SETTABLOID

Tennessee State defensive star Sanders Ellis has officially entered the transfer portal following the departure of head coach Eddie George to Bowling Green. Ellis, a standout performer on Tennessee State’s defense, is now exploring new opportunities as he looks for a program that will help him continue his development and maximize his potential on the field.

Ellis’s decision to enter the portal comes at a time of transition for Tennessee State, as the program adjusts to life without George, who played a crucial role in shaping the team’s identity over the past few seasons. George, a former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL star, brought national attention to Tennessee State and helped elevate the program’s competitiveness. However, his move to Bowling Green left questions about the future direction of the team, and it appears Ellis is among those seeking a fresh start elsewhere.

As one of Tennessee State’s top defensive players, Ellis has been a key force on the field, demonstrating exceptional athleticism, football IQ, and leadership. His ability to read plays, make key tackles, and disrupt opposing offenses has made him a player to watch, and his presence has been instrumental in the Tigers’ defensive schemes. Now, with his name in the portal, he becomes one of the more intriguing defensive prospects available for programs looking to strengthen their rosters.

The transfer portal has become a powerful tool for athletes seeking new opportunities, and Ellis is no exception. As he weighs his options, several programs are likely to express interest in adding him to their defensive unit. Whether he chooses to follow George to Bowling Green or takes his talents to another program, his next move will undoubtedly be a significant one.

For Tennessee State, losing a player of Ellis’s caliber is a tough blow, especially during a period of transition. However, the Tigers will look to rebuild and find new leaders to step up in his absence. Meanwhile, for Ellis, this marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his football career.

Where he lands next remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Sanders Ellis has the talent, determination, and experience to make an immediate impact wherever he goes. As college football programs take notice, his journey is just getting started.

Former Atletico Madrid sporting director looks set to join Arsenal, replacing the recently resigned Edu Gaspar in the position. The Gunners took their time to find the right replacement, knowing the magnitude of the role and how it would shape their future alongside manager Mikel Arteta.

Berta worked with Atletico Madrid from 2013 having been in Italy a number of clubs prior to that. His work in Spain helped the Rojiblancos rise to become league champions, win trophies and fight for the biggest honours in the sport.

At Arsenal, there is an anticipation about what his potential appointment might mean for the club and where it will take their ambitions in the market. With that said, football.london takes a look at who his first three signings could be for the Gunners.

Martin Zubimendi

First is a player who the club are understood by football.london to have already put a lot of work into – Martin Zubimendi. The player is hoped to be joining in the summer as a replacement for the impending exit of Thomas Partey whose contract will expire at the end of the season.

Berta will be very familiar with Zubimendi who has been playing against his former Atleti side with Real Sociedad. It is unlikely his arrival will change the work that has been done and he would have had conversations about existing plans and work ahead of a summer window that opens in just over three months’ time.

Benjamin Sesko

Another player Arsenal have been very interested in has been Benjamin Sesko. The club were keen on the Slovenian international last summer but he decided to remain with RB Leipzig for guaranteed game time.

A year on and he has developed further, improving many areas of his game and Berta will be tasked with finding the club that key striker. Alexander Isak is a dream for Arteta, but the extortionate price tag Newcastle have set likely rules out the chance of a move.

There may be other candidates that Berta is keen on or who he might suggest. But with this being the first transfer window, Berta will likely take on plenty of the plans the club had in place already and try to bring them into reality.

With midfield and forward areas looked at, there will definitely be need in the defence with the volume of players expected to leave. Jakub Kiwior, Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko could all depart while Ayden Heaven has already left the club, joining Manchester United in January.

One player that Atletico and Berta it appears were keen on prior to his exit was Bayer Leverkusen’s Ecuadorian international Piero Hincapie. A left-sided mobile player who can operate as a left-back and a left centre-half might be exactly the right fit for the club.

With Atleti formerly keen, Berta could have already established dialogue with the player’s camp. Now all is needed is to sell a different project to the player an negotiate a price with the German club.

Arsenal are already laying the groundwork for the 2025/26 season, with whispers of a significant squad revamp in the pipeline. The Gunners’ current campaign has been marred by injuries and inconsistency, and Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United effectively dashed what was left of their slim Premier League title hope, with Liverpool now sitting comfortably atop the table with a 15-point lead.

While Arsenal remain contenders for the Champions League, it seems some of their attention is shifting towards an anticipated summer overhaul. The need for a central striker at Arsenal is no secret, and it’s believed they’re also scouting for wingers and central midfielders.

However, to accommodate these new additions, they’ll need to create room in the squad and raise funds, which suggests several first-team players could be on their way out. Various reports suggest that Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho, Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney are all likely to depart this summer, as Arsenal aim to amass a ‘transfer war chest’ for manager Mikel Arteta.

According to Transfermarkt, the four players have a combined value of £55million. However, with three of them nearing the end of their contracts this summer, it’s unlikely Arsenal will secure that full amount.

Partey, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is the only one among the four who regularly features in matches. That being said, the Ghanaian is also one of the highest earners at the club, reportedly pocketing £200,000 per week, and he turns 32 in June.

Jorginho, who is also nearing the end of his contract, has seen limited league action this season due to the arrival of Mikel Merino. The anticipated summer signing of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi could further push him down the ranks, suggesting a move away might be best for the ex-Chelsea star.

