Sports
Premier League Confirm Launch of Their Own Streaming Platform
The Premier League have revealed plans to officially broadcast football games through their own streaming platform. Chief executive Richard Masters has spoken out, confirming the first steps.
The cost of watching football in England has long been a thorny subject for fans. Fans can spend over £1000 per season in the UK if they want to watch league and cup action across platforms such as Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Amazon and beyond. And even then, 3pm kick-offs are not televised due to the blackout rule.
As such, many use illegal Fire Sticks, which have become a popular way for Premier League fans to watch the action without having to pay huge subscription fees. However, this carries a risk as police can get involved, with supporters facing possible 12-month prison sentences if caught, while more serious offences can even carry a five-year maximum.
With all that in mind, some have been calling out for the Premier League to create their own broadcasting platform, with a single subscription fee to cover all the action.
Premier League to Launch New Streaming Platform
According to reports, via the Sun, the league’s new in-house broadcast studios in Olympia are due to open next season. Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit in London, Premier League chief Richard Masters has now confirmed that a 24-hour-a-day service in Singapore is the first step, explaining:
“For the first time we’re going direct to consumer, in Singapore. It’s a very long considered process, carefully chosen.
“So from next season onwards, from August, Premier League +, rather than Prem-Flix, we’ve rebranded it finally.
“It’s going to happen. For the first time the Premier League is going to have its own customers, it’s going to have to deal with promotion, pricing, churn, distribution, all of those things.
“We’re looking to build a business, we’re also looking to learn to see how that might be replicable around the world.”
Richard Masters Speaks About Future of Premier League Plus
Having confirmed that Premier League Plus will first be trialled in Singapore, Masters did explain that he couldn’t confirm that it will definitely be replicable in the UK.
“It gives us more optionality,” he continued. “We spent two days with the clubs very recently. The first day was spent looking into the future, looking at growth, looking at opportunities.
“Half of that discussion was about our approach to media rights sales. We’re aligned with the clubs and what we want to do in that respect.
“What we’re doing with Premier League Plus in Singapore is really about learning as well as building a business.
“If it goes well, it may be replicable but you don’t want to predict further than that at this stage.”
He concluded: “With Premier League Studios, we’ve now taken control of our content. We have to absolutely ensure that all of the decisions that are taken in the future are in the best interests of our brilliant broadcasting partners around the world and provide a first-class production service.
“It allows us to look at different ways of developing our content for different audiences, to look differently into the future and it may become a business centre in its own right. “It does make all of those different developments and options we have in front of us easier to execute.”
Sports
Man Utd in Talks with Dortmund for Felix Nmecha After Fernandes Blow
Manchester United are exploring alternative midfielders after failing with a deal to sign Mateus Fernandes in the summer transfer window.
The Red Devils have a lengthy list of potential midfield targets as they prepare to bring in multiple bodies in the middle of the park this summer.
Fernandes was certainly a key target for United, but reports have now emerged that he is set to join Tottenham for a fee in the region of £85m.
Spurs were willing to pay the full £85m up front, whereas Man United wanted to pay some of the transfer fee in add-ons.
Man United are close to confirming a midfield addition after reaching an agreement to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson in May.
Despite that, there is no doubt United are in the market for another midfielder.
Man Utd Eyeing Move to Sign £100m ‘Superstar’ Amid Fernandes Blow
Man Utd are in the market for new midfielders this summer.
Man Utd Explore Fernandes Alternatives
According to a report from The Athletic, Manchester United have a host of names on their shortlist to strengthen their midfield options in the summer transfer window.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha is believed to be among the names United are considering, and they’ve already opened talks about securing his signature.
Nmecha is believed to be keen on a move to the Premier League.
Fernandes was the priority target for the Red Devils before Tottenham swooped in to agree a deal.
Nmecha enjoyed an impressive World Cup with Germany before they were knocked out by Paraguay on penalties.
Nmecha, described as ‘one of the best midfielders in the world’ by Julian Nagelsmann, is among a lengthy list of names that United are potentially considering a move for, and it remains to be seen who is going to emerge as their new priority target.
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Man Utd Eyeing Fernandes’ Team-Mate
After failing with a move to sign Fernandes from West Ham, they are now interested in signing one of his team-mates, or soon-to-be former team-mates.
According to Sky Sports, United have made West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville a leading target for the summer transfer window as they look to strengthen on the left-hand side of attack.
The Red Devils might be hoping they’ll be able to get Summerville at a reduced price with West Ham bringing in so much for Fernandes.
