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Euro 2016: Ozil out to end Italian jinx

The world champions have never beaten Italy in a major tournament but the Arsenal playmaker is hoping to end that run in Bordeaux. Knowing history is stacked against them as they face Italy on Saturday, Germany ‘s Mesut Ozil hopes that they can overturn their historical hoodoo to make it through to the semi-final. These nations have met in eight previous international tournaments, with Italy winning four of those clashes and drawing the rest. Most recently Germany were dumped out at the semi-final stage of the last European Championship by their rivals, and also fell at the same stage in the World Cup which they hosted in 2006. “We know only too well that we’ve always lost, but looking back on the games they’ve always been close,” he said. Ozil … [Read more...]

Man City set to make £50m bid for Everton defender

The centre-back favours a move to the Etihad and City are prepared to deliver the 22-year-old for new manager Pep Guardiola and will not baulk at making him Britain’s most expensive defender. A firm bid is imminent with contact between the clubs already established and the prospect of an auction developing now seems unlikely with Stones keen to work with Guardiola. Stones was denied a move to Chelsea last summer with  Everton rejecting a series of bids which went up to £35m. The TV money pouring into the Premier League means his valuation has risen since then despite a difficult season at club level and his failure to play a single minute at Euro 2016 for England, and Everton are determined to hold out for £50m. It is the same fee Paris Saint-Germain … [Read more...]

Euro 2016: Courtois criticises Wilmots decision

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois declined to back coach Marc Wilmots, who said he will decide his future at a later time after the Red Devils crashed out of Euro 2016 with a 3-1 quarterfinal defeat to Wales. Asked after the game if Belgium needed a new coach, Courtois replied: "This was an opportunity we may not get again. I gave him my opinion in the dressing room. He has to make his own decision." In his postgame news conference, Wilmots would not say if he would stay on as Belgium coach. "I said I'd make my decision after the European Championship. I won't make one straight after the game," the coach said. "There's a lot of adrenaline going. We'll have to see." Courtois told VTM that Wilmots used the same tactics as in Belgium's opening defeat … [Read more...]

Christian Benteke nears Liverpool exit

Eagles boss Alan Pardew has turned his attention towards Liverpool flop Benteke after missing out on compatriot Mitcy Batshauyi from Marseille who appears set to join Chelsea. Christian Benteke could be about to make the switch from Liverpool to Crystal Palace, with the London side agreeing a club record transfer fee for his services. Although he was well liked by Brendan Rodgers, the arrival of Jurgen Klopp at Anfield has cast his future into doubt and it seems as though he’ll have the option to leave. Close to €40 million could be departing Crystal Palace’s bank accounts if the transfer gets sealed, destroying the €15 million they paid to land Andros Townsend on Friday. Benteke has scored 10 goals for Liverpool since joining from Aston Villa last … [Read more...]

Euro 2016: Ramsey stars as Wales stun Belgium to book semi-finals ticket

A sensational display from Wales saw the underdogs fight back from a goal down to beat Belgium 3-1 to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2016. On a night dripping with raw emotion in northern France, Wales went one better than their 1958 predecessors who reached the last eight of the World Cup. They also did it the hard way after falling behind to Radja Nainggolan’s thunderous strike, with Ashley Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu and substitute Sam Vokes proving the goal-scoring heroes. They will now meet Portugal in the semi-final in Lyon on Wednesday, but must do so without Ben Davies and Aaron Ramsey, absolutely outstanding again here, who collected their second cautions of the tournament. It used to be asked who would provide Wales with goals if Gareth … [Read more...]

Manchester United sign Zlatan

Manchester United have confirmed that former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has joined the club, and has signed a one-year deal according to reports. Ibrahimovic, 34, arrives as a free agent after his Paris Saint-Germain contract expired on Thursday when he announced on social media that he would be moving to Old Trafford -- writing on Instagram: "Time to let the world know. My next destination is @manchesterunited #iamcoming" The move will see Ibrahimovic reunited with United manager Jose Mourinho, whom he had worked with at Inter Milan during the 2008-09 season and United's confirmed was announced via a Twitter message with a seven-second video of Zlatan emerging wearing a United shirt before saying "It's Zlatan time." Are you ready? It's … [Read more...]

Ryan Giggs departs United after 29-years

Ryan Giggs has reached a settlement to confirm his departure from Manchester United – bringing an end to his 29-year stay at the club. Giggs, 42, had a year remaining on his contract as assistant manager but new boss Jose Mourinho intends to fill that role with long-time friend Rui Faria. Unable to reach agreement over another role at the Premier League club, Giggs, who made a record 963 appearances for the club, has decided to move on. United are expected to release an official statement in the coming days to officially confirm the Welshman’s exit. The club had hoped to persuade Giggs to take on a new role at the club, but having been overlooked for the top job, he has decided to move on. In the 2013-14 season, he was made a player-coach by David … [Read more...]

Manchester City sign Nolito from Celta Vigo

Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Nolito from Celta Vigo on a four-year contract. Nolito, 29, who had an €18 million (£13.8m) release clause in his Celta contract, will link up with new City boss Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, having played under him during their time together at Barcelona. The Spain international, who will wear the No. 9 shirt at City, becomes the third signing of the Guardiola era following the arrivals of Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund and Aaron Mooy from Melbourne City. #WelcomeNolito to #mcfc Manchester City (@ManCity) July 1, 2016 "I'll try to bring as much as I possibly can," Nolito told the club's official website. "I'll do everything that the manager asks of me, try my absolute best and do … [Read more...]

Nolito passes Man City Medical

Ahead of a move to England, Spain striker Nolito has passed a medical and is set to pen a three-year deal with Manchester City as his €18 million move nears completion. Celta Vigo gave the 29-year-old striker permission to travel to Manchester to complete the move after the striker returned from Spain’s early exit from Euro 2016. The transfer has been a formality for a number of weeks with Pep Guardiola keen to snap up the former Barcelona forward, who he once coached at the Camp Nou. Nolito enjoyed a hugely successful three years at Celta Vigo after a €3m move from Benfica, scoring 39 goals in 100 games. In 13 appearances for Spain, Nolito has scored five goals including a strike against Turkey at Euro 2016. … [Read more...]

Watford sign Liverpool striker

Watford have signed out-of-contract Liverpool striker Jerome Sinclair on a five-year contract. The Reds would have been entitled to compensation - usually decided by a tribunal - as Sinclair is just 19 but the clubs have managed to come to an agreement which Press Association Sport understands will see the Merseysiders receive £4million. In a statement Liverpool said: "His registration would have been subject to compensation in the form of a development fee. "However, following amicable and professional discussions between Watford and Liverpool, the clubs have reached an agreement regarding a transfer." Watford confirmed the signing of Liverpool's youngest player - who was aged just 16 years and six days when he made an appearance in a League Cup tie … [Read more...]

Real Madrid set to offer Morata plus cash to land Edenn Hazard

Real Madrid may try to tempt Chelsea into selling Eden Hazard this summer by offering them striker Alvaro Morata plus £40m in exchange, with incoming manager Antonio Conte a known fan of the Spain international. Hazard’s future at Chelsea has come under question over the last 12 months, although the Belgium international insisted that he will stay with the club for at least another season before he departed for the European Championship in France. The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with Real and has previously stated his desire to play for the 11-time European champions, leading to anger from Chelsea fans who also criticised the midfielder for what they perceived to be a lack of effort when Jose Mourinho was manager of the club at the start of the … [Read more...]

Ibrahimovic confirms his next destination

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has officially confirmed his move to Manchester United, after much speculation surrounding the Swede’s future. The confirmation came via his Twitter and Instagram pages, in which he posted a picture of the club’s crest, with the following comment: “Time to let the world know. My next destination is @ManUtd” Time to let the world know. My next destination is @ManUtd 4:07 PM - 30 Jun 2016 Zlatan Ibrahimović @Ibra_official The 34-year-old announced his departure from Paris Saint-Germain at the conclusion of the 2015/16 season, having won Ligue 1 four times on the spin and ending with 38 league goals in his final campaign. Ibrahimovic becomes Jose Mourinho’s second signing as United manager after Eric Bailly, and is … [Read more...]

Australia midfielder Aaron Mooy signs three-year deal with Manchester City

Manchester City have signed Australia midfielder Aaron Mooy from A-League side Melbourne City, with the Premier League outfit loaning Anthony Caceres and Luke Brattan to their partner club. Mooy, 25, has signed a three-year deal with the Premier League club while Caceres and Brattan move on loan for the 2016-17 season. Mooy was named Melbourne City's player of the year in each of his two seasons at AAMI PArk and set the A-League alight last season creating a record 21 assists. His form has carried him into the Socceroos contention, establishing himself as a firm favourite of national coach Ange Postecoglou. Brattan moved to Manchester last October from Brisbane Roar and was loaned to second-tier Bolton Wanderers. But, after not playing a competitive … [Read more...]

Man Utd announce Galatasaray friendly in Sweden

Manchester United have announced a friendly against Galatasaray in Sweden on July 30, which could give Zlatan Ibrahimovic a chance to represent his anticipated new club on home turf. Ibrahimovic, 34, is widely expected to sign for United following the expiry of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain on July 1. The former Sweden international is set to sign a one-year contract to link up with Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford. United will face Galatasaray at the 43,000 Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg. The game will be the Red Devils' final overseas game ahead of the new campaign and will follow International Champions Cup games against Borussia Dortmund on July 22 and Manchester City on July 25. United will then head back to the UK to face Everton at Old … [Read more...]

Zlatan set to make United move

As of Thursday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will no longer be a Paris Saint-Germain player, opening the door for him to complete his long-awaited move to Manchester United as soon as Friday. News of an agreement between both sides leaked earlier this month, but the former Sweden international decided to hold off the big announcement until June 30, when his contract with the Ligue 1 champions expires, so that he could capitalise on his loyalty bonus and avoid fiscal penalties by PSG. The proven goalscorer fueled the rumour mill in a press conference during Euro 2016 that he would announce his new team after his last game for the Blagult, which turned out to be a 1-0 defeat to Belgium in the group stage. Free of national team and PSG obligations, Ibrahimovic could … [Read more...]

