You know when it became really obvious that the sun was setting on Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool career? It had nothing to do with the transfer links, the fist-pumping after big games or even his own silence on his future – it was all the talk of individual trophies. “I want to be the first right-back to win the Ballon d'Or,” he told FourFourTwo in an exclusive interview – before reiterating that ambition upon signing for Real Madrid.

But come on, where is the logic in that? Why would you go to Real Madrid to stand out? Eight Los Blancos players have lifted the award – more than any other club – and in this day and age, the voters usually just converge upon a star of whoever has won the Champions League. But as was dramatically proven in 2024, that's where your colleagues can split the vote. Although he'd scored in the Champions League final that year, if Vinicius Jr had scooped team-mate Dani Carvajal's votes, he'd have comfortably beaten Rodri. That Jude Bellingham was also an option that year confused things further.

It's something that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez failed to grasp when it came to the Super League: if everyone's absolutely huge, then no one is. And now, Vinicius himself has seemingly fallen into the same trap.

It's not just about the Ballon d'Or, either. With goals in two Champions League finals, it would be utterly churlish to suggest that Vinicius has been anything other than a huge success at Real Madrid, ascending to a level where he is regarded, if not as the best left-winger in the world, then certainly one of a handful of footballers on Earth whose transfer saga could spark such interest. He is a superstar of the highest echelon. He is special.

But arguably, the best has already happened in Madrid for the Brazilian. And it happened before Kylian Mbappe arrived.

You can bring out the numbers to support your argument (and we will). Vini averaged over 60 touches per 90 minutes alongside Karim Benzema, which dropped to 50-something next to Mbappe. The goals have dropped slightly, too… but frankly, Vinicius will know this himself, with his team having conducted thorough analysis themselves as to which club would suit his profile. His output has dropped – but not massively – because he's an elite footballer. And rather like most things at the Bernabeu, no one will concern themselves with nerdy numbers.

But it's an obvious fact that the club is no longer Vinicius Jr's. This is Kylian Mbappe FC, now: another left-sided winger-cum-striker, who Real coveted for so long that they didn't give much thought as to how he would play with the superstar that they already had at home. When everyone is massive, no one is – as Vini found out to his chagrin last season, when Xabi Alonso hauled him off in the Clasico.

It's not that Vinicius is no longer a big deal in Madrid: he clearly is, as his new contract will “reflect his status”. Even the wording of that, however, makes it clear that Mbappe is top dog.

Should it come to it, perhaps Jude Bellingham is higher in the pecking order, too – given that he's better off the ball. The game is changing. Having two players like Vini and Mbappe is now seen as a throwback to the Galacticos, with Madrid having suffered two trophyless seasons and serious questions raised over who will step up and put in the work out of possession. Jose Mourinho could well be the final roll of the dice from Perez – one last go at conquering Europe again through aura alone – after getting in an actual tactician in Alonso failed.

And while one can never write off Real Madrid, it certainly seemed like the perfect chance for a clean break for all involved. Mourinho needs 10 players to work their backsides off for Mbappe. Vinicius has achieved everything at Real and doesn't need to prove himself much further – or to a manager who asked, “Why celebrate like that?” when Vinicius Jr was allegedly racially abused by one of his own players. Los Blancos were looking at collecting a nine-figure fee for a player who arguably causes more tactical headaches than he solves problems. It would have been a statement that no one is safe in this new regime.

Ousmane Dembele had a similar conundrum. The Frenchman was brought to Barcelona to service Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez: he moved to Paris Saint-Germain, and not unlike Vini, he was relegated to being Mbappe's sidekick.

As soon as he was given his own spotlight, he thrived. He won a team their first Champions League, instantly writing his name as a legend of that club. He lifted the Ballon d'Or and immediately took on more importance for his country, having been substituted in the first half of a World Cup final in 2022. Dembele is not just a better player than he's ever been before; he's a bigger player, too, because he's had the time and space to stand out on his own away from other stars.

Vinicius could have had a similar glow-up at Arsenal: a team geared towards playing for him, with the best out-of-possession structure in world football to mop up for him. The Gunners reached the Champions League final without a killer up front – arguably, without an A-list star of any kind – and Vini had the opportunity to be that player. He could have been the face of the biggest league in the world.

And were Arsenal to win the Champions League, the man who wins it for them becomes a shoo-in for the Ballon d'Or. Winning it is a big if – but it shrinks a little with a player like that in your team.

Instead, Vini has opted for the same path that Rodrygo chose last summer when he was rumoured to be offered a route out of Madrid. To remain one of several superstars in a team who will always prioritise other names. A team who are in the midst of a rebuild and not exactly patient when it comes to transition. A team whose big plan to reclaim the Champions League comes courtesy of post-Fenerbahce Mourinho.

It would have been nice to see some bravery, anyway. The next time he's thinking about leaving Spain, there might not be such big interest in him.

Liverpool are looking to hijack Arsenal's next transfer.

With the Gunners have tied up a move for Bruno Guimaraes and their ambitious pursuit of Vinicius Jr now over, Arsenal are looking to bring in a new defender, with Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa high on the priority list.

But with Liverpool also looking to bring in defensive cover, the Reds could hand another blow to the Premier League champions behind the scenes.

Liverpool weighing up move for Ezri Konsa – despite Arsenal interest

According to The Guardian, Konsa is now on the Reds' radar, as Arne Slot looks for who to partner Virgil van Dijk in defence.

With Ibrahima Konate having left for Real Madrid and Van Dijk now 35 years old, there is a need to improve depth at the back – especially given the youth of both Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, who are both coming off the back of injuries.

Jacquet and Victor Munoz are the only two signings brought to Anfield thus far this summer, with Andoni Iraola's lack of depth highlighted by the fact that his assistant, former Bournemouth captain Tommy Elphick, had to fill in at centre-back during a recent training session.

Konsa has the benefit, too, of being able to play at right-back – which has been a problem position for both Arsenal and Liverpool.

FourFourTwo understands that the North Londoners have been spinning plenty of plates in the transfer market, with the £60 million price tag one that the champions have been reluctant to meet while pursuing the likes of Vinicius Jr and Bruno Guimaraes.

Interest from Mikel Arteta's childhood friend Iraola may spur the Gunners on to wrap up the move, with Ben White and Jurrien Timber having both suffered injuries to rule them out of the World Cup.

With doubts over William Saliba's fitness, too, Konsa could well cover there.

“With the centre-back, with the right-back situation, in terms of defensive depth, we are, I think, very thin right now,” Iraola recently admitted.

Joe Gomez will miss the start of the season, too, through injury.

Konsa is valued at €45m, per Transfermarkt. Liverpool take on Newcastle United on the first weekend of the new season.

Manchester United are to pivot, with another lower-price central midfielder in mind for Michael Carrick's rebuild.

The Red Devils have been priced out of several big moves this summer, with the likes of Youri Tielemans preferred to Matheus Fernandes, as Carrick looked to strengthen ahead of the club's return to the Premier League.

With more depth still needed, Manchester United are now targeting Giorgio Scalvini, according to The Telegraph.

Manchester United to pivot to alternate targets (again)

United are trying to keep costs down this summer: players like Eduardo Camavinga have been linked with moves, but United have brought in Tielemans and Andrey Santos, both for less than £50 million.

Now, Atalanta star Scalvini is said to be on the radar for around £32m – due, in part, to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The Italian was valued at around €60m at the start of 2024, with the likes of Chelsea and Inter Milan competing with United for the star – but following an ACL injury that kept him out of Euro 2024, Scalvini's value has dropped hugely.

The Express relays that the 22-year-old is now worth £32m, which could represent a huge steal, given that he was one of the great hopes of Italian football just a few short years ago.

Interestingly, Scalvini could well be an option across the defence – but also in midfield.

The Italian can play as a midfielder, with his tall frame and ability to get around the pitch likening him to Declan Rice as a midfield presence, suggesting he could well develop into a more defensive-minded presence alongside Tielemans or Kobbie Mainoo.

Scalvini played just eight times in the season following his injury, but racked up 30 games in all competitions last term, as he returned to his best.

With United eyeing what could be an expensive move for Newcastle United's Lewis Hall, cheaper signings elsewhere could fund a bigger rebuild.

Another forward could well be targeted, along with a right-back.

Scalvini is valued at €38m by Transfermarkt. United face Hull City on the opening day of the Premier League season.

It's time for another big quiz from FourFourTwo and this one's all about the professional game outside the Premier League.

Now known officially as the EFL, the Football League is a true original. Since 1992, it has been formed of the second, third and fourth tiers of the professional game, propping up the Premier League and supplying much of the cultural richness of the English game.

The EFL is made up of 72 teams and you have 15 minutes to name each and every one of them. Let us know your score below.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has a big ol' vault filled to bursting with football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. There are some real toughies to tackle, including these challenges to identify the authors of these football autobiographies based on their titles and name the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League.

How about a football trivia classic? We've put together this enormous career paths quiz. Can you name all 100 players based on the clubs they represented in their careers?

Specialists in football's crossover with geography will be all over this quiz that asks you to identify these team line-ups from the nationalities of the players alone. If it's history that floats your boat, perhaps you'll be able to name every member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad.

We also have some great stuff for puzzlers, including FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 64. There are clues on Champions League finals, Olympic medallists, and name-dropping rappers. Remember to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of football trivia and analysis, and don't forget to join The Club: our free membership portal where you can secret hints and get on the leaderboard.

Transfer season invariably breeds sensationalism, and the latest rumour swirling around St. James' Park is a classic example.

A recent report from CaughtOffside claims that Newcastle are actively considering offloading Nick Woltemade this summer, with suggestions that the Magpies would even entertain a loan offer with an option to buy.

Naturally, domestic rivals including Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Manchester United have reportedly been put 'on alert.'

Nick Woltemade is gannin' naewhere

To the casual observer, the narrative makes sense. Woltemade’s debut campaign in Tyneside wasn't exactly a goal-a-game triumph, culminating in a bench-warming role for the latter part of the season.

But are Newcastle really ready - or able - to cut their losses so soon?

This assumption would overlook the most crucial factor dictating Newcastle's immediate future: their new head coach.

Newcastle’s decision to appoint German manager Matthias Jaissle as Eddie Howe's successor was not made on a whim, you'd hope. Football governance at the top levels dictates that when a club makes a managerial hire, they do so with their core squad investments firmly in mind.

Just 12 months ago, Newcastle committed roughly £70 million to bring Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart to the Premier League. Boardrooms don't simply write off a 24-year-old German international after a single adjustment season.

On the contrary, when Newcastle executives sat down with Jaissle during the recruitment process, maximising the potential of their £70 million marquee asset was almost certainly high on the agenda.

Part of Jaissle's remit will be to build a framework that puts to work the talent already in the building.

Throughout his successful tenure as Red Bull Salzburg boss, Jaissle deployed a dynamic, high-pressing 4-4-2 diamond midfield shape.

Unlike systems that rely heavily on traditional wingers, Jaissle’s diamond demanded a very specific profile upfront - a pairing featuring a clinical focal point alongside a technically-proficient, physically-striking forward able to drop into the half-spaces, link play, and connect midfield to attack.

Standing 6ft 6in, with great technical ability and link-up play, Woltemade is on paper, tailor-made for this role. Far from being surplus to requirements, the German forward is arguably the most natural tactical fit for Jaissle’s pressing diamond in Newcastle's squad.

Setting tactics aside, the logic of selling or loaning Woltemade to domestic rivals falls completely flat.

Newcastle’s leadership has repeatedly declared their ambition to consistently challenge for titles and silverware, outlining their 2030 goals. Sanctioning a move, especially a loan deal, that strengthens rivals with a 24-year-old German international forward to direct competitors would be foolish, to say the least.

Why would any club actively bolster a rival's attacking depth, undermining their own competitive objectives, all the while receiving little in return?

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso wants Martin Zubimendi of Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

That's according to reports from Spain, which claim the new Blues boss still wants to add faces to his midfield options, and has targeted his fellow Spaniard as a potential new signing alongside Moises Caicedo.

Zubimendi has enjoyed a phenomenal 12 months, winning the Premier League and World Cup – but may well be open to the switch, given his playing time might be about to drop significantly.

Arsenal braced for Chelsea move, with Martin Zubimendi in Xabi Alonso's sights

FourFourTwo understands that Real Madrid – managed at the time by Alonso – were one of the frontrunners to sign Zubimendi a year ago, when it became apparently that the no.6 was open to leaving boyhood club, Real Sociedad.

Real pushed hard for the midfielder – as did Liverpool and Manchester City at different stages – though Zubimendi was won over in the end by the prospect of working with fellow Basque, Mikel Arteta, along with former team-mates Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino.

Zubimendi played a whopping 57 games in all competitions last term for the Gunners, including every single Premier League fixture – but now, Spanish outlet Fichajes have reaffirmed claims from Chelsea writer Si Phillips that Alonso has requested the signing, following a potentially complicated future.

Arteta leant on Zubimendi heavily in the first half of the season, but by the end of the campaign, Myles Lewis-Skelly was starting in midfield alongside Declan Rice, even starting the Champions League final in place of the more experienced midfielder.

With Arsenal closing a deal for Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes now, minutes might become even harder for Zubimendi to come by in N5.

The 27-year-old was one of Arteta's most important players early in his debut term but looked tired towards the end of the campaign, becoming sloppier on the ball and failing to play with the same verticality and bravery that he showed when he first joined.

From Zubimendi's perspective, a move to Stamford Bridge would give him the opportunity to work with another Basque coach who understands his position – also having played there himself – and with Chelsea out of Europe this season, he wouldn't be as overworked in his sophomore season in English football.

Arteta has been quick to make up his mind about midfielders in the past, though FourFourTwo understands that he doesn't want to lose the World Cup-winning Spaniard, and the club will not be entertaining offers unless they're exceptional – especially with fitness concerns over Declan Rice.

The England international carried a back injury for much of the World Cup and played through “terrible pain” for the Three Lions at times, sparking fears that he may need a lengthy layoff before returning to domestic duty.

Zubimendi is worth €75 million, according to Transfermarkt. Chelsea start their Premier League season against Fulham.

Barcelona are on the brink of pulling off one of the most daring transfer hijacks of the summer window.

Ahead of arch-rivals Real Madrid, Los Cules are reportedly now in pole position to secure the signature of Manchester City midfielder Rodri.

According to a report from The Athletic, the Catalan giants have swooped in, capitalising on a breakdown in negotiations between Madrid and Man City, with a deal to take the 30-year-old Spain captain to Spotify Camp Nou now nearing completion.

Rodri to Real Madrid HIJACKED

For weeks, it appeared as though Real Madrid looked destined to land Rodri.

Following his excellent performances leading Spain to World Cup glory, Madrid president Florentino Perez supposedly prioritised the former Villarreal and Atletico Madrid star as the missing piece in Los Blancos' midfield.

Despite reaching an initial verbal agreement on personal terms, transfer talks between Madrid and Man City have broken down.

The Spanish club were unwilling to meet City’s £80 million asking price given he turns 31 next summer and is entering the final year of his contract. City’s refusal to lower their demands stalled progress, leaving the door open for a late intervention.

Rodri is reportedly open to the idea of joining Barcelona instead of Madrid, which will no doubt leave Man City chiefs pleased given the previous breakdown in talks that would have cost them up to £80m.

Barcelona are keen to bolster their central midfield options after a long-term injury to Frenkie de Jong, too.

With Los Cules guaranteeing a key tactical role alongside up-and-coming pair Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal, Rodri has reportedly agreed to make the switch to Catalonia rather than Madrid.

A successful hijack would represent a statement of intent for Barcelona ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The LaLiga champions' transfer decision could see them land one of the world's best defensive midfielders, in addition to doing so from under the noses of their closest rivals.

For Real Madrid, losing out on their top transfer target to Barcelona would be a bitter pill to swallow, but does free up resources and strengthen their negotiating positions elsewhere.

KSI's ambitions for Dagenham & Redbridge would amount to one of the most ridiculous ascents English football has ever seen if he is able to pull it off - but the club's chief executive believes there is nothing to be gained from refusing to dream big.

The YouTuber bought a stake in Dagenham & Redbridge in March, which chief exec John Grabowski described as 'transformative' for the club.

They are now set to kick off their season in the sixth-tier National League South away to Dorking Wanderers, and are approaching this campaign with high hopes of beginning a climb up through the English football league.

Dagenham & Redbridge are starting the new season with huge ambitions

KSI's ambitions for a sixth-tier club with a ground holding just over 6,000 fans were met with no shortage of cynicism - but Grabowski believes it's not so unthinkable.

After all, we've already seen Wrexham launch themselves from the National League to the Championship, where they finished just one place outside the play-offs last season and will be looking to go again and reach the top flight in the coming campaign.

Grabowski told FourFourTwo: “Everyone wants to know, ‘Cool, what’s the plan?’”

"It’s naive to think we have too grand a long-term plan, but it would also be foolish not to think long-term given the opportunity.

"We all know that in KSI’s announcement, he said, ‘We’re going to get to the Premier League.’

"The first time I heard that, I sort of went ‘Uhh!’ and did a little gut check, but it’s not my job to tell him that’s not possible.

"He followed it up quite quickly, saying, ‘It might take time, it might take 20 years’, and I think in that context, it is absolutely possible – why not us?

“Phase one is to get out of the National League and back into the Football League, then once we’re in the Football League again, we’ll regroup.

"We’ve got other plans, but I think talking about those other plans before achieving phase one risks us getting out a little over our skis."

KSI is an owner of Dagenham & Redbridge – you can watch Race To The Top on the KSI Originals YouTube Channel

The last two seasons as a Tottenham Hotspur fan have been pretty miserable – aside from that glorious Europa League triumph – but I have a feeling the club has turned a corner ahead of the new campaign, and it’s largely thanks to Roberto De Zerbi.

In all honesty, though, I was dubious as to whether his appointment back in March would be the right move for Spurs long-term. I was pretty confident that he would drag the club to Premier League survival, and that he did, but would his fiery temperament be at odds with the powers that be at Tottenham?

There’s still plenty of time for that to happen, of course, but we are witnessing what appears to be a real change in the whole mindset of the club this summer, and it could even lead to a surprise title challenge.

Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment at Tottenham Hotspur had me worried

I don’t think I was alone in having doubts over De Zerbi. Tottenham had reportedly tried to hire the Italian before they recruited Igor Tudor for his ill-fated tenure in N17, but to no avail. The fact he changed his mind a month or so later didn’t sit right with me.

Add to that the fact that this is a manager who doesn’t stick around at clubs for too long (his average time at a club is just over a year), plus the way he left Brighton, and I feared we would be a quick gig with no real consideration of the future.

Even De Zerbi’s track record should raise a few eyebrows.

Aside from a Ukrainian Super Cup during his brief spell with Shakhtar Donetsk, his greatest achievements are steering Marseille to second in Ligue 1, and helping Brighton to a top six finish.

They’re not results to be sniffed at, but they also don’t get me dreaming of glory, either. More than anything, though, it was De Zerbi’s personality that just didn’t seem like it would fit at Spurs.

Much like Antonio Conte before him, this is a man who will say exactly what’s on his mind without fear of upsetting anyone, and as we’ve seen in the past, the Tottenham Hotspur board don’t really like that approach.

I do believe that no-nonsense style was exactly what the squad needed at the backend of last season, though, and it’s no coincidence that those seven matches in the run-in were the best Spurs had looked all year.

Tottenham Hotspur look more disciplined and confident under De Zerbi

Under both Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, the Tottenham players looked bereft of confidence, lacked any kind of fight, and played turgid football. Since day one under De Zerbi, there has been clear passion and a real togetherness on the pitch, and that delivered the results Spurs needed to stay in the top flight.

After survival was secured, De Zerbi himself even claimed it was the “biggest achievement in my time”, before adding, “We are Tottenham, and we can't suffer like this until the last second of the last game to stay up.” You just get the feeling that De Zerbi is raising the standards at the club and will absolutely not tolerate anything like what we saw last season.

For me, no player exemplifies the shift in attitude at the club more than Micky van de Ven. Under Frank, the flying Dutchman appeared to mentally check out and became a liability. As soon as De Zerbi took over, Van de Ven turned into a leader once more, and looked back to his best.

Speaking to The Standard recently, Van de Ven said: “You can see [De Zerbi] has brought a lot of passion into our group, a lot in terms of mentality and passion on the pitch. It is something we needed because everybody was a little bit down.

“He brings a lot of good energy and, from pre-season, we have really had the time to bring his football into the team. That's really enjoyable.”

He’s right, too. This summer’s pre-season activity for Tottenham has been refreshing, with positive results (including a rare win over bitter rivals Chelsea), a mix of experienced and youth players having important roles, and most importantly, the levels in terms of intensity and quality have not dropped despite these games being friendlies.

Another key case study is the comeback story of Antonin Kinsky. The Czech goalkeeper hit rock bottom in the Champions League last season when he was substituted in the first half against Atletico Madrid after a couple of errors. Now, he looks world-class and is Tottenham’s undisputed number one, and it’s all because De Zerbi put faith in him.

The mentality at Tottenham Hotspur has shifted greatly in such a short space of time, and now feels far more aligned with the spirit Ange Postecoglou brought to the club. While Postecoglou’s tactics were questionable, his man management was outstanding. What’s really exciting is that De Zerbi appears to be capable of both.

Tottenham Hotspur are not messing around this summer

Whether it’s due to De Zerbi’s influence or merely a reaction to back-to-back 17th place finishes, the Tottenham hierarchy are finally showing ambition and loosening the pursestrings this summer.

