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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool to hold fresh Marc Guehi talks after facing defender's current side Crystal Palace in Community Shield as Chelsea cool interest in England star
Liverpool still targeting Guehi Reds face Palace in Community Shield Eagles want £45m ($61m) Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 WHAT HAPPENED? Guehi and Palace will attempt to overcome the Reds at Wembley to win a second trophy under Oliver Glasner, but club captain Guehi might then be straight to the negotiation table with the opposition, report Mail Sport, as he hopes to secure a summer move to Anfield. The Eagles are believed to want around £45 million ($61m) for Guehi, who is not expected to force through a move if the club refuse. THE BIGGER PICTURE Guehi has just a year left on his contract and Palace know it may be smart to sell him in this window. Liverpool have been linked throughout the summer and previously saw bids rejected, while Newcastle United and Chelsea have also been cited as holding an interest. The Blues are reported to be focusing on attacking targets such as Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho over Guehi at this moment in time, leaving Liverpool in pole position. DID YOU KNOW? Liverpool currently have a serious shortage of senior centre-backs. Alongside captain Virgil van Dijk there are just the injured Joe Gomez and transfer-linked Ibrahima Konate, with Jarell Quansah already having departed this summer. Midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo have been used to fill in at centre-half during pre-season. WHAT NEXT FOR GUEHI AND LIVERPOOL? Guehi and the Reds will be firm enemies on Sunday, as the England man hopes to lead Palace to a second trophy in the space of a few months. Liverpool will hope to add to their Premier League title win with victory over the FA Cup winners, then they could be straight back in with a move for Guehi as soon as the full-time celebrations for the victors have died down.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Brazilian footballer Jeferson Merli passes away at 27 after drowning in Portugal river with girlfriend
Brazilian footballer Jeferson Merli passes away at 27 (Image credits: X/IG) Goalkeeper Jeferson Merli has died at just 27 years old. He disappeared while swimming with his girlfriend in the Homem River at Terras de Bouro, in the Peneda-Geres National Park, in north-west Portugal, at about 6 pm on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Emergency services were called immediately, but after a search lasting over three hours, his body was recovered around 9:30 pm the same day. Merli lived in Braga, about 30 km away, and played as goalkeeper for Grupo Desportivo Caldelas, where he had just renewed his contract in July 2025. Jeferson Merli drowns while swimming with girlfriend in Portugal river On Saturday, August 2, Jeferson Merli and his girlfriend went for a swim in the Homem River at a popular river beach near Terras de Bouro, roughly 30 km north of Braga in northern Portugal. Around 6 pm, he slipped underwater and did not resurface. — MailSport (@MailSport) His girlfriend raised the alarm immediately. Rescue teams joined firefighters and divers, searching until about 9:30 pm, when Merli's body was found. Local reports noted that this artificial beach in Peneda-Geres National Park is beautiful but can be dangerous due to hidden currents and deep water. Brazilian goalkeeper Jeferson Merli remembered after tragic death in Terras de Bouro Jeferson Merli was born in Vista Alegre do Alto, near Ribeirão Preto in São Paulo state, Brazil. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kate Garraway's Husband Leaves Behind A Fortune That Makes His Cry. Weight Loss Groove Undo He began in Brazilian football with Uniao, from Mato Grosso do Sul in 2019. Soon after, he moved to Europe, playing for Safor in Spain. In Portugal, he wore the jerseys of Condor, Aguias da Graça, Lage, Terras de Bouro, and finally GD Caldelas, his club from 2024 until his death. Also Read: 'Stop Practicing With Men': Andre Agassi's Father Once Blamed Male Practice Partners For Shocking Downfall Of Serena Williams And Venus Williams On July 2025, Caldelas confirmed he renewed his deal, expressing confidence in his future. Following his death, the club released a heartfelt note: 'Jeferson… leaves us not only his dedication on the pitch, but also the friendship, professionalism and spirit of togetherness that always distinguished him… Our club will never forget his commitment and the mark he left on all of us. Rest in peace, Jeferson.' Other clubs in the Braga area also offered condolences. In Brazil, Gremio Ourinhos, where Merli had played as a youth, shared emotional memories of him as a standout goalkeeper in 2016. His former coach Daniel Augusto Galo remembered him as humble and full of dreams, often talking about making it in European football. Jeferson Merli's passing is a deep shock to his club, teammates, and fans. He had recently renewed his contract and seemed set for more growth. But a relaxing day in the river turned into a tragedy no one expected. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Daily Mail
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Crystal Palace's battle plans to beat UEFA in court and get back in the Europa League - all the secrets they say were kept from them, truth about two-tier justice and what they will say about Nottingham Forest
On Friday, Crystal Palace face a date with European destiny in Switzerland. Here, Mail Sport outlines exactly how lawyers representing the Eagles will seek to overturn their bombshell demotion from the Europa League – in what promises to be a David v Goliath battle between the underdog winners and the might of UEFA...
