SOCCER

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It is no secret that Alexander Isak has been catching admiring glances from Liverpool. But Newcastle United do not want to sell their star striker, so how do the Reds pull off another blockbuster transfer? Sources say the good impressions of Isak stretch beyond the 23 Premier League goals he scored last season.

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Parma have named former Arsenal assistant coach Carlos Cuesta as manager, the Italian Serie A club said on Thursday, with the 29-year-old Spaniard taking up his first senior managerial role. Cuesta, who signed a two-year contract, replaces Cristian Chivu who left this month to join Inter Milan.

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Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé has been hospitalized in the United States after being diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis while participating in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The club confirmed the news on Thursday, stating, "Our player Kylian Mbappé is suffering from an acute case of gastroenteritis and has been admitted to hospital in order to undergo a series of tests and follow the appropriate course of treatment."

The Premier League confirmed that Manchester City accepted the charges and issued an apology. The club has been given 14 days to pay the fine. This is not the first time City have been sanctioned for similar behavior. In the previous season, they were fined £2.09 million for delaying 22 matches. At that time, manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the issue and said he would try to shorten his team talks.

According to a statement from the Premier League, rules governing kick-offs and restarts are essential for maintaining the professionalism of the competition and providing consistency for fans and clubs. These rules also ensure that televised matches remain on schedule, which is crucial given the significant investment broadcasters make in securing rights to air games.

Manchester City are also currently awaiting the outcome of 115 charges related to alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations. These charges cover a period from 2009 to 2018 and were referred to an independent commission in February 2023 after a four-year investigation. The club has strongly denied any wrongdoing and claims to have a comprehensive body of evidence in its defense.

BBC Sport's Shamoon Hafez noted that City have made efforts to reduce delays this season. The number of incidents has dropped by 59 percent compared to the previous season. The club maintains that last season was especially challenging, and Guardiola likely needed additional time during team talks due to the pressure of competing in multiple tournaments. However, despite the reduction in delays, the Premier League expects clubs to meet their responsibilities moving forward.

Simon Stone of BBC Sport emphasized that broadcasters rely on accurate scheduling as part of their multi-billion-pound agreements. While player injuries can disrupt timing, kick-offs and halftime restarts remain within a team's control. Although some may see City's breaches as the result of intense preparation, others view it as disregard for regulations.

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Juventus have extended their technical partnership with German sportswear giant Adidas until June 2037, in a deal worth 408 million euros ($468 million) over a decade, the Serie A club said in a statement. The current agreement between the two parties, which runs until June 2027, will remain unchanged, the Italian club said.

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Chelsea's Ukrainian forward Mykhaylo Mudryk has been officially charged with doping by the Football Association (FA) and faces up to a four-year suspension. At the end of last year, he tested positive for the substance meldonium. According to The Telegraph, the use of the aforementioned banned substance could lead to a suspension of up to four years; both the player and Chelsea are awaiting the results of the B test.

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo as they look to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the upcoming season. The 25-year-old Cameroon international has caught the attention of several clubs after a standout season with the Bees.