Latest news with #DouglasLuiz
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Villa are in safe hands and will remain competitive'
Our chief football writer Phil McNulty has been taking your asked: Asking as an Aston Villa fan, what exactly do you think will be going on at Villa Park this summer? Are we in danger of PSR again and how could that limit our sustained push for more European football?Phil McNulty: Villa will certainly have to trade smartly this summer to keep on the right side of PSR, and I do sympathise with those at Villa Park who almost feel it is a penalty for breaking the glass ceiling into the top four the season before required the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus for £42m late on last August to ensure they were on the right side of fact they did not achieve Champions League football for next season is, of course, another is already talk keeper Emi Martinez could leave, while Villa would part with Leon Bailey. Jacob Ramsey has been linked with Spurs, but Villa and their fans would find the sale of the talented local boy close to Rogers is regarded as untouchable, but there will be you can be sure of is that manager Unai Emery, and Villa's ambitious hierarchy, will have a plan in place, but it would have been a lot easier had they been able to get Champions League football next are in safe hands and will remain more from the Q&A with Phil here
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Juventus ‘ready to hijack Arsenal and Man Utd move for Viktor Gyokeres' and will sell EIGHT players to finance transfer
JUVENTUS have emerged as a shock candidate to hijack Viktor Gyokeres' transfer to the Premier League, reports suggest. The Swede is one of the most sought-after strikers on the planet after scoring 97 goals across the last two seasons for Sporting Lisbon and firing them to back-to-back league titles. 3 With the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United both looking to boost their firepower during the summer, it seemed to have put the Viking on a course for England. However, according to Corriere dello Sport, Italian giants Juventus want to sign the 27-year-old to make a statement. The report states Sporting are asking for £60million plus £8m in bonuses to sell Gyokeres, although that contradicts previous rumours indicating his release clause actually sat as high as £85m. To finance this, the Serie A club have identified EIGHT names they will look to offload this summer to fund their spending spree. Most notably, this includes Serbia ace Dusan Vlahovic, who scored 15 goals for Juventus last season. The Bianconeri ranked seventh in the league last season for goals scored, and club chiefs believe Gyokeres can be the solution to their problems. Another high-profile name on the chopping block is former Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz, who ultimately became a squad player following his arrival last summer. The club want around £51m for the pair, considered surplus to requirements by coach Igot Tudor, who replaced the sacked Thiago Motta in March after just 10 months in charge. Also in this list is goalkeeper Mattia Perin, defenders Lloyd Kelly and Daniele Rugani, wingers Filip Kostić and Samuel Mbangula, and forward Arkadiusz Milik. This being said, they are with the Italian side for their participation in the Club World Cup in the United States ahead of their first match against Al Ain on Thursday. Viktor Gyokeres responds as he is asked if he 'likes London' amid Arsenal transfer links But even if they fail to land Gyokeres, other options are being considered, including Jonathan David, Mateo Retegui and Victor Osimhen. Gyokeres had rejected a move to Man Utd to reunite with Ruben Amorim, according to Portuguese media, which had paved the way for Arsenal to land Mikel Arteta 's first pure No.9. Following talks with his agent, Arsenal submitted two bids of £55m and £60m for the striker, but saw both rejected by Sporting. And after growing frustrated at the saga, the Gunners have parked those plans to re-open their enquiries into Aston Villa and England star Ollie Watkins. Arsenal previously bid for Watkins in January, but the late nature of the move in the window and it falling short of Villa's £80m valuation at the time saw the approach slapped down. 3
The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Alisha Lehmann leaves little to imagination in tiny bikini on boat leaving Maya Jama lost for words
ALISHA LEHMANN left her fans lost for words as she soaked up some sun in a bikini. The footballer has been enjoying the offseason after a title-winning campaign with Juventus and completing international duty with Switzerland. 22 22 22 And she has wasted no time in finding some time to relax and enjoy the summer heat. Taking to Instagram, Lehmann shared pictures of her wearing a tiny black bikini while on an inflatable river boat. The 26-year-old was seen with her hair down and added some sunglasses to her look. She was all smiles as she also enjoyed playing with a waterproof ball. Taking to the comments, Lehmann's fans were enamoured by the post. The pair struck up a friendship after teaming up as co-managers in the Baller League. Swiss international team-mate Riola Xhemaili commented: "Much love," followed by a heart emoji. Another fan said: "Your smile brightens the day." A second said: "Beautiful." A third added: "Drop dead gorgeous." Lehmann had been in a relationship with Juventus men's star Douglas Luiz and had completed a double transfer switch over to Italy from Aston Villa to join him there. However, in May it was reported she had broken up with him, although the pair do still follow each other on Instagram. Lehmann has 16.7 million followers on the platform. Scroll down to see more of Alisha's glam life 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22
