John Stones has opted for a different path, turning away from Premier League interest and moving towards Inter Milan as a free agent.

The 32-year-old has already underlined his value on the international stage. He impressed from the bench in the round of 16 win over Mexico, when Tuchel’s side held firm despite being a man down. He then played the full quarterfinal against Norway before starting the semifinal loss to Argentina.

Injury problems have interrupted Stones throughout his City career, but his standing among elite Premier League centre-backs remains clear. He has won six titles, and his World Cup form suggested he is still operating at a high level when fit. For Inter, that makes the move look like a significant piece of business.

According to Sky Sports, Stones has verbally agreed to join the scudetto winners and is due to sign a two-year contract before the end of the week.

That agreement comes as a setback for Arsenal and Chelsea, both of whom had been linked with the defender. Stones also has a connection to Mikel Arteta, having worked with the Arsenal head coach when the Spaniard was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.

Juventus were also involved in the chase, but Beppe Marotta appears to have delivered once again, with Inter sealing the deal. The club have built a reputation for smart free-agent recruitment in recent years, adding Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Piotr Zielinski and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in similar fashion.

If the move goes through, Stones will become only the fourth Englishman to represent Inter, after Gerry Hitchens, Paul Ince and Ashley Young. He is expected to help cover the departures of Stefan de Vrij and Francesco Acerbi, likely taking up the central role in Cristian Chivu’s back three.

For Arsenal, the broader concern is fitness. Arteta is already hoping for a healthy group for the opening match of the 2026-27 Premier League season against Coventry City, while William Saliba remains a major worry after playing through back pain at the World Cup before breaking down in France’s semifinal defeat to Spain.

Vinícius Júnior has reportedly refused to return to Real Madrid training while talks over a contract extension remain unresolved, a development that has naturally caught the attention of Arsenal observers. The Brazil international had been expected back at preseason training under José Mourinho this week after receiving a post-World Cup break, but the Daily Mail claim he is “staying away” until discussions can be “revived.”

The situation is not yet a straightforward push for one outcome. Vinícius Júnior may be pressing for improved terms, but it is also being suggested that the uncertainty could be tied to the possibility of a future move, with Arsenal loosely linked by circumstance rather than by any active negotiation.

Reports indicate the forward is prepared to lower his salary demands so that he sits alongside Real Madrid’s top earner, Kylian Mbappé, rather than chasing a figure once associated with Cristiano Ronaldo. The issue is not limited to wages, however. A possible signing bonus remains unresolved, and Vinícius Júnior’s image rights are now said to be a major point of contention.

According to AS, his contract contains a clause that gives Real Madrid around 50% of what he earns through commercial and marketing activity. That arrangement matters because the winger is highly marketable. During the 2026 World Cup, 16 different sponsors used his likeness, with brands ranging from sportswear to sandals benefiting from his profile.

It is therefore understandable that he would want a larger share of his own image rights in his next deal.

Even so, Arsenal should not read too much into the stand-off at this stage. Club-to-club talks have not started, and it is still unclear whether the 26-year-old would want to join Arsenal at all.

Professional football in England could be on the brink of a major law change aimed at reducing time-wasting by goalkeepers. According to the draft, the sport is moving towards a trial in which a manager must temporarily lose one outfield player after a goalkeeper receives medical attention.

The measure comes after existing regulations were introduced to stop players using treatment as a way to slow the game down. Under those rules, any player treated on the pitch must wait 60 seconds on the touchline once play restarts. Goalkeepers, however, were still able to continue without a similar punishment. That gap is now set to be closed.

The new procedure would start once the referee has signaled for medical staff to treat a goalkeeper. From that point, the team manager would have 10 seconds to inform the fourth official which outfield player will leave the field for one minute after the restart. If no player is nominated in time, the captain is withdrawn instead. If the goalkeeper is also the captain, the nominated outfield player who was chosen to speak to the referee before the match would be removed.

The idea has been pushed forward amid concerns about goalkeepers using treatment breaks to allow managers to pass on instructions. BBC Sport reported that professional English football has volunteered to trial the measure, and the change still requires approval from IFAB, which oversees the laws of the game.

The first scheduled fixture to use it would be Tranmere Rovers vs. Rochdale in the Carabao Cup preliminary round on Saturday, Aug. 1, if permission arrives in time. The first Premier League match affected would be Arsenal’s opener against newly promoted Coventry City on Friday, Aug. 21, pending approval.

The rule would also extend beyond the Premier League to the Women’s Super League, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, the EFL Championship, League One, League Two and the National League. The draft also says the Australian top flight is expected to act as a global test case, although its version would automatically remove the captain. No similar trial has been taken up by La Liga, the Bundesliga, Serie A or Ligue 1, and it would not apply in the Champions League.