Michael Beale may have revamped his Rangers squad but he still sees Tom Lawrence and Kemar Roofe having key parts to play this season.
The Gers boss, who has recruited nine new players this summer, welcomed back the duo for the cinch Premiership game against Ross County in Dingwall on Saturday.
Lawrence signed from Derby last summer but the 29-year-old attacker has only recently recovered from a knee injury which has kept him out since the 4-0 win over the Staggies at Ibrox last August.
Striker Roofe, 30, has been impacted by injuries since he signed from Anderlecht in 2020 but is fit again, he has made two substitute appearances this season against Kilmarnock and Morton.
Asked how close he was to a preferred starting side, the Gers boss was unequivocal.
“Tom and Kemar are really in my thoughts for that,” said Beale, who revealed Glen Kamara is the closest of two players who could leave this week with Leeds linked with the midfielder.
“Not having them since I have been here has been a big frustration for me. Those two are in my thoughts as starters, not as back-up players.
“Every team needs three number nines and at the moment we have Cyril Desserts, Danilo and Kemar.
“We have other people who can play there. Abdallah Siam’s strongest position is probably a number nine but he can play both sides. Sam Lammers has played there as well.
“Kemar has shown it in training, but we have to make a call. He will not be able to be involved in three games a week right now so the call is the domestic games at the weekend that he is involved in and we will deal with Europe depending on what competition we are in and we will pick a squad then.
“Tom has obviously been out for 11 months, he has had a couple of behind-closed-doors training games.
“He played in the B team this week and he is ready to be involved. He is not ready to play 90 minutes right now but by the time we come back from the international break, Tom is ready to go as well. What a boost that is going to be to everybody.”
Romania international Ianis Hagi could also be on his way out of the club in the search for more game time.
Beale said: “Glen is the one who is closest. We had an honest conversation when I came back into the club about his future. There has been no fall-out.
“We were expecting Glen to move this summer. It was his wish as well. I wasn’t in the mood to persuade anyone to play for Rangers.
“It has to be the right club and valuation. He has been an excellent signing, but I want different here.
“There has been a lot of hot air around Ianis in the last week or so. It was a logical conversation. He has missed a year of football and we are very loaded in the positions he plays and he wants to know if is a main starter.
“We will see. It’s got to be right for Ianis and I am not dismissing Ianis being an important player either.”
There was to be no fairytale ending for Paul Hanagan at York on Friday as the dual champion jockey bowed out aboard Wootton’Sun in the opening race on the penultimate afternoon of the Ebor Festival.
The 42-year-old announced on Wednesday he had decided to bring his distinguished riding career to an end and it was fitting his long-time ally Richard Fahey provided him with his farewell mount.
The crowds packed around the parade ring to give Hanagan a warm reception as he left the weighing room for the final time and he was clearly emotional as he received a guard of honour from his fellow riders.
Hopes were high the Warrington-born champion of 2010 and 2011 could go out on a high aboard Wootton’Sun, whose sire Wootton Bassett provided Hanagan with his first Group One winner in the 2010 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, but it was not to be.
The four-year-old brought strong form claims to the table in the Sky Bet Handicap, having won the Old Newton Cup at Haydock last month before being beaten a short head by Scampi in a similarly valuable handicap at Ascot a fortnight ago.
But while he travelled well for the first half of the mile-and-a-half contest, he was unable to pick up when asked for maximum effort and he was ultimately well beaten, finishing 12th of 14 runners.
Hanagan said: “Oh wow, it’s very surreal. I’m still in shock with the ovation I got off the crowd round the paddock. It was a ‘wow’ moment and a very, very proud moment for me.
“It wasn’t to be with the last ride, but we all know horse racing isn’t straightforward the whole time and it was just nice to go out like that, and for Richard as well – I owe him a lot.
“I’m going to celebrate with the family. I’m just a bit lost for words and very emotional.
“I’ve been crying my eyes out, I’m not going to lie. I walked the track earlier with my two boys and that was very emotional. They realised the whole magnitude of it all.
“I keep putting it into younger kids that you might be going through a bad time and it might be tough, but if you work really hard it can pay off. That’s certainly what happened to me.
“I think work ethic and a good attitude can get you a long way.”
