Celtic are targeting former striker Robbie Keane to replace outgoing manager Martin O’Neill ahead of the 2026-27 Scottish Premiership season.
The Glasgow club are preparing for life after the 74-year-old, who arrived during a difficult spell under Wilfried Nancy and successfully revitalised the squad.
Under the veteran coach, the Hoops currently sit just two points behind league leaders Hearts with a genuine chance of securing the domestic title.
Winning pedigree in Europe
The 45-year-old candidate has established a strong managerial reputation following successful spells with Maccabi Tel Aviv and his current club Ferencvaros.
Having already secured two league titles in his short coaching career, the former Republic of Ireland international has demonstrated an ability to make an immediate impact.
His preferred 3-5-2 formation would represent a tactical shift for the Scottish giants, but his track record of delivering domestic dominance makes him a compelling option.
A familiar face in Glasgow
The former Tottenham Hotspur forward understands the unique demands of the club following a brief loan spell at Celtic Park.
During that short stint as a player, the prolific attacker proved highly successful by registering seven league goals in just 12 appearances.
The Celtic hierarchy must act swiftly to secure their primary target, as other clubs including Tottenham are reportedly monitoring his availability before the summer window.
Catarina Macario has completed an immediate move to San Diego Wave from Chelsea in a record-breaking deal believed to be the most lucrative in women’s football history.
The United States forward has signed a contract running until the 2030 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.
Valued at approximately $8m (£6.3m) in total, the agreement easily surpasses previous financial benchmarks set within the women’s game.
San Diego will pay Chelsea a transfer fee in the region of $300,000 to secure the Brazilian-born attacker before the NWSL deadline closes on Monday.
Returning to Californian roots
The move represents a homecoming for the international star, who relocated to San Diego with her family from Brazil at the age of 12.
Her new franchise trains just yards away from the youth pitches where she first developed her formidable skills.
Personal reasons were reportedly a major driving factor behind the switch, despite the highly sought-after talent receiving offers from European heavyweights including Barcelona.
Navigating new financial rules
To facilitate this landmark acquisition, the Wave are utilising the NWSL’s newly introduced High Impact Player rule.
This mechanism permits teams to remunerate marquee talents from a designated $1m fund outside the standard $3.7m salary cap parameters.
Macario will earn an average annual value of around $2m, mirroring the landmark package recently awarded to international team-mate Trinity Rodman at Washington Spirit.
Swapping London for the NWSL
The prolific goalscorer had endured a frustrating recent spell in England, with her playing time severely restricted by persistent injury setbacks.
With her Chelsea contract set to expire this summer, an immediate mid-season transfer proved logical to ensure a fresh start.
San Diego will be hoping their new marquee addition can immediately reverse their fortunes following a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to the Houston Dash on the opening weekend.
The lightning-fast striker is expected to be a vital component of the national squad aiming for a fifth World Cup triumph in Brazil next year.
Liverpool are targeting a £70m summer move for Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall as Arne Slot seeks defensive reinforcements amid a challenging Premier League campaign.
The Reds have identified the 21-year-old as a primary candidate to refresh their struggling squad.
This pursuit comes as long-serving full-back Andy Robertson enters the final months of his expiring contract at Anfield.
However, the Magpies have publicly insisted the England international is not for sale under any circumstances.
Newcastle prepare lucrative new contract
To fend off interest from Merseyside, the North East club are preparing a significantly improved deal for their young defensive star.
His current terms run until 2029, but a substantial pay rise is being formulated to secure his long-term future at St James’ Park.
A valuation of up to £70m has been mooted should the Tyneside outfit ultimately be forced to the negotiating table.
A summer departure appears complex, though the recent history of big-money moves between the two clubs suggests a deal cannot be entirely ruled out.
Pressure mounts on Slot after poor run
The search for fresh talent arrives during a highly turbulent period for the current Liverpool boss.
His side currently sit outside the Premier League’s top four following a dismal run of just one victory in four matches.
Recent setbacks include a shock defeat to bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers and a frustrating draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Significant summer investment on the likes of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz has so far failed to yield the desired results for the under-fire manager.
A tactical fit for Anfield
The highly-rated defender has excelled at both domestic and Champions League levels throughout the current season.
