Crystal Palace have reached the last 16 of the Uefa Conference League after easing past Zrinjski Mostar to secure a 3-1 aggregate victory at Selhurst Park.

Goals from Maxence Lacroix and Evann Guessand relieved the mounting pressure on manager Oliver Glasner.

The Eagles secured a 2-0 win on the night to ensure safe passage into Friday’s draw.

Relief for Glasner

This result marks back-to-back wins for the south London club for the first time since December.

It provides a vital morale boost ahead of a daunting trip to Manchester United this weekend.

Speculation regarding Glasner’s future had intensified recently, but this professional display offers a timely reprieve.

How the action unfolded

The hosts laboured during the early exchanges in front of a sparse crowd that reflected recent apathy at the club.

Lacroix broke the deadlock after 36 minutes, heading home from a set-piece to settle nerves.

The Bosnian champions offered little threat, having failed to score in any away European fixture this season.

Ismaila Sarr was denied by goalkeeper Goran Karacic in a one-on-one as the hosts looked to kill the tie earlier in the second half.

Tomi Juric caused a late scare for the Premier League side, but Guessand struck in injury time to confirm the result.

Who could Palace face next?

Glasner’s side will discover their opponents during the draw in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday.

Palace will face a seeded team, with German side Mainz or Cyprus’ AEK Larnaca confirmed as potential adversaries.

Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has forcefully dismissed reports suggesting Jurgen Klopp will depart his position as head of global soccer, branding the speculation “complete nonsense”.

Klopp commitment questioned and clarified

Rumours had recently circulated regarding the former Liverpool manager’s long-term future within the multi-club organisation.

However, Mintzlaff addressed the situation directly, telling Sky Sports Germany that claims of an imminent exit are “totally unfounded”.

Klopp took up the strategic role overseeing Red Bull’s network of clubs following his departure from Anfield.

Chelsea lead race for Murillo

Nottingham Forest could face a significant battle to retain their highly-rated defensive asset.

Chelsea are currently in pole position to sign 23-year-old defender Murillo, according to reports from Teamtalk.

Liverpool also remain firmly in the frame for the Brazilian centre-back, who has impressed with his performances at the City Ground.

Vlahovic favours Barcelona switch

Dusan Vlahovic is eyeing a move to La Liga when his contract with Juventus expires this summer.

The Serbia international reportedly prefers a switch to Barcelona over other potential suitors.

This preference comes despite continued interest from Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in the 26-year-old forward.

Valuation stalls Mane interest

Liverpool and Manchester United have cooled their interest in Wolves midfielder Mateus Mane due to a high asking price.

Football Insider reports that both clubs are unwilling to meet the £50m valuation placed on the 18-year-old.

Scouts from both north-west giants reportedly consider the England youth international too raw to justify such a significant financial outlay.

Newcastle hunt for Pope successor

Newcastle United have begun the search for a long-term replacement for 33-year-old goalkeeper Nick Pope.

The Magpies are tracking Brighton’s Dutch shot-stopper Bart Verbruggen as a primary option.

James Trafford, currently on the books at Manchester City, is also being monitored by the Tyneside club.

Jackson set for Chelsea return

Nicolas Jackson is expected to return to Stamford Bridge following a loan spell in the Bundesliga.

The 24-year-old Senegal striker joined Bayern Munich temporarily last summer.

However, the German champions are reportedly not keen on converting the move into a permanent transfer.

USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino has refused to rule out a return to Tottenham Hotspur after his contract expires following the 2026 World Cup.

The former Spurs boss is currently preparing to lead the United States on home soil at the tournament this summer.

However, the 53-year-old has admitted he remains "open to everything" regarding his managerial future beyond the international campaign.

Speculation over north London return

Tottenham are currently searching for a permanent successor to Thomas Frank, who was sacked earlier this month.

Pochettino acknowledged that his history with the club often leads to speculation when the team is underperforming.

Speaking to The Athletic, he said:

"I’m always linked to Tottenham, just like at one time I was linked to Espanyol, or to other clubs."
"In the end, especially because of my past at those clubs, when things aren’t going well, people tend to fall back on emotions and say, ‘Well, with Mauricio we played good football,’ or whatever it may be."

Despite the rumours, the Argentine tactician insisted his immediate focus remains on the national team job.

"But no. We’re focused on the World Cup, on the United States. My contract runs until after the World Cup, so after that we’ll see what might happen. Open to everything, right?"

