List of All Articles with Tag 'al'

RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol is set for a medical at Manchester City in the next few days after the two clubs agreed a 90 million euros (£77.5million) deal. The Bundesliga side were said to be holding out for a fee of 100m euros (£86m) for the Croatia international, but City have been able to push the transfer through at a price that suits them. The 21-year-old is due in Manchester before the end of the week for a medical, the PA news agency understands. Gvardiol would add competition on the left side of City’s defence, having helped Croatia reach the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup and then the final of the Nations League, where they were beaten by Spain. Midfielder Mateo Kovacic is so far City’s only summer signing, with the Croatian having moved from Chelsea in June. City saw captain Ilkay Gundogan leave for Barcelona on a free transfer and Riyad Mahrez last week completed a switch to Saudi Arabia club Al-Ahli in a £30m deal. The Premier League champions will take on Arsenal in the FA Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

The 2023 NBA Draft class was loaded with talent but not every rookie popped in their first season. Which second-year players will take a leap in 2023-24?The 2022 NBA Draft class was loaded with talent. Paolo Banchero and Bennedict Mathurin had big rookie seasons. Banchero became the first rookie...

Tottenham have opened talks with Rosario Central for striker Alejo Veliz and are willing to meet his £13m release clause.

David Moyes is intent on bringing Harry Maguire and James Ward-Prowse to West Ham for the new season, but it is understood the club's recruitment team has been attempting to put longer-term options forward. The discussions have fed into reports of growing tension at the Europa Conference League winners, as they still have not spent any of the £105m brought in for Declan Rice, and are the only Premier League club to not yet make a signing. Moyes, buoyed by bringing in the club's first trophy for over three decades, feels he should be backed with targets he wants and has specifically named Maguire and Ward-Prowse. West Ham would be willing to do the deal for the deposed Manchester United captain if they can get him for £20m, but the Old Trafford club are holding out for north of £30m. Maguire himself has up to now been willing to fight for his place, but may have to accept reality if the club accepts an offer. Ward-Prowse is in a different position given Southampton's relegation, and he does have a few suitors. Moyes, of course, admires his dead-ball delivery, in a team that specifically attacks through set-pieces. Read More A new era for old empires? How a summer of rebuilding could change the Premier League Chelsea have a Conor Gallagher problem and Tottenham could be the perfect solution A thousand matches later and David Moyes finally has his crowning glory

