Alvaro Carreras has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid during the summer transfer window.

The 23-year-old is a target for Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United. However, Chelsea could have an advantage over the other two clubs in the race for the defender.

Carreras has worked with Xabi Alonso, and the newly appointed Chelsea manager could play a key role in any potential move. According to Sports Boom, Real Madrid wants around €50 million for the defender. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea is prepared to break the Bank for him.

They have sanctioned Marc Cucurella’s departure to Real Madrid, and they need to replace him properly. The 23-year-old defender could be a solid long-term investment. He played 28 league matches for Real Madrid last season and recorded five goal contributions. There is no doubt he has the quality to play in the Premier League. He will look to help defensively and create opportunities going forward.

On the other hand, Arsenal are keeping tabs on the player. They are already well-stocked in the defensive unit, and it would be quite surprising if they decided to invest in the 23-year-old. They should look to sign a quality midfielder and a couple of quality attackers instead.

Finally, Manchester United’s interest in the defender is hardly a surprise. They need a long-term alternative to Luke Shaw, and the 23-year-old Spanish defender could be ideal for them. He is young enough to improve further, and he’s already competing at a high level.

The asking price could be a problem for the Premier League club, and it remains to be seen whether they can convince Real Madrid to be more reasonable with their demands.

With Cucurella joining the club, Carreras could be tempted to move on. He will be hoping to play regularly, and sitting on the bench at Real Madrid will not be a part of the plan.

The post Alonso could give Chelsea edge over Arsenal & Man United in €50m transfer race appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Former Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella has aimed a sly dig at his former club by saying his transfer to Real Madrid is a big step up in his career.

The Spain international is currently with his country at the World Cup 2026, but his sudden move from Chelsea to Real Madrid was sorted quickly during his time at the tournament.

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Cucurella himself had not yet spoken about the move until today, as he’s been quoted by Fabrizio Romano as explaining how the deal came about.

See below for some of the quotes as Cucurella revealed his talks with Jose Mourinho, and that he really felt he couldn’t say no to such a big opportunity…

Marc Cucurella key quotes on Real Madrid transfer

On “big step” to Madrid: “The transfer to Real Madrid happened very fast. It took 36 hours. I was so happy! They called me in the morning and told me that the clubs had talked about everything, that if I wanted to go there. I had no doubt, it was a big step for my career.”

? Marc Cucurella: “The transfer to Real Madrid happened very fast. It took 36 hours. I was so happy!”.

“They called me in the morning and told me that the clubs had talked about everything, that if I wanted to go there. I had no doubt, it was a big step for my career”. ????? pic.twitter.com/t2SASF57mv

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 18, 2026

On Mourinho: “Yes, I spoke to Jose Mourinho. He told me that he wants to work with me and that gave me confidence. I really want to play under him, I can’t wait for it.”

??? Marc Cucurella: “Yes, I spoke to José Mourinho. He told me that he wants to work with me and that gave me confidence”.

“I really want to play under him, I CAN’T WAIT for it”. pic.twitter.com/zH1uivbnB7

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 18, 2026

Cucurella also spoke about the fact that he’s a former Barcelona player now moving to their bitter rivals.

He added: “Barcelona fans angry at me? You can NOT reject Real Madrid. I am very happy with my decision.”

? Marc Cucurella: “Barcelona fans angry at me? You can NOT reject Real Madrid. I am very happy with my decision”. pic.twitter.com/NUQo3kgQHY

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 18, 2026

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Chelsea fans might not take too kindly to Cucurella sounding so overjoyed about leaving, but it perhaps makes sense that he wasn’t entirely happy at Stamford Bridge.

It was a difficult season for the west Londoners as they failed to win a trophy, finished 10th in the Premier League, and got thrashed by PSG in the Champions League.

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Cucurella notably gave an interview to the Athletic in which he criticised the club’s transfer policy, so perhaps they were right to offload someone who doesn’t believe in the project.

“I understand this is part of the club’s policy, and that they want to take this direction — signing young players and looking to the future. But, for all of us who are still here and want to win big things, moments like this make you feel discouraged,” he said.

The post Marc Cucurella aims subtle dig at Chelsea as he breaks silence on Real Madrid transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Newcastle United have been exploring alternatives to the Victor Munoz transfer as Liverpool are now understood to have won the race for the Osasuna winger.

Although our sources have confirmed the Magpies entered into advanced talks over signing Munoz, there was also some hesitation about meeting the 22-year-old’s release clause, while Liverpool were happy to pay it and moved quickly to do so.

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Newcastle have had other options in mind for some time, with Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Cody Gakpo all understood to have been discussed.

As reported recently, Tottenham are interested in Gakpo and could make a move, but Newcastle have also been hovering, and the Munoz blow could lead to them accelerating their interest.

Newcastle ask about Arsenal duo

Some sources have also suggested to me that conversations have already happened between Newcastle and Arsenal as they look for information on the availability of Trossard and Martinelli.

I’m told that NUFC were directly informed that Trossard is in advanced talks over joining Besiktas, as we reported last week, so that deal currently looks unlikely.

Martinelli is also available, however, so Newcastle have been keen to gather information on how much the Brazilian could cost.

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“Newcastle have been exploring other options, they weren’t putting all their eggs into the Munoz basket,” one source explained.

“They’ve asked Arsenal about Trossard and Martinelli. They also like Cody Gakpo, but the current feeling seems to be that Martinelli could be cheaper.

“Nothing’s advanced yet, and Newcastle won’t rush this. They weren’t entirely convinced about meeting Munoz’s release clause, and they’re prepared to wait to find a deal they’re fully convinced strengthens their squad whilst still representing good value for money.”

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Nick Woltemade’s Newcastle future in doubt

Newcastle’s interest in a winger comes after Anthony Gordon’s exit, but Nick Woltemade could be on his way out of St James’ Park too.

As I reported earlier today, Woltemade has interest from Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, and Aston Villa.

The Germany international has struggled to settle under Eddie Howe and the club would be prepared to sanction his sale after just one season.

Even if that doesn’t happen, Newcastle’s plan is to make changes up front again this summer after Woltemade and Yoane Wissa failed to adequately replace Alexander Isak after his move to Liverpool.

The post Sources: Newcastle have already held talks over Victor Munoz transfer alternatives, including Arsenal duo appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Ibrahima Konate has been officially announced as a new Real Madrid player in a statement on the club’s website this morning.

The France international, currently at the 2026 World Cup with his country, recently left Liverpool as a free agent as he’d come to the end of his contract.

Liverpool thought Konate would be staying, but he ended up deciding against signing a new deal, and he’ll now become a Real Madrid player next season.

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This looks like a fine signing for the Spanish giants, who announced him today with the following statement:

“Real Madrid CF and Ibrahima Konaté have reached an agreement whereby he will be a Real Madrid player for the next four seasons, until June 30, 2030.”

