There was some initial worry about Newcastle United this season, especially after they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion. Since then, however, Eddie Howe's side have put an end to any doubts by defeating Brentford, putting eight past Sheffield United and knocking Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup.

That's not to say the Magpies couldn't do with further reinforcements, though, which could result in a busy January transfer window for those at St James' Park despite some FFP constraints, with reports they could sell several players to fund signings.

And that could see them complete a move for one particular player that they already had a go for, having failed in their pursuit during the summer.

What's the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

Spending a reported €153m (£133m) during the summer transfer window, Newcastle welcomed the likes of Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento, and Sandro Tonali to hand Howe a squad capable of potentially making it back-to-back top four finishes in the Premier League. And after a slow start, the Magpies now look back on track to compete alongside the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Liverpool, who are all gunning for Champions League qualification.

The January transfer window could yet make all the difference, too, especially if Newcastle secure the arrival of Carlos Alcaraz. According to Football Transfers, those at St James' Park are eyeing a move for the Southampton star, who they reportedly approached in the summer, only to be put off by the Saints' £30m price-tag.

Whilst Howe remains an admirer, AC Milan and Benfica also reportedly made an approach for the midfielder in the summer, handing Newcastle plenty of competition if they are to pursue his signature come the winter transfer window.

Considering their spending power, if Newcastle are keen on Alcaraz, then it will be interesting to see how Southampton fare when it comes to the battle to keep hold of their star.

Should Newcastle United sign Carlos Alcaraz?

At 20-years-old, Alcaraz opted to stay put at Southampton despite their relegation to the Championship, and a solid start by Russell Martin's new side has quickly turned disastrous, with a run of four straight defeats in the Championship.

If that form continues, Alcaraz, who, it must be said, has played his part in what has been a dismal run, may start to consider his immediate future, especially if the right offer comes in during the January window from Newcastle.

Statistically speaking, the midfielder was certainly a standout in a poor Saints side last season. According to FBref, in 13 starts, Alcaraz made 20 progressive carries and 28 progressive passes, whilst also making 14 blocks and 11 clearances in a showing of great potential in a short period in the Premier League.

He has earned deserved praise during his time at St Mary's, too, including from former manager Ruben Selles, who said, via the official Southampton website: "That was the idea – to put him in that position as a 10 or as a striker, to be more aggressive in the pressure, to understand the triggers and to have some situations in front of the centre-backs but also in behind, as [with] the goal.

“That was the game plan, Carlos played good. He understands everything – I am helping him also, giving him some instructions so it’s easier for him to understand. He did really well, unfortunately for only 45, 46 minutes."

Celtic are already making inroads ahead of the January transfer window and could look to pull off a surprise move to bring a £25m player to Glasgow, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Celtic?

The Hoops have been in excellent form in the Scottish Premiership and sit top of the pile with a four point advantage over St Mirren, having recorded six wins and one draw from their opening seven fixtures. Motherwell became the latest team to come unstuck against Celtic last weekend, as a 97th minute strike from Matt O'Riley sealed a 2-1 victory for Brendan Rodgers' men at Fir Park in dramatic circumstances.

Away from the field, former Celtic icon Tom Rogic has announced his retirement from professional football to focus on his family and he gave special thanks to his old employers in a heartfelt post on Instagram, as cited by The Daily Record.

Rogic wrote: "I feel very lucky to have had a career where I spent the majority of my time playing at Celtic Football Club, one of the biggest clubs in the world, playing European football, winning many trophies and playing in front of 60,000 fans each week. I have also been lucky enough to represent my country with the Socceroos on over 50 occasions and experienced playing in major international tournaments."

International duty beckons after this weekend for a number of Celtic's first-team players and both club captain Callum McGregor and left-back Greg Taylor will link up with Scotland later this month as the Tartan Army attempt to seal qualification for EURO 2024, as per BBC Sport.

