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      in Motorsport

      F1 Turkish Grand Prix qualifying LIVE RESULTS: Lewis Hamilton sets TRACK RECORD but will start 11th after grid penalty

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has qualified first in Istanbul with a new track record.However he will start the race in eleventh after taken a new combustion engine, exceeding his allocation of engine changes.
      Perhaps more significantly for the Brit, team-mate Valtteri Bottas has qualified in second place, meaning he will start on pole.
      Max Verstappen qualified third so will start second, and Hamilton will be hoping Bottas can the Dutchman up while he makes his way through the field.
      Follow all the action with our live blog below…
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      HAM HUNT
      Lewis Hamilton has warned Max Verstappen he’s gunning for victory in tomorrow’s Turkish GP – despite his 10-place grid penalty.
      He said: “It really depends on what the weather we’ve got and yes, partly cautious, but also super attacking; I need to win the race somehow. So that’s my goal.
      “I was already third at the end of Turn One last year, so that made a bit of a difference, but it’s a different weekend.
      “My eyes are still solely set on winning the race; it’s going to be very hard from 11th, but not impossible.
      “So… just making sure we’ll deliver maximum attack. It is not going to be easy to fight through, but whether there is a wheel there is a way.
      “We will try and make sure it is balanced and try to minimise the damage and get as high as possible.”
      RACE REPORT
      We’ve seen the official qualifying classifications, now read the SunSport report for the verdict from Istanbul Park…
      Lewis Hamilton was fastest in Turkey but faces a grid penaltyCredit: AFP
      TIME KEEPING
      Here is the official qualifying classification from Istanbul Park.
      As SunSport has reported, Hamilton was quickest in his Mercedes but a 10-place grid penalty will see him start tomorrow’s race from 11th.
      That means pole position goes to his team-mate Valtteri Bottas, with Hamilton’s championship rival Max Verstappen promoted to the front row from third.

      HAMILTON IS QUICKEST IN QUALIFYING
      A mega job from Hamilton, who has that engine penalty and will have a 10-place penalty.
      Bottas is in P2 but will be promoted to pole for the race. Verstappen is third quickest and elevated to second on the gird.

      VERSTAPPEN IS ONLY QUICK ENOUGH FOR THIRD
      Bottas is second.
      HAMILTON GOES QUICKEST
      A new track record to eclipse Bottas’ time. 1:22.868 is the time. What has Verstappen got in reply?
      90 seconds to go. It is Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen, Gasly, Perez, Alonso, Norris, Leclerc, Tsunoda and Stroll.
      GASLY IN FOURTH
      With respect to AlphaTauri, it is incredible he has been overlooked for a seat in one of the bigger teams.

      GOOD START FOR BOTTAS
      The Finn takes provisional pole. Hamilton is second-quickest and Verstappen in third based on their first runs.

      Q3 IS GO – BACK ON THE QUICKER, SOFT TYRES
      Hamilton v Verstappen. It has been all Hamilton so far this weekend.
      ELIMINATED FROM Q2
      Sainz, Schumacher, Russell, Vettel and Ocon.
      Meanwhile, at the top Hamilton dominates. Verstappen second-quickest.

      RUSSELL GOES WIDE AT THE LAST CORNER
      Shame for the Williams man, who was flying. But a mistake at the final turn sees him knocked out.
      ONE MINUTE TO GO
      Sainz, Schumacher, Vettel, Russell and Leclerc are all in the drop zone.
      But Lance Stroll has gone off track. He is in danger of getting bumped out.
      SPIN FOR LECLERC
      He loses it at the end of his lap and spins off. He’s heading back to the garage for new tyres.
      STRONG OPENING LAPS FROM HAMILTON
      He is looking awesome on these medium tyres. He’s 0.407 seconds clear of Verstappen, who is in P2.
      Q2 IS GO – RED BULL AND MERCEDES STRAIGHT OUT
      That rain is looming. Both cars on medium tyres, looking to start the race on those sets.
      As expected, medium tyres seem to be the order of the day for #Q2. The medium tyre is a bit harder to warm up, but will ensure a longer first stint with the possibility of doing a one-stopper. pic.twitter.com/xrwncJGNHe— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) October 9, 2021

      Q1 RESULTS
      Close at the top.

      WHAT A RESULT FOR SCHUMACHER
      In tricky conditions – and in a under-strength car – he is into Q2. He’s over the moon.
      He’s quicker than Vettel. And THREE SECONDS quicker than his teammate, Mazepin.

      VERSTAPPEN RECOVERS HE IS SAFE
      The Dutchman is in second quickest, behind Hamilton. But Daniel Ricciardo is OUT in Q1.
      That’s a huge blow to the Aussie, who simply ran out of time. He is eliminated at the first hurdle.
      VERSTAPPEN HAS HIS LAP TIME DELETED
      He drops to 10th place. Nervous times for Red Bull?
      TWO MINUTES TO GO – VETTEL IN THE DROP ZONE
      The four-time world champion has some work to do if he is to get into Q2.
      SAINZ SPINS
      Ferrari man is due to start last due to engine penalties, but is still struggling out there.

      ITS IS RAINING
      Hamilton goes quickest, he does get his lap in.
      As expected, a few spots of rain have started falling at Intercity Istanbul Park… ☔️All eyes glued to this action!#TurkishGP 🇹🇷— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 9, 2021

      VERSTAPPEN SPINS TOO
      He says he “tried to take it careful but never got the grip”. With the rain looming, could we see a big scalp in Q1?
      THIS COULD BE A CHAOTIC
      Drivers all bunching up to try and get a lap in. Lewis Hamilton jumps the queue and makes a mistake.
      He goes off track and he’s spoiled that lap already.
      Carlos Sainz also spins and complains of cold tyres.

      GREEN LIGHT – QUALIFYING FOR THE TIRKISH GP IS GO
      And with rain expected, it is already a very busy pitlane. Drivers will be looking to get their laps in early – before the downpours!
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      in Boxing

      Fury vs Wilder 3 LIVE: Gypsy King weighs in at record 19st11 as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Drake send support to Brit

      by

      TYSON FURY and Deontay Wilder have weighed in ahead of their blockbuster showdown tonight.Both fighters have tipped the scales HEAVIER than ever before, with Fury at 277lbs and Wilder at 238lbs.
      The Gypsy King knocked the Bronze Bomber out in seven rounds last year to claim the WBC heavyweight title, but the American is set on revenge.
      Meanwhile Fury has been posting messages of support from some of the all-time greats in sport and music, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Drake.
      You can catch coverage of the fight live on BT Sport Box Office.
      BETTING SPECIAL: GET 30/1 ON FURY OR 50/1 ON WILDER FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CLASH
      Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
      ZLATAN’S BACKING
      Tyson Fury’s line-up of famous fans continues with the release of a new video on his social media channels.
      The Gypsy King has received the backing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic ahead of his trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.
      The iconic AC Milan striker knows a thing or two about combat himself – he’s famous for practicing his martial arts on team-mates around the training ground.
      He adds his name to likes of rapper Drake and WWE legend The Undertaker in wishing Fury luck ahead of tonight’s bout in Vegas.

      FACT SHEET
      Fight fans are holding their breath as they await Fury vs Wilder III in Las Vegas later today.
      The pair are set to meet each other at around 4am British time for their highly anticipated trilogy bout.
      With the weigh-ins now done and the trash talk all but over, here’s everything you need to know ahead of the blockbuster heavyweight match-up.

      TYSON BACKS TYSON
      Mike Tyson has revealed who he thinks will win tonight’s trilogy fight between his namesake and Deontay Wilder.
      After beating the referee’s count in the first fight and knocking out Wilder in the second, Iron Mike thinks that Tyson has the American’s number.
      Mike Tyson likes what he sees from his namesake Tyson Fury
      The Gypsy King takes on Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas tonight
      Speaking on his Hotboxin podcast with Andy Ruiz Jr. and Henry Cejudo, he gave his prediction: “No way, you know, Deontay Wilder have nothing to be sad about… I just think Tyson Fury has his number.”
      VOCAL CHORDS
      Fury’s known for loving a good singalong with the travelling fans and media at his fights.
      Whether that’s belting out American Pie after demolishing Wilder in their previous fight, or serenading his wife with Aerosmith tunes – the Gypsy King isn’t afraid of a bit of karaoke.
      Fury sang American Pie after defeating Wilder in their previous meetingCredit: Getty
      So what’s going to be on the playlist in the event of a Fury win against Wilder in their third fight tonight?
      Given his latest video message comes from A-List pal Drake, would we bet against Fury breaking out into a little rap in the ring?
      Drake seems to have given him permission to sing anything he wants with his latest message.
      He said: “Go out there, get the work done and afterwards f***ing sing your heart out or say whatever the f*** you want to say.”
      FAMOUS FRIENDS
      Fresh off releasing a video from The Undertaker on his social media channels, Tyson Fury has put out a clip from yet another famous face.
      The Gypsy King has released a shout out from none other than Drake ahead of his trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.
      The rap megastar dropped in to wish his pal luck and praise him as both the ‘scariest and nicest’ man in boxing.
      Drake said: “This is a video for the most psycho man I know. He’s mad in his head but he has the purest heart, the nicest guy, the Gypsy King, the scariest man in boxing.
      “I’m wishing you the best of luck this weekend brother. I want you to go out there and continue the legacy.
      “Do what you do, we all love you because you’re relentlessly yourself.”
      WEIGHT GAIN
      As we gear up for fight night, let’s recap how things stand following yesterday’s weigh-ins.
      Reigning champ Fury tipped the scales at the heaviest in his career, coming in at 19st 11lbs at Vegas’s MGM Grand.
      Fury weighed in the heaviest in his career for tonight’s trilogy boutCredit: The Mega Agency
      Challenger Wilder has taken a similar approach, packing on the weight to come in at his own career heaviest of 17st.
      After the weigh-in the pair then clashed backstage in one some of boxings most hallowed halls.
      They’ll get into the ring together tonight (or early tomorrow morning, to be exact) at the huge T-Mobile Arena just across town.
      Ring-walks are expected around 3am – once the anthems are done we’re expecting it to hit 3.30am before the first punch is thrown.
      TALE OF THE TAPE
      If you needed reminding, here’s how Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of their trilogy fight early tomorrow morning.
      How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fight
      ‘SMASHING HIS FACE IN’
      Things certainly got heated during yesterday’s weigh-ins, with Fury – who donned a hat in homage to The Undertaker – vowing to smash Deontay Wilder’s face in.

