logo
Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah and Sevilla's Loic Bade on Bayer Leverkusen's centre-back shortlist

Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah and Sevilla's Loic Bade on Bayer Leverkusen's centre-back shortlist

Yahooa day ago

Fabrizio Romano reports that central defender Jarell Quansah and Loic Bade are on Bayer Leverkusen's shortlist as they look to replace Jonathan Tah.
Leverkusen are looking for a replacement for their long-time centre-back, who left the club on a free transfer this summer to join Bayern Munich.
Advertisement
die Werkself have been heavily linked to AC Milan's Malick Thiaw as their primary target to replace Tah. The 23-year-old will cost around €25m and is open to a return to the Bundesliga, having previously featured for Schalke in 2023.
Now, Liverpool's Quansah and Sevilla's Loic Bade have both been added to Leverkusen's shortlist. A move for Quansah will be in a separate deal to Florian Wirtz's pending move to the Premier League champions.
As things stand, Thiaw may be the better option for Leverkusen as he not only fills the homegrown quota in the Bundesliga, but he also has experience at the top level, having featured regularly for Milan over his three-year spell at the club.
GGFN | Jack Meenan

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Donald Trump ally bids for £170m Crystal Palace stake
Donald Trump ally bids for £170m Crystal Palace stake

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Donald Trump ally bids for £170m Crystal Palace stake

John Textor is considering three offers for his stake in Crystal Palace – including one from Donald Trump ally Woody Johnson. A quick sale could rescue the Premier League side from the threat of expulsion from the Europa League. Advertisement Telegraph Sport understands Johnson, the New York Jets owner, tabled a 43 per cent purchase proposal, marginally less in overall value than two others being discussed. Raine Group, the New York broker which secured sales for Chelsea and Manchester United, had been in discussion with parties on behalf of Textor since last year. However, the American is conscious of the club's need to now secure a quick transaction to guarantee European competition next season. A rapid sale for as little as £170 million has been mooted for Eagle Football Holdings' 43 per cent stake as Textor's ownership of Lyon leaves Palace facing the threat of being barred from Europe's second tier. Johnson with Donald Trump in 2011 - Getty Images/Al Pereira Industry insiders believe a purchase of Textor's shares by the current co-owners, Josh Harris and David Blitzer, is the most likely outcome this summer. However, options include at least two other proposals from the US, one of which has been established for months. A deal with Johnson, 78, is viewed as an outside shot. He is a controversial figure in US sport, with the New York Jets facing scrutiny last year following reports of 'controversial and dysfunctional practices' under his watch. Advertisement Johnson bought the New York Jets in 2000, with the NFL franchise now estimated to be worth around $6.9 billion. The Jets' $1.6 billion MetLife Stadium will host next year's World Cup final. Johnson is also well-known in UK politics. The long-time Republican Party donor was appointed as US ambassador to the UK during Trump's first term. His brother, Christopher, took over Jets operations during his post. The American businessman has long been interested in buying a Premier League club, having approached Raine about Chelsea in 2022. Johnson (far left) and his wife Suzanne Ircha (far right) host the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall along with Donald and Melania Trump at the US ambassador's residence in London in 2019 - Getty Images/Chris Jackson Other suitors for Palace, meanwhile, are believed to include NBA star Jimmy Butler, part of a consortium of sport and entertainment executives that is expected to make an offer. That separate proposal was first reported by The Athletic on Wednesday night. Another international consortium advised by the veteran football financier Keith Harris also previously expressed interest. Mr Harris's group would probably execute its deal through the recently incorporated Sportbank vehicle. The Sportsbank consortium – worth upwards of £200 million – is said to be made up of a collection of investors from North America, Europe and the Gulf. Advertisement Textor, who previously expressed interest in buying Everton, is willing to find another club as soon as possible. Textor acquired his holding in Palace in 2021 for about £90 million. His multi-club network Eagle Football also includes French club Lyon, Rio-based Botafogo and RWD Molenbeek in Belgium. His priority is to pursue a club which can accept players across the group. Crystal Palace's overall value is said to be about £500 million – around the same price that Everton were valued at, minus debt, during Farhad Moshiri's protracted sale. Stanley Tang, of the US-based food delivery company DoorDash, denied suggestions that he was also in discussions to buy Textor's stake. Chairman Steve Parish, Textor and his fellow US businessmen Harris and Blitzer oversee the running of the Selhurst Park club as general partners. However, Textor has repeatedly hinted at frustrations that he does not exert as much control as he would like. Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor (left) and chairman Steve Parish (right) celebrate the club's FA Cup win - AP/Dave Shopland Uefa is set to inform Palace whether they are in breach of its multi-club ownership rules by June 30 – although the matter may then be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) which would delay a final verdict. Advertisement The FA Cup winners met Uefa officials last week in a two-hour meeting in an attempt to avoid being barred. Palace insist there is no sharing of information or staff or facilities with the French side. The club argue that despite Textor's shareholding, he has no say in the day-to-day running and has just 25 per cent of voting rights. Nottingham Forest have written a letter to Uefa expressing their position and asking for clarification over whether Palace will be involved. Forest could be moved up from the Europa Conference League to the Europa League if Palace are disqualified. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.

