Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race to sign Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic on a free transfer this summer as new manager Roberto De Zerbi begins planning for next season.
De Zerbi recently arrived in north London on a five-year contract to replace the winless Igor Tudor.
The Italian head coach faces the immediate task of keeping the club in the Premier League, with the side currently sitting just one point above the relegation zone with seven games remaining.
However, the Spurs hierarchy remain confident of avoiding the drop and have already started identifying attacking reinforcements.
Struggles in front of goal
A new centre-forward is viewed as an absolute priority following a disappointing campaign for the current attacking options.
Randal Kolo Muani arrived on deadline day last summer on a season-long loan from Paris St-Germain but has failed to settle.
The French international was hampered by an early injury and has managed just five goals in 34 appearances across all competitions.
As a result, it is highly unlikely the permanent purchase option for the former Eintracht Frankfurt forward will be activated.
Meanwhile, current top scorer Richarlison is reportedly considering a move away.
Club-record signing Dominic Solanke has also been severely restricted by fitness issues since his arrival.
Vlahovic fits the system
Vlahovic has emerged as the ideal candidate to spearhead the attack under the newly appointed head coach.
The 26-year-old Serbian is locked in drawn-out contract renewal talks with Juventus, but his substantial wage demands remain a stumbling block.
AC Milan are monitoring the situation, but the Lilywhites have held a long-standing interest and are currently positioned as frontrunners.
Standing at 6ft 3in, the powerful frontman boasts the physical attributes and pace required to thrive in English football.
He has scored 64 goals in 163 matches during his time in Turin, though his output has dropped to six goals this term due to persistent injuries.
De Zerbi favours a focal point who can link the play and provide a clinical edge inside the penalty area.
Securing the former Fiorentina star without a transfer fee would represent a significant coup as the club looks to rebuild their forward line.
Patrick Agyemang will miss this summer’s World Cup after suffering a severe Achilles tendon injury during Derby County’s victory over Stoke City on Monday.
The United States international immediately clutched his left ankle after landing awkwardly while bringing the ball down on his chest during the first half.
He was visibly distressed as medical staff removed him from the Pride Park pitch on a stretcher before transferring him to hospital for urgent scans.
World Cup heartbreak for the host nation
Derby County stated that providing a specific timeline for the forward’s recovery would be premature at this stage.
However, the Midlands outfit confirmed the devastating news that he will be unable to participate in the global tournament co-hosted by his home country alongside Canada and Mexico.
Missing a home World Cup represents a monumental personal blow for the talented attacker, who had been expected to feature prominently for the US men’s national team.
Derby pledge full support
An official club communication emphasised their total commitment to assisting his lengthy rehabilitation process.
“Everyone at Derby County is fully behind Patrick at this difficult time and will continue to support him every step of the way.”
The Rams will now be forced to navigate their upcoming fixtures without a vital focal point in their forward line.
Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals this week relying on a record-breaking crop of La Masia academy graduates.
The Catalan giants enter the highly-anticipated tie following a historic 7-2 aggregate demolition of Newcastle United in the round of 16.
That spectacular result represented the biggest margin of victory by a Spanish team against English opposition in 60 years.
Manager Hansi Flick achieved this milestone while fielding the club’s youngest knockout team in history, bringing the average age down to just 25 years and 18 days.
Record-breaking teenage talent
Five homegrown players featured in the dominant victory over their Premier League opponents.
By starting Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Marc Bernal, the five-time European champions surpassed Ajax to become the team with the most teenage starters in Champions League knockout history.
The Blaugrana also introduced 18-year-old midfielder Xavi Espart from the bench.
Flick has already compared the promising youngster to legendary German defender Philipp Lahm.
In total, 14 academy products have featured at senior level for the Spanish heavyweights this season.
A recent study by the CIES Football Observatory revealed that these under-contract graduates possess a collective transfer value almost three times higher than any other global academy.
Cruyff’s enduring legacy
Former youth coach Xavi Garcia Pimienta believes this current crop of youngsters perfectly embodies the philosophy instilled by Johan Cruyff in 1988.
“I feel very connected to the fact Barcelona has so many homegrown players in the first team right now. It’s an honour for me because I’ve been part of that process too, both as a player and a coach.”
The 51-year-old tactician spent 17 years developing talent within the famed youth system and previously won the UEFA Youth League in 2018.
