List of All Articles with Tag 'ball'

Rumours linking Manchester City with West Ham’s Declan Rice gathered pace on Thursday as the treble winners remained the focus of considerable transfer speculation. Reports suggested City were poised to launch a bid for the highly-regarded England international, who is expected to leave the London Stadium this summer. Rice has already been the subject of interest from Arsenal, who have reportedly had two bids – the second worth up to £90million – rebuffed by the Hammers. City did not comment on the reports when contacted by the PA news agency. It is already shaping up to be a busy summer at the Etihad Stadium, with the club seemingly not standing still following their successes of last season. Captain Ilkay Gundogan looks set to leave City for Barcelona having apparently turned down a new contract. It is understood the Germany midfielder has been offered a three-year deal by the Spanish champions on more lucrative terms than those proposed by City. City were keen for the 32-year-old to stay but were unwilling to match Barca’s overtures. City had tabled a one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months. Given the player’s age, this was a pragmatic decision and Gundogan will depart with their blessing. He made 304 appearances in seven years at City and won 12 major trophies, culminating in this year’s treble triumph. As skipper he lifted the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies. He also played a key role in the run-in, not least scoring both goals in the FA Cup final win over Manchester United – the first of which came in record fashion after just 13 seconds. City already have one midfield replacement in the pipeline having agreed an initial fee of £25million with Chelsea for Croatia international Mateo Kovacic. The final deal could be worth £30million if certain conditions are met. The 29-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Real Madrid in 2018, had been entering the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge. He would arrive at City as a four-time Champions League winner after three successes with Madrid and one at Chelsea. A deal for Rice, if pursued, would dwarf that. West Ham accepted after their recent Europa Conference League win that their 24-year-old captain was likely to move on before next season. They reportedly value him in the £100million bracket. He has one year remaining on his contract but the Hammers have an option to extend that by 12 months. There is also uncertainty over the future of three other senior City players in defenders Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo, and midfielder Bernardo Silva. All three have been linked with moves away. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Zak Crawley defends England ‘entertainers’ ahead of second Ashes Test Lachlan Coote retires from rugby league after fifth concussion in two years Billy Gilmour delighted to end challenging season on high with Scotland win

A look at the team that has produced the most first-rounders in NBA Draft history.

Billy Gilmour was delighted to end a challenging season on a high with an impressive display in Scotland’s 2-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win over Georgia. Gilmour won the official man-of-the-match award after making light of the sodden conditions with an excellent display of possession football. The midfielder was making his first competitive start for Scotland this season after forcing his way into the Brighton team in the final weeks of the campaign. Gilmour had been unfortunate to see the man who signed him from Chelsea, Graham Potter, leave for Stamford Bridge a week after the transfer. He took some time to get into Roberto De Zerbi’s team and also had to cope with being the victim of a stalking campaign last autumn by a woman who was sentenced in court to a suspended prison term on Tuesday. The 22-year-old started five of the last eight games of the Premier League season, which included a 6-0 win over Wolves, a draw with Manchester City and wins over Manchester United and Arsenal. And he was able to depart for his summer break in good spirits after helping Scotland maintain their 100 per cent record in Group A of the European Championship qualifiers. “I am really happy with my first start in a while,” the former Rangers youth player said. “I am just happy to be back out there playing, with a smile on my face, doing what I love. It’s a good feeling. “It’s been a challenging season. Towards the back end I got quite a few opportunities at Brighton, so I am thankful and happy. I have worked hard. It was a good way to end the season.” Scotland moved eight points clear at the halfway mark of their group, although Spain have two games in hand and are nine behind. Gilmour said: “We have shown a real togetherness. We are doing well as a team and the manager is making sure we are working hard and challenging each other every day in training. It’s really good for Scotland. Everyone is pushing each other.” Scotland overcame torrential conditions and a near two-hour delay to clear water off the pitch to beat Georgia through goals from Callum McGregor and Scott McTominay. “It was tough,” Gilmour said. “One minute the game was going ahead and the next it’s not. “It was a crazy night but mentally we had to be focused and ready and big thanks to the fans staying behind and the ball boys helping out, cleaning the pitch and making sure it was playable. “The first 10-15 minutes was crazy, just to adjust, you think you can win it and then it holds up. But we got it sorted. Everyone stuck together, helped out and we got three points.” Gilmour was focused on the game rather than being distracted by the prospect of finishing the match on Wednesday and delaying summer breaks. “I was too busy sitting down trying to keep myself ticking over,” he said. “There might have been a couple of shouts of ‘replay tomorrow’ but it was fine after we got the water off the pitch. “Football came first, obviously with the national team. We were all focused on that and leave summer until after the game. Now we can go and have a break and enjoy.”

