West Ham United are closing in on a double swoop to sign Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire and Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse in deals worth around £30 million each.
Maguire had fallen down the pecking order under manager Erik ten Hag last season, finding himself fifth-choice centre-half at Old Trafford behind Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw, whose usual position is left-back.
The 30-year-old had been keen to remain at the club he joined from Leicester City for £80 million in 2019 and was contracted to until the summer of 2025 but the writing was on the wall when Ten Hag stripped Maguire of the captaincy at the start of pre-season.
Maguire made 175 appearances for United, scoring seven goals but made only 16 Premier League appearances last season and another campaign without regular football would have put his England place under threat ahead of next summer's Euro 2024 in Germany. Maguire has won 57 caps and scored seven goals for his country.
He is understood to be keen on moving to the London club and while personal terms have not yet been agreed, it is not expected to be a problem.
Ward-Prowse, meanwhile, joined the Southampton Academy at the age of eight, and rose up through the ranks before making his senior debut as a sixteen-year-old in October 2011.
He made 410 appearances for the Saints, scoring 55 goals, but his nine goals in 38 Premier League games last season could not prevent Southampton being relegated from the top-flight and a move away from the south coast looked inevitable.
The 28-year-old – who has won 11 England caps, scoring two goals – is a renowned dead-ball specialist scoring 17 free-kicks and needs only one more to equal David Beckham's Premier League record.
Ward-Prowse started in Southampton’s first Championship game of the season last week – a 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday – but did not play in their shock EFL Cup defeat to Gillingham on Tuesday.
His arrival will be a welcome one for West Ham manager David Moyes who needed to strengthen his midfield after losing captain Declan Rice to Arsenal in a £105 million deal.
Moyes is also thought to be keen on Manchester United's Scotland international Scott McTominay but is reported to have seen a £30 million offer turned down, with the 26-year-old midfielder valued at around £45 million by the Red Devils.
But while the Hammers close in on new arrivals at the London Stadium, they face a fight to keep hold of another key player with Manchester City now looking to sign Lucas Paqueta.
The attacking midfielder became the club's record signing last summer when he joined from Ligue 1 side Lyon for £51 million and while an initial approach has been knocked back, Pep Guardiola's treble winners are thought to be planning another bid of £70 million.
The Guardian have reported that the Brazil international’s contract contains an £85 million release clause that does not become active until next summer.
But City's interest will prove problematic for West Ham should they turn down the initial offer with the 25-year-old sure to have had his head turned by the prospect of playing Champions League football with the current European champions.
West Ham finished 14th in the Premier League last season but won their first major trophy in 43 years after beating Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
The%20Roundup
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Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
SPECS
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
