a great relationship with me, his teammates, and seems really happy within himself.

“That would surprise me [if Tonali became unsettled], but our best players will always attract glances from other clubs – that’s just the reality of football.

Transfer Deadline Day – Every deal completed by Premier League clubs

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“We want to keep our group together, we want to be progressive and Sandro plays a part in that. All encompassed, I don’t see an issue but I don’t control everything.

“There was certainly no intention from our side to lose Sandro at all. He’s such an integral player to what we’re doing. He’s very happy here.

“He is absolutely fine. I had discussions with him yesterday [Monday] and he is absolutely focused on playing for us.

“His only focus is Man City and trying to win that game. There’s absolutely no issue with Sandro himself and he’s committed.”

Howe was speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s League Cup clash with Manchester City. Newcastle are looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the semi-final first leg.

Read – The most expensive Premier League deals in the January transfer window

See Also – Five Premier League transfers that failed on Deadline Day

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N’Golo Kanté lands in Turkey (official)

It’s now official. N’Golo Kanté is no longer an Al-Ittihad player. The French midfielder has terminated his contract with the Saudi club before signing with Fenerbahçe, as confirmed by the Turkish side this Tuesday.

After arriving in Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023 following his departure from Chelsea, Kanté (34) had inked a three-year deal with Al-Ittihad. In recent days, his name had been at the heart of intense negotiations, particularly in a saga linked to the potential transfer of Youssef En-Nesyri to Saudi Arabia.

An administrative disagreement between the two clubs briefly stalled the transfer, prompting Fenerbahçe to issue a critical statement against Al-Ittihad. Ultimately, the situation was resolved with Kanté’s official contract termination. The 2018 World Cup winner now joins Fenerbahçe, ready to take on a new challenge in the Süper Lig.

Welcome to another episode of On This Week, where we take a look back at some of the key events to happen On This Week in the history of Sunderland AFC.

Join Martin, Andrew and Kelvin as they look back on…

A midweek FA Cup Replay versus Preston in 1955 – not much work was done that day!

Charlie Hurley’s role in Sunderland’s FA Cup run in 1973

The lads take on Oxford in the FA Cup in 1992 – but what was going on at half time?!

Kelvin looks back at his favourite ever Sunderland manager, Ian McColl

And, much much more.

𝗛𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 🎙️

Join us for another wander down mackem memory lane — looking back at the 55, 73 & 92 FA Cup runs, and Kelvin’s favourite Sunderland gaffer!

APPLE: https://t.co/h9Vbk5m4u5
SPOTIFY: https://t.co/89L3BAQ5Mshttps://t.co/MrScfojZL0 | #SAFC ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/h9X3RmqcI2

— Roker Report (@RokerReport) February 4, 2026

Around 2,900 athletes from more than 90 countries will compete on the ice and snow at Milan-Cortina 2026.

The world's biggest winter sports stars will descend on northern Italy from Friday 6 February and there's certain to be thrills, drama and breakout performances.

BBC Sport takes a look at some of the global stars and stories to look out for.

Lindsey Vonn - alpine skiing

Age: 41 Nation: United States

Just five days before the women's downhill event takes place in Cortina, Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn announced that she had ruptured her left anterior cruciate ligament but is still hopeful that she can compete on Sunday.

Vonn was airlifted to hospital in Switzerland after crashing in the final World Cup race of the season but remains determined to compete in her fifth Olympics, despite the serious injury.

The veteran skier is no stranger to a comeback having retired in 2019 because of injury before undergoing partial replacement knee surgery on her right knee and returning to the sport in 2024.

The four-time overall World Cup winner is unsure whether she will be able to compete in the super-G and team events but, as a heavy favourite for the downhill gold before suffering the injury, she is determined to make the start gate at what will likely be her last Olympics.

Mikaela Shiffrin - alpine skiing

Age: 30 Nation: United States

Mikaela Shiffrin is the greatest alpine skier of all time and, competing at her fourth Olympics, has said she wants to "make peace" with the Games following disappointment in Beijing along with serious injury and mental health struggles.

The five-time overall World Cup winner has 108 World Cup wins, securing victory in the opening five slalom events of the season which, when added to her victory in the final slalom of last season, equalled her own record of six consecutive wins in the discipline.

But the two-time Olympic champion will be targeting a return to the podium in Cortina while her fiance Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is also on the comeback trail from a bad injury.

Maxim Naumov - figure skating

Age: 24 Nation: United States

American figure skater Maxim Naumov's participation in the Milan-Cortina Games could be emotional as he makes his Olympic debut after his parents were killed in a plane crash in Washington DC last year.

Naumov's dream to make Team USA was one of the last things he spoke about with his parents before they were killed.

His parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, skated for Russia and were world champions in pairs figure skating in 1994.

Emily Harrop - skimo

Age: 28 Nation: France

Ski mountaineering, or 'skimo', is making its Olympic debut at Milan-Cortina and, while Great Britain have failed to qualify an athlete in the Games' new sport, France's Emily Harrop is the next best thing.

With English parents, Harrop could have competed for Team GB but having relocated to the French Alps as a child she opted to represent France.

Harrop is well placed for an Olympic medal having finished the 2025 season with seven wins out of seven races at the ski mountaineering World Cup, winning the sprint and overall crystal globe for the fourth consecutive season.

Jutta Leerdam – speed skating

Age: 28 Nation: Netherlands

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam will compete in the 1,000m and 500m in Milan.

A former world sprint champion, Leerdam also won a silver medal in the 1,000m at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

She is also engaged to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who can often be spotted at competitions and will be cheering her on from the sidelines in Italy.

Finley Melville Ives – freestyle skiing

Age: 19 Nation: New Zealand

Teenager Finley Melville Ives arrives in Italy as one of the most exciting prospects on the freestyle skiing circuit.

Ives' parents are both snowboard instructors and his twin brother followed in their footsteps, but Ives opted instead for skis from a young age.

His breakout season came last year when he claimed his first World Cup victory in Calgary then weeks later became the halfpipe world champion in Engadin, Switzerland, beating Olympic greats Alex Ferreira and Nick Goepper along the way.

Eileen Gu – freestyle skiing

Age: 22 Nation: China

Born and raised in California, freestyle skier Eileen Gu was China's poster girl for Beijing 2022, where - aged 18 - she won gold in the big air and freeski halfpipe competitions and silver in the slopestyle.

In addition to her Olympic triumphs, she is also a two-time world champion and three-time Winter X Games champion.

Away from the snow, Gu is one of the most famous winter sports athletes in the world and has modelled in New York, Barcelona, Paris and at Milan Fashion Week while also studying quantum physics at Stanford University.

NHL stars – ice hockey

For the first time since Sochi 2014, the National Hockey League is permitting its athletes to participate in the Winter Olympics.

NHL stars did not travel to the 2018 or 2022 Games because of financial disputes and pandemic-related complications but will return to the ice this year.

In their absence, the last two men's titles have been won by Olympic teams from Russia and Finland while the United States failed to win a medal at both events, but this could be a huge boost to their hopes of returning to the podium.

Chloe Kim – snowboarding

Age: 25 Nation: United States

Eight years after winning gold as a 17-year-old in Pyeongchang, American halfpipe snowboarder Chloe Kim is going for a three-peat in Italy.

She successfully defended her title in Beijing four years ago but her preparations for Milan-Cortina have been disrupted after she dislocated her shoulder at the beginning of the year.

She said in an update on Instagram she was "good to go" for the Games, where she will aim to become the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the halfpipe.

Francesco Friedrich - Bobsleigh

Age: 35 Nation: Germany

Legendary German bobsleigh pilot Francesco Friedrich arrives in Italy hoping to become the first man do the treble double - winning two and four-man gold for the third Games in a row.

He is a 16-time world champion across the two and four-man events while he has well over 100 World Cup podium finishes, claiming a 50th victory in the two-man earlier this year.

Germany tend to dominate the Olympic bobsleigh events and the question is whether anyone can stop him from making history.

Arianna Fontana - speed skating

Age: 35 Nation: Italy

Competing at her sixth Games, Arianna Fontana is an 11-time Winter Olympic medallist and has won medals at her five previous appearances - including as a 15-year-old in Turin.

Twenty years later, the short track skater is also aiming to compete in long track speed skating.

Two-time Olympic champion Fontana will also be one of Italy's flag bearers at the opening ceremony at the San Siro.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen - alpine skiing

Age: 25 Nation: Brazil

Norwegian-born skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen could make history in Italy by winning a first Winter Olympics medal for a South American country after he switched allegiance to compete for his mother's home country of Brazil.

The slalom and giant slalom expert retired in 2023 having competed for Norway but returned in 2025 to represent Brazil and became the first Brazilian to finish on a World Cup podium last year before claiming the country's first victory this season to add to his five for Norway.

A charismatic and deep-thinking character, Braathen says that people don't believe him when he tells them he represents Brazil in alpine skiing.

Adeliia Petrosian - figure skating

Age: 18 Nation: Independent Neutral Athlete

Russian skater Adeliia Petrosian is one of around 20 Russian or Belarusian athletes competing under a neutral flag in Italy.

The teenager had not competed internationally at senior level until the Olympic qualifiers because of the ban on Russian athletes but is a genuine medal contender having won the qualifying event.

She is coached by the controversial Eteri Tutberidze, who coached Kamila Valieva during the Beijing 2022 Olympics. Valieva was given a four-year ban for doping after she helped Russia to win team gold before it was then revealed she had failed a drug test before the start of the Games.

Ilia Malinin - figure skating

Age: 21 Nation: United States

Ilia Malinin is the only skater to have successfully landed the quadruple Axel, skating's most difficult jump, in competition, earning him the nickname the 'Quad God'.

The American, born to Olympic figure skaters Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, is the hot favourite for the men's singles title in Italy with previous routines including seven quads and a back flip.

The reigning world champion will be competing at his first Olympics having controversially been left out of the US team in Beijing.

What channel is the NASCAR Clash on today? Start time, TV schedule, live streams to watch 2026 race at Bowman Gray originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

NASCAR fanatics, the wait is finally over. The 2026 Cup Series is kicking off at Bowman Gray Stadium with the Cook Out Clash.

After relocating to Winston-Salem, North Carolina last year, the Clash remains a highly anticipated event on the racing schedule. While the competition will be hot, the temperatures will be cold after a winter storm hit the Carolinas this weekend and pushed the race to Wednesday.

The Clash will be the perfect debut to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, bringing all the best racers together for 200 laps at historic Bowman Gray Stadium. Chase Elliott is the defending champion, but who will take the checkered flag this year?

Here's everything you need to know about NASCAR Clash 2026, including TV channel and streaming options for the race at Bowman Gray.

What channel is the NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray on today?

• TV channel: Fox
• Live stream:Fubo

Fans can watch the 2026 Cook Out Clash live on Fox or stream the race on Fubo.

Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service 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.)

NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray start time

• Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4
• Time: 6 p.m. ET

The NASCAR Cook Out Clash's main event takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. ET at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

NASCAR Clash 2026 radio station

• Radio station:SiriusXM channel 90

Fans can listen to the NASCAR Clash 2026 on SiriusXM. The race will be broadcast on channel 90.

New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.

NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray schedule 2026

Wednesday, Feb. 4

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
1:30 p.m.	Cup Series practice and qualifying	Fox One
4:30 p.m.	Last-chance qualifying	Fox, Fubo
6 p.m.	Clash at Bowman Gray	Fox, Fubo

NASCAR Cup Series schedule 2026

(All times Eastern)

Date	Race	Track	Time	TV/Winner
Feb. 4	Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray	Bowman Gray Stadium	6 p.m.	Fox, Fubo
Feb. 12	Duel 1 at Daytona	Daytona International Speedway	7 p.m.	FS1, Fubo
Feb. 12	Duel 2 at Daytona	Daytona International Speedway	8:45 p.m.	FS1, Fubo
Feb. 15	Daytona 500	Daytona International Speedway	2:30 p.m.	Fox, Fubo
Feb. 22	Autotrader 400	EchoPark Speedway	3 p.m.	Fox, Fubo
March 1	DuraMax Grand Prix	Circuit of the Americas	3:30 p.m.	Fox, Fubo
March 8	Straight Talk Wireless 500	Phoenix Raceway	3:30 p.m.	FS1, Fubo
March 15	Pennzoil 400	Las Vegas Motor Speedway	4 p.m.	FS1, Fubo
March 22	Goodyear 400	Darlington Raceway	3 p.m.	FS1, Fubo
March 29	Cook Out 400	Martinsville Speedway	3:30 p.m.	FS1, Fubo
April 12	Food City 500	Bristol Motor Speedway	3 p.m.	FS1, Fubo
April 19	AdventHealth 400	Kansas Speedway	2 p.m.	Fox, Fubo
April 26	Jack Link's 500	Talladega Superspeedway	3 p.m.	Fox, Fubo
May 3	Wurth 400	Texas Motor Speedway	3:30 p.m.	FS1, Fubo
May 10	Go Bowling at the Glen	Watkins Glen International	3 p.m.	FS1, Fubo
May 17	All-Star Race	Dover Motor Speedway	3 p.m.	FS1, Fubo
May 24	Coca-Cola 600	Charlotte Motor Speedway	6 p.m.	Prime Video
May 31	Cracker Barrel 400	Nashville Superspeedway	7 p.m.	Prime Video
June 7	FireKeepers Casino 400	Michigan International Speedway	3 p.m.	Prime Video
June 14	Cup Series race at Pocono	Pocono Raceway	3 p.m.	Prime Video
June 21	Anduril 250	Naval Base Coronado	4 p.m.	Prime Video
June 28	Toyota/Save Mart 350	Sonoma Raceway	3:30 p.m.	TNT, DIRECTV
July 5	Cup Series race at Chicagoland	Chicagoland Speedway	6 p.m.	TNT, DIRECTV
July 12	Quaker State 400	EchoPark Speedway	7 p.m.	TNT, DIRECTV
July 19	Window World 400	North Wilkesboro Speedway	7 p.m.	TNT, DIRECTV
July 26	Brickyard 400	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	2 p.m.	TNT, DIRECTV
Aug. 9	Iowa Corn 350	Iowa Speedway	3:30 p.m.	USA, Fubo
Aug. 15	Cook Out 400	Richmond Raceway	7 p.m.	USA, Fubo
Aug. 23	Cup Series race at New Hampshire	New Hampshire Motor Speedway	3 p.m.	USA, Fubo
Aug. 29	Coke Zero Sugar 400	Daytona International Speedway	7:30 p.m.	NBC, Fubo

NASCAR Cup Series playoff race schedule 2026

(All times Eastern)

Date	Race	Track	Time	TV/Winner
Sept. 6	Southern 500	Darlington Raceway	5 p.m.	USA, Fubo
Sept. 13	Enjoy Illinois 300	World Wide Technology Raceway	3 p.m.	USA, Fubo
Sept. 19	Bass Pro Shops Night Race	Bristol Motor Speedway	7:30 p.m.	USA, Fubo
Sept. 27	Hollywood Casino 400	Kansas Speedway	3 p.m.	USA, Fubo
Oct. 4	South Point 400	Las Vegas Motor Speedway	5:30 p.m.	USA, Fubo
Oct. 11	Bank of America ROVAL 400	Charlotte Road Course	3 p.m.	USA, Fubo
Oct. 18	Freeway Insurance 500	Phoenix Raceway	3 p.m.	USA, Fubo
Oct. 25	Yellawood 500	Talladega Superspeedway	2 p.m.	NBC, Fubo
Nov. 1	Xfinity 500	Martinsville Speedway	2 p.m.	NBC, Fubo
Nov. 8	Cup Series Championship Race	Homestead-Miami Speedway	3 p.m.	NBC, Fubo

Barcelona booked their place in the Copa del Rey semifinals with a 2-1 victory over Albacete, and while it was far from a comfortable night, Hansi Flick walked away satisfied with both the result and the attitude shown by his players.

The manager was quick to explain just how demanding these knockout fixtures can be, particularly in the middle of a relentless run of matches. 

Barcelona were tested until the final minutes, but Flick felt his side showed the maturity required to navigate a tricky tie and ultimately deserved to go through.

Speaking after the match, Flick focused on the importance of simply getting the job done. 

“These are the games we have to win, we’re in the semifinals, and we’re happy,” he began, as quoted by MARCA.

More on the match

Flick expanded on the overall display, acknowledging the scare at the end while backing his team’s efforts throughout the match. 

He stressed that the workload Barcelona are currently dealing with must be taken into account.

“It was a difficult game. We had a lot of chances. I’m proud of the team because we play every three days. The team is always ready and always prepared. We deserved the win.”

One of the few critical points Flick raised was Barcelona’s lack of efficiency in front of goal. 

Despite creating numerous openings, the Blaugrana failed to put the game to bed earlier.

“When you play a Cup match, it’s always tough. We created a lot of chances, and we need to finish better. 

“In the end, it was very fair. It was a very even match, but we need to finish our moves better.”

Maintaining the momentum

Barcelona registered a hard-fought win. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The closing stages were tense, but Flick dismissed any suggestion that his players lost focus or composure. 

Instead, he once again highlighted their mentality in high-pressure situations. 

“We can’t say anything about the mentality or attitude. I liked my team, and these Cup games have to be won, so we’re happy.”

The packed calendar was another theme Flick returned to, pointing out how little recovery time his squad has had in recent days. 

He emphasised the physical and mental demands placed on the players, saying,

“We play every three days. First on Wednesday, then on Saturday, and today on Tuesday. In less than a week, we’ve played three games. The team is always there and ready.”

Substitutions and Araujo

Flick also made a point of praising those who came into the side from the bench, noting that rotation is unavoidable under such circumstances. 

On the substitutes, he said, “We made six changes, and that has to be taken into account. Some players who usually get fewer minutes did well.”

Finally, the Barcelona coach singled out Ronald Araujo, who found the net and played a key role despite still working his way back. 

Flick explained the importance of that goal for the defender’s confidence.

“He’s taking it step by step, that’s the important thing. The goal will help him gain confidence and feel better about himself. 

“We support him and we’re behind him. He was tired at the end, but he played a good game and scored an important goal for him and for us,” he concluded.

According to a recent report from SPORT, Fran Garcia seriously considered leaving Real Madrid during the January transfer window. 

The Spanish left-back was keen on a move after receiving interest from Bournemouth, but the Madrid hierarchy decided to shut the door on any potential departure.

It must be remembered that the Premier League side made enquiries last month, sensing an opportunity due to the defender’s lack of minutes. 

However, Real Madrid blocked the move, despite the player’s growing frustration.

Garcia was keen on the move

The report explains that Garcia was particularly attracted by the idea of reuniting with Andoni Iraola, who previously coached him at Rayo Vallecano. 

Under Iraola, Garcia enjoyed regular football and played some of the best football of his career. 

The opportunity to work with a coach who trusts him, combined with the promise of consistent minutes, made the Bournemouth option appealing.

Notably, since Alvaro Arbeloa took charge, Garcia’s role has diminished sharply. 

He was included in Arbeloa’s first match in charge against Albacete in the Copa del Rey, but was substituted after 64 minutes. 

Fran Garcia wanted to leave Real Madrid in January. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

That appearance proved to be a brief glimpse rather than a turning point, as Garcia has not featured in subsequent line-ups.

Disappointment is evident

Arbeloa has instead preferred other solutions, as even Eduardo Camavinga has been used ahead of Garcia at left-back. 

The situation has left Garcia watching from the bench, with academy players Jorge Cestero and David Jimenez even seeing more minutes than him.

To put things in perspective, Garcia enjoyed far more visibility under Xabi Alonso. 

In the 34 matches overseen by Alonso, the defender started 12 games and featured in 17 overall.

As such, Garcia still has a contract running until 2027, but his long-term future is far from secure. 

A summer exit cannot be ruled out if he formally asks to leave and the club decide to open the door. 

Much could also depend on whether Iraola remains in charge at Bournemouth, as his presence could once again make the Premier League a realistic and attractive destination.

Fenerbahce have confirmed the signing of France midfielder N'Golo Kante from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad.

The Frenchman's hopes of joining the Turkish club appeared to be over on Tuesday, when Fenerbahce released a statement blaming Al-Ittihad for the collapse of the the move.

Fenerbahce claimed Al-Ittihad failed to file the necessary paperwork to complete the transfer, which involves Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri moving in the opposite direction.

However, Fenerbahce confirmed on Wednesday that the issue had been resolved and that former Chelsea player Kante had joined the club after two and a half years in Saudi Arabia.

Kante, 34, joined Al-Ittihad from Chelsea in 2023, having won the Champions League, Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup with the London side.

He joined the Blues from Leicester City in 2016, having guided the Foxes to the Premier League trophy the previous season.

En-Nesyri, 28, is a replacement for former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who left the club earlier this week to join Saudi Pro rivals Al-Hilal.

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According to BILD journalist Tobi Altschäffl, Bayern Munich are planning to open a new academy in California, USA.

The Bavarian club intends to permanently lease space at the ‘Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center’ to have their own Campus there.

It's believed that this specific campus, if it becomes a reality, would be designed for U-15 and U-17 players specifically.

Since players of that age are not allowed to move to Germany, the new academy would allow Bayern to secure US based talents earlier.

Furthermore, developing said campus would also be intended to strengthen the Bundesliga side's ties with MLS side Los Angeles FC. 

Bayern formed a strategic partnership with LAFC in March 2023, creating a joint venture named "Red&Gold Football" based in Munich.

This 50/50 cooperation aims to develop young talent, provide professional pathways and expand international scouting in California.  

Paul Merson believes Wesley Fofana was crying after Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup because the Blues “didn’t give it a go.”

