Newcastle United have made contact with Real Sociedad midfielder Luka Sucic as they prepare to replace Arsenal-bound captain Bruno Guimaraes.

The Brazilian international is edging closer to a £75m move to the Premier League champions, ending a hugely successful four-and-a-half-year spell on Tyneside.

His imminent departure marks another significant change at St James’ Park following the resignation of manager Eddie Howe and the high-profile exits of Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon.

Reunion with Jaissle on the cards

New Magpies head coach Matthias Jaissle faces a monumental rebuilding task ahead of his debut season in English football.

The German tactician has highlighted Sucic as a primary target, having previously managed the 23-year-old during a highly successful stint at RB Salzburg.

The Croatian international was a mainstay under his former boss before securing a transfer to San Sebastian in the summer of 2024.

Since arriving in Spain, the powerful playmaker has established himself as a regular in La Liga, contributing seven goals across 68 appearances for the Basque club.

While primarily deployed centrally, the Austrian-born talent possesses the versatility to operate in an advanced attacking role should he complete the switch to England.

Bundesliga alternatives assessed

While the Real Sociedad star remains a priority, the North East outfit are also evaluating two alternative options from the German top flight.

Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha and VfB Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller have both been identified by the recruitment team.

Supporters on Tyneside will remember Nmecha vividly after he scored the decisive goal against them during a Champions League group stage clash in 2023.

The dynamic ball-carrier enhanced his reputation this summer by featuring for Germany at the World Cup, netting in a sweeping 7-1 victory over Curacao.

Meanwhile, Stiller offers a more defensive profile who dictates play from deep with an excellent range of passing.

The former Hoffenheim anchorman also gained valuable international experience at the recent global tournament, representing his country against Ecuador.

Danish midfielder Christian Norgaard has left Arsenal to join Everton in a deal worth £7m after just one season in north London.

The 32-year-old has signed a two-year contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

He becomes the third summer arrival for David Moyes’ side, following the acquisitions of Hayden Hackney and Tyrique George.

Norgaard made 20 appearances across all competitions during his maiden campaign at the Emirates Stadium, starting just seven Premier League matches.

Arteta praises departing ‘glue player’

Despite playing a bit-part role last term, Mikel Arteta hailed the impact of the former Brentford stalwart during a historic campaign.

The Gunners recently secured their first top-flight title in 22 years and reached the Champions League final for only the second time in their history.

Speaking after a 3-1 pre-season friendly defeat by Real Betis in Dublin, the Arsenal manager paid glowing tribute to the departing midfielder.

“He played a tremendous role for us,” Arteta said.

“When I brought him here, I said that he could be our glue player – an incredible capacity to bring people together, to keep the standards high.”

“When he played, he had some really good moments as well, but I understand that to fulfil that role for a long period is not easy.”

“He had a massive opportunity with a manager and a club that I know really well and we wish him all the best and thank him.”

Gunners reshape squad for title defence

Norgaard’s departure clears further space in the midfield ahead of the imminent arrival of Bruno Guimaraes.

A £75m deal has been agreed with Newcastle United for the Brazilian, who is expected to sign a four-year contract after passing a medical on Wednesday.

The reigning champions have been actively trimming their squad during the summer transfer window.

Belgian winger Leandro Trossard joined Turkish giants Besiktas last month for £15.3m.

Defender Jakub Kiwior completed a permanent transfer to Porto, while goalkeeper Karl Hein was sold to Werder Bremen.

Further exits could follow before the September 1 deadline.

Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri and Reiss Nelson are among those facing uncertain futures in the capital.

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers have been named in the United States roster for next month’s FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany as part of a highly anticipated youth movement.

The 12-player national squad, announced on Thursday, blends emerging collegiate and professional talent with established international veterans.

Angel Reese and Aliyah Boston will also make their maiden senior appearances at a major global competition.

They are joined by WNBA superstars A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, who boast a combined six league MVP awards.

A new era for the national team

The tournament in Berlin marks only the second major event since the 2000 Olympics where neither Sue Bird nor Diana Taurasi will feature on the court.

Instead, Bird oversaw the selection process in her new role as the national team’s managing director.

“This is an incredibly talented group that has earned the opportunity to compete in Berlin,” Bird said.

The legendary point guard added that wearing the national jersey remains a profound privilege and responsibility as they chase another gold medal.

