14/05/2026

SPORTS THURSDAY | MAY 14, 2026

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started six Premier League matches in each of Arne Slot’s two seasons in charge. Devils consider Valverde move MANCHESTER UNITED are considering a sur prise swoop for Real Madrid outcast Federico Valverde. The Uruguayan has found himself frozen out in the Spanish capital following a training ground altercation with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, who is also liked by United. The incident left Valverde requiring hospital treatment for a concussion, ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign. The Real vice-captain was forced to release a public statement and issued a grovelling apol

And Gomez is waiting to discover what his future could hold, saying: “I think anything can happen. “I don’t know is the honest answer. I’ve only got a year left so I don’t know but whatever is meant to be will be, I guess. “But I’m so grateful to have had this time here at this club. “I’ll always be grateful to have had 11 years at a place like this. All I can do is be thankful and we’ll see.” Gomez joined Liverpool for £3.5 million (RM18.5m) from Charlton in 2015 and has gone on to make 272 appearances for the club, famously never scoring a goal. But after playing a career-best 51 games in 2023-24, Jurgen Klopp’s final year, he has only

ogy. However, it is understood that club chiefs remain furious with the midfielder and are now open to offloading him this year. To compound matters further, senior figures within the Real dressing room have rallied behind Tchouameni – and are pushing for Valverde to be shown the door ahead of next season. United are monitoring developments at the Bernabeu closely. The Premier League giants are eager to strengthen their midfield options this summer and have previously registered an interest in Tchouameni. However, the French World Cup winner is reportedly reluctant to depart the Spanish capi tal, given the backing his club has afforded him following his clash with Valverde. Whether Valverde himself would be open to a switch to Man United remains to be seen, with the Uruguayan international contracted until 2029 and likely to command a substantial trans fer fee.

SHORTS

Anything can happen: Gomez JOE GOMEZ has admitted he is unsure if he will be at Liverpool again next season as he said that “anything can happen” in the summer. The defender is Liverpool’s longest-serving player but will enter the last year of his contract while the club have already signed two young defenders who could be his successors. Giovanni Leoni arrived at Anfield last sum mer, though he suffered a cruciate ligament injury in September, and in January, Liverpool arranged a deal for Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes, who will link up with them next season.

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Saints go marching on Southampton win extra-time thriller to reach Championship playoff final

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Southampton players celebrate after defeating Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff semifinal yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

S HEA CHARLES was Southampton’s hero as they reached the Championship playoff final with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at home to Middlesbrough yesterday. The teams were all square deep into the second half of extra-time when Charles’ 116th-minute curling cross from the right crept through a crowd of defenders and deflected in off the inside of the post. Southampton, relegated from the Premier League last season, will now face Hull – 2-0 winners over Millwall on Monday – for what appears to be the chance to join Coventry and Ipswich in English football’s lucrative top-flight next season. The tie, however, has been overshad owed by allegations Southampton, now on a 20-game unbeaten run in the Championship, spied on a Middlesbrough training session ahead of Saturday’s goalless first leg at the Riverside Stadium. The English Football League charged Southampton after receiving a complaint from Middlesbrough “relating to alleged unauthorised filming on private property” and it remains to be seen what action, if any, officials will take against the club. Asked if he was worried that his side might not get to play in the final, Saints boss Tonda Eckert replied: “We’ve had this topic in the last game as well and you can believe me, it’s not easy to speak about that. “But it’s an ongoing investigation at this very moment and the club has made a statement, and I just can’t comment on that any further right now. “Believe me when the time comes, I will say something, just not now.”

When it was put to him that Boro boss Kim Hellberg had accused his club of cheat ing, Eckert added: “I think everyone has the right to express his opinion. He has done that in his way, but it’s not for me to com ment.” Should yesterday’s result stand, Southampton will be through to their sec ond Wembley appearance of the campaign, following an FA Cup semifinal defeat by Manchester City last month. Riley McGree put Boro ahead in just the fifth minute at St Mary’s to the delight of travelling fans who had made the long jour ney from the northeast to the south coast. But Southampton equalised in first-half stoppage-time through forward Ross Stewart. Tempers frayed on both sides, with Boro defender Luke Ayling reportedly accusing Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis of using “discriminatory language”. Hellberg and Eckert had to be physically separated as referee Andy Madley spoke to them on the touchline towards the end of the first half. Southampton then equalised in stop page-time when Ryan Manning’s shot was parried into the air by Boro keeper Sol Brynn and Stewart nodded in the rebound. In the second half, the hobbling Leo Scienza somehow drove into the box and went down under pressure from Ayling, but Southampton’s appeals for a penalty were rejected by Madley. Brynn kept Boro in the match in added on time when he blocked a shot from Saints substitute Cyle Larin before Charles had the last word. – AFP/The Independent

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