4:00 AM ET Tor-Kristian Karlsen Welcome to the ESPN FC hotlist, which each month highlights some of the most in-form talent aged 23 or under across Europe. Generally, young but established stars like Manchester City‘s Erling Haaland, Borussia Dortmund‘s Jude Bellingham or Barcelona‘s Gavi aren’t included — otherwise they’d be on the list every month
Football
8:56 AM ET Former France captain Wendie Renard and all-time leading goal scorer Eugenie Le Sommer have been recalled to the national team for international friendlies in the build-up to this year’s World Cup. Renard said last month she would step back from the national team and would not play at the World Cup to
8:17 AM ET Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Barcelona have acknowledged they are in contact with Lionel Messi about bringing him back to the club when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires in June. Vice president Rafa Yuste confirmed Friday the club are looking into the possibility of re-signing Messi, who left for PSG in 2021,
9:08 AM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Luke Shaw joined Manchester United from Southampton in 2014. Michael Regan/Getty Images Luke Shaw is close to agreeing a new contract with Manchester United, sources have told ESPN. Shaw extended his deal by a year in December but the club have moved to tie the left-back down to a longer contract.
9:48 AM ET Jurgen Klopp has said Liverpool face a “Champions League week” as they prepare to take on Premier League title contenders Manchester City and Arsenal. Liverpool play Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, travel to Chelsea on Tuesday before hosting league leaders Arsenal next week. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga,
9:41 AM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Erling Haaland is top scorer in the Premier League this season with 28 goals. Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hinted he is willing to risk Erling Haaland‘s fitness against Liverpool. Haaland withdrew from the Norway squad during the international break because of a groin injury
6:13 AM ET The Premier League announced new rules that could see club owners removed for human rights abuses. Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images Human rights groups have challenged the Premier League to robustly enforce new rules aimed at tightening club ownership by ensuring abusers and nation states are banned from controlling teams in England. At a
8:25 AM ET Adriana Garcia Spain coach Jorge Vilda defended his decision to leave out the rebel players for their upcoming matches. Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images Spain’s national team has once again left out the 15 rebel players for their last two warm-up games ahead of the Women’s World Cup this summer. Spain take
5:00 AM ET Ian DarkeESPN.com writer Close Darke, who called games for the network during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, is ESPN lead soccer voice in the United States. He has covered the Barclays Premier League and the Champions League since 1982, and has one of the world’s most recognizable soccer voices.
11:13 AM ET Associated Press Owners and directors of English Premier League clubs can be disqualified for human rights abuses, the organisation said Thursday. The league announced changes to its owners’ and directors’ test (OADT), which include new rules that will give it power to remove leading officials who contravene them. As well as human