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Leeds United Transfer News: Leeds Confirm Long-Awaited Striker Signing

Leeds United have confirmed the permanent acquisition of Valencia striker Rodrigo. The Spanish international has been the centre of Leeds United transfer news over the last week – Leeds have finally got their man.

Announcing the news through their social media channels and on their website on Saturday morning, Leeds report Rodrigo was signed for a ‘club record fee’.

That puts it ahead of Rio Ferdinand’s signing from West Ham United earlier this century. It is believed Leeds paid around £27 million.

Capable of playing down the middle or on the wing, Rodrigo put pen to paper on a four-year deal, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2023-24 season.

This is Leeds’ biggest signing of the transfer window so far, but Marcelo Bielsa will be hoping for several more first team additions before the season kicks off next month. Another striker could come in and a centre-back is a clear priority.

The Elland Road faithful will be excited by the arrival of Rodrigo, as they should be for a player of his calibre. Aged 29 and with some injury troubles, though, there’s reason for concern after such an outlay.

Leeds Chase Left-Back

Fulham left-back Joe Bryan has attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs, including Leeds.

Football Insider reports Leeds, Leicester City, West Brom and Newcastle are all interested in Bryan, who had a brilliant 2019-20 season for the west London club and starred in their playoff final win over Brentford.

Bryan has two years on his contract, with a team option for another season, but a new deal would be a way to put off potential suitors.

Fulham signed a new left-back this summer, Antonee Robinson, though the plan is reportedly to have Robinson and Bryan compete for first team minutes.

It’s possible Bryan pushes for a transfer with so many clubs showing an interest. He arrived at Fulham for £6 million in 2018 and the Cottagers set an asking price of £5 million earlier this summer.

Pundit Questions Koch Signing

Pundit David Prutton has delivered his verdict on likely Leeds signing Robin Koch. The Freiburg defender seems to be on his way to Elland Road, as was reported by 888sport on Friday.

Prutton said, writing in the Yorkshire Evening Post, “The first port of call is whether a player from a different country can play football in England and forgive me for being stereotypical, but we have seen with German players that they have been typically robust in English football."

The former midfielder is confident Koch will adapt to the Premier League.

“Physically they understand the demands and culturally there are differences and the nuances but fundamentally there is not a huge chasm of difference between the two cultures.”

Leeds fans were celebrating on Saturday morning as Rodrigo’s signing was confirmed. It might not be long before they are welcoming another big name.

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

August 29, 2020

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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: Leeds Priced Out Of Move For Basel Striker

Leeds have pulled out of their pursuit of Arthur Cabral according to a report. This follows this morning’s Leeds United transfer news suggesting Leeds are moving closer to Ollie Watkins.

UOL initially broke news of Leeds’ interest in the FC Basel striker earlier this week, but it appears Basel’s valuation is considerably higher than the Elland Road outfit would be willing to pay.

Cabral is one of a growing group of strikers linked with Leeds, who are believed to be after two forwards in this window. Rodrigo is seemingly on his way from Valencia, but it appears Cabral will not be joining the Spanish international in Yorkshire.

Basel were initially believed to be open to negotiation on their £18 million valuation of Cabral, though their approach has since changed.

They are demanding the full fee and the report claims that is more than Leeds are willing to pay.

Importantly, the report also suggests Cabral would be unlikely to land a work permit to play in the Premier League, ending any hopes of a transfer going through.

The striker is keen on a move to the English top flight, but it will not be with Leeds if UOL’s report is accurate.

Hay’s ‘Gut Feeling’ Gives Leeds Fans Hope

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has repeatedly spoken of Leeds’ interest in Freiburg defender Robin Koch.

Having claimed Leeds are progressing towards a move, Hay has gone further, saying he has a ‘gut feeling’ that Koch will move to Elland Road before the window shuts.

Speaking on The Phil Hay Show, he said, “The seasons coming around in two weeks and there’s an evident gap in the defence which is going to have to be filled.

"It always gets to the point where you have to move on [from White] and I think last Friday was that point.”

Hay continues, suggesting the deal for Rodrigo distracted from Leeds’ efforts to acquire the Freiburg defender.

“Koch could have moved quicker this week had it not been for the fact they were in the thick of the Rodrigo deal but I sense a confidence about Koch at Elland Road.

"Without wanting to tempt fate, my gut feeling will be that will probably happen.”

Leeds desperately defensive reinforcements, and it looks increasingly they will sign Koch.

