But now The Evening Standard are reporting that Timber's wait to make his Premier League return may finally be over, with the former Ajax man confident of being involved this weekend.
He played 45 minutes against Blackburn's Under-21s last week and then 70 minutes against Liverpool's development team on Sunday.
Timber has also come through team training – which is played at a very high intensity – unscathed and Arsenal's medical team are ready to declare him fit to face Bournemouth.
Timber in action for Arsenal's Under-21 team (Picture: Getty)
Although Arsenal have the most formidable defence in the division, Timber's return will be a huge boost with Arteta having frequently spoken of the offensive qualities the Dutchman can bring to the side.
'Jurrien is a main one because he has a quality that nobody else has in the backline to actually effect, especially in the attacking phases, things that we do, in both positions or three positions,' explained Arteta.
The player himself, meanwhile, is keen to play a role in Arsenal's run-in after missing so much of the season through injury.
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'I can't wait, the season is almost finished, we've got a few more games left and I hope to be a part of the team for the final few matches,' Timber told the club's website.
'The last couple of weeks have been tough, but, we are still in the mix and have every chance to win it. I'm glad that I can finally be part of it. Let's see what the next couple of weeks bring, I hope it's something beautiful.'
Arsenal take on an in-form Bournemouth side in Saturday's early kick-off and can take a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table before Manchester City host Wolves in the day's evening kick-off.
Katie Boulter and Alex De Minaur reveal romance secrets amid Challengers success | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Katie Boulter and Alex De Minaur have been together since 2020 (Picture: Getty)
Following the release of sexy tennis movie Challengers, real-life couple Katie Boulter and Alex De Minaur have lifted the lid on their own steamy romance.
Social media has been in a frenzy over the movie directed by Luca Guadagnino, which has scored 83 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating universal acclaim.
With everyone talking about the film, British No.1 Boulter and Australian world No.11 De Minaur have taken the time to open up about their own relationship.
The power couple have been together for four years but initially hid their romance from fellow players across the ATP Tour and WTA Tour as well as the public.
They have now revealed the extreme lengths they went to in order to avoid speculation and the tricks they played to keep their relationship a secret.
'Remember that time when we were having breakfast on like separate tables?' a giddy Boulter said in a video posted by the WTA.
The duo melted hearts in the Wimbledon mixed doubles last year (Picture: Getty)
'That was the early stages,' De Minaur added. 'We would rock down to breakfast at different times.'
Boulter elaborated further, explaining it was 'different times, like 10 minutes later' with her boyfriend De Minaur confirming they did it to 'avoid speculation'.
'It's so true, so people wouldn't find out,' Boulter said, with the lovebirds clearly enjoying their trip down memory lane as De Minaur added: 'Works every time!'
Boulter and De Minaur have both enjoyed successful spells since their relationship went public with the Briton clinching her maiden WTA Tour title last year and following it up with the San Diego Open trophy on clay in March this year.
De Minaur, meanwhile, earned a spot inside the world top 10 and recently beat Rafael Nadal at the Barcelona Open on the Spaniard's favourite clay surface.
'I think what was very important in the early stages, we talked about tennis being the No.1 priority and that we would make all of this work,' De Minaur said.
'Just finding that balance. Like, I thought it was going to be quite tough.'
Boulter added: 'That was the tough part I think. The very start of the relationship was hard.
'It's crazy to think this time last year I was playing in Japan, I was ranked like world No.150.'
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De Minaur then chimed in and said: 'I remember you telling me, 'I will not be playing a clay-court swing in my life, I refuse to play on clay' – and now here you are! Top 30.
'It fills me with a lot of joy being able to say I told you so. I think we are helping each other.'
Boulter teased her boyfriend in response and said: 'I take full credit for you making the top 10!'
New online bookmakers in the UK this month | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
(Picture: Acroud Media)
If you are looking for the best new UK bookmakers for all your sports betting needs, you have come to the right place.
The experts at Wisegambler.com have been hard at work trying and reviewing the best of their commercial partners, placing Pub Sport at the top. For more about how these sites were chosen, how to sign up, offers and more, continue reading below.
Pub Sport – Acca Boost on all Football Bets up to 50%
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DISCLAIMER: This article is provided by wisegambler.com, part of the Acroud group and all opinions are their own. All offers are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change without notice.
Best New Online Bookmakers UK
Here's a rundown of the top ten bookmakers, according to the experts at Wisegambler.com:
Our top pick for this list is Pub Sport! The site features an attractive and classy sportsbook interface that makes finding your bet of choice easy as pie. It also has competitive odds, so you know you'll be getting a good deal; this is especially true for e-sports, which enjoys fantastic coverage at Pub Sport. However, This site has one glaring issue: the complete lack of racing bets. This isn't a site for fans of horse or greyhound racing.
