Latest news with #HarryKane
Telegraph
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Tottenham weigh up rivalling Liverpool for Marc Guehi
Barring a last-minute injury, it is understood that Son will travel to Asia with Tottenham and play in Seoul so that the club do not let down tens of thousands of supporters and miss out on a huge portion of their fee. Sources believe the 'key player clause' meant that it was virtually impossible for Tottenham to even consider selling Son before the tour to Asia and the game in South Korea. And it is why there remains some doubt over Son's long-term future once Spurs return to the UK just over 10 days before their first Premier League game of the season against Burnley. Frank has been guarded over Son's long-term future, but did suggest he would not want to lose him on the eve of the new season. Asked if he would prefer to avoid a scenario similar to that of Harry Kane, who left the day before the first game of the 2023-24 season, Frank said: 'Yeah. First and foremost, here's here now. I'm not worried too much about it. Let's take that five or six weeks down the line.' Son left team-mates and staff under the impression he was ready to leave Tottenham at the end of last season after winning the Europa League with the club. There has been interest from Saudi Arabia and the United States, although there have since been suggestions he is happy to stay at Tottenham - at least until January. Asked about the future of Son last week, Frank said: 'Right now I have a player (Son) that is fully committed and training well. If a player has been at a club a long time, then there will always be a decision for the club to take, of course. And, of course, the head coach and the guys who are in charge and this case will be with Daniel (Levy) and Johan (Lange). If someone wants to leave at a certain stage, then there can be something there. But the club will always decide in the end.'
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Weekend Warm-up: What does Bayern Munich NEED to do in this transfer window? We might know; Throwing it back to MGMT; Bayern Munich making more progress with Liverpool's Luis Diaz; and MORE!
The summer transfer window is roughly 25% over and Bayern Munich has not made much progress on player acquisitions and player sales. Aside of some loan movement for academy players, the Bavarians have succeeded in bringing in midfielder Tom Bischof and center-back Jonathan Tah, but have only managed to sell Mathys Tel, serially unhappy winger Nestory Irankunda, and academy products like Gabriel Vidović and Frans Krätzig, who were deemed to have no future in Bavaria In addition to those moves, Bayern Munich also let free agents Eric Dier and Leroy Sané walk away as well. So…what does Bayern Munich NEED to do, let's take a look… Get VfB Stuttgart's Woltemade Tensions are very high between VfB Stuttgart and Bayern Munich at the moment, but Woltemade is the most crucial acquisition the Bavarians can realistically make. Sure, he can play anywhere across the frontline and would be a nice asset to have on the roster this season, but the future is the key here. There is no indication that Harry Kane will remain past the end of the 2025/26 season (there is also no indication he will leave, either to be is very much up in the air), so Bayern Munich must be prepared for his exit. Woltemade would guarantee a succession plan and anything you get from him this season would be icing on the cake. Should Kane opt to extend his contract or just play out the end of his current deal (which ends in 2027), things could get complicated. However, if the club truly believes Woltemade will be a star, there will not be a better, less expensive time to get him. Shift focus from LFC's Diaz to RB Leipzig's Simons Liverpool FC winger Luis Diaz is the favorite to land in Bavaria and his performance will likely determine the future employment status of Bayern Munich board member for sport Max Eberl. Right now, this writer does not have enough confidence in Diaz to make a big investment in him. While not perfect, RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons is more versatile, is already well-versed in the culture of Germany and the Bundesliga, and just might be a better fit overall. The downside of Simons could be a questionable attitude or mentality, but being surrounded by an established core of veterans could help iron out any issues there. Give the kids a chance Paul Wanner and Lennart Karl are currently slated to be given an opportunity during the preseason. For Wanner, any attacking acquisitions might push him to seek out a loan, but Bayern Munich really needs to find a way to see where the kid is at in his development because right now, everything is iffy. As for Karl, he will reportedly get a chance to backup Michael Olise, which could be a great way to give the youngster minutes, while also reducing the wear-and-tear on the Frenchman. Sell! Sell! Sell! Part of Eberl's big assignment for the summer is to get rid of some dead weight on the roster. The list is not that long, but it could be impactful: Kim Min-jae: The Korean defender has not yet fully asserted himself in Bavaria and — on the surface — it would be great to keep him as part of a three-man rotation at center-back. That scenario might not be amenable for the defender, though. Given that, Eberl