CONCACAF rules French Guiana draw a forfeit, bans Malouda

CONCACAF came out with a strong response
early Friday morning to French Guiana’s
decision to break the rules and play Florent
Malouda Tuesday evening in the Gold Cup.
The CONCACAF disciplinary committee
announced that the match between French
Guiana and Honduras, which finished as a
scoreless draw on the night, would be
forfeited by French Guiana, awarding
Honduras a 3-0 result.
In addition, French Guiana was fined an
undisclosed amount and the 37-year-old
Malouda was assessed a two-match stadium
ban.
“As a consequence of fielding Florent
Malouda, who was confirmed by the
Disciplinary Committee to be ineligible to
play in the Gold Cup 2017 according to the
applicable regulations, the Disciplinary
Committee has levied sanctions and fines
against the French Guiana Football League
(LGF) and has suspended the player ruled
ineligible,” CONCACAF said in a statement.
Malouda of course earned 80 caps for the
French National Team during a long career
in Europe where he starred for Lyon and
Chelsea, but began playing for his native
French Guiana earlier this year, captaining
the side to third place at the Caribbean Cup,
which served as a qualifying tournament for
the Gold Cup.
For whatever reason, CONCACAF allowed
Malouda to compete for French Guiana in
that competition but has decided to honor
FIFA rules, which say a player cannot switch
international teams once they’ve played in
an official FIFA match, at the Gold Cup,
which ruled Malouda ineligible for the Gold
Cup. Normally FIFA rules don’t apply to
French Guiana because the nation, an
overseas department of France, is not a
member of FIFA.
[ FOLLOW: @ozyfire06 on twitter ]
At the same time, Malouda was allowed to be
registered on the French Guiana roster,
placed on the starting lineup and take the
field, even though the game was almost
surely going to be forfeited.
The strange situation has perhaps met its
end, with French Guiana now with no chance
of advancing to the knockout round of the
Gold Cup with two losses through its first
two games against Canada and Honduras.
French Guiana wraps up the group stage
against Panama on Friday evening.

Transfer Rumor Wrap: Barcelona resigns Deulofeu, Milan spending spree continues

Gerard Deulofeu is heading home.
Barcelona announced it had re-signed the
23-year-old Spanish winger early Friday,
two weeks after exercising his buy-back
clause after he was sold to Everton in 2015.
According to the BBC, the buy-back clause is
worth $13.75 million.
The Catalonian club signed Deulofeu to a
two-year contract and Deulofeu is already
taking part in preseason training with the
club.
[ FOLLOW: @ozyfire06 on twitter ]
Since leaving Barcelona in 2013, Deulofeu
has played for Everton, Sevilla and AC
Milan, where he finished last season, making
16 starts and scoring four times. Overall
with Everton Deulofeu made 62 Premier
League appearances with five goals and 11
assists. But he found himself out of coach
Ronald Koeman‘s plans heading into this
season, opening the door for a return to
Barcelona.
For Barcelona, Deulofeu likely wasn’t their
first choice to sign this summer but bringing
in a homegrown winger who can impact the
game off the bench is never a bad idea,
especially at a cut-rate price.
Here’s a look at more transfer news from
around the Premier League and Europe

Man City signs Kyle Walker from Tottenham Hotspur in a reported record fee

Never shy to splash the cash, Manchester
City has reportedly spent enough to break a
new transfer record.
The club announced Friday the signing of
England international right back Kyle Walker
on a five-year contract, reportedly joining
for more than $65 million, with another $4
million in add-on fees . If the add-on fees
are paid, Walker would be the most-
expensive transfer for a defender, breaking
Chelsea’s record that it spent on David Luiz
in 2016.
Walker was rumored to be on his way out of
Tottenham at the end of the last Premier
League season and with Bakary Sagna and
Gael Clichy both departing Man City, Pep
Guardiola‘s side was in need of new
fullbacks.
The move appears to make sense for both
sides. Tottenham manager Mauricio
Pochettino appeared to prefer Kieran
Trippier over Walker in the second half of
last season and with the influx of cash,
Pochettino can use that money to improve
his squad.
Meanwhile, Guardiola adds an international
right back who can play in a back four or
potentially as a right wing back in a 3-4-3
or 3-5-2, and Walker is also a home-grown
player, which helps Man City for UEFA
Champions League squad registration
purposes.

Chelsea signs Tiemoue Bakayoko from monaco £40m agreed

Sportingfire is reporting that Chelsea have
finally agreed a fee of $51.7 million with AS
Monaco for defensive midfielder Tiemoue
Bakayoko and the player is set sign a five years contact with the london cub.
The 22-year-old destroyed has been linked
with a move to Chelsea for much of the past
month but he required minor knee surgery
after helping Monaco win Ligue 1 and reach
the UEFA Champions League semifinals last
season, hence the delay.
Per the report, Bakayoko will have his
medical later this week at Chelsea before
completing the long-awaited move.
Manchester United were said to be
interested in Bakayoko, but Chelsea were
the frontrunners all along and in connection
with Bakayoko’s imminent arrival it is
believed Nemanja Matic could leave Chelsea
and head to Manchester United but relations
between the two clubs are strained after
United beat Chelsea to the signing of Romelu
Lukaku.
What can Chelsea’s fans expect from
Bakayoko?
He’s a pure defensive midfielder who will
shield the defense but it also capable of
pressing high and making surging runs from
central midfield. A good comparison already
playing in the Premier League would be
Victor Wanyama.
Bakayoko isn’t a flashy player but like
N'Golo Kante , who he will likely line up
alongside, the French international does the
simple things extremely well and he’ll add an
extra steel to Antonio Conte ‘s midfield.
Following goalkeeper Willy Caballero arriving
on a free transfer and center back Antonio
Rudiger coming in for $43.9 million,
Bakayoko will bolster Chelsea’s midfield
options with youngsters Ruben Loftus-Cheek
loaned out to Crystal Palace and Nathaniel
Chalobah set to join Watford.
It will be intriguing to see how Cesc
Fabregas slots into this Chelsea midfield but
there’s no doubting Conte will go with a
3-4-3 once again as he prefers two strong
defensive midfielders in the center of
midfield. Kante and Bakayoko will provide
just that.
Follow on twitter @ozzyfire06