Chasing a twelfth world title

Head coach Kara Lawson will lead a remarkably young group featuring four 24-year-olds and seven players under the age of 30.

Chelsea Gray is the oldest member of the squad at 33 years of age.

“These 12 have earned it through their play and their consistency,” stated Lawson.

The American outfit will be aiming to secure the program’s 12th World Cup gold medal and their fifth consecutive global title.

Injury gambles and qualifying success

Kelsey Plum and Napheesa Collier have both been included despite missing significant portions of the current domestic season through injury.

Plum has only managed 14 appearances during the campaign while managing a lingering lower leg issue.

However, the selection committee was heavily influenced by a flawless undefeated record during the qualifying tournament in March.

The former Iowa standout, Clark, was named Most Valuable Player during those qualifiers, cementing her place on the plane to Germany.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are set to stage their highly anticipated heavyweight bout at Madison Square Garden on a Friday in November following a push by broadcasters Netflix.

The long-awaited all-British contest is finally moving forward after the Gypsy King overcame Mariusz Wach in Thailand and his rival survived a scare against Kristian Prenga.

Despite earlier agreements targeting a British venue, reports indicate the bout is almost certain to head stateside.

Streaming giant Netflix is reportedly steering the event towards New York and plans to disrupt traditional boxing schedules.

Friday night scheduling

UK broadcasting norms could be abandoned in favour of a Friday night slot on November 20.

Organisers are reportedly eager to avoid direct clashes with American college football fixtures on the traditional Saturday evening.

Netflix has rarely deviated from its preferred Friday slot, with a previous Terence Crawford bout against Canelo Alvarez being a notable exception.

Speaking after his recent victory in Pattaya, 37-year-old Fury claimed to be entirely in the dark regarding the final destination.

I’ll regroup, and hopefully the next big fight is signed next week, and we head wherever we’re going to head.

The former world champion suggested alternative locations ranging from Las Vegas to Belfast.

Hearn admits US revenue appeal

Eddie Hearn, promoter for the two-time unified heavyweight champion, previously insisted a legally binding contract mandated a domestic venue.

The Matchroom boss revealed that his fighter explicitly requested to compete in front of a home crowd.

However, Hearn has since acknowledged that the immense financial potential of Madison Square Garden has altered those initial guarantees.

There was never any doubt this fight was in the UK until there were some approaches from America in terms of the revenue that could be achieved at MSG.

World title implications

Although both veteran heavyweights are approaching the latter stages of their respective careers, a world title shot could await the victor.

Murat Gassiev recently defended his WBA belt against Peter Kadiru and has expressed a willingness to face either British star.

The Russian champion stated he holds immense respect for both men and would eagerly accept a challenge on English soil.

Islam Makhachev will make the first defence of his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on Saturday, 15 August.

The pound-for-pound number one claimed the 170lb strap by dominating Jack Della Maddalena last November.

That victory followed the 34-year-old relinquishing his lightweight crown after a record-breaking four successful title defences.

He now faces an intriguing test against a divisive challenger boasting just one professional defeat on his record.

Machado Garry seeks major upset in Philadelphia

The Irishman rebounded from a narrow points loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov with impressive victories over Belal Muhammad and Carlos Prates.

Those consecutive wins ensure the 28-year-old enters his first undisputed championship opportunity brimming with confidence.

UK fight fans can watch the main card live on TNT Sports from 02:00 BST on Sunday morning, while US viewers can stream the action on Paramount+.

Dern defends strawweight crown in co-main event

The co-main event sees women’s strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern defending her newly upgraded belt against Gillian Robertson.

Dern originally captured the interim title by outpointing Virna Jandiroba last October.

The grappling specialist was recently elevated to undisputed champion after Zhilei Zhang vacated the throne to move up in weight.

UFC 330 Main Card

Barcelona have joined rivals Real Madrid in the race to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri this summer as he enters the final year of his contract.

The 30-year-old recently captained Spain to their first World Cup victory in 16 years, earning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.

His outstanding international performances have attracted intense interest from La Liga’s two most prestigious clubs.

De Jong injury prompts Catalan interest

Barcelona entered the pursuit after learning Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong will face a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a severe knee injury.

The Catalan giants would need to offload existing squad members to finance a move for the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.

Club officials hope the presence of several Spanish international team-mates at the Nou Camp will persuade the former Villarreal man to choose them over the capital.

Manchester City demand premium fee

The Premier League champions remain desperate to retain their talismanic midfielder ahead of the new campaign.

