Borussia Dortmund are reportedly closing in on a major defensive reinforcement with a familiar face. BVB are in advanced negotiations to secure the signature of 29-year-old French international Benjamin Pavard, a player who boasts an extensive and successful history in the Bundesliga with both Stuttgart and Dortmund's arch-rivals, Bayern Munich. The move represents a significant statement of intent from the Signal Iduna Park outfit as they look to bolster their backline with elite European experience.

Florian Wirtz's agent has revealed that he called Xabi Alonso and asked him to take the Germany star with him to Real Madrid before he signed for Liverpool. Wirtz ended up joining the Reds instead in a deal worth £116 million ($156m). Alonso has since departed the Santiago Bernabeu, and been replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa, but the player's agent is still hoping he can go on and play for Los Blancos in the future.

Barcelona presidential candidate Xavi Vilajoana's camp have insisted that Harry Kane is "interested" in joining the club from Bayern Munich. Kane has been mentioned as a potential transfer target during the election campaign, with the striker yet to agree a new contract with the Bavarian giants. Barcelona are thought to be in the market for a new centre-forward to take over from Robert Lewandowski, but Kane claims to have heard nothing from the club.

Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada hailed the club's off-pitch transformation after squad costs fell due to a summer clearout of players. Despite bringing in Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens for a total of £225.5m, United were able to shave £14m ($18.9m) off their total wage bill due to player sales and sending others out on loan.

Want to secure a seat to one of the most established football leagues in the world? Here's exactly how much it will cost you and where to buy tickets

The Football Association has officially handed out punishments to both Chelsea and West Ham United following an aggressive multi-player confrontation during their recent Premier League London derby. Tensions reached a breaking point at Stamford Bridge in a match that was already high on intensity, leading to scenes that the governing body deemed a bridge too far for professional conduct. The incident has resulted in significant financial hits for both capital clubs as the FA looks to crack down on mass confrontations.

Honest Ahanor is just 17 years old - and yet on Sunday he started his fifth successive game for Atalanta, against Como. Unfortunately, Ahanor's afternoon came to an abrupt end - and quite literally by his own hand. Just eight minutes into the game at Sinigaglia, the defender was involved in an innocuous, off-the-ball clash with Maxi Perrone, who shamelessly collapsed to the ground as if Ahanor had struck him in the face.

Another transfer window and another highly-rated prospect is on their way to Chelsea. The club's youth policy has struck again, with the west Londoners landing 17-year-old full-back Yisa Alao from financially troubled Sheffield Wednesday. Despite his very limited experience at senior level, the teenager provoked a transfer tug-of-war between three Premier League giants, but it is the Blues who have emerged victorious.

Kazakhstan isn't a nation known for its love of football. That doesn't mean it's non-existent, however, and with a new teenage sensation emerging as one of the country's best players already, the nation sandwiched between Europe and Asia could be on the verge of a golden generation.

How to watch the Champions League match between Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund, as well as kick-off time and team news

Benfica's appeal against the provisional suspension handed to Gianluca Prestianni has been rejected, meaning the Argentine will miss the second leg of the Champions League knockout round play-off against Real Madrid on Wednesday night. The 20-year-old has been accused of racially abusing Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior during the first game last week.

Inter head coach Cristian Chivu has admitted his side were simply outworked and "not competitive" enough as the Nerazzurri suffered a humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Bodo/Glimt. The Italian giants failed to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit, falling to a 5-2 aggregate defeat after losing 2-1 on a night of high tension at San Siro. Despite enjoying long periods of possession, the hosts lacked the cutting edge and physical intensity to break down the resilient Norwegian visitors

Michel Platini is undoubtedly one of the greatest footballers of all time. Playmaker, assister, goal-scorer: Platini was a complete player, capable of leaving an indelible mark on world football between the late 1970s and mid-1980s. He was the perfect No.10, embodying the true essence of the shirt number both then and now.

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.

Teddy Sheringham. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. "Football, bloody hell!" The 1999 Champions League final is one of the greatest dramas in the history of Bayern Munich. The German giants led for a long time in Barcelona before Manchester United snatched the trophy they thought was theirs in stoppage time. But according to one member of the Bayern team, he actually won that final. "Actually, I'm a Champions League winner," claims the latest member of GOAL's Rebel United, Mario Basler.

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...

Robin Roefs' story reads like a fairy tale. The 22-year-old goalkeeper is only in his second season as a first-choice shot-stopper, and yet he is already considered one of the better No.1s in the Premier League. A place in the Netherlands' starting line-up at the World Cup is now not out of the question for the latest of GOAL's Hidden Gems.

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.