Newcastle United have opened direct talks with AC Milan over the signing of former Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku as they look to rebuild their squad before the new season begins.
The Magpies are seeking experienced reinforcements after losing several key figures, including Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes, during a challenging summer transfer window.
Manager Eddie Howe has primarily replaced those high-profile departures with emerging prospects from across Europe, but the club is now targeting established pedigree.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that direct contact has been made between the Tyneside outfit and the Serie A side regarding a summer deal.
Nkunku set for swift San Siro exit
The French international only completed his move to the Italian giants last summer in a deal believed to be worth around £36m.
However, Romano reports that the versatile attacker is already destined to depart ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Securing his signature would provide a much-needed boost for a squad that has experienced mixed results throughout their pre-season preparations.
Looming Premier League opener
Newcastle face a formidable test in their opening Premier League fixture as they prepare to host Liverpool.
Integrating a proven attacking talent like the former Stamford Bridge star could prove crucial to starting their domestic campaign on a positive note.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch has publicly reflected on the heartbreaking final day he spent at the hospital bedside of his younger brother Kyle, following the racing legend’s sudden death at the age of 41.
Speaking on NBC’s Today show on Friday, the 2004 Cup champion wiped away tears during his first public comments since the tragic loss on 21 May.
“I was at the hospital. I was there all day, hoping, praying, hoping for a turnaround,” Kurt Busch said.
“I said, ‘I got you man. Come on, I got you. I got you. Come on, be strong.’ It just wasn’t fair.”
Rapid deterioration and motorsport legacy
The two-time Cup Series champion died after a severe case of pneumonia rapidly progressed into life-threatening sepsis.
The Las Vegas native had initially believed he was battling a sinus cold while racing in New York on 10 May.
Despite his illness, he continued to compete and even secured a Truck Series victory in Delaware less than a week before his passing.
His condition sharply deteriorated while practicing in a racing simulator on 20 May, prompting an immediate transfer to hospital by ambulance.
Mentoring the next generation
The loss has devastated the racing community, leaving a permanent void in one of American motorsport’s most deeply entrenched families.
Discussing the unique bond they shared, the elder sibling described the pair as “carbon copies” who communicated seamlessly on the track.
“I miss the words we never spoke to each other, and the vibe that we had on track,” he added.
Attention now turns to preserving his brother’s immense legacy and guiding the next generation of the family’s racing dynasty.
He revealed he is currently mentoring his 11-year-old nephew, Brexton, who has already embarked on his own motorsport career.
“He’s a prodigy. He can be a big start in the world of motorsports. He’s 11, but he’s already racing like an 18-year-old.”
An unmatched NASCAR record
The younger brother leaves behind an unparalleled statistical footprint in stock car racing.
He holds the all-time record with 234 combined victories across the top three national series.
Alongside his incredible win tally, the former Joe Gibbs Racing star claimed the sport’s ultimate prize with Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019.
“The tenacity that he had. It was every day, 24-7, to help people in the latter part of his career, to be a great father like he was,” Busch concluded.
Hundreds of former professional and amateur rugby players have won a High Court battle allowing their claims against the sport’s governing bodies over brain injuries to proceed to trial.
World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, Welsh Rugby and two rugby league bodies had attempted to have approximately 500 cases struck out.
The governing institutions argued that the legal team previously representing the athletes had failed to comply with strict court orders.
However, Judge David Cook ruled on Friday that the litigation carries a specific element of public importance and must be heard in full.
‘Exceptional circumstances’
The claimants allege that authorities breached a fundamental duty of care by failing to protect them from repeated blows to the head during their careers.
Many of the competitors involved in the legal action are now suffering from severe neurological conditions, including early-onset dementia, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and motor neurone disease.
The authorities strongly deny liability and intend to vigorously defend the actions when the full trial commences.
Judge Cook admitted he reached his decision to let the case proceed with some hesitation but noted the immense potential impact on the national sport.
“This litigation has the potential to greatly impact the way in which one of our national sports is conducted at amateur and professional levels.”
Judge David Cook
New legal representation
The athletes have recently transferred their representation to a new firm, KP Law, which proved crucial in avoiding a dismissal.
The presiding judge acknowledged that the vulnerability of the claimants meant they should not be punished for the previous procedural failures of their lawyers.
A spokesperson for the new legal team welcomed the decision, stating that the affected individuals deserve to have their experiences heard and properly addressed.
These legal proceedings are part of a growing focus on concussion protocols and long-term player welfare across contact sports worldwide.
American businessman Marc Stad has acquired a controlling stake in the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx in a deal valuing the basketball franchises at $4.5bn.
The Dragoneer Investment Group founder assumes majority control by purchasing a significant portion of outgoing co-owner Marc Lore’s equity.
Lore will retain a minority investment, while former baseball star Alex Rodriguez has elected to increase his own financial commitment.
The lucrative transaction now awaits formal approval from the NBA Board of Governors during their upcoming September meetings.
Leadership reshuffle and strategic focus
Lore has opted to step back from his co-chairman responsibilities to concentrate on floating his food-technology company on the stock market.
The departing principal owner believes that transferring the reins offers the Minneapolis-based organisations the greatest opportunity for sustained success.
Under the newly restructured hierarchy, Elisa Stad will assume duties as the primary governor for the NBA franchise.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez will continue acting as alternate governor for the men’s team whilst serving as the primary governor for the WNBA side.
Record valuation and ownership history
The agreed $4.5bn valuation currently ranks as the fourth-largest franchise sale in the history of the league.
It trails only the recent $6.1bn acquisition of the Boston Celtics and two separate high-value transactions involving the Los Angeles Lakers.
