Details: According to authoritative insider David Ornstein, the Nottingham club have submitted an official offer for 30-year-old Colombian Crystal Palace defender Daniel Munoz.

The potential transfer fee could reach £22 million. The structure of the offer includes a guaranteed £20 million upfront payment, plus a further £2 million in bonuses. Crystal Palace's hierarchy are currently assessing the proposal and deciding on the player's future.

It is worth noting that the Colombian has represented Crystal Palace since January 2024, and his current contract runs until the summer of 2028. Authoritative website Transfermarkt currently values the player at €22 million.

Nottingham Forest have made an offer worth up to £22m for Crystal Palace wing-back Daniel Munoz.The offer, which involves a £20m initial fee and a further £2m in add-ons, is now being considered by Palace.More from @David_Ornstein ⬇️https://t.co/qxbiUNhPMp

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) August 27, 2026

As a reminder: Official! Chelsea star completes blockbuster move to Nottingham Forest

Details: According to Fabrizio Romano, RC Strasbourg have agreed a deal to sign Oso from Sevilla, here we go. The transfer is done at €10 million plus a 10% sell-on clause, the green light has been given to the move and formal steps will follow. The agreement between the clubs was first reported by Gonzalo Tortosa.

• Also read: The opponents are still unbeaten this season. Alavés vs Villarreal match prediction

Oso, full name Joaquín Martínez Gauna, is a 23-year-old left-back from Torrevieja who only broke into Sevilla's first team in January 2026 and instantly became one of their brightest discoveries. In the 2025/26 La Liga season he made 21 appearances with two goals and three assists, and he has started the new campaign in style too, registering a goal and an assist in the opening two rounds. Comfortable further up the flank as a winger as well, he had attracted enquiries from Newcastle and Nottingham Forest earlier this summer, while Olympiacos explored a move in recent days. Sevilla, under financial pressure and unable to match his wage expectations with his contract running until June 2027, ultimately chose to cash in. For Strasbourg, owned by the BlueCo group that also controls Chelsea, this is another ambitious move in a busy summer that has already brought defender Karim Coulibaly from Werder Bremen for €20 million and striker Deivid Washington from Chelsea. Under Gary O'Neil, the Alsatians are clearly building a squad meant to challenge near the top of Ligue 1.

🟥🔵⚪️ RC Strasbourg agree deal to sign Oso from Sevilla, here we go!Deal done at €10m plus 10% sell-on clause. Green light to the move.Formal steps to follow — after @GonzaloTortosa.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

The Spaniard is expected to travel to France shortly to complete the formalities before the window shuts. It's worth noting that Strasbourg are paying exactly his current Transfermarkt valuation of €10 million, and Sevilla will keep 10% of any future sale, a clause that could prove valuable if Oso's rapid rise continues in France.

Reminder: Face-to-face at peak tension! Barcelona and Atlético chiefs set for awkward Monaco meeting.

Jack Grealish is once again set to change clubs and return to the Toffees.

Details: According to authoritative insider Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City winger Jack Grealish is in advanced talks over a return to Everton. Sunderland had previously been linked with the 30-year-old, but the insider stressed that the club is not involved in the current negotiations.

At the same time, Manchester City have proposed a potential deal structure that would see Senegalese winger Iliman Ndiaye move to the Etihad. The Citizens are interested in the 26-year-old and are prepared to discuss a swap deal involving the two players.

Ndiaye himself is determined to continue his career in England. This summer, the Senegal international rejected two lucrative offers from clubs in Saudi Arabia, as his priority remains playing in the Premier League.

It is worth noting that during the 2025/26 season, Jack Grealish already played for Everton on loan, making 20 Premier League appearances, scoring two goals and providing six assists. According to Transfermarkt, Iliman Ndiaye's current market value is €50 million.

Lamine Sy has won the trust of the AJ Auxerre management, who have decided to secure his long-term future with the club. The Ligue 1 side has officially announced the contract extension for its 24-year-old right-back. He is now under contract with Auxerre until June 2030.

“AJ Auxerre is delighted to announce the contract extension of Lamine Sy, who is now tied to the club until June 2030. ”

This extension recognises Lamine Sy’s performances last season. In his first Ligue 1 campaign for AJ Auxerre, Lamine Sy made 25 appearances.

The right-back scored his first Ligue 1 goal last weekend during AJ Auxerre’s 5–2 defeat to Lens on the opening day of the season.

✍️ 𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐚̀ 𝐥’𝐀𝐉𝐀 🔵⚪️L’AJ Auxerre est ravie d’annoncer la prolongation de contrat de son latéral droit, désormais lié avec le club jusqu’en juin 2️⃣0️⃣3️⃣0️⃣👉 https://t.co/o8BrIAb7aO #TeamAJA pic.twitter.com/pZrr6w7b1f

— AJ Auxerre (@AJA) August 27, 2026

Details: According to Fabrizio Romano, citing the authoritative publication TeleFootball, Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with Aston Villa over the transfer of 33-year-old Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

The compensation fee for the permanent transfer will be £7.5 million. The Argentine goalkeeper gave the green light to a move to London yesterday, while today the two clubs have finally agreed all the terms of the deal.

It is worth noting that during the 2025/26 season, the goalkeeper represented Aston Villa. According to authoritative website Transfermarkt, the current market value of the 33-year-old Argentina international is €12 million.

🚨💣 BREAKING: Chelsea reach verbal agreement to sign Emiliano Martínez, HERE WE GO! 🔵🇦🇷Club to club agreement with Aston Villa on fee worth £7.5m for permanent move.Dibu gave green light to #CFC yesterday and clubs agreed on terms today, as @TeleFootball reported. pic.twitter.com/YXs62PwB2s

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

Reminder: Is the endgame near? Enzo Fernandez surprisingly left out of Chelsea squad

Details: The Bundesliga and EA SPORTS FC officially announced the extension of their long-term partnership at Gamescom in Cologne on August 27. The EAFC 27 News account claims the exclusive deal runs until 2034 and is worth €250 million, though the official announcements did not disclose any figures or duration.

• Also read: Serie A match: Milan vs Venezia, game preview for August 28

The partnership between the German league and the American publisher dates all the way back to 1998, making it one of the longest standing collaborations in global sports and entertainment. Under the renewed agreement, Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs, players and stadiums will continue to appear across EA SPORTS FC 27, FC Mobile and FC Online, while EA remains the presenting partner of the league's Player of the Month and Player of the Season awards and a longtime backer of the Virtual Bundesliga, the official EA SPORTS FC PRO competition. Bayern legend Bastian Schweinsteiger attended the announcement in Cologne as guest of honour, and EA SPORTS FC senior vice president Nick Wlodyka underlined the scale of the bond: "For nearly three decades, our partnership with the Bundesliga has brought German football closer to millions of players around the world." The previous extension, signed in January 2024, ran until at least 2027. The commercial logic is clear: EA SPORTS FC 26 was the best selling video game in Europe in 2025, topping the annual charts in 16 of the 17 countries tracked by GfK Entertainment and selling close to two million copies in the UK alone. Bayern Munich also hold a separate multi-year partnership with EA, with Jamal Musiala gracing the cover of FC 26.

🟥 EA and Bundesliga just extended their EXCLUSIVE partnership to 2034 for €250mConfirmed licensing until FC 35 🔥

— EAFC 27 News (@FC27News_) August 27, 2026

The announcement lands on the eve of the new domestic season, which promises a fresh wave of interest in German football both on the pitch and on screen. It's worth noting that the Bundesliga kicks off its 2026/27 campaign this Friday, August 28, with champions Bayern hosting Stuttgart in the opening match.

Reminder: Official: Milan star joins Bundesliga powerhouse.

The deal will see Adidas provide financial support as well as official playing kits and equipment for Nigeria’s national teams as part of efforts to boost the commercial value of Nigerian football.

Former NFF president Ibrahim Gusau disclosed the agreement on Thursday in Abuja, confirming that the contract had been finalised and signed.

The Super Eagles’ official page also confirmed the partnership, revealing details of the agreement.

Under the new deal, Adidas will provide $4.5 million in cash and $4 million worth of equipment and kits for Nigeria’s national teams.

The partnership will begin following the expiration of Nigeria’s current contract with Nike, bringing an end to the existing kit arrangement.

🇳🇬🤝🏽 The NFF have agreed a new deal with Adidas worth $8.5m annually.The partnership will provide $4.5m in cash and $4m worth of equipment and kits for Nigeria’s national teams, following the end of the current Nike contract. pic.twitter.com/fZTCwWz1zL

— Soar Africa! (@SSE_NGA) August 27, 2026

Details: The Champions League league phase draw took place in Monaco today, pitting some of the world's top clubs against each other in the battle for the biggest prize in club football from the very first stage of the competition.

Some fans believe the tournament's new format seriously undermines its entertainment value, while another group of supporters remain absolutely thrilled.

Among the happiest and most confident, of course, are Real Madrid fans, who believe their team received an easy draw:

“Europe League group but eh, we have to play everyone against everyone”

Galacticos supporters are convinced that their team will have no problems during the league phase:

“No excuses, this year we absolutely must finish in the top 8. Game by game but without getting overly confident. ¡Hala Madrid!”

Manchester United fans admit that matches against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid will be a very serious test, but they remain optimistic.

However, some Red Devils supporters are sounding the alarm over the team's defensive line and are urging the club's hierarchy to strengthen the squad urgently in the final days of the transfer window.

There were also plenty of jokes aimed at Chelsea, who once again failed to qualify for the Champions League this season.

Meanwhile, fans in Paris are taking the upcoming matches very seriously.

As for Barcelona, their page on X turned into absolute chaos after Galatasaray fans descended on it.

Galatasaray supporters are eagerly awaiting the Catalans at their stadium and are promising to create a real hell for Hansi Flick's side.

Many are also looking forward to Barcelona's clash with PSG because of Ferran Torres, who will now face his former club.

Meanwhile, fans of surprise Azerbaijani side Sabah took the draw results with a sense of humour.

They believe it will be a great honour for many of Europe's top clubs to play in Azerbaijan:

“At the very least, if the matches were in Masazir, Barcelona would have got stuck in a traffic jam in Masazir and would have been a bit tired before the match. Good luck, Morning!”

Eight matchdays are scheduled for the Champions League group stage:

Matchday 1: 8–10 September 2026Matchday 2: 13–14 October 2026Matchday 3: 20–21 October 2026Matchday 4: 3–4 November 2026Matchday 5: 24–25 November 2026Matchday 6: 8–9 December 2026Matchday 7: 19–20 January 2027Matchday 8: 27 January 2027

Details: According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Reiss Nelson has agreed to terminate his Arsenal contract by mutual consent and leaves as a free agent. His deal ran until June 2027 with an option for a further year. Arsenal have officially confirmed the 26-year-old winger's departure.

• Also read: Serie A match: Milan vs Venezia, game preview for August 28

Nelson is a pure product of the Arsenal academy: he joined the club as a kid, signed his first professional contract in December 2016 and went on to make 90 senior appearances, scoring eight goals and providing nine assists. With the Gunners he won the FA Cup in 2020 and the Community Shield in 2017 and 2020. In recent years, though, his career turned into a string of loans: Hoffenheim in 2018/19, where he scored seven goals in 23 Bundesliga matches, then Feyenoord in 2021/22, Fulham in 2024/25 and Brentford last season, where he managed just 14 appearances. According to The Athletic, the winger is attracting interest from clubs in England and abroad and will assess his options before choosing the next step, while Transfermarkt values him at €8 million. For the reigning Premier League champions this is part of a broader attacking reshuffle: Gabriel Jesus is no longer training with the first team and is also expected to leave before the window closes. Arsenal, who lifted the Community Shield after beating Manchester City earlier this month, visit Aston Villa on Sunday.

🟥🟥| BREAKING: Reiss Nelson agrees to TERMINATE his Arsenal contract by mutual consent, leaving as a free agent. 👋🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿[@David_Ornstein]

— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) August 27, 2026

The London club will not receive a penny for a player whose contract still had up to two years to run, but they offload his wages and give him the chance to play regularly. It's worth noting that Nelson wrote one of the most dramatic pages of Arsenal's recent history: in March 2023 his strike in the 97th minute sealed a wild 3:2 win over Bournemouth in the heat of the title race.

Reminder: Arteta confirms it! Arsenal forward is leaving the club.

Group B of the WAFU B tournament, taking place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, is playing its matchday 2 on 27 August. However, the first match, between Edo Queens of Nigeria and ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast, has already produced its result.

The Edo Queens women’s side emerged victorious against their Ivorian opponents. Oluwakemi Adegbyi opened the scoring in the 23rd minute to give Edo Queens a 1-0 lead. ️Dooshima Tarnum doubled the lead before half-time. She found the back of the net in the 41st minute, taking the score to 2-0.

The Nigerians sealed their victory late in the second half. Oluebube Umajiaku scored Edo Queens’ third goal in the 89th minute. ASEC Mimosas salvaged some pride by scoring a consolation goal to make it 3–1.

This is the second defeat for the Ivorians, who had already lost 1-0 to Ampem Darkoa in their opening match. Edo Queens, meanwhile, have secured a second consecutive victory and remain top of Group B.

🎯 Goal Alert GOOOAAALLL! 🚨89 minutes Oluebube umajiaku makes it 3 🔥 Edo Queens 3 vs 1 ASec mimosa Ivory Coast 🇨🇮 Adaaa EdoQueens 👑❤️💛 pic.twitter.com/xxnE6D6srU

— Edo Queens FC (@EdoQueensFC) August 27, 2026

Details: Atletico Madrid CEO and majority shareholder Miguel Angel Gil Marin gave a very firm response to rumours of a possible departure for Argentine striker Julian Alvarez in an interview with Movistar.

The Madrid club executive stressed that Atletico are extremely unhappy with Barcelona's actions and have no intention of holding any negotiations with the Catalan club. According to Gil Marin, the Colchoneros are hoping to keep the forward, but are prepared to consider alternative options should he wish to leave the team — though only outside Catalonia.

"I dream of Julian staying at Atletico if that is what he wants. We will look for an alternative if he wants to leave the club, but never Barcelona," the Madrid club's CEO said.

It is worth noting that during the 2025/26 season, the Argentine forward made 29 La Liga appearances for Atletico Madrid, scoring eight goals and providing four assists. Authoritative website Transfermarkt values the 26-year-old striker at €120 million.

🚨💣 BREAKING! Atlético Madrid CEO Gil confirms Atlético being OPEN to selling Julián Álvarez — but not to Barcelona.“My dream is for Julián to stay at Atleti if he wants to”.“We'll look for an ALTERNATIVE if he wants to leave the club, but NEVER Barcelona”, told Movistar. pic.twitter.com/9GzYqVce4y

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

As a reminder: Villa's bold promise: Atlético dream of a home Champions League final

Details: Star Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez has been left out of Chelsea's squad for today's second-round EFL Cup match against Luton Town. The player was not even named on the bench, sparking a wave of discussion among fans and the sports media. The situation appears particularly telling in light of comments made yesterday by Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso, who openly assured reporters during his pre-match press conference that the midfielder had been training well and would definitely feature in the game.

The unexpected absence of the 25-year-old midfielder has only fuelled rumours of a possible departure before the transfer window closes. In recent days, Manchester City have shown strong interest in the player, with their manager Enzo Maresca well acquainted with the Argentine's abilities from their time working together at Stamford Bridge. According to insider reports, the Citizens are preparing an offer worth around £120 million, while the player himself is open to the move.

Rayan Fofana is set to move to another Ligue 1 club. With limited opportunities at RC Lens due to competition for places, the 20-year-old striker has no shortage of suitors.

He has attracted interest from several clubs in France and across Europe. Nevertheless, Rayan Fofana is reported to have chosen Le Havre to continue his development.

