Manchester City are interested in signing Declan Rice from Premier League rivals West Ham United in the summer transfer window, according to . It has been reported that City are among three clubs in England who are keen on securing the services of Rice, who plays predominately in midfield but can also operate in central defence.
Rice is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and is also a regular in the England squad. The 23-year-old has made 24 appearances in the Premier League for West Ham so far this season, scoring one goal and providing four assists in the process. Rice has also scored two goals in four Europa League games, has scored one goal in two FA Cup appearances, and has made one appearance in the Carabao Cup.
West Ham are aiming to finish in the …
Columbus Crew will be out to preserve their 100 per cent record when they host Toronto in MLS action on Saturday.
The 2008 MLS Cup champions have made a bright start to life under head coach Gregg Berhalter, who replaced Brian Bliss in November, winning their opening three games to remain the only team with an unblemished record this season.
Berhalter has introduced an entertaining possession-based game to Columbus that has resulted in triumphs over DC United, Philadelphia Union and the Seattle Sounders to sit top of the Eastern Conference.
One player thriving since Berhalter s arrival is Argentinean striker Federico Higuain, who has scored three goals in as many games.
Cashed-up Toronto are three points adrift of Berhalter s men after a comprehensive 3-0 defeat …
Real Betis will face Valencia in the Copa del Rey final after Manuel Pellegrini s men came through a semi-final against Rayo Vallecano.
Leading 2-1 from the first leg last month thanks to William Carvalho s winner, Betis controlled the second leg at the Benito Villamarin before late drama saw it finish 1-1.
The home side were content to keep possession and ensure Rayo had few chances to threaten, with Nabil Fekir mustering the first meaningful effort on target after 72 minutes had been played.
That was until the 80th minute, when former Manchester United forward Bebe unleashed a spectacular strike from a free-kick to level the aggregate scores.
However, in injury time, Borja Iglesias bundled home the equaliser to secure Betis 3-2 aggregate win.
Be…
The majority of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad have agreed to end their boycott after “profound changes” to the Spanish football federation were promised, according to National Sports Council president Victor Francos.
A decision was reached in the early hours of Wednesday morning following a lengthy meeting between the players, RFEF officials and CSD in a hotel in Oliva.
Fifteen players of the group from this summer’s tournament were on Monday named in new head coach Montse Tome’s squad for the Nations League encounters with Sweden and Switzerland.
But 21 of the 23-player contingent had already stated they would not play for their country again until major changes had occurred within the RFEF, in the wake of former president Luis Rubiales kissing Spain…
Christian Eriksen returned to a football pitch to play on Monday for the first time since his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
Brentford signed Eriksen in January on a deal until the end of the season following his release from Inter in December, where he was ineligible for professional football in Italy after being fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) device.
The Denmark international had not played since the incident during his nation s 1-0 loss to Finland on June 12.
However, on his 30th birthday, Eriksen played 60 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Southend United.
Brentford won the game 3-2 against the National League side, with the former Tottenham midfielder getting an assist for Josh Dasilva, who scored a hat-t…
Lucas Piazon has blasted Chelsea s loan policy after the forward joined Fulham until the end of the season.
It is the fifth such move for the 22-year-old, who arrived at Stamford Bridge as a highly rated teenager from Sao Paulo in 2011.
The Brazilian, who has spent time with Malaga, Vitesse, Eintracht Frankfurt and Reading, is struggling to see the value in being farmed out time and time again.
It makes no sense to go on loan all the time, he said in quotes reported by the Daily Mail.
It is not good for any player in my experience – or the experience of the other boys. I don t see it as a positive thing any more. To be in a different place every year is not good for me at 22.
It s difficult to get a place in the team. They have their own play…
Braga have parted company with head coach Jesualdo Ferreira following a disappointing campaign in the Primeira Liga thus far.
The experienced 67-year-old rejoined the club in the close-season, after a previous spell in charge between 2003 and 2006.
However, Braga have only won eight of their 20 league games this season, and a 2-2 draw with Arouca on Saturday saw the side fall six points adrift of a UEFA Europa League qualifying spot.
Three of Ferreira s backroom team will also depart their roles.
SC Braga announces that it has agreed to an amicable termination of the contract with coach Ferreira and coaches Nuno Almeida, Rui Almeida and Sergio Vieira, a statement on the club s official website read.
Please note that the administration of SC Braga acknowledg…
Kwesi Appiah has left his role as Ghana head coach by mutual consent.
The news comes just two months after the Ghana Football Association (GFA) offered their backing to Appiah following a tumultuous World Cup campaign.
The African nation were eliminated from the group stages after taking just one point amid reports of a row over appearance fees, while Kevin Prince-Boateng and Sulley Muntari were suspended by the GFA for breaches of discipline.
Appiah was handed a stay of execution, but Ghana drew their opening Africa Cup of Nations qualifier 1-1 with Uganda on September 6 and not even a 3-2 victory at Togo four days later was enough for him to keep his job.
The Ghana Football Association and Black Stars coach James Kwesi Appiah have agreed to mutually pa…
Lionel Messi scored for the first time against Chelsea as Barcelona came from behind to take a vital away goal into the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.
Willian hit the post twice but finally found the net with what looked to be the winning goal, only for Messi to score for the first time in six games to earn a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, leaving the clash finely balanced.
Chelsea and Barca were facing each other for the 13th time in the Champions League, renewing their rivalry after a classic semi-
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final clash in 2012, and for much of the contest there was nothing between the sides despite Barca s inevitable dominance of the ball.
Barcelona had 75 per cent possession in the first half but the Catalans were perhaps f…
Former winners TP Mazembe and Zamalek were paired together in Group A of the CAF Champions League in Tuesday s draw.
Mazembe, of the Democratic Republic of Congo, won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 and were placed in the same pool as five-time winners Zamalek, who last tasted success in 2002.
With the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals, the pair will go up against Al Hilal Omdurman and AS Vita Club for a place in the last four.
Group B contains another former winner in ES Tunis, who were last in the final two years ago when they lost to Al Ahly, 12 months after claiming glory with a 1-0 aggregate success over Wydad Casablanca.
They also made the final in 2010, but were beaten by Mazembe, and will now face fellow Tunisian side CS Sfaxien, a…