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Chargers vs. 49ers preseason Week 2: 5 takeaways from LA's loss

The Chargers dropped their second preseason game on Thursday, falling to the 49ers by a final score of 41-17. Justin Herbert and the starting offense played one series, in which they went three-and-out, and the starting defense technically played one series as well, albeit without Khalil Mack, Derwin James Jr., or first-round pick Akheem Mesidor.

Here's what to take away from the game.

QB2 woes

It's becoming increasingly apparent this preseason that the Chargers have a problem behind Justin Herbert. Neither Trey Lance nor DJ Uiagalelei were impressive on Thursday, combining for 17-of-31 passing for 153 yards and a touchdown, which Uiagalelei was credited with after receiver Jerand Bradley was not touched down and jogged into the end zone. Lance did rip off a 37-yard scramble, which accounted for more than half of LA's rushing yards on the night, but neither player looks capable of holding up for long if Herbert has to miss time. Then again, for a team like LA, things will go sideways if Herbert is hurt anyway, so it remains to be seen if the Chargers will address this hole on their roster or if they'll keep the status quo.

Rookie corners stepping up

Undrafted rookie Avery Smith had his second standout game in a row as he competes with Nikko Reed and Eric Rogers for the last spot in the cornerback room. Smith tied for the team lead with 6 tackles, which included another ferocious run stop at the line of scrimmage, and was sticky in coverage even if San Francisco completed more passes on him than Houston did last week. But his fellow undrafted rookie Rodney Shelley is pushing the envelope, too, breaking up two passes and logging four tackles as he looks to put his name in that competition. Smith did incur a holding penalty in the end zone on fourth-and-goal, and Shelley was around the ball a lot on Thursday because he was frequently targeted, so both still have room to improve, but their stock has to be pointing up after their performances.

Shaky run game

If you take out Gregory Desrosiers' 4 carries for 21 yards, all of which came late in the fourth quarter when San Francisco led 41-9, Chargers running backs combined for 10 yards on 13 carries on Thursday. Omarion Hampton lost a yard on his only carry, a toss play to the right. Keaton Mitchell lost a yard on his three carries. Kimani Vidal churned 6 yards in 4 tries. Amar Johnson lost a yard on two carries after scoring twice last week. Jaret Patterson was the least ineffective of the bunch, racking up 7 yards on 3 attempts. Part of that falls on run blocking, which was spottier than it was last week, but it also seemed like LA's running backs were trying to stretch plays rather than look for cutback lanes at times.

Junior Colson gets on the board

What a moment for Colson, who jumped an Adrian Martinez pass in the third quarter and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown, by far the most impactful play he's made in a Chargers uniform. The 2024 third-round pick has struggled with health since being drafted, so making a play like that was pleasant to see even if it came late in a preseason game. Marlowe Wax, Colson's main competition to make the roster, had already left the game by the time Colson scored, but maybe his timing on that play puts him on an upward trajectory and gives him a fighting chance to keep his spot on the team against the Rams next week.

Andre Carter II joins the EDGE battle

Carter has been a surprising player in two preseason games for the Chargers, to the point where he's closing in on the EDGE5 battle between Kyle Kennard and Nadame Tucker. Kennard did not play on Thursday due to injury, while Tucker had an unblocked pressure and committed a facemask penalty on a play where he got into the backfield against the run. Carter showed some nice flashes as a pass rusher, however, and was one of the few Chargers who seemed to be playing to the whistle as the game got more and more lopsided. Regarded as a bit of a throwaway signing earlier this summer because Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Akheem Mesidor were not expected to see much preseason action, Carter is proving he's somebody potentially worth keeping around.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers vs. 49ers preseason Week 2: 5 takeaways from LA's loss

Ilia Topuria Getty

UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan attempted to play matchmaker for Ilia Topuria, whose next fight has not yet been set.

Topuria has not fought since his shocking upset loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, in a fight where he absorbed a ton of damage. However, there is hope that he will return either later this year or early next year as he looks to get back on the horse and jump back into title contention at 155 lbs.

When he does return, his rival Tsarukyan has a name in mind for Topuria to fight — but no, it’s not him.

Arman Tsarukyan Wants to See Ilia Topuria Fight Michael Chandler

Speaking to Chael Sonnen in an interview for UFC on Paramount+, Tsarukyan played matchmaker for Topuria, suggesting that he fight Chandler next.

