Plauseorminus

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was enjoying a breakout season at the age of 21, featuring as a full-time starter for the first time in his career while on loan to Crystal Palaceand debuting for England in November, before an ankle injury brought everything to a screeching halt last month. Now, more than a month later, Loftus-Cheek’s ankle hasn’t improved after a period of rest, and surgery has emerged as a very real possibility should no progress be made over the next month. As such, Loftus-Cheek, now 22, has returned to Chelsea for further evaluation by his parent club’s medical team. Palace manager Roy Hodgson, just like the rest of us, is living in total darkness —quotes from the Guardian: “Chelsea insist on having him back there on this period of rehabilitation, so we won’t really know until such time that they release him back to us. The agreement was that he would spend two to three weeks without having a surgical intervention, in the hope that the problem he has will be resol...

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for a club-record fee, understood to be £60m. The Gunners have gradually and significantly improved their offer for Aubameyang, having started at £44m, and the fee eventually agreed eclipses the figure paid to Lyon for Alexandre Lacazette last summer.  For a long time, Dortmund tried to have Olivier Giroud included in the deal, but the Frenchman preferred to remain in London and is expected to join Chelsea, who in turn will allow Michy Batshuayi to move to BVB as Aubameyang’s replacement. The length of Aubameyang's Arsenal deal has not been confirmed, with the club saying the Gabon international striker has signed "a long-term contract". Arsenal announced on their official website the transfer is subject to the completion of regulatory processes and the 28-year-old's squad number will be confirmed soon. A statement from Arsenal confirmed: ‘The 28-year-old has join...

The signing of a proven world-class forward such as Alexis Sanchez is just what Manchester United need to compete for the biggest prizes, former Tottenham manager Gerry Francis has said. Sanchez, 29, joined United on a four-and-a-half-year contract from Arsenal on Monday, 22 January, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan moving in the opposite direction in a straight-swap deal. "Sanchez is a real goal-scorer, he's talented and he's aggressive around the box and he makes things happen, he can pull teams through," he told Sky Sports.Francis described the Chilean forward as a match-winner who will aid United in their quest to win silverware by adding some much-needed potency to their attack. "It's [about] the present, you're looking to win trophies and looking to win competitions and, sometimes, you need to buy and have the finished article and Sanchez is certainly that. "It just makes them as a squad that much stronger. Certainly, a much bigger goal-threat with Sa...

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte could do no wrong in the eyes of Blues supporters after the remarkable tactical switch that ultimately won him the Premier League title in his first season at Stamford Bridge. The FA Cup final loss against rivals Arsenal that followed did little to taint the Italian's growing legacy, and the image of Diego Costa kissing the club's crest after his equalizing goal in that match certainly made it seem like all was fine and dandy between striker and manager. That was until the Spanish forward revealed that he'd received a WhatsApp message from the boss letting him know that he was no longer needed. A whole lot has happened since then. Costa has returned to Atletico Madrid after a dramatic and seemingly never-ending saga, perceived target Romelu Lukaku has joined Manchester United, and the Blues have replaced the fiery Spaniard with Alvaro Morata. Morata became the club's record signing last summer, coming in from Real Madrid for £58...

Chelsea are close to completing their fourth and fifth January transfer deals after reaching an agreement with AS Roma for Emerson Palmieri and Edin Dzeko. The arrival of Ross Barkley from Everton was their first deal, which was followed by departures of midfielders Josimar Quintero and Nathan. The Blues were linked with a number of playersbefore they settled on the Roma pair and are now said to have reached an agreement with the Italian club. According to Goal, Chelsea will pay the Italian capital club €50m (£44m, $61m) upfront with a further €10m (£9m, $12m) in add-ons to sign Palmieri and Dzeko in January. The 23-year-old Brazilian full back's move is said to be at an advanced stage after his agent confirmed talks between the two clubs last week. The London Evening Standard reports that he has agreed a four-year deal with Chelsea worth around £42,000-a-week. Palmieri will provide competition at left wing-back to current incumbent Marcos Alonso, who has been unchal...

Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele is set to be on the sidelines for around "three to four weeks" after suffering a fresh hamstring injury during the Catalan's 4-2 victory over Real Sociedad on Sunday. The 20-year-old winger moved to the Nou Camp from Borussia Dortmund during the summer transfer window in deal worth £93.4m  plus €40m in add-ons. The Frenchman spent more than three months on the sidelines as a result before returning to action during Barcelona's 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo in La Liga on 4 January.Earlier on September Dembele was indeed forced to undergo a surgery after rupturing the "tendon in his femoral bicep in his left thigh" during a clash with Getafe when he was only making his third appearance for the club. Dembele has since made three more appearances, playing 25 minutes during the win over Real Sociedad after replacing Paulinho in the second half. But the Frenchman will miss the upcoming games after Barcelona revealed that th...

Chelsea have begun talks to sign Richarlison from Watford, according to reports. The 20-year-old joined the Premier League in an £11.2 million deal from Fluminense last summer and has made an immediate impact in his debut season. So far this term, the Brazilian has scored five goals and registered four assists in 23 Premier League appearances.  And now Chelsea are looking to bring Richarlison to Stamford Bridge, although a move will not happen this month. According to Goal, the Premier League champions have already held talks with the winger’s agent Giuliano Bertolucci about a potential deal this summer. Chelsea could also have an advantage in the race to sign Richarlison as Bertolucci has helped the club with several transfers involving Brazilian players, including Willian, Oscar and David Luiz on two occasions. The report also claims that Chelsea are keeping tabs on Thorgan Hazard. The 24-year-old, who is the younger brother of Eden, was permanently sold by Chelsea...

Oxlade-Chamberlain's blistering performance during Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Manchester City highlighted a serious problem at Arsenal, says Jamie Redknapp. The England international left the Emirates over the summer having spent six years with the Gunners. His decision to leave was understood to have been motivated by his lack of progress under Arsene Wenger.  Despite being one of the most highly rated young players in England when he joined from Southampton, Oxlade-Chamberlain failed to ever secure a guaranteed place in the starting XI, struggled to define his best position and never scored more than two goals in a Premier League season. However, in just 20 Premier League games at Liverpool he has surpassed that total with his strike against Man City his third goal of the season. Redknapp believes Oxlade-Chamberlain is not the only player to have stagnated at Arsenal in recent years. ‘If you need any further proof that players stand still when they are at Arsenal, you on...

Willian insists reigning Premier League champions Chelsea are ‘confident’ of beating Arsenal to reach the Carabao Cup final. Chelsea welcome the Gunners to Stamford Bridge this evening for the first leg of the tie and Willian is desperate to add to his trophy collection. The Blues are enjoying a fine run and Willian says the team is full of confidence with a final against either Manchester City or Bristol City at stake. ‘We are confident,’ Willian told the Chelsea website. ‘It’s another semi-final for us and a great opportunity to reach the final. ‘It’s a big game, an important game, and of course we want to get through to Wembley. ‘There are two legs and we have to make sure we’re ready for each match. If we win at Stamford Bridge we can go to the Emirates in a good position. ‘Arsenal are strong at home, they have a lot of possession and play with the ball but I think if we play well over the two legs and do a good job we can reach the final.’ Chelsea’s home form of late ha...

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale have been omitted from Real Madrid's 19-man squad for the Copa del Rey clash against Numancia on Wednesday night with Zinedine Zidane expecting to make wholesale changes to his line-up. Los Blancos have all but secured the qualification for the quarter finals in the after goals from Gareth Bale, Isco and Borja Mayoral gave them a 3-0 first leg advantage. Zidane rotated his squad in the first leg and the Real boss will ring the changes when the second division side visit the Santiago Bernabeu. Ronaldo and Bale are among the six first-team players rested by the Real manager after the Welshman proved that he is back to his best by scoring two goals during the 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo. Zidane thus wants to have him fresh for the busy upcoming schedule with the dead rubber clash against Numancia coming only three days before another important La Liga clash with Villarreal on Saturday. Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Luka Modric and Mateo ...

