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Leeds United Transfer News: Bielsa Pursues Striker Reunion

Leeds have shown interest in wantaway Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi, per reports from the Daily Express in the latest Leeds United transfer news.

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa managed Batshuayi during his stint as Marseille manager. Batshuayi scored 10 goals in 29 appearances then, and it appears the iconic Argentine manager is looking to reunite with the out-of-favour Belgian.

The Express adds that Atalanta are also interested in the services on Batshuayi and have made contact about a loan move.

Batshuayi has been on several loans over the last few seasons and with his £100,000 per week contract expiring after this season, Frank Lampard is thought to be keen to sell.

After starting just one Premier League match last season, Batshuayi is a bit of an unknown for any club that takes him on.

He’s been inconsistent throughout his time with Chelsea and it’s no surprise to see them looking to move him on considering the attacking signings they have already made in this window.

Crystal Palace have also been linked with a move for Batshuayi, but his wages could prevent that from happening.

Leeds Move On From Ben White

Leeds are one of several Premier League clubs showing an interest in Freiburg centre-back Robert Koch.

The Sun reports Leeds could be the first to make a bid for the German international after having a series of bids rejected for Ben White.

Tottenham and Newcastle are both interested in the ball-playing central defender, as are Serie A giants Lazio and Champions League semi-finalists Leipzig.

Ben White really pushing for a move to Leeds @skysports_sheth reporting he’s turned down a third contract offer at Brighton. #Lufc have made a third bid for the defender worth 25 million pounds.
— Joe Rawson (@joerawson) August 19, 2020

Leeds are ready to table a £20 million bid, however, and Freiburg are seemingly willing to sell to avoid the risk of losing Koch for free at the end of the season.

Koch started 31 Bundesliga matches for Freiburg last season on their way to an eighth-place finish. He’s comfortable on the ball and can play centre-back or defensive midfield.

With Brighton apparently not willing to sell White, Koch could be an important option for Leeds. Improving their defence will massively help their Premier League odds – they are currently 4/1 to be relegated.

Phil Hay Sheds Light On Transfer Plans

Speaking on an episode of The Phil Hay Show, The Athletic’s Leeds United reporter Phil Hay shed some light on their plans to bolster their centre-backs options.

Hay backed up recent reports of Leeds’ interest in Robert Koch.

He said, “They’re very keen on Robin Koch over at Freiburg, who’s somebody that [Victor] Orta, in particular, has been scouting for a long time.

"He has a lot of similar attributes to Ben White, he’s a similar age category, he’d almost certainly cost less than the amount that Brighton would be looking for if they were backed into a corner.”

Leeds continue to feature regularly in the latest Premier League transfer news. It appears they will be very active before the season begins next month.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

August 22, 2020

News

By Sam Cox

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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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Leeds United Transfer News: Bid Rejected For Rangers Star

Leeds have had a bid of around £10 million rejected for Rangers winger Ryan Kent, as reported by BBC Sport in their Leeds United transfer news section.

Kent was signed by Rangers for £7 million last summer after impressing during a loan spell. He has been productive during his 80 appearances for the Glaswegian giants, scoring 16 and assisting 13.

The 23-year-old would bring directness and pace to the Leeds attack. Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds striker Noel Whelan is confident that Leeds will continue their pursuit of Kent.

Whelan said, “I would say so, it’s a bit like buying a house, you put down a little tester offer to begin with and then you go and offer a bit more, a bit like they’ve been doing with Ben White.”

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard issued a ‘hands off’ warning and said the offer had been ‘strongly rejected’. Marcelo Bielsa went to watch Kent last year, however, and Whelan is clearly confident that Leeds will move again for the former Liverpool forward.

Leeds Turn Attention To Leverkusen

Bielsa is clearly keen to bolster his attack. It was reported earlier today that Leeds are on the lookout for a striker or two with Rodrigo and Rafael Leao both linked.

According to reports, Leeds have got their eyes on another big name in the shape of Bayer Leverkusen star Leon Bailey.

Manu Lonjon claims that Leeds have already made a bid for Bailey, who has previously been linked with several of the Premier League’s top clubs.

Bailey is electric and can play on either flank. Leeds are evidently looking to build up some depth on the wings and a player like Bailey would be a great addition to their squad, though he will be an expensive option.

With Kai Havertz likely leaving Leverkusen for a massive fee, the Bundesliga side are under no pressure to sell the 23-year-old.

Cornet Enquiry Made

Wingers have been the focus of Leeds United transfer news on Friday. The theme continues with a further report from Lonjon stating that Leeds have enquired about the availability of Lyon star Maxwel Cornet.

Although mainly utilised on the right, Cornet can play anywhere across the frontline and has shown he can play in a deeper role when required.

Lyon were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich earlier this week and will probably be forced to sell some of their key players during the transfer window after missing out on European football.

Leeds aren’t the first Premier League team to be linked with Cornet, who scored against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Liverpool were interested in him last summer, and this won’t be the last transfer rumour featuring the Ivory Coast international this offseason.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

August 21, 2020

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Leeds United Transfer News: Whites Pursuing Two High-Profile Strikers

Leeds are working towards adding two experienced strikers to their squad before their Premier League season starts against Liverpool on September 12th.

