What the papers say

Saudi Arabia has emerged as a possible destination for Jadon Sancho if his unhappy stay at Manchester United ends in January. The Daily Telegraph reports the England winger, 23, is wanted by teams in the Saudi Pro League, although he has also been linked with Juventus and remaining at United beyond the transfer window.

Tottenham’s Brazilian forward Richarlison has also caught the eye of Saudi clubs, according to the Telegraph. They are lining up a possible January move for the 26-year-old.

Wayne Rooney has been warned he will have a fight to lure Elliot Lee, 28 , away from Wrexham, according to the Daily Mirror. Rooney has identified the attacking midfielder as a prime target after taking over at Birmingham City.

Former player John Obi Mikel has offered to help Chelsea sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, 24. The Sun reports Mikel offered to “broker the deal” in a podcast interview with his fellow Nigerian.

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Raphinha: Barcelona are hoping for bids from across Europe for the former Leeds winger, 26, in the summer.

Florian Wirtz: Bayer Leverkusen’s Germany midfielder, 20, is on Real Madrid’s list of transfer targets.

Sebastian Vettel rewrote the record books on this day in 2010 after clinching the Formula One drivers’ championship by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The German’s success in the season-ending finale saw him claim the mantle of the youngest world champion in F1 history.

Vettel took the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi for his fifth victory of the year, and with title rival Fernando Alonso a distant seventh in his Ferrari, it allowed the the Red Bull driver to make sure of his place in the record books.

At 23 years and 135 days, Vettel beat the mark of Lewis Hamilton – who finished second in Abu Dhabi ahead of McLaren team-mate and outgoing world champion Jenson Button – by 166 days.

It guaranteed Vettel the title by four points from Alonso, with Red Bull completing a championship double after winning the constructors’ crown a week previously in Brazil.

Vettel was clearly in tears on his slow-down lap as he attempted to speak over the in-car radio, with team principal Christian Horner proclaiming: “Sebastian Vettel you are the world champion!”

Vettel would go on to win four successive Formula One world titles before seeing his reign ended by Hamilton in 2014.

Kicker Wil Lutz made the most of a second chance at the game-winning field goal as the Denver Broncos continued their revival with a 24-22 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Lutz, who had earlier hit an upright with an extra point and had another attempt foiled by a poor snap, missed from 41 yards with four seconds on the clock.

But the Bills were penalised for having too many players on the field – the second infringement of the drive – and Lutz made no mistake from five yards closer.

The win was the Broncos third in a row and fourth in the six games since conceding 70 points to Mami.

Lutz’s kick came less than two minutes after the Bills had taken the lead for the first time in the game, Josh Allen’s six-yard touchdown run putting them 22-21 ahead.

Allen had earlier thrown a 22-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Kincaid with Latavius Murray going over from three yards, Russell Wilson connecting with Courtland Sutton and Javonte Williams for a Broncos touchdown in each half.

The winning field goal to end the match followed an NFL record five games in one day being decided by the final kick on Sunday.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll and Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson were unanimous winners of Major League Baseball's 2023 Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year awards, which were announced Monday.

Carroll is the first player in Diamondbacks history to win the National League honour. Henderson is the seventh Orioles player to take home the American League award, but the first since pitcher Gregg Olson in 1989.

Both players received 30 first-place votes in balloting from selected members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Carroll was instrumental to the Diamondbacks' surprising 2023 campaign that culminated in the club's first playoff appearance since 2017 and the second World Series trip in franchise history. The speedster produced 25 home runs and 54 stolen bases to become the first rookie with at least 25 homers and 50 steals in a season, and also recorded 116 runs scored, 76 RBIs and a .285 average in 155 regular-season games.

The 23-year-old delivered a solid postseason as well, batting .273 with two homers, 10 RBIs and five stolen bases in 17 games to help Arizona capture its first NL pennant since 2001. 

Henderson also played a key role in his team's unexpected success in 2023, as he led all AL rookies in home runs (28), RBIs (82) and runs scored (100) to help the Orioles to an AL-best 101-61 record and the team's first playoff appearance since 2016. The 22-year-old overcame a slow start to hit .276 with 23 homers, 68 RBIs and an .856 OPS from June 1 on.