Man city close in on deals for Mendy, walker

Manchester City are said to be close to
signing Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy
with Pep Guardiola about to spend $120
million on a new right and left back.
City need these two additions badly, but
that’s a lot of cash.
Multiple reports state that Walker, 27, has
agreed to join Man City from Tottenham
Hotspur in a $65 million deal (that would
make him the the most-expensive defender
in history) with the England international
set to have a medical later this week and
then jet off with City on their preseason
tour of the U.S. next week. After losing out
on Dani Alves to Paris Saint-Germain signing
Walker was a priority for City.
As for Mendy, the 22-year-old French
international has an incredible engine and
his displays last season in the UEFA
Champions League have convinced City to
spend over $55 million with reports stating
City and Monaco are close to an agreement
and Mendy could be a City player early next
week.
Now, we all know defense was the main issue
for City last season and quite frankly it’s
been that way for the last five seasons.
After letting Pablo Zabaleta , Bacary Sagna
and Gael Clichy leave this summer, Guardiola
badly needed full backs and although he has
overpaid for them, just like he did for
goalkeeper Ederson earlier this summer, he’s
got what he wanted.
Walker will provide pace and power from the
right back slot and City finally seem to have
broken Daniel Levy’s resolved as Spurs’
chairman has played this perfectly. At the
end of last season Walker fell out with
Mauricio Pochettino and Kieran Trippier
impressed as he slotted into the team, so
know Spurs already have a replacement for
Walker and they’re getting $65 million.
Mendy is the latest in the mass exodus from
AS Monaco as the French champions have
also sold Portuguese playmaker Bernardo
Silva to Man City earlier this summer for
$55 million and are set to lose Tiemoue
Bakayoko to Chelsea while Arsenal are
chasing Thomas Lemar and Kylian Mbappe
seems destined for Real Madrid.
Back to City though, and if they complete
this double swoop it will be a huge upgrade
on their defense from last season as ageing
full backs struggled to cope with the extra
demands placed on them by Guardiola, and a
shaky central defense didn’t help matters
with John Stones struggling and Vincent
Kompany only able to play the second half of
the season when he returned from injury.
Balance is everything for Guardiola and with
two attack-minded full backs he now has
that. Just like he did at Barcelona with Dani
Alves, Maxwell and Eric Abidal, he has full
backs who can keep the ball and join the
attack but are also quick enough to recover
and keep a solid defensive shape after a
turnover.
Walker and Mendy will basically play as wing
backs for City and will be asked to move
inside with the ball, something Walker isn’t
too comfortable doing but he has everything
else needed to excel at the Etihad Stadium.
Yes, they overpaid, like they usually do for
defenders, but City have addressed their
needs perfectly just as their preseason
kicks up a few notches with the small matter
of playing both Manchester United and
Tottenham Hotspur in the U.S. over the next
two weeks.

Manchester United named most valuable team in the world

Manchester United are sitting atop the
soccer world once again.
At least, in terms of financial value… Sorry,
Jose, you still have quite a bit of work to do
at Old Trafford on the pitch.
Off the pitch the Red Devils were named the
most valuable soccer team on the planet by
Forbes Magazine , as they moved ahead of
Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid
with Man United worth an estimated $3.69
billion.
That’s an 11 percent increase, the biggest
rise in the top 10, on last year and they’re
the third most valuable sports team overall.
The NFL dominated the top 50 list with 29
teams included as the Dallas Cowboys are
the most valuable sports team on the planet
at $4.2 billion and Major League Baseball’s
New York Yankees came in second at $3.7
billion.
Below is a look at the top 10 overall sports
teams with teams from the NFL, MLB, NBA
and the soccer world all making the top 50
and seven soccer teams were in the top 50.
Four Premier League teams made the list
with Manchester City at 35th with a value of
$2.083 million, Arsenal in 43rd at $1.93
billion and Chelsea in 45th at $1.84 billion.
Bayern Munich were the only other soccer
team to make the top 50 at 15th with a
value of $2.71 billion.
Forbes’ top 10 most valuable teams
1. Dallas Cowboys – $4.2 billion
2. New York Yankees – $3.7 billion
3. Manchester United – $3.69 billion
4. Barcelona – $3.64 billion
5. Real Madrid – $3.58 billion
6. New England Patriots – $3.4 billion
7. New York Knicks – $3.3 billion
8. New York Giants – $3.1 billion
9. San Francisco 49ers – $3 billion
10. Los Angeles Lakers – $3 billion
15. Bayern Munich – $2.71 billion
35. Manchester City – $2.083 million
43. Arsenal – $1.93 billion
45. Chelsea – $1.84 billion

Dortmund’s Sven Bender to join twin brother at Leverkusen

LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) Bayer
Leverkusen is signing Sven Bender from
Bundesliga rival Borussia Dortmund,
reuniting the German midfielder with his
twin brother Lars, who captains the club.
[ MORE: Walker, Mendy to Man City? ]
Leverkusen says the 28-year-old Bender will
sign a contract through June 2021 after
undergoing a medical examination.
Bender played 158 Bundesliga games for
Dortmund after joining from 1860 Munich –
where his brother also played – in 2009. He
won the Bundesliga with Dortmund in 2011
and 2012, as well as the German Cup in 2012
and 2017.
Bender says he requested to leave in order
to get more games. He made only eight
appearances last season due to injury and
competition for places.
Leverkusen did not give financial details.
But Kicker magazine reports Leverkusen will
pay around 15 million euros ($17 million) for
the player, who has made seven appearances
for Germany.

VIDEO: Wayne Rooney scores stunner in second Everton debut

Wayne Rooney is back on the bike for the
Toffees and it took him just 34 minutes to
score a stunner on his second Everton
debut.
[ MORE: Rooney ready to lead Everton? ]
The 31-year-old, who signed from
Manchester United on Sunday to return to
his boyhood club 13 years after leaving
Goodison Park for Old Trafford, scored a
stunner from long-range in Everton’s
friendly against Kenyan side Gor Mahia in
Tanzania on Thursday.
Take a look at the video below to see Rooney
bend in the beauty, his first goal back in a
Toffees shirt.
It’s only preseason, but goals like this will
do his confidence no harm at all as the all-
time leading goalscorer for Manchester
United and England looks to finish his career
on a high with the team he loves.