Chelsea were knocked out after losing the second leg of the semi final 1-0 at The Emirates on Tuesday evening, going out 4-2 on aggregate.

The Blues simply couldn’t find the breakthrough required, and struggled to create any meaningful chances throughout the 90 minutes.

Paul Merson claims Wesley Fofana was unhappy with Chelsea tactics

Liam Rosenior sprung somewhat of a surprise as he fielded a back five, and deployed Liam Delap on the right wing.

Reece James was missing from the squad completely along with Pedro Neto, whilst Cole Palmer and Estevao were both on the bench.

Fofana was visibly upset after Chelsea got knocked out of the Carabao Cup. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Chelsea’s tactics were clearly to stay in the game for as long as possible and then push for a goal in the second half.

Fofana was part of the backline which defended well and managed to stifle Arsenal for large parts, but it’s at the other end where the Blues struggled.

Even with the introduction of Palmer and Estevao, Chelsea still failed to fashion any meaningful opportunities, and Kai Havertz scored the only goal with the last kick of the game.

Fofana was seen in tears at full time, and Merson has claimed he would have been upset with Chelsea’s approach.

“You see Fofana there,” he told Sky Sports.

“He played well but he’s crying, as a player he’ll be in the dressing room and think you didn’t give it a go.

“We just got beaten and we didn’t give it a go.”

Chelsea face Wolves test on Saturday

The Blues will have to pick themselves up quickly from the disappointment of being knocked out, as they’ve got another game on Saturday.

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Chelsea head to bottom club Wolves, looking to make it four league wins in a row, and stay in the hunt for the Champions League qualification.

It will be interesting to see if Rosenior sticks with the back three, and how strong a team he fields, but it’s another must win game for the Blues.

Youssef En-Nesyri makes a move (official)

The Youssef En-Nesyri saga has finally come to an end. The Moroccan striker has left Fenerbahçe to join Al-Ittihad in a permanent transfer reportedly worth €15 million. The deal was sealed in the very last hours of the Saudi transfer window.

While the agreement between the two clubs had been in place for some time, an administrative hiccup related to another case cast some doubt. An error in document registration delayed the process, forcing the parties to appeal to FIFA. The verdict: En-Nesyri's transfer is approved, unlike that of N’Golo Kanté, whose situation had to be resolved separately.

In Jeddah, the Moroccan international has signed a contract until 2029. He arrives boasting an impressive record in a Fenerbahçe shirt: 38 goals and 8 assists in 79 appearances, underlining his reputation as a reliable attacking force.

Figure skating has traditionally been one of the most popular sports at the Winter Olympics and heading into the Milano Cortina Games Germany has a top pair - Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin - who could win a medal.

But that’s it.

Unlike other European countries like France and Italy – not to mention the figure skating power houses - the United States and Japan – except for pairs, Germany hasn't come close to a podium spot in decades.

In men’s figure skating, the country has only had a single Olympic gold medallist: Bavarian Manfred Schnelldorfer took the top prize at the Innsbruck Olympics – in 1964.

As for the women you have to go back some 40 years when Katarina Witt won her first Olympic gold in 1984 and repeated that in 1988, for East Germany.

The country has never won an Olympic medal of any colour in ice dance, which was introduced in the 1976 Games.

In fact for this Olympics, Germany is not even sending single skaters to Milan - because they did not perform well enough to earn a spot.

The last major German medals outside of pairs came 22 years ago at the world championships, when Stefan Lindemann and ice dancers Kati Winkler and René Lohse won bronze in Dortmund.

“Nothing is happening,” Schnelldorfer complained in an interview with dpa.

He says a lack of top-level trainers, poor financing, low coaching salaries and insufficient advertising have left the sport in the state it’s in.

Extremely high physical expectations

Part of the problem is that the technical level required to be an Olympic medallist has exploded, especially in men’s skating. When Schnelldorfer was skating in the 1960s only a few men could do a triple jump.

“I had a triple jump, but I didn’t risk using it in a championship,” Schnelldorfer said.

Today, with that level of skating, he would not even make it into the lower ranks. Top male skaters have to jump higher or spin faster – or both – to perform quadruple or quad jumps – and several at that.

There are six jumps in figure skating, but only US Wunderkind Ilia Malinin – the hands down favourite for gold in Milan - has performed all six quads – including the quad axel, the most difficult. And the 21-year-old phenomenon has hinted that he has nailed a “quint” or five revolution jump, which would be a first for the sport.

But every country has to compete with Malinin's magic and Germany is falling far behind, with skaters from Japan, France, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Switzerland and Italy in the top 10 International Skating Union (ISU) men's ranks. The top German is 35th.

Benjamin Blum, head of the Bavarian Figure Skating Federation and a former competitive ice dancer, said he watched the German national championships in January and called the standard there “abysmal.” The country has better skaters in the youth and junior categories, than at the senior level, he said.

Fredrich Dieck, president of the North Rhine Westphalia Figure Skating Association, agrees that the problem is not in the lower ranks.

'We have actually always had good success in the youth and junior sectors over the years. But at the moment, we are not bringing athletes up to the senior level. That is our big problem,” he told dpa.

The coaching factor

Top coaches can produce top skaters, many agree, but Germany has not been able to attract top international coaching talent, in part because the salaries are too low, most work on a freelance basis, sufficient ice time is difficult to come by and the system is too inflexible.

"Wherever ice skating is successful, there is always a strong team of coaches or a strong base, regardless of how it is structured,” says Martin Liebers, head of the Berlin Figure Skating Association.

Lack of major international skating centres

What also helps is training with top competitors, but no centre in Germany offers that for single skaters. While some point to the training centre in Oberstdorf, Blum says the Bavarian rink has changed since when he trained there in the 2000s.

“Back then when I was training, the ice was full of international athletes,” he says.

But today there are sometimes 40 skaters on the rink and high-level skaters cannot train under those conditions, he says.

Italy has several major centres and Canada has the top training facility for ice dancers where nearly all top 10 Olympic contenders train. German ice dancer Tim Dieck, who now competes for Spain, as he receives more support there, trains in Canada.

The money problem

German skating officials say they help skaters as much as they can but critics say the financing structure is rigid, funds are insufficient and athletes who want to train outside of Germany don't get the funding their competitors do who train abroad.

Jens ter Laak, sport director at the German Figure Skating Federation, says top skaters who train abroad can apply to “receive a subsidy to cover part of their costs. But of course we cannot finance the same things abroad as we do in Germany at our federal training facilities.”

The German school system

Another problem for German Olympic wannabes is the country’s school system – which requires children to physically be in class. In other countries online school or sometimes home schooling is available.

“We are stuck in our ways in Germany. Schools are simply not flexible enough,” says Dieck, whose son Tim competes for Spain.

The problem of puberty

Several skating leaders point to puberty as a turning point for many. There are masses of little girls who want to be the next Katarina Witt, but problems hit especially “between the ages of 12 and 15, which is usually decisive for reaching the world elite level,” says Berlin’s Liebers.

“There’s always a slump. Always.”

But girls go through puberty outside of Germany too – so what’s the key?

Flexibility – not a hallmark of the German system – says Blum. Pubescent kids “need special support during that time. It’s not okay to expect pubescent skaters to stick to rigid rules and say if you don't meet my expectations, you'll be kicked off the team.”

That, he says, just pushes kids out of the sport, since if they are dropped from a state or national team they do not get cheap ice time or coaching subsidies.

A different approach?

Some countries deal with the challenge by not focusing on the individual events.

"Countries with fewer resources are turning to dance and pairs, because individual events are almost impossible to compete in,” Xavier Cherta, general secretary of the Spanish Ice Sports Federation, told dpa.

Not a skating problem?

Maybe – at least if you listen to Germany’s men's Olympic champion – the problem is not with the sport at all.

“So much of what is wrong in Germany at the moment is that a [top] performance is almost frowned upon,” Schnelldorfer told dpa.

“Today's society is very strange, where achievement and work no longer count for anything. They are no longer important,” the champion skater says.

Whatever the factors, those involved are not willing to give up.
“We all love this sport,” says Blum. “We just want to see progress and we're not satisfied with being mediocre or not making it to the Olympics.”

NEW DELHI (AP) — The Twenty20 World Cup gets underway in India and Sri Lanka on Saturday. The smash-and-bash nature of this cricket format makes it very likely to unearth a few stars of the future.

Here are five names to watch out for:

Abhishek Sharma, India

The opening batter is already setting T20 alight with his powerful hitting from ball one. Sharma has the highest strike-rate in T20s – 194.74 – and is currently the No. 1-ranked T20 batter in the world.

Despite only playing cricket's shortest, sharpest format at international level, Sharma has quickly climbed the ladder for India. In 38 matches, he averages 37.05 and has already hit two hundreds and eight half-centuries – that’s a 50-plus score once every four times he goes to the crease. It sends a very clear warning to the opposition bowlers.

Sharma was player of the tournament in the 2025 Asia Cup – where he finished with a strike-rate of 200 and three successive half-centuries. It was his first taste of a multi-team tournament, beyond the Indian Premier League (IPL).

He first hit headlines matching Australia’s Travis Head stroke-for-stroke in the 2024 season, and has already climbed up the charts – fans line up to watch him bat. Undoubtedly, he holds the key to India’s ambition of defending its 2024 title.

Jacob Bethell, England

The 22-year-old allrounder got a taste of the fan experience during his time with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League last year. He played only two matches, but scored 55 off 33 balls on debut against Southern rivals Chennai Super Kings. Bengaluru won the game by two runs and Bethell has a big fan following in India now.

He proved his worth in the test arena with 154 against Australia in the Ashes series finale in Sydney – an innings that tied him to England’s short-term future across formats.

Bethell is suited to Indian conditions, owing to his attacking stroke play against spin and his ability to bowl decent left-arm spin. In England’s last match before the World Cup, he picked up 4-11 in 3.3 overs against Sri Lanka.

Dewald Brevis, South Africa

A quintessential franchise product, Brevis was signed by Mumbai Indians immediately after the 2022 Under-19 World Cup after he led the scoring for the Proteas. However, it wasn’t an IPL only deal.

Brevis was embedded within the MI ecosystem and went on to feature for the franchise across the world, gaining valuable experience. Later, he also became part of the MI Cape Town (SA20) and MI New York (MLC) franchises. In October 2022, at age 19, Brevis scored the highest T20 score in South Africa – 162 off 57 balls – and was nicknamed ‘Baby AB’ after ex-Proteas star AB de Villiers.

All of it proved too much for Brevis, though, and his development was stunted. So much so, MI dropped him from the IPL squad ahead of the 2025 auction. He returned to South Africa's domestic cricket scene, focused on the basics of scoring runs and fought his way back to prominence.

Chennai Super Kings took a gamble on him during the 2025 IPL as an injury replacement. He hit 57 off 23 balls, including five sixes, against Gujarat Titans and was player of the match. It cemented his spot in the Chennai squad for the near future, and cricket fans await his return to action at this T20 World Cup.

