Crystal Palace will not be required to sign Super Eagles midfielder Christantus Uche on a permanent deal after the conditions attached to his transfer can no longer be fulfilled.

Uche joined the Premier League club on loan from Spanish side Getafe last summer after an impressive first season in Spain. The move came after Getafe agreed to let him leave as they tried to meet La Liga’s strict financial rules.

Both clubs agreed that the deal would become permanent if the Nigerian midfielder started at least 10 Premier League matches during the season.

However, Uche has struggled to secure regular playing time in England. The midfielder has mostly appeared as a substitute and has not started any Premier League game this season.

Crystal Palace played their 29th league match of the campaign against Tottenham on Thursday. The game was important for Uche because it marked the start of the final 10 matches of the season.

But he only came on in the second half during Palace’s 3–1 victory. That appearance confirmed that he can no longer reach the required 10 league starts needed to activate the permanent transfer clause.

As a result, the Nigerian midfielder is expected to return to Getafe when the season ends.

Despite this, his future at the Spanish club is still uncertain. Getafe previously allowed him to leave on loan to reduce their wage bill and register new players.

With Uche set to return, the club may again face financial pressure and could decide to sell him if a good offer arrives.

Although he has played limited minutes in England, his experience in the Premier League has attracted interest from several clubs across Europe, which could open the door for another move in the summer transfer window.

Arike Ogunbowale, a four-time WNBA All-Star and Unrivaled league standout, was taken into police custody early Thursday after an alleged altercation at a Miami nightclub, police records showed.

Miami-Dade officers arrested Ogunbowale around 4:30 am after an unnamed male was suspected of being punched at Club E11EVEN. FOX Sports Radio reported, citing police sources, a man was struck “in the face and he fell to the ground.” The incident was allegedly recorded.

Ogunbowale was at the venue to celebrate winning the 2026 Unrivaled championship.

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Arike Ogunbowale (24) of the Mist looks on against the Hive during the second quarter of an Unrivaled 2026 game at Sephora Arena on Jan. 31, 2026, in Medley, Florida. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

According to police, surveillance footage from the nightclub supported the alleged victim’s account. The Dallas Wings guard, 29, faces a misdemeanor battery charge and was released on $1,000 bond.

Unrivaled addressed the incident in a statement, saying, “The league is aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and we are in the process of gathering additional information,” a spokesperson told ESPN. “We’re in contact with Arike and her representatives.”

Arike Ogunbowale (24) of the Mist celebrates after defeating the Phantom during Unrivaled 2026 Championship game at Sephora Arena on March 4, 2026 in Medley, Florida.  (Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the Wings said they are “aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and are in the process of gathering more information. Further comments will be provided once we have more details.”

Ogunbowale scored 19 points in Wednesday’s Unrivaled title game, but the Mist’s 80-74 win over the Phantom at Sephora Arena in Miami came with some controversy.

Mist wing Arike Ogunbowale (24) celebrates with her teammates after winning the Unrivaled championship game against the Phantom at Sephora Arena on March 4, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

Late in the game, with Ogunbowale and the Mist one point from victory, Breanna Stewart was called for an offensive foul on a drive to the basket.

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Mist coach Zach O’Brien quickly challenged the referee’s call, which was eventually overturned. Stewart then went to free thrown line to clinch the upstart league’s title, marking the second consecutive year the Unrivaled championship has been clinched at the foul line.

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It’s the second-to-last batch of Minnesota Vikings rumor mill before free agency, which starts on Monday with the “legal tampering” process. There is no shortage of hearsay regarding the purple team.

Three Vikings storylines gained steam before free agency opened.

This week, it’s all about Kyler Murray and a couple of Vikings pass-catchers.

Minnesota’s Quarterback, Receiver, and Tight End Buzz — Intensified

The Purple Rumor Mill for March 7th, 2026.

Rumor: The Vikings are the odds-on favorite to land Kyler Murray.

Sportsbooks offer odds on nearly everything in 2026, and Murray’s next destination has entered that mix.

