Philippa Kaur

More stories

  • 175 Shares169 Views

    in Soccer

    Crystal Palace co-owner looks to buy out John Textor as Europa League decision looms

    JOSH HARRIS wants to buy out John Textor in the latest tug of war at Crystal Palace.Textor owns around 45 per cent of the club and was planning to make a move on Harris and David Blitzer — who have 18 per cent each — to purchase their shares.JOSH HARRIS wants to buy out John Textor in the latest tug of war at Crystal PalaceCredit: RexTextor now willing to sell up to avoid Palace being booted out of the Europa LeagueCredit: AFPPalace qualified for the Europa League after beating Man City in the FA Cup finalBut that has failed so far — with Textor now willing to sell up to avoid Palace being booted out of the Europa League due to Uefa’s rules on multi-club ownership.The European governing body’s regulations mean Textor, majority owner of Lyon, cannot have influence at two clubs in the same competition.But a sale is unlikely to be quick and will not impact the decision of Uefa chiefs.And Harris is looking to pay a smaller sum than his US compatriot wants.READ MORE CRYSTAL PALACE NEWSTextor, whose Palace club won entry to the Europa League through winning the FA Cup, does not have a majority stake and only 25 per cent of voting rights.Palace hope that relatively low figure will help their case with Uefa, who are expected to deliver a verdict next week.Lyon are also set to feature in the competition having finished higher than Palace domestically, with a sixth-placed finish in the Ligue 1 last season.Uefa rules prohibit anyone from “simultaneously be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration, and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a Uefa club competition.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe prospect of Palace dropping into the Conference League is also nigh-on impossible too.This is because other shareholder David Blitzer also has a stake in Danish oufit Brondby, who are set to play in European football’s tertiary club competition next season.Abandoned iconic UK stadium left to rot 110 years after hosting FA Cup final getting new lease of lifeIn a desperate bid to see the Eagles fly across Europe next season and comply with Uefa rules, Textor and Blitzer offered to put their shares in a blind trust.But Uefa chiefs have REJECTED the offer, leaving Palace’s proposed European adventure next season in limbo.Manchester City and Manchester United utilised blind trusts last season as sister clubs Girona and Nice both qualified for the Champions League and Europa League respectively. More

  • 213 Shares159 Views

    in Soccer

    Tottenham line up £20m-rated England U21 star transfer as managerless Spurs move on quickly from Ange Postecoglou

    ENGLAND UNDER-21 star Hayden Hackney is on managerless Tottenham’s transfer radar.The Middlesbrough midfielder, 22, looks set to leave his boyhood club after their failure to win Championship promotion.Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney is a wanted manCredit: GettyThe £20m-rated ace has already proven he can cut it against the big boys of the Premier League with stand-out cup displays against both Chelsea and Aston Villa last season.Now he hopes to catch the eye at this month’s U21 European Championship in Slovakia.A host of clubs have been monitoring Hackney for several months, including Portuguese giants Porto who had a measly £9m bid rejected in January.German side Stuttgart are also keen as are Crystal Palace, but Sun Sport understands that Spurs’ scouts have also been running the rule over Hackney.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLTottenham talent spotters will also be out in Slovakia to watch the action closely and, if Hackney shines for Lee Carsley’s side, they could give the green light for the club move despite not yet appointing a replacement for axed Ange Postecoglou.Middlesbrough are in no rush to sell their home-grown star and could even squeeze a couple more million onto his price tag depending on how he performs at the Euros.They are also searching for a new manager in their own right following the decision to dismiss Michael Carrick on Wednesday.And despite still having some money in the bank from selling Emmanuel Latte Lath in January, cashing in on Hackney would help them add to any incoming coach’s transfer kitty. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSEngland kick-off their Euro campaign against the Czech Republic on Thursday.They then face Slovenia three days later and finish the group stage against Germany on Wednesday 18 June.All of England’s matches are being broadcast live on Channel 4.Five EFL Championship stars destined for the Premier League More

  • 188 Shares129 Views

    in Soccer

    Aston Villa out to hijack £20m Bournemouth transfer for France star and Milos Kerkez replacement

