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Today — 9 May 2026Main stream

Update on PSG trio’s fitness and chances of returning vs Arsenal in Champions League final

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By:Mark Brus
9 May 2026 at 14:21

Paris Saint-Germain reportedly expect to have Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Chevalier, and Warren Zaire-Emery back for the Champions League final against Arsenal.

PSG recently booked their place in the final for a second year in a row after beating Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate in the semi-finals, while Arsenal advanced past Atletico Madrid.

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Fans of both clubs will surely already be looking into how to buy Champions League final tickets, but what players will be available to play in the big game in Budapest?

According to French journalist Fabrice Hawkins in the X post below, PSG manager Luis Enrique should have Hakimi back after he missed the second leg against Bayern, while there’s also optimism over Chevalier and Zaire-Emery…

Champions League final injury updates

??Absent pour la qualification du PSG face au Bayern Munich en demi-finale retour de Ligue des champions, Achraf Hakimi est espéré pour la finale contre Arsenal, le 30 mai prochain. L'optimisme est aussi de mise pour Lucas Chevalier.

Luis Enrique va gérer les organismes lors des… pic.twitter.com/AAXaZjKfZp

— Fabrice Hawkins (@FabriceHawkins) May 9, 2026

“Absent for PSG’s qualification match against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final return leg, Achraf Hakimi is hoped to be available for the final against Arsenal on May 30 next,” Hawkins posted.

“Optimism is also in order for Lucas Chevalier. Luis Enrique will manage player workloads during the upcoming matches. Some starters returned from Munich with minor aches and pains that are nothing serious. That’s the case for Warren Zaïre-Emery, for example, who has a slight back issue. The staff’s goal is to have the full squad available for the Champions League final.”

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Can Arsenal beat PSG in the Champions League final?

Arsenal will surely be the underdogs against the reigning European champions, especially as they’ve had such bad luck with injuries this season.

PSG have a less demanding schedule and so look set to have everyone available for this big game, whereas Arsenal still have some hugely important games coming up in the Premier League title race.

Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino are out at the moment, and there have been on-and-off issues for other big names like Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and Riccardo Calafiori all season.

Mikel Arteta surely needs as many options available to him as possible if he is to stand any chance of an upset against PSG at the end of this month.

The post Update on PSG trio’s fitness and chances of returning vs Arsenal in Champions League final appeared first on CaughtOffside.

France can win World Cup but Kylian Mbappe could cause “trouble”, says 1998 winner

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By:Mark Brus
9 May 2026 at 14:03

France can win the 2026 World Cup but Kylian Mbappe’s ego has the potential to cause “trouble” for Didier Deschamps’ side, according to Emmanuel Petit.

Mbappe is one of the best players in the world on his day, and has a great history at the World Cup, scoring for Les Bleus in their final victory in 2018, and even bagging a hat-trick as they lost on penalties to Argentina in 2022.

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Still, Petit has his concerns about how Mbappe fits into this France team, with the former Arsenal midfielder and World Cup winner with France back in 1998 making it clear he feels the Real Madrid star needs to play on the left.

Petit says he wants to see Mbappe out wide rather than up front, with Ousmane Dembele taking up that central role, and with Michael Olise on the right-hand side.

Kylian Mbappe could be an issue for France at the World Cup

Discussing how Mbappe could impact France’s World Cup hopes, Petit told the Sun: “Mbappe is playing up front as a striker. Dembele is playing up front as a striker. Ask Didier Deschamps, the French manager, ‘Who is going to play?’

“If I am Didier Deschamps, for me it’s very simple. Ask Kylian Mbappe to play on the left, the way he was brilliant for years with Paris Saint-Germain.

“Ask Dembele to play up front as a striker, and I ask Olise to play as a right winger.

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“If you do like that, I’m pretty sure France will win the World Cup. If you don’t do that and you want to go the same way that Madrid has been doing with Kylian Mbappe then you’re going to have trouble.

“Egos in the dressing room will come out, and the trouble will start in the team.”

Can France win third World Cup?

France have won the World Cup twice before, in 1998 and 2018, and they’ll be one of the favourites for this year’s tournament in North America.

France are in Group I with Senegal, Norway, and Iraq, and will hope to avoid a repeat of 2002 when they lost their opening group game against Senegal and ended up exiting the tournament early.

Mbappe could prove a difficult character for Deschamps to manage, and it will be an interesting situation to watch if this talented squad once again suffers from too many competing egos.

The post France can win World Cup but Kylian Mbappe could cause “trouble”, says 1998 winner appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Euro giants more likely than Tottenham to sign 27 G/A star in deal that impacts Man Utd

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By:Mark Brus
9 May 2026 at 13:39

Juventus and Atletico Madrid are reportedly interested in a potential transfer swoop for Marseille forward Mason Greenwood.

The former Manchester United attacker’s future is in some doubt this summer after issues at Marseille, but it looks like he won’t be returning to the Premier League.

According to TEAMtalk, it seems unlikely that Greenwood will reunite with Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham, so he could continue his career elsewhere in Europe.

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Given how things ended for Greenwood at Man Utd, it’s no surprise that English teams are likely to back away from making a move for him, even if he has rebuilt his career in France.

Mason Greenwood transfer would be too toxic for Premier League clubs

Greenwood looked like a superb talent when he first broke through at United, and he’s been in fine form for Marseille this season with 20 goals and seven assists.

However, there is no escaping the fact that the 24-year-old is likely to be seen as too toxic for clubs after reports of him being charged for assault, as per BBC‘s reports from a few years ago.

This led to United suspending Greenwood and he hasn’t played for the Red Devils since.

De Zerbi’s arrival as Tottenham manager was also seen as controversial due to his backing of Greenwood when they were together at Marseille.

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Spurs would surely not risk further backlash by bringing in the former England international this summer, but it will be interesting to see how his career can progress at Juve or Atletico.

The post Euro giants more likely than Tottenham to sign 27 G/A star in deal that impacts Man Utd appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal could try signing unsettled Kylian Mbappe if they win Champions League, says ex-Gunner

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By:Mark Brus
9 May 2026 at 13:10

Arsenal have been tipped to change the course of their history if they win the Champions League final this season, with a transfer like Kylian Mbappe perhaps within their reach.

That’s the view of former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Petit, who believes there could be a chance of Mbappe leaving Real Madrid this summer.

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Still, overall he feels it’s probably not realistic, even if Arsenal’s status would be transformed by finally winning the European Cup.

Mbappe would undoubtedly be a dream signing for Arsenal after so many world class performances throughout his career, even if he also comes with a big ego.

Arsenal could pounce for unsettled Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe has 85 goals in 100 games for Real Madrid, but it’s also true that his move to the Bernabeu hasn’t been entirely successful so far.

The France international’s future seems in some doubt at the moment, and this has led to Petit to call for AFC to snap him up if they win the Champions League.

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“If Arsenal win the Champions League for the first time then it would change the course of their history and send a strong message in the transfer market,” Petit is quoted by the Sun.

