Juventus are actively pursuing a summer transfer deal for Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson as they look to secure a replacement for Michele Di Gregorio.
The Serie A giants have identified the 33-year-old Brazilian as their primary target and are reportedly making concrete moves to facilitate his arrival.
He is set to enter the final year of his current contract at Anfield this coming June.
Fitness issues have plagued the veteran shot-stopper throughout the current campaign, forcing him to miss several crucial Premier League fixtures while Giorgi Mamardashvili deputised.
Return to Italy on the horizon
Reports in Italy suggest the former Roma star is open to the prospect of joining the Turin club at the end of the season.
Ongoing discussions are believed to be taking place regarding personal terms, with a prospective three-year contract reportedly on the table.
A move back to the Italian top flight would represent familiar territory for the South American international.
He previously spent two successful years at the Stadio Olimpico, claiming the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2018 before his record-breaking £66m transfer to Merseyside.
During his illustrious spell in England, he has made over 330 appearances and helped secure both Premier League and Champions League titles.
Widespread changes expected at Anfield
Liverpool are bracing for a major squad overhaul this summer following extensive financial investment prior to the current season.
High-profile departures are already anticipated, with Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson expected to leave on free transfers upon the expiration of their contracts.
Consequently, the Reds are actively scouting domestic talent to rejuvenate their playing squad.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Archie Gray has emerged as a potential target, a move that could accelerate if the north London club suffer a shock relegation to the Championship.
Former France midfielder Emmanuel Petit has accused Kylian Mbappe of bringing “selfishness” to Real Madrid following their Champions League exit to Bayern Munich.
The 27-year-old forward moved to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2024 but has only secured the UEFA Super Cup despite his prolific individual goalscoring.
His former club Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, claimed their first-ever Champions League title immediately after his departure.
A ‘fiasco’ at the Bernabeu
Mbappe was on target against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena but could not prevent a late European collapse by Los Blancos.
Petit, who lifted the 1998 World Cup with Les Bleus, believes the lightning-fast striker’s arrival has disrupted the team dynamic in Spain.
“It’s not solely Mbappe’s fault, but his arrival filled the Real Madrid dressing room with selfishness. It’s a fiasco.”
The ex-Arsenal and Chelsea player contrasted Madrid’s current struggles with the newfound unity in the French capital.
“The timing really works against him. Since PSG have been playing like a team, they have been phenomenal.”
Camavinga red card proves costly
Despite his heavy criticism of the attacker, Petit reserved the primary blame for the recent Munich defeat for another compatriot.
Eduardo Camavinga was dismissed in the 86th minute of the clash after collecting two yellow cards.
The tie was evenly poised before the midfielder’s marching orders allowed the German giants to strike twice late on.
“If anyone needs to be blamed, it’s Camavinga. His foul was catastrophic.”
This is not the first time Petit has taken aim at the former Parisian.
He previously labelled the goalscorer an “attention-seeker” and questioned his fitness to captain the national side following their Euro 2024 elimination by Spain.
A devastating seven-car pile-up has forced an indefinite suspension of the 24h Nurburgring race in Germany as emergency medical teams scramble to treat several injured drivers.
Max Verstappen is among the high-profile competitors involved in the endurance event, though the reigning Formula 1 champion was not behind the wheel when the incident occurred.
The multi-car collision triggered an immediate red flag, bringing the renowned motorsport race to a sudden and alarming halt.
Emergency rescue operations launched
Race control quickly confirmed the severity of the situation, stating that urgent medical assistance was required directly on the circuit.
“Rescue operations for several injured riders are currently in full swing,” an official statement from race control read.
“We will provide an update from Race Control as soon as further information becomes available.”
The exact cause of the extensive pile-up remains unconfirmed, but officials noted that seven distinct vehicles were tangled in the wreckage.
Frustrating start for Verstappen’s crew
Prior to the indefinite suspension, the three-time world champion’s team had already endured a difficult start to their endurance campaign.
Verstappen’s co-driver, Lucas Auer, had completed the opening hour of racing in their Mercedes before the major track incident brought proceedings to a stop.