“He’s still recovering (from the Gaethje fight). Probably next for him is a fight with Michael Chandler and then come back and fight for the title,” Tsarukyan said.

“Who else? After these fights, he needs an easy fight, and then after that fight, come fight again.”

Topuria & Chandler Both Lost at UFC Freedom 250

Both Topuria and Chandler lost at UFC Freedom 250, so both men are on the same timeline right now.

Topuria, of course, was beaten down by Gaethje and lost the UFC lightweight title in the process, as he was defeated in one of the all-time greatest upsets in MMA history.

As for Chandler, he was knocked out by Brazilian standout Mauricio Ruffy, who is set to take on Tsarukyan in the co-main event of UFC 331 in September.

Still, while they are on the same timeline, these two fighters are in different phases of their careers right now, as Topuria is still the No. 1 contender at 155 lbs, while Chandler is not even ranked anymore after his latest loss.

Tsarukyan’s goal with this type of matchmaking is to see Topuria get a winnable fight against someone that he should style on, but the UFC doesn’t really do layup fights.

Instead, look for the UFC to book Topuria against someone like Paddy Pimblett, who called the former champ out.

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This article was originally published on HEAVY

The post Arman Tsarukyan Plays Matchmaker for Ilia Topuria appeared first on HEAVY.

Four months ago, Newcastle and Liverpool fans expected their sides would still be led by Eddie How and Arne Slot when the 2026-27 Premier League season kicked off but both clubs will have new managers in charge when they face off on Sunday.

Howe watched as Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes all made their way out of the club before he eventually stepped down himself on July 30. A year after Alexander Isak forced his way out to join Liverpool, perhaps Howe had seen enough and felt he could do no more with what he would be given. After breaking the Magpies' 70-year trophy drought by winning the 2024-25 League Cup, Newcastle slumped to a 12th-place finish in 2025-26 and that was the end of the road for virtually every key figure at the club.

Liverpool lifted silverware the same season as Arne Slot guided them to the Premier League title in his first season in charge, only to be sacked after a 5th-place finish in year no. 2. The squad will look quite different as well, with Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson all moving after their contracts expired this summer. The bulk of their transfer business is still to come between now and the end of the transfer window, excluding the $121 million already spent to acquire defender Jeremy Jacquet and winger Victor Muñoz.

Here's everything you need for Newcastle vs Liverpool.

How to watch Newcastle vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time

Kick off time:11:30 am ET Sunday (August 23)

Venue: St. James' Park — Newcastle

TV Channel: USA

Stream link: Watch online via USA

Newcastle team news

OUT: Joelinton (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Valentino Livramento (calf), Joe Willock (groin)

Liverpool team news

OUT: Hugo Ekitike (achilles), Giovanni Leoni (torn ACL), Conor Bradley (torn ACL), Joe Gomez (undisclosed)

Newcastle vs Liverpool prediction

Both sides will have considerable kinks to work out early on, which should make for an entertaining, if not instructive, opening fixture. Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool.

🚨 BREAKING: Tottenham 'agree £85m deal' to sign Savinho from Man City

Tottenham have agreed a deal with Manchester City to sign winger Savinho for £75m, with a further £10m available in potential add-ons, according to the BBC.

The 22-year-old Brazil international has been given permission to undergo a medical in north London before completing his move to Spurs.

Savinho is expected to sign a long-term contract with Tottenham once the transfer is finalised over the next 24 hours.

The winger joined Manchester City from French-owned Brazilian club Troyes in 2024 and has since established himself as an exciting attacking option, combining pace, dribbling ability and versatility on the flanks.

Tottenham's agreement to pay an initial £75m represents a major investment as the club look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.

The South American star joins Sandro Tonili and Mateus Fernandes as big-money signings for Roberto De Zerbi's side this summer.

Spurs are also believed to be in talks with City for striker Omar Marmoush, although that deal is part of a separate negotiation.

Aug 20, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Gary Smith III (75) celebrates after a fumble recovery during the third quarter against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.

Many inside the Las Vegas Raiders organization were hoping that some of their depth players would make an impact on the road against the Houston Texans.

While they did get exactly what they were looking for, it did not necessarily come from the expected sources.

