Liverpool have been offered the chance to sign Paris St-Germain defender Illia Zabarnyi as new manager Andoni Iraola looks to rebuild his squad ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The 23-year-old Ukrainian international only joined the French giants from Bournemouth last August in a deal worth £57m.
However, an early departure from the Parc des Princes is reportedly on the cards after he struggled for regular minutes during their successful Champions League campaign.
Chelsea have also been approached regarding the centre-back as they seek their own defensive reinforcements.
Reunion with Iraola on the cards?
A move to Merseyside would reunite the highly-rated defender with newly appointed Reds boss Iraola.
The pair previously enjoyed a successful working relationship at the Vitality Stadium, where the youngster developed into a formidable Premier League presence.
Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot in the Anfield dugout this summer, has previously spoken in glowing terms about the player.
He is the kind of player that is very easy to coach. He pays attention, he comes every day to train with a great attitude.
Andoni Iraola
Speaking in February 2025, the Spanish tactician praised his former charge’s exceptional attitude and leadership qualities.
You see him managing everything from behind, shouting to the ones in front asking for the others and this is a show of how he’s developing.
Andoni Iraola
Defensive rebuild underway at Anfield
Liverpool are actively searching for central defenders following the departure of Ibrahima Konate.
The French international left the club on a free transfer to join Real Madrid on 1 July after his contract expired.
While the Merseyside outfit have already secured highly-rated youngsters Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, senior reinforcements are urgently required.
Iraola is under pressure to immediately restore the club’s title credentials after they slumped to a fifth-place finish last term under Slot.
AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric has signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him at San Siro until the end of the upcoming season.
The 40-year-old, who celebrates his 41st birthday in September, originally joined the Italian side last summer after departing Real Madrid.
He triggered an option to extend his stay following a campaign where he contributed two goals in 37 appearances across all competitions.
Bouncing back under Amorim
The veteran playmaker acknowledged the team’s struggles last term, as they finished fifth in Serie A and suffered an early exit in the Coppa Italia.
“I am thrilled to stay at AC Milan, where you made me feel welcomed and loved from the very first day,” Modric said.
“After a season below our expectations, the desire to bounce back is immense. A new season and a new challenge await us – a project I believe in and that motivates me.”
“I’m ready to continue to give everything again for this shirt and I’m so proud to keep wearing these colours. Can’t wait to return to San Siro and feel your roar.”
The Croatian international will now be playing under new head coach Ruben Amorim.
The former Manchester United manager took charge in June, replacing the sacked Massimiliano Allegri at the helm of the Rossoneri.
A storied career continues
Modric recently competed in his fifth World Cup, where his nation suffered a round-of-32 elimination against Portugal.
Despite the early exit, the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder boasts an incredible international pedigree, having captained his country to a World Cup final and a third-place finish since taking the armband in 2016.
His club credentials remain equally formidable, highlighted by six Champions League triumphs and four La Liga titles during a glittering 13-year spell in Spain.
AC Milan released a statement praising their experienced midfielder for his continued impact.
“A key figure in the Rossoneri midfield since his arrival, Luka has brought his experience and quality to the service of the team, both on and off the pitch, with humility and great passion.”
“One of the finest and most iconic players in world football, the Croatian will continue his journey in the Rossoneri shirt with the ambition to reach new, important milestones.”
Formula 1 is negotiating a surprise return to the Malaysian Grand Prix this October to replace cancelled races in the Middle East.
Executives are currently in discussions with organisers at the Sepang International Circuit to stage a late stand-in event.
The championship originally intended to reschedule the postponed Bahrain round for early October.
However, escalating conflict in the region has forced the sport’s bosses to rethink their scheduling plans.
Filling the October gap
The Malaysian venue has emerged as the primary candidate for an October 4 slot.
This date would conveniently bridge the two-week gap between the Azerbaijan race on September 26 and the Singapore event on October 11.
Sepang previously hosted motorsport’s premier class until 2017.
The circuit earned a fierce reputation as one of the most physically demanding challenges on the calendar due to intense heat and humidity.
Widespread calendar disruption
The 2026 season has already lost the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain rounds due to ongoing regional tensions.
There are also growing concerns regarding the viability of the season-ending fixtures in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Alternative European tracks such as Portugal’s Portimao and Istanbul Park in Turkey are being monitored.
These venues remain unlikely late-season fallback options due to the cold winter climate in November and December.
Drivers eager for track time
George Russell currently sits third in the drivers’ standings, trailing championship-leading team-mate Kimi Antonelli by 50 points.
