Vincenzo Italiano arrived at his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg at Villa Park with his trademark wit intact, joking that he had asked the club to fly in Tom Cruise to help with what he described as a near-impossible mission, while also outlining a clear and serious tactical plan to give Bologna a genuine chance of completing one of European football’s more remarkable comebacks.

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The Rossoblù head into the tie trailing 3-1 from the first leg, and Italiano was under no illusions about the scale of the task.

“I’ll drop the percentages this time,” he said, with quotes via TMW, referencing his pre-match 50-50 prediction ahead of the first leg. “This is a mission that is almost impossible. I had asked the club to bring in Tom Cruise, he could give us a hand.”

The laughter subsided quickly, however, as Italiano returned to the serious business of how Bologna might make life uncomfortable for an Aston Villa side that will be looking to manage the game on home soil.

“We ruined the first leg with some lapses of concentration within what was otherwise a very high-level performance,” he said.

“Tomorrow we must make life difficult for them, not let them have a quiet evening. It would be important not to concede. And then we have to try to hurt them: they do give something away, as we saw in both previous matches here.”

Aston Villa vs Bologna – Italiano: ‘Ravaglia will play’

On Unai Emery’s attacking philosophy, Italiano was playful. “Emery’s mantra is attack, attack, attack. Mine, by contrast, is defence, defence, defence,” he said with a smile.

He was more measured on what he genuinely expects from Villa. “I would be surprised if they came at us aggressively given their two-goal lead. But I don’t know how they will approach it, what I do know is that the atmosphere pushes them and raises their level. We must find a way to respond.”

Italiano confirmed that Federico Ravaglia returns in goal, “from the start.”

With Lucumí also absent, he has Casale, Heggem and Vitik available in central defence, though he was deliberately cagey about his selection. “One of the three will be on the bench,” was all he would say.

His message to the squad was straightforward. “I told them to remember the matches we have played here before. We need to dig deep for a truly top-level performance and make our opponents work extremely hard. These games always throw up surprises, and that is our only hope.”

Paolo Vanoli has called on his Fiorentina players to cast aside inhibition and play with complete freedom when Crystal Palace visit the Stadio Franchi on Thursday evening, with the Viola requiring a 3-0 victory to overturn their first-leg deficit and reach the Conference League semi-finals.

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It is a tall order by any measure, and Vanoli was not about to pretend otherwise. But the Fiorentina coach, who has overseen one of Serie A’s more remarkable survival stories this season, knows better than most that the impossible can sometimes be achieved when a group of players stops thinking and starts believing.

“We will play with a free head, knowing that we will need something special,” he said, with quotes via AldredoPedulla.com.

“Sometimes what matters is not so much technical quality but desire, doing something that goes beyond what is expected, with courage and freedom. We have to risk, try and dream.”

Vanoli was equally honest about the context of this European run. With four points from their opening 11 league matches this season, survival was the only objective that mattered.

“When we had four points we were talking primarily about the league, that was the priority,” he said. “Then the story says the Conference must be an objective for this club.”

He also pointed to the broader lesson his side can take from facing a Premier League opponent of Palace’s quality. “The strong teams make you grow. When you don’t win, you learn.”

Fiorentina coach Vanoli: ‘I don’t want my future decided by one game’

On his own future, Vanoli was characteristically direct. He expressed genuine ambition to continue but refused to let Thursday’s result define his tenure one way or the other.

“I don’t want my future to be conditioned by one Conference League match,” he said. “I’m not a genius if we go through and I’m not a mediocre coach if we go out. I keep believing, despite the difficulties.”

He also delivered a pointed observation about Italian football’s relationship with courage, fitting given the national conversation currently raging about the men’s team. “In Italy, people say they want courage but then criticise it when they see it.”

On team news, Dodô will miss the match through suspension, while Pongracic is being assessed after carrying a hamstring overload. Rugani, who impressed against Lazio, is available, and Vanoli confirmed Kean is being monitored day by day as the club works to have him fit.

Vincenzo Italiano’s future at Bologna is attracting significant attention from elsewhere in Italian football, with transfer insider Fabrizio Romano warning that several major clubs have the coach firmly on their radar despite his contract running until 2027.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Aston Villa at Villa Park, via TuttoMercatoWeb, Romano was careful to frame the situation in context. Italiano has publicly committed to Bologna and renewed his deal as recently as May 2025, earning just over €3 million per season.

On paper, there is no immediate reason to question his future in Emilia. However, Romano’s caveat was pointed. “Italiano at Bologna, yes, but with an asterisk,” he said. “He is very well regarded by several important Italian clubs.”

Big Serie A role beckons for Bologna coach Italiano

The key phrase Romano used was “domino effect on managerial positions,” a reference to the considerable upheaval currently rippling through Serie A benches, with multiple top clubs facing uncertainty over their coaching situations heading into the summer. Should that instability create unexpected vacancies, Italiano’s name is among the first that would be considered.

Since taking charge at Bologna in the summer of 2024, the coach has recorded 45 wins, 27 draws and 28 defeats, with his side scoring 144 goals and conceding 119 at an average of 1.62 points per game.

The Europa League quarter-final run alone represents a significant achievement for a club of Bologna’s resources, and it is precisely that kind of overperformance that makes Italiano so appealing to clubs with greater ambitions and deeper pockets.

Jacobo Ramon has been linked with a move away from Como at the end of the season, and the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are keen on him.

The player has also been linked with a return to Real Madrid. However, a report from TEAMtalk claims that Real Madrid will wait until 2027 to secure his signature. They want him to return to the club, but they are unwilling to sign him at the end of this season. Their decision has put the Premier League clubs on alert.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool decide to make a move for the 21-year-old central defender in the summer. They need more quality in the defensive unit, and Ramon could prove to be an excellent long-term investment. Chelsea and Liverpool, in particular, have been quite poor at the back. They need to bring in upgrades on players like Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Joe Gomez.

Ramon has proved himself in Italy, and he has the quality to thrive in England as well. He could prove to be a quality long-term acquisition for Chelsea or Liverpool. The opportunity to play for some of the biggest clubs in England will be hard for him to turn down. Regular football at Chelsea or Liverpool could bring out the best in him and help him fulfil his potential.

It will be interesting to see if the 21-year-old is prepared to turn down the opportunity to move to England and wait for Real Madrid until 2027.

Meanwhile, the links with Arsenal are quite surprising. They have the best defensive unit in the country, and they will not be able to accommodate the Spaniard in the starting lineup. It would make no sense for the defender to join them and sit on the bench at the London club.

The post Liverpool & Chelsea alerted as 21-year-old Spaniard faces career crossroads appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Real Madrid star Arda Guler has just scored an outrageous freekick to restore the lead for the visitors at the Allianz Arena.

Having already scored one from long range inside one minute following a howler from Manuel Neuer, the young Turk was at it again, this time curling an-inch perfect free-kick straight into the top left corner.

The goal was as good as it gets, with Neuer trying his best to get to it but it was so well placed that he could only get his finger tips to it as it curled straight into the top right corner.

Watch the free-kick below:

More Stories / Latest News

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Watch: Take a bow!! Arda Guler scores outrageous freekick to restore Real Madrid’s lead against Bayern

Apr 15 2026, 21:10

Man United leading race for €80m Man City-linked star as player pushes for move

Apr 15 2026, 20:31

The post Watch: Take a bow!! Arda Guler scores outrageous freekick to restore Real Madrid’s lead against Bayern appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Morten Hjulmand has been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months, and Manchester United are on him.

According to a football insider, Manchester United are leading the race for the 26-year-old Danish international midfielder, despite links with Manchester City. The report further claims that the player is pushing for a move to the Premier League.

Manchester City were also linked to the player, but they do not view him as a priority target. They are more interested in signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

Manchester United now have a clear run at the player, and he is keen on the move as well. It remains to be seen whether the Red Devils can get the deal done. They need more quality and depth in the middle of the park.

Casemiro has decided to leave the club in the summer, and they need to replace him. The 26-year-old will add physicality and defensive cover to the team. He is at the peak of his career, and he has shown his quality in Portugal with Sporting CP.

He has an €80 million release clause in his contract, but it is fair to assume that he could be available for a more reasonable amount of money. It remains to be seen whether Manchester United follows up on their interest with an official proposal to get the deal done.

They need to improve in the middle of the park if they want to fight for major trophies next season. They are pushing for a top-three finish in the Premier League this season, and they will look to improve further next year.

Hjulmand will want to prove his quality at the highest level as well. The move to Manchester United would be ideal for him.

The post Man United leading race for €80m Man City-linked star as player pushes for move appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Goncalo Inacio has been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months.

The 24-year-old Portuguese defender has done quite well for club and country, and multiple clubs are monitoring his situation. According to Edu Burgos, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United are interested in signing the Sporting CP defender.

He has consistently shown his quality in Portuguese football, and the opportunity to move to England could be exciting. It could be the ideal next step in his career.

Burgos wrote on X: “Gonçalo Inácio awakens interest from the big clubs.

“His great season at Sporting, especially in the Champions League, has drawn attention in England (Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United) and Spain.

“His release clause amounts to 60M€, but it’s negotiable.”

Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile have been linked with moves away from Chelsea at the end of the season, and Chelsea will need to replace both players. Chelsea have looked vulnerable at the back of this season, and they need to improve in that area of the pitch. Signing the Portuguese International would be a wise decision.

Similarly, Liverpool need more defensive depth. Joe Gomez has suffered from persistent injury problems, and they need to upgrade on him. Ibrahima Konate will be a free agent at the end of the season and has not yet signed an extension with the club. Inacio could be a quality addition for them. The left-footed defender can operate as a central defender as well as a full back. His versatility would be an added bonus.

As for Manchester United, they need a long-term replacement for Harry Maguire. Matthijs de Ligt has had his fair share of injury problems this season as well. Adding more depth to the defensive unit would be ideal for them.

It will be interesting to see which of the three clubs is willing to pay the €60 million asking price for him.

The post Chelsea, Liverpool & Man United circle for €60m-rated versatile defender appeared first on CaughtOffside.

A night of high-stakes Champions League drama at the Allianz Arena began with a moment of pure disbelief as Bayern Munich legend Manuel Neuer committed a catastrophic error to gift Real Madrid a lead inside the opening 35 seconds.

The veteran German, so often the gold standard, saw his legendary composure desert him in the most hostile of atmospheres.

Receiving a routine pass back, Neuer appeared to experience a momentary lapse in concentration.

Instead of clearing his lines, he played a casual, lateral pass directly across the edge of his own penalty area.

Incredible finish from Arda Güler

Real Madrid’s teenage sensation Arda Güler was the quickest to react, reading the situation with a maturity far beyond his 21 years.

The young Turk intercepted the stray pass, took one touch to set himself, and unleashed a curling strike from 25 yards.

The ball sailed over Neuer and into the empty net, giving Real Madrid the perfect start to the second-leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Steve McManaman was left stunned by the mistake from the German.

He said on TNT Sports (via BBC Sport): “The best goalkeeper in the world has come up with the most horrendous mistake in the first minute, but what a finish by the young Turk.

“It’s a simple pass back, what is he thinking? I’ve no idea what Neuer was looking at. He was superb last week, but that is an unbelievable error.”

Arda Güler scores from range just 45 seconds into the game after Neuer’s mistake ?

? Stream with TNT Sports on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/jx8lcHCtT0

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 15, 2026

Bayern equalise instantly

While Neuer’s howler threatened to derail Bayern’s European ambitions before the game had even settled, the Bavarian giants showed remarkable resilience.

Refusing to let the early setback define their evening, Vincent Kompany’s side pushed forward immediately and found a way back into the contest just five minutes later.

In the 6th minute, Bayern won a corner following a deflected strike from Harry Kane. Joshua Kimmich’s pinpoint delivery found Aleksandar Pavlović, who rose highest in a crowded box to thunder a header past Andriy Lunin.

Bayern make it 1-1 inside just six minutes, and regain their lead on aggregate ?

? Stream with TNT Sports on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/D9a2x7GYSA

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 15, 2026

The post Watch: Manuel Neuer produces a horrible howler as Arda Güler scores one from 25 yards out appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Lucas Bergvall has been outstanding for Tottenham since joining the club, and he has been linked with a move away from the London outfit in recent months. 

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Fabio Paratici could look to swoop for the Swedish International midfielder at the end of the season. The Italian helped Tottenham sign the player during his time, and he could look to bring the player to Fiorentina now.

Bergvall is highly rated at Tottenham, and it is extremely unlikely that they will let the player leave. He has all the attributes to develop into a future star. They must keep players like him at the club if they want to build a formidable team for the future.

Having said that, they are fighting for survival in the Premier League. If they go down to the championship, it will be difficult for them to keep their best players.

“To be honest, Roberto De Zerbi and Tottenham are currently only focused on staying in the Premier League,” Di Marzio said via Fotboll Direkt.

“They are not listening to offers, and they have not even decided which players they want to keep or sell. If I were to name a club that I think could potentially sign Lucas Bergvall if Tottenham were to let him leave, I think Fiorentina is an option.

“Their sports director Fabio Paratici likes young players, and especially Bergvall. So, they could try to sign him if his future does not lie in Tottenham. If he is on the market, Fiorentina will try.”

Bergvall could be tempted to join a big club if Tottenham go down, but the move to Fiorentina might not be as appealing. He will want to join a club where he can regularly compete for major trophies. It remains to be seen how the situation unfolds.

The post Tottenham face nightmare scenario as Paratici “could try to sign” rising star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Jane Street said it needs GPU-based computing power to keep its trading and research operations competitive amid growing adoption of AI.

A Bitcoin daily candlestick close above $76,000 would complete a bullish trend reversal and shift the bulls’ short-term price target to $84,000. Will altcoins follow the rally?

Potential conflicts of interest in the state’s gubernatorial race and a pro-crypto Super PAC endorsing a Republican candidate for Senate could cloud the 2026 race.

London-based Legal & General Asset Management is the latest global asset manager to expand distribution across blockchain networks and trading models.

Ether looks poised to gain a price advantage over BTC as the ETH/BTC ratio soars to a 10-week high.

New Bitcoin macro analysis found its "addressable market" surpassed the $38 trillion gold market cap, driven by geopolitical instability and financial sanctions.

The Massachusetts Democrat has been critical of private companies, including non-bank entities, issuing their own dollar-pegged stablecoins.

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis quieted some noise during last weekend's spring game with a fairly conservative performance that included one highlight touchdown pass to new target Danny Scudero.

Lewis is battling Utah transfer Isaac Wilson for the starting job, but remains the favorite to open up the 2026 season as Colorado's starter. Earlier this spring, ESPN ranked Lewis as the No. 62 Power Four starting quarterback, just six from the bottom among the 68 teams.

CBS Sports gives Lewis a slightly more favorable ranking, placing him in the top-15 at No. 49, good for No. 11 in the Big 12 Conference. Here's what Brad Crawford had to say about the Buffaloes' redshirt freshman signal caller.

Speaking of unlocking star potential, that is Brennan Marion's role this spring at Colorado as he works with Lewis. The former sought-after recruit was able to redshirt last season after playing in four games, finishing with 589 yards passing and four touchdowns (including three starts in November). Deion Sanders is trying to build around his quarterback after landing a top-25 transfer class once again.

As Crawford notes, everything for Colorado's 2026 hopes, especially offensively, rests on how Lewis and new playcaller Brennan Marion come together. It is a complicated offense to master, and Lewis' ability to grasp the Go-Go will determine how good the Buffs can be.

Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads, and Instagram.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Julian Lewis Power 4 quarterback ranking per CBS Sports

As the 2026 NFL Draft draws closer, speculation continues to grow about the Cowboys and the possibility of trading up to get an impact player on defense. Media outlets are pushing the narrative that Dallas must move up, and many fans are in agreement.

It's easy to understand why some see the move up as appealing, with a top-heavy draft, and Dallas coming off one of the worst defensive seasons in team history.  But the reality is, while the Cowboys have a multitude of needs on that side of the ball, the team’s draft capital doesn’t allow them to trade away multiple picks for one impact player, especially having the rare chance to draft two. Focusing that many resources on a single player doesn’t make sense for a team reloading.

The Cowboys would be better suited to sit tight and use the No. 12 and No. 20 picks and draft players who can help them now. If there is a chance that Dallas moves one of these picks, it should be the 20th pick. Trading that selection to a quarterback-needy, or receiver-needy team makes more sense than trading up and losing multiple top 100 draft picks, including at least one in the top 20.

Cowboys insider Bobby Belt, recently echoed this sentiment, saying "One guy isn't going to fix the Cowboys defense. Yes... But Caleb Downs might get close."

In his mock draft, Belt resisted the temptation to trade up for Downs and instead kept both first-round picks, filling two major holes on defense. It mirrors the Baltimore Ravens draft philosophy, a strategy of patience.  Belt applied that logic and it allowed him to draft the Miami edge rusher Reuben Bain with the 12th pick and the Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood with the 20th pick. Based on his mock draft, waiting benefits Dallas for two big reasons. First, he got quality players who can help immediately, while at the same time keeping their third-round pick and controlling the rights to two players for five years.

Dallas also has other factors that will strengthen their ability to keep their picks or trade back from the 20th pick. This draft lacks depth at quarterback and offensive line, which will force teams to reach at these positions or overpay in draft capital to select the player they want.

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Opinion: Despite risky battlefield, Cowboys should avoid trading up

DeCosta Calls No. 14 Pick a 'Sweet Spot' for Ravens in NFL Draft

Speaking at the team's predraft luncheon, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta pointed to the team's position at No. 14 overall as a key opportunity to strengthen the roster around quarterback Lamar Jackson.

"Well, I think it's positioned that way," DeCosta said. "When we look at it at [pick] 14… that's typically a different type of player that you can get. Looking at the board, we see tremendous value offensive-line-wise… receiver-wise… So, I feel like it's a sweet spot for us. We have a chance to address some positions early on, but also, I'm excited about what we see in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds as well."

DeCosta added that increased collaboration with the coaching staff, led by Jesse Minter, has helped expand the team's board and overall draft flexibility — giving Baltimore multiple paths to upgrade its supporting cast.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens GM Eric DeCosta on No. 14 NFL Draft pick

INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled to stay healthy all season. This has led to them having 41 different starting lineup combinations and just three players participating in 65 or more games. For context, a team like the Boston Celtics had 23 different starting lineup combinations and nine players available for 65 or more gams.

Fortunately for the Cavaliers, things are trending in the right direction heading into the start of the playoffs on Saturday. Head coach Kenny Atkinson confirmed that 14 of the team’s 15 players were full participants in what Atkinson described as a “real practice.” That includes Jarrett Allen (knee), Donovan Mitchell (ankle), and Sam Merrill (hamstring), who were on the injury report late in the regular season.

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The one player who wasn’t a full participant was Thomas Bryant. He was still able to do some on-court work. Atkinson noted that he was “surprisingly ahead of schedule” with the calf injury he’s been dealing with.

Being healthy has allowed them to focus on one of the most important aspects of succeeding in the playoffs, and one of the things that let them down last postseason: Conditioning.

Conditioning has been an overarching focus of practice this week. The Cavs want to be prepared to take on a Toronto Raptors team that plays at one of the fastest paces in the league. They’ve done circuit training with the VersaClimber to get ready for playoff intensity. However, that preparation didn’t just start this week. It’s been a focus for this group for almost a year.

“It wasn’t just about yesterday’s [circuit training],” Atkinson said. “It’s about June and July. We’ve done a lot of things in the offseason and in-season to be ready for the intensity and physicality. It’s going to be a big part of this series.”

Expansion is once again becoming a serious topic in Major League Baseball, and while cities like Nashville and Portland often dominate the conversation, there’s another market quietly gaining traction—Vancouver. At first glance, it might seem like a long shot. But the more you look into it, the more Vancouver starts to make real sense.

MORE: Major League Baseball ABS system is quietly impacting teams in 2026

A Proven Sports Market

Vancouver isn’t new to supporting professional sports. With successful franchises like the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL and a strong history of fan engagement, the city has consistently shown it can support major league teams. It’s a large, passionate market with a built-in fan base—and one that’s already proven it will show up.

Baseball in Canada isn’t a question mark—it’s already working. The success of the Toronto Blue Jays has shown that MLB can thrive north of the border. In fact, the Blue Jays have essentially become “Canada’s team,” drawing fans from across the country.

Adding a team in Vancouver would give MLB a second foothold in Canada and create a natural geographic balance.

A Strategic Geographic Fit

From a logistics standpoint, Vancouver fits perfectly. Located on the West Coast, it aligns naturally with divisions that include teams in Seattle, California, and the western United States. Travel would be manageable, and regional rivalries could form quickly—especially with the Seattle Mariners just down the coast. That proximity alone could create instant intrigue.

Vancouver is one of the fastest-growing and most economically strong cities in North America. A combination of population growth, corporate presence, and international appeal makes it an attractive market for ownership groups and MLB alike. Expansion isn’t just about fans—it’s about long-term financial sustainability. Vancouver checks those boxes.

The Stadium Question

Of course, no expansion conversation is complete without addressing the biggest hurdle—a ballpark. For Vancouver to become a reality, a modern MLB-ready stadium would need to be built. That means ownership investment, public-private partnerships, and long-term planning. But if that piece falls into place, the rest of the case becomes much stronger.

Why MLB Might Want Vancouver

For MLB, expansion is about growth. Adding a team in Vancouver would:

• Expand the league’s international footprint
• Tap into a proven market
• Strengthen West Coast scheduling and rivalries

It’s not just about adding teams—it’s about adding the right teams in the right places.

When might this happen?

Expansion isn’t happening tomorrow—but the groundwork is being laid. Cities are positioning themselves, ownership groups are forming, and MLB is evaluating its options. Vancouver is firmly in that conversation, even if it’s not always front and center.

Vancouver might not be the loudest candidate—but it might be one of the smartest. With a strong market, geographic fit, and proven sports culture, it has all the ingredients to become MLB’s next expansion city—if the stadium situation gets solved. And if that happens, don’t be surprised if Vancouver goes from “possibility” to “inevitability.”

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The Indiana Hoosiers have landed a massive commitment out of the NCAA transfer portal. Former Alabama Crimson Tide center Aiden Sherrell will make his way to Bloomington for the 2025-2026 season, On3’s Joe Tipton confirms. Sherrell spent two seasons in Tuscaloosa before deciding to spend his last two elsewhere. Darian DeVries decided to take advantage, bringing the big man in.

Sherrell will turn into a valuable player for Indiana in more ways than one. His offensive game is unique to the center position, as he is able to shoot well from distance. On around 2.5 three-point attempts per game, Sherrell made 33.8% of them. His overall shooting percentage from the field sat at 53.9% — which is nearly 3% better while seeing his field goal attempts go from 2.4 to 7.1 per game.