Southampton will take on Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in the opening match of the new Sky Bet Championship season on Friday, August 4. Beginning life under new boss Russell Martin, the relegated Saints face a Wednesday outfit back in the second tier after winning the League One play-offs last month and currently managerless after parting company with Darren Moore. Leicester, under new boss Enzo Maresca, and Leeds – the two other clubs to have dropped down from the Premier League – kick off their campaigns two days later at home against defeated play-off finalists Coventry and Cardiff respectively. The other game that day sees Sunderland entertain promoted Ipswich, while League One champions Plymouth open by hosting Huddersfield the day before. Southampton’s first home game of the campaign will be against Norwich the following Saturday, when Leicester travel to Huddersfield and Leeds are at Birmingham. The final day of the regular Championship season on May 4 will see Leeds and Southampton go head to head at St Mary’s, while Leicester host Blackburn. The opening round of League One fixtures on August 5 includes Wigan, who finished bottom of the Championship last term, playing at Derby as they start their season on minus eight points after being penalised over payment of wages. Fellow relegated sides Reading and Blackpool begin at home against Peterborough and Burton respectively, while Barnsley, who missed out on promotion to Wednesday, welcome Port Vale to Oakwell. In League Two, the return of Wrexham – owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney – to the Football League, starts with a home clash against MK Dons. Thursday’s release of the new season’s EFL fixtures also shows National League play-off winners Notts County beginning their own comeback campaign by playing Sutton away.

The EFL have released their full sets of 2023/24 fixtures for each of the three tiers below the Premier League. In the Championship, an intriguing opening weekend clash sees teams who were involved in promotion and relegation battles at the end of last term come together, starting on Friday night when Sheffield Wednesday host Southampton. The Owls came up through the League One play-offs, while Saints departed the Premier League after a dismal campaign. Elsewhere, Sunderland - beaten in the Championship play-off semis by eventually promoted Luton - face newly promoted Ipswich Town, while Leicester, relegated from the top flight on the final day last season, face Coventry City who missed out on replacing them by virtue of a penalty shoot-out defeat at Wembley in the play-off final. Relegated Leeds start at home to Cardiff, while League One champions Plymouth open their campaign at home to Huddersfield. The full opening weekend list: 04/08/202320:00Sheffield Wednesday v Southampton 05/08/202315:00Blackburn Rovers v West Bromwich Albion 05/08/202315:00Bristol City v Preston North End 05/08/202315:00Middlesbrough v Millwall 05/08/202315:00Norwich City v Hull City 05/08/202315:00Plymouth Argyle v Huddersfield Town 05/08/202315:00Queens Park Rangers v Watford 05/08/202315:00Stoke City v Rotherham United 05/08/202315:00Swansea City v Birmingham City 06/08/202314:30Leeds United v Cardiff City 06/08/202312:00Leicester City v Coventry City 06/08/202317:00Sunderland v Ipswich Town The League One opening weekend list can be found here, with the League Two fixtures here. Read More Almost two thirds of football fans oppose VAR, survey finds Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore leaves club three weeks after play-off win Jonny Evans was shocked to learn of ‘amazing’ honour

The 2022/23 campaign has barely finished and Luton Town’s fans’ celebrations probably haven’t yet fully finished - but already it’s time to look ahead at the new English Football League campaign and the three EFL divisions. In the Championship, Leeds United will be among the front-runners after their relegation, down from the top flight along with Southampton and Leicester City. They’ll be joined by returning faces to the second tier, with Ipswich Town promoted from League One alongside Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth - who clocked up a massive 101 points last term. Further down the league ladder, all eyes will be on Wrexham as they make a return to League Two, under the ownership of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Each of those 72 clubs will find out their fixtures for the 2023/24 season later this month, while we already have dates for the EFL Cup and the play-off finals too. Here’s all the information you need to know. When are the EFL fixtures released? The fixtures for the 2023/24 EFL season, covering the Championship, League One and League Two, will be released on Thursday 22 June. All fixtures will be confirmed at once. What is the schedule for the 2023/24 season? As usual, the EFL calendar begins a week before the Premier League season does, with the three football leagues carrying more clubs in them and thus needing more time to fit in additional matches. The regular seasons will begin on Saturday 5 August 2023 and are due to finish by Sunday 5 May or Sunday 12 May 2024. Then it’s on to the play-offs in each of the three leagues, with the play-off final dates set as follows: League One Play-Off Final - Saturday 18 May 2024 League Two Play-Off Final - Sunday 19 May 2024 Championship Play-Off Final - Sunday 26 May 2024 What about the EFL Cup? Fans of lower-league teams always have hope for silverware in any given campaign, thanks to the EFL Cup. This season the dates for games and an eight-match run to Wembley are as follows: EFL Trophy Group Stage MD 1 - w/c 4 September 2023 EFL Trophy Group Stage MD 2 - w/c 9 October 2023 EFL Trophy Group Stage MD 3 - w/c 11 November 2023 EFL Trophy Round of 32 - w/c 4 December 2023 EFL Trophy Round of 16 - w/c 8 January 2024 EFL Trophy Quarter-Final - w/c 29 January 2024 EFL Trophy Semi-Final - w/c 19 February 2024 EFL Trophy Final - Sunday 7 April 2024 The Carabao Cup, also known as the League Cup, is also an EFL-run competition. The full schedule for that competition can be found here. Read More 2023/24 fixtures revealed for Championship as Saints start Sheff Weds Leicester confirm Pep Guardiola’s assistant as surprise new manager Liverpool loan out young defender Ramsay after injury-hit debut season Full fixture list for League Two’s opening day Full fixture list for League One’s opening day Carabao Cup 2023/24 fixture dates and schedule revealed

