Crystal Palace spent much of the summer fending off interest in their best players, but while Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi both stayed, they were unable to keep hold of star man Michael Olise.

Bayern Munich spent about £50m to lure him from south London and he has proved impossible to replace.

The 22-year-old scored 10 goals in 19 league appearances for Palace last season and was key to their strong finish. Indeed, Glasner has only won one game without Olise in his team – a 3-0 victory over 10-man Burnley.

“Olise is a massive miss. What he’s doing now for Bayern Munich and the quality of player that he is,” former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey said on Sky Sports. “He’s maybe one of the best that’s ever come out of Palace.

“The impact he had on that team last year was remarkable, so that’s not so easy to replace.”

While the departure of centre-half Joachim Andersen to Fulham did not attract the same attention as Olise’s move, it has arguably had as big an impact.

They conceded just 14 times in 13 matches under Glasner last season, with the 28-year-old key to a stingy Eagles defence. This season, they have already let in 11.

At both ends of the pitch Palace are not the team they were six months ago.

“When you’re losing one of your best defenders and one of your best attackers, no matter what your set-up is as a manager, it’s difficult to replace that quality,” added former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.

Top ranked strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez will have to wait until 2025 to make her return after she was forced out of her upcoming fight against Virna Jandiroba, which was scheduled for UFC 310 on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas.

Sources told MMA Fighting on Monday that Suarez is dealing with a health issue that will prevent her from competing in December in what was expected to be a No. 1 contender’s bout at 115 pounds. MMA Melotto first reported the news.

It’s an unfortunate setback for Suarez, who has long been considered a popular pick as a future champion in the UFC but health problems have continued to plague her career. After she dispatched Nina Nunes back in 2019, Suarez appeared on the cusp of title contention but injuries kept her sidelined for more than three years.

When she finally returned to action, Suarez jumped right back into the deep end of the waters with a submission win over Montana De La Rosa at flyweight and then finishing former UFC champion Jessica Andrade to earn a Performance of the Night bonus back in August 2023.

Suarez was then scheduled to face Amanda Lemos in February but an injury knocked her out of that matchup before she was then set to clash with Jandiroba in December.

Sadly now that fight has also been cancelled.

There’s no word yet on how long Suarez is expected to be sidelined after falling out of her upcoming fight in December. It’s unclear if Jandiroba plans to remain on the UFC 310 card against a new opponent or potentially wait for a future date to compete again.

If LeBron James Sr. and his son, Bronny, make NBA history Tuesday night by playing in the same game for the Los Angeles Lakers, Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. will be there to witness it.

The first father-son duo to play together in Major League Baseball plans to be in attendance at the Lakers’ season opener in their downtown arena, where the entire crowd will be hoping the James family accomplishes the same rare sporting feat for the NBA.

“First father and son to play baseball, (and) now the first father and son to play basketball,” the younger Griffey told MLB Network Radio. “It’s a big deal for my dad and I to be there. We made history. Now we get to watch history, so that’s what’s going to be cool about it.”

Bronny James is already excited to make his official NBA debut, but the Griffeys’ presence adds an extra layer of anticipation for the Lakers’ second-round pick.

“Yeah, it’s gonna be insane,” the 20-year-old Bronny said after practice Monday at the Lakers’ training complex. “I mean, only two families to do it, so it’s going to be a crazy experience, especially (with) what they’ve done.”

Bronny made it clear that he doesn’t know if he’ll actually get to play against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Lakers coach JJ Redick said “nothing has been finalized or anything” about Los Angeles’ playing rotation.

Yet it seems unlikely the Lakers will wait to make the moment of history they’ve been planning ever since the franchise chose Bronny with the 55th overall pick this summer to play with LeBron, the 39-year-old top scorer in NBA history. The father and son already played together in the preseason, first taking the court together outside Palm Springs earlier this month.

A father and son play together roughly once in a generation in North American professional sports. The Griffeys accomplished the feat in 1990 and 1991, playing in 51 games for the Seattle Mariners — and even homering in the same game on Sept. 14, 1990.

Tim Raines and his namesake son also played four games together for the Baltimore Orioles at the end of the 2001 season. Before that, Gordie Howe suited up with his sons Mark and Marty in the WHA and the NHL and for Team Canada in the 1970s.

LeBron and Bronny share court for 1st time in preseason | The Facility

Bronny grew up in his father’s locker rooms and arenas in Cleveland, Miami and Los Angeles, so he’s more than ready to get beyond the historic moment and into the day-to-day grind of becoming a contributing NBA player. The Lakers begin the season with three home games in five days.

“I think it will be different,” Bronny said of the opener. “No different than me getting ready for any other game, but just a feeling of being in our home arena for the first time and playing a game will be a special experience. … I’m just trying to come in and get better every day, learn from the guys that have been here before me. Just take it all in and enjoy the experience.”

Bronny played in all six of the Lakers’ preseason games, but his 4.2 points per game average was boosted greatly by his 17-point performance in last week’s preseason finale in which the Lakers and Warriors both rested most of their key players.

Bronny hit 29.7% of his shots in the preseason while averaging 1.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists, playing 16.2 minutes per game. His defensive work was praised by Redick, who sees the 6-foot-2 guard becoming a solid perimeter player in the future.

“Had some bad games, some rough starts, so (I’ve been) just continuing to play my game and play hard,” Bronny said.

