Sports

Hertha Berlin are interested in signing Granit Xhaka from Arsenal in January, according to Sky in Germany.

The 27-year-old arrived to the Emirates in the summer of 2016 from Borussia Monchenglandbach, where he had previously spent four years and made 108 Bundesliga appearances. No doubt it is that experience, along with the fact that things aren t going too well for him in North London at the moment, that make him an attractive prospect for Hertha.

Xhaka has been a subject of much controversy at the Emirates this season. He was named captain following the departure of Laurent Koscielny to Bordeaux (another highly controversial moment), but the armband was taken from the Swiss international in the aftermath of the incident which happened in the game against Crystal Palac…

Barcelona are interested in signing Timo Werner from Chelsea in the January transfer window, according to . It has been reported that Wenger is among a number of players new Barcelona head coach Xavi wants to bring to Camp Nou.

Werner has been on the books of Chelsea since the summer of 2020 when he joined from RB Leipzig. Much was expected of the 25-year-old forward when he arrived at Stamford Bridge, but the Germany international has been rather underwhelming at the defending European champions so far.

The Chelsea no. 11 has made four starts and three substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season, scoring one goal and providing one assist in the process. Werner made 29 starts and six substitute appearances in the Premier League last season, scoring s…

International football is officially over for another year. *Pauses for cheers or jeers*

With the November international break done with, we turn our attention back to domestic football, with a hectic period set to begin in the Premier League.

More fantasy points will be available over the next seven weeks or so than at any other period in the season, such is the jammed nature of the schedule, and there s no better time to get ahead of the curve.

Stats Perform has delved into the Opta data to pick out seven picks for this week, hopefully giving you the edge

EDOUARD MENDY (Leicester City v Chelsea)

Leicester City may represent a tricky opponent for any team, particularly given their good options going forward, but if anyone can keep them at bay, …

Gareth Taylor says that Manchester City will come back fighting after losing out on the Women’s Super League title on the final day.

City beat Aston Villa 2-1 thanks to goals from Mary Fowler and Lauren Hemp on Saturday, but ultimately fell just short, missing out to Chelsea on goal difference.

Emma Hayes led the Blues to a fifth consecutive WSL title with a 6-0 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford, having made up their inferior goal difference with an equally impressive 8-0 win over Bristol City two weeks ago.

Taylor has reflected on a mix of emotions after narrowly missing out on being champions.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, he said: I feel really proud of the team s performance. The mad thing is we could have maybe scored double f…

Market: Swindon win

Odds: 4/5 @

Hoping to skyrocket their way into the play-off places this weekend, Swindon will welcome Sutton to the County Ground on Saturday afternoon.

Starting with the hosts, while Swindon might have felt like they missed out on a potential chance last weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 0-0 stalemate away at Doncaster, the Robins have still enjoyed a bright start to the 2023/24 campaign. With their sights firmly set on mounting another play-off charge this time around, Michael Flynn’s men should be smelling the chance to claim an immediate boost here. Not suffering a single defeat from any of their opening five League Two appearances, the former Newport boss will be excited to make a return to the City Ground this weekend. La…

Everton defender Sylvain Distin has revealed his European ambitions after the club s run in the International Champions Cup.

The pre-season tournament in America has seen the Goodison Park side face both Serie A champions Juventus and Spanish giants Real Madrid, with Roberto Martinez s men beating the former on penalties and then losing out 2-1 to Real.

Despite failing to make it to the final, Distin feels that the tournament has given his side a valuable taste of playing against top European opposition, as they aim to push for the UEFA Champions League places in 2013-14.

We don’t need to be reminded how good European football is. Every player wants to play in Europe, he told the Liverpool Echo.

It’s amazing and when you see the last two games they’ve bee…

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed the club turned down a mad bid from Chelsea for Franck Ribery in 2008.

The French winger was an integral part of the Bayern squad that won five trophies in 2013 and was one of three nominees for this year s Ballon d Or, losing out to Cristiano Ronaldo.

And Rummenigge admits his relief at having rebuffed interest in the 30-year-old from various clubs, including Real Madrid, in the past.

Ribery is a hero with the fans and it s a good thing that we didn t give in when Real Madrid and a few more teams showed an interest in signing him in 2008, he is quoted as saying by TZ.

We solved everything like gentlemen with Madrid, although I must stress that there was no official offer. They made an enquiry and we closed the…

A brace from Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid to a 3-2 win over Valencia that ensures they go into the final day of the Liga season as Barcelona s only challengers for the title.

Ronaldo s 48th and 49th goals of another prolific season, which sandwiched a Karim Benzema strike, earned Zinedine Zidane s side an 11th-straight league win to keep them within a point of champions Barca, who hammered Espanyol 5-0.

Victory moves Madrid above neighbours and Champions League final opponents Atletico, who lost 2-1 at already-relegated Levante to drop out of the title race, and means they visit Deportivo La Coruna next weekend knowing that a 12th win on the spin could see them overhaul Luis Enrique s team in the most dramatic of circumstances. 

Madrid were comfortable f…

Italian coach Roberto Mancini is set to take over the reigns at Galatasaray, Lig TV has revealed.

Legendary boss Fatih Terim was sacked following the disappointing start to the season, with the Italian quickly emerging as the number one favourite to replace him.

According to Lig TV, Mancini has accepted an offer from the Turkish giants and is set to be officially unveiled later today.

The 48-year-old began his coaching career at Fiorentina, and also spent some time at Lazio before taking over the reigns at Inter Milan in 2004.

After winning three league titles with the Nerazzurri, Mancini joined Manchester City in December 2009, but hasn t quite managed to prove his worth in English Premier League.

While leading the Citizens to their first league…

Tite was blunt upon his unveiling as the new Brazil coach, warning that the underperforming South American giants are at risk of failing to qualify for the World Cup.

Monday saw Tite appointed as Dunga s replacement with five-time World Cup winners Brazil languishing outside of the CONMEBOL qualification spots for the 2018 tournament in Russia.

Brazil have won two of their six qualifying matches so far to sit a point outside the top five, while they failed to progress beyond the group stage of the Copa America Centenario.

And while Tite – a championship winner with Corinthians in 2011 and 2015 – is concerned, the 55-year-old knows Brazil have the quality to turn things around.

The focus is the qualification for the World Cup and we are not in the qua…