Ibrahima Konate transfer continues Real Madrid’s strong start to the summer

Konate has now been confirmed, and his arrival follows the free transfer swoop for former Manchester City man Bernardo Silva as well.

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On top of that, Real also recently sealed a deal with Chelsea to sign Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella in a somewhat surprise move.

With Jose Mourinho set to return as manager at the Bernabeu, there seems to be a clear shift towards bringing in more proven and experienced players who’ve won trophies elsewhere.

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That could be just what Real Madrid need after a difficult couple of seasons in which they’ve under-achieved in both La Liga and the Champions League.

Los Blancos have done well with some of the young players they’ve signed in recent years, but it also seems clear that they need more of a balance, so signing the likes of Konate, Silva, and Cucurella looks like a step in the right direction.

The post Done deal: Ibrahima Konate’s transfer to Real Madrid officially confirmed appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United have reportedly made it clear that they do not plan to negotiate another loan deal with Barcelona for Marcus Rashford.

According to ESPN, United have no intention of entering fresh talks with the Spanish champions over a new temporary agreement.

That is a significant development because Barcelona had already passed up the chance to sign Rashford permanently before their deadline expired.

The original loan included an option worth around €30m, but Barcelona chose not to activate it.

ESPN previously reported that the deadline was June 15, meaning United are now looking beyond the Camp Nou when planning the forward’s future.

Barcelona door appears to be closing

From Man United’s point of view, the decision makes sense. Another loan would only delay the problem.

Rashford is 28, still has value, and United need either a permanent sale or a clear decision on whether he has any future at Old Trafford.

Barcelona may still admire the player, but their transfer priorities have changed. They decided against paying the agreed fee, and that tells Man United enough.

If the Spanish club were not willing to commit when they had the chance, there is little reason for United to hand them another short-term solution.

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Jun 18 2026, 12:07

World Cup form could help Man United

The timing is interesting because Rashford is currently with England at the World Cup.

He scored in England’s opening win over Croatia, with talkSPORT noting that his performance sparked fresh debate about whether United should reconsider their stance.

That is the difficult part for United. A strong tournament could increase interest and improve his market value, but it could also raise questions about why the club are so determined to move on.

The message from Old Trafford appears firm. Barcelona will not get another easy loan route.

If Rashford leaves United this summer, the club want it to be on terms that finally bring clarity.

Arsenal and Man United learn latest Newcastle United stance on Sandro Tonali 

The post Man United make their Marcus Rashford plans clear as Barcelona consider another move appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool reportedly beat rivals such as Manchester United to the transfer of Osasuna winger Victor Munoz, who has already had his medical with the Reds.

The Spain international is at the World Cup with his country, but that didn’t stop him undergoing medical tests with Liverpool yesterday, according to the Liverpool Echo.

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Munoz had notably been linked strongly with Newcastle United, with BBC Sport claiming that the Magpies were in advanced talks over signing the 22-year-old until Liverpool hijacked the deal.

Now it seems the Liverpool Echo are also aware of Man Utd showing an interest in Munoz, along with Bayer Leverkusen and the player’s former club Real Madrid.

What can Victor Munoz bring to Liverpool?

Munoz is not yet that experienced, and hasn’t been particularly prolific for Osasuna, but he seems like a player with a bright future.

He’s also not going to cost LFC a fortune, so this seems like sensible business, judging by the criteria we use in our Transfer Fit rating system…

We’ve scored this a medium level 16/25, with Munoz looking like someone arriving at a good stage of his career in a position Liverpool need to strengthen in.

Blessed with pace and skill out wide, Munoz looks like he could at the very least provide new manager Andoni Iraola with a better squad player option than unconvincing performers like Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa.

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Still, Liverpool will also surely need to invest big money in a more proven player who can come in straight away and act as the replacement for the departing Mohamed Salah.

While that’s obviously going to be a big ask for almost any player, it seems more like a job for someone with more outstanding numbers and consistent performances at the very highest level, which Munoz just doesn’t quite have under his belt at this moment in time.

The post Medical already done: Liverpool to finalise first Andoni Iraola signing as rival suitors named appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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.

The post “They both stepped up” – Ian Wright singles out England duo for praise in “brilliant” World Cup win appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Newcastle United have been the focus of a lot of the biggest transfer stories so far this summer as Anthony Gordon has left for Barcelona while interest in Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento, and Lewis Hall continues.

On top of that, another major sale from St James’ Park this summer could be Nick Woltemade, with my sources informing me about three clubs showing a concrete interest in the Germany international, as first reported via the Daily Briefing.

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It’s no secret that Woltemade struggled in his first season for Newcastle, and my understanding is that there have been some differences in opinion between himself and Eddie Howe about his best position and role in the team.

Nick Woltemade surely leaving Newcastle after difficult debut season

There have not been any formal contacts yet, but there’s the sense that these clubs could make approaches soon, with Newcastle open to offers.

“Nick Woltemade is expected to leave,” one source with ties to the agents industry told me. “Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, and Villa are interested, and Newcastle will listen to offers. One issue, though, is that they’re keen on a permanent sale for around €65m, but for now it’s probably more likely that clubs will seek a loan with an option to buy.”

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Big clubs like Bayern Munich were keen on Woltemade before he made the move to Newcastle, which was seen as a real coup for the Magpies at the time.

It could still be that the 24-year-old can revive his career, but it’s unlikely to happen for him in Howe’s tactical set-up.

“Woltemade’s camp have not been entirely happy with how his development’s been handled under Howe,” one source said.

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“The manager has given slightly mixed messages about his best position, initially saying he sees him as a number 9 but then using him in midfield. I’m just not sure there’s a future there without a more fixed tactical plan and proper clarity about what the manager wants from him.”

It’s worth noting that other sources played this down and simply suggested that Woltemade’s struggles have not been anything abnormal and can mostly be put down to adapting to a new league and country.

Almost everyone I’ve spoken to, however, thinks it’s inevitable that they’ll go their separate ways this summer.

The post Sources: Unsettled Newcastle United star has three suitors as transfer “expected” appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool are reportedly optimistic about their chances of signing RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande alongside Victor Munoz during the World Cup this summer.

It’s been reported that the Reds have hijacked Newcastle United’s move for Osasuna and Spain star Munoz, with the possibility of a medical happening in the US, according to BBC Sport.

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On top of that, it seems Ben Jacobs is aware of Liverpool still being keen to land Diomande, who is also at the World Cup this summer to represent the Ivory Coast.

See below for details as Jacobs reports on LFC being up against PSG for the 19-year-old’s signature, with the possibility of these two exciting winger deals being done during the World Cup…

? Understand Liverpool are still working on Yan Diomande in addition to Victor Muñoz and are optimistic.

There is competition from PSG, and it is not discounted by suitors that a deal for his signature is closed during the World Cup.