Ragnar Sigurdsson fancies a move to the Premier League

Iceland centre-half Ragnar Sigurdsson is reportedly on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Leicester and Tottenham. Sigurdsson scored the equaliser and was named man of the match as Iceland embarrassed England in their Euro 2016 last-16 clash on Monday and the Krasnodar defender’s form has made clubs across Europe take notice. Reports say Bundesliga sides Schalke and Wolfsburg have already made an approach for the 30-year-old, but Sigurdsson is said to favour a switch to the Premier League. Champions Leicester and Spurs are both said to have made contact with the central defender’s representatives while the Guardian also credits Liverpool with an interest. Sigurdsson, who is under contract with Krasnodar until 2018, … [Read more...]

Crystal Palace want Liverpool flop Christain Benteke

Manager Alan Pardew wants the Belgium forward to boost his front line next season and believes a deal can be put together both with the player and the Anfield club. Liverpool signed Benteke for £32.5m from Aston Villa last summer and due to the current state of the transfer market, and prices elsewhere, they will hold out to recoup almost all of that fee. Benteke will be allowed to leave by Jurgen Klopp, who overlooked him last season and signed £30m Sadio Mane from Southampton on Tuesday. Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel's eight-year stay on Merseyside is also close to an end with Turkish club Fenerbahce putting the finishing touches to his £5m transfer. … [Read more...]

Guardiola relaxed about facing Jose Mourinho- Torrent

Pep Guardiola is "very relaxed" about facing Jose Mourinho in the Premier League next season and would have no problem buying him dinner, according to the new Manchester City manager's assistant Domenec Torrent. Guardiola's City side and Mourinho's Manchester United team will meet each other in the International Champions Cup in preseason on July 25. That will renew a rivalry between the two managers which was an intense one when they were in charge of Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. Torrent was alongside Guardiola as a coach at Barcelona in those days, when the manager lost his cool over Mourinho in a heated news conference in April 2011. Guardiola took Torrent to Bayern Munich with him and is doing the same at Manchester City. Asked about … [Read more...]

Nathan Ake joins Bournemouth on loan

Nathan Ake has joined Bournemouth on a season-long loan from Chelsea following last term’s spell at Watford. The Dutchman, who can play at left-back and in midfield, spent last season on loan at Vicarage Road. A story on chelseafc.com read: “Nathan Ake will spend the 2016-17 season on loan at Bournemouth. “The 21-year-old moves to the south coast having also spent last season in the Premier League at Watford, where his performances at left-back won the club’s young player of the year award and helped them reach the FA Cup semi-final.” Ake, a Netherlands Under-21 international, signed a new five-year deal at Stamford Bridge last year and has made 12 appearances for his parent club. “We are delighted to welcome Nathan to AFC Bournemouth,” commented … [Read more...]

Martin Skrtel on the verge of joining Fenerbache

Martin Skrtel’s reported £5.5million move from Liverpool to Fenerbahce is close to being concluded – but it’s unlikely he’ll become team-mates with one of his long-term adversaries. Skrtel’s agent confirmed last week that the player was considering offers from Turkey, Germany and lucrative offer from an unnamed club in the Chinese Super League. The Slovakian captain is now though said to be on the verge of a completing a transfer to Fenerbahce along with PSG’s Gregory Van Der Weil, according to the Turkish giant’s president, Aziz Yildirim, who expects the deal to go through later this week. Speaking to AMK Spor, Yildirim said: “Van der Wiel and Slovak Skrtel transfers are almost done.” The centre-back signed for Liverpool back in 2008 for fee of … [Read more...]

Mkhitaryan set to force Man Utd move

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is so desperate to push through his move to Manchester United that he is willing to pay a chunk of his transfer fee himself, according to reports on Tuesday. United are reported to have agreed a four-year deal with the player worth £65,000 a week , but remain locked in negotiations with his club Borussia Dortmund over his transfer fee. The 27-year-old Armenia midfielder is in the final year of his contract with the Bundesliga club, but they’re continuing to play hardball over his fee and refuse to budge on their £26m valuation. Manchester United are reportedly unwilling to spend such sums on a player, who in 12 months time will become a free agent, and remain hopeful of persuading Dortmund to accept a reduced fee. But Dortmund have … [Read more...]

Manchester City strike deal with Atletico Nacional for colombia starlet Marlos Moreno

Man City agree €10m deal with Atletico Nacional for the 19-year-old and will loan him out to get European experience. It looks as though Marlos Moreno will be headed to Manchester City this summer despite interest from United and Fiorentina . The 19-year-old winger currently plies his trade for Atletico Nacional, and was included in the squad Colombia took to the United States for the Copa American Centenario. The native of Medellin netted his first senior international goal at the tournament, finding the back of the net against Costa Rica on June 11. United and Fiorentina were thought to be interested in including Moreno in their summer transfer window plans as they attempt to add depth to a squad that struggled to stay in contention for the Premier … [Read more...]