Bundesliga
Pundit says Chelsea target could leave if club fails to qualify for Champions League
European football expert Lars Sivertsen believes that Erling Braut Haaland will push for a summer move if Borussia Dortmund fail to qualify for the Champions League. Dortmund’s 4-2 defeat against Bayern Munich on Saturday left them sixth in the Bundesliga, four points behind fourth place with 10 games remaining. The 20-year-old has been linked with all of Europe’s top clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City. Sivertsen suggested it could be difficult for Dortmund to keep hold of Haaland if they don’t force their way back into the top four in Germany. “I think the plan was very much for him to stay at Dortmund for one more year but, of course, everyone in Norway wants to know what will change if they don’t make the Champions League,” Sivertsen told talkSPORT. “He...
Kingsley Coman rejects Bayern Munich contract offer
Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman has turned down the club’s first contract extension offer, reports Kicker. Coman joined Bayern Munich in 2015 as a teenager, initially on loan from Juventus before arriving permanently two years later. Despite high competition for places and several injury problems, he has made 188 appearances for the Bavarians, scoring 39 times. The peak of his career at the Bundesliga giants came in August 2020, when he headed home from Joshua Kimmich’s cross for the only goal in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Coman’s header secured a treble for Bayern Munich The winger is currently enjoying his most productive season yet at Bayern, scoring three and assisting nine in the Bundesliga while recording another five goal contributions in the Champio...
Haaland may have to alter Chelsea stance after Dortmund defeat
Erling Braut Haaland. At 5.39 pm on Saturday, his transfer value was at an all-time high. Two goals for Borussia Dortmund at Bayern Munich showcased his quality in front of goal. Step forward Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker demonstrated just who is the number one striker in world football with a hat-trick as Bayern secured a 4-2 victory. Despite the defeat, having averaged a goal-per-game during his time with Dortmund, it is no surprise that Haaland has been linked with all of Europe’s top clubs. However, the reports earlier this week that 20-year-old will only consider a move to six clubs in Europe smacks of someone who is getting ahead of themselves a little. Despite Haaland’s scoring exploits, Dortmund have won just half of their games in the Bundesliga this season. Scoring for f...
Bundesliga: RB Leipzig knock Bayern Munich from top after romp at Freiburg
RB Leipzig climbed top of the Bundesliga on Saturday with a 3-0 romp at Freiburg to replace previous leaders Bayern Munich, who later host Dortmund in Germany’s ‘Klassiker’. Christopher Nkunku, Alexander Sorloth and Emil Forsberg scored the goals in Freiburg which lifted Leipzig one point ahead of Bayern, who are at home to Dortmund (1730GMT). “That was a mature performance,” Leipzig sports director Markus Kroesche told Sky. “Anything is possible,” he replied when asked if Leipzig can stop Bayern winning a ninth straight league title this season. Leipzig impressed in their final tune-up before facing Liverpool in Budapest next Wednesday in the last 16 of the Champions League having lost the first leg 2-0. Leipzig took the lead at Freiburg after a first-half blunder by home goalkeeper Flori...
Chelsea set ‘exit price’ of £52 million for Bayern target
Bayern Munich are interested in signing Chelsea star Christian Pulisic. According to TodoFichajes, the Bundesliga giants view Pulisic as a potential replacement for Kingsley Coman. The 24-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester United, potentially paving the way for Pulisic to return to the Bundesliga. The United States international has shown flashes of brilliance at Chelsea, but he is yet to establish himself as a regular starter. SL view Chelsea paid Borussia Dortmund more than £57 million for Pulisic in 2019 and it is fair to say that their outlay has not been successful thus far. The Blues are said to be ready to cut their losses on the 22-year-old and accept an ‘exit fee’ of £52m from Bayern this summer. However, it would be a surprise if Chelsea were looking to offload Pu...
Defender misses out for Man City, Monchengladbach forward may return
Borussia Monchengladbach and Manchester City meet in the Champions League knockout stage for the first time on Wednesday. Monchengladbach will not enjoy the privilege of playing at Borussia-Park. Due to the ongoing restrictions imposed on English travellers, the encounter will be staged at Puskas Arena in Budapest. Gladbach’s wobble on various fronts continued last weekend as they succumbed to a shocking 2-1 loss to relegation-threatened Mainz 05. The Foals have now failed to win four of their previous five competitive fixtures (D2, L2), including the last four. It is not the kind of statistic Marco Rose’s side will be looking to dwell on ahead of their meeting with one of the best European teams at the moment. A 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League back in November 2020 was...
RB Leipzig boss emerges as Tottenham’s ‘top target’ to replace Jose Mourinho
RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann has emerged as the likely candidate to replace Jose Mourinho, should Tottenham’s current slump continue. Spurs began the season in excellent form and even topped the table as recently as early December, yet just a few months later, Mourinho’s men find themselves 23 points behind leaders Manchester City and with a real job to do to secure a top-four spot. Their defeat to London rivals West Ham United on Sunday means they are now nine points behind the Hammers in fourth, albeit with a game in hand on David Moyes’ side. Despite a late rally in that game, inspired by half-time substitute Gareth Bale, Tottenham’s defensive woes once again came to the fore, the centre-back pairing of Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez looking particularly shaky in recent weeks. With...
RB Leipzig boss emerges as Tottenham’s ‘top target’ to replace Jose Mourinho
RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann has emerged as the likely candidate to replace Jose Mourinho, should Tottenham’s current slump continue. Spurs began the season in excellent form and even topped the table as recently as early December, yet just a few months later, Mourinho’s men find themselves 23 points behind leaders Manchester City and with a real job to do to secure a top-four spot. Their defeat to London rivals West Ham United on Sunday means they are now nine points behind the Hammers in fourth, albeit with a game in hand on David Moyes’ side. Despite a late rally in that game, inspired by half-time substitute Gareth Bale, Tottenham’s defensive woes once again came to the fore, the centre-back pairing of Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez looking particularly shaky in recent weeks. With...
German club preparing for 26-year-old’s exit, Tottenham Hotspur interested in signing him
RB Leipzig are preparing for the possible departure of Marcel Sabitzer, who is on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur, a report from SportBild claims. Sabitzer has been with Leipzig since their time in Bundesliga 2 and he has gone on to become one of their undisputed starters as the club captain. He had his standout season last term where he registered 16 goals and 11 assists from 44 appearances as the majority of his playing time came from the right wing. In the current campaign, he has operated mostly in a central midfield role but has still impressed with five goals and five assists to date. His present contract with Leipzig expires in June 2021 and it is reported that the club are preparing for his summer exit in case they are unable to renew his deal. Spurs have been credited with an ...
Ex-Liverpool forward makes bizarre claim about Haaland and Mbappe
Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has made a bizarre claim about Erling Braut Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. The Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain forwards shone in the Champions League in midweek, sparking talk that they will be the dominant force in football over the next few years. The pair have been tipped to have the same impact as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but Heskey has poured cold water on that prediction. Speaking to talkSPORT, Heskey said that Haaland and Mbappe are not in the same league as a young Michael Owen. “Whenever everyone talks about stats and young players coming through at a certain age, I always go to Michael,” Heskey said. “I start comparing them with him, and a lot of them don’t compare to him. For the stuff he did and the age he did it at, and hi...
Leon Balogun impresses at right back in Europa League for Rangers
Super Eagles center back Leon Balogun impressed in a right-back role as Rangers won in a seven -goal thriller in the Europa League round of 32 clash against Royal Antwerp at Bosuilstadion on Thursday night. With 24 minutes played, the Nigeria international came off the bench to replace Rangers skipper James Tavernier, who was not able to continue due to an injury. The right-back position is not entirely new to Balogun as he has played in that role for the national team, Mainz and Brighton & Hove. In fact, he made his debut for the Super Eagles as a right-back when he replaced Efe Ambrose in the second half of a pre-World Cup friendly against Mexico in March 2014. “I was back to an old role and I was happy I can still play it,” Balogun said at yesterday’s press conference. “I think the ...
Leeds receive boost to sign 31-cap int’l star after Euro club make transfer decision
German giants Bayern Munich have no interest in keeping Douglas Costa beyond this season, according to reports from Kicker. Costa joined the Bundesliga champions on loan from Juventus this summer. However, Bayern have no intention to make his loan deal a permanent one. His decision to join Bayern came as a big surprise. Bayern already boast two of the finest young wingers in Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry. On top of that, they also signed Leroy Sane from Manchester City on a big-money deal. Costa, who has made just three starts in Bundesliga, is unwanted at Turin and the Old Lady are looking to offload him in the summer. He is not in Andrea Pirlo’s first-team plans, with the club considering him surplus to requirements. Costa will enter the final year of his contract at the...
