Manchester are ready to meet the £39m release clause in Aymeric Laporte’s contract with Athletic Bilbao, after announcing the signing of Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund The 22-year-old French defender will be sidelined until August because of a broken leg and dislocated ankle but is understood to be a main transfer target for new City manager Pep Guardiola . Laporte has stepped up his training in recent weeks and although Bilbao are ready to offer him an improved contract, he is believed to be keen to join Guardiola’s revolution at the … [Read more...]
Ilkay Gundogan arrives City from Borussia Dortmund on a £20m deal
Manchester City have announced the signing of Germany international midfielder Ilkay Gundogan in a reported £20m transfer from Borussia Dortmund. The 25-year-old, who will miss Euro 2016 and the start of the new Premier League season through injury, and will not be back for City's preseason tour to China, which includes a game against Dortmund, becomes the first signing for incoming City manager Pep Guardiola. However, it is hoped the deep-lying playmaker could be back in action by September. Gundogan dislocated his kneecap in training at … [Read more...]
Barcelona bid for Manchester United’s Daley Blind
Barcelona are reportedly interested in a £14million transfer move for Manchester United defender Daley Blind. The versatile is rumoured to be one of the first names who could be axed from the club’s first-team under new manager Jose Mourinho, which has alerted Barca. Blind has had two decent seasons at Old Trafford, failing to hold down a regular position due to his versatility. However, this is seen as an advantage to Barcelona, who are admirers of his defensive strength combined with intelligence and ability on the ball. The Catalan … [Read more...]
Manchester City face competition for Serie A starlet
MANCHESTER CITY have entered the race to sign Bologna wonderkid Amadou Diawara, according to reports in Italy. The 18-year-old midfielder has emerged as one of the Serie A side's star men this season, making 34 league appearances. And his performances have cut the eyes of big clubs in Europe. Italian giants Juventus, Napoli and Roma are all thought to be keeping tabs on Diawara. While Manchester United and Chelsea are believed to have registered an interest in bringing him to England this summer. However, the appointment of Jose Mourinho … [Read more...]
Liverpool new signing wants top goalkeeping spot
New Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has made known his intentions of becoming the new No. 1 at Anfield and described Jurgen Klopp as one of the best coaches in the world. Karius, 22, sealed a £4.7 million move from Mainz last week to provide added competition for first-choice keeper Simon Mignolet. The former Germany under-21 international, who spent time with Manchester City as a youth, was ever-present for Mainz as they finished sixth in the Bundesliga last season but he told Sport Bild he is ready for the challenge of fighting for his … [Read more...]
Henrikh Mkhitaryan turns down Borussia Dortmund offer as he weighs Premier League options
Mkhitaryan has just one year remaining on his contract and has been linked with both Arsenal and Chelsea. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has rejected Borussia Dortmund’s latest approach to open contract talks, with reports of a Premier League move to either Arsenal or Chelsea growing stronger by the day after his agent admitted they are “looking at his options”. Mkhitaryan has been linked with a move to England, although Dortmund are hugely reluctant to see another of their players leave the club after seeing Mats Hummels return to Bayern Munich last … [Read more...]
Jose Mourinho Set to axe Juan Mata and Daley Blind from Manchester United squad
Jose Mourinho has already decided Juan Mata and Daley Blind are surplus to requirements at Manchester United, according to reports. The former Chelsea manager was confirmed as Louis van Gaal’s successor last week and has set about improving his squad and formalising his transfer plans with Untied’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward. Mourinho sold Mata to Manchester United for £37 million in January 2014 after the then reigning Chelsea player of the year, had spent most of the first part of that season on the bench. The Portuguese is … [Read more...]
Chelsea weigh defensive options as Rudiger joins Roma
AS Roma have signed German defender Antonio Rudiger on a long-term contract until 2020, making permanent his loan move from VfB Stuttgart for a fee of nine million euros ($10.02 million), the Italian club said on thereby ending speculations he could join Chelsea. The 23-year old joined the Italian club on a one-year loan deal from Stuttgart in September for an initial fee of four million euros and has made 30 appearances in Serie A. Chelsea boss Antonio Conte reportedly lined up a £16m bid for the Germany international, but have to look … [Read more...]
Raheem Sterling gunning for European glory with the Three Lions
RAHEEM STERLING praised England boss Roy Hodgson for helping to put back his career on track and hopes him and his teammates can win England the European championships. The Manchester City star revealed that Hodgson's influence and tactics had played a major part in lifting his game at a time when he appeared to be struggling with injury and form. Sterling, whose performance in the 2-1 warm up win over Australia, said the England manager's decision to give him a role operating more in the middle had given him a huge boost. "It's a position I … [Read more...]
Chelsea rules out defender sale despite bumber offer
Chelsea will not sell Andreas Christensen to Borussia Monchengladbach, according to reports. Christensen is half-way through a two year loan spell with the German club and has cemented himself in the starting XI. The centre-back made 39 appearances in all competitions last term for the Bundesliga side and scored three goals. And according to German newspaper Bild , Gladbach want to make the deal permanent and will table an offer in the region of £15million - a record for the club. They will also reportedly include a buy-back … [Read more...]
Morgan Schneiderlin gets late call-up for injured Lassana Diarra
Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has been called into the France squad for Euro 2016 after Lassana Diarra was ruled out with an injury. The Marseille midfielder has swelling in his left knee, the French Football Federation announced on Tuesday night. Diarra played the first half of Monday's 3-2 win over Cameroon and was replaced at half-time by Liecester City's N'Golo Kante. The FFF said the combative midfielder informed coach Didier Deschamps that he was not fit enough to play at the Euros. The hosts, the favourites to … [Read more...]