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 team. The north west giants have also been linked with a move for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba but city rivals Manchester United are understood to be in pole position should the Frenchman elect to leave Turin this summer. … [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 I'm 29, I would have gone. But I'm not Jamie Vardy," Gunners legend Henry told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Either he has another proposition on the table, or Arsenal doesn't seem attractive to him anymore." While Henry is … [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 Munich in the future. Speaking at a German Football League meeting in Frankfurt on Thursday, the Bavarian's CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed the PA report. "There is no agreement," the Bayern Chief said, adding that … [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 defeat to Southampton, but Mourinho is actually a big fan of the defensive midfielder. Matic was one of the few Chelsea players to speak out in support of the Portuguese tactician after he was fired. And alongside … [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 it that Liverpool have offered €12 million for Zielinski, and that he would like to join the club. Napoli are still in race, nevertheless, as talks are ongoing with Udinese. Wherever he ends up, Zielinski looks certain … [Read more...]
Former City boss Manuel Pellegrini set to be named AcMilan coach
The Chilean boss spent three years at the Etihad and won three major trophies — including a Premier League title in his first season. Before moving to England, Pellegrini established himself as a top level boss following a successful ten-year period in Spain. He established Villarreal as a relative force in Europe by leading them to the Champions League semi-finals and quarter-finals. Pellegrini moved to Real Madrid in 2009 and signed the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso. The 96 points amassed in La Liga that season were not enough to overhaul Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona who were crowned champions, finished on 99. Pellegrini was ruthlessly sacked and replaced by Jose Mourinho after just one season at the … [Read more...]
Arsene Wenger hails N’Golo Kante as speculations linking in with the Gunners continues
N'Golo Kante has been hailed by Arsene Wenger, fuelling speculation linking the midfielder with a move to Arsenal. Arsene Wenger heaped praise on Leicester City midfielder N'Golo Kante as Arsenal continue to be linked with a move for the France international. The 25-year-old reportedly has a £20million release clause in his contract and has been heavily linked with the Gunners, as well as Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain after starring in Leicester's shock Premier League title success. Arsenal boss Wenger did little to dampen the speculation with a ringing endorsement of Kante's quality, describing him as a rare talent, with the player set to decide on his future once Euro 2016 is over. "I admire and like N'Golo Kante a lot - it gives you ideas," he told … [Read more...]