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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has made a decisive move back to Europe, rejecting Gulf offers as he closes in on a deal with Marseille.

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Article continues below

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• Aubameyang terminates Al-Qadsiah deal and returns to Marseille
• Former Arsenal striker already in France and negotiating contract
• Ligue 1 side preparing for 2025–26 with De Zerbi at the helm

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Aubameyang has returned to France and is set to rejoin Marseille after mutually agreeing to terminate his contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah. The 36-year-old striker is already in Marseille and has held discussions with the club’s management, bringing him close to a second stint with the Ligue 1 outfit.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Marseille, under Roberto De Zerbi, are reshaping their squad for the 2025–26 season after finishing second in Ligue 1 and booking a spot in the Champions League. The potential addition of Aubameyang adds experience and proven goal-scoring ability to a frontline that already includes Mason Greenwood. Despite interest from Qatari and Gulf clubs, the Gabon international chose to return to Europe, showing a clear preference for Marseille over other financial offers.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Aubameyang will have a second stint at OM, where he scored 30 goals in all competitions during his final European season before moving to Al-Qadsiah in 2024, where he netted 21 times in 36 appearances.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?

  Marseille are finalising the terms of a two-year contract with Aubameyang, which includes a reduced salary from his Gulf deal. The official announcement is expected later this week. OM continue their pre-season preparations with friendlies ahead of their Ligue 1 opener in early August.

The Argentine manager has led Inter Miami to 17 wins in 31 matches, with the Herons in fifth place in the Eastern Conference

• Miami play at FC Cincinnati on Wednesday
• Messi has never scored against Cincinnati
• Fifth place in the East, Messi eyes another brace

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Between April and May, Javier Mascherano went through the most difficult stretch in his first season as Inter Miami head coach, managing just one win over an eight-game span. His future with the Herons was questioned multiple times during that turbulent period, and his position seemed far from secure.

  Despite the pressure, Mascherano led the team to a solid performance at the Club World Cup – ultimately falling in the Round of 16 – and since, Miami has bounced back in impressive fashion, with Lionel Messi scoring braces in five consecutive MLS matches.

  Miami has won all five of those games, including three since returning from international competition. They are fifth in the Eastern Conference in MLS. Still, the Argentine manager insists he’s not thinking beyond this season

  “Personally, as a coach, I don’t look much further than the current season," he said on Tuesday. "Thinking long-term in this job is a mistake because results are what keep you here. You have to stay focused and put all your energy into the present."

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  WHAT MASCHERANO SAID

  Mascherano joked on Tuesday about Messi’s goal drought against FC Cincinnati – the only MLS team he has yet to score against – and said it would likely serve as extra fuel for his star forward.

  “It’s great news, actually… because we all know Leo – every match gives him a new reason to be motivated,” Mascherano said. “Hopefully he can break that streak."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  David Martínez has officially played his final match for the Herons. Mascherano confirmed that the club has opted not to extend the Paraguayan's loan from River Plate.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

  Inter Miami visit Cincinnati Wednesday, but they’ll have to do it without Baltasar Rodríguez, who is sidelined once again due to a recurring hamstring injury. There is positive news on the injury front, though: Yannick Bright, Gonzalo Luján, and David Ruiz have all recovered and are back in contention.

The Chicago Fire star has been selected as the latest athlete to be featured in the Celebrating Impact series

• Acosta will receive a $50,000 contribution for his foundation
• Supports multiple charitable organizations including Special Olympics
• His foundation focuses on empowering disadvantaged youth through soccer and more

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• Players Tribune
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  U.S. international Kellyn Acosta was announced as the newest featured athlete in the Celebrating Impact content series, a collaborative program between Audi of America, Major League Soccer, and The Players' Tribune. The initiative specifically highlights players who make significant positive contributions to their communities beyond their on-field accomplishments. Since joining Chicago Fire FC, Acosta has actively participated in numerous Chicago Fire Foundation initiatives, including organizing book drives for area youth and helping revitalize soccer pitches in underserved neighborhoods throughout the Chicagoland region to increase access to the sport.

