Liverpool have made formal inquiries regarding Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande as they prepare for the potential departure of Mohamed Salah this summer.
The Reds are actively planning for life without their talismanic forward following a season of internal friction and dipping form.
Salah signed a contract extension last summer keeping him at the club until 2027, but fresh interest from the Saudi Pro League has placed his future in doubt.
Liverpool currently sit fifth in the Premier League table as their title defence falters.
Reds hold talks for Olise
Anfield recruiters have reportedly opened discussions with representatives of Michael Olise.
The France international has flourished since leaving Crystal Palace for Bayern Munich in 2024.
Olise has registered a staggering 33 goals and 48 assists in 91 appearances for the German champions.
His previous experience in the English top flight makes him a priority target for the Merseyside club.
However, prising the creative midfielder away from the Allianz Arena will likely require a significant financial package.
Diomande identified as youthful alternative
Liverpool are also tracking RB Leipzig teenager Yan Diomande.
The forward has scored 10 goals and provided seven assists in 26 Bundesliga games this campaign.
He is reportedly valued at approximately £87m, though this figure could decrease if Leipzig fail to qualify for the Champions League.
Competition for Diomande’s signature is expected to be fierce across Europe’s top leagues.
Tension grows between Salah and Slot
The search for reinforcements comes amid a breakdown in the relationship between Salah and Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
The Egyptian has struggled to replicate his form from last season, where he contributed 34 goals to the club’s title-winning campaign.
By contrast, he has managed just seven goals and eight assists in 29 appearances across all competitions this term.
The 32-year-old voiced his frustration publicly before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations earlier in the season.
“It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.”
Mohamed Salah
With the relationship strained, Liverpool chiefs believe they can demand a substantial transfer fee from Saudi suitors this summer.
Tottenham have written to PGMOL chief Howard Webb to express concern over inconsistent refereeing decisions involving contact in the penalty area.
Sources have told BBC Sport the correspondence focuses on varying interpretations of fouls that have led to goals being either allowed or disallowed.
The north London club believe they have been on the wrong end of several key incidents during the current campaign.
Dispute over penalty box contact
Spurs highlighted a decision during their 4-1 derby defeat by Arsenal on 22 February where Randal Kolo Muani had an equaliser ruled out.
Officials adjudged the France international had pushed defender Gabriel in the back before scoring, a decision supported by referee Peter Bankes.
Bankes later explained on ‘Match Officials Mic’d Up’ that seeing “two hands on the back” constituted a clear offence with sufficient impact.
However, Tottenham questioned why Harry Wilson’s opener was allowed to stand during Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Raul Jimenez appeared to push Spurs defender Radu Dragusin in the build-up, but the goal stood as the contact was deemed below the threshold for a foul.
Tudor labels decision an ‘incredible mistake’
Interim head coach Igor Tudor voiced his frustration immediately following the defeat in west London.
“Of course, it’s a foul. It’s always a foul. It’s an incredible mistake.”Igor Tudor, Tottenham interim head coach
It is understood the letter provides further examples of similar situations resulting in differing outcomes this season.
Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade’s goal against Arsenal in September was included as a case where contact on a defender was interpreted differently.
Webb’s push for transparency
Since his appointment as chief refereeing officer in 2022, Webb has sought to improve transparency regarding how decisions are reached.
The former World Cup final referee has also strived to maintain constructive direct engagement with Premier League clubs.
The PGMOL has declined to comment on the correspondence.
Arsenal are closing in on a historic quadruple as Mikel Arteta’s side brush aside criticism regarding their pragmatic style of play.
The Gunners currently sit five points clear of Manchester City at the Premier League summit with just nine games remaining.
Having spent years facing accusations of lacking the necessary resilience to secure major silverware, the narrative surrounding the north London club has shifted dramatically.
Arteta’s team are now facing labels of being dull and over-pragmatic as they rely heavily on set-piece dominance rather than purist football.
Chasing history on four fronts
Despite the external noise, the league leaders are positioned to deliver the greatest campaign in the club’s history.
Arsenal finished top of the Champions League standings with a flawless record of eight wins from eight matches.
A Carabao Cup final date with Pep Guardiola’s City awaits at Wembley, alongside an FA Cup fifth-round tie against League One Mansfield Town.