Among the well wishers in the parade ring was Angus Gold, long-standing racing manager for the Shadwell operation.
Hanagan enjoyed a five-year association as retained rider for the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, a spell which saw him claim Classic glory aboard Taghrooda in the 2014 Oaks at Epsom before the duo went on to land the King George and finish third to Treve in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
“I couldn’t speak highly enough of the man,” said Gold. “A brilliant jockey and for me the best guy to work with – loyal, hard working, a great work rider and team member and a joy to work with, plus the biggest gentleman to ever step foot in the weighing room.
“I think he rode nearly 1,000 winners for Richard – extraordinary statistics.
“We were lucky enough to get him and he did a fabulous job for us, with probably Taghrooda and Muhaarar being the highlights, as well as Mukhadram in the Eclipse.
“For me, above everything else, he’s just the most decent man, a superstar and we wish him all the best.”
Ryan Moore was victorious aboard Marhaba The Champ in Hanagan’s farewell race, and told ITV Racing: “Paul started a couple of years before me and he’s had a wonderful career.
“He’s been champion jockey twice and he’s won Classics and had a great career. It will be sad to see him go, but it looks like he’s ready and I wish him well for the future.”
Erik ten Hag sidestepped questions about Mason Greenwood as the Manchester United manager spoke for the first time since it was agreed that the forward will leave Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old has been suspended by the club since January 30, 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.
Greenwood was facing charges including attempted rape and assault until the Crown Prosecution Service announced six and a half months ago that the case had been discontinued.
Reports that United were planning to retain him following an internal investigation were met by public outcry, with the club announcing on Monday that it had been mutually agreed for him to leave.
Ten Hag spoke for the first time since that decision at Friday’s press conference previewing the Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest, but did not want to discuss the process or outcome.
“Look, we are not where we want to be with our team,” the United boss said when asked about Greenwood.
“I have a lot of work, I have a lot of focus on my team, so I focus on the players who are available.”
Greenwood said in a statement that he “did not do the things I was accused of” but acknowledged he had “made mistakes” and United are working with his family to help find the right move for the forward.
The PA news agency understands United have received multiple expressions of interest in the 21-year-old, with clubs in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Italy and even Albania reported to be interested.
Asked if he expected or wanted Greenwood to return, Ten Hag said: “As I said, I only have statements about our performance, our squad, where we have to improve because it’s clear we have to improve.
“I have to put every effort in to get the team (to) perform.”
Ten Hag again pointed to his focus on United’s current squad when asked whether he had spoken to Greenwood and if he understood why fans wanted to hear his thoughts on the matter.
United have started the season sluggishly, with the unconvincing 1-0 win against Wolves in their Premier League opener followed by a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Tottenham last weekend.
The Red Devils’ performances have been alarming and there have been setbacks ahead of the Forest game, with Mason Mount and Luke Shaw both ruled out through injury.
“We can’t do (exact details), that personal in these days,” Ten Hag said.
“For some period they will be absent, where Luke will be longer (than) Mason.”
Shaw’s injury looks particularly troublesome given back-up Tyrell Malacia remains out for “a few weeks” and fellow left-back Brandon Williams joined Ipswich on loan on Thursday.
Diogo Dalot can fill in there and another option is 20-year-old Alvaro Fernandez, who spent last season at Preston and has yet to make his competitive debut for United.
“Definitely we have the solutions in our squad to cope with that,” Ten Hag said.
“We thought before the season about this scenario, what could happen.
“You hope to avoid this scenario, that’s also clear, but if it happens, you have to be ready for it and we are ready to deal with it.”
Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo and Tom Heaton also remain injured for United, whose fans will have to wait to get their first glimpse of summer signing Rasmus Hojlund.
The 20-year-old striker joined in a £64million deal rising to £72m from Atalanta but has been dealing with a back issue.
“Not for tomorrow, (but) near,” Ten Hag added. “Today the first time he came into team training.
“So, next week we expect him to do a full week with all the team training, so he’s very near to make the squad.”
Frankie Dettori links up with Willie Mullins as the Closutton handler unleashes a two-pronged assault on the Sky Bet Ebor at York on Saturday.
Mullins won the prestigious handicap in 2009 and although always having the race circled on his calendar, has been out of luck on subsequent visits to the Knavesmire.
