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Football
Wolves sign Tchatchoua
News Desk: Wolves have signed defender Jackson Tchatchoua for 12.5m euros (£10.8m) on a five-year deal from Serie A side Hellas Verona. The Cameroon international can play as a right-back or wing-back and was last season named the fastest player in Serie A with an average top speed of 34.88 kmph., external Wolves said the 23-year-old produced a top speed of 36.3kmph last season. Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven was the fastest player in the Premier League in 2024-25, reaching a top speed of 37.1 kmph and the Dutch defender holds the league record of 37.38kmph.
Football
Romero signs new contract
NEWS DESK: Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero has signed a new four-year contract to commit his future to the club. The 27-year-old Argentina centre-back joined Spurs from Atalanta in August 2021, initially on loan before the move was made permanent the following summer. He has made 126 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals, and captained the side in the Europa League final as Tottenham beat Manchester United to end their 17-year wait for a trophy.
Iconic
Kusal Perera heroics lead Sri Lanka to remarkable Test win in South Africa in 2019
Record Corner
8720
is the record of the highest number of runs scored while chasing in ODIs by India’s Sachin Tendulkar
Trivia
Which team won the inaugural UEFA Nations League?
A. Portugal
Side Stories
Bournemouth sign Doak
News Desk: Bournemouth have signed Liverpool winger Ben Doak for an initial £20m with a further £5m in add-ons. The 19-year-old has signed a five-year contract and becomes Bournemouth’s fourth summer acquisition. Doak was left out of Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night. “I’m buzzing to be here,” Doak said. “I feel like it’s the right time for me and it’s a great opportunity to play regular football at the highest level. It feels like the perfect fit. “The team play very nice football. It’s fast and it really suits my game, so I felt like I couldn’t say no to the chance to play here.”
AC Milan eye Hojlund
NEWS DESK: AC Milan sporting director Igli Tare has confirmed the Italian club are interested in Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund. The Denmark forward was left out of the matchday squad for United’s 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal on Sunday. It is understood coach Ruben Amorim took the decision amid intense speculation over the 22-year-old’s future. While Hojlund has previously expressed a strong desire to remain at United, the arrival of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig for £73.7m means his opportunities are likely to be severely restricted. “Hojlund is a good option for us,” Tare told Sport Mediaset, external before Sunday’s 2-0 win over Bari in the Coppa Italia.
Edmund announces retirement
NEWS DESK: Former British number one Kyle Edmund on Monday announced his retirement at the age of 30 after a turbulent few years heavily impacted by injuries. Edmund reached his career-high ranking of world number 14 in October 2018 following his maiden ATP Tour title win in Antwerp. That same year, he also made history by reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open, becoming only the second Briton since Andy Murray to achieve this milestone in the Open Era. His second ATP title came at the 2020 New York Open, further cementing his status as one of Britain’s leading tennis players.
Konstas excited to welcome Shadab
NEWS DESK: Australia’s top order batter Sam Konstas on Tuesday expressed his excitement about teaming up with Pakistan all rounder Shadab Khan in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season. Konstas recently extended his contract with Sydney Thunder for another four years and said he is eager to deliver top notch performances alongside Shadab. Speaking about his new deal, Konstas said, “our team will take the field with the best combination this season, and especially with Shadab Khan joining us, I feel we will deliver outstanding performances this year.” Konstas also described the honor of playing alongside some of his childhood heroes.
Rabada to miss Aus ODIs
NEWS DESK: South Africa suffered a major setback as premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was ruled out of the entire ODI series against Australia due to an ankle injury. The 30-year-old pacer underwent scans on Monday, which confirmed the extent of the injury, forcing him to remain on the sidelines. Rabada, who has been a vital cog in South Africa’s bowling attack across formats, will stay in Australia and begin rehabilitation under the supervision of the team’s medical staff. His absence adds to South Africa’s growing injury concerns, with left-arm quick Marco Jansen also unavailable as he continues to recover from surgery on his left thumb. To bolster their pace department, South Africa have drafted in teenager Kwena Maphaka, who impressed in the recently concluded T20I series against Australia by finishing as the highest wicket-taker.
