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Manchester United are now believed to be increasing their efforts to complete the signing of Palmeiras and Brazil centre forward Vitor Roque.

The Red Devils made significant additions to their attack in the summer transfer window, with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko all coming in as big-money signings.

Mbeumo and Cunha have particularly caught the eye, with former Watford striker Troy Deeney heaping praise on the impact they have made for United.

“I wanted to put Matheus Cunha in but Mbeumo got that second goal. You can see he’s found his feet now, he’s comfortable, the shirt is not a problem, playing at Manchester United is not a problem. Him and Cunha are the reason they are going to be able to fly up the league.

“Both of them are talented, both of them are exceptional. The two goals Mbeumo scored were magnificent. When it got a little bit ropey towards the end, that chance fell to him and I don’t think anyone thought he was going to miss. Huge from him, huge for Manchester United.”

Despite this, United still need to be eyeing further attacking signings, especially with doubts surrounding the futures of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, and they have again been linked with a move for Roque.

Man Utd planning fresh £42m bid for Roque

According to a new transfer update relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester United and INEOS are willing to increase their offer for Roque to £42m, having already seen a £29m bid turned down.

He only moved to the Brazilian club from Barcelona in February of this year, but the Red Devils are hoping to entice him back to European football.

It is easy to see why United consider Roque such a strong option, not least the fact that he has been compared to former Liverpool attacker Luis Suarez.

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The Uruguayan is understandably disliked by Red Devils fans, but there is no denying his brilliance as a footballer, and if Roque can reach somewhere close to his level, United would have a gem on their hands.

He has recently been called up to international duty with Brazil, highlighting his good form, and he has been described as “superb” by scout Jacek Kulig.

Still only 20 years of age, Roque would join United as a young striker with huge potential, battling Sesko for playing time and providing healthy competition, with both Hojlund and Zirkzee possibly moving on permanently.

A Real Madrid star has also been linked with Man Utd move

The Dodgers are looking to repeat as World Series champs in 2025, and if successful, Shohei Ohtani will have a chance to join a select group of players in MLB history.

Throughout MLB history, only five players have ever won their league's respective MVP award and gone on to win the World Series MVP in the same year. Ohtani is the runaway favorite to win the National League MVP this season for the second year in a row. If he can perform at his usual prolific level, he could very well be named World Series MVP.

Last year, Ohtani missed out on the award after a lackluster showing in the Fall Classic against the Yankees. Plagued by a shoulder injury, he had just two hits in the five-game series and didn't record a home run or RBI. Freddie Freeman was named World Series MVP in '24 after he launched four home runs and had 12 RBIs.

Should Ohtani claim the award as his own in '25, he'd be just the sixth player ever to win both the regular-season MVP and World Series MVP in the same year. Even more impressive, he would become just the second player to win all three of regular-season MVP, LCS MVP and World Series MVP.

Let's take a look at the esteemed company he'd be joining:

Sandy Koufax won the Cy Young, NL MVP and World Series MVP in 1963, when he had a 1.88 ERA with 306 strikeouts during the regular season. He then pitched two complete games in the World Series, which lasted just four games in total.

In 1966, Frank Robinson was named MVP of the American League after launching 49 home runs and 122 RBIs. He was prolific in the Orioles' World Series win, too, logging a 1.232 OPS in a sweep of the Dodgers.

Reggie Jackson won the lone MVP award of his career in 1973, when he led MLB with 32 home runs and 117 RBIs. He won the first of his two World Series MVPs that same year, when he had nine hits and 6 RBIs in a seven-game series against the Mets.

The only player in MLB history to win the trifecta of the regular-season MVP, League Championship Series MVP and World Series MVP is Willie Stargell, who did so for the Pirates in 1979. That season, at the age of 39, Stargell hit 32 home runs in the regular season and had three home runs and 7 RBIs in a seven-game series against the Orioles. Pittsburgh, carried by Stargell's outstanding play, was able to erase a 3–1 deficit in the series.

Mike Schmidt was named NL MVP and World Series MVP for the Phillies in 1980. That year, he had 48 home runs and 121 RBIs with an OPS of 1.004 in the regular season, and followed it up with eight hits including two home runs in a six-game series against the Royals.

