During the winter transfer session, Lazio signed three young players in the shape of Arijon Ibrahimovic, Reda Belahyane and Oliver Provstgaard, but none of them has set foot on the pitch thus far.
The Biancocelesti had a promising first half of the season under Marco Baroni. They’re currently in the midst of a crunch battle for a Top Four spot that would guarantee them a place in the Champions League next season, but they must overcome a steep challenge from Juventus as well as a revitalized Milan.
Nevertheless, Lazio could find a different route towards Europe’s elite club competition, as they’re considered one of the favorites to clinch the Europa League this season based on the odds of some of the most renowned online betting platforms, including m88 live sports. After all, the Aquile were the most impressive team in the group stage, finishing on top of the 36-team table.
But in order to boost their chances of achieving success on all three fronts this season (Serie A, Europa League and the Coppa Italia), Lazio resorted to the market to add some depth to their various departments. Claudio Lotito and Angelo Fabiani resisted all temptation to sell their biggest assets despite reportedly receiving lucrative offers for the likes of Nicolo Rovella and Taty Castellanos.
The Italian capital side only offloaded Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro who wasn’t even part of Baroni’s plans, as well as Gaetano Castrovilli who struggled to carve himself space in the lineup after encountering a few physical problems. Both midfielders joined Monza on loan for the remainder of the season.
On the other hand, Lazio secured the services of three new players. The fact that all three of them are under the age of 22 is no surprise, as the club ensured they must be eligible for the youth list since their senior squad list is already congested.
But while the new trio have yet to make their presence felt, Il Corriere dello Sport (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) reveals when we could possibly see them in action. The Roman newspaper tips Belahyane to be the first in line, suggesting his club debut could ensue as soon as Saturday when the team take on Venezia away from home.
With Nicolo Rovella serving a one-match ban, there will be a vacant spot in the middle of the park. While Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is the favorite to start alongside Matteo Guendouzi, the Morocco international is also in the running. He could also be an option off the bench.
The source doesn’t rule out a debut for Ibrahimovic as well. The 19-year-old is a versatile attacker who can fill in several roles. So with Castellanos out with an injury, there could be some space for the German teenager.
On the contrary, Provstgaard’s debut could be the most distant, especially with Patric returning to the fold. As the report explains, the Dane was initially expected to join in June, but Baroni brought his arrival forward to January as we wanted the young defender to gradually adjust to Italian football away without being rushed into the action.
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Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Tottenham following a disappointing domestic campaign Tottenham have finally relieved Ange Postecoglou from his duties. The Australian’s future at N17 was hanging in the balance for quite some time now, and the club decided to part ways on Friday following a ‘review of performances.’ Many fans and pundits thought that the North London club turned a new page when they ended their long-standing trophy drought last month by winning the Europa League. However, the club’s hierarchy is still making the same mistakes each year and they hit a new low on Friday. If the decision is based only on the Premier League results, then it might have been the right decision as the Lilywhites finished just a place above the relegation zone. But winning trophies is the only thing that matters in football… and Big Ange managed to do just that at N17 this year. The ex-Celtic boss had promised the fans earlier in the season that he always won a trophy in his second season at a club. It is fair to say that he walked the talk and delivered on that promise in spectacular fashion. The North London club exceeded all expectations and won the Europa League, ensuring Champions League qualification along with it. Huge problems ahead for Tottenham as players are unhappy with the sack news Well, it is fair to say that the decision of sacking Ange Postecoglou has not gone down well with the fans and the players. Some players have taken to social media to thank Big Ange for his contributions to the club and there is a social media revolt against Daniel Levy amongst fans. The departure of the Australian tactician has dampened the mood around N17 just two weeks after the club won the Europa League. As per The Telegraph, Tottenham players are ‘unhappy’ with the sack news and there is a possibility that the dressing room might revolt against Daniel Levy. It is also believed that some players might want to leave the club following Big Ange’s departure. The aforementioned report also suggests that the Australian kept the dressing room together when the media was scrutinising the players week in week out. Many players had publicly backed Ange Postecoglou to turn the fortunes around at the club following the Europa League success. The ex-Celtic boss was also keen to continue at the club and made it clear during the trophy parade that ‘season three’ would be better than the previous two seasons. However, Daniel Levy thought otherwise and killed off the main character before season three even began. One can only feel sorry for the new manager that will takeover the reigns at N17. It was reported earlier that Brentford boss Thomas Frank is the leading candidate to replace Ange Postecoglou. Frank will have a huge task of getting the fans and the players back on board before the start of the new season. And Daniel Levy will also hope that the decision to appoint a new manager works out well as Spurs look to start a new era at Hotspur Way.