According to the French press, the Ivorian-born player is set to be loaned out by RC Lens to Le Havre for the 2026–2027 season without a buy-out clause.

The two Ligue 1 clubs are expected to finalise the deal for Rayan Fofana before the summer transfer window closes. If the loan move goes through, Rayan Fofana will leave Lens and experience a new environment.

The 20-year-old striker made a name for himself last season with several goals. Rayan Fofana scored five goals and provided one assist for RC Lens.

🚨💙🇫🇷🇨🇮 #Ligue1 |🔐 Lens et Le Havre doivent finaliser dans les prochains jours le prêt de Rayan Fofana.🤝 L’attaquant lensois était courtisé par de nombreux clubs français et étrangers. pic.twitter.com/JUE4AeiyGI

— Santi Aouna (@Santi_J_FM) August 27, 2026

Details: According to Fabrizio Romano, Napoli made contact with Newcastle over the last 24 hours to ask about Nick Woltemade's availability on a loan deal. The Serie A champions also have an easier option in Chelsea striker Marc Guiu, and the decision now rests with Newcastle.

• Also read: Serie A match: Milan vs Venezia, game preview for August 28

The interest from Naples does not come out of nowhere. Woltemade, 24, only joined Newcastle in the summer of 2025 from Stuttgart for a club record fee of around €75 million, but his debut season in England did not go to plan, and reports this week claimed the German striker is unhappy and open to a fresh start after just one year. Newcastle tied the towering forward down until June 2031, and Transfermarkt currently values him at €55 million. Napoli, meanwhile, are reshaping their attack after winning the Serie A title: Romelu Lukaku has left for Fenerbahce, Rasmus Højlund's move from Manchester United was made permanent for €44 million, and Massimiliano Allegri wants another striker to rotate with the Dane. Marc Guiu, the 20-year-old Chelsea forward who spent last season on loan at Sunderland, remains the priority, with the Italians reportedly ready to pay around €16 million, while Woltemade shapes up as the ambitious alternative. The final word belongs to Newcastle, who visit Tottenham on Saturday in the Premier League.

🟥🔵⚪️ EXCL: Napoli made contact to ask with Newcastle over last 24h to ask about Nick Woltemade availability on loan deal.Napoli have easier option available with Marc Guiu from Chelsea but also explored Woltemade. Decision up to #NUFC.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

The situation could move quickly, as the Italian window enters its decisive days and Napoli push to hand Allegri a complete attacking rotation. It's worth noting that Woltemade is a full Germany international with 12 caps and four goals, and Newcastle broke their transfer record to sign him just twelve months ago.

Reminder: Money down the drain? Record signing could quit Premier League club after just one season.

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Juventus are now pushing to secure Kessie’s signature and do not believe they need to sell any players before moving ahead with the transfer.

The Turin giants are keen to take advantage of the groundwork already done in negotiations with the midfielder, having spent several weeks working on Kessie as one of their priority targets.

However, Juventus could face competition from Serie A rivals Roma, who have also shown interest in the former AC Milan and Atalanta midfielder. Reports suggest that Roma held talks with Kessie’s representatives at the beginning of the week, adding further uncertainty to the midfielder’s future.

Kessie had previously turned down a lucrative contract offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad. The club reportedly offered him a three-year deal worth almost €10 million net per season in an attempt to convince him to remain in Saudi Arabia.

🚨⚪️⚫️ Juventus want Franck Kessié now, no exits or sales are needed as reported this morning — accelerating to close the deal.Juventus don’t want to lose the advantage they got by negotiating for weeks with Kessié as a priority target. 🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/Vqd8vXzScs

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

Details: According to The Touchline, Villa said: "We are proud to host the Champions League Final at the Metropolitano, and we believe that this year is the year to reach the Final." The 2026/27 Champions League final will be played at the Estadio Metropolitano on Saturday, June 5, 2027, as confirmed by UEFA.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

Villa's words carry extra weight because of who is saying them. The 44-year-old returned to Atlético in March 2026 as a member of the board of directors after the Apollo Sports Capital takeover was ratified, and he remains one of the most beloved figures in the club's modern history. In his single season as a player at the club, 2013/14, he helped Diego Simeone's side win La Liga and reach the Champions League final in Lisbon, where Real Madrid snatched a heartbreaking 4:1 win after extra time. Two years later Atlético lost another final to the same rival, this time on penalties in Milan, so the dream of a first European Cup is deeply personal for everyone around the Metropolitano. The venue itself will stage its second Champions League final in 2027, having hosted the 2019 decider in which Liverpool beat Tottenham 2:0, and the stadium will celebrate its tenth anniversary that same year. Madrid will become a six-time host of the European Cup final, with only London staging more. Notably, the final was originally awarded to San Siro before UEFA withdrew those rights, and the Metropolitano eventually won the race against Baku's Olympic Stadium.

🚨🗣️ NEW: David Villa: "We are proud to host the Champions League Final at the Metropolitano, and we [Atlético Madrid] believe that this year is the year to reach the Final."

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 27, 2026

The timing of the statement is symbolic: today in Monaco the draw for the 2026/27 league phase takes place, and Atlético will learn their opponents on the road they hope ends at their own ground. It's worth noting that Villa knows exactly what it takes to lift the trophy: he won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2011 and scored in the final against Manchester United at Wembley.

Reminder: Face-to-face at peak tension! Barcelona and Atlético chiefs set for awkward Monaco meeting.

Details: The official part of the draw for the group stage of the 2026/27 Champions League has just begun in Monaco. All 36 teams have now found out who they will face in the group stage as they battle to qualify for the next round.

This year, the UEFA Champions League draw is being conducted with the help of a supercomputer. It automatically selects eight opponents for each team at the press of a button.

Pot 1:1. PSG: Barcelona, Man.City, Roma, Aston Villa, Galatasaray, Villareal, Slovan Bratislava, Como

2. Bayern Munich: Arsenal. Atletico M, Real Betis, Man,Utd, Bode/Glimt, Lille, Slavia, Viking

3. Real Madrid: Inter, Arsenal, PSV, Roma, Leipzig, Shakhtar, LASK, AEK Athens

4. Liverpool: Atletico M, Inter, Porto, Brugge, Villareal, Fenerbache, Lens, LASK

5. Inter: Real Madrid, Liverpool, Brugge, Borussia Dortmund, Shakhtar, Feyenord, Stuttgart, Slovan Bratislava

6. Manchester City: PSG, Barcelona, Sporting, Porto, Napoli, Leipzig, AEK Athens, Lens

7. Arsenal: Real Madrid, Bayern, Borussia D, Real Betis, Lille, Napoli, Sabah, Slavia

8. Barcelona: Manchester City, PSG, Aston Villa, Sporting, Feyenord, Galatasaray, Como, Sabah

9. Atletico Madrid: Bayern, Liverpool, Man.United, PSV, Fenerbache, Bode/Glimt, Viking, Stuttgart.

Pot 2:1. Borussia Dortmund: Inter. Arsenal, Real Betis, Aston Villa, Villareal, Bode/Glimt, AEK Athens, Sabah

2. Roma: Real Madrid, PSG, Sporting, Man.Utd, Lille, Fenerbache, Slovan, AEK Athens

3. Sporting CP: Barcelona, Man.City, Man.United, Roma, Galatasaray, Shakhtar, LASK, Lens

4. Aston Villa: PSG, Barcelona, Borussia D, Brugge, Fenerbache, Galatasaray, Viking, Slavia

5. Porto: Man.City, Liverpool, PSV, Real Betis, Napoli, Feyenord, Slavia Praha, LASK

6. Manchester United: Bayern, Atletico, Roma, Sporting, Leipzig, Villareal, Sabah, Como

7. Club Brugge: Liverpool, Inter, Aston Villa, PSV, Bode/Glimt, Napoli, Lens, Stuttgart

8. Real Betis: Arsenal, Bayern, Porto, Borussia D, Feyenord, Lille, Como, Slovan

9. PSV Eindhoven: Atletico, Real Madrid, Brugge, Porto, Shaktar, Leipzig,Stuttgart, Viking

Pot 3:1. Feyenoord: Inter, Barcelona, Porto, Real Betis, Leipzig, Galatasaray, Como, Viking

2. Lille: Bayern, Arsenal, Real Betis, Roma, Galatasaray, Bode/Glimt, Slovan, Stuttgart

3. Fenerbahce: Liverpool, Atletico, Roma, Aston Villa, Villareal, Shakhtar, Slavia, LASK

4. Bodo/Glimt: Atletico, Bayern, Borussia D, Brugge, Lille, Napoli, LASK, Lens

5. Napoli: Arsenal, Man.City, Brugge, Porto, Bode/Glimt, Villareal, Viking, Sabah

6. RB Leipzig: Man.City, Real Madrid, PSV, Man.Utd, Shakhtar, Feyenord, Lens, Como

7. Villarreal: PSG, Liverpool, Man.Unt, Borussia D, Napoli, Fenerbache, Sabah, Slavia

8. Shakhtar Donetsk: Real Madrid, Inter, Sporting, PSV, Fenerbache, Leipzig, AEK Athens, Slovan

9. Galatasaray: Barcelona, PSG, Aston Villa, Sporting, Feyenord, Lille, Stuttgart, AEK Athrns

Pot 4:1. Slavia Prague: Arsenal, Bayern, Aston Villa, Porto, Villareal, Fenerbache, Lens, Sabah

2. Stuttgart: Atletico, Inter, Brugge, PSV, Lille, Galatasaray, Viking, Slovan

3. AEK Athens: Real Madrid, Man.City, Roma, Borussia D, Galatasaray, Shakhtar, LASK, Como

4. Slovan Bratislava: Inter, PSG, Real Betis, Roma, Shakhtar, Lille, Stuttgart, LASK

5. LASK: Liverpool, Real Madrid, Porto, Sporting, Fenerbache, Bode/Glimt, Slovan, AEK Athens

6. Como: PSG, Barcelona, Man.Utd, Real Betis, Leipzig, Feyenord, AEK Athens, Lens

7. Lens: Man.City, Liverpool, Sporting, Brugge, Bode/Glimt, Leipzig, Como, Slavia

8. Viking: Bayern, Atletico, PSV, Aston Villa, Feyenord, Napoli, Sabah, Stuttgart

9. Sabah: Barcelona, Arsenal, Borussia D, Man.Utd, Napoli, Villareal, Slavia, Viking

Eight matchdays are scheduled for the Champions League group stage:

Matchday 1: 8–10 September 2026Matchday 2: 13–14 October 2026Matchday 3: 20–21 October 2026Matchday 4: 3–4 November 2026Matchday 5: 24–25 November 2026Matchday 6: 8–9 December 2026Matchday 7: 19–20 January 2027Matchday 8: 27 January 2027

As a reminder: That’s it! All Champions League 2026/27 participants are known!

Details: Thierry Henry has received the UEFA President's Award during the Champions League league phase draw in Monaco. The trophy was presented to the French legend by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin in recognition of his outstanding career and contribution to European football.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

The 49-year-old Henry remains one of the most decorated forwards in history: he is Arsenal's all-time leading scorer and was voted the club's greatest player ever, he won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France, lifted the Champions League with Barcelona in 2009 and claimed two European Golden Shoes in 2004 and 2005. In recent years, Henry has built a media career, working as a pundit for CBS and joining FOX Sports' coverage of the 2026 World Cup.

🚨 Thierry Henry has been presented with the UEFA President's Award at the Champions League draw ceremony in Monaco. 🏆

— The Touchline | T (@TouchlineX) August 27, 2026

The UEFA President's Award is handed out for exceptional achievements and service to the game, and Henry joins a list of true icons of European football. It's worth noting that over his career the Frenchman scored more than 400 goals in over 900 matches for Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona and the New York Red Bulls.

Reminder: Infantino surrenders! FIFA president officially abandons the most controversial project.

Details: Marquinhos has been honoured with the UEFA Respect Award during the Champions League league phase draw in Monaco. The PSG captain could not attend the ceremony, so club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi collected the trophy on his behalf, while the Brazilian addressed the audience with a short speech.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

Thank you for this trophy, it makes me very proud. I will keep being respectful this year, towards my teammates, the opponent and the referees, Marquinhos said. The award is a fitting recognition for the 32-year-old defender, who became a symbol of fair play back in May: right after the Champions League final victory over Arsenal, instead of celebrating, he was the first to console the distraught Gabriel Magalhães, who had missed the decisive penalty, a gesture that earned admiration around the world.

Marquinhos has been awarded the UEFA Respect Award at the Champions League draw in Monaco. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi collected the trophy on his behalf.Marquinhos: "Thank you for this trophy [Respect Award], it makes me very proud. I will keep being respectful this year. Towards my teammates, the opponent and the referees."

— The Touchline | T (@TouchlineX) August 27, 2026

Marquinhos has been at PSG since 2013 and has long been the face of the Parisian project, lifting back-to-back Champions League titles as captain in 2025 and 2026. It's worth noting that the Brazilian is closing in on 500 appearances for the Parisian club and has already won 34 trophies with PSG, including 11 Ligue 1 titles.

Reminder: A double in 10 minutes! Ferran Torres saves PSG from defeat in debut match.

Gusau announced his resignation during a world press conference at the NFF headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, August 27, 2026, following weeks of reports that he and several members of the federation’s Executive Committee were under pressure to step down.

The NFF president said he made the decision after extensive consultations with football stakeholders, as well as his family, friends and other people close to him.

“Because of that, there was so much clamour from here and there, from all stakeholders, everybody,” Mr Gusau said. “And we knew it was important to see that at least nobody is better than us. And we all love our country, and we all love the progress of our country.”

Gusau explained that the circumstances surrounding the crisis forced him and those close to him to carefully consider the situation before reaching a final decision.

We made a lot of presentations with family, friends, stakeholders, and all,” he said.

“And I just want to tell you, I decided to resign my position as President,” he added.

“I then advised my board members, I informed them, and I advised them.”

Panthere FC are gearing up for their continental campaign. As winners of the Cameroon Cup, the club will represent Cameroon in the 2026–2027 CAF Confederation Cup.

With the kick-off of the first preliminary round scheduled for next September fast approaching, Panthere FC have begun a training camp. A total of 33 players are taking part in this gathering at Mbankomo.

Under the guidance of the coaching staff, the players will work on various aspects of the Cameroonian side’s playing system. During this training camp, Panthere FC intends to fine-tune its strategy ahead of its clash with Rayon Sports of Rwanda.

The Cameroonian club will play the first leg of the first qualifying round of the CAF Confederation Cup at home. The match is scheduled for Friday 4 September in Yaoundé.

The match will be played at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 2.30 pm GMT. The Cameroonian club will be hoping to get their campaign off to the best possible start in front of their home crowd before travelling to Rwanda for the return leg.

Details: German midfielder Leon Goretzka has officially become an Aston Villa player, joining the Birmingham club as a free agent.

The 31-year-old midfielder has signed a two-year contract with an option to extend for a further season. A key factor in completing the deal was direct contact with Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery, with the Spanish manager personally calling the midfielder and convincing him to take on a new challenge. The deal with ROOF, the agency representing the player's interests, was finally completed last week.

Leon Goretzka had been without a club since his contract with Bayern Munich expired at the end of June. The midfielder spent eight years with the German giants, winning 15 trophies, including the Champions League title. At Aston Villa, the experienced German is expected to address problem areas in central midfield and strengthen the squad for its European campaign.

It is worth noting that during the 2025/26 season, Leon Goretzka made 31 appearances for Bayern Munich in all competitions, scoring six goals and providing four assists. Authoritative website Transfermarkt currently values the midfielder at €12 million.

🙂‍↕️ pic.twitter.com/fRAotXMqxB

— Aston Villa (@AstonVilla) August 27, 2026

As a reminder: Here we go! England star leaves the Premier League for Saudi gold

Details: According to renowned insider Ekrem Konur, Roma remain in active talks with Chelsea over the potential transfer of 22-year-old English winger Jamie Gittens. The Italian club view the player as their main alternative in the transfer market as they look to strengthen their attacking flank.