Football Insider has reported that Leeds are pursuing Spanish international Rodrigo from Valencia and have been in touch with AC Milan about acquiring Rafael Leao.

The club could end up spending north of £50 million on the two strikers as they look to bolster their attacking options.

Having been urged to sign Ollie Watkins by former Leeds man Noel Whelan last week, a striker is clearly a top priority for Marcelo Bielsa and co. in the transfer window.

Valencia are looking to raise funds by selling some of their key players. They recently let Dani Parejo and Francis Coquelin leave cheaply – Leeds will be hoping Rodrigo is available on a cut-price deal.

Leao, who scored six Serie A goals in 12 starts last season, will be the more expensive of the two.

Per Football Insider, the Leeds board have ‘given the green light’ for Bielsa to add a couple of forwards to compete with Patrick Bamford.

Phillips: White Deal Will Get Done

Despite having a series of bids rejected for Ben White, former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips believes Leeds will sign the centre-back on a permanent deal before the window shuts.

Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips said, “I do actually think he’ll end up at Leeds. I think nowadays the players have the power and I think he’ll push it because it seems that he wants to go there.”

Chelsea have also been linked with White, but Leeds are clearly the frontrunners at this stage and Phillips is very confident the transfer will get done.

He added, “Leeds really want the player. The deal will get done, it’s just how it gets done. I firmly believe the lad will end up at Leeds.”

King Will Cost £30 Million

The latest Leeds United transfer news rumours suggest that the club will have to splash £30 million to sign Josh King from Bournemouth.

The Cherries are set to clear out their squad this summer following relegation, but King will not be available cheaply. The Daily Express reported Manchester United had a £20 million bid turned down in January.

King continues to be linked with Manchester United, West Ham and Everton. There’s plenty of competition for his signature.

Bournemouth have already seen Nathan Ake leave this summer, and others will follow him out the door, but that hasn’t stopped them slapping a high asking price on King.

The 28-year-old can play anywhere across the frontline and has proven to be a versatile player for Eddie Howe over the last few seasons.

His 2019-20 campaign was a bit disappointing, however, with just 10 goal contributions in 24 Premier League starts.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

August 21, 2020

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Who Are The Biggest Names In UFC History?

Mixed martial arts has been around for decades but UFC has really taken off in the last 20 years or so. In fact, the sport is now arguably more popular than it has ever been.

One of the main reasons for UFC’s success is personality. Both in terms of the sport itself and its fighters, you have to be a specific type of person to succeed in UFC – both in and out of combat.

There are a few UFC stars who narrowly miss out on this list. Nate Diaz, Daniel Cormier and Brock Lesner all deserve a token mention – though our rankings are entirely subjective of course.

Without further ado, it is time to take a closer look at our five standout UFC fighters. Who is the biggest icon in UFC history? Scroll down to check out our list.

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Sneaking into the top five is Khabib Nurmagomedov. Some may say his inclusion in this list is a tad far-fetched given the calibre of fighters but Khabib is a global superstar and he is well worth his place in our UFC fighters rankings.

With over 15 million Instagram followers, Khabib is incredibly popular with new UFC betting tips followers and his impact and influence on promoting the sport in recent years has really helped to attract a wider audience.

Khabib’s fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 229 still holds the record for the most PPV buys, with an estimated 2.4 million purchases in the United States alone.

Jon Jones

Supremely talented, Jones made unprecedented strides through the UFC rankings and his legacy is firmly established as potentially the greatest MMA fighter of all-time. When Jones got going, he was impossible to stop.

On this day in 2017.

Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier re-ignited their rivalry at UFC 214 ? pic.twitter.com/XvKYR3yS07
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) July 29, 2020

After suffering the first defeat of his professional career in 2009, Jones embarked on one of the best winning streaks in UFC history. He won 14 consecutive bouts, beating the likes of Daniel Cormier, Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort.

Having dominated the lightweight division, Jones became the youngest UFC champion of all-time when winning the light heavyweight belt in 2011. His list of achievements is ridiculous.

Ronda Rousey

The first name to spring to mind when thinking of women’s MMA, Ronda Rousey was an absolute animal in the Octagon. Rousey really helped to put UFC on the map, becoming the first ever female champion.

In fact, the American went undefeated for nearly three years – a run that ranks along the best UFC veteran streaks in the sport. Rousey was the headline act for various PPV events and her influence helped to revolutionise the UFC game.

Having thrived at the top of the sport for so long, Rousey became the first female fighter to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

Anderson Silva

Widely regarded as one of the most talented UFC fighters of all-time, Anderson “The Spider” Silva dominated the middleweight division during his career. He was the longest reigning champion in UFC history – a fact that shows just how superior he was.

‘UFC owes me’: Anderson Silva still chasing Conor McGregor superfight | https://t.co/EHlx9uFjlt pic.twitter.com/xxZOfvxI5f
— TheMacLife (@Maclifeofficial) August 18, 2020

At his brilliant best, Silva was unbeatable. The Brazilian amassed an incredible run of 16 consecutive victories, with 10 defences of his UFC middleweight crown, before losing to Chris Weidman in 2013.

Second only to Conor McGregor in terms of popularity, Silva has been named the greatest UFC fighter of all-time by the likes of Dana White and Joe Rogen.

