THE thrills and spills of the summer transfer window are finally here – with some huge deals already in the pipeline.
Liverpool are set to make their final offer for Florian Wirtz after Bayer Leverkusen rejected a mammoth £113m bid.
In other news, Chelsea‘s £29.5m offer for Jamie Gittens has been turned down by Borussia Dortmund.
Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to stay at Al-Nassr and is expected to sign a new deal with the club.
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BRYSON DECHAMBEAU has prepared for his US Open defence by hitting balls on the White House lawn, racing around in an Indy 500 car, and taking a helicopter ride to collect salt!
He even took his golf clubs to the famous Indianapolis 500 racetrack – and smashed a ball a staggering 738 yards down the back stretch.
But DeChambeau is so confident his unusual build-up will pay off at Oakmont this week, that he is already targeting a historic “threepeat” at Shinneock next year.
Only seven golfers have ever won back-to-back US Opens, and the only man to win three in a row was Willie Anderson – 120 years ago.
But after taking advantage of Rory McIlroy’s putting heebie jeebies to claim the title at Pinehurst last year, DeChambeau, who also won at Winged Foot in 2020, believes his big-hitting game is perfectly suited for the US Open challenge.
He said: “I’m always chasing history. Everybody is. We’re all trying to accomplish feats that are unique or haven’t been done in a long time.
“So going back-to-back would be great. But three in a row would be an even better accomplishment. So that thought is in the back of my head.”
DeChambeau looked a vision of confidence and contentment as he treated the two million subscribers to his YouTube channel to a glimpse of his mind-boggling off-course escapades.
He took advantage of the fact that the last week’s LIV Virginia tournament was in Virginia – not far from the White House – to put in a call to President Trump, a close pal and regular playing partner.
They played 18 holes at Trump’s course in Virginia, before playing a converted par three on the White House’s south lawn.
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That came hot on the heels of DeChambeau’s Indy 500 visit, where he was driven around by Andretti Global star Kyle Kirkwood at speeds of over 180 mph, before unleashing a few monster drives down the tarmac.
And the helicopter trip to the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where he also played 18 holes with a new sponsor, was another of the activities he describes as “fun side quests”.
He also shared the banter he enjoyed with President Trump, who commented: “We play golf a lot together. It’s not a very pleasant experience for me because I always consider myself a reasonably long hitter.
“My wife says, ‘Are you as long as Bryson?’ I say, ‘Yeah, sorta, pretty close’. It’s not close.”
But DeChambeau, 31, insists he has not been neglecting his golf regime.
He also squeezed in a practice round at Oakmont last week, a course where a much punier version of the game’s Incredible Bulk claimed a top twenty finish the last time it hosted the US Open, in 2016.
DeChambeau described Oakmont as “ the toughest golf course in the world”, but said he is ready for the challenge.
He explained: “How am I preparing for it? Just like I would any other tournament.
“Just like I did last year with Pinehurst: focusing on executing the right shots, hitting the fairways, and not three-putting. That’s going to be a big deal.
“And keeping it out of the rough, which is five inches deep in places. Not much more than that. I try to keep it simple.”
DeChambeau has proved he has the game to contend regularly in the Majors, especially the ones played in America.
A missed cut at Royal Troon last year was the only time he failed to finish in the top six in the last half a dozen Majors, posting two runner-up finishes as well as his Pinehurst triumph.
It is the sort of consistency LIV rival Brooks Koepka was producing when he became the most recent golfer to successfully defend the US Open title, in 2018.
Koepka’s response if his old sparring partner matches his achievement would probably not be printable!
MANCHESTER CITY have announced the £31million signing of Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves.
The 24-year-old left-back joins on a five-year deal until 2030, after impressing at the Molineux this season.
City were eager for Ait-Nouri’s move to be finalised before Tuesday’s 7pm transfer deadline which will allow him to play in the Club World Cup in the USA this weekend.
His deal is worth an initial £31million, rising to a potential £36.3million.
SunSport understands that City also want AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Lyon star Rayan Cherki on plane to the US later this week.
