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Chelsea confirm midfielder’s exit after 16-year stint
Chelsea have confirmed that midfielder Luke McCormick has completed a permanent transfer to AFC Wimbledon. McCormick joined the Blues as a six-year-old and subsequently progressed through the ranks alongside Mason Mount and Trevor Chalobah. He was part of the youth team side that won a clean sweep of three domestic trophies under Jody Morris in 2016/17. He also starred on the European stage, making a significant impact for the club’s U19 team in the UEFA Youth League. He has spent the last two seasons on loan deals with Shrewsbury Town and Bristol Rovers, and will now be eager to cement a regular place with Wimbledon. SL View McCormick was a standout performer for Bristol Rovers last season but was unable to prevent them from sliding into League 2. His willingness to put in crunching chall...
Chelsea ditch Mourinho reject who became a Premier League winner
Victor Moses has ended his miserable spell at Chelsea by completing a permanent move to Spartak Moscow. According to the club’s official website, Moses has agreed to sign for Spartak after enjoying a successful loan spell with them last season. Moses made just 128 appearances for the Blues, although he did collect Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League winners medals during his time with the club. SL View Plenty was expected of Moses when he joined Chelsea from Wigan Athletic in 2012, but he largely failed to live up to expectations. Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge the following year didn’t help Moses, with the Portuguese quickly discarding the player. Loan spells at Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham United didn’t work out, but Antonio Conte’s arrival as manager proved to be a...
Bundesliga man shines, Barcelona and Liverpool players impress – Spain 1-1 Switzerland Player Ratings
Spain qualified for the semi-finals of Euro 2020 following a penalty shootout against Switzerland. Spain had the better of the opening exchanges and took advantage of their dominance in the eighth minute. Jordi Alba struck a shot from range which deflected kindly into the top corner off the right boot of Denis Zakaria. It was later ruled as an own goal. There wasn’t a whole lot of first-half action outside of the goal. Cesar Azpilicueta headed straight into the arms of Yann Sommer, and Manuel Akanji and Nico Elvedi both missed the target from Xherdan Shaqiri corners. The whistle went with Luis Enrique’s men 1-0 up. They had enjoyed 71% possession but only managed three attempts to Switzerland’s four. The Swiss came out in the second half fighting for the equaliser. Zakaria almost atoned fo...
Manchester United could swap Paul Pogba to sign €70m-rated transfer target – report
Manchester United could offer Paul Pogba in a swap deal to sign Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane this summer, AS reports. The Red Devils recently reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund to sign long-term target Jadon Sancho. They have agreed to pay around €85 million. They are now likely to focus on signing a new centre-back, with Varane the priority. However, they are not in a position to meet the price tag. After the huge outlay on Sancho, the club can’t afford more than €45m for the World Cup winner. Los Blancos value the centre-back at €70m. Pogba has been a long-term target for Madrid, and it is claimed that the Red Devils could propose a possible swap deal for Varane’s services. Sportslens view: Pogba and Varane have entered the final year of their contracts and...
Inter Milan duo get on scoresheet, former Premier League defender disappoints – Belgium 1-2 Italy Player Ratings
Belgium have been knocked out of the European Championships after losing 2-1 to Italy on Friday. Italy thought they had taken an early lead when Leonardo Bonucci bundled home at the back post from a free-kick. However, replays showed that he was marginally offside, and VAR intervened to overturn the decision. Belgium responded with a couple of chances of their own. Gianluigi Donnarumma twice had to be at his best, denying Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. And moments later, Italy got themselves in front. Jan Vertonghen made a mess of a clearance, and it fell to Nicolo Barella in the box. The Inter Milan midfielder wriggled away from Thomas Vermaelen and Thorgan Hazard and slammed into the far corner. They continued to push for a second, and they were rewarded with a fantastic goal just be...
Arsenal warned off signing £35 million international star
Not long to go now folks! We’re around an hour away from the start of the quarter-finals at the European Championships. It’s the ‘tough half of the draw’ this evening as Spain face Switzerland, while Italy go head-to-head with Belgium. On Saturday we’ve got Czech Republic against Denmark and England versus Ukraine. Or, as most of the English media would have you believe, England are playing and no one else. Ahead of the action, we’ve dug out three stories that have caught our attention for our latest Euro 2020 Diary. Arsenal warned off Locatelli ‘I’m not a manager, but it’s not something I would do if I was in Mikel Arteta’s shoes.’ Nigel Winterburn there, telling the current Arsenal boss not to sign Manuel Locatelli. The 23-year-old has been superb at Euro 2020, sparking talk that he coul...
