As their Premier League rivals attempt to adhere to stringent spending regulations, Eddie Howe has urged Newcastle to be relentless in the summer transfer window.
In order to comply with profitability and sustainability restrictions (PSR), the Magpies found themselves reluctant to sell Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest and Yankuba Minteh to Brighton a year ago.
Since they haven’t signed a significant deal in three transfer windows, they are significantly more advantageous this time around as they approach the June 30 deadline.
Howe wants the club to be prepared to pounce in light of claims that clubs like Aston Villa, Bournemouth, and Forest may need to sell players in order to comply.
“The PSR deadline is significant for clubs, both those with and without PSR issues, because those without may try to sign players.”
They will, to our credit, take advantage of other clubs, just as they did last year.
It’s a really intriguing dynamic that we’re aware of, and we’ll make every effort to make the most of.
“I won’t go into the details of that, but there are people at the club who are working very hard on it in the background.”
Despite having a difficult start to their season, Newcastle are third in the table and confident that they will still be able to win the Champions League.
After playing Arsenal and Everton, they travel to top-five rivals Chelsea.
Newcastle’s League Cup success guarantees a Conference League spot next season, regardless of what happens in the upcoming campaign.
However, being eligible for the biggest club competition in Europe would help attract summer targets and keep their biggest names in Tyneside.
Throughout the campaign, Howe has addressed rumors about Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Alexander Isak, but he has said he wants to strengthen rather than weaken his squad.
I can’t sit here and say what will happen because I don’t have a crystal ball. You can’t consistently lose your best players, so I can only express my determination. My goal is to create the best team possible.
After visiting a knee specialist, Howe confirmed that midfielder Joelinton is unlikely to play again this year.
As he contemplated the season’s upcoming season, Liverpool manager Arne Slot claimed on Friday that winning the Premier League title at Anfield was one of the best times of his life.
With four games to go, the Reds won the record-breaking 20th English league title by defeating Tottenham 5-1 on Sunday, basking in the sensational atmosphere at their packed home base.
“One of the best days of their lives, for many of them, and I think it was the same for me,” said Slot, “perhaps for all Liverpool fans.”
“The way the day went, when we arrived at the stadium, how passionate the fans were,” the stadium’s entrance reportedly said, “Oh, they’re not going to give it to us, we have to work for it.”
For me, being a part of the scoring the goals and understanding what they meant to the players and the fans was really special.
Liverpool travel to Chelsea on Sunday before facing Arsenal, Brighton, and Crystal Palace in their final games.
“It’s nice that we play some very strong teams like Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, and Palace,” Slot, 46, said, “That presents immediate challenge to those games.”
The season is over, but we also need to consider whether this marks the start of the new year.
Even though Liverpool won 2-1, the Dutchman said he was surprised by the 22-point gap between his team and Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, who he believed were the better team when they met in October.
We were the better team on the pitch, he said, and we found a way to win, which is something we didn’t need a lot.
However, in that game, perhaps, we had to endure more suffering than in any other game. Therefore, everyone at this club is greatly appreciative of having so many points ahead of them.
In the final games of the season, the former Feyenoord boss announced that he would switch teams.
Because of their excellent training, some of them “deserved to play” already this season, he said. I primarily chose the same players despite the fact that they are good enough to play for this club.
“And I believe that this also provides a glimpse of where they are, with some eyes already on the upcoming season.” But unquestionably because they deserve to participate this year.
Slot predicted that Liverpool’s success in the Premier League would boost recruitment.
With the fans that we have, he said, “I think winning the league makes each player we want to bring in a lot, and that’s definitely helpful.”
Although Virgil van Dijk, the club’s captain, and Mohamed Salah, the top scorer, have recently signed new contracts to stay at Liverpool, Slot claimed Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is still being linked with a move to Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, is still unannounced.
Chelsea strolled to a comfortable 4-1 win at Djurgarden in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League semi-final on Thursday to all but book their spot in the final.
In the other semi-final, Spain’s Real Betis take a 2-1 lead into the return fixture against two-time runners-up Fiorentina.
First-half goals from Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke put Chelsea in control in Sweden, before Nicolas Jackson grabbed a brace midway through the second period.