Bronny isn’t expected to be an immediate rotation player for the Lakers, who already have D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent and 2023 first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino ahead of him at point guard. There’s a good chance Bronny will begin the season with the Lakers before heading to the G League to get the consistent playing time he probably needs to improve.

But he’s still thrilled to reach this milestone moment — and he’s even pretty sure what he’ll call his father on the court after LeBron prohibited him from using “Dad.”

“Probably Bron,” Bronny said with a smile. “That will probably be the easiest one.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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THE FA have launched a probe into Gary O’Neil’s claims that refs have a “subconscious” bias to the Prem’s big clubs.

Wolves boss O’Neil has been contacted by football chiefs after his  post-match comments following John Stones’ controversial 95th-minute winner for Manchester City on Sunday.

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Referee Chris Kavanagh ruled out Stones’ header for offside against  Bernardo Silva — but changed his mind in a pitchside review after VAR intervened to hand City a 2-1 win.

Now O’Neil will have to explain his remarks before the FA decide on any further action.

O’Neil said: “There’s no chance people are purposely against Wolves.

“But is there something in the subconscious around the decision-making, without even knowing it? Are you more likely to give it to Man City than Wolves?

“My senses are heightened when we are facing Man City. Are the officials the same?

“If I had to upset someone and there’s a big and a little guy, I’m upsetting the little guy.”

City’s winner hinged on whether Silva, who was standing in an offside position, had unsighted Sa as he attempted to keep out Stones’ bullet header.

Silva appeared to step away from the keeper just before Stones’ effort, with Kavanagh judging Sa was not prevented from being able to see the ball.

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The Premier League explained the decision in a statement that read: “Stones’ goal was disallowed on-field due to Bernardo Silva being in an offside position and in the goalkeeper’s line of vision.

“The VAR deemed Bernardo Silva wasn’t in the line of vision and had no impact on the goalkeeper and recommended an on-field review.

“The referee overturned his original decision and a goal was awarded.”

Bayern Munich and Marseille are interested in Marcus Rashford, Manchester United are willing to offload Antony on loan, Francesco Totti might come out of retirement.

Bayern Munich and Marseille have joined Paris St-Germain in the race to sign 26-year-old England forward Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United are prepared to entertain loan offers in January for Brazil winger Antony, 24. (Football Insider), external

Retired Italy and Roma legend Francesco Totti, 48, says he might return to playing after being contacted by Serie A clubs. (Gazzetta Dello Sport – in Italian), external

Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle are interested in Red Bull Salzburg‘s 20-year-old attacking midfielder Oscar Gloukh. (Caught Offside), external

Bayer Leverkusen are preparing for manager Xabi Alonso’s departure next summer, with the Spaniard interesting Real Madrid and Manchester City, should Pep Guardiola leave. (Sky Germany), external

Everton are preparing a £17m bid for Besiktas‘ 19-year-old Turkey forward Semih Kilicsoy. (Kontraspor – in Turkish), external

La Liga is seeking permission from the Spanish Football Federation, Uefa and Fifa for Barcelona‘s game against Atletico Madrid in December to be held in Miami. (Mail), external

Arsenal are exploring ways of increasing the capacity of Emirates Stadium. (Times – subscription required), external

American rapper A$AP Rocky is part of an investment group interested in buying a controlling stake in League Two club Tranmere Rovers for £15m. (Sun), external

Arsenal are plotting a move for Brentford‘s 25-year-old Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo after his impressive start to the season. (Football Insider), external

Julen Lopetegui is not in imminent danger of being sacked as West Ham manager despite the club’s poor start to the season. (Guardian), external

Arsenal and Chelsea are monitoring Juventus‘ 24-year-old Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic. (TBR Football), external

Belal Muhammad isn’t opposed to chasing a second UFC title, but wants to ensure there’s no work left in his division first.

Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) became the new UFC welterweight champion in July by defeating Leon Edwards at UFC 304. He already has his first title defense lined up against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December.

It’s a fast turnaround for a new champion. If Muhammad is able to get past the “boogeyman” of the division in Rakhmonov and keep up a similar pace, he would run out of worthy title challengers pretty quickly. But the champ isn’t exactly planning on a speed run, and knows the names in wait will have to challenge one another to be the next man up.

“In general, with any fighter, you have to cement yourself as the leader in the division and the guy that there’s nobody that can beat,” Muhammad said. “I think after Shavkat, you’ve got a couple of guys that are there. You got Ian Garry, you got JDM (Jack Della Maddalena) and you got Kamaru Usman. But some of those guys are going to have to fight each other now.

“There’s no just waiting on the sidelines saying, ‘I’m next. I got next, I earned it.’ I don’t think nobody’s really earned that next spot left, so there’s going to be guys that are going to be taking losses. The cream has to rise to the top.”

Becoming a UFC champion is one thing. It’s a career-long goal that Muhammad successfully achieved. But becoming a champ-champ is a whole different game that Muhammad doesn’t want to think about until he’s done clearing out welterweight challengers.

However, that time may be closer than many realize, considering Muhammad had to run the gauntlet before getting his first title shot against Edwards earlier this year.

“Maybe one or two more fights, I think then I could start talking about middleweight and could start talking about double champ status,” Muhammad said. “When you look at the guys I’ve fought – what do I have? Six or seven wins in the top 10, top 15 of my division right now, so I’ve already fought all these guys even before getting to the title.

“So now that I’m at the champion status, it’s like, well OK, now I probably only got a couple more left before I can start talking about the bums at 185.”