“Players would of course want to play for the Champions League winners and hope they can go and win it again, it would help them attract Kylian Mbappe if he does leave Real Madrid.”

Kylian Mbappe would be a game-changer for Arsenal

Mbappe is one of the best players in the world, and it would be great to see him coming to the Premier League.

Even if it’s unrealistic, here’s how we scored Mbappe to Arsenal with our Transfer Fit rating system…

Kylian Mbappe TOTAL SCORE: 20/25
Transfer fee **
Performance *****
Achievements *****
Career phase ***
Squad need *****

The only downside to this deal is the price, while Mbappe is also not the youngest, but he’s an elite goal-scorer who can also provide an option on the left-hand side of a front three.

The 27-year-old would be a huge upgrade on the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz up front, and on Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard on the left.

The post Arsenal could try signing unsettled Kylian Mbappe if they win Champions League, says ex-Gunner appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Bayern rival Arsenal for signing of £70m Newcastle star – not Anthony Gordon

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By:Mark Brus
9 May 2026 at 12:44

Bayern Munich are reportedly eyeing up a potential summer transfer window swoop for Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento as they also chase his teammate Anthony Gordon.

Gordon has been strongly linked with Bayern by Christian Falk and others, but it looks like other Newcastle stars are also facing uncertainty ahead of this summer.

There has previously been talk of Livramento and others possibly leaving St James’ Park, as per the Telegraph, while Arsenal have been linked as suitors for the England international in a report from BBC Sport.

Livramento has shone at Newcastle, and now a report from Fichajes states that Bayern are the latest club to show an interest in him.

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Tino Livramento to Arsenal or Bayern?

Livramento makes sense as someone who could now be keen to make the step up to a higher level after a difficult and frustrating season for Newcastle.

Eddie Howe’s side were thrashed by Barcelona in the Champions League and have dropped to 13th in the Premier League table, making European football highly unlikely for next season.

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Livramento is more than good enough to be playing at the top, so it will be interesting to see if he ends up somewhere like Arsenal or Bayern.

Fichajes suggest Bayern are now stepping up their interest, though the report adds that NUFC want as much as £70m to let the 23-year-old go.

That seems a lot to be paying for someone with a slightly worrying recent injury record, so it will be interesting to see how realistic a deal is for that price.

Still, Newcastle also surely need to push for a big fee or else they’re at risk of losing far too many important players in one go this summer, just a year on from the blow of losing Alexander Isak to Liverpool.

The post Bayern rival Arsenal for signing of £70m Newcastle star – not Anthony Gordon appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Sources: Chelsea & other PL clubs eyeing “fantastic” Arsenal star in surprise transfer

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By:Mark Brus
9 May 2026 at 12:20

Chelsea are understood to be on alert for the possible transfer of Arsenal attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri as his situation at the Emirates Stadium as changed.

The highly-rated 19-year-old was not initially loaned out to Marseille to be put in the shop window, but Arsenal could now be open to letting him go for the right price this summer, as first reported here for the Daily Briefing.

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Chelsea are one of the clubs with a long term appreciation of Nwaneri, and they could revisit this deal if he does indeed end up moving on from Arsenal at the end of this campaign.

For now, it’s not clear that Nwaneri himself is pushing to leave, but there may perhaps be concerns with his development after murmurings of attitude problems at Marseille training.

What sources are saying about Ethan Nwaneri transfer

As well as Chelsea, sources have named Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, and AC Milan as clubs keeping an eye on Nwaneri’s situation, while at least three other Premier League teams are also monitoring developments.

Meanwhile, Arsenal could be tempted to cash in on Nwaneri for around £35-40m, with the sale to count as ‘pure profit’ from a PSR perspective due to the fact that the England Under-21 international came up through the Gunners’ academy.

“Nwaneri is struggling right now and that means Arsenal are going to have to consider a sale,” one source said. “Things can change quickly, but he clearly isn’t progressing as expected, and they’ll feel they can get a decent fee for him.

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“Chelsea have tried signing him before. They’re still keeping an eye on how this develops, as are Dortmund, Juventus, and Milan. Many top clubs in England and Europe still see him as a fantastic talent, and he might benefit from a fresh start.”

Could Ethan Nwaneri be the right signing for Chelsea?

Chelsea haven’t got a lot right in the transfer market in recent times, but their policy of recruiting top young players has occasionally gone well for them.

Joao Pedro has been a big hit since joining from Brighton, while Cole Palmer was in a similar situation at Manchester City to Nwaneri’s at Arsenal now when he moved to Stamford Bridge.

Using our Transfer Fit rating system, we score Nwaneri to Chelsea 16/25 – a promising young player in a position they need, who wouldn’t cost a fortune, but who also isn’t in the best form right now.

Ethan Nwaneri TOTAL SCORE: 16/25
Transfer fee ***
Performance **
Achievements **
Career phase ****
Squad need *****

Arsenal might be wary of selling a top prospect like Nwaneri to a rival, but it currently seems unlikely that he’s going to become a key first-team player in Mikel Arteta’s squad.

These two London rivals have also done business plenty of times before, with big names like Kai Havertz, Jorginho, Noni Madueke, and Kepa Arrizabalaga all moving from Chelsea to Arsenal in the last few years.

The post Sources: Chelsea & other PL clubs eyeing “fantastic” Arsenal star in surprise transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

From Spain: Mourinho eyeing Chelsea & Liverpool stars in Real Madrid transfer overhaul

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By:Mark Brus
9 May 2026 at 11:40

Jose Mourinho is reportedly already thinking about Real Madrid transfer targets if he ends up returning to the Bernabeu as manager.

The Benfica boss has been in talks over returning to Real Madrid for a second spell, according to the Athletic, and he’ll surely be keen to make several changes to this squad.

It’s been a difficult season for the Spanish giants, and one particular area of concern seems to be in midfield.

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According to Fichajes, this has led Mourinho to look for Real to sign one of Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, or Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali.

Jose Mourinho wants more control in midfield

Madrid have some fine midfield players, but they’ve struggled to adequately replace the quality of legendary duo Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.

Even if Fernandez and Mac Allister are not quite at that level, they are arguably more similar in playing style due to their ability to get on the ball and dictate play.

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Chelsea could also be open to selling Fernandez, which makes him a realistic target, so Los Blancos fans will no doubt keep an eye on how this saga progresses.

Could Alexis Mac Allister leave Liverpool?

Meanwhile, there are some doubts over Mac Allister’s Liverpool future after comments from the player’s father.

The Argentina international has not yet spoken with another club, according to his dad Carlos, but he also hasn’t discussed a new contract with Liverpool.

The Reds ended up losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid last summer, so they might not be too keen on a similar situation here, but if a new deal still isn’t in place then it surely has to be a possibility.