The 19-year wait for a league title, stretching back to Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’, could finally end if the current leaders hold their nerve.
Set-piece efficiency proves decisive
Recent victories against Chelsea and Tottenham have showcased the steel required for a title run-in.
Both goals in the 2-1 win over the Blues came from corners, prompting further debate about the team’s reliance on dead-ball situations.
Arteta continues to utilise what has become a lethal weapon, forged by the expertise of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover and the delivery of Declan Rice.
While critics may decry the approach as one-dimensional, narrow victories are historically viewed as the hallmark of champions.
Results over aesthetics
Manchester City remain a looming threat with a game in hand, potentially making the April clash at Etihad Stadium the season’s defining moment.
Yet, the ultimate judgement on Arteta’s methods will be determined solely by the trophy cabinet at the end of the campaign.
If the lengthy barren spell ends in May, few supporters at Emirates Stadium will care how the points were secured.
The job of the manager is to satisfy his superiors and supporters, not to please neutral observers seeking aesthetic perfection.
Spain have been installed as the firm favourites to win the 2026 World Cup with just 100 days remaining until the tournament kicks off in Mexico.
Tuesday, 3 March marks the significant milestone before the opening fixture between the co-hosts and South Africa on 11 June.
A global poll of football experts has placed La Roja at the summit of the power rankings ahead of the expanded 48-team competition.
Euro 2024 winners lead the pack
Luis de la Fuente’s side secured a commanding 15 of 21 first-place votes following their impressive triumph at Euro 2024.
The European champions boast a frightening array of young talent including Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal and midfield partner Pedri.
Yamal has been in sensational form domestically, contributing 22 goal involvements in as many La Liga appearances this season.
There are lingering concerns regarding the defensive unit, with competition fierce for the centre-back positions.
The goalkeeping situation also poses a dilemma, as Unai Simon remains the likely starter despite David Raya’s exceptional performances for Arsenal.
Qualification hurdles remain
While the favourites are beginning to take shape, the final six spots for the finals are yet to be officially claimed.
The last week of March will determine the remaining four European slots alongside two winners from the intercontinental playoffs.
Traditional heavyweights such as Italy face a precarious path through the playoffs involving Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Azzurri remain a conditional contender provided they can navigate the bracket and avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup.
Injury anxiety for managers
National team coaches now face an anxious wait during the high-pressure conclusion to the domestic club season.
Any significant injuries sustained in the coming weeks will have a catastrophic impact on roster selection.
Managers must finalise their squads in late May, leaving players little time to recover from late-season fitness issues.
Tottenham Hotspur have identified former Crystal Palace chief Dougie Freedman as a leading candidate to replace Fabio Paratici as sporting director.
The north London club are accelerating their recruitment process following Paratici’s departure to Fiorentina last month.
Spurs currently sit 16th in the Premier League and are eager to restructure their hierarchy to address their alarming slide towards the relegation zone.
Club officials have reportedly made checks on the 51-year-old Scot, who is currently working with Saudi second-tier side Al-Diriyah.
Recruitment plans and timeline
Tottenham are keen to finalize an appointment quickly to ensure the new director has significant input on the club’s next managerial hire.
Johan Lange remains the sole senior figure in the recruitment department, leaving the hierarchy stretched during a critical period.
Chelsea’s Paul Winstanley has also been discussed as a potential option by the board.
However, the Blues director is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2031, making a move across London highly unlikely.
Freedman’s track record
The former Nottingham Forest manager built an impressive reputation for talent identification during an eight-year tenure at Selhurst Park.
He was instrumental in the acquisition of high-value assets including Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, and Marc Guehi.
Those recruitment successes generated significant profit for the Eagles, with Eze and Olise eventually commanding combined transfer fees exceeding £110m.
Freedman also played a pivotal role in the appointment of Oliver Glasner, who guided Palace to historic FA Cup glory last year.
It remains unclear if the recruitment specialist would be willing to leave his current project in the Middle East to return to the Premier League.
Future Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet requires surgery on a shoulder injury sustained while playing for Rennes, the French club has confirmed.
The teenager, who is set to move to Anfield in the summer, suffered the setback during a match against Lens earlier this month.
Rennes announced on Tuesday that the centre-back will undergo an operation in the coming days.
Injury blow for Reds prospect
Jacquet was forced off the pitch on 7 February during the Ligue 1 fixture due to the issue with his left shoulder.