Ohtani won the NLCS MVP after the Dodgers swept the Brewers in four games. He capped off the series with a sensational Game 4 performance in which he hit three home runs and pitched six innings with 10 strikeouts. The historic performance saw him earn the series MVP award and now he'll be looking to complete the Triple Crown of MVPs.

The Yankees are right back to where they started following another disappointing postseason finish, as they saw their 2025 campaign end with a whimper in a lifeless Game 4 loss to the Blue Jays.

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge managed to bring their season back from the dead with an electric three-run homer in Game 3, but New York fell short at the plate especially in the late innings during Wednesday's 5-2 defeat.

Judge met with reporters after the game and offered a blunt assessment of why he thought the Yankees lost the series.

"I think once again it comes down to the little things, making the little plays, coming up with the big hit," Judge said. "If you don't do that, give teams extra outs, they're going to capitalize on it. … For us we gotta clean a couple things up and we'll be right back here.

"I liked our chances all year, it was a special group. Just sucks for the guys that might be their last time wearing pinstripes and not getting a chance to have a long run with them and end in a championship. Especially with the fans all year… disappointed we let all those guys down."

Judge and the Yankees now face an offseason filled with looming questions about their roster, one that had the the third-highest opening day payroll in the big leagues but one that ultimately fell short of its lofty championship aspirations.

England manager Sarina Wiegman has broken her silence on comments made by Mary Earps in her explosive autobiography. In that, the former Lionesses goalkeeper questioned some of the selection calls made by the Dutch coach. Wiegman feels no need to explain any of the decisions that she has made down the years, with every one of those intended to help deliver collective success.

• What Earps said about Wiegman & Hampton

  Wiegman’s record suggests that she has got plenty of big calls right, with her time in charge of the Lionesses delivering back-to-back European Championship triumphs and a 2023 World Cup final appearance.

  She was, however, subjected to criticism in Earps’ new book ‘All In: Football, Life and Learning to be Unapologetically Me’. In that, ex-England keeper Earps – who helped her country to continental glory in 2022 – accused Wiegman of “rewarding bad behaviour” in her recalling of the previously excluded Hannah Hampton.

  Hampton went on to usurp Earps as the Lionesses’ No.1 ahead of Euro 2025, leading to an icon of the modern era announcing her international retirement. Earps watched on from afar as her replacement starred on Swiss soil and delivered penalty shootout heroics en route to capturing the ultimate prize.

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• Getty Images/GOAL
  

  Wiegman's response to comments from Earps

  Wiegman has now said of Earps’ comments and why she will never make decisions just to keep people happy: “We have conversations with different players all the time. What my reality is and what someone else's reality is can be different because how you experience things is very individual. I just know what I want to do is create an environment where we speak up and have clarity.

  “I make decisions to win. And what I've said all the time is that we have two incredible goalkeepers and at the end I made that decision to the one I came to and that's what it is for me.”

• Wiegman prepared to make unpopular decisions

  Wiegman admits that she has not spoken with Earps following the release of her book, with there nothing to be said. She is eager to point out that she cannot “control” the behaviour of others and “would have done the same thing” again if turning the clock back to Euros preparations.

  She added on making decisions that will not always be universally popular: “The competition has been really hard. We had a very good goalkeeping unit and the two goalkeepers were competing for the number one spot. I would have done the same thing. In the bigger picture I don’t think I would have done things differently.

  “As I always say, I always keep conversations private. When I have individual conversations, I keep that private because I think that builds trust. When I do that I think players will come to me and have conversations with me. We create an environment where we want people to be themselves and everyone’s different. I think that helps on and off the pitch to connect people.”

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  England fixtures: Next up for the Lionesses

  Wiegman does not believe that Earps’ revelations will cause divides in her squad, with everybody in the current England camp pulling in the same direction.

  She went on to say: “When there are teams there are always dynamics going on. We're working with people and everyone is different. No matter what the topic is there are always conversations going on. I want my door to be open at all times to have conversations when needed or if someone needs support and the other way round if I need to challenge a player for whatever reason.”

  Wiegman sought to end the discussion by stating that she “enjoyed working” with Earps as they shared some “incredible” times together. England’s focus now is on upcoming friendly dates with China at Wembley and Ghana at St Mary’s, with a group of 25 players being selected for those fixtures that will bring the curtain down on another memorable, and often eventful, 12 months for the Lionesses. Chelsea keeper Hampton will play no part in those games as she is currently nursing an injury.

Liverpool are preparing a club-record offer to sign Vitinha in January, with Paris Saint-Germain’s stance on letting one of their star players leave now clear.

FSG broke the bank to make a number of big signings during the summer transfer window too, but it would be fair to say a number of them haven’t exactly hit the ground running, with Alexander Isak yet to reach the heights he did at Newcastle United.

Indeed, it has been a slow start for the Swedish striker, who has just one goal to his name in eight matches in all competitions, while he has also missed the last four matches due to injury, with Arne Slot providing an update prior to Real Madrid.

Slot said: “He definitely is not starting on Sunday, but maybe he can be in the squad. But he is still not training with the team so we have to wait and see.”

Florian Wirtz has also flattered to deceive, with the German attacking midfielder yet to register a goal or an assist in the Premier League, calling Slot’s summer recruitment policy into question.

Liverpool preparing club-record offer for Vitinha

However, the Liverpool manager remains keen on adding proven top-level players to his ranks, with a report from Spain revealing a club-record €150m (£132m) offer for PSG star Vitinha is being prepared for the January transfer window.

The Reds are putting in work to become serious contenders for the midfielder’s signature, having identified the need to strengthen their options in the engine room, but it could be difficult to get a deal over the line.

The Portuguese maestro is under contact at the French club until 2029, which puts them in a strong negotiating position, and they currently remain determined to retain his services, although a substantial offer could be tempting.

FSG clearly mean business, given that a monumental bid is being prepared, and the Reds could be getting their hands on a top midfielder, considering the 25-year-old has been one of PSG’s key players for quite some time, receiving very high praise from Luis Enrique.

Paul Scholes has also named the 33-time Portugal international among his top five midfielders in the world, ahead of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, with the Manchester United legend saying: “Vitihna at PSG is brilliant, he is amazing.”

Last season was arguably the former FC Porto man’s best to date, playing a major role in PSG’s Champions League triumph by featuring in 17 matches and providing two goals and two assists.

Vitinha could be a statement signing for Liverpool, but it could be very difficult to prise the defensive midfielder away from PSG, given his importance to Enrique.

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كشف الإعلامي هاني حتحوت عن كواليس حديثه مع حسام عبد المجيد، مدافع الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، بشأن مستقبله داخل القلعة البيضاء.

وترددت بعض الأنباء حول إمكانية رحيل حسام عبد المجيد عن صفوف نادي الزمالك خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية المقبلة.

وقال هاني حتحوت في تصريحات عبر برنامجه “الكلام المظبوط” على إذاعة “أون سبورت إف إم”: “التقيتُ حسام عبد المجيد برفقة أسامة فيصل ومحمود صابر، فهم من الجيل ذاته وفي المنتخب معًا، وجاءت المقابلة بالصدفة”.

طالع أيضًا | رمزي صالح: حزنت من شقيق حامد حمدان.. وهذه نصيحتي له بشأن وجهته القادمة

وتابع: “سألته عن آخر المستجدات وما يُقال في الفترة الأخيرة، فأجابني: عقدي ينتهي في الموسم المقبل وليس الحالي، وأنا مستمر في الزمالك بشكل طبيعي، ولن أغادر إلا عبر بوابة النادي”.

وأضاف: “سألته: هل أنت قريب من الرحيل؟ فأجابني: نعم، أنا قريب من الرحيل في فترة الانتقالات الشتوية، التي تبدأ خلال أيام قليلة في شهر يناير”.

واختتم: “ما علمته أن هناك عروضًا متاحة له من البرتغال وفرنسا، وأن هناك اتفاقًا مبدئيًا يقضي بأنه في حال وصول عرض مناسب، فسيتم بيعه في يناير، خاصة أن ملف تجديد عقده معقد، والزمالك لا يرغب في تكرار سيناريو زيزو مجددًا”.

Liverpool’s issues run far and wide this season, and Arne Slot’s second season is falling from a concern to a calamity. Nottingham Forest pitched up at Anfield on Saturday and won 3-0. That’s six defeats from seven Premier League matches for the champions.

The fact that Liverpool produced a confident and front-footed performance for the first half-hour, before Murillo pounced after a corner, is immaterial. Even the residue of the fluent and coherent and tenacious spine has deserted Slot’s side.

Things can change quickly in football, but on the basis of the current evidence, Liverpool will struggle to secure a place in next season’s Champions League, let alone challenge high-flying Arsenal for the title.

Change is needed, a strange thing to say given the Reds’ record-breaking summer of spending. But with such glaring tactical problems, it feels likely that FSG will authorise a signing or two this winter.

Liverpool search for winter signings

With Ibrahima Konate so horribly out of sorts and free to talk to overseas suitors in January, out of contract at the end of the season, there is an understandable anxiety about Liverpool’s defensive depth, let alone the stability of the backline.

This club’s reputation as masterful strategists has disintegrated over the past few months. The squeals of delight from rival fans are loud, and it goes without saying that it’s crucial that sporting director Richard Hughes gets it right if dipping back into the market come January.

Liverpool need a centre-back, sure, but that’s not the extent of their issues, with Slot actually hinting in the past week that his club’s transfer arm may extend in a different direction.

Well, according to Spanish sources, Liverpool are preparing to launch a statement bid for Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, who has been earmarked as an alternative to Antoine Semenyo, admired by FSG and with a £65m release clause that becomes active in January.

Liverpool might have broken the British transfer record on Alexander Isak this summer, but they are now looking to smash that once again with a deal for the French winger, who is valued at €200m (about £177m).

Change is needed at Anfield, and with Olise added to the fold, the intensity and sparkle that have been so sorely lacking may be rekindled.

What Olise would bring to Liverpool

Liverpool have been lacking something out wide this season, and a large part of that has been the failure to effectively replace Luis Diaz.

Diaz, sold to Bayern Munich this summer, was so dynamic and dangerous, and in his new teammate Olise, Liverpool could restore that style of wide forward to their set-up.

Olise has been described as “easily a top-five right winger in the world” by analyst Ben Mattinson, and with the need for a Mohamed Salah replacement intensifying, this could be the perfect move to go for, the Les Bleus star only continuing to go from strength to strength.

Whether Liverpool opt for the cheaper route in signing Semenyo remains to be seen, but this would be a statement, and Olise has proven his capacity to succeed in different systems and different areas.

Of course, there is a big difference between playing for Bournemouth and starring for Bayern Munich. The Cherries are an attractive and impressive outfit, but they lack the offensive freedom of Die Roten at the peak of the Bundesliga.

Olise would be able to transfer his elite-level experience back over to the Premier League, where he has played so spectacularly before, and provide Slot’s side with creative and physical upgrades, echoing Semenyo’s skills in that regard.

But he would also give Liverpool the Diaz-like presence they have missed since the summer. The Colombian’s energy and core strength made him a fearsome Premier League winger, and with 17 goals and eight assists across all competitions last term, he was instrumental in propping up Slot’s reputation.

Podcast host Ryan Dilks said five years ago that Olise was a “superstar in waiting”, destined for the top, and now that has been put into practice, with the 23-year-old in his second season at Bayern and currently boasting nine goals and ten assists across 18 matches in all competitions this season.

It cannot be understated how much of a detrimental effect Diaz’s sale has had on Liverpool’s form and fluency this season. Olise would fix that. As per Sofascore, he has won 4.4 duels per game in the Bundesliga this season. His final season in the Premier League with Palace? Olise averaged 5.7 duels per match.

Liverpool are crying out for this kind of winger, and while Semenyo would add qualities that the club need, Olise is equally tenacious and physical, and he’s far superior from a technical standpoint and proven as one of the game’s most prolific wide forwards around.

Liverpool have slipped and slid into a morass of their own making. There are many circumstances surrounding this current crisis, but Slot is making many questionable tactical decisions and the players themselves have lost every shred of confidence and work-rate, two fixed points of the Dutch coach’s successful first season in charge.

It’s clear that there isn’t enough width and energy down the flanks, and so Olise could be the perfect Semenyo alternative to replace Salah by handing back to Merseyside a bit of Diaz-esque flair.

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Fast bowler Henry Thornton proved to be the proverbial thorn in India A’s flesh as he put Australia in control of the second unofficial Test in Lucknow.Batting at No. 11, he scored an unbeaten 32 in a 91-run partnership for the tenth wicket with Todd Murphy, who made 76, before taking a four-wicket haul that helped Australia A take a 226-run lead in the first innings.”We were just having a fair bit of fun up there and it’s a good challenge against some really good bowlers to see kind of where your skills are at,” Thornton said after the second day’s play. “It was a pretty simple game plan. If they missed, we were just kind of trying to hit the ball for four and it came off today.”After toiling for 13.2 overs on the second morning to separate Australia A’s last pair, India A lost KL Rahul cheaply – caught behind off Will Sutherland. Thornton struck three blows after lunch, dismissing N Jagadeesan (38), Devdutt Padikkal (1) and India A captain Dhruv Jurel (1) in successive overs. Murphy, who scored his maiden first-class fifty earlier in the day, accounted for Nitish Kumar Reddy with his offspin as India A slid to 75 for 5.B Sai Sudharsan offered resistance with a steady half-century at No. 3 and added 51 with Ayush Badoni (21) for the sixth wicket. But two more wickets in five balls left India A reeling at 127 for 7.B Sai Sudharsan scored a steady half-century•Tanuj/ Ekana Cricket Stadium

Prasidh Krishna joined Sai Sudharsan and hit a four and a six before he was struck on the helmet by Thornton’s bouncer in the 39th over. He was in the middle for three more overs before walking off with a suspected concussion. He was replaced in the XI by Yash Thakur as the concussion substitute. Sai Sudharsan helped India A inch closer to 200 before Murphy trapped him lbw. Two balls later, Gurnoor Brar was run-out to end India A’s innings.”We had a simple plan, put energy on the ball, bash the top of the stumps,” Thornton said. “I felt like I was in the game bowling that length. So it would be interesting to see what happens in the second innings. Hopefully it starts to spin and it brings Murph (Murphy) and Rock (Corey Rocchiccioli) into the game.With over two days left in the game, Australia A opted to bat again instead of enforcing the follow-on. But they lost three batters before stumps, with Mohammed Siraj, Brar and Manav Suthar picking up a wicket each. Sam Konstas fell for his first single-digit score in the series, following his century in the opening game and 49 in the first innings. His opening partner Campbell Kellaway did not last long either. Suthar, who picked up a five-for in the first innings, struck with his fifth ball to dismiss Oliver Peake. Captain Nathan McSweeney offered resistance to end the day with Australia A ahead by 242 runs.

Pakistan top-order batter Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the third T20I and the upcoming three-match ODI series against West Indies after sustaining a left hamstring strain during the second T20I in Lauderhill. Khushdil Shah replaced him in the playing XI for the third T20I.The injury took place in the 19th over of West Indies’ innings when Fakhar was chasing a ball in the outfield. A subsequent medical assessment by the team’s support staff confirmed a mild strain to his left hamstring.The PCB confirmed that immediate treatment and initial management were provided, and Fakhar will now fly back to Pakistan on August 4, the day after the final, deciding T20I. His rehabilitation will continue under the supervision of the PCB medical team at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore. The PCB are yet to confirm if a replacement player will join the ODI squad.Fakhar got starts in each of the first two games, but found himself unable to kick on in either, getting scored of 28 and 20.The injury to Fakhar, 35, bears uncanny resemblance to a knock he picked up at the start of the Champions Trophy earlier this year. Off the second ball of the opening game, he hared off in pursuit of a cover drive before pulling up in discomfort; he was ruled out of the tournament the following day. At the time, he was himself a part of the squad to replace Saim Ayub, who, too, was injured chasing after a ball to the boundary six weeks earlier in South Africa, and spent three months on the sidelines.The T20I series in Florida is tied at one apiece. The three ODIs will take place in Trinidad.