The Austrian racer had earlier received a three-place grid penalty following an unsuccessful overtaking attempt that resulted in contact with a Team Adrenalin entry.
“The driver of car #03 stated that he saw the gap and misjudged the situation,” a stewards’ report explained regarding the earlier clash.
That specific infringement dropped the Mercedes crew from their initial qualifying position of sixth down to ninth on the starting grid.
Multiple vehicles involved in collision
Event organisers have since released the official list of the seven cars that were caught up in the race-stopping crash.
The extensive wreckage spans multiple classes and manufacturers competing in the gruelling German event.
- Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 (#27)
- BMW 325i (#111)
- BMW 325i (#121)
- Porsche Cayman GTS (#410)
- Porsche Cayman CM12 (#448)
- Toyota Supra (#503)
- Porsche 911 GT3 (#992)
Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich addressed the San Antonio Spurs ahead of their playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers while continuing his recovery from a stroke.
The 77-year-old remains a regular fixture at the franchise’s practice facility following his health scare in November 2024.
His presence provides a significant boost to a young roster featuring Victor Wembanyama, who will make his postseason debut on Sunday.
Words of wisdom for a youthful squad
Guard Stephon Castle revealed the five-time NBA champion urged the players to maintain their current identity.
“Just to be us, not to really do anything different from what we’ve been doing all season.”
“He gave us another perspective on how well we’ve been playing and the position we’ve put ourselves in.”
The Texas-based team finished the regular season with a formidable 62-20 record, securing the Southwest Division title for the first time since 2017.
Praise from the locker room
De’Aaron Fox acknowledged the immense value of receiving guidance from one of basketball’s most successful tactical minds.
“He’s one of the winningest coaches ever, one of the coaches with the most rings ever.”
“So it’s only right that he felt like he needed to come in and preach to the choir.”
Veteran forward Keldon Johnson confirmed the legendary tactician remains in frequent contact with the locker room.
“He looks amazing. He’s doing great. It’s always good to see him.”
An athletic core chasing postseason glory
The current squad boasts an energetic core that secured third place in both offensive and defensive efficiency rankings this year.
Several key contributors, including Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie, are stepping onto the playoff stage for the very first time alongside Wembanyama.
Castle added that the former head coach continues to serve as an invaluable mentor through both triumphs and setbacks.
“Whether games are going good, games are going bad, just knowing Pop, he’ll always tell you the real.”
Johnson reiterated that the respected veteran’s sharp intellect remains completely intact.
“He’s definitely still himself. He’s still sharp. He’s still very much Pop. He has not skipped a beat at all.”
Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Diego Gomez was forced off in tears with a serious injury during their Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Paraguay international landed awkwardly following an aerial challenge and appeared to be in significant distress.
Medical staff immediately attended to the midfielder on the pitch before he was prematurely withdrawn from the action.
The visibly upset South American was consoled by teammates as he made his way toward the tunnel.
International prospects jeopardised
This untimely physical setback raises immediate concerns regarding his availability for upcoming national team duties.
The 21-year-old had been expected to feature prominently for his country at a major international tournament in North America this summer.
Club medical staff will now conduct thorough scans to assess the exact extent of the damage and establish a recovery timeline.
A prolonged absence would represent a significant blow to the Seagulls’ domestic campaign and their midfield depth.
Cameron Archer scored a magnificent late winner as Southampton secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Swansea City to maintain their push for automatic promotion.
The Saints travelled to Wales looking to extend their remarkable recent surge in the Championship standings.
Despite falling behind to a resilient home side, the south coast club demonstrated immense character to eventually turn the game around.
Saints maintain promotion charge
This crucial away victory ensures the visitors keep the pressure firmly applied on the teams currently occupying the automatic promotion spots in England’s second tier.
The decisive moment arrived late in the tightly contested match when the young forward found the back of the net with a superb finish.
His late intervention proved to be the difference on an afternoon where momentum shifted dramatically between the two sides.