Wissa deletes all Brentford links
NEWS DESK: Yoane Wissa has removed all association with Brentford from his Instagram account as his uncertain future takes a fresh twist. The DR Congo forward, who was left out of the squad for Sunday’s 3-1 loss at Nottingham Forest, wants to join Newcastle. The Magpies have seen at least one offer for the forward rejected by Brentford this summer. BBC Sport was the first to reveal that Wissa had flown home early from their pre-season camp in Portugal, after which he threatened not to play or train for the club again if they did not sanction his protracted move to St James’ Park. Since then there had been a slight thawing of relations, resulting in the 28-year-old returning to first-team training while continuing to make clear that he wanted to join Newcastle.
Piastri gets own grandstand
NEWS DESK: Melbourne-born Oscar Piastri will have his own grandstand at next year’s Australian Grand Prix. The 24-year-old is leading this season’s drivers’ championship by nine points from McLaren team-mate Lando Norris with 10 races to go. Piastri has already won more grands prix in a single season than any other Australian driver since the world championship started in 1950, with six so far in 2025. “It feels very surreal and I never thought this would happen, but the support is incredible and I can’t wait to see it all come together next March,” he said on X., external The grandstand will be on the main straight, opposite the pit lane.
Isak to skip PFA awards
News Desk: Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is not expected to attend Tuesday night’s Professional Footballers’ Association’s awards gala. The Sweden international has been nominated for the main award but could miss the ceremony amid ongoing uncertainty over his future at St James’ Park. Isak is currently in the middle of a stand-off with Newcastle over his ambition to join Liverpool before the transfer deadline. Just over 24 hours before the awards, BBC Sport has learned Isak is yet to confirm his attendance at the function, which will be held at the Manchester Opera House, casting doubt over whether he plans to appear. Indeed, other sources have indicated that Isak – as things stand – is not planning on attending the event.
Top Quote
Alonso: I’m more about doing than talking. Making promises before you act doesn’t usually work in football. Just saying it is not going to make it happen
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is optimistic to make his La Liga debut
Side Quote
Kane: “I think you can see what he brings one-v-one on the wing. Really sharp, really agile. I think his biggest asset is he scores goals
Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane praises Luis Diaz after a gutsy performance against Stuttgart. Sky Sports
Purdue is No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 college basketball poll for the first time.
The Boilermakers earned 35 of 61 first-place votes to top Monday’s poll to begin the 2025-26 season. That put Matt Painter’s squad ahead of the two teams that played in last year’s NCAA title game, with runner-up Houston at No. 2 and reigning champion Florida at No. 3.
“We are obviously excited to get the season going and being ranked No. 1 in the preseason is a great indicator of what we feel this team can accomplish,” Painter said. “But the goal is to be No. 1 at the end of the year. We’re thrilled that people think this highly of our team, but there is a long ways to go and a lot of work to do to reach that goal in April.”
Purdue started a season ranked as high as No. 2 once before, in 1987-88 under Gene Keady.
It’s another milestone for Painter, the former Keady player who has built his own successful program that is still looking for its NCAA title breakthrough as he enters his 21st season. Purdue had never been ranked No. 1 in any AP poll before the 2021-22 season, which marked the first of three straight seasons in which the Boilermakers have reached the top. The last was during the 2023-24 season behind two-time AP national player of the year Zach Edey in a run all the way to the national title game.
The Boilermakers reached last year’s Sweet 16 before falling to Houston on a last-second basket, but return a first-team AP All-American in point guard Braden Smith, scoring leader Trey Kaufman-Renn (20.1) and veteran guard Fletcher Loyer.
The top tier
Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars earned 16 first-place votes to match the program’s best-ever preseason AP ranking after last year’s run to the final. The other No. 2 appearance was by the 1967-68 team led by Elvin Hayes.
Todd Golden’s Gators earned eight first-place votes to start this year with their highest preseason ranking since the last time they entered a year as reigning champions in 2006-07, the start of a run to a second straight title.
UConn was next at No. 4 and earned the remaining two first-place votes. St. John’s was fifth, with Rick Pitino’s Red Storm surpassing the program’s previous best ranking in a preseason AP poll (No. 7 in 1984-85).
