IN ENGLAND
Brighton have been held to a goalless draw by Norwegian side Tromso in their Conference League play-off first leg played almost two hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle.
The Seagulls had the better chances and Tromso goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard made two fine diving first-half saves to keep out a low Georginio Rutter strike and an Ibrahim Osman volley.
Despite Brighton’s dominance Tromso had two big opportunities on the break, with the first arriving in the second half when Heine Larsen beat an offside trap but his one-on-one effort was saved by the body of Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Brighton’s next match is their Premier League opener at home to Aston Villa on Sunday, while Tromso have a seven-day rest before facing the Seagulls in England.
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Chelsea head coach, Xabi Alonso, says Enzo Fernandez has shown a really good attitude since his return to Chelsea, as speculation over the midfielder’s future continues.
Alonso indicated that the midfielder was focused as Chelsea prepare for their Premier League opener at Fulham on Monday.
He added that the 25‑year‑old has integrated really well since rejoining the group after the World Cup and is training really well.
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Chelsea is set to renew striker Joao Pedro’s contract until 2034 before the start of the Premier League season.
Sources at Stamford Bridge say they expect the deal to go through while those close to the 24-year-old say a full agreement has already been reached on a contract to run until 2032, with an option for the club to extend it by a further two years.
Internally, the Brazil international is regarded as a major success after joining from Brighton in a deal worth an initial fifty-five million pounds, plus five million pounds in add-ons, last summer.
Joao Pedro is likely to start Chelsea’s Premier League opener at Fulham on Monday, with new signings Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha expected to provide cover this season.
His success has led Chelsea to hand him the number nine shirt, with Liam Delap relinquishing it.
Chelsea intend to hand out a number of new contracts to key players after the transfer window closes, with Levi Colwill and Estevao Willian among those likely to be considered.
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Former English footballer, Danny Murphy has disclosed that Manchester City are the only team capable of stopping Arsenal from winning the Premier League title.
Murphy highlighted Arsenal’s strong momentum, defensive stability, and the continuity of keeping their core squad and manager while adding quality.
Despite Arsenal’s strong form and Community Shield win against them, City’s inherent attacking firepower under Enzo Maresca keeps them as the primary danger.
Murphy noted that the ultimate outlook could still shift slightly depending on final business before the summer transfer window closes.
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Liverpool have had a fifty million pounds bid rejected by Brighton for their winger Yankuba Minteh.
The 22-year-old Gambia international scored ten goals and provided nine assists in seventy-three appearances for the Seagulls.
Minteh, who joined Brighton from Newcastle for thirty million pounds in 2024, plays primarily on the right wing and is currently recovering from a leg injury sustained in a friendly against Roma earlier this month.
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Tottenham is in talks with Manchester City over a double deal for forwards Savinho and Omar Marmoush.
Sources stated that negotiations between the clubs are progressing, although an agreement has yet to be reached.
Spurs’ interest in Brazilian winger Savinho dates back to 2025, when the 22-year-old opted to remain at Etihad Stadium.
Marmoush, a fifty-nine million pounds signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2025, fell out of favour under Pep Guardiola in 2025-26 and the 27-year-old managed eight goals in thirty-six appearances in all competitions.
Spurs kick off their Premier League campaign away at Brentford on Saturday, while City host Bournemouth on Sunday.
Aston Villa has had a bid worth around eighteen million pounds plus add-ons rejected by Southampton for defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Villa are looking for new recruits with England defender Ezri Konsa set to join Arsenal for more than fifty million pounds.
Harwood-Bellis has been at Southampton since 2023, initially on loan, and has one England cap earned in a 2024 Nations League match against Republic of Ireland.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers has confirmed right-back Kieran Trippier suffered a knee ligament injury on his league debut.
The club said former England international Trippier sustained a medial collateral ligament injury in his left knee during Friday’s two-all draw with Blackburn Rovers.
The 35-year-old is expected to be out for a number of weeks having arrived on a free transfer in June.
Meanwhile fellow defender, Yerson Mosquera, is also set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury against Blackburn.
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West Bromwich Albion striker, Aune Heggebo has been banned for two matches by the Football Association for scoring a goal with his hand in Saturday’s two-one win at Norwich City.
