標籤: longterm

Joshua Zirkzee’s wages Manchester United Despite being on target for a long time, the injury remains a problem for Napoli.

Corriere del Mezzogiorno Report Zirkzee’s current wage packet of €4.3m a year ‘could tempt Napoli to look elsewhere’ this summer.

napoli wants a new striker

The newspaper reports that Napoli are looking for a replacement for Rasmus Hjolund, who would be signed on a permanent basis in the summer.

Romelu Lukaku is currently an alternative option but is expected to leave in the summer. The Belgian has fallen out with those in charge at the club after choosing to remain in Belgium for injury treatment against Napoli’s wishes.

This spoiled their relations, they were already in trouble in the media. Sporting director Giovanni Manna is already targeting a replacement.

A list has been drawn up and Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee is on it. The Dutchman is a long-term target for those in charge in Naples.

However, his €4.3m salary is a problem. Indeed, the newspaper says it is an issue that may suggest Napoli could look elsewhere for a lower-cost deal instead. Brighton’s Ivan Ferguson is also on their list.

Listen to Manchester United offer

This has become clear from recent reports Manchester United will listen to offers However, for Joshua Zirkzee this summer.

Perhaps if there is an opportunity to save money on that front, Napoli will be able to get a deal done with the striker over the line. Even in that scenario, it seems they need the 24-year-old to contribute.

Corriere del Mezzogiorno has not clarified by how much he needs to reduce his salary. But any real possibility of a transfer happening this summer is likely to cost a significant amount. It seems the ball is completely in the Dutchman’s court.

Uruguay are concerned about the injury to Tottenham Hotspur’s Rodrigo Bentancur, who is pushing for a place in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad for the World Cup.

The midfielder last made an appearance for Tottenham in a 3–2 league defeat against AFC Bournemouth on 7 January. He suffered a hamstring injury in the same tie, which forced him to go under the knife.

Bentancur has been on the sidelines since then, meaning he did not play under Igor Tudor, who replaced Thomas Frank in February.

Spurs faced a difficult period under Tudor [one point in the league] And earlier this week appointed Roberto De Zerbi as his successor.

On March 13, Game Witness broadcast news The Uruguay international was 15 days further into his rehabilitation. The same source indicated that he could return to the field with Tottenham at the end of April.

Fresh injuries cause concern for Tottenham and Uruguay

espn sports There is a report on the players that Marcelo Bielsa could select for the World Cup.

Some have to ensure their place because of their position under the manager while some still have to struggle.

Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte, and Flamengo’s Giorgio de Arrascaeta are all untouchable in midfield. Flamengo’s Nicolás de la Cruz and Rodrigo Bentancur also have the same status.

However, the 28-year-old has been ruled out of the game due to injury and is ‘doubtful for the World Cup’.

This indicates that he will not be ready before the start of the tournament in June, meaning he will not be able to feature again for Tottenham Hotspur this season.

Bielsa speaks to journalists after Tuesday’s draw against Algeria montevideo Has released his comments. The manager says his plans may change depending on the situation.

“Plans are one thing, and reality is another; sometimes they collide,” He said.

“Maximiliano Araújo had not made his debut in three years, and those mentioned, such as Ronald Araújo, Rodrigo Bentancur, Nicolás de la Cruz and Darwin Núñez, are players who have faced different situations

“Bentencur suffered a long-term injury and is currently recovering. Darwin has not played competitively for some time, and de la Cruz is a player who was important during Uruguay’s best times and now he is trying to find his form and become a starter for Flamengo, which is what we want. There are always nuances in the plans that arise from reality.”

What’s next for Bentencur?

Roberto De Zerbi’s immediate task is to help Tottenham Hotspur avoid relegation. They are unlikely to be able to rely on Rodrigo Bentancur and the chances of using him this season now seem slim.

The South American has played 2,072 minutes in 28 matches for the Premier League side this season. De Zerbi could see a role for himself next season, if it is not one of the areas he wants to bring his choice to.

🇮🇹 Roberto De Zerbi | Gazzetta explains Tottenham power

🔥 Preparations to establish Ferguson-like control over Spurs
➡️Transfer and Comprehensive Decision
✍️Part of the condition of signing #THFC
💵 There is a possibility of getting the players he wantshttps://t.co/ka2IedoTEK #joyce

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) April 1, 2026

The Orlando Magic have slipped a bit on their recent seven-game win streak, losing two consecutive games to the Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Magic have been playing shorthanded recently, with forward Franz Wagner missing a game since February 11 due to an ankle injury.

Recently, Wagner got 100% honest about the frustrations of the rehab process as he wants to get back into the lineup before the end of the season.

According to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel, Wagner said, “Going into this, I expected to feel really good within 4–6 weeks of the injury.” “And obviously I didn’t feel that way. So, I think it’s always disappointing, not only for me (but) for everyone involved.”

Many Magic fans were also hoping that Wagner would be back by this time, but apparently, the recovery process has not proceeded as smoothly as expected.

The Magic have done a solid job of holding down the fort in Wagner’s absence, currently sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, but they are in danger of slipping back into the play-in zone with a losing streak against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.

When healthy, Wagner is a versatile forward who can do it on both ends of the floor, and early this season he showed signs of an improved outside jumper, an area long viewed as his main weakness.

If he can get back on the field before the playoffs arrive, the Magic won’t be a team anyone is looking forward to facing off against.

Orlando’s game against the Hornets on Thursday at Charlotte is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET.

The Atlanta Hawks have won 11 consecutive games after Wednesday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks. It was a strong game from newly acquired wing Jonathan Kuminga, who scored 16 points in the win, including an incredible shot from almost full court.

Kuminga has had a solid stint in Atlanta so far after being shipped there along with Buddy Hield from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for big man Kristaps Porzingis, and now, more details are emerging on what could happen in the future between Atlanta and Kuminga.

“There is mutual interest between the Hawks and Jonathan Kuminga in declining his 2026-27 team option worth $24.3 million and agreeing to a long-term contract,” former FullCourtPass report on Twitter, citing a report from NBA insider Jake Fisher.

It certainly makes sense why Atlanta would be interested in keeping the former 2021 lottery selection long-term given his youth, athleticism and potential to get even better. Kuminga is a perfect fit for Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh looking to build a team full of athletic wings who can play multiple positions and switch defensively, and the fact that former number one overall pick Zachary Rishachar is back in his second season could make Kuminga’s long-term contract a sensible option for Atlanta.

Meanwhile, the Hawks have risen up the Eastern Conference standings amid their winning streak, now sitting just 1.5 games out of the fifth seed, though some skeptics are pointing to the lack of quality teams Atlanta has played during their streak as a reason not to take it seriously.

The Hawks will get a chance to test their skills against a playoff-caliber opponent on Friday evening when they go on the road to take on the Houston Rockets.

Much has been said about the beginning of Deandre Ayton’s life with the Los Angeles Lakers. Brought in to stabilize center after LA struggled at the position for several seasons, Ayton has had a great season so far, at least on paper.

However, regular misses and a reluctance to adopt a defensive role are also evident, meaning a more long-term solution may still be on the cards. This brings us to the 2026 NBA Draft and the Lakers’ No. 21 pick, which ESPN believes the franchise could use to draft Arizona Wildcats center Motijes Krivas.

Krivas is expected to be one of the many centers to be selected in the 20-40 range in the upcoming draft. However, he has established himself as a regular contributor to his team, averaging 10.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and assists in 31 games.

Standing at 7-foot-2, Krivas is an imposing interior presence and has exactly the type of defensive mentality the Lakers need. Averaging 8.2 rebounds per game, the Wildcats star is fundamentally sound on both ends of the court.

He is a highly efficient shooter who converts nearly 80% of his free throws and has all the ingredients to immediately become a role player on a contending team. Of course, that doesn’t mean L.A. can insert him straight into the starting lineup.

The Lakers could consider adding him as a rotational option alongside Ayton and Jackson Hayes, and he would have a long-term prospect that could even exceed expectations. As far as Ayton is concerned, the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves also provided evidence of motor fluctuations.

Ayton dominated early on, attacking Rudy Gobert in the paint and recorded 12 points and 12 rebounds by halftime. Yet the second part tells a completely different story. Ayton added only 2 points and one steal over the final two quarters, once again showing the kind of inconsistency that has come to define his tenure with the Lakers.

The Dallas Mavericks are on a tear after losing eight straight games in recent weeks following Tuesday night’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks. At this point, the main things Mavericks fans have to look forward to are the development of star rookie Cooper Flagg and the NBA Draft Lottery, which is scheduled to take place in May.

At the trade deadline, the Mavericks opted to reduce their losses from the Luka Doncic trade by sending big man Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards, although they surprised some by grabbing injured point guard Kyrie Irving, who will not play this season as he recovers from ACL surgery.

Recently, ESPN NBA insider Jeremy Wu released his mock draft for 2026, and he asked the Mavericks to select Irving’s long-term replacement by taking Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr. with the seventh pick.

Wu said on ESPN.com, “Acuff was named SEC Player of the Year after a stellar season that solidified him as a lottery pick. His ability to navigate tight spaces on the court, create his own offense and find teammates has been a major differentiator.”

Wu also reported that “Dallas is another potential point guard landing spot, with Kyrie Irving now 33 and the Mavs building around the emerging Cooper Flagg. Finding a long-term starter at the position would be a coup for their future.”

Indeed, Irving doesn’t necessarily fit the timeline of the Mavericks, who have fully embraced a rebuild around Flagg, whom they selected as the number one overall pick last year.

Adding Acuff would give the Mavericks another building block as an electric scorer who can put consistent pressure on opposing defenses, and give Flagg more room to operate.

The NBA lottery is scheduled to take place on May 10.

The Orlando Magic have struggled to stay healthy throughout the 2025-26 NBA season, and their troubles have continued into the final month before the playoffs. While Paolo Banchero is healthy and leading the team to success, Anthony Black and Franz Wagner have both been sidelined with no clear timetable for their eventual returns.

Black, who suffered a lower back strain two minutes into Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, missed the Magic’s next game on Sunday night against the Milwaukee Bucks because of this back strain. However, Orlando announced Tuesday morning that the breakout guard would be sidelined with a lateral abdominal muscle strain. An injury that was discovered after an MRI.

His comeback will depend on how he responds to treatment.

This isn’t the best news for the Magic, especially since Black has produced a stellar third season and taken over as one of the team’s key guards. Abdominal injuries usually cause players to miss at least a week of action, but can sometimes take longer depending on the severity of the injury.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently missed nine games with an abdominal strain.

In 60 games this season, of which he has started 40, Black has averaged 15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, while shooting 45.1 percent from the floor. He currently ranks fourth on the team in scoring this season and third in total points (917).

As far as Wagner is concerned, his left ankle sprain has been the downfall of his season. Wagner initially suffered an injury on December 7 against the New York Knicks and subsequently missed 16 consecutive games. Although he returned to play overseas in his hometown of Berlin on January 15 and again in London, England on January 18, Wagner then missed nine consecutive games.

He has been sidelined indefinitely since Feb. 11 after suffering a concussion and needs extra time after the All-Star break to fully recover. Following a recent re-evaluation of his ankle, the Magic have determined that Wagner is making progress, but still needs time to recover and reach his response to treatment.

Wagner has played only 28 games this year due to ankle trouble, averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

No timetable has been given for Black or Wagner’s return to play, meaning both players are likely to be out for at least another week to see how they handle their respective injuries and if they can begin to make progress in on-court workouts.

Despite these two injury concerns as the Magic enter the final stretch of the regular season, the team has been having a lot of success recently due to Banchero’s leadership.

Orlando has won four games in a row and six of its last eight games overall. Banchero is averaging 27.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game during the team’s four-game winning streak. This earned Banchero consideration for the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award.

The Magic, who are 35-28 this season, will look to continue to maintain positive momentum and possibly move into the East playoff picture against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

As far as Black and Wagner are concerned, further updates on the injury status of both players will be provided by the team at a later date.