Emma Raducanu – 30th seed | Age: 23 | world ranking: 32
Former US Open champion and British No 1. Reached the third round last year, losing to world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a thriller on Centre Court. Back working with coach Andrew Richardson, who was part of her team for her US Open victory, and enjoyed a promising run to the Queen’s final, though pre-Wimbledon optimism has been dampened by reports of Raducanu missing training sessions and wearing a protective boot.
First round vs: Antonia Ruzic
Emma Raducanu leaving the practice courts ahead of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London. Picture date: Monday June 22, 2026. (PA)
Katie Boulter | Age: 29 | WR: 59
Bouncing back after a disappointing 2025 season, the former world No 23 reached the semi-finals at Queen’s and secured the best win of her career by beating No 2 Elena Rybakina. Can play some of her best tennis on the grass, if she gets her aggressive style of play going. Yet to progress past the third round of a grand slam.
First round vs: Tyra Grant (Q)
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Fran Jones | Age: 25 | WR: 103
The 25-year-old enjoyed a momentous first-round win at last month’s French Open, for her first grand slam victory. Ahead of her fourth appearance at Wimbledon, Jones, who is from Yorkshire but grew up in Barcelona, does not want to be defined by her Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia, a genetic condition that means she only has three fingers and a thumb on each hand and seven toes across both feet. As a child, Jones’ parents were told by doctors that she would not be able to play tennis. Now, her work-rate and dedication to improve shines through as Jones aims to return to the world’s top 100, following a difficult year where she retired from the first-round of the Australian Open and suffered a freak gym accident in another scary injury set-back.
First round vs: Diane Parry
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Harriet Dart – wildcard | Age: 29 | WR: 151
At 29, Dart will be making her eighth appearance in the Wimbledon main draw. Now ranked 151st in singles, she stood up for Great Britain in April when, deprived of Raducanu and Boulter, she led Anne Keovathong’s side to an away victory against Australia to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup finals. Dart won in both singles and doubles, and last week won her first tour-level title in doubles alongside Maia Lumsden to win the Nottingham Open.
First round vs: Jelena Ostapenko
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Alicia Dudeney – wildcard | Age: 23 | WR: 246
Dudeney, 23, has climbed almost 900 ranking spots in the past year and will be making her Wimbledon debut. Ranked 246 in the world, Dudeney has won four titles on the World Tennis Tour (the level below the WTA) this season, which included a 13-match winning streak between March and April. From Hove, where she played at the same club as Sonay Kartal, she spent four years at the University of Florida between 2021 and 2025.
First round vs: Alicia Parks
Alicia Dudeney will make her Wimbledon debut next week (Getty)
Hannah Klugman – wildcard | Age: 17 | WR: 412
Has been signalled as one to watch ever since becoming the first British woman to win the Orange Bowl, a prestigious junior tournament in Florida, as a 14-year-old in 2023. A US Open girls’ semi-finalist last September, Klugman, now 17, will be making her second appearance at Wimbledon. Reached No 1 in the junior rankings before turning pro in January, and scored her first win on the WTA by beating Harriet Dart in Nottingham.
First round vs: Barbora Krejcikova
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Mika Stojsavljevic – wildcard | Age: 17 | WR: 276
The 17-year-old won the US Open girls’ title in 2024, then reached the semi-finals in 2025, and will be making her second Wimbledon main draw appearance after last year’s debut. Made a brilliant debut for Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifier away to Australia where she upset Talia Gibson – an opponent ranked more than 200 places above her. The London-born Stojsavljevic chose English literature and politics for her A-Levels and studied while on tour.
First round vs: Belinda Bencic (11)
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Katie Swan – wildcard | Age: 27 | WR: 196
After almost giving up tennis due to long-term injuries and losing her ranking, Swan only began her comeback in April 2025 but will now be playing at Wimbledon for the first time in three years. This will be the 27-year-old Swan’s seventh Wimbledon appearance and will feel extra special after battling from the brink of retirement to return to the world’s top 200.