Noor Ahmad, Afghanistan

Following in the footsteps of compatriot Rashid Khan, the left-arm wrist spinner is already in high demand across T20 leagues. Along with r epresenting Afghanistan at the international level, he has also featured in T20 leagues in India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, the U.S., Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Australia, England and the West Indies – all before his turning 22.

With nearly 200 T20s behind him, Ahmad will be a handful in spin-friendly conditions both in India and Sri Lanka. His exposure to batters across the world can also be a handicap, but the left-arm angle and his mystery wrist spin is often difficult to read.

For this reason, Chennai Super Kings had paid around US$1.2 million to secure his services. Small evidence to his growing stature is the fact that Ahmad has out-bowled even Rashid Khan in the IPL for the past two seasons – he picked 32 wickets to Khan’s 17. Together, the duo is certain to cause trouble for Afghanistan’s opponents at this T20 World Cup.

Finn Allen, New Zealand

At the start of his career, Allen struggled with consistency. It is tough for an explosive batter in the T20 arena. With time, though, he has got on top of this aspect. It resulted in the third-highest tally of sixes in a T20 international innings – 16 against Pakistan in 2024 — as Allen scored 137 off 62 balls.

That knock re-calibrated Allen’s career – he has since gone on to feature in various T20 leagues across the world. Most recently, he amassed 466 runs for Perth Scorchers in Australia's Big Bash League at strike-rate 184 and powered them to a record sixth title.

Days later, he landed in India and played in the fifth T20 for New Zealand, smashing 80 off 36 balls with six sixes. New Zealand lost that game but Allen set his path straight for the upcoming world tournament. For the Black Caps to win a first T20 title, Allen’s hitting prowess will be key.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Curling scoring, explained: A guide to understanding the rules, terms and Olympic points system originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

One of the best parts of the Olympics is that every couple of years, you end up watching a sport you aren’t very familiar with --  one that isn’t typically televised.

Every four years, when the Winter Olympics return, viewers are reintroduced to curling. This fan-favorite event takes elements of ice hockey, bowling and shuffleboard and combines them into a game that mixes strategy and skill with some downright silliness if you aren’t used to it.

A person sliding the stone down the ice is easy enough to comprehend, but when the sweepers begin vigorously brushing the ice in front of it to help guide the stone without touching it, that’s when most of the excitement -- and confusion -- begins.

Here is everything you need to know about curling at the Olympics.

MORE: Day-to-day TV schedule for 2026 Olympics

How does curling scoring work?

While the curling scoreboard can look confusing, it’s actually easy to understand. Think of it like a baseball scoreboard: only one team can score in an inning, but in curling, an inning is called an “end.” Points are awarded based on how many stones a team gets closer to the center of the target than their opponents. The minimum score for an end is zero, while the maximum is four, though both of those scores are rare.

How to score points in curling?

Points are scored in curling by the stones landing the closest to the center of the target on the opposite end of the ice called the house and the tee. Only one team can score a point in each end, and there are up to 10 ends in a match unless overtime is needed. The team whose stone is the closest to the center of the target, a.k.a the tee, will earn a point. The winning team will get an additional point for each of their stones that are closer to the tee than their opponents. Only stones inside the house, the blue circle of the house and inward, are counted toward the scoring. 

Curling scoring chart

Curling scoring charts can vary depending on the level of competition, but in the Olympics, it looks like a baseball scoreboard. Across the top, you will see "end," and then numbers 1-10, and then "total." The two teams will be stacked on the far left, and then their scores at each end will be tallied. 

Scoring the match

Each curling match will be made up of 10 ends. In each end, each team will throw eight stones. The caveat is that only one team is eligible to score in each end. The object of the game is to slide a stone down the ice and to land at the center of the target. The interior of the red circle is called a "tee."

The team whose stone gets closest to the tee wins that end. Next, that team can accrue one point per each of their other stones that are closest to the tee than the opponent's closest stone. Only stones within the "house" are counted, and that is the area from the outside of the blue ring to the tee. 

Part of the game's etiquette includes conceding early. A team may concede a match if they are losing and feel they are too far behind to come back. You'll know this happens when the scoreboard looks like it does in the image below. The USA beat the ROC 9-3 after seven ends were played, and the ROC felt that they wouldn't be able to make up the distance over the final three ends, so they conceded. 

MORE: Latest updates on Lindsey Vonn after Olympic tune up crash

Curling rules for beginners

Below, we answer some of the most common questions for those new to curling. 

What does sweeping do in curling?

Curling gets its name from the direction that the stone can take. When the stone is delivered, it can be curled so that it curves one direction or another. Sweeping in curling helps to slow the curl and will help the stone's distance. 

Sweeping can be done by either team. The team delivering the stone will sweep it toward the house and tee to try to score points. Once it has connected with another stone, the opposing team can then sweep the stone to try to get it to slide out of the house, or further away from the tee so that points can't be scored. 

😱 When you have Yumi Suzuki, sometimes you only need one sweeper.

📺: @Sportsnet | #curling#GSOC 🥌 pic.twitter.com/0PJlj0l31E

— Grand Slam of Curling (@grandslamcurl) April 23, 2021

Who gets the hammer in curling?

"The hammer" refers to the team that will be throwing the last shot in an end.  

To determine which team will have the hammer in the first end, a process known as Last Stone Draw (LSD) takes place. "Before each match, two players from each team deliver two stones to the target (house). Teams with the shortest average distance to the centre of the target win the hammer in the first end," per the Olympics rules.

From then on, the hammer’s possession alternates until the end of the match. Teams that lose an end receive the hammer in the next end.

Positions on a curling team

A curling team is typically made up of four people: the Lead, the Second, the Vice and the Skip.

The Lead is the person who delivers the team's first two stones. They will also sweep the remaining stones in the end. The Second delivers the team's third and fourth stones, and will sweep for the lead's stones, and any stones after the fourth.

The Vice, a.k.a the Vice Skip, delivers the team's fifth and sixth stones. The Vice will be a sweeper for the first four stones, and then holds the broom for the Skip's stones. 

The Skip delivers the team's last two stones. They are considered the captain of the team and call the shots for the game. Generally, the Skip does not sweep. 

MORE: Lindsey Vonn injury timeline

Curling terms and what they mean

Here is a list of common curling terms that you may hear while watching the sport. 

Back line: The line at the back of the house. Stones completely beyond the line are out of play. When looking down the ice, you'll see that the side of the house furthest from the thrower has a line after it. 

Biter: A stone just touching the outer edge of the house. Any stone touching the edge of the house is eligible for scoring. 

Blank end: An end in which no points are scored. This is a rare outcome as all eight stones will have had to miss the house. 

Bonspiels (BAHN-shpeel): This is the technical term of a curling tournament. 

Brick: A slang term for the last stone of an end. This is also known as the hammer. 

Broom: An item used to sweep the ice.

Burned: When a rock is removed from play because of an infraction. It is known as a "burned rock.” Penalties do exist in curling, but they get a little more advanced than the basics of the sport. 

Button: The one-foot circle at the center of the house that is typically interchanged with pin and tee. 

Center line: The line splitting the length of the ice lane.

Counter: This is just the general term for a stone in the house. It is eligible to be counted for score. 

Curl: The curve the stone makes as it travels down the ice.

Delivery: The motion of the person releasing the stone (the curler) as the stone is being shot.

Double takeout: A takeout shot that clears two opposing stones from the house. Part of the strategy in curling is knocking opposing stones out of the scoring area. 

Draw: A scoring shot. It is designed to stop inside or in front of the house.

Draw Shot Challenge: The calculation made by taking the average distance of the Last Stone Draws (LSD), excluding the least favorable LSD, and used, if required, to assist in the determination of ranking after a round robin.

End: Similar to an inning of baseball. One end is complete when all 16 rocks – two per person, eight per team – have been shot. The score is determined at the conclusion of each end. Games are made up of 10 ends.

Extra end: An additional end played to break a tie at the end of regulation.

Free guard zone: The area between the hogline and the house. During the first four stones of an end, no stone in this area may be removed from play by the opposition.

Freeze: A form of a draw that stops in front of and next to another stone.

Fourth: The player who shoots fourth for a team in each end. Normally, the person who shoots fourth is the skip. This term is only used if that person is not the skip. Teams technically can vary their shooting order.

Guard: A stone between the hog line and the house used to prevent the opposition from hitting a rock in the house.

Hack: The rubber foothold where curlers begin their delivery. It is located 125 feet from the center of the house.

Hammer: The last stone shot in each end.

Handle: The rotation applied to the stone upon release.

Hit-and-roll: Generally, a shot designed to take out an opponent’s stone and then roll the shot stone to a designated spot. It also is possible to play a hit-and-roll off the team’s own stone.

Hog: A stone that fails to reach the far hog line and is removed from play automatically.

Hog line: The line behind which a player must release a stone. It is located 21 feet from the tee. If a stone does not travel beyond the far hog line, it is removed from play.

House: The circular scoring area that resembles a target.

Last stone draw: A contest conducted before every round-robin game in which each team delivers a single stone to the tee, or “pin,” at the home end. The resulting distance is measured and can be used to determine which team has the choice of delivering the first or second stone in the first end.

Lead: The first player who shoots for a team in each end

Pebble: The droplets of water applied to a sheet of ice before a game. They freeze and reduce friction between the stone and the ice.

Port: The space between two lying stones, large enough for another to pass through.

Power play: A play exclusive to mixed doubles curling that can be used once per game in regulation ends by each team. When a power play is used, the in-house stone, which belongs to the team with the last stone in that end, is placed with the back edge of the stone touching the tee line, at the point where the 8-foot and 12-foot circles meet. The guard stone is positioned to the same side of the sheet, the same distance that was determined for the center guards. 

Raise: A type of draw that knocks another rock into the house.

Rings: Another term for the house.

Rink: Another name for a curling team. It is made up of four players: the lead, the second, the third and the skip.

Rock: Also known as a stone. Curling stones are made of a rare, dense granite that is quarried on Scotland’s Ailsa Craig. The stones weigh, on average, 19.1 kg (42 pounds) and are polished.

Second: The player who shoots second for a team in each end.

Sheet: The playing area. It is 44.5 meters (146 feet) long and allows play in both directions.

Shot rock: At any time during an end, the stone that is closest to the tee.

Skip: The leader of a curling team. They direct the team’s strategy and shot selection and typically hold a broom as a target for the other three players to shoot at. They usually shoot last.

Steal: To score in an end when not shooting the last stone (i.e. the hammer).

Takeout: A type of shot that removes another stone from play.

Tee: The center of the house. Scoring is determined by which stone is closest to the tee. Also commonly referred to as the “pin.”

Thinking time: The allotted time each team has for a game. Each team's clock begins after the opposing team's shot is considered complete and stops once the next stone is delivered. Essentially, the clock only runs when your team is thinking about their strategy for their next shot.

