Real Madrid slap a 137 million pound price tag on Vinícius, Arsenal are thinking

Florentino Pérez has a problem and he knows it. Vinícius Júnior's contract at the Santiago Bernabéu expires next summer, talks over a new one are stuck, and the club is a step away from losing him for nothing. Rather than accept a weakened position, Pérez did the opposite - he set a price of 137 million pounds and is waiting for somebody to blink. The Brazilian has 128 goals and 100 assists in 375 matches for the royal club, and at the World Cup this summer he scored four goals in five games. Arsenal, who have already signed Christos Tzolis and lost Gabriel Jesus and Martinelli, are the club thinking about it most seriously. Real do not hold a bad card - they hold a single one, and a player who knows exactly what he is worth.

Diomande chose Madrid, and Leipzig got a deal they did not want

A few days ago Leipzig were turning down 85.4 million pounds from Real for Yan Diomande. Now, according to reports, an agreement in principle has been reached, and personal terms with the player are already settled. The nineteen-year-old Ivorian forward produced 13 goals and 10 assists in 36 matches last season and started all four games for his national team at the World Cup. Liverpool were interested but refused to pay the price. So did Manchester City and Arsenal. And here is the lesson that repeats every summer: when Real Madrid knock at the door, even other people's money stops meaning anything. Diomande is meant to take over the role Franco Mastantuono played unconvincingly in his debut season.

Barcola refused a new contract at PSG, looking towards Liverpool

Bradley Barcola has refused to sign an extension at Paris Saint-Germain, and the reason is not money. The Frenchman was central to the season in which PSG won both the Champions League and Ligue 1, but Luis Enrique kept leaving him on the bench in precisely the biggest matches. That does not go down easily. Barcola has 39 goals and 37 assists in 152 matches since arriving in 2023, and now wants a new challenge - and, according to the French press, he wants Liverpool. Anfield, under new manager Andoni Iraola, lost Diomande in the race with Real, so the focus shifts to Barcola. His contract runs to 2028, which means PSG will demand a premium. That is the difference between a player running away and a player choosing his own destination.

Shkëndija completed the home dominance, FK Skopje had no answer

The opening round of the Macedonian First Football League ended with a clean picture - the hosts took every point. Shkëndija closed the circle with 3:0 against newly promoted FK Skopje. The Tetovo side went ahead in the 17th minute through Fad Nzengue with a shot from around ten metres, Fabrice Tamba finished the job in the 66th, and Rafa Silva added a third in the 75th after a run by Sebastijan Spahiu. A goal by Zejnulai in the 10th minute was ruled out after a VAR check for offside. The most interesting part came at the end: a penalty awarded to Shkëndija, and Besart Ibraimi failed to convert it - Kristijan Naumovski saved. Skopje's goalkeeper defends all match, concedes three goals and still walks off as his side's best player. That says something about a gap in quality no VAR can level out.

Sileks filled Bashkimi's net and (temporarily) took the table

Six goals in Kratovo. Sileks - Bashkimi 6:0, and settled practically in the first ten minutes, when Ilieski scored and Jamuzi followed with an own goal. Delimegjac closed the half with the third, and in the second period Shero, Hasukić and Manojlov got on the scoresheet. With that margin Sileks surpassed Tikveš's result (5:1 against Arsimi) and temporarily sat top of the table. Does six goals against a very young side mean anything? In the opening round, any result is a premature sentence - but at least Sileks wrote theirs in a large font. The other results from the round: Vardar - Bregalnica 2:0 and Struga - Shkëndija Aračinovo 3:0.