    ASTON VILLA want to hijack Bournemouth’s move for Rennes skipper Adrien Truffert.Villa look keen on the left-back and could swoop for the 23-year-old if they can quickly sell a player.Aston Villa are trying to hijack France star Adrien TruffertCredit: RexBournemouth are on the brink of agreeing a deal to sign a potential replacement for Milos Kerkez (above)Credit: Shutterstock EditorialThe Cherries are close to agreeing a £20million deal for France international Truffert.They see him as a replacement for Milos Kerkez, who is expected to join Premier League champions Liverpool this summer.Truffert has scored two goals and provided two assists in 33 Ligue 1 games this season, as Rennes finished 12th.But the 23-year-old has understandably struggled to get into France’s star-studded squad.READ MORE TRANSFER NEWSThe full-back has made just one appearances for Les Bleus, after receiving his first call-up for two Uefa Nations League matches.The switches get more complicated when you consider that Bournemouth were interested in Anfield left-back Andy Robertson.But the Villa Park outfit may struggle to bring the 32-year-old Scot to the West Midlands, considering Arne Slot’s stance on an exit.Unai Emery is believed to be in the market for a new left-back with Frenchman Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen failing to impress the Spaniard.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSMeanwhile, Bournemouth are also in the market for Spanish keeper Joan Garcia, who was linked with Arsenal.The 24-year-old is set to sign for Barcelona from Espanyol — but could then be loaned out for a season in the Premier League.Aston Villa star Marcus Rashford hits the race track as he works out on holiday in St Tropez More

  • 263 Shares129 Views

    in Soccer

    Thomas Frank is perfect manager to deal with Tottenham’s Daniel Levy – after being slammed by his OWN chairman on forum

    THOMAS FRANK’S first big job ended when the club chairman was exposed for criticising him on an online fans’ forum.Although some Tottenham supporters have a pretty low opinion of supremo Daniel Levy, it’s unlikely he would ever be caught doing the same.Thomas Frank is the perfect manager to deal with Tottenham’s Daniel LevyCredit: Shutterstock EditorialSpurs owner Levy is on the hunt for a new gaffer after sacking AngeCredit: AlamyLevy keeps a low profile and says very little about whether he is backing his manager — until the moment he doesn’t any more.Which is not quite how Jans Bech Andersen handled things after becoming chairman of Danish club Brondby.Frank had left his role with the Danish FA coaching the youth teams and working with senior boss Morten Olsen, to take over at the cash-strapped fallen giants in 2013.But he resigned in March 2016 after just under three years in charge because of what became known as ‘Oscar-gate’.READ MORE TOTTENHAM NEWS‘Oscar’ was the name attached to a profile on a leading Brondby fan messageboard which had repeatedly hammered Frank and sporting director Per Rud.And it turned out that ‘Oscar’ was Bech Andersen, a rich fan who had increased his investment and influence at the club a few months after Frank’s arrival.Among ‘Oscar’s’ posts were rants criticising Frank for being a coach “who is inexperienced and stubbornly sticks to a system that doesn’t work” and his “inability to integrate new players that he himself has 100 per cent chosen”.‘Oscar’ said Frank and Rud had made “crazy decisions together due to ignorance and lack of experience”, creating “a headache that needs to be cured as soon as possible”.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFrank understandably talked of a “breach of trust” in his resignation statement. Nine months later, in December 2016, he joined Brentford as assistant boss to Dean Smith before taking the head coach role in October 2018.England football ace Millie Bright leaves fiancé & falls for married personal trainer ‘in a big way’It would be easy to say the rest is history but Frank did have a sticky start to his reign.Without the strong backing of Bees owner Matthew Benham and co-director of football Rasmus Ankersen —  a fellow Dane — he might not have survived.Gambling guru Benham believed Frank was a good bet and has been proved right.­For all Frank’s incredible success in leading the club from the Championship to the top half of the Premier League, Levy and Spurs fans are entitled to ask how he would cope with the very different challenge at Tottenham?The 51-year-old has never taken charge of a Champions League match nor won a major trophy, two things which were on former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou’s CV even before he led Spurs to Europa League glory in what turned out to be his final game.Eddie Howe was similarly inexperienced when he joined Newcastle in November 2021.Yes, Howe had taken Bournemouth through the divisions all the way to ninth place in the top flight but he had also been relegated in 2020 and never managed in Europe.Yet Howe proved his doubters wrong — in 2023 he led the Magpies back into the Champions League, before lifting their first major domestic trophy for 70 years with March’s Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool.Much has been made of Brentford’s use of data from Benham’s gambling business to give them the edge in recruitment. But it is one thing to identify hidden gems with the potential to become stars — the art is  making them realise that potential.Spurs sacked Ange Postecoglou on FridayAnd Frank has a brilliant record, particularly with forward players.Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are  the most high-profile examples of the ability of Frank and his coaches.Levy will have also seen how players like Christian Norgaard — soon to become a free agent — have quietly become established Prem stars.Frank has also proved tactically adaptable in a way Big Ange stubbornly refused to be until that backs-to-the-wall performance in the second half of the Europa League final against Manchester United.Brentford were a free-scoring, attractive side in the Championship.But after winning the play-off final in 2021, Frank knew he had to compromise a bit.He made his side defensively sound and difficult to beat, using marginal gains like set-piece excellence to help preserve their top-flight status.But last season the Bees were among the Prem’s great entertainers.They were also one of the very few clubs in Europe to have three players with more than ten league goals – Mbeumo, Wissa and Kevin Schade.If Frank gets the Spurs job, his  personality will be quite a change from Postecoglou’s gruff Aussie charms.The genial Dane is the most  relatable and likeable Prem boss.His image of a man who likes to visit his local pub on the Thames is not just for show.Brentford know what an asset they have, which is why Frank has a £10million release clause.Every managerial appointment is a gamble but for Levy that could be money well spent.Read More on The SunBech Andersen remains at Brondby and is still posting on social media — albeit under his own name now.At least Frank won’t have to cope with Levy doing that if he joins Spurs. More

