Aston Villa have emerged as the frontrunners to sign right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka from relegated West Ham United as Unai Emery looks to bolster his squad for the Champions League.

The 28-year-old is eager to leave the East London club this summer to maintain his Premier League status.

Arsenal and Everton had previously shown interest in the experienced full-back, but both clubs have since cooled their pursuits.

Rebuild underway at Villa Park

Manager Unai Emery is currently overhauling his defensive options ahead of a demanding European campaign.

The West Midlands outfit are reportedly close to signing Matteo Ruggeri from Atletico Madrid to replace Paris St-Germain-bound Lucas Digne.

Securing a deal for the DR Congo international would provide crucial competition for established first-choice right-back Matty Cash.

While the Polish defender remains highly rated, the congested fixture schedule will require reliable cover beyond 20-year-old deputy Kosta Nedeljkovic.

West Ham exodus continues

Following their unexpected drop into the Championship, the Hammers have found themselves vulnerable to offers for their prized assets.

Mateus Fernandes has already departed for Tottenham, while Crysencio Summerville recently completed a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League.

The club were, however, handed a significant boost when Jarrod Bowen signed a new long-term contract to stay at the London Stadium.

With West Ham possessing little leverage in negotiations due to the player’s desire to leave, the former Manchester United man could be available for a cut-price fee.

Elite defensive cover

The Congolese full-back is highly regarded for his ability to isolate and shut down opposing wingers.

He is solid and one of the best one-against-one defensive full-backs in the world.

His defensive solidity would offer Villa a distinct tactical alternative to the forward-thinking Cash in tight matches.

Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has joined Chelsea on a two-year deal following a free transfer from Brentford to provide midfield experience at Stamford Bridge.

The 36-year-old arrives in west London as manager Xabi Alonso looks to inject seasoned leadership into the youngest squad in the Premier League.

He will earn a reported £75,000 per week during his stay at the club, tying him to the Blues beyond his 38th birthday.

This represents a significant financial shift from his peak at Anfield, where the England international concluded his 12-year spell on a £200,000-a-week contract before departing for the Saudi Pro League in 2023.

Financial hierarchy at Stamford Bridge

Despite bringing hundreds of top-flight appearances, the veteran midfielder will not be among the top earners under Alonso.

His new salary places him above recent arrivals like Estevao and Robert Sanchez, but leaves him trailing far behind the core midfield options.

Chelsea’s current highest earners command significant weekly wages:

If Fernandez completes a rumoured transfer to Manchester City, the resulting wage shift could open up more regular playing time for the new arrival.

A familiar leadership role

The former Sunderland academy graduate is expected to provide valuable cover rather than consistently displacing the likes of Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.

He joins former international team-mate Danny Welbeck in offering vital guidance to a developing dressing room.

Having lifted both the Champions League in 2019 and the domestic title a year later, the experienced playmaker brings a proven winning mentality to the capital.

His steadying influence was recently relied upon by the national team during their 2026 World Cup campaign, underscoring his enduring value at the highest level.

South American football leaders have expressed deep frustration after Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay were allocated just one match each for the 2030 centenary World Cup.

The historic tournament will predominantly be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco across Europe and North Africa.

However, the decision to award the continent a mere trio of opening fixtures has been received with widespread disappointment.

Organisers have been accused of offering a token gesture to acknowledge the region’s immense contribution to the global game.

Centenary celebrations overshadowed

Uruguay’s iconic Centenario Stadium in Montevideo will host the opening fixture of the 2030 competition.

The historic venue was originally built to stage the inaugural edition of the global showpiece a century earlier.

Argentina will also welcome international football’s premier event for the first time since lifting the trophy on home soil in 1978.

Meanwhile, Paraguay is preparing to host a World Cup fixture for the very first time in the nation’s history.

Financial and political concerns

Upgrading vital stadium infrastructure for a single 90-minute fixture presents a significant financial hurdle for the South American confederation, CONMEBOL.

