Martin Zubimendi verbally agrees to join Arsenal from Real Sociedad, Erik ten Hag and Cesc Fabregas in frame to replace Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen and Cristiano Ronaldo future at Al-Nassr in doubt.
Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 26, has verbally agreed to join Arsenal and the Spain international intends to join the Gunners when his release clause of 60m euros (£50.75m) is activated. (Talksport)
However, reports in Spain suggest Xabi Alonso has included Zubimendi on a list of transfer targets for when, as expected, the Bayer Leverkusen manager replaces Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid boss. (AS)
Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal are planning a third meeting with the representatives of Portugal international Bruno Fernandes as they try to convince the 30-year-old to join them, despite Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim saying he wants the midfielder to stay at Old Trafford. (Mirror)
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and Como boss Cesc Fabregas are the contenders to take over from Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. (Kicker – in German)
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is working on a deal to bring in a new striker, narrowing down his search to Sporting’s Sweden star Viktor Gyokeres, 26, and RB Leipzig’s Slovenia international Benjamin Sesko, 21. (TBR Football)
Belgium forward Leandro Trossard is also in talks with Arsenal about a new deal, amid the 30-year-old attracting interest from Saudi Pro League clubs. (Mail)
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Al-Nassr is in doubt, with a two-year contract extension for the 40-year-old being put on hold. (Marca)
Manchester United favour a move for Bournemouth’s Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo, 25, over a potential deal for Brentford’s Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo, 25. They are also looking to sign Wolves’ Brazil striker Matheus Cunha, 25, and Ipswich Town’s 22-year-old English frontman Liam Delap. (Sky Sports, via Teamtalk)
Germany winger Leroy Sane is not satisfied with the new deal offered by Bayern Munich and could leave on a free transfer in the summer, with the 29-year-old linked to Arsenal, Chelsea or La Liga. (Sky Sport Germany)
Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, 29, has been linked with Bayern Munich and Barcelona on a free transfer in the summer and the Germany international says he will make a decision soon about his future. (Sport Bild – in German)
The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) were held in Lagos, Nigeria, on Saturday night at an event that attracted a galaxy of stars from across the continent. Lateef Adedimeji’s Lisabi (The Uprising) won some prizes.
AMVCA 2025 Awards
Below is the full list of winners at the 2025 AMVCA:
Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)
Seven Doors
Lisabi: The Uprising WINNER (Adedimeji Lateef for Lisabi)
Kaka
Anikulapo: The Rise of the Spectre
Mai Martaba
Best Cinematography
Agemo
Inkabi
Lisabi (The Uprising)
Skeleton Coast
Soft Love
The Legend of The Vagabond (Queen Of Lagos) WINNER (filmmaker Leo Purman)
Yen Ara Asaase Ni
Best Documentary
Mai DùnDún – Ifeoluwa WINNER
I Will Remember You
On Your Own
Walvis Tale
Best Digital Content Creator
Iyo Prosper Adokiye (WINNER)
Maryam Apakagi-Greene
Elozonam Ogbolu, Hoviare Freedom and Chiamaka Uzokwe
Jide Pounds Ibitoye
Ariyiikedimples and Brain Jotter
Best Short Film
Brukaci (WINNER)
Sukari
The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Seyi Ajayi
What Are You Truly Afraid Of?
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
Husband Material
Nigerian Idol (Season 9) Kassim Suleiman WINNER
Overall Best
Pastor Wants a Wife
Best Scripted M-Net Original
Uriri
All Mine
My Fairytale Wedding (Chinenye Nworah and Taiwo Adebayo) WINNER
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery praises the “fantastic” Ollie Watkins as the striker becomes the club’s all-time leading scorer in the Premier League with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium.
ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has been married to businessman Chris Hughes since 2008 – and things can get very busy for the star when her family are all at home
Amanda Holden has a lot of work to do when it comes to preparing dinner for her family(Image: Instagram/ @noholdenback)
Amanda Holden has opened up about one of her greatest problems being a mother and wife to her loving family. The 54-year-old Britain’s Got Talent judge shares daughters Lexi, 19, and Hollie, 13, with her husband Chris Hughes.
The star recently saw her eldest child leave the nest to attend university – but she has been back recently amid a break in the semesters. And while Amanda says she loves to take care of her family and make them dinner each night, the range of culinary requirements can leave her working up a sweat in the kitchen.
The TV judge – who has appeared on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent since the long-running reality contest began in 2007 – lives in a luxury mansion with her family in Surrey. The property is believed to be valued at £7 million – and the star has proudly shown off the rooms on social media.
But it appears the kitchen may be the room she spends the most time in when all her family are at home – as she ends up having to cook for each of them individually. Opening up to Hello! magazine, Amanda explained: “I try to cook a family meal every night.
