Romelu Lukaku has promised to stay at Everton and could even sign a new contract, manager Ronald Koeman has said. The 23-year-old has been a transfer target for his former club Chelsea this summer but the Londoners have been reluctant to meet Everton's valuation of the striker -- reported to be £75 million. Lukaku has expressed a desire to play European football and was frustrated by Everton's 11th-placed finish last season in the Premier League under Roberto Martinez, but the Toffees were determined to keep hold of their biggest asset. New major shareholder Farhad Moshiri wanted to convince the Belgium international of the project under Koeman, who was appointed in June, and the manager has revealed that Lukaku came to see him on Friday to tell him he … [Read more...]
Claudio Ranieri refuses to criticise Mark Clattenburg over penalty
Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri praised his team's display in the 0-0 draw against Arsenal and had no complaints over the referee. Claudio Ranieri refused to criticise referee Mark Clattenburg after Leicester City had two penalty appeals waved away during their 0-0 draw against Arsenal. The Premier League champions are still searching for the first win of their title defence, following last weekend's 2-1 loss at Hull City, and they could not find a way through in a game of few chances at the King Power Stadium. Danny Drinkwater went down under a lunging tackle from Laurent Koscielny in the 43rd minute and Ahmed Musa's lively cameo from the bench featured an untidy challenge from Hector Bellerin on the Nigeria international in the box. "I am not a … [Read more...]
Barcelona confirm agreement with Manchester City for Bravo
Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez has confirmed a deal is in place with manchester city for the transfer of Claudio Bravo. During the week it emerged the Premier League club were closing in on a €25 million move for the Barcelona goalkeeper, whom Pep Guardiola wants to replace Joe Hart. Despite those reports, Bravo started Saturday's La Liga opener against Real Betis, but it looks set to prove to be his last game for the Catalan club. "We have the beginning of an agreement in principle with Manchester City for Claudio Bravo," Robert revealed to TV3 after Barca's 6-2 win. "We need to sign a goalkeeper. We are waiting events this week. When Claudio leaves, we hope to have a new goalkeeper." Diego Alves had appeared to be close to making a … [Read more...]
Arsenal, Leicester play out a goalless draw
It ended goalless between defending champions Leicester City and last season's runners-up Arsenal at the King Power Stadium. Arsenal had the better of the opening period, looking dangerous in attack , testing the reigning Premier League champions’ defence. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came close in the 26th minute, unleashing a curling effort from 20 yards having beaten Riyad Mahrez, with ease, on the left flank. His effort had Foxes stopper Kasper Schmeichel beaten, but sailed wide of the far post. There was late controversy in the first half, as Danny Drinkwater looked to have brought down in the box by Laurent Koscielny . Petr Cech superbly challenged Jamie Vardy who had been played in by Riyad Mahrez on the counter-attack, but Drinkwater, on the follow … [Read more...]
Liverpool brought back down to earth by Burnley
Burnley burst Liverpool’s early-season bubble with a 2-0 victory which proved you do not have to have much of the ball to be effective. The Clarets converted two of their three shots on target, with Sam Vokes grabbing his first Premier League goal inside two minutes and Andre Gray doubling the lead before half-time. There was no rousing comeback from Liverpool like the one they produced last weekend at Arsenal to win 4-3 after going behind and, despite dominating possession, they never looked like scoring. That was partly down to their hosts’ dogged determination to hold onto their lead but largely due to a lack of cohesion and penetration in the final third. Jurgen Klopp’s side were laboured in their build-up, particularly in the first half, and … [Read more...]
Costa strikes late as Chelsea defeat Watford
Diego Costa struck another late winner for Chelsea as they came from behind to beat Watford 2-1 in their Premier League clash at Vicarage Road. Etienne Capoue thrashed the hosts in front 10 minutes after the interval, only for Michy Batshuayi to come off the bench and capitalise on a poor piece of goalkeeping from Heurelho Gomes to draw Chelsea level with his first goal for the club. And it was a superb through-ball from another substitute in Cesc Fabregas which set Costa away in the closing stages, with the striker making no mistake as he fired home another match-winning goal to give Antonio Conte's side a second 2-1 success of the season. Having relied on a late Costa strike to beat West Ham on Monday, Conte's men were largely disappointing but found a … [Read more...]
Guardiola delighted by early-season form
Pep Guardiola is delighted with the start manchester city have made under his stewardship. City overcame the toughest test of their new manager's reign so far as they beat Stoke 4-1 at the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday , with Sergio Aguero and Nolito both netting twice. It is their third straight victory under Guardiola, with an impressive 11 goals scored, and the quality of their play has surprised even the former Barcelona boss. "I'm so happy for many of the things I see," said the Spaniard. "For how they celebrated the goals, for how they celebrate after the game in the locker room, how they speak to each other - that is the first step to be considered a team that can fight for titles. "It is impossible to say what is our target or what we can … [Read more...]