Even veteran striker Robert Lewandowski has benefited from the youthful energy surrounding him, with the 37-year-old continuing to score freely at the pinnacle of European football.
“These players are demonstrating the level that they have, with the clear way of playing that of course came with Johan Cruyff and has been maintained and perfected ever since.”
As the Catalan club prepares for an intense all-Spanish showdown against Diego Simeone’s side, their unwavering faith in youth remains their greatest weapon.
Thirty nations competing at the 2026 World Cup in North America face significant financial losses after FIFA failed to agree a blanket tax exemption with the United States government.
Only 18 of the 48 qualified countries have signed a double taxation agreement with the host nation.
This existing framework exempts delegations from those specific countries from paying federal taxes on their tournament earnings.
The remaining 30 national associations will now be forced to pay various federal, state and city levies.
Disproportionate impact on smaller nations
Global football’s governing body has historically enjoyed tax-free status in the US, most notably during the 1994 edition of the tournament.
However, that broad exemption will not automatically apply to all qualifiers when the showpiece event gets underway across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Emerging footballing nations, including tournament debutants Curacao and Cape Verde, subsequently face disproportionately larger bills than established European powerhouses.
Tax consultant Oriani Morrison told The Guardian that teams from sophisticated jurisdictions with existing treaties will enjoy vastly lower costs.
“Many of the smaller teams, ones for whom this kind of windfall would have made a huge difference to their football industries, are going to be penalised with massive US tax bills,” Morrison said.
Coaches and players caught in the crossfire
Under federal law, athletes and performers remain obliged to pay tax when working on American soil regardless of their country’s treaty status.
Backroom staff and coaches from nations with agreements, such as England manager Thomas Tuchel, will be protected from double taxation.
Conversely, reports suggest Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti will be taxed on his earnings in both South America and the United States.
The Brazilian Football Confederation is likely to absorb the high-profile manager’s additional tax burden.
However, the lack of a universal exemption threatens to heavily penalise smaller associations who rely on tournament revenues for grassroots development.
The top rate of income tax for international athletes and coaching staff competing in the tournament will sit at 37%.
Iran’s government has stated their national football team’s participation in the upcoming World Cup is uncertain until Fifa responds to a request to move their group games from the United States to Mexico.
The Iranian football federation has heavily lobbied for the relocation of their Group G fixtures due to American military involvement in the Middle East.
Ahmad Donyamali, the country’s Minister of Sport, confirmed that a final decision on tournament participation rests entirely with the state government.
Security concerns over American fixtures
The Middle Eastern nation are currently scheduled to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, before facing Egypt in Seattle.
Despite Fifa president Gianni Infantino recently asserting that all matches would proceed as planned, the relocation appeal remains highly active.
“Our request to Fifa to relocate Iran’s games from the US to Mexico is still valid, but we have not yet received a response,” Donyamali told Turkish state news agency Anadolu.
The sports minister expressed significant doubts regarding player safety and security guarantees on American soil during the summer tournament.
Political tensions impact tournament buildup
US president Donald Trump suggested last month that the travelling squad might face security risks, though he later clarified these threats would not originate from the host nation.
The Iranian sports ministry has already imposed a strict ban on its national and club sides travelling to any countries deemed hostile.
“Under these circumstances, the possibility of Iran participating in the World Cup matches in the US is very low,” added Donyamali.
World football’s governing body has yet to officially comment on the ongoing diplomatic standoff.
The global tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, is scheduled to run from 11 June to 19 July.
Former Arsenal midfielder and Wales captain Aaron Ramsey has announced his retirement from professional football with immediate effect at the age of 35.
The experienced playmaker had been without a club since departing Mexican outfit Pumas UNAM late last year.
He is now widely expected to transition into the dugout and pursue a dedicated career in coaching.
A transformative figure for Welsh football
The veteran steps away from the pitch as one of his nation’s greatest ever sporting talents.
He accumulated 86 senior international caps and found the back of the net 21 times for his country.
The dynamic midfielder was instrumental during the historic run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, where his outstanding performances earned him a place in the official Uefa team of the tournament.
He also featured prominently at Euro 2020 and helped guide the national side to the 2022 World Cup, successfully ending a 64-year wait for a finals appearance.
Domestic success and Arsenal legacy
Having emerged through the youth ranks at Cardiff City, the highly-rated prospect secured a high-profile transfer to north London in 2008.
