AI is a crazy thing that continues to freak us out at times and it seems it can do almost anything at this point – including creating unique designs for engagement rings inspired by your favourite football teams, apparently.
If you can think of it, someone’s done it using artificial intelligence.
That’s right, popular bookmakers Betway have created a unique football team-inspired engagement ring design for each one of this year’s 20 Premier League teams and, much to our surprise, a lot of them are actually pretty nice.
For instance, here’s a glimpse at the engagement ring for Manchester City:
A football-inspired engagement ring might sound a bit tacky but that isn’t half bad. (Credit: Betway/Edward Fleming)
Big and bold, just like those who sing ‘Blue Moon’ when their boys are out on the pitch. This design doesn’t have any feature relating to the treble-winning campaign but the centre does give a subtle nod to the Lancashire rose featured on City’s crest and it’s genuinely quite cool overall.
Another aspect of this AI project that we were quite impressed by, besides the genuinely plausible concept art, is that Betway also worked with jeweller Edward Fleming to reveal the materials, stones and styles of each club in order to create each bespoke ring on request.
Fleming even helped value these hypothetical pieces of jewellery based on their components; for example, Man City’s nine-carat white gold aquamarine ring would come in at just £1,000, whereas if you were to swap the gem for a blue diamond, you’re talking a hundred times that amount.
But what about the red side of Manchester? Well, United‘s is predictably a much more devilish design with horned elements and ‘gothic’ influences, as well as a dark ruby stone which puts it as the second most expensive ring on the list, valued at around £30,000.
Liverpool boasted the most expensive ring on the list worth around £70k, with West Ham and Fulham coming in joint-third for a £10k rock.
You can see the full list of rings and how they look HERE.
We’ve already seen what AI can drum up when it comes to the greatest Premier League starting 11 of all time, we just never thought we’d be talking about what those teams would look like in jewellery form.
Technology, eh?
Nevertheless, red, blue or otherwise, if you were ever debating to make somewhat of a Premier League proposal, at least you’ve now got some ideas for what you want the ring to look like.
It’s not the only AI take on something Manchester-related that we’ve been impressed with recently either — it’ll take a crack at anything.
Everton are reportedly already hoping to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City permanently
Danny Jones
Everton FC are reportedly already considering signing Jack Grealish on a permanent deal after an impressive start to his spell on loan from Manchester City.
The former Aston Villa talisman has struggled to remain in the starting XI under Pep Guardiola since joining the club in 2021, but since arriving on Merseyside, he’s already been a difference-maker in every match for the Toffees thus far.
Grealish has not only registered four assists in just two starts for Everton but also won the very first player of the month award in the Premier League this season for his contributions.
Safe to say he’s fast made a big impact over in Liverpool – hence why it is now thought that manager David Moyes wants to make his transfer permanent.
Becoming just the 10th Toffee to ever win the accolade, the Birmingham-born creator is now thought to be the primary transfer target, despite the summer window having only recently closed.
He writes that despite the deal between Everton and Man City already including a £50 million option to buy next summer, that number is “not fixed and is more a consequence of accounting than a set price.”
The England international still has two years on his contract in the blue half of Manchester, but the previous valuation (which is half the amount City paid for him in a then record fee for a British player), so it is believed that he could be signed for an even better cut-price offer as his deal runs down.
Put it this way, it looks like the supporters would do just about anything to keep him at the Hill Dickinson.
Jack Grealish giving his shirt to an Everton fan after their brilliant win away at Wolves today.
Bascombe goes on to explain, however, that his salary considerations could be a significant obstacle. Grealish is estimated to be earning approximately £12m a year, which is almost certainly too rich for Everton’s blood.
Taking that into account, it’d be a case of whether or not the Brummy forward would be willing to accept a much lower wage to depart the Etihad Stadium for Everton long-term; alternatively, waiting for him to become a free agent in a few transfer windows’ time would also be an option.
What about you, Blues: would you like to see Jack Grealish stay and fight for his place under Guardiola, or would you understand/support him making his Everton permanent?
Interestingly, there could be yet more shuffling of the pack in the middle of the park for Pep, as a forgotten man is apparently going to be given another chance to revive his City career…
Kalvin Phillips is reportedly set to be reintegrated into the Manchester City squad
Danny Jones
Long-exiled Manchester City player Kalvin Phillips is reportedly on the verge of being reintegrated into Pep Guardiola’s squad this season.
The ex-Leeds United star, who signed for the Blues back in 2022, has still only made just 16 appearances for the club, but could now be eyeing up a potential renaissance.
Man City have made plenty of signings this year, but with a number of outgoings and several injuries in key positions, it looks like there could be an avenue for the one-time England international to fight his way back into the team.
As per Telegraph Sport‘s Mike McGrath, Kalvin Phillips is set to be reintroduced to City’s 25-man Premier League selection; the question is, can he make it into a first-team XI?
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Kalvin Phillips has chance to resurrect career at the Etihad Stadium after failed loan spells with Ipswich and West Ham
According to McGrath, Phillips will be “given a chance to resurrect his career at the Etihad Stadium” with the meat and potatoes of the 2025/26 campaign still yet to get properly underway.
Now 29, the Yorkshireman is well and truly within the crucial ‘prime’ years as an athlete, and after such an extended period on the sidelines, he’ll be more motivated than anyone to get his career back on track.
The central defensive midfielder – who was formerly considered a key cog in the middle of the park for Leeds – has spent two loan spells away from the Etihad, but neither really worked out for the undeniably talented footballer.
Having joined West Ham for the latter portion of the 23/24 term and spending the last 12 months on loan at struggling Ipswich Town, his time at both clubs was pretty forgettable, punctuated by little more than a couple of unfortunate red cards and more time on the bench.
Speaking to Sky Sports fairly recently, he confessed that the last couple of years have been very difficult and was visibly emotional discussing his struggles since moving to Man City.
It’s also worth noting that Guardiola himself has admitted to feeling “so bad” for Kalvin Phillips’ situation – perhaps why he now looks like he could be given a second chance.
CDM-wise, Rodri and Nico González are considered the go-to options, but Stockport-born Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovačić have also been used in the role.
Once again, although Man City face somewhat of an injury crisis ahead of the Manchester derby this weekend, any prolonged absences could at least see an opportunity arise for the forgotten man.
What do you make of Kalvin Phillips’ chances of being restored to the Manchester City squad and maybe even putting himself back into national team contention ahead of the World Cup?
Danny Jones -
15th December 2023 
