Blanc praises Barca example

Market: Saint Etienne win

Odds: 

Enjoying what has been a stellar end to the 2018/2019 Ligue 1 campaign, a high-flying Saint Etienne will travel to a struggling Stade Raymond-Kopa on Friday night.

Starting with the hosts, coming off the back of another very worrying display in their 5-0 hammering away at Lille last weekend, Stéphane Moulin will be growing more concerned by Angers end to the year. Suffering back-to-back defeats and now recording just one victory since the 13th of April, fans around the Stade Raymond-Kopa will be growing more concerned by their sides form on home soil. Friday s hosts have failed to win any of their last five matches in front of their own supporters a run that stems all the way back to the start of February. Shipping four when th…

Gianluigi Donnarumma was forced off in the first half of Champions League-chasing AC Milan s final match of the Serie A season against SPAL.

The Rossoneri goalkeeper appeared to sustain a muscular injury when kicking the ball and ended up hobbling off in the 21st minute.

Experienced deputy Pepe Reina replaced Donnarumma to make just his fourth league appearance of 2018-19.

Milan were hoping to pip either Atlanta or Inter to a place in the top four, while Roma also remained in contention.

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Edinson Cavani is determined to leave his mark on Paris Saint-Germain, despite rumours linking him with a move elsewhere.

Paris Saint-Germain remains the place to be for Uruguay star Edinson Cavani, who is determined to repay the faith and investment put into him by the French champions.

Cavani was an estimated €65million signing at the Parc des Princes in July 2013, adding to a stellar line-up including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Lucas Moura.

The former Napoli striker has often had to play second fiddle to Ibrahimovic, leading to regular talk he could leave, but coach Laurent Blanc remains steadfast in his belief that Cavani is as vital to PSG s system as the mercurial Swede.

And Cavani is delighted to contribute to the Parisians, wheth…

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is far from finished in the transfer market and wants to add up to four more players to his squad.

Allardyce has already been busy since the end of last season, bringing in forward Mauro Zarate, left-back Aaron Cresswell and midfield duo Cheikhou Kouyate and Diego Poyet.

But the former Newcastle United manager wants to further strengthen his options ahead of West Ham s Premier League opener against Tottenham on August 16.

I think there are three or four positions it depends on the budget, Allardyce told the club s official website. You would say there is still room for a young central defender.

You would also say we need another left-back to go along with Aaron and I think a front-line player and the possibility of a midfiel…

Selecting Rangers striker Nacho Novo for Scotland would devalue the national side, according to George Peat, the president of the Scottish Football Association.

The Spaniard has expressed an interest in representing Scotland, having been based in the country since joining Raith Rovers eight years ago.

Last week the SFA said there was nothing to prevent the Scotland manager George Burley from picking Novo, 29, if he obtained British citizenship.

But Peat was unhappy at the prospect of Novo playing a part in Scotland s bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

As far as I m concerned, the bloodline position going as far back as grandparents is quite enough and it shouldn t go beyond that, he said Monday.

The way the rules are set …

Barcelona are close to agreeing personal terms with Athletic Bilbao defender Inigo Martinez over a proposed free transfer this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Catalans have long been linked with the 31-year-old centre-back as they seek for fresh leadership in their back line to replace Gerard Pique. Martinez is a high-quality player and signing him for free would certainly represent a fantastic move for any club, but things aren t quite so straightforward when Barcelona are concerned.

The five-time European champions are struggling to abide by La Liga s Financial Fair Play rules, and the developments on that front are expected have an impact on every potential signing they might make a move for this year. For example, they were recently prevented from handing …

West Ham have completed the signing of Swansea City forward Andre Ayew on a three-year deal for a club record fee of £20.5million.

The Ghana international moved to the Liberty Stadium on a free transfer ahead of the 2015-16 season and was a star turn for a Swansea side that finished 12th.

Ayew and left-back Arthur Masuaku arrived at the London Stadium on Monday, following Ashley Fletcher, Havard Nordveit, Gokhan Tore, Sofiane Feghouli and Arthur Masuaku in joining the Hammers during the close-season.

West Ham co-chairman David Gold initially announced the signing, before West Ham s official social media channels confirmed the move.

. has a message for all you Hammers :hammer_and_pick:

— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official)

Swansea also…

Raiola then criticised the FIGC – a federation at a low ebb following Gian Piero Ventura s ill-fated tenure.

The problem isn t the coach it s the football system. We have a federation that works without a plan or an idea for the future.

The national team should be represented by the best, so if the best don t go then we don t understand the criteria.

In other nations, when the national team plays, it s a party but for us it s a reason to fight. There s no plan or identity, all we do is change the manager.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and Balotelli s former manager at Inter and City, Roberto Mancini, have been linked to the post – the demands of which Raiola feels are beyond ex-Roma midfielder Di Biagio.

7 Only Kylian Mbappè is younger than P…

Shane Long is keen to enter contract negotiations at West Brom ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

The Republic of Ireland striker has been at the Hawthorns since 2011 but found himself increasingly benched last season as on-loan Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku took the regular spot.

Despite that, he still managed to score eight goals as well as four assists leaving manager Steve Clarke eager to tie him down.

Clarke hoped that he would be able to persuade Long to extend his contract last week prior to his international duty and before his marriage on June 15 but no conclusions could be reached.

Long said: I m very happy there. I fully intend to stay but we will talk about contract situations and see what happens.
The new manager has come in this year…

Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye has suggested he would be keen on a move to Manchester United.

The France international, who arrived at St James Park from Lille in 2011, was part of the side that flirted with relegation last season and has been linked with a move away.

Previously, Arsenal had been rumoured to be interested in signing the 27-year-old, but he has now spoken of his fondness for Premier League champions Manchester United.
Speaking to Canal+, Cabaye said: Yes of course, I ve liked this club for a long time, I like what they do, the boss (Alex Ferguson) has left but they have appointed a very good successor (David Moyes), and he did some very good things with Everton.
They are always well placed among the big clubs. Yes for sure it could be an interesting ch…