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• WHAT KELLYN ACOSTA SAID

  “It’s a privilege to have the platform to help inspire and be a voice for positive change, and I’m honored to be featured in the Celebrating Impact content series from Audi,” Acosta told. “Giving back to underserved communities is such an important part of my life, and through this recognition, I’m now even further committed to driving forward progress in a special place that means so much to me.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As part of this recognition, Audi will contribute $50,000 through their Goals Drive Progress fund directly to the Kellyn Acosta Foundation, the nonprofit organization founded and operated by the Chicago Fire midfielder.

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  Acosta will likely continue his involvement with the Chicago Fire Foundation while maintaining his ambassadorial roles with Special Olympics, U.S. Amputee Soccer, and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation alongside his playing duties for the Fire.

Jack Grealish has reportedly rejected an audacious approach from Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce as Everton step up their pursuit of the out-of-favour Manchester City star. City have informed Grealish that he will be allowed to leave this summer after the English winger struggled for game time under Pep Guardiola last season and was then left out of the Cityzens' Club World Cup squad.

• Grealish snubs Fenerbahce's offer
• Everton stepping up their pursuit of a loan move
• Grealish likely to leave City this summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to the , Everton are in talks with City over a season-long loan deal for Grealish. The winger was also approached by Mourinho's Fenerbahce but he rejected a move to Turkey. The Toffees will discuss a wage share percentage for the England international, who currently earns around £300,000-a-week at City.

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  Everton boss David Moyes is known to be an admirer of Grealish, as he had hailed him as the best player in the Premier League back in 2021. A decision on Grealish's future, however, is unlikely to materialise until late in the summer transfer window as the 29-year-old has attracted interest from clubs in England as well as abroad. 

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Toffees will face stiff competition from clubs like Napoli and Bayern Munich, while Newcastle United also have their eyes on the Englishman, although Eddie Howe is not too keen on signing players on loan. 

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GREALISH?

  The attacker did not feature in City's first pre-season friendly against Preston earlier this week, which was played behind closed doors and he is unlikely to be a part of the club's travelling squad to Italy as they are scheduled to face sister club Palermo in their final preparatory game ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. 

Barcelona's Marc Casado applauded Gimnastic de Tarragona for cancelling Jose Manuel Calderon's transfer after his anti-Catalan remarks came to light.

• Gimnastic cancelled Calderon’s transfer over offensive remarks
• Casado responded with an applause emoji on Instagram
• Ex-Betis star fired back at Barcelona man

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 25-year-old defender had joined Gimnastic from Cordoba, but the deal lasted only four hours as the Primera Federacion club swiftly annulled it after severe backlash from fans. Notably, Calderon had made some anti-Catalan statements after securing promotion with Cordoba to the Second Division. The incident occurred last year after the qualifying round of play-off between the Andalusian team and Barca Atletic.

  "I sh*t on all dead Catalans," the left-back said in a live broadcast on his Instagram account. He later apologised, saying: "I apologise to all the people of Barcelona and all Catalans for my actions during this afternoon's live stream." 

  Barca midfielder Casado, who clashed with Calderon during that playoff tie, publicly welcomed Nastic's decision, which earned him more praise from La Liga fans.

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• WHAT CASADO SAID

  The 21-year-old midfielder reacted to Nastic’s announcement reversing Calderon’s signing by leaving an applause emoji in the comments section. His comment has garnered over 2k likes. 

  instagram/nastictarragona

• CALDERON RESPONDS

  Speaking on , Calderon addressed Casado’s reaction, saying: "I'm not surprised, to be honest. He can say whatever he wants, just like I did, because I made a mistake at the time. He mentioned applause, so applause for him too."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CASADO AND CALDERON?

