logo
Gareth Bale lined up to front shock takeover of EFL club as he follows in Luka Modric's footsteps

Gareth Bale lined up to front shock takeover of EFL club as he follows in Luka Modric's footsteps

The Sun17 hours ago

GARETH BALE has been lined up to front a potential takeover at Plymouth Argyle.
His shock involvement comes after a rival group partnered with former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric at Swansea City.
1
According to The Telegraph, the former Real Madrid star is set to be the face of a US-based private equity group's move to invest in Plymouth.
Talks are taking place behind the scenes between Argyle and the investment group, which also includes members of the American-based Storch family.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Gossip: United hold talks over Ekitike but no bid made
Gossip: United hold talks over Ekitike but no bid made

BBC News

time24 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Gossip: United hold talks over Ekitike but no bid made

Manchester United have held initial talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over the signing of France striker Hugo Ekitike, 22, but no formal bid has been made yet. (Sky Sports), externalJuventus have offered Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres an £11m-a-year contract as they try to beat United and Arsenal to a deal for the 27-year-old Sweden international. (Mirror), externalBrentford and Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo, 25, is leaning towards a move to Old Trafford over Tottenham, despite his former manager Thomas Frank joining the latter. (Sky Sports News), external Real Betis want to enter into a joint-ownership agreement with Manchester United for winger Antony that would see the Spanish club buy increasing percentages of his playing rights from next summer. (ABC - in Spanish), externalNapoli are aiming to sign either United winger Alejandro Garnacho or Jack Grealish from Manchester City, but the Italian champions are only willing to spend £45m. (Sun), externalWant more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Is Manchester City v Wydad on TV? How to watch Club World Cup game for free
Is Manchester City v Wydad on TV? How to watch Club World Cup game for free

The Independent

time25 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Is Manchester City v Wydad on TV? How to watch Club World Cup game for free

Manchester City kick off their Club World Cup campaign in Philadelphia, facing Moroccan side Wydad AC. Pep Guardiola has added a string of new signings to his squad ahead of the tournament, with Wolves full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri and AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Rejinders among those who have already joined following a disappointing Premier League campaign for the club. Casablanca-based Wydad finished third in the Moroccan top flight last season, and are in the enlarged competition by virtue of winning the 2021/22 CAF Champions League. When and where is Manchester City v Wydad? Manchester City face Wydad at midday ET in Philadelphia on Wednesday, June 18. That is 5pm BST. The match will take place at Lincoln Financial Field, which is the home of NFL outfit Philadelphia Eagles, and holds just shy of 68,000. How to watch the Club World Cup DAZN will be broadcasting each match of the tournament live, from the opener up to and including the final, for free in the UK. All users can watch a live stream on television and mobile devices, all they need to do is sign up for the company's DAZN Freemium service, with the option to watch ad-free coverage for £14.99. Users can watch DAZN from anywhere by using the DAZN App on TVs, smartphones and any device with a web browser. The streaming service has hired several footballing legends as part of it's coverage team, with Ronaldo Nazario, Claude Makelele, Sami Khedira, John Obi Mikel and Christian Vieri among the former players to feature on the punditry line-up, alongside Shay Given and Premier League striker Callum Wilson. Ade Oladipo, Kelly Somers and Olivia Buzaglo will act as hosts for the coverage alongside former Football Italia presenter James Richardson. And Conor McNamara will head the commentary team, with former Premier League players Andros Townsend, Michael Brown, Brad Friedel, Rob Green and Danny Higginbotham among the notable co-commentators. Club World Cup schedule and results GROUP STAGE Saturday, June 14 Group A: Al Ahly 0-0 Inter Miami Sunday, June 15 Group C: Bayern Munich 10-0 Auckland City Group B: Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Atlético Madrid Group A: Palmeiras 0-0 Porto Group B: Botafogo 2-1 Seattle Sounders Monday, June 16 Group C: Chelsea vs. LAFC, 3 pm ET (8 p.m. BST) (Atlanta) Group D: Boca Juniors vs. Benfica, 6 p.m. ET (11 p.m. BST) (Miami) Group C: Flamengo vs. Espérance de Tunis, 9 p.m. ET (2 a.m. BST) (Philadelphia) Tuesday, June 17 Group F: Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET (5 p.m. BST) (East Rutherford) Group E River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. BST) (Seattle) Group F: Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, 6 p.m. ET (11 p.m. BST) (Orlando) Group E: Monterrey vs. Inter Milan, 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. BST) (Pasadena) Wednesday, June 18 Group G: Manchester City vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET (5 p.m. BST) (Philadelphia) Group H: Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal, 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. BST) (Miami) Group H: Pachuca vs. FC Salzburg, 6 p.m. ET (11 p.m. BST) (Cincinnati) Group G: Al Ain vs. Juventus, 9 p.m. (2 a.m. BST) (Washington) Thursday, June 19 Group A: Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly, 12 p.m. ET, (5 p.m. BST) (East Rutherford) Group A: Inter Miami vs. Porto, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Atlanta) Group B: Seattle Sounders vs. Atlético Madrid, 6 p.m. ET (11 p.m. BST) (Seattle) Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Botafogo, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m . BST)(Pasadena) Friday, June 20 Group C: Benfica vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m. ET, (5 p.m. BST) (Orlando) Group D: Flamengo vs. Chelsea, 2 p.m. ET, (7 p.m. BST) (Philadelphia) Group D: LAFC vs. Espérance de Tunis, 6 p.m. ET, (11 p.m. BST) (Nashville) Group C: Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors , 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Miami) Saturday, June 21 Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET, (5 p.m. BST) (Cincinnati) Group E: Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Seattle) Group F: Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD, 6 p.m. ET, (11 p.m. BST) (East Rutherford) Group E: River Plate vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Pasadena) Sunday, June 22 Group G: Juventus vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET, (5 p.m. BST) (Philadelphia) Group H: Real Madrid vs. Pachuca, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Charlotte) Group H: FC Salzburg vs. Al Hilal, 6 p.m. ET, (11 p.m. BST) (Washington) Group G: Manchester City vs. Al Ain, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Atlanta) Monday, June 23 Group B: Atlético Madrid vs. Botafogo, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Pasadena) Group B: Seattle Sounders vs. Paris Saint-Germain, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Seattle) Group A: Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Miami Gardens) Group A: Porto vs. Al Ahly, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (East Rutherford) Tuesday, June 24 Group C: Benfica vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Charlotte) Group C: Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Nashville) Group D: Espérance de Tunis vs. Chelsea, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Philadelphia) Group D: LAFC vs. Flamengo, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Orlando) Wednesday, June 25 Group F: Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Cincinnati) Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Miami) Group E: Inter Milan vs. River Plate, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Seattle) Group E: Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Pasadena) Thursday, June 26 Group G: Wydad AC vs. Al Ain, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Washington) Group G: Juventus vs. Manchester City, 3 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. BST) (Orlando) Group H: Al Hilal vs. Mexico Pachuca, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Nashville) Group H: FC Salzburg vs. Real Madrid, 9 p.m. ET, (2 a.m. BST) (Philadelphia) ROUND OF 16 Saturday, June 28 Match 49: Winners of Group A vs. Runners of Group B (Philadelphia) Match 50: Winners of Group C vs. Runners of Group D (Charlotte) Sunday, June 29 Match 51: Winners of Group B vs. Runners of Group A (Atlanta) Match 52: Winners of Group D vs. Runners of Group C (Miami) Monday, June 30 Match 53: Winners of Group E vs. Runners of Group F (Charlotte) Match 54: Winners of Group G vs. Runners of Group H (Orlando) Tuesday, July 1 Match 55: Winners of Group F vs. Runners of Group E (Atlanta) Match 56: Winners of Group H vs. Runners of Group G (Miami) QUARTER-FINALS Friday, July 4 Match 57: Winners of Match 49 vs. Winners of Match 50 (Philadelphia) Match 58: Winners of Match 53 vs. Winners of Match 54 (Orlando) Saturday, July 5 Match 59: Winners of Match 51 vs. Winners of Match 52 (Atlanta) Match 60: Winners of Match 55 vs. Winners of Match 56 (East Rutherford) SEMI-FINALS Tuesday, July 8 Match 61: Winners of Match 57 vs. Winners of Match 58 (East Rutherford) Wednesday, July 9 Match 62: Winners of Match 59 vs. Winners of Match 60 (East Rutherford) FINAL Sunday, July 13

Breakingviews - Donald Trump's US chip revival is half-assembled
Breakingviews - Donald Trump's US chip revival is half-assembled

Reuters

time29 minutes ago

  • Reuters

Breakingviews - Donald Trump's US chip revival is half-assembled

LONDON, June 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Donald Trump is hoping to secure American dominance in semiconductors over China. The president wants to bring production of chips back to the U.S., while courting allies. But success will take years and much more capital, while looming tariffs and unclear export rules add cost and confusion. When it comes to stimulating a key industry, the U.S. strategy is falling short. For an example of how to approach state-backed industrial planning, look to China. The People's Republic has already become a powerhouse in making solar panels and batteries for electric vehicles. A decade ago, President Xi Jinping launched his 'Made in China 2025' plan with the intention of reducing the country's reliance on foreign semiconductors from 85% to around 30%. The urgency was clear: chips had overtaken oil as China's largest import. Nearly a decade later, China has not met its goal, but local capacity is ramping up. Of the 51 wafer fabrication plants currently under construction worldwide, 23 are in China, according to an industry expert. It's a direct result of government funding: state-led investment in chips has probably exceeded $150 billion since 2014, according to, opens new tab the Economist Intelligence Unit. Little wonder that the U.S. is worrying about its dominance of advanced chips and artificial intelligence. While Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei says, opens new tab the Chinese tech giant's chips are still one generation behind U.S. rivals, Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab CEO Jensen Huang has said Huawei's latest processors are approaching parity with the $3.5 trillion company's cutting-edge H200 graphics processors. These are central to training advanced AI models. Chinese players like DeepSeek are also showing signs of catching up. For the Trump administration, maintaining the U.S. lead starts with safeguarding demand for American products. That means ensuring key international customers in Europe and the Middle East don't drift toward Chinese suppliers. It's one reason Trump scrapped his predecessor Joe Biden's 'diffusion rule', which set country-specific quotas for advanced chips. The rule risked restricting previously friendly nations' access to semiconductors, pushing them into Huawei's arms. On the supply side, Trump wants to bring manufacturing back onshore. As most advanced chips are still made in Taiwan, any diversification of supply chains makes sense. The $52.7 billion Biden-era CHIPS and Science Act -- which includes, opens new tab $39 billion in subsidies for domestic chip manufacturing -- is a start, but progress is slow. The bill only releases funds as projects meet staged milestones. Trump has criticised the act, while also using it to force private companies to crank up investment stateside. Taiwanese giant TSMC ( opens new tab, for instance, committed to spending over $100 billion in the U.S. as it finalised state funding of $6.6 billion. GlobalFoundries (GFS.O), opens new tab this month pledged, opens new tab $16 billion alongside a $1.5 billion subsidy. Tariffs are another of Trump's favoured tools. He has asked the Commerce Department to investigate chip supply chains under Section 232, citing national security. But applying levies to semiconductors is fraught. For a start, the U.S. imports relatively few chips, but lots of products which contain them. Semiconductors worth less than $40 billion arrived in the country in 2024, while the U.S. imported electronic goods worth $486 billion, according to the International Trade Centre. Trying to impose tariffs on components inside devices like laptops and iPhones would be tricky. There's no easy way to tell where the chip was made once it's been packaged. Even if the Trump administration can successfully tilt the playing field towards domestic manufacturing, however, resilience still comes at a price. Proposed subsidies would make the cost of building semiconductor fabrication plants in the United States as competitive as in Asia, according to an industry analyst. But running those plants in a high-wage economy is another challenge: McKinsey & Company estimates operating costs are 35% higher in the U.S. than in Taiwan. Buyers of U.S.-made chips for cars or medical machines would have to absorb that premium or pass it on to customers. It also implies that semiconductor firms will need ongoing support in the form of tax breaks or operational subsidies as they shift supply chains. However, Trump has made hostile noises about the costs of the CHIPS Act. One key incentive, a 25% investment tax credit for every dollar chipmakers spend on capital expenditures, is set to expire unless renewed. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has hinted at possibly withholding further subsidies unless paired with broader tax legislation. The administration's stance on immigration, especially from China, is another impediment. Nvidia's Huang reckons around half of global AI researchers are Chinese. Meanwhile, nearly a third of chip companies' design engineers are in mainland China – the same proportion as in the United States, according to BCG data. The administration's policy on export controls also remains in flux. Though it has rolled back the 'diffusion rule', nothing has replaced it. Crafting bespoke export agreements with every partner like the United Arab Emirates will be time-consuming. Other potential measures, such as banning shipments of chip-making equipment made by the likes of ASML ( opens new tab to China, would require cooperation from key allies in Japan and the Netherlands. It would also require U.S. equipment makers like $114 billion Lam Research (LRCX.O), opens new tab to sacrifice revenue which could be as much as 30% of the total top line. Trump's chaotic and go-it-alone instincts on tariffs risk undermining the partnerships he will need to isolate China. China's chip campaign still falls short in several areas, including scale and efficiency. But Beijing's strategic clarity, persistence, and willingness to absorb long-term costs signal its serious intent. By contrast, Trump's U.S. chip revival is at best half-assembled. Follow Karen Kwok on LinkedIn, opens new tab and X, opens new tab.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store