Liverpool are now confident they’re leading the race for a defender, who has been identified as a top target for the summer transfer window, according to a report.
Reds set sights on new full-backs
Virgil van Dijk has committed his future to the Reds, in a major boost for Arne Slot, but the manager may still be tasked with reshaping his defence in the summer transfer window, as Trent Alexander-Arnold has now confirmed his decision to leave.
With Trent heading for the exit door, Slot may choose to install Conor Bradley as his first-choice right-back, but there have also been links with Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong, with the Dutchman believed to be keen on a move to Anfield.
Not only may a new right-back be required, but Slot could also look at bringing in a replacement for Andy Robertson, with the Scotland international now arguably in the twilight years of his career at the age of 31.
Liverpool now willing to offer up Chiesa to buy 19-goal star in £50m+ swap
The Reds could pull off a surprise swap deal…
1 BySean Markus Clifford May 12, 2025
Jamie Carragher also suggested Robertson was past his best earlier in the campaign, saying: “I just think Andy Robertson, who is an absolute legend, is just hanging on in every game.”
According to a report from TEAMtalk, AFC Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez is now the top target for Liverpool at left-back, with his current employers set to hold out for a fee of £45m, amid widespread interest in his signature.
AFC Bournemouth's MilosKerkez
Real Madrid and Manchester City are also keen on the Hungarian, with the Spanish side scouting him this season, but the Reds believe they are still leading the race.
"Mad man" Kerkez could be ideal Robertson heir
The Hungary international has established himself as a vital player for Bournemouth this season, making 36 appearances in the Premier League, during which time he has showcased his attacking threat by picking up two goals and six assists.
Robertson is also very capable on the front foot, having amassed 67 assists during his time with the Reds, so the Bournemouth star could be a like-for-like replacement in that regard, while he has also caught the eye of journalist Zach Lowy.
Bournemouth teammate Marcus Tavernier is clearly a big fan of the 21-year-old too, saying: “He’s a mad man! He’s great, I love that guy to pieces. He brings a lot of energy to the team when it’s quiet and stuff. He has come into the team and been great.”
Having proven himself in the Premier League, Kerkez could be the ideal replacement for Robertson this summer, and Liverpool should look to secure a deal before Real Madrid or Man City step up their interest.
Manchester United’s Europa League final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur was the final nail in the coffin for what has been a truly dismal 2024/25 campaign.
Ruben Amorim’s side have ended the campaign without any form of European football next season, currently sitting in a measly 16th place in the Premier League table.
Such a loss could see the club lose up to £200m throughout 2025/26, having a real impact on the financial situation and any potential transfers this summer.
An overhaul is desperately needed, given their failures during the current campaign, with new signings and departures required to hand the manager the tools he needs to change the current situation.
With the summer window rapidly approaching, work is already being done behind the scenes at Old Trafford to land players who would certainly add to the squad currently at Amorim’s disposal.
The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer
A striker has been on United’s radar over the last couple of months, with Viktor Gyokeres a name constantly touted, given his previous time under Amorim at Spotting CP.
The Swede would undoubtedly be an excellent option for the Red Devils given his record of 53 goals in his 51 appearances, but could be set for a summer switch to fellow English side Arsenal.
As a result, the club will have to target other options in such an area, leading to rumours over a deal for Ipswich Town talisman Liam Delap, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He’s claimed that the Red Devils hierarchy have already held face-to-face talks with the 22-year-old, after he scored 12 goals in his 36 league appearances for the Tractor Boys this campaign.
It’s also reported that he will be available for around £30m this summer, after his relegation release clause became active, but they could also face keen interest from Chelsea during the off-season.
Why United’s latest target could end Hojlund’s time at Old Trafford
Rasmus Hojlund arrived at United with huge excitement back in the summer of 2023, costing a staggering £72m from Serie A outfit Atalanta, after scoring 10 goals throughout 2022/23.
Rasmus Hojlund
The Dane has since struggled to replicate his best form in England, scoring 26 goals in his 94 appearances for the Red Devils, with only four of his strikes coming in the league this season.
He’s endured long droughts throughout 2024/25, including a run that saw him go 21 matches without a goal in all competitions – leading to frustrations amongst the fanbase.
His showing in the Europa League final was another one to forget, featuring for 71 minutes and only registering a total of 15 touches, losing possession every 3.75 touches.
