Sports
Aston Villa Hold Talks to Sign Rangers Midfielder Bailey Rice
Aston Villa are among a host of Premier League clubs pushing to sign promising Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice this summer, according to reports.
The West Midlands side, along with Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, are said to be interested in the 19-year-old Scotsman, who is set to leave Rangers in June upon the expiry of his contract.
Villa are believed to have already held initial talks with Rice’s representatives and presented a pathway designed to accelerate his progression at senior level.
Since joining the Rangers academy from Motherwell in 2022, Rice has made 16 appearances for the club, including one cameo this season.
Aston Villa Eyeing Bailey Rice
According to TEAMtalk, Rice’s departure from Rangers is inevitable this summer, with the youngster frustrated by the lack of consistent opportunities in the first-team squad.
The 19-year-old has long been regarded as one of Scotland’s most ‘exciting’ young talents, but is now likely to take his talents outside his home country this summer.
Along with Premier League sides, clubs abroad are also keen on Rice, with Schalke, Stuttgart and Ajax all holding discussions over a potential deal.
Rice is one of three Rangers players whose deals expire at the end of the season, along with captain James Tavernier and goalkeeper Liam Kelly.
Why Premier League Clubs Want Rice
Amid Villa’s interest in Rice, we asked ChatGPT to explain what makes the 19-year-old a transfer target for Premier League sides.
- Elite technical quality for his age – Rice is highly rated for his passing range, composure under pressure, and ability to control tempo from midfield, making him stand out as one of Rangers’ top young prospects.
- Versatile modern midfield profile – He can operate as a deep-lying midfielder, a No.8, or in a double pivot, giving Premier League clubs tactical flexibility and long-term development potential.
- High ceiling and strong mentality – Breaking into senior football at a young age, Rice has shown maturity and confidence beyond his years, which is why several English clubs view him as a smart future investment.
Aston Villa to Step Up Trafford Pursuit
With Champions League qualification on the horizon, Aston Villa are gearing up for a busy summer transfer window.
According to reports, the West Midlands side are ready to step up their pursuit of Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford as they look to replace Emiliano Martinez.
Since joining City for an initial £27m last summer, Trafford has made only 15 appearances across all competitions, keeping seven clean sheets and conceding 11 goals.
The 23-year-old claimed the Championship Golden Glove at Burnley last season after keeping 29 clean sheets and conceding just 16 goals in 45 appearances.
Sports
Spurs Offer ‘Fast’ Star £275,000-a-Week Contract
Tottenham have received a big boost in their reported bid to land a statement Premier League deal this summer. Spurs have been one of the busiest teams in the summer transfer window so far, snapping up four new signings already, including Martin Dubravka, who is their latest signing.
Roberto De Zerbi wants a whole new look to his Tottenham squad, and few can blame him, given how poorly Spurs have performed in the last two Premier League campaigns. There is a real ‘enough is enough’ feel to this particular Tottenham recruitment drive, and money will continue to be spent over the coming weeks and months.
Signing a midfielder is now at the top of Tottenham’s priority list, and there is good news for the North London on that front.
Tonali ready to make the move
Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali has emerged as one of Tottenham’s top targets in this window. In fact, Spurs have already seen a £75million offer for the Italian rejected, with Newcastle holding out for something between £80million and £90million.
There were reports doing the rounds that Tonali would prefer a move elsewhere as he looks to play Champions League football, but according to a fresh report from Sky Sports News. that is not the case.
According to the report, Tonali is, in fact, ready to join Tottenham, as long as they can reach a deal with a current club. It’s reported the midfielder is keen to play for De Zerbi, and he is said to have been offered £275,000-per-week to make the move to Hotspur Way.
Why do Tottenham want Tonali?
Tottenham are willing to spend big money to land Tonali, and that’s because they know they would be getting a proven Premier League player who is capable of playing in just about any midfield. De Zerbi wants this Spurs side to be dominant and attacking, and that’s what Tonali brings.
The Italian is an aggressive player whose game revolves around winning the ball back as quick as possible and driving up the pitch. Described as ‘fast’ and a ‘complete midfielder’ who is able to play as a six, eight and a 10 by The Athletic, Tonali – pardon the pun – is a tone-setting midfielder who demands those around him to play with an attacking mindset.
He is not the player for a more patient and structured team, but that is not how De Zerbi wants this Spurs team to play. He wants front-footed football, and Tonali can help make that happen.
‘Deal On’ – Romano: Tottenham Pushing to Sign ‘World-Class’ Star, He Wants to Join
Tottenham could be closing in on another huge signing for Roberto De Zerbi
Sports
Diego Maradona Was Banned From USA ‘Because He Insulted Donald Trump’
Donald Trump’s involvement in the lead up to 2026 World Cup caused a myriad of problems, with the controversial US President’s actions in the months before the tournament sparking calls for major ‘boycotts’. It’s not the first time he’s irked anyone involved in world football, either.