BACK IN THE SACK Chelsea agree Tiemoue Bakayoko deal worth £40million with medical on Friday as Monaco star becomes their second most- expensive player ever

CHELSEA have reportedly agreed a
£40million deal for Monaco star Tiemoue
Bakayoko.
And French media outlet RMC via GFFN
claims the midfielder will complete his
medical this Friday ahead of completing
his switch.
Chelsea have agreed a deal for Tiemoue
Bakayoko
The Blues will pay Monaco £40m for the
French midfielder
Bakayoko has long been on Chelsea’s
wishlist following a barnstorming season
for new Ligue 1 champions Monaco .
The France international played a key
role as Leonardo Jardim’s underdogs
battled their way to the Champions
League semi-finals.
And Bakayoko now looks set to finally
become a Blues player this week after a
fee was agreed between the two clubs.
It’s said Chelsea will shell out a
whopping £40m for Bakayoko, making him
their second-most expensive player of all
time.
The midfielder will now be put through
his paces to make sure there are no
lingering problems after struggling with
a knee injury towards the end of the
last term.
But Chelsea expect a deal to go through
and are sure to be pleased after seeing
off a late threat from Manchester
United.
Bakayoko will undergo his Chelsea medical
on Friday
Antonio Conte will surely be delighted to
get another signing
The Red Devils are believed to have made
a shock play for Bakayoko after
struggling to land Nemanja Matic .
Chelsea are now reluctant to sell the
Serbian to Jose Mourinho after he
hijacked their move for Romelu Lukaku.
And Antonio Conte would have been left
fuming if the Special One pipped him to
another top target.

Manchester United offered Alvaro Morata £10m a year as Chelsea move stall

What’s going on with Alvaro
Morata?
Spanish radio station Onda Cero have looked
into the ongoing saga surrounding Real
Madrid striker Alvaro Morata.
As most people know, Morata was thought to
be on his way to Manchester United , however
the Red Devils have signed Romelu Lukaku
from Everton instead.
That’s lead to speculation that the 24-year-
old La Roja international could be heading
to Chelsea instead.
Morata, of course, was signed by Antonio
Conte at Juventus, however the current
Blues boss never managed to striker as he
leave the Binaconeri to manage the Italian
national team.
alvaromorata Follow
JUNE 27
338k likes 954 comments
Feliz cumpleaños ídolo! Crecí
viéndote marcar goles en el
Bernabéu y he tenido la suerte
de conocerte! Que pases un
gran dia! @raulgonzalez ��⚽️❤️
Man United’s £10m offer
According to Onda Cero, at the height on
Man United’s interest in Morata they
offered the striker 10 million pounds a year
in wages.
That’s not the biggest offer Morata has
received this summer, however. Chinese
Super League side Tianjin Quanjian,
managed by Fabio Cannavaro, reportedly
offered 30 million euros a season in wages.
As for the likelihood Morata ends up joining
Chelsea, the Spanish news outlet claim that
deal “does not seem very feasible,” although
it’s unclear why’s that the case.
For the record, Morata is currently with the
Real Madrid squad in America for pre-
season.
Onda Cero note that both Florentino Perez
and Zinedine Zidane want to keep him at the
club next season.

Dani Alves apologises to pep guardiola for snubbing man city

Paris Saint-Germain new boy Dani Alves
has apologised to Pep Guardiola for snubbing a
move to Manchester City.
Alves completed his move to Paris Saint-Germain
today on a free transfer after leaving Juventus
after just one season.
The Brazil international was widely expected to
reunite with his former Barcelona manager
Guardiola at Manchester City.
During his official unveiling to the media, the
Brazilian said: "If Pep Guardiola and Manchester
City feel hurt, I am sorry.

Thursday rumours, transfer talk nd paper review

Sportingfire bring you all the latest
headlines and top transfer-related stories in
Thursday's newspapers...

Chelsea are favourites to sign Pierre-
Emerick Aubameyang after Chinese Super
League side Tianjin Quanjin pulled out of a
move for the Gabon forward. Liverpool have
also been linked with the 42-goal striker,
while AC Milan are interested. (Daily Mail)
Borussia Dortmund are weighing up a move
for Arsenal's Olivier Giroud as a replacement
for Aubameyang. (Daily Mirror)
Meanwhile, Chelsea star Eden Hazard has
contacted Real Madrid manager Zinedine
Zidane to tell him he will be remaining at
Stamford Bridge for at least one more
season. (Daily Express)
Real Madrid have also given up on their
attempts to sign Manchester United
goalkeeper David de Gea, and will now turn
their attention to Athletic Bilbao's Kepa
Arrizabalaga. (Daily Star)
Liverpool are close to completing a deal for
Southampton centre-back Virgil can Dijk,
according to former midfielder Danny
Murphy . (Sport360)
Tottenham will not be bullied over the
futures of midfielder Eric Dier and defender
Kyle Walker following links to moves to
Manchester United and Manchester City
respectively. (Daily Telegraph)
The Red Devils could turn their attention to
signing £40m-rated Roma midfielder Radja
Nainggolan, as Tottenham continue to resist
any offers for 23-year-old Dier. (Daily Mail)
Arsenal are preparing a £45million raid for
the Monaco winger Thomas Lemar. (Daily Mail)
Manchester United are hoping to push
through a £40m deal for Inter Milan winger
Ivan Perisic within the next week. (Daily
Star)
City are looking to make a £25m move for
Southampton full-back Ryan Bertrand after
missing out on Dani Alves to Paris Saint-
Germain. (Daily Mail)
Chelsea have reached an agreement with
Monaco to sign 22-year-old midfielder
Tiemoue Bakayoko for £40m on a five-year
deal. (RMC)
Chelsea and Juventus are both keen on the
Real Madrid full-back Danilo. (Daily Mirror)
Tottenham are set to announce the signing
for 19-year-old Argentine ace Juan Foyth.
(Daily Star)
Middlesbrough have beaten Premier League
sides Burnley and Watford to the £14m
signing of Britt Assombalonga from
Nottingham Forest on wages of £60,000-a-
week. (The Sun)
Leicester City are planning a clear out of
last summer's transfer failures, with Islam
Slimani, Ahmed Musa, Nampalys Mendy and
Bartosz Kapustka all set to follow Ron-
Robert Zieler out of the club. (Daily
Telegraph)
England Under-21 midfielder Nathaniel
Chalobah is wanted by Swansea and Watford ,
with Chelsea ready to listen to offers of
£5million. (The Sun)
Here are the latest talkSPORT.com
headlines:
Yannick Bolasie tells talkSPORT: 'Wayne
Rooney is world class. He will bring
leadership to Everton'
Chelsea FC transfer news: Turkish giants
Fenerbahce step up interest in Michy
Batshuayi
Chelsea transfer news: Blues readying 'huge
offer' bid for Torino striker Andrea Belotti
Tottenham transfer report: Spurs winger
Erik Lamela wanted by Inter Milan
Real Betis one of FOUR Spanish clubs keen on
Stoke City star Bojan
Manchester United make enquiry over possible
move for Paris Saint-Germain full-back Serge
Aurier
Barcelona turn to Chelsea defender Cesar
Azpilicueta after ending pursuit of Arsenal's
Hector Bellerin
AC Milan make audacious bid for Juventus
defender Leonardo Bonucci
Tottenham FC transfer news: Moussa Sissoko
wants Premier League stay if put up for sale
this summer