If the club are to make the step under Amorim next campaign, it’s pivotal that the hierarchy back him in the summer, handing the funds to make the changes he requires in such a department.
Delap would be an excellent addition for the fee mooted for his signature this summer, massively outperforming Hojlund in numerous key areas when comparing their respective stats.
The Ipswich star, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has massively outscored the Dane, whilst registering a higher shot-on-target rate – showcasing the clinical threat he poses.
How Delap compares to Hojlund in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Delap
Hojlund
Games played
36
31
Goals & assists
14
4
Shot-on-target accuracy
45%
38%
Shots on target
1.1
0.5
Progressive carries
2.1
1.2
Progressive passes
1.1
0.7
Take-on success
47%
28%
Aerials won
42%
23%
Stats via FBref
He’s also managed to complete more progressive carries and more take-ons, handing Amorim the all-round option in the final third he’s often lacked throughout his tenure at Old Trafford.
Delap has already won 19% more of the aerials he’s contested, handing the side a focal point to play off, subsequently allowing the likes of Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes to improve their own tallies.
£30m could prove to be an excellent price for a player who has bags of time to build on his excellent debut season in England’s top flight, given his tender age.
Given the interest from elsewhere, the hierarchy will have to act quickly to avoid missing out on a player who could easily end Holland’s time at the Theatre of Dreams.
Worse than Hojlund: Man Utd must axe dud who Neville dubbed "embarrassing"
Man Utd have been left to rue their recent transfer mistakes, namely the signing of Rasmus Hojlund
The summer transfer window officially opened for business on Sunday and Manchester United have already completed their first signing to bolster the squad.
Matheus Cunha was officially unveiled as the first addition of the summer on Sunday, joining from Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers on a permanent deal.
The Brazil international will compete for one of the number ten positions behind the central striker in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system in the 2025/26 campaign.
Cunha racked up an impressive haul of 15 goals and six assists in the Premier League for Wolves this season, and could provide a big goal threat for the Red Devils.
The Brazilian star appears to be an exciting addition on paper, given that he has already proven himself in the Premier League, and there could be more forwards to come through the door yet.
Liam Delap, however, will not be one of them because the Red Devils look set to lose the race to land the England U21 international this summer.
Why missing out on Liam Delap is a blow for Manchester United
Chelsea are reportedly set to sign the English forward from Ipswich Town, following their relegation from the Premier League, for a fee of £30m, due to a release clause in his contract in Suffolk.
Champions League football is reportedly a big factor in his decision to make the move to Stamford Bridge, which may be why he is not on his way to Old Trafford, which will not be hosting any European football next season.
Liam Delap at Ipswich Town.
United were previously reported to be in pole position to sign Delap, before they lost the Europa League final, and missing out on him now should come as a blow to the club.
The 22-year-old joined the Tractor Boys on a permanent deal from Manchester City last summer and enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in the Premier League, despite failing to keep his side in the division.
24/25 Premier League
Liam Delap
Appearances
37
xG
9.34
Goals
12
Conversion rate
18%
Big chances created
3
Assists
2
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Delap was clinical in front of goal for Ipswich, scoring 12 goals from just 9.34 xG, and proved that he can score goals on a regular basis at that level.
The release clause in his contract also meant that he was available for a bargain fee of £30m, and the Red Devils may now have to pay more than that to find an alternative centre-forward option.
There is now a fresh report that reveals that the Premier League giants are looking at numerous other options to bolster their attack in the coming weeks.
Manchester United target Bundesliga centre-forward
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United missing out on Champions League football was a ‘major blow’ because it cost them a deal to sign Delap from Ipswich.
The report adds, however, that Amorim has other centre-forwards on his radar for the summer transfer window, as he looks to provide Cunha with a number nine to play behind.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It reveals that RB Leipzig number nine Benjamin Sesko has emerged as one of the options being targeted by the Red Devils, alongside Sporting marksman Viktor Gyokeres.
The Slovenia international is said to be one of the strikers on their radar, after missing out on Delap to Chelsea, and he reportedly has a release clause of £84m in his contract with the German side.
This suggests that Sesko could cost a lot more than Delap would have, £54m more to be exact, unless they can negotiate a lower fee, but he could still arrive as an exciting upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund for Amorim.
Why Manchester United should sign Benjamin Sesko
The Premier League giants should swoop to sign the Slovenian number nine this summer because he has the potential to be an excellent addition to the squad.
