The expanded men’s World Cup in 2026 has given fans the chance to cheer on the exploits of first-time qualifiers, some of which many people might previously have struggled to locate on the map. Standout moments have already included Curaçao’s goal-keeping heroics in earning a draw against Ecuador and Cabo Verde’s upset by pegging back reigning European champions Spain.
But one story has largely gone under the radar: the participation of Uzbekistan. According to some pundits, Uzbekistan should have collapsed into violent chaos years ago. Instead, it has become the first central Asian state to play on football’s grandest stage. Behind this lies a fascinating tale of geopolitics and peace.
In the 1990s, overwrought geopolitical analysis portrayed the region as dangerous and in desperate need of western salvation. This was particularly true of the US. In 1997, Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security advisor to Jimmy Carter and an éminence grise of the US foreign policy establishment, dubbed central Asia “the Eurasian Balkans” on what he called the “grand chessboard” of great-power competition.
At the intersection of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan sits the Ferghana Valley. With its complex patchwork of borders, enclaves and ethnic minorities, it became the focal point of this discourse of danger. A 1999 policy report written by American academics warned that, without US help, the valley could become “a breeding ground of terrorism” and “a hotbed of religious and political extremism”.
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The Ferghana Valley sits on the borders of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Bennian/Shutterstock
Like most parts of the world, Uzbekistan has had its problems. Rapid economic growth has led to serious urban pollution, and youth unemployment is high, thanks to the growing population. Like other countries in the region, a lack of political pluralism limits its ability to effectively grapple with these problems.
But the dire scenarios predicted by western analysts have not come to pass. For my research on borders, nation-building and geopolitics in the Ferghana Valley, I interviewed policymakers across the region. They all stressed the region’s ability to draw on historic cultural ties and practices of statecraft to manage the difficult transition from Soviet republics to independent nations.
After Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan gained their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the Ferghana Valley states inherited a set of complicated and disputed borders originally drawn as internal Soviet boundaries in the 1920s. These have proved contentious – yet in recent years the three countries have made a series of deals to transfer territory and fully delimit their boundaries.
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The Khujand Declaration of March 2025 defined the boundary between the three valley states and put an end to decades of tension. In terms of international experience, this counts as remarkably quick progress.
Resolving border tensions
It is in the Ferghana Valley itself where progress is most visible. I saw border tensions ratchet up in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But in the past decade, a new generation of leaders has not only resolved territorial disputes but pushed a significant growth in cross-border economic, social and cultural connections. They have reopened dozens of previously closed border crossings, relaxed red tape and incentivised cross-border trade. This has led to significant increases in regional trade and has eased ethnic tensions.
In October 2025, the first Ferghana Valley Peace Forum brought governments and civil society together under a new platform for dialogue. A key organiser of the event, Akramjon Ne’matov, the first deputy director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies, an influential state-affiliated thinktank in Tashkent, emphasised that “the forum’s goal is to strengthen trust and good-neighbourly relations, promoting a shared vision of the region as a space of cooperation and mutual benefit”.
According to Ne’matov, it serves as a robust response to the vision presented in Brzezinski’s “grand chessboard”. This outdated narrative was not only flawed but risked becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. It sowed mistrust rather than fostering development.
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Despite initiatives like the ill-fated Central Asian Union, central Asia has not succeeded in creating formal EU-style regional institutions. Western academics have routinely dismissed such attempts as mere “virtual regionalism”. But research from St Andrews University shows that informal arrangements between authoritarian governments to respect each other’s sovereignty and not allow single external powers to dominate have led to the emergence of an effective, informal regional order premised on personal diplomacy, stability and coexistence.
Shared destiny
This digs deep into historical notions of shared destiny. As a politician in Tashkent put it to me: “The important thing to keep in mind is that we are one home in central Asia, one culture.” As the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and the wars in Armenia and Azerbaijan and Russia and Ukraine wars suggest, central Asia has arguably been more successful at resolving post-cold war ethnic and border disputes than Europe.
Welcome to Ferghana: the entrance gateway to the strategically important Ferghana Valley in Ukbekistan.: Priakhin Mikhail
In March this year, I joined a sell-out crowd at an Uzbek Super League match, cheering on Ferghana Neftchi as they beat Tashkent Lokomotiv 3-1. The game took place in an impressive modern stadium in Ferghana. This confounded the predictions of 1990s analysts who saw the Ferghana Valley as the supposed locus of all the region’s ills.
Fellow fans were already looking forwards to the World Cup – although one wryly repeated to me a quip by comedian Hojiboy Tojiboev that the Uzbek team would “go there, eat ice-cream, and then come back”.
On the pitch, this first foray onto football’s biggest stage has been challenging for the “White Wolves”, as the Uzbek team is known. But away from football, in our age of border closures and ratcheting geopolitical tensions, the west can learn a lot from Uzbekistan about how to manage regional tensions and plan shared futures.
