Football Feb 20, 2026

EFL highlights: Portsmouth beat Charlton; Late Bristol City stunner denies Wrexham

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
EFL highlights: Portsmouth beat Charlton; Late Bristol City stunner denies Wrexham

Paper Talk: Alonso rejects job offer over concerns club is 'too chaotic'

Right, let's end things tonight with a quick roundup of some of the biggest stories making today's back pages, as former Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso reportedly turns down the chance to take over from Roberto De Zerbi at Marseille over concerns the club is "too chaotic"

Souttar signs new Rangers deal

Defender John Souttar has signed a new deal with Rangers.

The 29-year-old, who was out of contract in the summer, has put pen to paper on a deal until May 2027, with the Ibrox club holding the option of a further 12 months.

He joined from Hearts in 2022 after signing a pre-contract and has gone on to make 127 appearances for Rangers.

Souttar, who started his career at Dundee United before a move to Tynecastle Park, has also earned 21 caps for Scotland.

Your Site Championship Predictions: Gameweek 33

Your Site duo Simeon Gholam and David Prutton take a look ahead at Gameweek 33 of the Sky Bet Championship season.

'Villa interested in Wilson amid Fulham contract saga'

Aston Villa are interested in signing Fulham forward Harry Wilson as a free agent this summer, according to The Telegraph.

Wilson is out of contract in the summer and increasingly likely to become a free agent, but Fulham are still attempting to tie him down to a new contract.

Villa reportedly had Wilson on their radar in the January transfer window but Fulham boss Marco Silva was adamant he would remain at the club. 

Everton have also been credited with an interest in Wilson.

Donaldson signs new one-year deal at Falkirk

Falkirk captain Coll Donaldson has signed a new one-year contract with the club, with the option of a further 12 months. 

The deal could keep him at Falkirk until June 2028. 

Donaldson joined the Bairns in 2022 and has made 116 appearances for the club. 

He was named club captain ahead of last season. 

Saka becomes Arsenal's best-paid player after signing new deal

Bukayo Saka has signed a new four-year contract at Arsenal that makes him the Gunners' best-paid player.

Saka's previous deal had been due to expire in June 2027 but he has now committed his future to the Gunners until 2030.

The England international has become a key player for his boyhood club under Mikel Arteta, playing more minutes than any other Arsenal player since the manager's appointment in 2019.

In total, he has made 296 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 77 goals, including eight in 34 games in all competitions this season.

Postecoglou rules out Celtic return

Ange Postecoglou remains out of work but he ruled out any prospect of returning to Celtic, where he enjoyed a fruitful two-year stint between 2021 and 2023, this summer.

I loved Celtic, its a wonderful football club, he said on Stick To Football podcast. If I was younger, I probably would have stayed there longer. I probably would have stayed there three, four years.

I think I could have made progress with them in Europe but at the time, it had taken me a long time to get to this sort of space, and the opportunity to join Tottenham was too good.

In terms of going back, I dont go back. I just dont think thats kind of been my career. Whatever the next step is, itll be something new, somewhere I can make an impact in, somewhere I can win things, but it doesnt diminish the affection I have for Celtic.

It was a great experience for two years, to be within a community thats just so passionate. I look back on it fondly, but I wont go back. I dont think thats how my careers played out.

Postecoglou is open-minded about his next step but he insists his next employer must be willing to embrace his ideas and ambition.

If a club starts talking to me, its not like Im going to walk in and do things differently, he said. Do they really want what I have to offer?

Im going to play this way, Im going to train this way and I want to win things. Ive done that my whole career.

Leicester appeal against six-point penalty for breaching EFL financial rules

Leicester have appealed against a six-point penalty imposed on the club by an independent commission for breaching EFL financial rules, the Premier League has announced.

The commission, which was appointed under Premier League rules, recommended the six-point sanction for the Foxes which was ratified at an EFL board meeting on February 5.

The Premier League said that to ensure certainty for all clubs and fans, it would be seeking to have the appeal resolved urgently before the end of the EFL season.

The deduction dropped Leicester from 17th to 20th in the Championship and they now sit in 22nd, within the second tiers relegation zone.

The sanction was imposed for breaching the EFLs profit and sustainability (P&S) rules for the 2023-24 season.

The Premier League said it was also appealing, but said its claim is limited to the commissions decision not to impose a sanction on the club for their breach of league rules regarding the late submission of their annual accounts.

Former Newcastle defender Beye takes over at Marseille

Former Newcastle and Aston Villa full-back Habib Beye has been appointed as Marseille's new head coach, replacing Roberto De Zerbi

Beye played for Marseille for four years and was captain the latter two years, before moving to England to join Newcastle. 

He spent two years at Newcastle between 2007 and 2009, including in the 2008/09 season when they were relegated from the Premier League. 

Beye went on to to spend three years at Aston Villa but featured just 18 times. 

He ended his playing career in 2012 after a short spell at Doncaster Rovers

The 48-year-old played 45 times for Senegal. He has had managerial spells in France with Red Star and most recently at Rennes, who sacked him earlier in February. 

Van Dijk backs Szoboszlai as future leader for Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk believes midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has all the qualities to one day succeed him as Liverpool captain having led by example this season.

Szoboszlai has been the teams most consistent performer in a so-far underwhelming campaign of ups and downs despite being asked to play a number of different roles, most significantly standing in at right-back.

The 25-year-old, hailed by Mohamed Salah last weekend as one of the best players in the world right now, reached 10 goals for the season against Brighton and has already surpassed his best return for the club.

He is closing in on his career-best 12 he scored for RB Salzburg in 2019-20 but it is not just goals which have seen him stand out this season as he has been the driving force of the side.

Andy Robertson, 32 next month, is currently vice-captain but is out of contract in the summer and his future remains in doubt.

Thats all on the manager I think. I dont know. Yeah, was Van Dijks response when asked whether Szoboszlai could eventually inherit the armband.

Obviously he has been very good. Also a player who I think can still make the next step in terms of being a leader for this team.

It starts by leading by example and thats something he has done so far this season.

But also everything around it; there is still progress to be made and thats a good thing in my opinion so hopefully he will be very important for the years to come at Liverpool.

Talks are continuing over a new contract for the midfielder, who is still on the original deal he signed after his 60 million move in the summer of 2023 and has already been linked to Real Madrid.

However, his agent Matyas Esterhazy said this week they were not looking outside or elsewhere.

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