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Nico Williams has already signalled his intentions of leaving Athletic Club and joining his Spanish team-mates at Barcelona in private conversations.

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Barca reignite pursuit of Nico WilliamsHas already told his Spanish team-mates at Barca that he wants to joinAthletic Club want to renew winger's contractFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Nico Williams seems destined to depart Athletic Club this summer, with a number of big teams pursuing the talented winger's signature. However, Williams has already made his desire of joining Barcelona clear in private conversations with Lamine Yamal and other Culers within the Spain squad.

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A report from claims that Williams is determined to join Barcelona this summer, despite Bayern Munich and Arsenal pushing to sign him. The 22-year-old has already sent a clear message — "Bro, take me with you" — to the likes of Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Fermin Lopez, and Pedri. Williams dreams of pairing up with his Spanish team-mates in Catalunya, with Yamal potentially hinting at the transfer on social media after sporting director Deco met with Williams' agent Felix Tainta to discuss whether a move this summer could materialise.

DID YOU KNOW?

further claim that Barca head coach Hansi Flick has already held direct conversations with Williams. The German explained to Williams how he would fit in and how he would contribute to the playing style. Flick has already approved of his signing, seeing him as the ideal left-wing profile to reinforce the attack. However, Los Leones remain firm on selling the player only to the team that is ready and capable of triggering Williams' €62 million (£52m/$70m) release clause.

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

The Catalans seemed to have withdrawn their interest from Williams after trying to sign him last summer. Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Liverpool winger Luis Diaz remains on top of Barca's wishlist, while they have also not ruled out signing Marcus Rashford. However, the situation seems to changed in recent days, with Williams now the most likely to make a switch to Barcelona out of the three wingers.

The full fee Sunderland will receive from Borussia Dortmund for Jobe Bellingham and the role he will play under Niko Kovac have been revealed.

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Jobe to follow elder brother's footsteps by signing for BVBFee Dortmund will pay Sunderland revealedHis role under Kovac also explainedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Earlier this week, Dortmund and Sunderland reached an agreement over the transfer of Bellingham, who is set to follow in the footsteps of his elder brother, Jude. Now, more details regarding the finances involved in the operation and Bellingham's supposed role under head coach Niko Kovac have been revealed.

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According to in Germany, Sunderland will receive a club-record €30.5 million (£26m/$35m) as a fixed fee, with an additional €5m in bonuses. Half of the add-ons are seen as realistic, while the other half are not expected to be achieved. As such, they expect to pay an estimated fee amounting to €33m. Sunderland rejected Dortmund's initial offer, which means the German outfit were extremely determined to get this deal over the line.

The report also touches down upon Bellingham's role in Kovac's system. They explain that the former Bayern Munich head coach will exploit the youngster's offensive capabilities from midfield by using him as an attacking midfielder, although he will also be used in a deeper, central midfield role.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bellingham has signed a five-year contract until 2030 with an annual package worth €3.5m, which will keep rising through the length of the contract. It's a structure similar to the one Jude had during this three-year stint at the Signal Iduna Park between 2020 and 2023.

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR JOBE BELLINGHAM?

The 19-year-old was originally intended to be a part of England U21's squad for this summer's European Championship, but his transfer to Dortmund will see him travel to the Club World Cup in the USA. Kovac's troops are slated to play their opening game of the tournament on June 17 against Brazilian side Fluminense.

Liverpool are closing in on the Premier League title and will have some intriguing transfer priorities up their sleeve to build on an impressive campaign at Anfield.

What do Liverpool need to do this summer?

Arne Slot will likely be given considerable financial backing after his debut season at Anfield, but he has plenty of decisions to mull over between now and the summer window.

Addressing the elephant in the room, Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all out of contract. Speculation is mounting over the trio’s long-term futures on Merseyside and they remain the central priorities from an internal standpoint.

Evaluating the squad, Liverpool may need to seek out another striker amid Darwin Nunez’s frustration at the club. The Uruguay international had interest from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in January before he was blocked from entering talks over a mid-season exit.

Sparing no prisoners, Slot didn’t want to offload important stars in the middle of a Premier League title fight, though the summer may paint a different picture as he continues to shape the squad in his own image.

Arne Slot’s signings since becoming Liverpool manager

Federico Chiesa

£12.5 million

Giorgi Mamardashvili

£29 million (joins Liverpool next season)

Taking a minimalist approach on the transfer front so far, the Dutchman has successfully maximised the capability of a squad already rich in talent since his arrival. However, the onus will be on FSG to deliver some high-profile additions in light of the Reds’ consistency under his stewardship.