      TRILOGY FIGHT BUILD-UP LATEST
      Tyson Fury can craft and crush his way into history and Deontay Wilder into retirement later tonight in Las Vegas.
       Britain’s heavyweight champ Fury is a warm tip to repeat his second-bout win – albeit on points this time – in the long-awaited trilogy fight.
      But the Gypsy King has had major problems in his build-up after the date was put back due to the 33-year-old catching Covid.
      Dynamite puncher Wilder’s career could be over if he loses again.
      But British boxing legends Ricky Hatton and David Haye have both fired warnings to Fury.
      Hatton urged his pal to ensure the contest doesn’t go “tits up” – after fellow Brit Anthony Joshua lost his WBA, IBF and WBO crowns to Oleksandr Usyk a fortnight ago 
      The former two-weight world king said: “Tyson is the favourite but it is not a foregone conclusion. It will be tricky.
      “We all want Tyson to win but – like we saw with the AJ fight – these are all sticky wickets and it can all go tits up with one heavyweight punch.”
      And Haye said: of Fury’s preparations: “If his camp has been that short then it is shocking but Tyson has proved time and time again that he raises his game only when he really has to.
      “When he beat Deontay Wilder (February 2020) and Vladimir Klitschko (2015) he had his back against the wall and people ruling him out and his performances went through the roof.
      “In other fights – like the Otto Wallin one – he has struggled his way through and not looked as good.
      “Maybe Tyson just has Deontay Wilder’s number now and he has just got him in his pocket, it can happen. We will find out again on Saturday.”
      CONTINUED
      Twig-legged Wilder, 35, was a career heaviest 16st 7lbs for the first defeat of his once-brilliant KO artist career.
      That night was a disaster but instead of stripping back the bulk he piled even more on.
      Wilder said “I wanted to look sexy and feel sexy, he will not be able to put all his weight on me now.
      “The weight came off naturally and we had a loving, joyous camp.”
      The pair clashed backstage in the MGM arena, swapping insults in the bowels of the building.
      Both men shouted “f*** your mumma” before Fury’s younger brother Shane got into a slanging match with a member of the Bomb Squad.
      Big Shane was heard yelling: “You piece of s***, you are getting knocked spark out. F*** you”
      And when a member of Team Wilder yelled back an insult relating to Shane’s curves, he barked: “I’ll tell you what a fat boy could do to you, rip you to pieces you p***y!”
      Fury’s unfamiliar black fedora hat also made a bit more sense when a social media message from wrestling legend The Undertaker was posted.
      The American giant asked Fury to floor his compatriot before standing over him and uttering his famous catchphrase: “Rest in peace”.
      FROM SUNSPORT’S BOXING REPORTER, WALLY DOWNES JR
      Bloodthirsty Tyson Fury plans to feast on Deontay Wilder’s plasma again tonight after weighing in at 19st 11lbs – the heaviest of his career.
      England’s 33-year-old WBC heavyweight champ weighed in at a monstrous 19st 7lbs for last clash he totally dominated and has packed on about 4lbs to reach 277lbs for the trilogy bout.
      Wilder did the same by packing on more muscle to hit his own career heaviest of 17st.
      When the Gypsy King shook up the sport by axing his old defensive skills and blasting Wilder out in seven February 2020 rounds, he had bulked up and looked sensational
      And he once again looks set to slam one foot on the Las Vegas gas and the other on the American’s throat.
      Remembering the iconic moment he licked the blood that was oozing from Wilder’s mouth and ear last time out, he roared: “I told him before the fight I wanted to taste his blood and I did.
      “It has only made me thirsty for more.
      “My weight means total obliteration and annihilation, 277lbs to put him in the royal infirmary.”
      MORE FURY
      “I feel absolutely amazing, I’ve been training at this weight for two years.
      “I’m on fire, I”m going to knock the dosser out, he’s in trouble tomorrow night.
      “I think he’ll be slow, he can’t carry his weight, he’s actually a small man.
      “They’re not going to face me, I’m a real man, he’s a coward.
      “I’d fight his army on my own.”
      WEIGHT RECAP
      So then, both men come in heavier than the second fight.
      Wilder is 238lbs, while Fury is 277lbs.
      Tomorrow should be a cracker.
      FURY
      “I’m going to severely damage him, he won’t be recognisable after the fight.”
      Fury is raging here, several swear words too!
      FURY
      “It means total annihilation of the dosser!
      “I’m going to put him in the infirmary.”
      WILDER
      “The weight came on, I wanted to look and feel sexy.
      “There won’t be no pushing me. Calmness is the key to the storm.”
      BAD MOUTHING
      Some shouting from Fury towards Wilder, who responds with his own yells.
      They both look like they could get in the ring right now!
      FURY WEIGHT
      Here’s Fury on the scales.
      And the Gypsy King is 277lbs!
      He was 273lbs last time…
      WILDER WEIGHT
      Deontay Wilder has stepped up to the scales.
      And he is 238lbs!
      That’s SEVEN pounds heavier than last time!
      DON’T LET TRILOGY GO ‘TITS UP’
      Ricky Hatton has urged mate Tyson Fury to keep British boxing afloat by not letting the Deontay Wilder trilogy go ‘tits up’.
      The Manchester legend was ringside to watch AJ surrender his WBA, IBF and WBO world titles to Oleksandr Usyk on September 25, as prospect son Campbell Hatton got a win on the undercard.
      In 2017 the UK held 13 boxing world titles but AJ’s defeat last month saw the number dwindle down to just six.
      And the 43-year-old national treasure wants his old pal – who did two training camps in his Manchester gym when working with ex-trainer Ben Davison in 2019 – to keep his eye on the ball in Sin City this weekend so he does not lose his WBC belt.
      “Tyson is the favourite but it is not a foregone conclusion,” the two-weight champion said. “It will be tricky.
      “We all want Tyson to win but – like we saw with the AJ fight – these are all sticky wickets and it can all go tits up with one heavyweight punch.”
      HERE THEY ARE
      Here is Deontay Wilder, finally on the stage and surrounded by a huge entourage.
      And straight after him is Tyson Fury, looking cool as a cucumber with his belts… and hat.
      BOB’S YOUR UNCLE
      In the meantime, here’s a picture of Bob Arum with some ring girls.
      Credit: Reuters
      TIME HAS COME
      We are nearly there folks.
      Any moment now!
      WEIGHTING AROUND
      Another weigh-in, this time between undefeated pair Efe Ajagba and Frank Sanchez.
      Sanchez comes in at 240lbs while Ajagba is 237lbs.
      NEXT UP
      We now have Robert Helenius vs Adam Kownacki.
      Helenius is 246lb while Kownacki is 258lb.
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      in Motorsport

      F1 Turkish Grand Prix LIVE: Hamilton takes GRID PENALTY after engine change – qualifying build-up

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      F1 returns this weekend and there has already been a big twist.Lewis Hamilton has taken a new combustion engine, exceeding his allocation of engine changes.
      And that means a ten-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race in Istanbul.
      Follow all the action with our live blog below…
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE GLOVE BOX
      SunSport’s Ben Hunt writes: Email has just landed in my inbox telling me that Hamilton, Vettel, Sainz, Ricciardo and Russell are all trialling a prototype glove.
      The new gloves have improved heat transmission protection. It comes after Romain Grosjean suffered bad burns to his hands following his fiery smash in Bahrain last year.
      Credit to the FIA for pushing though the new safety improvements.
      MERCEDES FINE WITH LEWIS PENALTY
      Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin says that Lewis Hamilton’s 10-place penalty for an engine change – rather than a completely new powertrain – is a calculated risk.
      He said: “We’re simulating all the races until the end of the year and obviously the thing you definitely don’t want to do is fail during a race and then have to take a penalty anyway.
      T”hen there’s also a performance element, because the power units do lose a bit of horsepower over their life.
      “The bit that most contributes to the reliability and the performance is the ICE itself – and it’s better to take 10 places than start at the back.”
      MAX: WE MUST DO BETTER
      Max Verstappen was content with his practice performance in ‘challenging’ conditions – but demanded improvement.
      He was 0.635secs off the pace after oversteer in the second session – after suffering understeer earlier on.
      Red Bull’s world title hopeful said: “Great track, but today was challenging. It looks like we have some work to do overnight to improve our performance.”
      RISK WORTH TAKING
      Mercedes trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, says that Lewis Hamilton’s 10-place penalty for an engine change – rather than a completely new powertrain – is a calculated risk.
      He said: “We’re simulating all the races until the end of the year and obviously the thing you definitely don’t want to do is fail during a race and then have to take a penalty anyway.
      T”hen there’s also a performance element, because the power units do lose a bit of horsepower over their life.
      “The bit that most contributes to the reliability and the performance is the ICE itself – and it’s better to take 10 places than start at the back.”
      LEW: I NEED POLE
      Lewis Hamilton is hoping for a Turkish delight – despite being forced to take a 10-place penalty on Sunday.
      As SunSport reported earlier this week, the world champion risked being bumped to the back of the grid for taking a new powerunit in the back of his Mercedes.
      F1 rules allow drivers to use three engines, plus their components, during the course of a season. Any additional parts will incur grid penalties for the grands prix.
      However, Merc have only replaced the internal combustion engine (ICE) in his motor – keeping his penalties to a minimum so he can still fight Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
      Hamilton is now eyeing up clinching pole in qualifying on Saturday to start just outside of the top-10 before embarking on a major fightback through the field.
      He said: “I have a lot of work to do on Sunday. The other drivers are going to be hard to pass. They seem to be improving more and more throughout the year.
      “I need to be on pole to limit the loss and then understand the car to do the best I can and find the right balance.”
      MERCEDES ADMIT GRID PENALTY IS RISKY 
      Mercedes trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin claims Lewis Hamilton’s 10-place penalty for an engine change – rather than a completely new powertrain – is a calculated risk.
      Shovlin said: “We’re simulating all the races until the end of the year and obviously the thing you definitely don’t want to do is fail during a race and then have to take a penalty anyway.
      “Then there’s also a performance element, because the power units do lose a bit of horsepower over their life.
      “The bit that most contributes to the reliability and the performance is the ICE itself – and it’s better to take 10 places than start at the back.”
      LEWIS: TOUGH TEST TO PASS
      LEWIS HAMILTON says he has “a lot of work to do on Sunday” after clocking the fastest practice time but taking a 10-place grid penalty.
      Mercedes’ world champion said: “The other drivers are going to be hard to pass. 
      “They seem to be improving more and more throughout the year.
      “I need to be on pole to limit the loss and then understand the car to do the best I can and find the right balance.”
      NINTCHDBPICT000685342791Credit: Rex
      RED BULL ADMIT ‘BALANCE MISH-MASH’
      Red Bull boss Christian Horner admits his team have their work cut out if they are to help Max Verstappen return top of the championship with victory in the Turkish GP.
      He said: “We’ve got a little bit of a balance mish-mash at the moment. The circuit is a lot grippier than it was last year and we’re just a little bit out of the window with Max on set-up.
      “It’s going to be a busy night tonight, burning the midnight oil with the engineers and no doubt back in the factory at Milton Keynes.
      “We know we’ve got a good car so it’s just a matter of getting into that window.”
      THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE GLOVE BOX
      SunSport’s Ben Hunt writes: Email has just landed in my inbox telling me that Hamilton, Vettel, Sainz, Ricciardo and Russell are all trialling a prototype glove.
      The new gloves have improved heat transmission protection. It comes after Romain Grosjean suffered bad burns to his hands following his fiery smash in Bahrain last year.
      Credit to the FIA for pushing though the new safety improvements.
      AND THE NEW
      Mercedes trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, says that Lewis Hamilton’s 10-place penalty for an engine change – rather than a completely new powertrain – is a calculated risk.
      He said: “We’re simulating all the races until the end of the year and obviously the thing you definitely don’t want to do is fail during a race and then have to take a penalty anyway.
      T”hen there’s also a performance element, because the power units do lose a bit of horsepower over their life.
      “The bit that most contributes to the reliability and the performance is the ICE itself – and it’s better to take 10 places than start at the back.”
      LEW BEAUTY
      Lewis Hamilton is hoping for a Turkish delight – despite being forced to take a 10-place penalty on Sunday.
      As SunSport reported earlier this week, the world champion risked being bumped to the back of the grid for taking a new powerunit in the back of his Mercedes.
      F1 rules allow drivers to use three engines, plus their components, during the course of a season. Any additional parts will incur grid penalties for the grands prix.
      However, Merc have only replaced the internal combustion engine (ICE) in his motor – keeping his penalties to a minimum so he can still fight Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
      Hamilton is now eyeing up clinching pole in qualifying on Saturday to start just outside of the top-10 before embarking on a major fightback through the field.
      He said: “I have a lot of work to do on Sunday. The other drivers are going to be hard to pass. They seem to be improving more and more throughout the year.
      “I need to be on pole to limit the loss and then understand the car to do the best I can and find the right balance.”
      GASSED
      Pierre Gasly was having trouble with understeer during his practice session.
      He finished ninth after the second practice.