? @alex_crook pic.twitter.com/qX7uKlKXax

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) June 17, 2026

“Understand Liverpool are still working on Yan Diomande in addition to Victor Muñoz and are optimistic. There is competition from PSG, and it is not discounted by suitors that a deal for his signature is closed during the World Cup,” Jacobs posted on X.

MORE: England World Cup star delivers important injury update

Liverpool looking for major investment in attack – and they need it

Liverpool have just lost the legendary Mohamed Salah and are also set to be without the injured Hugo Ekitike for the rest of the year.

With the likes of Cody Gakpo and last summer’s signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz looking underwhelming, it’s therefore no surprise to see the Merseyside giants going big on new attacking signings this summer.

If they could bring in both Diomande and Munoz, that would surely be a huge boost for incoming new manager Andoni Iraola.

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Diomande in particular looks like a world class talent in the making, even if he’s still young and inexperienced.

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Munoz also looks like someone who could have a fine career, even if he’s perhaps not yet looking like being in the same bracket as someone like Diomande.

This kind of investment is surely needed, though, so Liverpool fans will be pleased to see transfer rumours like this hotting up.

The post Update: Liverpool “optimistic” about signing another World Cup star alongside Victor Munoz appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool have reportedly made a surprise move to hijack Newcastle United’s transfer pursuit of Osasuna winger Victor Munoz.

According to Fabrizio Romano on X, the Reds have suddenly triggered Munoz’s release clause despite Newcastle having been in advanced talks over signing the Spain international.

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“EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool are set to sign Víctor Muñoz with HIJACK done, HERE WE GO!” Romano posted.

“Newcastle in advanced talks for days but #LFC enter the deal, verbally agree terms with Muñoz and activate €40m release clause.

“All set to be signed and another big surprise.”

?? EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool are set to sign Víctor Muñoz with HIJACK done, HERE WE GO! ???

Newcastle in advanced talks for days but #LFC enter the deal, verbally agree terms with Muñoz and activate €40m release clause.

All set to be signed and another big surpise. ? pic.twitter.com/iKjFWsR1nx

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 17, 2026

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Munoz has impressed in La Liga, and the 22-year-old is already a part of the Spanish national team squad for this summer’s World Cup.

More info on Liverpool’s Victor Munoz hijack

According to further information from BBC Sport, Liverpool already have staff ready in the United States so that Munoz can undergo a medical while he’s with Spain for the World Cup.

Munoz looks set to cost LFC just £34.6m, so it looks like they may have got themselves a real bargain there.

At the same time, some fans might also view this as a bit of a gamble on a player for the future, as he’s still relatively inexperienced and only scored seven goals in all competitions last season – hardly the kind of numbers that suggest he’s a Mohamed Salah replacement.

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This could prove to be good business in the long run, but Liverpool will also surely need to invest bigger money in a more genuine world class talent who’s ready to come in and hit the ground running straight away.

Newcastle, meanwhile, will no doubt be frustrated to miss out on Munoz as they’ve just sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, so could’ve done with bringing this player in as a replacement.

The post “Hijack done” – Fabrizio Romano confirms sudden Liverpool signing, medical can be done at World Cup appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Julian Alvarez could be staying at Atletico after all, now that approaches from some of Europe’s top clubs have been rebuffed.

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Earlier this summer there was a moment where Julian Alvarez looked very likely to be moving away from Atletico Madrid.

He had Real Madrid, PSG and Barcelona all interested in him. When that trio are on your case, a move always feels likely. However the way that Real’s offer was dismissed out of hand, and a lack of serious follow up from the other teams, has rather convinced us that Alvarez could stay put after all.

Atletico prepare to stand firm over Alvarez after superclub interest

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has certainly laid down the law. In an interview with El Desmarque he told anyone interested to “look at the contract.” There they will find a €500m release clause.

“It seems like this is the story of the summer; you all know exactly how things stand. Julian is an Atletico Madrid player, and I believe he will remain an Atletico Madrid player,” Cerezo concluded.

Things can still change if Alvarez starts putting pressure on from his end – but for now we expect these teams to start looking elsewhere for attacking talent.

In other news…

Senny Mayulu is in demand this summer – but according to most French sources he’s more likely to sign a new contract than depart PSG this summer.

Man U have already wrapped up one midfielder deal this summer, and are looking to compete another before a bidding war begins, according to Fabrizio Romano.

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The post Barcelona and PSG told to look at €500m release clause by defiant club president appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea could reportedly be exploring a major transfer raid on Xabi Alonso’s former club Real Madrid this summer.

According to Simon Phillips, the Blues have used recent talks with Real Madrid over Marc Cucurella’s sale to also ask about five of their players.

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Chelsea are seemingly keen on the likes of Alvaro Carreras, Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, Victor Valdepenas, and Dean Huijsen.

Huijsen was notably a target for Chelsea while he was at Bournemouth, while Carreras could be an interesting one to watch as he’s directly impacted by the arrival of another left-back in the form of Cucurella.

What’s going on with Chelsea’s transfer strategy?

It’s early days yet for Chelsea in this transfer window, but the sale of Cucurella is unlikely to inspire much confidence.

This was an experienced and consistent performer in a generally struggling squad, and the speed at which the deal was done perhaps indicates that CFC didn’t even put up much of a fight to persuade him to stay, or to at the very least get a bigger fee from his sale.

Chelsea signed Cucurella for a £60m package in 2022, as per BBC Sport, and the fee reported by BBC Sport for the Spain international’s move to the Bernabeu is just under that at £51.8m.

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Even if Chelsea do replace Cucurella with Carreras, that’s a bit of a risk for a player who’d possibly end up looking like a downgrade rather than an upgrade.

Some of those other Madrid players could be exciting additions, particularly Tchouameni or Guler, but it remains to be seen how likely it is that players of that calibre would now move to Stamford Bridge.

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Chelsea don’t have European football next season after finishing 10th in the Premier League, and the current project just doesn’t seem to be heading in a positive direction at all.

Perhaps Alonso’s presence can persuade some players to join, especially if they’ve already worked under him and have seen just how successful a coach he can be.

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England start their World Cup 2026 campaign tonight with their Group L clash against Croatia at 9pm.

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The big team news questions mainly surround Jude Bellingham or Morgan Rogers for the attacking midfield role, while Thomas Tuchel also has decisions to make in central defence, and wide on the left.

While we think there’s a serious case for Tuchel to go for form over names by picking Aston Villa star Rogers over Real Madrid Galactico Bellingham, it’s perhaps hard to imagine the Three Lions boss taking a big gamble like that for the toughest opponent in the group.

??????? We're all agreed this should be England's first XI for this World Cup, right? ? pic.twitter.com/wBow9ROpLB

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) June 12, 2026

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Likewise, we suspect Tuchel will also opt for experience at the back, with John Stones over Ezri Konsa alongside Marc Guehi in central defence.

