Olympiacos teenager Christos Mouzakitis has Real Madrid and Manchester United among his admirers, while Tottenham Hotspur could move for Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TOP STORIES

– Sources: Chelsea-bound Emegha suspended by Strasbourg
– Goalkeeper Lloris signs contract extension to extend LAFC stay
– Arsenal sign Quintero twins, 16, from Ecuador

TRENDING RUMORS

– Real Madrid could rival Manchester United to sign Olympiacos wonderkid Christos Mouzakitis, The Sun reports. The 18-year-old midfielder recently impressed in the UEFA Champions League against Real Madrid, leading Los Blancos manager Xavi Alonso to sing his praises after the game. As such, the likes of AC Milan, Juventus and Atletico Madrid are also tracking his development. The Greece international could be available for transfer at around €45 million as things stand, although that may increase by January.

– Tottenham Hotspur could launch a £40 million bid for Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke in 2026, according to TEAMtalk. Spurs have been long-term admirers of the Netherlands center back and even considered formally bidding to sign him last summer, before turning their attention elsewhere. Van Hecke has continued to impress for Brighton this term, playing 14 times for the club in the Premier League to date, and with his current deal expiring in June 2027 a transfer next year remains a distinct possibility.

– Arsenal are keeping an eye on Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, according to Sky Sports News. The Spain U21 international is one of several talented youngsters being tracked by the Gunners, following a strong start to the LaLiga season. Primarily used as a central midfielder, Mendoza has played 10 times in the league this term, scoring once.

– Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has opened the door to a potential departure from Crystal Palace in January amid continued interest from Manchester United, says TEAMtalk. Mateta is reported to have communicated his desire to test himself at a higher level, prompting his team to explore possible options this winter. The France international has been in good form for Palace this season, scoring seven Premier League goals already, and bids in excess of £40 million could be enough to prize him away from Selhurst Park.

– AC Milan have agreed a deal to sign 20-year-old full back Juan Arizala from Deportivo Independiente Medellin, Fabrizio Romano has revealed. A €3 million fee, plus a future transfer clause, are reported to be part of the deal after the youngster turned down proposals from England and Belgium. Arizala has been capped 22 times by Colombia U20s, making his debut for the side at the beginning of 2025, and was part of the side that finished third at the U20 World Cup.

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OTHER RUMORS

– The Saudi Pro League is ready to fund a huge bid to sign Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah if he is open to leaving. (Telegraph)

– Brighton & Hove Albion are monitoring Aston Villa midfielder Lamare Bogarde, as they target a long-term replacement for Carlos Baleba (Telegraph)

– A host of European clubs are tracking West Ham United teenage sensation Emeka Adiele. The 18-year-old left back is entering the final six months of his contract. (Football Insider)

– Chelsea are working on a deal to sign Under-17 World Cup star Mohamed Zongo from Burkina Faso side Tenakourou Academy. (Daily Mail)

– Santos are pushing to try and extend the contract of Neymar, as it expires at the end of the year. (Nicolo Schira)

– Newcastle United are ready to trigger Palmeiras midfielder Allan Elias‘ €100 million release clause. (Ekrem Konur)

– Chivas are finalizing a deal to sign Brian Gutiérrez from the Chicago Fire, in a deal worth a reported €5 million. (Tom Bogert)

– Nantes have entered the race to sign Deiver Machado from Lens, with talks having progressed over a January move in the last few hours. (Rudy Galetti)

DETROIT — As the Detroit Lions entered Thursday’s game with a 7-5 record, running back Jahmyr Gibbs described the regular-season homestretch as “must-win games.”

The first challenge was a big one against a surging Dallas Cowboys team, but the Lions proved up to the task with a 44-30 victory. Detroit’s odds to make the playoffs improved from 43% before the game to 56% with the win, according to ESPN Analytics.

“We need to treat it like playoff games,” Gibbs told ESPN beforehand. Gibbs responded with three touchdown runs and 77 receiving yards. His five games with multiple TD runs are tied for second most in a season in Lions history.

The Lions also got a boost from WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, who suited up after being a game-time decision because of an ankle injury. St. Brown had six catches for 92 yards.

It was the fifth time this season the Lions have scored at least 35 points, the most in the NFL.

Detroit Lions (8-5)

Turning point: During a pivotal moment, Lions WR Jameson Williams delivered a third-down conversion with a 29-yard catch at 8:26 in the fourth after Dallas pulled within three points. Williams’ big catch helped set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Gibbs on the same drive to push the Lions ahead 37-27 with 7:17 left.

Trend to watch: Lions All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell has allowed a sack for the fourth consecutive game, which is the longest streak of his career, per ESPN Research. In the opening quarter, his former teammate James Houston juked past Sewell to sack QB Jared Goff on third down. Sewell hasn’t given up a streak of sacks since his rookie season in 2021.

Emmitt Smith and Daryl Johnston share congratulatory messages after Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery break their record for TDs by a RB duo in the Super Bowl era.#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/h5ylzn7AL4

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 5, 2025

Stat to know: This is the 15th time that Gibbs and David Montgomery have scored a touchdown in the same game, breaking a tie with the Cowboys’ Emmitt Smith and Daryl Johnston for the most by a pair of RB teammates in the Super Bowl era. Smith and Johnston shared congratulatory messages via social media for Detroit’s duo after they broke the record. Gibbs has scored 47 career touchdowns, tying Hall of Famer Barry Sanders for the most touchdowns in a player’s first three NFL seasons. He also has three games this season with three touchdowns, the most by a Lions player in a season since Cloyce Box in 1952. — Eric Woodyard

Next game: at Los Angeles Rams (Dec. 14, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)

Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)

The Dallas Cowboys‘ playoff chances were dampened with their loss to the Detroit Lions. ESPN Analytics puts the Cowboys’ playoff chances at 8% with four games left after their first loss since the bye week.

