Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard is weighing up a lucrative contract offer from Turkish side Besiktas following a £17m bid for his services.

Talks are currently ongoing between the Belgian international and the Super Lig club as the Gunners look to freshen up their squad.

The Istanbul outfit reportedly had their €20m (£17m) valuation accepted last month, though negotiations were delayed by international tournament commitments.

A final decision from the former Brighton attacker is expected in the coming days.

Arsenal look to restructure attack

The north London club are actively seeking to create space and generate funds for new arrivals ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Arsenal have reportedly identified Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola as primary targets to bolster their wide options.

Offloading the versatile forward would trigger an immediate escalation in their pursuit of a younger replacement.

Contract situation forces Gunners’ hand

The winger has been a highly effective operator since arriving at the Emirates Stadium in January 2023.

However, he has now entered the final 12 months of his current deal.

This contractual situation makes a summer departure the most logical step for a club determined to maximise their transfer revenue before he can leave on a free.

Besiktas remain optimistic about securing his signature, although the player is understood to be considering several alternative options.

Inter Milan are preparing a renewed transfer bid for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones as the Serie A champions look to capitalise on his stalled contract negotiations.

The 25-year-old academy graduate has entered the final 12 months of his deal at Anfield and is understood to favour a move to Italy.

An initial offer in the region of £21.6m was rejected earlier in the window by the Premier League side.

Liverpool value the homegrown talent at £30m and remain comfortable retaining him for the remainder of his contract if their asking price is not met.

However, the Italian giants are currently formulating a compromise offer to test that resolve.

Anfield rebuild continues

Any departure for the versatile midfielder would further complicate a summer of significant transition on Merseyside.

New manager Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot following a disappointing fifth-place finish, is already overseeing a major squad overhaul.

The club have recently seen established mainstays Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson depart on free transfers.

So far, the arrival of Victor Munoz and January signing Jeremy Jacquet remain the only first-team additions to a noticeably depleted squad.

Inter push for agreement

Despite the contract impasse, there are reportedly no internal concerns regarding the player’s professionalism during pre-season preparations.

The former England youth international has already indicated that joining the Scudetto winners is his preferred outcome this summer.

A potential transfer now rests entirely on the two clubs bridging the valuation gap in an inflated midfield market.

Losing another first-team regular would undoubtedly force the Reds back into the transfer market to bolster their thinning ranks before the deadline.

Senegal have sacked head coach Pape Thiaw following their World Cup round-of-32 exit and a subsequent strike threat from midfielder Pape Gueye.

The 45-year-old was dismissed after a thorough evaluation of his two-year tenure by the Senegalese football federation.

His departure comes in the wake of a devastating knockout-stage collapse against Belgium.

The African side squandered a two-goal advantage before the Red Devils completed a dramatic turnaround in extra time.

Gueye forces managerial change

In the aftermath of that painful elimination, star midfielder Gueye demanded immediate changes to the technical staff.

The Villarreal player publicly threatened to boycott international duty unless decisive action was taken by the governing body.

He confirmed his intention to step away from the national team under the current regime in a remarkable social media post.

“I announce today that as long as it’s this technical staff I’ll take a break from the selection.”

Dressing room unrest and transition

Widespread administrative dysfunction, dressing room unrest, and tactical errors reportedly plagued their recent tournament campaign.

The former assistant manager had originally succeeded Aliou Cisse in October 2024, inheriting a squad that had previously reached the pinnacle of African football.

Senegal officials have promised to hold a press conference to detail the reasons for the dismissal and outline their future prospects.

The Teranga Lions must now reset ahead of their preparations for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Mane announces international retirement

This managerial upheaval coincides with the end of an era on the pitch, as former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane confirmed his retirement from international football.

The veteran attacker stepped away after a glittering career representing his homeland.

“Know that I sacrificed everything for this flag, I gave the very best of myself and I always fought fiercely for our homeland.”

“Tomorrow, I will gladly put my experience at the service of the nation, whether within a technical staff, on the sidelines as a coach, or in the governing bodies.”