A few individual performances stand out from Sherrell from last season. Three double-doubles are in the game log, none more impressive than his 26-point and 13-point outing vs. Arkansas in February. Just over a month later, against Hofstra in the NCAA Tournament, Sherrell went for 15 points and 15 rebounds. He has proven to be capable of playing well in big moments and against quality opponents.

“Aiden Sherrell, who typically hasn’t been able to play much over 30 minutes, played almost 40,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said after the Arkansas game. “He ends up with 26 and 13, 10-of-13 from the field, 6-of-7 from the free throw line. He ends up winning the hard hat. He played hard, he played well. When we went to the switching and put him on some different guys there in the second half, he did a good job. A couple tough calls went against him, but he hung in there and kept playing hard.”

Indiana certainly will take that mindset moving forward. More than anything, the Hoosiers have to enjoy how Sherrell fits into the system. Very few teams in college basketball attempted as many three-point attempts as IU, finishing 32nd in the country. But 34.7% was just inside the top 150, from a make percentage.

Sherrell certainly brings the ability to make a few shots from deep. Oats was not afraid to give the big man the green light. You have to imagine DeVries will not either. Indiana will be hoping this addition can help them contend in a loaded Big Ten in DeVries’ second year in charge of the program.

Ravens, Community Partners Unite for Earth Day Effort at Inner Harbor

The Baltimore Ravens will once again lean into their growing role off the field, teaming up with M&T Bank and the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore to celebrate Earth Day with a hands-on volunteer initiative focused on the city's waterfront.

Set for Friday morning at Port Covington Marina, the event will bring together approximately 70 volunteers from across five organizations, including Point Field Partners and the Bisciotti Family Foundation. The group will spend the morning contributing to the ongoing Healthy Harbor Initiative through a range of projects aimed at improving the Inner Harbor's ecosystem.

Participants are expected to engage in oyster gardening, habitat maintenance, and environmental data collection — all key components of long-term water quality efforts. There's also a more visible piece of the day's work, as volunteers will apply a fresh coat of paint to Mr. Trash Wheel, one of the harbor's most recognizable cleanup tools.

The outing reflects a broader, sustained commitment from the Ravens organization. In 2025, the team deepened its partnership with Waterfront Partnership through a five-year, $3.75 million investment supporting the Healthy Harbor Initiative — a signal that their impact in Baltimore is intended to extend well beyond football. Events like this have become a consistent part of that effort, blending community engagement with tangible environmental progress as the franchise continues to build connections across the city.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens join Earth Day cleanup at Inner Harbor

#TheRetention has officially kicked off.

Wednesday morning, the freshman forward went live on Twitch to deliver the news the Illini faithful had been nervously waiting for: that he’s gonna be back for at least one more year in Orange and Blue.

For Illinois fans, Mirkovic’s return immediately provides a sense of optimism surrounding next season. It also raises the question of whether Mirk’s return will rub off on the rest of the potential returners, and incentivize coming back for guys like the Ivisic twins, Andrej Stojakovic and Jake Davis.

It took just one game — the season-opening exhibition matchup against ISU — for the Montenegrin to begin drawing eyes from Illini fans, where he posted a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double.

And throughout the season, his stats spoke for themselves.

Weirdly enough, Mirkovic posted the same exact stat line in the official season opener versus Jackson State. Then posted another double-double in the next game against FGCU. And against Colgate? The freshman finished with 27 points and 21 rebounds.

That’s when Illinois knew they found a gem.

Game after game, Mirkovic improved. Not only did he learn from some of his early-season freshman mistakes, but he bought into the culture rapidly fast and learned what it meant to be an Illini.

And he wasn’t one to back down, no matter the stakes.

That became apparent during a post-game interview after the win over Purdue at Mackey Arena, where Mirkovic stated that if he didn’t play and Illinois had lost, he probably would’ve done some hurtful things to himself.

But that was just the beginning. David continuously reminded Illini fans how much this team meant to him, and how badly he wanted to win.

Mirkovic played a major factor in Illinois’ Final Four run, kicking off the tournament on a high note by exploding for 29 points and 17 rebounds in the first-round win over Penn. Over the course of the next four tournament games, he racked up 36 points and 32 rebounds.

David’s sophomore season is primed to be an even bigger one.

A recent USA TODAY Sports exclusive featured a lot of thoughts from Brian Kelly on a wide-ranging array of topics. LSU Tigers football, both past and present, came up prominently.

Kelly was asked about his four-year tenure in Baton Rouge and what ultimately did him in.

"I guess you do have to start with what is winning enough games? We were 34-14, 22-3 at home when I was fired," Kelly said. "We had two 10-win seasons, won an SEC (West Division) championship, had the No. 1 offense in college football, a Heisman Trophy winner. When you look at what is winning and what keeps you employed, other people make those decisions. But it starts with what is defined as winning, and unfortunately it wasn’t defined as enough winning leading into being fired.”

In 4 years, Brian Kelly never understood the fan base

In 2 months, Lane Kiffin already understands the fan base

— Justin (@ProPelsTalk) January 24, 2026

Kelly was also asked about any advice he would give Lane Kiffin about being the head coach at LSU. Kelly's wisdom perhaps revealed nothing, but may have also revealed a lot.

“The world we live in today, Michigan just won a basketball championship with five transfers. You can do it, but there are so many moving pieces. I don’t think he needs any advice. I think you just continue to be who you are. I think that's all you can be. People are going to judge you based upon what they think, anyways. So, just be Lane Kiffin."

Kelly finished with a 34-14 record at LSU.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: LSU Football: Brian Kelly offers Lane Kiffin advice

A new name has popped up on the Kentucky Basketball transfer radar.

6-11 forward Sebastian Rancik, who has spent the last two seasons playing at Colorado, is visiting Kentucky.

Rancik, a native of Slovakia, canceled a visit with Indiana and will instead visit Lexington, according to On3’s Jamie Shaw.

Rancik saw notable improvement in his sophomore season at Colorado, jumping from just under 6 points per game as a freshman to over 12 points per game as a sophomore. This past season, Rancik also averaged 5.6 rebounds per game to go along with 2 assists per game.

Rancik shot 40% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc, an improvement from 25.8% the year prior all while increasing his 3-point attempts from 1.9 per game to 4.1 per game.

Rancik was also one of the best big men in the country when it comes to free-throw shooting, knocking down free throws at an 86% clip, which was the 4th-best percentage in the Big 12.

Rancik’s most notable performances this past season included a 17-point, 11-rebound performance against Arizona State, where he made 3/5 3-pointers. He also scored 20 points in a matchup against UCF.

Rancik is also planning a visit to BYU following the Kentucky visit. This recruitment could be worth keeping an eye on.

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Former New England Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins grieved over the team’s loss in the Super Bowl last season.

On Wednesday’s episode of “Up & Adams,” Hawkins revealed that he, along with several of his Patriots teammates, were all watching the game on the plane ride home to compartmentalize New England’s 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.

"I grieved, for sure. That hurt, obviously. I would say like a month after, you just thinking about, dang, we lost. It's tough to get to the pinnacle and work that hard," said Hawkins. "You still feel a type of way, a little bit. I feel like that will kind of never go away. ...When we were on the plane, I know we were all watching the game. ...I had to watch it so I could at least try to flush it, you know?"

The Patriots were overwhelmed by the Seahawks’ pass rush, led by Derick Hall and DeMarcus Lawrence, in the Super Bowl. New England also allowed Kenneth Walker III to gain 135 yards on the ground on his way to Super Bowl MVP honors.

Hawkins did play a part in New England limiting Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed to 27 receiving yards apiece, but the loss provided the Patriots with plays that they perhaps wanted to get back, as well as sources of chagrin.

Hawkins has since moved on from New England. The California native signed with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency after two seasons spent with the Patriots from 2024-25.

The Patriots have the 2026 NFL Draft to look forward to as they work toward finalizing a contending roster for another shot at the Vince Lombardi Trophy next season. Hawkins, meanwhile, will pose a new challenge for New England in 2026, as he remains in the AFC with the Patriots’ rivals over in Baltimore.

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Former Patriots DB opens up about Super Bowl LX loss, plane ride home

The San Francisco 49ers could finally be looking to select Trent Williams’s replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft.

On Tuesday, Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, projected to be a first-round pick, posted that he was in the building at the 49ers facility, confirming a visit ahead of the draft.

Then, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared that Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, also a projected first-round pick, recently visited with the 49ers on a top-30 visit as well. Rapoport noted that Proctor has also spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, and Philadelphia Eagles.

The news is quite interesting as the 49ers haven’t drafted an offensive tackle in the first round since taking Mike McGlinchey back in 2018 at No. 9 overall. They haven’t drafted one in the second round during that timeframe either (the only offensive lineman the 49ers have drafted in the first two rounds under Kyle Shanahan is Aaron Banks).

But there is a pressing need for a tackle of the future, with Trent Williams inching closer to 40 years old, which the 49ers have not addressed over the past few seasons. Moreover, San Francisco has an opening at left guard that a rookie could fill in Year 1 before kicking back out to tackle in Year 2.

Proctor is one of the more polarizing offensive line prospects in the class. He’s had some inconsistent years in college, but the highs have been really high, and he’s a very unique athlete at 6’7, 352 pounds. Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Proctor:

“Proctor is a mass of humanity with rare size and length at his command. He’s capable as a move blocker but shines when rolling downhill as a bona-fide people mover with bulldozing power. However, slants and quick first steps beat him to the spot in the run game.

“When set and centered, Proctor is a roadblock to speed-to-power charges. He has a stout anchor and strong hands to stall the rush in its track. He struggles to mirror athletes in space and lacks the range to protect deeper pocket drops against speed. Inconsistency in pass protection hasn’t helped his draft standing, but he still has the potential to become a good right tackle or very good guard.”

When you look at the teams that have also considered Proctor, a majority of them are in the backend of the first round. The Lions have a big need at tackle and are at No. 17. The Eagles have the No. 23 pick. The Browns hold the No. 24 pick. The Chiefs are at No. 29. The Dolphins are at No. 30. And the Cardinals are near the top of the second round at No. 34.

So, there seems to be a range where Proctor could fall in the upcoming draft. Heading into the draft, there seem to be five projected first-round offensive tackles: Francis Mauigoa, Monroe Freeling, Kadyn Proctor, Spencer Fano, and Caleb Lomu.

With what’s perceived as a dropoff after those top five, the offensive tackles could be pushed up the board on draft night, but it seems San Francisco is doing its due diligence on the bunch as they prepare with the No. 27 pick.

Real Madrid need to win in the Allianz Arena to give themselves a chance of getting into the Champions League semi-finals, and after three goals in 15 minutes, they are on course for the win they need to force extra time at the very least.

Alvaro Arbeloa’s side made a golden start to proceedings in Bavaria when Arda Guler pounced on a Manuel Neuer error to score after 36 seconds, although their lead lasted five minutes as Aleksandar Pavlovic headed home soon after for the home side.

Guler scores again as Real Madrid level tie after 29 minutes

But they have now struck for the second time in the first half, and it’s a second of the evening for Guler. His free-kick from the edge of the box was just out of Neuer’s reach, which has brought Real Madrid back to 3-3 in the tie.

Kane strikes after relentless Bayern spell

But once again, Real Madrid failed to hold their lead for a sustained period. A relentless spell from Bayern has ended with their second equaliser of the night, scored by Harry Kane.

Mbappe makes it 4-4 on aggregate

But this time, it is Real Madrid that have got a quick response. An excellent run from Vinicius Junior has ended with him slipping in Kylian Mbappe, who makes no mistake to score his second goal of the tie.

It’s been a Champions League classic in the opening stages, and at this stands, Real Madrid are getting the minimum result they need to keep their progression hopes alive.

Aston Villa currently sit in a strong fourth place in the Premier League as the 2025/26 season enters its final phase. Unai Emery has turned the team into a real threat to the traditional big six, shown by their recent 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest and a solid 3-1 win over Bologna in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Fans can feel the momentum building around the club, especially as the team play a high-pressing, technical style that has them right in the contention for Champions League football. Tomorrow brings another huge European test as they host the second leg against Bologna, and the atmosphere at Villa Park is expected to be intense given the club’s current run.

Emiliano Buendia prepares for new contract talks

Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider reports that Aston Villa plan to start contract talks with Argentine playmaker Emiliano Buendia once the season ends. The 29-year-old has seen a massive shift in his fortunes after spending the second half of last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen. While Unai Emery previously seemed okay with the midfielder leaving, the Spaniard now sees Buendia as a key part of his plans for the 2026/27 campaign.

Buendia has repaid that trust with 5 goals and 2 assists in 30 league games so far. His underlying stats are just as impressive; his Non-Penalty Expected Goals (npxG) per 90 minutes is 0.34, putting him in the top 89th percentile of Premier League players. This shows he is a constant goal threat from midfield, while his 1.52 key passes per game prove he’s still a creative force. (stats via Footy Stats)

Villa want to sort his future now since he enters the final year of his contract this summer, and the board is mindful of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Keeping a proven player like Buendia helps the club stay stable while staying within financial rules.

Why must Aston Villa prioritise the Argentine’s extension?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 15: Emi Buendia of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford on March 15, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

Tying Buendia down to a new deal is a smart move for a club trying to balance big ambitions with tight financial limits. His ability to play several roles across the attack gives Emery tactical options that few others in the squad can offer. Losing a player of his quality for a low fee, or for free next year, would leave a big gap in the squad that would be expensive to fill.

By agreeing to new terms, the club protect the value of a player in his prime who already knows the manager’s system inside out. Buendia’s comeback shows that improving from within often works better than taking expensive gambles on new signings. Keeping him at Villa Park ensures the squad has the quality needed to handle both the Premier League and Europe again next year.

Paolo Vanoli has called on his Fiorentina players to cast aside inhibition and play with complete freedom when Crystal Palace visit the Stadio Franchi on Thursday evening, with the Viola requiring a 3-0 victory to overturn their first-leg deficit and reach the Conference League semi-finals.

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It is a tall order by any measure, and Vanoli was not about to pretend otherwise. But the Fiorentina coach, who has overseen one of Serie A’s more remarkable survival stories this season, knows better than most that the impossible can sometimes be achieved when a group of players stops thinking and starts believing.

“We will play with a free head, knowing that we will need something special,” he said, with quotes via AldredoPedulla.com.

“Sometimes what matters is not so much technical quality but desire, doing something that goes beyond what is expected, with courage and freedom. We have to risk, try and dream.”

Vanoli was equally honest about the context of this European run. With four points from their opening 11 league matches this season, survival was the only objective that mattered.

“When we had four points we were talking primarily about the league, that was the priority,” he said. “Then the story says the Conference must be an objective for this club.”

He also pointed to the broader lesson his side can take from facing a Premier League opponent of Palace’s quality. “The strong teams make you grow. When you don’t win, you learn.”

FLORENCE, ITALY – APRIL 13: Head coach Paolo Vanoli manager of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SS Lazio at Artemio Franchi on April 13, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Fiorentina coach Vanoli: ‘I don’t want my future decided by one game’

On his own future, Vanoli was characteristically direct. He expressed genuine ambition to continue but refused to let Thursday’s result define his tenure one way or the other.

“I don’t want my future to be conditioned by one Conference League match,” he said. “I’m not a genius if we go through and I’m not a mediocre coach if we go out. I keep believing, despite the difficulties.”

He also delivered a pointed observation about Italian football’s relationship with courage, fitting given the national conversation currently raging about the men’s team. “In Italy, people say they want courage but then criticise it when they see it.”

On team news, Dodô will miss the match through suspension, while Pongracic is being assessed after carrying a hamstring overload. Rugani, who impressed against Lazio, is available, and Vanoli confirmed Kean is being monitored day by day as the club works to have him fit.

Latest De'Von Achane update doesn't bode well for Seahawks, Giants and Vikings originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Miami Dolphinstraded away wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos this offseason, signaling that a rebuild could be on the way, and other star players could also be available for the right price, such as running back De'Von Achane.

Achane had a breakout 2025 campaign with 1,350 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. The 24-year-old also added 488 yards on 67 receptions and four scores through the air.

Though Miami is planning on rebuilding its roster and could get a lot of draft capital by trading Achane, it doesn't sound like that's the plan.

Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan shuts down Achane trade rumors

During a press conference on Tuesday, Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan made it clear that the franchise won't be trading Achane and is actually working on an extension with the Pro Bowl running back.

"He's not available for trade," Sullivan said of Achane via The List - Dolphins Podcast on X. "Things are going good. We've had some positive conversations (about a new contract) over the past couple days. Trending in the right direction. He's very important to what we do."

Trading Achane, a young and explosive running back still on his rookie deal, wouldn't make any sense for the Dolphins. Retaining the Texas A&M product for the future and signing him to an extension would be a logical move.

Seahawks, Giants, and Vikings delivered bad news

The Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, and Minnesota Vikings could be interested in trading for Achane, but it looks like they won't even get a chance.

Seattle has yet to effectively replace Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, who left for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. Achane would've been an electric replacement.

New York and Minnesota don't have a dire need for a running back, but Achane would've been an upgrade over both teams' current starters, Cam Skattebo for the Giants and Aaron Jones for the Vikings.

With Achane likely staying put in Miami, all three franchises will have to look elsewhere if they want to add talent to their running backs ahead of the 2026 season.

More NFL News

• Cowboys $4 million trade candidate could receive interest from Packers, Steelers, Rams and Jets
• Packers, Rams, Bucs and Ravens could show interest in Colts $33 million trade candidate
• Latest Trent Williams update should interest Packers, Chiefs, Bears and Steelers
• Seahawks, Packers, Vikings and Giants named top landing spots for Chargers 779-yard trade candidate

The seven-game suspension Los Angeles Angels outfielder and designated hitter Jorge Soler was appealing in the wake of his April 7 fight with Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López has been reduced to four games, according tomultiplereports Wednesday.

Soler will reportedly start serving that suspension Wednesday night, when the Angels will play the third game of their four-game road series against the New York Yankees.

Soler piled up three home runs and eight RBI over six games while appealing his initial suspension.

A day after the fracas in Anaheim, where benches and bullpens cleared to break things up, an appealing López reportedly reached an agreement with MLB to reduce his initial seven-game suspension to five games.

Both players were hit with disclosed fines.

This story is being updated.

Maryland wrestling All-American Jaxon Smith plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, he announced. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

The other big news is Smith announced he would drop to 174 pounds for his final season. He has wrestled 184 and 197 in his career.

Smith previously announced he would take a medical redshirt due to an ankle injury back in January. He released a statement at the time.

“After a lot of thought, prayer and conversations with my coaches and medical team, I’ve decided to take a medical redshirt this season due to an ankle injury,” Smith wrote. “While this isn’t the season I envisioned for myself, my priority is getting back fully healthy so I can come back stronger for the 2026-27 season. I’m grateful for all of the support from my teammates, coaches, family and everyone who continues to believe in me. I’m excited for what’s the come.”

Smith is a three-time NCAA qualifier with a record of 91-12 for his career. He is coming off of an All-American finish in 2025, where he took sixth place at 184 pounds in the NCAA Tournament. He ranked No. 6 in the most recent InterMat rankings prior to his injury.

Maryland coach Alex Clemsen also released a statement regarding the injury for Smith. It’s a devastating blow for the team, but ultimately they had to keep his long-term health in mind.

“Jaxon Smith has been the face of our program since summer of ’22,” Clemsen said. “Losing him this year has been less than ideal. Seeing him struggle and work to try to get back for a title run, and to continue to lead this team, has been very impressive. At some point though, it is not what is best for both his short-term and long-term health.”

Smith was a late addition to the transfer portal after it opened up on April 1st. Originally, it seemed like Smith would finish out his career in College Park, as Clemsen outlined.

“What that said, we will be pursuing a medical waiver for Jaxon so that he can come back to College Park next year fully healthy and ready to compete at the highest level. We appreciate everyone who has poured into Jaxon’s treatment and reached out with support,” Clemsen said. “Having Jaxon back next year makes the future even brighter, and we cannot wait to see him be himself, doing what he loves, the way he is truly capable.”

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves. Check it out!

When the Lakers begin their opening-round playoff series against the Rockets Saturday, they will be without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, both working their way back from injury.

Consequently, DraftKings Sportsbook has the Rockets priced as -600 favorites heading into the first round of the postseason. LeBron James and the Lakers are 90:1 to win the Western Conference and 150:1 to win the NBA Finals as of this writing.

Are the Lakers completely without hope, though? Using FTN’s Stats & Charting, let’s take a look at their roster to see if there is any reason to think they could make some noise during these playoffs.

Can LeBron James turn back the clock?

During the regular season, LeBron James averaged 29.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 10.4 assists per 36 minutes with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves off of the floor. In the past month, James has a +2.6% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and has scored +0.7 Points Over Expectation, indicating that he’s still been performing at a high level.

Following the All-Star break, the Lakers were 8.4 points better per 100 possessions with James on the court, compared to when he was on the bench – offering further evidence that he’s still capable of turning back the clock.

What does the supporting cast look like?

In five games following the injury to Luka, the Lakers relied on Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Luke Kennard for more contributions on the offensive end of the floor.

The good news for Los Angeles is that those players performed well in an expanded role. Hachimura, who averaged 11.5 points this season, scored 16.6 points per game down the stretch. Notably, he was 7-for-10 from the field against the Thunder and shot 50% from the field against the Suns – two playoff teams. Ayton and Kennard saw similar increases in scoring while maintaining strong efficiency.

During the team’s final 3 regular season contests, Hachimura, James, and Ayton each posted an +8.0% FGOE or better.

Does Houston have a problem?

Houston was 25-15 SU and ranked fourth in the NBA in net rating during their first 40 games this season, but lost Steven Adams to injury Jan. 18. From that point, the Rockets were 27-15 SU, but they ranked only 11th in net rating.

Houston led the NBA in rebound% (55.7%) prior to Adams’ injury, but regressed slightly in that area during the second half of the campaign. They also had the seventh-worst turnover rate in basketball during that span, which diminished the potency of their offense.

The Lakers defensive rating was 1.3 points better with Doncic off of the floor following the All-Star break. It’s not impossible to think that Los Angeles could make life difficult for Houston’s offense in the opening round.

The Takeaway

The Lakers went 10-8 SU in games with Luka Dončić unavailable and 17-14 SU in games with Austin Reaves inactive during the regular season. LeBron James had his workload monitored diligently this year, hoping to keep him fresh for the most important games of the season. The level of difficulty goes up in the playoffs, but his recent production in our Stats & Charting metrics indicate that he has plenty left in the tank. If his supporting cast can continue to knock down some open shots against Houston, there is at least a little bit of hope for Lakers fans – more than the current betting odds suggest.

Nico Iamaleava’s first year with the UCLA Bruins was certainly a whirlwind. There were moments of greatness from Iamaleava, and some moments that the young quarterback would want back. Ultimately it was a tough season for the signal caller, as he saw UCLA go just 3-9 on the season.

Now Iamaleava has new head coach Bob Chesney and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy to rely on, as Iamaleava and the Bruins look to be more competitive during the 2026 season. Iamaleava entered the college football landscape with huge expectations, and while the talent is there, he hasn’t displayed it on a down-to-down basis.

