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The January transfer window officially slammed shut for business on Thursday and Celtic ended it with two first-team additions to their squad.

Nicolas Kuhn was brought in from Rapid Wien on a five-and-a-half-year deal to bolster Brendan Rodgers' options out wide. Adam Idah was also signed from Norwich City on loan until the end of the season to compete with Kyogo Furuhashi and Hyeon-gyu Oh.

The Hoops must now turn their attention to Scottish Premiership action as they travel away from Parkhead to face off against Aberdeen this afternoon.

They are up against a managerless side as the Dons opted to part ways with head coach Barry Robson at the end of January, which could motivate their players to impress any potential managers watching on.

Celtic head into this match off the back of a 1-0 win over Ross County last time out in the Premiership and Rodgers could make three changes from the XI that started that match.

With that in mind, here is FFC's predicted Hoops line-up to take on Aberdeen at Parkhead today…

1 Joe Hart

Starting between the sticks, Joe Hart should keep his place in goal. Celtic were reportedly looking to bolster their options in his position in January but nothing materialised.

This means that the former England international should remain as number one and he will be hoping to keep another clean sheet after his shutout against Ross County.

2 Alistair Johnston

The hero of Celtic's last match should start once again at right-back. Alistair Johnston's goal in the opening minute against Ross County was enough to secure all three points for the Scottish giants.

3 Maik Nawrocki

The first change to the starting XI could come at the heart of the defence as Maik Nawrocki could be drafted in from the start to replace Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Celtic's USA international is currently out after suffering an injury last time out. The Polish titan replaced him in the 64th minute of that clash and should come in from the start today.

Signed from Legia Warsaw last summer, Nawrocki has not had many opportunities to impress but has shown glimpses of quality in his limited time on the pitch.

Appearances

Five

Starts

Three

Sofascore rating

7.04

Pass accuracy

87%

Duel success rate

55%

Ground duel success rate

75%

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old colossus has dominated opposition attackers on the deck in 50/50 contests and been reliable in possession, which is why he could be a fine replacement for Carter-Vickers this afternoon.

4 Liam Scales

Alongside Nawrocki, Ireland international Liam Scales could keep his place. The former Aberdeen loanee won eight of his nine aerial duels against Ross County and will be tasked with dealing with the threat of Bojan Miovski throughout the match.

5 Alexandro Bernabei

At left-back, Alexandro Bernabei looks set to start for the Scottish giants as Greg Taylor is sidelined with a calf injury and the Argentine dynamo is the only other natural left-back in the senior squad.

Rodgers reportedly wanted to sign another player in that position to compete with those two but the club failed to get a deal over the line before this week's deadline.

6 Matt O'Riley

In the middle of the park, Matt O'Riley will be hoping to add to his impressive collection of goals and assists in the Premiership so far this season.

The Denmark international has contributed with ten goals and seven assists in 22 top-flight outings, as he has proven himself to be a match-winner for the Hoops on many occasions.

7 Callum McGregor

Alongside the former Fulham prospect, captain Callum McGregor will be pulling the strings once again for the Scottish giants with his passing wizardry.

Sofascore rating

7.9

Pass accuracy

94%

Passes completed

79

Key passes

One

Duels won

Six

As you can see in the table above, the Scotland international produced a fantastic display last time out with his reliability in possession of the ball, whilst he also won the penalty that Luis Palma went on to miss.

8 Odin Thiago Holm

The second change to the XI could come in the third midfield spot. Paulo Bernardo started against Ross County and produced one key pass and one 'big chance' missed in 89 minutes on the pitch.

Rodgers could now provide Odin Thiago Holm with a rare opportunity to impress in the Premiership. The 21-year-old maestro has only started two of his eight league appearances but David Turnbull's deadline day move to Cardiff could open up more chances for him in the middle of the park.

It will then be down to Holm to make the most of his time on the pitch to prove to the manager that he deserves more minutes moving forward.

9 Nicolas Kuhn

The third and final change to the XI could come on the right of the front three. Nicolas Kuhn could make his full debut for the Hoops in place of Liel Abada, with Daizen Maeda and Hyun-jun Yang still away with their respective countries.

In 76 minutes last weekend, Abada failed to register a key pass or a shot on target and lost seven of his eight duels throughout the game, as he struggled on and off the ball.