England predicted line up to take on Croatia

See below for prediction for how England could line up against Croatia this evening…

England look strong with this line up, but there’s always the possibility that Bukayo Saka’s fitness could be a problem, perhaps meaning a starting spot for Noni Madueke.

Saka has been a world class performer for Arsenal and England down the years, but he has had a few more fitness problems after playing so many games in recent times.

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On the other flank, Anthony Gordon has done well after recently becoming more of a key player for England, but Marcus Rashford also goes into this tournament in fine form after a strong loan spell at Barcelona.

The Manchester United outcast is another player who might also be worth choosing for his experience, but we expect Gordon is slightly ahead in the pecking order right now due to his direct style, pace, and work-rate.

The likes of Harry Kane and Declan Rice are surely certain to start whatever happens, but it will be interesting to see if they play the full 90 minutes in the blistering heat that has been touted as a bit of an issue in the US.

What do you make of the possible England line up and are you confident about the game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The post Bellingham or Rogers? How England could line up for World Cup 2026 opener vs Croatia appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal have reportedly agreed a swap deal with Atletico Madrid which will see Julian Alvarez and Viktor Gyokeres move in either direction.

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The Gunners are one of the clubs to have been linked with Alvarez in recent times, along with Barcelona, but journalist Jota Jordi has now provided a major update to El Chiringuito.

See the video clip below as the Spanish journalist claims that Barca asked again about Alvarez, only to be told that the Argentina international is not for sale and that an agreement is in place for a swap deal for Gyokeres…

? EXCLUSIVA @jotajordi13 ?

?? "Gil Marín LLAMÓ a LAPORTA para decirle que JULIÁN NO está en VENTA".

? "Pero el ATLETI tiene un ACUERDO CERRADO con el ARSENAL para VENDERLO: 50M + Gyokeres". pic.twitter.com/Lt0sgKAkzi

— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) June 17, 2026

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It remains to be seen how accurate this is for a number of reasons, but Arsenal fans will no doubt be interested to see this story gaining momentum.

Swap deals are pretty rare in football, despite there often being many transfer rumours about them being discussed or offered, so we wouldn’t exactly bank on this just yet.

How likely is a Julian Alvarez and Viktor Gyokeres swap deal?

While it’s always important to respect different journalists and their sources, we also feel a duty to inform our readers that this is probably a story that is unlikely to go anywhere.

As already noted, swap deals are rare, and it’s hard to imagine Arsenal would be prepared to offload Gyokeres after just one season in which he actually finished with more goals than Alvarez, and contributed to their Premier League title win.

That’s not to say the Sweden international’s time at the Emirates Stadium has been perfect, but it’s surely enough to earn him a bit more time.

Targeting Alvarez still makes sense to give Arsenal more options up front, so that could still be something worth watching out for.

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However, the idea that a huge swap like this would already be agreed just doesn’t seem plausible, especially when there’s been no indication of top tier journalists like David Ornstein or Fabrizio Romano reporting anything similar.

El Chiringuito’s journalists obviously have genuine connections and break a lot of major stories, but there’s a general consensus that they also sensationalise things a bit for their audience, and that some of their exclusives should be taken with a pinch of salt.

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Real Madrid have officially announced the signing of former Manchester City star Bernardo Silva on a free transfer.

Silva had come to the end of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, and he’s now confirmed as being set to join Madrid on a two-year deal starting next season.

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The experienced Portugal international will currently be focusing on the 2026 World Cup with his country, but it seems his future for after the tournament has also been sorted out.

In an official statement, Real said: “Real Madrid CF and Bernardo Silva have reached an agreement whereby he will be a Real Madrid player for the next two seasons, until June 30, 2028.”

Bernardo Silva transfer and what it means for Real Madrid’s squad

Silva finished with three goals and five assists for Man City in the season just gone, having adapted his game to playing a bit deeper with age.

At his peak, the former Monaco man was a world class attacking midfielder capable of scoring and creating consistently at the highest level.

That’s perhaps no longer his game, but he remains a quality player with the experience and know-how of winning major trophies, and that could be a big help for this relatively youthful Los Blancos side.

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However, that could also mean that some members of this squad end up making way, with Silva looking like he’ll surely be strong competition for someone like Arda Guler.

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It will be interesting to see how new Madrid manager Jose Mourinho manages these options, but he’s generally been known to favour experience in his teams throughout his career.

That could mean we’ll see some outgoings of talented young players like Guler, who will surely want to continue playing regular first-team football.

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Christ Inao Oulai has been linked with the move away from Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, and Chelsea are interested in signing the player.

According to a report from SportsBoom, the 20-year-old is also a target for Premier League outfit Chelsea. The player is valued at €50 million, and it will be interesting to see if Chelsea or Barcelona is prepared to make a move for the midfielder.

Oulai has also been linked with Manchester United a few months ago.

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Christ Inao Oulai could be a star

Oulai is a talented player with a bright future, and he could develop into a key player for Chelsea or Barcelona. There is no doubt that he could justify the investment in the long-term. However, the asking price is quite unreasonable right now. The Ivory Coast international has yet to consistently prove himself at the highest level. Trabzonspor will need to be reasonable in their demands for the move to go through.

Chelsea needs more physicality and control in the middle of the park, and the 20-year-old could be a solid acquisition. He is a deep-lying playmaker who will help control the tempo of the game and provide defensive support as well.

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Where will Oulai end up?

Similarly, Barcelona could use more depth in the midfield; they will be hoping to push for the Champions League trophy this season, and a deeper squad will help them.

On the other hand, Chelsea have failed to secure European football for next season, and they need to plug the gaps to bounce back strongly. Signing the 20-year-old midfielder could prove to be a solid long-term investment for them. If they can groom him properly over the next few seasons, he could develop into a star for them.

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Arsenal are interested in signing the Spanish defender Ivan Fresneda from Sporting CP. 

The 21-year-old has established himself as a key player for the Portuguese club, and he is considered an untouchable asset. According to a report from A Bola, they are unwilling to sanction his departure at any price.

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Arsenal might need to pay a premium for Ivan Fresneda

He has a €80 million release clause in his contract, and they are under no pressure to sanction his departure. Any interested party will have to pay a premium to get the deal done. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal is ready to trigger his exit clause this summer.

Ben White is expected to leave the London club in the summer, and the club is looking at a potential replacement. The 21-year-old Spanish defender could be a solid long-term acquisition, and he could compete with Jurrie Timber for the starting spot.

However, spending €80 million on a defender who might not start for them regularly seems unlikely. The Portuguese outfit will have to be very reasonable in their demands for the move to go through.

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Real Madrid also eyeing Fresneda

On the other hand, Real Madrid are monitoring his situation, and it remains to be seen whether they decide to make a move for the player. They need a quality long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal. Fresneda certainly has the qualities to thrive in La Liga, and he has shown his ability in Spain with Real Valladolid.

Fresneda will look to join a club where he can play regularly. Sitting on the bench at Arsenal will not be an attractive option for him.

