標籤: Ahead

Manchester City There may still be a hunt for Palmeiras teenager Eduardo Conceição, but Brazil’s latest revelations suggest that interest in the 16-year-old goes back much further than many realize – and that even includes Jurgen Klopp.

The young attacker has already attracted everyone’s attention city, newcastle, arsenal, chelsea, liverpool and many major European clubs.

While clubs across Europe continue to establish themselves, a new story from Brazil reveals that Eduardo was generating serious interest even before he became a household name in youth football… and that includes a Liverpool legend.

Klopp tried early – Palmeiras said no

globo esporte Palmeiras academy head Joao Paulo Sampaio confirmed that Jurgen Klopp wanted to personally learn more about Eduardo during a visit to Brazil in early 2025.

Klopp, now responsible for football operations at the Red Bull GmbH network, watched Eduardo during the Copa Puma, an under-17 tournament in which the Palmeiras youngster scored three goals in two matches against Red Bull Bragantino.

Sampaio recalled asking Klopp about the player and even inquiring about a potential price.

“Klopp was there and wanted to meet him. He asked me how much he cost. I told him: ‘You still don’t have enough money to buy a player like this,'” He joked.

After this the Palmeiras official revealed something even more interesting. The Red Bull group did not stop to inquire.

Two proposals were rejected before the campaign started

According to Globo Esporte, Palmeiras turned down two separate approaches involving the Red Bull structure.

The first offer was around £6m (€7m). This was increased to approximately £8.5m (€10m) in a second attempt. No one came close to convincing Palmeiras.

The identity of the specific club involved was not disclosed. Given Klopp’s role in overseeing football operations at the Red Bull network, interest could come from RB Salzberg, RB Leipzig, Red Bull Bragantino or another club in the group. Globo’s report did not specify which route was being considered.

Sampaio explained that Palmeiras had already made a conscious decision to wait.

“They made two offers, but we wanted to wait. He was already attracting attention from people in Brazil and around the world who wanted to know more about him. Then he exploded at the Brazilian Youth Cup, and now with the national team. It’s been a well-planned path.”

Eduardo himself admitted that when he first heard Klopp’s story he had difficulty believing it.

“I found out through my agent during dinner. We were talking about Joao Paulo and he remembered it. I couldn’t believe it. I felt honoured. It’s very gratifying for a coach of that level in Europe to be talking about me.”

As the European race grows, Manchester City still leads the way

Whereas spanish report Brazilian coverage portraying Barcelona as favorites still impresses Manchester City as the strongest pressing club.

Recent reports have suggested that City are working on a package worth around £34m (€40m), while Palmeiras are looking for something closer to £43m (€50m) before seriously considering a deal.

Joao Paulo Sampaio also gave perhaps the clearest picture yet of the scale of interest.

“The Premier League, three clubs. Spain, Italy. Europe, the five big leagues, Portugal. There are clubs who want to enter this war.”

The Palmeiras academy director then explained why so many teams are now looking to make the move.

“They want to complete the player’s development. If he plays in the first team, he becomes more expensive. When they come now, it is a strategy to take him young, knowing that he will only leave at the end of 2027.”

This logic helps explain what has happened in recent months. Manchester City is trying to pick up the pace. Manchester United has joined the race. Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been linked. Barcelona looms in the background.

The common theme is clear: Everyone knows the price can add up quickly once Eduardo Palmeiras becomes a regular part of his senior plans.

Palmeiras is preparing for the next step

The hype surrounding Eduardo has only increased following a strong performance at the South American Under-17 Championship, where he scored two goals and two assists in six games for Brazil.

In Palmeiras, preparations are already underway for the next phase of its development. Manager Abel Ferreira recently included him in the senior matchday squad, and the club is gradually preparing him for integration into the first-team environment.

There is also a new indication of how highly he is rated internally. According to Globo Esporte, Abel has already asked Joao Paulo Sampaio when he will be able to rely on Eduardo more regularly in the first-team routine after his performances for Brazil at the South American Under-17 Championship.

The answer appears to be: soon.

Palmeiras is already managing his minutes at under-20 level with an eye on future promotion. The plan is to gradually increase his performance in the senior environment while maintaining a competitive environment elsewhere.

For Manchester City and the rest of Europe’s elite, that timeline matters. Each appearance for Palmeiras’ first team has the potential to further increase his valuation.

armory Defender Piero Hincapie is approaching the biggest match of his career with both confidence and a bit of friendly rivalry.

Ecuador international speaks to South American outlet dsports Ahead of the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, where he will face fellow Ecuadorian Willian Pacho.

Both defenders went way back, and Hincapie made it clear that the occasion meant a lot on a personal level as well.

Still celebrating the league title.

Arsenal have spent several years trying to return to this level. Piero Hincapie admitted this during an interview while discussing the pressure surrounding the club after ending their long wait for a Premier League title.

“These have been very difficult years. They’ve gone 22 years without winning the Premier League and I think now everyone is very happy, very excited and wants more.”

Hincapie also admitted that he does not necessarily feel the full weight of that pressure because he is still relatively new to the club.

“To be honest, I don’t know if I feel that much pressure because I just arrived.”He said. “Obviously there are a lot of players who have been struggling for many years and I think it’s a relief for everyone as well.”

The Arsenal defender then underlined why this moment feels so important internally at the club.

“It is very important to reach the Champions League final after winning the Premier League.”

Rivalry adds extra edge

Piero Hincapie revealed that he has known Willian Pacho since childhood, with both players developing through Ecuadorian football and training together at Independiente del Valle.

“I have known Willian since we were very young. We trained a lot together at Independiente del Valle when we were kids and were dreaming about this moment.”

Pacho has already won the Champions League with PSG, and Hincapie admitted he hopes this year’s final will change things his way.

“He’s already become a champion and hopefully it’s my turn this time.”

Arsenal defender feeling settled ahead of final

Hincapie also revealed that the pair have remained in touch despite the impending clash.

“Yes, he talked to me. I think we talked about two weeks ago. We talked a little bit, but not about that, but more about how things are going here and how everything is going.”

Arsenal are chasing another major trophy after finally winning domestically, and Hincapie feels comfortable shouldering that responsibility.

celtic And ranger people In the summer Brøndby are attempting to bring IF’s Benjamin Tahirovic to Celtic Park and Ibrox respectively.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international joined Brøndby IF from Ajax in February 2025. Before that, Sport Witness broadcast news Celtic showed a strong interest in him.

Martin O’Neill’s side are back in the mix and join Rangers and other clubs in the transfer race.

His performances for the Danish club have seen him attract interest from some European teams. The midfielder played 1,608 minutes in 32 matches this season.

His league statistics per game are as follows:

• Appearances: 25
• Start: 13
• Total minutes: 1,198
• Minutes per game: 48
• Intercept: 0.5
• Tackle: 0.9
• Possession won (final third): 0.2
• Recovery: 2.8
• Clearance: 0.6
• Blocked Shots: 0.4
• Duel won: 2.0

Celtic and Rangers want the same player

sports games Cover the latest interest in Benjamin Tahirovic from Martin O’Neill and from Danny Rohl.

The same source previously reported FC Porto as interested, citing interest from Celtic and Rangers. It is said that Celtic have now decided to ‘go hunting’ for the 25-year-old.

Martin O’Neill’s side are ‘currently in the best position’ to sign him amid interest from Rangers, Porto and others. In other words, the Celtic Park club is ahead of the Ibrox club and the rest.

Celtic are ready to negotiate with the Danish club and are preparing an offer. Brøndby IF is too demanding, without even mentioning his request.

Tahirovic will represent his country at the World Cup, a spot they secured after defeating Italy in March. If he impresses in the tournament, his price could rise and attract more clubs.

Therefore, the Superliga side are in no rush to sell him as other unnamed clubs have reportedly started contacting the player.

Contract, price and agent information

Benjamin Tahirovic’s contract expires in 2028 and his value, according to transfer marketIs €4.5m. The highest price was €6m in December 2023, when he was at Ajax.

The agency Reset Group, headed by Italian agent Davide Lippi, is representing the Bosnians.

of the armory There has been another layer of intrigue in the preparations for the Champions League final after Martin Zubimendi discussed his recent spell on the bench.

The midfielder has been one of Arsenal’s most important players this season. After arriving from Real Sociedad last summer, Zubimendi quickly became a central figure in Arsenal’s Premier League-winning campaign.

However, ahead of Saturday’s final against PSG in Budapest, the Spain international admitted his recent lack of form may not be accidental.

Before Arsenal’s final league game against Crystal Palace, Zubimendi had played four consecutive matches as a substitute.

Zubimendi remains calm on Arsenal role

Talking to Spanish outlet MarkHe admitted that the intensity of the season had hit him harder than anything he had experienced in Spain.

“It’s been a very challenging season, a long one, in which I’ve put in efforts I haven’t put in in my career, and it’s certainly had an impact on me,” He said.

Nevertheless, the midfielder made it clear that he now feels physically ready again.

Asked if there should be concerns ahead of the World Cup, Martin Zubimendi replied: “No, no, I’m fine.”

Despite the recent benching, Zubimendi insisted he is confident of his place in the team. It is worth remembering that he was Recently linked with a move to Real Madrid.

“I always see myself in the team, the second thing is what happens then,” he explained. “Lately, I haven’t been playing as much, but I’m ready to go out and play. The overall balance of the Premier League season has been very good, and I won’t start thinking negatively because of these bench appearances.”

When pressed on whether he expected to start the final himself, the midfielder laughed before giving a diplomatic answer.

“I don’t know! Ask sir,” He joked.

Zubimendi still made 46 appearances in all competitions this season, contributing four goals and seven assists. And when it comes to scoring in finals, his career record is quite good.

Arsenal’s confidence before PSG match

Martin Zubimendi also spoke confidently about Arsenal’s mentality ahead of facing PSG.

“We will enter the final with enthusiasm and confidence,” He said. “Winning the Premier League gives us extra incentive to reach such a beautiful final. I have seen Arsenal endure many years without a win, and now that past has finally been broken.”

The midfielder believes that mentality and composure will be decisive against the French team.

“Confidence, knowing how to handle the occasion, and defuse the situation,” When asked what difference it could make in the final, he said. “We have our weapons and we will try to make the most of them.”

Zubimendi also looked relaxed about Arsenal entering the match as outsiders.

“Maybe we’re not the favourites, but once you’re on the field it doesn’t matter who the favorite is.”

defensive strength appreciated

Martin Zubimendi gave particular praise to Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s defensive structure.

“Sometimes it feels like you need to win titles to get credit, but I think Mikel was already among the top coaches,” he explained. “Winning takes you even higher and shows the whole process he has created at the club.”

Asked whether Arsenal were stronger defensively or offensively, the Spaniard highlighted the team’s balance, emphasizing their defensive consistency.

“I think it’s a very complete team, but where it really stands out is defensively,” He said. “The number of clean sheets we have is incredible and this is even more remarkable.”

While questions remain as to whether Zubimendi will start against PSG, there is no doubt that he has become one of the foundations of Arteta’s team during a transformative season at the Emirates.

tourism gunlugu has revealed that a special chartered flight will bring Hull City Turkish fans for Saturday’s clash with Middlesbrough.

Following Southampton’s elimination from the Championship play-off final, Boro took their place. Saints lost their appeal last night after being accused of spying on other clubs throughout the season.

Hull City Major Questions Final

However, Hull City owners Ekun Ilikali has been interrogated Should the Tigers now be automatically promoted to the Premier League?

“Under normal circumstances, two teams would have reached the final and one would have been disqualified. Our lawyers are of the opinion that we should go straight to the Premier League, but they are investigating it right now. We can’t say anything for sure. It’s a bit of a messy situation.” Ilikali said.

The Hull City chief added: “We were preparing for Southampton for 10 days. All the planning, analysis and work was focused on them. Now, with a few days left for the final, the opponent has changed. Tomorrow the players are on holiday, Thursday is the last serious training session. We will prepare for the new opponent with a training session.”

Despite his comments the final will take place this weekend, and Corendon Airlines will bring fans from Istanbul and Antalya. The Turkish Airlines Company has sponsored the championship side for the last five years.

Tigers fans will arrive tomorrow

According to Tourism Günlag the flight will take off from Antalya tomorrow morning and then land at Istanbul Airport to pick up the remaining fans.

The flight is expected to arrive at Gatwick at Friday lunchtime before fans return to Türkiye on Saturday night.

The hope is that flying Hull City fans from Türkiye can provide stronger support for the club and create bonds.

Hull City reached the final after an impressive win over Millwall in the semi-finals and will look to gain promotion to the Premier League after a five-year absence.

Tottenham HotspurAlejo Veliz will leave the Premier League club permanently and move to Esporte Club Bahia in the summer.

The Argentine arrived at Tottenham from Rosario Central in August 2023 and has struggled for regular minutes in England.

The north London club sent him on loan to Sevilla in January 2024 and to Espanyol later that year.

He failed to impress regularly at these two clubs and the following summer, Spurs allowed him to return to Rosario Central on a season-long loan deal.

In the winter market, Bahia wanted to sign the 22-year-old player permanently and the English club were in favor of a sale. Tottenham also agreed to the Brazilian club’s bid, but Rosario Central refused to cut short his loan stay.

In February, Sports Witness broadcast news Tottenham agreed a €9m deal for the striker to join Bahia in the summer.

On Tuesday, Veliz scored in Rosario Central’s 4–0 home win over Universidad Central de Venezuela in the Copa Libertadores.

tottenham player said goodbye

The Tottenham Hotspur player looked emotional after the match. Sport Witness C on WednesdayExaggerated claims from Argentina He played his last match for his current club.

the capita now Alejo Veliz state ‘He bids farewell to the Gigante de Arroyo Stadium before his loan spell from Tottenham comes to an end, with the latter expected to finalize a sale to Brazilian side Bahia.’

The frontman spoke to Rosario Central’s official channel, and the outlet aired his comments.

His club teammate, Marco Ruben, interrupted the interview to praise the Spurs-owned player. Ruben talked about Veliz’s exit and wished him all the best for the future.

“It’s a very special night. He’s saying goodbye to Gigante for the second time. It definitely won’t be the last, so we’ll be here waiting for him again.” He said.

“He is going to continue his career, and I and all the fans of Rosario Central wish him the greatest success, that he continues to develop as a footballer and continues to enjoy playing football, so he will come back.”

“I’ve known him since he was a kid, we were together in 2021 when I first returned, and we’ve been through a lot together. I’m thrilled to be able to share this match with him, even though we weren’t on the field together.”

On his second spell at Rosario Central, Veliz explained: “After Marco left, I had a huge responsibility to wear the nickname he gave me and the number nine, which was a heavy burden.”

“I always tried to contribute to the group. To give everything for the team, for this jersey, to put everything aside for this jersey. The day I return, I will continue to do that.”