In the days after winning the treble, Manchester City had a meeting to discuss recruitment this summer, but they have not acted with the decisiveness usually expected. The club have long known their list of potential targets but any moves are dependent on who leaves. As many as six players could go, and two of them - Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva - have had offers from Saudi Arabia. Even City, who have become the most assertive force in the game through their Abu Dhabi ownership, have had all their plans affected by this summer window’s most disruptive force. The key figures in Saudi Arabia might say this is the natural order, since they are the main power in the region. It has had an immense influence on this summer’s market, maybe the biggest since Paris Saint-Germain bought Neymar for what remains a record fee. Many involved insist it surpasses the effect of the Chinese Super League in the winter of 2016-17. While the headline element in all this has been the staggering money offered for so many prime players, the main effect has been how it has abruptly changed the plans of every major club. It is difficult to remember anything like it. It’s all the more pronounced since this was expected to be a frenetic summer anyway. All of Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United planned significant comings and goings while Arsenal and Liverpool have been aiming for at least two major signings each. The competition for strikers was meanwhile set to be the driving force, from Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani through Harry Kane to Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund. Even that has been overtaken. Many of those plans have been almost totally put off, because the market has been completely transformed. A number of Premier League clubs have had new meetings this week, as they attempt to untangle so many connected issues. There is first of all the fact that the nature of every negotiation has changed. Saudi Arabian interest weighs over everything, even with players that wouldn’t yet dream of going there. It points to the biggest issue of all. Saudi Pro League money has completely inflated the market. Many within the industry are complaining that it has introduced an instability. Fees have gone up and wages have gone up. As an example, United had been looking at Hojlund for a potential price of £45m but in the last week Atalanta have almost doubled the price. Players that would have been £40m two years ago are now available at £70m. This is one other reason plans have been put off. Some clubs are waiting to see if all this settles down. Right now, though, various sources are describing a situation of “chaos”. It makes it worse that so many intermediaries are trying to get involved. It’s almost a new gold rush. Some officials have complained they have had figures come to them making promises about certain players or signings only for that to go nowhere. It may ironically mean few players go anywhere for a while. This is seen as a huge week for the Saudi Pro League itself as it attempts to convince a number of big names to join. Losing Lionel Messi was a blow and checked momentum. Ruben Neves is a fine player but he doesn’t quite match up to the megastars they want. Ilkay Gundogan, who also received an offer from Saudi Arabia, is set to rebuff them for Barcelona. As one figure who has been involved in negotiations with the Saudi league says, the next few days will determine how big this wave of signings is. It has still caused huge ripples in the wider game, though. While some deals like Kai Havertz to Arsenal and Mason Mount to Manchester United should get done, an increasing feeling is that most of the main business won’t start getting done until mid July. It could be a fractious window. It is certainly one unlike any other, but may be a sign of things to come. Read More Saudi Arabia can help Chelsea solve headache — but talks raise more questions than answers First golf, now football? Saudi Arabia’s grand plan and the 72 hours that changed everything Sportswashing is about to change football beyond anything you can imagine Human rights must be key consideration in selecting World Cup 2030 host – survey Leading figures summoned to Senate hearing over shock PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger Saudi Arabia can help Chelsea solve headache — but talks raise issues