Next up is BetMGM, a well-known US brand that's been doing well since its launch in the UK. We love the sportsbook's extensive sports coverage, which includes all the major markets as well as more niche options like handball and Gaelic sports. BetMGM also has some top-tier mobile apps on iOS and Android that offer all the same features as the website, including the reliable SSL encryption security to keep your data safe. However, a surprising hurdle for some users is the severe lack of diverse payment options.
Pros:
Excellent sports coverage
Dedicated mobile apps on iOS and Android
Reliable SSL encryption security
Cons:
Limited payment methods
BetMGM UK also features on our list of the best online gambling sites in the UK. Want to know which other brands made it on that list, head over to our page here.
Next up, we're bringing you Copybet, a sophisticated sportsbook that stands out thanks to its unique 'Tipsters' feature. It allows you to copy the bets of other successful punters or even earn some easy money by signing up as a tipster yourself. In addition to that, the massive range of sports betting options available and the convenient iOS and Android apps make Copybet a hard act to follow. Unfortunately, it is let down by its lack of any live streaming coverage.
AK Bets stands out for its in-depth coverage of horse and greyhound racing, but it also hosts a wealth of other betting markets for you to pick from. The website is user-friendly and easy to navigate, not cluttering the screen but presenting a lot of information at once. Plus, we love the phone-a-bet feature, so you have more options for making your bets. The major downside is the limited collection of promos, which is usually a big draw for other sportsbooks.
Quinnbet is a smaller sportsbook but still has all the great features of the players in the big league. The promotional lineup is excellent, with something to suit any bettor, and the site has been designed with user-friendliness in mind. We also appreciate the quality of the customer service at Quinnbet, which is responsive and friendly and leaves you feeling valued as a customer. On the flip side, the site lacks payment options, only supporting debit cards and DBT, so if you cannot transfer with these, you'll have to look elsewhere.
PlanetSport Bet is a lesser-known sportsbook, but we think it stands out for the variety of its betting options and competitive odds. It supports 'in-play' betting to help enhance your spectating experience, and if you need some help when making wagers, you can visit the 'Tips' tab to learn something from successful bettors. However, the customer support leaves something to be desired with few contact options, particularly its missing live chat support.
talkSport Bet is a sportsbook hosted by the well-known talkSport radio. It's one of the newer bookies on the market, only launched in 2022, but with this kind of expertise and branding behind it you can be confident this site will make an impression. It has a particularly large collection of betting markets available, so there'll be something for you no matter what you want to bet on. And while we felt the live streaming options were limited, the promotional offers were great, especially where Best Odds guaranteed was concerned.
Virgin Bet is a name that'll be familiar to anyone in the UK, and you'll be glad to know this is a solid sports betting platform that doesn't coast solely on brand recognition. The site is well-designed with a clean, easy-to-navigate interface and even in-play betting options. We also love that Virgin Bet supports betting apps for iOS and Android devices, allowing you to take your bets on the go. The main letdown is that Virgin Bet's live streaming service is limited, only covering racing events.
LeoVegas is one of the best mobile betting platforms available, hosting some of the top dedicated apps you can find. This is because LeoVegas was released mobile-first and continues to prioritise the on-the-go experience. The mobile-friendly interface translates nicely to desktop, with a clean and easy-to-use design, and we love how fast the withdrawal process is at LeoVegas. Unfortunately, this is a casino service before a sportsbook, so if you're after a dedicated sports betting experience, LeoVegas may not be the best choice.
BetUK's well-designed sportsbook interface hosts a fantastic range of sports betting options, with stand-out football coverage. We were also blown away by the quality of the customer support service at BetUK, which was friendly and helped us with our issues promptly and clearly. BetUK doesn't support many payment options, which could limit some users, but the mobile compatibility opens up BetUK to the mobile market, so you make your bets from any device you have.
Pros:
Great football coverage
Stellar customer support service
Mobile friendly
Cons:
Limited payment options
Best New Betting Sites Per Category
Depending on the sport you follow, whether it is your favourite or one you enjoy betting on, you want to be playing at the best site. To help you choose where to play, we have included the best new bookmakers for the most popular sports below.
Football
Copy Bet
Home to lots of football betting markets and promotions, Copy Bet is a great destination for keen football bettors after the latest odds and live in-play betting features.
BetMGM
Despite coming over from the US, BetMGM has mastered the world of football betting and offers lots of great promotions and enhanced odds across the Premier League and beyond.
TalkSPORT Bet
Home to enhanced football betting offers and exclusive access to talkSPORT radio, play and listen live to all of the latest football matches, scores and news.
Virgin Bet
The top featured market at Virgin Bet is football, with all of the top European Leagues and international matches available to users. Take advantage of exclusive enhanced odds and money-back specials at this site.
BetUK
BetUK offers a wide range of betting markets alongside regular offers and promotions for new and existing customers across the top domestic leagues, European competitions, leagues around the world, and more.
