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Ibrahima Konate is set to leave Liverpool after five years at Anfield.The 27-year-old had been in talks with the club about extending his contract but could not find common ground when it came to signing a new deal and is now set to walk away for free.Konate has been linked with a number of sides across Europe since the turn of the year, but has yet to decide on his next move.The France international has made 183 appearances since his arrival from RB Leipzig, winning one Premier League title, one FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.In terms of solidifying things in midfield and defence, No 6 makes sense given they need another option to Ryan Gravenbech and that's an area where we expect Liverpool will at least look to address.Remember that Jeremy Jacquet will become a Liverpool player this summer from Rennes - just before he turns 21 - in a £60m deal. He is the second-most expensive defender to join Liverpool.Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contractBut Jacquet himself has missed the back end of the season with a shoulder injury. Liverpool also have Geovanni Leoni to come back from his ACL injury.Virgil van Dijk is still at Liverpool, as is Joe Gomez - who has just a year left on his contract. So there could be movement in that centre-back role.Cover at left-back may be needed with Andy Robertson saying his goodbyes - although they also have Kostas Tsimikas returning from his loan spell.Latest from Sky Sports News' Vinny O'Connor and Sky in Italy:Inter Milan remain interested in signing Curtis Jones from Liverpool.The Italian club have been keen on the midfielder for some time - and he remains one of their targets this summer.His Liverpool future is unclear following a lack of regular starts under Arne Slot this season.He made 16 starts in the Premier League and seven in a row at the end of the campaign - but 18 more appearances came from the bench.

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Captain Nathan Collins headed the Republic of Ireland to a 1-0 friendly victory over World Cup-bound Qatar as both sides were reduced to 10 men.Collins ensured Ireland got the better of a side managed by his former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui with an early header.However, just how the evening might have panned out had Jack Moylan not been dismissed as half-time approached, a sparse crowd inside the Aviva Stadium will never know.Heimir Hallgrimsson's side, whose hopes of making it to the World Cup finals were dashed in heartbreaking fashion in March when they lost their play-off semi-final to the Czech Republic on penalties, were in complete control until Moylan's premature exit.Qatar substitute Almoez Ali suffered the same fate 12 minutes from time.The game was played out against the backdrop of ongoing unease at the forthcoming Nations League clashes with Israel, and play was interrupted on several occasions during the first half as 'Stop the Game' protesters among a crowd of 28,981 repeatedly hurled tennis balls on to the pitch.Ireland will now head for Montreal and their friendly against World Cup co-hosts Canada on June 6, while Qatar continue their preparations for the finals - they launch their Group B campaign against Switzerland in San Francisco on June 13 - against El Salvador in Los Angeles on the same day.How the Republic of Ireland and Qatar lined upNot got Sky? Get instant access with no contractThe Republic took the lead with just five minutes gone when, having been fouled by Ayoub Al-Oui wide on the left, Moylan curled the resulting free-kick on to the head of Collins, who glanced the ball effortlessly past 'keeper Mahmoud Abunada.There was a brief interruption after the protesters made their presence felt for the first time as Qatar's Pedro Miguel underwent treatment for injury, but once order had been restored, Troy Parrott whipped a first-time shot wide after being picked out by Seamus Coleman.The Qataris simply could not get anywhere near Hallgrimsson's men and a mid-half drinks break did little to improve matters for the visitors with Abunada having to field Jayson Molumby's deflected 24th-minute shot from distance.Lopetegui could not hide his frustration on the sideline and only the bravery of defender Ahmed Fathi denied Chiedozie Ogbene a second goal as he attempted to latch on to Liam Scales' header back across goal.But the home side's night took a turn for the worse on the stroke of half-time when Northern Irish referee Jamie Robinson deemed Moylan's challenge on Jassem Gaber worthy of a red card, much to the Lincoln frontman's clear astonishment.With defender James Abankwah having replaced Dara O'Shea at half-time, the 10 men found themselves under pressure for the first time on their return, although Coleman very nearly caught Abunada off his line with an audacious 52nd-minute attempt from the right wing.Edmilson Junior dragged a long-range effort wide two minutes later after Molumby went down in midfield under Fathi's challenge and it took a fine 71st-minute reaction save by Caoimhin Kelleher - his first of the night - to keep out Yusuf Abdurisag's deflected shot.However, Qatari hopes of salvation were dashed with 12 minutes remaining when Ali struck out at Molumby off the ball on several occasions and was also sent off.