The 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is approaching the knockout stages and has already provided some astonishing games, goals and upsets. England’s 6-1 thrashing of China, the surprise early eliminations of Brazil, Canada and Germany and an underperforming USA’s narrow escape from Group E have been just some of the stories of the tournament so far. While one of the host nations, New Zealand, failed to qualify for the round of 16, Australia are still going strong and offering plenty for the home fans to cheer about. The Matildas’ opening game against the Republic of Ireland at Stadium Australia in Sydney on 20 July attracted 75,784 fans, the largest crowd ever to attend a women’s football match in the country and the third-biggest to ever see a game in the history of the World Cup. A crowd of 42,137 had seen the Kiwis’ 1-0 win over Norway a day earlier, setting the equivalent record for New Zealand and revealing the extent of local excitement about the tournament Down Under. While there are no further fixtures scheduled at New Zealand’s Dunedin Stadium in Otago or Waikato Stadium in Hamilton or at the Perth Rectangular Stadium in Western Australia, here is a guide to the remaining venues with Women’s World Cup matches still to play. Brisbane Stadium, Queensland, Australia Also known as Lang Park or the Suncorp Stadium and nicknamed “The Cauldron”, this multipurpose arena in the Brisbane suburb of Milton was opened in 1914 and has a capacity of 56,851. Often used for rugby league and union, it is home to the Brisbane Broncos, the Dolphins, the Queensland Reds and the Queensland Maroons, as well as the A-League football side Brisbane Roar. Upcoming fixtures (all kick-off times given in GMT) Round of 16: England vs Nigeria (8.30am 7 August 2023) Third quarter-final: TBD vs TBD (8am 12 August 2023) Third-place play-off: TBD vs TBD (9am 19 August 2023) Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand New Zealand’s national stadium was opened in 1900 and has a capacity of 40,536. It is primarily used for rugby union fixtures in winter and cricketing Tests in summer. The Blues, Auckland Rugby and Auckland Cricket all call it home while the all-conquering All Blacks have made it a feared arena for touring sides to visit, having not been beaten at Eden Park since 1994. It is also notable for having hosted the 1987 and 2011 Rugby World Cup finals. Upcoming fixtures Round of 16: Switzerland vs Spain (6am 5 August 2023) Second quarter-final: TBD vs TBD (8.30am 11 August 2023) First semi-final: TBD vs TBD (9am 15 August 2023) Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia Also known as Coopers Stadium, the home of A-League side Adelaide United was first opened in 1960 and is one of the smaller venues hosting games at the the World Cup with a crowd capacity of just 13,327. Upcoming fixtures Round of 16: France vs Morocco (12pm 8 August 2023) Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Victoria, Australia The spectacular home of rugby league side Melbourne Storm, Super Rugby team Melbourne Rebels and the A-League rivals Melbourne Victory FC and Melbourne City FC was opened in 2010. It has a comparatively low capacity of just 28,870, however, which has proven a source of contention given that it will be hosting what is, potentially, one of the games of the tournament: the round of 16 clash between free-scoring Sweden and the current world champions USA. Upcoming fixtures Round of 16: Sweden vs USA (10am 6 August 2023) Round of 16: Colombia vs Jamaica (9am 8 August 2023) Stadium Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia One of the most impressive venues at this tournament is Stadium Australia, built in 1999 to host the 2000 Olympic Games, with an original capacity of 115,000 that has since been reduced to around 80,000. It is also one of the tournament’s busiest, hosting Australia’s next game as well as quarter-final and semi-final matches before the World Cup final itself on Sunday 20 August. Stadium Australia otherwise ordinarily plays host to everything from Aussie rules football and cricket to rugby league and rugby union matches. Upcoming fixtures Round of 16: Australia vs Denmark (11.30am 7 August 2023) Fourth quarter-final: TBD vs TBD (11.30am 12 August 2023) Second semi-final: TBD vs TBD (11am 16 August 2023) Final: TBD vs TBD (11am 20 August 2023) Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Also known as the Allianz Stadium, the Sydney Football Stadium was built in 1988, played a key role in the 2000 Olympics and has been completely revamped in time for this World Cup, reopening last summer and now boasting a capacity of 38,841 Upcoming fixtures Round of 16: Netherlands vs South Africa (3am 6 August 2023) Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand Affectionately known as “The Cake Tin”, the home of rugby sides the Hurricanes and Wellington Lions and A-League outfit Wellington Phoenix was built in 1999 and has a capacity of 31,089. Upcoming fixtures Round of 16: Japan vs Norway (9am 5 August 2023) First quarter-final: TBD vs TBD (2am 11 August 2023) Read More Women’s World Cup 2023 LIVE: Latest scores and updates as Germany battle for knockout spot Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Women’s World Cup group tables and standings: How can each team qualify? When does USWNT play next? World Cup schedule and route to the final Germany suffer Women’s World Cup elimination after South Korea draw Women’s World Cup group tables and standings: How can each team qualify?

Burnley are exploring a loan deal for Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Mikel Arteta has explained his decision to play Declan Rice in an attacking midfield role in the pre-season friendly against Monaco.

Carlo Ancelotti grades Real Madrid's 2023/24 pre-season.

A vocal group of fans always assumed Jack Flaherty hated being with the St. Louis Cardinals. But Flaherty's actions prove otherwise. Whether he's sticking up for teammates while cheering them on in the dugout, to becoming emotional in wanting to succeed for the Cardinals in Adam Wainwr...

Comparing the goal records of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during their respective new ventures in the US and Saudi Arabia for Inter Miami and Al Nassr.