The team at the nursery “do not agree with the inspector’s judgement”, a spokesperson said
A nursery in Cambridgeshire will challenge Ofsted after the regulator rated it as ‘needs attention’ in several areas. Lilliput Day Nursery in Peterborough, has been told it needs to improve in four areas.
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A spokesperson for the nursery said they “do not believe [the Ofsted report] accurately reflects the quality of practice observed during the inspection”.
The areas that ‘needs attention’, according to Ofsted, include achievement, curriculum and teaching, inclusion and leadership and governance.
The report, which was published on Friday, June 19, said that staff implementation of the curriculum is “not yet consistent”. It said this means “children do not always receive the right opportunities to develop their skills in preparation for their next stage in learning”.
The Lincoln Road nursery offers full time and part time places for children aged up to five years old. The nursery received an overall grade of ‘requires improvement’ in its previous inspection in 2025.
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The team at the nursery said they are disappointed with the report and plan to challenge the findings. A spokesperson said they believe they have “identified a number of factual inaccuracies within the report”.
The report added: “Additionally, staff do not always correctly identify the barriers children face to their learning. For example, where children lack speech and language skills, staff do not always address the underlying cause, such as children’s confidence.”
Safeguarding standards were met. Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines, and children’s welfare and wellbeing were graded at ‘expected standard’.
The report also recognised that “children appear happy at the setting” and “demonstrate strong relationships with staff”. It added: “Children develop relationships with staff and look to them for comfort when they are feeling tired.
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“This is particularly important for those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities who look for reassurance. They cuddle up with staff, helping them to feel safe in their environment.”
The report found that children who speak English as an additional language are “not always supported well-enough to learn new words effectively”. In an example, inspectors said “they do not always hear clear, basic English and develop their understanding and English vocabulary”.
However, teaching of mathematics is “effective” and staff use “every opportunity to incorporate mathematical language”. The inspection determined that leaders are aware of “inconsistencies in the implementation of the curriculum, but the action taken is not yet enough to support staff effectively”.
Ofsted praised the staff for prioritising personal, social, emotional, and physical development. According to the report, staff support social interactions and turn taking skills throughout learning opportunities.
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A spokesperson for Lilliput Day Nursery said: “Whilst we are extremely disappointed with this outcome, we do not agree with the inspector’s judgement. We have identified a number of factual inaccuracies within the report and do not believe it accurately reflects the quality of practice observed during the inspection. We are therefore challenging these findings.”
A neurologist has warned about a particular type of headache that could “kill you in hours”. He stressed that people “should not ignore” this headache, as it may be triggered by a potentially deadly infection.
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Headaches are relatively commonplace. They can stem from colds or flu, dehydration, stress, vision issues, and skipping regular meals among other causes.
However, in certain instances they can indicate something far more severe. In a video posted to social media, neurologist Dr Baibing Chen cautioned that a headache resulting from meningitis is an “emergency”.
He said: “This headache can kill you in hours. And these are the warning signs that you should never ignore. Now, I want to say most headaches are not emergencies, but meningitis is different.”
Meningitis is an infection affecting the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can prove extremely serious and potentially fatal if not treated promptly. Dr Chen continued: “And it can be caused by things like viruses, bacteria, or even fungi.
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“The bacterial form of meningitis is the one that scares us the most because it can become life-threatening very quickly. And that’s also one reason vaccines against bacteria like haemophilus, influenza type B, pneumococcus, and meningococcus have saved countless lives by preventing some of the most dangerous forms of bacterial meningitis.”
If you develop a headache alongside other meningitis symptoms, immediate medical attention is essential. Dr Bing explained: “The classic symptoms of meningitis are a severe headache, a high fever, a stiff neck and sensitivity to light.
“Some people also become confused, extremely sleepy or develop a purple rash that doesn’t fade when you press on it.”
The NHS website characterises a meningitis headache as “a severe headache that is getting worse”. Dr Bing cautioned that in its initial stages, meningitis may not present as a serious condition. He stated: “Early on, meningitis can look a lot like common viral illnesses.
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“And that’s one reason people sometimes wait too long before seeking medical care. So if someone has these symptoms, especially if they’re not vaccinated, go to the emergency department immediately because getting evaluated and treated early gives doctors the best chance to identify the cause and start the right treatment as quickly as possible.”
Causes of meningitis
According to the NHS, meningitis can be caused by many different types of viruses or bacteria, which are spread through close contact with a person who has them. For example:
Contact with the person’s spit, such as kissing them, or sharing drinks or vapes
Being in close contact with the person for a lot of time, such as living in the same home
The infection is usually spread by people who carry these viruses or bacteria but are not ill themselves.
Although anyone can get it, meningitis is more common in:
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Babies and young children
Teenagers and young adults
Older people
People with a weakened immune system – for example, people with HIV or having chemotherapy
It’s important to note that it’s possible to get meningitis more than once.
