Liverpool have made progress in their pursuit of RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande as new manager Andoni Iraola begins a major squad rebuild ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Anfield club are looking to overhaul their attacking options following the confirmed departures of several key figures.
Former Bournemouth boss Iraola recently replaced Arne Slot, who was sacked after a disappointing fifth-place Premier League finish last term.
The newly appointed Spanish manager is now tasked with returning the six-time European champions to the pinnacle of English football.
World Cup star attracts heavy interest
At the centre of this new era could be the 19-year-old Bundesliga sensation, who registered 13 goals and 10 assists across all competitions during the 2025-26 campaign.
The teenage forward is currently representing Ivory Coast at the World Cup in North America.
He significantly enhanced his growing reputation with a man-of-the-match performance during a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their Group E opener.
The dynamic attacker dominated the fixture in Philadelphia, leading the match statistics for touches, chances created and duels won.
Reds face competition for signature
Representatives of the Merseyside outfit believe the player is keen on a move to England due to his childhood support for the club.
However, French giants Paris Saint-Germain are also closely monitoring the highly sought-after Ivorian international.
RB Leipzig remain determined to retain their prized asset and have reportedly offered a lucrative contract extension.
A successful qualification for next season’s Champions League could bolster the German side’s hopes of keeping the lightning-fast striker.
Anfield exodus continues
Securing a top-tier winger is increasingly urgent for Liverpool as the squad undergoes a dramatic transformation.
Stalwarts Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson will join Mohamed Salah in exiting the club this summer.
Uncertainty also surrounds the immediate futures of first-team regulars Federico Chiesa, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister.
Tottenham Hotspur are pushing to sign free agent Dušan Vlahović this summer despite the striker demanding wages of £150,000 a week.
Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi is overseeing a major squad overhaul after the club finished in the bottom half of the Premier League in consecutive seasons.
The North London outfit have already secured defensive reinforcements by signing Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi.
Attacking additions are now the primary focus ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Striker shortage forces market move
The Italian head coach urgently requires firepower with Randal Kolo Muani returning to Paris St-Germain following his loan spell.
Uncertainty also surrounds the long-term future of Brazilian forward Richarlison.
This lack of depth has led the club to identify the 26-year-old Serbian international as a priority target.
The formidable frontman is available without a transfer fee after allowing his contract with Juventus to expire.
Proven pedigree in Italy
During his time in Serie A, the prolific attacker registered 50 league goals in 123 appearances for the Turin giants.
That followed a highly successful stint at Fiorentina, where he found the net 44 times in 98 matches.
Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, former defender Micah Richards previously praised the forward’s exceptional physical and technical attributes.
“He is lightning. It’s ridiculous. His left foot is like a wand. I am telling you now, he is everything you need.”
Financial implications and rival interest
Securing the highly coveted marksman will require a significant financial commitment on personal terms.
Reports suggest the former Fiorentina star is requesting a salary of approximately £8m per year.
However, these demands have not deterred the Spurs hierarchy given the absence of a traditional transfer fee.
Premier League rivals Chelsea and Newcastle United are also monitoring the situation closely.
Acquiring a player of this calibre on a free transfer represents a rare market opportunity that Tottenham are determined to seize.
Emma Raducanu is aiming to carry her promising grass-court momentum into Wimbledon after falling to an inspired Donna Vekic in the Queen’s Championship final.
The former US Open champion was visibly disappointed as an erratic groundstroke handed Vekic a 6-0 7-6 victory, extending her wait for a first tournament title since 2021.
“Right now it obviously really stings, so I’m just going to let myself feel it today but try to get over it pretty quick,” Raducanu said.
Bouncing back rapidly from setbacks was the hallmark of several tenacious performances by the Briton throughout her impressive week in west London.
Shrugging off injury fears
Raducanu’s burgeoning career has been repeatedly disrupted by physical issues, and a heavy slip on the damp grass during her quarter-final against Kamilla Rakhimova sparked familiar concerns.
Despite requiring a medical timeout and returning with heavy strapping, she refused to let the pain or fear of slipping hamper her aggressive baseline game.
