Five leading candidates for England manager London (AFP) – AFP Sports looks at the five leading candidates for the England manager’s job vacated by Roy Hodgson when he resigned after losing to Iceland at Euro 2016 (according to the bookmakers): Sam Allardyce (Sunderland) odds 2/5 on The one surefire candidate as his club helpfully revealed on Wednesday he had held talks with the three wise men … [Read more...]

Shaw returns to full training with United 4:06 PM GMT Luke Shaw has returned to Manchester United training 10 months on from suffering a broken leg. Shaw sustained the injury against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last September and has been sidelined ever since. However, the England international had been working on his fitness individually, before returning to team training at the Aon … [Read more...]

Mario Balotelli’s future is away from Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp Liverpool (AFP) – Italian striker Mario Balotelli’s unhappy spell at English Premier League side Liverpool is over, with manager Jurgen Klopp saying Wednesday he should find a new team. Balotelli, 25, has scored only four times for Liverpool since Klopp’s predecessor Brendan Rodgers bought him from Manchester City in 2014. He was … [Read more...]

Delaney: Transfer values rise, fall at Euros 8:12 AM GMT Miguel Delaney With the way modern clubs conduct their scouting these days, it is very difficult for any player to be an unknown breakout star at a tournament featuring the world's top teams, such as Euro 2016. However, individual performances can still bring considerable change in a player's value, as we've seen with these 10 players. … [Read more...]

Ryan Giggs signs up for Indian futsal league New Delhi (AFP) – Welsh football legend Ryan Giggs will return to the pitch as a player in the inaugural Premier Futsal starting in India this week, the organisers announced Wednesday. Brazilian star Ronaldinho and former AC Milan striker Hernan Crespo have also signed up for the event beginning in Chennai on Friday. Giggs, 42, recently left his … [Read more...]

Allardyce permitted to discuss England job 9:27 AM GMT Sunderland have confirmed that they have given Sam Allardyce permission to speak to the Football Association over the vacant England job. Reports emerged this week that Allardyce was to meet with the FA regarding the Three Lions post, which is available following Roy Hodgon's resignation. The 61-year-old has since become the bookmakers' … [Read more...]

Kante needs to play for big team - Makelele 7:26 AM GMT Liam Twomey Leicester City star N'Golo Kante needs to play at the highest level for a "big team" in Europe, former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has said. Kante, 25, has enjoyed a rapid rise over the past year since arriving in English football from Caen, playing a key role in Leicester's shock Premier League title triumph and … [Read more...]

Press make merry over ‘Shock of Gibraltar’ London (AFP) – Celtic gave Scotland their proudest moment in European football by winning the 1967 European Cup, but the 2016 side has now handed the country their most embarrassing in losing to Gibraltar part-timers Lincoln Red Imps on Tuesday. “Shock of Gibraltar” will be a headline the humiliated players and their manager Brendan Rodgers, who will … [Read more...]

TV money lures Thierry Henry away from beloved Gunners London (AFP) – France and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry ended his association with the English Premier League club on Tuesday preferring to focus on his burgeoning media career. The 38-year-old former striker — part of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winning teams — could have coached the Gunners’ under-18 side but declined the offer when … [Read more...]

Disgraced footballer Adam Johnson refused leave to appeal London (AFP) – Shamed former England international footballer Adam Johnson will serve his six-year sentence for sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl after a judge refused him leave to appeal against his conviction. The 28-year-old, once a winger with Sunderland and Manchester City, was jailed in March after beng found guilty following … [Read more...]