A second-round pick of Baltimore in the 2019 draft, Henderson also finished second among AL players with nine triples and ended the season with a .255 average, 10 stolen bases and an .814 OPS in 150 games. He was named the AL's Silver Slugger recipient as a utility player as well after splitting his time between shortstop and third base.

New York Mets pitcher and former Japanese league star Kodai Senga placed second in NL voting with 22 second-place votes and 71 points, with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder James Outman, Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones and Cincinnati Reds infielder Matt McClain finishing third through fifth. 

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee finished second behind Henderson in voting with 20 second-place votes and 67 points. Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas was third with 25 points, with Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung and Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz rounding out the top five. 

Matt O’Riley believes Celtic need to use Kyogo Furuhashi even more after the Japan striker scored his ninth goal of the season in the 6-0 thrashing of Aberdeen on Sunday.

The Hoops went into the game on the back of a 6-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday but they blew the Dons away starting with South Korean forward Yang Hyun-jun’s first goal for the league leaders in the ninth minute.

Furuhashi was more than grateful that O’Riley set him up for the second soon after to take his goal ratio for club and country so far this season to almost one in two games.

Winger Luis Palma scored a penalty in the 76th minute and the Hoops struck three times in 10 added minutes at the end of the game, with Celtic substitutes David Turnbull and Oh Hyeon-gyu, twice, notching as Brendan Rodgers’ men restored their eight-point lead over Rangers at the top of the table.

O’Riley said of “nice man” Furuhashi, who had to go off with a head knock in the second half: “Me and him have a really good relationship on the pitch and I think probably 70 percent of the assists I have for Celtic have been for him, and that shows how good he is to play with, and how easy is to play with him.

“His movement’s top class. I actually think we need to use his runs a little bit more because his movement’s so good.

“He deserves the ball to be given to him because he works hard to create the space for himself. We need to keep utilising him because he’s our best goalscorer and that would be helpful going forwards.”

O’Riley described the response to the mauling in Madrid which left them bottom of their Champions League table as “perfect”, and believes such a convincing domestic result had been on the cards.

He said: “I think a result like that was pending in the league, to be honest.

“We’ve put in enough good performances and it was time – with the utmost respect – that we gave someone a real doing.

“There were a lot of chances created and it could’ve been more. It was needed.

“I shanked one from about three yards, so was a questionable finish.

“But we were on it right from the start with our runs in behind. We let them know they were going to be in for a game right from the start and we maintained that level throughout.

“We tire teams out, the way we play. And I think when you are 3-0 down at Celtic Park and you have been running for 90 minutes and haven’t had much of the ball, naturally you are going to be tired.

“The spaces do open up and we had boys coming off the bench for the last half hour ready to fire. James (Forrest), and then Bull (David Turnbull) comes on and scores. I think having that strength in depth to come on and really push the fitness levels, it is hard for teams to live with.”

Great Britain’s Bryony Page has set her sights on becoming the first British trampolinist to compete in three Olympic Games in Paris next year.

The two-time Olympic medallist won her second individual trampoline world title in Birmingham on Sunday and now wants to build on her silver from Rio 2016 and the bronze she won in Tokyo five years later.

“I think it would be amazing (to go to Paris) and one of my targets is to be the first trampolinist from Britain to compete in three Olympics,” the 32-year-old told the PA News agency.

“Kat (Driscoll) did it for two and she’s retired now and I’m hoping to show the longevity of the sport.

“I would love to be the first to do three, especially after a Covid Games. The Paris Games sounds like it will be a festival of a Games.

“If and when I go to Paris I want to perform the routines I’m training for and have that feeling of pride when you finish a routine knowing it was the best you could do.

“I’ve posted scores which are really high and I’ve just come back from a successful World Championship where I won, so I hope I can have a successful bid for the Paris Games.

“If I do make it I would absolutely love to do an even better routine than I did on Sunday.”

Page triumphed in Birmingham with a score of 56.680, seeing off reigning Olympic champion Zhu Xueying of China, with Jessica Stephens of the United States finishing third.

The Huntingdon athlete relished winning gold in front of her home crowd and believes she still has room for improvement.

She added: “I wanted to take the opportunity and in my heart I knew I wanted to do the harder routine.

“For it to all come together and to enjoy it was really special. I’ve put so much effort in and it was nice that it came to fruition in front of the home crowd, which made it extra special.

