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Top 15 NBA free agents: Restricted options headline class

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Even though it may feel like NBA free agency barely exists anymore, the start of it is still a key day on the league’s calendar. 

Despite trades being the main way players switch teams in today’s era, you still never know who may hit the open market and who could change the future of a franchise. Star players may or may not be available, but a team could find a sneaky pick-up that ends up being exactly who they’ve been missing.

Here’s a list of the top 15 free agents in the 2026 class who can officially begin negotiating with new teams on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.

1. LeBron James, F, 41 years old, Unrestricted free agent

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The arguably greatest of all time has a massive decision to make this summer. Will James retire, return for a record 24th season and remain a Laker, or will he finish out his career on a new team or somewhere he’s been before? Despite being 41, James is still playing at a very high level, and he may have an interest in getting one last title before he heads off into the sunset. 

2. Jalen Duren, C, 22 years old, Restricted free agent

Duren broke through in 2025-26 and proved himself as one of the elite big men in the NBA. He averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds to make his first all-star team and the all-NBA third team. Duren’s now eligible for a five-year, $287.1 million extension that the Pistons may not be willing to pay, per The Athletic. If they can’t afford Duren, another team could swoop in to grab themselves a centre for the future.

3. James Harden, G, 36 years old, $42.3 million player option

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After finding himself on his fifth team since 2020, with a deadline move to the Cavaliers last season, you never know where Harden may go next. Now at 36, Harden has adjusted his game to become a great point guard and playmaker. It appears likely he will remain alongside Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland, but it’s unclear what that deal will look like or if he’ll accept his option. 

4. Norman Powell, G/F, 33 years old, Unrestricted free agent

The Heat kick-started their off-season with a blockbuster deal to bring in Giannis Antetokounmpo. That move changed the landscape of Miami basketball, but it also may have pushed Powell out of the equation. Powell averaged 21.7 points on 47 per cent shooting in 2025-26 to make the first all-star team of his career. Any team looking to add a scoring threat could make a huge offer for the 2019 NBA champion. 

5. Zach LaVine, G, 31 years old, $49 million player option

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It would most likely be in LaVine’s best interest to get himself out of Sacramento. The Kings won just 22 games last season, and LaVine can’t waste time at age 31 sitting through a rebuild. After one of the worst statistical seasons of his NBA tenure, he will most likely opt out to explore a new opportunity in a better situation. He’s previously been a two-time all-star and could showcase those skills on a contender.

6. Jonathan Kuminga, F, 23 years old, $24.3 million team option

A mid-season trade to the Hawks was a great move to rejuvenate Kuminga’s career. In Atlanta, he averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds, but he showed flashes of greatness with a few 20-plus point performances. It feels likely that the Hawks will accept his cap-friendly team option to give him the chance to spend a full season in Atlanta and show just what he can do alongside its young core. 

7. Bennedict Mathurin, G, 24 years old, Restricted free agent

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The Canadian Mathurin was shipped to the Clippers at the 2026 trade deadline and appeared to be a seamless fit into their system. He averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and a steal in L.A. while playing 28 minutes a night. The Clippers appear headed toward a rebuild, and holding onto Montreal’s Mathurin feels near guaranteed. Locking up the young scoring threat to be the future of their backcourt appears essential. 

8. Walker Kessler, C, 24 years old, Restricted free agent

The Utah Jazz may finally be ready to compete, and if that’s the case, they need to hold onto Kessler. The big man played in just five games in 2025-26 due to a torn labrum, but in those limited appearances, he averaged a double-double. If the Jazz give Kessler his big contract, they can pair him up with Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey as a big three that can take this franchise into the next decade behind veterans Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. 

9. Mitchell Robinson, C, 28 years old, Unrestricted free agent

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With the Knicks seemingly not being interested in going over the second apron, Robinson will likely find a new home this off-season. The big man raised his value as a defensive-minded centre as the Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 53 years. Talented centres seem hard to come by in the modern NBA, and several teams will throw money at Robinson to have his seven-foot frame hold down their front-court. 