Horse Racing
BetMGM
Offering one of the largest selections of horse racing markets, with the most valuable promotions, BetMGM is one of the best new UK bookmakers for betting on horse racing.
BetUK
Full of great offers and enhanced odds for a limited time, BetUK is a popular new online bookmaker for horse racing enthusiasts.
TalkSPORT Bet
At this new bookmaker, you can bet and listen live to the latest horse racing events with exclusive promotions and competitive odds.
LeoVegas
Home to many horse racing betting markets, exciting new and existing customer promotions, and a great mobile platform, LeoVegas is one of the best new bookmakers for all your horse racing betting needs.
Copy Bet
A newly added category to Copy Bet is horse racing, which offers one of the best and biggest markets for fans and punters. Get exclusive tips on the latest races only at Copy Bet.
Tennis
BetMGM
BetMGM offers all the latest tennis odds and offers. Whether the US Open, Wimbledon, Andy Murray, or Emma Radacanu, this new UK betting site has the latest on each tournament and player.
Pub Sport
Find lots of exclusive offers and live streaming capabilities at Pub Sport when it comes to the top tennis tournaments around the world.
AKBets
AKBets offers a wide range of tennis betting markets and is one of the go-to destinations for new bookmakers. It offers the latest odds on tennis tournaments throughout the year.
LeoVegas
Take your tennis betting on the go at LeoVegas with the new bookmaker's great mobile app, featuring exclusive tennis offers and more on an easy-to-use platform.
Copy Bet
Copy Bet offers fantastic promotions across a range of tennis betting markets, so there is something for everyone. Grab the latest odds and take advantage of the new bookmakers' live in-play betting features, too!
Golf
QuinnBet
One of the most popular sports for keen bettors at QuinnBet is Golf. Get all the latest odds on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, The Masters, and the Ryder Cup.
Copy Bet
Copy Bet features enhanced odds, various promotions, and exclusive tips from experienced sports bettors. It is a top golf betting site that users highly recommend.
Pub Sports
A sleek and user-friendly new bookmaker that offers all of the latest odds and markets across golf, Pub Sports is one of the best places for golf fans and bettors alike to gather and play.
TalkSPORT Bet
Listen and bet live on the latest golf tournaments, matchups, and players to win overall at TalkSPORT Bet, which offers a wide range of markets across the PGA tour and LIV Golf.
BetUK
BetUK is home to many different betting options and opportunities to grab exclusive offers across the world of Golf on all the top tournaments and players across the year.
Motor Racing
Virgin Bet
Whether you are a fan of Formula 1, Formula E, IndyCar or Nascar, you can find all of the best odds across a wide selection of different betting markets of all the motorsport events at this new bookmaker.
LeoVegas
Wager on race winners, constructors champions, race weekend specials, and driver specials across F1 and F2 at LeoVegas. Also, get the latest odds on NASCAR, IndyCar, Rally, and Supercars.
Planet Sport
Whether you are just a fan of F1 or all motorsports, with two separate categories, fans and bettors can easily navigate their way between the two at Planet Spor, having all your motorsports latest odds and updates in one place.
Pub Casino
Home to regularly updated odds across F1, IndyCar, Rally, Formula E, and Speedway, Pub Casino is a go-to destination for motorsport fans who like to get involved with race day betting.
AKBets
AKBets is home to some of the best odds on the latest Formula 1 season. Choose from podium places, race winners, fastest laps, classified finishers, and lots more at this new UK bookmaker website.
How to Sign Up to a New Online Bookmaker
Signing up for any of these new bookmakers is quick and easy. To help you get started, we have included a step-by-step guide below.
Click the link to any of the new UK bookmakers listed above to be taken to the sign-up page.
Enter your personal details like your name, address, date of birth and phone number.
Once you have completed the signup process, create a memorable username and password combination to become your personal login.
Sign in to your account and make your first deposit.
Place your first bet.
Enjoy!
How does Wisegambler.com Review New Bookmakers?
When reviewing these new UK bookmakers, the betting experts have a list of criteria that must be met to be considered one of the best. Below, we have listed the criteria used to review each bookmaker.
Reviews and Real Player Feedback
The first feature analysed before recommending any new bookmakers is the reviews and feedback left by real players at the site. This is where the most reliable and truthful comments will come from and will be what makes potential new customers believe they are signing up to a great site with lots of happy customers. Many potential new users will want assurances from people just like them before registering and using any new betting sites.
Range of Sports Betting Markets
To reach and attract the largest audience possible to new bookmakers, the platforms must have a range of different sports betting markets for customers to choose from. The market depth must be substantial and allow customers to explore new avenues, sports and types of bets to keep their time at new betting sites fresh.
Odds
One of the biggest features of the top new bookmakers is the odds available for customers. These must be competitive, valuable, and able to challenge competitor sites, offering something customers can not get anywhere else. In order to attract new customers and retain existing ones, this is a key focus for sites and experts when performing the review process of rating new bookmakers.
