Former Arsenal and England star Ian Wright praised Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham as the key players that stepped up for the national team last night.

For those who weren’t following the World Cup live, England started their campaign with an impressive performance to beat Croatia 4-2.

Wright was really pleased with the “brilliant” performance and style of play from England as they picked up an important three points from what looks, on paper at least, like being the toughest game in their group.

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Kane scored twice on the night and Bellingham also got an important goal to put the Three Lions back in front after Croatia had twice pegged them back.

Speaking after the game, Wright said it will be significant for England this summer if those two players can continue to perform at that high level.

Ian Wright praises Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham

“What we saw tonight is they both (Kane and Bellingham) stepped up and I’m sure when the games get tougher they will do that again,” the pundit said on ITV, as quoted by the Metro.

“We’ve got to make sure we are funnelling it into those two because they will deliver, they both will deliver.

“It’s been a long time since I watched an England team going forward with as much gusto as we saw from them tonight. It was brilliant.

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“Croatia weren’t as good as we thought they might be given their experience but we beat them quite comfortably which was really promising.”

Who else impressed for England?

England can take a lot of positives from last night’s game, with Kane and Bellingham perhaps the stand-out stars, but with the likes of Declan Rice and Noni Madueke also doing an impressive job.

Reece James and Nico O’Reilly also showed a lot of promise as the two full-backs, but the defence probably should have done more to prevent Croatia’s goals, even if the first one in particular was a fantastic finish.

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Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka impressed off the bench, and that kind of depth is hugely encouraging for Thomas Tuchel, though perhaps Anthony Gordon and Elliot Anderson could’ve done more.

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Ismael Saibari is close to a deal to join Bayern Munich, and could join in a matter of days after doing his medical in the USA.

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The World Cup is well underway – but that won’t stop transfer deals being done. Real Madrid just confirmed the signing of Marc Cucurella from Chelsea, and other deals are soon set to follow.

One of the next to happen could be the arrival of Ismael Saibari at Bayern Munich. TalkSport are reporting that Bayern are closing in on a £45m deal to sign the attacker from PSV as competition for Harry Kane up top in their impressive attacking unit.

Medical set for €45m transfer

Saibari has been one of the big winners of the tournament so far, netting a superb goal for an impressive Morocco team against Brazil in the most high profile game so far.

But Bayern aren’t signing him off the back of that moment – the speed at which this deal is coming together shows they have been working on it for a while. If anything, Bayern might be annoyed that a big moment on a big stage has potentially boosted Saibari’s price even more.

The TalkSport report says that the 25 year old will do his medical in the USA, and the deal could be concluded in a matter of days.

In other news…

Chelsea are going to make a number of signings this summer – but Alex Scott won’t be one of them if you listen to quotes from sources close to the club.

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The post Medical set for £45m Bayern Munich transfer after breakout moment on world stage appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are keeping tabs on Everton defensive mainstay Jarrad Branthwaite.

Jarrad Branthwaite has established himself as one of the best young defenders in the Premier League with his consistent performances for Everton, resulting in significant interest in his services.

According to a report from The Daily Mail, Manchester City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are keen on signing the English international. All three clubs are keeping a close eye on him and could launch a move in the summer if any of their key defenders end up leaving.

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Jarrard Branthwaite could leave for £70 million

While the Toffees would love to have him around for years to come, they would be open to sanctioning his departure for £70 million. On the back of an impressive loan spell at PSV Eindhoven during the 2022/23 season, he got an extended run in the Everton first team and hasn’t looked back since.

However, things haven’t been that great for him over the last 12 months. He could only make 10 appearances during the 2025/26 season, as a hamstring injury kept him on the sidelines. Despite his recent injury struggles, the interest in his services remains sky-high.

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European giants could battle it out for Branthwaite

Manchester United, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich are three clubs that are interested in his services. With Kim Min-jae’s future uncertain, the German giants consider him an ideal replacement.

Meanwhile, he has been on United’s wishlist for a long-time. With Harry Maguire in the final phase of his career and Matthijs de Ligt struggling to stay fit, investing in the 23-year-old would make a lot of sense.

Even City have a long-standing interest in his services and could make a move if Ruben Dias leaves the club. While all three clubs are monitoring him and would love to add him to their ranks, it remains to be seen whether they would be willing to meet Everton’s demands.

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Liverpool are pushing hard to agree a new deal with their attacking sensation, Rio Ngumoha, amidst interest from Bayern Munich.

Following a sensational rise, Rio Ngumoha has attracted considerable interest from across Europe. While there is a significant amount of time left on his current deal, his future has become a massive talking point amidst interest from Bayern Munich.

According to Pete O’Rourke via Football Insider, Liverpool are worried about his future and will look to tie him down to a new deal once he turns 18, as there have been suggestions that the German giants have agreed personal terms with the teenager and will look to secure his services.

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Liverpool to push for a new deal for Rio Ngumoha

While speaking about the English youth internationals’ future, O’Rourke said, “Obviously Liverpool are not planning to lose Rio Ngumoha any time soon. He’s seen as a huge star for the future for the Anfield club.

Ngumoha was officially promoted to the Reds’ first team last summer, but he had already been playing first-team football. While he is widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in English football and Liverpool considers him an integral part of their long-term plans, his future has been up in the air following a season where he was underused by Arne Slot.

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Bayern want to lure Ngumoha away from Anfield

Although he was involved in 29 first-team games, he logged fewer than 1,000 minutes and contributed to three goals. Bayern see this as a great opportunity to try and lure him away. They are looking for more quality on the flanks. They want someone who can both support and compete with Luis Diaz for a place in the starting XI.

The German club consider Ngumoha an ideal fit for their project. Reports suggest they have already agreed terms with the 17-year-old. These rumours haven’t pleased the Reds, who are now looking to secure his future with a new deal.

While he signed his first professional deal weeks after turning 17 last September, and the contract runs until 2028, Liverpool are now pushing hard to agree a new contract with the versatile forward. They will offer him fresh terms once he turns 18 later this year. They are looking to ward off interest from Bayern and other top clubs with a new long-term contract.

The Merseyside club consider him an integral part of their plans going forward, and they believe he will have a big role under Andoni Iraola next season.

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As Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal prepare to meet in Budapest, the 2025–26 Champions League season already feels like one of transition and definition. It has been a campaign shaped by tactical evolution, emerging identities, and moments that shifted the balance of power across Europe. Before the final determines its ultimate narrative, five moments stand out […]

The post Champions League 2025–26: Five Moments That Defined the Road to the Final appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Champions League 2025–26: Five Moments That Defined the Road to the Final appeared first on Soccer News.

According to multiple sources, Liverpool have been unable to reach an agreement with Ibrahima Konate over a new contract, and the defender will therefore leave the club as a free agent, as his current deal expires. The negotiations between the Merseyside club and the French defender have been long, with reports repeatedly changing the narrative […]

The post Konate to leave Liverpool appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Konate to leave Liverpool appeared first on Soccer News.

According to multiple sources, Liverpool have been unable to reach an agreement with Ibrahima Konate over a new contract, and the defender will therefore leave the club as a free agent, as his current deal expires. The negotiations between the Merseyside club and the French defender have been long, with reports repeatedly changing the narrative […]

The post Konate to leave Liverpool appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Konate to leave Liverpool appeared first on Soccer News.