The Norway forward was charged with a breach of Rule E3.1 in relation to his goal at Carrow Road, which went in off his arm as he got on the end of Jimmy-Jay Morgan’s left-wing cross in the 75th minute to give the visitors the lead.
After the game, Canaries head coach Philippe Clement said the incident was a decisive moment in the game. I think this is a clear-cut goal that should be disallowed.
The FA alleged Heggebo did successfully deceive a match official by handling the ball in a direct successful attempt to score a goal with a regulatory commission upholding the misconduct charge and subsequent suspension.
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IN NIGERIA
Super Eagles star, Tolu Arokodare scored his maiden goal for Ajax as the Dutch giants defeated Swiss club Sion four-two in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League playoff tie.
Arokodare, who started the game on the bench, replaced Marcos Leonardo with 18 minutes remaining.
The Nigeria international made an immediate impact, netting Ajax’s third goal of the encounter in the 74th minute.
The striker was also involved in the visitors’ fourth goal, setting up Davy Klaassen three minutes from time to cap an impressive cameo.
Arokodare will be hoping to produce another impressive performance when Ajax host Sion in the reverse fixture at the Johan Cruyff Arena next Tuesday.
The winner of the tie will secure a place in the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa Conference League.
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Super Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi has expressed readiness to deliver goals as the club prepare for its Premier League return against Arsenal on Friday.
Awoniyi completed his move to the newly promoted side after spending four seasons with Nottingham Forest.
The Nigerian international vowed to bring his scoring boots as Coventry City prepares for their top-flight return.
Awoniyi will now link up with international teammate Frank Onyeka at Coventry City, with both Nigerians hoping to play key roles in helping the club retain their Premier League status at the end of the season.
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English Championship club, Charlton Athletic has announced the signing of Nigeria international Arthur Okonkwo on loan from Wrexham.
Charlton confirmed the loan move in a statement on their official website.
Born in Camden, Okonkwo began his professional career with Arsenal and progressed through the ranks to sign his first senior contract with the Gunners in the summer of the 2021.
Loan spells followed at Crewe Alexandra, Sturm Graz, where he lifted the Austrian Cup, and Wrexham, who he joined permanently in June 2024 after helping them earn promotion to League One.
Okonkwo has two Nigeria caps to his name having made his debut during their Unity Cup success at The Valley this summer.
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OTHER LEAGUES
Rangers star, Ryan Naderi has rescued the team from another disappointing European night as his second-half goal helped Derek McInnes’ side to victory in the first leg of their Conference League play-off against Jablonec.
The win is the second of McInnes’ tenure after their five-one League Cup triumph over St Mirren at the weekend.
It was an underwhelming first half for the hosts, their best chance coming from Vanja Dragojevic, who hit the post from the edge of the box after Naderi’s lay-off.
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A late Rapid Vienna goal cancelled out a 30-yard screamer from teenager James Wilson and denied Hearts a comeback victory in the first leg of their Conference League play-off at Tynecastle.
Wilson came off the bench and ripped a sensational effort into the top corner to turn the tie in favour of last season’s Scottish Premiership runners-up, who had trailed at the break when Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao crashed in a header.
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Portugal full-back, Joao Cancelo has rejoined Barcelona on a permanent deal after his contract with Al-Hilal was mutually terminated.
Cancelo left Manchester City to join the Saudi Pro League side on a three-year deal in 2024 but he ended last season on loan with Barcelona, helping them secure the La Liga title.
After agreeing his departure from Al-Hilal, the 32-year-old became a free agent this summer and he has now returned to the Camp Nou on a three-year contract.
Hansi Flick’s squad has also been boosted by the arrival of wingers Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi this summer, although forward Ferran Torres has left for Paris Saint-Germain and veteran striker Robert Lewandowski joined MLS side Chicago Fire.
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Paris Saint-Germain have been forced to move their opening Ligue 1 game after the summer’s exceptional heatwaves left their Parc des Princes pitch severely damaged.
The French champions had been due to start their title defence against Rennes in the capital on Sunday, but the fixture will be reversed and held in Brittany instead.
