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Aston Villa icon Gabriel Agbonlahor has threatened to "move countries" if Manchester United sign Ollie Watkins. The Villans are reportedly eyeing a move for Dominic Calvert-Lewin in case Watkins leaves the club. The 28-year-old striker is currently a free agent after leaving Everton at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

Aston Villa legend makes moving threat Villa linked with a move for Calvert-Lewin Man Utd want Watkins Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Wolves and Brentford, respectively, Ruben Amorim is now looking to add a new No.9 to his squad and further bolster the attack. The Red Devils have narrowed their striker search to two candidates: Aston Villa's Watkins and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko.

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Watkins, like Agbonlahor, is a crowd favourite at Villa Park and he broke the Villa legend's Premier League record in May after scoring his 75th goal for the club against Bournemouth. Agbonlahor was infuriated when he heard that his former team is planning to replace Watkins with free agent Calvert-Lewin, who scored only three league goals for Everton in the 2024-25 campaign.

WHAT AGBONLAHOR SAID

Speaking to , the 38-year-old said: "Why you lying for? Don’t lie. Don’t you dare, don’t you dare. Who put that in there? You think you’re going to take Watkins and we’re going to get Calvert-Lewin? No way, I’d move countries. Because Man United, of all clubs, taking Ollie Watkins would really hurt me."

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Despite strong interest from the Red Devils, Aston Villa have made it clear that they do not intend to sell their star forward as Watkins remains an integral part of Unai Emery's long-term project.

Warwickshire declared overnight to set Lancashire 232 in 44 overs before the weather intervened

ECB Reporters Network27-May-2024Any hope of an exciting climax to the last day of the Vitality County Championship encounter between Lancashire and Warwickshire was dashed by the rain after only 75 minutes of play was possible at Emirates Old Trafford as the game finished in a draw.Poor weather had dominated proceedings throughout the encounter. But with the visitors 96 for 3 overnight, leading by 231, all results were still possible in Manchester given Lancashire’s brittle batting order this season and Warwickshire’s desire to chase a first win of the campaign.But as heavy showers swept across the ground throughout the morning both sets of players were thwarted with repeated pitch inspections coming and going without any chance of play.Eventually, a break in the weather saw the game resume at 3:15pm with a generous Warwickshire declaration giving Lancashire the opportunity to embark on a desperate run chase with 44 overs still scheduled.Luke Wells quickly departed in the second over, pulling Michael Rae straight to Jake Lintott on the square leg boundary. But then, for a brief time, the hosts looked as if they could pull off something special.Keaton Jennings slapped three boundaries but was bowled comprehensively by Jacob Bethell when attempting a reverse sweep that ended with the Lancashire skipper lying on his backside and out for 18. Josh Bohannon upper cut Rae for six before he skied the same bowler to Alex Davies at mid on for a ten-ball 15.An almost identical shot saw George Bell hand Rae his third wicket leaving Tom Bruce and Matty Hurst at the crease. The pair put on 43 runs before the rain came for a final decisive time at 4:30pm, leaving the New Zealander unbeaten on 31 and the young wicketkeeper 15 not out as Lancashire closed on 89 for 4 off the 15 overs possible.Lancashire claimed 11 points from the game, taking them off the bottom of Division One, while Warwickshire took 12, leaving them seventh.

So far, it’s been a disappointing tournament for Liga MX’s biggest clubs.

América, with three points, have the best shotCruz Azul and Chivas sit on twoPumas, the other “big four” sidw, currently rank fifthGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now@PumasMXWHAT HAPPENED?

Three of Mexico’s so-called “big four” clubs are on the verge of crashing out of the Leagues Cup – and doing so in disappointing fashion. While Pumas are in relatively stable position with five points (fifth among Liga MX teams), the outlook is much more precarious for Club América, Chivas, and Cruz Azul.

GOAL looks at what each team needs to do to advance in the tournament…

Advertisement@ClubAméricaAmérica’s uphill battle

have been frustratingly inconsistent in their Leagues Cup campaign. A 2-2 draw against Real Salt Lake saw them miss out on the extra point in the penalty shootout. They followed it up with another draw, this time 3-3 versus Minnesota United – a game where they did secure the bonus point from the spot. That leaves them with three points and slim mathematical hope.

