Cheikhou Kouyate first-half double meant West Ham could enjoy their start to life at the Olympic Stadium as they saw off Slovenian side Domzale with ease in the Europa League . Cheikhou Kouyate scored twice and new signing Sofiane Feghouli opened his account as the Hammers, who left Upton Park at the end of last season, secured a 4-2 aggregate win to reach the play-offs for the group stages of the competition. Four years to the day since Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford wowed the nation on Super Saturday at London 2012, the … [Read more...]
Napoli sign Liverpool target Zielinski
Piotr Zielinski has completed his transfer to Napoli after they reached an agreement with Udinese over the transfer of the midfielder. Napoli have secured the services of Piotr Zielinski from Udinese for a fee believed to be in the region of €15 million. The 22-year-old underwent a medical on Thursday before signing a five-year deal. The midfielder had previously been linked with Liverpool and seemed set to continue his career at Anfield, but the Premier League side refused to meet Udinese's valuation of the player and he has now moved … [Read more...]
Liverpool set to keep Lucas Leiva
Liverpool will only sell midfielder Lucas Leiva if they can sign adequate defensive cover, according to reports. The Brazilian is the club’s longest-serving player after Martin Skrtel was sold to Fenerbahce earlier this summer. Lucas featured 40 times for the Reds last season – 27 times in the Premier League – as the club reached the finals of both the Europa League and Capital One Cup. But the 29-year-old remains back-up at best in a number of positions at Anfield, and has attracted interest from Galatasaray this summer. The Turkish … [Read more...]
Diego Costa to stay at Chelsea-Cerezo
Diego Costa looks set to stay at Chelsea after Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo cooled reports of a move for their former striker. The Brazilian-born Spanish international has been the subject of intense speculation over the summer, with Blues boss Antonio Conte confusing matters with various contradictory statements. A reunion with Atletico Madrid, who have since signed Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla, did appear to be happening, but now Cerezo has respectfully ended those rumours. “There was never a Diego Costa transfer saga,” … [Read more...]
Suarez tips former club for top four finish
Luis Suarez believes his former club should be targeting a Champions League spot and is looking forward to a reunion this weekend. The Reds showed some signs of promise under Jurgen Klopp and the Uruguayan, who left Anfield in 2014 for £65m, has backed the German to set his sights high for the following season. “The last few months, everybody saw a really good performance from Liverpool,” the Barcelona attacker told the official Liverpool website. “They had a chance to win the Europa League and in the Premier League they played really … [Read more...]
Terry delighted with Kante’s performance against AC Milan
Chelsea captain John Terry was full of praise for new signing N'Golo Kante after the midfielder made his debut for the club in the 3-1 win over AC Milan on Thursday morning. Kante joined the Blues from Premier League champions Leicester City last month in a £32million deal after his superb performances in midfield for the Foxes played a crucial role in Claudio Ranieri's side winning their first-ever top-flight title last term. After enjoying an extended break following Euro 2016, Kante joined up with his new Chelsea teammates last week and … [Read more...]
Szczesny returns to Roma on season-long loan deal
Roma have acquired the services of Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny for a second consecutive season after the two clubs agreed to extend his loan deal. The Poland international made 34 Serie A appearances for the Lupi last campaign, and expressed his satisfaction at the prospect of another year in the Italian capital. “I am very happy,” Szczesny told Roma TV. “After a good season last year I had the possibility of coming back and I was very happy that the coach [Luciano Spalletti] wanted me. “I’m delighted to be back and I hope we … [Read more...]
‘Mourinho should go to prison for bullying Schweinsteiger’
Jose Mourinho should be sent to prison over his treatment of Bastian Schweinsteiger, according to a member of world players’ union FifPro. Schweinsteiger appears to have been cut out of the Manchester United first-team picture since Mourinho’s arrival as manager in the summer, with reports that he has been training with the reserves. The World Cup winner’s name was conspicuous by its absence from United’s squad for Wayne Rooney’s testimonial against Everton at Old Trafford on Wednesday, a match in which Mourinho used 22 players. Dejan … [Read more...]
Belgium name former Everton boss Martinez as new coach
Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez has been appointed as the Belgium national team's new head coach, it has been confirmed. The Royal Belgian Football Association announced the news via their Twitter account on Wednesday night, writing: "Our new head coach: Roberto Martínez ! #welcomeRoberto #tousensemble". He replaces Marc Wilmots, who was relieved of his duties as Red Devils manager following Belgium's exit at the quarter-final stage of Euro 2016. Martinez's first match in his new role will be against Spain on 1 September. The … [Read more...]
Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey meet up with Arsenal squad
Arsene Wenger will take Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey on Arsenal’s mini-tour of Scandinavia this weekend as he attempts to build up their match fitness in time for the start of the new season. Ramsey returned to pre-season training this week, having reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 with Wales last month. Sanchez won the Copa America with Chile and has only just come back to pre-season at London Colney. Wenger wants both players to be ready for the visit of Liverpool on 14 August and so will involve both this week. Arsenal will … [Read more...]
Oscar double lifts Blues pass AC Milan
Chelsea came away 3-1 winners over AC Milan, as an Oscar brace helped Antonio Conte's team end their U.S. tour with a convincing result. The West London club secured a victory in their International Champions Cup finale in front of a sold-out 64,101-strong crowd in the first sporting event ever to be held at US Bank Stadium, the brand-new, $1.1-billion home of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. Second-half substitute Oscar scored the decisive tally from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, after Keisuke Honda had been guilty of handling a Cesar … [Read more...]