  Casado’s social media reaction comes while his own future at Barcelona is under discussion. Despite speculation and Atletico Madrid interest, Casado is determined to break into the first team and has no desire to leave the club he grew up in. 

  For Calderon, the fallout from his comments has proven costly, and it remains to be seen where and when his next opportunity will come.

Rasmus Hojlund has a week to change his stance after he rejected a move back to Italy as AC Milan aim to sign the striker from Manchester United.

• Rasmus Hojlund is not interested in joining AC Milan
• Striker wants to compete for minutes at United
• Hojlund told there's no place for him at Old Trafford

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  As soon as it looked like Milan and United were closing in on an agreement for a move for Hojlund, the Danish striker quickly refused to move back to Italy. Milan sporting director Igli Tare has therefore decided to extend his stay in England to monitor Hojlund's situation. The player has been clearly told that he is no longer in the English club's plans and needs to consider a future elsewhere so as to not hamper his development, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

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  The ex-Atalanta striker appreciates Milan's offer, but it has now become a matter of pride for the Dane forward, as he reiterated his stance that he wants to fight for his place at the club, even though he has fallen down coach Ruben Amorim's pecking order. Tare remains hopeful that the striker will ultimately choose to move, given United's declarative stance.

• TELL ME MORE

  Milan opened negotiations for Hojlund after United were willing to loan him out with a buy option. However, Hojlund's camp has made it clear that should the player depart the club, it will be a permanent move rather than a loan. Tare will look into how the situation develops for a week, after which he will consider other options.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MILAN?

  Tare's other options include Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson and Paris Saint-Germain's Goncalo Ramos. There have been talks to bring Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus, but the player's high wages remain a hurdle for the Serie A side. Milan will have to sort their frontline quickly as the new Serie A season kicks off on August 23.  

AC Milan have confirmed interest in Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund after he was dropped by manager Ruben Amorim for Sunday's clash with Arsenal.

• Milan confirm interest in Hojlund
• Striker dropped for Arsenal clash
• Could now be heading back to Italy

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hojlund appears to be surplus to requirements at Old Trafford after the Red Devils splashed out to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. Amorim then dropped Hojlund for his team's Premier League opener against Arsenal, suggesting he will have to move if he wants regular minutes in the 2025-26 season.

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  Serie A giants AC Milan have been linked with a move for Hojlund, with the striker's father reportedly claiming his son is now open to a move to San Siro. Hojlund shone previously in Serie A with Atalanta, and Milan sporting director Igli Tare has admitted the Rossoneri are keen on the Denmark international.

• WHAT AC MILAN SAID

  Tare told Mediaset: "Højlund is a good option for us. We are thinking about him, but in the transfer market, you never know what could happen."

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• TELL ME MORE…

  Amorim also spoke about Hojlund after Sunday's defeat at Arsenal. He told reporters: "He is our player — we have to make choices. We have players that have to stay helping the team from the outside. He has to fight for his place. We will see what's going to happen. Rasmus has the same characteristics as Sesko, so sometimes we need to choose."

Arsenal have reportedly entered fresh talks with FC Porto over the future of Jakub Kiwior, with the Portuguese giants pushing to secure the Poland international before the transfer deadline. The 25-year-old defender has slipped down Mikel Arteta’s pecking order following Cristhian Mosquera’s arrival and is now considering a move for more regular game time.

• Porto in talks to sign Kiwior before deadline
• Arsenal value Poland defender at around €30m
• Crystal Palace also monitoring as potential rival suitor

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Porto have approached Arsenal with a proposal to sign Kiwior on loan with an obligation to buy, according to O Jogo. Arsenal value the centre-back at around €30m (£25.4m/$32.6m) and are open to letting him leave if their demands are met. Crystal Palace are also monitoring the situation, but Porto are currently leading the race.

