During the week of the 2026 edition of the Monaco Grand Prix, it was announced that Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc had signed a brand new multi-year deal with Italian giants Ferrari.

Despite the new deal that keeps Leclerc at Ferrari into his 30s, the contract negotiations reportedly haven’t been smooth-sailing for the driver, after various suggestions have since emerged that he held talks with one of Ferrari’s biggest rivals.

Leclerc has won eight Grands Prix during his career, which have all come in the famous red cockpit of Ferrari since he joined in 2019, and his new deal sees him prolong his stay at the team for many more years.

Without many rumours or talk inside the F1 paddock and world, his multi-year contract extension with Ferrari came as a surprise for many, especially after considering that there haven’t been any reports of unhappiness or tension within the team regarding his previous contract situation.

Despite this, there have been many discussions previously suggesting that, due to Ferrari’s struggles and inability to provide its drivers with championship-winning cars in recent history, if Leclerc wants to achieve his dream of becoming a Formula One world champion, then he needs to depart the scarlet red team and look elsewhere.

Charles Leclerc’s Secret Talks Elsewhere

Former F1 driver and current pundit, Ralf Schumacher, has previously revealed that Leclerc apparently had held talks with Aston Martin over a potential move for the Monegasque, but given their horrendous start to the 2026 season and difficulty adjusting to the new regulations, if Leclerc had departed for the Silverstone-based team, then his attempt for a world championship would have taken a step back.

However, in an F1 Insider podcast episode previewing the Monaco Grand Prix, journalist Ralf Bach was asked for his thoughts and feelings regarding Leclerc’s new multi-year deal at Ferrari, and whether it was the correct decision for him moving forward in his ever talented career. It was then that he revealed about the ‘behind the scenes’ talks Leclerc had… with Red Bull!

Bach initially responded by suggesting that Leclerc has made the “right choice” for himself, before revealing that he had also held talks with Laurent Mekies, who is the Red Bull chief, one of Ferrari’s biggest competitors.

“One had heard that Red Bull were really pushing hard, especially Laurent Mekies – the two of them are French mates, you could say.

“He believes he feels very much at home there. He feels at home in red; he feels like a Ferrari driver. And I think he made the right decision. And Ferrari is also backing him because he’s one of the best drivers out there.

“If he becomes even more consistent – that’s something he’s lacking a bit, as we saw in Canada – then he’s absolutely a title contender. So I think he’s done everything right.”

Leclerc’s first chance of victory following his brand-new contract extension is his home race at Monaco, with many insiders and drivers suggesting that Ferrari have an excellent chance of claiming their first victory of the season this weekend. So will Leclerc be able to repeat his 2024 home heroics and claim another historic victory in the red of Ferrari this weekend?

Florentino Perez has announced that Real Madrid will submit a record-breaking €150 million offer for a ‘total Galactico’ next week.

The 79-year-old is currently locked in a battle with Enrique Riquelme to be re-elected as Real Madrid president. The vote will be held this weekend and Perez, who has been in charge at the Bernabeu since 2009, is the strong favourite to win this year’s presidential race.

Enrique Riquelme caused a stir earlier this week by promising to sign Manchester City’s Erling Haaland if elected. The 37-year-old held up a Real Madrid shirt with ‘Haaland 9’ on the back before also promising to sign the Norwegian’s teammate Rodri. Man City have subsequently threatened legal action.

Florentino Perez Rules Out Four Players

Not taking victory for granted, Perez confirmed on Thursday night, via the Spanish TV show Horizonte, per Marca: “I want to share some news. On Tuesday, I will make a major offer to a Champions League club for a great player.

“It would be the largest transfer fee Real Madrid has ever paid in its history. It would be around €150 million. A clue? I can’t give one – I’m already telling you what we’re going to do.”

Perez, describing Enrique’s campaign promise to sign Haaland as a “bluff”, ruled out the possibility that the player in question is Man City’s prolific No. 9.

The current president added, per ESPN: “It isn’t [Michael] Olise, he’s a great player, but it isn’t Olise.

Perez added: “He’s a total Galactico. But first we’ll talk to his club.”

