Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min has been named in the South Korea squad for his fourth World Cup by head coach Hong Myung-bo.

The 33-year-old departed Spurs last year and currently represents Major League Soccer franchise Los Angeles FC.

The experienced attacker will lead his nation into a challenging Group A campaign this summer.

They begin their global tournament against the Czech Republic in Guadalajara on 12 June.

Dual-heritage history made

Manager Hong Myung-bo has blended seasoned veterans with ground-breaking new additions.

Borussia Monchengladbach defender Jens Castrop becomes the first player with dual heritage to make a South Korean World Cup squad.

The German-born prospect switched his international allegiance last year and has since earned five caps for the Asian nation.

He is joined by a strong European-based contingent, including Bayern Munich centre-back Kim Min-jae and Paris St-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in.

British-based stars feature heavily

Despite the LAFC talisman’s departure from London, British football remains well-represented in the setup.

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan offers Premier League pedigree to the attacking line.

A raft of EFL and Scottish Premiership talent has also been selected for the showpiece event.

This includes Stoke City’s Bae Jun-ho, Birmingham City’s Paik Seung-ho, Celtic’s Yang Hyun-jun, and Swansea City’s Eom Ji-sung.

South Korea will face co-hosts Mexico on 19 June before concluding their group schedule against South Africa in Monterrey six days later.

Full South Korea World Cup squad

Celtic forward Daizen Maeda has revealed his long-term ambition to leave the Scottish Premiership and test himself in the English Premier League.

The Japanese international told media in his homeland that he wants to take the next step in his professional career.

A move south of the border has always been a primary goal for the lightning-fast attacker.

The 26-year-old has been a crucial figure at Parkhead since arriving from Yokohama F. Marinos in January 2022.

Palma departs as Rangers target youth

Elsewhere in Glasgow, the reigning champions have reportedly agreed a deal to sell Luis Palma to Lech Poznan.

The Honduras winger is set to join the Polish club permanently following a successful loan spell.

Across the city, Rangers are actively pursuing teenage reinforcements to bolster their defensive options.

The Ibrox side are in active negotiations to sign 19-year-old defender Akpe Victory from Hungarian outfit Zalaegerszegi.

Securing the highly-rated prospect will require a significant investment, with the selling club demanding a fee in excess of £4m.

Rangers are also monitoring Sunderland academy forward Finn Geragusian, though the English Championship club have opened talks to retain the 18-year-old.

Hearts receive apology amid Aberdeen changes

Meanwhile, the Scottish Football Association has accepted that Hearts were wrongfully denied a penalty during their recent 1-1 draw with Motherwell.

Former Scotland and Hibernian manager Alex McLeish has suggested that a Premiership title victory for the Tynecastle club would be highly beneficial for the domestic game.

Up in the north east, Aberdeen are preparing to secure the futures of promising duo Alfie Bavidge and Alfie Stewart with new contracts.

Their commitment comes as Marko Lazetic prepares to permanently depart Pittodrie.

At Tannadice, Dundee United left-back Will Ferry is expected to move on this summer, according to Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson.

Finally, Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor admits that competing in Scottish League One just two seasons after top-flight football serves as a harsh reality check for the Highland club.

Manchester United have been given the opportunity to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali this summer in a deal reportedly worth £87m.

The Old Trafford club are prioritising midfield reinforcements ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Veteran Brazilian Casemiro will depart when his contract expires, while Manuel Ugarte is expected to be sold to generate essential transfer funds.

Interim boss Michael Carrick has reportedly agreed terms to become permanent manager and wants two additions in the centre of the pitch.

Magpies forced into summer sales

Newcastle are under mounting pressure to sell key personnel to comply with the Premier League’s strict financial regulations.

A lack of Champions League revenue next season means the Tyneside outfit must balance their books before reinvesting in their squad.

The Italian international had previously been considered too expensive by the Red Devils hierarchy.

However, recent reports in Italy indicate the 26-year-old has now been placed on the market by his current employers to ease their financial constraints.

Alternative targets and legends’ praise

Nottingham Forest standout Elliot Anderson remains the primary target for the Manchester club.

Securing the highly-rated prospect will prove difficult, with Forest demanding a fee in excess of £100m amid rival interest from Manchester City.

