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Diamars 30 augustus 2022

The EPL’s lingering issues in final days of transfer window

(AP) - Premier League playing in the Europa League
clubs have never spent — hardly ideal for Ronaldo's
more in a summer trans- brand — beckons for one of
fer window. the world's greatest ever play-
ers.
They aren't done yet.
LIVERPOOL'S
After a record summer out- MIDFIELD
lay of more than 1.5 billion It has taken until the final
pounds ($1.75 billion) ac- week of the transfer window
cording to analysis from soc- for Liverpool manager Jurgen
cer finance expert Deloitte, Klopp to finally accept that
England's top-flight clubs he needs to buy a midfield- CHELSEA STRIKER
have until late Thursday to er. Klopp's hand might have Chelsea is the biggest spend-
finalize their squads for this been forced by injuries, espe- er in Europe this sum-
season. And there are still cially to Thiago Alcantara and mer, having splashed out
many unanswered questions. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, around $200, and still man-
in the January window. for the five-time world play- and his team's below-par start ager Thomas Tuchel remains
Where will Cristiano Ronal- er of the year, but still there to the season where his mid- without a genuine striker.
do end up, if indeed he leaves The league's huge domestic are no takers. The latest field has underperformed. His current front three of
Manchester United at all? and international broadcast- team linked with a move for "We are looking for it," Klopp Kai Havertz, Raheem Ster-
ing deals are putting clubs Ronaldo, who is unsettled at said ahead of the 9-0 win over ling and Mason Mount looks
Will Liverpool sign a mid- on a powerful financial foot- United because he will not Bournemouth on Saturday. "I lightweight, with the depar-
fielder? Will Chelsea sign a ing in the post-pandemic era, be playing in the Champions know we've had this discus- ture of Romelu Lukaku and
striker? Will Leicester sign overwhelming Europe's oth- League this season, is Napoli sion since it all started and Timo Werner meaning there
anyone? er major leagues. in Italy. But time is running I am the one who said we isn't much back-up in terms
out for the Portugal star, who don't need a midfielder and of proven scorers. Barcelona's
What seems certain is that Expect plenty more comings has been on the bench for you were all right and I was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Premier League clubs will and goings ahead of the clos- United's last two games and wrong. That's the situation." has been linked with Chel-
break the record for spend- ing of the transfer window at might not be a regular starter Liverpool has long been sea for much of the summer
ing in a single season — cur- 2200 GMT on Thursday. under recently hired man- linked with Borussia Dort- and that would mean a rapid
rently that stands at 1.86 bil- ager Erik ten Hag, especially mund's Jude Bellingham, but return to London for the for-
lion pounds ($2.18 billion) in RONALDO'S FUTURE with Ajax forward Antony more likely could be a move mer Arsenal striker. Everton's
2017-18 — in just this sum- Ronaldo's representatives reportedly on his way to Old for Moisés Caicedo, an Ecua- Anthony Gordon is another
mer's transfer window alone. have spent the entire sum- Trafford for 95 million euros dor international at Brighton. possible arrival, though he is
That's before any incomings mer looking for a new club ($95 million). A rare season more of a winger.

Harbaugh plans to start McNamara, McCarthy in opening games

(AP) — Jim Harbaugh
has decided to start Big "He didn't have spring ball,
Ten championship-win- but he's continued to flour-
ning quarterback Cade ish," Harbaugh said.
McNamara when No. 8
Michigan opens its season Playing both quarterbacks
Saturday at home against against Connecticut in the
Colorado State. team's third game, and in Big
Ten play, seems to be likely
When the Wolverines host and opponents will have to
Hawaii the following week, prepare for their different
Harbaugh has chosen to give styles.
J.J. McCarthy their first snap.
McNamara appears to have
Harbaugh said no one can be more patience in the pocket
sure who the team's starting and often makes the right
quarterback will be after the decision, weighing the risk
first two games. and reward of throwing into
traffic or tucking the ball and
"No person knows what the running.
future holds," he said Mon-
day. "The process will be McCarthy seems to be more
based on performance." of a big-play threat, giving
defenses the challenge of
McNamara started every 15 passing touchdowns, one terceptions. He also had 124 don't flinch, fold, or quit at containing a speedy quarter-
game last season as a junior, rushing score and six inter- yards rushing and two scores. the slightest whiff of adverse back with a big arm.
leading Michigan to a win ceptions. This summer, he circumstances or something
over rival Ohio State for the was voted in as a team cap- Harbaugh insisted, more that doesn't go their way. Two quarterbacks, Harbaugh
first time in a decade and to tain. than once, that he isn't plan- and his players, say is better
its first Big Ten title since ning to play McCarthy to "That's not Cade McNamara. than having one, clear-cut
2004. McCarthy, from La Grange keep him out of the transfer That's not J.J. McCarthy." starter under center.
Park, Illinois, played in 11 portal.
The third-team, All-Big games last year as a highly McCarthy did not throw last "It's a great spot to be in,"
Ten player from Reno, Ne- touted freshman. He con- "Did it factor in that one spring, resting a shoulder in- offensive guard Zak Zinter
vada, completed 64% of his nected on 58% of his 59 pass- would transfer or not? No," jury, but that did not seem to said. "I'm excited to see how
passes for an average of 184 es for a total of 516 yards with Harbaugh said. "They are hurt his chances of compet- it all plays out."
yards passing per game with five touchdowns and two in- both the kind of guys that ing for the starting job.