Club president responds emphatically to rumoured Liverpool targets request for summer transferOne reported Liverpool target is understood to have requested a transfer this summer, with his clubs president swiftly addressing the matter in public.Last month, Ben Jacobs claimed that the Reds will sign another forward in this window after securing Victor Munoz, with Matias Fernandez-Pardo of Lille said to be among the shortlist of candidates at Anfield.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ONAPPLE&GOOGLE PLAYNewcastle have also been credited with interest in the Belgium international, who played in each of his countrys group games at the World Cup, and the 21-year-old is reportedly keen to move on to pastures new.Reported Liverpool target requests summer transferAs reported byLEquipe, Fernandez-Pardo has asked to leave Lille this summer, having recently changed agents for the second time in two years.His new representatives met with Olivier Letang in recent days, but the Ligue 1 clubs president was adamant that the Liverpool-linked Belgian isnt for sale, insisting: The player is under contract until 2029, and his departure is not an issue. We are counting on him, he knows that, and we have been very clear with him.Arsenal, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are also interested in the attacker, who carries a reported price tag of 60m (Liverpool Echo).Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as apreferred source on Googleto your favourites list for news you can trustHed give Liverpool tremendous versatility in attackFernandez-Pardo is a versatile forward who plays chiefly as a number 9 but can easily adapt to either flank (Transfermarkt), and hed give Andoni Iraola a dependable option anywhere across the frontline.He ended last season with eight goals and seven assists in 41 games for Lille, and Sky Sport reporter Sacha Tavolieri has previously highlighted the 21-year-olds physical presence and clinical finishing.If Liverpool were to sign the Belgian, hed probably come in as a backup to Alexander Isak at centre-forward and Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha and Munoz on the wings. However, with the Reds set for another hectic campaign of juggling four competitions, each of those should see plenty of game-time so long as they stay fit.However, Letangs defiant stance on the forward would indicate that FSG would have to whip up an irresistible offer if theyre to lure Fernandez-Pardo to Anfield, especially with Lille striker Hamza Igamane still sidelined with a serious knee injury and Olivier Giroud turning 40 in September.For Richard Hughes, the decision to make is whether the Belgium international would be worth pursuing at any cost, or whether his time and effort would be better invested in transfer targets whose clubs might be more amenable to a summer sale.

Richard Hughes given chance to finally replace Trent Alexander-ArnoldTrent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool rather red-faced last summer. Even though a lot of the Reds' fanbase knew that the Englishman was going to exit Anfield, the fact that he left as a free agent was an appalling mistake from Richard Hughes.There's no way that things should have gone as far as they did and, even though Liverpool did eventually end up getting 10 million for his exit, the right-back was worth considerably more than that.Hughes and Arne Slot tried to rectify their mistake by signing Jeremie Frimpong to try and add some attacking prowess back to their first-team squad but, thanks to injuries, the Netherland's international didn't manage to find his stride.Due to Frimpong's lack of form and the number of injuries Conor Bradley suffered, Liverpool were even being linked with moves for a new right-back in January and, while it may have seemed a bit like overkill then, it's clear that someone new needs to be brought in this summer.That is, especially since nobody knows how long Bradley is actually expected to be out for.So, the fact that Liverpool have been handed a green light to sign a new right-back makes it feel like a move should be sanctioned as soon as possible.Feyenoord are lining up a replacement for Givairo Read in case he leaves this summerGivairo Read is one of the many right-backs who have been linked with Liverpool this summer.The Dutchman is only 20 years old but, his performances in the Eredivisie have caught the attention of most of the world's biggest football clubs.And, since the defender has only ever played in the top division of Dutch football, Feyenoord shouldn't really be able to demand a huge amount of money for him.However, with how inflated the market is at the moment, anything is possible but, thanks to a recent update from Sacha Tavolieri, it feels like Read could easily become Liverpool's next signing."EXCL- Feyenoord Rotterdam have identified Davis Opoku as one of the leading options to replace Givairo Read if the Dutch right-back leaves the club this summer," he wrote."The OH Leuven talent is highly rated internally in Rotterdam."More to follow."Liverpool need to get their act together and start signing new players soonSlot's performance as Liverpool's manager last season was appalling.The Dutchman led the Reds to one of the worst title defence's in recent memory with almost every game feeling like a chore for fans.No matter who Slot chose to play or how he chose to line his team up, nothing was working which led to almost every team they played against getting the better of them.Of course, the number of injuries that Liverpool suffered needs to be taken into account but, a team of the Reds' quality should have enough strength within the depth of their squad to outperform most of the Premier League's teams.That was certainly not the case last term and, if Andoni Iraola doesn't massively improve the performances of his men this term, he could end up in an even worse position.Only Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet have been added to Liverpool's first-team squad this season and, even though each of them are impressive additions, it's clear that the Reds need more than that to start challenging for the title again.If Liverpool don't start signing players soon, some serious questions will need to be asked.