A move for the former AC Milan playmaker could therefore provide a viable and slightly cheaper alternative for Carrick’s side.

Former United midfielder Paul Scholes recently endorsed the combative star’s abilities.

“He is the best midfielder in the Premier League, better than Declan Rice.”

Other notable departures from St James’ Park could include Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento as Newcastle prepare for a challenging summer rebuild.

Chelsea will attempt to salvage their turbulent season when they face reigning champions Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

The Blues enter the showpiece event in the highly unusual position of having no permanent manager and facing deep-rooted hostility from their own supporters towards the Clearlake-Boehly ownership.

Beating Pep Guardiola’s formidable side would secure a crucial place in the Europa League next season.

However, it remains highly doubtful whether domestic silverware will truly mask the underlying structural issues at Stamford Bridge.

Search for managerial stability

A recent draw at Liverpool narrowly prevented the West London club from suffering a disastrous seventh consecutive league defeat before their trip to the national stadium.

The two-time Champions League winners currently languish in ninth place in the Premier League, completely missing their pre-season target of qualifying for Europe’s elite competition.

Interim head coach Calum McFarlane will lead the team this weekend, becoming the first Englishman to manage a side in the final since Frank Lampard in 2020.

He replaces Liam Rosenior, who lasted less than four months after succeeding Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day following a bitter boardroom dispute.

The club’s hierarchy are actively searching for a permanent successor while navigating strict Uefa financial controls that heavily limit their spending power.

Former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is widely considered the external favourite for the vacant role.

Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva also feature prominently on a detailed shortlist drawn up by sporting directors.

Fan protests threaten Wembley showpiece

Even an unexpected victory against the current Premier League champions is unlikely to quell the rising tide of supporter anger directed at the regime.

A growing supporter movement, known as Not A Project CFC, has orchestrated a planned march up Wembley Way hours before kick-off.

Protesters intend to display a prominent banner targeting both the BlueCo ownership group and the club’s sporting hierarchy over their handling of football operations.

Frustrations are expected to spill over into their final home match against Tottenham next week.

Supporters plan to turn their backs on the pitch during the 22nd minute of the London derby to signify their profound displeasure with the 2022 takeover.

Caitlin Clark scored 32 points and hit a late three-pointer to force overtime, but the Indiana Fever ultimately suffered a 104-102 defeat against the Washington Mystics in Indianapolis.

The former number one draft pick overcame a sluggish start to deliver a masterful 17-point fourth quarter and erase a nine-point deficit.

With just 3.1 seconds remaining in regulation, the superstar guard sprinted off a handoff to drain a crucial triple and send the contest into an extra period.

Finding form from beyond the arc

Entering Friday’s matchup, the two-time All-Star had struggled with her outside shooting, making just three of her first 16 attempts across the opening two games of the new campaign.

Those woes initially continued against Washington as she shot a dismal two-for-15 from the field over the first three quarters.

However, the point guard completely transformed her rhythm in the final 10 minutes, sinking five three-pointers to finish the night with eight assists and four rebounds alongside her impressive scoring tally.

“I think I started hesitating a little bit and probably hesitated a little bit to start the season,” said Clark.
“I don’t need to do that; I’m best when I’m just letting it fly.”

Defensive frailties continue to plague Indiana

Despite the sensational individual comeback, the hosts were unable to secure the victory as their defensive vulnerabilities were repeatedly exposed.

Indiana have now conceded over 100 points in two of their first three fixtures, dropping to a 1-2 record for the season.

“We’ve been letting making shots dictate how well we played defence too much,” the Fever talisman admitted following the loss.

Head coach Stephanie White echoed those sentiments, highlighting the unsustainable pressure placed on her squad’s attacking output.

“We put a lot of pressure on our offence to be perfect when we don’t consistently defend,” stated White.

Youthful Mystics show their potential

On the opposite side of the court, Washington proved they will be a formidable opponent this year despite boasting the youngest roster in the league.

Sonia Citron delivered a career-best performance, racking up 30 points, six rebounds, and four assists to guide the visitors to a crucial away win.

She was expertly supported by Kiki Iriafen, who dominated the paint with 25 points and 13 rebounds.

First-round draft pick Cotie McMahon also made an immediate impact, contributing 13 points and five rebounds during a highly promising professional debut.

