Category Sports News

Chelsea are in talks with Manchester United over signing Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho.

The 21-year-old has been told to find a new club as United head coach Ruben Amorim believes he wants a new challenge.

Garnacho came close to joining Chelsea in January, with the player convinced a transfer would be agreed.

The deal was not completed but the feeling has persisted that the player would eventually end up at Stamford Bridge.

A line of communication has been left open throughout the summer but there is now more focus around the talks, although there is no agreement on a transfer just yet.

As a ‘home-grown’ player, the fee United could generate for Garnacho, who joined the club from Atletico Madrid as a 16-year-old, would be important from a profit and sustainability perspective.

Amorim was criticised for telling Garnacho he should find somewhere else to play immediately after the Europa League final defeat by Tottenham in May.

Although Garnacho did go on the club’s post-season tour of Asia, he cut a detatched and unhappy figure.

He was not selected for the recent three-match trip to the United States, having initially been told to delay his return for pre-season training in the hope of a deal being concluded.

When that did not happen, Garnacho was ordered to train at different times to Amorim’s squad, along with fellow outcasts Tyrell Malacia, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Marcus Rashford, who subsequently joined Barcelona on loan.

Asked about Garnacho in Chicago last week, Amorim said: “You can see he is talented, he’s a really talented boy. But sometimes things don’t work out.

“You cannot explain specifically what it is but I have the feeling it’s clear Garnacho wants a different thing with a different leadership.

Thomas Partey, a Ghana international, recently left Arsenal for La Liga side Villarreal.

The 32-year-old left the Gunners at the end of June after signing for them for a £45 million deal from Atletico Madrid in 2020.

Four days later, Partey was accused of sexual assaulting a third woman and five counts of rape against two other women.

Partey, who denies the accusations, was given a conditional bail hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Partey must notify police of any permanent address changes or travel abroad in accordance with the bail conditions.

Villarreal stated in a statement that the organization is aware that the player is currently facing legal issues in England.

The player firmly refutes all accusations leveled against him and says he is innocent.

The club adheres to the presumptive of innocence, which is the foundation of the legal system, and will hold the case’s outcome in mind as it becomes clear that the facts are the subject.

Partey was the subject of a detectives’ investigation that began in February 2022, leading to the charge.

Nearly 1, 000 people have signed a petition to protest Partey’s signing that was created by online content hub The Villarreal Report.

In addition, Villarreal added that it “strongly condemns any act of violence in all its forms, including gender-based violence, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, or any behavior that undermines the dignity of individuals.”

Partey will start his new club on Friday and will make an appearance at the Old Bailey on September 2.

With Australia winning the series by 5-0, Glenn McGrath predicts England will be whitewashed in the Ashes in 2025-26.

The former Australia bowler, a six-time Ashes champion, consistently makes this prediction and did so prior to the 2023 series, which ended with a 2-2 draw, with the visitors still holding the urn.

England hasn’t won an Ashes series since 2010-11, drawing two and losing two, and hasn’t won a series there since 2010.

“It’s very uncommon for me to make predictions, isn’t it?” And I’m unable to change it, making it 5-0,” McGrath told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“With our team, I have a lot of confidence. It’s going to be pretty difficult when Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon all start firing in their own homes.

England’s last two Tests on home soil were in 2021-22, when Australia won 4-0, and Cummins’ side have only lost one of their past 15 Tests, winning 11 and drawing one.

McGrath acknowledged that “issues” exist with Australia’s batting, particularly their troubled top three. Sam Konstas has yet to claim his spot as the retired David Warner’s replacement because of Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, and Marnus Labuschagne’s form.

However, McGrath says the key battle will be between the tourists’ top seven and Australian bowlers, with Joe Root and Harry Brook as two players to watch as England’s bowling attack also needs to “stack a little bit” to “strengthen a little.”

This series will be significant to Root, McGrath declared. He’ll be eager to go out there because he’s never really done that well in Australia, scoring only 100 out of 100. He is performing well.

Joe Root has made 892 Test starts in Australia, including nine in the fifties, but he has yet to reach 100.

His career average was 51.29, and he had the lowest score of 89, which is a 35.68 down under.

I’ve enjoyed watching “Brook,” and I added McGrath. He simply goes out and plays his game before going on. He will need to be on his guard pretty soon, according to the Australians.

Ben Duckett is a very aggressive opener. Zak Crawley wants to add a few more runs to his already-high total.

“It’s England’s top order or top and middle order against Australia’s fast bowlers and Lyon.” It will be a significant match-up.

Under head coach Brendon McCullum, England have won 25 of their 41 Test matches, but they have yet to win a five-match series, with India drawing one point at the end of the series.

Under McCullum, McGrath, 55, was enthralled by England’s style, but he vowed to make them more mentally “stuck on.”

He said, “I adore it when sportspeople play there without fear.”

Baz wants to make this England team play without fear because of that.

Following disciplinary proceedings against the German international, Barcelona have removed keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen from the club captaincy.

The 33-year-old underwent a back operation at the end of July, when he last played for his country in June.

His disagreement with Barcelona may result from his unwillingness to let them share his medical information with La Liga, which might allow the club to sign more players based on how long he has been out of action.

Ter Stegen recently stated in a social media post that he would be out for three months, but La Liga rules state that a player must remain unactive for at least four months to qualify as a long-term absentee.

In addition to signing England international Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United, the La Liga champions have signed keeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol.

Barcelona stated in a statement that the club has decided to temporarily resign from his position as first-team captain until the disciplinary proceedings that were brought against Marc-Andre ter Stegen are resolved.

The current vice-captain, Ronald Araujo, will take over the duties of the first captain during this time, they added.