Star would cost Liverpool over €40m in first such deal for 20 years
Liverpool will have to pay €40m to sign a star on their shortlist. They haven't struck a deal like this for 20 years.
Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Allan in recent days. Reports, almost entirely out of Brazil, suggest they lead the race for Palmeiras's latest gem.
'The Football' is one such local report. They claim Liverpool are the preferred buyer for the 21-year-old, despite interest from elsewhere.
The suggestion is that Palmeiras would like to open a dialogue with Liverpool. That potentially leads to more deals down the line - or at least, another elite club willing to buy players off of them, driving up the price of anyone they try to sell.
That's something they've already done with Real Madrid (Endrick) and Chelsea (Estevao) in recent years. Now the Reds could join that list.
But it's a difficult deal. In fact, Liverpool haven't struck a deal like this for many years.
Liverpool go again with Allan
IG in Brazil reports that there's certainly no deal with Liverpool just yet. They also make it clear that Allan won't come particularly cheap.
The 'The Football' report claims a price of around €35m would be necessary but Allan is almost certainly going for more than that. As IG point out, Palmeiras rejected a €35m offer from Napoli in January that would have reached €40m with bonuses.
It feels safe to say that Liverpool would need to pay at least €40m essentially guaranteed if they're to get this one done.
And while reports are positive in that regard, this would be a bit of history for the Reds. They haven't signed a wonderkid from Brazil - someone playing at the top level and with genuine hype around them - since Lucas Levia in 2007.
Lucas was voted the best player in Brazil the previous season, following in the footsteps of Kaka, Alex, Robinho and Carlos Tevez the four years before him. Allan doesn't have quite that pedigree but he's undoubtedly an elite prospect.
And one who might just end Liverpool's near-20-year wait for another Brazilian wonderkid.
Virginia Tech softball: No. 20 Hokies win 3 in a row, including an upset over No. 12 Georgia
The No. 20 Virginia Tech Hokies entered this weekend’s Georgia Classic with a 7-2 record, with a chance to pick up more impressive victories on their resume.
On Friday, the Hokies began this weekend’s tournament with a 7-2 win over Seton Hall. The Hokies jumped on the Pirates early, when Jordan Lynch hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning. Tech would score again to take a 2-0 lead. In the third, the Hokies added three more runs, making it 5-0. Lynch and Zoe Yaeger would each drive in two runs for the Hokies, while Sophie Kleiman pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and walking three batters to earn her second win. Addyson Fisher pitched three innings in relief, allowing both of Seton Hall’s runs.
Later on Friday, VT defeated Utah State, 10-3. The Aggies started fast, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning, but that would be about it for them. Tech scored a run in each of the first two innings to tie the game before exploding for four runs in the third inning and four more in the fourth to take a 10-2 lead. Nine Virginia Tech players had at least one hit against Utah State, with Kylie Aldridge, Lynch, Emma Mazzarone and Gaby Mizelle all recording two hits. Yaeger drove in four to pace the Hokies.
Avery Layton pitched 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and three runs, while striking out four hitters to improve to 2-0. Bree Carrico was dominant in relief again, pitching 2.2 innings of no-hit ball.
The Hokies were scheduled for two more on Saturday, but the rematch with Seton Hall was canceled due to inclement weather. However, Tech’s game against the No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs went on as planned, and the Hokies shocked the home team, picking up a 9-3 win.
Virginia Tech started fast against the ‘Dawgs, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning, as Nora Abromavage blasted a two-run home run. Georgia responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame, but Tech was not phased. After scoring one run on an error, Aldridge doubled to score another in the second inning, making it 4-2.
The Hokies scored another run in the third inning and blew it open in the fourth, scoring four, led by RBI hits from Aldridge and Abromavage. Tech had 11 hits, compared to four for Georgia. Mazzarone pitched a gem, going the distance, allowing four hits and three runs, while striking out nine. She is now 3-1 this season.
Virginia Tech improved to 3-0 against ranked foes already this season and now sits at 10-2 heading into Sunday’s final day in Athens. Saturday was a great day to be a Hokie.
The Hokies took down No. 14 South Carolina twice two weeks ago in the Gamecock Invitational two weeks ago. Can they accomplish the same feat against the Bulldogs in Sunday’s finale?
Third mental health patient absconds from Sydney hospital
Madan Pandey absconds from Cumberland Hospital, days after two men escaped from the same facility and later allegedly killed three people.