New Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has confirmed that he turned down a proposal which would have seen him join the Brazilian national team set-up. The former midfielder was offered the chance, several months ago, to join Tite's coaching staff until the World Cup next year. The plan was that Xavi would then take over the reins as head coach, with Tite stepping aside after Qatar 2022. Xavi...Full Story »

Is Thomas Tuchel about to clash with the Chelsea hierarchy over a deal for Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe? The rumour coming out of Catalan outlet El Nacional is that the Blues manager has a difference of opinion with his bosses over a transfer move. Chelsea were reportedly readying a contract for the French World Cup winner, who is out of contract in the summer. Mbappe is free to ...Full Story »

Barcelona are eyeing Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic. Brozovic is out of contract on June 30 and has still not signed a new deal with Inter. La Repubblica report that Barça are interested in signing him. The Croatian midfielder, who will turn 29 soon, is a regular for the Nerazzurri after joining the club in 2015 from Dinamo Zagreb. He has played 258 games for the club, scoring...Full Story »

Roma coach Jose Mourinho says they need to buy in January after a poor first three months of the season. Mourinho was speaking after Sunday's shock defeat to Venezia. "Until it becomes mathematically impossible, I want to keep saying fourth place is the target. Roma finished sixth or seventh the last few seasons, the club made an effort over the summer, but it was more reactive transfer acti...Full Story »

The Magpies' search for Steve Bruce's successor has come to a close, with the former Bournemouth boss offered a return to top-flight coaching Newcastle have appointed Eddie Howe as their new manager on a two-and-a-half year deal until 2024. The Magpies dismissed Steve Bruce on October 20 after his 1,000th game in club management, with Graeme Jones in caretaker charge since. Various candidat...Full Story »

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes responded to Man City fans who were chanting about him sucking his daughter's toes after their match on Saturday. A strange video of Scholes appearing to bite the toenails of his 20-year-old daughter, Alicia, went viral last month and earned the former Red Devil a lot of online ribbing. His old United team-mate Rio Ferdinand even got in on the act. And no...Full Story »

Atletico Madrid fullback Kieran Trippier was rushed to hospital during their 3-3 draw with Valencia. Trippier had to be substituted off for Sime Vrsaljko in the opening minutes and was taken to a nearby hospital. They checked for a broken collarbone and were able to rule that out. Instead, the Englishman was left with an acromioclavicular subluxation. "After being taken to hospital and unde...Full Story »

The Watford manager was disappointed with the way the Gunners scored the winning goal in Sunday's Premier League clash Claudio Ranieri says he told Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta that his side have "no respect" after his Watford team suffered a 1-0 defeat on Sunday. Arsenal secured the three points in the Premier League clash through a second-half goal from Emile Smith Rowe. But Ranieri felt ...Full Story »

Shrewsbury came from behind at non-league Stratford to book their place in the second round of the FA Cup with a 5-1 win.The Bards made the perfect start, taking the lead against their League One visitors after just five minutes. A well-worked free-kick was played inside by skipper Will Grocott who collected the return ball from Ash Sammons before placing it beneath keeper Harry Burgoyne.It took...Full Story »

Arsenal go into the international break fifth in the Premier League after Emile Smith Rowe hit the only goal of the game to see off 10-man Watford.Smith Rowe has hit three in his last three league games and has five in eight across all competitions with his second-half strike here enough to earn a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, with Juraj Kucka sent of for the visitors late on.Smith Rowe&rsquo...Full Story »

Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore felt his side lacked conviction in the final third as they recorded a goalless draw with League One rivals Plymouth in the first round of the FA Cup at Hillsborough.Despite both sides having chances, neither could find a way past the stubborn defences and will meet at Home Park for the replay.Moore said: “If I have one small critique, it is in the f...Full Story »

David Moyes has dismissed talk of West Ham star Jarrod Bowen being a target for the Premier League elite, insisting: 'He's at a top club!' To the surprise of many, the ex-Hull forward, 24, was heavily linked with a £30million summer move to Liverpool. And, ahead of the Reds' visit to the London Stadium today, Anfield Boss Jurgen Klopp confirmed he is an huge admirer of Bowen, who has crac...Full Story »

Xavi Hernandez returns to the Camp Nou as Barcelona's new coach to take charge of a team captained by Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, all of whom were his former teammates. The Spanish coach hasn't hidden that he has been following Barcelona from abroad since departing the club back in 2015 and over the years he has expressed his opinion on ...Full Story »

When it comes to turning down the biggest managerial jobs, Eddie Howe has got form. A virtual shoo-in for the top job at Celtic, the former Bournemouth tactician decided that the job wasn’t for him. Having virtually shaken hands on the Newcastle manager’s role, stepping into Steve Bruce’s shoes appears to be too big a responsibility for him too. According to the Mirror, Howe...Full Story »

Isaac Hayden’s equaliser forced a 1-1 draw at 10-man Brighton that lifted Newcastle off the foot of the Premier League table in front of their prospective new boss Eddie Howe.Brighton had taken the lead from the penalty spot halfway through the first half, with Leandro Trossard sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.Against the run of play, Newcastle struck a leveller in the 65th minute when...Full Story »

Reading manager Veljko Paunovic said teenage substitute Jahmari Clarke experienced a “perfect baptism” after scoring twice as the Royals beat Birmingham 2-1 in a delayed game at St Andrew’s.Striker Clarke, 18, a half-time replacement for George Puscas, scored in the 70th and 82nd minutes to turn the game on its head after Reading trailed to Scott Hogan’s third-minute stri...Full Story »

Patrick Vieira believes his Crystal Palace team are starting to show their potential as they made it back-to-back wins with a 2-0 victory over Wolves.Wilfried Zaha broke the deadlock in the 61st minute and Conor Gallagher wrapped up the points late on with a deflected second as the hosts followed up their efforts at Manchester City last weekend.After throwing away leads to draw with Brighto...Full Story »

Stevenage boss Alex Revell believes his side’s battling 2-2 draw away at MK Dons showed their true character as they earned an FA Cup first-round replay.Revell’s men went behind to their League One opponents in the 34th minute when Harry Darling’s header broke the deadlock but three goals in six second-half minutes ensured the tie would go to a replay at the Lamex Stadium.Bradl...Full Story »

Solihull Moors manager Neal Ardley believes an FA Cup first-round replay against League One leaders Wigan was the least his side deserved after a goalless draw at the DW Stadium.The home side – who had lost their last four matches in this competition – dominated from start to finish.But the closest they came to scoring were a couple of long-range efforts from Gwion Edwards which were...Full Story »

Neil Warnock revealed his frustrations after his exit from Middlesbrough was announced minutes after the 1-1 draw with promotion-chasing West Brom.Warnock had overseen an English football record 1,602nd professional game as a manager at Luton on Tuesday but the draw at The Hawthorns proved to be the end of his latest stint.Middlesbrough said a decision had been reached by mutual consent with the...Full Story »