Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix may soon leave the club on a permanent basis, with Chelsea closing in on a deal for the 24-year-old. Despite speculation, Atleti head coach Diego Simeone has maintained that Felix is part of his plans for the upcoming season. However, with the potential sale of Felix, Simeone acknowledged that he is still looking to make further additions to the squad before the transfer window closes. This announcement comes amidst news that Jacksonville Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew has won the starting role for the 2024 season, and former Boston Celtics player Guerschon Yabusele has impressed with his 14 points per game average during France's Olympic silver medal run.
Atlético Madrid's João Félix on the Verge of Permanent Chelsea Move
Background:
João Félix, a 24-year-old Portuguese forward, has been a highly sought-after player in recent years. He joined Atlético Madrid from Benfica in 2019 for a club-record €126 million transfer fee. While Félix has shown flashes of brilliance during his time in Madrid, he has also faced criticism for inconsistency and a perceived lack of work ethic.
Chelsea Closing in on Deal:
According to reports, Chelsea is close to securing a permanent deal for Félix. The English Premier League giants are believed to be offering a fee in the region of €100 million for the Portuguese international. This would make Félix one of the most expensive signings in Chelsea's history.
Simeone's Stance:
Despite rumors linking Félix to a departure, Atlético Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has repeatedly stated that the player is part of his plans for the upcoming season. However, Simeone has also acknowledged that he is open to selling Félix if a suitable offer is received.
Squad Additions:
With the potential transfer of Félix, Simeone has indicated that he is seeking to make further additions to his squad before the transfer window closes. Atlético Madrid has already signed midfielders Axel Witsel and Nahuel Molina this summer.
FAQs:
1. Why is Atlético Madrid considering selling João Félix? A: Rumors suggest that Félix has not fully met Simeone's expectations and that the club is looking to raise funds for other signings.
2. What are the terms of the potential Chelsea deal? A: Chelsea is reportedly offering around €100 million for Félix on a permanent transfer.
3. Is Diego Simeone against the sale of Félix? A: Simeone has publicly stated that Félix is part of his plans, but he has also indicated that he is open to selling if a suitable offer is received.
4. Which other clubs have been linked with Félix? A: Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly shown interest in Félix in the past.
5. What other signings is Atlético Madrid targeting? A: Simeone has not specified which positions he is targeting, but the club is believed to be interested in strengthening its midfield and defense.
Sri Lanka's national cricket team bounced back from two heavy losses to defeat the New Zealand national cricket team in the third ODI in Auckland. They were led by stellar performances from Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga, and Maheesh Theekshana, who each claimed three wickets. Pathum Nissanka, who retired hurt but returned to score 66 off 42 balls, was the top-scorer for Sri Lanka. New Zealand suffered an early collapse, with five of their top six batsmen dismissed for two runs or less, ultimately succumbing to a 140-run defeat.
Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana made history by becoming the second Indian woman to reach 4000 runs in one-day international (ODI) cricket. In a match against Ireland, Mandhana led her team to a successful chase with her explosive batting, adding 41 runs off just 29 balls. She achieved this milestone in 95 innings, making her the third fastest player to do so. Previously, only Mithali Raj had scored over 4000 runs in women's cricket for India. Mandhana's feat also puts her in an elite group of players who have scored 4000 runs in under 100 innings, joining the likes of Belinda Clarke and Meg Lanning. This achievement also highlights the impressive growth and success of women's cricket in India.
In a high-scoring match, opener Pathum Nissanka led the way for Sri Lanka, scoring a quickfire 66 before retiring with an injury. However, he returned later to add crucial runs to the total and help his team post a competitive target of 290-8. Despite a strong start from New Zealand, Sri Lanka's bowlers were able to restrict them to just 150 runs, with seamer Matt Henry claiming four wickets. Sri Lanka's convincing win in the final ODI gave them a series clean sweep after losing the first two matches.
As the search for a new manager continues for Everton, it seems that David Moyes is in talks for a potential return to the club. This comes as the latest development in the FA Cup news conferences, with Moyes being one of many managers speaking about transfers and team news. Other highlights include Amorim's thoughts on Man Utd's transfers and Bentancur's return after a concerning injury. Stay involved with #bbcfootball for all the latest updates.
As the SA20 League 2025 gets underway, it will be a clash of the titans as Durban Super Giants take on Pretoria Capitals, with star players Heinrich Klaasen, Kane Williamson, and Liam Livingstone leading the charge for their teams. Klaasen's destructive batting, Williamson's experience and resilience, and Livingstone's raw power and versatility make them the ultimate game-changers in T20 cricket.
As the January transfer window heats up, Manchester City are looking to bolster their squad with the addition of Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens. This comes after a difficult first half of the season for the Citizens. Meanwhile, rivals Manchester United are also in the market for new players, potentially including striker Marcus Rashford in a swap deal with Napoli. Liverpool, on the other hand, may wait to see how the transfer market unfolds before making any decisions about new signings. Keep up with all the latest transfer news and rumors in our live blog.
The Saudi Pro League is back in action for its new season, with increased global attention and an exciting race for the title. More international stars have joined top teams, such as Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, creating a more competitive league. Indian fans can catch all the action live on Sony Sports channels or through Sony LIV. As the league looks to further expand its global reach, it will be interesting to see how the new season unfolds with multiple teams contending for the title.
In their opening match of the Betway SA20 tournament, Durban's Super Giants put on an impressive performance, thanks to an unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership of 91 in just 41 balls between Kane Williamson and Wiaan Mulder. Despite some heroic bowling from Senuran Muthusamy, who claimed 3/21 in his four overs, the Pretoria Capitals were unable to contain the pair's explosive hitting. This partnership proved to be the turning point in the match, giving the home team a strong advantage and setting a challenging target of 209.
India’s women’s cricket team skipper, Smriti Mandhana expresses disappointment over her team’s fielding performance in the first ODI against Ireland. Despite registering a comfortable victory, Mandhana believes that the team needs to improve in the fielding department and restrict the opposition to lower scores. She also praises the bowling unit for their efforts in challenging conditions and highlights the importance of executing plans in upcoming matches.
In a dominant performance, the Indian women's cricket team defeated Ireland by six wickets in the first match of the three-match series in Rajkot. Despite being without captain Harmanpreet Kaur and bowler Renuka Singh Thakur, India showed no signs of struggle as they dismissed Ireland for just 56 runs. Medium pacer Titas Sadhu and spinner Priya Mishra were the stars of the show, taking three wickets each.