List of All Articles with Tag 'ball'

West Ham have completed the signing of Mexico international Edson Alvarez from Ajax for an undisclosed fee. The 25-year-old has agreed a contract until June 2028 with the Europa Conference League winners. He strengthens the Hammers’ midfield options following the sale of former captain Declan Rice to Arsenal. West Ham manager David Moyes told the club website: “The midfield area was one we were especially keen to strengthen this summer – and Edson will complement the other options we have in that department. “He’s an experienced international player, who has enjoyed great success for both club and country during his career to date.” Alvarez, who began his career with Mexico City-based Club America, moves to the Premier League after clinching two Eredivisie titles during his four-season stay with Ajax. He has been capped 69 times by his country, winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2019 and 2023, in addition to travelling to the World Cup in 2018 and 2022. “It’s a hugely sentimental moment for me in my career,” he said. “To join a club like a West Ham is a dream for me and my family. “The Premier League is a special league, the best league in the world, and I think my style will suit it. “I now have a responsibility to West Ham and the West Ham family and I will give absolutely everything for the shirt.” West Ham, who will play in the Europa League this term, begin the new season at Bournemouth on Saturday. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Premier League referees’ chief Howard Webb says the change in approach on added time is here to stay, despite early criticism from top-flight players and managers. Referees in competitions worldwide have been instructed by the game’s lawmakers to measure time lost to stoppages more accurately, an approach first adopted at the World Cup in Qatar last year where an additional 11 minutes and six seconds were played on average in the group stage. Webb said the change was necessary as football gets to grips with the “dark arts” of time-wasting, with a a more robust approach set to be taken to dealing with players who delay restarts in play. Sunday’s Community Shield lasted over 105 minutes, with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola saying the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which sets the game’s laws, had not consulted with managers and players over the change in approach. Manchester United defender Raphael Varane echoed those criticisms on Monday, saying the change, allied to a congested calendar, was “damaging” to the game. Whereas ‘rule of thumb’ approaches had been used in the Premier League for certain stoppages last season – 30 seconds per goal celebration and substitution for example – referees and their wider team will now be asked to be more exact. The Premier League anticipates the change in approach will increase the length of the average match in the coming season by three minutes and 23 seconds compared to last season – going up to 101 minutes and 49 seconds. Webb, the chief refereeing officer at Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), said: “As far as I’m aware and concerned (the change in approach on added time) is here to stay. “I appreciate we’re hearing two sides of a coin here, but there was also a lot of noise around the need to do something around increasing effective playing time and getting more game for people who are paying good money to go and watch football. “IFAB have acted undoubtedly with good intentions to try to deal with this. Last season a quarter of the games in the Premier League went above 100 minutes. I am expecting it to settle down. “For sure there’s more dark arts in the game than previously. Everybody tells me that, and I see that myself as well. One of the things that will hurt us here is if we’re not consistent with this in the way that we play it. We have to be. It can’t be a flash in the pan. It can’t be a short-term campaign.” In response to Guardiola’s assertion around a lack of consultation, Webb said: “Certain things change each year in terms of the laws of the game. IFAB is the organisation that ratifies changes. “There is a consultation process that goes into that. There is a way people can feed into the process. For sure there's more dark arts to use in the game than previously. Everybody tells me that, and I see that myself as well. One of the things that will hurt us here is if we’re not consistent with this in the way that we play it. Howard Webb “Obviously, when something is ratified at (IFAB’s) AGM, it comes our way to deliver. By the end of this week I will have done at least 17 pre-season briefings, so people are aware what is coming. I am really keen to keep engaging, consulting and getting feedback and embracing the feedback and comparing it against other feedback we get. “We have to find where the benefit is with any changes we want to apply. Is it frustrating? No. I know consultation does exist from our side, that is what we can control and we will keep engaging.” The other major initiative from a refereeing perspective is a clampdown on poor behaviour from players and managers as part of a wider move to improve conduct, including among fans. Webb said: “For too long our officials have not necessarily been able to make that differentiation (between passion and unacceptable behaviour) or have chosen for whatever reason to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to certain things. “But the power of example is so strong and we are seeing a lot of examples (of bad behaviour) and all the numbers are tracking in the wrong direction around what’s happening in the game in this area. “We’re seeing grassroots officials have a bad experience too often and this has got to change in our sport and we’re determined collectively within the game to do this.” Webb also confirmed audio from VAR decisions – including some clips where errors were made – would be aired on a monthly basis. It follows on from Webb appearing on Monday Night Football towards the end of last season to talk through some incidents from earlier in the season in a bid to provide greater transparency around VAR. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Zak Hardaker admits repaying Leigh coach for his faith would be ‘pretty special’ Billy Vunipola recalled in strong England XV for Wales clash Scotland boss ‘confident’ Ben White will make World Cup despite injury setback

Sydney Sweeney will play Spider-Woman, Michael Lorenzen threw a no-hitter, Henry Ruggs III sentenced for fatal DUI crash and more in the Roundup.

