Smith throws two nine-darters before final whitewash
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Daily Mail
8 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 'open to reuniting with former Manchester United star' as the Besiktas boss considers handing the 24-year-old a career lifeline
Besiktas manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly debating a move for a former Manchester United star. After a glittering playing career at Old Trafford that saw him etch his name in club folklore, Solskjaer went on to spent nearly three years in the hot seat at Old Trafford as manager between 2018 and 2021. In January, Solskjaer took his first managerial position since being sacked by United and led Besiktas to a fourth-place finish in the Turkish Super Lig. And as he prepares for his first full campaign in charge of the Black Eagles, Solskjaer is said to be eyeing a former Man United player to help shore up his defence. According to a report from The Sun, the Norwegian is open to a move for United academy graduate and former England youth international, Brandon Williams. Williams thrived under Solskjaer's leadership at Old Trafford, and was handed his senior debut by the Champions League winner in September 2019. The 24-year-old would go on to make 36 appearances in all competitions in what appeared to a breakout campaign for the latest Carrington graduate tipped for success in the game. However, Williams subsequently found first team opportunities difficult to come by and was sent out on loan with spells East Anglia with both Norwich and Ipswich. During the latter of the two, Williams fell out of favour at a promotion-chasing Tractor Boys side under then-boss Kieran McKenna as his off-field problems began to come to the fore. In May Williams was handed a 14-month suspended jail sentence for dangerous driving. The defender had been 'driving erratically' in his Audi A3 before hitting a Ford Fiesta and careering into the central reservation of the A34 in Cheshire at almost 100mph. Williams admitted he had been trying to show off to a female passenger who was sitting next to him, and a witness is said to have filmed him with a balloon by his mouth. Prosecutors said it was 'fortunate' nobody was seriously injured or killed. Judge Lamb, sitting in the Chester Crown Court, told Williams 'there was no reason for driving in the way you did' but said there was 'strong personal mitigation' after committing the offence at a time of depression. Williams, who had been partying shortly before the crash, was told he had been 'stupid' and earned 'too much too soon'.
The Independent
10 minutes ago
- The Independent
Newcastle have not held contract talks with Alexander Isak
Eddie Howe has revealed no contract talks have been held with Alexander Isak but hopes to keep the striker at Newcastle. Isak has been at the centre of transfer speculation over the summer window and it was reported earlier in the week that he has asked to explore a move away. The 25-year-old did not travel with the Magpies for their pre-season tour of Asia, with the club stating that he missed out due to a 'minor thigh injury'. Hours later, reports emerged that Isak – who has been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent weeks – had told club executives he wanted to explore the possibility of a transfer away from St James' Park. Isak missed Newcastle's first pre-season fixture against Celtic last weekend and ahead of their friendly against Arsenal on Sunday, Howe provided an update on the striker's situation. 'Of course there's things going on behind the scenes. He will be aware he's in the news every day, and I'm sure that's not easy for anyone in that situation,' the Newcastle boss told reporters. 'Conversations that happen between Alex and the club or Alex and myself will stay private for obvious reasons. We do share a really good relationship with him. 'He's been magnificent for us since he's joined. He's very popular in the dressing room and we'd love him to continue his journey at Newcastle.' Howe also added that there are no contract talks taking place with Isak, who has three years left on his existing deal. 'As far as I'm aware, I don't think there are any contract talks taking place at the moment. That'll be for a later date potentially,' said Howe, as reported by the Daily Mail and the Athletic. 'I think for now, with the situation as it is and the state of the window, in the sense that it's hurtling towards the end of the window very quickly from our perspective, there's still so much that could happen.' Howe confirmed that Isak is currently in Newcastle being assessed, adding at a press conference reported on the club website: 'With his injury, I've got no major update on that. He first mentioned his thigh just before the Celtic game and we assumed it would a be very minimal injury, nothing too serious. 'Then on the Monday after the Celtic game, he went in from training very early, didn't feel right, so he's now in Newcastle getting that injury assessed. 'Hopefully he'll be back soon playing in the black and white shirt. That's what we all want to see.' Isak joined Newcastle in August 2022 and has continued to flourish during his time on Tyneside. Last year's campaign saw the Sweden forward fire 27 goals for the Magpies as they lifted the Carabao Cup and secured Champions League football with a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League.