Chelsea’s Senegalese striker #15 Nicolas Jackson (C) passes Djurgardens’ Swedish goalkeeper #35 Jacob Rinne (L) to score the 0-3 goal during the UEFA Conference League semi-final football match Djurgardens IF vs Chelsea FC at the 3Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 1, 2025, (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP)
“It was (a perfect night), an important semi-final,” Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca told TNT Sports.
“It’s a good result, but we have the experience from the Legia Warsaw game, where we won 3-0 there and we struggled a little bit (Chelsea’s only loss in the tournament came at home in the return fixture), so we need to be focused on the second leg.”
Maresca’s side have one foot in the final of the Conference League in their debut campaign in the third-tier European competition.
READ ALSO: Man Utd Beat 10-Man Bilbao To Close In On Europa League Final
Lifting the trophy in the Polish city of Wroclaw on May 28 would add another continental title to the London club’s haul of two Champions Leagues, a pair of Europa Leagues and two UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups.
Chelsea’s English defender #04 Tosin Adarabioyo (2nd L) reacts as Djurgardens’ Norwegian midfielder #16 Tobias Gulliksen (5th L) and his team mates argue during the UEFA Conference League semi-final football match Djurgardens IF vs Chelsea FC at the 3Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 1, 2025, (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP)
Their opponents, on the other hand, don’t quite boast the same European pedigree, and in making the last four became the first Swedish side to play a semi-final in Europe since 1986/87.
To further add to Djurgarden’s underdog status, coach Jani Honkavaara only had 14 senior players fit to call upon for the visit of the Premier League giants.
Chelsea took the lead via Sancho on 12 minutes as the winger collected a lofted pass in the box and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper before the retreating Marcus Danielson sliced his attempted clearance against his own arm and into the goal.
The goal settled Chelsea, who slowly got more accustomed to the artificial surface in Stockholm and began to dominate Djurgarden.
Madueke made that dominance pay two minutes prior to half-time when he opened up his body to feint a cross-goal shot with his left foot, before sweeping a first-time finish inside the near post.
Jackson at the double
As the interval loomed, Djurgarden nearly caught Chelsea with a sucker-punch, only for the English club’s Swedish-born ‘keeper Filip Jorgensen to readjust brilliantly and tip Tokmac Nguen’s deflected strike behind for a corner.
Jackson put Chelsea three goals to the good one minute before the hour as he tapped in from close range following a defensive mix-up.
The Senegalese striker doubled up six minutes later, unleashing a fizzing shot with his left foot from the edge of the box.
Chelsea’s Senegalese striker #15 Nicolas Jackson (R) celebrates with Chelsea’s English midfielder #22 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring the 0-3 goal during the UEFA Conference League semi-final football match Djurgardens IF vs Chelsea FC at the 3Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP)
Teenager Isak Alemayehu Mulugeta snatched a consolation for Djurgarden in the 68th minute with a powerful downward header for his first senior goal.
“Very good performance, the most important thing is that we won. It is one step forward and we hope to reach the final,” said Jackson.
In Andalusia, Betis had a dream start when Abde Ezzalzouli smashed the ball in off the crossbar on six minutes following battling centre-forward play by the in-form Cedric Bakambu.
Fiorentina came within a whisker of equalising midway through the first half, but Rolando Mandragora’s powerful header zipped inches wide of goalkeeper Fran Vieites’ upright.
Former Barcelona centre-half Marc Bartra had a chance to double Betis’ lead at the end of the first period but blasted over from a corner.
Manchester United loanee Antony then did get a second for the hosts with a fierce right-footed effort from outside the box which flew beyond David de Gea’s reach and into the top corner in the 64th minute.
Fiorentina halved the lead against the run of play with 17 minutes remaining as Luca Ranieri slotted home after being teed up by Robin Gosens.
The second leg ties will take place next Thursday.
Bruno Fernandes struck twice as Manchester United put one foot in the Europa League final with a clinical away performance to beat 10-man Athletic Bilbao 3-0 on Thursday.
The fervent home fans were enraged when Athletic defender Daniel Vivian was sent off for pulling back Rasmus Hojlund and Fernandes slotted home the resulting penalty, after Casemiro had opened the scoring against the run of play in the semi-final first leg.
