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BBC

Al-Ittihad had a £150m offer rejected for Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah in 2023 but the Saudi Pro League side have revived their interest in the 33-year-old Egypt international, who will be available on a free transfer after leaving the Reds in the summer. (ESPN), external

Salah did not get the interest in his services he might have hoped for in the January transfer window and, in negotiating his departure this summer, Liverpool's owners - Fenway Sports Group - thought holding out for a fee would make a difficult situation worse. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Liverpool have been in regular contact with former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, who won the Champions League with the Anfield club as a player, and the Spaniard would be willing to take over from Arne Slot in the summer if certain conditions are met. (Bild - in German), external

Liverpool have been linked with replacing Salah with France winger Michael Olise but Bayern Munich are "relaxed" about the 24-year-old's future as he is under contract until 2029 and does not have a release clause. (Sport Bild - in German), external

Manchester United are looking at 19-year-old RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, Newcastle United and England defender Lewis Hall, 21, and Everton and Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye, 26, as they prepare for a likely return to European competition. (Sky Sports), external

Manchester United and Brazil midfielder Casemiro, who is leaving the club in the summer, agreed in January to remove a clause in his contract which would have triggered a one-year extension if the 34-year-old made 35 starts this season. (Manchester Evening News), external

Manchester United are confident they can find other clubs to buy England international Marcus Rashford, 28, if Barcelona opt not to turn his loan into a permanent move for £26m. (ESPN), external

Barcelona are keen on Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni but could face competition from Liverpool in any contest for the 26-year-old's signature. (Football Italia), external

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has the backing of the club, despite some unrest among fans following their Champions League exit to Barcelona and a defeat by rivals Sunderland. (Times - subscription required), external

Brazil winger Vinicius Jr says he is only thinking about staying at Real Madrid for a "long time", with the 25-year-old set to sign a contract extension. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, 24, says he has no intention of leaving the club after the Ecuador international was linked with Real Madrid. (El Chiringuito TV, via Standard), external

Juventus are closing in on securing Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic on a new deal, with the 26-year-old's contract running out in the summer. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian)





Sky Paper Talk

Liverpool

Liverpool will face a tough battle to land Bayern Munich star Michael Olise this summer, with the German heavyweights insisting their star man is not for sale. Olise is on Liverpool's radar as a replacement for the departing Mohamed Salah - Daily Mail

The Saudi Pro League are targeting both Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes from Liverpool this summer, in what could deepen a summer of upheaval at Anfield - The Independent

Mohamed Salah will be tempted by a staggering £200m-plus offer to become the Saudi Pro League's new poster boy - The Sun

Inter Miami are willing to rival interest from the Saudi Pro League in Mohamed Salah with a proposal that could see the Egyptian partner Lionel Messi in the MLS following his departure from Liverpool - The Independent

MLS commissioner Don Garber believes outgoing Liverpool legend Mo Salah could make a significant impact in the top flight of American soccer, and has urged him to move to the US - The Athletic

Manchester United

Manchester United are relaxed about Marcus Rashford's situation at Barcelona and are confident they would be able to find other suitors if the Spanish giants decide against triggering their option to make the move permanent - ESPN

Inter Miami have sounded out Manchester United midfielder Casemiro over a potential move to the MLS - Daily Mail

MLS sides Inter Miami and LA Galaxy are interested in signing Casemiro when he leaves Manchester United in the summer - The Athletic

Al Ittihad are interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Casemiro on a free transfer for next season, but the Saudi Arabian club must first decide on Fabinho's future - ESPN

Manchester United will go to the Republic of Ireland for a four-day training camp at the start of April - The Athletic

The FA will snub Manchester United's new stadium and assign Wembley to host the 2035 Women's World Cup final - The Sun
Arsenal

Arsenal are investigating a deal for Paris Saint-Germain forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in anticipation of a considerable reshuffle this summer - The Independent

Desperate Arsenal fans have been thwarted in their attempts to attend a potentially season-deciding away match, after West Ham United asked those trying to buy tickets to provide photographic evidence that they are genuine supporters of the east London club - The Telegraph

Chelsea

Everton are exploring a possible legal challenge against the Premier League for its handling of Chelsea's undisclosed payments sanction - The Guardian

Chelsea are lining up a swoop for another teenage wonderkid after tabling an offer for Marseille's 16-year-old winger Said Remadnia - The Sun

Chelsea Women are considering the possibility of moving all of their home games to Stamford Bridge from next season - The Sun
Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo's eldest son trained with Real Madrid's academy on Tuesday with a view to joining the youth ranks in the near future - The Athletic

