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USMNT star Malik Tillman has joined Bayer Leverkusen on a five-year deal from Ajax. Tillman, who started his journey in Bayern Munich's academy and spent nine years at the club, has returned to Germany after spending just one season at Ajax. New Leverkusen boss Erik ten Hag decided to go after the American midfielder after losing Florian Wirtz to Liverpool.

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• Tillman joins Leverkusen on a five-year deal
• Returns to Germany after just one season
• Ten Hag seeking Wirtz's replacement

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Tillman formally put pen to paper on his Leverkusen's contract on Saturday. In an official announcement, the German side confirmed the player's arrival, which read: "Malik Tillman joins from PSV on a deal until 2030! Welcome to the Werkself, Malik!"

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Tillman became Leverkusen's second attacking signing after they confirmed the arrival of Cameroonian forward Christian Kofane from Albacete. New boss Erik ten Hag is looking for options to replace talismanic attacking midfielder Wirtz, who joined English champions Liverpool in a record-breaking transfer earlier in the summer.

• WHAT TILLMAN SAID

  After signing the Leverkusen contract, Tillman sent a message to the club fans as he said: "Just signed the contract. I'm gonna enjoy a couple more days of holidays and then I'm excited to see you in the BayArena."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LEVERKUSEN?

  Ten Hag's side are scheduled to travel to Brazil next week for their pre-season and will play their first friendly match against a Flamengo Under-20 side on July 18.

Barcelona may have to delay their long-awaited return to Camp Nou, with the upcoming clash against Como now in jeopardy.

• Barcelona not optimistic of receiving first occupancy license
• Club's proposition of using particular stands on hold
• Joan Gamper Trophy might be shifted to different ground

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Barcelona find themselves in dire straits as the City Council might not issue their First Occupancy license after approving the Activities and Construction license last week. In order to complete the lower level and initial seating tiers of the stadium, the club need to be granted a First Occupancy license, which can then give them access to a 60,000 capacity in the stadium. But due to the constraints, they can host only 25,000 fans for the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Como on August 10. Barca have also planned a drill, without fans, in late July, to test the operations.

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  Last week's decision received a warm welcome as the club could now start selling off the premium VIP seats, which is part of a €100 million 30-year revenue plan and crucial to their hopes of complying with La Liga's financial rules. However, the club need complete approval by late July for the Joan Gamper Trophy and a delay could force the game to be shifted to Estadi Johan Cruyff, which has a 6,000 capacity. The Estadi Olimpic is also an option, but it has a concert scheduled for August 9, one day prior to Barca's game against Cesc Fabregas' side.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Camp Nou has been under construction for the last two years, forcing the Catalans to play their home games at Montjuic.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCA?

  Not only the Joan Camper Trophy, but the club's La Liga and Champions League matches may also be affected as UEFA has mentioned a club needs to play the entirety of the league phase in the same stadium.

Marc Guiu is expected to choose between Sunderland and RB Leipzig as he looks for regular first-team minutes away from Stamford Bridge.

• Guiu weighing up a move to Sunderland or RB Leipzig
• Chelsea only open to loan spell
• Striker scored six goals in six UECL games last season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 19-year-old joined Chelsea from Barcelona last July for €6 million, but struggled for consistent game time in the Premier League, playing just 71 minutes. However, the Spaniard did enjoy a strong run in the Conference League, netting six goals in six appearances before a hamstring injury cut his campaign short.

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  With Chelsea signing Joao Pedro and Liam Delap this summer, Guiu is way down in the pecking order. The Blues, therefore, are open to a temporary move away from Stamford Bridge for the Spanish striker. The club will reportedly only sanction a straight loan with full salary coverage as they still see Guiu as a potential star.

  According to , Leipzig are keen to bring in a young striker as they prepare for the likely departure of Benjamin Sesko, who is being linked with Manchester United and Newcastle. Meanwhile, newly-promoted Sunderland have made Guiu one of their top targets and are one of three clubs to have made formal enquiries.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Chelsea's biggest signings in what has been a busy summer have been Brighton forward Joao Pedro, left-winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund and Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. However, they have already recovered almost half of that amount by winning the Club World Cup, where they are estimated to have pocketed £96m in prize money.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  The Blues continue to be active in the transfer window, with their next big target set to be Leipzig's midfielder Xavi Simons. They are scheduled to face Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan in friendly matches before they kick off their 2025-26 Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace on August 17.

