Soccer: Transfer news
Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez has gone some way to stifle one of the summer’s longest-running transfer sagas - by saying he is “100 per cent” sure that Sergio Ramos will stay at Real despite interest from Manchester United.
United are willing to exchange goalkeeper David de Gea for Ramos, who is reportedly unhappy about the salary he has been offered as part of a new deal at the Bernabeu.
“I have a lot of respect for (United manager) Louis van Gaal, but Sergio will be staying with us,” the Real Madrid manager said at a press conference in Australia prior to the team’s friendly against Manchester City.
“He is our player, our captain. I would like to see him (at the club) at the beginning of the season, because he’s a key player for us.”
When asked whether he was absolutely certain the centre-half would stay, Benitez said: “For me, 100 per cent.
“I insist that it is clear for me and the club, Sergio will be here. Football is a curious world, but Ramos will be staying.”
Belgian striker Christian Benteke has finally completed his €46.5m move from Aston Villa to Liverpool, the club will pay €23m up front for the 24-year-old.
Closer to home and the focus has been on European qualification, there was bad news on that front though for Dundalk last night. Stephen Kenny's team would've progressed on the away goal rule if they'd beaten fancied Belarusian side BATE, but they fell just short at Oriel Park after a goalless draw.
Tonight both UCD and Shamrock Rovers will hope for better fortune in their Europa League qualifiers.
No League of Ireland side has overturned a defeat from a home first leg in Europe, never mind a 2-0 deficit, but Pat Fenlon is hopeful his Rovers team can do just that against Odds Ballklubb in Norway.
UCD have more chance of springing an upset, they lost 1-0 in Slovakia last week and even a reversal of that result against Slovan Bratislava at Belfield tonight would be enough to push the game to extra-time.
Great piece in today's paper from Dave Hannigan on the odd pay structures and worrying wage imbalances in the MLS, a league which is largely becoming a retirement competition but for many is still seen as a bench mark for domestic leagues such as our own.
Rugby: World Cup
Joe Schmidt is to remain as Ireland head coach until June 30th 2017after signing a new deal yesterday evening. So he will leave in the middle of a World Cup cycle, which is slightly curious but it's the 49-year-old's wish.
Irish coaches in the past haven’t had great records after signing new deals on the eve of a major tournament - Eddie O’Sullivan in 2007, Mick McCarthy, Giovanni Trapattoni - but saying that Irish coaches in the past haven’t had Schmidt’s success.
GAA: Championship
The major news breaking last night was that Longford senior football manager Jack Sheedy has stepped down, citing family reasons. He led the team to three championship wins this summer and league promotion, despite two heavy defeat to Dublin and Kildare this summer.
This week's GAA Statistics column is talking about Fermanagh versus Westmeath on Saturday,a Fermanagh team who are heavily dependent on Sean Quigley who is himself heavily dependent on frees. Fortunately for Westmeath though they concede very few scoring frees, the same cannot be said for goals though.
Golf: Homecoming
Paul Dunne says the support of his fans kept his energy levels up during a rollercoaster British Open in which he went into the final round at the top of the leaderboard - some feat for a young amateur.
Dunne, who turns professional in September, finished 30th after Monday’s final round but his performances before that meant that he had already made his mark.
"I didn't know how big the stir was but I could sense it when I had 2,000 Twitter followers and then I finished the tournament and I had 20,000," said Paul Dunne arriving home at Dublin Airport on Wednesday. "It was just a week where I played well."
What to watch out for:
The Tour de France continues today, as no doubt the Chris Froome debate will, stage 18 now: To St Jean de Maurienne.
TG4, 1.10pm-4.40pm
The World matchplay darts continues this afternoon in Blackpool, into the third round now.
Sky Sports 1, 7pm-10pm
In golf the Ontario Canadian Open is live on Sky tonight.
Sky Sports 4, 8pm-11pm