On the other hand, returning to his homeland with one of the biggest clubs in the world will be an exciting proposition. It remains to be seen whether Real Madrid is prepared to submit an offer for him.

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Real Madrid’s aggressive start to the transfer window has continued, with Marc Cucurella the latest player to be confirmed to be joining the club. However Los Blancos intend to continue their signing spree, and despite the addition of Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate, another one is expected to arrive.

At least that is Jose Mourinho’s preference. Konate, Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries can already provide the Portuguese manager with a new-look defence, but Mourinho has requested another central defender and another central midfielder, to join Bernardo Silva. Currently their centre-back room consists of Antonio Rudiger, who extended his deal this week too, Raul Asencio, Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen.

Real Madrid’s centre-back shortlist

The other two options being considered are Manchester City veteran Ruben Dias and Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck. The latter signed a contract extension at Dortmund, but reportedly has a €60m release clause in his deal for Los Blancos, while Dias still has three years left on his deal.

Could Dias leave Manchester City this summer?

Dias, 29, has been a key player for City since arriving from Benfica in 2020, but having achieved everything at the Etihad, may be tempted by a new challenge under compatriot Jose Mourinho. Given his age, City are also probably approaching their final chance to sell Dias for a significant fee. It may well depend on how Enzo Maresca sees him, and what sort of role he has in his project.

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Chelsea sanctioned Marc Cucurella’s departure to Real Madrid and wants to replace him with Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso.

The 26-year-old has done quite well in Italy, and he could prove to be an excellent acquisition for Chelsea. He has been a reliable defender for Juventus, and he can be quite effective going forward. He could help them improve at both ends of the pitch. Cambiaso recorded eight goal contributions last season.

According to Gianluigi Longari, Barcelona are also interested in signing the 26-year-old Italian defender. It will be interesting to see if Chelsea can convince the player to join them. They have the resources to pay a premium, and they are a big club with an ambitious project.

Chelsea had a disappointing season last year and finished in mid-table. They have failed to secure European football for the upcoming campaign. That could play a key role in convincing quality players. Cambiaso might want to compete in the Champions League next season. Chelsea will not be able to provide him with that opportunity.

On the other hand, Barcelona won the title and will be competing for major trophies next year as well.

It remains to be seen what the Italian international sites. A move to the Premier League or La Liga will be exciting for him at this stage of his career. He is at the peak of his powers, and this is the right time for him to move on and take on a different challenge.

Chelsea have brought in a quality manager like Xabi Alonso, and he will be expected to turn things around. They will need to back him with quality signings this summer.

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England forward Marcus Rashford is no doubt focusing on the World Cup, as his side prepares to face Croatia in their opening game in the United States. When he returns from the Americas, he will have to deal with his future, which remains shrouded in uncertainty.

The 28-year-old will not have failed to notice that Barcelona have allowed their €30m buy option to expire, meaning he is on track to begin preseason at Old Trafford. Rashford has expressed a desire to stay at Barcelona, and Hansi Flick reportedly was keen on keeping him too, but after the signing of Anthony Gordon, the Blaugrana seem less certain they want to move for him. Nevertheless, they are yet to rule it out entirely, but Rashford is not seen as a priority.

Marcus Rashford prefers United stay over Premier League rivals

As reported by The Athletic, Rashford would prefer to remain at Manchester United this summer, than join any other sides in the Premier League. Currently he has a £40m release clause that any side can activate, barring Liverpool and Manchester City, and other Premier League sides have expressed interest in him – former loan side Aston Villa have been linked to him on a number of occasions since. Rashford has two years left on his United deal, and it seemed he would be on the move again this summer, but for the first time, it has been suggested he would stay at the club.

Manchester United want to sell Marcus Rashford after Barcelona chose not to trigger his €30m option to buy. Clause expired on Monday.

As it stands, Rashford set to return to pre-season training with Manchester United after the World Cup.

Barcelona are open to another… pic.twitter.com/5SGg0Idq3u

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) June 16, 2026

Manchester United not planning on Rashford return

Nevertheless, Rashford is not on the agenda at Old Trafford. MEN say that manager Michael Carrick was keen to reintegrate Rashford, but after holding talks with the leadership group, there are no plans to bring him back into the fold. It seems Manchester United will pursue a permanent sale for Rashford, be it to Barcelona or not.

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Chelsea are in need of a left-back after Marc Cucurella’s move to Real Madrid was confirmed on Monday, depositing €55m (£47.5m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in variables in their accounts. The solution could well be found at the Santiago Bernabeu.

One of the reasons that Chelsea were comfortable allowing Cucurella to leave is the development of Jorrel Hato, who they believe can step into the void left by the Spain international. The 27-year-old had also expressed a desire to return to Spain, and with two years left on his deal, it perhaps made sense for the Blues to cash in. Nevertheless, Hato is their only specialist at left-back now.

Chelsea weighing up move for Alvaro Carreras

As a product of Cucurella arriving at Real Madrid, Los Blancos now have four left-backs on their books, with Fran Garcia, Ferland Mendy and Alvaro Carreras. The latter of course arrived only last summer for a fee of €50m from Benfica, and did so with the approval of Xabi Alonso, who was arriving as manager at the time too.

According to Diario AS, Chelsea are now considering a move for Carreras. Alonso is familiar with him, and Carreras would have no issues adapting to English football, having previously been at Manchester United and played on loan at Preston North End. They say that Los Blancos would be looking to be recover most of the fee they spent for him, and while Carreras is keen to stay, the door could be open to a move if Cucurella is a de facto starter.

Carreras’ debut season at Real Madrid

Carreras’ first season in Spain more or less mirrored that of Alonso, starting off in fine fashion and becoming one of the early contenders for best signings in the first third of the year. As things started to go wrong, Carreras’ form nosedived though, and he finished the season out of the team, behind both Garcia and Mendy. He also had a run-in with Antonio Rudiger in training, reportedly being slapped by the ex-Chelsea centre-back.

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Manchester United appear to have gained a major advantage in the race for West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes, with Real Madrid and Arsenal now reportedly expecting the Red Devils to complete the deal.

According to The Sun, both Madrid and Arsenal are starting to look at alternative targets because they believe United are in the strongest position to land the 21-year-old Portugal international.

That is a significant development, especially given how much competition there has been around the midfielder in recent weeks.

West Ham are still demanding around £80m, but United are hoping to negotiate that figure down after the Hammers’ relegation from the Premier League.

That could be the key factor in the deal. West Ham may not want to lose one of their best young players, but their financial situation and Championship status could make a big sale difficult to ignore.

Why Fernandes fits the rebuild at Man United

For Man United, Fernandes looks like exactly the type of midfielder they have been trying to add.

He is young, technically secure, energetic and already has Premier League experience.

United have needed more control and mobility in midfield for some time, and Fernandes could offer both.

