English Premier League

Biggest Football Club Sponsorships in 2020

The global appeal of football makes it a hugely lucrative proposition for brands who are eager to showcase their goods and services. Financial services, sportswear, gambling, airlines and automotive are amongst a plethora of sectors that have some form of financial link-up with the sport. This has allowed clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester United to become truly global brands that generate huge revenues on an annual basis. Read on as we look at some of the biggest clubs in the world and the money-spinning sponsorship agreements they currently benefit from. Real Madrid According to Forbes, La Liga giants Real Madrid are currently ranked as the most valuable football club in the world. Their total revenue for 2018/19 was more than £665 million, with over 40 percent of that figure gener...

Preview: Newcastle United v Manchester United

Newcastle United and Manchester United will return to action in the Premier League this weekend when they face each other at St. James’ Park. The match is slated to kick off at 8pm on Saturday, and it promises to be an intriguing game of football. Newcastle United Newcastle have made a good start to their 2020-21 Premier League campaign and are ninth in the table with seven points from four matches. The Magpies won 3-1 against Burnley at home in the league before the two-week international break and will be looking to pick up maximum points against the Red Devils. Steve Bruce’s side will be aiming to push for the top 10 in the Premier League table this season after finishing 13th in 2019-20. It is not going to be easy, but a win against United at home could enhance their chances and boost ...

Everton vs Liverpool Preview: Team News, Predicted line-ups, Stats

Everton vs LiverpoolEnglish Premier League Venue: Goodison ParkDate: 17 October 2020 After a brief hiatus of international football, the Premier League is back again this weekend, and it starts off with the lunch-time kick-off of the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. Liverpool are still one of the places in the UK that are reeling under tier-three lockdown, and in times like these, it’s really hard to shift the focus to football, especially with Goodison Park remaining without fans for such a momentous occasion. WATCH: Scenes in Liverpool city centre as people take to the streets just hours before the city region goes into Tier 3 lockdown restrictions. I wonder how @MetroMayorSteve and @mayor_anderson feel about this. @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/mYUN9AsBGy — Inzamam Rashid (@inzyrashid) Octo...

Transitioning Teams and Europe

Why the failure to qualify for Europe for a transitioning team could be a blessing in disguise. European qualification in many footballing leagues and cultures is considered one of the more realistic targets at the start of a season. While the league title is there to be taken by an elusive team,  there are six to seven teams that get to play in the European competitions namely, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. The fans of every team with a decent top-10 caliber squad expect their teams to be in the mix to achieve the said target. The traditional ‘Top’ teams are by nature expected to have that level of consistency every season they grace the pitch. This very expectation and excitement turn into rage and criticism when their respective teams can’t manage to ch...

‘Magical powers’: Liverpool star raves about player who Spurs wanted to sign this summer

Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino has showered heaps of praise on Brazilian teammate Philippe Coutinho. Firmino has hailed the former Liverpool midfielder as an ‘unbelievable player’. Coutinho, who moved to Barcelona from Liverpool, was heavily linked with a return to the Premier League, with clubs like Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and the Reds being linked. According to reports from The Independent, Barcelona were interested in signing Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele and were willing to offer Coutinho plus cash in order to sign the player. It was reported that the Catalan giants were long-term admirers of Ndombele, and were interested in signing him last summer before Spurs did. Coutinho was also linked with a return to Liverpool, but Reds boss Jurgen Klopp wen...

‘Not surprised’ – Some West Ham fans react after hearing £25m transfer might not happen

Crystal Palace could make a late move for the Brentford winger Said Benrahma. West Ham had agreed a £25 million deal with the Championship club for the Algerian winger but it seems that the move is in danger of collapse now. Apparently the 25-year-old has fallen out with the Championship club’s hierarchy over broken promises. The attacker was all set to undergo a medical with West Ham after returning from international duty but the deal appears to be off now as per Mirror. Benrahma scored 17 goals for Brentford last year and he would have been a sensational signing for West Ham United. It will be interesting to see if Palace can agree on a deal with the Championship outfit and sign the Algerian before the window closes. The 25-year-old has the quality to improve most midtable clubs in the ...