The AXA Training Centre is bound to see some new faces walk through the door in a few months’ time, and Slot has now told Liverpool one star he is willing to sacrifice with his replacement already said to be lined up.

Arne Slot tells Liverpool to sell Kostas Tsimikas and sign Milos Kerkez

According to TBR, Liverpool boss Slot wants to sell Kostas Tsimikas to bring in Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, with the Cherries looking for a fee of £50 million before parting ways with the Hungary international.

AC Milan could also be a key player in negotiations. Not only are they keen on Kerkez, but they have emerged as contenders to sign Tsimikas should he be allowed to vacate the premises this summer.

£140k-p/w Liverpool star unhappy over being made to stay, FSG will sell him

Arne Slot didn’t want the star to leave mid-season with his side in the running for several trophies.

BySean Markus Clifford Mar 5, 2025

Labelled “fantastic” by journalist Ian Doyle, the latter has become a cult hero at Liverpool in his 110 appearances for the club, where he has registered 18 assists. Nevertheless, his existence as a peripheral figure was always likely to pave the way for a departure.

On the other hand, Kerkez has delivered two goals and four assists in 30 outings this season at Bournemouth. Maintaining a consistent level of performance, the 24-year-old has fashioned 24 chances and 21 successful crosses in the Premier League.

Antonee Robinson and Jorrel Hato make up two other names on Liverpool’s left-back shortlist, which is an indication they are set to go all out for a new name to challenge Andy Robertson for the starting slot at Anfield. If the Reds have designs on becoming the main force in English football, no sentiment can be shown in the pursuit of fresh blood.

Arsenal talks for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi have hit a stumbling block, with new sporting director Andrea Berta now thought to be handed a cheaper alternative.

Arsenal in negotiations to sign Martin Zubimendi since January

During the January transfer window, news broke from The Mail that Arsenal had entered advanced negotiations for Zubimendi.

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The Italian is set to orchestrate an ambitious project.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 13, 2025

The Spain international actually rejected a move to Premier League rivals Liverpool last summer (BBC), but Mikel Arteta and co weren’t turned off by this and began attempting to lure him to the Emirates Stadium this winter.

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Fulham (home)

April 1st

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Arsenal have been attempting to agree a pre-summer deal for Zubimendi since the last transfer window, according to various reports, and there are now even suggestions that Berta wants to partner the 26-year-old with Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes in a complete revamp of Arteta’s midfield (Eduardo Burgos).

Fabrizio Romano previously stated that Arsenal are planning to trigger Zubimendi’s £51 million release clause this summer, but they still need to convince the player. Arteta is thought to have a key role in swaying the midfielder, while The Athletic have reported that Arsenal hope to have this deal fully agreed before the next window.

However, since these plethora of reports heavily linking Zubimendi with an Arsenal switch, it appears talks haven’t yet advanced enough to seal his signature ahead of the 2025/2026 season.

With Jorginho and Thomas Partey out of contract this summer, Arteta will soon need a world-class replacement for either one of the duo, but it appears that man might not be Zubimendi after all.

Arsenal talks for Martin Zubimendi stall as Berta eyes Morten Hjulmand

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal have hit a roadblock in talks to sign Zubimendi, with the Gunners actually unprepared to fork out his release clause after all. Therefore, it is now a possibility that Berta will move on to alternative targets for the engine room, and one of them could be Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand.

The Denmark international’s contract actually includes a more expensive release clause, set at £67 million, but it is thought that Berta could seal his signature for much less – a fee of around £34 million.

Hjulmand has been a mainstay for Sporting in the Primeira Liga this term, scoring two goals and assisting two others in 20 league starts, while averaging an impressive 91.1 per cent passing accuracy and ranking as one of their best-performing players by average match rating per 90 (WhoScored).

The 25-year-old currently captains Sporting and played a key role for Ruben Amorim last season, helping the Portuguese heavyweights win their 20th Primeira Liga title, so he could be a very astute option.

While deadline day was certainly underwhelming, the mood around Arsenal’s form on the pitch is in a far better place than it was a few weeks ago.

Mikel Arteta’s side played host to Premier League champions Manchester City on the weekend, and while Pep Guardiola’s side are a shadow of their former selves at the moment, they showed against Chelsea that they can still turn it on.

However, by the time the full-time whistle was blown on Sunday, the almighty Cityzens had been utterly blown away by the Gunners in a 5-1 demolition with more than its fair share of needle thanks to the growing, old-school rivalry between the two sides.

