West Brom have now won the race to sign a Liverpool defender ahead of Premier League clubs.

It could be a busy summer transfer window for West Brom as they aim to improve on a disappointing 2025/26 season.

The Baggies managed to avoid being relegated to League One, but they certainly flirted with relegation for large parts of the campaign.

The appointment of James Morrison helped them turn things around after he helped secure Championship survival with a 10-game unbeaten streak.

West Brom confirmed that Morrison had signed a two-year deal as head coach, and that the summer is now an opportunity for the club to back him.

West Brom Win Liverpool Race

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Liverpool defender Carter Pinnington is set to join West Brom in a permanent deal.

The Baggies have reportedly beaten Premier League and other Championship clubs in the race to secure his signature.

Pinnington has been involved in Liverpool’s first-team sessions at times, including during the 2025/2026 campaign.

The now 19-year-old signed his first professional contract with Liverpool back in 2024, but he is now set to be heading through the exit door.

The towering centre-back has played at youth level for England at under 15s, under 16s, and under 18s, while he is also eligible to represent South Africa.

West Brom Also Eyeing Chelsea Star

West Brom are clearly planning a summer raid on the Premier League, with reports suggesting they are also in advanced talks to sign Chelsea forward Jimmy-Jay Morgan.

The Baggies are set to secure Morgan’s signature on a permanent deal, with the Midlands club looking to bring in young talent from around England.

West Brom supporters will also be hoping that they can bring in some ready-made experienced players rather than just signings for the future.

Either way, it needs to be a busy summer transfer window for West Brom as they aim to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle again.

Canada hosted its first 2026 World Cup fixture on Friday – and photos showing the eye-opening prices for food and drink inside the Toronto Stadium have gone viral on social media.

Canada are one of the three hosts of this summer’s showpiece international tournament, alongside the United States and Mexico.

Mexico kick-started the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, securing a 2-0 win over South Africa in a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener. South Korea then beat Czechia 2-1 in Zapopan.

Canada, hosting a men’s World Cup match for the first time, went 1-0 down against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday but sealed a deserved point thanks to Cyle Larin’s 78th-minute equaliser.

Food and Drink Prices at Toronto Stadium

Kevin Sousa via Reuters

Over 43,000 fans were in attendance to witness Group B’s opening match, but those supporters had to pay some hefty prices to stay fed and hydrated.

Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun shared photos of the signs inside the stadium displaying all prices for available food and drink.

The top ‘offer’ – if you can call it that – was the ‘Visa Cardholder Combo’ comprised of two foot-long hot dogs and two sparkling soft drinks. Total cost? CA$57.50 (Canadian dollars), which is around £30.65.

Alternatively, fans could purchase some chicken tenders and fries for CA$25.25 (£13.46), or a cheeseburger with chips for the same price.

A foot-long hot dog on its own costs CA$14.75 (just under £8), with popcorn coming in at CA$11.75 (£6.26).

Fans wanting water can pay CA$7 (£3.73) for a 591m bottle – pretty steep but still a little cheaper than the £4.50 being charged at the Seattle Stadium.

However, beer is still extremely expensive at 2026 World Cup stadiums. A ‘Domestic Beer’ (one pint) costs CA$16.75 (£8.93), while a ‘Premium Beer’ costs CA$18.25 (£9.73).

There’s also a 740ml ‘Premium Beer’ option which costs CA$24.25 (£12.93), while ‘Canned Cocktails & Seltzers’ are also priced at CA$18.25 (£9.73).

Fans have had plenty to say about the prices at the Toronto Stadium on X (Twitter). Let’s check out some of the responses:

One fan commented: “At that price, I hope the chicken tenders come with a FIFA Peace Prize,” while another said:

A third supporter wrote: “A cheeseburger for $25.25 is insanity. It is 3 pm. Nobody needs to eat at that hour so there is absolutely no reason to pay these extortionist prices and reward whoever is charging them. If you buy anything at these prices your stupidity will come shining through.”

A fourth added: “If you spend 19 dollars on a beer you should fall through a trap door directly into jail,” while another said: “Almost 60 dollars for two hot dogs & two sodas. Whoever set these prices should be tried at The Hague.”

A fifth fan wrote: “This is so ridiculous. $10 for some damn French fries,” while a sixth said: “We wonder why fans are choosing to watch games on TV versus going to the stadiums.”

Each co-host has now played their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Mexico kicked things off with a win over South Africa, before Canada battled to a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The US have been the most impressive so far, however, thumping Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

As excitement grows with every game, England will have to be patient and wait until 17 June before their tournament finally begins. They are faced with a tricky fixture as well, as they take on Croatia, the same nation that sent them home at the semi-final stage in Russia 2018.

Thomas Tuchel had a big enough task on his hands when naming the 26-man squad for the World Cup – notably leaving the likes of Harry Maguire, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer at home – but his job becomes more complicated now, as he must select his first starting XI for the summer tournament.

A report from BBC Sport appears to have already ‘leaked’ a few key decisions made by the German ahead of the Croatia match.

Tuchel Makes Big Call on Starting Bellingham vs Croatia

Lee Smith via Reuters

One of the big talking points for the Three Lions going into the tournament has revolved around the attack. While captain Harry Kane will obviously start, Tuchel has a big call to make in terms of the man who will play in the ten role behind the striker.

In five international games across 2025 and 2026, Aston Villa ace Morgan Rogers has been trusted in that position. When he starts, though, it means Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has to controversially settle for a spot on the bench.

In the two World Cup warm-ups, Rogers was given the nod against New Zealand, before Bellingham was handed the start against Costa Rica. It appears as though Tuchel has now made a final call on who will start, with the BBC claiming that the team which started that latter match will be the team to start against Croatia.

Journalist Sami Mokbel wrote: “Well, there is certainly a sense within the camp that the team that started in Orlando, barring maybe one or two exceptions, will be the side that begins the tournament.

Tuchel Decides on His World Cup Centre-Back Pairing

Jim Rassol via Reuters

With BBC ‘sources’ indicating that the team that started in the 3-0 win over Costa Rica will be close to the team that Tuchel picks against Croatia on Wednesday, that also means Tuchel has already made a big call regarding his centre-back partnership to start the tournament.

John Stones lined up alongside Maguire for many years but Marc Guehi took the Manchester United man’s place at Euro 2024. However, it looks as though Ezri Konsa will now start at the 2026 World Cup.

Indeed, the Aston Villa man lined up alongside Stones against Costa Rica, which suggests Tuchel has decided this will be his defensive pairing for the opening match. This may surprise some, especially as Guehi spent the last six months playing at Manchester City with Stones. The BBC explain, however:

The report also mentions that a ‘fully fit Bukayo Saka would almost certainly’ start ahead of Noni Madueke, but that just depends on the player’s fitness. He only came off the bench against Costa Rica, and that could happen again against Croatia, although it’s felt that Saka could start even if he isn’t fit enough to finish the match.