Latest news with #ManchesterCity
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Saturday's briefing: Beever-Jones nets England treble as Liverpool bid for Wirtz
Aggie Beever-Jones plundered a hat-trick as England Women set up a winner-takes-all Nations League clash with World Cup winners Spain with a 6-0 demolition of Portugal. Liverpool have made an improved offer for Bayer Leverkusen striker Florian Wirtz as they attempt to beat Bayern Munich and Manchester City to his signature. For Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, the focus is retaining the services of skipper Bruno Fernandes. Three-sy does it Beever-Jones marked her first Wembley start for England with a hat-trick in a 6-0 Nations League rout of Portugal. The 21-year-old Chelsea striker became just the third woman – and second Lioness after Beth Mead – to score three times at headquarters, where Lucy Bronze, Mead and substitute Chloe Kelly were also on target. Beever-Jones said: 'I'm delighted. I don't even know any of the records and whatever, but I think someone just said it was Beth, so to be alongside her is something really, really incredible. 'It's my first time playing at Wembley for England and I don't think it could actually get much better than that. 'It was incredible. Wembley's always been a special place. Obviously, we won the FA Cup here not so long ago with Chelsea, I saw the girls win the Euros here – for me it's such a historic place.' Going with the Flo Liverpool have made an improved offer totalling £109million for Bayer Leverkusen forward Wirtz, the PA news agency understands. The Reds' second bid for the Germany International – which includes add-ons – would make him the most expensive signing in the club's history if it was accepted by Leverkusen. Wirtz was a star performer in the Bundesliga club's domestic league and cup triumph in the 2023-24 season and also shone for Germany at last summer's Euros. Should he stay or should he go? Amorim thinks skipper Fernandes wants to stay at Manchester United amid interest from free-spending Saudi side Al-Hilal. Fernandes, 30, admitted after the Europa League final defeat by Tottenham loss that United could end up cashing in on him with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal reportedly willing to triple his salary and pay the Premier League club up to £100million. Asked after his side's 3-1 friendly win over Hong Kong if whether that might have been Fernandes' last appearance for the club, head coach Amorim said: 'I don't think so. 'I don't know for sure, nobody knows, but I don't think so. I think he wants to stay. He needs to be in the best league in the world.' What's on today? One day to go 🤩 #UCLfinal — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 30, 2025 All eyes will be on Munich's Allianz Arena on Saturday evening as Paris St Germain attempt to finally get their hands on the Champions League trophy. However, standing in the way of the French double winners are three-times European champions Inter Milan, who are desperate to soothe their pain at surrendering the Serie title to Napoli. Inter were beaten in the 2023 final by Manchester City in Istanbul, three years after PSG went down to Bayern Munich in Lisbon, but one of them will emerge victorious this time around.
BBC News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Champions League final: PSG v Inter Milan - live text, radio & score updates
This is the first ever competitive meeting between Inter and Paris SG. It's also the second European Cup/UEFA Champions League final between an Italian and a French side, after Marseille beat Milan 1-0 in 1993 – the only time a French side has ever won the trophy. That final was also held in Munich. This is Inter's seventh appearance in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League final, winning the trophy three times (1964, 1965 and 2010). They did lose their last final match, going down 1-0 against Manchester City in 2023. This is Paris SG's second ever appearance in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League final, losing 1-0 against Bayern Munich in 2019-20 previously. They remain the last French side to win a major European trophy – the 1995-96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. French clubs have only won two of their 15 major European finals: one out of seven in European Cup/UEFA Champions League, one out of three in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and none in five attempts in UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League. This will be the fifth European Cup/UEFA Champions League final to be held in Munich. The victors in each of the previous four were winning the trophy for the very first time, a run Paris SG will seek to continue (Nottingham Forest in 1979, Marseille in 1993, Borussia Dortmund in 1997, Chelsea in 2012). Internazionale have scored 26 UEFA Champions League goals this season; their joint most ever in a major European