Former Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed as the new manager of Lazio, returning to club football two months after resigning from the national team following their failure to qualify for the World Cup.

The 48-year-old takes over at the Stadio Olimpico after Maurizio Sarri departed the Roman club at the end of May.

Under Sarri, the team endured a frustrating Serie A campaign, finishing ninth in the table.

National team fallout

The fiery former midfielder steps back into domestic management following a disastrous spell with the Azzurri.

He stepped down by mutual consent in April after a devastating play-off final defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

That result condemned the nation to miss out on yet another major international tournament.

Hierarchy overhauled

The ensuing fallout triggered widespread resignations across the Italian football hierarchy.

Federation president Gabriele Gravina and national team delegation head Gianluigi Buffon both vacated their roles within 24 hours of the manager’s exit.

Following the national humiliation, sports minister Andrea Abodi publicly demanded a complete overhaul of leadership within the sport.

Return to familiar territory

Despite the recent international setback, the former World Cup winner boasts extensive experience across Europe’s top divisions.

His managerial CV includes notable stints with AC Milan, Napoli, Valencia, and Marseille.

The Biancocelesti board are confident their new appointment can stabilise the club and drive them back up the domestic standings.

The club welcomes the new coach with satisfaction, believing that his experience, professionalism, and determination can contribute to the achievement of the club’s sporting goals.

Gary O’Neil has been appointed as the new manager of Ipswich Town on a three-year contract, replacing Kieran McKenna ahead of the club’s Premier League return.

The 43-year-old arrives at Portman Road after leaving French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg following a brief six-month spell in charge.

He takes over from McKenna, who stepped down to spend more time with his family after successfully guiding the Suffolk outfit back to the top flight.

Navigating the top-flight return

The newly appointed boss faces a demanding pre-season as he looks to bolster a squad that previously struggled with the physical demands of top-tier football.

During their last Premier League campaign two seasons ago, the Tractor Boys managed just four victories all term and finished second from bottom.

However, the former Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach possesses significant experience in galvanising squads under challenging circumstances.

He previously steered Wolves away from relegation danger despite arriving late in the summer window, a pragmatic approach he will likely need to replicate in East Anglia.

Rival ties and a demanding start

The decision to hire the former midfielder may require an early charm offensive with the Portman Road fanbase.

The Englishman notably made 51 appearances for arch-rivals Norwich City between 2014 and 2016.

A challenging set of opening fixtures awaits the new regime, offering little room for a slow start to the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.

The season begins with a home clash against Sunderland on 22 August, before daunting tests against traditional heavyweights.

Ipswich Town’s opening five Premier League fixtures:

Arsenal are preparing a substantial bid for Aston Villa attacker Morgan Rogers, with the Midlands club reportedly valuing the England international between £80m and £100m.

Manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta have identified the versatile forward as their absolute priority ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Any potential departure from Villa Park could be heavily influenced by the club’s ongoing Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) obligations.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a phenomenal rise this season, establishing himself as a vital creative outlet under Unai Emery.

Liverpool accelerate defensive recruitment

Elsewhere, Liverpool are intensifying their pursuit of highly-rated defender Yan Diomande ahead of an impending transfer deadline.

The Merseyside club face formidable competition for the signature, with French champions Paris St-Germain also closely monitoring his availability.

Securing immediate reinforcements remains a critical objective for the Reds as they navigate an increasingly congested fixture schedule.

Premier League rivals contest Tonali signature

A fascinating midfield battle is developing between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur for Newcastle United anchor Sandro Tonali.

The Italian playmaker returned to top-flight action earlier this season following a lengthy worldwide suspension for betting breaches.

In further European developments, Real Madrid have emerged as a desired destination for unsettled Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are registering strong interest in securing emerging talent Mateus Fernandes to bolster their central options.

Arsenal expand wider scouting network

Beyond their high-profile pursuit of Rogers, the North London side are actively exploring several alternative youthful profiles.

Lille prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi and Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola feature prominently on the recruitment shortlist at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are also tracking Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Monga to ensure long-term squad depth across all attacking positions.

The PGA Tour has approved a dramatic restructuring of its schedule to create a concurrent two-tier tournament system starting in 2028.

The Future Competition Committee’s sweeping recommendations were ratified by the policy board during meetings in Connecticut on Monday.