It was the perfect result for the North Londoners as they now look to overturn a 2-0 deficit away to Newcastle United tonight in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final, and while it seems incredibly harsh, Arteta should look to start Gabriel Martinelli on the bench against the Toon.

Why Martinelli should start on the bench

So, the first thing to say is that dropping anyone from the team who started against City on Sunday would be harsh, and not a single starter put in a poor showing.

However, with plenty of games to come and a thinner squad than Arteta would like, making changes is a necessity, and if someone has to come out of the side to make room for someone else, it should be Martinelli off the right.

As he always does, the Brazilian put in a tremendous shift against the champions and did well to pick up an assist for the Kai Havertz goal, but unlike Leandro Trossard on the other side, it didn’t feel like he quite tied down his opposing full-back well enough.

Moreover, the former Ituano gem has generally struggled to get past players with the ball at his feet in the last season and a bit, and is far happier utilising his speed to get in behind them and then receiving the ball, which against a Newcastle team who are defending a 2-0 lead at home, just isn’t going to happen very much, at least early on anyway.

Moreover, if the game does become more stretched due to the Magpies tiring or the Gunners pulling themselves back into the tie and forcing the hosts to come out and play, then the 23-year-old could just be the perfect option to come off the bench and exploit that situation, compared to Trossard who just can’t play that way.

In all, it’s not a slight on Martinelli’s performance against City, but for Arteta to give Arsenal the best chance of getting a result tonight, he should look to start the Brazilian on the bench and, in his place, start a youngster who’s proven beyond any doubt that he’s got the ability to turn games on their head.

The Arsenal star who should start vs Newcastle

So, with Martinelli vacating the right wing, Arteta should look to hand Ethan Nwaneri another start in the League Cup.

The 17-year-old dynamo may still lack the experience of his older teammates, but throughout this season, he has more than proven that he can be a serious game-changer for the Gunners.

For example, he made his first Champions League start away to Girona last week, a team who only lost to Liverpool 1-0, and totally ran the show.

Nwaneri’s game vs Girona
Minutes	87′
Expected Goals	0.16
Goals	1
Expected Assists	0.49
Shots on Target	1
Shots Blocked	1
Dribbles (Successful)	2 (2)
Touches	38
Clearances	1
All Stats via Sofascore

In 87 minutes of action, he scored a sensational goal from outside the area, racked up an expected assist figure of 0.49, completed 100% of his dribbles, and was named Man of the Match.

Then, just a few days later on Sunday, the “unplayable” talent, as dubbed by Jack Wilshere, came off the bench against City and scored another sublime curler to make it 5-1, and his reaction gave it all away, as instead of running around celebrating like most 17-year-olds would in that situation, he simply turned around and shrugged as if it was just another game to him.

On top of that, we have seen enough of him to now know that he can and wants to take on defenders with the ball at his feet, which, as we mentioned above, is going to be key if the team are to get anything out of what will likely be a defensive Toon side tonight.

Ultimately, Martinelli was great over the weekend, but the game tonight requires a different approach, one that can be carried out with aplomb by Nwaneri.

Arsenal must rue selling incredible star who's outscoring Havertz & Watkins

The free-scoring forward would be perfect for Arsenal at the moment.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Feb 4, 2025

Former Manchester United and Juventus star Paul Pogba and his wife Zulay have launched their own jewellery collection.

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Pogba trying to get back into footballLaunches new jewellery collection with wife'Unbreakable' to be unveiled at Cannes Film FestivalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Pogbas have come together with Elke Berr, the founder and designer of the Swiss high jewelry and bespoke jewelry house bearing her name, to unveil 'Unbreakable'. The collection is said to feature a masculine-unisex line and a feminine line, reflecting the couple's 'unbreakable' bond.

AdvertisementWHAT POGBA SAID

The Frenchman said: "UNBREAKABLE is more than a word. It’s a truth. For both of us. We held on, we resisted, and today, we turn that into beauty."

A joint statement from the Pogbas and Berr reads: “What we want is to capture hearts and imaginations. This collection will transcend the boundaries of sport and fashion, becoming a symbol of empowerment and inspiration. And in the hearts of those who wear these pieces, its spirit will endure — a constant reminder of the power within each of us to defy the odds and write our own stories."

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Pogba has been without a club since November after Juventus terminated his contract by mutual consent, with the 32-year-old now trying to reignite his career that was nearly ruined by a four-year doping ban – that was reduced on appeal. The France international has been linked with moves across the planet and while he waits for his next club, he appears to be getting into the world of jewellery.

