Author: WTX Sports Team

The Sports Team is responsible for delivering your Sports Brief. Weekly roundup to cover all things Football, Cricket, Tennis Formula 1, Boxing and Olympics and more.

Napoli have opened talks with Manchester United over a deal for Alejandro Garnacho but the Premier League club are demanding a £70 million transfer fee, according to reports in Italy. Antonio Conte’s side are on the verge of selling Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in a €70m (£59.1m) deal to Paris Saint-Germain and the Georgia international is set to undergo a medical with the French champions. Napoli have identified Garnacho as a direct replacement for Kvaratskhelia and Sky Sports Italy report that initial talks over a potential transfer were held on Tuesday. However, Napoli consider United’s £70m asking price too high and…

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The back page of the Daily Mirror leads with Everton’s new boss, David Moyes. Arne Slot has said Nottingham Forest are buying their way to success. British tennis star Jacob Fearnley beat an ailing Nick Kyrgios on the home favourite’s long-awaited comeback at the Australian Open.

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The back page of The Sun leads on Tyson Fury’s announcement he is to retire from boxing – although the paper questions if he’s serious. David Moyes has become the new Everton manager, Nuno and Arne exchange words ahead of kick off and Cloughie would be proud of Notts Forest performance this season.

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Ronnie O’Sullivan described his withdrawal from the Masters as a ‘nightmare decision to make’ and said it was down to a build-up of pressure ahead of the tournament. The Rocket pulled out of the defence of his Masters title on Friday after, with Neil Robertson replacing him in the draw and taking on John Higgins on Sunday. The 49-year-old had been playing in the Championship League on Wednesday and Thursday, appearing very frustrated with his game, so much so that he snapped his cue after a defeat to Robert Milkins. After pulling out of the event in Leicester, O’Sullivan then…

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Bayern Munich are interested in Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, with the teenager’s future at Old Trafford still in doubt. The 19-year-old remains an important part of the Red Devils’ team after bursting onto the scene last season and the club want to keep hold of him. The England international is under contract until 2027, but he wants a new deal on a vastly improved salary as he is currently paid £20,000-a-week. Obviously that is a huge amount to the vast majority of people, but not if you play for Manchester United, as many of his teammates have wages which…

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Judd Trump feels his brilliant achievements in snooker do not get the recognition they deserve and he feels more underappreciated now than ever. The world number one is enjoying another fantastic season, winning the UK Championship, Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and Shanghai Masters this season. At 35-years-old has has racked up 30 ranking titles, with only Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and John Higgins boasting more. While Trump is clearly rated extremely highly by any sensible snooker judge, he does not feel like he is getting the credit he deserves, noting his record six ranking titles in a season as a…

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Chelsea have held initial talks with Bayern Munich over a possible swap deal including Christopher Nkunku and Mathys Tel. The Blues are interested in the 19-year-old who has started just two Bundesliga games so far this season for Bayern. The French forward has been hampered by fitness issues, but he is also down the pecking order under Vincent Kompany, starting on the substitutes’ bench 12 times in the league and only coming on five times. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Tel has spoken with Kompany and hopes for a successful future in Bavaria, but Chelsea are hovering. The report…

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Bruno Fernandes says Ruben Amorim has been telling the Manchester United squad ‘a lot’ that they need to score more goals as he tries to spark the Red Devils back into life. It has been a difficult time for Amorim in charge at Old Trafford so far, but things have started to pick up, with an encouraging draw at Liverpool in the Premier League and a penalty shootout win over Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday. There is an awful lot more improvement still to be done though, with Manchester United 13th in the Premier League table with just…

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Lazio have sacked Juan Bernabè, the man who was in charge of their eagle mascot, after he posted videos and pictures of his penis following an operation ‘to increase sexual performance’. The Serie A club released a statement on Monday conveying their shock over the incident and apologising to their fans that their iconic eagle, Olimpia, will not be around for a few games after its handler was axed. The statement read: ‘SS Lazio Spa, shocked to see the photographic and video images of Mr. Juan Bernabè and to read the statements that accompanied them, announces that it has interrupted,…

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Mark Selby was in sparkling form as he demolished Ali Carter 6-1 at the Masters on Monday and old rival Ronnie O’Sullivan could scarcely have been more impressed. The four-time world champion made breaks of 62, 108, 93, 126 and 53 in a brilliant display to book a spot in the quarter-finals where he will play Mark Allen or Si Jiahui. The Jester from Leicester won the British Open in September but had been a little quiet since then until he won a Championship League group last week and looked good doing it. O’Sullivan was blown away by his performance…

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AS reports Barcelona came from behind to beat Real Madrid in an incident-packed Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. The front page features an image of Barca celebrating their win.

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The back page of The Times features a picture of Man United goalkeeper Bayindir – the penalty hero (saving two over the course of the match). United beat Arsenal in the FA Cup third round on penalties. Emma Raducanu is featured on the back page expressing her admiration for darts star Luke Littler.

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The back page of the Daily Star leads on the bust-up between Kai Havertz and Harry Maguire during last night’s FA Cup match. Manchester United won on penalties. Maguire has blasted Havertz as a cheat. Spurs’ 3-0 win and speculation on Kyle Walker’s departure from City make the back page.

