Sports

Chelsea are ready to turn their attention to signing Stoke City’s Peter Crouch in their pursuit of a new striker, according to the Telegraph.

The reigning Premier League champions having been chasing West Ham United forward Andy Carroll though that potential deal has been scuppered following yet another injury to the former Liverpool and Newcastle United man.

Crouch, who turns thirty-seven this month only signed a new one-year deal with the option of a further year with the Potters in November.

Chelsea would be likely to want a loan deal though Stoke, who appointed Paul Lambert as their new manager last week would be keen to bring in a replacement before sanctioning such a transfer.

Crouch moved to the Bet 365 Stadium in the summer of 2011 and has …

Andres Iniesta maintains he is unconcerned over never winning the Ballon d Or after calling time on his celebrated Barcelona career.

Iniesta announced on Friday he will leave Camp Nou at the end of this season, with Chinese Super League club Chongqing Lifan widely expected to be his next destination.

The 33-year-old is arguably the most unfortunate victim of the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era as far as individual awards are concerned.

He finished as runner-up to long-time Barca colleague Messi in 2010 despite scoring the winner in that year s World Cup final for Spain, while he came in third in 2012 after being named player of the tournament at a triumphant Euro 2012.

France Football, the magazine behind the prestigious gong, took the unusual ste…

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After a stunning loss that ended their unbeaten run in the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur are eager to finish on a positive note before the international break, being set to face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux in Saturday s early kickoff.

In their recent match, Ange Postecoglou s team faced a heavy defeat, losing 4-1 to London rivals Chelsea and ending the match with only nine players on the field. Meanwhile, Wolves experienced frustration with another controversial VAR decision in a 2-1 loss to Sheffield United.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

In another weekend marked by controversial decisions for the PGMOL, Wolves manager Gary O Neil found his team on the wrong end of a contentious call at Bramall Lane. There, newly promote…

Manchester United defender Phil Jones praised new permanent manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for restoring a buzz not felt at the club since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. 

After a successful spell in temporary charge, Solskjaer signed a three-year deal last week to remain at Old Trafford. 

During his period as caretaker boss, Solskjaer turned United into genuine contenders for a top-four spot, despite their chances previously looking bleak under Jose Mourinho. 

However, it is not just the results that have improved after Solskjaer s arrival, with the atmosphere appearing to be better as the players are said to have reacted well to the Norwegian s personality. 

Jones is one of few Ferguson recruits still in the squad almost six years on from th…

Mats Hummels said Germany s tactical approach was wrong after the World Cup holders lost the opening game of their title defence 1-0 to Mexico.

Hirving Lozano struck the only goal of the Group F clash, but Mexico wasted numerous chances on the break to record an even larger margin of victory.

Germany, meanwhile, had 26 shots without causing Guillermo Ochoa too many problems, although the Mexico goalkeeper made nine saves in keeping a memorable clean sheet.

Hummels felt Germany did not heed the warning of their final warm-up friendly against Saudi Arabia that ended in a tight 2-1 win, their only success in seven matches since the end of the World Cup qualifying campaign last year.

It s pretty simple. We played like we did against Saudi Arabia, but agai…

Jurgen Klopp railed at Paul Tierney after accusing the referee of blundering by failing to send off Harry Kane and snubbing Diogo Jota s penalty appeal in Liverpool s dramatic draw at Tottenham.

The Liverpool manager said the game needed an objective ref – a comment that could land him in trouble – and questioned if there was anything personal to read into Tierney s decisions.

I have really no idea what his problem is with me, said Klopp, who spoke to the referee at half-time and full-time.

Former Borussia Dortmund boss Klopp was convinced Kane should have been ordered off for a first-half lunge on Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, who was himself dismissed late in the game for fouling Emerson Royal, as the game finished in a 2-2 draw.

And Klopp …

Shakhtar Donetsk skipper Darijo Srna led the tributes to Mircea Lucescu following the coach s announcement that he would leave after 12 years in charge.

The 70-year-old Romanian led the Ukrainian club to eight domestic league and six domestic cup titles, as well as their first European trophy in the form of the 2009 UEFA Cup. 

He was also voted Ukrainian coach of the year on eight occasions and, according to Srna, his influence upon the players went beyond football.

This is life, we can t change it, said Srna. 

Lucescu is a Shakhtar legend.  He lifted the club to the highest level.  He was our teacher not only in football, but in life. 

But we have to move on. Now we must learn how to live without Mister .

Lucescu himself, meanwh…

Canada advanced to the knockout stages of the Paris Olympics against all the odds following a 1-0 victory over Colombia in Marseille.

The defending Olympic champions had won both their group matches, but were docked six points after being found guilty of using a drone to spy on New Zealand s training session ahead of their opening match of the Games.

It subsequently saw head coach Bev Priestman banned from football-related activities for a year, and despite appealing the decision, saw it rejected.

However, Vanessa Gilles header proved to be the difference as she rose highest to meet Jessie Fleming s corner kick delivery in the 61st minute.

While Canada only took three points from their group games, they joined both Spain and the United States as the on…

Mauricio Pochettino says it is impossible to envisage him leaving Tottenham to take charge of the English national team.

Sam Allardyce s tenure as England manager ended this week after just 67 days following alleged remarks he made in a video recorded by undercover reporters offering advice on how to circumvent rules on transfers.

Pochettino has had a strong influence over England selection in recent years, handing numerous home-grown players chances at both Southampton and Spurs, bolstering the national side s stocks in the process.

The likes of Dele Alli, Luke Shaw, Eric Dier and Harry Kane have become England regulars after top-flight exposure at the hands of Pochettino, who is not ruling out a future move into the international game, but the Argentine s sole …

Former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol believes Pep Guardiola has taken on his greatest challenge in the Manchester City job.

Puyol enjoyed four successful seasons under Guardiola at Camp Nou, winning three LaLiga titles and the Champions League in 2009 and 2011.

Guardiola then went on to enjoy further success with Bayern Munich, lifting the Bundesliga trophy in each of his three seasons, although glory on the European stage eluded him.

Now at City, Guardiola has made a strong start to his tenure, winning his first 10 matches in all competitions before a slight wobble last week saw them follow a 3-3 draw in the Champions League at Celtic with a 2-0 loss at title rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

After dominating in Spain and Germany, Puyol says Guardiola has his…