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Liverpool have emerged as one of only three elite clubs capable of triggering a secret release clause in Nico Schlotterbeck's new Borussia Dortmund contract. The German international recently committed his future to BVB until 2031, but the deal includes specific provisions that could see him head to Anfield or the Santiago Bernabeu as early as this summer.

Bournemouth are reportedly eyeing Frank Lampard as a candidate to be their next manager following the news that Andoni Iraola will step down at the end of the season. The Chelsea legend has rebuilt his stock during a sensational spell in the Championship and could be set for an immediate return to the top flight.

GOAL breaks down the sporting director's impact and what his exit means for the future

The release clause Nico Schlotterbeck negotiated for a move shortly after the World Cup is reportedly valid for only three clubs.

U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker is leaving his role to take a similar job with Saudi Arabia. Crocker's exit comes just weeks before the federation opens its brand new training facility ahead of the World Cup on home soil. Crocker is set to leave his role with immediate effect, ending a three-year stay with the federation.

Manchester United have officially decided to appeal the controversial red card shown to Lisandro Martinez during their frustrating 2-1 defeat to Leeds United on Monday. The Argentine defender was dismissed for violent conduct after momentarily pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair, but the club are determined to overturn the decision to avoid a lengthy suspension.

GOAL sat down to talk with the Mexico striker to discuss his journey, the challenges he's faced, and what's motivating him at this year's World Cup.

Netflix is expanding its popular sports anthology with a new UK spin-off, bringing three iconic football stories to the screen. The upcoming documentary series will explore the meteoric rise of Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy, Liverpool’s miraculous Champions League comeback in Istanbul, and the controversial legacy of Wimbledon’s notorious hard man, Vinnie Jones.

UEFA has officially rejected Barcelona's formal protest regarding a controversial refereeing decision during their Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat to Atletico Madrid. The Catalan giants had called for an investigation into a missed handball incident, but European football's governing body has now closed the case.

Real Madrid will be without more than just Aurelien Tchouameni as they attempt to overturn their Champions League deficit against Bayern Munich.

Oliver Kahn insists he has been misinterpreted, and that his remarks about national team player Jamal Musiala possibly missing the World Cup have been taken out of context.

Andoni Iraola will leave Bournemouth when his contract expires at the end of the season, ending a transformative spell at the Vitality Stadium. Several Premier League clubs are already monitoring the Spaniard’s situation as the Cherries begin planning for life without their influential head coach.

Mason Greenwood continues to generate plenty of transfer talk, but Marseille legend Marcel Desailly has told GOAL why the English forward would only be good enough for Aston Villa - not Arsenal or Manchester City - if he returned to the Premier League. Leading sides across Europe have been linked with the goalscoring winger, with a move away from France in 2026 being mooted.

Kylian Mbappe has suggested that football's current "era of excessive consumption" is making it impossible for elite players to maintain peak performance. The Real Madrid superstar expressed his deep gratitude for his career but admitted that expectations have become unrealistic at the top level.

Former New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips has warned Cristiano Ronaldo against moving to Major League Soccer. Wright-Phillips believes the Al-Nassr forward may struggle to replicate the "magic" still shown by Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and could risk damaging his legacy.

Declan Rice, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are all considered to be Ballon d’Or-worthy talents, but who will be the next Englishman to win the prestigious Golden Ball? Former Three Lions midfielder Gareth Barry has delivered his verdict to GOAL, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid superstars eager to be recognised as the best player on the planet.

Alejandro Garnacho has sparked fresh speculation regarding his Chelsea future by scrubbing all club-related content from his official TikTok account. The Argentina international also reposted clips celebrating his career at Manchester United, having recently expressed regret over his summer exit from Old Trafford.

Declan Rice was among five players to miss Arsenal's latest training session ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second leg clash with Sporting CP. Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber were also absent after sitting out the weekend defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Cesc Fabregas has insisted that he remains fully committed to his long-term project at Como amid links with Chelsea and the Italy national team. The 38-year-old manager emphasised his family's happiness at the Serie A club and his desire for daily involvement on the training pitch as key reasons for staying put.

FC Barcelona’s complaints about the pitch at Atlético Madrid’s stadium have clearly failed to produce the desired result.

Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly has told GOAL why at least three new signings will be required at Stamford Bridge in the next transfer market, with key areas of the Blues’ squad needing to be addressed. Huge quantities of time and money have been invested in youthful additions across recent windows, with one eye on the future, but Premier League heavyweights are being advised to alter their approach and focus more on the present.

Nico Schlotterbeck’s contract extension at Borussia Dortmund includes a controversial “dream club” release clause that has sparked debate among fans. Germany legend Lothar Matthaus believes the clause is logical for an ambitious player and could even benefit Dortmund financially if Real Madrid or another giant comes calling.

Sam Allardyce has criticised Mikel Arteta for publicly sharing his "strange" Arsenal training methods. The former England manager questioned the wisdom of sharing eccentric drills, including players balancing pens and training to AI-generated edits, suggesting such transparency could backfire on the Gunners boss under the intense pressure of the title race.

Bayern Munich are reportedly tracking the rapid rise of Brian Brobbey as they consider a summer move for the Sunderland striker. The Dutch forward has impressed in his first Premier League season and Bayern could target him to provide attacking support for Harry Kane.

From an individual perspective, Kylian Mbappe's free transfer to Real Madrid in 2024 has been a roaring success. The insatiable French forward has hit a staggering 83 goals across his first 97 appearances for Los Blancos, including 39 across all competitions in the current campaign - a total bettered only by Bayern Munich's Harry Kane among all the players in Europe's top five leagues.

Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis has heaped praise on Jose Mourinho, insisting that the legendary tactician is still the finest manager in the world. Following a prolific season under the Portuguese's guidance in Lisbon, the Greece international highlighted Mourinho's unique passion for the game and his unparalleled ability to manage elite talent at the highest level.

Arjen Robben has urged supporters and pundits to exercise caution when drawing parallels between himself and Bayern Munich’s rising star Michael Olise. While the legendary winger admitted to being deeply impressed by the Frenchman’s creative influence, he insisted that every player deserves to be judged on their own unique individual merits.

Ivan Rakitic has leapt to the defence of Lamine Yamal amid growing scrutiny over the teenager’s behaviour and comments. The former Barcelona midfielder insists the young star should be allowed to express himself while continuing to develop on the biggest stage.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has outlined a series of radical proposals aimed at revolutionising football to ensure the sport remains attractive to younger audiences. The 76-year-old suggests that the current 90-minute format is too slow for a generation raised on video games, advocating for shorter halves and the total abolition of yellow and red cards.