The lack of pressure on Scott Parker this season, despite a collection of desperate performances and an impending relegation, has been mystifying. Plenty at Turf Moor feel a strong sense of loyalty to Parker, especially the chairman, Alan Pace, but support in the stands is dwindling. The lack of backing in the winter transfer window left the squad short of quality and with limited routes out of their current predicament.
The interest from Stamford Bridge reportedly stemmed from Bergvall's reduced role under former head coach Thomas Frank. The Dane, who was recently relieved of his duties, often deployed the natural central midfielder in wider areas or utilised him as a rotation option following the arrival of Conor Gallagher. Sensing a potential opening, Chelsea explored the possibility of a permanent deal to bolster their own youthful midfield project. However, Spurs rebuffed these advances immediately.
The last time these two teams met, on 25 November, Coventry were on an 18-match run that delivered 13 wins, 50 goals and a 10-point lead at the top of the Championship. Middlesbrough, by contrast, entered the game without a head coach. Rob Edwards had taken the Wolves job and his replacement, Kim Hellberg, watched from the stands as the team conceded two late goals to lose 4-2.
People made it out to be my dream club. But first and foremost, it's my dad's favourite club. It was always his great wish to see me there someday because he loves the atmosphere at Anfield. He always raved about Steven Gerrard. I was too young to see him play. We didn't even have a TV at home for a long time. I have a lot of respect for Liverpool, but my dream club right now is Leipzig.
Woltemade's campaign started with him playing the role of "rope" in a transfer tug-of-war between VfB Stuttgart and Bayern Munich. After VfB Stuttgart refused to accept Bayern Munich's terms, the player seemingly had made it clear that he wanted out of Stuttgart. Lo and behold, Newcastle United opened its coffers and paid VfB Stuttgart an absurd amount of money (€75 million) for the attacker and things seemed...great.
Hit with an infamous 10-month ban after breaching betting regulations immediately after arriving at St. James' Park, Tonali endured a public nightmare after initially arriving on Tyneside. However, continuing to receive a string of plaudits over the past 12 months and with his stock at a red-hot high, the former AC Milan starlet has been Newcastle's standout performer this season.
If that wasn't my ambition I'd be in the wrong role, but hopefully I can push Macclesfield on to where we think we can get to. We've got a long journey ahead of us here and it's a club going in the right direction. I want to manage as high as possible and hopefully that can be with this club.
It's going to depend on his [Szoboszlai's] performances. He is one of the best players in the world right now. It's good for everyone and I hope we can do it again. I'm glad we managed to win the game today. It was very big for the confidence.
"I spoke with the referee after the game," he said. "I wanted to hear why he gave the offside. I think it was a good communication, but it stays secret. I went down to his dressing room and we discussed in a calm atmosphere. After my news conference, I had the feeling I had to go there. I appreciate he opened the door to me.
Chelsea could use more defensive steel and physicality in the middle of the park, and Anderson would be a solid long-term acquisition. However, they would have to pay 100 million in order to get the deal done. They need to improve other areas of their squad as well. Spending 100 million on the midfielder might not be a wise decision. Improving the defence should be their priority instead. They need a reliable finisher as well, who can find the back of the net regularly.
Chelsea is looking to improve its defensive unit with the signing of South American defender Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth. The 28-year-old will be a free agent at the end of the season, and Chelsea are hoping to snap him up on a bargain. It is no secret that they need more quality at the back. They need to tighten up defensively if they want to fight for major trophies.
When waters are choppy, you do not need some ambitious captain with notions of heading out on an adventure. All you really want is someone who can get you safely to shore. Igor Tudor is not keen on the word. Hearing it applied to him when he arrived at Juventus last season, he observed that every manager, everywhere, is living from game to game. You can have a contract for five years and get sent home after three matches, he said.
It is for good reason that Arteta rates one of his more recent signings so highly. Zubimendi has been justifying his manager's comments since signing from boyhood club Real Sociedad in July 2025. The 27-year-old has played the most minutes of any of Arsenal's outfield players and has been chipping in with goals too. And that goal return may have come as a surprise, with Zubimendi signed primarily as a defensive midfielder but now having scored six times in 34 appearances - the most he has registered during any campaign in his career.
The sports and entertainment talent agent said in a memo to staff that he had "become a distraction" to the company's work and had started the process to sell the firm. Mike Watts, a long-time executive, would take on day-to-day control of the business, he said in the memo obtained by Bloomberg News. Some of Ireland's best-known personalities are signed to the global music and sports agency.
We've got four lunchtime kick-offs (12pm GMT) to look forward to, including Chelsea v Liverpool and Manchester United v London City Lionesses. The title race is effectively over for Chelsea, after humiliating back to back defeats against Arsenal and Manchester City. They bounced back with a win against Spurs last week so Sonia Bompastor will be hoping for an end of season rally to keep them in the Champions League places.
He came in and brought a real sense of positivity, Cyrus Christie tells FourFourTwo, having been part of that Hull City squad. He made it clear that it would be a process, the main part was stabilising us and trying to pick up points. Defensive shape was his initial priority. This early impact saw the side lose just one of Rosenior's first nine league games. We felt far more secure at the back, Christie continues.
