Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has voiced his enthusiasm for working under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, and is confident that the Italian’s attacking philosophy will perfectly align with his playing style as the club prepares for the new Premier League campaign.

De Zerbi, 47, assumed control in March following the departure of interim coach Igor Tudor, as he successfully steered Spurs to Premier League safety with a 17th-place finish secured by a final-day victory over Everton.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the 29-year-old midfielder Maddison explained how De Zerbi is approaching his first full season as Tottenham head coach.

“The manager is very clear. The goals are to be better, to play better football, to be passionate and to be proud to play for this club,” he said.

Maddison elaborated on the importance of embracing the new approach.

“If we listen to his style, principles, if we keep the short-term targets of trying to be better and trying to implement the way he’ll play, the long-term targets will be better in the long run,” he added.

Maddison further expressed his personal anticipation, stating: “We’re still learning the way he plays. As a player he’s a coach you want to play for because he loves everything with the ball. He’s very attacking, and I’m really excited.”

Maddison, whose previous season was curtailed by an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury, which he only returned from in the final weeks of the campaign, confirmed the immediate focus is now firmly on building momentum towards Spurs’ Premier League opener against Brentford on 22 August.

The club has already commenced its pre-season tour, securing a 2-0 victory over Auckland FC in New Zealand on Sunday. They are set to face Sydney FC on Wednesday before a clash with Chelsea in Sydney three days later.

Looking ahead, Maddison underscored the significance of the upcoming campaign: “First game of the season, Brentford — a big season for us under a new manager. We want to have a successful season.

“We need to be better than the last couple of seasons. So it’s kind of all just preparation leading to that first game.”

India head into Day 5 of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Tuesday with several medal opportunities across athletics, weightlifting and para swimming, while five boxers will attempt to secure podium finishes in their respective quarterfinals.

Preeti Pawar, Priya Ghanghas, Parveen Hooda, Jadumani Singh and Kapil Pokhariya will compete in quarterfinal bouts later in the day. Each victory would confirm another medal for India and strengthen the country’s overall position in Glasgow.

Preeti will face Northern Ireland’s Nicole Clyde in the women’s 54kg category, while Priya takes on Scotland’s Niamh Mitchell in the women’s 60kg division. Parveen will meet England’s Sacha Hickey in the women’s 65kg quarterfinal.

Gulveer and Pooja lead athletics challenge

India have two direct medal opportunities in athletics. Gulveer Singh will compete in the men’s 10,000m final, while Pooja Singh will contest the women’s high jump final.

Gulveer faces a demanding endurance test against a strong Commonwealth field. His ability to stay with the leading group before the decisive final laps will be central to his medal prospects.

Pooja, meanwhile, will aim to convert her consistency into a podium finish in the high jump. Vishal T K and Rajesh Ramesh will also begin their campaigns in the men’s 400m heats.

Weightlifters seek to extend India’s strong run

Weightlifting has emerged as one of India’s most productive sports at the Games, and Nirupama Devi Seram and Harjinder Kaur will look to continue that run.

Nirupama will compete in the women’s 63kg final, while Harjinder will feature in the women’s 69kg medal event. Their performances could prove crucial as India seek to maintain the momentum generated by their lifters over the opening days.

Swimmers chase places in evening races

Sajan Prakash will begin his campaign in the men’s 50m butterfly heats and could return for the semifinal if he qualifies.

Srihari Nataraj will compete in the men’s 100m backstroke heats, with the semifinal scheduled early on Wednesday. In para swimming, Karthik Budigina and Ali Imam will race in the men’s 50m freestyle S13 heats and could advance to the medal event later in the night.

India will also be represented in bowls, with Dinesh Kumar and Navneet Singh competing in the men’s pairs sectional event. Nayanmoni Saikia will continue her women’s singles campaign against Wales’ Amy Williams.

Two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his agent said to NFL Network. Vea asked to be moved after attempting to secure an extension with the Buccaneers—the team that drafted him No. 12 overall in 2018 and for which he has played his entire career.

The trade request comes after Vea conducted a hold-in during mandatory minicamp in June. Coach Todd Bowles, at the time, said the situation was “not concerning” and that “it’s part of the business,” but declined to say whether he was confident the sides would reach an agreement before the start of training camp. In the end, they did not. Camp opens on Tuesday.

Vea is set to earn $18 million this season in the final campaign of a four-year contract he signed in 2022. Presumably, whichever team trades for him will be open to signing him to a new contract beyond 2026, or else it would not take on the risk of giving up assets for a player who may hold out until he gets a deal done.