Iamaleava could head to the NFL Draft following this upcoming season with UCLA, meaning there’s a lot on the line for the 6’6” quarterback. With his physical traits, a solid season of production would certainly garner him some interest at the NFL level.

Brad Crawford of CBS Sports ranked every Power Conference starting quarterback, with Iamaleava falling down the board all the way to No. 38 in Crawford’s list. Among Big Ten quarterbacks, Crawford had Iamaleava ranked as the 12th best. 

“Iamaleava was the center of unwanted attention last offseason after his messy exit from Tennessee,” Crawford wrote of Iamaleava. “The game plan this spring and summer is is to get back to national notoriety for the right reasons under new Bruins coach Bob Chesney. Iamaleava has obvious talent after previously helping the Vols get to the CFP as a freshman, but he tumbled a few pegs last season after finishing with 13 touchdown passes after he was sacked 27 times and missed a bowl game.”

UCLA’s offensive infrastructure wasn’t dependable for Iamaleava last season, we’ll see if a more consistent offense around him can yield better results for Iamaleava and the Bruins offense. 

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA's ranked as the No. 38 Power Conference starting quarterback

Sometimes, we make this pro-wrestling thing way more complicated than it has to be.

With art of any kind, there’s room for individual styles, unique interpretations, doing things people never expected to help further that art. But sometimes you gotta take that brush and paint that soup can. In WWE’s case, that latest Warhol is Oba Femi, the man who tore through the company’s developmental brand and is now slated to open Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 for ESPN’s free portion of the event, He’s big, he’s bad, he’s boisterous and beats the opposition down — Femi works so well because there isn’t an era you could drop him in where he’d seem out of place. He’s the king of any castle, and “The Ruler’s” decree for success? Stay grounded in the things that you know, communicate your worth, and tear apart whatever's in front of you.

In a now-viral clip from February, Justina Emmanwori, mother of Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori, struggled to understand the importance of the Super Bowl as a singular event. Anyone lucky enough to spend their undergraduate days with Nigerian friends and classmates has heard a similar facsimile of her disbelief. While it extends across cultures, there tends to be a push from immigrant parents not just for education, but the pursuit of practical careers, like becoming a doctor, lawyer, or something else the world will always need.

“Engineer!” Femi exclaims, reminding me of the final piece of the immigrant career trinity.

Already a decorated track and field athlete at the University of Lagos, the American portion of Femi’s college education started at Middle Tennessee State in 2017, and he eventually found his way to the University of Alabama. He racked up numerous accolades along the way, culminating with back-to-back wins in the shot put event at the 2021 and 2022 SEC Indoor Championships, respectively.

Even then, he was on a unique path. The man with the strongest arm in the South wasn’t looking to become a lawyer, doctor or engineer. With his parents’ blessing, he was a studio art major, eventually earning a Bachelor's degree in visual arts. You can still see the graphic designer in him today; there’s precision in the way that he operates, in how he communicates with the audience, in how every time out, he paints the exact picture he’s trying to get across. And his literal canvas is now the wrestling ring, the place where power and personality intersect to create beauty and tragedy. Lately, the size of the spotlight has increased, but that doesn’t change his approach, effort or output.

“How you react to fame and fortune and things happening in your life is very dependent on how you are brought up,” Femi says.

“Because I had a good upbringing, I was very grounded in my foundation of who I am as a human being. So it can be rain, sunshine, win, loss, you remain the same. And I think that's a very powerful lesson that has helped me stay grounded as a grown man. And it's a lesson that I plan on also teaching my own children when I have them — you're never as good as you think when you're losing, and you're never as good as you think when you're winning. Stay the same. Know who you are. Stay grounded. Stay humble.”  

Yet there’s a switch that flips when he arrives at the building, an energy Femi can seemingly summon at will. He’s adjusted his cadence to give the crowd the opportunity to place an emphatic “HOO!” in the same place where Steve Austin’s famed “What?” filled empty space on WWE television for years. He doesn’t actually swing one arm in front of the other when he walks, but that emphasis — putting his foot firm on the ground as if to say he’s the one keeping the world in place — just seems to fit. The large, beaded necklace and the furry armbands — both influenced by his Nigerian heritage, but carving out something different, something that hasn’t really existed in the wrestling space.

WWE via Getty Images

Femi is the first of his family to spend his late teens in the States, in a hyper-competitive environment where he not only survived, but found a way to become something brand new in a business clamoring for it. And now, as WrestleMania fast approaches, he’s wanted on both WWE brands — “Raw” and “Smackdown” — and already had his first taste of the boisterous battle that is the Royal Rumble. He lasted almost 40 minutes in January’s big showcase and eliminated a match-best five other participants, before getting eliminated by his now-opponent Brock Lesnar after being caught off guard.

But even with all the changes in his life in 2026, it’s still his picture he’s focused on painting. He broke in his brush on WWE’s toughest canvas on the March 16th edition of “Raw,” confronting and physically dominating Lesnar in a way most of the audience has never seen. He’s now gotten the best of Lesnar twice, and this weekend looks to cement himself as WWE’s next big thing by defeating the former UFC heavyweight champion on the profession's biggest stage.

But Femi can also admit that Lesnar, The Undertaker and a few others caught his eye early, not just for their strength, but their fluidity at their size as well. “[If there was someone I was] emulating, I would say Brock, because he was always that big man, hybrid style,” he acknowledges. “He was grounded and he stayed strong and powerful and did big, powerful moves. But at the same time, he was light on his feet.

“When I say light on his feet, I don't mean his shooting star press or anything like that. Just the way he moved alone. I've always looked at Brock and Undertaker as well. There's a certain fluidity I like in my wrestling. Certain guys possess it.”

WWE via Getty Images

Getting the best of one of your inspirations on the very biggest stage is the kind of thing that takes you from the process to the promised land, but even with all of that in front of him, Femi is still rooted in the things that got him to this point.

“I think the only thing that has been different for me has been the travel schedule,” he says. “I stay very focused. I stay very grounded. I'm one of those people who has a strong belief that it doesn't matter if it's 500 people at the [WWE Performance Center] or 80,000 people at WrestleMania. The ring is the same size, the ropes are the same tightness, and it's up to me to go out there and deliver. So that's my approach.”

Femi became the focus of the NXT men’s division in 2025, and with good cause. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Nigerian wasn’t simply dominant — he talked like a champion, he dressed like a champion, and when the bell rang, every move, every expression, every burst of otherworldly power screamed champion. He won the NXT Championship at January’s “New Year’s Evil” event, and fended off any and all comers for almost nine months before losing the title to Ricky Saints in September, only to regain it in December. 

Recapturing the title was a prize in and of itself, but it also gave Femi a once in a lifetime opportunity — the chance to compete on the show that featured John Cena’s final match. Just over three years after his first pro-wrestling match, Femi found himself in a Champion vs. Champion showcase against Cody Rhodes, the top man in the industry. And where others may have shrunk, Femi looked every bit Rhodes’ equal, showing exactly why he’s in position to be the top man sooner than later. “I made it a mission of mine to show these people at the main roster, show all the producers, the bookers, the head honchos that I belong,” he says.

“I'm not just a prospect, because this thing that [people] keep saying, ‘The future, the future, the future’ — it's like, ‘No, man. These guys are at the top and they're in their 40s. I'm under 30. I'm ready to go.’ And I wanted to show them that day. And what better stage to do that than side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder with the No. 1 guy in the company, Cody Rhodes? And I think I accomplished my mission. My statement was clear: I belong here.”

WWE via Getty Images

After successfully defending the NXT title against TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater this past January, Femi left the belt in the middle of the ring, effectively relinquishing the championship en route to the WWE main roster. “[It] was time. You know when you've done everything you can do for a company, you know when you've done everything you can do for a brand, a relationship, a friendship,” he says. “You know when you've done everything and you've tried your best and you've put your all, and it's time for you to move on to the next thing. And that's just where I found myself when I had the NXT Championship.

“I'd done everything there was to do. I'm grateful for my time in NXT, of course. That was my indies. I appreciate everything I went through there.” 

One potential speed bump in going directly into the WWE pipeline is some wrestlers miss out on those rivalries built throughout smaller promotions that can follow them as they find more and more success. Talents like Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, all the iterations of the Bullet Club and The Elite, they’ve all seen their closest friends and coldest foes through wins, losses and life experiences, only making those rivalries better over time. But to his credit, and to theirs, Femi found not one, but two peers that he looks to face going forward. “You have Oba Femi, Trick Williams and Je’Von Evans,” he says.

“You can't tell me the [WWE Performance Center] doesn't make stars. How often do you get such people getting called up to the main roster and they're already on that level? The PC did that, the NXT did that. We did that.”

WWE via Getty Images

What the trio did was something that hasn’t ever really been done — on the same roster, held in the same regard at the same time, you had three dark-skinned, dread-headed, main-event talents fighting for their show's top prize. And they were three distinctly different men, not only in moves but in mantras as well. Femi, “The Ruler,” made it his mission to not only intimidate, but to bulldoze anyone who stood across from him. Williams, a two-time NXT Champion in his own right, let his success go to his head — and wardrobe — leaning heavily into his South Carolina roots while finding his Southern Player showman. He’ll face Sami Zayn for the U.S. Championship at WrestleMania, where he figures to have a grand entrance and an even more grandiose response. And Evans, the effortlessly athletic 21-year-old with the giant smile, has a grace you don’t see out of 6-foot-2 wrestlers, and was instantly a hit with the NXT audience. He’ll show off that near-fictional athleticism in a five-way WrestleMania ladder match for the Intercontinental Title.

Femi ended Williams’ second reign in his final year in NXT, and fended off both men multiple times the rest of the year. It’s the rare feat that neither Williams or Evans seemed defined down after losing to Femi — it was simply understood that these are matchups you’ll need to see for years and years. “It puts joy in my heart knowing that we did what we did for the brand of NXT,” Femi says. “We became the top trio in the next year. And we all got called up around the same time. And it's good to watch the people around you grow as well. They pushed me to become a better version of myself.

“You know the way the [NXT] black and gold is romanticized by fans? I do strongly believe that the Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans and Oba Femi era will also be romanticized.”

With Evans on “Raw” and Williams on “Smackdown,” either choice for Femi could see a rivalry revisited immediately. But “The Ruler” hasn’t decided on a permanent destination just yet. All of the early success, from the titles to the history-making moments, the claims everywhere that he’s next up, none of it seems to phase him. Oba Femi has done — and will continue to do — the work. In only a few years, he’s had a career most would envy. But, grounded as he may be, he has no problem making sure the powers that be know exactly what he’s worth. “As long as I'm paid what I'm worth, I'm given everything I ask for, I will elevate whatever show I'm put on. I know that for sure,” he says.

“I'm a star in my own right. All that humility stuff, yes, humility, but you also have to know where you stand on the pecking order. And I understand that very clearly.”

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jon-Eric Sullivan is looking for generational players to add in next week's NFL draft.

The Miami Dolphins general manager knows he already has one on his roster in De'Von Achane, and he has no interest in parting ways with the star running back.

Despite unloading the majority of Miami's core from the last few seasons, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, Sullivan said Wednesday that Achane is not going anywhere amid contract negotiations.

“He is not available for trade," Sullivan said. "Things are going good. We've had some positive conversations over the last couple of days. Trending in the right direction.”

Achane is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is expected to be a key piece of Miami's rebuilt roster along with quarterback Malik Willis, whom Miami acquired after cutting Tagovailoa in March.

Achane rushed for at least 800 yards in each of his first three seasons, with 1,350 yards on 238 carries last season. He averaged a league-leading 5.7 yards per carry with eight rushing touchdowns, along with 488 receiving yards and four receiving scores.

The Dolphins have 11 total picks in the 2026 draft, including the 11th overall selection.

Sullivan also had had talks on potential contract extensions for center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Jordyn Brooks, though nothing is imminent for either veteran. Both were captains for the Dolphins last season.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

In need of linebacker help in the 2026 NFL draft, Louisiana's Jaden Dugger appears to be on the Indianapolis Colts' radar.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated's Justin Melo, Dugger said he has had a meeting with the Colts, among other teams. Whether this was an in-person meeting or virtual was unclear.

Let's take a closer look at what Dugger could bring to the Colts.

Colts 2026 NFL draft prospect to watch: LB Jaden Dugger

Dugger has played over 2,000 career snaps, spending the last two seasons at Louisiana. Before that, he played at FCS Georgetown, where Dugger was a safety.

Dugger saw significantly more playing time in 2025 compared to 2024, posting 12 quarterback pressures and four sacks as a blitzer, according to PFF. In coverage, he held opponents to 9.0 yards per catch, while coming away with one interception and one pass breakup. He recorded 125 total tackles as well.

Dugger has played 368 special teams snaps over four seasons, regularly playing on four of the six phases.

Jaden Dugger's athletic profile

Jaden Dugger is a LB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.60 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 139 out of 3460 LB from 1987 to 2026.

Correcting the school.https://t.co/Mgy62Hz3Yhpic.twitter.com/ZNMOJBg66t

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 6, 2026

What kind of impact can Jaden Dugger make in the NFL?

To wrap up the interview, Melo asked Dugger why a team should use one of their draft picks on him:

"I think I have the most upside of any player in this draft," Dugger said. "This is the worst I’m ever going to be and I’m still making plays compared to guys who are supposed to be the top players in this class. I’m only going to get better. I feel like I’ve proven myself. I love competing. I have the intangibles you can’t teach. The ball is in their court at this point. We’ll see how those 32 teams feel about me."

What is the Colts' need at linebacker in the NFL draft?

Despite the addition of Akeem Davis-Gaither in free agency, there is still a significant lack of experience within this position group. Depth is needed, and more competition for playing time is needed. You name it, the Colts need it at linebacker. Relying on the current iteration of this room to make an impact comes with risks, given the lack of experience.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Colts meet with Louisiana LB Jaden Dugger

Film Profile | Analytical Profile

This article originally appeared on The Huddle: Elijah Sarratt Rookie Profile, Fantasy Outlook and NFL Draft Analysis

If you thought this season could not get any worse, well it did.

Hugo Ekitike suffered a terrible achilles rupture against Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday night. The injury will rule Ekitike out not just for this season and the World Cup but also for most of next season.

The expected prognosis at the moment is that he will be out of action for nine months. That's an awfully long time and it's devastating for both Ekitike and Liverpool.

Out of all the new signings, it was the Frenchman who has settled in the easiest and the fastest. He's amassed 23 goal contributions in his debut campaign, which is a more than respectable output considering the season Liverpool have had.

In many ways, he has become the new face of the Reds and one of the club's new fan favourites.

But now Liverpool are going to have to find a way to cope without him. Ekitike won't be able to help out Arne Slot's side for the considerable future.

Until then someone else will have to step-up. But who?

It's not like Liverpool are throning with attacking options. There's Alexander Isak, and that's about it.

Federico Chiesa is expected to leave the club this summer, Mohamed Salah is also on his way out. And then there's Jayden Danns, who is extremely unreliable when it comes to fitness.

His prolonged injury problems mean Liverpool simply cannot rely on him either.

Instead, they must look towards another exciting academy prospect in Will Wright.

The 18-year-old, had already made his first-team debut at Salford City by the time he joined Liverpool.

He was only 16-years-old in the summer but had EFL experience under his belt and had scored 40-goals for Salford City at academy level last season.

At the time of his arrival, Wright was tearing it up in pre-season with Salford's first-team.

When he signed for Liverpool, he immediately made his debut for the first-team as well against Athletic Bilbao in a pre-season friendly and so nearly scored.

MLB adjusted Los Angeles Angels slugger Jorge Soler’s punishment following his appeal after he received a seven-game suspension.

Soler served as the catalyst for an on-field brawl with Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez last week, and both parties received seven games for their involvement in the fight. Lopez, who exchanged blows with Soler while still holding the baseball, got his suspension reduced to five games, and MLB reduced Soler’s suspension to four.

The 34-year-old will begin serving his suspension in the Angels’ third game of a four-game series against the New York Yankees on Wednesday.

Soler’s suspension will keep him out through Saturday, meaning he’ll miss the first two games of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres back at Angel Stadium.

The Angels will miss Soler during his absence, as he has been fantastic with the bat throughout the young 2026 season. He has five home runs on the season, and leads the American League with 18 RBIs. The 143 OPS+ he has so far this season is his highest since 2014—when he played just 24 games with the Chicago Cubs.

In the meantime, the Angels have several options they can consider to take over Soler’s spot. The best options are Mike Trout and Jo Adell, who have been below average fielders in the outfield this season.

What do you think of Soler’s suspension? Should it have been reduced further?

The post Angels’ Jorge Soler Gets Decision on Suspension Appeal After Brawl appeared first on LA Sports Report.

On Jets Final Drive, SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes and The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt, along with a number of reporters and insiders from around the league, predicted the entire first round of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.  

Here are the results of the mega-mock draft, along with comments from everyone making selections.

No. 1 - Las Vegas Raiders: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
Selected by Brooke Hughes, daughter of Connor Hughes

“Yay!”

No. 2 - New York Jets: Ohio State EDGE Arvell Reese
Selected by Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic

“It’s not a hard pick. He’s probably the highest-ceiling pick in this draft, can play EDGE, can play linebacker. The Jets need blue-chip players on defense, and he can be that.” 

No. 3 - Arizona Cardinals: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey
Selected by Jordan Hamm, Sports360az

“What Bailey can do for this Cardinals pass rush – 14.5 sacks last year – is just too good to pass up.”

No. 4 - Tennessee Titans: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
Selected by Turron Davenport, ESPN

“It is all about adding weapons for Cam Ward, and what better way to give Cam Ward an option that can score the football any time he touches it from anywhere on the field.”

No. 5 - New York Giants: Ohio State S Caleb Downs
Selected by Jordan Raanan, ESPN

“The Giants believe he can believe he can be the kind of player that Kyle Hamilton was for John Harbaugh in Baltimore: an All-Pro, difference-making kind of safety. There is nothing that the Giants believe that Caleb Downs cannot do.” 

No. 6 - Cleveland Browns: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
Selected by Zac Jackson, The Athletic

“He can separate, he can make catches in traffic, he can create explosive plays, the Browns need all of that.”

No. 7 - Washington Commanders: Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
Selected by JP Finlay, NBC Sports Washington

“New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones wants a really versatile front and I think [Bain] can provide that.”

No. 8 - New Orleans Saints: USC WR Makai Lemon
Selected by Luke Johnson, New Orleans Times-Picayune

“The Saints went into this offseason looking to build around quarterback Tyler Shough,… in Lemon, they got a little bit different type of receiver than they already have, somebody who can line up in the slot and get a bunch of yards after the catch.”

No. 9 - Kansas City Chiefs: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson
Selected by Jesse Newell, The Athletic

“He’s been injured a lot for Arizona State, but that high upside and that ability for the Chiefs to reload the receiver room, with so many question marks there in the future, I think that’s a chance that they have to take.” 

No. 10 - Cincinnati Bengals: LSU CB Mansoor Delane
Selected by Marshall Kramsky

“The Bengals’ biggest draft needs have to be all on defense… the defensive line and the secondary.”

No. 11 - Miami Dolphins: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa
Selected by John Jastremski, SNY 

“They’ve had a dire need to go beef up the offensive line in a big way.” 

No. 12 - Dallas Cowboys: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
Selected by Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News

“[The Cowboys] want to find big players that can move side to side. Styles is a big man… he is the perfect guy for this Cowboys scheme.”

No. 13 - Los Angeles Rams: Georgia OL Monroe Freeling
Selected by Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic

“He is a raw prospect, but he has a ton of upside, a massive 6-foot-7 frame and a lot of traits that will apply very, very well to the NFL level.”

No. 14 - Baltimore Ravens: Penn State OL Olaivavega Ioane
Selected by Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic

“Ioane is one of the cleanest players in the draft. This offseason, the biggest item on Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta’s to-do list is solidifying the offensive line…. Ioane is a huge piece to getting that done. He has a high floor and a Pro Bowl ceiling.”

No. 15 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor
Selected by Greg Auman, Fox Sports

“Really productive last year. He’s 25, everyone gets on him about his age. [But] 12.5 sacks last year, four forced fumbles, did really well opposite Bain there in Miami’s defense…. EDGE is a need position for [Tampa Bay].”

No. 16 - New York Jets: Indiana WR Omar Cooper
Selected by Connor Hughes, SNY 

"My only real concern with the selection is that Cooper spent basically his entire 2025 season, a productive 2025 season, playing within the slot. Garrett Wilson is somebody that we've seen have a lot of success in the slot. But if Wilson prefers to spend more of his career outside, this is an opportunity to get somebody else inside while AD Mitchell mans that other wide spot for the Jets. So they get their pass rusher early, and then they loop around here and get a playmaker for the O."

No. 17 - Detroit Lions: Utah OT Spencer Fano
Selected by Colton Pouncy, The Athletic

"To me, Fano is the most athletic tackle in this class. I know the short arms won't be for everyone, but I think for the Lions, they can move Penei Sewell from right tackle to left tackle. You can plug Fano in at right tackle. And if he doesn't pan out, I think he can be a really high quality guard in the league."

No. 18 - Minnesota Vikings: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy
Selected by Alec Lewis, The Athletic

“Yes, he’s coming off a torn ACL. No, he’s not played an entire season. But, in terms of fit with Brian Flores’ defense… it just makes sense.”

No. 19 - Carolina Panthers: Oregon S Dillon Thieneman
Selected by Joe Person, The Athletic

“GM Dan Morgan has been looking for an over-the-top, rangy safety, and Dillon Thieneman checks those boxes.”

No. 20 - Dallas Cowboys: Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk
Selected by Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News

“Christian Parker, the new defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, wants versatility in his defense, and Faulk can play in a two-point stance, can play in a 4-3, or in a 3-4.”

No. 21 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor
Selected by Mike DeFabo, The Athletic

“Whether it’s 2027 or Week 1 of this year… they’re going to be looking for a new starting left tackle sooner than later. Maybe it’s Week 1 of this year with Kadyn Proctor.”

No. 22 - Los Angeles Chargers: Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker
Selected by Daniel Popper, The Athletic

“His pass-rush plan was really defined, plays with power as a rusher and a run defender. I think he’ll be able to contribute right away.”

No. 23 - Philadelphia Eagles: Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor
Selected by Dave Zangaro, NBC Sports Philadelphia

“A bit of a raw prospect, but a lot to like about this kid.” 

No. 24 - Cleveland Browns: Utah OT Caleb Lomu
Selected by Zac Jackson, The Athletic

“The Browns are mostly focused on the future, but they have offensive holes to fill, really, across the depth chart.”

No. 25 - Chicago Bears: Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald
Selected by Dan Wiederer, The Athletic

“[Chicago has] a need for interior disruption. [McDonad] can be a force both as a run-stuffer and as someone who can collapse the pocket in passing situations.”