Bonuses and Promotions
Another highly important feature for any new online bookmaker is that the site has a strong variety of bonuses and promotions for customers. This applies to both new and existing customers and involves having a highly competitive and attractive signup offer alongside various valuable offers to make users return, such as login bonuses, loyalty bonuses, enhanced odds, and more. All the sites included above have the strongest offers available for everyone who uses the platform.
Mobile Betting Capabilities
Many customers of new UK bookmakers will, at one time or another, use their go-to site on their mobile, so it is important that the platform is fully compatible. New bookmakers must ensure the site can adapt to screen orientation and size adjustments between desktop and mobile, run smoothly on mobile data, and allow customers to access the site wherever they are. The sites will need to be fully compatible with a mobile browser and/or an exclusive mobile app to download across iOS and Android devices.
Customer Service
Customers must have quick, easily located support at any new online bookmakers and be available via various methods. Many sites offer around-the-clock support, while others are available from early morning until night. Support must be available via various channels, ensuring there is a method for everyone to reach the team. This is usually by email, live chat, telephone, and an FAQ page. The best new UK bookmakers will have support teams and options to match.
Live Streaming Services
So many new UK bookmakers offer customers the ability to livestream matches and events across various sports. This is a massive attraction to potential customers and provides the option to watch live alongside placing live in-play bets, having everything all in one place. The best new bookmakers will offer smooth live streams across sports such as football, boxing, and horse racing.
Licensed or Unlicensed?
The final criterion new bookmakers must meet is the correct licencing to operate legally. Before registering with any new UK bookmaker, it is vital to check that it is licenced by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) to ensure it operates within the law. This information is often found in the footer of each web page, alongside any encryption, security and responsible gambling information.
What Bonuses Do New Betting Sites Offer?
New betting sites offer fantastic bonuses for new and existing customers, and here, you will find the most common bonuses offered and claimed.
Signup Offers
Sign-up offers are high-reward, exciting offers used to attract new customers to register with a new UK bookmaker. Often consisting of more than one reward, the main purpose of the offer is to catch the user's attention, make them see it's the best, sign up, and claim the offer to continue using the site. An example of a sign-up offer is receiving your deposit matched or your money back if your first wager loses.
Free Bets
Free bets can be found as part of signup offers or existing customer offers and rewarded after a promotion has been claimed that offers them. These bets allow customers to place wagers at a site without having to spend any more of their own funds and even, sometimes, keep the winnings, too! Free bets are a really good opportunity for users to try out new features and betting markets to encourage them to return for more and experience new ways of betting.
No Deposit Bonuses
Claiming a no-deposit bonus allows users to place a wager at any new bookmakers without needing to spend their own funds making a deposit beforehand. It is another fantastic way to try out what a site has to offer and decide if you wish to sign up and return. These are rare offers and tend to be attached to signup and welcome bonuses, so they are worth claiming!
Loyalty Bonuses
This type of bonus is for existing customers at a new bookmaker's site who frequently return and use the site. Loyalty bonuses reward these customers with extra and exclusive promotions just for them to show that their loyalty and custom is noticed, valued and appreciated by the brand. These can also often be gained through loyalty/VIP programmes where repeat customers climb up through the levels to earn rewards.
Refer-a-friend
These bonuses are where existing customers at any new betting sites can earn themselves and their friends exclusive rewards and offers simply for referring them. This can be the likes of free bets, no deposit bonuses and more. Often, these types of bonuses require your friend to register and complete their first bet, waiting for it to settle for both of you to receive bonuses to take advantage of at a site.
Money-Back Specials
Money-back specials are bonuses where customers can receive their money back in the form of a cash refund or a free bet if their initial wager results in a loss. Claim this offer and feel assured that even if you lose, you do not lose your money and can have a second chance to place another bet and potentially win!
Enhanced Odds
A popular and frequent promotion run at new bookmakers is enhanced odds. This bonus sees existing odds replaced for a limited time when a big event or match takes place that day, often increased in value but for nothing extra from you. Enhance your potential winnings by wagering on enhanced odds, but be quick! These are not available for long and are often found on short-price favourites.
If you loved this article as much as we do,click here to find out more about wisegambler.com and how they rank brand new casino sites.
New Bookmakers vs Established Bookmakers
New bookmakers offer the advantage of being modern, innovative and sleek platforms ready to appeal to the target audiences in a new digital age. New sites will also have shiny and valuable sign-up bonuses to attract users to register and play at the site for the first time and get its brand out there. However, being a new online bookmaker is not easy as there will not be features such as reviews from real players or much information about the site or brand from like-minded people to promote trust and reliability in the site. However, every new bookmaker must start somewhere, with new features and a different approach to the traditional bookmakers, so attracting the desired customer base should be simple.
Whilst we believe that new online bookmakers can be of the same high quality as established ones, if you're not convinced, see what the experts at wisegambler.com have to say about the UK's best known betting brands here.
