Lists

Manchester City have emerged as surprise suitors for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, with Pep Guardiola reportedly keen on a reunion with the former academy graduate. The 25-year-old has enjoyed a transformative campaign in the Bundesliga, establishing himself as a vital cog in the BVB machine and earning a regular spot in the German national team. His dominant performances have not gone unnoticed back in Manchester, where City are beginning to plan for a potential midfield refresh in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Bukayo Saka has been tipped as a surprise candidate to win the Ballon d'Or this year, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink naming the Arsenal star as a potential threat to Harry Kane and Declan Rice for the accolade. The former Chelsea striker believes the winger international is "very close" to his compatriots when it comes to succeeding Michael Owen as the next Englishman to take the crown.

Real Madrid face a last-minute setback ahead of their La Liga clash against Getafe, as midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is ruled out due to an emergency dental issue. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa must now adjust his lineup, opening the door for Brahim Diaz or young prospect Cestero to step up. This unexpected absence adds pressure as Los Blancos aim to keep pace with league leaders Barcelona.

The long-standing tension between Spanish football's biggest rivals has reached a critical point. Real Madrid are confident that UEFA will soon hand down severe sanctions to Barcelona regarding the "Negreira Case." While Spanish courts move slowly, Madrid believe European football's governing body is ready to take decisive disciplinary action against the Catalan club in the near future.

Matchday 2 of MLS brought a signature comeback win for Inter Miami, and a continuation of form for the Red Bulls. But it might be time to worry about Atlanta.

Manchester United made a special pitch to Benjamin Sesko which convinced him to join the Red Devils over Newcastle despite the Magpies offering him a higher salary. Sesko was the subject of interest from Arsenal and Newcastle last summer before opting to move to Old Trafford in a £74 million ($99m) signing and after a slow start he is beginning to pay off the fee with a spate of goals since January.

Tottenham have implemented a stringent financial contingency plan that would see their star-studded squad take a massive hit to their earnings should the unthinkable happen. It has been revealed that Spurs players would see their wages slashed by as much as 50 per cent if the club were to suffer relegation from the Premier League. While the London outfit remains a regular fixture in the hunt for European football, the club's hierarchy has ensured that the financial books stay balanced even in a worst-case scenario.

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has leapt to the defence of Robert Sanchez despite a shaky performance from the goalkeeper in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Arsenal. The Spaniard found himself under intense scrutiny at the Emirates Stadium after misjudging a cross for the Gunners' winning goal, but his manager insists the blame should not rest on one man's shoulders.

Iran's place at the upcoming World Cup has been put in doubt amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East. The president of Iran's soccer federation said on Monday that the country's World Cup hopes seem slim at the moment, although organizers say there has been no formal indication that plans will change for this summer.

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has issued a rallying cry to his teammates, insisting the Gunners must "address and talk about" the growing anxiety that appears to be creeping into their game during the final stages of matches. Despite securing a vital 2-1 victory over London rivals Chelsea on Sunday to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League, the north London side were once again forced to sweat as they survived a frantic period of late pressure at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal icon Martin Keown has hailed the impact of William Saliba this season as the Gunners go in search of their first Premier League title since 2004. Saliba broke into the Arsenal first-team squad in 2022 following a series of loans back in his native France, and has since announced himself as one of the world's best centre-backs.

Arsenal might be leading the way on the pitch as they chase a first Premier League title in over two decades, but off it, they have secured a much less desirable accolade. A comprehensive new study has revealed that the Gunners’ faithful have been named the most disliked fanbase in the English top flight. The research, which highlights the tribal nature of modern football, suggests that the north London club’s return to the summit of the game has brought with it a significant wave of external hostility from rival supporters across social media platforms.

When Roy Keane claimed in January that Michael Carrick should not get the Manchester United job permanently even if he wins every game until the end of the season, it was easy to think that the hypothetical scenario he painted would never be tested. But the man who inherited the famous No.16 shirt from the polemical Irishman at Old Trafford and thus unwillingly became his sworn enemy is holding Keane to his word.

Liverpool are sensationally considering a massive transfer U-turn that could see Jarell Quansah return to Anfield just one year after his departure, according to reports. The 23-year-old England international made the move to Bayer Leverkusen last summer in a deal worth £35 million, but his meteoric rise in the Bundesliga has forced the Reds' hierarchy to rethink their long-term defensive strategy.

Manchester United are already plotting a major summer transfer spree as they prepare for life after one of their most decorated stars. The Red Devils are expected to invest over £170 million to replace Casemiro, who has announced he will not renew his contract after the upcoming World Cup, leaving a massive void in the heart of the Old Trafford midfield.

