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Man United can save millions to sign ‘one of best strikers in Europe’ – on one condition

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Manchester United are reportedly putting contingency plans in place should they sell one star this summer

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Manchester United could save millions of pounds in the transfer market with a swoop for former Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic this summer. United have reportedly placed the 26-year-old on their transfer wishlist, along with Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins should they try to sign a new striker.

United have invested heavily in their forward line in recent years, with Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Joshua Zirkzee all moving to Old Trafford for considerable fees. However, United could revamp their front line again this summer, with ongoing uncertainty around Zirkzee’s future at the club.

The Dutch striker has struggled for consistency since his move to the club from Bologna, with Michael Carrick’s side preparing for a return to the Champions League. Several clubs are reportedly keen on signing Zirzkee, with Juventus, Roma and Como all believed to be keen.

All three clubs are said to be pushing for a loan arrangement, with either an obligation or option to buy included, despite United’s preference for an outright sale. If Zirkzee is sold before the deadline, United could move to bring in a new frontman.

It’s claimed by i News that Vlahovic, who is now a free agent after leaving Juventus earlier this summer, and Aston Villa’s Watkins are amongst the names under consideration. Vlahovic, of course, wouldn’t require a transfer fee.

Vlahovic’s contract in Turin expired earlier this summer and he’s already been connected to several clubs, including Barcelona. Turkish side Besiktas were also one of them, though that prospect now appears to have faded.

“Regarding Vlahovic, since the player is a free agent, the matter is in his hands,” Besiktas director of sport Onder Ozer admitted previously. “If he prefers one of the major five leagues, then Turkiye isn’t one of them. If an opportunity does arise for Vlahovic, then of course we would want to evaluate it as a club.

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“He had the best season of his career with Vincenzo Italiano at Fiorentina and the coach still occasionally speaks with him. He has great respect for the coach.

“There is surely a desire to work with him again, but the priority for players isn’t choosing a coach, it’s choosing a contract. I imagine Vlahovic is expecting a big contract and a team competing in the Champions League.”

Former Fiorentina and Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli rated Vlahovic as one ‘one of the best strikers in Europe’ when asked about the Serbian striker.

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“For me, he’s a champion,” he said in an interview with Tuttosport in September. “I’d like him to score even more goals: he’s one of the best strikers in Europe.

“But he shouldn’t shy away from the attack: there’s no point in asking him to link the play or contribute to the play.”

Watkins, meanwhile, has been frequently linked with a move to Old Trafford, though Villa are anticipated to demand a substantial fee for the England international, especially following the sale of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea.

At present, neither Vlahovic nor Watkins are being actively targeted, at least while Zirkzee remains at the club. However, this could shift quickly should the former Bayern Munich and Bologna player edge closer to leaving.

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Zirkzee arrived at United in a £36.5m transfer two years ago, but has netted only nine goals since then.

Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.

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“Have To Change Colour Of Medal”: Boxer Sakshi Chaudhary Eyes Gold After Reaching Semifinals At CWG 2026

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Indian boxer Sakshi Chaudhary vowed to “change the colour of the medal to gold” after she advanced to the women’s 51kg semifinals at the Commonwealth Games 2026 after defeating Northern Ireland’s Caitlyn Fryers with a dominant unanimous 5-0 decision in the quarterfinal on Wednesday. Sakshi, who came into the Games in good form after moving back to the 51kg category and beating top Indian boxers during the trials, controlled the bout with a composed performance. She won all three rounds by identical 5-0 margins, using her movement and accurate punches to keep Fryers under pressure, according to ESPN.

The victory also assured Sakshi of a Commonwealth Games medal. She will now face Canada’s Amber-Jane Wall in the semifinal on Friday for a place in the gold medal bout.

Speaking to ANI, Sakshi said her aim is now to change the colour of the medal she assured to gold. She added that she will focus on staying calm and giving her best in the next bout, while dedicating the achievement to India, her family, coaches and supporters.

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“The colour needs to change, but achieving this milestone was also very important. After this, there will be a little less pressure. Now I just have to change the colour of the medal to gold, and I want to win a gold medal for India. My focus will be to stay calm and play my game to the fullest,” she said.

“I would like to dedicate my medal to the whole of India, who supported me to reach here, my family, all the coaches, and everyone else,” she added.

Earlier, Sakshi had defeated Botswana’s Lethabo Modukanele in the previous round to book her quarterfinal spot.

India has enjoyed a successful campaign in Glasgow, winning 12 medals so far — two gold, seven silver and three bronze.

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India’s medallists are Mirabai Chanu (gold, weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (gold, women’s shot put F57), Rishikanta Singh (silver, weightlifting), Muthupandi Raja (silver, weightlifting), Gyaneshwari Yadav (silver, weightlifting), Sarvesh Kushare (silver, men’s high jump), Gulveer Singh (silver, men’s 10,000m), Harjinder Kaur (silver, weightlifting), Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver, weightlifting), Bindyarani Devi (bronze, weightlifting), Shilpa K. Shyla (bronze, women’s shot put F57) and Jhandu Kumar (bronze, para powerlifting).