NBC Sports’ Mike Florio wrote on Wednesday, “The Cardinals will release quarterback Kyler Murray next week. Where will he land? DraftKings has the Vikings as the early favorites to sign the first overall pick in the 2019 draft, at -110. The Jets are next at +175, with the Dolphins at +320 and the Browns at +450.”

“The Falcons, at +500, are one of the most intriguing options, given their talent elsewhere on offense. As mentioned over the weekend, however, new president of football operations Matt Ryan (a 6’5″ former quarterback) will have to be content to ride with an undersized signal caller.”

At the moment, Minnesota sits in the pole position to land Murray, likely via a one-year prove-it arrangement at the league minimum.

The Vikings also lead the way in other betting markets like Kalshi, and they do so overwhelmingly. Murray to Minnesota — probably sometime next week — is no longer a hot take. It’s probably going to happen.

Rumor: Jalen Nailor will have a robust free-agent market.

When the calendar flipped to January, Vikings fans had little clarity on Nailor’s free agency outlook. One path involved a modest return to Minnesota for roughly $4 million per season. Another involved a crowded market. As early March unfolds, the latter scenario appears likely.

The Athletic’s Alec Lewis scribed Tuesday, “More than 10 teams are eyeing Vikings receiver Jalen Nailor, according to league sources. Nailor recently turned 27 and will be one of the more coveted free-agent wide receivers next week. Even though he has caught only 69 NFL passes and never reached 450 yards in a season, multiple evaluators think he has the potential to become a priority signing.”

“The Vikings don’t want to lose Nailor. The coaches — especially receivers coach Keenan McCardell — have watched him progress into one of their best developmental stories. He can absorb a complex playbook. He is a willing run blocker. He possesses vertical speed, and he displays separation ability, too. One NFC executive posited that he could see Nailor producing an 80-catch season in the near future.”

That blurb points toward a player approaching a meaningful payday.

Lewis added, “Nailor’s contract will match that level of production. He could be in line for a three-year deal worth an average annual value of between $12 million and $15 million, league sources said.”

“By comparison, Giants receiver Darius Slayton signed a three-year contract worth $36 million a couple of seasons ago. Minnesota isn’t likely to spend big at receiver, given that it has plenty of other needs.”

Nailor’s days in Minnesota feel numbered.

Rumor: T.J. Hockenson will accept a paycut.

Lewis also chimed in on Minnesota’s broader free-agency outlook, including a potential adjustment to Hockenson’s contract.

“The Vikings are prepared to make difficult decisions to alleviate their salary-cap concerns. Don’t expect a big-name free-agent splurge like last year. The Vikings are $40-plus million over the cap, and while that isn’t dire, it is significant. Pay cuts: Minnesota wants to lower the cap number for tight end T.J. Hockenson. He is amenable to lowering it, but the outcome is largely a matter of how low the Vikings want to go,” he wrote.

Before news of a potential pay cut emerged, Hockenson was widely expected to be traded, released, or undergo a standard restructure that would involve salary shifts without reducing his overall pay. Now, an outright pay cut is on the table.

Beyond Hockenson, Minnesota has Josh Oliver, Gavin Bartholomew, Ben Yurosek, and Bryson Nesbit under contract at tight end through 2026.

Realistically, none of these players seems ready to be a TE1 this season unless they show significant improvement during training camp. This situation could lead Minnesota to explore free agent options such as Isaiah Likely, Darren Waller, or Cade Otton.

The upcoming NFL draft in April also offers an opportunity to find a solution. Several intriguing tight end prospects are expected to be available in the early rounds, with Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon and Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt having impressed scouts at the NFL Combine last week.

A source told VikingsTerritory this week that Minnesota “will rip up” Hockenson’s contract and totally redo it, suggesting the paycut is on the way.