Chelsea have reportedly already rejected Roma's opening offer. The Giallorossi were hoping to secure the player on loan with an option to buy for €45 million.

However, the Blues are категорically opposed to a non-mandatory option. Chelsea want a higher overall financial package and are also insisting on an obligation to buy being included in the deal. These demands have significantly complicated the potential transfer, although talks between the two clubs remain ongoing.

It is worth noting that Jamie Gittens joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2025, signing a long-term contract. During the 2025/26 season, the English winger made 16 Premier League appearances for the Blues. Authoritative website Transfermarkt currently values the player at €30 million.

As a reminder: True love story! Dybala sacrifices millions to stay at Roma

Details: According to journalist Ben Jacobs, UEFA is preparing to take criminal action against FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Switzerland. A 60-page complaint has also been sent to the U.S. District Court in Florida.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

The European governing body accuses Infantino of criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code in connection with the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which sought to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Through the American court, UEFA is demanding the release of documents related to the conception of the project. Remarkably, just yesterday the Europeans dropped their threat to boycott FIFA tournaments after receiving assurances, but made it clear that their opposition to Infantino remains unchanged.

🚨 BREAKING: UEFA is preparing to take CRIMINAL ACTION against FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Switzerland.A 60-page complaint has also been sent to the U.S. District Court in Florida.— @JacobsBen

— The Touchline | T (@TouchlineX) August 27, 2026

Thus, the battle for the FIFA presidency, where Aleksander Ceferin demands Infantino's resignation or a leadership challenge in March, is moving from politics to the courtroom. It's worth noting that Infantino is simultaneously facing a separate criminal complaint from his former boss Michel Platini, who accuses him of orchestrating the case that cost the Frenchman the FIFA presidency back in 2015.

Reminder: Infantino surrenders! FIFA president officially abandons the most controversial project.

Details: Paris Saint-Germain are launching Operation Detox, aimed at reducing phone usage and screen time for academy players. Smartphones are now prohibited for players aged 11 to 15, with the exception of a 60-minute evening slot.

• Also read: Can Larne hold on to their advantage? Preview of the Conference League clash against Lincoln Red Imps, August 27

The initiative became part of the back-to-school programme at the PSG campus, where around 150 young footballers are based. The club wants to protect the youngsters' concentration and mental health, encouraging more mindful use of technology. The Parisians' move echoes a nationwide trend: France is simultaneously testing a ban on mobile phones for schoolchildren under 15 in around 200 secondary schools.

🚨 JUST IN: PSG is launching "Operation Detox" which aims to reduce phone usage and screen time for academy playersSmartphones are now prohibited for players aged 11 to 15, with the exception of a 60-minute evening slot

— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) August 27, 2026

The French champions hope that the digital detox will help academy graduates focus on football and their studies. It's worth noting that similar restrictions are increasingly discussed at the government level across Europe: in France, the education ministry believes that phones harm the ability to concentrate and the acquisition of knowledge.

Reminder: A double in 10 minutes! Ferran Torres saves PSG from defeat in debut match.

Details: Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with Atalanta over the permanent transfer of 18-year-old centre-back Honest Ahanor.

The deal is worth around £40 million (more than €40 million). The parties are currently finalising the remaining details and completing the paperwork, while the player has already received permission to travel.

Chelsea's hierarchy will soon determine the best direction for Ahanor's further development. The club are seriously considering immediately sending the 18-year-old out on loan to another Premier League side, allowing him to secure regular playing time and adapt to English football.

It is worth noting that Honest Ahanor made 35 appearances for Atalanta in all competitions during the 2025/26 season, scoring one goal. According to analytics website Transfermarkt, the young defender's current market value is estimated at €30 million.

🚨🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea reach verbal agreement with Atalanta to sign 18 year old defender Honest Ahanor, here we go!Deal in the region of £40m package with details to be sorted, paperwork being prepared and authorization to travel.#CFC to decide best pathway for Honest soon. pic.twitter.com/LKB6jJCTD0

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

Reminder: Official! Chelsea star completes blockbuster move to Nottingham Forest

Details: According to The Athletic, Jamie Carragher is facing a bankruptcy petition filed by HM Revenue and Customs over an unpaid tax bill. The case against the 48-year-old pundit, listed under his full name James Lee Duncan Carragher, was filed at the High Court in London. HMRC describe a bankruptcy petition as a last resort measure to recover unpaid taxes.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

Carragher is a true Liverpool icon: he made 737 appearances for the Reds, second only to Ian Callaghan in the club's history, and after retiring in 2013 he built a lucrative media career, becoming one of the leading pundits on Sky Sports. His net worth is estimated at more than £16 million, which makes the situation with the tax authorities all the more surprising.

🚨🚨| NEW: Jamie Carragher is facing a BANKRUPTCY petition filed by HMRC over an unpaid tax bill.HMRC describes a bankruptcy petition as a "last resort" measure to recover unpaid taxes.[@TheAthleticFC]

— CentreGoals (@centregoals) August 27, 2026

Representatives of the former defender have not yet commented on the situation. It's worth noting that HMRC insist they only petition for bankruptcy as a last resort, after all other attempts to resolve the debt, including instalment plans, have failed.

Reminder: Saudi millions knock on Arsenal's door! Al-Hilal make official move for Martinelli.

Details: Tottenham have reached an agreement with Manchester City over the transfer of 27-year-old Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush. The striker will join the club on an initial one-year loan deal, which includes an obligation to make the move permanent next summer. The financial terms of the agreement include a guaranteed payment of £50 million, with a further £10 million in bonuses.

Once the obligation to buy is activated, the Egypt international will sign a four-year permanent contract with the London club, with an option to extend for a further season. Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi sees the versatile forward as a key addition to strengthen the attacking line following the recent signing of Savinho.

Omar Marmoush joined Manchester City from German side Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025 but faced fierce competition for a place in the starting line-up.

It is worth noting that during the 2025/26 season, the forward made 36 appearances for Manchester City in all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing three assists. Authoritative website Transfermarkt currently values the player at €50 million.

Omar is a Lilywhite 🇪🇬 pic.twitter.com/Bq8Vxt5f7l

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 27, 2026

Reminder: Mega transfer in London! Tottenham announce signing of Manchester City's Brazilian star

However, this move to Qatar does not worry Frank Magri regarding his future with the Cameroon national team. In an interview with RMC Sport, the 26-year-old centre-forward said that his decision to join the Qatari league should not stand in the way of a potential call-up to the Indomitable Lions.

For Magri, the most important thing is, above all, to be in good physical condition and to perform well for his club.

“I know that even when I was at Toulouse and was called up to the national team, there were players playing in Saudi Arabia or Qatar who were still selected. So, I’m not worried about that. I think the most important thing is to feel physically fit and to be performing well too. ”

Frank Magri leaves the decision to manager David Pagou. If the Cameroonian striker continues to perform well and receives a call-up, he assures us he will be there.

“If the manager calls on me, I’ll simply be very happy to answer his call.”

Details: The Brazilian forward is no longer training with Arsenal's first team and is expected to leave the club before the transfer window closes. Mikel Arteta has now addressed the situation and made it clear that the decision is connected to the size of his squad. "It’s something to do with the numbers that we have in the squad," the Arsenal manager explained.

• Also read: Prediction for the Hibernian vs Gent match: everything will be decided in Edinburgh - 27.08.2026

Jesus has found himself increasingly far from Arteta's main plans. The 29-year-old is entering the final year of his Arsenal contract, while the reigning Premier League champions have been open to his departure during the closing stages of the summer transfer window.

Another clear signal came earlier this month, when the Brazilian was left out of Arsenal's squad for the Community Shield victory over Manchester City. With intense competition for places in attack and Arteta now publicly pointing to squad numbers, an exit looks increasingly likely.

🚨❌ Gabriel Jesus is not training with Arsenal first team, expected to leave.“It’s something to do with the numbers that we have in the squad”, says Mikel Arteta. pic.twitter.com/V9zarf5n9T

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

It is worth noting that Jesus made 27 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions last season, scoring six goals and providing one assist.

Reminder: Transfer of the century brewing! London giants sacrifice two strikers for their dream target

Details: Deportivo de A Coruña have officially announced the signing of Spanish winger Adama Traoré. The 30-year-old has agreed a contract with the Galician club that will run until June 2028.

• Also read: The opponents are still unbeaten this season. Alavés vs Villarreal match prediction

Traoré returns to Spanish football after spending the majority of his senior career in England. The winger came through Barcelona's academy and made his first-team debut for the Catalan giants before continuing his career in the Premier League.

𝑨𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒂 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒐𝒓𝒆́ 𝒙𝒂 𝒆́ 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒂𝒛𝒖𝒍 💙🤍🖋️ Adama Traoré, novo xogador do Dépor ata xuño de 2028 Benvido, Adama! 👋⌨️ Toda a información na nosa web 👇 pic.twitter.com/EfXRqlTwLP

— RC Deportivo (@RCDeportivo) August 26, 2026

According to Deportivo's official announcement, Traoré played 24 Premier League matches and another four FA Cup games during the 2025/26 season while representing West Ham and Fulham. He has also previously played for Aston Villa and Wolverhampton.

It's worth noting that Traoré has accumulated 271 Premier League appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing 27 assists. The winger has also represented Spain's senior national team eight times.

Reminder: Galacticos of the newcomer! La Liga returnees assemble a dream attack

According to Foot Mercato, Marseille are in talks with Karl Toko Ekambi’s representatives. His experience and knowledge of the French league are said to have caught the Marseille club’s attention. This makes the 33-year-old Cameroonian an attractive option for Marseille’s management, who are looking to bolster their attack.

Karl Toko Ekambi has a thorough understanding of Ligue 1, the league in which he made his professional debut. Having come through the ranks at Paris FC, he went on to play for Sochaux, Angers, Lyon and Rennes.

Since leaving Lyon in 2023, Karl Toko Ekambi has played for several clubs in the Gulf. The Cameroonian international played successively for Abha Club in 2023–2024, Al-Ettifaq in 2024–2025 and Al-Fateh SC in 2025–2026 in Saudi Arabia, before joining Al-Arabi SC in Qatar.

But the Cameroonian striker could soon be returning to France’s Ligue 1.

Former Super Eagles media officer Obong Colin on Thursday reported that Gusau and other board members have stepped down.

The NFF board had been under growing pressure over the management of funds released by the federal government for the national teams. The pressure further increased after the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The Super Falcons lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations before a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the World Cup play-off ended their qualification hopes. Following the defeat, the NFF subsequently sacked Super Falcons coach Justin Madugu.

The Super Eagles had also missed the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the African play-off.

Details: According to renowned insider Fabrizio Romano, Fiorentina are in advanced talks to sign Joshua Zirkzee and have already submitted an official proposal to Manchester United.

• Also read: The Irish will look to exploit the hosts' weaknesses: KuPS vs Shamrock Rovers prediction

The proposed deal would see Fiorentina take the Dutch striker on loan for a €5 million fee. The agreement would also include a clause allowing the Serie A club to buy the player permanently.

Negotiations are currently underway both with Manchester United and with Zirkzee's representatives. Romano reports that the move is very much on, although the parties still have details to settle before a final agreement can be reached.

🚨🟣 Fiorentina are in advanced talks to sign Joshua Zirkzee as official bid has been sent to Manchester United.€5m loan fee, buy clause included in the deal with negotiations underway with #MUFC and player’s camp.Deal on. 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/M31NLfR0gf

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

A move to Florence would mark a return to Italian football for Zirkzee, who previously played in Serie A before joining Manchester United. For now, the 25-year-old remains part of the Red Devils' first-team squad and is listed by the club as their number 11.

It is worth noting that Transfermarkt currently values Joshua Zirkzee at €20 million. His contract with Manchester United runs until the summer of 2029.

Reminder: Striker hunt! Spalletti identifies two main candidates for Juventus attack

Details: Atlético Madrid have officially confirmed that they will not negotiate the transfer of Julián Álvarez to Barcelona. The club's Board of Directors unanimously backed the strategy and made it clear that the Catalans will not be invited to the negotiating table.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

The Madrid club stressed that it remains open to normal transfer-market negotiations, but only when they are conducted professionally, ethically and with mutual respect between the clubs. Atlético believe Barcelona failed to meet those standards and therefore have no intention of discussing Álvarez with them.

Atlético's statement reads:

Unanimous backing from the Board of Directors for the club’s strategy The members of Atlético Madrid’s Board of Directors have unanimously expressed their full support for the club’s decision not to negotiate the transfer of Julián Alvarez to FC Barcelona. The members of the Board of Directors are aware that: Atlético Madrid is open to negotiations that are part of the transfer market, but always in an ethical and professional manner and with respect between clubs. We fully support the position previously communicated by the club that FC Barcelona have not met these requirements and, as a result, there have been no negotiations, nor will there be any negotiations with them regarding the transfer of Julián Alvarez. Atlético Madrid are convinced that our player will understand the decision and focus on working in the best possible way to help the club achieve its objectives, as he has already done during the two seasons in which he has defended our colours.

🚨🔴⚪️ BREAKING: Atlético Madrid officially announce Julián Álvarez will NOT be sold to Barcelona.“Unanimous backing from the Board of Directors for the club’s strategyThe members of Atlético Madrid’s Board of Directors have unanimously expressed their full support for the… pic.twitter.com/BGHLXQmfSQ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

It is worth noting that Álvarez remains under contract with Atlético Madrid until June 2030. Transfermarkt currently estimates the Argentine striker's market value at €100 million.

Reminder: Face-to-face at peak tension! Barcelona and Atlético chiefs set for awkward Monaco meeting

According to Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna, the 22-year-old centre-back is set to sign a four-year contract with the Turkish giants once the final details of the transfer are completed.

Oppong’s arrival comes at an important time for Fenerbahçe, who secured their place in the Champions League group stage after a dramatic playoff victory over Lyon.

The Istanbul club overturned a 1-1 draw in the first leg by winning the return fixture 2-1, sealing a 3-2 aggregate triumph and booking their place in Europe’s top club competition.

Oppong joined Nice last summer from Swedish side IF Norrköping and enjoyed a busy first season in France.

The Ghanaian defender made 39 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring once.

🚨EXCL: 🟡🔵🇬🇭 #SüperLig |🔐 Accord trouvé entre Fenerbahçe et Nice pour le transfert de Kojo Oppong.✍️ Le Ghanéen va signer un contrat de 4 ans avec le club turc.🇹🇷 Dossier bouclé. pic.twitter.com/B4TwhV6SYf

— Santi Aouna (@Santi_J_FM) August 27, 2026

Details: According to renowned insider Matteo Moretto, Royal Antwerp have reached an agreement with Barcelona for the permanent signing of 21-year-old centre-back Álvaro Cortés. The Spanish defender is set to continue his career in Belgium after progressing through the Catalan club's youth system and earning his first opportunities with the senior team.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

The clubs have agreed on a permanent transfer rather than a loan. Barcelona have also protected their position in the deal by including both a sell-on clause and a buy-back option. That structure will allow the Catalans to benefit financially from a future sale and potentially bring Cortés back if his development in Belgium convinces the club.

🚨🇧🇪 Royal Antwerp have agreed deal to sign Álvaro Cortés from Barcelona.Permanent signing with sell-on and buy back clause for Barça to mantain future control.@MatteMoretto 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 pic.twitter.com/1J0dMqw0f5

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

Cortés joined Barcelona's academy structure from Real Zaragoza in 2021 and later became an important figure for Barça Atlètic. The left-footed defender was the reserve team's captain and eventually made his official first-team debut against Deportivo Alavés, playing the full 90 minutes in central defence.