The German international isn’t too panicked by the situation, however. He told Kicker he doesn’t ‘worry too much’ about the transfer rumours with only 12 months left on his contract.

If the transfer goes through, Leeds will be getting a highly regarded central defender who can play in a deep-lying midfield role when required. Koch has potential to improve and already has plenty of Bundesliga experience.

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

August 28, 2020

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Horse Racing Tips Today: Saturday 29th August 2020

There’s plenty of good racing taking place across the UK on Saturday with ITV Racing covering seven races in all.

Those contests are spread across Windsor, Goodwood and Newmarket. Here is the latest going information for all three of those meetings:

Windsor: GOOD TO SOFT (Going Stick: 6.7)
Goodwood: GOOD TO SOFT (Going Stick: 6.3)
Newmarket: GOOD (Going Stick: 7.4) (Showers)

1:50 Goodwood - Prestige Stakes (7f)

Only six fillies go to post in this Listed affair but it is a competitive little heat nevertheless.

Pomelo is a Dubawi-filly and she won well on her debut at Newbury, pushed out nicely at the end and she was never in any danger. There is plenty more to come from her and she is worth a look in horse racing odds.

The Charlie Hills-trained Prado has also won her only race to date and she stayed on well in the final stages at Salisbury. The well bred Iffraaj-filly will have plenty of supporters with Ryan Moore aboard.

Consistency has been the name of the game for Richard Hannon’s Happy Romance and she seeks a hat-trick of victories here.

2:05 Newmarket – Hopeful Stakes (6f)

Stewards’ Cup victor Summerghand is in the form of his life at present and he looks more than equipped for the switch up to a Listed contest after racing in a string of top handicaps.

David O’Meara’s six-year-old is as tough as old boots and he has already clocked up ten career victories. This isn’t the deepest of Listed races in terms of the opposition and he should acquit himself well under William Buick.

If there is to be a fly in the ointment then the Robert Cowell-trained Raucous could pose the biggest threat to the favourite.

The seven-year-old won this very race last season, albeit on Good to Firm ground, and he has clearly been targeted for it once again.

2:25 Goodwood – Class 2 Handicap (7f)

The Ralph Beckett-trained Battered will be much more at home down Goodwood’s home straight than he was around the sweeping turns at Chester nine days ago, and the course and distance winner can make his presence felt in this field.

The six-year-old’s Goodwood triumph came back in August 2017 and conditions on Saturday will not be too dissimilar to that day.

Richard Hannon’s Oh This Is Us is also a course and distance winner and the seven-year-old has been running well in decent company all of this season.

This race looks a bit easier and he should run another solid race at a backable each-way price. He will be popular in expert horse racing tips this weekend.

Naturally any horses wearing Khalid Abdullah’s are always worth a second look, and Breath Of Air only went down by the smallest of noses at Haydock last time.

2:40 Windsor – August Stakes (1m 4f)

Hughie Morrison’s Le Don De Vie skipped an engagement at York’s Ebor meeting to line up here instead in this Listed event over 1m 4f.

Connections must be quietly confident that the gelding can bring home some decent prize money here and they are probably not that wide of the mark.

Having watched this four-year-old closely this season, Le Don De Vie has been crying out for this step up in trip and Saturday’s ground conditions will be right up his street too.

He looks like a major player in this six runner contest under the tactically astute racing brain that is Hollie Doyle.

Alounak for Andrew Balding is highly likely to be on the premises, while it would be foolish to leave out Desert Encounter who has won all of his four starts at Windsor.

3:00 Goodwood – March Stakes (1m 6f)

Just four runners go to post in the coveted March Stakes in the memory of John Dunlop, but it is a very select foursome and it will produce some very interesting tactics.

This Group 3 contest takes place over one mile and six furlongs and the talented stayer Cabaletta from the Roger Varian stable can showcase her racing prowess live on terrestrial television.

Cabaletta has been holding her form well all year and she was a nice winner of the Aphrodite Fillies' Stakes at Newbury back in July.

Racing off an official mark of 106, she is the top-rated horse of the four and she will never have had a better opportunity to pick up a decent prize pot and add some more kudos to her pedigree. She is one of the best Saturday horse racing betting tips.

Glasgow Stakes winner Subjectivist on a rating of 104 ranks as her the biggest danger and the Mark Johnston-trained colt will not go down without a fight.