What to do if you have a gambling problem
We understand that gambling can be fun, but it's important to gamble responsibly. If you are struggling with a gambling problem, please do not hesitate to ask for help. There are people who can help you get on the road to recovery.
All the new bookmakers included in this article are safe to use and licenced by the UKGC. We always recommend checking for the relevant licences prior to using any new UK bookmakers.
How often do new bookies launch in the UK?
It has been reported that around 20-30 new UK bookmakers enter the market each year.
What deposit methods are available at new bookmakers?
New bookmakers often offer recognised and popular payment methods such as Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Bank Transfer and more!
Is live streaming available at new betting sites?
All of the new betting sites included in this article offer customers the ability to live stream sports exclusively when logged into their accounts.
Do I need a bonus code to signup to a new bookmaker?
Not all new UK bookmakers will require a bonus code to sign up, so we recommend checking the above prior to claiming an offer to see whether a bonus code is required.
Mark Lawrenson claims 'woke' BBC axed him for being '65 and white' | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Mark Lawrenson featured on Football Focus for 25 years (Picture: Getty)
Mark Lawrenson has claimed that the 'woke' BBC axed him as a football pundit for being a 65-year-old white male.
The Liverpool legend featured on BBC show Football Focus for 25 years with his first appearance on Match of the Day coming even earlier.
Lawrenson, 66, last appeared on Football Focus at the end of the 2021-22 campaign before the BBC went 'top of the woke league'.
Two years on, Lawrenson has opened up about his exit from the BBC and has slammed the national broadcaster for how he and his fellow pundits were treated.
'I wasn't happy with the way they dealt with me, basically,' Lawrenson told The Ben Heath Podcast. 'I'd been there nearly 25 years, great, but I was just signing one-year contracts, season to season.'
Lawrenson added that he was 'really p***ed off' but 'kind of knew' what would happen because he was '65 and white'.
He then suggested that Steve Wright, Ken Bruce and Sue Barker had been treated similarly and insisted that the BBC was the most woke media outlet in the country.
The BBC have decided not to respond to Mark Lawrenson's claims (Picture: Getty)
Quizzed about the BBC's controversial decision to briefly suspend Gary Lineker in 2023 after he compared the Home Office's migrant boat policy to Nazi Germany, Lawrenson said: 'They're frightened to death.
'Absolutely, totally frightened to death. I think day by day the integrity of the corporation gets chipped off.
'It used to be absolutely fantastic, but they are woke plus 100 per cent.'
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Metro.co.uk approached the BBC for a response over Lawrenson's claims but they were not willing to make a comment.
Last month, Alan Shearer defended the BBC after Jeff Stelling blasted the broadcaster for a 'terrible production decision' on Match of the Day.
Stelling took issue with how Newcastle's 4-3 win over West Ham was covered, with pundits failing to properly analyse Kalvin Phillips' foul on Anthony Gordon, which led to a penalty and subsequent goal.
The results mean Arsenal's lead at the top of the table is just one point, with Man City set to win the Premier League if they win their four remaining games.
Arsenal will hope to keep Pep Guardiola's team honest by taking nine points from their final three games, with the Gunners facing Bournemouth and Everton at home in-between a trip to Manchester United.
The Old Trafford game is Arsenal's toughest fixture on paper but ex-United midfielder Hargreaves cannot see his former club causing many problems.
'They can be anything, United, it's mad,' he said on Premier League Productions. 'Even at home to Burnley, it was Burnley who had more possession.
'That game might suit United because they'll be able to play on the counter and hit them on the break.
'But Mikel Arteta does such a great job in formulating game-plans to nullify those threats so I think Arsenal will beat Man United.
'United can't control games, the middle of the pitch is so open and Arsenal's midfield is brilliant with [Martin] Odegaard and [Declan] Rice. So I don't see United troubling Arsenal.'
The Red Devils have little to play for in the Premier League but will conclude the 2023-24 campaign with a FA Cup final against Manchester City.
While Arsenal prepare for fixtures against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Everton, defending champions Man City face Wolves, Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham as they chase a record fourth consecutive title.
The Brazilian joined Chelsea on a free transfer in 2020 and went on to help the Blues win three trophies, including the Champions League.
It is not clear if Chelsea tried to persuade Silva to sign a contract extension but Hargreaves believes the Stamford Bridge hierarchy should have done everything in their power to keep him at the club.
Boehly's ownership of Chelsea has been widely criticised, with the club's heavy spending and awarding of remarkedly long contracts yet to lead to success on the pitch.
'Chelsea should have kept him on. I think they should have kept him,' the ex-England midfielder said on Premier League Productions.
'The reason why they are struggling this season is because they have no leaders, no experienced players.
Thiago Silva is set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season (Picture: Getty)
'They need more of them, not less. You don't let the guy go who's won the Champions League and been one of the best centre-backs of all time.