Daily Mail
10 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The Lionesses are on the brink of glory at the Euros... and so is their market value! Brand expert reveals how women's team are entering their 'influencer' era - and the one thing the men's team MUST learn from them
Should the Lionesses beat Spain in the Euros final on Sunday, they won't just be bringing football home, they'll be opening the door to a commercial future once thought to be intangible for the women's game. Their 2022 Euros triumph broke many preconceptions of what is achievable in the sport, and the top tier of women's football is fast becoming a goldmine for brands seeking authenticity, relatability and reach. The Lioness stars have become more than just athletes. They are style icons, social trailblazers and marketable personalities with growing influence that's not gone unnoticed by big player brands. 'They're doing more outside the sport than the men's team ever have,' says Hayley Knight, Co-Founder and Director of Comms for BE YELLOW, a leading PR and Media Relations Agency. 'They're more human. They're more accessible. They're pushing for equal access in sport for schools and they're influencing policy. 'And the one wonderful thing about the Lionesses in particular and this particular team is that there's no scandal, they're very open and honest. There's LGBT representation. It's very diverse. 'So there are a lot more brands that can invest and there's a lot more brand trust that they can hook onto. And the contracts will be longer because of that. 'Plus they have access to social media and influencer marketing in a way that previous teams and the men's team have never had access to.' Lucy Bronze's on-field heroics and social media visibility have landed her lucrative endorsements with the likes of VISA, Spotify, and recently, Rexona, that have seen her rake in the big bucks, amassing a whopping £3.5m net worth. Fashion house Gucci swooped up the ascendant Leah Williamson as a brand ambassador – and along with other deals with big players like Nike and Pepsi – the England captain has a staggering £4m net worth. And they're not the only millionaires in the squad - Chloe Kelly, Lauren James, and Alessia Russo can all boast at least six-figure values from their deals with industry giants like Calvin Klein, Google Pixel and Adidas, to add to their wages. Growing viewerships have seen the Lioness stars begin to bridge the chasm to the men's when it comes to earning away from the pitch, but that's not the only magnet for advertisers. 'They have different audiences, and more diverse audiences, than the men's teams,' Knight explains. 'They also have access to the women and girls market, which is a very underserved demographic, especially in sports. And that can be incredibly valuable to brands in order to help target them. Williamson, pictured stripping down to her underwear while modelling for Calvin Klein, has a staggering £4m net worth - thanks to sponsorship deals with big players like Nike and Pepsi 'A lot of brands' main focus is on Gen Z and the younger audience, and the Lionesses will allow them to access that.' With further Euro glory on the horizon, the already burgeoning market for England's female football stars could find a second, third, even fourth, wind in the coming years. 'I think over the next 12 to 24 months, merchandising growth could lead to about a £10 to 20m increase,' predicts Knight. 'I'd say we'll see about a 20 to 30% increase across endorsement deals. If the players go above and beyond the sport, they're probably looking to make about £20,000 to £60,000 per sponsored post. 'I think they could even exceed a 50% increase over the next few years.' Those endorsement premiums will almost certainly bleed into the salaries seen in the Women's Super League. At present, Chelsea forward Sam Kerr is reportedly the highest earner in the league, taking home a considerable £400k a year. That dwarfs the average annual salary of women footballers globally per FIFA's annual report, a measly £8k per year, which increases just under £18k when only the 41 clubs designated as Tier 1 are taken into account. Spain superstar Ainata Bonmati broke records last year by coming the first women's footballer to earn a salary of €1m a year (around £835k) - a record broken in the men's game in 1979 Still, even a superstar like Kerr would have to work roughly 385 years to make what Cristiano Ronaldo does in one – the Portuguese legend snaps up an unconscionable £153.5m a year in his new Al Nassr contract. Ainata Bonmati broke records last year by coming the first women's footballer to earn a salary of €1m a year (around £835k) - as a point of comparison, Trevor Francis became the first men's footballer to earn £1m when he joined Nottingham Forest in 1979 – 46 years ago. 'I don't think the ceiling will ever be as high as men's sports, unfortunately, and I hate to say that. But I think that the women will swiftly increase and bridge the gap. 'There's more growth potential for the Lionesses. 'I think [Switzerland star] Alisha Lehman is a really interesting example. She's positioning herself as an Instagram influencer beyond a top level player. And she's not just influencing football, she's also getting brand deals for fashion and beauty and lifestyle. And I think that we've only really seen that in the past with big fashion advertising campaigns for the likes of Beckham. But these women that already have that platform and work as influencers, become a lot more accessible to smaller brands.' The nation will be behind the Lionesses on Sunday, as they look to add to their growing trophy cabinet, but even if they don't succeed, Knight reckons their commercial value won't diminish.