3.15 Windsor – Winter Hill Stakes (1m 4f)

Fox Chairman may well have found the perfect race to put him back in the winner’s circle here at Windsor.

The Kingman-colt was a decent second to Aspetar in the York Stakes last time and this race represents a step back down in class.

He has form on soft ground at the tail-end of last season so should cope with anything the weather throws at him this weekend.

Extra Elusive is penalised for his Haydock win last time out, but even with Hollie Doyle aboard, he may just struggle to concede weight to all of his rivals.

3.35 Goodwood – Celebration Mile (1m)

The pitter-patter of rain this week will have been music to the ears of Sir Busker’s connections as it was the determining factor as to whether or not he would race on Saturday.

William Knight entered Sir Busker on the premise that there would be some give in the ground and that is exactly what they have got.

Sir Busker almost nabbed Montatham in the Clipper Logistics Handicap at York last week and he has come out of that battle well according to Knight. He should have a leading chance again.

Benbatl is the star of the field, but has not been seen since running third to Maximum Security in the Saudi Cup. He looks rather short in the betting considering he won’t really have his optimum ground conditions this weekend.

The Richard Hannon-trained Urban Icon is worth a second look in the betting. He kept on well on the closes stages of the Golden Mile and could figure at the business end of proceedings.

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

FIRST PUBLISHED: 28th August 2020

August 28, 2020

Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

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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.

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Leeds United Transfer News: Leeds Make Ollie Watkins Breakthrough

Leeds could be close to another big-name striker acquisition in the form of Brentford star Ollie Watkins. Watkins has featured in Leeds United transfer news throughout the window, but things had gone quiet of late.

According to Football Insider, Brentford have lined up Peterborough goal-getter Ivan Toney as their permanent replacement for Watkins, opening the door for the 24-year-old to leave the club this window.

Several Premier League clubs have interest in Watkins, including Aston Villa, who are led by Watkins’ former manager Dean Smith.

Sources told Football Insider Leeds retain interest in Watkins even with the progress they are making towards a deal for Valencia forward Rodrigo.

Marcelo Bielsa is looking for two new strikers this offseason to accompany Patrick Bamford. Sam Greenwood, set to arrive from Arsenal, is unlikely to be involved with the first team straight away.

Brentford want around £25 million for Watkins, however, a fee that has put off some Premier League clubs.

Leicester, Fulham, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace and Brighton have all joined Leeds and Villa by showing interest in Watkins, but at this stage, Villa appear to be in pole position.

Hay Doubts Links To Lazio Star

It was reported by 888Sport on Thursday that Leeds have shown an interest in Lazio centre-back Luiz Felipe.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay doubts the legitimacy of these links. Leeds were allegedly preparing a bid over £25 million for Felipe, but when asked by a Leeds fan on Twitter, Hay was sceptical of the reports.

Replying to a fan asking about the ‘Lazio links’, Hay said, “They’re so far on with Koch that I doubt it”.

Hay is referring to Freiburg defender Robin Koch, a player Leeds have been pursuing for a while since they missed out on Brighton defender Ben White.

The suggestion of a move for Felipe came out of nowhere, and it appears there is little in it.

Given the figures being mentioned for attacking options, Felipe might be out of Leeds’ price range for a centre-back. Koch could be a much better value signing.

Mills Warns Leeds Of Overspending

Former Leeds man Danny Mills believes Leeds should be cautious of their spending in this transfer window. He thinks they should abandon their move for Rangers winger Ryan Kent.

Mills said, "You are talking about another wide player that possibly can score goals. It would still be a little bit of a gamble, he's not proven in the Premier League as yet.”

It wasn’t just Kent that Mills was critical of, however.

"Also how much money have Leeds got to spend, how much do they want to spend? Do they want Rodrigo and then do they want Ryan Kent and then do they want somebody else and do they need a centre half.”

Mills is not the first, and won’t be the last, to question Leeds’ transfer policy. Only time will tell if the club have got it right.

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

August 28, 2020

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Leeds United Transfer News: Leeds Face Premier League Competition for Ukrainian Defender

Leeds are one of several Premier League clubs linked with a move for Shakhtar Donetsk defender Mykola Matviyenko. Matviyenko isn’t the first defender in Leeds United transfer news this window, and it’s unlikely he will be the last.

Per 90 min, Matviyenko is available for £20 million this summer and multiple Premier League clubs have shown an interest. Everton, West Ham and Wolves could all provide stiff competition for Leeds.

