As per a report from Spanish outlet El Desmarque, Premier League outfits Spurs and Wolves have both made contact with Copenhagen over the potential signing of highly-regarded Robert Skov.
Copenhagen standout
Skov, a 23-year-old right-winger, made the move to Copenhagen during the 2018 winter transfer window, for a fee of around 1 million Euro.
And the Danish international’s signing has since proven an absolutely inspired piece of business.
After managing just a solitary goal across 18 SuperLiga appearances during his debut campaign at Telia Parken, Skov subsequently exploded onto the scene with a rake of scintillating showings this past season.
Despite plying his trade on the wing, the former Silkeborg star racked up a hefty 32 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.
Premier League interest
And the 23-year-old’s breakout campaign does not appear to have gone unnoticed across Europe.
As per the aforementioned report from El Desmarque this evening, a pair of Premier League clubs have already made contact with Copenhagen over Skov’s availability.
The sides in question are Tottenham and Wolves.
Andrea Petagna is challenged by Robert Skov during the International Friendly match between Italy U21 and Denmark U21. Photo by Valerio Pennicino/ GettyImages.
This is not the first time that Spurs have been named as keen suitors of the Copenhagen standout, with the north Londoners having previously been linked with a potential move for Skov by Sky Sports back in March:
Tottenham are one of four Premier League clubs monitoring FC Copenhagen’s winger Robert Skov, Sky Sports News understands.
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 4, 2019
El Desmarque, though, suggest that it may be La Liga outfit Celta Vigo who currently lead the race for the once-capped Danish international.
The Celestes are said to have opened negotiations with Copenhagen over a deal.
However, the capital giants, aware that a host of clubs around Europe hold an interest in their crown jewel, are in no rush to sell.
As such, should either Wolves or Tottenham return with a firm proposal, securing a deal for Skov appears achievable.
A fee of over 12 million Euro would reportedly be enough to coax Copenhagen into a sale.
Norwich City have this evening confirmed the signature of striker Josip Drmic on a free transfer.
Drmic’s recent struggles
26-year-old hitman Drmic has spent the last 6 years of his career plying his trade in the Bundesliga.
After initially making the move to Germany in 2013 from his home country of Switzerland, Drmic quickly impressed with Nurnberg, notching 17 league goals across his debut season at the Max-Morlock-Stadion.
And his fine form saw Drmic earn an immediate move to one of the Bundesliga’s heavyweights in the summer of 2014, when the striker joined Bayer Leverkusen.
However, the years since have proven a largely-underwhelming experience for Drmic.
After managing to find the net on just 6 occasions during his first season with Leverkusen, the Swiss striker was on the move once again 12 months later, when he joined Borussia Monchengladbach.
A pair of serious injuries, coupled with competition for places, though, saw Drmic restricted to a measly 30 Bundesliga appearances across the last 3 campaigns combined, just 8 of which came in the form of starts.
NUERNBERG, GERMANY – MAY 11: Josip Drmic of Borussia Moenchengladbach in action during the Bundesliga match between 1.FC Nuernberg and Borussia Moenchengladbach at Max-Morlock-Stadion on May 11, 2019 in Nuernberg, Germany. (Photo by Christian Verheyen/Borussia Moenchengladbach via Getty Images)
Norwich switch
As such, the news that Drmic is finally set to depart Borussia Park has come as little surprise.
As announced across the club’s social media accounts this evening, upon the expiration of his ‘Gladbach contract at the end of the month, Drmic will join Premier League newcomers Norwich City.
The 26-year-old has put pen-to-paper on a 3-year contract at Carrow Road.
Speaking in the aftermath of his Canaries’ arrival being made official, Drmic, who, despite his club struggles, has nevertheless managed 10 goals in 32 caps for Switzerland, expressed his delight at joining Norwich:
‘Now everything is done, I’m very happy. I had very good conversations with Stuart Webber and with the Head Coach Daniel Farke.’
‘I was talking also to Timm Klose [teammate with Switzerland]. We had a long conversation as I had a lot of questions and he spoke very, very positively about the Club.’
‘I’m very excited to be playing in the Premier League. I cannot wait because I’ve heard a lot of things from my colleagues in the national team who have played in the Premier League.’
‘For me it’s something new. It’s a new opportunity with new challenges and I’m very happy that I’m so close now to playing in the Premier League. I cannot wait to start.’