Former Celtic defender Kieran Tierney has sustained a significant injury on loan at Real Sociedad ahead of Scotland's double header against Spain and France, paving the way for Taylor to take his place.

Who are Celtic linked with?

Speaking of former players, 90min report that Celtic are believed to be 'open' to the possibility of bringing Portuguese winger Jota back to Parkhead in light of his ongoing omission from new side Al-Ittihad, which has led to the 24-year-old not being registered in their squad and rendered him unable to take to the field for his new side.

Nevertheless, facilitating any dramatic return that would see Jota pitch up at Parkhead will be an extremely difficult task, given that Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford, Everton, Crystal Palace, Fulham, and West Ham United are all keeping tabs on his current situation in Saudi Arabia.

Leaving for £25 million in the summer, Jota left Celtic fans gutted by his departure after racking up 28 strikes and 26 assists in 83 outings across all competitions. He is rumoured to be earning close to £200,000 per week in the Gulf region, which could potentially provide generational wealth for the Benfica youth product and would've been extremely hard to turn down, all things considered.

Dubbed "absolutely brilliant" by Queen of the South manager Marvin Bartley in 2022, he now looks to have been cast out by his current employers; however, it would take some serious financial muscle to tempt Jota to return to Parkhead in light of other potential options on the table for the talented attacker.

Alex Milton scored a maiden Championship hundred last month but the runs he squeezed out in Southport could be worth a lot more

Paul Edwards30-Aug-2018
ScorecardAsk a county batsman which of his innings is his favourite and you will not always be told of jewelled centuries on ivory stages. Quite frequently you will hear instead of the knock that made a difference. Last month Alex Milton scored a century on his County Championship debut but he did so in a losing cause, albeit it included a 136-run last wicket partnership with Steve Magoffin. On the second day of this match, Milton’s third in Division One, he made a mere 37 but shared the 61-run stand for the fifth wicket with Ben Cox that has probably tipped this game decisively in Worcestershire’s favour.Milton was fortunate that Cox was his batting partner. The Worcestershire wicketkeeper is one of the most underestimated cricketers on the circuit and his 40 took a little of the pressure off his younger colleague. But the pair came together when their team were 56 for 4 and their lead over Lancashire was a mere 117. Their stand sucked much of the venom out of Lancashire and it was the best of six significant alliances which all but filled an absorbing last two sessions at Trafalgar Road.Talking T20

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Six overs before the end of the day Worcestershire were finally dismissed for 252 and the home side opened with a nightwatchman, Toby Lester, and Haseeb Hameed, who remains on a pair. Lancashire still need a further 306 runs to win and no one with a full complement of marbles fancies their chances.The pitch did not ease greatly throughout the day. It has never been a desperately difficult pitch but Brett D’Oliveira’s dismissal to a magnificent ball from Graham Onions which landed on middle and off before seaming away showed that there has always been a wicket in this surface. But both Milton and Cox adapted to the conditions in the manner of old pros; the balls they kept out or let go were just as important as those they cut or clipped to the white fences around this great ground. Cox, in particular, was prepared to wear a few on his body and to bat through a fine spell by Lester. As for Milton, when he considers how his life has been spent, he may well conclude that the two-and-a-quarter hours he took gritting it out at Trafalgar Road have been among the most valuable.It certainly set the tone for the rest of the innings. Tom Bailey, who had taken three early wickets, was not as effective as the ball got older, and later batsmen found batting a slightly more agreeable task than Worcestershire’s top order. Ed Barnard batted well once again, albeit for a mere 24 and Josh Tongue’s 20 helped him add yet another 26 for the last wicket with Dillon Pennington.Wayne Parnell contributed vital runs•Getty ImagesBut the applause of this good-natured and knowledgeable crowd greeted the batting of Wayne Parnell, who made 50 off 74 balls and hit Keshav Maharaj for a straight six into the media tent, where most of the inhabitants were watching the cricket. Parnell’s excellent choice of shot throughout his innings revealed his pedigree and showed how he has bought into Worcestershire’s appealing ethos of hard work and great enjoyment.And as the afternoon progressed, bowlers toiled for the first time in this match. Maharaj’s spell from the Grosvenor Road End claimed three wickets but it did not change the pattern established by Cox and Milton. Likewise, Graham Onions removed Barnard and Ben Twohig but not before they had strengthened Worcestershire position. Lancashire’s bowlers and fielders became quieter even as the noise from the marquees increased. Perhaps they were considering the size of the task facing them; perhaps some of those thoughts could not be voiced in the changing room. Even as Worcestershire’s players view the prospect that they might beat Yorkshire and Lancashire in the space of nine glorious days, Dane Vilas and his players are pondering a different fate.Of course the home side’s task would not be so formidable had not D’Oliveira’s bowlers secured a 61-run first innings lead. Thus the Worcestershire bowlers could be pleased with their effort in taking the last five Lancashire wickets for 65 in little more than an hour’s graft. Josh Tongue, who has the ability to extract bounce from the blandest surface, took the first and last wickets to fall on Thursday, and finished with 5 for 53.Once again, though, Lancashire dug their own graves before obligingly interring themselves and pulling the turf across the plots. Josh Bohannon, for example, had played with purpose and intent for his 13 before he turned blind and was run out by Barnard’s throw when thinking of a third run. But this is a game which has never been short of gallows humour and it is the season when the light is dying, and with it, the green hopes of springtime.