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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Canelo explains why he refused to fight David Benavidez even when they were both at 168

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Despite his great achievements in the sport of boxing, many fans remain frustrated that Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has never, and likely will never, face David Benavidez.

Alvarez is coming towards the end of his career with perhaps three or four bouts left. The focus, after losing his undisputed super-middleweight title to Terence Crawford last year, is to win belts back at 168lbs.

It means that a long-awaited clash between Canelo and Benavidez is off the table, as the latter currently competes at cruiserweight and will only drop back down as far as light-heavy.

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Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Canelo explained that ‘the perfect time’ was when they were both at 168lbs, though Benavidez being a contender rather than champion stopped it from happening.

“He’s a heavyweight fighting at 175, or a cruiserweight. It’s not fair. When I [was] turning undisputed, if he would have been a champion at that point, that was the correct time to do the fight, but he wasn’t. He was fighting at 168 at that point, but he wasn’t a champion. That was, I think, the perfect moment to do it.”

Benavidez previously held the WBC super-middleweight belt twice, but was stripped on both occasions. When Canelo was on his undisputed run, Benavidez fought his way back to mandatory status with the WBC, but the sanctioning body never forced the fight, frustrating the 29-year-old to the point that he decided to move up in weight.

Though Benavidez would still eagerly make the fight at light-heavyweight, a division in which Canelo has competed twice, fans should not hold out much hope.

Instead, Alvarez returns on October 31 to face the new WBC super-middleweight champion, Christian Mbilli, in his first attempt to win back a former belt.

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Joe Girardi to manage top high school baseball talent at the Classic

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The Perfect Game All-American Classic will have some star power leading the way in the dugouts.

The world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform announced Wednesday that World Series champion Joe Girardi and former All-Star outfielder Shane Victorino will serve as managers. The game will take place Sunday, Aug. 16, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

The All-American Classic will feature many of the nation’s top high school baseball players. Girardi, who won three World Series as a player during his 15-year career, and one as a manager of the New York Yankees, said it is a “thrill” to be part of the game.

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Joe Girardi salutes the crowd at Yankee Stadium.

Joe Girardi salutes the crowd during the New York Yankees Old Timers Day on Aug. 24, 2024, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“It’s a thrill for me to be around so much young talent. I think the big leagues has a ton of young talent and this is going to give me an opportunity to see more and probably in like three or four years I’m going to say that young man in the big leagues I got a chance to manage him and I saw him when he was 17 years old, and you could just tell that he was going to be a big leaguer,” Girardi told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

“I’m really excited about that and just to be around so many great players and the biggest thing for me is that they go have fun and enjoy this and realize what they’ve accomplished so far, but this they’re just scratching the surface.”

The former Philadelphia Phillies manager said that he will tell the players they have a “gift.”

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“I would tell them they have a gift and that gift is baseball. And don’t waste it. Put everything you have into getting better every day. Taking care of your body, taking care of your mind, making sure that you don’t overwork, but you have to work. I mean, this is a game of repetition, and you have an opportunity to do something really, really special that so few people get a chance to do. And don’t waste the effort,” Girardi said.

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Shane Victorino bats during the 3-on-3 Challenge at Citizens Bank Park.

Shane Victorino of Team Victorino bats during the MLBx All-Star 3-on-3 Challenge presented by ITO EN at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, July 12, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pa. (MLB Photos via Getty Images)

“Don’t waste your opportunity here. Really, really go after this and you will be rewarded.”

Not only will the players have Girardi and Victorino to look to, but they will also be guided by a host of assistant coaches who starred in the major leagues. The coaching staff includes 1995 American League MVP Mo Vaughn, Hall of Fame pitcher Trevor Hoffman, All-Star outfielder Ryan Klesko, along with MLB veterans Todd Coffey, Denard Span and Jason Phillips.

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Rounding out the coaching staff will be members of the 1993 Phillies National League championship team Milt Thompson and Ben Rivera, 2008 World Series champions Kyle Kendrick and Tom “Flash” Gordon, and 2010 and 2011 National League East champion Jose Contreras.

Also among the coaching staff is Girardi’s son, Dante.

“I also get to coach alongside my son, Dante, and that’s really special for me because Dante has always loved the game since he was 5 years old. And we went through these Perfect Game events and I actually coached for his team FTB one year when I wasn’t managing and went to the great Perfect Game events,” Girardi said.

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Dante and Joe Girardi stand

Dante Girardi standing next to his father, Joe Girardi, in the outfield at Yankee Stadium. (Courtesy of Dante Girardi)

“We went to Atlanta and I remember building a bed in the back of the truck as we were driving around playing in different places. It’s just really fond memories for me and it’s going to create another great memory between my son and I. And I’m sure he’ll have a lot of advice for me. And I probably should listen because he understands what it’s like to be youthful.”

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Girardi guaranteed that one of the players in this game will be in an All-Star Game in the future.