Regional officials reportedly discussed proposing an expanded 64-team tournament to secure a larger share of the hosting rights.

The current 48-team format allows six of the 10 continental sides to qualify automatically, preserving a highly lucrative marathon qualification process.

Furthermore, this unusual intercontinental arrangement conveniently paves the way for Saudi Arabia to launch a bid for the 2034 edition.

By incorporating South America, Africa and Europe in 2030, global governing body FIFA has effectively cleared the path for an Asian host four years later.

Chelsea have placed a £50m valuation on striker Liam Delap as they look to trim their squad following a difficult debut season at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are prepared to offload the 23-year-old just a year after activating his £30m release clause to bring him from Ipswich Town.

Nottingham Forest and Everton are among the Premier League clubs closely monitoring the availability of the English forward.

Delap endured a highly frustrating campaign in west London, registering a mere two goals across all competitions as his side missed out on European qualification and lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City.

Alonso plans Stamford Bridge overhaul

The former Ipswich prospect has subsequently failed to impress manager Xabi Alonso during recent pre-season fixtures.

Consequently, the attacker joins a growing list of senior players deemed surplus to requirements ahead of the September 1 transfer deadline.

The Stamford Bridge hierarchy are also actively exploring potential loan or permanent departures for fellow forwards Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu.

Defensive departures expected

Beyond the attacking department, Chelsea are currently negotiating the exits of established centre-backs Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi.

Portuguese giants Benfica are reportedly showing significant interest in securing the services of defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

Decisions remain pending regarding the immediate futures of promising defensive prospects Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino.

While Sarr has been heavily linked with a domestic loan move, Anselmino may now be forced to stay put after suffering a suspected hamstring injury during the final match of the club’s pre-season tour.

Aston Villa are nearing an agreement to sign Atletico Madrid defender Matteo Ruggeri as they look to replace the recently departed Lucas Digne.

A deal for the 24-year-old left-back is progressing rapidly, and he is expected to arrive at Villa Park after just a single season in the Spanish capital.

The Midlands club have been actively looking to revamp their defensive options this summer with an emphasis on adding greater physicality.

Super Cup reunion looms against Paris St-Germain

The incoming defender will step in to fill the void left by Digne, who completed an £8.5m return to Paris St-Germain on Sunday.

In a twist of fate, the French full-back could immediately face his former employers when Villa meet PSG in Wednesday’s Super Cup clash in Salzburg.

Manager Unai Emery is desperate to lift his first Super Cup trophy, having suffered defeat in his three previous appearances in the final.

With the Italian transfer target yet to finalise his move, Ian Maatsen is currently slated to start at the Red Bull Arena in Austria.

European pedigree and international ambitions

The highly-rated full-back established himself as a key figure under Diego Simeone last term, making 47 appearances across all competitions.

During that campaign, his side secured a fourth-place finish in La Liga but suffered heartbreak in the Copa del Rey final after losing on penalties to Real Sociedad.

Prior to his stint in Spain, the defender lifted the Europa League with Atalanta in 2024 and earned a well-deserved spot in the competition’s team of the season.

His impressive continental performances led to a first senior call-up for the Azzurri in March 2025, although he remains uncapped at the international level.

Villa had previously shown interest in AC Milan’s Pervis Estupinan, a player Emery managed at Villarreal, before ultimately settling on the promising talent.

Lionel Messi has hinted he could soon retire from football following the death of his father and long-term agent, Jorge, who passed away aged 68 in Argentina last week.

Jorge Messi died in a hospital in the family’s hometown of Rosario following a long illness.

The 68-year-old had represented the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner as his agent since the forward was just 14 years old.

In a heartfelt public statement, the Argentina captain admitted his father’s passing has left him with serious doubts regarding his playing future.

World Cup regrets and retirement doubts

The former Barcelona star revealed his father fell ill shortly before the World Cup but insisted his son participate in the tournament.