Kevin De Bruyne admits he is relishing the prospect of teaming up with Alexis Sanchez at Manchester City. The runaway Premier League leaders have revived their interest in the Arsenal forward after narrowly failing to secure his services last summer. Sanchez is reported to have agreed personal terms with City already, but the two clubs are yet to settle on a fee with the Gunners still valuing the 29-year-old at around £40million, despite the former Barcelona forward having entered the final six months of his contract.  Gabriel Jesus is likely to miss the next two months with a knee ligament injury, while Sergio Aguero, who came off the bench to secure a late 2-1 win over Bristol City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, has struggled with his fitness in recent years and De Bruyne believes the potential arrival of Sanchez could help ease the burden on City’s attacking players. He said: ‘A very good player. Obviously we will see what happens in this transfer period. ‘If a good p...

Chelsea star Eden Hazard has rejected a new deal to stay at the club, his father has confirmed. The Belgian has two-and-a-half-years to run on his existing deal at Stamford Bridge but the Blues are keen to extend his contract and give him improved terms. The 26-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid in the last 18 months and more recently Manchester United are reported to be ready to break the British transfer record to sign the former Lille man.  Chelsea are willing to make Hazard the best paid player in the club’s history but the winger’s father has confirmed his son turned down Chelsea’s opening offer. ‘He has rejected a contract offer,’ confirmed Thierry Hazard to Le Soir.  "This was so that, if necessary, he could follow the interest of the Real, whom he could see himself playing for. Hazard has repeatedly spoken about his affection for Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and even joked he could ‘speak to Chelsea’s board’ about appoint...

The draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals was conducted at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow on Friday. Thirty-two teams including five African nations were drawn into eight groups of four. Nigeria’s World Cup 2018 fate has been decided after the Super Eagles of Nigeria are to face Albicelestes of Argentina while Tunisia will battle with Panama in Group G at Friday’s star-studded event in Moscow.  While Gernot Rohr’s men have avoided the likes of holders Germany, European champions Portugal, France, Brazil and Spain, they have nevertheless been given a challenging test against their familiar enemies, the Argentines.  Egypt, who qualified for the finals for the first time since 1990, were pitted against Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and the host nation, Russia. Their North African rivals Morocco were drawn into Group B along with Portugal, Spain and Iran. Morocco will make their sixth appearance in the finals next year. Three-time African champions Nigeria, who wi...

Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla won't be ready to return to action in January having been forced to undergo a new surgery on his achilles tendon. The 32-year-old midfielder has been out of action since being forced off during the 6-0 win over Ludogorets in the Champions League on 19 October in 2016. The former Villarreal and Malaga star was originally expected to return to action in a matter of days but on 1 December IBTimes UK revealedthat the Arsenal star required a surgery because the recovery was not going as expected. Cazorla went under the knife days later, with Arsenal ruling him out for between two and three months. However, the Spaniard has been unable play since then after suffering a number of setbacks in his recovery. Cazorla was set to be out of contract last summer but Arsene Wenger opted to activate an option to renew his deal for one more season with hopes to have him available in the second part of the current campaign. Earlier this month, Cazor...

Neymar’s father has not ruled out the possibility of his son moving to Real Madrid in the future, though insists he is committed to Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian became the world’s most expensive player when PSG paid up his £198 million Barcelona release clause, though his short time in the French capital has been littered with drama. The 25-year-old had a bust up with striker Edinson Cavani over who should take penalties and it was claimed he withdrew himself from selection for a Ligue 1 match. There have also been rumours that he is unhappy in Paris and asked his ex Barca teammates if they would have him back, while a move to Clasico rivals Real has been mentioned. And now Neymar’s dad, who never wanted him to join PSG in the first place, has added more fuel to the speculation that he could be the long-term heir to Cristiano Ronaldo. ‘Neymar has a lengthy contract at PSG and has just arrived. ‘We’ve been here for three months and there is already talk of an exit. It i...

