^ ^ Jurgen Klopp threatens to immediately quit as Germany boss after making Thomas Tuchel complaint

Jurgen Klopp was unveiled as Germany’s new head coach (Picture: Reuters)

Jurgen Klopp insisted he will have no problem walking away from his new job as Germany head coach if he is treated unfairly by the media.

Klopp is back in the dugout for his first managerial job since departing Liverpool in the summer of 2024.

The 59-year-old will look to turn around his nation’s fortunes after another disappointing World Cup campaign led to the resignation of Julian Nagelsmann.

Germany have only reached one semi-final in the six major tournaments since winning the 2014 World Cup, and suffered a shock defeat on penalties to Paraguay in the last-32 of this latest World Cup.

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Klopp will have to wait until September for his first game in charge when Germany will take on the Netherlands in the Nations League.

But he issued a stern warning at his unveiling and said he would not stick around long if he is treated the same as his predecessor Nagelsmann or fellow countryman and England boss, Thomas Tuchel.

‘I’m not doing this job for myself, I’m doing it for you,’ he said. ‘I’m taking this job even though I’ve seen how you’ve treated Julian Nagelsmann. I’m taking it even though I’ve seen how you’ve treated Thomas Tuchel.

Klopp hit out at the media (Picture: Getty)

‘If you go after my family, I’m gone. If you think I’m rubbish, tell me to my face and I’ll leave immediately, without asking for any compensation.

‘I know there are other countries where national team coaches are treated even worse. I love this job but I am always ready to call it quits if need be.’

On the pitch, however, Klopp said he wanted to create a side that excited fans and said he would go into the next major tournament with high expectations.

Klopp replaces Julian Nagelsmann following his resignation (Picture: Getty)

‘For me, it was also a nice realisation at the World Cup that the back four won and we will do that,’ he added.

‘We’ll also play with wings, because I’m convinced of it. I want to make sure with the national team that people come home from the games and say “Wow”.

‘Are we number one in the world? No, but that doesn’t matter. Can we beat the eleven teams ahead of us in the world rankings? Yes! I would like us all to watch the DFB games together again away from tournaments, I didn’t do that myself. Successful football can change a country.

‘I want to see from the boys that it’s something very, very special to be invited to the national team. I won’t be able to please everyone, but I’ll try everything.

‘When I imagine Germany becoming world champions in four years, it feels very good. We have to play in such a way that we could become world champions. I’m up for it, let’s go!

‘We have an incredible amount of talent in Germany. We became U17 World and European Champion 2023. The talents are out there, but in German football you have to think about whether we are gearing everything towards winning the next tournament.’

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^ ^ Arsenal join transfer race with Tottenham to sign ‘frightening’ £51m World Cup star

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal are reportedly keen to explore a move for Norway winger Antonio Nusa, who is also attracting interest from Premier League rivals Tottenham.

Nusa has scored ten goals in 71 appearances in all competitions for RB Leipzig since he signed for €22.5million (£19.2m) from Club Brugge back in 2024.

The 21-year-old came close to joining the Premier League earlier that year, but a move to Brentford ultimately broke down after complications arose during his medical.

But after a promising two seasons in Germany and an impressive string of performances at the World Cup with Norway, Nusa is again on the radar of top clubs in the English top-flight.

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According to The Sun, both Arsenal and Tottenham are monitoring the situation with Nusa, who is likely to cost around €60m (£51m) if either club wants to prise the winger away from RB Leipzig.

The Gunners have made it a clear priority to strengthen their options at left wing, particularly after the departure of Leandro Trossard to Besiktas.

Former Norwich winger Christos Tzolis has arrived from Club Brugge for £34m, but Mikel Arteta’s side could still make further additions on the left wing.

Antonio Nusa impressed at the World Cup (Picture: Getty)

Nusa is one name in the reckoning, while Bradley Barcola and Yan Diomande are two eye-catching names who have also been linked with the Gunners.

Tottenham could also explore a deal for Nusa as they look to continue their lavish spending for new boss Roberto De Zerbi.

Spurs have already signed Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali for a combined £185m, while Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi have also joined to bolster their backline.

Arsenal have already signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge (Picture: Getty)

But signing a winger could also be helpful, particularly with Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert all missing Spurs’ pre-season tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Speaking earlier in the week, former Premier League striker Troy Deeney raved about Nusa’s potential and said the winger would be a ‘frightening’ addition for several top English clubs.

‘I haven’t heard anyone linked with this guy: Antonio Nusa, left winger for Norway, 21 years of age for RB Leipzig,’ he told talkSPORT. ‘For me, he is frightening.

Tottenham are also interested in Nusa (Picture: Getty)

‘He’s 21 years of age and played 35 games last year, 5 goals, 4 assists. 36 games the year before, 5 goals and 6 assists, so he is showing you that he can do it both goals and assists at his 21 years of age.

