Kai Rooney, Jacey Carrick Among 15 United Scholars as Carrick Attends Signing DayManchester United have confirmed 15 youngsters have signed first-year scholarship contracts with the club, with newly installed head coach Michael Carrick among those present at the ceremony marking the occasion an event that underlined both the weight the club still places on its academy and the tone Carrick intends to set from the outset.The headline names are Kai Rooney and Jacey Carrick two players whose surnames carry obvious weight at Old Trafford. Kai was pictured with his father Wayne, Uniteds record goalscorer, at the signing ceremony. The pair had already attracted attention after posting pictures together on social media over the weekend, photographs taken when their dads were still playing for the club.Kai Rooney interacts with supporters while wearing the Manchester United home kit.Michael Carrick was also photographed alongside another of the new intake: Gazimagamed Ibragimov, younger brother of Amir, who started last seasons FA Youth Cup final defeat against Manchester City before going on to earn a senior international cap for Russia. The family connection to the clubs academy pathway gives Gazik a useful frame of reference few teenagers in the Professional Development Phase can claim.A Proud Academy TraditionAccording to BBC Sport journalist Simon Stone, the event was the first of its kind since Stephen Torpey took over as academy director. Torpey addressed the occasion directly, saying he feels privileged to carry forward the role as the next custodian of the clubs academy. Former United and England defender Wes Brown also spoke at the event.Edson de Jonge-Seiros adds another chapter to Fletcher Moss Rangers long-standing pipeline into Uniteds academy system a tradition that produced Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford, among others. The Didsbury clubs ability to keep placing players into Uniteds pathway is a story worth tracking in its own right.The broader context matters here. A homegrown player has featured in every United matchday squad since October 1937, and twelve former academy graduates were named in squads for eight different countries at this summers World Cup. Those numbers are not accidental they reflect a sustained structural commitment that the club has maintained across successive eras of leadership.All 15 Head to GermanyThe full cohort of new scholars Jaume Camacho Sidos, Jacey Carrick, Edson de Jonge-Seiros, Harley Emsden-James, Idris Fabiyi, Jake Ford, Gazimagamed Ibragimov, Connor Laurie, Harlem McLaughlin, Camron Mpofu, Jodie Nganga, Samuel OBrien, Kai Rooney, Pharell Silvester, and Emmanuel Ziro are now part of a Professional Development Phase squad trip to Germany.Manchester United academy players training at the Carrington facility.Carricks presence at the ceremony was not ceremonial padding. The newly installed head coach chose to attend and be photographed with the incoming scholars, a gesture that reflects the importance the club continues to place on its academy at the highest level.Whether any of the new intake follow the path of their fathers or, in the Ibragimov case, their older brother to senior football at Old Trafford is a question years in the making. For now, the scholarships are signed, the coach was watching, and the squad heads to Germany for the next stage of their development.