GettyWHAT NEXT?

While the footballing world waits for what is next for Pogba, the 'Unbreakable' collection will be unveiled in a private preview event during the Cannes Film Festival at Villa Forbes on May 21.

He stressed that Bangladesh batting only left-hand batters in their top four was not the issue

Mohammad Isam01-Sep-20231:14

Jaffer: Shanto will be upset that he didn’t bat through to the end

Najmul Hossain Shanto scored half of Bangladesh’s runs in their first Asia Cup match, against Sri Lanka. Extending his bright form from the last ten months, he got stuck in to the Sri Lanka bowlers and tried to stitch partnerships in the middle overs only for Towhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim to fail to build on their starts.Shanto lasted till the 42nd over and missed out on his second ODI hundred, possibly hampered by the procession at the other end.Pallekele is a venue where teams win averaging 280-plus batting first in day-night ODIs. Shanto said that Bangladesh batted first because they knew even a slightly lower (that 280) total would have been hard to chase but a lack of top-order partnerships cost them the game.Related

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“Our initial plan was to look to score around 250-260,” Shanto said after the game. “Batting was quite easy against the new ball, but it got harder as the ball got older. It wasn’t an easy wicket, but we should have put together partnerships in the top order. We should have batted better. We don’t want to make these mistakes in the next game.”We thought we should bat first after looking at the wicket. We all agreed with the captain and coach’s decision. We didn’t bat well. I wouldn’t call it an easy wicket, but we should have batted better.”Bangladesh lost debutant Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Naim and Shakib Al Hasan within the first 11 overs. Shanto and Hridoy, and later Rahim, tried to revive the innings but the Sri Lanka bowlers kept them on a leash with regular wickets. The tail caved in quickly and predictably.They faltered against the unorthodox pairing of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana, who shared figures of 6 for 51 in 15.4 overs. Shanto, however, said that neither the type of bowling nor the fact that Bangladesh’s top four was made up of only left-handers – for the first time in 12 years in an ODI – hurt them.”We were prepared to face all types of bowling, so we are all capable to bat in any situation and against any bowling attack. I don’t think [the top four being left-handers] was a big problem,” he said. “We don’t have such bowlers in our country. We prepared with whatever resources we have. He [Pathirana] is a good bowler. But I will say that we have done well against good bowling attacks. It didn’t happen today. It will be okay in the next game.”Shanto said that their most recent performance against Afghanistan – beating them in the T20I series at home last month – will be on their mind as they face them in Lahore.”We did well in the T20I series against Afghanistan,” he said. “We didn’t do well in the ODIs [which they lost 2-1], but we are not too worried about the past. We have a good team. We believe that if we can play our cricket, we can get a good result against Afghanistan.”We have to win the next game. I think it is possible [to make to the next round]. But I would rather plan and prepare for the next match rather than think too far ahead. If we can beat Afghanistan, we will think about the other stuff.”

Tash Farrant, England’s left-arm seamer, is to undergo surgery after suffering a recurrence of the lumbar spine stress fracture that ruled her out of the entire 2022 season.Farrant, 27, undertook an extensive rehab programme following the initial injury last May and returned to domestic action in April. However, she has played predominantly as a batter for South East Stars during this period, and will now miss the remainder of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, as well as her stint with Oval Invincibles in the Hundred.”Following surgery, she will begin rehabilitation working together with the England and South East Stars medical teams,” the ECB said in a statement.The setback is a cruel misfortune for Farrant, whose last appearance for England was a one-off ODI during the Women’s Ashes in Melbourne in February 2022. She was subsequently an unused squad member during the Women’s World Cup later that winter, in which England lost to Australia in the final.

The women’s team will take on Pakistan in December 2023 and England in March and April next year

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2023New Zealand will host Australia for a Test series for the first time in eight years in the upcoming summer, right after attempting to secure a maiden Test series victory against South Africa, according to the fixtures released by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for the 2023-24 home season.The New Zealand men’s team begin their home season with three ODIs and three T20Is against Bangladesh in the last two weeks of December. They then have a 11-day break before hosting Pakistan for five T20Is from January 12 to 21.South Africa then visit for two Tests between February 4 and 17, followed by Australia, who tour for three T20Is and two Tests between February 21 and March 12.Related

