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Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has confirmed star man Ollie Rathbone was rushed to hospital for a scan on his ankle after their clash with Sydney FC.

• Rathbone sustained ankle injury
• Taken to hospital
• X-ray used to gauge extent

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Parkinson has confirmed that Rathbone was taken to hospital during Wrexham's pre-season defeat to Sydney in Australia. The midfielder was substituted in the first half, and was helped down the tunnel by the club's medical staff.

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  Parkinson has explained that Rathbone's ankle "swelled up" once he reached the dressing room, sparking further concern from the physios. The 28-year-old won Wrexham's Player of the Season award in 2024-25 after contributing eight goals from midfield.

• WHAT PARKINSON SAID

  Parkinson told reporters: "Ollie's had to go to hospital for an X-ray.

  "It's a very quiet dressing room in there because we're concerned about Ollie.

  "It didn't look that bad an incident when it happened but it swelled up instantly in the dressing room.

  "Kev's [physio Kevin Mulholland] gone with him to hospital and we've just got to keep our fingers crossed."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Wrexham continue their preparations for the new season against Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand this weekend. They kick off their Championship campaign against Southampton on August 9.

Alisha Lehmann was back to work on Tuesday as Juventus welcomed the Switzerland star back to the club for the start of pre-season.

• Juventus preparing for new campaign
• Lehmann among players to return
• Has been holidaying in Ibiza

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lehmann was among several players back at the Serie A club in time to prepare for the new 2025-26 campaign after their exploits at Euro 2025. The Swiss star made her return along with team-mates Viola Calligaris, Estelle Cascarino and Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.

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  Lehmann was part of the Swiss side that made it to the quarter-finals of the tournament before being knocked out by eventual beaten finalists Spain. The Juventus star only managed two substitute appearances at Euro 2025, featuring against Finland and Spain, after earning a recall to the team just in time for the home tournament.

• TELL ME MORE….

  Lehmann subsequently jetted off to Ibiza after Switzerland's elimination in order to enjoy some well-earned time off. However, a packed fixture schedule means there is little time to relax, with Lehmann already back in action with her club side and preparing for another campaign in Turin.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LEHMANN?

  Italian clubs still have plenty of time to get ready for the upcoming campaign. The 2025/26 Serie A Women's season is due to kick off on the weekend of October 4-5, with Juventus set to begin the start of their title defence against Sassuolo.

Hugo Ekitike may have drawn a blank on his first appearance for Liverpool but fellow new signings Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong were both directly involved in goals before youngster Rio Ngumoha put the seal on a 3-1 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos in Wednesday's friendly in Japan.

• Liverpool fell behind early in second half
• Wirtz and Nyoni then scored in space of six minutes
• Ngumoha capped thrilling cameo with killer third goal

• J.LEAGUE
  

  TELL ME MORE

  Arne Slot named something close to his strongest line-up for the game at the Nissan Stadium, with Ekitike, Wirtz, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo forming an all-star attack.

  However, while Liverpool crafted some good openings during the first half, they failed to take any – and also looked worryingly prone to counter-attacks, just as they had done in last weekend's friendly loss to AC Milan.

  Consequently, it didn't come as that much of a surprise to see Yokohama take the lead early in the second half, when Asahi Uenaka finished smartly after being slipped in on goal by Ren Kato.

  The goal sparked Liverpool into life, though, and Wirtz drew his new team level with a confident finish from 10 yards out after some excellent work from Curtis Jones in the build-up. The tourists then made it two goals in six minutes, when Trey Nyoni did well to get himself on the end of a fantastic Frimpong cross from the right-hand side of the area.

  With Yokohama's brave resistance finally broken, Ngumoha ran riot in the closing stages and capped a scintillating cameo with a fine right-footed strike with just three minutes to go.

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  THE MVP

  Liverpool may have spent a fortune on exciting summer signings but Salah remains their star player, as he once again underlined against Yokohama. As well as being heavily involved in Wirtz's equaliser, the Egyptian created three clear-cut chances (for Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez) with three outstanding passes. It's fair to say, then, that Salah looks in pretty good shape to replicate his sensational stats from last season.

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  NEW FACES

  Wirtz linked well at times with Salah and Gakpo during the first half but was occasionally guilty of taking the wrong decision. However, the Germany international managed to get his first goal for Liverpool shortly before being replaced, after arriving right on cue to fire home a cutback from Salah that Jones unintentionally flicked right into his path.