Kuhn, who was described as "absolutely rapid" by UEFA licensed coach @Inverthewing on X, created 11 'big chances' for his teammates and averaged 1.8 key passes and 3.1 completed dribbles per game across 16 Bundesliga matches during the first half of the season for Rapid Wien and could offer more than his new teammate in the final third.

10 Kyogo Furuhashi

In the centre-forward position, Idah could be forced to wait for his full Celtic debut as FFC predict that Kyogo Furuhashi will keep his place in the side for now.

The Japan international has scored three goals in his last six games but will now know that he needs to be at his best to keep the Norwich loanee out of the XI.

Idah has been at the club for less than 48 hours and may not be ready to be thrown in from the start if he is yet to grasp and understand his role in the side and what Rodgers wants from him, compared to what Norwich asked of the Irish whiz.

The tenth match of CPL 2019 witnessed the highest team total in franchise cricket and the second-highest match aggregate in all T20 cricket

The Report by Sreshth Shah14-Sep-2019

Colin Munro pulls out the reverse sweep•CPL T20/Getty Images

There was plenty of sympathy for the bowlers at Sabina Park on Friday, as the tenth match of CPL 2019 witnessed the highest team total in T20 franchise cricket being scored – the third highest overall – and the second-highest match aggregate in all T20 cricket recorded. By the end of the carnage, Trinbago Knight Riders’ 267 for 2 was 41 runs too many for Jamaica Tallawahs, who put up a brave fight but fell short. The result meant Knight Riders made it four wins in a row, while Tallawahs suffered their fourth straight defeat.Better fielding, however, might have helped the bowlers a bit. A total of 12 catches went down in the 40 overs of play, with Knight Riders benefitting much more than Tallawahs. Colin Munro struck a 50-ball 96 and Lendl Simmons hit a 42-ball 86 not out for Knight Riders, adding 124 for the second wicket, and they both cashed in on the multiple lapses on the part of the Tallawahs fielders.Glenn Phillips gave the Jamaican home crowd some hope when he blazed to a 32-ball 62 at the top, but Mohammad Hasnain’s double-wicket burst and an injury to Rovman Powell put paid to that. While Tallawahs continued finding the boundaries – they equalled Knight Riders’ tally of 17 sixes – they had much fewer fours, but entertained the crowd till the final ball.Simmons, Munro cash in on error-prone TallawahsAll it took was two balls for Simmons to make his intentions clear. The way he rose to pull Derval Green showed the pitch offered next to nothing for the pacers. Then, three balls later, when Green bowled so short that the ball flew over the wicketkeeper, the tone of the day – a Tallawahs performance peppered with errors – was set.Jerome Taylor shared the new ball, and he started off with a front-foot no-ball. In all, he bowled four no-balls (that’s four free-hits, too) and three wides on the night. That first no-ball was punished by Simmons, and as the Powerplay progressed, Knight Riders found a minimum of one boundary every over. The first double-boundary over was the third, when Sunil Narine – at that point on zero off seven balls – struck ten off three balls to bump his strike rate up to 100.Simmons, like Narine, was living dangerously, unafraid to go the see-ball-hit-ball way. That led to him edging an attempted loft to wicketkeeper Phillips, but he failed to hold on. Three balls later, Simmons mistimed a slog straight into midwicket’s hands. He slapped his pads with the bat in disgust, but looked up to find the umpire call another front-foot no-ball for Taylor.At 55 for no loss after five overs, spin was introduced in the form of Zahir Khan. The let-arm wristspinner from Afghanistan struck immediately, trapping Narine lbw for an 18-ball 20. But in walked Munro, the highest run-scorer of CPL 2018, and he took Zahir on from the first ball.Munro, playing his first match of the season, approached Zahir with a stance that exposed leg (and part of middle) stump to negate the spinner’s googly, and found success cutting the 20-year old through the covers and following it up with a reverse sweep over point. Simmons and Munro then creamed Zahir for a further 11 next over.Lendl Simmons goes down the ground during his 42-ball 86•CPL T20/ Getty Images

Simmons entered the 40s in the tenth over by opening his stance and pulling Ramaa Lewis over deep midwicket. Next ball, he drilled a flat shot to Taylor at long-on, but the fielder dropped it after running in. That ball was struck hard, but there were no excuses when Simmons was reprieved three balls later after slicing a full delivery. Deep cover ran in, but he fluffed another chance, and that error ended the halfway stage of the first innings. The score at that stage read 98 for 1.Knight Riders smash CPL recordsPowell – who had a quiet first spell – was welcomed into his second spell by two boundaries that took Knight Riders past hundred. Simmons then cut Oshane Thomas to bring up his half-century in 32 balls to close a quiet 12th over. But then began the carnage. Munro smashed Powell for two sixes next over and Simmons added another to gather 23 off the 13th. They did the same to Zahir in the 14th to take 22 off it. Those two overs lifted Munro past his fifty, the partnership past hundred and Knight Riders past 150. The 15th began with Simmons smashing Thomas for three fours and a six. The last of those fours was off a no-ball, so Simmons, on 86, shaped up to maximise the free-hit.But what followed was straight out of a Chaplin classic. Simmons mistimed the free-hit in the air, and straight into deep midwicket’s hands. The fielder, Javelle Glen, began celebrating, forgetting that it was a free hit. Simmons spotted it and asked Munro to scamper across for a third run, but by then Glen had realised what was going on, and drilled in a throw that saw Simmons well short of the crease. There was also reasonable doubt whether Thomas had removed the bails cleanly with his hands, but Simmons was eventually declared run-out, one of only three ways – stumpings and hit-wicket are the other two – where a wicket is allowed off a free-hit.In walked No. 4 Kieron Pollard, and he clobbered them to all parts too. While Munro hammered Green for two sixes in the 17th over, Pollard helped Knight Riders smash 30 runs off Taylor’s final over, including a maximum off a front-foot no-ball. Taylor’s four-over spell went for 55, and Thomas followed suit by conceding 21 off his final over to finish his wicketless spell for 63 runs.Knight Riders finished on 267 for 2, only 11 short of the highest-ever T20 total. But the innings of 21 fours, 17 sixes, seven no-balls, and 12 wides had set a record for the highest total in franchise cricket, beating Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 263 for 5. Munro was unbeaten on 96 off just50 balls, while Pollard made a 17-ball 45. In all, Knight Riders scored 171 runs in the final ten overs. Tallawahs didn’t help by dropping seven chances off Simmons, Munro and Pollard.Phillips gives Sabina Park hopeTallawahs had few options but to attack. Chris Gayle and Phillips got going, and Hasnain, the Pakistan fast bowler, leaked 20 in the second over as Phillips struck two fours and two sixes. Gayle backed that up with two sixes off Narine to complete the Powerplay. Phillips then smashed Jimmy Neesham for a six and a four in a 17-run over to lift Tallawahs to 84 for no loss after seven overs.Phillips rode on some luck of his own to reach his fifty in 22 balls in the ninth over. While he was around, Tallawahs could still believe, especially since his innings thus far had included being dropped twice on 37 and given not-out – on 29 – despite edging one to the keeper. He tore into Khary Pierre for a 17-run over but then fell to a cutter from Pollard in the 12th over, holing out in the deep for 62.An eight-ball spell that turned the momentumSearching for a way to get the breakthrough, Knight Riders captain Pollard turned to Hasnain again, and the captain’s trust paid off as Hasnain hit Gayle’s stumps with a quick delivery that crashed through the batsman’s leg-side swipe. Chadwick Walton followed Gayle to the dugout four balls later after a short ball from Hasnain cramped the No. 3 for space, eventually splicing a catch to the keeper. That double-wicket over was followed by No. 4 Powell retiring with a side strain. Powell’s departure, only two balls after Walton’s dismissal, meant Tallawahs lost three big-hitters in the space of eight deliveries.The required run-rate had crept past 22 by the end of the 15th over courtesy a tidy spell from Neesham and Narine. But the latter couldn’t finish his night well as Lewis and Glen struck three sixes and a four to take 23 off his final over. Ali Khan and Hasnain, though, bore the brunt of the pair’s big shots, as the two added 63 in 28 balls, but it was too little too late as Knight Riders won the match with plenty in the bag.

Dani Dyer posted a romantic behind-the-scenes clip of her engagement to Jarrod Bowen as the West Ham star proposed on a boat in Ibiza.

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• Bowen and Dyer are set to tie the knot
• The footballer proposed to the TV star on blue waters
• The ring reportedly costs £77,362 ($100,000)

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The couple's getaway came on the heels of England's painful loss in the Euro 2024 finals, where Spain clinched victory with a 2-1 scoreline. Seeking to lift their spirits, Dyer and Bowen set off for a sun-soaked holiday. It was during this trip, amidst the serene waters, that Bowen chose to propose, presenting Dyer with a stunning engagement ring.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• WHAT DYER SAID

  Dyer, a former Love Island star, has been regularly sharing updates on her Instagram about the proposal and recently posted another heartfelt video along with a caption that read: "One week ago the love of my life asked me to marry him.. the best bubble ever I’ve been in💍❤️ (I promise this is my last post for the time being😂)".

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bowen proposed to Dyer with a giant diamond ring which experts estimate to be worth approximately £77,362 ($100,000). They have been a couple since 2021 and share twin daughters, Summer and Star, who are one year old. Additionally, Dyer has a three-year-old son, Santiago, from her previous relationship with ex-boyfriend Sammy Kimmence.

da brwin： Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte should unleash Steven Bergwijn in a new role as his side faces a daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League later this evening.

da betano casino： The Lilywhites remain in the race for a top-four finish and the prospect of Champions League football next season but currently sit two points behind arch-rivals and fourth-placed Arsenal, who they face later next week.

Meanwhile, the Reds sit one point behind defending champions Manchester City and need to keep the pressure on whilst the latter’s morale could be low following their agonising semi-final exit on Wednesday.

It leaves the Italian head coach with plenty to ponder heading into kick-off. One conundrum has to be at wing-back, where a mix of injuries and inconsistencies have caused something of a headache.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news!”]

Without Matt Doherty, Conte has had to rely on summer signing Emerson Royal, but it is very evident that he’s just not fancied, with The Times suggesting back in January that the manager felt the 23-year-old wasn’t good enough to play the wing-back role as Tottenham targeted Adama Traore.

Some supporters around N17 think he’s a “liability”, while former Spurs centre-back Jonathan Woodgate has slammed him for being “horrendous” in recent outings.

There is a serious lack of options available to the Tottenham boss, though, which is perhaps why he has continued to persist with the struggling ex-Barcelona flop.

However, Bergwijn could provide an interesting solution to Conte, especially given the attacking demands from the position. Truth be told, he’s perhaps been unlucky to not be given more of a chance in north London.

On the left, he’s competing with a red-hot Heung-min Son and on the right, he’s having to battle January arrival Dejan Kuluseveski, who has already usurped the squad in assists (eight).

The £18m-rated dynamo, who earns a reported £73k-per-week, has started just one league game since his match-winning brace from the bench against Leicester City in mid-January.

It’s not too dissimilar to the role that Jose Mourinho asked from him last season, particularly against the Gunners, where he put in two tackles and two clearances, helping Serge Aurier out defensively.

It was a performance which saw the ‘Special One’ describe the Netherland sinternational as “incredible” for his energy and work rate.

As such, he could well have all the credentials to fill in for Emerson at right wing-back over the final four games of the season, starting with tonight’s tricky test.

Conte should give Bergwijn a chance in the surprise role – he could well unearth a vital secret weapon in the race for a top-four finish.

AND in other news, Conte now plotting Spurs for “refreshing” £34m-rated gem, he’d be a “great signing”…

Find out where you can watch every Euro 2024 game live in the United Kingdom.

Germany has opened its doors to the European football family this summer with the 2024 European Championship taking place across 10 German cities this June and July.

Everything you need to know about Euro 2024Find out more

Defending European champions Italy are back in a major tournament after the disappointment of missing the 2022 World Cup, while England will be desperate to bring an end to their 58-year wait for international glory. Cristiano Ronaldo is hoping for one last hurrah with Portugal, while Spain are resurgent.

ITV and the BBC will be serving up a football feast this summer and to help get you set, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about when the games are on and which channels you can watch them on.