Fernandes rolled in a third before half-time as Ruben Amorim’s side moved a step closer to the final, to be held at Athletic’s San Mames stadium.
Athletic Bilbao’s Spanish forward #21 Maroan Sannadi (L) is challenged by Manchester United’s Brazilian midfielder #18 Casemiro during the UEFA Europa League semi final first leg football match between Athletic Club Bilbao and Manchester United at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP)
The hosts have been dreaming of winning a first European trophy on their own soil but their hopes were demolished by United’s professional display in the north of Spain — and Athletic’s supporters argued, the refereeing.
READ ALSO: Chelsea On Brink Of Conference League Final After Thrashing Djurgarden
Languishing in 14th in the Premier League, Champions League qualification for United is only possible with a Europa League triumph, as is access to the £100 million ($133 million) honeypot it entails.
Despite regularly crumbling under pressure this season, the Red Devils — who produced a stunning comeback against Lyon in the quarter-finals — first survived and then thrived in a hostile environment.
Manchester United’s English defender #23 Luke Shaw (L) and Manchester United’s Dutch defender #04 Matthijs de Ligt react after the UEFA Europa League semi final first leg football match between Athletic Club Bilbao and Manchester United at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP)
“We looked a little bit nervous at times in the first 20 minutes… we weathered the storm and we knew we’d get our chance,” Man United’s Harry Maguire told TNT Sports.
“It was a clinical first half, professional second half… It’s a great victory in the end but there’s another big game next week.”
With May 1 a bank holiday in Spain the streets of Bilbao were filled with red-and-white striped shirts from the morning onwards, in party mode.
Athletic Bilbao players react after the UEFA Europa League semi final first leg football match between Athletic Club Bilbao and Manchester United at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP)
The San Mames was rocking as fans greeted their heroes, all of them born or raised in the Basque country, as per the club’s century-long policy.
Alejandro Garnacho’s early strike gave the hosts a scare but the forward was offside.
Beyond that the early stages of the match for United were about gritting their teeth and holding off the Basque side and their raucous supporters.
Red card rocks hosts
Alex Berenguer forced a smart low save from Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, and Inaki Williams headed narrowly over.
Victor Lindelof made a vital block to thwart Berenguer after Nico Williams fed his brother Inaki, who was given too much space on the right wing.
The hosts were ascendant and when former Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro opened the scoring for United it came as a shock.
Athletic Bilbao’s Spanish midfielder #23 Mikel Jauregizar Alboniga (L) challenges Manchester United’s Danish defender #13 Patrick Dorgu for the ball during the UEFA Europa League semi final first leg football match between Athletic Club Bilbao and Manchester United at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP)
Just as much of a surprise was the way United created the goal, with centre-back Maguire dribbling down the right flank as Mikel Jaureguizar floundered in his wake.
The defender fizzed a cross into the area, which Manuel Ugarte flicked on to the back post for Casemiro to nod home from close range.
It seemed like a smash-and-grab but soon United had a second, when Vivian was penalised for pulling back Hojlund as he tried to connect with a cross.
The defender was sent off to add insult to injury, as Athletic fans howled in anger, and Fernandes rolled home from the spot.
Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde made a double substitution, trying to stem the bleeding, but his team shipped a third before half-time.
Ugarte’s clever backheel played Fernandes through on goal and he stroked home with ease.
Noussair Mazraoui crashed a shot off the crossbar from distance as United almost grabbed a fourth before the break.
Norwegian referee Espen Eskas and his colleagues were barracked by the home fans, seeing their aspirations to glory evaporate before their eyes.
They were further enraged, waving anything white to show their disgust, when Maroan Sannadi tumbled under pressure from Maguire as he ran towards goal but no foul was awarded.
United largely controlled the game in the second half but they could not add a fourth despite probing.
The second leg takes place next Thursday at Old Trafford, ahead of the final on May 21 against Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt.
“At the slightest contact (Hojlund) let himself fall and the bad luck is that the penalty was given,” said Inaki Williams.
“We weren’t particularly great, so we shouldn’t make excuses — we’re three goals down but we’re capable of mounting a comeback.”
In a tense Group B opener at Cairo’s 30 June Air Defence Stadium on Thursday, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria defeated Tunisia 1-0 to win their eighth U20 Africa Cup of Nations title.
