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Pep Guardiola has warned Manchester City players to remain focused to avoid Liverpool-esque collapse amid fight for Premier League title.

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• Liverpool lose steam in title race with two defeats
• Guardiola warns City players against complacency
• Feels there's not much left in the tank for City players

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following a commanding 4-0 victory over Brighton, City closed the gap on league leaders Arsenal to just one point and overtook Liverpool to claim the second spot in the standings. The impressive win was fueled by Phil Foden's brace and goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Julian Alvarez.

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  The triumph came on the heels of Liverpool's disappointing 2-0 defeat to Everton and a shocking 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace, which saw them relinquish their lead at the top of the table. Guardiola has learnt his lessons from Liverpool's sudden downfall and stressed the importance of staying vigilant, especially with challenging fixtures ahead.

• WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

  “I said to the players what happened to Liverpool can happen to us and can happen to Arsenal,” said the Spaniard.

  “People didn’t expect them to lose against Crystal Palace and yesterday but it can happen to us – it’s football. Everton is playing to avoid the relegation zone and we have a similar game at Nottingham Forest (on Sunday) and they are playing for their lives.

  “Maybe because they were a real contender of ours for many years, my appreciation for Liverpool is higher than ever. Still, it (the title) is there (for Liverpool) because I know the character of their team. They are going to fight until the end and we have to do it too.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Despite their past successes, Guardiola remains cautious about relying solely on history to propel City to another title. He emphasised the need for continuous effort and focus in the remaining five games to lift their sixth league title in the Guardiola era.

  “I would love to say yes but I don’t know,” he said.

  “What we have done in the past doesn’t mean it’s going to happen in the future. To do it again, you have to make it happen. We know what we’re playing for.

  “We know that if we don’t win or we draw, we will not have a chance to fight until the end, so, of course, the pressure is there, otherwise we cannot perform that well. Five games left and on to the next.”

  City will face Nottingham Forest on Sunday in their next Premier League fixture.

The Australian has orchestrated a sensational turnaround in north London following a dismal 2022-23 campaign

It seems like a lifetime ago now, but back in the autumn, Tottenham were being hyped up as genuine title contenders. After 10 games, Spurs sat top of the Premier League table, having picked up a spirited point against rivals Arsenal as well as wins over Manchester United and Liverpool.

Though the latter victory did include a monumental assist by VAR, it was still difficult not to be seduced by the transfixing restoration job Ange Postecoglou had done over the course of just a single summer.

This early-season mania has ebbed away gradually as the campaign has dragged on, however, with Tottenham's recent 4-0 hammering at the hands of Newcastle providing the Australian's detractors with the most compelling evidence yet that the project may be veering off track.

The North London derby on Sunday provided Postecoglou with the perfect opportunity to respond and deal the club's bitterest foes a likely fatal blow to their Premier League title charge. But, by the time the whistle was blown for half-time, Spurs found themselves three goals down.

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  Familiar problems

  That two of those goals came from set-pieces would have been particularly galling. First, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's botched clearance ended up flying past Guglielmo Vicario. Kai Havertz then rose high at the front post to make it 3-0, 11 minutes after Bukayo Saka had doubled the visitors' advantage by finishing off a counter-attack.

  Set-pieces have become a spiralling issue for Tottenham, with only the bottom-four clubs and Aston Villa conceding more from dead-ball situations over the course of the Premier League campaign. It has been suggested to Postecoglou that hiring a specialist coach might improve things, but he firmly dismissed this notion back in March.

  He doubled down on his position after the Arsenal game too, telling reporters: "If I thought fixing defensive set-pieces was the answer to us bridging the gap then I would put all of my time and effort into that. But that is not where we’re at."

  This was not the only familiar problem that resurfaced during the Arsenal defeat either. Perhaps the most infamous aspect of Postecoglou's tactical approach is the ludicrously high line he encourages his defenders to adopt. It's key to how Spurs press and build up, but it is also their glass chin. If their opponent can get the ball forward quick enough in transition, Tottenham can be in big trouble, as Saka's goal showed.

  That strike stemmed from Declan Rice, Saka and Havertz playing through Spurs' counter-press in their own box. This afforded the German with enough space to send Saka on his way, with the England international making light work of Ben Davies before placing the ball into the bottom corner. It's not the first time Spurs have conceded a goal of this ilk this season, and it almost certainly won't be the last either.