The £85m signing of Mateus Fernandes was a lavish surprise. The £100m capture of Sandro Tonali was, frankly, mindblowing. The club immediately recognised the fact that things needed to change, and put their money where their mouth is to fix it. The same can be said about the defence, too, with the £52m signing of Jan Paul van Hecke and free transfers of Marco Senesi and Andy Robertson adding real depth to an already strong backline.

I’ve also been really intrigued by the manner in which Spurs have sold off some of their younger players this summer. While the departures of the likes of Luka Vuskovic, Alfie Devine, and Will Lankshear were disappointing, Tottenham received good fees for players who were not likely to make an impact on the first-team this season. In years to come, we may regret not having them around, but that’s a problem for another day. What matters now is immediate improvement and success.

Now, if Spurs can follow through with their pursuit of Savinho (or another top winger) and, most crucially, find a high-level striker to lead the line, I see no reason why the Lilywhites can’t be considered genuine dark horses to challenge for the title. The squad is good enough, the manager is determined to make his mark, and the club as a whole demands and deserves better than what we’ve seen over the last two seasons.

The idea of Spurs pushing for the title, especially after the dismal showing in 2025/26, may be a naive pipedream to some. But, I’ll leave you with this… In the 2014/15 season, Leicester City ended up with 41 points and a -9 goal difference. The following season, they performed a miracle and won the Premier League title.

If the Foxes can do it with relatively meagre resources, I see no reason why a free-spending and revitalised Tottenham Hotspur can’t do the unthinkable and rise to the top.

When reports first surfaced linking Arsenal with a move for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Júnior, eyes widened across North London and further afield.

Signing one of world football’s best wingers would be the ultimate statement of intent for a club keen to build on their recent Premier League success.

But strip away supporters' excitement over transfer rumours and examine the realities of modern transfer sagas, and a very different picture emerges.

Vinicius Jr. knows how to work the Real Madrid boardroom

It is this writer's opinion that Arsenal are not on the verge of landing a Real Madrid superstar.

Instead they're being used as a pawn in a game of contract poker with eye-watering stakes.

The core of this drama lies in the ongoing contract negotiations at the Santiago Bernabeu.

According to reports from ESPN, Real Madrid recently presented Vinicius with a fresh extension offer worth approximately €22 million per year. For Vinicius, this fell short of expectations, leading to another round of contract talks.

The 26-year-old Brazilian international is said to have rejected the proposal, with his representatives holding out for a total package closer to €30m annually, to reflect his standing alongside football's top earners and importance at Real Madrid.

Enter Arsenal.

Reports of Mikel Arteta’s interest and the Gunners' theoretical willingness to make Vinicius the highest-paid player in their history have naturally made headlines - he would be the Premier League's marquee summer signing.

But while Arsenal are undeniably ambitious, the notion that the Emirates hierarchy would blow apart their wage structure to offer in excess of the €22 million proposed by Real Madrid is fanciful.

Arsenal have built their recent success on smart financial discipline; destroying that wage balance for a single arrival would undermine a lot that Arteta has built during his seven years in charge.

The public narrative of Arsenal links growing increasingly credible couldn't be more conveniently timed for Vinicius' camp.

With just 12 months remaining on his current contract, Real Madrid face time pressure to reach a solution that satisfies all parties. This window represents the club's final realistic opportunity to command an above-market transfer fee for their star man before risking a cut-price deal or losing him for free next summer.

Florentino Perez and the Madrid board know they are backed into a corner: sign the extension or watch a prime asset walk next summer.

In modern transfer sagas, a mega-club’s public interest is the ultimate bargaining chip, and Vinicius evidently knows how to play the room.

Keeping Arsenal’s interest front and centre, and highly publicised, Vinicius and his representatives are generating maximum leverage for ongoing contract talks. The threat of the Premier League champions waiting in the wings forces Real Madrid’s hand, nudging them closer to bending towards that €30m figure.

For over a decade, Manchester United treated the transfer window like a global billboard, spending over a billion pounds on individual fame, while the actual football team fell apart.

They bought the clout instead of the profiles, paid the ‘United tax’ without question, and trapped themselves in a toxic cycle of bloated wages and broken dressing rooms. But today, that era is dead.

From walking away from extortionate fees to signing Premier League-proven quality, here is why Manchester United can finally be trusted in the transfer window again.

Manchester United chased the biggest names on Earth – with fees to match

Following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, Man United stopped operating as a football club and started operating honestly as what felt like at times a click farm. The commercial department discovered a lucrative cheat code: sign the biggest names in the world, dominate the digital news cycle, and watch the shirt sales and sponsorship deals soar so that you can then afford the biggest and best players.

And the cycle continues. Di Maria, Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, and the emotional homecoming of Cristiano Ronaldo weren't always tactical additions – they were also brand activations.

In the boardroom, these transfers were triumphs. Pogba's announcement broke the internet (#Pogback). Sanchez playing the piano gathered millions of impressions. But on the pitch, the evidence was damning.

Across 10 years and five permanent managers, United consistently ranked among the highest spenders in Europe with a staggering 1.5 billion paid out on new players post-Fergie, while producing little to shout about on the pitch aside from a couple of trophies, none of which will be standing front and centre alongside the others in the club's illustrious trophy cabinet.

The structural conflict was unavoidable. Managers were handed expensive collections of individuals rather than compatible profiles. Louis van Gaal wanted functional system players; he was given superstars. Jose Mourinho wanted defensive steel; he was given commercial assets and untameable egos. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer built a fluid counterattacking side only to have it disrupted by the arrival of an ageing Ronaldo.

United was zigging when they should have been zagging. The ultimate lesson was painfully obvious: clout produces instant social media numbers, but without a unified tactical blueprint, it guarantees long-term sporting decay.

And nowhere was this more damaging than when they were getting out the chequebook. Because every club in Europe knew United lacked a modern scouting strategy, knew they had the money to spend due to the size and revenue of the club, and knew there was an air of desperation to get back to the top and sign the latest shiny toy, they applied a surcharge on every deal. It was the classic “they saw you coming” you give to your mate when he's paid 19 quid for two pints. The problem was they didn't learn their lesson and stamped up the cash every single time. This was the birth of what was known as the ‘United tax.’

When Ajax demanded £86 million for Antony, a winger who was valued at half of that just a few months earlier, United paid it. When Leicester held out for £80m for Harry Maguire, a fee deemed way too much by Man City, United folded.

United's wage structure was a mess

Worse than the transfer fees, however, was the wage structure. To convince world-class names to join a Europa League-level project, United handed out astronomical long-term contracts.

Alexis Sanchez was on nearly £500,000 a week, and David De Gea became the highest-paid goalkeeper in history. Despite constant rumours of a departure for the Spaniard, this created the sort of financial paralysis that crippled the club for a decade. When a player underperformed, United couldn't sell them. No club in Europe – only pretty much Saudi Arabia – was willing to match the wages of United's benchwarmers. Players like Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek, and Eric Bailly sat on high salaries for years, eroding their market value to zero while soaking up big chunks of the wage budget.

Internally, too, it was a nightmare because when a long-standing player or new signing sees a teammate earning £300,000 a week, wage demands across the entire squad skyrocket. It destroyed the dressing room hierarchy and left the club unable to maneuver in the transfer market without risky moves or suffering big losses.

United's greatest weakness was a total absence of, let's call it, “walking away power.” By overpaying for everything, they built a cage that kept bad players in and modern success out.

And perhaps the most damning of all signings was Jadon Sancho: £73m to sign him, five years of inconsistency coupled with a few loan spells away from the club, hundreds of thousands of pounds per week in wages, and then released on a free at the end of it all.

So, how have INEOS turned things around in the past couple of years since taking over? And why does it feel like an image rebrand as well as a footballing one?

United never lacked a posterboy: they just lacked everything else

In years gone by, it's always seemed like Manchester United's success was defined by an enigmatic posterboy of a leader – a star individual or two backed up by the ones willing to do the dirty work. Cantona, Beckham, Ronaldo, Rooney. They won more titles than we care to recall for United. But that success doesn't happen without Neville, O'Shea, Carrick, Park. That was then though, and this is now.

Bruno Fernandes has been one of the best players in the Premier League for years. But without the squad around him, that isn't reflected in United's team success. Statistically, Bruno's output since arriving in 2020 is staggering. Nobody has created more chances in Europe's top five leagues. But relying on one man to be the primary creator, presser, and emotional anchor created an unhealthy dependency. When Bruno had an off day, Manchester United had an off day.

The strategy during those post-Fergie crisis years didn't change with the times, though. They still bought headliners and prayed they could hide the cracks in the ceiling. Enter Varane, Zlatan, Pogba, Rashford's new contract – Casemiro to an extent, although he did make a better go of it towards the end of his stint at Old Trafford. This hero complex crippled the development of a modern team structure.

Elite sides like Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City don't rely on ‘heroball’. They rely on raising the floor of their squad so that everyone is capable of producing a certain level of quality regularly, whether in the starting XI or on the bench. Every player knows where to stand, where to pass, and where to press when the ball is lost.

Is this mechanical football the best to watch? No. Would we rather watch players enjoy themselves and play with this indescribable joy that can't be taught? Yes. But modern football is modern football, and it's been working for a while now.

Needing a hero also stifles youth integration. Young academy players coming through weren't entering a functional, well-oiled machine that protected them; they were being thrown in at the deep end. That sort of thing has worked in the past. To be fair, nothing typified this more than when Marcus Rashford played out every club's dream scenario: the big club giving the opportunity to a young star, and he hits the ground running and never looks back. What a story. You don't, however, need me to explain why that isn't the greatest of strategies because you just can't rely upon it.

But now the story is different, and the most recent transfer windows are the proof. United are doing three things that have elevated their recruitment strategy and earned plenty of trust back from the supporters.

The critical change in United's fortunes

First, they are targeting Premier League-proven players that make sense from a value-for-money and squad-improving perspective. The additions of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha represent a complete pivot in strategy. Let's face it, going from shopping at Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund to Wolves and Brentford is quite the switch. They aren't vanity signings designed to sell shirts around the world, but high-intensity, ready-made, proven profiles bought to win matches in the Premier League.

Secondly, they've got rid of an astronomical wage bill in favour of something more structured. Gone are the De Gea, Casemiro, Varane, and Sancho days. Now, salaries are reportedly all kept under 200 grand per week. That probably explains why Sandro Tonali wasn't of interest with his 270,000 per week deal that would have blown the bloody doors off that structure immediately. It's also evident in the wages of Mbeumo, Sesko, Cunha, and Tielemans, all between £150 to 180k per week.

And lastly, United have rediscovered the most powerful tool in negotiation: that walking away power we mentioned earlier. When faced with crazy, ransom-style demands for targets like Fernandez from West Ham, United didn't panic or overpay, but calmly walked away. Instead, they secured Youri Tielemans for an incredible £35m release – a move driven by his suitability to United's starting XI and financial sanity behind it all.

You could say that the quiet, pragmatic move lacks the thrill of a 100 million pound marquee signing that a club like Manchester United needs to be seen making to draw in show-stopping talent. But why would they continue to bang their head against the wall if it doesn't work? Tielemans provides immediate control and experience in the midfield, and he also does it without blocking the development runway for the talented Kobbie Mainoo. Mainoo remains the long-term heartbeat of the midfield. The throne is still his for the taking eventually, but for now, he's supported by experienced heads rather than overshadowed or competing with someone the same age who could literally block him for his entire career.

For the first time in over a decade, United aren't buying to solve a PR crisis or win a transfer window. They're buying to assemble a sustainable, modern football team – one that can compete not only at the top of the Premier League, but in European and domestic competitions, too. PSG have proven that ditching the superstars can reap rewards. And whilst they are in a completely different domestic situation to Manchester United, it's not a terrible model to follow. As the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day.

Arsenal’s summer pursuit of Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes is reaching its climax as the Brazilian midfielder prepares to finalise a £75 million move to the North London club.

Fresh details have emerged revealing the specific negotiation tactics employed by the Gunners during the transfer saga which is nearing a conclusion.

According to Sky Sports' North East reporter Keith Downie, Newcastle executives were left perplexed by Arsenal’s approach, particularly during the initial weeks of discussions.

Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal is almost a done deal

The groundwork for the transfer was reportedly laid weeks ago when intermediaries approached Newcastle to gauge what it would take to tempt their star midfielder to the Emirates Stadium.

Shortly thereafter, Guimaraes indicated to Newcastle management that he was open to joining the reigning Premier League champions.

Rather than capitalising on the momentum with an immediate, official approach, Arsenal backed off.

Downie reports: "Arsenal elongated the transfer by refusing to contact Newcastle for weeks — which Newcastle found bizarre."

Instead of opening a direct line of communication between boardrooms, Arsenal are said to have continued operating through middle-men for an extended period. This approach reportedly left Newcastle officials scratching their heads over why the Gunners were deliberately stalling formal contact when the player's interest had already been established.

Newcastle were desperate to retain Guimaraes and had zero desire to sell their marquee midfielder, but found their hands tied. Had the 28-year-old expressed a willingness to remain on Tyneside, the Magpies would have rejected any offers from Arsenal or any rival suitor.

However, 28-year-old Guimaraes maintained his stance, informing Newcastle bosses that he wanted to leave because he felt joining Arsenal represented a better chance of competing for major titles.

Once Arsenal did initiate club-to-club contact and met Newcastle's financial valuation, negotiations progressed swiftly towards the £75m agreement which is close to being ratified by the Premier League.

Relations between Guimaraes and Newcastle remain entirely amicable ahead of his arrival in North London.

While losing their captain is a major blow, the £75m windfall provides financial flexibility as the club rebuilds itself ahead of the new season and a new sporting cycle on Tyneside.

Portuguese legend Luis Figo has slammed Gianni Infantino's leadership of FIFA in a damning statement on the sport's governing body.

Figo is no stranger when it comes to speaking his mind about FIFA, having formally launched a campaign in 2015 for the FIFA presidency, on a platform advocating for increased transparency.

He ultimately withdrew shortly before the vote, expressing frustration with an undemocratic electoral process – and now he's had more to say about Infantino…

Luis Figo's statement on Gianni Infantino in full

As an Inter Milan fan, Infantino would have once been a huge fan of Figo – but following the 53-year-old's latest comments, he may have to rescind such adoration.

“Today I join others from across our game and call for Gianni Infantino to resign as FIFA President,” Figo said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“Infantino has debased the office that he promised to elevate. He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.

“He has lost the support of his senior staff, his closest advisers, the vast majority of people who devote their lives to this sport and even, it would seem, the FIFA Peace Prize winner. 

“It is too late to save his dignity, but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now. #Infantinout”

Would Luis Figo run for presidency again?

Figo has not stated whether he is still weighing up a bid to become FIFA president, having previously put himself forward 11 years ago.

Fans from across the world (excluding Barcelona, perhaps) would likely be in favour of the former winger taking the reins at the organisation: Figo has been an outspoken critic of the way that the game has been run under the likes of Sepp Blatter and Gianni Infantino, and with widespread clamour for the governing body to reform, a former professional player would be a popular option.

Despite this, there's no guarantee that Figo would be a hit with the viewing public. Arsene Wenger has spent most of his life playing and managing at the top level – and his suggestions for ‘daylight’ offside and a World Cup every two years have been almost unanimously panned.

Besides, Figo has very little experience – which may not sway voters. Infantino had previously served as Secretary General of UEFA for seven years prior to becoming FIFA president, overseeing the expansion of the European Championship to 24 teams: something that he replicated at the World Cup to great success.

There may also be a feeling from confederations other than UEFA that it's time to give the role to a non-European, with Joao Havelange the federation's last president from the rest of the world. The Brazilian stepped down in 1998 and remains the only man from outside Europe to have served in office.

Ex-Real Madrid star Figo has previously served as an ambassador for FIFA, and requires the backing of five member associations.

Has a former footballer ever been FIFA president?

No, a professional player has never been FIFA president – though funnily enough, a former Olympic swimmer has been.

Figures such as Jules Rimet, Stanley Rous, Blatter and Infantino himself entered the world of sport after backgrounds in law or administration – though Joao Havelange did swim competitively for Brazil.

Figo was not alone in his bid in 2015 to become FIFA president, however: Brazilian legend Zico announced his desire to stand for the presidency following Blatter's resignation, but failed to secure the mandatory written backing of five national football associations – while David Ginola also talked up a potential bid.

The Sky Blues are expected to complete the signing of 20-year-old Ghanaian international Caleb Yirenkyi, bringing in a player whom talent spotters across Europe view as a future top-flight star.

Yirenkyi’s development follows a proven blueprint. Developed at Ghana’s famed Right to Dream Academy, he made the well-trodden transition to its European partner club, FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark.

That exact pipeline previously launched international talents like Mohammed Kudus and Kamaldeen Sulemana into top-five European leagues.

All you need to know about Caleb Yirenkyi

In the Danish Superliga, Yirenkyi rapidly developed into an elite performer, combining tactile composure with excellent physical capacity - in short, he is the epitome of box-to-box.

At his core, Yirenkyi is a complete, dynamic engine in the middle of the park. Scouts who have monitored his progression have told FourFourTwo all about his well-rounded skillset.

Yirenkyi disrupts opposition build-up with his defensive work-rate, winning loose balls, tackling hard, and hassling ball-carriers. Meanwhile, in possession he displays press-resistance under pressure, distributes cleanly, and drives forward into open space.

While nominally a central midfielder, which is where he is likely to feature for the Sky Blues, Yirenkyi's athleticism and discipline mean he has regularly been trusted to operate as a right-back for his national team.

Yirenkyi is no hidden secret on the international scene, having announced himself to a global audience with Ghana at the 2026 World Cup. The youngster featured prominently throughout the Black Stars' tournament run, highlighting his big-stage composure by scoring on his World Cup debut against Panama, whilst competing admirably in high-stakes fixtures against England and Colombia.

With Coventry beginning the 2026/27 campaign as newly promoted underdogs, most casual observers won't expect the Midlands club to make waves or do much else than stay up, meaning signings like Yirenkyi could initially fly under the radar.

That lack of fanfare gives the Ghanaian huge underdog potential. If he adapts quickly to the tempo of English football, of which there is no guarantee, Yirenkyi has every chance of outperforming expectations and emerging as one of the most underrated transfers of the entire Premier League season.

Liverpool are expected to tie up a signing from Paris Saint-Germain – and it's not Bradley Barcola.

Barcola has been a primary target for the Reds since the start of the transfer window, following Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool after nine years – and now, according to RMC Sport, a move for Senegalese striker Ibrahim Mbaye is “expected” to reach an agreement.

The report suggests that this will be a “historic” summer in terms of sales from the European champions, with Paris Saint-Germain having already trousered nearly €150 million from to the sales of Kang-in Lee to Atletico Madrid, Goncalo Ramos to Milan, and Randal Kolo Muani to Juventus.

Ibrahim Mbaye close to Liverpool move - with Bayer Leverkusen circling, too

Mbaye has two years left on his current Paris Saint-Germain deal and is a highly-rated striker in French football – but with plenty of competition for places in attack and Les Parisiens hoping to land an A-list attacker in the shape of Julian Alvarez or Yan Diomande earlier in the window, a pathway for the 18-year-old to be regularly starting for manager Luis Enrique looks to be a little hazy.

The Senegalese is valued at anywhere between €35-45 million – but with interest from Bayer Leverkusen, too, Liverpool are in a battle for his signature.

Canal+ journalist Olivier Talleron has claimed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the Bundesliga side have the edge of Liverpool at this stage, in contrast to RMC Sport's report, with the latter claiming that Mbaye is interested by the prospect of developing on Merseyside.

They also note that despite discussions continuing for Barcelona to move to Anfield, “the two sides are currently far apart” in their valuations of the French international.

“Between the price set by the Parisian club (over €150 million) and the Reds' desire to avoid breaking the bank, a compromise will need to be found for the deal to go through,” they state.

FourFourTwo understands that the Mbaye pursuit is a separate deal from Barcola and not necessarily an alternative, with the Frenchman more of a left-winger and the Senegalese primarily an option on the right wing.

Both players can play on both flanks – and up front – with new signing Victor Munoz, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike all players who can play on the left, too.

It's uncertain just yet as to which any of those options will play on the left, up front or behind the striker, and whether any will play on the right – or whether that spot will be filled by the likes of Jeremie Frimpong or Dominik Szoboszlai, who played there last season.

While Bournemouth manager, Iraola was no stranger to playing a right-footed right-winger, or a left-footer on the left, with Alex Jimenez used on the right for swathes of last season before Marcus Tavernier became first-choice on the left towards the end of the season.

Mbaye is worth €30m, according to Transfermarkt. Liverpool kick off their Premier League campaign against Newcastle United when the new season begins.

“You fear for them, you really do”. A well-worn cliché that pundits will use to express their worries for at least one club at the beginning of every Premier League season, often before a ball has even been kicked in earnest.

This year, it looks like my beloved Newcastle United are chief among the sides attracting fretful glances, based on a summer of high-profile outgoings and much lower-profile arrivals, creating a squad littered with uncertainty and inexperience.

What’s more, head coach and certified club legend Eddie Howe walked away with just three weeks to go before the Premier League’s return and, at the time of writing, his successor is yet to have been formally announced.

No more silly notions of challenging for titles - only excitement and potential

Given all of this chaos, it’s easy to see why pundits, fans and casual observers are looking at Newcastle like a giant bin fire that no one’s bothering to pour so much as a glass of water over. Yet, I’m much more excited about this upcoming season than seemingly everyone else.

Firstly, I’m delighted to see Newcastle doing what they should have been doing all along, identifying young, exciting players with potential and bringing them in with development and future profit in mind. It was a method that worked perfectly with Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali and now Bruno Guimaraes and should never have been abandoned.

Instead, we’re now forced to live with the consequences of last summer’s drastic overspend, which has burdened us with players like Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa, who are unlikely to be moved on any time soon, or generate the club any profit at all. All we can do is hope they come good, but there’s little evidence to suggest that’s coming this season. Prove me wrong, lads. Please?

Despite that, we’re now looking at a refreshed squad full of youth and exuberance and, although it’s certainly a risk, a few more arrivals are needed between now and the start of the season. I’m really excited about watching these players grow and create moments to remember in black and white and eventually be disheartened when they leave in big money moves to clubs who are simply better placed to pay what they should be earning.

Sure, losing the likes of Isak, Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Tonali has been painful, but only because those players are success stories of a transfer policy that served us extremely well before it was carelessly dropped. I’d much rather be gutted to lose Bazoumana Toure and Aladji Bamba to bigger sides in years to come, than be praying to see the back of them because their moves haven’t worked out. This is how we should have been doing business all along, and I’m pleased to see it make a return.

Something I'm less keen to see back at Newcastle any time soon are the ridiculous suggestions of competing for titles, or challenging among the top clubs in the world by 2030. Granted, those ideas have been pushed into the public conscience by people from within the club, first by Amanda Stavely and then by CEO David Hopkinson, creating a completely false sense of identity that Newcastle fans were stuck with. Not many of us believed those statements were true and, in the long run, they’ve made the club look silly, rather than giving them the appearance of genuine, serious contenders.

By putting these new foundations in place, Newcastle once again have a realistic project to be excited about instead of one that feels like it’s trying to achieve more than it is ever capable of and is subsequently, obviously, doomed to fail. Last season was dispiriting for those very reasons, particularly during the summer, as the Mags tried to lure in huge, expensive and unrealistic targets like Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko, while also trying to balance PSR spreadsheets.

This year is not going to be defined by an inability to spend big on players who probably don’t want to come to Newcastle anyway. Instead, it’s going to be defined by effective recruitment and forward thinking, with players desperate to impress and make a name for themselves at St James’ Park, rather than those who would be instantly eyeing up the next big move.

The recruitment hasn't only been exciting on the pitch either, with new boss Matthias Jaissle potentially the most intriguing arrival of the summer, if the club ever announces it formally. Howe’s project had grown stale and, as much as I love the man for everything he did at Newcastle, he looked depleted and bereft of energy, even after his summer break. It was obvious towards the end of last season that a change was needed and, while it’s come later than I would have liked, I’m pleased he was eventually able to admit that his stepping down was in everyone’s best interests.

Now, instead of dreading another unimaginative and predictable 90 minutes of Howe-ball at the start of the season, in which we only get like-for-like substitutes after the 80th minute, I cannot wait to see how Jaissle sets us up and tinkers with the squad and implements his ideas and philosophies, which are said to be attacking-minded and aggressive according to those who know, and gets the team working together over time.

Obviously, there’s every chance he may not be able to do that, or it may take him a while, but I’m much more optimistic about his chances than I was of Howe ever rediscovering the energy and passion that drove us to our first trophy in decades, that had completely drained from both him and the squad over the last 12 months.

That's not to say it's been a perfect summer. I do sympathise with those concerned about Newcastle’s future, but I cannot help but also be fascinated and positive about how the club has reacted to a year in which the consequences of their mistakes and poor decisions have made life for them and their supporters extremely difficult.

There is work to be done still. A lot of it, in fact. But, free from expectation and unfettered by daft delusions of grandeur, I truly believe this could be the start of a great new period for Newcastle United, rather than simply the end of its most successful one in living memory.

Fighting relegation could not have been further away from Spurs' aspirations this time last year, after winning the Europa League and hiring Thomas Frank.

The harsh reality was that it took victory on the final day to retain their Premier League status, on the back of a torrid 12 months. While the inquest into who is to blame will continue for some time yet, one thing is certain: in 2026-27, there can be no mention of the ‘R' word again.

The feeling among fans is that it surely can't get any worse than finishing 17th twice in succession (Mick McCarthy meme notwithstanding), so there are reasons for optimism.

Surely it is only up from here for Spurs?

Fortunately, Spurs' finances were still in good shape having avoided the drop, and they moved quickly to add players to their squad. Marcos Senesi is among the top flight's best centre-backs and Jan Paul van Hecke a reliable partner for him, while Andy Robertson will maintain standards.

Midfielder Mateus Fernandes then arrived from West Ham for £85m, a club record fee quickly eclipsed when a deal was agreed to bring in Sandro Tonali for £100m. Roberto De Zerbi can now shape a new squad. The miracles that the Italian boss worked in turning around Spurs' season cannot be underestimated, and the time he'll get on the training pitch should set up Spurs to climb into the top half, at least – ideally before a very spicy May schedule.

The Coach

If Roberto De Zerbi's first few months are anything to go by, this season could be far more entertaining for Spurs fans (in a good way). Galvanising an underperforming team was an impressive opening act, and even his combustible nature is preferable to drab pragmatism.

Key Player

Before injury ended his season in January, Mohammed Kudus was providing the sort of game-changing moments his side needed, and subsequently missed. Was he consistent? No, but the Ghanaian is brilliant in 1v1 situations and can benefit from De Zerbi's style of play.

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 17th

FA CUP: Third Round

LEAGUE CUP: Fourth Round

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Last 16

Top Scorer

Richarlison bagged 12 goals in all competitions for his Spurs side last season.

Lessons From Last Year

Build a squad big enough to deal with injuries and a busy schedule. Not having European football this season is arguably no bad thing for Spurs, who have faced an injury crisis like no other over the past two years. But with that comes the expectation of a deep cup run, where midweek changes cannot reduce the overall quality of the XI.

Most Likely To...

Continue their tradition of taking points from Manchester City while struggling to get anything from the North London Derby. They've picked up just one point from their last eight Premier League matches against Arsenal – they must do better, if only to make their rivals' title charge a bit more difficult.

Least Likely To...

Consistently sell out their stadium. The relationship between the club and the fans has been damaged – a few signings won't fix that. The away support is fantastic, but convincing fans to buy the league's second-most expensive season ticket – after three wins there – is a big ask. At least tourists love it…

View From The Stands

Words by: TOM HAYWARD

Last season was utterly embarrassing, pathetic, cowardly – take your pick.

This season will be different because Roberto De Zerbi has earned the right to a very strong summer, by saving us from financial and reputational ruin with a mid-table Championship squad to pick from. Can he now build on what he cultivated in two months?

Our key player will be James Maddison. I hope he can return to his best level. We badly missed his quality and character.

Look out for young striker Will Lankshear. He had a decent season on loan in the Championship, and there's an opening for a homegrown hitman to make a hero of himself…

The opposition player I'd love here is Morgan Rogers – absolute class.

I won't be happy unless we sign three or four attackers. The quality and availability of last term's forward options might have been our worst in the Premier League era.

Fans think our owners are incompetent, at best.

A social media account to follow is Change For Tottenham (CFT), AKA @ChangeForSpurs, which is a fan group dedicated to holding owners ENIC to account for the first time.

The ground I'm least looking forward to visiting is the Emirates. No league wins there in 16 years is unacceptable.

Our biggest grudge match will be against anyone and everyone who wanted us to go down last season – so they're all on our list.

We'll finish 8th.

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Brentford (A)

29 Newcastle (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Nott'm Forest (A)

12 Everton (H)

19 Aston Villa (H)

OCTOBER

10 Man United (A)

17 Coventry (H)

24 Chelsea (A)

31 Crystal Palace (H)

NOVEMBER

7 Leeds (A)

21 Ipswich (H)

28 Sunderland (A)

DECEMBER

2 Fulham (H)

5 Arsenal (H)

12 Hull City (A)

19 Liverpool (A)

26 Bournemouth (H)

30 Brighton (H)

JANUARY

2 Man City (A)

6 Fulham (A)

16 Leeds (H)

23 Crystal Palace (A)

30 Sunderland (H)

FEBRUARY

6 Ipswich (A)

10 Man City (H)

20 Brighton (A)

27 Liverpool (H)

MARCH

3 Bournemouth (A)

13 Nott'm Forest (H)

20 Everton (A)

APRIL

10 Brentford (H)

17 Newcastle (A)

24 Hull City (H)

MAY

1 Arsenal (A)

8 Chelsea (H)

15 Coventry (A)

23 Man United (H)

30 Aston Villa (A)

Title Odds

Tottenham Hotspur to win the Premier League title odds: 50/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Tottenham Hotspur to finish 8th.

The improvement in performances following De Zerbi's late arrival was remarkable, so imagine what he can do with a pre-season and better, fitter players at his disposal. That's the theory, anyway…

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

The Carabao Cup is back for 2026/27 as clubs across the top four divisions of English football battle it out to reach the final at Wembley on March 21. FourFourTwo is here with all the broadcast information you need to watch every game live.

The Carabao Cup – also known as the English Football League Cup, or EFL Cup – was established in 1960 and is English football's secondary cup competition. Unlike the FA Cup, which includes clubs from all the way down the football pyramid, the EFL Cup features only teams from the Premier League down to League Two.

This year, the first round is taking place across the weekend of August 6-10, with 35 fixtures involving clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two. Premier League teams who aren't playing in Europe in 2026/27 join the competition in round two, before the sides participating in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League enter in the third round. Manchester City are the EFL Cup holders after beating Arsenal 2-0 in last season's final to lift the trophy for the ninth time.

In this guide, we'll show you how to watch Carabao Cup live streams in the UK, US, and around the world, and how you can use a VPN to tune in while you're abroad.

• Read More: Bromley vs Leicester and 10 more things to look forward to in the EFL this season

Can you watch the Carabao Cup for free?

The Carabao Cup will have at least one game per round available free-to-air in the UK on ITV and the free ITVX streaming service.

In the US, a limited number of games will also be available to watch for free via the CBS Sports Golazo Network.

The games expected to be free this week are:

• Bristol City vs Walsall — CBS Sports Golazo Network
• Wolves vs Port Vale — CBS Sports Golazo Network
• Wrexham vs Middlesbrough — ITV

Abroad for a round of the Carabao Cup? You need a VPN to unlock your stream — find out more below.

How to watch the Carabao Cup from abroad

Chances are you'll find yourself overseas when some Carabao Cup games are taking place, but does that mean you have to miss the action? No, it doesn't... a VPN will ensure you get your coverage from anywhere.

Carabao Cup live streams are geo-restricted on all streaming services, but a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a neat way around this, unpicking the geo-locks by altering your device's digital location. It's great for accessing your usual streaming services while on the move, and it does wonders for your internet security, too.

NordVPN is the best, so say our good friends across the office at TechRadar.

How to watch the Carabao Cup in the UK?

Every Carabao Cup game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with select matches on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. Every other fixture will be available on Sky Sports+.

As mentioned above, ITV will have live coverage of at least one game per round, including the final. Matches shown on ITV and ITVX will be completely free.

How to watch the Carabao Cup in the US

Paramount+ is the home of the Carabao Cup in the USA, with select games available to stream live.

Some matches will also be shown live for free on the CBS Sports Golazo Network.

How to watch the Carabao Cup in Australia

Fans in Australia can watch every Carabao Cup match live on beIN Sports, with all games available on the beIN Sports Connect streaming platform.

Plans start from $15.99 a month or $159.99 a year, and you can also take advantage of a one-week free trial.

Other Carabao Cup live streams around the world

English football is popular all over the world so it's no surprise you can watch Carabao Cup live streams in dozens of countries. Here are a few providers in select locations:

Africa

Carabao Cup coverage in Africa is mostly shared between BeIN Sports and SuperSport.

BeIN Sports have the rights in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.

SuperSport have the rights in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, St Helena and Ascension, Sudan, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Canada

DAZN has the rights to Carabao Cup live streams in Canada.

Hong Kong

Viewers in Hong Kong can tune into Carabao Cup action on TVB.

New Zealand

beIN Sports is your destination to watch the Carabao Cup 2026/27 in New Zealand.

South Africa

Carabao Cup fans in South Africa can watch all the action via subscription service SuperSport.

Carabao Cup — Round 1 Fixtures

All times BST

Thursday 6 August

7:45pm — Bristol City vs Walsall

Friday 7 August

7:45pm — Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Port Vale

7:45pm — Wycombe Wanderers vs Stevenage

8:00pm — Middlesbrough vs Wrexham

Saturday 8 August

1:00pm — Cambridge United vs Barnet

2:00pm — Queens Park Rangers vs Millwall

3:00pm — AFC Wimbledon vs Newport County

3:00pm — Barnsley vs Wigan Athletic

3:00pm — Bradford City vs Rochdale

3:00pm — Bristol Rovers vs Peterborough United

3:00pm — Bromley vs Reading

3:00pm — Burnley vs Notts County

3:00pm — Burton Albion vs Blackburn Rovers

3:00pm — Cardiff City vs Swindon Town

3:00pm — Crewe Alexandra vs Accrington Stanley

3:00pm — Derby County vs Lincoln City

3:00pm — Fleetwood Town vs Chesterfield

3:00pm — Gillingham vs Luton Town

3:00pm — Grimsby Town vs Blackpool

3:00pm — Leicester City vs Northampton Town

3:00pm — Leyton Orient vs Oxford United

3:00pm — Norwich City vs MK Dons

3:00pm — Preston North End vs Huddersfield Town

3:00pm — Salford City vs Shrewsbury Town

3:00pm — Sheffield Wednesday vs Bolton Wanderers

3:00pm — Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers

3:00pm — Stoke City vs Oldham Athletic

3:00pm — Swansea City vs Birmingham City

3:00pm — Watford vs Crawley Town

3:00pm — West Ham United vs Portsmouth

5:30pm — Cheltenham Town vs Charlton Athletic

5:30pm — Colchester United vs Southampton

5:30pm — Rotherham United vs West Bromwich Albion

Sunday 9 August

4:00pm — Mansfield Town vs Sheffield United

Monday 10 August

8:00pm — Plymouth Argyle vs Exeter City

What are the Carabao Cup 2026/27 round dates?

• Round One: 6-10 August 2026
• Round Two: w/c 24 August 2026
• Round Three: w/c 7 September and w/c 14 September 2026
• Round Four: w/c 26 October 2026
• Quarter Finals: w/c 14 December 2026
• Semi-Final First Leg: w/c 11 January 2027
• Semi-Final Second Leg: w/c 1 February 2027
• Final: Sunday 21 March 2027

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Given the extraordinary feats of Regis Le Bris' plucky side over the past year, Sunderland's outlook going into this season is wildly different to last.

Ahead of 2025-26, everyone expected an inexperienced Black Cats side to be battling for survival after their Championship play-off triumph.

Instead, they produced one of the stories of the season, finishing seventh and immediately qualifying for the Europa League.

Can Regis Le Bris' men shock the world once more?

Le Bris blended the core that took Sunderland up with a series of ambitious signings, including Nordi Mukiele from PSG and Brian Brobbey from Ajax.

Granit Xhaka was arguably the Premier League's signing of the season, rocking up 12 months after a near-flawless campaign at Bayer Leverkusen to bring leadership and composure to the newly promoted side. Two more core additions, Noah Sadiki and Omar Alderete, were less heralded but no less impressive.

The Stadium of Light quickly became one of the league's most difficult away trips. Sunderland's own travels brought them wins over Chelsea, Everton and, most satisfyingly, neighbours Newcastle. Now comes the even trickier part. Sunderland are a surprise package no more.

The squad must balance domestic commitments with Thursday nights in Europe. We've seen how that schedule can cause growing clubs to crumble. Fans will rightly love every trip, but the club must keep its feet on the ground.

The Coach

Sunderland's appointment of Regis Le Bris in June 2024 appeared strange, given that he'd just been relegated from Ligue 1 with Lorient. It was a masterstroke: the ex-defender trusted youth to take the Black Cats back to the promised land, then to even greater heights.

Key Player

Enzo Le Fee's arrival in January 2025 caught the attention – six months after joining Roma for around £20m, he was moving on loan to the Championship. The midfielder quickly helped Sunderland to win promotion, then signed permanently and impressed again in the top tier.

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 7th

FA CUP: Fifth Round

LEAGUE CUP: Second Round

Top Scorer

Brian Brobbey bagged seven goals in all competitions last season for Sunderland.

All seven came in the Premier League, and he added an assist to that haul in 31 appearances.

Lessons From Last Year

The kids are all right. Sunderland had the youngest average starting XI in their promotion campaign, then the second youngest (after Chelsea) in the Premier League.

That couldn't stop them dazzling, and Le Bris deserves huge credit for giving youngsters opportunities to play. Robin Roefs, Chemsdine Talbi, Chris Rigg, Habib Diarra and Eliezer Mayenda all found regular game time while under the age of 23. They rarely looked out of place.

Most Likely To...

Come out on top in the Tyne-Wear derby. For all of last term's heroics, beating Newcastle home and away was the sweetest achievement of all. Brobbey's late St James' Park winner to complete the double in March is a moment that travelling supporters will never forget – nor let their rivals forget.

Least Likely To...

Pay attention to the doubters. Few neutrals expected Sunderland to survive, let alone finish in the top seven. They became only the fifth newly promoted club to qualify for Europe through league position.

View From The Stands

Words by: MICHAEL POTTS @MichaelPotts_

Last season was a fairy tale. We were meant to go down without a trace, not end up in Europe for the first time in 53 years. There's a buzz around the place – the city is on a high and you can feel it.

This season will be different because last season was almost a free hit – now we've set the bar ridiculously high.

The big talking point is if we're prepared for the Thursday-Sunday routine. A reminder: we “weren't prepared for the Premier League” 12 months ago.

Our key player will be Enzo Le Fee. With goals, assists and graft, too, he's probably the most gifted footballer I've ever seen play in red and white. I'm enjoying him while I can.

Look out for 21-year-old midfielder Noah Sadiki, who joined us last year. The reason we're going back to the Moon is to find some ground he hasn't covered yet.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Joelinton. He's the softest hard man you'll ever see on a football pitch.

Fans think our owner is the best thing to happen to our club in decades.

The one change I'd make at our club is to expand the Stadium of Light. We sell it out every week – people can't get season tickets – so it's time to go above 50,000.

I won't be happy unless we reach the Europa League knockouts. I'd accept a weaker league campaign to make the most of our shot.

We'll finish 12th, after a run to the Europa League final. Dare to dream, eh?

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Ipswich (A)

29 Fulham (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Brentford (A)

12 Arsenal (H)

19 Man City (A)

OCTOBER

10 Brighton (H)

17 Bournemouth (A)

24 Leeds (H)

31 Coventry (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Chelsea (H)

21 Aston Villa (A)

28 Tottenham (H)

DECEMBER

2 Liverpool (A)

5 Newcastle (A)

12 Nott'm Forest (H)

19 Crystal Palace (H)

26 Everton (A)

30 Man United (A)

JANUARY

2 Hull City (H)

6 Liverpool (H)

16 Chelsea (A)

23 Coventry (H)

30 Tottenham (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Aston Villa (H)

10 Hull City (A)

20 Everton (H)

27 Crystal Palace (A)

MARCH

3 Man United (H)

13 Brentford (H)

20 Arsenal (A)

APRIL

10 Ipswich (H)

17 Fulham (A)

24 Nott'm Forest (A)

MAY

1 Newcastle (H)

8 Brighton (A)

15 Bournemouth (H)

23 Leeds (A)

30 Man City (H)

Title Odds

Sunderland to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Sunderland to finish 17th.

A leap from 12th to 7th in the final two games was a reward for bold transfers, even if xG tables (sorry) had them 18th. Pfft! Enjoy Europe and trust that the squad has the strength – if not depth – to survive.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Arsenal have begun talks to sell an academy star, as they look to bring in Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid.

The Gunners are looking to pull off arguably the most ambitious move in their history by landing the Brazilian superstar, with FourFourTwo understanding that Arsenal's owners have agreed to smash their wage structure to sign Vinicius.

But there will have to be sales this summer in return, as the North Londoners look to balance the books – with one particular Hale End star for the chop.

Arsenal have engaged in talks to sell Ethan Nwaneri

Journalist Carlo Pellegatti has revealed via MilanNews that “talks have taken place and are at an advanced stage” to send Ethan Nwaneri to RB Leipzig, with a buy-back clause set to be included.

Nwaneri's breakthrough came in the 2024/25 season as an understudy to Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka – but following the acquisitions of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, the 19-year-old has seen a lot less game time, leading to a loan move to Marseille in January.

Nwaneri was sent to the south of France with a view to being a key starter under Roberto De Zerbi, but with the Italian's leaving the Stade Velodrome acrimoniously shortly after, the teenager ended up playing just nine times in Ligue 1, with successor Habib Beye only using him sparingly.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta recently claimed after a preseason rout of Girona that Nwaneri's difficulties at l'OM would “help him a lot in his career” – but seemingly opened the door to him returning to the first team when he commented that he “looks like a different man”.

Incredibly, Nwaneri received a Premier League debut before the 2022 World Cup to become the division's youngest-ever player at just 15 years old, with Arsenal showing him from a young age that there was a pathway to the first team during a time when the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea were angling for his signature.

