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Author: ayuba

  • Ipswich Town star opens up on Sheffield United transfer exit talk

    Ipswich Town star opens up on Sheffield United transfer exit talk

    Ipswich Town captain Luke Woolfenden confirmed that he was subject to interest from Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United in the most recent transfer window.

    Defender Woolfenden came through the Tractor Boys’ academy to make over 200 appearances for Ipswich, but was heavily linked to a move away in January following the arrival of Ben Godfrey on loan from Atalanta.

    But no move was forthcoming, leaving the towering centre-back to remain at Portman Road.

    Luke Woolfenden confirms transfer interest from Sheffield United during January transfer window

    After earning back-to-back promotions under Kieran McKenna, flying from League One to the Premier League in consecutive seasons, Ipswich strengthened heavily over the summer to reinforce their squad ahead of their top-flight return.

    The defence saw multiple new signings, with new centre-backs Jacob Greaves and Dara O’Shea arriving from Hull City and Burnley respectively.

    As such, Woolfenden saw his 40 starts during last season’s Championship campaign turn into just 9 starts in Ipswich’s 28 Premier League games so far this year.

    Luke Woolfenden’s 23/24 Stats in the Championship

    Total

    Matches Played

    41

    Matches Started

    40

    Goals

    1

    Assists

    1

    Clean Sheets

    14

    Interceptions per Game

    1.1

    Tackles per Game

    0.9

    Recoveries per Game

    5.0

    Dribbled Past per Game

    0.2

    Clearances per Game

    3.7

    Duels Won per Game

    3.0

    All Stats as per Sofascore

    With Woolfenden’s gametime limited at Portman Road, naturally there was interest from other clubs.

    Sheffield United were attributed with interest, as well as more exotic destinations such as MLS outfit Inter Miami.

    Inter Miami, owned by former England star David Beckham, currently boast a squad of seasoned internationals such as Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, and Lionel Messi.

    Woolfenden quickly quashed suggestions that he was wanted by Inter Miami, but did confirm to the East Anglian Daily Times that there had been interest from other clubs, including Sheffield United.

    Asked by the EADT about the rumours linking him to Sheffield United and Inter Miami, Woolfenden shared: “There’s interest most windows. I think that’s part and parcel of being a footballer.

    “The Inter Miami one was a bit wide of the mark because otherwise I’m not sure I’d be sitting here! I’d be playing with Messi!

    “So I’m not sure that one was true, but there was certainly interest from elsewhere.”

    Sheffield United have been long-term admirers of Luke Woolfenden

    Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder

    It is not the first time Sheffield United have looked to sign Woolfenden, with the defender first catching their eye in 2020.

    At the time, Ipswich were plying their trade in League One, whilst the Blades were in the Premier League during current manager Chris Wilder’s first stint in charge.

    Back in 2020, Woolfenden addressed the transfer speculation, sharing: “It’s nice to be linked with big clubs but I’m focused on taking Ipswich back to where we should be.

    “I don’t really get involved in all of that (transfer talk). Everybody knows what I’m like. There’s been no bids so there’s nothing to worry about.

    “Everyone’s dream and goal is to play as high as they possibly can and for me I obviously want to play in the Premier League, but that doesn’t mean I want to leave right now.

    “Ipswich is a massive club so if I could get to the Premier League with Ipswich it would be unbelievable.

    “Ipswich Town shouldn’t be in League One so to get them promoted, as an Ipswich lad, would be massive.”

    But things quickly changed for Woolfenden when Paul Cook replaced Paul Lambert as manager.

    He found himself training with the Tractor Boys’ reserves, believing his future to lie elsewhere.

    Woolfenden shared: “I was training with the Under 23s most of the time so I was nailed on to go.

    “I was waking up most mornings and wanting to be anywhere else other than Ipswich.”

    However, it would take until 2025 for the Blades to reignite their interest in the defender.

    But Sheffield United’s hopes of signing the 26-year-old have been diminished by the fact that Woolfenden has signed a new deal with Ipswich.

    The centre-back had been set to be out of contract this summer, but will now remain at his first professional club until the summer of 2027.

    “I’ve said over the last few years that this is probably the best place to be in the Football League,” continued Woolfenden.

    “It’s a club that, besides the manager, has a lot of ambition behind it with the owners, with Mark (Ashton), that it’s driven to keep this club where it is now. So it was a really good feeling to get the contract done.

    “I’ve said numerous times that I love working here under the boss and the coaching staff.

