DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran and the United States leaned into gunboat diplomacy Thursday as nuclear talks between the nations hung in the balance, with Tehran holding drills with Russia and the Americans bringing another aircraft carrier closer to the Mideast.
The Iranian drill and the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier near the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea underscore the tensions between the nations. Iran earlier this week also launched a drill that involved live-fire in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow opening of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil passes.
The movements of additional American warships and airplanes don’t guarantee a U.S. strike on Iran — but it does give President Donald Trump the ability to carry out one should he choose to do so. He’s so far held off on striking Iran after setting red lines over the killing of peaceful protesters and Tehran holding mass executions, while reengaging Tehran in nuclear talks earlier disrupted by the Iran-Israel war in June.
“Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website, seeking to pressure the United Kingdom over its plans to settle the future of the Chagos Islands with Mauritius.
Meanwhile, Iran struggles with unrest at home following its crackdown on protests, with mourners now holding ceremonies honoring their dead 40 days after their killing by security forces. Some of the gatherings have included anti-government cries, despite threats from authorities.
The drill Thursday saw Iranian forces and Russian sailors conduct operations in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported. The drill will be aimed at “upgrading operational coordination as well as exchange of military experiences,” IRNA added.
China had joined the “Security Belt” drill in previous years, but there was no acknowledgment it participated in this round. In recent days, a vessel that appeared to be a Steregushchiy-class Russian corvette had been seen at a military port in the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas.
Iran also issued a rocket-fire warning to pilots in the region, suggesting they planned to launch anti-ship missiles in the exercise.
Meanwhile, tracking data showed the Ford off the coast of Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean midday Wednesday, meaning the carrier could transit through Gibraltar and potentially station in the eastern Mediterranean with its supporting guided-missile destroyers.
Having the carrier there could allow American forces to have extra aircraft and anti-missile power to potentially protect Israel and Jordan should a conflict break out with Iran. The U.S. similarly placed warships there during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip to protect against Iranian fire.
Mourning ceremonies for those killed by security forces in the protests last month also have increased. Iranians traditionally mark the death of a loved one 40 days after the loss. Both witnesses and social media videos showed memorials taking place at Tehran’s massive Behesht-e Zahra cemetery. Some memorials included people chanting against Iran’s theocracy while singing nationalistic songs.
The demonstrations began Dec. 28 at Tehran’s historic Grand Bazaar, initially over the collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial, then spread across the country. Tensions exploded on Jan. 8, with demonstrations called for by Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi.
Iran’s government has offered only one death toll for the violence, with 3,117 people killed. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous rounds of unrest in Iran, puts the death toll at over 7,000 killed, with many more feared dead.
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Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – With only hours left in the legislative session, New Mexico lawmakers are working late into the night to get the last remaining bills across the finish line. While some bills are still on the table, others have already landed on Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk. Among the biggest issues in a […]
Thrash metal titans Exodus have unveiled the towering title track from their upcoming 12th studio album, Goliath, set for release on March 20, 2026 via Napalm Records. The song arrives alongside an accompanying music video and showcases a darker, slower, and more ominous side of the band.
“Goliath” deliberately dials down the tempo, leaning into doom-laden territory with winding, malevolent leads, thunderous drums, and intricate guitar work from thrash legend Gary Holt. Adding a dramatic new dimension to the track is violinist Katie Jacoby, who contributed 18 tracks of haunting string arrangements to the song’s midsection.
More than four decades after their debut, Exodus remain unwavering in their commitment to pushing their sound forward. Goliath is described as their most multifaceted effort yet, featuring epic collaborations and marking the return of Rob Dukes as lead vocalist.
The band shared their thoughts on the crushing new single: “‘Goliath’ may quite possibly be the heaviest thing we have ever done, and certainly the slowest song in our catalog, as close to doom metal as Exodus we get! Just pure evil, as sinister as it gets, featuring our friend Katie Jacoby, who laid down 18 tracks of strings in the middle harmony section, making the song go from just pure horror to a thing of beauty.”
