Ritabrata Banerjee

Ipswich Town have assigned a first-team kit number to celebrity fan and stakeholder Ed Sheeran ahead of the their 2025-26 Championship campaign. The Tractor Boys lasted only one season in the Premier League and suffered an immediate relegation back to the second tier.

Aston Villa are on the verge of signing Ivory Coast international forward Evann Guessand from Nice, which could open the door to Ollie Watkins' exit from Villa Park this summer. Watkins has been linked with a move away from the club since the start of the summer transfer window, with several teams, including Manchester United, keen on signing the England star.

Former Arsenal and France defender Mikael Silvestre has warned Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze against securing a transfer to the Gunners this summer. The 27-year-old playmaker has become a much sought-after asset on the back of eye-catching performances for the Eagles and England.

Jose Mourinho paid an emotional tribute to former Champions League-winning FC Porto captain Jorge Costa, who sadly passed away on Tuesday from cardiac arrest at the age of 53. Costa, who helped Porto lift their second European Cup had a long managerial career post-retirement and in the summer of 2024, he rejoined his ex-club as their director of football.

Yoane Wissa has rejoined Brentford's pre-season training amid strong transfer interest from Newcastle United. The Magpies have been linked with a move for Wissa, but the Bees had made it clear that they won't sell the forward for less than £40 million. Brentford have already sold Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United are thus reluctant to let another first-team star leave.

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso is not entirely happy with Rodrygo in his squad amid strong interest from Premier League clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. The Gunners are still looking for an attacking option despite the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres, while their arch-rivals Spurs have identified the Brazilian winger a possible replacement of outgoing captain Son Heung-min.

FC Porto's former Champions League-winning captain Jorge Costa has passed away following a cardiac arrest at the age of 53 on Tuesday. Costa played for 15 years at Porto and made 383 appearances for the club across all competitions. He was an integral part and the leader of the side that lifted the club's second European Cup in the 2003-04 season under Jose Mourinho.

Birmingham City are on the verge of finalising a transfer for German forward Marvin Ducksch from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen. The Blues minority owner and NFL legend Tom Brady was reportedly pushing for the transfer, as the club look to secure a promotion to the Premier League next year. The Championship side are in advanced talks with the German club to wrap up the deal.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his long-term girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez sparked wedding rumours by posting a ring photo on social media. The couple have been dating for nearly a decade and together have four children. In a recent Instagram post, Georgina made a grand arrangement as the couple hosted close friends in an intimate party on the occasion of Friendship Day.

Former Chelsea and France star Emmanuel Petit has urged Chelsea to sign Manchester United target Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa this summer. The Red Devils have been linked with the World Cup-winning Argentine goalkeeper since the start of the transfer window and the club even saw their loan bid rejected by the Villans. However, Martinez could be allowed to leave for around £40 million.

New Wrexham signing George Thomason believes the newly promoted Championship side can survive in the English second division. The Red Dragons are back in the second tier for the first time in 43 years after they secured three promotions in a row from the National League. The Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney-owned side are now aiming to perform well in the Championship.

Arsenal are preparing to sell €40 million (£35m/$46m) transfer flop Fabio Vieira this summer as they initiate talks with Bundesliga side VFB Stuttgart. Veira spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan at his boyhood club FC Porto last season, but Stuttgart are pushing for a permanent transfer for the Gunners outcast, who has struggled for minutes under Mikel Arteta.

Academy stars Rio Ngumaho and Trey Nyoni starred as Liverpool thrashed Athletic Club 4-1 in the first friendly of the double header at Anfield on Monday.

Manchester United defender Leny Yoro made a bold claim that a lot of people want the Red Devils to fail as he sent out a defiant warning to the naysayers, who had slammed the club's performance after a dismal 2024-25 campaign. Yoro was plagued by numerous injuries in his maiden season at Old Trafford and started only 12 Premier League matches.

Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada has insisted club officials are working hard to strengthen Ruben Amorim's squad this summer, amid strong links with a move for RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko. After a nightmare 2024-25 campaign, where United finished 15th in the Premier League, the club are now working behind the scenes to significantly improve the team.

Raheem Sterling has been included in Chelsea's 'bomb squad' that consists of nine out-of-favour stars whom the Blues are looking forward to selling this summer. Sterling left for Arsenal on loan last summer but has now returned to Stamford Bridge after a disappointing spell at Emirates Stadium. The English winger has been linked to multiple clubs ahead of an expected exit.

Noni Madueke has cut short his holiday and joined Arsenal's pre-season training camp despite travelling to the US with the Chelsea squad for the Club World Cup earlier this summer. The 23-year-old English winger left the Blues after two seasons as he joined the Gunners for £52 million (€60m/$69.9m). Madueke joined Arsenal's training a week before the rest of the team returned from their Asia tour.

FC Porto and Atletico Madrid paid tribute to late Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva before the start of their pre-season friendly on Sunday. Jota and Silva tragically passed away one month ago in a car accident in Spain. Since their deaths, tributes have poured in across the football world and Liverpool have retired Jota's No.20 jersey.