  Meanwhile, Wirtz's former Bayer Leverkusen team-mate, Frimpong, left Nyoni with a pretty straightforward finish thanks to a wonderful whipped cross.

  As for Ekitike, he impressed with his work-rate and general movement but didn't get many clear sights of goal. However, he did go close with an ingenious back-heeled effort from an acute angle after reacting first to Conor Bradley's low cross.

  In defence, Giorgio Mamardashvili once again started in goal due to the unavailability of Alisson, who returned to his native Brazil for personal reasons, and the Georgian impressed with his distribution, while he also made a good save from Dean David during the first half.

  There was also a start for Milos Kerkez, who was caught out of position a few times but always provided a decent outlet down the left-hand side.

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• J.LEAGUE
  

  ONES TO WATCH

  Nyoni has been tipped to challenge for a starting spot in Slot's side sooner rather than later and the midfielder didn't take long to make his impact felt, scoring four minutes after his introduction.

  He also combined brilliantly with Ngumoha, who was the undoubted star of the final quarter of the game. The 16-year-old absolutely tormented the Yokohama defence from the off, turning opponents inside-out with his sensational dribbling skills.

  It, thus, felt fitting that Ngumoha had the final word on the night, rifling home from the edge of the box after being picking up possession in midfield.

Former Manchester United star Brandon Williams has impressed on trial at Hull and has now attracted interest from several clubs.

• Williams a free agent currently
• Has impressed in recent trial with Hull
• Could be set to restart career

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Williams looked set for a big career after bursting into the first team at Manchester United aged just 19 but it hasn't worked out that way. The left-back went on loan to Norwich and Ipswich and was finally released by the Red Devils in 2024 when his contract expired. Williams has since opened up on the off-field problems he has struggled with during his career.

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  There is now hope that Williams can resurrect his career after impressing recently on trial at Championship side Hull City which has led to plenty of interest in the defender, according to the Daily Mail. Hull are considering offering the 24-year-old a contract, while there is also said to be interest from other clubs in the Championship as well as abroad.

• TELL ME MORE….

  Williams was handed a 14-month suspended jail sentence in May and ordered to do community service following a high-speed car crash. Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic addressed Williams' recent issues when offering him a trial, saying: "I like to help people because everyone deserves a second chance in life. I spoke with him very honestly, and I explained to him what I expect from him.

  "We will be very careful, very, very slow. We have time, so we will try to help him. I think the quality is there because he was on a high level at Man United, so his quality is there. We need him to bring good fitness, and then we will make a decision."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WILLIAMS

  Williams has spoken about his desire to return to football and may now be handed a second chance to revive his career in the Championship which is due to restart this weekend.

Djed Spence will soon sign a new contract with Tottenham after breaking into the starting XI under Ange Postecoglou last season.

• New contract for Spence
• Finally given minutes last season
• Impressed on right and left flanks

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Spence is set to sign a new contract with Tottenham, according to Paul O'Keefe and Fabrizio Romano. The Spurs defender joined the north London side back in 2022 but was given next to no first-team opportunities for three years before finally coming back into the starting XI picture at the start of last season.

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  Under former boss Postecoglou, Spence made 35 appearances in all competitions during the 2024-25 season, helping Tottenham win the Europa League. His previous deal was due to expire in 2028 but it's thought his new terms will extend beyond that and feature a pay rise.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Spence had a rough start to his Tottenham career, admitting the treatment he received at the hands of former manager Antonio Conte "shattered my confidence". The Italian had labelled the full-back a "club signing" and had no intention of playing the youngster, who had impressed with Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest. He was sent out on loan to Rennes, Leeds and Genoa before finally being given a chance by Postecoglou.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SPENCE?

  Spence started Tottenham's defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday night and will hope for similar involvement when Thomas Frank's side get their Premier League campaign underway on Saturday against Burnley.

Jonathan Rowe and Adrien Rabiot sparked chaos in Marseille’s dressing room as Medhi Benatia reveals why the club chose to sell both players.

• Dressing room clash unsettled Marseille squad
• Benatia cites leadership breakdown behind sale
• Club acts swiftly to restore order

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Marseille’s season has exploded into chaos just one match in, as tempers flared inside the dressing room  following their 1-0 defeat to Rennes in the Ligue 1 opener. What started as angry words over the team’s performance spiralled into a violent altercation between Rabiot an Rowe. According to witnesses, punches were thrown, security had to step in, and one young player even collapsed amid the tension.