Three uncapped players, Tumi Sekhukhune, Saarah Smith and Robyn Searle, have been included in South Africa women’s squad that will tour the Caribbean for a limited-overs series in September and October. The trio had impressed at an annual North v South competition in Pretoria, where 26 of the country’s most promising cricketers played three T20s on consecutive days.

South Africa women squad

Dane van Niekerk (capt), Chloe Tryon, Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee (wk), Sune Luus, Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Masabata Klaas, Zintle Mali, Trisha Chetty, Robyn Searle, Tumi Sekhukhune, Saarah Smith

The three-match ODI series and the first T20I will be played at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, before the sides will move to the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad for the remaining four T20Is.It will be a crucial tour for South Africa, with West Indies also serving as the hosts for the World T20 to be held in November, a month after the tour ends, and may foreshadow South Africa’s fitness to compete at the global event. They will look to put a disappointing tour of England in July behind them, where they lost 2-1 to the hosts in the ODI series, before also enduring a disappointing T20I tri-series, which also included New Zealand.”As a selection panel, we conducted a debrief from the England tour and also the successful Bangladesh tour prior to that,” national convenor of selectors Clinton Du Preez said. “We discovered that there were a few areas where the team was falling short and we realised we had to look at different options and different types of skill-sets to try and set ourselves up well for the West Indies tour with the World Cup not far behind after that.”Robyn Searle came and played something out of the ordinary during the North vs South tournament, she had a really good time at the national academy and she’s played some great knocks which has put her in good stead as she’s challenged for a place in the national team. Saarah Smith has come on board and shown a lot of intent in the national academy as well. She’s really pushed for her place and we’re looking forward to seeing what she’ll bring to the national side. Tumi (Sekhukhune) has used the opportunities that she has received in her two seasons at the national academy and shown tremendous growth and maturity in a short period of time and we’re interested to see how she will take to this new challenge in the national team.”Du Preez also said South Africa weren’t neglecting the ODI series, even as the World T20 loomed. They will look to secure direct qualification for the 2021 World Cup – to be held in New Zealand – and the three-match ODI series against West Indies has points leading to the qualification at stake.”We can’t lose focus on the IWC because that allows for qualification into the World Cup 2021, so we need to make sure we are still giving ODI cricket the attention it deserves.”

Weston McKennie could be lined up for a reunion with Gio Reyna, as Borussia Dortmund have reportedly joined the race for the Juventus midfielder.