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Bayern Munich have reached an agreement with Tottenham over a £95million deal to sign Harry Kane, according to reports. The clubs are reported to have settled in principle on terms for the England captain to move to Germany after a series of bids earlier in the summer were rejected, according to reports citing sources in Germany. Tottenham are not commenting on the latest reports emerging from Germany. An agreement between the clubs would leave it up to 30-year-old Kane to decide whether he wishes to stay at Spurs or accept the Bundesliga champions’ offer. Kane is about to enter the final year of his Tottenham contract meaning he would be free to leave for nothing in 12 months’ time, and could begin negotiating with other clubs as early as January. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

England striker Bethany England warned it would be more dangerous to underestimate Colombia than worry about their “physical” approach ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final clash at the Women’s World Cup. Colombia played a part in the biggest shock of the tournament so far in beating Germany as the two-time champions crashed out of the World Cup in the group stages, but the South American side have also earned a reputation for their robust style. A pre-World Cup friendly against Ireland was abandoned when it became ‘overly physical’ - while Germany complained about the rough treatment they received in the 2-1 defeat. It’s been a World Cup of surprises so far and the Lionesses survived a major scare against Nigeria in the last-16 as they advanced on penalties, after playing extra time with 10 players following Lauren James’ red card. And the Tottenham striker said Sarina Wiegman’s side are more concerned about not taking Colombia lightly, while insisting they can also match their fight if the quarter-final does turn physical. “Ultimately, I just think it’s a case of the biggest danger is just not to underestimate them,” England said. “They beat Germany, who are one of the biggest teams in this tournament, so I think we just have to make sure we approach it in a good manner. “Knowing that they can be physical, we can also be physical and match that. And I think it’s just going to be important that we don’t get too into more of a fight than actually playing football, because that’s what we’re here to do. “We’re here to play the game that we love and hopefully do it in a good, stylish way as well.” The Lionesses will be without star forward James for Saturday’s quarter-final in Sydney after 21-year-old was sent off for stamping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie in the last-16 clash, with a Fifa disciplinary panel set to meet to decide whether her one-match suspension will be extended. However, a decision is not expected to be made until after England’s quarter-final. James has since apologised to Alozie and her team-mates and England said the forward was “doing good” as she awaits news of the ban. “Obviously she was disappointed with what happened on the day,” England said. “It was a split-second emotional moment that happened. We got round her. It’s got she acknowledged that and put her apology out. Now we just wait to see what Fifa do and move on from it. Obviously I can imagine it’s a very difficult position for her to be in but whether they do it on the same day or not it’s not going to affect us in a way that we’re not defined by one player. “It’s important everyone is there for her and as a team. Whatever decision they make we have to unfortunately accept it and get on with the game. There’s more important things than focusing on one player.” England came off the bench to help the Lionesses through extra time against Nigeria and is playing a bigger role for Sarina Wiegman’s side at the World Cup, after not playing a single minute of their Euros campaign last summer. With the Lionesses struggling for goals - Wiegman’s side have only scored two goals in the three games other than the 6-1 win over China - the Tottenham striker could offer a solution, after arriving at the World Cup having scored 11 in 11 games in the Women’s Super League. “Ultimately Sarina is the boss,” England said. “I am here to be a part of the team that is, whether it is starting or as a sub. I love playing football, I want to play as much football as I can at this tournament. “So ultimately if I get the minutes I will try and do everything I can when I am on the pitch, and even if I don’t [get on the pitch], I will be there to be the No1 fan for the girls that are on the pitch.” Read More Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest news as England await Lauren James decision ahead of Colombia quarter-final Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today ‘We are not happy’ – Lucy Bronze insists England will improve against Colombia

