Granit Xhaka is on the verge of leaving Arsenal for AS Roma, according to . It has been reported that the Switzerland international midfielder has agreed a five-year contract with the Italian club, who will pay Arsenal a transfer fee of £17 million for him.
Xhaka has been on the books of Arsenal since 2016 when he joined from German club Borussia Monchengladbach. During his time at the Emirates Stadium, the Switzerland international midfielder has won the FA Cup twice and reached the final of the UEFA Europa League in 2018-19.
The Swiss made 29 starts and two substitute appearances in the Premier League for Arsenal this past season, scoring one goal and providing two assists in the process, according to . The midfielder also played 10 times in the Europa League for the…
Roma president James Pallotta has hit out at claims from former sporting director Monchi that he did not have full control at the Serie A club.
Monchi, who was linked with taking a role at Arsenal, left Roma this month and has returned to Sevilla, where he previously oversaw a period of Europa League dominance.
Roma reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last term but struggled to match that success this season, leading to the sacking of head coach Eusebio Di Francesco and Monchi s departure.
Monchi said Pallotta wanted to go to the right; I wanted to go to the left when speaking at his Sevilla unveiling on Monday.
But Roma s outspoken American president disputed Monchi s version of events in a lengthy statement posted on the Serie A side s…
Lionel Messi completely deserved his record-extending seventh Ballon d Or, according to Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The PSG star has endured something of a slow start to the Ligue 1 season, scoring just once in seven games, but his prior exploits with Barcelona and Argentina were enough to secure another accolade.
The 34-year-old s performances for Argentina at the Copa America, helping his country to a first major trophy in 28 years, were likely what gave him the edge over Robert Lewandowski.
Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski, who Messi claimed should have been awarded the cancelled 2020 Ballon d Or, was once again in the running after breaking Gerd Muller s long-standing record of 40 goals in a single Bundesliga season.
But Poche…
Tottenham s festive goal glut continued on Boxing Day as they cruised to a 5-0 Premier League win against Bournemouth that sends them above Manchester City into second.
Having given Everton a nightmare before Christmas in a 6-2 victory at Goodison Park on Sunday, three first-half goals laid the foundations for another convincing triumph.
Kyle Walker-Peters seemingly still had some presents to hand out as he provided the assists for Christian Eriksen, Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura to find the net before the break.
Harry Kane and Son then made it five after the interval for a victory that lifts Spurs a point clear of floundering City.
Spurs looked lively in the opening stages but it was Bournemouth who had the first clear-cut opportunities to break the de…
Dani Alves has issued an emotional message of gratitude to Barcelona after the club confirmed he will be leaving.
Juventus are set to sign the Brazil international, 33, ending a glittering Camp Nou career that saw him win six La Liga titles, four Copa del Rey crowns and three Champions Leagues as part of an astonishing 23 winners medals since signing from Sevilla in 2008.
Earlier on Thursday, Barca sporting director Robert Fernandez revealed Alves has decided to leave the Spanish champions.
Alves issued a statement on Instagram thanking those associated with Barca and insisting he would always be part of the club.
In one month it will be eight years since my arrival at Barcelona, he wrote. In July 2008, I came to this club for the first time and occupi…
Cristiano Ronaldo s departure has been keenly felt by Real Madrid, according to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, but the Santiago Bernabeu dressing room is not lamenting the loss of their former talisman.
Ronaldo left as Madrid s all-time record goalscorer when he joined Italian champions Juventus in July and Los Blancos form has faltered this season.
Julen Lopetegui was sacked as head coach after a 5-1 Clasico thrashing at the hands of Barcelona and, although matters have improved marginally of late under Santiago Solari, they lie 10 points shy of their bitter rivals at LaLiga s summit.
Courtois arrived from Chelsea a month on from Ronaldo s exit and the Belgium international insists the spectre of the five-time Ballon d Or winner does not linger over Madrid s seaso…
LaLiga has denied president Javier Tebas is a candidate for the vacant Premier League chief executive role in England.
Tebas has emerged as a potential replacem
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ent for Richard Scudamore, who departed the Premier League in December last year.
The 56-year-old was appointed LaLiga president in 2013, and Tebas looks set to remain in Spain.
Responding to speculation, LaLiga said in a statement: We are not aware of this supposed interest.
That said, if a competition as important as the Premier League is taking note of the work being done by LaLiga, including its president, clubs and employees, it is a source of pride for the entire organisation.
Javier has a contract with LaLiga and not only is he happy here, he also has responsibilitie…
In the Allianz Stadium press room after Kalidou Koulibaly powered home a 90th-minute winner for Napoli to blow the Serie A title race wide open, Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri had reached the end of his tether.
Asked why his reigning champions, chasing a seventh consecutive Scudetto, were not playing well at a crunch moment in the season, the 50-year-old s face was a picture of perplexed incredulity.
The quality of our play? he began. For four years, Juventus have been playing 57 matches a year, you know? I don t understand. How many do the others play? They re finished in December.
Good Lord! They go out of the cup, out of everything else. We play 57 matches a year.
Allegri, who will lead Juve in a crunch Derby d Italia at Inter on Saturday,…
Saturday sees a Manchester derby at Old Trafford, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hoping to extend his record to four wins in six meetings with Pep Guardiola.
West Ham head to Leeds United before that on Friday looking to end a nine-game winless run against Marcelo Bielsa s side.
Carlo Ancelotti faces old club Chelsea at Goodison Park, while champions Liverpool head to Fulham and Arsenal host a Burnley side who have a miserable record against the Gunners.
See if you can kick-start the weekend with maximum points in our Opta-powered quiz. Answers are at the bottom.
Skills that make you go
— Premier League (@premierleague)
1. West Ham s last win over Leeds United was back in November 2000 at Elland Road. Who scored the winner in that 1-0 vic…
Inter have completed the signing of Valentino Lazaro from Hertha Berlin.
The winger has signed a four-year contract with the Serie A side after completing medical checks in Milan.
Inter have paid a reported fee of €22million to sign the 23-year-old, who had also been linked with Arsenal.
An Austria international since 2014, Lazaro joined Hertha two years ago after five seasons with Red Bull Salzburg.
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Welcome to Milano!
Valentino Lazaro is an Inter player!
— Inter (@Inter_en)
He made 31 Bundesliga appearances in 2018-19, scoring three times and providing six assists.
Lazaro knows how to win, Inter said in a statement announcing the transfer. He plays mostly on the right flank but is versati…