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“Immediate help” sought: Mainz loans former Hoffenheim player Posch

Lesley Summerville
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“Immediate help” sought: Mainz loans former Hoffenheim player Posch

In its search for defensive reinforcements, 1. FSV Mainz 05 has found what it was looking for in Italy. Stefan Posch, a defender with Bundesliga experience, is transferring to the Rheinhessen club.

Under coach Urs Fischer, 1. FSV Mainz 05 has gained new hope of avoiding relegation in recent weeks. The 05ers have earned half of their twelve points so far in the five games with the Swiss on the sidelines. The relegation spot is suddenly within reach again for the once-struggling bottom team.

Despite the slight upturn in form, the desire for reinforcements remained, and with Stefan Posch, the 17th-placed team has now been able to present the desired defender. The 28-year-old Austrian, who is likely to take up the right-back position in Fischer’s preferred back three, is joining Mainz on loan from Como until the end of the season. He had been loaned there by FC Bologna.
“Stefan Posch is an experienced defender who is strong in tackles and good at playing the ball. He can be used in central defense and on the defensive wing.
He has already proven his quality in both the Bundesliga and on the international stage, and his qualities make him exactly the immediate reinforcement for the defense that we were looking for in the second half of the season,” said sporting director Niko Bungert in the announcement.
For Posch, it’s all about World Cup nomination.

Posch brings with him the experience of 109 Bundesliga appearances for TSG Hoffenheim, where he was under contract between 2015 and 2022 before moving to Serie A. After two seasons as a regular at Bologna, the 49-time international was loaned to Atalanta Bergamo in the second half of last season. He also spent the first half of the current season in northern Italy with Como 1907, where he made 14 first division appearances, mainly as a substitute. For Posch, the aim in Mainz is now to gain playing experience in order to put himself in contention for a World Cup nomination in the summer.

“The big goal must of course be to get out of the bottom of the table as quickly as possible and put everything into the project of staying up. I am convinced that we can do it, and I am eager to make my contribution,” said Posch himself, who will wear the number 4 jersey in the future.

After the two attacking players Silas (VfB Stuttgart) and Phillip Tietz (FC Augsburg), Posch is Mainz’s third new signing this winter. He could make his debut as early as Saturday, when VfL Wolfsburg visit Mainz at 3:30 p.m.

Inter-Groll and a megaphone incident: How things went for Dzeko in Florence

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Inter-Groll and a megaphone incident: How things went for Dzeko in Florence

Edin Dzeko is FC Schalke 04’s new striker. This was partly due to the fact that things had not been going well for the striker at AC Florence recently.

Edin Dzeko has played for five clubs since leaving Germany—and before his possible return to FC Schalke 04 this winter. If it were up to him, it could have been fewer. At the very least, Dzeko couldn’t understand his departure from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023. “It was a strange decision for me,” the Bosnian striker later told Gazzetta dello Sport. Dzeko’s contract had expired at the time, and Inter had not renewed it. “A regular player who plays in all the important games, including the Champions League final, could have been kept.”

But as it was, the 0-1 defeat in the Champions League final against his former club Manchester City – Dzeko was in the starting line-up for the final – was his last game in a Nerazzurri shirt. His last on the biggest stage in sport. A few weeks later, he returned to Istanbul, where the game had been played, and signed for Fenerbahce. In two seasons in the SüperLig, Dzeko – who was already 37 years old when he arrived – scored an impressive 35 goals. These are his last in European league football to date.

AC Florence was the first club where the former Bundesliga top scorer was no longer a reliable source of goals in his career.
One goal in the Conference League qualifier against Ukrainian underdogs Polissya Zhytomyr, one in the league phase against Rapid Vienna – and then nothing since October. At least, no goals. Dzeko still made the headlines at the end of November for a controversy with the fans of the Viola, who are threatened with relegation this year.
After a 0-1 defeat in the Conference League against AEK Athens, he lashed out at the supporters: “You can say that we are bad and that we don’t deserve to wear this jersey. That’s all fine, no problem. But when we play at home, we need the fans’ support, not their mockery every time we misplace a pass. We have to get out of this situation together.”

Vanoli praises Dzeko – and puts him on the bench

After the game, Dzeko said, you can boo the team, but during the game it’s counterproductive. “If a player makes a mistake and the boos start, he’ll be nervous the next time, maybe won’t dare to pass again or won’t want the ball at all. Then everything becomes even more difficult.”

Three days later, everything did indeed become even more difficult: 0-2 at Atalanta Bergamo, the eighth game in a row without a win. And once again, Dzeko spoke up, this time with a special aid: after the game, Dzeko stood in front of the away section with a megaphone to make himself heard by the fans. The incident was even investigated by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) – ultimately without any consequences for Dzeko. Florence coach Paolo Vanoli even praised his veteran player as “finally someone who defends the team.”