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• Midfielder working on deal until 2025
• No extension agreed in Turin as yet
• Attracting interest from across Europe

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States international, who has enjoyed a remarkable reversal of fortune in Turin this season, is only tied to a contract in Italy through to the summer of 2025. With no extension agreed as yet, Juve may be left with little choice but to cash in during the next transfer window.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  McKennie’s return to form in 2023-24 is said to be attracting admiring glances from afar, with Manchester United, Fulham and Arsenal credited with interest by – with the 25-year-old having previously spent time on loan in England at Leeds.

• Getty/GOAL
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  It is also claimed that McKennie has suitors in Germany, with RB Leipzig and Dortmund monitoring his situation. Any move to the latter could see the versatile American link up with fellow countryman Reyna – who is due back at Signal Iduna Park at the end of the season following a loan spell at Nottingham Forest.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MCKENNIE?

  Juventus are still hoping that McKennie can be talked into signing fresh terms, with his value to the cause being highlighted in the current campaign as he fills a number of different roles for Massimiliano Allegri and showcases his talent at both ends of the field.

Lionesses Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Lauren James and Sarina Wiegman are among the nominees for top prizes at the 2024 Women’s Football Awards.

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Awards to be handed out on May 30Big names competing for recognition Leading lights in WSL figure prominentlyGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The event, which takes place in London on May 30, will be hosted by former England international Eni Aluko and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher and intends to celebrate the people, brands and organisations that are helping to grow the women’s games.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Manchester United goalkeeper Earps will be competing for the Player of the Year award alongside Chelsea stars James, Sam Kerr, Millie Bright, Jess Carter and Guro Reiten. Arsenal duo Katie McCabe and Frida Maanum are also up for that gong, along with United forward Nikita Parris and prolific Manchester City striker Bunny Shaw.

Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

England aces Bronze and Georgia Stanway, who are now at Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively, are nominated for the International Football Player of the Year award, while Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman joins City manager Gareth Taylor among the Manager or Coach of the Year contenders.

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WHAT ALUKO & CARRAGHER SAID

Aluko has said of the WFA nominees: “This year’s shortlist is another incredible catalogue of players, brands, celebrities and organisations who continue to grow the presence of women’s football around the world. We have added four amazing new categories this year, which allows us to celebrate even more of the amazing people, both on and off the pitch, who are achieving so much in the sport. The SHEIN-sponsored Women’s Football Awards is going to be a fantastic event and it’s an honour to be a part of it for the second year running.”

Carragher added: “The 2024 Women’s Football Awards is set to be a fantastic night celebrating the trailblazers, gamechangers and outstanding talent in the women’s game. I am proud to be involved with the awards again and wish everyone on the shortlist the best of luck.”

It has been reported that Arsenal "lead" a quartet of Premier League clubs as they eye one "class" 21-year-old gem from the continent.

Arsenal transfer targets – January

The north London club are well and truly off and running after a brilliant start to the season, most recently making a statement with their 1-0 win over champions Man City at the Emirates Stadium. Gabriel Martinelli's late effort added City to the growing list of teams who've tasted defeat courtesy of Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's side have also sealed vital wins over Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Man United, Everton and Bournemouth – drawing another two games against English capital rivals Fulham and Tottenham.

Arsenal remain unbeaten and next take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after the international break. However, that isn't to say the Gunners have been perfect so far. You could make a case that Arteta's men have been forced to display real grit in a lot of their matches; securing many of the aforementioned wins by narrow one-goal margins. As a result, it is believed that a new striker and wide forward could be in the offing for 2024. This has led to links with Brentford star Ivan Toney and Wolves winger Pedro Neto, with club legend Ray Parlour believing Arsenal simply must sign a centre-forward in particular.

"I always think that you need a bit of back-up," Parlour told JBI Training when asked about Arsenal’s options up front.

