List of All Articles with Tag 'eppersons'

Mauricio Pochettino reveals his hope that Chelsea do not sell Conor Gallagher before the transfer deadline. Tottenham have been interested in signing the 23-year-old midfielder.

India skipper Rohit Sharma on Friday said his team's experienced batsmen were unfazed by the threat of Pakistan's fast bowlers, ahead of the...

Liverpool rejected a £150million offer for Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabia Pro League side Al-Ittihad while Brighton completed the signing of Barcelona forward Ansu Fati. Salah has been the subject of interest from the Middle East for some time and the PA news agency understands a verbal offer was made on Friday. However, the club have rejected it out of hand and consider the matter closed as the forward is not for sale. The offer is understood to have been £100m up front with a further £50m in add-ons. Brighton have signed Fati on a season-long loan from the Catalan giants. The 20-year-old Spain international made 36 LaLiga appearances last season for Xavi’s men as they went on to win the title. “This is a great deal for all of us,” Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi said on the Premier League club’s website. “I am sure Ansu will help us to reach a new target and we can help him get back to the level he deserves to be.” Fati came through the Barcelona academy, making his senior debut in August 2019 and later became the club’s youngest goalscorer in both LaLiga and the Champions League. Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United were all doing early business. City completed the signing of Matheus Nunes from Wolves. After overcoming some minor sticking points in final negotiations over an initial £47.3m deal on Wednesday night, both clubs were able to come to an agreement on a £53million move – a club-record sale for Wolves. The 25-year-old Portugal international was keen to move to the Etihad Stadium and did not train with Wolves in order to push the move through. Midfielder Tommy Doyle, 21, heads the other way, joining the Molineux club on a season-long loan with the option to make the switch permanent next summer. Doyle’s exit follows that of fellow City academy product Cole Palmer, who has joined Chelsea on a seven-year contract. The PA news agency understands Chelsea will pay an initial £40million for the 21-year-old with an additional £2.5m in possible add-ons. Manchester United confirmed the signing of Turkey international goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce. The 25-year-old has signed an initial four-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option of a further year. Bayindir is the second goalkeeper signed by the Red Devils this summer and will provide competition to fellow new arrival Andre Onana. “It is a huge honour to join Manchester United and become the first Turkish player to represent this incredible club,” Bayindir said in the statement announcing his signing. United could add further recruits on deadline day, with a loan move for Tottenham full-back Sergio Reguilon close to completion. Nottingham Forest signed Arsenal full-back Nuno Tavares on a season-long loan, with the option of making it permanent. “Forest is a historic club which won two European Cups and to be part of it makes me really happy,” he said. “I’m really happy to stay in the Premier League as it’s the best league in the world and I’m thankful to Forest for giving me that opportunity.” Forest forward Brennan Johnson continued to be linked with a move to Tottenham. Aston Villa brought in French defender Clement Lenglet on a season-long loan from Barcelona. The centre-half spent last season on loan at Spurs, making 35 appearances in all competitions. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Fraser Franks set for op – four years after heart problem ended football career Brighton to face European giants Ajax and Marseille in Europa League Liverpool turn down £150m offer for Mohamed Salah from Al-Ittihad

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has called up three new players ahead of European Championship qualifiers against Greece and Ireland

Max Verstappen put down an early marker in his bid to win 10 consecutive races by setting the fastest time in practice for the Italian Grand Prix. The double world champion edged out Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz by 0.046 seconds in Monza with Sergio Perez third in the other Red Bull. Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari at the Italian team’s home event, one place ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, while Lewis Hamilton ended the opening running of the weekend in eighth. Verstappen has dominated Formula One this season – winning 11 of the 13 rounds so far – and will make history on Sunday if he racks up another victory. The Red Bull driver – already 138 points clear in his pursuit of a third world championship – is level with Sebastian Vettel on nine wins and, on the evidence of practice, is poised to land yet another win and set a new record. Hamilton ended his long-running contract saga in the build-up to this weekend’s race by putting pen to paper on a new £50million-a-year deal. But the seven-time world champion ended first practice six tenths back from Verstappen and a tenth adrift of team-mate Russell. Ferrari have endured a poor season, but showed early promise in front of their fanatical supporters at the Temple of Speed with Sainz and Leclerc second and fourth respectively. Elsewhere, Fernando Alonso, who finished runner-up to Verstappen at last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, took sixth for Aston Martin, one place ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. Second practice gets under way at 5pm local time (4pm BST). Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

