Manchester United have been heavily linked with a transfer for the French international who currently plays for AS Roma

Manu Kone has been tipped to shone in midfield for Arsenal – not Manchester United. United have been heavily linked with the French international in their search for midfield reinforcements.

Kone impressed with his performances on the World stage for France in the World Cup this summer. He helped his side to a fourth-place finish in the tournament, losing to England in third-place play-off.

Reports in France last month claimed that United had opened talks with Roma over a deal, but faced competition from Arsenal. Former United full-back Patrice Evra has now appeared to suggest that a move to the Emirates Stadium may be the right one for the 25-year-old, instead of a place in Michael Carrick’s squad.

“I like Manu Kone’s profile for the Premier League,” Evra told Stake. “He has energy, he carries the ball, he likes duels and he works for the team.

“All of those things matter in England. The Premier League is faster. You don’t get time to breathe.

“So the important thing is adaptation. Don’t judge him after five games.

“If he goes to Arsenal with a manager who knows how to use him, I think he can do well. He definitely has the tools. Then it is about consistency.”

It comes after claims that the United hierarchy are split over a potential move for Kone this summer. The Telegraph reports that the midfielder does not have ‘universal backing internally’ at United.

Reports in Italy suggest that the club have agreed personal terms with Kone, but are yet to agree a fee with Roma over a transfer. The Italian side are said to want a fee of around €60 million (£51m) if they are to cash in this summer.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are closing in on the signing of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. The Gunners have agreed a £75 million fee with the Magpies, a move which makes it less likely that they will target Kone before the end of the window.

United are on the lookout for a third midfield signing in the current window, having completed transfers for Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans for a combined £85 million last month. As well as Kone, United have been linked with an interest in the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni, Alex Scott and Tyler Adams.

There were, however, some reports this week that United may look to concentrate resources elsewhere, with the club on the lookout for a new left-back. Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall has emerged as a priority target for the position but the Reds may be forced to look elsewhere with the Magpies seemingly unwilling to sell.

India batter Sai Sudharsan is set to join the rest of the team in Sri Lanka on Saturday, having not travelled to Colombo with the squad and support staff, according to a report. Sudharsan, whose participation in the two-match Test series starting August 15 was subject to fitness clearance, is currently at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellent (CoE) in Bengaluru recovering from an injury. According to a report in Cricbuzz, Sudharsan is set to link up with the Indian team in Colombo on Saturday.

As a result, Sudharsan is set to miss India’s three-day practice match against Sri Lanka XI, which gets underway on Friday, August 7.

“Currently undergoing rehabilitation for a minor niggle, the left-hander is understood to be on course to regaining full fitness and is expected to link up with the squad well before the first Test, which begins on August 15,” the report said.

The report added that Sudharsan has resumed batting in Bengaluru and is expected to receive the green light from the CoE’s medical staff to travel to Colombo.

Sudharshan suffered the niggle during the recent India A tour to Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, India has included Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Tanush Kotian and Vipraj Nigam among their net bowlers ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle from August 15 onwards.

As per the BCCI, Indian batters, who have had their share of struggles against spin at home, have ramped up their preparation against the tweakers in spin-friendly Sri Lankan conditions by adding four spinners to their net bowlers line-up.

“Update: Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Tanush Kotian and Vipraj Nigam have joined the Indian squad as net bowlers to assist the team in the build-up to the first Test against Sri Lanka,” said BCCI’s statement.

India’s squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka is: Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi.

* Subject to fitness clearance.

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Spain’s World Cup Champions Celebrate Wildly At Cibeles Square

Sophomore corner Zemaiah Vaughn showed promise last offseason. As a rookie, his length showed up during training camp, creating intrigue about his potential. Apparently, he spent the summer months building his body.

Check out what Brian Flores had to say: “Zemaiah certainly improved really since he got here. He’s got a of tools, size, length, speed; he’s really worked hard in the weight room to just kind fill out. He’s a little bit bigger this year, I would say, and that’s shown up in his play. He’s a little bit more physical at the line of scrimmage, he’s able to use his length a little bit better.”

Brian Flores, Zemaiah Vaughn, & The Chance at CB

At the risk of making a ridiculous comparison, Vaughn is somewhat reminiscent of Kevin Durant. Think a rangy athlete who is noticeably long and skinny.

Vaughn, though, plays in the NFL instead of the NBA. Basketball can be a physical sport but football is on a different level, a truth that even applies within the secondary. Packing on muscle without sacrificing speed and agility is a good thing. A tricky balance, to be sure, and yet something that all players need to work toward.

Recently, Lindsey Young of the Vikings’ website spent time digging into who the young corner is.

Some of the defender’s background to clarify his switch to being a college corner: “Vaughn played his freshman season at free safety and then was moved to corner. Though he’d never lined up there before, he leaned on his experience at quarterback — understanding coverages and route concepts — and consistently put himself in position to make plays.”

