Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed forward Roberto Firmino fit to return for the Reds in the Champions League final against at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The Brazilian has not featured in his side’s past four matches after suffering a groin injury.
He has been training alongside the rest of Klopp’s squad in recent days, however, and it’s now been confirmed that he will be fit to play.
‘Bobby was part of training last week and will be a part again tomorrow and he’s looking good so he will be part of the final I’m sure,’ Klopp said.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez ‘has a feeling’ that Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard will join the club this summer.
The 28-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the outgoing European champions with reports that he is currently house-hunting in the Spanish capital, report Football Espana.
Marca have previously reported on a near ‘total agreement’ between all parties with the player to sign a six-year deal at Los Blancos.
“I have a feeling that Eden Hazard will be coming this year,” Perez told an interview on Onda Cero on Monday night.
“I am very interested in him coming to Real Madrid and I am very hopeful he will come in. He is one of the greats of the world of football.”
“How are we going to talk to a club that is playing a final (the Europa League), we have been trying for several years that Hazard is a Madrid player but we have not yet achieved it.”
Two goals from United States striker Sebastian Soto were all Americans needed to claimall the three pionts at stake in rainy Bielsko-Bialo Monday night.
The win over the Flying Eagles of Nigeria was the first victory the Americans would record at Poland 2019, and the Nigerians’ first defeat at the football tourney.
USA coach Tab Ramos made just one change to the starting XI from his side’s opener against Ukraine, and it paid doubly. First, Soto slipped his marker and nodded home Alex Mendez’s corner-kick service at the far post in the 18th minute, giving the USA a 1-0 lead.
Less than one minute into the second half Soto snuck past the Nigeria defence yet again, doubling his team’s advantage. Chris Gloster played him through beautifully after a marauding run inside from the left-back. Soto then got his feet and hips right, waited for the goalkeeper to collapse and popped the ball into the net with the inside of his right foot.
Nigeria weren’t without their chances, leaving the USA scrambling from a flurry of brilliant individual efforts toward the end of the first half. First, substitute Aniekeme Okon’s ferocious full volley at the top of the area was saved by Brady Scott. That was followed by forward Maxell Effiom’s stinger from outside the right corner of the box which clipped the crossbar a minute later.
In the end the USA were resolute, holding on to greatly lift their chances of advancing from Group D.
The Ngerians later said the loss to the Americans was not the result they wanted having won their first match comprehensively.
They expressed their anger on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) website: “Not the result we wanted, but we will pick up ourselves from this loss and focus on winning our final group game against Ukraine.”- Flying Eagles
Latest reports in Italy state that Juventus are resolute in their move for Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri as the Italian giants have made him their first choice.
Sky Sport claim that Sarri met with Juventus officials last week with a view to replacing Allegri, who leaves Turin after five years in which he won five Serie A titles and four Coppa Italia trophies.
Several Italian newspapers report that Sarri’s agent Fali Ramadani will meet Chelsea chief Marina Granovskaia after the Europa League Final to discuss his terms of exit.
Sky Sports, however, add that the Blues are not planning on changing their head coach but Sarri is open to a return to Italy.
The report stresses the Old Lady will also wait until after the Champions League Final to see whether Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp possibly step down from their positions at Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool.
Failing that, the alternative ‘remains’, according to Football Italia, Lazio tactician Simone Inzaghi.
Reports in Spain claim Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has held a face-to-face meeting with captain Sergio Ramos to persuade him to stay at the club.
Marca, during the weekend, followed up on a report from La Sexta that the central defender has interest from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain while he is now open to an exit from the Spanish capital.
Ramos has continually told both clubs that he had no interest in a move but was said to have had a change of heart and believes a change of club would benefit both him personally and Madrid.
The report claims that for Zidane, the ‘presence of Ramos is essential’ and the Coach outlined ‘the ideal climate for continuity’ for the defender at the club.
According to Football Espana, the meeting was vital between the two, who are said to hold a strong personal and working relationship.
The previous reports of an exit cited how the 33-year-old had a well-reported argument with club president Florentino Perez following the Champions League exit against Ajax in March.
Newcastle have confirmed talks with Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan over a £350million takeover of the club.
Meanwhile, the takeover of the club by Al Nehayan has also been confirmed by the associates of the Dubai-based billionaire.
According to the Sun, contracts on the £350million deal had already been signed and submitted to the Premier League between owner Mike Ashley, 54, and the cousin of mega-rich Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour.
The Daily Mail now report that the closest working associate of Sheikh Khaled, 62, claims the deal is done and will be concluded in time for this summer’s transfer window.
The report adds that Sheikh Khaled wants manager Rafa Benitez to stay on.
It comes after Newcastle had been subject to previous but unsuccessful takeover attempts from the likes of Amanda Staveley and Peter Kenyon.
Sheikh Khaled is a senior member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and last year failed in a £2billion takeover of Liverpool.
Toon fans were sent into meltdown after hearing the news was close to being confirmed with the much derided Ashley soon to be out the door.
The St James’ Park faithful have long been frustrated with Ashley and his lack of funds and commitment shown to the club he has owned for 12 years.
Club supporters regularly show their hostility towards the retail tycoon, with one even coming close to blows the loathed owner last year.
And dozens of Newcastle fans protested around the restaurant where Ashley held a morale-boosting dinner with Benitez in October.
Sheikh Khaled is ready to provide funds to bolster a limited squad that has done well to stay in the Premier League after years of underinvestment under Ashley.
James Milner has revealed that FC Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi called him a ‘donkey’ during their Champions League clash on May 1st.
Messi scored twice in Barcelona’s 3-0 first leg win at the Camp Nou, and the former Manchester City man stated the Messi was frustrated with some of the tackles he received in the first half.
“He is an incredible player, but we he was not happy at half time, Milner told UK newspaper the Daily Mail.
“He was giving me plenty (of abuse) in the tunnel at half time.
“He called me a burro (donkey), which in Spanish refers to someone who kicks someone else a lot.”
Messi famously embarrassed Milner with an audacious nutmeg, when Milner was a City player, and according to the veteran midfielder, Messi referenced that incident in their conversation, report Football Espana.
The Liverpool midfielder added that Messi was surprised about his Spanish language skills, after beginning to learn the language three years ago, but insisted that he had nothing but respect for Messi after the incident.
There are reports N’Golo Kante could miss the Europa League final after the midfielder sustained an injury setback during training on Saturday.
Kante had almost completely recovered from a hamstring injury and was expected to feature in Wednesday’s clash against Arsenal in Baku.
However, the Frenchman now looks to be facing an extended period on the sidelines after reports of aggravating the problem.
According to Goal, Kante is now considered a major doubt to play against Arsenal.
Maurizio Sarri indicated last week that he was optimistic about Kante’s chances of regaining full fitness before the final, so this news will come as a bitter blow for Chelsea.
Kante is likely to have further fitness tests this week to determine whether or not he is capable of playing some part against Arsenal, report the Daily Mail.
Chelsea are have concerns over Jorginho, who also suffered a slight problem during an open session last week.
Sarri’s squad has already been reduced to the bare bones with Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Antonio Rudiger all out with serious injuries.
Chelsea face a battle on their hands if they want to keep Mateo Kovacic at Stamford Bridge at the end of his loan spell from Real Madrid.
The Blues could keep the Croatian international even though they have got a transfer embargo hanging over them as he is already at the club but Inter Milan are keen.
Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Kovaci on another loan deal but much will depend on who the manager is after next week’s Europa League final.
Maurizio Sarri is expected to leave following a difficult first season at the club
