..::Football IV::..

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Roma president insists there is 'nothing in' Liverpool links to Salah

Roma president Jim Pallotta says there is “nothing in” reports suggesting that Liverpool are closing in on a deal for Mohamed Salah.The Egypt international is said to be a top target for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp ahead of the summer transfer window, with a €40 million deal mooted.

Salah struggled to make an impact during a previous spell in England at Chelsea, but Liverpool believe he could be a useful asset in their Premier League and Champions League quests in 2017-18.

Roma are, however, reluctant to part with their prized assets and have been quick to point out that there is little substance to rumours surrounding a number of their key men.Pallotta told SiriusXM radio on Salah: “With these questions you seem like the Roman reporters! In any case, there’s nothing in it at the moment.

“We continue to receive offers for many of our players and if we were to listen to all of them, we’d lose three quarters of the squad. Now we’ll see what to do.

“In order to improve, we need four or five quality reinforcements, because we’ll be taking part in the Champions League too next year.“This season we’ve been penalised by injuries, especially in defence. Alessandro Florenzi’s injury cost us at least four points.

“We also don’t have enough strength in depth for the attack. Edin Dzeko scored 39 goals, but if he had got injured, I don’t know how our season would’ve ended.”
Roma finished second in Serie A, with Dzeko claiming the Capocannoniere as the division’s top scorer.


Salah also chipped in with 19 goals across all competitions - a career-best haul for the hard-working 24-year-old.

 

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Man Utd and Barcelona target Dolberg to reject 'every big European club' to stay at Ajax

Rising Ajax star Kasper Dolberg wants to stay at the club for another year despite interest from a host of major European sides, his agent has said.The Denmark international scored 23 goals in all competitions in 2016-17, including six in the Europa League to help Ajax reach the final, where they were beaten by Manchester United.

Dolberg's form has seen him linked with a potential move to Jose Mourinho's side in the transfer window, while Manchester City and Barcelona have also been credited with an interest.However, agent Jens Steffensen says the 19-year-old wants to spend next season in Amsterdam despite enquiries from elsewhere.

"Nothing is concrete yet. He is currently preparing for the [Denmark] games against Germany and Kazakhstan," he told Fussball Transfers."No club has submitted an offer to Ajax. I can tell you one thing - all the top European clubs have asked about him. But we haven't seen any concrete or written offers yet.

"His goal is to stay at Ajax for another year."Denmark face Germany in a friendly match at Brondby Stadium on Tuesday.

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo haircut was to fulfil Champions League promise

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated firing Real Madrid to Champions League glory by sporting a daring new hairstyle and the Portugal captain has revealed his reason for doing so.

The prolific forward scored twice as Madrid became the first team in the Champions League era to defend the trophy thanks to a 4-1 victory over Juventus in Cardiff.

Ronaldo's spiky hairstyle has been his trademark look since establishing himself as a global superstar at Manchester United and then Madrid, but the 32-year-old displayed a new buzz-cut style following Los Blancos' triumph.

The hairdo has split opinion, but Ronaldo explained that the close shave was due to a promise he made before the match.
"It was a promise. I'd promised that, if we won the Champions League and I scored a goal, I'd do it. I did it and I shaved myself," he told Real Madrid TV.
"I always try to do my best for the team and things are going well. The truth is that the numbers don't lie. You can always count on me."

 

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'Madrid are perfect' - Calderon would be sad to see James or Morata leave

Real Madrid are a “perfect” squad and have no need to oversee comings or goings during the transfer window, says Ramon Calderon.The former president at Santiago Bernabeu has been impressed by the speed in which Zinedine Zidane has been able to turn the Blancos into an all-conquering outfit.After less than 18 months at the helm, the Frenchman has led Madrid to two Champions League successes and the La Liga title.

He has done that with a star-studded side that Calderon feels should be left untouched, despite links to the likes of David de Gea and Kylian Mbappe and with reports suggesting that James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata could be among those moved out.

Calderon told talkSPORT: “All the lines are very balanced. I think the midfield has been perfect to assist the forwards and despite Bale’s injury, Isco played quite well.

“I don’t think we need any signings. I am sure we will because it’s always like that.
“But I think now the team is perfect. If someone comes another one, that’s already in the team, will have to leave. That’s a pity.”

Madrid celebrated their latest Champions League success in the Spanish capital on Sunday, with a 4-1 victory over Juventus having handed them a first domestic and European double since 1958.

Zidane has earned plenty of praise for the part he has played in turning fortunes around, with Calderon the latest to add his voice to the plaudits for a former playing hero turned talented coach.

He said: “A year and a half ago he was coaching the second division B team in the third tier here in Spain – he has been very humble, he wasn’t bossy, but showed his authority when needed.

“He used the substitutes well at the right moments, when he wanted the first team players to rest, which is very important in a great club.“It is important to make every player happy, despite not all of them of course can play, and when Bale was injured he changed the 4-3-3 system to the 4-4-2 in which Cristiano Ronaldo has been very comfortable.

“In short I think he has been nearly perfect in the way he has managed this team and that’s why he’s got two Champions League titles in a row.“It’s never happened before so I think he deserves it for the way he has done everything.”

 

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'Carrick makes players around him play better' - Man Utd legend Giggs hails experienced midfielder

Michael Carrick is a “calming influence” at Manchester United who “makes players around him play better”, says Ryan Giggs.At 35 years of age, the former England international could be considered to be past his peak.

He has, however, been a consistent performer throughout his 11 years at Old Trafford and has recently been rewarded with a new one-year contract and a testimonial.

Jose Mourinho is clearly an admirer of his ball-playing ability, and Giggs thinks it was a wise decision to hand fresh terms to a man he enjoyed considerable success alongside during own playing days.

The Red Devils legend told ITV after gracing Carrick’s testimonial: “Michael just makes players around him play better.“He’s got that calming influence that you can see on and off the pitch, it’s a pleasure to play with him.

“When you play with players, you want to trust them when they have the ball and Michael is one of those players.“When he is on the pitch, you can trust him. He always makes the right decision.”

Carrick took in just 13 appearances prior to Christmas in the 2016-17 campaign, but would end the season having taken in 38 outings.He was an unused substitute in the Europa League final, but did take to the field in United’s two other trophy triumphs in the Community Shield and EFL Cup.

The season just gone also saw a man with 34 England caps to his name pass the 450 appearance mark for United in all competitions, while moving on to 701 in his club career overall.

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo revealed as FIFA 18 global cover star as release date is confirmed

EA Sports have revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo will be their global cover star for FIFA 18, which will be released on September 29.The Real Madrid star capped off another superb season by scoring twice in the Champions League final against Juventus, cementing his status as the early favourite for this year's Ballon d'Or.

And Ronaldo has landed one major individual honour for 2017 already by being named as the face of the world's most popular football game for the first time in his career.

His presence at the centre of FIFA 18 will pit him in yet another battle against Lionel Messi, with the Argentine having signed a deal with Konami to promote Pro Evolution Soccer after featuring on the cover of FIFA 16.FIFA fans can already pre-order the 'Ronaldo Edition' of the new game, which costs £79.99 and features up to £40-worth of Ultimate Team packs as well as a Cristiano Ronaldo loan card and exclusive kits.

According to EA, Ronaldo recently took part in a motion-capture session at their studio in Madrid to create the most accurate in-game likeness of the 32-year-old ever."The world’s best player has helped fuel the biggest leap forward on the pitch that we’ve ever delivered," said Aaron McHardy, a senior producer of FIFA.

"We are extremely excited to partner with Cristiano - working with him we learned a lot about his unique play style and what makes him so special. His passion, energy and global fanbase make him the perfect ambassador for FIFA 18."
"It is a real pleasure to be on the cover of FIFA 18," Ronaldo added. "It's a great feeling and I am grateful to have been chosen."

Cristiano is not the only Ronaldo to be featured in FIFA 18 - former Brazil star Ronaldo Nazario will also be available on Ultimate Team as the first of the games 'icons', which are replacing FIFA 17's legends and will be available on all platforms, not just Xbox.

The elder Ronaldo, too, is getting his own cover in the form of the special 'Icon Edition', which costs £89.99 and features up to £79.99-worth of Ultimate Team packs, TOTW loan packs and both the Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo cards on loan.