When to call 999
The NHS says you should call 999 or go to A&E if an adult or child aged five years or over:
Has a very high or very low temperature, feels hot or cold to the touch, or is shivery
Has a very painful headache
Is confused, has slurred speech, or is not making sense
Has a stiff neck and cannot look at bright lights
Has a rash that does not fade when you press it
Has a seizure (fit) for the first time
Has symptoms you’re worried might be meningitis
You should also call 999 if a baby or child under five years:
Has a very high temperature – 38C or more in babies under three months old, or 39C or more in babies three to six months old
Has a very low temperature – less than 36C, or feels cold to the touch or is shivery
Has a weak, high-pitched or continuous cry
Has a rash that does not fade when you press it
Is not responding like they normally do, is not feeding, or is floppy, difficult to wake or more sleepy than usual
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — The situation has grown more desperate by the hour in Venezuela as people dig through the rubble of collapsed homes and apartment buildings three days after the devastating one-two punch of 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes, knowing time is running out to find survivors.
Authorities announced Friday night that they would block access to La Guaira, the epicenter of the destruction, as chaos and traffic began to hamper search efforts. Officials said anyone who wants to enter would now have to seek official permits, but provided few details of who would be allowed in.
Venezuelans took the search for missing loved ones into their own hands, citing a scarcity of government rescuers, as the human toll of Wednesday’s quakes climbed to at least 920 dead and more than 51,000 missing. People reported seeing few state rescue teams in the hardest-hit areas, despite authorities projecting an image of a robust government response.
Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours to be a crucial time frame to retrieve people alive, though that can be extended if they have access to food and water.
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“Each person saved is a miracle,” said Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly. “We are not going to hide absolutely anything about the magnitude of this tragedy.”
Anxious families wait to see if relatives survived
In the state of La Guaira, just north of the capital, Caracas, Nazareth Jimenez sobbed into a loved one’s shoulder as she watched neighbors use hammers and power tools to try to cut through slabs of concrete in a building reduced to a mountain of debris. She was wracked with anxiety as she waited to see if her siblings, nephews, nieces and friends would emerge alive.
“My God, how are we going to get them out of there?” Jimenez murmured.
“We’re making a call for help to the government and countries across the world,” she said, pleading for machinery capable of moving collapsed structures. “There are still people alive in there.”
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Government forces distributed food and water to survivors in La Guaira, and acting President Delcy Rodríguez said her government was mounting a full response during these “critical hours for rescuing people alive.”
She welcomed the arrival of international rescuers and humanitarian aid. She said La Guaira had been militarized and more help was on the way, even as residents said it was just a fraction of what they needed.
The disaster poses a huge challenge for Rodríguez, the former vice president who took office in January after the capture and removal of then-President Nicolás Maduro by the United States. Venezuela has been facing economic disarray for more than a decade, and many people reject the legitimacy of the political movement Rodríguez represents.
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The number of dead was expected to climb, and people reported tens of thousands of missing on independent digital databases. Those figures likely included people who have been incommunicado due to the lack of cellphone signals, and some reports may be duplicates.
The number of injured was more than 3,300 as of midday Friday, and authorities said they rescued 243.
Millions of people reeling
The International Organization for Migration said up to 6.76 million people could be affected, some 2 million of them in Caracas alone. The destruction was amplified by the quick succession of shallow quakes, experts said.
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Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross’ regional director for the Americas, said “people are still terrified to reenter what were their homes.”
“I’ve been left alone in this life,” Reyes said, walking through the rubble where two of his children were buried.
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In the city of Maiquetia, people lined up outside stores and pharmacies that served them one by one behind closed doors. At one point a woman in a crowd threw herself to the ground to protect a package of diapers with her body, desperate to keep it.
Traffic and throngs of motorcyclists at times disrupted search efforts. Mexican soldiers and volunteers repeatedly asked for silence to try to hear signs of life under the rubble, but bikers — civilian and uniformed — continued to honk horns and rev engines to the first responders’ frustration.
Some people began to carry off basic goods such as toilet paper and food from stores in Catia La Mar, adjacent to the country’s main airport. Others swarmed a civilian pickup truck that was giving out bread and water, until a soldier intervened. The parking lot of a pharmacy turned into a makeshift shelter with tarps, hammocks and tents.
A few miles away, Yuleidy Cadenas, 28, stood across the street from a collapsed public housing building, hoping her son, mother and brother would be pulled out alive.
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She fled barefoot from another building as it collapsed Wednesday and found her mother’s 12-floor apartment tower had pancaked.
“I got on top of the rubble and told them to yell back, and nobody did, not my brother, nor my son or my mother,” Cadenas said.
International aid on the way
Venezuelan authorities said Friday that 861 volunteers from Mexico, the U.S., El Salvador, Switzerland, Colombia and beyond were in the country, and more were coming from elsewhere.
Acting President Rodríguez said she spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday and they reaffirmed their commitment to send rescue teams and aid equipment.
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___
Janetsky reported from Mexico City. Associated Press journalists Clara Preve in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed.
Manchester United are in the midst of a midfield rebuild after losing Casemiro and now Bruno Fernandes’ future plans are in focus
Manchester United have already shown signs of this being an action-packed transfer window, and there could be a great deal more to come. Several high-profile players have confirmed their departures, and further ins and outs are anticipated.
