The top stories and transfer rumours from Thursday’s newspapers…

Vinicius Junior news

Real Madrid are awaiting a response from Vinicius Junior after offering the Arsenal target improved terms in excess of £19m per year – Daily Mail

Arsenal now feel it’s increasingly likely that Vinicus Jr stays at Real Madrid – The Independent

Real Madrid have agreed a club-record fee of £115.7m with RB Leipzig for Yan Diomande and are confident of warding off Arsenal’s interest in Vinicius after offering an improved contract to the Brazil forward – The Guardian

Progress was made in talks between Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior’s representatives over a new contract on Wednesday with the club making a latest, improved offer, and the player’s camp now feeling optimistic about a renewal – ESPN

Transfer news

Aston Villa are braced for a fresh bid from Arsenal for England defender Ezri Konsa amid attempts to tie him to a new contract – Daily Mail

Fulham have made an offer to sign centre-back Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal from Rennes. The £20m bid fell considerably below Rennes’ valuation and was turned down – The Athletic

Atletico Madrid are ready to firm up their interest in Tottenham defender Cristian Romero after he held talks with Inter Milan – Daily Mail

Inter Milan have a broad agreement with Tottenham over a deal for Romero but Atletico Madrid are confident the Argentine would rather join them – The Times

Aston Villa are continuing to discuss a £14m deal with Atletico Madrid for Italian left-back Matteo Ruggeri – Daily Mail

Gianni Infantino future

Gianni Infantino held talks about rebranding the ill-fated European breakaway competition the “FIFA Super League”, with negotiations going as far as the term sheet for an agreement that would have changed the face of European football – The Guardian

Charley Hull is buoyed by how well she has played this season but admitted injuries have prevented her from performing at her best.

The 30-year-old has enjoyed a fine 2026, finishing inside the top 10 at three of the five women’s major championships and won the Ladies European Tour’s season-opening event, the PIF Saudi Ladies International, in February.

But Hull, who will play in her eighth consecutive Solheim Cup this September, told Sky Sports she feels it has been a “hit and miss” year.

“I’ve been playing some very good golf and then other weeks I don’t really show up, but that’s because of my injuries,” Hull said ahead of this week’s PIF London Championship, live on Sky Sports.

“I find it very hard to swing and get my swing where I want it to be.

“I’m managing it quite well, but I feel very stiff this week.”

Hull suffered a back injury in July 2025, before also sustaining ligament damage in her ankle later that August and has continued to manage those injuries since.

“My back is a bit sore today, actually,” she said. “When you have a long week it does impact that.”

Hull: I couldn’t get my putter going at Royal Lytham & St Annes

Hull rose into contention at last week’s AIG Women’s Open and found herself five shots off the lead heading into the final round.

The 30-year-old mixed in three birdies, two double bogeys and a bogey on her front nine.

After the turn, she gave herself multiple chances to make birdies but was unable to make up ground on the leaders, with Hull finishing the week tied for sixth.

Amid putting issues and dealing with the pressure of trying to win her first major title on home soil, her overriding takeaway from the week was a positive one.

“I didn’t putt very well at all,” Hull said. “Those two doubles in my final round cost me and the bogey on the eighth hole.

“Then I gave myself a birdie chance every hole on the back nine, and I just didn’t hole it.

“I just didn’t get my putter going, but I felt like I was under so much pressure last week with everything going on.

“I felt like it went kind of well and I think that’s why I’m so drained now.”

Hull was cheered on throughout the week by thousands of fans at Royal Lytham & St Annes and is hopeful she can continue to inspire the younger generation to play golf.

“It’s an intense week for me, but I tried to sign pretty much every autograph there because if it wasn’t for the fans there wouldn’t be a golf event, so you should always give back.

“It’s so nice to see people out there cheering your name and the younger generation.

“It’s really cool [to have younger fans looking up to me]. It’s a lot to have on your shoulders, though. I didn’t realise how intense it can be.

“But it’s pretty cool, it’s nice to see, and hopefully one of them will be out playing the AIG Women’s Open in 10 years’ time.”

Hull tees off alongside Patty Tavatanakit and Alison Lee at Centurion Club at 8.14am on Thursday as she bids to win the PIF London Championship.

Watch the PIF London Championship live on Sky Sports with coverage of rounds one and two commencing at 2pm on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf. Watch the final two rounds live from 1pm on Saturday and Sunday also on Sky Sports Golf.

Gakpo finished last season with a higher expected-goals total (8.59), more shots (87), more assists (five) and more big chances created (10) than any of Spurs’ forward options, despite playing in a Liverpool side whose Premier League title defence ended with a fifth-place finish.

Richarlison scored more league goals, but attempted 26 fewer shots and created only half as many big chances. Solanke, limited by injury, produced just 20 shots and one big chance created, while Tel also fell short across several of the key attacking measures. Randal Kolo Muani, who spent last season on loan at Spurs before joining Juventus this summer, likewise trailed Gakpo’s output.

The contrast extends beyond goals and shooting. Gakpo recorded 187 touches in the opposition penalty area, compared with 125 for Richarlison, 68 for Tel and 55 for Solanke. His 4.17 expected assists from open play was also comfortably the highest figure among the four, underlining his ability to create chances as well as find scoring positions himself.

He offers defensive value too. Gakpo regained possession 87 times, including 45 in the middle third, and made 13 interceptions. All three totals were higher than those recorded by Richarlison, Tel and Solanke. Tel completed more dribbles, with 39 to Gakpo’s 34, although Gakpo posted the slightly better success rate at 45.95%.

His broader profile reflects that breadth. Gakpo ranks in the 78th percentile for link-up play, the 75th for pass progression and the 67th for creative threat, illustrating his comfort combining in tight spaces and contributing to build-up play.

At 6ft 4in, he also provides a physical presence uncommon among wide forwards. Gakpo ranks in the 96th percentile for aerial volume compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, meaning only about 4% of wingers contest aerial balls at a higher rate. That would give De Zerbi another route against deep defensive blocks, through diagonal passes, back-post crosses or more direct balls when opponents restrict Spurs’ build-up play.