Spurs will soon part ways with the player

Tottenham Hotspur reportedly paid £13 million [€15m] To buy Argentina three years ago.

He played 45 minutes in eight matches for Spurs, who will collect €9m from his sale.

Although it is a loss for the English club, the upcoming exit will see them get rid of Alejo Veliz permanently.

newcastle united There is a possibility of signing a goalkeeper in the summer and there will be a few names on their list.

Earlier this month, Sport Witness Covered claims from Germany Newcastle United are targeting Werder Bremen goalkeeper Mio Backhaus. He is valued at around €12m and is seen as a reasonable signing.

He joined the Bundesliga team’s academy in 2018 and earned a place in their first team in 2021.

The 22-year-old spent the 2023/24 season on loan at FC Volendam and has been Werder Bremen’s No. 1 over the past two seasons. They have five clean sheets and have conceded 56 goals in 32 games this season.

Newcastle United keen on Backhaus

At the weekend, the stopper started in Werder Bremen’s 2-0 defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund. It was his last match of the season as the German club finished in 15th place.

image Mio Backhaus received a standing ovation from the home supporters for avoiding a heavy defeat with several saves. After the match, he and his teammates thanked the fans for their support.

At the time, the goalkeeper appeared ‘remarkably emotional, his eyes slightly moist’ and Bild suggested he was saying goodbye to Werder Bremen.

ARD asked about his future and he said: “We’re spending two or three nights away with the team. Then I’ll think about it.”

He will join his teammates on the trip to Ibiza, after which the German club will have to make a decision on his future.

Bild say ‘Newcastle United are interested’ while SC Freiburg are also in the race to sign him.

If their current No. 1, Noah Atubolu, moves elsewhere and they qualify for the Champions League by beating Aston Villa in the Europa League final, the track towards Freiburg could heat up even more. In short, the Magpies will face competition to sign Backhaus.

Werder Bremen officials hint at sale

Their manager, Daniel Thiouane, wishes to retain Mio Backhaus, but would accept it if he was sold.

“It would be desirable to keep Mio Backhaus in the team. He was one of the few bright spots and winners this season. If Backhaus decides to leave, I will accept it.” He said.

Werder Bremen managing director Clemens Fritz suggests the sale of Stomper is necessary for financial recovery.

“Mio Backhaus has had a fantastic season, which no one could have predicted. We are dependent on transfer revenue. We will have to see what happens in the next few weeks,” Fritz explained.

Newcastle United awaits Aston Villa result

Eddie Howe’s side will be hoping the Villans beat SC Freiburg in the Europa League final on Wednesday.

This would improve Newcastle United’s chances of convincing Mio Backhaus to select him for their Bundesliga squad.

transfer market The goalkeeper is valued at €12m, who is under contract at Werder Bremen until 2028.

celtic And wolves Wolfsburger AC are interested in goalkeeper Nikolaus Polster, with the Austrian side preparing a move.

sky sports austria report WAC are demanding a transfer fee of at least €1.5m for the 23-year-old this summer.

Celtic and Wolves interest

They report that a list of clubs are showing interest in the Wolfsburger AC goalkeeper this summer. German clubs are keen on the 23-year-old, with Celtic and Wolves among the likes.

According to Sky information, the Austrian side will ask for around €1.5m and €2m for the goalkeeper this summer.

Nicholas Polster himself wants this move. He is looking to take the next step in his career and hopes to move abroad this summer.

The goalkeeper came through the youth ranks at SK Rapee and moved to LASK in the 2020 summer transfer window. He also had stints at Vorwärts Steyr and SV Horn before joining Wolfsberger in July 2024.

He has been number one since then, having played a total of 67 matches, conceding 79 goals and keeping 20 clean sheets. This season he has made 33 appearances and conceded 43 goals in all competitions.

goalkeeping changes

Now a move to the United Kingdom could be on the cards, with Celtic and Wolves both showing interest in the goalkeeper.

Celtic are possibly looking for a long-term replacement for Kasper Schmeichel. The Danish goalkeeper has faced criticism this season. Viljami Sinisalo and Ross Doohan are also in his team.

Wolves’ current options are Jose Sa, Sam Johnstone and Daniel Bentley. The latter is currently playing as the other two are injured. But big changes are likely to take place this summer following their return to the Championship.

Saw and Johnstone’s deals expire next summer, while Bentley’s current contract expires in 2028. At least two of them need to be resolved in the coming months. And it appears Niklas Polster is on his list.

liverpool Interest in Alan Elias is nothing new. However, Brazilian reports now suggest the situation is heating up again ahead of the summer window.

As covered earlierNewcastle United have been ranked as favorites at various stages. Meanwhile, Liverpool have been exploring ways to structure a deal. they have even Secure priority for future steps.

The 22-year-old has continued to be a key figure for Palmeiras, with 4 goals and 3 assists in all competitions this year. This helps explain why the club continues to protest.

However, the expectation in Brazil is that pressure will increase significantly in the coming weeks. And Liverpool is the only English club still being mentioned.

The market is heating up before the window

latest comments ESPN Brazilian journalist Andre Hernán There are indications that with the opening of the transfer market, Allan has once again become the subject of fresh inquiries.

He indicated that the clubs are already moving to understand the situation and assess whether Palmeiras could be ready for talks in the next window.

The journalist clarified that Liverpool’s interest remains active.

He said: “It is nothing new that Liverpool want Allan. The market is starting to open up and there are already inquiries and approaches regarding the player.”

Hernan said this new movement is just the beginning. This is expected to be a busy period.

he explained: “Palmeiras will have to be very strong, because clubs will work hard for him. He is a player that the European market wants very much.”

Palmeiras was ready for a wave of bids

Despite this, Palmeiras continues to “work hard” in negotiations. Hernán stressed that the club has consistently resisted those approaches, whether they come directly from the clubs or through player representatives. In fact, Liverpool have already made contact Also the player’s representative.

He said: “Palmeiras works hard in every sense, whether through contact with clubs or through player representatives.”

This stance has already been demonstrated with previous rejections in the €30m to €35m (£25.7m-£30m) range. However, the expectation is that the volume and intensity of offers will increase.

According to Hernán, the final decision will ultimately rest with the club’s leadership.

he adds: “This will be a decision for the presidency and the board, as the market will be strong and Allen will receive offers and a lot of interest in this window.”

Liverpool and Napoli among the main contenders

Hernan also explained how the market is shaping up geographically. For them, the race is clearly focused on Europe’s top leagues.

He said: “For me, Alan’s market is the top European market – the Premier League or the big clubs in Italy.”

Liverpool remains the dominant name of the Premier League, while Napoli are again monitoring the situation.

However, As mentioned earlier, Game Witness Understand Previous claims regarding specific bids from Napoli are not accurate. Nevertheless, the Italian club has been linked.

Arias factor adds internal dynamics

There is also an internal layer to Palmeiras’ thinking that can influence the situation.

brazilian side Wolves signed attacker Arias in February As one of their major additions. However, so far he has been used far from his preferred role. And that’s largely because Alan Elias is in that position. He remains an undisputed starter.

The sale of Allan would not only fetch a significant fee, but would also allow Palmeiras to restore Arias to his natural role.

This possibility does not overshadow the club’s current stance, but it does provide a sporting solution if a bigger offer eventually comes through.

With Allen’s performances, interest growing and internal options already in place, the coming window is shaping up to be a defining moment. Not just for Liverpool, but for Palmeiras’ entire strategy around one of their most valuable players.

brighton and hove albion Hoffenheim appear to have got ahead of the race for Saeed Al-Mala by making a move for a replacement for Bouzoumana Toure and ahead of Liverpool.

Sportbild’s report on today’s situation And the 20-year-old’s effort from Brighton was described by the newspaper as ‘technically superior’.

brighton look elsewhere

The newspaper states that the pair are potential rising stars in the Bundesliga this season. While Saeed El Malaa has scored 12 goals and five assists, Bouzoumana Touré has four goals and 12 assists.

Various clubs in Europe are interested in both, with Liverpool having been following Toure for some time. Now Brighton has ‘joined the race’.

After pursuing El Mala for months, they have already agreed on contract details with El Mala. He could earn €4m a year in the Premier League.

But Brighton and Cologne are ‘far off’ in their expectations. Whereas, Cologne want €50m Brighton will go up to €35m. That means the deal is closed at the moment. And so Brighton are looking for alternatives.

Concrete inquiry for Bazoumana Touré

Sportbild has learned that this has led to ‘concrete enquiries’ for Bazoumana Touré. It was made in the beginning of May. He is also a winger but of a different kind. While El Mala is adept at using his powerful physique and speed, Touré is ‘technically superior’ and more versatile.

He could also leave for €40m this summer. This has already been agreed and is close to the €35m that Brighton want to spend. Liverpool are also in the mix and are eyeing the 20-year-old as a replacement for Mohamed Salah.

No deal for Toure will be agreed until the end of the season. He is also expected to play in the World Cup, which may delay the matter further. This will only change if a top club like Liverpool takes some serious action ahead of the tournament.

But Brighton’s interest is being seen as a warning sign for Cologne. Seagulls won’t wait forever and are already looking elsewhere.

A new rumor is great news for the Miami Heat’s planned exploration of a blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade this summer.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Heat found themselves playing in the NBA Play-in Tournament. However, unlike the previous three times, Miami was unable to advance in the mini-tournament and the streak of six playoff appearances this spring ended.

Although they made it to the NBA Finals after an incredible performance a few years ago, the Heat have only had 50-plus wins in one season in the last decade. A case can be made that Miami should consider a major roster overhaul and rebuild. Still, it seems very unlikely for this proud franchise, and they will definitely be out star hunting this summer. Milwaukee Bucks great Giannis Antetokounmpo is sure to be at the top of his wish list.

Unlike February, a trade seems highly likely, especially since Bucks management has publicly claimed that they will not confirm that the two-time MVP will return next season. Furthermore, the number of teams interested and the trade packages offered will be even better this summer than in the winter. So there will be a lot of competition in Miami in terms of business.

The Heat should emerge as the favorites for a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade this summer

They may submit a strong offer, but a new report on Friday night made their chances of winning the bid even stronger. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Antetokounmpo will definitely “put his foot on the scale” and “push toward the team he wants to play for, and that part is also going to be a big factor.”

While many teams will be interested in the 10-time All-Star, there are also some cities he wants to visit. He surprisingly dismissed the city of Los Angeles last month as “superficial.” The Golden State Warriors will have a chance because of the reputation of the brand and talent on the roster.

New York is reportedly his favorite place. However, if this team reaches the NBA Finals and wins the championship, it is likely that the management will not break up this group.

That means Miami could emerge as the favorite in the trade sweepstakes. Especially if it entails moving to a specific city. Few NBA stars would give up the chance to live in South Beach.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

If the New York Mets season doesn’t pick up serious momentum over the next few months, a team insider offered an idea for what they could get in return if they sold some of their valuable pieces, such as Freddy Peralta.

After a poor performance in April, the Mets have played better of late. Winning four of their last six and back-to-back series. But things still feel volatile, and it wouldn’t be surprising if things spiraled out of control once again in the coming weeks and months. That’s why the idea of ​​becoming a seller before the trade deadline is being whispered among fans.

This was something a supporter questioned The Athletic’s Mets insider Tim Britton about in a new mailbag piece. In response to the question of which players are most tradeable, Britton offered some interesting ideas on what the team could get for pitcher Freddy Peralta.

He wrote, “I think Peralta would be able to bring back a top 100 prospect and maybe one other prospect in a July trade.”

Clay Holmes won’t get a strong trade return to the Mets?

The Mets gave up top 100 prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sprott in a deal for the two-time All-Star. After a poor start in his New York debut in March, Peralta has performed well in his seven starts since then. Giving up two or fewer runs in four of those starts.

Besides Peralta, who else did Britton think could get a good return in a potential trade amid the summer trade deadline? Many may consider Clay Holmes as he has had a great start to the season. However, a Mets insider suggests that since he is likely to opt out of the final year of his contract, his limited track record will hurt his value in the market.

Britton actually believes relievers Brooks Raleigh and AJ Minter can provide good returns for the club if Raleigh can maintain his strong start or Minter can get healthy. Furthermore, they do not see any obvious players who would attract much outside interest.

Britton wrote, “Bo Bichette’s complicated contract makes it difficult to trade him. Luis Robert Jr. needs to get healthy and perform to be of interest to other teams.” “Guys like Marcus Semien, Sean Mania and Kodai Senga are going to have to straight up salary dump at this point.”

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

There is no doubt that Shawn Strickland is one of the best 185-pound fighters on the planet. Because of the impressive resume he has built inside the Octagon, he deserves the top spot in our UFC middleweight rankings.

The 30-7 star has victories over some of the best middleweights of the last decade, including division legend Israel Adesanya. Additionally, seven of his losses inside the UFC have come against elite talents, including future Hall of Famers Alex Pereira and Kamaru Usman.

However, a major reason for their rise to fame, or rather infamy, is the lack of a filter between their brain and mouth. Fight fans are accustomed to bold hot takes from competitors. But Strickland lets fly with any and all ideas about social issues on media programs and social media. And in many instances, they provoked serious reactions because of how controversial they were.

Ahead of his return in the championship main event of UFC 328 this weekend, we take a look at some of Strickland’s most outrageous and controversial opinions.

Shawn Strickland doesn’t want women in the workforce

UFC fans have discovered over the years that the former middleweight champion is conservative in many of his views on society. This includes the roles of men and women in society, and in 2023, he stated that he would prefer women to stay at home and have children rather than be part of the American workforce.

“We need to go back to getting women out of the workforce, and maybe that’s where we went wrong, guys. We let women vote, no offense. Think about America before you let women vote… You let these women into the workforce, now we make less money, you’ve got kids raising themselves on TikTok, we need to go back to like 1942, maybe 1958, after dealing with the Germans. We let women in. “Needs to be put back in the kitchen.”

Sean Strickland hated Bad Bunny’s performance in the Super Bowl

One of the biggest stories of 2026 was music mega-star Bad Bunny – one of the most downloaded artists of all time – performing during the Super Bowl. The February demonstration became the most watched demonstration ever. But leading up to a fight against Anthony Hernandez in February, Strickland offered some anti-gay views on the NFL’s decision.

“I think they all gathered around a table and said, ‘You know, guys, how can we ruin this game? How can we make it gay? Why don’t we bring in a gay alien who doesn’t speak English and have him perform?'”

Bunny is Puerto Rican, which makes him a US citizen because Puerto Rico is a US commonwealth.

Shawn Strickland shows no love for women’s MMA

Next weekend will bring the most valuable promotion and a big first for Netflix. A mixed martial arts event headlined by female MMA legends Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. However, the middleweight title contender is not a fan of the upcoming bout between the 39-year-old and the 44-year-old.

