Former England and Chelsea captain John Terry is part of an investment consortium holding detailed discussions to buy League Two side Colchester United.
Search for new ownership
The Essex-based club publicly acknowledged on Monday that negotiations are underway with unnamed investors.
However, it is understood that the five-time Premier League winner is heavily involved in the prospective buyout group.
Owner Robbie Cowling originally put the club on the market last year as he sought a long-term steward to drive future growth.
The U’s are currently enduring their longest spell without promotion after spending 10 consecutive seasons in the fourth tier.
Previous takeover failures
Two previous deals have already collapsed during this uncertain period.
One involved an American investment vehicle, while another featured a group including former AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato.
The prospective new boardroom figure has courted significant controversy throughout his career, including a ban for racist abuse and being stripped of the national captaincy.
Despite these past incidents, supporters are increasingly desperate for a formal resolution before the summer transfer window opens.
Fan reaction and future roles
“It might work in our favour in respect to player recruitment and things like that, because of his standing in the game.”Glen Worrell, Colchester United Supporters Association secretary
Worrell suggested the former defender could serve as a valuable figurehead or director of football.
He added that having such a high-profile name associated with the project could easily attract further investment to the team.
The 43-year-old has actively sought a prominent frontline role in the sport since retiring from professional play in 2018.
He previously served as an assistant manager under Dean Smith at Aston Villa before departing that position in 2021.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has confirmed the club must sell players to fund summer arrivals following a trophyless campaign and the impending departures of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.
The Merseyside outfit are bracing for a period of significant transition after failing to defend their Premier League title.
A massive £450m recruitment drive last summer yielded disappointing results, leaving the side fifth in the table and battling just to qualify for European football.
Now, the Dutch tactician has admitted his squad requires further reinforcements but stressed that financial realities dictate their approach.
Balancing the books after record spending
The Reds smashed the British transfer record to secure Alexander Isak for £125m last year, alongside a £116m move for Florian Wirtz.
However, an 18-point gap to league leaders Arsenal and a recent Champions League elimination against Paris Saint-Germain have highlighted deep-rooted flaws.
Speaking after that 4-0 aggregate defeat to the French champions, the under-fire manager outlined the stark reality of the upcoming transfer window.
“Much has been said that the club is in a transition,” Slot explained.
“The club has sold eight to 10 players to make money to sign five or so very talented players.”
“We have to sell to buy, and we are losing some players on a free transfer.”
High-profile Anfield departures
The rebuilding task is complicated by the loss of two monumental figures who have anchored the team for nearly a decade.
Salah will depart on a free transfer despite agreeing a new two-year extension with the club only last April.
Meanwhile, left-back Robertson confirmed his own exit last week ahead of his contract expiring in June.
The Scotland captain is reportedly in advanced talks to join Tottenham, provided the North London club secure their top-flight status this season.
Focus shifts to Premier League salvage job
With domestic cups already lost to Manchester City and Crystal Palace, ending the season strongly in the league remains the sole priority.
Efforts to secure a top-six finish will be hindered by an Achilles injury sustained by recent attacking recruit Hugo Ekitike against PSG.
There is a boost in attack, however, with record signing Isak returning to fitness and ready to contribute.
Despite the mounting pressure and a depleted squad, the head coach insists brighter days are ahead for the Anfield faithful.
“As I said many times, the future looks very good, especially if we can sign players after good players leaving this summer,” he concluded.
Tottenham Hotspur are holding intense negotiations to appoint former Borussia Dortmund executive Sebastian Kehl as their new sporting director amid a precarious Premier League relegation battle.
The north London club are actively seeking a boardroom replacement for Fabio Paratici, who departed for Italian side Fiorentina following the January transfer window.
Paratici had previously operated as co-sporting director alongside Johan Lange during a brief three-and-a-half-month stint.
German publication Bild reports that Spurs have now identified the 46-year-old Kehl as their primary target for the vacant hierarchy role.
Kehl brings extensive Dortmund pedigree
The former defensive midfielder boasts a rich history in Germany, having won three Bundesliga titles during a 13-year playing career.
After retiring in 2015, the German international transitioned into football management, eventually stepping up to the top sporting director position in 2022.
During his boardroom tenure, he helped construct the squad that reached the 2023-24 Champions League final before falling to Real Madrid.