Fifa has caused uproar by announcing plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investment, with its intention to create a private company to manage the commercial rights and delivery of the World Cup. Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), which Fifa says it will own and control, would oversee the sale of commercial rights and the operational delivery of the World Cup and its other tournaments.Private investors will be sought to make minority, non-controlling investments in the company, while the governing body also said its member nations would be able to access $20m (15m) in one-off capital. Fifa said the proposal would require the approval of its national member associations (MAs) and the Fifa Council, but has not yet given any indication on when any votes might take place.What will this mean?Fifas media release confirming the proposal was heavily focused on the increased development funding, for stadium projects and so on, that would flow to MAs if the plan was approved, highlighting an expected increase from $8m (6m) per MA to $20m (15m) between 2027 and 2030 alone, rising to $24m for the 2035 to 2038 cycle.Fifas release also talked about an exceptional and immediate tranche of up to $20m of funding available per association from the Fifa Fast Forward Programme (FFFP) as part of FFE. It said participation in FFFP would be entirely voluntary, but that this additional funding would be financed by an initial capital raise of $4.2bn, achieved from investors buying minority stakes.Fifa president Gianni Infantino said on Tuesday this proposal was about the democratisation of football worldwide.The financial incentive to back the proposal, particularly for the less wealthy MAs, will be huge but there are already concerns that in this model, private investors will seek ever greater returns which could lead to pressure being put on FIfa to increase the size and frequency of its competitions and increasingly make decisions based on financial rather than sporting considerations.Josh Kushner has been in talks about becoming lead investor (Reuters)The investor group for FFE is set to be led by Thrive Eternal, founded earlier this year by Joshua Kushner the brother of US president Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner. That has already led to accusations from Democrat Congressman Jamie Raskin that Fifa is going into business with the Trump family.Raskin is the ranking member on the US House Judiciary Committee, which on Monday called Infantino before it to answer allegations Fifa had been involved in a sustained campaign to secure special favours from President Trump.What has the reaction been?Uefa is believed to have known precious little about the plans until reports first emerged in The Times and the Financial Times on Tuesday afternoon, but issued a furious statement saying the move crossed a line. The statement added: Uefa takes it extremely seriously. So should every national football association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game. The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not Fifas to sell.A spokeswoman for the Football Association said on Wednesday that it was deeply concerned about the plan. The FA said: We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is, and what conditions are attached. Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved. When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by Fifa, we will make our views clear, and comment further. "Uefa and Andy Burnham have slammed the new proposal (PA Wire)Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter, whose tenure ended amid the 2015 corruption scandal, wrote on X: The close relationship between the Fifa President and the US President has reached a financial dimension that is deeply damaging football. No one has the right to sell our game. The UKs new prime minister Andy Burnham also took to X to voice his opposition to the move, writing: Let me say this very directly. Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine.The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone's to sell. Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will.What happens now?Relations between Uefa and Fifa were already under severe strain before this. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin did not attend the World Cup final earlier this month in protest at a series of Fifa governance issues, including its handling of the Folarin Balogun case. This is on another level entirely, though.It is early days but it already feels as though this issue has the potential to cause a split between Europe and the rest of Fifa, and to have as dramatic an impact on the football landscape as the European Super League scandal. According to the BBC, the 55 member nations of Uefa are set to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the plan later this week, where it is possible talks of a boycott could be raised.

