ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Capitals have re-signed winger Jakub Vrana to a $6.7 million, two-year contract, completing the biggest item left on Washington's offseason checklist.

The 23-year-old restricted free agent set career highs with 24 goals, 23 assists and 47 points last season. He has 80 points in 176 NHL regular-season games.

The Czech had three goals and five assists during the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup run and scored first during the title-clinching Game 5 in the final at Vegas.

Cap-strapped Washington still has to re-sign restricted free-agent defenseman Christian Djoos and forward Chandler Stephenson. Each is scheduled for a salary arbitration hearing.

Matthijs de Ligt arrived to Juventus on Tuesday night ahead of the star defender's expected signing with the Italian champions.

While his move from Dutch club Ajax has yet to be officially announced, Juventus posted on their social media a video of de Ligt getting off a plane in Turin and saying "I am really happy to be here."

DELIGTED? ? pic.twitter.com/tcO2YPBAHN

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 16, 2019

De Ligt, 19, had attracted interest from Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Bayern Munich among others after helping Ajax reach the Champions League semifinal and Netherlands the UEFA Nations League final.

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Although Ajax lost to Spurs in the Champions League, de Ligt did win the Eredivisie title and Dutch Cup as part of a side that also featured Frenkie De Jong, who has since joined Barcelona.

De Ligt will link up with former Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri at Juve and fellow new signings Adrien Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey as the Bianconeri aim to win a ninth straight Scudetto.

Reports suggested the teenager has agreed a deal that will see him earn over £10 million a season in Italy.

He revealed in June that Cristiano Ronaldo had asked him about a move to Juventus following Portugal's Nations League win over Netherlands.

"I didn't understand him at first. I was a little shocked, so I laughed. But I didn't say anything," de Ligt said.

"So soon after the game you are not at all concerned with it. You are disappointed that you have lost and that is the only thing you are thinking about."

PERTH, Australia -- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the man charged with turning around Manchester United's fortunes.

Two weeks into his first preseason as manager -- and less than a month before the Premier League campaign kicks off against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Aug. 11 -- Solskjaer spoke to ESPN in a roundtable setting, which also included The Times, The Telegragh, The Sun, The Mail and The Mirror, at the Crown Towers hotel in Perth, United's team base.

Among the many topics covered: His hopes for the 2019-20 season, the futures of Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku, his strategy to catch Manchester City and Liverpool and the work left to do in the transfer market.

This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Jump to: Playing style | Transfer plans | Europa League approach | Man City and Liverpool | Paul Pogba | Romelu Lukaku | Alexis Sanchez

Q: Ole, it's your first preseason as Manchester United manager; how it does it compare with the last one you had with Molde?

Solskjaer: Of course it's different. When you're at Manchester United, everything is different, but I'm used to this from before. But it has moved on since I left as well. Everything -- the fans, and football in general -- it's bigger. There's more media interest, so it's nice.

Q: Do you sense that the players and staff are revived now after a disappointing end to the season?

Solskjaer: It was disappointing, the last few months, obviously, but they've come back and it's been really encouraging. You didn't expect anything else though. You expected them to come back with a little bit of grit. It's only two weeks into the preseason and its been very encouraging.

Q: Has the mood in the camp been as positive as you had hoped it would be?

Solskjaer: Yeah. Sometimes you expect players to be more negative and maybe we've been too kind to them because they've not moaned enough. So maybe the preseason hasn't been hard enough. I can still remember when I wasn't able to walk down the stairs. You had to walk backwards and all this, but I don't think we've had them there yet.

Q: You've been clear you want to build a team that can play on the front foot. Do you think after this tour you will have a squad who are physically able to meet your demands?

Solskjaer: I would think so and that's obviously the aim now, to put the fitness in to everyone and get everyone fit for August 11. But it's after the first international break, that's when the games come thick and fast. You can almost call it preseason, the first month of the season, because with the first four or five games there are no midweek games, so we've still got time to build a foundation. We needed it because the stats have shown we haven't been up there but there's been a big improvement. Like Scott [McTominay] has said, they haven't had sessions like this for the last few preseasons.

Q: Can we expect a transformation in the way United look on the pitch this season?

Solskjaer: You've got opposition that wants to play as well. But we have a clear aim and we want to look a certain way. We know it's going to take time. It might not be a transformation like, [clicks fingers] wow, that's a new team' but I think most of us saw the intention on Saturday [against Perth Glory]. That's the way he want to play. We want to play on the front foot but you can't do that for 90 minutes in 38 league games. That's hard in the Premier League.

Q: Last season there seemed to be a disconnect between the players and the fans -- do the players have to win back the trust of the supporters?

Solskjaer: I think it was a mentally draining season, and physically, but mentally because there were ups and downs and especially when you change manager right in the middle. We got a boost with the first few games, won a few, then got a few injuries and towards the end it was flat... We've just got to make sure we get more consistency.

Q: Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho didn't make a great success of this job. What makes you confident that you can?

Solskjaer: It depends on what you think is success. They won trophies. I've admired Jose, Louis and David [Moyes] -- admired them because I was still a player when they were successful managers. We're all different. I think they were more on the pitch, really on the pitch. That type of coach. I've got some great coaches and will do most of the coaching work. We're all different and we've all got different management styles.

Q: You have brought in two new players (Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka) and two have left (Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia) but did you expect more change by this stage of preseason?

Solskjaer: I know it's hard getting players in and over the line. We've been doing our jobs. We've been finding, identifying players. Scouting them. But they have got clubs. It took time with Aaron [Wan-Bissaka], it took time with Dan [James] but they got it over the line. It's not like we're going to sign 10 players. It can't be a quick fix. As I've said to you, we're working on one or two and we're still hoping but I also understand that the market has changed. Prices have soared.

Q: It sometimes feels from the outside that there is a Man United tax on players and prices go up once you're interested. Has that been a problem?

Solskjaer: We have been linked with so many players. I am sure you don't believe every single player that we have been linked with, but I think that Man United sometimes have, because of the wealth, maybe we have had to pay more, a bigger premium to get players in and that's just the world we live in. And we have taken our time and we are not going to over pay but we have to get the right people in, the right players.

Q: Is there a maximum number of new signings you would like before the transfer deadline?

Solskjaer: No, there's never any maximum because there are players here that are coming into preseason as well that are... I might just have a look at him again because if he has changed as I think he has and it looks like, he might have a career here.

Q: You were critical of the players after the defeat to Everton [4-0 at Goodison Park in April] but are you reconsidering your opinion of one or two?

Solskjaer: On certain players, yeah you do reconsider because there are only 11 players on the pitch and there are only 25 players in the squad that you can get into that squad. Let's see three or four years down the line where we're at, if I have been successful and who's there and it's going to take time. It's going to take time for players to buy into this and to see "hmmm I'm not part of the plans, I might have to go."

Q: You've signed a three-year contract, how long do you think it will take to become title challengers again?

Solskjaer: I am always an optimist and let's see how we start off and how close we get this season. A successful season is if we win a trophy. That's a good season. You have got to aim for trophies. You want to say Premier League, you want to say Europa League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup -- maybe in that order -- but I am not going to discard it and say that we can't. It's not what we expect straight away. If we get the consistency... hopefully we can get David [De Gea] over the line and signed and we might be contenders, who knows?

Q: With the Europa League, is that a trophy you really want to win? And how will you approach it in terms of the team -- is it a chance for the young players?

Solskjaer: Yeah, I think that it'll be a chance for some of the young ones, definitely. Then again, it's a great chance of qualifying for the Champions League for next season, so I think you'll see quite a few of the young ones you've seen already. They are exciting and we need to blood them in the right tournament and it depends on who you play, it depends on the stage of the tournament, group stages -- every weekend is a possibility -- you can't plan three months down the line.

Q: Do you view the Europa League as just as good a route back into the Champions League as the Premier League?

Solskjaer: It is a route but in cup competitions you never know, it's the luck of the dice... It's over the season and if we can get the consistency in the league and get a settled team in the league, I'm sure we've got a chance of getting closer to the top two and let's see how close.

Q: Do you think the fans are understanding of the size of the job you have here?

Solskjaer: Our fans know about football, many have followed successful years, but there have been many who have been before that as well, probably them you don't see on Twitter or social media, so you don't see them as much. And the young ones that have just had the success are maybe like: 'Where's that?' The Premier League has changed, you have to say [Manchester] City how good they were last year. You've got Liverpool who won the Champions League, Tottenham in the final, Chelsea and Arsenal. When I played there were two: Us and Arsenal for a long, long time. And then Chelsea came.

Q: Do you feel like you're a long way behind Man City and Liverpool?

Solskjaer: It did feel like it towards the end of last season but it didn't feel like it in the beginning when I came in. And in the 21 [league] games we had when I came in, we were still third in that 21-game period. And that is including that bad spell at the end. It was only those two that were consistent, so we're still third in that respect.

Q: How about in the game against City [2-0 defeat at Old Trafford in April] -- did you feel there was a gulf?

