Krishan Davis

In the age of PSR and UEFA's financial regulations, the free agent market has probably never been more significant as clubs look to pick up a potentially key player without having to spend a penny. We're now into June, and there are a whole host of big names who will be out of contract at the end of the month - undoubtedly sparking a scramble for their signatures in the coming weeks.

Arsenal suffered penalty shootout heartbreak at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, as Gabriel Magalhaes skied the all-important spot-kick to hand the holders a second-consecutive European crown in Budapest. Kai Havertz had given the Gunners an early lead before Ousmane Dembele's second-half equaliser, and a staunch Arsenal defence took the showpiece to extra-time.

For some football fans, the summer is the part of the calendar that they look forward to the most - and that's not just because it's filled by a World Cup every four years! Rather, it's because the end of the season means only one thing: It's time for transfers! The 2026 window is likely to once again be bust, with some huge names set to make big-money moves before deadline day on September 1.

As 40-year-old Edin Dzeko enters the late twilight of his career, Bosnian football has a new potential superstar to carry it forward. Kerim Alajbegovic hadn't even been born when the revered striker made his international debut 19 years ago, but the pair are set to shoulder their country's hopes at the 2026 World Cup in North America this summer.

Ask many die-hard Arsenal fans for their take on who is the best midfielder in the world, and the response will be almost universally the same: Declan Rice. There have even been calls for the Englishman to win the Ballon d'Or after propelling the Gunners to a first league title in 22 years, as well as the Champions League final. The rest of the world, though, remains less convinced.

And there we have it: another Premier League season is in the books. It was a campaign that delivered at both ends of the table, with both the title race and the desperate fight for survival going right down to the wire in a nerve-shredding conclusion for fans of Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and West Ham. Ultimately, it was the Gunners who tasted glory for the first time in 22 long years, while the Hammers suffered the heartbreak of relegation on the final day.

Chelsea's miserable season reached a fitting conclusion on Sunday as a dire 2-1 defeat at Sunderland confirmed a 10th-placed Premier League finish and failure to qualify for any form of European football. Having hauled themselves back into the game, the Blues' cause wasn't helped by Wesley Fofana's second-half red card, which snuffed out any hopes of a comeback.

So there we have it: England's 2026 World Cup squad is confirmed and it will go down as one of the most contentious of all time. Manager Thomas Tuchel has made it abundantly clear from the outset that he isn't afraid to ruffle some feathers with his decisions, and he has stayed true to his word with his divisive selections for the Three Lions' latest bid to end an agonising wait for a first major trophy since 1966.

In the end, Manchester United probably didn't have much other choice; after leading the club back into the Champions League during a remarkable interim tenure, Michael Carrick has been appointed head coach on a permanent basis. However, having already played down the achievement of returning to European football's top table, he will know the real work starts now.

What was once unthinkable is about to become a reality for Manchester City, as Pep Guardiola prepares to call time on a glittering decade at the Etihad Stadium. The revered manager is widely expected to step down at the end of the season, bringing the curtain down on a revolutionary era for both City and the English game as a whole. It is an impossible act to follow, but former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is waiting in the wings.

Chelsea ensured Tottenham's fight for Premier League survival will go down to the final day as Enzo Fernandez inspired a 2-1 victory over their fierce London rivals on Tuesday - the Blues' first win in seven games. The Argentine swept home a fine opener from long range in the first half before turning provider for Andrey Santos in the second period, keeping his side's hopes of European qualification alive.

Could this be the moment that Chelsea's fortunes finally change under the beleaguered BlueCo ownership? The club has pulled off what looks like a seismic coup by luring Xabi Alonso to Stamford Bridge despite their continued struggles, somehow convincing the revered 44-year-old former Real Madrid boss to take the reins ahead of what now promises to be an era-defining summer.

It was far from pretty, but Arsenal are one game away from the Premier League title after holding their nerve to edge past already-relegated Burnley on Monday night, courtesy of Kai Havertz's towering header from yet another set piece. The German forward rose to meet Bukayo Saka's corner shortly before half-time, although he was fortunate not be sent off later in the game. The 1-0 win means the Gunners will be champions if Manchester City drop points at high-flying Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Antoine Semenyo ensured Manchester City wrapped up a domestic cup double at Wembley on Saturday, as his sublime flick 18 minutes from time decided the FA Cup final at Chelsea's expense. Conversely, the 1-0 defeat was the confirmation of another miserable season for the Blues, whose hopes of qualifying for any form of European football are now in serious jeopardy.

Chelsea's quest for FA Cup glory fell just short as they were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City in Saturday's final despite a battling display at Wembley. Antoine Semenyo's sublime flick proved to be the winner in the 72nd minute, as the Blues' stubborn resistance was finally ended by a moment of sheer individual quality.

Enzo Fernandez faces a date with destiny in Saturday's FA Cup final. His future at Chelsea is far from certain in the wake of some all-too-public flirting with a transfer to Real Madrid, but the midfielder can give the Blues the ideal parting gift as he prepares to line up against another of his potential suitors in Manchester City. If the stand-in captain can lead the manager-less side to victory, that would go some way to salvaging his tainted legacy.

Liverpool's disastrous title defence hit a new low on Friday night as they were thumped by Champions League-bound Aston Villa - a result that leaves their own hopes of qualification in jeopardy. The Reds were tormented by Ollie Watkins throughout, with the England striker bagging a brace and laying on another. The 4-2 defeat leaves Arne Slot's side fifth in the Premier League, four points clear of Bournemouth in sixth having played a game more.

Tottenham threw away two huge points in their fight for Premier League survival as they were held to a 1-1 draw by already-safe Leeds on Monday night. Spurs looked on course for a crucial victory when Mathys Tel fired home an unstoppable strike shortly after half-time, but the Frenchman turned villain when he conceded a needless penalty to gift the visitors a route back into the game with 20 minutes to play, and Roberto De Zerbi's side were unable to find a winner.