Author: Barkha Roy

As per Mirror, Newcastle United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Manchester United central defender Eric Bailly during the current transfer window after struggling to sign Lille’s Sven Botman. The Magpies are expected to sign at least one centre-back in the current window following their 300 million pounds Saudi-led takeover last year, and hence Eddie Howe’s side are said to be very interested in signing Dutch defender Botman. https://twitter.com/WhoScored/status/1526969946961502208 However, the Toons are said to be struggling to agree a deal for the Ajax youth product and hence Bailly is eyed as a possible alternative. The 28-year-old defender…

As per a report in La Repubblica, Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo may struggle to fit in under the Red Devils’ new gaffer Ten Hag’s plans. AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho reportedly sees the opportunity to tempt the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to make a move to the Italian capital. Although ten Hag has hailed the 37-year-old since taking over the reins at Old Trafford, there has been growing uncertainty over the Portuguese’s role under the Dutchman next season. The former Ajax boss prefers to build a young, driven squad that could be the opposite of what the star Portuguese forward brings…

European football’s governing body are believed to be contemplating introducing a new four-team mini-tournament at the start of each season, replacing the now competed Super Cup played between the winners of the Champions League and Europa League, UEFA confirmed on June 14. As per French publication L’Equipe, the continent’s football governing body are weighing up the idea of a club competition involving the winners of the previous season’s Champions League along with three other leading clubs. Credit: UEFA The French daily has went on to report that this idea was included in the invitation to tender for the broadcast rights…

The International Football Association Board has ratified the changes and clarifications to the laws of the game 2022/23 that will be enforced from July 1. The decision was taken at its 136th Annual General Meeting held in Doha, Qatar. Meanwhile, the current restriction of three substitution slots plus half-time was also confirmed in the meeting. The decision was confirmed largely due to the concerns over fitness and injury risk to the players with matches being played in such a short span of time post the COVID-19 stoppage. Chaired by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the AGM, which was also attended by representatives…

Indian and Afghanistan footballers were involved in scuffles with each other after the former registered a hard-fought 2-1 win in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers at the VYBK Stadium in Kolkata on June 12. The Indian team won the match and registered three crucial points to move into second place of Asian Cup Qualifiers Group D. Indian captain Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring with a free-kick in the 85th minute to almost ensure his side a win. However, Afghanistan levelled up from a Zubayr Amiri free header two minutes from full-time before Sahal Abdul Samad’s prolific strike in the 90th minute sealed the game for the…

Champions League finalists Liverpool are willing to trigger teenage sensation Gavi’s release clause at Barcelona this summer, according to various reports from Spain. The 17-year-old La Masia graduate is considered one of the most gifted teenage prodigies in world football at the moment, having been described as a ‘spectacular’ talent by Barca boss Xavi Hernandez. The player has already featured regularly for both the club and Spain national team, contributing six times in 46 appearances for the former while also playing nine times for the latter. However, the midfielder is yet to agree on new terms with Barca and given his contract expires next summer,…

Aymeric Laporte was left frustrated with his omission from the Professional Footballers’ Association Premier League Team of the Year, which includes former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk as the English top flight’s best-performing central defenders of the 2021/22 season. The Spain international-back took to social media to demonstrate why he should be in that list by sharing a meme of Jose Mourinho wherein the Portuguese gaffer says, ”I prefer really not to sneak” before sharing his impressive stats from the season. https://twitter.com/Laporte/status/1535172498794373120 Although, he may not have spoken exactly what he thought of the TOTY line-up, he made…

Les Bleus’ disappointing start to the Nations League continues as they earned a 1-1 draw against Ralf Rangnick’s Austria on June 10, courtesy of Kylian Mbappe’s 83rd-minute goal. Bristol City’s Andreas Weimann opened the scoring in Vienna to net his first international goal on his 17th appearance for his country. The 30-year-old striker finished off a slick forward move in the 37th minute with a one-touch build-up from Marko Arnautovic and Conrad Laimer. Credit: UEFA Nations League holders France, however, dominated the game as expected but were off-colour once again. Only after Mbappe and Christopher Nkunku were introduced in the closing 30 minutes did France…

The Dutch international, who arrived at Camp Nou from ACF Ajax for 75 million euros in 2019, has been the subject of transfer speculation given the Spanish club’s dire finances this season. Spanish media outlet Sport had last week reported that the Premier League giants were close to closing on the deal for the midfielder for an estimated fee in the region of 80 million and that this deal would be closed in a matter of days. And on June 3, the same daily had reported the LaLiga giants had accepted that offer “after a few weeks of many doubts”. And now,…

Eight English fans were arrested in Munich ahead of Tuesday’s Nations League tie away to Germany, according to local reports. Three of the fans were arrested for performing the Nazi salute, one for letting off a flare in his hotel room, one for urinating in public and two others were arrested for insulting a police officer. It is a crime to perform the Nazi salute in Germany, with an offender getting punished up to three years in prison for the offence committed, although tourists are often just fined for the offensive gesture. As per the Munich fire brigade, the fan…