Nicolas Jackson will return to Chelsea this summer after Bayern Munich decided against triggering a £56m option to sign the striker permanently.
The Senegalese international spent the recent campaign on loan in Germany but struggled to displace Harry Kane as the primary centre-forward.
He registered 10 goals and four assists across 29 appearances to help the Bavarian side secure another Bundesliga title.
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl confirmed the club’s definitive transfer decision during an interview with Sky Germany.
“We will not trigger the option for Nicolas Jackson.”
Chelsea face pivotal summer rebuild
The returning forward now heads back to a turbulent Stamford Bridge environment ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
The West London club are actively searching for a new head coach following the departure of two different managers last season.
Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Cesc Fabregas have all been heavily linked with the vacant managerial position.
Jackson originally pushed for a loan move after facing severe competition from new signings Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
While former Brighton attacker Pedro has impressed, Delap has endured a miserable debut campaign featuring just two goals in 36 outings.
Olise stays as Neuer talks planned
Eberl also utilised the broadcast to address the immediate future of former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise.
The German executive emphatically ruled out a summer departure for the talented French attacker.
“For us, there is not a second of thinking about it. He is developing excellently.”
Attention will simultaneously turn to securing the short-term future of veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
The legendary shot-stopper will be offered a contract extension if he wishes to continue his glittering playing career.
“He is a legend. We will sit down and talk calmly. If Manuel feels ready for it, I wouldn’t know what would speak against him doing it for one more year.”
Switzerland’s Marcel Hug has won the elite men’s wheelchair race at the 2026 London Marathon to secure his sixth consecutive victory in the capital.
The dominant Swiss athlete crossed the finish line to claim his eighth overall triumph on the famous London course.
His latest performance firmly cements his status as one of the most formidable competitors in the history of the event.
Unrelenting dominance on the streets of London
The man widely known as the ‘Silver Bullet’ proved entirely untouchable from the moment the starting gun fired.
Securing a sixth consecutive win highlights a remarkable period of unprecedented supremacy in the elite men’s division.
Rival competitors were once again unable to match the blistering pace set by the veteran racer.
An eighth crown for the defending champion
Claiming an eighth overall title places the multiple Paralympic gold medallist in an exclusive echelon of endurance athletes.
The challenging capital route continues to be a highly successful hunting ground for the record-breaking marathoner.
Spectators lining the streets were ultimately treated to another tactical masterclass in elite wheelchair racing.
Former Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley is assembling a £2bn takeover consortium in the United States to potentially buy the Magpies or West Ham.
The prominent financier sold her remaining six per cent stake at St James’ Park in July 2024 but is reportedly gathering funds for a fresh project.
A dramatic return to Tyneside remains a possibility if Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) chooses to step away following a difficult domestic campaign.
She previously played a central role in brokering the £310m deal that saw PIF take control of the club from Mike Ashley in 2021.
West Ham emerge as London alternative
According to journalist Alan Nixon, the investment group had explored purchasing Tottenham Hotspur before turning their attention elsewhere.
Acquiring her former club would require a significantly higher fee than the initial figure paid three years ago.
West Ham are now being actively monitored as a viable alternative if an agreement cannot be reached in the North East.
Despite not owning their London Stadium home, the East London outfit would likely demand a higher valuation due to overseas investors heavily favouring capital-based assets.
Premier League status remains crucial
Any potential move for the Hammers would depend heavily on their top-flight status, with relegation guaranteed to reduce the asking price.
Both target clubs have endured highly frustrating seasons in the Premier League.
West Ham currently sit 17th in the table following a vital 2-1 victory over Everton, hovering just two points above the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Eddie Howe’s side occupy 14th place and appear highly unlikely to secure European football for next season.
Looming summer transfer window
This disappointing form could trigger a major summer rebuild at St James’ Park as they look to balance the books.
Key figures such as Anthony Gordon have been linked with high-profile moves, with the English forward emerging as a target for Bayern Munich.
Midfielder Sandro Tonali is also reportedly on the radar of both Arsenal and Manchester United.