The $17.5 million average annual value of Vea’s contract makes him the 19th-highest paid interior defensive lineman in the NFL, per Over The Cap. He regularly outperformed that value over the first eight years of his career, though, with a pair of Pro Bowl seasons and a reputation as one of the more powerful interior forces in the league. At 6-foot-4 and 347 pounds, Vea is both a space-eater in run defense and a capable pass rusher with 35 career sacks.

Vea played all 17 games last year for Tampa Bay and was as reliable as ever with 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss, all of which were about in line with his career averages.

If the Buccaneers move on from Vea, the defensive front figures to take a serious blow, which could be catastrophic for a team that needs to return to playoff contention for coach Todd Bowles to regain the fanbase’s favor.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Trade requests are often standard operating procedure when the negotiation process lasts into training camp, and just because a player asks to be moved, that does not guarantee they will not end up being shipped out of town. Vea just used one of his biggest leverage moves. The Buccaneers have to know that they will be significantly worse off without him in run defense and might now be more willing to pay up to keep him. Ahead of a crucial season for this franchise’s trajectory, this might be the step that finally gets Tampa Bay to pay what Vea wants.

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Las Vegas Raiders

Vea is rumored to have an interest in the Raiders, and the fit makes plenty of sense. While Las Vegas is building around a young core, it still needs a veteran presence on the interior defensive line to become more competitive in 2026. Pairing Vea’s run-stopping prowess with the pass-rushing beast that is Maxx Crosby would make the Raiders‘ defensive front significantly more well-rounded and would thus take some pressure off the young offense. This trade would also move Vea much closer to home, considering he hails from Northern California.

New York Giants

While the Giants could get by with D.J. Reader as their starting defensive tackle, Vea would be an upgrade over the spring signee, who is coming off his first year without a tackle for loss and who could be moved into a depth role. New York’s need for help on the interior defensive line arose when they heeded Dexter Lawrence II’s trade request and sent him to Cincinnati. Lawrence was a massive loss in run defense, and in going after Vea, the Giants could reduce the impact of losing such a stout stopper. They might have to complete some salary cap gymnastics to get the deal done, though.

Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are already loaded with defensive talent, but the fact that they continue to kick the tires on a reunion with Aaron Donald says everything about their desire to add beef to the trenches. If Donald does not come out of retirement, Vea would be the next-best thing to pair with the otherworldly pass-rushing talent on the edge in Myles Garrett. This is a franchise that wants to push all its chips forward for a Super Bowl push in 2026, and a Vea trade is on brand for that kind of effort. Plus, like Las Vegas, this landing spot brings Vea close to his roots in the Golden State. Cap space is a potential roadblock, as expected for a team that has been on a spending spree all offseason.

Details of Tony Romo’s arrest on charges of alleged operating while intoxicated emerged, with the ex-Dallas Cowboys quarterback being allegedly uncooperative with law enforcement during the incident.

Records obtained by The California Post showed Romo was issued a citation for “refusing to take test for intoxication after arrest” during the July 23 incident with police following his appearance at a Milwaukee golf event.

Romo was stopped on an interstate following his round at the Wisconsin Amateur Championship and he performed poorly during field sobriety tests, FOX6 in Milwaukee reported. He was released and is due in court on Sept. 21.

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Tony Romo mugshot from arrest. (Fox News Digital)

The California Post added that the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office said that, since Romo’s situation is allegations, the case is considered a traffic violation and not a criminal charge in Wisconsin.

Other information regarding the arrest was not immediately available. Neither the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office nor CBS immediately responded to emails from Fox News Digital.

TONY ROMO’S BRUTAL GOLF SCORE BEFORE GETTING ARRESTED PAINTS A NIGHTMARISH PICTURE

Romo was set to appear at another golf tournament, the M&P Group Texas State Open, but he withdrew over the weekend.

Romo retired from football in 2017 and soon joined CBS as a color commentator.

He was the Cowboys’ starter from 2006 to 2015, but an injury cost him his spot in 2016 to Dak Prescott. The Cowboys released him after the season, and he eventually hung up the cleats.

Romo threw for 34,183 yards, 248 touchdowns, and 117 interceptions, completing 65.3% of his passes.

Tony Romo stands on the first green during the final round of the American Century Championship 2026 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 12, 2026, in Stateline, Nev. (Getty Images)

He was named to the Pro Bowl four times and finished tied for third in the MVP vote in 2014 behind Aaron Rodgers and J.J. Watt — he was tied with DeMarcio Murray.

Romo went 2-4 in the playoffs, famously dropping a snap for a potential game-winning field goal in his first against the Seattle Seahawks. Romo then picked up the ball and tried to run for a touchdown but was stopped short, giving Seattle the win.