“Ronda Rousey is going to steamroll her, and we’ll just see two middle-aged women going through menopause fight each other. I don’t know. I’m not interested in that. Who gives a s***?”

Sean Strickland wants opponent to die in cage?

Strickland has expressed a number of bizarre views on life and death over the years. However, the most controversial was a comment from five years ago in which he toyed with the idea of ​​ending an opponent’s life in the cage. This should have raised big red flags with the UFC brass.

“I would love nothing more than to beat someone up in the ring. Nothing more. That would make me extremely happy. I would also own that ***… Be a sociopath, it’s fun!”

The rise before UFC 328

On Saturday night, Strickland will get his second chance to become middleweight champion when he faces current title holder Khamzat Chimaev. It was always expected that the tension between the two foul-mouthed fighters would increase as we get closer to UFC 328.

The first salvo in trash talk came last week when Strickland suggested he might pull out a gun if Chimaev and his friends tried to confront him before their fight.

“I’ll just pull out my gun, and I can shoot him. If you come at me with three Chechen guys who don’t speak English, I’ll pull out my gun, and I’ll shoot each one of you.”

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

swansea city Even ahead of Aston Villa or Manchester United, AIK are keen to bring football talent Kevin Field to the Championship.

The 17-year-old player came through the ranks of the Swedish club’s academy and was promoted to the first team in 2025. He had a short loan spell at Enkopings SK in the first half of last year.

Since returning from loan, the striker has scored two goals in nine appearances in 2025. This year, he has one goal in 336 minutes in nine matches.

His statistics are still not that impressive but have nevertheless attracted the attention of Swansea City and other UK clubs.

In November, witness the game Covered claims from Sweden Aston Villa about to join Manchester United in the transfer chase. At the end of that month, we broadcast news The Red Devils’ first contact over a potential deal.

That time, the player said He was not aware of these transfer links and was not thinking of a move.

Swansea City keen on youngsters

Fast forward to May and Sportbladet, relayed by football transfersReport on Swansea City’s interest in Kevin Fielding.

The outlet has reiterated interest from Manchester United, Aston Villa and RB Leipzig and cited Newcastle United from the UK as a suitor. Sturm Graz was the club applying the most pressure in the last window.

However, AIK Fotboll did not consider offers for the Sweden U19 international in the winter market.

Since then, Vitor Matos’ side have emerged as contenders. The Welsh club have shown ‘concrete interest’ in the attacker, so much so that they have submitted an offer of SK 25m, which comes out to around €2.3m.

Swansea City sent this offer several weeks ago and AIK Football had already rejected it. Sportbladet has no information on whether the Swans will come back with an improved bid.

Our opinion: Swansea City are in no rush

Vitor Matos has already indicated Zane Vipotnik could leave Swansea City after this season.

In that case, the Championship side will need a new striker and have identified targets. Last month, Sports Witness broadcast news Toulouse FC’s Franck Magri as a substitute.

Kevin Fielding may not be an option at the start of next season as he is not eligible to move to the UK in the summer.

The Swedish citizen will turn 18 in November, which means he will have to wait until next January if he wants to move to the UK.

armory The club are the latest to enter the race for Danilo’s rise, with the Botafogo midfielder continuing to attract attention ahead of the World Cup.

The Brazilian midfielder was already attracting serious attention after an impressive start to the season in Brazil, but things are clearly ramping up now as the World Cup approaches.

At this point, there is growing expectation that Danilo will leave Botafogo after the tournament – ​​especially as his value continues to rise almost every week.

The former Nottingham Forest ace has already scored 9 goals and 3 assists in 21 appearances this season, which is an excellent return for a midfielder.

He has become one of the faces of this Botafogo team, has firmly played his part in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans with Brazil and is now expected to be part of his final World Cup squad.

price is rising rapidly

The combination of form, World Cup performances and increased interest in the Premier League is turning Botafogo’s demands very quickly.

A few weeks ago, the conversation around Danilo Was sitting around €30m (£26m). Now the picture looks completely different.

globo esporte Botafogo are said to be looking at a bullish deal in the region of €35m-40m (£30m-34m), while RTI game There are even claims the club will start negotiations at around €45m (£39m).

And the plan is very clear. Botafogo do not want to sell before the World Cup as they believe the tournament could push Danilo into an even higher league financially. Now looking at the number of clubs involved, it’s not hard to see why they think this.

Arsenal made their move

Arsenal entering the race is a big new development. According to Globo Esporte, Arsenal have already made contact with Danilo’s staff.

There have been no formal talks with Botafogo at this stage, but Arsenal are clearly gathering information and positioning themselves around the player.

He is energetic, aggressive without the ball and more productive in attack. His ability to apply pressure, win possession and still get into the box fits the type of dynamic midfielder Mikel Arteta often likes to work with. At 24, there’s also room to move forward.

The Brazilian is also not a traditional holding midfielder. He loves to get forward, attack space and contribute high up the pitch, which helps explain his strong goal numbers this season.

And As we have already coveredHe wants to return to England and show he can progress at the highest level after what happened at Forest.

Naturally, Arsenal will provide a very different playing environment and level of consistency compared to what they arrived at in Nottingham. However, their case has been strengthened with World Cup pedigree and an exceptional year in Brazil.

Premier League clubs everywhere

fulham Remains one of the strongest contenders and has already discussed the figure of €30m (£26m). Manchester United Initial contact has already been made with Botafogo. And newcastle and tottenham Are also in the picture.

Outside England, Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco, Benfica, Galatasaray, Milan and Atletico Madrid have all appeared in talks at different moments. Zenit are still interested, but Danilo is not keen on the move just yet.

Arsenal will need to be smart in this regard. Danilo is becoming one of the most wanted midfielders on the market ahead of the World Cup – and the Champions League finalists are now at the middle of the story.

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will make his first title defense against Sean Strickland on Saturday. The championship fight is set to headline UFC 328 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

After dethroning Dricus du Plessis for the 185-pound championship title last August, Chimaev (15-0) aims to maintain his undefeated record and solidify his status as a middleweight kingpin. Strickland (30-7) last won a championship two years ago. He’ll get another chance when he takes on one of the UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighters.

In anticipation of fight week, we take a look at the five greatest moments of “Borz’s” UFC run.

Khamzat Chimaev’s disastrous UFC debut

In July 2020, the native of Chechen Republic, Russia made his UFC debut with a professional record of 6-0. He defeated John Phillips. Within seconds of the opening round, Chimaev knocked him to the ground. Phillips struggled to get back to his feet throughout the round and Chimaev landed a total of 72 strikes in the first round alone. In the second round, Chimaev continued where he left off and defeated Phillips for the second time.

Just over a minute later, the Russian got Phillips to tap out for a Brabo choke. The quick outing was a big statement from Chimaev in his debut with a major MMA promotion.

Fastest 3-fight win streak in UFC history

In September 2020, Chimaev went up against Gerald Meerschaert. A single right hand effort was enough to knock out Meerschaert, as Chimaev earned a knockout victory at just 0:17 of the first round. This was the shortest period of his tenure with the UFC (but not of his professional career).

With the win, he earned his third consecutive Performance of the Night bonus. Chimaev also won his third consecutive fight in a span of just 66 days. This set a record for the fastest three-fight win streak in UFC history.

Out-Grappling a UFC Legend at UFC 294

Taking a step up in competition, Chimaev faces former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in October 2023. “The Nigerian Nightmare” possessed elite takedown defense and was only knocked down once in his UFC career.

However, Chimaev scored four takedowns against Usman, with 7:16 of control time remaining. Chimaev won by majority decision, defeating Usman 107–58 in total strikes. The decision victory over a former world champion proved Chimaev’s case as a high-caliber fighter.

Breaking Robert Whittaker’s jaw at UFC 308

Chimaev faced former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October 2024. With a first round loss, the undefeated prospect continued to showcase his fast speed and elite level of wrestling.

Eventually “Reaper” briefly tried to escape, but Chimaev pinned him back to the ground. With just over a minute remaining in the round, Chimaev induced Whittaker to tap to the face crank submission. This was only the second time Whittaker was defeated by submission in the UFC.

Winning gold at UFC 319

Last August at UFC 319, Chimaev got his first title shot against reigning UFC middleweight champion Du Plessis. “Stilnox” had one of the lowest takedown protections among top level fighters. This showed against Chimaev, who scored 12 takedowns and controlled the defending champion to a total of 21:40.

The challenger landed a total of 529 strikes compared to du Plessis’ total of 45. Another UFC record was set by Chimaev for most total strikes in a single fight.

In a completely uneven and one-sided fight, all three judges scored the fight 50–45, giving Chimaev the unanimous decision victory and his first World Championship title.

Born and raised in New York City, Jimmy Robles received a journalism degree from Queens College in 2017. Before… More About Jimmy Robles

The 2026 NFL Draft takes place tonight at 8 PM ET, and the Detroit Lions hold the 17th overall pick in the first round. After missing the postseason in 2025, succeeding with their first-round pick will be key to continued roster growth.

Still, the Lions can’t be satisfied with holding on and picking at 17th. They may have their eye on a top prospect who Detroit thinks won’t fall into their draft slot.

According to ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the Lions are making “trade calls” for Thursday’s event. He further stated that “some teams are looking at Detroit as a trade-up threat.”

The Lions could take a look at one of several offensive tackles who are projected to be selected in the first round after Taylor Decker’s request for and his release is granted. Detroit plans to transition Penei Sewell from right to left tackle, but the Lions still need a replacement for their All-Pro on the right side.

Of course, Lions general manager Brad Holmes is known for some draft day surprises. Often Leos go into the night with a specific need, but emerge with a different playmate. Maybe they are planning the same thing again.

With a total of nine draft selections, the Lions have some extra ammo to play with. Still, they don’t even have a third-round pick this year, so dipping into their 2027 draft capital may be necessary for a big move.

RELATED: Final 2026 NFL mock draft: Projecting Round 1 with trades

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The New York Giants are the most interesting team heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. They are the only team with two top 10 picks, and no one is sure what they intend to do with those selections.

That’s what the Giants brass want as they enter their first draft under new head coach John Harbaugh. Although we’re more than four months away from the regular season, New York is always competing against 31 other teams, and you never want your opponents to know about your plans.

There has been speculation for months as to what the team will do with the fifth overall selection. With the draft just hours away, opinions and mock drafts still vary on who the newest veteran will be.

The players who have generated the most buzz are Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love, Ohio State Buckeyes Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate and Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. But there is also speculation that the team is not as dominant over him as some people believe.

Harbaugh, general manager Joe Schoen and senior vice president of football operations Don Aponte have done an excellent job of disguising which direction the team could go with their first pick. This is a stark contrast to the last two drafts, where it was clear New York had its eyes on Malik Nabors in 2024 and Abdul Carter last year.

after receiving 10^th No one is sure who the Giants might take with their second pick in the Dexter Lawrence trade to the Cincinnati Bengals. If Downs and Mauigoa are still available, some think the team will not give both players a second try. Also, there is a thought that they could take LSU corner Mansoor Delaney. But for the past few days, there has been talk that the team is relying more on Arizona State wide receiver Jordan Tyson.

Of the receivers in this draft class, the 6’2 203-pound Tyson is viewed as the player with the highest ceiling as he has the speed and size to be a dynamic player. However, he has a history of knee, collarbone and hamstring injuries, and there are concerns about how his body will hold up while playing on the MetLife Stadium turf.

There are reports that the team will consider trading up to the middle or late 10th round pick to acquire more picks since the team is without a selection in the third round. The belief is that they will use a pick in the middle or late rounds and take a defensive tackle to replace Lawrence.

The bottom line is that no one outside the Giants organization knows for sure how they will land in the first round of the draft, and you have to give everyone involved credit for putting up a smoke screen. In the previous build-up to the draft, teams acted as if they were playing checkers; This year, they are playing chess and everyone is guessing what move they will make.

RELATED: 2026 New York Giants mock draft, Nos. 5 to 193

‘Wolves’ Months after leaving them for the Premier League team, Ferr López returned to Celta Vigo in January.

The La Liga side sold the attacking midfielder to Wolves for €23m in June 2025 and his sale helped them balance their books.

López did not receive regular minutes with the English club and struggled to impress when given limited opportunities.

To put this into context, he failed to score and contribute one assist in 364 minutes in 12 matches for Wolves. A limited role led him to return to Celta Vigo on loan for the remainder of the season.

Since moving back to Spain, the Wolves man has started to enjoy regular minutes.

His La Liga statistics this season are as follows:

• Appearances: 11
• Start: 8
• Total minutes: 727
• Minutes per game: 66
• Target: 1
• Help: 0
• Expected target: 0.82
• Expected Support: 0.79
• Big chances made: 2
• Big chances missed: 1

Earlier this month, the 21-year-old said He wanted to be happy again and is now enjoying it at Celta Vigo.

On 7 April, Game Witness Covered claims from Spain His future is open after this season.

The Wolves man is clear about future plans

Celta Vigo wanted to sign him on loan for 18 months, but the Premier League team only allowed him to join until the end of the season.

uncheck It turns out and reports that Fer López wants to remain with the Spanish club next season. His agent, Jorge Mendes, is well aware of his transfer desire for the summer.

Wolves’ relegation from the top flight was confirmed earlier this week, and it is unclear whether it will have any impact on Lopez’s desire to remain at Celta Vigo.

Celta Vigo president Marian Mourinho and sporting director, Marco Garces, will have to open fresh negotiations with the English club for a new loan deal, perhaps with a purchase option. It is clear they will not be able to offer the €23m fee they received from Wolves last summer.

He faced some challenges during talks in January. With this in mind, the report states that ‘another lengthy negotiations are set to take place between Celta Vigo and Wolves.’

Celta Vigo is now seventh on points with Getafe in sixth. There is a belief that it will be easier for Europe to reach an agreement by securing qualifications. However, Wolves have the final say on whether to approve a second loan.

Our view: Mendes key to summer transfer

The super-agent has a close relationship with the English club, who will make a number of changes to their squad in the summer.

Jorge Mendes is aware of Ferr López’s desire to remain at Celta Vigo and could use his good relationship with Wolves to help his client secure another loan transfer.

The representative has an important role to play in helping the player extend his stay in Spain.

A new rumor claims that long before the Cincinnati Bengals traded for Dexter Lawrence, they were eyeing a deal for the star defensive lineman. However, the deal fell apart for a very special reason.

Last week, the Bengals shocked many in the NFL when they gave up their chance to make the 10th selection in this week’s NFL Draft to acquire defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants. The three-time Pro Bowler was disgruntled and was coming off a poor season, so many thought the Giants would be lucky if they got a second-rounder for his services.

Whether you like the cost of the trade or not, the Bengals are still significantly better off on defense for 2026. They desperately needed to do something, especially after losing Trey Hendrickson to division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.

Reports indicate that the Lawrence trade came together quickly. So did the Bengals have someone else in mind to trade with their pick at No. 10? According to Essential Sports NFL insider Tony Pauline, the answer is yes.

The Cincinnati Bengals attempted to trade for Max Crosby.

“Sources told me that long before the Bengals traded the draft’s 10th pick to the Giants for Lawrence, the team had discussed trading that selection to the Las Vegas Raiders for Maxx Crosby. But the Bengals were unwilling to match the pair of first-round picks that the Ravens initially sent to Vegas for Crosby before a failed physical deal voided the deal.”

Landing the five-time Pro Bowler would have been a huge accomplishment and would have given Bengals fans hope of winning an AFC North title in 2026. Additionally, in addition to being an elite pass rusher who is still only 28 years old, he comes in at a reasonable rate and is set to make an average of $28 million through 2029.

After Crosby failed his physical, pundits claimed it would be difficult for Las Vegas to acquire two first-rounders in another deal this offseason. They were right.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

When selecting so late in the NFL Draft, as Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane has become accustomed to, it becomes difficult to predict which prospects will be available in the latter half of the first round. Of course, as mentioned, this is nothing new for the Bills, who haven’t had a top-10 selection since making Ed Oliver the ninth overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft.

This time, the Bills don’t have a pick until No. 26 in the first round. Most Bills draft projections expect the team to focus on a wide receiver or defender. It turns out, the Bills’ evaluators have invested a lot of time exploring a specific position on defense.

According to NFL insider Tony Pauline of Essential Sports, the Bills have done an “extreme amount of work” on off-ball linebacker prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft.

“In my first-round mock draft, I had Buffalo select Georgia’s C.J. Allen,” Pauline wrote. “I’m told the Bills, who don’t have a selection until No. 91 after their pick in the early frame, are doing a lot of work on off-ball linebackers.”

Allen has been a common choice for the Bills at No. 26. He is viewed as the second-best pure linebacker prospect behind Ohio State star Sonny Styles and a potential first-round selection after clocking a 4.47 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Bills have a total of seven selections in the NFL Draft, including Nos. 26 and 91. After that, the chances of finding an immediate contributor diminish significantly, but the Bills will still have five chances to find someone who can crack their roster.

RELATED: NFL executive criticizes Buffalo Bills’ offseason strategy

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

After a lengthy pre-draft process, many fans are well aware of top 2026 NFL Draft prospects like Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiah Love, Sonny Styles, and Arvel Reese. Programs like Ohio State, Miami, Oregon and Indiana are likely to have multiple players drafted in Round 1. However, it is always worthwhile to highlight some talented players from smaller schools who may eventually become famous.

Ahead of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, here are some small school prospects that fans should know about who could be selected early.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

Of all the small-school prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has the best chance to be selected in Round 1. Last season with the Toledo Rockets, he earned Second-Team All-American honors after recording 77 solo tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss, 5 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. At the NFL Combine, he measured 6-foot-3 and ran an excellent time of 4.52 in the 40-yard dash. He was compared in the NFL to Talanoa Hufanga by ESPN’s Matt Miller, with McNeil-Warren’s excellent range, instincts and ability to close down the field quickly all being prominent. He’ll be at least a top-50 pick, and could develop into a high-level starter.

Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

While San Diego State Aztecs star Chris Johnson might have heard his name called early in the day, instead of joining Rashaad Penny as the program’s recent first-round selection, he is one of the best cornerbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft. He offers good size (6-foot) with excellent speed (4.4 40-yard dash time) as well as instincts and feel at the position that could make him a Week 1 starter. At the very least, Johnson will play a lot of snaps in his rookie season, and there’s at least a possibility that five years from now he’ll be the second-best corner from this draft class.

Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

In most cases with small-school prospects, teams will have to be willing to have a little patience with their development curve. Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst faced very little competition at Georgia State, but what makes him stand out is his 6-foot-3 frame with very good speed (4.42 40-yard dash) and good strength to go with it. Hurst didn’t see a ton of field time in his first NFL season, other than being used as an occasional deep threat, but his long-term upside certainly makes him a surefire option for day two. He could join the growing list of wide receivers taken in Round 3 who will have better careers than first-round receivers.

Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State

North Dakota State wide receiver Bryce Lance, younger brother of Trey Lance, brings athleticism to the table that could land him a Round 3 selection. What NFL teams care about is the 6-foot-3’s athleticism, which he demonstrated with both his 40-yard dash (4.34 seconds) and vertical jump (41.5″) during the pre-draft process. Similar to former NDSU wide receiver Christian Watson, Lance will need some time to readjust to the NFL as his speed will not be as effective against top competition. That said, he has great hands and he has the size-athleticism combo to become a starting wide receiver in the NFL in two to three years after developing as a route runner.

Charles Demings, CB, Stephen F. Austin

Following the top four small school prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, here are some of the lows. Stephen F. Austin cornerback Charles Demings will be selected for the third round this weekend, but he has a chance for a long career in the National Football League. He stands at 6 feet 1 inch tall and has a physique that can definitely reach the next level. Demings also brings intangibles that coaches will love, which should help him earn some extra reps in practice and improve how quickly he can adjust to the NFL’s learning curve. He will likely play special teams as a rookie before competing for a starting job in 2027.

Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

The 2026 NFL Draft class isn’t particularly strong at quarterback, but you can at least see a scenario where Cole Payton works his way into a productive career. The former North Dakota State signal-caller offers attractive athleticism (4.56 40-yard dash) at nearly 6-foot-3, and he offers plenty of arm strength to go with it. There is some potential here to play as a dual-threat quarterback, with a range that has a slightly higher chance of getting hit due to his work ethic. Payton is going to be a multi-year project for a coaching staff, but the physical tools and how he handles himself make it a worthwhile investment. Even if he doesn’t reach his ceiling, he could still be an exciting backup quarterback long-term for the right play-caller.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Juraj Slachowski showed why Montreal selected him No. 1 overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, completing his first playoff hat-trick by scoring a power-play goal 1:22 into overtime, leading the Canadiens to a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opener of their Eastern Conference First Round series on Sunday at Benchmark International Arena.

Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel took a high-sticking penalty with 21 seconds remaining in regulation, and Slafkowski made him pay with his third power-play goal of the game. Lane Huston played a pass to Slafkovsky as he went to the left circle and the 22-year-old beat goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevskiy to wrap up the win.

It wasn’t a great night for Vasilevskiy, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Bolts. He allowed four goals on 19 shots and rarely looked like the goaltender who excelled when the Bolts won Cup in 2020 and 2021. Montreal rookie Jacob Dobbs made 20 saves.

The Canadiens lead the series 1-0, with Game 2 being played on Tuesday night in Tampa.

Slafkowski’s first power-play goal tied the game at the end of the second period, and his second goal gave the Canadiens a brief 3–2 lead in the third. Josh Anderson opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period.

Brandon Hagel scored twice for Tampa Bay after defenseman Darren Radish tied the game at 1–1 early in the second period.

The Lightning had their first good scoring chance of the game when Eric Cernak found himself alone in the slot, but Dobbs came well out of his net to narrow the angle and make the save.

The Canadiens missed a pair of 2-on-1 opportunities after the Lightning called too many people at 10:37 and failed to capitalize on their first power play. But thanks to some good work from their fourth line they went 1–0 up at 13:24.

Alexandre Carrier worked the puck free behind the net and inserted a pass into the slot, where Anderson quickly put it into the net at 13:24 to put the Canadiens ahead. Vasilevskiy appeared to lose track of the puck and the Lightning defense did the same to Andersen, one of the few Montreal players left in the Canadiens’ five-game loss to the Bolts in the 2021 finals.

Montreal spent most of the remaining period killing penalties. Tampa Bay played 4:13 of the final 5:23 with an extra man in the opening period, but did not get much offense. Despite falling behind 10-4, the Canadiens took the lead with a one-goal lead.

Neither team led much in the first half of the second period, but at 10:43 the Canadiens were looking to double their lead when Anderson stepped up and drilled a point shot into the net. However, a video review showed that Anderson’s stick was slightly above the crossbar, and the goal was disallowed.

Anderson was called for charging 12 seconds later, and the Lightning took advantage of their fifth power play to tie the score. Radish evened it up at 12:15 when he took an accurate feed from Nikita Kucherov and one-timed it past Dobbs from inside the left circle at 12:15 to tie the game at 1–1.

This match lasted only 29 seconds. The Canadiens misplayed the puck behind their own net, and Guentzel slipped a pass off a defender’s stick that came straight to Hegel, whose quick backhander from out of the blue beat Dobbs at 12:49. In just over two minutes, the Canadiens went from an apparent 2-0 lead to an actual 2-1 deficit.

It seemed as if this period might end just like this. Montreal managed only one shot on goal until Tampa Bay’s Connor Geikie took an unnecessary high-stick penalty with 1:28 remaining. Vasilevskiy made some great saves, but had no chance on Slafkovsky’s one-timer from inside the right circle, tying the game 2–2 at 19:36.

Each team scored another power-play goal before reaching the midpoint of the third period. Slafkowski found some space in bumper situations and converted a perfect pass from Cole Caufield at 5:56 to give Montreal a 3–2 lead. But Hagel tied it at 8:58 when he extended his shot in front of the net and redirected Guentzel’s pass past Dobbs.

The game was tied 3–3 in overtime – but not before Guentzel took a high-sticking penalty at 19:39 when he tried to put an airborne puck into the net but missed and hit Canadiens defenseman Caden Guhle in the face, leading to Slafkowski’s OT winner.

Key takeaways after Canadiens outlast Lightning in OT to win Game 1

Slafkowski’s next step

When the Canadiens made Slafkowski the first player taken in 2022, a lot of eyes were raised. He is quick to erase any questions about choice.

Slafkowski became the first Montreal player to score a power-play goal in overtime since PK Subban did so in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Boston Bruins in 2014. It is the first playoff hat trick by a Canadian since Rene Bourque scored a goal against the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals.

The hat trick followed a regular season in which he set career highs with 30 goals and 73 points. He led the Canadiens with 15 power-play goals and when he scored one the Canadiens’ score was 22–3–1.

Unsettled night for Vasilevsky

When he calls it a career, “Vesey” becomes a lock for the Hockey Hall of Fame. He has won the Stanley Cup twice, the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP (2021), and the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender (2018–19). He has started 113 consecutive playoff games for the Lightning, and his 67 playoff wins are 12th all-time.

But Vasilevskiy wasn’t sharp on Sunday. The TNT studio crew noted this after Anderson’s first-period goal, and he was not sharp for most of the night, failing to make big saves when the Lightning needed it most.

Vasilevskiy’s career goals-against average in the playoffs is 2.46 — but it has been 3.22 or worse in each of the past three seasons, a big reason the Bolts have not advanced beyond the first round since reaching the final in 2022. If the Lightning hope to avoid a fourth consecutive early departure, they need to be much better.

No home-ice advantage in OT for the Lightning

The Lightning sell out East Amaali Arena every night and have done so for every game since COVID restrictions ended. But playing at home doesn’t help when it comes to overtime in the playoffs.

Slafkowski’s game-winner handed the Lightning their seventh consecutive overtime loss in the playoffs. Overall, they are 9-13 in their own building, while they are 14-8 when they have visitors. Tampa Bay has not won a playoff game in home OT since defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–3 on May 12, 2022.

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough have both contacted Filipe Luis over a possible managerial move. The Brazilian is now firmly on the radar of Championship clubs ahead of the summer.

Sports Witness Source It is understood that both parties have held talks with Koch’s representatives in recent weeks. Watford have also retained interest, but their position is less advanced and is currently in the background.

It is a condition that is developing silently. Earlier in April, during Brazilian reporting Corinthians’ unsuccessful attempt to hire himIt had already been hinted that Filipe Luis was in talks with a Championship club.

This appears to have now evolved into a solid approach from many sides.

Flamengo builds strong profile

Filipe Luis comes to the market with a strong and well-documented track record from his time at Flamengo. That may have attracted Middlesbrough, QPR and others.

Between 2024 and 2026, he took charge of 101 matches and won approximately 63 to 64 of them. This brought the win rate closer to 70%. Therefore, this places him among the most accomplished coaches of Brazilian top-flight football during that period.

His trophy wins are equally remarkable. They won five major titles in a short period of time – the Copa do Brasil in 2024, followed by the quadruple (Supercopa, state championship, Copa Libertadores and league) in 2025. That sequence established him as one of the most successful managers in Flamengo’s recent history.

The numbers behind those titles are also revealed. Flamengo scored 184 goals in their 101 matches. This means his average remains comfortably above 1.8 goals per game.

His teams combined offensive output with structural organisation, while his earlier work with the club’s youth sides also drew praise for continuity and development.

Despite that success, his exit in March 2026 came as a surprise. Phillip Lewis was ruled out after an 8-0 win in the state championship. There was discontent within the team from the beginning of the season. Plus, there were contractual disagreements behind the scenes… and an alleged betrayal.

drama on betrayal

As we covered a while agoFlamengo’s board learned that Filipe Luis was in talks with Chelsea’s owner group Bluco over a deal at the end of 2025.

Negotiations with the London ownership group took place in late December, while their contract renewal negotiations were still ongoing in Brazil.

Initially, the former Chelsea defender believed the opportunity could involve a role directly linked to Stamford Bridge. However, they later learned that the position under discussion was linked to Strasbourg, another club under the same ownership umbrella.

Filipe Luis went three days without replying to Flamengo during the renewal process. That silence troubled the board. The club president felt personally betrayed.

The manager then resumed talks with Flamengo and eventually signed a new deal. But the damage was already done.

At the same time, Flamengo saw an opportunity in the market. The availability of Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim increased the pressure internally. Ultimately, this contributed to the decision to make the change, despite Philippe Louis’ strong overall record.

QPR and Middlesbrough offer different paths

Filipe Luis now lives in Spain and plans to wait until the European season ends before making a decision, as recently reported by Brazilian journalist george nicola. His agent, Jorge Mendes, is expected to manage the offers as the clubs formalize their interest.

Of those clubs, QPR and Middlesbrough stand out for different reasons.

Middlesbrough offers a more competitive short-term project. They remain within reach of a playoff position and still have a credible path to promotion. Kim Helberg won 12 of their 26 games, indicating a team still capable of maintaining their top six position.

QPR, meanwhile, are even further off the pace. Julian Stephan’s return of 1.33 points per game leaves them about 10 points shy of the playoff spots. However, the London club is exploring a long-term rebuild and consider Filipe Luis a potential fit for that direction.

Watford are keeping their distance

Filipe Luiz is also on Watford’s radar, although his approach has been more cautious.

He appointed Edward Still in February and is expected to re-evaluate his managerial position at the end of the season. With nearly 11 points separating them from the playoff spots and averaging 1.18 points per game in recent matches, their focus is not on immediate change.

