Wrexham are reportedly ready to make a £7 million bid to sign a Sunderland star in the summer transfer window.
The Championship club could look to make some ambitious signings in the summer as they aim to gain promotion to the Premier League.
The Wales-based side finished just outside the play-off places last season, but they’ll be hoping to build a squad capable of gaining promotion from the Championship.
Wrexham have spent significant sums of money over the last few years to climb from non-league to the second tier of English football, and it’s been a fairytale journey for Phil Parkinson’s side.
Now it’s about getting over the line and climbing into the top division, and they’ll need reinforcements if they want to do so.
Mariano Rajoy, who served as Spain’s Prime Minister from 2011-2018, has sparked outrage with ‘disgraceful’ comments about the French national football team.
Spain and France will go head-to-head at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday, July 14, for their World Cup semi-final. The match promises to be a fascinating encounter, with both sides very impressive in their runs to the last four.
The victor will face either Argentina or England in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19.
However, the build-up to the highly-anticipated match has been marred by racist remarks made by Rajoy.
He wrote: “What will happen? It’s not easy to answer such a question. Without going into too much detail, it’s worth remembering that France has been a two-time world champion and a finalist in the last edition. They’ve won every match they’ve played in this World Cup and are currently ranked number one in the FIFA rankings.
“They also have a top-level squad. That said, they don’t have any French players. And they’re playing very well. They’ll be a formidable opponent.”
He added: “We’ve won a World Cup and the European Championship four times. More than France, who have only triumphed twice. We’re third in the FIFA rankings and have only conceded one goal in this World Cup. And there’s a lot of talent up front, so we’ll see. I have a hunch: we’re going to win. Lacking any real reasoning, it’s a feeling.”
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Rajoy Slammed by Spain’s Prime Minister
REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
Spain’s current Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn Rajoy. He wrote:
“There are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin color. Others measure it by our roots in a country and our will to contribute to it. Playing soccer. Caring for our elders. Or opening businesses.
“Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it. Not to those who shame it with xenophobic statements. France, we’ll see you in the semifinals. May the best one win and may racism lose.”
The French embassy in Madrid wrote: “Without wanting to get into a controversy, it is worth recalling the facts: all the players on the French national team are French. Of the 26 players, 23 were born in France. The three who were born abroad are French too.”
While Naima Moutchou, the minister of the overseas for France’s territories, also criticised Rajoy and urged the France Football Federation (FFF) to take legal action. He stated, per The Athletic: “After each France victory, the same obsessions and racist insults resurface. These are not slips. This is a methodical and normalised hatred of France and what it is.”
One of the World Cup stars who could end up in the Premier League was spotted rowing with Norway fans during their 2-1 loss to England last night.
The trademark ‘Viking Row’ has gone viral and has become an iconic chant at this summer’s tournament. It was in full flow after Stale Solbakken’s men took the lead through Andreas Schjelderup.
Jude Bellingham came to the fore once again, first equalising in normal time before scoring an extra-time winner. It means the Three Lions will meet reigning champions Argentina in the semi-finals and ends a memorable campaign for the Norwegians.
World Cup Star Rows With Norway vs England
HMB Media/ Marco Bader via Sipa USA
Norway reached their first-ever quarter-final after knocking out record-holders Brazil in the Round of 16. The ship has sailed, though, after losing to England at Miami Stadium.
The European nation has earned plenty of supporters for their admirable performance, including players from other countries. Mexico’s wonderkid Gilberto Mora appears to have caught Norwegian fever as he attended the game on Saturday.
Mora was in the stands alongside his agent Rafaela Pimenta ahead of kick-off. He then reappeared wearing a Norway shirt and performed the ‘Viking Row’ chant with Norwegian fans.
Mora’s appearance didn’t go unnoticed, and one fan asked: “What is Gilberto Mora doing rowing with the Vikings HAHAHAHA.” The 17-year-old stole the show for Mexico but was on the losing side against England in the Round of 16.
The Tijuana attacker was in floods of tears after a 3-2 loss, and Bellingham comforted him in the tunnel. Despite exiting the tournament, he is clearly sticking around to see who is crowned world champions.
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Why Mora Supported Norway
REUTERS/Raquel Cunha via Action Images
There’s a good reason why Mora attended Norway’s game against England and that’s because of links to Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker started up top for Solbakken’s side but struggled to get involved and was surprisingly brought off for extra time.
Mora and Haaland share the same agent, Pimenta, and it’s thought that he is trying to secure a transfer for the Mexican starlet. He certainly put clubs on notice with his exploits during the World Cup.
One of them appears to be Liverpool, who are reportedly preparing to make a bid for the teenage attacking midfielder. There’s every chance he meets Haaland as an opponent next season should he make the move to Anfield.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also thought to be keeping tabs. He is undoubtedly one of the breakout stars of the World Cup who might have earned himself a high-profile transfer.
A professional lip reader has revealed what Thomas Tuchel said during a passionate touchline rant before England came from behind to beat Norway 2-1 in their World Cup quarter-final on Saturday night. The Three Lions are now into the final four of the tournament for only the second time this generation, and just the fourth time in their history.
Jude Bellingham was once again England’s hero, scoring his fifth and sixth goals of the summer. No midfielder has found the net more often than the Real Madrid star during the tournament. His second of the night arrived in extra time and sparked jubilant scenes across the country, with players linking arms to sing ‘Wonderwall’ as anticipation began to build for Tuesday’s showdown with reigning champions Argentina.
But amid all the talk of Bellingham stepping up to the plate, far less has been said about Tuchel, who has played a pivotal role in England’s march to the semi-finals.
While Gareth Southgate used his feel-good factor and charisma to drive the nation’s rise to prominence and build an enviable house, his successor’s fierce, unrelenting edge and wealth of tournament know-how now appear to be putting the roof on it.
What Tuchel Told England Players During Hydration Break
REUTERS/Paul Childs
A second-half hydration break afforded the German tactician the perfect opportunity to get his message across to his players. Nicola Hickling assessed the footage and told the Daily Mail that Tuchel said:
“Work harder. Go faster. You’re so static. You’re just standing. I need to tell you… Listen to the staff. We’ve got to fight for our positions. Listen to the staff. Keep the ball low. Less pushing, more focus on the ball. At corners, you’ve got to go right.
“Don’t come from the front [directed at Anthony Gordon]. Your best position is on the right – that’s a fact. Every time you come from the front, the ball gets lost. Now listen: keep right, stay right.”
Nathan Ray Seebeck (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Although it was initially their Viking opposition that came out of the blocks with more incentive following the hydration break, England did eventually click into gear to suffocate Norway during extra-time – though the curious substitution that saw Erling Haaland hooked off before the match’s conclusion undoubtedly also helped their case.