No. 26 - Buffalo Bills: Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell
Selected by Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic

“Edge rusher is a big need for the Bills.”

No. 27 - San Francisco 49ers: Washington WR Denzel Boston
Selected by Matt Barrows, The Athletic

“He’s such an easy fit. He’s a big guy, he can step into that power-slot position… he has the ability to play on the outside, too.”

No. 28 - Houston Texans: Clemson DT Peter Woods
Selected by DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN

"Throughout coach DeMeco Ryans' tenure, the Texans have had a bunch of guys play the defensive tackle spot. This gives them an opportunity to get a long-term but young and talented answer at that position."

No. 29 - Kansas City Chiefs: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
Selected by Jesse Newell, The Athletic

“When a guy like that falls to 29, I just don’t think the Chiefs have many other options.”

No. 30 - Miami Dolphins: Clemson CB Avieon Terrell
Selected by John Jastremski, SNY

”Hopefully can go and solve one side of the field for the Miami Dolphins.”

No. 31 - New England Patriots: Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas
Selected by Chad Graff, The Athletic

“This team made it to the Super Bowl with, frankly, just an OK pass rush, their edge rushers are not great. This is a chance to upgrade there.” 

No. 32 - Seattle Seahawks: Missouri EDGE Zion Young
Selected by Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic

“Zion brings a physical presence… strong guy, can play the run, can play the pass. Exact type of player Mike Macdonald would like to add.”

The acronym of “NFL” has been translated as “Not For Long” within the business of football for many years. This is particularly true when it comes to assessing the many trade rumors that fly around throughout the offseason. There is a(nother) possibility for the Bears to upgrade their defensive line with a big swing in the trade market.

Per several reports, including from national insider Ian Rapoport of NFL Network ESPN — that will take some time to adjust — and Pat Leonard of New York Daily News, the New York Giants and star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence are possibly headed for a divorce. The Giants currently have him under contract for two more seasons.

The current expectation is that there will be significant interest from teams around the league if and when the bidding war for “Sexy Dexy” begins in earnest. One of those teams might very well be the Chicago Bears, as they have been “in” on a few trade rumors this year, including confirmation by general manager Ryan Poles of their interest in Maxx Crosby during his latest presser. As of the writing of this article, the suggested price tag could be somewhere between a 1st round pick and/or a combination of picks from day two.

Interestingly enough, the Bears have not shifted monies around to open up cap space recently. This is why they currently appear snug against the salary cap per OverTheCap. Theoretically, they have an ample amount of flexibility to tap into if / when the Bears pull the trigger on a sizeable move. They will need to alter salaries in the near future to get their draft picks under contract as well.

Adding a player like Dexter Lawrence II to their defensive line would arguably be the biggest force multiplier of any option on the market. A player who can truly open up opportunities for everyone else in their revamped front seven to make plays. Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis has put together an amazing compilation of statistics and data for how rare of a player Dex is as a true nose who can rush the passer at an elite level.

The number which stands out most for me is how many pressures he’s generated since 2022. As posted above, he’s been credited with 108 pressures when lined up as a nose tackle (zero or one/shade). The next highest number… is 32 from Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea. Generating a pass rush as a true nose is hard enough. To do so consistently, while handling the dirty work and double / triple teams, is unreal. Dexter Lawrence II is truly 1-of-1 as a nose tackle while coming in at 6-4 and over 340 pounds.

Will the Bears part with pick #25 straight up? Or, a combination of picks between now and 2027? It remains to be seen how interested they truly are in this sweepstakes. But for a team looking to win now, this would be a slam-dunk trade. One that will most certainly be accompanied by a new contract that shall pay him as the league’s top nose tackle.

It’s at this point in the college baseball season — halfway through conference play — when disappointed fans begin to doubt whether their pre-season dreams were just that, dreams. With 15 Big Ten games to go, the book is far from shut on the Wildcats, but their performance against Purdue at home over the weekend certainly didn’t imbue fans with hope for the home stretch. The Boilermakers came into Evanston and cruised to a sweep; across 28 innings, Northwestern held a lead for two of them. It just feels like the Wildcats can’t get out of their own way: when the pitching delivers, the bats fall flat and when the offense explodes, the arms can’t deliver. I’ve preached all year that the ‘Cats excel in the little areas, but you can’t out-hustle the second worst run differential in the Big Ten. So, let’s assess a brutal weekend.

The Good

There wasn’t much “good” across the board for Northwestern this weekend, but save a ninth inning blow-up in the series finale, the arms stayed (mostly) competitive throughout the series. Before that fateful seven-run Boilermaker explosion to seal the sweep, it was death by 1000 paper cuts. James Whitaker fell victim to the long ball, allowing three home runs while only striking out one, but Alex Grant and Drew Dickson held it down later in relief to keep the ‘Cats within striking range. In game two, the 6’6 righty Matt Kouser shined, allowing just one earned run and zero extra-base hits through six innings. Walks continue to limit Kouser’s length, as he leads the Big Ten in free passes allowed, but the stuff and frame is there for him to be a major arm going forward for the ‘Cats.

I know, the story sounds awfully similar to how it did going into the season, where young arms making a leap with their command and execution will be the x-factor, but those were rooted in the athletic nature of this pitching staff. It’s difficult to feel great about the ‘Cats pitching staff for the rest of the season, let alone 2027, given their inconsistency, but I still believe that some big leaps forward from just a few guys could seriously flip that narrative on its head.

The Bad

Northwestern got out-hit by Purdue 32-25 and out-scored 22-8. It seems almost unfathomable that a team could get outscored by double the margin they get out-hit, it goes against so many of the most fundamental tenets of good offense like getting on-base and “not trying to do too much.” However, the extra-base hit margin over the weekend ended at 13-4 in favor of the Boilermakers…that mostly sums it up. For much of the season, Northwestern hitters weren’t hitting for average or walking but the damage output and high slugging percentage relative to their contact metrics buoyed them as a middling Big Ten offense. If the slug isn’t there, it will get ugly fast and we’ll likely see more sweeps as the season continues.

Despite the lackluster performance from a power standpoint, the ‘Cats still rank fourth in conference in home runs and eighth in doubles, both respectable positions, especially for a bottom-of-the-standings squad. Did the Purdue hitters crack the code on how to attack Northwestern hitters to limit their power or was it just an off series for the Wildcats big bats? All Northwestern fans should be praying for the latter, because when a home-run dependent team stops hitting homeruns…

The Best

It was always a matter of “when” not “if” Jack Lausch would get hot. The ‘Cats clean-up hitter stuffed the stat sheet over the weekend, showcasing the unique, all-around offensive profile he brings to the lineup. The strikeouts, which were a major issue to start the season, have subsided as Lausch walked as many times as he punched out against the Boilermakers. He went deep once, notched two multi-hit games and stole a base. When he’s on, Lausch is the type of offensive contributor that can start rallies with an eight-pitch walk or deposit one over the seats to cap a big inning and if the ‘Cats want to get back right against Michigan, they will need him to keep seeing the ball well.

Yet, despite Lausch’s dominance, the weekend will go down as a major disappointment for Northwestern. The ‘Cats have put themselves far behind the 8-ball, sitting in a tie for the second-worst Big Ten record through 15 conference games. The lapses in performance are clear and numerous and the road back to winning Big Ten baseball games starts in Ann Arbor on Friday.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Adrian Del Castillo hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning and drove in five to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to an 8-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Arizona went 6-3 on its nine-game trip to the New York Mets, Philadelphia and Baltimore, winning two of three from each.

Jeremiah Jackson homered and drove in three for Baltimore, which has lost consecutive games for the first time since a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh April 3-5.

After Geraldo Perdomo advanced automatic runner Corbin Carroll to third on a sacrifice to open the 10th, Del Castillo lashed a 2-0 fastball from Tyler Wells (0-1) into the bleachers in center for his first home run of the season. Nolan Arenado’s single later in the inning drove in an insurance run.

Ryan Thompson (1-0) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for Arizona. Juan Morillo earned his first save with a scoreless 10th.

With the game tied 4-4, Baltimore’s Grant Wolfram surrendered Ketel Marte’s bunt single and Carroll’s double to start the seventh. Two batters later, Del Castillo hit a chopper off Wolfram’s glove, leaving shortstop Gunnar Henderson with only a play at first and allowing Marte to score.

The Orioles retied it in the bottom of the inning on Leody Taveras’ RBI pinch single against Kevin Ginkel.

Del Castillo also hit a two-run triple in the third that glanced off left fielder Weston Wilson’s glove and was originally scored an error.

Marte, who was scratched Tuesday with back tightness, went 1 for 5 as Arizona’s designated hitter.

Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez allowed four runs, including Jackson’s two-run shot in the fifth, over five innings. He struck out three.

Baltimore’s Kyle Bradish worked a season-high six innings. He gave up four runs and struck out three.

Up next

Arizona opens a six-game homestand Friday as RHP Michael Soroka (3-0, 2.87 ERA) faces Toronto.

Baltimore begins a seven-game road trip Thursday as RHP Shane Baz (0-1, 4.50) starts at Cleveland.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Analysts are putting out their final mock drafts of 2026 with each passing day as we lead up to the big event next Thursday, including The Ringer’s Todd McShay. He released the fourth version of his first-round mock draft Wednesday and once again, he has the Rams taking a wide receiver.

However, after projecting Jordyn Tyson to land with Los Angeles in his third mock, he pivoted to Makai Lemon this time around. That’s because in his latest mock draft, Lemon falls to the Rams, whereas he went 11th to the Dolphins in mock No. 3.

Here’s what McShay wrote about the selection of Lemon for the Rams at No. 13 overall, saying he fits the team’s all-in strategy.

All chips are in on the Rams’ 2027 season, and Lemon is the best available prospect to support that plan. He may not have elite size or top-end speed for the position, but he’s built “Ram tough,” he’s as reliable as it gets at the catch point, and he consistently generates yards after the catch with excellent contact balance and body control.

It’s hard to truly go “all-in” in the NFL draft unless you’re trading away future picks to move up for one coveted player. Drafting Lemon doesn’t feel like an all-in move for Los Angeles, even as impactful as he might be as a rookie.

He’s primarily a slot receiver but in Sean McVay’s offense, receivers are asked to move all around the formation. Everyone seems to think it’s a good fit, and maybe it would be, but someone like Tyson – a true X-receiver on the outside – might be a better option, so long as the Rams can look past his injury history.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft: Todd McShay has Rams taking Makai Lemon

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Massimo Taibi has detailed his time at the club and how he regrets an “impulsive” decision he made.

Infamous tenure

Taibi joined United in August 1999, then as a high-profile signing from Italian outfit Venezia.

He arrived in England with a strong, no-nonsense reputation earned during his time in Italy. Widely tipped as the natural successor to the retired Peter Schmeichel, he became the focus of Sir Alex Ferguson’s attention after Schmeichel’s replacement, Mark Bosnich, suffered an injury, forcing the legendary manager to seek cover.

United forked out £4.5m to sign Taibi, who put pen to paper on a four-year contract.

But his time at Old Trafford was a massively disappointing one. He lasted only four Premier League appearances, all of which came in the 1999/2000 season, before he was shipped out on loan and then sold.

Taibi enjoyed a good game in his debut against Liverpool, as the Red Devils came from behind to win 3-2. He endured a nightmare start, failing to claim a high free-kick ball and allowing Sami Hyypiä a header, but he redeemed himself with a string of fine saves.

The 56-year-old was unable to build on the positives as he made several howlers in subsequent games against Southampton and then Chelsea, the latter ending in a 5-0 loss for United. The Chelsea match was Taibi’s final appearance for United.

In January 2000, United loaned him out to Reggina in Serie A before then selling him in the summer of the same year.

Taibi makes honest admission

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Taibi revealed how his move to United came about. He also expressed regret for leaving the club permanently, despite having a family emergency that he needed to go and solve.

Taibi told the newspaper, “It was a spectacle. It was 1999, I arrived in Manchester as a semi-unknown. They wanted to sign Toldo at first, then they bought me while I was playing for Venezia.”

“And Sir Alex even came to pick me up at the airport and introduced me to the entire management.”

“It was 8 pm, it wasn’t a given. We had a good relationship, even though at half-time of that 5-0 Chelsea-Manchester United game he gave me a dirty look that I still remember.”

He further said about the Chelsea game, “I made a mistake and conceded a goal. At halftime, he turned the locker room upside down. When he got angry, he shook the walls. He took it out on everyone, even me. He looked at me badly and said, ‘Massimo, that save…’ But he would have kept me on.”

On departing Old Trafford, Taibi remarked, “I was the one who made the mistake of leaving. I had a family problem in Italy and I was in a hurry to resolve it.”

He labelled the exit his biggest regret. “Yes, I had a four-year contract. I was the best player on the pitch at Liverpool, then I made that mistake I was telling you about.”

“Ferguson advised me to learn the language and stay to play my cards right. I was wrong to be impulsive.”

Meanwhile, Michael Carrick and his players are next in action on Saturday when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Featured image Grazia Neri via Getty Images

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The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Highland (Ariz.) football program made a big addition with their coaching staff on Wednesday, according to a social media post by the team.

Per the post, the Hawks have added 9-year NFL veteran wide receiver Zachary Pascal as the team’s wide receivers coach. Pascal played professionally from 2018 to 2024 for the Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively.

A huge addition for the Hawks offense! Please welcome 9-year NFL veteran Zach Pascal as our WRs coach! A proven playmaker with a résumé that speaks for itself. He brings elite experience and infectious energy that will help take our offense to the next level.

During Pascal’s nine years playing for the Colts, Cardinals and Eagles, the wide receiver hauled in a total of 169 passes for 2,057 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. Pascal’s best season came in 2020 for the Colts when the pass catcher caught 44 passes for 629 yards and scored five times.

Now Pascal will look to help assist a Highland’s wide receiving corps that totaled catching 114 passes for 1,612 yards and finding pay dirt 17 times. According to MaxPreps, the top returning wide receiver for the Hawks would be junior Kruz Cullimore, who caught 24 passes for 261 yards and two scores.

The Hawks ended this past season with a 6-7 record and finished as one of the state’s best teams, ranked No. 19 in the final 2025 Arizona High School Football Massey Rankings.

More about Highland High School

Highland High School, located in Gilbert, Arizona, is part of the Gilbert Public Schools District. Known for its strong academic programs, the school emphasizes student achievement and personal growth. It offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including athletics, arts, and clubs, aiming to foster leadership, teamwork, and community spirit. With a dedicated staff, Highland is committed to providing a well-rounded education to prepare students for future success in college and careers.

How to Follow Arizona High School Football

For Arizona high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Grand Canyon State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of Arizona.

Why Shams Charania breaks WNBA free agency news, like A'ja Wilson, despite being ESPN's NBA insider originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Shams Charania is ESPN's NBA insider.

Except when there's big WNBA news, it's often Shams breaking it on his social media accounts -- namely X (formerly Twitter).

To basketball fans, it's one of those things that might not make a lot of sense.

MORE: Valkyries' explanation of Flau'Jae Johnson trade is really confusing

Why does Shams Charania break WNBA news?

This all comes down to relationships.

Look at how Charania shared the news of A'ja Wilson's signing with the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday:

A'ja Wilson, the WNBA's first ever four-time MVP, is signing a three-year, $5 million supermax contract to return to the Las Vegas Aces, sources tell me and @Andraya_Carter. The deal, which is the largest in WNBA history to date and fully guaranteed, was negotiated by Jade-Li… pic.twitter.com/xSJhkHOvId

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 15, 2026

He includes the agent's name, and the agency, at the end of the post. That's a little "thank you" from Charania to the source that gave him the information.

It's by no means a reporting necessity, and some old-school reporters definitely wouldn't appreciate that. But it's how these insiders have gotten to the point.

And then you consider Charania's following -- he has 3.6 million followers on X. An agency certainly doesn't mind its client's exciting news getting shared to that many people all at once -- many having Charania's X posts send notifications to their phones as soon as he shares them.

It can overshadow the quality work done by WNBA reporters, but it's just the way this oft-odd insider game is played.

MORE: Caitlin Clark made Raven Johnson want to quit basketball, and now they're teammates

2026 Premier League Darts Night 11 draw, match predictions and 3 storylines to watch in Rotterdam originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Premier League of Darts heads to Rotterdam this week for Night 11.

The Play-off race is a close one at the moment, with vast movement across the league and table each week.

2026 Premier League Darts Night 11 Rotterdam draw

Here is the draw for the quarterfinal round on Night 11 of the 2026 PL.

MORE: 2026 Premier League Darts schedule, scores, results and updated table

Night 11 - Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam (April 16)

• Luke Littler vs Gerwyn Price     
• Gian van Veen vs Luke Humphries     
• Michael van Gerwen vs Jonny Clayton     
• Stephen Bunting vs Josh Rock

2026 Premier League Darts table ahead of Night 11

* = one or more wins were credited via advancing against a player who withdrew

MORE: 2026 Premier League of Darts: Get to know the 8 participants

Night 11 match predictions

Here are my predictions for a stacked slate on Night 11.

*Semifinals and final listed below are my predictions based on the quarterfinals

Quarterfinal 1: Luke Littler vs. Gerwyn Price

Winner: Gerwyn Price, 6-5

Price has yet to win a match against Littler in the Premier League this year, with a record of 0-4 up to this point.

However, he's in top form lately, and Littler is coming off one of his worst  TV performances from Night 10, so he'll have a solid chance to win this time around.

Whether or not Littler returns to form shouldn't matter too much, as Price should keep it a close game either way.

Additionally, Littler might not have the crowd on his side this week in the Netherlands, after his on-stage incident with Dutchman Gian van Veen two weeks ago.

Quarterfinal 2: Gian van Veen vs. Luke Humphries

Winner: Luke Humphries, 6-4

Humphries has been in inconsistent form in 2026, as he has won events, but has also had some concerning early exits at others, especially in the PL.

Humphries will have to face van Veen on his home soil this week, but he's the type of player to use pressure to his advantage, so I think we could see the Dutchman fall to Humphries in the quarterfinals.

MORE: PDC darts players to soar up rankings in 2026

Quarterfinal 3: Michael van Gerwen vs. Jonny Clayton

Winner: Michael van Gerwen, 6-5

MVG is the second Dutch player who will be returning to his home country this week, and his matchup will be a rematch of the final from last week.

Clayton finally grabbed a nightly win last week after a multi-week drought following his hot start.

MVG certainly had his chances to beat Clayton in that 11-leg contest, and I think because of that, he'll get revenge via a win in their rematch on Dutch soil this week.

Quarterfinal 4: Stephen Bunting vs. Josh Rock

Winner: Stephen Bunting, 6-3

Bunting is five points behind MVG for a play-off spot, which isn't bad considering his slow start.

Rock has experienced a similar start to his season this year, not winning his first PL match until Night 8.

Unfortunately, Bunting's scoring has been very consistent, so Rock could be in for a tough match because of that, as he's averaged a league-low 93.60 this PL season.

Semifinal 1: Gerwyn Price vs. Luke Humphries

Winner: Luke Humphries, 6-4

Humphries has to act soon if he wants to make a run for a play-off spot.

He's five points out of fourth place and has had a lot of early exits at events.

A quarterfinal win should boost his confidence, though, and could be the spark of an eventual run to the final on Night 11.

MORE: Every 170 'Big Fish' checkout in 2026 Premier League Darts

Semifinal 2: Michael van Gerwen vs. Stephen Bunting

Winner: Michael van Gerwen, 6-3

MVG has appeared to get better as the season has progressed.

Bunting won't be an easy opponent for the multi-time Premier League champion, but expect him to make another nightly final if they match up in the semifinals.

Final: Luke Humphries vs. Michael van Gerwen

Winner: Luke Humphries, 6-4

Both players have beaten each other twice in 2026.

As good as van Gerwen has been recently, he's had trouble at times responding to pressure.

If Humphries can produce a clean and classic performance, it will be tough for MVG to counteract that with one of his own, as his scoring hasn't been as consistently explosive in recent months when he's playing well.

MORE: 2026 Premier League Darts prize money explained

Three storylines to watch during Night 11

Here are the main storylines to look out for on Night 11.

Will a Dutchman prevail?

Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen both have the chance to take home the nightly title on their own home soil this week.

Can Luke Humphries have a statement week?

Humphries will look to rebound after losing three consecutive quarterfinal matches in the PL.

Was last week a one-time fluke for Littler?

After one of his worst TV performances, he'll look to rebound against Gerwyn Price this week.

More darts articles:

• Luke Littler contract details: Teenage phenom signs richest endorsement deal in darts history
• PDC announces darts schedule for 2026: World Championship, Premier League and more
• Ranking the best PDC Darts moments from 2025: 9-darters to shocking upsets
• 7 darts players who could be in Premier League Darts one day
• Watch: Luke Humphries hits epic 9-darter at 2026 World Masters

• League One: AFC Wimbledon v Stockport County, Luton Town v Northampton Town (kick-off 19:45 BST)
• Sam Hoskins gives Northampton lead after 31 minutes
• Liam Walsh pulls Luton level 12 minutes later
• Bottom-club Northampton will be relegated if they fail to win
• Luton are six points off play-off places
• Wimbledon can go six points clear of drop zone with win
• Stockport looking to move closer to securing top-six spot

League One: Luton level with Northampton, Wimbledon and Stockport goalless

The UFC returns to "The Great White North" on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 273 from Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (Paramount+).

A matchup of ranked welterweights the card with former title challenger Gilbert Burns (22-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) looking to break his skid against Mike Malott (13-2-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who gets his first headliner with the company on home soil.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie's UFC Fight Night 273 pre-event facts.

Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott

Gilbert Burns

Burns' four-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since April 2023.

Burns is 3-6 in his past nine fights dating back to February 2021.

Burns’ three armbar submission victories in UFC competition are tied for third-most in company history behind Demetrious Johnson (four) and Royce Gracie (four).

Mike Malott

Malott has earned 11 of his 13 career victories by stoppage. That includes four of his six UFC wins.

Kyler Phillips vs. Charles Jourdain

Kyler Phillips (12-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) is one of 12 fighters in UFC history to earn a triangle/armbar submission victory. He accomplished the feat at UFC 271.

Charles Jourdain (17-8-1 MMA, 8-7-1 UFC) is 2-0 since he dropped to the UFC bantamweight division in October 2024.

Jourdain has earned 15 of his 17 career victories by stoppage.

Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Karine Silva

Karine Silva (19-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has earned 17 of her 19 career victories by stoppage. She's finished 13 of those wins in Round 1.

Silva's three submission victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Gillian Robertson (six) and Erin Blanchfield (four).

Silva is the only female in UFC history to earn three consecutive victories by first-round submission.

Silva is one of three females in UFC history to earn a submission victory by D'Arce choke. She accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 207. Tatiana Suarez and Jasmine Jasudavicius also won with the technique.

