Joao Felix: Chelsea pay eight-figure loan fee to make Portugal and Atletico Madrid star the 12th signing under Todd Boehly January 11, 2023 Chelsea have continued their recruitment drive by signing Portugal forward Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid for the rest of the season. The 23-year-old is the 12th player to join since Todd Boehly’s consortium bought the Premier League club from Roman Abramovich for £2.5bn last summer. Chelsea are believed to have agreed to pay [...]
Why Manchester United sale could fetch the Glazer family even more than their £6bn asking price – despite Cristiano Ronaldo exit January 11, 2023 The Glazer family’s hopes of achieving a record valuation for the sale of Manchester United have increased after the football club’s share price reached a four-year high. Some analysts believe it could push the price of a takeover towards $10bn (£8.2bn), in excess of the American owners’ original $7bn (£5.8bn) asking price. United’s share price [...]
Football chiefs to meet tonight over future of WSL ownership January 11, 2023 A number of football’s top executives are due to hold talks this evening with hopes of hashing out a new structure of ownership for the WSL. The meeting will see those present look at funding proposals for the Women’s Super League. The chief of the Football Association, Mark Bullingham, is set to be at the [...]
Trevor Steven: VAR, handballs and concussion breaks – seven rules that English referees must resolve in football in 2023 January 10, 2023 While some readers will have New Year’s resolutions and supporters may have January wish lists for their clubs, I have my own hopes for football in 2023 and they revolve around rules and refereeing. Recent times have seen a conveyor belt of tweaks to officiating that I believe has only muddied the waters. The thinking [...]
Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City: Which team has the biggest wage bill in European football? January 10, 2023 Paris Saint-Germain’s signing of Lionel Messi contributed to the club setting a new record for the biggest wage bill in European football history last season. The French champions paid their players and staff €728m (£642m) in 2021-22, a year-on-year increase of 45 per cent, according to a new report by advisory Football Benchmark. It followed [...]
Arsenal earn FA Cup fourth round tie with Man City after Oxford win January 9, 2023 Arsenal will play Manchester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the end of the month after the Gunners beat Oxford United 3-0 at the Kassam Stadium. League One Oxford were plucky opponents for the Premier League leaders and ensured it was all square at the break but three Arsenal goals inside [...]
Why Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as a target for Paris Saint-Germain owners Qatar Sport Investments January 9, 2023 Qatar Sports Investments, the owners of Paris Saint-Germain, have identified Tottenham Hotspur as a potential minority investment as they accelerate plans to build a global network of football clubs in 2023. Sources close to QSI said chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is also PSG president, held talks with Tottenham executive chairman Daniel Levy last week to [...]
Gareth Bale retires from club and international football January 9, 2023 Welsh footballer Gareth Bale has retired from the international and club game after a career which saw him reach over 100 caps for The Dragons. Bale’s last appearance was in Wales’ first World Cup campaign in 64 years – where the side crashed out in the group stages in Qatar. Bale scored 41 goals in [...]
Marcus McGuane: Former Arsenal prodigy finding feet at Oxford United – via Barcelona – set to face Gunners in FA Cup third round January 9, 2023 Marcus McGuane looked destined to lead Arsenal back to the top, but on Monday he will be plotting their downfall with Oxford United in the FA Cup third round. Before Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe there was Marcus McGuane. Like Saka, McGuane joined Arsenal’s Hale End academy shortly after starting primary school and, as [...]
Chelsea manager Graham Potter reacts after fans boo FA Cup rout by Manchester City January 8, 2023 Under-fire Chelsea manager Graham Potter played down boos from the travelling Blues fanbase after his side suffered a chastening 4-0 FA Cup defeat at Manchester City on Sunday. Chelsea supporters chanted the name of Potter’s predecessor Thomas Tuchel during the drubbing and booed their team off at half time and full time. “We can’t do [...]