World Leaks

REAL MADRID could be set to field a brand new Galacticos team come next season.

Real have spent the last five years realigning their finances and are getting ready to splash out on a fresh wave of star signings.

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According to The Independent, Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold is top of the pile for Los Blancos who need a long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal.

Alexander-Arnold, 25, is out of contract this summer and can strike a pre-agreement with foreign clubs in January.

The Spanish champions are also hoping to boost their midfield options with an ambitious move for Manchester City star Rodri.

With City facing 115 charges of Financial Fair Play breaches, the Spain international could be on the move next summer.

The 28-year-old reportedly wants to return to his homeland while still in his prime and would make a fine replacement for Toni Kroos.

Real also want a new centre-back following Nacho’s exit to Saudi Arabia and Arsenal star William Saliba has emerged as a top choice.

Long-term target Alphonso Davies could join as well as he is out of contract at Bayern Munich and looks unlikely to pen an extension.

Those potential signings would launch a brand new Champions League-winning era for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

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Alexander-Arnold could be the new starting right-back with Davies on the other side, while Saliba could team up with Antonio Rudiger at centre-back in front of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Rodri could link up with Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham in midfield.

Ancelotti could also field a fiery attack consisted of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Endrick.

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Real Madrid have been linked with an ambitious move for Manchester City star Rodri[/caption]

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Arsenal ace William Saliba is a top target to replace Nacho at Real Madrid[/caption]

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Steve Witkoff -- a friend of, and donor to, former President Donald Trump -- said that Secret Service agents protecting the Republican presidential nominee during Sunday's apparent assassination attempt did "exactly what they're supposed to do."

Ahead of Saturday’s off-cycle governorship election in Edo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that a total of 379,245 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) representing 14.43 per cent are uncollected. Mr Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said this on Tuesday in a statement. This is despite […]

THE Champions League returns with a brand new league phase – and the action has kicked off around Europe!

36 teams will compete in the new format, with the top eight automatically qualifying for the knockout stages, while those who finish ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off for a chance to fill the remaining eight spots.

Aston Villa have ended their 41-year wait for Champions League football as they take on Young Boys in their opener.

Elsewhere, Liverpool will renew their iconic European rivalry with AC Milan at the San Siro.

Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich host Dinamo Zagreb, while Jude Bellingham will be aiming to return to the Real Madrid squad to face Stuttgart.

• Kick off times: 5.45pm/8pm BST
• TV channels: TNT Sports/Amazon Prime Video
• Live stream: discovery+

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MANCHESTER UNITED welcome League One promotion hopefuls Barnsley to Old Trafford for a huge Carabao Cup third-round encounter TONIGHT.

The Red Devils will be hoping they can better last year’s campaign, which came to a premature end courtesy of Newcastle in the last-16.

But they’ll need to get past Barnsley, who sent Championship outfit Sheffield United home in the previous round.

• Kick-off time: 8pm BST
• Live stream: NOW/Sky Sports app
• TV channels: Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football
• Man Utd team: To follow…
• Barnsley team: To follow…

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Autumn leaves are about to drop — and so are Amazon's prices.

In the September 12 issue of The Record are Homecoming royalty candidates from Woodbury Central (page 2), Kingsley-Pierson and River Valley (page 9).  In the September 19 issue are Homecoming royalty from MVAOCOU (page 7) and Lawton-Bronson (page 10).                  

IAN WRIGHT reckons two academy starlets  “dragged” the club through its toughest times in recent years.

The Gunners floundered between the end of Arsene Wenger‘s 22-year reign in May 2018 and Mikel Arteta’s arrival as boss in December 2019.

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Mikel Arteta has guided the Gunners to runners-up spot twice in a row[/caption]

Unai Emery, so successful in charge of Aston Villa now, flopped in his 18 months at the helm for Arsenal.

The Spaniard was finally sacked when a 2-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt at a half-empty Emirates made it seven winless games in a row.

The Gunners were eighth at the time but, following a month under caretaker chief Freddie Ljungberg, Arteta took over to secure a fifth-place finish.

The ex-Arsenal midfielder has since guided the club to runners-up spot for the past two seasons.

But Wrighty believes a pair of home-grown talents deserve massive credit for holding the Gunners together before Arteta’s appointment.

One name will be no surprise – because of his achievements then and now.

But Wright’s other choice is more thought-provoking – as the player in question has been forced to depart the Emirates to revive his career.

Step forward winger Bukayo Saka, now 23, and 24-year-old attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.

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Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe gave Arsenal a lift when they most needed it, according to all-time great Gunner Ian Wright[/caption]

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Saka has won 42 England caps since 2020 while fellow Londoner Smith Rowe picked up three before losing his regular Arsenal place, partly due to injuries.

Wright said: “When you consider when he (Saka) got into the Arsenal side, where Arsenal were.

“It was almost on him and Emile Smith Rowe’s shoulders to try and get Arsenal through a certain period in the (Alexandre) Lacazette and (Pierre-Emerick) Aubameyang period, in and around that time.

“He was around 19 and 20. They dragged the club through. 

“Just being able to support them two kept the fans going and gave Mikel the support he needed. It was down to them two.”

Frontmen Lacazaette and Aubameyang both finally left the Gunners in 2022 – the latter leaving under a cloud for Barcelona after disciplinary problems at the Emirates.

Since, then, Arsenal have finished second twice in succession – their highest position since 2016, although it’s 22 years in all since they last won the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Saka has become Arsenal’s main man but Smith Rowe left in August for Fulham, where he’s quickly regained his dazzling best form.

Mixed reactions have trailed comments by Ayodele Olawande, Minister of State for Youth Development, that  President Bola Tinubu is an “epitome of wealth” with no interest to loot the country’s resources. VON quoted Olawande to have said this at the Joint Union Negotiating Council’s week of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development branch in Abuja. […]

Jarvis Cocker and his fantastic Britpop band Pulp played their first Bay Area concert in over 10 years at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.