Inter Milan are showing interest in signing Christopher Nkunku, who is expected to leave Chelsea this summer after a two-year stay. During his time at Stamford Bridge, Nkunku made 62 appearances, scoring 18 goals and providing five assists.
His debut season (2023/24) was significantly hampered by injuries, including a knee problem in pre-season and a hamstring issue later on. Following Nicolas Jackson's arrival, Nkunku became second choice at centre-forward under both Mauricio Pochettino and Enzo Maresca.
Despite interest in January, Chelsea's £65m valuation wasn't met, and Nkunku stayed, winning the Conference League and Club World Cup. However, with new attacking signings arriving this summer, his departure is anticipated. Chelsea's current asking price is reported to be £43.3m.
While Inter Milan is interested, his wages could be a major obstacle, potentially making a deal unfeasible for the Serie A club. It's unclear if Nkunku would lower his salary demands to facilitate a move to the San Siro.
Nkunku emerged as a potential target for Inter amid their pursuit of Ademola Lookman. Following Atalanta's rejection of a €42m plus €3m add-ons bid for Lookman, Inter might revisit their interest in Nkunku and attempt to reach agreements with both Chelsea and the player.
Ultimately, compromises from all parties will be necessary for Nkunku to leave Chelsea this summer.

Inter Milan are interested in signing Christopher Nkunku, who is expected to leave Chelsea this summer.

Christopher Nkunku latest: Inter Milan identify obstacle which could block Chelsea transfer

The Dallas Mavericks' championship aspirations for next season heavily depend on the health and return of star guard Kyrie Irving. Following the trade of Luka Doncic to Los Angeles, the team has retooled its roster with Anthony Davis leading the frontcourt and offseason additions like Cooper Flagg and D'Angelo Russell.
Irving, who suffered an ACL tear in March, remains a significant question mark. While he is confirmed to be back with the Mavericks next season, the exact timing of his return to the court is uncertain. Responding to a fan question during a recent stream about returning for the playoffs, Irving expressed caution, stating "Don’t hold your breath on that." He declined to predict a return date, emphasizing his focus on coming back "150,000% better," casting doubt on the previous expectation of a regular-season return to prepare for the playoffs.
This hesitancy from Irving, while potentially not definitive, raises concerns for Dallas about his availability next season. The Mavericks' success is seen as critically linked to Irving eventually returning to full health and form.

The star guard is looking ahead to next season.

Mavericks' Kyrie Irving gives concerning update on injury recovery, return timeline

Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Portugal national team, faced criticism online for not attending the funeral of his teammate Diogo Jota. This backlash occurred despite other Portugal stars like Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, and Bernardo Silva being present at the funeral in Gondomar.
Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva tragically died in a car crash in northern Spain a month prior. The accident happened just 11 days after Jota married his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, who is the mother of his three young children.
The reason given for Ronaldo's absence was that he did not want his presence to overshadow the importance of people paying their respects to Jota and his brother.
Pedro Proenca, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FA), has now publicly defended Ronaldo against this criticism.

The tragic accident came just 11 days after Jota had married childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso, who is the mother of his two sons Dinis, four, and Duarte, two as well as his baby daughter Mafalda.

Cristiano Ronaldo defended from 'immense injustice' over his absence from Diogo Jota's funeral - as Portuguese FA chief claims captain was 'closely connected' during tributes

Jimi Gower, a 20-year-old midfielder who spent eight years in Arsenal's academy, departed as a free agent this summer after the club opted against extending his contract. He has since secured a trial with Portuguese top-flight club Moreirense FC.

Gower recently featured in a friendly match against AVS Futebol SAD, scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory. Portuguese outlet O Jogo reports he is now expected to sign permanently with Moreirense, having trained with the squad since pre-season began.

According to Guimaraes Digital, the club's coaching staff and hierarchy have provided positive feedback on Gower after his appearances in multiple pre-season games. Moreirense aims to finalize his signing before their league campaign commences on August 10th.

Jimi Gower is expected to sign for Moreirense following his departure from Arsenal, having scored in pre-season during his trial spell with the club.