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On the incoming front, Ederson appears set to become the first of several big-money arrivals, with an eight-figure deal to bring in the Atalanta midfielder virtually sewn up. A number of permanent departures have already been rubber-stamped, with Rasmus Hojlund and Casemiro the most notable, while Andre Onana is set for another year on loan at Trabzonspor rather than a permanent switch.
Last summer saw Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes dominate the headlines, and the pattern continues this year. Rashford’s spell at Barcelona on loan failed to produce a permanent transfer, leaving his future uncertain, while captain Fernandes rejected a move to the Saudi Pro League in 2025 but remains the subject of speculation.
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There is also fresh news surrounding another of United’s midfield targets as the squad rebuild gathers pace in the wake of Casemiro’s departure. Here are our latest updates from around Old Trafford.
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Fernandes makes decision on future
Bruno Fernandes has informed his Manchester United team-mates that he intends to remain at the club, according to talkSPORT. A definitive verdict on the captain’s future is not anticipated until after the World Cup, though there is understood to be little concern that he could depart.
The Portugal international attracted interest from a number of Saudi clubs last summer but opted to remain where he was. Fresh reports have emerged of renewed attention from Gulf clubs this year, most notably Al Nassr, who could have the midfielder’s international manager Roberto Martinez in the dugout next season.
However, Fernandes’ decision to stay put is understood to be driven by family considerations and is therefore unlikely to shift.
The 31-year-old has started both of Portugal’s opening two World Cup group stage fixtures, registering an assist in the 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan. Martinez’s side require a victory in their final group match against Colombia to claim top spot, though they are still all but certain of a top-two finish even if they lose.
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Nmecha won’t come cheap
Germany international Felix Nmecha is amongst the midfielders being considered by United as they look to bolster their engine room following Casemiro’s departure and a potential exit for Manuel Ugarte. However, landing the 25-year-old is likely to set them back a pretty penny.
Nmecha came through the ranks at Manchester City as a youngster and represented England at youth level, meaning he would qualify as a homegrown player. The asking price could prove a big obstacle, though, with Kicker reporting that his contract contains no release clause and his club Borussia Dortmund value him at £86million.
The 25-year-old was used sparingly during Germany’s World Cup qualifying campaign but has been a consistent presence for Julian Nagelsmann throughout the tournament itself, starting all three group stage matches and marking his major tournament debut with a goal in the 7-1 rout of Curacao.
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Get Man United’s new 2026/27 home kit
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Manchester United have launched their new home kit for the 2026/27 season, inspired by the club’s heritage and featuring a classic polo collar with iconic adidas details.
Police made the arrest after attending a quarterly Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting, where residents reported suspected drug activity on Old Road.
Officers later searched a man on Eden Street, located off Old Road, and arrested him on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
Eden Street is usually a more quiet street, home to residential flats for pensioners and Astley Bridge Cemetery.
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The man remains in police custody for questioning.
A spokesman for Bolton GMP said: “Yesterday evening, the Bolton North Neighbourhood Team held the quarterly Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting.
“The PACT meeting is an opportunity for the community to raise concerns about crime in their area with the police, local councillors and the council.
“One concern raised by the community was around people supplying drugs on the street in the Old Road area of Astley Bridge.
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“After the meeting, officers from the Bolton North Neighbourhood Team searched a man on Eden Street (off Old Road) suspected to be involved in supplying drugs in the area.”
The expanded World Cup 2026 format means the introduction of a round of 32 and for some third-placed teams a chance at knockout glory.
Teams who finish fourth in their groups are eliminated immediately, but eight of the 12 third-placed teams will live to fight another day. And the battle is close.
Scotland currently sit ninth in the third-place table after playing their three group games, which leaves their last-32 hopes hanging by a thread.
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If Scotland do qualify in third, their reward will be a last 32 clash against a group winner and as things currently stand, that could be against either tournament co-hosts Mexico or Germany.
Pos.
Team
P
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W
D
L
GD
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Pts
1
Sweden
3
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1
1
1
0
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4
2
Ecuador
3
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1
1
1
0
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4
3
Bosnia & Herzegovina
3
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1
1
1
-1
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4
4
Paraguay
3
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1
1
1
-2
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4
5
Senegal
3
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1
0
2
2
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3
6
Croatia
2
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1
0
1
-1
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3
7
South Korea
3
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1
0
2
-1
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3
8
Algeria
2
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1
0
1
-2
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3
9
Scotland
3
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1
0
2
-3
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3
10
Cape Verde
2
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0
2
0
0
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2
11
Belgium
2
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0
2
0
0
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2
12
DR Congo
2
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0
1
1
-1
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1
How are the eight best third-placed teams decided?
The eight best third-placed teams are ranked based on several criteria.
First, teams are compared by the total number of points they obtained in all group matches. If teams are still level, their goal difference across all group matches is considered. If a tie remains, the total number of goals scored in all group matches is used.