“I know there is more to come with that routine and more with what I’m working on in the background and it’s really exciting to be in this place with my trampolining.

“I feel stronger and more confident than I have for a long time, if not ever.”

Page overcame adversity in the lead-up to Rio 2016 and believes the lessons she learned have allowed her to come back stronger. She suffered from ‘lost move syndrome’, a problem which sees trampolinists unable to perform moves they had previously been able to.

She said: “Going through adversity and going through challenges gives you that confidence that if something crops up you have the toolbox to overcome those things.

“It was a part of my journey and I am really proud of it, even though it was a really tough time.

“I feel stronger, healthier and fitter than I did in my early 20s.”

Emma Raducanu will miss her scheduled comeback event in Macau next month.

The former US Open champion, who turned 21 on Monday, has not played since April after undergoing operations on both wrists and one ankle.

Having initially hoped to return to the WTA Tour in the autumn, Raducanu then set her sights on the exhibition Macau Tennis Masters event from December 2-3.

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But organisers confirmed their line-up has changed because of injury, with Raducanu no longer among the players on show.

Now down at 289 in the world but able to play under a protected ranking when she returns owing to her extended absence, Raducanu is now targeting the beginning of next season for her comeback.

She has stepped up her training in recent weeks at the National Tennis Centre in London both in the gym and on court, and spoke last month of her enthusiasm for returning to the circuit.

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“I think the biggest thing from the last few months was how much I missed the sport,” she told BBC Radio 4.

“I think that was the standout thing – how much I missed training, how much I missed my body hurting and feeling tired and dragging yourself through certain exercises when you don’t feel like it.”

Raducanu remains without a coach having split from Sebastian Sachs at the beginning of June and is currently working with Lawn Tennis Association staff.

Pep Guardiola has no complaints about being forced to name an incomplete substitutes bench that included two goalkeepers during Manchester City’s dramatic 4-4 draw with Chelsea on Sunday.

The champions took only eight replacements to Stamford Bridge, amongst them reserve keepers Stefan Ortega and Scott Carson, as injuries limited the manager’s options.

Guardiola was without John Stones and Nathan Ake, with the latter having been ruled out as late as Friday, whilst Kevin De Bruyne remains a long-term absentee.

Yet City looked to have coped well without their missing trio and thought they had nicked three points late on in west London when Rodri’s effort deflected in off Chelsea’s Thiago Silva four minutes from time.

That was until former City man Cole Palmer levelled from the spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Armando Broja had been fouled by Ruben Dias.

Despite the enforced absences and dropped points, Guardiola said he was satisfied with the squad depth available to him.

“Kevin is long-term, John was injured unfortunately. Nathan was injured. The rest are OK,” he said.

“I like to work with a small (group). It’s so tough if five, six, seven players don’t play, they don’t like that. It’s what it is.

“If we have injuries, it’s unlucky, but we have done all the time.

“For many years we’ve had this type of squad.”

Guardiola said he felt his team put in a performance far better than in recent seasons at Stamford Bridge, despite Palmer – who left City for Chelsea in a £42million deal on the last day of the transfer window – coming back to haunt his former manager at the death.

It came after the visitors has twice led through Erling Haaland, who scored his 12th and 13th Premier League goals of the season, with Manuel Akanji also netting.

For Chelsea, Raheem Sterling also scored against the club with whom he won the league four times, with Silva and Nicolas Jackson also on target.

“I don’t remember a game where we’ve come here and had the chances that we had,” said Guardiola. “Even games where we’ve come here and won, last year for example was much, much worse than (Sunday).

“Even by a million times it was much worse than today, and we won 1-0. We tried, we created a lot of chances.

“The talent cannot be controlled sometimes. They are in a good process, their shape is really good, what they do.

“Give credit both teams. The game was tight. It was momentum for everyone, and momentum you can break. It’s a fair result.

“Nothing changed. Chelsea is Chelsea, one of the greatest teams in the last 20 years.

“I know how good they are. For us, it’s a good test. How long we didn’t lose, that’s a good sign.

“Today we didn’t lose, we (played) away. We take a good point, we created a lot of chances in the right moments.

“I think it was a fair result for both sides.”

William Buick is keen to get his hands on the Bahrain International Trophy for the first time as his mount Nations Pride bids to give Godolphin further success in the $1million contest.

It was Saeed bin Suroor’s Dubai Future who led home a one-two for Sheikh Mohammed’s racing operation 12 months ago and he is joined in the final field by stablemate Real World this time.

However, it is Charlie Appleby’s Nations Pride that sets the standard following big-race victories at Munich and Woodbine this season and Godolphin number one jockey Buick has elected to partner the four-year-old over fellow Moulton Paddocks candidate Highland Avenue.

Buick said: “Nations Pride is a very good horse. He was a classy three-year-old and went into the 2021 Derby as a genuine contender, but on the day he probably didn’t stay.

“But he has always been held in high regard and he has performed really well since.

“When he won the Group One in Germany, he gave me a really good feel. He beat the German Derby winner in good style. Then, last time out in Canada, the soft ground was not to his liking, but he still won.

“He’s a very straightforward horse to ride. I have not had much luck in the race previously but this fella is different, he’s a mile and quarter specialist and I think he is a real good candidate.

“Nations Pride is the best chance I have had in the Bahrain International Trophy but it is a strong line-up, a really competitive field, and on good, fast ground, you are going to need to have the margins in your favour.”

There is further Godolphin representation provided by Andre Fabre’s Birr Castle, while Andreas Schutz’s French 2000 Guineas hero Marhaba Ya Sanafi also represents France in a race that has a truly international feel.

Aidan O’Brien is poised to saddle Point Lonsdale in a contest that this year carries Group Two status for the first time, with Joseph O’Brien’s Above The Curve and Noel Meade’s Layfayette other Irish challengers.

John and Thady Gosden’s Israr, Daniel and Claire Kubler’s Astro King and Richard Fahey’s Spirit Dancer are also set to line up for the fifth running of the contest at the Sakhir Racecourse.

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is embracing his ‘hybrid’ role by watching video clips of some of the world’s greatest midfielders in order to gain greater understanding.

Towards the end of last season the 25-year-old was asked to vary his right-back role by stepping into central areas to be able to dictate on the ball more and offer a different attacking dimension.

It is something which was first pioneered with John Stones by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and, while Alexander-Arnold has studied how his England team-mate has performed, he has not limited his learning to ‘hybrid’ players.

“I enjoy learning about the game, watching things, watching players, different systems, different teams, how different players play it and there are some players who play it really well,” he said after the 3-0 victory over Brentford which set up a top versus second clash against Manchester City when the Premier League resumes after the international break.

“I think as someone who plays the inverted, hybrid role – I don’t know what people call it these days – then it is obviously John Stones.

“He is someone who, for a long time, I have admired his game; he is exceptional, so I watch him a lot. Clips or even when I am just watching City’s games, I will sit and focus on him.

“I have always admired him, I do admire the way Rodri plays.

“He is pivotal in that team and someone who is massively underrated but like we have seen recently, when you take him out of the team, they are not the same. That just shows how important he is.

“I would say it is those kinds of players I watch, but there are a lot. I will watch players from the past as well – (Sergio) Busquets, (Xabi) Alonso, (Andrea) Pirlo, Stevie G (Gerrard): those players I have always enjoyed watching.”

It makes sense for Alexander-Arnold to educate himself on the ways of such midfield maestros as there has been more than a hint he could be transformed into a genuine option.

He was first tried centrally by Gareth Southgate in a game against Andorra just over two years ago and when the England squad is now published, Alexander-Arnold is listed as a midfielder.

At the time Jurgen Klopp questioned why he would play the world’s best right-back in midfield but he has mellowed his stance since then and even brought Alexander-Arnold on as the defensive midfielder in the Carabao Cup win at Bournemouth last month.

“The conversations I have had with the (England) manager and the staff there, I go there as a midfielder, I train there and that is where I try and play on the pitch barring the Australia game last time,” he added.

“It really does help me in that sense. I am not playing midfield week in, week out here but I am getting on the ball in central areas and knowing how to receive and conduct yourself and play a game in midfield is a lot different to at the side of the pitch.

“I think the way I see it and the way I am told and explained to play it (at Liverpool), it is almost when we have the ball I am midfielder and when we don’t have the ball I am a right-back.

