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Kyle Walker has bid Manchester City fans an emotional farewell message following his move to Burnley.

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• Walker makes shock move to Burnley
• Ends lengthy spell with Man City
• Sends emotional message to fans

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hours after Walker signed for Burnley on a two-year deal from City in a deal worth up to £5 million, the England international has taken to social media to thank fans for their support, while also reflecting on just how successful they have been over the best part of a decade together.

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• WHAT WALKER SAID

  He said on Instagram: "Little bit different this one, guys, but I think it was very, very deserved. Seven and a half years, a truly amazing, fantastic, wonderful, and special place that will remain in my heart forever. I feel what we achieved as a team, a club, an organisation, a family – that's not just players and the staff but you as fans – has been absolutely incredible. The ups, the downs, the good and bad times, the treble, the centurions, the formidables, the four in a row, you name it, we've kind of done it. I feel like I just want to say thank you to each and every one of you.

  "From Khaldoon,to Txiki and obviously the manager, you've truly left a special place in my heart forever and I will be fully in debt, grateful for what you made me not just experience, but my family and the good times we shared on the pitch and off the pitch, and especially when we won trophies i always enjoyed. 

  "I just wanted to say thank you to the lads, the group of players that I've been with past and present, it's been an absolute honour. Been very very fortunate to play with some legends of the game but there is still top top legends there at the club, top players at the club and I believe that you can carry on keep achieving what we've achieved over the last number of years. it's kind of not a farewell but a see you soon. 

  "Thank you once again to the fans, thank you to everyone who was associated with it from 2017 to this present day. My chapter is moving somewhere different. it's a little bit of a different challenge but one I'm really looking forward to and you know it attacking really."

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  Walker will go down as a City legend. He made 319 appearances for the club, won the Champions League, multiple Premier League titles, and a host of domestic cups, too. During nearly eight years at the Etihad, he was one of the best right-backs in the world, and his place in footballing history is secure.

Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White has hit a major roadblock, with Nottingham Forest accusing the North London side of making an 'illegal' approach to their star midfielder. Despite Spurs triggering the 25-year-old’s £60 million ($81m) release clause, Forest have reportedly ceased all communication and are preparing a formal complaint to the Premier League.

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• Forest accuse Spurs of illegal approach for Gibbs-White
• Telegraph report deal is off; Sky claim Forest can't block transfer
• £60m clause triggered, but legal uncertainty stalls move

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Nottingham Forest have halted talks with Tottenham and are consulting legal counsel over what they claim was an illegal approach for Morgan Gibbs-White, according to multiple reports. It is reported that the Lilywhites had activated the midfielder’s £60m release clause without Forest’s permission to negotiate. The Telegraph has claimed that the deal is now completely off, but Sky Sports reports that Forest cannot actually block the transfer.

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  Forest are said to be furious about a breach of confidentiality, alleging Spurs had insider knowledge of the exact clause. While the club may not be able to legally prevent the move, they are determined to delay and challenge it through formal channels. Gibbs-White had already agreed on personal terms, which has sparked anger among Forest supporters.

• TELL ME MORE…

  Sky Sports' report also states that Forest never gave Tottenham the green light to speak to Gibbs-White and now believe the Premier League rules were broken when the North London side held conversations with the England international. A medical had already been scheduled for Friday before Forest pulled the plug and stopped communication. Tottenham remain confident they acted lawfully and believe the release clause justifies their approach.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GIBBS-WHITE?

  Nottingham Forest will formally lodge their complaint with the Premier League and are weighing legal action. Spurs are expected to wait for clarity on the legality of their approach before moving forward. For now, the deal hangs in the balance, leaving Gibbs-White in limbo after his apparent desire to join Tottenham.

Xabi Alonso insists Real Madrid’s rebuild will take time following his team's 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup on Wednesday.

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• Madrid thumped 4-0 by PSG in CWC semi-final
• Alonso says rebuild is two-year project
• Squad depth and balance remain key concerns

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Alonso stressed that Madrid remains a “two-year project” after the club fell to a 4-0 crushing defeat against PSG in the Club World Cup semi-final. With Dean Huijsen suspended and Trent Alexander-Arnold injured, Alonso opted for a different defensive system than the one used earlier in the tournament. PSG capitalised early, scoring twice within the opening 10 minutes, and maintained control throughout as Madrid struggled to gain a foothold.