Pre-order Goliath here. Exodus will join Sepultura for their final North American tour alongside Biohazard and Tribal Gaze.
The Celebrating Life Through Death tour kicks off April 29 in Montclair, NJ and will hit major cities including Montreal, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. The run concludes May 29 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, closing a monumental chapter in heavy music history. Get your tickets here.
4/29 Montclair, NJ The Wellmont Theater 5/1 Montreal, QC MTELUS 5/2 London, ON London Music Hall 5/4 Detroit, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre 5/5 Louisville, KY Old Forester’s Paristown Hall 5/6 Nashville, TN Brooklyn Bowl 5/7 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade 5/8 New Orleans, LA The Civic Theatre 5/10 Daytona Beach, FL Welcome To Rockville 5/11 Charleston, SC Music Farm 5/12 Greensboro, NC Piedmont Hall 5/13 Reading, PA Reverb 5/15 Chicago, IL Ramova Theatre 5/16 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple 5/17 Milwaukee, WI The Rave 5/19 Des Moines, IA Val Air Ballroom 5/21 Denver, CO The Ogden Theatre 5/22 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot 5/23 Boise, ID Shrine Social Club 5/25 Las Vegas, NV House Of Blues 5/26 San Diego, CA The Observatory North Park 5/28 Berkeley, CA UC Theatre 5/29 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
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We’ve reached the knockout phase of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League season and the 24 teams remaining the 2026 UCL Bracket will battle it out for the chance to be club champions of Europe. It’s the world’s biggest club soccer competition and the bracket goes live on February 27. Complete your 2026 Champions League brackets and enter UCL bracket pools on CBSSports.com and on the CBS Sports app.
Much like an NCAA Tournament bracket pool, you’ll pick which teams you think will advance at each stage of the Champions League bracket, and points will be awarded for each pick you get right. Create Champions League pools of your own to compete against friends and family, and enter your picks into the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Challenge for a chance to win a trip to London, including tickets to a UCL match and a tour of the UCL Today set. With the action so close, now is the time to set up your 2026 UEFA Champions League pool.
How to create a 2026 UEFA Champions League pool with friends and family
There is a CBS Sports UEFA Champions League Bracket Challenge giving you the chance to win a trip to London to watch a UCL match and tour the UCL Today set. It’s easy to qualify for this epic trip. Simply click this link, click the “Join Now” button and enter.* Fill out your UEFA Champions League bracket before Round of 16 play begins.
Once you’ve entered CBS Sports UEFA Champions League Bracket Game, you can also set up your own 2026 UCL pools on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app. When you go to the website, hover your mouse over the Fantasy tab until you find the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games logo.
Click on that logo to be redirected to the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games page. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see a “Create Pool” button to click on and once you’ve finished choosing your UCL bracket pool settings, you’ll be able to copy the URL and send it to your friends and family.
2026 UEFA Champions League Knockout phase teams to watch
Now that you know where to play 2026 UCL Bracket Games, here are some teams to watch as the 2026 Champions League Knockout phase approaches:
Arsenal FC: The English Premier League leaders won all eight of their matches during the league phase, outscoring their opponents 23-4 in the process to produce the best goal differential in the competition. Arsenal have opened a six-point lead on Manchester City in the EPL, so they’ll still have a somewhat split focus, but this is their best chance yet at notching a UEFA Champions League title. Expect Mikel Arteta to dial in for these matchups and they should be well-rested thanks to the bye that comes with being a top-eight seed.
Bayern Munich: The champions of the Bundesliga in 12 of the last 13 seasons, Bayern Munich has also opened up a six-point lead domestically and they’re the No. 2 seed in the UCL Knockout phase after winning seven of eight matches in the league phase. They won the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup and were also Champions League winners that same season, making them four-time champions of Europe. Harry Kane has scored 38 goals in 33 matches across all competitions this season and he’s added eight goals in eight matches for England during international play. Join the 2026 UCL Bracket Game here.
