Yan Diomande to Liverpool and Julian Alvarez to Man United lead the latest Market Madness transfer update with Ben Jacobs.

Kate Mason and Ben Jacobs are live for another World Cup edition of Market Madness as the transfer window continues to heat up, with updates on Liverpool’s pursuit of Yan Diomande, Manchester United’s shock interest in Julian Alvarez, and the latest around Elliot Anderson.

Faissal Chehade, Individual Development Coach at CD Leganés, joins the show to discuss Yan Diomande’s rise in professional football and the clubs that missed their chance early in his journey.

Guardian and Observer Manchester football correspondent Jamie Jackson also joins Kate and Ben to give his verdict on England ahead of the Panama game, plus the latest on the Elliot Anderson transfer race.

Ben also answers your transfer questions, including:

– Yan Diomande: Is a Liverpool deal getting closer?

– Nottingham Forest’s midfield plans after Elliot Anderson

– Could Lucas Bergvall be part of Forest’s next move?

– Manchester United’s interest in Julian Alvarez

– Felix Nmecha and Aurelien Tchouameni links to United

– Arsenal and Bruno Guimaraes

– Newcastle’s position on Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali

– Where Crysencio Summerville could end up next

All that and more on Market Madness.

more

Tottenham are being linked with England World Cup attacker Marcus Rashford as they look to continue their busy summer of recruitment. Spurs have wasted no time in this summer window so far, already snapping up three new signings, including three freebies and a statement defensive signing in Jan Paul van Hecke.

The signings will keep coming as Roberto De Zerbi looks to give this Tottenham team a whole new look to ensure there is no third-straight bottom half finish.

A midfield signing appears to be the next priority, but Spurs are also working on other potential deals, and a World Cup Three Lion has emerged as a possible option.

Romano on Tottenham’s Rashford interest

Marty Jean-Louis/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

Spurs have been linked with a move for Manchester United and England winger Rashford in recent days. According to Fabrizio Romano, a deal could be on the cards, but there is nothing advanced at this stage.

“Many questions on Marcus Rashford and Tottenham, we had these links on Marcus Rashford and Tottenham and if it’s possible to see this deal happening,” Romano said on his YouTube channel. “If Tottenham can go for Marcus Rashford, if Tottenham is a possibility being considered. My understanding at the moment between Marcus Rashford and Tottenham is that there is nothing advanced, nothing close, nothing realistic as of today.

“Should the situation change I will be here to let you know because the Marcus Rashford situation is an open situation, a situation they have to clarify as soon as possible at Manchester United. There are several things keeping this open for Marcus Rashford but the understanding is at the moment there is nothing concrete or advanced with Tottenham.”

Why Rashford wasn’t signed by Barcelona

via Reuters

Rashford played a big part in Barca winning the LaLiga title, scoring 14 and assisting as many across all competitions last season. The England international will have hoped to land a permanent deal on the back of that form, but the Catalan giants did not activate their option to buy.

They did not – and do not – rule out a deal at this stage, but their current priority is to find a new number nine to replace Robert Lewandowski. The Blaugrana are well aware that a striker deal could be very costly, and so they will revisit the Rashford situation if he remains available later in the window. The same transfer stance saw Barca miss out on Bernardo Silva to Real Madrid, but unless they are not pivoting from the current approach, and that could see the price they have to pay for Rashford increase, given the clause is no longer available to them, and it may mean the England international goes elsewhere.

Former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones has sent a message to Dustin Poirier in the wake of the 37-year-old’s arrest at an Atlanta airport on Sunday evening for public drunkenness.

‘The Diamond was taken into custody after threatening a police officer, having been kicked off a plane because he was intoxicated. Footage of the fighter’s arrest has since emerged and quickly gone viral.

Since being charged, Poirier has addressed his situation in a series of social media posts, admitting that he needs to seek treatment for issues with alcohol. If found guilty, the Louisiana native could face up to a year in jail, together with a $1,000 fine.

Poirier retired from the Octagon after losing to Max Holloway at UFC 318 last July. In the days following his arrest, Dustin has opened up about how much he has struggled to adapt to life after fighting.

While reaction to his arrest has been split, Poirier has received plenty of support from inside the MMA world, with names such as Daniel Cormier sending well-wishes to the struggling former interim lightweight champion.

Jon Jones Sends Message to Dustin Poirier After Recent Arrest

Having retired from the UFC himself last year, pound-for-pound great Jones has now weighed-in on Poirier’s arrest. ‘Bones’ frequently encountered issues with the law across his own career and took to social media to share his thoughts with his former colleague.

“Wanted to write and tell my [expletive] Justin Poirier to keep your head up,” Jones wrote on X, while getting Poirier’s name wrong. “Life happens. This too shall pass. Just keep yourself busy my man, it helps.”

In a separate tweet, Jones expressed his admiration for how honest Poirier had been about his personal struggles since hanging up his gloves.

“I do respect the fact that he’s being honest about his mental state,” remarked Jones.

Jon Jones Teases UFC Comeback

As if to illustrate how difficult it can be to walk away from the life of a professional fighter, Jones went on to tease a potential comeback of his own, revealing that recent stem cell treatments had helped to combat the arthritis that had initially played a role in convincing him to retire.

Jones is currently training amateur wrestling standout Gable Steveson ahead of his Octagon debut at UFC 329 next month and he hinted that the experience had prompted him to consider his own fighting future.

“Never say never. Right now we are finishing up Gable [Steveson]‘s training camp. He’s looking extraordinary. I’ve been his main training partner, and I’m moving like I never left. Stem cells must be working,” he wrote.