      SECOND PRACTICE RESULTS
      What another impressive drive from Lewis Hamilton.

      FP2 IS DONE
      Advantage Hamilton, despite the penalty. Red Bull have work to do.
      And could Ferrari be in with a shout on Sunday?
      PROBLEM FOR OCON
      The session is over but the Frenchman is stuck on the grid. He’s stuck in neutral and cannot get moving again.

      FP2 IS DONE AND HAMILTON LEADS LECLERC
      Hamilton topped the morning session too and is looking good in Istanbul, despite having that 10-place grid penalty to contend with.
      Verstappen down in fifth while Perez improved to land fourth. This is not shaping up to be the weekend Red Bull were hoping for.
      GASLY NOW SPINS
      Maybe it was his short arms? Interestingly, there have been few spins or errors today. The track really has gripped up from 2020 when it was all sorts of a mess.

      X RATED FROM RAIKKONEN
      He’s swearing like a trooper over the team’s radio because his water bottle has been leaking.
      Put cleanly, he want’s to know why it is taking so long to fix the problem…
      GASLY COMPLAINS OF HAVING…ERR SHORT ARMS
      The AlphaTauri man is having a few issues down in eighth place. He’s just told his team he’s having a bit of trouble steering.
      He said: “I think my arms are too short to turn the wheel.”
      That’s a first.
      USUAL SERVICE RESUMED
      Hamilton is leading the way from Leclerc. Bottas in P3. Perez P4 and Verstappen down in fifth place.
      Red Bull certainly have their work cut out here, it seems.

      LECLERC IS NOW SETTING THE PACE
      Wile Norris, Perez and Hamilton are all very close to each other. This is shaping up to be fairly competitive.

      FP2 IS GO
      And the Haas cars are first out on track.

      ASTON MARTIN HAVE WORK TO DO
      Lance Stroll took pole in Turkey last year, in FP1 he was only 17th while Sebastian Vettel was in P13.

      ALMOST TIME FOR FP2
      Have Red Bull managed to make improvements to Verstappen’s car? Can he close that gap to Hamilton, who has that engine penalty looming on Sunday.
      HOW FP1 FINISHED
      A look at the lap times in Turkey.

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      in Boxing

      Fury vs Wilder 3 LIVE: Weigh-in reaction as Gypsy King 19st11, Bronze Bomber beefs up SEVEN pounds – latest updates

      by

      TYSON FURY and Deontay Wilder have weighed in ahead of their blockbuster showdown on Saturday night. Both fighters have tipped the scales HEAVIER than their last clash, with Fury at 277lbs and Wilder at 238lbs.
      The Gypsy King knocked the Bronze Bomber out in seven rounds last year to claim the WBC heavyweight title, but the American is set on revenge.
      You can catch coverage of the fight live on BT Sport Box Office.
      BETTING SPECIAL: GET 30/1 ON FURY OR 50/1 ON WILDER FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CLASH
      Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
      CONTINUED
      Twig-legged Wilder, 35, was a career heaviest 16st 7lbs for the first defeat of his once-brilliant KO artist career.
      That night was a disaster but instead of stripping back the bulk he piled even more on.
      Wilder said “I wanted to look sexy and feel sexy, he will not be able to put all his weight on me now.
      “The weight came off naturally and we had a loving, joyous camp.”
      The pair clashed backstage in the MGM arena, swapping insults in the bowels of the building.
      Both men shouted “f*** your mumma” before Fury’s younger brother Shane got into a slanging match with a member of the Bomb Squad.
      Big Shane was heard yelling: “You piece of s***, you are getting knocked spark out. F*** you”
      And when a member of Team Wilder yelled back an insult relating to Shane’s curves, he barked: “I’ll tell you what a fat boy could do to you, rip you to pieces you p***y!”
      Fury’s unfamiliar black fedora hat also made a bit more sense when a social media message from wrestling legend The Undertaker was posted.
      The American giant asked Fury to floor his compatriot before standing over him and uttering his famous catchphrase: “Rest in peace”.
      FROM SUNSPORT’S BOXING REPORTER, WALLY DOWNES JR
      Bloodthirsty Tyson Fury plans to feast on Deontay Wilder’s plasma again tonight after weighing in at 19st 11lbs – the heaviest of his career.
      England’s 33-year-old WBC heavyweight champ weighed in at a monstrous 19st 7lbs for last clash he totally dominated and has packed on about 4lbs to reach 277lbs for the trilogy bout.
      Wilder did the same by packing on more muscle to hit his own career heaviest of 17st.
      When the Gypsy King shook up the sport by axing his old defensive skills and blasting Wilder out in seven February 2020 rounds, he had bulked up and looked sensational
      And he once again looks set to slam one foot on the Las Vegas gas and the other on the American’s throat.
      Remembering the iconic moment he licked the blood that was oozing from Wilder’s mouth and ear last time out, he roared: “I told him before the fight I wanted to taste his blood and I did.
      “It has only made me thirsty for more.
      “My weight means total obliteration and annihilation, 277lbs to put him in the royal infirmary.”
      MORE FURY
      “I feel absolutely amazing, I’ve been training at this weight for two years.
      “I’m on fire, I”m going to knock the dosser out, he’s in trouble tomorrow night.
      “I think he’ll be slow, he can’t carry his weight, he’s actually a small man.
      “They’re not going to face me, I’m a real man, he’s a coward.
      “I’d fight his army on my own.”
      WEIGHT RECAP
      So then, both men come in heavier than the second fight.
      Wilder is 238lbs, while Fury is 277lbs.
      Tomorrow should be a cracker.
      FURY
      “I’m going to severely damage him, he won’t be recognisable after the fight.”
      Fury is raging here, several swear words too!
      FURY
      “It means total annihilation of the dosser!
      “I’m going to put him in the infirmary.”
      WILDER
      “The weight came on, I wanted to look and feel sexy.
      “There won’t be no pushing me. Calmness is the key to the storm.”
      BAD MOUTHING
      Some shouting from Fury towards Wilder, who responds with his own yells.
      They both look like they could get in the ring right now!
      FURY WEIGHT
      Here’s Fury on the scales.
      And the Gypsy King is 277lbs!
      He was 273lbs last time…
      WILDER WEIGHT
      Deontay Wilder has stepped up to the scales.
      And he is 238lbs!
      That’s SEVEN pounds heavier than last time!
      DON’T LET TRILOGY GO ‘TITS UP’
      Ricky Hatton has urged mate Tyson Fury to keep British boxing afloat by not letting the Deontay Wilder trilogy go ‘tits up’.
      The Manchester legend was ringside to watch AJ surrender his WBA, IBF and WBO world titles to Oleksandr Usyk on September 25, as prospect son Campbell Hatton got a win on the undercard.
      In 2017 the UK held 13 boxing world titles but AJ’s defeat last month saw the number dwindle down to just six.
      And the 43-year-old national treasure wants his old pal – who did two training camps in his Manchester gym when working with ex-trainer Ben Davison in 2019 – to keep his eye on the ball in Sin City this weekend so he does not lose his WBC belt.
      “Tyson is the favourite but it is not a foregone conclusion,” the two-weight champion said. “It will be tricky.
      “We all want Tyson to win but – like we saw with the AJ fight – these are all sticky wickets and it can all go tits up with one heavyweight punch.”
      HERE THEY ARE
      Here is Deontay Wilder, finally on the stage and surrounded by a huge entourage.
      And straight after him is Tyson Fury, looking cool as a cucumber with his belts… and hat.
      BOB’S YOUR UNCLE
      In the meantime, here’s a picture of Bob Arum with some ring girls.
      Credit: Reuters
      TIME HAS COME
      We are nearly there folks.
      Any moment now!
      WEIGHTING AROUND
      Another weigh-in, this time between undefeated pair Efe Ajagba and Frank Sanchez.
      Sanchez comes in at 240lbs while Ajagba is 237lbs.
      NEXT UP
      We now have Robert Helenius vs Adam Kownacki.
      Helenius is 246lb while Kownacki is 258lb.
      NOT QUITE YET
      First we have a weigh-in for Jared Anderson vs Vladimir Tereshkin.
      Tereshkin tips the scales at 256lbs while Anderson is 240lbs.
      GLOVES ARE OFF
      Deontay Wilder is examining some gloves… on a mobile phone screen.
      Surely it’s all been said and done by now!
      HAT’S AWAY
      Here’s some shots of that brilliant Tyson Fury hat…
      Credit: Getty
      Credit: Getty
      PARK THE BUS
      Joseph Parker in Fury’s dressing room giving him a fist bump.
      Still waiting on the heavyweights to step up to the scales.
      NEARLY THERE
      Both men are in the building, and the weigh-in is imminent.
      Fury even arrived in an Undertaker-style hat!
      Should be interesting…
      WILD THING
      Wilder sticks by his claims that Fury cheated in the second fight, saying: “I don’t regret it and I go to my grave believing in what I believe in.
      “I know things for fact. I have confirmation, clarity of a lot of things.
      “Many people can believe what they want. We’re all human. We believe what we want. But the eyes don’t lie.
      “It only made me better as a man, as a fighter, to understand and see certain things. To know things for facts.
      “It made me even hungrier than before.”
      FURY ROAD
      Speaking on Wednesday, Fury said: “All these fights are exactly the same to me. I’ve got some guy trying to take my head off with punches.
      “It don’t matter if it’s Deontay Wilder, or whoever it may be. It doesn’t really matter to me, because it’s the Tyson Fury road show.
      “I absolutely obliterated him in the rematch. He didn’t even win any of the rounds.
      “In this third fight, I just see much more of the same. I hope you’ve got your excuse book ready, dosser!”
      WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
      Unbeaten Fury goes into the fight as the favourite with odds of 4/11.
      You can get 9/4 on dangerous Wilder to avenge his only loss.
      And a draw – which was the result of their first fight remember – is currently set at 25/1.
      (Odds via Betfair at time of publication)
      TALE OF THE TAPE
      Let’s see how Fury and Wilder stack up going into this highly-anticipated battle…

