Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a £50m summer move for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott as manager Roberto de Zerbi plans a major squad overhaul.
The North London club are currently fighting for Premier League survival and sit just two points clear of the relegation zone with two matches remaining.
Regardless of their divisional status next season, the Italian head coach is prioritising urgent central midfield reinforcements.
Scott has emerged as a primary target to rebuild the engine room, though Spurs face immediate competition from Manchester United and Chelsea.
Boyhood allegiance offers transfer advantage
The highly-rated prospect was a childhood supporter of the Lilywhites, which could provide a crucial edge in any forthcoming negotiations.
The Bournemouth creator publicly acknowledged his long-standing allegiance recently after scoring a vital goal against Arsenal.
“Yes, I support Tottenham, though that doesn’t have much to do with today.”
Major departures expected in capital
A significant playing exodus is anticipated at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer regardless of whether they avoid the drop.
Club captain Cristian Romero is heavily tipped to leave, forcing the recruitment department to search for a new starting central defender.
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is attracting strong interest from Inter Milan, while Yves Bissouma and Ben Davies are nearing the end of their current contracts.
Dutch defender Micky van der Ven could sign a new deal if top-flight football is secured, having enjoyed his time under the current coaching setup.
Loan decisions and attacking reinforcements
De Zerbi is eager to secure combative midfielder Joao Palhinha on a permanent basis following his loan spell from Bayern Munich.
Fellow temporary signing Randal Kolo Muani is currently scheduled to return to parent club Paris St-Germain at the end of the campaign.
The domestic strugglers are also expected to actively enter the market for a new traditional striker and a wide forward.
Current attacking options Richarlison and Dominic Solanke are both drawing external interest, including approaches from Saudi Arabia, potentially accelerating dramatic changes in the final third.
England are aiming to secure an eighth consecutive Women’s Six Nations title and a fourth successive Grand Slam when they face an undefeated France side in Bordeaux on Sunday.
The Red Roses stand just one game away from registering a staggering 38th consecutive test match victory.
Extending that historic run will require overcoming a formidable French outfit boasting the tournament’s tightest defensive record.
Both heavyweights enter the final round level on points following a dominant, unbeaten campaign from each nation.
Injury crisis tests champion resolve
The reigning champions have navigated the 2026 tournament without 11 prominent squad members due to a combination of injuries and pregnancies.
Influential captain Zoe Stratford remains sidelined, joining a growing absentee list that includes eight of the 13 forwards who featured in their last World Cup final squad.
The recent international retirements of seasoned stars such as Emily Scarratt and Abby Dow have further depleted the squad’s immense depth.
Despite these significant setbacks, an unfamiliar starting XV has continually passed every test, averaging an astonishing 60 points across their four emphatic victories.
Memories of Twickenham thriller
Sunday’s highly anticipated clash serves as a repeat of last year’s epic Grand Slam finale at Twickenham.
On that occasion, the English outfit narrowly edged out their cross-Channel rivals 43-42 in one of the most extraordinary encounters in the competition’s history.
The French side mounted a ferocious comeback from a 31-7 deficit before a devastating late knock-on ultimately condemned them to a heartbreaking defeat.
Les Bleues will carry genuine optimism into this weekend’s revenge mission after conceding just 49 points throughout the entire championship.
Defensive frailties offer French hope
The visitors have shown rare defensive vulnerabilities this year, leaking 76 points across four rounds compared to a mere 29 at the exact same stage last season.
This defensive drop-off was particularly evident during a frantic 61-33 triumph over Italy in the previous round.
However, World Cup-winning flanker Sadia Kabeya is expected to return to the pack, providing a much-needed boost for the English forwards.
Elsewhere on the final day of the 2026 championship, Wales will host Italy before Scotland welcome Ireland to close out the tournament.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler admits he is unsure whether winger Kaoru Mitoma will recover from a hamstring injury in time to feature for Japan at the 2026 World Cup.
The dynamic forward sustained the problem during a recent Premier League victory against Wolves.
Consequently, the Japanese international will miss his club’s final two domestic fixtures of the season.
Race against time for Japan selection
National team coach Hajime Moriyasu is scheduled to announce his finalised World Cup squad this Friday.
With the global tournament set to begin on 11 June, the timeline for a full recovery remains incredibly tight.
