Arsenal will push ahead with plans to sign Julian Draxler for £37m despite the fact the player needs specialist treatment on a ruptured tendon, reports the Daily Mail. . The same publication ran an exclusive last night claiming Arsene Wenger was ready to meet the release clause of the Schalke starlet in what would be a second big money move in six months at the Emirates. . Those rumours were quashed on Wednesday morning when it was revealed by German sources that Draxler is expected to be out until March after travelling to Munich to seek specialist help on a…
Author: David F.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez believes Liverpool are playing at the level of Champions League football. . The Reds are fourth in the Premier League, and are unbeaten so far this calendar year. . The men from Merseyside are free scoring of late, and Suarez has scored 22 goals in his last 16 appearances, making him the league’s top goalscorer. . Liverpool have been playing well all season, and are still in with a shout of winning the title. . According to Herald.ie Suarez said: “We know that in the last two years we haven’t demonstrated that Liverpool can play in…
Franck Ribery missed out on the 2013 Ballon d’Or accolade but said there was little more he could have done to win the award after helping Bayern Munich win five trophies in the year. . Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo was voted the world’s best player at a Fifa awards ceremony in Zurich on Monday night, edging out Barcelona and Argentina striker Lionel Messi who had won the award for the previous four years. . Ribery finished third in the voting despite enjoying his best season with Bayern as they won the domestic league and cup double, the…
Sevilla captain Ivan Rakitic has declared that he is not interested in joining either Manchester United or Liverpool either in January or at the end of the season, pledging his future to the La Liga side and welcoming reports that the offer of a new contract is imminent. . Rakitic has been consistently linked with the Premier League duo thanks to a strong start to the season in Seville, providing the kind of assured, dynamic presence in central midfield that would be more than welcome at either Old Trafford or Anfield. . The 25-year-old is thought to have a €40m…
Everton and England midfielder Ross Barkley looks set to be out for up to six weeks after breaking a bone in his foot during the FA Cup third-round win over Queens Park Rangers .. The 20-year-old injured his toe during the 4-0 victory and missed last Saturday’s game against Norwich with fears that he could miss key fixtures against Liverpool and Tottenham over the forthcoming weeks. . The Toffees confirmed the injury was only a fractured toe – not a broken metatarsal – so there is a slight possibility that he could be in contention for a return in two…
Manchester United boss David Moyes and his coaching team have this week been scouring Europe to find a central midfielder who is capable of solving the Premier League champions’ problem position. . The Red Devils have been linked with several top midfielders over the past couple of months – with the likes of Koke, Ilkay Gundogan and Paul Pogba all linked with a move to Old Trafford. . Manchester United lost the latter of the aforementioned players because they failed to tie him down to a long-term contract and ensure that he would get some first-team football under his belt.…
Manchester United duo Rafael and Fabio da Silva could depart Old Trafford in the summer, according to their agent, Cassiano Pereira. . Italian source Calciomercato reports that Pereira has insisted that although the chances of either brother leaving the reigning Premier League champions this month are fairly slim, there’s every possibility they could depart at the culmination of the current campaign. . The news may come as a surprise to United fans, as Rafael has established himself as the first-choice right back with the Red Devils over the course of the last few seasons. . Fabio, on the other hand,…
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard will be fit to face Premier League champions Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, reports The Daily Star. . The 35-year-old has been out of action for the past couple of weeks after suffering a muscle injury in the Blues’ 2-1 victory over Liverpool at the end of last month. . And now – ahead of this weekend’s crunch clash – Lampard could make his return to the side. . The England international returned to training last Wednesday and could be in-line for a start against David Moyes’ side. . The veteran midfielder stepped up…
Manchester United are the odds-on favourite to sign Everton full-back Leighton Baines. . Sky Bet’s latest odds suggest former Everton boss David Moyes remains keen on bringing the left-back to Old Trafford after missing out on the 29-year-old in the summer. . Moyes has been scouring the transfer market for a left-back ever since he took over the reins at Old Trafford as he believes Patrice Evra needs more competition. . The Manchester United boss turned his attention to Fabio Coentrao after Everton dashed his hopes of signing England international. . However the Premier League champions’ move for Coentrao was…
Spanish giants Barcelona have finally spoken about the investigation into the transfer of Brazilian starlet Neymar, calling the Spanish Court case “baseless and unnecessary”, reports ESPN. . The claims are that Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has not revealed certain details to the board members of the club, prompting one of his biggest rivals for control at Camp Nou to take the case to the Audiencia Nacional. . Spanish press are reporting the club have released a statement saying : “Futbol Club Barcelona (FCB) wishes to express its indignation at the report released on Friday by the Fiscal de l’Audiencia Nacional…