"Eddie Nketiah did really well when he came into the team last season, but the Arsenal sides I was part of always had four really good strikers. I know that a lot of teams play with one forward now, but in my teams we had Nwankwo Kanu, Sylvain Wiltord and obviously Thierry (Henry) and Dennis (Bergkamp). I do think we need that extra striker. If Gabriel Jesus gets injured again, is Eddie going to be able to come in and do well enough in the Champions League?

"I know that we could play with a false nine, but I would like that security of having an out-and-out striker."

Arsenal transfer news – Georgiy Sudakov

Adding to the list of 2024 transfer targets, it is now believed that Arsenal have their eye on exciting Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Georgiy Sudakov. The Ukraine international is attracting plenty of admirers right now, but Arteta and co apparently "lead" a quartet of English sides.

Man City, Brighton and Chelsea are the other clubs taking note of Sudakov's exploits on the continent, but Serie A giants Juventus are said to be considering the Champions League player as a possible heir to Paul Pogba.

This is according to TEAMtalk and journalist Dean Jones, who shared a transfer update on Sudakov just before the weekend. The Athletic reporter Adam Crafton, speaking back in September (via 777 score), has called the player "class" with bags of potential.

“Sudakov is a class act, he has just turned 21," said Crafton.

"Last season, he showed great promise in the group stage of the Champions League and is likely to be the next big sale for Shakhtar.”

During his time at Tottenham Hotspur, Mauricio Pochettino's leadership and faith he put into the youth provided the perfect combination for stars to emerge.

He was responsible for developing Dele Alli and Harry Kane into two of the Premier League's finest talents, with the former being crowned as the most valuable U21 player in 2017, over the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Gabriel Jesus.

With the Argentine inheriting a youthful squad at Chelsea, he has the opportunity to replicate that success in west London and that is made easier by the exceptional level of talent being churned off the academy conveyor belt.

The emergence of Levi Colwill is a prime example of the gems waiting to be unearthed from the underage groups. The 20-year-old starred on loan at Brighton last season and is now an integral part of Pochettino's plans having played in every minute so far.

While Colwill is leading the way for the next generation of young talent, Chelsea are blessed with quality all over the pitch, including centre-backs Bashir Humphries and Alfie Gilchrist, creative midfielders Omari Hutchinson and Leo Castledine as well as striker Mason Burstow.

The Blues are well stocked when it comes to the volume of quality in their defensive and midfield ranks, but no one has grabbed the bull by the horns and stamped their authority on the striker position in the first-team, and that could open up the opportunity for teenage sharpshooter, Ronnie Stutter, to be given an opportunity.

Who is Ronnie Stutter?

Ronnie Stutter switched east London for west when he made the switch from West Ham United at U14 level, departing the club in 2019 with the 18-year-old since becoming the figurehead of their youth setup.

A constant threat who loves scoring goals, Stutter is a pacey and direct striker, who likes to lurk on the shoulder of the last defender, waiting patiently to latch onto a pass before bursting through on goal.

When in and around the box, the teenage sensation is lethal at finishing his chances, demonstrating this at the start of this campaign by scoring all types of goals, including thunderous strikes from outside the penalty area, showcasing a calmness in one vs one situations and predatory instincts to finish chances in the box.

During his last two years at Chelsea, the youngster has fought several battles with injury but has bounced back from those minor setbacks by becoming the U21s main source of goals and relishing that responsibility.

In six Premier League 2 matches, Stutter has chalked up six goals, including a strike in the EFL Trophy against Northampton Town as he aims to follow in the footsteps of fellow youngster Mason Burstow, who finished as the U21s top scorer last season and is now thriving on loan at Sunderland.

He commented: "It shows that it is possible and if you take your chance doors will open for you".

The youngster's competition for a chance in the first team comes in the shape of Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja, but the former of those two has struggled since making his £32m move from Villarreal this summer, leaving the door potentially ajar for Stutter after being named on the substitutes bench in the 0-0 draw against Bournemouth.

How has Nicolas Jackson performed this season?

