Gareth Southgate advised players not to be stressed by summer transfer talk after joking the England squad have been “tapping each other up” throughout this camp. This mammoth, unprecedented season finally comes to a close with Monday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia at a sold-out Old Trafford. England won 4-0 in Malta on Friday and are expected to take another step towards next summer’s tournament by winning a Group C clash played out against a backdrop of transfer talk. Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Kyle Walker are subject of summer interest, while Harry Maguire, Conor Gallagher and Kalvin Phillips have decisions to make over their lack of game time at club level. There is also speculation about Jordan Pickford and James Maddison, but Southgate has not felt the need to speak to players about it – even though the former defender does have some advice. “I haven’t felt the need to say anything,” Southgate said. “I mean, the players are tapping each other up anyway on the quiet, so I can’t do anything about that! “What I have said is that these things run their course, they happen in their own time, you can’t force it as a player. “Don’t get frustrated, don’t be asking all summer. You don’t need to be updated on every call that happens. “There’s a lot of negotiation that goes on. I remember as a player getting too wrapped up in every detail of that. “In the end, there’s only a small amount that you can actually control. “I think all of those things will happen later on in the summer and I think the players understand that, really. “And they know the focus for the next 36 hours is this game, finishing the season well, making sure we’re set on 12 points and we’ll be in a very healthy position if we do that.” Southgate was speaking alongside left-back Luke Shaw at Sunday’s pre-match press conference and the defender smiled when “tapping up” was mentioned. England are training at Manchester United’s Carrington base and the 27-year-old posted an Instagram story on Saturday showing pictures of him next to Kane and another with Rice. The Old Trafford giants have a longstanding interest in both, and Shaw tagged them in the post with the caption “Carrington tour” and an eyes emoji. Asked who he has been tapping up, Shaw said with a laugh: “There’s a few.” When Mason Mount, another United are interested in, was mentioned to him, Shaw said: “Obviously he’s not here but I think it is all just a bit of banter, really. “Obviously we have a joke and a laugh about it, not too sure what goes on behind the scenes. “It’s to do with the club, really, but of course when we are here we are always together and we have a joke about it. “I don’t really know too much what is going on. That’s just it really.” Shaw looks set to start on Monday as Old Trafford hosts the national men’s team for the first time since 2007. England also played there the previous year against Macedonia – a drab 0-0 draw in what proved to be a failed Euro 2008 qualification campaign. They drew 2-2 in their only other home meeting against the Balkan nation, who Southgate is not taking lightly as he looks to make it third time lucky. “They should have won the other night against Ukraine really,” the England boss said. “So we know the quality of some of the individual players. “They have got some players playing at big European clubs. As a team they function well. “They obviously knocked Italy out of the last World Cup and pushed Portugal close in those knockout games. So, they have got pedigree. “They bring the game to you a bit more than perhaps we had the other night as well. “So, it isn’t just a case of rolling on from Friday, it is a step up in intensity and quality and we’ve got to be right on our game to win the match.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Italy finish third in Nations League after beating the Netherlands Katie Boulter fulfils childhood ambition with ‘special’ victory at Nottingham Gareth Southgate sees a tougher test for his team at Old Trafford

At 4-3, the Cleveland Browns are still in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt, but things have not gone their way offensively at all. The team is reportedly seek

Spain's world champions and their Swedish opponents on Friday held up a banner with the slogan "It's over" in protest over the sexism scandal which...

The era of US dominance in women's football is over after the holders exited the World Cup in a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Sweden on Sunday, bringing an agonising end to the international career of Megan Rapinoe and...

The long group stage of the Cricket World Cup is over and four teams remain in the running for the title

Southampton and Liverpool bring respective disappointing campaigns to an end on Sunday when they meet at St Mary's.

Everton boss Sean Dyche and captain Seamus Coleman have paid tribute to chairman Bill Kenwright. The pair laid flowers at the Dixie Dean statue outside Goodison Park on Tuesday morning. Kenwright died at the age of 78 following a battle with cancer, the club announced on Monday. Kenwright, who succeeded Sir Phillip Carter as chairman in 2004 after first joining the board at Goodison Park in 1989, had a cancerous tumour removed from his liver in August. Liverpool-born Kenwright was a successful theatre and film producer when asked to join the Everton board in 1989. He bought a majority 68 per cent stake in the club in 1999 and became deputy chairman before replacing Carter in his current role. Read More ‘I’m here, I’m ready to go’ – Deontay Wilder keen for bout with Anthony Joshua Moeen Ali: Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood will be fired up to face England Having ‘hero’ in opponent’s corner could unsettle Tyson Fury – Carl Frampton

New York Yankees reliever Anthony Misiewicz was struck in the face by a line drive off the bat of Pittsburgh’s Ji Hwan Bae and left the game

An impressive Formula 1 drone show lit up the Las Vegas sky on Wednesday night (15 November), ahead of this weekend’s grand prix. Spinning F1 cars were projected into the air in an impressive display which also featured the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. This weekend’s grand prix will see drivers race through some of Sin City’s most famous streets, including down the strip. Despite the excitement, F1 champion Max Verstappen has criticised the nature of the Las Vegas GP, describing it as “99 per cent show, 1 per cent sporting event”.

Fans are calling Chas McCormick dirty after the Astros outfielder took a swipe at Mariners first baseman Ty France's glove.The Astros already have a less-than-stellar reputation in baseball these days. Chas McCormick did the team no favors in cleaning up their image on Thursday night.Th...

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reveals what he likes about the game of Dominik Szoboszlai and says there's more to come from the Hungarian midfielder.

Guzan showed out against the defending champs LAFC.