It's worth noting that Cortés played 27 league matches for Barça Atlètic in the 2025/26 season, starting every one of them and scoring three goals. Barcelona had extended his contract until 2028 earlier this year, with an option for an additional season.

Reminder: Fight for a place in the squad! Barcelona defender decides on his future

Pape Daouda Diong has signed for Westerlo on a four-year deal, running until 2030. The Belgian club paid €2.5 million to secure the services of the Senegalese international.

Westerlo officially announced the signing of the Senegalese midfielder on Thursday 27 August. “KVC Westerlo welcomes Pape Diong. The 20-year-old Senegalese defensive midfielder arrives from RC Strasbourg Alsace and has signed a four-year contract.”

Pape Daouda Diong will therefore be experiencing the Belgian league for the first time and taking on a new challenge whilst playing for Westerlo. The 20-year-old midfielder already has experience with the Senegalese national teams.

He has made three appearances for the Senegal U20s. Pape Daouda Diong has also represented the Senegalese national team. He made his debut for the Lions of Teranga in September 2023.

New man in midfield. Meet Pape Diong. 😤 pic.twitter.com/wvTyvojBUy

— KVC Westerlo (@KVCWesterlo) August 27, 2026

But that has come to an crashing end like a broken promise as Chiefs new signing Langelihle Phili is out for two months. He missed last night's 2-2 draw against Richards Bay in a Betway Premiership match in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

“Phili is the bad news of this week, he got injured,” said da Cruz last night.

“He will be out around eight weeks. But we trust in our available players.”

Details: Fenerbahçe defeated Lyon 2-1 in France and advanced to the Champions League league phase with a 3-2 aggregate victory. After the final whistle, midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who previously played for Lyon's fierce rivals Marseille, began celebrating provocatively in front of the home supporters. His gestures and continued taunting quickly raised the tension, and Lyon players approached the Frenchman before a mass confrontation involving footballers and staff from both sides broke out.

• Also read: Will Freiburg turn it into a rout? Conference League match preview: Freiburg vs Motherwell

The confrontation appeared to calm down briefly, but the drama continued as Guendouzi headed towards the tunnel. The midfielder kept interacting with the Lyon crowd, while an individual wearing Lyon colours attempted to kick him near the exit from the pitch. That incident immediately triggered another scuffle involving representatives of both teams.

🚨 INSANE SCENES! 🤯Matteo Guendouzi fighting against Olympique Lyon supporters after Fenerbahçe’s win and qualification to the Champions League. 🇫🇷🥊pic.twitter.com/4kNgjxApBi

— Polymarket FC (@PolymarketFC) August 26, 2026

Speaking after the match, Guendouzi explained that his reaction followed repeated insults directed at his family by Lyon supporters.

If 60,000 people are insulting your family, your mother, your children before the match even starts, and no one — not the referees or any other officials in the stadium — says a word... In France, when things like this happen, they would talk to the fans and tell them to stop, or else the match would be halted. But here, for more than 90 minutes, including during warm-ups, they insulted my family, my wife, my children. It was a situation that really got to me, that deeply affected me. For me, it was complete disrespect. And on top of that, if we can't even celebrate the way we want, to me that's total injustice — it's truly heartbreaking, Guendouzi said.

Fenerbahçe ultimately had the final word on the pitch: goals from Vedat Muriqi and Archie Brown secured the Turkish club's 2-1 victory, while Malick Fofana scored Lyon's only goal. It is worth noting that UEFA lists Guendouzi with five appearances and 450 minutes played in the 2026/27 Champions League campaign, with no goals or assists.

Reminder: Maximum readiness! Lyon vs Fenerbahçe match assigned elevated threat level

Auxerre have officially announced the signing of Pierre Ekwah from Saint-Etienne on a season-long loan with an option to buy. The midfielder will therefore not be playing in Ligue 2 this season, but will return to the top flight of French football in the colours of Auxerre.

Pierre Ekwah is thus embarking on a second consecutive loan spell after spending six months at Watford during the second half of last season. However, if he manages to impress the French club’s management, he will not return to Saint-Etienne. Auxerre are expected to exercise their purchase option to keep him at the end of the 2026–2027 season.

The 24-year-old midfielder has experience in Ligue 1. Pierre Ekwah played in the French top flight with Saint-Étienne during the 2024–2025 season. He made 29 appearances in the top division.

✍️ 𝑷𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒆 𝑬𝒌𝒘𝒂𝒉 𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒗𝒆𝒂𝒖 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒖 𝒅𝒆 𝒍’𝑨𝑱𝑨 🔵⚪️Le club est heureux d’annoncer l’arrivée du joueur de 24 ans, en prêt avec option d’achat, en provenance de l’AS Saint-Étienne.👉 https://t.co/8FkrFqHG4w#TeamAJA #IconiquesAuthentiques pic.twitter.com/eiPuZbL0J4

— AJ Auxerre (@AJA) August 26, 2026

The former Cape Town Spurs defender has spent more than a year on the sidelines after a knee operation which kept him out of competitive football.

Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz has confirmed the former Bafana Bafana left-footed centre back is ready and nearing his return.

"Dortley will start to play games soon,” said Da Cruz last night after Amakhosi's 2-2 draw against Richards Bay FC.

“He firstly played a friendly match in the last Friday, and also yesterday (Tuesday), he played with the DDC.

So, we will give him minutes but we will take time with him. We want to be sure that when he comes back he will be ready 100%.”

Details: According to renowned insider Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have reached an agreement to sign 21-year-old Ghanaian centre-back Oscar Naasei from Granada. The deal is worth €2 million, and the defender has already completed his medical.

• Also read: The opponents are still unbeaten this season. Alavés vs Villarreal match prediction

Naasei is viewed in Madrid as a player for the future rather than an immediate addition to the first-team starting line-up. The Ghanaian defender is expected to begin his spell with Real Madrid Castilla, where the club will be able to closely monitor his development.

🚨⚪️ Real Madrid have agreed to sign 21 year old Ghanian centre back Oscar Naasei.Deal agreed for €2m fee from Granada as Naasei seen as talent for future initially joining Castilla team.There was a German club keen but Naasei signs for Real Madrid. Medical also done. 🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/uOEGBdnEfG

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

Romano also reports that a German club had been seriously interested in the defender, but Naasei ultimately opted for the move to Real Madrid. The agreement comes after Madrid had already been tracking the youngster, with AS reporting earlier this week that the Spanish giants were closing in on his arrival from Granada.

It is worth noting that Naasei, who stands 1.85 metres tall, can operate both as a centre-back and at right-back. He joined Granada’s youth system from Ghanaian side Emmanuel City in 2023 and later progressed to the first team. According to Transfermarkt data cited by AS, his market value is currently estimated at €1.5 million.

Reminder: Incredible! Mbappé scores his first hat-trick of the season!

Arrows victory against Stellies is a confidence booster for them as they face Mamelodi Sundowns on weekend in the MTN8 second leg semi-final match.

This man is LETHAL🔥🥵 Assist by MWEZLI🙏🏿 Philani Khumalo pic.twitter.com/7qx1RZVWbz

— Lamontville Golden Arrows FC (@goldenarrowsfc1) August 27, 2026

Details: According to renowned insider Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona have signed all the documents to complete the transfer of Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic from Fenerbahce. The Turkish club will receive €2 million guaranteed, while another €2 million could be paid in bonuses.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

The Catalan club's plan is not necessarily to keep Livakovic in Hansi Flick's squad immediately. Barcelona are looking for a suitable loan move for the Croatian goalkeeper for the current season, which would allow him to get regular playing time before returning to Catalonia.

The long-term plan is much clearer. Livakovic is expected to become Barcelona's backup goalkeeper from June 2027, when Szczesny's current contract expires. The Polish goalkeeper is officially tied to the Catalan club until June 30, 2027.

More security between the posts. Welcome, Livaković 🧤 pic.twitter.com/N7QzaXQqSg

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 27, 2026

Barcelona currently have Joan Garcia and Szczesny listed as the two goalkeepers in the first-team squad, so another temporary move for Livakovic would help the club avoid overcrowding the position while keeping an experienced option for the following campaign.

It is worth noting that Livakovic is valued at €4 million by Transfermarkt. During the 2025/26 season, the 31-year-old goalkeeper spent part of the campaign on loan at Dinamo Zagreb and made 14 appearances in the Croatian league.

Reminder: Boom! Barcelona star set to join another La Liga club

Morris has been on the receiving end of criticism from the club's supporters and calling for the coach to sideline him.

But after the seven goal thriller against AmaZulu last night at Loftus Versveld, Cardoso defended the former Borussia Dortmund player.

"Tashreeq is one of the most criticised players in this club but he’s doing things well,” said Cardoso after the 5-2 Betway Premiership triumph.

“Tashreeq grew throughout the season. I’m not the father of Tashreeq as people keep saying – ‘ah, the coach just puts him on’. No, no, no! I deal with performance.

“He was consistent in showing in training sessions that he deserved to play. And he played, when he doesn’t show he stayed out. Last match, he stayed because he was not strong enough during the preparation, so he stayed out."

Details: Chelsea have officially confirmed that the 23-year-old striker has completed a permanent transfer to Nottingham Forest. The clubs have not publicly disclosed the financial terms, but British media report that Forest will pay a club-record £45 million upfront, with another £5 million available in add-ons. That is approximately €52.5 million plus around €6 million in bonuses.

• Also read: The visitors are already conceding too much: Chelsea vs Luton match prediction — 27.08.2026

Delap joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town in the summer of 2025, but his spell in London lasted only one campaign. According to Chelsea's official figures, the English forward made 41 appearances for the club across four competitions last season and scored twice.

Nottingham Forest had already shown interest in the striker before his move to Stamford Bridge and have now finally secured their target. The reported £50 million package makes Delap the most expensive signing in Forest's history.

Welcome to Nottingham Forest, Liam Delap! ✍️ pic.twitter.com/U0nCwsVgxW

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) August 27, 2026

It is worth noting that Transfermarkt currently estimates Delap's market value at €28 million. The 23-year-old centre-forward had been under contract with Chelsea until the summer of 2031 before completing his move to Nottingham.

Reminder: Here we go! Forest pull off a stunning transfer coup with Chelsea striker

Details: According to journalist David G. Medina, the Argentine forward has missed Atlético Madrid training for the second consecutive day. Álvarez informed the club that he feels unwell and is unable to train with the group.

• Also read: The Catalans begin their title defence from a position of strength: Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao prediction

This is the second straight training session without Álvarez in Diego Simeone's group. On Wednesday, August 26, Atlético sources confirmed that the striker had endured a difficult night and was not in condition to train. The Madrid club's medical staff were monitoring his condition and waiting to determine when he could return to full group work.

The latest absence comes during an already tense period around the 26-year-old. Dailysports reported this week that a growing number of Atlético players are irritated by the uncertainty surrounding the Argentine's future. The situation has also reached the stands, with part of the club's support recently booing Álvarez during the LaLiga match against Villarreal.

🚨🇦🇷 Julián Álvarez has missed training for the second consecutive day.Álvarez has told the club that he “feels unwell and unable to train with the group”, reports @medinamarca. pic.twitter.com/xwgsAu5UHj

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

Atlético are now preparing for their next league fixture against Sevilla on August 29, while Álvarez's participation in group training remains unresolved. The club's position in the wider dispute has also remained firm, with recent reports stating that Atlético do not intend to facilitate a transfer to Barcelona.

It is worth noting that Álvarez remains under contract with Atlético Madrid until June 2030. According to the latest Dailysports report, Transfermarkt currently values the Argentine striker at €100 million. In the 2025/26 LaLiga season, he made 29 appearances, scoring 8 goals and providing 4 assists.

Reminder: Scandal at Atlético! Players are unhappy with Julián Álvarez

According to reports in the Cameroonian press, the domestic-based international had been suffering from back pain for several months, an ailment that had gradually sidelined him before the end of the 2025–2026 season. Despite medical treatment, his condition reportedly did not improve, leading to his death, which was announced on Thursday 27 August.

A former defensive stalwart for Stade Renard de Melong, Legrand Kuissi was also a true leader, both on and off the pitch. Through his commitment, his fighting spirit and his love for the shirt, he left a lasting mark on the history of the Cameroonian club.

His passing is a heavy loss not only for Stade Renard de Melong but also for Cameroonian football as a whole. The club has thus lost one of its most iconic figures and a player who defended its colours with great determination.

Details: According to renowned insider Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Paris Saint-Germain for the transfer of Bradley Barcola. The initial fee is worth £100 million plus add-ons, while the total package could rise to around €140 million. Romano has given the move his famous Here we go confirmation.

• Also read: The English side are ready to confirm their status as favourites: Brighton vs Tromsø prediction

The next formal steps should follow very quickly. Romano reports that the documents between Liverpool and PSG are expected to be exchanged within the next 24 hours as the clubs move towards completing one of the biggest deals of the summer.

Barcola has been Liverpool's top target during the final stage of the transfer window, and the agreement represents the decisive breakthrough after lengthy negotiations with the French champions.

🚨💣 BREAKING: Liverpool reach verbal agreement to sign Bradley Barcola, HERE WE GO! 🔴Initial fee worth £100m plus add-ons — up to €140m possible total package for PSG.Documents to be exchanged in 24 hours.#LFC get their top target: never in doubt and now done. pic.twitter.com/ruDJAbIhtK

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

For now, PSG's official website still lists the 23-year-old winger as a member of the club's 2026/27 first-team squad. Barcola joined the Parisians from Lyon in August 2023 on a five-year contract running until 2028.

It is worth noting that Barcola made 49 appearances for PSG across all competitions last season, scoring 13 goals and providing 7 assists.

Reminder: Battle for a hundred million! Liverpool and PSG hold key talks over French winger

The WAFU B qualifying tournament for the CAF Women’s Champions League continues in Burkina Faso. Following matchday 1, Group B enters its matchday 2 on Thursday 27 August. Both matches will be played at the Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou.

EDO Queens will take on ASEC Mimosas at 3 pm GMT. This clash promises to be a thrilling one for both teams, who are dreaming of a place in the CAF Women’s Champions League. However, EDO Queens and ASEC Mimosas did not get off to the same start in the tournament. The Nigerian side made a thunderous debut by thrashing the Nigerien team AS GNN 7–0.

For their part, the Ivorian side lost 1-0 to Ampem Darkoa. The match on 27 August is therefore of major importance for both teams, with one looking to build on their success and the other aiming to get back on track.

The second Group B fixture will see Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa take on AS GNN from Niger. This match is scheduled for 6 pm GMT, also at the Stade du 4 Août.

The Ghanian side go into this match full of confidence following their victory over ASEC Mimosas on the first matchday. By contrast, the Nigerien side are looking to bounce back after their heavy defeat against EDO Queens in their Group B opener.

Just a few years ago, such a scenario would have seemed far too improbable. Valdas Dambrauskas was never a professional footballer, while the money that helped him take his first steps towards a coaching career in England came from a television quiz show. His first senior team played at the ninth level of the English football pyramid.

• Also read: The Irish will look to exploit the hosts' weaknesses: KuPS vs Shamrock Rovers prediction

Sabah was founded only in 2017. The club made its European debut six years later and won its first trophy only in the spring of 2025.

But on the evening of August 25, 2026, at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku, Sabah defeated Hapoel Be’er Sheva 5-2 after extra time and reached the Champions League league phase for the first time in their history. The aggregate score was 6-4. Sabah became only the second Azerbaijani club after Qarabag to reach the main stage of Europe’s premier club competition.

And on August 27, Dambrauskas’ team will discover which members of Europe’s elite they will face.

This is Valdas Dambrauskas in 2000, participating in Lithuanian edition of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’.He was just a student that never played professional football.The money he won allowed him to go to England and attend multiple coaching courses. He managed to gain… pic.twitter.com/kls9q9rZi5

— Tribuna.com Football (@tribuna_ftbl) August 25, 2026

After the historic victory, a photograph of a young Dambrauskas in a television studio once again went viral on social media. In viral posts, the story is usually told like this: in 2000, he appeared on the Lithuanian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, won some money and spent it on coaching courses in England.

The story is essentially true, but some details have become distorted over time.

Lithuanian sources clarify that Dambrauskas appeared on the television quiz “Šeši nuliai – milijonas” (“Six Zeros — a Million”) in 2002, when he was 25. It was not an official Lithuanian edition of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? franchise, although the show was indeed built around general knowledge questions and a cash prize and was often compared to Millionaire.

Dambrauskas won 4,000 Lithuanian litas. Years later, he himself confirmed that he invested that money in a trip to England. Modern publications often turn this into a neat legend suggesting that his TV winnings paid for his entire education, but it is more accurate to describe the money as start-up capital — a sum that helped him decide to move abroad and begin a new life.

Before that, his biography hardly resembled the path of a future Champions League coach. Dambrauskas never played professionally. In Lithuania, he worked, among other places, at the Pakruojo Parketas company while studying philosophy and social sciences by correspondence. Football was his greatest passion, but there was no obvious route into the professional game.

The television winnings helped him create one.

In England, Dambrauskas enrolled at London Metropolitan University, where he studied sports science and coaching. When congratulating its former student on reaching the Champions League, the university specifically recalled this unusual story: the money from the TV game helped the Lithuanian move to the United Kingdom, where his professional career ultimately began.

Dambrauskas combined his studies with work and gradually made his way into English football. He gained experience within the youth structures of Manchester United, Fulham and Brentford.

In 2007, he received his first opportunity to take charge of a senior team — Kingsbury London Tigers, who competed in the ninth tier of English football.

That episode perhaps illustrates better than any other just how far Dambrauskas has travelled on his way to the Champions League.

In the 2008/09 season, Kingsbury London Tigers finished fifth in their league, winning 18 of 40 matches and collecting 66 points. For a club that had finished only 14th the previous year, it was one of their best results of that period. Dambrauskas’ work later received public recognition as well — in 2010, he won the Active Westminster Awards in the coaches and instructors category.

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona seemed almost infinitely far away at the time. But the first foundations had already been laid.

The next stage of Dambrauskas’ career brought him closer to home. He worked with Lithuania’s youth national teams before joining one of the country’s strongest clubs at the time — Ekranas. He initially served as an assistant before being given the head coach’s job.

The real breakthrough came at Zalgiris.

With the Vilnius club, Dambrauskas won two Lithuanian league titles, three domestic cups and several Super Cups. It was there that the Champions League first transformed from a distant dream into a concrete sporting objective.

And almost every time, it left behind the painful feeling of having come close.

In 2015, Zalgiris lost just 1-0 on aggregate to Malmo. A year later, the Lithuanians came close to eliminating Astana, only to concede the decisive goal in stoppage time of the second leg. In 2017, they beat Ludogorets 2-1 at home, but the Bulgarian side responded with a 4-1 victory in the return match.

Then Dambrauskas’ genuine European career as a travelling coach began.

With RFS, he won the Latvian Cup. From Riga he moved to Croatian side Gorica, before receiving an offer from Ludogorets and becoming Bulgarian champion.

And once again, he found himself one step away from the Champions League.

In the summer of 2021, Ludogorets progressed through several qualifying rounds, including eliminating Olympiacos, but Malmo appeared again in the play-offs. The Bulgarian club lost the tie 3-2 and dropped into the Europa League.

Dambrauskas later won the Croatian Cup with Hajduk — the club’s first such trophy in nine years — before working at OFI, Omonia and Hungarian side Diosgyor. By the summer of 2025, his CV already included league titles, cups in several countries and numerous matches in European qualifying.

Only one thing was missing — participation in the main stage of the Champions League.

Sabah’s story is no less unusual, simply because the club does not have a long history.

It was founded on September 8, 2017. Sabah spent their first season in the Azerbaijan First Division and finished fifth, but after meeting licensing requirements, they were granted the right to compete in the Premier League the following year.

Their debut season in the top flight ended with a seventh-place finish. Sixth place and two fifth-place finishes followed. Nothing yet suggested a future Champions League participant.

The rapid rise came later.

In the 2022/23 season, Sabah collected 81 points, finished second behind Qarabag, won league medals for the first time and simultaneously qualified for European competition for the first time.

Sabah’s European debut in the summer of 2023 proved far more successful than might have been expected from newcomers.

In Conference League qualifying, the Azerbaijani side beat RFS twice — 2-0 and 2-1. Then came a 2-0 home victory over Partizan Belgrade. Sabah lost by the same scoreline in Serbia and, after extra time, were eliminated on penalties.

So even in their first European season, the club came within a few successful penalty kicks of advancing another round.

A year later came perhaps Sabah’s greatest international success before Dambrauskas’ arrival.

In the second qualifying round of the Conference League, the team faced Maccabi Haifa and stunned the Israeli club with a 3-0 away victory. The return leg turned into chaos: Maccabi won 6-3 after extra time, making the aggregate score 6-6, but Sabah prevailed 3-2 in the penalty shootout.

It was the first time an Azerbaijani club had won a European tie on penalties.

Two 1-0 defeats to St Patrick’s Athletic in the next round ended their run, but the season still entered the club’s history. In the spring of 2025, Sabah defeated Qarabag 3-2 in the Azerbaijan Cup final to claim the first trophy since the club’s foundation.

So Dambrauskas did not arrive in a footballing wasteland. He inherited a young, ambitious project that was already progressing rapidly.

His achievement lies elsewhere: he took that project to an entirely new level.

Welcome, #ValdasDambrauskas! 🦉#SabahFC has officially appointed Valdas Dambrauskas as the new head coach on a 3-year contract.#WeAreSabah #WelcomeCoach pic.twitter.com/twjcBIBueX

— Sabah FC (@fc_sabah) June 20, 2025

Dambrauskas was officially appointed Sabah head coach on June 20, 2025, signing a three-year contract.

His first European summer was mixed. In Europa League qualifying, Sabah played out a high-scoring tie with Celje but lost 6-5 on aggregate. After dropping into the Conference League, the Azerbaijani side thrashed Petrocub 6-1 on aggregate before losing twice to Levski — 1-0 and 2-0.

Domestically, however, a historic breakthrough followed.

In the 2025/26 season, Sabah became Azerbaijani champions for the first time, securing the title with four rounds to spare and ultimately finishing nine points ahead of Qarabag.

The significance of that achievement is difficult to overstate. In Azerbaijani football, Qarabag had been virtually untouchable for more than a decade: since 2013, only Neftchi had managed to interrupt their title hegemony before Sabah.

One championship was not enough for Dambrauskas. In the Azerbaijan Cup final, Sabah defeated Zira 2-1, retained the trophy and completed the first domestic double in the club’s history.

For the coach himself, those two trophies took his career collection to 13.

But the greatest reward for the league title awaited in the summer.

Because of their low European coefficient, Sabah were given no short route into the Champions League. The Azerbaijani champions had to start in the first qualifying round and overcome four opponents.

The first were Welsh side The New Saints. Sabah won both matches — 2-0 and 2-1 — progressing comfortably with a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Next came Finland’s KuPS. This time Dambrauskas’ team did not concede at all: 1-0 at home and 2-0 away — 3-0 on aggregate.

The first genuine test came from Danish side Aarhus. Sabah lost the first leg 2-1 before producing perhaps the finest European night in their history up to that point — a 4-0 victory in the return match. The aggregate score was 5-2.

Only Hapoel Be’er Sheva remained.

And the scenario repeated itself.

🚨🇦🇿 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | For the FIRST time ever, Sabah FC have qualified for UEFA Champions League! ✅ They were only formed as a club 8 years ago. 😳 pic.twitter.com/d8Lzai4Qsu

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) August 25, 2026

Sabah again lost the first leg of the play-off — 2-1.

And on August 25, the situation became even worse: just ten minutes into the return leg, Igor Zlatanovic put Hapoel ahead. The Azerbaijani side now needed to recover a two-goal deficit on aggregate.

Christian Nwachukwu equalised before half-time, but in the 61st minute Guy Mizrahi scored again for the visitors. At that moment, Sabah were in an extremely difficult position.

Umarali Rakhmonaliev restored hope in the 74th minute.

Then came a finale that will forever remain part of the club’s history.

Deep into stoppage time, Tellur Mutallimov scored Sabah’s third goal following a corner — 3-2. The aggregate score became 4-4, sending the match into extra time.

Допис, поширений UEFA Champions League (@championsleague)

There, Hapoel could not hold on. Djibril Diop was shown a red card, Orphe Mbina scored the hosts’ fourth goal, and in the 115th minute Joy-Lance Mickels completed the scoring — 5-2. Soon afterwards, the Israeli side were reduced to nine men.

6-4 on aggregate. Sabah are in the Champions League.

Across eight qualifying matches, Dambrauskas’ team recorded six wins and two defeats while scoring 18 goals. Moreover, in each of the final two rounds, they advanced despite losing the first leg.

For a club that did not even exist nine years ago, the speed of that development is remarkable.

CONFIRMED: #UCLdraw pots for the league phase 👀 pic.twitter.com/LpMjiap6RF

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 26, 2026

Today, August 27, the draw for the Champions League league phase will take place in Monaco.

Sabah are in Pot 4 alongside Slavia Prague, Slovan Bratislava, Stuttgart, AEK Athens, LASK, Como, Lens and Viking.

But the modern Champions League format means this does not protect the newcomers from Europe’s biggest clubs. Each team receives eight different opponents — two from each pot, playing one of them at home and the other away.

Therefore, Sabah are guaranteed to face two teams from Pot 1.

That pot contains PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

In other words, the man who once used several thousand litas won on a television quiz show to travel to England and search for an opportunity to learn how to coach footballers could now genuinely be preparing his team for a match against Real Madrid or Barcelona.

It is difficult to imagine a more symbolic ending to the story — at least for now.

It would be too simplistic to portray the current success as a fairy tale created by Dambrauskas alone.

Sabah had been growing before him. Under Murad Musayev, the club won league medals for the first time and qualified for European competition. Before the Lithuanian arrived, Sabah had already beaten RFS, Partizan and Maccabi Haifa, while under Vasili Berezutski they won the first Azerbaijan Cup in their history.

Dambrauskas did not build this club from scratch. But he took the next — and most difficult — step.

In his first full season, the Lithuanian turned the cup holders into national champions, completed a domestic double, ended Qarabag’s long-standing dominance and then guided Sabah through all four rounds of Champions League qualifying.

At the same time, he completed his own unfinished story.

With Zalgiris, he repeatedly came close. With Ludogorets, he reached the play-offs and lost to Malmo again. Then came Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary and more twists in his career.

Twenty-four years after that television quiz show, Dambrauskas finally reached the place that had inspired him to go to England and study coaching in the first place.

And Sabah reached it for the first time alongside him.

On August 27, the club from Masazir will be handed eight opponents. Two of them are guaranteed to come from Pot 1 — the genuine elite of European football.

For Sabah, this is the beginning of an entirely new chapter. For Dambrauskas, it is the moment when an extraordinary story has finally come full circle.

Details: According to ESPN Argentina, there is now renewed uncertainty surrounding Lionel Messi's future with the Argentina national team. The 39-year-old captain has still not publicly announced that his international career is over, meaning his next step with the Albiceleste remains unresolved.

• Also read: The Irish will look to exploit the hosts' weaknesses: KuPS vs Shamrock Rovers prediction

Speculation over Messi's future intensified after the 2026 World Cup. Argentina reached a second consecutive final but lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time on July 19. Messi played the entire decisive match, but afterward there was no definitive announcement about whether it had been his final appearance for the national team.

🚨🇦🇷 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: There is now UNCERTAINTY regarding Lionel Messi's future with Argentina.— @ESPNArgentina pic.twitter.com/xmbeJoR0TM

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 26, 2026

Earlier this month, Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia stressed that nobody inside the federation intends to pressure Messi into making a decision. Tapia said the choice over when to step away belongs entirely to the player and that he should be allowed to continue enjoying football before deciding what comes next.

For now, Argentina therefore have no official farewell to their legendary captain and no confirmation that he intends to continue. It is worth noting that Messi produced eight goals and four assists at the 2026 World Cup. Following the final against Spain, he had reached 207 senior appearances and 125 goals for Argentina.

Reminder: What is going on? Atlético demand Julián Álvarez apologize on camera

Details: According to renowned insider Fabrizio Romano, Omar Marmoush has signed his contract as a new Tottenham player. The Egyptian forward has now completed the contractual formalities required for his move from Manchester City, bringing a transfer saga that developed rapidly over the past week to its final stage.

• Also read: Can Viktoria pull off a comeback? Prediction for the Europa League clash against Crvena Zvezda

Tottenham had previously reached an agreement with Manchester City for the 27-year-old attacker, while Marmoush had already given the green light to the move. His signature now leaves the official club announcement as the next major step in completing the transfer.

Sky Sports reports that the deal is structured as an initial season-long loan with an obligation to buy. The financial package is understood to include £50 million guaranteed plus a further £10 million in potential bonuses.

🚨⚪️ Omar Marmoush has signed his contract as new Tottenham Hotspur player. pic.twitter.com/oyfHXciJ7T

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2026

Marmoush follows Sávio in making the switch from Manchester City to Tottenham this summer, giving Roberto De Zerbi another versatile option across the attacking line. The Egyptian can operate through the middle as well as from wider positions.

It is worth noting that Marmoush joined Manchester City from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025. He recorded 16 goals and six assists in 62 appearances for the club across all competitions, while Transfermarkt currently values the Egyptian international at €50 million.

Reminder: Mega transfer in London! Tottenham announce signing of Manchester City's Brazilian star

Details: Lille have officially announced the signing of Paraguay international Orlando Gill from Argentine side San Lorenzo. The 26-year-old goalkeeper has signed a five-year contract with the French club, keeping him at Lille until 2031.

• Also read: Monaco vs Górnik Zabrze: UEFA Conference League qualifying - prediction, facts and betting tips

San Lorenzo confirmed that the transfer was agreed for €4 million. Lille did not disclose the fee in their announcement, but the Argentine club stated that it transferred 100% of the player's sporting rights and the 50% share of his economic rights that it owned.

Gill became one of Paraguay's heroes at the 2026 World Cup. He kept clean sheets against Turkey and Australia before starring in the round of 32 against Germany, where he stopped two penalties in the shootout. He then produced another impressive display against France in the round of 16, despite Paraguay's narrow 1-0 defeat.

Auteur d’une Coupe du Monde 2026 remarquable dans le but du Paraguay, le gardien international, Orlando Gill, s’est engagé avec le LOSC et rejoint l’effectif lillois en tant que "doublure" de Berke Özer. L’ancien portier de San Lorenzo (Argentine) a signé un contrat de 5 ans,… pic.twitter.com/63jzcpPx5H

— LOSC (@losclive) August 26, 2026

Lille have made it clear that Gill initially arrives as the number two goalkeeper behind Berke Özer. It is worth noting that the Paraguayan already has 11 senior international caps, while Lille's official announcement also highlighted that he was named man of the match after both the Germany and France World Cup games.

Reminder: €60 million on the table! Newcastle go all-in for Lille star

Details: According to SPORT, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are expected to cross paths at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco during Thursday's 2026/27 Champions League league-phase draw. Atlético will be represented by president Enrique Cerezo and CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, while Barcelona are sending only sporting vice-president Rafa Yuste.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

The encounter comes at the most heated point of the Julián Álvarez saga. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has reiterated that the Catalans' offer for the Argentine remains on the table if Atlético decide to sell, with the proposal reported at €100 million.