He also hinted the footballer is a “Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaka level player”, according to Fabrizio Romano.

A host of top-level European clubs will now be sweating after Perez’s announcement. One of them is about to receive a gigantic €150 million offer for one of their top stars.

Needless to say, there’s been constant speculation on social media following Perez’s cryptic announcement, with fans attempting to work out the mystery player’s identity.

Paris Saint-Germain’s world-class winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and even Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal are all being mentioned.

However, according to El Partidazo de COPE, there are only two possibilities: and they both play for PSG in midfield.

Portugal internationals Vitinha and Joao Neves have both cemented their reputations as world-class midfielders with PSG over the past couple of seasons. Both players would also cost a fortune to sign.

They tick many of the boxes, although it’s debatable whether either are at the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaka, two previous Galactico signings who joined Los Blancos in the summer of 2009.

Both Vitinha and Joao Neves, who come from the same country as returning manager Jose Mourinho, are among the early contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Tottenham appear to be in the market for good quality, sensible free transfers this summer.

Deals are agreed in principle for Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi to arrive at the club, following the end of their contracts at Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively.

Spurs have also been linked with moves to sign John Stones, following his release from Manchester City, and Harry Wilson, who is leaving Fulham at the end of his contract at Craven Cottage.

All four, should Tottenham complete deals, would be impressive deals for Roberto De Zerbi and would give him the strength in depth he is looking for in his Spurs team ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Free transfers would allow Spurs to spend in other areas of the pitch

Even if it is only the first two, or three of the four that come in, it would represent good business from a club that has so often been derided for its work in the transfer market in recent seasons.

Signing players out of contract would allow Tottenham to spend big on other players, spreading the overall cost of improving the squad in the summer transfer window somewhat.

And there is another free transfer that Spurs should definitely be looking at – Dusan Vlahovic – and it appears as though they are after reports they are in talks with the Serbian’s representatives.

It was revealed on Wednesday that there would be no agreement between the ‘world-class’ striker and Juventus over a new deal to remain at the Allianz Stadium, meaning he is out of contract this summer.

Tottenham are likely to be in the market for a new No.9 this summer, with question marks over the futures of both Richarlison – who was Spurs’ top scorer in the 2025/26 season – and Dominic Solanke.

GIVEMESPORT senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs said last month: “Richarlison has had an excellent season, but is drawing interest from Saudi Arabia, and Dom Solanke even has some formative interest too, and regardless of what happens with either of them, I expect Tottenham to attack the market for a No.9, and a new winger is possible too.”

Vlahovic has spent the last four-and-a-half seasons with Juve, after signing in a £66.6million deal from Fiorentina in the January transfer window of the 2021/22 season.

The big Serbian is only 26 years old and entering his prime as a striker and his profile would surely fit the Premier League. Upon signing for Juventus, a BBC analysis described him as being “strong in the air, skilful on the ground”.

Former Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri said after signing him: “He is a young boy, with little international experience, who however has quality, wants and can improve, and has plenty of time to do it. He has an absolute nastiness. Juventus made an important purchase. In the world, he, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland are the strongest of their generation.”

High praise indeed from someone who has been around the football block.

Vlahovic has the stats to back up his price tag if you dive deep enough

On the face of it, Vlahovic’s numbers do not stand out as exceptional. He notched 10 goals this season and provided a further two assists. But delve a little deeper and you find that these goals and assists came from just 23 appearances, so he averaged a goal contribution better than every other game.

Delve even deeper and you see that he only played 1,162 minutes of football. That means he actually averaged a goal contribution very 96.8 minutes on the pitch – not bad at all.

It was a reasonably similar story last season when he netted 17 goals and gave five assists to teammates in 44 matches. He was on the pitch for 2,696 minutes that season, meaning he averaged a goal contribution every 122.5 minutes on the pitch.

He has had his injuries and he has had his problems at Juventus, but when he plays, he has an impact where you want him to most.

Tottenham need a striker and while he may not be one that you can rely on to play every single game, a profile of his in squad rotation could be perfect for De Zerbi and on a free transfer, it’s a no-brainer.