Hurzeler addressed the media ahead of Sunday’s upcoming trip to Elland Road, where the Seagulls face Leeds United.
“Regarding the World Cup, I’m not sure yet,” the Brighton boss stated.
Patience required for hamstring recovery
Medical staff on the south coast are now working closely with international counterparts to monitor the situation.
“We’ll be in touch with the Japan federation,” Hurzeler added.
“We really have to be patient with this injury, we cannot give a clear schedule.”
The former Kawasaki Frontale star has been an integral part of Brighton’s attacking setup this campaign.
“He will miss our two games,” Hurzeler concluded.
“That is sad for Kaoru. He was in good form and had a big impact on our performances.”
Newcastle United are exploring the possibility of building a new super stadium following the emergence of leaked architectural drawings detailing the proposed development.
The Tyneside club have been continually evaluating their long-term infrastructure options since their lucrative Saudi-backed takeover in 2021.
Images shared by Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope reveal ambitious plans for a state-of-the-art venue designed to rival Europe’s elite.
These initially proposed designs have already drawn distinct architectural comparisons to Bayern Munich’s iconic home ground.
Expanding beyond St James’ Park
St James’ Park has been the historic home of the Magpies since 1892, but its immediate city-centre location presents significant logistical challenges.
Any substantial redevelopment of the existing 52,000-capacity ground is heavily complicated by the proximity of listed buildings and the adjacent Leazes Park.
Consequently, constructing an entirely new facility could offer the Premier League outfit a more straightforward path to dramatically increasing matchday revenue.
A statement of intent
A larger, modernised arena is widely viewed as a crucial step in matching the ownership’s profound desire to establish the team as a dominant domestic force.
While no official confirmation has yet been provided by the club hierarchy, the leaked sketches indicate that significant behind-the-scenes planning is already underway.
Supporters will now eagerly await formal communication regarding whether they will eventually be required to leave their beloved hilltop home.
Italian rider Davide Ballerini dodged a devastating late crash on wet cobbles to claim his first Grand Tour victory on stage six of the Giro d’Italia in Naples.
The XDS-Astana cyclist successfully navigated a chaotic pile-up that eliminated several prominent contenders just hundreds of metres from the finish line.
He accelerated clear on the treacherous surface to hold off a determined sprint from Jasper Stuyven.
Chaos strikes the sprinters
Stuyven’s teammate Paul Magnier secured third place despite nearly coming to a complete standstill to avoid fallen competitors.
The young Frenchman showed remarkable agility to regain momentum and lead the remaining chasers across the line.
Heavy pre-race favourites Dylan Groenewegen and Jonathan Milan were both caught behind the carnage when a lead-out rider lost traction on a tricky right-hand bend.
Rain returns to test the peloton
Wednesday’s fifth stage was defined by torrential downpours, but the peloton enjoyed bright sunshine for the majority of the 141km route from Paestum.
An early four-man breakaway, featuring Mattia Bais and Luca Vergallito, was comfortably controlled by the chasing pack and caught with 35km remaining.
However, threatening clouds finally broke as the race entered central Naples, turning the decisive cobbled sector into a dangerous skating rink.
General classification remains unchanged
The late drama at the front of the race did not impact the battle for the overall leader’s pink jersey.
Bahrain-Victorious rider Afonso Eulalio safely retained his position at the top of the general classification standings.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has warned that the highly anticipated November heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will be cancelled if either British fighter loses their respective summer warm-up bouts.
Both heavyweights have officially signed contracts for a massive collision earmarked for later this year.
However, the two boxing superstars are scheduled to take interim fights before stepping into the ring together.
The former Olympian will face Kristian Prenga on 25 July in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while his long-time rival is also seeking a tune-up contest.
High stakes for summer returns
“In my opinion if either fighter loses, you cannot do the fight,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
The Matchroom Boxing chairman admitted he will feel significant anxiety when his client makes his ringwalk next month.
“I will feel sick at the ringwalk on July 25, especially with what AJ’s come back from,” he added.
Hearn noted that despite positive signs in training camp, there are still major hurdles to overcome in this crucial comeback appearance.