However, this did not help his playing time. While Dzeko was still used in almost every game, at least as a substitute, under Vanoli’s predecessor Stefano Pioli, he is no longer in demand under Vanoli, making only two brief appearances in Serie A. This is an opportunity for Schalke 04. But now it’s all about the promotion race instead of the relegation battle.

Palace turmoil continues: Will Glasner also lose top striker Mateta?

Lesley Summerville
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Palace turmoil continues: Will Glasner also lose top striker Mateta?

The captain is gone, the coach is on edge—now Crystal Palace could also lose its best striker. Jean-Philippe Mateta is apparently even putting pressure on the club internally.

It would be an exaggeration to talk of signs of disintegration. Nevertheless, it is remarkable to see the situation Crystal Palace suddenly finds itself in eight months after its sensational FA Cup triumph. After ten consecutive competitive games without a win, there is unrest not only on the pitch for the Eagles, who until recently were enjoying perhaps the best phase in their long club history.

One day before the Premier League match in Sunderland (1-2), the club’s management approved the sale of captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City, which angered coach Oliver Glasner so much that he accepted early dismissal. Only a crisis summit, it is said, prevented the club from parting ways with the Austrian.
Glasner had publicly criticized his superiors (“I feel like we’re being completely abandoned”) shortly after announcing his departure in the summer. Not many coaches would have “survived” such a frontal attack.

And now Glasner is in danger of losing another key player this winter after Guehi. Top striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has been toying with the idea of leaving Palace for some time, but according to media reports, he has now officially submitted his request for an immediate transfer. It would be another heavy blow for a squad that Glasner already considers to be far too thin.

Mateta, who was unable to agree on an extension to his contract with Palace, which expires in 2027, was recently the subject of concrete interest from Juventus Turin, but they have since distanced themselves from a move. Palace, according to The Athletic, are demanding €40 million, even though Mateta will turn 29 in June and only has a year and a half left on his contract.

Will that deter Aston Villa? The Premier League’s third-placed team is also said to have put out feelers for the former Mainz player after ex-Dortmund player Donyell Malen left on loan with an option to buy to AS Roma, leaving a vacancy in the offense.

Glasner is pragmatic in his comments – as he was initially about Guehi

Mateta is not only dreaming of Champions League football, but also of a place in the French World Cup squad. The 1.92-meter giant made his debut for Didier Deschamps in the fall and was invited back in November (three international caps, two goals). By summer at the latest, their paths will part – as they did with Glasner.

Glasner recently said of his long-time star player (22 starts, eight goals): “There will be a price at which Crystal Palace will say, ‘He still has 18 months on his contract, we’ll do the deal if JP wants to.’ If no one pays that price, JP will stay.” However, Glasner had originally been just as realistic and pragmatic about Guehi – until his transfer caused a minor earthquake.

Why transfers can be valid even without a contract

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Why transfers can be valid even without a contract

Transfer season is sometimes also a time for mishaps. A look at sports jurisdiction shows that even emails can end up costing millions.

Transfer farces happen time and time again. Think of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, whose transfer from Hamburger SV to 1.FC Köln was once prevented by a broken fax machine.
Or the misconception regarding the number of possible loans that prevailed at Werder Bremen. Agreements on transfers via email also carry a risk—because these are considered legally binding, even if there is no formally signed transfer contract, as two CAS rulings have shown.
Managers should be aware of the consequences

One case concerned Bosnian professional Miroslav Covilo and his transfer to FC Lugano. Covilo’s former club, KS Cracovia, demanded compensation from the midfielder and the Swiss club based on a previous email exchange, first filing a complaint with the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber and then with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

With success. Lugano had to pay €50,000—however, Cracovia also bore 80 percent of the arbitration costs and had to pay Lugano and Covilo a total of €6,500 for their legal costs. Financially, the case was probably not worth it. In terms of content, however, the ruling is somewhat controversial, so managers should be aware of the consequences of emails.

Missing signature? Irrelevant, according to experts

Georgi Gradev agrees. The top lawyer, who has excellent connections in international football circles, writes on LinkedIn: “As soon as the parties had agreed – by email – on the essential terms (subject matter, price, payment structure), the deal was legally binding. The subsequent attempt to withdraw from the deal on the grounds of the lack of a signature or the alleged lack of formal authority on the part of the sporting director failed.”