For the time being, they have placed Filipe Luis on the shortlist for the summer rather than pursuing talks.

what happens next

In that respect, Filipe Luis has made his intentions clear. Jorge Nicola claimed to have rejected Brazilian offers and relocated to Spain to bring himself closer to the European market.

There have already been links with clubs such as Atlético Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen. Additionally, there have been previous suggestions to include the Bluco Group and Strasbourg.

QPR and Middlesbrough are now making solid moves, with the Championship emerging as a realistic entry point into English football.

Middlesbrough may offer the clearest (or fastest) route to the Premier League, but as the summer approaches both clubs are actively shaping the next phase of this story.

Anders Lee spent 14 of his NHL seasons wearing a New York Islanders sweater. This may be about to change soon.

Lee spoke about his future on Islanders breakup day on Wednesday and why his exit interview with GM Matthew Darche was important.

The Islanders captain recently completed a seven-year, $49 million contract, which he signed on July 1, 2019, the first day he was eligible for a contract extension. The Isles’ sixth-round choice in the 2009 NHL Draft is coming off a 19-goal, 42-point season in which he played all 82 games.

Anders Lee wants to re-sign with the Islanders

Lee will turn 36 on July 3, two days after he can become an unrestricted free agent, and he is interested in returning to the Islanders for his 15th NHL season. New York’s captain is the team’s second-longest-tenured player behind fourth-line center Casey Cizikas.

He said before the team’s season finale on Tuesday that he was looking forward to accomplishing the Islanders’ goal of reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1984.

“I’ve given this organization my all,” Lee said before the Islanders’ game against the Carolina Hurricanes. “This is where I’ve played my entire career. This is where I’ve played the best I can.”

He said Wednesday that he expects he doesn’t get free agency — and he plans to begin his potential talks with Darche during his exit interview.

“I think it’s very important,” Lee said of the conversation with Darche. “We can start figuring things out here and having conversations and seeing where he is at and similarly with me.

“We’re at the point where we can do that now.”

Darche said he had spoken to some members of the Islanders for their exit interviews, but had not done so at the time of their post-season media availability. But he reiterated Lee’s importance.

“I have the utmost respect for Anders Lee,” Darche said. “I told Anders I would love to see him play 1,000 games for the Islanders. What does that look like, and are we able to find something that is a good fit for us and him, we will discuss.”

According to Darche, Lee is just 77 games away from playing 1,000 games in the NHL. Given that he has missed just one game over the last four seasons, Lee is likely to reach that milestone sometime in April 2027.

Still, it remains to be seen if he does the same in an Islanders uniform.

“I know he’s not far away [1,000 games],” Darche said. “I would love to see it, but I’m always waiting to see what other options we have [and] What do we need to do to move this roster forward?

“But the way Anders played this year, I think he can still help us.”

Anders Lee’s teammates call him ‘the savior’

Lee’s expiring contract will create roster flexibility, and if he returns at a lower salary-cap fee, the Islanders may have a chance to make a financial decision that could ultimately make them better.

But Lee’s teammates also know what the Islanders would lose if he were allowed to leave in free agency.

“He’s been a team captain and leader for most of my career,” defenseman Ryan Pulock said. “He’s been a key guy here, a key part of our success, a leader, a protector for a lot of people here. He’s really done it all, and I’m proud to be his teammate.

“He’s given everything he’s got every night for what he’s done for this franchise, for the Island.”

Lee’s contributions included more than 308 goals and 549 points in 923 games. Amid a growing trend for captains to shy away from the media, Lee is one of the Islanders players most often speaking after wins and losses.

His teammates also find him approachable and easy to talk to about things going on in their lives.

“He stands up for everybody here, not only on the ice but off the ice,” center Jean-Gabriel Pageau said. “Sometimes when you need to talk to someone, he’s very easy to talk to. That’s why he’s a great captain and leader.”

So the uncertainty is going to weigh heavily on both players and fans, even if Lee and the Islanders are likely to reach a one- or two-year contract at a low salary-cap number. Despite Darche’s laudatory comments about his captain, the one thing he didn’t say when asked if Lee would return next season was “yes.”

Nor did Lee mention what kind of pay cut/hometown discount he would be willing to sign.

“They’re hard to talk about,” Pulock said. “You don’t know when your contract is up, you never know what can happen.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea’s pursuit of Maxi Araujo is now receiving a more active response from Sporting CP, as the Portuguese club move to secure one of their most sought-after players.

We have already reported with specificity Both clubs have contacted the 26-year-old’s representatives. Since then, they have kept a close eye on him, with scouts appearing in Lisbon and even Wembley when he was with Uruguay.

On the pitch, Araújo keeps giving them reasons. He has played 37 matches this season, starting 33 of them, scoring six goals and four assists. In the Champions League, he has added two goals and an assist, pushing his name further into the conversation.

His versatility is a big part of that. He has been a left-back for Sporting this season, but he can play high up the pitch and cover the entire flank without losing intensity.

try to get ahead of the situation

Maximiliano Araújo’s rise within Sporting has not gone unnoticed. according to recordThe club has already started working on a renewal, even though his current deal runs until 2029.

The idea is simple – improve his salary and try to lock him down for at least one more season.

It says a lot about how they view the situation. It’s no longer just about rejecting offers. It’s all about trying to stay one step ahead before things get out of control in the summer.

That’s because Araújo now stands strong On radar across Europe. Tottenham and Chelsea are the most involved, but they are not alone.

Juventus, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid were also keeping an eye on him and several clubs were present When they faced England at Wembley In one of Uruguay’s last ever international friendly matches.

Sporting knows what’s going to happen

Maximiliano Araújo is It’s not easy to find a playerAnd also to survive in this kind of market. It is clear that the sports world wants him to remain. But they also know how it works. If the right offer comes, things can change rapidly.

He has a release clause of €80m (£69m), which gives the club some protection. Plus, it feels like an offer above €40m (£34.5m) would at least open the door to discussion.

Now Sporting is trying to secure him quickly. Tottenham and Chelsea are already in position. And other clubs are watching and waiting.

The next step will likely come from the market. And when that happens, Sporting will have to decide how strong their stance really is.

Eddie Hearn has made another strong statement about the heavyweight division, this time outlining a clear path for Anthony Joshua’s return. Speaking to FightHubTV, the Matchroom boxing promoter said Joshua could face Deontay Wilder ahead of a planned bout with Tyson Fury in late 2026.

The comments come as Joshua continues to recover from a serious car accident in Nigeria in late 2025. He is working through rehabilitation and recently resumed light training. Hearn’s comments set up a possible schedule that includes a return fight, which would be followed by one of the biggest bouts in modern heavyweight boxing.

Eddie Hearn outlines Anthony Joshua’s comeback plan

Hearn explained that Joshua will need a fight before he can step into the ring with Fury. He pointed to the time Joshua spent away from boxing due to injury and recovery.

“We need a warm-up fight before we fight Tyson Fury because AJ is recovering from the accident, he’s rehabbing his body etc,” Hearn said. “We’ll have Deontay Wilder as that warm-up fighter and then we’ll fight Tyson Fury in December.”

Joshua has not fought since the accident which injured his ribs and required several months of physical therapy. His return to full training is scheduled for 2026 gradually. Hearn’s plan reflects a structured approach, starting with a fight against a known opponent before moving to a bigger event.

Hearn predicts quick stoppage against Deontay Wilder

Hearn also made a clear prediction of how the fight between Joshua and Wilder will end. He said Joshua would stop Wilder within three rounds.

Hearn said, “They sent your soul into retirement. I was sitting there in the front row.” “Well, I respect Wilder, and I think he looked a lot better. But let me tell you because I was six feet away… Anthony Joshua will go through Deontay Wilder within three rounds.”

Wilder, a former WBC heavyweight champion, remains active in the division. He is known for his knockout power and has scored several stoppage victories during his career. According to Hearn, his recent performances have seen adjustments in pace and timing.

This fight could lead to Joshua vs. Fury

The fight between Joshua and Wilder will carry extra significance because of their history. The two fighters have been linked for years, but past negotiations did not lead to a fight. Issues relating to purse division and promotion terms delayed any agreement during their championship run.

If the fight takes place in 2026, it would serve as an important step towards a meeting with Fury. Joshua and Fury have also been linked to a potential matchup for several years, but scheduling and other factors have prevented it from happening.

Hearn’s timeline suggests Joshua could return in the summer, face Wilder and then move on to fight Fury in December. Fury remains one of the leading names in the heavyweight division, and a bout with Joshua would be a huge event.

Wilder’s participation will depend on the terms of the agreement between the two camps. They have topped the division and faced major opponents over the last decade. The outcome of any proposed fight will dictate the direction of the heavyweight scene.

Dogley Wilberforce is a boxing writer for SportsNaught, covering fight news, fighter reactions and major bouts in the sport… More about Dogley Wilberforce

British welterweight contender Conor Benn has shared a candid and direct take on WBC champion Ryan Garcia ahead of his next fight. Benn is due to face Regis Prograis in Manchester this Saturday, but attention has also turned to a potential future clash with Garcia.

Benn said in an interview with the BBC that he is in line to face Garcia as a mandatory challenger. However, rather than wait for a later date, they chose to be proactive. Their comments highlight both Garcia’s appeal and the uncertainty that surrounds him. Ben’s decision reflects his focus on staying busy while maintaining his position in the division. Additionally, it draws renewed attention to Garcia’s position in boxing after a turbulent period.

Connor Benn explains decision to stay active

Benn said negotiations have already taken place for the fight with Garcia. “Garcia was next, it was determined – I’m the mandatory number one spot for Garcia.” The fight was expected to take place in September, but Ben decided not to wait.

He explained his thinking clearly. “Now if you’re me, would you wait until September or take a potential banana peel in the middle? I like to roll the dice and have a little fun and stay active.”

Ben has remained active in the ring after competing with Progress. Prograis is a former world champion with top level experience. This matchup gives Ben an opportunity to remain sharp while maintaining his essential status.

Ben’s approach reflects his focus on regular competition. Instead of waiting for a title opportunity, he chose to fight and keep the momentum going. His decision also avoids the risk of inaction while negotiations continue regarding a future fight with Garcia.

Benn praises Ryan Garcia but raises concerns

Benn acknowledged Garcia’s influence on boxing and his ability to command attention. “I think Garcia is good for the sport of boxing, I think he’s a character and he’s entertaining, but he’s also a liability.”

He also talked about authenticity in sports. “People don’t want to involve themselves in the sport of boxing, so I love it when I see a young guy take criticism for being who he is. At least you’re being true to yourself and who you are. Whether I like you or not – I don’t – but some people do that, just be who you are.”

Garcia has garnered a large following and remains one of the most visible fighters in boxing. His acting and personality continues to attract attention. However, his career has also included periods of disruption.

Ben’s comments reflect both sides. He recognizes Garcia’s value to the sport while pointing to concerns raised by others in the boxing world.

Questions remain about Garcia’s credibility

Ben made his concerns clear when discussing Garcia’s unpredictability. “You don’t know who’s coming – you don’t know if Garcia’s coming or not. You don’t know if he’s going to fight or have some type of episode. You just don’t know.”

Garcia won the WBC title earlier this year after a difficult period that included suspensions and public issues. While his success in the ring remains evident, questions about consistency continue.

Ben’s decision to fight Progress allows him to remain active without relying on a situation that may change. It also keeps him ready for a title opportunity when it becomes available.

For now, Benn is focused on his upcoming fight in Manchester. A strong performance against Progress will strengthen their position in the division. At the same time, while Garcia remains a dominant figure as the WBC champion, the focus is on what’s next in his career.

Dogley Wilberforce is a boxing writer for SportsNaught, covering fight news, fighter reactions and major bouts in the sport… More about Dogley Wilberforce

Marco Palestra’s stock has risen incredibly over the past few months, and the Atalanta loanee is gaining attention newcastle united, armory And tottenham.

sports witness Liverpool’s interest in the full-back has been covered before.

The Reds attempted to land him from Atalanta last summer but the youngster joined Cagliari on loan.

His progress is going very well, thanks to his performance for Italy against Bosnia last week. It resulted in a defeat, but Palestine’s influence was clearly visible at right wing-back as he also scored inside from that position.

Now with his valuation rising, the idea of ​​a move to England is gaining momentum.

Three clubs are monitoring the transfer situation

tuttosport The report said that it is becoming difficult for Palestine to live in Italy.

This is largely due to his valuation, with Atalanta demanding more than €50m to see him depart in the summer.

The Bergamo club are also anticipating an international auction, with Newcastle United ‘hottest’ in the hunt for the versatile full-back.

In addition to the Magpies’ pursuit, Arsenal and Tottenham are also in the mix. Both clubs have scouted him several times but they currently favor Eddie Howe.

Even Barcelona are interested and they sent a scout to watch Palestine specifically for Cagliari’s game against Napoli two weeks ago.

They are also expected to continue monitoring him for the next few weeks.

Atalanta are unlikely to be easy negotiators

Historically, Atalanta has always proven to be a difficult club to deal with in the market. They are experts at mass selling and as their handling of Ademola Lookman shows, they do not back down from their stance.

Right now, they have no reason to secede from Palestine. If they qualify for Europe, they can easily keep him and use him regularly next season.

This would increase the 21-year-old’s value, causing problems for Newcastle United, Tottenham and Arsenal. Therefore, all three clubs will have to come up with something special in the summer.

Palestra can play on either side and uses both feet equally well. This makes him a rare profile and some club should definitely approach him.

The Major League Baseball Players Association made headlines earlier this week when it was announced that the union has net assets of approximately $519 million. Now it’s worth comparing this to the situation MLB owners are in before a potential lockout in 2026.

According to USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale, MLB owners have $2 billion in war reserves stashed away ahead of a possible lockout in December. This comes as the league and the MLBPA have reportedly not participated in preliminary discussions on a new collective bargaining agreement after this season.

The Athletic’s Evan Dreilich previously reported that the MLBPA came into the year with $519.3 million in net worth, which represents a 47 percent increase from its net worth at the end of the 2024 season. While the players union is preparing its members for the league to be all out when the CBA expires Dec. 1, Dreilich said MLB owners have set aside $75 million per club in case regular season games are missed.

Not all MLB owners will have that much if necessary. According to Dreilich, the league has an investment fund (Baseball Endowment LP) that it can use to provide even more money to owners and clubs if the lockout lasts longer.

During the previous lockout, which delayed the start of the 2022 MLB season, all 162 regular season games were played. The last time regular season games were wiped out due to MLB’s work stoppage was during the 1994 strike, when the final third of the season and the World Series were canceled.

It has been widely reported that MLB owners are going to make an unprecedented effort for a salary cap in the next CBA, which the MLBPA has repeatedly strongly opposed. As we saw in 1994, players were willing to sit out games when owners pushed for the MLB salary cap.