Released Arsenal player to sign for Portuguese 1st-tier club

Luka Doncic will return to Los Angeles this weekend for the final stop of his Jordan Brand Tour. During this visit, the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to offer him a four-year, $229 million contract extension on Saturday.
The Lakers acquired Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster trade in February and have established him as the new face of the franchise, signaling a move away from LeBron James as their focal point. Doncic has already influenced roster decisions, leading to the signings of DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart. The Lakers also attempted to trade for Mark Williams at Doncic's request, but the deal collapsed after Williams reportedly failed a physical examination.
Due to NBA rules limiting the maximum offer for players with less than 10 years of service, Doncic could potentially reject this extension. If he waits until 2028 when he reaches the 10-year mark, the Lakers could offer him an extension exceeding $400 million. Should he reject the current offer, he might instead sign a three-year contract worth approximately $160 million.
The Lakers and Doncic share a vision for the franchise's future. While not prioritizing an immediate championship this season, the organization hopes Doncic can lead them to an NBA title in the coming years. Doncic expressed this goal in a July 19th interview, stating he wants to be known as "the guy that brought championships to the city."
Regardless of whether Doncic signs the extension this weekend or waits until 2028, he is viewed as a key part of the Lakers franchise for many years to come.

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly expected to offer superstar Luka Doncic a contract extension this weekend when he returns to Los Angeles, per NBA insider Brett Siegel.

Lakers Rumors: NBA Insider Provides Massive Update on Luka Doncic Extension

The Indiana Fever have signed forward Chloe Bibby to a contract for the remainder of the season. This announcement came after Bibby impressed during a seven-day hardship contract with the team, averaging 9 points per game and shooting 50% from three-point range in two appearances. Notably, the Fever won both games she played in.
Bibby, a 27-year-old undrafted rookie, brings significant overseas professional experience from leagues in countries including Poland, Spain, and Australia. Earlier this month, she helped Australia win the gold medal at the FIBA Women’s Asia World Cup.
Standing at 6'2", Bibby is recognized as an elite shooter. She shot 35.5% from three-point range over five collegiate seasons split between Mississippi State and Maryland. Her shooting ability is expected to help space the floor for Indiana, and she is anticipated to play significant minutes in the frontcourt.
Prior to joining the Fever, Bibby was briefly on the roster of the Golden State Valkyries. In five regular-season games for the Valkyries, she averaged 6.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, shooting 40.7% from the field and 42.1% from three-point range. She received praise from head coach Natalie Nakase and was considered a good fit before being waived.
Bibby will now remain with the Fever for the rest of their season as they aim to improve their standing. Currently holding the league's sixth-best record, the Fever have been without star Caitlin Clark for over half the season. If Clark returns from her groin injury and regains her offensive form, Indiana has playoff potential, and Bibby could emerge as a major contributor during this stretch.

The Fever signed Chloe Bibby — who has been outstanding in two games on a seven-day contract — to a rest-of-season contract.

The Indiana Fever just made a no-brainer front office decision

The Oklahoma City Thunder's $250 million investment in Chet Holmgren, initially criticized by some, could be fully justified if he successfully adds a specific offensive element to his game. Analyst Adam Mares reports that the Thunder are preparing to develop Holmgren into a more self-initiating scorer, particularly off the dribble, aiming to elevate him to ultimate stardom in the 2025-26 season.
Already recognized as a defensive cornerstone and ranked second in Defensive Player of the Year odds after playing a key role in the Thunder's championship win, Holmgren becoming a well-rounded offensive threat would make him even more formidable. Mares points to evidence of this potential from the very start of the 2024-25 season. Before suffering a right iliac wing fracture, Holmgren was highly active and effective off the bounce, averaging 18.2 points on 51.9% shooting (40.0% from three) with a 24.2% usage rate in his first nine healthy games.
Following a three-month hiatus due to the hip injury, Holmgren struggled to regain his pre-injury form upon return. His offensive role shifted primarily to off-ball, catch-and-shoot situations. While his averages remained solid (14.3 points per game on 38.0% three-point shooting), his early-season burst and aggression were significantly diminished, a trend that continued even during the Thunder's playoff title run where his offense wasn't at its peak.
The hope is that a full offseason of rest and rehabilitation will allow Holmgren to sustain his pre-injury level of offensive production and dynamism throughout the entire upcoming season. Achieving this would not only validate the massive contract but could also propel him to All-Star status alongside teammates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Adding a fully realized, offensively versatile Holmgren to the Thunder's core could make the defending champions virtually unstoppable.

The OKC Thunder seem eager to add a particular element to Chet Holmgren's game that could end up making them even more dominant than they currently are.