Ait-Nouri initially joined Wolves on loan from French side Angers in 2020, before signing permanently in 2021.
The 17-capped Algeria international has scored 12 goals and registered 19 assists in 157 appearances for the Old Gold.
Angers will be due around £9.7m after they negotiated a 50 per cent sell-on clause.
Ait-Nouri was so important to Wolves this season, starting 37 of their 38 Premier League matches, while scoring four goals and providing seven assists.
Three days after celebrating his 24th birthday, Ait-Nouri said: “I am incredibly happy and honoured to have joined Manchester City.
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“City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the chance to play for the club is a dream come true.
“I am also so excited about working with and learning from Pep and his coaching team and getting to train and play alongside such a world class group of players.
“Joining City is also a very proud moment for my family too. Now I can’t wait to get started and to play in front of our supporters.”
City Director of Football Hugo Viana added: “Rayan is a player that as a club we have been following closely for quite some time and we are delighted he has joined us.
“He already has extensive Premier League experience and has also demonstrated his quality at international level with Algeria.
“We feel sure that he will be an excellent addition to our squad and that working alongside Pep and his coaching staff will help develop his game even further.”
Wolves have now lost two of their best players to Manchester clubs, after striker Matheus Cunha joined Man Utd for £62.5million last week.
Old Trafford chiefs actually looked into a move for Ait-Nouri during the last two windows, before signing Patrick Dorgu in January.
SAMUEL ILING-JUNIOR hopes a successful European Championship can springboard him into Aston Villa’s first-team – and World Cup contention.
The versatile wing-back, 21, arrived at Villa Park from Juventus last summer as part of the deal that took Douglas Luiz in the opposite direction.
However, he stayed put in Italy to spend the first half of the campaign on loan at Bologna in Serie A and even scored for them in the Champions League.
Weeks later Iling-Junior, who originally departed Chelsea for Juve in 2020, was back in England and heading to Middlesbrough.
And it was while playing for the Championship club that he decided he wants his future to be at left-back.
Iling-Junior, who is battling with Tino Livramento to start there for England U21s in Thursday’s Euros opening against Czech Republic, said: “I definitely settled into the left-back role and going up and down the pitch [at Boro]. I enjoyed that, bringing my parts into the team with assists, tricks and being creative.
“It’s an honour to be one of the players that the manager has chosen and I want to repay that on the pitch.
“Tino has obviously had that great season with Newcastle. The competition is always healthy. If I can bring out the best of him and he brings out the best of me and we go and win the tournament then it’s happy days.”
Iling-Junior has represented England at every level bar the seniors and has seen several of his team-mates graduate into the Three Lions first-team.
And he knows this month’s tournament in Slovakia could lead to a huge season ahead for him at both club and international level as he revealed his ambitions for the coming 12 months.
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He said: “You have to put the World Cup in your sights and knock on that door or at least put myself in a position to be knocking on that door.
“There’s a pathway and there’s always someone watching. All the boys that have made their debut from the U21s and are now in that squad, that just goes to show that if you keep putting your mind to it and work with the coaches then you’ll get repaid for your hard work.
“And definitely get back into Villa after this tournament and have some conversations and make an impact there as well.
“Unai Emery has always had conversations with me, so that helps. and he’s kept track of my loans. So that’s definitely a good relationship and once we get back after the tournament then we’ll have those conversations.
“But, for now, it’s definitely just focusing on the Euros and we’ll see when I get back to Villa.”
Iling-Junior has already tasted Euro joy with England at U19 level and was part of the Juventus side alongside the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Adrien Rabiot that beat Atalanta to lift the Coppa Italia last season.
He added: “Winning the Coppa Italia, winning a trophy, is one of the best feelings I’ve had.
“Juventus is a big, big club and I learned what winning actually meant there, and not just winning, dominating and that’s a really nice feeling knowing that you’re part of history.
“I enjoyed the pressure there. That gave me motivation each game to go out with a bit of pressure and do what I enjoy. Winning the Euros would definitely be up there with that.”