Several clubs around Europe are also thought to be interested in Matviyenko, who featured for Shakhtar on their way to the Europa League semi-finals earlier this month.

His primary position is centre-back, but the Ukraine international is comfortable playing on the left when required. The £20 million fee isn’t cheap, though it is certainly affordable for Premier League clubs.

Matviyenko could be lured in by other clubs around Europe, however, with Napoli, Leipzig, Monaco and Bayern Munich interested.

This could become a bidding war. There might be better value options for Leeds on the market.

Arsenal's Chambers Linked With Leeds

According to reports from TEAMTalk, Leeds have begun talks with Arsenal about acquiring Calum Chambers.

This comes just days after news broke Leeds were interested in Chambers’ teammate Rob Holding.

Covered at 888sport, Leeds have prioritised bringing in defensive upgrades this window and there’s no doubt Chambers or Holding would be just that.

Having spent six years with Arsenal, the Gunners are clearly keen to part ways with Chambers. They have bolstered their defensive ranks with the permanent transfer of Pablo Mari and are on the verge of signing Gabriel from Lille.

Chambers has been loaned out from Arsenal in the past, but it seems they are looking sell on this occasion. It is unknown what fee Arsenal would demand for Chambers, who they signed for £12 million from Southampton.

Leeds Chase Barcelona Target

Leeds have ‘accelerated’ their move for Lazio defender Luiz Felipe in recent hours, according to La Lazio Siamo Noi. Felipe, a 23-year-old Brazilian, is reportedly wanted by Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, but that has not deterred Leeds.

La Lazio Siamo Noi claims Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has been in contact with Leeds as the clubs look to work out a deal.

At this stage, Leeds allegedly are offering around £27 million for Felipe, but Lazio are holding out for somewhere closer to £35 million.

Since the Ben White deal fell through, centre-backs have been linked with Leeds on a daily basis. Felipe is just the latest, and Phil Hay of The Athletic recently claimed Robin Koch would be their priority.

Whether the deal goes through or not, it is exciting for Leeds fans to see their club linked with players of Felipe’s calibre.

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

August 27, 2020

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The Most Famous British Players To Play In Spain

La Liga is widely regarded as one of the best domestic leagues in world football and some of the best British players have made the switch to Spain’s top flight.

Nowadays, Gareth Bale is the standout British player in La Liga but the likes of Mark Hughes, Gary Lineker and David Beckham have all played at the highest level of Spanish football.

All of the players on this list joined Real Madrid. Most Spanish clubs have preferred to sign homegrown players – Kieran Trippier became the first Englishman to join Atletico Madrid in 116 years back in 2019.

Without further ado, it is time to look at our take on the five most famous British players to play in La Liga. These men certainly swung football betting odds on more than one occasion…

5) Jonathan Woodgate

Woodgate’s move to Real Madrid will go down as one of the most bizarre transfers of all-time.

His switch to the Santiago Bernabeu came during the height of the Galacticos era but he fell some way short of expectations in Spain’s top flight.

His La Liga career got off to the worst possible start, scoring an own goal before receiving a red card on his Real debut.

It didn’t get much better for Woodgate, with a host of injuries having an adverse impact on his chances of success at the Bernabeu.

Unsurprisingly, he was voted the ‘worst signing of the 21st century’ by Marca readers in 2007.

However, he did see a mini revival after returning to the Premier League as Woodgate was named Middlesbrough’s Player of the Year in 2006/07.

4) Michael Owen

Owen attracted attention from Real Madrid after winning the Ballon d’Or in 2001.

Three years later and the England star joined Los Blancos – and it would be fair to state that Owen wasn’t given a fair chance during his short stint in Spain.

With Raul and Ronaldo ahead of Owen in the pecking order, the former Liverpool striker was left frustrated but he made the most of his limited opportunities.

In fact, he notched an impressive 13 league goals to record La Liga’s highest goals per minute ratio in a debut season.

In the end, Owen was frustrated at his lack of game time and pushed for a move back to the Premier League.

He signed for Newcastle United in the summer of 2005 but he failed to get back to top form after his Bernabeu tenure.

3) Steve McManaman

Who’d have thought it? In terms of popularity, McManaman probably ranks second on this list.

The former Liverpool star was a fan favourite during his time at Real Madrid, winning the fans’ Player of the Year award twice in the space of four years.

The scorer of one of the best Champions League final goals, McManaman helped the La Liga giants to two Champions League triumphs during his stint at the club.

In addition, he played a key role in their two La Liga titles in 2001 and 2003.

However, McManaman lost his place in the side during Real’s shift in policy.

Despite enjoying plenty of success in Spain, he wasn’t a big enough name for the Galacticos and McManaman found himself shipped off to Manchester City ahead of the 2003/04 Premier League season.

2) Gareth Bale

Real Madrid paid a then-world record fee of £85 million for the Welshman back in August 2013 and it would be fair to suggest that he’s had a mixed time at the club.

Having helped Real to four Champions League titles, on paper Bale has been a roaring success.

However, the Bernabeu crowd have struggled to take to him.

Coupled up with the clear issues between himself and Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, Bale’s Real Madrid status is up in the air – transfer betting odds are hard to predict.

Bale has suffered in the aftermath of Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, with the Bernabeu crowd using the Welshman as a scapegoat for recent failures.

Despite this, Bale’s record is actually very good with 105 goals in close to 250 matches for the club.

1) David Beckham

The world stopped for a second or two when David Beckham joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2003.

A key figure for Real during their Galacticos era, Beckham fell slightly short of expectations at the Bernabeu.

Arguably the biggest brand in football during his heyday, Beckham was more than a player – he was a gold mine.

Known by every football fan around the world, Beckham was the most famous sportsman on the planet during those Madrid years.

Beckham didn’t do much wrong at the Bernabeu but he failed to hold down a regular spot in the starting line-up.

However, Beckham’s contributions were key to Real winning the La Liga title in 207 – this was the only major title won by the Englishman during his time at the club.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Daniel Ochoa de Olza / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 27th August 2020

August 27, 2020

Football

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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2021 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame: Who Should Be Elected Next?

The Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in 2021 is weak. The new names added are unlikely to gather much support, forcing attention onto the pre-existing candidates.

Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are all controversial figures.

Schilling’s right-wing outbursts online, including jokingly supporting the lynching of journalists, have worked against him, though he received 70% of the vote in 2020, 5% short of a place in Cooperstown.

Clemens and Bonds, two players who should have been first-ballot based on their statistics, have faced accusations of using performance-enhancing drugs.

With so many voters strongly against voting for players associated with steroid use, Bonds and Clemens are unlikely to make it into Cooperstown – they each received 61% in 2020.

There will be a lot of talk about the ballot’s ‘character clause’ ahead of 2021 balloting.

Bonds & Clemens - Top Contenders

Bonds had a Mike Trout-level dominance in online MLB betting odds. The question of the best player in the game was not worth asking when Bonds was at the peak of his powers.

There is a grey area over Bonds’ use of steroids, and it is important to note the context. Bonds played through the steroid era when performance-enhancing substances were common across MLB.

On this date in 1998, Barry Bonds became the first player in MLB history with 400 home runs and 400 steals after homering against the Marlins.

He remains the only player in the 400 HR - 400 SB club. pic.twitter.com/4CuJpAK3xJ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 23, 2020

For a player great enough to be in an all-time MLB team, Bonds’ Hall of Fame candidacy is puzzling.

He had a Cooperstown-worthy career before any accusations of steroid use, and his career-ending CV is up there with Babe Ruth and Willie Mays as arguably the greatest player to ever play the game.

Clemens is in a near-identical situation to Bonds.

He’s eighth all-time in career bWAR, and his seven Cy Young awards is two more than anyone else in the history of the game. On record alone, Clemens should have been a lock for the Hall, potentially a unanimous selection.

This is where MLB is in a difficult situation. Controversy has been a feature throughout the sport’s history.

While steroid use in the early 2000s might be the greatest ‘scandal’ of all, blocking players from Cooperstown for playing in that period causes problems down the line.

If Jose Altuve or Alex Bregman build Hall of Fame careers, will they be left out because of their involvement in sign stealing? How will it impact voters’ support of Carlos Beltran in years to come?

Bonds and Clemens should be in the Hall. Barring a massive turnover of voters, it’s very unlikely they will be elected. Schilling is closer, his career was not on the same planet as Bonds and Clemens.

Bonds and Clemens should be getting a much greater share of the vote than Schilling. If Schilling can be elected with his hard-right views, Bonds and Clemens should have been elected a long time ago.

Rolen in Contention

Scott Rolen has the numbers in his favour, but he’s the sort of understated player who can be overlooked when it comes to Hall of Fame voting. He was seldom a baseball betting candidate for MVP.