    “Every session is enjoyable. You don’t need to play every game here to improve as a player, whereas at other clubs you might have a bit of a jolly up and just go through the motions. Here we’re bang at it every day.”

    Luton Town warning
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  • FIFA Confirms Hirst’s Switch to Scotland

    FIFA Confirms Hirst’s Switch to Scotland

    ‘The Change of Association Platform outlines its role: “The FIFA Change of Association Platform is a key resource for the football community, providing details about players who have requested and obtained a favourable change of association decision from the Players’ Status Chamber of the FIFA Football Tribunal to change their ‘sporting nationality’.

    “This list includes players who have transferred their affiliation to a new MA [member association] in order to be eligible to participate for their representative teams in international football.”

    Whether Hirst is added to the Scotland squad for the Greece games remains to be seen with Clarke having suggested that that might require someone else to pick up a knock, although it would appear inevitable that someone will drop out.

    The Scots play Greece in a two-legged Nations League play-off in Piraeus on Thursday 20th March and at Hampden Park the following Sunday.

    Town keeper Cieran Slicker was named in the squad, the second time the 22-year-old has been included at senior level having skippered the U21s.

    Photo: Matchday Images

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  • Joe Anderson’s 23 points lead Lipscomb to a 76-65 win over North… Joe Anderson’s 23 points lead Lipscomb to a 76-65 win over North Alabama to claim ASUN title

    Joe Anderson’s 23 points lead Lipscomb to a 76-65 win over North… Joe Anderson’s 23 points lead Lipscomb to a 76-65 win over North Alabama to claim ASUN title

     

    12 of his team-high 23 points in the final four minutes to help power top-seeded Lipscomb to a 76-65 win over North Alabama on Sunday to win the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament championship and claim an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

    The Bisons (25-9) finished tied with North Alabama (24-10) for the regular season championship with 14 wins and were the No. 1 tournament seed. Lipscomb needed overtime to get past sixth-seeded Queens in the semifinals The Lions were seeded second and beat fourth-seeded Jacksonville to reach the final.

    Jacari Lane’s jumper gave North Alabama the lead with 11:46 left and Donte Bacchus converted a three-point play for a 53-49 advantage. Jacob Ognacevic hit three of four free throws and Will Pruitt hit from 3 for a 55-53 lead and Gyasi Powell hit a 3 with 4:13 left to put Lipscomb in front for good.

    Anderson hit from deep to make it 65-60 and Anderson hit from 3 in a 7-0 run to take a 10-point lead with 1:34 left and converted 3 of 4 from the line in the final minute.

    Anderson was 6 of 9 from the field, including 4 of 7 from deep, and hit 7 of 8 from the line with four assists, two steals and three blocked shots to lead Lipscomb. Pruitt was a perfect 10-for-10 from the line and finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Powell hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range to add 16 points and Ognacevic had 14 points with nine rebounds.

    Lane finished with 18 points and Corneilous Williams scored 15 points with seven rebounds to lead North Alabama. Will Soucie had 10 points with six boards and Taye Fields pulled down 12 rebounds to go with his six points.

     

  • Fred Vasseur admits using cunning Hamilton tactic that left Mercedes blindsided

    Fred Vasseur snatched Lewis Hamilton away from Mercedes (Image: Getty)

    Fred Vasseur has admitted that he made his move to sign Lewis Hamilton for Ferrari before 2024 pre-season testing ‘on purpose’ in a bid to galvanise his squad. The signing rocked the F1 paddock and left Toto Wolff blindsided, with Mercedes left scrambling to identify the seven-time world champion’s successor.

    The timing of Hamilton’s move was a curious one. Rarely do drivers announce their moves to another team ahead of the season. In a hectic market in 2024, only Hamilton and new Sauber recruit Nico Hulkenberg sealed their switches early in the year. The latter’s new team-mate, Gabriel Bortoleto, was only confirmed in early November after a drawn-out saga.

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    Inside Toto Wolff's honest conversation with wife Susie after losing Lewis Hamilton

    During the latest season of Netflix’s Drive to Survive docuseries, Vasseur confessed: “With the timing, I did it on purpose. I did it because, for us, it was important to attack the season with that behind us. So we did it completely deliberately, and I think it was a good decision.”

    The switch to Ferrari has given not just the team a boost, but Hamilton also. The seven-time world champion endured the toughest season of his glittering career in 2024 despite winning two races, and was lacking confidence in his qualifying pace during the closing stages of the campaign.