Tottenham Hotspur have accepted Bayern Munich's improved offer for Harry Kane, now leaving it down to the player to finally decide if he wants to go through with the move. Although the personal details of the move are agreed, the 30-year-old had been leaning towards staying in the last week, as it is also felt his greatest ambition is to join Manchester United. The Old Trafford hierarchy have not been willing to get into discussions with Daniel Levy, though, which has left Bayern free to engage in drawn-out negotiations that have finally conclusion – at least at one stage. It is understood that Spurs will receive over £80m up front, with the totals of the deal taking it beyond £110m in achievable clauses. Levy was unmoving in that stance from the start. The Kane camp had given Bayern every indication over the summer that they were prepared to move, although that now creates a last dramatic tension as the player decides whether he actually wants to leave the Premier League. Kane has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Spurs but ignored the ongoing noise around his future to score four goals in a 5-1 friendly win over Shakhtar Donetsk last Sunday. Dejan Kulusevski set up Kane’s hat-trick strike and subsequently hailed the professionalism of his team-mate. “He scored four goals, so very good,” Kulusevski exclaimed. “Nah, he’s unbelievable. Honestly, his mentality, I can learn from him like everybody. He just goes out and performs day in day out. “He’s a true professional. I’m happy I helped him score today but of course we want him to stay and we’ll do everything to make him stay.” Read More Premier League LIVE: Harry Kane fee agreed with Bayern Munich plus latest team news Ange Postecoglou has a rebuild mandate – but Spurs’ Harry Kane tactics are only harming themselves Harry Kane sets final deadline on transfer away from Tottenham

As the curtain went down on last season, one of the clubs facing most uncertainty over the immediate direction they would, or indeed could, take was Tottenham Hotspur. It was clear that their second interim manager of the campaign, Ryan Mason, wouldn’t be in charge; who was to take over and try to - yet again - restructure and rebuild the underperforming team was a mystery. It was clear that a new sporting director had to be appointed given Fabio Paratici’s ban and departure; who they would land to fill the void was unclear. And above all, it seemed that both captain and vice-captain would move on from tthe playing squad: Hugo Lloris’ last involvement saw him subbed midway through the drubbing at Newcastle and he was outspoken over summer over his “desire” to depart, while star striker - and most valuable asset in every sense - Harry Kane has just a year left on his contract and many suitors keen on his talents. And yet, in what can only be described as very Tottenham-esque fashion, both Lloris and Kane remain at the club on the eve of the new season, new boss Ange Postecoglou handed the task of rebuilding a team without fully knowing if the spearhead of it will in fact remain past the next few weeks. With regards to the goalkeeping situation at least, there’s an expectation rather than a reality of clarity now. The Australian manager confirmed Lloris opted out of joining Spurs’ pre-season tour to explore transfer opportunities, with summer addition Guglielmo Vicario the new No.1. Kane, meanwhile, is described as “invested” in the team by his latest boss but Bayern Munich’s interest, in particular, isn’t going anywhere. While Postecoglou tries to integrate the England captain into yet another Spurs vision, it’s perhaps Daniel Levy’s approach which is hampering how fast his newest appointment can put matters on track. On the one hand, there’s a reputation and an expectation to acknowledge: Levy, when conducting transfer business for Spurs, is known to be tough to deal with, standing firm on valuations and expecting others to match them if they want a player. On most occasions, that might well be the right, or at least a beneficial, approach. But perhaps this time, this summer, with this player’s situation, rapidly concluding negotiations would by far outweigh the benefits of standing firm on payment terms, or holding out for the extra few percent. Recent reports suggested a £10m difference between the clubs; while not an insignificant figure, consider the difference between getting £90m now and absolutely nothing just ten months down the line. And more than that, consider the year-long delay in allowing Postecoglou to bring in the type of striker he wants to lead the line and work with and have others play off, run off, link with, create for: not just removing Spurs’ own ability to pay for that striker, but holding up the start date on integrating them into the system. Keeping Kane and hoping he’ll recant and sign an extension is an obvious attraction, but given the lack of ability to compete at the top or have a cohesive, consistent approach to improvement over the last few years - throughout the club, not just on the pitch - it would appear to be optimistic in the extreme for Levy and the board to focus on that possibility. Meanwhile, a late-summer sale would only mean that at best Spurs get perhaps a couple of goals or games out of Kane, but then face time pressures to find a replacement - and don’t have a longer-tearm starting striker for the first games of the season, and even when one is signed, he has missed out on a crucial pre-season of bedding in. And so to what Postecoglou can control, rather than what he cannot. A long list of club and country positions have shown his capacity for organisation, for commanding the respect of his squad and for producing at-times excellent football, without sacrificing an ability to be pragmatic when called for. Aside from the aforementioned Vicario and the loans-turned-permanent deal for Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski, Postecoglou has been gifted Micky van de Ven at