The post From Spain: Mourinho eyeing Chelsea & Liverpool stars in Real Madrid transfer overhaul appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“I can’t see…” – Jamie Carragher makes big predictions about Arsenal’s PL & CL hopes

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By:Mark Brus
9 May 2026 at 11:21

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has admitted he can see there being a pathway for Arsenal to win both the Premier League and Champions League this season.

The Gunners beat Atletico Madrid earlier this week in the Champions League semi-final to set up a final clash against Paris Saint-Germain, while Mikel Arteta‘s side are also top of the Premier League table.

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Manchester City have a game in hand on their rivals, but arguably have the tougher fixtures remaining, with Carragher even claiming he thinks it could be over if Arsenal beat West Ham this weekend.

The pundit, speaking to the Metro, also stated his view that he could see Arsenal beating PSG in a one-off game in the Champions League final.

Arsenal to do the double?

Discussing his latest predictions on Arsenal’s season, Carragher said: “If Arsenal get over the line against West Ham, I can’t see them messing it up from there.

“When you think about it, it could arguably be the biggest game of the season. But for lots of other teams, it’s probably the biggest game for West Ham. They have to get something.”

He added: “That game (against PSG) will be a real problem if they don’t win the league. I think that’ll be a problem. Yes, you want to win everything, but I think Arsenal really want to win the league.

“They wouldn’t turn their noses up at the Champions League, but I think Liverpool were in that situation a few years ago, where they’d gone so long without winning the league that they just wanted it done.

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“For me, more often than I always say, the Champions League is a bigger trophy to win. But I think when you’ve gone so long without the league, they’ll be desperate for that.

“But I think if they win it, which they should do, the position that they’re in right now, I think it’ll give them a huge boost.

“They will need that going into the final. I think we all know PSG are the better team, but that doesn’t mean Arsenal can’t win a one-off game.”

Arsenal could have all-time great season

If Arsenal can go all the way in both the Premier League and Champions League, it will surely be the greatest season in their history.

Yes, the Gunners went unbeaten in 2003/04, in what is truly one of English football’s great achievements, but that was a team that had won titles in very recent history, whereas winning it this year would end 22 years of hurt in that regard.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have never won the Champions League, and are only appearing in the final for the second time in their history.

Mikel Arteta’s side can’t afford any slip-ups, but can perhaps also feel confident that they need only four wins to secure legendary status.

The post “I can’t see…” – Jamie Carragher makes big predictions about Arsenal’s PL & CL hopes appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea & Man Utd target Andoni Iraola “willing to accept” tempting project with big financial offer

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By:Mark Brus
9 May 2026 at 10:36

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is reportedly willing to accept a tempting offer to take over as Crystal Palace manager in a surprise move.

Iraola is also considered a leading candidate for both Chelsea and Manchester United this summer after his impressive work with Bournemouth in recent times.

However, it seems speculation is growing that the Spanish tactician could be tempted by Palace, who are looking to replace Oliver Glasner this summer.

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BBC Sport have reported on Iraola being one of Palace’s top targets, and now there’s been a further update about the Cherries boss being tempted to take over at Selhurst Park.

Andoni Iraola very attracted by Crystal Palace project

See below as journalist Matteo Moretto claims that Iraola is tempted by the project at Palace, who seem to also be making him a very serious financial proposal…

A Iraola le atrae mucho el proyecto deportivo del Crystal Palace.

La oferta económica del club inglés es considerable: el entrenador parece muy dispuesto a aceptarla. https://t.co/SRCTmxa0pX

— Matteo Moretto (@MatteMoretto) May 8, 2026

Moretto’s X post translates as: “Iraola is very attracted to Crystal Palace’s sporting project. The English club’s financial offer is considerable: the coach seems very willing to accept it.”

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This is certainly an intriguing situation, as Iraola looks more than capable of taking one of the bigger jobs, but may be set to decide against it for a variety of reasons.

Iraola record Wins Draws Losses Win %
Bournemouth 46 38 40 37.1

What does this latest Andoni Iraola update mean for Chelsea and Manchester United?

CaughtOffside will consult sources throughout the day to gain a better understanding of Iraola’s situation, but it may be that this latest update means the Chelsea and Man Utd jobs are now unlikely for the 43-year-old.

The Red Devils may well be leaning towards keeping interim manager Michael Carrick permanently, while the Blues have also been linked with other managers.

Xabi Alonso is a top Chelsea target, as reported by Simon Phillips, so it may be that Iraola has instead decided to take a gamble on managing Palace.

Could snubbing Chelsea and United be a masterstroke by Andoni Iraola?

In truth, there are big problems at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford, so perhaps Iraola is right not to jump into one of those jobs.

Were there to be vacancies at better-run sides like Manchester City, Liverpool, or Arsenal, then perhaps the situation would be different.

But Iraola will perhaps have looked at how exciting up-and-coming coaches like Enzo Maresca, Liam Rosenior, and Ruben Amorim have struggled at those clubs in recent times and decided he doesn’t want to risk his reputation like that.

Still, it’s also a big surprise that a top coach like Iraola is also prepared to leave 6th placed Bournemouth for 15th placed Palace.

The post Chelsea & Man Utd target Andoni Iraola “willing to accept” tempting project with big financial offer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Report confirms Chelsea are monitoring striker ahead of surprise transfer

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By:Mark Brus
9 May 2026 at 10:08

Chelsea are reportedly one of the clubs keeping an eye on Darwin Nunez’s situation at Al Hilal, as we previously reported here.

The Uruguay international, who left Liverpool for the move to the Saudi Pro League last summer, looks likely to be on the move again this year after falling down the pecking order.

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According to the Daily Star, this has Chelsea and Newcastle United monitoring developments with Nunez, who could make sense as a tempting target if he’s available on loan or for a relatively cheap fee.

Nunez didn’t have the best scoring record at Liverpool, but he showed moments of real quality and could make sense as a squad player for top Premier League sides.

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Should Chelsea take a gamble on Darwin Nunez transfer?

Chelsea could definitely do with a signing or two up front this summer after the poor form of Liam Delap this season, while Nicolas Jackson will also surely leave after struggling to impress at Stamford Bridge, or whilst out on loan at Bayern Munich.

Still, is Nunez the answer? We previously ran this through our Transfer Fit rating system and his score isn’t great…

Darwin Nunez TOTAL SCORE: 12/25
Transfer fee **
Performance *
Achievements ***
Career phase **
Squad need ****

This is the lower end of medium, so it might make sense as a bargain option to add depth in a problem area for CFC, but it’s not the kind of deal that will really lift them to a new level.

Chelsea have had a disappointing season and they can’t afford another poor transfer window after so many of last summer’s deals proved to be flops.

Only Joao Pedro looks like a success, with vast sums spent on the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens, who just haven’t performed.

Nunez is surely not good enough, as he showed at Liverpool, so Blues fans will hope their club shows a bit more ambition than this.

