List of All Articles with Tag 'a'

West Ham have made a late move to try and sign Edson Alvarez from PSV Eindhoven. The Europa Conference League winners are also considering making offers for Kalvin Phillips and Joao Palhinha.

Alphonso Davies' agent admits he has spoken with other clubs amid interest from Man City & Real Madrid.

Erling Haaland has brushed off concerns about his form ahead of the Champions League final on Saturday. Haaland has scored 52 goals in an astonishing first season for Manchester City but grabbed only one in his last seven appearances. Coming just prior to one of the biggest games in City’s history, as they take on Inter Milan in Istanbul for Europe’s top prize, it is a run that has raised eyebrows. Yet Haaland insists there is nothing to worry about and he is not feeling the effects of a long and arduous season. You can think of it as one goal in seven games or 52 goals in 52 games. Erling Haaland “You can think of it as one goal in seven games or 52 goals in 52 games and eight assists,” said the Norway striker. “You can think of it in both ways. I’m not stressed. I feel really good.” Haaland has had no trouble dismissing critics this season. Prior to his arrival at City last summer there were claims he would need time to settle, suggestions that only increased after he spurned a gilt-edged chance on debut against Liverpool in the Community Shield. Even after he bounced back in sensational style by scoring 27 goals before the end of December, it was reckoned his presence could be hampering City, as their results at that stage were inconsistent. “I think often it’s a good thing when people start criticising you,” he said. “I scored every single game and then people started criticising me. That’s what happened basically. “When people criticise you it’s normally a good thing. It’s just about trying to smile a bit and enjoy life. “In the Community Shield I missed a couple of big chances. It can happen, it will happen again. “What can you do? Nothing. We have to focus on the next thing, the next game and that’s what I did. I scored two goals in the next game, so it was still not a bad start.” Haaland feels he has exceeded his own expectations in his first season at City but still feels he could have done better. He said: “No, I didn’t expect to score this many goals but, again, I could have scored more. “I’ve been missing a lot of chances, so I could have scored more. That’s the truth.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live FA and PFA study finds increased dementia risk in ex-footballers Naby Keita joins Werder Bremen after leaving Liverpool Georgia Hall hopes Ryann O’Toole relationship helps others be true to themselves

Former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita has returned to Germany to join Werder Bremen after the expiration of his contract at Anfield. The Guinea international’s £52million move to Merseyside from RB Leipzig in 2018 came with high expectations. However, he disappointed in his 129 appearances over five years as he struggled to get to grips with the physicality of the Premier League and missed large amounts of time with a series of injuries. The 28-year-old featured just 13 times last season, was left out of the Champions League squad due to injury, and started only three Premier League matches. Bremen will hope the midfielder’s return to the Bundesliga will bring a change of luck after scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists in 58 matches for Leipzig before his move to Liverpool. “A number of clubs are obviously going to be interested when a player like Naby Keita is available on a free transfer,” said Bremen head of scouting Clemens Fritz. “We’re therefore really pleased that Naby has decided to join Werder, despite several other offers. His qualities will massively strengthen our team. “We now want to get him back to his best.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Former professional footballers are almost three and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia than the general population, according to a study commissioned by the Football Association and Professional Footballers’ Association. First findings of the FOCUS study, conducted by the University of Nottingham, support previous research that former footballers may be at higher risk of neurocognitive disease. The new report states that 2.8 per cent of retired professional footballers in their study reported medically diagnosed dementia and other neurodegenerative disease compared to 0.9 percent of controls. This means former pros in the study were found to be 3.46 times more likely to have neurodegenerative diseases compared to the control group. The study also showed retired footballers in the study were twice as likely to fall below established thresholds in some dementia testing than the general population. Dr Charlotte Cowie, the FA’s head of medicine, told the governing body’s website: “The FA and the PFA jointly commissioned the FOCUS study in order to gain additional insight into the findings of the FIELD study, and to further examine any potential link between neurodegenerative disorders in former professional footballers. “The FOCUS study worked with an established group of former professional footballers that were participating in research and was able to review their brain health, and it supports the previous findings in the FIELD study which suggest an increased risk for neurodegenerative disease in former professional footballers than in the general population. “This is an extremely complex area of our game, but we are committed to working collectively with our stakeholders to help grow our knowledge in this area through further medical and expert analysis.” The initial findings of the FOCUS study will be shared with both FIFA and UEFA, and the FA has reiterated its support for further research from across the wider game to help build a better understanding of players’ brain health and well-being. “This is an important new study which supports previous evidence suggesting that footballers are at greater risk of dementia and poorer cognitive functioning in later life,” said the PFA’s head of brain health Dr Adam White. “Studies such as this… ensure that targeted and evidence-led action can be identified and taken to support and protect players at all stages of their career. “Continued investment in this type of research will remain absolutely vital.” An FA statement read: “The FA has led the way in taking steps to help reduce potential risk factors within the game (including) establishing industry-leading concussion guidelines, introducing the world’s most comprehensive heading guidance at every level of the professional and amateur game in England, and implementing a new trial to remove deliberate heading in football matches across under-12 level and below. “Further findings from the FOCUS study will be published in due course.”

