Man City Chase Fernandez, Arsenal Eye Alvarez on Deadline Day

01 September 2026, Spain, Madrid: Atletico de Madrid's Julian Alvarez in action during the team's training session at Atletico de Madrid Training Complex ahead of the Spanish Primera Division soccer match against Athletic Club. (dpa)
01 September 2026, Spain, Madrid: Atletico de Madrid's Julian Alvarez in action during the team's training session at Atletico de Madrid Training Complex ahead of the Spanish Primera Division soccer match against Athletic Club. (dpa)
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Man City Chase Fernandez, Arsenal Eye Alvarez on Deadline Day

01 September 2026, Spain, Madrid: Atletico de Madrid's Julian Alvarez in action during the team's training session at Atletico de Madrid Training Complex ahead of the Spanish Primera Division soccer match against Athletic Club. (dpa)
01 September 2026, Spain, Madrid: Atletico de Madrid's Julian Alvarez in action during the team's training session at Atletico de Madrid Training Complex ahead of the Spanish Primera Division soccer match against Athletic Club. (dpa)

Manchester City hope to seal a blockbuster move for Enzo Fernandez, while Arsenal have their sights set on Julian Alvarez in the final hours before the transfer window closes.

With Premier League clubs unable to sign players until January once Tuesday's 2200 GMT deadline passes, City, Arsenal and company have one last chance to improve their squads.

Frantic last-minute spending is on the agenda as City try to finally seal a swoop for Chelsea midfielder Fernandez.

Chelsea value Fernandez at around £120 million ($162 million) and City have yet to match that hefty price tag.

A reunion with City's former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca might suit Fernandez, who had angered the Blues last season by expressing interest in joining Real Madrid.

Maresca is keen to land the Argentine after the recent sale of influential World Cup winner Rodri to Barcelona, as well as the departures of fellow midfielders Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has left Fernandez out of his squad for the last two games as speculation swirls over his potential switch to the Etihad Stadium.

City are also expected to announce the signing of Senegal midfielder Iliman Ndiaye from Everton in a deal worth £65 million.

Tottenham had been linked with Ndiaye, but City appear to have won the race for the 26-year-old's signature.

Champions Arsenal can make a major splash if they can land Argentina striker Alvarez.

Alvarez reportedly prefers a move to Barcelona but, while Atletico do not want to sell to their La Liga rivals, they could be persuaded to do a £128 million deal with Arsenal.

- Statement of intent -

Alvarez has missed several training sessions and was not part of the Atletico team that beat Sevilla last weekend.

Landing the former City star would be a significant statement of intent from Arsenal, who are looking to win the club's first back-to-back English titles since the 1930s.

Meanwhile, Arsenal striker Ethan Nwaneri is lined up for a season-long loan at Borussia Dortmund.

Liverpool splashed out on France forward Bradley Barcola on Monday, spending £123 million to lure him from Paris Saint-Germain.

But Reds boss Andoni Iraola still wants another winger as the club adjusts to life without Mohamed Salah, who joined Trabzonspor in August after ending his iconic Liverpool career.

Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr and Brighton's Yankuba Minteh are on Iraola's wanted list.

If Liverpool sign either of those targets, it could clear the way for Dutch forward Cody Gakpo to leave Anfield amid interest from City and Tottenham.

Harvey Elliott is due to leave Liverpool, with a loan at Valencia lined up for the playmaker after his disappointing stint at Aston Villa last term.

Tottenham are keen to bring in Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk on loan after missing out on Ndiaye.

City winger Jack Grealish is set to rejoin Everton on loan after spending last season with David Moyes's men.

Grealish has fallen out of favor at City over the last two years, but impressed at Everton before suffering a season-ending foot injury in January.

Everton are also on the verge of signing United States forward Folarin Balogun from Monaco in a £40 million deal.

Newcastle striker Nicolas Woltemade is set to join Juventus on loan.



Irish PM Backs Football Manager After Israel FA Criticism

21 September 2026, Ireland, Dublin: Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin speaks to members of the media before a Cabinet meeting, at Government Buildings. (dpa)
21 September 2026, Ireland, Dublin: Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin speaks to members of the media before a Cabinet meeting, at Government Buildings. (dpa)
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Irish PM Backs Football Manager After Israel FA Criticism

21 September 2026, Ireland, Dublin: Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin speaks to members of the media before a Cabinet meeting, at Government Buildings. (dpa)
21 September 2026, Ireland, Dublin: Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin speaks to members of the media before a Cabinet meeting, at Government Buildings. (dpa)

Ireland's prime minister, Micheal Martin, backed his country's football manager on Tuesday after Israel's football federation accused him of "stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy" over comments about the war in Gaza.