The toughest Champions League groups of death in the competition's history, with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Manchester City frequently populating these fiendishly tricky matchups

The Europa League group stage draw has been completed with Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham, who won the Europa Conference League last year, and Rangers discovering their opponents. Liverpool are the bookies' favourites, but Brighton are next up alongside Jose Mourinho's Roma, who recently bought Romelu Lukaku to boost their chances. Atalanta, Marseille and Villarreal are also contenders. Relive the Europa League group stage draw below and get all the latest football betting sites offers or sign up to bet365 using The Independent’s unique bonus code by clicking here: Read More Uefa calls added time rules ‘absurd’ and refuses to follow suit Rangers fail to qualify for Champions League after thrashing by PSV Eindhoven

PSG have agreed a fee to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani. The Ligue 1 giants will stump up €90m (£77m) but the move is dependant on the German club finding a replacement.

Defending champion Spain and Serbia were upset in second-round play at the Basketball World Cup

The last fight between Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr finished in chaos and confusion back in January. It was perhaps the only way the fight and the week could finish; there was a capacity crowd of just under 20,000 in Manchester and a ring packed with screaming people. On Saturday they do it all again and this time, it is serious. Manchester is once again the venue. Eubank Jr was dropped twice in the fourth but was up on unsteady legs, insisting he could continue, when it was called off after 69 unforgettable seconds. Eubank Jr was actually steered back to his own corner by Smith’s trainer, Joe McNally. It was an act of compassion surrounded by a night of hate and violence. The fight was stopped at the right time. Eubank Jr has since sacked his trainer from the night, Roy Jones Jr, and hired Brian BoMac McIntyre, who works with Terence Crawford. BoMac runs a strict gym and that is, probably, what Eubank Jr after 13 years as a professional and 35 fights desperately needs. It is never too late to learn in the boxing business. Smith returned to the Rotunda gym, arguably one of the most successful amateur boxing clubs in the world, and continued to prepare under the guidance of McNally. Smith and his party insist there will be more of the same when the bell sounds, and Eubank and his new gang are confident that they can change the outcome; both have enough to lose and an awful lot to gain from the fight. Smith has nothing to prove, Eubank Jr is under intense pressure. This fight has nothing to do with any parts of their colourful fighting history; this is just about repeat or revenge. The last time, the build-up was ugly and personal and this time it is just strictly business. Smith knows he can knock out Eubank Jr and Eubank Jr knows he can be knocked out. It was, trust me, a revelation to both boxers the way their first fight ended. Eubank Jr has conveniently claimed that he is a different man under BoMac’s glare, a smarter and better prepared fighter. He will need to be because, in the first fight, Smith was in control and looked in control. Sure, there was nothing in the fight up until the point where Smith trapped Eubank Jr in a corner and let his hands go. Eubank Jr slumped to the canvas, regained his feet, was dropped again and then got up one more time and was ready, so he claimed, to continue. He was not, it had to be stopped and that is where Saturday’s fight starts. The bad blood remains, the bragging rights are clear and the motive for revenge could not be any higher. At a time of pandering and preening YouTube boxers, crossover fights that only make sense at the bank, this second instalment is genuinely an old-school fight. There is no belt for family pride and that is a pity because that is the backdrop to this fight. Smith and his fighting brothers, Eubank Jr and his fighting father, uncles and cousins. Smith is confident that he can do it all again and Eubank Jr with the influence of BoMac is equally convinced that the result will be different. They can each look you in the eye and they would pass any test of truth – this is personal and that makes the most memorable fights. Smith at his best can do it all again, but Eubank Jr is fighting for his very survival. This is boxing at the very extreme. Watch Smith vs Eubank Jr 2 on Sky Sports Box Office on Saturday 2 September, live from the AO Arena in Manchester Read More Chris Eubank Jr on Liam Smith, adrenalin, and how to be ‘box office’ Eubank vs Smith 2 live stream: How to watch fight online and on TV this weekend Liam Smith: ‘Chris Eubank Jr is a nightmare – not for me, for other people’ Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith in heated debate over decisive factor in rematch Eddie Nketiah wins England call-up – Thursday’s sporting social Chris Eubank Jr on Liam Smith, adrenalin, and how to be ‘box office’