season, also scoring 26 in 2002-03. They've scored two or more goals in all six knockout games and could be the third side to score 2+ goals in every knockout game including the final in a season, along with Real Madrid in 1959-60 (7 games) and Milan in 1993-94 (2 games). This season has seen Paris SG both win their most games (10) and score their most goals (33) in a single major European campaign. They've also registered their most shots per game (18.6) in a UEFA Champions League season on record since 2003-04. Internazionale have trailed for just 1.2% of their UEFA Champions League matches this season, falling behind in three games but never for more than 370 seconds in any of them – 285 seconds against Bayer Leverkusen in December, 370 against Bayern Munich in April and 343 against Barcelona in May. They've also spent the highest percentage of their time winning (50.8%). Only Atlético Madrid (43.5%) have handed a higher share of minutes to players aged 30+ in the UEFA Champions League this season than Internazionale (43.3%), whose 6,151 minutes by players aged 30+ is the most by a team since Juventus in 2016-17 (6,186). All of the 1,350 minutes Paris SG have given to players aged 30 or over has been by just one player, Marquinhos. Paris SG have currently played the fourth-most games (167) without ever winning the European Cup/UEFA Champions League since it began in 1955, behind Arsenal (211), Dynamo Kyiv (185) and Atlético Madrid (176). A win in this game would see them have the most games before winning their first trophy, with Man City the current most on 116 before they won their 117th game in the final against Inter in 2023. Internazionale manager Simone Inzaghi lost the 2023 UEFA Champions League final and is looking to avoid becoming the ninth manager to lose two or more finals. The only two managers to lose their first final but win their second are Fabio Capello (lost 1993, won 1994) and Thomas Tuchel (lost 2020, won 2021). Paris SG manager Luis Enrique – who won the UEFA Champions League in 2015 with Barcelona – is looking to become the sixth manager to win the trophy with two different clubs, along with Carlo Ancelotti (Milan, Real Madrid), Ottmar Hitzfeld (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich), Jupp Heynckes (Real Madrid, Bayern Munich), José Mourinho (Porto and Inter) and Pep Guardiola (Barcelona and Man City). João Neves has applied the most high-intensity pressures to opponents in this season's UEFA Champions League (824), while he's also made 57 tackles for Paris SG. On record since 2006-07, the only players to make more in a season are Gennaro Gattuso (64 in 2006-07, 59 in 2007-08) and Javier Mascherano (70 in 2007-08). Paris SG midfielder Vitinha has completed the most passes under high-intensity pressure from opponents (665) in this season's UEFA Champions League. He's also completed the most passes overall (1,222), with only Xavi in 2012-13 (1,299) and 2010-11 (1,244) ever completing more in a season on record since 2003-04. Internazionale's Francesco Acerbi – who scored their crucial late equaliser in the semi-final against Barcelona – could be the fourth oldest outfield player to start a UEFA Champions League final (37 years, 110 days), behind Paolo Maldini for Milan in 2007 (38 years, 331 days), Lothar Matthäus for Bayern Munich in 1999 (38 years, 66 days) and Ryan Giggs for Man Utd in 2011 (37 years, 180 days). Ousmane Dembélé has been directly involved in 12 UEFA Champions League goals this season (8 goals, 4 assists); the most ever by a Paris SG player in one campaign, while only Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2013-14 (10) has scored more. Internazionale's Lautaro Martínez has scored in the last 16, quarter-final and semi-final of this season's UEFA Champions League. Only five players have scored in those stages plus the final in one season – Frank Lampard in 2007-08, Diego Milito in 2009-10, Lionel Messi in 2010-11, Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013-14 and Sadio Mané in 2017-18. He's also aiming to become the first Inter player with 10 goals in a major European season (currently nine). In this season's UEFA Champions League, the most line-breaking passes from one player to another while breaking a defensive line have been from Paris SG's Ousmane Dembélé to Achraf Hakimi (13); six more than any other duo. Dembélé has created 35 chances this season, the most by a French player since Jerome Rothen in 2003-04 (45), while Hakimi's 34 chances created is the most by an African player on record (since 2003-04). Only two players have completed more passes in this season's UEFA Champions League than PSG captain Marquinhos (1,051), who featured in the 2020 final defeat to Bayern Munich. The final could be his 107th appearance in the competition, with only Gianluigi Buffon and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (124 each) playing more games in Champions League history without winning the trophy.