Tottenham have stepped up their pursuit of new centre-backs for boss Ange Postecoglou amid the ongoing uncertainty over Harry Kane’s future. Kane remains of strong interest to Bayern Munich, who are expected to launch a third bid for the forward after officials from the German club reportedly met with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy in London on Monday. While speculation surrounding Kane continues to grow, Tottenham have accelerated their search for new defenders with talks advancing over the transfer of Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven, the PA news agency understands. Postecoglou gave the green light to Van de Ven’s signing soon after arriving in June and dialogue between the teams started last month. No final agreement over a fee – expected to be in the region of £30million – has been reached, but there is a growing confidence the Netherlands Under-21 international will make the move before Spurs’ Premier League opener at Brentford on August 13. After Van de Ven made 36 appearances for Wolfsburg in the 2022-23 campaign, and attracted interest from Liverpool, he made clear his desire to play in England during an interview with De Telegraaf in his homeland. “I have always dreamed of the Premier League because the biggest clubs play there and I also see that competition as the best in the world,” Van de Ven said in June. Tottenham also remain in talks with Bayer Leverkusen over the signature of centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, who alongside Van de Ven has been high on the club’s list of potential targets this summer. A move for both Bundesliga-based defenders has not been ruled out but Spurs are working on other transfers. Blackburn centre-back Ash Phillips is expected to complete his move to Tottenham this weekend. Spurs entered discussions with the Sky Bet Championship club last month for the England youth international, but negotiations stalled over a final transfer fee. After Friday a £2million release clause for Phillips will become active, which will allow Tottenham to complete the signing of the 18-year-old. Phillips’ arrival will not impact on Postecoglou’s desire to boost his senior options in defence, with the centre-back viewed as a player for the future. Tottenham have also opened talks with Rosario Central over 19-year-old forward Alejo Veliz. Veliz impressed at the Under-20 World Cup this summer, scoring three goals for Argentina. Discussions are at an early stage but Spurs are eager to make a number of signings during a busy final month of the summer transfer window. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Great Britain’s team pursuit world title defence ends with crash in qualifying Ally McCoist: Michael Beale and Brendan Rodgers need to put friendship on hold Eddie Nketiah ready to step up again after Gabriel Jesus’ injury

Ally McCoist admits any friendship between Rangers boss Michael Beale and Celtic counterpart Brendan Rodgers will be put on hold for the duration of the upcoming season. Beale and Rodgers have previously crossed paths at Chelsea and Liverpool but will lock horns for the cinch Premiership title in the 2023-24 campaign. McCoist talked up the importance of respect between managers of the Old Firm, having memorably clashed with Neil Lennon in a 2011 derby, and is in no doubt that will be there in abundance. But TNT Sports pundit McCoist said: “No, the friendship has not got to be over but it has to be put on pause. “One thing you’ve got to do is have a healthy relationship, you genuinely do, and respect for the opposition manager in the Old Firm. “It has always been the case. Of course you have incidents, myself and Neil Lennon had a wee incident and Walter (Smith) had incidents, you have incidents but there has to be a healthy reaction and relationship between the clubs. “I don’t have any doubt that Michael and Brendan will have that and continue it. They have been friends for a while and it will stay the same.” Both Rangers and Celtic have overseen summers of change with Allan McGregor, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos among those to move on from Ibrox while eight players have been signed with Los Angeles’ Jose Cifuentes expected to be the ninth addition with a pre-contract agreement in place, according to Beale. Celtic, meanwhile, saw Ange Postecoglou move down south to take charge of Tottenham in June and ex-boss Rodgers return for his second spell at Parkhead. Rangers begin their league campaign with a trip to Kilmarnock on Saturday night while Celtic kick off with the lunchtime visit of Ross County. “This is the first year in a long, long time where I genuinely don’t know who wins it,” McCoist admitted. “Celtic have lost one or two, lost Jota but I wouldn’t say Brendan left under a cloud. I think there was a section of the Celtic support who weren’t happy because he left at that time and went Leicester and I get that, but you can’t please everyone all the time. “One thing that is undeniable is that he is an excellent coach and knows how to set up a team. I thought he was a little bit unlucky and harshly treated at Leicester because I don’t think he got the money to spend to replace the real quality that needed replacement. One thing you've got to do is have a healthy relationship, you genuinely do, and respect for the opposition manager in the Old Firm Ally McCoist “Just in my opinion, I think he was cut a bit short there. They’ll back him at Celtic. “Over at our place, I think Michael Beale has brought in nine players. I watched them against Newcastle in pre-season, did OK. I watched them against Olympiacos, didn’t look great. Didn’t look good in the first half against Hoffenheim and then looked great in the second half against Hoffenheim. “So, I don’t really know but of course Rangers and Celtic have got to hit the ground running, particularly Rangers with the (Champions League) qualifier coming up. “It is a tough one to call. I don’t know how Rangers’ players will settle in. They brought them in quickly.” :: TNT Sports is the ultimate home for sports fans. You can stream TNT Sports on the discovery+ app and watch on all major TV platforms. This isn’t Just Sport, This is Everything. For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk.