A round-up of the biggest football transfer stories, including Chelsea’s interest in two Manchester City players, and Liverpool lining up a move for a Real Madrid midfielder.
CHELSEA
Chelsea have gained a lot of the back pages on Sunday, with separate reports claiming the Premier League champions are set to make a double move on Manchester City for striker Edin Dzeko and midfielder Yaya Toure.
Ivorian midfielder Toure, is widely expected to leave City this summer after his agent, Dimitri Seluk, recently claimed his client is “90 per cent certain” to be playing elsewhere next season.
While Inter Milan — coached by former City manager Roberto Mancini — have made their interest known, it appears Chelsea are keen to keep Toure in the Premier League.
Seluk revealed he has been contacted by an English club, and British newspaper, Daily Express, claim that club is Chelsea.
With Toure keen to leave the Etihad Stadium, and City prepared to part ways with the midfielder — and his £220,000 (Dh1.3m) a week wages to free up funds for new arrivals — his exit appears inevitable.
However, whether City would be willing to sell Toure to a title rival is another matter.
Meanwhile, Toure is not the only City player to be linked to Chelsea, with unsettled striker Dzeko also reportedly attracting their interest.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is aware he needs to strengthen his forward options, and according to the Sunday People, views Dzeko as the ideal replacement for Didier Drogba.
Manuel Pellegrini’s preference of playing Sergio Aguero as a lone striker — coupled with the arrival of Wilfried Bony in January — means Dzeko has found game time limited in recent months.
Similarly to Toure, City are likely to be reluctant to sell the Bosnian striker to Chelsea, while Dzeko himself may not fancy a switch from one bench to another.
LIVERPOOL
Another story carried out by the Sunday People, this time concerning Liverpool. The newspaper reports the Brendan Rodgers is determined to sign Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi after the Spaniard was put on the transfer list.
Liverpool are preparing for life without Steven Gerrard, and Rodgers views Illarramendi has the ideal midfield foil for more attacking players like Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson, and Philippe Coutinho.
While struggling to force a way into Madrid’s illustrious midfield, Illarramendi remains a highly-regarded talent, and Liverpool will hope the offer of regular first-team football will help seal a deal reportedly worth £10m.
MANCHESTER UNITED
There are plenty of stories doing the rounds on Manchetser United, and with manager Louis van Gaal armed with a hefty transfer kitty, expect plenty more over the coming months.
Among the stories include moves for Bayern Munich forward Thomas Mueller, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, Lazio winger Felipe Anderson, and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.
Starting with Mueller and Cech, the The Independent on Sunday are reporting United will make a move for the Germany forward this summer as Louis van Gaal looks to bolster a front-line bereft of goals, while Cech is being lined up should David De Gea successfully engineer a move to Real Madrid.
The Sunday People carry the report of United's interest in Brazilian Anderson, who has enjoyed a stellar season for Lazio, helping the Rome club to second in Serie A. The newspaper claims scouts from United have been keeping a close eye on Anderson in recent weeks, and have been impressed by what they have seen.
Finally, the Observer deliver the latest in the Pogba saga, claiming Van Gaal is determined to bring the Frenchman back to Old Trafford.
Pogba left United in 2012 after failing to break into the first-team, and since then has developed into one of the finest midfielders in the world.
With Van Gaal admitting a centre midfielder is top of his wishlist, Pogba is reportedly his primary target, although whether United can see off competition from a host of interested clubs — as well as persuade Pogba to return — remains to be seen.
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
POSSIBLE ENGLAND EURO 2020 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Ben Chilwell, Fabian Delph.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Harry Winks, Jordan Henderson, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi.
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Omania, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
Winner: Brehaan, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Craving, Connor Beasley, Simon Crisford
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel
Ashes 2019 schedule
August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston
August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's
August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley
September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford
September 12-16: Fifth Test, Oval
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
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THE POPE'S ITINERARY
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
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