Third: The player who shoots third in each end. The third is often known as the Vice or the Vice-skip. 

Vice-skip: The person who stands in the house and directs the game when the skip is shooting. When the skip shoots, the vice-skip holds the broom as the target. The vice-skip often is the third.

Wide: A stone delivered outside the intended line. 

MORE: Updates on Olympics host Savannah Guthrie's missing mother

When did curling become an Olympic sport

Curling first appeared at the Winter Olympics in 1924, in Chamonix, France. Largely curling was used as a demonstration sport, and was only seen in 1932, 1988 and 1992. In 2006, the results from the 1924 Olympics were deemed official, so technically, curling became an Olympic sport in 1924.

After decades of limited appearances as a demonstration event, curling was reinstated as an official Olympic event in 1998. Since 1998, curling has been included in every iteration of the winter Olympics. 

Manchester United Women have had a very busy January.

Moves

The Red Devils advanced to the final of the League Cup and the fifth round of the FA Cup.

They also moved up to second place in the Women’s Super League table.

Marc Skinner’s side also completed the signing of Lea Schuller and Swedish duo Hanna Lundkvist and Ellen Wangerheim.

Hannah Blundell, Lucy Newell and Emma Watson went the other way to various loan clubs to gain more first-team experience, while Rachel Williams and Geyse left the club permanently.

Last move

18-year-old Mared Griffiths was the last United Women player to make a move in the winter window as she sealed a loan switch to Sunderland.

The Manchester United club website reported that, “Mared Griffiths has signed for Sunderland Women, on a loan deal until the end of the 2025/26 season.”

The site also added that, “it’s a first spell away from United for the 18-year-old midfielder, who signed her maiden professional contract with the club last summer.”

Griffiths impressively scored twice on her debut last season away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup.

Sunderland also commented on the move, stating on their club website that, “SAFC Women is delighted to announce the signing of Mared Griffiths on loan from Manchester United until the end of the 2025-26 season.”

Sunderland Head Coach Mel Reay said, “we’re delighted to add Mared to our squad for the rest of the season. She’s an exciting, attacking young player who’s ready to take the next step into senior football and we hope we can help her to do that while allowing her to contribute effectively to our team.”

Sunderland and Griffiths will host Sheffield United in the Women’s Super League 2 on Friday evening.

Featured image Naomi Baker via Getty Images

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Collin Gillespie scored a career-high 30 points, Mark Williams had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns bounced back from a slow start for a 130-125 win over the reeling Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

Grayson Allen also scored 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting and Jordan Goodwin had 16 points and 10 rebounds on a night when the Suns played without leading scorer Devin Booker (25.4 points per game), who was out with a right ankle sprain. Jalen Green was also out of the Suns' lineup.

Gillespie tied a career high with eight made 3-pointers and also had 10 assists.

Jerami Grant had 23 points to lead Portland, which lost its sixth straight game. Donovan Clingan had 14 points and 15 rebounds. Shaedon Sharpe added 19 points for Portland.

The Trail Blazers also played without their leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, Deni Avdija (25.5 points per game), who has a lower back strain and was just named to his first All-Star game.

Vit Krejci had five points in his Portland debut after being acquired in a trade with Atlanta.

Portland jumped to a 41-30 lead after one quarter but Phoenix pulled within 72-67 at halftime. The Suns took control by outscoring the Blazers 34-22 in the third quarter.

Williams’ layup with 3:55 left in the third quarter put the Suns ahead for good at 88-87.

The Trail Blazers turned the ball over 17 times, six more times than the Suns.

Up next

Suns: Return home to play Golden State on Thursday night.

Trail Blazers: Host Memphis on Friday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Big changes coming to Liverpool centre-back department

Liverpool are expected to conduct some central defensive departures too - with it looking likely that Ibrahima Konate will now leave on a free transfer in light of all these changes.

We may well see Joe Gomez leave as well - considering he is out of contract in 2027 and surplus to requirements when everyone is fit and available.

The main worry about all of these reshuffles is that the Premier League champions may be left short on experienced defenders.

Liverpool linked with 300k-per-week Upamecano

Virgil van Dijk is of course contracted until 2027 but he would be playing alongside up-and-coming prospects if all these deals go ahead as planned.

Getting an experienced defender in beside him may well have been a prudent move - especially one that could move on a free. That’s why links with Dayot Upamecano made sense.

Like Konate the Frenchman is out of contract at Bayern Munich in summer 2026 and the target of many top European clubs.

Fabrizio Romano confirms Upamecano contract decision

With wage demands topping £300k per week this would not be a cheap deal by any means and right now it looks like Liverpool have lost out.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that Upamecano, 27, has now agreed to sign a new four-year deal at Bayern - extending his stay at the club to 2030 - and chasing teams are well aware.

“Dayot Upamecano approves new deal at Bayern, clubs interested are informed!” he wrote on X.

“He’s set to sign new contract soon at FC Bayern, happy to stay as huge boost for the club after big efforts from club and player side to make it happen.

“It will be valid until 2030.”

Upamecano was set to be among the most coveted free agents of the 2026 window - with teams like Liverpool and Real Madrid chasing his signature.

He looks set to pledge his future to Bayern however after the latest development. Barring a last-minute hitch he will be staying in the Bundesliga.

Several Italian clubs enquired to sign Manchester United star Harry Maguire in the winter transfer window. 

But the Red Devils were not ready to part with their centre-back and rejected their approaches, according to Fabrizio Romano. 

Maguire is currently one of the club’s highest earners, with a weekly salary of around £200k. 

INEOS have been trying to reduce United’s massive wage bill, with Casemiro leaving in the summer after not being offered a new contract. 

Maguire has been an important first-team player at Old Trafford this season, despite the club having Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Ayden Heaven on their books. 

He has made 13 appearances in all competitions and seven starts in the Premier League, with three direct goal contributions to his name. 

Maguire came to United in 2019 in a deal worth around £80 million. Since his arrival, he has made 259 appearances and scored 17 goals, helping his team win an FA Cup and a League Cup. 

The England international is an experienced defender, whose aerial ability makes him a huge threat from set-pieces. He is highly rated for his composure on the ball and leadership qualities. 

But Maguire is now on the wrong side of 30 and lacks required pace and mobility. 

However, United may still hand the centre-back a new contract if he agrees to take a major pay cut.

Stats from Transfermarkt

Boston Celtics (32-18, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (31-17, fourth in the Western Conference)

Houston; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rockets -5.5; over/under is 216.5

BOTTOM LINE: Houston heads into a matchup with Boston as winners of three straight games.

The Rockets have gone 17-4 in home games. Houston scores 116.0 points and has outscored opponents by 6.0 points per game.

The Celtics are 16-10 on the road. Boston ranks second in the league averaging 15.5 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 36.7% from downtown. Derrick White leads the team averaging 2.8 makes while shooting 32.0% from 3-point range.

The 116.0 points per game the Rockets average are 7.1 more points than the Celtics allow (108.9). The Celtics average 15.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.4 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Rockets give up.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Rockets won 128-101 in the last meeting on Nov. 2. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 26 points, and Baylor Scheierman led the Celtics with 17 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Amen Thompson is averaging 18.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals for the Rockets. Durant is averaging 24.4 points over the last 10 games.

Jaylen Brown is averaging 29.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 16.6 points and 4.5 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 8-2, averaging 111.3 points, 49.2 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 9.4 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.0 points per game.

Celtics: 7-3, averaging 113.2 points, 46.8 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.7 points.

INJURIES: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Kevin Durant: day to day (ankle), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Dorian Finney-Smith: out (ankle).

Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles), Chris Boucher: day to day (personal).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Oklahoma City Thunder (40-11, first in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (33-16, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Thunder -2; over/under is 225.5

BOTTOM LINE: Western Conference foes San Antonio and Oklahoma City square off on Wednesday.

The Spurs are 19-13 in Western Conference games. San Antonio scores 116.9 points and has outscored opponents by 5.0 points per game.

The Thunder are 30-7 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City is seventh in the Western Conference with 25.5 assists per game led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 6.4.

The Spurs average 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 fewer makes per game than the Thunder allow (14.5). The Thunder average 13.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 more makes per game than the Spurs allow.

The teams meet for the fifth time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 14 the Thunder won 119-98 led by 34 points from Gilgeous-Alexander, while Stephon Castle scored 20 points for the Spurs.

TOP PERFORMERS: De'Aaron Fox is averaging 19.8 points and 6.2 assists for the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama is averaging 23.6 points over the last 10 games.

Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.8 points and 6.4 assists for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 6-4, averaging 112.2 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 6.3 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.0 points per game.

Thunder: 6-4, averaging 116.8 points, 42.8 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 8.3 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.0 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: Stephon Castle: day to day (adductor), Lindy Waters III: day to day (knee), Jeremy Sochan: out (quad).

Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: out (hip), Nikola Topic: out (groin), Jalen Williams: out (thigh), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Denver Nuggets (33-18, third in the Western Conference) vs. New York Knicks (32-18, second in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Knicks -5; over/under is 226.5

BOTTOM LINE: New York hosts Denver trying to extend its four-game home winning streak.

The Knicks are 20-6 on their home court. New York is sixth in the Eastern Conference with 27.0 assists per game led by Jalen Brunson averaging 6.0.

The Nuggets have gone 19-8 away from home. Denver is 6-7 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Knicks are shooting 47.1% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 46.7% the Nuggets allow to opponents. The Nuggets average 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 fewer makes per game than the Knicks give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 19.8 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 19.2 points over the last 10 games.

Jamal Murray is scoring 25.6 points per game and averaging 4.3 rebounds for the Nuggets. Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 113.4 points, 49.0 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 8.3 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.8 points per game.

Nuggets: 5-5, averaging 109.2 points, 40.6 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 7.0 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.3 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Josh Hart: day to day (undisclosed), Mohamed Diawara: day to day (ankle), Miles McBride: day to day (ankle).

Nuggets: Cameron Johnson: out (knee), Tamar Bates: out (foot), Aaron Gordon: out (hamstring).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Washington Wizards (13-36, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (37-12, first in the Eastern Conference)

Detroit; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Detroit hosts Washington looking to extend its three-game home winning streak.

The Pistons have gone 23-6 against Eastern Conference teams. Detroit is fourth in the NBA with 13.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Jalen Duren averaging 3.8 offensive boards.

The Wizards are 8-20 in Eastern Conference play. Washington averages 15.2 turnovers per game and is 7-6 when turning the ball over less than opponents.

The Pistons average 11.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.7 fewer makes per game than the Wizards allow (13.8). The Wizards are shooting 45.7% from the field, 1.6% higher than the 44.1% the Pistons' opponents have shot this season.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pistons won 137-135 in overtime in the last matchup on Nov. 11.

TOP PERFORMERS: Duren is averaging 18 points and 10.7 rebounds for the Pistons. Cade Cunningham is averaging 19.7 points over the last 10 games.

