Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are all monitoring Club Brugge midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic, while Tottenham Hotspur have moved ahead in the race to sign United States star Christian Pulisic from AC Milan. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

– Multiple Premier League clubs are tracking Club Brugge midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic, according to TEAMtalk. Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal are reportedly among the teams interested in the 20-year-old, with scouts being sent to watch him regularly this season. The Serbia international has caught the eye in the Champions League this season with goals to help Brugge win each of their last two games of the league phase and secure a place in the playoffs to reach the knockout rounds, Stankovic is reportedly keen on a return to Inter Milan, who included a clause in his transfer to Brugge that gives them the chance to re-sign over the next two years, but the Serbia international has a growing list of suitors across Europe.

– Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race for AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic, TEAMtalk reports. Spurs have registered “concrete interest” in the 27-year-old, with the belief that he could make an instant impact at the club. The report adds that his representatives have also made contact with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, but Spurs, who have recently been linked with United States men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino, have been the most interested. Pulisic will enter the final year of his contract at San Siro in the summer.

– AC Milan are keen to sign Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie on a free transfer, Calciomercato reports. The USMNT player has been a consistent starter for Juve boss Luciano Spalletti, and Bianconeri officials have made it a top priority to get the 27-year-old to commit to the club beyond his existing contract, which runs out in June. However, last week Tuttosport reported that Inter Milan are hoping to sign McKennie as a free agent in the summer, and now their city rivals Milan have entered the fray.

– A move for Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu is being considered by Manchester United, according to Tuttosport. The Red Devils are believed to be sending scouts to watch the 25-year-old in the Serie A match against Inter Milan on Saturday, and there is also interest from other clubs in the Premier League. Aware of clubs from Europe circling for Kalulu’s signature, the Bianconeri are reportedly hopeful of warding them off by offering him a new four-year contract that would include a salary increase to €3.5 million a season.

– Manchester City attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva is on the radar of Juventus, according to Calciomercato. The 31-year-old is set to become a free agent in the summer, and with no sign of an extension at the Etihad Stadium on the horizon, the Bianconeri are hopeful of signing him on a free transfer. Silva is seen as a potential addition alongside Atalanta midfielder Éderson who could be difficult to sign amid competition from Atlético Madrid, who enjoyed a 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal on Thursday (stream a replay on ESPN+ in the U.S.).

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DONE DEALS

OTHER RUMORS

– Liverpool remain hopeful of signing defender Ibrahima Konaté to a contract extension. (The Athletic)

– Manchester United defender Harry Maguire is expected to sign a contract extension to keep him at Old Trafford beyond this summer. (TEAMtalk)

– Manchester City aren’t planning to hand defender John Stones a new deal. He is set to become a free agent in June. (Caught Offside)

– Juventus could be willing to keep striker Dusan Vlahovic at the club if accepts a lower salary. He is yet to receive any “attractive” offers from Europe. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

– Clubs in the Premier League are interested in Villarreal midfielder Alassane Diatta. (Marca)

– Al Hilal striker Darwin Núñez could leave the club in the summer. He has recently been unregistered from their squad for the Saudi Pro League. (Fabrizio Romano)

– Sporting KC striker Dejan Joveljic is attracting interest from Tigres as well as clubs in the MLS. (Ekrem Konur)

– Torino are considering a move for Empoli defender Gabriele Guarino. (Nicolo Schira)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kyle Busch won the pole for NASCAR’s season-opening Daytona 500 to give the driver with the longest active losing streak in “The Great American Race” a shot at the victory that has escaped him his entire career.

Busch is 0-for-20 in the Daytona 500 and hasn’t started in the top five since 2016, when he drove for Joe Gibbs Racing. He started fourth and finished third that year then was a career-best second to then-teammate Denny Hamlin in 2019.

“Kyle, we’ve got to get him this 500,” team owner Richard Childress said.

“Sounds really good right now — being able to qualify on my first pole for the Daytona 500, that’s pretty special,” said Busch, who wore custom-designed Olympic-themed racing shoes at Daytona International Speedway.

He earned the pole Wednesday night with a lap at 183.925 mph in a Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, the team that signed him before the 2023 season when his contract was up with Gibbs and his salary was too high for most teams.

But his time in the No. 8 has been rocky for the two-time NASCAR champion. He has won three races since joining RCR — all in his first season — and takes a 93-race losing streak into the Daytona 500.

His pole run continues a strong few weeks for Busch and his family: Older brother, Kurt, was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame last month.

“Feels really good for RCR as a group,” Busch said. “Just a valiant effort by everybody here. It would be really nice to be doing an interview like this about being No. 1 come Sunday night.”

RCR last put a car on the pole for the Daytona 500 in 2014 when Austin Dillon, Childress’ grandson, qualified first. Dillon won the race in 2018.

Chase Briscoe, last year’s pole sitter, qualified second in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

“It’s a really big deal, not only for myself, but I haven’t even checked my phone. I’m sure [Bass Pro Shops owner] Johnny Morris is ballistic already,” Briscoe said of his sponsor. “He gets super fired up for this race. He’s called me two or three times this week telling me he’s so excited to get here and asking me how the car is. It’s a big deal for him, as well. It should be awesome to be on the front row again Sunday.”