• UK TV schedule for all Euro 2024 games

  Date	Fixture	Kick-off time (BST)	Channel
  Jun 14	Germany 5-1 Scotland	8pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 15	Hungary 1-3 Switzerland	2pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 15	Spain 3-0 Croatia	5pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 15	Italy 2-1 Albania	8pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 16	Poland 1-2 Netherlands	2pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 16	Slovenia 1-1 Denmark	5pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 16	Serbia 0-1 England	8pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 17	Romania 3-0 Ukraine	2pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 17	Belgium 0-1 Slovakia	5pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 17	Austria 0-1 France	8pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 18	Turkey 3-1 Georgia	5pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 18	Portugal 2-1 Czech Republic	8pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 19	Croatia 2-2 Albania	2pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 19	Germany 2-0 Hungary	5pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 19	Scotland 1-1 Switzerland	8pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 20	Slovenia 1-1 Serbia	2pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 20	Denmark 1-1 England	5pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 20	Spain 1-0 Italy	8pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 21	Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine	2pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 21	Poland 1-3 Austria	5pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 21	Netherlands 0-0 France	8pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 22	Georgia 1-1 Czech Republic	2pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 22	Turkey 0-3 Portugal	5pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 22	Belgium 2-0 Romania	8pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 23	Scotland 0-1 Hungary	8pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 23	Switzerland 1-1 Germany	8pm	BBC Two / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 24	Albania 0-1 Spain	8pm	BBC Two / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 24	Croatia 1-1 Italy	8pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 25	France 1-1 Poland	5pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 25	Netherlands 2-3 Austria	5pm	BBC Two / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 25	Denmark 0-0 Serbia	8pm	ITV4 / ITVX
  Jun 25	England 0-0 Slovenia	8pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 26	Slovakia 1-1 Romania	5pm	BBC Two / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 26	Ukraine 0-0 Belgium	5pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 26	Czech Republic 1-2 Turkey	8pm	ITV4 / ITVX
  Jun 26	Georgia 2-0 Portugal	8pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 29	Switzerland vs Italy	5pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jun 29	Germany vs Denmark	8pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 30	England vs Slovakia	5pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jun 30	Spain vs Georgia	8pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jul 1	France vs Belgium	5pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jul 1	Portugal vs Slovenia	8pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jul 2	Romania vs Netherlands	5pm	BBC One / BBC iPlayer
  Jul 2	Austria vs Turkey	8pm	ITV1 / ITVX
  Jul 5	Quarter-final	5pm	TBC
  Jul 5	Quarter-final	8pm	TBC
  Jul 6	Quarter-final	5pm	TBC
  Jul 6	Quarter-final	8pm	TBC
  Jul 9	Semi-final	8pm	TBC
  Jul 10	Semi-final	8pm	TBC
  Jul 14	Final	8pm	BBC One / ITV1 / BBC iPlayer / ITVX

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• Getty
  

  Euro 2024 on BBC: Channel & pundits

  The BBC will broadcast 27 matches live at Euro 2024, including the final, and they will provide radio commentary on all 51 games via their BBC Radio 5 Live channel.

  Games will be available to watch live on BBC One or BBC Two, as well as being available to stream live on the BBC iPlayer.

  Coverage will be fronted by the familiar face of Gary Lineker, with support from Gabby Logan, Alex Scott and Mark Chapman.

  The likes of Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Ellen White and Joe Hart will join Micah Richards, Ashley Williams in assessing the games.

  Scotland matches will be analysed by David Moyes, James McFadden and Rachel Corsie, while Cesc Fabregas and Brentford boss Thomas Frank will be in the studio for games too.

  Commentary teams will comprise of the likes Guy Mowbray, Jonathan Pearce, Robyn Cohen, Vicki Sparks, Steve Wilson and Steve Bower. They will be supported on co-commentary by familiar voices like Shearer, McFadden, Martin Keown, Danny Murphy and Jermaine Jenas.

  BBC One channel number & BBC iPlayer

  Provider	Channel number
  Freeview	1 (SD), 101 (HD)
  Sky	101
  Virgin Media	101
  Freesat	101
  Sky Glass	101

  BBC One is available on terrestrial TV, satellite and digital, usually on channel number 101.

  Fans wishing to watch games live on the BBC iPlayer can do so by logging on here.

• Getty/GOAL composite
  

  Euro 2024 on ITV: Channel & pundits

  Euro 2024 TV coverage in the UK kicks off on ITV, with the opening game between Scotland and hosts Germany broadcast on ITV1 and STV, as well as ITVX and the STV Player.

  Lead presenter Mark Pougatch will be joined by Laura Woods, with punditry from none other than Roy Keane, so you will have to tune in to ITV to see which players are the latest to receive the Irishman's trademark scrutiny. Arsenal icon Ian Wright and England women's legend Eni Aluko.will be part of the crew too. Graeme Souness, Karen Carney and Gary Neville will also be part of the team, as will Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglu and Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl. Furthermore, there will be refereeing insight from Christina Unkel.