How to enter 2026 UEFA Champions League Bracket Games
Sign up now before brackets are unlocked after the Round of 16 Draw. Visit CBSSports.com/UCLBracket or play on the CBS Sports App.
The highly anticipated ruling, delivered by a Seoul court, was broadcast across the nation. Prosecutors had asked for the death penalty for Yoon, whose short-lived power grab sent the Asian democracy into political turmoil.
The verdict and sentence was handed down by a three-judge panel at Seoul’s Central District Court, where Yoon’s supporters and critics gathered amid heightened security.
Yoon, 65, had pleaded not guilty to insurrection, the most serious of a range of charges he faces in connection with his 2024 martial law order. Prosecutors had asked for the death penalty in the case.
The court also found Yoon had subverted the constitutional order and abused his authority by ordering troops to storm parliament and arrest certain individuals including Lee Jae Myung, the liberal opposition leader at the time who is now South Korea’s president.
In a statement after the verdict, lawyers for Yoon criticized the trial as “nothing more than a mere formality to reach a predetermined conclusion.” Yoon has the right to appeal.
A protester holding a placard of Yoon reading “A death sentence” at a rally near the court on Thursday.Jung Yeon-Je / AFP via Getty Images
Facing rulings alongside him were seven former military officers and senior police officials accused of participating in the imposition of martial law, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, with prosecutors seeking prison terms of 10 years to life. Kim was also found guilty of insurrection and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, whom Yoon had also targeted for arrest, said after the verdict that Yoon “should now acknowledge his wrongdoing and offer a sincere apology to the people.”
“Now is the time to stop deepening division and conflict in our society through claims that deny or distort the fundamental order of our democratic republic,” Woo said.
Yoon’s martial law order, the first of its kind in South Korea in more than 40 years, shocked a country that became one of Asia’s most vibrant democracies after having spent decades under military-authoritarian rule. South Korea was mired in months of political uncertainty as the chaos from the decree was followed by Yoon’s impeachment and a power vacuum at the top of government.
The episode has also deeply divided the politically polarized public, with Yoon’s conservative supporters cheering his attempts to fight impeachment and arrest in an echo of scenes in the United States.On Thursday, hundreds of Yoon supporters stood outside the court watching the proceedings on a screen, while critics of Yoon also gathered at a protest nearby.
The crisis began in December 2024 with Yoon’s surprise late-night announcement in a nationally televised address that he was suspending civilian government in South Korea, including a ban on all political activity and censorship of the news media.
Yoon, who was elected president in 2022, said the martial law order was necessary because “anti-state” forces in the opposition-controlled parliament had paralyzed the government through budget cuts and efforts to impeach multiple senior officials.
The order did not last long, however, as lawmakers rushed to the National Assembly in dramatic overnight scenes, pushing past troops sent there by Yoonand voting unanimously against it in an emergency session. Yoon lifted the order about six hours after he imposed it.
Supporters of Yoon gathered in front of the court on Thursday.Jung Yeon-Je / AFP via Getty Images
Yoon, a former prosecutor, also faces eight criminal trials over the martial law order and other allegations, and he was sentenced to five years in prison last month in the first of those verdicts. He is appealing that ruling.
Other trials are still ongoing, including one in which he is charged with treason after he was accused of ordering that drones be sent into North Korean airspace to provoke a confrontation that could justify martial law.
Yoon denies wrongdoing, saying that he had the right as president to declare martial law and that the order was a short-term, symbolic effort to raise public awareness of the threat from opposition lawmakers.
Prosecutors in the insurrection trial said that the martial law order was a long-planned effort to extend Yoon’s rule indefinitely in violation of the constitution and that he was driven by a “lust for power.”
Other officials from Yoon’s administration have also received prison terms over their roles in carrying out the martial law order. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, 76, was sentenced to 23 years last month, while former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, 61, was sentenced to seven years last week.
President Lee said ahead of the verdict Thursday that his country was “a model for human history,” noting reports this week that the people of South Korea had been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for resisting the martial law order.