Thursday rumours, transfer talk nd paper review

Sportingfire bring you all the latest
headlines and top transfer-related stories in
Thursday's newspapers...

Chelsea are favourites to sign Pierre-
Emerick Aubameyang after Chinese Super
League side Tianjin Quanjin pulled out of a
move for the Gabon forward. Liverpool have
also been linked with the 42-goal striker,
while AC Milan are interested. (Daily Mail)
Borussia Dortmund are weighing up a move
for Arsenal's Olivier Giroud as a replacement
for Aubameyang. (Daily Mirror)
Meanwhile, Chelsea star Eden Hazard has
contacted Real Madrid manager Zinedine
Zidane to tell him he will be remaining at
Stamford Bridge for at least one more
season. (Daily Express)
Real Madrid have also given up on their
attempts to sign Manchester United
goalkeeper David de Gea, and will now turn
their attention to Athletic Bilbao's Kepa
Arrizabalaga. (Daily Star)
Liverpool are close to completing a deal for
Southampton centre-back Virgil can Dijk,
according to former midfielder Danny
Murphy . (Sport360)
Tottenham will not be bullied over the
futures of midfielder Eric Dier and defender
Kyle Walker following links to moves to
Manchester United and Manchester City
respectively. (Daily Telegraph)
The Red Devils could turn their attention to
signing £40m-rated Roma midfielder Radja
Nainggolan, as Tottenham continue to resist
any offers for 23-year-old Dier. (Daily Mail)
Arsenal are preparing a £45million raid for
the Monaco winger Thomas Lemar. (Daily Mail)
Manchester United are hoping to push
through a £40m deal for Inter Milan winger
Ivan Perisic within the next week. (Daily
Star)
City are looking to make a £25m move for
Southampton full-back Ryan Bertrand after
missing out on Dani Alves to Paris Saint-
Germain. (Daily Mail)
Chelsea have reached an agreement with
Monaco to sign 22-year-old midfielder
Tiemoue Bakayoko for £40m on a five-year
deal. (RMC)
Chelsea and Juventus are both keen on the
Real Madrid full-back Danilo. (Daily Mirror)
Tottenham are set to announce the signing
for 19-year-old Argentine ace Juan Foyth.
(Daily Star)
Middlesbrough have beaten Premier League
sides Burnley and Watford to the £14m
signing of Britt Assombalonga from
Nottingham Forest on wages of £60,000-a-
week. (The Sun)
Leicester City are planning a clear out of
last summer's transfer failures, with Islam
Slimani, Ahmed Musa, Nampalys Mendy and
Bartosz Kapustka all set to follow Ron-
Robert Zieler out of the club. (Daily
Telegraph)
England Under-21 midfielder Nathaniel
Chalobah is wanted by Swansea and Watford ,
with Chelsea ready to listen to offers of
£5million. (The Sun)
Here are the latest talkSPORT.com
headlines:
Yannick Bolasie tells talkSPORT: 'Wayne
Rooney is world class. He will bring
leadership to Everton'
Chelsea FC transfer news: Turkish giants
Fenerbahce step up interest in Michy
Batshuayi
Chelsea transfer news: Blues readying 'huge
offer' bid for Torino striker Andrea Belotti
Tottenham transfer report: Spurs winger
Erik Lamela wanted by Inter Milan
Real Betis one of FOUR Spanish clubs keen on
Stoke City star Bojan
Manchester United make enquiry over possible
move for Paris Saint-Germain full-back Serge
Aurier
Barcelona turn to Chelsea defender Cesar
Azpilicueta after ending pursuit of Arsenal's
Hector Bellerin
AC Milan make audacious bid for Juventus
defender Leonardo Bonucci
Tottenham FC transfer news: Moussa Sissoko
wants Premier League stay if put up for sale
this summer

Chelsea wants to sign real madrid defender for £28m

Chelsea could be set to look to Spain for their
next summer signing, with Sky
Sports reporting that right-back Danilo could
be on his way to Stamford Bridge. The Blues are
thought to be in talks over a deal which could
cost them as much as £28 million, though
Juventus are also thought to be interested.
Juventus have lost Dani Alves in this transfer
window, reportedly a target for Chelsea earlier
this summer, and the two clubs could now battle
for the Brazilian full-back who made 17 starts
for the European champions last season.
However, Danilo was not first choice behind Dani
Carvajal and could be considered dispensable.
Another player on the move is defender Kurt
Zouma, who is in talks with Stoke City, West
Bromwich Albion and La Liga side Valencia over a
loan. Despite that, ESPN believe that the
Frenchman will sign a new long term contract
before leaving on loan, with only two years left
on his existing deal.
Zouma suffered a serious knee injury which kept
him out of action for nearly a year and he only
made 13 appearances last season, with only
three coming as Premier League starts, and is
expected to head out on loan in order to gain
regular first team football to rebuild his
fitness.
He will follow another youngster out of the door
after Crystal Palace confirmed the signing of
Reuben Loftus-Cheek on loan for the duration
of the 2017/18 season on their club website .
The 21-year-old midfielder has left Stamford
Bridge in a bid to earn more first team
experience.