Stability needed at Spurs

The Premier League side have appointed Igor Tudor on an interim basis until the end of the season.

His immediate priority is steering the club away from a relegation battle after a run of just two wins in 17 league games.

The Lilywhites sit just four points above the bottom three following a recent defeat by rivals Arsenal in the north London derby.

Since Pochettino was dismissed in 2019, shortly after reaching the Champions League final, the club has struggled to find a long-term replacement.

Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, Antonio Conte, Ange Postecoglou and Frank have all held the permanent position in the intervening years.

Tottenham and Manchester City are reportedly interested in appointing Como head coach Cesc Fabregas as they plan for potential managerial changes this summer.

Spurs are searching for a permanent successor to interim boss Igor Tudor, who signed a short-term deal to replace Thomas Frank earlier in the campaign.

The north London club are using this period to identify a long-term candidate capable of leading the team forward.

However, reports suggest they face significant competition from Premier League champions Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s future at the Etihad Stadium remains the subject of speculation, prompting City to monitor emerging coaching talent across Europe.

Rising star in Italy

Fabregas has earned widespread praise for his work with Como, guiding the Italian side with an attractive brand of football.

The 2010 World Cup winner has been described as “the next elite coach” by scouts observing his tactical evolution in Serie A.

Despite his historic allegiances to Arsenal and Chelsea, the former midfielder is reportedly open to the prospect of taking charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

While some supporters may hold reservations regarding his past connections to London rivals, the Spaniard’s burgeoning reputation suggests he could be a shrewd appointment.

Alternative options and tactical style

Tottenham have identified several potential candidates beyond the former Barcelona playmaker.

Oliver Glasner is expected to be available having confirmed his departure from Crystal Palace upon the expiry of his contract.

A return for Mauricio Pochettino appears unlikely at this stage, with the Argentine committed to the United States national team through the next World Cup cycle.

Fabregas’ tactical approach at Como mirrors the modern demands of the Premier League, utilising a structured possession game.

His teams typically operate in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 hybrid system, focusing on patient circulation and creating central overloads.

The young coach also emphasises immediate counter-pressing, a trait that appeals to top English clubs looking to control tempo and territory.

Rangers have opened negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur to sign Mikey Moore on a permanent basis, with the Ibrox club aiming to secure the teenager’s future ahead of next season.

The Glasgow giants are currently preparing for a pivotal Old Firm clash against Celtic but have already begun planning their squad for the 2025-26 campaign.

Owners 49ers Enterprises are reportedly driving the move, believing they can present a package that convinces the Premier League side to sell.

Rangers offer tempting double proposal

According to reports, the Ibrox hierarchy are attempting to reach a pre-contract agreement to ensure the forward remains in a light blue shirt.

To push the deal through, Rangers are prepared to include a significant sell-on fee clause in the transfer.

The proposal would also grant the north Londoners first refusal on any future sale of the 18-year-old.

Tottenham’s stance may depend on their own league status, with Igor Tudor’s side currently sitting just four points above the relegation zone.

Should Spurs drop into the Championship, they may be more inclined to retain their high-potential academy graduates.

Teenager making an impact

Moore has established himself as a key figure at Ibrox, making 36 appearances during his loan spell.

The youngster has contributed five goals and three assists, impressing supporters with his confidence and flair.

Reports suggest the player is enthusiastic about remaining in Scotland to continue playing regular first-team football.

Danny Rohl’s men remain in contention for the Scottish Premiership title, sitting four points behind leaders Hearts following a recent victory at Ibrox.

Liverpool defender Jeremie Frimpong has returned to full training after a month on the sidelines to ease Arne Slot’s defensive selection crisis.

The 25-year-old rejoined the squad on Thursday after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the Champions League victory over Qarabag.

Frimpong had missed the previous five matches, having limped off just four minutes into the European tie last month.

Defensive boost for Slot

The Netherlands international is now in contention to feature in Saturday’s Premier League meeting with West Ham at Anfield.

His return provides a timely lift for the Reds, as Frimpong has already endured two other lengthy lay-offs with similar muscular problems this campaign.

In his absence, midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo were forced to cover at right-back, while Joe Gomez was restricted to a place on the bench due to a knee issue.

Wirtz remains doubtful

While defensive options have improved, playmaker Florian Wirtz was not seen in the latest training photographs released by the club.

The German midfielder was forced to withdraw from the warm-up at Nottingham Forest last weekend after aggravating a back injury.