At 6-6-1, the Cowboys lose head-to-head tiebreakers against the Lions, Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears. Dallas’ best chance of making the postseason might be winning the NFC East, which would require Philadelphia (8-4) to falter.

Turnovers (one fumble, one interception), key penalties, like the one that wiped out a pass interference penalty at Lions 4, and too many big plays allowed by the defense were costly for the Cowboys. The Cowboys likely need to win their four remaining games to have a chance.

Trend to watch: On a night when Javonte Williams topped 1,000 yards this season, the run game scuffled. Through three quarters, the Cowboys had one run top 10 yards. Though the Cowboys rushed for 125 yards and 137 yards in their wins against the Eagles and Chiefs, respectively, 109 of those yards came on four carries, including a 43-yard touchdown run by Malik Davis against Kansas City. The Cowboys’ run game has not been consistent, and it needs to find it again with four games to play.

Stat to know: Struggling to get to the quarterback in recent games, with four sacks in their four previous games, the Lions sacked Dak Prescott three times in the first half. Prescott had 2.65 seconds to throw in the first half. In their three-game winning streak, he had at least 2.8 seconds to throw. Two of the three sacks came on the blitz. In the first 12 games, he had been sacked just six times against the blitz.

Turning point: Despite not scoring a touchdown in the first half and trailing 20-9, the Cowboys hoped to use the first drive of the second half to establish themselves. Disaster struck on the first play. Prescott’s pass — to George Pickens — was tipped and intercepted by Derrick Barnes. Two plays later, Jared Goff hit Isaac TeSlaa for a 12-yard touchdown to up the lead to 18 points. It was a terrible 42 seconds for the Cowboys. — Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Minnesota Vikings (Dec. 14, 8:20 p.m., NBC)

The United States’ 250th-anniversary will coincide with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will see the majority of matches take place in the U.S. beginning in June. President Donald Trump has played a significant role in the early preparations for the tournament, launching a White House task force to focus on all aspects of organizing the global event, with a central focus on security for U.S. citizens and international visitors.   

The president announced last month a new initiative aimed at allowing foreign visitors traveling to the U.S. to receive priority visa appointments. The “FIFA Pass,” as the initiative is being called, is expected to launch early next year, but the State Department is already working to accommodate the influx of travelers. 

Matt Pierce, the acting principal deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, spoke to Fox News Digital ahead of Friday’s draw in Washington, D.C., to discuss the visa process and the State Department’s focus on welcoming international visitors while also ensuring the Trump administration’s emphasis on national security.   

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“As the president has mentioned, this is going to be the best World Cup, the most successful World Cup in history. And the State Department is assisting with that by ensuring appointment availability for those who want to apply for a visa to come to the United States for the World Cup while not sacrificing at all the equity of our visa process and the protection of our homeland through the visa process.”

According to Pierce, the State Department is already at work to accommodate the demand of travelers to the U.S. next year. More appointments have been made available globally and wait times for appointments have been brought to fewer than sixty days in 80% of the world. That sentiment echoed Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks from last month where he said that the administration has dispatched more than 400 additional consular officers around the world. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the State Department will halt all Afghan passport visas. (Getty Images)

“We’ve surged resources to the key posts to ensure that we have the capacity to handle those ticketed fans while still maintaining that rigorous vetting of visa applicants with that national security angle,” Pierce noted. 

TRUMP ANNOUNCES ‘FIFA PASS’ VISA SYSTEM FOR MILLIONS OF WORLD CUP FANS HEADING TO AMERICA IN 2026

While much of the focus is on accommodating ticket holders, Pierce added that the primary concern is ensuring those visitors meet the criteria to enter the U.S. 

“This is something that we take very, very seriously because the visa process, that’s the front door to the United States.”

“The State Department works with our partners across the government involved in the visa process to ensure that we vet anybody who’s applying for a visa and that these are folks that are eligible for visas, that we want to have these folks in our country,” he said. “And so we’re confident in our systems and tools that we put in place. And this is a huge focus of the Trump administration and we’ve really devoted a lot of resources to ensuring that that process is secure.” 

U.S. President Donald Trump, joined by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Carlos Cordeiro Senior Advisor to FIFA for Global Strategy and Governance, and Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), delivers remarks during a meeting of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the Oval Office of the White House on November 17, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

FIFA announced in October that 1 million tickets had already been sold since the official start of sales began earlier in the month. Buyers from the U.S., Canada and Mexico – the host nations of the tournament – topped purchase totals.

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The State Department is encouraging travelers who need visas to apply right away. 

“This is a really great opportunity under President Trump’s leadership to showcase American greatness to the world,” Pierce told Fox News Digital. “And I think that this is a great opportunity for folks to come to the country during our historic anniversary for what will be the greatest World Cup in history. I hope the fans who come here will be able to see some of the sites across the country and to really experience all our country has to offer.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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