Having completed the signing of striker Ashley Fletcher from Middlesbrough, Watford are in talks to sign Danny Rose on a free transfer this summer, according to .
The Hornets have secured a return to the Premier League and are working on strengthening the squad. They were also in talks with Ashley Young over a one-year deal, but no agreement has been reached and that move now seems unlikely.
Having gone through the ranks at the Leeds United academy, Rose joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2007. Numerous loan spells followed (Watford, Peterborough, Bristol City, Sunderland), and he returned to Spurs to take his chance in 2013.
He was a big part of the side which reached the Champions League final under Mauricio Pochettino in 2019, but he fell out with Jose Mourinho who …
Departing Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp would vote to remove VAR in its current guise from the Premier League, though he also believes officiating standards are a problem.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that Wolves – who have been on the wrong end of several contentious decisions this season – had tabled a motion to abolish VAR from the top flight.
The club listed several negative consequences brought on by the technology s introduction, including an impact on in-stadium atmospheres, diminished accountability of match officials and its role in furthering completely nonsensical allegations of corruption from fans.
The role of VAR is now set to be discussed at an annual shareholders meeting on June 6, though Wolves motion is thought unlikely to garner the 14 vote…
Market: Azerbaijan win
Odds: 6/5 @
Meeting for a friendly showdown on Tuesday afternoon, Azerbaijan will welcome Kazakhstan to the Baku Olympic Stadium.
Starting with the hosts, eventually falling to a 3-1 loss away at Albania over the weekend, Azerbaijan will certainly be looking to claim an immediate response here. Although the Blues might have fallen well short of mounting any kind of EURO 24 qualifying charge last year, interim boss Arif Asadov has seen his squad suffering just a trio of defeats from any of their previous eight appearances across all competitions. Making a stunning statement during November’s international break as they stormed their way to a 3-0 romp against Sweden, Azerbaijan will be excited by their largely rugged success on home soil. …
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke was adamant his side should have been awarded a penalty as their Euro 2024 campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to Hungary in Stuttgart.
Kevin Csoboth scored the winning goal in the 10th minute of injury-time to put Scotland out of another major tournament in the group stages.
However, things could have been much different for Clarke s side.
Stuart Armstrong looked to have skipped beyond Hungary s Willi Orban in the 80th minute, before the RB Leipzig defender grappled across the midfielder, with both tumbling inside the area.
Referee Facundo Tello waved away Scotland s appeals, and a subsequent check by VAR deemed the challenge not worthy of awarding a spot-kick.
“It was 100% a penalty, Clarke said. Somebody, som…
Pep Guardiola insists Lionel Messi is not part of Manchester City s transfer plans after the six-time Ballon d Or winner s sensational exit from Barcelona.
Messi was widely expected to sign a new deal at Camp Nou this week, to prolong a career-long association with Barca after his previous terms expired in June.
However, the club issued a statement on Thursday stating financial and structural obstacles – relating to both the Blaugrana s parlous financial state and LaLiga s strict economic controls – prevented Messi from signing a contract to which he had already agreed.
City were widely understood to be Messi s preferred destination when he attempted to leave Barcelona 12 months ago, but Paris Saint-Germain are viewed as the frontrunners this time around.
Nuno Espirito Santo knows Sunday s north London derby against Arsenal is a special occasion, as Tottenham look to return to form by defeating their rivals.
Spurs have lost their past two top-flight games 3-0, with both matches being London derbies. They have never lost three consecutive league games by three or more goals in their entire history.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have recovered from losing their first three matches of the season by an aggregate score of 9-0 by beating Norwich City and Burnley, winning 1-0 on each occasion. The Gunners last won three in a row without conceding in July 2020, while they last had three consecutive 1-0 victories in August 2008.
Heading into the September international break, Arsenal were bottom and Spurs were at the summit for…
There was more than a hint of inevitability about the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo on his second Manchester United debut, as his two goals inspired a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Wearing United red for the first time since May 2009, Ronaldo looked eager to impress right from the start as he ran at the Newcastle defence and went for goal at almost every opportunity.
His first attempt of the day was one he would have wanted to get past quickly – a wild, left-footed air kick saw him completely miss the ball and fall on his backside, much to the amusement of the visitors supporters.
But he did find the net late in the first half and then again in the second, setting United on their way to an ultimately straightforward win, even if…
England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is confident the World Cup ball will not join the list of controversies at Qatar 2022 – describing it as better for goalkeepers and dismissing any comparison to the much-criticised Jabulani.
The tournament will feature the Adidas Al Rihla ball, which Ramsdale has been involved in trialling given his club side Arsenal have a kit deal with the German manufacturer.
The 2010 tournament in South Africa featured criticism by a host of goalkeepers of the Jabulani ball, another adidas model, with Spain s Iker Casillas and Italy s Gianluigi Buffon among them.
That ball was defended by FIFA and its designers but has become a touchstone for measuring future World Cup balls against, and it was mentioned in England s press conference on Fri…
Germany are looking ahead to Euro 2020 as they face relegation from the top division of the Nations League, says coach Joachim Low.
After two defeats from their three Group A games, Germany are propping up the table and will be relegated if Netherlands beat France on November 16.
Germany have had a terrible 2018, with Low s men knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage despite the holders being among the tournament favourites.
Low has left out Jerome Boateng and Marc-Andre ter Stegen for fitness reasons and the Germany coach accepts he is already planning ahead for Euro 2020.
Obviously we want to do all we can to stay in League A, but it s not in our hands anymore, Low told the DFB website. We re looking at more than just the Nations League. Euro 2…
England have the opportunity to gain a measure of revenge on Italy for their Euro 2020 final defeat after the two nations were drawn together in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Italy beat England 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Wembley in London on July 11, 2021 to win their first European Championship title since 1968.
Gareth Southgate s Three Lions had opened the scoring through Luke Shaw, but the Azzurri levelled via Leonardo Bonucci.
And spot-kick misses by Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka proved costly for England, who had hoped to win a first major title in 55 years.
The two will tussle again – twice – on the road to Germany 2024 after being drawn together in qualifying Group C in Sunday s ceremony, which was held in Frankfurt.
N…