Manchester City eye Real Sociedad ace Mikel Oyarzabal

Manchester City are interested in signing Mikel Oyarzabal from Real Sociedad, according to . It has been reported that the Premier League champions have closely monitored the attacker over the past two seasons.

City manager Pep Guardiola is a big fan of the 24-year-old, who can operate as a winger or as a forward. The Premier League club’s director of football Txiki Begiristain is also admirer of the Spain international and is keen on securing his services.

Oyarzabal has been at Sociedad since 2011 and has established himself as an important player in the team. The Spanish attacker has scored in four La Liga appearances for La Real so far this season, and scored 11 goals and gave eight assists in 30 La Liga starts and gave one assist in seven Europa League appearance…

Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile officially launch joint 2030 World Cup bid

World Cup holders Argentina have officially confirmed a joint bid alongside Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile to host the 2030 edition of the tournament.

A bid from Argentina and Uruguay had initially been announced in 2017 but has since expanded.

Uruguay hosted the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and would welcome the global showpiece for its centenary edition if successful.

Speaking upon confirmation of the four-way bid, Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia laid out his hopes to bring the tournament back to the continent where it was first held.

We have the possibility of hosting this World Cup, he said. It has the history, the essence, the passion with which we South Americans live football.

Today is a very important day for the histo…

Venues selected for 2016 Olympic football tournaments

Seven stadiums across six Brazilian cities have been selected to host the football tournaments at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Host city Rio de Janeiro contributes two grounds in the shape of the Maracana and the Olympic Stadium, while Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Manaus, Salvador and Sao Paulo will also welcome matches.

All grounds except the Olympic Stadium hosted matches at the 2014 World Cup, with organisers hoping to recreate the atmosphere of that tournament. 

The Olympic football tournaments will be a fantastic opportunity to revive the great atmosphere seen during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, not only in Rio de Janeiro but also in the other five cities,  said Marco Polo Del Nero, chairman of the organising committee for the Olympic football tournaments.

Netherlands 1/5 to see past Latvia in Friday’s Euro 2016 qualifier

Competition: Euro 2016 qualifier
Market: Netherlands to win against Latvia
Odds:

Netherlands travel to face Latvia for their Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday. The Oranje have been inconsistent of late, losing to the USA recently, but then beating Spain in the preceding fixture. They have, however, played Latvia only recently, and thrashed them 6-0, so they are expecting a repeat this week.

They boast a considerably stronger squad than their opposition, and Latvia haven’t fashion a win in any competition over their last six games in particular, so they aren’t in the best shape to stun the visitors. They have ground out some impressive draws again difficult opposition, with Ukraine, Turkey, and the Czech Republic coming unstuck in games of late, but Netherla…

Inter win Serie A title after Atalanta fail to beat Sassuolo

Inter were confirmed as Serie A champions after rivals Atalanta drew 1-1 at Sassuolo on Sunday.

The Nerazzurri have claimed the Scudetto for the first time since their 2009-10 treble triumph.

Antonio Conte s side have charged clear since the turn of the year, moving 13 points ahead of early pace-setters Milan.

Inter won 2-0 at Crotone on Saturday, meaning only an Atalanta win against Sassuolo could delay their celebrations.

Atalanta led through a goal from Robin Gosens after 32 minutes, goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini having earlier been sent off, but Domenico Berardi levelled seven minutes into the second half.

Luis Muriel had the chance to keep the title race alive, winning a penalty after a foul that saw Marlon Santos earn a second yellow card, b…

´´I have no comment!´ – Salah laughs off finishing seventh in Ballon d´Or voting

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah said he has no comment to coming seventh in the Ballon d Or voting as he laughed off finishing low down the list.

The Egypt international was considered among the favourites to come out on top at Monday s ceremony in Paris on the back of another impressive year for Liverpool.

However, Salah finished below Cristiano Ronaldo, N Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, Jorginho, Robert Lewandowski and record-extending seven-time winner Lionel Messi.

After scoring twice in Liverpool s 4-1 win against Everton on Wednesday, Salah was asked by Amazon Prime how he felt about finishing seventh in the standings.

Salah shook his head while laughing and said: I have no comment .

Prolific forward Salah doubled Liverpool s lead after Jordan He…

´The right club is here´ – Arsenal favourite Jack Wilshere makes shock move abroad

Former England star Jack Wilshere will attempt to get his stalled career moving again after signing for Danish side AGF.

The 30-year-old is joining the Aarhus-based team on a short-term deal initially, but an option to extend that contract by one year exists, with Wilshere desperate to prove himself after falling off the footballing map.

Arsenal favourite Wilshere, who began his career with the Gunners and helped the club win the FA Cup twice, has been without a team since leaving Bournemouth at the end of last season.

He was a teenage wonder with Arsenal, making his debut as a 16-year-old playmaker in 2008, but injuries have blighted his career in recent years. Recently, he has been training with Arsenal in an effort to build up his fitness.

AGF sit seve…

Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy 1/2 to make the England squad for Euro 2016

Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Jamie Vardy to make the final England squad
Odds:

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has enjoyed a brilliant start to the season with the Foxes, scoring 12 goals in as many games under new manager Claudio Ranieri. Such form has kept him in the England national team, and Vardy now looks a shoo-in to be in and around the squad by the time manager Roy Hodgson picks his Euro 2016 squad.

Vardy provides an injection of pace and a real direct threat. He’s been full of confidence, and could certainly have a role with England as an impact player. He missed out on selection for two international friendlies through injury, but will likely find himself on the teamsheet for the final batch of games before Hodgson makes a final decision.<…

Ruben Neves set for Saudi Arabia move as Wolves hold talks with Al Hilal

Wolves captain Ruben Neves is close to a £47million move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.

The 26-year-old midfielder has been expected to leave Molineux this summer and is poised to become the latest high-profile player to move to the Middle East, the PA news agency understands.

Barcelona had held a long-term interest in the Portugal international but have not been able to get a deal over the line.

Wolves are now in talks with Al Hilal for Neves, who only had a year left on his contract, with a move – which will be a club-record sale – likely to be completed this week.

Karim Benzema completed a free transfer to Al Ittihad this month and Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is linked with joining him, while Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Al Nassr in December.…

´I felt like Ronaldo´ – Bellingham revels overhead-kick equaliser for England

Jude Bellingham says he felt like Ronaldo while scoring a stunning overhead kick to send England to extra-time against Slovakia in the round of 16 at Euro 2024.

The Three Lions looked to be heading out of the European Championships on Sunday until Bellingham scored a 95th-minute equaliser.

Harry Kane then scored the winner in the first minute of extra time, with the captain later describing Bellingham s strike as one of the best in England s history.

Bellingham has admitted that while he was in the air, he compared himself to former Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored an iconic overhead kick for Los Blancos in the 2018 Champions League final.

It was really instinct more than anything, Bellingham said while speaking on England s Diary Room …