Any lingering doubts over her physical condition were firmly allayed when she returned to the court just two and a half hours later following a rain delay.
The British star confidently brushed aside talented teenager Iva Jovic in straight sets to secure her place in the grass-court final.
Building towards SW19
Maintaining physical durability has been a persistent challenge for the youngster, exacerbated by a heavily disrupted start to the season where a post-viral illness sidelined her for two months.
However, successfully navigating a heavily condensed schedule of intense battles on the grass appears to have caused no lasting physical damage.
She defeated two top-20 opponents without dropping a single set en route to the final, providing deeply encouraging signs ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam at the All England Club.
While the final closely mirrored her recent French Open exit against Solana Sierra, her trademark resilience was once again firmly on display to offer a solid foundation for Wimbledon.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is targeting a historic career Grand Slam at the upcoming US Open, while fellow major champion Brooks Koepka’s participation is in doubt following a hand injury.
The 29-year-old is among the favourites to secure the title at Shinnecock Hills this weekend.
A victory in New York would see the American become only the seventh golfer in the modern era to win all four major championships.
Despite tying for 12th at the recent Canadian Open and remaining winless since January, the two-time Masters champion arrives with high expectations.
Scouting a challenging Shinnecock Hills
Shinnecock Hills has historically proven to be a severe test during previous US Open tournaments.
The notoriously difficult layout prompted the world number one to conduct an early scouting mission to familiarise himself with the conditions.
“Once you start missing fairways out there, you have no chance,” Scheffler said regarding his experience at the venue.
“But the fairways are generous enough to where it provides you some opportunity and that way it’s just that the green complexes are extraordinarily difficult, and so they can put the pins wherever they want and make the scores as high as they could possibly want them to be.”
The Texan acknowledged the immense pressure of completing the Grand Slam but insists he is embracing the monumental task ahead.
Pushing the boundaries of major golf
The United States Golf Association is renowned for creating punishing setups that test the mental fortitude of the world’s elite.
When the major was last staged at Shinnecock Hills in 2018, the winning score was just one-over-par.
“It’s hard when you run one tournament a year – and you run it on a different golf course every year – to get it just right,” Scheffler added.
“And you’re trying to make it hard. I think in the US Open, they push the boundaries. If they’re going to continue to push the boundaries, eventually they’ll screw up and then they’ll dial it back.”
Koepka suffers untimely injury setback
Meanwhile, five-time major winner Brooks Koepka was forced to withdraw from the final round of the Canadian Open on Sunday.
The 36-year-old experienced severe numbness in his hand, leaving him unable to properly grip his clubs.
This latest physical setback raises serious concerns over his availability for the upcoming major.
Koepka previously conquered Shinnecock Hills during his 2018 triumph, but now faces a tense race against time to be fit for the latest edition.
Lionel Messi will become the first male footballer to appear in six World Cups when he leads Argentina against Algeria in Kansas City.
The Inter Miami forward will beat his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo to the historic milestone by a matter of hours.
Messi had previously hinted at international retirement following his nation’s triumphant 2022 campaign in Qatar.
However, the 38-year-old insists his motivation to compete on the global stage remains entirely undiminished.
Chasing Klose’s goalscoring record
The veteran attacker will also earn his 200th international cap during the opening Group J fixture.
He approaches the tournament standing just three goals short of Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup record of 16 strikes.
The Argentine captain will celebrate his 39th birthday next week as he looks to defend the trophy won so dramatically in Doha.
‘Excited as ever’ to compete
The former Barcelona star acknowledged that his presence at another finals seemed unlikely four years ago.
“There had been doubts because of what I said at the previous World Cup.”
“That I thought it would be difficult for me to play in another one, because so many years had to pass.”
“But I kept feeling good and taking things day by day.”
“I had the opportunity to play, get into rhythm, get minutes on the pitch and gradually feel better.”
“I’m happy, enjoying every moment and now I’m also as excited as ever.”
London-born forward OG Anunoby believes basketball will experience rapid growth in the United Kingdom following his starring role in the New York Knicks’ historic 2026 NBA Championship victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Knicks secured their first finals triumph since 1973 by wrapping up a 4-1 series win in Texas.
