Arsenal have made an offer to the representatives of Ipswich's English striker Liam Delap, 22, as they seek to sign a supporting forward alongside a more experienced and proven option. (Football Transfers), external
The Gunners have also stepped up talks to extend the contract of France centre-back William Saliba, who has been linked with Real Madrid. The aim is to prevent the 24-year-old leaving for a cheaper price when he has one year left on his deal next summer, or on a free transfer when his contract ends in 2027. (L'Equipe, via Get French Football News), external
The future of Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez, 32, at Aston Villa could be in doubt, with the Midlands club looking to sign a new stopper in the summer transfer window. (Mail), external
Liverpool are ready to sell 28-year-old Greece left-back Kostas Tsimikas this summer. (Football Insider), external
Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all have an interest in Bayer Leverkusen's Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick, 29, this summer. (Caught Offside), external
Chelsea and Liverpool are leading the race to sign Bournemouth and Spain centre-back Dean Huijsen, 20. (Teamtalk), external
Uncertainty around the final verdict of the 115 charges faced by Manchester City could extend into next season, but the club are still planning to spend big in the summer transfer window. (i paper), external
Al-Hilal are waiting for an answer from Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi about the Italian becoming their new manager and, if he turns them down, the Saudi Pro League club could make a move for Fulham's Marco Silva. (Talksport), external
English defender Lloyd Kelly, 26, has made the required number of appearances to turn his loan move from Newcastle United to Juventus into a permanent switch. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentiis has intensified contact with former Juventus and AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri in case manager Antonio Conte leaves the club at the end of the season. (Tutomercatoweb - in Italian), external
Manchester United are keeping tabs on 25-year-old Italy and Fiorentina forward Moise Kean. (Footmercato - in Italian)
Sky Paper Talk
DAILY MAIL
Aston Villa are expected to trade heavily again in the transfer market this summer and will consider offers for Emi Martinez if Unai Emery and his staff believe they can sign a younger alternative of similar ability.
Fulham manager Marco Silva has reportedly informally agreed to take the reins at Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
Flamengo want Arsenal midfielder Jorginho in time for the Club World Cup.
Chelsea's plans to move to a new stadium may have to wait until 2042, owner Todd Boehly has revealed.
THE SUN
Jack Grealish is wanted by Napoli with the Manchester City star open to the transfer to link up with Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour.
Phil Brown has been sacked as Kidderminster Harriers boss in the wake of their National League play-off defeat to Chester on Monday.
Former Premier League goalkeeper Jed Steer has ripped up Peterborough contract for 'personal reasons'.
Manchester United are keeping tabs on Fiorentina star Moise Kean ahead of the summer transfer window.
DAILY EXPRESS
Grim scenes on the streets of Paris marred the build-up to Arsenal's crunch Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has reportedly been offered a lucrative deal by Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.
Ruben Amorim has opened up about transfer speculation surrounding Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
DAILY STAR
Arsenal have started to ramp up contract negotiations with defender William Saliba.
Liverpool have allegedly slapped a price tag on their midfielder Harvey Elliott as the summer transfer window looms.
DAILY MIRROR
Arsene Wenger believes Real Madrid would have been talking to Trent Alexander-Arnold for up to two years before the end of his Liverpool contract.
West Ham are said to be worried about Lucas Paqueta and the toll that the ongoing spot-fixing betting case is currently having on the attacking midfielder after he burst into tears during their recent fixture with Tottenham.
One-time England boss Peter Taylor has made a shock return to management in the seventh tier as boss of Canvey Island, where he started his playing career in the 1960s.
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak has hit back at accusations he robbed Barcelona of a place in the Champions League final against Inter Milan.
Juventus are interested in a transfer for Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund and could offer midfielder Douglas Luiz as a makeweight in the deal.
Bendito Mantato, the youngster who's been dubbed the 'new Bukayo Saka', has signed his first professional contract with Manchester United.
SCOTTISH SUN
Former Rangers chairman Dave King has suggested it could be June before the takeover of the club is completed.
Falkirk have told fans they can donate up to £250 on top of the cost of a season ticket in a bid to bolster John McGlynn's playing budget.
Kasper Schmeichel is winning his battle to be fit for the Scottish Cup final.
Celtic have been running the rule over Finn Harps teenager Gavin McAteer at Lennoxtown this week.
Falkirk are considering challenging the decision to ban artificial pitches from the Scottish Premiership as they prepare to return to the top flight next season.
Former Hibs and Rangers striker Jason Cummings is at the centre of a FIFA transfer ban over his move to India two years ago.
DAILY RECORD
Scott Arfield will get a crack at the Premiership with Falkirk if he wants to, with CEO Jamie Swinney admitting the club would be crazy not to keep him.
Callum McGregor has vowed the Celtic dressing room will protect Arne Engels from his critics as the captain launched an impassioned defence of the club's record signing.