Bub Carrington is shooting 40.0% and averaging 10.1 points for the Wizards. Tre Johnson is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 8-2, averaging 117.0 points, 43.4 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 11.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points per game.

Wizards: 3-7, averaging 110.0 points, 43.3 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 9.8 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.1 points.

INJURIES: Pistons: Kevin Huerter: day to day (back), Dario Saric: day to day (not injury related).

Wizards: Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (hamstring), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Tre Johnson: day to day (ankle), Trae Young: out (quad).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Utah Jazz (16-35, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (25-27, ninth in the Eastern Conference)

Atlanta; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks host Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz in non-conference action.

The Hawks have gone 9-14 in home games. Atlanta is the league leader with 30.7 assists per game led by Johnson averaging 8.0.

The Jazz are 6-18 in road games. Utah ranks eighth in the Western Conference with 43.7 rebounds per game led by Jusuf Nurkic averaging 10.2.

The Hawks are shooting 47.3% from the field this season, 1.9 percentage points lower than the 49.2% the Jazz allow to opponents. The Jazz are shooting 46.8% from the field, 0.8% lower than the 47.6% the Hawks' opponents have shot this season.

The teams meet for the second time this season. In the last meeting on Nov. 14 the Hawks won 132-122 led by 32 points from Onyeka Okongwu, while Markkanen scored 40 points for the Jazz.

TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is scoring 23.2 points per game with 10.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Hawks. CJ McCollum is averaging 18.7 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 48.0% over the past 10 games.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Jazz. Keyonte George is averaging 18.9 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 48.0% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 5-5, averaging 113.7 points, 44.4 rebounds, 28.9 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.6 points per game.

Jazz: 2-8, averaging 113.9 points, 41.0 rebounds, 30.9 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.9 points.

INJURIES: Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu: day to day (face), Kristaps Porzingis: day to day (illness), N'Faly Dante: out for season (knee), Duop Reath: out for season (foot).

Jazz: Kevin Love: day to day (illness), Keyonte George: day to day (ankle), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), John Konchar: day to day (neck).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Philadelphia 76ers (29-21, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (30-19, fifth in the Western Conference)

Los Angeles; Thursday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Philadelphia will attempt to build upon its five-game win streak with a victory over Los Angeles.

The Lakers are 12-8 in home games. Los Angeles is eighth in the Western Conference with 25.1 assists per game led by Luka Doncic averaging 8.7.

The 76ers are 14-8 on the road. Philadelphia is 11-17 against opponents with a winning record.

The Lakers score 116.3 points per game, 1.0 more point than the 115.3 the 76ers allow. The 76ers' 46.0% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.5 percentage points lower than the Lakers have allowed to their opponents (48.5%).

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Lakers won 112-108 in the last matchup on Dec. 8.

TOP PERFORMERS: Doncic is scoring 33.4 points per game with 7.9 rebounds and 8.7 assists for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 20.5 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 49.7% over the past 10 games.

Tyrese Maxey is averaging 28.9 points, 6.8 assists and two steals for the 76ers. Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 6-4, averaging 115.6 points, 41.1 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.3 points per game.

76ers: 7-3, averaging 117.0 points, 42.4 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 10.1 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.8 points.

INJURIES: Lakers: Adou Thiero: out (knee).

76ers: Joel Embiid: out (injury management).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Former college basketball coach Bruce Weber joined Fox 2 Sports Director Martin Kilcoyne on the Sports Final set on Tuesday, February 3rd. Weber the former Illinois head coach led the Illini to the NCAA Championship game in 2005. He also coached at SIUC and Kansas State during his career compiling 497 wins during his college coaching career. Weber now works in television as a basketball analyst for the Big Ten Network. Among the topics Coach Weber and Martin discussed: the Illini’s strong season so far, the Billikens and their chances at making the NCAA post season tournament and how NIL has changed college basketball.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.

NEW DELHI (AP) — India will be chasing a third Twenty20 World Cup title when the 2026 edition, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, gets underway Saturday.

The defending champion I ndia squad will be in action on opening day, taking on the U.S. team at Mumbai. Sri Lanka will play its first game against Ireland in Colombo on Sunday.

The tournament will feature 20 teams divided into four groups of five. The group stage will run until Feb. 20. The playoffs will start with the Super Eights stage from Feb. 21-March 1, followed by semifinals on March 4 and 5 and the championship decider on March 8.

No host nation has ever won the men’s T20 World Cup, nor has any team lifted the trophy three times (West Indies and England are also two-time champions) — India is aiming to change history on both counts. Here’s what to know:

India’s title defense

India won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 in South Africa and then had to wait another 17 years to lift the trophy again. That drought ended in 2024, when Rohit Sharma led his squad to victory over the Proteas in the final at Barbados.

India's longtime stars Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retired from the T20 format in international cricket following that victory. Now, under Suryakumar Yadav, the defending champions are chasing a repeat performance on home soil.

India has won every T20 series it has contested in the last two years, including victories against South Africa and Australia away from home, as well as the Asia Cup last year in the United Arab Emirates.

India is placed in Group A with the United States, Namibia, Netherlands and archrival Pakistan. There's been a doubt over the high profile India-Pakistan contest – a fixture highlight in International Cricket Council tournaments – which is scheduled for Feb. 15 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The Pakistan government has refused permission for its national team to play against India in response to the ICC’s refusal to accommodate Bangladesh's request for venue changes. The result was Scotland replacing Bangladesh in the tournament.

There's a lengthy history of political tension overshadowing high profile cricket between the neighboring countries.

If Pakistan forfeits the game, it gives India a relatively trouble-free pathway to the playoff stage.

Sri Lanka's home advantage

Since the 2024 T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka has played 32 T20s and lost about half of them. Even on home soil, it has only beaten West Indies and also lost to England in the build-up to this tournament.

Yet there's history of Sri Lanka lifting for the big limited-overs tournaments and, for starters, it helps to be playing all games in familiar conditions either at Colombo or Pallekele.

The 2014 champions are placed in Group B with Ireland, Oman, Zimbabwe and 2021 champions Australia.

Getting out of this group is the first objective, but the real challenge will begin afterward. In the second round, Sri Lanka could face Pakistan, New Zealand and England — it has won only five of 16 games against these three teams since 2024.

Sri Lanka will count on spinners Wanindu Hasranga and Maheesh Theekshana to bolster its chances, with Matheesha Pathirana leading the pace attack. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis will have to carry much of the batting load.

Between 2009 and 2014, Sri Lanka reached three T20 World Cup finals, finally winning the title in the last of those with a victory over India in Dhaka. It was the final T20 game for star players Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena, and Sri Lanka is yet to scale similar lofty heights again.

The Favorites

Ranked No. 1 in the ICC T20 rankings, India is the obvious favorite for the title.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir may not have had much success recently in the test or one-day international formats, but his T20 plans have mostly all worked out well.

Abhishek Sharma has become a fan favorite in the absence of Sharma and Kohli. The big-hitting opener is already filling stadiums as fans line up to watch his skills. The No. 1-ranked T20 batter will be key to India’s ambitions for the title.

“He’s a star. He can be the leading run-scorer and potentially player of the tournament,” analyst and former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said on the ICC Review podcast.

“If he does, that makes India even harder to beat. If he doesn’t, they are as vulnerable as anybody else.”

Skipper Yadav also regained form in the recent series against New Zealand, while Ishan Kishan has provided fresh impetus to the batting at No. 3. In the bowling department, Harshit Rana is a shoe-in with his all-round skills, while mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy – also the No. 1-ranked T20 bowler – will be hard to handle on home pitches.

T20 veterans Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya – who both played crucial roles in India’s grand final win at Barbados – will once again play important roles for India. Potentially, it could be Bumrah’s last T20 World Cup.

___

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

It is difficult to hide from the cameras when you are as box office as Louis Rees-Zammit, even when you are among 70,000 spectators.

And sure enough, he was picked out among the Principality Stadium crowd when Wales suffered a 10-try drubbing by England during last year's Six Nations.

Rees-Zammit was chasing his NFL dream at the time, before returning to rugby union in the summer.

"Obviously it wasn't a great watch, especially against England and losing in that manner," he said on Sarra Elgan's Six Nations 2026 Preview.

But this weekend, Bristol's flying full-back will have more of a say as he and his Wales team-mates prepare to take on the old enemy at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

• Six Nations preview & BBC pundit predictions
• State of play for Wales' clubs before Six Nations

A Twickenham first

It will actually be a first for Rees-Zammit, who at 25 has already played in three Six Nations, a World Cup and toured with the British and Irish Lions.

But he has never run out for Wales at Twickenham.

"We played Quins there for Bristol a couple of months back and that was unbelievable, the crowd was insane," he said.

"I'm looking forward to it, it's the first game as well. It's kind of the unknown with Wales – what have we done to bring a more consistent performance from the autumn to now?

"All of the boys are raring to go. There's no bigger game than Wales England."

A clean slate for Wales

It is fair to say Welsh fans are not carrying a great deal of hope into this year's Championship, especially after record defeats in the autumn.

You have to go all the way back to March 2023 to find Wales' most recent Six Nations success, in a match against Italy.

But with Steve Tandy leading Wales in the Six Nations for the first time, Rees-Zammit says this year feels like a fresh start.

"It's like a new team coming together. When you get new coaching staff and different ideas, it feels like everyone freshens up and starts from scratch," he said.

"In parts, we put in some good performances in the autumn, it's just about doing it consistently for a full 80 minutes."

Rees-Zammit also recognises with the 2027 World Cup fast approaching, Wales are playing catch-up with the other nations.

"We've got to continue to work hard and try and accelerate this process as quick as possible," he said.

"We've got some real quality in our team, you've just got to bring the best out of each and every player."

Full-time full-back

Rees-Zammit's pace and power have seen him flourish at full-back at Bristol, while Wales Tandy also sees "high potential" for him there.

"I love it. It allows me to get more touches on the ball in open field, it suits my game," Rees-Zammit said.

"I much prefer it. I've played 15 in the past for Wales, but I think now I'm kind of seen as a 15 that can play on the wing.

"It just brings something different and the way Bristol play is absolutely perfect for me.

"I've got the licence to not do what I want, but when I've got the ball back there I have to make a decision and back myself."

Rugby needs personalities

As a poster boy of world rugby, Rees-Zammit's return to the Six Nations is not only a boost for Wales, but for fans and media alike.

"I try to not focus on that," Rees-Zammit said.

"Everything that I've had off the field has come from my skills in rugby, and obviously going to America brought a new audience, but it's all about performance.

"You've got Henry Pollock going through the same thing, he's burst on to the scene and is playing unbelievably."

And while England's Pollock ruffles a few feathers, Rees-Zammit believes it is for the good of the game.

"You've got to try and bring your personality out when it comes to rugby, because a lot of it gets shut down," he added.

"Henry is doing a great job of bringing his personality to the game and we need more people like that, it'll just grow the sport.

"He obviously gets stick for it, and I got stick for it when I was younger, but you just go through it."