The British driver remains determined to maximise his opportunities despite the ongoing disruptions.
“I’d love to have a 24-race season and get as many races as possible between here and the end of the season,” Russell explained ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“That doesn’t change whether I was in the lead or second or third or fourth in the standings.”
“I want to go racing, I love racing, I love the fight, and I hope, if we don’t race in the Middle East, there’s two replacements.”
“I hope we can find maybe a race between Baku and Singapore. I’d be happy to go racing every weekend if I could.”
Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero is expected to leave the club this summer as manager Roberto De Zerbi reshuffles his defensive options ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Argentina international has been deemed surplus to requirements following a significant recruitment drive in north London.
Spurs recently secured Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52m and added Marcos Senesi on a free transfer from Bournemouth.
These acquisitions leave the South American defender slipping down a heavily congested pecking order.
Inter Milan circle as departure looms
Italian giants Inter Milan are currently the frontrunners to secure the World Cup winner’s signature.
Representatives for the reigning Serie A champions are scheduled to meet the player’s agent this week to negotiate personal terms.
Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano claims the decision for the aggressive centre-back to depart is entirely mutual.
“Tottenham have been very clear with Cuti, with his camp and Cuti has been very clear with Tottenham.”
Speaking on a live stream, Romano confirmed that a summer exit is now inevitable.
“So that’s a mutual decision for Cuti Romero. It’s time to move on. It’s time to go.”
De Zerbi secures untouchable core
Romero’s exit is facilitated by the untouchable status of Dutch mainstay Micky van de Ven.
Despite speculative reports linking the rapid left-sided defender with Liverpool and Barcelona, De Zerbi views him as a foundational piece of his squad.
Van de Ven is now expected to partner compatriot Van Hecke at the heart of the Tottenham defence.
Experienced Welshman Ben Davies and Austrian international Kevin Danso remain at the club to provide seasoned cover.
Youth prospects face uncertain futures
Spurs must also resolve the immediate futures of young prospects Kota Takai and Ashley Phillips.
Phillips is reportedly attracting permanent interest from Middlesbrough following three consecutive loan spells in the Championship.
Versatile academy graduate Archie Gray remains available to step into the backline should injuries strike De Zerbi’s reshaped squad.
George Russell is confident Mercedes have fixed a debilitating engine software bug ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix as he looks to rescue his 2026 title campaign.
The British driver slipped 50 points behind championship-leading team-mate Kimi Antonelli following a first-lap retirement at Spa-Francorchamps last weekend.
His premature exit in Belgium was triggered by a collision with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, but underlying power unit problems heavily compromised his entire weekend.
An energy-deployment glitch affected his straight-line speed over the opening two days, while a separate anomaly hampered the race start for all Mercedes-powered cars.
Software bug identified before Budapest
The Brackley-based outfit have spent the days since the Belgian event meticulously investigating their data to pinpoint the root cause of the deficit.
Russell confirmed the power loss was entirely technical and completely unrelated to his driving style or approach to the sweeping Spa circuit.
“We’re pretty confident we’ve got on top of the issues that we had in Spa and it should be easy to resolve,” he explained.
“We think it was a software bug. It wasn’t the driving style that was contributing to the loss of power, so that’s something at least.”
Mental toll of championship battle
The 28-year-old began the 2026 season as the overwhelming favourite for the drivers’ championship but has struggled with intermittent inconsistency.
A growing points deficit to Antonelli has created an immense pressure cooker for the former Williams driver ahead of Formula 1’s impending summer break.
Reflecting on a turbulent campaign, the Mercedes star admitted the current season has frequently felt like an emotional rollercoaster.
“It is the toughest psychological battle I’ve had,” he added.
“Time will tell but it wasn’t an easy couple of weeks.”
Richard Carapaz has secured his second career Tour de France stage victory, launching a decisive late attack on the summit finish at Orcieres-Merlette on stage 18.
The 33-year-old Ecuadorian crossed the line 45 seconds clear of Mauro Schmid and Matteo Jorgenson following a gruelling 185km route from Voiron.
It was a deeply personal triumph for the 2021 Olympic champion, who lost his mother earlier this year and had publicly vowed to dedicate his race to her memory.
“This is a very beautiful stage that I dedicate to my family,” said Carapaz.
Pogacar retains commanding overall lead
While the day’s honours went to the breakaway, Tadej Pogacar navigated the mountainous terrain safely to keep his firm grip on the yellow jersey.