10. Luguentz Dort, F/G, 27 years old, $18.2 million team option

The Canadian 3-and-D specialist may be the odd man out on the Thunder. Dort has been in OKC his entire seven-year career, but he’s now due for a payday, and the Thunder have plenty of younger players they could replace him with. The Thunder already gave Isaiah Hartenstein a big extension this off-season, which made it seem likelier that Dort will bring his physicality to a new team come 2026-27. 

11. Tari Eason, F, 25 years old, Restricted free agent

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Eason has been a defensive juggernaut for the Rockets since entering the NBA in 2022-23. He can stall opponents’ offence, which has been a big plus for Houston. However, the Rockets have a lot of youngsters to pay, which may allow a team to swoop up Eason’s talents at a price tag Houston cannot afford.

12. Draymond Green, F, 36 years old, $27.7 million player option

It’s hard to imagine a world where Green doesn’t play for the Golden State Warriors, and it feels highly unlikely that will ever happen. The Warriors appear ready to make one final push for a title with Green, Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr. It’s unclear if Green will accept his option or take a more team-friendly deal so the Warriors can build up their roster. 

13. Kristaps Porzingis, F/C, 30 years old, Unrestricted free agent

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Injuries over the past three seasons have largely limited Porzinigis, and in 2025-26, he appeared in just 32 games between the Hawks and Warriors. However, when healthy, the seven-foot-two Porzingis is a dominant two-way player. He is a solid shooter for his size and a tremendous rim protector. Porzingis very well may be one of the most sought-after big men on the open market. 

14. Peyton Watson, F, 23 years old, Restricted free agent

The 23-year-old Watson broke out in 2025-26, he averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 49.1 per cent shooting from the field and 41.1 per cent from three. He proved himself to be a key part of the Nuggets’ rotation and someone they cannot afford to lose. Watson was particularly impressive in his 40 starts when he put up 17.3 points on 60.3 per cent true shooting. 

15. Rui Hachimura, F, 28 years old, Unrestricted free agent

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Hachimura has developed into one of the league’s best floor-spacing three-point specialists. He is a career 39.4 per cent shooter from deep and has consistently been a double-digit scorer. Last season, he specifically broke through in the playoffs, where he started in all 10 of the Lakers’ games. In those contests, he averaged 17.5 points with a 56.5 per cent clip from three on 5.8 attempts per game. 

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10 Medals – 7 Gold, 3 Silver: Indian Boxers Achieve Historic High At Commonwealth Games 2026

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Indian women boxers lived up to their billing with five gold medals while Sachin Siwach and Ankush Panghal sealed men’s titles as the country produced its best-ever performance at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday. Reigning world champion Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Asian Games medallist Preeti Pawar (54kg), Asian champion Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) won gold medals, while Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) settled for silver.

In the men’s competition, Sachin (60kg) and Ankush (70kg) struck gold, while Jadumani Singh (55kg) and Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal (+90kg) finished with silver medals.

India’s previous best boxing campaign at the Commonwealth Games came in Gold Coast in 2018, when it won seven medals, including three gold.

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With chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “India, India” reverberating around the SEC arena, the Indian boxers enjoyed near home-like support.

“The crowd support was brilliant, it really pumped me,” said the 20-year-old Priya.

Preeti kick-started India’s golden run with a commanding 5-0 victory over Canada’s Scarlett Delgado in the women’s 54kg final.

Jaismine followed with another clinical 5-0 win, defeating Northern Ireland’s defending champion Michaela Walsh in the 57kg summit clash.

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Fighting from long range and relying on her sharp footwork, Preeti made a measured start before gradually finding her rhythm. Once she settled in, the Indian dictated the pace, keeping Delgado at bay with crisp counters and timely combinations to cruise to victory.

Jaismine, meanwhile, was made to work much harder against the vastly experienced Walsh. Commanding the centre of the ring and making full use of her superior reach, the Indian edged the opening two rounds 3-2 before closing out a deserved unanimous victory.