Indeed, the wonderkid wouldn't actually compete directly with Vinicius if he joined, given that he primarily operates from the right, as a no.10 or at false nine: though Nwaneri represents a player who could attract a big fee if he moved on.

The North Londoners' record sale is still Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who moved to Liverpool in 2017 for around £35 million – and while Arteta's tenure has seen success in selling academy prospects such as Folarin Balogun, Joe Willock, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah, Nwaneri could be the biggest sale yet, given his age, potential, current low salary and contract situation.

The England youth international and fellow Hale Ender Myles Lewis-Skelly signed long-term extensions last summer, to keep them contracted at the Emirates until 2030.

With fellow teen sensation Max Dowman also breaking through at the moment and looking to collect minutes in the same positions as Nwaneri – and Madueke a far more established prospect still getting up to speed in N5 – Arsenal may well be resigned to having to balance out their squad in terms of who can play in that right half-space, given that Eze, Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz have all been the preferred as options to deputise for Odegaard in the past 12 months.

Nwaneri is worth €35m, as per Transfermarkt. Arsenal play Coventry City on the first day of the Premier League season.

Leeds are set to miss out on the signing of a long-standing player of interest after it emerged Premier League rivals Fulham have moved into advanced negotiations.

According to a report from Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the Cottagers are closing in on an agreement to bring 22-year-old Southampton man Shea Charles to Craven Cottage.

Talks between the two clubs are said to be around a transfer fee of approximately £25 million, with personal terms not thought to be an issue.

Leeds miss out on Shea Charles signing

Leeds have had a long-held interest in the Northern Ireland international and are understood to have identified Charles as a main target to bolster their central midfield options.

However, the Saints hierarchy consistently held firm, turning down a succession of bids from Elland Road insisting on their £25 million valuation.

The reluctance to meet Southampton's price has seemingly allowed Fulham to step in and seize control of the race to sign the highly-rated youngster.

Charles’ tactical versatility and domestic background has made him a coveted player in this window.

Having developed within Manchester City’s youth system before joining Southampton in a £10.5 million deal in 2023, the midfielder qualifies as a homegrown player.

His composure, press-resistance, and defensive work-rate saw him emerge as a key performer on the south coast.

Manchester City are said to have retained a 15 per cent sell-on clause during his initial sale, meaning the reigning Premier League champions will collect a portion of the incoming £25m fee.

While Charles would have been happy to end up in West Yorkshire, moving up a division in the process, the prospect of immediate top-flight football under Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa has swung negotiations in the West Londoners' favour.

Fulham are now expected to finalise personal terms, meaning Leeds will be forced to pivot to alternative options to bolster their engine room before the deadline passes.

The Whites, however, are still on track to secure the signing of fellow homegrown star and ex-Manchester City academy graduate James Trafford.

Nottingham Forest went into the 2025-26 season on a high, having finished seventh the year before and qualified for Europe for the first time in 29 years. It didn't take long for things to unravel.

Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked just three games into the season, and what followed was a comedy of errors.

Another two permanent managers came and went (Ange Postecoglou lasted eight matches, Sean Dyche 25 matches) as Forest battled relegation. Survival was eventually sealed by gaffer number four, Vitor Pereira, courtesy of an impressive fightback in the spring.

Oliver Glasner must steady the Nottingham Forest ship and get the club back into Europe and trophy contention

The recipe for success under the (second) former Wolves manager was based around unshackling Morgan Gibbs-White. Forest's talisman bagged nine goals in 10 league games under Pereira and deserved as much credit as anyone for the club's strong finish. Far more admirable was Forest's European form, as Brian Clough's old club rolled back the years.

Beating the likes of Porto (twice) and Fenerbahce, they reached the Europa League semi-finals, where they ultimately lost to Aston Villa. The sparkling form of Igor Jesus was crucial to that progress. Supporting Evangelos Marinakis' Forest is never dull, though, with Pereira sacked this summer, and replaced by Oliver Glasner. Most fans would settle for managerial continuity and a mid-table finish in 2026-27. It's hard to feel certain of either of those outcomes.

The Coach

Oliver Glasner held talks with Milan this summer after opting to call time on two-and-a-half years with Crystal Palace, so his decision to join Forest, who finished one place below the Eagles, was a surprise. How things go could depend on his relationship with the owner.

Key Player (and Top Scorer)

Morgan Gibbs-White, 26, is so central to Forest – creative, relentless in the press and increasingly deadly, scoring 15 league goals – that his World Cup squad omission bordered on a shock.

The Englishman bagged 18 goals in all competitions for his side, the most from any individual at the club. Forest supporters will be praying he avoids more horrific facial injuries this term.

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 16th

FA CUP: Third Round

LEAGUE CUP: Third Round

EUROPA LEAGUE: Semi-final

Lessons From Last Year

Consistency is key. For the second year running, and despite having several different managers, Forest largely used the same back five in the Premier League as long as they were available: keeper Matz Sels behind Ola Aina, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic and Neco Williams.

That quintet, screened by Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangare, were crucial to the Tricky Trees conceding fewer goals than Liverpool and Bournemouth, and just one more than third-placed Manchester United.

While it was a season to forget in front of goal, Forest had the joint eighth-best defence and that's ultimately what kept them in the division.

Most Likely To...

Rotate elsewhere. Only relegated West Ham (32) used more players than Forest (31) last term.

Least Likely To...

Bask in mid-table serenity. In the club's four seasons back in the top flight, they've finished 16th, 17th, 7th and 16th. So, expect Forest to either push for Europe or be mired in a battle for survival.

View From The Stands

Words by: LEE CLARKE @redsidetrentpod

Last season was certainly memorable. The first club to have four managers in a Premier League season also reached the Europa League semi-finals, while finishing 16th. Turbulent.

The big talking point is whether we can actually keep one manager for the whole season.

Our key player will be Morgan Gibbs-White. We have to keep him. He got 18 goals and seven assists in the league and Europe last year. We can't replace him and Elliot Anderson in the same summer.

The active player I'd love to have back is Anthony Elanga.

The opposition player I'd love here is Jarrod Bowen. It's unrealistic, due to his elite quality, but he'd be an amazing fit for our system.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Bruno Fernandes. The bloke is like a petulant kid who has been told he can't have the last Rolo!

Fans think our owner is determined, passionate and a little crazy – but his heart is in the right place.

The pantomime villain will be Sean Dyche, if any top flight side is mental enough to take him on. If not, it'll be Frank Lampard due to his Derby links.

The best thing about matchdays at our ground is The Nav. It's a brilliant boozer with top-notch beer, a football quiz and a barbecue on site.

A social media account to follow is @wt_analysis – he recently got himself a job in football, based on his brilliant data on all things Nottingham Forest.

We'll finish in the top 10.

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Leeds (H)

29 Liverpool (A)

SEPTEMBER

5 Tottenham (H)

12 Aston Villa (A)

19 Coventry (H)

OCTOBER

10 Crystal Palace (A)

17 Arsenal (H)

24 Ipswich (A)

31 Brentford (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Man City (H)

21 Bournemouth (A)

28 Chelsea (H)

DECEMBER

2 Hull City (A)

5 Brighton (H)

12 Sunderland (A)

19 Everton (H)

26 Man United (A)

30 Newcastle (A)

JANUARY

2 Fulham (H)

6 Hull City (H)

16 Man City (A)

23 Bournemouth (H)

30 Chelsea (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Brentford (H)

10 Fulham (A)

20 Man United (H)

27 Everton (A)

MARCH

3 Newcastle (H)

13 Tottenham (A)

20 Aston Villa (H)

APRIL

10 Leeds (A)

17 Liverpool (H)

24 Sunderland (H)

MAY

1 Brighton (A)

8 Crystal Palace (H)

15 Arsenal (A)

23 Ipswich (H)

30 Coventry (A)

Title Odds

Nottingham Forest to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Nottingham Forest to finish 18th.

It could be the latter, particularly after the departure of Anderson. Glasner's arrival does give them more hope, though – if Pereira had started the season, we feared for a repeat of Wolves' slide.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Manchester United have reached an agreement to offload goalkeeper Altay Bayindir to La Liga side Celta Vigo, according to a recent transfer report.

The 28-year-old Turkish international is set to complete a season-long loan move to Spain after finding first-team opportunities limited at Old Trafford.

Celta Vigo manager Claudio Giraldez has reportedly identified Bayindir as his primary target to strengthen his goalkeeping options and provide direct competition for Andrei Radu.

Manchester United duo set to depart on loan

The two clubs are said to have agreed on terms for the loan deal, with documentation and medical checks set to be finalised before Bayindir formally joins up with his new team in Spain.

Bayindir arrived at Manchester United in September 2023 from Turkish giants Fenerbahce in a deal worth approximately £4.3 million (€5m).

However, his three years in England ultimately proved frustrating as he struggled to establish himself as a regular starter, as well as making a handful of high-profile errors.

Across his entire spell with Manchester United, Bayindir made just 17 appearances in all competitions. He spent his first two seasons primarily acting as understudy to Andre Onana, before serving in a similar backup role behind Senne Lammens.

Despite occasional opportunities, Bayindir's path to regular playing time was permanently blocked, aside from a brief period at the beginning of last season under Ruben Amorim.

The arrival of former Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer has further demoted him in the squad depth chart. With 40-year-old veteran Tom Heaton also offering experienced cover, Bayindir is on his way out.

Meanwhile, there is a the possibility that out-of-favour striker Joshua Zirkzee will join Juventus, as per Gianluca Di Marzio.

It is suggested the player's representatives are in talks with the Italian giants, as well as club-to-club talks having been initiated.

Zirkzee joined the Red Devils from Serie A club Bologna two summers ago but has managed just nine goals in 75 appearances.

A loan move for the striker is the deal most likely to be agreed between the two clubs given Zirkzee's contract does not expire at Old Trafford until June 2029.

FourFourTwo has another bumper quiz for you and this one's for experts in English football history.

Now formed of the Premier League and the EFL, the top four divisions of men's football in England have been the basis of the professional game for generations. In nearly 140 years of history, a massive 95 teams have won at least one of the top four divisions.

There are some forgotten names in here so we've given you 15 minutes to crack through the lot. Let us know your score below.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has an unmatched collection of football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. Let's see what you've got, starting with a very tricky career paths quiz that asks you to identify no fewer than 100 players just by the clubs they represented.

We also want to know whether you can tell us who wrote these football autobiographies based on their titles – you can't – and identify the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League.

If you're a passionate Three Lions historian you'll be able to show us that can name every member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad and there's a good chance you'll be the kind of brain who can also identify these team line-ups from the nationalities of the players.

Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of football trivia and analysis, and don't forget to join The Club: our free membership portal where you can secret hints and get on the leaderboard. While you're at it, we recommend FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 64. There are clues on Champions League finals, Olympic medallists, and name-dropping rappers.

The campaign highlights the broadcaster's schedule that is set to feature more than 700 live matches across major domestic and European competitions.

Titled 'LEVELS', the campaign focuses on a 60-second advert narrated by actor Matt Smith.

The multi-platform promo showcases the breadth of TNT Sports' prominent broadcast talent such as Laura Woods, Ally McCoist, Steven Gerrard, and Karen Carney.

TNT Sports are raring to go for 2026/27

Active players including Arsenal’s Declan Rice, Manchester United’s Ella Toone and Matheus Cunha, and Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo also feature in the ad.

Created in collaboration with creative agency Brothers and Sisters, the campaign officially launches on Friday, August 7 across TV, cinema, radio, digital, and social media channels.

The upcoming season showcases TNT Sports' extensive rights portfolio, spanning the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup, Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, and selected fixtures from Italy’s Serie A.

All coverage will be streamed on Warner Bros Discovery's new UK streaming platform, HBO Max.

TNT Sports’ live match broadcasting for the 2026/27 campaign begins on Wednesday, August 12.

The UEFA Super Cup fixture between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League champions Aston Villa will be broadcast live on the relevant channels.

Coverage continues on Sunday, August 16 with the FA Community Shield fixture between Premier League champions Arsenal and FA Cup winners Manchester City at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Watch Chelsea vs Juventus for free as Xabi Alonso's men begin the Asian leg of their pre-season tour with a friendly against the Italian giants in Hong Kong. FourFourTwo brings you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Alonso has had a lively opening two games of his tenure as Blues manager, with a 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers followed by a last-gasp 2-1 defeat by 10-man Tottenham Hotspur.

Both of those friendlies took place in Sydney, but Chelsea's players and staff have since relocated to Asia where they will play the next three matches of pre-season. First up is this clash in Hong Kong with Italian giants Juventus, who kept clean sheets in each of their first three games of the summer.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Chelsea vs Juventus online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Can I watch Chelsea vs Juventus for free?

Yes, TVNZ+ in New Zealand is broadcasting the match between Chelsea and Juventus for free.

CBS Sports Golazo Network will also show the game at no cost in the US.

You just need an account and you'll be able to watch without paying a penny.

Team News

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Palestra, Tosin, Fofana, Hato, Nicoll-Jazuli, Caicedo, Quenda, Joao Pedro, Gittens, Welbeck.

Subs: Penders, Sharman-Lowe, Curd, Slonina, Acheampong, Subuloye, Sarr, Diakite, Anselmino, Lavia, Essugo, Watson, Walsh, Kellyman, Mudryk, Estevao Willian, Kavuma-McQueen, Neto, Satpayev, Jackson, Delap

Juventus XI: Di Gregorio, Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly, Cambiaso, Douglas Luiz, Locatelli, Miretti, Boga, Milik, Celik.

Subs: Perrin, Pinsoglio, Nava, Bremmer, Rugani, Koopmeiners, Arthur Melo, Cabal, Owusu, Gil Puche, Oboavwoduo, Licina, Durmisi, Yildiz, Zhegrova, David

Not in New Zealand or the US? Use NordVPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Chelsea vs Juventus from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss Chelsea vs Juventus. The solution to your geo-restriction nightmares is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a piece of software that can set your devices to appear to be in any country in the world.

FourFourTwo’s tech-obsessed office-mates over at Tom's Guide know everything there is to know about VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN you can buy.

How to watch Chelsea vs Juventus in the UK

In the UK, you will need CFC+ to stream Chelsea vs Juventus.

CFC+ is Chelsea's in-house streaming platform and is showing every Blues pre-season game. A match pass costs £9.99, or you can pay £14.99 a year to unlock all of Chelsea's remaining summer friendlies, including Chelsea vs Juventus.

Abroad? Use NordVPN to access your usual stream.

How to watch Chelsea vs Juventus in the US

Chelsea vs Juventus is available to watch on Paramount+ and the free CBS Sports Golazo Network in the US.

Paramount+ plans start at $8.99 a month and also give you access to every single Champions League game, as well as select matches in the Carabao Cup and EFL, plus much more.

Outside of the US? Watch Chelsea vs Juventus on Paramount+ with NordVPN.

How to watch Chelsea vs Juventus in Australia

Paramount+ will be showing Chelsea vs Juventus in Australia.

Plans start at AU$7.99 per month or AU$70.99 per year.

Away from Australia? Get NordVPN to access your usual Paramount+ stream.

Chelsea vs Juventus: Preview

After starting the Xabi Alonso era Down Under, Chelsea continue their breathless pre-season tour with the first of three matches in Asia as they face Juventus in Hong Kong.

While it was only a friendly, the Blues never like to lose to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur so their last-gasp defeat in Sydney last Saturday will have stung more than it should at this time of year.

Alonso's men have the chance to put that right against Juventus in the 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium, where the travelling party will be joined by some notable reinforcements.

New signing Danny Welbeck and forgotten man Mykhailo Mudryk - who could play for the first time since November 2024 after his doping case was resolved - have arrived in Asia to link up with the squad, as have £40m winger Geovany Quenda and goalkeeper Mike Penders. All four players could feature against Juventus as Alonso continues to fine-tune his side ahead of the new season.

SEE ALSO Should I use a VPN to watch football?

This fixture is a meeting of two teams who missed out on Champions League qualification last season, although Juventus did at least book their place in one European competition for 2026/27.

The Italian giants will play in the Europa League next term after finishing sixth in Serie A, which was only the second time since 2011 that they have ended the campaign outside the top four.

The Old Lady have shown their age in the past few seasons and fallen behind Europe's elite, although they did finish last term in relatively good form with only one defeat in their final 12 Serie A matches.

Luciano Spalletti's men arrive in Hong Kong having won two and drawn one of their first three pre-season friendlies, beating Nice and Standard Liege after drawing with Basel, all without conceding a goal.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Chelsea 2-1 Juventus

This should be an interesting test for Chelsea, even if Juventus aren't quite the draw they once were.

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Evertonians could be forgiven for sensing a potential déjà vu this summer.

As the one-year anniversary of Everton’s official move to Hill Dickinson Stadium rapidly approaches, there is an increasingly unnerving mood by the banks of the River Mersey.

Relocating to Bramley-Moore Dock was supposed to serve as a springboard for the Toffees’ renaissance; ending decades in the doldrums that were punctuated by a now 31-year drought since major silverware last winged its way towards a royal blue jersey. Instead, this grand old club is in danger of finding itself in the Last Chance Saloon.

Moyes Mark II

When David Moyes returned to Everton, some 19 months ago, the hope was that he could finish what was started in a credible 11-and-a-half-year spell. Securing Premier League safety, while also giving Goodison Park a more fitting send-off than had appeared likely during Sean Dyche’s reign, hinted at a sign of things to come.

The Scot’s first full season back at the helm was a mixed one, although a purple patch in the final months offered Everton hopes of an outside shot at European qualification. Briefly, they also had designs on sneaking into the fifth Champions League position. But a last-gasp Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool put the brakes on all continental dreams as they proceeded to take just two points from a potential 18 in the final six games, allowing several clubs of smaller stature and resources to leapfrog them.

Plans for a stronger follow-up campaign are already on the back foot ahead of an opening Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace, who have reaped tangible success from leaning into bold ambitions rather than shying away from them. It’s hardly uncharted territory, especially given Moyes’s longstanding moniker of ‘Dithering Dave’, yet the dream of a promising new era could be over before it has even begun.

Just shy of a decade ago, Everton’s erstwhile owner Farhad Moshiri cautioned that they had only a limited window to disrupt the Premier League’s top six order and insisted to supporters that he did not want the club to become ‘a museum’ of English football. The British-Iranian billionaire succeeded in avoiding a house of memories but replaced it with a circus as dysfunction reigned on and off the pitch throughout his premiership.

Moshiri’s scattergun approach to recruitment left the club lumbered with a highly imbalanced squad that increasingly resembled Frankenstein’s Monster with every new managerial appointment. Such was the chaotic nature of Everton’s transfer business that Dyche recently described his three full windows at the helm as ‘a s*** show’. It is difficult to escape the feeling that history may be about to repeat itself, with two of their opening three summer arrivals having already played for the club on loan last season in Merlin Rohl and Tyrique George, signed for a combined £36m.

The German midfielder’s summer return saw him tasked with plugging the right-back position in three pre-season friendlies as the search for Seamus Coleman’s long-term replacement is no nearer to fruition. An unedifying send-off for the club captain should have served as a belated wake-up call after failing to address the shortfall left by his persistent injury problems in the final years. Since his return, Moyes has put a new twist on an old classic with central defender Jake O’Brien filling the position in a move that mirrored his previous deployment of Joleon Lescott. Nathan Patterson, now the sole established right-back, has been persona non grata since being on the receiving end of a ‘playful slap’ from Dyche at a mid-season training camp over two years ago.

Everton’s issues, however, run deeper than defensive dearth as they face the task of replacing several other underfilled positions following Idrissa Gueye’s departure, four years after returning as a panacea to the holding midfield position he originally vacated in 2019. The Senegalese’s exit has been exacerbated by James Garner’s likely absence against Palace as he recovers from surgery on a groin issue diagnosed early in pre-season. Another alternative, Hayden Hackney, last season’s Championship Player of the Year, must contend with getting up to speed while adjusting to new surroundings.

Doubts over Iliman Ndiaye’s future have grown after recent speculation linking him with a move to Al-Hilal. The player who scored both the last-ever goal in a men’s game at Goodison and the first at Hill Dickinson Stadium has already made no secret of a desire to test himself in the Champions League, something which is currently out of Everton’s potential reach. Numerous unsuccessful attempts to tie Ndiaye down beyond his current summer 2029 contract expiry only serve to heighten fears that he will not be staying the course. A potential £70m fee would ordinarily arm Everton with considerable funds to rebuild, but in an increasingly inflated market, it would not stretch as far as the hierarchy, now headed up by The Friedkin Group, anticipate. It would also come at the cost of losing their most potent attacking source.

The Americans, who also own AS Roma, have been catching heat from sections of the fanbase for their lack of hands-on involvement and visibility. Nearly two years since taking the reins, head honcho Dan Friedkin is yet to grace an Everton match – home or away – with his presence; delegating assorted family members to fleetingly check on his investment. Some fans suspect their absentee overlord lacks an appetite to micromanage matters on the banks of the River Mersey in the same way he and son Ryan fixate on events in the seven hills of Rome. A ham-fisted declaration by CEO Angus Kinnear in his end-of-season programme notes of being ‘happily dissatisfied’ with the club’s current state of play did little to allay suspicions that the Friedkins are happy with maintaining the status quo of merely staying in the English top flight.