West Bromwich Albion have confirmed the appointment of Alan Pardew as their new head coach. Pardew, 56, has signed a two-and-half year contract at the Hawthorns and comes into replace Tony Pulis, who was relieved of his duties earlier this month after a disastrous run of no wins in 10 Premier League matches. Pardew returns to management after being sacked by Crystal Palace in December 2016 and becomes the Baggies sixth permanent manager since 2011. "I'm thrilled with the opportunity Albion have provided and looking forward to getting to work with what I consider to be a talented group of players," Pardew said. "The immediate challenge will be to get the results we need to pull ourselves up the table. But I'm aware that while I'm joining one of the great, traditional clubs of English football, it is one determined to go forward in the Premier League. "It's an exciting opportunity to play a part in that ambition." Chairman John William...

Everton have named Sam Allardyce as their new manager on an 18-month contract. FormerLeicester City boss Craig Shakespeare and long-time Allardyce assistant Sammy Lee have also joined the backroom team at Goodison Park following the dismissal of Ronald Koeman and his staff in October. News of the appointment which sees the former England manager return to club football after six months was confirmed via the club's majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri in a statement released through talkSPORT's Jim White. "I really want to give him the support he needs. He can go as far as he wants. We need a strong leader, he gives us that," the statement read. An official statement from the club is expected in due course. Allardyce will be in attendance at Goodison tonight where caretaker boss David Unsworth will take charge for the final time against another former Everton coach in David Moyes – appointed West Ham manager earlier this month. Unsworth is expecte...

Gareth Bale is back in Real Madrid's squad to face Fuenlabrada on Tuesday night for the first time since suffering an injury during the 3-1 Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund on 26 September. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric, Isco and Karim Benzema have all been rested by Zinedine Zidane with Los Blancos holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg of the Copa del Rey last-32 tie. Jesus Vallejo is suspended after being sent off at Fuenlabrada while Sergio Ramos, Lucas Vazquez, Marco Asensio and Luca Zidane will also miss the cup clash due to varying injuries. The visit of the Second Division B team will come only four days before a Saturday's [2 December] trip to Athletic Bilbao in La Liga. The Real boss is therefore expected to make wholesale changes in his line-up on Tuesday night ahead of having Ronaldo and co fresh for San Mames. Zidane will give the chance to some youngster...

Arsene Wenger claims Alexandre Lacazette keeps getting substituted because of the physical demands of the Premier League. The Gunners’ club-record signing has only played one full game in the league so far and has been brought in the other 10 games he has started. The France international has already scored six goals for Arsenal this season, but Wenger admits the striker has a difficult job in leading the line for 90 minutes. ‘First of all I would like to say that in my job you sub more strikers than defenders because they have to create, they have to provoke, they have to be incisive in every run,’ said the Arsenal boss. ‘Secondly, I think he adapts physically to the Premier League and I’m very happy with work he does for the team during his time on the pitch. ‘And thirdly, I have a lot of options on the bench who are fresh and who can give us other variation in our attack ‘Physically, the Premier League is very demanding and it demands huge intensity of work and if you loo...

United and Sweden defender, Victor Lindelof admits he has taken time to adapt to the toughness and competitiveness of the Premier League after making his big-money switch to Manchester United. The Sweden international has been integrated slowly into the side by Jose Mourinho, but has started back-to-back Premier League matches due to injuries to United’s first-choice centre-backs. At Benfica he romped to the title, but not only does the Premier League have more competition at the top – Man City are eight points clear – but the bottom sides are hard to beat too. He told United’s official website: ‘Obviously, the league here is much tougher than Portugal. ‘Over there, you have good teams but you have the top teams that are always the favourites in every game and winning almost every game. ‘Here, it’s much more difficult and you have tough games every week – that’s the biggest the change, the competitiveness you have in the league.’ Lindelof has credited both Mourinho and the c...