Manchester United Are Keeping A Keen Eye On This Bundesliga Striker: Good Choice For Amorim?
Sesko enjoyed a decent run of form at the German club in the previous campaign when he put in a lot of eye-catching displays for them in the Bundesliga. The 22-year-old scored 21 times and picked up six assists in 45 matches for RB Leipzig last season across all competitions.
The Slovenia international gave a good account of himself in the final third based on his average of 2.5 shots per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga. He kept 43.9% of his attempts on target. However, Sesko has to figure out a way to improve his ball distribution after completing just 67.6% of his attempted passes in the German first division (stats via fbref.com).
His current contract at the German club will run out in the summer of 2029. Hence, it won't be easy for Man United to get a deal over the line for him this off-season.
Is Sesko A Good Choice For Manchester United?
Sesko can create a yard of space for himself to get some strikes in at goal. He has got the eye to play some decisive passes in the final third and is a good dribbler with the ball at his feet.
The Slovenian talent has proven himself to be a lethal finisher in the Bundesliga. Standing at 1.95m, Sesko is a towering presence in the final third but needs to work on improving his link-up play up top.
We can expect Sesko to add more firepower to Man United boss Ruben Amorim's attack. He is good enough to secure a regular first-team spot at the Mancunian club next season.
At 22, Sesko has the potential to be a world-class player in his position someday. Therefore, he would be a decent choice for the Red Devils to consider in this summer transfer window. However, Amorim has to be patient with his development before he can get the best out of Sesko at Old Trafford.
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Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why we need to talk about periods, breasts and injuries in women's sport
The Euros are reaching their conclusion in a massive summer across women's sport. But away from the drama and excitement on the pitch, there is also a scientific revolution taking place. Teams of scientists are researching the unique ways that elite sport affects the female body – how breasts alter the way you run, but the right sports bra could give you the edge; how the menstrual cycle could impact performance and what role period trackers could play; and why is there a higher risk of some injuries, and what can be done to avoid them? It's a far cry from the era when professional female athletes told me they were thought of simply as "mini-men". Breast biomechanics Cast your mind back to the iconic scene from the final of the last European Championships in 2022. It was extra time at Wembley and Lioness Chloe Kelly scored the winning goal against Germany. In the ensuing euphoria, she whipped off her England shirt showing the world her sports bra. It was fitted by Prof Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, from the University of Portsmouth, who proudly goes by the nickname the Bra Professor. Here are her breast facts: Breasts can bounce an average of 11,000 times in a football match An average bounce is 8cm (3in) without appropriate support They move with up to 5G of force (five times the force of gravity), comparable to the experience of a Formula 1 driver Laboratory experiments – using motion sensors on the chest – have revealed how a shifting mass of breast tissue alters the movement of the rest of the body, and in turn, sporting performance. "For some women, their breasts can be really quite heavy and if that weight moves, it can change the movement of your torso, it can even change the amount of force that you exert on the ground," Prof Wakefield-Scurr tells me. Compensating for bouncing breasts by restricting the movement of your upper body alters the positioning of the pelvis and shortens the length of each stride. That's why sports bras are not just for comfort or fashion, but a piece of performance gear. "We actually saw that low breast support meant a reduction in stride length of four centimetres," Prof Wakefield-Scurr explains. "If you lost four centimetres every step in a marathon, it adds up to a mile." Sports bras also protect the delicate structures inside the breast, "if we stretch them, that's permanent," the professor says, so "it's about prevention rather than cure". The menstrual cycle and its effect on performance The menstrual cycle has a clear impact on the body – it can affect emotions, mood and sleep as well as cause fatigue, headache and cramps. But Calli Hauger-Thackery, a distance runner who has represented Team GB at the Olympics, says talking about its sporting impact is "still so taboo and it shouldn't be, because we're struggling with it". Calli says she always notices the difference in her body in the lead up to her period. "I'm feeling really fatigued, heavy legs, I [feel like I'm] almost running through mud sometimes, everything's more strained than it should be," she says. Calli finds she "lives" by her menstruation tracker, as being on her period is a source of anxiety "especially when I've got big races coming up". One of those big races was in April – the Boston Marathon – and Calli's period was due. She finished in sixth place, and recalls that she "luckily got through" - but says she can't help wondering if she could have done even better. Can elite sport damage women's fertility? Football boot issues reported by 82% of female players The menstrual cycle is orchestrated by the rhythmic fluctuations of two hormones – oestrogen and progesterone. But how big an impact can that have on athletic performance? "It's very individual and there's a lot of nuance here, it's not quite as simple as saying the menstrual cycle affects performance," says Prof Kirsty Elliott-Sale, who specialises in female endocrinology and exercise physiology at Manchester Metropolitan University. "Competitions, personal bests, world records, everything has been set, won and lost on every day of the menstrual cycle," she says. This famously includes Paula Radcliffe, who broke the marathon world record while running through period cramps in Chicago in 2002. Working out whether the menstrual cycle affects sporting ability requires an understanding of the physiological changes that hormones have throughout the body, the challenge of performing while experiencing symptoms, the psychological impact of the anxiety of competing during your period and perceptions about all of the above. Prof Elliott-Sale says there "isn't a phase where you're stronger or weaker", or where "you're going to win or you're going to lose", but in theory the hormones oestrogen and progesterone could alter parts of the body such as bone, muscle or heart. "What we don't yet understand is: Does that have a big enough effect to really impact performance?" she says. The professor adds that it is "a very sensible conclusion" that poor sleep, fatigue and cramping would have a knock-on effect on performance, and that dread and anxiety were an "absolutely tangible thing" for athletes on their period who are performing in front of large crowds. She has spoken to athletes who "sometimes even triple up with period pants" to avoid the risk of leaking and embarrassment, and "that's a heavy mental burden". Rugby union team, Sale Sharks Women have been working with Manchester Metropolitan University. I met Katy Daley-McLean, former England rugby captain and England all-time leading point scorer. The team are having open discussions around periods to help them understand the impact that menstruation can have, and how to plan for it. This includes taking ibuprofen three days before, rather than thinking: "I can't do anything about it," Daley-McLean says. "It's through that knowledge and that information that we can talk about this, we can put plans in place, and we can change our behaviour to make you a better rugby player," she says. How to avoid injuries One issue that has emerged as women's sport has been given more attention is a difference in the susceptibility to some injuries. Most of the attention has been around the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) – a part of the knee that attaches the upper and lower parts of the leg together. Injuries can be brutal and take a year to recover from. Not only is the risk three to eight times greater in women than men, depending on the sport, but they are becoming more common, says Dr Thomas Dos'Santos, a sports biomechanics researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University. However, there is "no simple answer" to explain the greater risk in women, he says. Partly it could be down to differences in anatomy. Bigger hips in women mean the top of the thigh bone starts from a wider position and this changes the angle it connects to the lower leg at the knee, potentially increasing risk. The ACL is also slightly smaller in women "so it's a little bit weaker, potentially", Dr Dos'Santos explains. ACL injuries can happen at all stages of the menstrual cycle, but hormonal changes are also being investigated, including a study sponsored by Fifa, the governing body for world football. High levels of oestrogen prior to ovulation could alter the properties of ligaments, making them a bit more stretchy so "there could be an increased risk of injury, theoretically," he says. But Dr Dos'Santos argues it's important to think beyond pure anatomy as women still do not get the same quality of support and strength training as men. He compares it to ballet, where dancers do receive good quality training. "The [difference in] incidence rates is basically trivial between men and women," Dr Dos'Santos says. There is research into whether it is possible to minimise the risk of ACL injuries, by training female athletes to move in subtly different ways. But there is a risk of