Jannik Sinner has successfully defended his men’s crown while 21-year-old Linda Noskova claimed her maiden major title to conclude a dramatic, rain-free Wimbledon 2026.

Sinner secures consecutive crowns

The world number one bounced back from recent disappointment in Paris to dispatch second seed Alexander Zverev in a gruelling four-set final.

In doing so, the Italian confirmed his dominance on the grass and capitalised on a fatigued Novak Djokovic in their semi-final clash.

Noskova makes history in tense finale

The Czech prodigy became the youngest women’s champion at SW19 since Petra Kvitova lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish in 2011.

Her victory against compatriot Karolina Muchova provided the tournament’s most psychologically taxing encounter.

Leading 6-2 5-2, the youthful contender squandered five match points before ultimately sealing the title on her sixth attempt following a remarkable deciding set.

It means the prestigious grass-court tournament has now crowned 10 different female champions in the last decade.

Veterans and wildcards light up SW19

Beyond the champions, the fortnight was defined by astonishing individual runs that captivated the home crowds.

British wildcard Arthur Fery produced a career-defining performance to storm all the way to the men’s semi-finals.

Elsewhere, 44-year-old Serena Williams made a sensational return to the singles draw, adding immense star power to the championships.

Meanwhile, 39-year-old Djokovic played out the longest Wimbledon match of his illustrious career against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The Serbian veteran won the five-hour, 15-minute quarter-final epic but later admitted that going the distance is becoming harder every year.

Manchester United have been officially cleared to register Colombian prospect Cristian Orozco after his 18th birthday, marking the first of three expected arrivals at Old Trafford this week.

The highly-rated youngster had previously agreed a pre-contract arrangement to leave top-flight side Fortaleza CEIF.

Having turned 18 on Monday, the South American prodigy is now eligible to formally join the English club.

He is already in the country to acclimatise, following a prior visit to the Carrington training complex last December.

South American youth strategy continues

Securing the youth international aligns with a growing Premier League trend of recruiting emerging stars directly from South America.

The Red Devils previously dipped into this market by acquiring Paraguayan teenager Diego Leon last summer.

The newest arrival boasts strong leadership credentials, having captained his nation to the final of the South American Under-17 Championship.

Unlike his impending fellow signings, he is expected to initially integrate with the club’s under-21 squad to further his development.

Santos and Darlow arrivals imminent

The teenager’s registration is set to be followed by two immediate additions to the senior squad.

A £50m package has been agreed with Chelsea to secure the services of Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos.

The highly-sought international is seeking regular first-team minutes and will cost an initial £48m, plus £2m in performance-related add-ons.

Meanwhile, veteran goalkeeper Karl Darlow will arrive on a free transfer following the expiration of his Leeds United contract.

The experienced shot-stopper is expected to provide immediate cover for first-choice keeper Senne Lammens during the upcoming campaign.

France will face Spain in a highly anticipated World Cup semi-final in Dallas as Didier Deschamps attempts to solve a crucial midfield dilemma against the tournament’s standout tactical side.

The French manager has watched his talented squad cruise through the competition while playing with ultimate freedom.

However, that expansive approach has created a significant numerical problem ahead of this crucial fixture.

His preferred two-man midfield must now find a way to contain a dominant Spanish trio in the centre of the pitch.

Midfield battle dictates terms

The coaching staff must decide whether to adapt their entire system or continue trusting a forward line that has produced 16 goals in six matches.

Their Iberian opponents are expected to stick rigidly to the tactical blueprint that has defined their impressive run.

The Spanish squad boast the most cohesive structure at this tournament by an immense distance.

This deep tactical integration explains why teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has played a highly disciplined role rather than acting as a free-roaming forward.

Defensive records on the line

The Spanish setup relies on a relentless counter-press, winning the ball back in an average of just 11.57 seconds.

This aggressive forward defending has helped them concede just a single goal on their route to the final four.

Key tactical factors for this decisive encounter include:

Dynamic attackers Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele will be looking greedily at the vast spaces left behind that advanced backline.

A clash of distinct philosophies

To counter the blistering pace of the French attack, the Spanish side may drop their possession shape 20 metres deeper.

While the fixture officially pits the tournament’s most potent attack against its most resolute defence, the tactical reality remains far more complex.

These neighbouring nations share a rich footballing history that adds further tension to this high-stakes encounter.

Midfielder Adrien Rabiot has already stoked the rivalry by publicly challenging Yamal to step up his game on the biggest stage.

FIFA has faced severe backlash after it emerged that disciplinary chairman Mohammad al-Kamali acted alone to suspend a red-card ban for United States striker Folarin Balogun during the World Cup.

The prolific forward was shown a straight red card during his country’s round-of-16 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He was automatically expected to serve a one-match suspension for the highly anticipated quarter-final clash against Belgium in Seattle.

However, the global governing body made an unprecedented decision to defer the punishment with less than 48 hours until kick-off.

Unprecedented disciplinary call

The Times reports that the lifting of the suspension was authorised solely by the United Arab Emirates official.

The remaining 17 members of the disciplinary committee were reportedly not consulted on the landmark ruling.

Published findings from over 100 previous cases indicate that the chairman has never previously acted as the sole arbiter.

Historically, significant disciplinary verdicts require a joint decision from at least three committee members.

UEFA and political fallout

European football’s governing body, UEFA, strongly condemned the ruling by accusing their global counterparts of crossing a red line.

The controversy was further amplified when United States President Donald Trump revealed he had discussed the sending-off with Gianni Infantino.

The FIFA president swiftly released a statement to deny any political interference in the process.

“I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA’s governance.”
“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations.”

Quarter-final exit

Despite the controversial reprieve, the American top scorer could not prevent his side from suffering a comprehensive 4-1 defeat to the Belgians.

The fixture marked the first time in the history of the tournament that a player avoided an immediate suspension following a dismissal.

The disciplinary chairman declined to comment on the situation when approached by the BBC.

Caitlin Clark successfully returned from a back injury as the Indiana Fever secured a dominant 109-75 victory over defending WNBA champions the Las Vegas Aces.

The emphatic 34-point win marked the second time in just eight days that Indiana has defeated the title holders on their home court.

Clark, who missed two recent games due to back spasms, played 24 minutes and contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Mitchell continues stellar scoring streak

While the returning rookie point guard drew the pre-match spotlight, it was team-mate Kelsey Mitchell who anchored the offensive masterclass.

The veteran guard poured in a game-high 27 points, marking her sixth consecutive appearance reaching at least the 25-point milestone.

Frontcourt duo Aliyah Boston and Sophie Cunningham also dominated proceedings, scoring 19 and 20 points respectively in a highly efficient shooting display.

The visitors hit the 100-point mark for a league-leading eighth time this season, shooting a clinical 56% from the field.

‘We got our butts kicked’

For the hosts, it was a drastic reversal of fortune following a gruelling schedule of three games in four days.

The defending champions entered the contest fresh from a 48-point demolition of Phoenix on Saturday, but suffered a historic 82-point swing in point differential overnight.

“Maybe we just didn’t have the juice today,” admitted Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon.

“Every team has a rough patch in the schedule where it’s just difficult.”

Aces star A’ja Wilson, who recently returned from her own leg injury, registered 20 points and 12 rebounds but offered no excuses for the heavy defeat.

“We got our butts kicked tonight,” the two-time MVP conceded.

“We just didn’t show up as ourselves. We are the standard in my eyes, but when you have to show up and be excellent every single night, it gets hard.”

Fever build crucial momentum

Indiana’s commanding performance tied their largest ever margin of victory against the Aces franchise, matching a record set back in 2003.

Head coach Stephanie White praised her squad’s resilience following a demanding four-game West Coast road trip.

“I thought our team was tough-minded,” White noted.

“We’re building consistency to these types of efforts. We’re not always going to shoot the ball the way that we did, but I thought we found the best shot on the floor.”

The Fever will now return to Indianapolis for a critical four-game home stand ahead of the WNBA All-Star break.