Lennon Miller admits he doesn't know what's around the corner this summer after being crowned PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year.
The Athletic
Adrian interview: ‘I cried when I left Liverpool – I just broke down’
By Roshane Thomas
“I cried when I left Liverpool. I didn’t get a chance to say a proper goodbye to the fans, so I had to make a video on my social media. I was at home with my family and I just broke down after.”
Adrian, the former Liverpool goalkeeper, is reflecting on the moment he told loved ones his five-year spell at Anfield was coming to an end. The 38-year-old, who joined on a free transfer in 2019 from West Ham United, left in July, upon the expiry of his contract, to join Real Betis on a two-year deal. Adrian was at his family home when he revealed the news.
“I felt sorry for my kids because they had spent all of their lives in the UK,” Adrian tells The Athletic. “I had five wonderful seasons there and won all the trophies, except the Champions League. One side of my heart was saying, ‘Come on, I love Liverpool, I love my Scouse people’. It was difficult saying no to Liverpool. It’s hard leaving a place where you feel loved by everyone, but this decision was about me and my family. I had a conversation with Richard Hughes (the sporting director), and they tried to convince me to stay (by offering a one-year extension), but, as I said, this was the right move for me.
“I was aware of Betis’ interest before the end of the season, but it was nothing formal. This is my boyhood club. I played here from the age of 10 until I was 26. All my family support the club, and my brother is a season ticket holder. I enjoyed my time at Liverpool, but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to rejoin the club I love. Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world but this was a decision from my heart.”
Adrian might have felt like he had unfinished business at Betis. He broke into the first-team in the 2012-13 season and made 32 appearances. However, after just one campaign as their first-choice goalkeeper, he left to join West Ham in the summer of 2013. Adrian always knew he would return to the Spanish side, it was just a matter of when.
That opportunity — and a reunion with Manuel Pellegrini, who he worked under at West Ham between 2018-19 — came last summer. This season, Adrian has made 21 appearances and has played a key role in Betis’ push for silverware.
“When I returned to Betis, it felt like I’d never left the club,” says Adrian. “I have that winning mentality from being part of a successful period at Liverpool (winning the Premier League, the EFL Cup, Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup). I told my team-mates, ‘Listen, we have to gain that monster mentality’.
“There’s experienced players in the team like Marc Bartra (the ex-Barcelona defender), Isco (formerly of Real Madrid) and Antony (on loan from Manchester United). Now we are showing we can be one of the top teams in La Liga. We want to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and we’re fighting for the semi-final of the Conference League. We’re enjoying this bright moment.
“I’ve been receiving a lot of vitamin D because of the beautiful weather here! Me and my family adapted well to the rain in England. I travelled to London with my girlfriend, who is now my wife, and two of our wonderful kids grew up in the UK. They were born in Seville but moved to England a month after they were born. The eldest, nine, mostly lived in London, but the youngster, seven, grew up in Liverpool. Now they both have strong Scouse accents. I have a two-and-a-half-year-old, but they have a long way to go. Sometimes members of my family don’t understand them. I still need to work on my Scouse accent!”
When Adrian joined Liverpool he was a backup to Alisson. But weeks after joining, he played an important role in helping Liverpool beat Chelsea in the final of the Super Cup. The encounter in Istanbul went to penalties, and Adrian made the decisive save in a 5-4 shootout victory. He attributes his immediate impact to one thing.
“The goalkeeper position can be difficult, that’s why we’re different animals,” he says. “We’re all fighting for the No 1 position, so it can be tough when you’re not playing. I just tried to always stay ready because you never know when the opportunity will come. This isn’t just about football but also life. The opportunity doesn’t come when you want it to, it comes when you least expect it. When I made my debut for Liverpool (against Norwich City), it happened because Alisson got injured. I played in the Super Cup, saving one of the penalties, and that season we won the Premier League. It brings me joy knowing I was part of that.”
Adrian faced competition from Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher for the No 1 jersey. Alisson had been first-choice since his arrival from Roma in 2018, while Kelleher progressed from the academy. The Republic of Ireland international was later Klopp’s preferred choice when Alisson was unavailable. But it was tough for Adrian transitioning from backup to third choice.
It is why he wants to offer advice to goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Georgia international was Arne Slot’s first signing as Liverpool manager, joining in a deal worth £25million ($33m) plus £4m ($5.3m) in add-ons. The move saw Mamardashvili stay with Valencia in Spain for the remainder of the 2024-25 season before he officially joins Liverpool in July.
“As a player, your role at a football club changes, and you have to learn to adapt,” says Adrian. “But I always made sure I was ready if the manager needed me. I would give Giorgi Mamardashvili the same advice. What he has to remember is, Liverpool have Brazil and the Republic of Ireland’s No 1 goalkeepers. It will be quite difficult for him to play as a No 1, but he’s young and has a lot to learn. We don’t know if he’ll be part of Liverpool’s squad next season, or return to Valencia or another club on loan. But having Alisson in front of you is a good chance to keep learning.