Liverpool have rejected a £150million offer for Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabia Pro League side Al-Ittihad. The Egypt international has been the subject of interest from the Middle East for some time and the PA news agency understands a verbal offer was made on Friday. However, the club have rejected it out of hand and consider the matter closed as the forward is not for sale. The offer is understood to have been £100m up front with a further £50m in add-ons. While the figure looks appealing for a 31-year-old Liverpool are determined to resist any attempt to lure away a player who has scored 138 goals in 221 appearances in six seasons, during which time he was won the Premier League Golden Boot on three occasions. Even if they were mindful to contemplate a sale, which sources insists is completely off the table, it would leave them with no time to find a replacement let alone one of the calibre even close to that of Salah. Asked about the prospect of Salah leaving manager Jurgen Klopp: “The position remains the same, absolutely. No doubt about that. We cannot (sell Salah). That’s how it is. Nothing else to say.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Manchester City grabbed the early headlines on transfer deadline day as they completed the signing of Matheus Nunes from Wolves. After overcoming some minor sticking points in final negotiations over an initial £47.3m deal on Wednesday night, both clubs were able to come to an agreement on a £53million move – a club-record sale for Wolves. The 25-year-old Portugal international was keen to move to the Etihad Stadium and did not train with Wolves in order to push the move through. Nunes told the club’s official website: “I’m so happy to be joining Manchester City, the champions of Europe and a club I’ve admired for a long time. “The opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest managers ever, and alongside some of the best players in the world was something I couldn’t turn down. “I’ve learned so much during my season at Wolves and I’m excited to continue improving in the Premier League, a division which brings the best out of me.” Midfielder Tommy Doyle, 21, heads the other way, joining the Molineux club on a season-long loan with the option to make the switch permanent next summer. Doyle’s exit follows that of fellow City academy product Cole Palmer, who has joined Chelsea on a seven-year contract. The PA news agency understands Chelsea will pay an initial £40million for the 21-year-old with an additional £2.5m in possible add-ons. “I’m excited to get started and it feels great to sign,” Palmer told his new club’s website. “I’ve joined Chelsea because the project here sounds good and because of the platform I will have to try to showcase my talents. It is a young and hungry squad and, hopefully, we can do something special here.” It takes spending in the 16 months since the club was acquired by Todd Boehly’s Clearlake Capital consortium to over £1billion, with Palmer the 12th player through the door during the summer transfer window. Manchester United confirmed the signing of Turkey international goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce. The 25-year-old has signed an initial four-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option of a further year. Bayindir is the second goalkeeper signed by the Red Devils this summer and will provide competition to fellow new arrival Andre Onana. “It is a huge honour to join Manchester United and become the first Turkish player to represent this incredible club,” Bayindir said in the statement announcing his signing. United could add further recruits on deadline day, with a loan move for Tottenham full-back Sergio Reguilon close to completion. Nottingham Forest signed Arsenal full-back Nuno Tavares on a season-long loan, with the option of making it permanent. “Forest is an historic club which won two European Cups and to be part of it makes me really happy,” he said. “I’m really happy to stay in the Premier League as it’s the best league in the world and I’m thankful to Forest for giving me that opportunity.” Forest forward Brennan Johnson continued to be linked with a move to Tottenham. Aston Villa brought in French defender Clement Lenglet on a season-long loan from Barcelona. The centre-half spent last season on loan at Spurs, making 35 appearances in all competitions. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Newcastle ‘have to believe’ in star-studded Champions League group – Eddie Howe I love this team: Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool’s new midfield is ‘good business’ Manchester City sign Matheus Nunes from Wolves for £53million