Julian Nagelsmann to join Bayern Munich in record €25m deal for a manager

News and reactions from the world of sport, including the $5.2m sale of a LeBron James rookie card

Julian Nagelsmann will replace Hansi Flick as Bayern head coach
Julian Nagelsmann (left) will replace Hansi Flick (right) at Bayern
(Image credit: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images)

1. Spurs may turn to ten Hag after missing out on Nagelsmann

Football

German giants Bayern Munich have appointed Julian Nagelsmann as their new head coach. The 33-year-old, who has signed a five-year deal, will leave RB Leipzig at the end of the season and join Bayern on 1 July. RB Leipzig will receive €25m (£21.7m) in compensation - a world-record deal for a manager, Sky Germany reports.

Current boss Hansi Flick will depart Bayern after the club agreed to his request to have his contract terminated two years early. Germany head coach Joachim Low vacates his position after this summer’s European Championship and Flick is reportedly in line to take over the national team.

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Nagelsmann was also one of the names being linked with the vacant job at Tottenham. But now that he’s joining Bayern the Premier League side will have to focus their attention on other candidates.

Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag is among the “leading contenders” for the Spurs job, The Telegraph reports. Ralf Rangnick, Gareth Southgate and Roberto Martinez are also being considered as replacements for Jose Mourinho, who was sacked last week.

2. Spotify chief joined by ‘Invincibles’ trio in £1.8bn Arsenal bid

Football

Daniel Ek, the co-founder of Spotify, is working with three of Arsenal’s “Invincibles” team on a £1.8bn bid to take over the north London club.

According to an exclusive by The Telegraph, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira have joined the Swedish billionaire to buy the Gunners from Stan Kroenke, the current owner.

Kroenke’s son Josh, who is a director at Arsenal, says the club is not for sale. However, a formal offer is expected to be made in the next ten days.

3. Players leave IPL amid Covid fears

Cricket

Four players have pulled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the brutal second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic continues in the country, The Times of India reports. Australian trio Andrew Tye (Rajasthan Royals), Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson (Royal Challengers Bangalore) have returned home early while India star Ravichandran Ashwin (Delhi Capitals) has also decided to withdraw.

In a tweet Ashwin said: “My family and extended family are putting up a fight against #COVID19 and I want to support them during these tough times. I expect to return to play if things go in the right direction. Thank you Delhi Capitals.”

4. ‘Round three’ of Lewis vs. Max

Formula 1

The 2021 Formula 1 world championship heads to Portugal this weekend and the race at Portimao will mark “round three” of the title battle between Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Sky Sports says.

After an epic start to the season, world champion Hamilton predicts that the head-to-heads with Verstappen will continue. He said: “I think it’s going to be close all the way through the year - and it’s just going to be, hopefully, more and more of these battles.”

Meanwhile, it’s been confirmed that a new sprint qualifying format will be introduced for three races this season. The FIA, F1 and all ten teams unanimously approved the adoption of the concept, which will be held at two European venues - believed to be Silverstone in July and Monza in September - and one non-European location towards the end of the season.

Sprint qualifying given green light for three grands prix

5. LeBron James rookie card sells for record $5.2m

NBA

A 2003-04 rookie card featuring NBA star LeBron James has sold for $5.2m (£3.7m) on PWCC Marketplace - a record price for a basketball card. The signed James Exquisite Collection patch card was bought by an undisclosed private bidder and the price equals the all-time record amount paid for a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card.

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Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.