Deportivo Merlo Overview

With the new Premier League season now less than a month away from kicking off on August 21, pre-season friendlies are about to get into full swing as the majority of clubs jet off around the globe to ensure the best possible preparation for the 2026-27 campaign. However, due to the World Cup, a number of squads are far from full strength as those who reached the knockout rounds in North America enjoy some belated time off, creating opportunities for others to stake their claim for greater roles over the next 10 months.

Yan Diomande's future has become one of the summer's most closely watched transfer sagas, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid all reportedly prepared to match Liverpool's €100 million offer for the RB Leipzig winger, even as he waits to hear whether his preferred destination, Paris Saint-Germain, can turn interest into a concrete offer.

Europe's champions work to bolster their attack