Dortmund to sign Marwin Hitz

Bundesliga behemoths Borussia Dortmund appear to have identified a replacement for departing Roman Weidenfeller who will be putting an end to his professional career at the end of the current season.

The latest reports from Bild are claiming that FC Augsburg goalkeeper Marwin Hitz looks set to join the Westfalenstadion this summer. The experienced Swiss international amassed more than 150 Bundesliga appearances playing for Wolfsburg and Augsburg, winning the Bundesliga title back in 2009 with the Wolves.

He would be arriving as a free agent once his contract with Augsburg expires at the end of the season and Borussia Dortmund are confident he could be a valuable deputy for the undisputed No.1 Roman Burki.

Augsburg have already confirmed Hitz will be leaving the …

Insigne prefers Messi to new Juve star Ronaldo

Lorenzo Insigne prefers Lionel Messi to new Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who the Napoli winger claims will not be able to win games on his own in Serie A.

Ronaldo had his medical and unveiling on Monday after completing a stunning €105million move to Juve from Real Madrid.

The transfer marks the end of his rivalry with Barcelona superstar Messi in a domestic sense, the pair having battled for supremacy in LaLiga since Ronaldo s move from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009, though the debate over which of the five-time Ballon d Or winners is superior is likely to rage on.

Ronaldo will look to fire Juve to an eighth successive Scudetto, but Insigne believes the Bianconeri will not be able to rely solely on the Portugal international.

Speaking…

Sampaoli scotches Bielsa theory as Marseille vow to involve Payet and Mandanda

Jorge Sampaoli dismissed comparisons to fellow Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa as he was presented as Marseille s new head coach on Tuesday.

The former Atletico Mineiro, Santos and Sevilla boss, who has also managed Argentina and Chile, has inherited a team in crisis and will be charged with bringing coherency to Marseille s play and an upturn in results.

Bielsa coached Marseille in the 2014-15 season, when OM led the way in Ligue 1 at the halfway stage of the campaign but fell away and finished fourth.

His enigmatic ways made him a hero in the city, and Bielsa is now being revered as manager of Leeds United. However, Sampaoli said he would not wish to be compared to his countryman, despite having enormous admiration for Bielsa s methods.

For many coaches, M…

Deco: Valverde will be feeling heat at Barcelona after Liverpool loss

Barcelona could still win the domestic double again this season, but former Blaugrana midfielder Deco feels Ernesto Valverde is still under pressure because of the humiliating Champions League exit to Liverpool.

Valverde won LaLiga and the Copa del Rey in his first campaign last season and, after retaining the domestic title, his side will achieve a double-double if they beat Valencia in Saturday s cup final.

Yet the Barca boss position still appears perilous because of the embarrassing way in which the club exited this year s Champions League.

Despite holding a 3-0 advantage from the first leg against Liverpool, Barca were thrashed 4-0 in the return fixture of the semi-final at Anfield, leaving Deco uncertain over Valverde s long-term future.

I don t kn…

Real Madrid want Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski

Real Madrid are interested in signing Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, according to . It has been reported that German and European giants Bayern are open to selling the Poland international, who wanted to join Madrid in 2018.

The report has claimed that Lewandowski could be available for less than £52 million this summer, and that his agent, Pini Zahavi, is listening to offers. The 32-year-old striker has been on the books of Bayern since 2014 and is one of the best players in his position of all time.

Lewandowski has won the Bundesliga title six times and the Champions League once with Bayern so far in his career. The striker has scored 36 goals and provided six assists in the Bundesliga and scored five goals in the Champions Leagu…

Patrice Evra Reveals Liverpool CEO Peter Moore Contacted Him to Apologize For Racism Incident Involving Luis Suarez (Video)

On October 15, 2011, during a game between Liverpool and Manchester United which ended in a 1-1 draw, there was an incident between Liverpool forward Luis Suarez and United defender Patrice Evra when the Uruguay international used racist language to provoke the Frenchman. Suarez was consequently hit with a £40,000 fine an eight-game ban which Liverpool, though protesting Suarez s innocence, eventually chose not to contest as they felt it would undermine their own efforts in battling racism in football.

Suarez s second game back from suspension was against United at Old Trafford, ahead of which he caused yet more controversy by refusing to shake Evra s hand. He scored the only goal for his team in what ended as a 2-1 defeat, and after the final whistle Evra celebrated in front …

Sterling can succeed Messi as world´s best player, says Xavi

Barcelona great Xavi believes Raheem Sterling is on course to emerge as the world s best player when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo leave centre stage.

Manchester City star Sterling has started the new season in scintillating fashion, scoring eight times for club and country.

His goa
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l return and overall effectiveness has markedly improved with Pep Guardiola s guidance and the 24-year-old is now one of the first players chosen for the Premier League champions.

Sterling won Europe s Golden Boy award in 2014 given to the continent s brightest young talent and Xavi thinks the England international is on course to replace Messi and Ronaldo at the front of the queue for further honours.

Xavi told The Mirror: Messi is the best ever for me, and ev…

Premier League data dive: Arsenal end 14-year wait for Old Trafford win, Bale off the mark

Arsenal have endured a frustrating run at Old Trafford in recent times, but they ended a 13-game winless streak in Premier League visits to the stadium on Sunday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a penalty to secure a 1-0 win over Manchester United.

Gareth Bale got off the mark in his second spell at Tottenham to earn the points against Brighton and Hove Albion, and there were also wins for Southampton and Newcastle United.

Using Opta data, we take a look at the key facts from Sunday s four Premier League fixtures.

 

Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal: Aubameyang ends Gunners Old Trafford hoodoo

Aubameyang s second-half penalty was enough to clinch the points for Arsenal against United, as the Gunners clinched their first Premier League vict…

Rumour Has It: Man Utd ready to give up on Sancho, Barca eye Bellerin

Jadon Sancho has been tipped to swap Borussia Dortmund for Manchester United.

But the England international remains in Germany and United are growing frustrated.

Could United move on from the Dortmund sensation?

 

TOP STORY – UNITED READY TO PULL PLUG ON SANCHO

Manchester United are ready to give up on signing Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho, according to the Daily Star.

Sancho has emerged as United s top transfer target, but the Premier League giants have been unable to negotiate a deal with Dortmund.

With United and Dortmund apart in their valuation of Sancho, the Red Devils are frustrated and could turn to alternative targets.

Juventus attacker Douglas Costa, Atletico Madrid s Joao Felix and Real Madrid outcast …

Prediction: Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City

Predicition: Manchester City to Win to Nil

Odds:

Bookmaker:

Manchester City will be aiming to wrap up the Premier League title as they take on Brighton Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Pep Guardiola s troops just need a victory on the South Coast to claim their second consecutive crown, whilst the hosts will be in a buoyant mood having secured their future in the top-flight following a difficult campaign.

Brighton Hove Albion

The threat of relegation was a real prospect for Chris Hughton Seagulls until very recently. Supporters will be relieved that Cardiff City were not quite able to get over the line considering their team s poor run of form in recent weeks. They are on a winless run of nine games, failing to score in seve…