OK, unfortunately we’ve reached the end of the day and Florian Wirtz is still being prodded by a man in a white coat or running on a treadmill in his pants. Some medical this. That’s it for today’s live blog, but Taha Hashim will be bringing you live coverage of Chelsea’s next Club World Cup match against Flamengo later and also coverage of the Lions warmup Test against Argentina too. That’s it from me, thanks for following along.
We’re nearly at the end of the day here for today’s football blog, but here is what is coming up on The Guardian’s sports pages this weekend:
Three-year stadium ban for man found guilty of racially abusing Wreh
Police have welcomed the three-year stadium ban handed to a 20-year-old man from Hampshire after he was found guilty of racially abusing Chris Wreh on Instagram.
Harry Dunbar was adjudged to have sent “racially aggravated malicious communications” to Wreh, the son of the former Arsenal striker, after he appeared for Tamworth in their third-round FA Cup tie against Tottenham in January.
Alongside a three-year football banning order, Dunbar was also served with a 12-month community order of 200 hours unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days at Portsmouth Magistrates court on Thursday. Dunbar blamed his actions on having lost a bet he had placed on the tie.
“I welcome the sentence that has been handed to Dunbar and I hope that it acts as a warning to other social media users, demonstrating that you will be held accountable for what you post”, said chief constable Mark Roberts, the head of English football policing.
“Everyone is responsible for what they do and say, and posting a message on social media is no different. In this case, Dunbar sent a racist comment directly to Wreh on Instagram, thinking that he would be able to hide behind his account name.
“We have been clear that hate crime online or in person, is not acceptable and as we have shown in this case, you cannot hide behind a social media profile to post vile comments and spread hate.”
Wreh, a substitute for Tamworth in the match, discovered the direct message to his Instagram account on returning home. He then shared it with his followers in a post that has now been seen more than 1.7m times.
Forest set for £30m deal for Botafogo pair and could add another
Nottingham Forest are poised to complete the signings of Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha from Botafogo for a combined £30m. The Premier League club remain in talks over making Cuiabano their third signing from the South American champions.
Jesus - a 24-year-old who won his first Brazil cap last year - scored the winning goal in the Club World Cup against the Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday, and the defender Cunha also featured. They are set to have medicals and complete their transfers in the coming days after a deal was agreed between Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, and his Botafogo counterpart, John Textor, with negotiations over a fee for the left-back Cuiabano understood to be ongoing.
Maranakis has a close relationship with Textor, who is attempting to sell his stake in Crystal Palace. Forest’s American international goalkeeper Matt Turner and Brazilian midfielder Danilo are expected to move to Lyon, the French club who are part of Textor’s Eagle Football network. Forest are also expected to agree contract extensions for Neco Williams and Ola Aina, who impressed last season as Nuno Espírito Santo’s side finished seventh and qualified for the Conference League.
It’s nearly kick-off time in Orlando for Benfica v Auckland. I think Fifa might start paying regular punters to take up tickets for these kind of games at this rate. Inter & Co Stadium is only a 25,500-capacity but it’s very, very sparsely populated. For the sake of the Auckland lads, we hope this is more competitive than their opener against Bayern.
Cox leaves Manchester United to take up Everton technical director role
Manchester United academy chief Nick Cox has been named technical director at Everton as part of the club’s new-look football leadership structure.
The Toffees have confirmed they have ‘moved away from a director of football model in favour of a football leadership team’ under the Friedkin Group ownership.
That structure will be “made up of specialists in technical development, football operations, talent ID, data analytics and player trading”, with four appointments announced on Friday. PA Media
Burnley women confirm Beard as new head coach
The third-tier women’s club Burnley have appointed the two-time former WSL-title-winning coach Matt Beard as their manager, in one of the highest-profile managerial appointments in Women’s National League history.
The former Liverpool manager, whom the Guardian exclusively revealed on Wednesday was in advanced discussions with Burnley, told the club’s media channels on Friday: “I’m so impressed with everybody I’ve met at the club and the conversations I’ve had, and I’m looking forward to getting started. I can promise the fan base, the players and the staff that I will work as hard as I can for them, with the aim of fulfilling our objectives.”
The former Chelsea and West Ham manager arrives with the club preparing to become a full-time women’s football operation from next season. They finished fourth in the northern section of the third tier last season. Their head of women’s football, Lola Ogunbote, said: “We’ve been taking great strides forward here at Burnley and Matt’s appointment is a further statement of intent, our aims, and our ambition to be a successful football club.”
