Virgil van Dijk is eager to see “my vice-captain” Andy Robertson remain at Liverpool. Mounting speculation during the January transfer window suggests that the Scotland international left-back has emerged as a shock target for Tottenham. Van Dijk is hoping that a fellow two-time Premier League title winner will not be allowed to leave Anfield.

Manchester United have reportedly held internal discussions regarding the possibility of bringing Mason Greenwood back to the club from French side Marseille. The forward was sold to the Ligue 1 side in 2024 but the Red Devils included a buy-back clause in the transfer. Greenwood has gone on to become a key player for Robert De Zerbi's side which has sparked speculation he could move on.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has suggested it would be unwise to sanction the sale of Andy Robertson before the transfer deadline as he still 'needs' the left-back. Robertson is in talks with Tottenham over a move but the Reds are facing a mounting injury crisis and Slot is determined not to lose any further players.

Manchester City may be in need of a new captain next season, with Bernardo Silva’s contract running down towards free agency, and a prediction has been made regarding who will take the armband. Portuguese defender Ruben Dias and prolific Norwegian striker Erling Haaland are reported to be among those in contention to take over skipper duties at the Etihad Stadium.

Sunderland star Granit Xhaka allegedly told a West Ham fan he would "see them outside" following his side's 3-1 Premier League loss at London Stadium. The Swiss international missed the defeat through injury on Saturday, and during his time in the stands, it seems he was on the receiving end of some stick. Now, one supporter has opened up on their supposed interaction.

Pep Guardiola’s future remains the subject of lively debate at Manchester City, with it being suggested that the Catalan coach could walk away from the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2026. An update on his plans claims that no decision has been made as yet, with it being pointed out that the ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has “never broken a contract”.

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.

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.

Harry Kane enjoyed being reunited with former Tottenham team-mate Toby Alderweireld following his latest Champions League outing for Bayern Munich, despite being reminded that he was once billed as a “one-season wonder” in English football. Kane has proved to be much more than that, with remarkable standards being maintained in domestic and continental competition.

GOAL has complete guide to Champions League top scorers in 2025-26 with the prestigious Golden Boot on the line.

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.