Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool and counting, Premier League defending champions Manchester City have been off-the-pace across all competitions this season and their slump in form has been worsened by the long-term absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. As such, they’re open to acquiring midfield acquisitions next month and beyond, with several lucrative names being linked. Continue reading “Missing Rodri and out-of-sorts, City linked with Wirtz, Guimaraes and Zubimendi”
Taylor Harwood-Bellis ended his 16-year association with boyhood club Manchester City this past summer, agreeing to join Southampton for £15m after a successful loan spell on the south Coast last season. Four months after the move, he’s a full England international and another example youngsters in similar positions among bigger clubs can look to emulate long-term. Continue reading “Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ England debut serves as a welcome reminder for others”
They trailed early for the second time in consecutive weeks and fourth already this campaign, yet Pep Guardiola’s defending champion Manchester City found a way to break Wolves’ hearts with a John Stones stoppage-time winner hours before Liverpool doused Chelsea’s encouraging start despite suffering more injury woes as the Premier League’s pacesetters intensified this weekend. Continue reading “Gutsy 2-1 victories for leaders Liverpool, champs City say it all in early title race”
Spanish reports claim Manchester City are ready to activate the €60m (£50.2m) release clause for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in January, while Torino’s Samuele Ricci and Porto’s Alan Varela are among the alternatives being suggested as versatile centre-back John Stones has publicly insisted this past week he can fill in for the Euro 2024 champion after ACL and meniscus surgery.
Continue reading “City search for January addition, many linked after Rodri’s season-ending injury”
Erling Haaland was a late doubt for today’s home fixture against Thomas Frank’s Brentford but declined compassionate leave following the death of close family friend Ivar Eggja this week, producing a brace to break another Premier League record as results elsewhere mean defending champions Manchester City are the division’s only perfect side four games into the season. Continue reading “Erling Haaland breaks Wayne Rooney’s 13-year record after netting Brentford brace”
Kevin de Bruyne’s honesty regarding the ‘incredible money’ on offer in Saudi Arabia has forced the Citizens to prepare contingency plans should their creator-in-chief decide a departure from European football is too lucrative to reject. Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, who they were linked to last summer, has again emerged as a serious option but will be rather expensive.
Continue reading “Manchester City weigh up Eze approach again as de Bruyne’s future still unclear”
Although they had a £15m verbal offer rejected out-of-hand on Thursday, West Ham are pursuing two-time Premier League champion N’Golo Kante as the acquisitions under new manager Julen Lopetegui continue to roll. Meanwhile, creative midfielder Lucas Pacqueta’s uncertain future will linger after investigations into his spot-fixing allegations won’t be resolved until 2025.
Continue reading “£15m rebuffed, West Ham push for Al-Ittihad’s N’Golo Kante in London return”
Having activated his €60m (£50.7m) release clause, Bayern beat competition from big Premier League clubs to prise Michael Olise away from England, and after this month’s Olympics on home soil in Paris, the 22-year-old playmaker will ply his trade alongside familar faces like Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane under Vincent Kompany’s stewardship after the deal was made official today. Continue reading “Michael Olise completes £45m move to Bayern, in Palace’s best possible scenario”
Although the axe appears likely to fall on Erik ten Hag at Manchester United and Frank de Boer had a nightmare spell at Crystal Palace, there’s renewed optimism that Liverpool – led by their data-driven recruitment approach – are targeting the right man in Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot, after the 45-year-old rejected English overtures last term and has since won more silverware. Continue reading “Given his managerial rise, Liverpool’s pursuit of Arne Slot should be no surprise”
Joachim Andersen’s public praise for his teammates in Crystal Palace’s creative midfield duos Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze isn’t exactly a revelation, though interested suitors will again be enthused about their blossoming potential after watching the pair dismantle David Moyes’ West Ham over this past weekend. Continue reading “Joachim Andersen’s praise for Palace duo speaks volumes for their future potential”
Manchester City were tired, leggy and emotionally drained after penalty heartbreak in Madrid three days earlier as their Champions League defence ended, but survived a series of promising goalscoring chances before Bernardo Silva’s 84th-minute winner secured a hard-fought win over Chelsea, punching their ticket back into the FA Cup final for a third time in the last six seasons. Continue reading “Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea: Silva’s late strike sends Citizens back to FA Cup final”
Having made his first Premier League start during their home win over Brentford earlier this week, the Premier League champions’ plan is for the Norway international to sign a new long-term contract extension beyond the existing 2026 agreement to reflect his growing status within the senior side. Continue reading “After first start vs. Brentford, City’s Oscar Bobb now set for new contract extension”
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