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The top stories and transfer rumours from Friday's newspapers...Barcelona are weighing up an approach for Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie but recognise it will be a difficult deal to pull off - Daily MailArsenal are "putting together a plan" to renovate the Emirates Stadium, with chief executive Richard Garlick leading talks, according to co-chair Josh Kroenke - The IndependentWolves are continuing discussions for former Newcastle United full-back Kieran Trippier as they plot an ambitious return to the Premier League - Daily MailBarcelona are in talks over a deal for Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez - The AthleticUS men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has had talks with Serie A side Milan about taking over as manager next season - The GuardianCarlo Ancelotti's son Davide will board a plane back to Europe to take over as Lille manager next season - The SunThe Brazil football federation (CBF) has appealed a sanction handed to U17 player Eduardo Conceicao after he was banned for four months for mimicking a monkey gesture in protest against the racist abuse he reported he received - The AthleticMartin O'Neill's meeting with Celtic supremo Dermot Desmond has been delayed until next week - The Scottish SunLiel Abada has been spotted back in Glasgow just two years after swapping Scotland for the United States - The Scottish SunSFA chief executive Ian Maxwell has slammed the treatment of referee John Beaton over his Fir Park penalty call as "disgusting" - The Scottish Sun

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The top stories and transfer rumours from Friday's newspapers...Barcelona are weighing up an approach for Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie but recognise it will be a difficult deal to pull off - Daily MailArsenal are "putting together a plan" to renovate the Emirates Stadium, with chief executive Richard Garlick leading talks, according to co-chair Josh Kroenke - The IndependentWolves are continuing discussions for former Newcastle United full-back Kieran Trippier as they plot an ambitious return to the Premier League - Daily MailBarcelona are in talks over a deal for Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez - The AthleticUS men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has had talks with Serie A side Milan about taking over as manager next season - The GuardianCarlo Ancelotti's son Davide will board a plane back to Europe to take over as Lille manager next season - The SunThe Brazil football federation (CBF) has appealed a sanction handed to U17 player Eduardo Conceicao after he was banned for four months for mimicking a monkey gesture in protest against the racist abuse he reported he received - The AthleticMartin O'Neill's meeting with Celtic supremo Dermot Desmond has been delayed until next week - The Scottish SunLiel Abada has been spotted back in Glasgow just two years after swapping Scotland for the United States - The Scottish SunSFA chief executive Ian Maxwell has slammed the treatment of referee John Beaton over his Fir Park penalty call as "disgusting" - The Scottish Sun