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  Doesn't tell the whole story

  Yet, while the first 45 minutes of the derby did seem to further highlight the pitfalls of Postecoglou's high-risk philosophy, his side's three-goal deficit did not tell the entire story. With the Gunners 1-0 up, Cristian Romero simply had to equalise, but could only hammer a free header into the post. Shortly after, Micky van de Ven was denied an equaliser by the narrowest of offside decisions. Had Gabriel Magalhaes stuck his posterior out a few more centimetres, the goal would have been given.

  The third sliding-doors moment came in the build-up to Saka's goal. A matter of seconds before the forward made the net bulge, Dejan Kulusevski went crashing to the floor in the Arsenal box. Replays were inconclusive, but it wouldn't have been a huge surprise to see Leandro Trossard penalised for seemingly clipping the Swede's heels.

  Considering all of that, it's astounding that Spurs somehow conspired to find themselves trailing so heavily at the break.

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  Promising second half

  Tottenham did at least restore some pride with their second-half display. Few scenes sum up the effectiveness of their madness more than centre-back Romero galloping up to press Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, forcing a mistake and making it 3-1 and they continued to patiently probe at the best defence in the Premier League in the half-hour of action that followed.

  Few could argue they didn't deserve their second, with Son Heung-min showing nerves of steel to convert from the spot after Declan Rice recklessly kicked Davies in the penalty area, and the 80 percent possession they enjoyed after the goal speaks to their ability to pen teams in with their high defensive line. In the end, though, the equaliser would not come.

  It's a result that clearly hurt Postecoglou, with the Spurs boss being particularly damning about his side's defending in his post-match press conference.

  "It's about now over the course of time getting from where we are to where we want to get to," he reflected. "To do that, we're still not absolutely laser focused on the details, the small things that get you from where we are to become a team that contends. Credit to Arsenal, they're there now. They're a team that does deal with the details well and we don't."

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  Season still a success

  And while Postecoglou was in no mood to praise himself or the team on Sunday evening, if we pull the lens back and look at Spurs' season as a whole, it's hard to be too critical of their efforts.

  The ex-Celtic boss took over a club in crisis last summer, fresh off their lowest Premier League finish in 14 years. To compound matters, they then lost the best striker on the planet a few days before the campaign kicked off.

  The fact that Postecoglou and Co remain in with a shot of securing Champions League football – they have two games in hand on fourth-placed Aston Villa, who they trail by seven points – while the manager has had to contend with a painful rebuild job is pretty incredible. Mikel Arteta certainly didn't manage to keep Arsenal this competitive during his first few years in the hot seat, with the Gunners missing out on Europe entirely in 2020 and 2021.

  That Tottenham lost a string of first-teamers to injury over the festive and New Year's period only makes their points tally – already equal to what they managed last term with five games still to play – even more impressive.

Everton have received a big injury boost ahead of their trip to Nottingham Forest this weekend, courtesy of an update from Sky Sports reporter Alan Myers.

Everton injury updates

The Blues have had a season to remember so far, largely for the wrong reasons, with so many things going on at the club, both on and off the pitch. Everton's 10-point deduction in the Premier League has been met with anger by supporters, leaving them in the relegation zone, and the potential takeover at Goodison Park is moving slowly, too.

Sean Dyche's side showed some improvements in form before the international break, but last Sunday's 3-0 defeat at home to Manchester United saw their momentum halted in abrupt fashion. The hope is that Saturday's clash with Forest allows them the chance to get back into their groove, but injuries haven't been helping of late.

The Merseysiders have had to make do without a host of important figures, with Andre Gomes and Beto two of those who have been unavailable for large periods. Amadou Onana has also missed some time, and Dyche could do with as many of them being back in the fold as soon as possible.

Dyche gifted good news on Beto and Gomes

Taking to X on Thursday, Myers confirmed that both Andre Gomes and Beto are back in training for Everton, acting as a major boost before the weekend action.

"DCL training inside away from main group, Andre Gomes back training with the squad, Beto back training and Onana training inside away from main group."

This is brilliant news for anyone of an Everton persuasion, with both Gomes and Beto two players who can have such a positive impact this season, helping the Blues get out of the relegation zone and avoid heading to the Championship for the first time in their history.

Gomes has suffered such terrible luck with injuries down the years, not least a broken leg at home to Tottenham back in 2019, and he has really struggled to kick on in his career since then, continually being dogged by fitness issues. Still only 30, however, the Portuguese has the quality to make a big difference if he can stay fit for a sustained period of time.