This year it is Royal Ascot runner-up Absurde and one-time Group Three scorer Jackfinbar that carry the hopes of the multiple champion National Hunt trainer, and he has called up a crack team of jockeys with Dettori set to reunite with Absurde for his York swansong, while William Buick will be aboard the latter.
“Both horses are in good shape and I’m very happy them,” said Mullins.
“We have one inside and one outside after the draw. Both jockeys are in good form and we’re looking forward to the race.
“It’s a race a race we look at every year if we have something good enough and qualified to go for it, so we’re hoping for a good run.”
The Ebor serves as a ‘win in you’re in’ for the Melbourne Cup and even though Mullins already has Flemington favourite Vauban safely tucked away at Closutton, he is not ruling out being mob-handed in ‘the race that stops the nation’ on November 7.
“It would be very interesting if we had that problem,” added Mullins, when asked if Vauban could have company for the trip to Australia.
“I imagine they could and I’m sure both owners would be keen to crack at a race like that, they certainly would.”
Sweet William has seen his reputation grow throughout the summer and will now seek a fantastic four-timer in his stiffest test yet.
The progressive four-year-old made it three straight victories at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, finds himself of warm order as he bids to give John and Thady Gosden back-to-back wins in the £500,000 event.
“He’s obviously progressed well through the year, winning from a mile and a half to two miles and half a furlong.” said Thady Gosden.
“He’s running over the same trip he won well over at Goodwood last time out and he’s been in good form since then.”
Sweet William, who is owned by the renowned owner-breeder Philipa Cooper under the Normandie Stud banner, was at one stage sweating on his place in the final line-up, while the owner herself was hesitant about running in the race.
However, his big-race claims are obvious despite a competitive field and Gosden is keen to take part in one of the season’s most valuable handicap contest.
“The Ebor is a premier staying handicap in the UK and of course one of the features of the Ebor Festival,” he added.
“He is versatile with regards to ground.”
Second to Sweet William at Goodwood was Michael Bell’s Adjuvant, who was the last to sneak into the race after declarations on Thursday morning.
The four-year-old finished third in the Melrose on this card last year and his handler is hopeful of another solid showing on the Knavesmire.
Bell said: “He ran a very nice race at Goodwood and appears to be in very good form this year. I think he has definitely improved from three to four. He ran a nice race in the Melrose at York last year but the form book suggests he’s taken a nice step forward.
“We were surprised to get in and it is very race for a horse rated 95 to get in. Obviously we are delighted to get in and we’ve got a bit of a pull at the weights with Sweet William, but arguably he won with a bit more up his sleeve so we may be up against it. But he heads there in really good order.”
At the opposite end of the scale, Saeed bin Suroor’s Live Your Dream carries top-weight and the classy Godolphin-owned operator, who was a winner at Newmarket last time, is yet to finish outside the top three since returning from a long absence earlier this summer.
“After he won at Newmarket he had an easy time and now he is doing well and has been working well,” said Bin Suroor.
“He’s in good form, but it’s a tough race with some good horses in it and he has to carry a heavy weight.
“I’m happy with him and a mile and six is the best trip for him and I think the track will suit him.”
Andrew Balding’s Scampi booked his ticket when winning the track’s Jorvik handicap earlier this season and could be a popular selection having added to his season’s tally at the Shergar Cup recently.
His owners RaceShare have big ambitions of taking their charge to Australia later in the year, but first the Yorkshire-based operation are hoping their star performer can provide them with a fitting home success.
“Scampi has been brilliantly placed by trainer Andrew Balding and our owners love that he is such a character and so well liked by Andrew’s staff at Kingsclere,” said managing director Lucy Delaney.
“We have plenty of local Yorkshire owners attending too so it’s nice to have an in-form Yorkshire-based jockey in Jason Hart on board. It is all very exciting.”
Sir Michael Stoute’s Real Dream was third behind Scampi here in May and has since advertised his big-race credentials with a taking victory over the Ebor trip at Ascot.
“It’s been the target for a long time, but we didn’t know if he was going to be high enough to get in at one stage. Obviously after his win at Ascot that just put him there right,” said Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager for owner Saeed Suhail.
