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WOLVES APPOINT BRUNO LAGE AS NEW BOSS

Wolves have confirmed the appointment of former Benfica boss Bruno Lage as their new head coach.

The Molineux club have been on the hunt for a new manager following Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure at the end of last season.

And Lage is the man they have chosen to replace his fellow Portuguese coach, with the 45-year-old set to take charge of Wolves in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.

He is back in management just under a year after seeing his contract terminated at Benfica, whom he guided to the Portuguese title after taking on the job halfway through the 2018/19 campaign

Lage has gained an impressive reputation for developing young players, nurturing the likes of Joao Felix, Ruben Dias and Carlos Vinicius before the trio landed moves to Atletico Madrid, Manchester City and Tottenham.

After failing to make it as a professional himself, he turned to coaching at the age of 21 and worked his way through the lower leagues of Portuguese football as both a youth coach and an assistant manager.

He then sealed his first move to Benfica as part of their academy in 2004, spending eight years at the club and managing every one of their youth sides.

Lage then received his first taste of English football and senior management when he was given the chance to work as assistant to Carlos Carvalhal at both Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea.

The pair helped Wednesday reach the Championship playoff semi-finals, before suffering relegation from the Premier League with Swansea.

Lage then returned to Benfica as manager of their reserve side in July 2018, before moving up to take the first-team job on a caretaker basis when Rui Vitoria was sacked six months later.

He flourished in that role, winning 18 of his first 19 matches at the helm and avoiding defeat to ensure Benfica captured the Primeira Liga crown.

However, after equalling the club’s worst even run of results the following season losing their crown, Lage left Benfica by mutual consent in July 2020.

He now has the chance to rebuild his reputation at Wolves, where he will begin pre-season training with his new squad next month.

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SPOTIFY CEO, DANIEL EK, READY TO LAUNCH SECOND ARSENAL TAKEOVER BID

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek is readying a second Arsenal takeover bid having seen his initial £1.8bn offer rejected last month.

This time round the Swedish billionaire is planning to increase his over to £2bn in an effort to test the Kroenke’s resolve.

Ek said that the unpopular Gunners owners told him that they “didn’t need the money” when he tried to buy the club last time.

But the billionaire’s camp claim they “are not going anywhere and want to get a deal done”.

Arsenal insiders have admitted they are expecting a second offer, reports the Daily Mail.

Ek has looked to use the public fallout from the proposed European Super League to push forward with his takeover plans.

Arsenal were one of six teams to join the failed proposal which only served to increase the divide between the supporters and the club’s hierarchy.

Ek went public to state that the offer included fan ownership, representation at board level and a golden share for supporters.

Gunners legends Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira are also backing the Swede’s bid.

Stan Kroenke, who assumed full control in 2018, has been heavily criticised for the manner in which he runs the club.

Arsenal have experienced a sharp decline over the past decade with Mikel Arteta now set to oversee a huge rebuild.

Kroenke’s son, Josh, is a director at the club and a key figure in day-to-day-operations.

He engaged in a fans forum following the Super League plans in an effort to build bridges with supporters.

Ek, himself a life-long Arsenal fan, received a glowing review from Henry who spoke highly of his plans for the Gunners.

“I know a lot of people wanted to hear about [the takeover],” he told Sky Sports. “It is true. Daniel is an Arsenal fan, he didn’t say it for any publicity. He is an Arsenal fan for a very long time.

“He already – I’ll give you something – reached out [to the Kroenkes] and already said himself that he had collected the funds to make sure that he can put in a good bid.

He added: “I think it is going to be long and not easy – if it does ever happen. One thing that I want to reiterate is that Daniel will not move away, he will be there waiting to see if they want to sell.

“That is going to take a very long time, we know what we want to do, but first and foremost we need to make sure that we can take over, if they are listening.”

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LLORENTE JOINS SPAIN COVID-19 CASES AHEAD EURO 2020

Diego Llorente has become the second Spain player to test positive for Covid ahead of Euro 2020.

The Spanish FA (RFEF) said Llorente returned a positive test on Tuesday and was put into isolation, two days after captain Sergio Busquets had to leave the team’s training camp after also contracting the virus.

No other player had tested positive, the RFEF said.