“Something similar happened to me at West Ham. Jussi Jaaskelainen was there after I signed, and in the first few months, I didn’t play. I was thinking, ‘Why did I come here when I’m not even playing? I was No 1 at my old club Real Betis, why have I come here?’. But then I realised that period of watching Jaaskelainen helped me as well.
“I gained that extra hunger from not playing, and I noted how I could improve on what Jaaskelainen was doing. Footballers can be selfish, we want to play all the time, but that isn’t always possible. So Mamardashvili just needs to remain patient and be prepared because at some point his time will come.”
Adrian is discussing his best moments in England, which leads us to his six-year spell at West Ham. He says his winning penalty in the FA Cup third round shootout victory over Everton in 2015 is high on that list. He remains grateful to West Ham for giving him a chance to play in the Premier League. Sam Allardyce, the then-manager, and his backroom staff travelled to Spain to scout Adrian before his arrival in July 2013.
Adrian, who played under Allardyce, Slaven Bilic, David Moyes and Pellegrini, made 150 appearances in all competitions during his time at the club. But in the summer of 2019, he turned down a three-year contract to join Liverpool. He wanted a fresh start.
“It felt like my chapter at West Ham was coming to an end,” says Adrian. “That’s how life goes sometimes, but I will never stop thanking West Ham for giving me an opportunity. I enjoyed working under Moyes and found him to be a good manager. He was very honest, and it wasn’t an easy time when he was manager.
“There was Joe Hart, so there was competition for places but Moyes still trusted me. I’m happy that he was able to have success there after I left. The club has a big gap to grow and it’s not always about having the best players. Sometimes you have to trust the manager and the process so they can get the best out of the team. Look at Manuel Pellegrini, he was doubted a lot and now Real Betis have grown a lot under him.”
There is a strong West Ham connection to Betis with Adrian, Pellegrini and Pablo Fornals having previous links to the club. Fornals remains a popular figure despite leaving London in February 2024, as Adrian explains.
“Pablito also played a role in me joining Real Betis,” says the Spaniard. “We didn’t have a chance to play together at West Ham but we have many friends in common. He’s a good guy and it’s great to see how loved he is by West Ham fans. I could see it from afar when I played for Liverpool. West Ham fans appreciate players who work hard and fight for the team, and that was Pablo. They will love him forever.
“He’s versatile and always puts the team first. West Ham fans came here when we played Atletico Madrid. They brought the Hammers flag and kept singing, ‘Pablo, we love you’. They love me too but Pablo edges it a bit more!
“He probably didn’t want to leave West Ham, and it was tough for me saying no to Liverpool. But joining Betis has worked out well for both of us.”
(Top photo: Peter Byrne/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
ole.com
Rodrigo Huescas, convicted in Denmark, is interested in a legendary Premier League club.
In a time of uncertainty, the Mexican full-back was linked with a major English club. Will he leave Copenhagen for London?
Rodrigo Huescas's name has been in the news a lot in recent weeks. And not because of football, but because of the possibility of going to prison in Denmark after violating traffic laws. Despite this, his performance at Copenhagen continues to stand out. So much so that in recent hours he has been linked with a historic Premier League team.
"Huescas was found guilty today of reckless driving by the Copenhagen Municipal Court. This means his driver's license has been revoked, his car has been impounded, he will be fined, and he will have to serve 20 days in unconditional prison," the Danish club announced last Monday.
But beyond the news, the Mexican felt a sigh of relief after it was confirmed that, at least, he won't face disciplinary sanctions within the club. And more importantly, he no longer faces the risk of deportation.
As if that weren't enough, another big development has shaken up the former Cruz Azul player's entourage. It turns out that after his performance in the derby against Brondby last Sunday, a historic Premier League team has put his name on the list for next season.
The Premier League team that wants Rodrigo Huescas
The interested club is none other than Edson Álvarez's West Ham. After a season to forget, the Hammers, managed by Graham Potter, are looking to renew their squad, and the Mexican could be part of that plan.
Although his name had been closely followed for months, his recent performance in the 3-0 win over Brondby was the one that finally convinced the English side. Although, now free of deportation, he is enjoying a good run with the Danish team, an offer from the Premier League could change his future.
It's worth noting that since arriving at Copenhagen in July 2024 from Cruz Azul, he has played 30 matches, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
Huescas apologizes for violating traffic regulations
"I'm very sorry for what happened. I know I did something potentially dangerous and very wrong. I apologize again and deeply regret all the negative consequences this has caused. I can see what this has done to my family and the uncertainty the situation has created. It hurts me to know that I have put my loved ones at risk because of this," the footballer said days before the sentencing.