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France legend Marcel Desailly has told GOAL that Kylian Mbappe will have “had nightmares” about Paris Saint-Germain winning the Champions League without him and Ousmane Dembele landing the Ballon d’Or. Mbappe headed to Real Madrid in a bid to collect those honours, but has been warned that a trophy drought in Spain could last up to four years.

Tottenham continue to teeter on the brink of relegation disaster in the Premier League, with Brad Friedel telling GOAL what the “minimum” time frame for a return to Champions League contention would be if the worst were to happen in 2026. Championship football could be on the agenda before elite European competition returns to north London, with a remarkable fall from grace being endured.

England manager Thomas Tuchel is being urged to add Morgan Gibbs-White to his World Cup plans as the Nottingham Forest No.10 offers “something different” to the likes of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden. Competition for places is fierce in the Three Lions’ playmaking department, but former Reds captain Henri Lansbury has told GOAL why MGW deserves to get the nod.

Tom Brady and Birmingham have been warned that they “missed a trick” in failing to force their way into promotion contention this season, although more money is expected to be spent in chasing the Premier League dream. The Blues landed the League One title last season, beating Wrexham to top spot, but Don Goodman has explained to GOAL why 2025-26 has been something of a disappointment.

Elliot Anderson has become a man in demand, with former Nottingham Forest captain Henri Lansbury telling GOAL why a midfielder that already boasts “a bit of magic” can go on to become a “shining light”. Anderson is a key cog in the City Ground machine, and seemingly destined to form part of England’s squad at the 2026 World Cup, but there is the promise of even more to come from the talented 23-year-old.

Ryan Yates is often Nottingham Forest’s tormentor in chief, while donning the captain’s armband, and former Reds skipper Henri Lansbury has told GOAL why dark arts in football are to be saluted. Every club boasts a player that divides opinion among fan bases, with characters that are loved by home supporters positively revelling in their ability to rile opponents.

The Barcelona winger spoke with GOAL on his rise to become one of the best in the world over the last two years, but World Cup success could make or break his legacy.

Wrexham’s sights remain firmly locked on the Premier League, but Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac have been informed that the Red Dragons are “outsiders” and “underdogs” to hit that target in 2026. Following a record-breaking run of three successive promotions, Don Goodman has explained to GOAL why the Welsh outfit should be happy with their efforts if a fourth falls agonisingly out of reach.

Nottingham Forest legend Stan Collymore has told GOAL how Callum Hudson-Odoi can go about rediscovering his lost spark. The former Chelsea winger has earned trust from four different managers at the City Ground this season, but goals and assists have been in short supply. A “mental” block is considered to be impacting efforts to find top form, with the talented 25-year-old being urged to go back to “basics”.

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.

Max Dowman has made Premier League history at Arsenal, with the 16-year-old wonderkid rewriting the record books, but Gareth Barry has told GOAL why the exciting youngster is likely to miss out on a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad. There has been talk of the teenager becoming a wild card for the Three Lions, but questions are being asked of whether he needs to be fast tracked through that system.

Rayan Cherki has been made aware of what he must achieve at Manchester City before mid-game keepy-uppies can become a habit, with Gareth Barry telling GOAL what Pep Guardiola’s message to the enigmatic Frenchman will be. Cherki has won a host of Premier League admirers as City’s on-field entertainer, but his demanding manager is all about end product.

Chris Wood has made a timely return to action at Nottingham Forest, with Stan Collymore telling GOAL of the crucial qualities that a proven goalscorer will add to the Reds’ Premier League survival bid. New Zealand international Wood has recovered from long-term injury at a point of the season where every point is priceless and the 2026 World Cup begins to loom large.

Harry Kane is being tipped to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo by playing into his 40s, with ex-England star Gareth Barry telling GOAL why the prolific Bayern Munich striker should be giving no thought to retirement. Kane is only 32, with many years ahead of him, and is expected to offer domestic and international bosses a huge boost by following in the footsteps of fellow all-time greats.

Pep Guardiola has conquered Spanish, German and English football, with former Manchester City star Gareth Barry explaining to GOAL why a new challenge in France or Italy would “intrigue” the highly-decorated Catalan coach. The ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has a little over 12 months remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

Neuer, Mbappé and defensive mistakes… how did Bayern impose their word at the Royal’s fortress?

A source close to the Moroccan star responds to reports of the player’s departure.

Chris Richards has already spent time on the books of Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich, but will the USMNT star see his career path lead back to a club of that size and stature? Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison has explained to GOAL why the Eagles defender is destined for big things, with questions being asked of his future amid contract uncertainty at Selhurst Park.

Former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley has explained penalty-saving secrets to GOAL, revealing how he would go about trying to thwart Bruno Fernandes and Ivan Toney. Water bottles adorned with advice and instructions have become all the rage in modern football, but do they really make much of a difference in a battle of wills from 12 yards?

Uli Hoeness has claimed that Harry Kane could be worth more than Alexander Isak in the open transfer market, with Brad Friedel telling GOAL that the Bayern Munich striker would represent value for money at £500 million ($662m). That tongue-in-cheek assessment has been delivered as questions continue to be asked of how much longer the prolific England captain will spend at the Allianz Arena.

Saif Darwish confirms that Jordan will surprise everyone at the World Cup.

A move to Manchester City forms part of Cavan Sullivan’s sporting destiny, and Freddy Adu has told GOAL why the teenage wonderkid will one day “crack the starting line-up for a Premier League team”. For now, there is still much work for the exciting 16-year-old to do when it comes to unlocking full potential in his game. If he can achieve that, then the top-flight in England should be illuminated at some point in the not too distant future.

Liverpool legend John Barnes admits that Mohamed Salah’s exploits in the Premier League have eclipsed those of Cristiano Ronaldo, but is the Egyptian’s legacy greater than Thierry Henry’s? A modern day icon will be leaving Anfield as a free agent in the summer, as his contract is terminated. His standing in English football has been compared with Manchester United and Arsenal idols.

Tottenham have endured a humbling tumble into Premier League relegation danger, but is poor recruitment to blame for serious regression in north London? Former Spurs goalkeeper Brad Friedel has explained to GOAL the problems that a fallen giant faces in the transfer market, with it increasingly difficult for ambitious outfits to deliver on collective expectations.

Kepa Arrizabalaga’s costly error in the 2026 Carabao Cup final has seen Arsenal highlight how selection promises can cause “real problems”. The Gunners goalkeeper quite literally dropped a clanger against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, having been assured of his League Cup spot by Mikel Arteta. Respect has been retained at Emirates Stadium, but did that come at the cost of a major trophy?

Brad Friedel has explained to GOAL why Mauricio Pochettino will never have been open to the idea of a “dual job” that saw him coach both Tottenham and the USMNT. Spurs recently found themselves back in the market for a new manager after bringing Igor Tudor’s ill-fated 44-day tenure to a close. Former fan favourite Pochettino saw a return to north London speculated on, but he has World Cup plans to focus on this summer.