Paris Saint-Germain have poached one of Barcelona’s brightest talents, with Dro Fernandez completing a controversial €8.2 million transfer to the French capital. The move has sparked fury in Catalonia, with club president Joan Laporta blasting the teenager's camp for breaking a verbal agreement regarding his future in what he described as an 'unpleasant' surprise for the Spanish giants.

Barcelona have narrowed down their pursuit of Robert Lewandowski's replacement to just two players. Lewandowski's current deal at Spotify Camp Nou expires at the end of the current season and Barcelona are unlikely to extend the 37-year-old's stay in Spain, and it means the Catalan giants are expected to dip into the market for a new striker this summer.

Liverpool have announced a deal has been put in place to sign highly-rated 17-year-old centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna. The teenager is due to link up with the Reds in the summer, subject to international clearance. Ndukwe has been at Austria Vienna since the age of seven, making his way through the youth ranks and catching the eye of Arne Slot's side.

Arsenal hero Emmanuel Petit believes that Bryan Mbeumo is the player the Gunners need to secure Premier League glory. Mikel Arteta's men sit top of the table but their lead has been cut to just four points by Manchester City and Aston Villa following Arsenal's 3-2 loss to Manchester United on Sunday night. The result means the Gunners are now winless in three.

Liverpool and manager Arne Slot have been sent a warning about the club's transfer activity by former captain Jamie Redknapp. The Reds have missed out on a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi who has completed a transfer to Manchester City. Redknapp feels the England international is a "big miss" for his former club and has warned there could be problems ahead at Anfield.

Homesick Cole Palmer would be open to potential switch to boyhood club Manchester United this summer. Palmer left Manchester City for Chelsea in 2023 and has gone on to become a key player for the Blues. However, the England international is reportedly unsettled in London and would welcome the chance to move back to Manchester at the end of the season.

Darren Fletcher played alongside twin brothers Rafael and Fabio da Silva while at Manchester United, but little did he know that many years later, his own twin sons would be vying for a place in the Red Devils' first team. Fletcher opted against playing either of his sons, Jack or Tyler, during his brief spell as interim coach, perhaps out of fear of accusations of nepotism.

Hertha Berlin fans haven't had much to cheer about in recent years. Their decade-long stay in the Bundesliga ended after the team slumped to an 18th-placed finish in the 2022-23 season, just four years on from Lars Windhorst's €224 million minority takeover that came with the billionaire's promise to build a "true ‘big-city club’, like those in London or Madrid."

With all the data and all the video footage you could ever hope for, there really shouldn't be many secrets left in the world of youth football. Sure, progress isn't linear and some players' attributes translate better to the adult game than others, but for most teams, picking and finding the best young talent still feels like a bit of a lottery, at least from the outside looking in.

Here’s how you can watch the Champions League pacesetters in action this season

Barcelona supremo Joan Laporta has been criticised by presidential rivals over his decision to call elections before the end of the season. The Catalan giants are owned by their members, meaning they have the chance to vote in a new club president every five years. Laporta was sworn in back in 2021, and had to call an election before the end of June.

Former Arsenal star Bacary Sagna has told GOAL, during an exclusive interview, that Arsenal can win both the Premier League and Champions League this season. The north London giants are hoping to make history in 2025-26, but Sagna - who also represented Manchester City in his playing days - has warned that Pep Guardiola “will not let go” in a bid to chase the Gunners down.

Modernising the role of a full-back 30 years ago, Roberto Carlos undoubtedly set the benchmark. A tactical genius and a physical specimen, the Real Madrid and Brazil legend won countless trophies at club and international level, contributing bucket loads of goals and assists. No one in the past, present or future can ever claim to be his equal - he was that good.

One of the best midfielders of his era, perhaps the greatest crosser of a football ever and a free-kick taker to rival the best the game has ever produced, David Beckham was a special player to say the least. And yet due to his off-field impact, one of the sport's great champions of the past 30 years is generally forgotten when it comes to referencing the true legends of the game.

Romario moved around the penalty area with the stealthy gait and sly gaze of a panther, ready to suddenly accelerate as soon as the ball came his way, to disorient the opposing defenders with a couple of feints, to pounce on the ball, which inevitably ended up at his feet, as if magnetised, and finish with an unstoppable shot of pure technique or power, or alternatively serve up a perfect assist for one of his team-mates. He was a Hall of Fame striker if ever there was one.

In 1969, at the age of 23, George Best wanted to focus solely on the essentials. Just football, just his job. So he turned his back on his two other great passions, alcohol and women. His sobering conclusion: "It was the worst 20 minutes of my life." A Manchester United legend, that quote sums up Bet's rebellious attitude towards football, and life in general.

Rebel United introduces players who prefer to swim against the tide, such as Barcelona and Spain legend Gerard Pique, who has achieved great significance beyond the pitch thanks to his Catalan pride and innovative spirit...

"La France, c'est vous." Translated as 'France, is you', that was what French president Charles de Gaulle told footballer Rachid Mekhloufi in 1968. Mekhloufi had just led his Saint-Etienne side to the double, and the reward was an audience with the most powerful man in the country. For Mekhloufi, this sentence brought things full circle. Now he was both Algerian and French; 10 years earlier, he had - in a sense - been neither.

On September 15, 2018, N'Golo Kante walked off the Stamford Bridge pitch, satisfied. As was often the case, the Frenchman had just covered every blade of grass over the course of the 90 minutes. And, as was so often the case, he was not one of the major speaking points at full-time. Not right away, at least.

Anyone that manages to carve out a career for themselves in professional football is ridiculously talented. The standard at the highest level is just so high that it is simply impossible to 'fake it 'til you make it'. However, not everyone is as prodigiously gifted as Lionel Messi or Lamine Yamal. Your average player will require some time to get to grips with the rigours of the elite game.

Player development in football follows many different paths. Some exceptional talents, such as Lamine Yamal and Estevao, make an impact at the highest level at a very young age. At the same time, countless players need more time before their qualities fully emerge.