General Football News
Real Madrid have beaten Arsenal to the signing of Portuguese transfer supremo – report
Real Madrid have appointed Luis Campos as their sporting director despite the recent interest from Premier League club Arsenal. It was recently reported that Campos was in talks with both European clubs, but it appears that Los Blancos have landed his signature. According to Turkish outlet T24, the Portuguese was signed by the club shortly after the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as the manager. Campos, who was recently contracted with French champions Lille, will also act as the advisor to Los Blancos president Florentino Perez. Sportslens view: Campos has done a fantastic job previously at Monaco and Lille, helping them pursue quality young signings for the first-team squad as well as the academy. He brought in the likes of Bruno, Boubakary Soumare, Renato Sanches and Jonathan David, who...
PFA Team of the Year: Man City dominate, Man Utd, Spurs and Liverpool also represented
The PFA Premier League Team of the Year has been revealed. The team is comprised of one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards. It is voted by fellow professionals based on who has performed best in the Premier League over the last season. The XI is heavily dominated by runaway champions Manchester City, who boast six of the 11. Of the remaining five, two play for rivals Manchester United, two for Tottenham Hotspur and one for Liverpool. The most notable omission from the team is Man City’s Phil Foden, who misses out despite being one of the six nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award. Full team Ederson and Dias have been excellent at the back Ederson (GK) – The Brazilian has been excellent since arriving in the Premier League, and this year was no exc...
Leeds United propose new and improved contract to £15,000-a-week star – report
Leeds United have made an improved contract offer to defender Ezgjan Alioski, Football Insider reports. The 29-year-old has been with the Yorkshire outfit for the past four seasons, but he could leave the club when his deal expires on June 30. They failed to convince him with a contract proposal earlier this year, but they have now made a fresh approach with an improved salary. Sportslens view: The £15,000-a-week man has made 171 appearances for the Whites in all competitions, and he has firmly made himself a favourite among the fans. Marcelo Bielsa had the opportunity to bring in a new left-back after promotion last term, but he decided to stick with his existing options. Alioski was almost ever-present throughout the Premier League campaign, and 29 of his 36 appearanc...
Ex-Arsenal captain says Gunners board ‘made a mistake’ in signing £96,000-a-week man – report
Former Arsenal defender William Gallas has said that the Gunners board made a mistake in appointing Mikel Arteta as their manager. Arteta succeeded Unai Emery as the Gunners’ head coach in December 2019, guiding them to FA Cup glory at the end of the campaign. However, the Gunners were disappointing in the Premier League, where they finished only eighth on the table. The same was the case last season. Speaking to The Sun, Gallas believes Arteta could be a great manager in the future, but the Gunners made the wrong decision to appoint him. The former club captain said that Arteta’s lack of experience has cost the club, having previously only been the assistant coach at Manchester City. He said: “Mikel Arteta was not ready yet to manage a club like Arsenal. OK, he was assistant coach at Manc...
Gareth Southgate reveals final England squad for Euro 2020
Gareth Southgate has released his 26-man squad for this summer’s European Championships. The England boss initially named a provisional 33-man squad on May 25, with several players involved in major European finals or carrying injuries. He has now cut seven players from the provisional squad, leaving 26 who will play for the Three Lions at Euro 2020. Much of the debate over the squad has been surrounding Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was excluded from the last squad in March. However, Southgate has recalled the youngster. It was confirmed earlier today that Mason Greenwood had pulled out of the squad due to an underlying injury concern. Now, it has been revealed that the other six omitted from the squad are Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Ben Godfrey, Jesse Lingard, James Ward-Prowse ...
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to leave Bayern Munich – Oliver Kahn will be his replacement
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is set to step down from his position as CEO of Bayern Munich, the club have confirmed via their official website. Rummenigge is a legend at Bayern, having lined up for the Bavarians for ten years during his playing career. During that decade, he scored over 200 goals for the club and won six major honours. Rummenigge has overseen some of Bayern’s best years Two years after his retirement, he was invited by fellow club legend Franz Beckenbauer to return to Bayern as a vice president. He held this position until 2002 when he was appointed as the club’s new CEO. Since then, the German giants have enjoyed some of their most successful years. They have won the Bundesliga title on 14 occasions, as well as ten DFB Pokals and two Champions Leagues. 30 years on from his retur...
