Lionel Messi is reportedly set to join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami with Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal understood to be out of the race. The 35-year-old Argentina star had been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, a league which already features Cristiano Ronaldo and now Karim Benzema, with Messi’s two-year contract at Paris St Germain coming to an end this month. However, the PA news agency understands a move to the Middle East is now no longer on the cards, placing Inter Miami in pole position for Messi. The Major League Soccer side are co-owned by former England captain David Beckham and were founded in 2018, playing their first season two years later. Miami recently sacked Beckham’s former Manchester United and England team-mate Phil Neville as coach and are currently bottom of the 15-team Eastern Conference, but they remain a fiercely ambitious club. The PA news agency understands the Florida side have pulled out all the stops to sign Messi, tying up with various MLS partners like Apple. A deal in principle has now reportedly been agreed that will see Messi head to the United States after PSG confirmed last week he would be leaving. Messi was reportedly being offered a deal worth 400m euros (£343.5m) per year to move to Saudi Arabia. He is also an ambassador for the Gulf kingdom’s tourist authority, and was handed a two-week suspension by PSG early last month for taking an unauthorised trip there. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

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Ethan Ampadu believes Wales will feel the benefit of his settled life at Leeds and the end of his wanderlust. Ampadu holds no regrets over leaving Chelsea this summer and heading to Elland Road after loan spells at RB Leipzig, Sheffield United, Venezia and Spezia – at the last three clubs he suffered relegation. The 22-year-old joined Chelsea at the age of 16 in 2017 and was their longest serving player until his July departure, despite making just 12 senior appearances there in six years. “It comes down to you as an individual,” Ampadu said about his Stamford Bridge exit. “If you want to stay then you voice that opinion, but I felt it was the right time to leave.” Ampadu has become a popular figure with Leeds fans in the early weeks of the Sky Bet Championship campaign, despite an indifferent start under Daniel Farke, and is the only man to play every minute for the Yorkshire club this term. Utilised during his 44-cap Wales career either in central defence or midfield, Ampadu is relishing the opportunity to play in the middle of the park at Leeds. I've enjoyed the step I've taken and I'm excited to see what comes from it Ethan Ampadu on his Leeds move A rich history is associated with that role over the years with Billy Bremner, David Batty, Gary McAllister and Kalvin Phillips among his central-midfield predecessors at Elland Road. Ampadu said: “It’s not just the position I play but the history of the club in general, where the club belongs. “We know on the outside where everyone wants us to be and within ourselves what we need to do to get where we want to be. “You obviously feel the pressure in the club, but it’s more of an exciting pressure of knowing what you can achieve. “I feel good and I’m enjoying being settled. I gave my all in each of the loans and I was focused on developing and becoming a better player. “But maybe in the back of your mind when you know you are settled somewhere and you’re not on loan, there are little things you can improve on. “If you are playing in one position, you can work on the finer little details within that position to take you to the next level. “The results have not really gone our way so far. But our performances have given us the belief for the games coming up after the international break that we can do really well.” Wales host South Korea in a Cardiff friendly on Thursday before meeting Latvia in a crunch Euro 2024 qualifier in Riga next Monday. Rob Page’s side are in desperate need for points to book a top-two automatic qualifying spot after defeats by Armenia and Turkey in June. “We’ve had time to reflect,” said Ampadu. “Everyone knows when you see a Wales team and how we performed in those games, well, that’s not us. “Put that aside, we have to learn from it. It’s about reminding ourselves of those standards and what has got us success in the past. “I’m sure that’s the baseline for us in these games coming up.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live England could still use ‘magician’ Marcus Smith at full-back – Kevin Sinfield Jonny May confronted Steve Borthwick after initial omission from England squad Novak Djokovic thrives in New York heat to beat Taylor Fritz in straight sets

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Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool must be “lucky” with the availability of their centre-backs this season as he hinted he was unlikely to add to his options before the transfer deadline. Ibrahima Konate is a doubt for Sunday afternoon’s trip to Newcastle because of a muscular problem and Joe Gomez or Joel Matip could instead partner Virgil Van Dijk at the heart of the Reds’ defence. Nat Phillips is another alternative but Klopp is well aware that a shortage of options and a spate of injuries could spell trouble as he had to get creative with his backline during the 2020-2021 season. A total of 20 different combinations were used during the turbulent campaign and Klopp is keeping everything crossed that he does not have to deal with a defensive crisis in the forthcoming months. “In an ideal world, we have six, seven, eight centre-halves and cover for absolutely everything,” the Liverpool manager said. “No, we need to be lucky with injuries, there is no doubt about that. “I have no doubt about the quality of the boys we have. We have (academy player) Jarell Quansah, a super-talented player, available as well. “In this moment we are covered but it is not dreamland where you can be prepared for absolutely each situation. We had to learn that in the past as well a couple of times. “We will try to do our absolute best to have a squad for next week, a squad for us where we can react on pretty much everything. Is that possible? We will see.” Liverpool were the only side to do the double over a Newcastle side that lost just five times in the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League last season. Despite their rapid improvement under Eddie Howe, Newcastle are on a 13-match winless sequence against Liverpool stretching back to December 2015 – although Klopp is wary of what they will face this weekend. He feels two of their signings in particular this summer were among the shrewdest of any team. The speed they have is really good. Newcastle, since last year at least, they don’t concede a lot but score. So that’s a proper game Jurgen Klopp “Newcastle are an incredibly strong team, qualified for the Champions League, fully deserved,” Klopp said. “Super development under Eddie Howe, I have to say. Eddie is a super coach, a super manager. “Smart business. I don’t want to miss anybody but probably the two standouts in this window: (Sandro) Tonali and (Harvey) Barnes. Really good business. “The speed they have is really good. Newcastle, since last year at least, they don’t concede a lot but score. So that’s a proper game.” While Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones are missing once again, Klopp will be able to call upon fellow midfielder Alexis Mac Allister after his red card in the 3-1 win over Bournemouth was overturned. Mac Allister – signed from Brighton in the summer for £35million – was shown a straight red by referee Thomas Bramall after catching Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie on the foot at Anfield last weekend. “When I saw the pictures back I was pretty sure that it’s not a red card but that doesn’t mean then immediately that our appeal will be successful,” Klopp added. “You don’t have that a lot of times, that pretty much everybody agrees this is not a red card and should not be a red card. Harsh tackles should always be punished, I absolutely support that 100 per cent. “But it was not a harsh tackle, it was just a touch in the situation. It was a massive relief when I heard that it is overturned. Very good news.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Robert Helenius failed drug test before fighting Anthony Joshua, Vada says Eddie Howe admits last season’s battles with Liverpool remain vivid memories Juanma Lillo says Man City ‘well managed’ as he fills in for Pep Guardiola