Bhuvneshwar Kumar (ANI Photo)

Former India off-spinner R Ashwin has thrown his weight behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s return to the national setup, urging the selectors to consider the veteran fast bowler as India prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup.Ashwin believes India’s current pace attack lacks the experience required for a major ICC tournament and pointed to Bhuvneshwar’s recent success with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League as evidence that the 36-year-old still has plenty to offer.Bhuvneshwar played a key role in RCB’s back-to-back IPL title-winning campaigns, claiming 45 wickets across the last two seasons. His consistent performances helped the franchise end its long wait for a trophy before successfully defending the title.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin argued that Bhuvneshwar deserves to be in contention for a World Cup berth, especially given his fitness and ability to contribute in multiple phases of the game.“Why not? The way our fast bowling stocks are right now, there is some struggle there. I think it is worth considering Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Why can you not consider him? There is only one difference between Shami and Bhuvneshwar. Bhuvi has been able to put himself on the park for two seasons together for RCB and has been able to keep himself fit. Both teams RCB won the title, and he was also among the top three reasons for that. He looks fit enough. I am not saying to take him straightaway, but at least give him a chance and then decide. He can swing the ball, give you overs at the death and bat a bit as well. He has a lot of batting ability,” said Ashwin.The former spinner also questioned whether India’s relatively inexperienced fast-bowling unit would be ready for the pressures of a World Cup campaign. While acknowledging the promise shown by the younger pacers, he felt a blend of youth and experience would be a more balanced approach.“Just because of the pure inexperience of the bowling attack, you can keep him in consideration. Gurnoor, Prasidh, and Prince – is that the bowling you want to play in a World Cup? I am not too sure. You can have one or two from these. Apart from that, you have Harshit and Bumrah. So with Bhuvneshwar, experience and youth will work well,” he added.Ashwin further stressed that India should now focus on settling their pace attack rather than continuing to experiment, with the World Cup only a year away.According to him, the selectors have already handed opportunities to several fast bowlers and should now narrow down the core group while keeping Bhuvneshwar firmly in the conversation.“It is not the time to develop players now with 12 months to go. You gave Harshit an opportunity, and it is important to know his status now as he bats at eight. Gurnoor and Prasidh got opportunities. But you cannot remove them and bring more bowlers now. It is important to identify who your four or five pacers are, out of which you will take three for the World Cup. That is why you must have someone like Bhuvneshwar Kumar in discussions as well,” he explained.

Apparently, the New England Patriots are ultra serious about locking down Christian Gonzalez for the long haul.

“We love Christian Gonzalez. We love him as a player and as a person. That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and, coincidentally, it’s the highest contract in Patriots’ franchise history,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said on Saturday when asked about Gonzalez, who’s extension-eligible, at team training camp, according to ESPN.

“So, we’re glad we drafted him, and he’s developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that contract talks with Gonzalez were “ongoing” on Friday. The contract to beat for an NFL cornerback in both total money and average annual value is Trent McDuffie’s four-year, $124 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams ($31 million AAV), which also included a record $100 million guaranteed for a cornerback.

Meanwhile, the contract to beat in Patriots history in both total money and average annual value is defensive tackle Milton Williams’ four-year, $104 million deal ($26 million AAV), which he signed with the franchise in March 2025.

Regarding Gonzalez, the soon-to-be fourth-year cornerback is coming off a 2025 campaign where he earned his first career Pro Bowl nod, totaling 10 passes defended, 69 combined tackles and just one missed tackle across 14 regular-season games, according to Pro Football Focus; he missed three games due to a hamstring injury.

Then, across New England’s four postseason games, Gonzalez totaled an NFL-high seven passes defended in the postseason and reeled in an ultimate game-sealing interception against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game with 2:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The year prior (2024), Gonzalez brought down two interceptions and recorded 11 passes defended, which came after his 2023 rookie campaign was cut short after four games due to a shoulder injury. New England selected Gonzalez with the No. 17 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Oregon.

Arsenal Transfer News: Mourinho Blocks Clear Route to Vinicius Junior

Arsenal’s interest in Vinicius Junior has obvious appeal, but the situation at Real Madrid already looks awkward for anyone hoping this turns into a straightforward summer deal. According to The Telegraph, José Mourinho has returned to Madrid with a simple message for the club hierarchy, he wants his major players kept in place.

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That matters because Arsenal’s interest is described as genuine. It also matters because there have been no talks between the clubs, which tells you plenty about where this stands today. Admiration is one thing, making a deal happen is another. Right now, this feels more like a high-end possibility than an active transfer negotiation.

Vinicius Junior Contract Adds Pressure

Where Arsenal may see an opening is in the contract. Vinicius is due to be out of contract at the end of June next year, and progress on a renewal has been limited. For any elite club, that creates noise. For Real Madrid, it creates risk. For Arsenal, it creates temptation.

Still, contract uncertainty does not automatically equal availability. Real may have a problem to solve, but Mourinho appears determined that it will be solved without sacrificing one of the club’s biggest attacking names. That closes off the easiest route for Arsenal before it has even opened.

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Real Madrid Transfer Plans Look Firm

The other detail in play is the reported tension around Vinicius and Mourinho following the Gianluca Prestianni episode last season. That may encourage speculation, but it would be a mistake to overstate it. Dressing room friction and contract delays can unsettle a player’s future, but they do not by themselves force a sale, especially when a returning manager has already drawn a line.

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For Arsenal, this leaves a familiar picture. The player is elite, the interest is real, the circumstances are complicated and the selling club are resisting. Unless something shifts dramatically at Real Madrid, this looks like one to watch rather than one to expect.

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From an Arsenal perspective, this is the sort of report that is exciting for five minutes and then reality kicks in. Vinicius Junior is exactly the calibre of attacker supporters want to hear linked with the club, explosive, proven, decisive in big matches. If Arsenal are serious about winning the biggest prizes, these are the names that should be discussed.

That said, there is no point pretending this sounds advanced. No talks, a resistant Real Madrid manager, and a club that still see the player as core, those are not minor obstacles. They are the deal. Arsenal fans have seen enough windows to know the difference between genuine ambition and a move that is structurally difficult from day one.

The contract angle is the only part that makes this worth monitoring closely. If renewal talks continue to drift, pressure builds on Madrid. That can change the tone quickly. Arsenal should absolutely be alert to that, because elite players rarely become even slightly attainable without some contractual leverage in the background.

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Supporters will also read this through the lens of a quiet or underwhelming window. That creates impatience, and understandably so. A link like this raises expectations. In truth, it may be more useful as a sign of Arsenal’s market ambition than as a likely transfer. If the club can turn that ambition into a more realistic top-level attacking signing, fans will take that very seriously indeed.

The WNBA continued its 30th-season celebration Saturday night, bringing the All-Star Game back to Chicago for the first time since 2022.

The game itself had plenty of scoring, but Jonquel Jones supplied the all-around performance that helped Caitlin Clark and Team Spoon outlast Marina Mabrey and Team Coop.

Jones finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in a 129-122 win and was named the most valuable player of the game.

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A general view of Team Spoon playing Team Coop during the 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at the United Center on July 25, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. (Sage Zipeto/Getty Images)

Eight Team Spoon players scored in double figures in a defense-light All-Star Game that featured 127 3-point attempts, with Allisha Gray adding 19 points and Clark finishing with 17.

The annual summer showcase was played before a record crowd of 19,783 at the United Center, the longtime home of the Chicago Bulls. Friday night’s 3-point contest and Shooting Stars competition were held at the smaller Wintrust Arena a few miles away.

Caitlin Clark (22) of Team Spoon dribbles the ball during the 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game against Team Coop on July 25, 2026, at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)

In the second quarter on Saturday night, Dominique Malonga caught a pass from Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese and threw down the milestone dunk.

Dominique Malonga (14) of Team Coop dunks the ball against Team Spoon during the first half of the 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on July 25, 2026. (Sage Zipeto/Getty Images)

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The 6-foot-6 Seattle Storm center became the seventh player in league history to record a dunk in an All-Star Game, according to the Storm. The WNBA said the 20-year-old is the youngest player to accomplish the feat during the marquee event.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Manchester United’s summer transfer business is far from over

Manchester United have been given the thumbs-up by Bryan Mbeumo to sign Fulham’s Antonee Robinson. The striker is a massive fan of the defender and claims he “can do everything” in the Premier League.

Michael Carrick is said to be monitoring Robinson closely this summer as he aims to strengthen his options at left-back. Currently, Luke Shaw is the only recognised senior star in the position, after Tyrell Malacia departed at the end of his contract.

Harry Amass is considered as back-up to Shaw but with just seven first-team appearances, it is clear that United are in need of more experienced options. Robinson could be the answer.

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The 28-year-old has 215 appearances for Fulham, making 26 goal contributions across six seasons. He has also earned 58 caps for the United States national team, scoring five goals.

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Robinson’s age could be a sticking point for United, according to The Guardian, as he is older than the club’s preferred profile. But one person who is not interested in these negatives is Mbeumo.

The United attacker spoke in 2025 before he joined from Brentford, selecting Robinson as the one defender he didn’t enjoy playing against. During an appearance on the Obi One podcast, the 26-year-old recalled his early battles with the left-back and how much he has progressed in his career.

Mbeumo explained: “I used to play against him when he was at Wigan and (he) changed completely. When he arrived he was really athletic, quick, but with his feet he was like, not so good, you know?

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“But throughout the years he improved a lot, and I think now he can do everything. He can attack, he can defend, he’s strong, he’s good with his feet now, and yeah, I think really, really hard to play against him.”

Mbeumo has terrorised the Premier League for years before he joined United so the praise towards Robinson is not something to be sniffed at. He is estimated to be available for around £25million, making him a potential bargain for Carrick as he fleshes out his options in the squad.

With Shaw a dependable defender and Robinson bringing the proven experience, this could be the perfect formula in allowing Amass to progress at a reasonable pace while still having the options to succeed in the short-term.

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El-Kanemi Warriors FC have officially unveiled Emmanuel King as the club’s new Technical Adviser ahead of the 2026/27 Nigeria National League (NNL) season and the CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

The unveiling ceremony was held on Friday at the Colonel Abdulmumin Aminu Camp in Maiduguri, with members of the club’s management board, technical crew and backroom staff in attendance.

Club Chairman, Alhaji Waziri Isa Mai Qatar, formally presented Emmanuel King to the media and welcomed him to the club.

“I warmly welcome you as our new Technical Adviser. I am pleased by your statement that Maiduguri is a safe place to work. I also urge you to work closely with the existing coaching staff. We will provide you with maximum support to ensure we achieve our objectives,” the chairman said.

Vice Chairman Baba Maliki also assured the former Akwa United coach of the club’s full support during his time in charge.

Emmanuel King is a highly qualified coach with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Physical and Health Education, a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Public Order and Information Management, a Higher Diploma in Football Training, and CAF A and CAF B coaching licences.

The experienced tactician has previously managed Akwa United and Dakkada International FC and also enjoyed a playing career with several clubs in Nigeria and abroad.

Speaking after his unveiling, Emmanuel King thanked the Borno State Government for giving him the opportunity to lead the club.

“I sincerely thank the Government of Borno State under the leadership of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum and the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Comrade Saina Buba, for entrusting me with this responsibility,” he said.

The new Technical Adviser promised to do everything possible to help El-Kanemi Warriors achieve their targets.

“I want to assure the supporters of El-Kanemi Warriors across the world that we will work tirelessly to return the club to the Nigeria Premier Football League next season. We will also give our very best in the CAF Confederation Cup despite the challenges of the competition. With the support and prayers of the good people of Borno State and our fans worldwide, I am confident we will achieve our goals,” Emmanuel King said.

The unveiling was attended by Chairman Alhaji Waziri Isa Mai Qatar, Vice Chairman Baba Maliki, Team Manager IBB, Welfare Officer Usman Zumami, Chief Security Officer DSP Umar Musa, Chief Coach Bakaka Kalli, Coach Ishaq Hussain, Coach Hussain Usman, Coach Ibrahim Imam and other members of the club’s backroom staff.

Anthony Joshua suffered two knockdowns – the first happening after just 20 seconds – before recovering to dramatically stop Kristian Prenga in the second round of his comeback fight in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The British heavyweight was fighting for the first time since surviving the December car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

He was sensationally rocked by a huge uppercut from underdog Prenga in the opening round, and then hit the canvas again later in the round.

At that point he looked on the verge of one of the biggest shock defeats in heavyweight history, with the long-awaited Tyson Fury fight hanging by a thread.

But Joshua produced one of the greatest escapes of his career, and now that fight is on.

He unleashed his right hand in the second round, with the final shot sending Albanian Prenga crashing down and forcing the referee to halt the contest.

“It’s more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts to even talk about it. It has been tough,” Joshua, 36, said.

He choked up and stepped away from the microphone, before adding: “It’s my brothers. I don’t want to talk about it.”

There had been speculation fellow Briton Fury might make a appearance despite insisting he would not attend.

But the master of mind games stayed true to his word, with Fury nowhere to be seen barely 24 hours on from his own warm-up win over Mariusz Wach in Thailand.

“I respect everything he has done and everything that he has achieved, but as a fighting person, we’re here now. I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat,” Joshua said about the prospect of fighting Fury.

Contracts have been signed, but the venue and date for a fight more than a decade in the making are still unknown.

This chaotic night, however, belonged to Joshua in a victory forged through adversity during the most difficult months of his life.

Anthony Joshua survived a huge scare on a night of carnage on his boxing comeback, rising from the canvas twice before knocking out unknown Albanian Kristian Prenga to pave the way for a Tyson Fury showdown.

Joshua was shockingly sent crashing to the canvas by a thunderous right uppercut within the first 20 seconds in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as Prenga threatened to ruin the prospect of a long-awaited heavyweight showdown with Fury later this year.

The former two-time world heavyweight champion also took a knee later in the first round in his first fight since being involved in a car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, in December, just days after his win over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

However, Joshua showed all his heart to dig deep and hit back in the second round with a barrage of heavy blows that sent Prenga tumbling through the ropes and the Albanian’s inability to beat the count ensured a 27th knockout victory of the Brit’s career.

Fury’s seventh-round TKO win over 46-year-old Mariusz Wach around 4,000 miles away in Thailand on Friday in an untelevised laid down the gauntlet for Joshua, who paid tribute to Ghami and Ayodele, wearing camouflage gear with the names of his friends on his chest.

An emotional Joshua said in the ring afterwards: “It’s what champions do. We rise, we get knocked down and we stand up and we keep going, that’s life’s motto.

“It’s more than punch power, that was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts even talking about it. It’s been tough. They’re my brothers, but I don’t want to talk about it.”

He was then forced to take a pause from the post-fight interview due to being overcome with emotion and allowed promoter Eddie Hearn to come to the microphone.

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Asked about the Fury fight later this year, Hearn said: “We’ve signed the contract, everything’s done, but to be ‌honest with you, tonight is all about the strength ​that he showed to even be here tonight, and ‌the strength that he had ⁠to show in that fight.”

“When you go down a couple of times in the first round and ‌you’re looking like your ​career might be over, he ‌had to go to the ​depths one more time to get up and fight on.”

Joshua came out all guns blazing to finish off Prenga in the second round, handing the underdog a first loss of his career, but was full of praise for his Albanian foe.

“I also want to give a massive thank you to Kristian Prenga and his team for putting on a good fight. It means a lot to them, and it means a lot to me,” added Joshua.

“I think Eddie Hearn wants to sign him now. He’s going to do well, he’s got a bright future. I’m a serious fighter, I know what I’m doing. I know my way around the ring.

“Maybe with a little bit more experience he will be up there with the rest of us. But he’s a serious fighter, strong, durable, and he come and gave me a good test.”

Joshua also had a bit of fun at Fury’s expense, initially asking if he was in the room for a face-to-face confrontation and then jokingly quoting Mike Tyson’s famous “Imma rip his heart out speech” before his fight with Lennox Lewis.

However, the 36-year-old then became more sincere when talking about his respect for “the Gypsy King”.

“Wait a minute – have we got Tyson Fury in the room?” asked Joshua. “Wait, wait, wait, to more important matters – is he here or not? [When told Fury wasn’t present]. Fair do’s. Imma rip his heart out. I’m the meanest and most vicious champion there’s ever been.

“Listen, all jokes aside, there’s two sides of this thing. One is fire. You have to have that vim, that grrr. But also respect. I respect everything he has done. And everything that he has achieved. As someone who who has been calling for the fight for a long time, we’re here now.

“Shout to Eddie Hearn for making these opportunities possible, and I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat.”

The long-awaited ‘Battle of Britain’ will finally happen later this year [it seems] although the chaos of the evening in Jeddah almost consigned that fight to the bin before a great escape.

Additional reporting by PA