Rodrygo wants to continue at Real Madrid and win head coach Xabi Alonso's trust to be a part of the first team amid interest from Premier League.

• Rodrygo wants to prove his worth to coach Alonso
• Brazilian to face intense competition at Madrid
• Tottenham and Arsenal have shown interest

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rodrygo's situation at Madrid has been a complex mix of undeniable talent, moments of brilliance, fluctuating form, and an uncertain position in a star-studded Madrid squad. However, Rodrygo wishes to be a regular starter at the club and, for that, he is willing to fight for his place and work hard on himself, confirms . The Brazilian has received a lot of interest from the Premier League, but Madrid's high asking price is keeping the clubs at bay.

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  Rodrygo played 54 games in the 2024-25 campaign, in which he scored 14 goals and registered 10 assists. However, his minutes in the league dropped, and he went through a goal drought, scoring just once in 25 games. The winger was part of the Club World Cup squad but didn't impress much. However, the winger has now committed to regaining his form under Alonso. Los Blancos are open to parting ways with the winger but reportedly want around €90m (£78m/$104m) for the two-time Champions League winner. Tottenham have shown interest recently after the departure of Son Heung-min, but Madrid's asking price for the Brazilian is too high to match. 

• TELL ME MORE

  Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz and new signing Franco Mastantuono will further intensify the competition within the squad. The 24-year-old previously claimed that he doesn't wish to play in the right-wing position, a preference that Alonso may not be willing to accommodate. The ex-Santos player will have to be clinical and make the most of his chances if he wishes to get a starting spot in the team.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RODRYGO?

  Madrid are in no rush to sell Rodrygo, as the player is tied to the Spanish side until 2028. The team will return to training on August 4, prior to which medical checks will be conducted. The Brazilian has two weeks to improve and show his qualities to Alonso if he wishes to start Madrid's opening league fixture against Osasuna on August 19.

The analyst responded to Adams' comments about media criticism directed at Pulisic and the USMNT

• Lalas called Adams' defense of Pulisic "aloof"
• Questioned Adams' understanding of media's role 
• Defended right to criticize following Gold Cup

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  WHAT HAPPENED

  Fox Sports analyst and USMNT legend Alexi Lalas pushed back on Tyler Adams’ defense of Christian Pulisic, questioning the U.S. international midfielder's suggestion that the media should support rather than critique the star, especially after Pulisic skipped this summer’s Gold Cup.

  Adams criticized the pundits who called out Pulisic, especially opinionated former USMNT players, saying "everyone wants to throw his name in the gutter because it creates a big story, or it creates noise."

  “This was a strangely immature and naive, and weak kind of take," Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast.  "Not that he's defending Christian Pulisic, because we're all going to do that. But the way he seemed to think that there should be no criticism and we should all be kumbaya. And he talks often about, you know, some of the some of the players.”

  Lalas indicated he appreciated Adams' voicing his opinion, but he thought the defense wasn't well-informed. 

  “I can appreciate and respect the fact that Tyler Adams was asked a question and he's not shying away from this,” he said. "Doesn't mean you can't defend yourself, doesn't mean you can't defend your teammates. But to be – at least in the way that he's painted himself – blindsided by this? Again, it's just for someone that I have a lot of respect for – and I think is very smart, and the way that he has talked over the years is sometimes beyond his years – maybe he showed a little bit of his youthful naivete in this article here.”

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  WHAT LALAS SAID

  Lalas said Adams showed a fundamental misunderstanding of professional sports dynamics.

  “OK, so Tyler, if you can't explain it and you don't understand it, then you're – if I’m being charitable – naive… You've been around the block. This is not your first rodeo," Lalas said. "But this notion that everybody should be on board and nobody should criticize… the fact that it's so surprising to him that anybody – whether it's guys like myself or others that do this for a living – I just think that it's being a little, like I said, naive and aloof to the reality of the situation, that, by the way, Tyler Adams, you and your players have created.