Beard left Liverpool in February with the club seventh in the top flight, having led them to promotion to the WSL in 2022.
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Durant invests in PSG owner QSI
NBA star Kevin Durant has purchased a minority stake in Paris Saint-Germain, the Champions League winners have confirmed.
Qatar Sports Investments, the French club’s majority shareholder, signed an investment and strategic partnership agreement with Durant, the club said in a statement. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
‘Under the terms of the partnership, Durant — via his media and investment company Boardroom, co-founded with long-time business partner Rich Kleiman — will acquire a direct minority stake in the club,’ PSG’s statement said. Associated Press
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Key event
The man charged with setting up a fund to distribute the proceeds from the sale of Premier League club Chelsea to humanitarian causes has said he offered the government a seat on the board in order to allay fears that the money might end up in Russia.
Mike Penrose, a former CEO of Unicef, told the Sports Agents podcast that he had been approached to run a charitable fund on behalf of Roman Abramovich before the Russian billionaire was sanctioned by the UK government in 2023, an arrangement that grew to become potentially the biggest humanitarian fund in history after Chelsea was sold in a deal worth £2.5bn.
The money was eventually frozen by the UK government and remains locked in a Barclays bank account, due to a dispute between government and Abramovich over how the money should be spent. The government want it to be spent only in Ukraine. Penrose says it was intended as a global fund for “all victims of conflict.”
Penrose said that limiting spending to within Ukrainian borders would “undermine humanitarian values” and said he had offered the government a seat on the board in order to assuage fears that money could end up Russia or Belarus.
“I would be breaking the law if I did that, I cannot send money to Russia and Belarus,” he said. “We offered government an observer status on the board with the right of veto, to veto any decision by the board that would contradict sanctions legislation. That’s in the documents; they can take that up.”
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Hello again, luckily for me I am sat in a comfy chair at Guardian Towers but pity the poor Sky Sports News reporters stationed outside the AXA Training Centre waiting for an official announcement on Florian Wirtz, especially the guy who has flown over from Germany. No real update on that story, but they are either shooting the most incredible announcement video or undertaking a medical so invasive that Frank Gallagher would be embarrassed. I guess if you’re paying a nine-figure fee then it’s good to be thorough.
Thank you very much for joining me on today’s blog. Tom Bassam will cheerfully take you through to the end.
The atmosphere is building for Benfica v Auckland City. Are we predicting a thumping win for the Portuguese side and plenty of empty seats? I know I am.
Promes extradited to Netherlands to serve sentence
Former Netherlands international Quincy Promes has been extradited by the United Arab Emirates to the Netherlands, where he is to serve jail sentences for drug trafficking and assault, Dutch prosecutors said on Friday.
A Dutch court last year sentenced the former Ajax Amsterdam and Spartak Moscow forward to six years in absentia for his direct involvement with two shipments of cocaine from Brazil through the port of Antwerp, Belgium, to the Netherlands in 2020.
In 2023, Promes was also sentenced in absentia to 18 months in jail for assault in connection with a fight in 2020 in which he stabbed a cousin in the knee. Promes has denied all charges and has filed an appeal in both cases.
The 33-year-old, who has 50 caps for the Netherlands, was arrested in Dubai in March last year, at the request of the Dutch public prosecution service when he was at a training camp with Spartak Moscow.
He was later released from detention under restrictions, which included that he not be allowed to leave the United Arab Emirates. Spartak Moscow then terminated his contract, after which he joined UAE second-tier club United FC of Dubai. Reuters
New Rangers head coach Russell Martin expects a “different” squad for the Champions League opener against Panathinaikos as he stressed the importance of early signings.
Martin will open his Ibrox career against the Greek side in the second qualifying round in the final two weeks of July.
“I think the squad will look different,” he said in a club video. “We will have some players in by then as well, so the earlier we can do that, the better, so they become ingrained in what we are trying to build culturally and in terms of performance. The players are back in on Monday. That’s the most exciting bit. We will see what the players can do, how we are going to have to adapt and tweak to make it really built-in and ready for us, and then the rest will take care of itself.” PA Media
A huge signing for London City Lionesses.
Get some Nick Ames injected into your brain.
WSL expansion plans approved
The Women’s Super League will expand from 12 to 14 teams from the 2026‑27 season after being given Football Association approval. Clubs from the top division and WSL2 voted unanimously in favour of a proposal to expand the league and raise minimum standards, making the second tier fully professional, earlier this week.