Llorente’s positive result was made public not long after Spain’s U21 squad beat Lithuania 4-0 on Tuesday in Madrid in a match that was supposed to be played by the senior team as its final warm-up before the team’s opening Euro 2020 match against Sweden on Monday in Seville.

The RFEF did not say whether Busquets or Llorente would be cut from the squad, but coach Luis Enrique has already called up six players to practice separately at the team’s training camp.

Enrique has until Saturday to make changes to his initial list in case of injuries or Covid cases.

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and defender Raul Albiol were expected to begin training in the separate bubble on Wednesday, joining Rodrigo Moreno, Pablo Fornals, Carlos Soler and Brais Mendez, who all arrived earlier in the week.

Personalised training routines would continue for players in the main squad, observing Covid protocols, said the RFEF.

Players who test positive must stay in isolation for at least 10 days, meaning both Busquets and Llorente will miss the opener against Sweden. It would also be unlikely they would be fit for Spain’s second match against Poland on June 19.

The team’s final Group E match will be against Slovakia on June 23, also in Seville.

Spain’s sports minister Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes said on Tuesday that the squad will get a Covid vaccine on Wednesday, telling radio station Cadena Ser: “We are making an exception because they represent us in a top-level competition.”

There has been some criticism for the delay in getting players vaccinated, contrary to what happened to the Spanish athletes competing at the Tokyo Olympics.

On the other hand, there has also been criticism for allowing the players to be vaccinated before other Spaniards who were in line for the coronavirus vaccine.

Two Sweden players also tested positive for Covid on Tuesday – Juventus winger Dejan Kulusevski and Bologna midfielder Mattias Svanberg.

The Euros begin on Friday when Italy host Turkey in Rome.

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JURY DISCHARGED IN JOEY BARTON ASSAULT TRIAL AFTER ‘LOST IN TRANSLATION’ ISSUES

A jury trying Bristol Rovers’ manager Joey Barton over an accusation he assaulted a rival football boss has been discharged by a judge who said things were getting “lost in translation” over a cross-national video link.

Barton, 38, denies assaulting former Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel, occasioning him actual bodily harm, after a League One match between Barnsley and Fleetwood Town in April 2019.

His trial began on Monday and Mr Stendel began giving evidence on Tuesday about the alleged incident, over a video link from a courtroom in Hanover, in Germany.

But, after more than hour of translation difficulties between Sheffield Crown Court and Germany, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told the jury: “It is just not right to struggle on.”

He told the panel: “Unfortunately this morning I became increasingly concerned that things are getting lost in translation.

“He is a critical witness in this case. It’s not fair to him and not fair to anyone in this case.”

Judge Richardson said it was not anybody’s fault that the trial had to be halted, but was a consequence of the extraordinary measures put in place due to the Covid pandemic.

He said a new trial date would be fixed after it could be worked out how to bring Mr Stendel to the UK to give his evidence.

But the judge pointed out that the trial had already been postponed for a year due to Covid and was the oldest case on Sheffield Crown Court’s books.

And he said counsel in the trial would look at the legal situation to see if an exception to current travel bans could be made in the “service of justice”.

Barton, who played for a number of teams including Manchester City, Newcastle United and Burnley and is now Bristol Rovers’ manager, sat in the dock listening to proceedings wearing a dark suit, white shirt and navy tie.

He was given unconditional bail and the case was adjourned until Wednesday for a new trial date to be explored.

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ILKAY GUNDOGAN DONATES CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BONUS TO CHILDHOOD CLUB

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has donated his Champions League bonus to his childhood club in Germany to help them fund a new artificial pitch.

Gundogan spent a decade at Hessler 06 before moving to Bochum’s academy and then into the professional ranks.

“We are still very closely connected to the club, because we spent large parts of our childhood here,” Gundogan’s manager and uncle Ilhan said.

“When Ilkay heard that many children were withdrawing because there was no artificial pitch, it hit him hard.”

Gundogan, who is preparing for Euro 2020 with Germany, will put in the vast majority of the €300,000 being paid by Hessler 06, using the entirety of the bonus he received from City after their run to the final, where they were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in Porto last month.

Local authorities in Gelsenkirchen will contribute the remaining €350,000 towards the project.

“Without Ilkay, we would not have been able to start this project,” said club chairman Rainer Konietzka.

After Hessler, Gundogan joined Bochum’s academy as a teenager, later signing for Nurnberg and then Borussia Dortmund in 2011.