The move would also fit with United’s wider rebuild. The club have already agreed a deal for Atalanta midfielder Éderson, with Sky Sports reporting the fee at £34m plus add-ons.

Adding Fernandes alongside him would give United a very different midfield look going into next season.

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Arsenal and Madrid turning elsewhere

Arsenal’s decision to look elsewhere makes sense. Mikel Arteta already has several midfield options and may prefer a different profile or better-value deal.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are still assessing what type of midfielder they want, with other names also being discussed.

Elliot Anderson’s expected move to Manchester City has also changed the market.

The Guardian reported that City have already made huge bids for the Nottingham Forest midfielder, making him an unrealistic option for United.

For now, Fernandes feels like United’s clearest route to a major midfield upgrade. The price remains high, but the path looks more open than before.

Sources: Spanish winger ready to reject Man United & Liverpool move for PL rivals

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Tournament favourites Spain ground to a shock 0-0 draw with Cape Verde to open their World Cup campaign, with the African side securing their first ever point on the world stage at the first time of asking. The Blue Sharks held Spain at arms’ length for most of their encounter, as evidenced by a remarkable statistic to emerge from the game.

While Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, 39 years of age, made a total of seven saves during the match, but he did not finish the game being peppered by efforts from La Roja. Although it was backs to the wall defending, they looked capable of holding Spain at bay throughout, who were unable to get their forwards into the game.

Mikel Oyarzabal sets unwanted World Cup record

That was epitomised by Mikel Oyarzabal, who came into the game on a run of 10 goal contributions in eight games in qualifying. Yet the Real Sociedad forward started at nine, and could not get into the match. Opta have reported that Oyarzabal was the first player in World Cup history, since records began in 1966, to go for thirty minutes without touching the ball.

0 – Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal is the first player on record since 1966 to play the first 30 minutes of a FIFA World Cup match without touching the ball once.

Peripheral. pic.twitter.com/Ym5xi1ufbg

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 15, 2026

When he finally did, it was a loose first touch that broke down a half-chance, with Oyarzabal looking to get a shot off. He finished the game with 25 touches, getting five shots off and making 10 passes, eight of which were successful.

Spain’s attacking issues against Cape Verde

Although Oyarzabal did not have a great game, it was symptomatic of their performance overall than just the Basque forward’s contribution. With Gavi and Ferran Torres out wide for the first 70 minutes, La Roja could not stretch their opposition, and there was little space in the final third. Luis de la Fuente will no doubt hope the return to fitness of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams will go some way to remedying that.

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Sevilla forward Rafa Mir has been sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for sexual assault and battery, following an incident that occurred in September of 2024. Mir had protested his innocence throughout, but a jury in Valencia has found him guilty on multiple accounts.

Mir, 28, was on loan at Valencia at the time, the club he came through at, when he arrived back at his property in the early hours of a Sunday morning with two accomplices, and two women. The following day, a 21-year-old woman filed a complaint with the police for sexual assault.

Mir condemned to 8.5 years in prison

The public prosecutor was seeking a sentence of 10.5 years for sexual assault including bodily entry, and battery. Mir had claimed that the incident took place with consent from the victim, but the court has ruled that she did not, sentencing him to 8.5 years in jail, as per Diario AS. He was later arrested by police and released on bail.

The testimony of the victim met three requisites for the burden of evidence to outweigh the presumption of innocence; the absence of inexplicable details, plausibility of the account of events, and consistency of the account of events. The victim has been awarded €64k in damages, but Mir is still able to appeal the verdict.

Mir had publicly stated that his innocence ‘would be proven in court.’ One of his accomplices on the night, Pablo Jara, has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison and a €6,280 fine for sexual assault.

Mir the latest in high-profile sexual assault cases

Mir’s case was one of several that have become headline news in Spain over the past few years, most notably with Dani Alves. The Brazilian was later acquitted on appeal after a lengthy trial and two-year stint in prison, after initially being convicted of rape. Former Celta Vigo captain Hugo Mallo was also convicted of sexual assault against the Espanyol mascot.

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Barcelona star Joao Cancelo has opened up about the loss of his mother, which affected him as a child. The 32-year-old has given a heartbreaking account of that event, and of suffering a robbery too, in which he had a knife pulled on him.

The on-loan Al-Hilal full-back is coming off a fine season at Barcelona, where he spent the second half of the year on loan, and will be hoping to make his mark at the World Cup with Portugal. Cancelo has voiced his desire to stay in Catalonia next season, and Barcelona are expected to negotiate with Al-Hilal for a permanent deal.

Cancelo tells story of armed robbery

The former Manchester City full-back has had to fight his way to get to the top of the game though, and did so through no shortage of trauma. Speaking to Alta Definicao, Cancelo related the story of when he, his partner and two-year-old daughter suffered an armed robbery while he was playing at the Etihad in 2021. Marca quoted his answers.

“They had their backs to me, and I felt I had a chance to do something. Today I regret doing it, but I managed to punch him in the back of the head, on the nape of his neck. He fell forward, and the knife fell to the ground. I managed to kick the knife away, and suddenly another one came from behind and hit me on the head with an iron bar. This scar I have here, to this day, is a result of that; I got eight stitches and was knocked unconscious.”

“I fainted. And then, when I woke up… there was a knife pointed at my neck.”

Cancelo lost mother in car accident

That was a second traumatic event, after he lost his mother in a car accident as a 19-year-old just making his way in the game. The accident occurred in Portugal, with Cancelo asleep when it began.

“It was in a matter of milliseconds that my life changed forever. I remember my mother’s last scream and my eight-year-old brother crying. I tried to lift the car to get my mother out, but I couldn’t. Lifting a car is impossible.”

Previously, he has commented that he considered retiring from football due to the impact it had on him. The Portuguese international is a popular figure at Barcelona, and his return this year was welcomed by the dressing room, in particular Gavi, whom he is close with.

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Tournament favourites Spain are set to open their World Cup campaign this evening against Cape Verde in Atlanta at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Many eyes will be on Lamine Yamal, to see how the Barcelona star fares as he recovers from injury.

The Euro 2024 winners are seeking their second ever win, and optimism is high in Spain that they have the quality to do so. Up against them in their first game is Cape Verde, who are participating in their first ever tournament, with the oldest squad in the competition by average age.

Rodri and Pedri to anchor Spain midfield

According to Marca, Manchester City star Rodri Hernandez will anchor the midfield, with Pedri and Fabian Ruiz ahead of him. Mikel Oyarzabal will continue to lead the line between Alex Baena and Ferran Torres, in a line-up without too many surprises. New Real Madrid signing Marc Cucurella is also expected to start.

For Cape Verde, manager Bubista said he and his players were ready to take on any challenge. Veteran forward Ryan Mendes will captain the side, with Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes marshalling the backline.