There is no hiding away from the fact that Hojlund did not produce enough in front of goal in the league during the 2024/25 campaign. The Denmark international ended the season with just four goals, from 5.24 xG, in 32 appearances in the division.
Rasmus Hojlund
Manchester United’s first-choice centre-forward averaged a goal every 506 minutes in the Premier League, which is simply not good enough for a team that should have ambitions of challenging for the title.
With Sesko, the Red Devils could find a centre-forward who is more suited to challenging at the top end of the league table, given his form for RB Leipzig this term.
The 22-year-old star, who recently scored a sensational trivela goal against Bayern Munich, ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of 21 goals and six assists in all competitions.
Sesko, who has been described as a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, also scored 18 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions for Leipzig in the 2023/24 season, which shows that he has consistently scored goals at an impressive rate over a prolonged period of time.
24/25 season
Rasmus Hojlund
Benjamin Sesko
Appearances
32
33
xG
5.24
9.89
Goals
4
13
Conversion rate
13%
19%
Key passes per game
0.5
0.6
Assists
0
5
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Slovenia international performed significantly better than Hojlund did at league level this season, with nine more goals and five more assists, despite playing just one more match.
Sesko, who also scored one more goal than Delap, could be way better than the Danish flop due to his ability to efficiently find the back of the net at an impressive rate, outperforming his xG by roughly three goals.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates
Whether that is enough to make him worth the £84m release clause in his Leipzig contract is up for debate, as it depends on how much money United are willing to spend and what they want to do in other areas of the squad.
Taking the financial aspect out of it, though, Sesko could be an exceptional addition to the squad to improve Amorim’s attacking options as a genuine goal threat in the number nine position, which is something that they have not had with Hojlund.
Osimhen upgrade: Best "finisher in the world" is now Man Utd's no.1 target
All of Manchester United’s attacking dreams would come true if they landed this Victor Osimhen upgrade.
Chelsea are now in “ongoing” negotiations over a deal to sign an “incredible” striker, with a meeting taking place “in recent days”, according to RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins.
Blues looking to bolster squad before Club World Cup
The initial summer transfer window is set to close on June 10th ahead of the Club World Cup, before reopening on June 16th, and the Blues are looking to get a number of deals over the line before the first deadline.
Jamie Gittens has emerged as a major target since it was confirmed Jadon Sancho will not be making a permanent move to west London, while there have long been doubts over the goalkeeper options, with Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen being used interchangeably last season.
The interest in Hugo Ekitike is a little stranger, given that Enzo Maresca has already added Liam Delap to his squad this summer, but the manager may feel he needs a more experienced option at centre-forward, with the former Ipswich Town man yet to prove himself at the top level.
There has now been a new update on Chelsea’s Hugo Ekitike pursuit, with Hawkins taking to X to reveal they are in “ongoing” negotiations over a deal for the Eintracht Frankfurt striker, having held a meeting with his camp “in recent days”.
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The Blues could seal a move for a new signing “tomorrow”, following a recent positive development.
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The Blues are still considering a move for the forward, with contact yet to be broken off, despite talks not progressing, but a deal will not be cheap, with Frankfurt currently unwilling to compromise on their asking price of €100m (£84m).
Ekitike could be "incredible" signing for Chelsea
While the 22-year-old is the same age as Delap, he has more experience than the Englishman, having regularly provided goals and assists for Reims, Paris Saint-Germain and Frankfurt across spells in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Bundesliga
47
19
10
Ligue 1
52
13
8
Teammate Rasmus Kristensen has also been left impressed by the Frenchman, lauding him as “incredible” back in January, so it is little wonder that Chelsea are keen to take him to Stamford Bridge, although there are doubts over whether he is worth £84m.
With the Frankfurt star contracted until 2029, the German club are in a strong negotiating position, but the Reims-born striker is yet to prove himself in the Champions League, while a return of 15 goals in 33 Bundesliga games last season isn’t out of this world.
As such, while Ekitike could go on to be a top striker, the £84m asking price is a little steep, so the Blues should continue to try and negotiate a lower fee.
Perhaps the sheer wealth of activity since then has played its part, although Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit from Liverpool now feels almost like old news, with the Anfield side far too busy looking ahead to reflect on their local hero turned villain.
Having risen up through the youth ranks, the 26-year-old – dazzled by the lights of the Bernabeu – shunned the opportunity to cement a legacy for himself on Merseyside, instead opting to become the latest Galactico signing at Real Madrid.