Furthermore, Newcastle are currently battling Aston Villa and Tottenham in the race to sign an unnamed 23-year-old Manchester City star ahead of the summer window.
Arsenal’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Newcastle United has intensified scrutiny on their forward line, with an injury to Kai Havertz reportedly reigniting the club’s interest in Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez.
Mikel Arteta’s side returned to the top of the table on Saturday evening following a hard-fought win secured by an Eberechi Eze strike.
However, the narrow victory at Emirates Stadium was overshadowed by glaring inefficiencies in the final third.
The starting attacking unit struggled to create meaningful opportunities against a resolute visiting defence.
Injury concerns compound forward struggles
The situation worsened when Havertz was forced off during the first half with an unspecified injury.
His replacement, Viktor Gyokeres, endured a remarkably difficult afternoon despite currently standing as the club’s top scorer across all competitions.
The Sweden international managed just two touches during his opening 13 minutes on the pitch.
Late in the contest, the substitute squandered a crucial four-on-one counter-attack that would have sealed the result and improved their goal difference.
Title race pressures mount
Such technical deficiencies are raising alarm bells as the North London outfit attempt to salvage their season.
Having surrendered a nine-point advantage in the league, the Gunners now rely on Manchester City dropping points to secure the domestic crown.
Recent defeats in the Carabao Cup final and an FA Cup exit to Southampton have left European glory as their most realistic path to silverware.
Atletico star emerges as primary target
With a crucial Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid looming, attention has turned to the opposition’s star forward.
Alvarez has registered 48 goals and 17 assists in 104 appearances since moving to the Spanish capital.
The Argentine attacker already possesses vital English top-flight experience and a proven winning mentality.
Reports suggest the Arsenal hierarchy previously had a £105m bid rejected for the prolific goalscorer.
Securing the 24-year-old’s signature is now viewed as an essential step to prevent another trophyless campaign at Emirates Stadium.
UFC welterweight veteran Tim Means has been arrested in New Mexico on a felony child abuse charge following an alleged physical altercation with his teenage daughter.
Police were called to a private residence in Tijeras on Wednesday after a 911 caller reported a severe domestic disturbance.
The caller was later identified as the 17-year-old daughter of the mixed martial artist.
Court records filed in Bernalillo County state that an argument over household chores escalated into physical violence.
Allegations of physical violence
The teenager told responding officers that she was grabbed by the neck in a strangling manner during the dispute.
She further alleged that the fighter headbutted her, punched her in the face and threw a potato at her.
Deputies noted visible red marks on her neck indicating strangulation, alongside facial bruising and blood around her nose.
The long-serving competitor was subsequently taken into custody on suspicion of abandonment or abuse of a child.
Investigation and competitive future
This offence is classified as a felony under New Mexico state law.
The welterweight was released from custody on Friday as the criminal investigation continues.
Means has made more than 30 appearances inside the octagon during a lengthy career with the premier mixed martial arts promotion.
The American last competed at UFC 307 in October 2024, suffering a defeat to Court McGee.
Neither the promotion nor the athlete’s representatives have issued a public statement regarding the ongoing legal proceedings.
American heavyweight Jarrell Miller has secured a unanimous points victory over Cuba’s Lenier Pero in a WBA title eliminator in Las Vegas.
The dominant performance moves the Brooklyn native a crucial step closer to a heavyweight world championship opportunity.
Promoter Eddie Hearn is now targeting a lucrative domestic clash with former world champion Deontay Wilder for his victorious fighter.
Wilder showdown targeted for New York
Hearn has quickly identified his preferred next step, aiming to stage a high-profile heavyweight bout on the East Coast.
Wilder recently returned to winning ways by defeating British veteran Derek Chisora, making a potential clash highly appealing for US audiences.
“For me, the American fight is Deontay Wilder against Jarrell Miller,” said Hearn.
“Run it in New York. That’s a serious fight. Deontay’s come back with a good win against Chisora, I think that’s a big fight for American boxing.”
High volume output secures crucial win
Working with new trainer Bozy Ennis for the first time, Miller produced a relentless offensive display to overwhelm his opponent.