Curt Cignetti loathes wasting time, so lets get straight to the point.Folks, no next Indiana looms on the horizon. Theres just Indiana.Within the college football ecosystem, the pundits reheated an old topic from last summer, debating which program is poised to make an Indiana-esque rise from the trash heap to the top of the heap.If the options for summertime college football banter are trying to unearth the next Indiana or scrutinizing the foot care of Floridas coach yes, thats actually a topic under debate then I choose the former.Toppmeyer: Dabo Swinney sounds like Hugh Freeze. That's not a compliment Hayes: No one wanted Bill Belichick before UNC called. Disaster was inevitableBut, the boring truth is no program seems imminently poised to replicate the jesters-to-heroes turnaround the Hoosiers pulled off. Asking who's the next Indiana, as if an answer exists, ignores the marvelous rarity of the Hoosiers' outhouse-to-penthouse plot twist.Could UCLA be on the upswing? Sure. Bob Chesney looks like a good hire. He kept James Madison humming after Cignetti left, and hes recruiting well at UCLA.Does Kentucky suddenly have reason for hope? Indeed. Rookie coach Will Stein signed a nice transfer class, and he boasts a track record for quarterback development. Kentucky will become a winner because of me, to be honest, Stein told reporters recently. Thats Cignetti-level bravado, even if he lacks Cignettis head coaching resume.Count Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State among programs with new coaches that should experience an uptick.But, neither UCLA nor Kentucky nor any other woebegone program is on the verge of going 27-2 in two seasons, like Indiana did out of the chute with Cignetti at the wheel and the nations largest living alumni base at his sails.So, while were busy mulling whos the next Indiana, heres a more relevant question:Can the Hoosiers repeat as national champions?Answer: The Hoosiers have a much better chance at repeating than Kentucky does of becoming the next Indiana.Indiana football is still stacked, making a repeat possibleIf Indianas jersey said Ohio State or Alabama or the name of some other blue blood on the front, the Hoosiers would be garnering more serious consideration for the No. 1 ranking in the preseason polls.They wont be No. 1, because I detect at least a hint of lingering skepticism about Indianas staying power, despite all evidence indicating theyre built to last at least so long as Cignetti is in charge and the donors stay engaged.The Hoosiers sent eight players to the NFL Draft after going 16-0, but they remain loaded. How loaded? Recently, when I cast my preseason all-Big Ten ballot, I wrote down the names of more Hoosiers than Buckeyes or Ducks.When the ballots were tabulated, Indiana finished with seven selections on our USA TODAY preseason all-Big Ten lineup, matching Oregon's haul and outpacing Ohio State's four selections. The Hoosiers defense looks stacked. The offensive line remains robust. Transfer wide receiver Nick Marsh and running back Turbo Richard (good player, great name) addressed skill-position needs.The key question: How big will the dropoff be from Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza to TCU transfer Josh Hoover?Big Ten armed with three national title contendersDont misinterpret my bullishness on Indiana as a knock on Ohio State or Oregon. Fact is, the Big Ten features three bona fide national championship contenders. (I wonder whether the SEC could say the same.)If youre picking Ohio State or Oregon to win the conference, I get it. Both feature top-of-the-line starting quarterbacks whove proven themselves inside the Big Ten. Jeremiah Smith and Bo Jackson join Julian Sayin to give Ohio State three Heisman hopefuls. Oregons defensive line could be second to none, just as Indianas linebackers could be second to none.There remains a big three in the Big Ten for 2026, and it doesnt include Michigan.Its Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon.Or, its Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State.Or, its Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana.We can debate the order, but those three form the Big Ten's Cerberus. The more I examine the Hoosiers, the more I think their teeth could be sharpest.I like the guys weve got in the locker room, Cignetti told ESPN recently. Weve been successful every year in the past, and I dont see any reason why we cant be successful every year in the future.I dont either.Why go somewhere else? Cignetti mused aloud.He already answered that question. Theres no reason to go anywhere else.Cignetti answered another question, too. Last year, when we asked whos the next Indiana, Cignetti and his Hoosiers showed there is no next Indiana, theres just Indiana. That's still true.Blake Toppmeyeris the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Email him atBToppmeyer@gannett.comand follow him on X@btoppmeyer.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why can't Indiana football get some respect? That's the real question

  Semiconductor High Clean Application Materials Market Insights Global Semiconductor High Clean Application Materials market size was valued at USD 3,150 million in 2025 and is forecasted to reach USD 5,797 million by 2034, reflecting a robust CAGR of 9.2% over the forecast horizon. The rapid expansion is driven by the relentless push of semiconductor manufacturers toward sub‑10 nm...

  According to the latest report published by Data Bridge Market Research, the Packaged Soy Chunks Market  CAGR Value The global packaged soy chunks market size was valued at USD 770.15 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1,181.93 million by 2032, at a CAGR of 5.50% during the forecast period Packaged Soy Chunks Market is...

Lab-in-a-Box (Portable Diagnostic Labs) Market  According to the latest report published by Data Bridge Market Research, the Lab-in-a-Box (Portable Diagnostic Labs) Market Lab-in-a-Box (Portable Diagnostic Labs) market size was valued at USD 411.64 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1,349.52 million by 2032, at a CAGR of 16.00% during...

Learn how a closed-loop referral process works, its key steps, benefits, and best practices for healthcare organizations. Discover how referral tracking and outcome verification improve care coordination and reduce referral leakage.

Growing investments in energy-efficient infrastructure are driving the expansion of the superconducting wire market. Governments and utility companies are upgrading aging power grids to improve transmission efficiency, reduce energy losses, and support the integration of renewable energy sources. Rising electricity consumption and increasing demand for reliable, high-capacity power networks are...

In the rapidly evolving landscape of data analytics, the Graph Analytics Market stands out with its exceptional growth trajectory. Projected to grow from USD 4.029 billion in 2024 to a staggering USD 23.68 billion by 2035, the market is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.47%. This remarkable expansion is not merely a trend; it reflects the underlying shifts in...