Sports
Darts Legend Phil Taylor Has Started a New Career
Darts legend Phil Taylor has a new career and a new nickname after taking up work on a building site helping to construct a pub.
The 16-time world champion is now known as ‘The Power Drill’ and he loves driving diggers and chopping timber as a labourer.
The greatest darts player of all time jokes that the best thing about the hard graft is ‘going home’ at the end of each day but he wouldn’t swap it for anything – not even a return to the oche where he once reigned supreme.
Work is still ongoing to complete ‘Taylor’s Bar’ which is adjacent to Charlie Bassetts pub in Stoke-on-Trent.
Taylor has Swapped the Oche for Labouring
Taylor, 65, told GIVEMESPORT: “A digger is easy to drive – easier than a car and I love it.
“I am labouring away. I have been doing shuttering, helping with fencing because they want to set up a petting zoo for the kids near the pub. Shire horses, goats, ducks for the pond, pheasants and a park for the kids.
“I just love being out in the fresh air and doing something physical. I have had my day in darts, the game has moved on from me and good luck to them.
“I like getting my hands dirty and having something to do. I am not an office person and I was never going to do nothing after retiring from darts.
“It can be tough, I wouldn’t say I am full-time. But I really, really enjoy it.
“I am using muscles that I haven’t used for 40 years and at first it was quite hard and I really ached. But it’s like going to the gym. It doesn’t take long, your body gets used to it.”
The pub is situated in Burslem, in rural Staffordshire. A campsite next door means the boozer is regularly full and Taylor’s Bar of course has a dartboard.
Taylor said “Working up here is incredible. The views are spectacular, the work is honest and one day you can be wearing a T-shirt and shorts and the next you need a thick jumper and a coat to keep out the cold.
“Sometimes you have to keep knocking off regularly just to keep warm. But I love it.”
How Phil Taylor Once Managed to Hit Rare 240 Shot in Darts
The legendary arrowsmith achieved the inimitable during a 1993 UK Matchplay showdown with Jockie Wilson.
Taylor: ‘I don’t Even Own a Pair of Darts’
Taylor won the PDC World Darts Championship eight years in a row between 1995 and 2002 and was world number one from 2006 to 2013.
In all, ‘The Power’ landed a record haul of 87 major titles and is regarded as the greatest darts player of all time.
He joked: “I don’t even own a set of darts now. I certainly don’t practice anymore. I do have some somewhere but I don’t play.
“I think my last game was beating Martin Adams in the seniors last year. I am done with darts.
“There is a dartboard in the pub but I don’t use it. The pub is a great place to be. There is beer, food, entertainment and quiz nights. Loads of stuff. The scenery is beautiful with an old Roman church nearby too.
“It beats Ally Pally and the Circus Tavern – just!”
Sports
Ipswich Town Eye Celtic Forward Daizen Maeda Transfer
Ipswich Town are plotting a move to sign a Celtic star in the summer transfer window, according to reports.
Ipswich were recently promoted to the Premier League, and they are now preparing for life in the top division under a new manager.
Kieran McKenna announced earlier this year that he would be leaving the club to take a break from football, and he’s been replaced by Gary O’Neill.
The Tractor Boys have been busy in the summer window so far as they prepare to build a squad capable of remaining in the Premier League.
So far, they have brought in Cedric Kipre, Chuba Akpom and Emerson on permanent deals. And it appears they have now landed on a move for a Celtic star in order to further improve their squad.
Ipswich eye Celtic star
According to reports, Ipswich Town have made a move to sign Celtic forward Daizen Maeda in the summer transfer window.
The Japanese forward has made it clear that he wants to leave Celtic in the summer, and he’s determined to make the move to the Premier League.
Maeda only has one year remaining on his Celtic contract, and manager Martin O’Neill expects him to head through the exit door this summer.
Ipswich are hoping to conclude the deal as quickly as possible, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll be able to agree a fee with Celtic.
Maeda certainly wants to leave the club, but it is unclear whether he’d be keen on a move to Ipswich.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Maeda admits he wants Premier League move
It was only last week that Maeda spoke to the media and confirmed that he wanted to play in the Premier League. The Japanese international now believes that this year could be his chance to make the move to England, with a departure from Celtic now looking inevitable.
“I’ve always wanted to play in the Premier League ever since I went to Celtic, so I think this year might be my chance.
“My strongest desire is to play in the Premier League for at least a year. I haven’t really thought about what comes after that.
“I think it’s the best league, and I’m confident I can do it there, so that’s why I want to take on the challenge.
“There are certain strengths to being Japanese, and I believe that no matter which team I join, there will always be many who want me. I want to showcase those strengths of being Japanese.”
It’s now up to Ipswich to agree a fee with Celtic, but they certainly hold lots of cards in negotiations due to his contract situation and his outspoken desire to leave.
Sports
Liverpool Prepare £85m Offer To Sign ‘World-Class’ Star
Liverpool are preparing to make their next big move in the summer transfer window, according to reports in France.
