Soccer Wiretap

Arsenal are exploring a potential move to sign Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior should he fail to extend his contract in the Spanish capital. The Brazil international, 26, is among several candidates the Premier League champions are considering to strengthen their attack, though the interest remains at an early stage with no guarantee it develops into an actual deal.

No club-to-club talks have taken place yet, but sources indicate the idea has support at all levels within Arsenal's organization.

Vinicius enters the final 12 months of his contract following eight seasons at Real Madrid, with no breakthrough yet reached in extension talks. Madrid would be reluctant to lose the forward on a free transfer, particularly given he would be entitled to a significant loyalty bonus next season if he remains.

Vinicius impressed during this summer's World Cup, appearing in all five of Brazil's matches and scoring four goals before the team's round-of-16 elimination against Norway under manager Carlo Ancelotti. He registered 22 goals across all competitions for Real Madrid last season as the club finished second in La Liga for a second consecutive year, trailing Barcelona by eight points and ending the campaign without a trophy.

Vinicius joined Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2018 and has made 375 total appearances for the club, contributing 128 goals and 100 assists.

Real Madrid are working on a deal to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri, with the club operating under the belief that an agreement will be reached this summer despite formal club-to-club talks not yet taking place. Rodri, 30, is entering the final year of his City contract, which runs through 2027.

Madrid's stance on Rodri shifted following his standout performance at the World Cup, where he captained Spain to the title and won the Golden Ball. Sources had previously insisted throughout the summer that Rodri was not part of Madrid's plans, but his role in Spain's championship run altered that thinking significantly.

Rodri's potential exit would mark the latest change to City's roster following Pep Guardiola's departure after a decade in charge, with Enzo Maresca now taking over. John Stones and Bernardo Silva have also left the club after their contracts expired, with Silva moving directly to Madrid.

Rodri started and captained Spain in all eight matches at the World Cup as the team won its second consecutive major tournament following Euro 2024. He is now expected to undergo surgery for a back issue, with no confirmed return date. Rodri has previously spoken about his desire to eventually play in Spain.

"Would I like to play in Spain again, in La Liga, in Madrid? I would like to return, yes, obviously," Rodri told reporters in March. "Having played for Atletico before would not prevent me from playing for Real Madrid… there are other players who have done that before. Maybe not direct transfers, but eventually. You can't turn down one of the world's best clubs."

Rodri returned to action for City in May 2025 after an ACL injury sidelined him for most of the 2024-25 season, then made 33 appearances last season around two additional injury absences. City has already reinforced its midfield this summer with the $155 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest and is also pursuing Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, an 18-year-old Morocco international who impressed at the World Cup.

New City manager Enzo Maresca addressed the Rodri speculation during his first press conference with the club Friday.

"Around big players there is always speculation," said Maresca. "I'm not worried about that. I think it's normal. Also because they won the World Cup, he was the best player or one of the best players. Every manager wants to have Rodri because he's a top player. But now surgery on I think Monday. He needs holiday. He needs to rest. He needs to recover and then he will be back here with us."

Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and has won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups and the 2023 Champions League, scoring the winning goal in that final. He has made 298 appearances for the club, contributing 28 goals and 32 assists.

Real Madrid have entered the pursuit to sign Yan Diomande, opening talks with RB Leipzig over a potential deal for the 19-year-old winger. Paris Saint-Germain had previously been considered Diomande's preferred destination, but the French club has yet to offer a fee sufficient to convince Leipzig to consider a sale this summer.

Madrid's entry into the race has shifted the dynamics surrounding Diomande's future, creating fresh competition for his signature. The Athletic previously reported on June 24 that Madrid had been targeting an attacking right-sided player as a contingency in case Brahim Diaz departs, though the Morocco international has expressed a desire to remain in the Spanish capital.

Diomande, who joined Leipzig a year ago from Spanish club Leganes, had also drawn earlier interest from Liverpool, with that offer approaching $115 million in value. Leipzig has held out for a fee closer to $141 million while simultaneously working to extend Diomande's contract, which currently runs through 2030.

Leipzig managing director of sport Marcel Schafer addressed the club's stance on Diomande's future.

"Our clear intention is that Yan Diomande will play for RB Leipzig next year," said Schafer.

Madrid has been active throughout the transfer window following Jose Mourinho's return as head coach, adding Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Marc Cucurella. The Athletic also reported earlier Friday that Madrid is working on a separate deal to sign Rodri from Manchester City.

