Football news live: Chelsea takeover latest updates and build-up to Premier League return

Cesar Azpilicueta has triggered a one-year extension of his deal at Chelsea after playing a certain number of games this season.

The Spaniard’s contract was going to expire in the summer and Barcelona have been in talks over signing him on a free transfer.

However, a performance-related clause in his existing agreement has now been exercised. It is understood he reached the required amount of appearances earlier this month to ensure his agreement, which was signed in December 2018, has automatically been extended until the summer of 2023.

For more from Simon Johnson, click here.

Jill Roord has put Wolfsburg in front after just nine minutes in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Arsenal have struggled to get the ball out of their own half.

They are going to have to work hard if they are to find an equaliser at the very least.

Rangers have cancelled their November friendly against rivals Celtic.

The Ibrox club announced last month they would play in a four-team tournament called the Sydney Super Cup along with Celtic, and A-League sides Sydney FC and Sydney Wanderers.

It would have been the first time an Old Firm fixture had taken place on foreign soil.

To read the full story, click here.

Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

The Nigeria international, 25, has had to undergo surgery after damaging his knee during Leicester’s 2-1 defeat by Rennes in the Europa Conference League on March 17.

Rodgers, speaking ahead of Leicester’s visit to Manchester United, said of Ndidi: “He has had surgery and will be looking to get back in June. Papy Mendy has come in, we thought he was leaving last summer but has come back in and he’s always been professional.”

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Liverpool have secured the signing of young Celtic winger Ben Doak for a compensation fee of around £600,000.

The Athletic revealed earlier this month that the Premier League title contenders were in pole position to land the highly-rated 16-year-old.

Click here to read more from James Pearce.

The Premier League has ruled in favour of the reintroduction of five substitutes from the start of the 2022-23 season.

Clubs in the top flight were able to use five substitutes when the Premier League returned in May 2020 following the hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper are both in contention to start for Leeds in Saturday’s game against Southampton.

The pair have not started for Leeds since their 2-2 draw with Brentford on December 5. The duo both came off injured in that match, picking up hamstring problems.

Head coach Jesse Marsch has confirmed at least one of the duo could play from the start at Elland Road.

For his presser quotes, click here.

Sheffield United posted a profit of £9.5 million in the financial year that saw the club relegated from the Premier League, The Athletic can exclusively reveal.

The surplus is the second in a row posted by United, who made a profit of £17.5 million in the 2019-20 financial year.

For the full story, click here.

But Aaron Ramsdale and Takehiro Tomiyasu will both be doubts for Monday’s game against Crystal Palace.

Saka, 20, tested positive for COVID-19 during the international break, which saw him miss England’s friendlies against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast.

Ramsdale missed the 1-0 win against Aston Villa, while the 23-year-old right-back Tomiyasu has been out of action since January. Ramsdale has a hip injury, while Tomiyasu has suffered from strains in both of his calves.

Read the full story here

The Athletic’s Charlotte Harpur has cast her eye over Barcelona’s Women’s side.

She picked a good game to go to as 91,553 adulating fans, a world-record attendance for a women’s match, packed into the Nou Camp to see Barcelona defeat Real Madrid 5-2 on the night and 8-3 on aggregate.

Read her special report by clicking on the link below.

Gianni Infantino has insisted FIFA has not put forward the idea of the World Cup being held every two years.

The World Cup is currently played every four years but former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is now FIFA’s chief of global football development, is among those who believe it should be turned into a biennial tournament.

Fans of the game are happy with the current four-year gap and Infantino has said football’s world governing body is not looking to change that.

Click here to read the full story.

(Photo: Alexander Hassenstein – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will become PSV Eindhoven manager next season.

Roger Schmidt will leave the role at the end of the season when his contract expires and Van Nistelrooy has agreed a deal that will run until 2025. He scored 62 goals in 67 league appearances for PSV before moving to Manchester United in 2001.

“It has always been my dream to be head coach at PSV,” said Van Nistelrooy, who scored 95 goals in 150 Premier League appearances and won a league title during his time at United. The role will be his first senior managerial job.

Click here to read the full story.

(Photo: Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Manchester United and Liverpool will meet in Thailand as the Premier League duo go back on a significant pre-season tour for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19.

The pandemic stopped United and Liverpool rivals from touring around their favoured destinations in Australia, Asia and America during the last two summers.

The Athletic revealed in February that Manchester United were due to face Liverpool in pre-season.

Click here to read the full report.

(Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Attention is now turning back to the Premier League with plenty to play for across England’s top flight.

Just one point separates leaders Manchester City and second-placed Liverpool with the two sides having nine games to play in the Premier League.

It will be interesting to see who comes out on top between Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp in the Premier League. They are also competing in the FA Cup and Champions League. Game on.

Thank you for tuning into today’s news blog. We will be back tomorrow with more news as the return of the Premier League edges closer.

Goodnight!

It’s been a close game so far between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

It is currently 1-1 on the night with half-time approaching.

The hosts lead 3-2 on aggregate.

What a night at the Nou Camp!

Hosts Barcelona beat Real Madrid 5-2 on the night to win 8-3 on aggregate.

The Champions League action doesn’t stop there though. Paris Saint-Germain host Bayern Munich at 8pm BST.

An amazing achievement tonight in the women’s game as Barcelona hosted Real Madrid at the Nou Camp.

A world record attendance of 91,553 fans attended the match, making it the most attended women’s football match.

A thrilling 45 minutes at the Nou Camp as Barcelona and Real Madrid are tied 1-1 on the evening.

Leon Cebrian gave Barcelona the lead after just eight minutes.

Eight minutes later Real Madrid retaliated from the penalty spot. Carmona Garcia slotted it past Panos Garcia-Villamil to make it 4-2 on aggregate.