Month: December 2024

Kyle Walker s fresh contract running until 2024 continues a trend at Pep Guardiola s Manchester City.

The Catalan led his club to back-to-back Premier League titles last season, before completing a clean sweep of domestic honours and he is keen to keep a core of proven winners together.

An ongoing FIFA investigation into City that could result in a transfer ban means this approach could be prudent, although it is a policy that predates football s authorities taking an active interest in the club s affairs.

A £50million signing from Tottenham in 2017, England defender Walker is in it for the long haul at the Etihad Stadium – and he is far from the only one.

Another  years of this guy  

— Manchester City (@ManCity)

Kyle Walker (age 2…

Manchester City s title defence has not started according to plan, with the champions already trailing Liverpool by eight points.

Jurgen Klopp s side have won eight from eight in the Premier League, while City headed into the international break on the back of a surprise home defeat to Wolves.

For Pep Guardiola, City s defence has to be a huge concern, even though the former Barcelona boss has insisted the club will not be looking to replace the injured Aymeric Laporte in January.

Laporte is set to miss the majority of the season after sustaining an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury in August, while Vincent Kompany has left a sizeable void in City s defence.

Nicolas Otamendi has been largely unconvincing, while John Stones has his own injury problems and …

Luis Enrique insists Spain will not take any chances by trying to engineer a specific result against Japan in an attempt to avoid Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals.

La Roja face Samurai Blue on Thursday knowing a victory will secure top spot in Group E and set up a last-16 clash with the runners-up from Group F.

But that would also put them on track to play the Selecao in the last eight.

Trying to avoid Brazil has been a topic of much debate during Spain s media duties in the past few days, and Luis Enrique even confessed to discussing the situation with his team.

But trying to manipulate a result that would see Spain finish second is far too risky for Luis Enrique s liking.

Great question, we ve wondered about this and reflected on it. From…

Hansi Flick insists Germany deserved maximum points after coming from behind to beat Romania in World Cup qualifying Group J on Friday.

Thomas Muller s late strike earned a 2-1 victory for Flick s side in Hamburg, after Serge Gnabry cancelled out Ianis Hagi s first-half effort.

As a result, Die Mannschaft moved six points clear at the top of Group J with three matches remaining, and could seal their qualification by beating North Macedonia on Monday.

They also made it four wins from four under Flick, whose perfect start since replacing Joachim Low after Euro 2020 continues.

The former Bayern Munich boss was disappointed by the manner in which Germany conceded the opening goal – the first of his tenure – having seen the initial awarding of a penalty ov…

Former Liverpool youth coach Hugh McAuley has hailed Jamie Carragher, after the defender announced this season would be his last.

The 35-year-old, who made his Reds debut as a teenager more than 17 years ago, announced on Thursday that he will leave the Merseyside club upon the expiry of his contract at season s end.

And McAuley, who oversaw the club s youth teams between 1990 and 2009 including the victorious FA Youth Cup squad of 1996 which included Carragher insisted the centre-back s strong character was clear from day one.

When he turned up for his first training session, there was a feeling he was very enthusiastic, always very vocal, the 60-year-old told Goal.com. Even as a nine-year-old, he was bossing people around, talking to them and organising thi…

AC Milan are showing interest in Empoli defender Vasco Regini, .

The Rossoneri have made a genuine U-turn in their transfer strategy, having completely switched their attention towards young and talented players.

Having signed Bartosz Salamon from Brescia last summer and having already agreed to recruit Empoli midfielder Riccardo Saponara, the Italian giants look ready to continue signing players from Serie B.

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Roberto Bosco, a member of Max Allegri’s coaching team, watched Empoli defender Vasoc Regini in a 3-2 win over Modena.

The left-back, who is co-owned by Sampdoria, is a potential long-term solution for the left-back position at San Siro, and Milan plan to continue monitoring his progress over the next few mon…

Arsenal s Mesut Ozil.

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil was rumoured to be leaving the club this summer as a result of him stalling on contract talks – with his deal up next summer. Fenerbahce in Turkey were linked.

But with transfer talk cooling in recent weeks and the reality of a large financial outlay likely to put off potential suitors, the German midfielder now looks likely to stay at the Emirates.

And here are three reasons why…

Large asking price and lofty wage demands

Ozil cost Arsenal £42m in 2013 and is reported to be on a salary worth around £8m-a-year. The Gunners are keen to keep the German international at the club but won’t want to sell him for a cut-price. As a result, suitors will have to stump up close to £40m if they want …

Former Chelsea star Frank Lampard has warned that the Premier League champions will face a big test to continue their dominance next season.

The Blues claimed a second title in three seasons on Friday after their 1-0 win away to West Brom ensured that they cannot be caught by second-place Tottenham in their final three matches.

The triumph marks a stunning debut campaign in England for head coach Antonio Conte, who can still claim the domestic double should Chelsea beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final.

Lampard, however, says fans should not forget their dismal title defence under Jose Mourinho last season and expects Chelsea s title rivals to put up a stronger fight in 2017-18.

It will be a big test next year, he told Sky Sports. It s the second season, and …

According to , Manchester United have opened talks with Premier League rivals Tottenham about signing centre-back Toby Alderweireld. The Belgian international fell out-of-favour at Spurs towards the end of the season after a contract dispute.

The highly-rated defender is out-of-contract at the north London club in the summer of 2020, but negotiations over a new deal have so far stalled. Reportedly, Spurs are now willing to allow the former Atletico Madrid star leave. A fee of around £75million is mooted in the media, which reportedly United are happy to pay.

One of the best centre-backs

Since his arrival at Southampton on –loan back in 2014, Alderweireld has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. The 29-year-old has played a key p…

Market: Houston Dynamo win

Odds: 

Two sides that will be looking to book their spot in the semi-finals of this years US Open Cup, Houston Dynamo will welcome Sporting KC to the BBVA Compass Stadium in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Starting with the hosts, although Wilmer Cabrera s side may currently sit outside of the playoff positions in the Western Conference, Houston will be confident about booking their spot in the semi-finals of this seasons US Open Cup. Coming off the back of a 0-0 draw with Colorado Rapids last week, The Dynamo s are currently on a three-match unbeaten run and are yet to concede a goal in the cup. Houston will also be boosted by their record against Kansas, along with losing just one of their last nine at home, The Dynamo have o…