— READ MORE: Vikings Rookie Keeps Upping the Ante at Training Camp —
— READ MORE: Young Vikings Trenchman Breaks Through with Starters —

Further from Young: “He admits there was a point, though, when he struggled with the change and inquired about moving back to QB or even receiver — ‘I missed having the ball in my hands’ — but Utah Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks Coach Sharrieff Shah encouraged him to stick with it. Best decision of his life he acknowledged, grinning.”

Consider one more thought from the piece: “Vaughn went on to play four years at Utah, appearing in 56 games and making 31 straight starts to finish his career. As a senior, he totaled 40 tackles, one interception, 2.0 sacks, five tackles for loss and five passes defensed. Though he of course hoped to be drafted, going unselected through the 2025 NFL Draft allowed Vaughn some flexibility on which team to sign with — and he now can’t imagine being anywhere but Minnesota.”

Right now, Chuck Demmings is hogging the optimism from the masses. Such is life for a drafted rookie with as much energy and charisma as Mr. Demmings.

Behind the scenes, though, is a young lad who has been grinding. Vaughn can’t be counted out.

People can think of the NFL as being a glamorous spot to work. In some ways, that’s true; most people would be thrilled to make a modest NFL salary of roughly $1 million. Any normal person sees that total as life-changing money that represents extraordinary wealth.

Do note, though, that becoming successful in football means boasting an unusual ability to do repetitive things to improve. Constant lifts, good nutrition, film study, feedback from coaches, and a broader commitment to growth is needed. That can be especially true for somebody looking to get onto a final roster.

Zemaiah Vaughn appears to be willing to put in the hours. As a result, the DC has taken notice, singing his praises at the podium with the corner position looking as competitive as it has ever looked since Brian Flores starting calling the Twin Cities home.

The young corner stands at 6’3″ and is listed as weighing 180 pounds. Quite possibly, the added muscle means he can put a bigger number onto the scale. Quite possibly, that added muscle will mean being capable of stealing away snaps from more well-known players.

Vaughn is 24.

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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The Toronto Blue Jays are in last place in the American League East. But the reigning AL pennant winners didn’t sell at the trade deadline, and they’re showing signs of a run to get back in the playoff mix. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays look to keep it going for a matinee matchup with Yordan Alvarez and the Houston Astros on Wednesday. Houston holds a slim lead over the Rangers and Mariners in its division, so every game is important for the Astros. Houston throws Hunter Brown (3-1, 3.42 ERA) against Jameson Taillon (2-6, 5.92) of Toronto. 

First pitch from Daikin Park in Houston is set for 2:10 p.m. ET. Houston is a -217 favorite on the money line (risk $217 to win $100) in the latest Blue Jays vs. Astros odds, while the over/under is 8. Before making any Blue Jays vs. Astros picks, be sure to see the Astros vs. Blue Jays predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model. 

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Now, the model has set its sights on Blue Jays vs. Astros and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Astros vs. Blue Jays:

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Top Blue Jays vs. Astros predictions 

After 10,000 simulations of Blue Jays vs. Astros, the model is going Over 8 combined runs for over/under betting. The Under has hit in a whopping eight straight Toronto games, a long run even though it is the lowest-scoring team in baseball. That said, the Over had the advantage on the season for Blue Jays games before this run, and the Over has hit in four of the last five for Houston. The Over is also 5-3 in Astros games when the line is at 7.5. 

SportsLine’s model projects 1.5 total bases or more for the Blue Jays’ Guerrero and George Springer. The Astros, meanwhile, are projected to get over 1.5 total bases or more from Alvarez, Jeremy Pena and Daulton Varsho. The model projects the teams to combine for 8.4 total runs. Get the Blue Jays vs. Astros money-line pick at SportsLine.

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Teenager Erica Meg Parkinson has been named in England’s preparation squad for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month.

Boss Lydia Bedford has called up the North Carolina Courage midfielder, 18, as part of a 24-player squad for a warm weather training camp in Portugal next week.

They will have a final opportunity to impress when they face their hosts in a friendly on Thursday, 13 August. Three players will get trimmed for the World Cup squad, which is due to be announced on Thursday, 20 August.

Parkinson was part of Sarina Wiegman’s senior set-up for the games against Spain and Iceland in April and has also featured for the under-23 side.

She is joined in the under-20 group by Arsenal pair Sophie Harwood and Jessie Gale, as well as Eva Hendle, who joined Rangers on loan from Chelsea this week.

This is the fourth training camp over the summer, with Bedford’s side having beaten Canada and Colombia, drawn with the USA and lost to Japan so far.

It will be England’s first appearance at an Under-20 Women’s World Cup since 2018 and they have been drawn in a group featuring Brazil, Tanzania and Canada.