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is underway, and Team USA is pulled away from Brazil for a lopsided opening win on Friday night. The Americans will face Great Britain on Saturday night in Houston as pool play continues. Team USA has put together its most star-studded roster in the history of the tournament, led by captain Aaron Judge and highlighted by stars including Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., Kyle Schwarber, Pete Crow-Armstrong and more. The rotation, meanwhile, is headlined by Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes.

Will that be enough to take down the defending champions? Team Japan opened play with a dominant 13-0 win over Chinese Taipei on Tokyo on Friday. Shohei Ohtani hit a grand slam as part of Japan’s 10-run second inning, and his Dodger teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched 2 ⅔ scoreless innings. 

Team USA, Japan and the Dominican Republic — with a powerful lineup that features Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. among other stars — are considered the favorites to win the tournament. 

The Dominican Republic shook off a slow start and eventually broke things open in the country’s opener against Nicaragua on Friday. Junior Caminero, Julio Rodríguez and Oneil Cruz all homered for the D.R. as the team scored 12 runs.

World Baseball Classic Power Rankings: Team USA boasts loaded squad; Dominican Republic, Japan bulk up

Matt Snyder

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The 20-team tournament is running from March 5-17 at four locations: Miami; Houston; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Tokyo. The Championship Game will be played on March 17 at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins. Pool play is a round robin double-elimination tournament. The top two teams in Pools A and B will meet in the quarterfinals in Houston, while the top two teams in Pools C and D will meet in the quarterfinals in Miami. The semifinals and finals will again be played in Miami. After pool play, the rest of the tournament is single elimination.

All 47 games of the 2026 WBC will be broadcast by Fox and affiliated networks, including FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes and Tubi. Games can also be streamed on fubo (Try for free).

(All times are Eastern)

WBC Pool Play

Wednesday, March 4
Australia 3, Chinese Taipei 0

Thursday, March 5
Korea 11, Czechia 4
Australia 5, Czechia 1

Friday, March 6
Japan 13, Chinese Taipei 0
Cuba 3, Panama 1
Venezuela 6, Netherlands 2
Mexico 8, Great Britain 2
Puerto Rico 5, Colombia 0
Dominican Republic 12, Nicaragua 3
USA 15, Brazil 5
Chinese Taipei 14, Czechia 0

Saturday, March 7
Korea vs. Japan (5 a.m., FS1)
Colombia vs. Canada (11 a.m., FS2)
Nicaragua vs. Netherlands (12 p.m., Tubi)
Brazil vs. Italy (1 p.m., Fox Sports App)
Panama vs. Puerto Rico (6 p.m., FS1)
Israel vs. Venezuela (7 p.m., FS2)
Great Britain vs. USA (8 p.m., Fox)
Chinese Taipei vs. Korea (10 p.m., FS2)

Sunday, March 8
Australia vs. Japan (6 a.m., FS1)
Colombia vs. Cuba (12 p.m., FS2)
Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic (12 p.m., Fox)
Great Britain vs. Italy (1 p.m., Tubi)
Panama vs. Canada (7 p.m., FS2)
Nicaragua vs. Israel (7 p.m., Tubi)
Brazil vs. Mexico (8 p.m., FS1)

Monday, March 9
Korea vs. Australia (6 a.m., FS1)
Colombia vs. Panama (12 p.m., FS2)
Dominican Republic vs. Israel (12 p.m., FS1)
Brazil vs. Great Britain (1 p.m., Tubi)
Venezuela vs. Nicaragua (7 p.m., FS2)
Cuba vs. Puerto Rico (7 p.m., FS1)
Mexico vs. United States (8 p.m., Fox)

Tuesday, March 10
Czechia vs. Japan (6 a.m., FS1)
Israel vs. Netherlands (7 p.m., Fox)
Canada vs. Puerto Rico (7 p.m., Tubi)
Italy vs. United States (9 p.m., FS1)

Wednesday, March 11
Canada vs. Cuba (3 p.m., FS2)
Italy vs. Mexico (7 p.m., Tubi)
Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela (8 p.m., FS1)

WBC Quarterfinals

Friday, March 13
TBD vs. TBD in Miami (6:30 p.m., FS2)
TBD vs. TBD in Houston (8 p.m., Fox)