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The back page of the Daily Mirror leads on Manchester United beating Arsenal in the FA Cup third round – winning 5-3 on penalties. The paper reports on Ugarte and Harry Maguire clashing with Kai Havertz. Kyle Walker’s planned departure from Manchester City, Spur’s FA Cup victory and the FA Cup fourth round draw also make the back page.

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Chelsea defender Renato Veiga has agreed to join Borussia Dortmund, according to reports in Germany Veiga joined Chelsea in a £12 million deal from Swiss side Basel last summer but he has been unable to secure a regular role in the team under Enzo Maresca. So far this season, the 21-year-old has played just 177 minutes in the Premier League and the majority of his playing time has been in the Conference League. Viega played a full game at left-back in Chelsea’s 5-0 win over Morecambe in the FA Cup third round on Saturday but the Portugal international may now…

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Alan Shearer blasts Arsenal star for lacking ‘hunger’ in Man Utd defeat Alan Shearer took aim at Leandro Trossard during Arsenal’s penalty-shootout defeat to ten-man Manchester United, accusing the forward of lacking ‘hunger’ after Matthijs de Ligt’s superb extra-time clearance. This afternoon’s heavyweight FA Cup third-round tie exploded into life after a goalless first half, with Bruno Fernandes arrowing a sublime strike beyond David Raya to open the scoring for the defending champions in the 52nd minute. But the momentum shifted as Diogo Dalot was sent off for a second bookable offence just past the hour-mark, before Gabriel Magalhaes equalised…

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FA Cup fourth-round draw in full: Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea learn their fate Plymouth will take on Premier League giants Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup after their stunning victory over Brentford this weekend. Clubs up and down the country discovered their fate as the draw for the fourth round was made in the immediate aftermath of Manchester United’s penalty-shootout win over Arsenal. The third round lived up to its billing as one of the highlights of the English football calendar, delivering plenty of thrills and spills, with League One outfit Wycombe Wanderers upsetting Portsmouth to…

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Manuel Ugarte is facing a potential ban after he headbutted Kai Havertz during Manchester United’s FA Cup third-round tie against Arsenal on Sunday. Bruno Fernandes put United in front with an excellent finish in the second half but just two minutes after Diogo Dalot was sent off, Gabriel scored Arsenal’s equaliser. Mikel Arteta’s side were then awarded a penalty after Harry Maguire was punished for minimal contact on Havertz inside United’s area, but Martin Odegaard’s spot kick was well saved by United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. Moments after the penalty was awarded by referee Andrew Madley, the two sides were involved…

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Mikel Arteta admitted Gabriel Jesus’ knee injury was a ‘big worry’ for Arsenal following the side’s FA Cup third-round defeat to ten-man Manchester United. Arsenal, 14-time winners of the competition, dragged themselves back into Sunday’s thriller as Gabriel Magalhaes cancelled out Bruno Fernandes’ stunning opener just moments after Diogo Dalot was sent off at the Emirates. Altay Bayindir denied Martin Odegaard from the spot later on in a breathless second half and the two teams could not be separated after 90 minutes and extra time, with defending champions United prevailing on penalties. It’s proven a tough few weeks for Arsenal,…

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Gary Lineker backs Arsenal to sign £20m ‘unproven’ striker after Man Utd defeat Gary Lineker has urged Arsenal to target Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap following their FA Cup exit to Manchester United. Mikel Arteta is now facing fresh calls to sign a new forward in the January transfer window after the Gunners squandered several chances during their defeat to United on penalties at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Arsenal have a long-standing interest in Alexander Isak, although Newcastle United are said to be demanding £150 million for the Sweden international, who has scored 10 goals in his last nine…

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Kai Havertz’s wife has shared the sickening messages she received during Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday. United took the lead through Bruno Fernandes in the second half before Gabriel pulled Arsenal level, two minutes after Diogo Dalot was sent off. Martin Odegaard then missed a penalty, while both Havertz and Declan Rice squandered excellent chances from close range before the tie was taken to a shootout after it ended 1-1 following 30 minutes of extra time. Havertz saw his penalty saved by Altay Bayindir during the shootout as United went on to…

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Harry Maguire was seen calling Kai Havertz a ‘cheating s***house’ during Manchester United’s win against Arsenal in the FA Cup. Ruben Amorim’s side took the lead in the second half at the Emirates Stadium through an excellent finish from Bruno Fernandes but they were reduced to 10 men following Diogo Dalot’s red card. Gabriel then equalised for Arsenal before Mikel Arteta’s side had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot after Maguire was punished for minimal contact on Havertz. Maguire was irate with Havertz for going to the floor with apparent ease and television replays caught…

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Ruben Amorim says he is unsure whether Marcus Rashford will play for Manchester United again following his side’s victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday. United are through to the FA Cup fourth round where they will face Leicester City following their penalty shootout victory against Mikel Arteta’s side at the Emirates Stadium. Rashford, meanwhile, was left out of United’s matchday squad for their trip to London and has now not featured in his side’s last seven matches. The 27-year-old has already indicated that he is keen to leave United for a ‘new challenge’, while his brother and…

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