The All-American Classic debuted in 2003, and since its inception, the game has featured some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball play in the event. Bryce Harper, Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt. Jr, Gerrit Cole and Francisco Lindor are among the star players who have played in the game over the years.

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Funshow set to prove Saturday class in 2026

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Man in a navy suit and pink tie wearing sunglasses stands beside a smiling worker in a bright green safety jacket and helmet, outdoors at an event.

As the spring carnival draws nearer, Nathan Doyle is aiming to capitalize on the current form of his progressive gelding Funshow by testing him in Saturday metropolitan races.

The son of Cosmic Force, who has impressed in his past two starts with combined winning margins of 6-1/2 lengths, is entered for a Benchmark 72 race over 1500m for three and four-year-olds at Rosehill this Saturday.

The race conditions are particularly appealing, as Saturday marks the commencement of the new racing season and Funshow officially becomes a four-year-old.

“He seems to be trending the right way,” Doyle said. “There’s nowhere to hide now, he’s probably at that level. He’s got to step up and go to that 72 grade, but he’s in good order and 1500 metres I think he’ll run out strongly.”

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After successive victories at Newcastle over 1300m and Hawkesbury over 1400m, Doyle has no concerns about stretching Funshow to the 1500m distance, especially with the $160,000 prizemoney available.

“He’s always shown us that he’d be a miler in time and he’s slowly getting there,” Doyle added. “It’s definitely the right time to try them. Obviously, it’s carnival time very soon, so you probably try them while those 72s are on a Saturday for the good prize money.”

Doyle might also have two other runners at Rosehill on Saturday, including last-start winner Silvanito, who is set to contest another Benchmark 78 over 1400m.

“He finally drew a gate third up and we were able to ride him a little closer,” Doyle noted about the former Godolphin gelding. “It’s the difference from being able to drag him back from bad gates and always hitting the line strongly but never getting the cash. He’s rock hard, race fit so the four weeks between runs won’t worry him.”

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Formal could also represent the stable, holding nominations for a Benchmark 78 sprint over 1100m at Rosehill and a race at Doomben, with his final race program still under consideration.

Check out the latest racing betting markets at betting markets for the race.

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Man City need at least four signings in five weeks after £40million move

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Manchester City already had priorities in the summer transfer window but now must add another position

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There are now less than five weeks remaining in the summer transfer window and while it isn’t time for Manchester City to panic there is a need for them to pick up the pace. The Premier League begins again on August 22 and there are still major incomings needed at the Etihad.

City went into the summer with midfield as their biggest priority, followed by right-back and a forward. They have added Elliot Anderson for a club record £116m but arguably still need to act in all areas – especially with the uncertainty over Rodri and several other midfielders.

The impending £40m sale of James Trafford to Leeds throws up another priority that cannot afford to be ignored. City won two cup competitions last season in part because they had the strongest pairing of goalkeepers in the league, and losing effectively a No.1 in Trafford is a serious blow to their hopes of going deep in four competitions.

While he may not have been ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma in the pecking order, hence why he has gone after just one year, Trafford was a major strength for City in an awkward position that now needs replacing. Finding a goalkeeper who is good enough to compete for the jersey and be an able stand-in but doesn’t sulk at being No.2 is one of the most difficult roles in the squad to fill, and a good price is not a guarantee.

Hugo Viana’s search should be well under way, given Trafford has been fairly clear about his ambition to move since before the January transfer window opened. City resisted interest in him then but knew that they had to line up a new signing for the summer.

They have managed to work so far without any names on the shortlist getting out, yet as it stands it is yet another outstanding item on City’s transfer list for the summer. As bold as it was to bring in both Trafford and Donnarumma last summer, that has now created more work for Viana – not counting for any other players that could yet leave.

City are expecting business to pick up now the World Cup is over and players start returning from their holidays and the work is ongoing; negotiations for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi continue and the pace is picking up in the search for a winger. A lot is left to do though if City are to sign the players they need to in the remaining five weeks of the window and Trafford’s departure will increase the number of new arrivals needed.

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Prospects report: Quinn Mathews back in the conversation

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It’s August o’clock and high time that an article half-focused on identifying the next prospect call-up came clean about something.

We’re probably not seeing any for the next couple weeks.

True, an injury could force a GM’s hand, and the upcoming trade deadline could create new pathways for some of the most obvious promotion candidates. But if a team has waited this long to loop in that top prospect who’s tearing up Triple-A, what’s a couple more weeks?

By waiting that length of time, a team can ensure that the prospect in question, provided he’s up for the first time, will retain his rookie standing for next year, and that’s important because only true rookies can secure teams extra draft picks if they place high enough in awards voting, namely Rookie of the Year. Who doesn’t love draft picks?

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The past few years have introduced us to this dead promotion period leading up to the critical point when 45 days remain in the season. That point this year is Aug. 14.

You’re free to stash prospects until then — it is only two weeks, after all — but I wouldn’t expect any high-impact promotions until then. 

FIVE ON THE VERGE

(Here are the prospects most worth stashing in redraft leagues.)

