Saturday July 14, 2018

By Aiden Graw

www.mknewslink.com

FOOTBALL NEWS:

Maurizio Sarri signs deal to become Chelsea boss, with Gianfranco Zola as assistant

Chelsea confirmed Antonio Conte’s sacking on Friday

Maurizio Sarri has signed a contract to become Chelsea head coach, with Gianfranco Zola as his assistant, according to Sky in Italy.

The former Napoli coach signed the deal to take over from Antonio Conte following a two-and-a-half hour meeting with Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia at Stamford Bridge on Friday night.

Napoli’s president revealed Sarri was close to finalizing a deal to take over at Chelsea on Wednesday, two days before Conte’s sacking was confirmed by the Premier League club.

Sarri was replaced by Carlo Ancelotti as Napoli manager last month but remained at the club as a compensation settlement between the 51-year-old and the Serie A club was agreed.

LIVERPOOL COMPLETE XHERDAN SHAQIRI SIGNING FROM STOKE

“I want to win titles,” says Switzerland forward after moving to Anfield on long-term deal

Liverpool have completed the signing of Xherdan Shaqiri from Stoke on a long-term contract.

It is understood Stoke accepted a bid of just over £13.5m after Liverpool met the release clause valuation in the Swiss midfielder’s contract.

Shaqiri made 36 appearances for Stoke city last season scoring eight goals.

Shaqiri becomes Liverpool’s third summer signing after Fabinho and Naby Keita joined the club and he is keen for the Premier League season to get underway.

The 26-year-old, who was part of the Switzerland squad which reached the round of 16 at the World Cup in Russia, joined Stoke in 2015 from Inter Milan before going on to make 84 league appearances for the club.

He started his career at Basel before moving to Bayern Munich where he won two Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokal cups and the Champions League, with the Bavarians beating Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund in the final in 2013.

Klopp believes Liverpool are the “perfect” club for his new signing and described the move as a “no-brainer”.

TENNIS:

KEVIN ANDERSON DEFEATS JOHN ISNER IN RECORD-BREAKING CONTEST TO REACH MAIDEN WIMBLEDON FINAL

Anderson wins dramatic final set 26-24; Will meet Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic in final on Sunday

Kevin Anderson defeated John Isner in a record-breaking Grand Slam semi-final contest to reach the Wimbledon final on Friday.

The 32-year-old won a near three-hour long final set to become the second South African to reach the final, after Brian Norton 97 years ago in 1921, prevailing 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 26-24.

Kevin Anderson

Anderson will now meet either world No 1 Rafael Nadal or three-time champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s showpiece after winning the longest ever singles semi-final at the All England Club, which lasted six hours and 36 minutes.

Novak Djokovic holds overnight advantage against Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon semi-finals

Djokovic and Nadal will resume play at 1pm on Saturday before Ladies’ final with the roof closed

Great rivals Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will return on Saturday to complete their Wimbledon semi-final with Kevin Anderson awaiting the winner.

Anderson overcame John Isner to reach Sunday’s final after the longest semi-final in Grand Slam history, which meant Djokovic and Nadal walked out to play under the roof on Centre Court shortly after 8pm local time.

Both players oozed confidence before they came off court at 11.02pm with the scoreline poised at 6-4 3-6 7-6 (11-9) in Djokovic’s favour.