West Ham have completed the signing of goalkeeper Alphonse Areola on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
Areola, who spent the 2019-20 campaign on loan at Real Madrid, was at Fulham last season but could not help prevent Scott Parker s team dropping down to the Championship.
The 28-year-old was nevertheless impressive during the campaign and West Ham have moved to keep him in the Premier League for at least another season.
Areola, who was part of France s 2018 World Cup squad but did not make an appearance in Russia for Les Bleus, has signed a one-year loan deal, which also sees the Hammers have the option to make the transfer permanent in 2022.
Lukasz Fabianski made 35 appearances as David Moyes team went on to secure European football with a sixth-place fi…
Gerard Pique was named in Barcelona s starting line-up for Tuesday s Champions League last-16 first leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
The experienced centre-back had not played for almost three months since being replaced in the LaLiga defeat to Atletico Madrid on November 21, in which he damaged knee ligaments.
His return to partner Clement Lenglet was timely given the injury absence of in-form young defender Ronald Araujo.
Elsewhere, Pedri was also named in Ronald Koeman s starting XI, with Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele lining up in attack.
PSG, without the injured Neymar, named a front three of Kylian Mbappe, Moise Kean and Mauro Icardi for the clash at Camp Nou, with Marco Verratti deployed in the number 10 role.
Barca and…
Birmingham chief executive Garry Cook has blamed “misalignment” for the circumstances that led to John Eustace’s sacking but vowed to make the club “a football powerhouse” amid reports Wayne Rooney is set to take charge as boss.
Eustace’s departure from St Andrew’s on Monday morning further stoked rumours that former England captain Rooney is due to be appointed as manager following his DC United exit on Sunday.
While an update on the new boss is expected in “the coming days”, Cook explained the timing of Eustace’s exit was driven by facilitating the best possible circumstances for his successor.
In a statement posted to the club’s official website, Cook wrote: “John had clear ambitions and goals for the season. Unfortunately, following a …
West Ham have completed the signing of Nikola Vlasic from CSKA Moscow for a reported fee of £25million (€29m).
The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract with David Moyes side, the deal having been completed before Tuesday s deadline.
Vlasic scored 33 goals in 108 appearances for CSKA after joining from Hajduk Split, including the winner in a Champions League group game against Real Madrid in October 2018.
The Croatia international, who made four appearances at the Euro 2020 finals, was named Russian Premier League Footballer of the Year in 2020.
West Ham sent an offer to the club. I said that my wish is to go, because, like I said, I wanted the new challenge, Vlasic told CSKA s website.
The management understand my position and the club…
Ernesto Valverde rejected the suggestion that a run in the Copa del Rey could derail Barcelona s LaLiga title charge, saying his side are intent on winning both competitions.
The Blaugrana face Levante in the first leg of their round of 16 tie on Thursday, four days after claiming a hard-fought 2-1 win at Getafe in the league.
A home game against Eibar awaits Valverde s men on Sunday but the coach played down the idea that the additional fixtures were a threat to his side s chances of glory.
The team looks good, he told reporters. We just had a break, the players had some rest, and everybody was able to charge their batteries.
If we have a lot of cup matches coming up that s good, because it means we re going through.
People are saying a cup r…
The dust is yet to settle following the completion of the Newcastle United takeover by the Public Investment Fund controlled by Saudi Crown Price Mohammed bin Salman, but transfer rumours regarding the expected rebuild of their team have already started, quite apart from all the guesswork about who will succeed Steve Bruce as the manager.
According to , Keylor Navas is the name that tops their wish list of the financially super-strong Magpies. The Costa Rican goalkeeper was ousted from Real Madrid by the arrival and excellent form of Thibaut Courtois, and a similar fate seems to be in store for him at Paris Saint-Germain, who signed Gianluigi Donnarumma from AC Milan this summer on a free transfer.
The 34-year-old made the switch from the Spanish to the French capital i…
Ferran Torres believes he is ready for a new challenge, with Manchester City and Valencia this week agreeing a fee for the winger.
Stats Perform News understands City will pay an initial £21.3million (€23m), plus further add-ons, for the Spain Under-21 international.
Talks between the clubs are on-going, but an agreement on the wider terms of the deal is thought to be close as City look to bolster their wing options following the departure of Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich.
Right-winger Ferran, 20, has shown significant promise ever since his senior debut as a 17-year-old and enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2019-20, making the most of Goncalo Guedes long-term injury absence to become a regular starter.
But with his contract set to expire next year and …
Inter are unbeaten in their last six Serie A games (W2, D4), but they have won only one time in their last five matches.
No team have drawn more matches than Inter (4) in Serie A since the start of April.
Danilo D’Ambrosio has created 5 chances vs Udinese, his joint-record in a Serie A match (5 also vs Chievo in May 2015).
Rolando Mandragora has fired 4 shots tonight, his record in a single Serie A game.
The last Icardi’s goal as a substitute was back in February 2015 (he scored only 4 goals in 25 Serie A apps as substitute).
Inter s Champions League qualification hopes were dealt a blow as they were held to a third consecutive Serie A draw in a goalless clash at Udinese, who picked up a vital point in their battle against relegation.
Luciano Spalletti s m…
Harry Maguire’s header and Andre Onana’s stoppage-time penalty save secured Manchester United a vital Champions League win against Copenhagen in their first home match since the death of Sir Bobby Charlton.
Tuesday’s Old Trafford encounter allowed the club to come together and pay tribute to the World Cup winner and all-round gentleman following his death at the age of 86 on Saturday.
Charlton starred for United and in 1968 led them to European Cup glory at Wembley, where Erik ten Hag’s men would love to return for June’s Champions League final.
One scored, one saved.
Huge contributions ||
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
First comes qualification from Group A, which misfiring United continued to make hard work of as they rode…
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has declared the Reds desire more than just to regain their Premier League title, insisting they want to win every piece of silverware up for grabs.
The Anfield club ended their 30-year wait for a league title when they claimed a first Premier League crown in 2019-20, but were unable to defend their status as champions last season as Manchester City usurped them.
Jurgen Klopp s men suffered a blow in their attempts to wrest the title back from City as they fell to a first league defeat of the season just before the international break, losing 3-2 to West Ham and dropping to fourth in the table.
However, the Reds are only four points behind leaders Chelsea with 11 games played and Alisson says the team want to be the best in ever…