Although 37 drivers were locked into the race ahead of time trials, the starting order is not determined until after a pair of Thursday night qualifying races. Of those locked in, 36 are chartered cars that are guaranteed a spot in every race. An additional slot went to seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson under a provisional rule that allows for a 41st “world-class driver” trying to enter a Cup event.

Johnson is a two-time Daytona 500 winner who finished third last year. He left full-time NASCAR racing after the 2020 season.

Two of the open spots were claimed by Corey Heim for 23XI Racing and Justin Allgaier for JR Motorsports. They were the fastest cars in time trials.

Heim, last year’s Truck Series champion, will be making his Daytona 500 debut.

“Kind of nerve-wracking for sure,” the 23-year-old from Georgia said. “So impressed and thank you for 23XI Racing and Toyota, coming here with an open car and a fourth team at 23XI, to be able to do that is pretty impressive even from my eyes. I feel like that’s a very big accomplishment from those guys. Just blessed to be a part of the team.”

Allgaier is in the race for the fourth time in his career and the second consecutive year while driving for two-time race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“It’s such a great sport to be part of it, and it’s awesome to be able to come down here and try to make your way in,” Earnhardt said. “It is stressful, but that’s the best part about it.”

There are two remaining open spots that will be decided Thursday night via a pair of 150-mile qualifying races. The highest finisher in each race among the drivers not qualified will earn a berth in the Daytona 500.

Those still trying to get in the race are Anthony Alfredo, Corey LaJoie, BJ McLeod, Casey Mears, Chandler Smith and J.J. Yeley. Only two will race Sunday.

Manchester United said Thursday that the club takes pride in being “inclusive and welcoming” following co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s claim that the UK has been “colonized by immigrants.”

Ratcliffe said he was sorry if he had “offended some people” for his remarks in a Sky News interview on Wednesday, which were heavily criticised by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.

Sources have told ESPN that the English Football Association (FA) is aware of Ratcliffe’s comments and is looking into the matter.

“Manchester United prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming club,” the Premier League club said in a statement.

“Our diverse group of players, staff and global community of supporters, reflect the history and heritage of Manchester; a city that anyone can call home.

“Since launching All Red All Equal in 2016, we have embedded equality, diversity and inclusion into everything we do.

“We remain deeply committed to the principles and spirit of that campaign. They are reflected in our policies but also in our culture and are reinforced by our holding of the Premier League’s Advanced Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard.”

Earlier on Thursday. Ratcliffe said in his own statement: “I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern, but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth.

“My comments were made while answering questions about UK policy at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, where I was discussing the importance of economic growth, jobs, skills and manufacturing in the UK.

“My intention was to stress that governments must manage migration alongside investment in skills, industry and jobs so that long-term prosperity is shared by everyone. It is critical that we maintain an open debate on the challenges facing the UK.”

His attempt to row back cut little ice with the Manchester United Muslim Supporters’ Club (MUMSC), who issued a dissatisfied response.

“We have noted Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s apology for his ‘choice of language,’ the group said. “However, we do not believe this sufficiently addresses the seriousness of what was said.

“The term ‘colonised’ was repeated and used to describe modern Britain. That language carries significant weight and cannot be dismissed as simply poor phrasing.”

“Expressing regret for causing offence is not the same as acknowledging the wider impact of words used. Leadership requires accountability as well as openness to debate.”

Ratcliffe told Sky News on Wednesday: “You can’t have an economy with 9 million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in.

“I mean, the UK is being colonized. It’s costing too much money. The UK has been colonized by immigrants.”

Should the FA choose to formally investigate the comments, the probe may be focused on FA Rule E3.1, which covers general activity.

The rule states: “A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.”

Rule E3.2 states that a breach of Rule E3.1 would be considered an “aggravated breach” where it includes a reference, whether express or implied, to any one or more of the following — ethnic origin, color, race, nationality, religion or belief, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation or disability.

Ratcliffe, as a club co-owner, is subject to FA rules as a participant.

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Burnham, who is part of a group of local officials working with Ratcliffe and United on the regeneration of the Old Trafford area and stadium, said: “These comments go against everything for which Manchester has traditionally stood: a place where people of all races and faiths have pulled together over centuries to build our city and our institutions, including Manchester United FC.

“Calling for curbs on levels of immigration is one thing, portraying those who come here as a hostile invading force is quite another. It is inaccurate, insulting and inflammatory and should be withdrawn.

“Footballers who have arrived from all over the world to play in Greater Manchester have enhanced the life of our city region, as have the many people working in Greater Manchester’s NHS and other essential services and industries.

“We appreciate their contribution as a city region famous for the warmth of our welcome.”

In what appeared to be criticism of the Glazer family who hold a majority stake in United, Burnham added: “If any criticism is needed, it should be directed towards those who have offered little contribution to our life here and have instead spent years siphoning wealth out of one of our proudest institutions.”

ESPN’s Rob Dawson and PA contributed to this report.