Moussa Sissoko is desperate to leave Newcastle United ahead of next season and has set his sights on a move to Arsenal.
Despite avoiding defeat in their final six matches of the 2015-16 campaign, Newcastle were unable to escape the bottom three and will play in England s second tier from August.
But Sissoko, 26, does not intend to be there as he targets an immediate return to the Premier League away from St James Park.
It s flattering that a coach like [Rafa] Benitez wants to keep me, but I think he knows what I want. I want to leave, Sissoko told Foot Mercato.
It would be difficult for me to play in the Championship. I have to keep on developing. I have the ambition to play for one of Europe s finest and keep playing for the national team.
I…
The perception that Cristiano Ronaldo is vain and only out for personal glory is wide of the mark, according to his former coach at Real Madrid Carlo Ancelotti.
Ronaldo s Portugal face Croatia in Euro 2016 s last 16 on Saturday and Ancelotti, who is taking over from Manchester City-bound Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich for the 2016-17 season, defended the forward against accusations of self-interest.
Ancelotti, who won the 2014 Champions League with Ronaldo and Madrid, insisted the 31-year-old s public image does not match what he experienced as his coach between 2013 and 2015.
You see a different kind of Cristiano Ronaldo when you are the manager of his team, Ancelotti wrote in The Telegraph.
The rest of the world has become obsessed with the im…
Carlos Tevez, Hulk, Oscar and Ezequiel Lavezzi are among the stars Mousa Dembele is following by joining a club in the Chinese Super League.
Belgium international Dembele has completed a move to Guangzhou R and F, ending a seven-and-a-half-year stay at Tottenham.
Dembele is far from the first star of the game to have headed to Asia, but recent history suggests high-class players do not always succeed in China.
Here, we look at eight stars who have moved to the CSL and assess how they fared.
Thank you for the memories, !
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)
Carlos Tevez (Shanghai Shenhua)
Although probably the biggest name to join the CSL, Tevez s time in China was far from settled. The striker later described a…
Frenkie de Jong will be following in the footsteps of a pantheon of Dutch legends when he links up with Barcelona from Ajax at the start of next season.
The much sought-after 21-year-old midfielder ended speculation on his future by agreeing to join LaLiga s champions on a five-year-deal from July in a move that could eventually rise to €86million.
De Jong will get to develop his burgeoning talent at a club that goes hand-in-hand with Dutch greats, with 19 previous players from the Netherlands having represented Barca.
Some were more successful than others, with the likes of Edgar Davids and Ronald de Boer among the more illustrious names to have not quite enjoyed their best successes at Camp Nou.
But below we take a look at the five greatest Dutchmen…
This weekend sees Manchester United host Manchester City in a derby that feels like it may play a pivotal part in where each teams season heads, and there is an outside chance that the match-winner might not even be Cristiano Ronaldo.
Elsewhere, there is a certain Egyptian King who will be worth consideration for the handful of people who for some reason do not already own him in their fantasy team, along with a Newcastle player who could prove a useful differential.
There is also a former fantasy football favourite at Wolves who could be due a run of form.
Below are Stats Perform s weekly suggestions for fantasy football players, powered by Opta data
JOAO CANCELO (Manchester United v Manchester City)
Try to predict the potential…
Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker:
In one of Europe s most iconic rivalries, AC Milan and Inter Milan will face off at the San Siro on Sunday night in a contest that tends to produce fireworks.
AC Milan
Starting with the hosts, while many expected AC Milan to pick up a crucial Champions League victory in midweek, it was a sluggish display from the Rossoneri. Eventually having to come from behind as they snatched a 1-1 draw against Porto on home soil, Stefano Pioli s side should be glad to make a return to domestic duties on Sunday night. Only continuing to shock many across Italy since opening the 2021/22 campaign, the one-time Inter boss finds his side firmly battling it out at the top of the table. Remarkably yet to taste a single Serie A defeat so far this season, AC…
Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara admits he is surprised at the amount of time coach Pep Guardiola has given him on the field this season.
The 20-year-old has featured in the majority of Barcelona s competitive games this season, and although he has not always played in his favourite central position, Thiago is over the moon to be enjoying regular first-team action.
I didn t think I would be playing so much this season, I m a bit surprised with the amount of minutes I ve been given on the field. It s a pleasant surprise, he said.
As time goes on you mature and evolve, in certain situations I would be too risky with my play. Playing out wide is more secure, easy and simple.
The promising youngster also praised his colleagues Cesc Fabregas and Lione…
Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker:
Knowing the importance of making another title statement on Saturday evening, Arsenal will travel to the Amex when they meet Brighton.
Brighton
Starting with the hosts, while Brighton might have once again gained plenty of plaudits this season, Roberto De Zerbi’s men are desperately seeking some much-needed stability. Last seen earlier in the week eventually having to settle for a 0-0 stalemate away at Brentford, the Seagulls face a real uphill battle in their bid to claim another famous European ticket in 2024. Crashing out of the Europa League last month following a 4-1 drumming at the hands of Italian heavyweights Roma, the former Sassuolo boss has also found increasing scrutiny over his long-term future at the Amex. Marking their…
Troy Deeney has ended speculation over his future by signing a four-year deal with Watford.
The 26-year-old had been heavily linked with a move away from Vicarage Road during the transfer window, with Premier League new boys Leicester City, QPR and Burnley all linked to the striker.
However, Deeney has agreed fresh terms on a contract that runs until 2018 with the Championship outfit.
[Watford] are delighted to confirm that club captain Troy Deeney has committed himself further to Watford FC by today signing a new four-year contract, read a statement on the club s official website.
The 26-year-old striker feels that he can realise his Premier League ambitions with the Hornets a view endorsed by senior club officials and, without doubt, all Watford suppo…
Athletic Bilbao must overcome the weight of history if they are to emerge victorious against Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday.
It has been almost 13 years since Athletic won at Camp Nou and the size of the task they face in ending that run is underlined by Barca s incredible dominance on home soil against all comers.
Since a shock 2-0 reverse to Hercules in September 2010, Barca have lost just twice in 76 home La Liga matches.
Luis Enrique s tenure has started promisingly with six points and two clean sheets from his opening two league games, and the new Barca coach has enjoyed the luxury of having a full squad to work with in training this week.
Full-back Jeremy Mathieu is the only major doubt with an ankle injury, but the international break was otherwi…