During an 11-year spell under Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery, he claimed three FA Cup winner’s medals.
The versatile attacker famously scored the decisive winning goals in both the 2014 and 2017 finals at Wembley Stadium.
Subsequent chapters of his club career included a Serie A title with Juventus, a stint in France with Nice, and an emotional return to his boyhood club Cardiff.
He even briefly served as interim head coach for the Bluebirds at the conclusion of last season before embarking on a short Mexican adventure.
Emotional farewell to the Red Wall
Confirming his decision via social media, the former Juventus man expressed deep gratitude to those who shaped his journey.
“This has not been an easy decision to make. After a lot of consideration, I have decided to retire from football.”
“Firstly, I want to start with Wales. It has been my privilege to wear the Welsh shirt and experience so many incredible moments in it.”
He reserved special praise for the passionate Welsh supporters who followed his international career across the globe.
“To the Red Wall. You have been there through thick and thin! You have been there through the highs and lows, and you have been an essential and indispensable part of our success.”
“Secondly, thank you to all the clubs I’ve been lucky enough to play for. Thank you to all the managers and staff that have helped me be able to live my dream and play at the highest level.”
Former cycling world champion Rohan Dennis has publicly condemned the media for creating a false narrative following his suspended prison sentence over the death of his wife, Melissa Hoskins.
Ms Hoskins, a celebrated Olympic track cyclist, died in 2023 after being struck by a vehicle driven by her husband in an Adelaide suburb.
A court previously heard she had held onto the car as he attempted to drive away following an argument.
The 35-year-old admitted to an aggravated count of creating the likelihood of harm and received a suspended sentence of just over 16 months.
‘False narrative’ and media criticism
In a recent statement posted to social media, the two-time time trial world champion strongly denied any intention to cause physical harm.
“The narrative which the media ran with was clear,” wrote the Australian rider.
“They wanted me to look like the husband who abused his wife.”
Demands for family privacy
The former Olympian also accused journalists of harassing his family, expressing particular concern over the ongoing treatment of his children.
“The media speak about the children and how saddened they are for the children, yet they happily stalk, follow and harass not just adults in my family but even when the kids are involved,” he stated.
“They know I never intentionally or unintentionally used a vehicle as a weapon… Time for all you so-called journalists and media outlets to back off and leave my family alone.”
Decorated careers on the track
Prior to stepping away from the sport, the former professional was considered one of the foremost time trial specialists of his generation.
His late wife was equally decorated, securing a team pursuit gold medal at the 2015 World Championships.
She also proudly represented Australia at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Ireland will open their 2026 Women’s Six Nations campaign against England on 11 April, driven by a determination to banish the memory of their recent World Cup quarter-final exit.
Six months have passed since a heartbreaking 18-13 defeat by France in Exeter ended their global ambitions.
Head coach Scott Bemand now wants his squad to use that lingering disappointment as fuel to reach new heights in the upcoming championship.
The girls in green have secured back-to-back third-place finishes under their current boss.
However, closing the substantial gap to tournament heavyweights England and France remains the ultimate objective.
New leadership and fresh faces
To facilitate this upward trajectory, the management team has introduced nine uncapped players into a revitalised 36-player panel.
Former captain Amee-Leigh Costigan and co-captain Edel McMahon have both been omitted from the latest squad.
The captain’s armband has consequently been handed to returning back-row forward Erin King.
The 22-year-old recently recovered from a serious knee injury that cruelly forced her to miss the summer tournament.
Bemand, who recently extended his contract until 2029, believes the new skipper embodies the resilient future of Irish rugby.
Closing the gap on European heavyweights
Securing an elusive victory over the French side is a primary target following several agonisingly close encounters.
That challenge will be formidable given that both crucial fixtures against France and the dominant Red Roses are away from home.
England are current world champions and have remarkably won seven consecutive Six Nations titles without losing a single match since 2018.
“We’ve always said we don’t want to be afraid to talk about winning; winning games and competitions.”
The head coach acknowledged the progress made during the World Cup but stressed the need for continuous improvement.
“We pushed France close, but we have to be another school better.”
King shares this ambitious mindset, insisting that being highly competitive against the top two nations is a completely realistic goal.
The newly appointed captain noted that her side led the French 13-0 at half-time during their summer meeting.
She also recalled trailing the English by just two points at the break in Cork last year before fading in the second half.