Thiago Moises vs. Gauge Young

Thiago Moises (19-9 MMA, 8-7 UFC) has earned one of 18 stoppage victories in UFC history stemming from leg kicks. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 239.

Tanner Boser vs. Gokhan Saricam

Tanner Boser (22-10-1 MMA, 5-5 UFC) returns to the UFC for the first time since August 2023. He went 1-0 between stints with the promotion.

Boser defends 62.8 percent of his opponent significant strike attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.

Gokhan Saricam (11-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his promotional debut after a 5-2 run under the now-defunct Bellator banner.

JJ Aldrich vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth

JJ Aldrich (14-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC) is 7-4 since she moved up to the UFC women's flyweight division in March 2019.

Aldrich has earned nine of her 10 UFC victories by decision.

Jamey-Lyn Horth (9-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) absorbs just 2.09 significant strikes per minute in UFC women's flyweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Valentina Shevchenko (1.81).

Mitch Raposo vs. Allan Nascimento

Allan Nascimento's (22-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the division behind Joshua Van (six), Kyoji Horiguchi (five) and Andre Lima (four).

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Winnipeg pre-event facts: Can Gilbert Burns end long losing skid?

Mike Evans has worn No. 13 his entire NFL and college career, but everyone knew that was probably going to have to change once he joined the San Francisco 49ers. No. 13 is already quarterback Brock Purdy's number, and the odds Evans could convince Purdy to change his number were slim.

So, what number will he wear? Evans told 49ers star linebacker Fred Warner on the "Real Ones: The League" podcast this week that he'll wear No. 5 for the 49ers in 2026, a number he hadn't worn since high school. Evans added that No. 5 was his Little League and middle school number.

Mike Evans confirms he will wear number 5 for the 49ers 👀🚨 pic.twitter.com/baDbvcC6yz

— Real Ones (@RealOnesGFS) April 15, 2026

Currently, fellow receiver Demarcus Robinson wears No. 5. So if Evans is truly taking on the mantle, it'll be interesting to see what, if anything, Evans had to do to secure that number from his new teammate.

Evans will be the 10th player in team history to don the No. 5 jersey. The others were Robinson, kicker Jeff Brockhaus, quarterback David Carr, quarterback Joshua Dobbs, quarterback Jeff Garcia, outside linebacker Randy Gregory, quarterback Trey Lance, kicker Chase McLaughlin and punter Bradley Pinion.

Evans is poised to be the 49ers' clear No. 1 receiver in 2026. Besides his injury-plagued 2025 season, Evans has posted at least 1,000 receiving yards in his first 12 seasons. He'll look to get back to that form this year in Kyle Shanahan's offense with Purdy throwing him the ball.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Mike Evans reveals which number he'll wear for 49ers

The Washington Huskies need to upgrade their three-point shooting through the transfer portal, while adding some high-end local talent to coach Danny Sprinkle's roster ahead of his third year at the helm. Iowa State's Mason Williams checks both of those boxes.

The 6-foot-5 guard didn't play during his one season with the Cyclones while recovering from hip surgery as coach TJ Otzelberger's team made a run to the Sweet 16 before falling to the Tennessee Volunteers, but the former Eastern Washington star has still received plenty of interest.

According to The Portal Report, Boston College, Gonzaga, Portland, and Seattle University are among the other programs that have shown interest in Williams, who stood out with the Eastern Washington Eagles during the 2024-25 season, where he tallied 13.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest.

Iowa State transfer Mason Williams has received interest from the following programs, he tells TPR:

Washington
SU
Gonzaga
NMST
Portland
Boston College
Sam Houston State pic.twitter.com/iiYBdaalwQ

— The Portal Report (@ThePortalReport) April 13, 2026

Over his two years at Eastern, Williams connected on 37.2 percent of his three-point attempts and saw his percentage take a major dip during his sophomore season as his usage rate increased. He averaged 4.2 attempts from long range during his second season and shot just 34.5 percent from deep, but that could even itself out depending on his role at his next school.

If that program did happen to be Washington, Sprinkle could bring Williams off the bench as he continues to get comfortable coming back from his injury with the Huskies completely retooling their backcourt once again after JJ Mandaquit transferred to Arizona, while sophomore Zoom Diallo and freshman Courtland Muldrew are still in the portal.

The Huskies have made one addition to the backcourt in Davidson's Parker Friedrichsen, and are aiming to make several more in the coming weeks to round out the unit alongside junior Wesley Yates III.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Huskies eyeing local guard transferring from Iowa State

A'ja Wilson contract details: Four-time MVP signs largest contract in league history to return to Aces originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The passing of the WNBA's latest collective-bargaining agreement took salaries to new heights, setting the stage for a windfall unlike any other among the league's player population.

No player benefitted more from the the players union's efforts than A'ja Wilson. Like more than 80 percent of the player population, the Aces standout and four-time WNBA MVP hit the open market ahead of the 2026 offseason. If and when players agreed terms to a new CBA, Wilson -- the mightiest of the league's myriad talents -- was slated to receive more than other player.

On April 15, Wilson was formally rewarded for her efforts on the roster. The Las Vegas standout inked a three-year, $5 million deal that sees her net the biggest contract in league history, according to ESPN's Shams Charania and Andraya Carter.

With that, here's what you need to know about Wilson's contract details.

A'ja Wilson contract details

• Years: Three
• Contract value: $5 million

The South Carolina alum is the first player to sign a multiyear supermax deal under the new collective bargaining agreement. She is one of just two players to receive a supermax contract of any kind, joined by Fever standout Kelsey Mitchell.

Wilson’s $5 million contract is $1.25 million more than the next-highest deal (Ezi Magbegor at $3.75 million).

What is a supermax contract?

A supermax contract refers to the largest contract a team can dole out to a player. It is reserved for the sport's elite cadre of talent -- players with at least five years of service in the league who have earned All-WNBA honors, Defensive Player of the Year or MVP.

At present, the supermax contract sits at $1.4 million AAV. Per Charania and Carter, Wilson's salary will swell as the salary cap rises. Her contract will make up 20 percent of the Aces' salary cap across the whole of her contract. According to ESPN's Alexa Philippou, Wilson's contract is the first of its kind in WNBA history.

For teams looking to make a splash in the transfer portal, former LonghornJordan Lee has been a popular option. The California native is coming off a career year in which she made an impact in every game. While she has plenty of suitors, one program that is making a push is South Carolina, which welcomed Lee to campus for a visit on Tuesday. 

During the 2024-2025 campaign, Lee averaged 13.2 points and 2.5 assists per game. The talented guard was dangerous from three-point range, shooting 34.8 from beyond the arc. She also set a career high with 38 starts and held her own in the SEC.

Here's a look at Jordan Lee and Oliviyah Edwards with Dawn Staley and the #Gamecocks at Founders Park. Lee spending a lot of time talking with Adhel Tac.@abc_columbiahttps://t.co/z2ribtkGiwpic.twitter.com/yJXYeTEVIH

— Noah Chast (@NoahChastTV) April 14, 2026

Through the first two years of her college career, Lee has averaged 9.5 points per game while shooting 73.5 percent from the field. She has come through in big moments, which was on display in the NCAA tournament. In the Longhorns' five games, Lee scored 65 points and recorded 11 assists. That helped raise her stock before entering the portal. 

After falling just one win short of a national title, the Gamecocks have been busy looking for ways to improve their roster. Adding a score like Lee could help boost their title hopes, and she still has two years of eligibility. As a sophomore, she showed that there is still more to her game. At South Carolina, she would have an opportunity to get significant minutes as she did at Texas.

Three 3⃣s for Jordan Lee 🎯#NCAAWBB x 🎥 SECN / @TexasWBBpic.twitter.com/6qKcOONxSc

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) February 7, 2025

As Lee continues to weigh her options, TCU will be another school to watch. The Horned Frogs will reportedly welcome the Saint Mary's High alum to campus for a visit this week. Whoever ends up getting Lee will be adding an impactful piece to their lineup for the foreseeable future. 

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Former Lady Longhorn Jordan Lee seems close to joining an SEC rival

With the Frozen Four coming to a close last weekend, the 15-day window for players to enter the transfer portal is currently open, and a couple of Montreal Canadiens goaltending prospects chose to enter it, meaning they’ll be playing for another team next season.

Quentin Miller, who was a member of the national champion Denver Pioneers and posted a 12-10-2 record with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage, chose to enter the transfer portal. While he became a national champion last week, he did it in the backup role since Johnny Hicks was the number one netminder. Hicks joined Denver late after the program he had committed to in Tennessee State was delayed, and when he took over from Miller after he suffered an injury, he never looked back, going 16-0-1 with a 1.19 GAA and a .957 SV.

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Since Hicks was also a freshman and isn’t going anywhere, Miller’s decision makes sense. A fourth-round pick by the Canadiens at the 2023 draft, the netminder will have a much better chance at developing the right way if he gets more playing time.

Meanwhile, Alexis Cournoyer, who was a fifth-round pick for the Canadiens at the last draft, is also reported to be heading for the portal out of Cornell. He had an 18-10-0 record this season, including a shutout, with a .915 SV and a 2.05 GAA. According to reports, he is likely to be headed to the Wisconsin Badgers. Cole Caufield’s former team made it all the way to the Frozen Four final but was beaten 2-1 by Denver.

While the Canadiens currently have two very good young netminders, Kent Hughes said when he was hired that he wanted to build a perennial Stanley Cup contender, and that means planning not only for the current window of opportunity but also for the next ones. It will be interesting to see how both goalies fare with their new team.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

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As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, the New Orleans Saints find themselves at a familiar crossroads. With a defensive identity historically rooted in "sticky" coverage and aggressive playmaking, the departure of key secondary pieces, most notably Alontae Taylor in free agency, has left a void that needs more than just a depth chart filler. It needs a cornerstone.

Let's talk Mansoor Delane, the LSU standout whose collegiate journey from Virginia Tech to the SEC has transformed him into one of the most pro-ready prospects in this class. For a Saints team under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, Delane isn't just a luxury pick, but more like the schematic missing link.

The SEC-Tested Pedigree

There is a specific brand of confidence required to thrive in the Saints’ secondary. Fans in the Superdome have been spoiled by the likes of Marshon Lattimore and Kool-Aid McKinstry. Delane fits that mold perfectly. After proving his mettle in the ACC, he transferred to LSU and immediately became the premier "no-fly zone" defender in the SEC.

In 2025, Delane allowed a staggering 31.3 passer rating when targeted. To put that in perspective, a quarterback would literally have been more successful throwing the ball into the turf every play than testing Delane’s side of the field. For a New Orleans defense that thrives on forcing turnovers and dictating tempo, that level of efficiency is intoxicating.

A Master Key for Brandon Staley’s Scheme

Under Brandon Staley, the Saints' defense has leaned heavily into versatile, high-IQ looks that blend zone patterns with sudden transitions into man coverage. Delane’s scouting report reads like a wishlist for this specific system:

• Tactical Intelligence: Delane is praised for his "eye discipline" and ability to process route concepts in real-time. He doesn't just react; he anticipates.
• Run Support: Unlike many "finesse" corners, Delane is a high-end tackler. He recorded over 190 tackles in his college career, showing a willingness to stick his nose in the fan—a trait that endears players to the hard-nosed New Orleans faithful.
• Ball Skills: With 41 passes defended and 8 interceptions across his career, he has the "ball hawk" mentality required to turn defensive stops into offensive opportunities.

Why the Fit Makes Sense Now

With the Saints currently rostered with Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley, adding Delane would create a "Young Gun" trio that could stabilize the secondary for the next half-decade. While McKinstry provides the technical length, Delane brings the aggressive, pouncing style that mirrors the peak years of the Saints' "Boonk Gang" era.

There are concerns about his "average" top-end speed, but in a division featuring savvy veterans and physical receivers, Delane’s positioning and physicality often negate any biometric deficiencies. He is the type of player who plays faster than his 40-yard dash because he never takes a false step.

The Bottom Line

Drafting Mansoor Delane would be a statement of intent. It signals that New Orleans isn't interested in a "rebuild" in the secondary, but rather a reloading. By keeping the LSU star in Louisiana, the Saints wouldn't just be filling a hole on the roster, but rather they’d be securing a defensive identity.

If Delane is on the board when the Saints are on the clock, the choice shouldn't just be about who is available, it should be about who belongs in the Black and Gold. Mansoor Delane has already conquered the SEC; the Caesar's Superdome is the natural next step.

The Kansas City Chiefs might be the most intriguing team as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. 

They have two first-round picks, and they have a bunch of needs, which makes it a huge coin flip as to which player they will take at No. 9 overall. 

Landing a top-tier wide receiver such as Ohio State's Carnell Tate or Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson would be fun. Drafting a top-tier edge rusher such as Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. is another idea, and even selecting Ohio State safety Caleby Downs or LSU CB Mansoor Delane makes sense given the secondary woes. 

However, NFL.com expert Adam Rank has another idea. Rank had a new mock draft with a player each team should select, and he pegged Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq to the Chiefs at No. 9 overall. 

Now, yes, Travis Kelce did sign a three-year deal, although it is more likely a one-year deal with an option for him to return, which would make 2026 his final season in the league. "I don’t expect Kansas City to draft this high again any time soon. I know you could play it safe, Chiefs, but let’s get a little dumb and dangerous. Because you’re the Chiefs and you can do it," Rank wrote.

The best part is that Sadiq will be given an opportunity to learn from one of the best tight ends to ever play the position, and he can do a number of things on the offense.  "Let’s get creative here. You can line up Sadiq in the slot. He blocks. He’s tough. And Patrick Mahomes could use another big-bodied target," Rank added. 

On the other hand, selecting a tight end in the top-10 is a rare sight, but Sadiq is undoubtedly the best in the position group in this class, and it's not much of a debate, either. 

This would secure the tight end position for the future while also giving Mahomes and the Chiefs another pass-catcher, and they could still select a WR in the second or third rounds with plenty of options available once again in this class. 

The question here is this: Do the Chiefs take Sadiq and pass on a glaring need at cornerback or edge rusher? It's an option, especially with Kansas City having pick No. 29 also in the first round. 

For what it's worth, Rank has the Chiefs selecting Utah OL Caleb Lomu at No. 29, which would mean passing on a cornerback until the second or third rounds, which would be a bit of a surprise. 

Serie A giants Milan are facing the possibility of losing Max Allegri in the summer. It now seems like conditions for him to stay are on the table.

The Italian national team has increasingly emerged as an option for the Italian. There has been talk that if Giovanni Malago gets appointed, he would push for Allegri’s appointment as manager.

La Gazzetta delloSportnote that the ex-Juventus boss has been largely coy about the links, even if he would be interested in the role. But Milan’s hopes of keeping him aren’t dead and they would have to back Allegri significantly in the market.

Firstly, they need to present a plan that will be followed in the summer transfer window. Allegri wants a squad which has 20 players, so that Milan aren’t light when competing on all fronts.

He also expects signings to be made in every department and they should be reliable and experienced players who guarantee success right away. The veteran is also seeking a higher say in transfers and a shared vision that takes the club forward.

This indicates that he hasn’t been involved in strategy since arrival and he doesn’t want the same to be carried forward.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN

Conor McGregor has settled a lawsuit filed against him by former teammate and friend Artem Lobov over profits from the sale of his whiskey brand Proper No. 12.

On Wednesday, Lobov’s attorney Andrew Walker appeared in court and told the judge that a settlement had been reached and the case no longer needed to go to trial. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Lobov initially filed the lawsuit claiming he was due 5% of the sale following a verbal agreement between the fighters that he would help launch McGregor’s whiskey brand. McGregor denied that he ever made any such agreement.

McGregor, along with his business partners, eventually sold Proper No. 12 to Proximo Spirits — the same company that owns Jose Cuervo tequila — for $600 million in 2021. As a result, McGregor reportedly earned over $100 million for his part of the sale.

At the time, McGregor remained the face of Proper No. 12, but Proximo eventually cut ties with the fighter after a court in Ireland found him liable in a civil lawsuit filed against him over an alleged sexual assault that took place in 2018.

Lobov claimed that he was “muscled out” of the business after Proper No. 12 launched and became a moneymaker for McGregor and his other business partners.

After Lobov’s attorney announced that a settlement had been reached, McGregor’s attorney Mark Lyman read a statement to the court from the Irish superstar while adding that he was now staying focused on his return to fighting, which is planned for “this summer.”

“I want to thank him for his hard work for my whiskey business,” McGregor said about Lobov in the statement (via the Irish Independent).

Per numerous reports, Lobov didn’t want to speak about the settlement after the court hearing ended but he said that he was “happy with the resolution” before exiting.

At one time, McGregor and Lobov were very close friends and training partners working with the same team and coaches in Ireland. Lobov stood by McGregor after the former two-division UFC champion launched a very public attack on a bus while trying to go after Khabib Nurmagomedov back in 2018.

But that relationship was eventually severed after Lobov filed the lawsuit against McGregor. Now that legal action has been settled after both fighters agreed to a deal before the lawsuit could go to trial.

Right now, McGregor is preparing for his planned comeback to the UFC for his first fight in five years after suffering a broken leg in his previous outing back in 2021. All signs are pointing towards McGregor headlining the upcoming UFC 329 card in July 11 in Las Vegas as part of the latest International Fight Week festivities.

The entire computer industry is sweating profusely over the existence of the MacBook Neo, because Apple’s competitors are well aware that they cannot materialize anything that can compete with the Cupertino giant’s portable in the $599 bracket. It appears that the company’s only rival at this time is demand and how well it can maintain shipments in these few months. Education is a massive target market for Apple, and it has highlighted just how well the MacBook Neo is selling in its latest promotional video. The MacBook Neo is selling exceptionally well, to the point that Apple has had to […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/macbook-neo-is-selling-incredibly-well-according-promotional-video/

T-Mobile has reportedly terminated its free in-flight Wi-Fi service for businesses, replacing it with a paid tier that entails relatively slower speeds, as per anecdotal evidence. T-Mobile's double-whammy: Free in-flight Wi-Fi for enterprise customers ends, paid service reportedly entails slower speeds As per a T-Mobile notice that is doing the rounds on Reddit, T-Mobile has apparently ended its free in-flight Wi-Fi service for some enterprise customers. The message reads: "Due to changes in airline Wi-Fi programs, free in-flight Wi-Fi may no longer be available on some flights and airlines starting April 13, 2026." Do note that T-Mobile offers its free […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/t-mobile-reportedly-suspends-free-in-flight-wi-fi-for-businesses-now-you-will-have-to-purchase-a-wi-fi-session/

Following the recent debut of PRAGMATA and Resident Evil Requiem, the first two RE Engine games to support path tracing, CAPCOM's GDC 2026 presentation titled 'Real-Time Path Tracing in RE ENGINE for Resident Evil Requiem and PRAGMATA' is well worth exploring. The presentation is available on the NVIDIA Game Developer YouTube channel, and that's no coincidence: NVIDIA helped a great deal with the addition of path tracing to CAPCOM's engine. Indeed, the two speakers were Hitoshi Mishima from CAPCOM's RE Engine team, who covered the architectural and artistic implementation, and Calvin Shu, a NVIDIA GeForce developer technology engineer who covered […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/re-engine-path-tracing-ser-restir-gi-dlss-rr/

The flagship Zen 5 X3D chip gets benchmarked ahead of the official launch and here's how it performs with air cooling. AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Appears on HWBot for the First Time in 7-Zip and Cinebench Benchmarking The fastest Zen 5 X3D chip has already been tested by someone, as can be seen from the uploaded benchmarks on HWBot. AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition, which was revealed two weeks ago, was tested by a Bulgarian user, "Stoikov". There are currently four benchmarks available on the HWBot website, including 7-Zip, Cinebench 2026 Single and Multi-Threaded, and Cinebench R23 Multi-core. The […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d2-dual-edition-gets-tested-on-multiple-synthetic-benchmarking-utilities/

Solvera is an AI-powered marketing platform that launches and manages Facebook and Google ads for your business. It audits your website, maps your sales funnel, and provides built-in analytics and AI assistants that guide setup and strategy. AI Budget Guard monitors performance 24/7, pausing wasteful ads and protecting your spend. The platform connects via official Meta and Google APIs, offers clear ROI tracking, and supports multilingual campaigns, with a 30-day free trial and scalable plans.

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Todo4you is a project management platform combining a clean Kanban board with real-time collaboration and customizable workflows. Drag and drop tickets, switch to a sortable table view, and track priorities, deadlines, assignees, tags, checklists, and attachments in one place. It includes chat, roles, comments, blockers, notifications, Gantt charts, estimation, time tracking, an API, and automations. Connect Git providers, Slack, and Telegram, import from Trello or Jira, and stay compliant with GDPR with data hosted in Germany and a company based in the Netherlands.

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Read full article: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/three-little-bears-retreat-in-north-carolina-opens-this-summer-offering-luxury-safari-style-experience-with-wellness-hospitality-and-growth-in-the-great-smoky-mountains/

Three Little Bears Retreat in North Carolina Opens This Summer, Offering Luxury Safari-Style Experience with Wellness, Hospitality and Growth in...

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Air India CEO Campbell Wilson Resigns in 2026 as Leadership Transition Signals Bold New Phase for Airline GrowthAir India CEO...

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Read full article: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/a-world-cup-travel-bridge-to-the-future-mexicos-nuevo-leon-unveils-a-dazzling-2026-tourism-push-in-south-korea-positioning-monterrey-as-a-vibrant-k-culture-gateway-for-global-football-fans/

A World Cup Travel Bridge to the Future: Mexico’s Nuevo León Unveils a Dazzling 2026 Tourism Push in South Korea,...

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Read full article: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/passengers-left-stranded-across-france-as-major-airlines-including-air-france-easyjet-and-ryanair-face-334-delays-and-44-cancellations-in-paris-marseille-nice-and-toulouse/

Passengers Left Stranded Across France as Major Airlines, Including Air France, EasyJet, and Ryanair, Face 334 Delays and 44 Cancellations...

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Samsung’s Battery Icon can’t remain free from controversy in One UI 8.5 either. After multiple adjustments in One UI 7 and One UI 8, the specific UI component is yet to hit the level of perfection in One UI 8.5.

The latest problem linked to Samsung’s Battery Icon has emerged on Galaxy S24 Ultra running One UI 8.5 Beta 2. The component has a scaling bug, specifically on the 100 percent battery level, and it’s weird at this stage.

At the 100 percent level, the battery icon’s pill has turned oddly thin. At levels below 100, it returned to its optimal size, which it usually used to appear. The problem seems limited to the 100 level when the icon contains three digits.

As the battery dropped, the battery icon became fine. It appears accurately aligned with other components in the status bar. Samsung will address the scaling problem in the next Beta update, or probably the Stable build.

Battery Icon isn’t safe yet

The new battery icon was debuted in One UI 7. Samsung has improved the pill based on user feedback and suggestions. We’ve seen notable improvements in the One UI 8 and 8.5 versions, but the best is yet to come.

