Valdimarsson signs new Brentford contract
Brentford goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson has signed a new four-year contract at the club.
The 24-year-old will remain in west London until 2030, with the Bees holding an option to extend the deal by a further two years.
Iceland international Valdimarsson joined Brentford from Swedish club Elfsborg in January 2024 and has played 12 first team games to date, keeping six clean sheets.
"The last two and a half years have been very good," he told the club's official website.
"Ive learnt and developed a lot. I just feel completely different. Ive improved in everything as a goalkeeper."
Howe backing 124m strikeforce to come good... next season
Eddie Howe is confident Newcastle will see the best of 124million strikeforce Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa next season after a difficult first campaign on Tyneside.
The Magpies invested the bulk of the proceeds from Alexander Isaks controversial 130m summer switch to Liverpool in the Germany international and his Democratic Republic of Congo counterpart, but neither has made the starting line-up for the last two games.
Club record 69m signing Woltemade has started 21 of the clubs 33 Premier League games to date, but more recently in a midfield role, while 55m man Wissa, who suffered a knee injury on international duty before he had even kicked a ball for the club, has just four to his name, and neither has scored a league goal in 2026.
However, asked about the pair, Howe said: Theyre both outstanding players. I dont in any way doubt their individual qualities. Theyll both be better for this seasons experience next season.
Any signing we make, regardless of age, having a season where they fully understand everything, get used to the environment, used to their team-mates, the location that theyre living in, its a big change for the players.
Next season well see that all the new signings that we integrated this season will be much better for the experience.
And, of course, then the intense focus shifts on to someone else we may have signed in the summer.
Thats a healthy thing for them as well because you just go slightly more relaxed, and when youre more relaxed you play better.
I believe in all those signings. Theyll come good.
Slot focused on Alisson's short-term future amid rumours of Liverpool exit
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted he was only focused on the short-term future of goalkeeper Alisson Becker and that was getting him back into the team after injury.
The Brazil international has been sidelined for over a month with a hamstring injury his second of the season and this week was linked with Juventus, even though the club have taken the option to extend his expiring deal by 12 months.
Alissons unavailability has become increasingly more of an issue and that has been thrown into sharp focus with Giorgi Mamardashvili ruled out by a gashed leg sustained in last weeks Merseyside derby victory.
It means 29-year-old third-choice Freddie Woodman is set for his full Premier League debut for the club, having come off the bench against Everton.
I am only focused on the short-term future and that is getting him back into goal as soon as possible, said Slot on the future of Alisson, who was close to a return, according to the head coach.
All these rumours that are out there about him and about probably me and about others, we dont react to.
We only react when facts need to be told and that is not the situation at the moment.
The main focus for Ali is very clear, that is getting back in goal as soon as possible for the club he loves to play for and then he wants to be in goal for the country he wants to play for, that is Brazil.
I think that is already the short and mid-term future.
Lampard: Chelsea a big part of my life, but my business is at Coventry
Former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has not been drawn on the most recent links to the vacant role at his former club.
The ex-England midfielder has recently secured the Championship title with Coventry, and will be a Premier League manager next season.
He has been touted as a potential replacement at Chelsea, having previously been head coach between July 2019 to January 2021.
However, Lampard did say the team are going through a tough period, but his business remains at Coventry.
He said: "I dont want to talk about Liam and Chelsea because Ive been there.
"I never want to talk too much about mangers because of context behind the scenes. Its disrespectful to have a judgement on it, thats for pundits.
"Im Coventry manager, Im enjoying my moment of us being promoted and winning the title and thats it.
"Its a difficult patch for sure. As managers, we know what the consequences can be and we all have to big enough to understand that.
"They have a chance to be able to get something out of the season with the FA Cup and the league position if they can make that better.
"Chelsea is a big part of my life, but at the moment, thats their business and my business is here."
On if he can understand why Coventry fans are worried about him leaving for Chelsea, Lampard added: "Id like to think the Coventry fans are just enjoying what weve done this season.
"I think the world of management and lots of things are out of your control. You can only control your work and I have to talk about rumours and things, but at the moment, we need to enjoy where we are and what weve done this season.
"Im proud and pleased to be a part of it."
Papers: Sir Jim Ratcliffe hesitant to give Carrick permanent Man Utd job
Friday's top stories include: Man Utd are to be patient on deciding whether Michael Carrick should be handed the permanent role at Old Trafford despite closing in on Champions League football. Aston Villa monitor Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford.
'It's a pleasure to be in this project' | Le Bris eyeing long stay at Sunderland
Le Bris: Rumours about my Sunderland future are not a problem
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris says rumours around his job security at the Stadium of Light are "not a problem".
Reports on Wednesday suggested the Frenchman's role at the club was under threat if the Black Cats didn't secure a European finish.
Le Bris has steered the newly promoted side to Premier League safety with games to spare and after a stellar return to the top flight, Sunderland are four points behind seventh-placed Bournemouth.
Your Site News understand Le Bris' job is safe regardless of where they finish in the Premier League this season.
Asked about the rumours during his press conference on Thursday, Le Bris said:
My position is always on the table, whether it's positive or negative and it's not a problem for me.
"Here we are in a really good position and really well aligned. We wanted to be in the Premier League at the end of the season, which is done. We wanted to create consistency and a top 10 position and we are on the way.
"I hope we have the ability to do it together. Everyone can give an opinion about my job or your job. I'm not against rumours or gossip and I'm just focused on my job, it's not a problem.
"My focus is absolutely on taking Sunderland forward, this season and next. It's clear."
Carrick: I don't know when I'll get clarity about the Man Utd job
Man Utd head coach Michael Carrick asked if he knows when he'll get clarity on the job at Old Trafford:
"I'm not sure, to be honest, and it's not something in terms of deadlines that I'm really chasing.
"I think it'll become clear when it's going to become clear, and I'm here at the moment to help the team and help the club get results.
"And at the moment, we're doing all right. We can still keep pushing and getting better. So really, that's genuinely all I'm focused on"
'Man City considering Enzo as a summer target'
Man City are considering Enzo Fernandez as a summer target, according to The Athletic.
The interest is said to be at a very early stage, with the club also considering other midfield targets, including Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson.
Bernardo Silva is leaving Man City this summer, while Rodri is yet to sign a new deal that expires at the end of June 2027 with midfield options set to shift.
Fernandez was recently given a club suspension of two games by now-departed Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior after he cast doubt on his future in an interview with ESPN.
In another interview while on recent international duty with Argentina, he said he would "like to live in Spain" amid links with Real Madrid, saying the capital reminded him of Buenos Aires.
King reassures fans: Lampard not returning to Chelsea
Coventry's chairman Doug King has reassured fans that they should not worry about Frank Lampard returning to his former club.
Lampard has guided Coventry back to the Premier League and sealed the title with a 5-1 win over Portsmouth on Tuesday night.
King told BBC CWR: "He's done a fantastic job, it's been an incredible 18 months for us and for him. I am sure he's in reflective mode. I said to him 'do not underestimate how difficult what you've just achieved is to do'.
"He's done huge things in his playing career but to get out of this league as champions without a parachute payment, from where we've come from, is a huge achievement nobody can take away from him.
"Everybody is going to get linked with everything, it's a merry-go-round. It's a bit disappointing clubs are appointing three or four managers a season.
"We don't want to be in those positions, that means something has gone a little bit astray. You can see how emotionally connected [Lampard] is with the city, you can see what it meant to him to get promotion and then the title and I think he's found a happy place at the moment.
"It doesn't mean there's not going to be some staggering bid for him in the summer and he'll have to make his choices, because he's shown his credentials as a high quality head coach, but I'm not going to comment on that, I can't control it.
"I just think he's happy, I'm happy, everybody's happy, we've just got smiles on our faces and we don't worry about what may or may not happen for the head coach."
On Wednesday, Chelsea sacked Liam Rosenior.
