Tag: Football News

Tottenham Hotspur are in negotiations with Real Madrid over a sensational return to north London for
Gareth Bale – with conflicting reports suggesting a loan deal could be in the offing, as well as a swap deal involving Dele Alli.

The possibility of Bale departing the Spanish capital is now stronger than ever, with Manchester United also holding an interest in the alienated Welsh winger. Tottenham, however, appear the favourites for their former superstar.

According to reports, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is doing everything he can to bring Bale back to the club, and one interesting proposal which has emerged is Dele joining Real on loan as part of the deal.

The complicated move would see Bale return to north London on a temporary basis – with Los Blancos paying half of his reported £600,000-a-week wage – while Dele’s wages would also be financed by the Spanish club.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein, meanwhile, reports that while no agreement is in place for Bale to rejoin Tottenham this summer, the Lilywhites are working on a deal.

Spurs have a special place in the 31-year-old’s heart and the player is said to be keen on an incredible return. His agent Jonathan Barnett, who is well known for speaking our about his client’s future, has even told BBC Wales, “Gareth still loves Spurs. We are talking [Spurs, Real and Bale’s camp]. It’s where he wants to be.”

Levy is understood to be ‘obsessed’ by the idea of bringing a modern-day legend back to the club, but wanted to be sure that José Mourinho was on board with such a huge signing before pursuing a deal.

The Welshman’s willingness to depart on a temporary basis – something he previously refused – this summer has handed Tottenham a chance to oversee the winger’s return.

Bale also feels that now is the right time to exit Madrid and play out the final years of his career in the Premier League, leaving behind the non-stop criticism he’s faced in Spain amid an injury-ravaged but still impressive spell in the Spanish capital.

The 31-year-old evolved into a Spurs icon – before his £85m move to Real in 2013 – off the back of an astonishing 2012/13 campaign which earned him PFA Player of the Year honours. The Welshman scored 56 times and added another 58 assists in 203 appearances for Spurs, spread over a six-year spell.

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish has signed a new five-year deal with the club.

The 25-year-old England playmaker had been linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer but announced he is staying on the club’s social media.

Grealish has been with his hometown club since he was eight-years-old, making his debut in the 2013-14 season.

“It is my club, my home and I am very happy here,” Grealish said after agreeing the new contract on Tuesday.

The attacking midfielder, who made his first appearance for England against Denmark last week, has signed a contract until 2025.

“We are determined to build a top team around him and are delighted he is extending his contract and committing himself to the club he loves,” Villa chief executive Christian Purslow said.

Villa begin their Premier League campaign at home to Sheffield United on Monday after Grealish played a key role in the club retaining its place in the top flight last season.

He made 36 league appearances during 2019-20, scoring eight goals including in the 1-1 draw against West Ham United which secured Premier League survival on the final day of the elongated season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers got their season off to a flying start with two goals in the first six minutes through Raul Jimenez and Romain Saiss to earn a 2-0 victory at Sheffield United in the Premier League on Monday.

Wolves’ 2019-20 season only finished on Aug. 11 after a mammoth campaign which took in 59 games in all competitions, but they showed no signs of weariness as they took the lead inside three minutes in the sunshine at Bramall Lane.

The goal came from a familiar source — the club’s top scorer last season Jimenez — and 205 seconds later they scored again as Saiss headed in a corner to stun the hosts.

It meant Wolves are the first Premier League side to score two goals inside six minutes on the opening day of the season.

United stepped it up a gear after the interval and almost got back in the match through John Fleck, but the Scotland international’s powerful strike came back off the post.

Wolves should have extended their lead in the 71st minute after home goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale brilliantly tipped Saiss’ strike onto the post but Jimenez stabbed the ball just wide with the empty goal at his mercy.

The hosts kept coming but, while they created plenty of openings, Chris Wilder’s side could only muster two shots on target in the match as their second season back in the top flight began in disappointing fashion.

“We started fast and aggressive,” said Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who has just signed a new three-year deal. “We went for the game in those moments and it made all the difference.

“It was a quick turnaround (between seasons) but the players were amazing the way they worked.”

Wilder was not too disheartened with his side’s overall performance.

“To recover from as poor a start as I can remember here was always going to be a tough ask,” Wilder said.

“We gave it a right go, got into the right positions and when you do you have to find that little bit. I felt we just missed something.”

Chelsea got their Premier League campaign off to a winning start but were made to work hard for it by an impressive Brighton display.

With their summer spending in excess of £200million, and counting, much is expected of the Blues this season and goals from Jorginho, Reece James and Kurt Zouma ensured they began with three points, though a 3-1 final scoreline was perhaps a touch flattering.

Frank Lampard gave debuts to his two summer signings from the Bundesliga in Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, while Kepa Arrizabalaga was given the nod to start in goal despite speculation over his future, with Rennes stopper Edouard Mendy set to arrive.

Werner’s sharpness was the bright point in a disjointed first half display from Chelsea, as Brighton more than matched them, with former Blues academy man Tariq Lamptey particularly lively.

However, Lampard’s men were gifted the chance to take the lead on 23 minutes, when Steven Alzate’s loose pass in midfield allowed Jorginho to play Werner in on goal and the German was brought down as he attempted to round Mat Ryan. Jorginho resumed spot-kick duties and made no mistake with a trademark hop and skip before sending the Australian the wrong way.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek wasted a terrific chance to play Werner in again on the counter, poking a tame pass straight at Ben White, who had been the only Brighton defender back, and while Seagulls boss Graham Potter would’ve been pleased with his side’s display, the sight of debutant Adam Lallana limping off before the interval provided cause for concern.

A smile was back on his face soon after the restart as Leandro Trossard levelled the scores with a low strike into the far corner, though there were serious questions about Kepa’s attempt at a save yet again.

The home joy was short-lived, however, as James’ rocket into the top corner from 25 yards put Chelsea back in front only 100 seconds later, the full-back scoring his first Premier League goal.

Brighton should have capped a crazy few minutes with a second equaliser as Lewis Dunk was somehow allowed to steal in completely unmarked at the back post, only to somehow head wide from six yards.

His wastefulness was punished on 66 minutes when fellow defender Adam Webster diverted Zouma’s tame effort beyond a wrong-footed Ryan to give the visitors a two-goal cushion they never surrendered.

Neymar was one of five players sent off after an injury-time brawl as Marseille beat Paris St-Germain in Ligue 1.

As he left the pitch, PSG’s Brazil forward told the fourth official he had heard a racist comment.

Florian Thauvin scored the only goal as PSG lost their opening two league games for the first time since 1984-85.

Home substitutes Leandro Paredes and Layvin Kurzawa, and Marseille’s Jordan Amavi and Dario Benedetto, were dismissed along with Neymar.

The referee watched a video assistant referee (VAR) replay of a punch by Neymar before showing the 28-year-old a straight red card.

After the match, Neymar posted on social media to say that his “only regret” was not hitting Marseille’s Spanish defender Alvaro Gonzalez in the face, having struck him on the back of the head.

In response, Gonzalez denied claims of any wrongdoing, posting on social media: “There is no place for racism.”

In the post-match news conference Marseille manager Andre Villas-Boas said: “There is no place for racism in football but I don’t think that was the case.

“We’ll have to look at it.”

The game, which was watched by a crowd of about 5,000 fans at the Parc des Princes, was fractious even before that late brawl. There were 17 cards shown, a record for a Ligue 1 game in the 21st Century.

The injury-time drama started when Marseille’s Benedetto nudged Paredes in the back, with the PSG midfielder then punching him to the ground before appearing to headbutt Alvaro.

A melee broke out, with Kurzawa and Amavi punching and kicking each other.

Benedetto and Paredes were shown second yellow cards, with Kurzawa and Amavi given straight reds.

The VAR review showed Neymar had punched Alvaro, a player he had been in a running battle with, and the forward was shown a straight red card, having earlier been booked.

Alvaro had also been involved in a big first-half flashpoint when he suggested Angel di Maria spat at him.

Di Maria was one of seven PSG players – along with Neymar – to test positive for coronavirus before the season started, although he had since provided a negative test.