Since retiring, Romo and Jim Nantz have been the main tandem for CBS, calling three Super Bowls, including the Kansas City Chiefs’ overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

Tony Romo during the NFC Divisional Playoff game against Wisconsin’s Green Bay Packers on January 11, 2015.

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Romo has yet to comment on his arrest.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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As negotiation tactics go, asking for a trade the day before training camp opens is the NFL equivalent of reaching for the nuclear codes before deciding to type them in. But that’s exactly what Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea has done.

The two-time Pro Bowl player has grown so frustrated with contract discussions this offseason that he’s decided he doesn’t see a future with the team, and has asked to be traded, a league source confirmed to Fox News Digital.

That doesn’t mean a trade will happen. Vea is under contract for the 2026 season and is scheduled to make up to $18 million if he can play all 17 games in the final year of his current contract.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) scrambles away from Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea (50) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

A.J. BROWN HEADED TO NEW ENGLAND TO REUNITE WITH MIKE VRABEL AFTER A SEASON OF EAGLES UNHAPPINESS

The Bucs aren’t simply going to hold a fire sale to avoid the trade talk distraction, per a source.

Vea wants more money and points to the fact he is currently the 19th-highest-paid interior defensive lineman in the league. And he believes he is much better than the 19th-best defensive lineman in the league.

Vea is, for all intents and purposes, the structural centerpiece of the Tampa Bay defense. He is arguably the team’s best run defender and, as all NFL defensive coordinators often note, if a defense cannot stop the run it is unable to do much of anything else.

Vea provides a rare combination of size, power to movement to control the middle of the formation from his nose tackle spot. At 6-foot-4 and 347 pounds, Vea has anchored against double-teams for much of his recent years.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during the first half of an NFL wild-card football game, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Despite this attention, he is able to clog interior rushing lanes and prevent offensive linemen from climbing cleanly to the second level of Tampa Bay’s defense. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2019, he has helped the Buccaneers establish one of the NFL’s most consistently productive run defenses.

From 2019 through most of the 2024 season, Tampa Bay ranked first in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game at 94.1, first in yards allowed per carry at 4.0 and finished in the top five against the run in five of six seasons, including No. 1 finishes in 2019 and 2020.

COWBOYS LOCK IN GEORGE PICKENS WITH $27.3M FRANCHISE TAG DESPITE FAILING TO REACH LONG-TERM CONTRACT

Vea played only five games in 2020 due to a fractured ankle, but he’s proven durable ever since. He has started 78 games in the past five seasons.

Vea’s individual production shows he is more than a traditional space-eating nose tackle but he set a career high with seven sacks in 2024, then added 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits in 2025.

His 2024 pass-rush production made Tampa Bay one of only three teams that season with two defensive tackles recording at least seven sacks, as Vea and Calijah Kancey both reached that mark.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 24: Vita Vea #50 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after beating the Chicago Bears 38-3 in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Vea was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 2021 and 2024 seasons, earned a place on the NFL Players Association’s Top 100 list entering 2025 and was a key member of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV championship team.

This trade request creates issues for the Bucs.

It’s possible Vea, who reported but did not take part in the teams mandatory minicamp and missed the rest of the offseason program, might decide to simply hold in to start training camp – that is to say, he shows up but doesn’t practice.

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No coach likes that. No team wants that.

The Buccaneers are already managing the high-stakes contract negotiations with quarterback Baker Mayfield as their top contract issue. So dealing with a very large star defender who has publicly let it be known he wants out is not great for the team.

Manchester United have been busy in the transfer market this summer as Michael Carrick strengthens his squad

Manchester United have made a lively start to the summer transfer window as Michael Carrick sets about moulding his squad. The new manager has been bolstering his ranks as the club looks to build on their impressive form towards the end of last season.

United have already recruited midfielders Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to strengthen a crucial area of the pitch. Casemiro’s exit upon the expiry of his contract and Manuel Ugarte’s World Cup injury made midfield a clear priority and the club continue to be linked with further targets.

Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is among those on United’s radar following his standout performances for the Cherries. However, United face competition from Chelsea for the 22-year-old’s services.

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Meanwhile, the club have confirmed the arrival of teenage goalkeeper Kit Margetson, who becomes the second shot-stopper to head to Old Trafford this summer. Here, MEN Sport examines some of the most significant stories surrounding United.

Michael Carrick’s fifth transfer confirmed

United have wrapped up the signing of former Swansea City prospect Kit Margetson. The 20-year-old goalkeeper joins after reaching the end of his deal with the Swans last month.

Margetson spent last season on loan at Connah’s Quay Nomads, where he helped the club secure a European spot in the Cymru Premier. He becomes the fifth summer signing under Michael Carrick, joining Santos, Tielemans, experienced goalkeeper Karl Darlow and former Tottenham Hotspur youngster Tynan Thompson.