Trent and Carragher
A leader and a figurehead under Jurgen Klopp, and then Arne Slot last season – alongside the likes of Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk – the Englishman is now just one of many at Madrid. A talented, albeit dimmed cog in a far mightier machine.
Alas, for better or worse, the rampaging right-back is now basking in the Spanish sun, with those at Liverpool, meanwhile, basking in a month of business that has already seen Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez join the party.
For all that positivity, however, the talk of potential outgoings may well sour the mood somewhat.
Latest on Liverpool's outgoings
Many a club may well have rested on their laurels after romping to the Premier League title last season, but not Liverpool. No, the Reds are acting ruthlessly in the market, both in terms of arrivals and departures.
In terms of the latter category, Caoimhin Kelleher has already moved on to Brentford, with Jarell Quansah heading for his own exit amid an imminent move to Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen.
While Luis Diaz may well stay put, despite lingering interest from Saudi Arabia, his South American colleague, Darwin Nunez, appears to be inching ever closer to a switch to Napoli.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Uruguayan could well be followed out the door by England U21 star Harvey Elliott, if reports are to be believed, with journalist Graeme Bailey revealing that the aforementioned Klopp – now overseeing things at RB Leipzig – is personally pushing to bring the playmaker to Germany.
As per Bailey, while a raft of Premier League clubs have made an enquiry regarding the 22-year-old, there is also interest from abroad, with Klopp keen to be reunited with his former signing at Leipzig.
Harvey Elliott celebrates for Liverpool
The suggestion is that Elliott is in fact open to the move, albeit with Liverpool looking to rake in more than £40m, if they are to sanction a sale. Is cashing in the right decision, however?
Why Elliott sale would be a bigger blow than Trent
The fury surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s free transfer exit was somewhat eased by the subsequent £10m agreement for his involvement in the Club World Cup, albeit with there still likely to be a lingering frustration over not raking in a fee for a player deemed to be worth £64m, as per Transfermarkt.
That said, as a product of their academy, Liverpool have more than reaped the rewards of the right-back’s progression, with the creative machine racking up 92 assists in 354 games in all competitions. Just consider what a player of that talent would have cost to buy in the first place?
Over an extended period, the Reds have witnessed Trent blossom, seen his vital role in securing a plethora of major honours. Now, he’s flown the nest.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
In the case of Elliott, however, there remains a real intrigue over his talents, an undoubtedly skilled individual who has simply been lost among a pool of other high-class forwards and midfielders at Anfield.
As pundit Joe Cole has stated, perhaps the former Fulham man – who left Craven Cottage as a mere 16-year-old – is almost a “victim of his own skills” as he can “play anywhere”.
Elliott’s U21 European Championship record – 2025
Stat (*per game)
Record
Games (starts)
6 (6)
Goals
5
Assists
0
Big chances created
0
Key passes*
1.7
Pass accuracy*
82%
Tackles & interceptions*
1.2
Balls recovered*
4.0
Successful dribbles*
0.7
Stats via Sofascore
Described as an “explosive” talent by England youth boss, Lee Carsley, the silky left-footer has been unable to find a settled role for himself at club level, having been restricted to just two starts in the Premier League last term.
Losing such a talent, amid Leipzig’s interest, may not be too great of a mistake with that considered, although as he has showcased on the international stage, Elliott is a potential superstar in the making. Just look at his semi-final winner against the Netherlands in the U21 European Championships.
Back at club level too, he also ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as in the top 14% for assists and the top 2% for progressive passes, as per FBref. In essence, when he is given a chance to impress, he typically takes it.
The match-winner in the first-leg triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Elliott appears deserving of a more prominent role, be it at Anfield or elsewhere, with Slot risking seeing him go on to sparkle elsewhere.
Liverpool's HarveyElliottcelebrates
And therein lies the difference with Alexander-Arnold. The England senior star has made his mark on Merseyside already, with Liverpool getting plenty out of him over the last decade or so.
In the case of Elliott, he remains an unknown quantity, a player whom the club could live to regret if he does dazzle at another Premier League or European outfit. Liverpool already know the heights of Trent’s talents – Elliott’s gifts are yet to be truly discovered…
Wirtz will make him world-class: Liverpool getting ready to bid for £85m ST
Liverpool may yet welcome a new centre-forward to Arne Slot’s fold.