You can watch Sarra Elgan's Six Nations 2026 Preview at 19:00 on Wednesday, 4 February on BBC One Wales and iPlayer.

Craig Kessler, in his still newish role as LPGA commissioner, already has steered some big and impactful decisions for his tour: brokering a new broadcast deal; forging partnerships that will put more money in his players’ pockets; affixing the LPGA adjacent to Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s indoor golf league, TGL.

But last Sunday presented Kessler, who is 40, with a different kind of business challenge: how best to determine the outcome of the LPGA season’s opener, in real time and with the eyes of the golf world (and fingers of golf Twitter) squarely on him. Complicating matters further: Kessler wasn’t on site at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona in Orlando — he was 1,000 miles away, at home in Dallas, frantically trying to keep up with reports from the ground. “On the phone, reading materials from sunup until sundown,” Kessler told GOLF.com in an interview Tuesday. “Constantly trying to source as much information as possible in order to make an informed decision.”

That information — about the evolving course conditions, unseasonably cold weather and logistical concerns around pushing the event to a Monday finish — was coming from a variety of sources: Kessler’s deputies, tournament and rules officials, players and caddies, the grounds crew, even marketing partners. But ultimately the decision about whether to shorten the event to 54 holes and declare world No. 2 Nelly Korda the winner without her striking a single shot Sunday sat in Kessler’s lap.

“One of the tougher calls I’ve had to make in my six months with the LPGA,” he said. “No matter what we decided, there would be some who understood it and respected it, and others who didn’t. The questioning was there from the beginning.”

***

That second-guessing centered around whether the Tom Fazio-designed course, which awoke to below-freezing temperatures Sunday morning was playable for such a high-level tournament — or, more to the point, whether it would become playable as the day progressed and the mercury crept out of the 20s and into the 40s. When Amy Yang, one of eight players who didn’t complete their third rounds Saturday, arrived on property Sunday to prepare for the 10 a.m. resumption of Round 3 she said the greens were “frozen” and “unplayable.”

Ricki Lasky, who is the LPGA’s chief tour business and operations office, added: “What we found was when we got on site and talked to several of the players when they were warming up was that the grounds was really hard and it was changing the trajectory of their shots as they were practicing. The balls were releasing when they weren’t supposed to be so, so we pushed back [starting times].”

Reasonable minds might counter that contending with the elements — assuming water isn’t pooling or wind isn’t blowing balls off greens — is central to the game, but Laski and her team didn’t like what they were seeing and hearing.

The start was pushed from 10 a.m. local time to 11 a.m. . . . then noon . . . then 1 p.m. . . . before the LPGA finally settled on 2:15 p.m., by which point there was not enough daylight remaining to complete both Rounds 3 and 4.

Many observers noted the decision to postpone play so deep into the afternoon was a curious one given the temperatures (and golf course) were at least playable enough for the contingent of celebrities also competing in the event; they’d been dispatched to the course hours earlier, at 10 a.m. Among the participants in the celeb division was LPGA legend and Lake Nona resident Annika Sorenstam, who after bundling up and playing nine holes Sunday told Beth Ann Nichols of Golfweek: “I don’t know why they’re not playing. There’s pitch marks. I mean, I hit some crispy shots today and the ball even stopped. I am surprised. It’s difficult, it’s cold but it’s as fair as anything.”

Yang, after signing for a third-round 69 that secured her runner-up honors, also described the course as “playable.” “It got much better,” she said. “It is still very cold but compared to this morning 9 a.m. when I was warming up, much better condition.”

News

Still, Kessler said he had other concerns beyond just the competitive integrity of the setup — namely the risk the frigid turf posed to his players. This worry was not communicated to either players or the public Sunday, but in a memo — a mea culpa, really — that Kessler emailed to players Tuesday, he revealed that he was “worried that our athletes might be injured given the way record overnight low temperatures hardened the course.” Kessler acknowledged in that note that “while the decision was a tough one and ran counter to prior statements we shared, I made a judgement call.”

There is precedent, of course, for calling tournaments after 54 (or even 36) holes, but nearly always it happens only in instances when it’s clear that severe weather (the wet and/or windy variety) will prevent play from being completed not only on Sunday but also Monday. There is little, if any, precedent for a professional golf tournament being called on account of concerns of players jamming a wrist or a catching a stinger.

But Kessler said the circumstances in Orlando, from what he deduced, were highly unusual. “Hand on heart, based on the information I had available when the call needed to be made, I had real concern about the potential for player injury,” he told GOLF. “Particularly in week one of the season, I think that’s something that has to be taken very seriously, and we took it very seriously.”

So seriously that Kessler made the decision to declare a champion after the third round. When the dust (frost?) had settled, Nelly Korda, who’d shot a stunning eight-under 63 in windy and chilly conditions Saturday, was named the winner by three.  

After picking up her first win since November 2024 and her 16th LPGA title overall, Korda sounded largely supportive of the LPGA’s decision to shorten the event, saying, “At the end of the day, what we have on the line versus what the celebrities have on the line is a little bit different. I think the LPGA made the decision to look after their players, and at the end of the day we can’t do anything about that.”

***

Another question still loomed, though: Why not finish the tournament on Monday, as is customary on the PGA Tour when an event cannot be completed on Sunday?

“We weren’t fully prepared,” Kessler said.  

Pressed on what that meant exactly — i.e., not prepared in terms of onsite logistics? Necessary support teams? Broadcasting needs? — the commissioner said: “It’s the whole nine yards. Think about the complexity of running a golf tournament. You’ve got sponsored considerations, player considerations, fan considerations, volunteer considerations, folks who actually show up to bring the tournament to life.”

The last Monday finish on the LPGA Tour coincidentally came at the Tournament of Champions, in 2020, but that round included only two players — Gaby Lopez and Nasa Hataoka — who after five playoff holes Sunday were still deadlocked, forcing the players to return to the course Monday morning. Logistically, there is, of course, a big difference catering to two players playing a couple of extra holes vs. 39 players returning to the host site to play a full round. Whatever the reason for the LPGA’s inability to extend to Monday, the tour was not equipped for a fifth day of competition.  

News

“In hindsight, I wish we had spent a little bit more time thinking about solutions that would have allowed us to get all 72 holes in,” Kessler continued. “I’m not sure it makes sense to go back and sort of relitigate all of the details, but what I do know is that going forward, we’re gonna work like hell to make sure, if we’re ever in a position like this again, we’re ready to go with those creative solutions.”

Kessler declined to say what those solutions might be, but beyond being better prepared to push to Monday, presumably that could mean, in the case of an ominous Sunday forecast, squeezing in more golf on Saturday. Kessler said he has no regrets about shortening the tournament, but in his memo to players he did acknowledge that “this decision, and others we made in real time, were confusing and disappointing to our fans. And our communication around the decision wasn’t clear or timely enough. Your frustration is valid — I own that, and I’m sorry.”

Asked what, in retrospect, he would have done differently, Kessler said, “I think there are two major themes. The first is around preparation — making sure we’re ready for plan A, B and C, and we’ve thought through all the logistics from start to finish, so that if we’re met with exceptional circumstances, we’re ready to go. The second is communications and making sure that when we communicate with the people who matter most, our fans, our players, the media, our partners, we’re communicating in plain English so that people read our statements and understand exactly what we decided and why we made the decision.”

Kessler will have a minute to process his learnings. The next LPGA event, in Thailand, doesn’t begin until Feb. 18. That tournament kicks off a three-week swing in Asia before the tour returns to the U.S. in mid-March.

“I know I made a tough call from a very good place,” Kessler said. “I realized that there’s been fallout, and there are some people who are upset with the decision that I made. At the same time, I’m just deeply proud of what we’ve done, and the momentum we’ve created, and the culture we’re starting to create with our team here. I really hope as quickly as possible we can get back to that.”

The post The LPGA made a mistake. Its boss owned it. But questions persist appeared first on Golf.

Olympics figure skating schedule: TV channels, live streams, how to watch every event at 2026 Winter Games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

One of the most entertaining events at the Winter Games is here — that's right, figure skating is coming to Milan.

With its combination of athleticism and artistry, figure skating consistently grabs the attention of viewers worldwide. Even better, Team USA is poised to make medal runs in several different categories, including men's, women's and pairs.

Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old "Quad God", will be attempting the most difficult routine in history at his first Olympics. On the women's side, Team USA has a chance to sweep the podium with Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito on the ice. Of course, ice dancing pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates will also be bringing their talents to Italy.

Be sure to tune in for each event.

Here's how to watch ice dancing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, including TV channel and streaming options for each day of competition.

Where to watch figure skating at 2026 Winter Olympics

• TV channels: NBC, USA
• Live streams:Peacock

Figure skating at Milan Cortina 2026 will air across NBC and USA Network. Terry Gannon will lead the broadcast team with Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir providing analysis and Andrea Joyce as reporter.

The full TV schedule is below. Fans can also stream every routine live on Peacock.

The NBC-owned streaming service's sports programming features live coverage of NFL Sunday Night Football, the NBA, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Premier League soccer, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, PGA Tour golf, and more.

Olympics figure skating schedule 2026

Friday, Feb. 6

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
3:55 a.m.	Team Event Day 1 (Venue feed)	Peacock
4 a.m.	Team Rhythm Dance	USA
5:35 a.m.	Team Pairs Short	USA
7:35 a.m.	Team Women's Short	USA
Noon	Team Rhythm Dance (re-air)	NBC
12:30 p.m.	Team Pairs Short (re-air)	NBC
1 p.m.	Team Women's Short (re-air)	NBC

Saturday, Feb. 7

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
1:45 p.m.	Team Event Day 2 (Venue feed)	Peacock
1:45 p.m.	Team Men's Short	NBC
4 p.m.	Team Free Dance	NBC

Sunday, Feb. 8

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
2 a.m.	Team Free Dance (re-air)	USA
1:30 p.m.	Team Event Day 3 (Venue feed)	Peacock
1:30 p.m.	Team Pairs Free	USA
2:45 p.m.	Team Women's Free	USA
3:55 p.m.	Team Men's Free	USA

Monday, Feb. 9

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
1:30 a.m.	Team Pairs, Women's Men's Free (re-air)	USA
11:20 a.m.	Rhythm Dance Warm-Up	Peacock
1:20 p.m.	Rhythm Dance (Venue Feed)	Peacock, USA
2:40 p.m.	Rhythm Dance Part 2	NBC

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
2 a.m.	Ice Dance Rhythm Dance (re-air)	USA
12:15 p.m.	Figure Skating Preview	USA
12:30 p.m.	Men's Short (Venue feed)	Peacock
12:30 p.m.	Men's Short Part 1	USA
1:45 p.m.	Men's Short Part 2	NBC

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
2 a.m.	Men's Short Program (re-air)	USA
11 a.m.	Free Dance Warm-Up	Peacock
1:15 p.m.	Figure Skating Preview	USA
1:30 p.m.	Free Dance Part 1	Peacock, USA
2:15 p.m.	Free Dance Part 2	NBC