On Thursday, the Raiders were able to make a statement in their second preseason game, completing a second-half comeback in the final minute to secure a 22-20 victory over the Texans.

Early on, it was looking as though the gap between the two teams was more of a chasm.

The Texans would strike first by way of a Woody Marks 20-yard touchdown on their first drive of the game. Following that, Fernando Mendoza would get himself into trouble with an interception to Wade Woodaz, then winding up on the receiving end of a stiff arm from the rookie linebacker en route to a pick six. It served as Mendoza’s ‘welcome to the NFL’ moment in his first start to highlight what was a forgettable night at the office for him, going 8-for-15 for 86 passing yards and the costly pick.

"I came away that there's a lot more learning to do," Mendoza said about his challenging day.

"Although maybe you had success at another level, this level's a whole step further and the margins are so small. One tiny mistake can lead to catastrophe. Want to make sure that I best serve my teammates and get better from these experiences."

By the time the first quarter was over, the Raiders already found themselves in a 17-0 hole.

However, the first half was not all doom and gloom for the Silver and Black. In particular, a defense that was victimized a week ago by the Arizona Cardinals found form after letting go after the first touchdown. In particular, the secondary did not allow a single touchdown through the air, with rookies Treydan Stukes, Hezekiah Masses and Jermod McCoy all showing improvement, although McCoy did have a third down pass breakup canceled out by a widely-panned taunting penalty.

Needing a spark in the second half, the Raiders turned to Aidan O’Connell to provide some offense, and the third-year quarterback delivered after a rough outing against Arizona.

O’Connell was much more efficient this time around, spreading the ball around for a final stat line of 15-for-24 for 166 passing yards. Although the touchdowns came on the ground thanks to Dylan Laube and Dare Ogunbowale, O’Connell did well to showcase his value to the Raiders.

The defense also went from turning on the pressure to making plays of their own. Patrick Johnson put together another strong day, as the veteran edge rusher got a strip sack on Texans quarterback Brett Rypien to give the Raiders the ball back. Undrafted free agent Jahfari Harvey would record a strip sack as well to make a statement in his own right.

The only real blemish in the second half came from two missed extra points from Kansei Matsuzawa, but the Raiders did well for themselves as they pushed for a touchdown on their final drive in the last 1:37 of the game.

In the final minute, the miracle sequence started when O’Connell found Brandon Johnson for a 33-yard gain to put the ball at the goal line. The third-year quarterback would carry the ball in himself to put the Raiders in the lead for the first time, and rookie safety Devin Lafayette would finish the job with an interception on Rypien.

"I thought the team did a great job," O'Connell said. "Fight until the end. Everybody was in it. We had encouragement even from the guys who weren't playing and then obviously the guys that were playing, finishing off like that was great."

The victory ultimately does not count, but it did show that the team has the ability to rally under head coach Klint Kubiak. Even if the quarterback does not have the best day under center, the Raiders will not allow themselves to be an easy out for anyone in 2026.

"Plenty to clean up, plenty to get better at," Kubiak said. “But what great heart that we showed in the second half. The whole team – offense, defense – really proud of our guys."

Given that the team is still in a rebuild, having that heart has the Raiders moving in the right direction already.

Kobel looks forward to seeing new signings shine as the season kicks off

In the Bundesliga’s latest “Midweek Interview”, Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel had a chance to talk about the upcoming season and the changes to the BVB squad. The departure of Julian Brandt, Karim Adeyemi, and Niklas Süle left plenty of space and wages for Ole Book and Lars Ricken to work with.

The signing of Genk’s Konstantinos Karetsas, PAOK’s Giannis Konstantelias, and PSV’s Joey Veerman in the build up to the season kick-off has certainly given Dortmund fans something to be excited about. Kobel knows that a step-up is required, but shares his enthusiasm:

“Today was only my first real team training. But with Karetsas, our new Greek talent, you don’t need a lot of time to see that he has a lot of quality on the ball, that he’s a great player and that he has a lot of potential. We have a lot of young guys with a lot of potential, and I’m really excited about what they can bring to the team and about their everyday work. They’re going to improve and feel how the game is played here. Maybe it’s a little faster, maybe it’s a little more physical, depending on which league you’re coming from. We’ll see."

