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Parma have reportedly rejected a €35 million offer for rising star Giovanni Leoni amid links with Liverpool.

• Liverpool linked with Parma starlet
• Italian side reject €35m offer
• Defender favours stay in Serie A

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Corriere dello Sport, via Tutto Mercato, Parma have received a bid of around €35m (£30m) for the 18-year-old defender from an unnamed Premier League outfit. The Serie A team have turned down the offer as the centre-back is said to want to stay in Italian football, with the teenager favouring a move to Inter Milan.

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  The 6ft 5in youngster is highly rated in Italy, with many likening him to Inter ace Alessandro Bastoni. If a Premier League side has forked out £30m to try and sign him, that indicates that clubs are very excited about his future. The former Padova man only joined Parma from Sampdoria a year ago for €5m so his value has already shot up.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Leoni, whose contract with Parma runs until 2029, made 17 appearances for the Italian team last season, scoring one goal in the process. The Italy Under-19 international, who has also been linked with Tottenham, can play at centre-back and right-back.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The report adds that while Leoni wants an Inter move, the Italian giants will need to sell players before they can fork out £30m for his services. The big defender may, therefore, need to be patient before he gets his dream transfer.

Estevao Willian has revealed he will wear the No.41 shirt at Chelsea, with the Brazilian wonderkid gearing up for his Blues debut.

• Talented teenager has completed transfer
• Excited by new challenge in the Premier League
• Sticking with shirt number worn at Palmeiras

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A Premier League transfer for the South American youngster was announced in June 2024. He has had to wait over a year before completing a switch to Stamford Bridge, passing his 18th birthday and gracing the FIFA Club World Cup along the way.

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  Estevao, who has been dubbed Messinho (Little Messi) in his homeland, is finally a Blues player and is looking forward to opening an exciting new chapter in his career. His new squad number has been confirmed.

  The No.41 at Chelsea has not been filled since 2018-19, when Ola Aina graced that jersey. Dominic Solanke, who is now on the books at Tottenham, wore it prior to that – with Estevao sticking with the number he wore with distinction after bursting onto the scene at Palmeiras.

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  WHAT ESTEVAO SAID

  Estevao has told Chelsea’s of arriving in English football: “I am very happy, it feels very rewarding to represent Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I am very happy and I hope to help the team in the best way possible.

  “I had almost a year-and-a-half to wait until I arrived here. But it has been a year and a half that I have worked hard and have done my best to get here in the best shape possible. I am very, very excited. It is a new experience in my life, a new stage. I am looking forward to it and hope that it will go as well as possible.”

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes Chelsea have failed to upgrade their squad ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, despite the Blues spending over £243m ($324m) in the summer transfer window. The Premier League giants have made six new additions thus far, including attackers like Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, while Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian has joined the team.

• Carragher criticised Chelsea's transfer activity
• Liverpool icon claimed Blues failed to upgrade their squad
• Chelsea have spent more than £243m in the summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea have been on a spending spree since the summer transfer window opened. After securing a Champions League slot in his maiden campaign at Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca wanted to rebuild the squad and the club has since signed six new players. Delap was the first player to sign for the Blues this summer from Ipswich Town, while Pedro and Jamie Gittens soon followed.

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  Despite spending heavily, the Blues have received criticism from former Liverpool and England defender Carragher, who feels that the west London club have failed to 'lift the level' of their squad ahead of the new season.

• WHAT CARRAGHER SAID

  Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by , the pundit said: "When I look at Chelsea, I think about what you did in the Club World Cup – everyone wanted to win it; Real Madrid really wanted to win, PSG did, and so did Manchester City, all those that we class as the best teams – so I do think it’s a big thing and it will help build a connection between Enzo Maresca and the supporters, which wasn’t really there last season. 

