Recent reports claim Fiorentina – sixth in Serie A so far this term – are close to snatching a shrewd mid-season acquisition next month: Lille’s French winger Jonathan Ikone at just €15m (£12.75m), the sort of cut-price fee they’ll be hoping propels them into serious European challengers, as opposed to the frequent pretender tag they’ve long beld in Italy. Continue reading
Tag: Premier League
Gareth Southgate’s contract extension felt inevitable, but is no less divisive
Gareth Southgate’s two-year extension announcement means, if all goes well, he’ll remain England manager until December 2024 – occupying the position for more than eight years, being their longest head coach since Bobby Robson. They’ve progressed considerably under his guidance and yet there remains an unwavering feeling he’s taken them as far as he can. Continue reading
Reece Oxford’s Augsburg extension reinforces his refreshing progression
Cast aside too quickly as another teenage wonderkid who swiftly disappeared according to English critics, Reece Oxford’s career trajectory has been re-energised by a Bundesliga journey taking him from Borussia Monchengladbach to Augsburg – where his consistent performances earned a new contract extension last week, like most things, that went under-the-radar. Continue reading
Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City: de Bruyne douses Reds’ hearts in thrilling second-half
Despite Manchester City’s initial dominance in the early exchanges, this game lived up to the billing: contentious officiating, big moments, goals aplenty before a goal-saving block in a second-half frenzy – finely poised and still could’ve swung either way until the final whistle. Continue reading
Punished for profligacy: Neal Maupay spoils Palace’s party with sucker punch strike
On a night where Conor Gallagher’s praises were sung, Wilfried Zaha capped his 400th appearance with a 70th Crystal Palace goal and the hosts revelled in halting Brighton’s brilliant start to the Premier League campaign, Neal Maupay pounced on a half-chance to expertly convert his fourth goal of the season deep into stoppage time to snatch a share of the points. Continue reading
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Havertz, Salah ensure points are shared in tense affair
Liverpool and Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the new Premier League season continued on Saturday night with a 1-1 draw at Anfield, but this latest meeting wasn’t without controversy and tempers flaring on both sides after Reece James’ contentious dismissal in first-half stoppage-time, changing the complexion of an entertaining clash between two title hopefuls.
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Tottenham’s City triumph felt inevitable, even as Harry Kane saga rumbles on
Tottenham players had their backs to the wall, the world watching intently as their talisman was absent against the team he wants to join… but still found a way to start the new Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s men on Sunday. Surprised? Not quite. Continue reading
Meticulous planning, irreparable damage and cruel irony: Lionel Messi at PSG
Lionel Messi’s 21-year association with Barcelona, where he became the greatest player of his generation, ended yesterday. The Argentine joins a stacked PSG side whose pursuit of an elusive Champions League triumph has become clearer in recent months with their summer business. But while the seeds had been sown for a decade, even they wouldn’t have expected this…
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PSG move caps a summer Gianluigi Donnarumma will never forget
After saving two penalties to help Italy clinch Euro 2020 on Sunday, highly-rated goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is a free agent no longer: having agreed terms on a five-year deal to join Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain. Unveiled as their fifth summer acquisition yesterday, the 22-year-old made a bold but brave move likely to age well in a few years’ time. Continue reading
Report: Tottenham in advanced talks with Gladbach forward Marcus Thuram
Per today’s reports, Tottenham are leading the race to sign Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram – currently in Didier Deschamps’ Euro 2020 squad with France. The versatile 23-year-old, who has two successful Bundesliga seasons under his belt, has admirers aplenty. Continue reading
Kai Havertz seizes big moment as Chelsea seal second Champions League triumph
After an eventful first campaign in England packed with trials and tribulations, Chelsea creative midfielder Kai Havertz scored the Champions League-sealing winner overnight in the biggest game of his blossoming career to date – sinking Premier League champions Manchester City. Continue reading
Brentford 2-0 Swansea City: Toney, Marcondes goals end Bees’ Premier League wait
Ivan Toney’s penalty and Emiliano Marcondes’ finish on the counter-attack ten minutes later, helped Brentford race to a two-goal cushion after 20 minutes – one they wouldn’t relinquish against a frustrating Swansea display, as the Bees finally banished their playoff hoodoo at the tenth time of asking – earning a top-flight berth for the first time since the 1946-1947 season. Continue reading
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