The 10.2% earned in his first year suggested he didn’t have much chance. That number shot up to 17% in year two and over 35% in year three.

Voters have had time to ponder Rolen’s candidacy, and his supporters have made their case for him. Importantly, space has opened up on ballots with recent inductions. Rolen should see his backing swell further in 2021.

Any way you put it, Scott Rolen is a Hall of Famer.

The voters *cannot* let public perception dictate their selections.#RolenHOF pic.twitter.com/CrCWrEDNS8
— STLSportsCentral (@stlsportscntrl) November 22, 2019

His career WAR is ninth among third basemen, and he was a true two-way star, excelling on both sides of the ball. Only Mike Schmidt and Brooks Robinson won more Gold Gloves at third.

He looks set to follow a similar path to Larry Walker, who started slowly, but was eventually elected to the Hall in 2020, his final season on the ballot.

Rolen shouldn’t be waiting that long. Being elected in 2021 is a big leap from where he is now, though with Tim Hudson and Mark Buerhle as the highest profile names arriving on the ballot, Rolen could be close.

Wagner Faces Bullpen Disrespect

Relief pitchers might not be the first thing covered in baseball for dummies, but they are an increasingly important part of the sport. They deserve greater recognition in Cooperstown.

Billy Wagner is one of the best relievers ever. Lee Smith was inducted into the Hall by the Veteran’s Committee in 2019, but Wagner shouldn’t have to wait for his place in Cooperstown.

The flame-throwing lefty is sixth all-time in saves and holds the records for strikeout percentage and hits given up per nine innings of pitchers with over 800 career innings.

Only eight pitchers are in the Hall with their primary achievements as a bullpen arm. That number should be higher. Wagner, who had 31.7% of the vote in his fifth year on the ballot, is among the greatest ever in his role.

Being top five or top 10 all-time at your position is enough to make Cooperstown for most others – the same should be the case with relief pitchers.

An elite bullpen arm will alter baseball betting tips. Wagner was of that ilk, a pitcher so dominant the game was effectively over when he took the mound. He should join Smith, Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera in the Hall.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Jeff Roberson / AP Photo*

August 27, 2020

Baseball

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Leeds United Transfer News: Leeds Target Given Green Light For Summer Exit

Michy Batshuayi, who has been linked with Leeds, has been told he has no future at Chelsea. The Belgium international is one of several strikers in recent Leeds United transfer news.

Marcelo Bielsa was reported to have been pursuing a reunion with Batshuayi. The pair worked together briefly at Marseille and the Belgian striker has been marginalised at Chelsea.

With Timo Werner arriving, he is unlikely to get many, if any, minutes in 2020/21. The Daily Star claims Chelsea have told Batshuayi he has no future at the club and are looking to sell him this summer.

Valued at over £20 million, the former Crystal Palace loanee will not be cheap, but he is clearly an attainable target if Leeds choose to go down that route.

With Rodrigo seemingly on his way to Elland Road, it remains to be seen if Leeds want to add another striker. Batshuayi could be a good option if they feel the need for further depth, however.

He might not be up to Chelsea’s standards, but he has proven himself at Borussia Dortmund and Palace in recent seasons.

Bailey Is Out Of Leeds’ Price Range

It was reported last week at 888sport that Leeds made a bid for Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey. Per The Athletic’s Phil Hay, Leeds will not be chasing Bailey this window.

Hay noted Bielsa’s admiration of the Jamaican international, but claimed the transfer fee would be far too great for Leeds to consider a move.

Speaking on his podcast, Hay said, “That hasn’t been on the cards. That hasn’t been planned. And that, financially, would put a huge dent in the budget and would have been very problematic in terms of getting other players in.”

Hay gave an insight into Bielsa’s role in Leeds’ transfer process, too.

“It goes without saying that Bielsa likes him because that is the starting point of any transfer process at Leeds.

"They’ve long since reached the view that it’s pointless chasing any player he isn’t sure about or any player who doesn’t quite tick all the boxes because the end-game with that tends to be Bielsa looks at it and turns his nose up and says ‘no’.”

There might not be a move for Bailey, but Leeds are still set to make some exciting additions before the window slams shut.

Bielsa Phone Call Convinces Rodrigo

Although Valencia star Rodrigo was initially reluctant to join Leeds, the Spanish international is set to complete a record-breaking move to the club.

According to reports from El Pais, Rodrigo was not convinced of a move to Elland Road, but conversations with Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani helped ease his concerns.