Sakshi, who dropped down from 54kg to 51kg, upset local favourite Ruby White of England in another impressive display.

Priya, sporting a tricolour gumshield, recovered from a slow start to beat Canada’s Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh 4-1. Trailing 2-3 after the opening round, she unleashed a barrage of punches over the final two rounds to turn the contest around.

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Arundhati completed the women’s golden sweep with a unanimous 5-0 victory over England’s world championship bronze medallist Chantelle Reid in the 70kg final.

Spurred on by chants of “Bajrang Bali Jai”, the Rajasthan boxer celebrated her triumph with a bow-and-arrow gesture.

“The celebration was to send all the negative talk away. I dedicate this win to my family, who have made a lot of sacrifices for me,” she said.

Sachin produced one of the comebacks of the day. Trailing after the opening round and suffering a point deduction in the final round, he forced a standing count against Namibia’s Tryagain Morning Ndevelo before clinching a dramatic 3-2 split verdict.

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“Even though I was losing the first round, I knew I could win the bout,” Sachin said.

Ankush then capped India’s golden evening with a composed 4-1 victory over England’s Dimeji Shittu. Despite being booed by the home crowd, the Army boxer remained unfazed and boxed with discipline throughout.

Lovlina, however, fell just short, losing a closely fought women’s 75kg final to Australia’s Emma-Sue Greentree.

Narender also had to settle for silver after going down to England’s Damar Thomas in the super-heavyweight final.

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Jadumani ended with silver after losing 0-5 to Australia’s Jye Dixon in the 55kg title clash. The Indian had taken the opening round 3-2 after overcoming the height disadvantage, but Dixon responded emphatically with a dominant second round before carrying the momentum into the decider to deny India an eighth gold.


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Tour pro Si Woo Kim offered money … by a tunnel? Here’s the WILD story why

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The Vikings’ Passer Battle Has at Least 1 Answer Already

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Carson Wentz gets ready before the Vikings’ home game against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, at U.S. Bank Stadium.
On October 19, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz went through pregame drills before the matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium. The veteran passer, facing his former team for the first time in purple, displayed sharp focus during warmups as fans packed the stands for the highly anticipated reunion against one of the NFC’s top defensive units. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

Much remains uncertain at quarterback. Not so at QB3.

Max Brosmer is trying to take down the elder statesman but appears very unlikely to do so. Carson Wentz got brought back for a reason. The Vikings’ passer battle is mostly focused on chasing a high ceiling with Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy squaring off. Mr. Wentz is in town to ensure that the ship can remain afloat if something terrible happens. That’s a perspective that appears close to certain unless Brosmer goes nuclear.

The Vikings’ Passer Battle Knows its QB3

Wentz has been through a ton in his career. Presumably, he envisioned things going different after getting chosen at No. 2 in the 2016 NFL Draft, but the NFL can be a cruel spot.

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To his great credit, Wentz has responded by embracing his job and doing very well within his role.

Recent seasons have involved being a depth guy. Some of the reason for the modest assignment is that he’s getting older. What’s been more of an issue, though, has been injury. Vikings fans can think back to the missed opportunity after that magical 2017 season when Nick Foles and the Eagles demolished Minnesota in the NFC Championship Game. Don’t forget, folks, that Wentz was the starter for that team before being lost for the year due to injury.

NFL: Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers
Oct 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) drops back to pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

What followed has been somewhat of a rollercoaster.

An initial stop in Philadelphia led toward an opportunity in Washington. There was then a chance in Indianapolis, in LA (Rams), and in Kansas City. Those final two stops are of particular note since Sean McVay and Andy Reid are brilliant strategists for offensive football.

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Now entering his second season as a Viking, Carson Wentz understands his job.

The QB3 is being leaned on for steady leadership. Grind through film as he shepherds the younger arms in the quarterback room. At times, Josh McCown and Kevin O’Connell likely turn to him to get his sense of how things are going. He demands a pile of respect inside TCO.

