Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso could leave Aston Martin to make a sensational return to former team Alpine as he weighs up his Formula 1 future.
The veteran driver had previously suggested he would conclude his racing career with his current employers.
However, speculation in the Barcelona-Catalunya paddock indicates the 44-year-old is evaluating a final switch following a dismal start to the 2026 campaign.
Briatore connection fuels Enstone reunion
A move back to the Enstone-based outfit would mark the Spaniard’s fourth stint with the team.
His most successful era came when he claimed consecutive drivers’ championships in 2005 and 2006 under the Renault banner.
Reports suggest Alpine boss Flavio Briatore, who also serves as the driver’s long-time manager, is eager to facilitate the reunion.
The strong personal bond between the pair means any formal invitation to return would be seriously considered.
Contrasting fortunes in 2026
Departing his current team would require walking away from a lucrative long-term contract.
That existing arrangement reportedly includes a post-retirement ambassadorial role designed to keep him in the sport for years to come.
Aston Martin’s highly anticipated engine partnership with Honda has endured a disastrous opening to the new season.
The Silverstone squad suffered double retirements in the first two races and continue to battle a severe lack of pace.
A belated first championship point was finally secured last Sunday in Monaco after a post-race penalty demoted rival Sergio Perez.
Alpine enjoy midfield revival
Conversely, the French manufacturer has enjoyed a remarkable revival after finishing at the bottom of the constructors’ standings in 2025.
Powered by a new Mercedes engine supply, the revitalised outfit currently sits an impressive fifth in the midfield battle.
A buoyant mood surrounds the former world champion ahead of his home race this weekend, the site of his last Grand Prix victory in 2013.
British forward OG Anunoby is on the verge of clinching the NBA Championship with the New York Knicks following his dramatic game-winning tip-in against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Harlesden-born star could secure basketball’s ultimate prize in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time.
His team faces Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in a highly anticipated Game 5 showdown.
The defensive specialist approaches this crucial fixture having already delivered a performance for the ages.
A monumental comeback at Madison Square Garden
The Knicks successfully erased a historic 29-point deficit during Game 4 to stun their Texas-based opponents.
The dynamic wing spearheaded the 107-106 victory by registering 33 points and connecting on seven three-pointers.
It was his decisive offensive rebound and score with just 1.2 seconds remaining that sent the home crowd into raptures.
New York head coach Mike Brown described the last-gasp effort as “the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball”.
Inspiring the next generation of British talent
The viral moment has drawn unprecedented global attention and sparked immense pride across the Atlantic.
Four UK players began the current NBA campaign on active rosters, representing a record high for the nation.
Basketball currently stands as the second-most popular team sport in Britain, with grassroots engagement surging rapidly.
“Game four was probably the top of British basketball history. It was just amazing for Britain and the UK, and just everyone that loves basketball in the UK,” the match-winner told reporters.
Building a lasting domestic legacy
The former Toronto Raptor hopes his newfound spotlight will translate into tangible growth for the sport back home.
He believes that establishing more youth courts and academies is essential to fostering early interest among children.
“More youth courts for kids to start early and play basketball and just start loving the game.”
Team-mate Karl-Anthony Towns fittingly dubbed the decisive put-back as a “right hand from God”, cementing the Briton’s legacy in Manhattan folklore.
British pole vault record holder Molly Caudery has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season after undergoing emergency spinal surgery.
The 26-year-old world indoor champion required a microdiscectomy to address a severe back issue that rapidly deteriorated last week.
She will consequently miss the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the European Championships in Birmingham.
Diamond League success followed by sudden injury
The devastating setback comes just days after the British athlete secured victory at the Diamond League meeting in Rome.
She cleared a season’s best height of 4.80m in the Italian capital before experiencing the sudden flare-up.
Taking to social media, the European bronze medallist expressed her profound disappointment at missing out on major international competitions.
“And just like that, my season is over. Absolutely heartbroken to even be writing this, missing out on yet another major champs and home games.”
“Emergency spinal surgery wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card.”
A history of championship heartbreak
The surgical procedure was necessary to remove a portion of a spinal disc and prevent permanent nerve damage.
This latest medical intervention extends a frustrating run of bad luck at major events for the talented vaulter.
She famously failed to register a height during her opening event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Prior to that, the former Commonwealth silver medallist also missed the World Championships in Tokyo due to an ankle injury sustained during her warm-up.
“I had a back flare-up last week that got worse quickly and immediate surgical intervention was needed to prevent any further damage.”
“The surgery was a success and my road to recovery starts today.”
Focus turns to long-term rehabilitation
Despite the devastating interruption to her campaign, the national record holder is determined to mount a successful return to the sport.
“Really thought 2026 was going to be my year after heartbreak in Paris and Tokyo and everything in between, but just wanted to add another chapter in the autobiography before the comeback.”
England captain Ben Stokes returned to training with Durham on Saturday following a team curfew breach that ruled him out of the second Test against New Zealand.
The 35-year-old all-rounder and pace bowler Gus Atkinson are unavailable for Wednesday’s match at The Oval pending a disciplinary investigation.
Both players broke a midnight curfew following the first Test victory over the Black Caps last Sunday.
They were present in the early hours of Monday morning when a member of security staff was allegedly struck by a Saracens rugby player.
Domestic return permitted
Despite being suspended from international duties by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), both men are free to play domestic cricket.
The Durham star bowled in the middle at Chester-le-Street during his county’s Championship match against Derbyshire.
He subsequently batted in the nets alongside batting coach Dale Benkenstein and international team-mate Emilio Gay.
This paves the way for the suspended duo to feature in the next round of County Championship matches starting on Friday.
Captaincy future uncertain
Initial speculation suggested the veteran player was considering retirement in the immediate aftermath of the disciplinary incident.
However, his swift return to the nets strongly indicates a resolute desire to resume his playing career.
England director of cricket Rob Key recently confirmed he expects the talismanic leader to play international cricket again.
“I don’t see why not.”
That was the definitive response from Key when questioned about the player’s international future.
But the managing director offered no guarantees regarding the prospect of him retaining the captaincy he has held since 2022.
“There are a lot of things to happen before then. We’ve got to run the investigation, find out what happened exactly.”
Key added that no official decisions will be made until the ongoing disciplinary process is completely concluded.
The ECB maintains all options remain open, explicitly denying reports that the skipper has already been asked to stand down.
An outcome from the investigation is not expected before the second Test begins, with head coach Brendon McCullum scheduled to address the media on Monday.
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.