The hitman marks the second addition to Daniel Farke’s squad this summer, following Patrick Roberts’ loan signing from Manchester City.
The reliable CatRadio have this evening outlandishly claimed that Barcelona will attempt to coax both Neymar and Antoine Griezmann to the club this summer.
In this piece, we took a look at how the La Liga champions could line up next season, with two of world football’s most gifted attackers added to the Blaugrana’s already star-studded frontline.
PSG struggles
Following 4 trophy-laden seasons at the Camp Nou, Brazilian superstar Neymar made the move to PSG in the summer of 2017, for a world-record 222 million Euro fee.
Barcelona quickly moved to replace the Selecao star, snapping up Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund for a fee with the potential to rise to almost 150 million Euro.
However, to say that both moves have since proven somewhat underwhelming would be putting it lightly.
While Neymar has absolutely dazzled when fit and firing at the Parc des Princes, a pair of long-term injury problems have seen the 27-year-old confined to the sidelines when PSG have needed him most in each of his two seasons in Paris.
Neymar during the UEFA Champions League Group C match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
In addition, rumours of dressing room unrest have been rampant, with PSG’s shock collapse at the hands of Manchester United in the Champions League’s last-16 this past season having no doubt seen Thomas Tuchel’s fractious, ego-rampant squad pushed further apart.
Barcelona return?
And such problems have since led to mounting murmurs in the media over recent weeks, suggesting that Neymar could yet depart the Parc des Princes this summer.
Barcelona, meanwhile, have been increasingly-touted as a possible landing spot.
Reports emerging from Spain of late have suggested that Neymar has set his sights firmly on a return to the Camp Nou, with the fleet-footed wide-man said to be desperate to reunite with close friends Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
As such, despite reports of a possible Camp Nou return for Neymar having initially been widely dismissed, such a transfer coming to fruition this summer now does not appear beyond the realms of reality.
Griezmann confirms Atleti departure
The case of Antoine Griezmann, on the other hand, appeared, until recently, to be far more straightforward.
On the back of 5 hugely-successful years on the books of Atletico madrid, Griezmann announced his intention to depart the Wanda Metropolitano last month.
After Atleti released a surprise statement, revealing that their star man had informed the club’s board that he would seek pastures new this summer, Griezmann himself provided a full explanation for his decision in a parting video:
Barcelona links
As such, Griezmann’s announcement has since led to inevitable speculation surrounding where the World Cup winner is set to end up next.
Atleti’s La Liga rivals Barcelona have been the club by far the most persistently-tipped as a potential destination, with it having initially been viewed as a near formality that the Blaugrana would simply activate Griezmann’s 125 million Euro release clause.
The weeks since, though, have surprisingly seen claims begin to mount that Barca could yet pass on the French attacker, amid squad unrest over his potential arrival.
And Blaugrana president Josep Maria Bartomeu poured further cold water on the links between the Spanish champions and Griezmann earlier this week, when he insisted that negotiations between the parties had not yet even begun:
‘We’ve always said it. We’ve never spoken to him. There’s nothing. We’re already seeing how the market is growing these days and weeks.’
This comes despite Atletico CEO Gil Marin having suggested just days before that the Rojiblancos’ crown jewel has long had an agreement in place to make the move to Catalunya:
‘I know exactly where he’s going to play. I’ve known since March. In Barcelona.’
Neymar & Griezmann to Barca?
As per the latest update emerging from Spain this evening, though, Griezmann need not fret over the possibility of his dream Camp Nou switch falling through.
This comes amid claims that Barcelona have incredibly decided to pursue BOTH the World Cup winner and Neymar this summer.
The outlandish statement comes courtesy of Cat Radio, regarded as highly-reliable when it comes to the transfer dealings of the Blaugrana.
Such a pair of moves would presumably have to be offset by a number of departures from Ernesto Valverde’s squad, though.
The likes of Samuel Umtiti, Nelson Semedo, Ivan Rakitic, Philippe Coutinho, Malcom and Ousmane Dembele have all been tipped for Camp Nou exits already this summer.
Philippe Coutinho appears the most likely to move on, with Frenkie de Jong’s arrival, along with the emergence of Carles Alena, also throwing Rakitic’s future into serious doubt.
The arrivals of either or both of Neymar and Griezmann, meanwhile, would no doubt see Malcom’s time with Barca come to a close.
Umtiti, on the other hand, appears increasingly likely to stay put, following Barca’s alleged dropping of their interest in Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt.