There are big expectations, especially on the shoulders of BVB’s Greek signings. The 28-year-old notes that they can’t rely on their new signings to fly from day one. He continues:

“If you play for Dortmund, you know how it is: you need to get your qualities onto the pitch every three days. But on the other hand, with a lot of young guys, it’s not fair to expect them to carry the team every three days. It’s going to be a team effort. The guys who have been here longer need to bring them together, prepare them for the season and help them build their confidence. The other guys, of course, need to show their talent as well.”

Dortmund have continued their tradition of going in for talented youngsters with the hope of creating a star. When asked whether the new signings could be the next star to come from Dortmund, Kobel was apprehensive to put that pressure on his new teammates too early.

“We can’t really tell right now. We had a few really good pre-season friendlies where you could see some qualities and potential. But you can’t really compare the friendlies with the intensity of the league, the Champions League and international football. Every single one needs to show what they can do. In the end, when the season starts we’ll see who’s ready and who isn’t.”

The Dortmund No. 1 made it clear that head coach Niko Kovac expects more than talent from his new players, attributing their defensive performances in the 2025-26 season to high work rate and strength in duels. Dortmund conceded just 34 goals last season, the lowest in the league.

“Our coach is very demanding about what you have to do physically. He watches very closely what you do physically. It’s a team effort. Our defence was very good last season, but it’s a team effort. We need every single player to defend if we want to stop the opponent. I think that’s really important this season too. I think this is something that made us strong last year, and the coach is also really focused on it. So I’m not really worried about that.”

Kobel adds to this by outlining a need to create more chances than last season, a need that could be filled by these new signings.

“I think we need to create more chances for ourselves. I think we did a really good job in a lot of areas, especially on free kicks, corners and set pieces. I think we should continue with what made us strong and maybe sprinkle something extra in here and there. We have a lot of players who have quality now. We’ll see how we mix it together.”

With Schalke back in the Bundesliga, the Swiss international is looking forward to taking on their Ruhr rivals once again, or in his case, for the first time in black and yellow.

“I think it’s a great game. I love these games, and I think it’s a good one for the fans and also for the Bundesliga to have them back. It’s going to be very competitive. They’re always hard games to play in, but that’s also why we like to play football and be on the pitch. It was only two games. It was one season when they were in the first division, and sadly, I wasn’t able to play in those two games. But I’m looking forward to them.”

College football is experiencing an increased frequency of lawsuits. The bulk of the concern with lawsuits stems from players using the court system as their eligibility appeals process.

While that logic can apply to player eligibility, it is not the only criterion for legal action. The recent lawsuit filed by the University of Utah deals more with contract law than player eligibility.

Freddie Whittingham, brother to Kyle Whittingham, is being sued by the Utah Utes for breach of contract. The basis of the lawsuit essentially centers around ‘how’ Whittingham left and not focusing on Utah football.

On August 3, the University of Utah filed a lawsuit against their former Tight Ends coach allegedly over abandoning his role after his brother Kyle Whittingham accepted the Michigan job. According to Utah, Freddie Whittingham was under contract until January 2027.

Utah is seeking $300,000 from the former position coach and at least $1M in general and special damages. The lawsuit claims Whittingham failed to follow proper steps prior to leaving and failed to pay “liquidated damages”.

Those factors include failure to provide written consent, failure to provide written notice of resignation and failure to “devote full-time attention and energy to the duties” as a Utah assistant. Also included is an accusation that Whittingham actively recruited Utah players and recruits to Michigan while still employed by Utah.

The Whittinghams are in Michigan, but Utah is moving forward

Currently, both Kyle and Freddie Whittingham are conducting the business of Michigan football. According to Rival.com, under Whittingham, in short order, the Wolverines are ranked 10th in the 2027 recruiting class. Including five Utah transfers and three top-100 recruits, which includes the recently signed 4-star Lincoln Mageo who committed on Saturday.

Unlike Michigan, which is starting with new people and a new approach, Utah has the benefit of steady as it goes. Morgan Scalley took over after the departure of Whittingham. An eventuality that is an ‘as expected’ result. Scalley held the unofficial title of head coach in waiting for some time. Scalley is a familiar voice and face to the Utah program.

Utah is no recruiting afterthought, however. With 20 hard commits in 2027 and a top 50 ranking nationally, Utah seems to be in good hands moving forward. Each of those 20 hard commits coming in with 85 or higher national rankings.