Atlético's response could hardly have been stronger. The Madrid club insist there is a 0% chance of selling Álvarez directly to Barcelona and have described the dispute as a matter of dignity rather than money. Gil Marín was also the executive with whom Laporta personally discussed Barcelona's offer, making the presence of both delegations in Monaco especially notable.

🚨 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡: Barcelona and Atlético Madrid will meet in Monaco during the Champions League draw amid peak tension over Julián Álvarez.Atlético will be represented by Cerezo and Gil Marín, while Barcelona will be represented only by Rafa Yuste.The meeting comes after… pic.twitter.com/mFKATCeHxd

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 27, 2026

For now, there is no confirmed formal negotiation session between the clubs in Monaco, but Cerezo, Gil Marín and Yuste are expected to be under the same roof during the draw. It is worth noting that Álvarez remains under contract with Atlético until June 2030, while Transfermarkt currently estimates his market value at €100 million.

Reminder: Scandal! Atlético hit Barcelona with brutal Álvarez statement

Details: According to renowned insider Fabrizio Romano, Álvaro Morata is on the verge of joining Spanish second-division side Leganes on loan from Como. The surprise move is already at an advanced stage, with the parties now working through the remaining details before receiving final approval.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

If the operation is completed, the 33-year-old striker will leave Serie A for Spain's Segunda Division, where Leganes are competing in the 2026/27 season. The Madrid-based club have started the campaign with four points from their opening two league matches.

For Morata, the move would mean another return to Spanish football after a career that has already taken him through some of Europe's biggest clubs and several different championships. This time, however, the experienced forward would be taking on a completely different challenge in the country's second tier.

🚨⚪️🔵 Álvaro Morata, on the verge of joining Spanish second division side Leganés on loan deal from Como!Surprise move advanced, working on details to get final approval. pic.twitter.com/DUdAcQww1S

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

The transfer has not yet been officially completed, as the final details and approval are still pending. It is worth noting that Morata made 26 Serie A appearances for Como last season. Transfermarkt currently estimates the Spanish striker's market value at €6 million.

Reminder: Real Betis Push to Re-Sign Moroccan Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat from Fenerbahçe

Details: In an exclusive from Fabrizio Romano: Jack Grealish will decide his future in the next few days, with Everton and Aston Villa in contact with his camp. The winger is keeping all options open ahead of the final decision, while nothing concrete is ongoing with Sunderland.

• Also read: Second leg of the Conference League play-offs: Pafos vs Dinamo City. Match preview for August 27

The 30-year-old England international, still the most expensive English player in history after his €117.5 million move from Aston Villa to Manchester City in 2021, spent last season on loan at Everton, recording 2 goals and 6 assists in 22 appearances before a foot fracture in February cut his campaign short. City value him at around £50 million, while Everton are pushing for another season-long loan, and a sensational return to Villa Park has also been discussed.

🚨🏴 EXCL: Jack Grealish to decide his future in the next days with Everton and Aston Villa in contact with his camp.Grealish keeps all options open ahead of the final decision; nothing concrete ongoing with Sunderland.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

New City boss Enzo Maresca had offered the winger a lifeline at the Etihad, but the player seems set on guaranteed playing time. It's worth noting that during his time with the Citizens, Grealish made 157 appearances in all competitions, winning three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup.

Reminder: It's all because of the haircut! Fans demand Haaland to grow his hair back immediately.

Details: The 2026/27 Champions League league phase will feature 36 clubs. UEFA confirmed 29 direct entrants, while the remaining seven places were decided through qualifying. Sabah, LASK and Bodø/Glimt secured their tickets on Tuesday, before Viking, AEK Athens and Fenerbahçe joined them on Wednesday. The final spot went to Slovan Bratislava, who defeated Celje 2-1 after extra time and completed the list of participants in the tournament.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

Qualified directly for the Champions League league phase:

• Arsenal
• Aston Villa
• Atlético Madrid
• Borussia Dortmund
• Barcelona
• Bayern Munich
• Club Brugge
• Como
• Feyenoord
• Galatasaray
• Inter
• RB Leipzig
• Lens
• Lille
• Liverpool
• Manchester City
• Manchester United
• Napoli
• Paris Saint-Germain
• Porto
• PSV
• Real Betis
• Real Madrid
• Roma
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• Slavia Prague
• Sporting CP
• Stuttgart
• Villarreal

Qualified through the qualifiers:

• Sabah
• LASK
• Bodø/Glimt
• Viking
• AEK Athens
• Fenerbahçe
• Slovan Bratislava

The Champions League league phase draw is scheduled for August 27. The first matchday will be played from September 8 to 10. Under the current format, all 36 clubs form one table, with every team playing eight matches against eight different opponents.

Reminder: Maximum readiness! Lyon vs Fenerbahçe match assigned elevated threat level

Details: The Norwegian side defeated Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 in the second leg of the Champions League play-offs and advanced 5-3 on aggregate. Arbër Hoxha put the Croatian club ahead in the 10th minute, but Zlatko Tripić equalised from the penalty spot eight minutes later. After the break, Edvin Austbø and Tobias Moi struck in quick succession to turn the match completely in Viking's favour.

• Also read: The visitors are already conceding too much: Chelsea vs Luton match prediction — 27.08.2026

The tie had been perfectly balanced before the return leg. In Zagreb, Dinamo raced into a 2-0 lead inside ten minutes, but Peter Christiansen and Tripić brought Viking back into the contest before half-time and secured a 2-2 draw.

HISTORY FOR NORWAY! 🇳🇴Viking FK have qualified for the Champions League league phase for the first time in the club’s history.For the first time ever, two Norwegian clubs will compete in the Champions League league phase. 🇳🇴🏆#UCL #Viking #Glimt pic.twitter.com/rS5AEnkJIU

— Eliteserien Wizard (@ElitWizard) August 26, 2026

The victory in Norway therefore became a historic one. Viking have qualified for the league phase of Europe's elite club competition for the first time and will be among the 36 teams in the 2026/27 Champions League main stage. The league-phase draw takes place on August 27 at 18:00 CET.

It is worth noting that before this breakthrough, Viking had reached a group or league phase of a UEFA competition only once in their history — in the 2005/06 UEFA Cup.

Reminder: Maximum readiness! Lyon vs Fenerbahçe match assigned elevated threat level

Details: Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has completed a hat-trick in the ongoing LaLiga clash against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu. It is the French superstar's first hat-trick of the new 2026/27 season and a spectacular response after a quiet opening league appearance.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

Mbappé started the match as Real Madrid's central striker and became the main hero of José Mourinho's first home league game since returning to the club. The Frenchman needed just one evening at the Bernabéu to produce his first three-goal performance of the campaign.

The hat-trick is especially notable because Mbappé did not score in Real Madrid's opening LaLiga match of the season. The Madrid side began their campaign with a difficult 2-1 away victory over Espanyol on August 22, when Jude Bellingham and substitute Carlos Espí scored the goals.

Mbappé has therefore opened his personal scoring account in the Spanish championship in emphatic fashion, immediately registering three goals in one match. Real Madrid entered the Sociedad clash looking for a second consecutive league victory after their dramatic success against Espanyol.

4-1 Real Madrid.HATTRICK KYLIAN MBAPPÉ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HATTRICK KYLIAN MBAPPÉ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HATTRICK KYLIAN MBAPPÉ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FIRST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON = FIRST HATTRICK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS MAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🇫🇷💫🇫🇷💫🇫🇷💫 pic.twitter.com/lC2LwYGJuz

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 26, 2026

It is worth noting that Mbappé also enjoyed a prolific 2026 World Cup, scoring eight goals for France during the tournament.

Reminder: Mourinho’s €25m debut hero: Who is Carlos Espí?

Details: According to Indykaila, Liverpool have reached a full agreement with Paris Saint-Germain over the transfer of Bradley Barcola. The insider claims the deal has been completed for a fee in the region of £120-125 million. However, neither Liverpool nor PSG have officially announced an agreement at this stage, so the information remains an insider report rather than a confirmed transfer.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

The source adds that the announcement is expected once both clubs are ready to make the news public. Barcola himself is said to be delighted with the prospect of the move and ready to become a Liverpool player.

The latest claim represents a major development after reports earlier this week that Liverpool and PSG were holding key talks but remained some distance apart in their valuations. David Ornstein had reported that PSG valued the 23-year-old at around £145 million, while Liverpool were looking to complete a deal closer to £100 million.

🚨💣 EXCLUSIVE BOMBSHELL 🚨💣Liverpool have struck a full agreement with PSG for Bradley BarcolaDeal done around £120M - £125MThe news will break 🔜 once BOTH clubs ready to release the newsThe player is buzzing and ready to become a #LFC player pic.twitter.com/BMKaB9UDJw

— indykaila News (@indykaila) August 26, 2026

It is worth noting that Barcola recorded 13 goals and 7 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions for PSG last season.

Reminder: Battle for a hundred million! Liverpool and PSG hold key talks over French winger

Details: As Fabrizio Romano confirms with his famous here we go, Deportivo de A Coruña have completed all formal steps to sign Adama Traoré. Following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Spanish winger also joins the Depor project.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

The 30-year-old winger, a free agent since leaving West Ham in June, returns to his homeland, where he previously played for Barcelona. Traoré will become the eighth signing of the ambitious Galician club, which is back in La Liga and has already caused a stir with the signing of Aubameyang: the Gabonese has scored twice in his first two league matches for his new team.

🔵⚪️⚡️ Deportivo de A Coruña completed all formal steps to sign Adama Traoré.After Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, also Traoré joins Depor project as @MatteMoretto calls.Here we go, confirmed.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

The pair of veterans could make their joint debut in the home game against Valencia at the Riazor. It's worth noting that during his spell in England, Traoré also played for Wolverhampton, Aston Villa and Fulham, earning a reputation as one of the most explosive dribblers in the Premier League.

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Mokoena finished off a move after a good build up by the home side in the second half in the Betway Premierhsip match.

Bennet Mokoena seals it for Sundowns 👏🟡#SSDiski | #SSFootball | #BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/rNwkkOgrAe

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 26, 2026

Siphesihle Ndlovu scored the second goal late in the second half to earn Amakhosi a point in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

90 + 4’| #RB 2 : 2 #KC Full-time score: (Xulu 8’, 39’) Richards Bay FC 2 : 2 Kaizer Chiefs (Maboe. pen 19’, Ndlovu 77’)#Amakhosi4Life #TheKingdomRises #LoveAndPeace #BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/SkRT9SXpXg

— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) August 26, 2026

Details: According to renowned insider Fabrizio Romano, Galatasaray are closing in on a club-to-club agreement with Milan for Rafael Leão. The deal is being discussed at around €45 million, with the final details between the two clubs still being worked out.

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The Istanbul side are now pushing to get the transfer over the line. However, the agreement between the clubs would not automatically complete the move, as Galatasaray still need to settle personal terms with the Portuguese winger.

Talks with Leão's camp are already taking place, meaning negotiations are progressing on both fronts. Romano's latest update indicates that Galatasaray have made significant progress with Milan, but the player's approval and contractual agreement remain necessary before the transfer can be finalized.

The latest development comes amid intense speculation around Leão's future in recent weeks, with several clubs linked with the Portugal international. Galatasaray, though, are now making a concrete push and discussing the final structure of a €45 million agreement directly with Milan.

🚨🟡🔴 Galatasaray are closing in on club to club agreement for Rafael Leão for €45m deal with details being discussed.Agreement on personal terms also needed with talks taking place with his camp. 🇹🇷Galatasaray are pushing to get the deal done. pic.twitter.com/Z7OcoL8XB5

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

It is worth noting that Leão is under contract with Milan until the summer of 2028. According to Transfermarkt, the 27-year-old winger is currently valued at €50 million.

Reminder: Transfer bombshell from Italy! Aston Villa enter the race for Milan's star winger

Leon scored a scorcher of a goal when under the Pretoria chilly evening as they restored their goalscoring form after a 1-0 loss to Golden Arrows on Sunday.

Bafana Ba Style bounce back and get the job done in front of the Yellow Nation 🔥Mamelodi Sundowns (25', 66' León, 32' Mokoena, 51' Matthews, 90+1' B. Mokoena) 5️⃣➖2️⃣ (46', 69' Ngwenya) AmaZulu FC #Sundowns #BetwayPrem #NeverStopRising pic.twitter.com/5HUuM7yuoJ

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) August 26, 2026

According to The Athletic, Villa have agreed to pay £47.5 million upfront for the 25-year-old striker, with the remaining amount taking the total package to £65 million. Personal terms are now being finalised.

Jackson has been a long-term target for Aston Villa and is reportedly a favourite of manager Unai Emery, who previously worked with the striker at Villarreal.

Jackson joined Chelsea from Villarreal in 2023 after scoring 13 goals for the Spanish club. He spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Bayern Munich, where he helped the German giants win a record-extending 34th Bundesliga title.

During his spell in Germany, Jackson made 23 league appearances, scoring eight goals and providing two assists.

🚨 Aston Villa have agreed a deal worth a total package of £65million to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, of which £47.5m will be paid upfront and player terms in the process of being finalised.More from @David_Ornstein & @J_Tanswell 🔗 https://t.co/a3F14heIbL pic.twitter.com/r38UuLBzJc

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) August 26, 2026

Details: Fabrizio Romano has delivered his famous here we go: Al-Hilal have agreed all the details of the deal to sign Ollie Watkins. Aston Villa have accepted the final bid worth €58.4 million plus €2 million in add-ons for the English striker, giving the green light for the player to travel to Saudi Arabia this week.

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The Saudi giants had four previous bids rejected, with the latest around £45 million, but they kept coming back. Watkins, who agreed personal terms long ago and will reportedly earn around $15 million per year, openly pushed for the move: the 30-year-old skipped the humiliating 0-4 defeat at Brighton, after which he returned to the squad and apologized. Villa only sanctioned the sale after securing a replacement, with the club deep in talks for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson.

🚨🔵⚪️ BREAKING: Al Hilal have now agreed all details of deal to sign Ollie Watkins, here we go!Exclusive details: Aston Villa accepted right now last bid worth €58.4m plus €2m add-ons for the English striker.Green light from #AVFC, travel this week. 💣🟢🇸🇦

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

The striker leaves Birmingham as a modern-day club legend. It's worth noting that Watkins had a contract with Villa until 2028, and last season he helped the team win the Europa League.

Reminder: Strike at Villa Park! Watkins refuses to play and skips the Brighton humiliation.

Details: As Fabrizio Romano confirms, Nico González officially joins Newcastle United on a £47 million plus £3 million add-ons deal from Manchester City. The agreement between the clubs was reached back on Monday, and now the transfer has been fully confirmed.

• Also read: Prediction for the Hibernian vs Gent match: everything will be decided in Edinburgh - 27.08.2026

The 24-year-old Spanish midfielder moved to City from Porto in February 2025 for €60 million, but never secured a starting spot: last season he made 41 appearances, starting only two Premier League games after January. Matthias Jaissle's Newcastle, who tracked the Spaniard throughout the window, see him as a cornerstone of the new project at St James' Park.

🚨⚪️⚫️ Official and confirmed: Nico González joins Newcastle United on £47m plus £3m add-ons deal from Man City.Never in doubt since Monday and now confirmed.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

For City, this sale is part of a major squad overhaul after a disappointing season by their standards. It's worth noting that the Magpies will recoup part of their investment in the future: the deal structure with add-ons could bring the total package to £50 million.

Reminder: Major deal brewing in the Premier League! Newcastle target Manchester City midfielder.

Details: According to After RMC, tensions are growing between the PSG forward and the coaching staff. The week away from training officially presented as a period of rest is reportedly being viewed internally as a disciplinary measure. The situation follows Dembélé's frustration over the UEFA Super Cup match against Aston Villa: the Frenchman was desperate to start and had even trained individually during his holiday to make sure he returned in peak condition, but Luis Enrique ultimately left him out of the starting lineup.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

The decision did not go down well with Dembélé and could represent the first serious breakdown in his relationship with Luis Enrique. Against that backdrop, even a summer departure from Paris can no longer be completely ruled out.