He notably restricted Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal from open play during a recent European fixture, further boosting his growing reputation.
The former Chelsea academy graduate possesses the technical profile perfectly suited to a possession-dominant tactical setup.
- His technical ability offers clean distribution, progressive passing, and comfort on the ball in tight areas.
- The versatile full-back is adept at drifting into midfield lanes to create numerical advantages.
- While physically mobile and agile, he remains a developing talent who will require further strength refinement for top-level defensive duels.
A move to Merseyside would initially see him rotated into the starting XI, but he possesses the undeniable upside to become a long-term fixture in the team.
Uefa has confirmed that ticket prices for the Champions League final in Budapest will remain frozen following recent controversies over World Cup costs.
The European football governing body announced the decision on Monday in a move designed to prioritise match-going supporters.
This fan-centric approach stands in direct contrast to the heavily criticised ticketing policies introduced by Fifa.
Strict resale rules introduced
Organisers have mandated that any tickets sold on their official resale platform must be exchanged strictly at face value.
Sellers will not face any additional fees when offloading unwanted seats for the showpiece event at the Puskas Arena on 30 May.
This policy challenges the current setup for the upcoming global tournament in the United States, which allows unlimited resale prices alongside heavy transaction fees.
Fifa currently imposes a 15 per cent levy on both buyers and sellers, prompting accusations from fans of facilitating official scalping.
Ticket allocations and pricing
Thousands of the lowest-priced tickets will be available for £60 (€70) to supporters of the two competing clubs.
Disabled spectators will also pay the base rate, which includes a complimentary pass for an accompanying companion.
Each finalist will receive an allocation of 17,200 tickets from a total stadium capacity of 61,400.
Premium seats will maintain their rates from last season’s final in Munich, remaining priced at £156, £562, and £821.
Digital security and consultation
An additional 4,600 general admission tickets are being distributed through a global lottery system via the official website.
Successful applicants must register their mobile phones to access the non-transferable digital passes on match day.
More than 22,000 seats have been reserved for broadcasters, sponsors, national federations, and corporate guests.
These pricing structures were developed in direct consultation with Football Supporters Europe, unlike the initial approach taken by international counterparts.
Re-elected Barcelona president Joan Laporta has opened the door for Lionel Messi to return to the Nou Camp following a dominant election victory on Sunday.
The 61-year-old secured a commanding 68.18% of the 48,480 votes cast by club members to defeat rival candidate Victor Font.
Font had heavily focused his campaign on the incumbent’s fractured relationship with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
However, the decisive mandate has emboldened the club chief to publicly suggest a future reunion with the Argentine star is possible.
A potential Nou Camp reunion
The World Cup winner famously departed Catalonia in 2021 amid severe financial constraints during Laporta’s current tenure.
He is currently playing in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, where many expected the 38-year-old to finish his illustrious career.
Despite this, the newly mandated president believes the former Parisian could still make a sensational comeback to Spain.
“Leo will be linked to Barcelona in whatever way he wants to be,” Laporta told TV3.
“He deserves a tribute match and also a statue, which would be hugely significant.”
“The doors at Barca are always open to him, whenever he wishes, so that he can continue to strengthen and bring greatness to this institution.”
Xavi disputes 2023 transfer failure
The narrative surrounding the talismanic forward’s relationship with the current hierarchy remains highly contested.
Former head coach Xavi recently labelled his former boss a liar regarding failed negotiations to bring the legendary attacker back in 2023.
The legendary Spanish midfielder claimed the board deliberately blocked a completed deal after the forward decided to leave Paris St-Germain.
“The president is lying about what happened with Messi,” Xavi stated during the recent election campaign.
“The president negotiated the contract with Leo’s dad and we had the green light from La Liga financially, but it’s the president who pulled out.”
An unmatched legacy
The iconic playmaker established himself as the club’s greatest ever player over a two-decade spell, scoring an astonishing 672 goals in 778 appearances.
Despite his advancing years, he remains a highly influential figure in American football and retains a deep emotional connection to the Catalan giants.
The United States Soccer Federation has unveiled the new Nike home and away kits that will be worn by all 27 national teams ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The host nation drew inspiration directly from the American flag to design two distinct strips for this summer’s expanded tournament.