Barcelona’s options
With all of this in mind, below, we take a closer look at how the potential additions of Neymar and Griezmann to Ernesto Valverde’s squad would affect Barca’s line-up for next season.
A number of options are showcased, with Coutinho, Rakitic and Malcom omitted from all potential XI’s.
Luis Suarez is included in just one line-up, with it highly unlikely that Valverde would opt for a side consisting of all of the Uruguayan, Griezmann, Messi and Neymar at once.
As such, with Suarez’s form over the course of the 2018/19 campaign having been erratic at best, and the former Liverpool man now 32, it appears likely that he would stand as the odd man out in a star-studded Blaugrana front-line next season.
Dembele is also only named in one XI, due to the possibility of the Frenchman being sold, or even included as a makeweight in a deal for Neymar.
Arsenal ‘optimistic’ of signing Celtic’s Kieran Tierney
The BBC’s David Ornstein has confirmed on Saturday evening that Arsenal are in the hunt to sign Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney.
According to Ornstein, Arsenal are optimistic of completing a deal for 22-year-old Tierney. He wrote:
Arsenal have had an opening bid of £15m for Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney rejected.
But there is optimism an agreement will be reached between the clubs, while personal terms for the 22-year-old Scotland international shouldn’t be a problem.
As reported elsewhere Arsenal have had an opening bid of £15m for Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney rejected – but there is optimism an agreement will be reached between the clubs, while personal terms for the 22-year-old Scotland international shouldn’t be a problem #AFC#CelticFC
Atletico try to tempt Arsenal into selling Bellerin
Atletico Madrid are reportedly prepared to include Spanish winger Vitolo in any deal to sign Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin.
Atletico have been linked with several moves during the current transfer window.
Joao Felix is reportedly close to a move which could cost a total of £107million.
The Spanish club have also already signed Marcos Llorente.
Now, they’re being linked with a move for Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin.
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 16: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal receives medical treatment during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at St Mary’s Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Vitolo to the Emirates?
According to the Telegraph, Atletico Madrid are interested in signing the right-back and are willing to include Vitolo in any deal.
Vitolo played under Unai Emery during the pairs time at Sevilla where they won three Europa League trophies.
According to the report, ‘Despite the fact he is still recovering from a knee injury, Bellerin has emerged as one of Atletico’s summer targets, with manager Diego Simeone keen to bolster his defence with a new right-back.’
The Arsenal full-back has been out with an injury since January and it’s been suggested that he won’t be ready for next season.
However, that hasn’t stopped Atletico from looking to sign him.
The Telegraph’s report continues by explaining ‘the Gunners are unlikely to have dropped their £50million valuation of Bellerin this summer and may well not want to sell him at all, but Atletico are prepared to test the water by offering Emery the chance to link up with Vitolo again.’
Vitolo scored 28 goals and assisted 44 during his time at Sevilla and was particularly impressive under Emery.
The forward reflected on his side’s entertaining draw against the Asian outfit as “bittersweet” and wants to see the mistakes corrected
Luis Suarez said Uruguay’s 2-2 draw with Japan at the Copa America left a “bittersweet feeling” in Porto Alegre.
Suarez scored as Uruguay and Copa guests Japan played out an entertaining draw in Group C on Thursday.
A controversial VAR check allowed Suarez to convert a dubious 32nd-minute penalty after Koji Miyoshi stunned Uruguay seven minutes earlier.
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Miyoshi restored Japan’s lead approaching the hour mark but Uruguay defender Jose Gimenez levelled proceedings again in the 66th minute on matchday two.
Suarez rued the result, which left Uruguay on four points, after the Barcelona star and team-mate Edinson Cavani both hit the woodwork against Japan – who were routed 4-0 by Chile in their opener.
“We have to correct mistakes and praise the positive things,” Suarez told reporters post-match. “We were the ones who created the most clear chances. That is why we left with a bittersweet feeling.
“We played a good game at a general level, but we have the consequence that in this kind of tournament you have two mistakes and they make two goals and you have to be more careful.”
The forward also was not shocked by the performance from the Asian side despite their lopsided loss against Chile.
“We knew that Japan’s performance with Chile was not a true reflection,” Suarez continued. “They are quick, they have a lot of quality, they put pressure on us and they did not let us play well.”
Uruguay top Group C with four points, a point ahead of two-time reigning champions Chile, who face Ecuador on Friday.