Real Madrid Club World Cup Preview With Team News And Fixtures
Real Madrid Club World Cup Preview With Team News And Fixtures

Forbes

timean hour ago

  • Forbes

Real Madrid Club World Cup Preview With Team News And Fixtures

Xabi Alonso will make his debut as Real Madrid coach at the Club World Cup. Among the favorites for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this summer, Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid will bring a new look to the tournament as they aim for the ultimate prize. This will be Real Madrid's seventh involvement in the Club World Cup, having taken part in 2000, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022, but with this new format they will be competing with a host of rivals, rather than representing the continent of Europe. Los Blancos do so under immense pressure. Failure to win any titles since the European Super Cup in August 2024 cost legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti his job, and new man in the dugout Xabi Alonso comes with a sterling reputation after an impressive stint in charge at Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. New signings have also arrived, with Trent Alexander-Arnold joining from Liverpool and Dean Huijsen signing from Bournemouth, and Real Madrid will be looking to build upon a disappointing season by ending on a high with the start of a new era. Xabi Alonso will not have his full squad available to him for his first games in charge due to a number of injuries, but he could count on the return of Éder Militão, who has been out since November with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Now back in training, he could be eased back into the team through this tournament. One major absence could be that of Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper ended the season with a back problem, which is expected to keep him out until later this month. While he isn't entirely ruled out, much will depend upon his involvement in training as he returns to action in the coming days. There are also several regulars who are ruled out, at least for the start of the tournament. Endrick, Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rüdiger are not expected back in time for the start of the tournament, as they overcome different issues, with Rüdiger having gone under the knife to solve a long-term knee injury. David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Carvajal are all included in the squad, but are not realistically expected to be available as they all recover from injuries which caused them to miss the end of the season. The squad has been filled out with young players, including Jacobo Ramón, who starred in the final games of the La Liga season, and Gonzalo García, who scorred a heroic late winner in the Copa del Rey against Leganés. The Real Madrid squad in full includes: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Fran González, Sergio Mestre, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Lucas Vázquez, Fran García, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, Dean Huijsen, Youssef Enriquez, Jacobo Ramón, Raúl Asencio, Pablo Fortea, Diego Aguado, Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Fede Valverde, Luka Modrić, Aurélien Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Dani Ceballos, Chema Andrés, Víctor Muñoz, Mario Martín, Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo Goes, Endrick, Brahim Díaz and Gonzalo García. There are few certainties with a new coach in charge and uncertainty over how Alonso will line up his side having come from Bayer Leverkusen. Indications appear to suggest that he'll stick with a 4-3-3 shape. In goal, with Courtois unavailable, deputy Andriy Lunin is set to step in until the Belgian is fully fit. On the right of defence, new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold could come straight into the team to replace Lucas Vázquez, who will depart at the end of this tournament, with Dani Carvajal still not fit enough to return. Another new signing could also be involved in central defence, with Dean Huijsen coming in from Bournemouth and being set to start. The fitness of Rüdiger or Militão could determine his partner, though Raúl Asencio is poised to start if doubts surround them both. At left-back, Fran García remains the only option available, as Real Madrid were not able to complete a move for Álvaro Carreras from Portuguese side Benfica before the tournament deadline. In midfield, the trio of Fede Valverde, Aurélien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham look likely to keep their places, with Bellingham in a more advanced position ahead of the other two. One of the biggest question marks is over the vacant position in attack which will join Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé. Rodrygo Goes is best positioned, despite being sidelined by Carlo Ancelotti towards the end of his reign. Real Madrid has been drawn in Group H and are by far the strongest team of the four who will face off. The first game of the tournament for the club will be against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on Wednesday, June 18th, at 3pm EST at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Four days later, on Sunday, June 22nd, Real Madrid will play in Charlotte at the Bank of America Stadium as they take on Mexican opponent Pachuca with another 3pm EST kick-off time. To wrap up the group stage, Real Madrid will meet a familiar opponent in Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg at 9pm EST at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Should they top Group H, as is expected, they'll take on the runner-up of Group G in the first knockout round, which will be one of Manchester City, Juventus, Wydad and Al Ain. The quarterfinal will then see them meet either the winner of Group E or the runner-up of Group F, which could include Champions League finalists Inter Milan.

