Category: Sports

Arsenal are exploring a deal to sign winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge.

According to The Athletic, a move for Tzolis would not impact the Gunners’ interest in Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers or an alternative target.

The club’s sporting director, Andrea Bertea, continues to work in the market to strengthen their attack.

Sources believe a deal for Tzolis could be possible for around €40million.

The 24-year-old scored 43 goals for Club Brugge across two seasons, having found the net 23 times for Fortuna Dusseldorf in 2. Bundesliga in 2023-24.

Arsenal are looking to bring in a new left winger, and have inquired about Juventus’ 21-year-old Turkey international Kenan Yildiz.

Transfer: Arsenal eye €40m move for Christos Tzolis amid interest in Morgan Rogers

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Duke Udi, has been unveiled as the new technical adviser of Nigeria National League, NNL, side Sunshine Stars.

The Ondo State Football Agency, ODSFA, announced Udi’s arrival in a brief unveiling ceremony on Friday.

Udi previously managed Firstbank FC in the NNL last season.

The former Nigeria international was unveiled alongside Banjo Adepoju.

Adepoju will serve as the head coach of the Akure club.

Udi’s led technical crew has been charged to remain focused on the task ahead and avoid all forms of distraction as the club pursues its objectives in the 2026-27 NNL season.

NNL: Sunshine Stars unveil Udi as new technical adviser  

FIFA has confirmed that Ghana’s Thomas Partey will not be able to travel to Canada for their 2026 World Cup opener against Panama.

Partey has been denied visa into the North America over allegations of rape.

He will now sit out the Black Star’s first game at the tournament.

FIFA said in a statement on Friday: “FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s Team Base Camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government.

“FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas.

“As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”

2026 World Cup: FIFA releases statement as Partey is denied entry into Canada

France forward, Ousmane Dembele, has named Argentina captain Lionel Messi as the best player he has ever seen in his career.

Dembele also identified Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane as the manager he wants to coach the French national team.

The Ballon d’Or winner stated this during an interview with Marca ahead of France’s World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday.

“Lionel Messi is the best player I have ever seen,” Dembele said.

“He’s 38, but he’s still fantastic, dangerous… his quality never gets old. We have to be all very careful, Leo can still win the World Cup.”

He added, “Zinedine Zidane is a legend, he’s a reference. I hope one day he becomes the new France head coach.

“He won three Champions League titles in a row; he could do an incredible job with the national team.”

Dembele names best player he has ever seen, upmanager he wants to coach France

France forward, Ousmane Dembele, has defended his teammate Kylian Mbappe, saying that people should stop criticizing the Real Madrid star.

Mbappe has been the subject of intense scrutiny since taking over the France captaincy in 2023.

Also, since he failed to win any major trophy at Real Madrid last season.

Speaking to Marca ahead of France’s World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday, Dembele said, “There are too many critics towards Kylian.

“Mbappe is incredible, a top player and a great guy off the pitch. People should not be so aggressive against him.

“They criticise Kylian for anything he does. That’s way too much.”

World Cup 2026: People should stop criticizing him – Dembele defends Mbappe

Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry, has picked two countries as his dark horses in the 2026 World Cup tournament.

Speaking on Fox Sports, Henry singled out Senegal and Norway as his dark horses.

Senegal and Norway are in Group I, alongside France and Iraq.

“You have to think about Senegal and Norway, who are my two dark horses in this competition,” Henry said.

“It’s going to be tough for Iraq. I do think that the three teams [Norway, Senegal and France] will go forward, so I’m looking forward to that one, and there is another one.”

Henry won the World Cup with France in 1998 during his playing days as a professional footballer.

World Cup 2026: Thierry Henry picks two countries as dark horses

Liverpool on Friday confirmed the departure of three coaches from the coaching staff.

They are Sipke Hulshoff, Ruben Peeters and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Hulshoff is a first assistant coach and lead physical performance coach.

Peeters joined Liverpool as part of Arne Slot’s new backroom team following his arrival as head coach in the summer of 2024.

Van Bronckhorst, meanwhile, arrived at Liverpool last summer to take up a role as an assistant coach within Slot’s set-up.

However, the three coaches will now leave their posts following the announcement of Slot’s departure as head coach last month.

“Everybody at LFC thanks Sipke, Ruben and Gio for all their efforts and contributions to the club and wishes them the best for the future,” Liverpool’s statement partly read.

EPL: Three coaches leave Liverpool

Trabzonspor president, Ertugrul Dogan has revealed that goalkeeper Andre Onana is expected to join the club permanently from Manchester United.

Onana had spent the last season on loan at the Turkish Super Lig club from Man United.

The Cameroon returned to the Red Devils after his loan spell with Trabzonspor expires.

Speaking on the development, Dogan told Ajansspor, “I think Andre Onana will stay with the team, we have met his financial demands.

“The fans like him too, he is a decent bloke. I don’t think we will have any problems.

“I don’t think he will find the same level of interest in him anywhere else.

“So I think he will stay with the team.”

Meanwhile, in another development, Prince Cisse, the son of former Liverpool forward Djibril Cisse, has signed his first professional contract with the Reds.

The 17-year-old has been at Anfield since the pre-Academy phase and enjoyed a goalscoring debut for Rob Page’s U21s side during the 2025-26 campaign.

Cisse has made the transition from attacker to defender in the past few seasons and now predominantly plays as a centre-back.

Onana to leave Man Utd for new club as Liverpool confirm deal for Cisse

Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has picked Spain winger Lamine Yamal to take home the Golden Ball at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This year’s tournament kicked off with co-hosts Mexico beating South Africa 2-0 on Thursday night.

The competition will run for over five weeks, before the champions are crowned on July 19.

Several top footballers are in the running for the prestigious Golden Ball award, given to the best player of the tournament.

Names like Lionel Messi (Argentina), Kylian Mbappe (France), Harry Kane (England), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), etc are seen as contenders.

“I have to go with Lamine Yamal,” Mikel Obi said.

“He’s just amazing. The way he plays, the confidence he plays with, everything he does is just superb. I think me and every football fan are looking forward to watching him again, and I think he will be great again.”

2026 World Cup: Mikel Obi reveals player to win Golden Ball award

Arsenal have stepped up their bid to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.

According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is understood to see Tonali as vital squad depth with the Gunners expected to play around 60 games again next season.

However, Newcastle United’s lack of European football means Tonali could push to leave St James’ Park this summer.

Arsenal will have to battle Manchester United for the Italy international’s signature as the Red Devils are also keeping tabs on the player.

Meanwhile, in another development, Fulham star Antonee Robinson has been linked with a move to Manchester United this summer, The Sun reports.

Man United manager Michael Carrick is keen to bolster his options at left-back, with Luke Shaw his only option in that position at the moment.

This comes after the departure of Tyrell Malacia from Old Trafford.

The report added that Lewis Hall is another name on Man United’s radar, but Robinson could be a cheaper alternative for Carrick’s side.

Transfer: Arsenal step up bid for Tonali as Man Utd enter race for Robinson