Fulham have opened negotiations with former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa to replace outgoing manager Marco Silva ahead of the new Premier League season.
The Portuguese tactician has chosen to end his five-year tenure at Craven Cottage to take charge of Benfica.
This managerial vacancy arose after the Lisbon giants lost Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid, triggering a reshuffle of head coaches across Europe.
Real Madrid pedigree
The 43-year-old Spaniard recently concluded a stint as interim boss at the Santiago Bernabeu.
He stepped into the senior dugout midway through last season to succeed Xabi Alonso, who subsequently accepted the Chelsea job.
While the former full-back has emerged as a prime candidate for the west London club, sources indicate that discussions remain at an early stage.
Premier League experience
Arbeloa is no stranger to English football following playing spells with both Liverpool and West Ham United.
However, his entire coaching journey to date has been spent within the Spanish capital.
He successfully progressed through the youth ranks before earning his recent taste of first-team management.
The Cottagers, who secured a respectable 11th-placed finish in the top flight last term, are eager to ensure a smooth dugout transition.
Alternative targets explored
Prior to approaching the former Spanish international, the club hierarchy held preliminary discussions with Kieran McKenna.
A potential move for the highly-rated coach stalled over an £8m release clause in his contract at Ipswich Town.
He has since departed Portman Road entirely, announcing his intention to take a sabbatical to spend time with his family.
Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has come out of international retirement to start for Germany in their 2026 World Cup opener against Curacao following a shock recall by manager Julian Nagelsmann.
The 40-year-old initially stepped away from the national team following the conclusion of Euro 2024.
However, excellent club form persuaded the Bayern Munich stopper to make himself available for international selection once again.
The European nation head into this tournament desperate to improve upon consecutive group-stage eliminations at the previous two World Cups.
Baumann displaced by returning star
Oliver Baumann had established himself as the national team’s first-choice option during the recent absence of the 2014 world champion.
The displaced goalkeeper handled the demotion honestly, admitting the news was frustrating while maintaining his unwavering commitment to the squad.
A recent calf injury sustained by the returning legend allowed Baumann to impress during two recent warm-up fixtures.
Despite those strong performances, Nagelsmann confirmed his preferred veteran will line up between the posts against Curacao.
Support from former champions
Long-time teammate Thomas Muller publicly questioned the communication surrounding the controversial managerial decision.
However, the experienced forward conceded that recalling the former Schalke academy graduate made perfect sense from a sporting perspective.
The imposing keeper recently signed a club contract extension after shining in a Champions League semi-final against Paris St-Germain.
Benedikt Howedes, who lifted the world title alongside the legendary shot-stopper in Brazil 12 years ago, backed the selection entirely.
“I would say Manuel Neuer is still the best goalkeeper in the world, and of course still in Germany.”
Howedes stated that a player of such elite calibre simply has to feature for the national side if available.
The former defender also highlighted the immense psychological boost that the commanding presence provides to his defensive colleagues.
Video Assistant Referee protocols were incorrectly applied during the United States’ World Cup match against Paraguay when referee Danny Makkelie reversed a yellow card to punish a dive.
The Dutch official initially cautioned American captain Tim Ream for a foul early in the second half.
Spanish VAR Carlos del Cerro Grande intervened and sent the on-field referee to the pitchside monitor to review the incident.
Replays clearly showed that Paraguay forward Miguel Almiron had simulated contact to win a free-kick.
The initial booking was rescinded, and the South American attacker was shown a yellow card instead.
Right outcome, wrong application
Fans and pundits widely praised the apparent use of the tweaked ‘mistaken identity’ rule to penalise simulation.
Well-placed sources have since informed BBC Sport that this specific application breached International Football Association Board (Ifab) guidelines.
The regulations state that mistaken identity can only be used when an official clearly penalises the wrong player for a committed offence.
Current rules do not permit the video assistant to review the offence itself to determine if a dive occurred.
World governing body Fifa has yet to officially clarify the procedural error.
Pundits debate technological limits
The incident highlights ongoing confusion surrounding new regulations introduced for the expanded 2026 tournament.
Former England international Danny Murphy commended the on-field outcome despite the breach in protocol.
Good spot and the right decision I may add. Any adaptation of the rules that means diving gets punished is good.Danny Murphy
Ex-defender Phil Jagielka echoed these sentiments but questioned the practical limits of the current technology.
It’s hard for the referees to get every decision correct. If something like that does happen, where there’s obviously not been contact and it’s been simulated and the referee has fallen for it, why not reverse it?Phil Jagielka
The former Everton centre-back warned that marginal contact situations remain a significant grey area for match officials.
What happens if I touch you a tiny bit and then you dive? You can’t reverse it, because I’ve touched you, even though my touch hasn’t made you collapse.Phil Jagielka
The expanded competition continues with a relentless schedule of up to six matches per day.
Premier League champions Arsenal are preparing a €100m move to sign Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz this summer as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his squad.
The Gunners secured the domestic title last season and narrowly missed out on Champions League glory.
Manager Mikel Arteta has now identified the left-wing position as a crucial area for further reinforcement.
The Spanish coach reportedly considers the Turkish international to be his primary transfer target.
Gunners plan major investment
Securing the highly-rated attacker will require significant financial resources.
The 21-year-old recently signed a new lucrative contract with the Serie A giants, placing them in a strong negotiating position.
Reports suggest the North London club are willing to sanction a massive €100m bid to bring the forward to the Emirates Stadium.
Should the pursuit fail, Arsenal have reportedly identified Christos Tzolis as an alternative option.
Stellar season in Turin
The exciting talent enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in Italy, registering 11 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.
Those impressive performances helped to elevate the young attacker into a vital role for the Old Lady during a challenging domestic season.
His form has been highly praised by prominent figures within the Italian game.
“He’s an alien, not a normal footballer. Every now and then he does something wrong just to see if he can fit into normality, but he can’t.”
That glowing assessment from Luciano Spalletti highlights exactly why Europe’s elite clubs are circling.
International duty delays talks
Advanced negotiations remain on hold while the coveted attacker represents Türkiye at the World Cup.
The newly crowned English champions possess the financial capability to conclude the deal once the tournament ends.
Arteta is also closely monitoring the striker market amid growing speculation regarding Gabriel Jesus’ future at the club.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has seen his attempt to sell French club Nice collapse after an American consortium failed to meet financial guarantees.
The INEOS chairman had set a strict deadline of 15 June to offload the Ligue 1 outfit.
However, the prospective buyers were ultimately unable to provide the necessary assurances regarding sporting and financial stability.
The investor group had progressed as far as touring the training ground before the negotiations abruptly ended.
A turbulent spell on the French Riviera
Ratcliffe originally purchased the coastal side in 2019 but has noticeably stepped back since acquiring a minority stake at Old Trafford in late 2023.
The petrochemicals billionaire previously expressed severe dissatisfaction with the team’s performances.
I don’t particularly enjoy going to watch Nice because there are some good players, but the level of football is not high enough for me to get excited.
He had significantly reduced his asking price to push a deal over the line.
It now appears highly likely the club will remain under INEOS control heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
Managerial search and United transfers
On the pitch, the French side narrowly avoided relegation from the top flight on the final day of a disastrous season.
Former Leicester City manager Claude Puel took interim charge but is not expected to be offered the permanent role.
Approaches were made for Liam Rosenior following his brief stint at Chelsea, but the former Strasbourg boss intends to take a break from football.
Meanwhile, transfer preparations in Manchester are progressing positively under manager Michael Carrick.
The Premier League giants have reached an agreement to bring Atalanta midfielder Ederson to England following the World Cup.
Attention has now shifted to securing West Ham star Mateus Fernandes, with Arsenal dropping out of the race over an £80m valuation.
Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky has agreed a deal to purchase the Gold family’s shares and become the majority shareholder of West Ham United with an approximate 43% stake.
The major boardroom restructuring follows the sudden resignation of former joint-chair David Sullivan last week.
Sullivan stepped down from his roles as a director of WH Holding Limited and the club after being made aware of impending publications detailing serious historic allegations.
Focus shifts to stability and promotion
A joint statement issued by Vanessa Gold and Kretinsky outlined the immediate next steps for the East London club.
The 1890 Holdings group confirmed their primary objective is to stabilise the Hammers and provide vital additional financing.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to manager Nuno Espirito Santo as the team targets an immediate return to the Premier League.
Board reacts to historic allegations
The forthcoming share purchase transaction is expected to be finalised within the next couple of weeks.
Both parties have agreed to vote jointly on key matters to support the broader strategic vision for the football club.
Addressing the recent controversies surrounding Sullivan, the statement expressed deep concern over the revelations published by The Times and Panorama.
“Our thoughts go out to those women who have fought so hard to make their voices heard.” Vanessa Gold and Daniel Kretinsky
“Any abuse of power is abhorrent, and it takes great courage and determination to speak up against it.”
Safeguarding measures and future steps
The wider board revealed they were not notified about the allegations against the former joint-chair until approximately a month ago.
Full details of the claims, which Sullivan strenuously denies, only became apparent to shareholders when they were made public on Monday.
As the new largest shareholder, the broader EP group intends to engage directly with fans and business partners to build a stronger future.
Former France striker Olivier Giroud believes his ex-team-mate Christian Pulisic has the mental strength and quality to take the United States to the next level at this summer’s World Cup.
The 37-year-old recently retired from international football following the 2024 European Championships.
He is now covering the current global tournament as a pundit for BBC Sport.
Despite watching from the television studio, the World Cup winner remains a passionate supporter of the French national side.
The burden of Captain America
Giroud played alongside Pulisic at both Chelsea and AC Milan.
The veteran forward witnessed first-hand the immense pressure placed on the young American’s shoulders.
“At Milan we used to call him by his nickname, ‘Captain America’ because even when he wasn’t wearing the USA armband he was their star player.”
The highly-rated playmaker originally arrived in London from Borussia Dortmund in 2019 as a teenager.
Overcoming club struggles
The American forward recently endured a mixed domestic campaign in Italy.
After a bright start in Serie A, Milan suffered a collapse in form and ultimately failed to qualify for the Champions League.
During that difficult spell, the former Arsenal striker noted that Pulisic went several months without finding the back of the net.
However, Giroud insists that national team expectations demand the lightning-fast winger consistently delivers on the international stage.
Mental resilience on the big stage
The United States talisman impressed during his nation’s recent clash with Paraguay.
A calf injury forced him off at half-time, though hopes remain high that the issue is minor.
“Mental strength is massive for every player and I think he has been through some tough moments, with injuries or when he or the team has not been doing well.”
The French icon believes navigating those difficult periods has forged a resilient leader capable of carrying American hopes.
White House task force executive director Andrew Giuliani has defended the decision to bar Somali referee Omar Artan from entering the United States for the 2026 World Cup.
Artan, named Africa’s best referee last year, was denied entry earlier this week despite holding a valid single-entry visa and Fifa documentation.
The 34-year-old was interviewed by border officials for 11 hours before being placed on a flight to Istanbul.
Security concerns cited
A US official previously informed ESPN that the African match official was turned away due to alleged associations with suspected members of terror organisations.
Giuliani has now publicly backed US Customs and Border Protection, describing the returning official as a “bad actor”.
He was talking to some bad people, very recently, about actions here in the United States.
Andrew Giuliani
Speaking to talkSPORT, the task force chief insisted it was the correct decision to send him home.
What I can tell you from my standpoint, and having seen the information on what he was doing, was that I stand by CBP’s decision.
Andrew Giuliani
Uefa offers support
Following the rejection, Canadian politicians reportedly sent alternative tournament invitations to the official.
However, Fifa referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina requires all match officials to attend a mandatory training hub in Miami, effectively ending the Somali national’s hopes of participating.
In response to the ban, European football’s governing body has appointed him to officiate the 2026 Uefa Super Cup.
He will take charge of the match between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa on 12 August.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin praised the highly-rated official’s outstanding skills and continental experience.
Football is made to connect people, and Uefa wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination.
Aleksander Ceferin