In announcing a release date of Friday, September 29, EA are changing up their release schedule slightly this year.For the past few years, the new FIFA has come out in North America on a late Tuesday in September, with the most recent game released on Tuesday, September 27. It has then dropped in Europe two days later.

The game will be available on Tuesday, September 26 - sticking to that schedule - this year, but only to Early Access players who pre-order either the Ronaldo Edition or the Icon Edition. Those buyers will get three days of advanced access before the full release on the Friday.

EA also revealed that FIFA 18 will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 - eliminating doubt about whether or not the latest game would be released on the previous generation of consoles.

 

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'Not many say no to Barcelona' - Eriksen determined to reach the top, but planning Spurs stay

Christian Eriksen acknowledges that not many turn Barcelona down, but he is planning to stay at Tottenham for at least two more years.The Denmark international has seen his stock rise over recent years with his exploits in the Premier League.

Now regarded as one of the finest playmakers in Europe – with few able to match his numbers when it comes to assists and chances created – he is drawing admiring glances from afar.

He has, however, helped Tottenham to become title challengers in England and, with a long-term contract signed in September 2016, sees no reason why he should leave White Hart Lane for Camp Nou or anywhere else.Eriksen told Ekstra Bladet on his future: “I still have a contract with Tottenham for a few more years.“There are always rumours about footballers.”

He added on the Barca links, having taken in a trial with the Liga giants before linking up with Ajax as a teenager: “I was there at one point, and it was not very good.

“Barcelona are a great club. I don’t think there are many who say no to Barcelona.
“In the future I see myself at the highest level. That's what I dream about.

“It can be about two to three years. It may be in another club or it could be Tottenham if we have come all the way up.”Eriksen contributed 12 goals to the Spurs cause in 2016-17, along with 15 assists in Premier League competition.

He has now spent four seasons in north London, making 179 appearances as Spurs have forced their way into the Champions League and the title picture.

 

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Cheick Tiote dies after collapsing during training

Former Newcastle United player Cheick Tiote has died after collapsing during a training session on Monday. The Ivorian was training with second-tier Chinese side Beijing Enterprises, who he joined in February, when he passed out and was rushed to hospital.

But emergency treatment failed to revive him, and it was later confirmed that he had passed away.

Tiote's representative Emanuele Palladino said: "It is with deep sadness that I confirm that my client Cheick Tiote sadly passed away earlier today after collapsing in training with his club Beijing Enterprises.

"We cannot say any more at the moment and we request that his family's privacy be respected at this difficult time."We ask for all your prayers."

A statement from Beijing Enterprises also confirmed the news of Tiote’s death.It read: “At 6pm on June 5th, Mr Cheick Tiote fell unconscious to the ground during training.“He was immediately taken to hospital, but unfortunately died at 7pm on June 5th. We have informed his relatives of his death.

“After joining Beijing Enterprises Group FC on February 5th 2017, Mr Tiote has made a great contribution to the club and has received plaudits from the coaching staff and team-mates for his superb ability and professionalism.

“We hereby express our sincere condolences following Mr Tiote’s unfortunate death.” Tiote had been a mainstay for Beijing Enterprises, starting all 11 matches to date this season.

On Saturday, the 30-year-old helped his team secure a 4-2 victory against Baoding Ronda.

The midfielder started his career in Belgium with Anderlecht and also represented Twente and Roda JC in the Netherlands, as well as making 52 international appearances for Ivory Coast.

 

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R.I.P Cheick Tiote!

 

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Hazard to miss start of new Premier League season

Eden Hazard is expected miss the start of the new Premier League season after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury that will keep him out for approximately three months, Chelsea have announced.

Hazard sustained a fractured ankle during a training session with Belgium, ruling him out of Monday's friendly against Czech Republic and the World Cup qualifier with Estonia on Friday.

The attacker subsequently underwent surgery on his right ankle and Chelsea do not anticipate him returning to training until September, likely ruling him out of the opening weeks of the new campaign.

"Everything went well with my ankle operation, now I start the road to recovery," Hazard wrote on Instagram."I will be stronger. Thank you for your support everyone!!"

Hazard has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge and indicated last week that, although he is happy in London, he would consider a move to Real Madrid if the Champions League winners were to make a bid.