“The trip’s ideal and everything is good. He worked brilliantly the other morning and really strode out well, so we’re very hopeful.”
Milton Harris will be studying tapes of Dettori’s ride aboard Trawlerman 12 months ago Scriptwriter bids to go one better than his track-and-trip second to Hamish in the John Smith’s Silver Cup from a wide draw in stall 20.
He said: “The horse is in great form and everything has gone well with his preparation. Ground conditions are fine and we have no concerns there, but the draw is really unhelpful.
“We’ll have to go forward I suppose, I’m going to have to talk to the jockey and formulate some sort of plan, but I couldn’t be happier with the horse.
“He had a terrible draw at Ascot when he ran a really nice race and now we’ve got another bad draw in a really competitive race, so the draw gods aren’t smiling upon us I’m afraid.
“We’ll have to find a way and no doubt we will have a watch of what Frankie did last year. It’s not impossible and Clifford (Lee) is a good jockey who has ridden around York plenty of times.
“He has been bought by some people in Australia and is going to race over there and this has been his target before he goes.
“He ran a tremendous race over course and distance last time at York and I have no concerns whatsoever about his well-being, I couldn’t be happier with the horse and I won’t be able to offer the well-being of the horse as any excuse.”
Epictetus bids for back-to-back big-race wins at Goodwood in the William Hill Celebration Mile.
Having chased home Auguste Rodin in Group One company at Doncaster at the end of his juvenile campaign, connections justifiably had Classic aspirations at the start of this season.
But while a comeback win in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom kept that particular dream alive, he could finish only fifth in both the Dante at York and the French Derby and was disappointing in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot.
John and Thady Gosden elected to revert to a mile in Goodwood’s Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes three weeks ago and having inflicted a surprise defeat on the exciting Nostrum, a return to the track for this weekend’s Group Two feature is an obvious next port of call.
“He was obviously a course and distance winner last time out in a good field. He’s stepping up in grade again on Saturday, but the drop down to a mile has suited him well and he’s been in good order since his last run,” said Thady Gosden.
“I don’t think he necessarily needs soft ground – he’s relatively versatile as regards to ground.”
Roger Varian’s Charyn and William Haggas’ Aldaary finished fourth and fifth respectively when faced with the mammoth task of taking on Paddington in the Sussex Stakes and now drop to a slightly easier level, while Ed Walker’s consistent mare Random Harvest steps up and takes on the boys having registered a Group Three victory in the Valiant Stakes at Ascot.
Walker said: “I think this is a good opportunity for a Group Two for her and we’re hoping the rain stays away.
“She’s in cracking form and I’m hoping for another big run.”
Simon and Ed Crisford have won this twice in the last three years thanks to Century Dream in 2020 and Jadoomi 12 months ago and fresh from breaking their Group One duck at Deauville last Sunday, will be hoping to enhance their fine race record with Knight.
He looked to possess some real class when winning the Horris Hill last season and enjoyed a first taste of the mile distance when not disgraced over track and trip behind Epictetus earlier this month.
Knight was fourth on that occasion, with Charlie Hills’ Galeron a place ahead in third, while Andrew Balding’s Holguin and Ralph Beckett’s Angel Bleu complete the line-up for this competitive heat.
Jamaica’s Lamara Distin advanced from the qualifying round of the Women’s high jump competition on Friday. However, her teammate Kimberly Williamson was eliminated.
The 23-year-old Commonwealth Games champion, who has been slightly off her best form this season, cleared 1.92m to advance from Group A along with medal favourite Yaroslava Mahuchikh of the Ukraine. Distin began jumping at a height of 1.80 and had a miss at 1.89m. She eventually cleared that height and then soared over 1.92m.
American Vashti Cunningham advanced from Group B alongside Australia’s medal prospect Nicola Olyslagers and Urkaine’s Iryna Geranshcenko.
Williamson’s best effort was 1.85m, which despite being a season’s best performance, was not good enough to see her advance.
Kevin Sinfield insists England have remained united despite being buffeted by multiple setbacks before the World Cup has even begun.
Fiji’s visit to Twickenham on Saturday completes a warm-up campaign that has seen England’s record deteriorate to four defeats in five matches, leaving them bereft of form ahead of their pivotal Pool D clash with Argentina on September 9.
Some of the challenges facing Steve Borthwick’s men – such as the bans for high tackles issued to Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola – have been of their own making, but injury has struck too.
Anthony Watson has followed Jack van Poortvliet out of the original 33-man squad named by Borthwick and there are concerns over two more frontline stars in Tom Curry and Elliot Daly.
Sinfield insists that despite the adversity, England’s squad is showing no signs of splintering into cliques.
“We were a tight group already, but how you handle those setbacks and those obstacles are really important to how the team moves forward and how the team functions,” defence coach Sinfield said.
“After each one of those blows – if you call them that – we’ve got back up and gone again. We’ll continue to do that. These obstacles will continue to bring us closer together.
“In another group, in one that wasn’t as experienced or as hungry to do well, it might have been really, really challenging for us.
“When things start to pull apart there are fractures – groups start to break off and spend time together, sitting together and having separate meetings. There is none of that.
“They are very much together. Meal time shows you a lot of that – where people sit, the time they spend together. And on the field, how hard they work.
“Performances haven’t been where they have needed to be, but we are having constructive conversations too.
“The players are working together and nobody is blaming anybody – they are the signs that let you know we have a good group.”
One consolation England have taken from the cloud hanging over their World Cup preparation is that the events have left them battle-hardened for the weeks ahead.
“I believe that everything happens for a reason. We understand that when you’re preparing for something like this, improving is never a straight line,” Sinfield said.
“We didn’t envisage encountering as many challenges as we have had, but it will prepare us for what’s to come when we get to France.
“In many ways the fact that we’re dealing with this now hopefully makes it easier for us when we get to France.
“The group are pretty tight, we’ll continue to fight and move forward and be better against Fiji.”
Joe Cokanasiga has been called into camp as cover in the event England suffer any more injuries to the back three.
Amidst the electrifying atmosphere of the 400m finals at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday, Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards found himself on the sidelines, watching the race unfold rather than participating in the fierce competition.
Richards' journey in the championships had been marred by a debilitating foot injury that forced him to bow out of the semi-finals, dampening his hopes for glory.
On Tuesday, August 22, Richards' campaign took an unexpected turn as he finished fifth in his semi-final heat with a time of 44.77. Incidentally, Jamaica’s Antonio Watson, the eventual gold medallist, won that heat in a lifetime best of 44.13.
For Richards, the disappointment of not being able to deliver for his country weighed heavily, prompting him to share his emotions on social media.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Richards expressed his gratitude despite the setback:
"In all things, give thanks and praise to God. Although I exerted maximum effort, it fell short today (Tuesday). These past three weeks have been challenging. During the national championships in the 200m event, I unfortunately suffered a torn plantar fascia and had to make a difficult decision of not participating in the final."
The injury was a blow to Richards, particularly since he values competing for his fans, especially his beloved family and friends, at the national championships. Determined to overcome this hurdle, Richards embarked on a rigorous journey to stay fit and prepared for the World Championships:
"Over the course of two long weeks, I engaged in pool workouts, mat runs, and cycling to maintain my fitness," he said.
Richards extended heartfelt gratitude to the medical professionals who played a pivotal role in his recovery and ability to compete at the World Championships:
"I am grateful for the exceptional medical support system that helped me navigate through this arduous journey. Special thanks to Dr Anyl Gopeesingh, Shaun Kettle, Alban Nicole, Keston Bledman, Lance Brauman, and Jerrica."
Navigating through uncertainty, Richards' determination and resilience shone as he found a way to grace the World Championships despite the challenges:
"Initially uncertain if I would be able to compete at the World Championships, by the grace of God I made it there. I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who supported and prayed for me. I deeply appreciate your unwavering support. I will strive to continue giving my best to Trinidad and Tobago."
Aberdeen manager Barry Robson is confident his squad can show the energy needed against St Mirren on Sunday following their European exploits.
The Dons came from two goals down late on to seal a 2-2 Europa League play-off first-leg draw against Swedish champions BK Hacken in Gothenburg on Thursday night.
They are now looking for a first cinch Premiership win of the season when they travel to Paisley on Sunday.
“In my experience of doing it a lot of years under Derek (McInnes), and I did it a lot of years as a player with international and European football, so I know the demands of it,” former Dundee United, Celtic, Aberdeen and Scotland midfielder Robson said.