Diomande featured in all four of Ivory Coast's matches at this year's World Cup, helping the team advance out of the group stage before elimination by Norway in the round of 32. He posted 12 goals and nine assists across 33 Bundesliga appearances last season, missing just one league match due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, as Leipzig finished third and secured Champions League qualification.

Should Diomande leave, he would likely become Leipzig's most lucrative sale in club history, surpassing the fees the club received for Benjamin Sesko from Manchester United in 2025 and Josko Gvardiol from Manchester City in 2023.

Diomande's rise has been remarkably swift. Just 18 months ago, he was playing for DME Sports Academy in Florida before signing with Leganes, where he spent three months with the reserve team before making his professional debut against Real Madrid. His breakout performances at Leganes, particularly his dribbling ability against Villarreal and Real Valladolid, drew Leipzig's attention after fewer than 500 minutes of senior football.

Since arriving in Germany, Diomande has led the Bundesliga in dribble attempts while posting the highest success rate among wingers across Europe with at least 50 take-on attempts last season. He has also scored three goals in 13 appearances for Ivory Coast, including standout performances at the Africa Cup of Nations and during Ivory Coast's run through a difficult World Cup group featuring Germany and Ecuador.

Jurgen Klopp warned journalists Friday that he would walk away from his new role as Germany head coach if the media "behave badly" toward him or his family. Klopp addressed reporters during his official unveiling, marking his return to management more than two years after leaving Liverpool.

Klopp laid out specific conditions for remaining in the position, referencing the scrutiny his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann faced from media and former national team figures during his tenure.

"The day you don't want me anymore, you say so," said Klopp. "And I'm gone. Without severance pay. If you say tomorrow that he's rubbish, I'm gone. Not just one person, it would have to be more than that. If the DFB says he's rubbish, I'm gone. If you behave badly and don't leave my family in peace, I'm gone."

Klopp also criticized inaccuracies in recent reporting surrounding his appointment and his prior arrangement with Red Bull, where he served as head of global soccer.

"We'll need you (the press) on this path we're taking," said Klopp. "It would be important if we prioritised accuracy over speed in our reporting going forward."

Klopp replaces Nagelsmann, whose tenure ended following a disappointing round-of-32 World Cup exit to Paraguay this summer. Klopp signed a contract running through 2030, covering both the 2028 European Championship and the 2030 World Cup.

Klopp suggested Friday that this could be the final coaching role of his career.

"Jurgen Klopp doesn't have a career after the national team," said Klopp. "Ideally, this is the highlight of my career."

Klopp had been working as a pundit for German broadcaster Magenta during this summer's World Cup, a role during which he grew visibly frustrated with the press on at least one occasion. He walked out of an interview with ARD after being asked about Bastian Schweinsteiger's controversial comments regarding the Ivory Coast national team.

"No, no. I have no chance; I have no chance to answer this question," said Klopp, before leaving the interview. "Everybody likes it, so you bring me into this situation. It's not my job that everyone likes it, but this is a serious subject and I don't even know what is appropriate to say."

Klopp left Liverpool in 2024 after eight seasons and one Premier League title in 2019-20. Longtime assistant Pep Lijnders will join him as part of the new Germany coaching staff.

Pep Guardiola has declined the opportunity to become Italy's next national team head coach, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions. The Italian Football Federation had been in talks with Guardiola about succeeding Gennaro Gattuso, who departed the role in April following Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Sources speaking anonymously to protect relationships said conversations with Guardiola had not progressed and he ultimately turned down the position. FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and federation president Giovanni Malago had previously confirmed the talks earlier this week, describing the pursuit as part of the organization's broader effort to target elite coaching candidates.

Maldini also revealed the federation had approached Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti about the role, though Ancelotti remains under contract with Brazil through 2030.

Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 season after a decade with the club, winning six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and the 2023 Champions League. He has never managed at the international level, building his reputation instead through club spells with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City. The Athletic previously reported that Guardiola had a verbal agreement to become England's manager in 2024 before ultimately choosing to remain at City.

Italy's coaching search stems from a difficult stretch for the federation. The team missed the 2026 World Cup after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoffs, prompting the departures of both Gattuso and former FIGC president Gabriele Gravina, along with former captain Gianluigi Buffon from his role as head of delegation. It marked Italy's third consecutive missed World Cup, extending a run in which the four-time champions have not advanced past the group stage since winning the tournament in 2006, aside from their Euro 2020 title under Roberto Mancini.

Maldini addressed the ongoing search Thursday following an FIGC visit to Serie A headquarters.