Kyle Busch secured his third win of the season at last weekend's Enjoy Illinois 300 and now NASCAR heads to Sonoma Raceway in California for this week's Save Mart 350.This race has been in existence since 1989 and Daniel Suarez is the defending champion, having won last year's edi...

Everton have offered new contracts to Seamus Coleman, Tom Davies and Andy Lonergan but Yerry Mina and Andros Townsend will leave the club this summer. Coleman, 34, has made over 400 appearances for the Toffees, including 25 last season, and has been offered the chance to stay at Goodison Park. Davies, who came through the youth system at the club, managed just 20 appearances last term but boss Sean Dyche wants him to be part of his squad, along with back-up goalkeeper Lonergan. Mina, a £27million signing from Barcelona in 2018, will leave at the end of his current contract, having had a mixed time at the club, while Townsend did not play for the club after March 2022 and also departs at the expiry of his deal. Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic will leave after turning down a fresh contract offer. Director of football Kevin Thelwell said on the club’s official website: “Everyone at the club wishes to thank all departing players for their contribution throughout their time at Everton. “We’re also grateful to our senior men’s players who are moving on, including Yerry – whose passion and determination for Everton was evident by how highly he was thought of by our fans – to Andros and Asmir who were consummate professionals during their two years at the club. “We wish all of them the best with the next chapters in their careers. “We have also offered new contracts to players and we will continue talking with them as we look to build a competitive squad for Sean Dyche and his staff for the new season.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Lautaro Martinez is expected to leave Inter after the Champions League final, with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Man Utd all interested. The 25-year-old is enjoying a career-best season and bagged 21 goals and seven assists in Serie A.

Chiefs star Travis Kelce was intercepted before he could give a speech of his own at the White House. Here's what he originally wanted to say.The Kansas City Chiefs have the league's best quarterback and best man-hawk as Patrick Mahomes quickly pulled Travis Kelce away from the White H...

Karolina Muchova stunned Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals to advance to her first ever grand slam final in the 2023 French Open against the dominant Iga Swiatek.The three-time grand slam champion Swiatek will look to win her third French Open on Saturday at Roland-Garro...

Sheikh Jassim’s fifth and final bid to buy Manchester United will remain on the table beyond Friday but the Qatari’s patience with the takeover process is wearing thin. The Sheikh and his Nine Two Foundation, which is seeking to buy 100 per cent of the club, are understood to feel that by Friday United’s owners, the Glazer family, and the Raine banking group which is conducting the sale process will have had ample time to seek or request clarification and revision of the bid, and will therefore no longer engage with them on it beyond this date. Some observers have interpreted the submission of two additional bids from Sheikh Jassim as an indication that the rival offer from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos is preferred by the Glazers. However, sources close to the Qatari say he is simply keen to bring the matter to a swift conclusion with a crucial summer transfer window for United coming up. The fifth and final bid was issued earlier this week, and Sheikh Jassim considers it an enormous premium on the current share price of the club, both now and at any stage of the club’s recent share price. Ratcliffe is understood to have made an improved offer on April 28. It has been reported that his offer enables Avram and Joel Glazer to retain a 20 per cent stake in the club, something the Ineos camp has not confirmed. The Glazers are reported to value the club at £6billion. This is a crunch period on and off the field for United, who won the Carabao Cup, finished third in the Premier League and lost Saturday’s FA Cup final in Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge. Co-owner Avram Glazer was at Wembley for Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City and ignored questions about the takeover as he left through the interview area. Asked about the potential takeover and summer improvements, United boss Ten Hag said: “I think in this moment I don’t want to discuss that. “It’s about finalising the season. We have to be quiet, analyse the season, go into the depth, then set the right conclusions and then take action.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

The Sky continue its run of good form in the WNBA, fresh off a road win against the Liberty and an overtime win against the Fever.Chicago heads out west to take on a Sparks team that lost to the worst team in the WNBA last time out, the Seattle Storm while only scoring 63 points. The Sky started...