The heavyweight threw over 1,000 punches during the gruelling contest, showcasing remarkable stamina.
Weighing in at a relatively lean 138kg (305lbs), the victor credited his improved physical conditioning for the exceptional work rate.
This result marks a second consecutive triumph in 2026, keeping his final run toward world title contention firmly alive.
“I wasn’t looking for the knockout, I just wanted to see what my conditioning was and get back to a lot of punches,” the fighter explained.
“A couple of times I know I had him hurt but I’m like, ‘you know what? Work, baby, just work. Don’t look for it too much.’ But it was good, though, getting the rust off.”
Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius has signed a new contract ahead of Sunday’s Women’s Champions League semi-final first leg against OL Lyonnes at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are aiming to secure back-to-back European titles after defeating Barcelona in last year’s final in Lisbon.
It was the Swedish international who scored the decisive winning goal on that famous night in Portugal.
The experienced attacker possesses a remarkable record in high-stakes matches, having scored in three of the four finals she has contested since joining the north London club.
“I really love to win with this team and I would do anything for that to happen,” the forward said.
“As a striker, you always want to score goals and in these big games, there’s something special about it.”
Confidence high despite underdog tag
Renee Slegers’ side enter the weekend with a formidable home record and unwavering belief.
They face a familiar foe in the eight-time European champions, having overcome a first-leg deficit to eliminate the French giants at the exact same stage last season.
The reigning champions are now viewed as the ultimate target for Europe’s elite, but their talismanic striker insists the squad feels no additional pressure.
“I wouldn’t say being the Champions League holders has changed anything,” she added.
“We know that we can achieve it and if we’ve done it once, we can for sure do it again.”
“When we play our best football, we’re always a team to count on.”
A blossoming attacking partnership
Central to Arsenal’s recent success has been the lethal combination of the Scandinavian star and her English team-mate Alessia Russo.
The Lionesses standout currently leads the competition’s scoring charts, having netted eight times in just 10 European appearances this term.
Their seamless tactical understanding has been nurtured by Arsenal assistant coach and legendary former striker Kelly Smith.
“She has played a big part of it working with us forwards,” the newly-retained attacker explained.
“We have so much time in training to work on the relationships and it works really well.”
Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle were ejected following a late-game skirmish as the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 112-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
The altercation was sparked when Minnesota forward Jaden McDaniels converted an uncontested transition layup with just 1.3 seconds remaining on the clock.
Believing the match to be conceded, the reigning league MVP took exception to the late score and confronted his opponent in front of the home bench.
The ensuing scuffle drew in players from both sides, ultimately resulting in ejections for the Serbian centre and Timberwolves forward Randle.
Late controversy sours dominant win
Tensions between the two Western Conference rivals were already running high following McDaniels’ recent comments criticising Denver’s defensive capabilities.
The 24-year-old was unapologetic about his decision to play through the final buzzer at the Target Center.
“Clock still be running, so I’m going to go score,” McDaniels stated.
Jokic, who sprinted across the court to shove the Minnesota wing before being dragged into a wider melee, was equally resolute in his stance.
“I don’t regret it, because he scored after everybody stopped playing,” the Denver talisman admitted post-match.
Injury woes compound Denver frustration
The NBA will now review the incident ahead of Game Five, specifically looking at whether players improperly left the bench area.
Denver coach David Adelman expressed his severe disappointment with the late layup, describing it as an outdated and unnecessary tactic.
“The game was over, the game was conceded, and that stuff just doesn’t happen anymore,” Adelman said.
The dramatic finale capped a deeply frustrating night for the pre-series favourites, who have surrendered the momentum after comfortably winning the opening fixture.
To compound their misery, the 2023 champions are battling a mounting injury crisis on the perimeter.
Aaron Gordon attempted to play through a calf issue but was visibly struggling during his 23 minutes on the court, leaving his availability for the next match in serious doubt.
With defensive specialist Peyton Watson already sidelined by a hamstring problem, the Nuggets are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with Minnesota’s relentless length and athleticism.