Thursday, Feb. 12

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
1:30 a.m.	Ice Dance Free Dance (re-air)	USA

Friday, Feb. 13

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
10:45 a.m.	Men's Free Warm-Up	Peacock
12:45 p.m.	Figure Skating Preview	USA
1 p.m.	Men's Free Part 1	Peacock, USA
3 p.m.	Men's Free Part 2	NBC

Saturday, Feb. 14

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
2 a.m.	Men's Free Skate (re-air)	USA

Sunday, Feb. 15

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
11:20 a.m.	Pairs Short Warm-Up	Peacock
1:30 p.m.	Figure Skating Preview	USA
1:45 p.m.	Pairs Short Part 1	Peacock, USA
3 p.m.	Pairs Short Part 2	NBC

Monday, Feb. 16

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
2 a.m.	Pairs Short Program (re-air)	USA
11:30 a.m.	Pairs Free Warm-Up	Peacock
1:45 p.m.	Figure Skating Preview	USA
2 p.m.	Pairs Free Part 1	Peacock, USA
3:55 p.m.	Pairs Free Part 2	NBC

Tuesday, Feb. 17

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
2 a.m.	Pairs Free Skate (re-air)	USA
10:20 a.m.	Women's Short Warm-Up	Peacock
12:30 p.m.	Figure Skating Preview	USA
12:45 p.m.	Women's Short Part 1	Peacock, USA
2:40 p.m.	Women's Short Part 2	NBC

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
2 a.m.	Women's Short Program (re-air)	USA

Thursday, Feb. 19

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
10:30 a.m.	Women's Free Warm-Up	Peacock
1 p.m.	Women's Free Skate	NBC

Friday, Feb. 20

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
1:30 a.m.	Women's Free Skate (re-air)	USA
1 p.m.	Women's Free Skate	NBC

Saturday, Feb. 21

Time (ET)	Event	TV/Live stream
2:55 p.m.	Exhibition Gala	NBC

Olympics figure skating venue 2026

• Venue: Milano Ice Skating Arena

The figure skating competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics will take place at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, also known as the Unipol Forum.

Related Links

• Latest Olympics news and updates
• Day-by-day TV, streaming schedule for 2026 Winter Olympics

Barcelona took to the field at the same venue where Real Madrid and Celta Vigo faced elimination from the Copa del Rey in their game against Albacete last night.

On this occasion, however, the favourites prevailed.

Barring the final ten minutes of the game, when they were under some pressure, it was a rather routine win for Barcelona, with them dominating the possession as usual, controlling the tempo of the game and creating threats from both flanks.

Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the first half while Ronald Araujo doubled the lead from a set-piece after the break.

The hosts then threatened to mount a comeback, but Barcelona managed to hold on and get through.

Barça Universal brings you three takeaways from Albacete 1-2 Barcelona.

Same theme repeats itself

What has been a common theme in recent games for Barcelona, and continued to be so last night, was the team’s poor finishing in front of goal – something they were expected to have made a conscious effort to improve on.

Barcelona did struggle against Albacete. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

After the win over Elche, where Barcelona created 13 big chances but could take only three, last night they created eight big chances and took just two.

To put into perspective, they converted one in 4.3 chances at the weekend and one in four chances last night.

The ratio simply isn’t good enough or sustainable, especially when one considers how clear and straightforward some of the chances created were.

After all, the season ahead is ruthless and there is no room for such lackadaisical finishing.

Marcus Rashford was terrible in front of goal, missing another 1v1 and a chance set up by Yamal on a platter.

The same goes for the starting striker, Robert Lewandowski, who could not bury the chances that came his way and let go of at least two clear goals.

Ferran Torres, who came on to replace the misfiring forwards, was no better himself as he too let two clear-cut chances slip away with disappointing touches and finishes. 

Ten minutes of hell

Albacete gave Barcelona a run for their money. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

As a result of Barcelona’s poor finishing and inability to capitalise on chances, they were hanging by a narrow two-goal lead with ten minutes to go, always at the risk of a collapse.

Albacete then began to mount the pressure and found the back of the net once, only to have it ruled out for offside.

Their second big attempt of the period, however, came in the 87th minute, and they capitalised on it effectively to get within one goal of Barcelona.

Forced to fend off the threat for ten minutes, including extra time, the Catalans thus had to face real hell and face the consequences of their poor finishing.

After all, the Copa del Rey has no extra-time and had Albacete scored an equaliser, the game would have gone straight to penalties, where it would again be a 50:50 affair.

In fact, the game came frighteningly close to reaching that point as the hosts seemingly got the ball past Joan Garcia for the equaliser, and only a clearance off the line by Gerard Martin kept the Catalans ahead.

What the game teaches and reiterates to Barcelona, thus, is the importance of capitalising on chances and burying the result early on.

After all, there would have been no panic scenario or edgy situation had they just converted a chance or two more of the six missed.

Into the semifinals

While the game did highlight certain areas for Barcelona to improve on, all that the Catalans must take away from it amid the hectic schedule is that they got the job done and that their objective is achieved.

Barcelona are in the semi-final. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

What Albacete achieved earlier in the Copa del Rey will go down in history as one of the big ‘giant-killer’ stories, especially given how they consistently punched above their weight to eliminate Leganes, Celta Vigo and Real Madrid from the competition.

It is only poetic that the ‘giant’ they eventually stumbled upon was Barcelona, Spain’s most in-form team and the defending champions of the event.

With the win at Carlos Belmonte last night, the Catalans move to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey and are now one of four teams remaining in the competition.

They are well in the race to defend their title, which is just two opponents away, and keeps them alive as contenders on all fronts this season.

The draw will reveal Barcelona’s upcoming path to their title defence, but it will certainly be a Primera División club from here on.

With the Albacete game, the saga of playing spirited lower division teams away from home comes to an end, and Barcelona have got past the worst of it.

There is real confusion on contrasting reports on why Reece James and Pedro Neto did not play for Chelsea last night.

The word before kick off was that Reece James and Pedro Neto were having their minutes managed, as reported by The Athletic.

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This has happened a few times before with James, because of his recent injury issues. Chelsea have been protecting him. But some Chelsea fans started to fume that you do not rest your club captain in a semi final of a cup, it’s just not the done thing to do.

It makes you wonder whether Chelsea and/or Liam Rosenior saw these reactions going down and decided to defuse the situation a bit when asked about the absences of the two players.

Rosenior on Neto and James

Liam Rosenior speaks after the Arsenal defeat.

After the game, in words cited on X, Rosenior said:

“Pedro and Reece have small knocks. They were just in too much pain for tonight.”

This apparently came after a late fitness test for both players. So really, we have to take his word for that, don’t we? But The Athletic are a very reliable outlet and have good sources. So it does make you wonder where they got their info from and why they were told that. It’s all very confusing and very contrasting if you ask me.

Chelsea lose the game

After being 3-2 down from the first leg, Chelsea lost the tie 4-2 over two games due to losing 1-0 against Arsenal last night.

The Gunners now head to the final of the competition, and Chelsea head out of it.

Chelsea will certainly have many regrets that they didn’t go for it more in this game because for me, Arsenal were very much there for the taking and they were not that good at all last night.

The future of Vinicius Jr. has once again become a talking point, with Flamengo publicly acknowledging that a return to the Brazilian club is something they would be more than happy to explore. 

While there is no immediate move on the table, the comments from the South American club have added fuel to an already sensitive situation surrounding the Real Madrid forward.

Vinicius has been at Real Madrid since 2018 after leaving Flamengo in 2017 as one of South America’s brightest young talents. 

Nearly a decade later, the winger is enduring one of the most difficult periods of his Madrid career. 

Despite everything he has achieved at the club, he has been booed by sections of the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu, while a long La Liga goal drought only recently came to an end.

Flamengo open the doors

Flamengo are well aware of this situation and believe that a return to Brazil would offer Vinicius the affection and support that defined his early years. 

The club also understands that any such move would only be possible if the player himself wanted it.

During Lucas Paqueta’s presentation, Flamengo’s director of football, Jose Boto, addressed the subject, making it clear where the club stands.

Flamengo would be happy to sign Vinicius Jr. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“His contract is about to end. He sent me a nice gift, an autographed jersey. 

“You can only fight for these types of players when they really want to come. It depends more on Vini than on us. The door is always open for Vini.”

Contract uncertainty

Vinicius’ current contract with Real Madrid runs until 2027. By then, he will be close to turning 27 and will have spent well over a decade at the Bernabeu, a rare length of service for a modern superstar. 

From Flamengo’s perspective, the timing could be ideal.

Boto expanded on the contractual situation by highlighting the financial reality of such a scenario. 

“The contract is about to expire, we won’t have to pay Real Madrid anything.”

That detail explains why the rumours are unlikely to fade away anytime soon. 

Unless Vinicius commits his long-term future to Real Madrid with a new contract, speculation around a possible homecoming will continue to grow. 

Source: AS

Nothing's certain. But there's a chance that Draymond Green played his last game for the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night. 

Green's name has been bandied about in trade rumors as the Warriors are believed to be seeking a high-level player (Giannis Antetokounmpo, perhaps?) to pair with Stephen Curry for a run at another championship at the end of Curry's prime.

If Green's 13 1/2-season run with the Warriors is over, he's at peace with it. He spoke about the possibility of this being the end following Golden State's 113-94 loss to the 76ers Tuesday night. 

Be warned, the language is not safe for work. This is Draymond, after all.

"I think a lot of people want to know how I feel about it, like am I upset about it" Green said. "I'm not at all. If that's what's best for this organization, that's what's best for the organization. 

"I'm not, like, 'ah, man, they f***ed me over," or something like that. I don't really feel that way."

Green paused, then offered some perspective that's likely to draw a few tears from the Golden State fan base if Green, indeed, gets dealt before Thursday's trade deadline. 

"If you would've told me 13 1/2 years ago like, 'yo, I'm gonna hand you this sheet of paper and you can sign it to be in a place for 13 1/2 years, would you sign it?' And I would've signed it faster than you can blink.

"What do I have to sit and worry about? What do I have to, like, be upset about? Like I've been here for 13 1/2 years. That's longer than probably 98% of NBA players have been in one place. And this guy from Saginaw has been in a place for 13 1/2 years. 

"I don't know that it ends at 13 1/2, but if it does, what a f***ing run it's been."

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If it's over, Green is right. It's been a hell of a run. 

Green joined the Warriors as a second-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. In the 13 1/2 seasons since then, Green has been a lynchpin of one of the NBA's great dynasties while winning four championships alongside Curry, Klay Thompson and coach Steve Kerr.

He's been one of the great defenders of his generation. And despite being the third- or fourth-best player on those championship teams, Green's career will likely conclude with enshrinement in the Basketball Hall of Fame. 

"I'm blessed," Green said. "I'm lucky. I'm grateful."