Chelsea are preparing to offload up to 11 players before the transfer deadline in a massive summer clearance designed to recoup nearly £500m following a heavy recruitment drive.

Alonso trims bloated squad

The West London club have been highly active in the market, bringing in eight new faces to overhaul a group that finished a disappointing 10th in the Premier League last season.

New manager Xabi Alonso has overseen a dramatic shift in strategy, highlighted by several notable arrivals.

However, this aggressive recruitment has left the Blues with a significantly oversized roster ahead of the new campaign.

Defensive departures expected

The Spanish head coach has publicly acknowledged the need to trim his defensive ranks following the arrival of Lacroix.

“Ideally, I would like only four or five options in the squad,” admitted the newly appointed Chelsea boss.

Trevoh Chalobah appears closest to the exit door, with the academy graduate nearing a £31m switch to Serie A side Como.

Fellow defenders Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile are also deemed surplus to requirements, valued at £25m and £30m respectively. Even highly rated full-back Malo Gusto could be sacrificed if an interested suitor meets his steep £75m asking price.

Midfield and attacking exits

Further up the pitch, the former Champions League winners are willing to entertain astronomical offers for their marquee stars.

World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez could be allowed to leave if a club matches the £120m valuation placed on the Argentine midfielder.

Portuguese winger Pedro Neto is similarly vulnerable to an impending departure, despite his positive contributions at Stamford Bridge.

In the attacking third, the surprise acquisition of Danny Welbeck has accelerated plans to sell existing forwards. Liam Delap faces a premature exit following a frustrating debut campaign, while Nicolas Jackson is also expected to be moved on to balance the books.

World number two Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the upcoming Cincinnati Open in Ohio as he continues to recover from a persistent wrist injury.

The 23-year-old has been sidelined since April after initially pulling out of the Barcelona Open.

This prolonged absence previously forced the Spanish star to miss Wimbledon and the opportunity to defend his French Open crown.

He was scheduled to make his competitive return at the Ohio tournament, which begins on 11 August.

US Open preparations suffer major setback

Having won the Cincinnati title in 2025, the world number two planned to use the hard-court event to prepare for his upcoming US Open defence.

However, tournament organisers confirmed that the lingering physical issue will keep the Spaniard out of action.

This latest withdrawal raises serious doubts about his match fitness ahead of the season’s final major in New York, which commences on 30 August.

Organisers wish Alcaraz a swift recovery

Tournament director Bob Moran expressed his disappointment but emphasised that the player’s long-term health remains the priority.

“We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible,” said Moran.
“We wish him the best with his recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to Cincinnati in the future.”

Ten-time world champion Brock Lesnar has announced his retirement from professional wrestling and combat sports following his final match at WWE SummerSlam.

The 49-year-old confirmed his decision to permanently step away during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday.

His announcement brings the curtain down on one of the most decorated and unique careers in modern sports history.

The former UFC heavyweight titleholder admitted he initially intended to bow out earlier this year at WrestleMania.

WrestleMania doubts and a final farewell

The South Dakota native removed his boots and gloves in the ring after taking a slam from Oba Femi at the flagship spring event.

However, he ultimately opted to return for one last Hell in a Cell appearance in Minneapolis last weekend.

“When Oba Femi slammed me at WrestleMania, I said, ‘I can’t do this anymore, I think I’m done,'” the veteran admitted.

“But the business called, and I still had some fuel in the tank.”

“Saturday, for Brock Lesnar, that’s it – that’s it for me in the squared circle and everything else.”

A multi-sport powerhouse

Before dominating sports entertainment, the powerful athlete won an NCAA Division I wrestling national championship for the University of Minnesota in 2000.

He quickly transitioned to the WWE roster, capturing his first world title by defeating Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in 2002.

“The Beast Incarnate” famously went on to conquer The Undertaker’s legendary 21-0 undefeated streak at WrestleMania in 2014.