First round vs: Irina-Camelia Begu
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Katie Swan plays at Wimbledon in 2023 (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Archive)
Mimi Xu – wildcard | Age: 18 | WR: 327
The Swansea-born Xu became the first Welsh player to enter the Wimbledon singles draw in 20 years when she played Emma Raducanu in the first round last year. At 18, Xu has since won the biggest title of her career in front of her home crowd at the Wrexham Open, beating Mika Stojsavljevic in the final. Xu and Stojsavljevic were runners-up in the 2024 Wimbledon girls’ doubles.
First round vs: Daria Kasatkina
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Cameron Norrie – 26th seed | Age: 30 | WR: 29
So often the last Brit standing at grand slams, Norrie retired from his first-round match at the French Open, the just the second time in his professional career, while suffering with a rib injury but returned to Queen’s and is set to be fit for Wimbledon. A former semi-finalist at SW19, Norrie, 30, returns as a seed after almost falling outside of the top-100 last year, finding form late in the season as he beat No 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
First round vs: Michael Zheng (Q)
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Carlos Alcaraz, left, ended Cameron Norrie’s impressive Wimbledon run (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)
Jack Draper | Age: 24 | WR: 160
Was seeded fourth at Wimbledon 12 months ago after winning the biggest title of his career at Indian Wells but returns after a year of injury hell ranked outside the top 100. Struggles with an arm injury were followed by a knee injury, meaning the 24-year-old has only played nine matches this season before his comeback at Eastbourne. But Draper is back with a legend in his corner: new coach Andy Murray. “He’s bloody good,” was Murray’s early assessment.
First round vs: Taylor Fritz (6)
Jack Draper celebrates reaching the Eastbourne semi-finals (Steven Paston/PA) (PA Wire)
Jan Choinski | Age: 30 | WR: 106
The German-born Choinski, the son of an English ballet dancer, switched nationalities in 2019 and received his first Wimbledon wildcard in 2023. After losing in the first round of qualifying last year, he returns to Wimbledon as only the third male direct entrant. His run to the quarter-finals at Eastbourne means he will reach a new career-high ranking of 100.
First round vs: Vit Kropiva
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Jacob Fearnley – wildcard | Age: 24 | WR: 152
After breaking into the top 50 after a rapid rise a couple of years ago, and taking a set off Novak Djokovic on Centre Court, backing up his breakthrough has been a struggle for the 24-year-old Scot who can claim he beat both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in juniors. He’s won only two matches on tour during an injury-hit season and he has dropped out of the top 100.
First round vs: Alex Michelsen
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Arthur Fery – wildcard | Age: 23 | WR: 118
The 23-year-old is enjoying the season of his life after winning a match at the Australian Open as a qualifier and reaching the quarter-finals of Queen’s in London. Born in France, his mother was a professional tennis player and his father, Loic Fery, is the owner of Ligue 1 football club FC Lorient.
First round vs: Damir Dzumhur
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Arthur Fery celebrates his victory (Getty)
Felix Gill – wildcard | Age: 24 | WR: 220
Making his Wimbledon and grand slam debut at 24, the left-hander arrives at a career-high ranking of 220 after reaching his first Challenger Tour final in Pune, India. His best results have come on clay, which is his favourite surface – unusual for a British player. He was also one win away from qualifying for the French Open last month.
First round vs: Rafael Jodar (23)
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Jack Pinnington Jones – wildcard | Age: 23 | WR: 145
Won on his Wimbledon main draw debut last year, beating Tomas Martín Etcheverry as a qualifier, and enjoyed a breakthrough run at the ATP 250 tournament in Dallas where he beat Flavio Cobolli to reach the quarter-finals. His run came close to Texas Christian University, where he followed in the footsteps of Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley by enrolling at the Horned Frogs.
First round vs: Brandon Nakashima (28)
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(Reuters)
Toby Samuel – wildcard | Age: 23 | WR: 142
Enjoyed a rapid rise towards the end of 2025, winning 36 of 39 matches on the Challenger Tour, and carried that form into 2026 by qualifying for the main draw of a grand slam for the first time at the French Open. His first-round defeat to seventh seed Alex de Minaur was his first tour-level match. The 23-year-old was previously doubles partners with Athur Fery, and they reached the boys’ doubles semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2019.