Bolton have signed Chelsea goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe on a season-long loan. He had a fine spell with Doncaster and is making the step up to League One.
You might as well read Ben Fisher’s interview with Kerkez from last season.
Liverpool agree deal for Kerkez
Liverpool have agreed a deal to acquire left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth for a fee of £40m. The defender is set to undergo a medical next week before signing a five-year deal at Anfield.
The 21-year-old Hungary international has enjoyed two impressive seasons with a Bournemouth since joining from AZ in 2023, playing 74 games for the Cherries.
Premier League champions Liverpool are working hard in the transfer market. They have already completed a deal for right-back Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and are close to signing Florian Wirtz from the Bundesliga club, too. The German had a medical in England on Friday and is expected to finalise his move.
Liverpool already have two left-backs, Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas. The former is of interest to Atlético Madrid but the Reds are also open to letting the Greek international depart after being backup to the Scot.
Bournemouth have brought in a direct replacement in left-back Adrien Tuffert from Rennes, who will battle with January arrival Julio Soler for the starting berth under Andoni Iraola next season.
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Harry Kane is getting ready to play Boca Juniors at the Club World Cup. A quiet night in the library … I think not.
The Boca fans are obviously loud and they’re passionate. A big part of their game is to have the fans behind them, to use them as the energy and to take them into tackles and to battle. Their fans are going to be passionate. They’re going to be trying to push their team to win the game. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to the atmosphere. You know, sometimes it brings out the best in you as a player.
Wolves complete deal for Celta Vigo's López
Wolves have signed midfielder Fer López from Celta Vigo for a fee in the region of £19.5m.
López said: “It’s an amazing opportunity for my career to play in the Premier League, and I’m very happy. Vitor told me he thought I was a good fit in the squad and when it’s a club like this, you have little to think about. The team did very good when Vitor came and I think he is top, so I’m very excited to be with him.
“Jorgen told me that to play in the Premier League and with a team like Wolves, it’s amazing, and that the fans were incredible. He told me that I should come, and that with the gaffer and all the teammates, the style of play was going to be very good. We’re going to play good football, attractive football, and I think I can fit in there.
“To finish seventh in La Liga was amazing and in my breakthrough year, I cannot explain with words, because it was everything I had dreamed of. I played at the Bernabeu twice, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid – they were the best atmospheres in Spain and now I want to do the same, but in England.”
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Kilmarnock have continued their signing spree with the addition of 6ft 7in striker Marcus Dackers.
Dackers arrives from Morecambe, where he scored one goal in 39 appearances. The 22-year-old was previously with Salford and has loan experience with Southend, Woking and Altrincham.
Dackers, who has signed a one-year deal, said on the Kilmarnock website: “I am really happy to be here, it’s my first time in Scotland playing football. I spoke to the manager a few days ago and after that I just wanted to get the deal done. I’ve been on a lot of loans now and it feels like a new chapter in my career, it’s a good opportunity for me and I think it’s the right move for me at this point in my career.” PA Media
Thanks Tom. What an hour that was! My wife is currently locked in the car park at work and the door is brokem. How long until she makes it out?
Right, Will Unwin is back from lunch so I will leave you in his capable hands.
A bit of a left-field one from Korea:
A 26-year ban on foreign goalkeepers in South Korea’s top soccer league has been lifted for the start of the 2026 season.
Only Korean goalkeepers have been allowed to play in the K League, the oldest professional domestic league in Asia, since 1999. The rule was introduced in a bid to protect homegrown talent when there were only 10 professional clubs.
The K League announced after a board meeting in Seoul this week that because there’s now 26 professional clubs in the top two tiers of competition, there’s enough room for international goalkeepers.
‘The increase in the number of clubs means that there are enough opportunities for domestic goalkeepers to play even if foreign goalkeepers are allowed,’ the board said in a statement. ‘We considered the fact that with foreign player registrations restricted, the salary increase rate of domestic goalkeepers has increased disproportionately to outfield players.’ The Associated Press
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Rick Harris has emailed in on the subject of the PFA Players’ Player of the Year:
While a case can of course be made for golden boot winner Mo Salah, midfield enforcer Alexis Mac Alister; red hot, then cold, then a tad warmer Cole Palmer; gangly gazelle ice man Alexander Isak; and one man Real destroyer Declan Rice, I have a hunch the PFA members will choose Bruno Fernandes simply because to have so many goals and assists and MOTM awards playing for the car crash that is United is a far bigger achievement without which they might have been relegated.