‘He came on in the second half against England and did really well, but I just think at 21 and on that high left (position) now, which is an area that most teams are struggling.

‘I think to Chelsea, arguably Man United as well. They do put Cunha there, but I think he’s probably better for the middle. Arsenal have got that problem, so why would you not look at a young man like that?’

Deeney continued: ‘This kid’s very quick as well. I remember watching him in the qualifying games and he’s the only one who can keep up with Haaland.

‘Haaland loved playing with this guy because when he gets away on the break, Haaland knows he doesn’t have to slow down. This guy gets to the byline and just fizzes it across the box.

‘He’s a really talented player and has obviously played in the Champions League as well, so he’s got all that experience.

‘With the English tax that we clearly know we have when you look at like Morgan Rogers’ price tag, Declan Rice and also Elliot Anderson, they’re all hundred million. There are so many gems out there that you can get that I think do just as good a job.’

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^ ^ Megan Rapinoe blames Donald Trump for USA’s World Cup demise

Donald Trump’s intervention threw the USA ‘off their game’ at the World Cup (Picture: The Daily Show)

Former USA footballer Megan Rapinoe says Donald Trump threw the men’s team ‘off their game’ and gave Belgium extra motivation to knock the co-hosts out of this summer’s World Cup.

Trump inserted himself at the centre of the USA’s World Cup story after Folarin Balogun was shown a red card for a foul on Tarik Muharemovic in the side’s group-stage victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The sending off meant the Monaco striker, formerly of Arsenal, had been due to miss the USA’s all-important round-of-16 tie with Belgium through suspension.

However, Balogun’s one-match ban was subsequently suspended for a year by FIFA, a decision which left the Belgian Football Association ‘astonished’ and ‘investigating potential options’.

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It later emerged that United States President Trump had spoken privately with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino on the phone, encouraging the governing body to ‘review’ their initial call.

FIFA would go on to dismiss Belgium’s appeal to overturn the decision and Balogun was given the all clear to start in Seattle, only for Mauricio Pochettino’s men to crash out of the tournament with a thumping 4-1 defeat.

Speaking after Belgium’s win, Youri Tielemans admitted the controversy surrounding Balogun’s ban being temporarily lifted had provided the Red Devils with even more incentive to perform.

Trump called Infantino and told FIFA to ‘review’ Balogun’s red card (Picture: Getty)

Balogun’s one-game ban was suspended for 12 months (Picture: Getty)

‘Let’s be honest: we held a meeting when we heard the news. We told ourselves we needed to do our talking on the pitch,’ the Belgium and Manchester United midfielder said.

‘That’s what we did today. I’m very proud of the team.’

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, meanwhile, claimed the team had faced a ‘lack of respect’ in the days leading up to the contest.

‘People said they could easily beat us, but I think we’ve just proven today that we really are a good team. We played a great match.’

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Belgium would go on to suffer defeat to Spain in the next round, with Mikel Merino scoring late on to help steer La Roja into the semi-finals en route to a second World Cup triumph.

But the criticism surrounding FIFA’s handling of Balogun’s red card remains as strong as ever – and USA women’s hero Rapinoe made her feelings clear while featuring as a guest on The Daily Show on Wednesday.

Asked how Trump’s intervention may have affected the national team, the former USA and Seattle Reign midfielder replied: ‘Certainly not well!

‘It didn’t give them the boost, maybe, that were thinking it would or that Trump was hoping that it would.

‘I don’t know, it seemed like it kind of threw them off their game.

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‘Whether it was meant to be a red card or not, I don’t know, I’m not a ref, and I don’t even know the rules! I feel like people are always… so many people are asking me, “What about this?”, guys… I don’t know.

‘But it didn’t go well. They had such a good vibe. I feel like they had the underdog vibe going and then you-know-who [Trump] got involved and everyone was like, “Nope! No, we don’t like it!”

‘And obviously Belgium was like, “No, we absolutely can’t lose to this team now!””

Rapinoe won two World Cups with the USA women’s team (Picture: Getty)

Rapinoe joked that the USA women’s team had grown used to dealing with and ‘handling’ the kind of pressure and outside noise that their male counterparts faced across the World Cup.

‘We’re like, “Bring it, bring it on!”, we can handle that,’ she added.

‘Yeah, they [the men’s team] aren’t getting asked about like abortion bans in their press conferences…

‘So this is like old hat to us. We’re good.’

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It’s not the first time that Rapinoe has used her platform and following to openly criticise the United States president.

In March 2025, the two-time World Cup winner described Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sport, entitled ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’, as ‘cruel and depraved’.

Two years earlier, Rapinoe had said that the fight to secure equal pay for women representing the US national team was the most cherished memory she took away from her international career.

Asked if there had been a particular moment in her life or career that had inspired her to use her voice try make a difference in the world, Rapinoe responded: ‘I think being gay is part of it.