  "I’m not sure it’ll push Chelsea any closer to the title though. When Chelsea do [transfer] business, over the last couple of years, it feels like a lot of players are changing without anyone really lifting the level. I know Cole Palmer has been amazing, but all your wingers feel the same. A perfect example is [Jamie] Gittens coming in and Madueke leaving – there is no elevation, and I see that with a lot of positions at Chelsea."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  The Club World Cup winners are not done with their transfer business in the summer window as they are now looking to sign Dutch attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. The Blues will kick off the new season on August 17 against Crystal Palace at home.

Eden Hazard has joked that former bosses Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte are going to “kill” him after hitting the gym hard for a charity game.

• Belgian favoured fun over hard work
• Retired at the age of 32
• Now figures in exhibition matches

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ex-Belgium international Hazard earned a reputation during his playing days for avoiding hard work behind the scenes. He openly admitted as much, with the tricky playmaker all about having fun on and off the pitch.

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  Training was not really his scene, with natural ability allowing him to flourish at Chelsea – where he worked with Mourinho and Conte – before seeing his career come off the rails somewhat at Real Madrid.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Hazard retired in October 2023 at 32 years of age. He has lined up in exhibition games since then, including the ‘Icon Match’. That event is returning in 2025, with games taking place at Seoul World Cup Stadium in mid-September.

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres endured a frustrating Premier League debut at Old Trafford as the £64 million ($87m) summer signing failed to register a single shot during his side’s 1-0 win over Manchester United. The Swedish forward saw his 69-match streak of attempting at least one effort in league games come to an end during a dull outing in front of goal despite Arsenal sealing all three points.

• Gyokeres fails to record a shot in Premier League debut
• £64m striker ends remarkable 69-game streak
• Arteta urges patience as new forward adapts

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Gyokeres, who arrived from Sporting CP this summer, was handed his first Premier League start for Arsenal but struggled to make an attacking impact. He did not manage a single shot throughout the match against United, a statistic he had avoided in every league game since April 2023 at Coventry City, as per the . Despite his struggles, Arsenal still found a way to grind out a crucial win on the opening weekend as Riccardo Calafiori scored the winner.

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  Mikel Arteta’s men were second-best for large spells as United dominated possession and chances, but Arsenal showed resilience to hold out. Gyokeres’ lack of involvement raised early questions, although Arteta stressed it will take time to integrate him fully into the system.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The former Coventry star had 21 touches, completed just four of nine passes, and just three of his touches came in the opposition’s penalty area. Gyokeres' Premier League debut came to an end on the hour mark, with Kai Havertz brought on to replace him.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GYOKERES?

  Arsenal will hope to see a more involved Gyokeres when they return to action, when they take on Leeds United at the Emirates on Saturday, August 23. Patience will be required as the £64m striker adjusts to the rigours of the Premier League, but early goals will help ease the pressure.

Xabi Alonso surprisingly omitted new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold from Real Madrid's starting lineup against Real Oviedo in their second La Liga match of the new season as veteran Spanish full-back Dani Carvajal returned to the lineup. Another new signing, Franco Mastantuono was handed his first start, while Rodrygo was slotted into the attack, despite reported transfer interest from Manchester City.

• Alexander-Arnold benched against Real Oviedo
• Carvajal starts in the right-back position 
• Rodrygo also features in starting lineup

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After starting in his La Liga debut against Osasuna last week, former Liverpool star Alexander-Arnold found himself on the bench in Real Madrid's second game of the La Liga season against Real Oviedo on Sunday evening. Alonso decided to hand the right-back slot to seasoned campaigner Carvajal in a surprise call.

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  Rodrygo did not feature at all against Osasuna despite being in the matchday squad, which fuelled speculation regarding his future at Santiago Bernabeu. The Brazilian is being tipped to leave the club amid reported interest from Premier League giants Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal. Alonso, however, has put the Selecao star in his starting lineup against Oviedo, with Vinicius Junior and Brahim Diaz also dropping to the bench alongside Alexander-Arnold.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Argentine prodigy Mastantuono has been handed his maiden Los Blancos start as the 18-year-old featured in the attack, alongside Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MADRID?

