Sheffield Wednesday are on the brink of becoming the first team in English Football League history to be relegated in February following a tumultuous campaign of financial crisis.

The Owls could see their fate sealed as early as Sunday, barring a highly unlikely sequence of results elsewhere and in their own fixtures.

The foundations for this decline were laid last summer during the chaotic final months of Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership.

Missed wage payments led to a mass exodus of the senior squad and the departure of manager Danny Rohl, before the club was placed into administration in October.

Permutations for the drop

Two separate penalties totalling 18 points have left the Hillsborough club rooted to the bottom of the table.

Currently sitting on -7 points, the South Yorkshire side will be relegated before they even play on Sunday if Blackburn Rovers avoid defeat and West Bromwich Albion secure a victory on Saturday.

Should results elsewhere fall in their favour, Wednesday must then defeat bitter rivals Sheffield United at Bramall Lane to delay the inevitable.

Winning a Steel City derby away from home represents a significant challenge for a team that has lost nine consecutive Championship matches.

The struggling outfit have secured only one league win all season – against Portsmouth in September – and have failed to score in their last six meetings with the Blades.

Pedersen calls for fight

Despite a preferred bidder being selected in December, the club remains in administration and under strict operating restrictions.

Manager Henrik Pedersen admits the situation is dire but has urged his threadbare squad to show resilience for the supporters.

“We will do everything to bring a top, top performance to compete with them,” Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield.

“Of course, we know it will happen some day. Nobody understands what this group has been through in the past many months.”

“I have a group with a big belief and big motivation, and a group of senior players who are ready to do everything for our fans and stand up and perform.”

The 18-point penalty imposed on Wednesday is the third-highest deduction in a single Football League season, ranking alongside historic sanctions against Derby County and Luton Town.

Napoli are sweating on the fitness of midfielder Scott McTominay ahead of Sunday’s crucial Serie A trip to Atalanta, which is being shown live on the BBC.

The defending champions travel to Bergamo trailing leaders Inter Milan by 11 points in the table.

Antonio Conte’s side are also four points adrift of AC Milan and desperate to close the gap at the top.

Coverage of the match begins at 13:50 GMT on BBC Alba, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Kick-off at the Gewiss Stadium is scheduled for 14:00 GMT.

Injury concerns for Conte

McTominay has missed the last two matches with a troublesome tendon issue.

The Scotland international sat out the recent penalty shootout defeat to Como in the Coppa Italia.

His absence was also felt during Sunday’s 2-2 draw at home to fourth-placed Roma.

Napoli have failed to win any of the three fixtures the influential midfielder has missed this campaign, losing two of them.

“I still don’t know if I’ll play on Sunday,” McTominay told Corriere dello Sport.

“I have a tendon problem that needs to be managed; it’s not easy.”

“I’m giving it my all to be there. As a player, it’s tough to get to the training centre and not be able to train with your team-mates.”

“I desperately want to play, but you have to be sure of my condition.”

Gilmour returns to the fold

While McTominay remains a doubt, fellow countryman Billy Gilmour is back in contention.

The former Brighton midfielder had been sidelined since picking up an injury against Como in November.

However, Gilmour made his return as a 78th-minute substitute against Roma last weekend.

Commitment to Naples

McTominay’s exceptional form since his 2024 move from Manchester United has sparked rumours of a Premier League return.

The 29-year-old was last season’s Serie A Player of the Year and a Ballon d’Or nominee.

Despite links to Tottenham Hotspur and his former club, the midfielder has moved to shut down speculation.

“My agent hasn’t told me anything about my future. He only talks to the club and me,” he said.

“I’m extremely happy here, I’m a Napoli player and it’s all I’m thinking about. I could see myself here for a long time.”

“I love this place. Difficulties have been minimal, my family is happy and I’m happy.”

The club are reportedly keen to extend the contract of a player who has contributed 23 goals and 10 assists in 70 appearances.

McTominay credits head coach Conte for his tactical evolution in Italy.

“At Napoli, I’ve grown both from a tactical point of view and a physical one,” he added.

“Tactically, Italy is different from the Premier League. I had to adapt and learn very quickly how to play.”

Chelsea have finally secured a front-of-shirt sponsor for the remainder of the 2025-26 season after agreeing a multi-year deal with Swedish industrial AI firm IFS.

The new branding is set to debut on the club’s kits this weekend during the men’s match against Burnley on Saturday.

It will also feature during the women’s fixture against Manchester United on Sunday.

End to sponsorship saga

Enzo Maresca’s side have played without a principal partner for more than half of the current campaign following a protracted search for a suitable commercial agreement.

This is not the first instance of the west London club competing without a lead sponsor under the tenure of the BlueCo ownership group.