It’s possible that Yoon could get a presidential pardon one day, said Bong Young Shik, a visiting professor in the Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University in Seoul. He pointed to the case of former President Chun Doo-hwan, who was also sentenced to life in prison for insurrection in 1996 but was later freed.
But that was a long time ago, Bong said, and public sentiment in South Korea — where democratic values have become deeply embedded in recent decades — “may not be so forgiving for President Yoon this time.”
It will take time to “close the wound” created by the martial law episode given the divisions around it, Bong said. But ironically, he added, the fierce support for Yoon in some quarters “testifies to the maturity and strength of South Korean democracy.”
“We are going to live with diverse voices, some of which may be very difficult to accept by people with different political ideologies and opinions,” Bong said. “But South Korean society will continue to exist with a variety of competing visions about how the country should be.”
SEVERE WEATHER NEAR YOU WITH OUR APP. JUST REMEMBER TO TURN ON THOSE ALERTS WE’LL TARGET 7 REVEALED TO YOU YESTERDAY HOW GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE DEB HOLLAND AND FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL GARY KING WERE FOUND IN THE EPSTEIN FILES. DOCUMENTS SHOW THEY TOOK A CHARTERED FLIGHT ORGANIZED BY JEFFREY EPSTEIN TO WASHINGTON, DC OVER A DECADE AGO. HOLLAND TOLD US SHE HAD NO CLUE WHO ORGANIZED IT. WELL, TODAY WE’RE HEARING FROM KING. HERE’S JASON MCNABB. YEAH, THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT. SHELLEY AND DOUG, I SPOKE WITH GARY KING THIS MORNING, AND OVER THE PHONE HE TOLD US, LIKE HOLLAND, HE ALSO HAD NO IDEA THAT JEFFREY EPSTEIN WAS BEHIND THE COMPANY THAT ORGANIZED THAT PRIVATE FLIGHT. WE COULDN’T FIND ANY RED EYE FLIGHTS, AND IT WAS AN IMPORTANT MEETING AT THAT TIME WITH THESE UNION LEADERS IN IN WASHINGTON, DC, GARY KING EXPLAINED TO TARGET 7 HOW HE AND THEN CANDIDATE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DEB HAALAND, ENDED UP ON A FLIGHT MANIFEST LINKED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN IN 2014. TUESDAY, WE SHOWED YOU THESE THREE DOCUMENTS DOWNLOADED DIRECTLY FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE’S WEBSITE. THEY SHOW THAT KING, ALONG WITH HOLLAND, TOOK A CHARTERED FLIGHT FROM SANTA FE TO WASHINGTON, D.C. THE FLIGHT MANIFEST LISTS A CLIENT AS AN LLC OWNED BY JEFFREY EPSTEIN. AN EMAIL SAY KING ASKED EPSTEIN DIRECTLY TO USE HIS PLANE FOR THE FLIGHT. DESPITE THOSE EMAILS, KING TOLD US TODAY THAT FORMER NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON IS ACTUALLY THE ONE THAT ARRANGED IT FOR HIM, AS HE NEEDED TO MAKE IT TO D.C. FOR A MEETING HE WAS ATTENDING FOR HIS GUBERNATORIAL RUN. IT WAS AN IMPORTANT MEETING AT THAT TIME WITH THESE UNION LEADERS IN IN WASHINGTON, DC. IT WAS, I THINK, THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND THE ONE OF THE BIG GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES UNIONS AND THE FIREFIGHTERS AND AND SEVERAL THAT RICHARDSON KNEW WELL. AND SO HE WAS TRYING TO HELP US TO GET THAT SET UP. AND SO WE JUST DECIDED THE BEST WAY TO GET THERE WAS TO CHARTER AN AIRPLANE, A PRIVATE JET. HE ALSO SAYS HE ONLY MET EPSTEIN IN PERSON ONE TIME. THE TIME THAT I MET HIM, HE HE CALLED ME BECAUSE HE HAD HEARD THAT MY DAD HAD PASSED AWAY, AND AND HE SAID THAT HE WANTED TO MEET WITH ME AND HAVE COFFEE AND EXPRESS HIS CONDOLENCES FOR THE LOSS OF MY DAD. AND SO WE MET IN SANTA FE AND HAD A CUP OF TEA, ACTUALLY. NOW KING ONCE AGAIN REITERATED HE HAD NO IDEA THAT THE CHARTER COMPANY OR THE PLANE WERE ASSOCIATED WITH EPSTEIN. HE ALSO TOLD US HE RETURNED ANY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS THAT EPSTEIN OR HIS ASSOCIATED COMPANIES DONATED TO HIM DURING HIS MULTIPLE RUNS FOR OFFICE. TARGET 7 I’M JASON MCNABB. ALL RIGHT, JASON, THANK YOU. AND AS FOR RICHARDSON, WHO DIED IN 2023, HIS ATTORNEYS AND SPOKESPEOPLE HAVE MAINTAINED THAT HE WAS NOT FRIENDS WITH EPSTEIN. THEY SAID RICHARDSON AND HIS WIFE HAD ONLY BEEN TO THE RANCH ONCE. RICHARDSON’S ATTORNEYS HAVE ALSO SAID THE FORMER GOVERNOR HAD BEEN COOPERATING WITH FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS, AND THAT HE WAS NEITHER A SUBJECT TARGET NOR WITNESS