‘Cheaper option’ – Spurs ‘have an eye on’ 23-year-old West Ham target
Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to bolster their defence this summer, with Fabio Paratici looking to sign at least one, if not two, centre-backs for Nuno Espirito Santo. Toby Alderweireld has told the club that he wants to leave this summer, and Spurs will not stand in his way if a good offer comes for him. Spurs will still have Davinson Sanchez, Joe Rodon, Eric Dier and Japhet Tanganga as other options if the Belgian leaves the club. However, one or two quality centre-backs are required. The Athletic reported today that Jules Kounde of Sevilla and Lyon’s Joachim Andersen are being targeted. The north London club also ‘retain an interest’ in Milian Skriniar, while Spurs have also made a bid of €15 million (£12.9 million) plus add-ons for Bologna’s Takehiro Tomiyasu. Accor...
Argentina vs Ecuador – Copa America 2021 Preview, Head To Head, Players to Watch & Predicted Line-ups
Argentina return to action with their first knockout fixture of Copa America 2021 as they lock horns with Ecuador at the Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico on Sunday. Argentina’s quest of winning their first continental crown since 2013 got off to a flying start as Lionel Messi looks to add a first international title to his illustrious cabinet. On the other hand, Ecuador’s hopes of achieving their first Copa America glory face a formidable challenge, especially considering how they played in the group phase. Argentina Preview Argentina made light work of their Copa America group stage campaign, finishing top of the section with three consecutive victories following a 1-1 draw with Chile on Matchday 1. La Albiceleste have now advanced to the major tournament knock-out stages for the 11th time...
Arsenal move closer to completing transfer deal, player on his way to England
Benfica left-back Nuno Tavares is on his way to England to complete his move to Arsenal. The 21-year-old’s agent, Rafael Santos, has posted a picture on his Facebook page showing him alongside his client in a plane at Lisbon International Airport. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed earlier this week that the Gunners had agreed an €8 million fee plus add-ons for Tavares. SL View Kieran Tierney recently signed a new five-year deal with Arsenal and Tavares will serve as his back-up. Tierney has struggled to stay fit since joining the Gunners and they haven’t had an adequate replacement. Tavares bagged three assists from 25 appearances in all competitions last term and has the potential to challenge Tierney next season. The Portugal U21 international featured as a substitute for Benfic...
Deputy governor unveils new coach for Edo Queens
The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has announced Wemimo Matthew as the new head coach for Edo Queens Football Club with a charge to return the team to its glory days. Shaibu who supervised the unveiling ceremony at the New Festival Hall, Government House, on Friday, charged the new coach to use her wealth of experience to transform the team. He said, “What we’ve done with Edo Queens is to make it a model for the girl child to look up to. So, we decided to unveil a new head coach because of our poor performance in the just concluded Super Six tournament. “Coach Wemimo Matthew is well-educated, highly disciplined and she has the knack for unearthing and grooming young talents. We have already felt her impact since she joined the team. “She will help us develop young talent and ...
Paratici has made an approach to sign 100-cap int’l for Spurs…he’s signed him before
Tottenham Hotspur have made an approach to sign Miralem Pjanic from Barcelona this summer. According to reports from Catalan media outlet Sport, Spurs want to sign the 31-year-old midfielder on loan. Pjanic is one of the several fringe players Barcelona are trying to offload. Several Serie A clubs have shown interest in signing him, including Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan. Pjanic joined Barcelona in 2020 from Juventus and made 30 appearances in all competitions for them last season. If he returns to Italy, he would prefer to return to his former club where he won four league titles. Spurs are looking to bolster their midfield this summer, with the futures of Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko uncertain. Fabio Paratici, who previously signed Pjanic for Juventus from AS Roma, now wants to b...
Bielsa target finally breaks silence after report claimed Leeds move is imminent
Nahitan Nandez has suggested that he doesn’t know anything about a potential move to Leeds United when speaking to Centotrentuno. La Nuova Sardegna claimed just a few days ago that the 25-year-old midfielder was closing in on a move to Elland Road. The diminutive Uruguayan is ideally suited to the robust and intense nature of Premier League football. Nandez is aggressive in the tackle and a really tenacious competitor. He possesses everything that the Whites need in the middle of the park. Marcelo Bielsa would undoubtedly love to have the Cagliari ace amongst his ranks. Nandez breaks silence about potential Leeds move Nandez spoke to Centotrentuno and poured cold water on talk of an imminent move to Elland Road: “The rumours about Leeds? I heard, but honestly I don’t know anything yet...