In-form Hampshire bowled out for 298 but claim two wickets in reply
ECB Reporters Network23-Jun-2024
Fletcha Middleton works into the leg side•Getty Images
Warwickshire 51 for 2 trail Hampshire 298 (Middleton 74, Dawson 46, Gubbins 44, Hannon-Dalby 3-35) by 247 runs In-form Hampshire produced a patchy performance with the bat against Warwickshire on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship match at Edgbaston.James Vince’s side arrived in Birmingham seeking a third successive championship win but, having chosen to bat on a good pitch, were bowled out for 298. Only Fletcha Middleton (74 from 135 balls) passed 50 against a seam attack which extracted every ounce of assistance available from the conditions.Olly Hannon-Dalby was the pick of the bowlers. His first wicket was his 350th in first class cricket and he built pressure in every spell on his way to 16-5-35-3. The Yorkshireman was well-supported by Ed Barnard (three for 61) and Craig Miles (three for 71).In 12 overs before the close, Warwickshire replied with 51 for two, Kyle Abbott removing both openers in four balls in the penultimate over.Chris Woakes returned to Warwickshire’s team for the first time this season but looked rusty in his new ball spell. It was Hannon-Dalby who delivered the breakthrough with a peach of an outswinger which Toby Albert edged to wicketkeeper Michael Burgess.That apart, Hampshire advanced solidly through the morning. Middleton raised the 50 with a slashed six over third off Miles, posted his own half-century from 79 balls and then passed 1,000 first-class runs with his next scoring stroke. A frustrating morning for Warwickshire peaked when Nick Gubbins, on 28, cut Will Rhodes through the hands of Sam Hain at second slip.Middleton and Gubbins added 102 in 30 overs but were uprooted during an aggressive post-lunch spell by Barnard, who was capped before the start of play. Gubbins edged to first slip and Middleton played back to one that kept low and lost his off-stump. When James Vince edged Hannon-Dalby to third slip, a serene 119 for one had become an uneasy 148 for four.Ben Brown (32, 51) and Liam Dawson (46, 66) stopped the slide with a stand of 61 before Miles struck twice in an over. Brown leg-glanced too fine and was caught by the wicketkeeper and James Fuller lifted carelessly to backward point.On the first hot day of the championship season, Warwickshire’s bowler persisted well, not least Hannon-Dalby who struck for a third time when Dawson played on. Keith Barker (40, 74) batted comfortably against his former team-mates but Barnard’s third wicket followed when an outswinger took the edge to end Felix Organ’s punchy 26-ball 23.Woakes, on his 100th first class appearance for Warwickshire, returned to the attack to take the new ball and quickly secured his 365th wicket in those games when Abbott leading-edged to gully. When Barker top-edged a swipe at Miles to fine leg, Hampshire had fallen two short of a third batting point.Will Rhodes edged the second and third balls of Warwickshire’s reply, from Barker, for streaky fours but thereafter the openers were little troubled until they both fell in the dying embers of the day. Rhodes lifted Abbott to cover and three balls later Alex Davies fell to a stunning return catch as the visitors ended a largely trying day with a smile.
NBA superstar Kevin Durant, one of the highest earning basketball players of all time, has purchased a minority stake in football club Paris Saint-Germain.
Durant, 36, has signed a partnership with Qatar Sports Investments, the club’s majority owners, to explore a wide range of commercial, investment and content production opportunities.
He joins a growing list of American sports stars venturing into football, as perhaps the greatest NFL player of all time, Tom Brady, is a minority owner of English Championship club Birmingham City, while the likes of J.J. Watt, LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes have all invested in clubs dear to their hearts.
But as Durant teams up with one of the richest organisations in professional sports – QSI have a net worth of roughly $450bn – where does he stand amongst the highest earning athletes on the planet when off-field earnings are added to salaries?
Highest earning athletes in 2025 – total earnings (salary/wages + off field earnings)
Rank
Name
Sport
2025 Earnings (Forbes)
10.
Kevin Durant
Basketball
$101.4m
9.
Shohei Ohtani
Baseball
$102.5m
8.
Karim Benzema
Football
$104m
7.
Juan Soto
Baseball
$114m
6.
LeBron James
Basketball
$133.8m
5.
Lionel Messi
Football
$135m
4.
Dak Prescott
American Football
$137m
3.
