List of All Articles with Tag 'eppersons'

The Atlanta Braves were unknowing participants in the Chicago Cubs 2023 turnaround that turned them from trade sellers to buyers.The fate for the 2023 Chicago Cubs is unknown, but already, they've made massive shifts to the way their season will be perceived. At one point, they were viewed ...

Erik ten Hag says the Premier League will miss Harry Kane but the Manchester United boss has no regrets about deciding to go for Rasmus Hojlund over the Bayern Munich-bound star. Having wrapped up deals for midfielder Mason Mount and adventurous goalkeeper Andre Onana, the Old Trafford giants turned their attention to filling the glaring need for a striker. Tottenham sharpshooter Kane has long been admired by United but the club instead plumped for potential by signing Atalanta talent Hojlund. “First of all we have chosen a striker and we are really happy with our choice,” Ten Hag said of the Denmark international. “(Kane) is a great striker. That’s clear, he’s really a goal maker and apart from that he has all the conditions and abilities that you want to see in a striker. “It’s a miss for the Premier League, absolutely.” Ten Hag says he will miss the challenge of facing Kane, who Bayern are understood to be forking out an initial £100million for with add-ons able to potentially take it up to £120m. Quizzed on whether United were ever serious candidates to sign the England captain, he said: “I don’t think that I have to go into that discussion or to give an opinion about that. “We are professional. The processes we do are really careful, we consider a lot of things. “But finally we make decisions and we don’t take decisions overnight. There’s a strategy behind every decision and we are happy with the squad we have now.” While Kane looks set to start a new chapter in Germany, everyone at United will be hoping their move for rough diamond Hojlund pays off. The 20-year-old arrived for an initial £64m fee that could rise to £72m with add-ons, signing a five-year deal with the option of a further season. But United fans will have to wait to get a first glimpse of their new frontman as Hojlund is dealing with a back issue that the club are confident is not a long-term issue. “He had a small issue,” Ten Hag said. “He’s not on the levels where our players are in this moment, so now we have to train him. “The prognosis is difficult always to say but we are confident and we are positive.” New boy Hojlund will be sidelined for Monday’s Premier League opener against Wolves, with Amad Diallo, Tyrell Malacia and Kobbie Mainoo also out. Anthony Martial did not play a minute in pre-season as he recovers from a hamstring injury, while back-up goalkeepers Tom Heaton and Dean Henderson remain absent for the curtain raiser. Ten Hag is confident in the shape of his squad ahead of the new season and suggested Harry Maguire could be involved against Wolves despite United accepting a £30m bid from West Ham for their former captain. “Of course (he is available),” the Dutchman said. The frantic final few weeks of the transfer window are likely to dominate the start to a campaign that United get under way with some large clouds hanging over them. A decision has yet to be made on suspended Mason Greenwood’s future and a group of United fans are planning to protest against the prospect of his return ahead of facing Wolves. There is also a planned protest by the 1958 group against the Glazer family as the interminable potential takeover process rolls into the new campaign. Asked about the fan protest and how frustrating it was for him that the ownership issue has not been resolved, Ten Hag said: “I’m sure that the fans will support the team. “I think we construct that last season, the connection between fans and team. “I think we only made it stronger in the pre-season, we’ve seen that in the tour but also now back in the UK I think there’s a really strong support and there’s a really good vibe around the team and between the fans and the team.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Day out at Wembley feels like ‘weird dream’ for cup finalist Jodie Cunningham Completing early transfer business could boost Arsenal title bid – Mikel Arteta Ange Postecoglou confirms Harry Kane transfer to Bayern Munich ‘imminent’

Greece's hopes of landing basketball's World Cup took a major blow on Friday when their star player Giannis Antetokounmpo announced he...

