Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
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”
The sight of two former Chelsea men winding up Inter supporters in celebration during Milan’s 2-1 Derby della Madonnina win this past weekend spoke for itself, especially since neither was Fikayo Tomori nor Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Roma loanee Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic, both with a point to prove for different reasons, hope more awaits them after some rough early season form. Continue reading “Roma’s Abraham enthused by positive start to Milan loan after narrow derby win”
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”
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi excelled with Euro 2024 runners-up England, instrumental in their surprise final run after recovering from knee surgery. Newcastle made four unsuccessful bids, the last worth up to £65m including add-ons and all were rebuffed, with Palace now acquiring a pair of wantaway centre-backs after Joachim Andersen returned to Fulham for £30m this month.
Continue reading “Glasner confirms Newcastle target Guehi stays; Palace sign Lacroix and Chalobah”
They started slow but grew in confidence, spurned some chances but equally left themselves exposed at the back too many times for comfort before Joshua Zirkzee’s 87th-minute winner – 25 minutes after coming off the bench to cap a memorable Manchester United debut on the opening day of the new Premier League campaign. Erik ten Hag knows it’s something they can build on now. Continue reading “Ten Hag pleased as United leave it late vs. Fulham, Zirkzee has last laugh on debut”
Having begun pre-season training last week after his Euro 2024 exertions with eventual semifinalists Netherlands, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk made his club return during their 4-1 friendly win over La Liga side Sevilla and insisted he has confidence the Reds will make signings before the window closes next month – Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi is a priority target. Continue reading “van Dijk confident signings will come as Liverpool’s Zubimendi pursuit continues”
Bournemouth have sold their top goalscorer Dominic Solanke, a week before the start of the new Premier League campaign, after Tottenham’s club-record transfer offer satisfied expensive terms for Ange Postecoglou’s top summer target. The 26-year-old was unveiled before a pre-season defeat by Bayern, where longtime striker and all-time marksman Harry Kane ventured in 2023. Continue reading “Tottenham unveil Postecoglou’s prime target Solanke in club-record £65m move”
Keen for attacking reinforcements, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham want a striker and winger this summer. Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke, who scored 19 league goals last season, is of interest – but has three years left on his existing contract and won’t be easy to prize away with just two weeks to go before the new campaign begins as they look to replace their Harry Kane void. Continue reading “Report: Tottenham exploring move for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke”
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”
Granit Xhaka repaired his reputation in north London before departing for £21.6m last summer, joining Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen project – quickly establishing himself as an indispensable player spreading his wings further since returning to Bundesliga play. He’s carried that form on the international stage at the Euros, where the 31-year-old faces some familiar faces Saturday. Continue reading “Granit Xhaka’s metronomic momentum – club and country – hasn’t gone unnoticed”
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