Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is reportedly in a two-horse race with Antonio Conte to become the next Italy head coach. The 49-year-old, who left Turkish giants Galatasaray by mutual consent last month, has made no secret of the fact that he has set his sights on succeeding Cesare Prandelli, who stepped down following an ill-fated World Cup campaign. After opening the group stage with an encouraging 2-1 victory over England, they fell to successive 1-0 defeats at the hands of Costa Rica and Uruguay respectively, culminating in a premature exit from the tournament in Brazil. Mancini was soon…
Author: Staff Writer
AC Milan are lining up a bid for Arsenal striker Joel Campbell, according to fresh reports in the foreign media. Studio Sport claims the San Siro giants are ready to step up their long-standing interest in the Costa Rica international if, as expected, they miss out on the summer signature of Torino forward Alessio Cerci. Milan are struggling to offload several fringe players to fund a big-money deal for Cerci, who is in line to join either champions Juventus or cash-rich French outfit Monaco in the coming weeks. The powers-that-be view Campbell as a more affordable alternative and will, according…
Manchester United outcast Bebe is on the brink of quitting the club permanently for Portugese giants Benfica. A source close to Old Trafford told Football Express News the Red Devils have been actively looking for buyers after concluding that he would never make the grade. The attacker, who can operate out wide on the flanks or through the middle as a striker, made what looks like his farewell appearance in Tuesday night’s friendly clash with Southport before being substituted at the interval. He arrived at the club in a blaze of publicity four summers ago in a £7million switch from…
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry partied with Gunners players and supporters before joining former mentor Arsene Wenger for a team training session. The Frenchman, who now plays for New York Red Bulls, has made no secret of his delight at seeing his old club arrive in the USA for the first time in 25 years for a pre-season tour. Henry, who is Arsenal’s all-time leading goalscorer and immortalised at the Emirates Stadium by a statue, accompanied the squad to the Izod Centre in New York where fanatics greeted their heroes. He then stood alongside the north London outfit’s long-serving manager Wenger…
Chelsea icon Didier Drogba is likely to announce his emotional return to Stamford Bridge by tonight, Football Express News understands. A source close to the club told FEN the eagerly-anticipated deal is close to completion and the veteran striker is expected to make a decision in the next two hours. He will then announce his intentions in public, with the Blues growing in confidence that he has opted to head back to west London on a free transfer. The 36-year-old is available after running down the final days of his contract with Turkish giants Galatasaray. His final act for the…
West Ham United co-chairman David Gold has revealed his sadness at losing club record signing Andy Carroll for four months. The £15million hitman, who has endured an injury-plagued stint at Upton Park since turning his loan arrangement into a permanent deal a year ago, has torn the ligaments in his left ankle during a training session. He was initially ruled out of the Hammers’ pre-season tour of New Zealand as a precaution, but the prognosis is worse than the club anticipated. Gold said on Twitter: “Good luck Andy. I know you will come back fitter and stronger, all West Ham…
Outspoken Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has become embroiled in a row with former team-mate Yossi Benayoun over the Middle East crisit. The Maccabi Haifa playmaker took exception to the ex-England international’s comments on Twitter regarding Israel’s hostilities with Hamas, an Islamist militant group running the Gaza Strip. Benayoun captain his new side in their friendly against Lille in Austria this week but it had to be abandoned when pro-Palestinian protesters invaded the pitch and attacked players. The feud between the two men started when Barton said: “ How can a God stand by and watch this? Or even…
Atletico Madrid have taken big steps in making Divock Origi their next summer signing as they continue the search to bolster their attacking options. The young Belgian striker has been linked with a summer move to Liverpool, seeing several reports in Spain and England claiming that the youngster had agreed terms and was close to completing a move to Anfield. But, no ground has been made since the World Cup in Brazi ended and the striker has since returned to French side Lille to begin pre-season training. And, Spanish daily Marca report that Spanish champions Atletico Madrid could be set…
Arsenal have made an audacious move for 1899 Hoffenheim attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino and tabled a bid of £8m, according to reports. Arsene Wenger’s Gunners are the third Premier League side to have been linked with the 22-year-old this year, with Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea and Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool having also expressed their interest but not proceeding to make offers. As a skilful and creative No.10 playmaker, Firmino is valued at around £22m and it is highly anticipated that the north Londoners’ speculative offer of £8m will be rejected, not only because it falls far short of his market value,…
Football Express News understands that Liverpool have made an initial move for Real Madrid’s Isco on Friday morning. The talented Spaniard joined Real Madrid last summer from Malaga in a £28m move and made 53 appearances for Los Blancos last season, scoring 11 and assisting eight times. But, his time at the club is about to change with the addition of James Rodriguez from Monaco on Tuesday, leaving the youngster doubting his playing time next season. And, it is understood that the Spanish midfielder has told the Madrid giants that he would ideally want a loan move to England with…