lessening performance, and some techniques that put strain on the ACL – like dropping the shoulder to deceive a defender before bursting off in another direction – are the necessary moves in sports like football. "We can't wrap them up in cotton wool and say you should avoid playing sport," Dr Dos'Santos says. "What we need to do is make sure that they're strong enough to tolerate those loads, but it isn't just as simple as some people saying we can 100% eradicate ACL injuries, we can't." No longer 'mini-men' Even though there are still many unanswered question, it is still a world of difference for Katy Daley-McLean at Sale Sharks Women. When she got her first cap in 2007, she remembers that all the assumptions around how her body would perform were based on the data from male rugby players. "We were literally treated as mini-men," Daley-McLean recalls. And now, she says, girls and women don't feel like the outsiders in sport, which is not only improving performance at the elite level but helping to keep more women in sport. "It's awesome, it's something to be celebrated because if you look at the stats, one of the biggest reasons young girls drop out of sport is body image, it's around periods and not having a correct sports bra, which is so easily sorted." Inside Health was produced by Gerry Holt More Weekend Picks by James Gallagher I found a bacteria-eating virus in my loo - could it save your life? Vitamin pills and icy swims: Can you really boost your immune system? How our noisy world is seriously damaging our health
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37 minutes ago
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Meet Innes FitzGerald, the ‘Greta Thunberg of sport' who is determined to make a difference
Innes FitzGerald is a runner in a hurry. The Briton only turned 19 in April but has already stepped up impressively to senior competition. She recorded a personal best in finishing third in the 3,000 metres on her Diamond League debut in Stockholm earlier this month and followed it up with another PB in the 5,000m in the same series' London event last Saturday. Advertisement In achieving the latter, she smashed compatriot Zola Budd's 40-year-old record by more than eight seconds to become the fastest European under-20 woman of all time over that distance, and the 14th-fastest under-20 in the world. Yet that progress has come at a cost. FitzGerald was dubbed the 'Greta Thunberg of sport' after she declined the opportunity to compete in the Junior World Cross Country Championships in Australia three years ago on environmental grounds — she did not want to take the long-haul plane journeys there and back. 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Advertisement Perhaps that is no surprise, given she grew up in the Devon countryside, living with her family on a farm near Exeter in the south-west of England. 'That connection with nature has always been there,' she says. These deeply-held beliefs around the climate crisis stem from that rural upbringing, but also a fascination with the scientific facts related to it. 'I'm really interested in learning about science,' she says. 'That motivation to learn about things has helped grow my knowledge and to realise the impacts of our human actions on the environment.' FitzGerald is studying for an undergraduate degree in exercise and sports science, which, she says, has helped with her burgeoning athletics career. Yet, while many start at an early age, she is a late bloomer, only taking up the sport in secondary school at age 16. 'That was good for me. If I pushed it at a young age, I don't think I'd have the same love for the sport as I do now,' she says. 'I started doing schools' cross-country and running a bit during Covid because I was bored.' She eventually made her way to the Exeter Harriers athletics club, where her potential has been keenly nurtured by coach Gavin Pavey and his wife, Jo, a five-time Olympic athlete who won European Championship gold at 10,000m in 2014. Yet FitzGerald laughs at how her parents almost discouraged her initially from taking up running, as they would have preferred her to do something closer to home. 'They're very uncompetitive people, which is kind of crazy considering I'm so competitive,' she says. 'But it's good that they've never pushed me at all. The drive to do something has always come from within.' It wasn't until after the race in London that FitzGerald became aware that her 5,000m time of 14:39:56 had eclipsed Budd's time of 14:48:07 from 1985, or that she had beaten Pavey's personal best of 14:39:96, set in 2006. Yet she has stayed humble, pointing out her time was achieved wearing the 'super shoes' which have helped shred the record books in recent years. 