    In his new environment, the Brit feels reinvigorated. “I think how you start often is very important,” he said after pre-season testing. “This past month couldn’t have gone any different and it couldn’t have gone any better.

    Toto Wolff was shocked by Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes (Image: Getty)

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    “Things along the way, they had to happen. Barcelona had to happen. Every day has been significant and about building foundations. While we had to cram a lot in a small space of time, we haven’t rushed it.

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    Inside Toto Wolff's honest conversation with wife Susie after losing Lewis Hamilton

    “We’ve still taken our time, we’ve just been working flat out in the days – long, long, long days. That’s what we’re here for. It’s felt seamless, it’s felt easy in a sense of gelling with the team. We’ve not had to force it, it’s done it in its own time, and I feel at home.”

    One year on from his bombshell announcement, Hamilton has completed his first pre-season as a Ferrari driver, testing a radically new SF-25 machine with new team-mate Charles Leclerc.

    The Prancing Horse suffered worrying tyre degradation on long runs during the final sessions of the three-day test, leaving them in a precarious position heading into the season opener in Melbourne next weekend. However, Hamilton’s commitment to the cause is absolute, and his spirit has not been dampened as he prepares for his Ferrari debut.

  • Ferrari complete demonstration run in the heart of Milan

    Ferrari complete demonstration run in the heart of Milan

     Castello for the first time in six years this week, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton having performed a street demo at the wheel of Formula 1 cars.

    Over twenty thousand people from all across Europe flocked to the Piazza Castello and surrounding streets on Thursday, turning Milan red as the fans turned out for Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Team Principal Fred Vasseur at the “Drivers’ Presentation by UniCredit” event.

    It was organised in conjunction with the pan-European bank, Unicredit which became Ferrari’s premium partner after the departure of the Spanish bank Santander. The street demo marked Ferrari’s return Milan for the first time in six years.

    The most hardcore fans were already in Milan at the crack of dawn, to claim a front row seat near the stage in the Piazza Castello, and from mid-afternoon onwards a DJ set kept the crowd entertained, before the first of the special guests arrived on stage, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna and UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel, where they were met by Sky Sport presenters Carlo Vanzini and Vicky Piria.

    Speaking of the importance of the partnership between the two companies, Vigna stated: “The collaboration between UniCredit and Scuderia Ferrari HP is also about special events like this, And Milan is absolutely the right place for this, as our partner’s headquarters are here and in Milan you can feel the same atmosphere we enjoy every year in Monza,

    “Let’s hope this red painted square is a good omen for a great season,” added Orcel.

    Following the speech of Vigna and Orcel, Charles and Lewis got into the cockpits of the 2019 SF90 and the 2021 SF21 respectively, to put on a spectacular show. Leclerc was first out, impressing the crowd that included many members of the Scuderia Ferrari Clubs, with some thrilling doughnuts, as well as the mechanics showing their skill with some very rapid pit stops.

    The seven-time F1 world champion was up next, doing the same as his team-mate, as well as ending with a few burn-outs and some planned spins much to the delight of the fans alongside the barriers.

    While the two drivers did some further parade laps in a Ferrari SF90 Spider driven by Ferrari’s Head of Development Drivers, Raffaele De Simone, Fred Vasseur got up on stage to salute the fans in Italian. “Thank you for your unwavering support and for being here today,” before continuing in English, “this square is really something special and events like today’s remind us how strong is the passion for our team. We are all set for an exciting season and I can assure you we will give it our best shot.”

    Following Vasseur’s appearance on the stage, Leclerc and Hamilton replaced the team boss on the stage. Leclerc said: “Milan has delivered an incredible atmosphere again today. Feeling all this love gives us a real boost for the coming championship.

    “Over the winter we have worked harder than ever to be in the best possible shape and we hope we can get some great results, maybe already in Australia.”

    Ahead of his debut season with the Scuderia, Hamilton said: “Wearing red and experiencing an event like this is something special, as is being here with you in front of some historic cars including ones that Michael Schumacher raced.

    “Today is another first to go with others I’m experiencing in what is already an unforgettable season for me. I can’t wait to get on track with this extraordinary team. I think we have everything we need to fight for the World Championship and I also believe that you fans can be our extra gear. I hope we will have a lot of fun together.”

  • Lions Surprisingly Bring Their ‘Worst Signing of 2024’ Back on $4.75 Million Deal

    Lions Surprisingly Bring Their ‘Worst Signing of 2024’ Back on $4.75 Million Deal

    By John Vaccaro Athlon Sports

    Detroit Lions fans have been patiently waiting for news on how the team is going to address their need for an edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson.

