… Physical Medical Game/player managementKEY PLAYERS Messi Alvarez Mac Allister ENGLAND(Strategy/Organisation: 1-4-2-3-1/1-3-3-1-3) They build up with the GK (short or long) Rice drops to join the 2 CBs (Stones/Konsa and Gueyi) Fullbacks rotation centrally to join Anderson …
… United have prioritised strengthening their midfield positions this summer, but have so far met with frustration after failing to sign first choice Elliot Anderson, who is joining Manchester City, and Mateus Fernandes, who opted to move to Tottenham Hotspur from West Ham. …
… Norway threatened after the break, seeing a goal by Torbjorn Heggem ruled out for Erling Haaland’s needless shove on Elliot Anderson, while David Moller Wolfe headed against the bar. …
… And being match-winners like Bellingham, Kane – they have several options on the wings which means that if one doesn’t have the day, another comes in and then obviously does something good, then steady out in the middle of the park with Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice.” Norway ha …
… As well as Tonali, there have been major sales of midfielders so far this summer, including Manchester City agreeing a club-record £116m deal with Nottingham Forest for England’s Elliot Anderson and West Ham‘s Mateus Fernandes also joining Tottenham for £85m. …
… United had been keen on Elliot Anderson but backed out of discussions when the immense cost, both transfer fee and wages, they would have to pay to get him out of Nottingham Forest, became clear. …
Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish has returned to pre-season training but was left out of the squad travelling to Hong Kong and Seoul, as he continues to recover from a foot injury sustained in January while on loan at Everton. New manager Enzo Maresca has left open the possibility of reintegrating Grealish into the first team, with the 30-year-old approaching the final year of his contract.
Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish has returned to pre-season training but was left out of the squad travelling to Hong Kong and Seoul, as he continues to recover from a foot injury sustained in January while on loan at Everton. New manager Enzo Maresca has left open the possibility of reintegrating Grealish into the first team, with the 30-year-old approaching the final year of his contract.
Chelsea signed England midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117 million, a reported UK record fee for a British player. The 23-year-old has signed a contract until 2033, and the deal surpasses the previous record of £116 million paid by Manchester City for Elliot Anderson.
Bournemouth have rejected a £64m offer from Chelsea for midfielder Alex Scott and told the Blues no further approaches would be welcomed, insisting they intend to keep the 22-year-old star player despite his rejection of a new contract offer.
Nottingham Forest has made an enquiry for Sporting centre-back Ousmane Diomande, an Ivory Coast international with a £68.2m release clause, though no official bid has been submitted. Manager Oliver Glasner is driving the potential move after previously trying to sign the 22-year-old at Crystal Palace.
England secured third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating France 6-4 in a bronze-medal playoff in Miami, with Bukayo Saka scoring a hat-trick and Jude Bellingham setting a new England World Cup scoring record.
Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with Aston Villa to sign England international Morgan Rogers in a club-record transfer worth £117 million, with a medical scheduled for Monday and personal terms already agreed. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder will sign a six-year contract until 2032 with an optional additional year, and the deal will become Chelsea's most expensive signing and a new British transfer record.
Chelsea have agreed a club record £117m deal to sign England midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa on a six-year contract. The transfer sets a new record fee for an English player, surpassing Manchester City's £116m deal for Elliot Anderson, and is Chelsea's most expensive signing ever.
Chelsea have agreed a club record £117m deal to sign England midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa on a six-year contract with an option for a further year. The deal sets a new transfer record for an English player, eclipsing the £116m Manchester City paid Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson.
Jude Bellingham slapped Argentina substitute Valentin Barco on the back of the head after England's 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat. Bellingham could face Fifa disciplinary action for the incident, though it may be considered petulant rather than violent conduct.
Jude Bellingham slapped Argentina substitute Valentin Barco on the back of the head following England's 2-1 World Cup semi-final loss. Bellingham could face FIFA disciplinary action for violent conduct, though the governing body may view the act as petulant rather than violent.
Former Hearts of Oak boss Mas-Ud Didi Dramani provides a tactical breakdown of England and Argentina's strategies ahead of their 2026 World Cup semi-final clash on Wednesday, with the winner to face Spain in the final.