Meanwhile, Beto has made a relatively slowly start to life at Everton, with the Blues striker's statistics showing that he is yet to score in eight Premier League appearances, but he arrived for big money in the summer transfer window and can bring added firepower the more he adjusts to English football.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin an injury-prone figure, Beto could become increasingly important as the campaign goes on, and 21 Serie A goals for Udinese over the past two seasons sums up the potential he has. A winning goal at Forest on Saturday would be the perfect place to start, in what represents such an important game for the Blues.

There are few things in football better than seeing your team score an unbelievable free kick. Football FanCast delves into the world of football’s best free kicks, this list explores the artistry and precision behind ten of the best free kicks in the sport’s rich history.

For the order of this list, we’ve considered the difficulty of the strike, the significance of the goal and the overall beauty of the free kicks.

10

Mikael Nilsson

IFK Goteborg vs PSV, 1993

There is only one reason that this free kick is tenth on this list, and that’s because on first viewing, it doesn’t look great. You have to wait for the second angle to really appreciate the amount of curl Nilsson put on this.

In 1993, Swedish side IFK Goteborg faced PSV in the Champions League as the underdogs. Little did they know defender Nilsson would score one of the best free kicks in the tournament’s history. He must have been around 35 yards from goal, he had no right to even hit it from there, but he did.

The amount of curl completely caught the goalkeeper out. It looked like it was destined for the bottom right-hand corner, but somehow ended in the left. Nilsson ran off, both hands pointing to the air before doing the kind of cartwheel only a footballer from the 90s could do.

9

Hakan Calhanoglu

Hamburg vs Borussia Dortmund, 2014

Renowned for his set-piece expertise, Turkish midfielder Calhanoglu showed the world just what he was capable of with an exceptional strike in 2014. Despite the almost ridiculous distance of 45 yards from ball to net, the former Hamburg player delivered a ferocious shot that surged toward the goal and executed a dramatic leftward swerve at the last moment.

This would be higher on the list if the Borussia Dortmund defence actually tried to do anything about it. Perhaps they were simply too astounded by the pure audacity of trying it from there in the first place. Calhanoglu no longer plays in Germany, but he’s still banging them in when he can at Inter.

8

Lionel Messi

Barcelona vs Liverpool, 2019

Lionel Messi’s free kick in Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final tie against Liverpool should have been enough to see them through to the final in 2019, and if it wasn’t for Divock Origi and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quickly taken corner, it could have been. This one was so good, that even the little Argentine looked impressed with himself.

It could not have been any sweeter. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson tried his best, but he never stood a chance. The Liverpool wall might as well not have even been there, they were essentially training dummies, and Messi was having a laugh with his teammates after a long day at La Masia.

The Camp Nou crowd was so impressed, they forgot to make much noise, either that or the ground has become such a tourist hotspot that local fans have been priced out. Jurgen Klopp had a smile on his face, astounded by what he had just seen from arguably the greatest player of all time.

Maybe it was over-confidence (or a lack of confidence), but Barcelona bottled the second leg and Liverpool would go on to win the Champions League.

7

Paul Gascoigne

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur, 1991

Back in the early 90s, big clubs still took the FA Cup seriously, and it didn’t get much bigger than a north London derby in the semi-final. Paul Gascoigne and his Tottenham Hotspur side faced off against heavy favourites (and would-be champions) in Arsenal, knowing that it would take a special performance to get to the final.

Spurs won a free kick from 30-plus yards out and Gazza placed it down with determination. Arsenal’s two-and-a-half-man wall didn’t think anything of it – that was their first mistake. He struck it and it ended up in the top right-hand corner. Not for the last time in his career, David Seaman was caught out by a free kick.

Manager Terry Venables stood up and applauded with a huge smile on his face, while Gazza ran off and celebrated with his teammates. Spurs would go on to with the game 3-1, securing their place in the final, which they would eventually win.

6

Alvaro Recoba

Bologna vs Inter, 2003

Alvaro Recoba may be one of the most underrated players of his era. He joined Inter in the summer of 1997, the same time as Ronaldo. They even made their debut at the same time, with Recoba out-shining the great Brazilian on the day, scoring two goals in the last ten minutes against Brescia.

Another free kick with a ridiculous amount of curl, it looked like it would end up just wide of the mark before coming back to nestle in the back of the net. The Bologna wall and the goalkeeper’s futile efforts to stop it meant absolutely nothing.