This conclusion from the CAS ruling handed down in 2021 is based on the Saman Ghoddos case, which the Lausanne judges ruled on in 2020. Despite the lack of a transfer agreement between Ghoddos’ previous club Östersunds FK and SD Huesca, the CAS ruled on August 8, 2018, that the Swede, who now plays successfully for Iran, had a valid employment contract with the Spanish club. The fact that ten days later he wanted nothing more to do with it, terminated his contract and also negotiated with other clubs – Ghoddos ended up at SC Amiens – did not bother the sports courts. In the end, a four-month ban against the professional was confirmed, which had already been served at the time of the CAS proceedings, as well as four million euros in compensation for Huesca.

Resentment toward megastar: Former Lakers owner Buss apparently wanted to trade LeBron

Jason Maverick
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Resentment toward megastar: Former Lakers owner Buss apparently wanted to trade LeBron

The Los Angeles Lakers have since been sold, but former owner Jeanie Buss apparently really did consider trading superstar LeBron James.

In a lengthy ESPN article about the sale of the Lakers and the dispute among the six siblings of the Buss family, there is also a passage about LeBron James. According to the article, Governor Jeanie Buss was more than annoyed by James’ “oversized ego” and the influence he wielded together with Klutch Sports, the consulting firm of his buddy Rich Paul.

Buss was annoyed that LeBron was celebrated for his arrival in L.A. in 2018, but at the same time, the Lakers were not praised for convincing James to sign. However, according to ESPN, LeBron had already informed the Lakers that he would be joining them more than a year before his move.

Another point of contention was the trade for Russell Westbrook in 2021, which the Lakers made to appease James. However, James took no responsibility for this move when it turned out to be a dud. Westbrook never settled in L.A. and was traded again after 1.5 seasons.

Did the Lakers want to trade LeBron?

A trade involving James was also reportedly on the table in 2022, when Buss is said to have considered not offering LeBron another contract. The L.A. Clippers were apparently ready to be the trade partner, but in the end, LeBron signed a new two-year, $104 million contract in July 2024, which suddenly included a no-trade clause.

In the same year, the Lakers finally drafted LeBron’s son Bronny with the 55th pick, and Buss was annoyed that LeBron did not show enough appreciation for this.

Buss denies in statement

Shortly after the feature was published in The Athletic, the 64-year-old issued a statement denying that the relationship between LeBron and her had been so bad. “That’s not true. LeBron has done fantastic things for the Lakers, and it’s not right that he’s now being dragged into the drama with my family. It’s not true that we didn’t appreciate him, and it’s completely unfair to him.”

The Buss family continues to hold 17 percent of the shares after the sale to Mark Walther, so Jeanie can still act as governor of the Lakers, i.e., representative at NBA meetings. Fifteen percent is required for this, and Buss will continue to fill this role for the next five years.

Alpine completes first shakedown with the A526 at Silverstone

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Alpine completes first shakedown with the A526 at Silverstone

Alpine is the fourth team to complete the first few meters with its new Formula 1 car for 2026: Pierre Gasly completes first laps in rainy weather

Before Alpine unveils its new design for the 2026 Formula 1 season on Friday, the A526 has already completed its first kilometers: Less than a week before the start of the joint shakedown of all Formula 1 teams in Barcelona, Alpine took to the track at Silverstone on Wednesday.

Pierre Gasly was given the opportunity to conduct his own shakedown for the French racing team on a rainy day. The team’s headquarters in Enstone are only about 40 kilometers away from the British Grand Prix circuit.

Of course, special attention was also paid to the new Mercedes power unit that will power Alpine this year. Its partner Renault has closed its own engine department for the new 2026 engine era. Alpine is already the fourth Formula 1 team to put its new car on the track, following Audi (Barcelona), Cadillac (Silverstone), and Racing Bulls (Imola). The French team’s car featured a similar paint job to last year’s. We will find out what the design for 2026 will look like on Friday when the official presentation takes place. The event will be held on a cruise ship off the coast of Barcelona as part of the partnership with MSC.

Away from last place?

Alpine is coming off what is probably the most difficult season in the team’s history, as the team finished the 2025 Formula 1 season in last place – almost 50 points behind Sauber, which finished second to last.

The team had already stopped development of the A525 at the beginning of June in order to focus fully on the 2026 regulations. The aim is to benefit from the profound changes to the chassis and engines.

Steve Nielsen, Alpine’s managing director, explained at the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi that the priority for 2026 is to be significantly more consistently competitive and to be among the frontrunners in the midfield.

“I want to fight for points every week,” he said. ” We only managed to do that on a few weekends this year, but far too often we were way down at the back of the field. That’s not where this team belongs, it’s not in keeping with the Enstone tradition and it’s not what we want. We need to be fighting for points in the upper midfield every weekend.”

With Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, Alpine is sticking with the same driver combination as last year.

George Russell’s special request: Why Mercedes stood firm

Sotd Editor
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George Russell’s special request: Why Mercedes stood firm

George Russell wanted to own a real Formula 1 car – but Mercedes rejected the request – The reason is the FIA’s strict financial regulations

George Russell has revealed that he made a rather unusual request during his recent contract negotiations with Mercedes. The Brit, who extended his contract with the Brackley-based team until the end of the 2025 season and will drive alongside Kimi Antonelli in 2026, wanted to secure a very special souvenir.

The 27-year-old is keen to expand his private car collection. His dream car, the Mercedes-AMG One, is already in his garage. So it stands to reason that Russell tried to negotiate a real Grand Prix car as part of his new contract. But this wish remained unfulfilled.

The problem with the budget cap

“I would love to collect my own Formula 1 cars,” Russell explains to Auto Motor und Sport. The catch, however, is the financial regulations of the premier class.

“But because of the cost cap, we only produce three or four monocoques per year,” Russell continues. He draws a comparison with earlier times: “Twenty years ago, when unlimited testing was still allowed, each team built 15 to 20 chassis. These were then regularly swapped out.”

For the Mercedes driver, the negotiations ended disappointingly on this point. “I tried to get a Formula 1 car during my last contract negotiations. But unfortunately, I was unsuccessful,“ he admits openly.

Russell calls for exception for chassis production

In order to perhaps still get one of the Silver Arrows in the future, Russell proposes an adjustment to the rules. ”I would like to see the teams find a way to produce monocoques outside the budget cap,” he adds.

After all, there would be no shortage of other components. “We have enough of the other parts. Each driver has five engines per year. I believe Mercedes produces a total of 60 engines for each season,” Russell calculates. There are no bottlenecks in aerodynamics either: “We also have plenty of rear wings – for high, medium, and low downforce.
There are also enough front wings and underbodies. We have at least ten sets of all the other parts.“

The bottleneck lies solely in the heart of the car: ”But there are only three or four monocoques. Maybe I should talk to the FIA, the world motorsport governing body, about that.”

Russell had a solid sporting year in 2025: He finished the season in fourth place in the drivers’ standings, behind world champion Lando Norris and his rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. With the new regulations coming into force in 2026, Russell now hopes to reshuffle the deck – even if he has to make do without his own Formula 1 car in the garage for the time being.

Inside the “inner sanctum” of Formula 1: Fans have this unique opportunity

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Inside the “inner sanctum” of Formula 1: Fans have this unique opportunity

An auction offers unique Formula 1 experiences – the price for a McLaren weekend skyrockets

Formula 1 fans have the opportunity to bid on spectacular experiences ahead of the start of the 2026 World Championship. As part of a charity auction in aid of the Grand Prix Trust, items up for grabs include a fishing trip with Ross Brawn and a private tour of the Red Bull factory.

Other highlights of the auction include a trip for two to a Grand Prix weekend with McLaren, a race weekend for two with Cadillac, and exclusive race day experiences with Williams and Racing Bulls.

Martin Brundle, Sky expert and chairman of the charity, announced the auction on social media, offering fans the chance to immerse themselves in the “inner sanctum of Formula 1.” “Bid on Formula 1 memorabilia, including a signed Lando helmet, fishing with Ross Brawn, and much more,” writes the former racing driver. “There’s something for everyone.”

Top bid for McLaren experience

The auction is currently running live on the “Emma Live” platform and its exhibits are aimed at the most passionate fans of the premier class. At the time of publication, the highest bid stands at £14,500 (equivalent to just under €17,400) for the race weekend with McLaren.

The successful bidder will be welcomed by the Woking-based team at their choice of the races in Barcelona, Austria, Baku, or Qatar and will receive a guided tour of the garage.

There is an interesting detail about the experience with Ross Brawn: the man who led Jenson Button to the title with Brawn GP in 2009 and is himself a passionate angler will not accompany the winner directly while fishing on the River Itchen near Winchester. Instead, the legendary former technical director will join them later in the day for a lunch prepared by the chef and petrolhead talk.

For technology enthusiasts, this should still be the perfect opportunity to ask one of the greatest technical minds in Formula 1 history a few questions.

Help for employees in need

Collectors are also catered for: a signed helmet from world champion Lando Norris is on offer, as well as a racing suit from Fernando Alonso and a signed cap from seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.