The post Report confirms Chelsea are monitoring striker ahead of surprise transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“Unacceptable…” – Real Madrid star breaks silence on locker room fight

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By:Mark Brus
9 May 2026 at 09:46

Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has broken his silence on his reported fight with Federico Valverde with a statement on Instagram.

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The France international did not directly address Valverde in his social media post, but mainly focused on apologising to Real Madrid fans for the incident in the club’s locker room.

Valverde released a statement of his own, suggesting there had also been some rumours overplaying what took place, though Marca and others have all reported on a physical altercation that led to the Uruguay international needing hospital treatment.

Tchouameni now seems keen to move on and focus on the future, with the 26-year-old making it clear that he wanted to say sorry to the club’s supporters, making it clear that he knows what happened was unacceptable.

Aurelien Tchouameni statement in full

“What happened this week in training is unacceptable – I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school. No matter who is right or wrong, we should always look for the calmest solution to resolve a conflict,” he said.

aurelien tchouameni instagram statement
Aurelien Tchouameni’s statement on Instagram

“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club. I know the fans, the staff, my teammates, the management, everyone is deeply disappointed by the way this season has unfolded. But frustration cannot excuse everything. These incidents, even if they can happen in any dressing room, are not worthy of Real Madrid. Especially since Real Madrid is the most talked-about club in the world.

“Anyway, now is no longer the time to figure out who did what, who said what, or who was right or wrong. I acknowledge the club’s sanction and I accept it.We remain family, with disagreements at times but we must always put our objectives above everything else. I apologized to the group and I also want to extend my apologies to all Madridistas.”

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What next for Real Madrid?

While the Tchouameni and Valverde row may be behind us, it’s clear there are big problems at Real Madrid this season.

Xabi Alonso didn’t last long as manager, and interim Alvaro Arbeloa has seemingly struggled with a lack of authority over these players, Spanish football expert Ruairidh Barlow told CaughtOffside.

“The Valverde-Tchouameni tension is not something that we have heard about before this week, but it is symptomatic of a volcanic dressing room right now,” the Football Espana editor said.

“In that specific incident, after a fight on Wednesday, Valverde reportedly refused to shake Tchouameni’s hand, which led to another training session of intense tackles, and culminated in the fight.

“More widely, it’s just the latest incident in a number of feuds ongoing. As many as six players are supposedly not talking to manager Alvaro Arbeloa. Dani Ceballos, Raul Asencio and Dani Carvajal have all fallen out with Arbeloa, and the latter’s frustration led to an injury to a youth player after a rash tackle.

“In the past week, we’ve heard about Kylian Mbappe getting angry at a member of the coaching staff, and Antonio Rudiger getting physical with Alvaro Carreras too.

“On the whole, the consensus is that this is the product of a dressing room that has been without leaders for some time, and without a manager to impose authority. With President Florentino Perez backing his stars over managers, and doing little to curb their behaviour himself, the lack of discipline has descended into the chaos we’re seeing this week.”

It seems clear that a major cultural change is needed at the Bernabeu, and that this is not just about a one-off incident between individuals.

The post “Unacceptable…” – Real Madrid star breaks silence on locker room fight appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“I’m not worried” – Slot aims swipe back at Salah. Here’s why it could be a big moment for Liverpool…

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By:Mark Brus
9 May 2026 at 09:32

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was clearly not too happy with comments made by Mohamed Salah about standards at the club dropping once he leaves this summer.

It’s been a difficult season for the Reds, who have dropped down to fourth place and who are set to finish without any silverware despite spending huge sums of money in the transfer window last year.

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The dip in form of a star name like Salah has been part of the problem, and it seems there’s also no love lost between Slot and the Egypt international.

The pair clearly had their differences earlier this season, leading to Salah being dropped and then publicly slamming his manager before the issues eventually seemed to be resolved as the player returned to the team.

Arne Slot swipes back at Mohamed Salah’s standards comments

Now, however, a report from the Times has looked into how badly Slot seemed to react to comments made by Salah about standards slipping at Anfield next season.

The Dutch tactician reacted like a nerve had been touched, saying: “I did not hear him say that the standards are not OK now. Did you? If he goes all of a sudden [they will drop]… OK, as I just said… I’m not worried about it. At all.

“I’m not worried that the standards will be lower next season than they were this season, last season or the season before. No. I’m not worried. At all.”

Salah stats (Premier League) Games Goals
2024/25 38 29
2025/26 25 7

He also added a line that supposedly ‘lingered’ in the press conference, as he made the pointed dig: “The standards are not only important in the gym.”

This sounds like Slot surely suggesting Salah’s own standards on the pitch have not been good enough this season, even if his fitness levels remain good.

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Slot might be better off without Salah

Slot started well at Liverpool, winning the Premier League title in his first season in charge, but his second season has proven a huge challenge.

In fairness, it may be that this summer will represent a welcome fresh start for Slot at LFC, with the former Feyenoord manager perhaps better able to get his ideas across with more of his own players.

Mohamed Salah's form in 2025/26 vs 2024/25
Mohamed Salah’s form in 2025/26 vs 2024/25 (DataMB)

Slot largely inherited Jurgen Klopp’s team when he took over, and while that meant he had a world class set of players to work with, it perhaps also made it harder for him to assert his authority once things started to go wrong.

Salah is also a big ego and perhaps a difficult character, even if some might argue there’s some justification in that as he’s one of the greatest Premier League players of all time.

We saw with Mikel Arteta and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal that sometimes talent alone isn’t enough for a winning project – the Spanish tactician took a gamble when he decided to let his star striker go, but it ended up being for the best.

Perhaps Slot’s frustration here is a sign that he and Salah simply don’t click in the way that’s necessary for a project at a top club to succeed, so Liverpool fans can perhaps have some cause for optimism once everyone starts with a clean slate next season.

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Yesterday — 8 May 2026Main stream

“We did not expect…” – Arteta on “difficult” situation with Arsenal star as he provides double injury update

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 17:20

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted to a “difficult” situation with the Jurrien Timber injury as it’s not clear if the right-back will play again this season.

The Spanish tactician says it looks like Timber’s rehabilitation has not been as smooth as he expected, with the Netherlands international being out for longer than it initially looked like he’d be.

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In a significant double update, Arteta also suggested it’s not clear if either Timber or Mikel Merino will play again for Arsenal this season.

See below for the Gunners boss’ comments, as quoted by journalist Simon Collings…

Arteta asked if Timber injury more complicated than expected:

"Yes. That has probably been the most difficult thing to manage with the player and myself. Because we did not expect it to take so long and at the moment he is not fit to play." https://t.co/pbYRpn3FCB

— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) May 8, 2026

When asked about Timber and Merino, Arteta said: “I don’t know, there is still a fair bit to do. Everything has to be so smooth and quick if they want to play any minutes.”

On Timber, he added: “That has probably been the most difficult thing to manage with the player and myself. Because we did not expect it to take so long and at the moment he is not fit to play.”

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Can Arsenal achieve best-ever season despite injury struggles?