5

Juninho Pernambucano

Bayern Munich vs Lyon, 2003

It wouldn’t be a best free kicks list without potentially the greatest free kick taker of them all, Juninho Pernambucano. It was simply an issue of picking which one of his efforts would make it. We finally settled on his goal against Bayern Munich in 2003.

When he hits it, it looks like it’s about to soar over the crossbar before sharply coming down, fooling the great Oliver Kahn, who smacked his head on the post attempting to keep it out of the Bayern Munich goal. It’s made even better by the fact it comes off the right-hand post before hitting the back of the net.

Juninho celebrates like he did this all the time, which, to be fair, he did.

4

Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United vs Portsmouth, 2008

Back in 2007/08, Cristiano Ronaldo was still good at free kicks, and he was truly unstoppable for Manchester United. The club were locked in a battle with Arsenal and Chelsea for Premier League and Champions League supremacy, and United needed a win against Portsmouth to return to the summit.

Ronaldo picked up the ball and placed it down at around 30 yards from the Portsmouth goal. He takes his time before striking it, taking in multiple deep breaths to compose himself. He then hits it with such venom, the ball dipping and leaving poor David James stranded in the Pompey goal.

The ball hits the back of the net and the Portuguese lets out a tribal scream as his teammates surround him. “That without doubt must be the best [I’ve seen in the Premier League],” Sir Alex Ferguson said after the game. “From that distance, he’s going to hit them. No ‘keeper in the world would save that.”

3

Sinisa Mihajlovic

Lazio vs Sampdoria, 1998

A hat-trick is one thing, but a hat-trick of free kicks? That’s almost unheard of. Sinisa Mihajlovic, a profoundly good free kick taker, is one of the very few to have achieved just that. It’s not like any of them are lucky, either; each of them is better than the last.

The first two come in the first half, both from relatively similar distances. Mihajlovic dispatches them with ease, casually celebrating by turning away and smiling, shaking his fist. The third one is in the second half, from a greater distance than the first two.

The third one was from around 35 yards, so it needed a bit more of a whack, and that’s exactly what he gave it. It was so perfect, the opposing goalkeeper didn’t stand a chance. He couldn’t help but celebrate this time with his teammates jumping all over him.

2

Roberto Carlos

France vs Brazil, 1997

Despite popular opinion, Roberto Carlos wasn’t much of a free kick taker. The stout little left-back was more likely to find a member of the crowd than the top corner – perhaps that’s what helps make this goal as incredible as it was.

This is the free kick you think of when you close your eyes. From a purely scientific point of view, it shouldn’t be possible. His run-up is pretty much half of the pitch. Roberto Carlos then hits it incredibly hard with the outside of his boot, giving it so much curl, we’re fairly certain he breaks the laws of physics.

Fabien Barthez in the France goal is left bewildered; he didn’t even try to save it. After the ball hits the net, he just stands there with his hands on his hips and shakes his head. He’s disappointed with himself, as if he’d have had a chance if he’d tried.

1

David Beckham

England vs Greece, 2001

Many may disagree with this being at number one – yes, we know that Roberto Carlos’ free kick is technically the best, but we had to put this one at the top, simply due to the occasion. For a while in the early 2000s, England were not very good at football, despite having an incredible wealth of talent.

It got so bad, that they needed to at least draw against Greece to get to the World Cup, and they were struggling to do that. England were awarded a free kick in the last minute of the game, and up stepped captain David Beckham, knowing that he had to score this if they had any hope of avoiding the play-offs.

The free kick was almost as good-looking as the man himself. It was perfectly struck from around 30 yards, right into the top left corner. The stadium erupted with the yells of incredibly relieved England fans. Beckham had saved the country.

Christian Pulisic became the first AC Milan midfielder to score more than 10 goals in a Serie A season since Kaka in 2005-06.

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• Scored brace against Cagliari
• 11th and 12th Serie A goals of the season
• Matched and exceeded Kaka's campaign

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Pulisic was on fine form for Serie A's second-placed team as they thrashed Cagliari 5-1. The USMNT international recorded his 19th goal contribution of the season in Italy's top-flight including two goals to match and then exceed Kaka's record from 18 years ago.

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  The 25-year-old has enjoyed a good start to life in Milan although he will end the campaign with mixed feelings. The Rossoneri have all but secured second place in the division but remain 18 points behind city rivals Inter, who won the league with ease.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The former Chelsea man was the first American male to play in a Champions League final. Pulisic was part of the squad that defeated Manchester City in 2021, helping them win their second title. He was subsequently the first American to win the competition.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PULISIC?