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  Kiwior has struggled for regular minutes at Arsenal since his arrival from Spezia and finds himself behind William Saliba, Gabriel, and Mosquera. With Arsenal and Arteta chasing domestic and European glory, Arteta needs a settled defensive unit, leaving Kiwior as a surplus option. A move to Porto could revive his career, offering him Champions League football and a starring role.

• TELL ME MORE…

  Reports from Portugal suggest Porto see Kiwior as a 'significant addition' who can add quality and depth to their backline. The defender was an unused substitute in Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Leeds, underlining his peripheral role. Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed talks remain ongoing, with a fresh Porto bid expected this week.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR KIWIOR?

  Negotiations between Arsenal and Porto will continue in the coming days as the transfer deadline looms. If an agreement is reached, Kiwior could move initially on loan with a buy clause included. Should both Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko depart, Arsenal and Arteta may look to add another defensive reinforcement before the window closes.

Wrexham target Jordan James is set to join a rival Championship club, while Bristol City are also standing firm over Zak Vyner.

• Wrexham wanted James & Vyner
• James heading elsehwere instead
• Vyner not for sale at any price

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Leicester are progressing in talks that would see James join the Foxes on loan. The move is said to appeal to the 21-year-old, who previously starred in the Championship as a teenager for Birmingham – he moved to Rennes for £4 million ($5m) last summer. Overall, there is "optimism" that James will sign for Leicester before the transfer deadline.

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  Wrexham were keen on James. Not only would landing a talented Wales player have been a coup from an identity perspective, he has invaluable prior experience of the Championship. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney seemed prepared to put their money where their mouth is, reportedly willing to outbid rival suitors to strike a deal. Wrexham even submitted an enquiry over a £4.3m ($5.8m) transfer, only for his preference to now be elsewhere – Leicester are among the favourites to earn promotion to the Premier League.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Meanwhile, Wrexham also look set to face disappointment when it comes to Vyner. A separate update reveals Bristol City have informed the Dragons – and Birmingham – that the defender is not for sale "at any price". Even a £5m ($6.7m) is not considered enough.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Even though James will likely soon be playing for Leicester and Vyner isn't moving on from Bristol City, Wrexham's pursuit of both players doesn't necessarily have to be fully over. If James joins Leicester on loan as expected, his future may not be locked beyond this season, and could change depending on whether the Foxes achieve promotion or not. As for Vyner, he is in the last year of his contract and has every chance of being on the market as an attractive free agent next summer instead.

Jadon Sancho has been sent a “make or break” warning at Aston Villa, with the threat there for his wages to drop from £350k-a-week to £50k.

• Winger tumbled out of favour at Old Trafford
• Failed to secure permanent move to Chelsea
• Now under pressure to succeed at Villa Park

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  That is still very good money, but Sancho has grown accustomed to operating at the elite end of Premier League pay scales. He was handed a lucrative contract when leaving Borussia Dortmund for Manchester United in 2021.

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  That move has not played out as planned, with just 12 goals being recorded for the Red Devils through 83 appearances. A loan spell at Chelsea in 2024-25 allowed the Conference League crown to be captured, but the Blues paid their way out of a purchase obligation.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Sancho now finds himself at Villa, having trodden a similar path to Old Trafford colleague Marcus Rashford – who spent time in the West Midlands last season. The 25-year-old winger has been informed that he has to deliver on expectations.

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  WHAT AGBONLAHOR SAID

  Villa legend Gabriel Agbonlahor has told : “His stats are obviously getting worse and worse. For me, his contract is up at the end of the season. I think Manchester United might have the option of an extension of one year. It’s make-or-break. If he doesn’t put in a top season for Aston Villa and do really well, your £350,000-a-week will go down to £50,000-a-week at your new club.

  “The problem is, Rashford’s similar, one game is unbelievable, and you’re like, ‘Oh yes,’ next week, ‘Oh, you’re not running around, you don’t fancy it today?’ That’s been the problem with Sancho, and if he does that at Aston Villa, he won’t play.”