Deal Close: 40-goal striker set to join Chelsea, drops strong hint on Instagram

Chelsea look likely to secure the services of
Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang following their recent
disappointment with Romelu Lukaku, The Mirror
reports.
The Gabon international bagged 40 goals
during a successful campaign with BvB last
term as they clinched their first silverware in
five seasons by lifting the DfB Pokal Cup.
Aubameyang has since been linked with a
number of clubs across Europe with the striker
deemed to have placed a transfer request in
order to push through an exit.
According to The Mirror , Aubameyang looks the
favourite to join the Blues this summer as they
seek to recruit a genuine goal-getter to their
ranks.
Diego Costa is likely to return to Atletico
Madrid in the coming weeks following his split
with the manager, and this could potentially
leave the Blues without a senior striker unless
they show their spending might.
Aubameyang has been previously linked with
the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool, but
with the latest speculation flowing, he has
posted a cryptic message via Instagram while
wearing a Blue jacket on.
Conte is in the desperate search to add a new
marksman this summer, and it appears that
the club are discussions with a number of their
transfer targets with their pre-season due to
start next week.

CELTIC WANTS THIS CHELSEA AND MADRID STRIKER

Celtic are prepared to part with star Moussa Dembele and are targeting players from Chelsea and Real Madrid as his replacement, according to the Sun .
The newspaper suggests Manchester United and Chelsea are the favorites for Dembele but that the London club hold an edge thanks to Celtic's interest in Blues youngster Dominic Solanke, who spent the season on loan with Vitesse.
In addition to the 19-year-old Solanke, Spain Under-19 and Real Madrid B forward Dani Gomez has also caught the attention of the Scottish giants. The 18-year-old Gomez would cost £3 million.

ARSENAL TARGET LACAZETTE WAITING ON 'CLUB OF HIS HEART' TO MEET LYON'S DEMANDS

The France international is expected to be on the move this summer after starring in his homeland, but he will only be sold if the terms are right
Lyon are prepared to let Alexandre Lacazette join “the club of his heart” for the right price, with the Arsenal and Liverpool-linked striker attracting interest once again.
The France international has long been linked with a big-money transfer on the back of his prolific efforts in his homeland.
The 25-year-old has been in sparking form again this season, netting 35 times in 44 appearances.
He has broken the 20-goal barrier in four successive campaigns and Lyon acknowledge that the time has come to let Lacazette move on if their demands are met.
Owner Jean-Michel Aulas told reporters: "Alex had a good option with a club that is in his heart.
PLAY
"If the club of his heart is able to match our demands then things will go well. Otherwise, it will depend on our other business."
West Ham were in the market for Lacazette in 2016, but saw a reported £43 million bid turned down.
That price tag is likely to have increased as the goals have continued to flow, while the list of clubs keeping a close eye on the situation will continue to grow ahead of the summer window.
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Lacazette for a number of years, and will be looking to add on the back of their struggles this season, while Liverpool may be interested as they seek to add depth to a squad that will have European fixtures to contend with in 2017-18.
Atletico Madrid have been mooted as another potential landing spot, with the La Liga giants waiting to discover whether Antoine Griezmann will leave them with an attacking void to fill?

CHELSEA AND ARSENAL WANTS MODRIC

Real Madrid's Luka Modric could be on the move in the summer, according to Diario Gol .
Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG and Bayern Munich are all interested in the Croatia international midfielder, and with Zinedine Zidane focused on making his side more youthful, he could be allowed to leave..  chelsea have plenty to spend next summer  luka modric would be a parfect combination for fabregas and kante in the midfield.

BALE TO UNITED, GRIEZY TO REAL

Spanish publication Don Balon reports that Real Madrid could move to sign Manchester United target Antoine Griezmann if Gareth Bale forces his way out of the club.
The report suggests Bale has been assessing his options and is willing to make a move to Old Trafford should all parties come to an agreement on who should go where in what looks to be a busy summer ahead at the Bernabeu.

CHINESE CLUB WANTS AUBAMEYANG

Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is reportedly considering a move to China, according to L'Equipe .
The French newspaper reports that the Gabon international could turn down a move to Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester United in order to become one of the world's richest players at Tianjin Quanjian in the Chinese Super League..

MANCHESTER UNITED WANTS KEANE

Michael Keane could be on the way back to Manchester United, according to the Daily Mail .
The defender was sold by the Old Trafford outfit two years ago for just £2 million, but it will cost the club £25m to bring him back after his good form for Burnley.
A clause in the deal when the defender was sold for the Manchester side to get a 25% sell-on fee basically assures the club of a discounted price against rivals for his signature.

EVERTON WANTS £50M FOR ROSS BARKLEY

Everton are asking for £50 million for midfielder Ross Barkley should he decide to leave the club this summer, reports the Daily Mail
Barkley was told last week he would be sold if he didn't sign a new deal by the end of the season and it looks increasingly likely he will leave Goodison Park.

ARSENAL WANTS CHELSEA TAMMY ABRAHAM

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wants to bring in Chelsea  Nigerian born England forward Tammy Abraham, says The Sun.
The England Under-21 international is prepared to quit Chelsea if he's not offered first-team football next season, and he doesn't factor into Antonio Conte's future plans.
Wenger would like to add depth and sees the striker as a good fit with the Gunners.. tammy abraham was real awesome where he excelled at Bristol city on loan from chelsea. He scored 23 league goals for the championship club who managed go excape relegation.