Solskjaer: They were better than us, definitely. But there were chances, and listening to the coaching staff we were closer than we were years before... But they were exceptional last season, I have to accept that.

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Q: When you look at City under Pep Guardiola, do you feel catching them is a challenge you can win?

Solskjaer: I think we have got to focus on ourselves. I don't think I can look at Liverpool or City and think "they are doing it this way and we've got to do it that way." We have got to focus on us and I believe in these players because they have shown me what they are capable of. They have also shown me some negative sides, which we have got to work on; better habits, get the consistency in training which will get consistency in the games and results. So, yeah, you look at those two clubs, [Jurgen] Klopp and Pep, and as I said about Jose and Louis, I have no problem saying good things about people. They are good coaches, good managers.

Q: You have tried to bring some discipline back to the dressing room but how do you feel when he see Jesse Lingard's holiday video, which attracted some controversy?

Solskjaer: That has been dealt with internally. I am old school, old fashioned. I am quite big on discipline, yeah. I am quite big on self-discipline and we can't spoon feed all these players, they have got to do it themselves. Of course, I have had many, many years at this club and I have seen which players have been successful -- they are strong characters. You have got to be a strong character to play here. [These players] have to make their own decisions, and in life as well.

Q: You've said during this tour that you would quite like a Bryan Robson in your team. He was known as a strong leader, do you think that is something that is missing?

Solskjaer: From the talks I've had with many managers and coaches from my generation, when we played, I think it's a general society thing as well that there are less Robbos and Keanos [Roy Keane] around. It's the same in Norway. We're all too comfortable. Life is so comfortable. It's easy now when you're an academy player you make so much money -- 'Well I've made it'. And the parents live through their kids. I think that's a general society thing and I said it of course stood next to Robbo and I've admired Robbo. I've heard Gary [Neville], Becks [David Beckham] all talk about Robbo. I played with Keano and I think any manager in the world would say I would love that type of leader. Look at City and [Vincent] Kompany. Who knows what will happen [now he has left the club]? Because he is a fantastic human being, player and leader so someone else has to step up and someone else has to step up for us.

Q: One of your big players is Paul Pogba -- how confident are you that you can put this unsettled summer he's had behind you and get him back on side for next season?

Solskjaer: I've said so many times about Paul that he's a top, top boy and a great player and he's never, ever been a problem. When we get him playing as he did when I came in, and if we get him playing like that again he will win you [the media] over as well even.

Q: Are there any circumstances where Pogba will be sold? What's the situation now?

Solskjaer: I've got to be careful -- I can't dive into all these hypothetical questions -- but we've not had offers. I can say the same about whichever player. If we don't get an offer for a player we would have to pay them out for them not to be here, don't we, and we haven't had offers.

Q: Last season after speaking to [Pogba] you were convinced he wanted to be successful here, then he goes on holiday and says he wants a new challenge. Is that personally upsetting to you?

Solskjaer: No, I've not been upset by anything he's said because we've had many conversations and I know exactly what Paul is thinking. I can give him a new challenge.

Q: Does Paul have the chance to be part of something big here?

Solskjaer: Many of these players haven't felt the winning feeling at this club... Yes, David [De Gea] won the league, Ash [Young] has won the league and Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, they have won the league here. But it's not been consistent. Jesse [Lingard], Marcus [Rashford], Paul, Andreas [Pereira] -- the ones that have been in the academy when I was playing -- when we went on that run early, some of them said "wow we have never had this feeling before." But for me, [Sir Alex Ferguson] would say "we need to win 10 straight games to win the league, that's not much to ask, is it? Ten games in a row?" And it wasn't. That is the feeling I had all the time, that we can win the next 10.

Q: In terms of your squad, Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera have left. Are you comfortable with your midfield as it is? You've also got James Garner coming through.

Solskjaer: Jimmy is young, he's very young -- only 18 -- so you can't expect too much from him but you can see he is going to be a top player. Andy [Pereira] I expect a lot more from, Scotty [McTominay] I expect a lot more from. Those two between them had maybe 15, 20 starts last season. You expect them to have at least 20 each this year, maybe even more. That's maybe two players into one that can replace Ander [Herrera].

Q: If you sold Romelu Lukaku, is there a plan in place to bring someone else in or would you be happy with what you have?

Solskjaer: If we sell players we will have to replace them.

Q: What is your feeling on the technical director? Would an appointment have helped the recruitment process this summer?