The Hammers remained firm with their valuation for Fernandes, so it might be difficult to get Summerville on the cheap.
Sports
Tottenham Want to Sign Eli Kroupi Junior After Fernandes and Tonali
Tottenham Hotspur have been the busiest team in the summer transfer window so far and they do not show any sign of slowing down.
Spurs have already confirmed four completed deals, with goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and defenders Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson arriving on free transfers. They also spent big on signing Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton in a £52million deal.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi has set out his stall to revitalise the ailing squad that he inherited at the end of March and the Spurs owners have backed their new boss with signings he has asked for.
Midfield duo set to arrive in north London
A fifth signing is imminent, with Tottenham having agreed a deal with West Ham to sign Mateus Fernandes after winning the race with Manchester United. Fernandes will become Spurs’ new record signing in a deal worth £85million.
Spurs are still in talks with Newcastle United over a deal to sign Sandro Tonali, with an initial £80million bid rejected by the Magpies. Should they manage to negotiate a fee, it is likely the Italian would then break the transfer record once more.
Tonali’s arrival would add major strength to the midfield department, which has already been boosted by Fernandes’ signing. And having bolstered his defence and goalkeeping department, all that would seemingly remain for De Zerbi would be to upgrade his forward line.
There are a number of players who will be like new signings for the Italian, with Dejan Kulusevski having not featured at all last season and Mohammed Kudus yet to play under De Zerbi.
But there are likely to be new figures arriving in that department too. Richarlison could leave if the right offer comes in for him, while the likes of Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert will remain sidelined for the start of the campaign, which leaves Spurs a little light.
Spurs turn attention to forward signing
GIVEMESPORT understands Tottenham will look at the market for a new No.9 this summer and Eli Kroupi Junior has emerged as a potential candidate to arrive in north London, according to Spurs insider Paul O’Keefe.
The Bournemouth striker broke the Premier League record last season for the number of goals scored by a teenager in a season, taking the mantel from Robbie Keane and Robbie Fowler before him.
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In his first season in the English top flight, the now 20-year-old notched 13 goals in 33 appearances, although nine of those goals came in the 21 starts he was handed by then boss Andoni Iraola.
Kroupi has plenty of admirers, with Arsenal and Chelsea both also understood to be keen on signing him this summer, but as Spurs attentions turn to their forward line, the Bournemouth star is in their sights, although they will have to spend big once more to sign him, with the Cherries demanding between £80million and £100million to sell him this summer.
The forward has been described as a ‘phenomenon’ and likened in style to Kylian Mbappe by Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Tottenham Expect to Sign ‘Elite’ Star After Fernandes With Deal ‘Advancing’
Tottenham are working on multiple deals.
Sports
Arsenal Eye West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville as Morgan Rogers Price Tag Soars
Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move to sign Morgan Rogers in the summer transfer window, but due to his hefty price tag, they might want to consider exploring alternatives.
Rogers is a player who is attracting plenty of interest in the summer, which is no surprise after his impressive performances with Villa.
The England international has kicked on massively since his move to Villa Park from Middlesbrough, quickly becoming a key figure for the Midlands club and England.
Due to his performance levels and the fact that the market is heavily inflated at the moment, Villa are reportedly demanding in the region of £130m for Rogers to depart.
Whether this is out of reach for Arsenal remains to be seen, but they do appear to have serious interest in the forward.
Arsenal Exploring Move to Sign Another French Star Alongside Barcola
Arsenal are busy in the summer transfer window.
Arsenal Eyeing Alternative Target
According to reports, an alternative target for Arsenal in the summer transfer window is West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville.
The Dutch international, who has been representing the Netherlands at the World Cup, is believed to be valued in the region of £50m following West Ham’s relegation.
Summerville would, of course, be significantly cheaper than Rogers, so it would certainly make more sense financially.
The West Ham winger, described as ‘elite’, is destined to return to the Premier League during the summer transfer window, and there is no doubt there will be clubs lining up to secure his signature in the coming weeks and months.
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Summerville Better Signing Than Rogers
Taking everything into account, Summerville would be a better signing than Rogers for Arsenal in the summer transfer window.
The Dutch international is naturally a left-sided attacker, which is the position that Arsenal desperately need to strengthen.
The Gunners currently have Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli for the left-sided position, but neither of them have nailed down a starting role in the side.
Rogers is more of a number 10 who is capable of playing on the left-hand side.
Arsenal will need to bring in a player who specialises in playing off the left, and considering he costs £80m more than Rogers, it would be a smarter move to secure the West Ham winger’s signature this summer.
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