After growing fond of Marco Parolo during his time as Azzurri coach, Antonio Conte is now considering bringing the former Parma man to Chelsea. Having already snapped up Leicester City’s N’Golo Kante, Antonio Conte is now looking to add another midfielder to his ranks at Chelsea and has identified Lazio's Marco Parolo as his desired target. The former Italy manager holds the 31-year-old in high regard, having made him a regular starter in his Azzurri side during their Euro 2016 adventure in France which ended in defeat to Germany after a … [Read more...]
Liverpool sign Augsburg defender Ragnar Klavan for £4.2m
Ragnar Klavan have joined Liverpool from Augsburg in a deal reportedly worth £4.2m. The experienced central defender has been brought in as cover at centre-back with both Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez currently ruled out due to injury. Tiago Ilori had been expected to provide initial cover for the start of the coming season but his inclusion in Portugal’s Olympics squad has forced Liverpool to bolster their defensive ranks with new-signing Klavan. The central defender enjoyed four seasons at Augsburg, after joining in 2012, and made 181 … [Read more...]
Premier League to clamp down on abuse of match officials
Premier League players and managers have been warned they face red cards for abusing match officials this season. Not one player has been sent off in the Premier League for insulting or abusive language towards a match official in the last five seasons, but that could change, unless they quickly accept and adapt. The Premier League, Football Association and English Football League on Wednesday announced an unnamed initiative seeking to address indiscipline in the game by reinforcing laws. The grassroots-to-elite initiative is unnamed, … [Read more...]
Mkhitaryan confident of winning titles at Man United
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has underlined his confidence that he can ‘win titles’ at Manchester United after facing the media for the first time since his £26million move from Borussia Dortmund. The 27-year-old arrived at Old Trafford earlier this month from the Bundesliga giants on a contract until 2020. Dortmund took a swipe at United by underlining he was joining the “fifth-place English team last season”, but Mkhitaryan is confident in helping his new club challenge for Premier League glory once more. “It’s a very good opportunity to … [Read more...]
Pogba keen on Manchester United move
After negotiations between Manchester United and Juventus officially begun on Tuesday, Paul Pogba has given his blessing for the move to go through. The 23-year-old Frenchman has been a target for the Red Devils for some time now, but the English Premier League giants had to wait until Euro 2016 concluded before they could make a concrete move to bring the star back to Old Trafford. But now that negotiations have begun, Pogba has let Juventus know – via his agent Mino Raiola – that he is keen on a move to United, with the promise of huge … [Read more...]
Diego Lopez Deal Close, Asmir Begovic to Everton Rumours
Asmir Begovic’s future at Chelsea is in doubt after the club made a move to sign AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez. Begovic joined Chelsea from Stoke for £8million just 12 months ago and is the subject of interest from Everton. Thibaut Courtois will remain first-choice keeper at Stamford Bridge under new coach Antonio Conte according to reports. Belgium international Courtois has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid but Conte made it clear to him during their first meeting that he wanted him to stay. Begovic started 21 games … [Read more...]
Joel Campbell dismisses rumours linking him away from Arsenal
Joel Campbell has dismissed reports he is set for a move away from Arsenal as “rumours” as speculation mounts over his future. The Costa Rican forward has been a peripheral figure at the Emirates, despite big things being expected following some impressive loan spells away from the club and on the international stage. That has led to reports in Spain claiming Campbell is set to be jettisoned by Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger this summer, with La Liga giants Valencia said to be at the head of the queue to sign him. However, he has distanced … [Read more...]
Arsenal join race for Riyad Mahrez
Arsenal and PSG are among the clubs to have joined the race for Riyad Mahrez after it emerged the Leicester star will reject new terms at the King Power Stadium. The future of the 25-year-old dominates the back pages following reports over the weekend which claimed the 25-year-old is to snub an increase in wages of nearly £50,000 per week to secure a move away from the Foxes. The news follows N'Golo Kante's departure to Chelsea and comes with reports the Gunners have also lined up talks with Inter Milan over Mauro Icardi as Arsene Wenger … [Read more...]