They will begin their campaign against Canada on Saturday, 5 September.

“We’ve had a really positive summer with some strong performances against top-quality opposition,” Bedford said. “The players have embraced every challenge and I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made.

“With the World Cup squad announcement just around the corner, it’s an important opportunity for the players to show what they can do.”

Manchester United Women have announced the appointment of Eva Olid as their new head coach on an initial two-year deal with the option of a further year.

The move follows Marc Skinner’s departure by mutual consent earlier this week, after five years at the helm.

Olid arrives at the Women’s Super League club fresh from leading Heart of Midlothian to their historic first Scottish Women’s Premier League title triumph in May, marking a significant achievement in her coaching career.

Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, the Spanish coach stated: “The opportunity to become head coach of Manchester United Women is a dream come true. The club has outstanding infrastructure and everything we need to achieve our ambitions. We have an excellent training facility, an academy that is already producing players capable of performing in a competitive first team and an exceptional group of support staff.”

She continued, highlighting her focus on player development: “There is already so much talent within our squad and I am excited to work with the players to support them to fulfil their immense potential. I am joining Manchester United at a really exciting time. There is a clear alignment in our shared vision for long-term success. I cannot wait to begin preparing a team that will make our incredible supporters proud.”

Manchester United hailed Olid’s arrival as the “start of an exciting new era,” aligning with the club’s stated “clear vision for long-term, sustainable growth and success.”

Skinner’s tenure saw the Red Devils finish fourth in the WSL last season and reach the Champions League quarter-finals, achievements the club acknowledged as building “important foundations.”

Matt Johnson, United’s director of women’s football, lauded Olid’s qualities: “Eva is an outstanding coach with an incredible determination to succeed. Her remarkable achievements at Heart of Midlothian showcased her ability to maximise the potential of individual players whilst also implementing an exciting style of football. We are delighted that she will now bring those qualities to Manchester United. Eva is the perfect coach to lead us into an exciting new era.”

Johnson further emphasised the alignment of Olid’s philosophy with the club’s long-term strategy: “She shares our commitment to developing exciting homegrown and young players, a tradition deeply embedded in our club’s history and culture, as well as improving established senior internationals, both of which form an integral part of our vision for long-term, sustainable success.”

Olid’s first competitive match in charge will be the WSL season opener against London City Lionesses on 4 September.

WRU chiefs have said the process to decide the framework for the final decision will begin in December and finish before the end of the 2026-27 campaign.

Daniels believes there is scope to continue with four Welsh regions, and would like the WRU to explain its rationale for removing a team in the west.

“From a club perspective, we feel that the decision, and the justification, for moving from four [clubs] to three needs more work,” Daniels added.

“I understand that there is data which has been used to come up with this decision. It hasn’t been shared. We will really call for transparency in that discussion.

“These are decisions that are going to have a long-lasting effect, not just on rugby, but on communities in west Wales. I think that needs a proper airing publicly.”

He added: “Our position is that before you can come out and make statements which have such an impact on people in Wales, I still feel there is a discussion and justification needed for the move to reduce the number of teams.

“Welsh rugby should be able to accommodate four teams, just as they do in Ireland and other countries.

“If there is data and evidence that we can’t, then let’s have the discussion about how you reduce the number of teams.

“Even then, I think we would struggle to see how that should be isolated to the west and not be a broader Welsh rugby challenge to face.”

Daniels says it is Scarlets’ duty to ensure the uncertainty surrounding them does not creep into their on-field performance.

Instead, he feels the WRU’s current stance should unite Scarlets and wants to see everyone, players, supporters and staff, fighting for their future.

President Donald Trump speaks as FIFA President Gianni Infantino listens at a reception at Trump Tower in New York, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

US President Donald Trump is reportedly prepared to do “everything possible” to help Gianni Infantino remain FIFA president as the football governing body’s chief faces the biggest leadership crisis of his tenure following the collapse of the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.The latest development comes as Infantino continues to battle mounting political pressure within world football after abandoning plans to sell minority stakes in FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, with growing calls to remove him as FIFA president.While FIFA has denied reports of recent contact between Infantino and the White House, fresh claims suggest Trump remains firmly in the Swiss administrator’s corner.

Trump reportedly remains loyal to Infantino

According to The Telegraph, Trump is willing to support Infantino despite the growing backlash against the FIFA president.The report states that Infantino was expected to hold discussions with members of Trump’s administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an effort to stabilise his position. Both FIFA and the US State Department denied those reports.However, a senior administration official close to both Trump and Infantino told The Telegraph that the US president continues to value his relationship with the FIFA chief following the successful staging of the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico.The official said:“Gianni helped us a lot to deliver the best World Cup ever. The president likes him a lot. I am sure the president will do everything possible to help him.”The source added:“I don’t think the president will change his mind on him, because he is a loyal person. Gianni really delivered the World Cup for the United States. We value that.”