  Match commentary will be provided by the unmistakeable voices of Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen and Joe Speight, with co-commentary duties shared by Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist and Andros Townsend.

  News from the England camp will be provided by Gabriel Clarke, with Connie McLaughlin following the Scotland squad and Celina Hinchcliffe will have general roundups.

  ITV1 channel number & ITV X

  Provider	Channel number
  Freeview	3
  Sky	103
  Virgin Media	103

  ITV1 is available on Channel number 3 on Freeview and 103 on satellite providers. ITVX can be accessed here.

• Useful Euro 2024 links

  • Latest Euro 2024 news
  • Euro 2024 kits: What England & every team is wearing
  • Will England players be able to vote in the General Election?
  • Euro 2024 tickets: Everything you need to know
  • How to watch Euro 2024 in the United States

Juventus winger Federico Chiesa has emerged as a summer transfer target for Bayern Munich as his contract approaches its final year.

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Bayern eye new attacking targetChiesa out of contract in 2025Transfer considered possibleWHAT HAPPENED?

reporter Florian Plettenberg has shared that Chiesa's name has been added to Bayern's shortlist. The Italy winger is out of contract next summer and an initial price range is estimated at a relative bargain €30-40 million (£25m-£34m/$32m-$43m). But with Chiesa away at Euro 2024, no decision is expected to be made on his part for several weeks.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Juventus are unsurprisingly said to be open to extending Chiesa's contract beyond next season, but a transfer is ultimately thought to be possible given that he is expected to have plenty of options on the table. Liverpool were notably linked just last month, with Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain both also rumoured to be interested within the last year.

DID YOU KNOW?

Chiesa scored 10 goals for Juventus in all competitions in 2023-24, marking a return to his best form after suffering an ACL injury in January 2022 that had massively disrupted two seasons. Even just the idea of having him link up with Harry Kane should have Bayern fans licking their lips in anticipation.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN MUNICH?

Bayern won't get an answer on Chiesa for a little while, but there is still plenty to be done for new manager Vincent Kompany. The Belgian currently has precious time to familiarise himself with his new surroundings before pre-season training begins early next month for those not on international duty. With Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting moving on and Thomas Muller to turn 35 in September, the attacking ranks are in need of fresh blood if the Bundesliga title is to be wrestled back from Bayer Leverkusen.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford was spotted in a confrontation with a fan, and it has now been revealed what was said during the argument.

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Rashford argues with Man Utd fanFan told forward to leave the clubEriksen had to guide Rashford awayGetty/StrettyEnd/JacobHorsfallWHAT HAPPENED?

Ahead of the Red Devils' enthralling 3-2 win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford, Rashford was spotted in a heated argument with a Man Utd fan as he halted his warm-up to go and try to shoot down the criticism he received from the supporter. However, after an exchange of words, Christian Eriksen had to step in and guide the 26-year-old away from the scene.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesWHAT WAS SAID IN THE CONFRONTATION

As per Manchester Evening News, the confrontation started when a fan seated in the Stretford End shouted, "If you wanna go, go!" at Rashford who was warming up.

The forward halted his session and moved towards the forward who continued to point at the Man Utd badge on his jacket. Rashford did the same and exclaimed, "Why don't you go?" to the fan, while another fan defended the winger saying, "Rashford, don't listen to him!" trying to defuse the situation.

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

This is not the first time that Rashford has confronted criticism from a fan as, in 2021, the winger made a disrespectful hand gesture to a supporter who appeared to criticize his performance against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

This time the criticism likely stemmed from the fact that Rashford has been linked with a potential move away from the boyhood club. Manchester United are also reportedly willing to listen to offers for the forward in the summer transfer window.

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?

The England star will likely be in the starting lineup this weekend against Brighton on May 19 and next weekend in the FA Cup final against Man City on May 25.

Declan Rice reveals the single biggest reason that he opted to join Arsenal instead of Manchester City in the summer of 2023.

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Rice gives reason for joining ArsenalMan City were trying to buy himWhy he now enjoys Rodri rivalryWHAT HAPPENED?

In a lengthy sitdown with , Rice explained exactly why he wanted to join Arsenal when they came calling last summer, even though reigning European champions Manchester City were vying for his signature at the same time and he could have ended up in the same midfield as Rodri instead.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Manchester City were willing to pay £90 million ($112.8m) for Rice, with both them and Arsenal seeing such offers rejected by West Ham. But once the Gunners took the bidding to £105m ($131.6m), a figure that would make Rice the most expensive British footballer in history, City chose to withdraw their interest. Even they had stayed in the race beyond that, the England midfielder may still have chosen Arsenal.

