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Sport shorts: Juventus remain keen on England captain Harry Kane and golf’s Ryder Cup could be held without fans
Ten things from the world of sport on Monday 20 April
Quoted by the Manchester Evening News, former England captain Wayne Rooney believes that Man Utd should “build their team” around a classic No.9 like current Three Lions skipper Kane.
Rooney said: “If I were building a team, he’s the one I’d start with. Harry Kane: there’s my No 9. Then I’d build the rest around him.”
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Corriere dello Sport says Gonzalo Higuain is on his way out of Turin and the Daily Mail adds that Italian champions Juve see Kane as a “dream” replacement.
The Mail also reports that Spanish giants Real will pull out of the Kane transfer race due to the financial impact of the coronavirus.
2. United close in on Sancho
According to The Sun Manchester United are close to signing Borussia Dortmund and England winger Jadon Sancho.
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It’s understood that United have held “secret talks” and the length of the 20-year-old’s contract, salary, bonuses and huge buyout clause have been sorted. United now need to finalise the transfer fee with German club Dortmund.
3. Prem clubs haemorrhage money
Daily Mirror says that the coronavirus lockdown is costing at least one Premier League club £9m a week with all of the top-flight suffering from the coronavirus lockdown to some degree.
The Premier League “giant” isn’t named but according to the Mirror the club may have to take out a “£100m bank loan to cover their potential losses”.
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4. Japan coach not confident of Wales clash
Japan rugby union head coach Jamie Joseph does not believe the Test match against Wales on 27 June will get the go-ahead.
He said: “Our [summer] Test matches look likely to be either cancelled or postponed until the end of the year. It’s all up in the air when we can get back into Japan to prepare for those Test matches. Once we get to understand what the [playing] landscape is like, we just plan accordingly.”
5. Uefa update tomorrow
BBC Sport says European football’s governing body Uefa will provide an update tomorrow on plans to the 2019-20 season.
The 55 national associations will be included in a video conference in which Uefa hopes to end the campaign by August. The BBC says it is hoped proposals will be presented at the latest by the middle of May.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
6. Ryder Cup without fans?
This year’s Ryder Cup could be played without spectators. The Times says PGA of America chief Seth Waugh is in talks with the European Tour about the possibility of going ahead with the event even if the coronavirus crisis precludes admitting fans to Whistling Straits in Wisconsin from 25-27 September.
“We have begun to talk about whether you could create some virtual fan experience and we are going to try to be as creative as we can,” said Waugh in an interview with WFAN Sports Radio. “It’s [still] to be determined, frankly, whether you could hold it without fans or not.”
7. End game for League Two
League Two clubs will meet tomorrow to discuss “ending the season now”, says The Sun. The 24 teams have organised an emergency video call and the paper says that the outcome could have “huge repercussions all the way up to the Premier League”.
The League Two clubs doubt that they have the funds to restart the season should the coronavirus lockdown be lifted in the coming weeks, particularly as it’s certain any remaining games would be played behind closed doors.
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8. Djokovic’s dilemma
World No.1 Novak Djokovic has thrown tennis into further turmoil by saying his return could be compromised by his opposition to vaccinations.
“Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,” the 17-time grand slam champion said in a live Facebook chat with other Serbian athletes.
9. Lowry excited by golf return
The Open champion Shane Lowry is excited by the PGA Tour’s plan to resume the golf season on 11 June at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas.
The Irishman said: “I’m very excited as it gives me a date to work towards - I miss golf, I miss just playing the game. I’ve got goals to come out stronger and fitter than I’ve ever been.”
10. Silverstone ready for two F1 races
British Grand Prix circuit Silverstone is in talks with Formula 1 about hosting two consecutive races in the 2020 season.
Stuart Pringle, Silverstone’s managing director, said: “We have discussed all sorts of permutations including hosting two races over one weekend and two races over consecutive weekends. I have complete confidence in our ability to put on these events. We have a lot of experience.
“F1 has been working very hard to try and work out what the solution for the world championship is. We have been in regular contact with them, and have been asked could we hold a race or two and could they be behind closed doors? The answer is absolutely, we are open to looking into anything and everything.”
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