The 26-year-old hit 16 Premier League goals as Chelsea claimed the title in Antonio Conte's first season in charge, although they were beaten 2-1 by Arsenal in the FA Cup final.

His injury will be a blow for Conte as his side gear up for a return to the Champions League in 2017-18, having not featured in European competition last term.


Hazard was named Chelsea's Player of the Year, becoming the second person in the 50-year history of the prize to collect it for a third time.

 

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'The Champions League is not a dealbreaker' - Lacazette leaves door open for Arsenal move

Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette has affirmed he could forego Champions League football next season, in an apparent wink to long-term suitors Arsenal.

The France striker has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium on repeated occasions, although no official approach has ever materialised.

And with Arsene Wenger's men relegated to the Europa League for 2017-18, they may struggle to compete in the transfer market over the summer.

Lacazette, however, admits he would not turn down a club solely because they were out of the big competition. "Is the Champions League a dealbreaker for my choice? No, but it is important," he said in a live Facebook chat hosted by Eurosport.

"In making my choice, I will look at my position [in my next club], if there are not too many players, so I won't be benched and I will be able to play."The Premier League is interesting. That does not mean I will go, and that does not mean I will refuse to go."

Atletico were another side connected with Lacazette in the past, but a FIFA-imposed transfer ban means he will not be moving to the Spanish capital this summer - although a loan move back to Lyon is a possibility."Like everyone else, I heard the news. This was always going to be a possibility, it was 50-50. The decision has not perturbed me, life goes on," he said.


"A loan to Lyon until the winter window? I have not looked at that much because the president is saying that that is not possible. We will have to prepare ourselves for all eventualities, but that is not the way I want it to go."

 

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Belgium 2 Czech Republic 1: Fellaini header the difference

Substitute Marouane Fellaini's second-half header saw Belgium record a 2-1 win over Czech Republic in Monday's international friendly at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.

The home side's preparations for the game were disrupted by Eden Hazard fracturing his ankle in training, but the Chelsea star's misfortune did not stop Michy Batshuayi from opening the scoring midway through the first half after a strong start.

Sloppy play from Kevin De Bruyne allowed Michal Krmencik to level the scoring shortly after, but Fellaini eventually delivered the hosts the win with a powerful 52nd-minute header.

Roberto Martinez's men will be looking to build on their victory when they take on Estonia on Friday in Group H of the World Cup qualification. They sit first in their section with 13 points from five games, two points clear of second-placed Greece.

Czech Republic, meanwhile, take on Norway on Saturday in Group C, with Karel Jarolim's side third in their group behind Germany and Northern Ireland.

Belgium made an encouraging start to the game and Romelu Lukaku had two chances to break the deadlock in the opening 15 minutes, first forcing goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik into a low save with a firm header, before steering another against the upright from just two yards after Toby Alderweireld had directed De Bruyne's cross into his path.

And the hosts got the goal they deserved when Batshuayi netted in the 25th minute, the Chelsea striker beating Vaclik with a calm finish from just inside the area after being set up by Lukaku and shrugging off Tomas Kalas.

But Belgium's lead did not last long as Krmencik levelled the scoring a mere five minutes later after some poor play from De Bruyne, who clumsily lost the ball to Ladislav Krejci inside his own area after an attempt to build play from the back.
The visitors came close to going 2-1 up 10 minutes before the half-time whistle when promising youngster Patrik Schick hit the upright with a low shot from 15 yards out.

Martinez's men made a strong start to the second half and Kevin Mirallas almost restored his side's lead when he forced substitute goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka into a save early on.There was no denying Belgium soon after, however, as Fellaini beat Pavlenka with a trademark header from fellow half-time substitute Dries Mertens' corner.

Borek Dockal threatened a number of times as the away side went in search of an equaliser, but the attacking midfielder failed to find a way past Thibaut Courtois, while Tomas Soucek was frustrated by the woodwork as Belgium held on for a narrow win.

 

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Low undecided on Germany captaincy

Joachim Low has not yet decided who will take over the Germany captaincy from injured goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Neuer is not available for Tuesday's friendly against Denmark, Saturday's World Cup qualifier against San Marino or the upcoming Confederations Cup after breaking a metatarsal during Bayern Munich's Champions League quarter-final defeat to eventual winners Real Madrid in April.