"Guardiola? We can't confirm anything yet, you've identified one of our targets, but we've also spoken with Ancelotti," said Maldini. "It seemed right to start with the best in the world, but we need to verify their overall availability. I feel a great sense of responsibility and pressure; there's an ambitious project here. It's a call to arms, when Italy calls, it's hard to say no."

Real Madrid is reconsidering a transfer for Manchester City midfielder Rodri and a deal can no longer be completely ruled out. The stance marks a shift from recent weeks, when sources indicated Rodri was not on Madrid's list of potential targets, with president Florentino Perez expressing concern over his injury history and new coach Jose Mourinho favoring a different type of midfield profile.

Rodri, Spain's World Cup-winning captain, rediscovered his best form during the tournament, a level that previously earned him the 2024 Ballon d'Or. Some influential Madrid executives have since grown more open to pursuing his signing, though ESPN has not confirmed that formal negotiations have taken place between the two clubs.

Rodri turned 30 last month and has experienced a slow recovery from a knee ligament tear suffered in September 2024. Sources said Perez has long admired the player but remained hesitant given lingering questions about his physical condition, a concern shaped partly by Madrid's past struggles with veterans such as David Alaba and Dani Carvajal recovering from serious knee injuries.

Rodri had not previously been considered a realistic target this summer, with Mourinho instead naming alternatives such as Mateus Fernandes and Enzo Fernandez. Madrid also opted to renew Aurelien Tchouameni's contract, given the Frenchman plays a similar role.

Rodri's standout World Cup performance, earning tournament MVP honors after leading Spain through the knockout stage, including wins over France in the semifinal and Argentina in the final, has shifted the club's internal calculus. Sources said senior Madrid executives, including director general Jose Angel Sanchez and chief scout Juni Calafat, are now among those pushing for his potential arrival.

Mourinho's reservations reportedly stem from his belief that a different type of midfielder would better fit his intended style of play, though sources indicated that view is not considered an insurmountable obstacle. Madrid has already reversed course on other targets this summer, having signed Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva after previously ruling out both moves following Mourinho's arrival.

Any potential deal would likely require departures elsewhere in Madrid's midfield to create space. Eduardo Camavinga is viewed as the player Madrid would be most open to moving on, though the France international, who was left off his country's World Cup squad, has expressed a desire to remain at the club. One source suggested Rodri's arrival could ultimately help convince Camavinga to depart.

Rodri is expected to undergo minor surgery on a back issue this summer, according to a source, though the procedure is not expected to result in an extended absence.

Luka Modric signed a contract extension Thursday to remain with AC Milan for another season. The Croatia midfielder, who will turn 41 in September, joined the Rossoneri on a free transfer in 2025 after leaving Real Madrid and made 37 appearances last season, scoring two goals.

Modric addressed the extension in a club statement.

"I am thrilled to stay at AC Milan, where you made me feel welcomed and loved from the very first day," said Modric. "After a season below our expectations, the desire to bounce back is immense. A new season and a new challenge await us, a project I believe in and that motivates me. I am ready to continue to give everything again for this shirt and I am so proud to keep wearing these colours."

The announcement came shortly after Modric returned from his fifth World Cup, where he started all four of Croatia's matches and surpassed 200 international appearances. The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner remained on the field for 109 minutes when Croatia's tournament ended in a controversial 2-1 round-of-32 loss to Portugal that included a disallowed goal.

Milan described Modric's continued presence at the club in its statement.

"One of the finest and most iconic players in world football, the Croatian will continue his journey in the Rossoneri shirt," Milan said.

Milan finished fifth in Serie A during Modric's debut season at San Siro and will compete in the Europa League this year under new manager Ruben Amorim.

Chelsea are finalizing a deal worth roughly $69.2 million to sign Crystal Palace center-back Maxence Lacroix. The France international is scheduled to undergo a medical before signing a six-year contract that would keep him at Chelsea through 2032.

Palace is exploring potential replacements for Lacroix, including Augsburg defender Chrislain Matsima, with Trabzonspor's Chibuike Nwaiwu viewed as an alternative option if a deal for Matsima cannot be reached.

The Athletic previously reported on June 23 that Lacroix was among Chelsea's primary transfer targets, with several other centre-backs also under consideration. Chelsea has also shown interest in Como defender Jacobo Ramon, who enjoyed a strong debut Serie A season under former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

Lacroix was a regular fixture in Palace's lineup last season, making 55 appearances across all competitions with three goals and three assists. He played the full match in Palace's Community Shield penalty shootout win over Liverpool in August and started the club's 1-0 Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano, which delivered Palace's first European trophy.