On Thursday, wrestling icon Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea died at the age of 71. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s... WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans." Hogan was the first true superstar to emerge in the wrestling industry, capturing a casual audience worldwide and bringing new eyes to the sport. He was an unbelievable draw, both as a baby face and as a heel. From his time as an All-American hero to leading the New World Order and teaming with Randy Savage as part of the "Mega Powers," he has been a staple of the scene for decades. Who can forget his WrestleMania III moment, where he defied the laws of physics to body-slam a 520-pound Andre the Giant? Or, more recently, his match with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania 18? His last appearance on WWE RAW on Jan. 6 saw him booed throughout, highlighting the rocky legacy Hogan leaves behind. Hogan's universal popularity has plummeted in recent years, primarily due to a racism scandal that led to his removal from the Wrestling Hall of Fame, only to be reinstated in 2018. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Hogan's outdated and unwelcome outlook on specific aspects of life derailed the final stanza of a legendary career. Still, there's no denying that without Hogan, the wrestling we know and love today wouldn't exist. There wouldn't be WWE on the world's largest streaming platform, or All Elite Wrestling, which is developing into one of the most successful challenger brands. Instead, there would be smaller, more localized promotions, all competing for a sliver of television time. Hogan popularized the sport by bridging the gap between the wrestling ring and Hollywood. During his time in the spotlight, Hogan appeared in movies such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," all of which helped bring his larger-than-life persona to a new audience. It's no surprise, then, that The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista have all made similar jumps in recent years. Hogan leaves behind an everlasting imprint on the wrestling world. Unfortunately, it comes with multiple asterisks; however, that doesn't change what he achieved as the first global wrestling star.
The New York Yankees didn't come into the season with the strongest third base situation, and it only got worse over time. They converted traditional second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the hot corner after getting him at the Trade Deadline last season and installed a timeshare with him, DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Oswaldo Cabrera there in 2025. However, the latter player broke his ankle on May 12, and the Yankees released the now 37-year-old LeMahieu on July 10. Chisholm was primarily back at second at that point, so this left Peraza and Jorbit Vivas as their only true remaining third basemen. With Peraza hitting .147 and Vivas hitting .164, it was clear what the team's biggest need was. That's why it acquired veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies on Friday. New York manager Aaron Boone gave his thoughts about the 30-year-old before Friday's bout with the Philadelphia Phillies, via SNY. "I know there's real offensive potential there. I know he's had real offensive success, as well as some struggles there over the last calendar year or two," he said. "It seems like over the last month he's really started swinging the bat like he's capable of. He can impact the ball, he can control the strike zone, he's had some swing-and-misses that have probably hurt him a little bit." "But then he can really defend over there," he continued. "The handful of times that we've played against them that I watch him, you're like, 'That's what it should look like over there.' He moves really well and has that prototypical good third base thing." McMahon is slashing .217/.314/.403 with 16 homers and 35 RBI over 100 games this season. He also has a .978 fielding percentage and six errors. Right-handed pitcher Will Warren (6-5, 4.91 ERA) will start for the Yankees against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker (3-5, 3.75 ERA) on Friday.
The Phoenix Suns pursuit for Golden State Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga is reaching its final stages. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Phoenix and Sacramento Kings have made “concrete” offers to the 22-year-old. Kuminga hasn’t received much interest in restricted free agency but could still make the jump from the Warriors to a different team next season. Charania on Suns interest with Kuminga: “I’m told the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings are two teams that have made concrete offers to the Warriors over the last week or so. They’re two of the most aggressive teams.” Reports have indicated that the Warriors want a first-round pick, a solid role player and no bad contracts. The Suns are lacking in first-round picks but have plenty of role players to offer in a sign-and-trade. Shooting guards Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale would have to be a part of any trade with Kuminga because of the former lottery pick’s high asking price. Allen makes nearly $17 million, while O’Neale cost around $10 million. The duo are some of the most effective shooters in the NBA and would be a perfect player to play off ball of superstar Stephen Curry. Phoenix has a surplus at shooting guard and wouldn’t lose much positional depth with the departure of the two backcourt players. In 2024-2025, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 45.4% shooting from the field. The turmoil between the young wing and head coach Steven Kerr boiled over after limited playing time in the playoffs. The DNPs that Kuminga racked up in the playoffs likely has hurt the value of him in free agency and in the trade market, which could help Phoenix in its pursuit.
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