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  WHAT XABI ALONSO SAID

  Speaking to after the match, Alonso gave a frank assessment of his side’s performance, calling for patience as his tenure gets underway. He said: “The start of the match was very important. We had a good opponent, and it got really tough after the 10th minute. PSG is playing well. It's a two-year project, and we've only been here a short time. We have to work, calmly, but it obviously hurts.”

  Reflecting on the failed tactical switch and the pressure of falling behind early, he admitted the plan backfired: “The two goals put a lot more pressure on you. They force you to keep up. You know you can't get off balance. They're at a good level, we saw that today. We have a lot to learn from today.”

  Alonso also underlined the value of the defeat as a learning experience, while noting the lack of training time since taking over: “Today's results are good for us, showing us how much we still have to improve. PSG is doing things well, and we still have things to do. We're in a competitive environment, practically without training. Now we need a break, but we'll be back in four weeks.”

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  Despite boasting talents like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, they registered just two shots on target against the Champions League winners. The loss not only ends their Club World Cup hopes but also casts doubt over the depth and balance of the squad. Still, Alonso framed the defeat as part of a longer project and not a crisis. Madrid’s demolition at New Jersey marked one of their heaviest losses in an international tournament in over a decade.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  Alonso and his squad now head into a brief break before the new season begins. They have requested their opening La Liga game be postponed to let the players rest, but they may be forced to play the game as originally scheduled.

Crystal Palace supporters have erupted in anger following UEFA’s contentious decision to remove the club from next season’s Europa League. The ruling, announced on Friday, sparked outrage as Palace, who qualified by winning the FA Cup, were downgraded to the UEFA Europa Conference League instead. This comes in the wake of Lyon’s reinstatement in Ligue 1 after initially facing relegation due to financial issues.

• Palace kicked out of the UEL
• UEFA's ownership rules point to a conflict of interest
• Palace fans hit the streets in protest

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  At the heart of the controversy lies Palace co-owner John Textor. His investment firm, Eagles Football Holdings Ltd, holds a controlling interest in both the South London club and French side Olympique Lyonnais. Under UEFA statutes, clubs with shared ownership structures are not permitted to participate in the same European competition. While Textor is reportedly in the process of offloading his shares to comply with these rules, the governing body maintained its stance, ruling that Palace’s spot in the Europa League would violate these ownership restrictions.

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  Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish did not mince words when reacting to the ruling. He condemned UEFA’s action as “a bad day for football” and labelled the decision a “terrible injustice” to the club and its supporters. The Palace board, alongside its fanbase, believes the punishment is unwarranted and undermines the integrity of on-field success. Despite the club’s efforts to resolve the ownership overlap in time, UEFA’s strict interpretation left no room for reconsideration.

• PALACE FANS COME OUT IN NUMBERS

  In a show of defiance, the Holmesdale Fanatics, Crystal Palace’s most vocal supporter group, organised a protest on Tuesday. Fans gathered at the clock tower in Norwood and marched to Selhurst Park in solidarity against the decision. A powerful banner reading “UEFA: Morally bankrupt. Revoke the ruling now.” was unveiled as part of the demonstration. The group denounced the governing body for prioritising bureaucracy over sporting merit and for ignoring the emotional and financial investment fans make in their clubs.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  As a direct consequence of Palace’s exclusion, Nottingham Forest have been promoted from the UEFA Europa Conference League to the Europa League. The latest UEFA competition listings now include Forest and Aston Villa as England’s representatives in the second-tier tournament.

Atalanta's CEO has confirmed that Inter have submitted an offer for Ademola Lookman and that the player has made clear he wants to leave this summer.

• Lookman's move to Inter stalled
• Inter not ready to change their offer
• Nigerian's agent working behind the scenes

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Inter had submitted a bid worth €45 million (£39m/$51m) for Lookman, falling short of the €50m (£42m/$54m) Atalanta had demanded. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Inter will not be raising the bid if Atalanta refuse it, causing concerns that the attacker could miss out on his preferred transfer. The Nigerian's entourage has been working behind the scenes to convince Atalanta to let him go and the latest developments, according to , suggest Atalanta may be willing to settle for €48m (£38m/$55m).