“But if you’ve got a good mentality it helps you a lot. We know St Mirren will be really fresh, which is great for them, but we know we have a fit team, we have a young team, we have an an energetic team.
“So we will be able to bring that again at the weekend, I have no fears on that.
“And it comes back to the squad that we are trying to build, that we have built. We have got players that can come in and affect the game and bring speed to it.”
Robson, who made Finland defender Richard Jensen his 11th summer signing on Wednesday, added: “It’s a squad effort, it always is and always will be, especially in this day and age with the speed of the games.
“Different types of games are going to need different types of players. We have tried to build a squad that can cover all bases.”
Robson has been keen to keep his players grounded after their late fightback in Sweden.
“It’s half-time and I’m not getting carried away,” he said.
“I wanted the players to go over to applaud the fans after the game because they had spent a lot of money and time to go over there and help them, and the fans did help them.
“But I tried to get in pretty quickly and right after the game my mind was on St Mirren.”
Ireland complete their World Cup warm-up fixtures on Saturday by taking on Samoa in Bayonne.
Head coach Andy Farrell is due to reveal his final 33-man squad for the tournament on Sunday afternoon.
Here, the PA news agency picks out some of the main talking points ahead of the match at Stade Jean Dauger.
Selection looming large
Ireland’s World Cup hopefuls have one final audition as they anxiously await news on selection.
Farrell will cut his current 39-man squad down on Sunday afternoon, with six players set to suffer disappointment.
He was initially scheduled to make his decisions public on Monday before opting to bring forward the announcement by 24 hours.
Iain Henderson, who will captain the side on Saturday, admits the situation has increased tension in the camp but insists the unfortunate players will be well supported.
Squad split
Only a few spots appear undecided, leaving a handful of peripheral players battling it out.
It is unclear whether Farrell will go for a 19-14 split of forwards and backs, or opt for 18-15.
The former would likely mean Stuart McCloskey and Keith Earls, who are set to start this weekend, and Jacob Stockdale and Ciaran Frawley, who will not be involved, are competing for one position.
Rookie forwards Cian Prendergast, Jeremy Loughman, Tom Stewart and Diarmuid Barron are among the others in danger of missing out.
Injury issues
A possible complication for Ireland’s final squad is the fitness situations surrounding a small number of players.
Back-rower Jack Conan has not played since limping off with a foot injury against Italy on August 5, while prop Dave Kilcoyne (hamstring) has also not featured since that game.
Undoubtedly the biggest potential problem for Farrell comes at hooker. Dan Sheehan is undergoing treatment on a foot ligament issue and Ronan Kelleher (hamstring) is yet to feature this summer.
The head coach has expressed confidence the four will be available for France.
Discipline matters
England’s sticky situation surrounding the suspensions of Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola has brought disciplinary matters into greater focus.
Ireland coach Farrell is wary of there being “cards everywhere” at the moment following Vunipola’s Dublin dismissal last Saturday.
With captain Johnny Sexton poised to complete his three-match ban, Ireland certainly do not want any further suspension setbacks on the eve of the World Cup.
Farrell says his side are striving to be rugby’s most-disciplined team.
Samoa a “different animal”
Ireland are seeking to maintain momentum by registering a 13th consecutive win.
They last faced Samoa during the pool stage of the 2019 World Cup in Japan, which ended in a resounding 47-5 win, despite Bundee Aki’s first-half red card.
Skipper Henderson believes Ireland’s upcoming opponents have been improved significantly during the past four years.
“They pose huge threats, they’re definitely a different animal to the last time we played them,” he said.
Premier League clubs have spent a fraction under £2billion in this summer’s transfer window already – with a week of business still to go.
Data released by financial services firm Deloitte showed that as of 12pm on Friday top-flight teams’ spending had reached £1.95bn.
That is already higher than the total, record figure calculated by Deloitte for last summer – £1.92bn.
Deloitte said spending was £500m higher this summer compared to the same point last year, suggesting the final total could be around £2.5bn.
Two of this summer’s deals so far have been worth over £100m – Arsenal’s signing of Declan Rice from West Ham and Chelsea’s recruitment of Moises Caicedo from Brighton.
