London (AFP) – Ralf Rangnick wants to keep Dean Henderson and Donny van de Beek at Manchester United for the rest of the season even though they have both been frustrated by a lack of playing time. Speculation is rife over potential arrivals and departures during the January transfer window at Old Trafford, where Rangnick […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Friday that his Premier League champions had been hit by a fresh wave of coronavirus cases. The league leaders were without 21 personnel, including Guardiola and seven senior players, for last week's FA Cup third-round win at Swindon after positive tests for Covid-19. Some first-team regulars […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says he would be "very angry" if he discovered that rival Premier League clubs were abusing coronavirus postponement rules after his club's request to call off a match fell on deaf ears. The Blues asked for their game against Wolves on December 19 to be postponed after seven […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies is suffering from a "slight heart muscle inflammation" as he recovers from Covid-19 and will be sidelined for several weeks, it was revealed Friday. The 21-year-old Canadian international's condition was detected during a follow-up examination after Davies contracted the virus, Bayern head coach Julian Nagelsmann said. The […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle manager Eddie Howe warned Friday that the club would not be held to ransom in the January transfer window despite their new-found wealth under their Saudi-led ownership. The struggling Magpies have invested a total of around £37 million ($51 million) to secure the services of England full-back Kieran Tripper and New […]

Yaoundé (AFP) – Tunisia's protest over their bizarre Africa Cup of Nations defeat to Mali in which the referee blew the final whistle twice before full-time was thrown out late on Thursday, as it emerged the official in question may have been suffering from heatstroke and dehydration. Mali were leading Wednesday's match 1-0 when Zambian […]

London (AFP) – Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has admitted Belgium international Youri Tielemans could leave the club and that he has to prepare for life without the midfielder. The highly rated 24-year-old has been linked with a move to Arsenal as he enters the final 18 months of his contract. The Foxes' record signing, who […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City are marching towards a fourth Premier League title in five years in ruthless fashion, but their dominance threatens to damage the English top-flight's reputation as football's most thrilling ride. Just over a month ago, a tense three-way title race looked in store as Chelsea and Liverpool kept pace with Pep […]

Paris (AFP) – After the French league's sputtering return with three top-flight matches postponed due to Covid-19, clubs approach this weekend again depleted by illness as well as absences at the Africa Cup of Nations. Leaders Paris Saint-Germain host mid-table Brest on Saturday attempting to halt a recent slide in league form. Since the start […]

Garoua (Cameroon) (AFP) – Egypt will expect more from star man Mohamed Salah against Guinea-Bissau as the record seven-time champions attempt to bounce back from an opening loss to Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Liverpool forward cut an isolated and frustrated figure as Egypt lost 1-0 to the Super Eagles in Garoua, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich will be back to near full strength at resurgent Cologne on Saturday with a host of first-choice players now out of Covid isolation. Bayern's lead in the table was trimmed to six points last weekend when a makeshift team lost 2-1 to Borussia Moenchengladbach. Second-placed Borussia Dortmund can […]

Riyadh (AFP) – Athletic Bilbao came back from a goal down to defeat La Liga champions Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Thursday and set up a Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid. The Basque outfit trailed just after the hour mark when a header from Joao Felix crashed off the post before being deflected into […]

Yaoundé (AFP) – Hosts Cameroon became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday as captain Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko-Ekambi both scored twice in a 4-1 demolition of Ethiopia in Yaounde. It was a game that brought the tournament to life after a goal-shy first […]

Paris (AFP) – Lionel Messi said on Thursday he needs more time to recover before playing again after contracting Covid-19 earlier this month. Paris Saint-Germain star Messi, 34, tested positive while on holiday in his hometown of Rosario before flying back to the French capital on January 5. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has missed […]

London (AFP) – Anwar El Ghazi has joined Everton on loan from Premier League rivals Aston Villa for the rest of the season, the Merseyside club said Thursday. The 26-year-old Dutch winger is the third player to arrive at Goodison Park during the ongoing transfer window after full-backs Vitalii Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson signed full-time […]