  The fallout was immediate. Within days, Rabiot was informed he has no future at the club and England U21 winger Rowe is being sold to Serie A. It was a drastic but decisive move from Marseille’s hierarchy to re-establish control after what sporting director Benatia described as a “scene of chaos” rarely seen in football.

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  Instead of focusing on late-window reinforcements, Marseille now find themselves forced into damage control, negotiating exits for two players they expected to rely on this season. With Rowe already close to Bologna and Rabiot attracting Serie A interest, OM’s market plans may be reshaped entirely. And with Champions League qualification a priority, losing squad depth to internal conflict could prove disastrous.

• WHAT BENATIA SAID

  Speaking to , Marseille’s football director Benatia didn’t hold back when recounting the extraordinary events: "There are key players who came back frustrated, who started to make comments to the whole team, about the defeat, about the behavior, that we have to do more, we're at Olympique de Marseille, you can't afford to go and lose like that against a team that's been 10 against 11 for an hour, etc. So until then, well, it was just words and then it started to get a bit heated, it got up… You know how it goes in a locker room, people get up, they shout, there are always normally two, three guys who come, who separate.

  "I was there, normally you calm down. There are still matches left and the season has just started. Not here, we got into physical confrontations, punches. We had a kid (Bakola) who at that moment had a kind of vagal malaise, who fell to the ground, and all that in a locker room… A scene of chaos, I've never seen that. I spent, I don't know, 17-18 years in a locker room, I argued as captain. In clubs, we can sometimes have heated exchanges. Reflections that maybe you can take a little badly after a defeat, it happens… It's the truth, but that said, it can get a little heated. But you can't get to a physical assault, a punch in the mouth and stuff, and security coming to separate you, but where are we? We're here to play football."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?

  The priority now for Marseille is restoring order, Roberto De Zerbi must steady the ship quickly to prevent the locker room’s combustible atmosphere from wrecking the season. At the same time, the club faces a tight transfer deadline. 

Chelsea are reportedly exploring a move for Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez, having already established contact with the player's entourage. Fermin has firmly established himself as a prominent figure at Barcelona under Hansi Flick, and helped the club win a domestic treble last season. Chelsea are now interested in bringing Fermin to Stamford Bridge as Enzo Maresca seeks to bolster his attacking ranks.

• Chelsea eyeing Barcelona’s Fermin
• Player’s camp already in contact with Chelsea
• Fermin faces a big decision on future

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea are ramping up their interest in Fermin, and they hope to lure the player away from Catalunya, given Barcelona's stacked midfield options. has confirmed that the Blues have made contact with Fermin's representatives to discuss a potential deal, however, they are yet to reach out to the Catalan giants with an official proposal. Contrasting reports from Catalan outlet claim an offer of €50 million (£43m) has been made.

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  Fermin, who signed a contract extension in October 2024, remains tied to Barcelona until 2029. His commitment to the club was made clear when he agreed to an additional two years on his initial deal, further solidifying his long-term future at the Camp Nou.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Fermin has publicly insisted that he remains committed to Barcelona despite increasing interest from the Premier League. Speaking to reporters after the Joan Gamper trophy, he said: "Barcelona fans should rest, because I will stay here… I will not leave Barca. It was a game about building confidence, ready for the start of La Liga. The important thing is the team did a very good job."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Despite his pledge of loyalty, it has been suggested that Barca could sell Fermin to reduce their salary bill. Chelsea, meanwhile, are considering bolstering their attacking ranks ahead of more potential exits, with Carney Chukwuemeka the latest to depart Stamford Bridge on a permanent deal to Borussia Dortmund.

Messi will sit out a second straight game with a right hamstring injury, while the manager faces suspension for red card

• Inter Miami fifth in the East with 45 points
• Mascherano addressed the media
• Messi played 45 minutes in last four matches

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lionel Messi will not be part of Inter Miami’s squad for Saturday’s trip to play DC United as he continues to recover from a hamstring issue, head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed Friday.

  The injury, sustained against Necaxa in the Leagues Cup, has limited Messi to just 45 minutes of action across Miami’s last four matches. Messi trained separately from his teammates throughout the week and was unavailable for the club’s Leagues Cup quarterfinal win over Tigres on Wednesday.

  Mascherano also addressed his suspension after being sent off against Tigres. Cameras showed him communicating on a cellphone from the stands, a moment that sparked debate, with the manager saying "I didn’t break any rules."

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  With the Herons pushing into the decisive stretch of the 2025 season, the priority is to have their captain fully fit rather than risk aggravating the injury. Despite Messi’s absence, Miami edged Tigres to book a spot in the Leagues Cup semifinals.

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  WHAT JAVIER MASCHERANO SAID

  Leagues Cup officials confirmed that Mascherano did not violate rules by using his cellphone to talk to his assistant from the stands after being sent off in Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match on Wednesday.

  “The truth is the stands at our stadium are very close to the pitch, so I tried to stay as near as possible to help the team,” Mascherano said. “It’s something that has happened many times in football and will continue to happen. I didn’t break any rules – I could’ve been sitting in an owner’s suite instead. The team needed me close. I’ll accept whatever consequences come.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

  Miami currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference with 45 points and face a key road test in Washington as they look to solidify playoff positioning.

AC Milan have rejected Bournemouth's opening bid for Alex Jimenez as the Premier League side prepares an improved offer for the defender.

• Bournemouth are interested in Alex Jimenez
• Club proposed loan move for Jimenez
• Milan have rejected Bournemouth's offer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bournemouth are rebuilding their defensive line after offloading most of their first-choice defender's in this transfer window. The search to bolster their backline have led them to Milan's Jimenez. The Cherries proposed Milan a loan with an option to buy for €20 million (£17m/$23m) with a conditional obligation inserted as well but were swiftly rejected in their pursuit, according to . The Premier League side appreciate the defender and will be registering an improved offer soon.

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  Milan signed Jimenez in 2024 from Real Madrid Castilla after he initially spent a year on loan at San Siro. The 20-year-old went on to play 46 games for the club last season in which he scored four goals and registered two assists across all competitions. Milan are willing to part ways with the youngster but seek an offer around €25m (£21m/$29m) with an obligation to buy inserted in his contract.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Madrid have a buy-back clause inserted in Jimenez's contract and could match Bournemouth's bid to prevent him escaping their grasp back this summer. Otherwise, they have the option to trigger it and sign him for €12m (£10m/$14m) in 2026. Serie A clubs Roma and Como are also interested in the player but both the club's are sorting out other priorities. However, a move for Jimenez seems imminent this summer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BOURNEMOUTH ?

  Bournemouth have already on-boarded Adrien Truffert Rennais and Bafode Diakate from Lille to sort their shortcomings in defense. The English club's next bid for Jimenez will reportedly be between €20m (£17m/$23m) and €25m (£21m/$29m), an amount that should be enough for Milan to part ways with the Spaniard.

The San Diego FC winger returns to El Tri after more than a year away, ready to assume a larger leadership role

• Accepts his new role as mentor within El Tri
• Has 70 caps and 18 goals for Mexico
• Last scored for the national team in 2023

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hirving “Chucky” Lozano is back with the Mexican national team, but his role looks very different this time around. Once the rising star of El Tri, the San Diego FC attacker returns as one of the squad’s elder statesmen.

  The 29-year-old hasn’t featured for Mexico since March 2024. He was briefly called into the Gold Cup roster last summer, but a hamstring injury kept him sidelined. Now fit again, Lozano says his focus has shifted from being the protagonist to guiding the next wave of talent.

  “Here with the national team, I just try to help, to always be there for the younger players and be a support for them,” Lozano told ESPN. “I think that’s very important – helping them with whatever they need.”

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  WHAT LOZANO SAID

  The winger also stressed the importance of Mexico’s upcoming friendlies against Japan and South Korea, calling them crucial tests in the buildup to the 2026 World Cup.

  “They’re two important national teams on the world stage, both are regulars at World Cups,” he said. “They’re going to be beautiful games, very important, with a very high level of demand. They have top players, so we have to enjoy it, do what the coach asks, and give our best.”

  Head coach Javier Aguirre highlighted the need for generational change, and Lozano – who has earned 70 caps and scored 18 international goals – represents the bridge between Mexico’s past successes and its future ambitions.

  Away from international duty, Lozano has been adjusting to life in MLS. Since joining expansion side San Diego FC earlier this year, he says the transition has been positive both on and off the pitch.

  “It’s been a different but very enjoyable experience,” he said. “The league has a great level, it’s improving a lot. Both my family and I are very happy in San Diego. The people have welcomed us wonderfully, with so much affection, and I’m very grateful for that.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Lozano has scored 18 goals in his international career, but his most recent came in a friendly against Ghana in 2023. The winger is now aiming to end a five-match goal drought with El Tri as he marks his return to the squad.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?

  Mexico will open the September window against Japan on Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum before traveling to Nashville to face South Korea on Sept.  9.