New manager Andoni Iraola will already be able to call upon one new signing made long before his arrival at the club, with a deal for central defender Jeremy Jacquet having been agreed last summer.
Victor Munoz became Iraola’s first signing, arriving at the club in June on a deal worth £34.5million. The forward will arrive at Anfield after a short holiday following his exploits at the World Cup, picking up a winner’s medal with Spain.
Liverpool have had to move on from Yan Diomande
With Mohamed Salah having already left the club and question marks over the futures of Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa, Iraola will be looking to add further strength in depth to his foward line.
The Reds were heavily linked with a move for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande until it became clear the Ivorian favoured a move to Paris Saint-Germain instead.
But that deal may given Liverpool the chance to complete a deal for one of their other top targets this summer.
Diomande’s expected arrival at the Parc des Princes may see Bradley Barcola drop down the pecking order under boss Luis Enrique and lead to him looking for a move elsewhere. And that elsewhere could be Anfield.
Liverpool are known to be huge admirers of the 23-year-old, with owners FSG deeming him to be “world-class”, who is coming off the back of an impressive World Cup with France.
Barcola scored three goals and laid on one assist in the tournament as Les Bleus made it to the semi-finals before losing to eventual winners Spain. That came after netting 13 goals and providing seven assists as PSG won the Ligue Un and Champions League double, despite not always being a first choice starter.
According to French football journalist Sebastien Vidal, Liverpool are now preparing to go to PSG for talks over an initial bid, which is likely to be in the region of £85million (€100million).
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Vidal said on X: “Here we go. Liverpool is stepping up the attack on the Bradley Barcola file. The Reds are preparing an imminent offer, estimated at £85M to try to convince PSG to let go of the 23-year-old French winger, who has had another standout season.
“The English club is making him one of its top offensive priorities for the summer.”
There have been rumours that PSG could demand as much as £128million to sell the frontman this summer and it remains to be seen whether Liverpool’s opening offer will be enough to get the Parisiens to the negotiating table.
Liverpool may face competition from Arsenal for Barcola
A number of other top Premier League and European clubs have also shown an interest in Barcola and if Diomande does indeed complete a move to PSG, they will start to circle thinking a deal can be done. Arsenal look set to miss out on their top target with Morgan Rogers heading for Chelsea and the Gunners have been tipped to move for Barcola and could now rival Liverpool for the signing.
Speaking last month, GIVEMESPORT senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs said: “If things develop and PSG find an attacker, whether left or right, then PSG’s perspective with Barcola could change.
“I’m told the player is open to leaving PSG because he wants to play regularly, but PSG are more inclined at the moment to see if they can get him to sign improved terms and then if they add a player in his position and they don’t get a breakthrough in those contract talks you suddenly get a scenario where they put him on the market.”
Sports
Newcastle Get Tottenham Green Light to Sign Djed Spence and Lucas Bergvall
Newcastle United are planning a £90m double deal to sign Tottenham Hotspur duo Lucas Bergvall and Djed Spence this summer, according to TEAMtalk.
The Magpies have had a busy summer window so far, bringing in Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Toure, and Seun Steur, while they have sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £70m and Sandro Tonali to Spurs for £100m.
Eddie Howe is keen to bolster the squad further though, as they look to get back to the top end of the Premier League following a disappointing campaign, and the club are now pushing to seal a mega deal to solve issues in two problem positions.
Newcastle Eyeing £90m Double Deal
It was reported recently that Newcastle had tabled a bid worth £46m to sign midfield star Lucas Bergvall earlier in the window, but the north London club opted to reject the deal as they hold out for more money.
Newcastle are expected to return with a fresh offer, although they face stiff competition from Nottingham Forest for his signature, but they are also now targeting one of his teammates alongside him.
TEAMtalk report that after losing Kieran Trippier at the end of his contract this summer, Howe has identified Djed Spence as the ideal replacement to come in at full-back.
Spence has been relegated to understudy at Spurs, with Pedro Porro signing a new long-term deal at right-back, and both Destiny Udogie and Andy Robertson available at left-back for De Zerbi, which has led to speculation that he could be on the move.
Spurs have put a £40m asking price on his head, and Newcastle believe that £50m would be enough to secure a deal for Bergvall, giving them cause to believe they could seal a rare double deal.
De Zerbi is ready to sanction an exit for the England international this summer, while Bergvall is the one pushing for his exit.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Newcastle Could Seal Brilliant Double Deal
£90m may sound like a lot of money, and of course it is, but if you are able to sign two Premier League-proven stars who instantly improve your team and squad, then it’s probably a no-brainer.
Bergvall is a super talented midfield player who can play in all the midfield roles, and Howe is a manager who will thrive at helping him to develop while improving the team. As for Spence, he has established himself as an excellent defender during the World Cup, and would fill the gap left by Trippier’s exit perfectly.
In this crazy transfer market, a £90m output for two top international level stars who know the league well is probably a bargain, and Newcastle should move quickly to get it all done.
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