What the papers say Manchester United have reportedly made a last-ditch attempt to sign England captain Harry Kane. According to The Sun, the Red Devils have reached out to the Tottenham striker to encourage him to put in a transfer request as club bosses grow increasingly frustrated with Spurs’ unwillingness to negotiate over Kane’s position. Staying at Old Trafford, The Telegraph reports the club have joined Arsenal in pursuit of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice. United are said to be interested in a player-plus-cash deal involving England defender Harry Maguire or Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay. West Brom defender Dara O’Shea could be set for a return to the Premier League next season. The Irish Independent reports the 24-year-old Republic of Ireland international has all-but confirmed a move to Burnley, with a medical at Turf Moor on Thursday the last hurdle to clear. And the Evening Standard claims Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech is nearing a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. Social media round-up Players to watch Sandro Tonali: The Athletic says Newcastle are circling a £60million deal for the AC Milan midfielder. Bernardo Silva: The Manchester City midfielder is nearing a move to Saudi Arabia, according to Spanish outlet Marca. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Human rights must be a key consideration in selecting the hosts of the 2030 World Cup, according to a new survey. Fifty-three per cent of the 17,477 people from 15 countries who took part in a YouGov poll commissioned by Amnesty International said human rights considerations were vital in choosing the host of the World Cup and other major sporting events, rising to 60 per cent among UK respondents. Saudi Arabia has been linked with a joint bid alongside Greece and Egypt to host the 2030 or 2034 World Cup, while the Middle East state has already been selected to host the Club World Cup in December. Representatives of more than 200 national associations will vote on who should host the 2030 finals at a FIFA Congress next year. FIFA made human rights criteria part of the bidding process for the 2026 finals, which were awarded to the United States, Canada and Mexico, following the decision by the governing body’s now-defunct executive committee to award the 2018 and 2022 finals to Russia and Qatar respectively back in 2010. However, organisations such as Amnesty and Kick It Out remain concerned that not enough importance is being attached to human rights in future decision-making processes. The poll showed that, after safety and security (57 per cent), human rights was the most commonly-chosen consideration for determining tournament hosts. This was the top consideration in seven of the countries surveyed and highest in Switzerland (68 per cent), where FIFA is based. More than four times as many people chose human rights as a key factor over “commercial revenues for sports bodies” – just 13 per cent. Amnesty’s head of economic and social justice Steve Cockburn said: “It is clear that the public wants human rights to be a high priority so that the World Cup is a celebration of the game they love and never provides a platform for exploitation, repression or discrimination. “FIFA must rigorously apply the highest human rights standards in evaluating all bids to host its flagship tournament, demand clear human rights action plans and reject any bid that fails to credibly show how serious human rights risks would be prevented, independently monitored and remedied if abuses occur.” It is critical that FIFA puts human rights front and centre when choosing the host for the 2030 men's World Cup Director of the Sports and Rights Alliance Andrea Florence Andrea Florence, the director of the Sports and Rights Alliance, added: “Since 2017, FIFA has made important progress in recognising its human rights responsibilities. But human rights assessments and considerations have not been applied systematically when awarding FIFA tournaments. “To demonstrate they are serious about their own policies and statutes, it is critical that FIFA puts human rights front and centre when choosing the host for the 2030 men’s World Cup.” FIFA has been approached for comment. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Ben Johnson believes Ashley Cole can help England U21s to Euro 2023 glory Leading figures summoned to Senate hearing over shock PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger Southampton choose Russell Martin as their new manager

Even with the 2023 season approaching, Nick Saban takes exception to the fact that the Alabama Crimson Tide weren't put in the College Football Playoff.The Alabama Crimson Tide are preparing for the 2023 season, in which they won't have quarterback Bryce Young or linebacker Will Anders...

In the Longhorns' final season in the Big 12, Texas football could rely on freshmen to step into prominent roles in the last chance for a conference title.The future of the Texas Longhorns athletic department is looking toward greener pastures. Just eight months from now, they will be geari...

Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan is poised to join Barcelona, the PA news agency understands. The Germany international, who is out of contract this summer, now seems unlikely to renew terms with the treble winners. City had offered the 32-year-old a new one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months but Barca are understood to have presented a more tempting three-year, and more financially-rewarding, package. City are comfortable with the situation and the player would leave with their blessing. The development comes on the same day City are understood to have agreed a £30million deal with Chelsea to sign Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic. The champions are set to pay an initial £25million for the 29-year-old with a further £5m to follow in potential add-ons. Kovacic, who joined Chelsea from Real Madrid in 2018, is entering the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge. City now expect to complete formalities with the player and an official announcement will follow in due course. Kovacic’s versatility and experience would go some way to compensating for the loss of Gundogan. The influential former Borussia Dortmund midfielder has won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League in his seven years at City. This year Gundogan lifted three trophies as City became only the second English side to win the treble. The club had been keen to retain his services but, given his age, did not want to match Barcelona’s offer and have taken a pragmatic decision. Kovacic would arrive at City as a four-time Champions League winner having been a member of Chelsea’s victorious side in 2021 and triumphed on three occasions with Madrid. He also had a spell with Inter Milan earlier in his career. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Leading figures summoned to Senate hearing over shock PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger Southampton choose Russell Martin as their new manager The greatest show and spotlight on bowlers – Women’s Ashes talking points