Joe Willock was compared to Ronaldinho and Luka Modric after a sparkling performance in Newcastle United s rout of Tottenham that included one of the assists of the season.
Newcastle team-mate Bruno Guimaraes has dubbed the midfielder Willockinho , and he more than lived up to that nickname on Sunday.
Willock, who coach Eddie Howe is backing for an England call-up, produced perhaps the moment of the match in a 6-1 win, his sensational outside-of-the-boot pass sending Alexander Isak away for the fourth of five goals in the first 21 minutes.
That was Willock s fifth assist in the Premier League this season to go with three goals as one of the key men in a Newcastle team closing on Champions League qualification.
Only Kieran Trippier (five) and Guimaraes (fo…
Manchester United still haven t reached a decision over the option to extend the employment of striker Edinson Cavani for another year after his current deal expires at the end of the season, according to Manchester Evening News.
United targeted a quality striker for a long time before finally landing Cavani last summer. They were initially interested in Joshua King in January 2020, who played for Bournemouth at the time. The talks between the two clubs failed and they brought in Odion Ighalo on loan instead, but when summer came and Cavani became a free agent with his contract with Paris Saint-Germain freshly expired, it made perfect sense as the experienced Uruguayan represent a significant step up from either of the previously mentioned players.
The 34-year-old has s…
English Football League clubs cut payments to agents by 2.3 million pounds (2.7 million euros) over the last year.
A total of 8.8 million pounds (10.1 million euros) was paid to agents by the 72 clubs in the three divisions outside the Premier League between July 2008 and June 2009, compared with 11.1 million pounds (12.8 million euros) for the 12 months previously.
Over the course of the season, Football League clubs made 3,727 player transactions, which includes new registrations, transfers, contract updates, contract cancellations and loans, but just 229 involved a payment to an agent.
Payments from the Championship clubs totalled 7.5 million pounds (8.6 million euros) between them, 86 percent of the total paid out, with 1.1 million pounds (1.2 million euros)…
Southampton host Hull City on Saturday knowing victory would lift them back into the top four of the Premier League.
If other results go their way, Mauricio Pochettino s charges could even find themselves second a scenario that illustrates the club s remarkable start to the 2013-14 campaign.
With just one defeat to their name this season a record shared only by Everton and table-topping Arsenal Southampton have established themselves as contenders for a European berth.
The south coast club had to settle for a point last time out, Jay Rodriguez s goal earning a 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium after Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic had sensationally opened the scoring from almost 100 yards 13 seconds into the game.
Rodriguez has since gained a first call-up to…
Germany international Kai Havertz was a transfer target for Bayern Munich this year, confirmed Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller.
Havertz enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for Bayer Leverkusen in 2018-19, scoring 17 Bundesliga goals and helping them qualify for the Champions League.
Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge previously hinted the champions were keen on Havertz, who has one goal in two Bundesliga games this term.
Voller indicated Leverkusen were unwilling to entertain offers for the 20-year-old but confirmed there was contact with Rummenigge over the in-demand player.
It is no secret that there were a few phone calls and great interest, Voller told Sky Germany.
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— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en)
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In a battle between two sides battling it out at the foot of the Premiership standings, Hearts will make the trip to the Simple Digital Arena on Wednesday night.
Starting with the hosts, after watching their FA Cup exploits come to an end thanks to a 2-0 defeat away at Aberdeen last month, St Mirren have continued on what has been a toothless run of form. Completely blown away against Celtic over the weekend and hit with a 5-0 hammering on the road, fans around the Simple Digital Arena have seen their side land just a sole Premiership victory since opening the New Year. Now in a real battle to avoid falling to the foot of the table, there is no doubt that Head Coach Jim Goodwin will have a growing headache over his side s contin…
German giants Bayern Munich seem to be in crisis at the moment. The clubs latest result a 1-1 draw at home to Schalke leaves the Bavarians six points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Poor discipline
At half-time in the Schalke game Italian striker Luca Toni was substituted and decided he didn t want to watch the second half. So he got in his car and headed home. The gesture showed a lack of respect for the fans and his teammates.
Germany international full-back Phillip Lahm criticised the clubs transfer policy in a German national newspaper. Both players received hefty fines for their discretion s. However I believe Lahm was right. What is the clubs vision for the future?
Previous glory
When I was a youngster I saw Bayern Munich as a European foo…
Crucial goal
La Liga
Real Madrid closed the gap on Barcelona at the top of La Liga to just one point on Saturday.
Whilst a first half Higuain goal was enough to give Real all three points at the Bernabeu against Racing Santander, Barcelona were toiling to a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao. Daniel had given Barca the lead on fifty-four minutes but within ten minutes the hosts had drawn level.
Sevilla kept up the pressure on the top two and are only two points further back after they won 2-1 at Tenerife. Perotti and Renato put Sevilla in the driving seat but the home team gave them a nervous finish to the game by pulling a goal back fifteen minutes from the end.
Valencia remain fourth after Villa, Albelda and Marchena gave them a comfortable 3-1 win at Osasun…
Jose Mourinho feels his experience as Chelsea manager two seasons ago proves Manchester United can still win the Premier League title.
United impressed in a 4-0 Europa League victory over Feyenoord on Thursday and resume domestic action at West Ham on Sunday, heading into the weekend in sixth place, nine points shy of Chelsea at the summit.
Mourinho was quick to point to the mid-season comeback from Manchester City that denied Chelsea, before the Blues marched to glory in 2014-15.
And the Portuguese was unable to resist a reprisal of his recent critique of Arsene Wenger s league record at Arsenal and a perceived lack of credit for his own achievements when addressing reporters ahead of United s trip to London Stadium.
When I won the last title 18 years a…
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone says there is no problem with his son Giovanni stating he will coach Inter in the future because he has often spoken of a desire to lead the Nerazzurri later in his career.
Simeone has made no secret of the fact he plans to return to San Siro to coach a club he represented as a player and with whom he won the UEFA Cup in 1998.
Giovanni, who plays for Genoa in Serie A, told Onda Cero last week that he expects his father to move back to Italian shores in the future.
And the Simeone senior defended his son s comments at a news conference ahead of Atleti s final Champions League group stage game against Bayern Munich.
It is normal that my son, my father, my sister, my wife would say that I will train Inter in the future, be…