Liverpool midfielder closes in on move awayLiverpool have got certain questions to answer over their midfield options. Three players - Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic are out of contract in 2027. Unless new deals are quickly wrapped up then Richard Hughes will face losing another three performers for nothing next summer.Jones is closing in on a deal to join Inter Milan while teams in the Bundesliga and around the Premier League are thought to want Elliott.Bajcetic is sought for a deal in his native Spain - with the Spaniard needing first-team football following his recovery from injury.Liverpool ready to let McConnell leave on loanOther youngsters could also end up leaving Anfield this summer - albeit on loan.Trey Nyoni has been mentioned as an option for Swansea as well as teams in Scotland. James McConnell meanwhile is back on Merseyside following an unsuccessful stint at Ajax last season.The 21-year-old is one of those earmarked for a future first-team role at Anfield but it looks like he too will be imminently leaving for a temporary spell.McConnell close to PNE moveThats according to a report in the Liverpool Echo - which claims the defensive midfielder is close to a move to Preston.Liverpool are busy moving a number of Academy players out on loan, with midfielder James McConnell understood to be close to joining Championship side Preston North End, the report reads.McConnell has featured on 13 occasions for the Reds first team - including an appearance in the 2024 EFL Cup final against Chelsea. Last season he moved alongside Vitezslav Jaros and John Heitinga to Ajax.But the sacking of the former Liverpool assistant as head coach - as well as an injury - led to the spell being curtailed early.High hopes for McConnell at LiverpoolHe returned to the club in February after just seven appearances - working on his recovery before rejoining the first-team squad for pre-season.McConnell now has the chance to feature for the Championship side and establish himself as a consistent midfield performer throughout the campaign.Liverpools faith in the former Sunderland academy graduate has been evident through the five-year contract extension he signed last summer.Hopefully the season goes well for him and he can return with extensive experience under his belt.

Brentford 7-0 Frankfurt: Seventh heaven for Bees in final friendlyBrentford finished their pre-season smashing seven past Eintracht Frankfurt at the Indeed Invitational at the Gtech Community Stadium winning 7-0.They go into their opening Premier League fixture at home to Spurs following a glut of goals.The Bundesliga side, who had won all five of their previous pre-season games and finished eighth in the Bundesliga last season, were put to the sword in West London in front of more than 13,000 fans.Braces from Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago, a home debut goal for Mamadou Sangar and strikes from Keane Lewis-Potter and Dango Ouattara will have made some head turns even during pre-season.Shade scored the opener after just two minutes, Sangar volleyed from just outside the box after 12 minutes and Igor Thiago tapped the ball into an open goal to make it 3-0 at the half.It didnt take long for Brentford to continue their goalscoring in the second half with Ouattarra and Lewis-Potter netting before the hour.Thiago and Shade netted again in the second half to make it seven to the hosts.Frankfurt goalkeeper Kau Santos had a game to forget making several costly mistakes and conceding so many.Captain Robin Koch came off injured for Frankfurt following a mistake for the third goal and could be a doubt for the start of the German season.Frankfurt rarely threatened in a match they will soon wish to forget.Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson were amongst those in attendance and watched the game from behind the dugout.Adi Htter will surely be asking questions of his goalkeeper and defense and will be wondering if his side can concede fewer goals than the 65 they shifted last season in the Bundesliga.Keith Andrews side will be in high hopes as the Premier League season looms with their only home pre-season game being near perfect.A planned penalty shootout did not take place after the final whistle.All eyes will now be on Brentfords Premier League opener at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 22 August at 17:30 (BST).

Minimizing the number of hits Jaxson Dart takes in his second season with the New York Giants will be key for the 2025 first-round pick. He weathered a massive one on Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings in the teams preseason opener at MetLife Stadium.It arrived on the final play of the first quarter, and it sent Dart to the medical tent, where he was checked for a concussion, according to ESPNs Jordan Raanan.Dart, who notably dealt with concussion issues throughout his rookie season even popping into the blue tent five times in a 10-game span was quickly cleared. He reentered the exhibition in the second quarter and finished the drive he started.The 23-year-old Ole Miss product bounced outside the pocket, rolled left and uncorked a 15-yard jump pass that located rookie wideout Malachi Fields in the end zone for six. What a throw on the run from Dart for the touchdown Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/aRzenZx2L5 NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026Heres another look at the play, from the back of the end zone, where Fields a third-round pick out of Notre Dame elevated for the scoring grab..@JaxsonDart made this look easy.Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/GZkiPnDVqd NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026That sequence was awfully reminiscent of Darts tantalizing yet concerning first season in the league. He wowed with his dual-threat ability, except the blows he suffered along the way were cause for worry.This time, though, the serious contact Dart sustained occurred inside the tackle box. He was blindsided by a blitzing safety. Minnesotas Jay Ward flew in, easily evading New York running back Tyrone Tracy Jr.s pass protection, and laid the wood on Dart.BIG FOOTBALL HITS ARE SO BACK.Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/11JOVdunxm NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026Darts head cocked forward before he was brought suddenly to the ground. It was the second sack he experienced in the game.The first one resulted from him aborting a third-down pass attempt with a pump fake and then scrambling around in the backfield to the demise of the Giants first drive.Dart clocked out with 14 snaps played. He went 3 of 4 for 26 yards and the highlight-reel touchdown he tossed. His journey to the medical tent isnt part of that stat line; however, it wont be forgotten in the aftermath of the preseason contest.