has to find a trade partner, who can pay a big chunk of what the Bavarians paid for Min-jae just two summers ago. Daniel Peretz: The goalkeeper has little hope for playing time and a very limited future outlook in Bavaria. Whatever Bayern Munich can get for Peretz would be fine. Sacha Boey: Vincent Kompany might like the right-back, but his injury history and status as the third right-back on the depth chart makes him eminently expendable. Bayern Munich would take a big hit on the transfer fee as it will get nothing close to what it paid for him back in 2024 (€30 million). João Palhinha: The midfielder is more valuable to other clubs and does not have a future at Bayern Munich. It would be a quick turnaround, but this likely needs to happen. Bryan Zaragoza: No one at Bayern Munich wants him and it seems like he has made little effort to really acclimate to the club since arriving in January of 2024. A parting of the ways is best for everyone. Identify a worthy, flexible center-back to join the squad Selling Kim Min-jae will leave a void at center-back — one which Josip Stanišić might not be totally equipped to handle. might not be 'it.' The former Bayer Leverkusen defender did not look great during the Club World Cup and — it could be argued — might be better served as part of a rotation where he can rest more. Right now, there are no clear options, but Min-jae's departure would require a quality defender to be brought in. Stop wasting time Enough with the chases for players like Bradley Barcola and Nico Williams. Bayern Munich does not have time to waste and should focus on attainable targets. Hang in there Cutting payroll this summer is going to be a massive task. Sure, Eberl can likely unload the players we mentioned above, but anything more would be incredibly difficult to make happen. However, at this time next year, Bayern Munich will have already seen several players with high salaries already reach the expiration date on their respective deals. Check out the list: Manuel Neuer: €21 million Serge Gnabry: €18.9 million Leon Goretzka: €13 million Raphaël Guerreiro: €8 million One big name missing from that list is Dayot Upamecano who makes €10 million. Bayern Munich is expected to extend the Frenchman's deal, but it will likely come with a massive pay increase. Kane, who makes €21 million and has a deal that expires in 2027, could also be on the move next summer and players like Kingsley Coman (€17 million), and Konrad Laimer (€9 million) could get sold a year ahead of their contract expiration. relief is on the way. Are you onboard with this plan? If not, what would you do? Tell us in the comments. Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show Season 4, Episode 52 Bayern Munich's summer has been one filled with rumors and, well, not much action. But why? Let's dig into how things are playing out and why Bayern Munich could be facing some tough times ahead. This is what we have on tap for this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show: Luis Diaz is either onto make or break Max Eberl's Bayern Munich career, isn't he? Is the rest of the Bundesliga sick of being bullied by Bayern Munich? Is the league bleeding too much talent? After BPW called for it, will Paul Wanner finally get his chance? It looks like it. Lennart Karl could also get his big break. The father of Florian Wirtz talks through how the decision to join Liverpool played out. HBO screwed me this week…find out how and why! Diaz While we might want to pass on getting Liverpool FC's Luis Diaz, it appears that Bayern Munich is making progress on that pursuit per Sport Bild's Tobi Altschäffl (via @iMiaSanMia): Bayern are making progress for Luis Díaz. After Liverpool's initial 'not-for-sale' stance, there are now indications that things are really moving forward and that concrete negotiations can begin soon. A meeting between Bayern and Liverpool officials is planned soon. Díaz has agreed a 4-year deal until 2029 at Bayern worth around €14m gross per year that could go up through performance based add-ons. The Colombian has informed Liverpool of his desire to leave. At this point, it would be shocking if Bayern Munich does not land Diaz. Song of the Week: 'Kids' by MGMT Admittedly, I have a bit of a soft spot for MGMT. A while back I featured 'Time to Pretend', which I think is a genius song. This week, though, the song 'Kids' is on the agenda — and maybe not for the reason you think. I stumbled across this video of the group playing the song on their college campus and I am complete sucker for this kind of thing: Anyway, MGMT would go on to 'make it' and eventually put out 'Kids' for real. Released back in 2008, this was in a heavy rotation on the alt rock stations in Philly at the time and I was a fan. Enjoy: Bavarian Podcast Works — Flagship Show: Season 7, Episode 60 Bayern Munich is embroiled in a lot at the moment. Transfers, potential front office instability, and youth development are at the forefront of the discussion, so let's talk about all of that and more! This is what we have on tap for this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works Show: Bayern Munich saw bids for VfB Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade and Liverpool's Luis Diaz what? It appears that Max Eberl and the fellas are going to keep plugging away. Why it is hard — even as a fan — to just dismiss the financial ramifications of such deals. Are Christoph Freund and Max Eberl on the hot seat? We have explored the topic before, but this could be a make or break season for the duo. Nestory Irankunda became the latest youngster who did not work out in why? Is Paul Wanner the next to go? Entertainment Rundown Squid Game: The Challenge This is a weird one because I did not watch the whole season, but the reality show/game show version of Squid Game is out was pretty good. While they can't gun down contestants or let them physically harm each other, the premise was solid, the interpersonal dynamics were interesting, and it My kids were watching it, so I caught a few episodes with them. For anyone who likes the show or is a fan of the mixed reality show/game show format, this was solid. The Wire HBO did me dirty. Typically, the network will go through phases of playing one of the series it has produced on two of its channels over the course of a week. In a way, it is the HBO version of allowing its viewers to partake in a lazy binge watch, where they do not even have to surf over to a streaming service. Of late, there have been some good series (like The Sopranos) that will grab my attention and ruin my sleep cycle, but more often than not, it is some random series that I could not care any less about. Not this week. HBO ran The Wire and while I definitely did not sit in for a binge marathon, it did steal at least a few hours of sleep late night for a few days. I had not watched any episodes in quite a while, but it did bring me right back to remembering why the show was one of the most brilliant and captivating series ever produced. It also made me wonder if I should do the a retrospective on the show like I did on Game of Thrones. What do you think? More from A forgettable international match day for all Bayern Munich players involved Czech Republic vs Germany lineup, discussion: Time, TV schedule and how to watch World Cup Qualifiers online 'What about Thomas Müller?' Support pours in for Bayern Munich's troubled icon BFW Transfer Deadline Day 2017 live thread Kingsley Coman confident of his part in Bayern Munich's plans this season Report: Renato Sanches set for loan move to Swansea Would this guy be the perfect backup for Robert Lewandowski?
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
List of 20 world's best footballers on EA FC 26 is 'LEAKED' two months before the game's release - with fans questioning an Arsenal player's inclusion and why one world-class star has been left out
A list of the highest-rated players on EA FC 26 has been leaked two months before the video game's release, but fans are already questioning its credibility after noticing that one world-class superstar has been excluded. Every year, before the new edition of the football game hits the shelves, fans are always excited to learn who the very best players will be ahead of the new season - and whether any stars will be given huge upgrades. And now, gamers have been given a sneak peak at EAFC's new ratings, if a leak shared to social media on Sunday is to be believed. According to the leak, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Rodri and Aitana Bonmati will be the highest-rated footballers in the game - all having been given scores of 91 overall. The talented quintet are followed by Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Vinicius Jr, Caroline Graham Hansen, Jude Bellingham, Florian Wirtz and Alexia Putellas, who are each rated 90. Several fans are claiming the ratings are fake, given that Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal is nowhere to be seen in the top 20 and Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard is among those with a rating of 89, despite his underwhelming season last term. Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (left) and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (right) are among the highest rated players on EA FC 26, according to a leak two months before the game's release The highest rated players on FC26 — ⚡️🇧🇼 (@Priceless_MCI) July 20, 2025 Joining Odegaard with a rating of 89 are Federico Valverde, Robert Lewandowski, Patri Guijarro, Wendie Renard, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Christiane Endler and Sophia Wilson. 'Fake ratings lmao,' one fan posted on social media. 'If this is legit they are so out of touch. Might be fake but I swear its too late in the year to see fakes,' a second said. A third added: 'Odegaard 89? Even Arsenal fans don't rate him this year'. Another posted, with a laughing emoji: 'Ohdeargod higher rating than Raphinha, Yamal and Pedri.' 'Odegaard should be 82,' a fan also said. Another rating that has raised eyebrows is that of Wirtz, who completed a British record transfer of £116million to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen last month. Questioning his 90 overall rating, one fan said: 'Wirtz is an 85 at most and that's being generous.' Fans have quickly questioned the credibility of the leak, taking particular issue with Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard being rated at 89 while Barcelona's Lamine Yamal is missing Others simply couldn't believe how highly Liverpool's new star Florian Wirtz had been rated '90 for Wirtz is crazyyyyy,' a second posted, while another said: 'Why the f*** is Wirtz 90 rated!'
