List of All Articles with Tag 'al'

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk has signed a new three-year contract with the Premier League club. Academy graduate Dunk went past the 400-appearance mark during the 2022-23 season and helped the Seagulls qualify for the Europa League with an excellent sixth-placed finish. Dunk’s previous terms with Brighton were due to expire in two years’ time, but he has flourished under Roberto De Zerbi and will now be contracted to the club until 2026. De Zerbi said: “Long live the captain! “I’m really happy he has signed this new contract. It’s good news for Lewis and the club.” Centre-back Dunk repeatedly received praise from his manager for his commitment during the final weeks of the last season, after playing through the pain to help Brighton qualify for Europe. It subsequently meant the defender had to pull out of the England squad for their June qualifiers. Dunk made his debut for Brighton in 2010 and has been a key figure in their journey from Sky Bet League One through to the Championship and eventually the Premier League. The 31-year-old signed a five-year deal with the club in 2025, but these fresh terms will continue his association with his boyhood club. He has previously stated his desire to finish his career as a one-club man. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Edwin van der Sar remains in intensive care but is communicating and “not in life-threatening danger”, his wife has said. The former Manchester United and Netherlands goalkeeper was admitted to a hospital in Croatia last Friday after suffering bleeding around the brain. Annemarie van der Sar said in a statement issued via Dutch club Ajax: “Edwin is still in the intensive care unit, but is stable. He is not in life-threatening danger. “Every time we get to visit him, he’s communicative. We have to wait patiently to see how his situation will develop.” Van der Sar, 52, had been on holiday in Croatia when he reportedly suffered a cerebral haemorrhage. The Dutchman retired in 2011 after winning 130 caps for his country and a club career that included Champions League wins with both Ajax and United. He also claimed four Premier League titles with United and had spells with Fulham and Juventus. He later took up a position on the Ajax board and became chief executive in 2016. He stepped down at the end of last season. Read More Ajax give ‘concerning’ update on Van der Sar after bleed around brain Support for Edwin van der Sar and Lionesses arrive – Friday’s sporting social Edwin van der Sar in intensive care after suffering bleeding around the brain

Back in 2019, Mauricio Pochettino came perilously close to linking up with compatriot Paulo Dybala. The then Tottenham manager had hoped to bring the Argentine to north London to strengthen their frontline following a 2-0 Champions League final to Liverpool a few months earlier. The deal, of course, fell through, as Dybala remained at Juventus before moving to Roma last summer. The 29-year-old was welcomed to the Italian capital with open arms, and he enjoyed a solid debut season at the Stadio Olimpico, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists for Jose Mourinho’s Roma outfit. And yet, Dybala’s time in Rome could already be drawing to a close. The forward has a €12m release clause, active for overseas sides, which is valid until the end of July. That does present the opportunity for a potential link up between Dybala and Pochettino. Chelsea are in the market for another striker this summer, this despite the additions of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson from RB Leipzig and Villarreal, respectively, and this has led them to Serie A. As per The Independent, Chelsea are exploring the possibility of turning their attention to Italy’s top tier in a bid to bolster their frontline, with Dybala and Juventus hitman Dusan Vlahovic both emerging as potential targets for the Blues. Two different striker profiles, but the reasoning for considering one or the other is sound. The arrivals of Nkunku and Jackson means the Blues are versatile in their approach for another forward, with Dybala operating better as a second striker and Vlahovic considered more of an out-and-out frontman. Initially a move for Dybala perhaps makes more sense financially. €12m for a forward of his calibre is a steal in the modern market, but even if Chelsea are able to pay that release clause, agreeing terms with the player is another matter entirely. Dybala, who turns 30 in November, is said to be happy in Rome, and even if Chelsea could strike a deal with the Argentina international, is he worth the risk? Dybala’s injury issues are well documented, and his fitness concerns meant he started just 22 of a possible 38 league matches for Roma in 2022/23. Furthermore, with the capture of Nkunku, do Chelsea really need a similar forward on the books? The Frenchman, likely Dybala, is able to lead the charge, but is better playing off a striker in the number 10 role, rather than as the lone striker in Pochettino’s favoured 4-2-3-1 setup. As such, why invest so much in Nkunku to then sign an injury-prone attacker who operates in the same role in order to half-heartedly bolster the attack? Chelsea have made a habit of making poor tranfer decisions in recent seasons, but if they are looking to add another forward, then a move for Vlahovic would make more sense. The towering Serb hasn’t quite lived up to expectations at Juventus following his arrival from Fiorentina 18 months ago, but 17 league goals in a disfunctional Old Lady outfit isn’t to be scoffed at. Of course, he’d cost significantly more than Dybala - one report states that Juventus are willing to consider offers in the region of €75m for the ex-Viola man - but at 23 years of age, he’d be a far better investment in the long-term, and match Chelsea’s current approach of signing the best young players. What’s important to note is that Vlahovic is a striker who, to put it bluntly, knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. This was better evidenced during his time with Fiorentina, but is a quality to his game that fans have bore witness too in fits and spurts at Juventus. Summer signing Jackson is another consistent finisher having returned the best conversion rate (29.3 per cent) in La Liga last season, yet Vlahovic’s arrival would afford Pochettino some attacking flexibility. While he did play up front for Villarreal last season, Jackson has been considered a winger in the past. Factor in Nkunku’s ability to play a number of roles on the frontline and Vlahovic’s biggest strength being to operate as the lone forward, and Pochettino would have an impressive array of strikers on the books that each offer something different. So while Chelsea are considering their Serie A striking options in a bid to strengthen in the final third, they should focus their efforts on Vlahovic rather than Dybala if the Blues do have their heart set on raiding Italy for another frontman this summer. Read More Chelsea target two Serie A players in quest for experienced strikers Mauricio Pochettino explains Chelsea ‘risk’ as club enters new era Mauricio Pochettino tells Chelsea to banish last season and deliver from day one Chelsea target two Serie A players in quest for experienced strikers Mauricio Pochettino explains Chelsea ‘risk’ as club enters new era Arsenal transfer news: Record Rice bid, Timber and Xhaka latest