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      in Soccer

      Newcastle could appoint Steven Gerrard to replace Bruce, Toon set for £200m transfer splurge ‘thanks to Mike Ashley’

      by

      NEWCASTLE UNITED’S Saudi takeover has been COMPLETED.The new Saudi owners have been given the all-clear by the Premier League after resolving a brutal dispute which saw Qatar-based beIN Sports have its feed across the Middle East hijacked.
      And the takeover looks set to spell the end of Steve Bruce’s time as Toon boss.
      Steven Gerrard is the current favourite to replace Bruce, though the likes of Eddie Howe, Frank Lampard and Antonio Conte have also been mentioned.
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      Stay up to date with all the latest from around the clubs with our live blog…
      PUMA ‘POUNCE FOR UTD TARGET HAALAND’
      Puma are said to be preparing a sensational coup to steal Borussia Dortmund Erling Haaland from current sponsors Nike.
      The 21-year-old striking phenomenon’s Nike deal is up in January and Puma are ready to pounce upon its completion, according to Bild.
      Puma are reportedly hoping to lure Haaland away from Nike with a whopping offer of £21million over five years, Bild claim.

      In Puma’s favour, they already sponsor two of Haaland’s Dortmund team-mates, Marco Reus and Axel Witsel, as well as the club itself.
      Although the Norwegian could be on the move soon with a host of European heavyweights interested in signing him.
      The £64m release clause in his contract became active in September, and potential suitors including Manchester United and Chelsea are ready to pounce in January.
      United are said to be in pole position to sign Haaland, who’s hit the net 11 times in eight games across all competitions this season.
      But the Blues, who are also sponsored by Nike, are willing to splash the cash on Haaland.
      SAMBA RAP STAR
      Leeds forward Raphinha produced a sensational debut for Brazil including two assists to sink Venezuela 3-1.
      The 24-year-old came on at half-time with Tite’s side 1-0 down, but his substitution would turn the game on its head.
      He delivered the corner for Marquinhos to convert from as Brazil levelled with 19 minutes remaining.

      And in the 85th minute the five-time World Cup winners completed the turnaround as Gabriel Barbosa tucked away a penalty.
      Raphinha then capped off a superb debut by setting up Antony in stoppage time to seal victory in the World Cup qualifier.
      He also had another assist chalked off in the second half as VAR ruled the goal out.
      Brazil have now won all nine of their qualification matches, scoring 22 times and conceding just three.
      They sit eight points clear of second place Argentina, with Ecuador and Uruguay another three points behind them.
      MANCINI ‘IDEAL’ FOR TOON
      Steve Bruce is set to be axed as Newcastle boss following the club’s £300million Saudi takeover.
      And with the Magpies now the richest club in the world, a host of big managerial names are being linked with St James’ Park hot seat.
      One of those is Roberto Mancini, who was the first man appointed at Manchester City after they were taken over in 2008.
      The 56-year-old spent four successful years at the Etihad, leading the club to FA Cup glory in 2011 and the Premier League title a year later.

      It means the current Italy boss has a proven record of taking over a new project – something ex-professional Trevor Sinclair thinks is invaluable.
      Speaking on talkSPORT, Sinclair said: “I think you need a manager who has done this before – and the first name which springs to mind for me is Roberto Mancini.
      “But I don’t know whether it’s too soon with his reign with Italy and whether he would walk away from that.
      “He’s done it at Man City, you’ve got to bring in big players to set new players, Mancini would be the ideal man to do it, he’s still young enough to do it.
      “They would be wise to look at the Man City model and the way they’ve done it, because they’ve been so successful.
      “Take away the Champions League and they’ve won everything.”
      OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NOU
      Barcelona will leave the Nou Camp for a YEAR while the stadium is being redeveloped, president Joan Laporta has confirmed.
      The planned works will begin in 2022 and could last for as long as FOUR years.
      Plans include an increase of 11,000 seats – taking the stadium capacity to 110,000, while surrounding areas including the club store and museum will also be refurbished.

      However, for work to commence the cash-strapped club is dependent on a loan.
      The Catalan giants are reportedly in talks with investment bank Goldman Sachs, who could agree to the £1.27bn loan – but Barcelona’s members will also have to give the green light.
      It would be a big commitment after the club announced losses of £408million this week.
      Laporta told Catalan radio Rac1: “‘(The new Camp Nou) is fundamental for the viability of the club and its immediate future.
      “The impact it will have for Barca is critical so that we can compete with our competitors who have already done what is needed.
      ‘TAKEOVER WILL KEEP TOON UP’
      Newcastle’s takeover will keep them in the Premier League on 38 points, according to Sporting Index.
      Before the buyout the betting firm predicted Steve Bruce’s men would go down with 33 points.
      Neville Burdock, Head of Trading at Sporting Index, said: “There’s a buzz around Newcastle that hasn’t been felt in the north east in many years, and we expect the new owners and their likely cash injection for new signings will help the Magpies survive relegation this season.
      “We’ve revised their expected points total from 33 to 38, and that could be the difference between heading down to the Championship and staying in the Premier League.”
      RON’S INSTAGRAM SLAM
      Cristiano Ronaldo earns a whopping £1.5million per Instagram post – more than seven times the next best Premier League star.
      The Manchester United, 36, is a global icon and uses his huge influence to promote brands across his social media.
      And with 353m Instagram followers, the most of any person on the app, he is able to charge companies up to £1,505,000 for a single post.
      So sharing one sponsored ad per month would earn Ronaldo more than £18m per year – or a weekly post would pocket him a staggering £78.2m.
      That places him way out in front as the No1 on the Premier League Instagram rich list, according to Myprotein.com research.
      TOON OWNERS ARE ALSO INTER ‘BUYING ITALIAN GIANTS’
      Newcastle’s new owners are also interested in buying Inter Milan, according to reports.
      The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund finally completed their controversial Magpies takeover yesterday, after a dispute was settled with Qatari broadcasters BeINSports.
      Toon fans are already dreaming of a star-studded team, with their new billionaire owners set to invest heavily in the team.
      But Newcastle may not be the only club the Public Investment Fund (PIF) choose to spend money on.
      According to Calciomercato via Football Italia, the Saudi group are working on a deal to buy Inter Milan from the Suning Group.
      They report that before going ahead, however, the PIF want assurances that Inter’s new stadium plans can go ahead without a hitch.
      NOT FOR SALE
      Man City have had a transfer bid for wonderkid James McAtee rejected by Manchester City, according to reports.
      McAtee, 18, has impressed for City’s youth teams this season and his form led Pep Guardiola to hand him his debut against Wycombe in the Carabao Cup last month.
      His talents have not gone unnoticed elsewhere with West Ham and Crystal Palace also interested, report The Athletic.
      But it is Brighton who have reportedly made City an offer of £8million for his services.
      The Seagulls hope McAtee could be lured to the south coast by the promise of more game time, but City have dismissed their approach.
      In fact, McAtee is not for sale at any price as City believe he has a future at the club.

      FIRE HORROR
      England’s World Cup qualifier in Andorra is in doubt after the stadium caught fire.
      The blaze is believed to have started when sparks from welders constructing a gantry for TV coverage led to the whole temporary structure being engulfed in flames.
      Clouds of dark smoke billowed into the air as the fire spread to one of the dugouts, the artificial turf at the side of the pitch and even a little way on to the playing surface itself.
      Firefighters soon arrived and extinguished the fire by 16:17 local time.
      But tomorrow night’s game will be able to go ahead only after officials assess the damage and the risk to players and fans.
      The blaze happened just hours after the England team trained on the artificial surface and not long after Gareth Southgate and Kieran Trippier completed their media duties.

      MIKE DROP
      St James’ Park will still possess Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct branding despite Newcastle’s £300million takeover by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.
      Sports Direct signage can currently be found everywhere you look at the Magpies’ historic home.
      Most fans will be glad to see the back of it, with Ashley even having tried to rename St James’ Park the Sports Direct Arena in the past.
      But for now the last remnants of Ashley’s reign will remain.
      The Times’ George Caulkin reports that the signage won’t be coming down ‘for now’ because of terms of the sale.
      But he adds that it ‘won’t be long’ until it disappears for good.
      ON THE PAUL
      Paulo Dybala is set to sign a new deal keeping him at Juventus until 2025 making him the join-highest paid player at the club, according to reports.
      The Argentine will join defender Matthijs de Ligt at the top of Juve’s wage bill.
      According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the final details are being ironed out on a three-year extension worth £8.4million-a-year.
      And once a deal with Dybala is tied up, the Old Lady will look to extend right-back Juan Cuadrado’s contract.
      The Colombian’s contract expires next summer, but the new deal is expected to extend his stay by a further year.