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I've been to a World Cup final in the USA – here's what England fans can expect (hopefully)
A YEAR today, thousands of English fans will hope to be in uncharted territory - a World Cup final in America. There will be a scramble for tickets to watch the showpiece at the Met Life Stadium. 8 8 8 8 Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka - New Jersey boys on the biggest stage. Three Lions fans might not know what to expect, but I can give them an idea as I have been to a World Cup final in America and witnessed one of football's most iconic moments. And things were very different 31 years ago. For a start, there were very few English supporters at the tournament as the national team failed to qualify. That - along with the scheduling of Wigan borough's school holidays - gave us our chance. My dad and I were members of the England Travel Club and in pre-internet days, every FA was allocated World Cup tickets, whether they had qualified or not. The English FA doled them out through the Travel Club - and we cleaned up. It was part football trip, part brilliant family holiday. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS We saw Brazil beat the USA in San Francisco (and Tab Ramos nearly take Leonardo's head off), Sweden beat Romania on penalties in the quarters, Romario win the semi-final for Brazil against the Swedes and then the final, Brazil v Italy. I became Brazilian for two weeks - just call me Gradinho. Donald Trump reveals he's keeping Club World Cup trophy after gatecrashing Chelsea celebrations as Blues get replica The USA has much more of a football - or soccer - culture now. In 1994, an old couple heard our accents and politely asked what we were doing in America. My dad's mate, Phil, replied: "We're here for the football". That confused them as the NFL season had not started. Know-it-all ten-year-old me leaned over to them and said: "He means the soccer." If anything, that confused them even more! It did not permeate all parts of US society, although the stadiums were pretty much full - certainly more packed than at Euro 96 two years later. However, that created a problem for dad's pal Phil. Four years earlier, at Italia 90, tickets had been in plentiful supply from the touts and not too highly priced either. Dad and Phil managed to get to two quarter finals and the memorable semi in Turin where Gazza and the rest of the England fans ended up in tears. But in '94, although we were warned to stay away from 'scalpers' there was barely a ticket tout in sight and Phil, who had not been so lucky in the Travel Club draw, had to scour local newspaper adverts to try to get final tickets for himself and two sons. He managed it, too, but not before a hair-raising trip to a rough part of LA and an impromptu auction with another hopeful fan who, he claimed, had a gun. Another oddity for an English football fan was sitting on bleachers in the stadium rather than seats - especially at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, just outside Los Angeles. 8 8 8 The final itself was the worst match of the tournament - but what an occasion! It was packed and boiling hot - as it will be next year - and it kicked off at 12.30pm local time (which contributed to the lack of quality). Loads of the 94,000-strong crowd were supporting Brazil - although we were sat next to a Scottish Italy fan who waxed lyrical about reserve defender Luigi Apolloni, of Parma. He did actually get on too, after 35 minutes and helped Italy keep Romario quiet. After a forgettable 120 minutes, it went to penalties. We were behind the goal that Roberto Baggio skied his spot-kick over, nearly hitting us (OK, maybe not, we were a bit far back for that). After the match, we even got to Disneyland to watch the parade for a new film called the Lion King. A dramatic end to a brilliant trip - but things will be different next year. Thanks to the MLS, Lionel Messi et al, the US public seem to be more into football and there should be more of a buzz throughout the country. And Kane will not sky his penalty in the final over the bar. Then, the fans in New Jersey will be watching Three Lions kings...
