Football
Sweden boss rubbishes Viktor Gyokeres transfer claim amid Arsenal talks
Jon Dahl Tomasson has strongly refuted speculation that Viktor Gyokeres withdrew from Sweden’s squad to avoid injury ahead of a potential summer transfer to Arsenal.
The prolific Sporting striker had been named in Tomasson’s 24-man list for friendlies against Hungary and Algeria and was expected to add to his 26 international caps.
However, the Swedish Football Association confirmed on Tuesday that Gyokeres was released from the national team’s training camp in Stockholm due to a minor injury and will not feature in either match.
Tomasson is also dealing with the absence of Alexander Isak, who pulled out of the squad with a groin issue. These developments mark a setback for Sweden’s preparations as they gear up for the start of their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, which begins in September against Slovenia.
Amid these injury updates, social media buzz has suggested that Gyokeres may have opted out of the friendlies to protect himself from injury, possibly due to Arsenal’s ongoing interest.
The Gunners are reportedly leading the chase to sign the striker and are believed to have held discussions with his representatives in Lisbon prior to his arrival at the Swedish camp.
Despite the swirling rumors, Tomasson dismissed the idea that Gyokeres might be exaggerating his injury. He explained that the player had been carrying a minor issue and had not trained much in recent weeks.
The Swedish coach emphasized that the medical team was already aware of the situation, and the decision to send him home was made collaboratively. Tomasson expressed his appreciation for Gyokeres joining the camp despite not being fully fit, saying it reflects the striker’s commitment to the national team.
According to an official statement from the Swedish FA, Gyokeres is leaving the squad to rehabilitate the injury and will not be available for the upcoming games.
Sweden’s match against Hungary is set for Friday evening at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, followed by a home fixture against Algeria at Stockholm’s Strawberry Arena.
Gyokeres had an outstanding season at Sporting, scoring 54 goals in 52 appearances. Yet despite ongoing transfer speculation, the striker has stated that no final decision about his future has been made.
Speaking on the Flymoduspod podcast earlier this week, he admitted that the situation is still unresolved and that he has no concrete update to offer.
Sporting manager Rui Borges has acknowledged that while Gyokeres remains happy at the club, interest from top teams is inevitable given his impressive form. Borges praised the striker’s dedication and goal-scoring instincts, calling him the best forward in Europe based on his numbers.
He noted that although the club would consider selling him for a fee around £60 million, Gyokeres remains deeply connected to the club and fully committed if he stays. His current contract with Sporting runs through June 2028.
Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.
The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.
Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.
Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.
Juventus enter the race for Sancho
Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.
According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.
Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?
Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.
If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.
Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.
Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.
Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.
Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.
Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.
His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.
Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.
The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.
Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.
Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight
Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.
Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.
In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.
The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.
However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.
The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.
The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.
Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights
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