“I just played soccer and now I have a lot of doubts that I’ll keep doing it for a long time more.”

The legendary playmaker explained that he does not know how to go on without the man who guided his entire professional journey.

“You were by my side from the beginning, so close to the end. Why didn’t you hold on a little longer and we could have finished together?”

A lifelong bond on and off the pitch

Jorge was a constant presence throughout the forward’s illustrious career, handling complex contract negotiations while remaining a close confidant.

The current Inter Miami star reflected on their unique dynamic, describing his father as a parent, friend, and representative who never made a mistake.

“Obviously, you didn’t miss any of the games. How you suffered seeing me and how you enjoyed it, even though you never gave me many compliments.”

The veteran attacker concluded his tribute by promising to educate his own children using the exact same values his father instilled in him.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino is reportedly prepared to support expanding the World Cup to 64 teams to secure his future following major institutional backlash.

The Swiss administrator currently faces intense scrutiny regarding his leadership of global football’s governing body.

Recent proposals to sell shares of major international tournaments to private investors were shelved following widespread outrage.

European governing body Uefa even threatened to boycott future competitions if the controversial private investment scheme remained under consideration.

South American backing

In an effort to consolidate his power base, the former Uefa general secretary is now looking toward South America for political support.

Regional confederation Conmebol originally proposed the massive 64-team expansion for the centenary tournament in 2030.

The upcoming 2026 competition in North America has already grown from 32 to 48 participating nations.

Reports indicate that preliminary discussions regarding this further enlargement occurred during a recent diplomatic visit to Colombia.

The 2030 centenary tournament

The 2030 iteration of the global spectacle is already set to be an unprecedented logistical challenge spread across three continents.

Spain, Portugal and Morocco will serve as the primary host nations for the month-long event.

However, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay are also scheduled to stage one celebratory match each to commemorate the tournament’s 100th anniversary.

Adding an additional 16 teams to this sprawling geographical arrangement would drastically alter the infrastructure requirements for all host nations.

High-profile political support

Despite facing intense pressure from European football authorities, the current administration retains notable allies outside the sport.

Former United States president Donald Trump publicly defended the embattled executive on social media this week.

Fifa would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino.
He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented.

Trump further insisted that removing the incumbent leader would permanently damage the profitability of future international tournaments.

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has personally contacted Arsenal to explain his decision to sign a new contract in Spain rather than move to London.

The Gunners had identified the 26-year-old as a primary transfer target this summer following encouragement from his representatives.

Arsenal’s hierarchy were fully prepared to make a significant financial investment had an extension in the Spanish capital failed to materialise.

Late optimism in London

Reports indicate that the Premier League side remained highly optimistic about securing a landmark deal until the final hours of negotiations.

Their confidence was bolstered by positive discussions with the player, during which the London club outlined how he would become the focal point of their team.

The prolific attacker was reportedly attracted to the ambitious project presented by manager Mikel Arteta and the club’s ownership.

The Brazilian international was entering the final stages of a previous deal worth €17.5m annually, prompting intense speculation over his long-term future.

Lucrative new terms agreed

An agreement between the superstar forward and his current employers was ultimately reached last week to end the transfer saga.

Spanish sources suggest a compromise salary of around €25m a year has been settled upon, reflecting his elite status within the squad.

The initial demands from the player’s camp reportedly centred around a €30m annual wage alongside an improvement in lucrative image rights.

A classy final touch

Despite the disappointment for the English club, contact between the two parties did not abruptly end following the finalised agreement.

The Madrid star took the time to reach out to Arsenal officials directly to confirm and explain his final choice.

He expressed gratitude for their extensive efforts, explaining that his deep affection for Madrid and their renewed financial commitment ultimately drove his decision.

This willingness to engage so deeply with another team demonstrates how genuinely open the highly-rated winger was to experiencing a new chapter in English football.