Unfortunately, it is increasingly likely that there will be an MLB lockout in December 2026 that will immediately impact free agency and possibly wipe out a portion of the 2027 regular season. While both sides have taken a stand and prepared themselves financially for a work stoppage, the biggest loss could be fans and stadium workers, as well as the entirety of Minor League Baseball.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Los Angeles Rams have been busy since the NFL offseason began last month, and executives from rival teams have been fans of how they’ve adapted to their latest creation for a Super Bowl run.

After falling a bit short of reaching the Big Game earlier this year, the LA Rams brain trust is motivated to finish the story in 2026. And why not? They will bring back most of last year’s roster, including reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.

However, they must improve if they want to overcome division rivals and defending league champions, the Seattle Seahawks. They did so immediately when they made a blockbuster trade for Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Trent McDuffie. He also added teammate Jaylen Watson in free agency. His aggressiveness has earned the praise of a rival executive.

“It doesn’t make any difference to me,” the executive said. “If you still think you’re in the window and you have Matt Stafford coming back, you’ve got to do everything you can to try to win it one more time. They still have a first-round pick.”

Exec praises visionary thinking of Los Angeles Rams contract for Trent McDuffie

Additionally, pairing McDuffie with Watson in L.A. especially after working well together in Kansas City drew praise from another NFL decision-maker.

“Corner is a position where even the top guys are hard to be consistent year after year, but I like how aggressive they were,” the executive said. “Their biggest need by far was to have more size in the secondary, to be more competitive. You’re pairing McDuffie with Watson so they can come together, communicate well together, build rapport.”

While some NFL evaluators questioned the LA Rams’ decision to make McDuffie the highest-paid corner in the league ($31 million annual average), another executive felt the price tag was a smart piece of forward thinking and not a bad overpay.

“I know they gave McDuffie a lot of money. But teams that accept where the cap is going and can adjust the percentages rather than have sticker shock are ahead of the game,” that executive said. “They realize that $30 million is going to be (more palatable) because other people will get paid.”

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Deontay Wilder is set to face Dereck Chisora ​​in a heavyweight boxing bout at the O2 Arena on April 4, 2026. This fight marks both fighters’ 50th professional appearance. Wilder enters with a record of 44-4-1 and 43 knockouts, while Chisora ​​has a record of 36-13 with 23 knockouts.

Chisora ​​has confirmed that this will be his final fight, increasing the significance of the event. The fight will be shown live on DAZN PPV, with the main card scheduled for the evening. Both fighters are known for their aggressive styles, and this boxing bout brings together two seasoned veterans at different stages of their careers.

Deontay Wilder is confident before the fight

Wilder said in an interview that he felt ready to go into the fight. “My confidence is sky high at the moment. How I’ve been preparing, and how I’ve overcome some things in the past mentally and physically. I’ve been really okay.”

He also told about his role in the division. “It’s important for me to go out and do what I need to do. It’s important because the heavyweight division needs me. I’ve brought it back once before, and I’ll bring it back again.”

Wilder is a former WBC Heavyweight Champion and has recorded 43 knockouts in his career. His record reflects his influence in boxing and his ability to end fights quickly.

Deontay Wilder expects a tough challenge from Dereck Chisora

Wilder said he is preparing for a motivated opponent. “I’m expecting a live Derek. I’m expecting someone we’ve never seen before. It’s his going out party.”

He said that he welcomes this kind of fight. “And I need that. I need that type of Dereck Chisora ​​that says I’m here, that I’m back, and go ahead and clean up the division like I want. We know he’ll bring everything he’s got.”

Wilder also talked about the demands of the game. “Because from warrior to warrior, warrior to warrior, I understand what we have to go through mentally, physically and emotionally to be able to do this day in and day out.”

Fight Night set for London event

Hopefully this fight will attract the attention of boxing fans. Chisora ​​has built his career on pressure and durability, while Wilder is known for his knockout power. The contradiction in styles often leads to action in the ring.

The ring walk is expected to take place late in the evening, with the main card starting first. Wilder has stated that he does not expect the fight to go far based on his approach and power.

Chisora ​​is entering the fight after a long career in the heavyweight division. According to his own statements, this fight marks his final appearance. In the meantime, Wilder wants to continue competing at a high level in boxing.

The bout brings together two experienced fighters in a high-profile setting. This result would mark the end of Chisora’s career and Wilder’s next step in the division.

Dogley Wilberforce is a boxing writer for SportsNaught, covering fight news, fighter reactions and major bouts in the sport… More about Dogley Wilberforce

Barcelona want to sign Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford on a permanent deal in the summer.

Last July, Manchester United let the forward join the La Liga winners on a loan deal with an option to buy.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, who wanted to keep him. Last month, Barcelona’s sporting director deco revealed This, and the financial effort Rashford made to reach the Camp Nou.

The England international has scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists in 39 appearances for Barcelona so far.

His La Liga statistics are as follows:

• Target: 4
• Expected target: 5.84
• Assist: 6
• Expected Support: 3.79
• Big chances made: 5
• Key passes per game: 1.2
• Shots on goal per game: 0.9

However, the Manchester United-owned player has not scored or assisted for Barcelona in the last two months.

On March 18, Khel Witness broadcast news Barca will decide whether to keep him or not based on his performances until the end of the season. Later that week, Hansi Flick said The attacker’s recent struggles were due to “some issues”, possibly related to his fitness.

Dirty tricks on Marcus Rashford transfer

C.A health winger Victor Munoz has emerged as a new target for Barcelona. Catalan media say that his main target is to improve the attack for next season.

Tuesday’s edition of news diary Looks at these claims and provides his opinion on Munoz and Marcus Rashford.

Although the Catalan press talks about Barça’s interest, a deal is almost impossible because of Real Madrid. they sold it Osasuna and 50% of its rights will remain intact in July 2025.

If Barcelona move forward, the newspaper suggests Los Blancos will exercise the right of first refusal to block his move to the Camp Nou. The financial situation of the Catalan club is also unlikely to allow them to spend big on him.

The newspaper says: ‘Within the board of Osasuna, there is a belief that this media “noise” around Victor Munoz is nothing more than a smokescreen to put pressure on Marcus Rashford.’

Barca want to take the Manchester United player on a permanent deal.

Add News Diary: ‘By leaking Osasuna’s alleged interest in the star player, Barcelona are trying to send a message to Rashford’s camp that “we have options,” using Victor’s excellent performances as a mere bargaining chip to reduce the cost of other deals.’

Barça’s dirty tricks will have no consequences at club level

Barcelona resorting to dirty tricks to try to persuade Manchester United to lower their demand is unlikely to yield results. The buyout clause is €30m and if the Spanish side does not offer this price, Marcus Rashford will not continue at the Camp Nou.

However, the club may be able to convince the England international to accept a lower salary than his expectations. It wouldn’t be completely out of character for the Catalan club to use the Victor Munoz chatter as leverage to do so.

🇺🇾 Manuel Ugarte | Aston Villa and Newcastle United tryouts

➡️PL outlook revealed for midfielder
🏆Manchester United player ideally wants transfer sorted before World Cup
⬆️ Priority is to remain in the top league https://t.co/8tFRKFb605 #avfc #nufc #free

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 31 March 2026

The Golden State Valkyries will take the court wearing new-look jerseys for the 2026 WNBA season.

The Valkyries showed off their new Nike Explorer Edition jerseys on social media on Monday, revealing that the new look will bring the franchise’s trademark violet to the forefront for the first time.

Golden State will be playing in its second league campaign, aiming to build on the great success it has had with its fan base in 2025. Franchise president Jess Smith expanded on the idea behind the purple jersey in a statement released along with the announcement.

Smith’s press release said, “Our fans didn’t just ask for a jersey; they also asked for a symbol of this new era.” “In every area of ​​the Gulf, we have seen our Valkyries Violets begin to line the streets, a sign that the Valkyries have indeed landed.

“This jersey is our response to that energy, a bold reinforcement of everything we’ve built in year one. It’s more than a uniform; it’s a reflection of the fan base ready to claim their territory. I can’t wait to see the sea of ​​purple take over the community and take over the court.”

According to the Valkyries, the design elements are meant to honor the Northern California region the team calls home. The purple base color is intended to make the jersey appear “modern, powerful and bold” as a reflection of “the fierce commitment of our players and the pulse of the Bay Area.”

The lines of the shorts are a specific reference to the cables of the Bay Bridge, which connects San Francisco and Oakland together.

As an expansion team the Valkyries received unprecedented support from fans around the Bay Area and the WNBA, breaking attendance records throughout the campaign. The organization hopes that the promotion of the new purple jerseys will carry the same momentum into the 2026 season.

Since his first foray into online journalism in 2019, Peter Okereke has written widely on entertainment, politics and pop… More about Peter Okereke

Fabio Wardley has made his position clear as he targets a fight with Oleksandr Usyk before the Ukrainian retires. The undefeated British heavyweight says he will be “furious” if Usyk doesn’t face him next fight. Wardley is set to defend his WBO title against Daniel Dubois on May 9 in Manchester.

Usyk, 39, has talked about a short list of fights before retirement, but his plans have changed in recent weeks. Wardley spoke about the situation and said he wanted clarity. He believes he has got his chance after recent results and wants a direct path to title contention.

Fabio Wardley questions Oleksandr Usyk’s changing plans

Wardley said Usyk’s next step is unclear. The former undisputed champion previously outlined a plan that included a fight with Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Egypt. He also mentioned facing the winner of Wardley’s fight with Dubois and a third fight with Tyson Fury.

Usyk has since talked about Agit Kabayel as another option. Kabayel is the WBC mandatory challenger and has recent wins over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez and Zilei Zhang.

“Nobody knows who he’s going to fight,” Fabio said in an interview with IFL TV. “One minute he’s in Egypt fighting the Pharaoh or something, the next he wants to fight me, then he wants to fight Kabayel. He doesn’t know what he wants to do.”

Wardley says he passed every test

Wardley said he did a lot to win the fight with Usyk. He defeated Joseph Parker in his last fight and is now preparing to face Dubois. He said that he wants the same result after this next match also.

“I’m just going to keep moving forward, I’m going to keep winning and beating people, and if he wants to try, he can try.”

When asked if he would feel relieved to avoid Usyk, he dismissed the idea.

“Absolutely not, I’ll be furious. I’ve been through the Joseph Parker fight, and I want Usyk. I’m going to go through the Daniels fight, and I want Usyk. How many tests does he want me to do?”

Focus shifts to Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois bout

Wardley now turns his full attention to Dubois. Both fighters are undefeated and hold strong positions in the heavyweight division.

Wardley said he feels as if Usyk is being tested before taking a shot at him.

“I feel like I’m putting Usyk through tests. He’s making me do certain things before he allows me to fight him. So if I do them, and then he walks away, I’ll be furious. I won’t have words.”

Usyk is expected to retire after completing his final fight. He became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years when he defeated Fury in a 2024 rematch. Wardley’s next result will play a key role in what happens next in the division.

Dogley Wilberforce is a boxing writer for SportsNaught, covering fight news, fighter reactions and major bouts in the sport… More about Dogley Wilberforce

Manchester City star Rodri will have to reduce his price if he wants to move to Real Madrid.

Cadena SER’s report on the midfielder today And why, at this point, a move to the Santiago Bernabéu is not planned.

Real Madrid have long admired the midfielder. It was back in the headlines this week when he added fuel to the fire.

Speaking to Onda Cero, he openly stated that “you can’t turn down the best clubs in the world” when asked about Real Madrid. However, the deal will be complicated.

age and price are problems

Cadena SER reports that Rodri remains a favorite of Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, but praise alone will not seal the deal.

With a contract running until 2027, Manchester City are expected to demand around €80 million. This is a figure Madrid will not pay with only one year remaining on his deal. Anton Mina of El Larguero explained the reasoning.

He said, “Rodri has always been Florentino Pérez’s choice; he fits the profile of a midfielder.”

“But he wouldn’t be the first option right now because his contract expires in 2027 and they are easily going to ask for €80m.” According to him “the financial aspect is fundamental” to Real Madrid’s plans.

Concerns also remain About his knee injury.

rhodri needed effort

According to Mina, if the deal is to go through, Rodri will have to do something behind the scenes.

“If Rodri wants to leave City and manages to negotiate a cheap exit,” he said, for Madrid it would be “more a question of financial fit than football doubt.”

As far as the Spanish side are concerned, Rodri’s comments are positive but “there has to be a gesture along with it” to make a serious effort.

mutual affection

However, for fellow journalist Bruno Alemany, the deal is yet to be done. He believes Real Madrid will try because, even at 80%, Rodri is better than him.

“Real Madrid will really try to make the signing (because) both parties are keen for it to happen,” he said.

“Whether running or playing at 80%, he is still far better than most of the midfielders who have come before him.”

Meanwhile, Antonio Romero believes Rodri would not be speaking out the way he is if he was not leaving Manchester City this summer.

“A footballer who wants to stay at his club doesn’t say things like that,” he said. According to him, the midfielder’s words “open the door to speculation.”

what happens next?

At the moment, everything points to a transfer that now depends more on Rodri than on Real Madrid.

The desire is mutual and the Bernabeu will welcome him tomorrow. But unless he puts pressure on Manchester City to reduce the fee, the deal will be stalled before it even starts.

His words have opened the door. Now Real Madrid want to try to open it wider before the summer.

The Montreal Canadiens host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night in a game with significant playoff implications.

It was a tough match, but in the end the Canadiens emerged with a 2–1 victory.

With the win, first-year netminder Jacob Dobbs recorded his 24th win of the season, officially surpassing Patrick Roy’s win total in his rookie season, doing so in 11 fewer games.

An impressive feat, all things considered.

Let’s look at the highlights!

first and best

Jayden Struble made his mark by scoring his first goal of the year, not to mention his first goal since November 26, 2024. Suffice it to say, it’s a stretch.

It must be said that both Lane Hutson and Zachary Bolduc did a great job helping him, with the former keeping the game alive in the offensive zone on two occasions and eventually finding an open teammate.

Jayden Struble scores his first goal of the season #GoHabsGo 1-0 lead!

Assists Bolduc and Hutson. pic.twitter.com/oQzcdWnKjH

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 26 March 2026

Dobbs holds the fort

It was a relatively slow-paced game, although it should be noted that the Blue Jackets held a 9–2 edge in high-danger scoring opportunities during 40 minutes of play.

Dobbs did a great job of shutting down the Jackets when they were carrying the bulk of the momentum, including a pair of breakaways in the second period.

He’s not always technically the best goaltender in the league, but he has an uncanny way of scoring important wins for the Habs, and that’s all that matters at this point in the season.

A big save from Jacob Dobbs keeps the game tied at 1-1. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/VGPgnLjecg

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 27 March 2026

welcome back, zach

With the game tied 1–1, the Canadiens got some much-needed offensive support from the bottom six when Zachary Bolduc scored his first goal since December 23 and his 11th of the season.

It has been difficult to create secondary and tertiary offense in Montreal, making this another important target for a player who has struggled to find the back of the net in 2026.

It was easily one of Bolduc’s best performances of the season, as he would foul Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson midway through the third period.

Zachary Bolduc scores his first goal since December 23rd!

Great work by Mike Matheson and Jake Evans to set up the play. #GoHabsGo Are ahead 2-1. pic.twitter.com/vVJMEnunn3

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 27 March 2026

last section

The Montreal Canadiens are back in action on Saturday facing the Predators in Nashville, with puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Nottingham Forest have yet to see Quibano play a single senior minute for themBut after his strong start at Vasco da Gama, the defender is now on the rise in Brazil.

Just yesterday we covered How the 23-year-old is thriving since arriving on loan. He has contributed five direct goals in his last four games and is developing into a key attacking outlet. That run included a standout performance against Grêmio, where he provided two assists.

All this after a strange start to his Forest career. Quibano joined the club, never featured, spent time at Botafogo on loan, returned to Nottingham Forest, and still did not play. He then moved to Vasco on loan again in January and left there.

Now, there is movement outside the pitch too.

Vasco president confirms willingness to sign Quibano

Quibano’s performance has already sparked discussion about a permanent move, and now it has been addressed publicly.

Speaking this morning in brazilVasco president Pedrinho confirmed that the club is actively working towards purchasing players in this situation, including the Nottingham Forest loanee.

“All these players where we have the option to trigger a buyout clause, obviously, if they fit into our budget, we will do that,” He said.

He explained that Quibano is part of that plan, even if the financial structure needs to be carefully managed.

“Our wish is for that to happen. We’re already structuring things in the best way in terms of budget, so we can make that happen.”

However, in the case of Quibano there is a specific complication.

“Quibano’s situation is a little more special, because his loan runs until the middle of the year and we need to exercise the option before then.”

This issue of timing is closely linked to the way Brazilian football operates. Unlike the Premier League cycle, the domestic season follows a calendar-year model, running from January to December.

As a result, Vasco’s financial picture for the full year generally only becomes clear by November or December, which limits their ability to commit early in the year.

Pedrinho also opened the door to an alternative solution if Vasco was not ready in time.

“If that doesn’t happen, we will try to extend the loan until the end of the year to have more time for negotiations. But he is a player we want to sign if possible.”

Marinakis’ plan versus reality

It is not easy to say whether the situation is developing as Evangelos Marinakis had hoped, but it is certainly moving faster than expected.

The loan deal includes a purchase option worth approximately €10m (£8.6m). At the time, it looked like a way to protect value while giving minutes to the player.

Now, with Cuiabano continuing to perform and garner attention, that segment is becoming central to the next phase.

Nottingham Forest still have no internal assessment of him at senior level. Meanwhile, Vasco is building a case to keep him permanently.

Our opinion: The signings are clear for Nottingham Forest

Of course time will be important in this case. Vasco will have to decide whether to invoke the clause before the middle of the year or try to renegotiate the timeline. But the signals coming from Brazil are becoming increasingly strong.

Firstly, the president himself has now publicly stated that the club wants to sign Quibano. That alone turns the situation from background interest into something more concrete.

Furthermore, Vasco’s financial condition is improving. The club has recently agreed its sale Ryan to Bournemouth €35m (£30m). This deal injects new money into their structure and increases the likelihood of being able to act on their purchase options.

Perhaps more importantly, there’s a clear play factor to it. Cuiabano is playing regularly, making decisive contributions and has effectively secured a starting role. Reports also suggest that he is very happy in Rio de Janeiro.

All of this points to a scenario where Vasco tries hard to retain him, and where Quibano himself might prefer that outcome.

🇪🇸Juan Miranda | Not the right timing – Barcelona divulges why it rejected Nottingham Foresthttps://t.co/EapRsKKxRt #nffc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 12 March 2026

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse had a positive update to share about Paul George as the veteran star returns from suspension this season.

George has been on the sidelines for the second half of the season due to a 25-game suspension. The NBA suspended the star forward for failing a drug test, forcing Philadelphia to play without one of its key players.

George has not played a game since January 29, which suggests he has been out for almost two months. Nurse provided an update on George’s activity, revealing when fans can expect his eventual return this season.

“He’s worked hard… that’s what I’ll say. He’s prepared hard… I don’t expect any ramp-up problems at all,” Nurse said.

“He’s worked hard… that’s what I’ll say. He’s prepared hard… I don’t expect any kind of rush.”

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse on Paul George’s return to action on Wednesday following his 25-match suspension.

(via @NBCPhilly)pic.twitter.com/9TvqD0l70c

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 March 2026

What’s next for 76-year-old Nick Nurse?

Nick Nurse and the 76ers will look to the return of Paul George this week, especially on Wednesday. The team is 16-11 with him and 23-22 without him. In the 25 games he missed due to suspension, Philadelphia went 13–12.

George remains strong as a veteran star as he goes through the 16th season of his career, his second with the 76ers. In the 27 games he is playing, he is averaging 16 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He is shooting 42.4% from the field, including 38.2% from beyond the arc, and 85.5% from the free-throw line.

Philadelphia fell to a 39–33 record on the season, and finished seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, while trailing the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors.

After their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, the 76ers will look to bounce back in their next game at home. They will host the Chicago Bulls as tip-off takes place on March 25 at 7 PM ET.

The fact that Jayson Tatum returned to the hardwood for the Boston Celtics even a year after rupturing his Achilles in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs is such a huge win not only for the Celtics, but for the entire game. Tatum obviously isn’t fully back yet, but his mere presence makes the Celtics a more dangerous team than ever during the 2025-26 season.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Tatum’s return, as it had been rumored for almost the entire season that he might make his highly anticipated return sooner than many expected. But in his absence, Jaylen Brown has stepped up to become the team’s undisputed alpha, and he has more than risen to the occasion – averaging 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 55 games before Tatum’s return.

With Tatum out for so long, he needed to get back on the same page to help propel the Celtics to bigger and better things. That’s exactly what they did with Brown and Tatum close together He has his eyes on the same prize.

“It was great. The initial conversation, having that communication. … It’s important to be able to get back on the same page, but it’s going to take more communication as the year goes on. Things change, we got adversity, ups and downs. We just let it be me and you,” Brown told Vince Carter and the rest of the NBC crew.

Both of them have the responsibility of leading the team as co-stars and they have done it in the past. But the Celtics star refused to be satisfied just because they won a title just two years ago.

“Our communication sets the tone for the rest of the team. We both have to step up if we want this to work,” Brown said.

“We just said it would be me and you.”

Jaylen Brown talked about a meeting he had with Jayson Tatum and the rest of the Celtics team before Tatum returned to action. pic.twitter.com/tJvVgwoP9V

– NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) 22 March 2026

Ipswich Town sent a scout to Denmark for FC Midtjylland’s Europa League defeat to Nottingham Forest on Thursday.

The Championship side are third in the table, level on points with fourth-placed Millwall.

Both clubs are two points behind second-placed Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town have a game in hand.

Kieran McKenna’s side are in the middle of a promotion battle while their scouts are busy identifying targets.

One of their officials was at the MCH Arena yesterday to follow the Danish club’s European tie against Nottingham Forest.

Despite leading 1–0 in the first leg, Midtjylland failed to overcome the Premier League team on home soil and lost the two-legged tie via penalty shootout.

The Superliga team only has domestic competition to focus on until the end of the season. Additionally, their players have attracted the attention of several European clubs.

Ipswich Town travel to Denmark again

There is interest in Kieran McKenna’s side, and campo Now cover the latest on them.

English clubs had an official in attendance and included Manchester United and Liverpool.

In addition to these three English clubs, scouts from Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Mönchengladbach and AS Monaco were also present. However, it does not specify the player.[s] Had an eye on these clubs

Dario Osorio has been attracting interest from top clubs for some time now. Earlier this week, Sport Witness broadcast news Liverpool and Arsenal are among the clubs looking to sign him.

Campeau has now added Borussia Dortmund to their list of suitors for the Chilean winger. Ipswich Town would find it difficult to compete with these clubs even in the event of promotion, but it is possible.

Ipswich Town could consider suitable signings

Midfielders Dan Neal and Wes Burns and fullbacks Ashley Young and Connor Townsend all have contracts expiring in June.

It might make sense for McKenna’s side to look at Midtjylland’s midfielders and/or fullbacks.

Below is a list of Midtjylland midfielders and their values. transfer market. This Ipswich Town deserves attention tried to sign Billing, before joining the Danish club last summer.

• Philip Billing, 29: €7 million
• Daniel Castillo, 21: €5.5 million
• Pedro Bravo, 21: €2.5 million
• Valdemar Bischof, 21: €2.5 million
• Almara Djabi, 19: €200k

fullback

• Victor Bak, 22, left-back: €3 million
• Paulinho, 31, left-back: €500k
• Kevin Mbabu, 30, right-back: €3 million
• Adam Gabriel, 24, right-back: €750k

🇩🇰Ben Godfrey | Players explain what went wrong at Sheffield United and Ipswich Town

➡️ The blades he had were blunt – which he respects
➡️ Other players feel assured of playing timehttps://t.co/3p0rMyIhtv #sufk #ITFC

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 6 March 2026

On Thursday, the Charlotte Hornets will pay tribute to Dell Curry by retiring his jersey. The game against the Orlando Magic will be a celebration of his excellence on the field.

Additionally, Curry will get a chance to share the moment with his family, including his son Stephen Curry. Ahead of the celebration, the family openly shared the various nicknames they called him, but according to Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer, one stood out the most.

Fowler said that Steph and his brother Seth call Dale “Pops”. Additionally, his daughter, Sydelle Curry-Lee, calls him “Dad”. Then, Curry’s 10 grandchildren call him “Gee Daddy.”

However, for the first time, Steph shared with Fowler the nickname they use to call Dale in private.

“We call him ‘The Originator,'” Steph said of Dale. “Because all of this — all of us and our basketball family tree? It originated with him. A friend of ours gave him that nickname on a golf trip about a decade ago. And so now we run with it.”

Overall, Curry played 16 seasons in the NBA. Ten of those years were with the Hornets. Additionally, Curry became the franchise’s all-time scoring leader with 9,839 points. Additionally, he leads the league in total regular season games played with 701. In 1994, he was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.

Ultimately, Curry finished his career with 12,670 points, 2,617 rebounds and 1,909 assists. Additionally, Curry finished his career with 1,245 3-pointers, 929 of which came with the Hornets.

Also during his tenure in Charlotte, Curry led them to four playoff appearances in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1998.

LeBron James is a veteran of the NBA. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like it, but the Los Angeles Lakers are already on the wrong side of 40 this season. Even though he’s already older than everyone in the league, LA still relies on LeBron more than fans would like to see him power through the season.

It’s clearly working: The Lakers are in third place in the crowded Western Conference with a 42-25 record and trail the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. However, everyone knows that Los Angeles needs to find a way to involve James less in order to preserve him for the remainder of the season. Lakers head coach JJ Redick echoed this sentiment before their game against the Houston Rockets, but also highlighted that LeBron was at his best when he was used as more than a regular player.

According to Benjamin Royer, Redick said, “He was and still is a high-usage player compared to your average player.” The best thing for our team is he’s the third most used player, you know, and obviously he had to work more during parts of the year because of injuries or guys being out of the lineup.

Although James is no longer the solo world-beater he once was, the Lakers star still has great confidence in him. In terms of scoring, James is the third leading scorer after the All-Star break with 18.7 points per game in 10 games. He trails Luka Doncic (32.7) and Austin Reaves on the Lakers’ scoring list. James is also adding 5.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game, as he has handed control of the offense to both Doncic and Reaves.

James and the Lakers are looking for their first championship since arriving in the bubble in 2020. Los Angeles had come close in previous years, but they never got back to the Finals. Will this be the year James wins his sixth championship and matches Michael Jordan’s six rings?

The Miami Heat are preparing for the playoffs with 14 games remaining in the regular season, the two main goals being to avoid the play-in tournament and staying healthy. Following the Heat’s loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday night with the return of Norman Powell and Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo has found himself on the injury report for the team’s upcoming game.

Tuesday’s road contest against the Charlotte Hornets (34-34) is undoubtedly big for Miami, as are the team’s next five games against teams with winning records. Those teams are the Los Angeles Lakers (42-25) on Thursday, the Houston Rockets (41-25) on Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs (49-18) next Monday, and the Cleveland Cavaliers (41-27, will face them twice next Wednesday and Friday).

However, Miami’s captain, Adebayo, has been added to the team’s injury report ahead of the clash against the Hornets, listed as “questionable” with right calf tightness.

The star is coming off possibly the best week of his career, which included a win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, which included Adebayo’s historic 83-point game, which became the second-highest scoring game ever in the NBA, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81.

Although there has been a polarizing reaction to the performance, no one can take away the history the 28-year-old has made, with the NBA obviously awarding him the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. However, he is in danger of missing Tuesday’s game against the Hornets, a team that has a .500 record; They are 18-7 in their last 25 games.

Additionally, the competition has an impact on the former standings, as each game remaining in the regular season is against the Heat at 38–30, leaving them in seventh place in the conference. They’re a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors, who hold the sixth seed, with Miami in contention for at least that spot should they avoid the play-in tournament.

The Dallas Mavericks will face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and they will be without a handful of their players for the matchup. In the Mavericks’ latest game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Klay Thompson was ruled out due to rest, and that meant he played more minutes than usual in the game before facing the Atlanta Hawks.

On the second night of a back-to-back, the Mavericks would rule out Daniel Gafford due to rest after he finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds against the Grizzlies. PJ Washington is listed as questionable with a sore left ankle, and Najee Marshall is listed as questionable with a sore left foot.

Of course, other players on the list have been out most of the season due to injuries, such as Kyrie Irving and Derek Lively II.

The league has never been afraid to look at why teams aren’t playing specific players, but the Mavericks have a good argument if they do. This is back-to-back, and they actually won the game against the Grizzlies, so it doesn’t seem like they’re obviously trying to lose the game.

It has been a tough season overall for the Mavericks health-wise, as most of their key players have been in and out of the lineup. Irving did not fit in at all as he recovered from an ACL injury suffered last season. When Anthony Davis was still on the team, he only played 20 games due to injuries, and he has yet to play for the Washington Wizards.

Before the All-Star break, Cooper Flagg suffered a foot injury that caused him to miss a few games, but he has been able to return and play in the last few games.

It may be disappointing for Mavericks fans to wonder what this team would look like if everyone were available at the same time.