Lamine Yamal to start on the bench

Many will be watching closely to see how Lamine Yamal fares, with the 18-year-old returning from injury after nearly two months out. Diario AS say that he will start on the bench, and manager Luis de la Fuente did not give away what his plan was. It seems Nico Williams and Victor Munoz, who have both been dealing with injuries too, will be sat alongside him. The latter is currently in negotiations to join Newcastle United this summer, and alongside Williams, is one of two wide players that stand out for their pace, an essential for de la Fuente.

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Barcelona forward Ansu Fati could be on the verge of sealing his definitive departure from the club he came through at, with a move to AS Monaco on a permanent basis on the cards. Fati, who inherited Lionel Messi’s weighty number 10 shirt, but a series of injuries have halted his progress after an electric start to his career.

The 23-year-old has made 123 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 29 goals and giving 10 assists, but has still never completed 90 minutes for the Catalan giants, as a product of his fitness issues and youth before that. Over the last three seasons, he has had loan spells at Brighton and Hove Albion and then this year at Monaco, in a bid to recover his confidence and rhythm.

Ansu Fati agrees terms with Monaco

It seems he has done enough to convince Monaco that he is worth gambling on. The Ligue 1 side are negotiating terms with Barcelona – it appears they could reduce the €11m buy option they had in his loan deal this year – and L’Equipe (via Sport) say that a move is one step away from being completed. That comes after Fati agreed terms with Monaco on a four-year deal, which will see him take a wage cut.

Agent Jorge Mendes is due to travel to Barcelona in the coming hours to finalise the deal in, with Fati having given the green light for the deal from Brazil, where he is on holiday.

Ansu Fati’s season at AS Monaco

The Monegasques invested in a season of reclamation projects last summer, also bringing in Paul Pogba from the cold following his doping ban. Things went a little better for Fati, who scored 12 times in 30 appearances, averaging a strike every 110 minutes.

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Real Madrid are still deciding on who they should move for in midfield this summer, despite the addition of Bernardo Silva on a free from Manchester City. Los Blancos are keen to bring in a second midfielder, but it is not clear yet who they will target, albeit Jose Mourinho has his preferences.

Over recent weeks, Real Madrid have been moving swiftly in the transfer market wrapping up contract agreements with Silva and Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate, and they are set to pay Denzel Dumfries release clause at Inter. The first to officially be announced though is Marc Cucurella, who has signed for Real Madrid for €60m (£52m) including variables.

Real Madrid ‘still deciding’ on Enzo Fernandez deal

Rumours about the future of a second Chelsea star then went into overdrive after Enzo Fernandez liked news of Cucurella’s move. Fernandez has been linked to Real Madrid for some time, and in the past has voiced a desire to live in the Spanish capital, later receiving a two-match ban for his comments.

Whether Real Madrid would put up the money that would persuade Chelsea to part with Fernandez is another matter. Ben Jacobs has claimed that Real Madrid are ‘still deciding’ on what type of midfielder they want, amid reports that Jose Mourinho is pushing for the signing of the Argentina international. Their asking price is £120m (€140m), which would make him Real Madrid’s record signing.

Enzo Fernandez is keen to join Marc Cucurella at Real Madrid, and has made no secret of wanting to leave Chelsea.

Chelsea's asking price remains £120m, as revealed last month. Club calm about the situation, but will sell at the right price.

Real Madrid are currently deciding on… pic.twitter.com/dBRilDyasg

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) June 14, 2026

Mourinho also keen on Mateus Fernandes

Another of the alternatives on the table is West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes, a breakout star, but equally he will not be much cheaper. It is thought that there is some reluctance to spend the €93m on a relatively untested player, despite his high potential.

The post Real Madrid ‘still deciding’ on move for second Chelsea star after Marc Cucurella deal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Real Madrid have confirmed that Marc Cucurella will be joining them from Chelsea, and although he is set to become their fourth signing of the summer, he is the first to be confirmed by Los Blancos. Their move for the former Barcelona youngster came as something of a surprise, but they have moved quickly to wrap up a deal over the space of a few days.

Cucurella joins Los Blancos from Chelsea for €55m (£47.5m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in variables, and has penned a six-year contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, keeping him there until 2032. The 27-year-old moved to Chelsea from Brighton four years ago for £60m (€65.3m), making him one of the most expensive defenders in the game, and struggled initially to adapt to Chelsea. However his form over the past two years have led many to consider him among the best left-backs in the world.

Cucurella had voiced desire to return to Spain

None of it can come as too much of a surprise though, given Cucurella had been augering for a move in recent months. Originally, it was Atletico Madrid and then Barcelona linked with the signing of Cucurella, but Real Madrid swooped in to sign the Spain international. In March, during the international break, he had voiced his desire to return to La Liga at some point.

Who will Chelsea play as left-back?

The most obvious next left-back up for Chelsea is Jorrel Hato, who is capable of operating comfortably at full-back. It remains to be seen if Xabi Alonso will request another top replacement, or he will look elsewhere for back up. The move for Cucurella has cast doubt on the future of Alvaro Carreras at Real Madrid, who joined for €50m from Benfica, under Alonso’s instruction.

The post Real Madrid announce signing of Chelsea defender in €60m deal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Real Madrid appear to have won the race for Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella after Atlético Madrid refused to go beyond their limit.

According to Ben Jacobs, Atlético indicated this week that they did not want to spend more than €50m on the Spanish defender.

Chelsea, however, were never willing to properly engage below that figure, which opened the door for Real Madrid to move more decisively.

That stance from Chelsea makes sense. Cucurella may have had an up-and-down spell at Stamford Bridge, but he rebuilt his reputation strongly and became one of the club’s more reliable defensive options.

Selling him cheaply was never going to appeal to a club still trying to balance squad planning with financial discipline.

Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Chelsea in a deal worth €55m plus €5m in add-ons.

That package takes the move beyond Atlético’s preferred limit and shows how quickly Madrid were willing to act once the opportunity became serious.

Jose Mourinho wanted to sign the Chelsea left-back

The key factor appears to be José Mourinho. The Portuguese manager is believed to have pushed hard for the transfer, viewing Cucurella as the kind of experienced, aggressive and reliable full-back who can immediately improve Real Madrid’s defensive balance.

That is an important detail. Madrid have looked at several left-back options, but Mourinho’s preference for a proven player seems to have driven the move forward.

Madrid moved ahead of Atlético to secure the agreement.

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Jun 15 2026, 11:18

Arsenal and Man City face £100m battle to sign player on Man United radar

Jun 15 2026, 11:02

Manchester United still lead race as Chelsea make surprise transfer contact with left-back

Jun 15 2026, 10:49

Blues get the transfer fee that they wanted

For Chelsea, this looks like strong business. The Blues signed Cucurella from Brighton in 2022.

Getting a package close to €60m now allows Chelsea to recover a large portion of that fee while giving them room to reshape their defense.

Atlético may feel frustrated, but Chelsea held firm and Real Madrid simply moved with more conviction.

