All posts by n8rngtd.top

Ruben Amorim's side have made their move as they bid to beat Newcastle to the RB Leipzig striker and bring him to Old Trafford this summer.

• Man Utd make initial Sesko offer
• Battling Newcastle for RB Leipzig star
• Striker must now decide which move to make

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils have offered €75 million (£65m) plus €10m (£8.6m) in add-ons for the 22-year-old, according to The Athletic. United are battling Newcastle for the striker's signature but appear to have offered slightly less than the Magpies. Eddie Howe's side have reportedly made a second bid of €90m (£78m), including add-ons, for Sesko as they search for a potential replacement for Alexander Isak.

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  RB Leipzig are yet to respond to United's offer but the Red Devils believe that Sesko would rather head to Old Trafford than St James' Park, according to David Ornstein. United have already spent heavily this summer, bringing in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to bolster their attack after struggling for goals last season. Amorim's side have also been credited with interest in Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins but appear to have prioritised Sesko instead.

• TELL ME MORE…

  Newcastle's interest in Sesko has emerged amid speculation top scorer Isak could leave for Liverpool. The Sweden international's future at the club is uncertain after he missed their pre-season tour to Asia and was spotted training alone at former club Real Sociedad. A bid from Liverpool has been rejected already by the Magpies, but their stance on his future could change if Sesko can be convinced to join the club.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR SESKO?

  Manchester United and Newcastle now face an anxious wait to see if Sesko can be prised from Leipzig in time for the start of the new season. The Red Devils kick off their campaign against Arsenal, while Newcastle take on Aston Villa.

Sports Interactive have unveiled the first teaser for Football Manager 26, and it promises to be the most visually rich and immersive edition yet.

• FM26 teaser revealed
• First look at new matchday visuals
• Premier League licence included

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The makers of the iconic football management simulation have confirmed Football Manager 26 is on its way. In a teaser clip sent to fans, Sports Interactive revealed the new edition will be their "most immersive and visually rich" release to date, giving players more control over their footballing destiny than ever before.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sports Interactive’s switch to the Unity enginge is a significant shift for the long-running series, opening the door to enhanced graphics, animations and presentation. With the official Premier League licence now fully integrated, matchday visuals are expected to be more lifelike than ever – something fans have been requesting for years.

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• Sports Interactive
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR FM26?

  No release date has been given yet, but the studio has promised more updates in the coming weeks. For now, fans can only sit and patiently wait after seeing the 2025 edition scrapped to focus on bringing huge upgrades for FM26.

Barcelona have reopened talks with Frenkie de Jong, offering a fresh contract after withdrawing their previous proposal amid agent issues.

• De Jong switched agents after fallout with Ali Dursun
• New representative met Deco at club's headquarters
• Renewal could help with FFP, similar to Kounde’s case

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Barcelona have presented De Jong with a new contract proposal after withdrawing their previous offer last November. The ex-Ajax midfielder, whose current deal expires next June, recently appointed a new agent, Sebastien Ledure, following a dispute with long-time representative Ali Dursun. Ledure met with sporting director Deco to restart negotiations, with both sides signalling their intent to reach an agreement.

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  The change of representation has smoothed relations between De Jong and the club, who now want to secure his future without exceeding their financial limits. Barca’s fresh proposal is a two-year deal, with the option of a third year based on performance. The Dutch international has regained top form under Hansi Flick, playing a vital role alongside Pedri, and his renewal could also support the Catalan giants' Financial Fair Play situation, much like Jules Kounde’s.

• TELL ME MORE…

  De Jong’s previous agent failed to respond to the club’s three-year extension offer, prompting the club to withdraw it. His new lawyer-agent, Ledure, has reopened talks with Deco, confirming the midfielder’s desire to stay long term. The 28-year-old would be tied to Barcelona until 2028 under the latest terms, with the possibility of a further season added. His importance to Flick’s system makes him a high-priority renewal, though the club may delay finalising it until departures and new registrations are handled.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA AND DE JONG?