Kade Anderson, SP, Mariners

2026 minors: 9-1, 1.27 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 77 2/3 IP, 10 BB, 115 K

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After a three-week respite, save for an inning in the All-Star Futures Game, Kade Anderson returned to the mound Friday and, in keeping with the theme of everything coming too easily to him in his first professional season, threw five perfect innings. The only thing that hasn’t come easily for him is a promotion. He’s been begging for one for months now but happens to be in the one organization that’s managed to keep its starting rotation healthy all season. Word is that the Mariners are shopping Emerson Hancock and Luis Castillo, though, ostensibly to create an opening for Anderson, and what makes it so ostensible is their handling of him. Why shut him down for three weeks midseason if not to have those innings available later on, like during postseason play? I doubt they pull the trigger before mid-August, for reasons already discussed, but their deadline maneuvering is likely to telegraph what’s coming.

Charlie Condon, 1B, Rockies

2025 minors: .268 BA (365 AB), 14 HR, .820 OPS, 52 BB, 112 K
2026 minors: .288 BA (330 AB), 20 HR, .964 OPS, 55 BB,100 K

Charlie Condon has held steady over the past week, with no significant changes to his production or outlook. As with all potential prospect call-ups, we’re in a holding pattern for now, just waiting to see what avenues are created at the trade deadline and then counting down the days until Aug. 14. For Condon, a Jake McCarthy or Mickey Moniak trade would present the clearest opportunity, seeing as he’s spent nearly half of his time in the outfield this season. Trading both would be even better since it would prevent Condon from taking a back seat to Zac Veen, who’s already on the 40-man roster. Condon is the more disciplined hitter and has a batted-ball profile that lends itself better to power, but he’s not the base-stealer that Veen is.

Joshua Baez, OF, Cardinals

2025 minors: .287 BA (418 AB), 20 HR, 54 SB, .884 OPS, 59 BB, 103 K
2026 minors: .247 BA (364 AB), 31 HR, 15 SB, .886 OPS, 32 BB, 123 K

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Is Joshua Baez getting closer to a promotion or further away? His batting average has crept up a couple points since the last Prospects Report, with another two home runs added, but the contact gains he enjoyed during his massive May and June have fallen by the wayside. He’s simply striking out too much, which isn’t always a deal-breaker for a player with his kind of power, but seeing as president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom recently talked about major league pitchers potentially exploiting Baez’s weaknesses and how he doesn’t want the 23-year-old to be “just a one-dimensional guy,” I’m skeptical that Baez has demonstrated the kind of growth Bloom is looking for. Even so, it’s hard for me to believe the Cardinals would pass up the chance to promote him this year, for all the success he’s had, which is why I’m keeping him in my Five on the Verge for now.

Quinn Mathews, SP, Cardinals

2025 minors: 4-7, 3.73 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 99 IP, 74 BB, 115 K
2026 minors: 5-3, 3.13 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 92 IP, 52 BB, 111 K

Quinn Mathews may not be as impactful as Baez, but his arrival is more assured. There’s already a case to install him over Matthew Liberatore, and if the Cardinals end up moving Dustin May at the trade deadline, then the need will become even more acute. Mathews was one of the breakout prospects of 2024, putting together a 2.76 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 12.7 K/9 across four levels, but then his control abandoned him last year. It’s been pretty shaky this year, too, accounting for his 5.1 BB/9, but that number has dropped to 3.3 in his past nine starts as he’s put together a 1.55 ERA, 0.78 WHIP (very difficult to hit, clearly) and  10.1 K/9. His last start Friday was arguably his best yet, seeing him strike out 10 without allowing an earned run in seven innings. I still think his control could be his undoing in the majors, but with the way his stuff is playing up again, the upside is promising enough to stash him preemptively.

Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins

2025 minors: .286 BA (308 AB), 10 HR, 17 SB, .850 OPS, 50 BB, 76 K
2026 minors: .297 BA (195 AB), 6 HR, 10 SB, .883 OPS, 30 BB, 32 K

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Walker Jenkins has been a consensus top 15 prospect basically from the time the Twins drafted him fifth overall in 2023, and the only reason I have to say top 15 rather than top 10 or even top five is because he’s spent so much of the intervening period injured. Even this year, a shoulder sprain cost him about six weeks in the middle of the season, but he’s come back looking as polished as ever, slashing .292/.364/.494 in 23 games at Triple-A with 10 walks and 12 strikeouts.

It’s that polish, most evident through his plate discipline, that’s bolstered his stock since he was still a teenager, and even with all the lost development time, he’s well ahead of where a 21-year-old would normally be. The power production is a bit lacking, but his average and max exit velocities both rank in the top 20 percent at Triple-A, suggesting he has the tools for much more. Whether the Twins buy or sell at the deadline, it’s likely they’ll want Jenkins to be part of things in September.

FIVE ON THE PERIPHERY

(Here are some other prospects doing something of note.)

