Yosua Arya

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has urged new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso to sign free agent John Stones, arguing the England defender would bring experience and leadership to a young squad. The former Blues striker believes Chelsea's lighter schedule next season could also help minimise concerns over Stones' injury record.

FIFA has been forced to make a rare exception to its strict tournament branding rules ahead of the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina. The governing body could not conceal the iconic Mercedes-Benz logo at Atlanta Stadium after engineering concerns made covering the landmark impossible.

Folarin Balogun has joined Klutch Sports following an impressive World Cup that boosted his profile on and off the pitch. The USMNT forward becomes the first footballer to sign directly with LeBron James' agency as he looks to build on his growing influence in the game.

Aston Villa have firmly dismissed speculation linking Emiliano Martinez with Juventus. Director of Professional Football Damian Vidagany insists the Argentina international remains central to Unai Emery's plans and says reports suggesting he could leave this summer do not reflect the club's position.

Nico O'Reilly is relishing the prospect of facing Lionel Messi when England meet Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals. The Manchester City youngster described the opportunity as "once-in-a-lifetime", while Jordan Pickford warned England must not become overly focused on stopping the Albiceleste captain alone.

Claude Makelele has revealed he urged Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to sign Michael Olise. The former Los Blancos midfielder also compared the Bayern Munich winger's ability to influence games to Lionel Messi, while insisting Olise should not be compared to Jude Bellingham.

Al-Nassr are reportedly dealing with a liquidity shortage that has delayed salary payments to members of the first-team squad and brought transfer activity to a standstill. The financial issues have emerged during pre-season, creating uncertainty as the Saudi champions prepare for the new campaign.

Lamine Yamal dismissed suggestions that numerology could influence Spain's World Cup semi-final against France, while taking a swipe at former Portugal boss Roberto Martinez. The teenage winger also insisted he feels no anxiety before the biggest match of his career and remains focused only on helping Spain reach the final.

Didier Deschamps has confirmed Kylian Mbappe is fit to face Spain in France's World Cup semi-final despite concerns over an ankle problem. The France captain trained separately for part of Monday's session, but his boss insisted the modified workload was only part of his recovery plan ahead of the last-four clash.

Harry Kane has played down comparisons with Erling Haaland ahead of England's quarter-final against Norway, insisting they are very different types of striker. While praising the Manchester City attacker's remarkable goalscoring record and physical dominance, the Bayern Munich star stressed that his only priority is helping the Three Lions win the World Cup.

Thomas Tuchel has criticised FIFA after Jarell Quansah's one-match suspension was upgraded to a two-game ban following England's World Cup win over Mexico. The England boss admitted he has received no explanation for the decision as his side prepare for a quarter-final against Norway.

Atletico Madrid have completed the signing of Morten Hjulmand from Sporting CP in a €40 million deal. The Denmark international has signed a contract until June 2031 after completing his medical, becoming Diego Simeone's latest midfield addition ahead of the new season.

Bryan Robson believes Thomas Tuchel has overlooked the one defender best equipped to handle Erling Haaland ahead of England's World Cup clash with Norway. The former England captain argues Harry Maguire's physicality would have made him the ideal match for the prolific striker, despite backing the Three Lions to edge a close contest.

Lamine Yamal says Spain have nothing to fear ahead of their World Cup semi-final against France after reminding Les Bleus of La Roja's recent record in the fixture. The teenage winger also brushed aside criticism of his goalscoring record, insisting team success matters far more than individual numbers.

Xavi has recalled the moment he first realised Lamine Yamal was a once-in-a-generation talent, revealing how the Barcelona teenager immediately reminded him of Lionel Messi. The former Blaugrana boss also explained why he believes the Spain international has the mentality and ability to dominate world football for years to come.

Benfica have made Joao Palhinha their top midfield target after Tottenham decided not to trigger their option to sign him permanently from Bayern Munich. Marco Silva is keen to reunite with the Portugal international, while the club is assessing whether the deal is financially feasible.

Luis de la Fuente has hailed Mikel Merino as a player "tailor-made" for Spain's tactical identity following their hard-fought victory over Belgium. The midfielder's impact proved decisive as La Roja secured their place in the World Cup semi-finals.

Nicky Butt has questioned Manchester United's reported £50 million move for Andrey Santos, arguing the Brazilian has yet to prove he is ready to start at Old Trafford. Emmanuel Petit has also described the transfer as a gamble, warning the midfielder must rebuild his confidence if he is to succeed.