Xabi Alonso has publicly confirmed he will remain as manager of Bayer Leverkusen for the 24-25 season despite strong interest from Bayern Munich and Liverpool.

"It has been a season with a lot of speculation regarding my future," Alonso said. "I wanted to use the international break to reflect a little bit better and to take a decision.

"Last week, I had a good meeting with Simon [Rolfes, the club's sporting director] with Fernando [Carro, CEO], when I informed them of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen.

"For sure all the decisions, you need to analyse well, and I tried to take the right ones, I tried to take the ones that come in a natural way, and at this moment I feel this is the right place for me to be to develop as a coach.

"I am a young coach, but I have to feel it, and right now I feel that this is the right place."

Alonso is expected to be a target for Real Madrid when the contract of Carlo Ancelotti expires in 2026.

Leverkusen is on the verge of winning its first-ever Bundesliga title. 

The agent for Alphonso Davies criticized Bayern Munich for issuing an "ultimatum" over their contract offer.

Davies' contract with Bayern expires at the end of next season, meaning the club could lose him in 2025 without receiving a fee if he decides not to extend.

Davies' agent Nick Huoseh said Bayern's approach was not fair.

"It's unfair that Alphonso is now being attacked," Huoseh said.

"We were close to an agreement a year ago. Then the entire club management was replaced. We didn't hear anything for seven months. Although I tried during this time to contact the club myself.

"Now we are being given an ultimatum and are supposed to react within two weeks because the club is under pressure and took a long time to reposition itself in the management? That's not fair.

"It's a very important contract in Alphonso's career and we're supposed to make the decision without knowing who the coach will be next season or what the team looks like. That's why we think it's unfair to react to the ultimatum."

Real Madrid remain interested in signing Davies, but are unwilling to pay more than $43.5 million to sign him. Davies' preference is to join Madrid. 

Davies has the fourth best WhoScored rating on Bayern this season.

Liverpool has given up plans to pursue Xabi Alonso to replace Jurgen Klopp as manager. Alonso has Bayer Leverkusen on the verge of winning its first-ever Bundesliga title.

Bayern Munich are also interested in Alonso, but they expect him to remain with Leverkusen for at least one more season. Alonso could wait to become manager of Real Madrid in 2026 when the contract of Carlo Ancelotti expires. 

Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi and Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim are considered the leading candidates for Liverpool. 

Lionel Messi won't factor age when he decides to retire and will instead make the call on whether he is contributing to his team. Messi's Inter Miami deal ends in December 2025.

"I know that the moment that I know that I'm not performing, that I'm not enjoying myself, that I'm not helping my teammates," Messi told MBC's Big Time Podcast.

"I am very self-critical. I know when I am good, when I am bad, when I play well, when I play badly... And when I feel it is time to take that step, I will take it without thinking about age. If I feel good, I will always try to continue competing, because it is what I like and what I know how to do."

Messi will play for Argentina in Copa America this summer.

"Had things not gone the way they did [in the tournament in Qatar], I would have left the national team," Messi said.

Messi turns 37 in June.

Kalvin Phillips is likely to permanently leave Manchester City this summer. Phillips joined West Ham in January on loan.

Phillips joined City from Leeds in 2022 on a £42 million transfer.

Manchester City has agreed to sign Cavan Sullivan from the Philadelphia Union.

Sullivan is a 14-year-old left-footed midfielder and recently made his professional debut with Philadelphia Union II. Sullivan also received interest from Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. 

Sullivan is left-footed and comes from a soccer family with his older brother, Quinn Sullivan, playing for the first-team of the Philadelphia Union at the age of 19. Sullvan's father, Brendan Sullivan, played professionally, and his mother also played collegiately.

Olivier Giroud is in talks to join LAFC on a transfer from AC Milan this summer.

Giroud's contract expires this summer and has also had talks with other MLS clubs. Giroud's preference is to join LAFC.

LAFC also holds Giroud's discovery rights within MLS, meaning it has priority if he moves to the league. 

Ben White has signed a new four-year contract with Arsenal.

"I think if you do look at the ages [of the players], it's going to get better," White said. "When those sort of players are getting signed, it shows there is a real ambition about the club and it is something I am loving being a part of."

White has made 122 appearances for Arsenal since joining from Brighton for £50 million [$64 million] in July 2021.

Maurizio Sarri has stepped down as manager of Lazio. 

Sarri joined Lazio as manager in 2021 and finished second in Serie A in 2024.

Celta Vigo have fired Rafael Benitez as manager.

Celta are 17th in the standings with 24 points, two above the relegation zone, after Sunday's 4-0 loss at leaders Real Madrid.