“I think when the ball advances up the pitch it becomes more about protection and stopping counter attacks. It is more disciplined.

“When I come in as a right-back there is still (Wataru) Endo or Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) there, Fabinho last season, and their job is to stay as the number six.

“My job is the one who comes in and still has the freedom to underlap Mo (Salah) or overlap him, get into the box, shoot or cross whereas as a number six it is more rigid, your role along with the two centre-backs to ensure that when the ball pops out of the box it doesn’t go into the striker’s feet and they can build from there.”

A bruised foot has scuppered hopes of Tommy’s Oscar lining up in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on Sunday, with a trip to Ireland over the Christmas period a possibility providing he returns to full fitness in good time.

Ann and Ian Hamilton’s stable star made a brilliant return to action when giving weight and a beating to his rivals at Kelso last month and then wasn’t disgraced when stepping up in trip at Aintree for the Old Roan Chase, where he finished a valiant fourth.

With connections still not convinced he truly stays the two-and-a-half miles and minimal options being available back down in trip, Tommy’s Oscar was poised to take on a cast that could include Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon at Prestbury Park before injury struck.

“He was supposed to go to Cheltenham, but he has a bruised foot,” said owner Ian Hamilton.

“He gets them all the time and it is what curtailed his season last season, so it will be a bit before he runs, but there’s not many races for him anyway. That’s the only race there was for him because he’s a two-miler.”

A lack of suitable races has seen the Hamiltons toying with the idea of a trip to Leopardstown on December 27 for the two-mile Grade One event that Nicky Richards’ Simply Ned claimed in 2017 and 2018.

For that tentative plan to come to fruition, Tommy’s Oscar will need to both overcome his foot injury and have time to squeeze in a tune-up run, which could come in the Peterborough Chase on December 10 if conditions are suitable.

“Ann was thinking of going to Huntingdon but that is two-and-a-half and he doesn’t stay, but we will have to see. If it was fast ground, then fair enough,” continued Hamilton.

“We were thinking about going to Ireland for the one Simply Ned won at Leopardstown, but he needs a run before that if his foot comes right.

“There are no two-mile chases in the north, apart from the odd handicap like the one he won at Kelso. That’s why we ran him at Aintree and at two miles he was playing with them, but he just didn’t get home.”

Kerry Lee is respectful of the opposition as Nemean Lion remains on track for the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham but reports her charge in fine spirits.

The six-year-old is among the favourites and a 6-1 chance with the sponsors for the prestigious handicap, having backed up some smart novice hurdles form with a win in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on his reappearance.

That victory means Nemean Lion will have to carry top-weight at Prestbury Park but although his handler is not one for bullish predictions, she has been delighted with her charge since his return to action last month.

Lee said: “He’s been amazing, really good. I think he had a harder run than we first thought (at Ffos Las), but he has bounced back well and I’ve been really happy with his work the last week and fingers crossed he can continue to improve and progress.

“I will never say I’m confident and we always go with hope rather than confidence. The Kelso form is there to be respected, but there is lots of other good horses in the race with decent form as well themselves.

“It’s a hot race and there is no way you can go into it with any confidence and expectation, we’ll just go there, give it a crack and hope for the best.”

Nemean Lion is one of 18 confirmed for Sunday’s contest, with Dan Skelton’s recent Ascot winner Knickerbockerglory and stablemate L’Eau Du Sud, as well as Nicky Henderson’s Luccia, among those towards the head of the sponsor’s betting.

Unibet have Irish raider Onlyamatteroftime as their market leader, with the seven-year-old set to make his first start for Willie Mullins, while recent track-and-trip winner Lookaway and last year’s runner-up Gin Coco are other notable names among the list of possibles.

Jonbon is the headline attraction in the supporting Shloer Chase, which has attracted a maximum field of six.

Nicky Henderson’s star chaser stepped out of novice company to win Sandown’s Celebration Chase in the spring but could face a sterner examination here, with former Arkle winner Edwardstone and fellow 2022 Cheltenham Festival scorer Banbridge both joining defending champion Nube Negra among the potential runners.

Gary Moore’s Clarence House Chase winner Editeur Du Gite and Henry de Bromhead’s recent track-and-trip victor Dancing On My Own complete the entries.