  Pulisic will be hoping to carry his form into the 2024-25 campaign but he has work to do over the summer. The Copa America is being held in his home nation and he will likely be part of history as the USMNT compete in the tournament for just the fifth time.

As 2023 comes to a close, Chelsea will reflect on arguably their worst year in Premier League history, when taking into account the money that they spent and where it landed them. The Blues splashed the cash in the last 12 months, but it was to no avail. Even after a busy summer transfer window and the addition of former Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino, they remain stranded in 10th.

Their most recent victory – a 3-2 thriller against Luton Town – at least handed Chelsea some hope ahead of next year, and the potential addition of one particular forward target could lead to things finally turning around at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea transfer news

The London giants attempted to finally put an end to their striker problem in the summer, welcoming both Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku. Jackson, however, has scored just seven Premier League goals, with three of those coming in one game against Tottenham Hotspur. Meanwhile, Nkunku has only just made his return from injury and needs time before his impact can be judged. With the former heading off for international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal in January, however, Chelsea may need to turn to the transfer window no matter what, which could see them land a solution for Pochettino.

According to The Sun, Chelsea are lining up a move to sign Girona forward Artem Dovbyk, who could be sold for around £39m. If the Blues manage to make room for the forward through the departure of Armando Broja, then they could land the potential solution to their goalscoring problems, with Pochettino impressed with the striker's 6ft 2 physical profile.

Dovbyk, of course, is part of a Girona side gunning for a shock La Liga title win and has more than played an important role in that title pursuit. With Chelsea reportedly interested, however, it remains to be seen whether he'll stay put. The Blues could be boosted by the fact that Dovbyk's agent is the same as Mykhailo Mudryk's, making any deal potentially easier.

"Sensational" Dovbyk could be an upgrade on Jackson

When compared, Dovbyk's stats stand tall against Jackson's this season, who has struggled to make an impact at times. The Girona star has found the back of the net a total of 12 times and has set up a further six goals in all competitions. Jackson, meanwhile, has scored eight and set up two in all competitions. At 26 years old, the La Liga forward could be in his prime, perhaps making now the perfect time for Chelsea to make their move.

Earning plenty of deserved praise this season, Girona manager Michel had nothing but good things to say after the forward's performance against Barcelona. He said:

"I haven’t seen the statistics, but I saw a dominant Barca, and they had many shots on goal, but Girona was as always, and I like it. Last year we had no chance of winning and lost 0:1. On a tactical level, Xavi wanted to press us, but we managed to overcome the high press. We used the space, Dovbyk and Tsygankov played a sensational game in the first half."

Cesc Fabregas stuck to his word and bankrolled a weekend trip to Ibiza for Como players after Serie A promotion.

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• Como earned a top-flight berth
• Fabregas gifted players a trip to Ibiza
• Squad members flew out on Friday morning

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Como’s journey to Serie A is a tale of perseverance and resilience. Their efforts culminated in a thrilling 1-1 draw against Cosenza on the final day of the Serie B season, securing their promotion to the top flight for the first time in two decades.

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  In the aftermath of their promotion-clinching game, Fabregas delivered a rousing speech in the dressing room whereby he reminded the players of the challenges that lie ahead in Serie A and also promised a sponsored trip to Ibiza.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  True to his word, Fabregas arranged for a private flight and covered the accommodation costs on the Spanish island. The trip, which started on Friday morning, was shared on social media by striker Patrick Cutrone. His Instagram story featured a host of players embarking on their journey. The striker expressed his gratitude to Fabregas with a small note that read: "Grazie @cescf4bregas".

  @patrickcutrone Instagram

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  France legend Thierry Henry happens to be a shareholder at Como and was present in the stands to witness his side secure promotion to Serie A after a hiatus of more than two decades.

Fans at Vancouver Whitecaps voiced their frustration at Lionel Messi's absence during their match against Inter Miami.

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• Fans in the crowd chanted for Messi
• Superstar was rested against Whitecaps
• Inter Miami head coach defended decision

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The MLS' main attraction was absent from Inter Miami's 2-1 win against the Vancouver Whitecaps and fans in the crowd made sure to make their feelings known. They could be heard chanting "Where is Messi" inside BC Place despite his absence giving their team a better chance of coming away with some points.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

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  WHAT GERADO MARTINO SAID

  Miami head coach Gerard Martino had always planned to rest Messi alongside Sergio Busquets for the match and he defended his decision to leave them out before kick-off.

