Author: sportsnewsuk

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella is linked with a return to Spain, Liverpool are keen on teenage RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande, while Newcastle face competition for Atalanta right-back Marco Palestra.Marc Cucurella’s future at Chelsea is in doubt after several clubs contacted the left-back’s representatives over a move away from Stamford Bridge. Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid are said to be among those interested in the 27-year-old Spain international. (The Athletic – subscription required), externalLiverpool are keen on RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande but have yet to reach a verbal agreement over a deal for the 19-year-old Ivory Coast striker.…

Felix Auger-Aliassime, a two-time US Open semi-finalist, used his experience to come through a potentially tricky tie against Alejandro Tabilo 6-3 7-5 6-1.In theory, Chile’s Tablio should have been the fresher of the competitors, having spent about six hours less on court last week after being handed a walkover in round two.Canada’s Auger-Aliassime started strongly, though, breaking at 3-1 before the remainder of the opening set stayed on serve.Tabilo had never previously gone beyond the third round at a Slam but raised his level in the second.The 28-year-old, who celebrates his birthday on Tuesday, played aggressively from the baseline and…

When the two players met in Madrid in April, it was Osaka who won the opening set, and she started quickly once again, breaking Sabalenka in her opening service game.However, it proved to be the only moment of uncertainty on serve for the top seed, who only conceded four points on her own delivery across the remainder of the first set and finished the match with 12 aces to Osaka’s two – and an 83% win rate behind her first serve.Osaka, by contrast, invited pressure on herself, being taken to deuce after leading 40-15 in three first-set service games and…

(Daniel Otter, Three Lions Promotions) Ryan Rozicki embodies so much of what Zuffa Boxing executives have railed against in their dismissal of the sport’s four sanctioning bodies. After multiple delays and repeated frustrations in attempting to land a world-title shot, Rozicki walked away from being the WBC’s No. 1-ranked cruiserweight contender to join Zuffa. The new promotion headed by TKO Group executives Nick Khan and Dana White makes its U.K. debut Saturday night on Paramount+ and Sky by staging Canada’s Rozicki, 21-1-1 (20 KOs), versus former WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith, 21-2 (13 KOs), in the main event. “Chris was the…

Ireland followed up Sunday’s win over Pakistan in the T20I Tri-Nations Series by beating West Indies for the first time in that format in a dramatic finish at Clontarf.Home captain Orla Prendergast celebrated her birthday with an unbeaten 71 as an Ireland four from the last ball before rain intervened ensured the hosts prevailed by one run on the DLS method.Prendergast had taken two wickets as West Indies made 141-8 off their 20 overs, with Ireland’s 99-5 off 14.1 overs in reply proving just enough.After electing to bat first, West Indies lost three wickets in the opening powerplay, but recovered…

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman made clear Monday that his organization’s cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian loses his belt once he formally commits to fight unbeaten Zuffa Boxing champion Jai Opetaia. Sulaiman on Friday formally ordered Armenia’s Mikaelian 28-3 (12 KOs) to fight WBC light-heavyweight and WBO/WBA cruiserweight David Benavidez in response to Benavidez’s request to be established as mandatory contender. By missing a six-month window to stage a voluntary request, Mikaelian now must fight mandatory contender Benavidez next. “The WBC order is Mikaelian against Benavidez. That’s it. If he takes another fight, he is relinquishing his obligations with the WBC,” Sulaiman…

Mason Greenwood is the top transfer target for Fenerbahce’s two presidential candidates.The former Manchester United and England forward has had a difficult few months at Marseille.Their new sporting director Gregory Lorenzi said last week the club was willing to listen to offers for Greenwood, who has three years remaining on the five-year deal he signed when he left United on a permanent basis in July 2024.Former president Aziz Yildirim is vying with Hakan Safi for the club presidency of the Turkish club, with an announcement due on Sunday. It is not anticipated personal terms would be a problem in trying…

Northern Ireland midfielder Isaac Price says the players in the squad are “buzzing” following the news last week that Michael O’Neill has agreed an extension to his contract to remain manager of the international team until 2032.The NI boss rejected overtures from Championship side Blackburn Rovers to manage the club on a permanent basis after guiding the Lancashire outfit to safety while combining that interim role with being at the helm with Northern Ireland.O’Neill will lead his team into the forthcoming friendlies against Guinea on Thursday and France on Monday, 8 June, as the squad prepare for the start of…

Dunkley’s retention upon Wyatt-Hodge’s return was a clear sign of England’s thinking.Alice Capsey, who made a match-winning 74 not out against New Zealand last month when standing in for Wyatt-Hodge, was pushed down to number four.Discussion over the England top order’s ability to hit boundaries was dampened by Freya Kemp’s hitting in the win in Bristol on Saturday and the line-up is likely to remain for Tuesday’s series decider in Taunton.Dunkley also made a 51-ball century as opener during England’s intra-squad series in South Africa in March.A further decision will need to be made, however, once captain Nat Sciver-Brunt recovers…

(Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing) New Jersey-based Albanian Kristian Prenga has warned Anthony Joshua about his power ahead of their July 25 bout in Jeddah. The pair will fight in Saudi Arabia, and at today’s press conference, the 20-1 (20 KOs) Prenga told Joshua that he needs to be ready to feel his power. “I train hard, I am ready,” said Prenga. “Sorry I’m not good at talking [in fluent English, though he tried and was fine] but I promise you, if I catch you, you’ve never felt anything like my punch. I promise it. You’re a great fighter but in the…