Gary King addresses flight linked to Epstein
Former Attorney General Gary King explained his involvement in a chartered flight organized by Jeffrey Epstein, stating he was unaware of Epstein’s connection to the flight.
Former Attorney General Gary King has clarified his involvement in a chartered flight organized by Jeffrey Epstein, stating he was unaware of Epstein’s connection to the flight. King, who was in the middle of a gubernatorial run at the time, explained that he and then-candidate for lieutenant governor Deb Haaland ended up on a flight manifest linked to Epstein in 2014 due to an important meeting with union leaders in Washington, D.C. “We couldn’t find any redeye flights and it was an important meeting at that time with these union leaders then in Washington, D.C.,” King said.Documents downloaded from the U.S. Department of Justice’s website show that King and Haaland took a chartered flight from Santa Fe to Washington, D.C., in September 2014. The flight manifest lists the client as an LLC owned by Epstein, and emails indicate King asked Epstein directly to use his plane for the flight. Despite these emails, King stated that former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson arranged the flight for him, as he needed to attend a meeting for his gubernatorial run. “It was an important meeting at that time with these union leaders then in Washington, D.C. It was, I think, the National Education Association, and one of the big government employees unions and the firefighters and several that Bill Richardson knew well, so he was trying to help us to get that set up, so we just decided the best way to get there was to charter an airplane, a private jet,” King said.King also mentioned he met Epstein in person only once. “The time that I met him, he called me because he had heard that my dad had passed away. And then he said that he wanted to meet with me and have coffee, and express his condolences for the loss of my dad. And so, we met in Santa Fe and had a cup of tea actually,” King said.King reiterated he had no idea that the charter company or the plane were associated with Epstein. He also stated he returned any campaign contributions that Epstein or his associated companies donated to him during his multiple runs for office.As for Richardson, who died in 2023, his attorneys and spokespeople have maintained that he was not friends with Epstein. They said Richardson and his wife had only been to Epstein’s ranch once. Richardson’s attorneys have also stated the former governor had been cooperating with federal investigators and that he was neither a subject, target, nor witness in the case.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Former Attorney General Gary King has clarified his involvement in a chartered flight organized by Jeffrey Epstein, stating he was unaware of Epstein’s connection to the flight.
“We couldn’t find any redeye flights and it was an important meeting at that time with these union leaders then in Washington, D.C.,” King said.
Documents downloaded from the U.S. Department of Justice’s website show that King and Haaland took a chartered flight from Santa Fe to Washington, D.C., in September 2014. The flight manifest lists the client as an LLC owned by Epstein, and emails indicate King asked Epstein directly to use his plane for the flight.
Despite these emails, King stated that former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson arranged the flight for him, as he needed to attend a meeting for his gubernatorial run. “It was an important meeting at that time with these union leaders then in Washington, D.C. It was, I think, the National Education Association, and one of the big government employees unions and the firefighters and several that Bill Richardson knew well, so he was trying to help us to get that set up, so we just decided the best way to get there was to charter an airplane, a private jet,” King said.
King also mentioned he met Epstein in person only once. “The time that I met him, he called me because he had heard that my dad had passed away. And then he said that he wanted to meet with me and have coffee, and express his condolences for the loss of my dad. And so, we met in Santa Fe and had a cup of tea actually,” King said.
King reiterated he had no idea that the charter company or the plane were associated with Epstein. He also stated he returned any campaign contributions that Epstein or his associated companies donated to him during his multiple runs for office.
As for Richardson, who died in 2023, his attorneys and spokespeople have maintained that he was not friends with Epstein. They said Richardson and his wife had only been to Epstein’s ranch once. Richardson’s attorneys have also stated the former governor had been cooperating with federal investigators and that he was neither a subject, target, nor witness in the case.
The Game of Thrones book series may never reach its planned ending, but the Game of Thrones universe keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger anyway.
Along with the incomplete pile of books and the continually growing series of prequels and spinoffs on HBO, we can now add a theatrical production. Game of Thrones: The Mad King will premiere this summer from the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Enter the world before. A long winter thaws in Harrenhal, and spring is promised. At a lavish banquet on the eve of a jousting tournament, lovers meet and revellers speculate about who will contend. But in the shadows, amid growing unease at the bloodthirsty actions of the realm’s merciless Mad King, dissenters from his inner circle anxiously advance a treasonous plot. Far away, the drums of battle sound. Family bonds, ancient prophecies, and the sacred line of succession will be tested in a dangerous campaign for power. Who will survive? Who will rise?
Game of Thrones writer George R.R. Martin is the creator of the show. Duncan Macmillan is credited as the “Adaptor” and the play is being directed by Dominic Cooke.
The Game of Thrones stage play follows just a few months after the debut of a similar show set in the world of Stranger Things, The First Shadow, another backstory-laden prequel that began in London and later came to Broadway. (It is still running there at the Marquis Theater.)
Game of Thrones: The Mad King premieres this summer at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Given the way of the world, if the play is well-received a transfer to Broadway seems like an inevitability. Meanwhile, the Game of Thrones TV universe is up to two prequels — House of the Dragon and the currently airing A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms — with others in various stages of development.
10 Controversial TV Recasts That Fans Still Can’t Get Over
Did they think we wouldn’t notice that they swapped out these famous TV actors?
Everything appeared to be falling into place for Barcelona in their quest to retain their LaLiga crown this season. Bitter rivals Real Madrid underperformed for much of the first half the season, to the point where they fired coach Xabi Alonso last month, and Atlético Madrid failed to take advantage and mount their own title challenge.
But in the past week, Barça suffered a 4-0 thrashing at Atlético that has all but dumped them out of the Copa del Rey, and Monday’s shocking 2-1 loss at Catalan neighbors Girona allowed Real to go two points clear at the top of the league.
It’s clear that Hansi Flick’s side cannot always rely on young star Lamine Yamal, but their financial difficulties are well-known and mean they have to clearly prioritize which areas they most need to strengthen, and where they can make room in their squad.
ESPN Barcelona correspondents Sam Marsden and Moisés Llorens answer the key transfer questions that Barça must face when the window reopens in the summer.
Barça have been looking at Julián Álvarez and Dusan Vlahovic, among others, in their search for a new striker. Who should they sign?
Marsden: Barça should sign a Kylian Mbappé or a Harry Kane, but they also should sign a center back, a fullback and a holding midfielder, probably another winger as well, so where will they streamline their spending? I would lean toward a center back.
But if it’s a striker, Álvarez is well-liked within the club’s hierarchy. However, his recent form — no goals in 11 games before scoring against Barça last week — has raised doubts. Also, the fee Atlético would want for him is prohibitive — Barça sources have told ESPN they want well over €100 million. There is also no guarantee he would score more than Ferran Torres, who actually has five more league goals than Álvarez this season in 300 fewer minutes.
In that sense, Vlahovic could work as a free shot considering he will be out of contract this summer at Juventus, even if he would not excite supporters. Given how the market is and how much can change, I would advise Barça to sit tight for now and prioritize other areas until they can afford a proper investment in a striker.
Llorens: Without any doubt, Barça should go for Álvarez if they can. He is a player the club have followed for a long time now. They have more than 15 different reports recommending his signing throughout the course of his career, and his style of play fits perfectly with what coach Hansi Flick wants from his forwards. Barça would be able to satisfy his desire to compete for every trophy up for grabs, something he was used to at Manchester City.
Regardless of who comes in, should they give Robert Lewandowski a new contract anyway?
Llorens: I would not renew him. I think, as a player who turns 38 in August, his time at the club has passed. The club may well decide to prolong his deal on a much lower salary, but for me, it’s time to move on.
Marsden: First, let me say Lewandowski, arriving at the age of 33 in 2022, has been a brilliant signing for Barcelona. With 114 goals in 177 games, he’s just six away from breaking into the top 10 of the club’s all-time leading scorers.
However, he’s already taking on a more secondary role this season, rotating with Torres, if not quite definitively second-choice to him yet, and commands a huge salary. Even if he is willing to halve that, is he worth that money if he’s not the No.9 starting every week?
His experience and work ethic have been important, even exemplary, for the younger players coming through in recent years, but it’s in the best interests of the player and the club to part ways this summer. Barça could do a lot with that salary space and Lewandowski can headline a new project somewhere else as his career winds down.
Should Barça make Marcus Rashford‘s loan signing permanent, or is there another winger they should go for instead?
Marsden: With 10 goals and 13 assists in 34 appearances, he has done well on his loan from Manchester United since arriving. But as Flick said recently, it’s not just about the numbers. He has called for Rashford to exploit his potential even more. He has also previously spoken about getting him up to speed with his work off the ball. They are perhaps two of the reasons why, since the return of Raphinha from injury at the end of November, the England forward has largely been used as an impact substitute.
Therefore, it is hard to make a call on whether to bring him in on a permanent basis. At €30m in today’s market, it seems like a no-brainer, and he seems happy being in and out of the team with the focus on others to deliver. However, you also have to factor in his wages: unless he accepts a significant cut, his salary would make him one of the highest-paid players at Barça.
The final decision will be made toward the end of the season, based on how he does until then, the money Barça have available, the other options they have and the priorities they have when it comes to strengthening their squad. At the moment, club sources suggest it’s more likely to happen than not, but I would lean towards investing elsewhere.
Llorens: I would assess the other options before deciding whether to sign Rashford. I think his performances have been good and he’s adapted well to the team, the club and to life in Catalonia, but €30m is a lot of money for Barça to spend if they are not 100% sure.
There are low-cost alternatives to consider. For example, Jan Virgili is a young winger Barça transferred to Mallorca last summer with an option to re-sign him. He could be a good player to come in and take on that role on the left wing when Raphinha is unavailable. He delivered a good first half when Barça hosted Mallorca earlier this month, although it’s true his numbers and ball-striking ability are nowhere near Rashford at this point.
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Moreno: Barcelona’s defence a ‘circus’ in Girona defeat
Ale Moreno reacts to Barcelona’s shock 2-1 defeat to Girona as Real Madrid secure top of the LaLiga table.
Do they still need another center back to cover for the loss of Iñigo Martínez? If so, who?
Llorens: Which players leave Barcelona this summer will be key to determining if another central defender is signed ahead of next season. Gerard Martín‘s long-term future at the club is not guaranteed, Andreas Christensen is out of contract and we will see what happens with Ronald Araújo, who recently returned from a leave of absence to focus on his mental health.