It’s funny I was discussing this with a colleague earlier. My view was that you cannot win player of the year if your team nearly got relegated. I don’t think Bruno will win it, but his nomination strikes me as odd, #JusticeForMbeumo.
Norway international Ingrid Engen has joined OL Lyonnes team from Barcelona.
The 27-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the French club. Engen joins after playing 152 matches in four years with Barcelona and winning 13 trophies, including two Champions League titles.
Engen will play alongside new Lyon teammate and fellow Norwegian, Ada Hegerberg, at the upcoming Euros in Switzerland next month.
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Hannah Hampton, the Lionesses new No 1, has been talking about succeeding Mary Earps as England’s preparations for the Euros continue. Here’s the latest from Tom Garry:
Thank you very much for joining me. I am off for a bit of lunch. In the meantime, Tom Bassam is in charge.
The Guardian not solely do sport and news, we offer some very good advice. Samuel Gibbs tells you want you need to know in the heat.
I can’t believe I have not been given a job in Lifestyle with example of sitting in the garden with iced water.
Ben McAleer, of WhoScored, explains why Hugo Ekitete is wanted by many top Premier League teams.
What stands out about Ekitike is not just his goals return, but the variety of ways with which he can hurt teams. His eight assists this season stemmed from 44 key passes, the 24th best return in the Bundesliga. His desire and ability to bring others into play will appeal to buying clubs. Managers no longer want their forwards to just put the ball in the back of the net, but to act as selflessly as possible, whether that means providing chances for others or drifting to the flanks to open up space for wide forwards.
Looks like Crystal Palace could be set to get a new ownership team.
Nick Smith emails: “About Williams joining Barca - ‘it’s a small world when you’ve got unbelievable wingers, Roy.’”
England U21 face Spain tomorrow in a European Championship quarter final. It is not a classic generation for the Three Lions, who stumbled through the group stage and now face the tournament favourites. I am not sure many have paid much attention to the competition, which has helped everyone gloss over the poor performances thus far. Maybe they will peak tomorrow night …
Arsenal pair lead PFA women's award shortlist
Arsenal duo Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey are on the six-person shortlist for the Professional Footballers’ Association Women’s Player of the Year award.
The Gunners became champions of Europe thanks to their shock win over Barcelona last month, with Russo and Caldentey two of the stars of their 2024-25 season.
Former Manchester United forward Russo scored eight times in Arsenal’s European success and was joint top scorer in the Women’s Super League with 12 goals. Her team-mate Caldentey managed nine goals and five assists in the WSL and added eight more in the Champions League.
Erin Cuthbert is flying the flag for WSL champions Chelsea, with her contributions from midfield helping the Blues end the league season unbeaten. Manchester City duo Mary Fowler and Yui Hasegawa are also on the list, along with Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
The American kept 13 clean sheets in United’s 22 WSL matches.
The winner will be announced at the PFA Awards ceremony in Manchester on August 19. PA Media
Elsewhere in the Guardian blogging world we have some …
Cricket.
Horse racing.
“Nice to see Bill Murray in the Stripes of Athletic,” writes Graeme Neill. “I wonder whether he will make a Quick Change into another strip and Rushmore to other clubs while he is in Spain. Let’s hope his Spanish is good so nothing is Lost in Translation.
“(I’m so sorry. The heat has got to me)”
Speaking of Chelsea … Jacob Steinberg has been taking a look at Cole Palmer and his role under Enzo Maresca.
Cole Palmer sees himself as a normal kid. Strangers watch him with something close to fascination, though. What’s going on beneath the chilled exterior? The shrugging demeanour adds to the mystique. Kids copy the Chelsea attacker’s “cold” celebration. Interviewers walk away amused but bemused after spending time with him. What’s the story with those answers? Why are they all so short and sweet?
We have three Club World Cup games later today.
Group C
Benfica v Auckland City 5pm BST
Group D
Flamengo v Chelsea 7pm BST
Los Angeles v ES Tnus 11pm BST
I wrote today’s rumours just for you.
What else I bring in Bill Murray being given a lovely tour around Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames. Will they be replacing Nico Williams with a William?