When Jackson came off the bench to score his second of the season against Burnley, a huge weight would have been lifted off his shoulders after struggling in the early stages of his Chelsea career.

Jackson has been frustrated by squandering several opportunities to score, and those struggles were encapsulated by his open goal miss against Nottingham Forest as Chelsea sunk to a 1-0 defeat.

According to Sofascore, the 22-year-old has garnered an xG of 4.09, missed seven big chances, recorded a goal conversion of 10% and 2.9 shots per game, which emphasises that while he's being served golden chances to score, he's failing to put them away.

With the striker being thrust into the limelight for his wasteful finishing, the youngster has attracted both criticism from Chelsea fans while being mocked by rival supporters, but Paul Merson feels the criticism of the youngster is unjust.

He said: "I don’t think it’s fair on him, so I’d definitely give him more time. Though Pochettino would take him out of the firing line if he could."

Jackson was indeed removed from the firing line – but not by choice – after serving a suspension for accumulating five yellow cards.

The Senegalese international returned with a bang by scoring against the Clarets and if that proves to be the goal that kick-starts a purple patch in front of goal, opportunities for Stutter to impress will lessen.

However, if Jackson continues to be wasteful then Pochettino may have to unleash their "brilliant" sharpshooter – as dubbed by journalist Felix Johnston – into the first-team setup.

Bukayo Saka conceded Arsenal had "luck" on their side as they narrowly edged past a "frustrating" Wolves side 2-1 courtesy of two own goals on Saturday evening. The England international was heavily involved in Sam Johnstone and Yerson Mosquera putting through their own net as the Gunners moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

• Johnstone & Mosquera score own goals as Arsenal ride their luck

  Looking to put pressure on title rivals Manchester City ahead of their trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday, Arsenal took to the field as heavy favourites against a Wolves side who are yet to win a league game this season. However, it took until the 70th minute for the north Londoners to break the deadlock when Saka’s in-swinging corner hit the post before ricocheting off Wolves goalkeeper Johnstone and into the back of the net.

  But just when Mikel Arteta’s charges thought they were heading for all three points, they had their heads in their hands when substitute Tolu Arokodare headed home from Mateus Mane’s cross on the 90th-minute mark. 

  Yet in a final twist to the game, Wolves defender Mosquera unfortunately headed into his own net in the fourth minute of injury time when trying to prevent Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus from meeting Saka’s brilliant cross.

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  Saka admits Arsenal underperformed against winless Wolves

  Relieved he and his team-mates were able to get over the line in the end, Saka admitted Arsenal were fortunate to come away with all three points at the Emirates Stadium.

  "Yes, sometimes you need it [luck]," the winger told after the full-time whistle. "Today, it went our way. We will take the points and move forward. We won't know until May (how important the win will be come the end of the season), but we can be happy tonight that we left with three points. 

  "Coming to the Emirates we want to make the teams know that it is going to be tough here and it is not going to be an easy game. It was frustrating at times, I'll be honest. The message to the boys was to stay patient and trying things – in the end we got our reward. It is high [morale] and we have a break now up until next week."

• Manager Arteta frustrated by Gunners' failure to kill game off

  While manager Arteta was also relieved to see Arsenal emerge victorious against Wolves, the Spaniard was equally frustrated by his side’s inability to kill the game off sooner, saying his players made the match harder than it needed to be.

  "It was a relief, but a very clear understanding that the margin should have been bigger," he said in his post-match press conference. "After not being precise enough in the first half with the amount of situations that we generated inside the opposition box and we didn't pick the right colour of shirt on so many occasions, we had an overload to do that. 

  "We had to improve in the second half in relation to that, I think we did it. We generated more chances, scored a goal, but after we had a period of two or three minutes in deep, totally passive, with horrible defensive habits, that is nowhere near the level that is required against a team that hasn't had a single shot. The first time that they had the opportunity to do it, they scored the goal and this is the Premier League. 