Despite heavy links to Bundesliga outfit Hamburg, a move to the Premier League now appears a distinct possibility for the sought-after executive.
De Zerbi faces mounting relegation fears
An appointment in the boardroom would arrive at a critical juncture for Tottenham, who currently sit 18th in the top-flight standings.
The Lilywhites find themselves two points adrift of safety with just six pivotal matches remaining to preserve their top-tier status.
New manager Roberto De Zerbi recently suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland during his managerial debut.
That frustrating result extended an alarming winless league sequence to 13 consecutive games for the struggling side.
Senesi targeted on free transfer
Despite the looming threat of the Championship, the club remains proactive in their squad planning for the upcoming campaign.
Reports from Argentina suggest the English side are strongly pushing to secure Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi on a free transfer.
The 28-year-old centre-back will be out of contract in June and has attracted significant interest across the English top flight.
Since arriving from Feyenoord in 2022, the South American has established himself as a vital component for the Cherries, registering 122 appearances.
Vincent Kompany is transforming Bayern Munich with a fearless tactical philosophy, pushing the German champions towards another Bundesliga title and Champions League success.
The former Manchester City captain raised eyebrows when he was appointed manager in May 2024 following Burnley’s relegation to the Championship.
However, the surprise move has proven to be a masterstroke for the Bavarian giants.
They currently sit 12 points clear at the Bundesliga summit as they look to retain their domestic crown.
Attention now turns to Europe, where the Munich outfit hold a 2-1 advantage over Real Madrid ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg.
A fearless approach to modern tactics
While many top European sides are adopting cautious attacking setups against man-to-man defensive systems, the 38-year-old manager is fully embracing risk.
His fluid system involves all 11 players and encourages continuous positional rotation right from the backline.
This devastating flexibility was evident in their 10-2 aggregate demolition of Atalanta during the last 16 of the tournament.
Attacking midfielder Serge Gnabry frequently dropped into deep defensive areas, dragging his marker out of position and creating vast spaces for team-mates to exploit.
Earning praise from elite peers
Such innovative movement has not gone unnoticed by the wider footballing community.
“They showed us a whole encyclopedia of movement and positioning in football.”
That was the glowing assessment from Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti following the recent tactical masterclass.
Against Real Madrid in the first leg, holding midfielder Joshua Kimmich dropped deep to form a back three, easily bypassing the pressing duo of Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe.
Inverted full-backs Josip Stanisic and Konrad Laimer then drew opposition midfielders infield, opening direct passing lanes to winger Michael Olise.
The talented forward was repeatedly able to receive the ball under minimal pressure and drive directly at the heart of the Spanish defence.
Life after Pep Guardiola?
The Belgian tactician’s overwhelming success in Germany is inevitably fuelling speculation regarding his future.
With lingering uncertainty surrounding Pep Guardiola’s long-term tenure at Etihad Stadium, the former centre-back is emerging as a natural successor.
For now, the sole focus remains firmly on securing a historic domestic and European double for his current employers.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot faces intense pressure over his future after Paris St-Germain secured a 4-0 aggregate victory to eliminate the Reds from the Champions League quarter-finals.
The reigning European champions recorded a 2-0 win at Anfield to complete a comprehensive victory over their English opponents.
Ousmane Dembele scored both goals in the second leg, perfectly replicating the scoreline from the initial encounter in the French capital.
Struggles follow historic title win
The Merseyside club now have just six league fixtures remaining to salvage their turbulent 2025-26 campaign.
Securing elite European football for next season remains the sole objective for the Dutchman, who led the team to an incredible domestic title during his debut year.
Despite a summer transfer outlay exceeding £400m, the current manager has overseen a steep decline in overall form.
Poor record in crucial fixtures
A significant factor in this difficult season has been an ongoing inability to perform against high-calibre opposition.
Aside from early victories over Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, the six-time European champions have consistently faltered on the biggest stages.
Domestic defeats to Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City have entirely derailed any hopes of retaining their Premier League crown.
They currently sit fifth in the table, a position that would secure top-tier European football next term due to the recent continental success of English clubs.
Managerial changes on the horizon?
A chasing pack featuring Chelsea, Everton and Brentford remain within four points of the faltering giants.
Failure to maintain their top-five status will likely force the club hierarchy to make a change in the dugout this summer.
