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Chelsea to tempt Dimitri Payet away from West Ham

West Ham have responded to Chelsea’s request to ‘name their price’ for Dimitri Payet by putting a £60million transfer fee on the France playmaker, according to reports on Sunday. Sources claims the Blues have contacted their Premier League rivals to check on the availability of the player, who has enjoyed a stellar first campaign for West Ham, and has since seen his star climb higher following a spectacular winner in France’s Euro 2016 opener against Romania on Friday . The 29-year-old signed for the Hammers last summer from Ligue 1 outfit … [Read more...]

Euro 2016: England not afraid of Gareth Bale’s Welsh team- Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney rates Gareth Bale among the world's best, but England's collective quality means he is not getting hung up on Wales' star turn ahead of their Euro 2016 clash. All eyes will be on the tiny French city of Lens on Thursday as the neighbours do battle in a mouth-watering Group B clash at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. England head into the match reeling from a late sucker punch against Russia in Marseille, where Eric Dier's thunderous strike was cancelled out by a stoppage-time Vasili Berezutsky header. That 1-1 draw adds an extra … [Read more...]

Liverpool interested in Argentine’s defender Gabriel Mercado

Jurgen Klopp is reported to be considering a move for Gabriel Mercado after it was claimed the Liverpool manager travelled to San Francisco to watch the player in Copa America action for Argentina this week. The Reds boss has made secret of his wish to strengthen his defence this summer and the full-back could be on Klopp’s wanted list. And Mercado’s versatility will certainly appeal to the German. Mercado, who plays for River Plate, is a right-back by trade but can also play in central defence or the right side of midfield. Sources say … [Read more...]

Marouane Fellaini eager to impress Mourinho

Marouane Fellaini insists he hopes to stay at Manchester United this summer by claiming he would be “proud and honoured” to work with Jose Mourinho. Mourinho was appointed a fortnight ago and has immediately set about rebuilding United’s squad, with Eric Bailly already signed up and Zlatan Ibrahimovic reportedly set to follow. United have on Sunday morning been linked with a move for N’Golo Kante, with Mourinho reportedly desperate to strengthen his midfield. Fellaini has been one of the members of the current playing staff whose place is … [Read more...]

Euro 2016: Joachim Low happy with Schweinsteiger after scoring decisive goal

Germany manager Joachim Low praised substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger after the Manchester United midfielder saw his hard work result in a crucial goal against the Ukraine. Germany cruised to a 2-0 victory in their Group C opener at the European Championship, with Schweinsteiger adding the second in stoppage time after coming on in the 90th minute on Sunday. Speaking after the match, Low was pleased for the longtime Bayern Munich man, who had battled a knee injury for most of 2016. "I'm very happy for Bastian Schweinsteiger -- after all the … [Read more...]

Napoli warned they would take legal action against Chelsea over Kalidou Koulibaly transfer

  Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has claimed Kalidou Koulibaly has cost the club millions of euros in merchandising revenue -- and warned that he could take legal action against Chelsea. Last week, Senegal international Koulibaly said he was likely to leave the Serie A club in the summer and expected rumoured interest from the Blues to become more concrete. The defender told L'Equipe: "If nothing happens with Napoli, I'm going to start making contact with other clubs. "I'm going to make the most favourable choice, not only … [Read more...]

Goalkeeping headache for Vincente Del Bosque

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque refused to confirm which of David De Gea or Iker Casillas will be starting goalkeeper when the defending champions meet Czech Republic in their opening match on Monday. Speaking on Sunday in Toulouse at his prematch press conference, Del Bosque said he will inform the goalkeepers of his decision in front of the rest of the squad. "I'm going to tell them together," he said. "I will tell the goalkeepers at the same time as the rest of the players. We have to think about situations for the team, we're not thinking … [Read more...]

Arenal track fullbacks as fear of losing Bellerin to Barcelona grows

Arsenal are reportedly pondering moves for two-right backs amid fears Hector Bellerin will be joining LA Liga giants Barcelona. The Gunners have on Sunday been linked with a £15million swoop for Albania ace Elseid Hysaj, while Bayern Munich’s Rafinha, 30, is also reportedly on the Gunners’ list of targets. Barcelona are in the race to sign a new right-back with Dani Alves leaving for Juventus and are reportedly keen on their former academy star Bellerin, who did little to dampen talk of a return to his former club when asked … [Read more...]

