Sevilla defender Jules Kounde will undergo surgery for a hamstring injury on Tuesday, having been withdrawn at half-time of France’s 1-0 Nations League defeat to Croatia.
The 23-year-old is a rumoured transfer target for Premier League heavyweights Chelsea, who were unable to complete a move 12 months ago but have revived their interest ahead of this window – though the injury may put a dent in the Blues plans.
Kounde’s injury was something the team were aware of prior to the game, France boss Didier Deschamps confirmed, though the extent of his problem was not detailed after the match.
I knew very well his physical condition today. Tomorrow [Tuesday] he will have a [surgical] intervention because he has a problem that has been going on for several mon…
Olivier Giroud fired world champions France to a 1-0 victory in Reykjavik as Iceland lost a home qualifier for the first time in six years.
On the fringes of things at Chelsea, Giroud remains an integral part of France s plans eight months out from Euro 2020, and his 37th goal for his country came from the penalty spot midway through the second half.
It came after Antoine Griezmann went over in the area, and amid Icelandic protests about the decision by Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi.
But France were the better team for long stretches of the game, worthy of becoming the first visitors to leave Iceland with three points since Slovenia earned a 4-2 win in World Cup qualifying in June 2013.
Victoire de l Equipe de France !!!! (0-1) :
(66ème)
�…
Juventus are interested in signing Tim Iroegbunam, who is on loan at Queens Park Rangers from Aston Villa at the moment, according to . The report has claimed that former Serie A and UEFA Champions League winners Juventus are among a number of clubs who are monitoring Iroegbunam and have been impressed by the progress that the 19-year-old midfielder has made at Rangers.
Iroegbunam has been on the books of Villa since 2021 when he joined from West Bromwich Albion. The teenager has made a handful of appearances for the Vllans first team, but he has played in the Premier League. The England Under-20 international midfielder was sent on loan to QPR in the Championship in the summer of 2022.
The 19-year-old has made 15 starts and three substitute appearances in the Champions…
Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard was in danger of missing the friendly El Clasico in Las Vegas on Sunday, settled by Raphinha in Barcelona s favour, due to an injury inflicted on him by former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger in training.
In the end, he started the match but was replaced at the break by Marco Asensio.
Hazard has struggled greatly with injuries since joining Los Blancos in 2019, also from Chelsea, and this tackle was probably the last thing he needed as he seeks to get his career back on track.
La entrada de Rüdiger a Eden Hazard.
— REAL MADRID (@AdriRM33)
…
Real Madrid great Ronaldo believes the LaLiga champions should sign Kylian Mbappe ahead of Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Neymar.
Mbappe has been tipped to make the move to Madrid at some stage in his career, with Los Blancos reportedly eyeing a 2021 transfer.
Former Barcelona forward Neymar – who joined PSG in a world-record €222million deal in 2017 – has also been linked to Madrid previously.
But Brazilian legend Ronaldo, a LaLiga winner with Madrid in 2002-03, prefers France s Mbappe over countryman Neymar due to age.
Right now, it is not that one is better than another, but if Real Madrid had to make a big investment, they should do so thinking about the future, Ronaldo said during a webinar hosted by Santander.
Neymar is 28 years old a…
The Premier League is back in full swing this weekend after the international break.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the key talking points heading into the forthcoming round of games.
Leaders City head to in-form Hammers
Manchester City have made a strong start to their title defence, taking a maximum 12 points from their opening four fixtures.
The treble-winners, and Erling Haaland, delivered their most potent display so far last time out with a 5-1 thrashing of Fulham which featured a hat-trick from the Norway star.
Next to try to thwart City, whose boss Pep Guardiola has returned to work after a back operation, are West Ham – and they may well fancy their chances.
David Moyes’ men welcome the champions to London Stadium on Satur…
Former Manchester City and England midfielder Fabian Delph has announced his retirement from football at the age of 32.
The ex-Everton player, who began his career with Leeds United and also spent time with Aston Villa, had been without a club since his contract with the Toffees expired in June.
He has now revealed he will hang up his boots, penning a farewell statement on social media.
So today I announce my retirement with nothing but happiness and gratitude for what this beautiful game has given me, Delph wrote.
[A] massive shout out to my family, friends, players and staff from the amazing clubs I have been fortunate enough to represent as well as the support I have had from the fans.
…
Jurgen Klopp says it is absolutely insane his side finished their Champions League group with 15 points after making it five wins on the spin with victory over Napoli.
The Reds were beaten 4-1 by the Serie A leaders in the reverse fixture on matchday one – a loss Klopp described as the worst performance of his seven-year tenure.
Liverpool recovered with wins home and away against Ajax and Rangers to qualify for the last 16 with a game, against Napoli at Anfield on Tuesday, to spare.
A 2-0 win saw Liverpool inflict some revenge on Napoli for their September mauling, but they fell two goals short of overtaking their opponents at the Group A summit.
Klopp s side will therefore be unseeded in Monday s last-16 draw, but the German was pleased with what he sa…
Bukayo Saka became the third-youngest player in Premier League history to reach 100 wins in the competition when he helped Arsenal beat Aston Villa on Saturday.
Saka set up Thomas Partey to make it 2-0 to the Gunners at Villa Park, ensuring a second win of the season for Mikel Arteta s team.
The England international scored and assisted in Arsenal s 2-0 win over Wolves in their opening game of the season.
And in the process of helping Arsenal make it two wins from two to start 2024-25, he joined an elite club of youngsters to have hit the milestone of 100 Premier League victories.
Only Wayne Rooney (22 years, 87 days) and Cesc Fabregas (22 years, 180 days) hit the landmark at a younger age than Saka (22 years, 354 days).
When it comes to Arsenal, …
Fulham boss Marco Silva challenged Rodrigo Muniz to make the forward position his own after he scored in a 3-1 win at Ipswich to send them through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2004.
The Premier League opposition proved too strong for the Championship high-flyers with Harry Wilson, Muniz and Tom Cairney on target at Portman Road before substitute Elkan Baggott pulled one back late on.
It was the performance of Brazil striker Muniz which caught the eye after his movement helped create Wilson’s ninth-minute opener from Bobby Decordova-Reid’s pass before the 22-year-old fired home in the 50th minute from Andreas Pereira’s cross.
Muniz endured a difficult 2022-23 campaign on loan at Middlesbrough but after scoring his first Fulham g…