CK Updates
Football gossip: Rashford, Chiesa, Mainoo, Leweling
Marcus Rashford might have a route back to Manchester United, trio may stay at Old Trafford after Ruben Amorim exit, Juventus keen on Federico Chiesa return.
Manchester United sacking Ruben Amorim could provide England forward Marcus Rashford, 28, who is on loan at Barcelona, with a route back to Old Trafford. (Mirror), external
Oliver Glasner is likely to be Manchester United‘s top target to replace the sacked Amorim. The club’s hierarchy are huge admirers of the 51-year-old Austrian, whose Crystal Palace contract expires in the summer. (Telegraph – subscription required), external
Fulham are preparing for an approach from Manchester United for their Portuguese manager Marco Silva. (Sun), external
England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 20, Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee, 24, and Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte, 24, were all desperate to leave Manchester United in January had Amorim stayed. (Mail – subscription required), external
Juventus have started talks with Liverpool over a loan move for Federico Chiesa, with the 28-year-old Italy forward open to a return to the Serie A club where he spent two seasons between 2022-2024. (La Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external
Bournemouth were prepared to pay 40m euros (£34.7m) for Stuttgart and Germany winger Jamie Leweling as a replacement for their 25-year-old Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo, who is closing in on a transfer to Manchester City, but the Bundesliga club rejected the Cherries’ offer. (Sky Sports – in German), external
Chelsea will have to act fast if they are to sign Jeremy Jacquet, 20, from Rennes, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Manchester United all keen on the French defender. (Teamtalk), external
Barcelona have made an offer to take Al-Hilal and Portugal defender Joao Cancelo, 31, on loan, with Inter Milan also keen. (La Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external
Nottingham Forest‘s head of football Edu faces doubts over his long-term future as the club continue to endure a turbulent season. (Telegraph – subscription required), external
Crystal Palace are prepared to rival West Ham to sign Norway forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, 25, from Wolves. (Mail – subscription required), external
Tottenham have held talks with Santos over a deal for their highly rated Brazilian left-back Souza, 19, who is also interesting Newcastle. (Teamtalk), external
England forward Callum Wilson, 33, is in talks to end his West Ham contract after just five months at the club. (Athletic – subscription required), external
Former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil has held talks over becoming the new Strasbourg head coach, with the French club’s current manager Liam Rosenior closing in on replacing Enzo Maresca at Chelsea. (Athletic – subscription required), external
Crystal Palace 20-year-old England Under-21 forward Romain Esse is set to spend the remainder of the season on loan at Championship leaders Coventry City. (Sky Sports), external
CK Updates
Commonwealth Games: Megan Keith claims bronze for Scotland in 5000m infront of 100-year-old grandad
Given Keith herself was a tad surprised she scooped up a medal here, her grandad’s take on the event ought to be a good one.
The 10,000m is her preference, but the longer distance final did not go to plan on Monday and she finished seventh.
The Inverness athlete said she was faced with the ‘can Megan win a medal?’ talk earlier this week, but with that weight of expectation lifted – combined with experience of the home crowd and “the help of two other Scots in the race” – she was freed from the shackles to soar to a classy and courageous run.
“If you look at Monday on paper, that was pretty disappointing,” the 24-year-old added.
“I don’t think you’d put me in the running for a 5km medal since the 10km is normally closer to being my strength, so that definitely helped, the removal of that pressure.
“I think I knew if I felt horrendous and dropped out or fell off the pace again it wouldn’t really matter so I may as well shoot my shot.”
And shoot she did. Biding her time in the middle of the congested pact, Keith made her move with four laps to go, weaving past early pacesetters from Kenya and Uganda.
She was afforded a bit of breathing space with two hurls around the track to go. But as expected, the exceptional Australian duo of Rose Davies – who made it a double gold at these Games with her 10km – and Jessica Hull, the 1500m Olympic silver medallist, entered another gear in the final lap.
While the cameras focused on the tremendous tussle between the pair in the matching yellow vests, the majority of the crowd had their eyes a wee bit further back, bawling at Keith on the final stretch.
She was home safe and sound. And swiftly searching for a saltire.
Once that was draped over her shoulders, and she’d caught up with fellow Scots Eloise Walker and Laura Muir, who finished 15th and 16th respectively, she was darting back around the track – the wrong way, this time – in search of her grandad.
He was eventually found for a quick hug, but a bigger debrief – and the declaration, surely, that this topped any other Scotstoun occasion – is still to be had.
CK Updates
Commonwealth Games 2026: England netball team beat South Africa to reach semi-finals
England’s netballers reached the Commonwealth Games semi-finals after producing a pulsating comeback to beat South Africa 58-54.
With both sides tied on six points but the Roses ahead of the Proteas on goal average in pool A’s second spot going into the game, England had to avoid defeat to progress.
Elmere van der Berg was in fine form early on to fire South Africa into a six-goal lead at the end of the first quarter with 16 of her nation’s 17 goals, leaving England facing an uphill task.
But some excellent and aggressive defensive work by second-quarter substitute Halimat Adio helped England spring multiple counter-attacks to claw their way back to just 29-28 down at the halfway stage.
The Roses started to take control in the third quarter, opening up a seven-goal lead at one stage before the Proteas netted three times in quick succession to go into the final 15 minutes 43-39 behind.
Both sides then went blow for blow in a compelling final quarter with 15 goals apiece, but 2018 champions England held on to ensure they maintained their record of qualifying for every Commonwealth Games semi-final since the inaugural netball event in 1998.
England will face New Zealand in the last four on Saturday, while South Africa’s wait for a first semi-final since 1998 goes on.
CK Updates
Fifa World Cup: Uefa to boycott tournament if Gianni Infantino’s investment plans go through
In a statement released after Thursday’s meeting, which was held virtually and chaired by president Aleksander Ceferin, Uefa said it and its 55 member associations “stand as one”.
“We unanimously and unequivocally reject Fifa’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other Fifa competitions to private investors,” it said.
On Wednesday, Uefa had accused Fifa of using football “to enrich themselves and their friends”.
Its statement on Thursday was even more damning, calling it “irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret” and “without any meaningful consultation” with those who steward the game.
It added: “This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of Fifa’s duty as the custodian of world football.
“National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences.
“This is not a ‘democratic decision’, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.”
While Uefa only accounts for a quarter of Fifa’s membership, it does include most of the world’s most successful teams.
Six of the eight quarter-finalists – including winners Spain – at this summer’s World Cup were European. In the 2022 and 2018 editions, the figures were five and six respectively.
Of the 23 World Cups to have taken place to date, 13 have been won by European countries.
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CK Updates14 hours agoFifa World Cup: Uefa to boycott tournament if Gianni Infantino’s investment plans go through
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CK Updates8 hours agoCommonwealth Games 2026: England netball team beat South Africa to reach semi-finals
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CK Updates20 hours agoStephen Fleming: England appoint former New Zealand captain as Test coach, with Joe Root captain
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CK Updates2 hours agoCommonwealth Games: Megan Keith claims bronze for Scotland in 5000m infront of 100-year-old grandad

