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Football gossip: Stones, Lacroix, Bailey, Kone, Garnacho, Rowe, Spence, Wan Bissaka

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The i Paper back page

Arsenal are weighing up a move for John Stones as a replacement for the injured William Saliba, Chelsea hold formal talks over Maxence Lacroix, while Hull City want to sign Leon Bailey from Aston Villa.

Arsenal are considering signing 32-year-old England defender John Stones on a free transfer if 25-year-old France defender William Saliba’s injury turns out to be long term. (Sun), external

Chelsea have held formal talks with Crystal Palace over a move for France defender Maxence Lacroix with the Eagles valuing the 26-year-old around £55m. (Talksport), external

Hull City are in talks with Aston Villa over a deal for 28-year-old Jamaica winger Leon Bailey. (Athletic – subscription required), external

New Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa wants to sign two players from former club Real Madrid, including 18-year-old Argentina winger Franco Mastantuono and 22-year-old Spain forward Gonzalo Garcia. (Sun), external

Bologna’s 23-year-old English winger Jonathan Rowe remains on Aston Villa and Chelsea‘s shortlists. (Calciomercato – in Italian), external

Hull City are closing in on the signing of 30-year-old former Newcastle left-back Matt Targett, who is a free agent after leaving the club this summer. (Mail), external

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Liverpool are prepared to join Manchester United in the race for Roma’s 25-year-old France midfielder Manu Kone. (Football Insider), external

Aston Villa have held talks with Chelsea over the possibility of signing both Nicolas Jackson and Alejandro Garnacho this summer. (Teamtalk), external

AC Milan’s Portugal forward Rafael Leao would prefer a move to the Premier League rather than Turkey, with Aston Villa a potential destination for the 27-year-old. (Gazzetta – in Italian), external

Lazio are targeting West Ham’s DR Congo defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with the 28-year-old also on Arsenal‘s list of potential options. (Mail), external

Juventus’ number one goalkeeping target is Aston Villa‘s 33-year-old Argentina international Emiliano Martinez, while the Serie A club is also keeping an eye on Fiorentina’s 35-year-old Spain goalkeeper David de Gea. (Calciomercato – in Italian), external

Everton could rival Inter Milan in the race to sign Tottenham‘s 25-year-old England defender Djed Spence. (Football Insider), external

Liverpool want to sign Sweden left-back Daniel Svensson from Borussia Dortmund, but may face competition from Arsenal for the 24-year-old’s signature. (Caught Offside), external

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Hibs: David Gray ‘will continue until told otherwise’ – but has Hibs boss lost the fans?

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David Gray took charge permanently in 2024 after three caretaker spells

Kieron: Kilmarnock could have won by three or four and it wouldn’t of flattered them. Hibs were so poor tonight. David Gray’s position is hanging by a thread.

Stuart: The players on that pitch have to take as much responsibility as Gray for this result, nowhere near good enough. Amateur performance.

Andy: How can Gray continue to keep his job? The players are not playing for him. The club is a mess. Banning the only fans that bring an atmosphere. Benching three of our best players. So confusing.

Chris: Question the tactics. Thought for long time long ball is desperate and lacks ambition. Pressure indeed on David Gray.

Lee: If we end the game two points off bottom spot then it’s surely time up for the Hibs manager. It’s not a run and recovery from a bad position needed, it’s deliver and results from the get go the support demands for a club of our size.

Stuart: The players on that pitch have to take as much responsibility as David Gray for this result, nowhere near good enough. Amateur performance.

Paul: Long balls to no-one as usual from Hibs and as usual our keeper is a weak link. Gray has to go even if we win as this is awful football. Bring in Neil Lennon or Steve Clarke asap before our season drifts to nothing as usual.

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Andy: How can Gray continue to keep his job? The players are not playing for him. The club is a mess. Banning the only fans that bring an atmosphere. Benching three of our best players. So confusing.

Brian: Worst backline in Scotland, midfielders trot about like headless chickens, feel sorry for strikers. Gray clueless. No plan. No tactics. Blah, blah, blah after game as usual but won’t resign. Board have to act.

SMcDhfc: David Gray has lost the team, it was obvious tonight. As an attacking force, we were shocking, lots of huffing and puffing but not one real effort on target. The players should be embarrassed after that display, but they will get the result they are after, Gray sacked.

Craig: I like Gray but believe it’s time he goes. He has one formation. It’s just not good enough. But, if he goes, Malky MacKay [director of football] should go too. His signings have been terrible.

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Thomas Tuchel: England boss regrets not eating Azteca turf after World Cup win in Mexico

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Thomas Tuchel, wearing a dark polo shirt, clenches two fists and grins in celebration

England’s victory was only the third time Mexico had tasted defeat at the stadium in 90 competitive matches.

Tuchel described it as one of the highlights of the campaign and hailed the “huge bond” within the camp, especially the reaction to Jordan Henderson’s tournament-ending injury after falling over an advertising hoarding while celebrating the Azteca success.

“This game had so much of what you could wish for,” added the German. “If you needed any proof of what it meant to these players and how they were with each other, it was the moment Jordan fell over and broke his arm.

“Within a second, the players were there. Every single player was there stopping the celebrations, building a shield, protecting Jordan, not going anywhere, in full empathy. It was so special.”

England are next in action against World Cup winners Spain on 26 September in their 2026-27 Uefa Nations League opener, with the 2028 European Championships also on Tuchel’s radar.

Confident of ending England’s wait for a first senior men’s trophy since 1966, he believed their World Cup run not only cemented his relationship with the squad – “it feels like they are my players now” – but also represented “something to build on”.

Tuchel added: “I’m very excited. I think we got another step closer and I think we’re there.”

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Northern Ireland: Eligibility rules ‘not particularly fair’ – Michael O’Neill

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Michael O'Neill and Ceadach O'Neill

Under the Good Friday Agreement – the 1998 peace accord that followed the conflict colloquially known as The Troubles – those born in Northern Ireland can hold both British and Irish passports.

A Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in 2010 means players born anywhere on the island of Ireland are able to represent the Republic of Ireland regardless of whether they fulfil any other measure of eligibility, namely being born in the territory, having a biological mother, father, grandmother or grandfather born in the territory, or having lived there for an uninterrupted period of five years.

Players born in the Republic of Ireland, however, cannot represent Northern Ireland unless they are otherwise eligible.

“We exploit eligibility, the same as every other country does, down to the grandparent rule, but this is a rule which is obviously unique between ourselves and the FAI [Football Association of Ireland],” said O’Neill.

“I think everyone recognises it’s not particularly fair, but as I say, our focus is to make sure our pathway for our young players is as good as possible and that’s a pathway for boys from any part of the community.”

In May, FAI director of football John Martin said the organisation should at “the bare minimum” be sounding out eligible players.

“We know there are kids out there who want to play for Ireland who haven’t been approached in the past,” said Martin.

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“That’s not right. It’s making sure we have a presence and we understand all the players available to us, and that they are being monitored and tracked.”

When asked whether the narrative around young players in or around his squad is tiresome to him, O’Neill said: “It would have been in the past, it’s not tiresome now.

“We have people who comment on this and talk about nationality and talk about identity and talk about all these different things, which are part of being born in Northern Ireland and growing up in Northern Ireland.

“But I think what we’re missing now is that we’re putting young players in a situation where they have to make a decision which is irreversible.”

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