The Flying Eagles ground out a result of a match filled with physical battles, near misses, and late drama after Auwal Ibrahim’s first-half strike sealed the two teams.
Despite Nigeria dominating the opening moments and securing numerous chances, they discovered a tenacious Tunisian side who was determined to hold their ground. However, Ibrahim made no mistakes from close range with Odinaka Okoro’s well-weighted assist and won the ball in the 38th minute to put Nigeria in front.
READ MORE: Guardiola is pleased Rodri will return but unsure whether he will make a comeback in the FA Cup final.
Omar Ben Ali and Anis Doubal gave the North Africans a quick and effective response, but the defenseman and goalkeeper from Nigeria held firm. Tunisia had the best chance in the 87th minute, but Doubal’s strike was smothered in the center of the goal.
Although the second half was worse and more foul-filled, Nigeria’s energy in the middle was aided by Divine Oliseh and Clinton Jephta’s ability to control the game’s length. Six yellow cards were distributed equally between the teams during the game, a sign of how intense the game was getting.
Tunisia, who were semi-finalists in 2021 and 2023, put in a lot of pressure in the closing seconds thanks to a flurry of corners and long-range shots, but Daniel Bameyi and Adamu Maigari’s defensive line did not succeed.
Tunisia is now under increased pressure ahead of their next game as a result, giving Nigeria three crucial points in a group that also includes Morocco and Kenya.
Nigeria has now made eight of their last ten tournament appearances an extension of their unbeaten run, making them the most decorated team in U-20 AFCON history with seven titles.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is glad to have Spain midfielder Rodri back in training but has no idea yet if he will feature at all in this month’s FA Cup final, saying “I’m not a doctor”.
Rodri was expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury, rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September.
(FILES) Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri poses upon arrival to attend the 2024 Ballon d’Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 28, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
The 28-year-old Ballon d’or winner’s absence has been a key factor in a City slump that ended their unprecedented run of four successive English top-flight titles, with Liverpool already crowned champions for the 2024/25 Premier League season.
READ ALSO: Barca Fight Back Against Inter In Sensational Semi-Final Draw
City, however, have recovered to fourth in the table and are on course to qualify for the Champions League with a top-five finish.
Guardiola’s men will also play Crystal Palace in their third straight FA Cup final at Wembley on May 17 after defeating fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest 2-0 in last weekend’s semi-finals.
“We are really pleased that Rodri is back in the training sessions,” Guardiola told reporters on Thursday during a pre-match press conference ahead of Friday’s league game at home to Wolves.
“The moment the physio and doctor says ‘Rodri can start to play minutes’, after that he will start to play minutes. But the doctors have to tell me.”
The Spaniard added: “It was a difficult injury, seven to 11 months the doctors.
“He feels really good every day making sessions and sessions but we have to avoid making a step backwards or getting injured again. That’s why you have to be careful.
“The important (thing) is one training session, another one, and every time he feels better and better. And when the doctor says ‘Rodri is stable and he can start to play’, after that he is going to come back.”
Guardiola, pressed on whether Rodri would play any part in the FA Cup final against south London side Palace, insisted: “I am not a doctor.”
Haaland to miss Wolves
He was, however, more explicit about the fitness of Erling Haaland, who is unlikely to feature against Wolves despite a recent return to full training.
The prolific Norwegian striker has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury in City’s FA Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth in March.
Guardiola, asked if the 24-year-old Haaland could feature against Wolves, answered: “He’s getting better (but) I don’t think so.”
City now face a Wolves side in fine form, with new boss Vitor Pereira overseeing a run of six successive victories that has banished the threat of relegation.
“The quality they have, the shape they play, the courage — it’s no surprise,” said Guardiola of Wolves’ winning streak.
“Wolves have always had, in the last years, really good players and now they’re having an incredible run. It’s another final for us, an important game.”
City are 21 points behind Liverpool in the league and one point clear of Chelsea and Forest, who also have a game in hand, in the race for the top five places.
Following the semi-final win over Forest, it was suggested to Guardiola that a combination of FA Cup glory and Champions League qualification would constitute a “successful” campaign.
But he replied: “No, and I have said that many times.
“This season has not been good. We are a thousand million points behind Liverpool, so come on, this season has not been good.”