His athletic credentials also extended far beyond scripted competition into the legitimate fighting arena.

UFC glory and leaving a legacy

Transitioning to mixed martial arts in 2007, he remarkably won the UFC heavyweight championship in just his fourth professional bout against Randy Couture.

A brief foray into American football also saw him spend the 2004 pre-season with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings before being released.

Reflecting on his remarkable journey, the American expressed deep gratitude for a lifetime of athletic achievement.

“I was just a farm kid from South Dakota with a big dream, a big heart and a big ass chip on my shoulder,” he added.

“If kids just stay focused on work and putting time in, good things will happen.”

Former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is in negotiations to join Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor on a free transfer, the club has confirmed.

The 34-year-old is currently without a club following his departure from Anfield at the end of last season.

Trabzonspor chairman Ertugrul Dogan expects the Egyptian international to arrive in Istanbul for medical checks on Wednesday before travelling to Trabzon to finalise the deal.

Medical expected before Thursday signing

A formal announcement on Turkey’s public disclosure platform confirmed that discussions with the unattached winger have officially commenced.

Negotiations have been launched to transfer professional footballer Mohamed Salah, who is in a free status, to our club.

Dogan later told broadcaster A Spor that the final contract is likely to be signed on Thursday, pending the successful completion of his medical examinations.

A potential move to the Black Sea coast follows a stalled approach from domestic rivals Besiktas, where negotiations reportedly collapsed over financial and image-rights demands.

End of a record-breaking Anfield era

The legendary attacker enjoyed a spectacular nine-year spell on Merseyside, amassing 257 goals in 442 appearances across all competitions.

During a prolific 2024-25 campaign, he recorded an astonishing 29 Premier League goals and 18 assists, equalling the divisional record for most goal involvements in a single season.

However, the veteran’s influence waned during his final year in England, registering just seven league goals during a frustrating campaign that included a public disagreement with manager Arne Slot.

European ambitions in Turkey

Joining Trabzonspor offers the two-time Premier League champion an immediate return to continental competition, with the club entering the Europa League playoff round after finishing third last term.

The Black Sea outfit are traditionally viewed as the fourth major power in Turkish football, sitting just behind Istanbul giants Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas.

If the transfer is completed, Turkey will become the fourth European country the forward has played in, following successful stints in Switzerland, Italy and England.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have cemented their position as overwhelming favourites to win a third consecutive World Series after acquiring two-time reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal ahead of the Major League Baseball trade deadline.

Following the blockbuster Saturday trade, bookmakers immediately slashed the California franchise’s championship odds from +190 to +150.

They now sit far ahead of their nearest market rivals, with the New York Yankees currently priced at +600 to take the crown.

Heavy backing for a historic three-peat

Punters have heavily backed the reigning champions since the deadline passed, generating the highest volume of outright winner tickets across multiple betting platforms.

Normally, odds this short can cool betting activity, but the Dodgers’ combination of star power, depth and another blockbuster addition has only generated more interest from bettors.

Johnny Avello, DraftKings Sportsbook director

Despite the massive influx of wagers on the National League powerhouse, major sportsbooks report that the star-studded roster does not currently represent a critical financial liability.

Red Sox surge following Rutschman arrival

Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox orchestrated arguably the second most significant move of the window by securing three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles.

This high-profile American League transaction, combined with a blistering run of form since late June, has seen Boston’s title odds plummet.

The Massachusetts club is now priced at 15-1 for the championship, having drifted as high as 100-1 earlier in the summer.

They have subsequently attracted massive financial backing, taking the second-most World Series money behind Los Angeles.

National League challengers emerge

Beyond the dominant favourites, the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies are the only other National League contenders drawing significant market attention.

Both franchises have racked up nearly nine percent of the handle to win the pennant in recent days.

Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers has agreed a four-year, $140m contract extension with the Baltimore Ravens, securing $108m in guaranteed money.