Speculation is already mounting regarding potential successors, with former midfielder Xabi Alonso emerging as the clear favourite to take over.
Lauren Hemp scored inside three minutes as England secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Spain in their Women’s World Cup qualifier at Wembley.
The European champions were forced to diligently defend their slender advantage for almost the entire match against the reigning world champions.
Sarina Wiegman’s side previously defeated the same opposition to retain their European crown last summer, heavily relying on dramatic late comebacks.
However, this latest encounter required an entirely different approach as the hosts embraced the unique pressure of leading from the front.
Defensive resilience secures crucial points
A makeshift central defensive partnership of Lotte Wubben-Moy and Esme Morgan proved impenetrable under intense scrutiny.
Regular captain Leah Williamson missed the fixture through injury, while experienced option Jess Carter remained on the substitutes’ bench.
Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton also produced a magnificent late intervention to deny Edna Imade’s header and preserve the vital clean sheet.
“A crucial save.”
Sarina Wiegman
“They haven’t played that much together but they showed up today. They should be proud of themselves and I am too.”
Sarina Wiegman
Tactical shift frustrates world champions
The visitors severely lacked the creative ingenuity of Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who remains sidelined with a broken leg sustained in December.
Despite dominating possession and moving the ball laterally, the Spanish attack continually struggled to penetrate a resolute English rearguard.
The home side implemented a deliberate counter-attacking strategy, pressing high from goal-kicks before dropping deep once the halfway line was breached.
“Against Spain you need to defend as a team really well. When it’s hard you have to fight and communicate and stick together – we did that.”
Sarina Wiegman
This disciplined setup yielded a third consecutive win in the qualifying group, placing the Lionesses in a commanding position to reach the upcoming tournament.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg believes VAR made a clear error by overturning a penalty awarded to Liverpool during their Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield.
The Reds initially appeared to have earned a crucial opportunity to get back into the high-stakes European clash.
Alexis Mac Allister went down inside the penalty area following a challenge from Willian Pacho.
Italian referee Maurizio Mariani immediately pointed to the spot after the Argentine midfielder hit the turf.
Clear and obvious threshold
However, the on-field official was instructed by the Video Assistant Referee to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor, leading to the decision being reversed.
Clattenburg insisted that the original call should have stood because the threshold for a clear and obvious error was not met.
The former top-flight official argued that the contact on the foot of the 25-year-old playmaker, while arguably soft, was evident enough to justify the initial decision.
“If he hadn’t given it, I would accept the VAR not to interfere, but once the on-field decision was a penalty kick, I would expect it to be given.”
Mark Clattenburg
Pundits share disbelief
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer echoed the sentiments regarding the controversial intervention.
The ex-England captain praised the former Brighton player for intelligently positioning his body to protect the ball and invite the tackle from the Ecuadorian defender.
“Once he tries to get the ball and doesn’t, and does make contact with him, and the referee gives it, I’m really, really surprised he’s overturned that.”
Alan Shearer
The controversial ruling ultimately proved costly for the Premier League side as they sought to overcome the French champions on Merseyside.
Chelsea midfielder Keira Walsh earned her 100th senior cap for England Women during Tuesday’s 2027 World Cup qualifier against Spain at Wembley.
The 29-year-old becomes only the 15th player in history to reach a century of appearances for the Lionesses.
Despite achieving this prestigious milestone under the iconic Wembley arch, the national team orchestrator still has a considerable way to go to challenge the all-time appearance record.
Fara Williams holds all-time Lionesses record
Legendary midfielder Fara Williams currently stands alone at the summit, having represented her country a staggering 172 times across an 18-year international career.
The former Everton and Liverpool star featured in three separate global tournaments during her distinguished tenure in the national side.
She is closely followed in the historic rankings by fellow midfield dynamo Jill Scott, who retired with 161 international appearances.
They remain the only two female players in English football history to have surpassed the 150-cap threshold.
Lucy Bronze closes in on historic milestone
Among active squad members, veteran defender Lucy Bronze is the nearest challenger to the long-standing benchmark set by Williams.
The 34-year-old full-back made her 146th international appearance during the high-profile fixture against the reigning world champions.
Meanwhile, Manchester City defensive stalwart Alex Greenwood also sits securely within the centurion club, boasting 108 caps for her country.
Walsh will now look to build upon her own century as the squad continues its qualification campaign for the 2027 tournament.