  Following the clash with Oviedo, Alonso's side will begin planning for a home fixture against Mallorca on August 30, marking their final outing before the international break. Madrid are due to take in a trip to Real Sociedad in their first game back on September 14.

Arsenal midfielders Albert Sambi Lokonga and Fabio Vieira are in line for surprise moves to the Bundesliga with Hamburg close to wrapping up deals.

• Hamburg finalising deals for Gunners duo
• Vieira loan includes a €20m option
• Both spent last season out on loan

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hamburg are set to complete a surprise double swoop for Arsenal midfielders Vieira and Sambi, according to reports from and . Vieira is expected to join the Bundesliga side on loan for the season, while Lokonga will reportedly make a permanent switch.

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  The move sees Arsenal offload two players who have failed to establish themselves at the Emirates Stadium. Vieira, who joined from FC Porto for €35 million (£30m/$41m) in 2022, spent last season back on loan at his former club after struggling for minutes and undergoing groin surgery. Similarly, Lokonga, a €17.5m (£15m/$21m) signing from Anderlecht in 2021, was on loan at Sevilla last term, where his campaign was disrupted by thigh injuries.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  As part of the loan agreement for Vieira, Hamburg have reportedly secured an option to make the transfer permanent for a fee of €20m (£17m/$23m).

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Both players are reportedly scheduled to undergo medicals to finalise their respective transfers. The deals will continue Arsenal's efforts to trim their squad of fringe players. For Hamburg, the double signing represents a significant boost to their midfield options as they look to integrate the duo into their squad for the season ahead. 

Lamine Yamal is delighted to see Alexis Sanchez back in La Liga after the ex-Barcelona star sealed a late free transfer to Sevilla.

• Yamal discusses the transfer window
• Happy to see Sanchez return to La Liga
• Chilean joins Sevilla after Udinese exit

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Yamal has described the former Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester United ace's return to La Liga after 11 years as "a beautiful thing", with Sanchez signing for Sevilla in a surprise deadline day move. The Barcelona youngster, referencing Sanchez's return, spoke about the positive side of deadline day while discussing the transfer window. 

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  Sanchez shot to fame during his three-year spell at the Camp Nou between 2011 and 2014, winning six trophies and scoring 47 goals in 141 games. He was then signed by Arsenal, where he enjoyed perhaps the best years of his career. The Chilean scored 80 goals in only 166 games across three-and-a-half seasons. However, it was his move to United where his career started to decline. During his 18-month spell at Old Trafford, Sanchez could garner only 45 games, tallying a paltry figure of five goals. In the years since, he has played for Inter, Marseille and Udinese.

• WHAT LAMINE YAMAL SAID

  "I've always liked it because strange last-minute signings like Alexis Sanchez's move to Sevilla come about," Yamal told when asked about the transfer period. "I like that movement; it's a beautiful thing in football, and I'm glad these things happen. As long as they don't happen to my team where we all stay, I'll be happy."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ALEXIS SANCHEZ?

  With the Chile international set to turn 37 this year, the move to Sevilla could potentially be his swansong in Europe's top five leagues. He will reunite with the Catalans on October 5 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

The Santos forward was left out of Carlo Ancelotti’s latest list for technical reasons, a decision that has sparked debate

• Ancelotti says he wants to evaluate other players
• Brazil has already booked its ticket to the 2026 World Cup
• They face Chile and Bolivia to close out qualifiers

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  legend Ronaldinho has spoken out in favor of Neymar’s return to the Brazilian national team after head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed he had deliberately left the forward out of his latest squad.

  “I believe it’s only a matter of time. It’s Ney – there’s no turning back. He’ll soon be back with us, helping Brazil win the World Cup again,” said the 2002 World Champion.

