Soccer (FIFA)

Soccer (FIFA)

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Senior officials at the top of Fifa and Uefa are "very concerned" about the potential impact of the United States interest in Greenland on the World Cup and wider game, sources say, as football federations try to tread their own difficult balance in traversing a diplomatic crisis.

Discussing the Guler situation, sources with links to the agents industry suggested that the player was not currently keen on leaving the Bernabeu. However, Arsenal and Chelsea are continuing to monitor the Turkey international as there's some sense that Madrid could cash in for the right price this summer. Arsenal are continuing to monitor Arda Guler, one source said. The challenge would be persuading the player, who is not currently looking to leave Real Madrid.

Aston Villa have formally registered their interest in Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein, as Unai Emery intensifies his search for a new centre-forward ahead of the second half of the season. The Frenchman has enjoyed an impressive campaign at Selhurst Park, and with Palace open to a sale at the right price, Villa are positioning themselves as a serious contender.

They are very compact, they defend strongly and counter very well. We have to be careful in our defensive midfield. They have technically gifted midfielders and dangerous players upfront. We'll have to be aware,

Vinicius has been having a lacklustre season, and some fans viewed him as one of the reasons why coach Xabi Alonso was replaced last week. Vinicius had spats with Alonso, a former Madrid and Spain great as a player, who was replaced as a coach following a tumultuous eight-month stint. Vinicius was reportedly the main player not backing Alonso in the locker room.

Rangers are keen on Motherwell winger Tawanda Maswanhise and have initiated preliminary discussions by sounding out the 24-year-old Zimbabwe international's agent. (TeamTalk), external Manager Branislav Fodrek admits Dunaksta Streda will be powerless to stop Rangers transfer target Damir Redzic, 22, from leaving the club for the right fee, while RB Salszburg and FC Copenhagen are also keen on the Hungary winger. (Sport.SK via Daily Record, external)

The striker has an extensive career of playing through the German football leagues, spending the majority of his career in the 2. Bundesliga, as well as the German top flight. However, Kleindienst has only improved with age and over the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, reached new heights. Kleindienst hit his highest goal tally in the Bundesliga last season with an impressive 16 goals last season with Borussia Mönchengladbach.

A football pitch used by refugees in the occupied West Bank has been saved from demolition after an intervention by the president of Uefa, Aleksander Ceferin. A decision to stop plans to remove the pitch in the Aida refugee camp outside Bethlehem was taken by Israeli security forces on Tuesday after an international campaign for its preservation. Ceferin is understood to have held three telephone conversations with the Israeli Football Association (IFA) to discuss the issue of the Aida pitch during the past week, with the IFA relaying the concerns to security services.

Certainly. I'm going to put my personal hat on. There are over 500 bills in the US with anti-gay legislation on them. That was last year when I started researching. I say that because I also think more broadly, we all have to look at how we can continue to create different perceptions. I think sport is a powerful conduit to do that. That's just me putting my [personal] thing on.