Utah looks to take a step forward after Whittingham through consistency and not reinventing the wheel. “Utah football is a brand that is very recognizable,” Scalley said at Big 12 media days. “It’s a very physical brand and it’s very family oriented. I don’t know if I necessarily want to change that recipe for success.”

Utah and coach Scalley welcome Idaho to Salt Lake City to begin the season. That game will kick off at 9pm ET and will broadcast on ESPN.

More Utah Utes News:

Utah football in a strong early position with 2028 TE Steeler Wesley

Why Morgan Scalley's RSNB culture has Utah as early favorite for blue-chip defender

Utah football is all over social media after film session catches attention of NFL veteran

'They develop players': 2028 WR Amarion Taylor talks Utah offer

There have been hundreds of thousands of votes cast in high school sports polls presented by Alliance Orthopedics through the Asbury Park Press this summer.

Now it's time to take a look at the winners.

Alliance Orthopedics

For each of the sports, fans were asked to name the athlete by class year who they expect to have the most impact in the upcoming school year.

Here's who they picked:

Girls soccer

Soccer ball

Rising senior

Kayla Sasso, Manalapan

Manalapan’s Kayla Sasso advances the ball in first half action. Manalapan Girls Soccer dominates Middletown South in Manalapan, NJ on September 25, 2025.

Rising junior

Aylen Peters, Holmdel

Rising sophomore

Sophia Bruno, Central

Close-up on a field hockey stick and ball.

Field hockey

Rising sophomore

Rafaela Sharin, Neptune

Rising junior

Mackenzie Asfalg, Donovan Catholic

Rising senior

Ava Lombardo, Raritan

Opening Ceremony for the start of Shore Conference Gymnastics Championships in Brick, NJ on October 25, 2025.

Gymnastics

Rising senior

Emarie Law, St. John Vianney

Rising junior

Addison Plewa, Central

Rising sophomore

Kadence Paulson, Ocean Township

Start of Girls race heading up the hill. Girls Race at the NJSIAA Cross Country Meet of Champions at Holmdel Park in Holmdel, NJ on November 15, 2025.

Girls cross country

Rising senior

Summer Sprague, Pinelands

Rising junior

Stella Brady, Manasquan

Rising sophomore

Reese O’Reilly, Middletown South

Start of the Non-Public Boys race at NJSIAA Cross Country state group championships at Holmdel Park in Holmdel NJ on November 8, 2025.

Boys cross country

Rising senior

Jake Palutis, Ocean Township

Rising junior

Luke Stansbury, Southern

Rising sophomore

Crosby Grace, Point Pleasant Borough

Southern’s Taylor Sofilkanich drops the ball over the net in first game action. Southern Regional defeats St. John Vianney 2-1 in the Shore Conference Girls Volleyball Championship on October 29, 2024 in Lakewood, NJ.

Girls volleyball

Rising sophomore

Mady Ayres, Donovan Catholic

Rising junior

Abby Zehner, Lacey

Rising senior

Dari Tsdypova, Freehold Borough

A puck rolls on its side on the ice during a high school hockey game at the Raynham IcePlex in Raynham, MA on Feb. 3, 2026.

Ice hockey

Rising senior

Anthony Scarfone, St. John Vianney

Rising junior

Justin Lerman, Manalapan

Rising sophomore

Kevin McQuillan, Red Bank Catholic

Soccer ball

Boys soccer

Rising senior

Shane Womack, Wall

Wall’s Shane Womack and Squan’s John Visceglia battle for a head ball. Wall Boys Soccer defeats Manasquan 6-5 on penalty points in NJSIAA playoff game in Manasquan, NJ on November 11, 2025.

Rising junior

Travis Levy, Manasquan

Wrestling Mats

Boys wrestling

Rising senior

John Gann, Holmdel

Rising junior

Luca Tramontelli, Middletown North

Rising sophomore

Anthony Delpome, Jackson TownshipGirls wrestling

Rising senior or junior

Abigail O’Neil, Raritan

Rising sophomore

Brooklyn Floyd, New Egypt

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Alliance Orthopedics high school sports polls summer update. Who are the winners?

Joe Root etched his name into the World Test Championship record books on Friday, becoming the first player to score 3,000 runs as a captain in the WTC during England’s opening Test against Pakistan at Headingley in Leeds.

