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Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesNBA superstar Kawhi Leonard was seen enjoying Naomi Osakas game at the National Bank Open in Toronto.Leonards current NBA team is unclear, as hes still technically a member of the LA Clippers but is expected to be traded to the Toronto Raptors.While the trade remains stuck because of the NBAs camp-circumvention investigation into Leonard and the Clippers, Kawhi is enjoying life in Toronto already.Kawhi Leonard was watching from the front row during Naomi Osakas matchLeonard was featured on the tournament broadcast watching Osakas loss to World No. 2 Elena Rybakina, who made a comeback from the second set to win the match (4-3, 7-6[5], 6-4).Leonard also met up with Coco Gauff in the players lounge, signing tennis balls for the American tennis stars daughter as her match was cancelled after Belinda Bencic withdrew from their clash due to injury.Leonard is enjoying events in Toronto after reports claiming that hes confident his situation will be resolved before the season starts and he will be on the Raptors.Current status on the Kawhi Leonard investigationNBA Commissioner Adam Silver publicly stated that they were hoping for a resolution in the summer, but the complexity of the investigation and the ensuing punishment have been delaying the conclusion.The Raptors will not complete the Leonard trade until the findings are revealed, as they dont want to be saddled with any consequences on Leonards contract by acquiring it via trade.Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThis started with an alleged no-work sponsorship deal with the now-defunct Aspiration, with alleged side-deals being later uncovered with Rhode Island FC and Daktronics reportedly involved.These recent discoveries were reportedly already part of the NBAs investigation, so its about doling out a punishment that satisfies all stakeholders equally.If the Clippers find the punishment to be harsh, they can appeal the decision and push it into arbitration, which likely wont be resolved until 2027 since were just two months away from the start of the 2026-27 regular season.Leonard might be expecting the trade to go through regardless of the punishment, which is why he is happily settled in Toronto and expecting to be part of Raptors training camp in September.Read more:Tyrese Maxey breaks down how he recruited LeBron James to Philadelphia 76ersLeBron James fans hit out at 76er stars ex-teammate for calling Michael Jordan the GOATNine-year NBA veteran PG slams Enes Kanter and Royce Whites WNBA Draft declaration

Peter Crouch and Michael Owen issue wildly contrasting Liverpool predictions for 2026/27Peter Crouch and Michael Owen have issued rather contrasting predictions as to how they think Liverpool will fare in the Premier League this season.The Reds will be desperate for significant improvement on last terms feeble fifth-place finish which cost Arne Slot his job and led to the appointment of Andoni Iraola.In contrast to last summers 446m trolley dash, this has been a much quieter transfer window at Anfield with only three new arrivals thus far (including one on loan), so expectations are generally much lower going to 2026/27 than they had been a year ago.Owen and Crouch make contrasting Liverpool predictionsOwen is confident that Liverpool can bounce back to mount a title challenge this season, telling theMetro: Last season at Liverpool wasnt great. The style of play wasnt as good as it had been and they conceded far too many goals, but Slot leaving and Iraola replacing him means a new style of play. He brings a lot of excitement from the way he played at Bournemouth, but Liverpool are a much bigger club and the pressure mounts up now.I do think Liverpool need more, but it looks like [Bradley] Barcola is the one they want and it will cost them a huge amount of money to get him in; but if they can do that and add more depth, more quality, then they can really challenge for the title.While Owen has predicted the Reds to finish second, Crouch doesnt see his former club even making the top four.He said on That Peter Crouch Podcast: I think the managers great but losing the players theyve lost in the past couple of seasons has hurt them. Have they been replaced? Im not so sure. I dont think they can win the league this year.Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as apreferred source on Googleto your favourites list for news you can trustWhat can we expect from Liverpool in Iraolas first season?Our expectation for Liverpool this season falls somewhere in between those of Owen and Crouch.Asking Iraola to turn the underwhelming outfit of 2025/26 into champions a year later is unrealistic, with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City realistically far better placed to compete for the trophy once again.However, if the Reds tighten up defensively and become more clinical in attack, they should be well capable of comfortably qualifying for the Champions League, rather than leaving it until the final day and sneaking in via the additional European Performance Spot like they did last term.While itd be unwise to draw definitive conclusions from pre-season, especially with so many regular first-team starters missing a few games, the early signs from Iraolas Liverpool are that they look far more lively going forward than Slots 2025/26 side, but remain far too vulnerable in their own half of the pitch.The prospect of further transfer activity over the next three weeks could also shift the goalposts in terms of what the Reds are capable of, but as of now, wed be happy with a marked improvement on last season and setting a solid base from which to properly push for the title next term.