Japan are third with one point from two fixtures, while Ecuador are looking for their first points of this year’s tournament.
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Atletico Madrid centre-back Gimenez praised Japan, adding: “They played the ball very well in midfield and they were very fast in attack.”
Uruguay will close out the group with a match against Chile on Monday in what will likely be the decider for Group C.
The Group C runner up will face Colombia in the quarter-final, while the winner will be pitted against a third-place team out of group A or B, which leaves the potential for a matchup against Argentina.
The Egyptian captain says having one of the top players in the world is “a huge deal” for both the team and the country
Mohamed Salah deserves to be recognised as one of the best three players in the world, according to Egypt captain Ahmed Elmohamady.
Salah enjoyed another fine season with Liverpool, scoring 27 goals in all competitions to help his club win the Champions League.
Now, the forward will try to lead Egypt to an eighth Africa Cup of Nations title beginning on Friday.
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Elmohamady said Salah deserved his place among the world’s best, alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Salah is now one of the best three players in the world. This is a huge deal for the country and the Egyptian team,” he told a news conference.
“Salah being on any team will help it and be a great addition. Everybody anticipates his performance, so this is a positive thing and a good addition for the Egyptian team.
“As has been said, Salah is one of the 23 players on the list. Each player will help the others.
“We play as one team, but having Salah with us is a positive thing and an important thing for us as a team and as players.”
Hosts Egypt open the Africa Cup of Nations against Zimbabwe on Friday, with Congo and Uganda also in Group A.
The country boast the most AFCON titles with seven and narrowly lost out in the final of the last competition in 2017, falling in the final to Cameroon.
But they are trying win it on home soil to end a drought that has now lasted nearly a decade, with their last championship coming back in 2010.
The side will also be looking to put a disappointing 2018 World Cup, which saw Salah struggle through injury and the African side lose all three matches in the group stage, behind them.
Salah, despite suffering an injury in the Champions League final against Real Madrid ahead of the World Cup, still managed to score both of his side’s goals in Russia, netting in a 3-1 loss to Russia and a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia.
Selangor boss B. Satiananthan claimed he was sworn at by a fan following their Super League defeat to JDT on Wednesday.
Selangor boss B. Satiananthan has defended his charges following their 3-2 defeat to Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in their Super League encounter on Wednesday, but criticised the treatment he claimed to have received from the team’s own fans.
In the week 17 clash held in Larkin, the hosts raced to an early lead thanks to goals by Gonzalo Cabrera (10′) and Leandro Velazquez (12′), before Khyril Muhymeen pulled one back four minutes from the break for the visitors. Safawi Rasid found the Southern Tigers’ third goal in the 61st minute, and while a late penalty allowed Sandro da Silva to close the margin one minute from time, the Red Giants could not find the equaliser.
Commenting on the match, the former Malaysa head coach lamented his forwards’ poor finishing, but praised his team’s effort considering the absence of many of the squad’s first team members due to suspension and injuries.
“Playing against the likes of Johor, if you don’t convert your chances you’re going to be punished. When Endrick (midfielder Endrick dos Santos) failed to put away an early chance he had, the ball changed hands and they scored from it.
“…We have many players on the crocklist while Farizal (goalkeeper Farizal Harun) is suspended, so it’s not easy for the players, and they [relatively did well]. They’ve given their 100 per cent,” he remarked.
According to the 61-year old head coach, the club fans need to understand these setbacks, instead of second-guessing and criticising his decisions, revealing an incident that took place right after the final whistle.
“There are times we must admit that the opponents are better than us. But some people (fans) don’t understand this and think that we must win every game. When the boys have given their best and avoided getting hammered, they must be appreciated.
“While walking [into the tunnel] earlier, one Selangor fan swore at me. He wore red, so he must’ve been a Selangor fan. How can they say such a thing when there are children in the stands? Who wants to bring their families to attend Selangor’s matches when obscene words are heard! What’s worse was it came from the grandstand, where the more-educated fans are supposedly are. I’ve never seen anything like this happen to coaches when I attended matches in Europe.
“They must understand, this is not the 1970’s or 1980’s anymore (when Selangor dominated). Where were Selangor in the last five years? We are rebuilding under RMS (association president Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin). If they want to be instant champions, it’s easy; then they must invest RM60, 70 millions.