Potential first face-to-face meeting
The much-discussed opponents did not cross paths after the “Gypsy King” secured a recent comeback victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Despite the missed opportunity, Hearn hopes the Manchester-born heavyweight will attend the upcoming Riyadh event to confront the Watford native.
“When they come face to face for the first time, it will give every sports fan the shivers because this is something they will never forget,” Hearn stated.
Shared card remains a possibility
There is an outside chance that both British fighters could compete on the same bill in Saudi Arabia to prepare for their lucrative November meeting.
Hearn confirmed he has no objections to a shared event, though he acknowledged it might be difficult to convince Fury to fight on an undercard.
The final decision on scheduling ultimately rests with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh.
“I think everybody’s extremely focused, now that both fighters have signed, on just getting through the next couple of months and making sure we can give the world this mega-event,” Hearn concluded.
The Iranian national football team are still waiting to be issued visas for the upcoming World Cup in North America, prompting immediate demands for guarantees from Fifa amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled to begin on 11 June.
Thousands of supporters attended a large departure rally for the squad in Tehran on Wednesday despite the ongoing administrative uncertainty.
Diplomatic friction heavily shadows the build-up, as the US and the Middle Eastern nation remain engaged in a war, though they are currently observing a month-long ceasefire.
Fifa talks and visa disputes
Iranian FA (FFIRI) president Medhi Taj confirmed that the documentation issues remain completely unresolved with less than a month until kickoff.
“Tomorrow or the day after, we will have a decisive meeting with Fifa. They must give us guarantees,” Taj told state news agency IRNA.
The football executive stressed that authorities have received no definitive accounting regarding which traveling members have successfully secured entry.
“We have not received any account from the other side regarding who has been granted visas. No visas have been issued yet.”
Political friction disrupts preparations
The persistent international conflict has cast widespread doubt over the Asian side’s participation across the Atlantic.
However, Fifa president Gianni Infantino explicitly assured member nations at last month’s annual congress in Vancouver that the squad would definitely compete in the United States.
Ironically, that very congress was the only one missing Iranian representation after FFIRI officials were denied entry at the Canadian border.
While Taj claimed his delegation voluntarily returned home following disrespectful treatment, Canada’s immigration minister stated the executive’s visa was actively cancelled mid-flight due to alleged links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Upcoming fixtures and strict entry conditions
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently clarified that athletes will be welcome at the tournament, but warned that individuals maintaining ties to the IRGC will likely face strict entry restrictions.
In response to these political hurdles, the Iranian federation has formally presented world football’s governing body with a list of 10 mandatory conditions for their continued participation.
This list notably insists upon the unhindered admission of all players, coaches and officials who have previously completed compulsory military service with the IRGC.
If the diplomatic standoff is resolved, the national team will establish their permanent base camp in Tucson, Arizona.
Their demanding group stage schedule features a clash against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, followed by critical fixtures against Belgium and Egypt.
Israel’s defence minister has accused Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal of inciting hatred after the teenager waved a Palestinian flag during the club’s La Liga title parade on Monday.
The 18-year-old was seen waving the large banner from an open-top bus as the Spanish champions celebrated their league success in front of an estimated 750,000 people.
Following the event, the Spanish international shared images of himself holding the flag with his millions of followers on Instagram.
“Lamine Yamal chose to incite hate against Israel while our soldiers combat the terrorist organization Hamas, an organization that massacred, raped and burned Jewish children, women and the elderly on Oct. 7.”
Israel Katz, the nation’s defence minister, posted the statement on social media platform X on Thursday.
Political tensions overlap with sporting celebrations
The incident arrives amid widespread criticism from the Spanish government and public regarding Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza.
Global backlash over the ensuing humanitarian crisis has increasingly spilled into the sporting arena across Europe.
Last year’s Vuelta a Espana cycling race faced repeated disruptions over the inclusion of an Israeli-backed team, while Spain has also joined a boycott of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.
Upcoming World Cup campaign
Away from the political controversy, the talented winger remains a crucial figure for his national team as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup in North America.
The Euro 2024 winner played a starring role in Berlin last year, helping his country defeat England to secure the prestigious continental trophy.
Spain will begin their World Cup group stage against Cape Verde on 15 June, before facing Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
Despite being two months short of his 19th birthday, the La Masia academy graduate has already secured 25 caps and scored six goals for the senior national side.