Ligue 1 news

Enzo Maresca’s departure from Chelsea has sparked movement elsewhere, with Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior reportedly among the candidates under consideration at Stamford Bridge, according to The Guardian. Should Rosenior leave for Chelsea, Minnesota United head coach Eric Ramsay has been linked as a potential replacement at Strasbourg. Minnesota finished fourth in MLS’s Western Conference last season.

Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has told Endrick to never wear green after the striker joined Lyon on loan. The France international sent a pointed text message to the loanee, who is now aiming to make a serious impact in Ligue 1 after failing to establish himself in Spain.

Chelsea reportedly have a shock candidate in mind to replace Enzo Maresca, with the Blues searching for a new head coach after parting ways with the Italian. The west Londoners announced on New Year's Day that Maresca had left his post with immediate effect, and it is being suggested that highly-rated Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior could now be lured back to English football.

The January transfer window has become an increasingly frugal period in modern times, as leading clubs largely save their pennies for extravagant summer splurges. Instead, many will be looking to the free-agent market and the possibility of laying the groundwork to sign a potentially key player for absolutely nothing. As it stands, there are plenty of big names who could be available on a free transfer in the summer.

New Year's Eve is almost upon us, meaning 2025 is about to be consigned to the past - but how will it be remembered by the football world? It was certainly an unforgettable year for some players, coaches and clubs. Paris Saint-Germain, for example, finally got their hands on the trophy they craved above all others, the Champions League, thus vindicating a sensible change in recruitment strategy by the club's owners, who went from signing superstars to investing millions in youth.

Paul Pogba has thanked former Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo while accepting his Best Comeback Award at a special ceremony. The French midfielder was banned for four years after testing positive for high testosterone levels while playing for Juventus in September 2023 but after his suspension was reduced to 18 months, he made his return to football at Monaco after 811 days out of the sport.

A lot of leagues and competitions take the festive period off but there was no break for players in England, Italy and Portugal over the weekend, while the action at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco resumed on December 26. The Premier League's top two, Arsenal and Manchester City, both picked up hard-fought wins on Saturday but Aston Villa remain very much in the title race after a massive win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has revealed what his relationship with Vinicius Junior was like on and off the pitch. Speculation is continuing to mount that the Brazil international will leave Los Blancos in 2026 after a difficult year or so at the Spanish giants. Amid such rumours, ex-midfielder Kroos has given a very strong character reference of the 25-year-old, while also giving his take on Endrick's Lyon loan.

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has thanked Paris Saint-Germain and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi for their role in helping Achraf Hakimi return to fitness, as the Atlas Lions captain nears a return for his national side at AFCON after the best part of two months on the sidelines. Hakimi is expected to feature in hosts Morocco's final group game against Zambia on Monday, and Regragui praised 'gentleman' Al-Khelaifi for allowing Hakimi to join up with his national side early to aid his recovery.

Manchester United are eyeing a surprise January swoop for an AFCON star who scored against INEOS-owned Nice earlier this season. Auxerre's 26-year-old Mali international forward Lassine Sinayoko has caught the eye of the Red Devils' recruitment team and the Premier League giants are now seriously considering placing a bid for the player in the January transfer window.

Real Madrid are preparing for all eventualities as contract negotiations with Vinícius Junior continue to stall, with reports suggesting a contingency plan has already been mapped out. The Brazilian forward remains locked in talks over improved terms, holding firm on his financial demands while the club have so far refused to move beyond their most recent offer.

Endrick is already breaking records for Lyon without kicking a ball since leaving Real Madrid on loan. The 19-year-old will spend the second half of the season with the French giants as he bids to get his fledgling career back on track after struggling for game time at Los Blancos. While he won't be able to play for Lyon for a couple of weeks, he is producing record-breaking numbers on social media.

The Christmas period is upon us, which means we are somehow already more or less at the midway point of the 2025-26 football season. As many of Europe's leading leagues pause for the winter break, it's time to take stock and reflect on four scintillating months of action. It's also the opportune moment to assess those players who completed transfers across the continent in the summer, now that they have a decent sample size of games under their belts.

Liverpool are weighing up a bold six-month loan move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos following a devastating injury to Alexander Isak, which has left Arne Slot short in attack. With the Reds facing a crucial period of the season, the Premier League champions are exploring short-term solutions to maintain their title push while their record signing recovers.

With the halfway stage of the season upon us, the time has come to shine a spotlight on the players who have made the biggest impact across Europe's major leagues. But first, let's run through the lay of the land.

Paul Pogba has been told that he has virtually no chance of making France’s World Cup squad, despite returning to action at Monaco, with Frank Leboeuf rating the former Manchester United and Juventus star as a “five per cent” shot to get the call from Didier Deschamps. A man that captured a global crown in 1998 has jokingly told GOAL that Zinedine Zidane stands as much chance of getting the nod as Pogba does.

Vinicius Jr sent a heartfelt message to Endrick after the Brazilian star sealed a loan move to Lyon. The move represents a decisive step away from the Santiago Bernabeu spotlight and towards regular football. The 19-year-old has struggled to force his way into the picture under new head coach Xabi Alonso and will now spend the remainder of the campaign in Ligue 1 with Lyon, a club eager to harness his raw potential.