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  Lookman joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022 and was a vital cog in Gian Piero Gasperini's Europa League-winning side in 2024. However, as the summer window arrived, numerous clubs started to show interest and he made clear that he wants to leave, as chief executive Luca Percassi confirmed on Wednesday.

• WHAT LOOKMAN'S AGENT SAID

  Percassi said: "Lookman has been expressing his desire to leave for some time. It's no secret. In all our discussions, he was a player who should have left this summer, following our club's philosophy of one sale per year. But the transfer market always brings unexpected things, you know well what happened with Mateo Retegui. For Lookman, despite so much interest, there had never been anything concrete until yesterday when the first official proposal arrived. Inter is a very friendly company, I saw [president Beppe] Marotta yesterday. We have a great friendship and professional relationship. In these days, we will evaluate with great serenity the offer we have received, and then give an answer. I can only say that the timing and exit values of the Atalanta players are decided only by the club."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Lookman has dual citizenship of Nigeria and England, and has won the U-20 World Cup with the Three Lions back in 2017. In 2024, he was the recipient of the African Footballer of the Year award.

Roma star Gianluca Mancini spoke highly of his former head coach Jose Mourinho, crediting him for instilling a winning mentality at the club.

• Mancini reserves praise for Mourinho
• Labelled ex-Man Utd & Chelsea boss a 'monster'
• Credited him for driving change at the club

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Roma centre-back Mancini was effusive in his praise for former head coach Mourinho while speaking about the impact the legendary manager had on him and the team. Mancini credited the Portuguese icon for instilling hunger and an elite mentality at the club and labelled him a "monster."

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  Mourinho was appointed Roma head coach at the start of the 2021-22 season. In his maiden season in Rome, the former Inter and Real Madrid boss fired the Giallorossi to Conference League victory. He stayed at the Stadio Olimpico for another 18 months, during which they also made it to the Europa League final, but the club parted ways with him in January 2024 following a string of poor results. Regardless, he is arguably among the greatest figures in modern Roma history.

• WHAT GIANLUCA MANCINI SAID

  Speaking to , Mancini said: "What was Mourinho for my career? A monster who arrived and made me say, 'Yes, he can change my story and that of all of us.' Jose gave us charisma, mentality, and conviction. On the pitch, I was his leader; sometimes I overdid it, going a bit too far… but I did it because I felt he would lead us to victory."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ROMA?

  Roma have begun a new era ahead of the 2025-26 season, with former Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini at the helm. Roma narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot last season, but will be aiming to finish in the top four this time around when their season kicks off against Bologna on August 23.

Chelsea have agreed on personal terms with Alejandro Garnacho as they inch closer to securing a transfer for the Argentine winger. The Blues will now initiate transfer talks with Manchester United before placing a formal bid for the youngster. They are also pursuing RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons simultaneously.

• Chelsea agree personal terms with Garnacho
• Will initiate transfer talks with Man Utd
• Also keen on signing Xavi Simons

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Garnacho is close to securing a transfer to Stamford Bridge this summer after agreeing personal terms with Chelsea. The Argentine winger is determined to sign for the Blues, who will now initiate talks with United over their valuation of the player. 

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  The reported on Thursday that the Red Devils have set an asking price of £50 million ($67m) for Garnacho. The Argentina international has been expected to depart since the start of the summer transfer window after being told by manager Ruben Amorim to find a new club.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The amount that United will receive from Garnacho's transfer will be logged as pure profit and will benefit the club in terms of the profit and sustainability rules of the Premier League. The 21-year-old joined the Red Devils' youth system from Atletico Madrid in 2022 and two years later he made his professional debut.

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  WHAT NEXT

  As talks with United are expected to progress in the coming days, Chelsea are also pursuing a move for Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. The Red Devils, meanwhile, are closing in on the signing of Simons' team-mate Benjamin Sesko.