Low has named an inexperienced squad to face Denmark, with defender Mats Hummels, midfielders Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil and attacker Thomas Muller all missing, while Hoffenheim duo Kerem Demirbay and Sandro Wagner are among players who could make their debuts.

And the World Cup-winning coach is unclear on who will wear the armband with so many regular players unavailable, although he hinted Arsenal centre-back Shkodran Mustafi is in contention to be named captain.

"I have not dealt with the question yet," Low told reporters on Monday. "We also have other people who already take on management tasks at their clubs."Of course, I will try to pass on my experience and help the young players. There are no unknown faces for me. I am happy about anyone who gets a chance here — this is an exciting time."Mustafi was not used very often due to the fact that Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng often played in the tournaments. I believe he is doing well with our young and inexperienced team, because he can also take on management tasks.

"We have two to three players who already have more tournament experience: Mustafi, Julian Draxler and Emre Can. I think it will become clear, who will also take on the field leadership tasks during the Confederations Cup.

"It should be that all players who are involved are given as much time as possible. I would like to bring different players from the beginning depending on the situation in the games at the Confederations Cup. You will then see which young players have the ability to take responsibility."

Mustafi insisted he is not thinking about the captaincy and instead looking forward to reuniting with previous youth international team-mates, including Marvin Plattenhardt and Amin Younes, who could make their Germany debuts against Denmark.

"I have not been concerned with the captain's question yet, and we've got others who have leadership qualities and take over their teams," the Arsenal defender said. "I will try to share my experiences and help.

"There are no unknown faces for me, I know every single player and I'm happy that some of them have a chance, I'm looking forward to seeing new faces."

 

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'There was nobody near him' – Martinez stunned by Hazard injury

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez described his shock at Eden Hazard's serious ankle injury, saying no-one was near the Chelsea star when he was hurt.

Hazard is expected to be out for three months after undergoing surgery on his fractured right ankle on Monday.

The 26-year-old, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, suffered the injury in training ahead of Belgium's friendly against the Czech Republic and World Cup qualifier with Estonia.Speaking after a 2-1 win over the Czechs on Monday, Martinez said he was stunned by Hazard's setback.

"I am very disappointed with Eden's injury. We all know he is a great player, but not everybody sees he is a great human being and leader for us as well," he said.

"He was working hard to be ready for these two games and then this happens."There was nobody near him when it happened. He wanted to move from his left foot to his right foot as he lined up a shot and then it happened.

"We were all in shock and immediately realised it was serious."He is already back in London and we have been in touch after the game. He watched the match and congratulated us with the win."A 52nd-minute header from Marouane Fellaini led Belgium to their friendly win, and they visit Estonia on Friday.

 

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Wenger warns Mbappe: Be careful over next move

Arsene Wenger has warned Kylian Mbappe to be careful when considering his next move.

The Monaco striker, who only turned 18 last December, has been the subject of intense press speculation in recent months, with fresh reports suggesting that Real Madrid are readying a world-record €130 million bid for the forward.

Goalalso understands that the Gunners hold an interest in the player but have yet to make an official bid, while the manager was spotted with chief executive Ivan Gazidis in Nice this week.

Wenger, though, has offered his compatriot some advice, echoing the calls of national team boss Didier Deschamps that Mbappe must concentrate on his development at this point.

Speaking to beIN Sport, he was asked where he feels the young player may end up at the conclusion of the summer transfer window: “Somewhere where he has a good chance to play and is sure to play. That is why I think Deschamps made that statement.

“I’m quite convinced that a team that is ready to spend €100 million for him is ready to roll out the red carpet.“Nobody will buy a player for a €100 million and say: ‘Come on, sit in the stands'.”

Mbappe’s next action may come on Friday, when France travel to Sweden for a World Cup qualifier. The Monaco ace has yet to find the net for the national side.

 

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Pogba's infectious energy helped Manchester United win trophies - Lingard

Jesse Lingard has praised the return of Paul Pogba after Manchester United’s treble-winning season.