  "Unfortunately, we are relieved because we managed to score a goal at the end and go and win it, but we need to improve in that sense for sure."

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  Arsenal's next matches: Gunners face four games across two competitions

  Arsenal return to league action when they travel to in-form Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday. The match will take place on that date after the Gunners were successful with their request to move the game forward ahead of their Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Crystal Palace on Tuesday, 23 December, citing a need to avoid fixture congestion.

  Arteta’s men will then see out 2025 with successive home clashes against Brighton and third-placed Aston Villa in the league on Saturday, 27 December, and Tuesday, 30 December respectively.

Football FanCast updates you with all the latest news surrounding EURO 2032.

As Germany prepares to host next year's European Championships, the focus will quickly turn to the following two tournaments and UEFA have today announced the winning hosts.

FFC will takes a detailed look at the 2032 host and their plans for the showpiece tournament.

Who is hosting EURO 2032?

Italy and Turkey will co-host EURO 2032, ending the Turkish Football Federation's five-time bid failure.

UEFA have rejected Turkey's last five attempts to host the European Championship, but with Italy joining forces, their sixth endeavour will finally bear fruit.

Italy, on the other hand, have hosted the showpiece event in recent times, staging four EURO 2020 fixtures, including the opening game between themselves and Turkey, ironically.

Interestingly, before the two federations teamed up to submit a joint bid, Turkey were thought to be leading the race to land the tournament.

Prior to the announcement, when speaking to Italian-based news outlet Gazzetta, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said: “Türkiye is a big competitor for Euro 2032 and is currently the favourite over Italy."

The reason is unclear as to why both nations ditched their individual attempts, particularly Turkey, who looked in good stead to have their bid accepted. Nevertheless, doing it this way removes any risk of missing out, and allows fans to experience two cultures.

Who was bidding to host EURO 2032?

Initially, Italy and Turkey were two separate bidders hoping to host EURO 2032.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) was planning to bid for EURO 2028, but decided against doing so, instead opting to submit their dossier for the 2032 edition to allow more time to redevelop facilities.

TFF's bid was planned for either EURO 2028 or 2032, however, UEFA confirmed that the TFF and the FIGC requested for their bids to be merged, leaving the UK and Ireland's 2028 proposal unopposed for the former, with Turkey unable to host both events.

Russia's proposed bid was declared ineligible by UEFA.

Italy: Which stadiums are potential EURO 2032 venues?

As part of the requirements to host EURO 2028 (which presumably are the same as 2032), nations must have a minimum of one stadium with a net seating capacity of at least 60,000, one (preferably two) with at least 50,000, four stadiums with at least 40,000 and three stadiums with at least 30,000.

As such, the potential venues in Italy are:

Stadium

Capacity

San Siro

75,817

Stadio Olimpico

70,634

Stadio San Nicola

58,270

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

54,726

Stadio Artemio Franchi

43,147

Juventus Stadium

41,507

Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi

39,371

Stadio Renato Dall'Ara

38,371

Stadio Luigi Ferraris

36,205

Unipol Stadium

25,000 expandable to 30,000

The average capacity across the 10 stadiums stands at 44,458.

Turkey: Which stadiums are potential EURO 2032 venues?

The potential venues in Turkey are:

Stadium

Capacity

Atatürk Olympic Stadium

74,753

Nef Stadium

53,611

Ülker Stadium

47,834

19 Mayis Stadium

45,000

Bursa Metropolitan Stadium

43,331

Konya Büyüksehir Arena

42,000

Senol Gunes Sports Complex

40,782

Conerdon Airlines Park

32,537

Kalyon Stadium

33,502

Atatürk Stadium

32,500

The average stadium capacity stands at 44,585, which is almost identical to that of Italy.

UEFA will select 10 stadiums, five per country, to stage EURO 2032. They have confirmed this process will conclude by October 2026.

What are the positives of Italy & Turkey hosting?

