Florian Wirtz will stay at Bayer Leverkusen next season despite interest from Europe s elite clubs, says Die Werkself s managing director Simon Rolfes.
Wirtz has been in irresistible form throughout Xabi Alonso s first full season at the BayArena, which could yet end with an unbeaten treble.
Leverkusen won 28 of their 34 games as they became the first team to go unbeaten through a Bundesliga campaign, and they face a pair of finals this week – against Atalanta in the Europa League and Kaiserslautern in the DFB-Pokal.
Wirtz was named Bundesliga Player of the Year earlier this week, having scored 11 goals and provided 11 assists throughout the campaign. He has also been involved in eight goals (four goals, four assists) and created 28 chances from open play in th…
Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie has joined Leeds United on an initial loan deal.
The versatile United States international signed for Juve in 2020, again making a temporary move from Schalke prior to the switch becoming permanent.
McKennie played 70 Serie A matches for the Bianconeri, including 15 this season, but the embattled giants had appeared open to letting him depart even before Paul Pogba returned to fitness, appearing on the bench on Sunday.
That stunning 2-0 home defeat to Monza played out without McKennie, who was expected to join Leeds.
The Elland Road club are coached by fellow American Jesse Marsch and feature McKennie s international team-mates Tyler Adams – the USMNT captain – and Brenden Aaronson.
McKennie s transfer was c…
Best Odds: 2/5
Bookmaker:
Looking to book their FA Cup quarter-final ticket on Tuesday night, Leicester will welcome Championship outfit Blackburn to the King Power.
Leicester
Starting with the hosts, while Leicester might have opened February enjoying what was a welcomed boost, the Foxes have come crashing back down to earth over the past. Last seen over the weekend getting hit with a 1-0 loss at home against title contenders Arsenal, Brendan Rodgers side have now suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats. Holding just a three-point buffer over slipping into the relegation zone and with some growing pressure once again on the one-time Liverpool boss, Leicester should be glad to turn their attention back to FA Cup duties on Tuesday night. However, despite be…
Iker Muniain has signed a new contract, committing his future to Athletic Bilbao through to 2024.
The 25-year-old missed much of last season due to injury but has featured in 11 LaLiga games this term, although Athletic are hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone.
Muniain has shown fine form, though, contributing four goals, including finding the net in Athletic s 1-1 home draw against Real Madrid in September.
The versatile forward, who has spent his whole career at Athletic, won his sole Spain cap in 2012.
The club confirmed Muniain s new deal does not include any release clause.
…
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to sign for Saudi Professional League club Al Nassr on a two-and-a-half-year deal following his exit from Manchester United, according to reports.
The Portugal forward saw his stint at Old Trafford brought to an early conclusion by mutual agreement last month following an inflammatory interview with Piers Morgan where he revealed his unhappiness with United and their manager Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo has been in action for Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar, scoring in their opening game of the tournament to become the first man to net at five different World Cups.
The 37-year-old wished to leave United ahead of the 2022-23 season, and confirmed in his interview with Morgan that he had turned down a lucrative offer from a Saudi Arabian club.<…
Erik ten Hag saluted the spirt and belief demonstrated by Manchester United as they came from behind to beat rivals Manchester City 2-1 in a dramatic derby.
Pep Guardiola s side took a second-half lead at Old Trafford through substitute Jack Grealish, but quickfire goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford turned the blockbuster showdown on its head.
United are now very much in title contention after a ninth straight win in all competitions and 10th on home soil. They closed the gap on their second-placed rivals to a single point, and are just six behind leaders Arsenal.
It was the first time since a 3-2 defeat by Cardiff City in August 2013 that the Citizens lost having opened the scoring in the first half, and Ten Hag paid tribute to his players efforts.
Brajan Gruda has left Mainz for Brighton and Hove Albion in a reported £25.8million (€30m) deal.
The Germany Under-21 international established himself as a key man for Mainz last season, scoring four goals and assisting three more in 28 Bundesliga appearances.
As well as contributing in the final third, Gruda thrilled supporters with his dribbling style.
Indeed, his 76 carries with a take-on ranked third in the Bundesliga in 2023-24, behind only Leroy Sane (94) and Chris Fuhrich (83).
The 20-year-old earned admiring glances from around Europe, but it is Brighton who have moved to sign him on a contract until 2028.
There. We. Land.
— Brighton Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC)
Gruda becomes Brighton s second big right-sided winger…
Gareth Southgate advised players not to be stressed by summer transfer talk after joking the England squad have been “tapping each other up” throughout this camp.
This mammoth, unprecedented season finally comes to a close with Monday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia at a sold-out Old Trafford.
England won 4-0 in Malta on Friday and are expected to take another step towards next summer’s tournament by winning a Group C clash played out against a backdrop of transfer talk.
Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Kyle Walker are subject of summer interest, while Harry Maguire, Conor Gallagher and Kalvin Phillips have decisions to make over their lack of game time at club level.
There is also speculation about Jordan Pickford and James Maddison, but…
Diogo Jota struck a stoppage-time winner as Liverpool clinched a dramatic 4-3 win over Tottenham, who had fought back from three goals down in a remarkable contest at Anfield.
A week on from their 6-1 defeat to Newcastle United, Spurs looked set for more of the same when Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah scored within the first 15 minutes.
Unlike on Tyneside, Spurs showed plenty of fight as Harry Kane and Son Heung-min teed up a grandstand finish, before Richarlison s first league goal for the club levelled things up at 3-3 in stoppage time.
However, as Tottenham prepared to celebrate clinching the unlikeliest of draws, Jota latched onto Lucas Moura s error to fire home, sending Anfield into raptures and moving the Reds above their visitors in the Premie…
Cristiano Ronaldo says his focus has shifted away from trying to break individual records as he does not have much time left on the pitch .
The 39-year-old scored what proved to be the match-winning goal in a 2-1 victory for Al-Nassr over Al-Rayyan of Qatar in their AFC Champions League Group B match on Monday.
It was his 904th career goal, having recently hit the 900-landmark during Portugal s Nations League opener against Croatia.
With Al-Nassr currently on a four-match winning streak in all competitions under new manager Stefano Pioli, Ronaldo insisted his aim was to help the team where he could instead of chasing personal achievements.
It was a strong and difficult match, like all the matches in the AFC Champions League, but the most important thing …