Inter set to sign Yaya Toure with a little help from China

Yaya Toure has been a transfer target for the Nerazzurri for a while and his acquisition could be a reality with a help from China After being linked with Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure for a long time, Inter might finally secure the Ivorian international with help from Chinese club Jiangsu Suning. Both Inter and Jiangsu are owned by the Suning Commerce Group and this situation will allow the Biscione to acquire the 33-year-old whilst dealing with the constraints of Financial Fair Play. Since the two clubs are part of different … [Read more...]

MANCHESTER UNITED JOINS RACE FOR N’GOLO KANTE

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is ready to launch a £22m raid for Leicester midfielder N’Golo Kante, according to the Sunday Mirror. Kante, who played in hosts France’s 2-1 win over Romania on Friday, played a major part in the Foxes’ shock Premier League triumph. And Man United are now ready to trigger the release clause in his contract and bring him to Old Trafford. Mourinho wants the midfield powerhouse to add steel and energy to United’s midfield as he continues his plans to rebuild after the £30m signing of defender Eric Bailly … [Read more...]

Liverpool to swap Jordan Ibe plus cash for Southampton’s Sadio Mane

Jordan Ibe has failed to light up Anfield under Jurgen Klopp and may leave in cash plus swap deal for the Senegalese sensation If the Anfield club agree a straight cash fee with Saints for £30million-rated winger Mane, 24, Ibe would be a major loser. So they are willing to put him in the deal for around £10m. The former Wycombe wide man has clocked up a lot of games since coming to Liverpool and in loan spells at Birmingham and Derby. But his future chances look slim. Saints will need to wait for a new boss before proceeding with the Mane sale … [Read more...]

Miralem Pjanic has disappointed his Premier league admirers by moving to Juventus

  The Bosnia midfielder, 26, took the unusual step of writing to his club Roma and demanding a move as agreed in his contract. Pjanic’s blunt letter added that he had chosen to join the Italian champions. And Juve director Beppe Marotta confirmed the news that will disappoint a host of Europe’s biggest clubs. Moratta told Italina newspapers: “The Pjanic operation was concluded with the push of the player, who strongly wanted the transfer to Juventus by activating the release clause he had already stipulated with Roma. “The player … [Read more...]

Arsenal will turn to Cavani if Vardy fails to join club

  Cavani is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer and it is said he favours a move to the Premier League after rejecting a big-money offer from China. The Uruguay international has snubbed a £500k-a-week deal from the Chinese Super League. Report have it that he is being lined up by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger if the deal for Jamie Vardy falls through. The 29-year-old is a top target for Wenger and will be handed a £120k-a-week contract to move to the Emirates. The Gunners activated Vardy's £20m release clause last week and … [Read more...]

Mourinho wants Inter Milan defender Miranda at Old Trafford

  Positive showings in his debut Serie A campaign have put Miranda on Jose Mourinho’s transfer target list for the Red Devils to pursue. Premier League in the dugout with Manchester United, Jose Mourinho has emphasised the need for an improved defence by targeting Inter centre-back Miranda. The Brazilian proved to be a vital cog within a resilient Nerazzurri defence during an impressive start to the Serie A campaign, but his excellence has inevitably garnered transfer interest from the English giants this summer. Mourinho has … [Read more...]

Roma set to keep Radja Nianggolan despite Chelsea showing interest

Although Radja Nainggolan has attracted the interest of Chelsea, James Pallotta wants to keep him at the Giallorossi, particularly as they are close to losing Miralem Pjanic to Juventus. Given the continued speculation linking Radja Nainggolan with a move to Chelsea, Roma President James Pallotta has no intention of selling the Belgian international and he wants to keep him at all costs. Chelsea have shown interest in the 28-year-old midfielder, especially new Blues coach Antonio Conte who is a big fan of Nainggolan, and the Belgian revealed … [Read more...]

Conte eager to bring Leonardo Bonucci to Stamford Bridge

  Current Italy coach Antonio Conte, who is set to take over at Premier League club Chelsea following Euro 2016 , will try to entice Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci during the summer transfer window. While the 29-year-old Azzurri international centre-back has repeatedly insisted he is happy in Turin, Conte is hoping to convince the player he worked with at club level while in charge of the Bianconeri between 2011-2014 to join him in West London. Bonucci has won five successive league titles with the Old Lady since joining the club … [Read more...]

Manchester City track Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte

Manchester City are said to be long admirers of Laporte, with a serious ankle injury sustained on France under-21s international duty not enough to quell their interest in the player. The France Under-21 international was not considered for the European Championship in France as a result of injury. One positive for City is that Laporte’s agents are Ivan de la Pena and Carles Puyol, the former Barcelona players who featured for the Catalans’ youth side at the same as Txiki Begiristain, City’s current sporting director, starred for the first … [Read more...]

Thierry Henry surprised at Jermy Vardy’s refusal to join Arsenal

Thierry Henry has spoken of his surprise as to why Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy is hesitating over a move to Arsenal. Vardy, 29, is currently weighing up whether to make the switch to the Gunners, with sources daying that he has already undergone the first stage of his medical at the club. The former Fleetwood Town player is currently on international duty with England and reports claim he will not make a final decision on his future until after Euro 2016. "All I can say is if I was playing for Leicester and I had Arsenal coming, and … [Read more...]

Rummeneigge: No contract prohibiting Pep from signing Bayern players

Bayern Munich have confirmed that Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is not contractually prohibited from signing players from his former club. Bayern's confirmation comes after Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa was quoted by Brazilian television network Globo Esporte as saying the opposite, earlier this week. He said of his former coach Pep Guardiola: "It is something he has in the contract, a clause that he can't take anyone from Bayern." Sources at City, however, said that is not the case and City are free to do business with Bayern … [Read more...]

Nemanja Matic to force his way out of Chelsea to link up with Mourinho

Nemanja Matic has told Antonio Conte he wants to leave Chelsea this summer and link up with former boss Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, according to The Sun . Mourinho brought the Serb back to Stamford Bridge during his second spell with the Blues and is hoping to sign him again this summer. Despite playing a key part in 2015’s title win, Matic was one of the team’s biggest underperformers when Mourinho was sacked last year. It was claimed the pair fell out when Matic was substituted just 27 minutes after coming off the bench in the 3-1 … [Read more...]

De Gea and Muniain’s WhatsApp conversations revealed

A conversation between the players has been made public by El Confidencial and Cadena Ser Two WhatsApp conversations have shed some light on the Spanish sexual assault case which has implicated Iker Muniain, David de Gea, and an as yet unnamed third player. A protected witness has accused Athletic club’s Muniain and another player of sexual assault during a sex party back in 2012, a meeting Spain goalkeeper de Gea is accused of arranging. “Muniain and the other player were at the hotel, I wasn’t there. It wasn’t me,” De Gea said, according … [Read more...]

Liverpool keen on Udinese playmaker

One of Serie A’s most promising playmakers, Piotr Zielinski, looks set to be on the move this summer but Napoli will have to move quickly to keep him in Italy A fter a successful loan spell at Empoli last season, Piotr Zielinski has impressed Liverpool enough to table a bid for the Polish midfielder’s services. However, they could face competition in the form of Napoli. Due to the Partenopei participating in the Champions League next season, that may prove to be a decisive factor in Zielinski choosing the San Paolo over Anfield. Report have … [Read more...]

Euro 2016: Arsenal new boy Granit Xhaka set to do battle against his brother Taulant

The curious case of how two closely-knit brothers are about to make European Championship history by playing against each other for different nations is a symbol of these complex and diverse political times. Born in Basel to a family fleeing from Kosovo, Granit and Taulant Xhaka must put their love aside as they play against one another for Switzerland and Albania respectively on Saturday. F amily ties will be best kept off the pitch for two opponents at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday, as Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka must … [Read more...]

Kolo Toure released by Liverpool

Kolo Toure has been released by Liverpool following the expiry of his contract, according to report. Toure's release ends his three-year spell at Anfield following his arrival from Manchester City on a free transfer in the summer of 2013. The former Ivory Coast international provided back-up for Jurgen Klopp's team last season, getting a regular run in the side after the suspension of Mamadou Sakho towards the end of the campaign. Toure, 35, started for Liverpool in the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla and made 25 appearances in all … [Read more...]

Man Utd keeper David De Gea denies organising underage sex parties for friends

  Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has been drawn in to a sex scandal But De Gea has hit back at the claims and said the matter was being dealt with by his lawyers. He said: “It is all a lie. “I feel even stronger about staying with the national team… it is all false and it is in my lawyers hands. “I never thought about leaving. It gives me more strength to train even harder.” The allegations say the United number one arranged for his former Spanish under-21 teammate Iker Muniain and an unnamed player to meet the … [Read more...]