  He said: "We understand the people's frustration, especially in wanting to see these players, but it is our job as the coaching staff to make these decisions that are uncomfortable. We understand what these players provoke in the league and other markets, but we have to take these measures that are sometimes unpleasant for people. But they are beneficial for the players."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI AND INTER MIAMI?

  The 36-year-old should be back in action at home against Atalanta United on 30 May. Fans attending matches in the hope of seeing the World Cup winner will need to do so in the next month before Messi departs to join up with Argentina ahead of the Copa America.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou could soon be set for a double injury boost with Micky van de Ven's return "imminent" alongside another Spurs star.

Spurs looking for centre-back depth

One thing van de Ven's absence has really highlighted since his hamstring injury, which was sustained in early November, is the serious lack of depth behind both the Dutchman and Cristian Romero.

Postecoglou's first choice centre-backs have been either injured or suspended for large periods since their 4-1 defeat to Chelsea late last year, which has motivated the Lilywhites to look for another defender.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

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Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

Emerson Royal and Ben Davies are the makeshift central defensive pairing again in the absence of van de Ven and Romero, with Postecoglou highlighting the importance of bringing another one in this month as the January window opens.

"I don't put as much stock into the left-sided or right-sided centre-back scenario," said Postecoglou on a new centre-back before Spurs' defeat to Brighton.

"We just need another player in that position who can provide some more depth for us and the ability to change it up. It won't matter if it is left-sided or right-sided, it is more the profile and characteristics.

"We didn't go looking for a left-sided centre-back at the start of the year, it just happened that Micky was the perfect centre-back. Even if we had another left-sided one, I still would have signed him. It is about looking at the right profile, the right characteristics and seeing what is available, then going from there."

They're making headway in terms of signing a new name, with Spurs talks now advancing to seal Genoa defender Radu Dragusin this month. That will come as great news for Postecoglou, who has previously stated that he wants his January business done early, so he can bed Tottenham's potential new recruits into the first team quickly.

Van de ven and Solomon close to Spurs return

However, the north Londoners may not be so reliant on the transfer window very soon, as FA registered intermediary Paul O'Keefe says both van de Ven and Manor Solomon are close to making an injury comeback.

A reliable source of information of Tottenham news, O'Keefe says Solomon is also nearing a Spurs return from injury alongside van de Ven – with the latter's availability said to be "imminent".

Alongside a centre-back, Spurs are also thought to be chasing a winger signing this month, but perhaps the need for one will be slightly less urgent with Solomon's mooted comeback, making this one to watch ahead of Friday.

Borussia Dortmund CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke, revealed that Real Madrid had to pay more than €103m for Jude Bellingham.

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• Bellingham signed for Madrid in 2023
• Los Blancos reportedly paid €103m for the player
• Watzke suggests that the amount is much more

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bellingham, who was sold to Real Madrid for a reported €103 million (£89m/$112m), has been instrumental in Real Madrid's successful season. However, Watzke clarified that the actual sum agreed upon was quite "a lot more" than the initially reported figure.

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• WHAT WATZKE SAID

  In an interview with Watzke replied: "I always advised Jude that, if he was convinced that he wanted to go to another club, he should consider going to Real Madrid. And he listened to me. In the end, it is the biggest club in the world. It's been many years and I know them all. Florentino is the boss, but there is also José Angel Sanchez, with whom I have a friendship. Just to name an example."

  Addressing whether the huge transfer fee serves as a consolation for seeing Bellingham's success at the Santiago Bernabeu, Watzke was candid. "If it had been only €103 million, we would have negotiated badly," he stated, highlighting the club's negotiation prowess.

  "But no, it is no consolation because players like Jude or Erling not only left a football mark in Dortmund. They are two kids that we really appreciate here. There is no money to compensate for it. Of course, since you have to let them go, let it be for the largest amount possible."

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  Following Bellingham's transfer, Dortmund had allegedly submitted a report to the stock exchange where they mentioned that the total fee including add-ons could reach more than $139 million (€128.51/£109.30m). Watzke might have hinted at the €128.51 figure while asserting that the fee was much more than the claimed €103m.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

  The upcoming Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund adds an intriguing layer to Bellingham's transfer saga. The match at Wembley Stadium will not only be a contest for European glory but also a symbolic reunion for Bellingham against his former club. As he looks to complete a remarkable double of European and domestic titles in his debut season with Real Madrid, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on the young Englishman. If he manages to put in an impressive display against his former employers then it will also significantly boost his Ballon d'Or aspirations.