First round vs: Jakub Mensik (15)
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Harry Wendelken – wildcard | Age: 24 | WR: 203
The 24-year-old qualified for his first tour-level event on home soil at Queen’s, beating two top-100 opponents in Adam Walton and Aleksandar Vukic in the process. It came after winning his first ATP Challenger event in Greece last October, doing so as a lucky loser, as well as reaching three Challenger finals since March. Arrives at his Wimbledon and grand slam debut at a career-high ranking of 203 in the world.
First round vs: Valentin Royer
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Max Basing – qualifier | Age: 23 | WR: 331
Perhaps the Cinderella story of the week. The 23-year-old, who trained at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Manacor as a teenager, had previously lost in the first round of qualifying in ATP Challenger events at Birmingham, Ilkley and Nottingham this grass-court season, as well as in the semi-finals of Wimbledon’s pre-qualifying event. Granted a wildcard into Wimbledon qualifying anyway, the world No 331 duly won three matches in a row reach the main draw of a grand slam for the first time. Basing’s five-set win over Remy Bertola also came just 10 weeks after tearing his hamstring. “It’s been a dream of mine since I’ve started playing tennis,” he said.
First round vs: Shintaro Mochizuki (Q)
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Billy Harris – qualifier | Age: 31 | WR: 140
The man in a van. Harris spent the early years of his life on the lower-rungs of the tennis tour living in a converted Ford Transit to save money, but made his big breakthrough in 2024 to qualify for Wimbledon and reach his first grand slam main draw. Now 31, Harris has qualified for Wimbledon again and will made his third appearance in a row. Last year, he knocked out Belgium’s Zizou Bergs to earn his first win.
First round vs: Karen Khachanov (19)
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Oliver Tarvet – qualifier | Age: 22 | WR: 349
Perhaps the underdog story of last year’s tournament last year, when – ranked 773 in the world – he qualified for Wimbledon, won his first-round match, and faced Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court. The 22-year-old Tarvet has qualified again, and this time he can keep his prize money. Last year, Tarvet was still a student at University of San Diego, so couldn’t keep his £99,000 winnings due to NCAA rules. The good news is Tarvet graduated from college last month, so can keep his earnings.
First round vs: Arthur Rinderknech (25)
Oliver Tarvet celebrates winning his first-round match (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (PA Archive)
Kuro Games has revealed the banners for the Wuthering Waves 3.5 update during the official special preview program broadcast. The upcoming patch will bring two new characters, Yangyang: Xuanling and Suisui, and will also have reruns for several older characters and their weapons.
Let’s take a look at the Wuthering Waves 3.5 banners.
All Wuthering Waves 3.5 banners
Version 3.5 of the game will introduce two new characters as part of the Mengzhou cast. Here are the banners for phases 1 and 2 for the upcoming update:
Phase 1
Phase 1 banners (Image via Kuro Games)
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Yangyang: Xuanling (5-star Havoc)
Lynae (5-star Spectro)
Luuk Herssen (5-star Spectro)
Chixia (4-star Fusion)
Aalto (4-star Aero)
Danjin (4-star Havoc)
Yangyang: Xuanling has been confirmed as one of the characters who will receive a banner during phase 1 of the 3.5 update. She is a Havoc DPS who can use the Havoc Bane status effect to dish out damage. She is also a sword user and will be the first Mengzhou character to become playable.
Lynae and Luuk Herssenwill also be available during phase 1 of the 3.5 update, and you will be able to obtain them. Both are spectro characters, with the former using Pistol, while the doctor from Startorch Academy uses gauntlets.
The 4-stars for this phase will be Chixia, Danjin, and Aalto. Additionally, separate weapon convenes will be available for Yangyang’s signature sword, Azure Oath, Lynae’s pistols called Spectrum Blasters, and Luuk Herssen’s signature weapon called Daybreaker’s Spine.
