Neymar ready to overtake Messi and Ronaldo as world´s best – Beckham

Seven-times French champions Lyon signed French international striker Bafetimbi Gomis from historically bitter rivals St Etienne in a 15 million euro deal on Wednesday, the buying club announced.

The 23-year-old, scorer of ten goals last season which almost saw St Etienne relegated, signed a five-year contract, club official Bernard Lacombe told AFP.

Everything has been finalised, it is a great thing. He will be a focal point for the attack which is important Bafe is a really exciting player, Lacombe added.

The athletic centre-forward, scorer of two goals in his six appearances for France and part of their disappointing Euro 2008 finals squad which went out in the first round, will go some way to replacing fellow French international Karim Benzema, who was sold…

Bayern midfielder Luiz Gustavo has been the subject of interest from Napoli, .

The Brazilian does not seem to feature in the first team plans of Pep Guardiola and he continues to be linked with a summer exit.

Shortly after Wolfsburg expressed their interest in the player s services, Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted that the Bavarians would consider selling their prized asset.

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Napoli are looking to take advantage of the situation and further reinforce the midfield area by luring Gustavo to Stadio San Paolo.

The Azzurri are aware that signing the Brazilian will be no easy task given that he has an €18 million release clause inserted in his deal, but they are prepared to pull all the stops to win the race f…

Arsenal, Everton and West Ham United are all interested in signing Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze this summer, according to Talksport.

The World Cup winner was left out of Germany’s squad for this summer’s tournament in Russia despite scoring the goal that won the final in Brazil four years ago.

He returned to Dortmund following a three-year spell with Bayern Munich in 2016 and has since racked up forty-eight appearances in all competitions, scoring just four goals.

The twenty-six-year-old has two years remaining on his current deal at the Westfalenstadion though his admirers throughout Europe could be ready to pounce.

In total, Gotze has played one hundred and ninety times in the Bundesliga, scoring forty-seven goals while internatio…

Amadou Onana could leave Everton at the end of the season, according to journalist Ben Jacobs in . 

The well-known and well-respected journalist has suggested that if Everton are able to get £60 million for Onana at the end of the season, then the Premier League club could sell him.

Jacobs said: “Amadou Onana is a name to watch this summer even though he’s only been at Everton since last summer.”

The journalist added: “Chelsea and Arsenal both considered Onana in January but it was clear he didn’t want to move mid-season. As with Jordan Pickford, it’s going to be difficult for the Toffees to keep hold of Onana if they go down.

“Everton also really need more outgoings due to their financial situation, even after the £45m sale of Anthony …

Stephen Ireland hit his first goal since 2011 to secure Stoke City a 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers in the League Cup on Wednesday.

The midfielder had not found the back of the net for 634 days since scoring for Aston Villa at Chelsea, but he struck in the 22nd minute at Prenton Park to help book Stoke’s place in the fourth round.

Tranmere threatened in the second half as Stoke began to tire, but their finishing failed to test visiting goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, before Peter Crouch added a last-minute winner to put a gloss on the result.

Mark Hughes made seven changes to the side beaten at Arsenal on Sunday with Ireland handed his full debut, and Peter Crouch chosen ahead of Kenwyne Jones in attack. The hosts rested experienced defender Ian Goodison and Joe Thompson, …

Kim Bo-kyung was at the centre of racism allegations surrounding Malky Mackay, but has decided to link up with the Scot at Wigan Athletic.

Wigan Athletic have completed the signing of the player at the centre of the racism controversy surrounding manager Malky Mackay, Kim Bo-kyung, until the end of the season.

Former Cardiff City boss Mackay who was appointed by Wigan in November and their ex-head of recruitment Iain Moody were reported to the Football Association (FA) in August over the exchange of alleged racist, sexist and homophobic text messages.

The pair were said to have made derogatory comments about South Korea international Kim in a text when he first signed for Cardiff in July 2012.

Kim s agent Lee Yeung-joong later insisted that the mi…

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While domestic football may be at the forefront for many clubs all across the continent of Europe, the UEFA Champions League is still always going to be viewed as the one true elite competition by all those who compete in it and also by those who desire to do so. Today, we re going to be previewing a Round of 16 tie between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea as they prepare to compete in the first leg at the National Arena in Bucharest on Tuesday night.

Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid haven t exactly been at the races for the last few weeks, but Diego Simeone still knows that his club is in an incredibly positive position heading into the final few months of the campaign. They re the frontrunners in the…

Granada have announced the signing of striker Francisco Medina from La Liga rivals Rayo Vallecano.

Medina has penned a three-year deal to bring an end to his six-year spell at Rayo, with whom he secured promotion to the Spanish top flight in 2010-11.

The 32-year-old scored an impressive 18 goals in La Liga last season as Rayo finished eighth.

While Medina arrives at Los Carmenes, defender Inigo Lopez has expressed his gratitude to Granada fans after joining Greek Super League runners-up PAOK FC.

He told Granada’s official website: Granada will always be part of my life.

My way of being and ambition make me seek new challenges outside Granada, even though the decision has not been easy because they were very good times and many signs of affection from acro…

Manchester City star Ederson believes compatriot Alisson deserves to win The Best FIFA Men s Goalkeeper award following a brilliant year for club and country.

Brazil international Alisson moved from Roma to Liverpool in July 2018 and enjoyed an exceptional first season at Anfield as the club won the Champions League.

The 26-year-old was named the competition s best goalkeeper and won the Golden Glove at the end of his maiden Premier League campaign after recording 21 clean sheets in 38 games.

He then helped Brazil triumph at the Copa America and looks a clear frontrunner to be crowned the third winner of FIFA s top goalkeeping honour after Gianluigi Buffon and Thibaut Courtois.

Ederson and Marc-Andre ter Stegen of Barcelona are also in the running but th…

Liverpool suffered a blow ahead of Thursday s Europa League quarter-final first-leg clash with Benfica when midfielder Alberto Aquilani was ruled out with an ankle injury.

The Italy international sustained the injury in training on Wednesday morning and will not fly out with the squad to Lisbon.

He will not be available for this game, said manager Rafael Benitez.

He had a problem with his ankle and we have to fix it.

It doesn t seem too serious but it s the same ankle as before and so we ll have to analyse the situation carefully.

Aquilani arrived in the summer after a 17-million-pound move from Roma with an ankle injury which had ruled him out of the latter stages of the 2008-09 Serie A season.

It took a while for him to regain match…