Duke was next at No. 6, followed by Michigan, BYU — which landed the nation’s No. 1 recruit in A.J. Dybantsa — Kentucky and Texas Tech to round out the top 10.
Quick transitions
It hasn’t taken long for Pat Kelsey to get Louisville back among the national elite, with the Cardinals checking in at No. 11 after a 27-win season to start his tenure. The Cardinals were 12-52 in the two seasons before his arrival.
Louisville is one of five programs with a second-year coach in the preseason poll, joining Michigan, BYU, Kentucky and No. 14 Arkansas with John Calipari.
Jayhawks lower
Kansas checked in at No. 19, the lowest preseason rank for Bill Self’s Jayhawks since starting at No. 24 in the 2008-09 season as the reigning national champion. Kansas had been ranked outside the top 10 only once since that year (No. 13 in 2011-12) while starting at No. 1 in 2019-20 as well as each of the last two seasons in that stretch.
Pearl’s debut
Auburn opens at No. 20 as it enters its first season since the unexpected retirement of coach Bruce Pearl following last year’s Final Four run.
Pearl stepped aside last month after 11 seasons, triggering a transition to his 38-year-old son Steven, who climbed his father’s staff through the elder Pearl’s Auburn tenure but has never been a head coach nor coached elsewhere in college.
Conference watch
The Southeastern Conference, Big Ten and Big 12 each had six ranked teams to make up 72% of the field. The Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East were next with three each, while the West Coast Conference had one with No. 21 Gonzaga. The Big 12 was the only league of that group to have three top-10 teams.
Watch list
Will Wade’s arrival at NC State and subsequent roster shakeup has the Wolfpack as the first team outside the poll, sitting just three points behind 25th-ranked rival North Carolina from the ACC. Oregon is lurking close behind entering its 16th year under Dana Altman.
Week 7 gets underway with a matchup of AFC North rivals, as the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Cincinnati Bengals on “Thursday Night Football.”
Sunday’s slate begins with the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars meeting at Wembley Stadium in London, and the Indianapolis Colts visit the Los Angeles Chargers in the late afternoon window of games.
Monday features a doubleheader, leading off with Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions getting together in a battle of offensive juggernauts, and the night wraps up with the Houston Texans visiting the Seattle Seahawks.
It’s a bye week for a pair of teams, as the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens are off.
Here’s a look at the odds for every Week 7 game.
Odds as of publication time. For the most current odds, visit ESPN BET.
Jump to:
PIT-CIN | LAR-JAX | NO-CHI | LV-KC
MIA-CLE | PHI-MIN | CAR-NYJ | NE-TEN
NYG-DEN | IND-LAC | WSH-DAL | GB-ARI
ATL-SF | TB-DET | HOU-SEA |
Pittsburgh Steelers -5.5 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video
Money Line: Steelers (-260); Bengals (+215)
Total: 42.5; Opened: 42.5
FPI favorite: Steelers by 5.7 with a 65.6% probability to win the game outright
Los Angeles Rams -3.5 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, 9:30 a.m., NFL Net, NFL+
Money Line: Rams (-165); Jaguars (+140)
Total: 45.5; Opened: 45.5
FPI favorite: Rams by 3.3 with a 57.73% probability to win the game outright
New Orleans Saints vs. Chicago Bears -5.5
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
Money Line: Saints (+200); Bears (-240)
Total: 45.5; Opened: 45.5
FPI favorite: Bears by 6 with a 65.68% probability to win the game outright
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs -10.5
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Money Line: Raiders (+500); Chiefs (-800)
Total: 46.5; Opened: 45.5
FPI favorite: Chiefs by 12 with a 79.53% probability to win the game outright
Miami Dolphins vs. Cleveland Browns -2.5
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Money Line: Dolphins (+125); Browns (-145)
Total: 40.5; Opened: 40.5
FPI favorite: Dolphins by 0.6 with a 51.53% probability to win the game outright
Philadelphia Eagles -2.5 vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
Money Line: Eagles (-140); Vikings (+120)
Total: 42.5; Opened: 43.5
FPI favorite: Eagles by 2.9 with a 57.87% probability to win the game outright
Carolina Panthers -1.5 vs. New York Jets
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
Line movement: Opened Jets -1.5
Money Line: Panthers (-110); Jets (-110)