As previously mentioned, this was the Turkish Football Federation's (TFF) sixth consecutive attempt to host a European Championship.

That in itself shows the federation's continued hunger and desire to deliver a premier tournament. Additionally, the experience gained from each process will no doubt have been beneficial in their planning, with years of careful due diligence already conducted.

Sports Minister Muharrem Kasapoglu – prior to the announcement – said Turkey's facilities and infrastructure could add value to the tournament.

"The quality of our facilities, infrastructure, accommodation, young population.

"When you put it all together, we can say that our country shines like a star and is one of the most important sports destinations in the world. I think that Türkiye can add important value to Euro 2028 and Euro 2032.

"By becoming a candidate for the fifth time in a row to organize Europe’s biggest tournament at the national team level, our federation has once again shown its determination to the entire world.

"We have always prided ourselves on our modern stadiums and facilities, the passion for football in our country and our high level of organization," Kasapoglu said.

Turkey have also hosted multiple European finals, including last season's Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.

Whilst there were negative experiences faced by fans at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, it's worth considering that there will be key lessons learned from the organisers, which can be put in place ahead of 2032 to avoid a recurrence of any issues raised.

Meanwhile, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina believes Italy and Turkey's joint bid promotes the values of friendship.

"In addition to bringing two consolidated entities in the European football scene closer together, this project promotes the values of friendship and cooperation, involving two worlds characterised by deep historical roots and two cultures which, over the millennia, have mutually influenced each other, helping to shape the history of Mediterranean Europe in the process.

"Football aims to be a gateway for sharing the passions and emotions related to sport," Gravina said.

Having two host nations also presents fans with the opportunity to experience two different countries, along with their respective cultures and communities, further promoting a diverse tournament.

Both nations are rich in footballing history and have tremendously passionate fans, which will be beneficial in creating a captivating atmosphere.

What are the drawbacks of Italy & Turkey's hosting?

Last month's Champions League final in Istanbul exposed several flaws that will need addressing ahead of the European Championships in 2032.

The NGTC Group, who are experts in crowd management, released a report citing the many problems match goers faced leading up to, during and after the match.

Firstly, some of the supporters were reportedly left waiting for up to three hours in the midday sun for their transport to the stadium. When able to board the shuttle buses, they were overcrowded, with poor air conditioning and no available toilets.

The journey was initially expected to take an hour but stretched up to two and a half hours, to much of the fans' frustration.

Further, there were some complaints regarding the fan park, with issues relating to catering, toilets and seats for the less-able. The stadium also had sharp edges around the rim of the seating, which caused injury for some.

Following the match, many who were returning to the buses discovered unstable rubble walkways, lack of lighting and absent staff members, causing confusion and distress.

The NGTC closed their report with a few areas to focus on, ahead of the next major event held at the stadium:

"Ensuring adequate transport facilities, equipping fan parks with sufficient amenities, and maintaining ethical conduct among all staff members are some of the crucial areas to focus on. Perhaps most importantly, a dedicated and well-qualified security team."

Italy, on the other hand, have a great deal of renovating work to do on their stadia ahead of 2032, as most of their proposed venues fail to meet UEFA's criteria.

The governing bodies President Ceferin claims none of the stadiums are fit for purpose to even host the Champions League final.

Speaking to Italian-based news outlet Gazzetta, Ceferin said: "At the moment, there is not even a stadium in Italy that can host the Champions League final. This is something incredible. The UEFA needs more stadium guarantee."

It shouldn't, however, be an issue by the time the tournament comes around, as the FIGC do intend to redevelop much of the proposed venues. Across the 10 possible stadiums named, six are expected to undergo renovation.

The final drawback of the joint bid is travel. With two countries scheduled to host the event, it will mean fans will need to travel between countries, making it far more costly and inconvenient.

Further, the likely increase in flights between Turkey and Italy isn't exactly promoting an environmentally friendly tournament. The average flight time between the two nations is 3 hours and one minute, which is something worth noting.