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Japan captain Wataru Endo has been forced to withdraw from the 2026 World Cup squad due to a persistent injury, bringing a premature end to his international career. The Liverpool midfielder confirmed he is stepping away from the national team entirely after failing to recover in time for the tournament in North America.

Trent Alexander-Arnold will have had “sleepless nights” and the odd regret since his move to Real Madrid, but Danny Murphy has told GOAL that he would be “gobsmacked” to see the Liverpool academy graduate back at Anfield. Questions are being asked of the England international’s future following a tough debut season in Spain and failure to secure a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup squad.

Monaco rising star Maghnes Akliouche has officially opened the door to a high-profile move this summer, acknowledging that his time at the Stade Louis II is likely coming to an end. The 24-year-old playmaker has been heavily linked with European heavyweights PSG and Liverpool following a breakout campaign in Ligue 1.

Bayer Leverkusen have secured one of Germany's brightest young talents after winning a heated race for Hertha Berlin sensation Kennet Eichhorn. The 16-year-old has reportedly passed a medical with the Bundesliga club ahead of a €9m transfer to BayArena, having decided to snub interest from Liverpool and RB Leipzig.