      RUD OF HIM
      Antonio Rudiger is reportedly on Real Madrid’s transfer list next summer.
      According to Spanish outlet ABC, Los Blancos are eyeing a free transfer for Rudiger, 28 when his Chelsea contract runs out in June.
      Carlo Ancelotti is eager to strengthen his defence after stalwarts Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos left in the summer for Manchester United and PSG respectively.
      And Bernabeu chiefs have made Rudiger their ‘No1 Priority’ because of his availability on a free.
      The report suggests Real Madrid’s new transfer strategy is to identify low cost transfers, avoiding the risk that comes with astronomical fees.
      Los Blancos snapped up David Alaba for nothing in May after his contract with Bayern Munich expired, and are now eyeing a similar move for Chelsea rebel Rudiger.
      SPURRED ON
      Newcastle have already sold out their next home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.
      The Magpies are used to passionate crowds coming through the gates at St James’ Park.
      But amid frustration with previous owner Mike Ashley and manager Steve Bruce, the Toon had yet to sell out their famous old home this season.
      Following yesterday’s £300million Saudi takeover being confirmed, however, fans have flocked back in their droves to secure tickets for their next match.
      Newcastle’s last home game, a 1-1 draw with Leeds United, drew a crowd of 50,407, while their 2-2 draw with Southampton back in August saw an attendance of 44,017 show up.
      Against Spurs, people can expect the full 52,000 and the rest to pack into St James’ Park and back their team.
      JESS DREAM
      Jesse Lingard has revealed he needs ‘regular football’ to have any hope of making Gareth Southgate’s 2022 World Cup squad.
      In an England press conference, Lingard admitted to reporters: “Obviously, the World Cup is a long way away but… you need regular football.
      “I was so close to going to the Euros and I think obviously it plays a huge part and it’s a big factor.
      “If you’re playing over 20 or 25 games, of course you know you’re knocking on the door so I think it does play a big part in that.
      “I’m not doing any harm at the moment – if I keep performing well and doing well you never know what might happen so I keep confident in myself and when I get when I get time on the pitch I’ve got to carry on doing what I’m doing.
      “You want to start games. When I’m a sub I’m always ready to play. I’m always ready to be needed when I’m called up.
      “It’s one of those things I’m going through at the moment but I think on recent performances hopefully we’ll see a change in the next few weeks.”
      CONT ME OUT
      EXCLUSIVE – Antonio Conte would likely reject the chance of leading Newcastle’s Saudi-backed assault on the top of English football, SunSport understands. 
      The £300million PIF takeover at St James’ Park has left Steve Bruce’s position as manager hanging by a thread.
      The new board led by financier Amanda Staveley are believed to be looking around for the right person to turn the club into serious challengers for the Premier League. 
      And ex-Chelsea boss Conte has been one of the most obvious candidates given he is available as a free agent immediately. 
      Conte’s CV is remarkable at club level having won titles with Juventus, Chelsea and last season Inter Milan. 
      Given Newcastle’s new might in terms of transfer spending power, they could easily offer the kind of backing the Italian usually demands in the transfer market to do his job. 
      But SunSport understands the 52-year-old’s current position is that his next job will need to be at a club who are already in a position to genuinely challenge for titles. 
      ART OF FOOTBALL
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been named Premier League manager of the month for September.
      The Gunners started the season poorly, losing their first three league games to Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City.
      But bounced back, beating Norwich, Burnley and North London rivals Tottenham.
      The Spaniard beat former mentor Pep Guardiola to the prestigious award, as well as Jurgen Klopp, Graham Potter and Dean Smith.
      On the award, Arteta told Arsenal.com: “I think [this award] represents the way everyone has been together, has been working and has been positive in difficult moments and continued to do their work with the right mentality, the right ambition and with the right work and direction.
      “So it’s for them. I get [the award] but it’s for all the people behind it.”
      NEW PROJECT
      Newcastle’s new owners are also interested in buying Inter Milan, according to reports.
      The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund finally completed their controversial Magpies takeover yesterday, after a dispute was settled with Qatari broadcasters BeINSports.
      Toon fans are already dreaming of a star-studded team, with their new billionaire owners set to invest heavily in the team.
      But Newcastle may not be the only club the Public Investment Fund (PIF) choose to spend money on.
      According to Calciomercato via Football Italia, the Saudi group are working on a deal to buy Inter Milan from the Suning Group.
      They report that before going ahead, however, the PIF want assurances that Inter’s new stadium plans can go ahead without a hitch.
      FAMILY STATEMENT
      The family of ex-Newcastle chairman Freddy Sherpherd have released a statement following the club’s takeover.
      It read: “We would like to wish His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Amanda Staveley and Rueben Family the best of luck in the future.
      “With sound investment and community inclusion we hope the Geordie nation will be galvanised in their desire to return this great club back to its rightful place – at the top of European football on and off the pitch.”
      RON TOP
      Cristiano Ronaldo has been awarded Premier League Player of the Month after a stellar return to Old Trafford.
      After an emotional second Red Devils debut against Newcastle, CR7 scored three goals in three Prem appearances in September.
      The 36-year-old scored twice in the 4-1 win against Newcastle at the start of the September, as well as the opener in the 2-1 victory over West Ham.
      CR7 beat Joao Cancelo, Antonio Rudiger, Allan Saint-Maximin, Ismaila Sarr and Mohamed Salah to the award.
      Fans voted for the winner via the Premier League website, with a panel of football experts also weighing in to decide who receives the trophy.
      It’s the fifth time he has landed Prem Player of the Month accolade, having previously scooped the award in November and December 2006, as well as January and March 2008.

      MESS-ED IT UP
      Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that he hoped Lionel Messi would play for FREE.
      The 59-year-old told RAC1: “With Messi I do not get angry because I appreciate him. I know he had a huge desire to stay, but also a lot of pressure because of the offer he had.
      “Everything indicates that he already had the offer from PSG. Everyone knew that he had a very powerful offer. We knew from Messi that they had a very good offer.
      “At no time do I think of going backwards. I think I’m doing the best for Barca. Nobody can put the institution at risk.
      “I did hope that at the last minute Messi would say that he would play for free. I would have liked that and he would have convinced me.
      “I understand that the league would have accepted it. But we cannot ask that of a player of his level.”
      RAM THE MAN
      Dozens of Newcastle United fans want the new Saudi owners to make Juventus star Aaron Ramsey their first signing.
      The Saudi-back consortium completed their £300million takeover on Thursday and supporters are desperate for investment in the squad.
      Arsenal icon Ramsey, 30, has been linked with a move away from Juventus in recent months, making just three Serie A appearances this term.
      And many Toon fans on social media are excited about the prospect of signing the midfielder, with one tweeting: “We should sign Ramsey.”
      While another wrote: “Ramsey will 100 per cent be Newcastle’s first big name signing after the takeover.”
      And one supporter tweeted: “I want our first signings to be Federico Bernardeschi, Aaron Ramsey, Adrien Rabiot and Mattia De Sciglio. Newcastle, break the bank for them!”
      FEELING BLUE
      Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign is set to be delayed until next year.
      Fifa are on the brink of postponing the tournament amid Covid safety fears.
      The prestigious competition was initially set to be held in Japan between December 9 and 19.
      But they have already had to withdraw from hosting duties amid Covid concerns.
      According to the Mirror, Fifa will opt to postpone the tournament entirely during their next Council meeting on October 20.
      Although they do remain committed to holding the Club World Cup, rather than cancelling it altogether.

      MAKES SENS
      Liverpool are ‘weighing up’ the possibility of signing wantaway Real Madrid playmaker Marco Asensio, according to reports.
      The Spanish international is believed to be unhappy at Real.
      And according to Spanish outlet ABC, the 25-year-old has been deemed surplus to requirements by boss Carlo Ancelotti despite starting the league campaign well.
      Asensio has found the back of the net three times in just six LaLiga games this season, two shy of his league goals tally from last term.
      The report states that Liverpool as well as Juventus and AC Milan are interested in signing the Spaniard.
      But Liverpool could be frontrunners for Asensio’s signature having ‘tempted’ the player before.

      GERR RIGHT
      Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are shock frontrunners to land the Newcastle job, according to reports.
      Steve bruce has admitted that he would not be surprised to be relieved of his duties immediately, as the new Saudi ownership look to put their stamp on things on Tyneside.
      According to the Telegraph, two former England midfield colleagues could be set to battle it out for the post.
      They claim that Gerrard, 41, would be a popular choice – having won the Scottish Premiership with Rangers last term.
      The former Liverpool man is happy in Scotland, they add, and would take some ‘persuading’ to leave Ibrox for the Premier League.
      Lampard, 43, is also mentioned as holding a ‘definite interest’ in the post.
      CASH FLOW
      Newcastle could spend £200million on transfers and not be in breach in Financial Fair Play regulations, it has been calculated.
      That is because Mike Ashley has left the club in a strong position financially thanks to his stringent operating in recent years.
      Ashley sold Newcastle to a Saudi-led consortium for £300m on Thursday.
      And with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund worth around £320billion, the Toon have become the richest club in world football.
      However, there were fears their spending would be limited to comply with FFP, which limit losses over a three-year period to £105m.
      Football finance expert Kieran Maguire told the Daily Mail: “For all that is wrong with Mike Ashley, I would love to be buying a club from him.
      “There is a lot of scope to increase the investment in Newcastle if any new owners choose to do so.”
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      in Motorsport

