Sport (Page 125)

CRYSTAL PALACE have confirmed the signing of Cheick Doucoure on a five-year deal. The midfielder, 22, joined the Eagles in an £18million transfer from Ligue 1 side Lens, but add-ons could take the total cost up to £21m. 1 Doucoure has signed a five-year deal with Crystal PalaceCredit: https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-sign-midfielder-cheick-doucoure-from-lens/20 Upon his arrival, he told the club’s official website: “I’m very happy, I feel a lot of joy and a lot of pride to be a Palace player. “I’m proud to be at Palace today.” Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish added: “Cheick’s arrival is yet another statement of intent, demonstrating our ambition to further improve the squad this summer. “We are extremely confident that Cheick will adapt seamlessly to the rigoursContinue Reading

A WIMBLEDON final featuring Nick Kyrgios was never going to be a quiet, civilised affair.  The controversial Aussie firebrand ranted and raved and F-bombed his way to defeat – the eight-year-old future king Prince George treated to some choice language, the BBC apologising and everyone else trying to pretend it wasn’t magnificent fun.  5 Novak Djokovic roared his way to a seventh Wimbledon titleCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun 5 Nick Kyrgios took the opening set but unravelled as the match wore onCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun Novak Djokovic survived a first-set shellacking to clinch his fourth straight Wimbledon title, his seventh in total and his 22nd Grand Slam in all, with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 victory.  AndContinue Reading

DEREK CHISORA called out Deontay Wilder in a bid to add the American to his ever-improving boxing record. The heavyweight veteran made the brave challenge after he overcame Kubrat Pulev in their epic rematch. 3 Derek Chisora after beating Kubrat Pulev in their rematchCredit: Reuters 3 Deontay Wilder was called out by Derek ChisoraCredit: Reuters Chisora, 38, had not won in his last three bouts, having last celebrated victory in 2019. He said: “I last won a fight three years ago… “I’m happy today but at the same time I’m sad. I don’t have many left in me but what I do have I will give my all to you guys. “I don’t have many left, so my next coupleContinue Reading

TEMPLEGATE takes on Sunday’s jumping action confident of a few winners. Read on for all our man’s tips and back his selections by clicking on their odds. GLENDRUID (4.21 Stratford, nap) He showed promise on his chasing debut when second at Market Rasen. He was coming back from 10 months off so should be fitter too and the handicapper has given him a welcome little nudge down the weights. KEEPTHEFAITHINME (2.55 Perth, nb) He had 13 lengths in hand when scooting in here last week. He’s got more lead in the saddle today but has scope for plenty of improvement. FISTON DU MOU (2.20 Perth, treble) He has a win and two places from his three runs since joining trainerContinue Reading

ARSENAL are ‘pushing hard’ to sign Lyon’s Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta. That’s the claim from Media Foot – despite the Gunners hovering ever closer to Leicester’s Youri Tielemans. 1 Lucas Paqueta is rated a prime target to fill Arsenal’s problem midfield spotCredit: Getty Lyon are reportedly expecting to ‘soon receive an offer’ for 33-cap Paqueta. The ex-AC Milan star, 24, is said to have rejected moves to several other clubs.  And it’s understood Arsenal’s priority is to persuade Paqueta they are the right team for him – BEFORE they make a firm offer to his Ligue 1 side. Emirates boss Mikel Arteta is prioritising at least one new top-class midfielder, plus a wideman. FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS BelgiumContinue Reading

‘Always a choice’ Q. Was there one point yesterday where it was really bad, where you aggravated it? Was it just building up and the pain got bad? Was there a certain point that you reached or served hard or anything? RAFAEL NADAL: It’s difficult to say. I [got] this feeling on abdominal last week, but for some moments were worse, some moments little bit better. But yesterday in the game that I was serving 3-1 to 3-2, I think was the moment that I start to feel things were going worst. Then serving, if I was not wrong, 4-3 the thing starts to be much worst. I found a way more or less to even slowing down the speed andContinue Reading

BRITAIN’S oldest professional jockey landed a £50,000 winner after thrashing rivals half his age. Jimmy Quinn, 55, was unstoppable on 16-1 shot Lethal Levi in the bet365 handicap over six furlongs at Newmarket on Thursday. 1 Britain’s oldest professional jockey Jimmy Quinn hammered rivals half his age with a brilliant win at NewmarketCredit: Getty Quinn, who rode his first winner in 1985, was not for catching in the seemingly competitive heat. He had the likes of champion jockey elect William Buick, 33, and globe-trotting superstar Hollie Doyle, 25, in behind. But this was a real case of age before beauty as Quinn showed them all how it’s done with a clean set of hooves. And even though he is nowContinue Reading

EMMA RADUCANU has been advised to speak with retired Maria Sharapova about combing tennis shots with photoshoots. Since that epic US Open win last September, Raducanu has been inundated with blue-chip companies wanting her to advertise their products. 4 Emma Raducanu has landed a long list of sponsors since her US Open winCredit: Getty 4 Maria Sharapova combined a tennis career with a modelling oneCredit: Getty In total, the 19-year-old has NINE sponsorship deals but this has attracted criticism as her tennis has dipped in 2022. Raducanu’s agent is IMG head honcho Max Eisenbud, who has experience of marketing Russian Sharapova in a global superstar after she won Wimbledon aged 17 in 2004. Marion Bartoli, who won Wimbledon in 2013,Continue Reading

Lisandro Martinez bidding war Manchester United are confident of beating Arsenal to signing Lisandro Martinez after meeting with Ajax chiefs. United have reportedly tabled a fee just shy of £40m for Martinez. The Dutch champs’ new director of football Klaas-Jan Huntelaar travelled to London on Saturday to meet with United reps, according to the Mirror. And after talks with Huntelaar, the Red Devils are said to be confident of beating the Gunners in the race to sign the centre-back. The Manchester giants have made a bid worth an initial £35.3m, with a further £4.3m available in add-ons. The total package works out at £39.6m, with the Amsterdam giants reportedly valuing the Argentina international at £43m. Martinez would rather reunite withContinue Reading

NOVAK DJOKOVIC is still on course for a fourth consecutive Wimbledon title – just. The Serbian world No3 eventually beat Jannik Sinner 5-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 in the quarter-finals. 3 Novak Djokovic was in a super battle with Jannik Sinner on Centre CourtCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun The four-time reigning champion last tasted defeat at the All England Club in the same round of 2017 when he retired hurt. He fell two sets down today against Sinner on Centre Court in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. And the impressive young Italian looked to be on his way towards a memorable shock victory. But Djokovic showed his mental strength once more to fight back into theContinue Reading