Premier League

CONNOR WICKHAM once “got beat up” by Drake’s bodyguards after asking him for a selfie, it has been claimed.The singer’s entourage were unhappy with the striker approaching him for a picture in the gym, according to former team-mate Jermain Defoe – who called it “the funniest thing”.
Drake’s bodyguards ‘beat up’ Connor Wickham according to Jermain DefoeCredit: Getty
Wickham is said to have seen Drake whilst working out during a pre-season trip to Toronto with Sunderland.
Defoe recalled the incident on his Football Firsts podcast with Troy Deeney, claiming: “When I left Toronto and went to Sunderland the next pre-season they came back to play us.
“So when we went back with Sunderland to Toronto we had loads of free time. I remember being in my room, you know Connor Wickham?
“Everyone knows, when I signed for Toronto Drake phoned me. When we went back [to Toronto], I’m in my room and then Connor Whickham’s phoned me.
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“He’s like, ‘JD, speak to your boy for me’. He got beat up in the gym. He said, ‘Bro Drake is in the gym so I go and take a picture.’ His bouncers obviously grabbed him up.
“I said, ‘What?’ I said, ‘I’m coming down’. So as I’ve come down to the lift he’s obviously gone. He’s fuming, he’s sulking in the bus.
“So I go and I see Drake, he’s eating the weights. So, I’m laughing, I say, ‘What happened?’  He said, ‘Nothing, this guy comes…’ I said, ‘Yeah, that’s one of the boys’. He goes, ‘Ah, I’m sorry man. Tell him we’ll take you out. Where do you want to go, bluh bluh bluh’.
“He said, ‘Are you here with the team?’ I said, ‘Yeah’. It was the funniest thing. And then I go to the bus and I saw [Whickham], he’s like a little kid.
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“[He said] ‘He grabbed me up. All I wanted was a picture’. I said, ‘Connor, you can’t do that though. That’s Drake. In Toronto you can’t just approach him and try to get a picture’.”
Defoe and Wickham played together 17 times for Sunderland in 2015.
The former England under-21 international scored 19 goals across 120 Premier League appearances for the Black Cats and Crystal Palace.
However, he is now a free agent aged 30 after leaving Cardiff in the summer.
Defoe claims Wickham asked Drake for a selfie in the gymCredit: Getty More

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has questioned Manchester United’s signing of Casemiro – and even club staff felt Declan Rice would have been a better move.United secured the Brazilian midfielder for a staggering £60million plus £10million in add-ons in the summer of 2022 from Real Madrid.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe questioned Manchester United’s signing of Casemiro back in MarchCredit: Alamy
Casemiro signed for the Red Devils for £60milion in August 2022Credit: Rex
Staff at United felt Declan Rice was a better transfer for the clubCredit: Getty
Ratcliffe, whose £1.25billion deal for a 25 per cent stake in Man Utd is close to being confirmed, toured around the club’s Carrington training base in March.
During his visit, he allegedly flagged the transfer as one he was unhappy with.
The Athletic claim he singled out 31-year-old Casemiro who he felt was not the right fit for Erik ten Hag’s side.
When United chiefs were seeking a midfielder last year, they drifted from signing Frenkie de Jong to Casemiro after they lost 2-1 to Brighton and 4-0 to Brentford at the start of the 2022-23 term.
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But there was resistance from within the club’s recruitment team about signing the Brazil captain.
Some of United’s employees preferred Englishman Rice as it was felt he was better suited to the club with regards complying with Financial Fair Play rules.
It was calculated that Rice would have cost a record-breaking £120million from West Ham but that fee could have been spread out over a longer contract.
Rice’s wages would also have been cheaper than Casemiro’s.
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Upon signing for Arsenal for £105million he agreed to a £250,000 per week contract, while Casemiro’s weekly wage is £350,000.
Also, the 23-year-old has potential resale value while veteran Casemiro is edging towards the end of his career.
Man Utd’s transfer plan has been distinctive for it’s extremes in the last few seasons.
The club have turned to experienced European stars with questions about their age such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Christian Eriksen.
But at the same time they’ve snapped up young potential talents from abroad for hefty fees like Rasmus Hojlund and Antony.
Just 18 months into his Old Trafford stay, Casemiro is supposedly open to leaving and is considering an offer from Saudi Arabia.
The midfielder has featured just 12 times this season, having been hit by several injury issues. More

ROB EDWARDS has opened up on the “scariest moment I’ve ever had” after Tom Lockyer’s cardiac arrest.The Luton captain collapsed during Sunday’s match against Bournemouth.
Rob Edwards has opened up on Tom Lockyer’s cardiac arrestCredit: X/LutonTown

He has since had successful surgery to fit an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator).
Luton confirmed he was discharged from hospital on Wednesday and has started his rehabilitation at home.
Reflecting on Saturday’s events, Edwards told the club’s media channels: “It was a really scary moment, I think the scariest moment I’ve ever had, never mind in football.
“It was different to at Wembley. I knew it then, and we certainly know it now with the tests and everything that’s gone on this week.
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“We get on with it and the main focus is Tom and his family. We’ll all probably be affected in slightly different ways, deal with it in different ways as well. We’re all individuals, we’re all different so we’ll cope and deal with it differently as well.
“I feel good, I’ve had loads of support. Everyone has been asking how I am as well, which I find difficult as well because I’m not the one going through it. I’m fine. I was emotional on Saturday, it scared me.
“But everyone rallied, the medical guys were incredible in such a scary and pressurised situation with the world watching them. They got every decision bang on. I’m so proud of them, they saved him.
“Our medical guys, Bournemouth’s, the paramedics that were there, they’re real heroes.”
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Lockyer had previously collapsed during the Championship play-off final in May before his cardiac arrest last weekend.
The match at the Vitality Stadium was abandoned as a result, with the Premier League confirming it will be replayed in full at a later date.
Lockyer has been discharged from hospital after collapsing during Bournemouth vs LutonCredit: PA More

MANCHESTER UNITED should hire Graham Potter if they sack Erik ten Hag, says former player Tom Cleverley.SunSport understands incoming investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe has met with former Chelsea chief Potter and views him as a potential boss.
Tom Cleverley Graham Potter would be a good appointment for Manchester UnitedCredit: PA
Ten Hag is under pressure after United crashed out of Europe this month, with the Red Devils also six points off the top four.
Potter, 48, has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in April but Cleverley thinks he would be a good fit at Old Trafford.
He told Ladbrokes Fanzone: “When it comes to Graham Potter, you don’t know how someone’s feeling; he might have needed a mental break. He’s been in coaching for many, many years, but personally I think he’s a top, top manager.
“You see the rumours with United at the moment, and I personally believe that’s the kind of level of club he belongs at.
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“You’re seeing now how much Chelsea have struggled since he left, and the problem he was having there was that the team just wasn’t putting the ball in the back of the net. They were dominating possession, they were creating bags and bags of chances… they just couldn’t score.
“The decision, by Chelsea, to sack him looks premature now. I would certainly say they’re in a worse position than they were with Potter.”
Potter won 12 of his 31 games in charge of the Blues but never enamoured himself with the Stamford Bridge faithful.
But Ratcliffe remains a huge fan of the former Swansea and Brighton boss and wanted him at French side Nice.
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The Ineos chief is set to buy 25 per cent of United next week and will immediately take over football operations.
Potter turned down the chance to succeed Alex Neil as manager of Championship side Stoke earlier this month.
It is understood he is only prepared to return to the dugout if a major job comes up. More