標籤: Opportunity

everton Sporting Clube de Portugal are again showing interest in right-back Georgios Vagiannidis.

A report said that Everton are one of the options on the table for the 24-year-old, who could be signed for at least €10m.

Everton’s interest revived

The newspaper reports that the Greek right-back could leave Sporting this summer because he is ‘lacking playing time’ at the club.

Although he has publicly expressed his intention to stay and attempt to establish himself, his continued presence in the team has not yet been confirmed.

Georgios Vagiannidis has made 32 appearances for Sporting this season, but his performances have failed to convince. As a result, they are willing to let Sporting go if they can recoup the money they spent last summer.

The defender joined from Panathinaikos in a €13m deal but is currently valued at €10m. Two parties in particular have inquired about the terms of the deal; Everton and Villarreal.

No official offer has been made yet, but both clubs have made inquiries. And, interestingly, both were interested in him even before he moved to Sporting last summer.

Everton need a right-back

Sport Witness covered those reports at the timeSporting won the race after Everton took the lead. Now he and Villarreal are back on the scene.

For his part, Georgios Vagiannidis has already rejected a return to Greece as he wants to establish himself with Sporting. But he would also be interested in trying his luck in a ‘more competitive league’. The Premier League would certainly fit into that category.

Everton need at least one right-back this summer, the experiment of playing Jake O’Brien in this position is certainly at an end. Seamus Coleman has also moved on and Nathan Patterson could also go.

Reports in England have already linked them with a £10m move for Aaron Wan-Bissaka. It now appears that Sporting may also have a €10 million option on the table.

wolves Midfielder Joao Gomes is reportedly turning down clubs left and right this summer, including Leeds United, even when some of them are offering more money than Atletico Madrid.

The Brazilian has become one of Wolves’ biggest assets after falling short in the Championship. Recent reports have already suggested that Atletico are making a strong move for the 25-year-old, and talks are heading towards a deal worth around €45m (£38.5m).

Now there is a clear picture of how the player himself is facing the situation.

according to the journalist pablo oliveiraJoao Gomes rejected approaches from Zenit St. Petersburg, Atalanta, Galatasaray and even Leeds United.

Interestingly, some of those offers were clearly financially better than those of Atlético Madrid.

Looks like Joao Gomes has made up his mind

This tells a lot about where this story is headed.

The opportunity at Atletico Madrid is reportedly considered unique by the midfielder. It makes sense when you look at the bigger picture – Diego Simeone, Champions League football and the chance to compete near the top of La Liga.

Joao Gomes is not just interested in securing the biggest contract available. And as a result, many clubs have already been sidelined.

The Leeds United angle looks a little different. Joao Gomes adapted well to English football and could easily stay in the country. Instead, he seems ready to do something different.

The mention of Atlanta is also interesting. Atletico initially looked at Ederson first Drawing attention to Joao Gomes. Now the Italian club themselves are reportedly among the parties unable to convince him.

The wolves are now waiting for the next step

Things are becoming clearer from Wolves’ side too.

The club is still in a strong position as Joao Gomes is under contract until 2028. Earlier reports had revealed that Wolves wanted around €46m (£40m), while Atletico’s expected offer is currently around €45m (£38.5m). It’s hardly a difference.

Furthermore, once a player begins to rule out multiple clubs and is clearly leaning toward a destination, negotiations usually become more straightforward.

Having turned down clubs from England, Italy, Turkey and Russia – especially with offers of slightly more money – it seems the midfielder has already chosen the direction he wants to go.

Unless another top European club suddenly changes the picture, Atletico Madrid now appear to be in an extremely strong position.

The Montreal Canadiens (5-4) will face the Buffalo Sabers (5-3) in Game 3 of their second-round series on Sunday, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

The Habs lost the first game of the series, but the scoreline was in favor of the Sabres, who were defeated by Martin Saint-Louis’ team by a wide margin.

The numbers show that Montreal will be in a great position to bounce back in Game 2, and although the underlying statistics don’t always reveal the future, in this case, it was an accurate prediction.

Fueled by an impressive two-goal effort from Newfoundlander Alex Newhook, the Canadiens began Game 2 with an intensity that had been absent for most of the opening round all year. It took them about a minute to take the lead and never looked back, emerging from Buffalo with a 5–1 win and a tied series.

Simply put, momentum is now firmly in the Canadiens’ corner, especially now that the series has reached Montreal, where the Bell Center faithful serve as the ultimate motivator.

And given the first line’s play, they’ll need it.

Nick Suzuki continues to produce as per tradition, but the offense from the team’s other top forwards, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkowski, has slowed. Caufield has not recorded a point since April 26 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, while Slafkowski has offered only one assist since his playoff-opening hat trick on April 19.

This would normally be a recipe for disaster, but Montreal’s depth has done a borderline miraculous job of providing aggression when the team needs it most.

Whether it’s Newhook, Kirby Dach, Alexandre Texier, Zachary Bolduc, or Josh Anderson, there always seems to be a player ready to carry the torch while the first line attempts to find its rhythm.

Of course, this is not a sustainable situation, but if Caufield and Slafkowski return to their scoring ways, having primary, secondary and tertiary scoring available will be a game changer for the Canadiens.

Possible Lineup Changes

St. Louis doesn’t like to change its lineup after wins, so we can assume the lines and defensive pairings will remain intact.

If the team announces any changes, we will update the article with accurate information.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alex Newhook – Jake Evans – Ivan Demidov

Alexandre Texier – Philippe Danault – Josh Anderson

Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach – Joe Veleno

Mike Matheson – Alexandre Carrier

Caden Guhle – Lane Hutson

Arbor Zekaj – Noah Dobson

jacob dobbs

jacob fowler

Buffalo Sabers Projected Lineup

Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn

Zach Benson – Josh Norris – Josh Doan

Jordan Greenway – Tyson Kozak – Beck Malensteen

Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson

Bowen Byram – Owen Power

Logan Stanley – Connor Timmins

Alex Lyon

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

How to watch Hubs Vs. saber

Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres, Sunday, May 10, 2026, will be broadcast on CBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. A quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote once the final whistle blows.

Additional NHL Playoff Analysis

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

leeds united And Coventry City have Juventus’ Lois Openda on their transfer radar for the summer.

On 16 April, Game Witness Covered claims from Italy The striker is attracting interest from Leeds United.

At the end of that month, we broadcast news Further supporting the Whites’ interest in the 26-year-old. Daniel Farke’s side are not alone as Coventry City are also involved.

The Sky Blues have secured promotion to the top flight by winning the Championship and will look to improve Frank Lampard’s side in the next window.

Last week, Sports Witness Covered Claims Coventry City are making contact with the Serie A side for Openda.

Promotion for Leeds United and Coventry City

Last summer, Juventus took the Belgium international on loan from RB Leipzig with a conditional obligation to buy.

TuttoMercatoWeb Report that the conditions to purchase it were met less than a month ago. The Old Lady will have to pay Leipzig €40.5m, in addition to an initial €3.3m loan fee.

This feat has already proven completely disastrous for the Serie A team as he has conceded two goals in 34 matches so far. This includes a goal in his team’s 2–1 win over AS Roma in the league in December.

Lois Openda has struggled consistently this calendar year, which has had a direct impact on his playing time in recent weeks. He will also not be a replacement for Luciano Spalletti next season.

The Turin club is trying to get rid of him, but is unable to recoup the fee invested to purchase him, even after removing the fees paid. Therefore, a loan move seems inevitable as it would help improve his value and get him regular minutes next season.

Leeds United and Coventry City have already shown interest in the frontman. Juve’s latest move provides these two English clubs with a great opportunity to sign him.

Our Opinion: PL move could be beneficial

It is clear that Lois Openda will hardly have a future at Juventus, and a summer exit is the best option for him.

He may consider a move to the Premier League, where the Whites and Frank Lampard’s team are his supporters.

This would be a loan deal, possibly with a purchase option rather than an obligation. It’s worth the gamble for Leeds United and the Championship winners, especially given how they performed in Leipzig.

napoli has put brighton and hove albion Striker Ivan Ferguson is at the top of their wish list as they look for a replacement for Rasmus Hjolund.

courier del mezzogiorno The report adds that sporting director Giovanni Manna is already active in the transfer market for next season to find a replacement for the Danish forward.

Brighton striker tops this list

The newspaper reports that Romelu Lukaku is in the squad, but is expected to leave this summer. The Belgian has been left out of the Serie A squad after staying in Belgium for injury treatment against the club’s wishes.

This has strained his relationship with them And now options are being explored. Manna is working on multiple profiles while trying to save the bank from collapse.

According to the newspaper, Ivan Ferguson of Brighton is ‘at the top’ of current thinking. He has spent a season on loan at Roma, but it has not been good. They’re not buying him out at the end of the season.

It could give Napoli the chance to ‘take advantage of the opportunity’ for a striker they have ‘always admired’ for his physical strength. However, there is no mention of how much Napoli would be willing to spend.

However, Corriere makes it clear that Manna has to be careful with finances and needs to ‘cut costs’ at the club overall. This shows that they will not come and offer Brighton a big sum.

Loan deal looks likely

Transfermarket currently values ​​the 21-year-old at €25m. This is a significantly lower fee than his value of €65m in 2023. However, there is little chance of Napoli spending that kind of money on him at this point.

Instead, this interest is very likely to develop into a loan bid. That’s what they did with Rasmus Hjolund this season.

He paid a €6m loan fee to Manchester United for the season. They’ll make it permanent this summer. A similar deal for Ivan Ferguson could make sense and would be in line with the need to cut costs.

For now, it looks like Manna is simply preparing his list of options, but the Brighton striker is at the top of it.

napoli has put brighton and hove albion Striker Ivan Ferguson is at the top of their wish list as they look for a replacement for Rasmus Hjolund.

courier del mezzogiorno The report adds that sporting director Giovanni Manna is already active in the transfer market for next season to find a replacement for the Danish forward.

Brighton striker tops this list

The newspaper reports that Romelu Lukaku is in the squad, but is expected to leave this summer. The Belgian has been left out of the Serie A squad after staying in Belgium for injury treatment against the club’s wishes.

This has strained his relationship with them And now options are being explored. Manna is working on multiple profiles while trying to save the bank from collapse.

According to the newspaper, Ivan Ferguson of Brighton is ‘at the top’ of current thinking. He has spent a season on loan at Roma, but it has not been good. They’re not buying him out at the end of the season.

It could give Napoli the chance to ‘take advantage of the opportunity’ for a striker they have ‘always admired’ for his physical strength. However, there is no mention of how much Napoli would be willing to spend.

However, Corriere makes it clear that Manna has to be careful with finances and needs to ‘cut costs’ at the club overall. This shows that they will not come and offer Brighton a big sum.

Loan deal looks likely

Transfermarket currently values ​​the 21-year-old at €25m. This is a significantly lower fee than his value of €65m in 2023. However, there is little chance of Napoli spending that kind of money on him at this point.

Instead, this interest is very likely to develop into a loan bid. That’s what they did with Rasmus Hjolund this season.

He paid a €6m loan fee to Manchester United for the season. They’ll make it permanent this summer. A similar deal for Ivan Ferguson could make sense and would be in line with the need to cut costs.

For now, it looks like Manna is simply preparing his list of options, but the Brighton striker is at the top of it.

fulham With Danilo now firmly in the picture, the midfielder has once again become the talk of the town for the Premier League club.

The 24-year-old has rebuilt his reputation at Botafogo since returning from Nottingham Forest, and his current form is making headlines in several markets. He is producing at a level that makes him one of Brazil’s most effective midfielders at the moment.

In all competitions in 2026, Danilo has 10 goals and 3 assists in 23 games. In the league alone, he has scored 7 goals in 10 games, which is an excellent return for a central midfielder. He is scoring once every 3.14 shots and is averaging 2.22 shots per 90 minutes.

Its impact goes beyond the goals. He completes approximately 45 passes per match with an 86.58% accuracy rate, while also making 1.72 key passes per game, regularly creating chances for teammates.

All this has put him firmly in Brazil’s plans. He is now seen as almost a sure name in the squad for the upcoming World Cup, which only increases his visibility and market value. This sets the scene for the latest developments.

Fulham ready to move forward with serious offer

according to globo esporte In Brazil, Fulham have already indicated a willingness to invest around €30m (£26m) for Danilo. This is not the first time The cottagers make a move on him.

The structure will include €22m (£19m) guaranteed and €8m (£7m) in bonuses, bringing them on par with Zenit, who are moving forward with a similar package. Brazilian side Palmeiras also remain interested, but a domestic move is believed to be more complicated.

That price point puts Fulham in a strong position, especially given Botafogo’s financial situation, making a sale in the summer window increasingly likely.

Reference: Instability in Botafogo

Danilo’s rise in 2026 explains why Fulham are making the move now. Beyond statistics, he has also become a key figure behind the scenes at the club. The dressing room in particular is facing uncertainty regarding finances and ownership.

And it explains why Fulham’s timing is not random. Botafogo is dealing with financial issues, and Danilo is internally viewed as one of the club’s most valuable assets. Selling it is seen as a way to raise money.

There has been tension since the beginning of this year. His camp also threatened to terminate his contract Delay in Image Rights Payment. Although the situation was later resolved, it led to instability around the club.

As we covered earlierThere was also an unsuccessful attempt to send Danilo back to Nottingham Forest in January. The deal, which also involved Alvaro Montoro, Blocked after legal intervention Prevented John Textor from completing the transfer without the approval of the club’s social arm.

The texter has recently been banned from the club. And in practical terms, this means that their loans will be viewed more seriously and carefully. So they need to generate income for the summer.

Fulham could benefit from timing

All this creates an openness. Danilo had previously decided to stay at Botafogo until the World Cup, believing that a January exit would not benefit his career. Now, with his value rising and interest growing, the summer window looks like the natural moment for a move.

From Fulham’s point of view, it is A player entering his primeWith Premier League experience, strong current form and a clear desire to return to Europe.

And importantly, this time the move will take place under very different circumstances compared to his forest spell.

Fulham are putting themselves in a position to act.

As the Montreal Canadiens prepare to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of their first-round series, it’s hard not to question the NHL’s decision making when drafting the playoff schedule.

Before we go any further, it’s important to remember that leagues don’t revolve around hubs, and there are other factors to consider than just hockey. Arenas outside modern sporting settings have become money makers for their billionaire owners, with concerts providing the majority of the year’s profits. With this in mind, it is always difficult to create an ideal schedule, as there are an endless stream of variables to consider.

And yet, watching the Canadiens crowd entertain themselves after a thrilling Game 3 win, I couldn’t help but wonder how much better the atmosphere would have been on Saturday night.

Len Hutson’s Habs playoff OT winner tonight at Bell Center pic.twitter.com/VpeMujdhjQ

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 25 April 2026

On the surface, perhaps it shouldn’t matter. The Canadiens will have played two games over the weekend, Friday and Sunday, giving the Bell-Centre faithful plenty of opportunities to celebrate the youngest team in the league.

But if the NHL’s goal is to give the game more exposure to the ultimate fan experience, it would be well served by giving new fans a glimpse of the most exciting atmosphere in North America, and that event only happens on Saturday nights, in the playoffs, at the Bell Center.

Of course, this opinion is dripping in ego, as there are other arenas that offer a healthier environment, but there is a reason the Bell Center is ranked as the best rink in the league.

No other arena can match the intensity, and no other fans can maintain that level of intensity during a game of sixty minutes or more.

And given the intensity involved in each game featuring the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, the chances of having a blowout game on a national broadcast will be significantly reduced.

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

Denzel Dumfries has since turned a corner liverpool Came forward for them in January. The Reds may have another opportunity to acquire a wing-back.

In the winter window, sports witness Viewpoints covered widely. This was also confirmed by Nerazzurri CEO Beppe Marotta, as the Dutchman was injured at the time.

It hasn’t taken long for Dumfries to make its mark. He scored a vital two goals away to Como a few days earlier, helping Inter move closer to the Serie A title. Earlier, he had also played an important role in the team in place of Luis Henrique.

Now, tuttomerkatoweb Have looked into its future, it has become clear that things are far from certain.

Release clause will apply

The outlet says the Netherlands international is ‘stronger than ever’ after ankle problem. Even though that injury troubled him for three months, it had no impact on his performance.

They call him a potential star of the World Cup and this could also decide his future.

This is because the 29-year-old has a release clause of €25m. This will come into effect in the summer and will only be relevant for foreign clubs.

The report adds to previous interest from Liverpool, with them also hopeful of a summer deal. Inter will have no control over the deal due to the clause.

Dumfries has also been described as a ‘highly respected’ player, with Barcelona having previously tried to sign him. Come summer, his future may ultimately lie elsewhere.

Inter have identified Marco Palestra as a replacement and do not want to be surprised by Dumfries’ departure.

Our opinion: Dumfries promoted in the best light

Seems like an attempt is being made to talk about Dumfries’ release clause. This will put pressure on Inter, who will not want to sell him at such a cheap price.

This could also be a way to force a renewal and Liverpool’s previous interest is probably being used to this end.

The Reds currently have two full-back options in the team. Furthermore, Dumfries has always been a wing-back who consistently operates in the final third. This makes it easy to question Liverpool’s interest, as the Reds have other issues to address within the squad.

southampton Wellington may soon face a decision as the Brazilian market begins to revolve around a player who has struggled for consistent minutes this season.

As we covered at the timeHe was signed from São Paulo in 2024 for €425k (£369k). He played 10 Premier League games in the Saints’ 2024/25 relegation season, but retained his place in the team.

The left-back has now made 17 appearances in the Championship during the 2025/26 campaign, but his role has fluctuated. That position often creates opportunities, and Brazilian clubs are now starting to pay close attention to his availability.

Despite his limited start, Wellington’s underlying statistics suggest there is more to his game than his current role. He has provided two assists so far while averaging 1.07 key passes per match.

Furthermore, his expected assists are 0.22 per 90 minutes, which puts him above 87% of Championship players in that metric.

His passing profile also remains strong. The defender averages around 40 passes per game with an 80.98% completion rate. That level of involvement points to a player who is comfortable in the build-up phases, something that may appeal to possession-oriented sides.

Defensively, the numbers are mixed but active. Southampton have conceded 12 goals in their 17 matches, with six clean sheets.

Individually, Wellington averages 2.91 tackles and 1.46 interceptions per 90 minutes as well as 2.23 clearances. These statistics highlight a player who regularly engages in defensive activities.

Brazil interested but no contact yet from Southampton

Wellington now has its sights set on Palmeiras, according to bolavipWho see the player from Southampton as a potential market opportunity. The Brazilian side are assessing a number of factors including cost, adaptation and his current role in England.

However, no formal steps have been taken. The player’s camp has not been contacted and no talks are going on at this stage. The situation is firmly one of monitoring rather than action.

This stance is important, especially as Palmeiras are prioritizing other areas of their squad. A centre-back and a midfielder are currently high on their list, which naturally delays any concrete approaches for a full-back.

Flamengo is also monitoring the situation, which could lead to competition as the situation evolves. However, both the clubs are still under observation.

Palmeiras needs a quick solution

That interest also comes with context. Palmeiras are currently short at left-back due to injuries. And since their season falls after the calendar year, the summer window is a strategic moment to strengthen the squad for the final stage of the campaign.

Their starting left-back Joaquin Piquerez suffered ligament damage to his right ankle during the last international break and required surgery. Initial estimates suggest a return only in the second semester.

Meanwhile, rival Jephte, signed from Rangers for around €7m (£6m), suffered a thigh injury. While not serious, it will keep him out for the next few weeks.

As a result, Palmeiras relied on 20-year-old academy player, Arthur, who has already moved up the pecking order but also suffered cramping in the latest outing.

This forced a temporary solution, with right-back Khelwain being used on the left late in the game. However, this adjustment affects offensive balance, especially when playing on the weaker foot in passing situations.

Finally, the Brazilian side is already aiming for solutions to avoid those problems in the second half of the season.

What’s next for Southampton?

From Southampton’s perspective, the coming weeks could shape Wellington’s future. His current lack of prominence suggests the club may be open to a solution, especially if interest becomes concrete.

Also, his statistical output shows that a player is capable of contributing in both phases of the game. That balance may yet convince Southampton to re-evaluate his role rather than move too quickly.

At the moment, there is no proposal, no talks and no immediate pressure. Nevertheless, conditions are beginning to form for a potential move, and that alone makes the situation cautious heading into the next window.

Veteran play-by-play announcer Joe Buck has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to call MLB postseason games from ESPN last fall.

Longtime broadcaster, who joined the network in 2022 primarily as the voice of The decision was revealed during a recent appearance at Sports Media with Richard Dietsch podcast.

ESPN, which previously had a major rights package including playoff baseball before renegotiating a lighter slate of regular season games, approached Buck for season-opening duties.

However, the scheduling proved incompatible with his NFL commitments.

“As you and I sit here right now on April 10, I don’t even know who got to the postseason,” Buck said. “I assume ESPN has a game, maybe they don’t… Well, there you go – NBC has the wild card, so I’m not going to do that.”

He added, “It was on the discussion table last year if it was something I wanted to do.” “When ESPN played its games early on, it was poorly timed.”

Joe Buck reveals he’s stopped calling MLB postseason games for ESPN https://t.co/0Ldz8NT5Lg

– Awful Announcement (@awfulaannouncement) 13 April 2026

Joe Buck says he turned down ESPN’s offer to call MLB postseason games

The 56-year-old, who has won a record 24 World Series during his career, said he no longer feels the need to pursue that chapter of his broadcasting career.

Buck added, “And believe me, I’m the luckiest man in the world; I wrote a book about it, that I got to do any of it.” “But I feel like it’s really a chapter in my life, it’s an itch that doesn’t need to be scratched anymore. I’ve done all that.”

There was a mixed reaction from fans on this news on social media.

“I wish he had the same mentality for football,” one fan wrote, possibly hinting that he hopes that changes. He Bend down too.

“Thank God,” said another. “The man is unbearable.”

Still, others consider Buck’s contributions to MLB irreplaceable.

“This really hurts my soul. I understand where Joe is coming from, but still,” one person lamented.

Another reacted to the news: “Shame. He was loved by the fans in baseball.”

Over the years, Joe Buck has been the voice behind some of sports’ most memorable moments, from World Series games to Super Bowls.

However, this high-profile position also made him the target of criticism, which intensified with the advent of social media. Countless memes emerge every year about fans buying expensive playoff tickets so they can avoid hearing the Bucks.

And while she found the whole affair annoying, she also took it to heart. Although he suggests ignoring comments on social media to other people in his field, Joe admits he hasn’t always heeded his own advice. Mainly because he was a leading figure during the rise of internet trolls.

“Always, I was the only guy playing national baseball during the social media era, and I got my socks off. And it exhausted me,” Buck said in an interview. michael’s show. “I can sit here and say, ‘Oh, that thing didn’t bother me.’ It upset me.”

“If you’re a human being who cares about what other people think and do, and you try to be a good person and you try to do a good job, and then you read how worthless you are or ‘You’re lucky you had a famous dad’ and ‘You hate my team’ and all that other stuff,” he lamented.

Kylie Kelce, on her husband Jason Kelce’s late night flop, they call it late nightDiscussed the reasons behind Philadelphia fans’ dislike of Joe Buck.

“I was raised in a household where I was taught to dislike Joe Buck,” he said.

“My dad taught me this,” Kylie continued. “I recognized very well the pattern in which it always seemed [Buck] Was cheering for the other team.”

When the former Eagles center asked if he had any specific examples of the Bucks being biased, he replied, “Absolutely not.”

Buck is the son of famous sportscaster Jack Buck.

Rusty Weis is a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dallas Cowboys and Xavier Musketeers. He has been writing professionally… More about Rusty Weiss

Newcastle United’s transfer interest in Gremio defender Vieri comes at a time when the Brazilian side are still settling their defensive structure for the season.

is a premier league club have already sent a scout To watch the 21-year-old live. That outing happened most recently during the state championship finals, where Vieri stepped up again and delivered a composed performance.

His rise has been quick and somewhat unexpected, and has attracted transfer attention from Newcastle United.

Heading into 2026, Vieri was not viewed as a guaranteed starter. However, injuries and inconsistency elsewhere in the team opened the door. Since then he has taken it in stride.

He has made 12 appearances this season and 24 senior football appearances. More importantly, he has become manager Luis Castro’s most reliable centre-back in recent weeks.

His profile explains why. Vieri is left-footed, quick on the ground and comfortable defending in space. Those qualities remain lacking in the market, especially for defenders of his age.

Furthermore, he shows composure in the build-up, often playing vertical passes or changing plays with long diagonals. And that combination has caught Europe’s attention.

Why are Newcastle United looking at transfers?

Newcastle United’s transfer recruitment has consistently focused on young players with development potential and resale value, especially in brazil. Vieri fits that model.

It is also recognized internally at Grêmio that his skills are difficult to replace. Youth coach Airton Fagundes, who worked with Vieri during his development, explained the defender’s strengths to the local outlet. zero hour.

“He is a quick centre-back, with excellent recoveries, a strong sense of covering. He is also a defender who can create play. He recognizes inside situations, plays diagonal balls, makes long passes, and reads the game very well, like few others. He is a predictable centre-back, the type the market demands. His starting position is no surprise.”

This view is shared by others who have followed his progress closely.

Former defender Luis Eduardo also highlighted a key factor behind the increased attention: “He is a boy with a lot of potential because he is a left-footed centre-back, which is a player that is difficult to find in the market. He attracts a lot of attention because his timing is also very good.”

Nevertheless, he remains a developing player. Luis Eduardo pointed to areas that still need improvement: “With time, he will learn with maturity. There is a question of his positioning inside the box. Sometimes in one-on-one duels, but that is something you learn with time.”

Fagundes offered a similar assessment regarding the development curve of the Newcastle United goal: “He just needs to control his intensity. But he’s young, and he’ll learn with time or with more games.”

The price determined as a matter of fact meets the release clause

Grêmio moved earlier this year to renew Vieri’s contract until December 2029. As part of that deal, he set a €50m (£43m) release clause for foreign clubs.

This figure indicates long-term confidence. However, the club’s internal stance on a potential sale appears to be more flexible. one more zero hour report indicates Gremio would consider offers in the region of €15m (£13m).

This difference reflects a common strategy in Brazil. The release clause protects the asset, while the asking price leaves room for negotiation.

For Newcastle United, this makes the situation clear. There is still no sign of a formal bid. Yet with the player now established as a starter and the price effectively defined, the conditions for a move are beginning to take shape.

what happens next

The next few months will be important for Vieri. If he retains his place and performs in big matches, interest is likely to increase. Newcastle United’s previous scouting suggests they are already beyond initial scrutiny.

The main question is of time. The €15m (£13m) move would represent a relatively low-risk investment for the Premier League club. However, waiting may increase both competition and prices.

For now, Grêmio is in control. But they’ve also made it clear that Vieri is no longer just a prospect – he’s an asset with a defined market value.

🇧🇷Alan Elias | Newcastle United prepare offer + exclusive details

💵 Magpies planning ‘unique’ approach
❌ Source reveals that Napoli have not been offered
➡️How are things right now…https://t.co/dLLTskDYdI #nufc #SSCinapoli

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 24 March 2026

Pierre Kalulu, Francisco Conceição and Khefren Thuram have become some of Juventus’ most important players over the past season, and all three players are emerging as targets of interest for Liverpool.

last week, sports witness Italy’s claims regarding their interest in the French defender were covered up. The idea was actually put forward by Il Giornale, with Manchester United also mentioned as a suitor.

This comes just after the Portuguese winger was mentioned as a possible replacement for Mohamed Salah.

Conceicao yourself addressed In the conversation it was made clear that he is happy in Turin. Liverpool have made the first contact for him but a deal is not expected to be easy.

Speculation about this has increased in Italy itself gazzetta dello sport Look especially at the Reds’ potential buying spree in Turin.

Liverpool want three Juve players

The newspaper believes the Reds’ sirens are ‘sounding loudly’ at the Bianconeri. While Juve will not want to sell their key players, failure to make the top four could potentially force their hand.

He starts with Conceicao, who is being seen as a replacement for Salah. The winger arrived in Turin for a fee of up to €32m – including loan fee. To execute the sale, they would need €20m to €25m more. Earnings of around €50m will help them realize huge capital gains.

The price is likely to be lower for Kalulu, who currently weighs in at €11m on the Old Lady’s books.

Gazeta claims that several English clubs – possibly even Liverpool, have made inquiries for the defender. At the moment, Juve will only accept spectacular offers for him, with the price previously reported to be around €30m.

Meanwhile, Thuram joined the Italian team for €20m and has arguably become their most important player under every manager. The Reds have made inquiries for him and Manchester United have also, with Juve likely to accept a fee of €40m for his sale.

How Juve’s season ends will determine everything. If they finish in the top four, they will not be forced into a sale, but failure to qualify for the Champions League could potentially mean disaster.

Our opinion: Thuram and Kalulu add value to Liverpool

Of the three, only Thuram and Kalulu would be potential upgrades for Liverpool at present. The 25-year-old defender has immense versatility and could easily fill in at centre-back if Ibrahima Konate were to depart.

Thuram is a better option than Curtis Jones, who himself was linked with a move to Serie A in January. He could prove to be the best midfield option of any at Anfield at the moment.

Conceicao has problems with consistency. He has moments of brilliance but has never translated them into regular impact. Bringing in someone like Salah to replace him could prove costly. That said, any replacement for Salah is likely to be several steps down from the Anfield legend.

All three Juventus players would cost around €120m, and Liverpool will know there is an opportunity there. Although they are unlikely to take all three, a sale situation would be even more attractive if Juve cannot finish where they need to.

🇭🇺 Milos Kerkez | “Headless fly”

➡️ Criticism of Hungarian Pandit
➡️ “Nothing special”
➡️ Claim Liverpool are holding on because of pricehttps://t.co/XvsXT6OaiK #lfc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 31 March 2026

Arsenal have already named Brazilian winger Luiz Henrique his dream destination. Furthermore, the player’s current form suggests he may soon be forced to make that conversation more concrete.

Now at Zenit, the 23-year-old is enjoying a strong spell. This has increased his status at both club level and the Brazil national team setup.

In Brazil the attacker has been widely described as the “12th man” for the national team. He can’t always start. However, he is consistently involved and reliable to impact the game either from the bench or in the rotation.

This reputation is built on performances that combine output with unpredictability. This season, Luiz Henrique has contributed with 5 goals and 6 assists in his 39 appearances for Zenit. He has maintained the same direct, aggressive style that has distinguished him in Brazil.

Arsenal links and Premier League history

Luiz Henrique’s praise for the Gunners is nothing new. In November 2025, he said: “It’s been my dream to play in England since I was a kid. There’s one team I like very much, that’s Arsenal”.

His words now sit in the wider Premier League context.

Before they went to Russia, clubs like Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United Everyone was competing for his signature.

At the time, there was a real battle going on in England for a player seen as one of Brazil’s most explosive wide options.

That interest has not ended. If anything, his performances since leaving Botafogo have reinforced the idea that he is unlikely to remain at Zenit for the long term. In fact, his Agent confirms he would prefer to move to England When the time comes.

His pace, dribbling and one-on-one strength continue to stand out. Players with that profile attract constant attention from English clubs. Given his age and trajectory, another move seems more than likely a matter of time.

Zenit opened the door and set the price

The situation of Luiz Henrique can now enter the next phase. Report from Brazilian outlet RTI game point out that Zenit is willing to sell the winger in the next transfer window, provided his valuation is met. The Russian club are said to be demanding €40m (£34m) to get a deal approved.

Interest is already emerging from Brazil. Flamengo and Palmeiras are both monitoring the situation and considering a move. However, the financial scale of the operation makes domestic returns difficult. This is true even for clubs with strong resources.

As a result, the Premier League again looks like the most realistic destination if Zenit go ahead with their plans.

what happens next

Luiz Henrique’s public stance has been clear. He wants to fulfill his contract, but he also dreams of playing in England. He has openly stated Arsenal as his favorite club.

Now with the price established and interest growing, that path is starting to take shape.

From Arsenal’s perspective, this could develop into a compelling opportunity. Luiz Henrique already has the tools to start for most Premier League sides. This is given in view of their output and ability in wide areas.

More specifically, there is a scenario where Arsenal could consider refreshing their attacking options with a profile change in the Brazilian – moving from Gabriel Martinelli to Luiz Henrique.

In current form, this would represent an upgrade in directness and one-on-one impact, which would align well with Mikel Arteta’s attacking structure if the club decide to make it work.

Martin Montoya has revealed how he came very close to joining Manchester United as a youth player when he was coming through the Barcelona system.

mundo deportivo cover quote Today we hear from the 34-year-old and how he followed almost the same path as Gerard Pique, who moved to Old Trafford, and Cesc Fabregas, who moved to Arsenal.

Barcelona’s youth were targeted

Martín Montoya was a product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy and made 67 appearances for the first team, as well as 75 appearances for the club’s B team.

Despite serving primarily as a backup to Dani Alves, he was also a major honor winner at the Camp Nou, with three La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey titles, a Champions League and a Supercopa de España.

However his career could have been very different. This is because Manchester United called him when he was young.

“I was very close to Manchester United,” he told journalist Rodrigo Rei.

“When I was young, I was close to playing for Manchester United. They came to offer me a contract, like they did with Cesc Fabregas and Pique.

“They offered you to spend four years in England, but at the time I didn’t want to do that. My dream was to play for Barcelona. For me, United is the biggest team in the Premier League.”

Interestingly, Montoya will play alongside both Pique and Fabregas for Barcelona. This, at least, justified the decision for all three.

brighton mantra

Montoya eventually reached England when he joined Brighton on a €7m deal in 2018. He spent two years with the Seagulls and made 56 appearances in total.

This saw him matched with Alexis McAllister. He is currently at Liverpool but reports in England have linked him with a potential shock move this summer. Montoya, for his part, is a fan.

“I spent six months with him; he came and then took a loan and went to Boca,” He said.

“Really a fantastic player, although at the time we didn’t think he would reach the level he is now. He was very young, barely spoke English, but as a person he is a star and as a footballer, he is performing brilliantly and has a huge future.”

🇩🇪 Exclusive: Castello Lukeba ‼️

➡️The formula confirms this @Kaus_Pandey17 There is interest from Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United
➕ Defender tempted to move to Premier League
➡️ Summer decision will depend on the proposed projecthttps://t.co/2VZ2ljcDv7 #afc #lfc #afc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 25 March 2026

Crystal Palace and Everton will have to start with €15m if they are to sign Zakaria El Ouhadi from Genk this summer.

This is according to Africa Foot. The website reports that Genk have set a price tag of €15m for the 24-year-old this summer.

According to their information obtained from a source very close to the player, Ouahdi is heading towards a departure in the summer transfer window.

He is on the radar of several ‘ambitious’ European clubs. Actually, the talks have now started taking concrete form.

VfB Stuttgart are keeping a close eye on the player’s profile, while Crystal Palace and Everton have expressed genuine interest.

€15m asking price

Sport Witness has covered reports on his interest over the past few months. In one such report today it is said The Crystal Palace was preparing for the summer stay.

he followed A similar report came last month also Which put the Eagles and Everton in the mix for the defender’s signature.

According to Africa Foot’s source, Genk have set their asking price at €15m. The player, for his part, has informed the Belgian club of his intention to change clubs. He wants to take the next step in his career.

However, his focus is on taking the right steps. A ‘very attractive offer’ has come from a Russian club, but he is not interested in it.

psv eindhoven competition

However, Everton and Crystal Palace need to move forward quickly. That’s because PSV Eindhoven has stepped up its efforts in recent weeks.

In fact, the Dutch club has already contacted representatives of El Ouahadi to find out the terms of the transfer.

Indeed, his father, who manages his affairs, is said to have welcomed the idea of ​​a move to the Eredivisie.

This suggests Crystal Palace and Everton may need to step up their interest soon.

At €15 million, El Ouhadi could be a bargain. This certainly would not be a price that would deter both parties from pursuing further efforts given their long-term interest.

last week, sports witness Fulham and Newcastle United reported interest in AS Roma’s Zeki Celik.

It comes after uncertainty emerged over the defender’s future at the Italian giants. His current deal expires in the summer, but so far, the Giallorossi have struggled to get close to a renewal agreement.

His salary offer is much lower than the demands of Zeki Celik’s camp. The player is looking for €4m per year, this figure will be after tax.

This was giving other clubs, including Juventus, the opportunity to sign him on a free transfer. Now, Newcastle United and Fulham may have some certainty over the player’s future.

Zeki Celik is likely to leave Roma

Today, messenger Have a detailed report on the 29-year-old and his future.

The Türkiye international will ‘pack his bags’ for the summer. His team’s demands of €4m per season have proved decisive in this matter, with Roma now pushing back with a new offer.

The report mentions interest from Premier League clubs – possibly Newcastle United and Fulham. Juventus are currently the frontrunners for his signature but the matter has not been resolved yet. Zeki Celik’s next destination has not yet been decided, his agent is exploring the market.

Roma are believed to be already looking for a replacement and this is a sign that the right-back could definitely be leaving.

Why is the player pushing the salary issue?

At 29, Zeki Celik’s next club will be his last big pay check and he is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

There is no doubt how much his stature has grown since Claudio Ranieri returned to Roma last year. He has continued that form under Gian Piero Gasperini this season, starring at right wing-back.

He has also made a place for the left wing-back. The former Lille player may not be a young prospect but offers credibility. Having previously only been a back-up, the Türkiye international may also be happy with a limited squad role.

That’s why this could be an attractive opportunity for both Newcastle United and Fulham. He also boasts European experience, which will particularly appeal to the Magpies.

Atletico Madrid have set their sights on Chelsea’s Nicholas Jackson, according to YW Sports.

At the end of last summer, Chelsea let the striker join Bayern Munich on loan with a conditional obligation to buy. This clause will come into effect if he makes a certain number of appearances this season.

The Senegal international has played 641 minutes in 22 matches in all competitions, scoring five goals and contributing one assist.

Bayern Munich unlikely to retain Chelsea player

Three months ago, Sports Witness Covered claims from Germany The Bundesliga side are unlikely to buy him for €65 million.

Next month, former Senegalese defender Ferdinand Colli urged the 24-year-old To finish this season at Bayern Munich.

He was confident that his compatriot would attract interest even if the Bavarian club decided against retaining the player.

Chelsea accepted his loan offer when Enzo Maresca was in charge at Stamford Bridge. Liam Rosenior replaced the Italian in January and it is unlikely to have any impact on Jackson’s future at the west London club.

Rosenior’s side considering summer sale

If Bayern Munich does not make his stay permanent, he will have to return to Chelsea. However, the report claims that a return is ‘not part of his immediate plans’ and the Premier League side are also considering selling him in the summer.

This comes as Diego Simeone’s side are keeping a close eye on the former Villarreal man’s situation.

Los Rojiblancos are expecting the exit of Julian Alvarez after this season and are considering options in the market.

YW Sport say the Madrid club see the Chelsea-owned player as an opportunity to market, with his ability to operate in multiple attacking positions also making HM an interesting target for Atletico.

The outlet says other teams, including ‘several English sides’, are also keeping an eye on Jackson. However, their details have not been mentioned. A move to Turkey could also be an option for Senegal in the next window.

Therefore, Wiw Sport State ‘Next summer could be a turning point for the Lions’ strikers, with a number of possibilities at their disposal.’

Atletico, for their part, are now focusing on the league clash against Espanyol and next week’s Champions League tie against Club Brugge. The first leg in Belgium ended in a 3–3 draw.

With the tank in full swing in Sacramento, the Kings are seeing two members of their veteran core, former All-Stars Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, undergo season-ending surgery to repair their respective knee and finger injuries. With Sabonis and LaVine gone, the Kings are certainly going to establish themselves as the worst team in the NBA, which they are currently on with their poor 12-44 record.

It may be terrible in Sacramento currently, but it’s not all doom and gloom, as the Kings have at least a few young players on the roster who have shown glimpses of being members of the next great iteration of the team, the most prominent being Keegan Murray.

Murray was performing well at the start of the season, but his progress to becoming a main player for the Kings has been halted due to injuries. However, with the Sacramento Giants’ improved condition, Murray now has a bigger opportunity upon his return from injury.

“I think it’s a big opportunity for me to grow as a player. I mean, with DeMar [DeRozan] These past few years, [De’Aaron] The Fox guys love it, I’m not able to take those big shots and things like that and in those moments,” Murray said, per Brendan Nunes of Sactown Sports.

“Just being able to step up in those moments and be able to create and take shots that win or lose games. I think that’s something I really haven’t done in my career so far.”

Keegan Murray will be the main man for the Kings

Murray hasn’t really had the opportunity to be the number one option for the Kings yet. However, he doesn’t have that opportunity yet, as DeMar DeRozan is still on the roster and he has been very durable for his entire career.

But the Kings, being in tank mode, should hand the keys to Murray and the rest of the team’s youngsters, including Nick Clifford, Devin Carter and Maxime Renaud, so they can at least get an idea of ​​the talent they have.

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs eyeing the signing of Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka in the summer.

This is as of Monday’s edition imageWho cover Arsenal and Spurs in their reports on the midfielder.

Tottenham’s interest is not new as he was on their agenda for the winter market. At the end of January, witness the game Covered Claims A Spurs approach to sign him.

Earlier this month, Sport Witness disseminated german claims There was an effort from Mikel Arteta’s side last month. No club succeeded in acquiring his services in January.

Arsenal and Tottenham still keen

The Germany international has less than six months left on his contract and has confirmed his decision to leave Bayern Munich after this season.

At the weekend, the 31-year-old scored a brace in the Bundesliga winners’ 3-0 win over Werder Bremen. He impressed in the latest encounter and that clearly pleased Bayern Munich director Max Eberl, given that Goretzka is leaving after this season.

“No moaning, no complaining, nothing. He faced the situation. He took a decision,” He said.

Then see where the player can go in the summer.

His status as a free agent, experience at the highest level and impressive performances for the Bavarian club make him an attractive option.

Atletico Madrid have shown interest in the winter market, but it is unclear what their stance is for the summer.

According to the newspaper, Goretzka would like to move to the Premier League, where Arsenal and Tottenham are interested. For now, he’s focused on finishing his time at the Allianz Arena on a high note.

Why is he leaving Bayern Munich?

Another German newspaper, Southwest PressAlso focus on his latest performance against Werder Bremen and his comments on whether they want to win the title this season.

The newspaper then reported that January was ‘less pleasant for Goretzka’ as Bayern Munich informed him of their decision not to renew his contract. He had negotiated an immediate transfer to Atlético, but no agreement was reached.

Sudwest Presse said Arsenal, Tottenham and AC Milan are following the developments closely.

With the German favored for a move to England, Arsenal and Tottenham will battle for his signature in the summer.

LOS ANGELES – Bernie Bickerstaff coached in nearly 1,000 NBA games over 14 seasons and also served as an assistant coach. The only time he coached in the NBA All-Star Game was as an assistant coach back in 1979.

So, when Bickerstaff’s son, J.B., finally became an NBA All-Star Game head coach in his fourth head coaching position, the Detroit Pistons head coach truly had appreciation to be the first in his family to achieve that honor.

“I rub it in his face all the time,” a joking J.B. Bickerstaff said with a laugh recently to Andscape. “No, I don’t, but you realize that as long as he was in the NBA, nothing for us is guaranteed and nothing is promised. So, it’s one of those things where it’s like, you cherish the opportunity to get where you are. As an assistant coach or in the NBA period, it was nine years before I participated with anybody in the playoffs. The first eight years of my career, we were done in March or April.

“You understand that no matter whatever happened the season before doesn’t mean that next season is promised to you, the opportunities are there or whatever it may be. So, you just don’t take those things for granted. And it’s special for me to be able to walk in my dad’s shoes and continue to even push that forward.”

Bickerstaff earned the 2026 NBA All-Star Game head coach honor after the Pistons locked in in the Eastern Conference’s best record through Feb. 1. This marks his first All-Star selection and the first for a Pistons coach since 2006. Bickerstaff will be coaching the USA Star team in a new three-team format at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday in Inglewood, California.

Simply put, Bickerstaff described the opportunity as “awesome.”

“It is. I’m not going to lie,” Bickerstaff said. “Again, just taking a moment to look back to where you come from to get to where you are now and the people that it impacts. All your assistant coaches, their families, all that stuff matters the most and the experiences that you’ll get going through it all.

“I hope what people can learn from my story is resilience. Interviews that I’ve done for jobs, been fired, never laying down and giving in, showing up every single day with the right attitude. The way you treat people, the way you care about people, it matters. And it’s put me in a place where I’m at now and I’m extremely lucky.”

Bickerstaff has turned the Pistons from a rebuilding franchise to a championship contender this season since being hired as head coach on June 30, 2024. The Denver native has previously held interim head coaching positions with the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers before being named head coach. The Pistons entered the NBA All-Star Break with an Eastern Conference-best 40 wins.

The following is a Q&A in which Bickerstaff talks about the challenges of his coaching career, Pistons All-Stars Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duran, the influence of his father, the importance of Black History Month and his pride as an African American, teaching his biracial children about the beauty and challenges that come with being Black, the ups and downs of his coaching career, coaching in predominately Black Detroit, advice he would give aspiring Black coaches and more in two separate interviews with Andscape.

What’s your appreciation for being an NBA All-Star head coach from where you came from?

You don’t think about it a lot when you’re in it. So, things happen like this and then it gives you an opportunity to reflect on what’s happened. Just thinking about being an interim head coach in Houston, making it to the playoffs with that team, the expectation of, well, now there’s an opportunity where you have shown that you could do the job to get another job and then that doesn’t happen. So, then I go to Memphis with Fiz [David Fizdale], interim [head coach] again, coach for a year, and then let go at the end of the year. Again, not getting another opportunity, go to Cleveland as an assistant, get that job and then build a program the way that we did, a program that we were proud of.

I was coach [John] Beilein’s assistant [in Cleveland], and he resigned 50 games in. And then I was elevated to coach at that point. There was no interim, it was just coach. And then we built something there. Thought we did a great job. They made the decision to let me go. I ended up [in Detroit]. It’s worked out in a way that I don’t think was imaginable. We talk about it as coaches in our group [chat]. Things happen to you when you go through difficult times and if you handle them the right way, when you come out on the other side, you’ll be in a better position. And that’s where I feel like we are now. Being here with this team, with [Pistons general manager] Trajan [Langdon], with [Pistons owner] Tom [Gores], this is where we were supposed to be.

Do you think that it’s probably not well-known that Detroit was the first full-time head coach job you got without being an interim first?

I think you’re always hunting that idea of like, okay, people view me as a head coach now. I think that’s when it’s either you’re in one place for a long enough time and you accomplish enough or someone else makes the decision to bring you in and hire you and then it makes the job different. When you find a level of success or you get a job in that way, it makes you feel viewed as a head coach in the league, if that makes sense.

When you got let go from Cleveland, where were you at mentally at that time? Was it pretty tough? Months later, you landed the Pistons job.

It wasn’t easy, I’ll say that. And for me, it’s never easy because there’s other people involved in it. If it was just me, you can handle things differently. But when you got a wife and kids and assistant coaches who have wives and kids, all of that eventually comes on you. I think that’s what it’s been in all the situations where I’ve been let go, that’s the most difficult part about it. I feel confident that I would be okay one way or another, but all your assistant coaches are let go also. Especially when you don’t have a job and an opportunity to just bring them with you and make sure they’re taken care of, it isn’t an easy move in your family. Your kids have to go through so much, especially depending on their age. All that stuff made it difficult.

I was at peace with the job that we had done there. So, it wasn’t like a thing where I felt like we failed. We did the job we were asked to do. It wasn’t a matter of like, ‘Okay, we failed.’ It was a matter of they made a decision, you did the job you were supposed to do. What do you learn from it? How do you get better from it? I think there was about a month in between there where I was just kind of like, ‘What am I doing every day?’ But it helped me get to a place of like extreme comfort with myself and clarity to know when the next opportunity came what it would look like.

The Pistons were a struggling franchise when you took the job in 2024. Did anybody try to disparage you from taking this job?

No, because obviously I talked to my dad a ton. And he was on the road scouting and watching a ton of these games and he was like, ‘That team suits you and it’s where your strengths lie.’ What I believe my strengths are is allowing young players to grow and help them reach their potential and impacting an environment where you breed competition, you breed confidence and you breed trust and there was opportunity here for that. Some people you would hear saying, ‘Don’t take that job because you wait a year, you’re going to get a better one with a better team.’ But you just watched this group and studied this group and there was something that just drew me to them and it felt like it was going to be a match.

Did you expect the Pistons to go from rebuilding to best record in the East this fast?

When you were with the group every day, you knew there was a ton of potential there. I couldn’t tell you that I would say that a year and a half later we’d be coaching the All-Star Game and be in first place, but I knew we were going to grow, I knew we were going to continue to get better and we had the pieces. The biggest thing for me also I trust Trajan totally because Trajan is the type of person that understands team and how to construct a roster. I think the small, subtle moves that he made last [season] and then even this [season], that helped elevate this team and I trusted his vision and plan.

Isaiah Stewart was suspended seven games for leaving the bench area, aggressively entering an on-court altercation, and fighting during a recent game against the Charlotte Hornets. Jalen Duren was also suspended two games for initiating the altercation and fighting. Is there any message needed to be given to Isaiah and Jalen about the importance of keeping their emotions with is at stake for the Pistons this season?

We need to move on from that.

How do the Pistons move forward from those suspensions?

Our guys have done it all year long. They stay moment to moment and take advantage of the opportunity that is in front of them. Whether it has been injury or adversity when guys have been called upon they have stepped up. Think of guys like Daniss [Jenkins] and Paul Reed. Whenever they have been called upon, they have lived up to the moment and the team has supported them and helped them be successful. That’s how we move forward. We hold the fort down until our guys get back. We will miss those guys while they are out but the strength of our team has been our depth and we will contribute to use that as a weapon.

What it means to have two of your players, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, in the NBA All-Star Game?

It’s awesome, man. Again, I think about them a ton and what they went through the year before we got here. What they went through that year was not easy. And for them to still have the resolve to want to stick together and improve together, they deserve all the awards that they can possibly receive. They could have very easily been frustrated and be like, ‘Man, I’m not doing this. This is our third or fourth coach in three years.’ Or whatever the heck it was. ‘Let’s go somewhere else together.’ But they didn’t.

They stuck together. They work out together in the summers. They spend time together. They lift each other up. And I think that’s the most important part and the fun part about it, watching guys go through that and then finding a way on the back end of it to work their way to where they are now.

The only time your father coached in the NBA All-Star game was as an Eastern Conference coach assistant in 1979 under then-Washington Bullets head coach Dick Motta. Has your father told you any stories about that appearance?

He was with the Bullets at the time and it was in Pontiac, Michigan. It was February 1979 and my mom was pregnant with me and she was there. So, I was there.

With the Pistons having the East’s best record, do you talk about trying to win the franchise’s first title since 2004?

We’re all about the process. We talk about today every single day. That helps control the emotional ups and downs. If you’re looking at big picture views of 10 games and all that, there’s so many different things that can vary. But if you can stay in the moment and focused on that, it helps your team continue to get better because you’re just attacking the problem that’s in front of you.

Your players were excited that you earned a spot as an NBA All-Star head coach. What did that mean to you?

It’s just the nature of this group. Text messages, phone calls, hugs. They are so happy for everyone. They want to see everybody succeed. We have guys that play different roles. They come in, like Dannis Jenkins, for example, comes in and nobody’s mad that he’s taking somebody else’s minutes. They’re cheering them on.

We had a game in the fourth quarter where Chaz [Lanier] came in against the [Chicago] Bulls and we end up winning that game because he’s making huge shots for us down the stretch. And nobody’s pulling away from that in his moment. They’re all pushing and cheering for him. So, it’s one of those things where that’s the nature of the group. They just want everyone to get what they’ve got coming to them.

How do you handle the chip on the shoulder of this tough-minded group and keep it moving in a positive direction?

I don’t. This is who we are. And we’ve grown this year from last year at being able to control our emotions in it. So, coming into the year, we always have these themes. So, this year’s theme is, ‘Control the chaos.’ So, we want to push people to that level, but then we want to be in control of our emotions while they’re scrambling. And our defense is based on that. Our offense is built on that. Our identity is built on that. We’re trying to push people’s limits in all ways we can.

Who in your family’s most excited about you coaching the NBA All-Star Game?

My mom. She still watches every game. She lives it, she breathes it. I get text messages from her about it. My dad and I talk every single day. But I know my mom, and this is like with me being the youngest and being the youngest boy, she’s invested in it in a different way.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

It’s a celebration of accomplishments of people who have knocked down barriers, people who have been resilient, people who have opened doors and created opportunities for all of us to be in the positions that we’re in now. It’s a celebration of the story of people overcoming such difficult circumstances and being able to continue to fight and find the good in a lot of places that were very dark at times. And it’s just an important part of all of our history, but the fact that it’s highlighted in the way that it’s highlighted in February allows others to share in it as well.

How did your parents teach you about Black history as a child?

It was every day. It was told to us through stories of our parents and of our grandparents and their shared experiences. For me, I’m still of an age where some people may think it was so long ago. But my father in particular was in school in segregated schools and living in Kentucky where race relations weren’t always the best. So, [it was] being able to have conversations with him about the journeys that he went through, the experiences that he went through, the changes that he was able to see over time.

Similarly with my mom, my mom was in San Diego but was from Louisiana and they would drive back from San Diego to Louisiana and have to go through those Southern states. And the stories she would tell us of her travels and what her father would have to do to make sure that they were safe and the places that they could stay in the hotels or rooms that they could rent for the night. That’s where it became such a part of our life and how much it meant to them from what they’ve been able to see to where they’ve been able to go and then what they were able to provide for their kids because of it. It just became a part of our life that we cherished and valued.

Any story that stands out that your mother and father told you?

My grandfather [my mother’s father] would literally have to leave them parked on the side of the road and walk up somewhere to see if they were allowed to stay in a certain place or a hotel. My dad, he’s told the story before about he was playing at one of the white schools and he dove into the stands and one of the white kids tried to pull his pants down. And their coach of the other team told his coach not to worry about it because those kids were told that Black people had tails and they were trying to see what my dad’s tail looked like.

You and your wife, Nikki, have three biracial children. How do you talk about race with your children?

They’re at an age now where just literally [recently] we sat down and had a conversation about it. They are very fortunate in their experiences and the opportunities that they have. But I want them to be mindful of the difficult things and the beautiful things that our history has shown us and the pride that they should take in being a part of that story and making sure that that story isn’t lost with them. That they continue to be a part of the story and share the stories with their friends, with their families moving forward, because there is so much value in it and it’s something to be proud of.

What is the beauty and also the challenge of being in an interracial marriage with biracial kids in terms of learning your history?

That’s the thing. To me, in a time where I feel like it’s much needed, there’s opportunities to learn from our differences, accept our differences. But at the end of the day, you find love where you find love. And that’s what I think is an important story to tell. We come from different places just in our country in general right now. And right now, I feel like those differences are being used to divide us instead of us appreciating those differences and being able to respect those differences and come together. That’s where I am with my wife and my family is like, we are learning each other’s experiences in a different way, the way that it impacts our kids. You hear both sides — their relationships with other Black kids, their relationship with white kids.

There is good and bad in both. Some of the things, that colorism amongst Black kids, you still hear the acceptant piece of it. You still hear no matter who you are, if you look like us, you’re one of us. So, it’s a very interesting dynamic that I’ve had to learn and navigate, and my family’s had to learn and navigate. But I’ve been blessed with three amazing kids because of it and [I’m] trying to help them through their journey, with the message of being proud of who you are, allowing others to be proud of who they are, but accepting them for who they are at the same time.

Because of the wealth that you’ve attained and the status as an NBA head coach while also living in a predominantly Black town in greater Detroit, do you try to seek out things where they could have Black experiences or is it just naturally a part of your environment?

It’s more of a family thing, to be honest with you. Because of the sports that they’re in and the level of competition of sports, they don’t have much free time. My sister and her daughters just moved out here. So, for us, it’s more about putting them around family. And then through sports also, they meet people and experience people that look like them. And that’s where they find the majority of it is through sports, school, and family.

What’s the coolest thing about being Black in Detroit?

Just the love that you get from the city of Detroit is amazing. No matter where I am, it’s a sign of pride from the city and the people that I’ve met that I’ve been able to get to the position that I’m in and coach their team. And I don’t take that for granted. We try to do a job with the mindset of how many people are out there pouring into this Pistons team and how many people from our community love this Pistons team. I feel that love every time I’m out in the streets or anywhere.

You can just feel how proud people are and how much they want to be a part of this Pistons group and the Pistons history as a whole. You go all the way back for me into ‘The Bad Boy’ eras. There’s a connectedness to the community here that’s loud and they wear it proudly.

What notable Black athletes or figures did you get a chance to meet because of your father that stays with you today?

Magic Johnson. Julius Erving. Those were guys that when I was really young, they were bigger than life to me. And those are people who I got enabled to meet through my dad because of it. K.C. Jones was my brother’s godfather and one of my dad’s closest friends who gave my dad his first job in the NBA. So, there’s so many people that I was fortunate enough to meet because of him that it was weird because it was almost normal.

I was a ball boy for his teams in Seattle and it was guys like Xavier McDaniel, Dale Ellis, Shawn Kemp, Derek McKey and all those guys like Nate McMillan. I would just be at practice every day, so they just felt like regular guys to me. One of the guys who I have a great relationship here who’s from Detroit is Jalen Rose. My dad drafted Jalen Rose when he was in Denver and I used to wear Jalen Rose’s shoe. He would give me his shoes to play basketball in when I was in high school. So, it’s like what was normal for us, I sit back now and think about just how abnormal it was and how fortunate I was to be in that position.

There are going to be two Black head coaches in this NBA All-Star Game. San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson won the honor in the Western Conference. What does it mean to you to have two African American coaches and what do you hope comes from people seeing that?

Of all the major sports league, the NBA and the owners of teams in the NBA have gotten it most right as far as allowing and providing opportunities and trusting Black coaches to lead their franchises and to lead their organizations. When given equal opportunity, there’s so many qualified people out there who are capable of doing the job. To me, that’s what’s changed over time is just the opportunity.

I think about guys like my dad, Wes Unseld Sr., Al Attles, K.C. Jones, all these guys that broke down barriers for people like myself to be in the position that I’m in, that Mitch is in. When you get the opportunity, you need to be mindful of that, of all those people that came before you, you do have a responsibility to continue that and push that forward.

What did you think of Lenny Wilkens’ legacy and also his passing last year?

It was sad, obviously, when he passed away. I’ve knew Lenny since I was probably six years old. He gave my dad his first head coaching job with the Seattle SuperSonics. He went on a trip to the Bahamas with us. It was like a celebrity game that was put on, and he and my dad were the coaches. I believe Magic Johnson put that celebrity game on, if I’m not mistaken. So, I’ve known him literally the majority of my life and admired him at a level because of the way he carried himself, the class at which he did the job, how long he survived and lasted in a tough business. He was the President of the Basketball Coaches Association for a long time. So, I have a ton of respect for him. And even when I was in Cleveland, he would call me and check on me and see how I was doing and ask me if I needed anything.

It’s guys like that and mentors like that, that just opened doors for us but then took care of you afterwards. They didn’t just bust it down. They busted it down and stayed around to make sure that we were all okay in moving through the process.

What advice would you give a young Black man or young Black woman considering trying to get into the basketball coaching ranks?

I’ll give the same advice that I was given by my dad, and that was to work twice as hard as everybody else around you and work to be twice as good. I would find every opportunity that existed to work and show people that I was willing to work. My dad set me up when I was younger. Every summer I would work the Euro Camp and then I would work the Chicago Pre-Draft camp every time I was given the opportunity. We used to do those group draft workouts and I would run the group draft workouts that all the executives would come to. We had ‘Grg’s Camp’ [Tim Grgurich] in the summer that we would all go to and the executives would be there. It opened opportunities where people got a chance to see you as an assistant coach to and see what your talents were and what your skillset was. That would be my thing: wherever there is work to be found, go find it and go do a great job at it.