  • 238 Shares109 Views

    in Soccer

    ‘They looked bored’ – Roy Keane slams England’s ‘poor attitude’ as Tuchel admits ‘I didn’t like’ effort against Andorra

    ROY KEANE blasted England’s “poor” attitude in their limp 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra.The Republic of Ireland legend accused the Three Lions of “looking bored” in Barcelona on Saturday.Roy Keane laid into England’s ‘poor’ attitude in their limp 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over AndorraThomas Tuchel was also left concerned by England’s effortsEngland made it three wins out of three for Thomas Tuchel, who hasn’t conceded a goal yet, but their performance left a lot to be desired.After a dreary first half, which saw England booed off, Harry Kane found a breakthrough by tapping in Noni Madueke’s cross. That ended up as the only goal in the entire 93 minutes as Tuchel’s players were accused of playing “walking football” by Keane’s ITV co-panellist Karen Carney against the minnows.Keane, 53, was also critical of Kane’s post-match assessment which included the captain saying, “We take the points and move on.”READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe iconic Manchester United captain raged: “I don’t like the message from your senior players is that the job was done, we’ll take it, whatever.”You should be setting your standards higher than that. You should be saying they should have scored three or four more. “We defend the players, say it’s the end of the season and talk about the hot conditions, and Kane looked shattered.”I worry when I see players getting bored. I felt some of the players got bored in the last half an hour and I don’t like to see that. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”It’s when the goal went in, it was job done. It’s Andorra – go and get some more goals!Tuchel has since seemingly agreed, saying that England “played with fire”.Andorra v England match played in near empty stadiumThe German boss said: “I didn’t like the attitude how we ended the game, not the whole game, it’s a big difference.”I liked the attitude in the first 25 minutes, but I didn’t like the last half an hour. We lacked the seriousness and urgency needed in a World Cup qualifier.”We played with fire and I didn’t like the attitude at the end. I didn’t like the body language, and I don’t think it’s what the occasion needed.”Tuchel also told Three Lions fans their chants about Prime Minister Keir Starmer were “not acceptable.”Some of the travelling supporters called Starmer a “c**t”, “w**ker” and “nonce”, as well as singing “no surrender” during the national anthem in a reference to the IRA.The RCDE stadium, home of Spanish side Espanyol, looked noticeably empty during the match.Sparse pockets of fans spread across the stands in Barcelona with just shy of 7,000 tickets sold to England fans for the match inside the 40,000-seat stadium. More

  • 200 Shares99 Views

    in Soccer

    Tottenham ready to hijack Man Utd’s £60m Bryan Mbeumo transfer as Brentford identify Thomas Frank replacement