When Aston Villa tasted glory in Istanbul in May, it was described as their first European silverware for 44 years. Which was true in a sense, and certainly their first major continental trophy since the 1982 European Cup. But not in another: the 1982 Super Cup was not played until January 1983. Tony Bartons side showed their capacity for upsetting the continental aristocracy was not confined to Bayern Munich by sweeping Barcelona aside 3-0 at Villa Park. But, even though it came eight months after they beat Bayern, there was a continuity. Nine of the starters in the first leg had begun the European Cup final. Villas second Super Cup final, however, will come with distinct differences from the game that secured their participation in it.There has been plenty of turnover at Aston Villa and Unai Emery will try to add more silverware (Getty)Youri Tielemans scored the opener in the Europa League final rout of Freiburg. He is gone, Manchester United triggering his 35m release clause. Morgan Rogers scored the third goal and was named player of the tournament. He is sold, joining Chelsea for a record fee for a British player of 117m.John McGinn lifted the trophy but, if Villa beat Paris Saint-Germain, may have to pick up another without playing. He is a doubt. Two of the substitutes used against Freiburg, Jadon Sancho and Douglas Luiz, were only loaned and are gone. Another, Amadou Onana, is injured. The left-back, Lucas Digne swapped Villa for PSG on Sunday. Johan Manzambi, who faced Villa for Freiburg, is now their player, though injury means he will not debut.This is musical chairs, Unai Emery style. Villas financial juggling act continues. They could win two European honours in a year when they have been fined 22.5m, two-thirds of it suspended, by Uefa for breaching squad cost control rules. At least Rogers spectacular sale should solve their fiscal problems.They do, though, have footballing issues. A potential midfield of McGinn, Manzambi and Onana could be struck out by injury. Villas new look at the heart of the pitch could be a physical one, with Joao Gomes arriving from Wolves and Joao Palhinha a confirmed target. Boubacar Kamara, out since January and yet praised by the Prince of Wales after the Europa League final win, is back in contention.A number of Aston Villas stars of the Europa League final have now departed, including Morgan Rogers (centre) and Youri Tielemans (Getty)All of which illustrates that Villa have a tendency to start seasons in a state of flux. There is the annual issue of whether Emi Martinez will leave. There is the unresolved quest for a new left-back, potentially Matteo Ruggeri of Atletico Madrid. There could be a search for a new set-piece guru after Austin MacPhees departure.Still more fundamental to the way they play is the question of what life after Rogers looks like and whether Villa will lose their potency without him. Alejandro Garnacho is the immediate arrival, if not a like-for-like replacement for the best signing of the Unai Emery years.Whereas Rogers was plucked from Middlesbrough, Garnacho seems to belong in a different category of Emery buys: the players who, for whatever reason, lost their way at more established members of the elite. It has been a policy of targeting the talented, often with points to prove, even if Villa could not always afford to keep them.Unai Emery will hope that Alejandro Garnacho can fill the Morgan Rogers-shaped hole in Villas attack (Getty)PSG can testify. Luis Enriques side have been the eliminators of the English clubs on their route to back-to-back European Cups but Villa gave them a scare. Their last Champions League game at least for another four weeks was a 3-2 victory over PSG, even in an aggregate defeat. PSG were rocked by a comeback powered by McGinn and Tielemans and featuring an inspired, and borrowed, Marcus Rashford.They may be spared a reunion with each but, amid the onslaught on a febrile night at Villa Park, they may have sensed an echo of their past. A remontada helped end Emerys time in the French capital when Barcelona beat his PSG 6-1.Emerys path to Paris was facilitated by Europa League wins; three in as many years with Sevilla. His reputation as the king of Europe though it is not a tag the Basque accepts stems mainly from the second competition though, in taking Villarreal to a Champions League semi-final and Villa to the last eight, he has punched above his weight in the most prestigious of all. But, while he often qualifies for it, he is yet to win the Super Cup.Unai Emery will try to win his first Super Cup (Getty)Three finals have brought different defeats: 2-0 to Real Madrid in 2014, a remarkable 5-4 after extra time to Luis Enriques Barcelona the following year and then on penalties to Chelsea in 2021.That Luis Enriques PSG were taken to spot kicks this time last year by Tottenham was a sign that, after the Club World Cup, they were not at full sharpness; Spurs were nevertheless 2-0 up after 84 minutes before PSG conjured a response. A year on, their sizeable contingent involved at the business end of the World Cup has been bolstered by Digne. Perhaps neither side is fully ready for this. But PSG, like Emerys sides, can be primed to take continental silverware at the end of the season, not the start.

As Karol Itauma joins our Zoom call, hes stepping out the door of a Harlow gym where his brother Moses is training. While Moses puts the final touches on his preparations for a first world heavyweight title fight, Karol wanders to his car and climbs into the drivers seat to talk business with The Independent. This moment alone provides a concise example of how the brothers paths are diverging.There was a time when one Itauma brother could not be mentioned without the other. But come summer 2024, Moses was obliterating Mariusz Wach in the ring, while Karols heart was attacking his own body. Two years on, a 25-year-old Karol has only just made his health tribulations public. A sudden heart attack explains why the Kent light-heavyweight has not boxed since March 2025, while his 21-year-old brother is about to carry an unbeaten record into the O2 Arena, where Filip Hrgovic and a world heavyweight title await on 29 August.Karol Itauma (pictured in 2024) has not boxed since March 2025 (Getty)I was gonna do a seven-day water fast, just to detox my body and reset my system to start camp again, Karol says now, of the practice of consuming nothing but water for a specific period of time. Come day five or six, I woke up in the morning and my heart started hurting. I thought, Thats a bit strange, so I broke my fast with some fruit. Then I felt fine, so I thought: Im good now, let me just go for a run later on. When I came back that night, the pain was a lot higher. I went to A&E, and they didnt take me seriously at first. Then they took my blood, and my troponin level was 50,000; in a normal person, I believe its like 0.4 [nanograms per milliliter].Actually, its even lower: 0.04.Karol was transferred to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, where he was kept for a number of days. A judgement on his boxing future was made by medical professionals at once.They pretty much told me then: Youre not allowed... They told me that was pretty much it.That message would carry a sort of emotional annihilation for a 23-year-old, one might imagine, delivered to a Youth Olympics gold-medalist, a 13-1 professional prospect under Frank Warrens Queensberry Promotions. It was tough for me, he says, punctuating the word in the middle. Its your identity, when youve been doing something since you were 13. You almost dont wanna believe it.I managed to get fighting fit again and had a fight literally eight months later, but when I went back for a check, they said: Look, if you continue, youre gonna die. At that point, it was like: Alright, cool, let me really try and resolve my situation first before I do anything else. So, thats what Ive been doing, trying to find ways to heal myself if there is any way. Boxer-turned-businessman Karol is setting up Club Eight Three, along with his brother and others (Karol Itauma)If not, my last option is... they want me to get a defibrillator, installed into my body. And as a 25-year-old now, the thought of having a defibrillator, its kinda scary to me. Although it might not limit my life that much, its still something going inside your body thats going to have an effect on your heart. So at the moment, Im trying to exhaust all the natural remedies, Im exploring different doctors.Karol is speaking on the week that Allan Nascimento, an active UFC fighter, died aged 34 due to a sudden heart attack. The Brazilian reportedly passed away in his sleep.Such news is jarring, to say the least, as it always is when someone fit dies while in the prime of their life. Perhaps Karols own close shave goes some way to explaining his new venture: setting up Club Eight Three in Medway, Kent, a private members club with a focus on fitness, recovery and longevity.As Karol sees it, Club Eight Three is a bid to bring the health and fitness levels of pro athletes to hobbyists who hold a fierce passion for training and wellbeing. He cites an on-site nurse, blood tests, IV drips and cryotherapy among the offerings at the club, which is seen as the first location of a possible eight around Europe although Karol is coy on his dream destination. Im sure guys are gonna know sooner or later, he smiles.Karol with his brother Moses (left) and promoter Frank Warren (Getty)Reflecting on the inception of the idea to build such a club, Karol says: You know them dinner-table talks, like, Itd be amazing to have a gym one day... When my incident happened, I thought: How can I still find a purpose, a passion, something I can work on and feel fulfilled once I achieve it?Meanwhile, Mosess purpose remains chasing world heavyweight title glory. My brother is a special individual, full stop, Karol says. Hes one thats been gifted by God with an ability to not only handle pressure at such a young age, but also perform an art to such a high level because boxing is an art in itself.Thats testament to his hard work and dedication over the years, [its like] hes been boxing longer than hes been alive. Boxing has become a part of him, and its just beautiful to see him on that journey. By the grace of God, on 29 August 2026 he becomes the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in history.

Picture: Barcelona unveil stunning third kit for 2026/27 seasonBarcelona have officially unveiled their third kit for the 2026/27 season, and the new design takes the club back to one of the most recognisable looks of the 1990s.The latest Barcelona shirt has been created by Nike and draws inspiration from the 1996/97 Kappa away kit, giving the new release a clear retro feel while keeping the design firmly in the modern era.The club describe the shirt as being inspired by the lifelong feeling of dreaming of Bara, with the concept built around the connection supporters have with the Catalan giants from childhood onwards.It is a different look from Barcelonas traditional colours, but the new third kit still contains several details that link it closely to the clubs identity.Barcelona bring back a 90s-inspired designThe most noticeable feature of the Barcelona 2026/27 third kit is its colour combination.The shirt uses a light green base, while a sharp vertical zigzag design runs down the front.The pattern creates a split between two different shades of teal, giving the jersey a distinctive appearance when compared with Barcelonas more familiar home and away designs.View this post on InstagramA post shared by FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona)The influence of the 1996/97 Kappa shirt is clear, although Nike have given the concept a modern update.Navy blue is used around the collar and sleeve cuffs, adding a darker contrast to the lighter body of the shirt.Nike add modern details to Barcelona third kitWhile the inspiration comes from a classic Barcelona shirt, the 2026/27 third kit has been designed for the modern game.The front of the jersey features the traditional full-colour Barcelona crest, maintaining one of the most important visual links to the club.The sponsorship and branding have also been given their own colour treatment.A navy Spotify logo sits on the front, while Nike have opted for a pink Swoosh. Those details stand out against the light green and teal background and give the shirt a more contemporary finish.The result is a Barcelona third kit that combines several different eras of the clubs visual identity.