A reticence to address Moyes’s long-term future, with the former West Ham boss now in the final 12 months of the contract originally signed in January 2025, also suggests that the owners’ focus remains on keeping things ticking over. Noises around a potential extension, floated at the height of Everton’s late-season surge, have become highly subdued at a time when supporters are clamouring for a semblance of a long-term plan. As the only Premier League club without a director of football, the hunt for new faces is now dictated by a collegiate approach in which the 63-year-old is heavily involved despite a lack of certainty on whether he will be overseeing matters in the medium term.

Ending a vicious cycle of relegation dalliances was only half the battle for Everton. If they fall short on fixing basic issues this summer, the last real chance to restore one of English football’s sleeping giants to former glory risks falling by the wayside.

Known for his high-pressing, Red Bull-educated style and sharp tactical focus, 38-year-old German coach Jaissle has developed a reputation as one of the most highly-rated young bosses in top-level football - but his appointment is still a risk.

Whenever a manager takes charge of a major project, they naturally look to familiar faces - players who already understand things such as pressing triggers, defensive demands, and dressing room culture.

Once his appointment is rubber-stamped, it would be reasonable to expect Jaissle to recommend such personnel to the Newcastle hierarchy.

Seven players Newcastle might sign under Matthias Jaissle

Despite so far having had a summer in which they have been one of the Premier League's more active clubs in the market, Newcastle are still in need of targeted reinforcements throughout the side.

It is for that reason, the 'Jaissle effect' could be important during the final month of the summer window. Here are seven players who worked under Jaissle and fit Newcastle's squad requirements.

Nicolas Seiwald (Defensive Midfield)

Appearances under Jaissle: 91 (6 goals, 14 assists)

No outfield player featured more frequently for Jaissle during his trophy-laden tenure at Red Bull Salzburg than Austrian midfielder Nicolas Seiwald.

Functioning as the engine of Jaissle’s midfield diamond, Seiwald reigstered 91 appearances under the German, offering press-resistance and defensive coverage. Newcastle's midfield lacks depth in the holding role, making Seiwald a candidate to rejoin his former boss.

Gabri Veiga (Attacking Midfield)

Appearances under Jaissle: 66 (12 goals, 10 assists)

After making the switch from LaLiga to Al-Ahli, Spanish playmaker Gabri Veiga began working under Jaissle.

Across 66 matches together in Saudi Arabia, Veiga contributed 12 goals and 10 assists before joining FC Porto last summer. With Newcastle seeking a goal-scoring midfielder capable of unlocking low blocks, Jaissle could provide 24-year-old Veiga with the platform for a top-five league reboot.

Oumar Solet (Centre-Back)

Appearances under Jaissle: 66 (2 goals, 4 assists)

Jaissle’s aggressive, high-line defence at Red Bull Salzburg relied heavily on recovery speed and composure of his central defenders, of which Oumar Solet was one.

Featuring 66 times under Jaissle, Solet knows how to play in his backline that routinely dominated domestically and competed admirably in the Champions League. With Newcastle needing long-term athleticism and ball-playing quality at centre-back, Solet fits the tactical profile.

Amar Dedic (Right-Back)

Appearances under Jaissle: 52 (4 goals, 6 assists)

Bosnian full-back Amar Dedic enjoyed his breakout under Jaissle at Salzburg, making 52 appearances and contributing direct to 10 goals from right-back.

His ability to invert into midfield or overlap down the right aligns with Jaissle’s tactical flexibility. Given Newcastle's need to refresh their options at full-back after Kieran Trippier's exit and Tino Livramento's persistent injuries, Dedic could be an option given he already knows the manager's demands.

Mohamed Camara (Defensive Midfield)

Appearances under Jaissle: 43 (1 goal, 5 assists)

Before earning a move to AS Monaco, Malian midfield enforcer Mohamed Camara was the defensive anchor of Jaissle’s 2021/22 domestic double-winning Salzburg side.

Playing 43 games under the soon-to-be-named Newcastle coach, Camara demonstrated excellent ball-winning capabilities as well as decent ability in possession. His tenacity in duel-heavy games would instantly bolster Newcastle's stability in the middle of the park, which is in need of some experience and steel.

Enzo Millot (Attacking Midfield)

Appearances under Jaissle: 40 (9 goals, 7 assists)

French midfielder Enzo Millot worked closely with Jaissle at Al-Ahli, making 40 appearances and registering 16 direct goal contributions.

Millot’s tactical nous, exhibited whilst still in Ligue 1, and pressing energy make him a coach's dream in a high-intensity transitional system. Newcastle's squad would benefit from his quality between the lines.

Karim Konate (Centre-Forward)

Appearances under Jaissle: 10 (5 goals, 2 assists)

Ivorian striker Karim Konate made his initial top-flight breakthrough under Jaissle at Salzburg, netting 5 goals and laying on 2 assists in just 10 appearances.

Despite that limited sample size before the manager's departure, Konate showed good goalscoring efficiency that foreshadowed his more recent rise as a top striking talent in a mid-tier European league.

While bringing in Jaissle’s trusted former players makes sense on paper, fans would be wise to temper expectations of an instant transformation.

Moving on from almost five years of stability under Eddie Howe marks a significant structural shift, leaving a dressing room very much in a state of flux and notably lacking in natural on-pitch leadership. That will be a responsibility that Jaissle himself must bear while adapting to the demands of English football.

Rebuilding a squad in transition is rarely as simple as importing a cluster of familiar faces. While players like Seiwald, Veiga, or Solet know Jaissle’s style, few will arrive with an immediate grasp of the unique weight, culture, and expectations that come with representing Newcastle or a Premier League club.

Recruiting players who know the manager's playbook can certainly help with tactical implementation, but assembling a reshaped squad under a head coach who is still figuring out the club for himself is a delicate process.

Signing Jaissle's former players may well prove the evolutionary route Newcastle take in 2026/27 and beyond, but it is by no means a guaranteed blueprint for instant success.

It's time for the latest FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz! Can you answer 10 football trivia questions in just 90 seconds?

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has many more football quizzes courtesy of Kwizly. First up, we have this colossal challenge to name 100 players from the clubs where they've played football in our latest career path quiz.

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If you know your numbers, you'll have no problem naming the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League.

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Liverpool are looking at alternatives to Bradley Barcola after their initial conversations with PSG over a transfer came to nothing.

The Reds are keen to add a winger to their side after Mohamed Salah's departure earlier this summer, with new arrival Victor Munoz still unproven at the very elite level.

To that end, Liverpool have made a €100m (£85.6m) overture to PSG, only to be told they will need to pay nearly twice that much if they want to get their hands on the France international.

High Bar

However, Liverpool's opening bid is still a lot of money even for a financial powerhouse like PSG, particularly for a player who has been in and out of the side over the years.

Barcola was part of the PSG side that won back-to-back Champions League titles this year and last, but did not start in either final with Luis Enrique instead plumping to start Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the 5-0 win over Inter in 2025 and the penalty shootout victory over Arsenal in May.

Now the Reds are looking to test Les Parisiens' resolve by quietly letting it be known that they considering their options elsewhere.

The Guardian reported last week that Liverpool were intent on making Barcola their 'statement signing of the summer'.

But subsequent reports have suggested that PSG have indicated they want a deal in the region of £140m-£145m if they are to allow Barcola to depart.

Caught Offside claim that Liverpool have numerous potential options in mind already, among which are Brighton's Yankuba Minteh and Lille's Matias Fernandez-Pardo.

Bournemouth's Rayan is also touted as a possibility. The 20-year-old Brazil international moved to the Vitality Stadium to play under Iraola in January and made an immediate impression with five goals and two assists in his 15 Premier League appearances.

The hitch there is that Rayan cost Bournemouth £24.7m in January, and they now already believe he is worth several times that figure.

Rayan is said to have an £85m release clause in his contract, but it has been suggested that it does not activate until next year, handing Bournemouth an advantage in negotiations for the time being.

While it would obviously be sensible for Liverpool to look at other options if they feel a move for Barcola may not be possible, it is just as plausible that their apparent willingness to move on from the Frenchman could be a way to entice PSG to return to the table and find an acceptable compromise.

Aston Villa have had to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to be allowed to register a foreign player... despite him being an England youth international born in England.

FIFA did not allow Aston Villa to register 17-year-old Brian Madjo to their squad when they signed him from French side Metz in January for a £10m fee.

That's because although he was born in Enfield, he was largely raised in Luxembourg and came through the academy ranks in the country before moving to France to finish his football education.

Are you Madjo

It's a strange thing to say about the world governing body at the moment, but FIFA's block was entirely built around sensible rules around child protection.

FIFA Article 19 forbids the international transfers of players aged under 18 other than in limited circumstances, including moves between EU member states - and of course, the UK is no longer an EU member. Madjo, having made three friendly appearances for Luxembourg before switching to England, did not help Villa when they initially pleaded their case to FIFA.

However, though they have not yet published their reasoning, CAS seems to have decided that while Madjo's case did not fit neatly into any of FIFA's exceptions, the circumstances were compelling enough to decide in Villa's favour and allow him to be registered to Unai Emery's squad for the season ahead.

A club statement said: "Aston Villa can confirm that the club’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding the registration of Brian Madjo has been upheld.

"17-year-old Madjo signed for the club from Metz in January. Born in Enfield, London and a UK citizen, he left England at a young age and was raised in Luxembourg but has been unable to play due to FIFA‘s rules on the international transfer of minors.

"The striker has scored four goals in pre-season so far, including two in the opening friendly fixture against Walsall.

"The court’s decision today means that Brian will be registered as an Aston Villa player and eligible to play in official competition matches for the forthcoming season."

Madjo's teammates found the funny side on social media, with John McGinn replying: "English player allowed to play in England #freemadjo", much to Matty Cash's evident mirth.

Madjo has been playing for Villa in pre-season, with the ban only applying to official competitive games.

Being able to register the hot prospect will come as welcome news to the club, who would otherwise have been unable to use Madjo in senior games until he turns 18 in January.

They can now count Madjo among their number when plotting out their squad depth for the season ahead.

A new era is underway at Anfield again. After Arne Slot's two-year reign was ended following a miserable campaign with 19 defeats in all competitions, Andoni Iraola has been charged with reinstalling the attacking identity demanded by Reds fans.

Iraola's Bournemouth certainly displayed that quality. The Basque manager delivered an aggressive, progressive style, utilising quick, direct wingers, a high defensive line and pressing in attack.

Did somebody say “Jurgen Klopp”? Kopites are hoping for Klopp-like football, having grown frustrated by Slot's slow build-up and passive play. Iraola's message to Liverpool fans upon arrival was upbeat, capturing the imagination: “I can only say I want to become one of you; to earn the right to belong.” That's been enough to restore optimism after a difficult year.

It's the dawn of a new era at Liverpool, and Andoni Iraola must restore a lost hope

However, they will be a different proposition with the departures of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate – a key trio not just on the pitch, but around the club.

New leaders need to step up, because nine players from the title-winning squad of a little over a year ago have already left.

Nobody expects a title challenge in Iraola's maiden season, but a return to more attractive football and clear signs of an identity will be needed, and fast.

The lack of a trophy on his managerial CV, or experience coaching in European competition, are both concerns.

The Coach

Andoni Iraola is only the 22nd Liverpool manager in 134 years, which shows that it was no easy decision to part ways with Slot so soon. But Iraola offers the exciting football that fans missed, while his Basque roots mean he can understand the city's outsider mentality.

Key Player

Virgil van Dijk is 35 now, yet he played every league minute in 2025-26, then went to the World Cup. With Giovanni Leoni (19) and inexperienced new signing Jeremy Jacquet (21) alongside him, and Ibrahima Konate gone, the Dutchman's experience will be vital.

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 5th

FA CUP: Quarter-final

LEAGUE CUP: Fourth Round

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Quarter-final

Top Scorer

Hugo Ekitike was Liverpool's top goalscorer last year, with 17 strikes in all competitions.

That figure is a stark drop-off from the 30-40 goal campaigns produced by Salah from 2017-2024.

Ekitike is sidelined with injury until likely 2027, and whoever the Reds' top scorer is this year will surely have to produce a haul that exceeds that of the Frenchman in 2025-26.

Lessons From Last Year

There are many: using the squad better, getting the most of Florian Wirtz in a settled role, fewer ready excuses such as an inability to defend long throws and set pieces.

Arguably, the biggest lesson Iraola can take from Slot's reign is using the power of Anfield. Liverpool made slow starts too often under the Dutchman, reflected in their conceding first in 14 league games last season.

They lacked attacking impetus, which sapped the energy of the crowd, and the two couldn't thrive off each other. “For me,” says Iraola, “football is about emotions – about passion.” Those inside Anfield would agree.

Most Likely To...

Be involved in a 5-4 thriller. Think Klopp's first campaign, when the German's glasses were lost in the celebrations at Norwich. Iraola's first year could be as entertaining.

Least Likely To...

Shut up shop defending set pieces. Liverpool (20) and Bournemouth (18) had the worst record for goals against from dead-ball situations in the Premier League last season.

View From The Stands

Words by: JACK LUSBY @LusbyJack

Last season was deeply overshadowed by an unbelievable tragedy. Diogo Jota's death had a lasting impact on not only his team-mates, but the coach and his staff.

The big talking point is the decision to sack Arne Slot. Even with the serious mitigating factors, it was necessary – his decline had begun with the side's shocking display in the 2025 Carabao Cup Final.

This season will be different because Andoni Iraola has breathed new life into the support.

I won't be happy unless proper, attacking football returns to Anfield. You'd be surprised how many struggled to sit through Liverpool games last year.

Our key player will be Virgil van Dijk. World class. Look out for 19-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni. After nine months out, it's easy to forget his immense talent. He tore his ACL on debut and was still man of the match.

Fans think our owners are OK. FSG get plenty wrong but they usually rectify it eventually.

The departing player I'm saddest about is Andy Robertson or Mo Salah. Both should still be at the club – and would be, had things changed sooner.

A social media account to follow is the academy (@LFCAcademyX). There's a wealth of talent coming through or being signed.

Our biggest grudge match will be against Arsenal. They're the most unlikeable champions in a long, long time. Those games will be attacking football vs anti-football.

We'll finish 3rd.

Fixtures

AUGUST

23 Newcastle (A)

29 Nott'm Forest (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Ipswich (A)

12 Fulham (H)

19 Bournemouth (A)

OCTOBER

10 Man City (H)

17 Brentford (A)

24 Brighton (H)

31 Arsenal (H)

NOVEMBER

7 Crystal Palace (A)

21 Man United (H)

28 Everton (A)

DECEMBER

2 Sunderland (H)

5 Chelsea (A)

12 Leeds (H)

19 Tottenham (H)

26 Hull City (A)

30 Aston Villa (A)

JANUARY

2 Coventry (H)

6 Sunderland (A)

16 Crystal Palace (H)

23 Man United (A)

30 Everton (H)

FEBRUARY

6 Arsenal (A)

10 Coventry (A)

20 Hull City (H)

27 Tottenham (A)

MARCH

3 Aston Villa (H)

13 Ipswich (H)

20 Fulham (A)

APRIL

10 Newcastle (H)

17 Nott'm Forest (A)

24 Leeds (A)

MAY

1 Chelsea (H)

8 Man City (A)

15 Brentford (H)

23 Brighton (A)

30 Bournemouth (H)

Title Odds

Liverpool to win the Premier League title odds: 11/2

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Liverpool to finish 3rd.

Life without Salah could benefit the collective, if handled correctly. Iraola's methods suit most of the Reds' squad, fitness depending, although bungeeing back to the title is likely too much to ask.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Across his spells at Larnaca, Mirandes, Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth, streakiness has always been a hallmark of Andoni Iraola’s sides – but most of them will tell Liverpool fans that if he gets off to a bad start, he can still prove to be well worth the wait.

In Cyprus, Iraola had Larnaca in fine form in the Europa League qualifying rounds and started the league campaign well, only to hit a run of just one win in nine games in all competitions that cost him his job.

At Mirandes in the Spanish second tier, it was the other way around: Iraola’s side won just one of their first ten games, but then lost just five of their next 33 games.

Streaky clean

That included going on an impressive run to the semi-finals of Copa del Rey, claiming three top-flight scalps from Celta Vigo, Sevilla and Villarreal along the way – but the return to action after the covid-enforced stoppage to the season saw Mirandes finish the season with a run of two wins in nine games and fall out of play-off contention.

Iraola stayed in the Spanish equivalent of the Championship the following season, this time with Rayo Vallecano, and the streakiness continued: three wins from the first four was followed by just two wins in the next eight before they rallied and achieved promotion via the play-offs.

His most extreme start of all came at Bournemouth in 2023. With Iraola installed as Gary O’Neil’s successor, the Cherries didn’t win any of their first nine Premier League games under Iraola, with a 3-0 defeat to a troubled Everton side who had scarcely started the season a particular lowlight.

Much of the criticism was aimed not at Iraola, but at Bournemouth, who were heavily criticised for having made the change in the first place. The Telegraph tipped them for the drop, accusing the club’s decision to replace O’Neil as an act of ‘self-mutilation’ after he had led them away from relegation the previous season.

And who inflicted the defeat in that ninth league game of Iraola’s tenure? O’Neil’s Wolves, of course. The pressure was now on.

But tellingly, the Bournemouth board kept the faith – and despite their awful results, Iraola’s style was already starting to draw a ‘well, actually’ reaction from analysts.

They pointed out that Bournemouth had been handed the toughest opening fixtures of any side in the division – they also faced Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Brighton and Arsenal in the run – and yet ranked in the top half on their pressing stats and were consistently getting touches in the opposition box. The implication was that this was a side still adapting to a difficult but potentially rewarding style of play.

Bournemouth fans were generally still on board, too, citing the trickiness of that run, a spate of injuries, late arrivals in the transfer market, and some genuinely excellent passage of play at Anfield and against Tottenham as reasons to stay behind Iraola.

That faith proved to be well-placed. Bournemouth won eight of their next ten Premier League games, with Manchester City the only side to beat them. Not only that, but Bournemouth claimed those wins in style, scoring three against Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and away to Manchester United.

Then came a seven-game winless run, followed by a run of four wins in five games that essentially confirmed a mid-table finish was on the cards.

That first season set a pattern for Iraola’s Bournemouth, who continued to veer back and forth between long unbeaten runs and much more underwhelming periods.

Just consider last season: second in the table after losing just one of their first nine – and they deserved to get something out of that opening-day defeat to Liverpool, in truth.

Bournemouth didn’t win at all in November or December, and lost star man Antoine Semenyo to City in the January transfer window – only to finish the season with an 18-game unbeaten streak that included just slightly too many draws for them to pip Liverpool to Champions League qualification.

Those who watched Bournemouth closely will tell you they often played scintillating stuff.

The Cherries were, for this writer, the most entertaining side in the division for much of the past two seasons, and those poor spells very much felt like the inevitable result of Iraola playing an ultra-intense modern gegenpressing style without having the squad depth required to sustain it at its best over an entire season.

Liverpool should be able to provide that, but whether they actually will or not is another question.

It is clear that the squad needs work, particularly in defence; and for as much as the players who served under Jurgen Klopp are likely to embrace Iraola’s similar style, Liverpool still look from the outside like a club going through a belated transitional period.

The expectation on Iraola will be much higher than it was on the Dorset coast, and yet more winless runs like the ones they suffered through under Arne Slot last season would not go down at all well.

There is real potential for Iraola to end up being made into the fall guy for several years of weird transfer business at Liverpool – but if his prior track record is anything to go by, a bit of patience could go a long way.

Leeds are in a good place. That isn't something you could have written in many FourFourTwo Season Previews over the course of this century.

Elland Road's redevelopment is at the shovels-in-ground stage. The team consolidated their place in the top flight. And, this summer, the club tied 25-year-old captain and talisman Ethan Ampadu to a new, long-term contract.

As with every recently promoted side in the modern Premier League era, the objective is the same in season two: stay up. In a ruthless division, second-season syndrome can kill teams who start to have ideas above their station.

Will Leeds suffer second-season syndrome, or secure continued Premier League football once more?

The last time Leeds were in this build on the success of their first season back in the big time, which set in motion a slide back into the Championship. It can't be allowed to happen again. Minority partners then, 49ers Enterprises are now in full control, with deep pockets that are deepened further still by commercial partnerships with the likes of Red Bull.

Transfer market savvy remains key, however. Noah Okafor, Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, in particular, were all resounding successes in last summer's squad reshape, with an emphasis placed on physicality. In order to maintain the momentum built in the second half of 2025-26, Leeds will need to execute their squad-building goals efficiently once again.

The Coach

Plenty feared that Daniel Farke couldn't keep a team in the Premier League, having twice failed to do so with Norwich, but – helped by a fuller budget and a defiant Elland Road – he proved his doubters wrong. He has now challenged the club to match his ambition to push on.

Key Player

The most important cog in the Leeds machine is 63-cap Wales international Ethan Ampadu. Leading by example and ready to fly into a tackle at any time, he is just what Leeds fans want in a captain, not least for his cone-headed promotion party antics. He's one of them.

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 14th

FA CUP: Semi-final

LEAGUE CUP: Second Round

Top Scorer

Dominic Calvert-Lewin bagged a respectable 15 goals in all competitions for the Whites last season.

At one stage, the (very narrow) possibility of him breaking Jamie Vardy's consecutive games-with-a-goal streak was even being discussed.

Lessons From Last Year

If it's not working, change it up. With Leeds losing 2-0 at half-time at Manchester City in November, Farke shifted to a back three – a system he hadn't used in his first two seasons at the club.

They got back to 2-2 before conceding in injury time but, more importantly, this heralded a tactical setup that made Leeds harder to beat.