The Grand Prix Trust has been supporting Formula 1 employees for almost four decades. The organization was founded in the 1980s by Sir Jackie Stewart and offers help to those who have fallen on hard times due to illness, injury, or financial misfortune. “I have tried to reinvent the Grand Prix Trust, so to speak, for the modern age, for a modern industry,” Brundle explains in a lecture. “I have a great board of directors, which includes Ross Brawn, Sir Patrick Head, Bernie Collins, and Andy Stevenson. We have people with different skills on board; Jonathan Wheatley is also involved as a trustee.”

The silent auction is already open online and will end on January 21 during the Autosport Awards.

Registration is underway, tire partner has been chosen: How attractive will the new BMW M2 Cup be?

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Registration is underway, tire partner has been chosen: How attractive will the new BMW M2 Cup be?

Which tire partner will the new BMW M2 Cup use in the DTM, what does the calendar look like, and how many cars does the ADAC expect in the first season?

The package for the newly founded BMW M2 Cup, which is being organized by the ADAC and will be held as part of the DTM from 2026, is now finalized: On Monday, Michelin was officially presented as the sole tire manufacturer for the one-make cup, which will be contested with the 313 hp BMW M2 Racing.

“BMW has already tested the tires during the development of the M2 Racing,” says ADAC Motorsport Director Thomas Voss, who is delighted with the renowned partner. “This means we can offer young talents in the M2 Cup an optimal technology package for the start of their careers in the DTM.”

The French manufacturer will supply the Michelin Pilot Sport GT M+ in dry conditions and the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup GT P2L in wet conditions. For each event, which consists of two practice sessions, one qualifying session, and two sprint races, the teams will receive six new slicks each, but can also use four tires from previous weekends.

What the calendar looks like and what field is expected

Ten new slicks will be available at the start of the season. There will be five events: The season opener will take place on the third DTM weekend of the season at the Lausitzring (June 9 to 21), followed by the Norisring (July 3 to 5) in Nuremberg, the Nürburgring (August 14 to 16), the Sachsenring (September 11 to 13), and the Hockenheimring (October 9 to 11), where the final will be held.

Early bird registration (€24,000 per car plus VAT) began on January 12 and runs until March 15, with the final registration deadline on May 15. According to the ADAC, which expects 16 to 20 vehicles, there has been lively interest from potential participants so far.

This is because the series will no longer be run centrally by Hans-Bernd Kamps’ Project 1 team, as in the past, but by private racing teams.

So far, the Austrian Razoon team, known for its GT3 entries with the Porsche 911 GT3 R, and Team ME Motorsport, known from ADAC GT4 Germany, have announced that they will participate in the M2 Cup in 2026. Teams participating in multiple series on the DTM platform are eligible for discounts on registration.

Participation possible from the age of 15

Although the Mexican-built M2 Racing is also used on the Nürburgring Nordschleife and in other series, the BMW M2 Cup within the DTM is the only racing series that is contested exclusively with these cars. And in 2026, it is expected to be the only racing series within the DTM that will use standing starts. The ADAC has also incorporated the series into its own junior pyramid, directly below GT4 Germany and above karting. The champion will also receive a “comprehensive” Road to DTM support package for 2027, although no further details have been provided yet. Rumor has it that BMW is also currently working on integrating the series into its own junior development program with the BMW M Racing Academy.

Who is eligible to participate in the series? The cut-off date is the 15th birthday, and at least a national A license is required. Those who obtain their entry ticket before their 15th birthday must complete a racing seminar before their first start. The official test for the season will take place on June 4 in Lausitz.

Defending champion falters briefly

Lesley Summerville
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Defending champion falters briefly

Defending champion Madison Keys wins after a weak phase, while her compatriot Jessica Pegula wins an unusual match.

Defending champion Madison Keys (USA) once again overcame a brief weak phase and ultimately reached the third round of the Australian Open with confidence. In her 6-1, 7-5 victory over her compatriot Ashlyn Krueger, the 30-year-old came back from a 2-5 deficit in the second set. “I started very well and Ash was a little weak,” said Keys, who had started her season with quarterfinal defeats in Brisbane and Adelaide: “I fully expected her to raise her level, and she did.”

Keys had already struggled in the first round, having to save two set points against Oleksandra Olijnykowa.

Pegula beats doubles partner McCartney

Last year, Keys celebrated the greatest success of her career in Melbourne. In a high-class final, she surprisingly beat Aryna Sabalenka and prevented the Belarusian from winning her third consecutive Australian Open title.

In another US duel, world number six Jessica Pegula prevailed against her doubles partner McCartney Kessler. The favorite had no trouble winning 6-0, 6-2. “It’s always difficult when you have to play against someone you know and like and also play doubles with,” she said afterwards: “That’s a bit unfortunate.”

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