Sport

West Ham reject Manchester City’s £90m bid for captain Declan Rice

Who's gonna win the race to sign the top Premier League talent?

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 27th June 2023

Manchester City have reportedly had a £90 million bid for in-demand England midfielder Declan Rice rejected by West Ham United.

With the transfer window now well and truly open, multiple clubs are stepping up their efforts to sign the talented CDM — Manchester United being one of the biggest suitors linked over the past couple of seasons.

Now though, it appears their neighbours and now treble-winning rivals have also joined the race to sign the West Ham star, having submitted a formal bid of £90m for the Irons captain.

However, according to multiple outlets, West Ham have decided to reject City’s substantial offer for the Three Lions favourite despite making clear that Rice will leave at some point this summer.

Arsenal and City are the only two clubs said to have lodged formal offers for Rice — all of which have been rejected.

Read more:

As detailed by Fabrizio Romano, the offer itself was said to be for around £80m with an estimated £10m in add-ons, which would have seen him become the second most expensive English signing of all-time — a record that the Blues already hold after signing Jack Grealish for £100m back in 2021.

ADVERTISEMENT

Money is obviously of little object to City with their ownership, not to mention having just completed their most successful season ever, with talk they will be given the “biggest transfer budget in history” during this window, so they are still expected to be heavy favourites to sign him.

In terms of other clubs hoping to secure the 24-year-old’s services, Man United are yet to make a formal bid but Arsenal are expected to submit their third which will, presumably, have to exceed the £90m mark or perhaps include a player as well to sweeten the deal.

ADVERTISEMENT

Even if City somehow miss out on Rice, they have already made their first key signing of the season after reportedly agreeing a £30m deal for Chelsea midfielder, Mateo Kovačić, who could essentially replace the recently departed Ilkay Gündogan. The 32-year-old bid an emotional farewell after seven seasons.

Featured Image — West Ham/Declan Rice (via Instagram)

Sport

Lancashire Cricket are offering free programmes to 1,400 kids across the county and Greater Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Lancashire Cricket Foundation offering free cricket to kids in Greater Manchester

The Lancashire Cricket Foundation is offering free cricket programmes to 1,400 kids across the county and the Greater Manchester region this summer.

Offering coaching and games to children from disadvantaged backgrounds whilst also aiming for greater female participation this year, the Foundation’s bursary programme is being opened up to young ones all across Lancashire and various parts of 0161.

Set to deliver opportunities to a record number of kids in 2024, the scheme is part of the nationwide All Stars and Dynamos initiative – now into its sixth year and set up by the England and Wales Cricket Board – and is open to all kids between the ages of 5-11, with more than 5,600 in Lancashire last year alone.

The aim is pretty simple: keep kids active and playing as much as possible, whilst also helping nurture the world of grassroots cricket.

all stars and dynamos cricket for kids greater manchester
Last year, around 1,200 Lancashire kids and beyond were given free cricket bursaries. (Credit: Supplied)

While the eight-hour long kids courses themselves cost £30 for the younger bracket and £40 for those 8-11, bursary places are being reserved for children living in deprived areas and diverse communities, where participation would otherwise be limited.

The programme has proved massively popular all across the North West and thanks to likes of total of the Red Rose’s Community Foundation works, who have brought the scheme to more than 200 clubs and centres across the nation, more than 20,000 children have taken part since it was introduced.

Now that’s one way to put the future of UK cricket in safe hands.

As for the All Stars and Dynamos, in addition to providing a social outlet and activities to help develop fundamental skills on and off the pitch, organisers always ensure to make things fully inclusive and support a wide range of abilities, disabilities and different learning needs.

In addition to the coaching received, every child who registers also receives their very own t-shirt, personalised with their name and number, as well as a range of other benefits including priority access to LCC tickets​, chances to meet players, discounts on merch and lots of other potential prizes.

The paid version of the scheme is still available to those inelligible for the bursary.

Read more:

Jen Barden, Executive Director of the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, said of this year’s efforts: “Through a variety of programmes, the Foundation delivers cricket to more than 110,000 participants in our schools, clubs, and communities, and we have a strong commitment to growing the game of cricket across the county.

“We are particularly proud of the Bursary Scheme that provides young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and under-represented groups with access to cricket. These programmes are vital for introducing the game to more young people, helping them stay active and develop new skills, in a fun, friendly, and inclusive environment.”

Parents can register their children for All Stars and Dynamos Cricket courses and find out whether they qualify for a bursary HERE.

You can also find out more information on taking part and coaching opportunities on the Lancashire Cricket Foundation website.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Lancashire Cricket Foundation

Sport

Everton manager Sean Dyche randomly pops up in the music video for Blossoms’ new single – and he’s great

Danny Jones Danny Jones Everton manager Sean Dyche in new Blossoms music video

Did anyone else think they’d ever see Sean Dyche make his acting debut in the role of a Northern crime boss in a silly little music video for the Blossoms?

No, us neither but that’s the bizarre alternate reality we’re living in, apparently.

Blossoms are currently working on the fifth studio album and have already released their lead single entitled, ‘To Do List (After The Break-Up)’, but now they have a new song out as well, with a rather amusing music video to go along with it and somehow Sean Dyche has found himself the star.

The Stockport band teased the curious collaboration in April, giving us just short glimpses of the Everton manager and former Burnley boss with very little explanation – all we know is that it looked funny and it was.

Sean Dyche stars as the boss in the music video for Blossoms’ latest single, ‘What Can I Say After I’m Sorry?’ As you do.

Dyche is still busy trying to finish the Premier League campaign as strong as possible after successfully navigating the Toffees to safety even in spite of their points deductions this season, but it sounds like keeping them up has given him enough time to moonlight as an actor.

Sending the indie five-piece on a mission to collect something of value (yes, that’s all the info we have at this point as the story is still to be continued), it looks like the Kettering-born coach has a larger role to play in whatever this narrative turns out to be.

Playing what can only be described as some kind of semi-Manc mafia figure on the hunt for a very valuable piece of art, i.e. a big giant gorilla statue – one that many Stopfordians spotted being lugged around various parts of the borough –

They also shared a little bit of BTS footage from the shoot for the music video last week. Some lovely head-bobbing and unassuming surroundings here:

How catchy is that beat alone!?

Read more:

As for the track itself, it’s a bit of stylistic change for the lads who’ve mastered their 80s-tinged indie formula over the past decade but it’s an absolute pop and is already stuck in our heads.

Revealing that they’ve collaborated with contemporary funk, disco and electronic icons Jungle on the track, it doesn’t take too long to hear the influences. Look forward to hearing it at Wythenshawe Park this summer.

You can watch the music video for ‘What Can I Say?’ and the ginger-goatee’d football manager extraordinaire in full character HERE.

He’s not the only footballing figure who’s made an entertainment crossover recently either.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Blossoms (via YouTube)/Virgin EMI

More Sport

Man City star Ian Mellor dead at 74

News

Tributes paid to former Manchester City winger Ian Mellor, dead at 74

Tom Aspinall says UFC 304 Manchester start time is absolutely terrible and unfair on UK fans

Sport

Manchester MMA star Tom Aspinall slams ‘unfair’ start times for UFC 304 at Co-op Live

Wayne Rooney joining The Overlap cast

Sport

Wayne Rooney joins the cast of Gary Neville’s The Overlap

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches