Slavisa Jokanovic heralds “different ambience” of new-look Fulham after Matt Smith header earns 1-0 victory over Newcastle in Championship opener August 5, 2016 Fulham shrugged off the departure of Ross McCormack in spectacular style by beating Championship favourites Newcastle 1-0 in the season curtain raiser at Craven Cottage. Matt Smith's header from a corner moments before half time was enough to give a new-look Fulham cause for optimism ahead of the new season, while Rafael Benitez's Newcastle will be left to reflect [...]
Don’t worry Manchester United fans, there is no legal case against Jose Mourinho over treatment of Bastian Schweinsteiger August 5, 2016 Jose Mourinho's freezing out of Bastian Schweinsteiger from the Manchester United first team has been described as criminal by a member of world player's union FifPro yet sports law experts in the UK believe there is no legal case against the manager. Slovenia FifPro member Dejan Stefanovic made headlines yesterday by telling the BBC that Schweinsteiger should "file [...]
West Bromwich Albion takeover: New owner Guochuan Lai promises to “maintain stable structure” of Premier League club August 5, 2016 West Bromwich Albion's new Chinese owner pledged to maintain the club's stable structure after completing a takeover of the Premier League team. An investment group headed by Chinese entrepreneur Guochuan Lai has agreed a deal to purchase the club from outgoing chairman Jeremy Peace and is now just waiting on Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Premier League approval. [...]
West Ham United 3, NK Domzale 0 (Agg: 4-2): Happy Hammers’ housewarming, while Slaven Bilic targets a minimum of five new signings before start of Premier League season August 4, 2016 West Ham boss Slaven Bilic revelled in the atmosphere generated within the London Stadium as the Hammers marked their first match at their new home with a commanding Europa League victory over Slovenian minnows NK Domzale. Two first-half strikes from Cheikhou Kouyate and a late third from new signing Sofiane Feghouli ensured West Ham avoided [...]
Swansea close in on securing deal for Sevilla striker Fernando Llorente as Tottenham offload winger August 4, 2016 Swansea City have moved a step closer to bolstering their forward line by agreeing a deal last night to sign Spain international Fernando Llorente from reigning Europa League champions Sevilla. No transfer fee has been announced although the 31-year-old former Juventus and Athletic Bilbao striker is expected to sign a two-year contract at the Liberty [...]
Manchester City sign “one of the most exciting young prospects in world football” to push Pep Guardiola’s spending towards £100m mark August 3, 2016 Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain insists the two-time Premier League champions have signed one of the world’s principal talents after concluding the £27m capture of teenage forward Gabriel Jesus. The 19-year-old, who has scored 19 goals in 30 appearances for Brazilian outfit Palmeiras this season, will make the move to City in January [...]
Slaven Bilic confident of welcoming Olympic Stadium era with victory, while providing updates on Manuel Lanzini injury and transfers August 3, 2016 West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is convinced his side will mark their Olympic Stadium debut by overturning a Europa League third qualifying round deficit against minnows NK Domzale on Thursday. The Hammers succumbed 2-1 in last week’s first leg in Slovenia although a successfully converted penalty from skipper Mark Noble means West Ham’s task is [...]
Two Champions League winning managers, a wealth of ambitious foreign owners and exciting England prospects – whether you support Leeds or Newcastle, the Championship can be relied on for entertainment August 3, 2016 Tomorrow a football competition starts in London featuring ambitious and enigmatic billionaire owners from across the globe, a cosmopolitan array of managers — including two Champions League winners — and some of the most exciting young players in England. But this isn't the Premier League. It is, of course, the Championship. English football’s second tier [...]
From an Aston Villa troublemaker to a Newcastle forward and a Chelsea loanee – here’s five players to look out for in the Championship this season August 3, 2016 The Championship. A league full of 30+ cloggers and clumpers adept at the dark arts and averse to pretty passing football, right? Not quite. English football's second tier certainly still boasts those of the agricultural persuasion, but there are just as many players who will have you scratching your head and wondering why no Premier League club [...]
Premier League transfer spending down on last year as clubs hesitate in spending TV windfall August 2, 2016 An anticipated record-breaking close-season transfer splurge by Premier League clubs has yet to materialise, with spending slower than last summer, according to Deloitte. English top-flight teams shelled out £475m in July, £40m down on the £515m they spent 12 months earlier and significantly short of a predicted £1bn total gross outlay for the transfer window. Buoyed [...]