      F1 Turkish Grand Prix LIVE: Lewis Hamilton TAKES GRID PENALTY after engine change – FP2 latest updates

      by

      F1 returns this weekend and there has already been a big twist.Lewis Hamilton has taken a new combustion engine, exceeding his allocation of engine changes.
      And that means a ten-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race in Istanbul.
      Follow all the action with our live blog below…
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      RED BULL ADMIT ‘BALANCE MISH-MASH’
      Red Bull boss Christian Horner admits his team have their work cut out if they are to help Max Verstappen return top of the championship with victory in the Turkish GP.
      He said: “We’ve got a little bit of a balance mish-mash at the moment. The circuit is a lot grippier than it was last year and we’re just a little bit out of the window with Max on set-up.
      “It’s going to be a busy night tonight, burning the midnight oil with the engineers and no doubt back in the factory at Milton Keynes.
      “We know we’ve got a good car so it’s just a matter of getting into that window.”
      THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE GLOVE BOX
      SunSport’s Ben Hunt writes: Email has just landed in my inbox telling me that Hamilton, Vettel, Sainz, Ricciardo and Russell are all trialling a prototype glove.
      The new gloves have improved heat transmission protection. It comes after Romain Grosjean suffered bad burns to his hands following his fiery smash in Bahrain last year.
      Credit to the FIA for pushing though the new safety improvements.
      AND THE NEW
      Mercedes trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, says that Lewis Hamilton’s 10-place penalty for an engine change – rather than a completely new powertrain – is a calculated risk.
      He said: “We’re simulating all the races until the end of the year and obviously the thing you definitely don’t want to do is fail during a race and then have to take a penalty anyway.
      T”hen there’s also a performance element, because the power units do lose a bit of horsepower over their life.
      “The bit that most contributes to the reliability and the performance is the ICE itself – and it’s better to take 10 places than start at the back.”
      LEW BEAUTY
      Lewis Hamilton is hoping for a Turkish delight – despite being forced to take a 10-place penalty on Sunday.
      As SunSport reported earlier this week, the world champion risked being bumped to the back of the grid for taking a new powerunit in the back of his Mercedes.
      F1 rules allow drivers to use three engines, plus their components, during the course of a season. Any additional parts will incur grid penalties for the grands prix.
      However, Merc have only replaced the internal combustion engine (ICE) in his motor – keeping his penalties to a minimum so he can still fight Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
      Hamilton is now eyeing up clinching pole in qualifying on Saturday to start just outside of the top-10 before embarking on a major fightback through the field.
      He said: “I have a lot of work to do on Sunday. The other drivers are going to be hard to pass. They seem to be improving more and more throughout the year.
      “I need to be on pole to limit the loss and then understand the car to do the best I can and find the right balance.”
      GASSED
      Pierre Gasly was having trouble with understeer during his practice session.
      He finished ninth after the second practice.

      SECOND PRACTICE RESULTS
      What another impressive drive from Lewis Hamilton.

      FP2 IS DONE
      Advantage Hamilton, despite the penalty. Red Bull have work to do.
      And could Ferrari be in with a shout on Sunday?
      PROBLEM FOR OCON
      The session is over but the Frenchman is stuck on the grid. He’s stuck in neutral and cannot get moving again.

      FP2 IS DONE AND HAMILTON LEADS LECLERC
      Hamilton topped the morning session too and is looking good in Istanbul, despite having that 10-place grid penalty to contend with.
      Verstappen down in fifth while Perez improved to land fourth. This is not shaping up to be the weekend Red Bull were hoping for.
      GASLY NOW SPINS
      Maybe it was his short arms? Interestingly, there have been few spins or errors today. The track really has gripped up from 2020 when it was all sorts of a mess.

      X RATED FROM RAIKKONEN
      He’s swearing like a trooper over the team’s radio because his water bottle has been leaking.
      Put cleanly, he want’s to know why it is taking so long to fix the problem…
      GASLY COMPLAINS OF HAVING…ERR SHORT ARMS
      The AlphaTauri man is having a few issues down in eighth place. He’s just told his team he’s having a bit of trouble steering.
      He said: “I think my arms are too short to turn the wheel.”
      That’s a first.
      USUAL SERVICE RESUMED
      Hamilton is leading the way from Leclerc. Bottas in P3. Perez P4 and Verstappen down in fifth place.
      Red Bull certainly have their work cut out here, it seems.

      LECLERC IS NOW SETTING THE PACE
      Wile Norris, Perez and Hamilton are all very close to each other. This is shaping up to be fairly competitive.

      FP2 IS GO
      And the Haas cars are first out on track.

      ASTON MARTIN HAVE WORK TO DO
      Lance Stroll took pole in Turkey last year, in FP1 he was only 17th while Sebastian Vettel was in P13.

      ALMOST TIME FOR FP2
      Have Red Bull managed to make improvements to Verstappen’s car? Can he close that gap to Hamilton, who has that engine penalty looming on Sunday.
      HOW FP1 FINISHED
      A look at the lap times in Turkey.

      P1 IS DONE AND HAMILTON SETS THE BENCHMARK
      The world champion is almost half a second up on Verstappen.
      Leclerc, Bottas, Sainz, Ocon, Norris, Gasly, Alonso and Perez complete the top 10 in Istanbul.
      PEREZ IN P10
      Now, I know it is only P1 and we cannot read too much into it, but the Mexican being down in 10th is not where Red Bull would want him to be.Bottas is in P4, while the Ferrari duo of Leclerc and Sainz are P3 and P5 respectively.Perez needs to get up to speed in P2 or risk another poor weekend.
      HAMILTON ON TOP IN TURKEY
      He’s 0.425 seconds ahead of Verstappen, who sits in second place.
      That new engine might trigger a big penalty, but it looks well worth it, as he is clearly quicker than his nearest challenger.
      GLOVES ARE ON
      Email has just landed in my inbox telling me that Hamilton, Vettel, Sainz, Ricciardo and Russell are all trialling a prototype glove this morning.
      The new gloves have improved heat transmission protection. It comes after Romain Grosjean suffered bad burns to his hands following his fiery smash in Bahrain last year.
      Credit to the FIA for pushing though the new safety improvements.
      TRACK TIMES ARE TUMBLING
      Pirelli say a combination of their new rubber, better grip and conditions after resulting in new records being set in Turkey.
      To give you an idea of how much easier the conditions are this year (with softer tyres too) the fastest #FP1 time so far (from @LewisHamilton) is already more than 10 seconds quicker than the best #FP1 time from last year! #Fit4F1— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) October 8, 2021

      BREAKING NEWS: HAMILTON WILL GET A GRID PENALTY AFTER TAKING A NEW ENGINE FOR THIS RACE
      As it stands it will be a 10-place grid drop, but he could yet take more components that would add to his tally.
      He has used three power units, this internal combustion engine (ICE) is his fourth.
      He was coy about it yesterday during the press conference but this has made it very-much advantage Max Verstappen in Turkey.
      HAMILTON AND VERSTAPPEN BOTH ON TRACK
      The Mercedes man tops the lot after eight minutes while Ferrari are doing some serious aero testing on Carlos Sainz’s car.

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      in Soccer

      Newcastle £300m Saudi takeover CONFIRMED, Mike Ashley EXCLUSIVE, Steve Bruce LATEST, Gareth Bale link – latest news

      by

      NEWCASTLE UNITED’S Saudi takeover has been CONFIRMEDThe new Saudi owners have been given the all-clear by the Premier League after resolving a brutal dispute which saw Qatar-based beIN Sports have its feed across the Middle East hijacked.
      And the takeover looks set to spell the end of Steve Bruce’s time as Toon boss.
      With the buyout announced, SunSport has also taken a look at the players the new owners could bring in, including Gareth Bale.
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      MIKE ASHLEY EXCLUSIVE
      Mike Ashley has exclusively revealed to SunSport that he DID put the club first, even ahead of his own financial interests — and even at the 11th and final hour of his drawn-out reign.
      Ashley said: “I would like it to be known that I received a higher offer for the club than the one that I accepted.
      “It was from another reputable bidder, who made a credible case.
      “But I felt the bid that we accepted from the current new owners would deliver the best for Newcastle United.
      “Money wasn’t my only consideration. There were times when I stepped in financially to keep Newcastle United afloat.
      “We ensured the wage bills were paid when we went down in order that we could bounce straight back up.
      “Nobody was happier than me when we achieved immediate promotion.”

      JENAS HOPE
      Jermaine Jenas reckons Newcastle’s new owners can restore the glory days to the club.
      The Magpies were taken over by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia in a deal worth £300million and Jenas can’t wait to see the club return to the summit of English football.
      The ex-Toon star claims it’s what the fans deserve after watching Newcastle’s dismal decline from Premier League big wigs to also-rans over the past decade.
      Jenas told 5Live: “That club is one of the biggest clubs in this country.
      “They’re one of the great teams and have one of the best and biggest fanbases and they deserve more than what they’ve been getting so fingers crossed it gets over the line.”

      CUT BRUCE LOOSE?
      Newcastle boss Steve Bruce took training with his squad on Thursday amid growing uncertainty over his job after the club’s Saudi takeover.
      The 60-year-old, who has been in charge of the Magpies since July 2019, was already the bookies’ favourite to be the next Premier League manager sacked.
      But Bruce appeared upbeat while taking charge of Newcastle’s training session as his side continue their search for a first Premier League win of the season.
      The Toon Army currently sit 19th in the table with just three points from their opening seven games.
      And, while Bruce remains hopeful he can turn things around, he admitted prior to their most recent loss that if the bad feeling around the club began to affect the players then he would start to consider his own position.
      STEVE SUPPORT
      Amanda Staveley has come up out in support for Steve Bruce following Newcastle’s £300million Saudi takeover.
      Staveley successfully led the Saudi Arabia-backed consortium in their bid to take over of the Magpies after years of wrangling.
      And now the Magpies have new owners, rumours have been rife that under-fire manager Steve Bruce is about to get the boot from the Toon dugout.
      But Staveley claims that’s not the case and said Bruce has the full backing of the club’s new chiefs.
      She said, reported by The Guardian: “We are very supporting of Steve. We have spoken to him. What we are going to do is not talk about managers, not talk about signings we can make at the moment.”
      MAN DOWN
      Manchester United fans are feeling glum after Newcastle announced their £300million Saudi takeover.
      United haven’t won the Premier League since 2013, and some fans reckon their wait for the trophy will be extended now the Magpies are flushed with cash.
      The depressed United faithful took to Twitter to vent their frustrations over potentially being leapfrogged by Newcastle in the race for silverware.
      One fan moaned: “Newcastle United winning the league title before Manchester United is an absolute possibility now and that is a very depressing thought.”
      While another said: “Newcastle will probably win the league before we do at this rate. #mufc.”
      PREM APPROVAL
      The Premier League have revealed why they finally allowed Newcastle United’s £300m Saudi takeover go through.
      The Saudi Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund brought the Magpies off of ex-owner Mike Ashley after years of a bitter legal dispute.
      But the Prem bosses explained they decided to give the Saudi takeover the green light when it became clear they won’t own the club.
      A prem statement read: “All parties have agreed the settlement is necessary to end the long uncertainty for fans over the club’s ownership.
      “The Premier League has now received legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control Newcastle United Football Club.
      “All parties are pleased to have concluded this process which gives certainty and clarity to Newcastle United Football Club and their fans.”
      MAGPIE JAMIE
      Newcastle’s takeover has finally been completed after an eternity of waiting.
      Saudi Yasir Al-Rumayyan will act as chairman and will be accompanied by Amanda Staveley and the lesser-known Jamie Reuben.
      Jamie Reuben was born in 1987 in Mumbai, India to billionaire property investor David Reuben.
      He already has plenty of experience in football, having sat on the QPR board between 2018 and 2020.
      When he left, QPR chairman Amit Bhatia said: “Jamie has been a fantastic addition to the QPR Board over the past two years.
      “He has helped us tremendously in a number of different areas and I speak on behalf of my fellow shareholders when I thank him whole-heartedly for his efforts while he was with us.”
      Credit: Reuters

      TICKET CHAOS
      Newcastle fans are queueing in their thousands to try and grab a ticket for their club’s next home game following the Toon’s Saudi takeover.
      The Magpies face Tottenham later this month and it’s a game none of the Toon Army want to miss.
      But fans have had trouble getting a ticket as thousands flocked to Newcastle’s website with the same thing in mind.
      The Express reported that supporters have been in a queue for half-hour online trying to get a ticket.