The National
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
Juventus look to put troubled season behind them at Club World Cup
Juventus begin their Fifa Club World Cup campaign against Al Ain on June 19 looking to rebuild after a season that collapsed in disastrous fashion after a promising start. The match at Audi Field in Washington, DC provides the UAE club with a real test when they take on one of European football's most illustrious clubs in a challenging Group G that also features Manchester City and Wydad AC. So, what can Al Ain expect from the Serie A giants? As Pep Guardiola once said, the Bianconeri are 'a truly great club," the most decorated in Italian football with a record 36 Scudettos, while boasting the country's largest fan base. However, this season has proved to be a challenging one for the Turin side. Juventus launched a new project last summer following Massimiliano Allegri's sacking just two days after leading the side to a Coppa Italia final triumph over Atalanta. Nearly €200 million was spent in the transfer market on the likes of midfielders Teun Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz, both for around €50m. Thiago Motta, who had just guided Bologna to fifth in Serie A and Uefa Champions League qualification, was brought in to replace Allegri. The beginning was promising; Juventus won their opening two Serie A games 3-0 (against Como and Hellas Verona), did not concede a goal until Matchday 7 and remained unbeaten in the league until January's loss at Napoli. Youth players were given their chance to shine, and the team exhibited a coherent tactical plan – something many felt had been lacking under Allegri. Optimism soared after a dramatic 3–2 comeback win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League. In that match, the Bianconeri lost key centre-back Gleison Bremer to injury, conceded a penalty, and were reduced to 10 men – yet still went on to win. It was a landmark moment – Motta fielded the youngest starting XI in Juventus history. For a while, it felt like the beginning of something truly promising. Bremer's injury and subsequent absence proved to be a body blow. Juve did not just lose their most experienced and reliable defender, they lost a vocal leader on the pitch. From that point on, the cracks began to show, exposing the fragile construction of the squad. Juventus may not have been losing many, but they had forgotten how to win. They recorded 13 draws in their first 21 league matches and finished 20th in the Champions League group stage. Eliminated in the Champions League knockout phase play-off by PSV Eindhoven – 4-3 on aggregate after recording a 2-1 win in the Turin first leg – Juventus' season quickly unravelled. The early optimism faded, replaced by growing criticism from all sides. Sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli's transfer dealings, once seen as ambitious, were now under intense scrutiny. Douglas Luiz, Juventus' second most expensive signing, started just three league games and played only 515 minutes of Serie A football. Struggling with injuries and unable to adapt to Motta's system, the Brazilian never resembled the player who had shone at Aston Villa. His low point came when he conceded penalties in consecutive matches against RB Leipzig and Cagliari. Then there was the decision to sell centre-half Dean Huijsen last summer and bring in Lloyd Kelly as a replacement in January, a move that continues to baffle Juventus fans. Dutch-born but Spanish-raised, Huijsen was sold to Premier League side Bournemouth for a cut-price €15m. His form in England has just earned the 20-year-old a €67m move to Real Madrid. English defender Kelly, meanwhile, moved from the substitutes bench at Newcastle United to Juventus in a loan move that turned into a permanent deal of €17.5m plus add-ons for the 26-year-old. Letting go of a gifted talent such as Huijsen – who had come through the club's youth set-up and has just earned a call-up to the Spanish national side – put Giuntoli's decision-making firmly in the spotlight. The problems did not stop there. Experienced captain Danilo had his contract terminated in January, with Motta no longer seeing him as part of his plans. Meanwhile, Moise Kean and Nicolo Fagioli were allowed to leave, only to thrive at Fiorentina. One by one, the Bianconeri let go of players who were eager to fight for the shirt, casting off loyalty in pursuit of a vision that never materialised. Market missteps aside, Motta's tactics often felt too rigid, further exacerbating the club's problems as players struggled to adapt to his system. Koopmeiners, previously a commanding presence in Atalanta's midfield, became an obvious casualty. Played out of position, he lost the rhythm and influence that once defined him. Motta