Conor McGregor

The name that everybody knows, Conor McGregor is undoubtedly the most famous and well known UFC fighter in the history of the sport. Nicknamed “The Notorious”, McGregor was popular in UFC betting odds since breaking into the sport in 2013.

The Irishman instantly caught the eye, recording a number of sensational knockout wins early in his career. Aside from his impact in the Octagon, McGregor attracted lots of attention for his behaviour in press conferences.

To this day, McGregor has headlined some of UFC’s biggest PPV events and he remains an iconic figure with MMA fans.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to John Locher / AP Photo*

August 21, 2020

UFC

By Alex McMahon

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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.

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Bundesliga All-Time XI: Who Makes The Starting Lineup?

Always one of the top leagues in European football, the German Bundesliga has been dominated by Bayern in recent years, but our all-time Bundesliga XI spreads beyond Bavaria.

Unsurprisingly, the majority spent a lot of time with the Munich giants, however.

Our Bundesliga All-Time XI:

Manuel Neuer
Philipp Lahm
Franz Beckenbauer
Mats Hummels
Andreas Brehme
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Michael Ballack
Lothar Matthaus
Arjen Robben
Robert Lewandowski
Gerd Muller

A strong Bundesliga has often been reflected in the German national team. There is a distinctly German feel to this XI, many of these players thrived on the international stage as well as in Bundesliga action.

There’s a bit of tactical license given in the selection of this team, with only one natural winger selected.

It’s likely a 4-3-3 with one of the strikers playing very narrow, or it could be a diamond in midfield with Arjen Robben given a free role at the top. Either way, this is a formidable XI.

Manuel Neuer

There was strong competition for the goalkeeper spot. Either of Sepp Maier and Oliver Kahn could have been selected. There’s no wrong choice here, and perhaps the decision to go for Manuel Neuer is a bit of recency bias.

Neuer’s CV is hard to argue against, though. He’s finished third Ballon d’Or voting, he’s a four-time UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year, he’s won eight Bundesligas, a Champions league and a World Cup.

The brash confidence of Neuer, when playing well, spreads throughout the team’s defence. His ability to sweep has enabled his teams to play how they want to.

Philipp Lahm

Not many all-time greats get overlooked as much as Philipp Lahm. Perhaps that’s the result of being a one-club man, perhaps it’s the life of a full-back.

Lahm won it all, he adapted to different managers, moving into midfield late in his career and led Bayern to success upon success. He was as reliable as they come throughout his career – an easy choice for right-back.

Franz Beckenbauer

Forget Bundesliga XIs, Franz Beckenbauer would walk into an all-time team. He’s quite simply one of the greatest footballers of all-time, a World Cup winner, a three-time European champion and a natural, immense leader.

Der Kaiser revolutionised the game. He controlled matches wherever he played, starting in midfield and moving into defence. Twice named European Footballer of the Year, Beckenbauer was more than a solid central defender.

He was the first name on the team sheet.

Mats Hummels

Where Lahm and Beckenbauer were straight forward, this was a trickier pick. Mats Hummels gets the nod, a player who has starred for brilliant teams in the yellow of Dortmund and red of Bayern.

Having returned to Dortmund, Hummels is no longer playing for the football betting favourite, and his best years are behind him. Those peak season, however, were brilliant, and he was among the top few defenders on the planet.

Andreas Brehme

As versatile as they come, Andreas Brehme could play on either flank and was a rare player who could take set pieces with either foot. He did so throughout his career and possessed an almighty shot from range.

He would get forward often and made up for pretty average pace with superb football IQ. Brehme played a key role in two Bundesliga winning sides – Bayern in 1986-87 and Kaiserslautern in 1997-98.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Bastian Schweinsteiger did all the simple things right. He was a calming presence in Bayern’s midfield, a player who kept things ticking over. The former Manchester United man was a German champion eight times and lifted the Champions League in 2013.

A player who made others around him better, Schweinsteiger was not as spectacular as some other midfield greats in his generation, but he was every bit as important to his team.

Michael Ballack

The Bundesliga wasn’t at its strongest during Michael Ballack’s career, but that’s no barrier to his place in this team.

The combination of his physical attributes with his two-footedness, eye for a pass and tackling ability made him a complete package in midfield.

He has the medals to show for what was a brilliant career, yet he could have remembered yet more fondly if the 2001-02 season had finished differently – Ballack finished runner-up in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League and World Cup.

Lothar Matthaus

Diego Maradona called Lothar Matthaus his ‘best rival’. That’s high praise, and it’s well-deserved.

Matthaus, throughout his long career, amassed over 100 appearances for Borussia Monchengladbach, Inter and Bayern (twice). He is one of two players ever to play in five World Cups.

Like so many who survive so long at the top, Matthaus developed from all-action midfield to a deeper role. At his best, he did it all in the middle third; well-timed tackles, judged passes and occasional goals.

Across his two stints in Munich, Matthaus was a key player in separate periods of Bayern football betting tips dominance.

Arjen Robben

The presence of Arjen Robben was enough to alter German Bundesliga betting. If any football fan is asked to imagine a player cutting in from the right onto their left foot, Robben will be first player that comes to mind.

The Dutchman’s trademark move was so predictable, though still unstoppable. After spells with Chelsea and Real Madrid, he settled with Bayern, spending a decade at the club, terrorising Bundesliga full-backs.