It’s disappointing to see the firmware is failing to keep such a basic component perfect. The software is indeed Beta, which contains such glitches. However, the battery icon should now stop ruining the user interface.

Check if the battery icon turns thinner at 100 percent charge on your Galaxy device. It’s not a deal-breaker, but still, it ruins the level of perfection. Well, you can remove the pill and keep the battery level alone, which looks clean.

The post Samsung’s Battery Icon isn’t safe in One UI 8.5 either appeared first on Sammy Fans.

The International Data Corporation (IDC) released its preliminary worldwide smartphone shipments report for Q1,2026 and the numbers show declining demand. A total of 289.7 million devices were shipped in the first three months of 2026, representing a 4.1% decline compared to the same period last year. This turn of events marks the first quarter of negative growth since 2023, largely driven by “acute memory supply constraints” affecting both shipments and demand. IDC analysts also highlighted the rising bill‑of‑materials costs, which have forced certain makers like Samsung to resort to...

Barcelona’s exit against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League dealt a heavy blow to the Catalan side. And the fallout from that disappointment could extend into the future, with Raphinha now facing the possibility of a suspension after claiming that “the match was a robbery.”

According to Diario AS, UEFA is already reviewing those comments to determine whether the Brazilian winger deserves a sanction. If so, any punishment would only be served during his next appearance in European competition — most likely in the 2026-27 Champions League.

There are similar precedents that suggest an unfavorable outcome for Raphinha. During the 2018-19 season, UEFA sanctioned Neymar after he publicly criticized officiating following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League elimination against Manchester United.

“It’s a disgrace. They put four guys who don’t understand soccer to analyze a play,” Ney wrote at the time in a story on his official Instagram account. That led to a three-match suspension in European competitions for the Brazilian forward, which was later reduced to two by CAS.

Raphinha involved in another controversial incident

Despite not being able to play in the series against Atletico Madrid due to injury, Raphinha still drew attention for his actions after the match. In addition to his comments criticizing the officiating, the winger also made gestures toward opposing fans at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Several cameras captured the exact moment when Raphinha, on the pitch, gestured toward the crowd, signaling that Atletico Madrid would be eliminated in the next round of the Champions League. As in the previous case, there are precedents of players being sanctioned by UEFA for making gestures and directing offensive remarks at rival fans.

Raphinha apologizes to Atletico Madrid fans

Several hours after the final whistle — and likely with emotions having cooled — Raphinha reflected on his behavior at the Metropolitano Stadium and posted a message on his official Instagram account apologizing to Atletico Madrid fans.

“I apologize for my gesture, which does not reflect my values or my character. It was an act committed in a moment of tension, in response to a fan who was being disrespectful toward me,” the Barcelona star wrote.

Match Overview

Racing Club opened their Copa Sudamericana campaign in impressive fashion, rolling to a convincing 3-1 win over Independiente Petrolero to immediately stake their claim as a group frontrunner, but the job is far from finished as La Academia look to build on that momentum and stay atop the standings.

Next up is a tougher test against Botafogo, a talented but inconsistent side that stumbled out of the gate with a 1-1 draw against Caracas and now enters this matchup under pressure to secure its first victory, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash between a red-hot Argentine squad and a Brazilian team still searching for rhythm.

The post Bonk (BONK) Price Prediction 2026, 2027 – 2030: Will BONK Price Reach $0.00013 by 2030? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bonk (BONK), one of the most prominent meme tokens within the Solana ecosystem, is entering April 2026 at a stage where speculative momentum and structural stabilization are beginning to converge. While the asset initially gained traction through rapid community-driven expansion, its recent price behavior reflects a shift away from impulsive volatility toward a more controlled structure.

Over the past months, BONK has undergone a notable correction, gradually moving into lower valuation zones. However, this decline has not translated into persistent breakdowns. Instead, price action has begun to stabilize, with downside pressure diminishing and movement compressing within a defined range.

With April underway, the immediate focus lies in whether BONK can extend toward $0.00000800, while the broader structure raises the possibility of a more sustained move toward $0.0000330 by 2026.

Bonk Price Today

Cryptocurrency	Bonk
Token	BONK
Price	$0.0000 -4.19%
Market Cap	$ 515,152,213.98
24h Volume	$ 74,166,750.1822
Circulating Supply	87,994,740,001,037.53
Total Supply	87,994,740,001,037.53
All-Time High	$ 0.0001 on 20 November 2024
All-Time Low	$ 0.0000 on 30 December 2022

Bonk (BONK) Price Prediction for April 2026 

Right now, BONK is sitting in a zone where most traders lose patience—but that’s usually where things start changing. After a long slide, the price has stopped falling and is moving sideways near $0.0000055–$0.0000060. It may look boring on the surface, but this kind of tight movement usually means sellers are getting exhausted. Every dip is getting absorbed, and that’s the first sign the market is stabilizing.

Now the real focus is above. There’s a clear hurdle around $0.0000070–$0.0000080, and this level has been rejecting price again and again. If BONK manages to push through and hold above it, the move won’t stay slow for long.

In April, BONK can move toward $0.00000800 if that resistance breaks cleanly. That’s the level to watch. If it fails again, then price might just keep moving sideways for a bit, but downside looks limited unless the base breaks.

Coinpedia’s Bonk (BONK) Price Prediction 2026

The bigger picture is actually more interesting than the short-term move. BONK has already gone through the painful part, the correction. What we’re seeing now is the phase where price is trying to find its footing again. This doesn’t look exciting, but this is where stronger moves usually start building.

The recovery won’t happen in one go. First, BONK needs to move above $0.0000080 and stay there. Once that happens, the market slowly starts gaining confidence again. After that, levels like $0.000012–$0.000015 come into play, and that’s where momentum can start picking up.

From there, things can change quickly. If the structure keeps improving step by step, BONK can reach the $0.000015–$0.0000330 range by 2026. But it all depends on how well it holds higher levels after each breakout. One thing is clear though, this is no longer a falling market. It’s a waiting market. And usually, when the move finally comes, it doesn’t give much time to react.

Bonk Crypto Price Prediction 2026 – 2030

Bonk (BONK) Price Forecast 2026

In 2026, Bonk price could project a low price of $0.0000160, an average price of $0.0000245, and a high of $0.0000330.

Bonk Price Prediction 2027

As per the Bonk Price Prediction 2027, BONK may see a potential low price of $0.0000280. Meanwhile, the average price is predicted to be around $0.0000410. The potential high for BONK price in 2027 is estimated to reach $0.0000560.

Bonk (BONK) Price Prediction 2028

In 2028, Bonk  price is forecasted to potentially reach a low price of $0.0000450 and a high price of $0.0000850.

Bonk Coin Price Prediction 2029

Thereafter, the Bonk  (BONK) price for the year 2029 could range between $0.0000720 and $0.0001150.

Bonk Price Prediction 2030

Finally, in 2030, the price of Bonk is predicted to remain steadily positive. It may trade between $0.0000950 and $0.0001300.

Bonk Price Prediction 2031, 2032, 2033, 2040, 2050

The long-term projection assumes Bonk sustains relevance in enterprise blockchain use cases, with growth moderating over time as the asset matures.

Bonk (BONK) Price Prediction: Market Analysis?

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is looking to build his star power, with his skills already proven to be amongst boxing’s best. Now, the Newark southpaw has named his solitary condition, in order for a showdown with to take place. Stevenson has claimed world titles at featherweight, super-featherweight, lightweight and super-lightweight, becoming boxing’s third-youngest four-division world champion with a victory […]

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Alanya deplasmanında bırakılan 2 puanın ardından Trabzonspor için ligin son 5 haftası, sadece bir prestij mücadelesi değil, kulübün geleceğini şekillendirecek dev bir ekonomik finale dönüştü. Şampiyonluk, ikincilik ve üçüncülük arasındaki uçurum kadar derin olan milyonluk farklar, transfer bütçesinden Avrupa biletine kadar her şeyi belirleyecek. Bordo-mavililer için artık atılan her gol nakit akışı, alınan her galibiyet ise mali nefes anlamına geliyor.

Trabzonspor’un Alanya deplasmanında bıraktığı 2 puan, şampiyonluk yolunda kritik bir yara açmanın ötesine geçti. Bordo-mavili ekip için saha sonuçları artık sadece puan tablosunu değil, kulübün kasasını da doğrudan ilgilendiriyor.

Süper Lig’de son 5 haftaya girilirken, zirvedeki ekonomik pasta iştah kabartıyor.

Galatasaray’ın puan kaybettiği, Fenerbahçe’nin ise kazandığı haftada eline geçen dev fırsatı geri tepen Trabzonspor için matematiksel olarak şampiyonluk yarışı sürse de, asıl odak noktası ekonomik gelecek haline geldi. Süper Lig’de sıralamaya göre dağıtılacak rakamlar, kulüplerin önümüzdeki sezon planlaması için hayati önem taşıyor. Lig sonunda elde edilecek sıralamanın mali karşılığı şu şekilde:

Şampiyon    227,8 Milyon TL

İkinci      182,5 Milyon TL

Üçüncü      136,5 Milyon TL

Trabzonspor’un ilk 3 içerisindeki yeri güçlü görünse de, her bir basamağın mali getirisi arasındaki uçurum yönetimi ve camiayı düşündürüyor.

Şampiyonluk ile ikincilik, ikincilik ile üçüncülük arasındaki milyonlarca liralık fark, transfer bütçesinden borç ödemelerine kadar her kalemi etkileyecek.

Ligdeki sıralama sadece yerel geliri değil, Avrupa kupalarına katılım hakkını ve oradan gelecek "ayak bastı" paralarını da belirleyecek.

Gelecek sezonun kadro planlaması için düğmeye basan Trabzonspor yönetimi rotayı netleştirdi. Başkan Ertuğrul Doğan'ın talimatıyla scout ekibi yurt dışı seferlerine başlarken; bordo-mavililerde 32-37 yaş arası oyuncularla yolların ayrılıp, yerlerine 26-29 yaş bandında, doğrudan ilk 11'e katkı sağlayacak isimlerin getirilmesi hedefleniyor. Genç yeteneklere gelen teklifler karşısında kadro iskeletini koruma savaşı veren yönetim, sezon bitmeden en az iki yıldıza imza attırarak rakiplerinden önce gövde gösterisi yapmaya hazırlanıyor.

Gelecek sezona şampiyonluk parolasıyla girmeyi hedefleyen Trabzonspor, transfer çalışmalarında gaza bastı. Başkan Ertuğrul Doğan’ın "erken yol alacağız" mesajlarının ardından, bordo-mavili ekipte planlamanın detayları netleşmeye başladı.

Scout ekibinden Eren Mert oyuncu izlemek ve temaslarda bulunmak üzere yurt dışına çıkarken, Şahinkaya ise belirlenen listedeki isimler üzerinde çalışmalarına start verdi. Teknik heyet ve yönetimin koordineli yürüttüğü bu süreçte, hata payının sıfıra indirilmesi hedefleniyor.

Başkan Doğan’ın sinyallerini verdiği yeni kadro mühendisliğinde yaş kriteri ön plana çıkıyor. Kulübün stratejisi şu şekilde ilerleyecek:

-Kadroda yer alan 32-37 yaş aralığındaki oyuncularla yolların ayrılması bekleniyor. Bu oyuncuların yerine dinamizmi artırmak adına 26-29 yaş bandındaki, gelişime açık ve fiziksel kalitesi yüksek isimler transfer edilecek.

Trabzonspor yönetimi mevcut kadronun iskeletini büyük oranda korumayı amaçlasa da, piyasa şartları bu durumu güçleştiriyor. Özellikle formda olan genç oyunculara yurt içi ve yurt dışından gelen tekliflerin yoğunluğu, Fatih Tekke ve yönetimi zorlu bir sürecin içine itiyor.

Yönetim, gidenlerin yerini doldurmak için "nokta atışı" hamleler yapacak. Yapılacak eklemelerin doğrudan ilk 11'e girecek, "net" oyuncular olması planlanıyor.

Bordo-mavili taraftarları heyecanlandıracak bir diğer detay ise takvim. Transferde hızlı davranmak isteyen Karadeniz ekibinin, sezon henüz sona ermeden en az 1 veya 2 isimle resmi sözleşme aşamasına gelmesi ve el sıkışması bekleniyor.

Hafta sonu oynanacak zorlu randevu öncesi Gençlerbirliği teknik direktörü Volkan Demirel'in, "Galatasaray uzun top oynamayı bilmiyor!" sözleri yeniden gündeme geldi. Sarı-kırmızılı ekibi durdurmanın şifresini "alan daraltmak" ve "Osimhen'i kilitlemek" olarak belirleyen tecrübeli çalıştırıcı, rakibinin oyun zaaflarını tek tek sıraladığı video viral oldu.

Süper Lig’de haftanın en kritik karşılaşmalarından biri öncesinde, Gençlerbirliği teknik direktörü Volkan Demirel'in konuk edeceği Galatasaray’a karşı oyun planının şifrelerini daha önce verdiği görüntüler ortaya çıktı. Daha önce katıldığı bir canlı yayında sarı-kırmızılı ekibin oyun yapısını analiz eden tecrübeli teknik adam savunma stratejisini "alan kapatmak" üzerine kurduğunu itiraf etmişti.

Demirel, Galatasaray’ın hücum hattındaki en büyük kozu olan Osimhen’e dikkat çekerek, rakibi istemedikleri bir oyun tarzına zorlamak gerektiğini belirtti. Demirel’in analizine göre Galatasaray’a karşı puan almanın yolu, takımı alışık olmadığı uzun toplara mahkum etmekten geçiyor:

- Galatasaray’ı uzun top atmaya mecbur edeceksin. Orada da tek kontrol edeceğin adam var; o da Osimhen. Galatasaray aslında uzun top oyununu oynamayı pek bilmiyor.

Kariyeri boyunca teknik direktör olarak Galatasaray’a karşı aldığı başarılı sonuçlarla dikkat çeken Demirel, rakibini iyi tanıdığını vurguladı. Daha önce çıktığı maçlardan örnekler veren Demirel, şu ifadeleri kullandı:

- Galatasaray'a karşı 3 kere oynadım; eğer alan vermezseniz sizi çözemiyorlar. Benim yönettiğim takımlara karşı oynadıkları maçlar hep 1-1 veya 1-0 bitti, hatta bir keresinde 2-1 kazandım.

Maç öncesinde en çok merak edilen konulardan biri de takım içi dengeler. Volkan Demirel tarafından kadro dışı bırakılan Henry Onyekuru’nun, Galatasaray'a kaybedilen ilk maçın ardından Victor Osimhen ile birlikte gülerek stadyumdan ayrılması hafızalardaki yerini koruyor.

Gençlerbirliği’nin bu savunma ağırlıklı ve "alan daraltan" taktiğinin, Galatasaray’ın yıldızlarla dolu hücum hattı karşısında nasıl bir sonuç vereceği hafta sonu netlik kazanacak.

Avrupa basketbolunda devrim niteliğinde kararlar alınırken, Fenerbahçe Beko 10 yıllık yeni A Lisans anlaşmasıyla yerini sağlama aldı. NBA Avrupa projesinin rafa kalktığı tarihi süreçte, EuroLeague 'franchise' modeline geçerek 3.2 milyar Euro'luk dev bir ekonomik imparatorluğa dönüşüyor. Yayın ve ticari gelir dağılımında liyakat ile dijital etkileşimi merkeze alan yeni mali model, temsilcimiz Fenerbahçe'nin hem saha içindeki gücünü hem de finansal büyümesini rekor seviyelere taşımaya hazırlanıyor.

Avrupa basketbolunun zirvesinde taşlar yerinden oynuyor. EuroLeague yönetim kurulunun aldığı tarihi kararlarla birlikte hem finansal yapı sil baştan yazıldı. Hem de Fenerbahçe Beko’nun geleceği mühürlendi. NBA’in Avrupa hamlesi iddialarının gölgesinde kalan bu kararlar, EuroLeague’in "kapalı lig" ve "franchise" modeline geçişini resmileştirdi.

Fenerbahçe Beko, EuroLeague ile olan bağlarını koparmadı. Sarı-lacivertliler, kendisini 10 yıl daha Avrupa’nın en seçkin kulüpleri arasında tutacak olan yeni A Lisans anlaşmasına resmi imzayı attı. Bu hamle, Fenerbahçe’nin uzun vadeli stratejik hedeflerini ve Avrupa arenasındaki sarsılmaz konumunu tescillemiş oldu.

20 yılı aşkın süredir uygulanan ekonomik model tamamen değişti. Yeni sisteme göre paranın dağılımı şu şekilde olacak:

Yayın gelirlerinin %65’i kulüplerin kendi pazarlarındaki net başarısına göre, %35’i ise lisanslı kulüplere eşit dağıtılacak.

Ticari gelirlerin %75’i sportif başarı, taraftar etkileşimi (bilet, reyting, dijital) ve tarihi mirasa göre; %25’i ise eşit pay edilecek. 2026-27 sezonunda, gelirlerde tüm zamanların rekorunu kıracak çift haneli bir artış bekleniyor.

EuroLeague, mevcut lisans sisteminden tamamen vazgeçerek NBA tarzı kalıcı bir "Franchise" modeline geçmeyi hedefliyor. EuroLeague ve paydaş kulüplerin toplam marka değeri şu an 3.2 milyar Euro olarak hesaplanıyor. Yeni sistemin oturmasıyla bu değerin kısa sürede %25 oranında büyümesi öngörülüyor.

Bu kararlar, Avrupa basketbolunun NBA’den bağımsız, kendi ekonomik ekosistemini kurma ve dev bir ticari imparatorluğa dönüşme kararlılığını simgeliyor.

Galatasaray'ın ilgisizliğinden yorulan ve oyalandığını düşünen milli yıldız Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Beşiktaş'a yeşil ışık yaktı! Sergen Yalçın'ın "Gel tarih yazalım" telefonuyla başlayan süreçte, Orkun Kökçü'nün "Kaptanlık bandını sana devretmeye hazırım" teklifi dengeleri tamamen değiştirdi. Rotasını Beşiktaş'a kıran Hakan, Fenerbahçe'nin Kante ve Guendouzi hamleleri sonrası Kadıköy opsiyonunu aklından çıkardı.

Transfer piyasasında taşları yerinden oynatacak dev bir iddia gündeme bomba gibi düştü. Galatasaray ile adı sıkça anılan ancak beklediği somut adımları göremeyen Hakan Çalhanoğlu, kariyerinde sürpriz bir sayfa açmaya hazırlanıyor. Milli futbolcunun Beşiktaş'a gelmek için ikna olmaya başladığı iddia ediliyor.

Gelen bilgilere göre Beşiktaş Teknik Direktörü Sergen Yalçın, milli yıldız Hakan Çalhanoğlu’nu bizzat arayarak ikna turlarına başladı. Yalçın'ın telefonda; "Orkun Kökçü, sen ve ben... birlikte tarih yazalım" dediği öğrenildi. Bu çağrıya takımdaki kaptanı Orkun Kökçü’den de destek gecikmedi. Orkun da, Hakan’a "Kaptan bize gel, pazubandı sana vermeye hazırım" diyerek fedakarlığa hazır olduğunu bizzat kendisine ilettiği belirtildi.

Hakan Çalhanoğlu cephesinde Galatasaray’a karşı büyük bir kırgınlık hakim. Yıldız oyuncuyla ne geçtiğimiz yaz ne de Ocak ayı transfer döneminde Galatasaray arasında herhangi bir görüşme gerçekleşmedi. Transfer gazetecisi Fabrizio Romano da bu durumu doğrulayarak, sarı-kırmızılılardan hiçbir aşamada somut bir sorgulama veya teklif gelmediğini onayladı.

Kendisinin oyalandığını düşünen Hakan’ın, bu tavırdan dolayı oldukça rahatsız olduğu ifade ediliyor. Hakan’ın Türkiye opsiyonları arasında adı geçen Fenerbahçe bir seçenek değil. Milli yıldızın, sarı-lacivertlilerin orta saha kurgusundaki Kante ve Guendouzi hamleleri nedeniyle bu transfere sıcak bakmadığı, rekabetten ziyade projenin merkezinde olmak istediği gelen bilgiler arasında.

Yaşanan bu gelişmelerin ardından, Beşiktaş’ın sunduğu proje ve Sergen Yalçın’ın samimi yaklaşımı Hakan Çalhanoğlu’nun fikrini değiştirdi. Kariyerinde ilk kez Beşiktaş’ın teklifini ciddi şekilde düşünmeye başlayan tecrübeli orta sahanın, önümüzdeki günlerde kesin kararını vermesi bekleniyor.

Şampiyonluk yolunda hata payını sıfıra indirmek isteyen Fenerbahçe yönetimi, Türk futbol tarihinin en büyük prim paketlerinden birini devreye soktu: Toplam 10 milyon dolar! Geçmişe dönük tüm prim borçları Sadettin Saran, yöneticiler ve sponsorların desteğiyle kapatıldı. Galatasaray derbisine 3 milyon dolar, 5'te 5 yapılması durumunda ise toplamda 10 milyon dolarlık dev bir teşvik havuzu oluşturdu.

Fenerbahçe yönetimi, Salı günü itibarıyla tüm primleri yatırdı. Toplamda 1.5 milyon dolar tutarındaki son bakiye, kulüp kaynakları ve dış desteklerle ödenerek hesaplara yatırıldı. 1.5 milyon dolar tutarındaki ödemenin finansman tablosu; 500 bin dolar Başkan Sadettin Saran, 800 bin dolar yöneticiler ve 200 bin dolar da sponsorlar tarafından karşılandı.

Yöneticiler, bu ödemeyle birlikte "ödenmemiş tek bir kuruş prim kalmadığını" belirtti.

Dün kulüp binasına giden Başkan ve Yönetim Kurulu, şampiyonluk yolundaki son 5 viraj için tarihi bir prim sistemini hayata geçirdi. Toplamda 10 milyon doları bulabilecek devasa bir paket masaya yatırıldı.

-Kalan 5 lig maçı için galibiyet başına 1'er milyon dolar...

-Galatasaray derbisinin kazanılması durumunda tam 3 milyon dolar...

-5 maçın tamamı kazanılıp ve şampiyonluk gelmesi durumunda da 3 milyon dolar daha eklenerek toplam prim 10 milyon dolarlık prim paketi hazırlandı.

Yönetimin belirlediği bu sistemde tek şart hata payının sıfır olması. Gelen bilgilere göre, kalan 5 maçtan herhangi birinde yaşanacak puan kaybı durumunda, planlanan 7 milyon dolarlık temel prim havuzu riske girecek.

Sarı-lacivertli kurmaylar bu hamleyle, futbolculara "Yalnızca şampiyonluğa odaklanın, karşılığını fazlasıyla alacaksınız" mesajını net bir şekilde vermiş oldu.