Archer delivers decisive blow
The final whistle leaves the Welsh club reflecting on a missed opportunity after failing to hold onto their earlier advantage in front of their own supporters.
Meanwhile, the travelling fans will return home confident that a swift return to the Premier League remains a highly realistic ambition.
Marissa Sheva’s first-half strike secured a vital 1-0 victory for the Republic of Ireland against Poland at the Aviva Stadium, cementing their grip on third place in World Cup qualifying Group A2.
Carla Ward’s squad endured a tense evening in Dublin to grind out their second triumph over the Poles in the space of four days.
The hosts entered the fixture having edged a thrilling 3-2 encounter in Gdansk on Tuesday, establishing crucial momentum for this return leg.
Sheva strikes after early scare
The visitors almost silenced the 18,000-strong crowd when Nadia Kreyzman’s cutback found Ewa Pajor, who rippled the side-netting with a fierce first-time effort.
That early warning sparked the home team into immediate action at the opposite end of the pitch.
Denise O’Sullivan’s deflected delivery fell to Emily Murphy, who rattled the crossbar with a sliding attempt before Sheva blazed the rebound wide.
Following a goal-line clearance from Oliwia Wos to deny Aoife Mannion, the deadlock was finally broken four minutes before the interval.
Kyra Carusa drove powerfully down the left flank, forcing a touch from goalkeeper Kinga Szemik that fell perfectly for the arriving midfielder to tap in her fifth international goal.
Holding firm for a crucial advantage
The home side pushed for a cushion after the restart, with Szemik parrying away a long-range drive from Megan Connolly.
Their best chance of the second period fell to the influential O’Sullivan, who skilfully lifted the ball over a defender before volleying against the woodwork.
A defensive mix-up in the closing minutes presented Pajor with a late opportunity, but the striker scuffed her shot as the hosts held firm.
Prior to this international window, manager Carla Ward stated her clear objective was to secure six points and take control of the race for third place.
Having successfully navigated tight encounters against a dangerous Polish side, the manager will be thrilled by her team’s resilience.
This flawless week leaves the Irish holding a commanding five-point advantage over their Group A2 rivals with just two matches remaining.
Securing third place would mathematically guarantee a more favourable play-off draw for next year’s tournament in Brazil.
Bournemouth extended their unbeaten Premier League run to 13 games with a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park, dealing a severe blow to the hosts’ European qualification hopes.
Adrien Truffert secured all three points for the visitors with a dramatic 85th-minute strike.
The late winner compounded a miserable afternoon for Eddie Howe’s side following their recent successive defeats to Sunderland and Crystal Palace.
Iraola’s farewell tour gathers momentum
The Cherries showed no signs of distraction after manager Andoni Iraola announced earlier this week that he will leave the club at the end of the season.
His high-pressing team dominated the early exchanges and deservedly took the lead just after the half-hour mark.
Marcus Tavernier silenced the home crowd by tapping in a precise pass from Rayan to cap off a dominant spell.
The visitors could have doubled their advantage shortly after, but Evanilson failed to convert an excellent delivery from Alex Scott.
VAR intervention and injury concerns
Newcastle desperately needed inspiration and found it when club captain Bruno Guimaraes returned from a two-month injury absence as a second-half substitute.
The Brazilian’s introduction immediately lifted the atmosphere, and the Tyneside outfit drew level in the 68th minute through Will Osula.
Although the assistant referee initially raised the offside flag, VAR intervened to award the goal after replays showed Bournemouth’s Evanilson took the final touch in the build-up.
However, the momentum shifted again when Tino Livramento was forced off with a suspected groin injury.
The defender’s premature exit raises serious concerns about his availability for the remainder of the domestic campaign and England’s upcoming World Cup squad.
Truffert delivers the final blow
With the home side reorganising defensively, Bournemouth ruthlessly capitalised in the dying moments of the match.
Truffert initiated a sweeping counter-attack before arriving in the penalty area to emphatically finish an exchange involving Tavernier and Evanilson.
The result leaves Newcastle slipping further away from the European qualification places as their inability to close out matches continues to haunt them.