Polish Ballot Set to Jolt Zloty as Pro-EU Front-Runner Pressured
A stronger-than-expected showing by opposition populists in the first round of Poland's presidential election will test investor appetite for the country's assets.
Front-runner Rafal Trzaskowski narrowly won Sunday's ballot, according to exit polls, which also showed a surge in support for nationalist candidates. This may pile more pressure on the zloty and revved-up Polish stocks, which dropped on Friday as opinion polls showed the centrist's support slipping, undermining the market's expected scenario.
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Greek basketball finals suspended after rivalry again turns ugly
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New York Times
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Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool
Liverpool have signed Dutch attacking right-back Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen on a five-year deal. The Premier League champions activated his €35million (£29.6m; $40m) release clause, and the fee will be paid in three instalments over three years. As part of this summer's transfer coverage on The Athletic, in addition to breaking news, tactical analysis and in-depth reads, our Transfers TLDR series will bring you a quick guide to each of the key deals. Born in the Dutch city of Amsterdam in December 2000, Frimpong moved to England with his family at age seven. Within two years, he was scouted by Manchester City and Liverpool. Eventually signing for City, Frimpong went through their academy but with first-team opportunities limited, he moved to Celtic in summer 2019. That move paid off as he won a Scottish treble in his first season. More success would follow as a key player in Xabi Alonso's Bundesliga-winning Bayer Leverkusen side. Advertisement Frimpong was part of the Netherlands squad at the 2022 World Cup but had to wait until October 2023 for his first international appearance. Caoimhe O'Neill You will see versatility and speed. Expect to see defenders scrambling after him or trying to guess his next move, only to watch him dribble past in a flash. Frimpong is hungry to make things happen. He has tricks, flicks and plenty of end-product but we won't be watching a Trent Alexander-Arnold tribute act. The Dutchman will not be commanding from midfield and pinging passes out to the wingers from deep. When it comes to defending, expect fast recoveries. Caoimhe O'Neill Frimpong's arrival will require tweaks from head coach Arne Slot. Last season, Liverpool used Alexander-Arnold in build-up more regularly than as a marauding full-back, though he did invert into midfield. Frimpong is a direct threat who uses his pace and dribbling higher up the pitch. That could leave Liverpool vulnerable down their right flank. Instructing a midfielder to assist right-sided centre-back Ibrahima Konate is one solution to that. Frimpong could also be an alternate to Mohamed Salah on the right. He's got his blindspots defensively, but has the physical traits to adapt to the Premier League. Anantaajith Raghuraman Frimpong's fitness record is one of his biggest strengths. In the past three seasons, he has not missed a single match through injury. The only serious one he has had was a torn ligament in his right ankle in March 2022 that ruled him out for the rest of that season. Anantaajith Raghuraman Speed and joy seem to be two themes of Frimpong. Paul Harsley coached him at City's academy and described him as 'probably the fastest player' he has ever worked with. 'He was so versatile and if ever he was caught out of position, his speed would help him recover, and then flying forward he was also a massive asset,' Harsley told The Athletic. Caoimhe O'Neill Frimpong has joined Liverpool on a five-year contract after they met Leverkusen's £29.6million release clause. They will pay the fee in three instalments. That has a cash-flow impact at Anfield but doesn't materially change how the deal impacts their bottom line, either now or in the future. Liverpool's accounting period end is May 31, so none of this deal affects their 2024-25 figures. Assuming no change between now and the end of the deal, one month's worth of the fee will hit the club's 2030-31 accounts. Chris Weatherspoon Using estimated agent fees on the deal of 10 per cent, Frimpong's transfer fee will add £6.4million per season to Liverpool's amortisation costs to the end of 2029-30 (and then £0.5m the following year). Liverpool will also, obviously, foot the bill for Frimpong's wages. The size of that commitment is unknown but, as with any transfer, the total cost of this deal across its five-year term will go beyond that headline fee — estimated at £32.5m once agent fees are included. Advertisement For Leverkusen, the £29.6m fee is subject to a sell-on clause owed to Celtic. The Athletic reports that to be less than 30 per cent. As an example, were it 20 per cent of the proceeds above the £11.5m Leverkusen signed Frimpong for in January 2021, Celtic would receive £3.6m. Frimpong extended his initial four-and-a-half-year deal in October 2023, to the end of June 2028. His value in Leverkusen's books is below £3m so, even after deducting the money due to Celtic, based on our estimates, they should bank around £23m in profit. Chris Weatherspoon
