Chelsea
In a somewhat surprising development, John Stones has apparently looked to force Everton's hand by handing in a transfer request as Chelsea pursue the young defender, reports said Wednesday.
Sky Sports were the first to relay the information on Twitter on Tuesday night.
The 21-year-old centre-back has been the subject of intense manoeuvring by Chelsea in the past weeks, with a steady stream of bids slowly rising from £20 million (Dh115.3m) to the last rejected proposal of £30m. Speculation in the English press has pegged a subsequent, final play for Stones as high as £40m.
Everton have been intent on keeping Stones, and as recently as Monday he was earning praise from teammates and manager Roberto Martinez for his composure through the transfer window.
“John is a different character. He is not arrogant. The most important thing for him is to play football and that is what he continues to do,” said Everton keeper Tim Howard.
Read more: Thomas Woods writes Kurt Zouma can replace John Terry at Chelsea – right now
Martinez said: “We have seen John grow in the last two years and we want to be as strong as we can when the window closes. We have our own aims and objectives and want to become a winning team.”
Now, though, Martinez is faced with carefully maintaining a positive relationship with his want-away young star if he’s to convince Stones that Goodison Park is still the best place for him.
On Tuesday night he had little to say on the matter.
“There is nothing to comment on that,” he said. “Once more, it is always the same question and always the same answer. The only thing that matters now is the game we have in front of us.
“There is nothing to announce or discuss.”
Jose Mourinho has sought to recruit Stones to Chelsea with increasing assertiveness as his club have stumbled to an unimpressive start. The Premier League champions are 10th after three matches – one win, one draw, one loss – while stalwarts in defence like John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic have yet to hit any sort of stride.
Real Madrid
After talk of a move to high-profile Premier League sides like Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid's Asier Illarramendi appears set for a low-key move back to boyhood club Real Sociedad.
Spain's Marca reports a €17 million (Dh71.7m) deal for Illarramendi to leave the Bernabeu and lend David Moyes's Sociedad side some star power. The Spanish newspaper cited reports from the EFE agency.
Also see: The National's Transfer Talk page
Madrid purchased Illarramendi from Sociedad two years ago for €39m. "Two years later," says Marca "and a move in the opposite direction suited everyone concerned".
Both Liverpool and Spurs have been said to be in the market for a defensive midfielder, and Illarramendi, 25, appeared to be the premium talent on the market. He has never quite become a fixture in Madrid’s best XI, but made nearly 30 league appearances in both his seasons at the Bernabeu.
West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion assistant Dave Kemp admitted Saido Berahino could return to the team against Stoke City after his exile.
The striker was dropped again as West Brom edged Port Vale 5-3 on penalties in the League Cup following a forgettable 0-0 draw after extra-time at The Hawthorns.
Richard Duffy blazed his penalty over in the shoot-out leaving James Chester to seal the Premier League side’s route to the third round and a tie at Norwich City.
West Brom had rejected a second bid from Tottenham Hotspur for Berahino, understood to total £21m with clauses and instalments, hours before the game.
Kemp said they will attempt to determine the player’s state of mind before Saturday’s trip to the Britannia Stadium.
“That’s something we can assess between now and then. We’ll see what happens as it unfolds. Once we get to next Tuesday it’ll be clearer,” he said, referencing the transfer deadline of August 31.
“He was considered tonight but there’s other stuff. This transfer window is upsetting not just to Saido but to everyone.
“He’s training fine, you can imagine he’s a young man and there’s a lot going on and your eye might not be on the ball. You have to be totally focused to perform.
“The manager has to make a decision.”
*Press Association
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SRI LANKA SQUAD
Upul Tharanga (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella
Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana
Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Seekuge Prasanna
Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera
Vishwa Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