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has warned the footballing world that Eden Hazard has the potential to go onto to be one of the best players in the world. . The Belgian ace arrived at Stamford Bridge from Lille back in the summer of 2012 for £32m, and has been a first-team regular throughout this campaign. . Jose Mourinho the London Evening Standard: “Eden can become one of the best players in the world. Now he sees his football and profession with different eyes. . “Everyone knows he is a talented player, that he was that when he arrived here. But…
Manchester United sent scouts to watch FC Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala in action at the weekend, according to reports. . The Daily Mail claims David Moyes – who was on his own scouting mission in Italy – sent a party to watch the one-cap French international defender in action yesterday against Benfica. . Whilst Mangala was on the end of a 2-0 defeat, he was being watched by a number of clubs, with Premier League rivals Manchester City also interested and also in attendance. . Reports in December claimed Manchester United would have to pay £40million to bring the player…
Jose Mourinho committed his long-term future to Chelsea on Monday, insisting he did not want to be a manager anywhere else. . The 50-year-old Portuguese, who started his second spell in charge of the London club ahead of the current season, said he’d only leave Stamford Bridge if sacked by the Blues. . “I’m not here thinking about my next move because I don’t want to have a next move,” Mourinho told Monday’s London Evening Standard newspaper. . “I will have a next move if and when Chelsea decides it’s time for that. . “I’m here to stay. I belong…
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri expects to be out for around eight weeks after suffering a serious knee injury in Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League win at Newcastle United. . The 26-year-old was carried off the pitch on a stretcher following a tackle by Newcastle defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa towards the end of the match at St James’ Park. . “Thank you everyone for your kind words and overwhelming support, I suppose it’s kind of good news that I will be out around eight weeks,” the French international said on his official Twitter account on Monday. . Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini…
Goals from Elmutasem Abushnaf and Abdel Salam Omar gave Libya a perfect start as they beat Ethiopia 2-0 in Bloemfontein in their African Nations Championship Group C encounter on Monday. . Ethiopia made their Chan debut after an exciting showing in South Africa just a year ago at the Africa Nations Cup. Libya, meanwhile, returned to the competition for the second time since the inaugural 2009 tournament in Ivory Coast where they failed to make it out of the group stage. . It was Libya who took an early lead when Elmutasem Abushnaf ran into the danger area before unleashing…
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was spared disciplinary action by the Football Association on Monday following his expletive-laden touchline rant during Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Premier League leaders Manchester City. . However, the governing body said Magpies boss Pardew had been “reminded of his responsibilities”. Pardew, angered by a decision to rule out a Newcastle ‘goal’ by Cheick Tiote for offside, let fly at St James’ Park with a stream of invective directed at City’s Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini. . But the FA decided against any disciplinary action, a spokesman saying: “We have been in contact with Alan Pardew and…
Ex Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes has been named 2013 FIFA Coach of the year, pipping fellow retiree Sir Alex Ferguson to win the prestigious award. . Heynckes, 68, who retired after the 2012-13 season was concluded, brought the Bayern team together after their devastating 2012 Champions’ League final loss against Chelsea into a near perfect side, dislodging Barcelona from their throne in the process. . Bayern only lost once in the entire Bundesliga campaign, winning twenty-nine of their thirty-four matches, finishing with 91 points. That average of 2.67 points per game means that the Bavarian side would have finished…
Manchester United are clear favourites to sign Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera – with the bookmakers anyway. . SkyBet have the Premier League champions as 2/1 favourites to sign the Spaniard before February 1. . Title rivals Chelsea are next at 25/1, Tottenham at 28/1, with Arsenal and Real Madrid tied at 33/1. Barcelona are currently priced at 40/1 and Atletico Madrid at 50/1. . 24-year-old playmaker Herrera joined Bilbao from Real Zaragoza back in 2011 and has become a mainstay of Ernesto Valverde’s side at San Mames. . His consistent form for the Basque outfit saw him linked with…
It all got a much for Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo after he was named the 2013 Ballon d’Or winner on Monday night. . The Portugal captain picked up the ‘best player in the world’ award for the second time in his career in Zurich – his previous win came back in 2008 when he was at Manchester United. . He enjoyed an incredible 2013, scoring more than 60 goals over the course of the calendar year for club and country. . He’s also enjoyed a revival of sorts in the popularity stakes as well, as the previously petulant playboy…
Premier League title chasers Liverpool could be set to strengthen their attacking options during the January transfer window. . According to The Metro, the Reds are targeting a move for PSV Eindhoven captain Georginio Wijnaldum and are ready to offer a deal worth £9 million before the end of the month. . 23-year-old Wijnaldum has been at Philips Stadion for almost three years, having moved from Eredivisie rivals Feyenoord during the summer of 2011. . The attacking midfielder, who has also earned three senior international caps for his native Netherlands, had been in fine form for Phillip Cocu’s side this…