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Report: Euro club considering a bid for £36.7m Chelsea star, club open to selling
Napoli are reportedly considering a move for Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech. According to reports from Calciomercato, Chelsea are open to selling Ziyech in the summer transfer window. The Moroccan winger arrived from Ajax in a £36.7 million transfer last summer, and he impressed in his first season at the club. The 28-year-old bagged six goals and four assists in all competitions, including strikes against Manchester City in the FA Cup and Premier League. However, Calciomercato are reporting that several Italian clubs are plotting a move to sign Ziyech this summer. Serie A giants Napoli are considering a bid for the left-footed winger, with new boss Luciano Spalletti keen to make his mark on the squad after taking over this summer. AC Milan could also be tempted to move fo...
Gary Lineker’s nine-word reaction to Fabrizio Romano’s transfer update on Liverpool player
Gini Wijnaldum is set to reject Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain. Although technically still a Liverpool player, it has been known for months that the 30-year-old will be heading elsewhere this summer. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has provided daily updates on this saga, but the latest development is truly intriguing. Since bidding goodbye to Liverpool, Wijnaldum has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, with Dutch boss Ronald Koeman a keen admirer. Despite interest from Bayern Munich, it looked certain that he would join the Catalan giants on a free transfer. However, in a dramatic turn of events, PSG moved in quickly and are now in the driving seat to sign the Dutch midfielder who is currently busy with the national team preparing for the European Championships. ‘...
Leeds and Brighton & Hove Albion keen on signing 23-year-old defensive midfielder – report
Leed United and Brighton & Hove Albion have joined the race to sign Sparta Rotterdam midfielder Abdou Harroui in the upcoming transfer window, Football Insider claims. The 23-year-old has impressed for Netherlands at the Under-21 European Championships, where Rangers have been keeping tabs on him. It is now reported that Leeds and Brighton have entered the pursuit of the Dutchman, who is approaching the final year of his contract with the club. Rotterdam are prepared to sanction his sale for the right price. Harroui has spent his entire career with the club, making 102 appearances. Sportslens view: Harroui can play in different midfield positions, but he played regularly in the holding midfield role during the back end of last season. Leeds currently have Kalvin Phillips fixed for...
West Ham and Tottenham stars in line to shine in tough Euro 2020 group
Of all the Euro 2020 groups, Group D is perhaps the one with the fieriest rivalries. England begin their campaign with a clash against Croatia. The Three Lions will still be hurting from the World Cup semi-final defeat back in 2018, and will be hungry for revenge. They follow this up with a fixture against neighbours Scotland, who qualified for their first major tournament since 1998. England vs Scotland at Wembley? Yes please! The final team in the group is Czech Republic. Despite being underdogs, they boast the best finish in European Championship history in their group, finishing second in 1996. It’s shaping up to be a group worth watching. Croatia – Mislav Orsic Orsic destroyed one English team – can he do it again? The man who gives Tottenham Hotspur fans nightmares. Mislav Orsic has ...
Real Madrid and Inter Milan stars on a mission to restore their reputations at Euro 2020
Group B kicks off at Euro 2020 next week, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting set. Belgium head into the tournament as favourites, boasting several world-class players. However, they cannot afford to underestimate their opposition. Denmark have been tipped by many as possible dark horses for the tournament, while Belgians remember what Wales did to them five years ago. And then there’s Finland, who enter their first-ever major tournament this summer. Here’s one player from each Group B side to look out for this tournament. Belgium – Eden Hazard Can Hazard get back to his best with Belgium? Belgium enter the tournament with some of the world’s most in-form players. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois – all among some of the best in the world in their positions. And, up until ...
Chelsea extend 34-year-old star’s contract, may move on 23-year-old this summer
Chelsea sprung a surprise this weekend by confirming that striker Olivier Giroud had extended his contract with the club for another year. He scored just four Premier League goals last season from 17 appearances and was widely tipped to be heading out of the club this summer. However, director Marina Granovskaia told the club’s official website that she was delighted to agree a new deal with the Frenchman. “Olivier has been such a crucial part of so many big moments for this club, from his contribution to our FA Cup victory in 2018 to scoring 11 goals on the way to winning the Europa League in 2019,” she said. “He has continued to score significant goals, and we will never forget his effort against Atletico Madrid on the way to winning the Champions League this season. ...
Barcelona and Real Madrid player wage cuts expected to continue next season
It is no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in crippling financial implications for clubs across the globe. The world’s strongest sides have been no exception to this, with La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid amongst those affected. The fierce rivals have felt the repercussions of the pandemic significantly harder than their European counterparts, who benefit from more elaborate broadcasting rights and stronger financial stability from billionaire owners. Barcelona are estimated to have surrendered close to €500 million in revenue due to COVID-19, while Madrid’s losses are around €400m. During the first coronavirus lockdown in March 2020, Los Blancos players agreed to a 10% wage cut to allow non-playing staff to receive their full pay. The Barca squad agreed to give up ...
Real Madrid star leads the mutiny as several Brazil players ready to boycott Copa America
The 2021 Copa America is under threat after it was reported that several Brazilian players were contemplating boycotting the tournament. According to reports from Spanish publication AS, several players from the Brazil camp are ready to walk out after the country was announced as hosts amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. The popular international tournament was supposed to be hosted by Colombia and Argentina. However, both were removed as co-hosts following street protests and a rise in coronavirus cases. Brazil were given the duty to host the tournament by CONMEBOL at the last minute after a bid from the United States was rejected. Brazil is one of the worst affected pandemic-hit countries in the world, with the death toll in the nation is over 470,000. The New York Times reports th...
Report: Euro giants looking to hijack Barcelona’s attempt to sign 74-cap int’l
Paris Saint-Germain are trying to hijack a move for Gini Wijnaldum. Barcelona have been trying to sign the 74-times capped Dutch international on a free transfer for months now. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has been regularly delivering updates on Twitter on the 30-year-old. His contract at Anfield expires at the end of this month, and he has already confirmed that his next destination would be somewhere else. Romano claims that Barcelona are “already planning” medicals for Wijnaldum, and they are hoping to tie him to a contract until 2024. However, according to ESPN, the French giants are looking to hijack their attempt to sign the midfielder. Wijnaldum is currently preparing for the European Championships with Netherlands, but clubs want to secure his signa...
Report: Tottenham eye move for 102-cap int’l who has won eight league titles
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly looking to add a defender in the summer transfer window. Spurs are without a manager at the moment, with the latest report from Sky Sports claiming that they have called off plans to appoint Antonio Conte after a breakdown in talks. However, Fabio Paratici is expected to join Spurs as the new director of football as early as next week. He has already accepted the offer from the north London club. Agreement reached, matter of details. Fabio Paratici joins Tottenham as new director of football, he’s expected to sign next week. He’ll be involved in the new manager decision – Paratici spoke with Levy and will accept the job despite Conte refused to join Spurs. ⚪️ #THFC — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 4, 2021 The appoin...
Barcelona are keen on Valencia star to challenge 32-year-old
Barcelona are interested in signing Valencia captain Jose Gaya as they look to improve their defensive options for next season, according to Mundo Deportivo. After finishing third in La Liga and failing to challenge for the Champions League, the Blaugrana are looking to make wholesale changes to their squad this summer. The club have already taken steps to improve their defence by signing Emerson Royal from Real Betis. If Gaya arrives at Camp Nou he will be competing with Jordi Alba, who has been a regular in the club’s first-team since he arrived from Valencia in 2012. Now 32-years-old, they need to bring in someone who can provide the Spaniard with competition while also serving as his potential long-term replacement. While Valencia finished 13th in the Spanish top-flight last season, Ga...
Report: Villa set to sign 24-year-old Arsenal target on a club-record deal
Aston Villa are set to sign Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City. According to reports from The Mirror, Villa are set to complete Buendia’s signing in the next few days. The news would come as a big blow to Arsenal, who are also interested in signing the Norwich City winger. The 24-year-old was named the Championship player of the season after helping the Canaries secure promotion with 15 goals and 17 assists. Understand Aston Villa have moved ahead in the pursuit of Emi Buendia. They are closer to meeting Norwich’s demands. — Charles Watts (@charles_watts) June 5, 2021 The report claims that Villa are set to complete the formalities within the next 72 hours. Villa paid around £28 million to sign Ollie Watkins from Brentford last summer, but Buendia’s move would eclipse that fee. Accord...