Delays in finalising the agreement were reportedly due to the hierarchy’s desire to ensure the financial terms met the club’s specific valuations.

Corporate leadership at Stamford Bridge had faced external scrutiny regarding the length of time taken to secure this essential revenue stream.

Focus on AI innovation

Founded in Sweden in 1983, IFS employs over 7,000 people and describes itself as a world-leading provider of industrial artificial intelligence.

The company already holds sponsorship deals with the Cadillac Formula One team and the Sri Lanka national cricket side.

Chelsea stated that the partnership signals an intent to place "advanced AI at the heart of football performance, operational excellence and fan engagement".

Mark Moffat, chief executive of the Stockholm-based firm, suggested the two organisations share an "uncompromising standard" of performance.

"We’re proud to be their principal partner," Moffat said.

The agreement aims to utilise software agents to drive precision across club operations and enhance performance metrics.

Premier League referees have reportedly lost confidence in the new semi-automated offside system following a significant technical failure during Manchester City’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle United.

Officials are concerned that the technology, introduced this season to expedite decision-making, is instead causing excessive stoppages in play.

The tipping point arrived at St James’ Park, where a disallowed goal for Pep Guardiola’s side resulted in a delay of more than five minutes.

System limitations exposed

The semi-automated offside technology (SAOT), operated by Genius Sports, reportedly struggles to track player order when the goalkeeper is not the last line of defence.

Complex phases of play involving multiple bodies in the penalty area have also caused the system to falter.

During the incident on Tyneside, the software failed to recognise that Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope was not the final defender.

Video Assistant Referee Stuart Attwell was subsequently forced to abandon the advanced system and revert to the back-up Hawk-Eye method.

This required the manual drawing of lines on the screen to determine if Erling Haaland had sought to gain an advantage from an offside position.

Guardiola demands explanation

The lengthy administrative pause frustrated those in the technical area, with the Manchester City manager expecting a personal apology from PGMOL chief Howard Webb.

“I’m pretty sure Howard Webb is going to call me tomorrow to take explanations for that,” Guardiola stated.

“Today was more than six minutes [reviewing] and we’re not even able to discuss it with the referee. But they will call me.”

The Genius Sports system relies on a network of iPhones installed in stadiums to capture 100 frames per second, operating independently of broadcast feeds.

Upon its introduction, the Premier League stated that the innovation would “significantly decrease” delays in reaching verdicts.

Officials fear backlash

Concerns regarding the reliability of the software were raised during a weekly training meeting for Select Group 1 referees.

There is a growing feeling among officials that they are unfairly receiving the blame from supporters for technical shortcomings beyond their control.

While the contract with the provider was agreed by the Premier League, it is the match officials at the Stockley Park hub who face the immediate pressure when the system fails.

Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer Neymar says he may retire at the end of the year but remains determined to fight for a place in the World Cup squad.

The 34-year-old returned to his boyhood club Santos in January 2025 and recently extended his contract until the end of 2026.

However, the former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward has been plagued by injuries and only returned to action last week following knee surgery in December.

Uncertain future for Brazil record holder

Neymar, whose £200m move to the French capital in 2017 remains the world record transfer fee, admitted his long-term future in the sport is in doubt.

Speaking to Brazilian online channel Caze, the striker suggested his decision will depend on how he feels physically when the season concludes.

“I don’t know what will happen from now on, I don’t know about next year,” Neymar said.

“It may be that when December comes, I’ll want to retire. I’m living year to year now.”

The challenge of the World Cup

Despite his retirement admission, the Santos forward is desperate to feature for his country at the World Cup this summer.

Neymar is Brazil’s highest-ever scorer with 79 goals, having surpassed the total set by the legendary Pele.

However, he has not played for the national team since October 2023 and faces a difficult task to regain his spot.

He acknowledged that forcing his way into manager Carlo Ancelotti’s plans will be a “huge challenge” given his recent lack of game time.

“This year is a very important year, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, as it’s a World Cup year, and for me too,” he added.

The forward’s preparations were disrupted after he missed the start of the Brazilian domestic season in January due to his rehabilitation.

Arsenal have maintained constant contact regarding a potential deal for Bayern Munich teenager Lennart Karl as they explore options to strengthen their squad for next season.

The Gunners currently sit five points clear at the Premier League summit and remain in contention for three major cup competitions.

Despite this on-pitch success, manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly prioritising future recruitment to ensure sustained dominance.

Gunners tracking European talent

Karl, who turns 18 this weekend, has emerged as a significant transfer target after impressing throughout the current campaign.

The forward scored against the North London club in the Champions League earlier this season and has drawn comparisons to established international stars.