A’ja Wilson scored 45 points to lead the Las Vegas Aces to a 101-94 victory over the short-handed Connecticut Sun on Friday night.

The dominant forward hit 15 of her 18 field goal attempts and converted all 13 free throws to secure the fifth 40-point game of her career.

That remarkable tally sets a new WNBA record for the most 40-point performances by a single player.

According to ESPN Research, she is also the first player in league history to score 45 or more points while shooting at least 80% from the floor.

Carter continues strong start

Chennedy Carter provided valuable support for the visiting side by adding 18 points.

The returning guard has enjoyed a stellar beginning to the campaign after spending last season playing overseas.

Following an opening-night defeat to Phoenix, the Las Vegas franchise have responded emphatically with three consecutive victories.

Sun rally falls short amid injury crisis

Connecticut trailed 69-56 late in the third quarter before Saniya Rivers ignited a 14-3 run with consecutive three-pointers.

However, the unstoppable Wilson immediately silenced the home crowd with a crucial shot from beyond the arc and a subsequent three-point play.

Those interventions sparked a decisive 16-4 burst spanning the final two quarters to put the game out of reach.

The winless hosts dropped to a 0-4 record for the season while battling a significant injury crisis.

Connecticut were without Brittney Griner for a second successive game due to a left foot injury, while Olivia Nelson-Ododa missed out with an ankle problem.

Hailey Van Lith led the scoring for the struggling home side with 17 points.

There was some positive news for the Sun as Aaliyah Edwards made her season debut, contributing six points after recovering from a thigh injury.

Oklahoma City Thunder wing Jalen Williams has declared himself fully healthy ahead of the Western Conference finals following a six-game absence with a hamstring strain.

The standout forward missed the entirety of his team’s second-round sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers due to a Grade 1 tear in his left leg.

However, the former All-NBA selection confirmed his impending return to the court via a video posted to his YouTube channel on Friday.

“It’s good that I haven’t had to rush back from my hamstring stuff at all.”

He added that the comprehensive series victory over Los Angeles afforded him crucial additional recovery time before facing either the Timberwolves or the Spurs.

Cautious approach yields play-off dividends

The versatile playmaker initially suffered the injury during the third quarter of a Game 2 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

Prior to his early exit, the 23-year-old had enjoyed a spectacular start to the post-season, registering 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the opening fixture.

Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault noted that his key contributor was progressing following a recent practice session but declined to elaborate further.

The Western Conference top seeds are not officially required to update player availability until the evening before the series opener.

Overcoming regular-season adversity

It has been a highly fractured campaign for the gifted scorer, who was restricted to just 33 regular-season appearances.

He missed the opening 19 fixtures recovering from off-season wrist surgery before enduring two separate absences with a right hamstring issue.

In his absence against the Lakers, teammate Ajay Mitchell excelled in a starting role, averaging 22.5 points and six assists across four contests.

“I’m never worried about the team.”
“My worry always comes from making sure that I’m able to get myself to a point where I can help the team when I’m sitting out for that long.”

With the squad performing at an elite level, the returning star emphasised there was absolutely no pressure to rush his rehabilitation ahead of the upcoming series.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell has been placed on the injured list with an elbow problem just days after making his season debut.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner was a late scratch from his scheduled start against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.

Medical evaluations revealed the left-hander is suffering from loose bodies within his pitching elbow.

Will Klein was subsequently drafted in to start the interleague contest in his place.

Another setback for the high-profile acquisition

This latest fitness blow comes less than a week after the lucrative signing returned to the rotation sooner than originally anticipated.

He pitched three innings and allowed four earned runs against the Atlanta Braves last Saturday.

Prior to that appearance, the former Tampa Bay and San Diego ace had been sidelined since late March experiencing left shoulder fatigue.

World Series pedigree overshadowed by injuries

Physical ailments have heavily disrupted his time in California since signing a five-year contract worth $182m in November 2024.

The elite strikeout artist was restricted to just 11 regular-season starts during the 2025 campaign owing to a lingering shoulder issue.

However, he proved his immense value during the postseason by winning three of his six playoff appearances.

Those crucial October performances helped secure a second consecutive World Series title for the Dodgers franchise.