Tyson Fury
Boxing
$146m
2.
Stephen Curry
Basketball
$156m
1.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Football
$275m
10 Kevin Durant – $101.4m
Durant is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, known primarily for his offensive abilities, where his 6 foot 10 frame and effortless jump shot make him a nightmare to defend.
A two-time NBA champion and one-time NBA MVP, his future is one of the biggest talking points of the upcoming off-season, with one-year remaining on his contract worth over $54m.
9 Shohei Ohtani – $102.5m
At 30 years old Ohtani is widely considered the best player in Major League Baseball due to his ability to both pitch and hit to an extremely high level.
The Japanese superstar signed a 10 year, $700m contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024.
8 Karim Benzema – $104m
Benzema won the UEFA Champions League five times during his time with Real Madrid, but has signed the largest contract of his career with his current club, Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad.
The Frenchman, who has scored 37 goals in 97 appearances for his country and won the Ballon d’Or in 2022, earns over £800,000-a-week in Saudi Arabia, which is about $57m-a-year.
7 Juan Soto – $114m
Soto is a Dominican baseball player for the New York Mets, making the controversial switch from the New York Yankees in 2025.
He will earn a whopping $765m over the course of his 15-year contract with the Mets, but falls behind the top of the list due to lower off-field earnings.
6 LeBron James – $133.8m
Regarded as one of the two greatest basketball players of all time along with Michael Jordan, James takes a huge amount of his earnings from his sponsorship deal with Nike.
On the court, the NBA legend is owed over $50m by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025-26.
5 Lionel Messi – $135m
Perhaps the greatest footballer of all time, Messi opted for Major League Soccer in the USA over the riches of the Saudi Pro League, but still rakes in $135m courtesy of his contract with Inter Miami and sponsorship deals with companies such as Adidas.
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ByBarney Lane Dec 26, 2024 4 Dak Prescott – $137m
Prescott signed the largest contract in American Football history in 2024, penning a four-year extension with the Dallas Cowboys making him the first NFL player to cross the $60m-a-year barrier.
The 31 year-old was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2016 despite being drafted in the fourth round with the 135th pick.
3 Tyson Fury – $146m
Fury, one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, took home $146m this year after his unanimous decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December.
2 Stephen Curry – $156m
Curry, the greatest shooter in NBA history, has won four NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors and been crowned the league’s MVP on two occasions.
He is owed over $60m by the Warriors next season and rakes in millions through his commercial deals with the likes of Under Armour, Callaway and Subway.
1 Cristiano Ronaldo – $275m
A five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo’s current contract with Saudi side Al-Nassr is worth over £3m-a-week or around $4.5m, while he also earns an additional $50m in sponsor deals with the likes of Nike and Binance.
For the second time in two days, an Associate team defeated a Full Member in Group A
Ashish Pant07-Jun-20243:24
Niall O’Brien: Ireland should have restricted Canada to 115-120
The Associate has struck twice in two days. Group C and D might have been the groups of death leading up to the T20 World Cup 2024 but for the moment the blockbuster results are coming out of Group A. After Pakistan shocked USA in Dallas on Thursday, it was Canada’s turn to stun a Full Member side on Friday as they beat Ireland by 12 runs in New York to record their first-ever T20 World Cup win.The focus was all on the surface in New York and while Canada found the going tough early on, Nicholas Kirton and Shreyas Movva steadied the ship to take them to 137 for 7 in their 20 overs. This was the first time in five innings that a team had managed to breach the 100-run mark in New York this World Cup. And it proved to be enough.The Canada bowlers were all over the Ireland batters in the chase. They did not let them get away in the powerplay before Junaid Siddiqui and Saad Bin Zafar applied the squeeze in the middle overs. When Ireland slipped to 59 for 6 in the 13th over, it seemed all but over for them. Mark Adair and George Dockrell resurrected the Irish innings and put on 62 for the seventh wicket, but Jeremy Gordon and Dilon Heyliger held their own at the death to deliver Canada a famous win. Ireland were restricted to 125 for 7 and have now lost two in two.Gordon helps Canada take powerplay honoursOn