‘I’m like, “Okay, something’s up here”, and I have a brother who was formerly incarcerated so I feel like from a young age I had started to get an education on what our present system was like and what it does and doesn’t do for people.

‘And then I think going into sports and going into women’s sport, something wasn’t adding up here, so a couple of different convergences in my life.

‘My yeah, definitely being and woman and being gay… I gotta get in there! I gotta get in there.’

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^ ^ Man Utd agree personal terms with World Cup star to beat Arsenal to £51m signing

Michael Carrick could be getting his third midfielder (Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Manchester United have reached an agreement in principle with AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone.

The France international has been on the radar of a number of clubs this summer, enhancing his reputation further with some impressive performances for Les Bleus during the World Cup.

Arsenal have also shown interest in the 25-year-old while reports have also claimed Chelsea have held talks with his representatives over a move to Stamford Bridge.

Old Trafford has emerged as his most likely destination however with United rebuilding their midfield this summer having already brought in Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans from Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively.

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Michael Carrick wants a third new arrival in midfield with United back amongst the elite in the Champions League next season and have been in regular contact with Kone’s representatives.

L’Equipe this week said United have ‘the upper hand’ in the race to sign Kone with the report adding the midfielder would welcome a move to Manchester.

Corriere dello Sport now report an agreement has been met between the two camps with Roma expecting an official offer from the Premier League club.

Kone had an impressive World Cup for France (Picture: Getty Images)

Kone has been priced at €50million (£42m) during the summer transfer window with United ready to make an offer ‘close’ to that figure.

The newspaper states however Roma now want €60m (£51m).

Saudi club Al-Ahli have also contacted Roma over a move.

United’s midfield rebuild has seen them enquire into a move for Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni but the France star is set to be offered a new contract at the Bernabeu with no indication he wishes to leave.

Roma are holding out for €60m for their midfielder (Picture: Getty Images)

In Kone, United could be signing a more than capable alternative with France and Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira rating the Roma star higher than his countryman.

‘He has come into the World Cup with a couple of injuries and it has been a quite difficult season for him,’ Vieira told ITV during their coverage of France vs Norway at the World Cup.

‘But he is for me, the best midfielder in France today. I would put him ahead of Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot because he has got this mobility to move around the pitch.

‘He is aggressive, he is a ball winner and he has got this technical ability to be part of the build-up. He can break lines and play forward.’

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^ ^ Liverpool told they should ‘definitely consider’ selling Premier League winner

Newly appointed Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola is yet to work with Cody Gakpo (Picture: Getty)

Emile Heskey has called on Liverpool to strongly consider cashing in on Cody Gakpo if a ‘serious offer’ comes in for the forward this summer.

Gakpo enjoyed an encouraging start in his first half-a-season on Merseyside after joining from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, racking up seven goals and two assists in his opening 21 Premier League appearances.

The 27-year-old’s most productive season yet came in Arne Slot’s extraordinary first year at the helm, with a return of ten goals in 35 games helping steer the Reds to a record-equaling 20th league crown.

But Gakpo netted only seven times in the English top flight as Liverpool’s title defence came off the rails in dramatic fashion last term, leading to Slot’s dismissal as head coach earlier this summer.

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According to the BBC, there is a ‘possibility’ that Gakpo may never play under manager Andoni Iraola, despite the versatility and work ethic the attacker has showcased across his three-and-a-year spell at Anfield.

And while Gakpo only put pen to paper on a new contract extension last summer, which runs through to 2030, Tottenham continue to be heavily linked with the Netherlands international.

Bayern Munich have also been credited with an interest for some time, with Gakpo himself confirming last September: ‘From what I understand, they did come, but they ended up buying Luis Diaz.’

Spurs are keeping tabs on thew Liverpool and Netherlands forward (Picture: Getty)

Gakpo scored three goals for the Netherlands at this summer’s World Cup (Picture: Getty)

Giving his thoughts on the club’s potential transfer dealings, ex-Liverpool striker Heskey told 10bet: ‘I would consider selling Cody if a decent offer was on the table.

‘When you’re coming in as a new manager, you have to cold-headedly look at your assets.

‘He is an asset who holds significant market value that you could cash in on to fund your own vision.’

Heskey has not been convinced by Gakpo’s recent form for Liverpool (Picture: Getty)

Though Heskey concedes that Gakpo had a ‘decent’ World Cup, he believes the Dutchman’s form at club level has been patchy at best.

‘He has had a decent enough World Cup in terms of scoring and creating chances for Holland, which keeps his profile high,’ the former England international added.

‘But at club level for Liverpool, it hasn’t consistently looked great for him. So yes, you’d definitely have to consider a serious offer.’

The BBC claim it would likely require an offer in excess of £60million for Liverpool to even contemplate a deal for Gakpo this summer.

Should the Reds decide to sell, they stand to make a tidy profit on the winger, who they signed for a fee of just £35m from PSV Eindhoven after the 2022 World Cup.

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