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If teams cannot be separated using these criteria, the Fair Play ranking is applied, taking into account the number of yellow and red cards received during all group matches. As a final tiebreaker, the FIFA World Ranking is used.
You wake with a restless edge that refuses to be ignored. Something in your life needs movement, and today you choose action over excuses. A bold decision sets off a chain reaction that quickly proves you were right to trust your instincts.
Taurus (April 21st – May 21st)
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A practical matter finally starts behaving the way you hoped it would. You notice momentum building around money and work, and it restores your sense of security. Slow growth still counts as growth. Don’t be afraid to slow your pace and enjoy the view, or what point was and is the hard work?
Gemini (May 22nd – June 21st)
The Sun in Cancer nudges you to think about what and who truly makes you feel safe and valued. You realise one habit quietly drains you, and you decide to change it. Self-respect shows up in daily choices. A good day to kick a bad habit for good this time.
Cancer (June 22nd – July 23rd)
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With the Sun in your sign, you step into a stronger version of yourself. People respond differently because you carry yourself differently. Confidence becomes contagious. When you honour who you are, others follow suit.
Leo (July 24th – August 23rd)
Someone reaches out with warmth and interest, and it lifts your mood instantly. You remember how magnetic you can be without trying. Energy flows where attention goes. A day to remember who you are and what you really want, Leo.
Virgo (August 24th – September 23rd)
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You spot a small problem before it becomes a big one. Your foresight saves time, money, or stress. Quiet wisdom often speaks first. Focus on what you want to happen in your life next and not what others are trying to force you into.
Libra (September 24th – October 23rd)
The Moon in Sagittarius pushes you to speak honestly instead of politely. You say what you really mean, and the air clears. Truth creates freedom. Business ideas you share with others this weekend soon become a tangible and practical plan.
Scorpio (October 24th – November 22nd)
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You sense an opportunity beneath the surface of an ordinary moment today. Acting on what you feel puts you one step ahead of the competition. It also ensures there’s no more confusion over feelings and intentions. Luck favours the observant.
Sagittarius (November 23rd – December 21st)
With the Moon in your sign, your optimism returns in a rush. You feel lighter, braver, and ready to try again. A fresh perspective changes everything. Beware throwing good money after bad for a deal you’d feel better for getting out of. A time to speak only from the heart.
Capricorn (December 22nd – January 20th)
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A responsibility becomes easier once you stop carrying it alone. You realise support exists if you ask. Strong doesn’t mean solo. You know who you owe an apology to and why. Effort you put into relationships today promises to pay back tenfold.
Aquarius (January 21st – February 19th)
The Sun in Cancer highlights the importance of emotional boundaries. You decide who deserves access to your time and energy. You also realise who you’ve given too many chances to and cut ties with those who will never change, because they don’t want to. Protect your peace.
Pisces (February 20th – March 20th)
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You pick up on unspoken feelings and respond with compassion. Honest talks are your new best friend today. Your sensitivity becomes a gift instead of a burden. Beware taking advice from third parties whose lives you wouldn’t want for your own.
Aries 0904 470 1141 (65p per minute)*
Taurus 0904 470 1142 (65p per minute)*
Gemini 0904 470 1143 (65p per minute)*
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Cancer 0904 470 1144 (65p per minute)*
Leo 0904 470 1145 (65p per minute)*
Virgo 0904 470 1146 (65p per minute)*
Libra 0904 470 1147 (65p per minute)*
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Scorpio 0904 470 1148 (65p per minute)*
Sagittarius 0904 470 1149 (65p per minute)*
Capricorn 0904 470 1150 (65p per minute)*
Aquarius 0904 470 1151 (65p per minute)*
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Pisces 0904 470 1152 (65p per minute)*
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Manchester United plan to sign a third midfielder during the transfer window, as long as they can find a buyer for Manuel Ugarte.
United are working on a deal for a second midfielder at the moment, at which point the focus is expected to turn to other positions, with the need to sign a left-sided player high on the agenda.
But United are willing to listen to offers for Ugarte this summer and if strong enough interest emerges to sanction a deal for the Uruguayan, they will turn to the market again.
One potential stumbling block is that Ugarte still has a book value of around £30million, as he is just two years into a five-year contract after he signed from Paris Saint-Germain for £50.5million. United would have to take a loss on the 25-year-old.
Ugarte has had a difficult World Cup and hasn’t used the tournament as an audition, but there are clubs in Europe who still rate the former Sporting and PSG holding midfielder.
If he were to leave, United are likely to focus on a squad player. They had Championship duo Shea Charles and Hayden Hackney on a list of more low-key targets, although both look set to move elsewhere.
Sander Berge is another who features on United’s midfield shortlist and could be an option if Ugarte does depart.
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Fernandes move imminent
By the end of this weekend, we could have a good idea of which club Mateus Fernandes will be joining during this summer transfer window. It might not be a surprise that talks have accelerated in the final week of June, given West Ham’s financial situation.
