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CharlieH

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    Chechen-born Khamzat Chimaev faces Robert Whittaker in a middleweight title eliminator bout in Saudi Arabia on 22 June.

    The middleweights will headline the UFC's first fight night in the Kingdom.

    Chimaev, 29, is undefeated in 13 fights, but faces his toughest challenge yet against Australian former champion Whittaker.

    The winner will face reigning champion and South Africa's Dricus du Plessis later this year.

    Also on the undercard is an all-Russian heavyweight contest between Alexander Volkov and Sergei Pavlovich.

    The UFC were due to hold their fight event in Saudi Arabia in March.

     

    It will be the second major MMA event in the region in 2024 after the Professional Fighters League (PFL) held their first fight night there in February.

    The investment in MMA events sees Saudi Arabia continue to plough money into sport, although the country has long been criticised for using sport to deflect conversation away from its poor human rights record.

     

    FULL STORY

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    The fixture calendar for the rest of the Premier League season is pretty much set so now it's up to you to decide on your strategy depending on what chips you have left in the game.

    We know there are seven teams with a double gameweek 34 - Arsenal, Liverpool, Wolves, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton and Sheffield United.

    Tottenham don't have a fixture in gameweek 34, which makes things slightly trickier if you don't have a Free Hit chip, because they will then have two double gameweeks before the end of the season.

    Chelsea will also double twice in the last four gameweeks of the season, while Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle and Brighton will all have a double gameweek, which is almost certainly going to be in gameweek 37.

    Managers who still have their second wildcard available will rightly be debating whether to play it now, either in gameweek 30 or 31, or in gameweek 35 to really attack the last four weeks of the season with a potential Bench Boost in mind for gameweek 37.

    If you've still got that Free Hit chip then the earlier wildcard could be tempting because you can bring in as many Tottenham and Chelsea players as you like without having to worry about gameweek, 34 when Tottenham blank and Chelsea are away to Arsenal.

    I like that strategy because the fixtures look good for both Tottenham and Chelsea in the next few weeks - but if you've already used your Free Hit then you might want to hold on to the wildcard until gameweek 35 and focus your transfers on Liverpool and Arsenal in the short-term as we start to build up towards gameweek 34.

     

    FULL REPORT

     

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    Manchester United have entered the race to sign Spain international Dani Olmo, who has a £52m release clause to leave RB Leipzig this summer. The 25-year-old winger is also interesting Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham. (Daily Mail)

    Manchester United representatives have been to Spain to identify potential transfer targets and 34-year-old Spain striker Joselu, who is on loan at Real Madrid from Espanyol, is one of the names on their list. (Relevo - in Spanish)

    United will have to pay at least 60m euros (£51.3m) for Brazil international Gleison Bremer, 27, who plays for Juventus, and the Red Devils' striker Mason Greenwood, 22, could be included in the deal. (Gazetta dello Sport - in Italian) 

    Manchester City and Newcastle United will rival Manchester United for the signing of Everton and England Under-21 centre-back Jarrad Brathwaite, 21. (Football Transfers)

    Italian club Genoa are expecting to receive bids in the summer for 26-year-old Iceland forward Albert Gudmundsson, who has been linked with Tottenham and West Ham. (Fabrizio Romano)

     

     

    Newcastle United ran the rule over several Brazil players during their friendly against England last week, with Barcelona winger Raphinha, 27, and Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, 27, thought to be on their radar. (Newcastle Chronicle)

    Manchester United and Tottenham target Jean-Clair Todibo, the 24-year-old France international centre-back, could be available for £40m from Nice this summer. (Talksport)

    Crystal Palace want to sign 19-year-old Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera in the summer but face competition for the Spain Under-21 international from Atletico Madrid. (Evening Standard)

    Chelsea will replace Todd Boehly as chairman in 2027. (Mail)

    There is a strong temptation for Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, 30, currently on loan at Roma from Chelsea, to move to Saudi Arabia. (Calcio Mercato - in Italian)

     

     

     

    FULL REPORT

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    Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for alleged breaches of betting rules.

    The 23-year-old is currently serving a 10-month ban issued by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in October for breaking betting rules in Italy.

    Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July for £55m.

    The FA alleges Tonali broke its rules by placing 50 bets on matches between 12 August and 12 October 2023.

    Tonali was banned by the FIGC for betting on matches involving his teams Brescia and Milan, and Fifa later granted the Italian federation's request to have the ban extended worldwide.