  "And that's why the change [from Gregg Berhalter to Pochettino] was made. And when you go out in the Nations League [early] and we're worried about what we’re going to do next summer – such an important summer – I think it's completely logical for any player that's been around to understand that you were going to come in for criticism."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Prior to winning five games in a row to reach the 2025 Gold Cup final, the USMNT lost consecutive games to Panama, Canada, Turkey, and Switzerland by a combined scoreline of 9-2.

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  Adams returns to Premier League duties with AFC Bournemouth while the USMNT faces continued scrutiny regarding their Gold Cup shortcomings. The team must quickly regroup for September's international fixtures.

Alexander Isak is continuing to train alone as he maintains his bid to force through a move to Liverpool this summer.

• Isak wants Reds move
• Training away from Newcastle squad 
• Magpies value him at a British-record fee

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per, Isak is continuing to train alone as he bids to join Liverpool this summer. The Reds have already seen one bid, worth around £110 million ($149m), rejected for the Sweden striker, but he is continuing to show "no remorse" as he looks to force through his exit. 

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  The report claims that Newcastle value Isak at a British-record fee, but that manager Eddie Howe is keen for his negativity to be kept away from the first-team group. As a result, he is training with one coach, on his own, after his team-mates have left.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Newcastle are seemingly adamant that they will not allow Isak to leave on the cheap and Liverpool are expected to return with another bid, despite spending almost £300 million ($407m) on new additions, including Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong. They are also set to sign Giovanni Leoni from Parma.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Newcastle kick off their season this weekend against Aston Villa on Saturday, while Liverpool face Bournemouth on Friday. 

A foundation created in Diogo Jota’s name has come under fire after shocking revelations that it allegedly has no connection to the late footballer’s family, Liverpool Football Club, or many of the organisations it publicly claimed to be working with. The “Diogo Jota Foundation” has been accepting donations since just three days after the Portuguese forward’s tragic death, with the website claiming to have raised nearly £50,000.

• Jota charity probed after donations
• Has already raised over £47k 
• It is yet to be registered with the Charity Commission

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The official-looking website, operating under diogojotafoundation.org, boasts partnerships with heavyweights such as Liverpool FC, UNICEF, Allianz, and the Portuguese Platform of Development NGOs. Yet, when pressed for an official confirmation, three of those institutions flatly denied any involvement, as reported by

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  Suspicion further rose when the Charity Commission confirmed that the foundation had not even submitted an application for registration. Despite claims of having offices in New York, London, and Lisbon, there is little trace of legitimate activity behind the grand facade. All payments were being redirected through a third-party website, and the donations were allowed only in "USDT, ETH and other crypto through NOWPayments securely”.

• WHAT DOES THE WEBSITE SAY

  The foundation claims that it has already distributed 25,000 meals and sponsored 300 children. In the description section, it reads: "Honoring the Legacy of Diogo Jota. Through football, education, and hope, we carry forward the light he left behind – creating opportunity, joy, and lasting impact for the youth of Gondomar and beyond. The Diogo Jota Foundation was conceived in 2025 with one goal: to celebrate Diogo’s incredible journey from a small youth academy in Gondomar to one of Europe’s most respected footballers – and to pay that spirit forward. We create opportunities for young talent through free football camps and grassroots training in underdeveloped communities. We collaborate with local organizations to promote health, inclusion, and youth engagement across regions.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  As questions swirl over the legitimacy of the foundation, Liverpool have chosen to focus on cementing Jota’s memory in a way that befits his impact both on and off the pitch. The club announced that a permanent memorial sculpture will be built outside Anfield, constructed entirely from recycled mementos and tributes left by grieving fans. In addition, flowers brought by supporters will be replanted into dedicated beds across club sites, including Anfield and the AXA Training Centre at Kirkby, symbolising how Jota’s legacy will continue to grow within Liverpool’s DNA.

Dutch club Feyenoord have rejected Bayer Leverkusen’s opening bid for midfielder Quinten Timber amid a tense ongoing contract standoff.