What the papers say Nottingham Forest are reportedly looking to capitalise on Manchester United’s pursuit of Andre Onana by going after England international goalkeeper Dean Henderson who was on loan at the club last year, the Telegraph reports. The Telegraph say promoted Burnley have set their sights on Coventry midfielder Gustavo Hamer. Coventry, who lost to Luton in the Championship play-off final, are set to lose their striker Viktor Gyokeres to Sporting Lisbon for a deal worth around £20million, according to the Daily Mail. Manchester Evening News says Manchester City are close to signing 16-year-old young gun Harrison Parker from Manchester United as “revenge” after United attempted to sign City’s 16-year-old twins Jack and Tyler Fletcher. Social media round-up Players to watch Gabri Veiga: The 21-year-old Celta Vigo midfielder is has attracted interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham, French media outlet Le10Sport said. Alex Scott: Bournemouth are looking most likely to sign the 21-year-old, but Tottenham, West Ham and Wolverhampton are all interested in the Bristol City midfielder.

Shohei Ohtani showed the city of Seattle some love at the MLB All-Star game, and Mariners fans' hearts skipped a beat. Is this true love?This is the beginning of an extremely one-sided relationship, maybe.Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani is set to become a free agent at the end of...

Yankees manager Aaron Boone recently countered the viral chicken parm story going around, adding his own cranky flair to the narrative.The New York Yankees thought they solved a complex problem with a simple, often microwaveable TV dinner: chicken parm.A week ago, Yankees rookie shortstop An...

MLB Rumors: Best Michael Lorenzen trade fit - Cincinnati RedsThough he's far from a superstar, it's hard to not be impressed with the work that Detroit Tigers starter Michael Lorenzen has put forth this season in order to earn an All-Star Game selection. In 15 starts, the veteran right-h...

The St. Louis Cardinals MLB All-Star weekend has been...not great. Nolan Arenado is their only representative, and their former players are excelling.The MLB Home Run Derby consisted of two former St. Louis Cardinals -- Adolis Garcia and Randy Arozarena -- battling against one another in the fir...

The 2023 MLB All-Star Game is held in Seattle, but where could the game be held in 2025? The league is reportedly considering four different cities.As the MLB's most talented players come together for a fun hit-around in the 2023 All-Star Game in Seattle, the league is already jumping ahead...

Seattle saw one of the state's greatest sports stars, Marshawn Lynch, make an appearance at the MLB Home Run Derby. Iconic is as iconic does.Seattle Seahawks legend Marshawn Lynch came, saw, and conquered at the MLB 2023 Home Run Derby on Monday. This year's All-Star week was being hos...

Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman found a clever way to sidestep any tampering allegations about Shohei Ohtani's free agency.Seattle Mariners fans left little doubt that they would welcome Shohei Ohtani with open arms during the MLB All-Star Game. M's supporters had clever chant...

Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson was asked to give his top five NFL quarterbacks, and he appeared to shade Kirk Cousins... or did he?It's the NFL offseason, which means there's no better time to compile arbitrary lists and make vain attempts to determine their validity in the broa...