Kylian Mbappe's knee injury was misdiagnosed after Real Madrid medical staff performed an MRI scan on the wrong leg back in December - The Athletic

Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu will host the biggest stars in tennis next month as its pitch is transformed into a collection of tennis courts - The Athletic

Scottish Football

Craig McLeish looks set to be handed the chance to keep St Mirren in the Premiership - Daily Record

Rugby Union

There are growing concerns that Qatar Airways' proposed title sponsorship of rugby union's new Nations Championship is under threat because of the war in the Gulf - The Times

Athletics

The London Marathon could be held over two days from next year, with the men's and women's elite races staged separately across the weekend and more than 50,000 additional amateur runners able to participate while raising extra millions for charity - The Times





Football Insider

Adama Traore to seek summer move to Premier League rival

Adama Traore is already eyeing a potential move away from West Ham United this summer amid doubts about their Premier League status.

The 30-year-old joined West Ham on a short-term deal in January, with his contract set to run until the end of the season when he will become a free agent.

A number of rival Premier League clubs are keeping an eye on his situation and would be prepared to take a gamble on signing him if he was available for free.

Former Hammers scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Traore has a number of admirers despite never proving himself as a top-class Premier League player.

The winger is a favourite of Nuno Espirito Santo’s, but the boss’ future is uncertain and he is likely to depart alongside Traore in a difficult window for West Ham if they are relegated.

Adama Traore eyes summer exit from West Ham

Football Insider exclusively revealed in December that Wolves were keen to reunite with Traore in the January window, but missed out as West Ham moved first.

However, both clubs are currently on course to be relegated from the Premier League, and the winger could be forced to look elsewhere for his next move.

Despite doubts about his overall quality, the Spaniard’s physical attributes mean there is no shortage of interest in clubs willing to gamble on his availability.

“I expect Traore will look for another Premier League club,” Brown told Football Insider.

“I was somewhat surprised West Ham made a move for him in the first place, but he’s got a good relationship with the manager so it made sense.

“But they’d clearly looked at the team, they were short of depth in wide areas and short of pace, and decided Traore would bring them something different.

“So they decided to take a chance on him on a six-month contract, but it hasn’t really worked out.

“If they get relegated, there’s no way he’ll stick around and I doubt very much whether they’d want him to, so then it’s about where else he could go.

“I don’t think he has the quality to be a top-level player, but his physical attributes mean there are Premier League clubs willing to take a gamble on him.

“That’s what it is, a gamble, because you’re hoping the things he adds to the squad outweigh the fact he’s not necessarily going to be your best player.”

West Ham stars could follow Traore out

Traore is not the only West Ham star who will leave the club if they suffer relegation, as a number of key players are already attracting extensive interest.

Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville are among the most high-profile players who could be allowed to leave given interest from Premier League rivals.

Brown warned Football Insider last month that West Ham could be forced to sell Fernandes with clubs keeping a close eye on his situation.

The midfielder has been linked with a host of clubs including most recently Man United, with the Red Devils aiming to bolster their midfield options this summer.

If Nuno is unable to lead his side to safety, they will likely be unable to turn down interest as they believe the player will want to remain in the Premier League.



The Hard Tackle

West Ham United eyeing summer move for Ivor Pandur

West Ham United will reportedly look to sign 26-year-old Croatian goalkeeper Ivor Pandur from EFL Championship club Hull City in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web, Ivor Pandur is the subject of interest from West Ham United. The Hammers are keen on bolstering their first-team squad by signing a goalkeeper in the summer transfer window.

However, West Ham will face stiff competition for the Croat’s signature, as Torino will also attempt to sign him from Hull City in the coming months. With Franco Israel failing to make his mark, the Granata will aim to secure the services of a new first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Who is Ivor Pandur?

Ivor Pandur has established himself as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the EFL Championship since joining Hull City from Fortuna Sittard in January 2024. Born in Rijeka, the player spent his formative years in Croatia and graduated from the youth division at HNK Rijeka. Since then, the 26-year-old has represented clubs in Croatia, the Netherlands, Italy, and England.

The Croatian goalkeeper has been a mainstay in the middle of the park for Hull City, making nearly 100 appearances thus far while conceding 106 goals and keeping 16 clean sheets. Meanwhile, Pandur’s exploits have helped him earn a call-up to his national side while capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. West Ham United will be among the prospective suitors vying for his signature later this year.

Premier League move on the horizon?