'He could have stayed to mentor all those brilliant young centre-backs they have, like Colwill, Badiashile and Disasi.
'Having players like Thiago Silva in the dressing room is priceless. A guy like Thiago, who has been there and done it, he doesn't fold in the big moments.
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'He can still play. I think he'll go back to Brazil and play there. It's so important to have mentors when you come through – that guy would be the best mentor ever.'
In an emotional statement, Silva said his love for Chelsea was 'indescribable' and hinted at returning to Stamford Bridge one day.
'Chelsea means a lot to me,' he said. 'I came here with the intention of only staying for a year and it ended up being four years.
'It is already hard saying goodbye in the most normal of circumstances but when there is a mutual love, it's even harder. But once a Blue, always a Blue.'
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Arsenal legend Ian Wright said Silva's announcement was 'sad' as he paid tribute to a player who has enjoyed a 'great career'.
'A very sad video to watch,' Wright said. 'He was very emotional and it's a tough one because there does come a time in your career, and he is getting old, when you start to feel this is winding down.
'That day is coming and that has, obviously, happened to him. The announcement was very emotional because he knew it was coming and now he has to put it out there.
'What was really quite sad to watch was how he couldn't control the fact that he has accepted it in himself, and you see him in tears. It is sad. It's sad to see because a great career is winding down.'
Paris Saint-Germain can take a big step towards the Champions League final with victory at Borussia Dortmund | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Kylian Mbappe is PSG's most dangerous player (Picture: Getty Images)
Here's your starter for ten. Which English footballer has scored the most goals in the Bundesliga?
How about Harry Kane? No, although he'll undoubtedly top the list sooner rather than later. Okay, it must be Kevin Keegan because he won the Ballon D'Or in 1978 and 1979 when playing for Hamburg. Incorrect.
Well then, let's go for Tony Woodcock, a dual European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest who played for FC Koln? Nope and you're out of guesses.
The answer is Jadon Sancho who scored his 40th goal in Germany's top flight at the weekend when he hit the net for Borussia Dortmund in a 4-1 defeat at RB Leipzig. Since January the 24-year-old has been on loan with BVB, where he spent four successful years from 2017 to 2021, after falling out with Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag.
He also scored in a 2-0 home victory over PSV Eindhoven to help Dortmund into the Champions League quarter-finals where they then beat Atletico Madrid after a couple of humdingers in Spain and on home soil to set up a semi-final battle with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Ligue 1 champions reached this stage of the competition by beating Barcelona over two legs and their attack is led by classy Kylian Mbappe, who is set to move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
Jadon Sancho loves scoring for Dortmund and found the net in their Champions League last-16 first leg match against PSV Eindhoven (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
He has scored eight of his 43 goals this season in the Champions League and is obviously a big threat to a Dortmund side beset by injuries.
Winning the final at Wembley on Saturday, June 1 would equate to getting their hands on the holy grail for PSG and they head across the border full of confidence after taking four points off Dortmund in the group stages.
They are also unbeaten in 15 games away from home in all competitions stretching way back to a 2-1 reversal at AC Milan at the beginning of November.
Mbappe can send PSG to victory by opening the scoring at 15/4 with bet365 and he's a concrete bet at 11/10 with the same firm to get on the scoresheet at any time.
Sancho is 4/1 with SpreadEx to find the net but back PSG to win at 29/20 with bet365 and Betfair while a 2-1 victory for the Parisians is 10/1 with William Hill.
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• Aidan O'Brien's classy City of Troy will take some beating in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday. Triumphant in all three starts last year, including the Dewhurst Stakes over course and distance, the bay colt must be followed even at 4/6, which is available with multiple firms. Fallen Angel, trained by Karl Burke, is 7/2 with William Hill for the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday.
• Globetrotting Japanese raider Forever Young, a fine winner already this year at Medan and Riyadh, looks each-way gold for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs when the 150th Run for the Roses is staged on Saturday. Also victorious on home soil in his young undefeated career, he's worthing supporting at 8/1 with Betfred, bet365 and Paddy Power.
'I'd love to see a LIV-style breakaway!' O'Sullivan said. 'I'd love to get a phone call which says "do you want £600million to play for three years" I'd love that phone call. Wouldn't you?
'Would you turn that down? If someone said "come and work for my radio station for three years and we'd pay you £600million" would you turn it down?'
It is a fair question from the Rocket but the possible breakaway tour in snooker is not offering that kind of money, instead around £320,000 guaranteed, with prize money to be won on top of that.
O'Sullivan is into the quarter-finals at the Crucible where he faces Stuart Bingham (Picture: Getty Images)
Players including Kyren Wilson and Jack Lisowski have admitted they are at least tempted by an offer elsewhere and the Rocket says they are welcome to make their own choices.
'I don't know. I don't get involved in it. Each to their own, everyone's got to do what they've got to do,' said the world number one.