Reports suggest Arsenal have been in regular dialogue with the player’s representatives and the German club regarding a potential switch from the Allianz Arena.

Bayern determined to retain starlet

Bayern are understood to be desperate to retain the services of the youngster, viewing him as integral to their long-term project.

The Bundesliga giants are preparing a fresh four-year contract offer to reflect his growing status within the squad hierarchy.

Although the player has previously hinted at an interest in Real Madrid, he is currently believed to see his immediate future in Munich.

Profile of a rising talent

Karl recently became the youngest player to score in three consecutive Champions League games, underlining his potential at the elite level.

His technical style involves drifting between defensive lines and driving at opponents, drawing comparisons to team-mate Jamal Musiala.

While Arsenal remain keen on the attacker, a transfer appears unlikely in the short term as Bayern look to secure his future.

Barcelona presidential candidate Xavier Vilajoana has claimed he has already made contact regarding a potential transfer for England captain Harry Kane.

Vilajoana is one of four confirmed candidates standing in next month’s election at the Nou Camp.

He is competing against current president Joan Laporta for the top job with the La Liga giants.

The presidential hopeful has identified the Bayern Munich forward as his primary transfer target should he be successful.

Vilajoana outlines vision for new striker

Vilajoana has stated his intention to recruit a “killer” in front of goal to bolster the Catalan side’s attack.

He believes the team requires a focal point who can also contribute to build-up play.

“What we’re missing is a striker,” Vilajoana told ESPN.

“A centre forward who is capable of linking up play, but who is also a killer in the box.”

The candidate also highlighted the need for an experienced central defender to balance the squad’s youthful elements.

England captain identified as perfect fit

Vilajoana went on to admit that specific overtures had been made regarding the former Tottenham talisman.

He confirmed that Kane is the player he believes would perfectly suit their tactical requirements.

“There is one. In fact, we’ve already made some contact, and I think he’s a player who would be a great fit, pending his contractual situation: it’s Harry Kane,” he said.

“Kane is a centre forward who would fit in perfectly with our style of play.”

“He is a striker who is capable of dropping back to link up with his teammates. He is also capable of playing as a pure No.9, a killer, a finisher.”

Release clause and tactical suitability

Reports suggest the 30-year-old has a release clause in his Bayern Munich contract worth approximately £56m which becomes active this summer.

Vilajoana emphasized the tactical versatility the Bundesliga record-breaker would bring to Spain.

“He is a player who brings mobility. He also performs well when teams sit deep. He would add a lot of value to Barcelona’s game,” Vilajoana added.

The candidate also suggested the England international would be open to a move to Catalonia.

“I also know that he likes Barcelona,” he continued.

“In fact, there are very few players who don’t like Barcelona. So it’s a matter of talking about it, obviously.”

The Gunners secured their place in the last eight with a comprehensive 7-1 aggregate victory over OH Leuven.

They join Manchester United, Real Madrid and Wolfsburg in progressing from the play-off round.

Those four sides link up with the already qualified seeded teams of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Lyon.

Domestic rivals collide on European stage

The draw guarantees that at least one English side will progress to the semi-finals of Europe’s premier club competition.

While Chelsea currently hold a four-point lead over their London rivals in the WSL table, recent form suggests a tightly contested affair.

Sonia Bompastor’s side have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, managing only a draw and a loss in their last two domestic meetings with the North London club.

Analysis suggests the Blues may prioritize European success as their domestic dominance comes under threat.

With the Women’s Super League on the line and the risk of ending the season without the two biggest trophies available to them, I wouldn’t bet against Chelsea.

I can absolutely see Chelsea throwing everything at these quarterfinals in a bid to make this season a success.

Emily Keogh, Football Analyst

Momentum with the Gunners

Despite Chelsea’s league position, Arsenal’s recent head-to-head record provides them with a psychological advantage.

The Gunners dominated the most recent meeting at Stamford Bridge in January.

Defensive frailty remains a concern for the West London side as they head into the business end of the campaign.

It’s Chelsea’s up-and-down season that makes Arsenal favourites for me.

Bompastor’s side have struggled with incisiveness in the final third and decisive actions in defence.

Yash Thakur, Football Writer

Real Madrid face daunting Barcelona test

Elsewhere in the draw, Real Madrid have booked their spot in the quarter-finals but face the imposing prospect of challenging holders Barcelona.

The Catalan giants have established a dynasty in women’s football, dominating domestic and European competitions.

Real Madrid’s progression is a positive step, but overturning the hierarchy in Spain remains a significant hurdle.

Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything about this Real Madrid team… which will scare Barcelona.

This Barça team have won it all, over and over again, and they have also beaten Madrid time and time again.

Alex Kirkland, Spanish Football Expert