the back and James Maddison in attack. Manor Solomon adds depth, but well over £150m of total outlays have not been offset by sales - just Harry Winks and Lucas Moura have departed, the latter on a free. Getting the best out of Maddison will be a crucial aspect of the new Spurs, be it as a No10 or in a more fluid, floating role. Too often, too long it has been a case of relying on Kane and Son Heung-min, and the latter endured a torrid campaign in 2022/23. Adding aggression, work rate, organisation and far, far better mental resilience when matters get tough after the whistle goes will all have been high on Postecoglou’s must-do list this summer. All of that can be done with or without Kane, and the evidence of it should be seen very quickly into the new term compared to some of the debacles under Antonio Conte and those who, briefly, followed. But when it comes to the regular winning of matches, rather than the not losing of them, that requires understanding. That requires time. That requires cohesion, fine-tuning and a consistent message to a consistent group. Spurs’ own approach this summer hasn’t removed enough of that original uncertainty for them to be absolutely sure yet what path they are following and what they want to become. It makes them an incredibly interesting side to watch heading into 23/24, but they - as much as anyone else - might still be unsure exactly what they’ll be getting. Read More The ‘incredible’ Micky Van de Ven trait that Tottenham want to weaponise Inside Trent Alexander-Arnold’s new role: ‘With great power comes great responsibility’ Fantasy Premier League: 30 players you must consider for 2023/24 season Defender Micky van de Ven joins Tottenham from Wolfsburg on six-year deal Dejan Kulusevski vows to ‘do everything’ to keep Harry Kane at Tottenham Postecoglou aims ‘deadline’ dig at Bayern over Kane transfer saga

Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich have finally reached an agreement over the transfer fee for Harry Kane after a summer of back and forth. According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, a proposal from the Bundesliga side believed to be worth more than €100m (£86.4m) was accepted by Spurs on Wednesday. The England captain will now have to decide whether he wants to stay in north London or move to the German giants. Meanwhile, Premier League managers are preparing for the new campaign that gets underway on Friday evening with a number of their final pre-season press conferences scheduled for Thursday to provide all-important team news. Fans who are finalising their Fantasy Premier League line-ups will be eagerly anticipating updates as the likes of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Vincent Kompany at Burnley, Sean Dyche at Everton and Steve Cooper at Nottingham Forest all speak to the world’s press today. Elsewhere, the transfer carousel continues to spin with news that West Ham and Monaco are emerging as main competitors for Folarin Balogun as they are currently the only two clubs capable of meeting Arsenal’s £40m-plus asking price. The young striker’s preference had been to go to one of the Milan clubs, with Inter looking likeliest, but the Champions League finalists cannot get close to the fee. Follow all the latest news below: Read More Fantasy Premier League: 30 players you must consider for 2023/24 season West Ham enter race for Folarin Balogun as Arsenal set transfer price Chelsea make Moises Caicedo breakthrough over structure of Brighton transfer

Female workers who produce Fifa merchandise for events such as the Women’s World Cup have endured pay below minimum wage, verbal abuse, unpaid overtime and threats of job loss if they fall pregnant, according to a new report by human rights researcher Equidem. Equidem has criticised Fifa for not taking action on a situation that seems to go against the advances the tournament has been responsible for, and president Gianni Infantino has been urged to extend “that progress to addressing the harms its women workers experience”. Equidem has put its report into the context of the litany of migrant labour abuses that occurred due to the men’s World Cup in Qatar and asked why there has been no update from a human rights subcommittee that was supposed to be set up to assess the legacy of that event, raising questions about Fifa’s expressed commitment to improving working conditions. The report features interviews with women workers in factories in Bangladesh that make official merchandise for Fifa events, and involves distressing testimonies including verbal abuse and the illegal denial of worksite childcare and maternity leave. Equidem heard several stories of women denied freedom of association. “We have a daily target to reach,” one worker said. “The supervisor fixes our daily target. I make 60-80 pieces per hour. I can only go to the restroom after finishing my hourly target. When a lot of work piles up, they don’t let us go anywhere. They verbally abuse us. I work for 10-12 hours a day at my sewing machine. Today, my supervisor told me to give 80 pieces per hour, but it was quite difficult to make 80 pieces. I made 60 pieces per hour. He shouted at me several times. “I can’t keep my son with me. I work between eight and 12 hours every day. Who will look after him? I searched for someone to leave my son with when I went to work, but I did not get anyone. We don’t have a childcare room in our factory. My