Premier League Player of the Season nominees announced
The eight-man shortlist for the Premier League Player of the Season award has been announced. Manchester City are, rather unsurprisingly, the most represented team in the shortlist, boasting two nominees. One player from rivals Manchester United features, as well as one each from Liverpool, Chelsea, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Aston Villa. Three Englishmen have been selected in the final eight, as well as two from Portugal. The fan vote is open on the Premier League’s website, with the announcement expected to be in about a week’s time. It is worth noting that this is NOT the PFA Player of the Year award. However, seven of the last eight winners have scooped both prizes. Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City De Bruyne won the award last season Hoping to become the fourth playe...
Hammers & Spurs dealt blow as chairman says 33-goal hitman is no longer for sale
Brentford striker Ivan Toney was linked with both West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month. However, Saturday’s Championship play-off victory for the Bees has dealt a blow to their chances of landing the hitman. The 25-year-old inspired his side to a 2-0 win over Swansea City, scoring from the spot to grab his 33rd goal of the campaign. Toney has also bagged 10 assists in 48 league games this term and has been touted as a potential replacement for Harry Kane at Spurs. Despite this, chairman Daniel Levy will have to look elsewhere if Kane leaves this summer following comments from his Brentford counterpart. The Bees’ co-director of football Rasmus Ankerson has told Sky Sports that earning promotion to the Premier League has ruled out any potential sale for their hitman. Hamm...
Manager Leeds made contact with reportedly an option for Tottenham, evaluation ongoing
Erstwhile AS Roma manager Paulo Fonseca is an option for Tottenham Hotspur, according to Sportitalia TV journalist Gianluigi Longari. Tra le alternative per la panchina del Tottenham, oltre al molto più costoso Antonio #Conte c’è anche Paulo #Fonseca che comporterebbe una spesa più sostenibile.L’allenatore è stato proposto da intermediari la passata settimana e la sua candidatura è oggetto di valutazione. #THFC — Gianluigi Longari (@Glongari) May 31, 2021 The Portuguese was offered to Spurs by his intermediaries last week and the club are currently evaluating whether he could be perfect for the job. The Portuguese was reportedly contacted by Leeds United a few weeks ago as they looked to put a contingency plan in place should head coach Marcelo Bielsa leave. However, the Argentine is set t...
Guardiola reportedly wants to use two Man City attacking stars as bait to land Kane
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants to snap up Tottenham Hotspur hitman Harry Kane this summer, and is ready to sacrifice both Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus in a bid to do so, according to The Sun. The England international also wants to move to the Etihad Stadium and has revealed his dream to play alongside Kevin de Bruyne, but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is ready to play hardball and block a move. He has slapped a £150million price tag on Kane’s head, but Man City are hoping to offset some of that fee by using two of their attackers as bait. Sterling ended the campaign with 15 goals across all competitions while Jesus bagged 14 goals as the Cityzens won the League Cup and Premier League title. Nevertheless, they are not starters under Guardiola and the Catalan is looking to ma...
Celtic reportedly want goalkeeper Gareth Southgate dubbed ‘exciting’
Celtic want to bring Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman to Parkhead this summer, according to Chronicle Live. The Hoops were interested in signing the former England youth international back in 2018 but he joined Aberdeen on loan instead. Celtic are back for Woodman’s signature again, but another club could stand in their way again, with Southampton also eyeing a move for him. The 24-year-old just ended his second season-long loan at Swansea City, suffering heartbreak in Saturday’s Championship play-offs final as Brentford secured a 2-0 win to earn Premier League promotion. The Welsh outfit are hoping to be third time lucky next season and are keen to retain the services of the Newcastle man. Woodman is not guaranteed a place in the Magpies’ or Southampton starting XI, and while r...
‘Time to go elsewhere’ – Spurs star with ‘big dressing room influence’ open to summer exit
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Sissoko has admitted that a summer exit could be on the cards after losing his spot in the side’s starting XI. The Frenchman started 15 league games in 2020-21, coming off the bench 10 times. Sissoko featured in 15 games across other competitions, starting nine of them. However, he reckons his opportunities could be limited next term, and with just two years left on his current contract, the 31-year-old is open to an exit in the coming weeks if Spurs tell him to leave. “This is my 5th year at the club and I have had some very good moments,” Sissoko told Foot Mercato (via GFFN). “Now, I am a person who does not close any doors. If a new challenge presents itself, we will see what I do. But today, I do not close any doors concerning my future, because as I...