Phase 2
Phase 2 banner (Image via Kuro Games)
Suisui (5-star Glacio)
Aemeath (5-star Fusion)
Baizhi (4-star Glacio)
Mortefi (4-star Fusion)
Lumi (4-star Electro)
Suisui is the second Mengzhou character to join the game during phase 2 of the 3.5 update. She is a Glacio support for the Negative Status effect archetype, and she uses a Rectifier. She is also a 5-star Resonator and will be available till the end of the Wuthering Waves 3.5 patch.
Alongside her, Aemeath in Wuthering Waves, will also receive her rerun banner. She is a Fusion DPS who is also one of the strongest characters in the game’s meta. The 4-stars for this phase will be Lumi, Baizhi, and Mortefi.
Suisui’s signature rectifier, Firstlight’s Herald, and Aemeath’s signature sword, Everbright Polestar, will also be available for a limited-time.
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Special Banner: Starpath Reverbs
Special Banner (Image via Kuro Games)
A special banner will be released for the following characters in the game:
Jiyan (5-star Aero)
Yinlin (5-star Electro)
Jinhsi (5-star Spectro)
Changli (5-star Fusion)
Xiangli Yao (5-star Electro)
Zhezhi (5-star Glacio)
Their signature weapons will also be available as a special Convene banner:
Verdant Summit (5-star Broadblade)
Stringmaster (5-star Rectifier)
Age of Harvest (5-star Broadblade)
Blazing Brilliance (5-star Sword)
Verity’s Handle (5-star Gauntlet)
Rime-Draped Sprouts (5-star Rectifier)
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Manchester City have agreed terms with Nottingham Forest over the transfer of Elliot Anderson to the Etihad Stadium.
Football is a fickle business, and it doesn’t take long for the euphoria of a shiny new signing to die down before fans start asking whether they’ve got value for money.
Manchester City’s desire to bring Elliot Anderson to the Etihad has been clear for quite some time, and while a number of other clubs have also been monitoring the England international – including city rivals Manchester United – it has always been apparent that City was his preferred destination.
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Striking a deal with Nottingham Forest remained the only potential stumbling block, but City did so on Thursday night as a fee of £116million was agreed. While the figure seems steep for a 23-year-old who was sold for £35m just two years ago, it reflects the rapid rise of the former Newcastle man and his undoubted talent. But do City fans think the club have got value for money?
The Manchester Evening News asked supporters to tell us how much they thought the England international was worth, with options of between £80m and £100m, £100m and £120m, or over £120m.
An overwhelming majority of 67% of fans voted for the former, believing Anderson is worth between £80m and £100m. 23% of voters believe he is worth between £100m and £120m, with the £116m fee City have agreed with Forest falling into this bracket. Meanwhile, only 10% of voters believe Anderson is worth more than £120m.
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The figures suggest there are plenty of fans Anderson will need to win over to prove he is worthy of the record transfer fee for a British player that City have agreed, though he’ll go some way to justifying his price tag if he can help lead England to glory at this summer’s World Cup.
As we wait for the finer details to be thrashed out ahead of Anderson’s move, attention will now switch to what else City need to do to strengthen their midfield options in their bid to reclaim their Premier League crown. Is just signing Anderson enough, or do you think City need to sign Sandro Tonali as well? Or do you think another midfield addition is required but Tonali isn’t the right man? Let us know your thoughts in the poll below:
While India’s teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had to wait for his international debut, Ireland handed a first T20I cap to India-born left-arm pacer Jai Moondra in the opening match of the series at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Friday.India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to field first. India went with three specialist fast bowlers, one all-rounder and two spinners, while Sooryavanshi was left out of the playing XI.For Ireland, captain Lorcan Tucker confirmed Moondra’s debut at the toss, saying, “Would’ve bowled. Looks like a really good pitch. It was a matter of transition. Stirlo led the last couple of years beautifully. Jai is making his debut today.”Moondra’s debut may not have drawn the same attention as Sooryavanshi’s expected appearance, but the 29-year-old has built a reputation in Irish cricket as one of the quickest bowlers from Leinster, Ireland’s most populated province.
Who is Jai Moondra?
