Dapilah Solomon

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

Rodri has already made it clear he wants to join Real Madrid for both football and family reasons.

#MCFC now braced for an approach, and hope to keep.

But Rodri is not expected to sign a new deal as he prioritises a move to Madrid this summer.🇪🇸

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

🚨 The USMNT confirm their 26-man World Cup squad.

Ricardo Pepi and Gio Reyna both included as is Alex Zendejas.

No Tanner Tessmann.🇺🇸

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

UEFA confirm the Nations League will transition from the current four leagues to three leagues of 18 teams. New format to begin in 2028/29.

Leagues will be composed of three groups of six teams playing six matches against five different opponents.

However, with 55 teams participating, League C will include one group of seven teams, whose calendar will start one window earlier.

Quarter-finals, 'Final Four' and promotion/relegation playoffs will remain unchanged.

The concept will be fine-tuned over the next few months before being submitted for final approval at the next Executive Committee meeting in September.🏆

[AFC Xtra @AFC__Xtra]

🚨BREAKING! 💣

Arsenal are keeping tracks on Eli Junior Kroupi. 🇫🇷 🌟

ℹ️ @alex_crook x @JacobsBen

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

🚨 Real Madrid confirm disciplinary proceeding have been opened against Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouameni following "incidents that occurred this morning during the first team's training session".

There was dressing-room altercation, which saw Valverde taken to hospital with head injury. Sources say Tchouameni was unhappy after a strong challenge against him by Valverde in training.

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

🗣️ Chelsea Supporters Trust statement #CFC's new ticketing proposals.

"Chelsea Supporters’ Trust members and matchgoing supporters have overwhelmingly rejected the introduction of balloting for Chelsea FC tickets.

"The CST has consistently made clear to the club that balloting would not be welcomed by matchgoing supporters, and that the CST would oppose its implementation. That position has been reinforced through CST member feedback, supporter engagement and the significant volume of correspondence received following Wednesday’s announcement, the overwhelming majority of which opposed the introduction of ballots.

"Many loyal supporters, particularly members who have spent years building loyalty points and regularly attending matches, now face reduced access under the proposed system. The club has also presented no evidence that a ballot system will place more tickets into the hands of genuine supporters.

"Fans are not opposed to all change. Supporters understand the need to tackle touting and ensure tickets end up in the hands of genuine matchgoing fans, and there is recognition that some aspects of the wider proposals are sensible and long overdue. However, supporters also expect any new system to be fair, transparent, and proportionate.

"There remains deep concern that these proposals risk weakening the long-standing principle that loyalty and commitment to Chelsea Football Club should matter.

"The CST is also concerned that, despite months of discussion, supporters are still being asked to accept major changes to ticketing policy without sufficient operational detail around how key aspects of the system will work in practice.

"Throughout this process, the CST urged the club to focus first on improving the existing ticketing operation, which many supporters already find inconsistent and frustrating, before introducing further layers of complexity and restriction.

"It is tone deaf that these proposals are being progressed against a backdrop of growing supporter anger and distrust, with protests organised by the ‘NotAProjectCFC’ group now confirmed ahead of both the FA Cup Final and the home fixture against Spurs.

"The CST’s position remains clear. Chelsea FC must listen to its fanbase. Supporters want the club to pause, survey members, properly listen to supporter concerns and re-evaluate these proposals before pressing ahead with changes that have been overwhelmingly rejected."

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

New FA data shows £460m spent on agent fees between 4 February 2025 and 2 February 2026.

Chelsea spent £65.1m during this period. Aston Villa with the second-highest agent-fee spend at £38.4m.💷

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

Latest on Cristiano Ronaldo’s boycott of Al-Nassr games over a funding dispute.

The Saudi Pro League has responded insisting “no individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club.” 🇵🇹

https://t.co/H6MEUifLLi

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

Millwall in advanced talks with Sunderland over a loan move for goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.🧤

🤝 @alex_crook

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

🚨 Exclusive: Newcastle, Everton and West Ham have all shown interest in Genoa right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy. Also on the radar of Napoli and Juventus.

Understand Genoa prepared to sell this month for around €20m.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

https://t.co/ivEI5GFSzC

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

Ajax close to signing Oleksandr Zinchenko on loan until the end of the season, as @MikeVerweij called.

Deal currently still requires formal steps between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal to terminate Zinchenko's loan.🇺🇦

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

Crystal Palace set to continue with Oliver Glasner despite his explosive post-match comments on Saturday.

As revealed on @talkSPORT last night, Steve Parish's priority was to avoid a knee-jerk reaction and try to clear the air. Talks took place this morning between Palace and Glasner in which the Palace boss was informed the club want him to see out his contract.

Sources close to Glasner insisted last night the Austrian has no plans to quit. In his press conference Glasner said, "If Crystal Palace are fine ending the season like this, with Oliver Glasner, with another manager, I don't know [and] I don't care, but if they are fine with this then okay, they can do it."

Palace's priority is to turn around a winless run of 10 games.🦅

🤝 @alex_crook

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

Chelsea and Jeremy Jacquet is one to watch between now and the end of the winter window.

Contracted until Rennes until 2029 with the French side hoping for a record sale.

One of Chelsea's centre-back options.

Chelsea are prepared to sign a starting centre-back this month if the right target presents. Cautious optimism they can add to the squad before the window shuts.🔵

[Dapilah Solomon @DapilahSolomon]

@CFCHakan Enzo Fernandez

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

🚨 Real Madrid say they will seek “substantial damages” after a Madrid court dismissed appeals by UEFA, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga in relation to the European Super League.

In December 2023, the Court of Justice for the European Union (CJEU) said UEFA's rules allowing it to block the European Super League were contrary to EU law.

Despite subsequent rule amendments, the Audiencia Provincial appeals court has today said UEFA “seriously infringed the European Union’s free competition rules in line with the CJEU ruling by abusing its dominant position."

Real state the ruling "opens the way to claim the substantial damages suffered by the club". The original 12 members from April 2021, including England's big six, were promised a joining bonus of at least €200m along with prize money and commercial revenue. Real stood to earn more initially than the English clubs.

A22, promoters of the European Super League, are also seeking compensation from UEFA: "UEFA is clearly legally obliged to recognise A22’s right to organise competitions on an equal footing with their own. However, since UEFA continues to ignore binding court rulings, A22 has no other choice than to commence proceedings to be compensated for damages suffered."

UEFA are exploring their legal options and could appeal again. They deny today's judgement endorses the original European Super League or the newly rebranded four-tier 'Unify League'.

"UEFA takes note of today’s judgment by the Madrid Court of Appeal concerning the so-called ‘Super League’. This ruling does not validate the abandoned ‘Super League’ project announced in 2021, nor does it undermine UEFA’s current authorisation rules, adopted in 2022 and updated in 2024, which remain fully in force."

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

🚨 Breaking: Manchester United have accepted a bid from Real Betis to sign Antony. Brazilian has been given permission to travel.

[Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen]

Alejandro Garnacho turned down an approach from Bayern today as he waits for Chelsea. Garnacho has already agreed terms with #CFC.

#MUFC insisting on £50m, citing Noni Madueke's £48m+£4m move to Arsenal as the valuation yardstick.

Chelsea still trying for less knowing Manchester United want to sell.🇦🇷

[Dapilah Solomon @DapilahSolomon]

@JacobsBen Let’s get it done, utd🔥

[Dapilah Solomon @DapilahSolomon]

@RushTHFC @JacobsBen Why don’t you wait until he is proven guilty🤷🏿‍♂️

[Dapilah Solomon @DapilahSolomon]

@JacobsBen Let’s go utd🔥