Liverpool have agreed a fee for Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing, the Anfield club revealed on Wednesday.
Downing, 26, has reportedly been a target of two previous bids from Liverpool during the English Premier League off-season, and it now appears that the Reds are close to landing the England midfielder.
A statement on Liverpool s website announced a bid had been accepted for Downing, with Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner telling The Guardian that Downing had handed in a transfer request to help push through the move.
I can confirm that we have reached an agreement with Liverpool following an improved offer received earlier today and the submission of a formal transfer request by Stewart Downing, and have subsequently given them permission to speak with …
The Qatar Football Association (QFA) have decided to relieve national team boss Milovan Rajevac of his duties after an unimpressive run of results.
The 57-year-old Serbian will be replaced by Brazilian Sebastiao Lazaroni, who had been coaching Qatar Sports Club in the domestic top flight.
Rajevac, who led Ghana at the 2010 World Cup, had taken over as Qatar boss following Bruno Metsu s dismissal after the 2011 Asian Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals as hosts.
However the Serbian failed to impress as Qatar boss with recent losses to India and Vietnam prompting the QFA to move to replace him.
We thank him for his efforts. But we feel this is a time to move on so we mutually agreed to end the contract, QFA president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Tha…
Stoke City are set to enter the race to sign AC Milan striker M’Baye Niang, .
Premier League leaders Leicester City are also interesting in securing a deal for the forward, as our German giants Borussia Dortmund.
The twenty-one year old moved to Milan from Caen in the summer of 2012, and has since played for them fifty-five times in all competitions, scoring nine goals though he has spent time away from the Serie A outfit on loan.
He had a spell with French side Montpellier in the 2013/14 campaign before spending time with Genoa last season.
Internationally, he has been capped three times for France’s U21s, scoring once while he has also represented his country at U16 and U17 levels.
Milan, who have not won in the league since Niang inju…
Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink has played down reports that Eden Hazard could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge,
The Belgium international, who was named the PFA Player of the Year in the Blues’ title winning 2015/16 campaign has struggled to produce his best form this season hitting only four goals in all competitions.
Paris Saint Germain and Real Madrid have both been linked with a move to secure the twenty-five year old’s services with both considering a £70m bid.
Hazard moved to England in the summer the summer of 2012 and recently made his two hundredth appearance for the club in all competitions, scoring fifty-three goals.
As well as triumphing in the league in 2015, the former Lille man also lifted the League Cup the same year …
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As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reign as permenant manager gets underway, Manchester United will host FA Cup semi-finalists Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
Manchester United
Starting with the hosts, despite Manchester United crashing out of the FA Cup at the hands of Wolves prior to the international break, their impressive resurge under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has seen the Norweigan icon handed the permanent job at Old Trafford. With their sights firmly set on securing a top-four finish and a Champions League quarter-final with Barcelona to look forward to next month, it has been United s continued performances on home soil really starting to catch the eye. The Red Dev…
Arsenal s bid to finish in the Premier League s top four was dented on Sunday as Phil Jagielka s early goal gave Everton a deserved 1-0 home win.
Unai Emery s men could have leapfrogged Tottenham into third with a draw but will now slide back to fifth if Chelsea secure a point or more at home to West Ham on Monday.
The defeat, their first in seven league games, was no less than deserved after a timid display that was punished when an unmarked Jagielka, in as a late replacement for the unwell Michael Keane, seized on a loose ball in the 10th minute, the 36-year-old tucking home as Arsenal s defenders appealed in vain for offside.
The arrival of Aaron Ramsey at half-time led to an improved second-half showing but the Toffees capably dealt with rare defensive c…
Alphonso Davies could face an agonising wait to see if he will be able to feature at the World Cup after sustaining an apparent hamstring injury.
Bayern Munich full-back Davies, who along with Lille striker Jonathan David is one of Canada s leading lights heading to Qatar, was forced off in the 64th minute of Saturday s Bundesliga clash with Hertha Berlin.
The 22-year-old was holding his right hamstring as he walked gingerly off the field to be replaced by Lucas Hernandez.
Canada, who will be co-hosts in 2026, have qualified for just their second World Cup, having last appeared at the tournament in 1986. They have been drawn in Group F alongside Belgium, Morocco and Croatia.
Double change hope it s nothing serious, Phonzy
Coman,
Mané,
…
According to a recent report from Marca, Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe is one of three players that is delaying contract talks in order to prepare for a potential approach from Spanish giants Real Madrid.
It’s not exactly a secret that Mbappe is a wanted man, and while you never do truly know what the man himself wants to do, it does feel like the next natural step for him will be to join an even bigger club.
The other two players in question are Eduardo Camavinga and Kai Havertz, both of whom look set to move on during the summer transfer window.
Mbappe became a true household name during the 2018 FIFA World Cup where he played a huge role in guiding France to glory. Now, though, instead of thinking about what he ll do on the international stage, …
Speculation surrounding the future of Liverpool midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho has not yet translated into actual bids for the players.
The interest in Henderson, in particular, from Al Ettifaq – managed by former team-mate Steven Gerrard – has resulted in claims the 33-year-old has already decided to accept a deal worth a reported £700,000 per week.
However, Liverpool will not allow their captain, who has two years remaining on his contract, to leave for free despite suggestions on the contrary emanating from the Middle East.
The £20million Al Hilal spent on Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly, 32, this summer is seen as a more realistic benchmark.
Our pre-season work continues
— Ettifaq Club (@Ettifaq_EN)
Fabinho is b…
New Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has admitted last week’s meeting with Harry Kane was “nothing earth-shattering” but still a good chat amid Bayern Munich’s growing efforts to lure the forward to Germany.
Kane has entered the final 12 months of his deal with Spurs and speculation over his future has heightened in recent weeks.
The England captain returned to training on Wednesday and held a meeting with Postecoglou, but the Australian has played down its significance.
A strong first session in Perth
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)
Postecoglou told reporters at a press conference, via football.london, from the WACA Ground in Perth: “I had a good chat with Harry.
“Nothing earth-shattering as people are seeking. J…