Merkel sets sights on Hoffenheim switch

FC Steaua Bucharest defender Vlad Chiriches is reportedly attracting interest from defending European champions Chelsea, .

Chiriches, 22, has been linked with a move to Spanish giants FC Barcelona, while AC Milan are also scouting the Romania international.

In addition, Becali revealed that the likes of Chelsea, Inter Milan and Russian Premier League moneybags Zenit Saint Petersburg are all interested in his client s services.

Chiriches has started four UEFA Europa League matches for Roș-Albaștrii this season. He s got one goal, which came against Danish outfit Molde on 25 October, to his name in the competition.made

At 22, Chiriches has already established himself as a first-team regular for both club and country. The Romanian centre-back h…

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has revealed that he has no plans to make a quick profit on £7 million striker Christian Benteke amid reports that out-of-favour striker Darren Bent will leave the club when the transfer window re-opens in January, .

Benteke, who turned 22 today, has been quite influential since arriving at Villa on a four-year deal from Belgian First Division side K.R.C. Genk in the summer.

The Belgium international has established himself as a first-team player for both club, Aston Villa, and country, Belgium, this season.

Benteke has tallied five goals and three assists in 14 appearances (12 starts) in all competitions for Villa in 2012-13, while adding four goals in six international caps (five starts) for Belgium, including two goal…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has dismissed the possibility that Brazilian playmaker could be sold during the summer transfer window.

Coutinho had enjoyed fine form this season for the Reds who are on verge of top-four finish in the Premier League. Former Inter Milan man scored 10 goals in what has been his best return since his arrival in 2013.

Coutinho’s incredible exploits have alarmed Barcelona who are thought to be stepping up the chase for the Liverpool star.

Jurgen Klopp, however, claims there are no plans to sell Philippe Coutinho and adds that Reds are more concentrated on adding to the squad.

“There are absolutely no plans to sell.”, Klopp exclaimed reminding that the 24-year-old only signed his new contract in January and jokingly addi…

Sergio Ramos says Real Madrid must focus on improving their performances after the captain provided yet another late winner in the 2-1 victory against Real Betis.

The centre-back s 10th goal of the season came in the 81st minute at the Santiago Bernabeu to send Zinedine Zidane s side back to the top of LaLiga, after Barcelona lost at Deportivo La Coruna earlier on Sunday.

Ramos scored a crucial goal to help Madrid overcome Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday, having netted 90th-minute goals to beat Depor and snatch a draw from Barca earlier in the campaign.

The Spain international dedicated his most recent strike to his wife, but says Madrid must now aim to please their fans as they go in search of a first league title since 2012.

In football what …

Gareth Bale marked his return to a Premier League starting line-up with a brace in Tottenham s 4-0 thumping of Burnley.

Bale had only been named from kick-off twice in the top flight since re-joining Spurs from Real Madrid last September, but a goal in each leg of the Europa League win over Wolfsberger AC persuaded Jose Mourinho to give the Wales international a chance.

Tottenham s recent run of five defeats in their past six Premier League matches became a fast fading memory as Bale notched after 68 seconds and set up Harry Kane s second.

It was 3-0 after the half hour thanks to Lucas Moura, who kept Dele Alli on the bench despite the England midfielder s similarly impressive European form, and Bale s eighth goal of his second Tottenham spell came in the 55th mi…

Philippe Coutinho will only consider returning to the Premier League to play for Liverpool and a potential move to Manchester United would be near impossible, according to agent Kia Joorabchian.

Coutinho moved to Barcelona from Liverpool in January 2018, the Reds receiving a transfer fee that could hit €160million (£142m) with add-ons.

He initially appeared to be a good fit, producing some solid performances in his first few months at Camp Nou as he finished the 2017-18 season with eight goals in 18 LaLiga matches.

But he flattered to deceive last term, netting only five times in 22 league starts as he failed to live up to expectations.

He has been linked with a transfer to United, with Barca said to be eager to free up funds to sign Neymar, but hi…

Vitesse Arnhem youngster Marco van Ginkel has been advised to take the chance to join Chelsea by team-mate Theo Janssen.

The 20-year-old is widely expected to make a €10 million switch to Stamford Bridge in the transfer window, after scoring eight goals and registering 10 assists in 33 Eredivisie appearances last term.

Janssen himself left Vitesse for title-chasing Twente in 2008, before returning last term.

And he told NUSport: I gave him (Van Ginkel) a call and told him my opinion. I said he must follow his feelings.

If he thinks he’s ready for the next step, then he must do it. I think he is ready for a next step, but the step to Chelsea is very big.

Eventually I think he will reach that level. The question is only if he will reach that level already…

Harry Kane saluted Jordan Henderson s leadership qualities following his goal in England s 3-0 victory over Senegal.

The Three Lions vice-captain opened the scoring with a neat first-time finish from Jude Bellingham s square pass while Kane doubled the lead, before Bukayo Saka s second-half strike secured the Three Lions World Cup quarter-final place in Qatar.

Aged 32 years and 170 days, Henderson became England s second-oldest scorer at the finals, after Tom Finney against USSR in 1958 (36 years, 64 days).

Gareth Southgate s side have looked a more cohesive unit since the Liverpool skipper was introduced into the starting line-up for their final Group B match against Wales, and Kane highlighted his impact on the team.

Jude Bellingham

— Jordan H…

Jermaine Pennant has signed a new deal at Stoke City which will keep him at the Britannia Stadium for another season, the club have confirmed.

The winger had been expected to move on this summer after his contract expired, though he has been kept by new manager Mark Hughes.

The Welshman has admitted to being impressed by the 30 year old, who signed for the Potters from Spanish side Real Zaragoza back in 2010, have initially joined on loan.

He spent a proportion of last season on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers, though was unable to help them avoid relegation to League One.

Pennant began his career at Notts County, but joined Arsenal before making a first team appearance for £2million, a then record for a trainee.

Loan moves to Watford, L…

Goalkeeper Keylor Navas has warned that a failure to fight for maximum points in the Clasico would be unworthy of Real Madrid.

Zinedine Zidane s side head into Saturday s game at Camp Nou with a 10-point deficit to opponents and La Liga leaders Barcelona, making victory vital to keep their slim title hopes alive.

We can t give up, that s not worthy of Madrid, Navas said in a video posted on his official website.

It s a very important game for us and we re going to give everything. We ll try to do our best and hopefully we will win.

In spite of the difficult circumstances, we have to give everything for the shirt. It s a game that the whole world watches and, irrespective of the three points, it s important to win it.

Madrid have not beaten Bar…