Havertz says Premier League title is just the start as he sets Arsenal targets for new seasonKai Havertz has set Arsenal the challenge of reaching another level after insisting the Premier League champions cannot afford to stand still if they are to build on last seasons title triumph.Havertz marked his return from Germanys World Cup campaign by scoring the opening goal in Arsenals 4-1 pre-season victory over Girona, making an immediate impact after just three weeks away from the club.The striker admitted he was buzzing to get back with Mikel Artetas squad and believes the hunger inside the dressing room remains as strong as ever despite finally ending the clubs long wait for the Premier League title.I think we can, or we have to go further, said Havertz. You see especially other teams getting better, so we have to step up another level again. I think thats what were all here for, thats what we train for.We want to start strong and reach our goals this season again.That ambition is already being reflected in Arsenals activity away from the pitch. The club continue to pursue Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior in what would be one of the biggest transfers in football, while Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is also a major target and could arrive before Arsenal face Real Betis in Dublin later this week.Rather than seeing potential arrivals as a threat, Havertzs message was that competition is exactly what elite clubs need if they are to keep winning.Arsenal have already strengthened one area of the squad with the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres, and Havertz believes the Sweden international has quickly established himself among the worlds elite forwards.I think its quite natural, to be fair, Havertz said of their growing understanding. Hes easy to play with because I know which runs he wants or where he wants the pass.Ive been on that striker position a lot of times as well, so I understand him quite well. We have a top connection on and off the pitch, so that helps as well.I think hes one of the best strikers in the world and playing with him is very easy.The chemistry throughout the squad, according to Havertz, extends well beyond matchdays.I feel like were all fitting very well together, he added. You feel the chemistry in the team, not only on the pitch but also off the pitch. The way we spend time together in the hotel and away from football is amazing. We have a good connection all together and want to start the season very strong.That togetherness was also evident in Girona as several academy players featured prominently after the break, with Havertz praising the impact made by youngsters including Max Dowman.The young players especially were very good, he said. You see how they fit into the team and how theyre doing during the week is amazing. Were all very happy to have them here.While Arsenal are now champions, Havertz insists there is no sense of satisfaction within the squad.Asked whether European glory now represents the next frontier, the German made it clear Artetas side are chasing everything.We want all the trophies, he said. Thats what were here for. We won the Premier League now but theres a lot more that we can do.We have to reach another level to make that happen because we know how long the season is and how hard it is to go through all the competitions. We want to do it better again this year and make things happen again.

Pirates reportedly discussing trades for Angels, Orioles righty-hitting outfielders originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Camilo Doval in a deal with the New York Yankees on Saturday in one of the first big moves ahead of the MLB trade deadline on Monday, August 3.Even after adding Doval, the Pirates are expected to be in pursuit of more reliever help. But, bullpen help isn't all that the Pirates are reportedly in trade discussions for.According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Pirates are having trade discussions with multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles, in pursuit of aright-handed hitting outfielder.Pirates in trade talks over righty-hitting outfielders"The Pittsburgh Pirates remain active in their pursuit of upgrades, talking not just about bullpen possibilities, but also a right-handed hitting outfielder, according to a person briefed on their talks," Rosenthal and Sammon report.While the Pirates' offense is one of the best in the Major Leagues, with a real chance to go on a deep postseason run, the Pirates are looking to further upgrade the team this summer with an outfield addition.Rosenthal and Sammon highlighted two outfielders the team is reportedly having trade discussions over: Orioles' Taylor Ward and Angels' Jo Adell.Ward is a 32-year-old outfielder who is a free agent after the 2026 MLB season. He has 2.4 bWAR this season with seven home runs and a .245 batting average, but an AL-best 87 walks with a .729 OPS.MORE:Cubs predicted to trade for Mets Clay Holmes by deadlineAdell, on the other hand, is a bit younger at 27 years old and is under club control for the 2027 season. However, the Angels outfielder has just 0.1 bWAR this season with 16 home runs, a .240 batting average, and a .684 OPS with 107 strikeouts to just 15 walks.These are two very different outfielders, but both are among the best right-handed hitters available for trade this summer.The Pirates are reportedly in pursuit of righty-sluggers for their outfield, and these two are likely to be among their top options if Ben Cherington does end up acquiring help for the outfield.Pirates fans should now keep an eye out for any rumors on righty-hitting outfielders, as their favorite team is reportedly in pursuit of such players ahead of this year's deadline.More MLB news:Mets have no plan to offer contract extension to Freddy Peralta amid trade rumorsPhillies intrigued by Blue Jays trade idea for Jeff Hoffman and Daulton VarshoAstros among teams calling Giants about Logan Webbs trade availabilityYankees linked to Padres for potential rotation for bullpen swapDiamondbacks linked to Nationals Luis Garcia Jr. as perfect trade fit

The New York Giants completed the first week of their 2026 training camp on Saturday and first-year head coach sat down with the NFL Network crew afterward to provide his thoughts on the four practices at the historic Greenbrier resort."Look around, what a beautiful setting," An upbeat Harbaugh told Mike Garafolo and Brian Baldinger. "All these mountains surrounding us. Nowhere to hide. We appreciate it. It's been great. The people here, people in West Virginia, have been phenomenal. Everybody working here has been amazing. It's a beautiful place. The Greenbrier is a great spot, so it's all football all the time for us right now."Watching this interview with John Harbaugh could save your life. Seriously.That, and some football talk, as the #Giants HC joins @BaldyNFL and me on #BackTogetherWeekend on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/JFVi7Y2Bue Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 1, 2026Week 1 went off without a hitch and much progress was made, but Harbaugh said that most of the real work is still ahead."Week 2 is the toughest week of training camp, I think, for everybody around the league," he said. "I mean, you try to get through your first 10, 12 days. That's where kind of most of the work is done. So the pads come on Monday and it's got to be a challenging part of camp. These guys are up for it. They're ready to go. Great shape. They came back in great shape as a team. And, you know, as a coach, you're always happy to see that."The Giants' roster is going through a bit of upheaval. The team looks bigger, because they are. Harbaugh is trying to instill a physical style to a team that has, well, gotten pushed around in recent years. "It's a big man's game. It's a strong man's game, but it's a fast man's game too," Harbaugh said. "It's about execution. It's about a lot of things. I mean, there's smaller guys by stature that play really big because of their game... I read a book way back when I was just starting out in coaching by Bill Parcells, and I'll never forget one of the lines was he said football is a big man's game and I never forgot it. And now we have tried to build big teams if we could."Not only is the team changing physically, but mentally as well. The whole attitude and culture has gone through an upheaval."We're learning about what exactly we're going to do, how we're going to do it," Harbaugh explained. "We want to do the fundamental things really well. We want to be a physical team. We want to be a sound team. We want to play really hard. We want to cause people trouble. With our X's and O's."But more than anything, we want to play -- we'll play good football. We want to play the kind of football that people watch, they'll be proud of, winning type football. Everybody knows what that means. It's hard to do."It's easy to say. You got to work at it and you got to really be connected. You got to be on the same page. You got to be thinking alike when the bullets start to fly in games and things happen that you don't expect. How are we going to respond together?"Do we understand what the intent of the play is or what the intent of this, of the series is or whatever it is. We just try as much as we can to be thinking alike, to have a shared vision."That speech was done ad-lib and without hesitation. It's no wonder the Giants wrote a $100 million check to Harbaugh to take over their floundering franchise.This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: John Harbaugh reflects on New York Giants' first week of training camp

With Tarik Skubal off the board, the second wave of trade-deadline targets is likely to be dealt next. Among the top position players on the trade market is Giants second baseman Luis Arrez, who is having a strong season in the National League West and is drawing interest from multiple contenders. According to Jon Heyman, the Rays, Rangers and Phillies have all checked in with San Francisco about Arrez. The Red Sox, Yankees, Guardians and Padres (one of Arrez's former teams) have also inquired about him, according to Francys Romero. It makes sense that the former batting champion is drawing interest from multiple teams, and it also seems extremely likely that he will be traded. He is set to become a free agent after the season, having signed a one-year deal with the Giants before this season. In 2024 and 2025 combined, Arrez accounted for just 2.5 WAR, according to Baseball Reference. While he still hit higher than .300 over those two seasons, his OPS was .729, well below his career mark of .780, entering play on Sunday. This season, Arrez has accounted for 3.2 WAR in San Francisco, hitting .328 with an .810 OPS. Another appealing part of Arrez is that he can play either first or second base. As Heyman noted today, though, that might be what's keeping the Yankees from really pursuing him, as neither of those positions is a huge need for them. The Giants are looking to sell at the deadline, but they are having trouble doing so with some of their bigger names because of the money that is owed to them in the future. While Arrez is on an expiring deal, shortstop Willy Adames is under contract for another five years after this year and first baseman Rafael Devers has seven years left on his deal after this season. With Skubal off the board and only 10 teams more than three games out of a playoff spot entering play on Sunday, the hot stove will be sizzling on Sunday and Monday. Arrez is one of the names drawing the most interest and one of the bigger certainties to be traded.

ATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Braves placed right-hander Reynaldo Lpez on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation on Sunday.The Braves recalled right-hander JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals.The move with Lpez was expected after he was scratched before Saturday night's scheduled start against the Nationals. Lpez was warming up in the bullpen when he experienced discomfort in the knee.Fill-in starter Martn Prez held Washington hitless until the seventh inning of the Braves' 8-3 win.Ritchie is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 13 games, including seven starts, with Atlanta.The loss of Lpez (3-1, 3.79) adds more urgency to the Braves' expected search for rotation help before Monday's trade deadline. Lpez threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings in Atlanta's 3-2 win in 10 innings at Baltimore on July 26 in his last start. Lpez made 11 starts while pitching in relief in 13 games this season. The move to the injured list was made retroactive to Thursday.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The Phoenix Mercury just swung a trade for five-time all-star Kelsey Plum in a desperate effort to make up a six-game deficit in the playoff race with 14 games left to play.Whether or not they end the season where they want to, Plum most definitely gives the team an upgrade at point guard, adding another bonafide scorer and playmaker to a starting lineup that already boasts three other current or former all-stars.That includes fellow 2026 all-star Kahleah Copper, and Alyssa Thomas, who has finished top-five in MVP voting each of the last four seasons. Here's how the rest of Phoenix's new lineup looks.PG: Kelsey PlumBackup: Sami WhitcombSG: Kahleah CopperBackup: Lexi HeldSF: Nomie BrochantBackup: Valerie AyayiPF: Alyssa ThomasBackup: Natasha MackC: DeWanna BonnerBackup: Natasha MackThis article originally appeared on For The Win: Phoenix Mercury starting lineup and depth chart after Kelsey Plum trade

The Detroit Tigers traded star pitcher Tarik Skubal on Saturday and the SeaWolves could benefit from the deal.The August 1 trade sent Skubal, a former SeaWolves pitcher, to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder Zyhir Hope, pitcher River Ryan and pitcher Brady Smith. All three minor leaguers are in the top 17 prospects in the Dodgers organization according to MLB.com.More: SeaWolves manager Tony Cappuccilli discusses win, playoff raceMore: Former SeaWolves star Max Clark promoted to the Detroit TigersRyan, the No. 7 prospect, is a pitcher out of Division II UNC Pembroke and has been mostly in Triple-A the last few years. He will likely head to Triple-A Toledo, but Hope has been officially assigned to the SeaWolves.Hope, 21, was the No. 5 prospect for the Dodgers. He was picked by the Cubs in the 11th round of the 2023 draft out of Colonial Forge High School in Virginia. Last year, he was traded to the Dodgers for Michael Busch and Yency Almonte.Hope was hitting .293 with 17 doubles, 23 home runs and 87 RBIs in 94 games in Double-A Tulsa before the trade.Smith, 21, has been in High-A Great Lakes for the past few weeks and could arrive in Erie later this year or in 2027. He was the Dodgers' third-round pick in the 2023 draft out of Grainger High School in Tennessee.With Hope coming to Erie, the Tigers promoted former WPIAL star Joey Campagna to Triple-A Toledo.Contact Tom Reisenweber attreisenweber@timesnews.com. Follow him on X@ETNreisenweber.This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Dodgers Top 5 prospect Zyhir Hope headed to Erie in Tarik Skubal trade

Pirates reportedly in active trade talks with Mets amid likely interest in five players originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Pittsburgh Pirates have already shown a willingness to add talent at this year's trade deadline, pursuing help for their bullpen by trading with the New York Yankees for Camilo Doval.But that move is not likely to be their last. It should come as little surprise that they're in active talks with other clubs about bullpen help. They also now have a right-handed hitting outfielder on their list of targets this summer as well.A day before the deadline, Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Pirates are in active trade talks with the New York Mets, as five players would make sense for Pittsburgh to acquire from the Mets this summer.Pirates in trade talks with Mets amid likely interest in five players"The Pirates are also talking to the New York Mets about their relievers, sources said," Rosnethal and Sammon report. "Righty Luke Weaver is a known target, and righty Huascar Brazoban and lefty Brooks Raley also are available. The Mets also have two right-handed hitting outfielders they are willing to trade, Luis Robert Jr. and Tyrone Taylor."Pittsburgh's interest in bullpen help makes a ton of sense, and for the Pirates, it's clear that the Mets would be a good trade partner.Luke Weaver might be the best reliever available at this year's deadline, as he has a 1.88 ERA this season for the Mets and is under contract through the 2027 season.Raley wouldn't be bad either, as a lefty reliever with a 2.01 ERA in his age 38 season.MORE:Cubs predicted to trade for Mets Clay Holmes by deadlineBrazoban is under club control well beyond 2026, and he has a 2.61 ERA. He is already 36 years old, so there is some long-term concern, but he's someone worth adding to help the bullpen this season without splurging on a top option.Those three relievers make sense, but the mention of Robert and Taylor as trade options is intriguing. Robert has a .195 batting average this season and a .613 OPS in 34 games, and is not a very appealing trade target with his $20 million prorated salary being a hindrance.Taylor, like Robert, is a rental, but he is a lot cheaper and has been a lot better this year. He has a .241 batting average with 10 home runs and a .793 OPS this season.The Pirates and Mets connection is one to monitor, as the two sides would make for a good match at this year's deadline to fill both of Pittsburgh's top needs in their bullpen and a right-handed hitting outfielder.More MLB news:Mets have no plan to offer contract extension to Freddy Peralta amid trade rumorsPhillies intrigued by Blue Jays trade idea for Jeff Hoffman and Daulton VarshoAstros among teams calling Giants about Logan Webbs trade availabilityYankees linked to Padres for potential rotation for bullpen swapDiamondbacks linked to Nationals Luis Garcia Jr. as perfect trade fit

As the 2026-27 Premier League season is rapidly approaching, there are some talented youngsters set for breakout campaigns. We are talking about some teenagers with serious talent who are about to be given big roles on huge clubs. Here's a look at four players under the age of 20 who are set to shine this upcoming season. Rio Ngumoha - Liverpool The 17-year-old already contributed plenty off the bench for Liverpool last season and he's had a fine preseason for new Reds boss Andoni Iraola. With Mohamed Salah's spot on the right up for grabs, and Ngumoha able to play on either wing, this is a huge chance for him to become a regular starter. His dribbling ability, direct running and calmness around the box when cutting inside mean he's similar to Salah and Iraola loves his energy. Ngumoha has everything to become a star. Max Dowman - ArsenalLike Ngumoha, there were plenty of minutes off the bench for Max Dowman, still just 16, last season as Arsenal won the Premier League. He's looked sharp, quick and so good on the ball in preseason and you can understand why everyone believes he's the next big talent in English football. Expect Dowman to start plenty of Premier League games in Champions League weeks as he is ready to take the step up and play more minutes. His creativity and direct running will be perfect off the bench late in games when teams tire against Arsenal's intensity. Estevao - ChelseaObviously he's super talented but the 19-year-old had a tough end to last season with his injury and then being ruled out of Brazil's World Cup squad. Estevao is up and running in preseason and new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso is known to rely heavily on his wingers being involved throughout the game and cutting inside and given the freedom to roam. That suits Estevao perfectly and his calmness in the box is already clear for everyone to see. Shea Lacey - Manchester UnitedThere are plenty of talented youngsters coming through at United under Michael Carrick with 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, the Fletcher brothers, Ayden Heaven and Harry Amass just a few of the young talents ready to shine. But Shea Lacey, 19, looks set for plenty of minutes this season as United are back in the UEFA Champions League. He is a playmaker who can step in and take some of the burden off Bruno Fernandes and Lacey has had a great preseason. Expect plenty of United's youngsters to get big minutes this season as Carrick rotates his squad.