Max Clark, OF, Tigers

2025 minors: .271 BA (431 AB), 14 HR, 19 SB, .835 OPS, 94 BB, 90 K
2026 minors: .277 BA (358 AB), 10 HR, 21 SB, .795 OPS, 49 BB, 63 K

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Sometimes the Five on the Verge spills over to the Five on the Periphery, and while Zac Veen would probably be my sixth choice to stash, I want to give a nod here to Max Clark, who has had an open path to the majors basically from the second week of the season, when Parker Meadows got hurt. Whether Clark deserved to be promoted at that time is debatable, but with the ups and downs he’s had at Triple-A this year, the lengthier stay was probably justified.

His July, though, may be reworking the math. He’s batting .343 (23 for 67) for the month with four home runs, four stolen bases and more walks (15) than strikeouts (13). He rarely chases pitches out of the zone and basically never misses pitches in it, having compiled an absurd 94.2 percent zone-contact rate. How much thump he’ll provide has long been in question, but his exit velocities are at least respectable. He could make an impact akin to A.J. Ewing if and when he gets the call.

Sebastian Walcott, SS, Rangers

2025 minors: .255 BA (474 AB), 13 HR, 32 SB, .741 OPS, 70 BB, 108 K
2026 minors: .395 BA (43 AB), 3 HR, 3 SB, 1.191 OPS, 4 BB, 11 K

Sebastian Walcott is about two weeks into his return from a torn UCL, having had an internal brace procedure to stabilize the ligament, and is clearly no worse for wear, taking a wrecking ball to Double-A in a way he didn’t last year. It probably means he’s soon destined for Triple-A, and his stay there could be a short one. Prospects of this caliber (he was in line to be in everyone’s top 10 prior to the injury) are like a runaway train once the talent clicks. Walcott always projected for massive power, and he may have grown into it, finally. What could slow him down is his continued recovery from the surgery. For as well as he’s hitting, he has yet to play the field, with all of his starts coming at DH. He won’t be joining the big club until he’s prepared to handle all facets of the game.

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Cam Cannarella, OF, Marlins

2025 minors: .284 BA (88 AB), 0 HR, 1 SB, .712 OPS, 7 BB, 18 K
2026 minors: .349 BA (229 AB), 13 HR, 14 SB, 1.014 OPS, 37 BB, 42 K

The Marlins liked Cam Cannarella enough to take him with the 43rd pick in last year’s draft, and that gamble has paid off so enormously that they may be installing him as their center fielder as soon as next year. I want to stress center field because his defense may be what stands out the most, which means there isn’t some sneaky reason why his offensive dominance would go unrewarded. His recent move up to Triple-A has so far met with the same success as his previous stops. The plate discipline is stellar. The contact quality is strong. To this point, no obvious weaknesses have revealed themselves (too opposite field-minded, maybe, but whether that’s an actual weakness is debatable). He’s looking like one of the most underrated prospects in Dynasty play right now, particularly for how close he is to contributing.

Blake Burke, 1B, Brewers

2025 minors: .292 BA (490 AB), 16 HR, 15 SB, .832 OPS, 65 BB, 135 K
2026 minors: .276 BA (326 AB), 27 HR, 25 SB, .966 OPS, 40 BB, 90 K

Drafted 34th overall in 2024, Blake Burke has grown into the power you’d expect from his 6-foot-3, 236-pound frame. We don’t have official exit velocity readings for Double-A, but there have been reports of multiple home runs in the 115 mph range, including his latest one Tuesday, shown here:

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The real surprise is that he’s nearly matched his home run total with his stolen bases. Surely, that’s just a byproduct of a less competitive league and not something that would translate to the majors, but in a world where Josh Naylor is a perennial 30-steal threat … maybe? For as impressive as his totals are, Burke is also striking out at less than a 25 percent rate, so I wouldn’t be so quick to write him off.

Josiah Ragsdale, OF, Brewers

2025 minors: .300 BA (70 AB), 0 HR, 9 SB, .751 OPS, 16 BB, 15 K
2026 minors: .318 BA (289 AB), 15 HR, 31 SB, 1.005 OPS, 63 BB, 91 K

The Brewers system has given us a bunch of standout performers on the hitting side this year, and Josiah Ragsdale might be the most surprising. A seventh-round pick just last year, the 22-year-old has slashed .318 /.444/.561 between High-A and Double-A with enough home runs and stolen bases to make the whole stat line reminiscent of Josue De Paula — a little better than his, actually. Now, Ragsdale isn’t actually De Paula. The strikeout rate runs five percentage points higher, and while I can’t cite the actual data, my understanding is that he doesn’t hit the ball nearly as hard. Still, numbers like this are simply too good to ignore, particularly from a player who’s already in the upper minors.

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Vikings Rookies to Look Out for in Training Camp

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Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) comes up the fumble during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 16, 2024. The Gators defeated the Tigers 27-16. © Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Training Camp has arrived, with this year’s rookies, the quarterbacks, and selected veterans the first to return to the Twin Cities. It is a big moment for this year’s Vikings rookies as they look to fulfill the dream and secure a place on the Vikings’ final roster.