Daily Mail
04-08-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
F1 legend tells Lewis Hamilton to QUIT the sport before 'anything bad' happens to him
Bernie Ecclestone today urged Lewis Hamilton to quit Formula One immediately, and to get his Ferrari contract paid out in full before 'anything bad' happens to him. The advice came as Hamilton's future is in the balance following a calamitous Hungarian Grand Prix at the weekend. After qualifying only 12th while his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc took pole, the seven-time world champion called himself 'absolutely useless' and suggested Ferrari should replace him. Hamilton stood by those sentiments after finishing 12th on Sunday. Nonetheless, he indicated he would probably return after Formula One's brief summer break at the Dutch Grand Prix on August 31. But Ecclestone, the sport's godfather, is opposed to Hamilton persevering a race longer. 'Lewis is very talented, was and probably still is,' the 94-year-old told Mail Sport from Portugal. 'But like a lot of leading sports personalities when they reach the top, there is only one way to go, and it's not a good direction. It's only down. 'They get tired. Lewis is tired. He's been doing what he is doing forever. He needs a rest from it for good, a total reset to do something completely different. 'He may not think it but he will soon get used to doing other stuff away from motor racing in retirement. I think he should have done it a while ago. 'The guy is not a cheat. But he would be cheating himself if he goes on. He should stop now. 'If I were looking after him I would negotiate with Ferrari immediately and say, 'If you have someone to replace Lewis, he'll step aside.'' Hamilton is in the first year of a three-year deal with Ferrari worth £60million per annum, since his move from Mercedes in a transfer that electrified Formula One. But aged 40, he has struggled to recreate the excellence of his younger days. Without a podium appearances in 14 attempts, he has been out-qualified by Leclerc 10 times and only twice beaten his colleague in grands prix, though he won the sprint race in China with aplomb. Ecclestone, who masterminded Formula One for 40 years before Liberty Media bought the business in 2017, spent the weekend at the Budapest race he established behind the Iron Curtain in 1986 and observed Hamilton at close quarters. He said: 'If I were Lewis, I would say to Ferrari that I wanted to be paid all my contract, in full. They signed him because they thought he could do a job. 'It isn't working so I can I can make way if you want me to, but that's the arrangement. 'It could work for both parties.' Ecclestone managed two drivers who died racing, Stuart Lewis-Evans, in 1958, and Jochen Rindt, the only posthumous world champion, in 1970. Both tragedies hit him hard. Aware of the dangers involved in Formula One, Ecclestone said: 'I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to Lewis. He's not fighting for a world championship and is at a stage of his life when it wouldn't be worth him spending two years laid up in bed with a broken back or anything else nasty. 'He doesn't need to take the risk any longer. He's won seven world titles and that is quite enough.' As for a replacement, Ecclestone has two suggestions for the hierarchy at Maranello. 'If I could steal him, I'd take Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls,' he said. 'He has done super well in his first year and is a great guy. 'I also rate our friend from Brazil (Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto). He is talented. Both of them are sensible, too.' However, Hamilton's old Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes his former star driver should continue next season, when new a new generation of cars is introduced. The Austrian said: 'Lewis has unfinished business in Formula One. 'In the same way Mercedes underperformed in the latest set of regulations since 2022, it hit him. Maybe it is linked to driving style. 'So he shouldn't go anywhere next year. It's brand new cars, which will be completely different to drive, and new power units, so it is absolutely on for Lewis in 2026, and hopefully for many more years. 'If he has confidence in the car, there is no reason he cannot win an eighth world title.'
Daily Mail
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Inside Daniel Farke's giant survival plan: Why Leeds made physicality and set-pieces the focus of their summer - and the one key position they still want to strengthen, writes AADAM PATEL
The running joke at Leeds United this summer is that if you aren't around 26 years old and tall, then the chances are the club aren't interested. And in reality, that is very much the plan, with all seven signings at Elland Road so far at least 5ft 11in and around their prime. When the recruitment team at Leeds set out their strategy for the transfer window and their bid to stay up, physicality and set-pieces were keywords. As one Leeds source told Mail Sport: 'Physicality was something we lacked last season and something we identified as one of the major things we needed to improve if we want to compete in the Premier League. It's no secret either that we had to get better at set-pieces.' Of the 1,115 goals in the Premier League last season, 229 (20.5 per cent) came from set-pieces, excluding penalties. In 2023-24, the figure was 19.8 per cent. 'It's not a coincidence,' said boss Daniel Farke when asked about the signings after Saturday's 1-1 draw against Villarreal. 