The Red Devils won the Community Shield, the EFL Cup and the Europa League in their first campaign under Jose Mourinho, as well as qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Lingard, who was in United’s youth setup with Pogba for three years before the Frenchman left for Juventus, said the £89 million man's energy rubbed off on the entire team."He has settled back in," Lingard told Sky Sports."He is a fun, vibrant lad and he gives a lot of good energy off, especially in the changing room.“He can make the atmosphere very good before games and really get you on it."

Lingard, who scored in both the Community Shield and the EFL Cup final, was also keen to praise the impact of Marcus Rashford - another player he grew up with."It helps because you are used to each other," he said."With Marcus, I know he can run in behind so my first thought is to put the ball in behind.“You work to each other's strengths."

Having been part of the club since he was seven years old, Lingard also said it’s only right that he now takes on the role of mentoring young players who are in the position he was in:

"I'm 25 this year and there are obviously a lot of good youngsters coming through and it's good that I can be there to advise them," he added."It's a great atmosphere. It is like playing with your friends in the park but obviously with an objective to win the game so you can get the best of both worlds with that."

 

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Arsenal confirm Kolasinac signing

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Sead Kolasinac, who will join the club on a free transfer from Schalke.

The north Londoners have won the race to sign the Bosnian defender, with Goal revealing back in April that they had beaten competition from the likes of Juventus and Chelsea for his signature.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Gunners announced that the 23-year-old will join the club "on a long-term contract" and will link up for pre-season training in July "subject to the completion of all regulatory processes".

Arsenal had been keeping tabs on Kolasinac since the start of the 2015-16 season. They stepped up their interest in the last year and, as reported by Goal, the left-back completed a medical and agreed personal terms with the club at the end of April.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international, who can play at left-back, centre-back and in midfield, emerged as a key player for Schalke in recent seasons, featuring for the club in the Champions League and Europa League.

He scored three goals in 25 Bundesliga appearances last term as Die Knappen finished a disappointing 10th in the table.

Born in Germany, Kolasinac played for the country of his birth at youth level before switching allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013.

 

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Dortmund appoint Ajax manager Bosz as new head coach

Peter Bosz has left Ajax to take up the role of head coach at Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga club have confirmed.

The 53-year-old has signed a two-year contract that will keep him at Signal Iduna Park until June 30, 2019.In his only season at Ajax, Bosz guided the Amsterdam giants to second place in the Eredivisie and the Europa League final, drawing praise for an exciting brand of football with a young group of players.

The former Vitesse and Maccabi Tel Aviv boss takes over from Thomas Tuchel, whose strained relationship with Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke ultimately cost him his job.

Tuchel led BVB to third in the Bundesliga, holding off the challenge of Hoffenheim to ensure automatic qualification for next season's Champions League.
Dortmund were heavily linked with a move for Nice coach Lucien Favre, who built an impressive reputation for himself in Germany by turning Borussia Monchengladbach into consistent top-four challengers.However, the Ligue 1 side issued a statement insisting the Swiss coach would not be allowed to leave Allianz Riviera.

 

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Man City want Mendy & Bertrand as part of four-man full-back overhaul

Manchester City are in the market for four new full-backs this summer, including both Benjamin Mendy and Ryan Bertrand, Goal understands.Reports on Tuesday morning suggested City were closing in on a deal for Southampton left-back Bertrand as a result of Monaco's £40 million asking-price for Mendy.

But Goal has previously reported that Mendy has been City's priority left-back target for a matter of months, and sources close to the deal stress that Monaco's demands are nothing new.The Blues had hoped to have been closer to completing a deal for the 22-year-old but Monaco have put up a fight to keep him.

Sources in France suggested over the weekend that there is a chance the Frenchman could elect to stay at Stade Louis II, though City will continue to push for his signature and, after months of encouragement, they still hope to bring him to the club.

It has now emerged that Pep Guardiola wants to bring in Bertrand to work alongside Mendy next season.

Guardiola believes Bertrand has the ability and character to contribute to his plans for the club, while the England international would also boost City's homegrown player quota.

There are currently no recognised full-backs at the club after the release of Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy, while Aleksandar Kolarov has been converted to a centre-back under Guardiola. Reinforcements for that position have therefore become a top priority this summer.

