Sports
Southampton Appeal Against Middlesbrough Spygate Rejected
Southampton have now learned the outcome of their appeal after they were booted out of the Championship Playoffs for spying on Middlesbrough’s training session.
The Saints were thrown out of the playoffs on Tuesday after admitting to spying on three clubs in the Championship this season.
Southampton defeated Middlesbrough over two legs to reach the playoff final, but after being charged with the spying incident, they learned their verdict on Tuesday.
Tonda Eckert’s side quickly appealed the decision, feeling it was too harsh after they were kicked out of the play-offs and handed a 4-point deduction for next season.
Hull City are patiently waiting to discover who they will play on Saturday, giving them little time to prepare for either opposition.
Southampton Learn Appeal Outcome
Southampton have now learned the outcome of their appeal after it was confirmed that they would be booted out of the Championship Playoffs. That means Middlesbrough are set to play Hull in the final on Saturday.
According to The Athletic, Southampton have lost their appeal and the players have been informed, meaning Middlesbrough will play in the final on Saturday.
In a statement, Southampton confirmed their disappointment with the decision, still believing the outcome was disproportionate.
“This is an extremely disappointing outcome for everybody connected with Southampton Football Club. We know how painful this moment will be for our supporters, players, staff, commercial partners and the wider community who have given so much backing to the team throughout the season and we apologise once again to everyone impacted by this.
While we fully acknowledge the seriousness of this matter and the scrutiny that has followed, the club has consistently believed the original sporting sanction was disproportionate, a view that has been widely shared by many in the football community over the last 24 hours.
We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to our supporters for the support, patience and loyalty they have shown throughout an incredibly difficult period. We will share information as soon as possible in relation to ticket refunds for those who bought tickets to Wembley.
Southampton Football Club has a proud history and strong foundations, but it is clear that trust now needs to be rebuilt. That work begins immediately. The club will reflect carefully on the events that have led to this point, learn from them and take the necessary steps to move forward responsibly.
While tonight is a painful moment, this football club will respond with humility, accountability and determination to put things right.”
Southampton Face Legal Action From Players
According to reports, some of Southampton’s playing squad are considering legal action against the club due to a loss of earnings.
Some of the players will have been in line for bonuses for being promoted back to the Premier League, but with the club opting to involve themselves in the spying incident, promotion is now off the cards.
Centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis is among those who are believed to be furious at the club. Saints could now be in trouble with some of their players, alongside the punishments they’ve already received.
Liverpool are in the hunt to bolster their forward options this summer, and PSG star Bradley Barcola is not the only player who wants to swap Paris for Anfield.
The Reds have added Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet to their squad so far this summer, but have lost all of Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson, leaving new manager Andoni Iraola with some major gaps to fill.
The attack has been made a priority with Munoz, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha the only first-team wingers in the squad, and while Barcola is the top target at the club, his PSG teammate has now made it clear he wants to join him on Merseyside.
Liverpool Offered Mbaye Deal
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have been offered the chance to sign PSG winger Ibrahim Mbaye this summer.
Mbaye, who has been described as a ‘phenomenon’, wants to leave the back-to-back European champions in search of more regular first-team football in this window, and the Ligue 1 giants are ready to let him move on after failing to agree a new contract with him.
The teenager has been offered to a number of clubs as a result, and exploratory talks have been held between the player’s camp and Anfield chiefs.
Mbaye has made it clear in discussions that Liverpool are a club he would like to join. The Reds’ recruitment staff have scouted Mbaye extensively during his time in Paris and feel that he could be of help to them, although he is not among their leading targets.
The Senegal international, who played and scored at this summer’s World Cup, is expected to assess all of his options in the coming weeks, with more clubs expected to enter the race for his signature.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Mbaye to Liverpool Could Be Shrewd
While Liverpool are currently in need of players who can improve the starting line up, which is why Barcola is being chased so hard, they also need depth.
Mbaye has got bags of potential and is widely considered to be one of the top attacking talents in Europe, and alongside Ngumoha, it could help to set up the Liverpool front line for the next decade.