Under the newly adopted model, the American golf circuit will run a premier Championship Series alongside a developmental Challenger Series.

Golfers competing in the lower tier will battle for promotion to the top track, with an immediate in-season elevation awarded for securing two victories.

Lucrative signature events and larger fields

The elite Championship Series will feature up to 24 premier events running from February through August.

This top tier incorporates 16 signature events, the four major championships, The Players Championship, and biennial team competitions like the Ryder Cup.

Each signature tournament will guarantee a minimum prize fund of $20m (£15.7m) and feature increased average field sizes of 120 players.

A traditional 36-hole cut will be implemented across these marquee events, restricting weekend play to the top 65 players and ties.

Meritocracy and long-term stability

At the conclusion of the season, the top 90 players on the Championship Series points list will automatically retain their playing rights.

They will be joined by 20 newly promoted qualifiers from the Challenger Series, ensuring a steady influx of fresh talent.

These radical reforms arrive as the traditional establishment continues to counter the financial threat and calendar disruption posed by the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league.

“The result is a new competitive model grounded in meritocracy, with clearer pathways, higher stakes and more consistency when the best players compete together.”

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp confirmed the focus will now shift to finalising the intricate logistical details before the 2028 launch.

Woods backs sweeping reforms

Tiger Woods, who serves as chairman of the Future Competition Committee, believes the blueprint secures the long-term health of the sport.

“This work was bigger than any one player or person — it was about designing the strongest possible version of the PGA Tour for the future generations of fans and players.”

The 15-time major champion added that the primary focus was delivering an enhanced experience for spectators while guaranteeing stability for corporate partners.

The widow of former Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota has shared his moving wedding speech to mark their first anniversary, nearly a year after his tragic death in a car crash.

Rute Cardoso posted the touching footage of her late husband exactly one year after the childhood sweethearts tied the knot on 22 June 2025.

Less than two weeks after that joyous ceremony, the beloved attacker and his brother, Andre Silva, lost their lives in a road accident in Zamora, Spain.

“Where the future takes us, maybe there’s someone here who knows better than I do,” Jota said in the footage.
“But the truth is, I don’t know and it doesn’t really matter to me as long as I’m with you. I love you forever, my ‘Branquinha’.”

Portugal honour legacy at World Cup

The memory of the Portuguese international remains a powerful presence for his former team-mates at the 2026 World Cup.

Roberto Martinez’s squad are wearing special commemorative wristbands throughout the global tournament.

Presented by the country’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, the bands feature the names of the 26-man roster alongside the late Anfield star’s name.

Paris St-Germain midfielder Vitinha explained that the players chose to wear the tribute on the pitch during competitive matches.

“He let us choose if we wanted to use it or not, how we use it, during the day or during the match,” Vitinha explained.
“We received it with a lot of affection and we chose to use it.”

A lasting impact on the national team

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes also paid tribute to his former colleague ahead of their opening fixture.

“He was a great team-mate, very down to earth and a great person for the country,” stated Fernandes.
“He’s still part of our group – and always will be. So will his brother be, too. He will also be in our memories.”

On the pitch, the Selecao opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Joao Neves opened the scoring before Yoane Wissa headed an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

Martinez’s men will now be looking for a vital win when they face Uzbekistan in their second group game on Tuesday.

Caitlin Clark scored 24 points and received a controversial fifth technical foul of the season as the Indiana Fever rallied to beat the Phoenix Mercury 86-77 on Monday night.

The standout guard expressed frustration after being penalised during a bad-tempered fourth quarter that featured six technicals overall.

Myisha Hines-Allen was ejected from the contest after picking up her second offence in the closing stages.

A player receives an automatic one-game suspension in the WNBA upon reaching their eighth technical foul of the campaign.

“We should all just go on the calendar now and pick a game that I’m gonna be suspended for if I’m gonna get technicals for clapping.”

Fever head coach Stephanie White acknowledged that her star point guard must show better emotional awareness moving forward.

“There are natural things that happen, that the energy of the game creates when you do get those, but there are some that we can be a little more in control of.”

Fever overturn disastrous opening quarter

Indiana looked destined for defeat early on after managing a dismal six points in the first period.