      SHEAR WILL
      Alan Shearer claims Newcastle “can dare to hope again” after the Saudi-backed takeover of the club was completed.
      Geordie legend Shearer has felt the club’s dismal decline over the years under former owner Mike Ashley’s leadership.
      But following the takeover Shearer tweeted: “Yesssssssss. We can dare to hope again.”
      Credit: PA

      GEORDIE JOY
      Newcastle United fans are celebrating outside St James’ Park following Mike Ashley’s sale of the club.
      The Magpies have been taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, who will own 80 per cent of the North East outfit.
      The deal brings an end to Ashley’s 14-year spell as owner of Newcastle, much of which has been clouded by opposition from fans.
      And the supporters showed how they felt about the takeover immediately after it was confirmed by celebrating outside the stadium and on the streets.
      The takeover means Newcastle now have the richest owners in football as they are worth a reported £320billion.
      SING A NEW TOON
      The Saudis are coming to Toon and will transform Newcastle from into the richest club in the world in a flash.
      Simply not being Mike Ashley is enough in itself to get the fans on board.
      But after 14 years of Ashley there is a ton of work to do to turn around this sinking ship.
      The Saudi billions provide unlimited potential, but money won’t change everything.
      Here are seven things the new owners need to address immediately to hit the ground running and get the Magpies firing.

      FIND A NEW MANAGER
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      ENGAGE WITH FANS

      BIG AL
      Newcastle United’s Saudi takeover has been completed.
      But what is known about their new chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan?
      Yasir Al-Rumayyan was born in 1970 and graduated from King Faisal University in 1993. He later completed a general management programme at Harvard Business School.
      Al-Rumayyan, 51, is governor of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) who along with Amanda Staveley of PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben brothers, have completed the Magpies purchase.
      Al-Rumayyan is also chairman of the board of Saudi Aramco, the biggest oil company in the world.
      The PIF group are believed to be worth a staggering £260BILLION, and have offices in London, New York and San Francisco.
      BRUCE-D EGO
      Steve Bruce could be on his way out of Newcastle following the club’s £300m Saudi takeover that was announced today.
      Bookies have already started offering odds on who will replace Bruce at St.James’ Park.
      Aside from comedic pair Ant and Dec, more serious contenders include
      Eddie Howe the current favourite at 7/4.
      With significant funds expected to be injected and high-profile transfers now within reach – Antonio Conte has come flying into contention at 9/2.
      Chris Wilder and Graeme Jones are locked together at 5/1.
      Rafa Benitez is available at 9/1 for a sensational return Tyneside, while Frank Lampard and Roberto Martinez share odds of 10/1.
      Jose Mourinho and Steven Gerrard are priced at 14s with Unai Emery further back at 16/1.
      RI-DEC-ULOUS
      Ant and Dec are in the running to become Newcastle’s next managerial duo (kind of).
      That’s right – the iconic television duo could swap Saturday Night Takeaway for Match of the Day with the pair priced at 250/1 to replace Steve Bruce at St James’ Park!
      The Toon’s newly confirmed Saudi takeover has ended Mike Ashley’s 14-year ownership, teeing up a significant cash windfall with the consortium’s total wealth dwarfing that of Manchester City and PSG combined.
      And without Ashley in his corner – current Toon boss Bruce could well become the first casualty of a new era on Tyneside.
      Aside from Ant and Dec, there are a few more serious contenders for the role such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
      NEW ERA
      Amanda Staveley has revealed her excitement after finally spearheading the takeover of Newcastle United.
      The 48-year-old has led the Saudi Arabia-backed consortium to the takeover of the Magpies since 2017.
      And after much wrangling, the mega-connected businesswoman has finally been successful after the £300million deal was given the go-ahead.
      Staveley, Chief Executive Officer of PCP Capital Partners, said: “This is a long-term investment. We are excited about the future prospects for Newcastle United.
      “We intend to instill a united philosophy across the Club, establish a clear purpose, and help provide leadership that will allow Newcastle United to go on to big achievements over the long term.
      “Our ambition is aligned with the fans – to create a consistently successful team that’s regularly competing for major trophies and generates pride across the globe.”
      TOON ARMY
      Newcastle United fans celebrate the sale of the club to the Consortium of Amanda Stavely, Jamie Rueben and PIF Scenes at St. James’s Park, Newcastle as news of a takeover emerges on Thursday 7th October 2021.
      Credit: Alamy

      OVER THE TOON
      Newcastle’s £300million Saudi takeover has been CONFIRMED – with Mike Ashley gone and Steve Bruce facing the axe.
      The deal has been rubber-stamped by the Premier League, bringing an end to Ashley’s 14-year reign and transforming the Magpies into the richest club in the world.
      Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will own 80 per cent, with the billionaire Reuben brothers and financier Amanda Staveley taking 10 per cent each.
      Unpopular manager Steve Bruce is now set for the axe with the new owners wanting a fresh start as Newcastle sit 19th in the table.
      In a flash, the Toon now have the wealthiest owners in world football – worth a staggering £320BILLION – dwarfing the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
      SARD DEAL
      Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a swoop for Zenit Saint-Petersburg star Sardar Azmoun as a replacement for Alexandre Lacazette.
      Lacazette’s contract is coming to an end and the Gunners reckon Azmoun can fill his boots, according to Sports Witness.
      The Iranian 19-year-old striker has already scored six times in 12 games this season for Zenit, so he’ll bring plenty of firepower to The Emirates.
      However, the North London side face stiff competition from Italian clubs AC Milan and Roma, who Witness claim are also interested in Azmoun.
      PREM ACE BAILED
      Brighton ace Yves Bissouma has been bailed after being arrested and marched out of a nightclub in the early hours of yesterday.
      The in-form Brighton midfielder, 25, spent the day in custody after being arrested in the city.
      Shocked revellers told how they saw Premier League ace Bissouma being marched out of a packed nightclub in handcuffs by police officers.
      Sussex Police today confirmed a man in his 20s and a man in his 40s had been released after the arrest on October 6.
      A spokesperson said: “A man in his 40s and a man in his 20s, both from Brighton, were arrested and have been released on conditional bail until November 3 while enquiries continue.”
      RAM OUT
      Aaron Ramsey will reportedly be put on the transfer list by Juventus in Jauary due to his whopping wages.
      The Welsh midfielder has cost the Serie A giants a staggering £4,000 per minute since he arrived from Arsenal in 2019, which has risen to just over £11,000 this season, according to Calciomercato.
      Calciomercato also claim the eye-watering amount Juve have to pay the 30-year-old ex-Gunner every sixty seconds works out to be a yearly sum of £6.8million.
      And Massimiliano Allegri’s side aren’t willing to continue forking out such a hefty figure to a player who’s only racked up a meagre 68 appearances in all competitions since his arrival.
      Ramsey hasn’t fared much better this season, making just two Serie A starts and one in the Champions League for the Bianconeri.
      Ramsey still has two years on his contract with Juve, and they’re even willing to let him go for free to balance the books.
      MO WAY
      PSG are considering a shock bid for Liverpool ace Mo Salah, according to reports.
      The French giants are reportedly prepared to reignite their summer interest and land the Egyptian as a replacement for Kylian Mbappe.
      The Egyptian is out of contract in 2023 and is reportedly demanding up to £380,000-a-week to extend his Anfield stay.
      Salah, 29, is looking for wages that would make him the Reds’ highest earner.
      But PSG are ready to swoop and take him to Paris if Mbappe leaves, according to Fabrizio Romano.
      He told Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel: “From what I am told, PSG were studying the possibility of recruiting Salah early in the summer, in June, if Mbappe was sold to Real Madrid.
      “They were prepared to do something big, and they wanted to try it out with Salah.”
      SACK RACE
      Steve Bruce’s tenure as Newcastle manager is drawing towards a conclusion.
      That’s according to Sky Bet, who’ve made Bruce odds-on favourite to be the second Premier League manager sent packing this season.
      The Toon boss was available at 3/1 at the beginning of the week.
      But that price has crashed to odds-on 1/3 as the club’s long-awaited Saudi takeover inches towards completion.
      A long-standing row over TV piracy has been resolved, bringing an end to 18 months of deadlock after Mike Ashley initially agreed to sell in April 2020.
      The Saudi-led consortium will have an 80 per cent controlling stake and with Ashley out of the picture – Bruce could be the first casualty of a new era on Tyneside.
      AUR WRONG
      Serge Aurier would NEVER sign for Arsenal because he has ‘too much respect’ for his former club Spurs.
      The Ivory Coast right-back joined LaLiga side Villarreal this week, having been a free agent since terminating his Tottenham deal by mutual consent.
      He wrote on Instagram: “I have never seen myself at another club in England!
      “I didn’t see myself joining the enemy because I have too much respect for our club, for our history and for all our moments shared together.”
      Aurier was linked with a move across North London but instead opted to reunite with Unai Emery after working with the former Gunners boss at Paris Saint-Germain. 
      SAUDI STING
      Amnesty International demanded the Premier League “overhaul their standards” regarding human rights after the Saudi takeover of Newcastle.
      The £300million leaves the Saudi Public Investment Fund, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, owning 80 per cent of the Magpies.
      Bin Salman has been implicated in approving the 2018 murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
      Human rights organisation Amnesty international stated the deal was an attempt to “sportswash their appalling human rights record with the glamour of top-flight football.”
      And CEO Sacha Deshmukh said: “Instead of allowing those implicated in serious human rights violations to walk into English football simply because they have deep pockets, we’ve urged the Premier League to change their owners’ and directors’ test to address human rights issues.
      “The phrase ‘human rights’ doesn’t even appear in the owners’ and directors’ test despite English football supposedly adhering to Fifa standards.
      “As with Formula One, elite boxing, golf or tennis, an association with top-tier football is a very attractive means of rebranding a country or person with a tarnished reputation.
      “The Premier League needs to better understand the dynamic of sportswashing and tighten its ownership rules.”
      STER IT UP
      Raheem Sterling will reject any bids to sign England star Raheem Sterling in January.
      And the champions remain focused on persuading the 26-year-old to sign a new deal.
      Sterling has less than two years on his contract and talks over a fresh one are on hold.
      That has put a big question mark over his long-term future at City, where he has been for six years.
      SunSport reported on Tuesday that Barcelona are monitoring the situation and could make a cheeky loan bid in the new year.
      The hard-up Catalan giants know Sterling has expressed an interest in playing in Spain at some point in his career and hope that could tip the balance in their favour.
      Anything they come up with will be knocked back by City though.
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      in Soccer

      France 3 Belgium 2: Theo Hernandez’s late winner sends Les Bleus to Nations League Final following stunning comeback

      by

      FRANCE will meet Spain in the Nations League Final following a shocking comeback against Belgium.Roberto Martinez’s men led 2-0 at half-time following goals by Yannick Carrasco and Romelu Lukaku.
      But Les Bleus fought back in the second half and equalised within seven minutes with Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe.
      The Belgians had a goal by Lukaku overruled for offside before Theo Hernandez’s late winner sent the reigning world champions to the final.

      Belgium XI: Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen; Castagne, Witsel, Tielemans, Carrasco; De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku.
      France XI: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, L. Hernandez; Pavard, Pogba, Rabiot, T. Hernandez; Griezmann, Benzema, Mbappe

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      THAT’S ALL FROM TURIN!
      France have made it to the Nations League Final after a stunning comeback that saw them beat Belgium 3-2 at the Juventus Stadium.
      The Belgians opened the scoring on 37 minutes when Yannick Carrasco picked up a pass from Kevin De Bruyne down the left wing and broke inside the area.
      Carrasco delivered a clever shot down Hugo Lloris’ tight angle with the French goalkeeper being caught by surprise as his sight was blocked by Benjamin Pavard.
      Roberto Martinez’s men doubled their lead just three minutes later when De Bruyne found Romelu Lukaku inside the area and the Chelsea star beat Lloris with a powerful shot down the Tottenham shot stopper’s tight angle.
      But Les Bleus refused to give up and got back in the game on 62 minutes when Karim Benzema turned around Jason Denayer and defeated Thibaut Courtois with a marvellous shot.
      Antoine Griezmann was then fouled by Youri Tielemans inside the area and the Tricolores earned a penalty just seven minutes later following a VAR check.
      Kylian Mbappe beat Courtois from the spot with a powerful shot that smashed the Real Madrid star’s top left corner.
      Belgium thought they snatched the win during the dying moments of the match when Lukaku converted a brilliant cross from Carrasco but VAR deemed the former was offside.
      France completed their unbelievable comeback in the first minute of stoppage time when Pavard’s low cross from the right was deflected by Toby Alderweireld and met Theo Hernandez on the other side.
      Hernandez fired an unstoppable shot that was met by a weak save from Courtois who, couldn’t keep the ball away from his net.
      That’s all from us here at SunSport, have a lovely evening!
      GETTY IMAGES
      DOWN BUT NOT OUT
      France are not used to this kind of comeback they put together against Belgium.
      In fact, Les Bleus had not won a match after being down 2-0 or more at half-time since their friendly win over Iceland in May 2012 at the Stade du Hainaut
      The Tricolores were 2-0 down following Birkir Bjarnason and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson’s strikes.
      But France came back in the second half and won 3-2 thanks to Mathieu Debuchy, Franck Ribery and Adil Rami’s goals
      GETTY IMAGES
      TO DEZ IS TO DO
      AC Milan star Theo Hernandez scored France’s winner against Belgium.
      That marked Hernandez’s first ever international goal on his second cap with Les Bleus.
      The full-back netted that winner on a special day as this Nations League semi-final marked the first time brothers play together for the Tricolores since Herve and Patrick Revelli against Romania in March 1974.
      The 24-year-old was in Didier Deschamps’ line-up along with his brother Lucas Hernandez
      GETTY IMAGES
      WHAT’S NEXT?
      France are going to face Spain in the Nations League Final on Sunday at the San Siro.
      Reminding you that the Furia Roja defeated reigning European champions Italy 2-1 on Wednesday.
      Luis Enrique’s men ended the Azzurri’s world-record run of 37 matches without defeat.
      That means Belgium will lock horns with Roberto Mancini’s men in a third-place play-off at the Juventus Stadium that same day.
      That will pose as a rematch for the Euro 2020’s quarter-final that saw Italy beating Roberto Martinez’s squad
      GETTY IMAGES
      NOT MESSING AROUND
      Belgium star Kevin De Bruyne completed quite a stat against France in Turin.
      Manchester City talisman De Bruyne is the first player to deliver two assists in the same game against Les Bleus since 2018.
      That is when Lionel Messi created two goals in the World Cup’s Last 16 stage.
      More below:
      2 – Kevin De Bruyne is the first player to deliver 2 assists in the same game against France since Lionel Messi with Argentina in the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup (2 also). Maestro. #BELFRA pic.twitter.com/PS8lf3raU2— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 7, 2021

      STATS
      Belgium dominated 51.2 per cent of possession throughout the Nations League semi-final.
      France evened the scales somehow in the second half during a marvellous comeback.
      Roberto Martinez’s men registered a total of 11 shots, six of which were on target.
      France, on the other hand, recorded 16 shots, six of which were on target.
      FT: FRANCE 3-2 BELGIUM
      France have made it to the Nations League Final after a stunning comeback against Belgium at the Juventus Stadium.
      The Belgians opened the scoring on 37 minutes when Yannick Carrasco picked up a pass from Kevin De Bruyne down the left flank and broke inside the area.
      Carrasco fired a clever shot down Hugo Lloris’ tight angle with the French goalkeeper being caught by surprise as his sight was blocked by Benjamin Pavard.
      Roberto Martinez’s men doubled their lead just three minutes later when De Bruyne found Romelu Lukaku inside the area and the Chelsea star beat Lloris with a powerful shot down the Tottenham keeper’s tight angle.
      But Les Bleus refused to give up and got back in the game on 62 minutes when Karim Benzema turned around Jason Denayer and beat Thibaut Courtois with a marvellous shot.
      Antoine Griezmann was then fouled by Youri Tielemans inside the area and the Tricolores earned a penalty just seven minutes later thanks to a VAR check.
      Kylian Mbappe beat Courtois from the spot with a powerful shot that smashed inside Courtois’ top left corner.
      Belgium thought they snatched the victory during the dying moments of the match when Lukaku converted a brilliant cross from Carrasco but VAR deemed the former was offside.
      France completed their astonishing comeback in the first minute of stoppage time when Pavard’s low cross from the right was deflected by Toby Alderweireld and met Theo Hernandez on the other side.
      Hernandez delivered an unstoppable shot that was met by a weak save from Courtois who, couldn’t keep the ball away from his net
      GETTY IMAGES
      PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
      THAT’S FULL-TIME IN TURIN!!!!!!!!!!!!
      FRANCE 3-2 BELGIUM
      90+6 SUBSTITUTION
      France manager Deschamps tries to slow the game down with a substitution as Veretout replaces Benzema
      FRANCE 3-2 BELGIUM
      90+4 Referee initially gave four minutes of stoppage time.
      But it seems like we will go until the fifth due to Theo’s goal
      FRANCE 3-2 BELGIUM
      90+2 SUBSTITUTION
      France manager Deschamps replaces Pavard with Dubois.
      Meanwhile, Martinez introduces Batschuayi, who takes Castagne’s place
      FRANCE 3-2 BELGIUM
      90+1 France have completed an incredible comeback!
      Pavard delivers a cross from the right that is deflected by Alderweireld.
      The ball reaches Theo on the other side and he beats Courtois with a marvellous shot that meets a weak save from Courtois!

      GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!
      FRANCE TURN THE GAME AROUND WITH THEO HERNANDEZ!!!!!!!!
      FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
      90 WHAT A CHANCE!
      France come just inches, INCHES, away from an equaliser.
      Pogba whips in a free-kick from 20-odd yards and hits the post on Courtois’ top left corner!
      FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
      87 NO GOAL!
      Carrasco delivers a beautiful cross from the left and finds Lukaku who beats Lloris with a brilliant shot.
      But VAR deems the Chelsea star is offside and thus France are still in this!
      However, Belgium proved how dangerous they still are on the counter-attack!
      GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!
      BELGIUM SCORE WITH LUKAKU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
      FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
      86 CHANCE!
      France move the ball very nicely with Mbappe, Pogba and a much improved Griezmann.
      The ball goes to Mbappe, who breaks inside the area but his shot just misses the target!
      FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
      85 Belgium are practically lifeless.
      Based on what we’re seeing, the Belgians would love for this to go to extra time
      FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
      83 Belgium are struggling defensively, a far cry from their earlier performance in which they convinced they can control the game.
      Alderweireld has been having a tough time ans the same goes for De Bruyne when he pulls back
      FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
      80 CHANCE
      Griezmann tries a long-range shot but it doesn’t worry Courtois.
      As it stands, the game is heading towards extra-time
      FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
      80 France are absolutely dominating possession and tempo as we head towards full-time.
      Belgium have been almost non-existent, they seem to have crumbled after Benzema’s goal
      FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
      78 We can only imagine what this moment means for Mbappe…
      Surely the PSG star has exorcised his demons from Euro 2020
      GETTY IMAGES
      GETTY IMAGES
      FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
      77 CHANCE!
      Tchouameni’s shot from the edge of the box is blocked by Courtois!
      France are really knocking on Belgium’s door, they aren’t slowing down!
      FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
      75 SUBSTITUTION
      France manager Deschamps makes a change that he was planning before the penalty and left it for later.
      Tchouameni replaces Rabiot
      FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
      74 SUBSTITUTION
      Belgium boss Martinez makes another change as Brighton’s Trossard replaces Hazard, who struggled to stand out
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