Fenerbahçe'de Skriniar'ın sakatlık bilmecesi sürerken teknik direktör Tedesco, kaptanı koruma altına aldı. Sakatlığını tam olarak atlatamaması nedeniyle takımdan ayrı, kendisi için hazırlanan özel bir program dahilinde çalışan Slovak stoperin Rizespor maçında sahada olup olmayacağı henüz net değil. Alman teknik adamın ilk hedefi Skriniar'ı Galatasaray derbisinde sahaya sürmek.

Fenerbahçe’de kaptan Milan Skriniar’ın sakatlık süreci sarı-lacivertli teknik heyeti titiz bir planlama yapmaya itti. Sakatlığını henüz tam anlamıyla atlatamayan tecrübeli stoperin durumu yakından takip ediliyor.

Slovak yıldız, sakatlığının nüksetmemesi adına şu an için takımla birlikte çalışmalara katılmıyor. Teknik heyet ve sağlık ekibinin ortak kararıyla özel bir antrenman programı uygulanıyor. Bu programın temel amacı; oyuncuyu hem fiziksel olarak korumak hem de temposunun takımın gerisinde kalmamasını sağlamak.

Hafta sonu oynanacak olan Rizespor mücadelesi öncesi Skriniar’ın durumu belirsizliğini koruyor. Gelen bilgiler ışığında Slovak oyuncunun bu maçta görev alma ihtimali ile riske edilmeme ihtimali yüzde 50 olarak görülüyor.

Tedesco'nun masasındaki bir diğer seçenek de Slovak kaptanı ilk 11’de başlatıp maçın gidişatına göre hamle yapmak. Skriniar maça başlar ve Fenerbahçe skoru erken bulursa, maçın başında oyundan alınarak Galatasaray derbisine saklanması planlanıyor.

SMS Grup Efeler Ligi play-off serisi 1-4 etabı ikinci maçında Galatasaray HDI Sigorta, Halkbank'ı 3-0 yenerek seride 2-0 öne geçti ve finale yükseldi. Sarı-kırmızılılar, Spor Toto'yu eleyen Ziraat Bankkart ile finalde şampiyonluk mücadelesi verecek.

Voleybol SMS Grup Efeler Ligi'nde finali adı belli oldu. Galatasaray HDI Sigorta play-off 1-4 etabında Halkbank’ı 3-0 mağlup ederek seride durumu 2-0’a getirdi ve finalde Ziraat BankKart'ın rakibi oldu. Final serisinde ilk karşılama 21 Nisan Salı günü 19.00'da oynanacak.

Salon: Burhan Felek Vestel

Hakemler: Erdal Akıncı, Uğur Ateş

Galatasaray HDI Sigorta: Maar, Doğukan Ulu, Patry, Jaeschke, Ahmet Tümer, Arslan Ekşi (Hasan Yeşilbudak, Caner Ergül, Can Koç, Hacı Şahin)

Halkbank: Kaziyski, Ertuğrul Metin, Skolov, Leal, Samet Baltacı, Ulaş Kıyak (Volkan Döne, Sliwka, Sotola, Emre Tayaz, Tuna Uzunkol)

Setler: 25-17, 25-18, 25-22

Süre: 82 dakika (24, 27, 31)

Futzal üzrə Azərbaycan milli komandasının üzvü Emil Həsənzadə Qazaxıstan yığmasına qarşı keçirdikləri yoxlama oyununu şərh edib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, millimiz iki gün öncə 2:9 hesabıyla uduzduğu qazaxlara bu gün 2:4 hesabıyla məğlub olub.

Emil Həsənzadə qarşılaşmadan sonra Azərbaycan Futzal Federasiyasının rəsmi saytına açıqlamasında bunları söyləyib:

“Bu oyunlarda bizi dəstəkləyən, hər zaman yanımızda olan, ruhdan düşməyə qoymayan insanlara təşəkkür edirəm. Aktauda bu gün ikinci oyunumuzu keçirdik. İlk qarşılaşmada nəticə ürəkaçan olmamışdı. Həmin matçda birinci hissədə yaxşı oynasaq da, sonra yorğunluq özünü göstərdi. Çünki bura oyun günü gecə saatlarında gəlmişdik. Ona qədər isə Tiflisdə iki ağır oyun keçirmişdik. Həm oyunlar, həm yol yorğunluğu, həm də gecə saatlarında gəlməyimiz təsirsiz ötüşmədi. Fiziki hazırlığımız da tam qaydasında deyildi. Buna baxmayaraq, bir gün dincəldik, zalda məşq etmək imkanımız oldu. Baş məşqçi səhvlərimzi göstərdi, daha yaxşısını necə edə biləcəyimizi dedi. Təbii ki, qarşımızda da kifayət qədər güclü və təcrübəli komanda var idi. Deyilənləri icra etməyə çalışdıq. Rəqibə rahat oynamağa imkanı vermədik. Düzdür, oyunların hamısında məğlub olduq, ancaq bu, bizi ruhdan salmır. Əksinə, baş məşqçimizin dediyi kimi, çətin oyunlarda gücümüzü sınamalıyıq ki, səhvlərimizi görək. Belə oyunlar çox olmalıdır.

Ümumiləşdirsək, aprel toplanışı çox faydalı oldu. Dörd oyunda meydana çıxdıq, hər iki rəqibimiz güclü komandalar oldu. Yenə deyirəm, yoldaşlıq oyunlarında nəticədən çox meydanda gördüyün iş vacibdir. Ümid edirəm ki, bunun xeyrini rəsmi oyunlarda mütləq görəcəyik”.

​”Barselona” “Palmeyras”ın 16 yaşlı vunderkindi Eduardo Konseysaonu heyətinə qatmaq üçün “Mançester Siti” ilə gərgin rəqabətə girib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, əvvəllər Endrik, Estevao Villian və Rayan kimi cənubi amerikalı istedadları rəqiblərinə əldən verən “Barselona” bu dəfə eyni ssenarini yaşamaqdan çəkinir.

İspaniyanın “AS” nəşrinin məlumatına görə, klub gənc ulduzla bağlı danışıqları maksimum dərəcədə sürətləndirib və ildırımsürətli həmlə edib.

Hücumameyilli yarımmüdafiəçi məşhur “Kopinya” turnirində keçirdiyi 7 oyunda 4 qol və 3 məhsuldar ötürmə ilə Avropa nəhənglərinin diqqətini çəkib. Lakin “Barselona”nın skautları onu bu turnirdəki partlayışından çox əvvəl də izləyirdi.

Gənc futbolçunun 2029-cu ilin yanvarınadək qüvvədə olan müqaviləsində 100 milyon avroluq sərbəstqalma bəndi mövcuddur. Lakin “Palmeyras”ın bu məbləğin yarısına – yəni sabit ödənişlər və bonuslar da daxil olmaqla 50 milyon avroya bu transferə razılıq verəcəyi bildirilir.

Aprelin 15-də cüdo üzrə U-17 yeniyetmələr arasında Liqa yarışının I turu start götürüb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Abşeron Olimpiya Kompleksində keçirilən turnirin ilk günündə 243 cüdoçu 6 çəkidə medalçıları müəyyənləşdirib.

Qızlar -40 kq, -52 kq, -70 kq. oğlanlar isə -50 kq, -66 kq və -90 kq çəki dərəcələrində mübarizə aparıblar.

Cari ildə U-17 Liqa yarışının 3 turunun keçirilməsi planlaşdırılır. Bu yarışlar idmançıların reytinq cədvəlinin formalaşmasına önəmli rol oynayacaq.

İlk günün mükafatçılarını təqdim edirik:

Qızlar

-40 kq

1. Fəridə Rəhimli (Naftalan UGİM)

2. Sofiya Bıkova (Maştağa İK)

3. Zeynəb Qurbanova (RKİM)

4. Rəvanə Əliquliyeva (Qəbələ (Bakı))

-52 kq

1. Samirə Əliyeva (Balaxanı İM)

2. Məleykə Mürsəliyeva (Neftçi Sumqayıt)

3. Yağmur Abdullayeva (Arifoğlu İK)

3. Nazlı Səfərli (Sumqayıt şəhəri 2 nömrəli UGİŞM)

-70 kq

1. Zümrüd Əliyeva (RKİM)

2. Aişə Rüstəmova (DİN İC)

3. Qönçə Məmmədli (Ələt İdman Klubu)

3. Lalə Səbziyeva (İOEUGİM Sumqayıt)

Oğlanlar

-50 kq

1. Ülvi Cəlilzadə (Neftçi İK)

2. Məhərrəm Bayramlı (Sumqayıt şəhəri 1 nömrəli İOEUGİŞM)

3. Fərid Rzazadə (Pirşağı-Kürdəxanı İK)

3. Cəbrayıl Bağırov (Sərhədçi İM)

-66 kq

1. Əli Cəfərov (Bakı şəhəri 13 nömrəli İOEUGİM PHŞ)

2. Həsən İbadov (Neftçi İK)

3. Dünyamalı Asdanlı (Judo Club 2020 İK)

3. Hüseyn Şıxəliyev (Sərhədçi İM)

-90 kq

1. Tural Rzayev (Şuşa UGİM)

2. Qədir Umudəliyev (Qədiroğlu İK)

3. Munir Əlizadə (Atilla İK)

3. Saleh Rzayev (Bakı şəhəri 13 nömrəli İOEUGİM PHŞ)

​”Bavariya”nın qapıçısı Manuel Noyer Çempionlar Liqasının 1/4 final mərhələsində “Real”a qarşı keçirilən cavab matçında yeni tarixi göstəriciyə imza atacaq.

​Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Noyer “Bavariya”nın start heyətində 137-ci ÇL matçına çıxaraq, Lionel Messinin bu göstəricidə (“Barselona” – 136 oyun) geridə qoyacaq.

​Hazırda bu siyahının mütləq lideri 149 oyunla İker Kasilyasdır. Əgər 40 yaşlı Noyer klubu ilə müqaviləsini daha bir il uzadarsa, gələn mövsüm Kasilyasın əlçatmaz görünən rekordunu qırmaq üçün real şans qazanacaq.

​Təcrübəli qapıçı gələcəyi ilə bağlı qəti qərarını hələ verməyib. O, mətbuat konfransında karyerasının davamı ilə bağlı verəcəyi qərarda rekordların və ya çempionluq ehtimallarının həlledici amil olmayacağını vurğulayıb.

Bu gün keçirilən Qazaxıstan – Azərbaycan oyunu ilə bağlı millinin baş məşqçisi Yevgeni Kukseviç açıqlama verib.

Futbolpress.az həmin açıqlamanı təqdim edir:

“Birinci oyundan sonra istirahət etdik və yaxşı bərpa olunduq. Üstəlik, rəqibin adının gətirdiyi üstünlüyü, azarkeş amilini, zala uyğunlaşmaq baxımından yaşadığımız problemi bu dəfə bir kənara atdıq, psixoloji baxımdan matça tam hazır çıxdıq. Buna görə də yaxşı oynadığımız deyə bilərəm. Əslində, yoldaşlıq oyunlarını güclü rəqiblərə qarşı keçirmək yaxşı oldu. Zəif rəqibləri udub bayram etməkdənsə, səhvlərimizi, çatışmazlığımızı görüb, üzərində işləmək və inkişaf etmək lazımdır. Yenə deyirəm, bugünkü oyunumuz da çox çətin idi, ancaq uşaqlar bacardıqlarını göstərdilər. Sadəcə, soyuqqanlılığımız çatmadı. Bəzi epizodlarda yaxşı mənada nələrsə etmək istədik, alınmadı. Bu cür oyunlarda uduzsaq da, meydanda gördüyümüz yaxşı işlər bizə qələbəyə bərabərdir”.

​”Mançester Yunayted”də axtardığını tapa bilməyən Altay Bayındır yenidən Super Liqaya dönməyə hazırlaşır.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu dəfə o, keçmiş klubu “Fənərbaxça”nın deyil, “Beşiktaş”ın uğurları üçün çalışacaq.

İngiltərənin məşhur “Daily Mail” nəşrinin yaydığı məlumata görə, növbəti mövsüm üçün heyətdə ciddi dəyişikliklər etməyi planlaşdıran “Beşiktaş” Altay Bayındırla hər mövzuda razılığa gəlib. 28 yaşlı qolçunun yenidən İstanbula qayıtmağa yaşıl işıq yandırdığı bildirilir.

“Qara qartallar” hazırda İngiltərə nəhəngi ilə transfer məbləği barədə müzakirələri davam etdirir.

“Qırmızı şeytanlar” Altayı 2023-cü ildə “Fənərbağça”dan 5 milyon avroya transfer etmişdi. Hazırda tərəflərin razılığa çox yaxın olduğu və transferin qısa zamanda rəsmiləşəcəyi gözlənilir.

​”Fənərbağça”dan ayrıldıqdan sonra Portuqaliyanın “Benfika” klubuna üz tutan Joze Mourinyo yenidən İngiltərə yolundadır.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Mourinyonun rəhbərlik etdiyi “Benfika” Portuqaliya Liqasında çempionluq yarışından uzaqlaşıb.

29 turdan sonra 69 xal toplayan komanda lider “Portu”dan 7 xal geri qalır. Bu gedişat mütəxəssisin Portuqaliyadakı gələcəyini sual altına salıb.

Premyer Liqada 14-cü pilləyə qədər geriləyən “Nyukasl Yunayted” Eddi Haunu əvəzləmək üçün Mourinyonu əsas namizəd kimi görür.

​

Napoli have made their first move in the pursuit of Nicolò Zaniolo, with sporting director Giovanni Manna having opened exploratory talks with the Udinese midfielder’s entourage ahead of the summer transfer window.

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According to Kiss Kiss Napoli, via TuttoMercatoWeb, the approach represents a continuation of Manna’s long-standing admiration for the Italian, having previously targeted him during his time at Juventus.

Antonio Conte is also understood to be a fan of the player, though the extent of Napoli’s pursuit will depend heavily on whether the manager remains in charge next season, a question that has yet to be resolved following Aurelio De Laurentiis’ recent public comments from the United States.

Napoli keen on Zaniolo as Udinese man finds form

Zaniolo has rediscovered his best form this season, registering six goals and seven assists in 34 appearances for Udinese, a return that has underlined his quality when fit and in a settled environment.

The Italian international joined on loan from Galatasaray, and Udinese are understood to be ready to trigger their purchase option of approximately €9 million to make the deal permanent.

Manna is aware that other Italian clubs are also monitoring the situation, giving the contact an added urgency. Napoli are not prepared to be caught flat-footed in what promises to be a competitive summer window, and Zaniolo, available at a relatively modest cost given his current form, represents an attractive and attainable target.

Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori has not been included in Arsenal’s starting lineup or bench in Wednesday night’s UEFA Champions League quarter final match against Sporting.

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Arsenal won the first leg 1-0 in Portugal and are expected to come out on top at the Emirates Stadium.

Calafiori, however, will play no part in the match – indeed, after missing Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat against Bournemouth.

The Italian’s condition is not likely serious though, and the Italian may be available for the weekend’s huge match against Manchester City.

Arsenal vs Sporting – Official Lineups as Calafiori misses out

Arsenal: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Sporting: Rui Silva; Quaresma, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo; Hjulman, Morita; Geny, Pedro Goncalves, Trincao; Suarez

Juventus are set to secure the long-term future of Manuel Locatelli, with an agreement in place to extend his contract until 2030.

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The Italy international’s current deal, which was due to expire in 2028, will be extended by a further two years, while also including a salary increase from €3m to €4m per season, according to CalcioMercato.

The official signing is expected to take place on April 17.

Locatelli renewal is huge boost for Juventus

Locatelli joined Juventus from Sassuolo in 2021 for €37.5m, having previously come through the ranks at AC Milan. Since arriving in Turin, he has made 224 appearances, contributing nine goals and 17 assists, and played a key role in the club’s Coppa Italia triumph in 2024.

At international level, he has earned 36 caps for the Italy national team, scoring three goals and being part of the squad that won Euro 2020.

Locatelli’s renewal is the latest in a series of key extensions for Juventus, following new deals for Kenan Yildiz, Weston McKennie and head coach Luciano Spalletti.

Attention will now turn to the future of Dusan Vlahovic, whose current contract is due to expire in 2026 and remains unresolved.

There’ll surely be huge demand for Manchester City vs Arsenal tickets as this weekend’s game at the Etihad Stadium looks like potentially deciding the Premier League title.

BUY MAN CITY VS. ARSENAL TICKETS

The Gunners have had a bit of a blip recently, while Man City have looked back to their best, and now they go head-to-head in this huge six-pointer.

If Arsenal win, then defeat in the last game against Bournemouth will quickly be forgotten, and they’ll be major favourites again, but a win for City will confirm what we appear to be seeing now, with Mikel Arteta‘s side perhaps bottling it again. A draw leaves us all guessing.

Years from now you’ll surely wish you’d been there, so read on for our Manchester City vs Arsenal tickets guide.

How to buy Manchester City tickets

Manchester City fans looking for tickets to this game will likely make the official site here their first port of call, but it’s not necessarily the best way to guarantee you’ll grab a seat.

We can also recommend following the link here for another dedicated ticket portal that is easy to navigate, reliable, and backed by a 150% money-back guarantee if, for whatever reason, you’re not satisfied.

How to buy Arsenal tickets

Arsenal’s official ticket page can be found here, but we would again recommend having a backup plan in place, as you’ll struggle to get ahead of season-ticket holders and club members for such an in-demand fixture.

You could also try following our link here for a better chance to make sure you get a seat in the Etihad Stadium away end, for what could end up being an unforgettable game that ends up taking a place alongside Anfield in 1989, Old Trafford in 2002, and White Hart Lane in 2004 in the club’s history books.

How Manchester City could line up vs Arsenal

City are in fine form at the moment, so will surely take the game to Arsenal with an attacking approach and as many of their stars on the pitch at once.

Pep Guardiola can’t fit everyone in, but he has plenty of good options that can cause the Gunners problems, as they did in the Carabao Cup final recently.

Expect something like the below…

Man City predicted line-up: Donnarumma; Nunes, O’Neill, Guehi, Khusanov; Rodri, Silva, Cherki, Semenyo, Doku; Haaland.

How Arsenal could line up vs Manchester City

Injuries continue to be a problem for Arsenal as they have been for so much of the season, with doubts over Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori going into this game.

That makes it hard to predict Arsenal’s starting XI, but based on recent reports it’s probably more likely that Saka and Timber will be back than the other two.

We’ll go with this line-up for now…

Arsenal predicted line-up: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres.

Fine line between success and failure

Two wins, or even two draws for Arsenal this week will have them in the Champions League semi-finals and probably as title favourites. Two defeats and it’s likely they’re heading for another trophyless season.

These are the fine margins for Arteta now, whose own future as Arsenal manager will surely come into question if this project once again yields a second-place finish and failure to lift any of the other three trophies despite for so long this season looking like they might genuinely be in the running for a quadruple.

Quite simply, this is an absolutely massive game for Arsenal in their modern history – can their players rise to the occasion or will the pressure get to them again? Give us your predictions in the comments!

Leonardo Bonucci remains part of the Italy national team setup despite the recent overhaul at the Italian Football Federation, as he continues to build towards a future in coaching.

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The former Juventus defender is currently working as part of the federation’s technical structure, focusing on scouting and analysing players while completing the required steps to obtain his UEFA Pro licence, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport.

His role is independent of the previous coaching staff and remains valid until June 2026, meaning he has stayed on despite the departures of Gennaro Gattuso, Gabriele Gravina and Gianluigi Buffon.

Bonucci stays on pathway to Serie A coaching

Bonucci began his post-playing path in 2024 as an assistant to Bernardo Corradi with the Italy Under-20 side, before later being integrated into the senior national team environment. His current duties involve monitoring both established and emerging Italian players, compiling detailed reports as part of his coaching education.

This work is essential for completing the hours required to sit the final exams at Coverciano, which would allow him to coach in Serie A. He has already earned his UEFA A licence and is regularly attending matches across Italy and Europe to continue his development.

Bonucci’s contract is set to expire in June, when he will decide together with the federation whether to continue. For now, his focus remains on gaining experience and preparing for a future on the touchline, with several coaches, including Antonio Conte, having already shown interest in bringing him into their staff.

Cesc Fabregas confirms Como are targeting more Real Madrid talents after Nico Paz and Jacobo Ramon and hopes to remain at the Stadio Sinigaglia long term: ‘I’m in love with everything I’m doing here.’

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Como visit Sassuolo in a crucial Serie A match on Friday, as the Azzurri are just two points below a Champions League spot despite last Sunday’s 4-3 loss to Inter.

Como have mostly used a 4-2-3-1 system this term, but Fabregas has also made some tactical twists along the way.

“I don’t like to talk about a structure. There’s always an evolution, and it’s always very hard. We analyse all the time,” he said at a press conference via TMW.

“If you look at PSG, Liverpool, and Barcelona, they are all very dynamic.”

Argentine talent Nico Paz scored a goal and provided one assist in Sunday’s loss to Inter after managing just one goal in the previous four league fixtures.

“I congratulated Nico Paz; we have revived him. He’s the player we used to see,” Fabregas said.

Como remain the least-beaten defence in Serie A despite their recent heavy defeat to Inter.

“Our defence was not in confusion. We recovered possession many times with high pressing,” insisted Fabregas.

“Our defence was incredible, with top-notch pressing. It’s true that we didn’t do well on set pieces, but that had to do with the pressure at that moment, too.

“It’s been a constant growth, thanks to the players, a great staff and the intensity we put in every day. We push hard, we know we are ranked higher than we would have thought, but it all depends on the players and what they learn day by day,” he added.

“We continue to push, hoping to finish as high as possible. When you see the players’ determination, the result goes in the background. There will be moments when only the result is missing, but now we are building an idea.”

Speaking about the defensive attitude he wants to see from his players, Fabregas mentioned Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday: “Yesterday, Eric García consistently anticipated the play and maintained the right positioning, even though he isn’t the most physical or the fastest. It’s exactly what we want.”

Fabregas was asked whether Lucas Da Cunha embodies his playing style, and the coach replied that the Frenchman has completed “96% of the training sessions” at Como over the last two seasons.

“Kolo Touré was somebody who didn’t miss any training sessions. It’s the typical player a scouting team must identify,” added Fabregas.

Fabregas confirmed that his assistant coach has travelled to Madrid twice in recent weeks to watch some Real Madrid Castilla players in action.

Nico Paz and Ramon have joined the Azzurri from the Merengues over the last two years, and Como fans should probably expect more reinforcements from the Spanish capital going forward.

“Yes, we are always on the move. It’s too important to watch players live,” Fabregas said.

“We are looking for players to improve. We know what Nico and Ramon have achieved here.”

Fabregas, a former Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder, reiterated that he’s not considering leaving Como at the end of the season, not even of the Italy national team job.

“It’s hard, right now, this is what I feel. I’m in love with everything I’m doing here,” he said.

“This won’t change. My life is about preparing for the Sassuolo game. I experienced it as a player. Today it all goes well, but lose two games and people would not want you anymore. People are accustomed to having a high bar, and I’m the first one who wants it.”