In competition with Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson started the first preseason game for the Browns on Saturday against the Bears and played the entire first half.The results were middling.Watson ended his two-quarter outing 11-of-15 passing for 126 yards. The Browns scored a field goal and a touchdown with him in. But Watson was not particularly impressive, at times looking uncomfortable in the pocket and firing inaccurate passes. He was also strip-sacked on a fourth-and-2 from the Chicago 40 as the Browns were trying to extend a drive early in the second quarter.Most of Watsons yardage came on a 43-yard screen pass to Dylan Sampson late in the first period. He attempted just one pass over 10 yards in the air.Head coach Todd Monken mentioned to reporters during the week that the Browns would do everything they could to get a two-minute drill, and they had that opportunity when rookie corner Michael Coats picked off Tyson Bagent late in the second quarter. But Cleveland did nothing with it, as Watson threw a pair of incompletions on second and third down on the ensuing possession.Rookie first-round receiver KC Concepcion showed explosiveness and versatility, returning a punt 28 yards, catching three passes for 27 yards, and taking in an end around for a 14-yard touchdown. Fellow rookie Denzel Boston also moved the chains with a 15-yard catch on the left side.Sanders is set to play the third quarter for Cleveland. Hes also set to start next weeks preseason contest against Buffalo.

Fevers slow-motion Caitlin Clark video makes difficult shot look effortless originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Caitlin Clarks step-back 3-pointer has become one of the most recognizable shots in the WNBA. A new slow-motion video from the Indiana Fever showed exactly why it remains so difficult to defend.Clark was matched against Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale on the right wing during Indianas 98-87 victory Friday night. She crossed the ball from her right hand to her left, created separation with a quick step backward and released the shot before Ogunbowale could recover.The ball went directly through the net.A masterpiece in slo-mo, the Fever wrote while sharing the highlight Saturday.The replay slowed down a move that happened almost instantly during the game, allowing viewers to see the balance and precision behind one of Clarks signature shots.One move created all the space Clark neededOgunbowale initially stayed in front of Clark, but the crossover forced her to account for a possible drive. That brief shift was all Clark needed.a masterpiece in slo-mo pic.twitter.com/n9fpm6ARwW Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 15, 2026Clark planted, moved backward and created enough room to get her shot off cleanly. Ogunbowale contested the attempt, but she had little opportunity to affect the release after Clark generated separation. The sequence demonstrated why defending Clark requires more than protecting the 3-point line. Closing too aggressively can give her a path to the basket, while preparing for the drive can open the door for her step-back jumper.Clark made two 3-pointers against Dallas, but she did not depend on long-range shooting to produce another impressive performance.The Fever guard finished with 29 points and 10 assists while shooting 11-of-18 from the field. It was the 20th game of her career with at least 20 points and 10 assists, twice as many as any other player in WNBA history.MORE:Sophie Cunningham surprises Fever fans with Toby Keith bar performanceHighlight capped another important Fever winClark briefly left the game after tweaking her ankle before halftime. She returned and ultimately played 34 minutes, scoring 16 points during a third quarter that changed the direction of the contest. Indiana entered halftime trailing Dallas before taking control behind Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston.Mitchell scored 23 points, while Boston finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Tyasha Harris supplied 15 points off the bench by making all five of her 3-point attempts. The victory improved Indiana to 22-12 and extended its winning streak to three games. The Fever have won eight of their last 10 and hold fourth place in the league standings with 10 regular-season games remaining.Indiana will next visit the Atlanta Dream on Sunday for another important matchup in the playoff race.Before moving forward, the Fever gave fans one more look at Clarks latest highlight.At full speed, the shot appeared sudden. In slow motion, the footwork and timing behind it became impossible to miss.More WNBA news:A'ja Wilson vs. Olivia Miles debate is on with Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers lurkingChiney Ogwumike reacts to WNBAs Caitlin Clark suspension decisionWhy Indiana lieutenant governor is calling for Stephanie White's firing