There is confidence that Tottenham can do a deal for the 21-year-old and suggestions they are willing to meet West Ham’s £80million demands, but there isn’t yet a sense United are giving up and moving on to other targets.
If West Ham do want to sell before June 30, then movement is expected this weekend. Both Tottenham and United have explored the terms of a deal, without putting the cash on the table.
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That could change in the next few days and United might soon know if they have managed to land the player who is currently their top target in midfield.
Casemiro’s tears
Casemiro will officially leave United on Wednesday. At that point, the club will have to go through the process of detailing the 34-year-old’s profile on the official website and officially severing ties with him after what has been a long goodbye.
He only played 160 times for United, but packed a lot into it and his affection for the club was reciprocated by supporters. In difficult times, his energy and passion stood out.
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Even in his final week of employment, United were still milking the Casemiro effect, releasing the Farewell Casemiro film, which showed the midfielder and his wife shedding tears at the idea of saying goodbye to the club.
Sesko links
There was bemusement at United this week when Barcelona were linked with a move for Benjamin Sesko. Relations between the two clubs are hardly on a firm footing after the Marcus Rashford affair.
There is still a feeling in Catalonia that Barca might yet return late in the window to try and lowball United into either selling Rashford on the cheap or sanctioning another loan. Old Trafford sources are adamant that it won’t happen.
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So the idea of being willing to listen to offers for their No.9 after one good season is pie in the sky. The story actually surfaced in Marca, which is a Madrid daily, rather than one of the Catalan papers, which might have raised more than one eyebrow.
Dispatch from Carrington
United have been linked with an awful lot of players this summer and the majority have some substance to them. The club now rely on a more data-led approach to recruitment and that means the list of potential targets is longer than it used to be.
Notebook has been told the list for potential additions that fit the brief for a second-choice goalkeeper and third-choice midfield are lengthy once the numbers have been crunched.
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That’s why plenty of players feature as possible targets this summer. United won’t sign them all. But interestingly, those in charge of recruitment at the club are far more relaxed about those names creeping out into the media.
While former football director John Murtough used to hate seeing transfer targets’ names in print, especially if there was little substance to it or they weren’t likely to happen, the current executives at the club have less of an issue with it and are instead focused on getting on with business and getting those deals lined up.
Quote of the week
“If Ruben was still the manager now Kobbie would have probably shifted on and be looking for a new club. It would have been a mistake, he’s a Manchester lad, he’s come through the academy, we want those players at our club to drive the club forward for the next 10 years. Hopefully, he’s at the club for the next 10 years because he has the ability to do so.”
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Harry Maguire becomes the first United player to consider the nightmare scenario of Kobbie Mainoo leaving Old Trafford, had Ruben Amorim not been sacked. Maguire has been great value on The Rest is Football over in New York and on Mainoo, he was bang on.
What to look out for next week
That June 30 accounting deadline is the key date. Will West Ham need to sell before then? If so, what sort of offer do they take for Fernandes?
Several clubs will be trying to get the books balanced by then, including Hull City, who will need to sell before looking to strengthen in the summer. They could look to take Toby Collyer back to Humberside and have reportedly got an interest in Radek Vitek.
Leeds United look to take the next step in their progression in the summer transfer window with one Champions League star a key target for the Premier League side
Brandt is widely expected to be one of the standout players available on a free transfer this summer window – handing Leeds the opportunity to snap him up at no cost. The Premier League outfit have already looked into the possibility of a deal, and securing his signature could prove to be a remarkable piece of business for the club.
Landing a player of Brandt’s calibre and pedigree would undoubtedly represent a stunning coup for Leeds. The attacking midfielder rounds off a campaign in which he helped Dortmund finish second, contributing seven goals and four assists in 29 league appearances.
Although it wasn’t sufficient to earn him a place in Germany’s 2026 World Cup squad, the 43-cap international’s quality and versatility would significantly bolster Farke’s attacking options.
Predominantly a number 10, Brandt has featured in over 200 matches across both flanks – with the majority of those coming on the left – yet operated exclusively behind Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy throughout the past season. A creative midfielder has been high on Leeds’ wishlist, having already secured their long-pursued right-wing target Harry Wilson on Wednesday, according to The Athletic.
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Wilson, 29, and the potential signing of Brandt, 30, would represent a shift in transfer approach for Leeds, who last season focused on bringing in players approaching their prime – rather than those who may have already reached it.
Nevertheless, landing a player with 82 Champions League appearances and two World Cup campaigns to his name would be a remarkable piece of business and one that could propel Leeds to the next level. That said, such an impressive list of achievements means Brandt will have no shortage of admirers.
The likes of Roma, Lazio and Galatasaray have already been credited with an interest in his signature, but the prospect of linking up with fellow German Farke and experiencing English football for the first time could prove decisive in the battle to secure Brandt.
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The Whites manager has made no secret of his desire for another versatile number 10 alongside Brenden Aaronson since last year. Farke said last August: “There’s always room for more quality. Wingers who can work hard and are good against the ball, disciplined, wingers who are quick and good one vs one, wingers who can play like a 10. This (latter option) would be a good solution for us.”