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Arsenal striker scored the winner in the final five years ago and is determined to make up for being ‘in a bad place’ when injured this seasonWhen Kai Havertz thinks back to the 2021 Champions League final, he can’t help smiling. Chelsea’s surprise victory over Manchester City in Porto still feels like yesterday for the Germany striker.“It is something I will never forget,” he says. “As a kid I could have never dreamed I would score a goal in the final and win that game. I will always be proud of it. I just try to take that feeling and hopefully it will happen again.”Havertz is looking ahead to Arsenal’s final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday, when not many give them a chance of winning. It was the same when Chelsea, managed by Thomas Tuchel, took on a formidable City assembled by Pep Guardiola that had won the Premier League by 12 points. Chelsea had finished fourth, a further seven points adrift.“We were the underdogs on that day, for sure,” Havertz says. “We hadn’t had the best season. But now it is completely different.”Arsenal arrive having won their first Premier League since 2004 and Havertz, who as part of the celebrations posted a selfie with Win, the brown labrador who resides at the training ground, is in line to start. He has been preferred to the £64m summer signing Viktor Gyökeres in recent games against City and Burnley and is relishing the prospect of playing in European club football’s showpiece match for the second time.“There is just so much history with it,” he says. “So many big players played in it, and to be there, to compete to win the trophy, is amazing. I remember as a child I watched all the games – and just to watch that final is something very special. So to play in it is unreal.“You need to get there, and then you still have to make that step and win it. It is going to be hard, but we are going to be well prepared.”Many observers were surprised when Arsenal paid £65m to sign Havertz from Chelsea two years after his Champions League final heroics. But he finished as top scorer last season despite missing its last three months with a hamstring injury and hopes to repay Mikel Arteta’s faith on the biggest stage.“He was the one who brought me to the club and he taught me so much stuff on the pitch – and off the pitch as well,” he says. “I am very thankful for that time, how he helped me a lot when I had difficult moments. That is also very important.“It is nice that we also got him a little gift [the Premier League title] back now. He brought the club back to where it belongs.”Havertz missed almost five months after sustaining a knee injury on this season’s opening day against Manchester United, returning in January. The 26-year‑old was initially expected to be out for weeks, but ended up having two surgeries and spent weeks in a knee brace.“I was in a bad place when I was injured. You are just inside a building. You cannot go out, you cannot walk, you do nothing. But all the players and staff helped me believe in myself and to get back to my best.“Everyone told me from January how there is so much to play. That is where my momentum also shifted and I am just happy that I am here again now. I try to help the team every day. I tried that also when I was injured, just to help them off the pitch. That is always important.”Havertz’s goals at Bayer Leverkusen, his former club, in the Champions League’s last 16 and at Sporting in the quarter-final were crucial, as was his first Premier League goal at the Emirates for more than a year in the win against Burnley that teed up the following night’s title win. He also scored in April’s defeat at the Etihad Stadium.Havertz singled out Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final loss to City rather than that subsequent defeat as the turning point in their season. “It was a moment where we felt we could do so much better and there was so much more in this team and everyone needed to lift their spirits,” he said.“There was the international break after and we just said to ourselves that we need to come back stronger. From that moment things changed a bit and we were more successful. That was a big moment. You are always frustrated when you lose finals, so to come back from it and win the league like this is great.”It ensures confidence is high before facing PSG. Havertz says: “We have been fighting on the highest level for a couple of years now and we have finally won the Premier League. That gives us a big boost. It doesn’t matter if you are an underdog or whatever. We are going to go on the pitch and are going to beat them.”

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Marcos Senesi is edging closer to a move to Tottenham after positive talks this week.The 29-year-old is available on a free transfer after a four-season stay at Bournemouth and has been reviewing multiple offers since the season ended.LaLiga and Serie A sides have tabled offers but Spurs look to have won the race for the Argentina International.Senesi played 128 times for Bournemouth in all competitions, scoring six goals and providing 10 assists.Latest from Sky Sports News' Michael Bridge:Spurs are also hopeful Andy Robertson will finalise a move after leaving Liverpool.Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contractSpurs tried to sign the left-back during the January transfer window but he ultimately stayed at Anfield.However, Robertson will depart Liverpool on a free transfer this summer and Spurs are again pursuing his signing.Despite late interest from Juventus, there is optimism a deal will be completed before Robertson captains Scotland at the World Cup.Latest from Sky Sports News' Zinny Boswell:Mathys Tel would ideally like to stay at Tottenham, Sky Sports News understands, after overcoming a difficult season to play a decisive role under Roberto De Zerbi in helping secure their Premier League survival.The 21-year-old's priority is to be in a stable environment moving forwards where he feels the trust and confidence of the club.In 18 months at Spurs, Tel has worked under four different head coaches while the club have suffered consecutive 17th-place finishes.Tel has faced unique challenges at Spurs this season. He was overlooked for the initial Champions League squad by Thomas Frank, then brought back in December to replace Dominic Solanke, only to be removed again in January when the striker was fit.The uncertainty around his place in the team created significant speculation about his future and an intense winter for Tel amid strong interest from clubs in Europe.Tel has played his best football at Spurs under De Zerbi. He earned the Italian's trust with his performance off the bench at Wolves in late April.He won the corner at Molineux which led to Joao Palhinha's goal and Spurs' first league win of 2026, chasing down what had appeared to be a lost cause with time running out.It proved a turning point for both club and player. The Frenchman started the remaining four games on the left, contributing a goal and an assist that proved crucial in Spurs avoiding relegation.Tel's goal in the 1-1 draw with Leeds was overshadowed at the time because he gave away the penalty for the equaliser. However, De Zerbi supported Tel after his error and continued to select him for the most important games of the season.It has been a long season for Tel, which began with him being subjected to racial abuse on social media after missing a penalty in Spurs' Super Cup final shoot-out defeat to PSG - an incident understood to have deeply affected him emotionally.The 21-year-old has been through a lot this season and feels he is approaching a crucial stage in his career where he needs the right conditions to progress. He hopes that will be at Spurs under De Zerbi.

