Leicester City have expressed interest in signing a Benfica duo – Andre Almeida and Rafa Silva – when the transfer window reopens next summer.
Leicester Mercury reports that the Foxes have identified the two Benfica players as their top summer transfer targets after missing out on signing the duo back in January.
Andre Almeida plays as a full-back for Portuguese champions but can be slotted in midfield as well. The 27-year-old Portugal international has made 22 Primeira Liga appearances this season, scoring two goals in the process.
One of the standard first-team regulars is an important player for Benfica which can’t be said for his teammate Rafa Silva who’s been used sporadically during the ongoing season.
The 24-year-old midfielder made only 1…
Arjen Robben will miss the start of Bayern Munich s Bundesliga season after suffering a groin injury in the club s first friendly match of the new campaign.
Robben picked up the problem in Bayern s thrilling 4-3 win over Lippstadt on Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti s first game as the Bundesliga champions coach.
Having registered a goal and an assist in the early stages, the 32-year-old pulled up as he attempted a sprint in the 36th minute and was immediately replaced by youngster Mario Crnicki.
Get well soon, Arjen! sidelined with groin injury:
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN)
The injury to the player s right leg was diagnosed after an examination conducted by the club s medical unit in Munich on Sunday. Robben will be sidelined for approximate…
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said Joe Hart will miss the FA Cup final against Wigan, with Costel Pantilimon to hold his spot.
City s second-choice goalkeeper was chosen ahead of Hart in the semi-final win against Chelsea, as the Romanian conceded his first goal in the competition this season in the 2-1 victory.And Mancini, who celebrated reaching another FA Cup final as manager of the Manchester club, said he will stick with Pantilimon for the final against Roberto Martinez s men. Pantilimon is there to do what he did, Costel did very well but he s a very good keeper – it s what I expected, he told the club s official website. He will stay, we have four weeks to think about it but I think he will play [in the final]. He s worked very well behind Joe Hart and I th…
Lionel Messi is hopeful that a Barcelona player will win the 2012 Ballon d Or, saying both Andres Iniesta and Xavi deserve the award.
The Argentine attacker netted an impressive 73 goals in all competitions in 2011-12, but he feels his team-mates are just as deserving to win the prestigious individual honour because of their exploits at Euro 2012.
There s still a long way to go before we know the winner of the Ballon d Or. We don t even know the nominees yet. Those who are in charge of it will have to decide who wins it, Messi said at a press conference.
I would like it if the Ballon d Or remains in the Barca dressing-room. Hopefully, Iniesta or Xavi can win the award. They would deserve it for everything they ve done in recent years and at Euro 2012.
…
Duncan Ferguson hailed Everton s fantastic performance in a 1-1 draw at Manchester United in his second game in charge, but the caretaker manager remains uninterested in taking on the job.
Victor Lindelof s own-goal put Everton on course for a second consecutive victory under Ferguson following their 3-1 triumph over Chelsea, but Mason Greenwood came off the bench to score an equaliser for United.
Four points from two difficult fixtures reflects well on Ferguson s ability to motivate the Toffees in the wake of Marco Silva s sacking, but the former Everton striker again dismissed the suggestion he could assume the role on a full-time basis.
Reflecting on his players performance, Ferguson told Sky Sports: It s tremendous.
What a fantastic performance th…
Despite reaching the Champions League quarterfinals, Manchester United had a poor 2018/19 season. They finished sixth in the Premier League, meaning they won t be featuring in UEFA s elite club competition next term, and they ve had some highly disappointing results.
The good news for their supporters is that the club seem to be aware of the lack of quality in the existing squad, and they are ready to make big changes. They will need strengthening everywhere, but as for the middle section, according to , United have lined up Eric Dier of Tottenham Hotspur. The 25-year-old has plenty of experience at top level, and he may be open to leaving north London having lost his place in the starting XI under manager Mauricio Pochettino.
With Ander Herrera gone, 30-year-old Nemanj…
Former Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis thanked the club s supporters for a warm reception on his return to Selh
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urst Park in West Brom s 2-0 win.
Pulis took over from Ian Holloway at Palace in November 2013 and eventually steered the club to Premier League survival.
The Welshman brought his tenure to an abrupt end in August due to his reported frustration over Palace s transfer activity and he was subsequently appointed as West Brom head coach in January.
Despite the circumstances of his departure which came just two days before the 2014-15 campaign got under way Palace fans still greeted Pulis return with plenty of applause on Saturday.
Obviously it s lovely coming back to a former club, he told reporters. It s funny, thinking about co…
that Tottenham Hotspur are set for a summer clear out, with Erik Lamela and Roberto Soldado two of the players likely to make way.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino is keen to free up funds in order to refresh his squad and is ready to move on the duo, who have both underwhelmed since arriving at White Hart Lane in the summer of 2013.
Lamela has made fifty-nine appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring six goals while Soldado has managed sixteen strikes in seventy-one games.
The pair have just three league goals between them this season, and made only cameo appearances in last month’s 2-0 League Cup final defeat to Chelsea.
Spurs drew 2-2 with Southampton on Saturday afternoon, with both sides still in the hunt for a European qualification …
Premier League giants battle for Zenit rebel
Talksport has revealed that a number of Premier League giants are showing interest in Zenit midfielder Igor Denisov.
The Russia international criticized the club’s decision to sign Hulk and Axel Witsel on bumper deals, claiming the new signings now earned three times more than other Zenit players.
The midfielder has since been dropped from the squad, together with forward Alexander Kerzhakov.
Talksport claims that Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all plan to take advantage of the situation and enter the bidding war for the highly rated midfielder in January.
The 28-year-old, who has spent his entire career at Zenit, is held in high regard by Europe’s top clubs and could dec…
Italy international hints at Premiership move
Torino defender Angelo Ogbonna has revealed that he dreams of playing in English Premier League.
The 24-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in Serie A and it is only a matter of time before he will leave Granata for greener pastures.
The player admits that he was on the verge of leaving the Stadio Olimpico outfit in the summer.
I had many offers (in the summer) but I chose to stay here and I m happy to have made it, the Italy international confessed to Tuttosport.
The highly rated defender admits that English Premier League is his most likely destination when he decides to leave Torino.
I would go abroad willingly. I would like to experience other cultures. English fo…