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal could hold an advantage of their Premier League rivals after getting their summer transfer business done early. The Gunners spent over £200million to land Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice before the middle of July, with all three joining Arteta’s squad for the pre-season tour of the United States. The PA news agency understands a loan deal for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya will be announced later on Friday but – barring any late changes – there will be no other incomings planned in the current window. Arsenal, who beat Manchester City on penalties to win the Community Shield last weekend, begin their league campaign at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. While the futures of the likes of Tottenham striker Harry Kane and sought-after Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo may be sorted by then, for Arteta, getting his new faces in early is a bonus. “I think it definitely helps, especially for the player and getting to the environment and getting set,” he said. “Also for the coaches it is important, for the media, for the commercial for the clubs as well, especially when you go on tour to be certain and have the players you are going to have for the season so it was something very positive for us. “We’ve done it and we had the intention to do it, sometimes it is possible, sometimes it is not. “But we tried our best and we just have to focus on what we can do, the reasons we have done it and maximise the resources we have.” Arsenal led the way at the top of the Premier League for much of last season before being reeled in by City, eventually finishing five points adrift in second place. While they were seen as surprise challengers, this season Arsenal will be considered among the favourites to challenge Pep Guardiola’s men. Asked if there would be more pressure on his players as a result, Arteta added: “I think it is excitement, this is where we want to be and building a team that has the belief and the quality to be fighting for those places. “The competition this year is going to be even harder than last year, you see a lot of teams and the movements they have made and you have to expect something different from them. “So we have to be much better still than last year and this is the way we are preparing, to seek for that. “The reality is that in football you have to be at your best on the day and it’s only about today and tomorrow and training the way we want to play and increasing the probability of winning that game by earning the right to do that.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Ange Postecoglou confirms Harry Kane transfer to Bayern Munich ‘imminent’ Hull KR and Leigh Leopards keen to end decades of hurt in Challenge Cup final England ‘want to have a ruthless scrum’ against Wales, says coach Tom Harrison

