As the Club World Cup finally reaches the knockout stages, the England women's team can put an end to months of talk, and show why they are European champions. Euro 2025 starts on Wednesday, at an interesting point in the game's modern history. Those around some of the big squads talk of a sense of women's football levelling out slightly after huge recent growth, which is why there is a huge will to put on a show. Everyone will be out to stop Spain, which should only help get England started. All of it currently involves much more action than the transfer market...

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Written by Miguel Delaney

Miguel's must reads

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Stalemate continues in striker chase

We reported on Monday that Arsenal are €10m off Leipzig's desired fee for Benjamin Sesko and - amid a lot of noise - that remains the case. He is the preferred target and there is a will on all sides for a deal to be done, but it is going to take someone to blink to get that going. That means there is still live interest in Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres among a few potential options.

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Hampton aims to keep the standards high

Ahead of Euro 2025, my colleague Jamie Braidwood interviews Hannah Hampton on her big ambitions and living up to Mary Earps's legacy. The excitement is building.

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Miguel's insights

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Isak not moving – but neither is the market

There continues to be a lot of noise about Alexander Isak, especially as regards Liverpool, but the wonder is why. The situation is actually simple. Newcastle United are absolutely not going to consider any sale unless Isak agitates to leave, but nobody sees him as that kind of player. It is why you're not hearing as much about Arsenal's interest now. Eberechi Eze isn't one to kick up a fuss either but the expectation is that he will move, and it isn't certain that it will be to Tottenham. They do like him, but so does almost every major club, including Arsenal. As of Friday morning, there had been no firm approach. Mikel Arteta's side would need a significant sale to even consider it, given how they are prioritising a striker, but they are interested in that kind of player who can play in the centre or out wide. Elsewhere in the market, Manchester United are advancing on Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo and there is a confidence there. That is nevertheless offset by a rising frustration about sales, as the preference would be for all of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho to have new clubs before pre-season starts. There isn't too much happening as yet. Any move for Emiliano Martinez is meanwhile seen as some way off too.

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Club World Cup squads feeling the heat

One of the main topics of discussion at the Club World Cup has been the weather - and not in a mundane way. Virtually every single squad has been hugely struck by the intensity of the heat and humidity, even to train. Players are beginning to talk about that among themselves and it's getting back to union representatives like FIFPro and the PFA. One of the bigger questions is not just for this tournament, but how it is going to affect next summer's World Cup. Multiple game are going to be played in punishing midday conditions to cater for television audiences around different time zones. Irish fans will of course have vivid memories of some of their players wilting in the heat during early matches in Florida back at USA 94. There is already one significant difference from that tournament, which is how often storms have caused games to be paused at this Club World Cup. We're virtually certain to have similar next summer, and the wonder is whether that might impact the final round of group games that have to be played simultaneously for sporting integrity. If one game is stopped due to weather conditions, would that mean the corresponding group match has to be paused too?

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Miguel's dispatches

Next week, I make my way to the Women's Euros in Switzerland, a good - if expensive - setting for a tournament. In fact, the first tournament I ever covered, Euro 2008, was held here (alongside Austria). While it is admittedly a pricey place, some of that is offset by the quality of transport and just how close everything is. A lot of venues are just an hour away from each other by train. This newsletter hasn't always be effusively positive about Fifa... but, if you're going to Zurich – where England are based – their official museum is well worth a trip.

Player of the week

MIGUEL'S BIG WEEKLY CALL

Spain to win the Women's Euros. England... to go out in the quarter-finals.

Every week I'll make one prediction or talking point for the week. Feel free to email in with thoughts.

Since the start of the 1992-93 season, nine countries have had just one coach hold a permanent managerial job in the Premier League. Name the nine countries, as well as the managers. As an example, Austria would not count as they have had Oliver Glasner and Ralph Hasenhuttl. Caretaker or interim roles do not count. The managers can have held more than one job.

(You can find out the answers here. The answer page will be updated weekly and contains answers from previous newsletters, too)

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