CHELSEA ENTER RACE FOR KYLE WALKER'S SIGNATURE

Chelsea are set for a fight with Manchester City over Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker, according to the Mirror .
Walker would be in line for doubling his salary with either club, and Blues' boss Antonio Conte is a big admirer who wants increased options ahead of the club's return to Champions League football.. The boss Antonio Conte has identied Southampton captain Virgil van vijk as his top choice defender to replace john terry and morata may all have agreed to seal a transfer to chelsea aswell, Lukaku remains a top target for the London club.

MANCHESTER UNITED 1 CELTA VIGO 1 (2-1 AGG): MOURINHO'S MEN SQUEEZE THROUGH TO EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL

Manchester United edged into the Europa League final with a 2-1 aggregate win over Celta Vigo as their 1-1 draw at Old Trafford saw late red cards for Eric Bailly and Facundo Roncaglia.
Argentine Roncaglia had just levelled on the night for Celta five minutes from time when a brawl ensued, the defender and Bailly dismissed for pushes that sparked a mass confrontation between the sets of players.
Celta had a chance to advance at the death but John Guidetti failed to turn Claudio Beauvue's square pass into the back of the net and book a place in the final in the city of his birth, with Jose Mourinho's side holding on to set up a date with Ajax by the skin of their teeth.
It was by no means vintage from United at any point and their start was particularly anxious, but they gave themselves a two-goal aggregate cushion in the 17th minute – Marouane Fellaini turning in Marcus Rashford's sumptuous cross for the club's 100th goal of the season.
Although falling further behind on aggregate had a noticeable impact on Celta, they continued to cause United problems at the back with Daniel Wass and Guidetti going close either side of the interval.
Celta's purposeful attacking play ultimately resulted in a goal for Roncaglia, but things soon got out of hand as he and Bailly saw red for raising their hands – the Ivorian consequently ruled out of the final.
United managed to hold on in desperate fashion as Guidetti was left with his head in his hands, but their lack of conviction might have alarm bells ringing despite securing passage to Stockholm.
For all of United's dominance in the first leg, they endured a very shaky start at Old Trafford.
An early Daley Blind error ultimately went unpunished, but a few moments later he was tormented by Iago Aspas, who evaded the Dutchman and forced Sergio Romero into a crucial save from a tight angle.
But United suddenly burst into life and calmed their supporters' growing unease. Rashford cut in from the left and produced a wonderful delivery to the far post, where Fellaini headed past the suspect Sergio Alvarez.
That goal certainly took some of the sting out of their previously vibrant attacking play, though Celta remained a threat.
Luckily for United, Celta were generally restricted to long-range efforts, with Pablo Hernandez and Pione Sisto both testing Romero.
But Sisto really worried United just before the break, flashing a ferocious ball across the face of goal, only for the stooping Wass to head agonisingly wide.
Celta began the second period much like they started the first, though they had Alvarez to thank for keeping them in the tie shortly after the break as he pushed Henrikh Mkhitaryan's rasping 25-yard drive over the crossbar.
United had a lucky escape themselves just before the hour, Guidetti sending a 12-yard half-volley wide of the left-hand post after good play by Sisto.
Rashford did brilliantly at the other end a few moments later, turning Gustavo Cabral inside out, dribbling past Roncaglia and seeing his chipped effort blocked by Alvarez.
The goalkeeper made another smart stop in the 70th minute, getting down to his right to keep Fellaini's effort from squeezing inside the post.
Roncaglia then forced a tense finish when he headed Theo Bongonda's cross into the bottom-left corner five minutes from time.
The drama ramped up another notch as Bailly and Guidetti clashed a minute later, the Swede going to ground after receiving a hand to the face and Roncaglia retaliated by shoving the United man to also receive his marching orders.
Guidetti had the chance to finish United off with almost the last kick of the game from just outside the six-yard box, but he failed to sort his feet out with the goal at his mercy as Mourinho's men clung on.

HOW CHELSEA PROFIT FROM JUVE SUCCESS

Chelsea will earn several million pounds should Juventus achieve both the Serie A and Champions League titles this season, due to clauses in the loan deal of Juan Cuadrado.
The 28-year-old moved to Chelsea from Fiorentina in a deal worth £23.3 million in 2015 but struggled to settle to life in the Premier League and England. He returned to Italy on loan last season, joining champions Juventus, and the Turin side managed to agree a deal to bring him back from the clutches of Antonio Conte for the current campaign.
Chelsea and Juventus negotiated a three-year loan deal which saw Chelsea earn £4.5 million a season, along with performance-related bonuses that are activated when the Old Lady win silverware.
Juventus are seven points clear at the top of the Serie A table with three games left to play and they are in the Champions League final after defeating AS Monaco over two legs.
sportingfire understands that Chelsea would earn bonus payments for success in either competition, and they would stand to earn over £24 million across the three years, if all clauses are activated.
PLAY
If Juventus had several poor seasons during Cuadrado's three-year loan spell then Chelsea would have only earned around £13.5 million for the Colombia international.
Chelsea have no option to recall Cuadrado as part of the loan arrangement.

CHELSEA MUST DO ALL THEY CAN TO KEEP FABREGAS -BABAYARO

Chelsea must not allow Cesc Fabregas to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, Celestine Babayaro has told talkSPORT.
Fabregas has had to settle for a reduced role under Antonio Conte this season, with the majority of his 30 appearances coming off the bench.
He has been an impressive performer whenever he has been called upon and was man of the match in
Monday’s 3-0 win over Middlesbrough after being handed a rare start.
There is speculation Fabregas could quit the Premier League champions-elect at the end of the season in search of more regular game time, and
AC Milan are being linked with a move for the World Cup winner.
But, according to former Chelsea defender Babayaro, it would be a big mistake on Antonio Conte’s part to let the 29-year-old go.
"He is an unbelievable player," said the Nigerian, who spent eight years with the Blues.
“They are talking about Fabregas going to AC Milan and here and there, but Chelsea should do everything possible to make sure he stays at Chelsea.
“You saw the way he controlled the midfield yesterday [against Boro]. He was just unbelievable - picking people out and spraying passes left, right and centre.”
Babayaro has also praised manager Conte for the job he has done at the Bridge.
Chelsea need just one more win to clinch the title in the Italian's debut season at the helm and could claim a domestic double, having reached the FA Cup final.
"Conte has done a great job in his first season," said Babayaro, who was speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show.
"The way he has transformed Chelsea this season has been unbelievable.
"He started with a back four, went to a back three, and now everyone knows what he wants them to do. Everyone is in sync.
"They kill teams off... and Conte is going to go a long way in Chelsea."