  Barca and De Jong’s camp will continue discussions in the coming weeks. The Catalan giants remain confident of reaching an agreement, but timing will depend on outgoing transfers and Financial Fair Play clearance. For now, the midfielder’s future looks firmly set in Barcelona.

Christopher Nkunku could mark a sensational return to RB Leipzig as Chelsea remain keen on Xavi Simons. But the Frenchman must accept a hefty pay cut.

• Leipzig could make a move for Nkunku
• Frenchman keen on leaving Chelsea
• Forward must accept 75% pay cut at German side

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  RB Leipzig are reportedly seriously considering a sensational return for former star Nkunku, according to . The 27-year-old Frenchman left Leipzig for Chelsea in 2023 for €60 million (£52m/$70m), and although initial rumours seemed unlikely, talks are now gaining traction.

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  A potential Nkunku move could serve as a key bargaining chip in Leipzig’s negotiations with Chelsea over Xavi Simons. The Netherlands international has long agreed personal terms with the Premier League side and is pushing for a transfer. However, the Blues must first offload players like Nkunku before making an official offer, as the Bundesliga side remain adamant on their asking price of €70 million (£60m/$82m).

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The major hurdle remains Nkunku's reported €20m (£17m/$23m) salary in London, double what he earned in Leipzig. With a new internal salary cap of €5m, Leipzig would only consider a deal if the Frenchman agrees a 75 per cent pay cut. Indeed, per , sporting director Marcel Schafer has been informed by the Leipzig hierarchy to reduce the salary budget by 20%.

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• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Nkunku was inching closer to a move to Bayern Munich, but the deal is on the verge of a collapse after Chelsea refused to send the forward on loan. The Club World Cup winners value Nkunku — on a contract until 2029 — at €50m (£43m/$58m). The player is also eager to make a permanent switch in order to put an end to his misery at Stamford Bridge. It also remains to be seen what happens to Chelsea's pursuit of Alejandro Garnacho, with Manchester United slapping a £50m ($68m) price tag on the Argentine.

Everton have confirmed the signing of former Chelsea youth player Tyler Dibling from Southampton. The Toffees finally answered manager David Moyes' desperate plea for new signings as they secured the transfer for the 19-year-old winger. Everton started the new season with a defeat against Leeds United but bounced back strongly beating Brighton last weekend.

• Everton sign Dibling from Southampton
• 19-year-old winger pens four-year deal
• Everton answer Moyes' transfer plea

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Dibling, who made his senior debut for Southampton in 2023, has left the club after two years to continue to play in the Premier League, signing for Everton on a four-year contract that will be valid until 2029.

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• WHAT DIBLING SAID

  After signing for the Toffees, Dibling told : “I'm buzzing to sign. I felt the club already, even before I was in the building, just from social media and from people telling me about the club. I've never been so excited to play football and I'm just ready to get going. I think it's the perfect match because of where the club is right now. Obviously with the new stadium, the fans here are unreal and it has a family feel to it. I think it was the perfect fit and was a no-brainer to join.

  “I think I’ve come to Everton at the perfect time and hopefully I can be here for many years. [The Brighton win] gave me a feel for the club. It looked unbelievable. I also played in the last men’s game at Goodison. It was so loud. I was looking around and thinking, 'This is quality'. That was a really good insight for me into what it's like here with the fans and the atmosphere they can create. There's no better feeling than when you're doing well in football and to feel that love from the fans is one of the best feelings ever. I'm excited to play here."

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  On getting an opportunity to work under Moyes, the teenager added: "I think the manager is perfect for me. Obviously he's helped so many players before who were in my position. I've spoken to him and I know he's going to be good for me. There are so many players here to learn from, real quality players like Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye. 

  "I’d say the wow factor in my game is my dribbling. That’s what I’m best at and that’s what I want to excite the fans, and I hope I’ll get to do a lot of it. My aim for this season is just to play as many games as I can and to help the team as much as I can with goals and assists. As a team, hopefully we can have a good season and see where it goes."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR EVERTON?

  The Merseyside club will next face Mansfield Town at home in a Carabao Cup second round clash on Wednesday before taking on Wolves in the Premier League.

Neymar tried to make an on-pitch bet with fellow Brazil legend Thiago Silva during Santos’ clash with Fluminense.

• Veteran stars lined up against one another
• Colleagues with PSG and Brazil national team
• Light-hearted tussle during domestic outing

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Two iconic figures in Brazilian football lined up against one another in a contest that finished 0-0. Neymar and Thiago Silva spent three years as team-mates at Paris Saint-Germain, while being international colleagues for several years.

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  While they are close friends, that relationship is put to one side when locking horns in competitive action. The pair enjoyed a light-hearted battle when shoving one another during their latest meeting.

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  WHAT THIAGO SILVA SAID

  Ex-Chelsea and AC Milan defender Thiago Silva told afterwards: “It's very special to face friends. We hear a lot of nonsense from the outside: 'Ah, they welcomed Neymar with kisses, hugs…' Before the rivalry, there's a strong brotherly friendship. And that doesn't mean we don't want to win against each other anymore.”

  He added on one incident late in the first half that saw Neymar try to get under the skin of a familiar foe: “In the middle of the match, he said to me: ‘Let's bet that I'm going to score a goal and win the match’. I replied: ‘I prefer not to’. These conversations, these interactions are part of the game.”

Casemiro opted to remain at Manchester United over a transfer to Al-Nassr, with the 2026 World Cup a key factor in the Brazilian's decision.

• Casemiro had Saudi Pro League option
• Could have reunited with Ronaldo at Al-Nassr
• Wanted best chance of taking part in World Cup

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 33-year-old chose to remain at United, where he is "very happy", in order to have the best chance of representing his nation at the World Cup next summer, GOAL understands. Casemiro is a 'trusted man' of new national team manager Carlo Ancelotti and the former Real Madrid star will feel he still has a role to play for his country if he has a strong season in the Premier League.

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  Casemiro has made 77 appearances for Brazil dating back to 2011 and has seen a return to the set-up under his former Los Blancos boss Ancelotti after the Italian took over the Selecao earlier this year. It has been 23 years since Brazil tasted World Cup glory – but the record five-time winners will hope that the appointment of a serial winner such as Ancelotti will give them the best possible chance in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Though a lucrative chance to reunite with former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo may have appeared enticing to Casemiro, the midfield destroyer opted to remain at Old Trafford and play his part in the Ruben Amorim rebuild. Casemiro has made 128 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 17 goals.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CASEMIRO?

  The 33-year-old currently sees his contract at United expire next summer and may decide to revisit the option of a Saudi exit following the World Cup. In the meantime he will aim to do all he can to secure a spot on the plane to North America, knowing that World Cup glory could be the crowning moment in a glittering career.

The Bianconeri were on track for three points until a 96th minute equalizer from Lazio forced them to settle for a point

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• Juventus draw Lazio 1-1
• USMNT's McKennie notched assist on Juve's lone goal
• hit a roadblock in race for UCL next season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. international Weston McKennie recorded a crucial assist as Juventus drew Lazio 1-1 in Serie A action on Saturday. Three points were on the verge for as the final whistle neared, but a 96th-minute equalizer from Lazio forced them to settle for a point on the day.

  France international Randal Kolo-Muani scored Juventus' lone goal, with McKennie looping in a pinpoint cross for the striker to head home into the back of the net. A needless straight red card was issued to defender Pierre Kalulu in the 60th minute, which put them in a defensive position for the final 30-plus minutes of the match.They caved with seconds to spare as Matias Vecino tapped home to secure Lazio a draw.

  A clash between the top six in Italy, both clubs now sit level on 64 points with two games left in the Serie A campaign – and the fourth and final UCL spot in the 2025-26 season up for grabs.