Born in Tonk, Rajasthan, Moondra moved to Ireland in 2021 to pursue a Master’s degree in Electronics and Communication. After arriving, he joined Leinster Cricket Club in Dublin and worked his way into Ireland’s domestic setup.Speaking after receiving his maiden Ireland call-up, Moondra told Cricket Ireland, “To play international cricket was always a dream. I’m really grateful to Cricket Ireland for giving me this opportunity. While I set goals for myself, I also focus on each game. I have targets, but I don’t get stressed about the future. I try to enjoy the moment – and that’s what I intend to do with the India series.”Interestingly, Moondra did not begin his cricket journey as a fast bowler. He started out as a batter who could bowl left-arm spin before switching to pace later in his career.His domestic record includes one first-class match for Leinster, along with six List A games and five T20 matches.With his debut, Moondra joined a list of players of Indian origin to represent Ireland. That list includes Raman Lamba and Simi Singh, as per a report by Cricbuzz. Another name is Robin Waters, who was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and was part of the Ireland side that bowled out the West Indies for 25 in 1969.Indian cricket fans may also recognise Waters as the driver involved in the 1961 road accident in England that left Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who was travelling as a passenger, with the loss of vision in one eye.
France’s preparations for its final World Cup group game have been disrupted by the departure of manager Didier Deschamps from the team’s camp following the death of his mother. Mbappé’s Les Bleus are set to face Halland’s Norway in a highly anticipated duel between the two star goalscorers. FRANCE 24’s Selina Sykes followed Les Bleus as they prepare for their final game.
It’s a duel that’s set to be gruelling at the World Cup. France on one side, Norway on the other, with two star goalscorers facing each other: Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. The game could decide who finishes first of the group. The man leading Les Bleus is not Didier Deschamps, whose mother passed away earlier this week. Instead, his assistant Guy Stéphan is in charge.
Alyssa receives Suspension after Fist to Caitlin Clark’s Throat
The WNBA has suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for one game after reviewing an incident involving Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark during Wednesday night’s game.
No foul was called when the play occurred with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter of Phoenix’s 111-109 victory. However, after reviewing the footage, the league upgraded the play to a Flagrant Foul 2 and announced that Thomas would also be fined $1,000.
In its statement, the WNBA said:
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“Per WNBA rule, the League Office has the option, following its review of any game, to reclassify a Flagrant foul or to classify as Flagrant any foul not called as such during a game and may impose a fine and/or suspension.”
The incident happened as Clark drove into the lane and ended up on the floor following contact. During the scramble for the ball, Thomas made contact with Clark’s throat with her fist before getting up and stepping over the Fever guard.
Indiana head coach Stephanie White was critical of the officials after the game, arguing the play should have been penalized immediately.
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“No. 1, you’ve got to call it. It’s absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful.”
The league’s post-game review ultimately agreed that the contact warranted a Flagrant Foul 2, making Thomas ineligible for Phoenix’s next game against the Toronto Tempo.
It is a tap-in tally to bet the Toronto Maple Leafs will select Gavin McKenna with the first pick at the NHL draft when it begins on Friday in Buffalo.
Uncertain is who is chosen next, and even who makes the second selection.
The free-for-all will not end there during a couple of intriguing days in the two-day event.
As of now, the San Jose Sharks own the second overall selection, and would surprise nobody by selecting winger Ivar Stenberg.
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From there, the draft includes a two-way center in Caleb Malhotra, and a slew of defensemen (Chase Reid, Alberts Smits, Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff and Daxon Rudolph) to round out most of the top-10.
In the mix among all of those names is a wild card in center Viggo Bjorck, who may be on the smaller side but has eye-catching skill that many of the teams outside the top two covet.
But how the draft shakes out in terms of which young men receive new sweaters upon graduating to the next step of their career is only part of the intrigue.
It will be fascinating how much wheeling and dealing comes to fruition among the clubs with excessive draft capital. Already, 12 of the 32 first-round selections have been traded, some of them more than once.
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Case in point, the St. Louis Blues missed the playoffs by four points, so a case could be made they should be adding to make a push.
On Wednesday, the Blues dealt Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals and added a fourth — yes FOURTH — first-round pick to their stable. In owning picks No. 11, 15, 16 and 29, the Blues could use those to add players who would have an immediate impact while they re-tool.