🚨 Tensions are reportedly growing between Ousmane Dembélé and PSG, with his enforced week away from training viewed as a disciplinary measure rather than scheduled rest.Dembélé was desperate to start against Aston Villa and had trained during his holiday to ensure he was… pic.twitter.com/igwcoOwhzJ

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 26, 2026

At the same time, the situation has not yet reached the point of no return. Reports indicate that Dembélé and PSG remain in talks over a new contract despite the current disagreement. It is worth noting that the 29-year-old joined Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, while his existing deal runs until June 2028. Transfermarkt currently values the French forward at €100 million.

Reminder: Alarm in Paris! PSG's main star will miss the big clash against Lille

Details: As exclusively confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are now advancing in club-to-club talks for Honest Ahanor from Atalanta. Personal terms have been agreed with the player, and the clubs enjoy a good relationship after the Palestra deal. The Blues are deciding on the potential future pathway for the 18-year-old.

• Also read: Second leg of the Conference League play-offs: Pafos vs Dinamo City. Match preview for August 27

Ahanor, an Italy international defender, moved from Genoa to Atalanta only last summer for €16 million and immediately made 35 appearances in all competitions, becoming one of Serie A's brightest young talents. The Bergamo club have already rejected two offers for their gem this summer, while Arsenal and Manchester City are also monitoring the situation, so the Londoners are trying to get ahead of the competition.

🚨🔵 Exclusive story, confirmed: Chelsea are now advancing in club to club talks for Honest Ahanor from Atalanta.Personal terms agreed with Honest and good relationship between clubs after Palestra deal.#CFC🔵 are on it, deciding on potential future pathway for Honest.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

Ahanor's arrival would fit Chelsea's strategy of collecting the best young players in Europe. It's worth noting that the defender, born in 2008, is under contract with Atalanta until 2028, and the Italians are in no hurry to sell one of their main assets for cheap.

Reminder: Barcelona turned down as Chelsea star considers only two options.

Details: According to renowned insider Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are now advancing in club-to-club negotiations with Atalanta over a potential transfer of 18-year-old defender Honest Ahanor. The London club have already reached an agreement with the player on personal terms, while talks between the clubs are moving forward.

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Chelsea and Atalanta already have a good working relationship after completing a deal involving Marco Palestra earlier this summer. That connection could now help the Blues in negotiations for another highly rated talent from Bergamo.

Romano reports that Chelsea are considering the potential future pathway for Ahanor rather than viewing the teenager exclusively as an immediate first-team reinforcement. Atalanta sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli had earlier confirmed that the Italian club would evaluate any proposals received for the defender.

🚨🔵 Exclusive story, confirmed: Chelsea are now advancing in club to club talks for Honest Anahor from Atalanta.Personal terms agreed with Honest and good relationship between clubs after Palestra deal.#CFC are on it, deciding on potential future pathway for Honest. pic.twitter.com/inOWoY11LE

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

Ahanor joined Atalanta from Genoa in July 2025 and has quickly established himself as one of the most valuable young defenders in Italian football. The left-footed player can operate both at centre-back and on the left side of defence.

It is worth noting that Ahanor was born on February 23, 2008 and is currently 18 years old. According to Transfermarkt, his market value stands at €30 million, while his contract with Atalanta runs until June 2028.

Reminder: Here we go! Forest pull off a stunning transfer coup with Chelsea striker

Mokoena was injured earlier this season and missed a few of Mamelodi Sundowns matches but on his return at Loftus Versveld he netted a show stopper of a goal.

Back with a bang ⚽🎯Tebza goes top bins from the free kick 🙌📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc #SSDiski pic.twitter.com/3vdQiPNByO

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 26, 2026

Details: According to ESPN Argentina, Atlético Madrid are doing everything possible to push Julián Álvarez to Arsenal. The Madrid club, where Diego Simeone has already sanctioned the sale, wants to resolve the Argentine's future by Friday.

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The Rojiblancos are ready to sell the 26-year-old for around €130 million to any club except Barcelona, and relations with the striker have reached breaking point: after the 2-2 draw with Villarreal, Álvarez left the pitch without greeting the fans, who had whistled him throughout the match. The Gunners, in turn, are preparing a package that could include Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel Jesus and cash, and the player himself has reportedly become more open to moving to London.

🚨 BREAKING: Atlético Madrid are doing EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to push Julian Alvarez to Arsenal.— @ESPNArgentina

— The Touchline | T (@TouchlineX) August 26, 2026

Now everything depends on how quickly the clubs can agree on the structure of a record-breaking deal. It's worth noting that Álvarez needs just one more goal to reach 50 for Atlético, having joined from Manchester City for €75 million in the summer of 2024.

Reminder: London calling? No, thanks! Álvarez turns down Arsenal despite Atletico's green light.

The Oluyole Warriors announced the new partnership in an official post on X, marking the beginning of a new commercial relationship ahead of the club’s domestic and continental campaigns.

“We are proud to announce Chowdeck as our Headline Sponsor for the 2026/27 NPFL season.

“A new season. A shared ambition,” the club stated.

Shooting Stars will begin their NPFL campaign on Friday, August 28, when they host Inter Lagos at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

The Ibadan-based side will also compete in the CAF Confederation Cup this season. They are scheduled to face CS Sfaxien in the first leg in Abeokuta on September 5, with the return fixture set for September 13.

OFFICIAL: CHOWDECK We are proud to announce Chowdeck as our Headline Sponsor for the 2026/27 NPFL season.A new season. A shared ambition. #3SC | #UpShooting | #NPFL27 pic.twitter.com/H1rXMbxhQV

— Shooting Stars SC (@ShootingSc) August 26, 2026

Details: According to Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa have almost closed the agreement with Nicolas Jackson and his camp on personal terms. Unai Emery is personally pushing the transfer, and the Birmingham club are now in official club-to-club talks with Chelsea to get the deal done, willing to spend a package over £60 million.

• Also read: Prediction for the Hibernian vs Gent match: everything will be decided in Edinburgh - 27.08.2026

The 25-year-old Senegalese, who returned to Chelsea after a loan at Bayern Munich, is not part of Xabi Alonso's plans, and the Londoners value him at around £65 million. Villa's move comes amid the saga around Ollie Watkins, who is pushing for a switch to Al-Hilal, while Atlético Madrid are also showing interest in Jackson but are only considering a loan with an obligation to buy, which gives the Birmingham side the edge. Emery knows the striker perfectly from their time together at Villarreal.

🚨🟣🔵 Aston Villa have almost closed the agreement with Nicolas Jackson and his camp on personal terms!Unai Emery, pushing and Aston Villa now in official club to club talks with Chelsea to try get the deal done.#AVFC willing to spend package over £60m to buy Jackson.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

If completed, the deal would be a direct response to the painful 0-4 defeat at Brighton in the last round. It's worth noting that Jackson joined Chelsea from Villarreal three years ago, and since then he has recorded 30 goals and 12 assists for the London club in all competitions.

Reminder: No loans, only cash! Chelsea set strict terms as Jackson's exit enters key days.

Details: According to Marca, Álvarez contacted Atlético on Wednesday morning to report that he had endured a difficult night and was not fit enough to train. The episode reportedly added another layer of tension to an already complicated situation surrounding the Argentine forward.

• Also read: Prediction for Riga vs Klaksvik: everything will be decided in Latvia - 27.08.2026

The report claims Atlético believe there is now only one realistic way for Álvarez to repair his relationship with the club: the striker must publicly apologize on camera and part ways with his agent, Fernando Hidalgo. The relationship between the representative and the Madrid club has deteriorated sharply during the transfer saga.

Marca also reports that in recent days Álvarez has been accompanied more frequently by Sergio, another member of his representation team, while Hidalgo has moved into the background. The striker's entourage has been at the centre of a public dispute with Atlético, with Hidalgo recently responding angrily to criticism from club CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín.

🚨🇦🇷 Julián Alvarez, after contacting the club this morning to inform them that he had had a bad night and was not in a condition to train, has complicated matters even further.Atlético Madrid believe the only possible way to repair the situation is for him to apologise and… pic.twitter.com/Utwy94dRYP

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) August 26, 2026

The situation around Álvarez remains closely linked to his future. Following the events at the Metropolitano last weekend, the Argentine reportedly began to view Arsenal as his only realistic route away from Atlético. The London club continue to be linked with the forward as the final days of the transfer window approach.

It is worth noting that Álvarez remains under contract with Atlético Madrid until June 2030. Dailysports reported earlier today that the 26-year-old missed the club's training session after feeling unwell overnight.

Reminder: Transfer of the century brewing! London giants sacrifice two strikers for their dream target

Mokoena and Iqraam Rayners are back from the doctor's room and are likely to play a key role in this evening's match against AmaZulu at Loftus Versveld.

🚨 𝗠𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗱𝗶 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 🚨Today's injury news update is here! #Sundowns #BetwayPrem #NeverStopRising pic.twitter.com/Zw5Ilqykkq

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) August 26, 2026

Details: According to Efecto Simeone, the London club have presented Atlético Madrid with two huge options for Julián Álvarez: £140 million in cash, or £100 million plus Viktor Gyökeres. If the information is accurate, Arsenal are prepared to sacrifice the Swedish striker as part of an extraordinary attempt to bring the Argentine forward to the Emirates.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

The reported proposal would represent another major escalation in one of the most dramatic transfer stories of the closing stages of the summer window. Arsenal have been repeatedly linked with Álvarez, while Atlético's position over the Argentine has remained one of the key obstacles to any potential agreement.

The inclusion of Gyökeres is particularly striking. Recent reports had already suggested that Arsenal could use the forward in negotiations with Atlético, but the latest claim puts a specific financial structure on the possible deal: either a massive cash payment or a nine-figure fee combined with the Swedish striker.

140 millones de libras / 100 millones + Viktor Gyökeres

— EFECTO (@EfectoSime1) August 26, 2026

It is worth noting that The Independent reported earlier today that Atlético value Álvarez at around £128 million and want the striker's future resolved by Friday. That report also claimed Arsenal could propose Gyökeres, Gabriel Jesus and cash, underlining how aggressively the Gunners are working on a possible deal.

Reminder: Transfer of the century brewing! London giants sacrifice two strikers for their dream target

Arthur Zwane's Usuthu are looking at causing further damage to the already struggling Sundowns who lost 1-0 to Golden Arrows on Sunday in a Cup game.

Hello Tshwane! Our first time out of Khezetheni this season & we are looking forward to tonight’s game here at Loftus Versfeld where the match is to be held. Looks decent. Feels like home. Away team here reporting live. Pho kulindwe bani!#AmaZuluFC… pic.twitter.com/adYiwXnkmK

— AmaZulu FC (@AmaZuluFootball) August 26, 2026

The Ivorian coach’s club, Slovan Bratislava, faces Celje this Wednesday evening at Stadion Z’dezele in Slovenia for the second leg of the final round of the 2026–2027 Champions League playoffs. After the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw in Slovakia, Slovan Bratislava is in Slovenia looking to secure its spot in the league phase.

If the Slovakian team manages to win in Slovenia, the former Ivorian international will become the first African head coach to lead a team to the Champions League league phase. This achievement would be a fitting reward for his strong start at the helm of the Slovak club’s coaching staff.

Since taking over as head coach of Slovan Bratislava this summer, Yaya Touré has maintained a perfect record. In the Slovak league, he has four wins in as many matches played. In the Champions League, his playoff run so far consists of three wins and two draws.

This impressive run puts the Ivorian coach on the verge of an unprecedented achievement for an African coach.

Details: As reported by Daily Mail journalist Mike Keegan, Manchester United broke Premier League kit rules in the match against Hull City by wearing the league badge on only one sleeve. According to regulations, teams without a sleeve sponsor must have the badge on both arms. The club has been reminded of the rule.

• Also read: Prediction for the Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad match: another challenge for 'the Special One' - 26.08.2026

The violation occurred in the very first round of the new season, which turned into a nightmare for Michael Carrick's side: the Red Devils sensationally lost 0-2 away to newly promoted Hull despite having almost 72% possession. The badge blunder only added to the ridicule of a club whose problems now seem to extend to the kit department as well.

🚨🚨| NEW: Manchester United BROKE Premier League kit rules against Hull City by wearing the league badge on only one sleeve.Teams without a sleeve sponsor must have the badge on both arms. United have been reminded of the rule.[@MikeKeegan_DM]

— CentreGoals (@centregoals) August 26, 2026

United will now have to fix their shirts before the next fixture, with no sanctions expected beyond the reminder. It's worth noting that the defeat to Hull was the first time in history the Red Devils lost their opening league match to a promoted side.

Reminder: Carlos Baleba Passes Manchester United medical ahead of £70m Brighton transfer.

Details: According to insider Ben Jacobs, prospective bidders for Leicester City have been given until Monday, September 14 to submit their offers for the club. Leicester are priced at more than £200 million, which is roughly €234 million at the European Central Bank reference exchange rate for August 26.

• Also read: Prediction for Riga vs Klaksvik: everything will be decided in Latvia - 27.08.2026

There is an important financial detail surrounding the potential takeover. Jacobs stresses that the reported valuation does not factor in the debt that would be inherited by the new owners, meaning the headline price is not the only financial commitment attached to the club.

One of the parties currently involved in talks is a consortium led by businessman Neil Lal. His group has already been linked with an attempt to acquire Leicester and remains among the prospective bidders as the deadline for formal offers approaches.

No agreement has been completed at this stage. Interested groups still have until September 14 to make their offers, while Jacobs did not identify the other parties involved in negotiations or disclose the size of Leicester's inherited debt.

🚨 Exclusive: Prospective Leicester City bidders have been given until Monday 14 September to make offers.Club priced at over £200m. Valuation does not factor in inherited debt.Neil Lal-led consortium one group in talks.🦊 pic.twitter.com/2xxsljxsLx

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) August 26, 2026

It is worth noting that Leicester produced one of the greatest shocks in English football history by winning the Premier League in the 2015/16 season, finishing ten points clear of Arsenal. Ten years later, the Foxes are competing in EFL League One in the 2026/27 campaign.

Reminder: Money madness! England's top flight is gearing up for a billion-pound week

Goss started in the MTN8 1-0 to Golden Arrows but for this evening's Betway Premiership match, Willimans is back in goals for the Brazilians.

Also back in the staring line-up is Columbian striker Brayan Leon as Lebo Mothiba is dropped from the match-day squad.

🚨𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙍𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙓𝙄🚨🆚 AmaZulu FC⏰ 19H30 🏟 Loftus Versfeld 📺 SS 205#Sundowns #BetwayPrem #NeverStopRising pic.twitter.com/2LLnmaOPTR

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) August 26, 2026

Details: Barcelona president Joan Laporta has issued a statement through the club's official social media channels, explaining the Catalans' version of events surrounding their pursuit of Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez. His comments come amid a fierce public dispute after Atlético insisted there was a 0% chance of selling the Argentine to Barcelona and said the matter had become one of dignity rather than money.

• Also read: Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: A Convincing Barca Victory at Home?

Laporta decided to explain the negotiations in detail and stressed that Barcelona initially approached Atlético directly and respected the Madrid club's refusal to sell the forward. However, according to the Barcelona president, the situation changed after the Catalans received information that Atlético had started negotiating with other clubs.