Speaking after that victory, Slot played down fears regarding the long-term severity of the issue.

“We don’t think it is very serious,” the Liverpool boss said.

“He wasn’t able to be 100% or even close to 100%.”

Slot added:

“I think after being in this league for six, seven or eight months, he now understands no matter how good you are on the ball, you need to be 100% at this level, so we decided not to play him.”

Chelsea have recorded a pre-tax loss of £355m for the 2024-25 period, marking the largest annual deficit ever posted by an English football club.

The figure stands as the second-highest loss in European history, trailing only the £484m deficit reported by Barcelona in 2021.

UEFA’s latest financial report highlights a significant disparity between the club’s expenditure and their ability to generate revenue compared to domestic rivals.

Revenue gaps compared to Premier League rivals

The data indicates that the Stamford Bridge club generated significantly less overall revenue than their main competitors.

While Manchester City brought in £746m and Liverpool £744m, the West London side recorded an income of just £511m.

A major factor is matchday income, where the Blues trailed Liverpool by £28m despite ranking ninth in Europe for ticket sales.

Revenue is heavily restricted by the capacity of Stamford Bridge, which holds 41,798 spectators.

The ground is currently only the 11th-biggest in the top flight and holds 34,000 fewer fans than Manchester United’s Old Trafford.

Commercial and merchandise shortfall

Commercial performance also lagged behind, with the club ranking 11th on the continent after generating £207m.

This figure represents a £5m decrease on the previous year and sits £66m lower than London rivals Tottenham.

It is also a massive £165m shy of the commercial income generated by Manchester City.

Merchandising and kit sales stagnated at £83m, showing no year-on-year growth.

The two-time Champions League winners earned £82m less from this stream than Manchester United.

However, broadcast revenue provided a rare positive, driven largely by participation in the Fifa Club World Cup.

This success boosted income to £192m, placing them second in Europe behind the Premier League champions.

Rising costs and unprecedented squad value

Expenditure at Stamford Bridge remains a significant issue, particularly regarding player salaries.

The club paid out £388m in wages, a rise of £43m compared to the previous financial period.

Only Liverpool and Manchester City spent more on salaries within English football.

The organisation also employs 1,169 full-time non-playing staff, the highest number of any team in the country.

Operating costs covering administration and marketing surged from £159m to £240m.

The report confirms that the Blues possess the most expensively assembled squad in the history of the sport.

The total value of the playing staff has reached £1.52bn, an increase of 5% on the prior year.

Liverpool are reportedly closing in on agreeing personal terms with RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande ahead of a potential record-breaking summer transfer.

The Reds are ready to reignite their interest in the 19-year-old talent after monitoring his progress throughout the Bundesliga season.

Anfield recruiters had tracked the Ivorian heavily during the January window, but a significant valuation prevented a mid-season move.

Potential record-breaking fee

Recent reports suggest the Merseyside club are now in advanced contact with the player’s representatives regarding a switch to the Premier League.

Securing the teenager could require another historic financial outlay from Liverpool following a period of heavy investment.

Arne Slot’s side broke the British transfer record twice last summer, bringing in Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m and Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for £125m.

Diomande was valued at approximately £87m earlier in the campaign, a figure likely to rise given his continued form in Germany.

Leipzig remain in a strong negotiating position, with the forward under contract at the Red Bull Arena until 2030.

‘Unbelievable’ talent

Beyond his goalscoring, the youngster has drawn praise for his all-round contribution and work rate.

Leipzig teammate Assan Ouedraogo highlighted the forward’s ability following a victory over Stuttgart.

“He’s unbelievable. When you let him get in a one-vs-one situation, you know he’s going to win the duel.”

Assan Ouedraogo, RB Leipzig

Leipzig manager Ole Werner has also emphasised attributes that would appeal to Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.

“I also really like how he works hard defensively and is very disciplined. He tries to win the ball and gets involved in the press.”

Ole Werner, RB Leipzig Head Coach

World Cup stage awaits

Supporters will have the opportunity to scout the prospective signing on the international stage at the World Cup this summer.

Diomande is expected to feature for the Ivory Coast in Group E against Germany, Ecuador, and Curacao.

Liverpool may face competition for his signature, with Manchester United, Tottenham, and Chelsea also linked with the prolific frontman.

Season statistics highlight why the forward is in such high demand:

Advanced metrics also place him among the Bundesliga’s top performers for shot-creating actions and progressive carries.