Roberto Firmino, left, will "move to England" but it is unclear to which club. Henry Romero / Reuters
Roberto Firmino, left, will "move to England" but it is unclear to which club. Henry Romero / Reuters

Transfer talk: Liverpool battle Man United for Firmino, Tottenham to rival Arsenal for Kondogbia



A round-up of the latest football transfer stories, including Liverpool’s interest in a Manchester United target, and Arsenal’s bid for a Portugal under-21 star.

Liverpool

English Premier League club Liverpool are set to battle Manchester United for the signature of Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino, according to British media reports.

Firmino, 23, has been at German club Hoffenheim since 2011, although his agent recently revealed his client “will go to England” this summer.

The move to the Premier League is widely expected to be with United, although the Daily Mirror is reporting that Liverpool will attempt to hijack the deal.

Brazil international Firmino is currently in Chile for the Copa America, so any move will not be finalised until the end of his nation’s campaign.

Reports claim a deal could be reached for the midfielder for a fee of £13 million (Dh75.8m), although Hoffenheim are keen to hold out for nearer the £20m mark.

Manchester United

Another story concerning Manchester United appears in the London Metro, with Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi dropping new hints that he wants to secure an exit from the Primera Liga club.

Otamendi, 27, has been heavily linked with a move to United as manager Louis van Gaal looks to acquire a top-level centre-back.

And the defender, who is with the Argentina national team in Chile for the Copa America, has made some cryptic remarks regarding his Valencia future.

“I’ve spoken with my agent and Valencia know what I want,” Otamendi said.

“Therefore, every word my agent has said has obviously been with my permission and he has full permission to talk to who he wants.

“For now, like I said, my head is only with the national team so I can perform at my very best when I play. It’s a unique moment to savour.

“I spoke to the President and my agent and they know my desires very well, but for now I’ve told my agent that my head is [with Argentina] and left him to it.”

Arsenal

Arsenal have lodged a bid for Sporting Lisbon's highly-rated midfielder William Carvalho, The Sun is reporting.

Carvalho, 23, is regarded as one of the finest talents in European football, and he offered a glimpse of his ability during Portugal’s victory over England in the Under-21 European Championships on Thursday.

It appears Arsenal have wasted little time in trying to secure Carvalho's services, with The Sun claiming a bid of £28.5m has been made.

The offer is £8.5m short of Carvalho’s buyout clause, and Sporting are expected to hold out for the clause to be triggered.

Indeed, should Arsenal’s initial offer be rejected, they may meet the figure in various add-ons.

Given Carvalho’s potential, it would be unlikely if Arsenal are unopposed in their attempts, with Manchester United, Manchester City, and Real Madrid all previously linked with the midfielder.

Atletico Madrid

Primera Liga club Atletico Madrid have reportedly offered Chelsea centre-back Toby Alderweireld in exchange for full-back Felipe Luis.

Brazilian Luis only left Atletico for Chelsea last summer in a £20m deal, but has found game time hard to come by given the form and consistency of Cesar Azpilicueta.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the Spanish club want to take Luis back to the Vicente Calderon and are prepared to offer Alderweireld as part of the deal.

Alderweireld spent last season on-loan at Southampton, and enjoyed a successful campaign with Ronald Koeman’s side.

Tottenham

Liverpool and Manchester United aren’t the only fierce rivals battling over a player; Tottenham have reportedly joined Arsenal in the race to sign Monaco midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia.

Kondogbia, 22, showed what he is capable of in helping Monaco eliminate Arsenal from the Uefa Champions League last season, and interest is though to be high in the midfielder.

Arsenal have long been linked with a move, and according to the Daily Mail, rivals Tottenham are now keen to take Kondogbia to north London.

The French midfielder will not go cheap, however, with Monaco quoting interested clubs £25m.

Borussia Dortmund

Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund are remaining hopeful Ilkay Gundogan will stay at the club, despite the midfielder’s pleas to leave.

Gundogan, 24, has one year left on his existing contract, and has made his decision to leave public following a poor season by Dortmund’s recent standards.

The Germany midfielder has been heavily linked with Manchester United, while Barcelona, Arsenal, and Manchester City are also reportedly interested.

However, Dortmund have revealed there is a possibility Gundogan will stay.

"Maybe there is still a chance that he has a rethink," Dortmund general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke told German newspaper WAZ. "We are in talks and Ilkay is a decent lad."

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NatSportUAE

Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting

-      Don’t do it more than once in three days

-      Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days

-      Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode

-      Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well

-      Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days

-      Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates

-      Manage your sleep

-      People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting

-      Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert

Sun jukebox

Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)

This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.

Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)

The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)

Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.

Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)

An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)

Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?

Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
 

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The Matrix Resurrections

Director: Lana Wachowski

Stars:  Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick 

Rating:****

Company profile

Name: The Concept

Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal

Based: Abu Dhabi

Founded: 2017

Number of employees: 7

Sector: Aviation and space industry

Funding: $250,000

Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

Race 3

Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars

Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

Facebook | Our website | Instagram

Disability on screen

Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues

24: Legacy — PTSD;

Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound

Taken and This Is Us — cancer

Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)

Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg

Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety

Switched at Birth — deafness

One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy

Dragons — double amputee

In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4