    The team didn’t have a single other player register more than four sacks during the 2024 season.

    There are plenty of options out there for the Lions to address their need this offseason as the free agent class is loaded and a couple of big names have requested trades.

    However, it seems they’ve decided to make a move not many were expecting before the start of free agency.

    According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Lions have agreed to a one-year deal with edge rusher Marcus Davenport after he missed almost all of his first season with the team.

    The Lions signed Davenport to a one-year deal last offseason that was worth $6.5 million. Unfortunately he was only able to appear in two games on that deal.

    After the season was over, Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman named Davenport the Lions’ worst signing of the 2024 offseason.

    Now they’ve surprisingly brought him back for another year.

    The Lions were decimated by injuries on the defensive side of the ball in 2024. Davenport has missed games in every season of his NFL career. He has played in just six games over the last two years.

    He could be worth the risk if he was a proven producer, but that’s not really the case. Davenport has only reached five sacks twice in seven seasons.

    With Za’Darius Smith still on the roster, Hutchinson still waiting for his extension, and now this move for Davenport, it’s hard to see the Lions spending much more at the position.

    Maybe that means they really are planning to draft an edge in round one this year.

    That will likely need to be the hope now for Lions fans if they want to see their pass rush improve this offseason.

  • Zach Ertz stays with Commanders on a one-year deal

    Zach Ertz stays with Commanders on a one-year deal

    The Commanders are bringing back another one of their key free-agent additions from 2024.

    Tight end Zach Ertz has agreed to terms on a one-year deal to remain in D.C., per multiple reports.

    It’s a one-year, $6.25 million contract for Ertz, with another $2.75 million available in incentives, via Tom Pelissero of NFL Media.

    The move comes on the same day the Bengals re-signed tight end Mike Gesicki, which removed one of Ertz’s potential destinations for 2025.

    Ertz caught 66 passes for 654 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He added 18 catches for 155 yards and one touchdown in three playoff games

    The 34-year-old Ertz entered the league in 2013, as a second-round pick of the Eagles. He was a member of the Super Bowl LII championship team. He was traded to the Cardinals during the 2021 season, where he remained through 2023.

    Ertz joins linebacker Bobby Wagner as Super Bowl winners who have returned for a second shot at taking Washington back to the top of the mountain for the first time since 1991.

  • NFL rumors: Could Vikings target Aaron Rodgers after closing Sam Darnold door?

    NFL rumors: Could Vikings target Aaron Rodgers after closing Sam Darnold door?

    NFL free agency will get underway March 12 as the new league year gets underway. Teams can start talking to prospective free agents two days earlier during the legal tampering period. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold figures to be one of the most sought after free agents, and he could be headed towards a conversation with the Seattle Seahawks since that team traded quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Vikings would like J.J. McCarthy to become the starting quarterback, but could the Vikings have an interest in bringing Aaron Rodgers aboard?

    NFL insiders Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports and Mike Garofalo of the NFL Network both raised that possibility. The Vikings may need a backup who can man the QB position if McCarthy is not ready to take over and play on a regular basis. McCarthy was selected with the No. 10 pick in the first round of last year’s draft, but he suffered a torn meniscus in the team’s first preseason game last summer.

    McCarthy was out for the rest of the year. He appears to be on schedule for the upcoming season, but if he suffers any kind of setback or struggles in his performance, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell may want to have an experienced quarterback who can man the position.

    Since Darnold is likely to leave, the Vikings would have to look elsewhere. Former Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is currently on the roster and could be an answer, but he will have an opportunity to pursue free agency.

    Rodgers will be available in free agency

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    NFL Draft prospect Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron (7) celebrates a turnover against Clemson Vikings in the first half of a first round College Football Playoffs game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

    If the Vikings need a new backup quarterback, a marriage with Rodgers would seem to be a long shot. The 41-year-old former Packer and Jet has never indicated that he would be happy to be a No. 2 quarterback.

    The Vikings would have to be convinced that Rodgers not only would take on that kind of role willingly, he would also have to take backup quarterback money. Neither of those scenarios seem likely based on Rodgers’ history.

    However, the Vikings have a history of bringing in a legendary former Packer to play quarterback in the late stages of his career. Brett Favre played the last 2 seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Vikings in 2009 and 2010.