Manchester United have completed the signing of Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa on a five-year deal after meeting his £35m release clause. The 29-year-old midfielder, who recently helped Belgium reach the World Cup quarter-finals, will wear the number 18 shirt.
Nico O'Reilly is expected to be available for England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina despite picking up a hamstring problem in the quarter-final win over Norway. Declan Rice is thought to be fully recovered from a sickness bug that sidelined him before the quarter-final.
Manchester United are in advanced talks with Aston Villa to sign midfielder Youri Tielemans, with a deal understood to be close; Tielemans' contract contains a release clause that makes negotiations easier, and the 29-year-old has Premier League experience and has been on United's radar for considerable time.
Jude Bellingham scored twice to inspire England to a comeback extra-time victory over Norway in the quarter-final in Miami, sending them into the last four where they will face either Argentina or Switzerland.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken told BBC Sport that England are favourites to reach the World Cup semi-finals ahead of their quarter-final meeting on Saturday in Miami. Norway has advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1998, knocking out Brazil in the last 16.
Manchester United have agreed to sign Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea in a deal worth up to £50 million, with an initial payment of £48 million plus £2 million in add-ons. Santos will join fellow Brazilian Ederson at Old Trafford as United strengthen their midfield following injuries and departures.
Bruno Guimaraes has asked to leave Newcastle, with Arsenal accelerating their interest in the Brazil international midfielder. Arsenal are poised to make a fresh offer for Guimaraes, who arrived at Newcastle from Lyon in 2022, as they look to bolster their midfield.
England midfielder Declan Rice is expected to return to the starting lineup for the last-32 match against DR Congo on Wednesday after being rested against Panama due to a calf injury sustained in the draw with Ghana. England manager Thomas Tuchel faces significant uncertainty at right-back, with Reece James unlikely to return this tournament and Jarell Quansah doubtful for the DR Congo game due to an ankle injury.
Manchester United's 25-year-old Manuel Ugarte suffered a knee ligament injury while playing for Uruguay against Spain at the World Cup; Uruguayan media reports suggest a cruciate ligament injury that could sideline him for several months, pending further tests in Manchester.
England beat Panama 2–0 in their second FIFA World Cup 2026 match at New York/New Jersey Stadium, with second-half goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, whose goal was his 11th in World Cup play. The win secures first place in Group L after an earlier stalemate against Ghana.
Manchester City have agreed a deal with Nottingham Forest to sign England midfielder Elliot Anderson, 23, for £116m, described by City sources as a club record with no bonuses attached, though other sources claim the deal is worth up to £130m and would represent a British record transfer fee.
Ghana's defensive display earned a 0–0 draw with England at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Both teams remain in the top two of Group L and can secure a Round of 32 spot with a point from their final matches against Panama and Croatia respectively.
Ghana and England, each with three points from their opening matches, meet in the second group game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Gillette Stadium; a win for either side could secure automatic progression to the knockout phase.
Content creator Code Micky has advised Ghana's football team to approach the England match with a winning mindset, disciplined aggression, and mental courage rather than defensive play. He argues that the Black Stars' midfielders can dictate the game's tempo if they press aggressively and maintain mental discipline to avoid costly fouls.
Manchester City are closing in on appointing former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca as manager on a three-year deal after reaching an agreement on compensation well in excess of £10m with Chelsea, one month after Pep Guardiola announced he will leave the club.
Jude Bellingham said external pressure over his England selection may help him perform at his best during the World Cup. The 22-year-old started against Croatia and scored England's third goal in a 4-2 win, saying he felt "fresh and sharp" after a tougher season marked by injury and his club Real Madrid finishing eight points behind Barcelona.
Manchester City's second offer of £120m (£106m initial plus add-ons) for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson has been rejected. The 23-year-old England international prefers a move to City over Manchester United, and the two clubs continue negotiations despite Anderson's World Cup preparations.
Manchester City and Chelsea remain in talks over Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola at City, with negotiations at an advanced stage over a compensation package. Chelsea expect payment under Maresca's contract terms, as he left Stamford Bridge in January despite being contracted until 2029.
Manchester City have made an opening bid for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, 23, which Forest have rejected. Anderson is reported to be leaning towards a move to City over Manchester United, and a potential transfer fee could be a record for a British player.