WHAT RICE SAID

"This project seemed more exciting and that’s why I chose to come to Arsenal, because I believe we’re on to big things here," Rice explained.

On the rivalry that developed with Rodri now that they have remained opponents instead of team-mates, he added: "I enjoy it. We're different players, I feel. With Rodri, he was born in Spain, he’s always been a natural No 6. You can just tell by the way he plays that he's worked under Pep [Guardiola] for so long. He's a lot more structured than I am. I'd say I'm a lot more off-the-cuff. Obviously, this season I've been more structured. But in terms of the way I play, I feel like…being free a little bit more. There are different things that we complement each other on – but no doubt, he's the best in the world."

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RICE & ARSENAL?

Arsenal have their eyes set on a first Premier League title in 20 years, but City stand in the way. The Gunners lead the way by a point, but their rivals have a game in hand that would be enough to get them ahead. As well as facing Bournemouth and Everton, Arsenal's biggest test appears to be a trip to Manchester United in their penultimate game on May 12. Losing that contest could all but hand the title to City.

Fast bowler gets second demerit points in as many Tests for throwing ball into the ground in disagreement

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Nov-2018James Anderson has been given a second demerit point in as many Tests after being found to have shown dissent in Galle. Anderson was seen to throw the ball into the ground after a disagreement with umpire Chris Gaffaney following a warning for running on the pitch. He was subsequently found to have violated Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match.”Anderson admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction, which also included an official reprimand proposed by match referee Andy
Pycroft. There was no formal hearing.Anderson had also received a demerit point – and a fine of 15 percent of his match fee – during the second day of the Oval Test against India in September this year. On that occasion he was adjudged to have spoken to umpire Kumar Dharmasena in “an aggressive manner” and snatched his cap from the him following an unsuccessful appeal for lbw against Virat Kohli. Andy Pycroft was the match referee on that occasion as well.That was Anderson’s first offence since the introduction of the ICC’s revised Code of Conduct in September 2016. Demerit points stay on a player’s record for two years. The accumulation of four demerit points results in an automatic suspension.

There are two playoff spots and several seeds still to be claimed in the National League as the final weekend of the 2024 MLB season approaches.

While we don't know the playoff matchups yet, we do know there is no lack of story lines among the NL contenders. Can Shohei Ohtani do enough to push the Los Angeles Dodgers to the promised land and erase their recent October failures? Will the surprising, youthful Milwaukee Brewers be able to bring their regular-season magic into the playoffs? Is this the year that Manny Machado will have his signature moment in a San Diego Padres uniform?

Those questions, and more, will be answered soon enough.

Last year, the Arizona Diamondbacks cruised through the first two rounds and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in an exciting NLCS to represent the NL in the 2023 World Series. The 2024 Diamondbacks, who shook off a World Series hangover to start the year, are far from a perfect team, but they're not alone. Every MLB team has a vulnerability somewhere on its roster that could cost it this fall.

After we covered the American League last week, let's dive into each NL contender's biggest weakness.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Current playoff spot: NL West leader
Biggest weakness: Starting pitching

There are absolutely no questions about the Dodgers' explosive lineup, which could make up about half of the NL All-Star roster. The bullpen is in good shape, too. But thanks to a flurry of injuries, the Dodgers still have plenty of questions about who is taking the ball in the playoffs.

Two of the Dodgers' starters entering the year—Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone—are out for the season. James Paxton now resides in Boston. Clayton Kershaw remains on the injured list with a toe injury and only has seven starts this season. Bobby Miller has been dreadful this year, allowing 36 runs in his last 31 innings pitched.

That leaves Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler and Landon Knack to duke it out for postseason starts. It's not a bad group, it's just not as big of a strength in October as the Dodgers imagined back in spring training, especially with Buehler often looking like a shell of his former himself after returning from Tommy John surgery.

Philadelphia Phillies

Current playoff spot: NL East champion
Biggest weakness: Offensive slumps

There's not much to nitpick with the Phillies, who own the most wins (94) in all of baseball.