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New Zealand women also host Pakistan for three T20Is and three ODIs between December 3 and 18, and then take on England in five T20Is and three ODIs between March 19 and April 7. The England women’s A team will also tour New Zealand at the time.This will be the first international summer in 24 years to be screened live free-to-air on TVNZ.NZC said its schedule includes ten double-headers (two games back-to-back at the same venue) as it attempts “to address both the needs of different audiences and enhance the efficiency of its playing programme in an era of climate change awareness.”NZC chief executive David White said: “In terms of venues with lights, we’ve been able to schedule several back-to-back night matches and day matches to ensure good opportunities for both families and adult patrons, respectively, which we think is good for the game.”It’s a strategy that also complements our need to prioritise energy efficiency – and to just do the right thing as a sports organisation, given the challenges we’re facing from climate change these days.”

New Zealand men’s fixtures

vs Bangladesh
1st ODI: December 17, Dunedin2nd ODI: December 20, Nelson3rd ODI: December 23, Napier1st T20I: December 27, Napier2nd T20I: December 29, Tauranga3rd T20I: December 31, Taurangavs Pakistan
1st T20I: January 12, Auckland2nd T20I, January 14, Hamilton3rd T20I, January 17, Dunedin4th T20I, January 19, Christchurch5th T20I, January 21, Christchurchvs South Africa
1st Test: February 4 to 8, Tauranga2nd Test: February 13-17, Hamiltonvs Australia
1st T20I: February 21, Wellington2nd T20I: February 23, Auckland3rd T20I: February 25, Auckland1st Test: February 29-March 4, Wellington2nd Test: March 8-12, Christchurch

New Zealand women’s fixtures

vs Pakistan1st T20I: December 3, Dunedin2nd T20I: December 5, Dunedin3rd T20I: December 9, Queenstown1st ODI: December 12, Queenstown2nd ODI: December 15, Christchurch3rd ODI: December 18, Christchurchvs England1st T20I: March 19, Dunedin2nd T20I: March 22, Nelson3rd T20I: March 24, Nelson4th T20I: March 27, Wellington5th T20I: March 29, Wellington1st ODI: April 1, Wellington2nd ODI: April 4, Hamilton3rd ODI: April 7, Hamilton

Chelsea are now seriously keen on signing a “sensational” player, who was recently on the verge of signing for Sunderland, according to reports.

Blues eyeing new signings amid Club World Cup campaign

The Blues have been faring well in the new-look Club World Cup, progressing out the group before most recently dispatching of Benfica 4-1 in the round of 16, setting up a very winnable quarter-final clash against Palmeiras.

However, manager Enzo Maresca was less than impressed by the two-hour break which interrupted play, saying: “I think it’s a joke to be honest, it’s not football. It’s not for us.

“You cannot be inside. I struggle to understand. I can understand that for security reasons, you suspend the game. But if you suspend seven, eight games, that means that probably [this] is not the right place to do this competition.”

Fabrizio Romano: Star now set to sign new deal instead of joining Chelsea

Enzo Maresca won’t be signing him.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 28, 2025

Despite being out in the USA for the Club World Cup, the west Londoners remain active in the transfer market, with widespread reports suggesting deals for Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro are edging closer to completion.

Having already signed Liam Delap, it is clear Maresca is very keen to bolster his attacking options this summer, but the manager is also looking to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch, according to a report from Caught Offside.

The report states that Chelsea now hold a serious interest in OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, who is attracting plenty of interest from the Premier League, with it being revealed he was on the verge of signing for Sunderland just days ago.

Manchester United, Leeds United and Aston Villa are also in the race for Bulka, who is set to be available for the affordable price of just €20m – €25m (£17m – £21m), so there could be fierce competition for his signature.

The Blues’ interest comes amid doubts over Robert Sanchez, with the Spaniard failing to convince Maresca he should be the first-choice option between the sticks moving forward.

"Sensational" Bulka could be solution to Chelsea's problems

Maresca clearly wasn’t impressed by both Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen at times last season, with the goalkeepers being used interchangeably, and there are signs the Nice goalkeeper could be the answer to the manager’s problem.

Once lauded as “absolutely sensational” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Pole caught the eye in Ligue 1 on a number of occasions, being voted as Player of the Month after impressing in September 2023.

More recently, the 25-year-old proved himself against European champions Paris-Saint Germain, making nine saves from inside the box to keep the Ligue 1 title-winners at bay and help his side secure a 3-1 victory.

Bulka could be a bargain signing for Chelsea at just £17m – £21m, and they should move swiftly to ensure they win the race for his signature.