To sneak into the next round, América must beat Portland Timbers and rely on a cascade of favorable results. Clubs like Juárez, Mazatlán, Toluca, and even Pumas (all on five points) need to remain below six. Teams such as Necaxa, Pachuca, Puebla, and Tijuana also need to drop points – otherwise, América’s campaign could end prematurely.

@CHIVASChivas hanging by a thread

The story isn’t much better for Guadalajara. After a last-minute loss to NY Red Bulls in their opener, they drew 2–2 with Charlotte FC and won the extra point in penalties – leaving them with just two points from two games. Like América, they need a win in their final match and a long list of favorable outcomes elsewhere to stay alive.

Chivas' path is further complicated by their proximity in the standings to other desperate Liga MX sides like Monterrey, who also sit on two points and are hoping for a final day miracle.

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@CruzAzulCruz Azul facing near-impossible odds

had one of the worst starts imaginable, suffering a humiliating 7–0 defeat to Seattle Sounders. They responded with a 1–1 draw against LA Galaxy and managed to steal the extra point on penalties – but even that wasn’t enough to control their destiny.

With just two points and 13 Mexican clubs ranked ahead of them, Cruz Azul need more than a win against the Colorado Rapids – they need chaos. Even with three points, their goal differential and low placement make advancement highly unlikely unless several results go their way.

Barcelona superstar Robert Lewandowski has stepped in to offer some big-brother advice to teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, as the youngster finds himself under a cloud of controversy just weeks after turning 18. The Spain international, hailed as one of the favourites to lift the Ballon d’Or this year, has been battling some PR nightmares off the pitch.

Lewandowski urges Yamal to keep focusedBirthday scandal sparked public outragePolish star wants teenager to keep focusFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Yamal reportedly hired dwarves to perform at his lavish birthday celebrations. The move has triggered fierce condemnation from the Association of People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias (ADEE), which represents people with dwarfism under Spain’s national disability federation, COCEMFE.

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ADEE branded the incident "deeply disrespectful" and expressed disappointment that such a public figure could show such a lack of awareness. The backlash has since spread across social media, triggering a heavy dose of online drama.

WHAT LEWANDOWSKI SAID

Speaking to Lewandowski said of Yamal: "Lamine is so young, he can enjoy life. He has to enjoy the life because everything, not only in football, but outside of it, is in front of him. Of course, that will be also a tough moment for him, how to handle it, all things around him. For sure, that will be not easy but he has to also enjoy everything. Still in this age, you can, and probably in the future he cannot. You have to just find the balance."

In May, Yamal penned a new Barcelona deal running until 2031, a mammoth commitment that cemented his place as one of the faces of the club’s future. To add to the weight on his young shoulders, he’s also taken over the club’s legendary No. 10 shirt, worn by icons such as Lionel Messi.

"He is a very good guy. People doesn't understand that we want to show something of who we are," Lewndowski said. "He shows what he is. Of course, there will be a lot of speculation, a lot of talk about this. It depends how he handles this for the long term. I think the most important thing for him, and probably he will have to answer himself, is that it [media attention] will be too much in two, three, four years."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Lewandowski also pointed out the ruthless nature of fame in the social media age, where one day you’re a hero and the next you’re a villain.

"He's working hard," the Poland international said. "But the part outside of football, the emotion that in one day on social media you are [up] here, and the next day you are on the ground. This means that also for your body, for your mind, for your head, it's a huge pressure…He probably has to find the answer for this in the future."

The match against Afghanistan will be their first in a World Cup, be it T20 or ODI

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jun-2024The excitement in the Uganda camp, as well as back home, is understandable. After all, it will be their first World Cup game – T20 or ODI – when they face Afghanistan in Providence on Monday. And according to their captain Brian Masaba, they “carry a whole country’s hopes” on their backs.”Absolutely huge game for us, our first game at a World Cup, first ever for Uganda in our history, so we are very excited to get going,” Masaba said on the eve of the match. “Obviously, there’s a bit of nerves but we’ve got to keep our focus on the game and try to get the result that we need because we need to kick off the tournament in the right way with good results.”There’s obviously a lot of excitement back home. It’s not just a first for us in cricket, but I believe we are the third team in any sporting discipline in the country to qualify for the World Cup. So it’s not a small feat. So it’s not just the cricket community that is supporting us, there’s a lot of the other guys in all the other sports, as well as the government back home. So yeah, the whole country is super proud of what this team has achieved and they’re looking forward to seeing us going out there and representing the country with pride. It’s a huge responsibility for us, it’s not just about the cricket anymore, but we carry a whole country’s hopes on our backs.”Related

Do newbies Uganda have the spunk to challenge star-studded Afghanistan?