A bit of news to start as I have bothered to find this out … Sunderland are set to bring former Roma sporting director Florentino Ghisolfi to join the club’s football department. The 40-year-old Frenchman departed the Italian club this summer, having previously worked at Nice and Lens.
Ghisolfi will work alongside current sporting director Kristjaan Speakman at newly-promoted Sunderland.
Thank you very much David. It is somewhat muggy out here with the occasional bit of breeze, something I need a bit more of.
That’s my stint over. We now go live to Will Unwin’s garden where he’ll be taking this blog to even greater levels.
Rumour Mill: Plenty of hot gossip today and Liverpool are at the centre of a fair chunk of it. Could Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi be the one to bolster the Reds’ centre-back options? And which Premier League player could be joining Kevin De Bruyne at Napoli?
Club World Cup: Back to the action in the United States and a couple of stories featuring two high-profile Englishmen: Cole Palmer and Harry Kane.
Wirtz arrives at Liverpool's AXA Training Centre
Florian Wirtz latest: The German attacker flew into the UK last night (Manchester rather than Liverpool; just logistics rather then a dramatic change of heart) and has already undergone and successfully completed the first part of his medical in Liverpool.
Like a sofa delivery, the best we have on part two is that it will be “later today”. What we do know is that Wirtz spent his first night in the city yesterday and arrived at Liverpool’s training ground at 08.30 this morning. Sky Sports news have wobbly footage of his van going through a traffic barrier at the club’s AXA Training Centre.
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Club World Cup: With the group stage approaching halfway – blimey, that went quick – it’s time to take stock of key issues surrounding the expanded tournament. Alexander Abnos does that here.
SPL fixtures released
The 2025/26 SPL fixtures have been released. New Rangers boss Russell Martin faces a trip to Motherwell for starters (Saturday 2 August) and will tackle his first Old Firm derby before the month is out. Champions Celtic host St Mirren in their Sunday opener (3 August).
Martin’s two key early dates courtesy of PA Media…
Motherwell v Rangers (August 2)
Martin kicks off his domestic campaign as Rangers head coach against a familiar opponent in new Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Asjou. The pair were team-mates at Norwich for two seasons as they clinched back-to-back promotions under Paul Lambert. Motherwell have been tricky opponents for Rangers recently – the Steelmen have taken seven points from the past four league meetings.
Rangers v Celtic (August 31)
The big two meet for the first time, as usual, just ahead of the first international break. Martin suffered 4-0 and 5-0 defeats against Celtic in a brief playing spell at Ibrox and will be under no illusion about the importance of making an impression against the champions.
Here’s why Liverpool fans are still pacing up and down this morning. From seven years ago, one of the best-known examples of a late collapse. The club had done his video, picture and everything. Surely there will be no such problems with Florian Wirtz.
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Club World Cup: Being used to the former, gentler format where there seemed to be just the odd game here and there for a few days, it’s easy to lose track of what’s going in the current bloated version.
There were four games again yesterday and, ideally for TikTok (presumably how the majority are following this), there was a Messi free-kick goal in Inter Miami’s 2-1 win over FC Porto. That’s the 68th time he’s scored from a free-kick, and according to the internet that puts him four clear of Ronaldo.
Catch up with yesterday’s games here:
And here’s today’s fixtures: All times BST
Group C: Benfica v Auckland City – 5pm
Group D: Flamengo v Chelsea – 7pm
Group D: LAFC v Es Tunis – 11pm
Group C: Bayern Munich v Boca Juniors – 2am
Liverpool pair nominated for PFA Players' Player of the Year
Liverpool: While Florian Wirtz prepares to touch his toes and go “ahhhhhh” while a doctor holds a wooden lolly stick on his tongue, here’s some more positive Liverpool news: Mo Salah and Alexis Mac Allister have been shortlisted for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Arsenal’s Declan Rice are the other four contenders for the award voted for by their peers.
Preamble
Suprisingly hot weather in the UK has us thinking more of rolled backhands and cover drives but THE FOOTBALL never stops and there’s plenty to get stuck into both home and abroad.
The rush of four games a day at the Club World Cup continues with Chelsea in action in the second of those and back on these shores there’s the little matter of the British transfer record being broken as Liverpool fans look for white smoke coming out of Anfield to signal that Florian Wirtz has completed his medical.
We’ll have all the latest transfer news, delve into all the other big football stories and generally make it worthwhile for you to keep refreshing this page as you sit in the garden with a mojito and break it to the dog that it’s too hot for a walk.