'If you join the Premier League with one of the smallest groups, there's more pressure. You have to make sure you're good at defending corners and set-pieces. We are more likely to need to score goals from set-pieces because I'm not sure if we can dominate games the way we did in the Championship.' Staying in the Premier League has never been more difficult for newly promoted teams. In the last two seasons, all of the promoted clubs have been immediately relegated, something that had only happened once before, in 1997-98. Leeds' analysis identified the clear difference between intensity levels in the Premier League and the Championship and pinpointed physicality across all positions as something they had to focus on for their return to the top flight. First through the door was 6ft 4in Slovenian central defender Jaka Bijol from Udinese for £15million. The 26-year-old led the rankings at Euro 2024 for clearances (38) and was second behind Virgil van Dijk for headed clearances (21) despite playing in only four games at the tournament. Bijol continued to post impressive defensive numbers in Serie A last season, ranking joint-fourth for aerial duels won (110), fifth for headed clearances (103) and fourth for overall clearances (182). That said, his style does see him on the receiving end of the referee's ire — only two players picked up more yellow cards last season than he did (11), and he was the second most booked defender in Serie A over the last three seasons with 25 yellows. Bijol will be suspended for Leeds' first game against Everton, due to the red card he got playing for Udinese in his last Serie A game in May. Sebastiaan Bornauw is another giant at centre half and fits the bill at 6ft 3in. The 26-year-old signed for £5.1m from Wolfsburg and, with 11 goals in 140 Bundesliga games, will certainly be an asset going up. 'I think as a centre back, I am dangerous in front of goal. I like set-pieces, offensive set-pieces,' the Belgian said when he signed. The 24-year-old led the rankings at Euro 2024 for clearances and was second behind Virgil van Dijk in headed clearances Lukas Nmecha also joined from Wolfsburg and at 6ft 1in will be a handful. There were early signs of his strong hold-up play when he started against Manchester United in Stockholm and he scored in both of Leeds' friendlies in Germany, albeit against weak opposition. Nmecha has struggled with injury, playing only 22 league games in the last two seasons and starting only three, so he was let go for free. The 26-year-old averaged four shots per 90 minutes and had the best expected goals ratio per 90 minutes (0.90) of any player to feature in at least 400 Bundesliga minutes in 2024-25. These are small sample sizes, but Leeds see potential in a player who also has some Premier League experience — he played two games for Manchester City late in their 2017-18 title-winning season. A direct replacement for Junior Firpo will be Swedish left back Gabriel Gudmundsson, who played nine Champions League matches for Lille last season and joined in a deal worth £10m. He scored four goals and got three assists in 137 games for Lille in all competitions and the 26-year-old will be key in moving Leeds upfield, with only two Ligue 1 left backs carrying the ball a further distance (4,032 metres) last season, while none of those had more shots following a ball carry than he did (nine). At 5ft 11in, he is tall for his position and crucially, his injury record is good but Leeds have a hole to fill, with Firpo providing four goals and 10 assists last season. If Gudmundsson can improve his end product, then Leeds may have a gem on their hands. The arrival of Sean Longstaff for £12m from Newcastle offers Leeds something they severely lacked in their last season in the top flight — bundles of Premier League experience. The 27-year-old has played 171 times in the Premier League. Sean Longstaff provides his new side with Premier League experience after making the switch from Newcastle United Longstaff's hard-working style is also bound to endear him to a fanbase who appreciate industrious players willing to give their all — he has covered the most distance per 90 minutes of any Premier League player to play at least 2,500 minutes over the last two seasons (12.3km). Also joining is Anton Stach, the 6ft 4in twice-capped German midfielder who signed from Hoffenheim for £17m. Stach led all Bundesliga players across the past two seasons for interceptions (120), and he ranked third for possession won (393) and fourth for each of tackles (142) and duels won (381). His versatility — similar to that of captain Ethan Ampadu, who is adept in central defence and defensive midfield — could also prove handy. Last season, the 26-year-old filled in at centre back in 33 per cent of his Bundesliga minutes, with the rest coming in midfield. Dealing with set-pieces was also a key factor in signing Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri from Lyon for £15.6m but above all, Leeds wanted a good shot-stopper with a commanding presence. In Ligue 1 last season, according to Opta's xGoT (Expected Goals on Target) goalkeeping model, Perri prevented six goals and posted a save percentage of 72.5 per cent. His numbers were even more impressive in the 2023 Brazilian top flight, registering a 78.4 per cent save ratio — the best of any goalkeeper with 10 or more games — and preventing an incredible 12 goals according to his xGoT. Perri is 27 and like the other arrivals brings important top-level experience. 'They are all really good footballers,' said Farke. 'We don't want to play basketball with them. They fit with what we want to do and they add a special physicality. Speaking about age, this is what I wanted because sometimes you underestimate how important experience at this level is. 'Often, you could go with a 30-plus player who has played many games but is on the way down. I didn't want to do that. We are ambitious and want to be back for good. The pressure is on us and they have to live it straight away. 'For that, I wanted experience of Premier League level, of Bundesliga level, Serie A level and so on. It's important to have players with good age, good experience but not the finished products. 'We didn't want to have projects. We didn't want players just happy to get another contract. We want players who are ambitious. The general theme is quality and players on the way up the hill in their career.' Leeds are still in the market for a first-choice striker, a left winger and are open to back-up options in other positions. As Farke says, central defence and central midfield are sorted and they will go into their Premier League opener against Everton under the lights at Elland Road, ready for battle.