Robert Lewandowski

Across his time with Dortmund and Bayern, Robert Lewandowski has become the third-highest scorer in Bundesliga history. He will be a frequent feature in our football prediction.

Lewandowski has won titles with both teams – he’s been one of the five best strikers in the world for the best part of a decade. Back to goal, running in behind, competing for crosses; Lewandowski can do it all. He’s a complete centre forward.

Gerd Muller

Der Bomber holds goalscoring records galore. He scored over a goal per game for West Germany, and found the net over 560 times for Bayern.

His 365 Bundesliga goals for the Bavarian superclub is miles clear of anyone else – Klaus Fischer, his nearest challenger, is almost 100 goals behind.

Muller was an unspectacular footballer, not fitting the appearance of a champion athlete. His game was about well-timed movement over short distances and clinical finishing. There have been few poachers in the history of the game who even deserve comparison to Muller.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Matthias Schrader / AP Photo*

August 20, 2020

Bundesliga

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Serie A All-Time XI: Who Makes The Starting Lineup?

Serie A might not be at its strongest, but it has enjoyed long periods as the best league in the world. Many of the best players in the history of football have played in Italy’s top flight.

Italian Serie A betting has been dominated by Juventus for the best part of a decade, but picking an all-time XI goes far beyond the Old Lady. There were challenging decisions to be made across the pitch, most notably at the back.

Best Serie A XI:

Gianluigi Buffon
Javier Zanetti
Fabio Cannavaro
Paolo Maldini
Giacinto Facchetti
Andrea Pirlo
Daniele De Rossi
Zinedine Zidane
Francesco Totti
Alessandro Del Piero
Giuseppe Meazza

Perhaps it would have been fitting to go with a back three, allowing another centre-back into the team, but instead this is 4-3-3 with playmaking and goals aplenty up top.

It could just as easily line-up as a diamond or a 4-2-3-1 with three numbers 10s behind Giuseppe Meazza.

Serie A will be often feature in our football prediction in 2020/21. For now, though, it’s time to look back on some of the best players in the league’s history.

Gianluigi Buffon

Gianluigi Buffon’s long career saw Serie A move around in the top leagues in European football. Buffon was there for Italy’s supremacy and saw it fall to near irrelevance around the time of Calciopoli.

He might have never enjoyed success in the Champions League, but Buffon had plenty to celebrate in Italy. The former most expensive goalkeeper in the world has the most appearances and clean sheets in Serie A history and 10 league titles.

Javier Zanetti

A record-holder for club and country, Javier Zanetti is seventh all-time in career appearances. He spent the majority of his career in the blue and black of Inter, winning 16 trophies with the club including the treble under Jose Mourinho.

Versatility was Zanetti’s trademark, comfortable on the right, left or in midfield. It’s right-back where he slots in for us here – his stamina will be crucial to provide width in this side.

Fabio Cannavaro

Fabio Cannavaro is the only defender to win FIFA World Player of the Year. While that was for international rather than club achievements primarily, such an accolade earns him the nod ahead of Franco Baresi and Alessandro Nesta in this team.

He played for Napoli, Inter and Juventus (twice), but it was Parma where Cannavaro is best remembered in that brilliant side that won the 1999 UEFA Cup.

Paolo Maldini

The first name on the team sheet, Paolo Maldini is primarily thought of as a left-back, but he slots in alongside Fabio Cannavaro for this side.

What is there to say about Maldini? He’s quite simply the greatest player in Serie A history. He won five Champions Leagues and seven Scuddetti across his 25 seasons with the Rossoneri and twice finished third in Ballon d’Or voting.

Paolo Maldini had everything.

Giacinto Facchetti

A player before his time, Giacinto Facchetti was a star of Helenio Herrera’s Grande Inter. He played over 600 matches for Inter, winning four Serie A titles and two European Cups along the way.

Facchetti revolutionised the full-back position, overlapping down the left flank and cutting the ball back into the area. He was a goal threat as well as a creator, scoring over 70 times for Inter.

An iconic figure in Italian football, Facchetti was not just a magnificent player, but a stellar leader too, captaining Italy and Inter. Herrera’s system would not have been the same without the brilliance of Facchetti.

Andrea Pirlo

The great Milan sides of the early noughties were built around Andrea Pirlo’s ability to dictate games from midfield. Accompanied by Clarence Seedorf and Gennaro Gattuso, Pirlo controlled the pace, picked out passes and delivered immaculate set pieces.

He regularly shone for Italy too, of course, and led the way for Juventus’ resurgence in the 2010s. The medals he’s won show his importance to his sides. There is no replacement for Pirlo, as Juventus have found. He is a unique, generational footballer.

Daniele De Rossi

Unlike his midfield partner, Daniele De Rossi was all-action. Midfield destroyer, passer, goal-scoring threat, De Rossi could do whatever his manager required. His combative nature perhaps saw him pigeon-holed and led to his all-round game becoming under-rated.

Roma were never a football betting tips favourite during De Rossi’s career, but his presence so often elevated his teammates. A leader, a player who can adapt to different roles, he was a manager’s dream. He’s the ideal partner for Pirlo.

Zinedine Zidane

This spot could have been filled by Zinedine Zidane’s compatriot Michel Platini, who enjoyed a similar career to Zidane in Serie A. Neither had the longevity of others in this XI, but both performed at incredible levels.