New manager Enzo Maresca views the Spanish international as the foundational piece of his tactical rebuild.

Despite City’s profound desire to agree fresh terms, the player has given no indication he intends to extend his stay in Manchester.

Senior executives will demand a transfer fee that accurately reflects his status as one of world football’s elite talents if a sale becomes unavoidable.

Lure of a return to Spain

With less than 12 months remaining on his current deal, City face the very real prospect of losing their star asset for a reduced fee or for nothing next year.

The defensive midfield maestro has previously spoken openly about his desire to experience domestic football in his homeland once again.

“Would I like to play in Spain again, in La Liga, in Madrid? I would like to return, yes, obviously.”
“Having played for Atletico before would not prevent me from playing for Real Madrid … there are other players who have done that before.”
“I have one year left on my contract. There will come a point where we will have to sit down and talk.”

The highly sought-after midfielder is currently enjoying an extended break following minor back surgery and his international exploits.

Middlesbrough have agreed a permanent £7m deal to sign Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Ashley Phillips as the defender prepares to undergo a medical.

The Championship club will pay an initial up-front fee for the 21-year-old, with potential future add-ons and a sell-on clause included in the transfer.

Phillips is poised to become the second player to swap north London for the Riverside Stadium this summer.

His departure follows the recent club-record arrival of striker Will Lankshear, whose move to Teesside could eventually rise to £20m.

Bolstering the defence for promotion push

Kim Hellberg’s side are targeting another Premier League promotion push this season after suffering heartbreak against Hull in May’s play-off final.

The England youth international arrives with a wealth of experience in the second tier despite his young age.

He has already amassed over 100 Championship appearances during spells with Blackburn Rovers, Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City.

Tottenham originally secured the highly-rated prospect for a £2.5m fee from Blackburn in 2023.

As part of that initial agreement, Rovers are now entitled to a 15% cut of the profit from this impending sale.

Spurs balance the books in busy window

The departing centre-half joins a growing list of academy graduates leaving the capital permanently this summer.

Alfie Devine and Tynan Thompson have also sought pastures new as the Lilywhites look to maximise their outgoing revenue.

This latest £7m injection edges the Premier League side closer to banking £100m in total player sales during the current window.

Tottenham are actively looking to offset a massive £237m summer recruitment spend, with the club still expecting to complete two or three more signings before next month’s deadline.

England have recalled Surrey pair Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence to their 16-man squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan, beginning at Headingley on 19 August.

The upcoming three-match series marks a new era for the national side following the retirement of captain Ben Stokes and the departure of head coach Brendon McCullum.

Joe Root will lead the team for the first time since his reappointment in July, supported by interim coach Marcus Trescothick.

Stephen Fleming is set to take permanent charge later this year when the side faces South Africa in December.

Lawrence rewarded for prolific domestic form

The 29-year-old batter earns his return to the international setup after an outstanding County Championship campaign.

He has amassed 788 runs at an average of 65.66 in Division One this season, including five centuries across 13 innings.

The right-hander is expected to bat at number six, filling the middle-order void left by the legendary former captain.

While he provides part-time off-spin, having taken nine domestic wickets this season, he represents a distinct shift in style from the dynamic all-rounder he replaces.

Pope returns as injured Bethell misses out

Former vice-captain Pope finds his way back into the fold after being dropped during the recent series against New Zealand.

The talented stroke-maker previously lost his place at number three to Jacob Bethell during the Ashes following a sustained dip in form.

However, Bethell will miss the entirety of the Pakistan series after suffering a knee injury during the white-ball tour of India in July.

Jordan Cox is now set to slot in at number three for the hosts, having made his red-ball debut at the Oval against the Black Caps.

Selectors balance youth and experience

Men’s national selector Marcus North emphasised the need to blend emerging talent with seasoned professionals against a dangerous touring side.

“Dan Lawrence returns following an exceptional season so far with Surrey and we believe he has the right level of experience, maturity and skill to complement our middle order.”
“Jordan Cox is well regarded as one of the most exciting talents in English cricket and will have the opportunity to bat at three in place of Jacob Bethell, who sadly misses this series through injury.”

Essex seamer Sam Cook has also earned a recall to the 16-man group for the first time since last summer.

The full squad features a robust bowling attack, including the returning Jofra Archer alongside Gus Atkinson and Shoaib Bashir.

England squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan: