Chelsea have registered an interest in signing Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka as incoming manager Xabi Alonso seeks a reunion with the Swiss midfielder.
The west London club are evaluating a move for the 33-year-old, who is reportedly keen on a potential transfer to Stamford Bridge.
However, the Black Cats insist their skipper is not for sale and confirm no official club-to-club approach has yet been made.
Alonso drives push for veteran leadership
The transfer pursuit is being directly driven by new Blues boss Alonso, who officially begins his managerial role next week.
The Spaniard previously managed the veteran midfielder during Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten Bundesliga title-winning campaign in 2024.
Chelsea’s current valuation of the player is lower than recent speculation suggests, factoring in his age and his remaining two-year contract on Wearside.
A shift in Stamford Bridge strategy
A successful swoop for the former Arsenal star would represent a significant departure from Chelsea’s recent recruitment policy.
Since the BlueCo consortium’s takeover in 2022, the club has almost exclusively targeted young prospects rather than established veterans.
Internal discussions at Stamford Bridge throughout the recent campaign highlighted a pressing need for greater Premier League experience within the engine room.
Sunderland’s European success
The Switzerland international has enjoyed a remarkable renaissance since returning to English football.
His immense influence helped guide newly-promoted Sunderland to a highly impressive seventh-place league finish this season.
That unexpected position secured Europa League qualification for the North East outfit against all odds.
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo and his partner Noa van der Bij have announced the heartbreaking death of their unborn baby boy, Elijah.
The Dutch international and his girlfriend originally shared the news that they were expecting their second child together in May.
However, Van der Bij revealed through a series of social media posts on Saturday that the couple had suffered a miscarriage.
‘Devastating news’
A joint statement released by the couple expressed their deep sorrow following the family tragedy.
With broken hearts, we share the devastating news that our baby boy passed away during pregnancy.
Thank you for your love and support. Elijah Raphael Gakpo. Forever loved. Forever our son.
Finding comfort
The former PSV Eindhoven attacker and his partner detailed how they sought solace by visiting a local church to light a candle.
While visiting the church playground with their firstborn son Samuel, they encountered only one other child, who remarkably shared the name Elijah.
There could not have been a more beautiful sign from God. He reminded us that our little boy is never far away.
The 25-year-old has been a prominent figure for the Merseyside club since his arrival in English football, but family remains his clear priority during this incredibly difficult time.
Enzo Maresca has commenced work at Manchester City’s training facility as the club finalises his appointment to replace Pep Guardiola.
The Italian strategist has spent the week acclimatising to his new surroundings at the Etihad Campus despite awaiting a formal announcement.
Chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak is currently negotiating a compensation package with Chelsea, who dismissed their former head coach in January.
However, the incoming boss has wasted no time in preparing for the monumental task of succeeding one of football’s most decorated managers.
Preparing for the post-Guardiola era
The tactical overseer has already begun meticulously analysing performance data to formulate his pre-season training schedule.
These preparations are crucial as the squad will return in staggered phases next month due to international commitments at the North American World Cup.
He is understood to have agreed a three-year contract and will meet senior hierarchy figures next week to outline definitive expectations.
His predecessor stepped down this summer after a decade of unprecedented dominance that yielded 20 major trophies, including a historic Treble in 2023.
Record signings and notable departures
The new era in Manchester has received an immediate boost following a monumental transfer agreement.
The Premier League champions will acquire England international Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for an initial £116m, potentially rising to £130m.
Despite this British record investment, the squad will feature a distinctly different dynamic following the departure of several key stalwarts.
Portuguese playmaker Bernardo Silva has departed for Real Madrid upon the expiry of his contract, while defensive linchpin John Stones has also left the club.
Rio Ferdinand has publicly urged Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni to join Manchester United amid growing speculation over a blockbuster move to Old Trafford.
The French international has reportedly been a long-term target for the Premier League giants as they look to strengthen their midfield.
Recent transfer developments in the Spanish capital could potentially open the door for a lucrative switch to England.
Reports suggest the reigning European champions are monitoring Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, which may create space for a departure in their current squad.
Ferdinand sends direct plea
Despite the potential obstacle of a reported £210,000-a-week wage packet, Ferdinand insists his former employers must act decisively.
Speaking on his podcast, the former England defender made a direct appeal to the highly-rated anchor man.
“If Tchouameni has half a sniff of getting out of that club, Man United have to be the first team at their door knocking and make sure he can’t even talk to anybody else,” Ferdinand stated.
“Get him signed, sealed, delivered; behind these shades, there is only one club for you man.”
The six-time Premier League winner added that Old Trafford should be the definitive destination if a departure from the Bernabeu materialises.
Midfield overhaul at Old Trafford
Any potential move would see the defensive specialist follow the exact path of former team-mate Casemiro.
The Brazilian veteran made an identical journey to Manchester, securing two domestic trophies during his ongoing spell in England.
However, the French World Cup finalist is not the only midfield reinforcement currently being evaluated by the Manchester hierarchy.
Atalanta standout Ederson has been heavily linked with an initial £35m switch to the English top flight, with performance-related bonuses included.
Valued at approximately £60m, securing the Champions League winner’s signature would represent a massive statement of intent for the 20-time English champions.
New Zealand and Saudi Arabia have been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after finishing at the bottom of their respective groups during the opening phase of the expanded 48-team tournament.
The biggest edition of football’s premier global competition guarantees that 47 competing nations will ultimately fall short of ultimate glory.
Grading these early departures reveals vastly different levels of underachievement across the initial group stages.
All Whites extend winless drought
The Oceanian representatives finished last in Group G following a heavy defeat against a star-studded Belgium side.
Despite showing genuine promise by taking the lead in their fixtures against Iran and Egypt, the team ultimately surrendered both advantages.
That inability to close out matches means the frustrating wait for a maiden victory on the global stage continues.
Entering the competition as heavy underdogs, the squad was always expected to struggle against higher-calibre international opposition.
Green Falcons fall flat
Meanwhile, the Middle Eastern powerhouse suffered a dismal exit after finishing at the foot of Group H.
Needing a victory against a nation boasting a population of just over half a million people to advance to the round of 32, they could only manage a scoreless draw.
The squad was thoroughly outplayed in their decisive fixture and struggled desperately to create meaningful attacking opportunities.
Registering a mere 17 total shots before their elimination, the side recorded one of the lowest attacking outputs of the entire competition.
Aston Villa have been fined £570,000 by the Premier League after admitting to delaying match kick-offs on ten separate occasions last season.
The Midlands club accepted responsibility for consistently holding up the start of either the first or second half during their highly successful previous campaign.
Unai Emery’s side secured a top-four finish and Champions League qualification last year, but these persistent time-keeping issues have resulted in heavy financial sanctions.
Escalating financial penalties
The first infringement occurred during a 1-0 defeat by Brentford in August, resulting in an initial £5,000 penalty.
However, the governing body systematically increased the severity of the sanctions for each subsequent breach of matchday regulations.
The disciplinary sequence culminated in a hefty £150,000 punishment following a 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea in March.
Repeat offending aggravates panel
For the Chelsea breach, an initial £130,000 penalty was supplemented by a £20,000 surcharge due to the aggravating nature of the repeat offending.
This ruling followed a separate £150,000 fine imposed after a 1-1 draw with Leeds United, where the second half resumed nearly two minutes behind schedule.
Eight of the ten recorded violations saw the game begin between 90 seconds and two minutes later than the originally scheduled broadcast time.
Apology and league response
The Villans have formally apologised for the persistent delays and pledged to ensure strict compliance with scheduling rules throughout the new season.
The Premier League subsequently released a statement explaining the reasoning behind their stringent enforcement of match timings.
Rules relating to kick-offs and re-starts help ensure the organisation of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard and provides certainty to fans and participating clubs.
The governing body added that punctuality is vital to ensure the global broadcast of every fixture remains perfectly on schedule.
Former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness has warned that Barcelona may regret their £70m purchase of Anthony Gordon following the winger’s underwhelming World Cup performances for England.
Gordon recently completed a blockbuster move from Newcastle United to the Catalan club after scoring 17 goals last season.
However, the forward has struggled to make an impact during the national team’s opening group games against Croatia and Ghana.
Souness issues stark warning
Writing in the Telegraph, Souness suggested the former Everton academy graduate has been playing far too safely on the international stage.
“It is absolutely fair to say they will have watched their new £70m winger Anthony Gordon in England’s opening group games and wondered what they have bought.”
The outspoken pundit stressed that such cautious tactical displays will not be tolerated in Spain.
“If Gordon turns up in Barcelona and plays as conservatively as he did against Croatia and Ghana then he will not be staying in Catalonia for too long.”
The English attacker faces immense pressure adjusting to life in La Liga at one of the world’s most demanding clubs.
Souness believes the newly signed star will inevitably face direct comparisons with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal at the Nou Camp.
“You are kidding yourself if you don’t think everyone around Barcelona, from fans to the media to the players, isn’t watching and saying: ‘If Yamal is doing that, what is Gordon doing?'”
Tuchel acknowledges left-sided struggles
England manager Thomas Tuchel has also conceded that his attacking options on the left flank have failed to replicate their pre-tournament form.
The Three Lions boss highlighted a drop in attacking threat compared to a recent warm-up victory over Costa Rica.
“The unit on the left side hasn’t provided the same quality as they did against Costa Rica.”
Despite the criticism, Tuchel defended the 23-year-old individually, insisting the tactical issues lay with the wider collective rather than a single player.
England face Panama at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium this evening, seeking to secure top spot in Group L against a side they famously dismantled in 2018.
Gareth Southgate’s men are hoping to conjure memories of their previous meeting, a ruthless 6-1 victory that marked the nation’s largest winning margin at a major tournament.
That baking-hot Sunday in Nizhny Novgorod was widely viewed as the catalyst for a new era of success, laying the foundation for consecutive European Championship final appearances.
A different challenge awaits in New Jersey
The Central American nation are eager to prove they are no longer the naive debutants who were heavily beaten eight years ago.
Danish manager Thomas Christiansen previously insisted his squad had not travelled to the tournament merely to act as tourists.
Despite being eliminated following consecutive 1-0 defeats by Ghana and Croatia, Los Canaleros are expected to provide a sterner test than their predecessors.
Panama sat 34th in the global rankings heading into this summer, highlighting their significant development since that humbling afternoon in Russia.
Kane seeks repeat of fortuitous hat-trick
The Three Lions captain registered his only World Cup hat-trick during that 2018 encounter, completing his treble when a Ruben Loftus-Cheek strike deflected in off his heel.
The prolific striker playfully acknowledged the fortunate nature of that milestone achievement earlier this week.
It wasn’t my most beautiful hat-trick, to be honest. I’d take that again on Saturday, for sure.
A repeat performance would undoubtedly satisfy an English public that fell back in love with the national team following years of chronic underachievement.
Former Panama boss Hernan Dario Gomez notoriously pleaded with Southgate to slow the game down at half-time in 2018, a request unlikely to be repeated by Christiansen’s resilient outfit today.