The striking home shirt features wavy red and white stripes that closely resemble the memorable design worn during the 2012 campaign.
In contrast, the away jersey offers a more understated navy blue aesthetic subtly embellished with stars.
Unified design across all squads
For the first time in the organisation’s history, every single representative squad, including the highly successful women’s team, will share the exact same crest and kit design.
“A national team jersey represents the pride of wearing the crest, not just for players on the field, but also for the fans who support them every step of the way,” said Dave Wright, chief commercial officer of U.S. Soccer.
Extensive consultation with players took place throughout the development process, with design workshops focusing heavily on fabric weight, mobility, and seam placement.
Unique details have also been incorporated into the final product, including an “Inner Pride” mark inside the collar and a bespoke “Stars and Stripes” font for names and numbers.
On-pitch debut and tournament opener
“If you want to be loud and proud and represent the crest, no one’s going to doubt who you’re there for in the light kit,” said Ronnie J. Stewart, global product director for Nike.
Supporters will catch their first glimpse of the new strips in action when Mauricio Pochettino’s side face Belgium in a friendly at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 28.
The American squad will then remain in Georgia to take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on April 1 as their tournament preparations intensify.
The 2026 World Cup campaign officially begins for the co-hosts on June 12, when they meet Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Six Premier League clubs face a monumental battle to reach the Champions League quarter-finals after failing to register a single victory in their last-16 first-leg ties.
English participation in Europe’s elite competition hangs in the balance following four defeats and two draws for the domestic representatives.
Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea must all produce miraculous recoveries to overturn three-goal deficits against top-quality European opposition.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are required to stage another famous European comeback at Anfield to progress to the last eight.
Arsenal and Newcastle United remain level in their respective ties but cannot afford any slip-ups in their decisive second legs.
Arteta faces attacking dilemma
Arsenal welcome Bayer Leverkusen to Emirates Stadium on Tuesday with their tie delicately poised at 1-1.
The Gunners must quickly recover from a dramatic weekend victory over Everton as they look to avoid their first major disappointment of the campaign.
Mikel Arteta faces a delicate balancing act to manage player workload ahead of the looming Carabao Cup final.
The Spanish manager must decide on his optimal forward line, particularly concerning the right attacking flank.
Noni Madueke impressed as a substitute during the first leg in Germany, potentially threatening Bukayo Saka’s starting berth.
The North London club also have a striking dilemma, with Kai Havertz competing against goalscoring substitute Viktor Gyokeres for the central role.
There is even speculation that youthful prodigy Max Dowman could be risked again in this high-stakes European encounter.
Chelsea require Stamford Bridge miracle
Chelsea host French champions Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday needing to reverse a daunting 5-2 aggregate deficit.
Head coach Liam Rosenior remains publicly defiant about his team’s chances of progression despite the historical odds.
I’ve seen teams come back from three goals down in the Champions League at home many times.
In reality, overturning a three-goal disadvantage in this competition has only been achieved four times in 51 previous attempts.
However, the Blues manager draws confidence from the fact his side created four major scoring opportunities during the defeat in the French capital.
The West London outfit will likely rely heavily on the creative brilliance of Cole Palmer to inspire an unlikely turnaround.
Chelsea have been fined £10.75m and handed a suspended transfer ban by the Premier League following breaches of financial reporting, third-party investment, and youth development rules.
The Stamford Bridge outfit face the substantial penalty after a thorough investigation into their compliance with top-flight regulations.
League officials uncovered discrepancies related to how the club reported their internal financial activities.
Additional infractions regarding investments from outside entities and the management of their academy setup were also identified.
Suspended transfer embargo
The West London side will avoid an immediate ban on registering new players.
This suspension remains contingent upon the club meeting strict compliance conditions going forward.
The punishment serves as a severe warning to the club’s hierarchy regarding future administrative conduct.
Ongoing regulatory scrutiny
The two-time Champions League winners are the latest team to face disciplinary action from the governing body.
Strict adherence to financial guidelines remains a major priority for top-flight executives.
Supporters of the Blues will now await further clarification on the specific nature of the academy and investment breaches.