He also spoke to Bielsa on the phone, which made his decision that much easier.

It’s no surprise a player of Rodrigo’s stature was cautious about moving to a new country to join a newly promoted club. This goes to show Leeds are not an ordinary newly promoted side.

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

August 27, 2020

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Leeds United Transfer News: Whites Impressed By Talented Scottish Youngster

Leeds United scouts were impressed by the performance of Dundee United teenager Lewis Neilson in defeat to Celtic at the weekend. Leeds have been linked with several defenders in Leeds United transfer news over the last few days and Neilson is the latest to join the list.

The Courier reports Leeds were one of several clubs who watched Neilson. Everton, Leicester City and Southampton all had scouts at the match, too.

Neilson only played an hour in Dundee United’s losing effort, but the Scotland youth international did enough to interest the Leeds scouts. He won’t come cheap, though, with Dundee United seemingly wanting a seven-figure fee.

He originally played as a midfielder, but has dropped back into a defensive role and can occasionally cover at right-back. The Courier claim Neilson is ‘viewed as the pick of the bunch’ among Dundee United’s academy.

Leeds have added several youngsters to their ranks over the last few weeks and a move for Sam Greenwood seems likely.

Neilson will likely have to turn down first team football if he chooses to move south to Elland Road – it will be interesting to see if anything comes of this.

Hutton Speaks On Kent Links

Following Steven Gerrard’s admission that Rangers rejected a bid from Leeds for Ryan Kent, former Rangers defender Alan Hutton has spoken of his experience leaving the Scottish giants.

There have been mixed reports about Kent’s future, with some suggesting he wants to leave and others believing he would rather stay at Ibrox.

Hutton, Rangers’ most expensive sale ever, reckons the Glasgow-based club will sell if the price is right.

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton said, “The same thing happened to me, I turned down Tottenham multiple times, I didn’t want to go, I told the manager I didn’t want to go and I didn’t."

Hutton recounted his own experience of leaving Rangers to join Tottenham.

“I remember it like it was yesterday. I turned them down multiple times, I was Rangers through and through and I never wanted to leave but when Rangers come and say: ‘Look, we’ve accepted this bid,’ it is what it is. It’s a massive choice he’s got to make.”

Kent arrived at Rangers for £7 million from Liverpool last summer – they are clearly looking to make a significant profit if they sell to Leeds.

Hay Denies Cabral Link

Despite reports suggesting Leeds are close to a move for FC Basel striker Arthur Cabral, journalist for The Athletic Phil Hay has been told several times that the club are not pursuing the 22-year-old.

According to Hay, Leeds claim the Cabral rumours are being pushed by his agent. Leeds have emphatically denied any links.

Hay confirmed two other rumours that have been covered by 888Sport. He said, “My understanding is that Rodrigo is instead of Watkins but I’ll need to check where Leeds are at.

"I’m expecting them to move onto Koch quickly – a centre-back is probably their biggest priority in this window.”

Leeds fans will be desperate for progress on the transfer front as the opening day of their Premier League return nears.

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

August 26, 2020

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The 10 Most Iconic Tennis Venues Around The World

The most iconic tennis venues in the world are not only the home of Grand Slams, some are renowned for the scenery, others for the prestige of the events it holds.

Some of the biggest tennis arenas on the planet are not used for Grand Slams. 888sport offers tennis tips, often from some of the venues featured in this articles.

Best Tennis Venues:

Centre Court, Wimbledon
Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York
Court Philippe Chatrier, Roland Garros
Louis Armstrong Stadium, New York
O2 Arena, London
Roy Emerson Stadium, Gstaad
Court King Rainier III, Monte Carlo
Stadium 1, Indian Wells
Diamond Court, Beijing
Dubai Tennis Centre, Dubai

Playing a match at any one of the places featured below is an honour for a tennis player. Here are the 10 most iconic venues in world tennis…

10 - Dubai Tennis Centre

Home to the Dubai Tennis Championships, the Dubai Tennis Centre is nestled in the city’s skyscraper-dominated middle.

The main court holds 5,000 fans, making it a smaller venue than many on this list, but it has previously been voted the best on the Tour by the players. The fans love it too, and as one might expect in Dubai, the facilities are pristine.

Also used as a concert venue, the Dubai Championships has become a more significant event over the years. It was upgrade from 250 to 500 back in 2001.

9 - Diamond Court, Beijing

Built for the 2008 Olympics, the Diamond Court at Beijing’s National Tennis Centre has a capacity of 15,000, making it one of the biggest tennis stadia in the world.

The entire venue is comprehensively equipped with 12 competitive hard courts and an array of surfaces for the practice courts.

Having hosted an Olympics, it has its own place in history – Rafael Nadal won the men’s singles gold medal, while the Williams took home gold in the women’s doubles.

Diamond Court has since become the host of the finals of the China Open, an event which Dominic Thiem and Naomi Osaka won in 2019.

8 - Stadium 1, Indian Wells

Indian Wells Tennis Garden is a phenomenal place. Equipped with a 16,100-capacity Stadium 1, Indian Wells also an 8,000-capacity Stadium 2 and over 20 extra top-class courts.

It is built like a Grand Slam venue in both quality and size and is the most impressive non-Grand Slam stop on the ATP and WTA tours.

A favourite of tennis betting fans, Indian Wells is a highlight of the calendar.

7 - Court King Rainier III

The show court at the Monte Carlo Masters is everything you would expect from Monaco. It has the glitz, it has the Mediterranean, it has some brilliant tennis.

The temporary seats on Court King Rainier III allow fans at the top a view of the other courts on the site, which is an added bonus.

Traditionally the start of the European clay court leg of the season, how players perform at the Monte Carlo Masters is crucial for sports betting.

6 - Roy Emerson Stadium

Easily forgotten about as it is often placed within a few days of Wimbledon, the Roy Emerson Stadium is the centrepiece of the Suisse Open Gstaad. Unfortunately, the world’s best often sit out this event.

Where most stadia are located amid concrete and city life, Roy Emerson Stadium gives a chance for fresh, country air in the mountains.

Skyscrapers are nowhere to be seen. Instead, replaced by log cabins, Roy Emerson stadium is picturesque as they come.

5 - The O2 Arena

Having held the ATP World Tour Finals since 2009, the O2 Arena has become the non-Slam pinnacle for men’s tennis players. It’s an occasion to see the top 10 players in the world battle it out like no other.

One of the iconic sights of London, the O2’s domed roof is recognisable worldwide and with 17,500 capacity when laid out for indoor tennis, it is one of the biggest arenas on the Tour.

Unfortunately, 2020 will the last ATP World Tour Finals held at the O2 with the event moving to Turin from 2021 until 2025.

4 - Louis Armstrong Stadium

Part of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center that hosts the US Open, the Louis Armstrong Stadium trails the Arthur Ashe Stadium by capacity in New York, but it is the largest second stadium at any Grand Slam with a capacity of over 14,000.

This version of the Louis Armstrong Stadium opened in 2018, replacing a stadium of the same name, named after the great jazz musician Louis Armstrong who lived nearby.

The retractable roof is the biggest of its kind on number two courts. Louis Armstrong Stadium’s first competitive match in 2018 saw a massive US Open tips shock as Kaia Kanepi became the first world number to lose in the first round.

3 - Court Philippe Chatrier

The red clay of Court Philippe Chatrier is iconic and has been home to many stunning matches. Of course, it has been dominated by Rafael Nadal in recent years, who has won the French Open an extraordinary 12 times.

Rich with history, having been completed in the late 1920s, Roland Garros is in the suburbs of Paris away from the hustle and bustle of the tourists sights.

Over 15,000 can cram into Court Philippe Chatrier with those at the top of the stands getting a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower.

2 - Arthur Ashe Stadium

Comfortably the biggest tennis stadium in the world, Arthur Ashe Stadium is the main court for the US Open. A domineering venue, with stands building up high into the sky, Ashe can be intimidating for first-time players.

With a full house and the court illuminated under a dark New York sky, Ashe is a spectacular place to watch (and probably play) tennis.

Home to the best US Open finals, the support for a home favourite is phenomenal, with a football-esque atmosphere in the intervals or for decisive points.

1 - Centre Court, Wimbledon

Matches on Wimbledon’s Centre Court are going to feature in the best tennis betting tips. It isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing, but Centre Court is the most famous tennis venue in the world.

Stepping onto the grass of All England Club’s main stadium is a momentous occasion in any career. The all-white attire and dark green makes Wimbledon different from any other event.

A 15-000 crowd can create quite an atmosphere on Centre, though it isn’t as raucous as comparable stadia around the world.

Find the most up to date tennis odds at 888 sport

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Tim Ireland / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 26th August 2020

August 26, 2020

Tennis

By Sam Cox

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