was eventually dismissed after heavy defeats against Atalanta and Fiorentina with Juve fifth in the table – 12 points behind then leaders, Inter Milan – paving the way for Igor Tudor, a former Bianconero, to take charge. Under Tudor, Juventus transitioned from a possession-heavy approach towards a more aggressive, direct style. The team pressed high, attacked with urgency, and aimed to overwhelm opponents through sheer intensity. Control and precision gave way to momentum and force, with less focus on dictating tempo and more on seizing moments. The team finished 12 points behind champions Napoli but having secured their place in next season's Champions League thanks to a nervy last-day win at Venezia. Off the pitch, the club has since reshuffled the entire management structure, with Giuntoli departing and Damien Comolli coming in as the new general manager. Comolli arrives with a strong reputation, having transformed Toulouse in France and helping them return to Ligue 1. He was also pivotal in bringing stars such as Thierry Henry, Luka Modric and Luis Suarez to the Premier League during his spells at Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. Giorgio Chiellini, the legendary Juventus and Italy defender, has been promoted while the hunt is on to secure a new sporting director. Tudor will remain as coach for the Club World Cup, but how Juventus perform in the US could well decide whether he is given the role long-term. Juventus would do well to treat the Club World Cup as a moment of reflection, a chance to observe, recalibrate, and lay the groundwork for what must be a more coherent and sustainable future.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘There's always someone watching' – Samuel Iling-Junior out to gatecrash England's World Cup squad by starring for U21s
SAMUEL ILING-JUNIOR hopes a successful European Championship can springboard him into Aston Villa's first-team - and World Cup contention. The versatile wing-back, 21, arrived at Villa Park from Juventus last summer as part of the deal that took Douglas Luiz in the opposite direction. 3 3 However, he stayed put in Italy to spend the first half of the campaign on loan at Bologna in Serie A and even scored for them in the Champions League. Weeks later Iling-Junior, who originally departed Chelsea for Juve in 2020, was back in England and heading to Middlesbrough. And it was while playing for the Championship club that he decided he wants his future to be at left-back. Iling-Junior, who is battling with Tino Livramento to start there for England U21s in Thursday's Euros opening against Czech Republic, said: 'I definitely settled into the left-back role and going up and down the pitch [at Boro]. I enjoyed that, bringing my parts into the team with assists, tricks and being creative. 'It's an honour to be one of the players that the manager has chosen and I want to repay that on the pitch. 'Tino has obviously had that great season with Newcastle. The competition is always healthy. If I can bring out the best of him and he brings out the best of me and we go and win the tournament then it's happy days.' Iling-Junior has represented England at every level bar the seniors and has seen several of his team-mates graduate into the Three Lions first-team. And he knows this month's tournament in Slovakia could lead to a huge season ahead for him at both club and international level as he revealed his ambitions for the coming 12 months. He said: 'You have to put the World Cup in your sights and knock on that door or at least put myself in a position to be knocking on that door. 'There's a pathway and there's always someone watching. All the boys that have made their debut from the U21s and are now in that squad, that just goes to show that if you keep putting your mind to it and work with the coaches then you'll get repaid for your hard work. England's biggest divers of the season crowned... as shocking record revealed 'And definitely get back into Villa after this tournament and have some conversations and make an impact there as well. 'Unai Emery has always had conversations with me, so that helps. and he's kept track of my loans. So that's definitely a good relationship and once we get back after the tournament then we'll have those conversations. 'But, for now, it's definitely just focusing on the Euros and we'll see when I get back to Villa.' Iling-Junior has already tasted Euro joy with England at U19 level and was part of the Juventus side alongside the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Adrien Rabiot that beat Atalanta to lift the Coppa Italia last season. 3 He added: 'Winning the Coppa Italia, winning a trophy, is one of the best feelings I've had. 'Juventus is a big, big club and I learned what winning actually meant there, and not just winning, dominating and that's a really nice feeling knowing that you're part of history. 'I enjoyed the pressure there. That gave me motivation each game to go out with a bit of pressure and do what I enjoy. Winning the Euros would definitely be up there with that.' England kick-off their Euro campaign against the Czech Republic on Thursday. They then face Slovenia three days later and finish the group stage against Germany on Wednesday 18 June with all of the Young Lions' matches being broadcast on Channel 4.