He was Pep Guardiola’s first signing at City in 2016 but had to overcome a serious knee injury in his first season at the Etihad.

This year he finished as City’s top scorer in the Premier League, scoring 13 goals as he lifted his third league trophy with the club.

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BOOING OF THE KNEE SHOWS RACISM IS STILL A BIG PROBLEM – JORDAN HENDERSON

Jordan Henderson has said fans booing England’s players for taking the knee achieves nothing and proves the fight against racism is far from over.

The row over the anti-racism action has threatened, in England, to overshadow the start of Euro 2020 and has led to Gareth Southgate’s players finding themselves on the end of an angry reaction from a section of supporters before games.

There were jeers before England faced Austria and Romania in recent friendlies at the Riverside Stadium and there are fears the dispute will rumble on when Southgate’s side meet Croatia in their Group D opener at Wembley on Sunday.

Yet the backlash will not stop England taking the knee. Southgate made his case eloquently last weekend, and in an article published on Tuesday made clear his determination to keep using his position to raise awareness of society’s ills. Henderson has echoed his manager’s sentiments by saying his teammates are more determined than ever to take the lead in the fight against discrimination.

“I think it shows that if there’s still people booing because we’re standing together against racism, then there really still is a problem and we’ve still got to fight it and stand together,” England’s vice-captain said. “It shows even more that we have to keep going, keep fighting it. From our side, it’s about being together and doing what we think is right.”

Henderson, who insisted he would be fit to face Croatia after a groin injury, was asked whether booing players achieved anything. “It doesn’t,” he said. “We’ve made it very clear that we all stand together against racism. That’s the reason that we continue to take the knee.

“The lads are starting to feel like they don’t really want to talk about it any more. Of course, everyone knows we stand together and you’ll see that in taking the knee, but we want to get on with the football and concentrate on that. That’s our focus.”

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NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO INCH CLOSER TO CRYSTAL PALACE MOVE AFTER EVERTON LINKS

Everton-linked Nuno Espirito Santo is on the verge of making a swift return to Premier League management with Crystal Palace.

That is according to The Telegraph, who are reporting that the former Wolves boss is now in advanced talks with Palace and close to being appointed.

The report goes on to claim that an announcement could be made later this week, with talks now progressing over a deal.

Everton’s search for a new manager is well underway and already a whole host of names have been linked with the position at Goodison Park.

The shock exit of Carlo Ancelotti last week, with the Italian returning to Real Madrid, has left the Blues with a vacancy that needs to be filled.
Just this morning Nuno remained the overwhelming bookmaker favourite at 2/5 to takeover at Goodison in the coming weeks.


But it now appears that the former Porto boss is set to take over from Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park following his departure at the end of the season.
According to the latest odds, Nuno is followed by Ralf Rangnick and ex-Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, who are both at 6/1.

While Frank Lampard and David Moyes are joint-third favourites at 8/1, with Rafael Benitez standing at 9/1.

Antonio Conte, who recently dropped out of the running to takeover at Tottenham following his exit from Serie A champions Inter Milan remains at 11/1, with Paulo Fonseca 12/1.

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DONNY VAN DE BEEK RULED OUT OF NETHERLANDS’ EURO 2020

Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek has been ruled out of the Netherlands’ Euro 2020 campaign due to injury.

Van de Beek arrived at Old Trafford from Ajax in a deal worth £35m last summer, but has struggled to make his mark with the Red Devils, having only made four Premier League appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

The 24-year-old was an unused substitute for his national side in their first Euro 2020 warm-up fixture against Scotland, and did not feature in Frank de Boer’s squad on Sunday against Georgia.

Netherlands revealed on Tuesday morning that the Man United man has now been ruled out for the entire tournament, and that De Boer would not be selecting a replacement for the midfielder.

Van de Beek has represented the national side through the youth ranks and earned his senior debut in 2017, before going on to make 19 appearances for the Netherlands.

The midfielder will now start his recovery and hope to make a bigger impression in the Man United side next season.

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GIANLUNGI DONNARUMMA NEARS MOVE TO PSG

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly close to completing the free signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Donnarumma’s eight-year spell with AC Milan will come to an end this summer after the highly-rated goalkeeper failed to agree new terms with the Italian club.

And now the 22-year-old is due to join PSG as a free agent, with the Parisian side beating the likes of Chelsea, Juventus and Manchester United to his signature.