    TOTTENHAM want Bryan Mbeumo to join with Thomas Frank — in a £70million double raid on Brentford.Spurs have made Bees boss Frank their first choice to replace axed Ange Postecoglou and want to tie up a swoop quickly.Spurs are trying to hijack Man Utd’s move for Bryan MbeumoCredit: GettyMbeumo could join manager and Spurs target Thomas FrankCredit: Shutterstock EditorialRuben Amorim has already lost out to Spurs after a 1-0 defeat in the Europa League finalCredit: Shutterstock EditorialAnd the Europa League winners are trying to hijack Manchester United’s move for attacker Mbeumo — with hopes that landing Frank could help sway a deal.Frank, 51, is open to the move across London and a £10m compensation package to land the Dane and his staff will not be a problem.Spurs technical director Johan Lange, who worked with Frank at Danish club Lyngby, will play a key role in negotiations.Then Tottenham can join the Mbeumo chase seriously and hope that being able to offer Champions League action will give them another edge.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSUnited are edging towards a £60m deal and Spurs have cash to match that.It would be a huge test of Tottenham’s spending power as United prepare to offer huge wages on top of the fee for the Cameroon international, 25.Meanwhile, Brentford are already homing in on Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna to succeed Frank.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBut McKenna signed a massive new deal at Ipswich a year ago and his compensation clause is understood to be a similar figure to Frank’s.Most read in FootballThe lure of a second crack at the Premier League is bound to appeal to the Northern Irishman, who was relegated after leading Ipswich to Prem promotion for the first time in 22 years.Who could replace Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham manager?Brentford have alternatives if McKenna is not committed.Brentford are keen on Kieran McKenna if Thomas Frank moves to SpursCredit: Getty More

  • 263 Shares99 Views

    in Soccer

    England player ratings: Noni Madueke and Curtis Jones best of a bad bunch with Reece James totally looking lost on left

    NONI MADUEKE was determined to get England over the line during their laboured 1-0 win against Andorra in the World Cup qualifiers.Harry Kane notched his 72nd goal for his country and Thomas Tuchel went rogue by starting Curtis Jones in right-back to make room for 34-year-old Jordan Henderson in the middle.England star Jude Bellingham laboured to a 1-0 draw against AndorraCredit: GettyAn uneventful first half saw the Three Lions BOOED off in the near empty RCDE Stadium in Barcelona.Kane, who poked wide in the first 30 minutes, finally found a breakthrough when he smashed in Chelsea winger Madueke’s quick low cross five minutes after the break.But there’s reasons for concerns as holiday-mode England struggled to break down the home side’s bus-parking tactics – weeks after Albania put three goals away against Andorra.Tuchel did become the first England manager to win his first three games in charge, without conceding a single goal as his side remains top of Group K.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSHere SunSport’s Charlie Wyett rates and slates the England players from sunny Spain.Jordan Pickford – 5As expected, a bystander in goal and Tuchel should have given James Trafford a debut.May get a rest for the friendly against Senegal.Ezri Konsa – 5 Aston Villa star looks to be England’s first-choice central defender and he will not get an easier game than this.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKAndorra were well organised but offered very little in attack.Andorra v England match played in near empty stadiumDan Burn – 4It is now obvious that Tuchel loves the Newcastle defender and he has got a very good chance of going to the World Cup, but some of his passing was dreadful. The likes of Harry Maguire and Eric Dier must be peed off. Reece James – 4 Just 24 hours after James said his best position was right-back, Thomas Tuchel played him at left-back. He did not look that comfortable. He also produced a terrible delivery at a free-kick near the end.Curtis Jones – 6Played as an inverted right-back so had plenty of licence to get forward. Played a part in the opening goal with a clever pass to Kane.Jude Bellingham – 5Had the first shot of the game after 56 seconds but did not cause too many problems in his offensive midfield role. Was beaten by Espanyol at this stadium during the club season so will at least be please to pick up a win.Jordan Henderson – 5Cap no 84 for the Ajax midfielder although this was his first start since November 2023.You can see why Tuchel wants a player of his experience but he did not have much influence here.Morgan Rogers – 5Delivered some silky skills which caused Andorra a few problems but lacked an end product.Aston Villa star will need to do more if he wants to hold down a permanent place.Cole Palmer – 6Has been on fire in training during the week in Girona but did not really get involved.However, the Chelsea talisman did see plenty of the ball.Noni Madueke – 7England’s best player although should have scored in injury-time. Was particularly bright in the first half and played a part in the opening goal.Read More on The SunMadueke was England’s best playerCredit: AFPHarry Kane – 6Missed a couple of chances but finally got his goal shortly into the second. It was his 450th career goal, though the fact it was a decisive one shows how poor England were in the final third.SUBSTrent Alexander-Arnold (for Henderson, 64) – 5Eberechi Eze (for Palmer, 65)- 5Declan Rice (for Jones, 80) – 5Anthony Gordon(for Rogers, 80) – 5Morgan Gibbs-White (for Bellingham, 90+1) – 5Subs not used: D Henderson, Trafford, Walker, Colwill, Toney, Lewis-Skelly, Chalobah. More