Premier League clubs’ net spend is calculated at £825m by Deloitte, 25 per cent lower than last summer (£1.1bn), which the firm attributes to a more active global transfer market.
Calum Ross, assistant director in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, said: “For the second year in a row, the summer transfer spending by Premier League clubs has surpassed the previous record and looks set to rise above £2bn for the first time before the window closes on September 1.
“This sensational level of spending appears to be the new norm for Premier League clubs. They are generating unprecedented levels of revenue, which for some clubs is combined with the receipt of significant investment from new ownership.
“As we approach the end of the transfer window, it remains imperative that clubs manage the buying and selling of players carefully and remain compliant with relevant financial regulations.
“Sustainable business plans are essential to support continued competitiveness and long-term growth.”
Chelsea’s spending in the last three windows – since a consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly took charge – is believed to be edging close to the £1billion mark.
Max Verstappen picked up where he left off by posting the fastest time in opening practice for the Dutch Grand Prix.
Verstappen, who has won 10 of the 12 rounds so far and will match Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive victories if he triumphs again on Sunday, finished 0.278 seconds clear of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
Lewis Hamilton took third spot for Mercedes, three tenths adrift of Verstappen, with Sergio Perez fourth in the other Red Bull.
Verstappen dominated the opening half of the Formula One season to establish a 125-point championship lead in his pursuit of a third straight world title.
On Thursday, Hamilton raised the prospect of the Dutchman winning all of the remaining 10 rounds, and on the evidence of the first running, he will head into the weekend in front of an expectant Zandvoort crowd as the clear favourite to continue his commanding streak.
For Hamilton, the seven-time world champion said his goal for the second half of the season is to finish runner-up in the drivers’ standings.
The 38-year-old is currently fourth, 41 points behind Perez, who occupies second spot, and he will be relatively pleased with his opening salvo. Mercedes team-mate George Russell finished 11th, the best part of a second down.
Haas announced ahead of this weekend’s race that Nico Hulkenberg will be retained for a second term with the American team.
But the veteran German crashed out of practice after losing control of his machine through the penultimate corner. With his Haas beached in the gravel, the running was suspended.
Over at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc was only 16th, three spots ahead of Robert Shwartzman, a junior driver for the Italian team who stood in for Carlos Sainz for first practice.
McLaren driver Lando Norris finished sixth, one place behind Williams’ Alex Albon.
Second practice gets under way at 4pm local time (3pm BST).
Captain Iain Henderson has urged Ireland’s World Cup hopefuls to set aside any lingering anxiety about selection and play their way into Andy Farrell’s final squad.
Head coach Farrell will reveal his 33-man group for the tournament on Sunday afternoon in Dublin, having decided to bring forward the announcement by 24 hours.
Players have one final chance to secure a return ticket to France during Saturday evening’s warm-up clash with Samoa in Bayonne, with six set to suffer disappointment.
Ulster lock Henderson, who is preparing for his third World Cup, admits tension has increased in camp ahead of the looming cut.
“Close to half the squad haven’t been in this position before,” said the 31-year-old.
“What the players are focusing on is how they’re going to put their best foot forward for Faz (Farrell) to get a good glimpse of them.
“He knows each one of us pretty intimately at this stage and I feel that the final step that the players can take is to actually go out and show it again in the Test match this weekend.
“I think there is a type of anxiety there but the players are well used to being put in sticky situations, selections for cup finals, selections for tours, selections for Six Nations games.
“Obviously this one carries a slightly different weight but we’re a really tight-knit group, the guys who are feeling probably the worst about it are probably the best supported.”
Farrell has regularly insisted all 33 places in his squad remain up for grabs.
Yet, in reality, only a few spots appear undecided, leaving a handful of peripheral players battling it out.
It is unclear whether the Englishman will go for a 19/14 split of forwards and backs, or opt for 18/15.
The former would likely mean Stuart McCloskey and Keith Earls, who are set to start against Samoa at Stade Jean Dauger, and Jacob Stockdale and Ciaran Frawley, who will not be involved, are competing for one spot.
Hookers Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher, number eight Jack Conan and prop Dave Kilcoyne each have injury problems, albeit Farrell has been upbeat on those issues.