Memphis Depay’s three-word reaction after seeing clip of Ndombele in Spurs training

Tottenham Hotspur added six players to their first-team during the international summer transfer window, and they could still make one more signing before the EFL transfer deadline on Friday. While those players will no doubt help boost the quality of the Spurs squad, the club-record signing is also starting to live up to expectations after struggling last term. Tanguy Ndombele appears to have forced himself into the plans of head coach Jose Mourinho this term, featuring in seven games across all competitions and weighing in with two goals. The 23-year-old wasn’t called up by France for this month’s international break, and he has used that opportunity to continue working hard at Hotspur Way. Ndombele shared a clip of one of his training sessions on social media, and it left Lyon star Memp...

AVB reveals what led to the career turnaround of Tottenham’s £600k-a-week star

Speaking to COPA90, former Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas opened up on a conversation he had with Gareth Bale while both were still at the club, which eventually became a turning point in the Tottenham star’s career. The Welshman got off to a poor start when he joined Tottenham from Southampton in 2007 but has gone on to become one of the most dreaded forwards in the sports today.  While at White Hart Lane, Bale struggled to impress under a number of managers but his quality began to come to light when Harry Redknapp joined the club and even more under Villa-Boas.  The 31-year-old Welsh international, who recently returned to Spurs last month in a loan deal with Real Madrid, actually began his career as a left-back before being considered as an attacker.  Villas-Boas lifte...

‘Announce Joe Rodon’: Some Leeds fans react after hearing latest injury update

Leeds United will be without their skipper Liam Cooper in their next Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Whites confirmed yesterday that Cooper will be out for two weeks after he picked up a muscular injury whilst on international duty. Summer signing Diego Llorente is also likely to be absent. The Spaniard also picked a muscle injury during the international break. Both the players returned to Thorp Arch after picking up groin injuries on international duty whilst representing Scotland and Spain respectively. Following scans, Leeds have confirmed that Llorente will face up to three weeks out. Cooper is expected to be available within the next two weeks. Many Leeds fans feel that Cooper should stop playing for the country and focus more on club football to prolong his ...

Crystal Palace close in on signing former Liverpool defender Nathaniel Clyne

According to The Athletic, Crystal Palace are close to signing former Liverpool right-back Nathaniel Clyne on a free transfer. Clyne has been a free agent after being released by the Reds during the summer. The 29-year-old, who missed the whole of last season in rehabilitation after cruciate knee ligament damage, was an outcast over his last few months at Anfield, training on his own until the expiration of his contract on July 1. However, he continued to work on his fitness by linking up with Roy Hodgson’s squad a month ago and impressing the manager during training.  From the report, the Englishman is now on the verge of signing a short-term deal with Roy Hodgson’s side lasting him until January when the club will re-assess the player for a possible extension. Palace already have Jo...

£33m Chelsea signing could finally make his debut this weekend against Southampton

According to The Athletic reporter Simon Johnson, the new summer signing Hakim Ziyech could make his Chelsea debut when the Blues host Southampton in the Premier League this Saturday. The 27-year-old, who joined the Blues from Ajax in the summer as part of a deal that was agreed at the turn of the new year, is yet to feature for Chelsea after picking up an injury during pre-season. But it is believed that the Moroccan international is now approaching full fitness for the West London side.  Ziyech, however, has been gradually settling into life at Stamford Bridge. Frank Lampard’s side will get back to Premier League action this weekend as they host Southampton at Stamford Bridge and the Blues will look to make it back to back wins for the first time this season.  Johnson, Chelsea ...

‘I’m not quite sure’: Bent shares his only concern for ‘tremendous’ Spurs summer signing

Former Tottenham striker turned popular football pundit Darren Bent feels that Matt Doherty may struggle to show his best form at Spurs. Spurs signed Doherty from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer as Jose Mourinho added depth in the full-back areas. Doherty was simply superb at Wolves and he is expected to take his game to the next level at Spurs. However, his role at Spurs is slightly different from the one he used to perform at Wolves. The Republic of Ireland international was mainly deployed as a wing-back where Doherty got the freedom to join the attack at every possible opportunity. At Spurs, he plays as a conventional right-back where he is asked to stay disciplined at the back. Bent, the former Sunderland striker, is now concerned about whether Doherty would be able to show his be...