September 21, 2022

The brief from today:

Euro 2028 joint bid works on stadium shortlist

The joint bid from England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland to host Euro 2028 is entering a more serious phase regarding logistics. Part of this progression is responding to UEFA’s request to submit a preliminary list of 10 stadiums that will host matches, which could potentially grow to 12. The initial plan is for one stadium to be selected from each of Northern Ireland (Windsor Park), Scotland (Hampden Park), and Wales (Principality Stadium), while Ireland will submit two venues: Aviva Stadium and Croke Park. England will then be responsible for choosing five locations out of the plethora of options in the country. Some big name stadiums have already been axed due to their relatively small pitch size including: Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium and Chelsea’s home venue, Stamford Bridge. Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, meanwhile, has also been curiously overlooked. As it stands, the following stadiums are in strong contention to be selected: Old Trafford (Manchester United), the Etihad (Manchester City), Stadium MK (Milton Keynes Dons), St James’ Park (Newcastle), Stadium of Light (Sunderland), Wembley Stadium, London Stadium (West Ham), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Tottenham), and Villa Park (Aston Villa). The last option also being considered hasn’t been built yet, and that is Moore Dock, Everton’s future home ground. Clearly the organizers are making an attempt to shift things around from all popular stadiums considering the ruling out of Anfield, Emirates, and Stamford Bridge, but if the total venue number increases to 12, then it will be interesting to see whether they continue with that approach.

The UK, plus Ireland, is one bid that is hoping to host Euro 2028

Shrewd negotiating from Dembele and his agent

Barcelona winger, Ousmane Dembélé, had a rather contentious relationship with the club last season as his contract was winding down. Barca were pushing for him to take a hefty pay cut in order to extend his contract past the summer due to their financial struggles, but Dembele wasn’t interested. Eventually his agreement with the club expired, but rather than opt for a move elsewhere, the France international ended up signing a brand new two-year contract a few months ago. Details are emerging now over the nature of the deal, and how a compromise was reached in what seemed to be an inevitable parting of ways. Considering Dembele signed the contract in July, two weeks after the previous one had expired, he would’ve been eligible to receive a signing bonus for joining as a “free agent”. Instead of pressing for that and scuppering the deal, he and his agent took a different approach. A proposal was made to the club that a signing bonus would be waived to ease the financial pressure on Barca, but a release clause of €50 million would be inserted into the contract. This clause would be valid beginning next summer, and if any other team stepped forward to activate it, Dembele and his agent also convinced Barca to forfeit 50 percent of the €50 million to them. With the form he is showing early into this season, it isn’t inconceivable that one of Europe’s elite come knocking with such an enticing bargain price. If that were to occur, then Dembele and his agent stand to pocket a handsome €12.5 million each.

Dembele and his agent were wheeling and dealing with Barcelona this past summer