Saturday, March 14
TBD vs. TBD in Houston (3 p.m., FS1)
TBD vs. TBD in Miami (9 p.m., Fox)

WBC Semifinals

Sunday, March 15
TBD vs. TBD in Miami (8 p.m., FS1)

Monday, March 16
TBD vs. TBD in Miami (8 p.m., FS1)

WBC Championship

Tuesday, March 17
TBD vs. TBD in Miami (8 p.m., Fox)

That ban had been in place since 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the eve of the Winter Paralympics four years ago, although it was softened the following year to allow athletes to compete as neutrals.

The Russian flag has not been flown at a Paralympic Games or shown on the medal table since Sochi 2014, firstly because of the country’s state-sponsored doping scandal, before the Ukraine war led to those further sanctions.

Voronchikhina, 23, finished 2.47 seconds shy of the gold medal-winning time set by Sweden’s Ebba Aarsjoe in the standing downhill event in Cortina, while France’s Aurelie Richard took silver.

Because of the outright ban of all Russian athletes from the Beijing Games four years ago, Voronchikhina is competing at her first Paralympics, despite being a two-time world champion in the Para-alpine skiing events.

She will compete in five further disciplines during these Games.

After returning to competition in January, Voronchikhina won four medals at her first World Cup in Saalbach, Austria, before double slalom gold in Feldberg, Germany, later in the month.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ decade-long run of playoff appearances came to an abrupt end in Week 15 last season. The Chiefs came up short at Arrowhead Stadium in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes sustained a season-ending ACL injury when he scrambled to try and pick up some yards in the game’s final minutes.

At the time, the Chiefs said Mahomes would “begin his rehab process immediately,” though his availability for the start of the 2026 season remained uncertain. On Thursday, FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer provided an encouraging update about the three-time Super Bowl MVP’s recovery schedule.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes grabs his knee after being injured during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

“His pain threshold is different, his work ethic is different,” Glazer said during an appearance on the “Dan Patrick Show.”

“So at first they were like, ‘Oh, you know, start of the season.’ I would probably hedge on him being [back] sooner than that. By far. Because he just attacks things.”

Glazer also noted that doctors were able to perform the procedure before significant swelling set in, which may have accelerated Mahomes’ recovery timeline.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) receives assistance for an injury during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)

“The initial reports were kind of on the fringe there, but I want to tell you, Patrick’s different,” Glazer added.

“He got (the surgery) before it swelled up. So, that was on a Tuesday. I believe it was either Thursday or Friday that week, he was already in the Chiefs’ training room doing rehab. And he had already got his knee bending at 90 degrees at that point. He’s just different, he heals differently.”

In a message posted to social media after sustaining the injury, Mahomes thanked fans and said he would put his “Trust in God.”

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up before a game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo.  (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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“Don’t know why this had to happen,” Mahomes wrote. “And not going to lie, it’s hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I will be back stronger than ever.”

The Chiefs finished the 2025 season at 6-11. Earlier this week, the team traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for a package of future draft picks as part of their offseason roster retooling.

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Bet365 are offering a bet £10 get £30 welcome bonus for new customers signing up for Cheltenham Festival.

It’s a simple promotion for new customers signing up to one of the best betting sites for Cheltenham 2026.

The Bet365 Cheltenham offer stands out due to its flexibility – new players can deposit and bet between £5-£10, with free bets awarded at 300 per cent of their first wager.

For example:

• Deposit and bet £5 – Receive £15 in free bets

• Deposit and bet £7.50 – Receive £22.50 in free bets.

• Deposit and bet £10 – Receive £30 in free bets.

This means those on a lower budget can still claim a welcome bonus tailored to their needs. Free bet credits can be used on Cheltenham odds or any other sports markets on Bet365’s website or online betting app.

However, they must be used within seven days of being credited.

Is there a Bet365 bonus code for Cheltenham 2026?

