Benjamin Pavard set for Inter Milan and Joao Cancelo nears Manchester City exit

The end of the transfer window is looming large on the horizon with clubs targeting last-minute improvements to their squads.

The rumour mill remains in full swing so we bring you the best transfer gossip and the likelihood of those stories materialising.

Barcelona and Manchester City are close to finalising a one-year loan deal for full-back Joao Cancelo, according to Sky Sport’s Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg. It is thought that there will be an option for the Catalan giants to buy the 29-year-old Portugal international, with the loan deal possibly being finalised by the end of the week. Cancelo’s future at City has looked uncertain since January, when he was involved in a fall-out with manager Pep Guardiola and sent on loan to Bayern Munich.

Aymeric Laporte has completed his medical with Al Nassr, with a three-year deal set to be finalised, according to Fabrizio Romano. The defender announced his departure from Manchester City, with Al Nassr believed to be the 29-year-old defender’s next destination. Laporte has seen his minutes at Manchester City dwindle over the past year, with the arrival of Josko Gvardiol only pushing the Spain international further down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium.

Joao Cancelo is expected to leave Manchester City before the end of the transfer window. Getty

Bayern Munich have given the green-light to allow Benjamin Pavard to depart to Inter Milan, according to journalist Rudy Galetti. It was stated that barring a “sensational” twist, the 27-year-old French defender will undergo a medical, with Inter hopeful of completing the signing ahead of their clash against Cagliari on August 28. Manchester United had hoped to sign Pavard but Harry Maguire's collapsed move to West Ham put the brakes on the deal.

Manchester United have made an enquiry regarding Wolves full-back Nelson Semedo, according to Football Insider. The report reveals that Erik ten Hag is keen to add an attacking full-back to his ranks, before the transfer window closes, with contact made to Wolves regarding a potential move. It is believed that Wolves may be open to selling the 29-year-old Portugal international, as they look to balance the books and ensure they comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.

Bayern Munich are monitoring Fulham defender Kenny Tete, as the German champions eye a replacement for Pavard, reveal The Sun. It is reported that Bayern have been long-term admirers of the 27-year-old Netherlands international, holding an interest as far back as 2016. While Fulham will likely be reluctant to lose a key player late in the transfer window, Bayern have proved this summer with the acquisition of Harry Kane that they can be determined when wanting to land a transfer target.

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Lazio are interested in Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. However, a deal will likely not materialise, per Fabrizio Romano. Apparently, the 36-year-old French shot-stopper is not keen on being a back-up option, which will see the Italian outfit look elsewhere for an understudy to Ivan Provedel.

Liverpool have had a €30 million offer for midfielder Andre rejected by Fluminense, per ESPN Brasil. It is reported that even if the Premier League giants increase their offer, the Brazilian club would not allow the 22-year-old Brazilian to depart this transfer window. They are also under little pressure to sell the playmaker, who is under contract with the club until December 2026, which could see Liverpool consider alternative targets, as they search for further midfield reinforcements.

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

US PGA Championship in numbers

1 Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.

2 To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.

3 Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.

4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.

5 In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.

6 For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.

7 Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.

8 Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.

9 Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.

10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.

11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.

12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.

13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.

14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.

15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.

16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.

17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.

18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).

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Ponti

Sharlene Teo, Pan Macmillan

How to get there

Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.