Arsenal fans will no doubt hope that Timber and Merino can still have a role to play this season, with the club closing in on a memorable Premier League and Champions League double.

Timber in particular would normally be an automatic starter for the Gunners, even if Ben White has filled in well in his absence, while Merino is an underrated player who can make an impact off the bench.

It would undoubtedly help to have both of them available right now, especially as AFC could genuinely be at risk of picking up more injuries after losing key players for so much of the season.

Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard have only recently returned to action, while Kai Havertz missed a large chunk of the campaign, while there have also been periods when other big names like Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes weren’t available.

Arsenal have a bigger squad now than previously, which has helped, but they can’t afford more bad luck like this in the coming weeks or they could miss out on both big prizes.

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Arne Slot provides injury update on four important Liverpool players

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 17:00

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has provided an injury update as Alexander Isak and Giorgi Mamardashvili are back in training, while Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker are still out.

The Reds are enduring a frustrating season, and injuries have been a big part of that, with Isak in particular struggling to make anywhere near the kind of impact expected of him due to ongoing fitness issues.

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Salah has also not been at his best and it won’t have helped him to have missed a lot of games, with there seemingly still being no sign of the Egypt international coming back, as reported in the X post below by Paul Joyce…

Arne Slot says Alexander Isak has returned to training as well as Giorgi Mamardashvili. Alisson and Mohamed Salah not in team training yet.

— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) May 8, 2026

It sounds like a positive that Isak and Mamardashvili could return for Liverpool, but fans will hope that there can be further positive updates soon on Salah and Alisson.

Still, there’s not a huge amount left to play for for LFC in the final games of this season, as they can’t win any trophies and should just about be safe in terms of finishing in the Champions League qualification places.

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Liverpool left reeling after difficult season

Slot had a superb first season at Anfield when he guided Liverpool to the Premier League title, and they were many pundits’ favourites to do so again after spending big last summer.

However, Isak has been a particular disappointment, while Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong have also not lived up to expectations.

Hugo Ekitike performed well until picking up a serious injury, but overall the recruitment just hasn’t been good enough by the Merseyside giants.

It will be interesting to see if Slot can overcome these current injury issues and end the season strongly, because if not he will surely be facing serious questions over his future as manager.

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Bournemouth suspend Alex Jimenez as player’s messages to 15-year-old leaked online

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 16:24

Bournemouth have released a statement confirming that they’ve suspended Alex Jimenez and are investigating the player over messages to a 15-year-old.

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These messages have appeared online and certainly look pretty incriminating, as you can see from the pictures below…

Images of Bournemouth’s Rightback, Alex jimenez, supposedly messaging a 15yr old are currently doing the rounds…? pic.twitter.com/oQ9ToULLjS

— The 44 ?? (@The_Forty_Four) May 8, 2026

Bournemouth have released a statement on their official website confirming that Jimenez will not be involved in the squad for the upcoming game against Fulham as they look into this serious incident.

“AFC Bournemouth are aware of posts circulating on social media involving right-back, Álex Jiménez,” the club’s statement read.

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“The club understand the seriousness of the matter and it is currently being investigated.

“As a result, Alex will not be included in the squad for tomorrow’s Premier League game against Fulham and the club will be making no further comment at this time.”

Who is Alex Jimenez?

Jimenez is a Spanish right-back who joined Bournemouth this season, initially on loan from AC Milan.

The 21-year-old has made 32 appearances for the Cherries this term, scoring one goal, and this news is a big blow for manager Andoni Iraola.

Jimenez started out in Real Madrid’s academy and has represented Spain at youth level, but not yet at senior international level.

It will be interesting to see what kind of action ends up being taken if these leaked messages really prove to be as bad as they appear.

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Joao Pedro “deserves” to leave, says ex-Chelsea man in extraordinary dig at Blues

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 15:13

Joao Pedro is good enough for Barcelona and deserves to be allowed that transfer if possible, according to former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.

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In an extraordinary dig at his former club, Wright-Phillips said he couldn’t blame Pedro for wanting to leave the Blues under this ownership.

The Brazilian striker has performed superbly in his first season at Stamford Bridge, though it looks like ultimately being a disappointing campaign for the club.

Barcelona have been linked with Pedro by ESPN Brasil, as well as by trusted Chelsea news source Simon Phillips on his Substack.

Joao Pedro backed for Barcelona transfer by former Chelsea player

Wright-Phillips has now responded to the speculation about Pedro joining Barca, and backed him to get the move due to the failure of this current CFC side.

“I believe it would be fantastic for Joao if he were to go,” Wright-Phillips told Somos Fanaticos, as quoted by the Evening Standard.

“Personally, given the way Chelsea has been run, if I were him, I would do everything to complete this transfer.

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“Playing at Camp Nou, alongside Raphinha and [Lamine] Yamal, would be great for him. He would score many goals, since we have already seen what he did in a team that wasn’t as good as this Chelsea team.

“If I were Joao Pedro, I would want to play in the Champions League, and I can’t see Chelsea qualifying for any European competition. Joao has the level and deserves to be playing in the Champions League.”

Joao Pedro looks ideal for Barcelona

Barcelona could certainly do with a statement signing up front this summer as the ageing Robert Lewandowski is nearing the end of his contract.

Joao Pedro Games Goals Assists
Chelsea 2025/26 47 20 6

One imagines Chelsea will do their best not to lose Pedro after just one season, but it’s surely going to be tricky for them if they miss out on European football.

If there is an opportunity there, then Barcelona should absolutely try their best to land this superb 24-year-old talent, who looks like an ideal long-term investment in a key area.

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Liverpool star’s father weighs in on transfer talk and admits no new contract talks yet

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 14:52

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has not yet held talks with the club over a new contract, though he’s also not spoken with any other clubs, according to his father.

Mac Allister’s future at Anfield has looked in some doubt recently after a drop in form this season, with the Reds perhaps in need of something different in that area of their squad.

Football Insider have reported that Liverpool could be open to offers for Mac Allister, and now comments from the player’s father suggest they’re not exactly desperate to negotiate new terms with him.

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Alexis Mac Allister’s father speaks out on his Liverpool future

Speaking to WinWin, Carlos Mac Allister said: “Alexis has a valid contract until June 2028 and so far we are not speaking publicly with any other club.

“We believe that the club’s fans deserve this level of respect from the player, and so far the club has not negotiated with us to renew the contract.”

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LFC fans will likely have mixed feelings about this news, as it’s not obvious what the best course of action is with Mac Allister right now.

The Argentina international can be an important player for Arne Slot’s side, and may still have a role to play if he improves his form again, though for now a sale could also bring in decent money and allow them to make signings to improve the team overall.

Transfer overhaul ahead for Liverpool?

Mac Allister’s name also recently came up in a report from the Telegraph suggesting that the Merseyside giants could make several sales as part of a major squad overhaul this summer.