FIFA denies reports of recent contact

The claims surfaced just days after reports suggested Infantino had attempted to reach Trump following the collapse of FIFA’s commercialisation proposal.According to the New York Post, the FIFA president unsuccessfully tried to contact the US president after abandoning the controversial plan.FIFA, however, strongly rejected those suggestions.A FIFA spokesperson said:“The FIFA President has not made any call to the US President, or any members of his administration, in recent days. It is pure fiction.”Trump also distanced himself from the controversy when asked directly about the proposal last week.Speaking to reporters during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David before FIFA officially withdrew the plan, Trump responded:“No, I never spoke to him.”

Relationship stretches back several years

Despite the latest denials, Trump’s relationship with Infantino has been well documented over recent years.The pair first established a rapport after meeting in 2018, when Infantino reportedly brought red and yellow football cards to the meeting, joking they “could be useful” for Trump in dealing with the media.

FILE – President Donald Trump holds up a red card during a meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, center, and United States Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro, left, in the Oval Office of the White House, Aug. 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Their relationship strengthened further during preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

FILE – President Donald Trump shakes hands with FIFA President Gianni Infantino as he presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center, Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

At the tournament draw in December, Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, awarding him a golden trophy and commemorative medal. The honour attracted widespread criticism, particularly after the United States later launched military strikes on Iran.During the World Cup itself, Trump also publicly acknowledged contacting Infantino after United States forward Folarin Balogun was sent off, asking whether the suspension could be appealed before the Americans’ Round of 16 fixture against Belgium.Reports also emerged before the current controversy that Trump had privately considered supporting Infantino for the role of United Nations secretary-general.

Attention now turns to the 2027 election

Infantino remains in office for now, but his political future has become significantly less certain than it appeared only weeks ago.All 211 FIFA member associations are scheduled to vote by secret ballot in the presidential election in March 2027, with any candidate requiring a simple majority if only two contenders stand.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino

Potential challengers are already beginning to emerge, with CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafström all linked with possible bids.For now, Infantino continues to receive backing from a handful of influential allies, including the reported support of Trump, but the fallout from the abandoned World Cup commercialisation plan has transformed what was once expected to be a straightforward re-election into one of the most uncertain leadership battles FIFA has faced in recent years.

With Wayne Rooney’s son Kai potentially on the verge of stardom at Manchester United his mother Coleen is going the extra mile to protect him

Coleen Rooney is taking a hands-on role in her son Kai’s blossoming football career. She is determined to protect him from the very problems that once overwhelmed her husband and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney.

After 16-year-old Kai signed a scholarship contract with United, Coleen is said to have become increasingly involved in guiding his life away from the pitch. Her priority is to protect him from the pressures and distractions that come with growing up in the spotlight.

Having been by Wayne’s side since they were teenagers, Coleen witnessed first-hand the immense pressure, intense scrutiny and personal struggles that come with being thrust into the global spotlight as a young prodigy. Now, as her eldest son begins to forge his own path in the public eye, she is desperate to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.

“Coleen has seen how things can go wrong when people become famous too young and too fast, which is what happened with Wayne, and it’s even harder now with social media,” a source told Heatworld.

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Unlike the early 2000s when Wayne first burst onto the scene, today’s digital landscape presents an entirely new and relentless set of challenges for rising athletes. The lack of privacy is a major concern for the mother of four. “Everyone has a phone to take pictures now, so her boys need her protection,” the source added.

With Kai making waves in the United academy and critics already tossing around the “nepo baby” label online, Coleen is aware of both the privileges and the heavy burden the Rooney name carries. Whilst Wayne is able to offer his son unparalleled footballing advice, Coleen is firmly taking the reins when it comes to managing his media presence and public partnerships.

“Coleen also doesn’t want anyone taking advantage of them, or using them because of their surname,” the insider explained. “She only wants deals that are right for them as individuals and as a family.”

Kai initially joined Manchester United’s academy as a seven-year-old in 2016 before making the switch to local rivals Manchester City just a few months later. He moved to the United States when Wayne joined DC United in 2018, before returning to United’s academy in 2020.

Since then, he has steadily progressed through the club’s youth ranks and is now regarded as one of its brightest prospects. Last month, he signed a first-year scholarship contract and, along with 14 other youngsters, officially joined United’s Professional Development Phase.

A scholarship agreement allows academy players to continue their development full-time and represents the final step before becoming eligible to sign a professional contract, which can take effect from a player’s 17th birthday. In many cases, those deals are agreed before a player turns 17, with the contracts commencing on their birthday.

Kai made six appearances in the Under-18 Premier League last season and also featured in the FA Youth Cup. He is expected to play a much bigger role for Darren Fletcher’s Under-18 side during the upcoming campaign.

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