Vikings Rookies to Look Out for in Training Camp

There will be a lot to unpack over the course of training camp as players battle for their place on the roster. This article aims to focus on this year’s Vikings rookies, which ones to keep a particular eye on, and why. We have a mix of early-round draft picks all the way to some potential undrafted gems.

Caleb Banks (Defensive Tackle)

Vikings DT Caleb Banls on the draft bigboard in Pittsburgh in 2026
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks is selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the number 18 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

There is only one place to start: the 2026 first-round pick.

Selected with the 18th overall pick, Caleb Banks presents a risky choice for Minnesota. The talent isn’t in question but after turning heads in the scouting combine it was revealed he had suffered a new foot injury – one that had already caused him to miss much of the 2025 college season. His draft stock quickly tumbled from first-round potential to being seen as a Day 2 prospect.

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Minnesota decided to gamble on his talent and all signs point to his inclusion at training camp. Seeing Banks out on the field this early would be a boost and should give Vikings fans excitement that he can be ready to show off his talents come the start of the season.

Domonique Orange (Nose Tackle)

Minnesota doubled down on big defenders in this year’s draft when they selected Domonique Orange in the third round. With the nickname Big Citrus, Orange profiles as a true run-stuffer with the potential to start at nose tackle.

Standing in Orange’s way is Levi Drake Rodriguez, a seventh-round pick who proved himself a solid depth player in his second season with the Vikings in 2025. Orange should have the credentials to beat him out if he can adapt quickly to life in the pro ranks and prove his game-readiness as a rookie to defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

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The Rodriguez and Orange battle could be one of the most intriguing of the preseason.

Jake Golday (Linebacker)

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Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jake Golday (11) hits a pad during the Cincinnati Bearcats football spring practice at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2025. © Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

In between the two big defensive linemen the Vikings selected linebacker Jake Golday with their second-round pick. There has been discussion over Golday’s position, notably whether he’s a true off-ball linebacker or whether he could play from the edge. Given the way Flores likes versatility in his players – see Andrew Van Ginkel and Josh Metellus – it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Golday lining up in various spots.

With the potential of Golday, Van Ginkel, Metellus, and new signing Jamal Adams lining up together, Flores could have fun making offenses try to figure out who is playing where. That makes Golday a dream player for the Vikings DC and someone to keep a close eye on in training camp to see him develop.

Dillon Bell (Wide Receiver)

Undrafted rookies making the final roster was a theme of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era. Will that be the same now that Nolan Teasley is the general manager? The best chance seems to come in the form of Dillon Bell who has been creating some hype already.

He’s being likened to former Viking Percy Harvin with his versatile skill set and ability to make things happen once the ball is in his hands. Whether Bell can make a play for a 53-man roster spot is a story worth following. It will be tough with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison,  and Jauan Jennings locking up the top three places on the depth chart. It leaves Bell trying to beat out Tai Felton and Myles Price on the WR depth chart, with the latter having punt/kick return ability on their side.

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Demond Claiborne (Running Back)

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Oct 4, 2025; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons running back Demond Claiborne (1) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

I (like most people) expected the Vikings to do something to address a running back situation that hasn’t been great in recent seasons.

Minnesota waited until the sixth round of the draft to bring in Demond Claiborne. On the surface, that doesn’t appear much of a threat to Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason. However, the trend in recent years has been to draft RBs later, and some good ones have come out of the mid-to-late rounds.

Claiborne brings 4.37 speed to the Vikings’ offense; it’s up to him to use that asset to carve out a role in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

Max Bredeson (Fullback)

When O’Connell became the Vikings head coach there was an expectation he would do away with the fullback position that his predecessor Mike Zimmer had valued so highly. Instead, O’Connell embraced CJ Ham and found a role for him in his offense while keeping a team captain and special teams contributor on the roster.

Ham has now retired but it appears that the fullback position lives on in Minnesota with fifth-round rookie Max Bredeson. While Bredeson is set to succeed Ham, he is a very different player. He was a tight end in college and never attempted a single rushing attempt. Training camp will give us the first look at how O’Connell plans to use Bredeson.

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Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.

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Commonwealth Games 2026 July 29 India schedule, live time IST, streaming | Other Sports News

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India will look to build on its growing medal tally when athletes compete across multiple disciplines on Day 6 of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Wednesday (July 29). India will be in action in weightlifting, athletics, boxing, swimming, para swimming, para athletics and bowls, with several medal events scheduled throughout the day. 

 

 


Following another encouraging day at the Games, the Indian contingent will aim to maintain its momentum as weightlifting, athletics and para athletics present fresh medal opportunities, while a strong boxing contingent will fight for places in the semifinals and guaranteed medals. Swimmers Sajan Prakash and Aneesh S Gowda will also be in action, hoping to progress from the heats to the evening finals.

 

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Weightlifting presents another medal opportunity


India’s medal campaign begins with Sanjana competing in the women’s 77kg final. The Indian lifter will be aiming to continue the country’s impressive performances on the weightlifting platform and add another medal to the tally. 


Athletics targets podium finishes


India will have a busy day on the track and in the field with qualification rounds and multiple medal events.

