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

NBA coach Mike Brown emotionally responded to Wednesday’s mass shooting in Maine after watching his Sacramento Kings team beat the Utah Jazz. Brown was reluctant to discuss basketball during the postgame press conference, instead urging the United States to “do something” following another mass shooting. “I don’t know everything that’s going on, I’m not that smart, but I know we as a country got to do something,” he said. “It’s sad that we sit here and we watch this happen time after time after time after time. And nobody does anything about it. “It’s a sad day for our country. It’s a sad day in this world. And until we decide to do something about it, the powers that be, this is going to keep happening.” Read More Watch: Celtic fans wave Palestinian flags in defiance of club appeal Moment Gerard Pique falls into huge hole as he’s distracted by phone Bobby Charlton’s football was ‘poetry in motion’, says former teammate

John Herdman is Toronto FC's new head coach.

Reigning world and Olympic 400-meter hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin said Friday a knee injury will keep her from competing in the World Athletics Championships that...

Leon Draisaitl had two power-play goals and two assists, and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Nashville Predators 6-1 for their first win of the season

Follow live coverage as Leeds United face Newcastle United in the Premier League today. It’s crunch time at both ends of the table and the hosts know they need a victory to keep their survival hopes realistically alive, with only three matches remaining including this one. Leeds sit 19th in the league, two points from safety, and can put pressure on the likes of Leicester and Everton later in the weekend if they pick up a result here. Newcastle, meanwhile, are third and need only seven points from four matches to guarantee a top-four finish - they’ll see this game as a real opportunity to take a huge step towards that, though need a reaction after being beaten by Arsenal last time out. We will bring you all the action and updates from today's game in the live blog below:

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal could hold an advantage of their Premier League rivals after getting their summer transfer business done early. The Gunners spent over £200million to land Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice before the middle of July, with all three joining Arteta’s squad for the pre-season tour of the United States. The PA news agency understands a loan deal for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya will be announced later on Friday but – barring any late changes – there will be no other incomings planned in the current window. Arsenal, who beat Manchester City on penalties to win the Community Shield last weekend, begin their league campaign at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. While the futures of the likes of Tottenham striker Harry Kane and sought-after Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo may be sorted by then, for Arteta, getting his new faces in early is a bonus. “I think it definitely helps, especially for the player and getting to the environment and getting set,” he said. “Also for the coaches it is important, for the media, for the commercial for the clubs as well, especially when you go on tour to be certain and have the players you are going to have for the season so it was something very positive for us. “We’ve done it and we had the intention to do it, sometimes it is possible, sometimes it is not. “But we tried our best and we just have to focus on what we can do, the reasons we have done it and maximise the resources we have.” Arsenal led the way at the top of the Premier League for much of last season before being reeled in by City, eventually finishing five points adrift in second place. While they were seen as surprise challengers, this season Arsenal will be considered among the favourites to challenge Pep Guardiola’s men. Asked if there would be more pressure on his players as a result, Arteta added: “I think it is excitement, this is where we want to be and building a team that has the belief and the quality to be fighting for those places. “The competition this year is going to be even harder than last year, you see a lot of teams and the movements they have made and you have to expect something different from them. “So we have to be much better still than last year and this is the way we are preparing, to seek for that. “The reality is that in football you have to be at your best on the day and it’s only about today and tomorrow and training the way we want to play and increasing the probability of winning that game by earning the right to do that.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Ange Postecoglou confirms Harry Kane transfer to Bayern Munich ‘imminent’ Hull KR and Leigh Leopards keen to end decades of hurt in Challenge Cup final England ‘want to have a ruthless scrum’ against Wales, says coach Tom Harrison

Quarterback Brock Purdy will get his first chance to face another team since offseason elbow surgery when San Francisco practices against the Raiders but is unlikely to play in the 49ers’ exhibition opener in Las Vegas

Boss Dean Smith is prepared to rely on Jonny Evans again in Leicester’s desperate last-gasp survival bid. The defender made his first Premier League start in seven months in Monday’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool following an injury-hit season. He could start in Monday’s trip to Newcastle, which Leicester will need to win to survive after Everton drew with Wolves and if Nottingham Forest avoid defeat against Arsenal on Saturday. Evans was preferred ahead of £15million January signing Harry Souttar and Smith is ready to turn to the former Manchester United man again. “He is a really big influence and he did alright the other night. There was no gamble from us putting him in,” he said. “He’d had four weeks training and some 11 v 11 minutes in training as well so we had no doubts about that. “We’d have been guided by Jonny if he’d had any doubts but he’s a top professional, really good player. “So, possibly (we would not be in this mess) but I don’t know as I wasn’t here. From what I’ve seen I’d have liked to have him for all eight games. “All his career he has been in the Premier League. From what I’ve found of him so far, he’s a really affable character but a leader the others will want to follow as well. So in terms of the experience he’s probably been missed.” Evans, from his time at West Brom, and Jamie Vardy – following the Foxes’ Great Escape in 2015 – have Premier League relegation battle experience in the squad. Smith also guided Aston Villa to safety in 2020 and believes any knowhow to help them survive is crucial. He said: “The experience you have in the dressing room you use to the best of your abilities. Shakey (Craig Shakespeare, assistant) was here when Leicester stayed up before so I’m leaning on him, I’ve had the same with Aston Villa. “All that experience we have to give to the players and help them.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Nico Denz wins another stage as Geraint Thomas surrenders Giro d’Italia lead Ryan Mason encourages little to be read into Harry Kane’s wave to Spurs fans Jon Rahm struggles in heavy rain at start of third round of US PGA Championship

Police in Germany have arrested a truck driver accused in the crash last year that killed professional cyclist Davide Rebellin

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have shared their support for Notts County ahead of their play-off final on Saturday (May 13), and Wrexham fans aren’t taking too kindly to it. Wrexham finished four points ahead of Notts County in the National League race this year, with the teams proving the best sides in the division. Reynolds has made it clear that he thinks both sides should have received an automatic promotion and suggested that it’s unfair that Notts County now have to go through the play-offs if they want to play in League Two next year. Notts County are heading to Wembley to play Chesterfield in the final, and Wrexham captain Ben Tozer has made it clear that his club’s celebrity owners will be in attendance to cheer them on. Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter Speaking to talkSPORT, Tozer said that McElhenney watched Notts County’s semi-final win with the Wrexham squad during their recent trip away to Las Vegas. "Rob, he was actually with us, and took the time to stay up and actually watch the game and I think him and Ryan are flying over to watch the game on Saturday because that's something they want to honour,” he said. "We are genuinely rooting for Notts County because of the way they pushed us this season and feel like they're the ones who deserve to [earn promotion]." The comments have divided fans online, with plenty of supporters claiming it was “weird” that the owners should show such support to another side. “If true, I don't agree. I want Notts County to win the playoff final, but for me this is a no go,” one wrote on social media. “Cringe, give it a break lads,” another said. “They're just going to make it all about themselves and overshadow notts and chesterfield,” a Twitter user commented. “I'm all for respecting your opponents, and the Wrexham/Notts race was impressive, but this is weird...right?” one said. However, others were more supportive. One user wrote: “Too many people taking this the wrong way. It’s good sportsmanship; showing respect to a club that deserves every bit of it for their play this season. We all know they don’t deserve to be in the NL next year, and they’ll keep pressure on Wxm and R&R to keep the foot on the gas.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Mikal Bridges hit six 3-pointers and scored 23 points to help, Harry Giles III had 16 points and 10 rebounds and the Brooklyn Nets beat Maccabi Ra’anana if Israel 135-103 on Thursday night in preseason play