EXCLUSIVE Why tennis insiders are convinced British No 2 Jacob Fearnley will become 'one of the best in the world'
The British No 1 was talking about the British No 2, Jacob Fearnley, and if the man on the street doesn't know much about the Scot, those inside the game only know a little more.
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BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
Newcastle prepare for new Isak bid - Friday's gossip
Newcastle prepared for Liverpool to return with new Alexander Isak bid, Wolves try to keep Jorgen Strand Larsen from Magpies move and Manchester United open to Rasmus Hojlund moving to are preparing for Liverpool to return with a new bid of between £120-130m for their Sweden forward Alexander Isak, 25. (Teamtalk), externalWolves are facing a fight to keep Norway striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, as Newcastle are pushing to sign the 25-year-old for around £60m. (Express and Star), externalManchester United have informed Napoli that they are open to both a loan with an option or obligation to buy for their Denmark forward Rasmus Hojlund, 22. (Fabrizio Romano), externalEverton are interested in signing Manchester City and Netherlands defender Nathan Ake, 30, to reinforce their defence. (Mail), externalManchester United are hoping Tottenham will enter the race to sign Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho, 21, and provide competition to Chelsea. (Givemesport), externalRoma's hopes of signing England winger Jadon Sancho, 25, from Manchester United may rest on whether his agent reduces the 10m euros (£8.6m) commission they want for the deal to happen. (Corriere della Sport in Italian), externalReal Betis are still hopeful of signing Manchester United and Brazil winger Antony, 25, but have put the onus on the Premier League club to make a decision over his future. (Mail), externalTottenham are interested in French attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche, 23, at Monaco and Como and Argentina international Nico Paz, 20. (Telegraph - subscription required), externalSpurs are also exploring the possibility of signing France forward Christopher Nkunku, 27, from Chelsea. (Teamtalk), externalNottingham Forest have contacted Aston Villa about bringing Poland full-back Matty Cash, 28, back to the club and have also made an offer to sign Sevilla's Spanish right-back, Jose Angel Carmona, 23. (Mail), externalWest Ham have agreed to loan Mexico international Edson Alvarez, 27, to Fenerbahce and are tracking Werder Bremen and Austria midfielder Romano Schmid, 25, and are interested in Lens' French midfielder Andy Diouf, 22. (Guardian), externalHowever, Inter Milan are confident of securing Diouf on a five-year contract in a deal that could be worth around 25m euros to the Ligue 1 club. (£21.6m). (La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italian), externalCrystal Palace will attempt to gazump Everton in the race to sign Southampton's English winger Tyler Dibling, 19, by making a £35m-plus bid for the teenager. (Givemesport), external Borussia Dortmund expect to complete a deal to sign Wolves and Portugal forward Fabio Silva, 23, imminently. (Bild in German), external
Daily Mail
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
We're still alive and kicking! Aberdeen fightback stops a painful week for Scottish football going from bad to bleak
Aberdeen produced a stirring fightback for a draw against FCSB just as it seemed that Scottish football's week was going to go from bad to bleak. With Celtic and Rangers both having struggled in their respective Champions League play-offs, it was the Dons and Hibs' turn - with the Easter Road club losing 2-1 to Legia Warsaw in their Conference League play-off. The Pittodrie club were two goals down at the start of the second half in their Europa League clash but a raft of substitutions from Jimmy Thelin turned the tie against the Romanians on its head. It had looked to be slipping away from the Scottish Cup winners when the Romanian champions went ahead in the 32nd minute and then overcame the dismissal of Juri Cisotti soon afterwards to double their lead in the first minute of the second half. However, goals from substitutes Dante Polvara and Ester Sokler in the closing half-hour brought the Dons level and ensured there is all to play for in the second leg in Bucharest next Thursday. It was Thelin's first European match in charge of the Dons and now he wants more in Romania after praising a packed Pittodrie. He said: 'It's going to be a totally different game, they're at home, but I am optimistic. The tie is alive. 'We have given ourselves a chance and that's the most important thing after being two goals down. Our fans were the difference - they have given us a chance for the second game. 'I was really proud of that, how we created this atmosphere because it's difficult when you are two down and the way they'd scored the goals. 'In that way I am really proud of the players and the supporters. It has given us a chance. 'They used the situations with top quality, they didn't miss, but we can't give them these chances in the game. 'We learned a lot about ourselves, we have one week to prepare and bring a much better, more stable performance. We created a lot of chances, but we have to be more consistent within the game. 'Dante's goal was top level and Ester's with his working capacity plus the goal was important for us. 'I was pleased with the passion they showed because it was a difficult task, especially when you give a goal after 50 seconds in the second half. 'We never stopped believing and that is a really strong thing to have. But we shouldn't have made it so difficult for ourselves.' And goal hero Sokler, who netted in the final minute, said: 'I'm happy with the goal, that's the striker's job, but I'm disappointed to not get more from this game. 'We have it in our hands for next Thursday. Maybe I could score one or two more, but this is football and we go again next Thursday.' FCSB boss Elias Charalambous was unhappy that three of his players - Siyabonga Ngezana, Baba Alhassan and Risto Radunovic - were not given visas in time for the game. He said: 'I don't know exactly what happened but things have to be solved easier. 'We cannot ask for visas five or six days before and have no results because players are not available. 'People have to find solutions, not us, the people who are responsible - UEFA. 'The players came here to play. Everything happens for a reason. The players made this travel and if we knew they would not play they would have stayed to train. 'The game in Bucharest is 50-50 as Aberdeen have quality.'
BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
WRU cuts will leave grassroots clubs 'struggling' to survive
Concerns have been raised over the future of rugby in Wales after cuts to the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) hub officer programme. The programme, which placed officers in schools and colleges around the country, was designed to grow the game by encouraging youngsters to coach said he believed the decision to cut them will leave girls grassroots clubs like his "struggling for players". The warning comes amid huge uncertainty for Wales' professional clubs after the WRU outlined plans to cut the number of regions to previously, WRU community director Geraint John said he was confident the new programme would be more effective in driving participation among young people. A network of rugby hub officers was first established by the WRU in 2014 with the goal of developing the game at a grassroots level in Wales. Their role included working in schools and institutions of further and higher education to introduce young people to the game. "It's been vital for us," said Tudur Roberts, who coaches Nant Conwy Rugby Club's under-16s girls team in Llanrwst, Conwy County."We've had some teams struggling to get players and then Ifan, our local hub officer, would be in schools promoting rugby and pushing them to come to us. "Every month he'd bring one or two new players to us." Earlier this year, the WRU decided to cut funding for the programme as part of a restructuring plan to save £5m. "It's going to be really tough. I don't know where we go from here... they [the WRU] don't seem to understand that grassroots is where the players come from," Tudur said. "That shows through the girls we've sent through to Wales. If there are no hub officers to start them on their way, then we're going to be struggling for players, and in turn, so will the national team." Saturday will see Wales begin their Women's Rugby World Cup campaign as they take on Scotland in will be a proud day for Nant Conwy Rugby Club as they watch four previous players put on the Wales jersey. Nel and Branwen Metcalfe and Gwenllïan and Alaw Pyrs all began their rugby careers with the club in Trefriw on the outskirts of Llanrwst. As Nant Conwy train for the first time this season, some of their current players are certainly inspired by the club's "fantastic four". Ela, 13, said: "We're all really excited to watch Branwen, Nel, Alaw and Gwenllïan. We really look up to them as a club and as a team as well."But Ela also believes the hub officers play a crucial role in making sure more girls have the chance to play for Wales one day. "I think the hub officer we had last year was very important because he did a lot of things with us and gave us lots more opportunities in school, and to play against other schools," she said. "I think it's going to be a big loss."Her teammate Elsie, 13, added: "They do so much work, I don't know why they're being cut by the WRU. They've brought so many more girls to play here. I'm not sure what will happen without them." The club have decided to take matters into their own hands by raising money to keep their local hub officer. With the club turning 45 years old this year, club members have set themselves the challenge of walking 45 miles in one day."Everyone's behind it, we all want to keep our hub officer," said club member Elaine Jones."Without the hub officer our under-eights and under-10s wouldn't have had enough players, so we know how important they are." Elaine said it was sad the club was having to resort to raising money for the role. "It shouldn't be happening, but it is where we are, and we've just got to make the best of it," she said. "We are a very rural valley, and many girls don't engage with rugby. It can be a 25-mile (40km) trip for their parents to bring them here and so being able to take rugby to the schools through the hub officers is fundamental really to that development."Unless something new can be put in place I am quite concerned for the future intake, over the next two years in particular."Speaking previously, WRU community director Geraint John said the restructured programme will cover the whole of Wales far better than the previous said: "WRU staff will be reorganised and their number increased with a much wider remit to ensure all community clubs and educational establishments across Wales have a named contact and a consistent level of support."