Ivor Pandur has been on West Ham United’s wishlist for a long time. The continued interest is understandable, as the Hammers need a reliable presence between the sticks. While the East London club signed Mads Hermansen from Leicester City last summer, he has been inconsistent during his stint at the London Stadium thus far.

Additionally, Alphonse Areola is no longer consistent enough to be the first-choice goalkeeper for West Ham, while Lukasz Fabianski is in the twilight of his career. Several candidates, including Aaron Escandell, have thus emerged on the London outfit’s wishlist, with Pandur also a viable target.

However, securing a spot in the Premier League next season will be vital to West Ham’s prospects of landing the 26-year-old Croat. Additionally, it may be a tall order to land Pandur if Hull City can earn promotion to the top flight in the coming months. Meanwhile, competition from Torino adds to the challenge, and West Ham may face an uphill task to secure the Croatian goalkeeper’s services.



Sport Witness

Opportunity for West Ham as target face imminent exit – Open door for Hammers



West Ham United have tracked Gonzalo Plata for months now. Links have appeared regularly since late last year. But what once felt like background noise may now be turning into a real opportunity.

In 2025, Plata had a solid role in Flamengo’s squad across competitions. In the Brazilian league alone, he made 28 appearances, scoring 4 goals and adding 1 assist in 1,345 minutes. He missed many games due to injuries, but was one of the first names on the team sheet when available.

Across other competitions, he added 7 Libertadores appearances (0 goals, 2 assists) and 3 Club World Cup games, taking his total involvement well beyond 35 matches. So he remained involved in a Flamengo side that won major trophies during the year.

This season tells a very different story. So far in 2026, Plata has played just 2 league matches, with 125 minutes, 1 goal and no assists. That sharp drop in minutes and influence gives immediate context to what is now happening behind the scenes.

That contrast helps explain why interest from abroad has not disappeared. Even with a quieter spell, his profile still appeals. He offers pace, direct running and defensive work from wide areas.

Those traits have been highlighted in earlier reports linking him to West Ham – especially as a consequence of the Lucas Paquetá deal.

That included informal signals, social media posts and even suggestions of a farewell gathering. Now, fresh reporting gives that situation a much clearer football context.

Situation at Flamengo opens door

Gonzalo Plata is going through his most difficult spell since arriving at Flamengo. Under manager Leonardo Jardim, the winger has lost his place in the squad and is no longer a regular option.

RTI Esporte report that his recent absence against Corinthians was not an isolated decision. Instead, it reflects a wider process happening behind the scenes. There is a perception inside the club that his performances in training have dropped after being left out. In addition, disciplinary concerns have started to weigh heavily.

The report highlights issues such as delays, lack of effort in training and behaviour away from the pitch. Those factors have damaged his standing within the squad. As a result, he now sits at the bottom of the attacking pecking order.

His recent minutes underline that drop. He played 17 minutes against Fluminense, four against Botafogo, and did not feature at all in other matches. He was then left out entirely against Corinthians.

Contract, investment and market value

Despite the situation, Flamengo are not in a rush to cut ties cheaply. Gonzalo Plata remains under contract until August 2029. The club invested €9m (£7.7m) to sign him in 2024, so there is a clear need to recover value.

However, the stance has softened. RTI Esporte state that Flamengo would now consider offers. The player is no longer viewed as untouchable. Given his age, 25, and international experience with Ecuador, the belief is that there is still a market abroad.

Leonardo Jardim also addressed the situation directly. He made it clear the issue goes beyond pure football.

“It is a player who is having difficulties with integration, a broad integration. At this moment, to play for Flamengo, you need to be well integrated. You need concentration, attitude and strong physical commitment to fight for results.”

Why this matters for West Ham

For West Ham, this could be the moment where months of loose links finally align with reality. The club have looked at attacking reinforcements, especially profiles that bring intensity and defensive work from wide areas.

Plata fits that description. Earlier reports highlighted his ability to press and recover possession high up the pitch, with averages close to three ball recoveries per match.

More importantly, his situation has changed. What was once a difficult deal is now far more realistic. Flamengo are open to discussions, the player has lost his place, and external interest is building again.

Add in the background noise involving Lucas Paquetá, and the wider picture becomes even more interesting.

What happens next

Gonzalo Plata now heads into the next transfer window as one of the most likely departures at Flamengo. The club want a response from the player, but they are also preparing for a potential exit.

For West Ham, the window in the summer could present a clear opportunity. Interest has been there for months. Now, the conditions around the player may finally make a move possible.

Thanks Alan