Laporta said:

“I’d like to explain how everything happened, because at Barcelona we made an offer to Atlético de Madrid, club to club. I personally confirmed that offer during a private phone conversation I had with Miguel Ángel Gil Marín. He told me they had no intention of selling the player because they didn’t have a replacement for him looking toward the future. I told him we were interested in the player and that, of course, we respected their position of not wanting to sell him. But if they found a replacement during the current summer transfer window, we’d be interested in signing him. So, after Atlético Madrid confirmed they wouldn’t sell him, we said: ‘Okay, we’ll leave it for later,’ because, in principle, they didn’t have a replacement and therefore we couldn’t sign the player. What happened next? We received information at the club that Atlético de Madrid was negotiating with other clubs about selling the player. Naturally, after receiving that information, we said we were still holding our proposal and our offer, because everyone knows the player wants to come to Barcelona.”

🚨 A dramatic new chapter in the Julián Álvarez saga: Barcelona president Joan Laporta has released a statement through the club’s official social media channels. 👀🔵🔴🇪🇸🗣️ Laporta: ““I’d like to explain how everything happened, because at Barcelona we made an offer to… pic.twitter.com/jzAOoSjDQ3

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 26, 2026

It is worth noting that Álvarez joined Atlético Madrid from Manchester City in 2024. Since then, the Argentine forward has recorded 49 goals and 17 assists in 107 appearances for the Madrid club.

Reminder: Scandal! Atlético hit Barcelona with brutal Álvarez statement

Amakhosi will be hoping to maintain their three-match unbeaten run since the PSL season started when they face the Natal Rich Boyz at Princess Magogo Stadium.

Betway Premiership: Richards Bay FC vs. Kaizer ChiefsStarting 11: Petersen ©, Monyane, Kwinika, Miguel, Moloisane, Maboe, Ndlovu, Shabalala, Mmodi, Vilakazi, BaartmanSubs: Leaner, Solomons, Frosler, Mthethwa, Mtasingwa, Duba, Ighodaro, Velebayi, AbrahamsHead Coach: Fernando… pic.twitter.com/pZC087cu4t

— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) August 26, 2026

Details: According to BBC Sport, UEFA is set to drop its threat to boycott FIFA competitions after receiving key assurances. The European governing body has been guaranteed there will be no repeat of Gianni Infantino's plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.

• Also read: Can Tottenham find the winning path? League Cup clash preview against Charlton, August 26

The scandal erupted on July 30, when all 55 UEFA member associations unanimously voted to boycott FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, after Infantino proposed selling up to 20% of the new commercial entity FIFA Forward Enterprise, valued at $20 billion, to private investors. Under pressure from UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC, the FIFA president withdrew the project and even apologized, but the Europeans insisted their trust in him was lost for good. The decision to lift the boycott threat clears the way for European teams to take part in the U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland next month.

🚨🚨| JUST IN: UEFA set to DROP threat to boycott FIFA competitions after receiving key assurances. 🕊🌍UEFA have received assurances there will be no repeat of Infantino's plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.[@BBCSport]

— CentreGoals (@centregoals) August 26, 2026

However, this is not a capitulation: sources insist UEFA's opposition to Infantino remains unchanged, and Aleksander Ceferin has already warned that the FIFA president must either resign or face a leadership challenge in March. It's worth noting that the failed project promised to double the funding for each of FIFA's 211 member associations from $10 million to $20 million over four years.

Reminder: Infantino surrenders! FIFA president officially abandons the most controversial project.

Details: According to renowned insider Fabrizio Romano, the Albanian midfielder has agreed to join Al Jazira from Inter. A verbal agreement is now in place between Asllani and the Emirati club over his contract, with Romano giving the transfer his trademark here we go confirmation.

• Also read: Prediction for Riga vs Klaksvik: everything will be decided in Latvia - 27.08.2026

Inter are expected to receive a €2 million loan fee for the 24-year-old, while the agreement will also include an option to buy worth more than €5 million. The clause could become mandatory depending on the number of appearances Asllani makes for Al Jazira.

The latest development represents a major step forward compared with the situation a day earlier, when the clubs had already found common ground but the player's personal terms were still being discussed. Asllani has now accepted the destination, clearing one of the most important remaining obstacles to the move.

🚨🇦🇪 Kristjan Asllani has agreed to join Al Jazira from Inter, here we go! 🇦🇱Verbal agreement in place between Asllani and Al Jazira on the contract, Inter to get €2m loan fee plus option to buy clause l over €5m.The option can become mandatory based on appearances. pic.twitter.com/G8hjmhJLyv

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

Asllani returned to Inter this summer following loan spells with Torino and Besiktas. During his spell with the Turkish club in the second half of last season, the Albania international made 17 appearances and scored two goals. It is worth noting that Transfermarkt currently values him at €12 million, while his Inter contract runs until June 2028.

Reminder: From Milan to Abu Dhabi? Inter midfielder opens doors to sensational move

Details: According to The Telegraph, Premier League clubs are expected to spend over £1 billion on transfers before the window ends in six days, on Tuesday, September 1 at 11pm.

• Also read: Prediction for the Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad match: another challenge for 'the Special One' - 26.08.2026

English top-flight clubs have already spent more than £2 billion this summer, and the final week traditionally brings a flurry of blockbuster deals. The main storyline of the deadline could be the Julián Álvarez saga, with Arsenal ready to offer Atlético Madrid a package including Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel Jesus and cash, while moves are also expected at Tottenham, Manchester United and other giants. Eleven Premier League clubs have already broken their transfer records in this window.

🚨 JUST IN: Premier League clubs are expected to spend over £1 billion on transfers before the window ends in 6 days – The Telegraph

— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) August 26, 2026

Last summer set an all-time record with around £3 billion spent by the league, and this window is on course to challenge that mark. It's worth noting that the single most expensive deal of the previous window was Alexander Isak's £125 million move to Liverpool, completed right on deadline day.

Reminder: Saudi millions knock on Arsenal's door! Al-Hilal make official move for Martinelli.

According to transfer journalist Ekrem Konur, Betis have identified Amrabat as a priority target, with Pellegrini believing the midfielder can add greater balance and solidity to his squad.

Fenerbahçe’s financial demands are currently the main obstacle to the deal. Betis could explore alternative options, including a loan with a purchase option or a deal involving instalment payments.

Amrabat is reportedly open to returning to Spain, but an agreement between the clubs is yet to be reached.

The 29-year-old is currently training individually with Fenerbahçe as he waits for clarity over his future during the final days of the transfer window.

🚨#Fenerbahçe Real Betis want to sign Sofyan Amrabat, with manager Manuel Pellegrini pushing for the deal to add balance and solidity to his midfield.💰 Fenerbahçe’s high financial demands remain the main obstacle; the issue is purely economic.📌 Betis could negotiate… https://t.co/YmJh8S7QHt pic.twitter.com/vdLS04SoNo

— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) August 26, 2026

Details: According to The Athletic, Sunderland have submitted an offer to sign Manchester City winger Jack Grealish. The Black Cats are proposing a loan deal for the 30-year-old, with Manchester City covering part of the player's salary.

• Also read: Qarabag vs Twente: Azerbaijanis one step away from the main stage - 27.08.2026

The proposed agreement could also include a route towards a permanent transfer. Grealish's current contract with Manchester City expires next summer, and Sunderland would have the possibility of keeping the English winger beyond the initial loan spell.

At the same time, Sunderland are not focusing exclusively on Grealish. The club are also pursuing Igor Paixao in parallel as they look to reinforce their attacking options before the transfer window closes. At this stage, however, the report only confirms that an offer has been submitted for Grealish, with no final agreement between the clubs announced.

🚨 EXCL: Sunderland submit offer to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City. Bid for 30yo winger loan with #MCFC covering part of salary + possibility to become permanent next summer when contract ends. #SAFC pursuing Igor Paixao in parallel @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/RzQWmRrQ9t

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 26, 2026

It is worth noting that Grealish's Manchester City contract runs until June 30, 2027. Transfermarkt currently values the 30-year-old left winger at €20 million.

Reminder: €100m and here we go! Man City agree deal for 2026 World Cup superstar

To kick off their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Burkina Faso national team will host Benin on 25 September at the Stade du 04 Août in Ouagadougou. The Stallions will be looking to come through this home West African derby successfully to put themselves in a strong position in Group F right from the start of this qualifying campaign.

Three days later, on 28 September, Burkina Faso will take on the Central African Republic. As there is no approved stadium in the Central African Republic, this match will not be played in Bangui but in Casablanca, Morocco, where the Central Africans have chosen to relocate their home fixtures.

These first two matchdays will determine the Stallions’ progress in the qualifiers for the tournament, which is to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in 2027. Burkina Faso were knocked out in the round of 16 at the last Africa Cup of Nations, held in Morocco.

Details: Romano Floriani Mussolini, the 23-year-old great-grandson of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, has made his senior debut for Lazio, coming off the bench against Bologna on Monday. The defender entered the pitch in the 19th minute of the match at the Renato Dall'Ara, which Lazio won 1-0 thanks to Davide Frattesi's goal.

• Also read: Vienna against the Scots' away woes: prediction for Rapid vs Hearts - 26.08.2026

The symbolism of the venue was hard to miss: the stadium in Bologna was opened back in the era when his great-grandfather ruled Italy. Romano, a product of Lazio's academy, spent the last three seasons on loan at Pescara, Juve Stabia and Cremonese, making his Serie A debut with the latter a year ago. The player himself has always stressed that he wants to be known only for his football: my surname bothers other people more than me, the less said about it, the better, he once said.

🚨 DID YOU KNOW: Benito Mussolini's great-grandson has made his senior debut for Lazio.Romano Floriani Mussolini, 23, came off the bench against Bologna on Monday.His great-grandfather was the fascist dictator who ruled Italy during World War II, but Romano has always made it clear that he only wants to be known for his football career.🗣️ Mussolini: "My surname bothers other people more than me. The less said about it, the better."

— The Touchline | T (@TouchlineX) August 26, 2026

Gennaro Gattuso, who threw the defender into the fray, clearly counts on him for the season ahead. It's worth noting that Floriani Mussolini, who wears the number 15 shirt, is under contract with the Roman club until the summer of 2028, and Transfermarkt values him at €2.5 million.

Reminder: Striker hunt! Spalletti identifies two main candidates for Juventus attack.

Details: According to authorized Atlético Madrid sources cited by Marca, the Spanish club have delivered an extremely tough response amid Barcelona's continued pursuit of Julián Álvarez. The Madrid side insist there is a 0% chance of selling the Argentine striker to Barça and stress that their position is no longer connected to the size of a potential transfer fee.

• Also read: Battle for the first win of the season. Prediction for the Celta Vigo vs Osasuna match

Atlético claim Barcelona's actions around the transfer saga have harmed the club economically and socially. The Madrid hierarchy described the issue as one of dignity rather than money and accused those involved in the situation of creating a campaign built around numerous lies and half-truths.

The club also rejected the narrative that Álvarez is the main victim of the controversy. Atlético's position is that the player is being portrayed as the injured party while the real damage has been suffered by the club itself amid months of speculation over a possible move to Barcelona.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta had previously reiterated the Catalans' strong interest in Álvarez and confirmed that an offer had been made for the forward. Atlético's latest response, however, leaves no ambiguity over their current stance toward a direct sale to the Catalan giants.

🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Atlético Madrid RESPONDS!"They [Barça] have HARMED us economically and socially. There is 0% chance we will sell him to Barça.""It's not about money. It's about dignity. There is 0% we will sell him to Barça, there is a campaign going on with many lies."… pic.twitter.com/j0COappHfw

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 26, 2026

It's worth noting that Álvarez made 29 La Liga appearances for Atlético in the 2025/26 season, scoring 8 goals and providing 4 assists. His contract with the Madrid club runs until June 2030, while Transfermarkt currently estimates his market value at €100 million.

Reminder: A principled ultimatum! Atlético allows Álvarez to leave, but on one condition

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Monaco have approached the Senegal international’s representatives to discuss a possible season-long loan move.

“AS Monaco have made an approach with Pape Matar Sarr’s camp over a possible loan move. Discussions took place about the project and salary,” Romano reported.

Sarr was not included in Tottenham’s squad for their opening Premier League match against Brentford at the weekend.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that the 23-year-old missed the game due to a minor hamstring injury.

🚨🔴⚪️ AS Monaco have made approach with Pape Matar Sarr’s camp over possible loan move.Discussions took place about project and salary. pic.twitter.com/02Jc2eByet

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported that the deal has been agreed in principle, with the clubs now exchanging documents as they work towards completing the transfer.

“Bayer Leverkusen agree deal to sign Moussa Diaby, here we go! Verbal agreement done with Al Ittihad.”

Diaby is no stranger to Leverkusen, having spent four successful seasons with the German club between 2019 and 2023.

During his first spell, the winger made 172 appearances, scoring 49 goals and establishing himself as one of the Bundesliga's most exciting attacking players.

In 2023, Diaby left Leverkusen to join Aston Villa in a deal reportedly worth around €50 million. However, his time in the Premier League lasted just one season before he moved to Saudi Arabia to join Al-Ittihad.

🚨🔴⚫️ Bayer Leverkusen agree deal to sign Moussa Diaby, here we go!Verbal agreement done with Al Ittihad as @NocksVon reports on Kicker. Documents being exchanged. pic.twitter.com/TwBMB0P8FY

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

His last club was CF Intercity in Spain, where he played most recently. But before this final chapter, Nsue enjoyed a varied career. He represented Real Sociedad, RCD Mallorca, Middlesbrough, Birmingham City, Apollon Limassol and APOEL Nicosia.

But Emilio Nsue is now closing this major chapter of his life after more than two decades on the pitch. It was in a message that the Equatorial Guinean striker announced his decision to hang up his boots.

"THE TIME HAS COME TO SAY GOODBYE

More than two decades of living the dream that a 9-year-old boy once had.

"Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. To those who were there from the start, to those who joined later, and to everyone who made this journey unforgettable.

"Today I am closing a chapter, but not a story.

"Thank you for everything. Emilio Nsue López”

Details: According to the latest update shared by Matteo Moretto, the 20-year-old right-back is on the verge of joining Real Sociedad. Negotiations have reached the final stage, while Fort has already given the green light to the San Sebastián club's project.

• Also read: Prediction for the Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad match: another challenge for 'the Special One' - 26.08.2026

The deal is expected to be permanent. The reported transfer fee is €8 million, while Barcelona are set to retain a 50% sell-on clause. Such a structure would allow the Catalan club to benefit significantly if Real Sociedad decide to sell the defender in the future.

Fort's approval is one of the decisive details as the clubs work through the final formalities. The move would keep the La Masia graduate in La Liga and offer him a new opportunity to compete for regular playing time.

🚨🔵⚪️ Hector Fort, on the verge of joining Real Sociedad from Barcelona.Deal at final stages as @MatteMoretto reports with €8m fee and 50% sell-on clause, per @JijantesFC.Fort says yes to the project. pic.twitter.com/XZs1eLTBOm

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

It’s worth noting that Fort spent last season on loan at Elche, where he made 17 appearances, scored three goals and provided two assists. Barcelona's official website confirms those numbers, while Transfermarkt lists his contract with Barcelona until June 2029 and values him at €12 million.

Reminder: Fight for a place in the squad! Barcelona defender decides on his future

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported that the agreement has been reached in principle, with Brentford set to pay a £35 million fixed fee plus add-ons.

“Brentford reach verbal agreement to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf from West Ham at £40m package, here we go!”

The deal is yet to be formally completed, with documents still needing to be signed before the transfer can be finalised.

Diouf is expected to become the latest player to leave West Ham following their relegation from the Premier League.

The 21-year-old Senegal international joined the Hammers from Slavia Prague last year and quickly established himself as an important member of the squad.

He made 34 appearances across all competitions last season, starting 32 of those matches and providing five assists.

🚨🔴⚪️ Brentford reach verbal agreement to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf from West Ham at £40m package, here we go!Documents yet to be signed but deal agreed in principle at £35m fix plus add-ons.Diouf keen on Brentford project — follows @Santi_J_FM. Deal in place. 🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/PsaqCANfTQ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026