    The FA charges relate to separate allegations during Tonali's time as a Newcastle player.

    "Newcastle United acknowledges a misconduct charge received by Sandro Tonali in respect of alleged breaches of FA Betting Rules," the club said on Thursday.

    "Sandro continues to fully comply with relevant investigations and he retains the club's full support."

    His current ban means Tonali is not eligible to play again until August and will not feature at Euro 2024.

    The Italy international, who was fined 20,000 euros (£17,380), was initially given an 18-month ban which was reduced after he agreed to take part in an eight-month "therapeutic plan" to help "recovery from gambling addiction".

    That will include Tonali making at least 16 public appearances in Italy, where he will be expected to speak to young players about the dangers of gambling.

    Although he is unable to play in any matches, Tonali can train alongside his Newcastle team-mates during his ban.

    Tonali, who has until 5 April to respond to the FA's charges, had only made 12 appearances for Eddie Howe's side before his suspension was imposed.

     

    FULL STORY

     

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    Disbelief instead of Dortmund, heartbreak instead of Hamburg.

    Wales' bid to reach their fourth major tournament in eight years ended in tears at Cardiff City Stadium last night as Poland's penalty shoot-out success took the final place in Germany.

    The play-off disappointment was the cruel climax to a turbulent attempt at Euro 2024 qualifying.

    There were two dramatic nights against Croatia, and a fine semi-final win over Finland.

    But it was also a campaign marked by missed opportunities and marred by continuing questions over manager Rob Page.

    And despite the harsh manner of Wales' exit, there are still those who will argue the side should never have had to leave it to luck and trying to qualify via the play-offs.

    Here BBC Sport Wales looks at the key moments that cost Wales a place at Euro 2024.

     

    FULL REPORT

     

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    World number one Novak Djokovic has split with coach Goran Ivanisevic.

    Former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic became Djokovic's main coach in March 2022, having worked with him alongside long-time mentor Marian Vajda since 2018.

    Serb Djokovic has won a joint-record 24 Grand Slam singles titles but has made a disappointing start to 2024.

    "Goran and I decided to stop working together a few days ago," Djokovic said on Instagram.

    "Our on-court chemistry had its ups and downs, but our friendship was always rock solid."

    Djokovic lost in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January, suffered a third-round defeat by world number 123 Luka Nardi at Indian Wells this month, then withdrew from the ongoing Miami Open, citing a need to balance his "private and professional schedule".

    "I remember clearly the moment I invited Goran to be part of my team. It was back in 2018, and Marian and I were looking to innovate and bring some serve magic to our duo," Djokovic said.

    "In fact, not only we brought serve, but also lots of laughter, fun, year end no1 rankings, record breaking achievements and 12 more Grand Slams (and a few finals) to the count since then. Did I mention a bit of drama too?"

    Croat Ivanisevic was nominated for the ATP Coach of the Year in 2023, having helped Djokovic to three of the four Grand Slam titles.

    Djokovic shares the record for Grand Slam singles titles with Margaret Court.

     

    FULL STORY

     

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    Indian Premier League, Hyderabad:
    Sunrisers Hyderabad 277-3 (20 overs): Klaasen 80* (34), Abhishek 63 (23), Head 62 (24)
    Mumbai Indians 246-5: Verma 64 (34), David 42* (22),
    Sunrisers Hyderabad won by 31 runs
    Scorecard. Group table.

    Sunrisers Hyderabad smashed 277-3 - the highest total in Indian Premier League history - in a record-breaking 31-run victory against Mumbai Indians.

    Opener Travis Head hit 62 from 24 balls, Abhishek Sharma a 23-ball 63 and Heinrich Klaasen 80 not out from 34.

    They took Sunrisers beyond the previous IPL record, Royal Challengers Bangalore's 263-5 in 2013.

    Mumbai made a decent fist of the chase, making the match the highest-scoring T20 in history, but ended on 246-5.

    Sunrisers' total was also the fourth highest in any men's T20 and the highest in a T20 franchise tournament.

    The men's T20 record is held by Nepal, who scored 314-3 against Mongolia last year. Afghanistan made 278-3 against Ireland in 2019 while the Czech Republic posted 278-4 against Hungary later that year.

    The previous record in a franchise tournament was Melbourne Stars' 273-2 against Hobart Hurricanes in the Australian Big Bash in 2022.

    Australia international Head was dropped on five and raced to a 18-ball fifty as he put on 68 in 23 balls with Abhishek, after the loss of Mayank Agarwal for 11.