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Harry Kane, an unusual sponsorship and what it tells us about the business of sport
Thomas Muller saw the branded cap and immediately called over Harry Kane. It was the night after Bayern Munich lost against Aston Villa in the Champions League in October and, true to German tradition, a post-match meal for the players, guests and club executives had been organised at The Belfry Hotel & Resort nearby. Advertisement Muller was excited because for months he had listened to stories about this particular brand during rounds of golf and daily conversations about the sport with Kane, his Bayern team-mate. 'Harry, come here, there's a guy wearing Reflo,' he shouted, only for Kane to shake his head and explain with a laugh that the man in front of him was Rory MacFadyen, the firm's co-founder. You can forgive Muller for not recognising MacFadyen. Reflo, a sportswear brand whose products are made from recycled waste, are early into the journey and still growing in profile. Its other partners are Luton Town and Forest Green Rovers — two relative minnows in English football's ecosystem — and three Formula E teams. While it did recently produce a collection for The Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club, it is the link-up with Kane — one of the planet's most recognisable footballers — which stands out. The tie-up clearly makes sense for Reflo, but what's in it for a man who, as England captain and the centre-forward for one of Europe's biggest clubs, could have his pick of major brands? For Kane, there was an attraction in being able to involve himself in Reflo rather than simply being a passive investor or ambassador. He found the firm's eco-credentials appealing — they have pledged to planting one million trees in Madagascar and Mozambique — and has focused on granular details since his brother, Charlie, first approached Reflo wanting to know more about its plans. The fact that Reflo is active in golf is another major plus for a player who plays off a three handicap. 'He gives us feedback on the product and explains what he likes to see,' MacFadyen tells The Athletic, 18 months into the partnership. 'He loves to open a door for us. 'After an England game recently, I was chatting to a very, very well-known professional golfer, who I didn't know, and he told me how Harry had already explained everything about Reflo which was cool to hear. To know that he's just chatting to his mates, like Thomas Muller, about us is cool. He's the perfect partner.' Kane is no stranger to an unexpected partnership. He switched his boot deal from Nike to Skechers in 2023 and like a growing list of high-profile athletes, is keen to blaze a trail with a brand on his own as the main man rather than one of many. There is also a growing trend for athletes with a gilded status and marketing appeal to want more than just an ambassador role with a more famous brand. Advertisement Tennis great Roger Federer did the same when he left Nike in 2018 and linked up with On Running, initially as a three per cent owner. Federer represented the brand at the US Open that same year and his global appeal elevated the Swiss footwear brand's visibility and credibility to a level that has reshaped the athletic footwear landscape ever since. 'Athletes are a lot more value-driven now, so in terms of brand matching or setting up businesses, they want to do something that's centred around purpose, or something that they believe in and are quite passionate about,' says Joe Davis, a former footballer who set up a business helping footballers transition from professional sport into entrepreneurship. 'Their desire is to work with brands who have aligned values and a similar outlook. Founders are also playing a more important role now as they connect with talent. Before, they used to give the marketing team a budget to go out and source athletes as talent for campaigns or ambassador contracts, yet now they are working more directly with the athletes because they're more selective on who they bring in. 'It's about building a deep relationship and actually buying into the product and the service that is being offered.' The success basketball star Stephen Curry has had with Under Armour since moving across from Nike in 2013 is another stand out example. The Golden State Warriors point guard helped produce 12 signature shoes, the last five of those have been under Curry Brand, a sub-brand of Under Armour focusing on footwear and apparel. 'What we really have right now is the truest form of a partnership,' says Nana Dadzie, the head of marketing at Curry Brand. 'It's one thing to be a signature athlete but it's another to start a brand underneath a brand and do something a little bit bigger. 'Stephen is the president of Curry Brand and that shows you how involved he is with the design of the shoes, the marketing, and the signing of other athletes. He's been able to build out what we want to be a legacy brand.' Curry, now 37, wants to leave behind more than just memories when he stops playing basketball, which is something the partnership enables him to do. Earlier this year Curry Brand completed a 20th court completion in five years as part of a target to help the development of youngsters interested in basketball. Advertisement One of the reasons new Liverpool right-back Jeremie Frimpong agreed to a mega boot deal with New Balance earlier this year was their ability to help deliver his off-field plans within the community. New Balance supports Frimpong's non-profit The Pathways Project, a career-transition initiative designed for footballers aged 15-22, with a focus on professional academy players, to guide them through exploring career pathways beyond football. Of course, hefty sums — reported as a £20million deal for Frimpong when it was announced — remain a major incentive. A year before Curry signed a long-term extension with Under Armour — which could become a lifetime contract if certain revenue targets are met — he disclosed to Rolling Stone that the deal could be worth upwards of $1billion. Money matters, of course, but so, too, does legacy and the optics of any deals, and that combination appears to be influencing some of the best athletes in the world when they choose their partnerships. (Top image courtesy of Reflo)
