Crystal Palace have completed the signing of former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Bakary Sako on a free transfer,.
The twenty-seven year old left Molineux last month after almost three years, during which time he racked up one hundred and twenty-four appearances in all competitions, scoring thirty eight goals while he was part of the squad that won the League One title in 2013/14.
Prior to his move to England, Sako spent three years playing for Saint Etienne in Ligue One having started his professional career with Chateauroux in France’s second tier.
Internationally, he has been capped fourteen times for Mali, and has scored six goals.
West Bromwich Albion were also interested in securing Sako’s services, while Nottingham Forest and Fulham have previou…
Belgium star Kevin De Bruyne backed Manchester City team-mate and England attacker Raheem Sterling to light up the World Cup .
De Bruyne and Sterling are set to do battle in Group G, with Belgium and England meeting June 28.
The duo starred to lead City to a record-breaking title success in the Premier League in 2017-18.
And De Bruyne believes his club team-mate, who scored 18 goals and provided 11 assists in the Premier League last season, is ready to dominate for England in Russia.
He s a special player. This season he was playing at such a high level and he s only going to get better, he told The Mirror.
He s a winner – any criticism he has faced in the last few weeks I know he will just ignore. At Manchester City he s so focused on success…
Paul Hart has been relieved of his duties as first-team manager of Portsmouth, a statement issued by the English Premier League basement club said on Tuesday.
Portsmouth have won just twice in the league this season and are three points adrift at the bottom of the table and have the daunting task of hosting champions Manchester United on Saturday.
Hart, previously best known for his work with young players, including at Portsmouth, was offered the role of technical director, developing players from the age of 18-21, but the club said he had declined the post.
Portsmouth said they planned to announce a replacement very quickly but, until that time first-team coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan would be in charge.
The south coast club have been beset by off-f…
Ligue 1 side Marseille is not for sale, said a statement by the owner s family, after club owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus passed away, following a long battle with leukemia.
Robert Louis-Dreyfus died on Saturday July 4, 2009, after a long illness, read a statement released by the family s spokesman Vincent Labrune.
Concerning Olympique de Marseille, a club that meant so much to Robert Louis-Dreyfus, his family will continue his work at the club.
In keeping with his wishes and actions since taking over the club in 1996, the family looks forward to writing new glorious pages into the history of the club with the current board.
Robert Louis-Dreyfus is survived by his wife, Margarita, and three children.
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According to , Liverpool are in talks with Roma over a big-money deal to sign Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Sky Italy claims that the Reds have offered a fee of 70million euros for the highly-rated goalkeeper, but the Giallorossi want closer to 75million euros. It seems a deal is not far off, as all parties seem keen to get the deal done as quickly as possible.
A solid goalkeeper the missing link for Liverpool
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has done some impressive work in the transfer market. The German strengthened his once weak defence with the signings of Andrew Robertson and Virgil van Dijk, not to mention the signing of Mohamed Salah last summer.
However, the former Dortmund boss seems to have a blind spot when it comes to goalkeepers. Klopp brought in compat…
Didier Drogba played the starring role as holders Chelsea eased into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 4-1 win over Championship side Cardiff on Saturday.
Carlo Ancelotti s side showed they could cope without the leadership of captain John Terry, who had been time off to fly to Dubai to solve his marital issues after reports of an affair with the ex-girlfriend of England team-mate Wayne Bridge.
Ivory Coast international Drogba gave them the perfect start with a second minute goal and, although Michael Chopra forced an equaliser before half-time, the Blues ran out convincing winners thanks to strikes from Michael Ballack, Daniel Sturridge and substitute Salomon Kalou.
Terry had used his programme notes to thank supporters for their backing during the storm over hi…
Gareth Southgate and Julen Lopetegui, kindred spirits that they are, spoke well of one another in the build up to England s friendly with Spain at Wembley on Tuesday.
Both graduated from coaching their country s Under-21 sides to taking on the top job, with Southgate surely only interim in name following a solid return from his four-match England audition.
Discussing his opposite number in the match programme, Southgate said: Julen Lopetegui, having been in charge of their U21s is in an ideal position to bring through those players [Spain s next generation].
Luckily for him, Southgate seems to be a good deal better at preparing football teams than dropping subtle hints. England were good value for a 2-0 lead in the capital – the home support prematurely con…
Leicester City reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1982 after a 3-1 win over Manchester United in Sunday s quarter-final clash.
Two goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and one from Youri Tielemans were enough to give the Foxes only a second victory over the Red Devils in 26 meetings in all competitions.
United, who levelled in the first half through Mason Greenwood before Tielemans fine winner, looked well short of their best for much of a contest for which they made five changes from their Europa League win in Milan three days earlier.
Iheanacho headed in a third 13 minutes from time to make certain of victory as United lost an away match in domestic competition for the first time since January 19 last year.
1981-82 In what was Brendan Rodge…
Former Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo says he could return to Inter Milan, but not in a coaching capacity.
The Brazilian quit his role with the Ligue 1 champions because of a 14-month ban given to him for pushing a referee.
Leonardo coached Inter Milan for six months in 2010-2011 but walked away because he wanted a job behind the scenes at PSG.
I had left Paris Saint-Germain too early as a player and then came back, Leonardo told Sky Sport Italia.
The same could happen with a return to Inter.
Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir is rumoured to be buying a stake in the Italian club in September and it has been suggested Leonardo is one of his top targets to overhaul the Serie A side.
While admitting to still being linked to Inter, Leona…
Thomas Muller is not worried by his below-par performances this season and is confident he can still make the difference for Bayern Munich.
The Germany international has been struggling to find his best form and has netted just once in 20 Bundesliga appearances, compared to 20 in 31 in 2015-16.
The 27-year-old is not interested in personal success, though, and is adamant trophies are all that matter come the end of the season.
There is no denying that I have had better times on the pitch, Muller told Bild.
But I am not taking myself too seriously and I still believe in myself. I am convinced that I can still be decisive for Bayern and the national team this season.
What matters most to us as a team is that we keep an eye on our objectives. …