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Barcelona weigh up move for Piero Hincapie, Ruben Dias instructs agents to explore move away from Manchester City and Liverpool pushing for quick agreement with Yan Diomande. Barcelona are weighing up an approach for 24-year-old Arsenal and Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie. (Mail) , externalManchester City and Portugal defender Ruben Dias, 29, has instructed his agent to explore options for a move away, with Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all monitoring his situation. (Caught Offside), externalLiverpool are pushing for a quick agreement with RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, while Paris St-Germain and Manchester City are closely monitoring the situation and have already held talks with the 19-year-old Ivory Coast international. (Florian Plettenberg), externalCrystal Palace want to convince England midfielder Adam Wharton, 22, and Japan midfielder Daichi Kamada, 29, to stay following their Conference League final win. (Sky Sports) , externalBournemouth are determined to resist any summer offers for French forward Eli Junior Kroupi, 19, Brazil winger Rayan, 19, and England midfielder Alex Scott, 22, with mounting interest in the trio. (Guardian), externalManchester United and Chelsea are among the clubs considering a move for Scott in the summer transfer window. (Teamtalk), externalWest Ham and Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug wants to leave after their relegation with Bundesliga side Werder Bremen among those interested in the 33-year-old. (Sky, in German), externalPortuguese side Sporting want to re-sign 30-year-old Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha when his season-long loan at Tottenham from Bayern Munich ends. (A Bola, in Portuguese), externalLeeds United are lining up a move for 24-year-old Lyon and United States midfielder Tanner Tessmann as part of a busy summer of transfer business. (Football Insider) , externalManchester City are considering their options if Brazil winger Savinho, 22, who is a target for Tottenham, ends up leaving the club. (Fabrizio Romano) , externalListen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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Senior football correspondentPublished22 minutes agoMauricio Pochettino has held initial talks with AC Milan to become their next manager following Massimiliano Allegri's sacking.The 54-year-old Argentine is currently preparing for the World Cup with the United States, but his contract expires after the tournament and the Serie A side have an interest.Pochettino's immediate focus is on this summer's finals, which are co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, but an eventual return to club football may interest the former Tottenham and Chelsea head coach.His last club spell was as Chelsea boss for the 2023-24 season, with the Blues finishing sixth in the Premier League and losing the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool.Before that he was at Paris St-Germain for a season and a half, winning the Ligue 1 title and French Cup.He also had a five-and-a-half-year spell at Tottenham and reached the 2019 Champions League final, only for Spurs to lose 2-0 to Liverpool.Pochettino, who has also managed Espanyol in Spain and Southampton, was a defender during his playing career and made 20 appearances for Argentina.AC Milan sacked Allegri earlier this week after failing to qualify for the Champions League, in a season the club's hierarchy described as an "unequivocal failure".Milan dropped from third place to fifth in Serie A after a 2-1 home defeat by Cagliari on the final day to miss out on the elite European competition for the second year in a row, although they did secure a Europa League spot.Pochettino defends not phoning axed US playersAdams & Robinson in US squad for World CupHow the FA helped US Soccer build its new home

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Match Commentary 12' Foul by Nathan Collins (Republic of Ireland).Delay in match because of an injury Pedro Miguel (Qatar).Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Pedro Miguel.Offside, Qatar. Yusuf Abdurisag is caught offside.Goal! Republic of Ireland 1, Qatar 0. Nathan Collins (Republic of Ireland) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Jack Moylan with a cross following a set piece situation.Jack Moylan (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick on the left wing.Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Mahmud Abunada.Attempt saved. Jack Moylan (Republic of Ireland) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner by Mahmud Abunada (Qatar). Assisted by Séamus Coleman.Lineups are announced and players are warming up.