Across the 30 matches in all competitions that followed Farke's epiphany, Leeds lost only six times. They pulled away from relegation, and the manager's willingness to change tack won over doubters. Keeping key players fit was vital as other teams' form forced Leeds to finish strongly. And so they did.

When they travelled to West Ham on the final day, clear of relegation, Farke's charges were unbeaten in eight. His pragmatism had paid off.

Most Likely To...

Have the best-smelling manager in the Premier League.

Least Likely To...

Shoot from range: Calvert-Lewin, who took 13 of his 14 goals from between the posts, inside the box.

View From The Stands

Words by: JOE MEWIS @joemewis

Last season was defined by the half-time switch at Manchester City, when Daniel Farke was staring down the barrel. A superb second half of the season was his reward for leaving behind what had been a rigid tactical approach.

This season will be different because the top half is our goal now.

Our key player will be Ethan Ampadu, for his tenacity and leadership.

The active player I'd love to have back is Raphinha, now that James Milner has finally called it a day.

The opposition player I'd love here is James Trafford. One of England's best goalkeepers has been wasted sat on the bench at Man City.

Look out for additional scrutiny on the academy pipeline. For the first time, Leeds didn't award Young Player of the Year due to a lack of candidates. The hierarchy were vindicated in signing experienced players, but reigniting the historically superb youth setup, producing players ready for the first team, needs to happen.

The one change I'd make at our club would be our dire modern-day record at Wembley. Even a goal would be nice.

The ground I'm least looking forward to visiting is the Emirates. Arsenal were the only side to truly have our number last season.

The fans' opinion of the gaffer is at an all-time high. A win at Old Trafford and first FA Cup semi-final in a generation were the icing on the cake of a stress-free climax.

We'll finish 11th.

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Nott'm Forest (A)

29 Brentford (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Brighton (A)

12 Newcastle (H)

19 Crystal Palace (H)

OCTOBER

10 Arsenal (A)

17 Man United (H)

24 Sunderland (A)

31 Bournemouth (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Tottenham (H)

21 Chelsea (A)

28 Coventry (H)

DECEMBER

2 Man City (A)

5 Ipswich (H)

12 Liverpool (A)

19 Fulham (H)

26 Aston Villa (A)

30 Hull City (A)

JANUARY

2 Everton (H)

6 Man City (H)

16 Tottenham (A)

23 Chelsea (H)

30 Coventry (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Bournemouth (H)

10 Everton (A)

20 Aston Villa (H)

27 Fulham (A)

MARCH

3 Hull City (H)

13 Brighton (H)

20 Newcastle (A)

APRIL

10 Nott'm Forest (H)

17 Brentford (A)

24 Liverpool (H)

MAY

1 Ipswich (A)

8 Arsenal (H)

15 Man United (A)

23 Sunderland (H)

30 Crystal Palace (A)

Title Odds

Leeds United to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Leeds to finish 14th.

Leeds' top-seven form following Farke's tactical switch-up hints that they can look up rather than down. New boy Harry Wilson could add goals – they've also needed to address the goalkeeping situation.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Hull City's 2025-26 campaign saw one of the most impressive promotions in Championship history – but it was also one of the most fortuitous.

Finishing sixth and winning the play-offs was an unbelievable accomplishment. Hull had needed to climb out of the relegation zone on the final day of the previous campaign, then had to work under a summer embargo that restricted them to loans and free transfers.

They found an attacking gem in each market, in Joe Gelhardt and Oli McBurnie respectively. Existing squad members found a new level. The Tigers became a dangerous team under boss Sergej Jakirovic – new to the club and new to English football – and won games through their ability to ruthlessly cut open opponents in isolated moments. But there's no escaping that they had some luck on their way up.

Hull City's return to the Premier League borders on the miraculous, but an even greater feat will be required to stay up - Hull City 2026-27 season preview

To win promotion despite conceding the joint-fourth-most goals in the division is one thing, to do it with easily the second-worst underlying defensive numbers is unheard of. As such, the existing template doesn't look sufficient for Premier League survival.

So, while fans are hugely excited about returning to the big time, they are also realistic about the challenges ahead. Hull can pay fees to sign players now, but they'll need to add wisely. Still, everybody said that about Sunderland, and they survived. Jakirovic has proved a fast learner – could another shock be in store?

The Coach

Sergej Jakirovic almost always delivers, from handling weighty expectations at Dinamo Zagreb to saving Kayserispor from a perilous situation. The Premier League is a different beast, but the Bosnian did adapt and adopt a less risky setup during last season to upset the odds.

Key Player (and Top Scorer)

Hull played a dangerous game of waiting on Las Palmas to be relegated in 2024-25, hoping it would enable them to sign Oli McBurnie.

They did, and the 30-year-old became Hull's focal point. His 19 goals in all competitions were the most from any Hull City player last season, and included the play-off final winner.

The Scot's hold-up play will be pivotal as his side adapt to the physicality of the English top-flight.

Last Season's Results

CHAMPIONSHIP: 6th

FA CUP: Fourth Round

LEAGUE CUP: First Round

PLAY-OFF: Winners

Lessons From Last Year

While several players contributed significantly in attack, defensively Ivor Pandur, John Egan and Regan Slater kept everything together. Pandur made the most saves in the Championship, although he's since joined Rangers.

Egan and Slater will remain key, having held down the defence and midfield almost single-handedly at the times when Charlie Hughes and Matt Crooks weren't available.

Most Likely To...

“F**k them up, get into them!” – Hull averaged the most tackles per game in the Championship (17.8), with 14 players making more than two per 90 minute. Sharing their ground with rugby side Hull FC, their aggressive style could work in their favour on a rugged terrain.

Least Likely To...

Fret the stats. Hull looked ropey in many metrics last year and were lectured by nerds like us on their performances' unsustainability, only to prove them totally wrong. Nobody gives them a chance this season – that resultant siege mentality can be their superpower.

View From The Stands

Words by: RICKY SKELTON @hullcitylive

Last season was a huge surprise. We were under transfer restrictions, had a manager new to English football and had avoided relegation on final day in the previous season, but we put together a team on frees and loans who had a huge amount of heart and no little quality.

Our key player will be Oli McBurnie. From the moment he walked in last summer, he raised standards and performed superbly. He epitomises the squad's spirit and it's crucial we don't lose that.

This season will be different because we've not had to deal with the killjoy that is VAR before.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Gabriel Magalhaes, the big baby. He can give it but not take it.

The opposition player I'd love here is Rio Ngumoha. This kid is incredible. He's only 17, so if Liverpool want him to get a season of Premier League football under his belt, Hull City have looked after some of their great prospects in recent years.

Our biggest grudge match will be against Leeds. It will be our first top-flight meeting – in our previous five seasons in the Premier League, Leeds were normally in League One or something.

The fans' opinion of the gaffer is that Sergej Jakirovic is a legend. He arrived last summer with no experience in England, nor any leading European league, and has proven to be extremely competent, both tactically and with his man-management.

We'll finish 17th.

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Man United (H)

29 Coventry (A)

SEPTEMBER

5 Aston Villa (H)

12 Chelsea (A)

19 Newcastle (A)

OCTOBER

10 Everton (H)

17 Fulham (A)

24 Brentford (H)

31 Ipswich (H)

NOVEMBER

7 Arsenal (A)

21 Brighton (H)

28 Crystal Palace (A)

DECEMBER

2 Nott'm Forest (H)

5 Bournemouth (A)

12 Tottenham (H)

19 Man City (A)

26 Liverpool (H)

30 Leeds (H)

JANUARY

2 Sunderland (A)

6 Nott'm Forest (A)

16 Arsenal (H)

23 Ipswich (A)

30 Crystal Palace (H)

FEBRUARY

6 Brighton (A)

10 Sunderland (H)

20 Liverpool (A)

27 Man City (H)

MARCH

3 Leeds (A)

13 Aston Villa (A)

20 Chelsea (H)

APRIL

10 Man United (A)

17 Coventry (H)

24 Tottenham (A)

MAY

1 Bournemouth (H)

8 Everton (A)

15 Fulham (H)

23 Brentford (A)

30 Newcastle (H)

Title Odds

Hull City to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Hull City to finish 20th.

The squad is weak for the level and owner Acun Ilicali is ambitious but not mega-rich by Premier League standards. Even if last season's poor performance data is noisy, improving enough will be difficult.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Compared with their promotion in 2024, Ipswich return to the Premier League stronger in some ways, but weaker in others.

Pound-for-pound, the Tractor Boys should be a closer match for this level. They've got a stronger squad on paper, as well as the banked revenue that increases their spending capacity. However, in terms of cohesion and synergy, Ipswich are less of a sure bet.

Town come up off the back of a lower base performance level in the Championship than they did two years ago, with fewer established partnerships across the park. Most importantly, they no longer have one of the most exciting young British managers around, in Kieran McKenna.

Ipswich return to the Premier League as quickly as they fell from it; this time, can they survive the drop?

The 40-year-old is taking a break from football to spend time with his family, and leaves a legacy that puts him just one rung below Sirs Alf Ramsey and Bobby Robson in the pantheon of great Ipswich managers.

Gary O'Neil comes in fresh from a decent short-term job at Strasbourg, having previously delivered Premier League survival with Bournemouth and Wolves.

Much of Ipswich's rise has been attributed to McKenna's work, with the improved structure at the club given secondary praise. Is that structure strong enough to ensure this bright era can outlast a great manager?

Can 2026-27 be a continuation of a pre-existing era, rather than the start of a new one? We're about to find out.

The Coach

A promotion winner as a player with rivals Norwich in 2015, Gary O'Neil follows Marcelino Nunez in switching farms. He has shown much promise in his coaching career to date, but hopes Portman Road might be the first place at which he can build something of substance.

Key Player

Dara O'Shea was ever-present and instrumental in Ipswich's reliability in 2025-26. A smart defender, he grew as a leader and, at 27, will be desperate to put Premier League survival on his CV following relegation with three different clubs. Fourth time's the charm, Dara…

Last Season's Results

CHAMPIONSHIP: 2nd

FA CUP: Fourth Round

LEAGUE CUP: First Round

Top Scorer

Jack Clarke bagged 16 in all competitions for his side last season, but will that translate into Premier League goalscoring proficiency?

Lessons From Last Year

Systems are more important than individuals. Ipswich had supremely gifted footballers, but collectively didn't play quite as well as they did with a squad built in League One.

Take Sindre Walle Egeli. Though he outscored Erling Haaland at youth level in Norway, he is yet to shine since Ipswich bought him at 19 for a Championship-record fee.

Because Jaden Philogene or Jack Clarke claim the creative freedom on the left, the right-sider must offer positional discipline and industry. Kasey McAteer and Wes Burns fit the bill better than Egeli.

The individualism of Philogene or Clarke also meant the No.10 had to drop into midfield. Marcelino Nunez does that brilliantly.

And so, Town's vast array of second strikers couldn't show their own qualities. O'Neil must decide who gets free rein, and who is providing balance.

Most Likely To...

Get Ed Sheeran singing The A Team in the dressing room if they survive.

Least Likely To...

Get Ed Sheeran singing Bad Habits in the dressing room if they don't.

View From The Stands

Words by: PHILIP HAM @twtduk

Last season was slow at first, with some ups and downs to follow, but ultimately fantastic.

This season will be different because Town should be better set up for survival now, with new infrastructure, additions to the recruitment team and a squad that's more attuned to this level.

Our key player will be Azor Matusiwa, our midfield linchpin.

The active player I'd love to have back is Tyrone Mings, to bring experience to the squad.

The best thing about matchdays at our ground is the fanzone on the practice pitch behind the West Stand – a great place for fans to warm up before the game.

The one change I'd make at our club would be a new Cobbold Stand, as the current structure is over 50 years old. That's the next big project.

The ground I'm least looking forward to visiting is St James' Park. Newcastle is a long way from Ipswich and we've not won there since 1984.

A social media account to follow is Call Me Ted (@callmeteditfc), who commissioned posters for all of our Premier League games the last time we were here, and continue to produce interesting football-based art.

The fans' opinion of the gaffer is underwhelmed. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the fans' preferred option. While following McKenna is an almost impossible job, O'Neil needs a good start to allay concerns.

We'll finish... who knows? We'd be happy with 17th.

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Sunderland (H)

29 Man United (A)

SEPTEMBER

5 Liverpool (H)

12 Crystal Palace (A)

19 Everton (A)

OCTOBER

10 Fulham (H)

17 Man City (A)

24 Nott'm Forest (H)

31 Hull City (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Bournemouth (H)

21 Tottenham (A)

28 Aston Villa (H)

DECEMBER

2 Coventry (A)

5 Leeds (A)

12 Newcastle (H)

19 Brighton (A)

26 Brentford (H)

30 Chelsea (H)

JANUARY

2 Arsenal (A)

6 Coventry (H)

16 Bournemouth (A)

23 Hull City (H)

30 Aston Villa (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Tottenham (H)

10 Arsenal (H)

20 Chelsea (A)

27 Brighton (H)

MARCH

3 Brentford (A)

13 Liverpool (A)

20 Crystal Palace (H)

APRIL

10 Sunderland (A)

17 Man United (H)

24 Newcastle (A)

MAY

1 Leeds (H)

8 Fulham (A)

15 Man City (H)

23 Nott'm Forest (A)

30 Everton (H)

Title Odds

Ipswich Town to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Ipswich Town to finish 19th.

O'Neil could be an upgrade, but it's a big gear change from McKenna's quiet consistency to his outspoken interviews and streaky teams. The big question is if Town's very solid second-tier defence can step up.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Real Madrid clearly do not subscribe to football’s adage about never going back.

Second honeymoons are a common occurrence for Real Madrid, with 13 of the 52 managers appointed as either interim or permanent hires in the club’s 116-year history afforded returns, some multiple times. Nearly half of that figure, including the likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, did so across the previous three decades alone.

Such romanticism is particularly on brand for a club nicknamed ‘La Casa Blanca’ with a familiar face back in the Bernabeu’s dugout considered more of a hallmark than a habit.

A third 'do-over' for the Special One

Jose Mourinho is the latest beneficiary of a homecoming in the Spanish capital, 13 years after his original spell ended in acrimony. Attempting to finish what he started is a recurring pattern in the Portuguese’s coaching career, with Madrid becoming the third club he has managed more than once after do-over spells with Benfica and Chelsea.

Still, it was a move which raised eyebrows, just months since clashing with his former employers over the alleged racist abuse of Vinicius Junior by Gianluca Prestianni in the second leg of February’s tempestuous Champions League knockout round play-off tie.

Even before that controversy, little love had been lost during Mourinho’s near decade-and-a-half away. His Bernabeu afterlife became a source of derision as much as intrigue. In 2018, fresh from Manchester United’s Champions League exit to Sevilla, Madrid-based daily sports newspaper MARCA likened him to ‘a washed-up rock star, one of those guys who goes around holiday hotels for pensioners, playing old hits on an organ with the base and percussion playing on a tape recorder’. As similes go, there have been fewer more damning for the now sexagenarian ‘Special One’.

Los Blancos witnessed the beginning of his villain arc and, arguably, its most volatile state in a three-year period where just one LaLiga title and a Copa del Rey constituted major silverware. Unlike the redux periods of Ancelotti and Zidane, president Florentino Perez staked a successful re-election campaign on lightning not striking twice with the two-time European champion’s second coming as he is again tasked with halting Barcelona’s latest period of domestic dominance.

But the signs already appear ominous. The Catalans cantered to last season’s title with an eight-point cushion which would have reached double figures had Hansi Flick’s side not taken their foot off the gas in two of the final three games after seeing off their arch-rivals in the latest El Clasico meeting. Confidence remains high that they can secure further bragging rights against Madrid with the teams all-square on 106 victories apiece in their regular contests while Barca could soon equal, and even overtake, their foes’ previously unparalleled haul of 105 major honours after moving to within two with their 29th title success.

Mourinho, meanwhile, inherits a squad devoid of confidence and discipline as evidenced by the unedifying end of Xabi Alonso’s brief tenure and a stumble to the finish line with his interim replacement Alvaro Arbeloa. The advancement of Father Time also has done little to dim his abrasive tendencies which reared an ugly head in his first spell. High-profile fallouts with Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos pockmarked the end of that tenure as he openly lampooned Perez’s vision for a team of ‘Zidanes y Pavones’, mixing stars such as Zidane with homegrown talents like Paco Pavon. In one fractious press conference, he savaged youngster Pedro Leon – one of Pavon’s successors as inferior to both ‘Zizou’ and Diego Maradona.

Hindsight suggests that Mourinho would have done well to endear himself to a more impressionable crop of players instead of an already powerful dressing room clique. A cursory glance at Madrid’s early summer business follows a similar theme to that dynamic with Bernardo Silva, newly minted World Cup winner Marc Cucurella and Ibrahima Konate among the strong personalities that Mourinho will need to bring on side at their Valdebebas training base. There is also the small matter of ingratiating himself with Vinicius after suggesting he had provoked the racist abuse he routinely suffers, even if the imminent arrival of Yan Diomande has seemingly put the writing on the wall for the Brazilian’s long-term future.

He is, at least, hoping a break from some old habits will avoid past mistakes. Mourinho has already turned down a formal media unveiling, which previously guaranteed a box-office entrance and soundbites aplenty. Shunning the flashbulbs has seen him instead working diligently on the training pitches with the club’s less established players while their household teammates were toiling at the World Cup earlier this summer.

The only utterances that Madridistas have heard from their new manager came in the form of a bite-sized social media clip on the club’s official channels during which he insisted ‘Words aren’t enough, because this feels like a mission. This isn’t about me or whether I win, more or less. I’m here to help everybody become better.’

Mourinho knows that Madrid will be his last big job in elite-level management, having only attracted offers from Roma, Fenerbahce and Benfica after his last spell in the Premier League ended in all-too-familiar fashion five years ago. Failure is not an option but he is likely to have little choice with the deck already stacked against him.

Newcastle United are looking to provide Matthias Jaissle with the signing of a player he has long admired.

Jaissle is expected to be confirm as Eddie Howe's successor at St James' Park following the latter's resignation last week.

Fans are in something of a funk following the departure of several key players over the past 12 months, with Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali all leaving for whopping fees.

We Don’t Talk About Bruno

Captain Bruno Guimaraes remains the subject of speculation amid reports that Newcastle have rejected Arsenal's first offer for his services.

Newcastle are now in need of new recruits not only to help fill those holes in the squad, but to try and get Jaissle off to the best possible start once his move from Saudi side Al-Ahli officially goes through.

Reports suggest that Newcastle are already working on signing a player Jaissle has had his eye on for some time: Feyenoord's Anis Hadj Moussa.

The Algerian international, who usually plays off the right wing, has been a first-team regular for the Dutch giants since making the move from Belgian side Petro Eisden two years ago.

Jaissle is said to have tried to sign the forward for Al-Ahli in the past, but was rebuffed.

Hadj Moussa has been linked with a fleet of English clubs over the past couple of years, with Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea all reported to be interested in him.

That sounds to FourFourTwo like somebody has a busy agent, in all honesty - but Dutch journalist Dennis Kranenburg has claimed that Newcastle want to bring him in as Anthony Gordon's replacement.

Hadj Moussa's output for Feyenoord over the past two seasons has been decent but not outstanding, with the winger claiming 25 goals and 12 assists in 83 appearances in all competitions.

However, his performances have generally been strong in a Feyenoord side who have been badly struggling by their own standards. He put in a star turn against Manchester City in the Champions League in 2024/25, and at 24, he may still have further potential to unlock.

He was involved for Algeria at this summer's World Cup, starting their opening game against Argentina before being dropped to the bench for the rest of the tournament.

Nobody has yet come out as an official contender for Gianni Infantino's job as FIFA president.

But there are a few obvious potential candidates for the job with Infantino under mounting pressure ahead of March's FIFA elections... if he even makes it that far.

Infantino has been formally opposed by several of its member FAs, with a clutch of nations - including England and Wales - already on record saying they will oppose his re-election. So who are the early potential runners and riders?

Runners and riders

But Infantino has also received expressions of support, suggesting that the race for the job of running the global game could wind up being closer than it initially appeared.

A two-horse race would require at least 50% of the votes, while if there were three candidates or more, they would need either a two-thirds majority or else the lowest-voted candidate would be eliminated and the votes re-cast.

With each member holding one vote regardless of profile, a successful candidate would need to show they can represent the interests of poorer and smaller nations who are much more reliant on FIFA funding.

Infantino's own success has been built around doing exactly that, but there is a general sense that another European candidate to replace the Swiss would face a bit of an uphill battle.

But UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has nonetheless been installed as the 6/5 favourite by bookmakers.

He is followed by PSG's Qatari owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who has previously distanced himself from the idea of a FIFA run. Infantino's opponent from the last election, Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, is at 4/1 alongside CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani.

Or if you fancy throwing your money into a black hole, you could always go for disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter at 50/1.

For some reason, odds have not been provided on Infantino himself. Candidates have until November 18 to put themselves forward for the March election.

Next FIFA president odds

As provided by CSB:

• Aleksander Ceferin - 6/5
• Nasser Al-Khelaifi - 2/1
• Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Victor Montagliani - 4/1
• Dariusz Mioduski - 6/1
• Arsene Wenger, Mattias Grafstrom - 8/1
• Patrice Motsepe - 12/1
• Lise Klaveness - 18/1
• Gabriele Gravina, Hans-Joachim Watzke, Mark Bullingham - 25/1
• Carlos Puyol, Fabio Cannavaro, Gareth Southgate, Pep Guardiola - 33/1
• Sepp Blatter - 50/1

Manchester United's third-place finish in 2025-26 was a surprise and a relief. Returning to the Champions League is important not just for financial reasons but for the fans, who can now attend more games than last season's paltry 40, many of them shifted to a Monday night for TV.

