Author: James Brooks

Villa are pushing hard to strengthen their squad this winter as manager Unai Emery looks to maintain a strong challenge across all competitions. The Birmingham club have been consistently linked with several high-profile targets as the window continues to heat up across the Premier League. Emery has made no secret of his desire to add depth and quality to the squad, with Villa competing on multiple fronts this season. The club’s ownership group, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, have shown a willingness to back the manager significantly in recent transfer windows. Villa finished in the Champions League places last season,…

Arsenal are reportedly making a move for Julian Alvarez, as several high-profile transfer stories continue to develop across the Premier League this window. The Gunners have been heavily linked with attacking reinforcements as manager Mikel Arteta looks to mount a serious title challenge in the second half of the season. Alvarez, who has established himself as one of the most sought-after forwards in European football, would represent a significant statement of intent from Arsenal if a deal were to be concluded. Meanwhile, Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes remains the subject of intense transfer speculation, with the Brazilian midfielder widely regarded as…

The last four teams standing at the 2026 World Cup are Argentina, England, France and Spain, all just two games away from lifting the trophy. Comparing the four sides fairly requires accounting for playing time, as Argentina have played a full hour more than France and Spain due to extra time, with England playing an additional 30 minutes. Reigning champions Argentina have scored the most goals of the four semi-finalists, netting 17 times across their six matches at the tournament. Despite that impressive haul, it is France who have looked the most dangerous going forward, averaging the most goals, joint-most…

Newcastle United had a busy transfer window as the club continued efforts to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level of English football. The Magpies have been active in the market, with sporting director Paul Mitchell working to identify and pursue a range of targets across different positions throughout the squad. However, as is common during any transfer window, not every pursuit ends in a successful signing, and Newcastle found themselves missing out on several players they had been tracking. Transfer windows are rarely straightforward, with clubs frequently finding themselves in competition with multiple European sides for…

Celtic have strengthened their backroom staff by appointing Ross Grant as set-piece coach, poaching the specialist from Scottish Premiership rivals Hearts. The Scottish champions pipped Hearts to the league title on the final day of the 2025/26 campaign, making Grant’s switch across the divide all the more significant for supporters. Grant, a boyhood Celtic fan, will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to Martin O’Neill’s coaching setup at Parkhead this season. The club confirmed in their official statement that Grant will have a “particular focus on set-piece analysis and coaching” in his new role with the Hoops. His arrival…

Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign Bruno Guimaraes, marking a significant move in what is shaping up to be a busy transfer window for the Gunners. The north London club have been heavily linked with the Brazilian midfielder for some time, and it appears those lengthy negotiations have finally resulted in a breakthrough deal. Guimaraes has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most dynamic midfielders during his time in English football, attracting interest from several top clubs. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has long been looking to strengthen the engine room of his squad, and landing a player…

Arsenal are pushing to complete a deal for Atletico Madrid and Argentina striker Julian Alvarez before pre-season gets underway, according to reports. The 26-year-old has established himself as one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards since joining Atletico Madrid, and Arsenal are now firmly in pursuit of his signature. Aston Villa have moved quickly to hijack Newcastle’s pursuit of Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi, with the club finalising a deal for the 20-year-old Switzerland international. Newcastle had been expected to land Manzambi, but Villa’s intervention has shifted the situation considerably and left the Magpies needing to look elsewhere for midfield reinforcements. Pep…

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has opened the door to further World Cup expansion, saying the proposal for a 64-team tournament will be examined in detail after 2026. Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport that the success of the expanded 48-team format means the governing body should now look seriously at how a 64-team World Cup could function. “That’s definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” Infantino said when pressed on the possibility of further expansion. He argued that the tournament must be designed to include the broadest possible range of…

England’s 2-1 quarter-final victory over Norway in Miami has been overshadowed by a heated dispute over whether the ball struck a spidercam wire before Jude Bellingham’s equaliser. Norway players and coaching staff immediately protested after the goal stood, insisting the ball had visibly deviated after clipping one of the camera cables suspended above the pitch. Had the ball been judged to have touched the wire, the goal would have been ruled out and play restarted with a dropped ball under the tournament’s laws. Fifa subsequently issued a statement confirming there was “no evidence” the ball had made contact with any…

The 2026 World Cup has reached its most thrilling stage, with just four nations remaining as the competition enters its penultimate round of fixtures. France, Spain, England and Argentina are all now just two victories away from lifting the famous trophy in what promises to be an extraordinary few days of football. The first semi-final takes place on Tuesday at Dallas Stadium, where France and Spain will renew European hostilities with a place in the final on the line. Kylian Mbappe has been in devastating form throughout the tournament, scoring eight goals so far and sitting level with Lionel Messi…