However, it was the former Toronto Raptors star who provided the defining moment of the best-of-seven series during a dramatic game four at Madison Square Garden.
With just 1.2 seconds remaining and New York trailing by a single point, Anunoby tipped in a missed Jalen Brunson three-pointer to steal a miraculous victory.
A defining moment in British basketball history
That stunning rebound propelled the British standout into elite company alongside iconic clutch plays from legends like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.
The viral game-winner sparked wild celebrations among the celebrity-filled front row and pushed the storied franchise to the brink of basketball immortality.
“Game four is probably the top of British basketball history,” said London-born Anunoby, now a two-time NBA winner.
“Amazing for Britain and the UK and everyone who loves basketball in the UK.”
Stepping out of the shadows
Unlike his 2019 title success in Canada, where injury sidelined him for the entire post-season, Anunoby was instrumental to this year’s championship run.
The defensive specialist started 84 matches this season and ranked second across the entire squad in play-off points, assists, blocks, and steals per game.
While talismanic point guard Brunson claimed the Finals MVP award, his British team-mate has firmly cemented his status as a vital franchise cornerstone.
A golden era for UK-based talent
The 2026 campaign featured a record-breaking contingent of players from the United Kingdom making their mark on the premier basketball league.
Anunoby shared the court with fellow Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan, who holds deep allegiance to the UK despite representing Poland internationally.
Amari Williams and Tosan Evbuomwan also featured during a landmark season that promises to inspire a new generation of British prospects.
Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has agreed a new long-term contract to remain at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2031.
The 24-year-old’s previous deal was scheduled to expire in 2028, but successful negotiations have now secured his future with the English champions.
This commitment officially ends persistent speculation linking the versatile defender with lucrative moves to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Overcoming major injury setbacks
The Croatian international endured a highly frustrating domestic campaign last year after sustaining a broken leg in January.
That severe injury sidelined him for four months and restricted his club appearances to just 25 games across all competitions.
However, the adept centre-back proved his fitness by successfully returning to Premier League action in May.
He managed 58 minutes on the pitch against Crystal Palace before making a late 12-minute appearance against Aston Villa on the final day of the season.
Focus shifts to international duty
Despite that lengthy absence, the defender’s exceptional underlying quality still earned him the club’s player of the season award for the 2024-25 campaign.
His immediate focus now turns to the international stage as he finalises preparations for the upcoming World Cup.
The left-sided specialist will likely face several familiar domestic colleagues when Croatia open their tournament against England next Wednesday at 21:00 BST.
The Chicago Bulls are finalising the appointment of Tiago Splitter as their new head coach to succeed Billy Donovan, following an impressive interim spell with the Portland Trail Blazers.
The 41-year-old emerged as the chosen candidate after top franchise officials met with four finalists in Illinois last week.
He steps into the role previously held by Donovan, tasked with bringing organisational alignment and strong player development to the United Center.
Executive vice-president of basketball operations Bryson Graham led a thorough search before settling on the former NBA champion.
Impressive interim stint in Portland
The new arrival significantly boosted his coaching credentials after stepping into the top job for the Trail Blazers last season amidst off-court adversity.
He guided the Oregon franchise to a 42-40 regular-season record and a Western Conference playoff berth as the seventh seed.
Under his stewardship, Portland boasted a top-10 defensive record over their final 51 fixtures while leading the league in second-chance points.
His leadership also garnered strong support from the locker room, notably aiding forward Deni Avdija in securing his first NBA All-Star selection.
From NBA champion to the touchline
The incoming boss brings a wealth of elite experience, having enjoyed a seven-year playing career that included a championship ring with the San Antonio Spurs.
After retiring from the court, the Brazilian systematically climbed the coaching ranks starting as a scout and development staff member with the Brooklyn Nets.
His journey to the premier job in Chicago included an assistant role with the Houston Rockets and a brief spell leading Paris Basketball.
Meanwhile, Portland must now resume their own coaching search, with Micah Nori and Tyler Lashbrook remaining as the primary candidates.