In the days after winning the treble, Manchester City had a meeting to discuss recruitment this summer, but they have not acted with the decisiveness usually expected. The club have long known their list of potential targets but any moves are dependent on who leaves. As many as six players could go, and two of them - Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva - have had offers from Saudi Arabia. Even City, who have become the most assertive force in the game through their Abu Dhabi ownership, have had all their plans affected by this summer window’s most disruptive force. The key figures in Saudi Arabia might say this is the natural order, since they are the main power in the region. It has had an immense influence on this summer’s market, maybe the biggest since Paris Saint-Germain bought Neymar for what remains a record fee. Many involved insist it surpasses the effect of the Chinese Super League in the winter of 2016-17. While the headline element in all this has been the staggering money offered for so many prime players, the main effect has been how it has abruptly changed the plans of every major club. It is difficult to remember anything like it. It’s all the more pronounced since this was expected to be a frenetic summer anyway. All of Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United planned significant comings and goings while Arsenal and Liverpool have been aiming for at least two major signings each. The competition for strikers was meanwhile set to be the driving force, from Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani through Harry Kane to Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund. Even that has been overtaken. Many of those plans have been almost totally put off, because the market has been completely transformed. A number of Premier League clubs have had new meetings this week, as they attempt to untangle so many connected issues. There is first of all the fact that the nature of every negotiation has changed. Saudi Arabian interest weighs over everything, even with players that wouldn’t yet dream of going there. It points to the biggest issue of all. Saudi Pro League money has completely inflated the market. Many within the industry are complaining that it has introduced an instability. Fees have gone up and wages have gone up. As an example, United had been looking at Hojlund for a potential price of £45m but in the last week Atalanta have almost doubled the price. Players that would have been £40m two years ago are now available at £70m. This is one other reason plans have been put off. Some clubs are waiting to see if all this settles down. Right now, though, various sources are describing a situation of “chaos”. It makes it worse that so many intermediaries are trying to get involved. It’s almost a new gold rush. Some officials have complained they have had figures come to them making promises about certain players or signings only for that to go nowhere. It may ironically mean few players go anywhere for a while. This is seen as a huge week for the Saudi Pro League itself as it attempts to convince a number of big names to join. Losing Lionel Messi was a blow and checked momentum. Ruben Neves is a fine player but he doesn’t quite match up to the megastars they want. Ilkay Gundogan, who also received an offer from Saudi Arabia, is set to rebuff them for Barcelona. As one figure who has been involved in negotiations with the Saudi league says, the next few days will determine how big this wave of signings is. It has still caused huge ripples in the wider game, though. While some deals like Kai Havertz to Arsenal and Mason Mount to Manchester United should get done, an increasing feeling is that most of the main business won’t start getting done until mid July. It could be a fractious window. It is certainly one unlike any other, but may be a sign of things to come. Read More Saudi Arabia can help Chelsea solve headache — but talks raise more questions than answers First golf, now football? Saudi Arabia’s grand plan and the 72 hours that changed everything Sportswashing is about to change football beyond anything you can imagine Human rights must be key consideration in selecting World Cup 2030 host – survey Leading figures summoned to Senate hearing over shock PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger Saudi Arabia can help Chelsea solve headache — but talks raise issues

Monday’s Major League Baseball slate is a smaller one, but that’s not going to dissuade me from betting on some pitcher props for the day’s action.I have a pair of plus money props to bet, backing two starters that have favorable matchups. Let’s break down each pick:B...

Tens of thousands of people have taken shelter in government-run relief camps as heavy monsoon rains batter villages in India’s northeast

Bruce Willis' first shot for 'Die Hard' required him to jump from a ledge onto an airbag

Formula 1 has confirmed the schedule for the Las Vegas Grand Prix next month including a 10pm local start time for the race on Saturday night and an opening ceremony before cars are on track. F1 is returning to Sin City for the first time in over 40 years in November, with the 3.8 mile street track on the Vegas strip staging the penultimate race of the 2023 season in what is being billed as one of the sporting events of the year. Now, plans and timings have been confirmed by race organisers – with the race start time confirmed to be 10pm PST (6am GMT, 1am ET) under the lights on Saturday 18 November. The event schedule will start, rather uniquely, on a Wednesday night with a lavish opening ceremony at the paddock site. It will feature the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new paddock building, estimated to have cost $500million, and is likely to follow a similar order of play to Miami’s pre-event spectacle, where drivers and team bosses were introduced on stage. Practice takes place on Thursday 16 November, with qualifying on Friday 17 November at midnight (PST), which is 8am GMT and 3am ET on Saturday morning. Race organisers announced this week that Nevada residents can secure a single-day grandstand ticket for Thursday practice, starting at $200, with race day tickets around $1,300. Three-day tickets for $500 have already sold out. Preparation for the Las Vegas race has seen numerous roads closed while construction takes place, with the project as a whole costing an estimated $560m. A man working on the construction at the Bellagio Fountains area tragically died last month after suffering a “major laceration to the neck.” A spokesperson for the police confirmed the worker was involved in construction for the Vegas race circuit. The 3.8-mile track passes a host of famous Sin City landmarks, including the Bellagio, Caesars Palace and the new MGM Sphere. F1 is returning to Vegas for the first time since 1982, when the Caesars Palace Grand Prix was held in the car park of the famous hotel. Read More Lance Stroll ‘may have contravened FIA rules’ during furious outburst in Qatar What Lewis Hamilton’s clash with George Russell tells us about state of play at Mercedes F1 construction worker killed in Las Vegas while setting up grand prix circuit Lance Stroll ‘may have contravened FIA rules’ during furious outburst in Qatar F1 driver Esteban Ocon vomited in his helmet during ‘horrible’ Qatar Grand Prix McLaren set astonishing new F1 record after Lando Norris pit stop

This is the second time Doja Cat found herself in the hot water as she angered her fans back in May

MrBeast tricked a fan into guessing a gift in the shape of a bike which turned out to be something unexpectable

A rundown of Real Madrid recent form and their upcoming fixtures across La Liga and the Champions League

Nicki Minaj supported Kai Cenat after he was banned from Twitch and also hinted she may collaborate with him

In the Men Tell All special, Bachelorette villain Brayden Bowers admits to 'playing games' and 'manipulating' the cast

Splitgate Beta Season 2 brings new game modes, a remastered Abyss, and a host of other improvements to the game when it goes live Thursday, June 2.

France's Leon Marchand smashed Michael Phelps's last remaining world record on Sunday while Australia's Ariarne Titmus blew her 400m freestyle rivals out of the...