標籤: hopes

tottenham Winger Manor Solomon had a good second half of the season at Fiorentina.

The agreement contained an option for La Viola to buy for €10m, after the initial loan had been partly repaid. The winger played a role in keeping them away from relegation, as they finished 15th in the table.

Despite missing several weeks due to injury, Solomon scored two goals and assisted once. He also retained a starting spot, which helped them secure a famous win over Juventus earlier this month.

sports witness Covered how the player is keen to leave Tottenham and stay at the Italian team. There have been doubts over Fiorentina’s own intentions but there may still be some hope for a permanent move for the winger.

paratisy potential key

Gazzetta dello Sport takes a closer look at a potential outgoing for La Viola this summer. With Fabio Grosso arriving as the new manager, director Fabio Paratici is now planning how to take the current project forward.

There is certainty that Jack Harrison will return to Leeds United having failed to make an impression under Paolo Vanoli. But things may not be so certain for Solomon.

Although Fiorentina are not keen on a permanent deal, everything depends on money.

That’s why ‘Paratici will try’ to convince Tottenham of the waiver. The current valuation of €10m appears to be too high for Fiorentina and efforts will be made to reduce it.

The Spurs’ openness remains to be seen. But what has been clear in recent weeks is that Solomon is very keen and that could help all parties involved.

tottenham should accept discount

As things stand, Spurs have nothing to lose when it comes to the winger. The 26-year-old joined for free and his exit will only give them capital gains.

There are injury concerns around the player and it is enough for Fiorentina to back out of a €10m deal. Even though he showed glimpses of his abilities in Florence, the same was not quite true at Villarreal in the first half of the season.

As a result, Tottenham must accept a discount in his exit. This will only generate money which will be used for signings, as the club is in desperate need of rebuilding. Solomon will not be part of that rebuild and delaying his permanent exit will reduce his chances of earning a good fee from a sale.

fulhamHopes of signing Malik Tillman from Bayer Leverkusen this summer may have been boosted as he admits his time at the German side is over.

Sport Bild report on Forward todayWhat could be a busy summer for Leverkusen when it comes to departures.

Tillman wants to leave Leverkusen

The newspaper reports that Leverkusen paid €117m for Malik Tillman and several other signings last summer. But they have hardly been used at all by manager Kasper Hjulmand this season.

This is being considered as a clear indication of how poor coordination is between the German club and the manager. And this summer there will be consequences.

Many of the players who were contracted are ‘dissatisfied’ and are seriously considering walking out. The club is also considering promoting players. In fact, sporting director Simon Rolfes has hinted at this in recent comments.

He said, “There will be a shakeup in the team this summer. We are trying to inject some new energy and strengthen the team.”

A lot will depend on the new manager, but Malik Tillman has ‘pretty much closed the book’ on his Leverkusen tenure. This information has already been given to the club management. The 23-year-old wants to use this World Cup skip to strengthen his market position.

Fulham expressed interest

Sport Bild report that Fulham have already ‘expressed interest’ in signing him this summer. Leverkusen are open to a deal if they can recoup the €35m they paid to PSV Eindhoven last summer.

This matches recent reports Sports witnesses have covered up the player. The last of them, last month, said Fulham were tempting the player with a move to the Premier League.

Now it appears that the American has taken the decision and wants out. The question is whether those in charge at Craven Cottage want to pay the €35m asking fee. If they’re up for it, it’s a deal that could be done quickly in the coming months.

fulhamHopes of signing Malik Tillman from Bayer Leverkusen this summer may have been boosted as he admits his time at the German side is over.

Sport Bild report on Forward todayWhat could be a busy summer for Leverkusen when it comes to departures.

Tillman wants to leave Leverkusen

The newspaper reports that Leverkusen paid €117m for Malik Tillman and several other signings last summer. But they have hardly been used at all by manager Kasper Hjulmand this season.

This is being considered as a clear indication of how poor coordination is between the German club and the manager. And this summer there will be consequences.

Many of the players who were contracted are ‘dissatisfied’ and are seriously considering walking out. The club is also considering promoting players. In fact, sporting director Simon Rolfes has hinted at this in recent comments.

He said, “There will be a shakeup in the team this summer. We are trying to inject some new energy and strengthen the team.”

A lot will depend on the new manager, but Malik Tillman has ‘pretty much closed the book’ on his Leverkusen tenure. This information has already been given to the club management. The 23-year-old wants to use this World Cup skip to strengthen his market position.

Fulham expressed interest

Sport Bild report that Fulham have already ‘expressed interest’ in signing him this summer. Leverkusen are open to a deal if they can recoup the €35m they paid to PSV Eindhoven last summer.

This matches recent reports Sports witnesses have covered up the player. The last of them, last month, said Fulham were tempting the player with a move to the Premier League.

Now it appears that the American has taken the decision and wants out. The question is whether those in charge at Craven Cottage want to pay the €35m asking fee. If they’re up for it, it’s a deal that could be done quickly in the coming months.

Andrea Cambiasso is among the players who could leave Juventus and this should come as an incentive for him tottenham.

The Italy international’s 2025/26 campaign has been full of ups and downs. In the first half of the season, they were often criticized by their own fans under the management of Igor Tudor. This has changed under Luciano Spalletti, who has seen Cambiasso start every Serie A fixture.

last week, sports witness Mirko Di Natale’s claim about the London club’s initial exposure to the Italian was covered. They were not alone, several teams were also credited with interest.

Inter Milan tried to sign the versatile full-back in January. Juve were against the idea but the Nerazzurri can now offer Carlos Augusto to Juve to tempt him with a summer transfer.

It is Tottenham who could be in the driving seat, as Cambiaso is more likely to end up in England.

The situation is becoming clear

IT migration market Report Juve have placed Cambiasso on the ‘expendable list’ for the summer. They realize how he has grown under Spalletti, but will be tempted if suitors offer between €30m and €35m in the summer.

The outlet says that while AC Milan are no longer interested, Napoli remain interested. A big reason is their sporting director Giovanni Manna, who played a decisive role in bringing Cambiasso to Juve in 2022.

Despite this, it is the Premier League that is now the most likely destination for the defender.

Cambiaso has many admirers – including Tottenham in England. A move to Spurs would be viable due to his financial capacity, as Italian clubs are less likely to pay large sums.

Our opinion: Cambiaso adds value to the team

Even though the 26-year-old has not always been consistent, versatility is his biggest strength. He primarily plays at full-back, but has also comfortably operated not only at wing-back but as a winger on either flank.

This would make him a valuable player for Tottenham, who will be selling a number of players in the summer. A player like Cambiaso will raise the technical floor of the team.

This is one of his strengths, which is why Pep Guardiola was keen to sign him in January 2025. His age is also right and Juve are not demanding big money.

Here are the Montreal Canadiens and NHL news items you may have missed on Thursday.

montreal canadiens news

• With only one goal in eight playoff games, Canadiens sniper Cole Caufield is clearly not satisfied with his offensive output. The 26-year-old American expects much more from himself in the future. [Canadiens]

• Game 1 of the second-round series vs. the Buffalo Sabers was certainly disappointing in terms of the end result, but there were some positives worth discussing in the loss. For example, Caufield and the first line enjoyed their best underlying numbers in 5v5 of the playoffs. [Top 3 Canadiens Positives From Game One]

• File this under ‘predictable’ if you want, but head coach Martin St-Louis is very pleased with the way Nick Suzuki is leading his troops.

Martin St. Louis on Nick Suzuki’s leadership style: “I don’t think I need to compare Suzy to any other captain. To me, everybody leads in their own way. I just know Suzy leads our team. I’m not worried about what other captains are doing, I’m really happy with how she’s done it.…

– Eric Engels (@EricEngels) 7 May 2026

• ICYMI: Suzuki was named a finalist for the Selke Trophy, awarded annually to the forward judged to make the greatest defensive impact. They are considered favorites for the trophy, but more importantly, we have this latest proof that Suzuki has done a great job leading his team by example, both on and off the ice. [Nick Suzuki Selke Bid – Model Of Consistency And Leadership]

• Sabers head coach Lindy Ruff has nothing but respect for Suzuki, even though he doesn’t know the Canadiens captain on a personal level.

Sabers coach Lindy Ruff on Nick Suzuki: pic.twitter.com/W6lLb3nPQo

– Eric Engels (@EricEngels) 7 May 2026

• Another day, another example of Lane Hutson jumping on the ice head first because he’s clearly addicted to all things hockey and probably hates spending any time of his day away from the rink. Classic.

The day after the tough game, Lane Hutson was the first player to take the ice in practice. pic.twitter.com/nEwFnvQs3P

– Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) 7 May 2026

Sportsknot Network

• There is no doubt that the New Jersey Devils should aggressively pursue a top-six winger by dangling the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The NHL’s salary cap will increase by $8.5 million to $104 million this summer. This will open up a lot of room for the 32 NHL GMs to maneuver and make deals. [New Jersey Devils]

• The Washington Capitals had a busy Thursday morning with a few acquisitions. The team signed Theodore Niederbach and Petr Sikora to deals. [Washington Capitals]

• The Anaheim Ducks needed a better effort in Game 2 to get back into their Western Conference second round series against the Vegas Golden Knights. mission accomplished. [Anaheim Ducks]

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

Barcelona looking to follow ‘Raphinha model’ to sign Joao Pedro de chelsea in this summer.

Sport report that the Brazilian striker is in competition with Julian Alvarez Becoming Barcelona’s new number nine in the summer transfer window.

deco likes chelsea star

The newspaper reports that Barcelona’s sporting director Deco is a big fan of Premier League players.

Having played in England himself, he believes that ‘intensity, speed of execution and physical demands’ create players who add positive factors to Barcelona’s team.

This is especially the case as Barcelona’s squad is relatively young, with La Masia also being constantly included.

Barcelona’s directors frequently travel to England to evaluate players. As an agent, he brought Raphinha to Camp Nou. He also attempted to sign Luis Diaz, who has performed phenomenally for Bayern Munich this season.

Chelsea star Joao Pedro is the latest name in England he admires. In fact, he likes him so much that he is in the top two of strikers shortlisted to reinforce Barcelona’s number nine spot this summer.

The Chelsea forward is valued for more than his skills on the field. He is also considered young at the age of 24, with great potential for development as he ‘has not yet reached his peak or footballing maturity.’

Rafinha comparison

In this sense, Barcelona is watching what happened with Raphinha. He arrived as an incomplete package from Leeds and has since blossomed under Hansi Flick. Last season he was a contender for the Ballon d’Or.

The feeling is that João Pedro has a similar profile and, importantly, is ‘a hidden gem in the media’. Therefore, Barcelona can give him a global status and scope to grow even further.

Of course, no deal will be cheap. Chelsea paid €63.7m for Brighton last summer and he is now worth €75m. The game makes no mention of Barcelona’s stance on that front.

But it appears Deco is still fond of the striker. And Raphinha’s success is potentially driving that interest even further.

It’s the same story, this time louder. David Benavidez is not holding back, and his latest comments aimed at Canelo Alvarez are easily his most direct to date. In a recent interview, the undefeated contender didn’t dance around it. He questioned Canelo’s desire to fight him and made it clear that he still viewed that matchup as unfinished business.

“He’s scared, he has no balls. That’s the thing. I give Canelo total respect… but I was the #1 contender in two weight classes for a long time.”

That tension has been building for years. Benavidez, now 30-0 with 24 knockouts, has consistently topped the super middleweight division. At one point, he held the WBC interim title and sat as a mandatory challenger, yet the fight never came to fruition.

“He’s shown he doesn’t want to fight me. It’s a real shame because it’s a fight everyone wants to see.”

David Benavidez vs. Canelo Alvarez: A fight that never came together

On paper this was the fight. Two Mexican stars. Same division. High stakes. Huge interest from fans.

But boxing rarely goes according to script.

Canelo Alvarez, now 35, has built his career around big names and calculated moves. He became a four-division world champion and one of the biggest pay-per-view draws in the sport. Nevertheless, Benavidez believes that despite earning his position he was constantly ignored.

The situation changed even further last year after Canelo lost his undisputed super middleweight title to Terence Crawford. That loss changed the division and, in some ways, changed the urgency of the Benavidez fight.

Now, with Canelo Alvarez planning a comeback later this year and reportedly knocking out both Benavidez and Dmitry Bivol, that long-awaited clash is looking less likely than ever.

Benavidez moves forward but doesn’t let go

This is where things get interesting. Benavidez isn’t waiting any longer, calling out Canelo Alvarez still.

He is going up.

The 28-year-old is set to face Gilberto Ramirez at cruiserweight on May 2, a serious step up to a heavier and more dangerous division. It’s not just a fight to stay busy, either. Ramirez holds the major titles, and a win would immediately legitimize Benavidez at 200 pounds.

Benavidez even claimed that he tried to make the Canelo fight a financial success, saying that he had offered $150 million which went nowhere. Whether those numbers hold up or not, it shows just how far he was willing to go to secure the fight.

Still the tone did not change.

“I have 100% confidence in myself and my skills. If he says he’s the baddest man on the planet, why not give the fans what they want to see?”

the window might be closing

At this point, it seems like one of those feuds that remains more in debate than reality.

Benavidez is moving to a different weight class. Canelo Alvarez is choosing his path carefully. The time that once made this fight right is beginning to slip away.

Promoters know this. The fans definitely feel it.

And if Benavidez wins at cruiserweight, the conversation could completely change. He will no longer pursue Canelo. He might be making something new.

Still, this rivalry won’t be completely over until both fighters battle it out. Too much history. Too much conversation. And honestly, a lot of people still want to see it happen.

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

The New York Sirens suffered a blow in the race for the PWHL’s final playoff spot. The Ottawa Charge defeated New York 5-1 in overtime on Saturday afternoon, pushing them to the brink of elimination.

The Sirens entered the game needing a regulation win to overtake the charge for fourth place.

“We have to take it like do or die,” Sirens star forward Sarah Fillier told PWHL sideline reporter Signa Butler before puck drop.

But New York could not match Ottawa’s firepower. The Charge scored five unanswered goals – including two jailbreak goals in the second period – to extend their lead in the standings. Ottawa improved to 39 points (8-7-1-12), leaving New York five points out of the final playoff spot with only two games remaining.

Charge goalkeeper Gwyneth Phillips had a stellar performance in her 16th consecutive game starting in net, stopping 23 of 24 shots and holding New York scoreless over the final 48:16. Kyle Osborne allowed five goals on 29 shots for New York. His 14 losses and 26 games played led all PWHL goaltenders.

The Sirens struck first with a power-play goal at 11:04 of the first period, when Petey Lewis beat the Phillips blocker side-by-side with a quick wrist shot from the bumper. But New York struggled to contain Ottawa’s offensive attack, allowing three goals on Saturday, and that proved costly.

After several scoring opportunities in the opening frame, the Charge finally took the advantage at 18:59 as captain Brianna Jenner delivered a speedy passing pass that Rebecca Leslie deflected over her shoulder into the net.

New York increased the intensity in the second, as coach Greg Fargo’s team made a solid effort to press the net hard against the Phillies – much to Ottawa’s displeasure. A highly physical frame culminated in a total of six penalties and two power plays for the Sirens.

Instead, the one in charge received the reward.

With the Sirens on a 4-on-3 advantage after a holding penalty on Leslie, Jenner led another rush and sent a shot off Osborne’s right pad. Jocelyn Larocque collected a long rebound in the slot and put it into the net at 7:54 before Osborne could recover.

Peyton Hemp scored on New York’s fourth power play of the game, 37 seconds in, at 14:08 of the middle frame for a 3–1 lead. After Casey O’Brien’s pass came back into the siren zone, Maja Nylen Persson turned the puck over under heavy pressure from Hemp’s forecheck. Charging forward Alexa Wasko drove the goal line and delivered a pass across the crease which Hemp punched into the net.

Have talked a lot with Sirens coach Greg Fargo about the pace of this season. It’s hard to think of a more decadent sequence than this.

Not one, but two jailbreak goals, as Ottawa becomes the first PWHL team to score shorthanded twice in the same game.

Just sloppy puck play from new… pic.twitter.com/DvdZQYs7ro

– Lou Orlando (@SweetLouuuu) 18 April 2026

Ronja Savolainen added insurance at 3:15 of the third period, fooling Osborne with a long shot from the point. Jenner delivered the final blow on the power play at 12:28, blocking the rebound of a Larocque shot.

Jenner ranks fourth league-wide in scoring with 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) after a three-point outing on Saturday. Leslie’s 13 goals are one goal shy of Minnesota Frost forward Kelly Pannek for the PWHL lead; Her 22 points are tied with Fillier and Montreal Victoire forward Laura Stacey for fifth.

New York dropped its eighth consecutive road game (0-0-1-7) this season and fell to 2-0-1-10. Only the Seattle Torrent has the worst road point percentage. The Sirens conclude the season with two more games away from the Prudential Centre, visiting the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday and the Boston Fleet on April 25.

Fargo said after the game, “I can’t point my finger on any one specific thing, but we haven’t scored in a row, especially at home.” “On the road, when you fall behind, you start chasing the game, and it becomes harder to climb back. At home, even if you don’t score first, the crowd can help change momentum quickly. But when you’re chasing too often, it catches up to you – the matchups get tougher, and things start being stacked against you.”

Main findings after siren leaves backbreaker to charge

So you’re telling me there’s a chance?

The Sirens are not out of the playoff race yet, although the picture is not very good.

Saturday’s loss removed any control over New York’s playoff fate. With only six points available on their remaining schedule, the Sirens need a lot and a lot of help to get going in the right direction to erase the five-point deficit in the PWHL standings.

If the Charge scores more than one point in its final two games, New York will be eliminated from postseason contention. Ottawa visits second-place Fleetwood on Wednesday before hosting the Toronto Raptors on April 25.

The fifth-place Sceptres, on 34 points (9-1-5-12) with three games remaining, could also shatter New York’s playoff dreams. The Sirens need Toronto to beat Ottawa on April 25, but otherwise they are looking for a loss to the Sceptres. Toronto will visit Minnesota on Sunday before hosting New York on Tuesday, setting up a final showdown against the Charge that will likely decide who lands the final playoff spot.

The final piece of this complicated equation – and perhaps the toughest for New York – is that the Sirens must earn at least five points in the next two games to have any hope of challenging for the No. 4 seed.

The Sirens are not out of the playoff race yet, but they need a lot of help right now.

Ottawa cannot score more than one point in its last two matches (BOS, vs. TOR). The Sirens must beat Toronto in regulation on Tuesday and then hope the Sceptres beat the Charge on April 25. https://t.co/vMMWfIsCE4

– Lou Orlando (@SweetLouuuu) 18 April 2026

The Sirens currently own the tiebreaker on charge with the slight edge in regulation wins, and will be granted a postseason nod if both teams finish the season tied. But New York will need two consecutive wins — a tall order for a team that hasn’t won on the road since Jan. 6.

Stranger things have happened, but the odds are not in their favor.

Sirens get playoff teaser with ‘Chippy’ game

The postseason stakes were palpable Saturday, and it contributed to the playoff atmosphere — both on the ice and in the stands.

Ottawa racked up 25 hits in a game marked by consistent physicality. The Charge penalized New York for any drives near Phillips’ crease, resulting in plenty of scuffles after the whistle and even similar harsh penalties to Aimee Fecteau and Rory Gilday.

The record-setting crowd of 8,605 at TD Place matched the intensity throughout the game.

“I think you can definitely see the rivalry there, and it’s definitely getting intense. But again, that’s what we want,” Sirens alternate captain Jaime Bourbonnais said after the game. “We’ve done a good job of making this game a really physical game, and I think that’s what the fans want to see, and hopefully we can continue to do that. I think the fans and the atmosphere are really what make these types of games special.”

It’s a good harbinger for the postseason, where that intensity will become the norm — though New York won’t be able to experience it firsthand.

Siren’s power play faltered again

New York ended an 0-20 power-play drought on Wednesday when Maja Nylen Persson scored a 2-2 equalizer against Toronto at 14:53 of the third period. Fargo believed that such an impressive target could spark a falling unit.

“You hope something like that can push it,” Fargo said after the 3-2 regulation win. “I think scoring that goal at a key moment in our season, hopefully, can be something we can build on.”

For a moment, it seemed that way, as Lewis’ power-play score gave New York an early lead. But any positive momentum was destroyed in the second period when Ottawa became the first team in PWHL history to score multiple shorthanded goals in a single game.

The Sirens have scored three jailbreak goals in their last two games – a black mark for a power play that was already struggling to produce offensive output.

These types of mistakes can end a season in a very short playoff race.

Lou Orlando is an alumnus of Fordham University, where he covered the New York Rangers for three seasons… More about Lou Orlando

Manchester City There could be an option for Boca Juniors’ Tomas Aranda in the near future.

The Premier League team had already considered Boca Juniors signing Julian Alvarez in 2022 and Maximo Peron a year later.

Alvarez left Manchester City permanently for Atletico Madrid in August 2024 and has been the number 1 under Diego Simeone.

Perrone initially joined Como on loan the same month and the Serie A side made his stay permanent the previous summer. Last month, Sports Witness broadcast news Manchester City has a 30% sell-on clause.

city ​​football group [CFB] He owns Manchester City, Ligue 2 side Troyes and second division Belgian side Lommel SK, and also has a stake in La Liga side Verona.

Manchester City option for Argentina

boca news Now report that City Football Group have set their sights on Tomas Aranda.

The 18-year-old is a product of the Argentinian club’s youth system and earned his first-team place earlier this year.

His league statistics for the Boca Juniors first team are as follows:

• Appearances: 10
• Start: 5
• Total minutes: 542
• Minutes per game: 54

The attacking midfielder’s development has already seen him Debut for Argentina U20 Last month.

He has also caught the attention of Manchester City owners, and they are keeping a close eye on him as CFG see him as a ‘potential bet for the future’.

The report does not specify which European club City Football Group wants to sign. With four European clubs, Pep Guardiola’s team could certainly be an option.

Aranda has $20m [€17.1m] He has a release clause in his contract and should be affordable for Manchester City. At present their owners are just following them.

Manager wished for a bright future

Boca Juniors manager Claudio Ubeda expects Tomas Aranda to be the best in the world hail Has released his comments.

“I’m going to reiterate what I said in the last press conference. What we always try to do with kids making debuts like this is to protect them, not overextend them.” He said.

“I hope he can become the best player in the world.”

“He has to build his career little by little, and he is doing it well with personality. The environment with his teammates helps him a lot so that he can progress, because there are always technically talented players around him who support him.”

“He’s a player who has talent, dedication and he’s good in one-on-one situations. We’re going to support him so he can continue to progress.”

Contract, price and agent information

Tomas Aranda’s contract is until December 2029 and his price is as per transfer marketIs €850k.

Argentine agency Interplayers, headed by Pablo Sabbagh and Matias Sabbagh, represents the player. His client list also includes Nottingham Forest’s Nicolas Dominguez and Valencia midfielder Guido Rodriguez.

AS Saint-Étienne are hoping watford To sign Pierre Acqua permanently in the summer.

The Ligue 2 side, following a poor run of results, allowed the midfielder to move on loan to Watford in the winter market.

In August 2024, he joined Saint-Étienne from Sunderland with an option to buy initially set at €7m. At the time, they were in Ligue 1, and had performed regularly in the previous season.

The French club dropped out of the top division but moved up nonetheless and made their stay permanent using the stream.

This clearly did not please the 24-year-old, who refused to train with Saint-Étienne. Last September, Sports Witness broadcast news He is considering terminating his contract unilaterally.

However, he did not make the move, allowing his parent club to loan him to the Championship team in February.

He waited several weeks to make his debut for the Hornets.

Two months ago, Sports Witness Covered claims from France It will take time for him to get minutes. Before moving to Vicarage Road, he last made a competitive appearance in May 2025.

The situation is improving in Watford

Pierre Acqua made his debut for the English club in a 2–0 league defeat to Ipswich Town in February. Since then, Edward Still has given him minutes and the player has begun to gain prominence in recent weeks.

His championship statistics are as follows:

• Appearances: 7
• Start: 3
• Total minutes: 280
• Minutes per game: 40

As a player continues to start more games toward the end of the season his average minutes will improve.

green peopleA website that dedicates its coverage to the French club has a report on a possible exit for the next window.

The former Sunderland man’s recent improvement at Watford has pleased Saint-Étienne. He is hoping to make his stay permanent by using Still’s €7m buyout clause.

If this happens, it would provide the ‘significant financial benefit’ that the French club is looking for.

Our Opinion: Hornets can request transfer waiver

As of now, it is unclear whether Watford want to retain Pierre Acqua and if they do, whether they are willing to pay €7m.

If the decision is made to retain the midfielder, the Hornets can certainly try to reduce the price.

It is known that he has no future at Saint-Étienne, and the Championship club could take advantage of this to bring down the final price. This will happen only if Watford decides to buy him.

The Detroit Red Wings are collapsing. After another strong start to the NHL season, Detroit is out of the Stanley Cup playoffs with five games remaining. The Red Wings are two points behind the Ottawa Senators and their Stanley Cup playoff hopes are fading fast.

As of Monday, April 6, Detroit has a record of 4–6–0 in the last 10 games, with only one win in the last five games. In a 4–1 loss against the Minnesota Wild on Easter Sunday, the Red Wings equalized in the third period. Then, Red Wings forward Patrick Kane committed an selfish penalty, leading to a Minnesota power play goal.

After the Senators defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit is now two points out of the wild card picture without a tiebreaker. Now, the Red Wings need to win at least four of their next five games to make the Stanley Cup playoffs

Detroit Red Wings playoff approach, five games left in 2026

There’s an important week of NHL games coming up in Detroit. The Red Wings will need to win at least four games to overtake the Senators. Since Ottawa has the tiebreaker, Detroit needs to earn three more points over the organization in the next five games.

The Red Wings play the Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers to conclude the regular season. Detroit needs to win games against non-playoff teams, New Jersey and Florida, while looking to win two of three against Columbus, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay.

The biggest issue for the Red Wings is the remaining schedule for the Senators. Ottawa plays New Jersey, Florida, Tampa, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Islanders. Currently four out of five teams are not in the playoffs. Granted, New York is also on the playoff bubble.

If the Senators win four of their next five games, they will advance to the playoffs, even if the Red Wings win all five games. This means Detroit does not need Ottawa to win more than three games if the team can consistently move up in the standings. However, this is only the senators’ angle.

The Red Wings will need to get past the Blue Jackets, possibly needing a win on Tuesday night. Detroit also needs to overcome the Islanders, who have a point in an additional matchup. However, Detroit has lost four of its last five games, and its record since the Olympic break is 8-9-3. The goaltending is sluggish while the offensive team is struggling to score in five-on-five play.

Time is running out, and if the Red Wings don’t turn the clock around on Tuesday night, their season will end in five games.

READ MORE: Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman will be on the hot seat if the team misses the NHL playoffs

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

The New York Islanders missed a big opportunity to keep their playoff hopes alive, losing 4-3 to the Buffalo Sabers at KeyBank Center on Tuesday night.

Despite being outshot by the Sabers most of the night, they were tied 2–2 when Anders Lee’s pass from the goal line to the right of Buffalo goaltender Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen went off the skate of Sabers defenseman Owen Power and into the net with 6:21 remaining. But poor defensive coverage cost the Pittsburgh Penguins an 8-3 loss on Monday, causing them to suffer again when Alex Tuch drove down the left sideline, circled the net and found a wide-open Peyton Krebs.

Seeing some fouls, Krebs hit a shot over Ilya Sorokin with 3:01 remaining to put Buffalo ahead 3–2.

“I think Bo (Horvat) or (Matthew) Schaefer could have stayed in front of the net and defended there,” coach Patrick Roy said.

Bowen Byram’s empty-netter with 1:42 remaining proved to be the game-winner when Brayden Schenn scored with two seconds remaining.

Despite the loss, the Islanders finished third in the Metropolitan Division as only one of the teams they were in contention for a playoff spot won their game. The Penguins moved three points ahead of the Islanders after defeating the Detroit Red Wings 5–1. But the Columbus Blue Jackets, who could have overtaken them with a win, lost 5–2 to the Carolina Hurricanes at home.

The Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators, who are struggling to overtake the Islanders in the playoff race, also lost.

The Islanders have a welcome two days off before the back-to-back matches. They’ll host the Flyers on Friday before traveling to Carolina for their final road game on Saturday.

Each team got a power play in the first three minutes, with Carson Soucy going for high-sticking 41 seconds into the game and Buffalo’s Josh Norris called for pass interference at 1:31.

Isles had four of the first six shots of the game before the Sabers began to take control, pushing the pace and forcing Sorokin to make some good saves. But Buffalo finally got on the board when Jack Quinn scored a power-play goal at 14:19.