 

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Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Samardeep Singh Gill will compete in the men’s shot put qualification, while Animesh Kujur lines up in the men’s 200m heats. Yashas Palaksha and Santhosh Kumar Thamilarasan will also begin their campaigns in the men’s 400m hurdles heats.

 


India’s biggest athletics medal hopes rest on Sreeshankar Murali and Lokesh Satyanathan in the men’s long jump final, Manpreet Kaur in the women’s shot put final, and Parul Choudhary in the women’s 3000m steeplechase final.


Five Indian boxers chase guaranteed medals


India will have another strong day in boxing, with six quarterfinal bouts on the schedule. Victory in each contest will assure the boxer of at least a bronze medal.

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Sakshi Choudhary takes on Northern Ireland’s Caitlin Fryers in the women’s 51kg division, while Arundhati Choudhary faces New Zealand’s Morgan Henderson in the women’s 70kg quarterfinal.

 


Sachin Siwach meets Botswana’s Treasure Moremi in the men’s 60kg contest before Ankush Yadav faces Seychelles’ Jade Micock in the men’s 80kg category. Narender Berwal rounds off the evening session against Samoa’s Michael Seko in the men’s 90+kg quarterfinal, while Jaismine Lamboria takes on England’s Elise Glynn in the women’s 57kg quarterfinal later in the night.

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Swimmers eye finals


India’s swimming campaign will feature Sajan Prakash and Aneesh S Gowda in the men’s 200m freestyle heats.

 


Should either swimmer qualify, they will return later in the night for the medal race. Aryan Nehra will also compete in the men’s 1500m freestyle final, where he will look to challenge for a podium finish.


Para swimming and para athletics offer medal hopes


India will also have representation in para swimming as Suyash Narayan Jadhav and Chaitanya Vishwas Kulkarni compete in the men’s 50m freestyle S7 heats.

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If they progress, they will return for the final later in the night.

 


In para athletics, Devender Kumar and Sagar Thayat will compete in the men’s discus throw F42-44/F61-64 final, while Mohammed Basil M and Dilip Mahadu Gavit will contest the men’s 100m T47 final, giving India two more medal opportunities.

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Bowls campaign continues


India’s bowls challenge will continue with Dinesh Kumar and Navneet Singh facing Namibia in the men’s pairs sectional play, while Nayanmoni Saikia takes on Caroline Whitehead of the Isle of Man in the women’s singles sectional play.


India schedule: Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 6 (July 29)


Time (IST)

Sport

Event

Indian Athlete(s)

Stage/Status

2:00 PM

Weightlifting

Women’s 77kg Final

Sanjana

Medal Event

3:12 PM

Swimming

Men’s 200m Freestyle Heats

Sajan Prakash, Aneesh S Gowda

Heats

3:35 PM

Athletics

Men’s Shot Put Qualification

Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Samardeep Singh Gill

Qualification

3:44 PM

Para Swimming

Men’s 50m Freestyle S7 Heats

Suyash Narayan Jadhav, Chaitanya Vishwas Kulkarni

Heats

4:02 PM

Athletics

Men’s 200m Heats

Animesh Kujur

Heats

4:45 PM

Boxing

Women’s 51kg Quarterfinal

Sakshi Choudhary vs Caitlin Fryers (Northern Ireland)

Quarterfinal

5:30 PM

Boxing

Women’s 70kg Quarterfinal

Arundhati Choudhary vs Morgan Henderson (New Zealand)

Quarterfinal

6:15 PM

Boxing

Men’s 60kg Quarterfinal

Sachin Siwach vs Treasure Moremi (Botswana)

Quarterfinal

7:00 PM

Boxing

Men’s 80kg Quarterfinal

Ankush Yadav vs Jade Micock (Seychelles)

Quarterfinal

7:30 PM

Boxing

Men’s 90+kg Quarterfinal

Narender Berwal vs Michael Seko (Samoa)

Quarterfinal

8:55 PM

Bowls

Men’s Pairs Sectional Play

Dinesh Kumar, Navneet Singh vs Namibia

Sectional Play

11:00 PM

Boxing

Women’s 57kg Quarterfinal

Jaismine Lamboria vs Elise Glynn (England)

Quarterfinal

11:51 PM

Swimming

Men’s 200m Freestyle Final*

Sajan Prakash, Aneesh S Gowda

Medal Event*

11:54 PM

Athletics

Men’s Long Jump Final

Sreeshankar Murali, Lokesh Satyanathan

Medal Event

12:03 AM (Jul 30)

Athletics

Men’s 400m Hurdles Heats

Yashas Palaksha, Santhosh Kumar Thamilarasan

Heats

12:31 AM (Jul 30)

Athletics

Women’s Shot Put Final

Manpreet Kaur

Medal Event

12:46 AM (Jul 30)

Para Swimming

Men’s 50m Freestyle S7 Final*

Suyash Narayan Jadhav, Chaitanya Vishwas Kulkarni

Medal Event*

12:55 AM (Jul 30)

Para Athletics

Men’s Discus Throw F42-44/F61-64 Final

Devender Kumar, Sagar Thayat

Medal Event

1:10 AM (Jul 30)

Bowls

Women’s Singles Section Play

Nayanmoni Saikia vs Caroline Whitehead (Isle of Man)

Sectional Play

1:14 AM (Jul 30)

Swimming

Men’s 1500m Freestyle Final

Aryan Nehra

Medal Event

1:42 AM (Jul 30)

Para Athletics

Men’s 100m T47 Final

Mohammed Basil M, Dilip Mahadu Gavit

Medal Event

2:05 AM (Jul 30)

Athletics

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Final

Parul Choudhary

Medal Event


Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 6: Live streaming and telecast details


What time do India’s events start on Day 6 of the Commonwealth Games 2026?

