01-20-2020, 07:42 AM
Manchester United appears to already be active in rebuilding its back line. The club is reportedly close to signing Mats Hummels, according to Spanish newspaper Sport. United has agreed to a 20 million euro transfer with the 25-year-old defenders previous club, Borussia Dortmund, per the papers report. The report states that the deal could become official later in the week. Hummels has been a staple on Dortmunds back line ever since they acquired him from Bundesliga rival Bayern Munich in 2008. He was instrumental in the defensive structure that helped lead the team to back-to-back German titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12. He was named to the All-Star Team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil after helping lead Germany to its first world title since 1990. He scored the lone goal in his nations quarter-final victory over France, earning Man of the Match honours. United is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Barclays Premier League, marking its worst domestic showing since 1989-90 when the club finished 13th. The club is in the midst of an off-season overhaul that began with the appointing of Dutch national manager Louis van Gaal being put in charge of the club. The club must now overhaul its defence as the trio of Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand have all moved on to new clubs. The three have anchored Uniteds defence together since 2006. Dallas Stars Store . Louis Blues and back into top spot of the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings. The Sharks had been ranked No. Dallas Stars Shirts .Y. - Terry and Kim Pegula have no immediate plans to tinker with their new NFL team. https://www.cheapstarsonline.com/ . Villa has already confirmed his short-term deal and the Daily Mirror reported early Tuesday that Lampard will join him as both build up match fitness ahead of moves to the new Major League Soccer franchise New York City. Dallas Stars Gear . "Im excited just for a new start, just to see where things are going, to bring some kind of tradition back to the team and guys being excited about something new," the defensive back said during a conference call Monday after agreeing to stay with the Bombers rather than go to free agency next month. Stars Jerseys 2021 . According to Dave Stubbs of The Montreal Gazette, preliminary talks have begun between Markov - an unrestricted free agent this summer - and general manager Marc Bergevin.TORONTO - Following the final game in each of his first four NBA seasons, DeMar DeRozan has stood in front of the media contingent at the Raptors annual post-mortem gathering, vowing to work tirelessly on his game during the summer and return a more well-rounded player come the fall. One of his most glaring weaknesses as a young guard in the league was his playmaking ability. As a 19-year-old rookie in 2009-10, DeRozan averaged less than one assist per game. Among NBA guards that logged at least 20 minutes per outing that season, DeRozan assisted on the lowest percentage of his teammates field goals (just under 5 per cent, tied with Orlandos Mickael Pietrus, per NBA.com/stats). Hes come a long way since then, making good on his yearly end-of-season promise. DeRozans four assists in Sundays win over the Magic raised his season total to 205, a new career-high, besting last years mark with 26 games left to play. "I want to make my teammates better," said the Raptors guard, who continues to evolve as a distributer, averaging a career-best 3.8 dimes this season. "It just comes with experience and understanding. Its something that I really enjoy doing, getting my teammates involved, looking for them." The 24-year-olds assist numbers have increased in each of his five seasons and his assist percentage this year (18.6) is more than three-times higher than it was in his rookie campaign (4.9). DeRozan had recorded five or more assists in just five of his first 2222 games as an NBA player, his first three years in the league.dddddddddddd Since then hes accomplished that feat 28 times in 136 contests, including 15 during his 2013-14 breakout season. "Thats huge," Dwane Casey said of his leading scorers improved court vision. "Now hes drawing so much attention from the other teams as far as double teaming, guys helping, theyre sinking in and hes making teams pay for it." "Hes one of the best wings right now in the league as far as passing the ball out [of the double team] and hes doing a great job of it," Casey continued. "So thats a big step in his growth process. Its good to see and the more attention he gets the more hes going to have to rely on that part of his game." A first-time all-star this season, DeRozan has had to adjust to the defensive attention hes getting now that he finds himself on the top of the oppositions scouting report. Theres nowhere left to hide, not after the trade of top dog Rudy Gay, but DeRozan has embraced the responsibility. "The game definitely does slow down," he noted. "You understand every defence. Theres not too many defences I havent seen yet and just watching film and understanding how teams play key players, especially key scorers, once you understand that a lot of things come a lot easier." As a team, the Raptors are just 14-17 when DeRozan scores 20 or more points, however theyre 18-8 when he tallies at least four assists. ' ' '