Zidane won a couple of league titles during his time in Turin, and led Juventus to the Champions League final twice. Playing behind Alessandro del Piero and David Trezeguet, Zidane was masterful in midfield, bending games to his will.

Featuring in football betting as a manager, will Zidane return to Serie A after his second stint in Madrid?

Francesco Totti

Not many people are universally liked in football. Francesco Totti comes pretty close to that. He didn’t enjoy the team success that many others did in this XI, but Totti captured fans, he entertained, and he did it for a long, long time.

His 250 goals is good for second all-time in Serie A, which is sensational for a player perhaps best remembered for his playmaking. There will never be another Totti.

Alessandro Del Piero

Accompanying Totti in the final third is a fellow modern great in Alessandro del Piero. Similarly, del Piero played just off a main striker for the majority of his career and was occasionally used out wide.

He won it all at Juventus. Like Totti, he aged well, adapting his game to different managers and systems, playing in new roles and thriving. Del Piero could play wherever we need him to in this front line.

Giuseppe Meazza

You’ve got to be pretty good to get nicknamed ‘the genius’. Giuseppe Meazza is arguably the greatest Italian player in history – he won consecutive World Cups in the 1930s, the second of which he was captain.

Only three players in Serie A history have bettered Meazza’s tally of 216 and his 33 goals for Italy remains the second-highest ever.

The majority of Meazza’s career was in Inter’s colours, but he went on to play for both Milan and Juventus. San Siro was named in his honour back in 1980.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Gregorio Borgia / AP Photo*

August 20, 2020

Serie A

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The 10 Greatest One-Season Wonders In Premier League History

Some of the greatest footballers of all-time have played in the Premier League. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and Steven Gerrard have all thrived on the big stage.

The players on this list do not fall into that bracket but all 10 enjoyed a high level of success in England’s top flight for a short period of time.

Greatest One Season Wonders:

Michu (Swansea City, 2012/13)
Robinho (Manchester City, 2008/09)
Marcus Stewart (Ipswich Town, 2000/01)
Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers, 2007/08)
Amr Zaki (Wigan Athletic, 2008/09)
Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace, 2004/05)
Michael Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers, 2001/02)
Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland, 2010/11)
Benjani (Portsmouth, 2007/08)
Nikica Jelavic (Everton, 2011/12)

The obvious one is Michu. He was unplayable at times during his debut season at Swansea City but he failed to repeat those 2012/13 goal scoring exploits the following year.

However, there are plenty of contenders to rival his standing as the best one season wonder in Premier League history. So, here are our rankings…

10) Nikica Jelavic

Okay, so this is more of a half season wonder but Jelavic deserves a spot on this list for his impact in his maiden campaign at Goodison Park.

Having paid £5.5 million for the Croatian, Everton were expecting big things from Jelavic and he immediately hit the ground running, scoring nine goals in 13 Premier League games.

Despite adding two FA Cup goals in only three appearances, Jelavic returned the following campaign and something was different. He just wasn’t the same player anymore.

Jelavic scored a combined 15 goals in 69 appearances over the next two seasons before the Croatia international departed for Hull City.

9) Benjani

Benjani took a while to hit his stride but the Zimbabwean took the Premier League by storm in 2007/08, scoring an incredible 12 goals in just 23 appearances.

That campaign was enough to earn Benjani a move to Manchester City though he struggled to make an impact at the Etihad Stadium and soon found himself in and out of the team.

Happy 42nd birthday, Benjani! ?

? Apps: 31
⚽️ Goals: 7
?️ Assists: 5

? He scored on derby day...#MCFC | #ManCity pic.twitter.com/jRT46Gvgc7
— Man City Report (@cityreport_) August 12, 2020

In fact, Benjani scored just seven more Premier League goals in the five seasons following his breakout campaign – which shows just how wonderful that one season was.

According to former Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, Benjani didn’t even want to join Man City. That would at least explain the reason for Benjani’s poor performances…

8) Asamoah Gyan

Gyan was one of the stars of the 2010 World Cup, notching three goals for his native Ghana before crashing out on penalties in the quarter-finals.

However, his performances in South Africa earned him a move to Sunderland – reportedly for a club record fee of around £13 million.

Asamoah Gyan — Photo credit: Scott Heppell / AP Photo

In his debut season, Gyan continued his fine run of form. The Ghana star notched 10 goals while providing four assists in 34 games to become an instant hit at the Stadium of Light.

Bizarrely, Gyan decided to leave at the end of his first season in the Premier League and so we will never know whether he could have replicated that impressive return.

7) Michael Ricketts

Ricketts was pivotal in Bolton’s promotion to the Premier League, having scored a number of important goals en route to the playoff final.

In fact, his impact was so great that he was called up to the England squad for a friendly against the Netherlands in 2002 though his form had taken a turn for the worse.

While Ricketts managed 12 Premier League goals that season, the last of those goals came in January and his confidence was shattered by the end of the campaign.

Many believed that a switch to Middlesbrough in 2003 could reignite his career but those hopes were dashed and Ricketts became just another Football League journeyman.

6) Andy Johnson

Johnson netted a sensational 21 goals in the 2004/05 Premier League campaign, with only a certain Thierry Henry scoring more over the course of the season.

Plying his trade for Crystal Palace, his goal scoring exploits were all the more impressive as the Eagles were hardly what you’d call top four betting favourites.

Throwback to some of Andy Johnson's best moments in a Crystal Palace shirt.

He's got a magic hat, you know...pic.twitter.com/BbiBxU4FPY
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) July 27, 2017

After a very brief spell in the England squad, Johnson earned himself a move to Everton but it didn’t really work out for him at Goodison Park.

If you were being critical, 11 of Johnson’s 21 goals in that epic season were penalties but it would be harsh to rank him any lower on this list of the Premier League’s best one season wonders.

5) Amr Zaki

Like Jelavic, Zaki is another who should probably rank in the ‘half season wonder’ category. But, such was his impact on the premier League, we’re going with the Egypt forward at number five.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan instantly got carried away and compared Zaki to the Premier League all-time record goal scorer Alan Shearer. That was the start of his downfall.

Zaki scored 11 goals before the end of 2008, including a sensational striker against Liverpool that wouldn’t look out of place on a list of the best ever Premier League goals.

However, he failed to score in the second half of the campaign before the Egyptian was sent out on loan to Hull City.

4) Roque Santa Cruz

When Santa Cruz joined Blackburn Rovers from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2007, nobody expected the Paraguayan to set the world on fire.

However, expectations quickly changed as he notched 23 goals in all competitions in his debut season, including 19 in the Premier League.

Santa Cruz scored just four league goals the following season but that didn’t stop the big-spending Manchester City from splashing out an estimated £17.5 million on him.

After managing just three goals in 20 Premier League appearances over two years at the club, Santa Cruz found himself out on loan before joining Malaga in 2013.

3) Marcus Stewart

Stewart was outstanding for Ipswich in 2000/01, notching an incredible 19 Premier League goals – only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink managed more that season.

In fact, Stewart’s goals helped the Tractor Boys qualify for the UEFA Cup in their first season since securing promotion back to the Premier League.

#OnThisDay in 2001, Marcus Stewart sealed his hat-trick for Ipswich Town with a delicate panenka in a 3–0 away win at Southampton. Those were the days. pic.twitter.com/v15eOcWC3e
— MUNDIAL (H) (@MundialMag) April 2, 2020

Ipswich were relegated the following campaign but Stewart moved to Sunderland in a bid to preserve his top flight career.

Unfortunately for him, he failed to inspire confidence at the Stadium of Light and the Black Cats were also relegated. Stewart never played in the Premier League again.

2) Robinho

Manchester City sent shockwaves across Europe when they announced the signing of Robinho from Real Madrid for a British record transfer fee of £32.5 million.

In his debut season, Robinho was outstanding. The Brazilian was at the heart of City’s early progress and he finished the 2008/09 season as the club’s top scorer in all competitions.

Unfortunately, he failed to find the net in the whole of his second season at the Etihad Stadium and featured just 10 times. That would signal the end of his time at the club.

Nowadays, Robinho are challenging at the summit of Premier League Odds odds. It would have been interesting to see whether the Brazilian would shine in this City side…

1) Michu

And now for the man who needs no introduction: Michu is undoubtedly the Premier League’s ultimate one season wonder.

Having joined Swansea for just £2 million, Michu exceeded all expectations at the Liberty Stadium during his first campaign in the Premier League.

The former Rayo Vallecano striker picked up where he left off in La Liga, notching 18 goals in 35 matches whilst earning a call up to the Spain national team.

Unfortunately, Michu suffered a number of injury problems in his second season and could only manage two goals in 17 games before signing with Serie A giants Napoli.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alastair Grant / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 17th August 2020

August 17, 2020

Premier League

By Alex McMahon

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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.

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Betting Tips: Helpful Guides For Sports Betting

Whether you are new to sports betting or fancy yourself as an expert sport tipster, there are always ways to maximise and enhance your sports betting experience.

Some punters choose to follow a specific betting strategy while others prefer to focus on a certain sport.

The most important thing to do before looking at sports betting tips is to familiarise yourself with the competition that you are betting on.

For that, you need a simple, helpful guide to betting on sport and that is where we come in. Here, you can find sports betting tips guides for every major sport.

Whether you are looking for football betting tips or searching for the latest snooker betting tips, 888sport is the place to be for cutting edge news, informative insight and daily betting expert betting tips.

Top Sport Betting Tips:

May 27, 2021

Betting tips

By Alex McMahon

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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.

Alex McMahon

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Handball Betting Tips: Essential Guide For Anyone Looking To Bet On Handball

Traditionally regarded as a European sport, handball is becoming incredibly popular with modern sports betting fans.

Handball is now popular in schools across the United Kingdom and that has contributed to a rise in the sport’s status. The best handball betting tips can be found on a number of websites, including here at 888sport.

If you are looking for handball betting tips today, this is the place to be. With the biggest handball competitions covered, 888sport is the place to be.

Handball Betting Guide

First created in Denmark in the early 1900s, handball is a relatively simple sport to follow and understand. There are seven players on each handball team – six outfielders and a goalkeeper.

An important handball betting tip to remember is that teams are allowed to name seven substitutes and they can be used on a rolling basis.

As long as you touch the ball with any body part above the knee, anything goes. Players must score from outside the goalkeeper’s area but there are few rules compared to other sports.