Liverpool could also bid farewell to other big names like Curtis Jones, while it’s also already been confirmed that Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson will be leaving.

Federico Chiesa and Joe Gomez have also been mentioned as other names to watch, and after such a poor season it surely makes sense to change things around.

It will be interesting to see who comes in for Mac Allister if he is indeed made available in the weeks and months ahead.

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“Difficult to predict” – Howe won’t rule out Gordon transfer amid talks with Liverpool & Bayern

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 14:21

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has not done much to play down talk of Anthony Gordon sealing a transfer away from the club this summer.

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Gordon’s future looks to be in major doubt at the moment, with various recent reports suggesting he’s looking for a move away from St James’ Park and attracting interest from a host of top clubs.

See below for a rundown of recent Gordon transfer stories as he’s eyed by Premier League rivals and big clubs from abroad…

  • 16th April – The Telegraph report that Gordon wants to leave Newcastle, with Liverpool and Arsenal interested
  • 17th April – Bayern’s concrete interest in Gordon is confirmed in Christian Falk’s exclusive CF Bayern Insider column
  • 21st April – Chelsea are also mentioned as being interested in the England international in a report from TEAMtalk
  • 1st May – Gordon described as having “serious chances” of leaving St James’ Park in a YouTube video post from Fabrizio Romano
  • 8th May – Talks between Gordon’s reps and Liverpool, Arsenal, and Bayern confirmed in another Falk column for CF Bayern Insider

Eddie Howe responds to Anthony Gordon transfer speculation

When asked about the Gordon situation in his press conference today, Howe did his best to dodge the question, saying it was hard to predict what could happen, and that transfers aren’t really his area of expertise anyway…

?? ''The summer transfer window is difficult to predict.''

Eddie Howe on Bayern Munich opening talks with Newcastle over a potential summer move for Anthony Gordon. pic.twitter.com/59BxEFI0BC

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 8, 2026

“It is difficult for me to comment too much on individual players and timescales, as that is going into an area that isn’t really my forte. I will leave that to other people,” Howe said.

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“All I am doing is try and finish the season in a strong way and make sure players are committed to the here and now. There is no point looking to the future.

Anthony Gordon at Newcastle Games Goals
2022/23 16 1
2023/24 48 12
2024/25 42 9
2025/26 46 17

“The summer transfer window is difficult to predict and difficult to see what is going to happen on any level at this moment in time. We have three games to play and our full focus is on that.”

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In talks: Man United already working on transfer deal with €80m star’s representatives

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 13:54

Manchester United are reportedly already working on a potential transfer move for RB Leipzig central defender Castello Lukeba.

The France international is emerging as Man Utd’s top target in that position, with the expectation being that he can move for less than his €80m release clause this summer.

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That’s according to a report from Football Transfers, which has Lukeba’s estimated value at closer to the €50m mark, while they also state that United are keen to move quickly to beat the likes of Manchester City and Bayern Munich to the 23-year-old’s signature.

Castello Lukeba the latest name on United’s centre-back target list

United could do with strengthening at the back this summer due to the poor injury records of both Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez, while Leny Yoro has also been a little underwhelming during his time at Old Trafford.

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Lukeba could make sense as a good option for the Red Devils, but in recent times we’ve also seen a few other names being mentioned.

See below for a timeline of recent Man United transfer news stories involving defensive targets…

It will be interesting to see how this develops and if other names are added to the list, but Lukeba certainly seems like a good option for the Red Devils to be considering.

Leipzig often seem to develop some top footballers that they go on to sell to bigger clubs, and Lukeba would make sense as their next big sale.

United also brought in Benjamin Sesko from the Bundesliga side last summer, so could have good relations there that will help them do business with them again.

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Report: Arsenal told to pay £52m to sign 14 G/A rising star

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 13:39

Arsenal reportedly face paying as much as £52m for the transfer of exciting young Porto midfielder Victor Froholdt this summer.

The talented 20-year-old has an impressive record of eight goals and six assists so far this season, and it makes sense that he’s starting to attract interest from bigger clubs.

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It seems Arsenal are one of his big admirers, along with Newcastle United, though he won’t come cheap, with the Times reporting that his asking price will be as high as £52m.

Froholdt has quickly risen to stardom with Porto, with his value more than doubling in less than a year as he only joined the Portuguese giants for £20m last summer.

Victor Froholdt on the radar of Arsenal and Newcastle

Froholdt looks like someone Porto are going to struggle to keep hold of, with the Denmark international possibly heading to England next.

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The Times name Arsenal and Newcastle as his main suitors, but one imagines there’ll be other clubs to watch in the race for his signature before too long.

Porto have often ended up selling their stars to bigger clubs, so there’s surely an opportunity here for the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle if they really want Froholdt.

Mikel Arteta would surely benefit from having more depth in the middle of the park after a lack of impact from Christian Norgaard this season, while Newcastle might be at risk of losing Sandro Tonali this summer.

With that in mind, Froholdt could probably get a key role with either of those clubs, though NUFC might be the slightly safer bet in terms of regular starting opportunities.

Still, AFC are a huge name and an attractive project right now as they aren’t too far away from a stunning potential Premier League and Champions League double this season.

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Offer made: £80m star in talks with Liverpool & Arsenal as another deal could run into problems

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 13:07

Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has reportedly held meetings with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea, as well as Bayern Munich.

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The England international looks increasingly likely to leave St James’ Park this summer, with Bayern already offering him a five-year contract, according to Christian Falk.

Writing in his latest CF Bayern Insider column, Falk explained that Gordon is also wanted by Premier League clubs, and that Bayern might still struggle to afford the deal if it ends up costing as much as £80m.

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This follows Fabrizio Romano recently reporting on his YouTube channel that Gordon has “serious chances” of leaving Newcastle this summer.

Anthony Gordon transfer saga looks far from straightforward

It seems hard to predict precisely where Gordon will end up this summer, even if his future surely lies away from Newcastle.

The 25-year-old has impressed during his time with Magpies, scoring 39 goals in 152 appearances since joining from Everton.

Anthony Gordon at Newcastle Games Goals
2022/23 16 1
2023/24 48 12
2024/25 42 9
2025/26 46 17

After a dip in form from Newcastle this season, it surely makes sense for Gordon to explore a possible move to a higher level, and that could still mean there’s hope for the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.

“Anthony Gordon is at the top of the wishlist. But the transfer fee remains a problem. If we’re looking at £80m – that’s a lot of money for Bayern Munich,” Falk said.

“A few weeks ago, I would have said a deal of this magnitude isn’t possible. Now, I think the view of the supervisory board is shaped by the clear need for another forward player. PSG had Bradley Barcola on the bench. Bayern didn’t have the same level of quality depth available to call upon.”

He added: “The agents are making a lot of calls, a lot of meetings, around Europe. There was a meeting with Chelsea, contact with Liverpool, contact with Arsenal… they’re allowed to do that, as they know Newcastle need the money this summer to keep on the right side of Financial Fair Play.”