Viktor Gyokeres has sent Arsenal and Chelsea a reminder ahead of the summer transfer window. The 26-year-old striker, who continues to be heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, netted twice in Sporting CP’s 3-1 win over Casa Pia on Sunday night.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Gyokeres doubled the Lions’ lead on the road with a lovely strike. Driving into the opposition box, the Sweden international shifted the ball onto his favoured right foot before guiding the ball beneath the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

Casa Pia pulled one back just before half-time, but Gyokeres later restored Sporting’s two-goal lead in the second half. The Swede, who sees his contract at the Jose Alvalade Stadium expire in June 2028, has now featured 24 times in the Primeira Liga this season, scoring 27 goals and providing five assists.

Playing a key role in the side, Gyokeres has fired the Portuguese giants to the top of the table. His impressive performances for Sporting haven’t gone under the radar, with numerous top European clubs said to be monitoring his progress.

According to the Portuguese newspaper Record, as quoted by the Mail Online, Gyokeres has expressed a desire to leave at the end of the campaign. The report claims Manchester United have joined Arsenal and Chelsea in the race for his signature.

It’s said that Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on Gyokeres. The Mail Online adds the striker has an £85m release clause in his contract – but he could be allowed to leave for around £68.5m.

Manchester United again frustrated Arsenal at Old Trafford, this time holding them to a 1-1 draw. As I made my way back from the game, the discussion with colleagues turned to the repetitive nature of this result and this performance.

Banging on the door without being able to break it down, bar the one time Declan Rice managed to find the target, even this was outside of the box. Jokes were made before the game about how this was the first time in three matches the side had scored from open play.

Set pieces the bedrock for the goals in the previous two fixtures. Mikel Arteta was a frustrated man, walking out of his Sky Sports post-match interview, dismissing questions surrounding both the title race and the failure to land a striker in the January transfer window, responding, “It’s not about that.”

The reality, of course, is that it most certainly has everything to do with this. While I still am of the mind that any striker able to have been signed realistically in January would not have made a difference in regard to the title race, these are the games where it certainly could have.

Ruben Amorim leant on a free-kick master in Bruno Fernandes to score his side’s sucker punch goal. He said after the game that his side need more Brunos.

I put it to Mikel Arteta whether he could have more of some individuals on his side, but perhaps unsurprisingly, he insisted that he is happy with who he has. Most would disagree, however, and are already looking to the summer for that inspiration.

Tennis sensation Iga Swiatek has dismissed suggestions that her triumphs at the Indian Wells Open are solely due to the playing surface. A prevailing notion that has been circulating among tennis circles posits that her astounding success at this particular tournament is attributable only to the court surface. Swiatek, however, has firmly put these conjectures to rest.

Swiatek’s remarkable winning streak at the Indian Wells Open has caught the attention of many. Yet, the notion that her victories are merely the outcome of a favorable playing surface is a claim she fiercely rejects. She emphasizes that the success of any tennis player is not merely a product of external factors like the court surface but rather a testament to their skill, dedication, and relentless hard work.

Indeed, tennis players invest countless hours honing their skills and perfecting their craft. Thus, their success should be seen as an acknowledgement of their abilities and the continuous effort they put into their game, not merely as a byproduct of the playing surface. Swiatek believes that the implication that her success can be distilled down to one single factor undermines the effort and dedication that she, like all professional tennis players, puts into her game.

In the world of professional tennis, various factors – technique, strength, mental resilience, and even the playing surface – can influence the outcome of a match. However, the ability to adapt and excel across different conditions is what truly distinguishes a top-class player. Swiatek’s consistent performance at Indian Wells, therefore, is a reflection of her adaptability and skill rather than just the result of a favorable playing surface.

In conclusion, while the playing surface can undeniably influence a game’s outcome, it is by no means the sole determinant of a player’s success. Swiatek’s dismissal of the claim that her Indian Wells success is merely due to the court surface is a reminder of the complex interplay of factors that contribute to a tennis player’s success. It underscores the importance of recognizing and appreciating the skill, determination, and hard work that tennis players invest into their craft.

Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz is set to face off against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov, with a spot in the Round of 16 on the line.

Alcaraz, aiming for his third title at Indian Wells, the first Masters 1,000 event of the season and one often referred to as the fifth Grand Slam, had an impressive start on Saturday. He defeated French player Quentin Halys in straight sets, scoring 6-4, 6-2. Now, he must contend with Shapovalov, currently ranked 28th in the world, for a chance to advance to the next round, where he would encounter the victor of the match between Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov and France’s Gael Monfils.
The second round witnessed a significant upset as top-seeded players fell, including Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who faced an early exit in the absence of Jannik Sinner, as well as Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and Novak Djokovic, whom Alcaraz could have faced in the quarter-finals. This sets up a challenging encounter for Alcaraz against Shapovalov, with whom he has only played once before. In their previous meeting during the third round of the 2023 French Open, Alcaraz emerged victorious, winning in three sets with scores of 6-1, 6-4, and 6-2. This upcoming match will mark their first clash on outdoor hard courts.
Shapovalov, aged 25 and previously ranked as high as 10th in the world back in September 2021, began his 2023 season at the ATP 250 event in Hong Kong, where he was defeated in the first round by Kei Nishikori. He faced another second-round exit in Adelaide before having a mixed performance at the Australian Open. He managed to win against Spain’s Roberto Bautista but fell to Italian Lorenzo Musetti. However, he redeemed himself by claiming the title at the ATP 250 in Dallas, defeating Casper Ruud in the final, and overcoming notable players such as Taylor Fritz, Thomas Machac, and Tommy Paul along the way. Just two weeks ago, he reached the semifinals at the ATP 500 event in Acapulco but was eliminated by Alejandro Davidovich.
The match between Carlos Alcaraz and Denis Shapovalov has been scheduled during the afternoon session at Indian Wells, which translates to an early morning start of at least 2 AM on Tuesday, March 11, in Spain. Fans can catch the live action on Movistar.