The four major summer signings (Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Senne Lammens and Benjamin Sesko) all worked out, which is exceedingly rare. After good first seasons, can they have the great campaigns needed for Manchester United to challenge for the title?

That may be too far, but United do at least need to finish in the Champions League places again while also showing up in Europe.

Can Michael Carrick continue to make strides in seeing the Red Devils become title contenders again?

More smart recruitment in 2026 would help, with money freed up by the exit of top earner Casemiro, although the Brazilian was also one of United's best players last season. Ruben Amorim's win rate was appalling and the Portuguese talked himself out of a job, but he did help to clean up the dressing room for Michael Carrick to inherit at his expense come January.

United are now looking more like a team, with a healthy mix of emerging talents and experience. While not yet a vintage side, and no longer paying out top wages following years of profligacy, they beat all of their big domestic rivals in 2025-26. The mood is positive, optimism is increasing, but it can always turn quickly.

The Coach

Michael Carrick exceeded expectations in taking United from seventh to third with a points-per-game record that was even higher than that of Arsenal. Calm, collected and controversy-free, he has a quiet intelligence about him, as well as very able assistants.

Key Player

Bruno Fernandes was United's best player by a distance once again last term. The feted assist king also knits the dressing room together as club captain, while performing to the highest level. He turns 32 in September – will he be around when and if United are great again?

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 3rd

FA CUP: Third Round

LEAGUE CUP: Second Round

Top Scorer

Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko each bagged 12 goals for Manchester United in all competitions last season.

Lessons From Last Year

Turn up for every game – not just the big ones. United beat all of the top teams but were unable to win home or away against West Ham, and also drew with each of the other two relegated teams (while needing a stoppage-time penalty to beat Burnley at Old Trafford).

Against top-half sides, United picked up the most points in the league – more than they did against teams in the bottom half. While the Red Devils won nine of those 20 easier games, Arsenal won 18. That's the difference.

Most Likely To...

Sell out Old Trafford every single game. United still boast England's highest average attendances, despite not being in the title race since 2013. Around 15,000 fans allowed to apply for 3,000 away tickets every other week do so. It's not always easy supporting a big club. All right, put the violins away.

Least Likely To...

Stay the course in a title race. After playing only two cup games last term, throwing Europe into the mix threatens any league consistency.

View From The Stands

Words by: SCOTT PATTERSON @R_o_M

Last season was all right before Ruben Amorim got sacked, then pretty great after he left, but we were playing catch-up by then.

This season will be different because Michael Carrick understands the club, and has experience in his coaching staff.

Our key player will be Bruno Fernandes, as always. It's strange that his importance to United had largely been ignored up to now, given he has created the most chances in Europe every season since we signed him.

Look out for Shea Lacey. The teenager hit the bar late on in our draw with Burnley, then got sent off for petulance in the next game, which cost him his place in the squad for derby day. If not for that, we might have seen more of him last season.

Fans think our owners are parasites. Between the Glazers funnelling money out of the club and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's political views, it's hard to imagine more unpopular owners.

A social media account to follow is @NQATPod.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Declan Rice and all of his performative nonsense.

The fans' opinion of the gaffer is very positive. Carrick made football fun again, after Amorim kept telling us we had to suffer! Having the league's best form for half a season was justification for giving him the job permanently. But he's still under pressure, as is every Manchester United manager.

If he left, he should be replaced by Luis Enrique.

We'll finish 3rd.

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Hull City (A)

29 Ipswich (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Everton (A)

12 Man City (H)

19 Fulham (A)

OCTOBER

10 Tottenham (H)

17 Leeds (A)

24 Bournemouth (H)

31 Chelsea (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Aston Villa (H)

21 Liverpool (A)

28 Brentford (H)

DECEMBER

2 Newcastle (A)

5 Coventry (H)

12 Crystal Palace (A)

19 Arsenal (A)

26 Nott'm Forest (H)

30 Sunderland (H)

JANUARY

2 Brighton (A)

6 Newcastle (H)

16 Aston Villa (A)

23 Liverpool (H)

30 Brentford (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Chelsea (H)

10 Brighton (H)

20 Nott'm Forest (A)

27 Arsenal (H)

MARCH

3 Sunderland (A)

13 Everton (H)

20 Man City (A)

APRIL

10 Hull City (H)

17 Ipswich (A)

24 Crystal Palace (H)

MAY

1 Coventry (A)

8 Bournemouth (A)

15 Leeds (H)

23 Tottenham (A)

30 Fulham (H)

Title Odds

Manchester United to win the Premier League title odds: 13/2

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Manchester United to finish 4th.

United should retain their regained Champions League status, even without Casemiro's eight headed league goals last term. Carrick has to ensure his brilliant start doesn't fade, as it did with Middlesbrough.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

A clutch of African and Asian federations have come out in support of Gianni Infantino as football's civil war rumbles on.

FIFA is made up of 211 members, with each member - regardless of the country's size or football might - receiving one vote.

That means that Spain, Brazil, England and Argentina have as much as a say in FIFA elections as Vanuatu, Guam, Bahamas or Aruba - and thus winning the hearts and minds (or at least, the wallets) of those nations is just as important to a successful candidacy as going for the big boys.

Gianni Infantino receives backing in face of calls for resignation

As such, it is not trivial that some nations might prefer Infantino to stay on as president even as the louder European FAs are in the process of hammering him.

FIFA are due for their next presidential election in March, and the pressure is mounting on Infantino to step down before we even get there after numerous countries expressed their opposition to his reign continuing.

Three confederations spoke out against Infantino last week when his plans to bring private investors into the World Cup were revealed, with AFC (Asia) and CONCACAF (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) voicing their opposition while UEFA (Europe) went so far as to call a boycott if plans proceeded.

High-profile figures within FIFA itself even went on record to distance themselves from Infantino, who finally climbed down from the plans on Saturday.

That has given way to calls for Infantino to leave the post, with a group of nations including England, Wales, Denmark and Sweden formally opposing Infantino's re-election.

But reports suggest that 15 nations remain in support of Infantino, with influential AFC nations Qatar and the UAE among them.

As it stands, only seven of those 15 nations have gone on record to support Infantino, with Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Kuwait, Egypt and Morocco also expressing their backing.

The general theme of those statements in support of Infantino has praised Infantino for being willing to fold (eventually) and saying there are other elements of his proposal for the game worthy of consideration.

FIFA funding is vital for the development of the game in many smaller and poorer nations, and Infantino has made a lot of hay over the years by providing increasing amounts of money to them.

The Asian contingent's support is particularly noteworthy, given their confederation had come out against the proposed World Cup scheme, as it suggests an election race could end up being closer than simply adding up the total number of votes held across UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF to reach the magic 50% mark.

As it stands, a contender to replace Infantino has not yet formally emerged.

Over to you, Enzo. For the first time in a decade, Manchester City kick off a season without Pep Guardiola in charge.

The Catalan delivered 20 trophies in 10 years – a preposterous return – but will be remembered as much for the sumptuous football that his teams consistently produced. Large boots to fill indeed.

Thankfully for City, Enzo Maresca is a snug fit, following two spells working on Pep's coaching staff.

Can Enzo Maresca bring this side back to top-flight glory?

The Italian was even credited with suggesting some of City's most influential tactical tweaks while he was Guardiola's assistant, such as John Stones' move into midfield in 2022-23's treble-winning season.

More importantly, Maresca has first-hand experience of lifting silverware with a Premier League giant. In a generally successful 18-month stint managing Chelsea, he won the 2025 UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup, despite myriad off-field issues.

At City he inherits a far more stable squad, loaded not just with elite talent but potential: Nico O'Reilly, Abdukodir Khusanov and Rayan Cherki are 21 or 22, while £116m arrival Elliot Anderson is 23. The experience of Bernardo Silva and Stones is gone, though.

It's testament to the standards Guardiola set that last term's domestic cup double felt like an underwhelming goodbye, with the league surrendered to Arsenal. Maresca's task is to return City to the summit of English football.

The Coach

Back in 1998, Enzo Maresca joined West Bromwich Albion as a teenage midfielder who had “no grasp of the English language”. Decades later, he has won trophies as a manager with Leicester and Chelsea. But following Guardiola's long reign is a very different challenge.

Key Player

Erling Haaland has 162 goals in just 198 Manchester City appearances, and may be the most feared centre-forward in world football these days. The Norwegian is a force of nature, combining elite finishing with no shortage of aggression, strength, pace and personality.

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 2nd

FA CUP: Winners

LEAGUE CUP: Winners

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Last 16

Top Scorer

Erling Haaland bagged 38 goals in all competitions last year, and won the Premier League Golden Boot.

Since he joined the league, only the recently departed Mohamed Salah has taken a Golden Boot off of the Norwegian.

Lessons From Last Year

As the cliche goes, Premier League titles aren't won before Christmas, but they can be lost. Four defeats in City's first 12 games – including to Spurs for the 10th time under Guardiola (how?) – allowed Arsenal to open up an insurmountable lead.

Pep's pupils came alive in the spring, going unbeaten in 15 up to the final day, but it wasn't enough.

Slow starts and stellar recoveries were a theme of Guardiola's latter years at the Etihad. But without the wizardry of Kevin De Bruyne, who seemed to enjoy springtime more than anyone, they fell short. A strong start would help Maresca.

Most Likely To...

Try to avoid their team-mates' holiday slideshows: Phil Foden and Gianluigi Donnarumma. The duo were rare City players who didn't go to the World Cup – the club had more representatives than any other, with a total of 17.

Least Likely To...

Discover the verdict of the 115 charges of alleged FFP breaches, despite the independent hearing concluding in December 2024.

View From The Stands

Words by: LLOYD SCRAGG @lloyd_scragg

Last season was more than respectable, in the end. Winning two trophies and taking the title race to the final week wouldn't have been foreseeable in late January. And at least Arsenal winning it before the final day allowed us to give Pep, John Stones and Bernardo Silva a send-off.

This season will be different because we'll never have it as good again – but, with a new squad, we're much better placed for the succession than Manchester United were after Alex Ferguson.

Our key player will be Rodri. We're not the same team without him.

The active player I'd love to have back is Morgan Rogers.

The one change I'd make at our club would be to introduce new season tickets – not flexi-tickets – for fans on the waiting list, and to get rid of the draconian 10-match ‘personal attendance' rule for season ticket holders. Sadly, many Blues lost their STs last season due to difficult personal circumstances.

Look out for 18-year-old Ryan McAidoo, a tricky winger with a low centre of gravity. He scored on debut in the FA Cup and can make a claim on the pre-season tour, with so many players missing it.

The pantomime villain will be Howard Webb, if he can't get a hold of the Premier League's fixation on set pieces. Most fans are on the same page: the prominence of the ‘meat wall' in the opposition box, and the timewasting that ensues, is tragic.

We'll finish 2nd.

Fixtures

AUGUST

23 Bournemouth (H)

29 Crystal Palace (A)

SEPTEMBER

5 Coventry (H)

12 Man United (A)

19 Sunderland (H)

OCTOBER

10 Liverpool (A)

17 Ipswich (H)

24 Aston Villa (A)

31 Brighton (H)

NOVEMBER

7 Nott'm Forest (A)

21 Fulham (H)

28 Arsenal (A)

DECEMBER

2 Leeds (H)

5 Brentford (A)

12 Chelsea (H)

19 Hull City (H)

26 Newcastle (A)

30 Everton (A)

JANUARY

2 Tottenham (H)

6 Leeds (A)

16 Nott'm Forest (H)

23 Brighton (A)

30 Arsenal (H)

FEBRUARY

6 Fulham (A)

10 Tottenham (A)

20 Newcastle (H)

27 Hull City (A)

MARCH

3 Everton (H)

13 Coventry (A)

20 Man United (H)

APRIL

10 Bournemouth (A)

17 Crystal Palace (H)

24 Chelsea (A)

MAY

1 Brentford (H)

8 Liverpool (H)

15 Ipswich (A)

23 Aston Villa (H)

30 Sunderland (A)

Title Odds

Manchester City to win the Premier League title odds: 3/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Manchester City to finish 2nd.

Fears over the reality of a post-Pep landscape are offset by a squad with next to no holes in it. Some tactical funkiness might make for a sluggish start before a rampant recovery – a fitting tribute.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

The latest football quiz from FourFourTwo is one for fans who like to get out and about to explore the landmarks of the beautiful game.

Football clubs are nothing without their histories and communities. The two come together whenever a statue or a bust is placed lovingly at a stadium, a fitting tribute to the players and managers that changed everything. We've picked out 10 famous football statues and we simply want to know where they are.

You've got 3 minutes to find them all. Let us know your score below.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has a huge collection of football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. Let's try some of them on for size. If you're more into literature than sculpture, you can tell us who wrote these football autobiographies.

We also want to know whether you can name every member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad and the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League.

We also have a very tricky career paths quiz that asks you to identify a whopping 100 players by the clubs they played for, and a challenge to identify these team line-ups from the nationalities of the players alone.

If puzzles are more your speed, test yourself with FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 64. There are clues on Champions League finals, Olympic medallists, and name-dropping rappers. Remember to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of football trivia and analysis, and don't forget to join The Club: our free membership portal where you can secret hints and get on the leaderboard.

Can you answer 10 football trivia questions in just 90 seconds? Here's your chance to prove it. It's the latest FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has lots more football quizzes courtesy of Kwizly. Here are just a few of them that we know you're going to love. First up, how much can you remember about the latest summer tournament? Find out by trying our Big World Cup 2026 quiz.

We also want to know whether you can name all 13 players who have won both the World Cup and the Ballon d'Or.

If you're an expert in the modern era of England's top division, you'll be able to name the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League and every Premier League player nominated for the Ballon d'Or since 2000.

We've set a seriously tricky challenge for our latest career path quiz: We want you to name no fewer than 100 players from the clubs where they've played football professionally.

Finally, we've picked out a bunch of club line-ups and we want you to guess them based on the nationalities of their players alone. It's tougher than you might think!

If that's not enough for you, we have puzzles too. Our Weekend Crossword is a regular football teaser for your Sunday, and remember to sign up to the newsletter for more quizzes in your inbox. Don't forget to join The Club for free additional membership benefits!

At the heart of Palermo's submission to the FIGC is a full redevelopment plan for the historic Stadio Renzo Barbera.

Designed in partnership with world-renowned sports architecture practice Populous and consultancy firm Turner & Townsend, the project aims to transform the stadium into a modern, sustainable urban landmark.

The vision extends beyond matchday infrastructure, intending to create a year-round community hub for social interaction, entertainment, work, and economic growth while keeping supporter experience central to the design.

Palermo bid to host UEFA Euro 2032

Palermo were initially viewed as an underdog compared to other candidate cities across Italy, but the club has quickly assembled one of the most credible proposals on the table.

This progress has been fuelled by collaboration between Palermo FC, the Municipality of Palermo, the Sicilian Regional Government, and owner City Football Group (CFG).

For CFG, the bid represents another step in its long-term investment strategy for the club and region, following the recent opening of Palermo's new state-of-the-art training centre.

The submission has already gathered praise from national footballing authorities and UEFA representatives for its clear vision, sustainability commitments, and delivery pace.

With Italy and Turkey co-hosting the tournament in 2032, the FIGC must narrow its host list down to five Italian cities. If chosen, a modernised Renzo Barbera will bring elite international football back to Sicily for the first time since the 1990 World Cup.

In addition to Palermo, the other 12 Italian cities putting forward bids to host Euro 2032 matches are: Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples, Florence, Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Genoa, Lecce, Salerno and Verona.

Out of these 13 candidate cities, the FIGC will put forward five to host matches at the tournament in six years' time.

Last term's Premier League table shows Fulham in the bottom half. Yet with one more goal against an already-relegated Wolves in their penultimate match, the Cottagers would have qualified for the Europa League in seventh, so you'd think they are in a good position to push on.

Instead, Marco Silva has left for Benfica.

Alvaro Arbeloa agreed to replace him in late June, subject to a work permit, after a debut managerial spell in which his side defeated Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate in the Champions League. There is the question, however, of whether coaching Real Madrid Castilla, and then their first team for just four months, can prepare him for a season of struggle in England.

Is this the season that the Cottagers achieve European football, or even cup success? Fulham 2026-27 season preview

Yes: struggle. Potentially. Fulham can't let Silva's years of mid-table security make them complacent, because Arbeloa inherits a squad that needs work. Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez scored or assisted 57 per cent of Fulham's goals last term; both have left the club. Josh King, 19, and Oscar Bobb, 23, look primed for big seasons, at least. Any new manager comes with risks, of course, as Fulham know from previous hires.

And being less busy than the nine English teams in Europe – where Fulham want to be – will help Arbeloa. He could target a cup run, for fans of a club who've visited Wembley only for play-off finals in the past 50 years. But beware: the water may be rising on the banks of the Thames.

The Coach

Alvaro Arbeloa is a gamble, but an exciting one. Having cut his coaching teeth with Real Madrid's Under-14s, U19s and Castilla before a short stint with the senior team, he prefers a possession-based game with high pressing, intensity and the desire to dominate matches.

Key Player

Ryan Sessegnon has shown glimpses since his return to Fulham in 2024, but – at 26 – he has the potential for much more. He can play further forward and have more of an impact if Antonee Robinson's fitness allows the American to play regularly at left-back.

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 11th

FA CUP: Fifth Round

LEAGUE CUP: Quarter-finals

Top Scorer

Harry Wilson bagged 11 goals in all competitions for Fulham last season, and is one of the Premier League's cleanest ball-strikers.

The Welshman was even spoken of as being in contention for PFA Players' Player of the Year, heading into the season's later stages.

Unfortunately, both him and veteran bagsman Jimenez left the club this summer.

Lessons From Last Year

Turn up on the road. Only four teams won more home games than Fulham (11), but only Leeds, Burnley and Wolves recorded fewer away wins than their four.

We get it: Craven Cottage is nice, especially under the lights. But just two extra points would have taken Fulham into the Europa League with fond memories of 2009-10's epic run to the final, so making life harder for hosts must be a priority.

Most Likely To...

Lose his shorts during the game: Calvin Bassey. Fulham's all-white kit exposed how low the defender wears his shorts – at times, there were fears he might lose them completely. Adidas sent him some footwear with the note, “Eyes on the boots, not the glutes.” Cheeky.

Least Likely To...

Score a goal: Sander Berge. The Norwegian midfielder's last goal came at Craven Cottage in 2023 – when he was playing for Burnley. Although 15 shots last season was a dozen more than in 2024-25, he rarely threatens even from set pieces, despite being 6ft 4in.

View From The Stands

Words by: JACK STROUDLEY @J_Strudders

Last season was a feeling of what could have been, despite being poor for large parts of the season.

The big talking point is Arbeloa coming in. Did he struggle at Real Madrid due to it being a poisoned chalice, or will this be an appointment to forget?

I won't be happy unless we qualify for Europe or have a trip to Wembley. Things feel a bit stagnant.

Our key player will be Oscar Bobb. He joined us in January and I think this is the season he kicks on for us on the right wing.

Look out for Kevin. The big-money signing found his feet late last season.

The opposition player I'd love here is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, for some creativity in midfield.

The ground I'm least looking forward to visiting is the Etihad. Fulham haven't won any of the last 26 meetings against Manchester City, losing the last 20, and it's beyond boring now.

A social media account to follow is @jackellyffc, a brilliant independent Fulham journalist.

The departing player I'm saddest about is Harry Wilson, a magnificent servant to the club, who has left us on a free transfer to Leeds right at the peak of his powers.

Fans think our owner is sleepwalking. The Khans' inability to plan long-term is making fans restless.

The best thing about matchdays at our ground is the country's best walk to a football stadium: through Bishops Park to the Cottage.

We'll finish 10th… with a day out at Wembley.

Fixtures

AUGUST

24 Chelsea (H)

29 Sunderland (A)

SEPTEMBER

5 Crystal Palace (H)

12 Liverpool (A)

19 Man United (H)

OCTOBER

10 Ipswich (A)

17 Hull City (H)

24 Coventry (A)

31 Aston Villa (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Newcastle (H)

21 Man City (A)

28 Bournemouth (H)

DECEMBER

2 Tottenham (A)

5 Everton (A)

12 Brentford (H)

19 Leeds (A)

26 Brighton (H)

30 Arsenal (H)

JANUARY

2 Nott'm Forest (A)

6 Tottenham (H)

16 Newcastle (A)

23 Aston Villa (H)

30 Bournemouth (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Man City (H)

10 Nott'm Forest (H)

20 Arsenal (A)

27 Leeds (H)

MARCH

3 Brighton (A)

13 Crystal Palace (A)

20 Liverpool (H)

APRIL

10 Chelsea (A)

17 Sunderland (H)

24 Brentford (A)

MAY

1 Everton (H)

8 Ipswich (H)

15 Hull City (A)

23 Coventry (H)

30 Man United (A)

Title Odds

Fulham to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Fulham to finish 15th.

There's a chance Marco Silva's fine work will be appreciated only now, because Fulham's squad requires upgrades in midfield and attack. A hard pre-internationals schedule won't help his replacement, either.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

This summer, FourFourTwo spent time at the Boston headquarters of American footwear and sporting apparel giant New Balance.