Which club needs Anthony Gordon most?

Gordon is a top player who can surely add something to most of the big clubs out there, and it makes sense that Bayern want a bit more depth behind their first-choice front three.

Still, the former Everton man surely won’t want to sit on the bench at his next club, so he might find it’s better to look at the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool.

The Gunners urgently need to improve on their left flank after inconsistent performances this season from the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have struggled to replicate their success from last season and surely need someone like Gordon to give them an upgrade on Cody Gakpo.

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Positive update for Arsenal despite Bayern also monitoring 17-goal transfer target

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 12:42

Arsenal look to have been given a positive update on their transfer pursuit of Ajax winger Mika Godts, despite Bayern Munich also being interested.

For now, it seems that although Godts is on Bayern’s radar, he’s not considered a priority target, or even in the top three names they have in mind for that position, according to Christian Falk in his latest CF Bayern Insider column.

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Arsenal have been linked as one of the main clubs in for the exciting young Belgian wide-man by both TEAMtalk and Fichajes, and it seems Bayern could also be a name to watch, but perhaps not as concretely.

Discussing Godts, Falk said: “It is TRUE: Bayern are watching Mika Godts. However, he hasn’t broken into the top three offensive options FC Bayern are actively discussing. The Belgian could, of course, still be an option to enlarge the squad.”

What next for Mika Godts as transfer talk hots up?

Godts has shone for Ajax this season with an impressive 17 goals and 12 assists so far, and it’s surely only a matter of time before that earns him a move to a bigger club in a more competitive league.

Blessed with skill, pace, and good end product, Godts looks like he really has it in him to be the next big thing in European football, and the next major sale by Ajax.

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The Eredivisie outfit have a history of developing top young players and selling them for a profit, and it will surely be hard for them to keep a player of this calibre after a disappointing season.

Arsenal could do with someone like Godts coming in and giving them something different in attack, with the 20-year-old already looking like he could be a significant upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

Bayern arguably don’t have as much need for him at the moment after an outstanding season from their front three of Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Diaz.

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Expert reveals the truth about Arsenal star being eyed for Bayern Munich transfer

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 12:15

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz may have been linked with a transfer to Bayern Munich, but for now Christian Falk says the rumours are not true.

Writing in the latest edition of his exclusive column for CF Bayern Insider, Falk made it clear that Havertz is not currently part of Bayern’s plans.

It also seems that the Germany international himself is focused on next season with Arsenal, instead of looking for a possible move this summer.

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Kai Havertz looks set to stay at Arsenal

Arsenal fans may have mixed feelings about Havertz, but for now there’ll surely be a decent chunk of Gooners who will be happy to hear that he doesn’t look likely to be leaving.

“I heard the rumours a few weeks ago and checked up on it. There were no talks, no negotiations. Havertz is already thinking about next season with Arsenal,” Falk said.

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“I think he would like to play for Bayern Munich in the future, but at the moment, his name wasn’t discussed by the supervisory board. He’s not, at present, on Bayern’s summer shortlist.”

Havertz has 34 goals in 107 games for Arsenal, and one imagines he will continue to have a role to play, even if it’s just a squad player in Mikel Arteta’s side.

Capable of playing up front or in midfield, the 26-year-old is perhaps not the most consistent performer, but he has shown moments of real quality during his time at the Emirates Stadium.

Bayern to look elsewhere for striker depth?

Bayern eyeing Havertz could well have made sense for this summer as Nicolas Jackson’s time on loan at the Allianz Arena will be coming to an end.

Vincent Kompany could do well to bring in someone to provide more depth behind Harry Kane, and there’ll surely be a few names on the club’s radar.

Still, it seems we can rule Havertz out for now, according to Falk, though it will be interesting to see if this changes in the weeks and months ahead.

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Sources: Talks planned as Arsenal alerted to surprise potential Manchester City transfer raid

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 11:47

Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is attracting transfer interest from Arsenal and other clubs, as first reported here for the Daily Briefing.

It could be a big summer of change at the Etihad Stadium with doubts over the future of manager Pep Guardiola, while we also already know that experienced big names like Bernardo Silva and John Stones are leaving as free agents.

As well as that, I’ve been given information on another possible story to watch, with Premier League clubs on alert for a possible opportunity to raid Man City for Reijnders.

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I can confirm that there is some truth to the transfer rumours doing the rounds in recent days, even if City and Reijnders still need to finalise a decision, which will come at the end of the season.

Clubs ready to move if Tijjani Reijnders leaves Manchester City

Reijnders has clearly fallen out of favour as this season has gone on, but it remains to be seen if City will definitely be prepared to let the Netherlands international go after just one season.

Some sources have played down the idea of both sides parting ways just yet, even if there is obviously a list of clubs keeping an eye on his situation.

“Reijnders and City will most likely meet at the end of the season to clarify the situation,” one source said. “There’s not currently any push from the player to move, and the club won’t necessarily want to let him go so soon.”

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Still, numerous other sources named Arsenal, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and his former club AC Milan as clubs monitoring Reijnders’ situation.

I’m not yet sure if Reijnders is a top priority for any of these teams, but it’s normal if a player like him becomes available that a long list of suitors could pop up to consider the opportunity if the terms are right.

It’s a bit early for that now, though, even if I suspect this is going to be one to watch in the weeks and months ahead.

No final decision on Pep Guardiola yet

Despite some talk that an agreement is more or less already in place for Guardiola to step down as City manager this summer, with Enzo Maresca coming in to replace him, I’m still told that there hasn’t been a final decision yet.

It may well be that Guardiola has confided in some people close to him that he’s leaning towards leaving, but that’s not the same as an official message directly to the club.

For now, I suspect the Spanish tactician is simply focusing on the end of the season and will decide from there, perhaps depending on results, or perhaps not. There’s no hurry from either party to resolve this now, and it’s not thought to be a distraction for any of the staff or players.

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From Spain: Arsenal transfer target could try to resolve his future before the World Cup

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 09:42

Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez will reportedly look to discuss his future with the club before the upcoming 2026 World Cup this summer.

The Argentina international has shone during his time at Atletico, having also previously shown he can do it in the Premier League during a spell with Manchester City.

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Following a fine season in which he’s scored 20 goals and contributed eight assists, Alvarez has been linked with Arsenal by a number of sources, including journalist Ben Jacobs in the X post below…

?? Diego Simeone on Julian Alvarez's future. "I’m not inside Julian Alvarez’s head. But it’s normal that an extraordinary player like Julian Alvarez is wanted by Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona."

As previously reported, Atleti will fight to keep Alvarez this summer… pic.twitter.com/jQoiLeOyoy

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) April 28, 2026

Now there’s been an update on the situation, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that Alvarez could look to resolve his future before the World Cup this summer.

The report mentions Barcelona also being interested in the 26-year-old, but it’s not necessarily going to be a straightforward deal to get done.