an uneven surface and a sluggish outfield, a chase of 138 was always going to be a tricky ask. Canada’s defence did not get off to the best of starts with Kaleem Sana unable to control the early movement. But Gordon understood the lengths to bowl on the surface from the get-go and the rest of the bowlers followed suit. Ireland could only manage two fours in the first six overs – one in the first over and one in the sixth. In between, there were plenty of swishes and misses from Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie and hardly any decent connections.Gordon’s relentless lengths got the better of Stirling in the final over of the powerplay when he could only manage a top edge on his attempted heave with the wicketkeeper taking a comfortable catch. He fell for an uncharacteristic 9 off 17 and Ireland’s innings went downhill thereon.3:09
Niall O’Brien: There is a bit of Lara about Kirton
Ireland slip, slide and stumbleIt was complete Canadian domination in the next seven overs or so with Ireland unable to understand how to go about the chase. Saad and Siddiqui attacked the stumps, hardly giving the batters anything to work with: 33 of the 48 balls they bowled finished on a wicket-to-wicket line, according to ESPNcricinfo’s data. The surface seemed to slow up a touch in the second half and the two spinners made sure to take full toll.Balbirnie fell second ball after the powerplay, caught and bowled by Siddiqui. Saad struck next with a straight ball that breached Harry Tector’s defences. Lorcan Tucker inexplicably ran himself out in the 10th over before Heyliger sent back Curtis Campher with a little help from Aaron Johnson, who took a lovely catch at deep backward square leg diving to his left. And when Gareth Delany fell in the 13th over with the Ireland score on 59, an early finish was on the cards.Adair, Dockrell give Ireland hope but Canada prevailWith the equation reading 64 off 30 after 15 overs and only four wickets in hand, Ireland needed nothing short of a miracle to pull this off. Dockrell gave Ireland a chance when he bashed Siddiqui for a four and six in the 16th over before Adair produced a similar result against Sana in the next. Heyliger, however, kept his cool to only concede eight runs in the 18th over.Sana’s 19th went for 11, which meant Gordon had 16 runs to defend in the final over. And he did it expertly. There were no full balls, only the hard-length stuff and there was nothing Adair could do. He played and missed the first ball and top-edged the next. Barry McCarthy came in and hacked across the line three times, but couldn’t get much out of it.And when Dockrell mistimed his heave to long-on off the final ball, celebrations began in the Canada dugout. This was just the third time Canada had beaten Ireland in T20Is. They are the only Full Member team they have beaten in the format.Shreyas Movva batted solidly after Canada slipped to 53 for 4•Getty Images
Ireland put Canada in early troubleEarlier, it seemed like a good toss to win for Ireland with their bowlers finding movement and carry. Adair had Navneet Dhaliwal caught at backward point before Craig Young sent back Aaron Johnson, caught at deep backward square leg. Canada hit six fours in the powerplay but a lack of strike rotation meant they could only reach 37 for 2 after the first six.Young struck straight after the powerplay, too, sending back Pargat Singh, before Delany had Dilpreet Bajwa caught and bowled with Canada’s score after 8.1 overs reading 53 for 4.Kirton and Movva make the moveKirton has been in excellent T20I form of late. He had scored a fifty against Nepal in Canada’s warm-up game and another one against USA in the World Cup opener. And he started in a similar vein in New York. Alongside Movva, he first steadied the Canada innings and then went big in the final five.There was a distinct Caribbean flair to the Barbados-born Kirton’s strokeplay. He took on Young, Ireland’s most successful bowler up to the point, smashing him for two sixes and a four in the 16th over. Movva also kept chugging along with the duo adding 75 runs for the fifth wicket off 63 balls. Kirton fell one short of another half-century but Movva stayed right till the last ball and Canada posted the highest score in New York this T20 World Cup.
يخوض منتخب ليبيا مباراة هامة ومرتقبة أمام إيسواتيني، مساء اليوم الإثنين، في إطار منافسات التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة إلى نهائيات كأس العالم 2026.
ويستضيف منتخب ليبيا نظيره إيسواتيني، على ملعبه في بنغازي، ضمن الجولة الثامنة من مباريات المجموعة الرابعة في تصفيات كأس العالم.
منتخب ليبيا يتواجد في المجموعة الرابعة من تصفيات كأس العالم، بجانب منتخبات الرأس الأخضر والكاميرون وأنجولا وموريشيوس وإيسواتيني.
وكان منتخب ليبيا، حقق فوزًا مهمًا في الجولة السابعة ضد أنجولا، بهدف دون رد، ليحتل المركز الثالث في ترتيب المجموعة برصيد 11 نقطة.
ويتصدر ترتيب المجموعة، الرأس الأخضر برصيد 16 نقطة، يأتي منتخب الكاميرون ثانيًا برصيد 15 نقطة، وأنجولا في المركز الرابع بـ 7 نقاط، ويتواجد على الترتيب في المركزين الخامس والسادس موريشيوس وإيسواتيني.
طالع | ترتيب مجموعة ليبيا في تصفيات كأس العالم بعد الفوز على أنجولا موعد مباراة ليبيا وإيسواتيني اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم
تقام مباراة ليبيا وإيسواتيني في تصفيات كأس العالم، اليوم الإثنين 8 سبتمبر، إذا تنطلق المواجهة في تمام الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، 9 مساءً بتوقيت ليبيا. القناة الناقلة لمباراة ليبيا وإيسواتيني اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم
تنقل مباراة ليبيا وإيسواتيني، على قناة SSC EXTRA.
ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا
The supporters of Tottenham Hotspur will undoubtedly have a sense of excitement building among the fanbase, as they start a new era in the 2025/26 campaign.
Thomas Frank is set to lead the side in North London, hoping to build on the Europa League triumph they achieved at the end of the previous season.
Many may have seen the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou as harsh given the European success, but his side’s lack of quality in the Premier League led to his departure.
The Dane will be looking to avoid suffering a similar fate, needing to strike a balance between success in the league whilst also being competitive in the Champions League.
However, if the new boss is to be a success during his maiden campaign in the role, he will undoubtedly need backing from the hierarchy within the transfer window.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer
In the last couple of days, Spurs have made their opening offer to West Ham United for the potential signing of talented forward Mohammed Kudus – but their bid was immediately rejected.
However, they’re set to make another offer in the coming days, with the new boss wanting to accelerate a deal for the Ghanaian attacker this window.
Despite the move for the 24-year-old, another Premier League forward has emerged on their shortlist in recent days in Rodrigo Muniz, according to Brazilian outlet BolaVIP.
They claim that a £32m bid has been made for the Fulham striker after he scored eight times in England’s top flight throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
It also states that the Lilywhites will face stiff competition from Leeds United, after the newly promoted side made an offer for his services earlier this window.
Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s answer to Haaland
Erling Haaland is a player who’s constantly tormented countless backlines within the Premier League, scoring endless goals for Manchester City over the last few years.
Manchester City's ErlingHaalandduring the warm up before the match
The Norwegian moved to the Etihad back in the summer of 2022 and has since scored 124 times in his 146 appearances – a simply staggering record in the modern day.
He’s registered four goals in his six appearances against the Lilywhites, often causing the club countless issues, with the fanbase undoubtedly wishing they had their own version of the forward.
However, talents like Haaland don’t come around very often, and if they do, they will likely cost a small fortune – especially given the money in the current climate.
They could be about to land their own version of the talisman with Muniz this summer, with the Brazilian labelled as a similar player to the City star by FBref.
Whilst he’s undoubtedly been massively outscored throughout 2024/25, he’s managed to outperform Haaland in numerous key areas, showcasing what an excellent addition he’d be to Frank’s side this summer.
Muniz, who’s been labelled as “one of the best strikers in the Premier League” by teammate Willian, has registered a better goal per shot on target rate – demonstrating his clinical edge in front of goal.
How Muniz compared to Haaland in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Muniz
Haaland
Games played
31
31
Goals & assists
9
25
Goals per shot on target
0.4
0.3
Passes into final third
1.2
0.3
Progressive passes
2.5
0.6
Take-ons completed
0.9
0.4
Fouls won
2.9
0.4
Aerials won
6.3
1.8
Stats via FBref
He’s also registered more progressive passes per 90, with more passes completed into the final third, having the ability to provide others around him with chances in attacking areas.
The Fulham star has also completed more take-ons per 90, whilst also winning more aerial duels, offering Frank an all-round option at the top end of the pitch that he will likely desire.
It’s unclear if Marco Silva’s side will accept the latest offer for Muniz’s signature, but it’s evident that, from the stats produced, he would be an excellent option for Spurs.
If he can replicate the levels produced by Haaland over the last couple of seasons, it would be a superb signing and one that could catapult the club up the table next campaign.
Better signing than Mbeumo: Spurs make enquiry for "world-class" £20m star
Tottenham Hotspur have wasted no time making moves within the summer transfer market.