Jose Mourinho believes he can turn Man United’s Eric Bailly into another Raphael Varane
Jose Mourinho believes Eric Bailly can emulate Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane under his stewardship at Manchester United. Real Madrid signed Varane from Lens while Mourinho was in charge, and the centre-back quickly went on to become one of the most highly-rated young defenders in Europe. Mourinho made Bailly his first signing at Old Trafford when United paid Villarreal around £25million to land the 22-year-old. And the Portuguese has vowed to do everything he can to ensure the Ivory Coast international – who made his debut in the 2-0 … [Read more...]
Liverpool wants Newcastle’s £25m-rated midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum and Ragnar Klavan
Liverpool are closing in on moves for £4.2m defender Ragnar Klavan and £25m-rated Georginio Wijnaldum. After making three signings this summer in the forms of Joel Matip, Loris Karius and Sadio Mane, Jurgen Klopp has been busy identifying other key areas to improve in his squad during his first pre-season at the club. The defence requires reinforcement after Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure left this summer, which meant that only Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho and the incoming Matip represented recognised central defenders. The latter of that … [Read more...]
Kante: Conte’s ambitions brought me to Chelsea
Following an impressive debut season at Leicester City which saw him win the Premier League, Euro 2016 runner-up N’Golo Kante joined London club Chelsea to match his ambitions. New Chelsea signing N’Golo Kante released a statement on Twitter saying that Antonio Conte’s ambitions are what made him join the West London club. The France international left Premier League champions Leicester City in a €38 million deal, which has seen him pen a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge. Kante revealed in his statement that Conte is the reason he … [Read more...]
Antonio Conte and Klopp’s methods questioned by Dutchman
Notorious fitness coach, and former Wales No 2, Raymond Verheijen has publicly criticised the methods of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte. The Dutchman is notorious for criticising the coaching and fitness techniques employed by modern-day coaches, and has previously targeted Mauricio Pochettino, Manchester United and Arsene Wenger. Taking to Twitter , Verheijen has attacked the methods of Klopp and Conte, who he claims are ‘destroying players’. Raymond Verheijen @raymondverheije In meantime ask … [Read more...]
Jose Mourinho can be the new Sir Alex Ferguson at Man United- Ranieri
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho can be the new Sir Alex Ferguson, according to Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri. Louis van Gaal's United finished the 2015-16 season in fifth place, 15 points behind title-winning Leicester, but the arrival of Mourinho to replace the Dutchman has changed expectations. Leading bookmakers are all offering much shorter odds on United becoming champions rather than Leicester retaining their crown -- with United being considered second favourites behind Manchester City, while Leicester are not seen … [Read more...]
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: ‘King of Manchester United?! I will be God’
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has produced a typically confident response to Eric Cantona’s warning he would never be “King” of Manchester United. The arrival of Ibrahimovic at Old Trafford has been one of the most anticipated moves in recent years in England. And in a video for Eurosport, former Old Trafford icon Cantona lauded the Swede’s decision to join the Red Devils after his PSG contract had expired. However, the Frenchman went on to warn Ibrahimovic: “Just one last thing, there can only be one King in Manchester. “You can be the … [Read more...]
Diego Costa set to remain at Chelsea despite reports linking him back to Spain
Diego Costa has not asked to leave Chelsea and is expected to stay at Stamford Bridge this summer. Reports in Spain today suggested that the striker had handed in a transfer request in order to force through a move back to Atletico Madrid. But sources say that is not the case and Costa is training with the rest of the squad as normal at their pre-season base in Austria. Atletico Madrid are desperate to re-sign the 27-year-old, who joined Chelsea from the La Liga club for £32m in 2014 Costa has struggled to settle in London and has … [Read more...]
Juan Mata relishing the challenge against Dortmund and Man City
Manchester United are set to face Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City in China, with Juan Mata relishing the challenge. Juan Mata says Manchester United must be wary of Borussia Dortmund's attacking qualities ahead of the two teams' meeting in Shanghai next Friday. After Jose Mourinho's first match in charge ended in a 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on Saturday, United turn their attention to upcoming International Champions Cup matches against Thomas Tuchel's side and rivals Manchester City in China. Dortmund are first up for United … [Read more...]
Hazard can reach Messi and Ronaldo level- Conte
Antonio Conte is confident he can transform the likes of Eden Hazard into world-class performers during his time in charge of Chelsea. Hazard was voted the PFA Player of the Year in 2015 for the dazzling displays that helped Chelsea win the Premier League, but suffered a dip in form last term as the Blues endured a dismal title defence that saw Jose Mourinho sacked. Having shown glimpses of returning to his best for Belgium during Euro 2016, Mourinho’s successor Conte is hoping Hazard will improve into one of the world’s best. “Last … [Read more...]
Chelsea to play Werder Bremen in preseason friendly
Antonio Conte will have an additional match to get Chelsea ready for the new season, with a game against Werder Bremen in August. Chelsea will face Werder Bremen in their final pre-season friendly ahead of the 2016-17 campaign. The Blues will travel to Germany for a match on August 7, one week before they open their Premier League season at home to West Ham on August 15. Chelsea lost 2-0 to Rapid Vienna in Antonio Conte's first match in charge on Saturday, with a match against Wolfsberger also to come in Austria on Wednesday. Conte's … [Read more...]
Chelsea and Arsenal told to pay more for Roma defender
After two seasons in Italy in which he helped the Giallorossi to a second and third place finish, Kostas Manolas has attracted serious interest from London. Roma defender Kostas Manolas, Giallorossi officials have slapped a hefty price tag on the Greece international in a bid to deter potential suitors. Roma have already rebuffed an offer from Manchester United, but now the 25-year-old has attracted the interest of Arsenal and Chelsea , who will have to pay €45 million if they are to land the defender. Luciano Spalletti has already lost … [Read more...]
Redknapp: Jordon Ibe naturally gifted than Sterling
Jamie Redknapp says departed Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe has greater natural ability than Raheem Sterling. Bournemouth this week completed the £15million club-record signing of winger Ibe with the 20-year-old signing a four-year deal and Redknapp, who started his career at Bournemouth before moving to Liverpool in 2001, says Ibe could be a very shrewd acquisition. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Redknapp said: “I think it’s a great piece of business for Bournemouth. Although it’s a lot of money, when you look at the current … [Read more...]
Demba Ba suffers horrific leg break while playing for Chinese club
Demba Ba, fomerly of Chelsea and West Ham , has suffered a horrific leg break while playing for Shanghai Shenua in China. The 31-year-old move to China from Besiktas in 2015 having previously played for Premier League clubs West Ham, Newcastle United and Chelsea. The Senegalese international was playing in his side’s Chinese Super League clash with Shanghai SIPG this afternoon, before being forced off through injury following a collision with Sun Xiang. Ba is currently the league’s top goalscorer, having scored 14 goals in 18 games so … [Read more...]
Mourinho impressed by Luke Shaw’s recovery
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho revealed that Luke Shaw gave up a summer holiday to work on his fitness and also admitted to being surprised at the speed of the left-back's progress. Shaw made his comeback in the 2-0 preseason friendly win over Wigan Athletic on Saturday after 10 months out of action following a double fracture to his right leg. The 21-year-old England defender looked untroubled by fitness or injury issues and regularly pushed forward down the flank. Mourinho said: "When I found Luke at the training ground, it was … [Read more...]
Conte warns his Chelsea stars: Respect me or there will be trouble
Antonio Conte has fired a warning shot across the bow of his Chelsea players after suffering a disappointing pre-season friendly defeat by Rapid Vienna on his debut as manager. The Italian took to the dug-out for the first time as Blues boss as a strong line-up including Diego Costa, Willian, Nemanja Matic and captain John Terry succumbed in the Austrian capital on Saturday. Joelinton gave Rapid an eighth-minute lead before Tomi Correa scored a second with nine minutes remaining as Costa and youngster Ola Aina conspired to spurn … [Read more...]
Conte keen on signing only the right players
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte admits he “talks to the club every day” as he plots a third arrival of the summer at Stamford Bridge. The new Blues boss has already done deals for Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante and the Italian admits the club are still working to add new names to the squad. Chelsea have on Sunday been linked with a move for Leicester star and reigning Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez , but Conte was given nothing away when questioned about who he might sign next. “All together we are working to improve the squad,” he … [Read more...]
Henry dreams of Arsenal job; reveals details of coaching snub
Thierry Henry says he dreams of taking over the reins from Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, but he has played down his coaching exit from the club. The Gunners legend was offered a role as under-18 coach by the head of the Arsenal academy Andries Jonker, but Arsene Wenger did not want the Frenchman combining it with his job as a Sky Sports pundit. The 38-year-old, who had worked with the club’s academy players last season as he studied to gain his UEFA ‘A’ Licence, opted to continue in his media role and walk away from the club he … [Read more...]
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