If disaster strikes, Wentz is going to go in there and be totally unflappable. That doesn’t mean he’ll be elite. It does mean he’ll inspire confidence in his teammates. Even better, he’ll give his guys a shot. Justin Jefferson cleared 100 yards a pair of times with Wentz throwing the pigskin. That matters.

Minnesota Vikings QB Carson Wentz in 2025 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Oct 19, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) drops back for a pass during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

The Vikings went 2-3 last season with Wentz. A vital detail to remember is that he was playing hurt toward the end. His toughness got to the point of cruelty. Every hit felt terrible for those watching; imagine how he felt.

His overall stats show somebody who completed a tidy 65.1% of his passes. The yards come in at 1,216 and his TD-to-INT ratio was a humdrum 6/5. Again, though, the health issue. Moreover, he got added very late, a misstep by the Vikings’ front office. Giving him a full offseason in Minnesota could have led to a better performance once he was needed.

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Carson Wentz put pen to paper on a single-season contract coming in at $3 million. He secures the team’s floor while offering great leadership, meaning the deal is a bargain.

In the past, Wentz has been to the Pro Bowl and finished as a second-team All Pro in 2017.


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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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A look back at Zinedine Zidane’s career as he becomes France’s new coach

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2026 AIG Women’s Open Sunday tee times: Round 4 pairings

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The 2026 AIG Women’s Open concludes on Sunday, Aug. 2, with the fourth round at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in England. You can find full AIG Women’s Open tee times for Sunday’s fourth round at the bottom of this post.

AIG Women’s Open Sunday tee times: What to know

If you didn’t have Yealimi Noh in your office pool this week, you’re not alone. The 25-year-old Californian arrived at Royal Lytham and St. Annes with just two top-10 finishes in majors and one LPGA Tour victory to her name.

Now, after a tidy two-under 69 on a wind-swept Saturday, she heads into the final round at seven-under, holding a three-shot lead. It’s the first time she’s ever been the front-runner at any point in a major.

Can Noh hang on?

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To do so, she’ll have to hold off a pack of pursuers. Haeran Ryu, who teed off Saturday with the lead while seeking her third consecutive major title, stumbled to a three-over 74 to fall back to four-under. She’s joined there by fellow American Lucy Li, Germany’s Esther Henseleit, Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki and World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, who is seeking her first major championship.

Fan favorite Charley Hull, meanwhile, isn’t out of the mix. Playing in her home country, she’ll begin the final round at two-under, five shots behind.

Noh tees off at 9:35 a.m. ET alongside Henseleit.

You can watch Sunday’s final round of the AIG Women’s Open from 7 a.m.-noon ET on USA and then from noon-2 p.m. ET on NBC. Additional Sunday streaming coverage will be provided by GolfChannel.com, the Golf Channel app and the NBC Sports app.

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You can check out the complete Round 4 tee times for the 2026 AIG Women’s Open below.

2026 AIG Women’s Open tee times for Sunday: Round 4 (ET)

3:45 a.m. – Casandra Alexander, Mi Hyang Lee

3:55 a.m. – Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Aunchisa Utama

4:05 a.m. – Aki Iwai, Julia Lopez Ramirez

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4:15 a.m. – Arpichaya Yubol, Anna Nordqvist

4:25 a.m. – Auston Kim, Nasa Hataoka

4:35 a.m. – Amanda Doherty, Jin Young Ko

4:45 a.m. – Alison Lee, Kajsa Arwefjall

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5 a.m. – Minji Kang, Alice Hewson

5:10 a.m. – Maja Stark, Patty Tavatanakit

5:20 a.m. – Amelia Garvey, Cara Gainer

5:30 a.m. – Yana Wilson, Rose Zhang

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5:40 a.m. – Ariya Jutanugarn, Yuna Araki

5:50 a.m. – Annabell Fuller, Yunseo Yang (a)

6 a.m. – Hyo Joo Kim, Nastasia Nadaud

6:15 a.m. – Manon De Roey, Lindy Duncan

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6:25 a.m. – Jenny Shin, Amy Yang

6:35 a.m. – Sara Kouskova, Pia Babnik

6:45 a.m. – Paula Martin Sampedro (a), Mao Saigo

6:55 a.m. – Hannah Green, Brooke M. Henderson

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7:05 a.m. – Dewi Weber, Sei Young Kim

7:15 a.m. – Chizzy Iwai, Yuka Saso

7:30 a.m. – Celine Boutier, Mimi Rhodes

7:40 a.m. – Alexandra Forsterling, Jing Yan

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7:50 a.m. – Lauren Coughlin, Robyn Choi

8 a.m. – Nelly Korda, Rio Takeda

8:10 a.m. – Shannon Tan, Wei-Ling Hsu

8:20 a.m. – Carla Tejedo Mulet, Jin Hee Im

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8:30 a.m. – Ashleigh Buhai, Soo Bin Joo

8:45 a.m. – Lydia Ko, Charley Hull

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Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn expected to miss six to eight weeks with quad injury

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CINCINNATI — The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Ryan O’Hearn on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a strained left quad and he is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

O’Hearn pulled up and grabbed his left leg while running to first base on a groundout in the ninth inning on Friday night’s 8-7 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. He was helped off the field by manager Don Kelly and a member of the training staff.

The Pirates signed O’Hearn to a two-year, $2- million free-agent contract in January. He is batting .270 with 17 home runs and 69 RBIs in 96 games. He missed two weeks in May with a right quad injury.

O’Hearn has made 49 appearances at first base, 42 in right field, and 17 as the designated hitter. He homered three times and set a Pirates single-game franchise record with 10 RBIs against the Braves on July 7.

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In other moves, the Pirates recalled right-hander Isaac Mattson from triple-A Indianapolis, activated catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores Jr. from the IL and optioned right-hander Antwone Kelly to triple-A.

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“Both of them would be brilliant additions”

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Former Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel has urged Liverpool to sign Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue from PSG. He believes that the two players are needed at Anfield to make them a better side.

Speaking to the Daily Star, Friedel stated that Barcola and Doue are on the same level, and it would be hard to pick one of the two. He claimed that Liverpool should be looking to get both of them this summer and not just one and said:

“It’s a toss of a coin between Barcola and Doue. I think both of them would be brilliant additions to L’pool and honestly, I think both of them would be great to help with the loss of goals and assists from Salah. Both players are excellent on the left and can also drift into the middle, which is something Iraola would like a lot in how he plays.”

“Watching both at the World Cup, they both have important assets which can benefit Liverpool and contribute to an exciting style of play. So, both of them would be my preference, to add good depth to the squad because as we’ve seen it’s a long season competing in all competitions so you need plenty of quality in the squad and both of them would be huge players.”

The Reds remain in talks with PSG to sign Barcola, and the Ligue1 are open to a sale.

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Jamie Carragher does not want Bradley Barcola at Liverpool

Jamie Carragher claimed that his former side do not need Barcola. He wants them to sign a right-winger and not another winger who prefers to play on the left and told Sky Sports:

“He’s a great player, there’s no doubt about that – I’d love to get Barcola at Liverpool. But he’s a left winger for me. Liverpool’s big thing that stands out like a sore thumb right now is replacing Mo Salah, a right winger. And I don’t think L’pool have got anybody really in the squad who looks fully comfortable playing right wing.”

“They probably have at least four players in the squad before Barcola joins, if he joins, who could play on the left-hand side comfortably. Now, I’m not saying any of those players are better than Barcola. But in terms of the balance of the squad, it’s not the position L’pool need right now. They need a right winger.”

PSG were looking to sign Yan Diomande this summer, but have switched focus to Maghnes Akliouche and Mika Godts, after Real Madrid hijacked the deal for the Ivory Coast star.