son lives in Dhaka with my mother-in law and father-in-law.” Workers described a common practice of being told they would lose their jobs if they became pregnant during the first two years of employment. One woman employed as a sewing machine operator explained: “When I started working here, the factory doctor told me not to have babies for the first two years. I was told that after completing two years, I can have children. If I get pregnant before that, I will have to resign. They will not give me any leave.” Some workers spoken to by Equidem reported that they did not get paid any maternity leave at all, even though they are supposed to be legally entitled to four months, making it a clear violation of Bangladeshi law. Equidem’s CEO Mustafa Qadri states: “After the Men’s World Cup this past year in Qatar, FIFA pledged to set up a human rights subcommittee that would assess the legacy of the 2022 tournament, although there has been no further update as to the status of that assessment, nor its learnings. Equidem urges FIFA to extend its expressed commitment to improving working conditions to women workers in their apparel supply chains. "Yet, the world has seen significant advances in pay parity for women players, including making the Women’s World Cup more professional, ensuring equal regulations and conditions, and fair distribution of prize money to players. The United States team, after years of negotiations, public battles, and court filing won an equal pay deal that makes them one of the best-paid national teams in the world. "The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 brings with it many positive improvements for its players, and it is crucial that FIFA extends that progress to addressing the harms its women workers experience. FIFA has the power, money, and resource to address this at the systemic level, and we will keep monitoring their global supply chains until it does. “This movement toward gender parity within FIFA, signals a heightened commitment within the organisation to fair conditions for women players—on par with their male counterparts. This should extend to all women, not just those under the stadium lights.” A Fifa spokesperson said: “FIFA has stringent labour rights requirements for companies producing FIFA-licensed goods and takes any allegation of labour rights abuse in its supply chain very seriously. FIFA is in contact with both Equidem and the respective companies to further investigate the matter.” Read More Fifa urged to make human rights key consideration for World Cup 2030 host ‘Matter of when not whether’ UK hosts Women’s World Cup – sports minister Kevin De Bruyne says new approach to added time ‘doesn’t make any sense’ How much added time? Football’s new guidelines and the impact they will have Raphael Varane says players’ opinions ignored over ‘damaging’ new guidelines

Newcastle United approached 1193 companies. They had an initial meeting with 65 of them. They were whittled down to nine, and then four and eventually two. And when they find a new shirt sponsor, it is Sela, a Saudi Arabian sports events and hospitality company. Which can seem a little convenient to some. Newcastle’s income has been inflated this summer and a commercial deal has come from the homeland of their owners, while Allan Saint-Maximin has been sold to the Saudi Pro-League. As Newcastle’s various powerbrokers discuss the Sela contract, Amanda Staveley asks if they can defend it, if it is fair market value. The answer comes in the affirmative. Some outsiders might be sceptical. We Are Newcastle United, the new Prime Video documentary, may be the first of a new genre: the Financial Fair Play drama. It is more about the boardroom than the dressing room; less is revealed about the guarded Eddie Howe than in the deluxe settings of Alnwick Castle, where his employers discuss the bottom line more than the forward line. There is, admittedly, little suspense in discovering that Newcastle do, after all, find a shirt sponsor but its importance is underlined. The underlying issue is how to create enough revenue within the rules for the world’s richest club to be able to compete with the Premier League’s wealthiest. It is not as simple as just pumping money in. “We are not going to overspend otherwise we will be in big trouble on Fair Play,” says Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the Newcastle chairman. Staveley reflects on the Carabao Cup final defeat by referencing Manchester United’s vast commercial income. At another point, she frets: “If we can only spend a certain amount we have to assume we are not going to get Champions League next season.” It is no spoiler to say they do and no surprise their sights are set higher again. “We want to be a Real Madrid, a Barcelona. To get ourselves to that point we need to spend money,” says Mehrdad Ghodoussi, Staveley’s husband and another co-owner. Al-Rumayyan adds: “We want to compete not only for the third or fourth position, we want to be No 1.” There is no lack of ambition: Al-Rumayyan wants the worth of the Saudi Public Investment Fund to reach $2 trillion and Newcastle’s value to increase tenfold. If it suggests he is no mere benefactor, there is a sense Newcastle feel themselves the bogeymen for the rest of the division. Their version of events is broadcast, their adversaries – apart from a couple of press-conference clips of Jurgen Klopp – are usually off-screen. But