When you think of New Balance, your mind likely conjures an image of stylish trainers - a sight becoming increasingly ubiquitous across the United Kingdom. But as FFT discovered, the brand is about so much more than snazzy footwear.

The company is at the forefront of sports product design, manufacturing all manner of apparel, footwear, equipment, and accessories alongside an ever-growing list of elite club partnerships. This season, New Balance manufactures kits for a host of top European sides, including, but not limited to, FC Porto, Lille OSC, Bayer Leverkusen, and Atalanta.

Bespoke, not boutique: The New Balance way

Upon visiting New Balance HQ in Boston, Massachusetts, FFT was given an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the company's state-of-the-art facilities.

The New Balance campus houses official training facilities for both the Boston Bruins (NHL) and the Boston Celtics (NBA), as well as the TRACK - a multi-purpose athletic and events complex of which the brand is understandably proud.

High-Fashion Performance

The facility features a 200-metre, hydraulically banked indoor track engineered for high-speed track-and-field competitions. It is backed by a massive athlete warm-up area that can be rolled away and replaced with a series of small-sided 3G football pitches - because, of course, it can.

Accommodating nearly 5,000 spectators, the venue sits below the New Balance Sports Research Lab, where high-tech innovation and rigorous product testing take place daily. And that is only scratching the surface.

Turning back to fashion for a moment, you may have noticed new Stone Island x New Balance gear doing the rounds this summer. Blending ’90s football culture with textile innovation and Boston’s high-performance sports science, the drop is part of an ongoing collaboration described as "incredibly complementary" by Rob Sheldon, New Balance's director of global football product.

"We bring innovation, the shoe-making technology and knowhow, specificity around the athletes and the athlete needs," Sheldon tells FFT. "[Stone Island] bring this wealth of expertise around materialisation, around colour and dye application.

"Equally, the cultural currency that is inherent within Stone Island means we just had this really complementary element where we can lean on the strengths of both brands and go 'this is something where we can offer a very unique perspective.'"

The New Balance x Stone Island collaboration pieces do not come cheap, but for good reason: they are exceptionally high quality. What brand wouldn't want its best-in-class products perceived as such? And with marquee athletes Bukayo Saka and Endrick fronting the campaign, exclusivity is guaranteed.

Endrick's family was reportedly so overwhelmed by the lengths to which New Balance went in welcoming him to the brand that they burst into tears during a presentation showcasing their boy. Endrick's mother subsequently handed out sweets to those in attendance.

The New Balance x Stone Island capsule features the new Furon Elite v9 speed boot, worn by Endrick and Saka at the 2026 World Cup. FFT had the pleasure of testing out the boots - complete with heat-reactive artwork that changes colour based on body heat and temperature shifts as you sprint - an innovation years in the making.

"If you take the Furon v9, we began that cycle back in 2022. So, that's really where we're identifying the aspects of the Furon v8 that the athlete really responded well to.

"Things that you're going to retain, you try to augment, we develop it in terms of what are the aspects or attributes that we're trying to characterise for the Furon v9 [through] a lens of player performance. What is going to enhance and yield the best outcome from a player?

"We then bring Stone Island through that process - it's that same consideration at the centre: this absolutely has to answer the needs of the athletes," Sheldon adds.

Inside The Lab

We were also given the elite athlete treatment inside the Sports Research Lab, touring all the bells and whistles a state-of-the-art facility could possibly offer. If we are being completely honest, much of the advanced science went over our heads - our school science lessons were usually spent doodling starting XIs in the back of an exercise book.

Rest assured, even for a self-proclaimed Luddite, it was deeply impressive. The facility features a machine nicknamed "The Beast," which can simulate the force of an NFL defensive lineman. To put that into context: the average NFL defensive lineman stands 6'3" tall and weighs 140 kilograms. "The Beast" feels entirely appropriate.

Additionally, there is a 3D body scanner that takes 150 measurements in an instant, alongside an environmental chamber housing "Andy" - a mannequin that actually sweats to test how the human body responds to specific fabrics.

All this technology just to kit out an East London DJ two-stepping behind the decks in a pair of New Balance trainers might feel like overkill, but that is precisely the point: New Balance wants the everyday consumer to enjoy the exact same quality experience as an elite athlete.

"Making something fit for purpose, and that insight-driven creation, but quality and craftsmanship is something that's been central to the to the brand ethos since its inception.

"We want to continue to augment that and make sure that, irrespective of whether you're buying a lifestyle product, a running shoe, everybody knows that New Balance stands for for craft and quality," Michael Mills, senior category manager at New Balance, tells FFT.

Challenging Legacy Giants

New Balance is a bespoke sporting apparel brand, but by no means a boutique one. Compared to its competitors, the brand maintains a more selective group of club kit partnerships, allowing it to offer a tailored service with the genuine personal touch Endrick's family experienced.

"There's a deep appreciation [for New Balance], and we get a great degree of new consumers, but equally existing consumers coming back to the brand as well, and that's incremental in a space that is mature.

"It's generational brands that we're amongst as well. So, being able to get to a place where we're very recognised on the field of play in all forms of the game across the globe really speaks to the progress that we've made over the last 10 years."

The company's Warrior subsidiary established an initial beachhead in English football through a landmark kit deal with Liverpool in 2012, before signing fellow Premier League side Stoke City two years later.

The brand was subsequently catapulted into the wider footballing consciousness during Liverpool's late-2010s, early-2020s domestic and European triumphs, with those iconic kits sporting the highly recognisable "NB" logo. On the player front, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Raheem Sterling, and Harvey Elliott have all joined the New Balance stable in recent years.

Brick by brick, club by club, boot by boot, New Balance is chipping away at the dominance of legacy sportswear giants. If not already, they will soon be making their competitors sweat - just like Andy the mannequin.

Stability or ambition? That's the question being asked of the Friedkin Group, Everton's owners, after a once-promising season ended in a second consecutive 13th-placed finish.

David Moyes can ensure that recent relegation battles remain a thing of the past. The jury is out, however, on whether he's able to turn back the clock and make the Toffees European regulars again.

Everton were just three points off a Champions League spot after they hammered Chelsea 3-0 on March 21. They then conspired to pick up three points from their last seven fixtures, as injury-time goals cost them in three straight games.

Is this the season that Everton will, finally, become a competitive club once more? Everton 2026-27 season preview

The capitulation raised questions over Moyes' future at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Success-starved fans are desperate for European fixtures befitting of their new £750 million home, after years of looking down rather than up.

Some 17 English clubs have qualified for Europe more recently than Everton, with Burnley, Wolves, Sunderland and Leicester among them. Yet, after inheriting a mess from Farhad Moshiri, the Friedkins seem content to be “happily dissatisfied” – as club CEO Angus Kinnear wrote in his end-of-season programme notes – for a bit longer, as they try to put Everton on a stable footing off the pitch.

So, it's Moyes who is charged with returning the Toffees to continental competition. He will need at least a Conference League spot to keep fans onside.

The Coach

The criticisms of David Moyes are valid – using players out of position, dithering over subs, not trusting youth nor even his own signings – but a tad harsh, given where Everton were. He will want to prove his doubters wrong, but must buy better, starting with two top full-backs.

Key Player

Jarrad Branthwaite managed just 10 league appearances in 2025-26 and his absence was sorely felt. Everton are far more solid with their talented but injury-prone defender, whose ability on the ball also makes a huge difference in build-up. Can the 24-year-old stay fit?

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 13th

FA CUP: Third Round

LEAGUE CUP: Third Round

Top Scorer

Beto bagged 10 goals in all competitions for the Toffees last season, and can be a considerable threat on his day.

The Everton bagsman also struck against Liverpool, albeit in a 2-1 derby day loss at the Hill Dickinson.

Lessons From Last Year

Leaving Goodison was never going to be easy, despite a mediocre record there in recent years, but just six wins at the new stadium was nowhere near good enough.

While Everton's away record was one of the league's best for much of 2025-26, Moyes and his players often looked lost at home. He must develop a style that works in front of an expectant crowd.

Most Likely To...

Rage against the machine. Everton were the only club not to have a single VAR decision go their way last season: no goals given, zero opposition goals ruled out, and three sure penalties turned down.

Least Likely To...

Avoid more PSR-related problems (even while Manchester City's own 115 charges continue to go unanswered). Following two harsh Premier League points deductions in 2023-24, Everton are now fighting an order to pay Burnley a whopping £35m to compensate for the Toffees avoiding relegation at their expense in 2021-22 while breaking PSR. Whatever next?

View From The Stands

Words by: ELLIOTT BRETLAND @EllBretland

Last season was a year of relative progress until a horrendous April and May, which led many to wonder: actually, is this stagnation? CEO Angus Kinnear declaring the club could be “happily dissatisfied” with the campaign was a concern.

This season will be different because Jarrad Branthwaite will be available, I hope. He is flawless and improves everyone around him.

Our key player will be Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – a technician with drive.

Look out for 18-year-old Braiden Graham, who is exciting fans by scoring for fun in the reserves.

A social media account to follow is a celebration of Evertonian culture: @mintisculture focuses on how a world of being a Blue, from the terrace gear to matchday rituals, shapes our lives.

The best thing about matchdays at our ground is the South Stand, one of the loudest terraces in football – if the team give us something to shout about…

I won't be happy unless Everton take the cups seriously. It's been more than 30 years since we won one. Jordan Pickford doesn't need a rest.

The active player I'd love to have back is Richarlison. He's always committed to the cause.

The fans' opinion of the gaffer is mixed. Some have yearned for the ‘stability' Moyes brings. Others appreciate his steadying of the ship but aren't convinced that he can sail us to success.

We'll finish 8th.

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Crystal Palace (H)

29 Bournemouth (A)

SEPTEMBER

5 Man United (H)

12 Tottenham (A)

19 Ipswich (H)

OCTOBER

10 Hull City (A)

17 Chelsea (H)

24 Arsenal (A)

31 Newcastle (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Coventry (H)

21 Brentford (A)

28 Liverpool (H)

DECEMBER

2 Aston Villa (A)

5 Fulham (H)

12 Brighton (A)

19 Nott'm Forest (A)

26 Sunderland (H)

30 Man City (H)

JANUARY

2 Leeds (A)

6 Aston Villa (H)

16 Coventry (A)

23 Brentford (H)

30 Liverpool (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Newcastle (H)

10 Leeds (H)

20 Sunderland (A)

27 Nott'm Forest (H)

MARCH

3 Man City (A)

13 Man United (A)

20 Tottenham (H)

APRIL

10 Crystal Palace (A)

17 Bournemouth (H)

24 Brighton (H)

MAY

1 Fulham (A)

8 Hull City (H)

15 Chelsea (A)

23 Arsenal (H)

30 Ipswich (A)

Title Odds

Everton to win the Premier League title odds: 300/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Everton to finish 12th.

Fans' fears were confirmed in June by Moyes declaring, “I don't know if a club like Everton now can make big strides.” Is this Nil satis nisi optimum – ‘nothing but the best is good enough' – or mere existence?

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Is it time to wake up yet? Winning three cups in 12 months was beyond the wildest dreams of even the most optimistic Crystal Palace fan, but the Eagles have developed a taste for trophies and their appetite isn't satiated yet – despite Oliver Glasner's exit.

The mastermind behind those FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League triumphs has left the club after a glorious two and a half years.

His replacement, Pierre Sage, has a lot to live up to. Collecting yet more silverware won't be easy, but fans want the club to throw everything at the Europa League. English sides have won the past two editions of Europe's secondary competition. Why not Crystal Palace this time?

Can Crystal Palace live up to their recent major trophy-winning standards? 2026-27 season preview

Ideally, that wouldn't come at the expense of a top-half Premier League finish, which Palace have achieved just twice since their 2013 promotion.

If so, Sage will need more depth and rotation options across the pitch. They sat fifth in December before their workload caught up with them.

Quantity has a quality of its own. Recruitment is the key. Palace have unearthed numerous gems in recent years, turning Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton from Championship prospects into established internationals.

But the jury is out on Brennan Johnson and Jorgen Strand Larsen, signed for a combined £78m in January. A club with Palace's budget can't afford to be wasteful.

The Coach

Palace swiftly turned to Pierre Sage after Andoni Iraola chose Liverpool (strange).

In 2025-26, he led Lens to second in Ligue 1 and Coupe de France glory with a Glasner-like 3-4-3. PSG's Luis Enrique said, “It's the first time since I've been here that a side has given us so much trouble.”

Key Player (and Top Scorer)

Ismaila Sarr's 21 goals in all competitions made him the first Palace player to hit 20 at the highest level since Andy Johnson in 2004-05.

At age 28, Sarr is at the peak of his powers: intelligent, versatile and deadly, with a knack for finding space in dangerous positions.

Last Season's Results

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Winners (1-0 vs Rayo Vallecano)

PREMIER LEAGUE: 15th

FA Cup: Third Round (2-1 loss vs Macclesfield)

League Cup: Quarter-finals (1-1, 8-7 Penalties loss vs Arsenal)

Lessons From Last Year

Take your chances. Only Burnley and Wolves scored fewer than Palace's 41 goals in 2025-26. Yet the Eagles ranked ninth for shots inside the box and eighth for xG, above top-eight finishers Brighton, Sunderland and Aston Villa.

Palace underperformed their expected goals more than any other team. An improved record at Selhurst Park would be welcome, too.

With only four wins there, Palace picked up fewer points at home than they did on the road. Sage must make Selhurst Park a fortress again.

Most Likely To...

Double-check their emails. After being kicked out of last season's Europa League for missing a vital UEFA memo about multi-club ownership, Palace will have their eyes peeled on their inbox.

Least Likely To...

Meet a deadline. The Eagles announced plans for an enlarged Main Stand in 2017 and targeted completion within three years, but spades have only just entered the ground. Palace are in danger of making HS2 look like a rush job.

View From The Stands

Words by: JACK PIERCE @FYPFanzine

Last season was all about the Conference League. Our league form took a back seat as focus turned to winning another trophy. It has become a habit.

The big talking point is how we'll move on from the most successful manager in our history. Glasner changed the club culture completely. But Sage brought success to Lens last season, too.

I won't be happy unless I see Palace at San Siro. Is it more surprising Crystal Palace are in the Europa League, or that Milan are?

Our key player will be Jorgen Strand Larsen, if Sage can get a tune out of him. Our record signing has shown glimpses since he arrived in January.

Look out for our French central defender Jaydee Canvot. The teenager had a superb first campaign and will go to the highest stage in years to come.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Jordan Henderson, for the incessant whining and for nicking Adam Wharton's seat on the flight to the World Cup. It's a scandal.

The opposition player I'd love here is Hayden Hackney. The best player in the Championship last season could and should have followed the road trodden by Eze, Olise and Wharton.

The best thing about matchdays at our ground is seeing how many away fans love the Wilfried Zaha mural.

We'll finish away from danger, but I'm concerned that we'll struggle to find the right balance between our Premier League and European form again.

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Everton (A)

29 Man City (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Fulham (A)

12 Ipswich (H)

19 Leeds (A)

OCTOBER

10 Nott'm Forest (H)

17 Brighton (A)

24 Newcastle (H)

31 Tottenham (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Liverpool (H)

21 Coventry (A)

28 Hull City (H)

DECEMBER

2 Chelsea (A)

5 Aston Villa (A)

12 Man United (H)

19 Sunderland (A)

26 Arsenal (H)

30 Bournemouth (H)

JANUARY

2 Brentford (A)

6 Chelsea (H)

16 Liverpool (A)

23 Tottenham (H)

30 Hull City (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Coventry (H)

10 Brentford (H)

20 Bournemouth (A)

27 Sunderland (H)

MARCH

3 Arsenal (A)

13 Fulham (H)

20 Ipswich (A)

APRIL

10 Everton (H)

17 Man City (A)

24 Man United (A)

MAY

1 Aston Villa (H)

8 Nott'm Forest (A)

15 Brighton (H)

23 Newcastle (A)

30 Leeds (H)

Title Odds

Crystal Palace to win the Premier League title odds: 300/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Crystal Palace to finish 13th.

It's no guarantee that Sage can repeat Lens' tremendous 2025-26 season in England. Palace do have a fine squad and continue to sign well, however, with the possible exception of January 2026.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Championship title winners with room to spare, Coventry City are back in the Premier League after a quarter of a century away.

Frank Lampard's leadership attracted the spotlight, as the former England midfielder steered his team through an immediate response to defeat in the 2024-25 play-offs.

While his first full season at the helm wasn't always plain sailing, the good ship Cov was never in choppy waters for long. Coventry are a club on a high, with a full stadium that feels like home – because it finally is.

Coventry City are back, but will they survive the drop? Coventry 2026-27 season preview

Even so, they will have to be a different outfit this season. The team that took them into the top flight didn't have the depth of quality needed to keep them there.

Loath as many City fans would be to acknowledge it, Sunderland showed the way to a world beyond a relegation battle, but there's no debate over Lampard's first target in 2026-27.

That isn't the same as a dearth of long-term ambition. It's been a long 25 years for the supporters, who experienced exile (when Coventry had to play their home games in Northampton and Birmingham) and were watching the club in League Two less than a decade ago.

A lot of credit goes to Lampard's predecessor, Mark Robins, for a revival that's been a long road for those who walked it. The Sky Blues have work to do. But after everything they've been through, they'll attack it with the grit and humour that rebuilt a city.

The Coach

Replacing Robins with Frank Lampard in November 2024 stunned Cov fans and outsiders alike, but chairman Doug King never wavered. By knuckling down and ultimately winning promotion, Lampard has forged an unlikely but formidable bond with the Sky Blues support.

Key Player

At 25, Jack Rudoni has the star quality and age profile to grow into the Premier League, even if he wasn't at the forefront of last term's team effort, which had several top performers. The Lampard-esque attacking midfielder has the ability, focus and drive to shine at this level.

Last Season's Results

CHAMPIONSHIP: Winners

FA CUP: Third Round

LEAGUE CUP: Second Round

Top Scorer

Haji Wright bagged 18 in all competitions for Coventry City last season, en-route to their Championship victory.

Lessons From Last Year

Remember that form is temporary, class is permanent. Coventry were dominant champions in the end but wobbled in the middle of the season.

Just as they dropped off the top of the Championship table, though, they hauled themselves up and clear again.

That resilient inner confidence could be the difference between getting a handle on the Premier League and struggling to get to grips with it.

Most Likely To...

Have their manager linked with every vacant position. This will be Lampard's fourth spell managing in the Premier League, but the way he confidently took the Sky Blues into it has made clubs take note. Don't be surprised if he decides to stay put this time.

Least Likely To...

Lose their identity. Over a number of years, Coventry fought their way into the Premier League with the help of a steely unity, on and off the pitch. The day they give that up is the day there isn't a blast of The Enemy's We'll Live and Die in These Towns before a home match.

View From The Stands

Words by: LAURENCE KILPATRICK @Thelonelyseason

Last season was pretty weird. The way we took apart the league up until November was mesmeric. Without overhauling the squad, Frank Lampard finished the work Mark Robins started, but with an insouciant swagger.

This season will be different because every crumb of non-defeat must be savoured. Will the fans who abruptly rediscovered their interest in the club still show up when we've got eight points in January and Sean Dyche is in charge?

Our key player will be Jack Rudoni. He's worked his way up the leagues and could now be the difference between 18th and 17th. Glamorous.

The active player I'd love to have back is Sheffield United's Gustavo Hamer. He's a throwback of a maverick, who piles on the pounds until the real business returns. I would welcome him back with open arms, if they could reach that far around him.

Fans think our owner is at the end of his redemption arc.

Our biggest grudge match will be against Aston Villa. We haven't played them since they sent us down in 2001. We hate them; they probably don't remember us.

The ground I'm least looking forward to visiting is one of the silly tiny ones, like Ipswich or Bournemouth, where it's impossible to get a ticket.

The fans' opinion of the gaffer is that he's a great PR man – and, crucially, not a stubborn ideologue.

We'll finish 7th. If a pub side like Sunderland can…

Fixtures

AUGUST

21 Arsenal (A)

29 Hull City (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Man City (A)

12 Brighton (H)

19 Nott'm Forest (A)

OCTOBER

10 Newcastle (H)

17 Tottenham (A)

24 Fulham (H)

31 Sunderland (H)

NOVEMBER

7 Everton (A)

21 Crystal Palace (H)

28 Leeds (A)

DECEMBER

2 Ipswich (H)

5 Man United (A)

12 Aston Villa (H)

19 Bournemouth (A)

26 Chelsea (H)

30 Brentford (H)

JANUARY

2 Liverpool (A)

6 Ipswich (A)

16 Everton (H)

23 Sunderland (A)

30 Leeds (H)

FEBRUARY

6 Crystal Palace (A)

10 Liverpool (H)

20 Brentford (A)

27 Bournemouth (H)

MARCH

3 Chelsea (A)

13 Man City (H)

20 Brighton (A)

APRIL

10 Arsenal (H)

17 Hull City (A)

24 Aston Villa (A)

MAY

1 Man United (H)

8 Newcastle (A)

15 Tottenham (H)

23 Fulham (A)

30 Nott'm Forest (H)

Title Odds

Coventry City to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Coventry City to finish 16th.

Tactically flexible and able to score in myriad ways, from set pieces to five players hitting double figures last term, Cov are well equipped to stay up – or better, if they can sign or replace loan ace Carl Rushworth.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.