Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri joked on Thursday that there is more chance of aliens landing in London than there is of his side successfully defending their Premier League title this season. Leicester defied odds of 5,000-1 to win last season's title and on the eve of their new campaign, which […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted on Thursday that he is "very disappointed" by head of recruitment Paul Mitchell's decision to leave the club. Mitchell, 34, followed Pochettino to White Hart Lane from Southampton two years ago and helped to shape the team that threatened to pip Leicester City to the Premier […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Istanbul giants Fenerbahce have sacked Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira after just over one season in charge following the Turkish side's exit in the qualifying stages of the Champions League, reports said Thursday. Fenerbahce's board decided to part company with Pereira after the team's defeat at the hands of Monaco in the third […]

Paris (AFP) – Edinson Cavani and captain Thiago Silva are injured and will not feature for Paris Saint-Germain when the champions travel to Bastia in their Ligue 1 season opener on Friday. The Brazilian defender has a hip injury and Uruguayan striker Cavani is sidelined with a thigh problem, coach Unai Emery confirmed on Thursday. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said current captain Philipp Lahm could be offered a key upstairs role at the club once he hangs up his boots. The 32-year-old ex-Germany captain, who retired from international duty after lifting the 2014 World Cup, has a contract until 2018 and has spent virtually his […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle United's France international midfielder Moussa Sissoko hopes to complete a move to Real Madrid before the end of the transfer window, he said on Thursday. "I hope Real will come for me. I'm still waiting," Sissoko told the BBC World Service radio station. "If Real Madrid are interested in you, then […]

London (AFP) – Spanish striker Borja Baston has joined Swansea City from Atletico Madrid for a club-record fee of 15.5 million pounds ($20.1 million, 18 million euros), the Premier League side announced on Thursday. The 23-year-old signed a four-year contract after successfully undergoing a medical and will wear the number 10 shirt at the Liberty […]

Berlin (AFP) – Valencia and Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi and Premier League side Arsenal have agreed transfer terms, his agent is reported to have said on Thursday. "Skhodran and Arsenal are in agreement. Now the clubs just have to agree a transfer fee," Mustafi's agent Ali Bulut told German website Spox.com with the Gunners in […]

The Premier League plans to allow halftime interviews with managers to some of its TV broadcasts this season, according to an executive at US sports broadcaster NBC. "There are a couple of unique things that the Premier League are adding to enhance the coverage such as additional feeds and additional coverage from the game," said […]

London (AFP) – Sunderland have signed youngsters Paddy McNair and Donald Love from Manchester United for a combined fee of 5.5 million pounds ($7.1 million, 6.4 million euros), the club announced on Thursday. The versatile 21-year-old players have both signed four-year contracts and join former United manager David Moyes at the Stadium of Light. Northern […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish Champions League hopefuls Villarreal have been rocked ahead of the start of the new season by the departure of coach Marcelino. "Marcelino Garcia Toral is no longer the coach of Villarreal," the club announced in a statement published on their website on Wednesday evening. Marcelino, who leaves along with his assistant […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino head into the new Premier League season with the burden of expectation weighing heavily on their shoulders. In contrast to the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea, the trio are familiar with their surroundings, no one more so than Wenger at Arsenal, whilst Pocchetino starts his […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazil escaped a humiliating early exit from the Olympics despite another scoreless performance from Neymar as wonder kid Gabriel Barbosa struck twice in a 4-0 win over Denmark on Wednesday. The in demand Barbosa, nicknamed 'Gabigol' for his prolific exploits for Santos, broke Brazil's 200-minute goal drought after goalless draws […]

London (AFP) – As Antonio Conte gesticulated wildly on the touchline, the Chelsea manager felt his voice cracking and took a moment to register a sensation that spells bad news for his club's underachieving stars. Possessing a menacing glare that suggests he isn't to be trifled with, the no-nonsense Conte has swaggered into Stamford Bridge […]

Sydney (AFP) – Tim Cahill is returning to Australia to end his career playing in the A-League for Melbourne City, putting to rest speculation over the talismanic striker's future. The 36-year-old, who is Australia's top goalscorer, signed a two-year playing contract with the sister club of the English Premier League's Manchester City after leaving Chinese […]