Amorim appointed as AC Milan head coach

Former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has been appointed as head coach of Italian giants AC Milan.

The 41-year-old has signed a two-year contract to replace Massimiliano Allegri, who was sacked after a catastrophic run of form at the end of the season led to the club missing out on Champions League qualification.

Reports in Italy claim Amorim will forego the year’s pay he was still owed by Manchester United following his dismissal in January.

Milan say Amorim brings a “modern dominant tactical approach”.

“There are ambitions that stay with you throughout your career, and coaching AC Milan has always been one of mine,” said the Portuguese head coach.

“I know exactly what this club means: history, prestige and an extraordinary fanbase around the world. It is a challenge I embrace with pride and enthusiasm.”

In February, United said Amorim’s exit, together with his coaching staff, could cost the club up to £15.9m.

It is not known whether United will have to outline the saving in their next set of financial results, which are due out in the autumn.

Amorim was axed after a torrid 14 months at Old Trafford.

Prior to that, he had become one of Europe’s most sought-after young coaches because of his work at Sporting, where he ended the club’s 19-year wait for a league title in 2020-21, and then won it again in 2023-24.

Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford in November 2024 after the club rejected his request to take over at the end of the season.

Last month, sources close to Amorim distanced him from the impending vacancy at former club Benfica as it became apparent Jose Mourinho was about to leave for Real Madrid. Former Fulham boss Marco Silva has since been appointed.

Amorim’s first game in charge will be a pre-season match at Celtic on 25 July while ironically, they conclude their pre-season campaign against Manchester United in Wroclaw on 15 August.

Burton's Larsson joins Swedish side Helsingborgs

Larsson’s only goal for Burton Albion this season came in their 2-0 victory over Liverpool’s Under-21’s side in the EFL Trophy

Burton Albion forward Julian Larsson, 25, has joined Swedish Superettan side Helsingborgs IF for an undisclosed fee.

The Swede scored three times across his 42 appearances for the Brewers after signing for the side from Nottingham Forest’s Under-21’s team in 2024.

Larsson earned the club’s Goal of the Season award for their 2024-25 campaign with his maiden strike for the side against Stockport County.

“We thank Julian for his contributions to the Brewers, and wish him the best of luck in the future,” the club statement said.

Man Utd to appear in Amazon's All or Nothing documentary

Manchester United’s 2026-27 campaign will be documented by Amazon Prime as part of their fly-on-the-wall All or Nothing series.

United are the fourth English top-flight side to sign a deal with Amazon, following Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester City.

The club have brokered a record access fee for any comparable documentary.

Filming will begin in pre-season, with the show offering viewers “unprecedented access” to the men’s, women’s, and academy players and staff in the Old Trafford dressing room, at their Carrington training ground, and beyond.

“Now is the right time to open our doors, so that for the first time our fans around the world can see behind the scenes of a club which means so much to so many people,” said United’s chief communications officer Toby Craig.

Amazon launched the documentary series in 2016, following NFL side the Arizona Cardinals and have since expanded the franchise to football, ice hockey, and rugby union.

Pep Guardiola’s final two seasons in charge of Manchester City will be documented in a four-part Amazon series expected to launch in the UK and Ireland this summer.

Palace appoint Sage as head coach on three-year deal

Crystal Palace have appointed Lens manager Pierre Sage as their head coach on a three-year contract.

The 47-year-old Frenchman replaces Oliver Glasner, who left the Eagles at the end of the 2025-26 season after two and a half years in charge.

Sage joined Lens 12 months ago and became Ligue 1’s manager of the year, leading Lens to a second-placed finish and the first Coupe de France triumph in the club’s 120-year history.

He previously spent 14 months as head coach of Lyon, initially on an interim basis, and guided them to Europa League qualification in 2024-25.

Palace had been interested in former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, now at Liverpool, with Frank Lampard, Kieran McKenna, and Sean Dyche also reportedly in the mix.

Sage has big shoes to fill after Glasner, who said in January he would leave Palace this summer, won three trophies during his time in south London.

The Austrian led the Eagles to the first major trophy in their history - the FA Cup in 2025 - and followed up by winning the Community Shield and Conference League last season.

Their European triumph means Palace will play Europa League football in Sage’s debut campaign.

He will be joined at the club by Jamal Alioui, his assistant coach at Lens.

“Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same,” said Sage.

“That’s why we come here with a lot of ambition. The dynamic here is really positive, and we are in this mindset too.

“We won last year - and we want to continue in this way, in a new club, a new project, but with a lot of winning habits.”

Sage’s Lens side were built on aggressive pressing and a willingness to attack quickly once they won the ball back.

The Opta numbers show a team intent on regaining possession high up the pitch. Lens made 426 high turnovers during the 2025-26 season, frequently turning those moments into chances - producing 69 shots and seven goals.

The focus was not just on winning the ball, but on doing it in areas where they could immediately threaten. That approach shapes how they attacked.

Lens produced 65 direct attacks and 55 fast breaks last season, highlighting a clear preference for moving forward at speed rather than recycling possession.

Their overall profile reflects that trade-off.

Lens averaged 51.9% possession in 2025-26 - but their game was less about long spells on the ball and more about what happened the moment they won it back.

It speaks to a deliberate strategy, rather than a lack of control.

The result was the clear identity of a side less concerned about dominating the ball and more focused on controlling games through pressure, regains and rapid transitions.

Real Madrid agree £51.8m deal for Chelsea's Cucurella

Cucurella won the Conference League and Club World Cup at Chelsea

Real Madrid have agreed a deal worth up to £51.8m to sign Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella after the World Cup.

The 27-year-old is currently with Spain at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but a deal - worth £47.5m with a further £4.3m in add-ons - has been struck between all parties for a permanent transfer.

Since president Florentino Perez was re-elected and appointed Jose Mourinho as manager, Real are understood to also be targeting Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva and Inter Milan full-back Denzel Dumfries, while France defender Ibrahima Konate is set to join after leaving Liverpool.

Cucurella, who joined Chelsea for £63m from Brighton in 2022, was understood to have been keen to return to Spain, having come through Barcelona’s academy. He had been linked with Atletico Madrid and a move back to Barcelona.

The Catalan also gave an interview during the March international break criticising Chelsea’s hierarchy following Enzo Maresca’s mid-season departure.

He was part of a core group of Spanish-speaking players who were frustrated by the situation and struggled to perform under Maresca’s successor, Liam Rosenior.

Cucurella had two years left on his contract, despite agreeing improved terms without an extension last season, which is likely to have played a part in Chelsea’s decision to accept the offer.

Rosenior was eventually sacked, with Chelsea finishing 10th and failing to qualify for Europe despite the temporary appointment of Calum McFarlane as caretaker manager.

Former Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has since been appointed as the club’s permanent manager for the 2026-27 campaign.