Root needed 42 runs to reach the landmark at the start of the match and completed the milestone in the second session of Day 2. The Yorkshire batter had resumed the day unbeaten on 37 after England reached 112-2 on a rain-affected opening day. He added the remaining five runs after lunch to bring up 3,000 WTC runs as captain.

The 35-year-old returned to the England captaincy following Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket in June 2026. His latest achievement further underlined his consistency in the longest format, with Root now having 3,000 runs from 34 matches and 63 innings as WTC captain. He has scored eight centuries and 13 fifties, with a highest score of 228, while averaging 50.13.

Root is comfortably ahead of the leading run-scorers in the WTC as captain. Former England skipper Stokes occupies second place with 2,182 runs from 40 matches, followed by Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne on 2,160. West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite has 1,994 runs, while Pakistan’s Babar Azam has 1,918.

Root’s milestone came during another strong batting display from England, who ended Day 2 on 366-8, taking a first-innings lead of 195 runs over Pakistan.

Root scored 66 and played a key role in a 150-run partnership with Jordan Cox, who made 73. Harry Brook narrowly missed out on a century, falling for 91 at his home ground. Dan Lawrence, playing his first Test in two years, also contributed with a 51.

Pakistan’s Ali Usman was the standout bowler, claiming 5-92 for his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

The visitors had been dismissed for just 171 on the opening day, leaving England firmly in control of the first Test. Pakistan’s bowling and fielding also came under scrutiny as England’s batters capitalised on several opportunities to build a substantial lead.

For Root, however, the focus was on another landmark in a Test career that continues to produce records. His 3,000 WTC runs as captain put him alone at the top of the tournament’s captaincy batting charts.

Barcelona preparing first offer for Inter Milan captain below €100 million

Lautaro Martinez’s links with Barcelona could be heading towards an important new stage, with the Catalan club reportedly preparing its first offer for the Inter Milan captain.

Barcelona’s interest in the Argentine striker is said to be genuine, and the club now believe there is a realistic chance of opening negotiations with Inter.

As such, according to El Chiringuito TV, the Blaugrana are working on an initial proposal worth less than €100 million and feel a deal could potentially be completed below that figure.

After seeing a move for Julian Alvarez become increasingly difficult, Barcelona appear to have shifted their focus towards the Inter forward.

Barcelona’s interest in Lautaro Martinez is growing

Barcelona have been exploring the possibility of signing Lautaro for some time, particularly as their hopes of bringing Julian Alvarez to the club began to fade.

The Argentine has therefore emerged as a serious option in the club’s search for attacking reinforcements.

Barcelona are preparing their first offer for Lautaro Martinez. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

As reported before, there have already been meetings and contacts regarding the player’s situation, while Barcelona are encouraged by their relationship with Lautaro and those close to him.

Furthermore, the Lautaro Martinez transfer is also understood to have support within the Barcelona hierarchy.

Hansi Flick is said to be a fan of the Inter captain, while sporting director Deco also views him positively.

Sure, Barcelona do have other names on their shortlist, but the report suggests that Lautaro has become the preferred option for Flick’s side.

That backing could now lead to concrete action, with Barcelona preparing their first proposal, believing that Inter Milan may be willing to sit down and discuss.

There is growing confidence that the situation could progress significantly next week, although an agreement remains far from straightforward.

Lautaro is an important figure at Inter

Inter Milan are reluctant to sell Lautaro Martinez. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

For now, Barcelona do not intend to begin negotiations with an offer worth €100 million or more.

Instead, the club is preparing an opening bid below that figure and believes Lautaro Martinez to Barcelona could be possible for less than €100 million if negotiations develop in the right direction.

The key question is whether Inter Milan share that view, as he is the club captain and one of the most important figures in the dressing room, having spent almost a decade with the Nerazzurri.

The 28-year-old arrived from Racing de Avellaneda as a teenager and is now preparing for his ninth season at the club. He also remains under contract with Inter until 2029, giving Inter a strong position in any potential transfer.

The striker also earns a very good salary in Milan, while his family is settled and comfortable in Italy.

There is therefore no obvious reason for Inter to actively seek his departure, which means Barcelona would still need to convince both the club and the player that a move is the right step.

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