Liverpool have opened preliminary talks with AC Milan for defender Fikayo Tomori and are considering a substantial bid for Mainz midfielder Kaishu Sano.
The Merseyside club are yet to make any major additions this summer, despite reported interest in Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola.
However, the pursuit of new recruits has intensified following an invitation from Mainz to submit offers for Sano.
The 25-year-old Japanese international has attracted significant attention following a string of impressive midfield performances.
Mainz demand premium fee for Sano
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are also closely monitoring the highly sought-after midfielder.
Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel has publicly acknowledged the mounting Premier League interest in his prized asset.
Heidel insists the Bundesliga outfit are under no financial pressure to sanction a sale this window.
“If an offer comes along that makes us gasp for breath, we have to consider it.” Christian Heidel
“Our big advantage is that the player still has a long-term contract, so we’re under no pressure at all and won’t be rushing anything.”
The German executive confirmed that negotiations would only progress if a formal bid matches the player’s true market worth.
Defensive reinforcements on the agenda
Alongside their midfield targets, the Anfield club are actively seeking to bolster their defensive ranks before the deadline.
Initial discussions have reportedly taken place with AC Milan regarding former Chelsea centre-back Tomori.
The English defender has established himself as a key figure in Serie A but could be tempted by a return to his homeland.
Negotiations currently remain at an early stage, with further developments expected in the coming weeks.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing unprecedented pressure after his controversial plans to sell a stake in the World Cup sparked boycott threats from UEFA and widespread global condemnation.
The global football chief has seen his authority severely weakened following the sudden revelation of a scheme to commercialise the sport’s biggest tournament.
UEFA has threatened a total boycott of all international competitions by its member nations unless the project is permanently abandoned.
Opposition has rapidly snowballed, with North American governing body Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation also formally rejecting the proposal.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham waded into the crisis on Friday, publicly stating that the current administration is the wrong fit to lead the global game.
Senior adviser resigns amid council anger
The fallout has quickly reached the inner executive circles of the Zurich-based organisation.
Senior presidential adviser Carlos Cordeiro has officially resigned in protest against the heavily criticised scheme.
Much of the anger stems from the highly secretive nature of the planning behind FIFA Forward Enterprises, which was reportedly developed over the past year.
German Football Association president Bernd Neuendorf revealed he only discovered the sweeping commercial changes through media reports.
I am also a member of the FIFA Council, and one would expect to be informed in advance about such a significant decision.
Bernd Neuendorf
Neuendorf added that the proposals had never been discussed during official council meetings, leaving executive members entirely sidelined.
Organisation vows to push forward despite rebellion
The 37-member FIFA Council includes representatives from all six continental federations and serves as world football’s highest executive body.
Despite facing near-unanimous resistance from these key stakeholders, the governing body initially expressed its intention to force the plans to a formal vote.
The 54-year-old Swiss administrator has consistently pushed the boundaries of his presidential authority during his tenure at the top of the sport.
However, forcing through this deeply unpopular commercial venture appears increasingly impossible given the sheer scale of the coordinated rebellion.
A third clarification statement was issued on Friday morning as the organisation attempts to regain control of a rapidly deteriorating situation.
Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has had her four-year ban for refusing a doping test upheld following the release of an independent tribunal report into the incident at her Prague home.
The independent tribunal released its full written findings on Friday regarding the confrontation, which took place late on a December evening.
The 27-year-old was originally suspended in June after denying a doping control officer entry into her apartment to conduct a mandatory anti-doping sample collection.
While the panel described the situation as deeply unfortunate, they concluded that the player offered no compelling justification for a shorter suspension.
An 8pm visit and panicked texts
The controversy began when the doping officer arrived at the Czech player’s flat at 8pm, prompting her to completely deny entry via the building’s intercom.
Alone in her apartment, the former world number six immediately called her agent to query standard anti-doping protocols.
The tribunal’s report revealed she also sent a text message to her boyfriend, using an expletive to describe the arriving official.
Both parties agree that a face-to-face meeting occurred approximately 10 minutes later when the 2023 women’s singles winner went outside to walk her Italian Greyhound.
It was during this dog walk that she explicitly reiterated her refusal to provide a sample and signed an official form acknowledging her stance.
Safety fears and Kvitova comparisons
A central part of the defence relied on safety concerns, with the player claiming she felt terrified when the officer approached her door without properly identifying themselves.
Her legal team cited the horrific 2016 knife attack on fellow tennis professional Petra Kvitova, who was severely injured by an intruder at her home.
However, the panel dismissed this mitigation entirely, stating that drawing direct comparisons to the Kvitova incident was heavily exaggerated.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency, tasked with overseeing a clean sport, argued they had little option but to pursue the maximum penalty for evasion.
This is a very unfortunate manner in which the player made a decision in the heat of the moment to refuse doping control, in a state of stress and anxiety, with significant consequences.
Independent Tribunal Report
Prior to this lengthy suspension, the talented left-hander had enjoyed a stellar career, capturing an Olympic silver medal at Tokyo 2020 and reaching the 2019 French Open final.
Borussia Dortmund are exploring a summer transfer for Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri as the Gunners consider offers for the 19-year-old playmaker.
The Bundesliga club have a proven track record of nurturing young English talent, having previously developed Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham into global stars.
Their current squad already features Jobe Bellingham, and the German giants have now identified the north London prospect as their next developmental project.
The teenager spent the latter half of the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Marseille to gain valuable senior experience.
Arsenal open to summer departure
The highly-rated academy graduate signed a new long-term contract at Emirates Stadium last year, tying him to the Premier League side until 2030.
However, a lack of regular first-team opportunities has left the player eager for consistent competitive minutes elsewhere.
He currently faces stiff competition for the number ten role, with Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze firmly established ahead of him in the pecking order.
Furthermore, the rapid emergence of teenage sensation Max Dowman has pushed the versatile attacker further down the depth chart out wide.
Funding a title defence
Arsenal are aware they need to generate funds through player sales before introducing new faces to bolster their upcoming title defence.
Dortmund have maintained a long-standing interest in the attacking midfielder and are carefully positioning themselves to strike if a departure is formally sanctioned.
The English outfit may ultimately prefer a temporary loan arrangement, given the four years remaining on his current deal.
He is still expected to receive a chance to impress during pre-season preparations, especially with several senior stars unavailable following their recent World Cup exploits.
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is free to resume his football career immediately after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) partially upheld his appeal against a four-year doping ban.
The 25-year-old has been absent from competitive action since November 2024 following an adverse finding for the banned substance meldonium.
He was provisionally suspended by the Football Association the following month before being handed the maximum four-year sanction.
Cas ruling allows immediate return
Despite accepting that he broke anti-doping regulations, the Ukraine international successfully argued for his suspension to match the time he has already served.
This critical ruling from Cas means the lightning-fast attacker is eligible for top-flight competition with immediate effect.
Chelsea welcome forward to pre-season
His club released an official statement expressing their relief and confirming he will now travel with the squad on their upcoming pre-season tour.
“We are looking forward to getting Mudryk back to full fitness, back into the squad and back on to the pitch.”
The former Shakhtar Donetsk star will now focus on regaining his match sharpness ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Chelsea are on the verge of signing veteran striker Danny Welbeck from Brighton, adding another chapter to the increasingly tense transfer relationship between the two Premier League clubs.
The experienced forward is poised to join a youthful Blues squad now managed by Spanish tactician Xabi Alonso.
Alonso is actively seeking battle-hardened additions as he aims to steer the west London side back into the Champions League next season.
This follows a chaotic 2025-26 campaign that saw Chelsea dismiss both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior before Calum McFarlane took interim charge.
A brewing modern rivalry
Since 2022, the Stamford Bridge hierarchy have spent nearly £290m acquiring 15 different players and backroom staff members from the Seagulls.
This latest acquisition could push that combined financial outlay beyond the staggering £300m mark.
However, the move carries a potentially awkward undertone given the former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker’s past remarks regarding friction between the teams.
Speaking after a 3-0 victory over Chelsea in February 2025, the England international openly acknowledged the growing animosity felt in the dressing room.
“You know we feel it as a group and a dressing room; the fans obviously produce that atmosphere,” the striker told Sky Sports at the time.
“There has been a lot ongoing between the two clubs and a lot of stuff has happened.”
“When it comes to the pitch, we just want to make it a really good game, a really good rivalry, fierce, and we want to fight right until the end with them.”
Experienced reinforcements for Alonso
Alongside their pursuit of the Seagulls frontman, Chelsea are also finalising a move for veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson.
The former Liverpool captain has reportedly agreed to terminate his Brentford contract a year early to join Alonso’s rebuilding project on a free transfer.
Securing two highly seasoned professionals highlights a distinct shift in Chelsea’s recruitment strategy after successive turbulent seasons.
Chelsea have been fined £10m and handed a suspended two-window transfer ban by the Football Association for historical rule breaches during Roman Abramovich’s ownership.
The West London club were charged with 74 infractions after the current ownership self-reported the misconduct upon purchasing the team in 2022.
These irregularities occurred between 2009 and 2022, involving high-profile deals for players including Eden Hazard, Willian and Samuel Eto’o.
Successful appeal prevents points deduction
An independent Regulatory Commission initially imposed a suspended six-point deduction alongside the heavy financial penalty.
However, the Premier League side successfully challenged this sporting sanction during a subsequent appeal hearing.
Instead of facing a potential points penalty, the Blues will now operate under a suspended registration ban until 30 June 2027.
The multi-million pound fine was not subject to appeal and will be fully invested into grassroots football by the governing body.
Closing the chapter on historical breaches
The modern hierarchy voluntarily disclosed thousands of documents to regulators to resolve these legacy issues transparently.
This cooperative approach has already resulted in separate settlement agreements with both Uefa and the Premier League.
An official statement from the governing body confirmed the final decision on Friday.
“A financial sanction of £10 million and a suspended two-window registration ban have been imposed on Chelsea FC for breaches of The Football Association Football Agent Regulations.”
The statement also noted that investigations into individual misconduct arising from the case remain ongoing.
The Stamford Bridge outfit released their own response expressing satisfaction that a conclusion has been reached regarding these historical matters.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed he wants a maximum of five central defenders for the upcoming Premier League campaign following the £52m arrival of Maxence Lacroix.
The Blues recently secured the 26-year-old from Crystal Palace to bolster a bloated backline ahead of the new season.
However, the West London club must now actively offload several first-team players to meet their manager’s specific numerical target.
Speaking to reporters in Sydney, the Spanish tactician was asked exactly how many central defensive options he ideally required.
“Four or five. Is that accurate enough?”
Alonso replied with a laugh.
Stamford Bridge clear-out expected
To achieve that desired balance, several high-profile names are currently being pushed toward the exit door.
Axel Disasi, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile are all actively being shopped by the club hierarchy this summer.
Meanwhile, fellow defender Mamadou Sarr is widely expected to depart on a temporary loan arrangement.
Retaining Lacroix alongside Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo and Aaron Anselmino would leave the squad perfectly aligned with Alonso’s tactical vision.
Trimming the first-team roster remains a major priority following Marc Cucurella’s high-profile switch to Real Madrid.
Ready-made Premier League experience
The £52m acquisition of Lacroix adds vital top-flight experience and a spotless injury record to a transitional squad.
The French international previously stepped into a crucial leadership role at Selhurst Park when Marc Guehi departed for Manchester City in January.
He subsequently helped guide the Eagles to Europa Conference League glory under Austrian head coach Oliver Glasner.
Having previously managed Bayer Leverkusen, the new Chelsea boss is already highly familiar with his latest recruit from their shared time in the Bundesliga.
‘A winner mentality’
The former Wolfsburg defender is expected to make an immediate impact upon returning to the English capital.
“I know Maxence from my time in the Bundesliga, but I think that his progression and his adaptation in the Premier League has been fantastic.”
Alonso explained to the travelling media.
“Not just on the pitch as well, in terms of personality, leadership, he has these attributes. A very reliable player that will give us power in the defensive line.”
The manager was quick to praise the Frenchman’s psychological attributes alongside his established tactical awareness.
“He has a strong personality. He’s mature, he wants to win, he has a winner mentality. And as well, he loves to defend and that’s something I like as well.”