Something had to give. Even the venture capitalists who run Liverpool could not project their club as mattering more, then end up on the same side as Mike Ashley and Daniel Levy.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: It's a crowded field but perhaps the most risible intervention in the stand-off between clubs and players this week came from Dr Erkut Sogut.

CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: The difference between the £340m Mike Ashley wants for Newcastle and the £300m on offer is what is holding this deal up. Why, given the estimated assets of the buyer?

MARTIN SAMUEL: It is a familiar trope that there are not many great captains in football these days. Never will that be more keenly felt than at the top of the Premier League on Friday. 

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: There is a very straightforward way to prove you have the funds for any transaction. Pay up. Write the cheque, hand over the cash.

MARTIN SAMUEL - COMMENT: Amid a global pandemic, PFA chief Gordon Taylor is responsible for professional footballers becoming the easiest target.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Owners have been immersed for too long in the fight to reach the Premier League. They've lived in a world of extreme, desperate expenditure.

Trevor Stacey, 98, reminisced with his Royal Marine counterparts yesterday and discussed losing friends 75 years ago amid the chaos of the Normandy landings.

With England leading 2-0, Liverpool legend Carragher allowed the ball to bounce over his head, with former Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt taking full advantage and firing past David Seaman.

Louisa Johnson was proudly displaying her toned abs in chic white co-ords on Wednesday, as she enjoyed dinner at Usain Bolt's restaurant in Spitalfields.

The 21-year-old's time of 19.50 seconds has been bettered by only world record holder Usain Bolt, fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake and United States great Michael Johnson.

The retired Jamaican sprinter, 32, cut a dapper figure in a bright white ensemble as he enjoyed a sun-soaked break in Formentera, Spain with girlfriend Kasi J. Bennet on Thursday.

EXCLUSIVE - MATT LAWTON: Christian Coleman, the world's fastest man for the last three years, is fighting for his reputation over an alleged series of missed drugs tests.

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: He was long scripted as the heir to Usain Bolt but as of Thursday it was rather more difficult to predict the line of succession to which Christian Coleman will eventually belong.

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT LAWTON: Christian Coleman, the world's fastest man for the last three years, is fighting for his reputation over an alleged series of missed drugs tests.

From Christian Coleman winning 100m gold to Dina Asher-Smith picking up Great Britain's first-ever medal in a women's sprint event, each individual achievement has been undermined in Qatar.

The Olympic sprint champion, 33, main, has said he would consider taking up the sport. In February he tied the quickest ever NFL 40-yard dash running in 4.22 seconds, inset.

Former Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt is rumoured to be returning to the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday and will be sponsored by champagne brand Mumm.

He confirmed his relationship with Kasi Bennett, 29, back in 2016. 

Athlete Usain Bolt has confirmed his girlfriend Kasi Bennett is expecting his first child with girlfriend Kasi Bennett.

MARTIN SAMUEL: Tyson Fury is an outlier, a mould breaker, just as Usain Bolt was. And not only in terms of his antics, his charisma. And like Bolt, once he enters the vicinity it is hard to take your eyes off him.

Monaco boss Roberto Moreno has come to the defence of midfielder Cesc Fabregas by insisting the Spaniard is 'not Usain Bolt' following criticism from his own supporters. 

Lisa Nandy and Piers Morgan engaged in an explosive row over transgender rights today as the Labour leadership hopeful was accused of failing to give 'straight answers'.

The 38-year-old star took to Instagram to share a video posing in yellow outfits along with a caption with her clarifying she was joking when she claimed to demolish men's track record.

Holly Young, 25, made headlines in 2017 with her romance with the legendary sprinter - before revealing last year she had found a new beau in a secret Manchester United player.

We're now a few weeks into the summer break, and many of football's stars have taken the opportunity to jet off round the world and enjoy their time off.

Mohamed Salah has been stepping up his preparations for this summer's African Cup of Nations after cutting short his summer break to link up with the Egyptian national team.

Clarence Seedorf insists his Cameroon side are fully focused as they prepare to begin the defence of their Africa Cup of Nations title.

Goals either side of half-time saw Tunisia and Angola share the points in their first game of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations at the Suez Army Stadium on Monday night.

Uganda and Zimbabwe played out a 1-1 draw at the Africa Cup of Nations, but both teams will walk away very disappointed not to take all three points.

Tunisia came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Mali in the Africa Cup of Nations Group E.

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane scored twice after missing a penalty as Senegal reached the last 16 at the Africans Cup of Nations with a 3-0 win over Kenya.

Adam Ounas and Islam Slimani inspired Algeria to a comfortable 3-0 win over Tanzania as they completed a 100 per cent Group C record in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Christian Atsu has been ruled out of the rest of the Africa Cup of Nations with a hamstring tear, officials said on Tuesday.

Yannick Bolasie missed from the spot as Africa Cup of Nations debutants Madagascar beat DR Congo in a dramatic penalty shootout to reach the quarter-finals.

Ferjani Sassi struck the winning spot-kick as Tunisia beat Ghana 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out to secure their place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

Senegal reached the last four of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2006 on Wednesday night courtesy of a 1-0 win over Benin in the quarter-finals.

Raucous celebrations in Paris and other French cities quickly soured after fans resorted to vandalism and arson, bringing traffic in the French capital to a standstill after Algeria's Africa Cup win in Egypt.

The sporting action starts to hot up over the weekend, with plenty on offer for armchair fans should the weather take an unexpected turn for the worse.

Victor Wanyama is poised to collect his British passport over the coming weeks. The 28-year-old Tottenham midfielder put off a proposed move abroad last year to ensure he qualified.

A bizarre own goal in extra time sent Senegal through to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win against Tunisia. Senegal will face Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Friday evening.

Sportsmail looks at both sides, the Manchester City v Liverpool rivalry in this game, how each team got to the final and why Kalidou Koulibaly's suspension could come back to haunt Senegal.

The Senegalese forward will return to the club on Monday after a 16-day break following his exertions at the African Cup of Nations - late calls will be made on Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino.

 Wilfried Bony has revealed he is close to moving abroad after leaving Swansea this summer - and is training with League Two Newport County to keep his fitness up.

Ghana were on the verge of becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final when they were awarded a penalty in added time of extra time after a Luis Suarez's handball.

Headingley will host the third Ashes Test as England aim to draw level with Australia in Yorkshire, starting on Thursday. Sportsmail's DAVID LLOYD has everything you need to know.

BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Josh Hazlewood has put Australia in complete control of the fourth Ashes Test after grabbing three quick wickets late on during the third day at Old Trafford.

DAVID LLOYD AT THE OVAL: England's batting line-up is flimsy. At 130 for two, you would have thought it would be plain sailing for them, with most of the top order getting starts

BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Finally I have an answer to my question. How do you get Steve Smith out? A straight one from Chris Woakes. Simple.

BUMBLE AT THE TEST: England produced a fine bowling display to draw the Ashes series with a 135-run fifth Test victory at The Oval. Consecutive Joe Root catches signalled the end of an era.