Saudi club Al Ettifaq has apologised to Liverpool fans for printing EFC on the back of Jordan Henderson’s shirt in a tongue-in-cheek promotional post. Al Ettifaq unveiled Henderson’s new shirt for the season, which also includes a notable number change, with the player taking the number 10 shirt rather than the number 14 that he wore at Anfield. After the unveiling, Al Ettifaq were quick to 'apologise' for the fact that the club’s EFC abbreviation bears a striking resemblance to that of Liverpool’s rivals, Everton. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “Sorry to all the Liverpool Football Club fans for putting E.F.C on Hendo’s back. At least it’s not blue,” the club said in a statement. They then added: “Better get that number 10 kit before it runs out.” Al Ettifaq will have likely boosted their fanbase this summer, after poaching Henderson from Liverpool and bringing in Reds’ legend Steven Gerrard as their new manager. Henderson has been made captain of the Saudi side, in a bid to replicate the success Liverpool enjoyed with Henderson as the leader of its team. During his 10 years with Liverpool, Henderson won the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League, as well as two League Cups, a Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and a Community Shield. It comes after a former Premier League star questioned whether Henderson's support for LGBT+ rights was “genuine” after he left Liverpool for Saudi Arabia. Same-sex relationships are illegal in Saudi Arabia, while the gender expression of trans people is also criminalised. Sentences include a maximum penalty of death. Thomas Hitzlsperger, the highest profile professional footballer to come out as gay in 2013, expressed his disappointment at Henderson’s decision to join Al Ettifaq in a £12m deal. He said: “So Jordan Henderson finally gets his move to Saudi Arabia. Fair play to him, he can play wherever he wants to play. “Curious to know though how the new brand JH will look like. The old one is dead! I did believe for a while that his support for the LGBT+ community would be genuine. Silly me…” Henderson had gained a reputation for being an ally of the LGBT+ community after putting out various statements condemning homophobia in recent years. Meanwhile, one Twitter user responded to the most recent post with a simple: “Whattifaq is he doing?” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed Harry Kane’s move to Bayern Munich is “imminent” after the clubs agreed a fee that could rise to £120million. Bayern have tracked the England captain all summer and a number of bids were turned down, but a breakthrough was reached on Wednesday night. It left the ball in Kane’s court and he decided on Thursday to leave his boyhood club and join the Bundesliga champions, who will pay an initial £100m for the forward with add-ons able to potentially take the transfer up to an overall fee of £120m, the PA news agency understands. Reports on Friday morning initially suggested Spurs had refused to give Kane permission to travel to Germany, but they were squashed by Tottenham and he is set to fly out on Friday afternoon and will complete a medical once he lands in Munich. Postecoglou, speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to Brentford, confirmed: “Fair to say I don’t have a blow by blow account but my understanding is it has progressed to the point where it looks like it will happen. “From that perspective, at least it gives us some clarity and we move forward without Harry. “From my perspective it is just about understanding where we are at and the information I have at the moment is the deal is imminent but like with all these things, you leave yourself some leeway. “But moving forward and training today preparing for Brentford, we are doing it without Harry. “It is best Harry speaks for himself in terms of the decision but no doubt he is one of the greats of this football club and that never changes. “I am only new in the building but fairly evident Harry Kane will always be one of the greats for this football club.” Kane is unlikely to be signed in time to feature in Bayern’s DFL-Super Cup match with RB Leipzig on Saturday night. However, with the clash taking place at Bayern’s Allianz Arena home, England captain Kane could well be unveiled to supporters before kick-off. This is not the first summer where Kane’s future has dominated headlines after Manchester City had a failed pursuit in 2021. Kane sat out the first match of that season – coincidentally against City – but Pep Guardiola’s side never got close to agreeing a fee with Tottenham for the forward. With Kane into the last 12 months of his contract at Spurs this summer, speculation over his future this time always felt more significant. Bayern saw bids reportedly turned down in June and July but made their intentions clear, with club officials in honorary president Uli Hoeness and president Herbert Hainer speaking openly in the media about Kane’s desire to join the Bundesliga champions. A third bid was submitted last Friday and a new twist occurred when Spurs spent all weekend deliberating before chairman Daniel Levy rejected the offer on Monday. With noises coming out that Kane, who scored four goals in a friendly win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Sunday, had enjoyed working with new Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, confidence started to grow that he could spend the season with his boyhood team. Bayern’s latest bid proved enough for an agreement to be reached and, after Kane took his time to weigh up the decision, he decided it was right to end his 19-year stay at Spurs. It means Kane’s pursuit of Alan Shearer’s Premier League goal-scoring record will go on pause, with the Tottenham forward still 47 goals off equalling Shearer’s tally of 260. He will leave N17 as the club’s leading marksman after he surpassed Jimmy Greaves’ 266-goal record in February with the winner against Manchester City. Kane will also get the chance to fulfil his career-long ambition of winning trophies at Bayern, while remaining in the Champions League after spending only one of the last three campaigns in Europe’s elite competition. Back at Spurs, Postecoglou, who only took over in June, will be tasked with filling a huge void. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Hull KR and Leigh Leopards keen to end decades of hurt in Challenge Cup final England ‘want to have a ruthless scrum’ against Wales, says coach Tom Harrison Tottenham’s Harry Kane to undergo medical ahead of move to Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich are working with the "highest priority" to sign England captain Harry Kane from Tottenham but the deal is not finalised yet, the German...

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says his club has reached an agreement with Brighton to sign Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo

Giannis Antetokounmpo will not play for Greece at the Basketball World Cup that starts later this month

Leipzig coach Marco Rose has indicated the German club is on the verge of signing French defender Castello Lukeba from Lyon after selling Joško Gvardiol to Manchester City

Preview of Chelsea's Premier League meeting with Liverpool, including how to watch on TV and live stream, team news, predicted lineups and score prediction.

The 10 worst MLB umpires.