Saudi Arabian government official Turki Alalshikh is in advanced talks regarding a potential investment deal with Championship club Derby County.
The Independent Football Regulator is currently conducting necessary checks before owner David Clowes can formally proceed with any agreement.
Clowes, a lifelong supporter who saved the East Midlands outfit from liquidation with a £55m takeover in June 2022, has been actively seeking a cash injection.
Seeking Championship stability
The local businessman is reportedly open to selling up to 80% of his shareholding to help the Rams compete in the second tier.
However, Clowes intends to remain in his position as chairman if a successful deal is brokered.
Alalshikh is best known globally for his substantial influence in boxing, serving as chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.
Expanding sporting portfolios
The royal court adviser is no stranger to football administration, having previously owned clubs in both Spain and Egypt.
A successful agreement would represent another significant Saudi Arabian investment in English football, following the high-profile acquisition of Newcastle United in 2021.
Derby have been absent from the Premier League since a historically difficult 2007-08 campaign, where they set the record for the fewest points in a single season.
The Pride Park side are now looking to build momentum after finishing eighth in the Championship table, just four points shy of the play-off positions.
Tottenham Hotspur have abandoned their pursuit of Roma forward Paulo Dybala ahead of the summer transfer window due to mounting concerns over his long-term fitness and age.
The north London club were closely monitoring the 30-year-old’s contract situation with a view to a potential free transfer.
However, the Argentine international has been restricted to just 14 starts for the Italian side this season.
This persistent poor injury record has ultimately prompted Spurs to shift their focus toward alternative attacking targets.
Premier League survival sparks rebuild
Preparations for a crucial summer of recruitment are now fully underway at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The acceleration in transfer activity follows a tense final day where a narrow 1-0 victory over Everton secured their top-flight status.
Avoiding a catastrophic relegation to the Championship has provided the hierarchy with a vital platform to overhaul an underperforming squad.
Former midfielder Jamie O’Hara recently branded elements of the current team as “woeful”, highlighting the urgent need for widespread reinforcements.
Defensive additions on the horizon
While the World Cup-winning attacker will not be arriving in the capital, defensive reinforcements appear to be imminent.
The club have reportedly reached an agreement to sign veteran left-back Andy Robertson.
The Scotland captain is available on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Liverpool.
Furthermore, Spurs are urgently attempting to formalise a deal for Bournemouth centre-back Marcos Senesi.
The South American defender is also entering free agency, though intense interest from rival clubs has forced Tottenham to act swiftly to secure his signature.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is open to ending his eight-year stay at Anfield this summer to join Italian side Juventus.
The Brazilian international has just one year remaining on his current contract and is estimated to earn around £150,000 a week.
While the 31-year-old will not actively force a departure, an exit is highly possible if the right conditions are met.
Liverpool are understood to be open to his departure owing to the shot-stopper’s persistent fitness issues.
Injury struggles and Italian interest
The former Roma man has endured significant spells on the sidelines since the 2023-24 campaign.
Recurring hamstring problems have forced the South American to miss more than 50 matches across the last three seasons.
Juventus are keen to secure his signature despite their recent failure to qualify for the Champions League.
The Turin giants missed out on Europe’s premier club competition after a final-day 2-2 draw with local rivals Torino.
An Anfield exodus
Should the former £80m signing depart, he would be the third modern-day legend to leave Merseyside during this transfer window.
Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson both made their final appearances for the club during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford.
The Egyptian forward has reached an agreement to terminate his contract a year early to depart on a free transfer.
Meanwhile, Scottish full-back Robertson has agreed to join Tottenham Hotspur after his deal expired.
Goalkeeping regrets
Alisson’s potential departure could leave the Premier League champions questioning their recent transfer business.
The Reds sold Caoimhin Kelleher to Brentford last summer in a deal worth up to £18m to accommodate the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili.
However, the Georgian international has failed to match the impressive standards set by his Republic of Ireland predecessor.
Kelleher ironically produced a stunning stoppage-time save on Sunday to deny Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz a winning goal.
Former Greece and Olympiacos defender Paraskevas Antzas has died at the age of 49 following a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The debilitating condition is the most common form of motor neurone disease, progressively affecting motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
The former international earned 26 caps for his country and was a familiar presence in European competition throughout his career.
During a highly successful professional spell, the centre-back secured seven Super League titles and three Greek Cups across two stints in Piraeus.
A distinguished career in Piraeus
He initially joined the Greek giants from Xanthi in 1998, ushering in a dominant period of domestic success.
The defender surprisingly stepped away from football in 2003 for family reasons before returning to action with his hometown club Doxa Drama.
Despite featuring heavily in the qualifying campaign, he missed out on the squad that famously won the 2004 European Championship.
He later returned to Olympiacos in 2007, where he continued to compete in the Champions League and ultimately represented his nation at Euro 2008.
Tributes pour in for the defender
Olympiacos paid their respects to their former player in a heartfelt statement, acknowledging his profound impact on and off the pitch.
“Olympiacos FC, with a sense of sorrow, bids farewell to a great man and footballer, Paraskevas Antzas, who honoured the red and white jersey with passion, strength and dignity.”
The club added that his authoritative presence left a lasting impression on everyone who worked alongside him.
“We express our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. Let the soil that will cover it be light.”
He officially called time on his playing days in 2009 via an announcement on the club’s website.
Supporters have since taken to social media to share their condolences, describing the 49-year-old as one of the most underrated players in modern Greek football history.
Lionel Messi suffered a suspected thigh injury during Inter Miami’s record-breaking 6-4 victory against the Philadelphia Union on Sunday evening.