The Blues would not have to enter the market to replace a key player after losing him to Real Madrid.

Chelsea make contact with Man United target as they plot surprise transfer hijack – report 

The post Jose Mourinho reported to be the driving force behind €60m raid on ex-club Chelsea appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arda Guler has been heavily linked with a move away from Real Madrid this summer.

Arsenal and PSG are interested in signing the 21-year-old Turkish International, but Real Madrid are uninterested in selling him. According to reports from Spain, Real Madrid would not sell him even if an offer of €100 million is presented.

Guler has also been linked with Chelsea.

Arsenal and PSG eye Arda Guler

Arsenal and PSG would be prepared to offer around €100 million for the Turkish International, and it remains to be seen whether they decide to test the resolve of the Spanish giants with an official bid in the coming weeks.

Arsenal need more creativity in the final third, and the 21-year-old could be an excellent acquisition. He can operate centrally as well as on the flanks. He will help create opportunities, and he can find the back of the net as well.

Guler is a tremendous young talent, and he is expected to become a superstar. Guler will add technical ability and unpredictability to the Arsenal attacking unit. He has six goals and 14 assists to his name this past season.

More Stories / Latest News

Man United and Man City to battle it out for £70 million-rated Premier League star

Jun 14 2026, 12:00

Liverpool overtake Man United in race for €50m breakout forward

Jun 14 2026, 11:00

Tottenham have decided on their asking price for elite prospect wanted by rivals

Jun 14 2026, 10:00

Guler would improve both teams

The Premier League champions will look to dominate English football in the coming seasons, and they need elite players at their disposal. Guler would be an outstanding long-term investment.

Meanwhile, PSG have won the UEFA Champions League in consecutive seasons and will look to dominate European football for the foreseeable future. Signing one of Europe’s best young talents would be a step in the right direction.

Real Madrid is looking to build a formidable team, and it is no surprise they want to keep the Turkish star.

The player is currently away with his country at the World Cup and will look to impress at the mega event.

The post Arsenal eye blockbuster €100m move as Real Madrid make stance clear on 20-G/A star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Having made a total of 451 appearances for the club, Dani Carvajal leaves Real Madrid this summer as a free agent. Six Champions League trophies, five UEFA Super Cups and as many FIFA Club World Cups, four La Liga titles, four Copa del Rey trophies – these are just some of the achievements of the […]

The post Emotional moment as Dani Carvajal leaves Real Madrid after 13 glorious years (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Emotional moment as Dani Carvajal leaves Real Madrid after 13 glorious years (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.

Italian transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has said that Eduardo Camavinga wants to stay at Real Madrid, despite interest from Manchester United. Romano said about Camavinga on his YouTube channel: “There is no doubt that there are several clubs interested in Camavinga, guys, but I can tell you that, at the moment, Man Utd have not […]

The post Eduardo Camavinga wants to stay at Real Madrid appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Eduardo Camavinga wants to stay at Real Madrid appeared first on Soccer News.

Barcelona are not willing to trigger the buy-option of £26 million in Marcus Rashford’s loan deal with Manchester United, according to Football Insider. Journalist Pete O’Rourke has also said that Rashford is unlikely to reunite with his former Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, at Real Madrid. O’Rourke said: “There is a purchase option in there […]

The post Barcelona stance on Marcus Rashford permanent deal appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Barcelona stance on Marcus Rashford permanent deal appeared first on Soccer News.

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The post Joao Pedro ‘too expensive’ for Barcelona appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Joao Pedro ‘too expensive’ for Barcelona appeared first on Soccer News.

Italian transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has said that Eduardo Camavinga wants to stay at Real Madrid, despite interest from Manchester United. Romano said about Camavinga on his YouTube channel: “There is no doubt that there are several clubs interested in Camavinga, guys, but I can tell you that, at the moment, Man Utd have not […]

The post Eduardo Camavinga wants to stay at Real Madrid appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Eduardo Camavinga wants to stay at Real Madrid appeared first on Soccer News.

Barcelona are not willing to trigger the buy-option of £26 million in Marcus Rashford’s loan deal with Manchester United, according to Football Insider. Journalist Pete O’Rourke has also said that Rashford is unlikely to reunite with his former Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, at Real Madrid. O’Rourke said: “There is a purchase option in there […]

The post Barcelona stance on Marcus Rashford permanent deal appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Barcelona stance on Marcus Rashford permanent deal appeared first on Soccer News.

If the 2025–26 La Liga season can be defined by one overarching theme, it is the triumph of an idea as much as a football team. Barcelona’s reclaiming—and retaining—of the title was not merely about results, but about identity. In an era where financial muscle often dictates success, Barcelona instead looked inward, trusting a generation […]

The post La Liga 2025–26 Review: Barcelona’s Youthful Revolution and Madrid’s Crisis appeared first on Soccer News.

The post La Liga 2025–26 Review: Barcelona’s Youthful Revolution and Madrid’s Crisis appeared first on Soccer News.

Prediction: Getafe to win 2-1 Best Odds: 9/1 Bookmaker: Zetbet Getafe and Osauna will lock horns with each other in La Liga this weekend. The match between Azulones and Los Rojillos will be held at Estadio Coliseum and is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time on Saturday. Getafe Getafe are a modest club […]

The post Prediction: Getafe vs Osasuna appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Prediction: Getafe vs Osasuna appeared first on Soccer News.

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The post Prediction: Girona vs Elche appeared first on Soccer News.

Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves Best Odds: 1/2 Bookmaker: Luckster Signing off their historic La Liga campaign on Saturday night, Barcelona will travel to the Mestalla when they meet Valencia. Valencia Starting with the hosts, while Valencia might be seeking a final weekend miracle in the race to book a lucrative European […]

The post Prediction: Valencia vs Barcelona – Betting Tips, Team News, Key Facts appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Prediction: Valencia vs Barcelona – Betting Tips, Team News, Key Facts appeared first on Soccer News.

Verdict: Real Madrid win Best Odds: 6/11 Bookmaker: Dachbet Signing off the 2025/26 La Liga campaign on Saturday night, Real Madrid will welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Bernabeu. Real Madrid Starting with the hosts, while Real Madrid might be signing off the 2025/26 campaign with a domestic flurry, Los Blancos have found themselves at the […]

The post Prediction: Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao – Betting Tips, Team News, Key Facts appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Prediction: Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao – Betting Tips, Team News, Key Facts appeared first on Soccer News.

Pep Guardiola will reportedly leave Manchester City at the end of the season. His departure, according to Marca, has opened the door for Rodri to leave as well, and Real Madrid are wasting no time in making the Premier League club and the player himself aware of their interest in his services. Despite struggling with […]

The post Real Madrid to pursue Rodri after Guardiola leaves Manchester City appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Real Madrid to pursue Rodri after Guardiola leaves Manchester City appeared first on Soccer News.