If a deal can be reached for the right price, and Mbaye is happy with not being a guaranteed starter but getting minutes to help balance the load of the squad while developing, then it could be a shrewd bit of business for all involved.
Manchester United are in advanced talks with Juventus over a deal that would see Joshua Zirkzee leave, according to The Sun.
The Red Devils have had a strong summer window so far, bringing in Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, Karl Darlow, and Tynan Thompson to strengthen their squad, and while they are still keen to make more additions, they are also looking at ways to trim the fat.
One star who has emerged as a possible option to leave is Zirkzee, who has struggled for regular first-team football since joining the club, and a deal is now edging towards completion.
Man Utd In Advanced Talks for Zirkzee to Leave
Zirkzee, who has been described as ‘elite’, started just five Premier League games during the 2025/26 season, and has scored just nine times in 75 appearances for the club since his £36.5m move from Bologna two summers ago.
The Netherlands international missed out on a place in the World Cup squad and wants to get back to playing regularly, with a number of Italian sides showing an interest in taking him back to Serie A.
Juventus have now emerged as the frontrunner for his signature after they ended their pursuit of PSG star Randal Kolo Muani following drawn-out talks with the European champions, and talks are understood to be advanced over an initial season-long loan deal which would include a £30m option to buy.
Zirkzee’s representatives have responded positively to the approach from Juventus, and the 25-year-old would be open to making the switch to the Allianz Stadium.
The striker feels that the Italian league suits his style of play better and would be the right step for his career at this stage. Zirkzee currently finds himself behind Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Marcus Rashford in the pecking order of the attack, and an exit is expected.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Zirkzee Has No Man Utd Future
Zirkzee is a forward who has got plenty of talent, and his goal in the pre-season friendly win over Rosenborg shows exactly why the club bought him two years ago.
But the Premier League is a physically demanding and intense league, and Zirkzee’s style is more about style and technique than that. He hasn’t fitted in well, and the way Michael Carrick wants his team to play means he’s never going to be a super important player, or one that starts regularly.
A move away makes sense for all parties, but Man Utd are already thin on numbers in attack, and they must make sure that they replace him adequately before the transfer deadline.
Newcastle United are still pushing to improve their squad this summer after a disappointing summer window so far.
The Magpies have sold Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali to Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively, while there is also strong interest from Premier League champions Arsenal in captain Bruno Guimaraes, who has told the club he wants to leave.
Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Toure, Seun Steur, and Aladji Bamba have already joined as part of Eddie Howe’s rebuild, but the club are now looking to strengthen their defensive options too with a move for a long-term target.
Newcastle Eyeing Scalvini Deal
According to Tutto Atalanta, Newcastle are once again showing an interest in Atalanta star Giorgio Scalvini for this summer.
Scalvini, who has been described as a ‘world-class talent’, has been a regular for the Serie A club for several years now despite being just 22, and has recovered from some injury issues to establish himself as a key member of the side.
His performances and potential have also caught the eye of Newcastle, and the club are now looking at him as an option to strengthen this summer as they look to provide competition for Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, and Fabian Schar as their centre-back options.
Atalanta are in a financial pickle for this window, and after Ederson’s move to Manchester United collapsed, they are now looking for other options within their squad that they could sell to help them raise funds.
Scalvini is someone the club would rather not lose, but it’s felt that an offer of around €45m (£38.4m) could shake the club into being forced to consider an offer, which is a different situation to the one that saw them reject bids in the past.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Newcastle Need Reinforcements
Newcastle had a very disappointing campaign in the 2025/26 season, and now the manager has made it a priority to rebuild the squad and get them back to competing at the top end of the table.
Defensively the team were quite open last time out, and the addition of a top central defender would go a long way to helping them stop leaking goals. Sven Botman’s injury issues are undoubtedly a concern, while Schar and Burn are the wrong side of 34, meaning they need to be replaced at some stage in the near future.
Scalvini is one of the top young defenders around, and bringing him in would help to prepare the squad for the future, while also strengthening them in the immediate future too.
Ibrahim Mbaye Wants to Join Liverpool Alongside Barcola
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