England kick-off their Euro campaign against the Czech Republic on Thursday.
They then face Slovenia three days later and finish the group stage against Germany on Wednesday 18 June with all of the Young Lions’ matches being broadcast on Channel 4.
FREDERICK Forsyth, the author of The Day of The Jackal, has died at the age of 86 after a brief illness, his literary agents Curtis Brown said.
The best-selling author was surrounded by his family as he died at home on Monday morning, Curtis Brown added.
Jonathan Lloyd, his agent, said: “We mourn the passing of one of the world’s greatest thriller writers.
“Only a few weeks ago I sat with him as we watched a new and moving documentary of his life – In My Own Words, to be released later this year on BBC1 – and was reminded of an extraordinary life, well lived.
“After serving as one of the youngest ever RAF pilots, he turned to journalism, using his gift for languages in German, French and Russian to become a foreign correspondent in Biafra.
“Appalled at what he saw and using his experience during a stint as a secret service agent, he wrote his first and perhaps most famous novel, The Day of the Jackal (1972), and instantly became a global bestselling author.
“He went on to write more than 25 books (many of which were made into films) that have sold over 75 million copies.
“He will be greatly missed by his family, his friends, all of us at Curtis Brown and of course his millions of fans around the world – though his books will of course live on forever.”
Born in Ashford, Kent in 1938, Frederick flew fighter jets whilst completing his national service before turning to a career in journalism.
After just a short period working at the news agency Reuters, he got his lucky break and was sent to Paris.
It was during this time that he made his name getting the inside scoop following Charles de Gaulle’s assassination.
He then had a brief stint in Germany before moving to the BBC in 1967 where he was sent to Nigeria to cover the Biafran war.
His adventures as a journalist soon became the inspiration for his thriller novels, such as The Odessa File which tells the story of a young German reporter on the hung for a Nazi war criminal.
Here began a sprawling career in fiction writing, seeing Frederick amass numerous accolades and praise for his work along the way.
Over the course of his life, he wrote more than 25 books that have sold a staggering 75 million copies.
ENGLAND fans can watch their cricket team for free… by buying a £400,000 flat.
But they must beware that Ben Stokes’ big hitting could smash their kitchen window.
Spectacular flats at the perfectly-located Oval Mansions have gone on the market.
And not only do they offer lovely views over South London – but also over the iconic cricket stadium, too, thanks to the dream rooftop terrace.
Two flats have gone on the market in the 1880s building on Kennington Oval – the same road as the venue’s address and built with a curve to replicate the shape of the Oval.
On Rightmove, the cheaper of the two is a £400k one-bedroom, one-bathroom flat.
The other is a two-bedroom apartment costing £600,000.
Both of them have access to the famous terrace which overlooks the pitch.
The outdoor seating is on the east side of the building and features a tiered area on the southern corner.
Sport lovers regularly wheel out the deck chairs and perch themselves on the terrace to watch the day’s play at the Oval, which first staged Test cricket in 1880.
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And residents are even allowed to invite guests to join them – although there are strict limits for big England matches.
So much so that during the Ashes, plus ones are restricted to one per flat.
Fans can often be spotted sipping champagne and enjoying slap-up breakfasts and lunches.
TV crews sometimes even rent out flats for big Test matches such as the Ashes.
Phil Tufnell even turned up at the door during the 2023 series.
Department for Transport civil servant Joe Remond has lived at Oval Mansions for two years.
He said: “We made sure we moved in a week before the last Ashes test.
“We’ve seen some great Tests up here. We saw Stuart Broad’s last wicket up here.
“It’s nice to go between the ground and the terrace… it’s a different atmosphere up here – it’s great.
“Phil Tufnell came up here and filmed a bit, saying it was the best terrace in the world.
“He got us to do stuff like pretend someone had just got a wicket.
“It was crazy during the Ashes. People were getting to the terrace for 8am to secure a spot.
“One group had a massive cheese fondue, another group had a massive bowl of punch… one guy had a Magnum bottle of wine he was sharing round. It was the best atmosphere.”