Pau Cubarsí and Eric García have shown promising signs as a partnership at the back in recent weeks, but if there is space in the squad and money available, Inter Milan‘s Alessandro Bastoni is a player with a huge reputation who could fit straight in. He would be a smart addition to any top-level European side with Champions League aspirations.
Marsden: Absolutely. If there is money available, this is where I would invest. I don’t want to say all of Barça’s problems are down to the back four, because they have been exposed by the midfield at times and let down by the team’s pressing, but a new center back would improve this side.
Cubarsí’s form has been inconsistent and that’s because too much weight has been placed on his 19-year-old shoulders. He is still learning the game and would benefit massively from having an experienced head alongside him, as was the case with Martínez last year. A partnership with García could yet blossom, but it’s not a top-level pairing for me.
Will Barça go for a new fullback in the summer, or is there a chance that João Cancelo will stay?
Marsden: There is a chance Cancelo stays, but it’s not likely at the moment. Let’s see how the rest of the season pans out. Barça do need full-back depth, though. Jules Koundé has been backed up by García, who is mainly used as a center back, at right back. On the left, Alejandro Balde‘s only competition, meanwhile, is the inexperienced Martín.
Needing a full-back is nothing new. Deco has been trawling the market for several transfer windows now, but with Koundé and Balde both doing relatively well, it’s never been an absolute priority. The ideal signing would be someone young, able to play either side of the backline, and with the potential to become a long-term starter in the team. Whether that player exists or not is another matter.
Llorens: Cancelo’s performance levels have not been the best sign he rejoined in January, although the role his agent, Jorge Mendes, will play in his future could be key. Barça have Koundé and García as options on the right, while youngster Jofre Torrents is pushing for more chances on the left behind Balde. Keeping in mind García’s versatility, the club’s finances will dictate whether or not they move for a full-back this summer.
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Hansi Flick: No excuses Barcelona deserved to lose vs. Girona
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick believes his side to deserved to lose against Girona in LaLiga.
Who are the next players from La Masia who could be promoted to the first-team squad?
Llorens: Various players from the academy are already capable of making up the numbers in the first-team squad, but it would help tremendously if the reserve team can gain promotion this season back into the third tier of Spanish football. Of those currently on the cusp of the first team, the Fernández cousins, Toni and Guille, and winger Dani Rodríguez, who is currently injured, have serious chances of making a name for themselves at the club.
Marsden: While gaps have opened up for youngsters in recent seasons, the feeling at the club is that with a more established squad now in place, it’s going to be harder for academy graduates to get minutes moving forward. That was one of the reasons behind Dro Fernández‘s decision to join Paris Saint-Germain in January.
That said, Flick is still filling out training sessions with players from the youth teams. Midfielder Tommy Marqués is the latest La Masia product to get a full debut under the German coach, while Toni Fernández, Torrents and Juan Hernández are all in and around the senior side as well.
Xavi Espart, Landry Farre, Sama Nomoko and Ebrima Tunkara, still just 15, are other players to keep an eye on, although Espart, Farre and Nomoko have all had bad luck with injuries this season.
Barça always need to raise money. Are there any regular first-team players who could be transferred out to generate cash?
Marsden: Let Lewandowski and Christensen leave as their contracts expire, generating salary space, and then also look to move on goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. Money could also be saved by not renewing Cancelo’s loan or signing Rashford. From there, I would listen to any offers for Martín or Marc Casadó, two squad players who, for me, will never have the quality to hold down a regular first-team berth at Barça.
From there, the decisions become harder. Torres’ deal is up in 2027 so if no agreement is incoming, it could also be time to cash in on the former Manchester City forward. Then, it becomes a question of what could Barça do with any money raised from transfers. If there is a case to be made for strengthening the team by listening to offers for Araújo, Koundé, Frenkie de Jong, Dani Olmo and Fermín López, then it’s something which should be looked at.
Llorens: We have to see how the season ends, but players like Martín and Casadó could be transferred out this summer. Everything is still up in the air at the moment, though.