  • 263 Shares139 Views

    in Soccer

    Andorra 0 England 1: Kane goal sees feeble Three Lions sneak win vs minnows to maintain 100% World Cup qualifying record

    THOMAS Tuchel has warned England must prepare to suffer in the heat of next summer’s World Cup.And everyone is going to have to put up with the pain and boredom of watching them get there.Harry Kane’s goal was the difference maker for EnglandCredit: ReutersEngland maintained their 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifyingCredit: GettyAgainst a tiny nation ranked 173 in the world, one of the supposed favourites for the 2026 tournament were heading for one of the most embarrassing results in their history.Like England predecessors Steve McClaren and Fabio Capello in 2007 and 2008, Tuchel watched an England team reach half-time goalless in an away game against Andorra in Barcelona.As in those previous matches, the Three Lions did enough to avoid humiliation. But only just.After already scoring in qualifiers against the mighty Albania and Latvia, captain Harry Kane extended his record by poaching the 72nd goal of his international career early in the second half.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd Tuchel’s team seemed content to come away with the smallest margin of victory in seven meetings with a country that has only won 14 games since being recognised by Fifa in 1996.If the 7,000 England fans who paid fortunes to come here – and those watching back home – felt short-changed, they should be under no illusions.There will be plenty more of the same in the rest of this qualification campaign and again at next year’s World Cup – because Tuchel will surely steer the team through as Group K winners.An expanded 48-nation tournament in 2026 means a greater number of lower quality teams who are likely to adopt the same (totally justified) approach as Andorra.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd not just in the group stage. With an extra knockout round, there will be more borefests of attack against defence which have to be endured by players and spectators alike.All in the suffocating heat of summer in the USA, Canada and Mexico.England star Ivan Toney hits back at Bruno Fernandes with blunt reply after Man Utd star’s Saudi transfer snubDespite Tuchel’s pre-match caution about expecting too much, the England boss cannot have been pleased with how his team performed. Not with better opponents and hotter conditions awaiting them.Tuchel lined England up in a formation that was basically 4-1-4-1, but with Liverpool’s Curtis Jones inverting from right back into midfield and Jude Bellingham sometimes finding himself alongside Kane in a 4-4-2.Jones had a goalbound effort blocked as early as the sixth minute.Andorra goalkeeper Iker Alvarez is the son of head coach Koldo, himself a former No1 who was beaten 16 times in his four games against England.Alvarez Jnr was called into action by Noni Madueke, beating away the winger’s left-footed shot, and dad could be pretty happy with how his team was acquitting itself.He would have been less pleased when Reece James found Chelsea team-mate Madueke and his cross fizzed through the Andorra box.But Jones’s heavy touch and Kane’s poor shot wide let the minnows off the hook.And that was it for decent chances as England failed to move the ball quickly enough to pull disciplined opponents out of shape.A tedious 46 minutes ended to a chorus of boos from the England fans.Thomas Tuchel’s team were booed off the pitch at half-timeCredit: ReutersThey were soon feeling a bit more chipper.A fine pass by Jones allowed Kane to get off a shot that Alvarez saved, but Madueke collected the rebound and crossed for the captain to score from close range.Would England push on and try to achieve the convincing victory that Andorra substitute Marc Vales told SunSport was the kind of result that you would expect between two such mismatched teams?At the end of a long and tiring season – or not, in the case of those who must travel to the Club World Cup – that was always unlikely.Substitute Eberechi Eze forced Alvarez into a good save with a header and Madueke, who always kept trying to make things happen, came close in stoppage time.But there was little else to cheer for the travelling fans.England remained one moment of madness away from arguably the worst result in their history. It almost arrived when Andorran sub Guillaume Lopez found space and had a shot blocked by Ezri Konsa.All credit to Andorra, though, who also kept defending doggedly.Read More on The SunVictory for them was avoiding a heavy defeat. This was arguably their best day since beating Hungary in a World Cup qualifier in 2017. Maybe it was even better..All you could say for England was that they at least managed to come away from a no-win situation with three points.Kane got his toe on the end of a Noni Madueke cross to open the scoringCredit: Reuters More