Following thorough medical assessments, it was determined that surgical intervention is necessary to repair the damage.
A statement from the French side confirmed the procedure would take place shortly.
“Following medical examinations, surgery has been scheduled in the coming days. Stade Rennais F.C. wishes him a speedy recovery.”
Stade Rennais statement
Summer arrival pending
The 19-year-old agreed a deal to join the Premier League leaders recently but remained in France to gain further first-team experience.
It remains unclear how long the rehabilitation process will take or if the France youth international will feature again this season.
Liverpool will be monitoring the recovery closely ahead of his expected arrival on Merseyside later this year.
West Ham and Tottenham have been dragged into an intensifying Premier League relegation battle with just ten games remaining in the season.
Wolves appear destined for the Championship despite a spirited victory over Aston Villa on Friday.
The Molineux club are considered certainties for the drop, leaving two relegation spots still to be decided.
Burnley sit second-bottom, currently eight points adrift of safety.
The Hammers occupy the final relegation place in 18th, sitting two points away from survival.
Spurs face historic drop
Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are looking nervously over their shoulders.
However, the shock inclusion in this survival scrap is Tottenham.
The north Londoners face the real possibility of dropping into the second tier for the first time since 1977.
Aside from Wolves, the rest of the bottom six all have 10 matches left to save their season.
Supercomputer predicts bottom three
Following a weekend where the bottom five all lost, the Opta supercomputer has crunched the numbers.
The data model gives West Ham a 69.4% chance of being relegated alongside Burnley and Wolves.
Forest are currently given a 25% chance of going down.
Despite their poor form, Spurs are rated at just a 5% chance of the drop, with Leeds safer at 2.1%.
Crucial six-pointers ahead
The fixture list could prove decisive, with Leeds facing four of the bottom six in their final stretch.
This includes a potentially season-defining trip to east London to face West Ham on the final day.
Key dates include Tottenham hosting Forest on 22 March and a massive clash between Leeds and Burnley on 2 May.
Points target increases
In the last nine seasons, 36 points has usually been enough to secure top-flight status.
Last term, 26 points would have sufficed as Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton made immediate returns to the Championship.
Spurs finished a dismal 17th last year on 38 points while focusing on the Europa League.
With the quality of teams fighting for survival significantly higher this season, the traditional 40-point mark is firmly back in focus.
Unprecedented demand for 2026 World Cup tickets continues to defy soaring costs and geopolitical tensions with just 100 days until the tournament begins across North America.
The expanded competition, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, has seen ticket applications oversubscribed more than 30 times.
FIFA confirmed that nearly two million tickets were snapped up during the initial two sales phases alone.
Record prices and logistical hurdles
However, the appetite for the global showcase comes against a backdrop of eye-watering expense for supporters.
Fans face a vast geographical spread across 16 host cities, adding significant complexity and cost to travel plans.
Michael Edgley, director at Australia’s Green and Gold Army Travel, believes the financial trajectory of the tournament is clear.
“The demand for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico is the strongest I’ve ever experienced.”
Michael Edgley
Edgley predicts the event will be a massive financial success, primarily benefiting the member federations.
Yet, representatives for supporter groups argue that pricing remains a significant barrier.
Adrian Nunez Corte, leader of the Spanish fans’ association Unipes, highlighted the strain on those following their teams.
“The price of tickets has been a major drawback.”
Adrian Nunez Corte
Geopolitical friction and safety fears
Beyond the financial strain, the political climate surrounding the event presents unique challenges for the organisers.
Tensions involving the US and Iran – who are scheduled to play group stage matches on American soil – have sparked anxiety among some potential travellers.
German football enthusiast Tom Roeder expressed his hesitation regarding US entry policies.
“I’m afraid I might not be allowed into the country, I’ve decided to fly to Canada at most, but not to the USA.”
Tom Roeder
Security remains a focal point elsewhere, with recent violence near the Mexican host city of Guadalajara raising alarms.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has moved to calm these fears, insisting there is “no risk” for international visitors.
Despite the underlying unease, visa preparations are underway for thousands of supporters expecting to cross borders repeatedly.
FIFA has yet to comment on the specific geopolitical issues, but the buzz surrounding the first 48-team World Cup remains palpable.