Martin said the Israel Football Association's remarks about Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson were "unacceptable".

"I think those are unacceptable remarks. They should be withdrawn," Martin told reporters in New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly.

"Israel can't keep denying what the world knows, and what the world understands," he said.

Hallgrimsson sparked the row after saying ahead of two Nations League fixtures against Israel: "We're not playing with genocide, we're playing against genocide. We're playing against Israel, we're not playing with Israel."

The Israel FA responded on Monday, accusing the Icelandic coach of "stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy".

Martin said Hallgrimsson's comments reflected concerns about the scale of death and destruction in Gaza, also citing remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The dispute comes amid mounting controversy in Ireland over the fixtures, scheduled for September 27 and October 4.

More than 160 Irish sportspeople have signed an open letter calling on the national team to boycott the matches, while protesters gathered outside the team's Dublin hotel on Monday.

Further protests are planned around the country in the run-up to the games.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) passed a motion last November requesting that European football governing body UEFA suspend Israel from international competition, but received no support from European football chiefs.

The FAI has said it has little choice but to fulfil the fixtures or risk sporting and financial sanctions.

Ireland's designated home match on October 4 was moved from Dublin's Aviva Stadium to Backa Topola, Serbia, following concerns over disruption and security.

The September 27 match, officially Israel's home fixture, will also be played at a neutral venue, in Debrecen, Hungary.

Israel strongly rejects allegations that its conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide.

Hamas on October 7, 2023 led the deadliest attack ever against Israel in which militants killed 1,221 people and dragged into Gaza some 251 hostages, 44 of them already dead, according to Israeli official figures.

Israel launched a massive retaliatory offensive that has displaced virtually the entire population at least once and has killed 73,919 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, which operates under Hamas and whose figures are generally considered reliable.

Ireland has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, with sympathy for Palestinians often linked to the country's own history of British rule.

Dublin formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway, and has repeatedly criticized Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza.


Hadjar Back for Red Bull at Azerbaijan GP

FILE - Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar prepares for the first practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
FILE - Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar prepares for the first practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
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Hadjar Back for Red Bull at Azerbaijan GP

FILE - Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar prepares for the first practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
FILE - Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar prepares for the first practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)

French racer Isack Hadjar will make his Formula One return this weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after missing the last three races, his Red Bull team said on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old missed GPs in the Netherlands, Italy and Spain, and was replaced by New Zealander Liam Lawson.

He had injured his wrist in training over the summer break.

"Oracle Red Bull Racing is delighted to welcome Isack back this weekend," the team said in social media posts, according to AFP.

"Having made a successful recovery from his wrist injury, Isack will return to action at the Baku City circuit on Thursday."

Lawson will return to the sister Racing Bulls team this weekend.
Japan's Yuki Tsunoda had filled in for Lawson during the last three Grand Prix.

Lawson scored 14 points during his Red Bull secondment, while Tsunoda managed a single point in the Racing Bulls seat.


Zidane Leads First France Training Session

France's head coach Zinedine Zidane takes part in a training session four days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Türkiye in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines outside Paris, on September 21, 2026. (AFP)
France's head coach Zinedine Zidane takes part in a training session four days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Türkiye in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines outside Paris, on September 21, 2026. (AFP)
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Zidane Leads First France Training Session

France's head coach Zinedine Zidane takes part in a training session four days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Türkiye in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines outside Paris, on September 21, 2026. (AFP)
France's head coach Zinedine Zidane takes part in a training session four days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Türkiye in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines outside Paris, on September 21, 2026. (AFP)

Zinedine Zidane oversaw his first training session with the France national team on Monday as Les Bleus prepared for the start of the new Nations League campaign.

Under the gaze of some 50 journalists, the 1998 World Cup winner led a dozen of his players through a light training session at the country's national football center, Clairefontaine.

With many of France's stars in action with their clubs across Europe last weekend, not all of Zidane's 23-man squad were present.

Michael Olise, Eduardo Camavinga, Jules Kounde and Dayot Upamecano featured in the 12-strong group but captain Kylian Mbappe, who played in Real Madrid's derby loss to Atletico Madrid on Sunday, was a notable absentee.

Zidane was joined for the session by his assistant David Bettoni, who worked alongside him at Real Madrid, and former team-mate from the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000-winning sides, Fabien Barthez, who is France's goalkeeping coach.

The session concluded with a short practice match, followed by shots on goal from crosses delivered by Zidane himself.

France face four Nations League fixtures following this first training camp of the Zidane era: away matches in Türkiye and Belgium on September 25 and 28, followed by home matches against Italy and Belgium at the Stade de France in early October.