Enzo Fernandez has been advised to ignore any Frank Lampard comparisons at Chelsea and focus on “dominating” games in his own way. Ex-Blues star Frank Sinclair has told GOAL why it would be foolish for the World Cup-winning Argentine at Stamford Bridge to try and model his game on a great of the past - as those exploits will never be replicated.

Chelsea have plenty of issues to solve, but perhaps the most glaring right now is their lack of discipline. The lack of experienced heads within the youngest squad in the Premier League has been pointed to on a number of occasions during the BlueCo era, but nowhere is it more glaring than when it comes keeping a full compliment of players on the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has issued a rallying cry to his team-mates, warning them never to take European football for granted again. As the Red Devils endure their shortest competitive season in over a century, the Portuguese full-back believes the emptiness of missing out on the Champions League must serve as a permanent lesson for the squad. While domestic rivals prepare for the business end of continental competition, United find themselves observers after a 2024-25 campaign that was well below the standards expected at Old Trafford.

Chelsea’s forgotten man Mykhailo Mudryk has made a surprise return to the training pitch, but far from the glamorous surroundings of Cobham. The Ukraine international, who joined the Blues in a massive deal worth £89 million in January 2023, has been spotted keeping up his fitness levels at semi-professional outfit Uxbridge FC. The 25-year-old shared footage of his individual session with his 1.8 million Instagram followers, raising eyebrows across the football world as his competitive exile from Stamford Bridge continues.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has admitted his "football heart" is struggling to adjust to the ways of a modern Premier League, claiming the division’s growing obsession with set-piece routines is making matches a chore to watch. The Dutchman, who won the title in his first season at Anfield, believes the tactical shift toward crowded goalmouths and physical dead-ball plays has turned the English top flight into an outlier compared to its European counterparts. Despite Liverpool’s own recent success from corners, Slot warned that this "new reality" is set to dominate the landscape for the foreseeable future.

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has sent a clear warning to his squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, suggesting that high-profile names could be left out of his final selection. As the nation prepares for upcoming friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana later this month, Nagelsmann has indicated that club status will not guarantee a seat on the plane to North America, emphasising that team chemistry and specific tactical profiles will take precedence over reputation.

Arsenal's rise to becoming the Premier League’s undisputed masters of the dead ball has been no accident, and it has now been revealed that the Gunners’ highly-rated set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, has a unique incentive written into his contract. The 44-year-old specialist is reportedly receiving a specific bonus payment every time Mikel Arteta’s side finds the back of the net from a set-piece situation, rewarding the Frenchman for the marginal gains that have kept the north London side at the summit of the table.

Thomas Tuchel has been given three reasons why Jude Bellingham, who is nursing an injury at Real Madrid, has to make England’s 2026 World Cup squad. The all-action midfielder may be forced to sit out international action during the March round of friendlies, but Lee Sharpe has told GOAL that the talented 22-year-old is one of those that should be picked on reputation alone.

Alan Shearer has thrown his weight behind Arsenal’s title charge, insisting that Mikel Arteta’s side have what it takes to fend off Manchester City and claim the Premier League crown. The Gunners maintained their five-point cushion at the summit with a gritty 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, though the nature of the win sparked fresh debate over their reliance on dead-ball situations. Despite the external noise, the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer believes the north Londoners can get over the line.

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.

The transformation of Manchester United under Michael Carrick has been nothing short of remarkable, and even the club’s most vocal supporters are finding the current trajectory hard to process. Gary Neville, a man who has seen every high and low at Old Trafford over the last three decades, has admitted to being stunned by the sudden shift in expectations.

Bruno Fernandes has been informed that Manchester United can afford to lose him, despite his obvious value to the collective cause, with Lee Sharpe telling GOAL why a summer transfer elsewhere could happen. Portugal international Fernandes has been a talismanic presence across six years at Old Trafford, but questions continue to be asked of his short and long-term future.

Lionesses midfielder Missy Bo Kearns has revealed that she is pregnant with her first child, due in September. Kearns was not included in Sarina Wiegman's squad for England's upcoming World Cup qualifiers, described as being unavailable for selection, and the reasons for that have now become clear, after the Aston Villa star and her boyfriend, also a professional footballer, announced the news on social media.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that the club's marquee summer signing Florian Wirtz is set for a further spell on the sidelines. The Germany international, who has become a pivotal figure at Anfield since his high-profile arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, is battling a back injury that has already seen him miss key victories over Nottingham Forest and West Ham. With the Reds preparing for a double-header against Wolves at Molineux, Slot suggested the playmaker remains a major doubt for both the Premier League and FA Cup fixtures.