    Abhishek then reached his fifty two balls quicker - thrashing three fours and seven sixes - before being dismissed at the end of the 11th over with the Sunrisers 161-3.

    The scoring slowed slightly as Klaasen joined Aiden Markram but the pair took 75 from the last five overs to end with an unbroken partnership of 116 from 55 balls.

    Markram ended on 42 not out from 28 balls.

    South African left-armer Kwena Maphaka, 17, conceded 66 in four wicketless overs on debut. There were 18 sixes and 19 fours in Sunrisers' innings and a T20 record 38 sixes in the match.

    Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan took Mumbai to 50-0 in three overs before Kishan holed out for 34 and Rohit 26.

     

    FULL REPORT

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    Fourth T20, Wellington
    England 177-3 (20 overs): Bouchier 91 (56)
    New Zealand 130-7 (20 overs): Dean 4-26
    England won by 47 runs
    Scorecard

    England sealed a T20 series victory with a game to spare with a dominant 47-run win over New Zealand in Wellington.

    England's imposing 177-3 was set up by opener Maia Bouchier's stunning 91 from only 56 balls.

    In reply, spinner Charlie Dean took 4-26 as the hosts stumbled to 130-7 from their 20 overs.

    The White Ferns were left to rue a sloppy fielding performance, dropping Bouchier twice and missing a stumping.

    Captain Sophie Devine was unable to bat after sustaining a quad injury in the field, to further dent New Zealand's hopes of chasing the competitive total.

    But they should not have been chasing such a target after Izzy Gaze missed a regulation stumping with Bouchier on 31, Jess Kerr could not hold on in her follow-through when she was on 44 and substitute fielder Leigh Kasperek spilled a tough diving chance on 80.

    England were also gifted plenty of runs through New Zealand's substandard ground fielding, and punished their wilting bowlers for 65 runs from the last five overs.

    Bouchier's knock included 12 fours and two sixes, before captain Heather Knight's 21 from nine balls and Nat Sciver-Brunt's 29 from 14 balls added the late impetus from which New Zealand never recovered.

    The final T20 takes place at the same venue on Friday.

     

    FULL STORY

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    Arsenal have a 10-man shortlist for a new striker this summer with RB Leipzig's Slovenian Benjamin Sesko, 20, Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, 25, and his fellow Sweden international, Newcastle's Alexander Isak, 24, among those being monitored. (Mirror)

    Manchester United are keen on Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, as they prioritise improving their defence next season. (Telegraph)

    Pep Guardiola is "obsessed" by Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 26, but Manchester City would have to pay 100m euros (£85.7m) to sign the Brazil international. (Fichajes - in Spanish)

    West Ham expect Manchester City to move again for their Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta, 26. (Football Insider)

    Chelsea are among the clubs interested in Athletico Paranaense goalkeeper Bento, 24, who made his Brazil debut against England last week. (Globo - in Portuguese)

    Tottenham want to sign Feyenoord's Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez, 22, as their replacement for Harry Kane this summer - one year after the 30-year-old England striker's departure to Bayern Munich(Caught Offside) 

    Liverpool forward Luis Diaz, 27, has not given up hope of moving to one of the big Spanish La Liga clubs in the future, according to the Colombia international's father. (Daily Mail)

    Manchester United are interested in signing Argentine defender Aaron Anselmino, 18, from Boca Juniors(Ole - in Spanish)

    Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi is Bayern Munich's leading managerial candidate if they cannot persuade their former midfielder Xabi Alonso to join from Bayer Leverkusen(Florian Plettenberg)

    TottenhamWest HamBrighton and Everton are all plotting moves for Juventus and England Under-21 winger Samuel Iling-Junior, 20. (Football Insider)

    Italy midfielder Jorginho, 32, could leave Arsenal this summer to return to his homeland. (Football London)

    The Gunners' hopes of signing winger Xavi Simons, 20, have been hit because Paris St-Germain want to give the Netherlands international more game time when he returns from a loan at RB Leipzig(Express)

     

     

    Manchester United will let Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen, 32, leave this summer. (Football Insider)

    Real Madrid cannot afford a rumoured move for Liverpool and England full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, 25. (Goal)

    Germany midfielder Toni Kroos, 34, is set to sign a one-year contract extension to stay at Real Madrid(Fabrizio Romano)

    Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders is a contender to take charge at Ajax next season.

     

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