“It’s been great recently, because Lexi’s been home from university, so we’ve been back to a family of four. And I’m obviously a vegetarian. Lexi’s practically vegan. Chris and Holly eat meat, so I cook, but I have to make like four different meals.”
The TV star has explained why she is always busy in her kitchen when her family are at home(Image: Instagram)
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She went on to admit she not been the best at teaching her daughters how to cook for themselves. She revealed: “They’re [Hollie and Lexi] getting into the swing of cooking.
“I’ve been a bit rubbish at teaching them how to cook, because I’ve always cooked, but they’re good preppers, and they tidy up after me.”
With conversation continuing to focus on food, Amanda revealed what her last meal would be. She said: “I would have pasta pesto as my main dinner. I absolutely love a homemade pesto, really nice and wet and cheesy and pine-y and basil-ly.”
She added: “For pudding, I would probably have either an Eton mess or a banana split, and as a starter, it would probably be like loads of tomatoes with salt and some burrata.”
While Amanda is best known for being a judge on BGT alongside Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli, she has attracted additional fans in recent years by teaming up with comedian Alan Carr for a series of property renovation shows.
The pair became friends after meeting on his Channel 4 show Alan Carr Chatty Man in 2009 and they grew such a close bond they questioned if they could be unknowingly related. They were subsequently featured on the ITV show DNA Journey to discover if they had a genetic connection – only to be told they were not.
Discussing the result on her Heart Breakfast radio show, Amanda said previously: “There’s no connection between us except that we love each other but all the way through I was hoping… All the way through I was hoping I was related to Alan Carr… but we’re not.”
Alan was a guest on the show and joked: “I was dreading being related to Amanda, because I’ve seen Ant and Dec were and I was like, ‘Oh no no no.’
“But then we would see our relatives of course and I’d be surprised, literally go behind that door and there is your relative. So we’d go there and Amanda, they didn’t know who they were related to out of me and Amanda and I’m not being rude…They hoped it was me!”
Donegal retained the Ulster Football title by edging out All-Ireland champions Armagh in 2-23 to 0-28 after extra-time in another titanic struggle at Clones.
Unlike last year, their final meeting didn’t require penalties but this was another epic encounter between two well-matched teams.
Following the final whistle as the holders had been able to retain possession for the last minute of action before the hooter sounded, there was unsavoury scenes as a melee broke out after a track-suited member of the Armagh squad appeared to strike a Donegal player.
It took a minute or so for order to be restored before Donegal celebrations could begin following their 12th Anglo-Celt Cup triumph.
For Armagh, their wait for a first Ulster title since 2008 goes on although they showed last year that they were more than capable of regrouping from provincial final heartbreak for the All-Ireland series.
With Oisin Gallen hitting four first-half points from play, Donegal led 0-14 to 0-11 at half-time after having been seven ahead three minutes before the interval.
Armagh continued to claw into Donegal’s lead after the restart as they trimmed the margin to 0-16 to 0-15.
The defending champions appeared to have regained control as Hugh McFadden’s bundled goal was followed by three points which put them seven up once more.
However, Donegal only managed a solitary Jason McGee point in the closing 21 minutes of normal time as Oisin Conaty’s continuing brilliance and the introduction of Stefan Campbell helped reeled in their advantage.
Conaty’s sixth point from play in the closing 10 seconds of normal time meant extra-time after Donegal’s attempts to run down the clock had unravelled.
A Jarly Og Burns point put Armagh ahead for the first time after the action had resumed but the sides were still locked together at 0-25 to 1-22 after the first 10-minute period.
A Stefan Campbell score nudged Armagh ahead once more at the start of the second period of extra-time but after Rory Grugan missed a chance to extend their lead, Ciaran Moore then hammered Donegal’s second goal after being set up by Michael Langan.
A two-point free by Armagh keeper Ethan Rafferty levelled the contest once more but Niall O’Donnell’s 88th-minute point proved the winner before tempers flared after the final whistle.
More to follow.
Armagh: Ethan Rafferty; Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge, Aidan Forker (capt); Ross McQuillan, Greg McCabe, Jarly Og Burns; Callum O’Neill, Ben Crealey; Darragh McMullan, Rory Grugan, Oisin Conaty; Tiernan Kelly, Andrew Murnin, Oisin O’Neill.
Subs: Blaine Hughes, Peter McGrane, Tomas McCormack, Connaire Mackin, Jason Duffy, Niall Grimley, Shane McPartlan, Cian McConville, Conor Turbitt, Stefan Campbell, Jemar Hall.
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Ciaran Moore; Ciaran Thompson, Michael Langan; Daire O Baoill, Hugh McFadden, Shane O’Donnell; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen.
Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Mark Curran, Odhran McFadden Ferry, Odhran Doherty, Aaron Doherty, Eoin McHugh, Jason McGee, Jamie Brennan, Conor O’Donnell, Niall O’Donnell, Stephen McMenamin.
