Manchester United
Manchester United are lining up fallback plans if their pursuit of Sergio Ramos falters, according to a Dutch report.
De Telegraaf of the Netherlands reports Louis van Gaal will dip back into the Dutch well in the event of a failed bid for Ramos, eyeing Lazio's Stefan de Vrij.
The same report indicates Van Gaal is eyeing Ajax keeper Jasper Cillessen if David de Gea completes a move to Madrid, as well. The former Netherlands manager has already brought Dutch rising star Memphis Depay to Old Trafford this summer, and signed Daley Blind last summer from Ajax for £14 million (Dh80.7m).
A Sky Sports report on Tuesday said United had launched a £28.6 million bid for defender Ramos.
Read more: The National's Transfer Talk page
Manchester City
Edin Dzeko “simply doesn’t want to leave” Manchester City, according to his agent Irfan Redzepagic.
Speaking to Italian radio's Rete Sport, Redzepagic said he was "surprised" by reports out of Italy suggesting Dzeko might be involved in disucssions to join Roma.
“I have had no contact with Roma, nor am I aware of any talks between the two clubs,” he said.
AS Monaco
Monaco have signed France Under-20 international Fares Bahlouli from Ligue 1 rivals Lyon on a five-year deal, the principality club announced on Tuesday.
The attacking midfielder, considered one of the brightest talents to come out of Lyon’s productive academy, moved for a fee of €3.5 million (Dh14.3m), according to sources close to the deal.
Bahlouli has made just nine top-flight appearances for Lyon but was part of the France U20 side that won the recent Toulon tournament.
* Agence France-Presse
Marseille
Marseille have reached a deal with Manchester City that will see Dutch international defender Karim Rekik move to the Stade Velodrome, the Ligue 1 side announced on Tuesday.
Marseille said the clubs had “found an agreement in principle for the permanent transfer of the Dutch international this Tuesday evening, pending a medical”.
Rekik, 20, joined City in 2011 but has hardly played for the English club and spent last season on loan at Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.
His arrival will provide a boost to Marseille, who have seen Andre-Pierre Gignac, Andre Ayew, Jeremy Morel and Dimitri Payet all leave the club so far this summer.
He will be the third new signing at the Velodrome, following the recruits of winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou from Nantes and goalkeeper Yohann Pele from Sochaux.
* Agence France-Presse
Saint-Etienne
Ivory Coast forward Max Gradel will only leave Saint-Etienne this summer if the price is right, his coach Christophe Galtier said on Tuesday.
Gradel was outstanding in the second half of last season for the club, scoring 13 goals in the last 13 games to help Saint-Etienne qualify for Europe after returning from winning the Africa Cup of Nations with his country.
The former Leeds United player later confirmed that he wanted to leave for pastures new, but Galtier said Gradel, 27, is expected back for pre-season training on July 13.
“Since I have been at the club, we have never prevented a player from leaving and going where he wants provided the conditions are right, both for the player and the club,” Galtier said.
“It will be the same for Max-Alain Gradel. We are not going to give away our leading scorer if he can’t find a club capable of putting on the table an offer that matches our valuation.
“If that is not the case, our leading scorer will stay at the club and I will be very happy.”
Saint-Etienne have already lost Franck Tabanou since the transfer window opened, with the left-sided player joining Swansea City for around €4.9 million.
However, they have signed the midfielder Vincent Pajot from Rennes and are on the brink of bringing in Benoit Assou-Ekotto, the Cameroon international formerly in England with Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers.
* Agence France-Presse
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PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
Dubai World Cup Carnival Card:
6.30pm: Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.40pm: Zabeel Turf Listed $175,000 (T) 2,000m
8.15pm: Cape Verdi Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,600m
MATCH INFO
RB Leipzig 2 (Klostermann 24', Schick 68')
Hertha Berlin 2 (Grujic 9', Piatek 82' pen)
Man of the match Matheus Cunha (Hertha Berlin
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WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
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Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5