Handball Betting Tips

To get the most out of your handball betting experience, you need to know the top handball tips and tricks. First and foremost, learning the rules of the sport is an absolute must before placing a bet on handball.

Handball is a simple enough game to follow and the best way is to watch handball online to enhance your knowledge. This, as well as reading handball news and statistics, can give you the edge when it comes to handball betting.

Furthermore, make sure you fully understand the handball betting markets before getting invested in the sport. There are a limited number of handball odds with most bookmakers but it is vital to find the right market for you.

Keeping track of in-play handball betting odds is another interesting option, both for betting experts and newbies to the sport. Sometimes you can find favourable odds during a match, particularly if a handball favourite falls behind early on.

Handball tricks look incredible when they are pulled off and the best handball players in the world often put on a show week in, week out.

Even the greatest handball players struggle at times though and pulling off the top handball tricks and tips does not mean consistent success.

Handball Tips & Strategy

The best handball tips are often the simplest. Taking your time when assessing the latest handball odds may seem like a given but it is even more important for a sport like handball.

Games come thick and fast and fatigue can play a major part in handball betting. One of our top handball strategies is to check schedules and try to predict one step ahead. The latest handball news can help with monitoring injuries, fixtures and more.

The easiest way to bet on handball is to back a team to win a match but that isn’t the only handball market. The key to success in sports betting is to find a market that works for you and that is no different with handball.

If you enjoy success betting on over/under total goals, then stick with that. If you prefer to focus on player performance, then stick with that. Making the most of your handball betting skill is an absolute must. You can even branch out into placing accumulators and spread betting.

Throw yourself into the handball world – watching as many handball games as possible can give you a greater insight into the sport. Following handball news is one thing but enhancing your own handball knowledge is more important.

Handball betting strategy is important to success, just as it is in every sport. With the right research and a bit of luck, you could become a handball betting expert.

Popular Handball Tips

With daily handball betting odds available on most major leagues, it is important to find a market that works for you.

If you are looking to bet on handball, it is well worth looking at the various handball betting markets that are widely available on most matches.

As well as the traditional outright winner markets, these are just a few of the most popular handball betting markets:

Half-Time/Full-Time
Match Odds
Over/Under Goals
Handicap
Accumulators

Betting on handball has never been easier and this is a great time to get involved in one of the most exciting and entertaining sports on the planet.

With handball being introduced in more schools across the United Kingdom, it might be a matter of time until Team Great Britain are regarded as one of the top handball nations in the world.

According to the latest figures, Paris SG are the wealthiest handball team on the planet and they are certainly a team to follow in handball betting odds.

It doesn’t correlate to unprecedented success though as, just like the soccer team, Paris SG are yet to win the handball Champions League.

Punters can find today’s handball tips on the biggest matches around the world. Handball is still very much a European sport but the likes of Brazil and Argentina have started to make strides on the international stage.

Handball News

One of our main pieces of advice is to find a reliable handball news website. Injuries can have an adverse impact in sport and keeping up to date with breaking news is a must.

Furthermore, you can keep an eye on any handball odds trends. The best handball teams on the planet will be well favoured in the betting but monitoring handball oddschecker moves can give you an edge.

As is the case with most sports betting, we strongly recommend familiarising yourself with the rules and regulations before placing a bet on handball.

It is a fairly simple sport to get to grips with though so it shouldn’t take too long to master – whether you’re a sports betting expert or a novice.

Tips on handball are different to football betting tips. While most sport fans could probably give a tip on a big football match, handball requires a specialist knowledge of the sport.

Handball Statistics For Tips

There are a plethora of statistics available to punters who wish to learn more about betting on handball. These could be the difference between success and failure when it comes to handball betting.

Analysing a team’s form is crucial – but you can go into more detail than that. Some teams have a much stronger home record than on the road and you can often find favourable odds on handball due to this.

Meanwhile, you may see a specific player is going through a purple patch and studying the statistics can help you to find the best daily handball tips on upcoming matches.

Handball statistics websites are few and far between but the best ones are well worth a look ahead of your next handball bet. You can find handball tipsters on social media but be sure to do your own research before taking any handball betting tips as gospel.

*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

August 17, 2020

Betting tips

By Alex McMahon

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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.

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Horse Racing Preview: York Ebor Meeting 2020

The Ebor Festival is a four-day racing festival that takes place this week at York Racecourse (Weds 19th August – Saturday 22nd August). It was first established in 1843 with the inaugural running of the Ebor Handicap.

Originally a 3-day race meeting, but now a 4-day one, the Ebor Festival features the Juddmonte International, the Yorkshire Oaks, Nunthorpe Stakes and of course the Ebor Handicap itself.

All of the races attract plenty of betting interest from the general public, especially on the online betting platforms. Here is what you can expect to see on each day of the York Ebor meeting:

DAY 1 - JUDDMONTE DAY (WEDNESDAY)

1:45 pm - Symphony Group Stakes
2:15 pm - Tattersalls Acomb Stakes
2:45 pm - Great Voltigeur Stakes
3:15 pm - Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series)
3:45 pm - Sky Bet Stakes
4:20 pm - Sprint Handicap for Fillies
4:55 pm - Nursery Handicap

Coronation Cup and Coral-Eclipse winner Ghaiyyath is understandably all the rage for the Juddmonte International and it will require a herculean effort from one of his rivals to lower his colours on the opening day.

Charlie Appleby openly admits that Ghaiyyath is the best middle-distance horse he has trained, and barring accidents, he looks like one of the bankers of the week.

Haydock scorer Rhythm Master can be a major force in the Acomb Stakes, while Highland Chief is a decent each-way pick in the Great Voltigeur.

DAY 2 - YORKSHIRE OAKS DAY (THURSDAY)

1.45 pm Lowther Stakes
2.15 pm Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sales
2.45 pm Clipper Logistics Stakes
3.15 pm Darley Yorkshire Oaks (British Champion Series)
3.45 pm British EBF and Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes
4.20 pm EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap
4.50 pm British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Stakes

As the Thompson Twins will testify, you need Love on your side when it comes to having a wager on the Yorkshire Oaks, and the dual Classic heroine is going to take some stopping in Thursday’s feature race. Naturally she’s very short in the horse racing odds.

Following her impressive victory in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, Aidan O'Brien's filly was even more dominant in the Oaks at Epsom and she is now a leading contender for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

O'Brien has also entered his Oaks runner-up Ennistymon, as well as the multiple Group One winner Magical. What are the odds on an O’Brien 1-2-3?

Royal Ascot scorer Blue Mist can play a leading role in the Clipper Logistics Stakes, while Kevin Ryan’s Hala Hala Hala is an interesting runner in the Lowther.

DAY 3 - NUNTHORPE DAY (FRIDAY)

1.45 pm Sky Bet Stakes
2.15 pm Lonsdale Cup (British Champions Series)
2.45 pm Gimcrack Stakes
3.15 pm Nunthorpe Stakes (British Champions Series)
3.45 pm EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes
4.20 pm EBF Fillies' Stakes
4.50 pm Sky Bet Mile

Last year’s hero Battaash heads the betting in a field of ten for the five furlong dash- the Nunthorpe, one of the most eagerly awaited races of the week.

Battaash broke the track record for five furlongs on the Knavesmire 12 months ago and he finally got that dreaded York monkey off his back on his third attempt.

The six-year-old gelding comes to York on the back of demolishing his own best time at Glorious Goodwood in the King George Stakes, a race he has won four years on the trot.

The last time a three-year-old has been victorious in the Nunthorpe Stakes was back in 2011 (Margot Did), but young gun Art Power is certainly a serious contender this year.

Tim Easterby's sprinter has progressed through the handicap ranks, and then made his breakthrough at Group level last time out in the Lacken Stakes at Naas.

The way he brushed aside the useful Millisle by two and a half lengths made many people sit up and pay attention.

Two-year-old winners of the Nunthorpe are even rarer birds, but American trainer Wesley Ward believes that his Golden Pal can put in a Kingsgate Native-like performance and blitz them all away down the Knavesmire.

A narrow defeat to The Lir Jet in the Norfolk Stakes, plus a massive 24lb pull in the weights over Battaash, tell us that the US-raider cannot be underestimated.

Her Majesty The Queen can taste success with her horse Tactical in the Gimcrack Stakes, while Dashing Willoughby can outstay his rivals in the Lonsdale Cup.

DAY 4 - EBOR DAY (SATURDAY)

1.50 pm Strensall Stakes
2.25 pm Melrose Stakes
3.00 pm City of York Stakes
3.40 pm The Ebor Handicap
4.10 pm Julia Graves Roses Stakes
4.40 pm Sky Bet Stakes
5.10 pm Apprentice Stakes

The Ebor, a 1m 6f handicap for horses aged four or more, is the highlight on the final day of the meeting and it is always a very popular betting heat with punters given the size of the field every year.

?Mustajeer wins the @SkyBet Ebor for Ireland!

?£600,000 banked

A huge success for Colin Keane, @gerlyonsracing and owner David Spratt@yorkracecourse #ClassicEbor pic.twitter.com/ACA5BWk0Ic
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 24, 2019

Trainer Alan King earmarked this race as far back as October last year for his gelding Trueshan, after he beat Hamish at Newbury.

Up to now it’s been so far, so good, for the four-year-old and he showed he is still a horse on the up when he outstayed his rivals in the Listed Tapster Stakes at Haydock.

However, he is a pretty ground dependent horse and you should probably give him a big swerve if the weather conditions for Saturday are predicted to be dry.

Roger Varian’s Fujaira Prince made light work of dispatching a decent enough field in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot and has to be a live contender once more in the Ebor. Andrea Atzeni teams up with him again and at this stage, he has to be on any shortlist.

David O’Meara is no stranger to a winner or two on the Knavesmire and his Eagles By Day may just be the key piece in the Ebor Puzzle.

Owned by York Races sponsors Clipper Logistics, the four-year-old is coming into his own in these staying races.

He landed the John Smith’s Silver Stakes at York last month before finishing just over five lengths behind Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup. At this stage in proceedings Eagles By Day is one of our long range Ebor Festival tips.

Ebor Tips At 888sport

If you are looking for horse racing tips from York this week, then look no further than this blog. We will publish our daily betting tips here EVERY single day during The Ebor Festival.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 16th August 2020

August 16, 2020

Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

https://twitter.com/mulldog">

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Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.

Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?

He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.

Steve Mullington

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