Manchester United have confirmed they have reached an agreement to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes. United agreed a deal worth up to £68m with the Portuguese club, before the Portugal international flew into Manchester on Wednesday evening to complete the move. Fernandes’ move is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. The two clubs have been negotiating throughout the transfer window with a breakthrough made on Tuesday amid reports of interest from Barcelona.
World Athletics has announced the postponement of the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing in March due to fears over the coronavirus. The sport’s governing body said it would now look to stage the event – scheduled for March 13-15 – at the same venue in one year’s time.
World Athletics will consider alternative venues for the World Indoor Championships in March as it awaits advice on whether Nanjing can host the event in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The PA news agency understands officials from the global track and field body are meeting within the next 24 hours to draw up contingency plans should the World Health Organisation make recommendations which prevent Nanjing from holding the championships between March 13 and 15. The Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, due to take place on April 19, is also in the spotlight.
Tottenham Hotspur have signed Netherlands forward Steven Bergwijn for £27m from PSV Eindhoven on a contract that will run until 2025. Bergwijn, 22, has played 16 times for PSV in the Dutch Eredivisie this season, scoring five goals. He bolsters Spurs boss Jose Mourinho’s options in attack with England striker Harry Kane out with a long-term hamstring injury. Bergwijn came through the PSV ranks and made his first-team debut at 17.
Top seed Rafael Nadal was denied a place in the Australian Open semi-finals as Austria’s Dominic Thiem rattled the Spaniard with a powerful display to win a four-set thriller. Fifth seed Thiem won 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (8-6) at Melbourne Park. The 26-year-old, beaten by Nadal in the past two French Open finals, missed two match points before taking a third to win in four hours and 10 minutes.
Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has signed a one-year contract extension at the club until 2021. The Brazilian, who turns 35 in May, has won three Premier League titles since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013. His contract had been set to expire at the end of the current season.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic set up an Australian Open semi-final against Roger Federer after producing another clinical performance to beat Canadian 32nd seed Milos Raonic. Djokovic dismantled Raonic’s potent serve to win 6-4 6-3 7-6 (7-1) despite an eye problem late in the third set. The Serb second seed, who is aiming for a record-extending eighth title, has lost just one set in Melbourne so far. Djokovic, 32, will meet Swiss third seed Federer in Thursday’s semi-final.
Naija Sports Crib 