there is pushback to their takeover. “I think there was a fear we would have an unfair advantage,” complains Staveley. “They said it was the Saudi state, which is absolute rubbish. It is not Saudi Arabia, it is the Public Investment Fund.” There is the sense from her that the goalposts were moved to hamstring Newcastle, with a short-lived ban on sponsorship deals from companies linked to their owners. “I was shocked we could buy a club, pay a full price and then rules just changed,” she says. “I think that’s what pissed me off.” The other villain of the piece is Mike Ashley, whose years of neglect left Newcastle a long way behind. Peter Silverstone, the Chief Commercial Officer, compares the size of their commercial team with his former club Arsenal’s. “We don’t have time to make mistakes,” he notes, while suggesting he was made an offer he could not refuse: “When you are offered a seat on a rocket ship, you don’t ask which seat, you just get on board.” Silverstone argues that the Sela deal will help Newcastle become “the most followed, most supported club in Saudi Arabia”. If Bruno Guimaraes is the likeable Sean Longstaff’s favourite player – and has no objection when a classroom of school children nominate his midfield sidekick, not him – he is also Silverstone’s. “From a commercial perspective, he ticks every box,” he says. “He will attract more fans to Newcastle.” A theme is that Newcastle have to look after pounds and pennies; not because of the Saudi PIF’s bank balance, but due to FFP. The January negotiations for Anthony Gordon are prolonged, Everton’s initial demands for £60 million excessive. “They are bluffing,” says the negotiator in Staveley after a bid is rejected. They eventually get Gordon with an instructive tribute. “Anthony is going to be one of the best players in the league and Eddie just adores him,” says Staveley. All such shows are an attempt to humanise. Staveley comes across as caring and involved, saying she fell in love with Newcastle, going into the dressing room after the Carabao Cup semi-final win to address the team: “You’re going to get the Champions bloody League this year, I am telling you.” She gives Gordon her and Ghodoussi’s phone numbers and tells the newcomer to call if he ever needs anything. She has a tendency to refer to everyone from Callum Wilson to an agent she phones as “my angel”; for Staveley, the Angel of the North is not a statue by the A1 as much as everyone she encounters. Al-Rumayyan invites the players to his house during their World Cup training camp in Saudi Arabia. Earlier, asked about the appointment of Howe, who was relegated with Burnley, he replies dryly: “That’s even better, he knows what not to do.” Howe, though, proves an inspired choice by decision-makers who have shown a sure touch so far. Staveley claims that, at one stage in 2021, there was a 96 percent chance United would have gone down. “That would be a disaster,” she says. Disaster was averted, success fast-tracked. Newcastle start this season in the Champions League, not the Championship. Money has played a part in the transformation and money is the constant concern. They have the flagship signing Sandro Tonali this summer, and this week’s acquisition, Tino Livramento, but the only other buy is Harvey Barnes, whose arrival from Leicester was in effect paid for by the sale of Saint-Maximin. They are Newcastle United; not as they were in 2021 or perhaps as they will be in 2025, but a club with Saudi money in an ongoing battle with the balance sheet. ::The original documentary series WE ARE NEWCASTLE UNITED, which will launch on Prime Video with the first episode on Friday 11th August, followed by new episodes every Friday through to September 1st. Read More Newcastle sign Southampton defender Tino Livramento on five-year deal Allan Saint-Maximin the latest Premier League star to leave for Saudi Arabia Saudi transfers reveal difference between Premier League and European rivals Valtteri Bottas goes for a ride with Lance Armstrong – Wednesday’s sporting social Allan Saint-Maximin the latest Premier League star to leave for Saudi Arabia Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest England news ahead of quarter-finals

What the papers say Chelsea are hoping to finally secure the signature of Brighton star Moises Caicedo, the Guardian reports. The club are hoping to finalise the deal as soon as possible so he can be available to play in their opening match against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Manchester United are keen to sign Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, who the Daily Mail says is worth around £30million. Dutch left-back Ian Maatsen is being chased by Burnley and now West Ham, according to the Daily Mail. The 21-year-old impressed in his pre-season fixtures for Chelsea with West Ham hoping to gain his services on a loan deal. Italian champions Napoli are interested in Brighton’s 19-year-old forward Julio Enciso, the Telegraph reports. Social media round-up Players to watch Benjamin Pavard: Manchester United are hoping to bring the Bayern Munich defender to the club to reunite with former France international team-mate Raphael Varane, French news outlet L’Equipe says. Max Aarons: The Athletic reports the Norwich City right-back was set for a move to Leeds United, but Bournemouth look set to move in on the deal. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live