The cost of signing Messi and why it may be too high even for Chelsea January 6, 2015 FOUR-TIME world footballer of the year Lionel Messi raised the pulses of Chelsea fans – as well as eyebrows throughout the game – this week when he seemed to hint at a blockbusting switch to west London. Fittingly for this social media age, his apparent interest in ditching the Blaugrana for the Blues emerged on [...]
Imminent six-game absence no deterrent as Man City prepare to spend £30m on Swansea star Bony January 6, 2015 MANCHESTER City were last night close to signing Swansea striker Wilfried Bony for more than £30m – even though the Ivory Coast star could miss their next six games due to international duty. Premier League champions City have moved for Bony, who has scored 34 goals in 70 appearances since a £12m move from Holland’s [...]
Doing a David Beckham set to pocket Steven Gerrard £6m from 18 month deal January 6, 2015 LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard is expected to quash any hopes of a U-turn over his future and finalise an 18-month contract worth £6m with Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy this week. The former England skipper, 34, underlined his enduring value to the Reds on Monday night by scoring both goals in a nervy 2-1 [...]
Moores backs Morgan to restore England’s attacking credentials January 6, 2015 ENGLAND coach Peter Moores has backed newly-installed skipper Eoin Morgan to reinvent his beleaguered one-day outfit as an exciting and attacking force capable of winning the World Cup. Moores also attempted to draw a line under the sacking of former captain Alastair Cook as his side yesterday jetted off Down Under for a tri-series against [...]
Centurion Warner pays Hughes tribute at scene of fatal blow January 6, 2015 AUSTRALIA batsman David Warner paid tribute to his former international team-mate Phillip Hughes on his way to amassing a century as the hosts dominated an emotional first day of the fourth Test with India in Sydney. Warner struck 101 but removed his helmet and kissed the ground close to the spot where Hughes was fatally [...]
Nadal and Serena soundly beaten as grand slam preparations falter January 6, 2015 WORLD No3 Rafael Nadal’s hopes of winning a second Australian Open title have been dealt a blow after he suffered a shock defeat to unheralded German Michael Berrer at the Qatar Open. Nadal, who played just seven matches between Wimbledon and the end of 2014 due to injury and appendix surgery, lost in the first [...]
New age rules for F1 drivers January 6, 2015 FORMULA One drivers will have to be 18 years old to compete in the sport under a tougher set of qualification rules to be introduced in 2016. Drivers will also have to earn a fixed number of points from racing in junior series over a three-year period to obtain a super licence. Toro Rosso’s Max [...]
FA Cup: Inspirational Gerrard denies Dons’ FA Cup dream January 5, 2015 AFC WIMBLEDON 1 LIVERPOOL 2 LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard is hoping to bow out of English football by hoisting the FA Cup on his 35th birthday after his quintessentially heroic display denied AFC Wimbledon a huge third-round shock last night. The fan-owned fourth-tier outfit, who play home games at non-league Kingstonian and were only formed [...]
FA Cup: Pochettino left fretting over fixture jam as replay looms January 5, 2015 BURNLEY 1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino bemoaned his side’s inability to dispatch fellow Premier League outfit Burnley and avoid fixture congestion as last night’s low-key FA Cup third-round tie ended in stalemate – in front of just 9,348 supporters at Turf Moor. Battle lines will be redrawn to see who entertains Leicester [...]
Oldham stall on Evans as outcry over deal grows January 5, 2015 OLDHAM chiefs last night refused to rule out the signing of former Wales striker and convicted rapist Ched Evans despite a deluge of outcry at the proposed move. The League One club said it would “conduct due diligence with regard to any decision we make on this matter”, while their manager Lee Johnson called it [...]