Ligue de Football Professionnel officials said an assessment of the pitch in Paris did not allow the match to be played under satisfactory conditions, particularly with regard to the safety and physical integrity of the players.
PSG say they will replace the pitch at the Parc des Princes before their next home fixture against Monaco on 4th September.
The club said they fully understand the inconvenience caused by this change but stressed it was an exceptional situation.
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OTHER SPORTS
In Tennis, Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is set to make his return at the US Open after missing four months with a wrist injury.
The 23-year-old triumphed at the Australian Open in January to become the youngest man to win all four Grand Slam titles.
However, the Spaniard has not played a competitive match since 14th April after injuring his right wrist at the Barcelona Open.
The news was confirmed by football influencer Fabrizio Romano in a joint post with Alcaraz on Instagram.
Rival Jannik Sinner is well clear at the top of the world rankings, having won Wimbledon in July, while Zverev won the French Open and finished runner-up at SW19.
The US Open singles event begins on Sunday, 30th August in New York.
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Also, the US Open will offer the biggest prize fund in Grand Slam history with a total of seventy-nine point two million pounds on offer marking a twenty percent increase on last year.
The singles’ champions will receive four pint three million pounds each in a ten percent increase on 2025.
First-round losers will take home one hundred and two, six hundred and sixty-seven pounds which is $30,000 and 27% more than last year.
The prize pool includes a $2m (£1.47m) contribution to a welfare fund, which leading players have been demanding from all the Grand Slams.
The four Grand Slam tournaments have also jointly announced the formation of a Grand Slam Player Council. This was another key request from players, some of who limited media appearances at the French Open and Wimbledon to 15 minutes to highlight their grievances
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In Formula one, Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has signed a new contract at Red Bull until the end of 2030.
The move should end speculation about the Dutchman’s future at the end of this season, after he had been linked with potential moves to Mercedes or McLaren.
Verstappen was previously contracted to the end of 2028, but there were clauses in his contract that would have allowed him to leave at the end of the current Formula one season had he wanted.
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In Cricket, Harry Brook sparkled in the Headingley gloom to build England’s commanding lead over Pakistan on a shortened second day of the first Test.
Brook, overlooked for the Test captaincy, reinforced how important he will be to England’s new era under Joe Root with a superb 91.
The vice-captain was crucially dropped on one and the reprieve allowed him to take England to 366-8, 195 ahead.
A stand of 120 with Dan Lawrence, who marked his recall with 51, came after Root and Jordan Cox both missed out on landmark centuries.
Root looked set to announce the beginning of his second spell as captain with a ton, while Cox was on course for a maiden hundred.
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In Rugby, Alex Davies is leaving Leicester to join Wales’ management team as kicking coach.
Steve Tandy has appointed the 40-year-old after being helped by Rhys Patchell and Leigh Halfpenny in his first campaign as head coach.
Davies, a former half-back, spent last season full-time with Leicester after previously working with the Netherlands, Rosslyn Park and England women.
He will work with the Wales men’s national team during Test windows and coach individuals throughout the season, while also helping age-grade players.
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In Cycling, Australian rider Maeve Plouffe says she narrowly avoided being hit by a car in Cumbria during the first stage of the Tour Of Britain Women.
The Netherlands’ Lorena Wiebes retained the leader’s green jersey with victory on stage two in Lancashire.
Plouffe, who rides for British continental team O’Shea Red Chilli Bikes, said the incident happened on a roundabout as she was chasing back to the peloton, following a puncture.
She was taking part in the opening stage, which began and ended in Cockermouth.
Tarling was the younger brother of Netcompany Inoes rider Josh Tarling, who was announced on Thursday in the team’s line-up for the Vuelta a Espana three-week Grand Tour, which begins on Saturday.
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SOCCER ACTION RESUME IN THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
TODAY’S FIXTURE
Arsenal vs Coventry City
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ON SATURDAY
Hull City vs Manchester United
Everton vs Crystal Palace
Ipswich Town vs Sunderland
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United
Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur
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ON SUNDAY
Brighton vs Aston Villa
Manchester City vs Bournemouth
Newcastle United vs Liverpool
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness….words from Oprah Winfrey.