Total: 43.5; Opened: 44.5
FPI favorite: Panthers by 0.7 with a 52.8% probability to win the game outright
New England Patriots -7.5 vs. Tennessee Titans
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Money Line: Patriots (-320); Titans (+260)
Total: 42.5; Opened: 41.5
FPI favorite: Patriots by 6.4 with a 65.47% probability to win the game outright
New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos -6.5
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS
Money Line: Giants (+270); Broncos (-340)
Total: 40.5; Opened: 42.5
FPI favorite: Broncos by 6.2 with a 66.53% probability to win the game outright
Indianapolis Colts vs. Los Angeles Chargers -1.5
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS
Money Line: Colts (+100); Chargers (-120)
Total: 48.5; Opened: 48.5
FPI favorite: Chargers by 0.5 with a 51.53% probability to win the game outright
Washington Commanders -2.5 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Money Line: Commanders (-135); Cowboys (+115)
Total: 53.5; Opened: 53.5
FPI favorite: Commanders by 0.6 with a 50.5% probability to win the game outright
Green Bay Packers -6.5 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Money Line: Packers (-290); Cardinals (+240)
Total: 44.5; Opened: 43.5
FPI favorite: Packers by 4.4 with a 61.4% probability to win the game outright
Atlanta Falcons vs. San Francisco 49ers -3.5
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
Money Line: Falcons (+145); 49ers (-170)
Total: 45.5; Opened: 44.5
FPI favorite: 49ers by 5.4 with a 63.78% probability to win the game outright
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions -5.5
Sunday, 7 p.m., ABC
Money Line: Buccaneers (+195); Lions (-230)
Total: 52.5; Opened: 53.5
FPI favorite: Lions by 4.7 with a 61.93% probability to win the game outright
Houston Texans vs. Seattle Seahawks -3.5
Sunday, 10 p.m., ESPN
Money Line: Texans (+145); Seahawks (-170)
Total: 41.5; Opened: 42.5
FPI favorite: Seahawks by 0.6 with a 51.73% probability to win the game outright
Former Manchester United youth prospect Demetri Mitchell has claimed he used AI platform ChatGPT when negotiating his move to League one side Leyton Orient, saying that the software has been his “best agent to date.”
Mitchell began his career at Old Trafford, going on to make one league appearance for the club before spells at Hearts, Blackpool, Hibernian and Exeter City.
This summer, the 28-year-old left Exeter to join Orient on a free transfer and has said he navigated the move without an agent, a largely unprecedented move in professional football.
“They [Leyton Orient] sent me an offer, and I started using ChatGPT, asking it how to negotiate a deal, and what to say in it,” Mitchell said on the From My Left podcast.
“This is what I was on last season, moving to London, cost of living, missus is gonna move down with me, my little one. I did think I was worth a little bit more as well, but you don’t want to be like that, ‘Oh, yeah I think I should be worth an X amount.’
“And then, also because I didn’t use the agent, I get that [agent fee] as a signing-on fee. [An] agent might have got me a couple hundred pound more, because in these deals there’s not loads of money going on, it’s not big, big amounts.
“So the agent might have got me a couple hundred more, and then the percent that I would have to pay them, the difference, is going to be eaten up anyway.”
Mitchell also launched a wider critique on agents in football and said that the options for representation open to lower-league footballers leaves a lot to be desired.
“There’s three types of agents,” he said.
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“There’s the agent that works for an agency, who’s just getting a salary, then you got agent number two, who works for a big agency and they’re trying to sign young, up-and-coming prospects and then once you’re not one of them prospects anymore, they’re not interested.
“And then there’s agent number three, the one that’s got their own business, [that are] just money-hungry … So they just want to get moves anywhere and anywhere fast.
“When you’re in the lower leagues, it’s difficult to get a good agent, because that’s all you’ve got to work with.”
Mitchell has played for England youth teams ranging from the Under-16s to U20s and made the preliminary 60-man squad for Jamaica ahead of the 2025 Gold Cup.
He has made eight appearances at Brisbane Road this season but is yet to get his first goal for the club.
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