'I've got to get a little bit quicker for it (Pavey's PB) to be properly beaten,' she adds. Advertisement Those personal milestones do not seem to motivate her anyway — FitzGerald insists she isn't going to 'chase times', despite being four seconds off Budd's 'insane' British under-20 record for 3,000m of 8:28:83. Instead, she wants to work on the tactical side of racing, describing her previous 'naivety' in terms of starting races too quickly. FitzGerald now often gradually makes her way up from a position towards the back of the pack. Despite saying she 'quite often lacks a bit of confidence', FitzGerald has lofty ambitions while insisting her priority will always remain about enjoying her sport. 'Hopefully, I will go to more major championships and fight for medals. I want a global medal, whether that be at the Olympics or the World Championships. Even when I get there, I'm not going to stop. I feel like some people can be like, 'OK, I've been, that was fine'. I want to continue this career as long as I can.' Her environmental awareness perhaps helps keep athletics in perspective. Despite feeling 'hopeless' about the former at times, she presents a message of optimism based on the collective public action that sport can galvanise. 'Everyone's ingrained into flying everywhere,' she says. 'They don't really consider other options. I'd like the governing bodies and decision-makers to think more broadly. We don't have to fly everywhere, there are other options, and sometimes they are easier. When we went out to Brussels (in Belgium) for the European Cross-Country Championships, everyone flew. We could have taken the Eurostar (train from London) — it takes about the same amount of time, if not less. 'I have a platform for people who want to follow along with the sport. So if I can talk a bit about the climate crisis and my concerns there, it helps remind people that as sportspeople we do care as well and we're not just going along with this system as it is or that we're happy with it.' FitzGerald begrudgingly accepts the unwelcome trade-off with her chosen career, but views it also as an opportunity to enact change. The more success she has on the track and the cross-country trails, the greater the chance of being able to influence others to join her cause. 'We have big platforms, and it's really important to talk about the things we care about,' she says. 'I don't want to shy away from talking and, ultimately, it (the climate crisis) shouldn't be a controversial topic. Advertisement 'If high-profile athletes come together and say, 'This is what we want to happen', then, as long as it's realistic, I don't see why we can't make a change in the sport.' For more track and field, follow Global Sports on The Athletic app via the Discover tab
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
FC Barcelona adds more firepower with Marcus Rashford loan
The post FC Barcelona adds more firepower with Marcus Rashford loan appeared first on ClutchPoints. FC Barcelona has secured another attacking threat, agreeing to a deal with Manchester United for Marcus Rashford on loan until June 30, 2026, per ESPN. The agreement includes an option for a permanent transfer, reportedly set at around €30 million ($34.9 million). Rashford, who will wear the No. 14 jersey, expressed excitement about his fresh start in Catalonia, calling Barcelona a club 'where dreams come true.' The move comes at a crucial point in Rashford's career. Once regarded as one of Europe's brightest young talents, the 27-year-old forward has struggled to find consistency in recent seasons, spending part of last year on loan at Aston Villa after falling out of favor at United. He had also been training separately from the first team in Manchester after coach Ruben Amorim made it clear he wasn't in his plans. Now, Rashford gets the opportunity to reignite his career on one of football's biggest stages. A new piece for Barcelona's loaded attack Barcelona, the reigning LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Supercopa champions, already boasts an impressive attacking trio of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski. Rashford's arrival adds depth, versatility, and valuable experience to the front line as the team prepares for another demanding campaign. The Catalan club initially targeted Spain international Nico Williams this summer, but his decision to sign a long-term extension with Athletic Bilbao redirected their attention toward Rashford. Despite having one of the most prolific attacks in Europe last season, Barcelona clearly wanted one more piece to maintain their competitive edge, especially as they aim to go deeper in the Champions League after falling to Inter Milan in the semifinals. Rashford, who came through Manchester United's youth system and debuted for the first team at 18 in 2016, now has a chance to revive his career while helping Barcelona chase more silverware. For both the player and the club, this deal has the potential to be transformative. Related: Venus Williams reveals engagement to actor after historic comeback win Related: Patriots' Stefon Diggs chasing around dog he almost lost is funniest thing you'll see today