Philadelphia boasts arguably the best starting rotation of any playoff contender, as Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Christopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez all have taken care of business this season. The bullpen is nice, too, and the lineup features a couple of the league's biggest sluggers in Bryce Harper (.902 OPS) and Kyle Schwarber (.859).

Can the Phillies sustain this level of play, though? Philadelphia was on pace for a 114-win season back in May before playing sub-.500 ball in July and August. The team has figured it out since then, but offensive slumps have cost them in October the past two years, scoring just three combined runs in Games 6 and 7 of the NLCS last year and three total runs in the final three games of the 2022 World Series.

Milwaukee Brewers

Current playoff spot: NL Central champion
Biggest weakness: Starting pitching

The underdog Brewers defied all odds during the regular season, making manager Craig Counsell look foolish for joining the rival Chicago Cubs by winning the NL Central by double-digit games. They'll be underdogs again in the playoffs. But who says this team can't make a memorable run?

The biggest problem with Milwaukee—which was rarely an issue during the Counsell era—is the starting pitching. Freddy Peralta (3.69 ERA in 31 starts) assuredly will get the ball in Game 1. But who starts Game 2? Or Game 3?

Tobias Myers has been a pleasant surprise this season, but he only has 25 career starts under his belt. Colin Rea hasn't logged a quality start in over a month and owns a 4.89 ERA since the All-Star break. Frankie Montas, who arrived from Cincinnati at the trade deadline, is putting up big strikeout numbers but also just surrendered seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings to Arizona.

San Diego Padres

Current playoff spot: Top NL wild card
Biggest weakness: Closer

The Padres, who clinched their third playoff berth in the last five seasons on Tuesday night, are still in the hunt for the NL West title. But if they are going to make a World Series run, they need Robert Suarez to rediscover his early-season form.

Suarez was, without a doubt, one of the best closers in baseball in the first few months of the season. At the All-Star break, Suarez had 22 saves and a 1.67 ERA in 38 appearances. Since then, he has fallen off with a 4.44 ERA and 13 saves in his last 26 games, including a 6.55 ERA in September.

That's not what you want from your closer in the postseason. Manager Mike Shildt could be calling upon Tanner Scott or Jason Adam to take over the ninth-inning duties before long.

New York Mets

Current playoff spot: Second NL wild card
Biggest weakness: Postponed games

From a horrendous start, a viral first pitch by McDonald's mascot Grimace and a scorching-hot month of September, the Mets have endured one of the oddest seasons in recent memory. They find themselves in the driver's seat in the final week of the regular season but face more wacky circumstances, as two games with playoff implications against the Atlanta Braves this week were postponed to a Monday doubleheader.

The problem? The MLB playoffs are set to begin Tuesday. If Arizona is still in the mix for a playoff spot after the weekend, the Mets and Braves will have to play the doubleheader at Truist Park, which would put them behind the eight ball for the wild-card series that will begin the following day in either Milwaukee, Los Angeles or San Diego.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Current playoff spot: Third NL wild card
Biggest weakness: Bullpen

A.J. Puk has been unbelievable since arriving from Miami at the trade deadline, logging a 0.36 ERA and 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings in 27 appearances for the reigning NL champions. Behind Puk, however, is a heap of trouble in the Diamondbacks' bullpen.

Since Aug. 1, the Diamondbacks' bullpen has the seventh-worse ERA (4.84) in baseball and the worst among playoff contenders. Over the last month, Kevin Ginkel (7.71 ERA), Joe Mantiply (7.27 ERA), Ryan Thompson (7.36 ERA) and Justin Martinez (1.58 WHIP) haven't been reliable as the top high-leverage options available for manager Torey Lovullo. Not to mention former closer Paul Sewald was demoted from the ninth-inning role in August and hasn't been the same since.

Atlanta Braves

Current playoff spot: 0.5 GB of third NL wild card
Biggest weakness: Health

It just doesn’t seem like 2024 will be Atlanta's year. It's a testament to the Braves’ depth that they’re even in the postseason mix in the final week of the regular season.

Opening Day starter Spencer Strider going down for the year in April with an elbow injury was just the start of the Braves’ injury woes. Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. tore his ACL in May, slugging third baseman Austin Riley is out for the rest of the year with a broken hand and setup man A.J. Minter underwent hip surgery last month. Key offensive contributors in Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II both missed over a month nursing injuries during the season, too.

Are the Braves healthy enough for a deep playoff run?