    Favre led the Vikings to a 12-4 record in his first year with the team and was on the verge of winning the NFC Championship against the New Orleans Saints. However, a late Favre interception prevented the Vikings from attempting a game-winning field goal in the final seconds and the Saints would go on to win the game in overtime.

  • Lions and oft-injured DE Marcus Davenport agree on 1-year deal… Lions and oft-injured DE Marcus Davenport agree on 1-year deal worth up to $4.75M, AP source says

    Lions and oft-injured DE Marcus Davenport agree on 1-year deal… Lions and oft-injured DE Marcus Davenport agree on 1-year deal worth up to $4.75M, AP source says

    By ASSOCIATED PRESS

    The Detroit Lions and edge rusher Marcus Davenport agreed on a one-year contract worth up to $4.75 million, according to a person familiar with the situation.

    The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday night because the agreement had not been announced.

    Linebacker Derrick Barnes and the team reached an agreement earlier in the week on a three-year deal worth up to $25.5 million, the person confirmed.

    Barnes and Davenport were among the many Lions players whose 2024 season was cut short by injury, hurting the team’s chances of living up to expectations.

    Detroit went into the NFL playoffs as Super Bowl favorites and as the NFC’s top-seeded team, lost to sixth-seeded Washington in the divisional round with a short-handed defense and a turnover-filled performance by quarterback Jared Goff.

    The Lions added Davenport in free agency last year with a $10.5 million, one-year contract and torn triceps limited him to two games. The 28-year-old Davenport was healthy enough to play in just four games the previous season during his second stint with the Minnesota Vikings.

    FILE - Detroit Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport (92) rushes during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sept. 8, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)
    FILE – Detroit Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport (92) rushes during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sept. 8, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)
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  • George Russell speaks on Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc battle

    George Russell speaks on Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc battle

    • Russell, 27, was team-mates with Hamilton, 40, for three seasons at Mercedes 
    • Lewis will now partner Charles Leclerc in the Brit’s first season at Ferrari 
    • Hamilton chose the Prancing Horse after Mercedes fell behind Red Bull 

    George Russell has predicted how he thinks Lewis Hamilton will fare against Charles Leclerc following the seven-time world champion’s move to Ferrari.

    Russell, 27, was team-mates with Hamilton, 40, for three seasons at Mercedes before the latter’s move to Maranello.

    The younger of the two British drivers had his say about how Hamilton’s battle with Leclerc could unfold ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix next Sunday.

    Speaking in an interview with BBC Sport, Russell said: ‘Charles is a fantastic driver, no doubt about that, so I’m going to be really intrigued to see how that pans out because they’re two amazing drivers’.

    ‘He’s obviously entering an Italian team where Charles has been very much the number one for the past six years.

    ‘It’s quite an interesting dynamic, but I think it’ll be close between the two of them.’

    George Russell has predicted how he thinks Lewis Hamilton will fare against Charles Leclerc following the seven-time world champion's move to Ferrari
    George Russell has predicted how he thinks Lewis Hamilton will fare against Charles Leclerc following the seven-time world champion’s move to Ferrari
    Hamilton chose to swap the Silver Arrows for the Prancing Horse after Mercedes fell behind Red Bull
    Hamilton chose to swap the Silver Arrows for the Prancing Horse after Mercedes fell behind Red Bull
    Monegasque driver Leclerc will seek to build on his three wins from last season as he chases a maiden drivers' title
    Monegasque driver Leclerc will seek to build on his three wins from last season as he chases a maiden drivers’ title

    Hamilton chose to swap the Silver Arrows for the Prancing Horse after Mercedes fell behind Red Bull when it came to having the fastest car on the grid.

    After winning four World Drivers’ Championships between 2017 and 2020, Hamilton watched Dutch rival Max Verstappen achieve the same with Red Bull from 2021 to 2024.

    Hamilton’s departure opened up the number one seat for Russell at Mercedes and will see him joined by rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

    Monegasque driver Leclerc will seek to build on his three wins from last season as he chases a maiden drivers’ title.

    The 27-year-old will face stiff competition in the form of Hamilton – with both men seeking to become the first Ferrari driver to win a championship since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.

    The manufacturer are also hopeful of lifting their first Constructors’ World Championship since 2008, when Raikkonen was partnered by Felipe Massa.

    That season marked Hamilton’s first world title, after he stole the crown from Massa’s grasp on the last lap of the final race of the season at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

    Following a move to Italy, Hamilton will hope that he can become the first-ever driver to win eight Drivers’ Championships.