Barca close on Aymeric Laporte
Spanish giants Barcelona are reportedly wrapping up the deal to sign French defender Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao, .
The talented footballer has a €50 million release clause in his current contract and it would appear as though the Catalans are ready to match the asking price.
Barcelona s defensive problems are well documented and they believe that Laporte can become a rock at the back in Luis Enrique s team.
Manchester United were also hoping to lure the France Under-21 stopper to Old Trafford, but it looks as though the Catalans are set to win the chase.
Laporte has been putting in some excellent performances in Spanish La Liga for a couple of years now, and he already has 89 league appearances to his na…
Manchester United are ready to open contract talks with Jesse Lingard, according to the Metro.
The England international penned a four-year-deal with the Red Devils in 2017 worth around £100-per-week, though since them he has emerged into one of the clubs most valuable players, as well as being part of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup.
He is now set to put pen-to-paper on fresh terms later in the year in a move that will see his wages increase once again.
Since breaking into United’s first team, Lingard has racked up one hundred and thirty-seven appearances in all competitions, scoring twenty-four goals while he has been part of the squads that have won the EFL Cup, FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the Europa League.
Internationally he has been…
Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte believes star attacker Eden Hazard will reject the lure of Real Madrid and stay at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgium international has recaptured the form that saw him named the PFA Players Player of the Year in 2014-15, helping Chelsea lead the Premier League by 10 points.
Hazard s displays, including 11 league goals and four assists, have reportedly attracted attention from the Santiago Bernabeu, with Zinedine Zidane thought to have put the attacker top of his wish list.
But Conte hopes the 26-year-old opts to remain at Chelsea, saying the club s hunger for success should help convince Hazard to stay.
The will of the player is very important, the Italian said.
If the player is happy and the player knows he will stay…
Czech police have detained several people following a clash between West Ham and Fiorentina fans ahead of the Europa Conference League final in Prague on Wednesday.
The force said Italian fans attacked West Ham fans in a bar in the country’s capital, with three people being left injured as a result.
It was also confirmed a police officer had been attacked during the incident.
Following the clash, 16 people were detained as police “restricted the personal freedom” of those suspected to be involved.
A translation of a Czech police tweet said: “Italy fans attacked West Ham fans in a bar in Rytirska Street, injuring three. One policeman was also attacked. We have restricted the personal freedom of 16 people and we are currently investigating the whole…
Sporting Kansas City are unlikely to make another move to try and sign Cristiano Ronaldo in an attempt to compete with Inter Miami bringing in Lionel Messi.
That is according to SKC coach Peter Vermes.
Sporting were interested in signing Ronaldo after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner left Manchester United late last year.
However, the MLS side could not make a deal work that would compete with the offer Ronaldo received from Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.
It was confirmed this week that Messi would be joining SKC’s league rivals Miami, but Vermes shrugged off the chance of signing Ronaldo.
“No, he’s wrapped up for two years on a significant amount of money. I think the transfer fee would be a little out of our range,” he said ahead of SKC�…
Rubin Kazan travel to Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, aiming for a repeat of last season s heroics.
Barcelona have already secured first place in Group D, leaving Rubin and FC Copenhagen to battle it out for the runners-up spot.
The Russian side are second going into the final matchday, with Copenhagen one point behind in third.
The Danish champions have a winnable game at home to last-placed Greek side Panathinaikos, meaning Rubin must look to win in Camp Nou to guarantee passage to the knock-out stages.
Victories at the home of the imperious La Liga champions do not come easily, but Rubin are one side to have tasted that rarest of commodities in recent times.
Goals from Aleksandr Ryazantsev and Karadeniz Gokdeniz secured a famou…
Newly appointed Boca Juniors manager Julio Cesar Falcioni said he brings more than just tactical nous to the club.
The 54-year-old Falcioni came to the club from rival Argentine outfit Banfield after former manager Claudio Borghi resigned in November, and the new boss said his aim was to get the best out of his players.
I am coming to give the side commitment, hard work and discipline, which goes beyond the players technical ability, Falcioni said.
We will try to work together, help and get them physically ready, and solve any situations which may arise football is not played with the feet, but with the heart and head as well.
The players are distressed (so) we have to create a strong group.
Boca struggled in the recently completed Apertura …
Werder Bremen forward Max Kruse has caught the eye of top Bundesliga clubs, according to Bild.
The 29-year-old had struggled after leaving Borussia M’gladbach for Wolfsburg and his unprofessional behaviour cost him the opportunity to represent Germany at the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 finals.
Last summer, Kruse accepted a major pay cut to sign for Werder Bremen and that proved a very good decision.
The experienced forward managed to kick-start his career at Weserstadion, bagging 14 goals in just 21 league appearances this season.
And with his release clause standing at €12 million, there are quite a few top sides in German Bundesliga that are looking to snatch him from Werder Bremen.
It remains to be seen whether Kruse will be interested in…
Monaco chief executive Vadim Vasilyev says the Ligue 1 champions are ready to offer Radamel Falcao a contract renewal following his fine performances in 2016-17.
Falcao returned to Monaco ahead of this season following disappointing loan spells with Manchester United and Chelsea and played a key role in their successful campaign.
The 31-year-old netted 30 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions this term and Monaco are keen to prolong his stay at the Stade Louis II, with his existing deal due to expire in 2018.
I can confirm that we will offer Falcao a contract renewal, Vasilyev told Telefoot.
Head coach Leonardo Jardim played a major role in Falcao s resurgence and Monaco are keen to hold on to the Portuguese boss after he guided Monaco to the Frenc…
Karim Benzema has reportedly revealed he would be open to the possibility of playing in the MLS after his time with Real Madrid comes to an end.
The French striker is under contract with the 13-time European champions until the summer of 2023, when he will be 35 years old. However, as he told ESPN (via ), he doesn t consider age to be that important for him. It s rather about how he feels, and he intends to keep playing for as long as his body allows him to do so without forcing.
A number of top players have spent some time late in their glittering careers in the MLS David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Jermaine Defoe, and many others. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been linked with moves over the Atlantic in the past t…