That low-scoring start tied the franchise record for their fewest points in any quarter since 2018.

However, the home side exploded for 35 points in the second quarter to tie the game at the half-time break.

The former Iowa Hawkeyes star drove that resurgence by dropping 15 points before the interval.

Kelsey Mitchell provided vital support with 22 points, while Monique Billings secured her first double-double of the year with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The victory arrested a two-game losing streak and improved Indiana’s regular-season record to 10-7.

Clark and Thomas set WNBA milestones

Despite the disciplinary drama, the dynamic playmaker continued her historic offensive production.

The 22-year-old has now recorded six consecutive games with at least 20 points and five assists, establishing a new WNBA record.

Phoenix slumped to a 5-12 record despite a strong 20-point showing from Kahleah Copper.

Veteran forward Alyssa Thomas contributed 19 points, five rebounds and nine assists for the struggling Mercury.

In doing so, she became the fastest player in WNBA history to record 500 assists with a single franchise.

The Detroit Red Wings are actively exploring trade options for captain Dylan Larkin ahead of Friday’s NHL Draft as franchises scramble to reshape their rosters before free agency opens on July 1.

The 2026 off-season is already proving to be intensely active following the Carolina Hurricanes’ recent Stanley Cup triumph.

General manager Steve Yzerman continues to navigate a complex situation as the Michigan-based franchise seeks a suitable trade partner for their talismanic forward.

The seasoned American reportedly prefers a move to a competitive United States-based organisation that is built to win immediately.

Panthers make Tkachuk splash

Two major deals have already reshaped the league landscape before the first round even begins.

The Toronto Maple Leafs secured negotiating rights for Darren Raddysh, promptly committing the defenceman to an eight-year contract.

Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers completed a blockbuster acquisition for Brady Tkachuk.

The ambitious Sunrise franchise parted with three first-round draft selections and a second-round pick to land the prized attacker.

This aggressive move leaves the Ottawa Senators aiming to flip those newly acquired draft assets into a proven top-six forward.

Hellebuyck seeks Winnipeg exit

Up in Canada, frustration is mounting for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

The United States Olympic standout has expressed clear dissatisfaction with the current status quo in Manitoba.

Winnipeg executives are fielding active calls for the elite netminder, though Florida’s recent expenditure likely removes them from contention.

The Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina remain stealthy contenders for any major stars entering the trade market this week.

Sabres stall on Tuch extension

Contract negotiations between the Buffalo Sabres and Alex Tuch have currently reached an impasse.

The 30-year-old winger is highly coveted on the open market due to his rare combination of size, speed, and veteran experience.

Seattle Kraken executives are reportedly preparing a massive financial package to lure the impending free agent to the Pacific Northwest.

Buffalo is concurrently exploring trade possibilities for highly-rated defenceman Bowen Byram, who is actively seeking a premier role elsewhere.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has identified Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie as a primary target to become his fifth signing since returning to the club.

The Spanish giants have already spent a combined £68m on four new additions during the current transfer window.

Full-backs Marc Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries have been acquired alongside free transfers for Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate.

Despite significantly bolstering his backline, the Portuguese coach is actively pursuing a left-footed centre-back who can also comfortably operate at full-back.

Complex contract situation

Securing the 24-year-old will prove complicated due to his existing contractual arrangement in north London.

The Gunners initially signed the defender on loan from Bayer Leverkusen last summer while agreeing to a mandatory £45m purchase clause.

A permanent transfer is widely expected to be officially confirmed once the Ecuador international concludes his participation at the World Cup.

To facilitate another high-profile arrival, the La Liga club are prepared to listen to offers for current squad member Raul Asencio.

His departure would clear essential space in a crowded defensive unit that already contains Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen and Konate.

International struggles and alternatives

The versatile defender established himself as a crucial regular starter under Mikel Arteta during the recent Premier League campaign.

“He’s been extremely dominant in all the defensive actions and understands what we want in the attacking part as well much better.”

Mikel Arteta

If an agreement cannot be reached, the Madrid hierarchy have reportedly added Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni and Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck to their shortlist.

The former Leverkusen prospect is currently enduring a highly frustrating international tournament in North America.

Following a late 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast and a goalless draw against Curacao, his nation face a must-win clash against Germany to progress from Group E.