Football Articles | Mail Online

• Pre-season fight club: How Premier League 'friendlies' became anything but16 August 2026, 9:53 pm
  As Premier League teams prepare for the fast-approaching 2026-27 season, they've been trudging their way through their customary pre-season friendlies. 
  
• Derek McInnes excited by Old Firm draw after claiming first win as Rangers manager in Premier Sports Cup triumph over St Mirren16 August 2026, 9:53 pm
  Derek McInnes has welcomed the prospect of a blockbuster Old Firm derby after Rangers were drawn to face Celtic in the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup.
  
• Jamie Vardy mulls surprise move to Brazil after receiving a 'considerable' offer from Sao Paulo - with West Ham also in talks with striker16 August 2026, 9:47 pm
  SIMON JONES: Negotiations are in the early stages but it is understood to be a considerable offer from one of Brazil's biggest clubs who have just come out of a transfer embargo.
  
• New Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli vows to build a team the Tartan Army can be proud of16 August 2026, 9:47 pm
  Sebastien Pocognoli has been confirmed as the new Scotland head coach after signing an initial two-year contract to succeed Steve Clarke.
  
• Juventus reopen talks with Tottenham's Guglielmo Vicario after Emiliano Martinez deal collapses, and Al Hilal target Chelsea's Pedro Neto: WINDOW WATCH16 August 2026, 9:30 pm
  Juventus have resumed contacts for Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after talks for Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez collapsed on Sunday night.
  
• Young, foreign and full of adventure... new Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli is everything his predecessor wasn't16 August 2026, 9:15 pm
  As is so often the case with managerial changes made in the aftermath of failure, Scotland appear to have turned on their heels and gone in a completely new direction.
  
• Jeremy Jacquet was exceptional in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Como, writes LEWIS STEELE - he has eased defensive concerns but next week is huge in pursuit of PSG pair Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye16 August 2026, 8:57 pm
  LEWIS STEELE: Two weeks ago, it was probably fair to say Liverpool had a crisis in their defensive department and risked going into the new season incredibly undercooked.
  
• Enzo Maresca admits Man City were 'not switched on' in dismal 3-0 Community Shield defeat and calls for transfers - while Mikel Arteta predicts huge season for Martin Odegaard after starring role16 August 2026, 8:56 pm
  City's 3-0 defeat by Arsenal in the Community Shield laid bare the need for central midfield reinforcements, with a move for Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi nearing completion.
  
• Oliver Glasner makes stance clear on Morgan Gibbs-White's future, the wing-backs set to thrive in boss' new system... and there's still no shirt sponsor: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Brest16 August 2026, 7:57 pm
  The 2-0 friendly victory over French club Brest, achieved thanks to first-half strikes from Chris Wood (from the penalty spot) and Luca Netz, featured few of Forest's key men.
  
• Barcelona finalising £64.5m Rodri transfer after breakthrough in talks following Spanish giants' third offer for Man City star16 August 2026, 7:56 pm
  SIMON JONES and JACK GAUGHAN: Talks continued, and a deal has been agreed in principle. The fee is understood to be worth £64.5 million.
  
• Rangers 5-1 St Mirren: Comprehensive cup triumph for Ibrox club eases pressure on Derek McInnes16 August 2026, 7:36 pm
  How Derek McInnes needed this. How Rangers needed this. After a turbulent start to the new season, the new manager finally savoured his first taste of victory at the fifth time of asking.
  
• West Ham 2-2 Burnley: Nuno Espirito Santo's pre-match warning proves prophetic as Hammers capitulate on Championship return - and boss pleads for attacking reinforcements16 August 2026, 7:36 pm
  ROSS HEPPENSTALL AT TURF MOOR: Nuno Espirito Santo was interviewed live on national radio about West Ham's summer of upheaval and prospects for the new season.
  
• Jack Grealish is still adored by Man City fans and staff but Community Shield cameo felt like a forlorn farewell, writes JACK GAUGHAN - and Enzo Maresca already has his wildcard option on their books16 August 2026, 7:36 pm
  JACK GAUGHAN IN CARDIFF: The odds exceptionally lengthy, the name not on anybody's bingo card. Maybe a quiz question in years to come, albeit a slightly tame one.
  
• Celtic are smiles better with the likes of Colombian livewire Camilo Duran in their ranks16 August 2026, 7:34 pm
  For many, Celtic's Premier Sports Cup victory over Dundee United on Saturday was pretty much the Benjamin Nygren Show.
  
• Anthony Gordon praised by Barcelona fans as England winger enjoys 'electric' first appearance since £70m summer transfer in pre-season friendly16 August 2026, 6:47 pm
  The Spanish giants had been forced to wait to see Gordon feature following England's run to the World Cup semi-finals, contributing to the 25-year-old starting his pre-season late.