Ronald Koeman admits he is worried about Barcelona as the cash-strapped, out-of-form, ill-at-ease Camp Nou giants approach the end of a dismal year.
With an interim president in place after Josep Maria Bartomeu walked, the club s finances dealt a shattering blow by the pandemic, and the upcoming January elections perhaps the defining moment that will shape captain Lionel Messi s future, Barca are in a state of dizzying flux.
Koeman could be battling for his job before long too.
Results on the pitch have been far from what Barcelona expected this season, with Koeman s team losing four of their opening 10 LaLiga games.
As the presidential candidates scramble for popularity, retaining the status quo on the playing side of the club might not be the bigges…
Chelsea have announced Fikayo Tomori has signed a new long-term contract, with the young defender committing his future to the club through to 2024.
Tomori is one of the players to have earned the trust of Frank Lampard this season, having shone for the Chelsea boss when on loan at Derby County last season.
The 21-year-old centre-back has started 11 Premier League games and made his England debut in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Kosovo last month.
Though Chelsea are reportedly set to spend in January having had their transfer ban reduced on appeal, Tomori has been rewarded for his fine form with a new deal.
It s obviously a very proud moment for myself and my family. I ve been at the club since I was seven years old so I don t really know much else othe…
AC Milan full-back Mattia De Sciglio is reportedly a target for Spanish giants Barcelona, according to Sport.
With Douglas Pereira failing to prove his worth and Martin Montoya eager to leave, the Catalans desperately need to sign a long-term successor to Daniel Alves.
Catalan daily newspaper Sport has learned that AC Milan hotshot Mattia De Sciglio is one of the first names on their hit-list.
New Barcelona official Ariedo Braida is well aware of the defender s qualities having spent last few years at San Siro, but it remains to be seen whether the Rossoneri will be interested in selling one of their star players.
De Sciglio, 22, has so far amassed a total of 59 Serie A appearances for the club, with numerous injuries halting his progress.
He has…
Franz Beckenbauer says being away from the problems in Manchester has helped Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The midfielder came on in the second half of Germany s 2-0 friendly win over Hungary on Saturday, his first appearance since Manchester United s 1-0 win away to Manchester City in the Premier League in March.
The 31-year-old has struggled with a knee ligament injury for much of the year, casting doubt over his ability to participate meaningfully at Euro 2016.
But his hopes of being involved were boosted at Veltins-Arena, as Joachim Low s side seek to add the European Championship to their 2014 World Cup triumph.
And Germany great Beckenbauer has welcomed the return to action of the national team captain, while aiming a thinly veiled jibe at…
I handed over the prediction duties to my nineteen year old son last week after a spell of only getting one or two right each week. He stepped in and got three right. A bit better, but hardly staking a claim to take over from me though!
It’s back to me this week and I have a feeling I might just get them all right this time!
Saturday 6th December 2008
Arsenal v Wigan
The hardest team to predict. They play great football. They have great players. They beat Manchester United and Chelsea. They lose to Stoke and Hull. How can anyone truly say they know how Arsenal are going to perform?
Wigan are sitting in mid-table following a couple of home wins. They are a decent outfit and they will try to make things hard for Arsenal by getting lots of…
Gareth Southgate urged Folarin Balogun to be patient for an England call-up.
The 21-year-old striker has excelled on loan with Reims this season from Arsenal, scoring 17 Ligue 1 goals – only Kylian Mbappe and Jonathan David (both 19) having netted more.
Balogun s international allegiances are up for grabs, with the New York-born striker eligible for the United States, as well as Nigeria, and visiting the US during the international break.
Southgate is not prepared to issue him a call-up in order to seal his international future, however, citing his lack of Premier League experience as a reason for him being overlooked.
It is up to the player to weigh up where his heart feels. Is he prepared to wait a little bit for an opportunity if he backs himself an…
Bundesliga heavyweights Borussia Dortmund have sealed a move for the 15-year-old Turkish teenage sensation Ferhat Cogalan, according to reports from Germany.
The talented youngster is currently playing for Spanish club Valencia where his fine displays for the Under-17 side have turned plenty of heads from all around Europe.
Cogalan’s contract with Los Che expires in June when he turns 16 but despite Valencia’s efforts to extend the contract with the Turkish talent, it appears his move to Germany is imminent.
Had Valencia managed to extend deal with Ferhat Cogalan the youngster would have been tied to a €80 million release clause, it is reported.
With Spaniards failing to agree on a contract extension with one of the most talented midfielders in Eur…
Premier League heavyweights Tottenham and Chelsea have become the last in a line of clubs keeping a close tab on Norwich starlet James Maddison.
The England Under-21 international has emerged as one of the hottest properties outsides the Premier League with his impressive displays turning the head of virtually every club from the top flight.
Everton and Manchester City have also been credited with interest in Norwich midfielder who is widely expected to make the step up in his career this summer.
The Championship outlet expect a bidding war for their prized asset at the end of the season and have already determined the price hoping to scare of the suitors.
claims that the Canaries will reportedly demand £25 million for their talent who scored 14 goals …
The likes of Everton, Bayer Leverkusen and Sunderland are all showing interest in Rennes full-back Cheikh M Bengue, .
The former Toulouse defender has managed to prove his worth at Stade de la Route de Lorient, and he is now being linked with a big club move.
With Everton and Sunderland among interested sides, a summer switch to the Premiership may be on the cards, although Bayer Leverkusen are casting admiring glances his way as well.
Cheikh M Bengue began his career with Toulouse and went on to make 140 Ligue 1 appearances for le Tefece before joining Rennes in the summer of 2013.
The Senegalese immediately nailed down a regular starting berth with les Bretons and has so far made 55 league outings for the club.
But, seeing as his current contra…
Ahead of the final round of Bundesliga fixtures, Bayer Leverkusen have tied coach Roger Schmidt to a new contract that runs until June 2019.
Schmidt was appointed in June of last year following a successful spell at Red Bull Salzburg, where he won a league and cup double in 2013-14.
He has been unable to enjoy the same success in Germany due to the dominance of Bayern Munich, but has ensured a third consecutive top-four finish for Leverkusen.
The former Paderborn coach also led Leverkusen to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, losing a dramatic penalty shootout to deposed Spanish champions Atletico Madrid.
Schmidt will look to celebrate his new deal on Saturday s final day when Leverkusen visit Eintracht Frankfurt.
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