The Argentine captain immediately requested a substitution after clutching his left leg following a 70th-minute free-kick at Nu Stadium.
He walked directly down the tunnel towards the dressing room without assistance, raising concerns ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
Record-breaking goalfest
The alarming withdrawal overshadowed an extraordinary comeback from the home side in the highest-scoring first half in Major League Soccer history.
Philadelphia initially raced into a two-goal lead through Milan Iloski before Germán Berterame converted a cross from the former Barcelona forward.
Bruno Damiani quickly restored the visitors’ advantage following a deflection from goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
However, a breathtaking attacking display saw Luis Suárez score twice and Berterame add his second to flip the match entirely.
The frantic opening period concluded level at 4-4 when Iloski completed a first-half hat-trick from the penalty spot following a VAR review.
Suárez secures victory
Torrential rain slowed the tempo after the restart, but the veteran Uruguayan striker eventually completed his own hat-trick to seal the points.
Rodrigo De Paul added a late sixth for the hosts to tie the second-highest scoring regular-season match in league history.
World Cup fears
The dramatic triumph leaves the Florida franchise sitting second in the Eastern Conference on 31 points, trailing leaders Nashville by two points as the domestic campaign pauses.
Attention now turns to the fitness of the defending world champion, with Argentina scheduled to begin their group stage campaign against Algeria on 16 June.
The national team has yet to announce its final tournament squad, though the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was fully expected to lead his country.
Manager Antonio Conte has confirmed his departure from Napoli this summer, stepping down just 12 months after guiding the club to the Serie A title.
The former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss delivered a historic fourth top-flight championship during his debut campaign in 2024.
However, the Italian tactician could only manage a second-place finish this season, ending up 11 points behind champions Inter Milan.
The Campania-based outfit also suffered early disappointment in Europe, failing to progress past the Champions League group stages.
A mutual farewell following domestic struggles
The decorated coach announced his exit during a joint press conference alongside club president Aurelio de Laurentiis following Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Udinese.
It’s been an honour, really special to coach Napoli. It’s been two great seasons, an exceptional experience.
It was my decision, I told the chairman a few weeks ago. Napoli will always be home.
He had appeared close to walking away last summer before De Laurentiis convinced him to remain for another demanding season.
Title defence derailed by injuries
Despite bolstering their squad with high-profile signings like Kevin de Bruyne and Rasmus Hojlund, the team’s domestic campaign was severely hampered by persistent fitness problems.
Inconsistent league form ultimately proved fatal to their hopes of retaining the scudetto against a dominant Inter side.
When questioned about potentially taking over the Italian national team, the departing manager offered a rather surprising suggestion.
My advice would be to hire Pep Guardiola.
Cesc Fabregas has navigated Como into the Champions League on a dramatic final day in Serie A, while AC Milan and Juventus dropped into the Europa League.
The Italian top flight witnessed an extraordinary conclusion as the newly-promoted side secured European football’s ultimate prize.
A commanding 4-1 victory over Cremonese guaranteed top-tier continental action for the Lombardy outfit next season.
The fixture descended into chaos in the 72nd minute when Cremonese received three red cards, including two dismissals from the substitutes’ bench.
That heavy defeat ultimately confirmed relegation for the visitors, with Lecce winning their respective fixture to secure top-flight survival.
AC Milan and Pulisic suffer heartbreak
AC Milan needed a straightforward victory against bottom-half Cagliari to retain their top-four status.
However, the Rossoneri suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat, condemning United States international Christian Pulisic and his teammates to Europe’s second-tier competition.
Roma capitalized on that spectacular collapse, beating Hellas Verona to leapfrog the seven-time European champions into the final qualification spots.
Crowd trouble mars Turin derby
Elsewhere, the fiercely contested derby between Juventus and Torino was delayed by approximately an hour following serious clashes outside the stadium.
One supporter sustained severe injuries during the violent exchanges and remains in hospital, though their condition is not believed to be life-threatening.
Juventus ultras initially demanded the match be postponed in a show of public solidarity for the injured fan.
The organized supporter groups threatened a pitch invasion if proceedings went ahead, ultimately choosing to abandon the stadium entirely before kick-off.
Despite holding a lead against their city rivals, the Bianconeri will also have to settle for Thursday night football next term.
Victories for both Como and Roma ensured the Turin heavyweights could finish no higher than fifth in the final league standings.
Arsenal are close to agreeing a new long-term contract with defender Jurrien Timber as Mikel Arteta looks to secure the core of his Premier League-winning squad.
Talks are progressing well between the north London club and the 24-year-old over fresh terms.
The Dutchman’s current deal runs until 2028, but the Gunners hierarchy are keen to avoid any future standoffs by tying down the influential right-back.
Vital component of Arteta’s defence
Since arriving from Ajax for an initial £34m fee in 2023, the versatile defender has established himself as a critical asset at Emirates Stadium.
Despite his debut campaign being heavily disrupted by a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury, he has gone on to make 94 appearances for the club.
The former Eredivisie star has contributed six goals and 11 assists, providing a crucial balance of defensive resilience and attacking threat down the right flank.
High praise from team-mates
His impressive partnership with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard has created a formidable attacking triangle that opposition sides struggle to contain.
His recent absence in the latter half of the campaign has highlighted his importance to the team’s overall defensive structure.
“He is so, so good. One against one, it is impossible to beat him, and offensively, he is so good,” William Saliba told CBS Sports when asked if his team-mate was the best right-back in world football.
“I hope he will keep going like this, and he is a top, top player. He is one or two, for sure!”