  Fellow USMNT regular Tim Weah started the match for Juve as well, with both Americans playing 90 minutes throughout the contest.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With just a point on the day, Juventus maintain their fourth place spot in Serie A on 64 points – with Lazio moving into fifth, but level with the at 64. Sixth-place Roma, who have a game in hand over both teams, sit on 63 points.

  With two matches remaining on the calendar, the fourth and final UCL spot in Serie A will come down to the wire, with three teams rightly in the mix for the spot – and two others, seventh-place Bologna and eighth-place Milan – not far behind.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JUVENTUS?

  The are back in action next weekend against Udinese, in the penultimate match of the Serie A campaign. With the draw on Saturday, they're now in a must-win position over the final two weeks if they want to secure UCL soccer in the 2025-26 season.

Lamine Yamal might go up against Lionel Messi when Spain will face Argentina in the Finalissima clash between European and South American champions.

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• UEFA sets the ball rolling for another finalissima
• All stakeholders meet in Paraguay
• Preparations begin for another high-voltage contest

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Key stakeholders from the global footballing community recently convened in Asuncion, Paraguay, to lay the groundwork for the upcoming Finalissima. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 75th FIFA Congress and featured representatives from CONMEBOL, UEFA, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

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  The summit covered various strategic and operational aspects required to stage a high-profile event such as the Finalissima. Although the final date and location are yet to be announced, both federations expressed a commitment to delivering a memorable event that reflects the calibre of the competing nations and the growing importance of the fixture as an elite football spectacle.

• WHAT UEFA SAID

  UEFA put out a statement which read: "Representatives of CONMEBOL, UEFA, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) held their first face-to-face meeting for the organisation of the men's Finalissima, where the champions of the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024 and UEFA EURO 2024 will play against each other.

  "The objective was to begin coordinating preparations for this prestigious fixture, which in this edition will be contested between the national teams of Argentina and Spain. The meeting was attended by the President of the AFA, Claudio Tapia, and the President of the RFEF, Rafael Louzan, along with the administrative teams of CONMEBOL and UEFA. During the meeting, key issues such as institutional objectives, organisational responsibilities, logistical planning, competition schedules for both teams and tentative dates for the match were discussed."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Argentina enters the Finalissima as the reigning champions of the competition, having claimed the title in 2022 when they dominated Italy 3-0 at Wembley Stadium. That edition marked the revival of the intercontinental fixture, designed to pit the best of Europe against the best of South America.

The 7v7 World Championships returns to North Carolina as teams from around the world compete for the $1 million men's, women's prizes

CARY, N.C. – The morning air at WakeMed Soccer Park carried a quiet buzz on Monday, as players from across the globe trickled into the stadium for the first of two media days. The grass was damp but freshly trimmed, the breeze offering brief relief from the early North Carolina heat.

Some arrived juggling a ball, others slung boot bags over their shoulders. Most smiled. But all had the same look – focused, sharp. They didn’t come for vacation.

They came to win. After all, there’s a million dollars on the line.

The Soccer Tournament 2025 is back. The 7v7 World Championships have returned, and the $1 million prize pool returns in both the men's and women's divisions. Six days, 134 total matches, 64 teams in the winner-takes-all competition.

"I'm here to win, of course," former MLS MVP and Italy international Sebastian Giovinco told GOAL on Monday at TST Media Day. "I love the game, whenever I can play, it's always a pleasure."

Giovinco, who scored six goals last year in a breakout first campaign at TST, returns with Kwik GOAL FC in 2025, alongside former U.S. international Jimmy Conrad and former two-time MLS MVP and Canada star Dwayne De Rosario.

In 2024, over 70,000 fans made their way to WakeMed for the tournament, and with it being bigger and better than ever in 2025, there are expectations that they will surpass that mark as stars take center stage this year.