Diogo Jota's family will be in attendance for Liverpool's clash with Bournemouth in their first competitive game following the Portuguese's death.

• Jota and brother killed in car crash
• Liverpool face Bournemouth in PL opener
• Family to attend Anfield game

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ever since Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in early July, tributes have flooded in for the former Liverpool forward, with the club repeatedly honouring the 28-year-old. Now, according to Reds boss Arne Slot, Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso, their kids, and family will be at Anfield on Friday night for the Bournemouth game.

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  WHAT SLOT SAID

  In Slot's programme notes, he said: "As I have said previously, the tributes that have been paid throughout the world, and especially within the LFC community, have been truly special and I know that tonight (Friday) we will come together to honour them once more. I believe that Diogo's wife, his children, and his family will be in attendance, and it is important that, as a club, we show that they will always have our love and support as they deal with this most tragic of situations. We are there for them always."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Jota's death has rocked Liverpool and much of the footballing world. For his family, this will have been an unutterably difficult time but the way in which the ex-Wolves man has been honoured may bring them some solace. It will be an emotionally charged game at Anfield as the Reds try to win this match for Jota.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  More tributes are likely to take place before and during the game for Jota, who had his No.20 shirt retired by the club earlier this summer, as defending Premier League champions Liverpool host Bournemouth at 8pm (BST) at Anfield.

Javier Mascherano was sent off at halftime, leaving assistant Javier Morales in charge

• Luis Suárez scored twice from the penalty spot
• Lionel Messi did not play
• They will face Orlando City in the next round

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Luis Suárez was the star of the night at Chase Stadium, leading Inter Miami to a 2-1 win over Tigres with a brace from the penalty spot that secured the Herons’ place in the tournament semifinals. 

  “It was a very tough match. They played really well, they have great players, and it’s always difficult to face teams with that kind of squad. I always try to give my best to help the team. There’s a lot of responsibility on experienced players because we know how these games are played,” the Uruguayan told

  With the two goals, Suárez reached 38 goals in 74 appearances for Miami and brought his career tally to 527 across all clubs.

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  showed remarkable resilience, playing without Lionel Messi due to injury and without Javier Mascherano for the second half after his red card. Adding to the adversity, Jordi Alba was forced off early in the second half following an accidental collision with Telasco Segovia. 

  Despite Correa’s equalizer in the 67th minute and the chaos on the sidelines – with a frustrated Mascherano giving instructions over the phone to his assistant Lucas Rodríguez Pagano – Inter Miami never backed down.

  They kept pushing and ultimately sealed the win after a second penalty conceded by Javier Aquino, which allowed Suárez to complete his brace and deliver a hard-fought victory over one of Liga MX’s strongest sides.

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  WHAT INTER MIAMI PLAYERS SAID

  Through a video shared on Inter Miami’s social media, players Suárez, Óscar Ustari, and Yannick Bright expressed their gratitude to the fans. 

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Inter Miami extended their unbeaten run at home to nine matches, with seven wins and two draws. Meanwhile, Suárez netted his 13th overall goal of 2025 for the Herons, marking his second brace of the year.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have received a Wrexham transfer message that the Hollywood superstars do not “want to hear”.

• A-list co-owners have invested heavily
• Parkinson hoping for more new arrivals
• Red Dragons advised to consolidate

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A-list co-owners in North Wales have invested heavily in a shock sporting adventure that was first opened in 2021. They have overseen a historic run of three successive promotions that have lifted the Red Dragons out of the National League and into the Championship.

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  More recruitment records have been smashed in 2025, in an ongoing bid to reach the Premier League, but Phil Parkinson’s side have picked up just one point from three games at the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Parkinson admits that he may need “one or two” more additions before the summer window closes, but questions are being asked of whether Wrexham should continue to throw money at a project that remains well ahead of schedule.

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  WHAT STELLING SAID

  Jeff Stelling told of Parkinson’s transfer claims: “It's been this incredible uphill climb they've had but they've spent £23m in pre-season at the moment. That's just less than Inter Milan and manager Phil Parkinson admits the spending might not be over. Now, if I'm Ryan Reynolds or Rob McElhenney, those are not words I want to hear.”