Rashid: We have the batting line-up to chase down 200

Uganda qualified for the World Cup via the Africa Qualifier, where they beat Zimbabwe by five wickets and finished second on the seven-team points table. The only side they lost to were fellow qualifiers Namibia. At the T20 World Cup, Uganda have West Indies, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in their group, apart from Afghanistan.”After our qualifier last November, we obviously realised we needed to play a lot of cricket to prepare ourselves for this World Cup; it’s a different level for us,” Masaba said. “And it was very important for us as a team to make sure we come here well prepared having got the right kind of practice. So it was a couple of tours to Sri Lanka, India as well, but a lot of intra-squad games as well.”So we believe we have practised, we have prepared well for this tournament. Yes, it’s a huge challenge for us. It’s a tough group, but we look forward to the challenge. It’s a couple of the top teams in the world, but it’s going to be very important for us how we show up tomorrow and the kind of cricket that we display out there.”Uganda will also take confidence from the way PNG ran West Indies close on Sunday even though they lost in the end.”We were following that game very keenly,” Masaba said. “Obviously, we’re not too familiar with the local conditions, so we needed to pick up what information we could from that game. And the way Papua New Guinea went out there and played, it’s very good signs for us as well. It shows that the gap is not as huge as a lot of people want to believe.”I believe if some of the smaller countries are given the opportunity to play, and the exposure, then they can compete against the top side. So we are very happy with the way that game went and we look to come out tomorrow and just try to emulate that.”When asked about the upcoming talent in the squad, Masaba named the fast-bowling duo Juma Miyagi and Cosmas Kyewuta.”They have done well for us over the last couple of years and being as young as they are, it’s very exciting to see them do what they do. Hopefully, this platform provides a bit more opportunity for them going forward. But you know we’ve got seasoned performers like Riazat Ali Shah as well, super talented lad, allrounder. He has won a couple of crunch games for us. So it’s a very dynamic team. It’s not super reliant on any one person. More often than not it’s a huge team effort that gets us our win, so you know that’s something I look forward to us doing again in this tournament.”

Manchester City’s midfield crisis has deepened as both Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic join Rodri on the injury list ahead of the Premier League season. Pep Guardiola confirmed that Kovacic could be sidelined until October with an achilles problem, leaving the champions scrambling for solutions in the No.6 role. Foden’s setback further adds to Guardiola’s early-season selection headache.

Kovacic ruled out until October with Achilles injuryRodri also sidelined, Foden suffers fresh injury setbackNico Gonzalez likely to start in deep midfield roleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester City will begin the season without two of their key midfielders in Foden and Kovacic, with Rodri also missing the first three league games due to a groin injury. Kovacic’s absence, originally expected to be brief, is now likely to stretch into October. Foden has also suffered a knock, leaving Guardiola short of senior midfield options. The Catalan tactician has now revealed his midfield plans for the start of the season.

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Speaking to the media about his options for the No. 6 position, Guardiola said: “We have three. Kova is injured until September or October, Rodri is coming back after six months and [we have] Nico [Gonzalez]. The others can play there but are more attacking, they like to be in the opposition’s box. Gundogan can play there and Tijji [Reinders] can play there but when everybody is fit their position is more up front.”

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Kovacic’s absence is particularly damaging as he would have been the ideal stopgap for Rodri’s absence. Nico Gonzalez, once dubbed “mini-Rodri” by Guardiola, could now get a chance to re-establish himself after falling out of favour at the end of last season. The situation may also push Guardiola to experiment with Gundogan or Reijnders in a deeper role.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

Guardiola's side will face Wolverhampton, Tottenham, and Brighton without Rodri and Kovacic, meaning their midfield structure will be under the spotlight from day one. Gonzalez is likely to start in the No.6 position, with others filling in if needed. Guardiola will be hoping his key men return quickly to avoid the crisis deepening further.