Solskjaer: I have a direct line to [executive vice-chairman] Ed [Woodward], [head of corporate development] Matt [Judge] and [chief technical scout] Mick [Court]. We are quite close in that respect. If there is someone in between us, a technical director -- call it whatever you like -- I'm happy with that either way because it's not going to be too big a difference. We do have our process on how we scout players now and how we see players but once in a while you have to act quickly.

Q: Recruitment has been a problem for the club for a number of years.

Solskjaer: It's never a problem -- a challenge.

Q: But compared to the players you have been able to bring in compared to the rivals you are trying to catch, does something need to change?

Solskjaer: That's your opinion. I can only talk from my period. I wanted Aaron and Dan James. They were very high targets. Aaron was a top target. We can't expect Dan to be David Beckham or Ryan Giggs straightaway but he will be a top player.

Q: Can you get Alexis Sanchez back to the player he was at Arsenal?

Solskjaer: I will have to help. I've just answered a question here and said you can't spoon feed them. They've got to come in and grab their chances and Alexis is quality and he showed it in the Copa America. Then he got his injury. I don't think it's too bad so I'm hoping he will be available for maybe Kristiansund (30 July) or AC Milan (Aug. 3) so he will at least get some football before the season starts.

Q: Sanchez has had success elsewhere playing as a centre forward. Is that an option for you?

Solskjaer: The way we hope we are going to play, it doesn't have to be a six-foot-four-inch striker, no, so Alexis can be part of that forward line.

Q: But you are planning on having Sanchez here next season?

Solskjaer: At the moment, yes I am.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he can give Paul Pogba the "new challenge" the midfielder indicated he wanted without him having to leave the club.

The France international said he is ready for a new challenge during a promotional tour of Japan before agent Mino Raiola said an Old Trafford exit for 26-year-old was "in the process." Real Madrid and Juventus have both been linked with moves for Pogba, but United are yet to receive a bid.

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Speaking at the team base at the Crown Towers hotel in Perth on Tuesday, Solskjaer stopped short of guaranteeing the World Cup winner will be at the club on the opening day of the season but promised Pogba will find the challenge he is looking for at Old Trafford.

"I can't dive into all these hypothetical questions but we've not had offers," Solskjaer said when asked about Pogba's future. "I've said so many times about Paul that he's a top, top boy and a great player and he's never, ever been a problem.

"I've not been upset by anything he's said because we've had many conversations and I know exactly what Paul is thinking. I can give him a new challenge."

Like Pogba, Alexis Sanchez's future is also up in the air after a disappointing 18-month spell following his move to Arsenal. The Chile forward is not with the squad in Australia after taking part in the Copa America, but Solskjaer said Sanchez will get a chance to impress in the final two friendlies of the summer against Kristiansund in Oslo on July 30 and AC Milan in Cardiff on Aug. 3. However, the Norwegian would only say Sanchez was in his plans for next season "at the moment."

"You can't spoon feed them," Solskjaer said, when asked about the 30-year-old former Barcelona man. "They've got to come in and grab their chances and Alexis is quality and he showed it in the Copa America.

"Then he got his injury. I don't think it's too bad so I'm hoping he will be available for maybe Kristiansund or AC Milan so he will at least get some football before the season starts. The way we hope we are going to play, it doesn't have to be a 6-foot-4 striker so Alexis can be part of that forward line."

Solskjaer's first summer transfer window has seen United spend £60 million on Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James while the club are still chasing two more signings, including Leicester defender Harry Maguire.

Solskjaer said during a fan event in Perth this week he is looking for a Bryan Robson-type leader in his dressing room and he has urged one of his existing players to fill the void, while also questioning how Manchester City will cope without their former captain Vincent Kompany, who has left the Etihad Stadium to manage Anderlecht.

"I think it's a general society thing as well that there are less Robbos and Keanos [Roy Keane] around," Solskjaer said. "I played with Keano and I think any manager in the world would say I would love to him one who is that type of leader.

"Look at City and Kompany. Who knows what will happen? Because he is a fantastic human being, player and leader so someone else has to step up and someone else has to step up for us."

The WNBA suspended Los Angeles Sparks guard Riquna Williams for 10 games as a result of a domestic violence incident involving her ex-girlfriend in December.

In April, Williams was arrested on felony charges of burglary with assault or battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, stemming from the December incident.

Police records show she struck ex-girlfriend Alkeria Davis in the head and pulled her hair after Davis opened the front door of her house on Dec. 6. After a man at the home broke up the altercation, Williams reportedly went to her car and pulled out a gun, pointed it in the man's direction and said "you'll get all 18" before leaving the scene.

The criminal case in ongoing.

In announcing the suspension, the WNBA said it conducted its own investigation and consulted with domestic violence experts before deciding on the 10-game ban.