Three talking points ahead of Schalke vs Real MadridJust over a week remains for Real Madrids first official game of the new season and they will take on Espanyol in their La Liga curtain-raiser.Ahead of that big clash, however, the club do have one final pre-season friendly scheduled for tomorrow evening, and it will be against FC Schalke.The past week has been a critical one for Jose Mourinho and Co. as they finally welcomed back the World Cup heroes and completed their squad for the new season.With Real Madrids transfer window also likely done, the manager now has a full-strength dressing room at his disposal and the game against Schalke will be the first of a new era in that sense.Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Schalke vs Real Madrid.The big names returnReal Madrids pre-season campaign so far has revolved around academy players, non-internationals and internationals who returned home early after suffering heartbreak at the FIFA World Cup.The big guns are back. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)While some names like Federico Valverde, Arda Guler and Denzel Dumfries have been available from relatively early in Mourinhos dynamics, the bulk of the teams core arrived much later.Vinicius Jr. and Endrick returned for Real Madrids latest friendlies, but other big names including Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham have come back only in recent days.The duo who made it to the World Cup semifinals returned to training earlier this week, and are in the squad for Real Madrids clash against Schalke tomorrow.All signs point to Mbappe playing some part in Gelsenkirchen in what comes as a massive boost for Mourinhos plans. After all, the Frenchman is the centrepiece in attack and the team is, quite clearly, built around him.Also expected to feature is Bellingham. Despite uncertainty over his participation in recent days, word has it that the player is in top physical condition and will indeed be able to slot back in as a starting midfield option for Mourinho.A debut for DiomandeYan Diomande arrived in Madrid as a new signing ahead of Real Madrids friendly against Ferencvaros, but did not make it to the squad for that clash owing to a lack of match fitness. He was also not called up for the subsequent game vs Deportivo La Coruna.Diomande set for his debut. (Photo courtesy: Real Madrid official website)In under a week, however, the player has returned to speed and is now seen to be prepared to put on a Real Madrid shirt for the first time in a game. Needless to say, it will be a momentous occasion.Diomandes big-money move this summer made him Real Madrids most expensive signing in history, and such a price tag undoubtedly arrives with a certain scale of expectations and a lot of pressure.The young winger is already said to be impressing in training, and all signs point to him starting against Schalke in the clubs final pre-season friendly. Needless to say, he will be eager to showcase some of his talent before the high-stakes games arrive.More importantly, it will be interesting to see Diomandes chemistry with the likes of Mbappe, Bellingham and others, for that could well dictate how the players first season at the club will progress.The new-look defence completedReal Madrids summer transfer window largely revolved around defensive signings, and it has been clear from day one that Jose Mourinhos focus was on the backline.The club went all-out in making signings for the defence, bringing in Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Marc Cucurella to Valdebebas in a matter of weeks.In line for Real Madrid debuts? (Picture credit: X/@realmadrid)So far, only the Dutch star has made his debut for Real Madrid and has already impressed with his quality and defensive resilience. Konate and Cucurella, however, are yet to make their debuts.Having returned to the clubs pre-season camp earlier this week, both stars have been called up for the friendly tomorrow and are very likely to receive their debuts in the teams final pre-season clash.It will thus be a momentous occasion for both Konate and Cucurella. The former will look to convince the manager of his quality and stake a claim for a starting spot while the latter will look to prove why he is a deserved World Champion and starter for Real Madrid.At some point in the game, it is very likely that Dumfries, Konate and Cucurella share the field at the back and that Real Madrid see an almost completely new defensive line fielded under the new manager.

TheJacksonville Jaguarsopen up the preseason on the road against the New Orleans Saints, and we'll be following along with everything that takes place right here.Head coach Liam Coen has already announced that the Jaguars starters will not play in this game, paving the way for second and third-team players to see extended action.With roles and roster spots up for grabs, how players perform in the preseason games can carry more weight in the overall evaluation process. We will update this post as the game unfolds.LatestJacksonville Jaguarsnews5 Jaguars players who need big games vs. Saints in preseason (Link)One Jaguars player to watch at every position group vs. Saints (Link)One Jaguars player moving from roster bubble to earning a roster spot (Link)Noteworthy development for Jaguars offense taking place in training camp (Link)Questions around Jaguars position group raised after joint practice (Link)Jaguars' offense thrives in key area during joint practice v. Saints (Link)What TV channel is Jaguars vs. Saints on today?TV channel:FOX30 (local)Stream:FUBOJaguars at Saints starting timeDate: Saturday, Aug. 15Kickoff: 4:00 PM ETLocation: Caesars Super DomeThis article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Live news, updates from Jaguars preseason game vs. Saints