St. Louis is not alone in holding plenty of valuable cards. The Sharks also own the ninth and 27th picks. San Jose plans to take a substantial leap forward next season with a team built around plenty of young talent, notably Macklin Celebrini. It will take a mint to pry away that second overall pick, but the Sharks would be wise to parlay those other first-rounders for a legitimate player to fill a gaping hole or two in their roster.
Then you have the host Buffalo Sabres. This past season’s Atlantic Division regular-season champs took a hit by losing forward Alex Tuch in a sign-and-trade swap with the Washington Capitals (which gave them a 2027 third rounder) and also dealt away skilled defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks. Thanks to the latter deal, which is something of a head-scratcher from Chicago’s perspective with that team’s need for a scoring forward to play alongside Connor Bedard, the Sabres added the fourth overall pick, while also holding the 20th.
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It will be a huge surprise if the Sabres do not use that currency to add a player who will help them now fuel their Stanley Cup hopes.
There certainly are plenty of players on the trade market, such as Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, Winnipeg Jets star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, Anaheim Ducks stagnated power forward Mason McTavish and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies.
So, feel free to await the words “I’ve got a trade to announce” from Gary Bettman throughout the draft, and not just to be a drinking game.
Bailey signed for United from Burnley in 2021. He made a positive early impression for the academy and made his under-18s debut under Travis Binnion in 2023, when he was just 15. The teenager went on to make his under-21s debut in 2025.
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But United announced earlier this month that Bailey would be leaving alongside Malachi Sharpe and Sonny Aljofree. It has now been confirmed that he will be playing in English football’s third tier with Stockport.
The midfielder has already played for Stockport’s academy side in the season just gone, and academy director Mike Jeffries has now explained why Bailey, who has signed a two-year contract, deserves his first professional deal.
He said: “James has worked incredibly hard throughout his time in the Academy since joining from Manchester United and fully deserves this opportunity. He has shown a fantastic attitude, a strong commitment to his development, and a willingness to learn every day.
“Signing a first professional contract is an important milestone, but it’s also the beginning of the next stage of his journey. We’re pleased with the progress he has made and believe he has the qualities, both on and off the pitch, to continue developing within the football club.
“Everyone in the Academy is proud of James and the dedication he has shown to reach this point. We look forward to supporting him as he takes the next steps in his career and continues to push for further opportunities.”
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Head of emerging talent Vinil Joseph added: “James is a player we have tracked for a considerable period of time. He is a tenacious midfielder who combines a strong competitive edge with excellent technical quality, highlighted by a fantastic left foot.
“We believe he possesses attributes required to thrive in a senior environment and continue his development at the club. We are delighted to welcome him and look forward to working with him over the coming years.”
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Bailey has also shared his happiness at joining Stockport. writing on Instagram, he said: “Happy to have signed my first professional contract at @stockportcounty, New beginnings, Happy to get started.”
Former Reds academy colleagues Chido Obi, Samuel Lusale, Jacob Devaney, Dante Plunkett and Bassirou Nkoto were among those who wished him good luck in response.
Man City have agreed a deal to sign midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in the summer transfer window.
A recent photo taken of Elliot Anderson shows him holding a cricket bat at England’s training camp in Kansas City. Anderson has looked relaxed in the United States, but it would have been impossible for him not to be slightly distracted by his future, which has finally been decided.
Manchester City have claimed the wicket by agreeing a fee of £116million, although that figure has been disputed by sources connected to Nottingham Forest, who have suggested the deal is worth £130m.
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Manchester United effectively pulled out of the race to sign Anderson when City’s opening, lofty bid was rejected due to the cost involved. They have since moved on to alternative targets.
United CEO Omar Berrada warned United would move away from targets if the financials didn’t make sense. “We have to be really disciplined, it’s simple. We have a plan, we know what we can invest, and we have to stick to that,” he said on the club’s in-house podcast.
“In some cases, we may decide to make an investment knowing it’s the right thing for not just the next two or three years, but the next 10 years. But clearly, we need to stay very focused on what we’re trying to achieve. It’s very important that you don’t let the market or the agents dictate.”