The 80-year-old placed several nations that qualified for the 2026 World Cup on his travel ban list: Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. While occupants from several other countries, including Brazil, faced major problems getting into the United States.
FIFA Urged to Move 2026 World Cup From USA to UK Following Donald Trump Threats
The legendary British broadcaster has voiced his support for the World Cup to be moved closer to home amid rising political tension.
Trump has always been a fan of banning people from entering the United States of America, even dating back to his first presidential term, which lasted from 2017 to 2021. In fact, one of the greatest footballers in history, Diego Maradona, was denied entry into the country due to Trump.
Diego Maradona’s Insult to Trump Landed Him in Hot Water
Maradona, who won the World Cup in 1986, claimed he wasn’t allowed to set foot in America after he insulted Trump in a live TV appearance.
Speaking in 2018, the late icon’s lawyer, Matias Morla, explained what had happened. Morla told Argentine TV show ”Buenos días America’ (per The Mirror):
“You can imagine, I was in the embassy and I said, ‘Diego, please don’t talk about the United States. Because the interview was with TeleSur and I know how these things go.
“And the second question was ‘What do you think of Donald Trump?’
“He said ‘Donald Trump is a chirolita (a slang term for dummy or puppet).”
Maradona was managing Al Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates at the time, but needed to travel to Miami to make a court appearance in a case involving Claudia Villafane, his ex-wife.
His lawyer told him: “After this (insulting Trump), I’m going to have to represent you in Miami instead.”
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Maradona Made His Feelings on Trump Very Clear
In 2019, Maradona was in charge of Mexican club Dorados. After a victory, the Argentine hero dedicated the result to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He said:
“I want to dedicate this triumph to Nicolas Maduro and to all Venezuelans who are suffering. The sheriffs of the world — who are these Yankees?
“Just because they have the biggest bombs in the world they think are so much more advanced than us. No, they are not.”
Trump was still in his first run at the White House, and his clashing of heads with Maduro has even continued into his current term. In January 2026, Trump announced the U.S. military’s capture of Maduro after a long-standing conflict.
Sports
WWE Hall of Famer ‘Rotting to Death’ in Hospital
Distressing news has emerged from the wrestling world this week, with a WWE Hall of Famer reportedly “rotting to death” in a hospital bed after images of his condition surfaced online.
Now 85 years old, the hardcore icon in question was rushed to hospital in October after suffering a stroke, but his condition has reportedly deteriorated significantly in the months since.
During an astonishing 54-year career, he built a reputation for taking part in some of the most brutal matches the sport has ever seen. His lengthy list of accomplishments includes reigns as NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, NWA World Tag Team Champion and WCWA Brass Knuckles Champion, cementing his place among wrestling’s most enduring and respected figures.
WWE Superstar Goes Viral After Posing Nude With Title Belt in the Bath
The Instagram post has already garnered nearly 75,000 likes, with many wrestling fans quick to share one particular image on the carousel.
WWE Hall of Famer ‘Rotting’ in Hospital Bed as Distressing Images Emerge
Abdullah the Butcher, real name Lawrence Robert Shreve, is now bedridden and has spent months in nursing homes and hospitals in Atlanta, Georgia in the US, suffering from horrific life-threatening infections. He told a local TV news crew, as per the Daily Star (see the distressing image below):
“I want the world to pray for me.”
His assistant, Malikah Marshall, said: “He’s not doing too well. He has a sacral wound and it started real small. And now it’s real large to where you could probably put one or two of your fists in his wound.”
The grappling specialist appeared on camera on Atlanta First News looking frail in a hospital bed as he told of his ordeal. Bedsores are caused by pressure that reduces or cuts off blood flow to the skin and can increase the risk of life-threatening bacterial infections.
Abdbullah the Butcher’s Condition is Rapidly Deteriorating
Speaking about his condition, Malikah continued: “I’ve been helping him for the past 15 years and I’ve never seen him like this. He’s lost so much weight.
“I don’t know what to do because I need help. I need somebody to help me because I want to save his life. With a wound that deep, sepsis set in, and he could die.”
A fundraising page has been set up to help cover his medical expenses. It reads: “Late last year, Abdullah suffered two strokes. He is still dealing with health issues related to the strokes and diabetes. The hospital in Atlanta is working hard to discharge him. Miss Malikah is working around the clock to maintain his care. His bills are piling up, and he needs our support more than ever.”
Professional wrestler Devon “Hannibal” Nicholson – who alleged Abdullah gave him blood disease Hepatitis C during a match – posted to his YouTube channel: “Abdullah the Butcher spending his final days literally rotting to death before he is sent off to hell.”
Nicholson won a $2 million lawsuit against him in 2014 after his WWE contract offer was rescinded when he was diagnosed with the blood disease, of which he is now cured.
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