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Liverpool’s Andy Robertson has begun initial talks with Atlético Madrid over a possible move. The full-back made his move to Merseyside in the summer of 2017 and hasn’t looked back since. His brilliant performances led to him becoming a mainstay in Jurgen Klopp’s side that won the Premier League and Champions League.
Andy Robertson Begins Talks with Atletico Madrid
Talks Begin Over Scottish Star
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the Scottish international is the Spanish side’s top target. This also includes him being a higher priority than former academy player Theo Hernandez. However, he also acknowledged that Liverpool still rate him highly, despite the ongoing talks with Milos Kerkez, and it will not be an “easy deal”.
In addition to this, Romano’s latest update reaffirms that Robertson is the Los Colchoneros’ “top target”. Furthermore, he added that the Scotsman is keen on the move to Madrid as initial talks have already begun.
Robertson’s exit after over 300 appearances for the club would mark their third departure this summer. Full-back partner for the last eight years, Trent Alexander-Arnold, has already left the club for ‘Los Blancos’, whilst backup keeper Caoimhin Kelleher departed for Brentford in a bid for first-team football.
How This Move Could Affect Both Liverpool and Robertson.
Throughout Arne Slot’s first season on Merseyside, speculation around the future of the “fan favourite” has been prevalent. This is shown through links to the likes of Ajax “wonderkid” Jorrel Hato and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson. Most recently, a deal for Kerkez has looked the most likely as Romano reported that “he is going to join Liverpool”.
Furthermore, the Hungarian international is also more likely to suit Slot’s system. After the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong and a tactical tweak at the end of last season, attacking full-backs are clearly what the Dutch manager wants. This is because it would allow Ryan Gravenberch to aid build-up alongside the centre-backs and bring the wingers like Mohamed Salah inside.
As a result, it comes as no surprise that Robertson wants out. In a similar vein to Kieran Trippier, joining Diego Simeone’s side could rejuvenate his form after struggles this season. With the club spending big over the last few seasons, the left-back has a good chance of being competitive domestically and in Europe.
As for Liverpool, the 31-year-old’s exit could be detrimental. As mentioned previously, the club still rate him highly and could perhaps see him competing for the place. In addition, the news could also change the trajectory of Kostas Tsimikas’ exit, or lead to a new player being signed.
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TODAY'S BEST
Mitch Marner's Five-Word Message After Former Maple Leaf Calls It a Career
Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner will hit free agency on July 1, and according to FanDuel Sports Network’s Andy Strickland, he "will not be returning to Toronto" next season. Marner has played the last nine seasons with his hometown team since being drafted fourth overall in 2015 by them. Over that span, the 28-year-old has recorded 221 regular-season goals, 520 assists and 741 points. Only time will tell which sweater he’ll wear next season, but it’s worth noting that teams like the Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes and Anaheim Ducks have all been mentioned as possible landing spots for Marner. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, former Maple Leaf Matt Martin "announced his retirement from the NHL and was named a special assistant to New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche." After word spread about Martin’s retirement, Marner took to social media, reposting the NHL’s "Thank you, wishing you all the best in retirement" post. He also added a message of his own to Martin. "One of one❤️ congrats Bro!!" Marner said. Martin, 36, was drafted by the Islanders in the fifth round of the 2008 NHL draft. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with New York before joining the Leafs during Marner’s first two years in the league (2016-17 and 2017-18). Together, they made two playoff appearances but lost in the first round both times. Martin then returned to the Islanders for the final seven years of his career. Over 15 seasons, he played in a total of 987 games, recording 81 goals, 97 assists, and 178 points.
Three NHL Teams Confirmed to Have Had Trade Talks With Blackhawks for Third Overall Pick
The Chicago Blackhawks hold the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and now there is reportedly several teams trying to move up and trade with them. The 2025 NHL Draft is almost upon us, and while there isn't the depth of talent we've seen in recent years, there's still some big names to be had at the top end of the draft. Unsurprisingly, there are some teams trying to get themselves into a top five draft pick, with Utah, San Jose and even Chicago reportedly open for business on their picks in the top five. However, the Blackhawks are reportedly no longer as open as they once were, with reports coming from The Athletic's Scott Wheeler that reveal Buffalo, the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh have all had talks with Chicago about moving up to the No. 3 overall slot. While there's a chance that a big offer could blow them away, all signs right now point to the Blackhawks keeping the pick and adding an elite young player to play alongside Connor Bedard, with both James Hagens and Porter Martone making sense for them at No. 3. The Penguins now have picks No. 11 and 12 in the draft this year, so they present as the most intriguing team in potential trade talks, but with very little high end talent beyond the top 10, it's easy to see why Chicago may be reluctant to move the pick. For now though, we know teams are pushing hard to get into the top five for one of Frondell, Misa, Desnoyers, Hagens or Martone, and that will likely continue all the way up to the draft, so while the answer is no right now, don't be surprised to see those teams continue to push hard and potentially break through before Friday.
Islanders and Sabres Reportedly Hold Trade Discussions for Two Star Players
The New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres are reportedly in discussions for a trade that could see JJ Peterka moved to New York with star defenseman Noah Dobson going the other way according to Frank Seravalli. All three New York based NHL teams had disappointing seasons this year. The Rangers missed the playoffs after appearing in the Eastern Conference finals a year ago, the Islanders just barely missed the playoffs, and the Sabres extended their NHL-record playoff drought for another season. Things are perhaps most dire for Buffalo, as the team didn't even come close to making the playoffs after showing signs of improvement in the 2023-24 campaign. Now it appears as though both the Sabres and the Islanders are looking to shake things up, following in the Rangers footsteps. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the two teams have been actively involved in trade discussions centered around Sabres forward JJ Peterka and Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson. Such a deal could make a ton of sense for both teams as Peterka is reportedly not interested in signing an extension in Buffalo, and the Islanders are poised to select defenseman Matthew Schafer 1st overall in this year's draft, making Dobson expendable. Furthermore, the Sabres could be looking for help on their blue line as the team is reportedly considering buying out Mattias Samuelsson this summer. Peterka, a second round pick in the 2019 draft, has since developed into one of the best German players in the league, and he is coming off a career year where he set a new high in points with 68, blowing away his previous high of 50. The Islanders could certainly use a forward that can score like that, and with Schafer most likely joining the organization later this week, they could afford to give up a player like Dobson on the back end. If these rumors are to be believed, we may very well see this trade take place sometime this week as we approach the draft and free agency. Stay tuned to see what happens.
Former Super Bowl champ blasts Aaron Rodgers over retirement tease
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers revealed during a Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that he is "pretty sure" he will retire following the 2025 season. During Wednesday's edition of the ESPN Radio "Unsportsmanlike" program, former NFL defensive lineman and one-time Super Bowl champion Chris Canty ripped Rodgers regarding the "McAfee Show" segment. "It is the definition of self-serving with the timing of Aaron Rodgers doing this," Canty said, as shared by Joe Clark of Steelers Depot. "Everything we heard him say on the 'McAfee Show' had nothing to do with helping the Pittsburgh Steelers compete for a championship. It all had to do with him saying he wants to come back for the love of the game." Critics often referred to Rodgers as a "distraction," "selfish" and "self-centered" during his two-season stint with the New York Jets that unceremoniously ended when the club's new regime decided earlier this year to part ways with the future Hall of Famer. That said, NFL.com's Nick Shook noted that Rodgers told the "McAfee Show" crew that he was "going to give the Steelers everything that I got and empty the tank" in an attempt to have the club competing "in the biggest games." Per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, Rodgers also confirmed on Tuesday that he will work out with some Steelers players in Malibu next week. Nevertheless, Canty wasn't impressed by what he heard from the 41-year-old, who had skipped the majority of the offseason program before signing a team-friendly contract to join the Steelers earlier this month. "There's a lot of sacrifices that have to be made in order to put yourself, put your team in position to contend at the highest levels. And Aaron Rodgers hasn't done any of that this offseason," Canty added on Wednesday. "At least with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the way he's talking, it don't sound like he's going to do that with his summer break before training camp." Steelers players seem to believe Rodgers is fully dedicated to helping the club notch at least its first playoff victory since the 2016 season. Perhaps those inside the Pittsburgh locker room will use the takes offered by Canty and other Rodgers doubters as bulletin-board material when they gather for the start of training camp practices in late July.
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