WENGER IN FOR TORINO'S BELOTTI

The Gunners have joined the race to sign Torino striker Andrea Belotti, reports Express
.
Manchester United and Chelsea are both chasing the Italian, but Arsene Wenger's interest grew after Arsenal scouts watched him play against Juventus.
The striker has an £80 million buy-out clause in his current contract.

BARCA EYEING ANGEL DI MARIA

Barcelona are eyeing a summer move for Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel Di Maria, according to Mundo Deportivo .
The Camp Nou outfit are looking to replace Arda Turan, and despite Di Maria's connections to Real Madrid, his friendship with Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano could help to push a deal over the line.
The Blaugrana are also eyeing Marco Reus, Bernardo Silva and Vitolo as alternatives.

MAHREZ WANTS LEICESTER EXIT

Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez wants to leave the King Power Stadium this summer, according to the Daily Telegraph .
The Algeria international vowed to remain with the Foxes this season, but believes he has now honoured an agreement made last summer and should be allowed to move on.
Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea are likely to be interested in the 2016 PFA Player of the Year.

OFFICIAL: CHELSEA TO SIGN RANGERS WONDER KID BILLY GILMOUR

Rangers have announced that Chelsea have signed their 15-year-old wonderkid Billy Gilmour for an initial fee of over £600,000.
The Premier League club have beaten a large number of clubs including Manchester City to secure the player, with Gilmour having spent the past week at Cobham Training Centre finalising legal arrangements.
Meet Rangers wonderkid Gilmour
Goal intiially reported the deal back in March , with the Scottish Premiership side having now officially confirmed the transfer.
Rangers were ready to fast track Gilmour into their first team to keep him at the club but he was well known across Europe and had been attracting scouts from Arsenal, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Gilmour is currently too young to move but he will be able to do so from his next birthday, which falls on June 11.
The midfielder put in a string of incredible performances for his club at Under-20 level, while his showings for Scotland in the Victory Shield also caught the eye of scouts.
PLAY
The Ayrshire schoolboy was expected to become Rangers' youngest ever player after training with Pedro Caixinha's squad, but his pathway into the first team will now likely be affected by the agreement with the Premier League leaders.
Confirming that Gilmour would move to Chelsea, a statement on Rangers' official website read: "Rangers can confirm that agreement has been reached for our under-16 player Billy Gilmour to join Chelsea in the summer.
"The club’s preference would have been for Billy to stay at Rangers but when he made clear his desire to move to the Premier League it was important that we maximised the commercial value for him. We believe we have done this.
All the latest transfer rumours
"The agreement will provide Rangers with a significant sum for a young player who has yet to play first-team football, and further significant amounts could be due based on milestones being reached. We are pleased with this outcome and believe this deal represents good value for Rangers.
"That he was sought after by many Premiership clubs, and indeed a number of the largest clubs in Europe, further demonstrates the quality of player now being produced by the Academy. Everyone at Rangers wishes Billy well for his future."
Privacy Policy Terms of Service About Us
Contact Us
Copyright © 2017 sportingfire.blogspot.com All rights reserved.

MBAPPE SHOULD GET USE TO SPECIAL TREATMENT LIKE MESSI, RONALDO, PELE AND MARADONA

The youngster was subject to some rough treatment from the Italian champions, but as his reputation grows he will have to learn to cope with it.
The Champions League semi-final second leg was a rough experience for Kylian Mbappe, both metaphorically and physically. As Monaco were being brushed off by a highly impressive Juventus side 2-1 on the night in Turin and 4-1 on aggregate, the 18-year-old phenomenon was being left battered and bruised by Andrea Barzagli - a player twice his age.
Mbappe makes Champions League history
Aware of the France international’s talents in the first leg, from which he emerged with credit despite a 2-0 defeat, Massimiliano Allegri set his side up to quell the threat of the teenager.
In many ways, it was the greatest compliment that the Italian champions – perhaps the most formidable defensive side the Champions League has ever known – could pay the young forward. All the greats, from Pele to Diego Maradona to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have had to face such treatment: it is a sign of respect.
Only on occasion was his smart footwork and dazzling pace allowed to come to the fore, with Barzagli’s no-nonsense approach as brutal as possible while playing within the confines of the laws. But just as he has overcome all the other barriers thrown in front of him in his short career to date, he managed to end Gianluigi Buffon's incredible 690-minute run in the Champions League without conceding - a moment that could be referenced in years to come, despite its academic nature in this tie.
It is a tactic that the youngster will increasingly have to deal with as his reputation grows and is one that he has dealt with effectively before.
The Coupe de la Ligue final, lost 4-1 against Paris Saint-Germain, was the first occasion in which he was truly troubled in this manner. Up against Thiago Silva, a centre-back more noted for his reading of the game than his combative approach, he found himself the victim of an uncharacteristically physical display from the former Brazil captain.
Monaco unsure of Mbappe's future
“Thiago Silva charged at him from the first to the last minute. He really tackled him hard. You could see that he was trying to get at him and that he wanted to ruin his confidence,” goalkeeper Danijel Subasic told
24Sata last month.
“After the match, in the dressing room, Mbappe was very sad, he was on the verge of tears, very hurt and I was sorry to see him in that state. I consoled him and I told him that these things were normal because he has shown everyone to what extent he is strong and that this was going to continue in the future.”
Certainly, teams in Ligue 1 have tried to quell him using these strong-arm tactics but have simply not been good enough. Juventus, the masters of defending, on the other hand, were perfectly capable of doing so.
PLAY
At times, Barzagli alone was not enough. Mbappe found himself up against two world-class defenders and was largely incapable of making headway. Few would have been.
And Mbappe, despite becoming the youngest ever scorer in a Champions League semi-final, was not the only Monaco player to find the going hard.
Leonardo Jardim’s tactics left his side exposed at the back and had it not been for an outstanding display of shot-stopping from Danijel Subasic, it could have been a real rout in favour of the hosts.
That would have been unfair on a Monaco side that have entertained so richly upon both the European and domestic stage this season, but they simply ran into opponents too good for them.
Perhaps there were tears in the Juventus Stadium at full-time, but this was a valuable learning experience, both collectively and individually, and Mbappe will be all the richer for it.
Privacy Policy Terms of Service About Us
Contact Us
Copyright © 2017 sportingfire.blogspot.com All rights reserved.

