The 2018 FIFA World Cup is rapidly approaching. While the hype machine may not be as strong for this year's edition as it was for previous years, there are still plenty of hot questions that are floating around as we get closer and closer to the big event.
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Kobbie Mainoo looks set to stay put at Manchester United this summer Kobbie Mainoo’s name has been at the heart of Manchester United’s summer transfer whispers, with expectations high that the 20-year-old would depart Old Trafford in pursuit of both game time and new challenges. However, in a surprising turn, the young midfielder now appears increasingly likely to remain with the club. According to Mick Brown, former Red Devils’ chief scout and a respected figure who still has strong ties to the club, Mainoo may yet become a central figure in Ruben Amorim’s evolving side. Brown, speaking to Football Insider, noted that although the club was initially open to offers in the £70 million range, no suitor has been willing to meet that valuation so far. Earlier this year, Mainoo’s refusal to sign a contract extension added fuel to speculation, particularly as Chelsea were believed to be circling. But with interest cooling and a lack of firm offers materialising, United now seem prepared to retain the midfielder as part of their squad rebuild. United’s need to retain talent United’s approach to their academy graduates has drawn criticism from former insiders like Brown, who has long advocated for the club to protect and nurture its homegrown talents. In his words: “If it was down to me, I would be doing everything possible to keep the academy graduates at the club, because that is what Man United has been built on.” Despite his warning, United’s leadership had reportedly planned to cash in on players like Mainoo in order to ease their financial burdens. Brown himself had admitted that while he disagreed with the direction, the club’s strategy was clear to sell players who could command significant transfer fees. However, the financial expectations surrounding Mainoo may have unintentionally worked in United’s favour. Clubs have shied away from the hefty £70 million tag, and as a result, the young midfielder could now be offered a real opportunity to break into Amorim’s first team. A wake-up call for Man United’s youth policy Kobbie Mainoo staying at Manchester United could be one of the best things to happen this summer, not just for the player, but for the club’s identity. For years, United prided themselves on developing and promoting academy talent. But recent seasons have shown a drift toward profit-driven decisions, often at the expense of their own youth. Mainoo’s situation reflects the conflict between business and tradition. He is an immensely gifted player, one that any elite club would be lucky to have in their ranks. That no club has yet met the asking price is a blessing in disguise. It gives United a second chance to do the right thing, invest in their own. If Amorim can give him a role and allow him to grow, Mainoo might just repay the faith tenfold. For all the glamour of new signings, sometimes the answer has been right there in red all along.
On Saturday night, Kelsey Plum was part of Team Collier's 151-131 win over Team Clark in the WNBA All-Star Game, scoring 16 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists. Following the game, the Los Angeles Sparks star was asked about WNBA All-Stars wearing shirts before the game that read, "Pay Us What You Owe Us." Specifically, Plum was asked about how that idea came together. "The T-shirt — just a united front," she said. "That was determined this morning, that we had a meeting for. Not to tattletale, but zero members of Team Clark were very present for that." Plum said it with a chuckle. However, she was sitting next to New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu, who rolled her eyes and said, "Didn't really need to be mentioned" before laughing. It was awkward, especially because Caitlin Clark, as well as all of the members of Team Clark, wore the shirts. If Clark didn't wear the shirt, you could understand some backlash. But she did. It should also be noted that Team Collier featured the president of the WNBA Players Association, Nneka Ogwumike, as well as the first vice president, Plum, and two vice presidents, Napheesa Collier and Brenna Stewart. It makes sense if they took on greater leadership roles in a statement like this against the league. Whether Plum likes it or not, the reason the WNBA has any sort of leverage heading into these negotiations with the league is Clark. She would do well to remember that the next time she wants to take an unnecessary shot at Clark, who is responsible for the greatest surge in fan attention the WNBA has ever seen.
While not exactly one-stop shopping, the New York Yankees could address multiple needs ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline with a call to the Minnesota Twins. That's because the American League Central club is open for business and bracing for a fire sale. "As of today, the Twins are now seriously listening on their rental players, including (Danny) Coulombe, (Harrison) Bader and (Willi) Castro," the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Tuesday. "While they will listen on All-Star starter Joe Ryan and star closer Jhoan Duran they’d have to be blown away, especially for Ryan." For the Yankees, the three biggest names there are Coulombe, Duran and Castro. Let's start with the pitchers. It's no secret general manager Brian Cashman wants to upgrade his bullpen for the stretch run. Talk of the Yankees showing interest in Coulombe have been making the rounds for a while now. The 35-year-old left-hander is 1-0 with two saves and an incredible 0.65 ERA in 36 appearances this season. Coulombe is making $3 million this year and will be a free agent following the season. Duran, 27, will have a much higher price tag. The right-hander is 5-4 with 15 saves and a career-best 1.62 ERA in 45 appearances this season. Duran is making $4.125 million this season and has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining. While the Yankees also need starting pitching, it's expected that the Twins will ask for the moon in exchange for their ace. Ryan is tied for second in the American League this season with 10 wins and seventh with a 2.63 ERA. In addition, Ryan is making $3 million this season and also has two seasons of arbitration eligibility remaining. As for Castro, the Yankees' need for an upgrade at third base is well-known. So is New York's interest in Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star slugger Eugenio Suarez. But if Cashman whiffs on the biggest bat on the market, Castro could be an interesting fallback option. "Castro has been an above-average bat for three consecutive seasons and is in the midst of his best year since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season," The Athletic's Chris Kirschner wrote Monday. "He’s played second base, third base, shortstop, left field, center field and right field this season for the Minnesota Twins. Think of Castro as a better version of Oswaldo Cabrera, whom the Yankees love for his versatility." Castro, 28, is hitting .258 this year with 10 home runs and 27 RBI in 78 games. He was an All-Star last year, when he set career highs with 12 home runs and 60 RBI. He's making $6.4 million this season and will be a free agent after the World Series.
The Boston Celtics' priorities were already apparent before making the trades they did. Because they wanted to get under the NBA's second tax apron, the Celtics were willing to downgrade some of their players to get under it. That's why the Celtics traded Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons and Kristaps Porzingis for Georges Niang. It is a talent downgrade, but it helped Boston achieve their goals of getting under the second apron, even if those players aren't as good as Holiday or Porzingis. However, those trades only helped Boston get closer to being under the NBA's second tax apron, but it didn't get them under completely. Boston signed a few more players this offseason, including Luka Garza, Josh Minott, and Hugo Gonzalez. While these players are on inexpensive contracts, combined, they are enough to keep the Celtics above the NBA's second tax apron. That's why Boston isn't done making moves. Spotrac's Keith Smith revealed in an interview with a Boston Celtics executive that more trades will follow because they are still above the NBA's second tax apron. “Still figuring it all out. As you’ve noted, we’re still above the second apron. We won’t finish there," the Celtics exec told Smith. As far as how the Celtics will do that is anyone's guess. They may trade Anfernee Simons for someone who makes less than him. They may trade Niang's contract to a team that can absorb it via trade exception. They may even trade Sam Hauser or Payton Pritchard to do it. Regardless, more moves are coming for the Celtics.