Tottenham defender Kyle Walker is City's top target for the right-back role, and the club remain confident they will seal a deal in the coming weeks. Like Monaco, however, Tottenham are proving to be reluctant sellers, with City often left exasperated by chairman Daniel Levy's negotiating tactics.

But sources close to the deal insist they will find a breakthrough for the England right-back.

City are also in the market for a fourth full-back this summer. The identity of the Blues' preferred target remains unknown, but it is believed Paris Saint-Germain's Serge Aurier is not a candidate. Benfica's Nelson Semedo, Monaco's Fabinho and Arsenal's Hector Bellerin have also been ruled out by senior City sources.

Although wary that Monaco and Spurs could continue to make things difficult regarding Mendy and Walker, City hope to sign all four of their targets this summer.

If they are successful then that will be another factor in whether they decide to move for a centre-back. Although City had put together a list of three potential options, a move for a centre-back will only be decided later this summer. Virgil Van Dijk is no longer in the frame, however, as he has made it known that he prefers a move to Liverpool.

City have identified a goalkeeper, two full-backs, an attacking midfielder and a forward as their foremost priorities. Bernardo Silva has arrived from Monaco to fill the attacking midfield position while Ederson is City's top target for goalkeeper, and his signing will be officially confirmed by the Premier League club once his paperwork has been cleared by the relevant authorities.

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez is the No.1 forward option, and, after months of legwork, City still believe they have a real chance of signing him, despite the Gunners' preference to sell him to Bayern Munich.

Goal has reported on Tuesday morning that Juventus' Leonardo Bonucciis weighing up a move to England before next season. City sources have previously stressed that he is not an option, though the club's plans are so flexible there could be a late change of heart if the Italian does leave Juve and Guardiola decides to buy a defender.

Athletic's Aymeric Laporte will not be considered after he angered the club last summer by pulling out of a move at the 11th hour.

Beyond the first five targets for the five priority positions, City's plans are extremely fluid and far from decided at this stage of the summer. The club essentially have two lists; the first contains their five top targets, and the second contains various different players who could be signed if the opportunity presents itself, or if circumstances dictate.

A number of factors are affecting City's search for a centre-back, for example, including their interest in Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe, another player on the 'second list' of targets.

City would rather wait to sign the 18-year-old next summer, but if the opportunity arose this summer they would spend over £100m to land him. Real Madrid's interest is a significant stumbling block for City, however, and Monaco are also desperate to keep him.

Vincent Kompany's fitness is also a factor in City's thinking; if he remains fit this summer, and if Mbappe can be signed, the club may decide to stick with that they have got at the centre of defence.And their plans could also be affected if they sign all four of their full-back targets.

The cost of four new defenders would likely far surpass £100m, which would also restrict what City could spend on other targets, though Guardiola would be content that he would have enough options in his defence if four new full-backs are signed.
That also raises the possibility that the second right-back could potentially play at centre-back if required. Joshua Kimmich, a favourite of Guardiola during his time at Bayern Munich, has been linked in recent months.

If City sign just three or even two of their full-back targets, however, it is believed they would be more likely to move for a new out-and-out centre-back.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Everything is in place' - Spalletti heads to China to finalise Inter deal

Luciano Spalletti has travelled to China to finalise terms on an agreement to become the new head coach of Inter.

The 58-year-old left his post at Roma on May 30 after only 16 months in charge at Stadio Olimpico and is poised to be named the permanent successor to Stefano Pioli at San Siro.Although a deal has not yet been finalised, Spalletti says a provisional agreement is in place and he hopes to bring talks to a satisfactory conclusion soon.

"Everything is in place," he told the media at Malpensa airport, as he and sporting director Piero Ausilio prepared to fly out to meet Inter's Suning Group owners.
"We've shaken hands; we're old fashioned and we do things with a handshake."

Inter's owners are eager to help restore the club to the level they enjoyed back in 2010, when they won the treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League titles under Jose Mourinho.

Spalletti's appointment is expected to be followed by significant investment in the playing squad aimed at boosting their chances of challenging for the top three next season.

He is also likely to be tasked with ending the uncertainty around the future of Croatia winger Ivan Perisic, with Manchester United having expressed an interest in a player.