Arsenal are eyeing Bournemouth youngster Eli Junior Kroupi, Real Madrid are considering a move for Everton‘s Jarrad Branthwaite, and Chelsea are interested in Nico Williams.

Arsenal are extremely keen on a move for Bournemouth and France Under-21s forward Eli Junior Kroupi, 20, but the Cherries would expect a huge fee. (Football London), external

Real Madrid are weighing up a move for Everton‘s 24-year-old English defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who is also on the radar of several Premier League clubs. (Goal), external

Chelsea are keen to explore a £69m deal for Spain and Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, 24. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Arsenal have no intention of selling 27-year-old Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi in January. (Football Insider), external

Real Madrid and Barcelona have made fresh enquiries about American teenager Cavan Sullivan, 16, who is set to move to Manchester City from Philadelphia Union when he turns 18. (Teamtalk), external

Liverpool will have to pay the full £130m release clause to buy 20-year-old Brazilian Rayan from Bournemouth despite manager Andoni Iraola’s relationship with the midfielder from his time as Cherries boss. (ESPN Brazil via Caught Offside), external

Advertisement

Atletico Madrid and Argentina midfielder Julian Alvarez, 26, who counts Arsenal and Barcelona among his suitors, is considering leaving his long-term agent after a summer of transfer speculation. (Mundo Deportivo), external

Everton are unlikely to pursue Tottenham and Brazil forward Richarlison despite the 29-year-old being linked with a return to the Toffees over the summer. (Football Insider), external

The Football Association was troubled by the Balogun situation from the outset, and had requested the release of the documents relating to his overturned ban during the World Cup.

Forward Balogun, 25, was allowed to play against Belgium in the last 16 when he would have expected to be serving a one-match suspension.

The striker had been shown a straight red card for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic in the 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last 32.

Fifa then said the automatic one-match ban would be suspended for a year. No reasoning behind the move was provided, beyond citing a rule which allows punishments to be suspended.

The FA, which had sent a letter of support for Infantino’s re-election before the Balogun incident, had deep concerns about political intervention.

US President Donald Trump later confirmed he called Infantino asking for Balogun’s ban to be reviewed.

Then the FFE proposal, revealed through the media just days after the World Cup final, fractured the game.

Advertisement

Fifa and Infantino were accused of breaking trust “through deception” in an open letter issued by Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation last month.

Many national associations, including those of England, Wales and Scotland, have withdrawn letters of support for Infantino’s re-election.

But Infantino still holds a great deal of support around the globe, with the confederations of Africa, South America and Oceania reiterating their backing.

After FFE was cancelled, Infantino called a meeting of the Fifa management board in Rabat, Morocco.

But as yet there has been no contact with the Fifa Council to explain the controversial plan.

That is set to change next month when Infantino must face Hewitt and the other 35 Fifa Council members.

The contrast with his time at Villa could hardly be greater.

In 46 appearances for the Premier League club, the 27-year-old scored 10 goals and registered two assists. Since joining Roma, he has scored 21 goals and provided three assists in just 25 matches.

His scoring rate has improved from one goal every 149.8 minutes at Villa to one every 96.7 minutes in Rome.

On the surface, the figures suggest two very different versions of the same player. But Roma’s success with Malen may owe as much to how he is being used as to any change in confidence or form.

The Dutchman arrived in Italy with a proven goalscoring pedigree and the data suggests Roma have found a role that maximises his attacking instincts.

While confidence and form may have played a part, a change in position appears to be a major factor behind the resurgence.

At Villa, Malen was often used across the frontline and spent only 52% of his league minutes as a central striker. At Roma, 99% of his Serie A minutes have come through the middle under manager Gian Piero Gasperini, making him the focal point of the attack and placing him where he can do the most damage.

Advertisement

The stats are backed up by the eye test. After Roma’s 1-1 Champions League draw with Fenerbahce last Thursday, when Malen set up his side’s goal, French football journalist Julien Laurens told Match of the Day the Dutchman had become central to Gasperini’s plans.

“He has been incredible since January,” said Laurens.

“He has been really efficient, super clinical. Malen is at the heart of everything they do with the ball.”