'I know what I want from the sport, I know what I'm prepared to do and I know what I need in return from it. As long as I keep getting that I don't mind playing. Everyone has to make that decision up for themselves.
'Everyone's in different positions in the game, stages of their careers. One might work better for one person. Working more or less could work for others. It's not always about money. It's about the time as well. That's the most important thing, for some people it's money. It's really hard to give you a straight answer.'
Stephen Maguire and Dave Gilbert love-in before World Championship showdown | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Stephen Maguire and Dave Gilbert are big fans of each other (Pictures: Getty)
Stephen Maguire and Dave Gilbert were full of praise for each other as players and people ahead of their World Championship clash, but they will be ready for battle at the Crucible.
Both men are former semi-finalists but had to come through qualifying after disappointing results over the last couple of years.
However, they have shown their quality so far at the Crucible, with Maguire beating Ali Carter and Shaun Murphy, while Gilbert has downed defending champion Luca Brecel and Rob Milkins.
With the clash set for the quarter-finals, it will be a contest that has been played out ever since their junior days, and they are still going at each other in their 40s.
'I've been a Stephen Maguire fan since we were kids,' Gilbert told Metro. 'He was the one I looked at and thought would win everything. I'm amazed he's never won a world title.
'If I wasn't playing him I'd probably be hoping he did go on and win one, but obviously not this year. I think he's a top lad, he's always been straight with me and he's like that with everybody. He's a good guy.'
Maguire added: 'It's mad isn't it. To play Shaun and then Dave back-to-back, you're talking 11-years-old playing in junior tournaments. Young, ugly kids running about trying to pot balls. It's mad that we're still here 30 years later.
'I've always said Dave's a great player. He was a great junior. It took him a while to break through, but everybody rates Dave, that big cue action with the long backswing. He's good to watch.
'He's a cracking boy off the table. He was a good junior, I was decent. We're doing well. We're doing all right for ourselves.'
Gilbert sees it as an even contest but will be drawing on fond memories of a quarter-final win over Maguire at the Masters in 2020, feeling that he is returning to that kind of form.
'I think it probably is a 50-50 game If I play well I can win, if Stephen plays well he can win. I think it'll be a great game,' said the Angry Farmer.
Maguire was fired up during his second round win over Shaun Murphy (Picture: Getty Images)
'We haven't played that much over the years. The Masters was probably the last time I felt I could play the game, so hopefully it's the same feeling and same result.
'That was one of my best wins, such a big thing playing at the Masters for the first time and I felt like I handled it really well. Hopefully more of the same again.
'We've both struggled but our rankings probably aren't correct. We're both better than about 32 in the world. We've both not done so well lately. But he's had a fantastic career, nearly every snooker player would swap with him.
'He's obviously still got game, he's in the quarter-finals and probably feeling confident like I am.'
Gilbert and Maguire begin their quarter-final contest at 10am on Tuesday at the Crucible.
Stuart Bingham reveals his simple plan to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Crucible | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Stuart Bingham is in the Rocket's firing line in Sheffield (Picture: Getty Images)
Stuart Bingham says it is a simple enough mantra that he will take into his World Snooker Championship clash with Ronnie O'Sullivan: 'Don't miss!'
The 2015 world champion had to come through qualifying to get to the Crucible but has impressed since arriving, beating Gary Wilson and Jack Lisowski so far.
Next up is the biggest test in the game, facing the world number one, but Bingham has beaten him before at the Crucible, downing him at the same quarter-final stage on his amazing run to the world title.
Having conquered the Rocket in the past, he knows how tough a task it is, but says there is only one piece of advice worth listening to.
'Don't miss. Simple as that,' he said. 'I remember playing Ronnie in the semi-final of the Grand Prix, before the World Championship in 2015 and he beat me 6-0. It's good to play him beforehand because you get used to the way he plays and his aura. I ain't played him for a few years.
'So you've got 95 per cent of the crowd on his side and you're playing the best player in the world. Easy as that!
'You've just got to get involved in the match and try and stay with him. He's going to have a little spurt here and there, you've got to try and stick in there.'
Bingham beat O'Sullivan 13-9 in 2015 (Picture: Getty Images)
O'Sullivan was far from faultless in his second round win over Ryan Day, with the Welshman spurning a number of opportunities and Bingham hopes it will be more of the same from the Rocket against him.
'I watched a little bit of his match with Ryan, he gave Ryan a fair few chances so I'll hope he plays like that,' said the 47-year-old. 'But Ronnie's Ronnie. We're 1-1 in quarters, he bashed be up a few years before 13-4.
'So I'll have to touch up on my game, need to score a bit heavier. My safety's good, I'm happy with that but I need to score heavier to have a chance.'
O'Sullivan has not been pushed in wins over Jackson Page and Ryan Day so far (Picture: Getty Images)
Bingham is somewhat freewheeling as a qualifier in the quarter-finals, while O'Sullivan is bidding for a record eighth world title, but Ballrun says there is pressure on everyone in the sport's greatest tournament.