This boardroom transition arrives shortly after a protracted and highly publicised dispute with former owner Glen Taylor.
Lore and Rodriguez initially entered the Western Conference setup in 2021 at a $1.5bn valuation before finally wrestling full control in June 2025.
Continuity for basketball operations
Despite the significant structural changes above them, the existing sporting leadership will remain entirely intact.
President of basketball operations Tim Connelly and general manager Matt Lloyd are set to continue guiding the front office.
On the court, head coach Chris Finch remains firmly in charge of the men’s squad.
Highly decorated coach Cheryl Reeve will also maintain her dual role leading the Lynx both on the sidelines and in the executive suite.
Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab have completed the signing of Ghana international Thomas Partey following his release from Villarreal.
The 33-year-old arrives in the Middle East as a free agent after the Spanish club opted against renewing his contract this summer.
His move follows a brief stint in La Liga, which came after he made 167 appearances for Arsenal between 2020 and 2025.
Ongoing legal proceedings
The former Gunners player is scheduled to stand trial next year in the United Kingdom.
He has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault.
These charges relate to allegations made by four different women between 2020 and 2022.
World Cup entry issues
During this summer’s World Cup, the veteran midfielder was denied entry to Canada prior to Ghana’s opening fixture against Panama.
Border officials refused him entry because of the active criminal proceedings in the UK.
The Ghanaian had incorrectly informed immigration authorities that he had never been arrested or charged with a crime.
He subsequently featured in his nation’s remaining three tournament matches as they were eliminated by Colombia in the last 32 stage.
New chapter in Saudi Arabia
The Riyadh-based outfit will be hoping their new acquisition can improve their domestic fortunes.
Al-Shabab finished a disappointing 13th in the Saudi top flight last season and suffered a defeat in their opening match of the current campaign.
Their squad features familiar names to English football fans, including former Burnley captain Josh Brownhill and ex-Wolves winger Daniel Podence.
Fifa has handed a 10-match suspension to Leandro Paredes and a seven-game ban to Nahuel Molina following a brawl after the World Cup final in New York.
The South American pair faced intense scrutiny for their aggressive reactions after their national side suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Spain.
Global football’s governing body confirmed these severe punishments as part of a sweeping disciplinary review into the chaotic post-match scenes.
Further player sanctions issued
Alongside the lengthy suspensions for the two senior internationals, one-match bans were distributed to Argentina’s Thiago Almada and Spain’s Pablo Martin Paez Gavira.
The disciplinary action extends beyond individual players to heavily penalise the national federation itself.
The Argentine Football Association has been ordered to pay a $121,000 fine relating to several severe breaches during the latter stages of the tournament.
Federation fined over banner and crowd abuse
This significant financial penalty was primarily levied after squad members displayed a controversial Falklands banner following their semi-final victory against England.
Furthermore, the official fine addresses documented instances of discrimination and racist abuse perpetrated by the nation’s supporters during the competition.
The prolonged absence of the experienced midfield enforcer and his defensive compatriot will severely impact the national team in their upcoming international fixtures.
World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the upcoming US Open in New York due to an ongoing right knee injury.
The Italian has not played a competitive match since capturing the Wimbledon title earlier this July.
Despite intensive rehabilitation efforts alongside his medical staff, the reigning major champion determined he is simply not fit enough for the final Grand Slam of the year.
Training return highlights persistent issue
Recent practice sessions in Monte Carlo revealed that the top-ranked star requires significantly more recovery time.
“Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year,” Sinner stated.
The Wimbledon victor explained that spending the last couple of days back on the court made it abundantly clear his right knee problem was not fully resolved.
“I’m obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart.”
Flushing Meadows draw blown wide open
His unfortunate absence severely alters the landscape of the men’s singles tournament at Flushing Meadows.
Removing the current top seed and a major pre-tournament favourite from contention will undoubtedly boost the title hopes of his closest rivals.
The wider tennis world will now eagerly await further medical updates regarding when the sport’s leading player might safely return to the ATP Tour.
Chelsea have made striker Liam Delap available for transfer just 14 months after his £30m arrival at Stamford Bridge following a difficult season.
The 23-year-old was deemed surplus to requirements after scoring just one Premier League goal during the previous campaign.
The former Ipswich Town forward currently commands a £50m asking price, which has reportedly limited interest from potential suitors.
However, the west London club have shown a willingness to negotiate late transfer window deals, having recently sanctioned loans for defenders Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi.
Struggles and injury setbacks
The English forward endured a troubled debut campaign as the Blues finished a disappointing 10th in the top flight.
He was forced to adapt to three different managers while battling frustrating hamstring and shoulder injuries.
These physical setbacks severely hampered his combative style of play and contributed to a significant loss of confidence.
Those close to the player indicate his priority is simply to secure regular first-team football next season.
Training ground demotion
The attacker’s situation worsened this week when he was stripped of the prestigious number nine shirt.
That squad number has now been handed to Joao Pedro, who excelled last season after arriving from Brighton.
Consequently, the £30m signing has been moved into a separate training group of around 12 players at the Cobham base.
New manager Xabi Alonso implemented this fluid system to manage a bloated squad of roughly 40 players ahead of their opening fixture against Fulham.
Chelsea’s attacking reshuffle
Despite previously hoping to stay and prove his worth, the exiled striker faces intense competition for a starting berth.
Alonso is expected to rely on Pedro alongside new attacking recruits Emmanuel Emegha and Danny Welbeck.
Nottingham Forest continue to monitor the situation, though Leeds United have reportedly cooled their initial interest.
It remains to be seen whether the club hierarchy will reduce their financial demands to facilitate a permanent departure or sanction a temporary loan move.