A club statement read: “Manchester United have agreed the signing of exciting young goalkeeper Kit Margetson, subject to registration. The 20-year-old was most recently at Swansea City, a club he’d been with since under-15s.

“Last season, he had his first taste of senior football on loan at Connah’s Quay Nomads and kept 10 clean sheets in 34 appearances, helping the Welsh side to qualify for European competition. Margetson has also earned youth international caps for Wales and made his Under-21s debut against Belarus in March. Everyone at United would like to welcome Kit to the club and wish him the very best of luck for the future.”

Margetson is the latest shot-stopper to arrive at the club following Darlow, who was brought in as a free agent from Leeds to provide experienced backup to Senne Lammens. Meanwhile, Andre Onana has returned to Trabzonspor on loan and both Radek Vitek and Altay Bayindir could also depart this summer.

Alex Scott move takes new twist

United could face a twist in their hopes of signing Bournemouth’s Alex Scott as Chelsea plan their next move. The 22-year-old appeared in 37 league matches as the club secured European qualification for the first time in their history.

Sky Sports Germany reports that Chelsea are contemplating lodging a second bid for Scott. The west London outfit reportedly saw an initial £64m offer turned down by Bournemouth, who have insisted that the midfielder is not for sale.

Scott has encouraged interested parties by turning down a new Bournemouth contract. However, United have also been linked with Roma’s Manu Kone, Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba as the club assess several midfield options.

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Over the past several seasons, there hasn’t been an NFC North team that’s been better than the Detroit Lions. Does Dan Campbell’s team get any better after a recent move?

Per EnterSports Management, the Detroit Lions have brought linebacker Troy Reeder to town. The veteran is quite unlikely to work his way into a starting job. Rather, Reeder could snag a spot on the final roster as a depth option who has been around the league and who can help on specials.

NFC North Rival Steals Ex-Vikings LB Out of FA

Leading the charge at linebacker for the Detroit Lions is Jack Campbell, who is a beast. Campbell, quite possibly, is the gold standard for off-ball ‘backer play in the NFL of 2026. The LB1 job is therefore secure in Motown.

What’s less certain is who will chase down runners beside Mr. Campbell.

Gone is Alex Anzalone, who has been a very good player for a very long time. Since 2021, Anzalone was offering his play for the Lions, making life difficult for everybody else in the NFC North as a result. Other options to run alongside Campbell are Joe Bachie, Derrick Barnes, Damone Clark, Erick Hunter, Trevor Nowaske, Malcolm Rodriguez, and Jimmy Rolder. That’s a full house.

And, of course, Troy Reeder.

At 31, Reeder is getting closer to the end of his career than the beginning. He began with the Rams. He overlapped with Kevin O’Connell in LA, winning a Super Bowl together in 2021. That success arrived after Reeder became a Ram with an undrafted contract from 2019.

By no means a small part of the equation, Reeder was mostly a starter in that Super Bowl season. He played in all seventeen games, starting ten. The stats show 91 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 quarterback hits, 2 interceptions, and 6 passes defended.

Putting in work with the Rams then led to becoming a Charger. Playing for the other LA team then resulted in a brief stay with the Vikings as he competed for a spot in the 2023 offseason. Failing to stick around as a Viking — that was the dawn of the Brian Flores era — meant going back to play with the Rams, where he has remained since 2023.

Reeder’s career has involved 2,109 snaps on defense and 1,750 snaps on special teams. Most recently, Reeder had 81 snaps on defense and 328 snaps on special teams, offering that workload for the 2025 Rams. Look for a similar arrangement wherever he ends up in 2026.

Meanwhile, the Vikings are sorting through their own transitional phase at linebacker.

LB1 Blake Cashman remains but with questions about how much longer he’ll be employed in Minnesota. Next up are LB2 Eric Wilson and LB3 Jake Golday. The veteran and rookie appear ready to soak up large workloads in the upcoming season. Ivan Pace Jr. would appear to be the LB4, but his job will be challenged by the other depth options (Brevan Bane of PurplePTSD seems to like Keli Lawson).

The Vikings and Lions appear to be at opposite ends of the NFC North. Forced to guess, though, I’d contend that these two teams are the most promising rolling into 2026. Detroit, in particular, appears very likely to bounce back in the upcoming year.

The NFC North teams play each other a pair of times, as per NFL tradition. The first battle will take place in Detroit during Week 8 on November 1st. There will then be the Week 15 game that takes place on December 20th.

Quite possibly, Troy Reeder will see a Lion on his helmet as he tries to make life difficult for his former employer.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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