'A really good next step' - Kalajdzic scores on injury return
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
19 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Liverpool could be ready to make their move for Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool are set to make an offer for striker Hugo Ekitike as talks with Eintracht Frankfurt progress, the PA news agency understands. The highly-rated 23-year-old has attracted interest from the Premier League this summer having scored 22 goals in all competitions after making a loan move from Paris St Germain permanent last summer. Advertisement Newcastle had looked at bringing in Ekitike as Liverpool considered a big-money move for Alexander Isak, who it is understood the Magpies valued at around £150million in an attempt to ward off potential suitors. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @hekitike But the Reds are now pressing ahead with a deal for France international Ekitike, with it a case a matter of when rather than if a bid is submitted following talks. Liverpool are reportedly preparing a deal in the region of 80million euros (£69.2million), with sources close to the player indicating that Newcastle look out of the race to sign a striker that Manchester United also hold interest in. Arne Slot's Premier League champions have signed Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez this summer, with Giorgi Mamardashvili linking up with the side after agreeing a move last August.
Telegraph
19 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Liverpool beat Newcastle United to land Ekitike on six-year deal
Liverpool's year-long pursuit of a new striker is almost over with the club closing in on a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike. A bid is in the process of being formalised, with talks advanced for the 23-year-old who is now expected to join the Premier League champions and take Liverpool 's summer spending beyond the £250 million mark. Ekitike has an £86.5 million release clause, although Liverpool hope to secure him for less. It remains to be seen if the German club will hold firm and insist upon Liverpool paying the full release clause. Crucially, Ekitike has informed his club that he wants to move to Anfield to sign a six-year contract. This follows Premier League interest from Newcastle United, whose earlier offers were rejected and have conceded defeat in their pursuit of the France Under-21 international. It is understood Manchester United were also keen on Ekitike, but once Liverpool showed their hand negotiations have accelerated to take him to Anfield. The club want him on board as soon as possible as they prepare to head to Asia on pre-season tour next week. Liverpool have been searching for an upgrade on Darwin Nunez for 12 months, scouting various options and ready to move based on the availability of key targets. Newcastle United 's Alexander Isak was among those high on the wanted list, but his price tag in excess of £120 million – and the prospect of a long, drawn-out negotiation – has evidently led Liverpool to alternatives. Ekitike has been scouted for a prolonged period and fits the usual recruitment profile of a young player who was highly regarded at youth level, earned a move to a big club when he joined Paris St-Germain, but has demonstrated his pedigree after dropping down a level, excelling in the Bundesliga and Europa League for Frankfurt. He will be the third major Anfield deal from German football, following Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong who joined from Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool also signed left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth. Liverpool anticipate there will be outgoings to fund their latest purchase, with Nunez's Anfield prospects the bleakest. The Uruguayan has attracted attention from Italy and Saudi Arabia so far, with the club hoping to raise at least £70 million from his sale.
Reuters
19 minutes ago
- Reuters
Norway find harmony, but no rhythm, in Women's Euro exit
GENEVA, July 17 (Reuters) - Led by captain Ada Hegerberg, Norway's squad exuded togetherness at Euro 2025, which had been lacking at recent tournaments, but they never managed to find a consistent rhythm on the pitch as they lost 2-1 to Italy to exit the competition on Wednesday. The Norwegians won all three of their games to top Group A and came into the last-eight clash with Italy brimming with confidence despite only sporadically having played well, and their inability to make the best of their big moments against the Italians left them wondering what might have been. "I want them (the players) to remember what we did here -- we're obviously very disappointed right now, but this group of players showed that we're together," Norway coach Gemma Grainger, who took the reins in January 2024, told Reuters. "We wanted to come here and have a successful tournament, and that meant, as a group of players and staff, that we showed everyone who we are, and I believe we did that." With the likes of Hegerberg, Caroline Graham Hansen and breakout star Signe Gaupset, Norway are blessed with an embarrassment of attacking riches, but the central midfield and defence never quite clicked in Switzerland, leading to their quarter-final exit. Goalkeeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand was heartbroken to concede the last-minute goal to Italy that sent Norway out of the tournament, but after missing the Euros three years ago due to a serious injury, she managed to find a silver lining in the tournament overall. "Playing a competition like this for Norway is an extreme privilege, and I'm really happy and grateful and proud to be a part of this team," she told Reuters. "We have worked really hard, and we have given it our all in every game, so really thankful and proud to be a part of it, and we wanted more today, but that's how football is sometimes." For Grainger, the next part of the journey is already in her sights. "We're getting better, we're improving, and we have to take some time to look at what we need to get better at, and then we have to focus on the qualification for the World Cup," she said.