Real Madrid are reportedly warming to the idea of loaning Rodrygo to Tottenham, as Xabi Alonso does not have the player in his plans.

Other suitors have cooled on permanent dealSpurs would pay winger's full wageRodrygo did not feature in Los Blancos' league openerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Brazilian winger did not feature in Los Blancos' opening day victory over Osasuna, intensifying speculation over his exit. However, the market for his services has cooled, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich pursuing other options in the attacking third. reports the Real Madrid hierarchy are now open to a loan deal, with Spurs the most likely destination. 

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Spurs would be able to pay the player's entire salary. Real Madrid also reportedly view the move as a means to the player re-establishing his value. Los Blancos had previously slapped a €100m (£86.5m/$116.5m) price tag on the Brazilian winger. It is unclear if a future fee would be part of any deal between the two clubs. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Rodrygo has been agitating for a move, as he wants to play on the left but sits behind Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. in the pecking order. Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo Garcia were called upon from the bench against Osasuna ahead of the 24-year-old Brazilian. 

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

A loan deal could end up being the perefect marriage of convenience for both Rodrygo and Spurs. Tottenham have missed out on Eberechi Eze, and still need to strengthen their attacking options, particularly on the left. Rodrygo cut a dejected figure on the bench during Sunday's game. The chance to assert himself in a new environment could help him regain his smile. 

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has identified Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers as a top target to replace Nuno Espirito Santo, with the Portuguese coach expected to be dismissed next week. Tensions between Marinakis and Nuno have reached breaking point, leaving Rodgers as the frontrunner to take charge at the City Ground, despite previous links with Jose Mourinho.

Rodgers emerges as Forest’s top managerial targetNuno's relationship with Marinakis has collapsedCeltic's UCL fate could impact Rodgers’ potential switchFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Per , Rodgers has emerged as Marinakis’ preferred candidate following a breakdown in his relationship with Nuno. The Celtic boss is admired by the Nottingham Forest hierarchy and could be tempted by a return to the Premier League. All this comes after Nuno publicly admitted his strained ties with the owner during a fiery press conference last Friday.

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Rodgers is into the final year of his Celtic deal, meaning a move would not require significant compensation. Marinakis is keen to make a decisive change as Nottingham Forest prepare for a crucial campaign domestically and in Europe. A managerial shift now could reshape the club’s long-term direction.

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Nuno has grown frustrated with the Forest’s lack of transfer activity despite late arrivals in the window. His thinly veiled criticism of the board has only accelerated his potential exit, which could come as early as next week. Rodgers, however, faces a Champions League qualifier with Celtic this Tuesday, which may influence the possibility of the move to City Ground.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR NOTTINGHAM FOREST?

Marinakis is expected to dismiss Nuno in the coming week, paving the way for talks with Rodgers. Celtic’s European fate could determine how soon a deal is struck. If Rodgers departs, Ange Postecoglou, who has also been linked with Forest, could make his return as the Hoops' head coach.

Arsenal midfielders Albert Sambi Lokonga and Fabio Vieira are in line for surprise moves to the Bundesliga with Hamburg close to wrapping up deals.

Hamburg finalising deals for Gunners duoVieira loan includes a €20m optionBoth spent last season out on loanFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Hamburg are set to complete a surprise double swoop for Arsenal midfielders Vieira and Sambi, according to reports from and . Vieira is expected to join the Bundesliga side on loan for the season, while Lokonga will reportedly make a permanent switch.

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The move sees Arsenal offload two players who have failed to establish themselves at the Emirates Stadium. Vieira, who joined from FC Porto for €35 million (£30m/$41m) in 2022, spent last season back on loan at his former club after struggling for minutes and undergoing groin surgery. Similarly, Lokonga, a €17.5m (£15m/$21m) signing from Anderlecht in 2021, was on loan at Sevilla last term, where his campaign was disrupted by thigh injuries.

DID YOU KNOW?

As part of the loan agreement for Vieira, Hamburg have reportedly secured an option to make the transfer permanent for a fee of €20m (£17m/$23m).

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Both players are reportedly scheduled to undergo medicals to finalise their respective transfers. The deals will continue Arsenal's efforts to trim their squad of fringe players. For Hamburg, the double signing represents a significant boost to their midfield options as they look to integrate the duo into their squad for the season ahead. 