“Everyone’s looking after each other and ensuring whoever is left out will feel as little left out as possible,” said Henderson.
“I feel that the guys really do look out for each other and there’s a genuine care for how each other is feeling.”
Ireland’s World Cup campaign starts against Romania on September 9 in Bordeaux.
Their weekend clash with Samoa is the first meeting between the sides since the Irish won 47-5 at the 2019 tournament in Japan.
“This is their pre-World Cup campaign, similar to ours, coming to a crescendo,” said Henderson.
“It’s an exciting time for them, looking to have a shot at us. We’re looking to play the game we like to play.
“They pose huge threats, they’re definitely a different animal to the last time we played them.”
British underdog Daniel Dubois will draw inspiration from Tyson Fury when he faces world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night.
Dubois (19-1, 18KOs) will walk out at Tarczynski Arena in front of around 43,000 spectators this weekend with the majority inside the Polish venue supporting Ukrainian hero Usyk (20-0, 13KOs) given many Ukraine natives have resided in Poland since Russia’s invasion of their country last year.
While Dubois, 25, can expect a hostile ring walk for his first world title fight, his promoter Frank Warren has been here before.
View this post on Instagram
It was Warren and his Queensberry Promotions company that made the match-up between Fury and Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, which ended with the British heavyweight producing an enormous upset in Germany to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO belts in remarkable fashion.
That was Fury’s maiden world title bout and few gave him a chance, but he pulled off a shock victory on points in Dusseldorf and stablemate Dubois is now dreaming of doing the same in Wroclaw.
“All the great fighters had to do it. Before they were champions, people doubted them and had a lot of things to say,” Dubois told the PA news agency.
“Boxing is made up of opinions so I never take it to heart or let it break me. I am ready to go. Ready to go out there and prove what I need to do.
“Tyson is a good example. Look at what he has done and gone on to achieve now. I just need to get the prayers going and hopefully the big man upstairs hears me.”
Saturday’s show is the start of a busy period for Warren and Queensberry Promotions with a rematch between Joe Joyce and China’s Zhilei Zhang scheduled on September 23 at Wembley Arena.
Meanwhile, Fury is due to step in the ring to take on mixed martial arts fighter Francis Ngannou in a boxing contest on October 28 in Saudi Arabia, but the Briton’s WBC heavyweight title will not be at stake.
A successful couple of months for Warren’s fighters could result in an in-house unification bout at the start of 2024.
Warren told PA: “Every big heavyweight fight our fighters are involved in.
“Regarding Tyson’s future, it all depends on what happens on August 26th so it is an interesting time for the heavyweight decision.
“We’ve seen the odds upset and I just feel it is Daniel’s time. I know he has all the equipment to do it, he can punch from both hands, he has a great jab, good speed and footwork.
“It will all be about his temperament and I believe his temperament will see him through.
“No one gave Tyson a chance and over the years we’ve done a few of those fights, so I hope it is the case again. At the end of the day, Daniel has got a massive opportunity and if it comes out right for him, it would be brilliant.”
Plenty has been thrown at Dubois since the fight was confirmed with his age and lack of experience cited as big weaknesses, while the bookmakers have him as a huge outsider.
The Londoner has fought 20 times since he turned professional in 2017 but notably took a knee which allowed himself to be counted out in the 10th round of a clash with Joyce three years ago due to a grotesquely swollen left eye.
Dubois received a barrage of criticism for ‘quitting’ from current and former boxers. It was later revealed he suffered a broken orbital bone and nerve damage around his eye in addition to retinal bleeding.
After rebuilding his career in America, Dubois now enters his first world title fight at the age of 25 but with more heavyweight bouts than Usyk and a secret weapon in new trainer Don Charles, who was in Derek Chisora’s corner when the Briton pushed Usyk all the way at Wembley Arena in 2020.
Dubois added: “I have been boxing for most of my life so that (age) argument is out of the window. I have the experience and I need to be a veteran in this fight.
“I have to bully him. I have to go in there and be the bully. Be the bully and shake him up.
“Yeah, Don will be putting in things that I am not even aware of style-wise and coach-wise. He has a lot of passion and that is what you need.
“You need the bully-the-bull type mentality to go in there and f*** s*** up, as they say. That is what we need to do.”
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