“Another thing people condemn me for is for [sidelining] Faiz (winger Faiz Nasir). If they think I’m such an idiot, then why did he get his Malaysia debut while playing under me and not before, while playing for Terengganu [FC]? Can anybody answer that? The thing is, if I want to play him behind the striker, I need to take Sandro out, when he (Sandro) has already scored six goals. No coach is dumb enough to do that!
“And then they questioned me because Faiz scored playing [as a support striker] under Tan Cheng Hoe (Malaysia head coach). But he has scored playing as a winger [for Selangor]; after the Afghanistan game (Faiz’s Malaysia debut) he scored two goals for us. Yet when he stopped scoring afterwards fans called me stupid and useless! These comments are made by keyboard warriors, there are thousands of them but none of them attend matches. After beating Kedah, the stadium was still empty,” vented the 61-year old trainer.
He also questioned the quality of refereeing in the game, which resulted in the coming suspension of centre back Taylor Regan and midfielder Sarkunan Krishnansamy.
Regan only picked up a yellow card in the encounter, but will miss their coming game against Pahang on accumulated bookings, while Sarkunan incurred a sending off for a more serious misconduct. Midway through the second half, he rushed to take a freekick that was awarded to the visitors in their own half, but in his eagerness booted the ball straight at the referee Fairuzi Mat Desa. He was promptly shown the red card and could well receive an extended suspension from the Malaysian FA disciplinary committee.
“Taylor was booked when it was clear that player number eight (Diogo) dived. I don’t want to get in trouble by talking about others, so hopefully the management submits a complaint letter.
“…I’m not justifying his (Sarkunan’s) action, but I understand him as a former player. He (the referee) was quick to see Sarkunan’s foul and Ashmawi’s (centre back Ashmawi Yakin) handball. We were trailing and under pressure, and match officials should know how players feel during these situations. He shouldn’t have kicked the ball towards the referee, but what caused the action?” pointed out Satiananthan.
It takes something special to stand out to the Brazilian superstar and one Aussie has just that
Australian street footballer Daniel Cappellaro, also known as D10, is one of just five people from around the world picked to compete in Neymar Jr’s Five side at an upcoming tournament in Brazil.
The slick-footed Aussie submitted an audition tape for the competition with the PSG star clearly rating Cappellaro’s skills with the round ball and selecting him in his team after a worldwide search.
Considering the odds of being hand picked by Neymar, Cappellaro admits the selection took some time to sink in.
A goal against Japan was just what the forward needed, said his Chile international team-mate
Arturo Vidal felt Alexis Sanchez needed his goal for Chile against Japan after a “difficult” season with Manchester United.
Sanchez scored his first goal since January as the two-time defending Copa America champions beat Japan 4-0 in Sao Paulo on Monday.
The Manchester United attacker headed in a cross from Charles Aranguiz in the 82nd minute before setting up Eduardo Vargas a minute later.
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Vargas provided a brace for the two-time defending Copa America champions, making him Chile’s all-time leading scorer in the competition and the active player with the most career Copa America goals.
Vidal said the goal was just what Sanchez, who netted twice in 27 games for United in 2018-19, needed as he looks to regain confidence following a trying club campaign with the Red Devils.
“Alexis needed the goal. He had a difficult year and this gives him confidence,” the Barcelona midfielder said of his long-time team-mate.
Sanchez has helped lead Chile to two consecutive Copa America titles via two consecutive victories over Lionel Messi and Argentina in the tournament finales.
Chile had never won the tournament prior to those two title wins, having finished as a runner-up four times prior to their initial 2015 triumph.
The 30-year-old Sanchez, Chile’s all-time leading scorer, has earned 125 total caps for his national team, scoring 42 goals during his senior international career.
However, the Chilean star has struggled since making the move from Arsenal to Manchester United in January 2018, having scored only five goals in 45 appearances for the Red Devils.
Those struggled have seen him linked with a move away from Old Trafford, although a transfer could be difficult given the former Arsenal star’s massive wages at Manchester United.
The pair of late goals scored by Sanchez and Vargas wrapped up Chile’s win after Erick Pulgar’s first-half header and Vargas’ deflected strike in the 54th minute.
Vidal, whose team face Ecuador in Group C on Friday, urged Chile to continue improving.
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“We must focus from now on that game,” he said.
“We know that if we keep improving we can be a very dangerous team.”
With three points in hand from their first match, Vidal and Chile will face Ecuador and then Uruguay in their final two group stage matches.