No, there is no need to enter a bonus code when signing up to Bet365 for Cheltenham.

All you have to do is click through to this link or any links to Bet365 on this page, then sign up and deposit using a valid payment method before placing your qualifying bet.

New Bet365 feature ‘Position Payout’ for Cheltenham

Bet365’s new Position Payout market offers a simpler alternative to traditional Each Way betting and will be available on selected races at Cheltenham Festival.

Instead of dealing with place terms or fractions, bettors can see exactly what they will be paid for every finishing position before placing their stake.

Each horse displays fixed returns for finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th (and sometimes more, depending on the race).

The higher your selection finishes, the bigger the payout. The transparency of knowing what you’ll win for each potential place removes the need to calculate 1/5 or 1/4 odds and makes it easier to understand potential returns.

Position Payout is a pre-race, fixed-odds market that can be included in multiples, with Cash Out available before the off.

However, it won’t apply to ante-post Cheltenham bets or Best Odds Guaranteed markets, but for festival races where big fields create place uncertainty, it provides a clearer, more straightforward betting option.

Other Bet365 Cheltenham features & offers

As one of the best horse racing betting sites, Bet365 provides a range of promotions for Cheltenham Festival punters:

Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) – BOG is a popular racing promo, whereby if the starting price (SP) is higher than the odds taken, Bet365 pays out at the bigger price.

Bet Boosts – Selected runners at Cheltenham receive enhanced odds. Each day, there will also be a Super Boost. For example, Constitution Hill was boosted to an industry-best 6/4 on the opening day of the 2025 festival.

Racing Value – ‘First past the post’ payouts now include ante-post bets, ensuring you still get paid even if your horse is later disqualified.

Position Payout – Go to any Cheltenham race that offers the Position Payout feature. Each selection will display a return for finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. Place your bet, and the higher your selection finishes, the higher your payout.

Winnings Boost – Navigate to the selected classification or specific race and add your selection to the bet slip. Click the ‘Winnings Boost’ option at the bottom and your return will be adjusted to include the increase to your winnings.

Each Way Extra – Each Way Extra gives you the option to increase or decrease the number of places in a race when you are betting Each Way on selected races.

My Horses – Track your favourite horses and receive alerts.

Colossus Bets – Engage in pool betting with the chance to win a share of a large prize fund.

Live Streaming – Watch all Cheltenham races live via Bet365’s website and betting app.

Racing Replay Archive – Review past performances to analyse form before placing a bet.

Responsible gambling

Cheltenham Festival is an exciting time for punters, but it’s essential to gamble responsibly.

The same applies whether you’re using online bookmakers, online casinos, slot sites, or any other gambling platform.

Bet365 provides safer gambling tools to help players stay in control, including:

If you or someone you know needs support, here are some UK organisations offering free, confidential help:

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Holloway, 34, first did the point-down against Ricardo Lamas in 2016, while he repeated it against Dustin Poirier last year in becoming the first fighter to defend the BMF title.

In every fight Holloway has initiated the point-down, he has been up on the judges’ scorecards and closing in on a win, meaning he has given opponents one final opportunity to steal victory.

“My coaches aren’t a fan of it, they want me to circle away, stay away and be smart for the 10 seconds,” said Holloway.

“But they come up with great game plans and we execute it to that point. So let me have my 10 seconds of fun, you know. If I’m on the wrong end, then so be it.”

Fans imitate the gesture during meet-and-greets with Holloway, while fellow fighters have also copied it during bouts.

Charles Oliveira, who faces Holloway for the BMF title at UFC 326 in Las Vegas on Saturday, has even been filmed training for the edge-of-your-seat exchange which follows the point-down.

Holloway has created a set of rules for any fighter, including Oliveira, planning to initiate the point-down.

“If you’re winning the fight, you are the person who can call the 10 seconds. And then when you call the 10 seconds, you cannot step back, or shoot or clinch,” said Holloway.

“The other guy, if he obliges and then shoots or clinches, whatever, because he’s on the losing side already.”

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