Newcastle midfielder Anthony Elanga, wearing the club's third kit, crossses the ball during a 2-1 pre-season friendly loss by Bayer Leverkusen at St James' Park (SCOTT HEPPELL)Newcastle were forced into a change of shirts during the first half of their pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen at St James' Park on Saturday.The English Premier League side walked out in their traditional black and white home kit, which has a blue trim, but decided to switch during the first hydration break.This was because of an apparent colour clash with Bayer Leverkusen's away kit -- mint with a blue pattern -- with Newcastleplayers putting on their lilac third strip instead."I was a bit surprised when they (Leverkusen) came out for kick-off," Newcastlemanager Matthias Jaissle told the BBC."(The change) was done because (the shirt colour) was so close to each other so it was smart to use the first hydration beak to change it."Probably from the stands, from your perspective, it was not easy to distinguish between the two teams."The German side went on to win the game 2-1.bur-jdg/bsp

The Detroit Lions have added more help for their injury-riddled running back room.The Lions signed veteran back Trayveon Williams on Saturday, Aug. 15.Lions coach Dan Campbell said Kye Robichaux is believed to have broken a bone in his foot in the Lions' preseason-opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and Jacob Saylors will miss practice time with an ankle injury.The Lions went into the Bengals game without Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki and Jabari Small because of injuries. Pacheco likely will miss another week of practice, Campbell said, while Vaki (nose) and Small were expected to return Saturday. Starter Jahmyr Gibbs also did not play against the Bengals."God bless [Robichaux], dude," Campbell said. "It looks like he may have broke a bone in that foot. Hes been so dang just durable all camp, played his heart out. Hes another guy that just gives you everything hes got, maximizes everything."Saylors led the Lions with eight carries for 55 yards rushing and had a team-high 28 yards receiving (tied with Dominic Lovett) on three catches. Campbell said after the game Saylors, who's vying for the No. 4 running back job, "was probably our most potent player on offense.""I thought he made a lot of plays for us and he was kind of the steady workhorse we had early in that game," Campbell said. "If we were coming up with anything positive, he had most of it. So I like where hes at. He does have some juice ... he can play some special teams, and thats going to be big for that next role."Williams had seven carries for 37 yards and appeared in four games for the Cleveland Browns last season.He's also played for the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers in his eight-year career.Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him atdbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him onBluesky,XandInstagramat @davebirkett.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: With running back injuries puling up, Detroit Lions add veteran to mix

JEFFERSON, TX (KTAL/KMSS) Jefferson went 12-0 in year one under head coach Ty Taylor, but with a younger and less experienced team last season, the Bulldogs fell just short of expectations.But with a veteran team, a new division, the Bulldogs plan to get right back on track. It is a new season in Jefferson, but something that wont change is their motivation. Last year just before the first game of the year, Jefferson's Avery Lawson was diagnosed with leukemia. Doctors have since cleared Lawson to return to workouts."Hell come up here, workout a couple days, then hell go to Dallas to get chemo. Its an honor to be beside him and play with him," said quarterback Chance Washington. "Its crazy cause hell text me coach I cant be there today, Im going to get chemo and Im just like its okay," Taylor said. "He would come out to practice with a backpack on, with medicine he was receiving via pump. It was crazy seeing him running routes, doing all these things and we know hes hurting, we know hes struggling, and hes not complaining."Lawson presence for his senior year is special, especially because this season has been on the community's calendar for a while."Its really unusual for a school our size but we have 25 seniors," Taylor said. "The bond that we already have all together has been great. Since little league Ive been seeing these guys playing together, just cold. Just this class right now has been talked about for a long time," said Washington.In the offseason, the UIL dropped Jefferson down a division, joining Arp, New Diana, West Rusk, Troup, and Winona in District 10 of 3A-DII. "We dropped to Division II, which is good for us, we go from being one of the smallest schools in our division, to one of the biggest," Taylor said. That change could be a big advantage for the veteran team and the promising outlook for the 2026 season. "Theres a lot of excitement because of those kids and just seeing their growth and development over the years. But we obviously know that doesnt guarantee us anything. We have to go and earn everything," Taylor said. And with the Bulldogs inspiration coming from right in their very own locker room, their dedication has them on the path to earning it.Jefferson begins its season on the road at Westwood on August 27 at 7:30 pm.Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.