"Based on the investigation, consultation, and a careful weighing of all the facts and circumstances, the WNBA determined that a ten-game suspension was appropriate," the league said. "Among other factors, the WNBA took into account the nature and seriousness of the conduct at issue, including the involvement of a firearm."

Williams also must participate in counseling, per the league.

The suspension surpassed the seven games given to Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson in 2015 for their domestic violence arrests.

Williams is in her seventh WNBA season. The Sparks re-signed her in May despite the charges. In 15 games, she is averaging 11.5 points this season.

Her suspension will begin Thursday when the Sparks play the Dallas Wings.

The WNBA also is investigating Seattle Storm forward Natasha Howard after her wife made domestic abuse allegations on social media on Saturday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers have activated Hunter Pence from the injured list after he missed 23 games and a chance to start in the All-Star Game.

Pence, out since June 17 with a right groin strain, was activated before Tuesday night's game against Arizona. He was set to bat third as the designated hitter.

Outfielder Willie Calhoun was optioned to Triple-A Nashville. The Rangers also selected the contract of right-hander Taylor Guerrieri from Nashville after left-hander Jesse Biddle was placed on the 10-day injured list with left shoulder fatigue.

Pence hit .294 with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs in his 55 games before getting hurt. He was voted by fans as the American League's starting designated hitter but couldn't play in last week's game while still recovering from his injury.

Calhoun, who started 17 games while Pence was out, has hit .277 with five homers and 13 RBIs in 26 games overall this season.

Rangers manager Chris Woodward said Pence would only be the DH for at least a week.

Calhoun, who started 17 games while Pence was out, has hit .277 with five homers and 13 RBI in 26 games overall this season.

"I'm literally speechless," said Calhoun, who was Texas' primary acquisition in the trade that sent pitcher Yu Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31, 2017.

"I helped the team win. I don't know what else I would have done. At the end of the day, if that's what they want to do, if me helping the team win is me playing in Nashville, then I guess I'm going to have to play every day in Nashville."

Woodward said Calhoun was told that with Pence's return the club didn't want to keep seven outfielders.

"It was a tough one," Woodward said. "It kept us up. He really has done everything to stay here."

The St. Louis Cardinals have again placed infielder Matt Carpenter on the 10-day injured list, it was announced Tuesday.

This time, Carpenter has a contusion after fouling a ball off the top of his right foot in the seventh inning of Monday's 7-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The move comes just days after Carpenter had rejoined St. Louis after the All-Star break. He had been sidelined since June 29 with a lower back strain.

Carpenter is batting .215 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs this season.

In the corresponding roster move, the Cards recalled rookie infielder Edmundo Sosa from Triple-A Memphis.

The Atlanta Braves placed left-handed starting pitcher Max Fried on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a blister on his left index finger.

Fried, who is 10-4 with a 4.08 ERA in 19 starts this season, developed the blister in his start on Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Fried, 25, pitched five scoreless innings to secure the win in the Braves' 4-2 victory, allowing three hits and striking out five in 78 pitches. Manager Brian Snitker said he removed him because of the blister that formed on his index finger.

"I thought it was smart not trying to pitch through it,'' Snitker said. "It was pretty significant. If he hadn't have said anything and kept pitching, it probably would have torn open.''

Bryse Wilson was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move and will start Tuesday night's game against the Brewers. The 21-year-old right-hander has made three starts for the Braves in the majors this season and is 1-0 with a 6.14 ERA.

The National League East-leading Braves (58-37) enter Tuesday's game with a 7.5-game lead in the division.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Hooker Harry Thacker and Australia international wing Luke Morahan are two of seven players to have signed extended contracts with Bristol Bears.

Centre Piers O'Conor, 23, scrum-halves Andy Uren, 23 and Harry Randall, 21 and locks Joe Joyce, 25, and Ed Holmes, 23, have also all committed to three seasons with the Premiership side.

Thacker, 25, told BBC Radio Bristol signing was "an easy decision".

"I strongly believe in the club's vision and where we're going," he said.

"It is a club pushing in only one direction - and that is forward. It's a great group and I am very excited for what we can achieve.

"We set our team goals but individually everyone has be improving day by day to push the team forward."

Morahan, 29, said the Bears could compete at the top end of the Premiership and push for European Champions Cup qualification under boss Pat Lam.

"Pat has made no secret that that is what he wanted to do and that's what we want to do," said Morahan.

"The last two years have been very enjoyable.

"I saw the future would be pretty bright. You could see where the team wanted to go and we are stepping up to where we want to get to."