The lucrative agreement gives the 25-year-old an average annual value of $35m.

That figure ties him with Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson as the fourth highest-paid receiver in the NFL.

Historic production in Maryland

The former first-round draft pick has completely transformed the Baltimore passing attack since arriving in the league.

He remains the only player in franchise history to earn Pro Bowl honours as a wide receiver, achieving the feat in both 2024 and 2025.

Last season proved particularly spectacular for the dynamic pass-catcher as he hauled in a career-high 86 receptions.

His resulting 1,211 receiving yards accounted for a remarkable 36.9% of the team’s entire aerial output.

Keeping pace with elite peers

To underline his crucial importance, no other Ravens wideout managed more than 25 catches or 400 yards throughout the entire 2025 campaign.

The standout target now boasts 3,128 receiving yards across his first three seasons in professional football.

This production places him firmly among the elite talents from his draft class, sitting closely behind Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua and Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Seahawks receiver Smith-Njigba recently reset the market himself, currently standing as the league’s highest-paid receiver at $42.15m per year.

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has confirmed a captaincy dispute with Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas has been resolved following a pre-season incident in New York.

Footage emerged last week showing the trio arguing after a 1-0 victory against Wrexham at Yankee Stadium.

The disagreement began when the Hungarian international handed the armband to Tsimikas instead of Jones while being substituted, leading the Greek defender to throw it to the floor during the post-match dispute.

Media exaggerated the incident

During a subsequent 4-2 pre-season defeat by Leeds United on Sunday, the leadership responsibility was instead passed to Jones.

“It was never a debate between us three. We just discussed something on the pitch.”

Dominik Szoboszlai

The 25-year-old insisted that the media blew the situation out of proportion and stated that future discussions will take place privately in the dressing room.

“Nobody was angry at no-one. It’s all cleared – we are cool.”

Dominik Szoboszlai

Vice-captaincy remains vacant

With regular skipper Virgil van Dijk absent from the United States tour and Joe Gomez nursing an injury, the former RB Leipzig playmaker led the side for most of the trip.

New manager Andoni Iraola has not yet appointed a permanent vice-captain following the surprise departure of Andy Robertson to Tottenham Hotspur.

“If you get offered the vice-captaincy at Liverpool, you’re going to take it. It would be a proud moment for me.”

Dominik Szoboszlai

However, the midfield general reiterated his respect for the established leadership group, which includes Alisson Becker alongside Van Dijk and Gomez.

Focus turns to the new season

The Reds return to Merseyside training on Wednesday before facing Monaco in a final pre-season friendly at Anfield this weekend.

“I feel we are ready to go again and take motivation from the last season, because it was not the best.”

Dominik Szoboszlai

Addressing potential transfer activity, the club’s number eight maintained that squad recruitment remains the responsibility of the board and management.

He also reserved praise for 19-year-old prospect Trey Nyoni, who has been a standout performer, while the squad prepares to welcome back Alexis Mac Allister.

Arsenal are actively pursuing a summer transfer for Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes as manager Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his midfield options.

The Brazilian international has emerged as a primary target for the North London club ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

His potential arrival at Emirates Stadium could significantly alter the tactical dynamics of the current squad.

Arteta is keen to add the combative enforcer’s technical quality to a team determined to secure the Premier League title.

Suitability for Arteta’s system

The former Lyon playmaker possesses a unique blend of defensive tenacity and progressive passing abilities.

These core strengths make the highly-rated orchestrator an ideal candidate to operate within Arsenal’s fluid midfield structure.

Integrating the South American star could unlock much greater attacking freedom for the existing creative players in the capital.

Newcastle’s midfield linchpin

Since arriving at St James’ Park, the talented anchor has established himself as an indispensable leader for the Magpies.

His stellar performances in the North East have consistently drawn attention from Europe’s elite footballing institutions.

Securing the signature of such a high-profile domestic rival would represent a major statement of intent from the Gunners.