Thunder set to make Chet Holmgren realization that could make them unstoppable

The Milwaukee Bucks unveiled new "Cream City" alternate jerseys in a video posted to their social media account, showcasing a jersey bearing Giannis Antetokounmpo's number 34 and a matching court design. The jersey is primarily cream-colored with "Cream City" written in green script across the chest, featuring green numbers outlined in blue, along with green and blue piping.
The "Cream City" nickname originates from Milwaukee's history, referencing the cream-colored bricks used in many of the city's major 19th-century buildings. While the Bucks first wore a cream-colored jersey in the 2017-18 season, the specific "Cream City" uniforms debuted as their City Edition look during the 2019-20 campaign before being replaced in subsequent years.
The article then shifts to the Bucks' recent performance. Despite making nine consecutive playoff appearances entering the 2025-26 season, the team has struggled in the postseason since winning the championship in 2021, suffering three consecutive first-round defeats after a second-round exit in 2022. This includes a 4-1 loss to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers last season, during which star guard Damian Lillard tore his Achilles tendon.
Lillard's injury and impending free agency for several key players fueled significant offseason speculation, including rumors about a potential trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Reports indicated Giannis was open-minded about his future, though one insider believed a trade was unlikely unless he requested it.
In response, Bucks GM Jon Horst made moves seemingly aimed at retaining Giannis. He re-signed Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., and Taurean Prince. Controversially, Horst also waived Damian Lillard, using the freed-up salary cap space to sign former Pacers center Myles Turner in free agency. The article concludes by noting it's uncertain if these moves make the Bucks true contenders next season, but they retain a chance as long as Giannis remains with the team.

The Milwaukee Bucks revealed their "Cream City" alternate jerseys in a video posted to their X account.

Giannis, Bucks Reveal 'Cream City' Uniforms for 2025 in Hype Video amid Trade Rumors

Manchester City has seen six players depart this summer, including Kevin De Bruyne and Scott Carson (contract expiry), Juma Bah (loan to Nice), and Kyle Walker, Yan Couto, and Maximo Perrone (sold). Jahmai Simpson-Pusey appears set to be the next departure, joining Celtic on loan for the 25/26 season.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed the imminent loan arrival of Simpson-Pusey, describing him as a "very gifted young player" who came through Manchester City's system. Rodgers stated the young centre-back's profile fits Celtic's requirements, highlighting his speed, dominance, defensive ability, and strength in progressing the ball. He emphasized the need for depth at centre-back due to the high number of intense games Celtic plays.
A loan move is seen as the logical next step for Simpson-Pusey's career. Having maximized his development at youth level with Manchester City, he requires higher-level football to grow. The move is also practical given City's depth in the centre-back position.
Playing for Celtic offers a high-pressure environment conducive to Simpson-Pusey's development. The club is dominant in Scotland and expects to win trophies annually. Rodgers' attacking, possession-based style aligns with what Simpson-Pusey is familiar with, and the physically demanding Scottish Premier League should aid his physical and defensive growth.
Simpson-Pusey is now on the verge of completing this loan move to Celtic for the 2025/26 season, widely viewed as a positive step for the young defender's progression.

So far this summer, six players have left Manchester City. Kevin De Bruyne and Scott Carson left the club after their contracts expired. Young centre-back Juma Bah completed a loan move to Nice for ne...

Another departure from Manchester City has seemingly been confirmed

Gerry Cardinale, owner of AC Milan via RedBird Capital, is in discussions with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver regarding the potential creation of an NBA-linked basketball league in Europe. While it's early stage, the idea involves RedBird, suggesting AC Milan could be connected to a future basketball team, described as potentially having "a little brother who plays basketball". This aligns with Cardinale's previously stated interest in owning multiple sports franchises for strategic benefits and synergies.
The NBA is actively exploring the establishment of a European league as an alternative to the NBA. High-level talks have occurred, including a meeting between Silver, NBA executives, and representatives of Real Madrid in Paris. Real Madrid and Barcelona are considered key clubs for this project, especially as their existing contracts with the Euroleague expire in 2026, freeing them to join other competitions.
Potential franchise locations discussed by journalist Bill Simmons include major European cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, London, Istanbul, and Berlin. Regarding Milan, Simmons noted the city's existing basketball team, Olimpia Milano, has a long-term Euroleague contract. However, he suggested AC Milan, owned by RedBird without a current basketball team, is "essentially in favour" and should be considered involved in the project somehow.
The project is described as large, complex, and long-term, but also extremely serious, evidenced by the NBA hiring JP Morgan as an advisor. Cardinale's connections to top-level American sports (like the New York Yankees) and his relationship with LeBron James are noted; James became a passive investor in AC Milan via a fund that supported RedBird's acquisition. Rumours also link similar concepts to other soccer clubs like PSG and Manchester City, with the story expected to develop further.

Gerry Cardinale is one of the people talking to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver about the possibility of creating an NBA-linked basketball league in Europe.

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