Nice are the latest side to test the water over a deal for unwanted Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli. The Ligue 1 club have held talks with the Merseysiders about the Italy international, who was not at the Reds' Melwood training ground on Thursday having been given permission to speak to the French side. However, a deal is still some way off as no fee has been agreed and coach Lucien Favre has certain expectations of the 26-year-old, who is surplus to requirements at Anfield and is not in manager Jurgen Klopp's plans. "I don't know him personally, but if he runs and wants to help the youngsters, then why not?" Favre told a press conference. "If he doesn't want to run, then there's no way he'll come here." Swiss side FC Sion have also expressed an … [Read more...]
Wenger ’99 per cent confident’ on completing double swoop
Arsene Wenger has confirmed Arsenal are closing in on signing striker Lucas Perez and centre-back Shkodran Mustafi but says the deals are yet to be completed. "We are working on the deals," Wenger said on Friday at a news conference. "We are not close enough to announce to you today that they will sign for us. Will we sign anybody before the end of the transfer window? I'm 99 percent confident [we will]." Arsenal moved on Thursday to trigger a £17 million release clause for Perez, the Deportivo La Coruna striker who had also been a target for Everton. British media then reported Thursday evening that the Gunners had also agreed a £35m fee for Mustafi, the Valencia defender, after lengthy talks with the Spanish club. The boss reveals the latest transfer … [Read more...]
Real Madrid will take on Borussia Dortmond, Sporting Lisbon and Legia Warsaw in Championship Group F
The European Champions and current Super Cup holder will play the first game of Champions League on the verge of retaining their title. Real Madrid will take on Borussian Dortmond, Sporting Lisbon and Legia Warsaw in group f of the Champions League. The group stage will kick off on 13th and 14th of september, and will come to an end on the 6th and 7th of December. The final of the season champion league will be played at Millenium Stadium in Cardiff on the 3rd of June 2017. Champions League Group Table Group A: PSG, Arsenal, Basel and Ludogorets. Group B: Benfica, Napoli, Dynamo Kiev and Besiktas. Group C: Barcelona, Manchester City, Borussia Mochengladbach Group D Bayer Munich, Atletico Madrid, PSV and Rostov Group E: CSKA Moscow, … [Read more...]
Champions League: Pep in Barcelona return as Arsenal face PSG
Pep Guardiola will return to the Camp Nou after Manchester City and Barcelona were drawn together in the Champions League group stage on Thursday. Guardiola spent the majority of his playing career with Barcelona and led them to two European titles as manager in 2009 and 2011. And now in his first season as City boss, he will face off against his former club in Group C, along with Borussia Monchengladbach and Celtic, when the group stage begins next month. The Spanish champions beat City in the round of 16 in both 2014 and 2015, and the teams completed a transfer of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to City just hours before the draw. The draw featured some other blockbuster matchups, as defending champions Real Madrid play Borussia Dortmund in Group F, Paris … [Read more...]
Chelsea sign Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Eduardo
Experienced goalkeeper Eduardo has joined Chelsea from Dinamo Zagreb on a one-year deal. Chelsea have announced the signing of Eduardo from Dinamo Zagreb, the Portugal international signing a one-year deal at Stamford Bridge. The 33-year-old had been heavily linked with a transfer to Antonio Conte's side and confirmed on Wednesday that he would be leaving Dinamo after helping the club to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League. His move to England has now been confirmed, giving Conte another senior goalkeeping option to compete with Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic. "Having the opportunity to come to the Premier League and to Chelsea, to such a big club, it is an easy decision to make," said Eduardo. "For me this is the best and the … [Read more...]
Ronald Koeman insists Everton have ‘no interest’ in Joe Hart
Everton manager Ronald Koeman shut down talk of a move for England goalkeeper Joe Hart in three simple words on Thursday. Hart is set to leave Manchester City having been reduced to a fringe role with the club since Pep Guardiola’s arrival as coach and he made what appeared to be his farewell against in the Champions League qualifier Steaua Bucharest. But despite Hart’s goodbyes to the Etihad Stadium crowd, his next destination seems hard to discern. The Toffees were strongly linked with a move but when asked about the player, Koeman said emphatically: “There’s no interest.” There have been reports that the goalkeeper’s wages have proved off-putting, but Koeman appeared to deny that when questioned if the England international had ever … [Read more...]
Claudio Bravo completes Manchester City move
Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has completed his move from Barcelona to Manchester City for a reported £17 million. Bravo, 33, has signed a four-year deal and could make his debut in the Premier League clash with West Ham United on Sunday. The shot-stopper, who has won 106 caps for Chile, was identified as a top target by new City boss Pep Guardiola who wants a keeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet. But the deal casts doubt over the future of England international Joe Hart, who has begun the season as second choice to Willy Caballero at the Etihad. It's that time again! Let's all #WelcomeClaudio to Manchester City! Manchester City (@ManCity) August 25, 2016 Bravo said on his new club's official website: "I'm very proud to be joining … [Read more...]