'I'm going for my second. He's going for his eighth. So we've got our own pressures and thoughts,' he said. 'I'm sure he'd love to get to eight.
'To be honest he maybe should be on 12, that's how good he is. But he's obviously fighting for his 8th, that might be why he played a little bit poorly against Ryan, he's got that added pressure.
'But you can't take anything for granted with Ronnie. He's the best player to ever pick up a cue and you need to play really, really well to have a chance.'
The 39-year-old enraged both his manager and the club's hierarchy when he gave an interview with Piers Morgan in November 2022 in which he said he had 'no respect' for Ten Hag and criticised the Glazer family's stewardship of the club.
Ronaldo had been at loggerheads with his manager long before that, beginning with his decision to leave a pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano before the final whistle had been blown.
The interview with Morgan was the final straw and Ronaldo's contract was terminated with immediate effect, with the former Real Madrid forward moving to Saudi Arabia to join Al Nassr not long after.
Although Ten Hag's firm stance was applauded at the time, Ronaldo's former Real team-mate Sneijder now claims it has contributed to the growing pressure his compatriot now faces at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag is fighting to save his job, particularly after another disappointing result against Burnley at the weekend, and Sneijder believes his power battle with Ronaldo ultimately lost him the respect of United's players.
Speaking on Dutch TV show Veronica Offside on Monday night, Sneijder said: 'He already made a mistake by competing with Ronaldo.
Ronaldo and Sneijder were team-mates at Real Madrid (Picture: Getty)
'He lost everyone's respect there. He thought it would work the other way around, but of course not.
'Those guys in the dressing room thought, "Is this man crazy?"'
On suggestions Ten Hag might be axed at the end of the season, Sneijder added: 'Of course he already knows that he has to leave.
'But you're not going to go yourself. If I was him, I would sit there comfortably [until he's sacked].'
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United's draw with Burnley officially ended their hopes of finishing in the top four and they are now fighting just to claim a place in the Europa League, though Ten Hag has defended his side and believes he is building a team for the future.
'We have some very young players and that's why we built this club back. That takes time, and we build this by bringing in young players,' he said at the weekend.
'Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo – they are all in the first season of the Premier League and the Premier League gets more intense year by year.
'We have seen the data and it's much more intense than last season, especially when you see over the last four or five seasons. Those players have to adjust and that takes time.
'I am sorry for everyone. So, I am very impatient but there we need patience and fans they need patience. We built here a team, and they need experience.'
William Gallas names Chelsea duo as the two biggest flops of the season | HXR6S24 | 2024-04-30 16:08:01
Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea have largely struggled this season (Picture: Getty)
William Gallas has named two Chelsea players as the biggest flops of the season in the Premier League.
Chelsea have underwhelmed in Mauricio Pochettino's first season at Stamford Bridge, winning just 13 of their 33 league games to sit ninth in the Premier League.
With five games remaining, the Blues are 19 points outside the Champions League places and 32 points behind Premier League leaders and London rivals Arsenal.
Gallas has been particularly disappointed with two Chelsea players, labelling Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk as the biggest flops of the season.
Sterling was a prolific forward and serial winner at Manchester City but is still struggling following his £50m move to Stamford Bridge in 2022, scoring six league goals this term.
That is two more than Mudryk has managed, with the Ukrainian so far failing to justify his £89m price tag following a move from Shakhtar Donetsk last year.
Asked to name his biggest flop of the season, Gallas told Gambling Zone: 'I think Raheem Sterling has been a big disappointment. When I watch him play, he doesn't look like a player that will return to the level that he was at Liverpool and Manchester City.
Raheem Sterling has only scored eight goals this season (Picture: Getty)
'This is his second season with the club, and he hasn't showed anything. For a guy that has won so much in his career, he should be doing a lot more for Chelsea. He hasn't done anything.
'Also, Mudryk, but the circumstances around his poor performances are a little bit different. We don't know how he has been affected by the war in Ukraine. We don't know what is happening with him – it must be very difficult for him.
'It looks like he isn't enjoying his football or his time at Chelsea. When he plays, you can see he isn't enjoying it.
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'It's a shame because everyone thought this would be the year where he showed his potential – I also thought that he would be a different player this season.'
Pressed on why Mudryk could be struggling at Stamford Bridge, Gallas added: 'It's hard for me to comment on why Mudryk looks like he doesn't have the confidence or the enjoyment in his football.
'I don't know if a change of scenery would benefit the player. We don't know if a new club would change his fortunes on the pitch.
Chelsea spent £89m on struggling winger Mykhailo Mudryk (Picture: Getty)
'We don't know what is going on in his private life. The situation with the war is very hard – he could still have family in Ukraine.
'Only the players that are around him, the guys that live with him every single day, will know what the answer is.'
Chelsea have five more games left to play this season, starting with a London derby against Tottenham on Thursday night.