"I think that's what's really cool," co-founder and NBA star Chris Paul told WRAL. "Over the years, we've had a number of people, right? Obviously, Hope [Solo] is there. It's really cool to see Mia Hamm there coaching [the U.S. Women], to see [Chad] Ochocinco there, to see J.J. Watt there, to see Steve Nash and whatnot, and then even some of the teams that come [like] Wrexham, Dortmund — whatever team it may be, to see some of the guys [it's cool].

"This isn't just messing around. This is a million dollars on the line. So to see the competitiveness that goes into TST, I think that is what makes it special."

In the third year of the tournament, the competition is slated to bring some of the world's most exciting clubs to the U.S., with representatives from Germany, England, Italy, Spain – among others – all competing for the million-dollar prize.

GOAL takes a look at this year's competition, sharing some mouth-watering Group Stage matchups, looking at players to watch, the history of the tournament, and more.

• The Soccer Tournament
  

  What fans need to know: Key players, teams, dates

  Key men's players and teams: Sergio Aguero and Seleccion Potrero, Luis Nani and Nani SC, Marc Albrighton and Wrexham Red Dragons, Pat McAfee and THE CONCAFA SC

  Key women's players and teams: Hope Solo and Solo SC, Carli Lloyd and US Women, Jenny Chiu and Speedy Turtles

  Group Stage outline: TST’s men’s bracket splits up 48 teams into 12 groups of four, while in the women’s tournament, the 16 teams are split into four groups of four.

  Key dates and streaming information: Everything fans need to know for key dates of the competition, where to watch each match, and when all the action goes down can be found in GOAL'sguide.

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• The Soccer Tournament
  

  Rules and regulations

  Matches are played seven versus seven, with 20-minute halves on 65×45-yard grass pitches. Slide tackling is not allowed, and there are zero draws.

  At the end of regulation, matches go into Target Score Time – a TST-exclusive format that is implemented at the end of regulation.

  Target Score Time

  Target Score Time guarantees each match ends with a game-winning goal. After the full-time whistle, a Target Score is set that is calculated from the leading team's score plus one. The teams then play an untimed period of play called Target Score Time until one of them reaches the target score. To amplify the intensity, a player is removed from each team every three minutes until the Target Score is reached.

• The Soccer Tournament
  

  Must-watch men's group stage matches

  + Seleccion Potrero (Sergio Aguero's team) vs Atletico de Madrid – June 4, 8 p.m. ET (YouTube)

  + Borussia Dortmund vs Plymouth Argyle – June 5, 12:30 p.m. ET (YouTube)

  + Nani FC vs Club America – June 5, p.m. ET (YouTube)

  + Wrexham Red Dragons vs The CONCAFA SC – June 5, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU/ESPN+)

  Among the matches to watch, Paul is eagerly anticipating watching CONCAFA vs. Wrexham at TST.

  “That is going to be crazy,” he said. “First of all, because Pat [McAfee's] following is like none other. Obviously, Pat does the show from there, so this team is already going to be energised and excited, but no one really travels to the TST like Wrexham.

  “Wrexham shows up in a whole different way, it’s red everywhere in that stadium! The only team that probably travels better is the women’s national soccer team, so that game against Wrexham, that’s going to be a good one."

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• AFP
  

  Must-watch women's group stage matches

  + Wrexham Red Dragons vs. KC Current II – June 6, 5 p.m. ET (YouTube)

  + US Women vs. Angel City 7s – June 6, 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU/ESPN+)

  + Solo FC vs. Streetball FC Canada – June 6, 8 p.m. ET (YouTube)

  Solo said is looking to get back on the pitch for the first time since she retired in 2016.

  "I am incredibly excited not only to enter Solo FC in The Soccer Tournament but also make my comeback to the field at one of the most exciting events in soccer right now,” Solo said announcing her entry in the competition. “TST has done some amazing things to grow the game for women and I’m proud to be a part of it. I’m as competitive as ever, and I can’t wait to unveil the team that will win the $1 million grand prize.”