Borussia Dortmund
Watzke: Haaland Admires Real Madrid but a Move Would Be Years Away
Watzke says Haaland admires Real Madrid and could move in two to three years, not immediately. Soon.
Hans-Joachim Watzke, the long-serving Borussia Dortmund president who recruited Erling Haaland, has outlined a measured timeline for the Manchester City striker’s potential move to Real Madrid.
Watzke told Spanish publication AS that Haaland’s admiration for Real is clear but that an immediate transfer is unlikely. “I know very well what he thinks, and I can say that he certainly admires Real Madrid and would like to play for them in the future, but next season he will continue playing for Manchester City. Without a doubt,” he said. Watzke added: “He loves Real Madrid and he doesn’t hide it. I think he’ll be playing there in two or three years, but not that soon. He hasn’t committed to anyone, as his father has said.”
The comments come amid an overheated backdrop at Real Madrid, where presidential hopeful Enrique Riquelme named Haaland as a target if he were to replace Florentino Pérez. That pledge was emphatically rejected by the player’s representatives and by Manchester City, which denied any “contractual clause to enable it” and said it was even “considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context.”
Haaland’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, told La Sexta in March: “Everything is going very well for him and we really have nothing to discuss about a transfer when everything is so good at City.” Pimenta has previously said she has never negotiated a player contract without a release clause, but City’s statement and her own admission to ESPN last month that the club gives her “no leverage” have cast doubt on that claim.
With a contract that extends for years at Manchester City, any transfer would require an extraordinary offer or the player pushing for a move. Watzke’s forecast — a switch within two to three years rather than immediately — reflects those practical constraints.
Elsewhere, the Real Madrid vote on June 7 will determine the club’s leadership, a result that could affect future managerial plans. José Mourinho is reported as the candidate to take a three-year managerial deal only if Pérez is re-elected, while Riquelme has named Jürgen Klopp as his choice. Watzke regards Klopp joining Real Madrid this summer as a non-starter.
Borussia Dortmund
Five Possible Moves for Estêvão, Ranked
Estêvão is short of minutes at Chelsea, and several major clubs could enter the picture.
Estêvão’s place in Xabi Alonso’s plans appears secure in theory, but the evidence on the pitch has told a different story. The Brazilian youngster has found minutes hard to come by in a system built around a back three and wingbacks, which has left little space for wide forwards. He was even left on the bench when Chelsea exited the Carabao Cup on penalties to Liverpool last month.
There was a reminder of what he can offer when Alonso shifted to a 4-2-3-1 for the recent win over Manchester United. Estêvão started on the right and produced a strong display. Yet that momentum did not last, with another formation change ahead of the defeat to Sunderland before the international break sending him back to the bench.
BBC Sport reported in September that Estêvão was among a small group of “untouchable” Chelsea players, alongside Moisés Caicedo, Cole Palmer and João Pedro. Even so, a player of his ability, and one who has long attracted attention, could eventually begin to look elsewhere if the current situation does not improve.
If that point arrives, several destinations could enter the picture.
Paris Saint-Germain remain a logical name in any discussion of elite attacking talent, particularly after their summer reshuffle. But with Lee Kang-in, Bradley Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos already moved on, and with Maghnes Akliouche, Ferran Torres and Mika Godts arriving, they are more likely to trust their current options. They have also been hit by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s ACL tear, though Luis Enrique still has plenty to work with.
Liverpool is another obvious possibility. After Mohamed Salah’s departure in the summer, Andoni Iraola has used Bradley Barcola, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha on the right wing, but that position may still need greater certainty. A Chelsea sale to a Premier League rival would be difficult to imagine, yet the financial logic is there.
Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, would make sense only if the situation worsened and Chelsea agreed to a loan in January. They may not be as imposing as they once were, but the club still has a reputation for developing talent. Estêvão may not be the ideal Niko Kovać wide player, but Dortmund would be one to watch if temporary respite becomes the next step.
Borussia Dortmund
Sancho Faces Major Pay Cut As Getafe Table Short-Term Deal
Sancho’s latest offer from Getafe is far below his old United salary, with La Liga interest still alive.
Jadon Sancho’s next move has brought a stark reminder of how far his career has drifted from the heights once expected of him. The former Manchester United winger has been offered a contract by Getafe that is worth only 4% of his previous salary, according to a report.
Sancho, 26, struggled badly in the Premier League and failed to make a strong impression during loan spells with Chelsea and Aston Villa. After that, Manchester United decided not to activate an extension clause in his contract, allowing him to leave as a free agent.
Getafe approached him earlier this month, and The Telegraph reports that the financial terms are on a completely different level to anything he was used to in England. The Spanish club’s proposal is a yearly salary of €400,000 ($448,000), a figure that is less than he would have earned in two weeks under his previous United deal. The contract would run until the end of the current season.
Sancho has not dismissed the possibility of accepting the offer and is understood to be keen on a move to La Liga. He is expected to speak with club management in the coming days to formally review the proposal.
For a player who has been in the spotlight for nearly a decade, the contrast is dramatic. His move from Manchester City’s academy to Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2017 generated major attention, and he quickly justified the interest with his performances. In 2018-19, he was involved in 30 goals in the Bundesliga, then improved that return to 34 the following year, prompting Europe’s top clubs to circle.
United’s success in that transfer battle was widely applauded at the time, with Sancho viewed as a possible transformative signing. But the expectations, amplified by the size of the deal, have followed him ever since.
In the last five years, however, little has gone to plan on the pitch. The scrutiny around every step has remained intense, and the latest offer reflects just how sharply the picture has changed.
Al Ahli
Yashin Trophy 2026 shortlists reveal established names and fresh contenders
The 2026 Yashin Trophy shortlists are out, with new contenders joining familiar goalkeeping names.
The 2026 Yashin Trophy race has taken shape, with 10 men and five women named on the latest shortlists for football’s top goalkeeping honour.
There will be a new men’s winner this year after Gianluigi Donnarumma, who led the rankings in 2025, was not included among the nominees. That opens the door for a wide-open contest featuring several familiar figures and a few first-time entrants.
Thibaut Courtois is again in the mix, underlining the standing he has built over several years. Barcelona’s Joan García has also earned a first nomination after a season that put him firmly among the leading candidates. Arsenal’s David Raya, last season’s Premier League Golden Glove winner, is on the list too, while Emiliano Martínez returns to the spotlight after being nominated for his work with former employers Aston Villa and later joining Chelsea this summer.
The men’s shortlist also includes Matvey Safonov and Gregor Kobel, plus the Saudi Arabia-based pair of Yassine Bounou and Édouard Mendy. Unai Simón is recognised after helping Spain to World Cup glory, while Vozinha completes the lineup after another notable campaign at 40 years old.
Courtois and Martínez have both lifted the prize before, with Martínez a two-time winner in 2023 and 2024.
On the women’s side, Hannah Hampton is back after becoming the first winner of the Women’s Yashin Trophy last year. She is joined by Ann-Katrin Berger and Cata Coll, who finished second and third in the inaugural edition. Manchester City’s Ayaka Yamashita and Kansas City Current’s Lorena complete the women’s shortlist.
The full lists confirm a competition that mixes proven pedigree with new challengers, and the final outcome now depends on which goalkeeper can turn nomination into the highest honour.