Royals still have a chance if they win final game, though their NRR is -0.403 and their fate could be tied to how Mumbai fare in their last two matches

Srinath Sripath15-May-2018What does KKR’s win mean for the other teams?KKR are now in third place with 14 points after 13 games, and have a net run rate of -0.091. If they win their last game, they will be certain of a playoff spot.Should KKR lose their final game – against Sunrisers in Hyderabad – their chances might suffer if Mumbai Indians and RCB win their last two games, because both those teams will get to 14 points and have a better net run rate than KKR.Kings XI Punjab, currently on 12 points, can still go through if they win one of their two remaining games and other results go their way, despite having the worst NRR (-0.518) in the league. If they win both games, they are assured of qualification regardless of other results.Royals still have a chance of qualifying if they win their final league game, though their NRR is -0.403. They need to win their final game against RCB – a convincing margin will help – and hope that Mumbai don’t win their last two games.Getty ImagesIs Dinesh Karthik among IPL 2018’s best finishers?
The short answer is, yes. Karthik has ticked three major boxes in chases this season: he plays very few dot balls (his 25.2% in successful chases puts him at #2, behind AB de Villiers), finds the boundary frequently (once every five balls), and most importantly, sees his side through (four unbeaten knocks in five successful chases). In a team with hitters like Chris Lynn and Andre Russell, it is their captain who has been the most consistent closer of chases.Royals finally find a powerful opening combination?

It took 12 games and Jos Buttler to get selected in England's Test squad for Tripathi to open with him. This should have been the opening pair for at least the first three four games for sure. May cost them a spot. #IPL2018

— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) May 15, 2018

Rajasthan Royals chopped and changed their opening combinations for a month before a rain-affected chase forced them to push Jos Buttler to open the batting. Since then, he has been on such a hot streak that he is now set to depart the IPL early, after being named in England’s Test squad.Against Kolkata Knight Riders, Rahul Tripathi joined Buttler for the first time, Royals’ seventh different opening combination for the season. Tripathi had made his name as an opener last season for Rising Pune Supergiant, scoring 184 runs in the Powerplay at a strike rate of 157.6. According to ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats, his runs were worth 75 more considering match context, among the best in IPL 2017.ESPNcricinfo LtdNow, with Buttler set to leave, Tripathi may have been pushed up the order so he can play the role of the aggressor from the next game. Buttler and Tripathi put on 63 off just 4.5 overs, carting Knight Riders’ bowlers for an IPL-record 10 consecutive boundaries at one point. They will end the season having opened together only once. More importantly, having taken so long to arrive at the right opening combination might end up costing Royals a playoff spot.How did Royals lose their way from 63 for 0 in 4.4 overs?
Royals’ opening partnership: 63 runs in 4.4 overs (Run rate 13.04)
Next 7 overs: 36 runs (Run rate 5.14)
Over the past five games, Buttler’s fireworks have mostly been enough to carry Royals’ batting, papering over the cracks in their middle order. On Tuesday, after Tripathi’s dismissal, Ajinkya Rahane’s arrival slowed things down significantly, as he struggled to rotate strike in the next over from Sunil Narine. Rahane ended up with 11 off 12 balls, a microcosm of a largely forgettable season for him.Each of their top six, apart from Buttler and Sanju Samson, have scored at below-par rates and cost their team runs, as per Smart Stats. Their opening combinations might have cost Royals a few games in the first half of the season, but it is the lack of runs from the middle order which has hurt them the most.A spinner to Narine in the first over?
K Gowtham had opened the bowling eight times for Rajasthan Royals before this game, keeping it tight (economy rate 7.44) with his wicket-to-wicket fingerspin. But he hasn’t been a strike bowler by any means – two wickets in 48 balls. Rahane tossed the ball to his offspinner as usual, possibly to take on a left-hand opener in Sunil Narine. Narine is a marauding hitter of spin, though, and opening with Gowtham was a gamble. It did not work as Narine took Gowtham apart, scoring 21 runs off five balls.Narine’s relative weakness against pace is well known, and with the likes of Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes (who got him second ball) in their ranks, it seemed like Rahane had missed a trick. By the time Stokes got him in the second over, Narine had done his job.