Krishan Davis

Still just 22 years old, Jhon Duran has joined the sixth club of his increasingly nomadic career and his third in the space of just 12 months, making the controversial decision to head to Russia and sign for Zenit St Petersburg. It is a little over a year since the former Aston Villa hitman was being linked with European giants Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, but after spells in Saudi Arabia and Turkey, the striker is already drifting further into obscurity.

If it wasn't already clear, Jude Bellingham is the new face of adidas in men's football - taking on the mantle from Lionel Messi as he follows the path trodden by the likes of David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane to become a true icon of the Three Stripes. Like those former greats, his relationship with the German sportswear giant looks certain to stretch well beyond his playing days.

By his own admission, Cole Palmer still isn't fully fit as he grapples with a niggling groin issue that has plagued him all season long. The scary thing is, we're starting to see the Chelsea talisman at something close to his best despite his ongoing injury troubles, and the timing of his recent uptick in form could be perfect as he eyes a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Spain's preparations for the upcoming 2026 World Cup have been dealt a significant blow following a serious injury to striker Samu Aghehowa. The Porto star has scored 20 times in all competitions already this season and looked a safe bet to be included in Luis de la Fuente's squad for the summer tournament. However, a dreaded ACL tear has put paid to his hopes.

Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta will not undergo surgery on a niggling knee problem after all, despite the injury scuppering his January transfer to AC Milan. The Frenchman seemed on course to join the Italian giants in a £30 million ($41m) deadline day move, but the deal was called off after the issue with his knee was flagged in his medical examinations.

While opinion was divided on the decision itself, Tottenham fans were left universally fuming following yet another red card for club captain Cristian Romero against Manchester United on Saturday. The Argentine was dismissed before the half-hour mark at Old Trafford after launching into a reckless challenge on Red Devils midfielder Casemiro and crunching down on the Brazilian's ankle.

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has been brutally mocked by his own players after taking a bad touch during the Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Arsenal in midweek. The Blues boss tried to control the ball after it sailed out of play at the Emirates Stadium, but his failed attempt sent it ballooning in the opposite direction away from the pitch. Rosenior has now revealed his players have not let him live the moment down.

"Football is a whole skill to itself. A whole world. A whole universe to itself. Me love it because you have to be skilful to play it. Freedom! Football is freedom."

The jury has been out on Alejandro Garnacho among Chelsea fans and pundits alike since the divisive 21-year-old swapped Old Trafford for Stamford Bridge in the summer, but recent performances have cranked up scrutiny levels. A calamitous 45 minutes against West Ham last weekend prompted Gary Neville to point out that the winger looked like his confidence was "shot to pieces" - and it's difficult to argue with that observation.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was a surprise absence from the Gunners' squad to take on Chelsea in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday night. Eberechi Eze started the clash in the No.10 role, with the Norwegian worryingly not even among the substitutes. Before kick-off, Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta revealed the midfielder had picked up an untimely knock.

ITV plans to take advantage of the BBC's cut-price coverage to win the battle of the broadcasters at this summer's World Cup. While the BBC will not have a studio in North America for the group stage, their rivals have decided to base themselves in the heart of New York from the outset, and they plan to have an all-star cast of pundits to 'blow their competitors out of the water'.

Antony has placed himself among the continent's best with his performances in Europe for Real Betis since leaving Manchester United a year ago. After being deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford by ex-head coach Ruben Amorim, the winger joined Betis on an initial loan - making an immediate impact to earn a permanent transfer in the summer. The Brazilian is continuing to impress in 2025-26.

Paris Saint-Germain have enjoyed a meteoric rise on and off the pitch over the last decade or so, growing their global profile exponentially and ending the long, long wait to become European champions. In February, PSG will take over a corner of the English capital in a showcase of the cultural phenomenon the French giants have become.

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.

Paul Pogba could line up against his former club Juventus on Wednesday night for the first time since parting ways with the Italian giants under the cloud of a doping ban in 2024. If he's fit, that is, with his highly-anticipated comeback at Monaco - after more than two years out of competitive action - being hampered by niggling injuries. As his former employers come to town, Pogba finds himself at another crossroads.

Three years on from his seismic arrival at Chelsea after one of the most dramatic transfer sagas in recent memory, Enzo Fernandez is facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge. Supposedly growing disillusioned with life under BlueCo, the midfielder has been linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs - and his current employers are said to be willing to do business.

adidas have ramped up their movements ahead of the 2026 World Cup with a new promotional film featuring some absolute icons of their Predator silo. The German sportswear giant launched the playful Predator vs F50 campaign earlier in January, with the two sets of boots getting a fresh paintjob for the occasion. Now, legendary members of Team Predator are telling fans it's 'time to choose'.

Mason Greenwood is preparing for arguably the most high-profile match of his Marseille career so far as Premier League champions Liverpool arrive on the south coast of France. But while the Champions League clash will be talked up as an audition for England's World Cup squad in some grubby corners of the internet, the reality is that the damage done to Greenwood's reputation in his homeland is irreparable - regardless of his exploits at Stade Velodrome.