His performances helped earn Lacroix a spot in France's 26-man World Cup squad alongside Palace teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta and former Palace forward Michael Olise. He made three tournament appearances, including in France's third-place playoff loss to England.

Palace signed Lacroix from Wolfsburg in August 2024 for an $19.5 million fee with up to $3.3 million in potential add-ons. He has made 98 appearances across two seasons with the club.

Chelsea has prioritized adding a new centre-back this summer, with the futures of Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Mamadou Sarr potentially hinging on the arrival of a new defender and their willingness to accept a reduced role in the squad's pecking order.

Middlesbrough is finalizing a deal to sign U.S. national team midfielder Sebastian Berhalter from the Vancouver Whitecaps. Boro will pay a fee of roughly $2 million for Berhalter, who is out of contract this winter, rather than risk losing him for free.

Sources said between six and 10 clubs seriously pursued Berhalter this summer before Middlesbrough emerged as the frontrunner. He was held out of Vancouver's 4-3 loss to FC Cincinnati on Wednesday as the deal progressed.

Berhalter, 25, featured for the United States at this summer's World Cup, appearing in all five American matches with one start. He scored a powerful strike against Turkey in the group stage and added an assist during the tournament. He earned MLS Best XI honors in 2025 and has continued performing at a high level this season, earning All-Star recognition.

Berhalter posted five goals and 13 assists across all competitions last season from a box-to-box midfield role, helping lead Vancouver to the Canadian Championship title while also guiding the club to both the MLS Cup final and the Concacaf Champions Cup final.

The son of former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter, Sebastian made his national team debut under Mauricio Pochettino in the summer of 2025 and earned a spot on this year's World Cup roster. He has since made 18 appearances for the national team.

Berhalter will join fellow American midfielder Aidan Morris at Middlesbrough. The two are close friends and former youth teammates from their time together at the Columbus Crew. Boro has been active in the American transfer market this offseason, also signing former Charlotte FC defender Adilson Malanda after a previous bid for Crew wingback Max Arfsten was rejected last year.

Berhalter's development has been one of MLS's more notable success stories in recent years. Vancouver originally acquired him for a nominal fee of $50,000 in general allocation money in 2022, the smallest denomination tradable under the league's salary cap mechanism. He has since grown into one of MLS's top midfielders and a full World Cup participant, and is now set to make his move to the English Championship.

Italian Football Federation technical director Paolo Maldini confirmed the organization has held talks with both Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti regarding the national team's vacant head coach position. Maldini addressed the situation Thursday following an FIGC visit to Serie A headquarters.

The vacancy opened after Gennaro Gattuso left the role in April following Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. FIGC president Giovanni Malago confirmed earlier this week that the federation had approached Guardiola, but Maldini revealed Thursday that Ancelotti, Brazil's current head coach, was also contacted as part of the search.

"Guardiola? We can't confirm anything yet, you've identified one of our targets, but we've also spoken with Ancelotti," said Maldini. "It seemed right to start with the best in the world, but we need to verify their overall availability."

Maldini, appointed technical director this month, described Italy's approach as beginning with the sport's most accomplished coaches before narrowing the search based on their availability. He did not disclose how those conversations have progressed.

"I feel a great sense of responsibility and pressure; there's an ambitious project here," said Maldini. "It's a call to arms, when Italy calls, it's hard to say no. I wasn't aware of the initial challenges, but I sensed the potential to make a difference and everyone's willingness to be part of the renewal. That was a key factor in my decision, as was President Malago's persuasive ability."

Ancelotti, 67, has managed Brazil since May 2025 and led the team to the round of 16 at this year's World Cup before elimination by Norway. He signed a new four-year contract with Brazil before the tournament, running through 2030. Ancelotti has won the Champions League a record five times across his club career, most recently with Real Madrid in 2024.

Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 season after a decade with the club, winning six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and the 2023 Champions League. He was succeeded at City by former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

Italy's coaching search follows a turbulent period for the federation. Gattuso and former FIGC president Gabriele Gravina both departed after Italy's playoff elimination to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties, while former captain Gianluigi Buffon also left his role as head of delegation. The failure marked Italy's third consecutive missed World Cup, extending a stretch in which the three-time champions have not advanced past the group stage since their 2006 title, aside from winning Euro 2020 under Roberto Mancini.