With Adam Pelech ruled out of a high-sticking penalty, New York cleared at the right point; Casey Cizikas and Jean-Gabriel Pageau appeared to get in each other’s way and lose the puck battle to Norris. He slid the puck to the open left point, where Quinn was entering the play on a line change. Nobody stepped up to Quinn, who raced into the left circle before hitting a shot to give Sorokin a 1–0 lead.

Sorokin cut the deficit to one just before the 15-minute mark when he denied Brent Malensteen on a wide-open backhander from the slot after another failed clear. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Sabers held the Islanders without a goal for more than 11 minutes and had only four high-danger chances in the first 20 minutes. Buffalo finished the period with a 12-6 differential in shots and a 23-11 edge in attempts.

The Sabers controlled the game for the first few minutes of the second period, before Anders Lee was given a penalty shot at 6:34 after Power slashed him on a breakaway. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made a great save on Lee’s backhander, but the play appeared to wake up the Isles, who began spending more time in the Sabres’ zone.

They got a break when under pressure defenseman Mattias Samuelsson backhanded the puck into the crowd for a delay of game penalty at 17:41. Ritchie tied the game 16 seconds later, taking a feed from Brayden Schenn off a perfect passing play initiated by Bo Horvat and scoring into the empty net to make the score 1–1. It remained that way until the end of the period, with the Isles outshooting Buffalo 9–7, although the Sabers had a 6–5 edge in high-danger chances.

Lee was not penalized for the late-period hit that sent Norris’ face into the glass, but he had to answer the bell when ex-Ranger Sam Carrick challenged him after a face-off early in the third period. Lee threw the former Rangers center on the ice and he went to the locker room with a shoulder injury. But this game seemed to put the pressure on the Sabers – especially when Soucy was sent off for holding at 1:28. Tage Thompson’s power-play goal at 2:40 put Buffalo ahead 3–2.

Lee’s fluke goal gave the Islanders the tie and gave them hope that they could go home with at least a point after overtime. Krebs’ goal dashed those hopes.

Key takeaways from the Islanders’ 4-3 loss to the Sabers

lucky losers/missed opportunities

All things considered, the Isles came away with a discouraging loss that they expected. They finished the night just as they started it – third in the Metro, one point ahead of Columbus (which has the second wild card in the East and has played one less game), and two points in front of Ottawa, Detroit and Philadelphia – though all three have two games in hand in New York.

None of the contenders play on Wednesday, but they are all back in action on Thursday.

The Islanders looked disorganized in the second half of their loss to the Penguins and were outplayed by the Sabers for long periods. The two-day break comes at a good time, but the Monday-Tuesday loss exposed the Isles’ defensive issues and their erratic special teams, and they have a lot of cleaning up to do before the Flyers come to UBS on Friday for the second half of a back-to-back.

Sorokin hit back

Roy surprised many observers by starting Sorokin one night after the Penguins allowed seven goals before being removed. He was at no fault for any of the three goals scored before the empty-netter – and that was the biggest reason the Islanders won.

“He was excellent,” Roy said. “He made some very good saves and unfortunately for us he gave up two goals on the power-play.”

The Sabers had a 12-3 advantage in high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick (it was 15-9 in all situations). Sorokin was brilliant in the first round, when the Isles suffered a defeat and fell behind by only one goal.

He will certainly be happy with the two-day break, which could give him a chance to play against both the Flyers and Hurricanes.

PK was not good

The Islanders picked a bad night to give up their first power-play goal in six games – although they had only faced six opposition power plays over the course of their last five games.

Quinn’s goal came when he fell behind, failed to clear the area and allowed Quinn to run unimpeded down the left. Thompson, one of the NHL’s deadliest shooters, found a soft spot in the middle of the coverage and beat Sorokin – who had not seen the shot.

With one of the NHL’s worst power plays, the Islanders can’t afford another bad night by the penalty killer.

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

Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers are finding their rhythm as a collective; On Wednesday night, they won against the Houston Rockets 124–116 for their seventh consecutive win and second in three nights. Doncic was dominant on Wednesday, recording his 12th 40-point game of the season after recording 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Never mind that the Rockets have some elite perimeter defenders, when Doncic finds his rhythm, the defense’s only prayer is that he misses.

But the Lakers know that achieving their progress in the regular season is not the ultimate goal. While this may help them prepare for what lies ahead, especially a potentially deep playoff run, they have their eyes on the prize. Doncic said as much in his postgame interview with Spectrum Sportsnet’s Mike Trudell.

Doncic told Trudel, “It’s an amazing feeling. I love winning. Everything is better when you’re winning. We have great chemistry. We’re a great team. This is the beginning of something beautiful.”

“We have great chemistry…this is just the beginning of something beautiful.”

with luka doncic @lakersreporter In the team after tonight’s win. pic.twitter.com/MHBS9q2d6V

– Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) 19 March 2026

The Lakers are finding out, and considering how elite Doncic and James can be when the stakes are at their highest, there isn’t a single team in the West that would like to see them in a seven-game series.

The entire Lakers roster has adopted JJ Redick’s system

The Lakers have suffered a lot this season, but it’s telling that DeAndre Ayton, of all people, would go to the media and say he took a long, hard look at the mirror and realized the defensive effort and energy the team needed from him.

The entire team has bought into what Redick is selling and as a result, the Lakers are winning. But they have another tough test ahead of them, as they look to extend their win streak to eight tomorrow night when they travel to Miami and visit the Heat at 8:00 pm ET.

After Bam Adabayo’s historic 83-point night on Tuesday, NBA champion Metta World Peace gushed about who he believes will eventually break Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point record. Chamberlin set the scoring record on March 2, 1963 against the New York Knicks. World Peace stated on his X account that he believed Wembanyama would eventually have a 101-point game.

“Now I’m waiting for @wemby to score 101,” World Peace posted.

Wembanyama certainly has a tremendous opportunity for goals, with an amazing ability to score at all three levels. He towers over most NBA guards with his 7’4″ frame and definitely has the mentality to make history. He also demonstrated his ability to score points quickly in February.

Wembanyama scored 25 points in the first quarter of their matchup against the Lakers on February 10. He finished the game with 40 points and 12 rebounds on 13-20 shooting, added four three pointers and shot 10-12 from the free-throw line. No other starter finished in double figures in that game.

After the matchup, Wembanyama talked about his historic night against the Lakers. He indicated that he wants to continue playing and increase his scoring output further.

“You have to have a greed for these kinds of games,” he said. “I mean, in every game you have to be greedy to get more every time, because, you know, all the time, no matter who’s on the court, someone is going to want to stop you from doing what you’re doing out there. So you have to be greedy.”

On Monday evening, the Golden State Warriors dropped back to .500 on the season with a tough loss to the Utah Jazz. The Warriors were playing without several key players, including point guard Stephen Curry, who had missed much of the All-Star break due to a knee problem.

Many are already looking at the 2025-26 Warriors season as a lost one, given Curry’s prolonged absence as well as the loss of Jimmy Butler for the season due to an ACL injury.

However, apparently, Curry hopes the Warriors’ fortunes change this offseason.

“…I think he knows that whether it’s Giannis, whether it’s LeBron James, there’s going to be somebody next summer that’s going to join him, join Jimmy, join Drummond, assuming he’s still there… Remember, this is the Warriors, they’ve got a brand, they can make a quick fix and add some talent,” NBA insider Mark Spears said, via 95.7 The Game, per NBC Sports Bay Area. Said.

However, Spears also said there is still value in giving some of the Warriors’ young players big minutes throughout the rest of this season, and regardless of how far Golden State goes in the playoffs.

“…But on the cheaper side, there are young guys and if you get them the good experience that they are getting now, it will help the franchise in the long run and save them some money for someone bigger in the process.”

The Warriors have spent the past several seasons trying to put together a young core and maximize the final years of Curry’s career, an effort that has had mixed results, with Jonathan Kuminga recently becoming a victim of Steve Kerr’s inability to do both tasks effectively.

Still, if Golden State were indeed able to add another star talent this offseason, things would get a lot more interesting in the Bay.

In the space of a few weeks, Leeds United loanee Jack Harrison has seen endless ups and downs at Fiorentina.

The attacker joined the Italian side on a loan deal in late January. The transfer was covered extensively sports witnessBecause La Viola secured the option to buy him permanently.

The winger performed well in the first two games and also helped in his second appearance. When he then started, he failed to live up to the hype, drawing criticism from the Italian press, particularly after a 3–0 defeat to Udinese.

The Florence club still find themselves in a relegation battle and things have quickly turned negative for the Leeds United player.

A permanent signature seems unlikely

fiorentinauno The report says that the 29-year-old player’s performance seems to be ‘dropping’. In his first few appearances he showed his ability, intensity and willingness to fit into Paolo Vanoli’s system.

That’s why, as of now, his permanent arrival from Leeds United is unlikely. White is believed to be keeping a close eye on his player, hoping he will turn things around.

If they do not buy, the winger will return to Yorkshire at the end of the season. The next game against Parma could prove crucial for them, with Harrison likely to start the clash. Despite failing to create anything noteworthy while starting in the last three matches, this will be another opportunity.

This is seen as a ‘true test’ by Fiorentina.

Analysis: Not entirely dependent on player

Jack Harrison started well and then dropped out, perhaps a clear indication of the pressure around Fiorentina and the negative impact it was having on the club’s players.

La Viola was not expected to be in this situation. There is anger among fan groups and there is endless criticism of the team.

David De Gea is one of those being targeted. He produced some top form when he joined Fiorentina but has now faded like others. Negativity is fueling poor performance which in itself drags players down further. Fiorentina’s situation is not much different from that of Tottenham Hotspur.

PHOENIX- There have been a few instances this season where the Phoenix Suns have been outplayed. Another example came Thursday against the Chicago Bulls.

Although 105–103 indicated a close game, don’t let the score fool you. Even for a guy like Devin Booker, he knew his team didn’t bring the right energy.

Typically, they dive for 50/50 balls, pick up full court, and establish the pace of the game. Thursday’s game was a deviation from his norm, yet Booker sees a silver lining with the struggles in the energy department.

Booker said in the locker room postgame, “That’s been our MO all year. We look at what happens when we do that, and tonight is an example of what happens when we don’t do that. Hopefully, it’s a lesson learned from here.”

Devin Booker on the Suns’ lack of energy tonight.

“That’s been our MO all year. We see what happens when we do that, and tonight was an example of what happens when we don’t do that. Hopefully it’ll be a lesson learned from here.” pic.twitter.com/oBmstJqQl0

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 6 March 2026

The shorthanded Bulls did not get any wins in February, but they picked up some impressive wins in early March. They proceeded with the same momentum till Thursday and took full advantage.

His play speed and paint presence were difference makers. Guys like Collin Sexton and Guerschon Yabusele put tremendous pressure on the basket and worked hard for second chances.

Who else agreed with Devin Booker’s assessment of the Sun’s energy?

Head coach Jordan Ott has been someone who has never been afraid to hold his team accountable. After all, Ott had a challenge of accountability for the Suns before last Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Did he do the same after the loss to the Bulls? Not necessarily, but he mentioned a game strategy he used to stir up some energy. He mentions that he attacked because he needed energy, and it’s something he shouldn’t have asked for.

Somehow, Ott knows that the root of all these conversations about lack of effort is the same.

“We do it honestly,” Ott explained. “We took the first out, again, we had zero (forced) turnovers. The reason I know we had zero (forced) turnovers is because I said it to the group. Then at halftime we just talked about wasting possessions.

“We can’t waste possessions, we’re not that type of team, and we have to somehow increase our activity and energy. So we’re looking. We’re looking for different lineups, different guys.”

Luckily for the Suns, their next game will be on Friday as the second leg of a back-to-back. That will give them minimal time to reflect on Thursday’s surprising loss and hopefully use it as a learning lesson, as Booker said.

The Milwaukee Bucks finally have Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup, but the celebration was short-lived. Just before tip-off against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, the team announced that guard Kevin Porter Jr. would miss the contest due to significant swelling in his right knee.

The game at Fiserv Forum is currently hotly contested, with Milwaukee holding a slim 71-66 lead at halftime, with the focus primarily on the long-term health of their young guard. Head coach Doc Rivers Axe, previously via Eric Nehm on Twitter, did not seem particularly optimistic when discussing the injury during his pre-game availability. Rivers noted that the knee has been a problem for about two weeks, but the recent incident was serious enough to raise alarm bells on a large scale.

Asked about a possible lengthy absence, Rivers said, “We’re hoping not.” “They’re going to do more things tomorrow to check, but it’s a lot of swelling and then you have the concern. It’s been really bothering him for the last few weeks, but it just hasn’t progressed the way it has, so there’s some concern there.”

The Bucks are trying their best to stabilize their season and stay in the Eastern Conference play-in race. Getting Antetokounmpo back on the floor is a big boost, but losing Porter Jr., who has been a reliable secondary playmaker averaging 17.5 points and 7.4 assists this season, is a brutal blow. Ryan Rollins has stepped into a bigger role tonight to make up for the loss as the Bucks look to stop a Jalen Johnson-led Atlanta team.

Milwaukee will likely provide a more definitive update after further testing on Thursday. For now, the Bucks are holding their breath regarding their backcourt rotation as they struggle to get a much-needed home win.

When it comes to professional sports, no one is immune to the influence of Father Time. Every human being slows down eventually, even those who appear to be immortal (like the great LeBron James). And Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden, who is currently dealing with a thumb injury that caused him to miss 22 points in Sunday’s 106-102 win over the Brooklyn Nets, knows that the sports grim reaper is coming for him someday.

However, Harden is still playing at a high level; He may be 36, but retirement isn’t exactly imminent for a man who averaged nearly 25 points per game this season and more than eight assists per contest. However, the Cavs star loves basketball so much that he wants to keep playing it as long as he canEspecially when he still has an elusive championship ring to compete for and, hopefully, win.

“I know [retirement is] coming soon. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, but it is a reality. Everyone has to go through this sometimes. I’m just trying to keep my body fit and play well. We’ll see what happens over the next few years. Take one game at a time and cherish the moments,” Harden said, via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

James Harden on how long he wants to play: “I know it’s going to be sooner rather than later. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, but it’s a reality. Everybody has to go through this sometimes. Just trying to keep my body in shape and play well. We’ll see what happens over the next few… pic.twitter.com/BPvW7Fwtfj

– Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) 2 March 2026

James Harden and the Cavs’ last stand at the title?

The Cavs know their title-rival’s time is short, so rather than risk Darius Garland’s health, they went out and acquired Harden, who is more than 10 years Garland’s senior.

Harden has dealt with his injury troubles in recent years, battling hamstring issues, but he has been quite durable and has been very reliable, especially during the regular season. The playoffs, of course, are where Harden will be tested, and whether or not he can be a part of this team that is finally looking to bounce back from the loss.

Juventus hopes that Aston Villa can qualify for the Champions League this season, so they can sell Douglas Luiz permanently.

This is according to Tuttosport. The Italian newspaper has today covered the Brazilian midfielder’s situation and Juventus’ expectations.

Luiz returned to Aston Villa at the end of the January transfer window. He was on loan at Nottingham Forest, but did not benefit from being under successive managers.

He was eventually sent back to Juventus, where he was also not in the plans. The Italian side instead agreed a deal with Aston Villa for the 27-year-old to return to Villa Park.

That loan deal includes the option for the Villans to make it permanent. Unai Emery’s side would have to pay €28.5m to do so. Sport Witness has covered various reports on that matter, including Earlier this week one said there was confidence that would happen.

Why is Aston Villa form important?

Tuttosport works on it now. According to their information, Juventus are closely watching Aston Villa’s form.

Luiz is currently helping them finish in the top four. They are currently in third place with 51 points, three points ahead of fourth-placed Manchester United. They are five behind Manchester City in second place.

Juventus are ‘obviously hoping’ that will happen. His argument is simple. If Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League, they could be ‘persuaded’ to buy Douglas Luiz permanently for €25m.

€3.5m bonus on card

There could also be an additional €3.5m bonus on the cards for him if the midfielder remains a key player under Emery.

Both would be a timely boost to Juventus’ coffers, especially as Luiz is no longer part of the club’s long-term plans.

In fact, Juventus only sees the midfielder as being at risk of becoming a liability going forward. They want to avoid keeping it with them for a long time and paying more than necessary.

Aston Villa, preferably, would sign him in the summer and prevent that from happening. Qualifying for the Champions League will make that more likely.

The Los Angeles Lakers recently suffered a blowout 111-89 defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics, a defeat that exposed both emotional and tactical weaknesses. While the matchup remained competitive for three quarters, Boston took complete control in the final frame fueled by a 32-point performance from Jaylen Brown. The frustration in Los Angeles reached its peak when coach JJ Redick and players Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart were all charged with technical fouls for controversial umpiring.

Redick was particularly vocal about a missed goaltending call involving Celtics center Neemias Quetta, who reportedly reached through the rim to block a LeBron James layup. Even Luka Doncic, who struggled for 25 points, said with a smile that substituting was obviously problematic, even if he was not penalized the most.

The loss to a major rival highlights a troubling trend for the 34-22 Lakers. According to Jovan Buha at X, the Lakers have really struggled against teams with a .600 win% or better (top 10 teams by record).

They are 4-11 against them, with three of their wins coming in the first two weeks of the season (twice over Min and once over SAS). 10 out of 11 losses have been by double digits.

This lack of competitiveness against the league’s elite raises significant questions about their ceiling as a championship contender, as it appears they are missing the “punch” needed to trade with top-tier talent.

Amidst the struggles on the court, the evening became a moment of reflection for LeBron James, who watched the team unveil a statue of legendary coach Pat Riley. James expressed his “huge respect” for Riley, whom he worked under with the Miami Heat.

Acknowledging the “Showtime” architect’s extensive impact on the game as both a coach and executive, James said that although it is human nature to think about his past “what could have been”, he remains focused on the present.

As the Lakers move forward, they will have to find a way to translate that respect into results against top-tier opponents if they hope to capture another banner.

The Boston Celtics came out of the All-Star break with another blowout win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday as they continued their West Coast trip. The win came as the team awaits further updates on injured star Jayson Tatum, who many doubt can return any time soon this season.

However, one person who thinks the Celtics can reach their goal this season regardless of whether Tatum is in the lineup is former ESPN big man Kendrick Perkins, who recently took to First Take to express his thoughts.

“They can go to the NBA Finals without [Jayson] Tatum. … They’re the most dangerous team in the NBA because they have no expectations,” Perkins, formerly of First Take on X, said via Twitter.

Perkins also said that Boston has “the best two-way player in the game in Jaylen Brown, because no other player in the league is doing what he is doing in terms of being top five in scoring and top five defensively in opponent field goal percentage.”

In fact, Brown is getting it done on both ends of the floor this year, although fans of Kawhi Leonard, Victor Wembanyama and many other players will strongly disagree with Perkins’ assessment.

Still, at this juncture, the Celtics are starting to look like a real threat even without Tatum in the lineup. There is a theory that Tatum’s hasty return this season could actually work against Boston’s 2025-26 plans, considering the team’s rhythm would be at least temporarily disrupted, and the fact that the star would have a lot of rust to shake off. Tatum also has not distinguished himself as a postseason performer so far in his career, which continued last year against the New York Knicks.

In any case, the Celtics’ road trip continues on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns.

The Chicago Bulls were given serious news on Saturday. center zach collins Will be out for the rest of the season. the reason is Causes of long term injury to toe Which will require surgery.

Head coach Billy Donovan, before the game against the Detroit Pistons expressed a wish For Collins to return next season. According to the Chicago Bulls, he is playing the final year of his contract.

“I think there are two sides to this,” Donovan said. “When a guy is in free agency, there’s a financial part to it, and then there’s the player, the make-up, the character. It’s hard for me, just not being in the conversation with a lot of people, to really know what a guy’s value is, so to speak, financially.”

“I know this from my perspective [value] It’s about winning. [When] He’s healthy and he’s out there, he’s a really good player for us, and I really like him. So, from that standpoint, I’m just hoping everything works out to get back here next year, because I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a teammate and a worker. Just his mentality, his toughness.”

Collins is completing what remains of his two-year, $34.8 million contract. This was a deal he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. A deal that was later accepted by the Bulls.

Collins played ten games this season. He averaged 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. His last appearance was on December 27 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Collins came up with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in the 112–103 loss.

John Heitinga was expected to get the Tottenham Hotspur job on an interim basis following the dismissal of Thomas Frank.

This is according to journalist Valentin Driessen, Via Football News. He explained that Igor Tudor’s appointment took him by surprise.

Heitinga left his role as Tottenham assistant manager on 16 February.^thJust 33 days after joining the club. Tottenham brought him in to support Thomas Frank as the pressure on him increased.

He previously worked as assistant manager at West Ham and Liverpool, the last season they won the title.

short tottenham spell

The hope was that he could help turn things around at Tottenham with his expertise. Instead, Spurs remained without a win in five Premier League games during his time on the touchline.

Despite this, according to Driessen, he was expected to take the job on an interim basis when Frank was eventually dismissed. Instead, he turned to Tudor and went to Dutchman.

He said, “If you read the statement: He could have stayed, and certainly he would have still been there.”

“That manager had been fired last week, and John could have stayed, but he was expected to be interim manager for the rest of the season. Then he heard Igor Tudor was coming.

“Then they sat down together, and he thought: ‘I don’t see any future here, because next season there will be a completely new staff and a new manager. He will bring his own people with him.’

“And he probably didn’t want to work under that Tudor, after which he said: ‘I’m closing the door behind me.'”

What does tottenham follow?

The question now is what’s next for Heitinga. A return to Liverpool could make sense, but with Arne Slott now in his place is Giovani Van Bronckhorst.

On the other side of Merseyside there’s always David Moyes. He originally brought him to West Ham as his assistant and also worked with him as a player. However, his team in Hill Dickinson looks ready.

Or perhaps there is a bigger job somewhere to allow the 42-year-old to finally establish himself.

As the internationally active Atlanta Hawks emerge from the All-Star break vying for the final play-in tournament spot in the Eastern Conference, Dyson Daniels is focused on making noise in the NBA postseason. The cliché of one day at a time is truly the mantra of this locker room, although the time zones of their home calls vary wildly. However, although the 22-year-old is enjoying every moment of the trip, Daniels is already planning an unforgettable summer supporting Australia’s Socceroos at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“I’m not that interested in football, but I’ll go to the World Cup,” Dyson admitted to ClutchPoints. “It would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’d go to see a game in Atlanta. I’d go to see Australia play the USA in Seattle. That atmosphere feels great.”

Atlanta will host the Round of 32, Round of 16 and semi-finals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, giving Daniels prime access to exclusive matchups right on his doorstep before reporting back to Hawks training camp. The key matchup for the Socceroos is a Group D clash against hosts United States on June 19 at Seattle’s Lumen Field, one of the loudest and most passionate soccer venues in North America.

Hawks focus on hardwoods

For now, the focus is on the work at hand. Daniels is enjoying the best season of his career, averaging 11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and an impressive 6.3 assists per game while also providing his signature lockdown defense. If the Hawks can navigate the play-in gauntlet and secure a playoff berth, the summer vacation will be well-earned. Thankfully, locker room bonding is made easier because the roster reads like a United Nations roll call.

“When you have a lot of Europeans, a lot of international guys on your team, I think we have eight or nine on this (Hawks) team, so we’re just trying to play as an under (Quinn Snyder),” Daniels shared. “We’ve all had different experiences, different backgrounds. Everyone has their own story. We’ve come in different circumstances. We’re enjoying this journey together.”

“Basketball is good this way,” Daniels said. “It brings us all together, brings people together from all over the world so see things, get perspective. (Nickle Alexander-Walker), (C.J. McCallum), and I had similar experiences in New Orleans, which we’ve talked about, and then a lot of international guys have had similar experiences as well. That’s helped us.”

That same sense of basketball as a connector gets Daniels excited about the NBA’s growing global footprint. He has watched the NBA’s foray into international markets with particular interest, both as a global ambassador for the game and as an Australian who knows first-hand what it means for a country to feel connected to the league.

“Yeah, I think it’s really cool. Basketball is a worldwide game. It was great for Europeans to get the experience of (NBA regular season) games,” Dyson explained. “They’ve got a growing culture there, so the NBA games really help.”

While his former team, the New Orleans Pelicans, visited Australia for preseason games, Daniels hopes the Land Down Under will soon get the same treatment in Europe.

Daniels suggested, “Europe got regular season games. Australia got preseason games, but hopefully the NBA will get some regular season games there soon.” “Some teams are starting their seasons overseas, partnering up with international teams. Getting the experience of those regular season games (in other countries) really means something. It’s special.”

It’s a fitting summer for a player who has embraced what makes the modern NBA so appealing. Whether the postseason trip ends in the NBA Play-In Tournament or a few weeks later, Dyson Daniels plans to ride the wave of momentum. With the leadership of Alexander-Walker, Daniels, Asa Newell and Jalen Johnson, the Hawks finally have something ‘special’ in the South that can compete for a conference finals appearance next season.

Nottingham Forest could make new money for Corinthians this summer, with the Brazilian side entitled to 10% of any profits from the eventual sale of Murillo.

brazilian outlet IG Reports have been released from the English press claiming that Chelsea and Liverpool are showing strong interest in the 23-year-old centre-back ahead of the upcoming window. Forest are said to value the defender at around €57.5m (£49m).

That figure has naturally caught Brazil’s attention. Murillo joins Forest in 2023 for €14m (£12m) plus €2m (£1.7m) in potential bonuses. As part of that agreement, Corinthians secured 10% of the profits from any future transfers. They are also entitled to solidarity payments as is his training club.

How much could the Corinthians have received?

If Forest are sold for €57.5m (£49m), the profit on the fixed fee of €14m (£12m) would be €43.5m (£37m). Ten per cent of that sum would give Corinthians approximately €4.35m (£3.7m), before adding solidarity payments.

For a Brazilian club that regularly looks to the transfer market to strengthen its finances, this is a worthwhile potential windfall. Not surprisingly, every new link to Murillo is closely monitored.

emotional connection will remain strong

There is also an emotional layer to the story. Murillo has said this before He is a Corinthians supporter And would love to come back to the club one day. This admission only strengthens the bond between the player and the former party.

Although a return is not on the agenda right now, any high-value move to Europe would indirectly benefit the Brazilian outfit first and foremost. In practical terms, Corinthians may benefit financially before dreaming of seeing him back in his shirt.

Interest beyond England

We have already informed about this AC Milan And Bayern Munich Was recently associated with Defender. That widespread European attention adds even more intrigue.

However, there is no apparent pressure to sell the forest. Murillo is under contract and has become a key defensive figure since his arrival.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea or Liverpool formalize their interest. If a deal materializes at the reported valuation, Corinthians will be keeping a close eye. A significant transfer to England could quickly translate into new income in Brazil.

Three-time WWE Women’s Champion Bianca Belair has officially undergone successful surgery to repair a serious hand injury that kept her out for nearly a year. The “EST of WWE” shared an update with fans via his Instagram Stories on Tuesday, revealing that he began physical therapy just a day after the procedure.

Bellaire jokingly questioned the start time of her rehab, posting a photo with the caption: “7am therapy. First day after surgery… why does it have to be 7am now?!!”

The injury occurred during a triple threat match for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 41 on April 20, 2025. Competing against Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, Belair suffered a break when Ripley accidentally fell on her hand.

Derik Queen is choosing optimism as the New Orleans Pelicans stare down a pivotal stretch of the 2025–26 NBA season. Speaking after an encouraging win on Friday, the Pelicans forward voiced strong belief in the group’s chemistry and its ability to flip the narrative over the final 42 games.

“The chemistry might not show in the wins, but we’re all close, we all like each other. It’s still a work in progress,” Queen said. “We’ve got like 40 games left. Hopefully have a great winning percentage the next 40 games.”

His comments reflect a locker room still united despite a season that has yet to meet expectations. Queen had 14 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists in a big win over the Washington Wizards.

That optimism comes amid a difficult campaign for New Orleans. As of this writing, the Pelicans sit at 9-31, placing them 14th in the Western Conference and fifth in the Southwest Division. They are outside the current playoff picture. Injuries, inconsistency, and late-game struggles have plagued the team. These have prevented them from building sustained momentum. Still, the organization has emphasized development and cohesion. They are leaning on internal growth rather than short-term fixes as they evaluate their direction heading into the second half of the season.

Queen has been a notable bright spot during that process. He is currently averaging 12.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He has shown steady growth while adjusting to increasing responsibilities in the rotation. His energy, physicality, and willingness to do the dirty work have earned trust from the coaching staff, even as the wins haven’t consistently followed. More importantly, Queen’s outlook underscores a broader belief within the locker room that New Orleans can still salvage pride and progress from a challenging season by finishing strong.