Manchester CityNathan Ake is in his final weeks with the Premier League team.

The Netherlands international was a regular for Manchester City until the end of last season.

However, he has lost prominence at the Etihad this season and to put it into context, the centre-back has made just four Premier League starts.

The former AFC Bournemouth player has played 1,455 minutes in 29 matches for the Citizens.

Manchester City defeated Arsenal in the final to win the EFL Cup in March. Following the Wembley success, the defender hinted that he could leave after this season.

At that time when he was asked about his future after this season. He said: : “I have no idea, but winning the Carabao Cup would definitely be a nice ending.”

Last Friday, Sports Witness Covered claims from Italy That his agent has offered him to Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.

Manchester City is certain to be eliminated

football international Focus on that and let us know that Nathan Ake is getting closer to leaving Manchester City.

Recent claims in the Dutch press have mentioned PSV Eindhoven as an option. However, VI State sources close to the player insist the Eredivisie side ‘will stand no chance’.

That’s because the 31-year-old aims to remain in the top European leagues, and could be on his way to Serie A.

He is attracting ‘solid interest’ from both Juventus and AS Roma. AC Milan is also an option, with the San Siro club trying to sign him in January.

At that time, due to injuries to other players, Pep Guardiola stopped his move. However, the Manchester City manager will not stop his exit after this season.

Juventus and Roma are options and the defenders will have to secure European football for them to be considered. The Old Ladies are fourth in the table, one point ahead of fifth-placed Roma.

Our opinion: Summer exits beneficial for Manchester City

Nathan Ake’s contract expires in 2027 and his value, accordingly transfer marketIs €15m.

His exit would give Manchester City the opportunity to earn a fee and avoid losing him for nothing after a year. The Dutchman could enjoy regular minutes at another club, providing protection for an experienced defender.

In short, relocation can benefit all parties.

Nils Lundqvist has become an unsung hero for the Dallas Stars this year.

But Dallas will need a win without the defenseman to take a 3-2 lead in the series against the rival Minnesota Wild.

The Stars ejected Lundqvist from Game 5 on Tuesday night after he skated into the face of Wild forward Michael McCarron.

Lundqvist has two points in the series, both assists, while his average time on ice is 16:45. He is playing on Dallas’ second pairing with Thomas Harley and is also killing penalties for Dallas.

Stars rule out Nils Lundqvist but ‘must watch’ him before series ends

Lundqvist did not need to go to the hospital with injuries to his face. But Stars coach Glenn Gulutzan confirmed he will not be available for the all-important game at American Airlines Center, although the Stars have him listed as day-to-day.

“You won’t see Nils in the game tomorrow,” Gulutzan told reporters on Monday. “We need to see that before the series ends.”

Lundqvist, whom Dallas acquired from the New York Rangers in September 2022, has been a regular on the Dallas blue line when healthy. He had 11 points this season and has skated in 16 Stanley Cup playoff games over the past three seasons – he missed the entire postseason last year due to shoulder surgery.

Tyler Myers is expected to replace Lundqvist with Harley on the Stars’ second pairing. The Houston-born, 6-8 defenseman has no points and is minus 3 while averaging 21:04 on ice over the course of four games.

Who will replace Nils Lundqvist in the Stars lineup?

Of course, the Stars will want to have Lundqvist ready for Game 5. But even with him out, they still have options.

Ilya Libushkin is the most likely player to be in the Dallas lineup against Minnesota. Libushkin played in 53 games with the Stars this season and was plus-1, plus he’s a veteran of 28 playoff games, including 14 games while filling in for Lundqvist in the playoffs a year ago.

But Alex Petrovic also suited up for 54 games and had 10 points for the Stars. Petrovic played in 17 postseason games for the Stars in 2025 and contributed one goal and one assist.

Both Libushkin and Petrovic are right shooting guards, so the decision depends on whether Gulutzan wants to go with the 6-5 Petrovic or the faster but equally bulky Libushkin.

Gulutzan is confident that no matter who he chooses, the game will not decline much.

“They all played well,” Gulutzan said. “That’s the beauty of our lineup, they all played well. That helps when you make your decision.”

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

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the growing criticism of the league’s 65-game rule following Cade Cunningham’s recent injury, as the debate rages about postseason award eligibility.

Speaking Wednesday, Silver responded to concerns raised by the National Basketball Players Association after Cunningham’s situation sparked a renewed investigation into the policy. This rule, implemented to ensure that players meet minimum participation thresholds for major awards, has faced backlash for potentially disqualifying standout seasons marred by injury.

ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel shared Silver’s comments on X, formerly known as Twitter:

“I’m not willing to say it’s not working. It’s working… I’m not willing to say because there’s a sense of injustice to a player, that the rule doesn’t work.”

The NBPA issued a statement Tuesday criticizing the rule in light of Cunningham’s case:

“Cade Cunningham’s potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule and is another example of why it should be eliminated or reformed to make exceptions for significant injuries. Since its implementation, many deserving players have been unfairly disqualified from season-ending honors by this arbitrary and overly harsh quota.”

Cade Cunningham’s award eligibility in jeopardy after injury

Cunningham, 24, has been in the midst of a breakout fifth season with the Detroit Pistons, averaging 24.5 points, a career-high 9.9 assists, 5.6 rebounds and a career-best 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 46.1% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range in 61 games, logging 34.4 minutes per contest.

His production has played a central role in leading Detroit to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The Pistons have a record of 52–19 and currently sit as the No. 1 seed as the regular season enters its final stretch.

However, Cunningham’s award eligibility is now in question after he suffered a collapsed lung last Wednesday. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, he is expected to miss an “extended amount of time”, leaving it uncertain whether he will reach the 65-game limit.

The situation has intensified league-wide discussion about balancing player health with awards criteria, as the NBA and NBPA continue to evaluate the long-term effects of the rule.

There has recently been discussion in the NBA of a 65-game rule that does not allow players to receive any awards at the end of the season if they do not meet the criteria. Cade Cunningham is expected to miss the rest of the regular season due to a bad lung, keeping him from making the All-NBA team despite the season he spent for the Detroit Pistons.

There are some who are in favor of the 65-game rule, while others believe the rule should be stricter. Jaylen Brown believes in the latter, but he also doesn’t believe people should back down from the former stance after Cunningham’s injury.

“When it first became the 65-game rule, everyone was in support of it,” Brown said on his Twitch stream. “At the time, people were talking about people who were load managing, and there were a lot of complaints about load management. There were a lot of complaints about superstars not playing. Now they move the norm to 65, and now it seems like the popular opinion is that it’s time to get rid of 65.”

Jaylen Brown talks about the 65 Game criteria on his live stream and asks fans to change their opinion on it 👀

“Everyone was supporting it, because people were doing load management, now suddenly people don’t want it.” pic.twitter.com/98ntmaR023

– 𝓖𝓪𝓮𝓮 🍀 (@gabe_blessed) 25 March 2026

Brown said he wished it were 62 games instead of 65, but he had no problem with the norm.

“It was the opposite of what I thought at first, that guys would play 40 or 50 games and then be drafted to All-NBA teams,” Brown said. They’ll play half the season, and their numbers will be better because they’ve only played half the games compared to someone who played 70, 68, or 72 games. That’s a big difference.”

The rules allow for awards to players who have played most of the season, but it is unfortunate when someone like Cunningham is lost late in the season and does not win the award he deserves. It’s uncertain whether the league will make any rule changes, but it wouldn’t be a surprise.

In the wake of Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham’s recent lung injury, he is now in danger of not qualifying for the NBA’s 65-game rule to be eligible for postseason award honors. As a result, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the National Basketball Players Association, or NBPA, came out with a prepared statement in support of Cade Cunningham and called on the NBA to get rid of the 65-game rule for postseason honors.

The NBPA wrote, “Cade Cunningham’s potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule and is another example of why it should be eliminated or reformed to make exceptions for significant injuries.” “Since its implementation, too many eligible players have been unfairly disqualified from end-of-season honors by the arbitrary and overly stringent quota.”

Cade Cunningham has been a potential MVP candidate, and is almost certain to make the All-NBA team. But he’s only played 61 games so far, and with the Pistons only having 11 games remaining in the regular season, it appears to be an uphill battle in terms of qualifying for the NBA’s 65-game rule.

Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung during the Pistons’ win against the Washington Wizards on March 19. He was expected to be reevaluated in two weeks due to the injury, leaving him with six games remaining and about a week and a half before the end of the season.

The Pistons have been the top team in the Eastern Conference this season due to Cunningham’s MVP level play. He has appeared in 61 games at a rate of just over 34 minutes per game. He averaged 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 9.9 assists and 1.5 steals, including 46.1 percent shooting from the field, 34.6 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 81.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

On Thursday, it was reported by ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania that Detroit Pistons star point guard Cade Cunningham will miss an extended period of time due to a damaged lung. The scary situation comes as the Pistons prepare for a playoff run, in which they will likely be the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.

Depending on how much time Cunningham misses, it is possible he could miss eligibility for end-of-season NBA awards, including First Team All-NBA and others that require a player to appear in a minimum of 65 games.

If Cunningham does indeed miss the cut, it would spark further backlash over award eligibility rules. The league first implemented the 65-game minimum in an effort to reduce load management, which, in fairness, was a very real concern at the time, and still is to some extent. It’s also true that the best ability is availability, and there’s certainly a limit to how much value a player can provide to his team if he’s consistently out of the lineup for any reason.

However, if Cunningham does indeed miss out on eligibility, All-NBA teams could feature some faces that many fans may not have seen play at that level on the court. Players like Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are already teetering on the edge of eligibility due to previous injury absences, as is San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

Cunningham not getting recognition at the end of the season could potentially be the last nail in the coffin that forces the NBA to make changes this offseason.

For now, Cunningham is being considered a possible candidate for First Team All-NBA and the league MVP award.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Ahead of Friday’s showdown between MVP candidate Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets and All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, coach David Edelman had an interesting thing to say. Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander are recovering from injuries that have kept them out of a lot of games. Many wondered whether any of them would be able to reach the NBA’s 65-game requirement to qualify for the MVP award.

For the third consecutive season, Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic are the two leading candidates for MVP. Before Friday’s matchup, Edelman addressed the league 65-game regular-season requirement For NBA awards and how it could affect Jokic and SGA’s tight race.

“The rules weren’t made for them. They both got hurt. They both play all the time. So, that part of it — maybe we have to look at that. I really mean that. That’s one of the best things about both guys,” Edelman said. “When a fan buys a ticket, they’re going to play. And they’ve done that for years, and our guy’s been doing that for a very long time. Him missing a game, him missing a practice, him missing a workout, it’s really tough on that guy.

“He’s a regular-based player, which is good for our game, good for the fans, and Shai is the same way. That’s one of the most impressive things about both guys. So, when both guys get hurt, I don’t look at it as a comfort. I think there’s a difference, and I know why the rule is there — it’s to clean things up. It makes sense to me and to the fan.”

While the 65-game rule forces teams to play their stars regardless of their record, Nuggets coach David Edelman understands the importance of fans attending games. He doesn’t think this rule should apply to guys like Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander, who rarely miss games intentionally.

“It’s the worst when your bus is parking, and you see kids in jerseys, and they show up, and that guy doesn’t play,” Edelman said. “I look at it both ways, but in the spirit of the game, I think Shai and Nicola have been great for the league over the years. I hope that’s taken into account as we move forward.”

David Edelman’s strong opinion on SGA and Jokic’s MVP race in relation to the NBA’s 65-game rule: “The rule wasn’t made for them. They both get hurt. They both play all the time. So, that part of it – maybe we have to take a look at that…

There is a difference and I know why the rule is… pic.twitter.com/IWRsNt7krz

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 28 February 2026

Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander return for Nuggets

After missing the past nine games, Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returns from an abdominal injury for Friday’s contest against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. It’s always must-see TV when Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic are going at it.

After last year’s Western Conference Semifinals best-of-7 series, where the Thunder and Nuggets played Game 7 at Paycom Center, this should be another playoff-like intensity with SGA and Jokic taking center stage.

After suffering a brutal 103-84 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, the Boston Celtics were disqualified from meeting the 40-20 rule, which argues that to win the NBA championship, a team must win 40 games before falling out of 20 during the regular season. The fact that this theory comes from 13-time NBA champion Phil Jackson should be proof enough of its validity. If that’s not the case, consider that 40 of the last 44 NBA champions have crossed the 40-20 threshold.

Since the Celtics failed to follow Jackson’s nearly infallible rule, are they doomed? History probably says so, but there are some important contexts that should make the green team get a pass this season.

It took 58 games for the Celtics to reach 20 losses, and star forward Jayson Tatum suited up for zero of those contests. The six-time All-Star and 2024 NBA champion is still recovering from an injury he suffered in May, yet there is reason to believe he could return to play before the regular season ends.

Shams on Jayson Tatum’s recovery:

“It’s about him combining multiple exercises and efforts to build strength in his calves.”

“(Tatum) is in the driver’s seat. He’ll make the decisions. The team hasn’t put any pressure on him.” https://t.co/f3zdRJiQ0b

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 26 February 2026

Without one of their franchise cornerstones, the Celtics still Almost managed to satisfy Jackson’s 40-20 rule. This is an accomplishment in itself, as the C’s were considered dead by many pundits and preseason projections.

Rather than blitzing through a gap year, the Celtics have fully recovered from their offseason losses – including centers Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet as well as guard Jrue Holiday – and have continued to develop homegrown talent.

Nearly every young Celtic, from rookie Hugo Gonzalez to third-year wing Jordan Walsh, has improved, and so have most of the veterans. While reigning Sixth Man of the Year Peyton Pritchard and starting guard Derrick White aren’t having career years (although, they’re still producing at a high level), Celtics star Jaylen Brown is playing some of the best basketball of his life.

In his 10th year in the NBA, Brown is setting new career highs in points, rebounds and assists per game. His increased usage in Tatum’s absence has undoubtedly boosted his numbers, but, statistics aside, the 2026 Eastern Conference All-Star starter is playing winning basketball.

So, even without Tatum, the rest of the Celtics have stepped up and posted an impressive 38-20 record in nearly 60 games on the season. If they beat the Nuggets, they could reach the 40-20 rule with an easier matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

And while that hypothetical may no longer matter, what the Celtics could look like with Tatum does matter. The rehabbing star has been “full steam ahead” in 5-on-5 team scrimmages, according to NBA insider Shams Charania, meaning a return in March is not out of the question. His presence on an already overachieving Celtics squad will undoubtedly help them contend in a tough, but winnable East.

If Tatum had been healthy, it would have been pretty safe to say the Celtics would have been eligible for the 40-20 rule this season along with the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons. Additionally, it is not unheard of for a championship team to win without its best player.

What the Milwaukee Bucks did without Giannis Antetokounmpo

During the shortened 2020-21 campaign, the Milwaukee Bucks failed to meet the 40-20 rule. Like the Celtics, they were shy in a few games, yet that didn’t stop them from winning the 2021 NBA Finals by defeating the Phoenix Suns in six games.

Before the Bucks’ first championship in 50 years, star center Giannis Antetokounmpo injured his knee in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals and was forced to exit the early loss. Fortunately, he did not suffer any major injuries, however, and he sat out Games 5 and 6 of the ECF against the Atlanta Hawks with the series tied 2–2.

However, that doesn’t mean the Bucks bowed out. They won both games by double digits without their star player, which is somewhat reminiscent of how the Celtics have been able to operate without Tatum.

Bucks win Game 5 over Hawks without Giannis

Lopez: 33 PTS (playoff career-high) | 7 REB

Portis: 22 PTS (playoff career-high) | 8 REB

MIL leads 3-2. pic.twitter.com/aOfI7GiGXq

– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) 2 July 2021

Of course, Antetokounmpo wasn’t injured as severely or for as long as Tatum, but this example proves that a team that falls short of the 40-20 threshold can still win everything even without their guy at full strength.

Seeding and eye test

The 2020–21 Bucks met another potential championship qualifier, despite losing 24 times before earning 40 wins. Those were the numbers. 3 seed, and NBA history shows that almost every champion has been a three-seed or higher.

The only exception is the 1968–1969 Celtics, who were ranked no. 4 seed, and the 1994–1995 Houston Rockets, who were number one. 6 seeds. Both of those teams were fresh off last season’s championship, and if there’s any team with a championship pedigree in the East, it’s the Celtics.

They may not be defending a title like the aforementioned teams, but they did capture a championship in 2024 under Tatum, Brown and head coach Joe Mazzulla. Those pieces are not left and although the Celtics violated the 40-20 law, they comply with the seeding stipulation.

NBA Standings Update‼️

▪️DET reclaims NBA’s best record
▪️ SAS achieved 10th consecutive victory

Download the NBA app for more: https://t.co/pBKIAWNToa pic.twitter.com/xb3B7EAMKB

– NBA (@NBA) 26 February 2026

Boston currently sits in second place in the East with a 2.5 game lead over the third-place New York Knicks. The Celtics aren’t cemented in that spot, but they’ve been taking up residence there recently. Also, more importantly, they have played their best basketball recently, winning nine of their last 10 games before losing to the Nuggets for the second night in a row.

Despite unofficial championship terms, the 2025-26 Celtics simply pass the eye test. They are fourth in net rating and have survived some early struggles to become a top-five team in the NBA this season. They crash the boards hard, defend well, and can’t be taken lightly, especially when the Browns are doing it.

Add Tatum to the mix and the Celtics are legitimate contenders. Not exactly a favorite for the title, but a contender — no matter what Jackson says.

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has had mixed performances at Celtic Park in recent weeks. However, Martin O’Neill has continued to start him in both the league and the Europa League.

The Denmark international joined Celtic on a free transfer in July 2024 and impressed in his debut season. He kept 24 clean sheets in all competitions for the Bhoys and conceded 47 goals in 49 matches.

His statistics this season are not as impressive as before. To give context, the stopper has kept 14 clean sheets and conceded 49 goals in 39 matches so far. The 39-year-old has maintained only three clean sheets in 11 matches this calendar year.

campo Now claims Schmeichel is ‘going through a tough time’ with O’Neill’s side, which has clearly not gone unnoticed in his country.

The Celtic player has been the number 1 for the national team in past years. Since June 2024, he only missed the friendly win over Northern Ireland last summer as manager Brian Reimer started Filip Jorgensen ahead of him. That was the Chelsea player’s only appearance for Denmark.

Reimer’s warning to Celtic player

Earlier this month, Sport Witness Danish claims covered This shows that Reimer does not dare to remove the former Leicester City star.

ViaPlay spoke to the stopper regarding his situation and Campo shared his comments. The national team manager has now issued a warning to the Celtic man.

“I look at putting together the best team, and I always do that. How I do that is by looking at the players and their performances. And looking at the composition of the group that is going to play,” He said.

“Nobody is guaranteed a permanent place in the Danish national team. This applies to Schmeichel, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Rasmus Højlund.”

NT manager’s message to Celtic man’s critics

On 9 February, Game Witness cover danish take It is ‘absolute madness’ that West Ham United’s Mads Hermansson or Jorgensen were not given opportunities. On Monday, we relayed more claims That Schmeichel is no longer ‘good enough’ for the national team.

Despite repeated criticism, Reimer has now sent a message to Schmeichel’s critics.

“I follow my heart, and that doesn’t mean I do what everyone wants me to do, but I listen to my heart and go out to the team that feels right to me. No one is guaranteed a spot, no matter what position they play or who they are,” Reimer explained.

Denmark will face North Macedonia in the World Cup playoffs in March. If Schmeichel fails to impress at Celtic in the coming weeks the debate about his position could intensify.