London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri will not be able to call on Gonzalo Higuain for Saturday's visit to Arsenal but said his focus was already on the game and not moves in the transfer market. Higuain is expected to complete a loan move from Juventus but no deal was announced before the midday […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said Friday that he was "honoured" to be courted by Colombia, who want the former Real Madrid boss to join them after the Asian Cup. But the Portuguese, who has been Iran coach for eight rollercoaster years, insisted that he remains committed to bringing Asian football's biggest […]

Cairo (AFP) – African Cup of Nations hosts Egypt want to start the tournament a day earlier than scheduled so fans can take full advantage over the opening weekend, the African Football Federation told AFP on Friday. Egypt took over as hosts for the tournament two weeks ago after Cameroon was stripped of the event, […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri will not be able to call on Gonzalo Higuain for Saturday's visit to Arsenal but said his focus was already on the game and not moves in the transfer market. Higuain is expected to complete a loan move from Juventus, but no deal was announced before the midday […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre says goal-ace Paco Alcacer will again start on the bench when the Bundesliga leaders resume their season at RB Leipzig on Saturday. Dortmund start the second half of the season in Germany six points clear, but second-placed Bayern Munich could close the gap away to Hoffenheim […]

London (AFP) – Cardiff City have bolstered their striking options in a bid to remain in the Premier League with the signing of Everton striker Oumar Niasse on loan for the rest of the season. The Senegalese striker could soon be followed by the signing of Nantes forward Emiliano Sala, who is expected to undergo […]

Madrid (AFP) – La Liga and China's Super League on Friday signed an accord to "make Chinese football grow throughout the world." "We are going to learn from La Liga as much about developing young players as about promoting our brand," Dong Zheng, the general secretary of the Chinese league told a press conference in […]

Doha (AFP) – Rui Faria, an assistant to Jose Mourinho at a number of Europe's biggest teams, has become head coach at Qatari league side Al Duhail, the club announced on Friday. It is the 43-year-old's first job since leaving Manchester United, as Mourinho's number two, last year. Duhail said it made an agreement with […]

Madrid (AFP) – With half of the season gone, Barcelona own a five-point lead at the top of La Liga, boast two strikers with as many goals as any other team and look on course for their fourth league title in five years. But how good are they? Six league wins on the bounce has […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned Manchester United of the dangers of complacency as they prepare to face Brighton after beating Tottenham to extend their perfect record under the interim boss. Solskjaer has won all six of his matches in charge since taking over from Jose Mourinho on December 19, and […]

London (AFP) – West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini says the club are open to selling star forward Marko Arnautovic this month, but only if the price is right. Arnautovic was the subject of a reported £35 million ($45 million) bid from an unnamed Chinese Super League club last week, an offer his brother and agent […]

Shanghai (AFP) – When Brazilian star Alexandre Pato jetted out of China for his holidays he played for Tianjin Quanjian. Two months and a dozen arrests later, the club as he knew it is gone. In its place is a new incarnation, although whether Pato is still there when the Chinese Super League (CSL) season […]

London (AFP) – The need for the riches as much as the prestige of a return to Champions League football leaves Arsenal little room for error when Chelsea visit the Emirates on Saturday. A run of three defeats in their last six Premier League games has left the fifth-placed Gunners six points adrift of their […]

Paris (AFP) – Cesc Fabregas is set for his home debut as a Monaco player, while Paris Saint-Germain look for revenge against their recent Cup conquerors Guingamp in Ligue 1 on Saturday. AFP Sport picks out four things to watch in France on a weekend that will be capped by Sunday's derby clash between Saint-Etienne […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku's Manchester United future is in the spotlight as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plots to maintain his 100 percent winning record against Brighton on Saturday. Solskjaer is the first manager in the club's history to begin his career with six straight victories and the feel-good factor is back at Old […]