One final question was whether he’d like to replicate Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal career at Como, spending several years at the club and reshaping their identity: “I’d love it,” he concluded.

Arsenal are keeping tabs on the highly talented Fredrikstad FK midfielder Eirik Granaas.

According to a report from TV2, Arsenal are interested in the 16-year-old midfielder, and it remains to be seen whether they decide to make a move for him in the summer. He could prove to be a quality long-term investment for the club.

The 16-year-old is highly rated across Europe, and multiple clubs are scouting him. Along with Arsenal, RB Leipzig are keeping tabs on the talented young midfielder as well.

The opportunity to join a big club in the summer will be exciting for Granaas, and it remains to be seen where he ends up. He has a contract with the Norwegian club until December 20 27, and he could be available for a reasonable fee in the summer. That said, TV2 claims the Norwegian outfit will hold out for a club-record fee for the youngster. They sold Fallou Fall for just under 40 million kroner last year, and they will demand more than that for Granaas. 

Arsenal have the financial muscle to get across the line, and they will be an attractive destination for the young playmaker as well. They are among the biggest clubs in the world, and they have an outstanding track record of grooming young players. They could help Granaas fulfil his tremendous potential.

The 16-year-old has already broken through to the first team seen at the Norwegian club, and it remains to be seen whether he is prepared to live in the summer. He needs regular opportunities at a high level to continue his development. At Arsenal, he is unlikely to get opportunities in the Premier League right away.

Granaas should focus on his development for now. He will have plenty of opportunities to play for elite clubs if he fulfils his potential in future.

The post Arsenal ready to challenge Europe’s elite in record-breaking move for midfield prodigy appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Jose Mourinho has emerged as a “genuine contender” for a sensational return to the Premier League, with the Portuguese icon reportedly identified as the leading candidate to replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle United.

According to the latest from talkSPORT, the Newcastle hierarchy are seriously considering a change in leadership following a string of poor results that has seen the Magpies slump to 14th in the table.

The club’s Saudi owners are believed to be increasingly attracted to the idea of a “big-name” appointment to spearhead the next phase of their project at St James’ Park.

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The report suggests that Mourinho, currently managing Benfica, has significant admirers within the Newcastle boardroom.

While Eddie Howe has credit in the bank after delivering the League Cup last season, recent defeats, including a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace where Newcastle surrendered a first-half lead, have put his position under immense scrutiny.

As per talkSPORT, if Howe leaves this summer, Mourinho is the main target, though he is also expected to be a top candidate for the Portugal national team after the World Cup should Roberto Martinez step down.

Jose Mourinho’s Premier League record

A move to Tyneside would mark Mourinho’s fifth stint in English football, having previously managed Chelsea (twice), Manchester United, and Tottenham.

His track record in the Premier League remains one of the most decorated in history:

• Premier League Titles: 3 (2004/05, 2005/06, 2014/15)
• Total PL Wins: 217
• Win Percentage: ~60%
• Major English Trophies: 3 Premier Leagues, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cups

While his pragmatic style may not go down well with the Newcastle faithful, his history of delivering immediate silverware is precisely what the PIF-backed ownership desires.

Mourinho has previously teased a return to London, which he considers home, but the temptation of the “elite support and financial backing” at Newcastle may prove impossible to resist.

The post Jose Mourinho has emerged as ‘genuine contender’ to become manager of surprise Premier League club – report appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly keeping tabs on Santiago Castro, and they will scout the player in action when Bologna takes on Aston Villa on Thursday night.

The two teams will be in action in the Europa League, and Castro will look to make his mark on the game, as per Il Resto del Carlino.

The player has 11 goals and four assists in all competitions this season, and he has impressed Manchester United and Chelsea with his performances. The 21-year-old is a talented young striker with a bright future, and he could prove to be a quality long-term investment for both clubs.

Manchester United and Chelsea have the financial muscle to get the deal done, and it remains to be seen whether they follow up on their interest with an official offer at the end of the season. Manchester United will need to replace Joshua Zirkzee in the summer. The Netherlands international is not a key player for them, and his performance in the Premier League has been mediocre. He will also want to move on in search of regular playing time.

Castro could compete with Benjamin Sesko for the starting spot at Manchester United next season. The competition for places could bring out the best in both players.

Meanwhile, Chelsea need more depth in the attacking unit as well. They have been overly dependent on Joao Pedro. Liam Delap has found the back of the net just once in all competitions. They need to replace him in the summer.

Castro has the technical attributes to do well in the Premier League, and he could be a superb option for Chelsea in the attack.

It will be interesting to see if Bolona is prepared to sanction his departure in the summer. They have a reputation for selling talented players for the right price, and they have sanctioned exits of Riccardo Calafiori, Joshua Zirkzee and Dan Ndoye in recent windows.

The post Man United & Chelsea ramp up pursuit with scouting mission for 15-G/A forward appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike picked up a serious Achilles tendon injury against PSG in the UEFA Champions League last night.

The French International could be sidelined for 9 to 12 months. They are now looking to bring in two quality attackers at the end of the season. According to a report from TEAMtalk, they are interested in signing the Newcastle United attacker Anthony Gordon.

The former Everton star has done quite well for Newcastle this season, and he could be a superb acquisition for Liverpool. He is a dynamic attacker who can operate on the flanks as well as a Centre forward. He will add goals and creativity to the team. He is well settled in the Premier League, and he could make an immediate impact at Liverpool. In addition, he is a lifelong Liverpool fan, which could give Liverpool an edge in the transfer race.

It remains to be seen whether Newcastle is prepared to sanction his departure. They are struggling in the attack right now, and selling their best attacking player would be a huge blow.

Gordon has 22 goal contributions for Newcastle this season.

On the other hand, Liverpool are admirers of Iliman Ndiaye as well. The Senegal International has been outstanding for Everton, and it remains to be seen whether the Toffees are willing to sell him to their bitter rivals. Ndiaye has 9 goal contributions in the league.

The report further claims that Jarrod Bowen, Harry Wilson and Bazoumana Toure are on Liverpool’s radar as well. They will need to replace Mohamed Salah at the end of the season, and signing quality wingers should be a priority for them. They have not been able to replace Luis Diaz yet, who left the club at the start of the season. Investing in two quality wide players would be ideal.

Gordon and Ndiaye are indispensable assets for their respective clubs, and they are likely to cost a lot of money.

The post Liverpool want Premier League duo with combined 31-G/A this season after Ekitike injury appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick faces a defensive crisis ahead of Saturday’s clash against Chelsea, with both Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez confirmed to miss the trip to Stamford Bridge.

The news would come as a significant blow to United’s pursuit of a top-four finish, as Carrick will be forced to field a makeshift backline against a Chelsea side currently sitting just seven points behind them in the table.

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Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez out of Chelsea clash

The FA confirmed on Wednesday, that it has upheld a misconduct charge against Harry Maguire, resulting in an additional one-match suspension and a £30,000 fine.

The 33-year-old was penalised for his aggressive reaction toward fourth official Matt Donohue following a red card in United’s recent 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.

Although Maguire had already served a suspension for the initial dismissal, the FA ruled that his “improper manner and abusive words” warranted further punishment.

Adding to Carrick’s woes, Lisandro Martínez will also be absent. The Argentine defender is starting a three-match ban for violent conduct after he was caught pulling the hair of Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin during Monday’s 2-1 defeat.

With Matthijs de Ligt still sidelined through injury, United are expected to rely on 20-year-old Leny Yoro and teenage prospect Ayden Heaven to anchor the defense against the Blues.

??? Harry Maguire set to be banned for +1 game as “FA uphold charge of misconduct”, reports @lauriewhitwell.

Man United could be without Maguire and Lisandro Martínez against Chelsea. ?? pic.twitter.com/sQVZhqc9vy

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 15, 2026

Harry Maguire’s importance to the Carrick era

The timing of the suspension is particularly frustrating given Maguire’s recent “renaissance” at the club.

Just last week, Maguire signed a new contract extending his stay at Old Trafford until June 2027.

Since Carrick took over in January, Maguire has been an ever-present, starting every league game until his recent disciplinary issues.

His leadership has been a fundamental part of United’s climb to third in the standings, and his absence leaves a vocal void in a backline.

The post Massive blow for Carrick: Man United to be without two key players for match against Chelsea appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Igor Paixao has been linked with a move away from Marseille, and Liverpool are interested in securing his signature.

The 25-year-old has impressed with his explosive pace and dribbling ability at the French club. Liverpool is looking to add more cutting-edge in the final third, and they believe the 25-year-old Brazilian could be an excellent addition for them.

Paixao joined Marseille for a fee of €30 million, and the French outfit could look to double their investment in the player, as per SportsBoom. He has 19 goal contributions this season.

Along with Liverpool, Arsenal are also keeping tabs on his situation. Both teams need more quality in the final third. The Brazilian will add unpredictability and technical ability to the team. The opportunity to play for Arsenal or Liverpool will be hard to turn down. They are among the biggest clubs in the world, and they could provide him with the platform to fight for major trophies. It remains to be seen whether they are prepared to pay the asking price for him. €60 million is a lot of money, and they will hope to sign the player for a more reasonable fee.

The report claims that Arsenal are preparing an offer of €35 million plus bonuses for the Brazilian attacker. It remains to be seen whether they can beat Liverpool to his signature.

Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze have not been able to live up to expectations since joining the club, and Arsenal need someone who can take on defenders, beat them in 1v1 situations, and create opportunities.

Liverpool will need to replace Mohamed Salah, who has announced he will leave the club in the summer. It remains to be seen where the Brazilian ends up.

The post Arsenal prepare cut-price offer as Liverpool join hunt for €60m dribbling sensation appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The March 2026 Google core update drove far higher ranking volatility than the December 2025 core update. Nearly 80% of top-three results shifted, and almost one in four top-10 pages fell out of the top 100, according to SE Ranking data shared exclusively with Search Engine Land.

The data. Volatility increased across every ranking tier.

• In the top 3, 79.5% of URLs changed positions, up from 66.8% in December. In the top 10, 90.7% shifted, compared to 83.1%.

• Stability dropped sharply. Only 20.5% of top 3 URLs held their exact position, down from 33.1%. In the top 10, that fell to 9.3%, from 16.9%.

• Churn intensified at the top. About 24.1% of pages ranking in the top 10 fell out of the top 100 entirely, versus 14.7% after the December update.

It’s (sort of) complicated. The March 2026 core update began rolling out a day after the March 2026 spam update completed. This complicated attribution, according to SE Ranking:

• Based on historical patterns and the scale of movement, most volatility was likely driven by the core update, with the spam update amplifying disruption.
• That overlap likely skews direct comparisons to December, though March still appeared more volatile.

More core update analysis. Meanwhile, independent analysis by Aleyda Solis, using Sistrix data from March 26 to April 11, found a consistent shift in where visibility concentrates. Rankings appeared to move from intermediary sites toward stronger destination sources. Website types gaining search visibility:

• Official and institutional.
• Specialist and niche.
• Established brands.
• Dominant platforms.

Losses were more common among aggregators, directories, and comparison-driven sites.

Winners and losers. Among the vertical shifts Solis highlighted:

• Dictionary and language reference sites declined, while larger reference platforms and major destinations gained visibility.
• Job aggregators like ZipRecruiter and Glassdoor lost ground, while employer sites and specialized platforms like USAJobs and Amazon.jobs surged.
• Government and institutional domains, including Census.gov and BLS.gov, saw strong gains on fact-driven queries.
• Travel and real estate visibility shifted away from broad discovery platforms toward stronger brands and primary destinations.
• Health results were re-sorted. Broad consumer health sites declined, while clinical, research-driven, and specialist sources gained.
• One exception: YouTube had the largest visibility loss in the dataset.

Why we care. The data suggests Google’s March 2026 core update raised the bar for ranking. Strong brands, owned data, and direct query value won. Intermediaries now look increasingly exposed.

Automation doesn’t fail on its own — it does exactly what it’s trained to do. The problem is that when Google Ads is fed incomplete, misaligned, or overly broad signals, it can optimize toward the wrong outcome faster than most advertisers realize.

In our second installment of SMX Now, our new monthly series, Ameet Khabra of Hop Skip Media will break down a real account where a 417% jump in conversions turned out to be the wrong kind of success. She’ll use that case study to explain the four key ways automation drift enters an account: signal drift, query drift, inventory drift, and creative drift.

You’ll leave with a practical framework for diagnosing drift early, understanding where human oversight matters most, and managing automation more deliberately so it works toward real business goals — not just platform-reported wins.

Join us May 6 at noon ET.

Save your spot

The NBA has declared its new television deals a resounding success after reporting record viewership figures for the past season.

The league announced on Wednesday that 170 million people in the United States tuned into NBA games across its four primary broadcast platforms – ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock, and NBA TV.

These figures mark the league's highest viewership in 24 years, representing an 86 per cent increase on last season.

This season marked the debut of Prime Video as part of the league's television rights package, while NBC/Peacock returned for the first time in a generation.

These platforms are part of a new 11-year media rights deal, valued at over $76 billion, signed in 2024, which commenced at the start of the current season.

Further highlights from the viewership data include the highest average viewership in 13 years, a 35 per cent rise from last season.

Fifty-seven telecasts this season attracted an average of two million viewers, the most since the 2011-12 season.

Furthermore, fans collectively watched NBA games for more than 920 million hours, a 25 per cent increase on last season and the highest total since 2011-12.

The NBA's social media platforms also saw record engagement, generating 228 billion views this season, according to Videocites, an increase of 13 per cent.

Arena attendance over the last three seasons has surpassed any comparable period in the league's history.

Viewership for NBA Cup group stage matches surged by 90 per cent, and the All-Star Game, broadcast on NBC, drew an audience of 8.8 million, making it the most-watched mid-season showcase since 2011.

The SoFI NBA Play-In Tournament began on Tuesday and is due to run until Friday.

The NBA playoffs will then start on Saturday, while the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for 10 May.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing mounting backlash after a turbulent 2025-26 NHL season collided with a controversial report involving artificial intelligence. A year that ended in a shocking playoff miss has now raised deeper concerns about decision-making at the top.

Toronto is going to finish last in the Atlantic Division and has a record of 32–35–14 with one game in hand, marking their first postseason absence since 2016. The off-season trade of Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights set the tone for a difficult campaign. Injuries only made matters worse, with Auston Matthews suffering a season-ending MCL tear, while Chris Tanev and Anthony Stolarz missed significant time.

The collapse led to the firing of general manager Brad Treliving in March, signaling a major shift in direction.

MORE: Pressure on Maple Leafs as Auston Matthews seeks clarity on Toronto’s direction

However, the biggest controversy emerged off the ice. Tuesday’s reports from The Athletic revealed that MLSE CEO Keith Pelley presented AI-generated trade ideas at the deadline.

“As one team source put it, fans would have been surprised to see just how involved a non-hockey executive was that day,” The column reads. “Pelley didn’t come empty-handed either. He had notes that included possible trade returns that Leafs staff members believed were generated by Large Language Models and Artificial Intelligence — tools that have become increasingly influential at the top of MLSE but hadn’t been part of the usual process with its NHL team.”

The involvement was reportedly influenced by MLSE executive Humza Teherany.

Fans react to reports of Maple Leafs management using AI-generated trade returns

The report immediately led to backlash from Maple Leafs fans, with many questioning leadership decisions. Critics argued that relying on AI during crucial moments showed a disconnect from hockey operations.

“Fire Keith immediately, this joker is going to run the team to the ground. I don’t even think the man knows any deep analytics, just knows the buzz words,” a fan said.

“Worst professional sports franchise in North America, 60 years and counting…,” another fan reacted.

“Can u imagine being in the organization for decades and this idiot comes into a meeting with an AI-generated spreadsheet on who to trade and for what. For all we know, he gave a lineup sheet to Craig that was AI-generated as well as plays. That’s why the Leafs [expletive],” a fan wrote.

“If all this is true, I’m starting to think Pelley has got to go. I’ve always known MLSE only cared about money. However, this crap? This will guarantee we go another 59 years without a cup.” One user pointed.

“These people have absolutely no [expletive] shame at all man. Embarrassing [expletive].” A fan reacted.

“What do you expect when someone that high up in the organization literally doesn’t know [expletive] about hockey and is also running like 6 other pro sports teams? What a [expletive] loser,” an angry fan wrote.

Pelley had claimed he was only observing during deadline day, but the report suggests he played a more active role. That contradiction has fueled clear frustration across the Maple Leafs’ fan base.

With on-ice struggles and front-office scrutiny, the Maple Leafs now face a defining offseason.

Liverpool and France forward Hugo Ekitike will miss the 2026 World Cup after suffering a serious injury in his club's Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain, his national team coach Didier Deschamps said Wednesday.

The 23-year-old crumpled in a heap holding his lower right leg with a suspected ruptured Achilles tendon during the first half of Liverpool's 2-0 quarter-final second-leg defeat to European champions PSG on Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, the severity of (Ekitike's) injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup," Deschamps said in a statement released by the French football federation.

"This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team.

"I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff."

Ekitike has scored 17 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for Liverpool since arriving at Anfield for a fee of £79 million ($105.5 million) last summer.

Since winning his first France cap in a World Cup qualifier in September last year, Ekitike has been a regular in Les Bleus' set-up, scoring two goals and providing one assist in his eight caps.

jta/nf/mw

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Royal Challengers Bengaluru dismantled Lucknow Super Giants with incisive pace bowling in a five-wicket win to move atop the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

Fast bowlers Rasikh Salam (4-24), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-27) and Australian Josh Hazlewood (1-20) shared eight wickets as Lucknow got bowled out for 146 after Bengaluru won the toss and elected to chase.

Virat Kohli, as an impact substitute, missed out on his third half-century of the season, but his 49 off 34 balls and impactful aggression in the power play led Bengaluru to 149-5 with nearly five overs to spare.

Lucknow got an injury scare when captain Rishabh Pant didn’t keep wickets after Hazlewood’s short ball struck the left-hander hard on his left elbow. Pant returned to bat but got dismissed for 1 off six balls when Phil Salt took a brilliant running catch at deep backward square leg.

Kohli struck six fours and a six off the first 14 balls he faced and set the platform of a solid run chase as Bengaluru raced to 60-1 runs inside the first six overs. Kohli holed out to long-on in the 11th over as he tried to complete a half-century with an ambitious shot against fast bowler Avesh Khan (2-23).

Rajat Patidar (27) and Jitesh Sharma (23) made sure Bengaluru displaced Rajasthan Royals from IPL's top spot on net run-rate with brisk knocks as the defending champions notched their fourth victory.

Fast bowler Prince Yadav, who removed Salt early in Bengaluru’s run-chase, dismissed both Patidar and Sharma in one over.

Earlier, Kumar and Hazlewood didn’t allow Lucknow to build momentum in the power play and Salam struck early when Aiden Markram (12) missed out on a low full toss and offered a tame catch at covers of a leading edge.

After Pant got retired hurt, Nicholas Pooran’s (1) disappointing season continued when the West Indian left-hander got dismissed for his third single-digit score in five games and was clean bowled by Hazlewood.

Left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya (2-38), who also completed 100 wickets in the IPL, then got quick wickets of Mitchell Marsh (40) and Abdul Samad (0) as Lucknow slumped to 83-4 in the 12th over.

Ayush Badoni made 38 off 24 balls before he Salam found the outside edge of the bat in his return spell. Mukul Choudhary made 39 off 28 balls but was one of the two Salam’s wickets in the final over.

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

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker came through for LA in Tuesday’s win, hitting a go-ahead single in the eighth inning.

Tucker signed with the Dodgers on a four-year, $240 million deal in the offseason, but hasn’t quite proven his worth since coming aboard. He has a 98 wRC+ through 17 games, and is slashing .242/.360/.306.

Ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Mets, manager Dave Roberts commented on what Tucker should do to improve at the plate.

“He’s getting out of his zone, I see,” Roberts said. “And he’s not a guy that typically chases down below, but he’s chasing a lot more down below, for me.

“Typically when guys chase, they’re trying to do a little bit too much.”

After his game-winning hit, Tucker gave a brief assessment of his performance this season and how it felt to finally come up big for the Dodgers.

“It was nice,” Tucker said. “Haven’t had as many hits or barrels as I would have liked, but still grinding out the at-bats, still have to take my walks and stuff and come up with a huge hit right there, y’know get the run and win the game, so I’ll take it.”

What is Kyle Tucker Lacking so far in 2026?

It’s impossible to tell whether or not Tucker’s struggles will persist through the remainder of the season after just 17 games, but there are some clear absences from Tucker’s game.

At the moment, the most noticeable differences between Tucker’s 2026 and his previous seasons are his increased strikeout rate and his greatly reduced slug.

Tucker’s average has certainly dipped to start 2026, but he’s still managed a hit in six of his last eight games. His .360 on-base percentage is also consistent with his career average. His slugging percentage this season, though, is the greatest cause for concern, as he has a mark of just .306.

Only two of his 15 hits this season have been for extra bases, and his strikeout rate has increased by 8% since 2025.

Tucker is still making consistent contact, though, as is evident by his ability to reach base regardless of power, and if he can cut down on chasing, he will surely bounce back and show his value as a Silver Slugger-caliber bat.

When do the Dodgers Play on Wednesday?

The Dodgers secured a fourth consecutive series win with Tucker’s help Tuesday, and will look to land their first sweep since the third series of the season against the Washington Nationals on the road.

Shohei Ohtani will make his third start of the season in the series finale, and will look to keep his streak of starts without allowing an earned run. Tucker is likely to feature in the matchup, and will hope to continue stringing together good at-bats as he tries to break out of his minor slump.

The Dodgers’ series finale against the New York Mets comes Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. PT.

Will Kyle Tucker continue to improve as the season goes on?

France national team manager Didier Deschamps has confirmed that Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike (23) will miss out on the 2026 World Cup with Les Bleus after sustaining a serious Achilles injury on Tuesday against PSG. The Premier League side has yet to confirm the severity of Ekitike’s injury, but several outlets in France have confirmed Liverpool’s worst fears: the forward has ruptured his right Achilles tendon.

In a statement released by Fédération Française de Football, Deschamps confirmed that the severity of Ekitike’s injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and from taking part in the 2026 World Cup. “Hugo is one of about ten young players who have made their debuts for the national team in recent months”, Deschamps added. “He had integrated perfectly into the group, both on and off the pitch. This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the France national team.”

Ekitike scored two goals already with France, after making his debut with Les Bleus last Autumn. Given his form, he was nailed on to make Deschamps’ squad for the 2026 World Cup. The 1998 and 2018 World Cup winner said that Ekitike was “immensely disappointed“, but he assures that the Liverpool man will eventually get back to his best. 

“I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire staff. We know he will be fully behind the French team and we are all thinking of him.” Deschamps will unveil his World Cup squad next month, and Ekitike’s absence may play into the hands of several players, such as Tottenham Hotspur’s Randal Kolo Muani.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval