Gossip: Man City reject approach for 21-year-old Doyle
Manchester City have rejected a £6.5m bid from Hoffenheim for 21-year-old England Under-21 defender Callum Doyle. (Mail), externalWant more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip columnFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport
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ITV News
36 minutes ago
- ITV News
Huge mural unveiled of Wales star Jess Fishlock in Cardiff ahead of Women's Euros
A huge pitch-sized mural of Wales legend Jess Fishlock has been unveiled to celebrate her impact on football, ahead of this summer's Euros tournament in Switzerland. The tribute to Wales' most-capped footballer and top goal-scorer is painted across a pitch in Splott Football Park, in the footballer's home city of Cardiff. It is the first of its kind in Europe for a female footballer and was designed by Cardiff illustrator Regan Gilflin and brought to life by UNIFY, the studio behind the 'My City, My Shirt' and the Gary Speed murals in the capital. Fishlock, who is preparing for this summer's tournament, said: "It's just class. It's almost kind of emotional when you look at something like this being made in your country and in a place where, when I was a kid, playing football, this area in Splott is where we used to play our home games. "I spent years in that area playing football when I was a young girl. For this to have so much meaning, it is a little bit emotional." The Wales squad is training in Portugal ahead of their first game on July 5 against the Netherlands. Rhian Wilkinson's Wales side will then face France and defending champions England in the group stages of what is Wales' first ever major tournament appearance. A Football Association of Wales spokesperson said: "This incredible artwork by Regan Gilflin and UNIFY's Yusuf Ismail and Shawqi Hasson is a powerful tribute to one of Cymru's greatest ever players. As the first pitch mural of a female footballer in Europe, it stands as a landmark for visibility, belonging and pride, showing every child that they have a place in the game. 'The Cymru national team's higher purpose is, 'to play for change. To play to inspire. For Us. For Them. For Her.' Jess Fishlock lives that purpose, honouring the trailblazers who came before her, inspiring today's heroes and empowering future generations."
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
The ‘special role' Mikel Arteta played to keep Myles Lewis-Skelly at Arsenal
One of Mikel Arteta's preferred responses to questions about contractual situations at Arsenal is to say they are issues for the club's executives to deal with. 'Those kinds of things are more for Andrea [Berta, the sporting director] and the club to talk about,' the Arsenal manager said in May, for example, when asked about William Saliba's future. The reality behind the scenes, though, can be somewhat different. Arteta is involved in all contractual decisions, and he has also been known to play a special role in negotiations with his players. Telegraph Sport can reveal this was especially true when it came to discussions over a new contract for teenage star Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has now signed a new five-year deal. This is a hugely important moment for Arsenal. Not only because Lewis-Skelly's previous contract would have expired in 2026, but also because of what the 18-year-old represents. An academy star, who first joined the club at the age of eight, and now a fixture of both the first team and the full England side. Lewis-Skelly is Arsenal's future. Discussions over Lewis-Skelly's new contract have been taking place for months, with the situation made more fiddly by the various personnel changes in north London. Talks began when Jason Ayto was serving as interim sporting director, following the departure of Edu last year, and were ongoing when Arsenal appointed Berta in March. Clearly, it is not ideal to be switching from one sporting director to another while the club is in the midst of negotiating a crucial deal for one of their brightest talents. Arsenal had to ensure consistency in their messaging and negotiating, rather than lurching between personalities and strategies, and Arteta played a pivotal role in smoothing that process. Telegraph Sport understands this was also true of James King, Arsenal's director of football operations. King returned to Arsenal in November and, alongside Arteta, was a steady and influential presence throughout talks over Lewis-Skelly's new deal. King was previously general counsel at the Professional Footballers' Association and that experience at the players' union makes him extremely well-placed to understand the concerns and issues that are often raised by players in contract negotiations. Such was King's grasp of proceedings, and such is the strength of Lewis-Skelly's bond with Arsenal, there was actually little need for Berta to become particularly involved in the talks. The timing of the agreement would suggest this is a contract that has been sorted and finalised by the Italian, but the reality is that he was shrewd enough to mostly leave others to it. Was there ever a real danger of Lewis-Skelly going elsewhere? It seems highly unlikely. He is an Arsenal boy, and always has been. But the increasingly perilous nature of his contractual situation did provoke some interest from teams in Europe, who could see a potential opportunity looming on the horizon. The prospect of Lewis-Skelly becoming a free agent next summer was a tantalising one for clubs across the continent. But the potential suitors who made contact were quick to realise that Lewis-Skelly's heart beats only for Arsenal. 'I'm a fan and it's like a dream come true,' he said upon signing his new deal. 'I want a legacy. I want to win everything there is to win in the game. I want to win trophies on the biggest stages whilst being a person that's always learning and stays grounded, which is so important.' From the player's side, the negotiating process was led by Marcia Lewis, his mother. Lewis became a qualified agent, alongside achieving a master's degree in football business, after realising during Lewis-Skelly's youth career that the world of professional football can be extraordinarily tricky to navigate. Lewis-Skelly was only 11, for example, when his mother received a call from an agent who wanted to represent him. Lewis has also launched a community that supports parents of academy players, and during negotiations was (naturally) uniquely positioned to understand the various ambitions and needs of her son. What next for Lewis-Skelly? Well, if last season was about making a breakthrough, then the new campaign will be about further nailing down his place in the Arsenal line-up – and indeed the England team. The 2026 World Cup is not far away, and Lewis-Skelly currently appears to be an extremely strong contender to start at left-back. He has started three of the last four international matches. His summer break has included a trip to Paris, where he this week appeared on the runway at a fashion show. It was another sign of Lewis-Skelly's growing profile and further evidence that his star is rising, on and off the pitch, at remarkable speed.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
England U21 vs Germany U21 preview: Free betting tips, odds and predictions for Euros final
ENGLAND renew hostilities with Germany in Saturday's European Under-21 Championship final. SunSport betting experts have previewed the contest and selected the best bets, tips and exclusive sign-up bonuses from our leading betting partners. England U21 vs Germany U21 preview Well, here we go. It's the big one: England vs Germany for the European Under-21 Championship title at the Tehelne pole Stadium in Bratislava, Slovakia. The Young Lions booked their place in a second successive U21 final under manager Lee Carsley with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands at the same venue. Liverpool's Harvey Elliott was the hero, scoring twice to send England through to Saturday's showdown - and to within 90 minutes of successfully defending their crown and securing a fourth European title. After a sluggish group stage - which included a defeat to their upcoming opponents Germany and a frustrating goalless draw with Slovenia - Carsley's side have since found their form. They overcame Spain in the quarter-finals before putting in a composed, mature performance against the Dutch. With momentum on their side, England appear to be peaking at exactly the right time. But this will be no picnic against a formidable Germany side. The Germans produced a scintillating performance to sweep past France on Wednesday, and are now unbeaten in their last 20 matches across all competitions (W17, D3). They're also no strangers to the latter stages of this tournament, having reached the final in three of the last four European Under-21 Championships - winning twice. Leading the charge is the competition's top scorer, Nick Woltemade, who has now netted six goals and provided three assists in just four appearances. Germany came out on top when these sides met in the group stage, winning 2–1 - and, worryingly for England, Woltemade didn't even feature. The Germans made a full 11 changes for that clash with Lee Carsley's side and still came away with the win. That said, England did win the two previous meetings before that. England U21 vs Germany U21 preview betting tips and predictions Goalscorer If it Ain't Broke… Nick Woltemade was my pick for the Golden Boot at 7/1 - and he's delivered in style, notching six goals and three assists in just four appearances. The 23-year-old forward enjoyed a standout season with Bundesliga side Stuttgart, scoring 17 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions, and he's clearly showing no signs of fatigue. He's also proving to be remarkably clinical, converting six of his seven shots on target in the tournament. Only Harvey Elliott and Mathys Tel have attempted more efforts on goal. Goals incoming… These two sides certainly aren't shy when it comes to finding the back of the net. Six of England's last seven matches have featured over 2.5 goals, with both teams scoring. In fact, 10 of England's last 19 games have seen at least four goals. As for Germany - the tournament's highest scorers with 15 goals - they've been on a rampage over their last 20 matches, netting 60 goals since their defeat to England at the last Euros in 2023. Over 3.5 Goals Scored at 7/5 with William Hill - CLAIM HERE Terms and conditions *Midnite: 18+ New UK customers. Bet £10 on accas with 4+ legs, min odds 3/1 (4.0). Get 4x £5 Free Bets and 50 Free Spins, valid for 7 days on selected bets and games only. T&Cs apply. *William Hill. 18+. Play Safe. New players only, using promo code T60. Valid from 13/04/2022. Online play. Get £60 Bonus split between Vegas & Sports in the following manner – (i) Deposit £10 to unlock £20 Vegas Free Bet on Selected Games (72hr expiry, wagering reqs apply); then (ii) bet £10+ (odds 1/2+) with cash (excl. £10 deposit) or Vegas winnings (after wager reqs met). Once settled, receive £40 Sports Free Bets excluding Virtual Markets (4x £10, 7 days expiry). Payment methods & country restrictions apply. 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