Leicester City want to sign Steven Bergwijn from Ajax

Leicester City are interested in signing Steven Bergwijn from Ajax in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The well-known and well-respected Italian journalist has reported that Leicester have made an approach to Ajax to ask for conditions to get a deal done for Bergwijn.

Bergwijn, who can operate as a forward or as a winger, has been on the books of Ajax since the summer of 2022 when he joined from Tottenham Hotspur. The 26-year-old Netherlands international made 23 starts and one substitute appearance in the Eredivisie last season. He scored 12 goals and gave four assists in those games.

The former PSV star made 28 starts and four substitute appearances in the Eredivisie for Ajax in 2022-23. Bergwijn scored 12 goals and provided five assists in th…

Athletic Club 1-1 Getafe: Uche earns Geta Azulones draw in LaLiga opener

Christantus Uche s second-half goal earned Getafe a point in a 1-1 draw with Athletic Club to kick off the new LaLiga season.

Oihan Sancet had given the hosts the lead, but despite some late chances from substitute Nico Williams, they could not get off to a winning start.

Uche could have easily given Getafe the lead in the first half after racing in behind Athletic s high line, but he failed to catch the shot cleanly on the bounce as Alex Padilla pushed it away.

Sancet scored the first goal of the 2024-25 campaign just before the half-hour mark, quickly getting it out of his feet to beat David Soria with a pacy shot into the right corner.

Uche did find a way past Padilla in the second half, meeting Luis Milla s cross to head Getafe back on level terms.

Hungry Haaland too much for Leipzig to handle in Champions League exit, says Rose

Erling Haaland s hunger proved too much for RB Leipzig in their crushing Champions League last-16 exit to Manchester City, per Marco Rose.

The Bundesliga outfit were condemned to a 7-0 defeat and an 8-1 aggregate exit as the Norway international ran rampant at the Etihad Stadium.

A five-goal haul for Haaland saw him tear through the Leipzig defence with a succession of close-range finishes, to send the hosts to the quarter-finals.

As the coach who oversaw the striker s arrival at Salzburg four years ago, Rose is well-acquainted with the attacker, and concurred his side simply didn t have the answers to stop him in the end.

I know Erling very well, he said. I know his qualities. When he is close to the goal, he wants to grab one. He scored five [and] we n…

West Ham left with ´lots to improve´ after opening day defeat to Aston Villa

Julen Lopetegui was left feeling his West Ham side had much to improve on after losing 2-1 to Aston Villa in his first game in charge.

Villa took the lead after just four minutes through Amadou Onana before Lucas Paqueta levelled from the spot before half-time.

There would be no dream start to Lopetegui’s time at the helm, however, as Jhon Duran scored the winner after 79 minutes, before Tomas Soucek missed two clear opportunities to level at the death.

Instead, the Spaniard was left pondering improvements to his new side after a disappointing display.

We re going to have a lot of things to improve. Above all in the second half we have a big opportunity to win the match and we lost. We have to learn and improve in the next step, he told Sky Sports.

Man City to open Premier League title defence away against Chelsea

Manchester City will begin their Premier League title defence with a testing trip to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend.

Pep Guardiola s side have already won a historic four straight titles and will begin their pursuit of a fifth consecutive crown with a tough away match on Sunday August 18 against a team now managed by Enzo Maresca.

Man City have won their opening Premier League match in 12 of the last 13 seasons, though the exception was an away game in London when they lost 1-0 to Tottenham in 2021-22.

This will be the first time in 53 years that Chelsea have begun a top-flight campaign with a match against the reigning champions. They last did that in 1971, losing to Arsenal at Highbury.

— Premier League (@premierleagu…

Everton to hold talks with Manchester United over Anthony Elanga

Everton are determined to sign Anthony Elanga from Premier League rivals Manchester United in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Italian journalist has that Everton will now hold direct talks with United and will aim to convince the Red Devils to sell him.

Everton will hold direct talks with Manchester United for Anthony Elanga. New round of negotiations will take place soon after showing initial interest. 🇸🇪

There are several clubs keen on signing Elanga since January.

Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano)

Elanga has come through the United academy system. The Sweden international has been on the books of the Red Devils since 2014. The 21-year-old winger has made 39 appearances in the Premier League for United s…

Ireland brush aside Gibraltar to spare Stephen Kenny further torment

Under-fire manager Stephen Kenny was spared further punishment as the Republic of Ireland eased to a 4-0 Euro 2024 qualifying victory over Gibraltar.

Brighton teenager Evan Ferguson fired the visitors into an eighth-minute lead at the Estadio Algarve with his third senior international goal before Celtic winger Mikey Johnston, Wolves defender Matt Doherty and substitute Callum Robinson struck to wrap up just a second win of the Group B campaign.

Kenny had gone into the game insisting he would remain in charge until a review of his reign has been carried out after November’s fixtures, although a poor result here would only have increased the clamour for change.

FT | Two goals in each half means the three points are coming back to Ireland

Good job, lads …

FIFA president ´wants Spain to bid´ for 2018 World Cup

FIFA president Sepp Blatter hopes Spain will bid for the 2018 World Cup, possibly jointly with neighbouring Portugal, Spain s sports press quoted him as saying on Tuesday.

The time has come for Spain to organise another World Cup. I would like the president of the Spanish Football Federation to make official Spain s bid for the 2018 World Cup, he said Monday in Zurich, sports daily AS reported.

Blatter was speaking at the Swiss headquarters of football s world governing body to a visiting delegation made up of members of Spanish clubs and the Spanish Football Federation.

Spain hosted the 1982 World Cup which was won by Italy who beat West Germany 3-1 in the final held at Real Madrid s Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

In November the president of the Portug…

Euro 2012 qualifying Group C wrap: Wins for Italy, Serbia

Italy shot six points clear in Group C following a hard-fought 1-0 win at Slovenia in Friday s Euro 2012 qualifier, while Serbia also won.

The Azzurri had to wait until the 73rd minute for Thiago Motta to find the net, the Inter Milan midfielder ensuring Italy would leave Ljubljana a step closer to qualification to the 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine.But it could have been much worse for Cesare Prandelli s side, who might have been made to rue their profligacy after missing a couple of straightforward first-half chances.The best of those fell to Inter s Giampaolo Pazzini, whose one-timed shot at Christian Maggio s cross crashed off the upright in the 23rd minute.At the other end, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon produced a magnificent diving save to redirect Robert Koren s a…

Emery praises ´special´ Duran in Villa comeback

Unai Emery has praised special Jhon Duran after his late brace secured Aston Villa a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday.

The Reds looked to be on their way to a 3-1 victory despite Youri Tielemans’ strike after Cody Gakpo and Jarell Quansah added to Emiliano Martinez’s early own goal.

However, Duran s 79th-minute introduction changed the game as the Colombian scored twice in three minutes to salvage a draw.

Villa needed a win to secure a Champions League spot, but a point keeps their fate in their own hands despite Tottenham having a game in hand against Manchester City on Tuesday.

Emery was full of praise for his forward, acknowledging how important his goals could be by Sunday.

Speaking to Sky Sports…