The race leader crossed the line four minutes and 35 seconds adrift of the stage winner alongside his main general classification rivals.
Pogacar maintains a comfortable four-minute and 32-second advantage over Remco Evenepoel as the peloton prepares for two demanding days culminating on the iconic Alpe d’Huez.
“It’s been a very, very hard day,” added the stage winner.
Illness threatens UAE Team Emirates dominance
Despite their leader’s supreme position in the standings, vulnerabilities are beginning to emerge within the Slovenian’s supporting cast.
Brandon McNulty became the first UAE Team Emirates rider to abandon the race midway through the stage after battling a severe sore throat.
British teammate Adam Yates is also fighting through a lingering illness, having visibly struggled with the pace since Wednesday.
However, Isaac del Toro successfully managed the high altitude to hold onto third place overall, sitting 19 seconds ahead of French teenager Paul Seixas.
For the victorious stage winner, the emotional result moves him into the top 10 of the general classification and marks his 25th professional victory.
Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari can help him secure a record-breaking eighth Formula 1 world championship as he chases championship leader Kimi Antonelli ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 41-year-old sits second in the 2026 driver standings, 45 points adrift of Mercedes’ teenage sensation.
This season marks the first time the British driver has been in genuine title contention since his controversial final-race defeat to Max Verstappen in 2021.
Embracing the championship fight
The seven-time world champion admitted he is relishing being back in the mix following a challenging debut campaign with the Scuderia last year.
“It’s a great feeling, especially when you look at the contrast of where we were last year here,” Hamilton said.
He praised the Italian outfit for their collective progress while acknowledging the personal adjustments he has made to return to the front of the grid.
“There’s still a lot of work to do and still a mountain to climb ahead of us on the second half of the season but I’m more focused than ever and I really believe we can fight.”
Hunting down Antonelli
The Hungarian Grand Prix represents the halfway stage of the 22-race calendar, serving as the final fixture before the sport’s traditional summer break.
Despite the current points deficit, the former Mercedes driver insists this weekend is not a make-or-break moment for his title aspirations against the 19-year-old Italian.
“This is just the time for us to continue to hammer down and continue to double down on our development and continue to push,” he explained.
The Maranello-based squad has already secured two victories this term, regularly pressuring their rivals for podium finishes.
Mercedes remain the benchmark
Pundits have tipped the Italian constructor to perform strongly at the Hungaroring this weekend.
The circuit’s tight, twisting layout and abundance of slow-speed corners are expected to mask Ferrari’s slight power unit deficit compared to the class-leading Mercedes engine.
However, the veteran racer is taking nothing for granted as the intense 2026 development war continues.
He remains adamant that the Silver Arrows, spearheaded by his young successor Antonelli, are still the ultimate benchmark in Budapest.
Manchester City have completed the signing of England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £116m.
The 23-year-old has committed his long-term future to the Premier League side by signing a five-year contract running until June 2031.
Initially agreed while the player was representing his country at the World Cup, the staggering fee briefly positioned him as the most expensive British player in history.
However, that landmark was subsequently surpassed by Morgan Rogers’ £117m switch from Aston Villa to Chelsea.
Determined to reach the highest level
The former Newcastle United academy graduate revealed he had no hesitation when the chance arose to join one of world football’s heavyweights.
“As soon as I knew City wanted me, I was absolutely determined to make this move happen,” Anderson said.
“You want to test yourself at the highest level. Being at City means I have that opportunity.”
“As soon as I arrive in Manchester after a break, I will be doing everything I can to establish myself in the City team.”
A complete midfielder in the making
The dynamic playmaker established himself as an integral figure at the City Ground following his £35m arrival in 2024.
Last season, he topped the English top flight for both touches and duels won while driving his former employers to the Europa League semi-finals.
His dominant domestic performances earned him a pivotal role in Thomas Tuchel’s national side during their recent World Cup campaign.
The £116m fee comfortably eclipses the previous club record set when Jack Grealish arrived at the Etihad Stadium in 2021.
New era at the Etihad Stadium
The English international will now form a crucial part of a new era in Manchester under former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola this summer.
City’s director of football, Hugo Viana, believes their new acquisition is one of the most outstanding young talents in world football.
“He offers energy, outstanding work rate and an exceptional range of passing,” Viana said.
“His improvement in recent years has been really impressive and underlines his desire to be the best player he can be.”
“At just 23, there is plenty of opportunity for development over the coming years and we feel he can become a complete midfielder.”