Justin Verlander is back with the Detroit Tigers for the 2026 MLB season. In February, the Tigers signed Verlander to a one-year contract, strengthening the rotation with five starting pitchers. However, will this be the three-time AL Cy Young pitcher’s last season before his inevitable MLB retirement?

As Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports, Verlander talked about his retirement plans after the spring training game. While Verlander knows an injury or terrible season could make this his last season, he still wants to chase 300 wins and pitch at age 45.

“I don’t know how much longer I’m going to play,” Verlander said. “I know there’s not a lot of time left, especially in the grand scheme of things. If I play two years, three years, whatever, out of the 21 [years]It’s like nothing. I’m just trying to enjoy it a little more…I don’t want to sit here and say that’s it. This could have happened. This is a one year contract. If something goes catastrophically wrong, or I can’t recover, that’s it – I’m done. “All I know is that there isn’t that much time left, so enjoy it while you can.”

Verlander is currently 43 years old, which means he may have another two to three seasons to offer. It’s not guaranteed that Verlander will spend those two to three seasons in Detroit, as he only signed a one-year contract. However, the 43-year-old pitcher would have a very good bet to return if he has a good campaign, with Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize all set to become free agents.

The Tigers understand what Verlander’s return means to the team and the city, and it would only be fitting if Verlander retires in Detroit. Hopefully, Verlander won’t retire as a Tiger for a few more seasons.

READ MORE: Detroit Tigers consider possibility of extending Tarik Skubal after signing Justin Verlander

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

Team USA lost an influential member of its pitching staff before a big game in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic, as the New York Mets demanded he be sent back to spring training.

Team USA is feeling a lot of pressure ahead of the start of the elimination rounds at this year’s World Baseball Classic. After a surprise loss to Italy earlier this week, the United States needed the Italians to beat Mexico on Wednesday night to avoid going home early from the tournament.

Nevertheless, they are expected to defeat Canada in their quarterfinal game and move one step closer to winning their first WBC title in nearly a decade. However, it looks like they won’t have two-time All-Star Clay Holmes for the matchup with Canada and any other games in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

NY Mets demand Clay Holmes withdrawal from World Baseball Classic

“Clay Holmes will return to the Mets from the World Baseball Classic and take part in tomorrow’s Grapefruit League game,” MLB Network’s Anthony DiComo reports. “The Mets wanted him back because Team USA could not guarantee him the workload he needed for the season.”

Despite Team USA having four games under their belt during pool play, Holmes has only taken the mound once. This happened during their win over Great Britain last week when he pitched three scoreless innings and struck out six.

With Holmes set to be a part of the NY Mets’ starting rotation again in 2026, it’s understandable if the organization feels he isn’t being prepared adequately for the start of the season in a few weeks.

This is a significant reduction in the WBC for American fans, as MLB teams are prioritizing their goals over Team USA. So now the US club will have no meaningful respite for some big matches in the next few days.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Sacramento Kings vet DeMar DeRozan isn’t one of the greatest bucket-getters of his generation. He is one of the best players ever and the statistics speak for themselves.

On Wednesday night, DeRozan once again moved up one spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, passing former San Antonio Spurs superstar big man Tim Duncan for 18th. DeRozan entered Wednesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento with the league leading 26,466 career points, 30 points behind Duncan.

Six-time NBA All-Star DeRozan scored 39 points against the Hornets and surpassed Duncan in scoring by dropping 39 points on the Hornets.

DeRozan got by Duncan with a jumper with less than three minutes remaining in the third period.

And it is on this basket that…

DeMar DeRozan has passed Tim Duncan in the all-time leading scorer rankings!!!

26’497…and counting!

18th best scorer in historypic.twitter.com/dmmzAkgOGw

– 50 Nuances 🇺🇸🏀 (@50NuancesDeNBA) 12 March 2026

The 36-year-old DeRozan did most of the damage, where he always does. He made 17 of 22 shots from the field, and all but one of those attempts came from behind the arc. DeRozan also hit all five of his free throws.

Unfortunately for DeRozan, his big scoring night was ruined in a 117–109 loss. He couldn’t beat Charlotte alone, four Hornets scored at least 20 points, led by LaMelo Ball, who had 24. While the Kings shot just 8-for-25 from deep, the Hornets drained 19 3-pointers on 40 attempts.

The loss put Sacramento back in the loss column after enjoying a two-game winning streak.

At 16-51, the Kings don’t have to plan for the NBA Playoffs, but that won’t stop DeRozan from going to work and scoring points, as he has done throughout his career.

DeRozan and the Kings next match up this Saturday in Inglewood against Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday in a marquee matchup in the Western Conference.

The Timberwolves are trying to break a two-game skid, while the Clippers have been on a roll recently, winning five of their last six games, with Kawhi Leonard playing at an MVP level.

Stopping Leonard will require a collective effort from Minnesota, with Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels being the primary on-ball stoppers. But clearly, Rudy Gobert remains their defensive anchor.

The Athletic’s Law Miller points to significant decline in Timberwolves defensive efficiency When Gobert is off the field this season. When asked about it, Minnesota coach Chris Finch emphasized Gobert’s importance and acknowledged his shortcomings.

“When he’s off the floor, we need to protect the rim differently. Better on the ball, better around the ball and earlier at the rim. Obviously, we’ve been inconsistent at times with things like that this year,” Finch said.

“He’s huge for us. It takes some nuances to play with a guy like Rudy. When he’s off the field, you have to transition to a different mentality defensively.”

The Timberwolves’ defensive efficiency with Rudy Gobert this season: 107.7

The Timberwolves’ defensive efficiency with Rudy Gobert this season: 116.7

asked Chris Finch about this pic.twitter.com/nWVDpE6B75

– Law Murray 🕯️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) 12 March 2026

Many have mocked the 33-year-old Gobert for his lack of offensive skills and awkward antics. But there’s no denying that he can be a game-changer on the defensive end.

He’s not a four-time Defensive Player of the Year for nothing.

Edwards has often talked about his defensive identity and how important it is for him and Gobert to set the tone.

Entering their game against the Clippers, the Timberwolves are allowing 114.5 points per game. But as Finch said, there is still room for improvement overall.

At the time of writing, there is a close game between Minnesota and Los Angeles in the first half.

The Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder are set for one of the biggest matchups of the season on Thursday evening. The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, remain in the West standings as the regular season campaign concludes. Meanwhile, the Celtics are business as usual, with Jaylen Brown elevating his play to an MVP-caliber level. But the highly anticipated clash comes with a worrying injury report for the Celtics.

The Celtics released their injury report, with Jayson Tatum and Derrick White both questionable for the matchup. While White is dealing with a right knee injury, Tatum is managing his comeback from his right Achilles injury. While Tatum and White haven’t been completely ruled out, both of their losses could be a blow to the Celtics as they look to take on the reigning NBA champions.

Tatum has been effective in his return from his Achilles injury. Although obviously not putting up his typical MVP stats, he still averaged 19.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He stepped up in a big way for Boston on Tuesday after Jaylen Brown exited the game late in the second quarter. Tatum had 24 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 125–116 loss in 27 minutes of play.

White has been a constant in the Celtics lineup. Playing 63 games this season, he has averaged 17.5 points, 5.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. With both White and Tatum out of the lineup, getting a win in Thursday’s game against Oklahoma City could be a tough task.

After dropping back-to-back assignments, the Denver Nuggets will try to return to the win column when they host the Houston Rockets at Ball Arena on Wednesday.

The Nuggets lost 129-126 to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on Monday and lost to the New York Knicks 142-103 at home on Friday.

Jamal Murray was forced to leave his game against the Knicks due to an ankle injury. He was considered questionable before facing the Thunder, but eventually suited up, although he was still not 100%.

According to the Nuggets’ injury report, Murray is dead. Listed as probable For his affair versus the Rockets, Cam Johnson, who is dealing with a back injury.

Meanwhile, Peyton Watson is still out with a hamstring injury, although he could return any time this week.

Injury report ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Rockets:

potential:
Jamal Murray (sprained left ankle)
Cameron Johnson (back spasms)

Outside:
Peyton Watson (right hamstring strain)#milehighbasketball pic.twitter.com/ZI7Hj8tVYR

– Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) 10 March 2026

The 29-year-old Murray is at the peak of his career, averaging career-highs across the board: 25.4 points, 48.2% field goals, 42.7% three-pointers, 4.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists. He earned his first nod to the All-Star Game and is on his way to receiving his first selection to the All-NBA Team.

He has been healthy this season and has only played in four games so far.

The Nuggets will look to continue their dominance over the Rockets, who they have defeated in their last five meetings, including two this season.

Denver has struggled to stay healthy, but the team has regained its starting lineup over the past few months with the returns of Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun.

If Murray sits against Houston, Julian Strother, Tyus Jones and Jalen Pickett are expected to take advantage of their minutes and fill voids by committee.

For the first time since January, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell’s name was not on the injury report, clearing him to return to face the Denver Nuggets on Monday at Paycom Center. Mitchell suffered a stomach strain and a sprained left ankle. Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren is listed as questionable after missing Friday’s 104-97 win against the Golden State Warriors due to illness.

Mitchell, who has emerged as one of Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault’s most reliable guards this season, has rejoined the backcourt, which has filled in for Jared McCann during his absence. Ajay Mitchell is making his return for the Thunder ahead of the highly anticipated rematch of last year’s Western Conference Semifinals best-of-7 series against the Nuggets.

Alex Caruso (left hip) is listed as questionable for the Thunder, while Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf), Jalen Williams during a lengthy rehabilitation for a right hamstring injury, and Brandon Carlson (back) remain out for the defending champions.

Monday’s matchup between the Thunder and Nuggets follows last week’s overtime thriller, which resulted in a 127-121 victory for Oklahoma City. Lou Dort drew a flagrant-2 foul on Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic, ending his night after provoking an angry Jokic, who earned a technical foul for connecting with the Thunder’s Jaylin Williams.

Lu Dort apologizes for offensive comment on Nikola Jokic in Thunder’s win

After public backlash, Thunder guard Lou Dort apologized for his flagrant 2 foul on Nuggets All-Star center Nikola Jokic. According to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, Dort says he got caught up in the moment and fouled Jokic in a way he regrets.

“It was a physical game the whole game,” Dortch said. “Obviously, there was unnecessary contact that I shouldn’t have made. Getting kicked out of the game hurt me the worst. But yes, it was a high-level game. I’m a competitor, so I compete.”

Fans should expect the same level of intensity in this Western Conference rival between the Thunder and Nuggets, who will meet for the second-to-last time in the regular season on Monday.

PHOENIX – Grayson Allen suffered an unexpected knee injury before the Phoenix Suns’ game against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.

Throughout the season, Allen struggled with lower body injuries. He was struggling with a right groin injury at the beginning of the year, but now he is struggling with a right knee problem.

His injury may be a microcosm of Phoenix’s health problems. Before Sunday’s game, they will have a total of four players out due to related injuries.

This season, Allen is having a career year averaging 17.5 points and 4.2 assists while shooting 35.5% from 3-point range on over nine 3-pointers per game.

He has been the ideal weapon in head coach Jordan Ott’s system. Not to mention, his growth as a downhill driver has also contributed to a career-best season in assists and scoring.

Grayson Allen’s injury is a big blow for the Suns

The team did not specify the severity of the injury, but said it is a legitimate injury and is being managed appropriately. It may be that they are being extra cautious because of the team’s upcoming six-game road trip.

Either way, Allen being listed as a prospect and being completely ruled out is cause for concern. Bearing in mind that this is the same right knee issue that has troubled him all year,

Although he has been left out, this is a big opportunity for players like Rasheer Fleming, Ryan Dunn and Haywood Highsmith to make a good impression.

For the Suns, hopefully Allen’s injury isn’t long-term, but it is concerning for it to happen before the team’s road trip.

No matter what happens, he’ll want to get back on the court as soon as possible as Phoenix chases a legitimate playoff spot.

After missing the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 104-97 win over the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Golden State Warriors, Chet Holmgren could return for Monday night’s contest against the Denver Nuggets. Holmgren, who is battling the flu, is listed as questionable on the Thunder’s injury report along with Alex Caruso (left hip injury). Starters Jalen Williams (right hamstring) and Isaiah Hartenstein are out with a left calf injury.

Outside of Holmgren’s potential return, second-year guard Ajay Mitchell has been cleared to return from an abdominal strain and left ankle sprain that have sidelined him since January.

The Nuggets will look to avenge last week’s 127-121 loss in overtime, where Holmgren helped make things closer with Gilgeous-Alexander, in his first game back from injury, sitting on the bench due to a minutes restriction. Chet finished with 15 points, a career-high 21 rebounds, three assists and three blocks against the Nuggets.

Chet Holmgren reacts to career milestone in Thunder’s win

After Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren recorded a career-high 21 rebounds in a six-point overtime win against the Nuggets, he discussed the importance of reaching such a milestone. Following his first All-Star selection, Holmgren says the success he has had this season is a testament to hard work.

Holmgren said, “I try to put a lot into my body, making sure I get stronger each time. Continue to be as healthy as I can. Take care of yourself.” “I definitely think it’s benefited me, and I’ve gotten better in a lot of different areas, but I think I still have a long way to go with my body, with my game. I don’t want to let one night get too excited for me. I still have work to do.”

Chet Holmgren on his career-high 21 rebounds: “I try to put a lot into my body, making sure I get stronger every time out. Just continuing to stay as healthy as I can. Take care of yourself.”

I definitely think it has paid off for me and I have improved in many different areas… pic.twitter.com/hsvOB6tE12

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 28 February 2026

Holmgren and the Thunder will host the Nuggets on Monday at Paycom Center.

Jayson Tatum is back. One of the game’s brightest stars and reigning NBA champion is ready to return to the court after suffering a severely torn Achilles tendon during last season’s playoffs. Tatum is back after 11 months as the Boston Celtics are the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and look to make another serious run at the NBA Finals.

Even with all the hype surrounding Tatum’s return, there is still a lot of work to be done. The Celtics hosted the Dallas Mavericks after a bad loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Tatum wouldn’t have returned if he didn’t feel 100% ready to make a serious impact. It may take some time to get back to what they were before the injury. But after we all watched him struggle in the early stages of rehab, you know Tatum is happy to get back to doing what he loves.

Tatum took the field Friday night and responded with an “I’m excited” message as he walked down the hallway toward the locker room.

“How does it feel to be back JT?”

“I’m excited.”

Celtics star Jayson Tatum arrives before his first game after tearing his Achilles in the Eastern Conference Semifinals 😊🍀

(via @ESPN)pic.twitter.com/9UDZr7LYnz

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 6 March 2026

ClutchPoints’ Celtics reporter Daniel Donabedian wrote that Tatum’s return would make life easier for the Celtics. Sam Howser told them Tatum would fit right back in.

“He’s been around [practice]So I think he’ll be able to fit right in,” he said. “We’ll be able to fit around him.”