MONACO DID FRENCH FOOTBALL PROUD -JARDIM

Leonardo Jardim believes Monaco did French football proud in their exhilarating run to the Champions League semi-finals.
The Ligue 1 champions-elect came up short against Scudetto holders Juventus, going down 2-1 on Tuesday in Turin after a 2-0 defeat on home soil the previous week.
Jardim's young stars have lit up the tournament, however, with Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar, Bernardo Silva and others thrilling in goal-laden ties against Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.
Dani Alves revels in 'crazy' style
It remains to be seen whether Monaco's leading lights will still be at Stade Louis II next season, with Jardim himself also linked with a move away, but the Portuguese was happy to reflect on a campaign of many positives on the continent.
He told beIN Sports: "On one side was a team with a lot of experience and the other a lot of youth.
Jardim: "The players gave everything. We exit the competition with our heads held high." #UCL
Champions League
@ChampionsLeague
"We are very happy to have been in this semi-final, I'm very proud of the players. We played today after we played on Saturday [against Nancy], and the players did their best.
"We could not have played for the draw. It is a result that makes us leave with our heads held high.
PLAY
"We represented French football well. Now let's focus on the championship. Let's recover well, the players made a lot of effort here in Turin."
Gonzalo Higuain's first-leg double in Monaco badly hampered the Ligue 1 club's chances of progression, but Jardim praised his side's never-say-die attitude.
"Juventus had not conceded goals for several games, and the first leg was a bit of a blow to our ambitions, but today we played a good game with a lot of aggression," he added.
"We continued to play well, we wanted to score and we scored a goal.
"We've had a great Champions League [season], we are proud of the players, it was the first experience at this level of many of them."
Privacy Policy Terms of Service About Us
Contact Us
Copyright © 2017 sportingfire.blogsport.com All rights reserved.

THE MOU WANTS MARCO AT UNITED

Jose Mourinho wants to bring Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus to Manchester United, according to Don Balon .
The United boss wants the Germany international to replace Wayne Rooney, who is set to leave Old Trafford for China this summer.
The Red Devils are likely to face competition for Reus from Atletico Madrid, with Diego Simeone unhappy with the performances of Yannick Carrasco this season.

ALEXIS SANCHEZ TO BAYERN TALKED UP BY FORMER ARSENAL KEEPER LEHMANN

The Chilean forward continues to be linked with a big-money summer move, with the reigning Bundesliga champions considered to be a good fit for him
Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez “would fit in at Bayern Munich”, says Jens Lehmann as transfer speculation builds around the Chilean.
With the 28-year-old heading towards the final 12 months of his current contract and no extension talks planned until the summer , uncertainty continues to shroud his future at Emirates Stadium.
Welbeck can offer more than just goals
Several leading sides from across Europe have been mooted as potential landing spots for the South American, with Bayern the latest to head that particular queue.
Former Germany international Lehmann believes Sanchez would be a solid addition for the Bundesliga champions, although he acknowledges that they are already well-stocked in wide areas with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery on the books.
“He would fit in at Bayern, although he is not the typical wide player they are seeking," the ex-Arsenal goalkeeper told Sky Deutschland .
PLAY
"He likes to cut inside, I have seen players that make better decisions on the pitch, but perhaps he can learn that.
"He is a street footballer, you notice that when he is on the pitch.
“Playing him in a system is not so easy but it would be nice to see him in the Bundesliga."
Sanchez has netted 24 times for Arsenal in all competitions this season, with Arsene Wenger opting to use him as more of a central striker this season than a supporting forward in a wide berth.
His talents would obviously be embraced in the Bundesliga, with the former Udinese and Barcelona frontman having already lit up Serie A, La Liga and the Premier League.
Contact us today follow trending football updates on twitter @ozzyfire06

FABREGAS BREAKS PREMIER LEAGUE ASSIST RECORD FOR CHELSEA

The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder has now recorded 10 assists or more in six seasons, a mark nobody else has previously managed
Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas has broken a Premier League record after his assist for the Blues against Middlesbrough on Sunday.
The Spanish midfielder teed up Nemanja Matic in the second half as Antonio Conte's side added their third goal in a 3-0 win over the Teesiders at Stamford Bridge.
Costa joins exclusive Chelsea club
And in doing so, he reached a mark never before achieved in the English top flight.
10 - @cesc4official has now assisted 10+ goals in six different Premier League seasons - more than any other player. Benevolent.
Fabregas has now recorded 10 assists in the 2016-17 season, the sixth campaign in which he has managed double figures.
He previously shared the record with Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs, who both set up 10 goals or more in five seasons at Manchester United.
Antonio Conte's first term at Chelsea appeared to be the end of Cesc, as he struggled to carve out a place in the Italian's starting line-up at the beginning of the year.
PLAY
Indeed, this was only his 11th start of the Premier League season but he has found a role for himself as an impact attacking option for Chelsea, effective both when included in the lineup and when he has come off the bench.
He has not looked back since winning Conte's trust, with Diego Costa also benefiting from his creative play against Boro for Chelsea's first goal but Fabio's failed clearance denying the midfielder another assist.
Chelsea are one win away from the title after defeating - and relegating Middlesbrough - on Monday night.
Privacy Policy Terms of Service About Us
Contact Us
Copyright © 2017 @ozzyfire06 on twitter

Man city wants Rudiger and Bonucci for next season

Manchester City are interested in Roma
defender Antonio Rüdiger and Juventus
centre-back Leonardo Bonucci.