Kuwait Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Man City chief promises ‘swift' transfer deals for Club World Cup
LONDON: Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola waves to the crowd after his team's English Premier League match against Fulham at Craven Cottage in London on May 25, 2025. - AFP MANCHESTER: Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has promised the overhaul of Pep Guardiola's squad will continue at pace in the weeks ahead of the Club World Cup. After an unprecedented four consecutive Premier League titles, City suffered a dismal season by the standards set during Guardiola's reign. They finished a distant third in the Premier League, won just three of 10 games in the Champions League and lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace to end without a trophy for the first time since 2016/17. Khaldoon accepted the club were not 'aggressive' enough in the transfer market last year to rejuvenate their squad. City responded in January by signing Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez at a combined cost of more than £172 million ($232 million). More arrivals are expected before the start of the Club World Cup on June 14 despite Guardiola's plea to work with a smaller squad next season. 'This January we had to act,' Khaldoon said in his annual end-of-season interview. 'Four players in January (came in), and that gives you an idea of what's coming this summer because we will continue. We have clearly identified who exactly are the targets, in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option. And we'll go about our business and it will be very clear, very swift. And our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.' Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki and AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders are among those linked with a move to the Etihad. Guardiola extended his contract with the club until 2027 back in November during the worst of City's struggles. Khaldoon is confident the side that has dominated English football over the last decade will quickly be back on top. 'We will be back. This season is a season that's now behind us. Today is a new day. We start working and preparing for next season,' he added. 'I can assure you, this club will do everything possible to come back to the standards that we know we all can achieve and that we know, we will achieve.' — AFP
Business Times
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Business Times
Liverpool sign Frimpong as Alexander-Arnold leaves
LIVERPOOL have signed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, the English Premier League champions announced Friday (May 30). No fee or length of contract was disclosed but British media reports said Frimpong had arrived at Anfield on a five-year deal worth 35 million euros (S$51.3 million). News of Frimpong's signing came just hours after Liverpool confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold would be joining Real Madrid in time to play in the Club World Cup, Frimpong appears to be a ready-made replacement for England full-back Alexander-Arnold, with Liverpool activating the 24-year-old Dutch international's release cause. He was a key figure as Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga title in 2023/24 and made 53 appearances in all competitions as they finished second this season. Frimpong, however, will have competition at right-back from Northern Ireland defender Conor Bradley, who recently signed a new four-year contract with Liverpool. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Frimpong rose through the youth ranks at Manchester City and went on to join Celtic in September 2019 before a move to Leverkusen in January 2021. He is now set to join a Netherlands contingent at Liverpool that includes manager Arne Slot as well as club captain Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch. Liverpool are also in talks with Leverkusen over signing Frimpong's former team-mate Florian Wirtz. Reports earlier Friday said Liverpool had made an improved £109 million ($146 million) bid to sign the Germany midfielder . Liverpool's second offer for Wirtz includes add-on clauses that would make him the most expensive signing in the club's history. Wirtz has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, but it is believed he made it clear to Leverkusen that he wants to join Liverpool before next season. The 22-year-old emerged as one of the most highly-rated young playmakers in Europe after helping Leverkusen win thee Bundesliga. Wirtz was named Bundesliga player of the season for his role in that 2023/24 triumph. He featured in 31 Bundesliga matches this season, scoring 10 goals as Leverkusen finished second behind Bayern in the title race. Wirtz has scored 57 goals in 197 games since making his Leverkusen debut aged just 17 after signing from Cologne in 2020. AFP
The Sun
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Liverpool sign Frimpong as Alexander-Arnold leaves
LIVERPOOL have signed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, the English Premier League champions announced Friday. No fee or length of contract was disclosed but British media reports said Frimpong had arrived at Anfield on a five-year deal worth 35 million euros (£29.5 million). News of Frimpong's signing came just hours after Liverpool confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold would be joining Real Madrid in time to play in the Club World Cup, Frimpong appears to be a ready-made replacement for England full-back Alexander-Arnold, with Liverpool activating the 24-year-old Dutch international's release cause. He was a key figure as Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga title in 2023/24 and made 53 appearances in all competitions as they finished second this season. Frimpong, however, will have competition at right-back from Northern Ireland defender Conor Bradley, who recently signed a new four-year contract with Liverpool. Frimpong rose through the youth ranks at Manchester City and went on to join Celtic in September 2019 before a move to Leverkusen in January 2021. He is now set to join a Netherlands contingent at Liverpool that includes manager Arne Slot as well as club captain Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch. Liverpool are also in talks with Leverkusen over signing Frimpong's former team-mate Florian Wirtz. Reports earlier Friday said Liverpool had made an improved £109 million ($146 million) bid to sign the Germany midfielder . Liverpool's second offer for Wirtz includes add-on clauses that would make him the most expensive signing in the club's history. Wirtz has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, but it is believed he made it clear to Leverkusen that he wants to join Liverpool before next season. The 22-year-old emerged as one of the most highly-rated young playmakers in Europe after helping Leverkusen win thee Bundesliga. Wirtz was named Bundesliga player of the season for his role in that 2023/24 triumph. He featured in 31 Bundesliga matches this season, scoring 10 goals as Leverkusen finished second behind Bayern in th
