
Gossip: Arsenal face competition in Hato race
Chelsea are understood to have opened talks with Ajax over a potential transfer for 19-year-old Netherlands defender Jorrel Hato, who is also a target for Arsenal and Liverpool. (Caughtoffside), externalWant more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip columnFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Telegraph
11 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon preparations dealt blow after Berlin Open withdrawal
Injury-hit Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Berlin Open, just over a fortnight out from the Wimbledon Championships. In the countdown to the HSBC Championships at Queen's, Raducanu had been managing a back problem, but it resurfaced during her 6-2, 6-4 quarter-final defeat by Zheng Qinwen on Friday. Against the powerful hitting of top seed Zheng, Raducanu had to call a medic to court between sets and had to leave the Andy Murray Arena to have strapping placed on her back. After the loss, Raducanu revealed she needed painkillers to get herself through the match. Prior to the injury, Raducanu had been planning to travel to Berlin, a grass-court tournament featuring nine of the world's top-10 players, in an attempt to boost her rankings for Wimbledon. Raducanu climbed to 36 in the world rankings following her progress to the quarter-finals at Queen's, but only the top 32 will be seeded at Wimbledon. By dropping out of Berlin, Raducanu will need a number of other players to withdraw to be awarded a coveted seeded spot at SW19. However, Telegraph Sport understands she will still be targeting a return to the grass ahead of Wimbledon at Eastbourne, which starts on June 21. When asked about her injury following the defeat to Zheng, Raducanu said: 'It's been lingering for the last few weeks, and I have had back issues before. It's just a vulnerability of mine. I know I need to take good care of it. I'm not overly concerned that it's something serious, but I know it's something that's very annoying.' She added: 'I have been struggling with my back since Strasbourg, and it's just been something that's been on and off. 'I have been managing it pretty well over the last few weeks, but I guess as the week goes on and I have played five matches now, like, even if two were doubles, I think, yeah, it just tests it out. And I just felt it, as the load goes up. They took me off court and taped it to give me some extra stability, and some painkillers.'


Daily Mirror
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Club World Cup's importance is clear as Man City and Chelsea chase £97m jackpot
Pep Guardiola joked he will be taking his golf clubs to the Club World Cup. But no-one should be fooled about the importance of FIFA's new-look competition in the United States this summer. Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and the rest have their eyes on a £97m jackpot for the winners as part of the overall £775m prize money. And it is not just the cash on offer which is motivating the clubs even though it is a major factor. The likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe will be among the star-studded cast list but it will also be huge show bigger than just a dress rehearsal 12 months before the US jointly hosts the next World Cup. And if you are in any doubt about the clubs wanting to win the Club World Cup then you only need to look at the 'mini transfer window' ahead of the tournament. City boss Guardiola went on another spending spree to make sure they are competitive as they have spent over £100m on new signings for the tournament. Big-spending City have brought in AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for £46.5m, plus there signed Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli and Rayan Cherki in another massive purge. Perhaps just as significantly, Real Madrid spent around £10m just to have Trent Alexander-Arnold available for the Club World Cup. Alexander-Arnold had already agreed to join Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer but the Spanish giants paid out to be able to register the England right back before his contract was due to expire at the end of June. The controversy surrounding the workload, the lack of a proper summer holiday and also too many games is impossible to ignore. As have been reports of slow ticket sales for the major games. Plus FIFA took some time to find a TV deal and, back in the United Kingdom, it is being shown on DAZN who have struck an agreement with Channel 5 to also share coverage. Chelsea and City provide Premier League interest and four of their combined six Group matches kick off in the afternoon or evening UK time. It means Chelsea's first game in Atlanta next Tuesday could be scorching hot in the stadium - but a good watch for viewers back home. That will be key for the tournament to catch light and capture the imagination of the football-loving masses in Europe. And when it comes to kick off, Chelsea won the previous incarnation of this tournament in Abu Dhabi in 2022. City lifted in December 2023. It feels like FIFA have engineered the qualification process for the Club World Cup to get their pick of 32 teams but it will throw up big matches, good clashes and huge interest. Why on earth they had to put in an extra round - the last 16 - ahead of the quarter finals is anyone's guess. But it does mean it will last a month, finally finishing in the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, on July 13. That will put extra strain on the players. But big players and big managers are winners by nature and that means that they will give everything this summer. They will end up with a hangover for next season rather than go easy this summer. That is the reality. Players want to play - and then complain afterwards. And rightly so. We will also get a glimpse of the set-up in the United States. England boss Thomas Tuchel is spending time there to look at base camps, training facilities and also getting his head around how it will all work. The whole thing is designed to deliver stardust. It will be a dress rehearsal for next summer. And it promises to be spectacular. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The FIFA Club World Cup will see 32 of the world's best club teams including Man City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich play across 63 games from June 14-July 13. Fans can watch every match live and for free by signing up to DAZN.


Daily Mirror
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Joao Pedro's real transfer preference between Chelsea and Newcastle confirmed
Joao Pedro looks set to leave Brighton this season with a number of clubs having expressed their interest in the Brazilian but it appears that he has already picked his next club Joao Pedro has opened the door to a sensational move to Chelsea despite Newcastle 's growing interest. The Brazilian striker finds himself in the middle of a tug of war between the two clubs this summer. Reports have recently suggested that Newcastle are stepping up their attempts to sign him as Eddie Howe tries to bolster his front-line. Chelsea have also been linked with a £50m move this summer. And it appears that a switch to Stamford Bridge appeals more to Pedro, if his Brighton teammate Igor Julio is to be believed. The defender has suggested that the forward is prioritising a move to London despite his own attempts to get the former Watford man to sign for Liverpool. 'Joao Pedro had already told Brighton some time ago that his desire was to leave, seek new things, take the next step,' Igor told Trivela. 'It seems it will be difficult and complicated for him to stay here. 'We have to be honest, the club already knows that. (I'm) very happy for him. He deserves it. He's been here in England for five years and hasn't played for a big team yet. It's his moment, his time, so he can make the best decision and be happy wherever he is. 'He always told me that he really wants to live in London, so I think he will prioritise what comes from there first. 'I told [Pedro] that he has to think about what he wants from his career. In my opinion, if I were going to a 'Big Six' team, I would go to a team that fights for the Premier League, plays in the Champions League and is always in a position to win. 'I would go to a Liverpool team and I think he would fit in perfectly at Liverpool. It's because I've always dreamed of playing for Liverpool and I would go there.' Would Joao Pedro be a good signing for Chelsea? Share your thoughts in the comments below Pedro, 23, has scored 30 goals for Brighton having signed for the club in a £30m move from Watford two years ago. He still has three years left to run on his contract at the Amex Stadium. Despite reports suggesting he could be on the way out, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler hinted earlier this year that he would have the striker's services to call on next term. He said: 'Joao is still a young player and there's still a lot of potential where he will grow, and I'm sure that he will learn from this and come back strong next season. "I'm really looking forward to seeing him renewed and reinvigorated at his highest peak for us and that's all I will say on this.' Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.