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Anderson is a brilliant player, so he would have been an excellent signing to replace Casemiro, but United cannot be blamed for stepping back from a deal that will see him become the most expensive British player of all time.
The other reason to step away from Anderson, besides the cost involved, was that Mateus Fernandes was viewed as an attainable, quality alternative, with his data from last season comparing well.
Fernandes won more tackles and made more accurate switches of play. He wasn’t far behind Anderson on ground duels won, possessions won, and possessions won in the defensive third.
United sensed an opportunity to sign Fernandes for a fair transfer fee following West Ham’s relegation, but Tottenham have come to the table, a move that has been met with glee from those in the London Stadium boardroom.
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Tottenham will put United in a difficult position if they are willing to meet West Ham’s asking price of £85m, which is more than United were hoping to spend on the 21-year-old.
Although United want to remain disciplined in the market, they have to pay up at some stage to avoid missing out on their top targets. The question is: is Fernandes worth a bid of around £85m?
The new financial year for clubs is a week away, meaning cards are about to be played, so it would be a surprise if there wasn’t a meaningful update on Fernandes’ future by this time next week.
It will be fascinating to see how much United are prepared to offer considering Berrada’s warning. United pulled out of the race for Anderson at an early stage, but they may have no choice but to hang in there with Fernandes.
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United have a list of midfield alternatives, players who the data department admire, but the further the club works down that list, the lower quality the player is, theoretically. United know they need to cough up at some stage.
The Reds are prepared to spend on a marquee midfield signing, so supporters should not be concerned, but the message from behind the scenes has been consistent: the deal has to be fair value.
The cost involved with Anderson reached a level that United were not comfortable with. If Tottenham are serious about meeting West Ham’s valuation of Fernandes, how United react will be a true test of their disciplined approach.
An £85m fee would historically get you more than a player who has back-to-back relegations on his CV. Fernandes is a talent, and his ceiling is yet to be reached, but that sort of fee highlights the inflation in today’s market.
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United could be tempted to look further afield for better value. Germany international Felix Nmecha is on the club’s radar, and Borussia Dortmund have shown a willingness to sell key players in the past.
In an ideal world, United would have had a clear run at Anderson, and would have signed him for a reasonable fee, but the transfer market is never straightforward. The only thing guaranteed is twists and turns.
Trainer Andrew Bobbin is feeling rather astute regarding Miracle Spin’s current form, although he admits it wasn’t always the case.
The Stawell conditioner even questioned if Miracle Spin would indeed have a second preparation with him after a winless three-race spring campaign, which concluded with a distant last finish in the Penshurst Cup.
Bobbin is now grateful for his decision to persevere, as the import has thrived now that softer tracks have arrived and is aiming for a third consecutive victory this Saturday at Caulfield.
The horse, a recent winner of the Casterton Cup (2000m), having previously won over 1800m on the Caulfield Heath track, is set to lead the field in the $80,000 Sportsbet Caulfield Cup Carnival Hospitality BM78 Handicap (2000m).
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“There were multiple times during the first six or eight weeks with this fellow that I thought maybe we might be looking at rehoming him as a pleasure horse,” Bobbin stated concerning the current campaign.
“But once the softer tracks came around I realised that all his work has to be either done on the heavy sand or in the swimming pool.
“We worked out that the key to him is to just keep the weight off his limbs. I really think that has been the key to getting the best out of him.
“Tried horses all come with their battle scars and it’s all about trying to keep them together, but this horse is moving as well as I’m sure he has for a long time.”
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Bobbin also attributed a significant part of the recent wins to the guidance of apprentice jockey Shayleigh Ingelse, but she is currently suspended and unavailable for this weekend’s race.
Harry Coffey has been brought in as a replacement, meaning Miracle Spin must carry its full weight of 60.5kg. The assignment becomes more challenging with barrier 13 in a field of 16.
“The wide gate isn’t ideal, but he is a horse that is fairly tractable and if he can hopefully find a position somewhere on the back of the horses, he should be really strong late.”
Consider the available betting markets for the main race at betting sites.
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