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Adrien Rabiot, Mario Balotelli, Yacine Brahimi, Enock Kwateng and Max Kruse are all available on free transfers this summer

By Martin Laurence for WhoScored

Given the money in the game these days, allowing a valuable player’s contract to run down to expiry never sits well with any fans. But one club’s loss is always another’s gain. Aaron Ramsey has already agreed a deal with Juventus on a free transfer and Ander Herrera is expected to join PSG for nothing after his departure from Manchester United. With Vincent Kompany the latest player to leave England on a free, here are a few players who could move in the opposite direction when their current deals expire.

• Sarri expects talks with Chelsea after Europa League final
• Manager linked with Serie A return but ‘happy’ at club

Maurizio Sarri would rather be sacked immediately than have his future at Chelsea hinge upon the result of next Wednesday’s Europa League final, with the Italian under the impression he will hold talks with the club’s hierarchy in the aftermath of their meeting with Arsenal.

The head coach is only 10 months into a two-year contract, which includes an option for a third year, worth £5m a season but has found his position under constant scrutiny despite steering Chelsea to a third-place finish in the Premier League, the Carabao Cup final and a place in next term’s Champions League. His relationship has been strained with a vocal section of a sceptical fan-base, unimpressed at the style of football the team have played, and he has admitted his contact with the owner, Roman Abramovich, has been fleeting.

• Midfielder Groenen arrives from German side FCC Frankfurt
• 24-year-old made team of tournament at Euro 2017

Manchester United have made their first major signing before their debut season in the Women’s Super League, having agreed a pre-contract with the Dutch international Jackie Groenen.

Related: Stoney and Turner braced for Manchester United’s WSL challenge

While the old format never produced a same-nation final, this will be the seventh since 2000, as England steps into the void left by Spain. But there is no point weeping over lost romance

Richard Scudamore retired too soon! No sooner had the Premier League’s executive chairman picked up his parachute payment and left the building than his most famous daft idea became reality. The 39th game, the extra helping of Premier League razzle dazzle featuring two top-flight sides facing off in some far-flung location for prestige and promotional purposes, is actually happening next Wednesday in Baku, except people will insist on calling it the Europa League final. Three days later the same thing will happen again in Madrid. Even Scudamore never proposed a 40th Premier League game, but that is what the Champions League final between Liverpool and Spurs is going to resemble.

Related: Amnesty: Don’t let Azerbaijan hide human rights abuses behind football

All you need to know about the nine venues for the tournament in France, including history lessons and the hitches along the way

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• Gyan: ‘A presidential request cannot be disregarded’
• President urged Gyan ‘in the national interest’ to make U-turn

Asamoah Gyan has made a rapid U-turn on his decision to retire from Ghana duty and will now play at the Africa Cup of Nations after being told by the nation’s president it is “in the national interest” that he reconsiders.

“A presidential request is one that cannot be disregarded,” said the former Sunderland striker in a statement. “I have taken the request of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in good faith and will make myself available for selection by coach Kwasi Appiah to help win the AFCON trophy.”

Amnesty International has increased the pressure on European football’s governing body, Uefa, by saying Azerbaijan must not be allowed to “sportswash its appalling human rights record” by staging high-profile football matches.

Baku’s Olympic Stadium is hosting the Europa League final between Arsenal and Chelsea next Wednesday and is also the venue for four games in next year’s European Championship.

Borussia Dortmund have signed the striker Thorgan Hazard from Bundesliga rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach for £22.5m.

The younger brother of the Chelsea star Eden had been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge or Liverpool but has chosen to remain in Germany.

Caleb Dokter, who plays for the Western Christian Boys Soccer team, scored the somewhat unconventional goal during his team's 10-0 victory over Missouri Valley in the top division of Iowa's High School Athletic Association. Journalist Travis Chinn, who filmed the effort, said that 'this might be the goal of the year' and added that the one-sided game was stopped with 36 minutes left 'because of the mercy rule'. 

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