Joao Felix: Chelsea pay eight-figure loan fee to make Portugal and Atletico Madrid star the 12th signing under Todd Boehly January 11, 2023 Chelsea have continued their recruitment drive by signing Portugal forward Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid for the rest of the season. The 23-year-old is the 12th player to join since Todd Boehly’s consortium bought the Premier League club from Roman Abramovich for £2.5bn last summer. Chelsea are believed to have agreed to pay [...]
Why Manchester United sale could fetch the Glazer family even more than their £6bn asking price – despite Cristiano Ronaldo exit January 11, 2023 The Glazer family’s hopes of achieving a record valuation for the sale of Manchester United have increased after the football club’s share price reached a four-year high. Some analysts believe it could push the price of a takeover towards $10bn (£8.2bn), in excess of the American owners’ original $7bn (£5.8bn) asking price. United’s share price [...]
Football chiefs to meet tonight over future of WSL ownership January 11, 2023 A number of football’s top executives are due to hold talks this evening with hopes of hashing out a new structure of ownership for the WSL. The meeting will see those present look at funding proposals for the Women’s Super League. The chief of the Football Association, Mark Bullingham, is set to be at the [...]
The Champions Cup used to be sexy, now it’s a turn-off January 10, 2023 The Champions Cup is back but I just don’t really care. When I was a toddler in the stands of England’s Premiership grounds, I loved the top flight European Cup – seeing my club play in it meant so much more than watching domestic rugby. That aura has vanished. I don’t know whether it is [...]
Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City: Which team has the biggest wage bill in European football? January 10, 2023 Paris Saint-Germain’s signing of Lionel Messi contributed to the club setting a new record for the biggest wage bill in European football history last season. The French champions paid their players and staff €728m (£642m) in 2021-22, a year-on-year increase of 45 per cent, according to a new report by advisory Football Benchmark. It followed [...]
SA20: What is it, when is it on and why people keep talking about the IPL January 10, 2023 South Africa’s Twenty20 competition, the SA20, starts tonight with six teams owned by IPL franchises battling for the inaugural trophy. Here’s what you need to know. The SA20 teams There are six teams in this competition, all privately-owned by Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises. The Joburg Super Kings, Durban’s Super Giants, MI Cape Town, Paarl [...]
Arsenal earn FA Cup fourth round tie with Man City after Oxford win January 9, 2023 Arsenal will play Manchester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the end of the month after the Gunners beat Oxford United 3-0 at the Kassam Stadium. League One Oxford were plucky opponents for the Premier League leaders and ensured it was all square at the break but three Arsenal goals inside [...]
The South African cricket league with Archer, Buttler and IPL influence January 9, 2023 Tomorrow, on a sunny summer evening in South Africa, the world’s newest T20 cricket league gets underway. But this one is like something sport has never seen before. Because every one of the six franchises – each based out of a different South African city or region – is owned by an Indian Premier League [...]
Why Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as a target for Paris Saint-Germain owners Qatar Sport Investments January 9, 2023 Qatar Sports Investments, the owners of Paris Saint-Germain, have identified Tottenham Hotspur as a potential minority investment as they accelerate plans to build a global network of football clubs in 2023. Sources close to QSI said chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is also PSG president, held talks with Tottenham executive chairman Daniel Levy last week to [...]
Marcus McGuane: Former Arsenal prodigy finding feet at Oxford United – via Barcelona – set to face Gunners in FA Cup third round January 9, 2023 Marcus McGuane looked destined to lead Arsenal back to the top, but on Monday he will be plotting their downfall with Oxford United in the FA Cup third round. Before Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe there was Marcus McGuane. Like Saka, McGuane joined Arsenal’s Hale End academy shortly after starting primary school and, as [...]