Julian Alvarez transfer might be too expensive for Barcelona

Mundo Deportivo states that Alvarez is aware of interest from Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, though he seems to be personally favouring Barca if possible.

The issue, according to the report, is that Barcelona would likely need Alvarez’s price tag to come down from the €100m that is currently expected to be his valuation.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out, but it could end up being the case that the Catalan giants simply can’t afford the former Man City man, giving the advantage back to Arsenal.

Arsenal could do with signing Julian Alvarez

The Gunners knocked Alvarez and Atletico out of the Champions League this week, but the north London giants will be under no illusions about their need to strengthen in attack this summer.

Viktor Gyokeres’ form has improved recently, but overall he’s looked slightly limited with his performances up front this season, and someone like Alvarez would surely represent an upgrade.

Julian Alvarez vs Viktor Gyokeres stats
Julian Alvarez vs Viktor Gyokeres stats (DataMB)

See the graphic above for a detailed look at some of their key stats this season, which perhaps highlights how well these two strikers could work together as they offer slightly different skillsets.

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Federico Valverde statement aims dig at someone “spreading rumours” over massive Real Madrid bust-up

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By:Mark Brus
8 May 2026 at 09:22

Real Madrid star Federico Valverde has hit out at some of the rumours and exaggeration going on about his reported fight with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni.

Valverde’s physical fight with Tchouameni, which put the Uruguay international in hospital with a head injury, has been widely reported by Marca and others in the last 24 hours.

However, Valverde himself has attempted to play down the incident to a certain extent, even if he confirmed that there was a row inside the dressing room.

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The 27-year-old has released a statement on Instagram insisting that this kind of thing happens a lot and is not normally leaked to the press, suggesting perhaps that someone malicious inside the club is deliberately spreading rumours.

Federico Valverde plays down Aurelien Tchouameni row rumours

See below for Valverde’s post on Instagram as he attempted to clear up the situation…

federico valverde statement
Federico Valverde’s Instagram statement

Valverde said: “At no point did my team-mate hit me, and I didn’t hit him either, although I understand it’s easier for you to believe we came to blows or that it was intentional, but that didn’t happen.

“I feel that my anger about the situation, my frustration at seeing some of us struggling to get through the end of the season on our last legs, giving it our all, pushed me to the point of arguing with a team-mate.

“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry because this situation hurts me, this moment we’re going through is painful. Real Madrid is one of the most important things in my life, and I can’t just turn a blind eye to it.

“The result is a build-up of things that culminate in a senseless fight, damaging my image and leaving room for doubt – for people to fabricate stories, slander me, and sensationalise an incident.

“I have no doubt that any disagreements we might have off the field ceases to exist on it, and if I have to defend the team inside a stadium, I’ll be the first to do so.”

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He added: “In a normal locker room, these things can happen and are usually resolved internally without it becoming public knowledge.

“Clearly, someone here is spreading rumours, and with a season without titles, where Real Madrid is always under scrutiny, everything gets blown out of proportion.”

What’s going on at Real Madrid?

It’s been a difficult season for Real Madrid, who are set to finish trophyless, while their bitter rivals Barcelona will most likely wrap up the La Liga title against them in the upcoming El Clasico clash.

Xabi Alonso was hired as manager last summer, but struggled to live up to expectations, and ended up leaving the role, while interim manager Alvaro Arbeloa has perhaps also had issues stamping his authority on this squad.

“The Valverde-Tchouameni tension is not something that we have heard about before this week, but it is symptomatic of a volcanic dressing room right now,” Ruairidh Barlow, editor of Football Espana, told us.

“In that specific incident, after a fight on Wednesday, Valverde reportedly refused to shake Tchouameni’s hand, which led to another training session of intense tackles, and culminated in the fight.

“More widely, it’s just the latest incident in a number of feuds ongoing. As many as six players are supposedly not talking to manager Alvaro Arbeloa. Dani Ceballos, Raul Asencio and Dani Carvajal have all fallen out with Arbeloa, and the latter’s frustration led to an injury to a youth player after a rash tackle.

“In the past week, we’ve heard about Kylian Mbappe getting angry at a member of the coaching staff, and Antonio Rudiger getting physical with Alvaro Carreras too.

“On the whole, the consensus is that this is the product of a dressing room that has been without leaders for some time, and without a manager to impose authority. With President Florentino Perez backing his stars over managers, and doing little to curb their behaviour himself, the lack of discipline has descended into the chaos we’re seeing this week.”

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Before yesterdayMain stream

Report: Manchester United & Liverpool transfer target could be sold after extraordinary incident

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By:Mark Brus
7 May 2026 at 19:29

Real Madrid could reportedly now consider selling one or both of Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni after their fight in training.

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For now, an internal club suspension is the most likely and immediate course of action, but it seems the pair also face uncertainty over their futures this summer, according to AS.

Tchouameni is understood to be a target for Manchester United and Liverpool, as we recently reported before today’s crazy news broke.

The France international is a top player on his day, and it could be worth gambling on him, though one imagines his disciplinary issues could now put clubs off.

The context behind Aurelien Tchouameni injuring Federico Valverde

Speaking to CaughtOffside today, Spanish football expert Ruairidh Barlow provided his insight into how this madness at the Bernabeu all ended up unfolding.

“The Valverde-Tchouameni tension is not something that we have heard about before this week, but it is symptomatic of a volcanic dressing room right now,” Barlow told us.

“In that specific incident, after a fight on Wednesday, Valverde reportedly refused to shake Tchouameni’s hand, which led to another training session of intense tackles, and culminated in the fight.

“More widely, it’s just the latest incident in a number of feuds ongoing. As many as six players are supposedly not talking to manager Alvaro Arbeloa. Dani Ceballos, Raul Asencio and Dani Carvajal have all fallen out with Arbeloa, and the latter’s frustration led to an injury to a youth player after a rash tackle.

“In the past week, we’ve heard about Kylian Mbappe getting angry at a member of the coaching staff, and Antonio Rudiger getting physical with Alvaro Carreras too.

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“On the whole, the consensus is that this is the product of a dressing room that has been without leaders for some time, and without a manager to impose authority. With President Florentino Perez backing his stars over managers, and doing little to curb their behaviour himself, the lack of discipline has descended into the chaos we’re seeing this week.”

Should Man United and Liverpool still pursue Aurelien Tchouameni transfer?

United could do with strengthening in midfield this summer, so the interest in Tchouameni makes sense.

On his day, the 26-year-old is up there with the top defensive midfield players in Europe, so he could be ideal to help the Red Devils fill the gap that will be left by Casemiro when he leaves at the end of his contract this summer.

Liverpool, meanwhile, also have some issues in midfield after a frustrating season, with Tchouameni perhaps an upgrade on Ryan Gravenberch.

The Frenchman’s physical presence and work rate could also afford more protection to a defence that has really leaked goals this season, with the ageing Virgil van Dijk perhaps now needing more of a shield in front of him to keep the team more solid.

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