Swansea secure Shelvey signature

Denis Bouanga netted a hat-trick as reigning MLS champions LAFC claimed a statement win with a 3-0 rout of Austin on Saturday.

Bouanga opened the scoring with a low strike with five minutes left in the first half, before adding further goals in the 57th and 68th minutes.

The Gabonese winger fired in a powerful right-foot volley from a corner for 2-0, before side-footing home at the back post for the third.

The result meant LAFC kept in touch with the top two in the Western Conference, with Seattle Sounders moving above St Louis City into top spot with a 3-0 win in the late game.

The Sounders netted three second-half goals to condemn the expansion side to their second straight loss after winning their opening five MLS games.

Denis Bouanga, human ch…

Sam Allardyce claims the majority of Everton fans wanted him to stay at the club, even though he accepts their football could have been better .

The former England boss was dismissed on Wednesday after a meeting with majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, despite having a year left on his contract.

Allardyce, who was appointed in November after a protracted search for a long-term replacement for Ronald Koeman, successfully guided Everton away from the relegation zone and secured an eighth-place finish in the Premier League.

However, a number of fans were unhappy with the style of play on offer at Goodison Park and there was clear discontent in the stands during their last home game of the season, when they drew 1-1 with Southampton.

Allardyce, though, belie…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says it is not possible to expect Manchester United s youngsters to play tippy-tappy football in the manner of Manchester City at this stage of their development.

United produced one of their best displays of the season in Thursday s Premier League clash with Newcastle United, coming from a goal down to ease to a 4-1 victory at Old Trafford.

Anthony Martial scored twice, while Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford were also on target after Matty Longstaff had given the visitors a 17th-minute lead.

Solskjaer s side have often struggled to break down more defensive opposition this term, but the United boss believes the win over Newcastle shows their style can work.

I think it s been said in no uncertain terms what type of team we are, h…

Simone Inzaghi admits Romelu Lukaku s recovery will take some time but the Inter boss still feels his side can make a difference without their forward when they face Milan in the Derby della Madonnina.

The two local rivals meet at San Siro this weekend for the first time since the Nerazzurri defeated Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-finals last term.

However, the Rossoneri prevailed in the pair s battle for the Serie A title, with Inter missing the pinpoint power of forward Lukaku following his move to Chelsea.

An underwhelming season back in the Premier League led to the Belgian s return to Inter on loan, but a thigh injury means he will miss their biggest match of the season to date.

Inzaghi insists his team will cope without Lukaku, saying at his …

Everton attacker Magaye Gueye has joined Ligue 1 outfit Brest on loan until the end of the season.

The left winger, who moved to Goodison Park in 2010 from Strasbourg, has made just six first-team appearances this campaign.

He is now set to spend the rest of the season back in his homeland with the French side, who sit 14th in the top flight.

Gueye, who was born and raised in Paris, represented Senegal at the London Olympic Games after gaining eligibility through his parents.

…

Liverpool starlet Suso said Steven Gerrard has displaced Zinedine Zidane as his footballing idol.

Liverpool starlet Suso said Steven Gerrard has displaced Zinedine Zidane as his footballing idol.

The 19-year-old joined the Premier League club in 2010 from Cadiz, and the promising midfielder has since made 18 appearances for the Reds.
And while France legend Zidane will always have a place in his heart, the Spaniard said it is the 32-year-old England captain s dedication to personal improvement which sets him apart from the rest of footballers worldwide.
When I was young I d always say Zidane but since I ve been here I would say Stevie, Suso told Liverpool s official website.
Every time I see him it s like he s from another world. He works hard every day and he alwa…

Edin Dzeko has been in impressive form for Roma as of late.Photo courtesy of Sky Sports

AS Roma striker Edin Dzeko finds himself atop of the Italian Serie A scoring charts after a prolific start to the season.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international greatly struggled for form in his first season at the Stadio Olimpico but is enjoying his best return of goals for some time.

Improved athleticism contributing to more chances

Last season, Edin Dzeko struggled physically and it showed with his performances and goal tally. The 30-year-old wasn’t breaking the offside trap on a regular basis like he is in 2016/17, nor was he getting into dangerous areas in the penalty area to score from close range. But Dzeko has worked hard in the summer to improve his overa…

Gary Cahill concedes Chelsea lost their way tactically under Jose Mourinho, but believes the team is making great strides under Antonio Conte to overcome last season s disaster .

Mourinho led the Blues to a Premier League and League Cup double in the 2014-15 season, but his second spell in charge at Stamford Bridge came to an end in December last year after Chelsea lost nine of their opening 16 Premier League games and they eventually slumped to a 10th-place finish.

The Portuguese s relationship with key players came under scrutiny, while key players such as Eden Hazard suffered a dramatic dip in form.

Hazard aimed a thinly veiled dig at Mourinho when he told L Equipe Conte knows how to treat players having played at the highest level himself and centre-back Cah…

Southampton have signed Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino on loan for the remainder of the 2020-21 Premier League season.

Liverpool sanctioned a deadline-day temporary move for Japanese star Minamino on Monday after Southampton allowed Shane Long to join promotion-chasing Championship side Bournemouth on loan.

Minamino has made 31 appearances and scored four goals for Premier League champions Liverpool since arriving from Austrian giants Salzburg in January last year.

The 26-year-old Japan international has scored one goal in nine Premier League matches this season, and four across all competitions.

Welcome to ,

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC)

I am very pleased to welcome Takumi to our squad for the rest of this season, said Southam…

What a difference a year makes. Except in north London, where time has stood still.

It was a February midweek game in 2020 when Timo Werner ran Tottenham ragged and RB Leipzig should have won by a street, rather than just 1-0 in the Champions League.

There was no Harry Kane that night due to injury and Tottenham gave a lethargic performance until coming to life very late in the game.

As Jose Mourinho said that night: What worries me is that these are our players for the next however many matches.

Well, Jose, it s not quite Groundhog Day (that was Tuesday), but where is the progress with Spurs?

A 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea means Mourinho has not won any of his last seven games against his old club, and for the first time in his career he has lost …