Nick Woltemade’s goal drought has been a major talking point for weeks ahead of the World Cup. Now his manager at Newcastle United has also spoken out clearly. Is a blockbuster transfer on the cards this summer?

Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele is reportedly stalling on a new contract, fuelling rumours of a sensational summer departure. The French international is evaluating his options amid a highly productive, albeit injury-hit, season. With negotiations reaching a standstill, a move to the Premier League or Saudi Arabia is emerging as a genuine possibility for the star.

Real Madrid are reportedly planning to sell a promising first-team star so that Endrick can be reintegrated into the squad after his loan spell at Lyon ends. The Brazil international has enjoyed a resurgence since joining the Ligue 1 club in January and will be given a second chance at the Santiago Bernabeu next season.

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has appeared at a London court to formally enter a plea regarding fresh allegations of sexual assault. The 32-year-old, who now plays his club football in Spain, pleaded not guilty to the latest charges brought against him during a hearing on Monday, adding to a complex ongoing legal case that involves multiple alleged victims.

Rayan Cherki has been made aware of what he must achieve at Manchester City before mid-game keepy-uppies can become a habit, with Gareth Barry telling GOAL what Pep Guardiola’s message to the enigmatic Frenchman will be. Cherki has won a host of Premier League admirers as City’s on-field entertainer, but his demanding manager is all about end product.

Mikel Arteta is harbouring significant fears over his future at Arsenal following a sudden downturn in the Gunners' Premier League campaign. That's according to a specialist body language expert, who suggests the Spaniard is "absolutely furious" with his squad and increasingly anxious about his job security as the North London side’s title pursuit begins to falter.

The World Cup is now just two-and-a-half months away, with teams currently making their final preparations for the finals, while others look to book the final few spots in North America during the March international break. Once the tournament does eventually get under way, the stage will be set for a whole host of players to make themselves national heroes, including some of the most exciting youngsters in the game today.

"[There’s] a young player who plays for [Borussia] Dortmund called Youssoufa Moukoko," Samuel Eto’o told GOAL when asked who he’d love to see as Barcelona’s next big signing back in October 2020. "[He’s] 15 years of age, and he’s the next top player, for me, after [Lionel] Messi. As Messi gets older, we could prepare the future of Barcelona very well."

England will head to the World Cup this summer as one of the favourites to lift the trophy after a run of strong tournament showings by a still relatively young core group of players. Football, though, moves fast, and soon there will be new stars who come along and usurp those established names. Fortunately for the Three Lions, the production line is showing few signs of slowing down.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are sure to put on a show, but there are plenty of other big matchups to watch in the second legs of the quarterfinals.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has delivered a brutally honest verdict on his team's chances of overturning a 2-0 deficit against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals. Speaking ahead of Tuesday's crucial second leg at Anfield, the Dutch defender warned that a dramatic improvement is required and called upon the home fans to inspire a special night.

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has updated his Instagram profile picture to an iconic photo of LeBron James from the 2016 NBA finals. This highly symbolic gesture signals the 18-year-old's profound belief that his team can overcome their two-goal deficit in the Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid and deliver a miraculous comeback.

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.

GOAL's Rebel United series focuses on players who prefer to swim against the tide, players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic – an icon who not only disrupted the system, but also subjugated it...

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.

Gift Orban may only be 23 years of age, but he has already spent time in five different European countries while scoring at a rate of a goal every other game. A move to an elite club likely awaits for a player who went through plenty of hardship as a child, with Orban easily one of the continent's biggest Hidden Gems...

Real Madrid have paid a heavy price for failing to replace Toni Kroos following his retirement in 2024, but then doing so was always going to be a tough task. For starters, the ex-Germany international ranks as one of the finest deep-lying playmakers of the modern era.

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.