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  WHAT RONALDINHO SAID

  Despite calling for Neymar’s comeback, Ronaldinho also offered words of support for Ancelotti, recalling their shared time at AC Milan. 

  “He only just arrived. I worked with him in Milan – he’s a successful coach, full of experience. I wish him the best, and I hope he can guide Brazil back to the very top,” he said.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Neymar has not featured for Brazil since October 2023, when a serious knee injury sidelined him for a year. Although called up by Dorival Júnior in 2025, fitness issues kept him out of action. Ancelotti explained his current omission by stressing that, with Brazil already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, he preferred to test new options. 

  “This squad is about seeing players I don’t know as well. Even though I know their technical ability, I want to see others who can contribute to the national team,” the coach said.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BRAZIL NATIONAL TEAM?

  Brazil will host Chile on Thursday before finishing their CONMEBOL qualifying campaign away to Bolivia next Tuesday.

Surely he remembers Adelaide when he carried them almost all alone? He is desperate to avoid a repeat

Sidharth Monga in Centurion15-Jan-2018He smashes his pad with his bat or throws it down every time he sees a wicket fall. He is applauding every time his batting partner hits a four. He is sledging Dean Elgar. He is berating his own bowler for bowling a full toss, which means he can’t sledge Elgar. He is jumping around for his century, and then aborting the celebration to take the overthrow. He is fighting the umpires, he is fighting the match referee. He is livid with his wicketkeeper for not going for a catch. He is not even looking at him; he might want to cause bodily harm if he does. He is jumping up and down every time an offbreak doesn’t turn, every time the ball hits even centimetres to the right of the middle of the bat.This day is all about Virat Kohli. The camera cannot afford to look away. Forget Kohli Cam in India, we need one here in Centurion. Not many are comfortable performing with all the attention on them. Kohli craves it. This is the day he knows he is carrying the team. This is Kohli against South Africa even though South Africa feel they are playing in India and not at home because of the slow pitch. Surely he remembers Adelaide when he carried them almost all alone? He is desperate to avoid a repeat.There is some support from R Ashwin; but a man who is fast acquiring reputation for his good temperament then does something silly. Hardik Pandya is run out with his foot and bat inside the crease but in the air. Kohli might burst a vein. He is livid when Ashwin plays the kind of shot he was himself applauding not long ago. It doesn’t make sense. Are other batsmen – lower-order ones, mind you – not allowed to get out?Not much is about sense in Kohli’s effort. He batted for only 40% of the balls India face, 43% since he came to the wicket. Yet he has scored half of India’s runs, 55% of those that come when he is at the wicket. They have looked to drag him wide because there is no movement available but Kohli has found a way to reach them and take full toll every time they bowl straight. He has played the same shots that got him in trouble in Cape Town, but he has pulled them off. Slow pitch or not, 153 out of 307 when the opposition has successfully denied you strike is a big effort. And he has done this at a strike rate of over 70.Kohli has made mistakes on this tour – with selections, with fielding – but this innings and this day is a play in isolation. He has the conditions but also he has the will and the grit to not throw it away. This is India’s best chance to win a Test, he knows that. The memo doesn’t seem to have been sent to the rest of the batting unit. So Kohli has taken it upon himself. It’s a rare zone he has batted in. Almost as if he is making up for every selection error, for that dropped catch. It is almost as if Kohli wants to score the runs Ajinkya Rahane might have scored, make up for the easy runs Mohammed Shami has conceded, compensate for the runs that have been given away thanks to poor fielding in the slips. He knows it can’t be accomplished, we know it can’t be accomplished, but when Kohli is on the field, he is making South Africa fight for every inch of the advantage.Kohli might have yet to pass the conditions test, but he can play situations all right. He might not be the most astute tactician as a captain, but he is showing he can lead from the front. If India manage to win this Test, Kohli’s celebrations will be something to behold. If India don’t, he will be devastated, and he will not bother hiding it.