MANCHESTER UNITED INITIALLY had Fedor Smolov above Alexis Sanchez on their list of transfer priorities, according to the Russian forward’s agent, with a deal almost done after the Red Devils failed to land Paulo Dybala and Antoine Griezmann. Those at Old Trafford looked to Europe for attacking inspiration before and during the winter window of 2018….
BOURNEMOUTH MANAGER EDDIE Howe has appeared to rule out a loan exit for Mark Travers, insisting that the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper is “too important” to the club. Travers has played in all three of Bournemouth’s cup games this season. Despite also making his senior international debut, he has yet to feature in the Cherries’…
THE FIRST JOB Oscar Brennan can remember getting his hands dirty with was a bit of painting in his early teens. His father, a carpenter by trade, would bring him along on certain jobs whenever he would be required to help speed up progress, or perhaps hinder it depending on his ability with a brush….
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT have been forgiven for expecting standards to slip somewhat, after the much-heralded Stephen Kenny left Dundalk to take over Ireland U21s before the start of last season. But domestically at least, the Lilywhites maintained and built on the club’s previous dominance in recent years. They were a penalty shootout away from completing…
AS HE BOARDED a plane at Stansted Airport, Kieran Sadlier knew he was making a move that would shape his career thereafter – for better or worse. This is a player who was 12 years old when he was brought onto the Upton Park pitch at half-time in a Premier League game to sign a…
UCD LEFT IT late to record a 1-0 win over Cobh Ramblers in their League of Ireland First Division clash at the Belfield Bowl on Friday night. After a cagey affair, Yoyo Mahdy finished from close range in the 87th minute after Paul Doyle’s free-kick was reworked back into the box having initially been cleared. The…
CARLO ANCELOTTI’S RETURN to Stamford Bridge ended with Everton suffering a chastening 4-0 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday. Everton were completely overwhelmed by a Chelsea midfield that saw Billy Gilmour make his first Premier League start alongside Ross Barkley and Mason Mount, who got the Blues up and running in the 14th minute. Pedro assisted Mount…
TOTTENHAM MANAGER Jose Mourinho does not believe Dutch international Steven Bergwijn will play again this season to compound his lack of forward options with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min also sidelined by injury. Bergwijn suffered a sprained left ankle in a 1-1 draw at Burnley on Saturday that stretched Spurs’ run without a win in…
ASTON VILLA FOOTBALLER Jack Grealish has issued a public apology following an incident that saw him break the coronavirus lockdown in Britain before being involved in a minor car crash. According to the Press Association, West Midlands Police said they were called just before 10am on Sunday to the Dickens Heath area of Solihull, where…
THE PREMIER LEAGUE has been asked to consider blocking a Saudi-backed consortium’s attempt to purchase Newcastle United by one of the league’s major broadcast partners. The north-east club are reportedly on the verge of being sold to a sovereign wealth fund which involves Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for around £300million. However, Qatar-based broadcaster beIN…