Days before the Club World Cup kicks off, fears over player welfare are being raised
Days before the Club World Cup kicks off, fears over player welfare are being raised

Hamilton Spectator

timean hour ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Days before the Club World Cup kicks off, fears over player welfare are being raised

MIAMI (AP) — Days before the start of the Club World Cup, soccer chiefs are facing renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout. The sport's global players union, FIFPRO, said Thursday there should be an immediate implementation of guaranteed four-week breaks for players during the offseason, as well as time off mid-season. 'If we can all agree that health comes first, then we should take steps to implement these safeguards,' said Prof. Dr. Vincent Gouttebarge, FIFPRO Medical Director. FIFPRO has been critical of the extra workload placed on players as a result of tournaments like the Club World Cup, which kicks off in Miami on Saturday. The newly-expanded tournament involving 32 of the world's best teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The month-long tournament will be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men's World Cup, European Championship and Copa America. It is going ahead against the backdrop of legal challenges in Europe , strike threats and repeated concerns over players' mental and physical welfare due to the increased number of games. FIFA president Gianni Infantino this week said the competition was 'writing history.' 'For the first time in history, the 32 best clubs in the world will compete in a tournament to determine finally who is the best club in the world,' he said. But many players at the Club World Cup have entered the tournament on the back of a full regular season. Players such as Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha have headed to the Club World Cup just two weeks after winning the Champions League final, having also competed in the UEFA Nations League in between. The tournament ends July 13. That is likely to pose a problem for teams like Manchester City or Chelsea if they play in the latter stages, with the Premier League season kicking off on August 16 and leaving little time to rest before beginning the preseason preparations. FIFPRO said it carried out scientific study involving 70 medical and performance experts to come up with '12 consensus-based' safeguards to protect players from from calendar congestion and excessive workload. It said international soccer lacked 'standardized frameworks or regulations.' Among the safeguards it is calling for, FIFPRO wants two weeks in the offseason to be 'completely commitment free.' It wants mid-season breaks to be mandatory. Many European leagues have a winter break, but the Premier League does not. It also wants a minimum four-week retraining period before players return to action after the offseason break. Other safeguards include protection for academy players under the age of 18 and 'travel fatigue management' to schedule rest periods after long-haul flights. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:

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