• Feyenoord left unimpressed by Leverkusen's first bid
• Midfielder has one year left on his contract
• 24-year-old was recently stripped of captaincy

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , the Eredivisie giants were left 'unimpressed' by Erik ten Hag-led Leverkusen's opening bid for Timber. The Dutch midfielder has just one year left on his current deal, which runs until 2026, and has refused to sign an extension. That decision already cost him the captain’s armband, which was handed to new signing Sem Steijn. 

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  Timber joined Feyenoord in 2022 and has made 105 appearances for the club, scoring 18 goals and providing 13 assists. Last season, however, he struggled with a torn lateral knee ligament, missing the entire second half of the campaign. He still managed 26 matches with six goals and one assist before the injury.

  With only a year left on his deal, Feyenoord risk losing him on a free transfer next summer. That could force them to sell now, even if the first offer from Leverkusen was dismissed. Meanwhile, the German club are eager to land the 24-year-old and will continue talks with Feyenoord.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  West Ham have also shown interest in Timber, the twin brother of Arsenal defender Jurrien. Manager Graham Potter is desperate to strengthen his midfield after a disastrous start that saw the Hammers concede eight goals in their first two games. The Premier League club are keeping Quinten firmly on their radar as the transfer window nears its close.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BAYER LEVERKUSEN AND QUINTEN TIMBER?

  Leverkusen are closing in on signing Equi Fernandez from Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia. Bringing in Timber alongside the Argentine could pave the way for Aleix Garcia to leave Leverkusen for West Ham.

Chelsea have made a £37 million (€40m/$50m) bid to sign Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez as they look to strengthen before the transfer window closes.

• Chelsea make €40m bid for Fermin
• Blues keen to strengthen in midfield
• Chelsea missed out on Simons

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Blues are waiting to hear whether their offer has been accepted by the Spanish champions, according to Fabrizio Romano. The report states that Barcelona are not actively looking to sell Fermin, 22, and so a deal will depend on whether the midfielder wants to push for a move to Stamford Bridge.

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  Should Fermin want to leave Camp Nou, the Spain international faces a race against time to join Chelsea before the transfer window closes on September 1 at 7pm BST for Premier League clubs. Enzo Maresca's side were also linked with Xavi Simons but the Netherlands international has since joined Tottenham Hotspur in a £52 million (€60m/$70m) deal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Emerging through Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, Fermin helped the club win both La Liga and the Copa del Rey in the 2024-25 season, scoring eight goals and registering 10 assists under Hansi Flick's tutelage.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR FERMIN, BARCELONA AND CHELSEA?

  Fermin could feature for Barcelona when they take on Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Sunday, whereas Chelsea – who defeated west London rivals Fulham 2-0 on Saturday – have all eyes on the transfer window before the international break commences.

Eric Dier has revealed "it hurts every time" he is left out of the England squad, as he insists he has done all he can to be included.

• Dier lifts lid on England heartbreak
• Eyeing the 2026 World Cup
• Wants to play for his country again

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Dier has won 49 caps for England but has not played for his country since the World Cup last-16 win over Senegal in 2022. That is despite a move to Bayern Munich, where he won the Bundesliga and played in a Champions League semi-final. England, of course, have appointed Thomas Tuchel as their new manager but he has not included Dier in any of his squads thus far.

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  Dier played under Tuchel for Bayern and has laid his cards on the table; he is desperate to return to the England setup, particularly ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He has left the German club and is now playing for Monaco in Ligue 1.

• WHAT DIER SAID

  Dier told the Telegraph: “Yeah, it hurts (being left out). Every time it hurts. But hopefully I can make a change.

  “To be completely honest with you it’s been quite frustrating because in the last two years I was playing for Bayern and playing well.

  “I played pretty much every game, won the league and played in the quarter-final and semi-final of the Champions League. So, I’m playing in those games. I felt like I’d done everything I could to be in the squad. But it just hasn’t happened.”

  Asked if he has spoken with Tuchel, he replied: “No, no, I spoke a few times with his assistant, Anthony [Barry]. We know each other from Bayern, we know each other well and obviously those conversations are private. 

  “But my intention is clear. I want to get back in the England squad. I felt over the last two years I’ve been playing the best football of my career. I feel in a very good place with my game.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  England play Andorra and Serbia in World Cup qualifiers this weekend. Dier will likely be a keen observer.