According Sky Sports, PSG have offered Donnarumma a five-year deal worth £10million (€12m) a year plus add-ons, which will see him become the French club’s new No 1.

The report goes on to claim that Donnarumma could undergo his medical while he’s away on national team duty with Italy for Euro 2020, with any medicals to be conducted at their Coverciano training base before the tournament kicks off.

Juventus abandoned talks to sign the goalkeeper after being put off by the player’s mammoth wage demands, and were unwilling to go above £8m (€10m) per season.

Jose Mourinho was also hoping to tempt Donnarumma to his new club Roma, with the Special One said to have personally contacted the Italy international about a joining him in the capital.

However, Donnarumma looks set for France with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi spearheading the move to bring him to the Parc des Princes, despite the fact that Keylor Navas recently renewed his contract with the club.

Milan have already secure Donnarumma’s replacement, with Lille’s Mike Maignan completing his move at the end of May just days after helping the French club wrap up an unlikely Ligue 1 title.

Speaking about Donnarumma’s departure last month, Maldini said: ‘Gigio was a leader and often the captain. People sometimes don’t realise what it means to be a professional, it means you must be ready to change club.

‘It’s difficult to accept, I realise, but it’s also increasingly difficult to see a career in one team. We must respect those who gave so much to Milan and remember Donnarumma did not lack respect for us.

‘It can happen that at times you have to take different paths. I can only wish him the best.’

Having arrived in 2013, the Italy international made his first-team debut in 2015, aged just 16, and went on to make 251 appearances for them across all competitions.

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TAKUMI MINAMINO EQUALS KEISUKE HONDA’S GOAL RECORD AS JAPAN THRASH TAJIKISTAN

Takumi Minamino on Monday tied Keisuke Honda’s record of scoring in seven straight World Cup qualifiers, netting in Japan’s 4-1 win over Tajikistan in the second Asian qualifying round for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

The Liverpool attacker, who was loaned to Southampton for the second half of the recently concluded Premier League season, scored Japan’s second in the 40th minute with a well-taken half-volley with his weaker left foot at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, where the Samurai Blue conceded for the first time in seven qualifying games of the round.

Minamino’s goal helped settle the nerves of the unfamiliar-looking Japan side, already through to the final round, which started on the front foot but but was heading into the break level against the determined visitors.

Kyogo Furuhashi struck just six minutes in after Takuma Asano ran behind the visitors’ back line only for his effort to be denied by keeper Rustam Yatimov. Furuhashi picked up the loose ball off a defender and steered home from just inside the box.

But Tajikistan needed just three minutes to end Japan’s record of not conceding a goal, with right-back Manucher Safarov whipping in a cross that was emphatically headed home by Ehson Panjshanbe.

Furuhashi on the right and Asano up top continued to offer some openings for Japan without an end product but the coveted second eventually arrived for Japan, with the move again started by Miki Yamane.

The right back, who played the through ball that led to the opener, again played a long ball on the floor for Furuhashi to chase down the right. The speedster provided a low first-time cross, which was squeezed in superbly by Minamino at the near post.

“I’m happy to go level with such a great player,” Minamino said after matching the record set in 2016 by Honda, who scored in three straight World Cup tournaments through 2018.

“Kyogo provided a good cross. I was targeting that space and I’m happy to have scored as it really was a nice pass,” added Minamino on fellow 26-year-old Furuhashi, who went to the same high school in Osaka.

Minamino was given a rest along with subpar Genki Haraguchi at halftime, but starters Kento Hashimoto and Hayao Kawabe both netted their first goals for the national side as manager Hajime Moriyasu’s decision to keep faith with inexperienced players proved a success.

Substitute and debutant Tatsuhiro Sakamoto made an instant impact, providing a low cross from the right that Hashimoto rolled into the far bottom corner six minutes after the break.

Japan kept up the pressure around neat play by substitute Daichi Kamada and Kawabe joined Hashimoto on the scoresheet in the 70th minute, rolling the ball into an empty net after visiting keeper Yatimov misplaced his pass while keeping possession.

“It helps for the development of the players with little experience to get end product. It also provides motivation for the team,” said Moriyasu.

Japan will face Serbia in a friendly on Friday before wrapping up the second round against Kyrgyzstan next Tuesday.