Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed that winger Noni Madueke is on the verge of completing a move to Arsenal. A £52 million deal was agreed between the London rivals. The 23-year-old has left Chelsea’s Club World Cup squad ahead of their final against PSG. He left to undergo a medical in London, with official confirmation of the transfer expected within hours. Speaking in a pre-match press conference, Maresca was candid about the situation: “Noni is in contact with the new club,” Maresca said. “I guess he is going to be (announced) in the next hours.”“I said in one of the last press conferences, if players want to leave then it is difficult for the club and the manager. Noni decided to leave, nobody told Noni he had to leave. If he is happy, we are happy.” Madueke, who joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, struggled to cement a consistent starting spot under various managers, despite showing flashes of his potential. His move to Arsenal makes him the latest player to cross the London divide. He will bolster Mikel Arteta’s attacking options, particularly on the right wing.  The deal adds to Arsenal’s proactive summer window, with other targets such as Eberechi Eze, Rodrygo, and Cristhian Mosquera also on the radar.

Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has signed a one-year contract extension with Real Oviedo, the club announced on Saturday. Cazorla, who turns 41 in December, joined Oviedo in August 2023. Last season, he helped his boyhood club return to La Liga for the first time in 24 years. He made 81 appearances for Spain, winning the European Championship in 2008 and 2012. He also lifted the FA Cup twice during his time at Arsenal. “With this renewal, Santi Cazorla, a symbol and emblem of Oviedo, proves that dreams, when pursued with the heart, come true,” the Asturian club said in a statement. “Real Oviedo have secured the leadership of a footballer who embodies the club’s values like few others, both on and off the field,” they added.

Athletic Club defender Yeray Alvarez has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance. The test followed the club’s Europa League semi-final match against Manchester United on May 1st. The 30-year-old centre-back said the substance was taken “involuntarily” through medication used to treat hair loss. Alvarez has been using the medication since recovering from testicular cancer. “After overcoming my illness, I have been taking a treatment against alopecia for years,” he said.“After studying the issue, we have found out that the positive test came because I involuntarily took a preventative medicine against hair loss which contained a prohibited substance.” Alvarez was first diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016. He returned to play in 2017, but suffered a recurrence later that year and made a second comeback in 2018. He added: “The disciplinary proceedings are currently in an investigatory phase and confidential, so I am provisionally suspended and I am not authorised to make further public comment.” Alvarez featured in the second leg against Manchester United and also played two more La Liga games before the season ended. He said he received notice of the positive test result “a few weeks ago”. “I could not believe it, given that never in my life have I taken prohibited substances,” said Alvarez. Athletic Club said in a statement that they “lament the human error of Yeray” and pledged to support the defender during this time. The club added that they could not make further comments. UEFA has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala has spoken publicly for the first time since suffering a serious leg injury in the Club World Cup quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain. The 22-year-old sustained a fractured fibula and a dislocated ankle after a collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma near the end of the first half. Musiala was stretchered off and flown back to Munich from Atlanta, where he underwent surgery. He is expected to be out for several months and will likely miss the start of the new season. Despite the severity of the injury, Musiala insists there is no bad blood over the incident. “The surgery went really well, I’m in good care and I wanted to say there’s no one to blame for this,” he said in an Instagram post.“I think situations like this happen and now I’m just going to use the next period of time to build up my strength and positivity again.” Donnarumma appeared visibly shaken after the injury and said his “prayers and well wishes” were with Musiala. Bayern manager Vincent Kompany expressed his frustration after the match, which ended in a 2-0 defeat, saying he had “rarely been so angry.” Musiala had a strong season before the injury, scoring 21 goals and providing eight assists across all competitions as Bayern secured the Bundesliga title.

Liverpool are gearing up to defend their Premier League crown when the 2025/26 campaign kicks off in just over a month. With Arne Slot now fully settled in the dugout, the Reds are entering a new era, blending continuity with key reinforcements. While fans have waved goodbye to Trent Alexander-Arnold, they’ve welcomed marquee signings like Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Florian Wirtz. The latter, in particular, signals a bold statement of intent from the club’s hierarchy. Liverpool’s board are backing Slot’s vision For a club at the top, strengthening while ahead is crucial. Too often, teams become complacent, only investing once form begins to drop. Liverpool’s board, however, have stayed proactive. Despite occasional fan criticism, the ownership group continues to invest at key moments. Slot initially took a cautious approach, choosing to work with the squad he inherited. That decision paid off with a dominant title-winning season. Now, with the Dutchman more entrenched, Liverpool are targeting elite-level additions to push for sustained success across all competitions. Room must be made for new arrivals Naturally, squad evolution requires tough decisions. To make way for new signings, departures are inevitable. One potential exit that continues to make headlines is Darwin Nunez. Despite flashes of brilliance, the Uruguayan striker has struggled with consistency, often frustrating fans and coaches alike with his decision-making and finishing. If the right offer arrives, Liverpool may be tempted to move on. Ekitike fits the bill Enter Hugo Ekitike. The 23-year-old French striker, currently at Eintracht Frankfurt, has emerged as a prime candidate to fill the gap should Nunez depart. Ekitike combines pace, technique, and positional intelligence. Having previously been linked with PSG and Newcastle, Ekitike’s potential has never been in question. What’s changed is his maturity and finishing consistency. Last season, he netted 18 goals in all competitions for Frankfurt and registered 7 assists, showing significant improvement in his all-round play. Why he’s the right profile Ekitike doesn’t just offer goals. His movement off the ball, willingness to press, and ability to combine in tight spaces make him a modern forward. Unlike Nunez, whose style sometimes feels chaotic, Ekitike plays with more composure, fitting Slot’s structured system better. He also plays as a central striker or wide forward. That could be crucial in a Liverpool front line that includes the likes of Wirtz, Diaz, Jota, and Salah. The right time for change If Liverpool are serious about maintaining their dominance, refreshing the squad with players who align better with the manager’s style is essential. Ekitike might not be a household name just yet, but his profile suggests he could be the ideal long-term solution. With preseason approaching and key decisions looming, all eyes will be on Anfield to see whether the Reds cash in on Nunez, and whether Ekitike steps through the door as the next striker to lead the line.

Stefano Pioli has been named the new head coach of Fiorentina, marking a return to the club on a three-year contract. The 58-year-old replaces Raffaele Palladino, who unexpectedly left the role just three weeks after signing an extension in May. Pioli arrives after a short stint with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, which he departed last month. His return to Florence comes with deep personal and professional ties. “I am very happy that Stefano Pioli is the new coach of Fiorentina’s first team,” said club president Rocco Commisso.“From the very first moment I spoke to him, I found a coach with great human values who is ready to do everything he can for this club and this city, which he knows very well and has a close bond with.” After leaving Fiorentina in 2019, Pioli enjoyed a successful tenure at AC Milan, where he won the Serie A title in the 2021–22 season.  Fiorentina finished sixth in the league last season, securing a spot in Europe’s third-tier competition. Their appointment of Pioli follows a broader shake-up in Serie A, with managerial changes at several top clubs including Inter Milan, AC Milan, AS Roma, Atalanta and Lazio.