 


India will begin its Day 6 campaign at the Commonwealth Games 2026 with the women’s 77kg weightlifting final from 2:00 pm IST.

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How many medal events will India take part in on Day 6 of the Commonwealth Games 2026?

 


India is scheduled to compete in eight confirmed medal events, with two additional medal opportunities in swimming and para swimming if the Indian athletes qualify from the heats.

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Where to watch the live telecast of Day 6 events of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in India?

 


The live telecast of Day 6 events of the Commonwealth Games 2026 will be available on Sony Sports Network and DD National in India.

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Where to watch the live streaming of Day 6 events of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in India?

 


The live streaming of Day 6 events of the Commonwealth Games 2026 will be available on the SonyLIV app and website in India.

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Czech FA breaks ranks to back Gianni Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan

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The president of the Czech Football Association has backed Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup’s commercial rights.

After details of Infantino’s plan came to fruition on Tuesday, David Trunda told Sky News he can see the “positive impact” of the Fifa president’s plan.

For Uefa, European football’s governing body, Trunda’s comments are an early blow to their hopes of launching a member-wide boycott of Fifa competitions. In order for a boycott to take place, all 55 Uefa members would unanimously have to agree. A call to discuss the plans is scheduled for Thursday.

“I can see the pragmatic benefits for Czech football from working in close co-operation with [FIFA president] Gianni Infantino and his team,” Trunda told Sky.

“Of course we need more details, but my personal point of view is that I can see the positive impact of FIFA’s intentions.

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“I was elected a little more than a year ago, and for me personally all the projects I have experienced in cooperation with FIFA have been very positive for the development of European football.”

At this early stage, Trunda’s remarks are an outlier, with other high-profile football associations such as the Danish and Romanian FAs condemning the plans and lack of transparency. The Czech FA will discuss the proposals at an executive meeting on 11 August.

Infantino’s plan promises windfalls of $40m for Fifa member associations – of which there are 211 – who sign up to the plan by 19 September. It gives members just 53 days to decide which direction they go down.

In a letter to the member associations, seen by The Independent, Infantino has promised that national federations would benefit from an increase of its ‘Fifa Forward’ funding from around $8m to $20m for the upcoming four-year cycle between 2027 and 2031 if the new FFE subsidiary is created.

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Additionally, the letter states that a “one-off” payment of another $20m would be made available for member associations who vote for Infantino’s proposals on 19 September. In the letter, member associations are then warned that their funding for the 2027-2031 cycle would only stand at $10m if the vote does not pass, meaning they would miss out on $30m.

Gianni Infantino’s controversial plans were revealed on Tuesday
Gianni Infantino’s controversial plans were revealed on Tuesday (Reuters)

The member associations were also informed, via Fifa’s press release, that they could expect further increases in future cycles, rising to $24m by 2035 to 2038. Thrive Eternal, led Joshua Kushner, the brother of US president Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, are set to lead the new investment, which Fifa said could raise $4.2bn.

An English FA spokeswoman said: “We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is, and what conditions are attached.

“Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved.

“When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by Fifa, we will make our views clear, and comment further.”

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Uefa, ran by president Aleksander Ceferin, who does not see eye to eye with Infantino, released a strongly-worded statement on Tuesday.

“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially,” it read. “None of us are the owners of football: it is not FIFA’s to sell.”

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Jurrien Timber leaves Arsenal training camp with groin issue

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Jurrien Timber has travelled back to London from Arsenal‘s training camp in Spain in a move related to the groin injury that caused him to miss the end of last season.

The Netherlands international missed two months towards the end of last season because of an ankle injury, but returned in time for the Champions League final loss to Paris St-Germain.

However, a groin issue then caused him to miss the World Cup.

It is now understood that the right-back has returned to London from the Gunners’ training camp in Spain but sources insist the visit is part of his rehabilitation schedule and not because of a setback in his recovery.

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Timber is expected to return to Spain to rejoin the squad.

Timber, the Gunners’ first-choice right-back, played 30 Premier League games as they won the title last season.

He joined Arsenal from Ajax in July 2023 for an initial fee of £34m, but missed most of his first season after tearing his anterior cruciate knee ligament.

Arsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield on 16 August (15:00 BST), before beginning their Premier League title defence against promoted Coventry City on 21 August (20:00 BST).

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