Barcelona can now start planning for next season after Xavi Hernandez was confirmed as staying on as coach for 2024/25. The decision seems to be the most sensible one for the club as it allows continuity at a time when the club need it the most. Given that the Catalan giants weren’t able to secure any silverware at all during the current campaign, there clearly needs to be a change of playing personnel in certain positions. One area where they’ve struggled is on the left-wing. When fit, they have an overlapping full-back in Alejandro Balde, but Barca clearly need someone that mirrors Lamine Ya ..read more

Barcelona haven’t had the best of seasons in 2023/24, but the board and playing staff will surely be encouraged that Xavi has decided to stay with them for another campaign at least. It allows the Catalan giants to be able to build upon the last two years work without any great upheaval. Though the club haven’t won any silverware this year, indicating just how far they’ve fallen since the glory days of Messi, Suarez and Neymar et al, it’s clear that Joan Laporta sees Xavi as the man to lead the club out of its current funk. Ansu Fati’s future is away from Barcelona With his immediate future as ..read more

Real Madrid have had a brilliant season so far in 2023/24 and their win over Real Sociedad on Friday night means that they’re just four points away from another Spanish top-flight title. They head into next week’s Champions League semi-final first-leg against Bayern Munich full of confidence too, and victory over the Bavarians would bring them closer to extending their record of trophy wins in the premier European competition. One player that hasn’t really had too much of a part to play in their successes in the current campaign is young Arda Guler. Arda Guler has “many possibilities” to leave ..read more

Feyenoord coach, Arne Slot, has agreed terms with Liverpool with contracts set to be prepared over the weekend. According to Fabrizio Romano, talking to CaughtOffside for his exclusive Daily Briefing, everything has been agreed and it’s just a matter of time. “The only confirmed manager deal at this moment is Arne Slot joining Liverpool. The package will be around €13/15m with backroom staff included, it’s all agreed,” he said. “Feyenoord and Liverpool will prepare all the contracts this weekend. Liverpool are convinced he can bring quality football, he can improve young talents and continue K ..read more

Alexander Sorloth’s dedication to his team reached new heights last week when he made the tough decision to prioritise a football match over the birth of his first child. The Villarreal centre-forward skipped the birth of his daughter, Emma, to play in the team’s La Liga fixture against Almeria. Despite missing this significant personal event, Sorloth’s commitment to his team paid off handsomely when he scored a dramatic 92nd-minute winner, securing a 2-1 victory for the Yellow Submarine. While Villarreal did grant Sorloth the opportunity to be with his partner, Lena Selnes, during the birth ..read more

Following his retirement from football, Gareth Bale has joined Steph Curry’s ‘Underrated Golf’ as an ambassador for the tour’s maiden European run. Bale, 34, quit football after captaining Wales at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. During his playing career, the five-time Champions League winner was well-known for being an avid golfer. Bale is joining NBA star Stephen Curry in his golf endeavors, following weeks after the player autographed a jersey for him while he was courtside at a Golden State Warriors game in Los Angeles. The golf tour is hosting its debut event in the UK at the Walton Health ..read more

Crystal Palace are one of the form teams in the Premier League at present, with the Oliver Glasner era finally getting going. A 5-2 win over West Ham which followed a superb 1-0 win at Anfield has highlighted just how well the Austrian has got the South Londoners playing. Their most recent result was a 2-0 home victory over an impressive Newcastle United team, with Jean-Philippe Mateta bagging both goals. Mateta’s good form has been one of the features of Glasner’s time at the club, and since the new manager’s time in charge the forward has plundered eight goals per WhoScored. Mateta to stay a ..read more

Man United will find it very hard to sell Marcus Rashford this summer as there is very little interest in the forward from big clubs across Europe.  This summer’s transfer window is a huge one for the Premier League giants as it is the first that will be overseen by new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The Ineos CEO is looking to bring United back to the top of the Premier League table and has already made some significant changes behind the scenes. When it comes to playing squad, Ratcliffe will first need to decide on the future of manager Erik ten Hag, whose job is hanging by a thread at p ..read more

It’s set to be another busy transfer window for Arsenal this summer, as the club are set to move on three midfielders and hope to bring a €100m talent to the club. According to CaughtOffside sources close to the situation, the Gunners want to sign Valencia’s brilliant 20-year-old midfielder Javi Guerra. In order to be in a position to do this, the North London club will allow Mohamed Elneny, Jorginho and Thomas Partey to leave the squad before the start of the 2024/25 campaign. Arsenal face competition to land Javi Guerra Mikel Arteta really appreciates Javi Guerra’s talent, and has watch ..read more

If West Ham want to take a leap forward and truly consider themselves as a top-half Premier League side that consistently finish in the European places, then they need to start competing with the English top-flight’s best teams for the brightest young talents available. David Moyes has certainly established the Hammers as a force over the past couple of seasons, though there hasn’t really been too much improvement or innovation in the side. Tim Steidten’s influence is obvious, thanks to the signings of Edson Alvarez and Mo Kudus et al, and the East Londoners need more of the same in order to t ..read more