The American now has 12 months remaining on his deal and Farke’s demands have grown more urgent as the new campaign draws closer. Leeds’ transfer activity last summer focused on strengthening the squad with 10 first-team additions, whereas this summer involves a smaller pool of targets that would likely prove more exciting to supporters.
A league-high 92.8% of the club’s squad last season fell between the ages of 23 and 29, and while overlooking that for the acquisitions of Brandt and Wilson – with the latter turning 30 next March – it could prove a move that propels Leeds beyond 14th in the standings.
With Brandt poised to become a free agent and Farke requiring quality in his position, he could represent the ideal summer capture.
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Wales’ new Deputy First Minister is responsible for many of the policy areas that Nigel Farage’s party has attacked in the early days of the new Plaid government
04:31, 27 Jun 2026
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It is still only a matter of weeks since the ballot boxes were tipped onto tables at leisure centres and venues across Wales and Plaid Cymru knew the threshold it had set itself had been crossed to form a minority government led by Rhun ap Iorwerth.
His second in command is Sioned Williams. The 54-year-old is a former BBC journalist who previously worked for the party in communications. In both of those roles she crossed paths with her party’s now-leader but the pair go further back than that having met when she was 17 at the Cwrs ddrama Urdd.
“I’ve known him as long as my husband,” she laughs, as we meet in the Senedd. Yet she says she never expected he would appoint her as Deputy First Minister.
“Our paths have crossed many times and we’ve known each other a long time so we’ve got a very good relationship and it was the honour of my life to be asked and I’m absolutely delighted to be able to support him,” she says.
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Her chance to get to take that role came as a result of a historic win for the party she has been a member of since she was a student.
Plaid Cymru won 43 of the available 96 seats.
“There was a long preparation period for us running up to this election,” she says.
“We were working extremely hard on policy development knowing that it was going to be a four-year term, knowing that finances were going to be constrained [and] we weren’t going to able to do everything that we’ve been talking about for the last 100 years so getting that really tight focus on what we thought really mattered what was important,” she says.
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“We also knew that this was going to be an election like no other for all kinds of reasons so we fought the campaign of our lives.”
The result was, she admits, at the “top end” of the party’s expectations and she was personally thrilled it would not only mean they had representation all across Wales but there was a good gap between them and the second-placed party, and official opposition, Reform UK.
Equality, community cohesion, and Wales in Africa are all things that fall under her brief and she is already hearing concerns about the topics and tone being used in this seventh Senedd. Is she surprised?
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“I’m not surprised that Reform are latching onto things that they know will be inflammatory, things which I think that they’re misrepresenting, policies they’re misrepresenting, expenditure that they are misrepresenting, and missing the wider point of the effect of some of the rhetoric,” she says.
Aside from those two issues Reform UK did scrutinise the new government’s flagship childcare bill, which is “absolutely their job as opposition”, although she says “it did feel rather strange that they’d pick that when they hadn’t even mentioned childcare in their manifesto”.
There is, she says, “much that needs to be done” to help people in their everyday lives. “To be choosing those issues for debate I would say is rather missing the point of an effective opposition,” she says – but adds the party will stick to its own values.
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“The decisions we make, the policies that we’ll enact, will show those values and those are the values that have been supported by the majority of people in Wales who elected us as their government.
“That’s how we will demonstrate where we sit on those issues. I understand, having said that, the strength of feeling [that led to the walkout].
“It is shocking to many members, especially perhaps newer members, but to all of us the level and the language and the rhetoric that has been used.
“I hope that the Llywydd will be able to make sure that we don’t see a continuation of the type of language.
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“I personally was accused of something which is completely untrue, my position completely misrepresented. This has real-life impact obviously for us as politicians, especially as female politicians online, but also more broadly about people who are minoritised, who are marginalised, and who are impacted. Their lives and their safety is impacted by this type of rhetoric.
“As the First Minister said we are all about uniting our communities, strengthening our communities, celebrating the diversity in our communities – that’s the Wales we want to see. So we will demonstrate that through our actions but also, yes, I think we have to make sure that we don’t see a type of rhetoric allowed to become normalised in our national parliament.”
The things she wants to talk about are the things that drive her to be a politician. In the last Senedd regular viewers would regularly see her passionate contributions to debates about children and poverty and holding onto the brief she had when she was in opposition was non-negotiable.
“This is really the reason I’m in politics,” she says.
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Elected for the first time aged 49 she had been a member of Plaid Cymru since she was a student. Her political journey came via her community council before being chair of her local Cylch Meithrin, then chair of school governors, and campaigning on local issues.
“I wasn’t really active in the party until Leanne Wood became leader 14 years ago because I saw a passion in her and coming from the South Wales Valleys as I do that’s where my politics comes from,” she said.
Both her grandparents were miners while one grandmother died at 50 from asthma, likely from the conditions she lived in, and the other was an uncertified teacher.
She and her sister were the first in their family to go to university.
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“So I understand the impact that poverty can have in and just closing off those opportunities. That’s where my politics comes from so this portfolio is really why I’m here. Without these issues to fight on I don’t know if I would be here in elected politics.
“It’s a huge honour and that’s why I am absolutely determined to achieve what I can for those people in Wales who, through no fault of their own, don’t have the same opportunities as everybody else,” she says.
Since the election there have been murmurings that Plaid was backing down on its flagship policy and then there was a very public row after an attempt to force them to release their costings backfired in the Senedd.
So I ask her to spell out what is the government’s position on childcare. By the end of this four-year term, in 2030, what is her aim? “I want 20 hours for every child offended from the age of nine months to four years,” she states simply.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be talking about childcare.
“I have been wanting to talk about childcare – as a feminist, as a female politician, as someone who believes in social justice and equality and also believes that the children are the future of our nation and we need to be supporting them and condemning them to high levels of child poverty in Wales – for years and years and years.
“We understand that this is an intervention that is fully in the power of the Welsh Government to make.
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“It more than pays for itself. It is a complex policy because of the system we’ve inherited, which committee report after committee report, anti-poverty organisations, equality organisations have demonstrated in report after report, isn’t currently working for children and families in Wales.
“What I want to do, and we have to do this in a phased way because it’s so complex, is make sure that we have a uniform, universal offer funded for all families between nine months and four years,” she says.
She would have said that before the election, I put it to her, so now she is in office and has spoken to officials, has seen the books, is it still realistic? “It is realistic,” she says, pointing to a recent announcement about extending childcare. But surely that was that something that would have happened anyway?
“This was a programme that was initiated, first of all, under the cooperation agreement [with the last Labour government] because we put that first and foremost as one of our policies, along with free school meals.
“It was initiated in the last government. It wasn’t completed. It didn’t have adequate focus or funding. So what we saw [is] it wasn’t achieved so the first step that we wanted to do was make sure that that was achieved because the local authorities already have plans in place for that. They just haven’t been given the direction or funding that they needed in order to be able to complete it,” she says.
She references one of the key questions, aside from finding the money, which is finding a workforce.
“This is one of the work streams that we have obviously. We absolutely know that the workforce are key to this expansion,” she says.
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“But there’s also other things that we can do. We know that at the moment people have to move settings, for instance, in order to be able to access their entitlement under the two years so what we want to do is look at the whole system. I’m not just talking about adding hours here and there – I want to transform this system so it is one system and that it is in the best interest of the children and families who need to access that system.”
“I couldn’t just announce funding and say: ‘There will be more hours’. We absolutely recognise that. It is about working in partnership with local authorities. We’ve got a skills audit happening.
“My colleague Cefin Campbell is looking at post-16 education making sure that we are preparing the pipeline. But we also know that it is about giving assurance to providers and to local authorities – all the partners that are key and fundamental in this, the education sector – bringing people in who currently their qualifications aren’t recognised for instance,” she says. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
She adds there is nothing she has learnt since getting into office that makes her think she will deliver a policy different to what was spelled out in the manifesto.
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The new government has been criticised for ordering data, reports, and audits. “I think it’s about doing things sustainably and responsibly and there is a lot of data gaps.
“We’ve got a certain focus on our key priority areas as a party and in order to make progress on those we need to have an absolutely comprehensive view of what we’re dealing with.
“We need to work to better understand what some of those data gaps are,” she says.
“We have made it very clear we want to work on the basis of evidence. We also want to work transparently and we need to work responsibility, ground all our policies in the reality that is in front of us, not make empty promises”.
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The childcare policy will, she says, make a difference. “This can help all children get the best start in life and get the best start towards their education journey.
“We know that’s not a level playing field. It can also help families who are currently in poverty to be able to increase their income, that’s economic inequality, and then we know of course gender inequality.
“This mainly impacts women and I’ve had experience of this myself. I was earning more than my husband when we had children. I didn’t catch up until I was 49 and I had my first when I was 30. So we know that this impacts women mainly and I’m really clear about the effect that it can have on our society broadly and especially obviously our children, the difference that this policy can make.”
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She has already spoken in the Senedd chamber about Cynnal, a Welsh child payment, providing £10 a week for children aged from birth to six in households claiming universal credit. “Evidence has shown that this is one of the key interventions that can be made.
“Scotland has shown the way on this – it’s undeniable evidence. So we want to show the difference that a policy like this can make. Because of the fact that we don’t have the same powers as Scotland currently over the benefits system and welfare payments we have to do this as a pilot but I think that we can demonstrate the impact this can have and it’s about reaching those children who are in the deepest poverty,” she says.
She hopes it will help 15,000 children across different backgrounds and areas of Wales. For some families it will mean being able to go to a cinema or theatre, to have swimming lessons, to be able to say yes instead of no to a birthday party because you can’t afford to buy a present.
“Those everyday childhood experiences that every child should have this hopefully could just make an impact around that and we know it’s those direct cash payments that make the difference,” she says.
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